Blog

NAN-H-73

Robberies

Nasarawa (Nasarawa State) Oct.7, 2016 (NAN) Some farmers and residents in Nasarawa on Friday called for 24 hours police patrol in order to checkmate incessant robberies on Keffi/Nasarawa/Udege road.

They made the call in interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Nasarawa, Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state on Friday.

They said the police patrol would help to curtail the activities of the men of the underworld, and also make the people of the various communities to sleep with their eyes closed.

Mr Salisu Abubakar, a farmer in Udege described the attacks, especially on the farmers in the area, as unfortunate.

“The incessant attacks on farmers by gunmen in this local government and other parts of the state have become of serious concern not only to the residents of this area but to the entire Nasarawa state.

“It has created fear and panic on the farmers. Governments at all levels are encouraging everybody to go back to farm in order to boost agricultural production as well as to improve on the economy.

“It is so sad that farmers are being attacked. Our agricultural produce is not even safe in the farm and at home.

“When we are coming from the markets after the sales of our agricultural produce, armed robbers will rob us and collect our money and other belongings. This is one of the problems that is affecting us.’’

Abubakar urged State Government and security agents to take proactive measures through 24 hours police patrol in communities in order to protect the lives and property of farmers to boost agricultural production.

Mrs Grace Emmafa, a business woman in Nasarawa said, “There is incessant armed attack, theft, harassment and other social evils on residents.

“So, I am calling for 24 hours police patrol in communities and along Keffi/Nasarawa/Udege road because of the activities of the men of the underworld.”

Emmafa commended the state government and the security agencies for being up and doing in ensuring the protection of lives and property of its citizens and called for more proactive measures in that direction.

Mr Bitrus Anaja, a resident, said many robbers were terrorising not only the residents of the area but people plying Keffi/Nasarawa/Udege road.

He called for proactive measures to tackle crimes in the area and the state at large.

“The only way to tackle armed robbery is for police to provide 24 hours patrol on the major roads to ensure that everybody goes about his or her normal business without fear of attack and harassment.”

NAN recall’s that the police team led by the Nasarawa state  Commissioner of Police had on Sept.17, visited communities in Udege and other communities where cases of armed robbery and other criminal activities were rampant.

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Burundi expels foreign legal expert, as it set to quit Hague court

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Expulsion

Bujumbura, Oct.7, 2016 (dpa/NAN) The representative of a Non-Governmental Organisation, TRIAL International, fighting international judicial impunity has been expelled from Burundi, the organisation said Friday.

Pamela Capizzi had been training local lawyers on behalf of TRIAL International, which combats impunity for crimes coming under international jurisdiction, such as war crimes or crimes against humanity.

The move came on Thursday when the government also announced its intention to pull out of the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague.

Capizzi was ordered to leave Thursday after her visa was revoked, TRIAL International spokeswoman Chloe Bitton, has said.

The Burundian authorities gave no reason for Capizzi’s expulsion.

However, human rights activists said it reflected their fears that they could be challenged at international tribunals over the deaths of hundreds of people in a wave of political violence.

“It is a political decision revealing panic on the government side,” lawyer and human rights activist Armel Niyongere said.

Capizzi’s expulsion followed an announcement by the government that Burundi was planning to withdraw from the ICC, where prosecutors have announced a preliminary investigation into the situation in the country.

“The intention of the ICC is to trample on the rights of blacks.

“The injustice of these colonising countries toward Africans is intolerable,” Vice President Gaston Sindimwo said on announcing the government’s decision, which still needs to be approved by parliament.

Opponents of President Pierre Nkurunziza said his decision to seek a third term in office and his election victory in July 2015 violated the constitution.

An estimated 500 people have been killed over the past 17 months, while more than 200,000 have fled their homes. (dpa/NAN)

IAA/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

(Edited by Isaac Aregbesola…)

NAN-ELS-9
Entertainment
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Oct. 7, 2016(NAN) The Oyo State Government on Friday said it was committed to providing the support structure and enabling environment for the entertainment industry to thrive in the state.

Mr Toye Arulogun, the State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, said this while receiving members of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria(TAMPAN) in his office.

Arulogun noted that the activities and operations of the industry have huge potentials in boosting the economy of the state.

“The state government sees TAMPAN as an integral part of its socio-cultural existence and will do everything to add value to its operating structure and environment.

