Blog

Carpenter breaks into homes, steals foodstuff, N5, 000

Foodstuff

By Nana Musa
Abuja, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) A carpenter, Abubakar Abbas, on Monday appeared in a Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja
charged with breaking into apartments and stealing foodstuff valued at N5, 000 and N5, 000 cash.

Abbas, who resides at Angwan Cement Village, Karmo, Abuja, had pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy
and stealing brought against him.

The prosecution said the accused stole foodstuff like rice, beans, two tubers of yam and garri all valued at N5,000
and N5,000.

Two men — Bukola Ajayi and Abraham Asuquo — who live in the same house with the accused, reported the incident at the Life
Camp Police Station, Abuja, on Aug. 24., Pr0osecutor Judith Obatomi told the court.

According to Obatomi, the accused with others broke into the complainants’ apartments and stole the items.

The offences contravened Sections 79 and 356 of the Penal Code.

The Judge, Alhaji Ahmed Ado, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N5,000 with one surety in like sum.

He said the surety should reside within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the case until Sept. 17 for
hearing. (NAN)

NHM/DA
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Edited by Dele Akinsola

PVCs
By Dorcas Elusogbon
Ile-Ife (Osun), Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Monday ordered that all major markets in Ife be closed to encourage traders and other residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

The traditional ruler said in Ile-Ife that it was important that traders, artisans as well as other residents set aside time to collect their PVCs.

According to the monarch, citizens need to obtain the PVC as part of their civic responsibilities.

He urged the residents to collect the PVCs and participate actively in the forthcoming governorship election by freely voting for candidates of their choice.

The Babaloja of  New Market in Ile-Ife, Chief Abayomi Omoworare, commended the Ooni for the directive.

Omoworare said Ogunwusi had demonstrated exemplary leadership in promoting the campaign on the collection of PVCs.

“Since nobody can vote without Permanent Voter Cards,  it is our duty as good citizens to cast our vote in all elections for candidates of our choice.

“My people should, therefore, make use of Monday as declared by the first class monarch to go and collect their PVCs because of the forthcoming gubernatorial election coming up in Osun on Sept.  22,’’ he said. (NAN)
EDA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

TUC appeals to governors to support new minimum wage
Wage
By Christian Ogbonna
Yenagoa, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Bayelsa Chapter, has appealed to state governors and stakeholders to support efforts by the Federal Government to implement a new minimum wage.
Mr Tari Dounana, State Chairman, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Yenagoa.
Dounana said the appeal became imperative considering the current standard of living of workers across the states of the federation.
“It is necessary that the government begin the new minimum wage because cost of living is no longer the same.
“We paid N150, 000 for one bedroom flat as house rent as far back as 2011, but now it is over N250, 000.
“So, if you look at the variable and inflation that the workers are passing through, no employer of labour with right thinking will say that there is no need for the new minimum wage,” said Dounana.
According to him, the new minimum wage is about adding value to the society and the lives of people, especially the Nigerian workers.
“So, we are urging the governors to support the move and ensure that it is approved.
“The governors should be able to touch the lives of workers and avoid anything that causes delay over the implementation of the new minimum wage.
“They (governors) should know that the workers have been pertinently working with them. There is nothing one can gain than touching the lives of people that are close to you,” Dounana said.
He pleaded with the governors not to oppose the new minimum wage, and advised workers to be focused and believe that their new package will come to pass.
NAN reports that the tripartite committee set up by the Federal Government had been carrying out negotiations with stakeholders over the new minimum wage to be announced by Sept. 2018. (NAN)
OOC/FF/SA
Edited by Fela Fashoro/Salif Atojoko
==========================

Games

By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) The Ebonyi Ministry of Youths and Sports says it will partner with the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) to adequately publicise the forthcoming David Umahi Tertiary Institutions Games (DUMTIGA)

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition which will feature 10 tertiary institutions competing in nine sports will be staged from Sept. 8 to Sept. 15 in Abakaliki.

Mr Charlse Akpuenika, the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, made the disclosure on Monday during an interactive session of both bodies on the publicity arrangement for the maiden event.

Akpuenika said that such publicity would extend to other competitions to be organised after the DUMTIGA Games, all aimed at discovering hidden sports talents in the state.

“These sports competitions include the School Sports, Divine Mandate (Gov.Umahi’s campaign organisation) and Para-millitary among others.

“We intend to give adequate publicity to these sports events starting with the DUMTIGA Games to enable Nigerians and the world know that the governor’s giant strides in sports is no fluke.

“We believe strongly that SWAN with its wide reach, has the ability to effectively disseminate news about these events to ensure their overall success,” he said.

The commissioner noted that all necessary arrangements had been concluded to ensure a hitch-free hosting of the DUMTIGA Games, saying that all participating teams would arrive on or before Friday, Sept. 7.

“The events will assist in achieving the government’s grassroots-oriented sports policy which will unearth hidden talents across the state and harness them.

“It is shameful for instance, that Ebonyi is the only state in the country without a football team competing in any cadre of the nation’s leagues.

“The state government wants to reverse this trend and is working assiduously to float a state team to replace the Ebonyi Angels and Ebonyi Queens teams disbanded by the preceding administration.

He said the government’s sports policies were yielding results as proved by the encouraging performances of the state’s athletes in recent regional, national and continental competitions.

“An athlete from Ebonyi won bronze for Nigeria in the recently held Youth Games in Algiers, Algeria, while the state’s continent won the male volleyball and cricket male and female events at the just-concluded South-East zonal Yyouth Games elimination series.

“The contingent would thus represent the zone in those events at the forthcoming National Youth Games in Ilorin, Kwara, and we expect more scintillating performances from our athletes,” he said.

He noted that the competitors at the DUMTIGA Games would enjoy the state of the art facilities at the refurbished Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium, Abakaliki among other venues for the competition.

“We were all witnesses to the pathetic state of the stadium before the governor refurbished it as he is also re-constructing the dilapidated sports council secretariat at the stadium complex,” he said.

Mr Chukwuemeka Opara, the Ebonyi SWAN Chairman, assured the commissioner that the association would give adequate coverage of the DUMTIGA Games and other competitions.

“We assure that our members will be at all the venues of the competition to give up-to-date reports and analysis. (NAN)
RCO/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)

Stealing

Ikeja, Sept. 3, 2018(NAN) A 30-year-old barber, Muri Adebiyi, was on Monday in Lagos brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing sister’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card to withdraw N150,000.

Adebiyi, a resident of Isolo Road, Mushin, Lagos, is being tried for stealing.

The defendant committed the offence on Aug. 20 at Mushin, Lagos,

The police prosecutor, Insp. Aondohemba Koti told the court that the defendant stole his sister’s ATM card, Mrs Kudirat Muhammed and withdrew N150, 000 out of the N200,000 in her account without her consent.

Koti said that the complainant, who received debit alerts from her bank, rushed to the bank and discovered that her brother was the perpetrator.

“The complainant got series of debit alert amounting to N150, 000 from her account, she immediately moved to the bank to lodge a complaint.

“The Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera was played but to her greatest surprise, she watched her younger brother withdrawing her money.

“The case was reported to the police and the defendant was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

The offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section prescribes three years jail term for stealing.

The defendant denied committing the offence and was admitted to a bail of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mrs M.O Tanimola said that the surety should be gainfully employed and showed evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos state government.

Tanimola adjourned further hearing on the matter till Sept. 19. (NAN)
DOA/OIF/MNA
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Maureen Atuonwu

Neighbourhood
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) A human rights activist, Mr Masbau Olatunji, on Monday, urged Lagosians to be interested in the activities in their neighbourhoods, especially Local Government Areas.

Olatunji, the National Coordinator, Majiyagbe Human Rights Volunteers, gave this advice at the monthly meeting of the volunteer group in Lagos.

According to him, the majority of Lagosians do not even attend the various landlords and tenants association meetings, where they live and also show interest in what is happening around them.

“This, l don’t care attitude among us should stop.

“If you think it does not concern you, one day, it will and people will also look the other way.

“That is why things are going wrong in the society and those elected as Local Government chairmen and counsellors do not live up to the expectations.

“There is a lot of injustice going on daily in our  various neigbourhoods and it is only those living around the areas who can call our attention to them,’’ he said.

Olatunji said that what was needed was for people to call and alert the volunteers when they encounter such injustices around them and they would take it up from there.

He said that the human rights volunteer group needed to work hard to help a lot of people in distress, adding that they would not be able to achieve that without the cooperation of Lagosians.

Olatunji said that people were free to belong to the group by volunteering to join it and fight injustice from the grassroots.

The national coordinator said that the volunteers needed also to sensitise their communities on how to vote right during the 2019 elections.

“The injustice we are experiencing would not be happening if the right people are elected to be in government.

“That is why our major assignment is also to educate our families, children, neighbours and communities on the need to have the right people as leaders,” he added.  (NAN)
ACA/AAB/YEMI

Edited By Adeboye Ajayi/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

Labourer

By Ugochi Ugochukwu
Abuja, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) The Police on Monday arraigned a 30-year-old labourer, Salisu Yusuf in a Kado Grade 1 Area Court,Abuja for alleged joint act and attempt to steal a car.

Yusuf of Garki village, Abuja was arraigned on a two-count charge of
joint act and attempting theft.

The prosecutor, Judith Obatomi, told the court that one Mohammed Alhassan of Kado fish market, Abuja reported the matter at Life Camp
Police Station on Aug. 22.

Obatomi told the court that Alhassan arrested Yusuf at about 7. p.m with the help of Police Surveillance Team attached to Life Camp Police
Station, Abuja on Aug.22.

She said that the defendant and one other, now at large smartly opened a Honda Civic car, using a contrasted master key.

She said that Yusuf opened the car with intention to steal the car but was caught by Alhassan immediately.

Obatomi said during police investigations, the defendant “openly confessed“ to have opened uncountable cars and had stolen laptop, cell
phones, car stereos and other valuable items.

The prosecuting counsel said that the defendant also confessed that he had been arrested and convicted for the similar offence in 2016.

She added that the offences contravened Sections 79 and 95 of the Penal Code.

Yusuf, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and the Senior Area Court Judge, Alhaji Ahmed Ado, granted him bail.

He, however, ordered the defendant to produce a surety who must be a salary earner of any cooperative organisation and reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

The judge adjourned the matter until Sept. 13 for hearing. (NAN)
UGO/AAB/DUA

Edited By Adeboye Ajayi/Dada Ahmed

Participation

By Uwumarogie Peter

Gombe, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe state, Hajia Hajara Salim, has called on women in the state to participate actively in the 2019 general elections.

Salim made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Monday.

She said women had the voting population to determine who should be the next governor and senators in the state , adding that with such political power, they should unit to prove their strength in 2019.

She noted that whereas, most women were afraid to pursue their political ambition, political participation remained the only way to overcome such fear.

According to her, some of the popular women in the state use their popularity in favour of the male politicians instead of seeking election.

“Women in Gombe state have voting population to determine who becomes the next governor and senators in the state. “With this population strength, I don’t see why we cannot prove our strength in 2019.

“We are afraid to go into politics despite the fact that some of us have the ambition and qualification to square up with any male aspirant.

“If we don’t participate actively, we can’t kill that fear.

“We must stop using our popularity in favour of the men. During campaigns, we see popular women being used by male politicians to get the votes of the people,“ she said.

Salim said she would contest election for the Gombe central senatorial district with anyone comes 2019.

According to her, the right time has come for women in the state to answer the clarion call for leadership.

“ Women must not be afraid to go into politics as the environment provides level playing ground for anyone to win, if the people believe in such a person.’’

The party chieftain appealed to women to cast their votes for female aspirants that met the standard and qualification for governance come 2019. (NAN)

UP/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed

2019: Coalition backs Odoh, ex – Ebonyi SSG for Governor

Coalition

By Douglas Okoro

Abakaliki, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) A coalition of 10 registered political parties in Ebonyi has endorsed Prof. Bernard Odoh, former Secretary to State Government (SSG) to contest for 2019 governorship election in the state.

The coalition disclosed this in a 10-point communique read by its state Coordinator, Mr Cletus Ukpabi in Abakaliki on Monday.

Odoh is among the major contenders for the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 governorship election in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the former SSG, who was appointed by Gov. Dave Umahi on May 29, 2015, resigned his appointment on April 2.

The group said that its support for Odoh’s emergence as the flag bearer of the APC in the Ebonyi governorship election was predicated on its conviction that he was most qualified among the other aspirants.

The group said that Odoh ‘s political support base spread across a broad spectrum of the electorate, including the academia , youths, artisans, civil servants, pensioners and market women.

The coalition urged APC to consider the former Nnamdi Azikiwe University lecturer, whom it said possessed the needed intellectual, political and adminon the APC governorship ticket.

The group said that the political parties in the coalition were aligning with APC to produce the next governor of the state stressing that it had endorsed Odoh as its sole candidate in the election.

It said the decision to endorse Odoh was reached after the executives and members of the political parties in the alliance voted unanimously to back him for the governorship race as their preferred candidate.

The group said: “That party executives and members of the coalition, after an exhaustive meeting, resolved to endorse Odoh as our sole candidate and recommend him for APC to consider as its gubernatorial candidate.

“That a discreet opinion poll conducted on all other aspirants from the various political parties revealed that Odoh has more support base and general acceptability.

“That based on the general acceptability of Odoh’s candidature by a broad spectrum of the electorate, we have resolved to endorse him as our choice candidate and urge his party to equally endorse him as a preferred choice.

“That coalition of political parties in Ebonyi will have political miscarriage if APC denies Odoh the governorship ticket as their sole candidate for 2019 election.

“That it is crystal clear from our observation that Odoh remains the most generally acceptable, credible, result-oriented and most qualified aspirant.

“That we have accessed him as the only credible aspirant in APC that has the capacity to defeat the incumbent Gov. Umahi, in a free and fair election.”

The group urged eligible voters who were yet to collect their voter cards to go and get them to qualify to vote in the 2019 general elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Odoh is from Ebonyi Central Senatorial District where the immediate past Gov. Martin Elechi hails from.

Odoh will battle Dr Paul Okorie, a two-time commissioner in the state, Sen. Soni Ogbuoji, Dr Edward Nkwegu, and Austine Edeeze among others for the APC governorship ticket for the 2019 election.

Political parties in the coalition are: African People’s Alliance (APA), Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), National Conscience Party (NCP), Allied Congress Party  of Nigeria (ACPN), People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), Fresh Democratic Party (FDP).

Other are; Democratic People’s Party (DPP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the United Democratic Party (UPP). (NAN)

ODO/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed