Blog

1004 Officers

By Chinyere Omeire

Lagos, Sept. 4, 2018 (NAN) An Igbosere High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the police not to carry out any act that would infringe on the fundamental rights of some landlords of 1004 apartments in Victoria Island.

The vacation judge, Justice Idowu Alakija, made the exparte order after listening to an application for an interim injunction sought by five executive officers of 1004 Home Owners and Residents Association (HORA), Victoria Island, Lagos.

The applicants — Abiola Oguniyi, Edet Essien, Joy Okara, Peace Itaribo and Olanrewaju Olaniyi — had through their counsel, Mr Promise Asikpo and Joel Nyot – sought to restrain the policefrom further harassing and detaining them unlawfully.

Joined with the Ispector-General of Police (IGP) were three other respondents, Akinlosi Oyelokun, Insp. Yusuf Danladi and Police Service Commission.

Justice Alakija, after listening to the applicant, granted all the orders.

“Upon hearing the applicants in this case, I am convinced that all the respondents have been served with the originating processes and the motion for Interlocutory injunction.

“It is hereby ordered that the parties maintain status quo and the respondent are not to carry out any act that shall infringe on the fundamental rights of the applicants pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” Alakija said.

She, however, asked that the file be returned to the registry and the case file forwarded to Justice Owolabi Dabiri for hearing of the interlocutory injunction.

Earlier, the applicants’ counsel, Asikpo informed the court that all the respondents have been served with the notice of Application for the Enforcement of Fundamental Rights and the Motion on Notice for an Interlocutory Injunction.

He said that the first respondent, Oyelokun, who was evading service, had been served by substituted service pursuant to the order of the court made on Aug. 28.

He, however, told the court that there was an imminent threat by the police to violate the fundamental rights of the applicants.

He said the applicants were first arrested in November 2017 and in August this year, adding that it took a lot of efforts before the applicants were released.

He, however, urged the court to restrain the respondents from inviting, interrogating, harassing, arresting, detaining or in any manner infringing the fundamental rights of the applicants pending the hearing and determination of the Interlocutory Injunction.

Asikpo, also urged the court in the alternative to order parties to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the Interlocutory Injunction.

He said that the court was empowered by law to protect the applicants against the imminent abuse from the respondents, however, urging the court to grant the prayers of the applicants in the interest of justice.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that residents of 1004 Estate had petitioned the I-G over unlawful arrest and detention of some occupants by policemen claiming to be from I-GP Special Tactical Squad.

In the petition, HORA alleged that five officials were unlawfully assaulted and detained for two days.

The association, comprising about 6,000 residents, alleged that the unlawful harassment was instigated by a tenant, Mr Akinlosi Oyelokun, whose apartment was disconnected over alleged two years unpaid service charge and electricity theft.

According to the 1004 residents, armed policemen from Force Headquarters, led by Insp. Danladi Idah Yusuf, invaded the association’s secretariat and whisked away three staff to the Bar Beach Police Station on “order from above’’.

Those initially arrested are: Mrs Joy Okara (HORA Finance Manager), Mr Peace Itaribo (Accounts Officer) and Mr Olanrewaju Olaniyi (Vending Officer) and detained overnight at the Adeniji Adele Police facility Lagos Island.

The association’s executives who attempted to secure their bails were also arrested and ended up behind bars for two days along with the staff, the petition said.

The residents expressed dismay that a tenant owing service charge arrears and facing allegations of hacking and electricity theft involving bypass of smart meter could simply use his connection with police to harass innocent citizens.

Capt. Shina Akinfenwa, Chairman of 1004 HORA, then appealed to the IG- to urgently address the matter in order to save his high office from dishonour and the residents from continued harassment.