“We are poised to be in the lead in the fight against piracy and the structuring of the entertainment industry.

“In a matter of weeks, an entertainment industry support desk will be available in the ministry to facilitate the much needed win – win relationship between government and the entertainment industry,” he said.

Arulogun pledged the support of the state government toward the 2016 Theatre Week being celebrated by TAMPAN.

Earlier, Mrs Rose Odika, the TAMPAN state chairperson, said the visit was to intimate government about the association’s annual Theatre Week and solicit its support and participation.

Odika, who stated that the week would feature the investiture of Gov. Abiola Ajimobi as the association’s grand patron, commended the state government and the ministry for their support. (NAN)
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(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

Gov. Ugwuanyi swears-in Ngozi Emehelu as acting CJ

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Judge

By Emma Acha

Enugu, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Friday in Enugu sworn-in Justice Ngozi Emehelu as the acting Chief Judge.

Ugwuanyi who spoke said the swearing in was as a result of the compulsory retirement of the immediate past Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umuzulike by the National Judicial Council(NJC).

The governor said the event was also in compliance with the Constitution, which empowers a governor to appoint the most senior judge whenever the office of the chief judge is vacant.

“I am in receipt of letters dated Sept. 30 on the suspension from office and recommendation for compulsory retirement from office of the former Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezulike from the NJC.

“Section 217 (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended empowers the state governor to appoint the most senior judge to function in the office if the office of the chief judge of the state is vacant.

“Justice Emehelu, being the most senior judge in the state judiciary is, therefore, appointed into this office in acting capacity,” Ugwuanyi said.

Responding, Emehelu said she was humbled by the appointment and not oblivious of the enormity of the work and duties of an acting chief judge.

She said that with the cooperation of her brother justices and the entire bench “we shall build on the achievements of the past chief judge.

“I am a child of circumstance and shall discharge my duties creditably.

“ I am happy that there was no wrangling and pull her down in this process,” she said.

Emehelu thanked the governor for finding her worthy to serve the state in that capacity.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Emehelu was called to the bar in 1981 after her law programme and went ahead to be appointed as attorney general and commissioner for justice of the state in 1997.

In 1998, Emehelu, the first female to have held this position, was appointed a high court judge in the state judiciary and had served in election petitions tribunals.

NAN recalls that the NJC, had on Sept. 30, sacked the immediate past chief judge from office on account of corruption. (NAN)

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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NAN-S-18

Qualifier

By Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has expressed optimism that the team would deliver in Sunday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Ndola.

Rohr said during the team’s interactive session with newsmen on Friday in Abuja that Nigeria would get an outright victory over the Chipolopolo in the encounter.

He said that Nigeria was blessed with abundant talents and assured that the players presently in camp were capable of defeating any team.

The German tactician revealed that Arsenal forward, Alex Iwobi, would lead the attack against the Zambians on Sunday.

He assured that as professionals, the players would adapt to the bad playing pitch in Ndola.

“We have six new players and three will perhaps start the game.

“You know that a player like Iwobi was injured last time but we all know that he is a good player and I hope his integration in the team will produce result in Ndola.

“The training has been good and we try to help and bring him into the team; he knows how we played in Uyo and we cannot change tactically because the time is short.

“We have other strategies but similar with what we did in Uyo, and I count on Iwobi to help us win the game in Ndola.

“We must avoid the mistake in Uyo where we had 27 shots on goal but converted only one and this means that we must have a good attack and players who can score,” Rohr said.

He also said that the technical crew had watched the latest video of the Zambian national team.

According to him, we have secured the video clips of their last five games and have gone through them.

“We are also aware that they have changed coach and should expect a different thing but the good thing is that they are the same players.

“We know that they are very strong in attack and we have worked on the best tactics to win them but what is undisputable is that they are also a strong side.

“Having missed the Nations Cup, Zambia will want to make a statement with the World Cup qualifiers because they also want to win.

“They are motivated like Nigeria but I think that we are hungrier than them,” he added.

Rohr, who admitted that the Eagles started camping late, noted that the international experience of most of the players would be an advantage to the team on Sunday.

He said that there were no cases of injury in the team ahead of the encounter.

“A player like Musa Mohammed played more than the others during the friendly game and we have to work on him because we don’t have lots of right backs though we have started searching.

“All the players are fit, including the ones that reported to camp with minor injuries. We are ready for the game,” he said.

