Blog

NAN-H-70
Peace
By Akeem Abass
Ibadan, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) Mr Oludare Adigun, the Oyo State Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), has called on youths to embrace peace while shunning all forms of criminality.

He made the call at an event organised by the PCN to commemorate the United Nations International Day of Peace in Ibadan.

“I am appealing to the youths of this nation to embrace peace so as to allow sustainable development because without peace, there can never be development,” he said.

Adigun said that the state command now has 300,000 members, adding that the corps would be enlarged as soon as the bill in the National Assembly to legitimise its existence passed through the Senate.

“The bill has been passed by the House of Representatives, but it is awaiting the concurrence of the upper chamber, the Senate,” he said.

He also said that the corps now has presence in all the 33 local governments in Oyo State, saying it would focus more on preaching peace in educational institutions.

“We will continue to empower the youths and implore them to embrace peace.

“ This will go far in acquainting them with the inherent danger in cultism, drug addiction and hooliganism,’’ he said.

He said it was by so doing that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government would be able to implement its sustainable development agenda.

Mr Daunsi Taiwo, a lecturer at the College of Education, Lanlate, called on the youths to shun any act of violence, saying such was capable of derailing the nation’s development drive.

Taiwo, who spoke on “ Sustainable Development Goals, ” called on the government to diversify the nation’s economy so that youths would be empowered

“Look at what is happening in the Niger Delta where the militants are bombing pipelines and the situation in the North- East where Boko Haram has caused the Federal Government to waste money meant for development on warfare.

“Let the government diversify into agriculture and mineral resources development, this is the only way to keep the youths empowered and engaged,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, which held at the University of Ibadan, featured a novelty match between Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in the state and PCN.

SWAN football team held the PCN football club to a barren draw in the match. (NAN)
TAA/AAB/OJO
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NAN-H-56
Union
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has given the management of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL) a 14-day ultimatum to review its workers’ condition of service.

The union threatened to embark on strike if the company would not accede to its demand.

NUATE gave the notice in a letter signed by its General Secretary, Mr Olayinka Abioye, which was addressed to the Managing Director of SAHCOL, Mr Rizwan Kadri.

A copy of the letter was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

NAN reports that SAHCOL is a leading provider of aviation ground handling support for international and domestic airlines operating within and into Nigerian airports.

The union requested the company’s management to urgently call for a meeting toward the review.

“All concerted efforts of the union formally and informally to bring management to the table has been frustrated severally by your management.

“By this letter, therefore, and unless you commence discussion with our union, there shall be a nationwide strike in all SAHCOL formations across Nigerian airports,’’ it said. (NAN)

ASO/FF/IGO
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(Edited by Fela Fashoro and controlled Ijeoma Popoola)

Edo poll: Postponement will not negatively affect outcome of election, says INEC

By Monday Ajogun
NAN-H-67
Outcome
Benin, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday said that the postponement of the state governorship election to Sept. 28 would not negatively affect the outcome of the poll.

Mr Sam Olumekun, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) in Edo, said this at the commission’s organised Stakeholders’ meeting on the election on Thursday in Benin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that INEC postponed the governorship election from Sept. 10 to Sept. 28 following security advice from the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

But Olumekun said the commission was ready and willing to conduct free, fair, credible and conclusive election for Edo people.

The REC, therefore, appealed to all the security agencies to deploy their personnel early enough to man their duty posts.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Benin, Mr Isaac Eke, said that security agencies would do everything humanly possible to give protection to the people during and after the election.

Eke assured all the 19 political parties of a level playing ground during the electoral process.

The newly-deployed Commissioner of Police to Edo, Mr Haliru Gwandu, also appealed to political parties and their supporters to eschew violence and intimidation of electoral officials and ad-hoc staff whose primary duty was to conduct the elections.

Gwandu urged the people to stop seeing election as a do-or-die affair.

“Those who want to invite thugs from neighbouring states should jettison the idea as security operatives are on ground to nip such plans in the bud,’’ he warned. (NAN)

AJOM/KOO/AMY
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-68
Impersonation
By Dorcas Elusogbon
Ile-Ife (Osun), Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) A 27-year-old woman, Atinuke Olawoyin, appeared in an Osun Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ile-Ife for alleged impersonation and forgery.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Osanyintuyi, said that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 16,  about 11.30 a.m. at Oja Tuntun, Ile-Ife.

Osanyintuyi said the accused presented herself as a member of staff of Olofin Micro finance Bank, Moore, Ile-Ife.

He said the accused used the company’s name and complimentary card to dupe people by collecting daily contributions from them.

The prosecutor said that the accused forged the passbook and other documents of the micro-finance bank to promote her business.

He said the accused also presents herself in a way to cause breach of public peace.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 249 (d), 467 and 484 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11, Laws of Osun, 2003.

The defence counsel, Mr Martins Awe, applied for the bail of the accused on liberal terms, stressing that the accused would not jump bail.

Magistrate Iyabo Salami granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Salami said the surety must present a tax clearance certificate, swear to affidavit of means and his address verified by the bailiff.

She adjourned the case till Oct. 18 for hearing. (NAN)
EDA/FLP/OFN
Edited by Folorunso Poroye//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-66

Theft

By Thompson Yamput

Pankshin (Plateau) Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) A 17-year old boy, Godfrey Bonshak, died on Thursday in Pankshin Local Government of Plateau following attack by a mob that accused him of stealing a motorcycle.

The Plateau Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Tyopev ATema, who confirmed the incident, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Panskhin that already the corpse had been buried in the morning.

“There was a distress call to our men in Pankshin Divisional Office on Wednesday evening that somebody was being attacked by angry youths and they took action immediately.

“Our men were able to rescue the boy from the hands of the mob and rushed him to the General Hospital Pankshin, where he unfortunately gave up the ghost, ’’ the PPRO said.

Tema said arrests had not been made in respect to the incident but the corpse of the boy had already been buried by the family members.

But an eye witness, however,  told NAN that “only the police would unravel the truth about the allegation laid against the boy, ’’

But the father of the victim, Mr Bonshak Gokum, told sympathisers at the burial that his son did not commit the  theft.

“My son, who is lying down here dead did not commit any such crime. He was only framed up by his enemies and only God will judge them, ’’ the aggrieved man said.

The police, however, said that investigation into the matter had already begun and that those found involved would face the wrath of the law. (NAN)

TYC/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

NAN-H-55
Arraignment
By Teniola Ibitola
Lagos, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) One Ibrahim Babangida, 29, was on Thursday arraigned in Lagos for allegedly stabbing his friend, Ibrahim Umoru, on the head with broken bottle over money.

He appeared at an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Adebayo Oladele, told the court that the accused committed the offence at about 9.15 p.m. on Sept. 18 along Redemption Way, Ebute Meta, Lagos.

He said that Babangida broke the head of Umoru over an undisclosed amount of money.

Oladele said that the offence contravened Section 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, of no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to the one count-charge.

The Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Ajibade, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case till Oct. 24 for mention. (NAN)
OAT/DUA/TA

Edited by Dada Ahmed/controlled by Tajudeen Atitebi

Pastor arraigned over alleged theft of N10 m jewellery

NAN-H-5

Jewellery

Lagos, Sept 22, 2016 (NAN) A 23-year-old, self-acclaimed pastor, Nkechinyere Ndukwe, on Thursday appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing jewellery valued at N10 million.

Ndukwe is facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and obtaining under false pretence.

When the charge was read out to the accused, she entered a plea of not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mrs Helen Omisore, granted Ndukwe bail in the sum of N1 million with two responsible sureties in like sum.

The magistrate ordered that one of the sureties must possess land property within the court’s jurisdiction.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Cousin Adams had told the court that the accused and others now at large committed the offence on March 9, at GRA, Ikeja.

He further told the court that Ndukwe had asked the complainant, Ifeoma Isiuwa, to bring all her jewelry valued at N10million for her to commence prayers on behalf of Isiuwa.

“When the complainant asked that her jewelry be returned to her, the accused was unable to produce them,” he said.

The prosecutor said that rather than return the jewellery to Ndukwe, the accused told her that she had converted them into her own personal use.

Adams said that the offences against the accused contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes three year jail term while 409 states two years for offenders.

The court has adjourned the case till Oct. 17, for mention. (NAN)
OAT/DUA/MZA
Edited by Dada Ahmed and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed
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NAN-H-53
Revenue
By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Tin-Can Island Customs Area Command 2, Ijora, Lagos, says it generated N453.51 million revenue for the month of August.
Figures obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday, showed that last month’s revenue was N78.30 million less than the N531.81 million recorded in July.
NAN reports that the August figure was also N74.78 million lower than the N528.3 million the command realised for the corresponding month in 2015.
The Command`s Customs Controller, Alhaji Abdulkadir Dalhatu, attributed the drop in revenue to the low volume of containers at the terminal, occasioned by low importation activities at the ports.
Dalhatu, however, said the command was taking creative measures to attract more cargoes to boost its revenue.
According to the controller, some of the measures include training and re-training of personnel, blockage of revenue leakages and engaging stakeholders on how they could be served better.
He said the recent re-designation of the command as Tin –Can Island 2 from the old Lilypond Area Command was another strategy to make the command more appealing for better patronage. (NAN)
BHB/MO/WOJ
(Edited by Morayo Omolade and Controlled by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-HG-5

Collaboration

Birnin Kebbi, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) Kebbi State Ministry of Health is collaborating with UNICEF  to obtain data on the state’s health sector, an official has  said.

The Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Alhaji Sani Bunza, said this at a meeting with UNICEF officials in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.

Bunza said the primary objective of the meeting between the state government officials and UNICEF consultants was to present the data and information gathered on human resource.

He commended the efforts the UNICEF for participating in the meeting which would enable the Ministry of Health to have accurate data on its health workers across the state.

Earlier, the UNICEF consultant in the State, Dr Abubakar Kende, had commended the efforts of the state government on health matters and in training of health workers.

Kende further commended Gov. Abubakar Bagudu of  Kebbi for being proactive in providing counterpart funding for UNICEF projects. (NAN)

SZT/ORO/NKO
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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Nkechi Okoronkwo

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