Blog

U.N. body tells Saudi Arabia to end child stonings, executions

NAN-F-1

Execution

Geneva, Oct. 7, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) A UN human rights watchdog On Friday called on Saudi Arabia to end “severe” discrimination against girls and to repeal laws that allowed stoning, amputation, flogging and execution of children.

Bandar Bin Mohammed, Chairman of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, said that the committee on the Rights of the Child condemned the Saudi-led coalition’s air strikes in Yemen.

It said that air strikes killed and maimed hundreds of children, and its “use of starvation” as a tactic in that war against Iran-backed Houthis.

The committee’s 18 independent experts examined the kingdom’s record of compliance with a U.N. treaty protecting the rights of people under the age of 18.

The Saudi delegation to the committee’s review, told the body that Sharia, Islamic law, was above all laws and treaties.

The U.N. experts voiced deep concern that Riyadh “still does not recognise girls as full subjects of rights”.

That it has continued to severely discriminate (against) them in law, practice and to impose on them a system of male guardianship.

“Traditional, religious or cultural attitudes should not be used to justify violations of their right to equality.

“Children of Shi’ite Muslim families and other religious minorities are persistently discriminated against in their access to schools and justice in the Sunni-ruled kingdom.

“Children of over 15 years are tried as adults and can be executed,after trials falling short of guarantees of due process and a fair trial,” the UN body said.((Reuters/NAN)
OYE/AMY
Edited by Damilola Oyewole and Abdullahi Yusuf

Ooni of Ife urges youths to explore potentials in agriculture

NAN-AE-17
Agriculture
By  Elusogbon Dorcas
Ile-Ife (Osun), Oct 6, 2016 (NAN) The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has advised Nigerian youths to explore potentials in the agriculture sector for job and wealth creation in the country.

Oba Ogunwusi gave the advice while addressing the participants at Ife Youth agropreneurship Summit 2016 and presentation of Ojaja II Agricultural Hub on Thursday, Ile-Ife, Osun.

He said that once the youths are empowered, especially in the area of value chain and agro-processing development, the entire society will start moving towards a brighter tomorrow.

According to him, the community, state and the nation at large will be freed from poverty, hunger and unemployment.

The royal father enjoined Nigerian leaders to empower youth on agropreneurship such as cassava, maize processing, aquaculture and fish farming, mushroom cultivation, plantain processing among others.

He condemned Nigerians patronising imported goods such as: wears, food, shelters, shoes and the likes.

The monarch said that Nigeria has many products that can sustain the economy rather than over dependent on crude oil.

“Our leaders needs to live by example; by promoting made in Nigeria goods, as it is said charity begins at home, this would boost the nation’s economy and Internally Generated Revenue,” Ooni said.

Oba Adeyeye said that the nation is blessed with good soil, minerals, raw materials and cash crops such as cocoa, kola nut, plantain, cashew, and ginger among others.

The monarch noted that Ile-Ife is the largest producer of cocoa in Nigeria.

He appealed to people to stop blaming leaders for the economic recession, but to support them by contributing their quota to the development of the nation.

Ooni called on legislators to make laws that will promote Nigeria products, adding that the nation has alternative products that cannot be affected by dollar.

He assured that if the youths can agree to go back to farm, within the next five to six years the Ife community will become biggest economic city in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, Hephzibah Network, Mr Olamide Awosunle, said that the purpose of the programme was to transform the lives of the youths and to give hope to the hopeless.

Awosunle said that youths did not need to depend on government for survival but to utilise the potential in them to live a meaningful life.

He said all hands should be on deck to add value to the numerous agricultural products God blessed Ile-Ife with, saying that agro-processing is the way out for them.

He said that more than 150 jobs would be provided through agro-processing programme for youths in the community.

Also, Mrs Ruth Kadafa, from Department of Agro-Processing, Bank of Industry, Abuja, commended the organisers of the programme, saying it was timely.

Kadafa urged youths to change their mentality of depending on government for white collar job.