Before the court granted the reliefs sought by counsel to HORA, Akinlosi told NAN on telephone that since investigations into his petition were ongoing he had no comment to make. (NAN)

OCC/WOJ

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Edited by Wale Ojetimi

Lagos State Transport Reform: 4,000 bus conductors register

Registration
By Kazeem Akande
Lagos, Sept. 4, 2018 (NAN) More than 4,000 members of the Bus Conductor Association of Nigeria (BCAN) have registered with Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI) for training and accreditation.

Mr Isreal Adeshola, President of the association, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

According to him, the development will enable them function as stipulated in the rules and regulations of the state government in line with the transportation reform.

“Over 4,000 members are fully ready to operate along with the new Lagos State transportation reform.

“We have attended LASDRI for accreditation and also to the Directorate of Transport Commuters Service to get various identification badges including our uniforms.

“We want to assure the people and the government that our members are fully for the state transformation on transport system.

“All these we have done to get prepared for the state development plan in the transport system,’’ he said.

The official said that there were over 270, 000 bus conductors in the state, adding that over 4,000 of them had registered as members officially.

According to him, the association has been telling members that very soon conductor work will no longer be business as usual.

“The association had trained and ensured that registered members get accredited by the concern authority to ensure accountability and effectiveness on duty.

“BCAN wants to ensure no more jumping and hanging on the buses anyhow.

“We are in line with the state government’s plan on the new transport reform and we enjoin others in the system to key into the system and get registered,’’ he said.

Adeshola appealed to the state government to carry members of the association along with the ongoing reform.

“We need government to assist us along with the ongoing reform in the transport sector.

“If the government is building the country or a state without carrying the youths along or involving them in the system the development may not be sustainable,’’ he added.

NAN reports that Lagos state government is set to roll out buses to service routes on the Oshodi-Abule Egba axis, with the arrival of 250 buses in line with the transport reform.

Mr Ladi Lawanson, the State Commissioner for Transport, had told NAN that the routes for deployment of the buses had been identified.

“In the last couple of months, we did the commissioning of the Ikeja Terminal, which was meant to be the flagship.

“The Ikeja Terminal was signaling the beginning of what was going to be the entire project, consisting of 13 terminals including Oyingbo, Yaba.

“The first set of buses have come and we are using the Ikeja axis as a laboratory where we are going to roll out from,” he said. (NAN)
AKA/COO/AFA
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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Felix Ajide

Electricity: Politician promises solar energy in Umaisha
By Awayi Kuje
Energy
Umaisha (Nasarawa State), Sept 4, 2018 (NAN) Alhaji Issa Ibraheem, an aspirant on the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Nasarawa State, has promised to provide solar energy in his constituency, if elected in 2019.
Ibraheem, who is seeking election to represent Umaisha/Ugya constituency at the state legislature, made this known on Tuesday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Umaisha, Umaisha Development Area of the state.
He said the project would boost the socio-economic activities and the standard of living of the people of the area.
He also said that due to the absence of electricity in the area, he would collaborate with the State Government to ensure the electrification of the constituency if given the mandate.
The aspirant also promised to empower women and youths of the constituency with different skills to make them self reliant and contribute their quota to national development.
“ I will promote the welfare of the people of the constituency if elected to represent them at the state House of Assembly in the 2019 general elections.
“And as a grassroots politician, I know how best to better the standard of living of my constituency, if elected.
“I am into this race to provide the much needed dividend of democracy to my people. I want to change their lives positively.
“I will initiate different skills acquisition programmes in order to enable them become self reliant and to contribute their quota to national development.
“Most of our youths have nothing doing, hence the need of my plan, if elected, to engage them in one activity and the other in order to better their lives,” he said.
Ibraheem also promised effective representation, assuring that he will not fail in his responsibilities.
“I am contesting for the position in order to ensure effective representation, sustainable development and youth empowerment, among others,” he added.
The politician further assured the people of the constituency that he would support and sponsor laws that would have direct bearing on the lives of his constituents and the state at large.
He drummed support for President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Tanko Al-Makura to enable them succeed in the task of delivering more dividends of democracy.
Besides, the aspirant called on Nigerians to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of their affiliation. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Bafarawa

Enugu, Sept. 4, 2018 (NAN) Former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa says he was not perturbed by the number of presidential aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Bafarawa, a presidential aspirant under the PDP, said this on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

The aspirant, who was in Enugu as part of his consultation to clinch the party ticket for the presidency, said his ambition was not a do or die affair but borne out of the desire to render selfless service.

