Blog

NAN-HG-3
Hair
By Yashim Katurak Rebecca
Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) An Abuja-based medical expert, Dr Arikawe Adeolu, has warned against waxing or complete shaving of pubic hair, saying that total removal of hair in that area could cause infection.

Adeolu gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said complete shaving or waxing of the hair around the pubic could cause cracks and expose the skin to bacterial infection.

He added that the pubic hair served a major purpose of providing some level of cushioning for the individual, especially during sexual activity, preventing the skin from rubbing against another and causing abrasion.

He explained that if the skin around the pubic region was completely shaved and the individual’s skin came into contact with another person’s skin, friction would be increased due to the skin to skin contact.

He advised that individuals who were worried about the lack of hygiene due to untended pubic hair should consider trimming rather than complete shaving or waxing of the hair.

“When you completely shave the pubic hair, it re-grows in a slanted fashion with the tip sometimes growing into the pubic skin, which can crack open the skin.

“It is usually a small crack which cannot be seen with the naked eyes but due to this crack and loss of integrity of the skin at that level, there is increased risk of getting infection.

“Complete shaving can also cause boil to develop in that region. This is because when you shave, you cause some level of abrasion in the area which opens up the skin.

“These small openings cannot be seen with the eye but they are big enough for the micro organisms to get into the body.

“Also, because the pubic area is always moist, this serves as breeding ground for organisms like bacteria.”

Adeolu said that trimming the pubic hair would also help to reduce the risk of contacting Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), which could also be contacted when fluid from an infected partner’s genitalia came into contact with the pubic area.

According to him, if the partner is already infected, the virus in the semen or body fluid can easily penetrate the skin of the other to infect the individual.

He said that this infection was mostly caused by a virus known as ‘Molluscum contagiosum’, adding that there had been significant increase in incidences of such infection in hospitals.

“It is a viral infection that is also categorised as an STI. It affects the skin and does not need treatment; usually after a couple of weeks or months, the symptoms go away by themselves.

“You also have an increased risk of contacting other STIs such as HIV, Hepatitis, genital warts by complete shaving of the pubic hair,’’ Adeolu said. (NAN)
KRY/AOM/HA
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(Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

EFCC re-arraigns Indian businessman, 3 Bank PHB officials over N855m  fraud

NAN-H-19
Indian
By Moji Eniola
Lagos, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned an Indian businessman, Ashok Isran, over an alleged N855 million fraud.

Isran was re- arraigned alongside his company, Nulec Industries Ltd., Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank) and three management staff of the bank — Anayo Nwosu, Olajide Oshodi and Sunny Obazee.

The defendants were re-arraigned before Justice Kudirat Jose of an Ikeja High Court on an 11-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants were first arraigned in March 2014 on a two-count charge and were granted a N50 million bail each.

In the amended charge, the EFCC’s counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), alleged that the defendants defrauded a businessman, Sir Daniel Chukwudozie, of N855 million between July 2008 and August 2008 in Lagos.

Jacobs said the bank had collected the money from Chukwudozie as payment for preference shares of Nulec Industries in an upcoming initial public offer.

“The public offer did not take place and it is a ploy by the defendants to defraud the complainant.’’

The offences contravened Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006.

All the accused persons again pleaded not guilty to the charges and the judge allowed them to enjoy the bail terms earlier granted them by the court.

The case was adjourned to Dec. 13 for hearing of the no-case submission application filed by the defendants. (NAN)
MAE/DA
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Edited & controlled by Dele Akinsola

Nigerian students’ arrest: Scholar seeks decisive action against Turkey

NAN-H-56

Deportation

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016(NAN) Mr Celsius Ohain, a veteran journalist and scholar of International Relations, says Nigeria needs to take a decisive action against Turkey following reported arrest and deportation of Nigeria students.

Ohain, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, condemned the treatment meted out to the students.

He said if the students had violated any Turkish law, there were appropriate diplomatic channels of handling such matters.

NAN recalls that one Rukkaya Usman, one of the Nigerian students deported from the country, said the Turkish government did not give any reason for the action.

Usman, according to the report, is a final year student of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Melikseh.