She encouraged youths to go into agriculture rather than allowing politicians to use them as political thugs.

Meanwhile, Prof Duro Oyedele of the Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, enjoined politicians to stop empowering youths with tricycles and Okada alone.

Oyedele said that youths should rather invest on agro-processing that is sustainable than Okada that is not sustainable.

He added that Ile-Ife, Osun and Nigeria produce a lot of cassava, plantain, vegetables, cashew, kolanut among others, saying youth should utilise their potentials to achieve greatness. (NAN)
EDA/AK/AFA
Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Felix Ajide
============================

NAN-ELS-10
Dance
By Collins Yakubu-hammer
Abuja, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) The `Supreme Task’ dance crew from Nigeria has won 7,000 dollars best prize in performance category at the 2016 Korean POP (K-POP) World Festival held at Chanhwon Sport Park, South Korea.

The information is contained in a statement issued by Mr Han Sungrae, the Director of Korean Cultural Centre, made available on Thursday in Abuja.

Sungrae stated that the event had a total of 15 finalists from different countries such as Nigeria, Nepal, Russia, Malaysia, Mexico and the U.S.

Others were Vietnam, Sweden, Israel, Italy, India, Indonesia, Japan, China, and Hungary

“80 contesting teams from 65 different countries had earlier participated in the preliminaries, categorised into Performance and Vocal and Nigerian team beat other contestants in the performance category.

“The Supreme Task Dance crew performed a Korean song `Fire’ by TBS in the presence of about 20,000 people to emerge the best team in the performance category.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was the second year consecutively that the Nigerian team would be participating  in the K-Pop World Festival in Korea.

In last year’s edition, “Pacific Stars’ team from Nigeria won the overall best team of the Festival and became the first African team to do so in the six-year history of the festival. (NAN)
CMY/HA
========
(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-H-122
Security
By Temitope Ponle
Abuja, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) The ECOWAS Parliament has said it would address security challenges in the sub-region during its extraordinary session in January 2017.

The President of the parliament, Mr Moustapha Cissé Lo, said this at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja at the end of the parliament’s Second Ordinary Session.

At the news conference, also attended by heads of delegates of the 15 member states in the
parliament, Cissé Lo said that the parliament played its role in making recommendations to address security challenges that plagued the sub-region.

He said “we have decided to meet in January to brainstorm on security issues in our communities and find out what agenda to put in place to ring the bell harder in the ears of our executives and Heads of State.

“We can take our recommendations to the Heads of State and Government for everyone to participate in the realities of our region.”

Addressing the issue of the non-implementation of community protocols, the president said that the parliament could only sensitise governments of member states.

He urged the media to project the efforts being made toward integration and development in the sub-region.

He added that “we will try to improve communications, and what we can do is to make visible our performance through you (the media) so you can assist us to do our work well.”

The representative of the Malian delegation, Mr Yaya Sangaré, called on ECOWAS to take ownership of the peace process in Mali.

Sangaré urged the bloc to form a community defence force to take over the leadership of security in that country.

He said “more than 350 people were killed in terrorist attacks in Mali from January to August this year; several parties violated peace agreements.

“Those violating the peace are from neighbouring countries.

“ECOWAS should assume leadership so that the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali will go and hunt down the enemies of peace than serve as interposition.”

The Second Ordinary Session of the parliament adopted the various committee reports and the roadmap for the Draft Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of Powers of ECOWAS Parliament.

The parliament agreed to forward the document to the Heads of State and Government for adoption in December. (NAN)
TOP/HA
=======
(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-ELS-9
Film
Los Angeles (U.S.), Oct. 6, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) As the movie “The Birth of a Nation” opens in theaters this week, its backers are hoping the it’s buzz will finally shift toward the slavery drama’s powerful message about race relations in America.

The film, about Nat Turner, a slave who led a rebellion in Virginia in 1831, was once hailed as an awards front-runner but has been overshadowed by headlines about a 17-year-old rape case involving Nate Parker, who was acquitted at a 2001 trial.

