Blog

NAN-H-62
Judges
By Wandoo Sombo
Abuja, Sept.20, 2016 ( NAN) The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has advised judges of the Federal High Court to be apolitical, independent minded and neutral in giving judgments.

Mohammed gave the charge at the opening of the 32nd Annual Conference of Federal High Court Judges in Abuja on Tuesday.

The CJN, who declared the conference open, said this was the only way they would remain unquestionable and retain the trust and confidence of the Nigerians.

He said that judges must be seen to be people of high integrity and capable of delivering justice in matters brought before them.

“We must strive to be apolitical, neutral and most importantly independent in matters that pertain to the business of the court.

“We must shun the lure of corruption and the temptation to adjudicate on narrow perceived grounds, which may offend even our own rules of court.

“Judges must also be able to actually hold the balance between order and chaos, harmony and violence, prosperity and poverty.

“While the judges decide on which side the scale will tilt, they should however endeavour to uphold the law and interpret it just as it is and not as they imagine or wish it to be.

“The Federal High Court, perhaps more than any other court, has the power to make orders and judgments, which impact our government and our nation.

“It has historically been at the centre of momentous change and is consequently more visible than other courts. As such your Lordships must protect its reputation and integrity at all cost,” he said.

He said that it was unfortunate that legal commentators have continued to flay the judiciary for creating greater instability in the land.

Mahmud berated judges who were currently enmeshed in one form of conflicting judgement or the other.

“It is most ridiculous when judges of the same court seemingly sit on appeal over the judgments of their brother judges to the extent of mounting personal attacks on their own colleagues,” he said.

According to him, the situation which recently played out at the Federal High Court is already before the National Judicial Council.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Okon Abang and  Justice Mohammed Liman delivered conflicting judgment on the Peoples Democratic Party national convention.

He enjoined judges to put their differences aside and work toward the efficient delivery of justice in the country.

“The time has come for us to pull ourselves together and face the fact that our jobs do not permit infantile personality clashes while we are the arbiters of other people’s disputes.

“We must remain as the symbol of justice, blind to status, personality and origin.”

In his welcome address, the Chief Judge of the FHC, Justice Ibrahim Auta, said that the conference would afford the judges the opportunity to identify current problems facing the court.

Auta added that it was also expected that the judges at the conference would evolve solutions to such problems.

NAN reports that the conference is a tradition of the court which is carried out at the beginning of each new legal year.

Auta had officially declared the 2016/2017 legal year open on Sept. 19 at a special court session in Abuja. (NAN)
WS/OFN

NAN-H-52
Forex
By Buhari Bolaji
Lagos, Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on Tuesday reiterated its call on the Federal Government to lift the foreign exchange restriction (Forex) on 41 imported items.

The National Publicity Secretary of NAGAFF, Mr Stanley Ezenga, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Ezenga said that the restriction had led to low business activities at the various ports, thus affecting revenues due to the government and operations of stakeholders, including freight forwarders.

He said, “NAGAFF and other stakeholders have appealed to the government to consider a review of the policy, because it is not good for business at the ports.

“We are worried that the government has not considered our appeals in spite of the obvious negative impact it is having on importation and revenue.
“We are using this medium to appeal again to the government to review the restriction so that business can pick up and improve revenue at the ports.“

NAN reports that the Federal Government had in 2015 imposed foreign exchange restriction on some 41 imported items as a response to falling forex earnings due to oil price crash.

It has since brought lull to activities at the various ports, prompting stakeholders to call for a review. (NAN)
BHB/GOK/PAD
(Edited by Olagoke Olatoye, controlled by Peter Dada)

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NAN-H-65
Entrepreneurship
Lagos, Sept. 20, 2016(NAN) A financial expert, Mr Joshua Oderinde, on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to carry out more enlightenment on its entrepreneurship programmes to encourage employment generation.
Oderinde, a former Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, (ICAN) Ikeja District, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said the current recession in the country was a compelling reason for government to promote entrepreneurship among citizens in order to create jobs and build local production capacities.
Oderinde said that the country`s export potential would be increased if the government attracted more Nigerians to its many entrepreneurship programmes through aggressive enlightenment.
“My advice to the government is to enlighten the people about the policy issues in the economy.