The Federal Government, on its part, said it would summon the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil, for explanation.

Ohain said the incident was unfortunate as no national of any nation should be treated shabbily under any circumstance.

“I do not subscribe to foreign nationals violating the laws of their host countries; Turkish government should investigate the matter and tell Nigeria exactly what happened.

“Even if they break Turkish rules, there are diplomatic procedures; there should be reciprocity between Nigeria and Turkey.

“Nigeria should react decisively; when these type of things happen and you remain docile, it is bound to happen again,” he said.(NAN)

CJ/OU

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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NAN-H-54

Spelling.

By Kate Obande

Abuja, Oct.4, 2016 (NAN) The Egunec Education Support Fund (EESF),   an NGO, has said that regular organization  of spelling competition would enhance reading culture amongst students in the country.

Eberechukwu Ujam, Executive Director EESF made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Egunec Education Support Fund is a programee which is aimed at reducing the number of street children by sponsoring them through school.

Ujam said that such competitions will encourage the young ones to learn how to read and write more adding that youths no longer have interest in reading.

According to her, the social media is a major contributing factor to the decline in reading culture and students’ performance in examinations.

“ Since the emergence of social media, the young ones do not have interest in reading and writing any more, all they do is to concentrate on the internet.

“If you go to the internet, you see all manners of wrong spellings and abbreviations and it is affecting their spellings.

“So we want to enlighten and awaken their consciousness to the damage that is being done to English language through wrong spellings.’’

Ujam told NAN that as part of their efforts to enforce reading culture and promote good spellings, the organisation had concluded plans to organise a spelling bee competition in Abuja.

She said that the maiden edition of the competition would take place on Oct. 6 in Abuja with participants from both public and private secondary schools.

She explained that the focus was on secondary school students because their brains are sharp adding that it would be an annual event and would be expanded to the 36 states of the federation.

The Executive Director advised the government to collaborate and create enabling environment for NGOs in the education sector to carry out their development activities. (NAN)

KTE/COA/MTM/

By Constance Athekame/controlled by Tukur Muntari.

Alleged theft of dryfish lands 25-year-old man in court
NAN-H-55
Dryfish
By Nana Musa
Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) A 25-year-old man, Lawal Abdullahi, on Tuesday appeared in a Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for alleged theft of one carton of dryfish.

Abdullahi, who resides at Tipper Garage Gwarimpa, Abuja was arraigned on a one-count charge, which he pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, Judith Obatomi, told the court that Jemilu Mohammed of same address with the defendant reported the matter at the Gwarimpa Police Station on Sept. 19.

Obatomi said that the complainant reported that the defendant allegedly stole his one cartoon of dryfish valued N27, 000.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 287 of the Penal Code.

The judge, Alhaji Mohammed Ado, admitted Abdullahi to bail in the sum of N20,000 with a surety in like sum.

Mohammed said that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court, and adjourned the matter till Nov. 21 for hearing.(NAN)
NHM/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-HE-14

Training

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Lagos, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) The Ministry of Budget and National Planning has organised a training programme for directors and senior officers in the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The training is designed to build the capacity of the beneficiaries on the 2017 budget preparation process.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Fatima Mede, said at the opening of the  three-day programme in Lagos on Tuesday, that it would enhance the planning and budgeting skills of 450 directors and senior officers.

Represented by the Director of Administration, Mr Eze Ezeilo, Mede said that the workshop was planned for 2017-2019 Medium Term Sector Strategy (MTSS).

“The event brings to together PRS senior officers responsible for the preparation of the sector strategies, plans and budget in the MDAs on the requirements for ensuring successful implementation of the strategic plans.

“We are facing economic challenges as commodity prices, especially oil prices, are declining with negative consequences on our revenue.

“Our fiscal policies must, therefore, change to ensure that expenditure is linked to sound strategy for maximum impact on the common man in the street.’’

Mede said that the challenges necessitated the urgent need for MDAs to prepare the MTSS document.

She said that the document would guide allocation of the available scarce government resources for the implementation of capital projects, to ensure value for money on government spending.