As Parker has sought to address the rape case in recent weeks, marketing for the film has shifted to promote the relevancy of the little-known story of Turner to today’s Black Lives Matters movement.

Television ads shown nationally interweave scenes of slaves running through cotton fields in 1831 with recent news images of protesters, with lips taped and “I Can’t Breathe’’ signs, demonstrating over the killings of unarmed black men by U.S. police.

The stakes are high for studio Fox Searchlight, which bought the movie in the midst of the controversy over lack of diversity in Hollywood that prompted the resurgence earlier this year.

But Parker, 36, said he knew right from the start that he wanted to make a film that “changes the conversation around race in this country.’’

“I feel like this country is more segregated now than it’s been in moments in the past, so seeing that a film is actually speaking to that and progressing the conversation, it’s inspiring and encouraging.”

The film shares the same title as a 1915 movie, widely seen as propaganda for white supremacy group Ku Klux Klan, but Parker’s version reclaims “Birth of a Nation’’ to show the brutality of racism.

Disturbing visuals about race and slavery dominate “The Birth of a Nation.”

Parker said, “this was our reality and I think it’s important that people recognized that this was an everyday thing and a system that was so strong and so fortified that it corrupted everyone that it touched.”

The cast hopes the film will supplement the teaching about slavery in the U.S. (Reuters/NAN)
HA
===
(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-S-27
Badminton
Katsina, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) Thirty-five clubs and 265 athletics were expected to participate in the maiden All Nigeria Badminton Clubs Championship in Katsina State.

The clubs are from Adamawa, Yobe, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and Katsina states among others.

The National Secretary of Badminton Umpires Association of Nigeria, Usman A. Usman made the disclosure to newsmen on Thursday in Katsina.

He said the championships, which would last for a week, was aimed at promoting the game and discover more talented players who could represent the country at international competitions.

Usman said the competition would also assist to promote friendship among players.

“It will serve as an avenue where players and lovers of the game will meet to find ways of taking the game to greater heights.

“That is why we have the players aged between 35 and 60 coming to Katsina to compete and enjoy the game.

“We hope to make this event a quarterly or biannual event in the near future,’’ he said.

He added that association decided to hold the event in Katsina State because they were satisfied with the badminton facilities in place. (NAN)
ZI/PDE
=====
(Edited and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-S-26
Relegation
By Emmanuel Afonne
Abuja, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) Heartland FC of Owerri have been relegated to the Nigeria National League (NNL) following Thursday’s decisions by the League Management Company (LMC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Heartland and Plateau United FC of Jos faced each other on Sunday in Jos in their last match of the Nigeria Professional Football League season.

However, the encounter was later abandoned by the teams.

The match was abandoned after the centre referee disallowed a goal by Heartland with about 25 minutes to the end of the encounter which would have given them a 2-1 lead.

Heartland fondly called Naze Millionaires were battling to avoid being relegated as the club had never been relegated from the elite league since its inception in 1976.

Rising from its meeting on Thursday after reviewing the match, the LMC said Heartland would forfeit three points thus losing the match to Plateau United.

The LMC also fined Heartland N3 million for abandoning the match in Jos.

The development has now placed Heartland on 18th place on the Nigeria NPFL table with 44 points from 36 matches.

“The League Management Company following a review of reports and video of the match and issued separate Summary Jurisdiction Notices to the clubs.

“In the case against Heartland, the LMC charged the club for breach of B13.26 for failing to continue with the match.

“The team is also fined N3 million and will forfeit three points and three goals to Plateau United,’’ a statement from the LMC said.

The LMC also fined Plateau United N1 million after their supporters were cited in the video evidence throwing objects onto the field of play which led to the delay of the match in the start of the second half.

This, the LMC considered a breach of Rule B13.18.

“For the breach, the LMC fined Plateau United N1 million and both clubs have 48 hours to submit to the ruling or elect representatives to appear before the commission if they are not satisfied with the decision,’’ the statement added.