The Eagles will depart Abuja for Ndola, Zambia, on Saturday for the encounter. (NAN)

EMAF/OPI/OPI

Edited and controlled by Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-H-72
Kidnapping
Lagos, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) Lagos State Model College, Igbonla near Epe on Friday says there is no news yet on the rescue of the six persons recently abducted from the school.
The vice principal, who simply identified himself as Akinrinmade, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the school that the authorities and parents were meeting over the sad incident.
NAN reports that six persons, including the principal, Mr Oyesola, a teacher and four students, were abducted by unknown gunmen from the school on Thursday morning.
“There is no new development; efforts are in place by the government and security agencies to secure the release of the students, teacher and principal,’’ Akinrinmade told NAN in Igbonla, Epe.
The vice principal met the NAN team at the entrance following a ‘’directive that journalists should not be allowed to enter the school’’.
NAN correspondents report that there were heavily-armed policemen and Vigilante Group members at the school entrance on Friday.
There was also heavy presence of Marine Police by the lagoon within the vicinity.
Some residents of the community told NAN that the bushy nature and absence of security operatives in the area made it easy for the gunmen to access the school unhindered.
“The gunmen came from behind the school, which is bushy,’’ Francis Olemu, a hunter, told NAN in Igbonla.
Another resident, Mrs Adijat Eredo, a trader, said that the incidence caught the community unawares.
“We were hearing spontaneous gun shots on Thursday and this scared the entire community.
“People scampered into the bush for safety when the gunshot became so sporadic,’’ she said.
NAN observed that there was thick forest on both sides of the three-kilometer road leading to the school.
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, visited the school on Thursday, promising that the government and security agencies would work to ensure the release of the kidnapped.
Adebule appealed to the public and parents to have confidence and faith in the security agencies as they work to rescue the abducted persons.
“The school was established 29 years ago and something like this has never happened. Now that it has happened, it is so unfortunate and challenging.
“As parents and administrators, we are agitated, traumatised and worried, but we need to join hands with the government and security agencies so that we can rescue the victims, said the deputy governor.
Meanwhile, search for the kidnap victims continues as the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said he had deployed large numbers of police operatives to locations regarded as flash points in the state.
“These flash points will be policed on a 24-hour basis, starting from now on.
“Members of the public are to assist in giving timely information about any suspect,” Owoseni said. (NAN)
REPORTERS/AIB/WOJ
(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde and controlled by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-68
Critique
Osogbo, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) Tunji Vidal, a Professor of Music, says absence of critique is one of the factors militating against standards in the Nigerian music industry.

Vidal told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Osogbo on Friday, that the role played by music reviewers and critiques cannot be over emphasised.

He said music critique was an important component of the music industry, adding that the role was usually carried out by a trained journalist.

“Music critique is an area called music journalism and this role is carried out by a journalist who has been trained for this work.

“Such trained journalist will make his or her findings available to the public usually through the print media.

“Once a musical product arrives in the public domain, it must be reviewed and objectively critiqued for standards and valuated for contribution to the course of music and society just like any other commodity”, he said.

Vidal, a lecturer at Mountain Top University, Lagos, however, said such tradition was lacking in the present day musical culture.

“Anyone who picks up a foreign newspaper such as London Times will easily find such review of musical production.

“But most of the reviews we read in our print media are no more than reports and propaganda.

“A critique starts with a description of the musical event, the place, time, contents, rhythm, melody, the person involved among others”, he said.

The professor of music said the aim was to uphold standards artistically and aesthetically in a particular music as well as in the world of music.

According to him, through critiique, the artists would be informed of their responsibility to the audience and the community which provided the wherewithal and the course of music.

He said it was time this area of culture and media profession was resuscitated as a means of arresting falling standards. (NAN)

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Editor: Evangeline Opara
Controller:: Idahosa Asowata

NAN-H-67
CAN
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Osun has commended  Gov. Rauf Aregbesola for ensuring equity, balance and harmony among the various religious groups in the state.

Rev. Michael Okodua, the Chairman of the association, gave the commendation when he led  the newly constituted executive on a courtesy visit to the governor on Friday in Osogbo.

Okodua said  Aregbesola had   done well in fostering peace, love and unity among the different religious faithful in the state.

He also commended the governor for his commitment to the development and transformation of the state in the face of the present economic recession.