“Through this process, we will set the basis and fundamental parameters (baselines, indicators, inputs, outputs, outcomes) for effective monitoring and evaluation of projects and programmes of the MDAs.’’

The permanent secretary told the participants that they were expected to formulate effective plans and implementation strategies for enhanced service delivery.

Also speaking, the Director-General, Centre for Management Development (CMD), Dr Kabir Usman, charged the participants to utilise knowledge to be acquired from the workshop to produce functional strategic plans.

Usman said that they should be able to analyse the importance of the MTSS to national development goals and its critical role in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) process.

“They will be able to analyse the significance of research and statistics in policy making and implementation; critique current project selection and implementation processes.

“They will also be able to use strategic planning techniques for goal achievement and identify impeding forces in strategic planning.’’

In addition, he said that the participants would be able to create an intelligent linkage between strategic plans, policies and budgeting process.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CMD is an agency under the Ministry of Budget and National Planning with the mandate of providing services in the areas of management, administration, and research.

The centre also provides specific organisations tailor-made in-plant programmes to address specific needs.

The theme of the workshop is “Strategic Planning, Plan Formulation and Effective Linkage to the Budgeting Process”. (NAN)

CIA/JPE/NKO

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Edited by Joseph Edeh/Nkechi/Okoronkwo

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NAN- ELS-9
Award
Lagos, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) Aduwak Katung, Senior Manager, MTV Base says 15,000 fans are expected to watch the upcoming MTV Africa Music Awards in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prestigious MTV MAMA Awards show, organised by MTV Base, is scheduled to hold on Oct. 22, at the Ticket Pro Dome.

Katung said in Lagos on Tuesday that the show would be attended by lots of top class artistes from across the world.

• Cue in audio

“The MAMA awards this year is going to hold in Johannesburg for the first time; we have 15 thousand fans coming to watch, the biggest ever.

“We have many new nominees; last year they were nothing, this year they are nominees.

“We have Patoranking from last year, who was (nominated) Best New Comer, now (nominated) Best Male; we have YCEE nominated Best Hip-Hop (artiste).

“This year, we are introducing an award category, which was there before – that’s Best New Act; it’s not Best New Act anymore; it’s now Best Breakthrough

“We realise that there are people, who have been struggling for a long time, but who have finally made it.’’

• Cue out audio

He stated that Nigeria has been positively affected by the MTV Awards.

“The impact in Nigeria and Africa is we have a lot of people nominated.

“Nigeria is the biggest black nation in the world and because of that our numbers are high.

“So we have a lot of nominees.

“I think that Nigerians are working harder now; we have more people that we have not known before that are making waves and they are staying true to their game.

“So we are being heard; Africa is demanding on them; so Nigeria has a lot more to offer.

“People are producing something out of nothing; people can make music faster now because of the new technologies and everything,

“So people believe in themselves more; you don’t have to be a doctor, you don’t have to be a lawyer, you can be a musician and you can still make it.’’

NAN reports that, MAMA 2016 will celebrate African talent across 18 award categories, which include Best Male, Best Female, Listener’s Choice and Best Group.

The contributions of artistes from Portuguese and French-speaking African countries are recognised in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone award categories.

Setting the pace in the prestigious Artiste of the Year category are Nigerian artistes, Wizkid and Yemi Alade, who go head-to-head against South Africa’s Black Coffee, Kenyan group Sauti Sol, and Tanzanian artiste, Diamond.

Additional categories include the Africa Re-Imagined Award and Personality of the Year Award. (NAN)

BAG/ERO/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Emmanuel Yashim
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NAN-H-17
Rape
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) A 24-year-old man, Sodiq Afefelaye, on Tuesday appeared before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly raping a 17- year-old girl.

The accused, whose residential address was not given, is facing a two-count charge of unlawful carnal knowledge ‎and sexual assault.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Ajaga Agboko, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Freeman Str., Lagos, between 10 and 10.30 a.m on Sept. 17 while everyone was away.

Agboko said that the defendant sexually assaulted and molested the victim, inflicting her with injuries.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. A. Ogunbowale, ordered the defendant to apply for bail at the High Court, explaining that the magistrate’s court did not possess the jurisdiction to grant her bail.