“I am a democrat and ready to support the party even if i lose.

“The number of aspirants in the PDP is a blessing and the party should be commended for creating the platform for people with requisite credentials to vie for office,” he said.

The former governor said that his motivation to contest was borne out of his displeasure on the state of affairs in the country, adding that his presidency would truly unite Nigeria.

“I am disturbed with the way and manner the country is and my priority will be to bring unity in the country,” he said.

Bafarawa said that he would rather document all his programmes of actions rather than making promises such that if he won, Nigerians could easily refer to his position during campaign.

“I have a written manifesto and will not promise what I cannot do. My word is my bond,” he said.

The presidential aspirant said that he would run an inclusive administration, adding that every part of the country would be integral parts of his government.

He said that he would not only handover to a president of Igbo extraction if he got elected in 2019 but would get the Igbo fully involved.

“If I win, I will go with the Igbo from the first day. There is no question of what I will do for the South East because it will be their government,” he said.

Bafarawa said that he had offered himself as the bridge between Nigeria’s aspirations and the goals of her nationhood.

He said that the reality on ground portrayed Nigeria as having departed from the dreams of her founding fathers.

“It is rather sad that these cherished values have often been jettisoned on the altar of sentiments and selfish motives.

“As a long term player in local and international economic and political relations, I have garnered enough experiences and exposure to provide the requisite leadership for Nigeria, he said.

He said that his administration would implement policies that would strengthen the drive to achieve true federalism in the country.

“Since inception, the country has organised several forums to discuss Nigeria as a country and the relationships of the federating units.

“Although very robust and patriotic discourses were held and recommendations made, none of the reports or recommendations of the various conferences have been implemented.

“My administration will dust all the findings and reports of all the national conferences with a view to extrapolating those aspects that are consistent with our aspirations,” he said.

(NAN)

EOA/MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Muslim society trains 800 students on job creation

Training
By Mohammed Lawal
Giwa (Kaduna State), Sept. 4, 2018 (NAN) The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Kaduna State chapter, has trained over 800 students in primary and secondary schools on job creation towards making them employers of labour.

MSSN’s Chairman, Malam Suleiman Mohammed-Umar, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Giwa.

NAN reports that Mohammed-Umar spoke on the sidelines of a six-day training workshop on skills acquisition organised by the Muslim students body.

It covered training on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), sewing, knitting, tiling, soap making among others.

The chairman said the essence was to improve the morals of the future leaders and educate them on self-reliance.

He said that apart from skills acquisition, the event would also include classroom instructions, tutorial and public lecture on good governance.

Mohammed-Umar said the ultimate goal was to shape the moral of youths to be good ambassadors of their respective families.

The chairman urged individuals, corporate organisations and all other relevant stakeholders to support the society to discharge its duties diligently.

Also in an interview, Alhaji Uba Sani, Political Adviser to Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i, said the training was timely and would help in making the participants to become useful to themselves and the nation.

Sani urged Muslims to focus more on the search for knowledge and stand on their feet to enable them compete with others across the country.

“I must confess that the programme is timely in view of the fact that the young generation are gathered here to be educated, enlightened and to enable them understand some of the tasks ahead of them.

“I must, therefore, appreciate the wonderful initiative of MSSN for the young people to be oriented and acquainted with skills, as well as some of the fundamental objectives and teachings of Islam.

“I want to encourage Muslims to be peaceful wherever they find themselves; this is a time for real sacrifice where Muslims need to be consolidated irrespective of their differences.