“ They should make information more available to people so that they will be able to go into entrepreneurship.
“We need more entrepreneurs to address the business gaps, boost exports and earn more foreign exchange in order to overcome our current economic challenges.
“There are many initiatives the government put in place like the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, Federal Institute of Industrial Research that people can take advantage of, and create jobs.
“That is why it is very important at this critical time for government to enlighten the people about these initiatives to drive entrepreneurship, boost export and attract to grow the economy,’’ he said.
Oderinde urged the government to focus on value-addition on exportable products as a way of raising more revenue to revitalize the economy.
The expert challenged accountants to help move the country out of its current problem by thinking out-of-the box and applying the strictest professional discipline in all their work.
Another expert, Mrs Morenike Olaiwole, urged professional bodies in business-related areas to help the country out of the doldrums by sensitising their members to entrepreneurship.
Olaiwole, Chairman, ICAN, Ikeja District, said the professional body had organised fora where members were educated on the need to embrace entrepreneurship as a way out recession.
“We organise ourselves in forums monthly to discuss trending issues in the economy.

“And now that we are facing recession, we have been focusing on our forums lately also have survival strategies to get out of recession.
“We  need to educate our members on what they can do to cope and survive in the current situation and tap the various business and entrepreneurship opportunities that still abound in the economy,’’ she said.
Olaiwole assured that the country would get out of the dire situation if the country increased its export capacities and self-employment generations.(NAN)
BHB/GOM/SOA

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(Edited by Oluwole Sogunle)

Truck driver docked in Osun for knocking down motorcyclist

NAN-H-27

Manslaughter

Ile-Ife(Osun), Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) A 30-year-old, Taofeek Akintunde, who allegedly drove his truck recklessly and knocked down a motorcyclist, was on Tuesday brought before an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun.

The accused, whose address is unknown, is facing a two-count charge of manslaughter and dangerous driving.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Abdullahi, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 4 at 2.00 p.m. at Texaco Area of Ile-Ife.

Abdullahi said the accused drove a truck with registration no. LAGOS BDG 913 XA  recklessly on the public highway and killed  a motorcyclist, Clement Odunewu, 29.

The offences violated Section 4 of Road Traffic Act, Laws of the Federation.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Wole Omotosho, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms, saying he will not jump bail.

Magistrate Olalekan Ijiyode granted accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.

The case was adjourned to Sept. 9 for hearing. (NAN)

EDA/DA
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(Edited & controlled by Dele Akinsola)

NAN-HG-11
Peace
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) An NGO, Initiative for Inter-Religions Peace and Harmony Nigeria, on Tuesday urged Nigerians to promote peace and harmonious co-existence.

Mr Simon Dolly, the General Secretary of the organisation, made the plea in interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Dolly spoke ahead of the International Day of Peace marked annually on every Sept. 21.

The 2016 theme is: “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace.”

Dolly said without peace, there would be no meaningful development, adding that sustainable development contributes decisively to the elimination of what cause conflict and provides foundation for a lasting peace.

“Peace reinforces the conditions for sustainable development and liberates the resources needed for the societies to develop and prosper.

“Peace is not for one person, peace is for everybody; we need peace in our community, workplace, states, country and the continents.

“Peace is not a one-man affairs, it is a collective effort and all hands must be on deck to ensure peace reign in our country,’’ he said.

Dolly also urged government to complement efforts of the NGO to attain sustainable development.

“We believe in one Nigeria, if we want to remain as Nigerians, we must forget our diversity and regional, tribal and religious agenda.

“We should focus on one agenda, which is for peace and unity,’’ he said.

According to him, for the sake of the International Day of Peace, we appeal to Boko Haram to cease fire and end insurgency in the North-East for the sake of humanity.

Dolly said regrettably, peace had eluded some parts of the world for years.