She adjourned the case to Nov. 2 while the court is awaiting legal advice from the office of director of public prosecution.

Rape contravenes provisions of Sections 137 and 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. (NAN)
UNS/DUA/TA
Edited by Dada Ahmed/controlled by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-53
Forfeiture
By Martins Odeh
Abuja, Oct.4, 2016 (NAN) The Code of Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday found a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsdey Orubebe, guilty of false assets declaration.

In his judgment, the Chairman of the tribunal, Mr Danladi Umar, held that “plot 2075’’ located in Asokoro District of the FCT which Orubebe failed to declare stood forfeited.

“The tribunal has taken time to review all the evidence turned in by both the prosecution and defendant.

“The prosecution had initiated this suit because of allegation of failure of the defendant to honour the Code Conduct Bureau (CCB) invitation to clarify some grey areas in his asset declarations.

“The prosecution did say in its address that Orubebe purposely failed to honour the CCB invitation in other to hide the property,’’ he said.

Umar, however, said that the defendant claimed he had surrendered the title to a third party in a bid to offset a N10 million debt.

He said the defendant had listed Mr Akinwumi Ajibola as the third party to whom he sold the property, adding that the defendant’s alleged creditor was also a defendant witness.

“After studying the merit of the case, the tribunal found that the ex-minister had benefited a total of N47 million as salaries during his four years tenure as minister.

“It, therefore, stands to reason that a minister who collects about one million naira per month will be pushed to sell the property at that strategic part of city to offset an acclaimed N10 million rent.

“Worrisome also is that the title document domiciled with the Federal Capital Territory Land Administration still bears the name of the defendant, six years after the acclaimed transaction was carried out,’’ he said.

Umar said it was the responsibility of the prosecution to prove the matter beyond reason doubt, adding that it had been sufficiently shown that Orubebe violated Section 15 of the CCB Act.

“In the light of this, the tribunal finds Godsdey Orubebe guilty as charged and he is to forfeit plot 2075, located in the Asokoro District of the FCT to the Federal Government,’’ he held.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN|) reports that Orubebe was on Nov.9, 2015 arraigned in the tribunal on charges bordering on bribery and false declaration of assets.

The charge was later amended leaving out the allegation that he solicited bribe from Dr Jonathan Alota to award contract to his company, Chemtronics Nigeria.

The earlier charge had accused Orubebe of allegedly accepting a payment of N20 million from Alota as gratification.

Orubebe was a former Minister of the Niger Delta under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Reacting to the judgment, Mr Selekeiweoi Larry (SAN), counsel to Orubebe, said the pronouncement was a “travesty of justice’’, adding that it would be challenged.

“How can court orders my client to forfeit a title that does belong to a third party. The piece of land has been sold,’’ he said. (NAN)
OMO/JEY/OFN
(Edited by Johnson Eyiangho//Felix Nwadioha)

NAN-H-36
Stealing
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) A Cobbler and a Sales girl were on Tuesday charged before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court, Igbosere, over alleged stealing of N11.4 million.

The defendants are Ganiu Anjorin 34; and Opeyemi Suarau, residents of Ikorodu and Mushin area of Lagos respectively.

They are facing a three count charge of conspiracy and stealing preferred against them by the police.

The prosecutor, Insp. Jimoh Joseph told the court that the defendants conspired to commit the alleged offence sometimes between February and July 2016 at 47 Dosumu Street, Lagos Island.

Joseph said that Anjorin stole the sum of N11million while Suarau stole the sum of N400, 000, all property of one Mrs Omobola Akintoye.

The prosecutor said that the offence committed was punishable under sections 409 and 285 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Earlier, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, and their counsel, Mr Oluwaseyi Onikoyi, urged the court to grant the accuseds’ bail in the most liberal term.

Magistrate A. O Solodoye granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1million each with two sureties each in like sum.

She said that one of the sureties must be a civil servant and the other a blood relation gainfully employed in a reputable organisation.

She then adjourned the case till Nov. 9, for mention. (NAN)
UNS/JPE/MZA

Edited by Joseph Edeh and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed
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