“We must, therefore, consider ourselves as one family that need to foster unity and promote peace among ourselves and other religions.”

On his part, Dr Yahaya Mujahid of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, said good governance would only thrive when leaders were sincere and have the required integrity to lead.

“There must be sincerity of purpose, people must understand that leadership is not about selling or buying, it is based on integrity and if you sell out your integrity, you will be in problem.

“Therefore, every citizen should understand the need to look at those with qualifications, with good intention, good records in their lives that qualify them to be good leaders.”

NAN reports that the training which drew participants from primary and secondary schools across the state, would last six days. (NAN)
KLM/MOL/MZA
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Maharazu Ahmed
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Theft
By Ugochi Ugochukwu
Abuja, Sept. 4, 2018 (NAN) The police on Tuesday arraigned four men in a Kado Grade I Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing a laptop, footwears and 1,000 Euros.

The accused persons are Tersugh Isaac, 28; Pius Kusugh, 35; Edward Frances, 36; all security guards of Efab Global Estate Mboro Abuja and Promise John, 19,
labouer of Kado village, Abuja.

The defendants are standing trial on a three-count charge of joint act, house-breaking and theft

The prosecutor , Ms Judith Obatomi, told the court that one Ifedigwu Jennifer of of Efab Global Estate Mboro, Abuja, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station on Aug. 22, adding that while the complainant was asleep at home, the defendant broke into her room on the said date.

She said the defendants allegedly stole the complainant’s Apple laptop MacBook, Assorted footwears valued yet to be known, and 1,000 Euros.

Obatomi said all efforts to recover the 1,000 Euros and stolen items from the suspects proved abortive.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 79, 347 and 288 of the Penal Code.

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

The judge, Alhaji Ahmed Ado, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N50, 000 each with one surety in the like sum.

Ado ordered that Isaac’s surety must be a salary earner and must show a pay slip while Kusugh and Frances surety must be a director from the defendant’s place of work.

The judge also ordered John to produce a reliable surety, residing within the court’s jurisdiction.

He adjourned the matter until Sept. 17 for hearing. (NAN)
UGO/OSA/AFA

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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Felix Ajide

2019: SDP promises free, fair primaries in Benue

Primaries

By Emmanuel Antswen

Makurdi, Sept. 4, 2018 (NAN) The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Benue on Tuesday promised to organise free and fair primaries for all its aspirants, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The state chairman of the party, Engr. John Enemari, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Makurdi.

He said that the party was ready for the forthcoming general elections and would reclaim government in the state.

NAN recalls that the SDP had earlier ruled Benue for 18 months between 1992 and 1993, by Late Rev Fr. Moses Adasu.

Enemari said that the party was banking on its earlier achievements in the state ahead of the 2019 elections.

He stated that the 18-month administration of SDP during the third republic remained the best ever, since the creation of the state.

He described SDP as the “beautiful bride” of Benue politics, adding that it would record overwhelming victory in the 2019 polls.

“SDP had ruled Benue state between 1992 and 1993 before the regime was truncated on the 4th November 1993.

“Within this period, Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu-led administration was able to carry out landmark projects.

“Within 18 months, Adasu established Benue State University, Makurdi, College of Education Oju, built JS Tarka Foundation and relocated College of Education Katsina-Ala to its permanent site among others.

“So we are banking on these pervious achievements, coupled with our resolve to provide a level playing ground for all aspirants seeking nominations on our platform.

“We are now the beautiful bride of Benue politics; everybody wants to identify with us. That are why you will see that we have the highest number of aspirants seeking nominations in the state.

He noted that the party had received remarkable membership boost in the state following the ongoing internal crisis in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC). (NAN)

AEB/JTJ/AFA
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Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Felix Ajide

INEC denies receiving N50m logistics support from Jigawa govt

Denial

By Muhammad Nasir Bashir

Dutse, Sept. 4, 2018 (NAN) The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied a newspaper report that it recently received N50 million from the government of Jigawa for logistics.

Dr. Mahmud Isah, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, made the clarification in a statement in Dutse, on Tuesday.

Isah said that the commission had not received any form of support from the state government following the extension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) last month.

“The attention of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Jigawa state has been drawn to a publication in Daily Trust of Tuesday, August 28, 2018 on page 4 captioned PVC: Jigawa supports INEC with N50m.

“The INEC Jigawa state office wishes to state in clear terms that it has not received any form of support/assistance from the state government during the extension period of the PVC/CVR exercise.

“The publication came to us as a surprise, as the commission since the commencement of the CVR in April 2017 to date, has been adequately funded by the national office.

“Hence, there is no reason why to lean on Jigawa state government or indeed any organisation for any form of logistic support,’’ Isah said.

He however stated that the state office of INEC holds the state government in high esteem as a major stakeholder in election matters.

But, he disagreed with the comment of state Deputy Governor on the issue of extending logistic support to it as contained in the publication by Daily Trust Newspaper.

The REC, therefore, urged the general public to regard the publication as baseless, unfounded and not true.

“In furtherance to this position of the office, we are calling on all politicians in the state to desist from making unguarded statements capable of truncating our democracy.

“We also want call on all media houses to always crosscheck their stories before going to press,” he added.

He said that INEC in the state remained resolute in its maintenance of transparency, credibility, fairness in all its electoral duties that will meet national and international standards.

“We will continue to maintain our neutrality at all times as an independent electoral umpire,” he emphasised. (NAN)

MNB/JTJ/MZA

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Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Maharazu Ahmed

PHED trains 12,640 civil servants on energy efficiency

Training
By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt, Sept. 4, 2018 (NAN) Mr Rufus Godwin, Head of Rivers State Civil Service Commission says no fewer than 12,640 civil servants in Rivers will benefit from energy efficiency training.

Godwin launched the training in Port Harcourt on Tuesday for civil servants drawn from the state government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He said the training, sponsored by the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), was organised to educate workers on how to manage electricity in their homes and work places.

He said, “this programme offers civil servants a unique opportunity to learn how to manage their energy needs, in line with acceptable global practice.

“We are dismayed with the epileptic power supply in a country of about 180 million people that prides herself as giant of Africa.

“We must improve power because any country desirous of growing economically must improve its power supply, which is globally regarded as a tool for industrialisation.

“It is worrisome that we are still talking about 5,000 megawatts in Nigerian when other countries are celebrating years of uninterrupted power supply. We should wake from our slumber,” he said.

Godwin said that the state government was distributing ‘free slots’ to all state-owned media houses to enable them reach out to electricity users in the state.

He commended PHED for organising the training and urged civil servants to avail themselves with the opportunity offered by the programme.

Mr John Onyi, Manager of Corporate Communications, PHED, said the company introduced the programme in 2016 to expose customers to the use of energy saving appliances to save cost.

“We observed that many electricity users are in the habit of using incandescent bulbs of over 100 watts and above without checking the economic impact.

“The programme will make them understand gains of using energy saving appliances, light emitting diodes and LED of 10 watts that consume less,” he added.

Onyi said the company had organised the training in over 300 schools and 500 communities with about 10,000 corps members benefiting from the exercise in its four states of coverage. (NAN)
DES/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide

Ships
By Aisha Cole
Lagos, Sept. 4, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Tuesday that it was expecting 30 ships containing petroleum products, food and other goods.

According to the NPA’s daily publication, ‘Shipping Position’,  the ships are being expected at the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in Lagos between Tuesday and Sept. 20.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 10 of the ships contained petrol while the remaining 20 had buckwheat, frozen fish, general cargo, diesel and other goods.

According to the publication, 12 ships loaded with bulk fertiliser, buckwheat, soya beans and petrol have arrived at the ports and waiting to berth. (NAN)
AIC/FLP/OJO
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(Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Mufutau Ojo)