“It is expedient for us to commend and congratulate you on the success of your mission to transform the state  despite the glaring economic recession affecting the state and the country at large,’’ he said.

Okodua  said the visit was to introduce the new executive  members of the association to the governor.

In his remarks, Aregbesola said he was happy to renew his relationship with the association.

“It will be a grand mistake for us to deny the fact that our administration and Osun State Christian Association of Nigeria have had a tumultuous relationship,’’ he said.

He, however expressed gratitude to God for the new opportunity given to him   to renew his relationship with the newly constituted leadership of the association.

The governor, who decried  the poor management of religious affairs by the former leadership of the association, implored the new executive members to always prioritise dialogue above other considerations.

Aregbesola also urged residents of the state to continuously promote religious tolerance as being demonstrated by his administration.(NAN)
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(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-65
University
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State says the proposed State Technical University, Ibadan, will soon take off based on public private partnership arrangement.

He said this on Friday while inspecting the facilities at the university site in company with Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo.

The university is located at Ajayi community on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the university was conceived in 2012 by the Ajimobi administration  and was to partner with University of Texas, US.

The university, which has Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, a former Head of Service of the Federation as Chairman of the Governing Council, could not take off as scheduled.

The governor had hinged the delay on the withdrawal of the foreign partners due to the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

Ajimobi said that the state government would release 90 percent of the university’s shares to private investors while it would only retain 10 percent.

He stressed that special courses not readily available in the regular universities would be provided by the institution.

The university, he added, would provide succour for parents who often send their wards to neighbouring countries for higher education.

Okorocha, in his remarks, expressed readiness to partner with the Oyo State Government on the successful take off of the university.

He said the university would readily be available for students of the Okorocha Foundation-owned secondary school in Ibadan.

NAN reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria has already donated a school library, a block of classroom and administrative block to the institution. (NAN)
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(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

Rivers, Enugu, Kogi top list of speed limiting device compliance – FRSC
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Compliance
Angela Atabo
Abuja, Oct.7, 2016 (NAN) Rivers, Enugu and Kogi states rank highest in compliance with the Speed Limiting Device installation, after six days of commencement of its advisory enforcement by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

The Corps Marshal of the commission, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, disclosed this while interacting with newsmen in Abuja on Friday.

Oyeyemi said that out of the 22,908 vehicles checked nationwide, 1,164 had the device installed, while 21,744 were yet to comply.

He said that among the 1,164 vehicles that complied, Rivers had the highest number of 170, while Enugu had 165 and Kogi had 100.

He said that Kano, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger,Kebbi, and Yobe states had no vehicle with the device installed.

“With effect from Oct. 1, we commenced the advisory enforcement as agreed with stakeholders and since then, we have checked 22,908 and issued out citations tickets to 21,744 offenders with a warning.

“This was done to allow tolerance, imagine if I had impounded 21,000 vehicles now.

“Because of the prevailing economic situation, we agreed to give them a two-week warning and then after two weeks, we can take action .

“With what I have seen within the last one week, I must appreciate the support of road users toward implementing road safety programmes in Nigeria; I have seen the level of enthusiasm.

“Some organisations are asking for two-month waver to enable them to complete the importation of the device because FRSC is not involved in the marketing of the device.

“ Two companies are already bringing equipment to commence local production and I just received a letter to commission it by the end of next month, so am excited,’’ the corps marshal said.

Oyeyemi expressed optism that with consistent advocacy, total compliance would be achieved ,adding that the essence of the device was to reduce speed .

He said the plan still remained to start with commercial vehicles plying the highways, adding that vehicles’ speed would be locked by the device at the right limit allowed by law.

He said this would prevent drivers from exceeding the speed limit.

“The stipulated speed for mini buses, for example, would be locked at 90 but there would be a tolerance for 95 to 97.

“People say drivers are complaining that the device is expensive but we should not compromise on safety values.

“ We need to tell ourselves the truth; you buy a vehicle of N40 million, a tanker costs about N60 million naira, Hummer Toyota hiace bus is about N15 million.

“Then, you are to install speed limiting device or calibrate your vehicle and you pay betweenN 20,000 and N30,000, if you run cost benefit analysis, I don’t think that is too much,” the corps marshal said.(NAN)
ATAB/ADA/AMY

Edited by Abdulwahab Deji and Abdullahi Yusuf