Heartland have won the elite league title four times and have also won the FA Cup thrice.

They have also won the Super Cup twice. (NAN)
EMAF/PDE
========
(Edited and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-S-25
Training
By Emmanuel Afonne
Abuja, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) The Super Eagles on Thursday trained under harsh weather in preparation for Sunday’s Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against the Chipolopolo of Zambia, scheduled for Ndola.

The training which started at exactly 2 p.m. at the Practice pitch of the National Stadium, Abuja, lasted for about two hours.

Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Alex Iwobi and Ahmed Musa who play in Europe sweated profusely under the supervision of team’s handler Gernot Rohr.

The players hurriedly raced into their waiting Macopolo bus to avoid a repeat of Wednesday’s incidence when fans mobbed them while struggling to catch a glimpse of them and snap photographs.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has said it took the intervention of some armed policemen to rescue the team’s captain, Mikel Obi from the crowd that invaded the pitch shortly after Wednesday’s match with Plateau United FC.

Baba Abubakar, the Super Eagles Chief Security Officer, told journalists at the team’s training on Thursday evening that Wednesday’s incidence was unfortunate.

Abubakar, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), explained that the development was a big security lapse.

“What happened on Wednesday was very unfortunate; but we have corrected it.

“I had ordered our men to securely lock the gate before the end of the match but somebody gave a counter order to allow journalists into the pitch.

“I gave that order because I know what the fans can do; I know that their target will be the big players like Mikel.

“We were left with no other option than to direct five of our armed men to shield Mikel to the dressing room.

“Other policemen formed a shield and guided the other players out of the pitch,’’ Abubakar said.

The Super Eagles Coordinator, Patrick Pascal, who also spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the team’s training on Thursday, urged Nigerians to pray for them to succeed in Ndola.

Pascal allayed the fear that the harsh weather in Ndola would affect the players, noting that their training under the hot sun was strategic.

“Yes, whether will always be a problem but that is why this training is being conducted under the hot sun to ensure the players acclimatise before the match.

“From what I have seen, there is no reason for Nigerians to entertain fear on Sunday because I have the feeling that the Eagles will live up to the expectation,’’ Pascal said.

NAN reports that the Eagles are expected to depart Abuja on Saturday for the qualifier in Zambia on Sunday.

Nigeria is drawn in Group B of the qualifying series alongside Zambia, Algeria and Cameroon. (NAN)
EMAF/PDE
========
(Edited and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-AE-16
Stakeholders
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Oct. 6, 2016(NAN) Agricultural stakeholders in the south- western region of Nigeria on Thursday met in Ibadan to chart a new course for regional growth and survival through agriculture.

They met at the South-West Agricultural Summit 2016″ facilitated by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and Agro-Nigeria, a leading Agricultural Organisation.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the event with the theme: “Achieving an Agro-Powered Regional Economy” was to review and reflect on various efforts and strategies to achieve optimal result in the sector.

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state said that the event was timely and auspicious, saying there was need for stakeholders to come together to discuss the matter of regional survival and growth.

Ajimobi, who was represented by Mr Abimbola Adekanmbi, the State Commissioner for Budget and Finance, acknowledged that such summit would evolve a broad regional integration agenda.

He stated that it would advance the promotion and exploitation of the agricultural potentials of the Yoruba region within the context of the Nigeria federation.

“Now is the time to go back and reconnect with the glorious heritage. This is the first region-based dialogue on agricultural development in Nigeria.

“Now is the time to let go for our seeming dependence of the unsustainable path of oil and gas, two commodities with expiry date,” Ajimobi said.

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State said that it was obvious that the era of free petrol dollars had gone, saying the summit would afford states in the region the opportunity to go back to basis.

Aregbesola, who was represented by Dr Charles Akinola, the Director General, Office of Economic Development and Partnership, described the summit as a welcome development.

He said that the region was now ready to face reality that agriculture was the only way out of the present economic recession in the country.