He said some parts of the world had been hindered by war, conflicts and disagreements throughout human history.

Dolly said that these had left our world and many people in a deplorable emotional and physical state.

The General Assembly has declared it as a day to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and people. (NAN)
OEO/GOK/AFA
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye/Felix Ajide
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Lagos cook docked for withdrawing with employer’s ATM card

NAN-H-25

Cook

By Tomisin Erogbogbo

Lagos, Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) A 35-year-old cook, Emeka Akpama, was on Tuesday arraigned in Lagos for allegedly stealing the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card of his employer, who was away on Holy pilgrimage in Jedda.

Akpama is facing a two-count charge bordering on theft at a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor, Insp. Ben Ekundayo, told the court that the accused had on Sept. 1 at about 10.00a.m., stolen his employer’s Standard Chartered Bank ATM card at his residence in Lekki area of Lagos.

“The cook stole the ATM card while his employer (names withheld) was away in Saudi Arabia for hajj.”

He said the accused had  on Sept. 2 and Sept. 3 at about 5.00 p.m. and 12.00 p.m. respectively withdrew a total of N130, 000 from his master’s account.

“The master while on hajj was receiving debt alerts on his phone, so he asked his fiancee to lodge a complainant at the bank.

“The bank later sent the photograph of Akpama who was captured by the camera at the ATM,” Ekundayo said.

The offences contravened Sections 285 (1), (5) and (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mr Ade Adefulire, granted the accused a bail of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum, who must be a blood relation of the accused.

The case has been adjourned  to Oct. 27 for mention. (NAN)

TME/DEB/DA
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(Edited by Debo Oshundun & controlled by Dele Akinsola)

South-West records highest road crashes at Sallah –FRSC
By Angela Atabo
NAN-DS-1
Crashes
Abuja Sept. 20,2016 (NAN) The Corps Marshal ,Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC),Dr Boboye Oyeyemi,  on Tuesday said South-West states recorded the highest number of road crashes during the commission’s just-concluded Special Sallah Patrol.

Oyeyemi, said while speaking at the Zonal Commanding Officers Workshop in Abuja that the affected states included Ondo, Osun and Oyo which recorded the highest number of the crashes.

“The crash pattern has shifted again to the South-West and most of the crashes recorded during the last festive period were along Akure, Ilesha, Ife and Ibadan highways.

“This means the dynamics is for us to refocus on the south-western corridors, hence the new challenge. Therefore, we are relocating some of our personnel to ensure we stem this.

“Let’s get this clear; life has no replacement, the corps recorded about four per cent reduction in crashes compared to that of last year.

“These figures are lives of human beings not rams or cattle, so, we need to be careful and whatever we can do to save all these lives is of paramount importance to the nation,” he said.

Oyeyemi reiterated the corps’ commitment to the Oct.1 2016 date for the implementation and enforcement of the Speed Limiting Device, adding that this was not time for objection but for saving lives.

He said the FRSC had been working with road transport unions on the issue, and that drivers could not afford to ignore its implementation.

The corps marshal said there would be a review with the leadership of the various transport unions before the enforcement.

“There is no going back on the speed limiting device, that is the stand of the corps. We need to carry out our own responsibility to save lives.

“Any way we can get these things done is acceptable, that is what the Acts says and that is why the court judgement says that what we are doing is within the ambit of the law that sets up the corps,’’ he said.

According to Oyeyemi, the enforcement issue is not a matter of life and death; it is a gradual process because the FRSC is fully aware of the prevailing economic situation.

He said that the corps would continue with advocacy, education and enlightenment, and that gradually compliance would workout.

He said the target was not commercial intra city vehicles such as the taxis but inter city and inter state vehicles who plied the highways.

Oyeyemi said FRSC was also targeting commercial vehicles such as tankers, trailers, and trucks, high capacity buses such as the luxury buses and mini buses that were on inter city services.

He said the goal was to use any method possible to cut down speed as it was killing a lot of citizens.

Mr Zaki Alkali, the Ast. Corps Marshal and Lagos Zonal Commanding Officer, attributed the rate of accidents in the South-West zone to the volume of traffic on the roads.

Alkali said FRSC had put in place some plans to reduce the crashes and would look inward to come up with better strategies to achieve it.

He said some of these strategies had to do with the road engineering itself, though it was not the statutory responsibility of FRSC.

He said the corps was collaborating with the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to improve the standard of the road and also carry out public enlightenment to stem the increase of road crashes in the South-West.(NAN)
ATAB/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-23

Phones

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Sept.20,2016 (NAN)The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed passengers not to turn on or charge their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices on board aircraft following recent incidents and concerns raised by its manufacturers.

The aviation regulatory body gave the directive in a statement signed by its General Manager, Public Relations, Mr Sam Adurogboye, which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

It warned that the phones must not be stowed away in any checked-in baggage.

“NCAA is appealing to the passengers’ responsibilities in relation to ensuring safety and security of air transportation.

“Importantly, all airlines are hereby advised to emphasise the prohibition of this devices on board during passenger briefings by the cabin crew.

“Similarly, all those responsible for searching or screening checked-in baggage are expected to intensify the procedures to identify possible checked-in Samsung Galaxy Note 7,” it said.

The NCAA reminded travellers that Samsung had recalled over 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 devices due to several reported cases of overheating and outright explosion.

According to the statement, investigation traced these problems to charging and the company is limiting battery charging on Galaxy Note 7 devices to prevent inferno.

” NCAA therefore calls on all passengers and airline operators to ensure total adherence to this directive as safety and security of air transportation is paramount to the authority,” it said.

The nation’s regulatory body said it had also sent a letter with reference NCAA/DOT/ALL OPS/VOL.1/00716 to all airlines and all other stakeholders for strict compliance.(NAN)

ASO/SOA

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Saudi plane isolated at Manila airport after false hijack alarm

NAN-F-5
Alarm
Manila, Sept. 20, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) A Saudi Arabian Airlines plane was temporarily isolated after landing at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday following a false hijack alarm, airline and airport officials said.

Saudi state television said that the incident was over, and passengers could be seen disembarking from flight 872, which was travelling from the Saudi city of Jeddah to Manila.

Earlier, a pilot on board had advised the airport’s control tower that the plane was “under threat”.

“We instructed (the) aircraft to proceed to (the) isolated area,” the airport’s general manager Edmund Monreal told reporters.

“It is fortunate that upon landing the crew said they made a mistake. However, we can never play around with safety and security; it (the button) was unintentionally pushed.

“However, the problem was pushed twice,” he said.

Monreal added that the plane would be checked thoroughly anyway as a security precaution.

In a  message, Roberto Lim, undersecretary for aviation at the Department of Transportation, said police is “still monitoring.

That they are monitoring to why a hijack signal was issued by the pilot” adding, “persons will be interviewed. (Reuters/NAN)

(Edited by Damilola Oyewole/ Julius Enehikhuere)

NAN-HG-10
Polio
By Mohammed Nasibashir
Dutse, Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) Birninkudu Local Government Council in Jigawa will vaccinate no fewer than 192,740 children against polio in the ongoing immunisation programme.

The council’s Information Officer, Alhaji Mustafa Namadi, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Dutse in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the council had received enough doses of Oral Polio Vaccines for the smooth conduct of the exercise.

He said that the children would be immunised against polio and other child-killer diseases during the five-day exercise.

The spokesperson added that the council had given all necessary support to the National Programme on Immunisation (NPI) in the area for the successful conduct of the exercise.

He said that 246 trained ad-hoc staff would conduct the exercise in six centres across the local government area.

Namadi urged parents to take their children for vaccination at designated centres close to their respective communities to safeguard them against killer diseases.

The information officer commended traditional and religious leaders in the area for their support and cooperation in ensuring successful conduct of the exercise.

NAN reports that the immunisation for September commenced simultaneously in all the 27 local government areas of the state on Sept. 17. (NAN)

MNB/MTM/AEA
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Edited by Tukur Muntari and Controlled by Archibong Asuquo