“The summit is a good one because we are going back to the root.

“The era of a $100 or $120 per barrel is gone. We need to diversify our economy and agriculture is a natural space that we should be operating.

“Agriculture has provided us food and now we need to operate like we used to do 50 years back,” Aregbesola said.

He expressed hope that the summit would afford the states opportunity to reflect and review their individual agricultural policies.

According to him, this forum will allow for knowledge sharing on
policies that can be adopted at the regional level to foster synergy and additional agricultural value chain for the individual state.

Mr Dipo Famakinwa, the Director-General, DAWN Commission, lamented that several actions and policies made by the states, farmers, businessmen, entrepreneurs were not well connected nor integrated in relations to regional economy.

Famakinwa said the summit was imperative to allow for exchange of ideas and creation of conducive environment for diversification of economy through agriculture.

“So it is important for us to do this, so that we can couple an atmosphere together that will create and inspire the abilities and actions of everybody and ensure that the business of agric begins to make sense in the south west.

“Agric entreprenuers must begin to do what they are suppose to do in terms of the diversification of the economy of the region and for government to also take optimal advantage of the sector.

“This will not be for revenue generation only but also for employment and wealth creation, likewise social security,” he said.

Mr Richard-Mark Mbaram, the Chief Executive Officer, AgroNigeria explained that the purpose of the event was to make sure private sector carried the public sector hand-in-hand in exploring the prospects in agriculture for regional benefit.

“We are not limiting it to the south-west but the truth is that the region has always been at the fore-front of development in many aspects, which was not so anymore.

“The potentials are still there. So, we are partnering DAWN to revive the spirit as that is the only way forward for the region and even the country, if we must get out of the present economic situation.

“We have gathered experts and stakeholders in agric business, brainstormed and discuss agriculture.

“We are hoping to start with a think tank to identify key issues in terms of agricultural policies and implementation,” Mbaram said. (NAN)
TAA/ORO/AFA
Edited by Razak Owolabi/Felix Ajide
==========================

Court orders AMCON to pay N26.5 bn to Capital Oil

NAN-H-99

Judgment

By Martins Odeh

Abuja, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday ordered the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to pay Capital Oil and Gas Industry Limited N26.5 billion as contained in a consent judgment delivered in 2013.

Justice Abdul Kafarati, in his judgment, held that the court had powers to enforce its judgment or that of any lower courts in the country.

“An order is granted for AMCON to provide Trade Finance Facility in the sum of N16 billion for revamping of the plaintiff’s business and to pay the plaintiff’s trade creditors.

“I also grant an order compelling the defendant to comply with the consent judgment and to make the additional sum of N10.5 billion available to the plaintiff.

“This money is the payment of sundry creditors who continue to threaten the plaintiff’s business.,” Kafarati held.

Kafarati also restrained AMCON from exercising any powers over Capital Oil and Gas Limited and its assets.

These,according to him, include attempts at processing any assignment or transferring same on behalf of the company.

A Federal High Court in Lagos on May 6 struck out the suit brought by AMCON against Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited on these issues.

The court held that the suit was premature and could circumvent pending suits relating to the alleged indebtedness of Capital Oil and Gas Limited.

The plaintiff (Capital Oil and Gas Industry Limited) had approached the court to decide whether having regards to the consent judgment, AMCON was not under obligation to restructure its debt.

The plaintiff also asked the court to decide whether the actions of the defendant and agreements reached by parties since the consent judgment did not constitute a waiver of the requirement for compliance.

The court was also asked to decide whether the defendant was not wrong to have failed to restructure the plaintiff’s debt.

The plaintiff further sought the determination of the court whether if the defendant did not by its action fail to avail it trade facility in the sum of N16 billion to pay its trade creditor.

Reacting to the judgment, Mr Ajibola Oluyede, counsel to the plaintiff, described it as a landmark decision.

He,therefore, urged the defendant to accept the judgment, adding that such step would encourage growth of private businesses in the country. (NAN)

OMO/OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha