Posts

Showing posts from April, 2013

Counsel’s absence stalls N6.76m case against Access Bank

(Nigeria) The absence of a respondent's counsel on Tuesday stalled hearing in a N6.76 million case instituted against Access Bank Plc at the Investment and Securities Tribunal, Abuja, over alleged illegal withholding of shares. The Presiding Chairman of the tribunal, Hon. Sanda Yelwa, said the bank’s counsel had sent a letter to the tribunal seeking permission to be absent due to poor health. Mr Emmanuel Effiong, a civil servant, had sued the bank for allegedly detaining his N761,688 being the balance of his N1.2 million shares purchased from the bank’s public offer in 2007. The appellant’s Counsel, Mr A. Wilfred, urged the tribunal to order the bank to pay his client N5 million for special damage on his investment. He prayed the tribunal to direct the bank to pay his client N1 million being the cost of retaining legal services and 25 per cent interest on the detained amount, as well as N761 688, the principal. Wilfred also urged the tribunal to disrega

Gov. Oshiomhole dismisses allegation of rigging council polls

Image
(Nigeria) Edo State Governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole,  Tuesday dismissed the allegation that his administration rigged last week’s council polls in the state, saying he remained committed to the principle of one-man one vote.   Oshiomhole made the denial while fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja. He described the election as the “best election” so far conducted in the state. According to him, the Action Congress Nigeria, ACN, won the election in all the local government areas of the state because “more people have left the Peoples Democratic Party,  PDP for ACN in Edo State’’. “More and more people have decamped from PDP because they were completely demoralised. The chief legal coordinator of the PDP candidate decamped to join ACN a month ago. “The chief agent of the PDP gubernatorial candidate at INEC decamped to join ACN. And it is instructive what they said. ‘’When they decamped, they said when a child keeps failing unhalted, first time,

Police kill 3 robbers in Ogun

(Nigeria) The Ogun Police Command on Tuesday said three robbery suspects were killed when a patrol team  encountered a gang operating on the Ijebu-Ode/Benin expressway. The command’s spokesman, MrMuyiwa Adejobi, told newsmen in Abeokuta that policemen  attached to Ogbere division  confronted the robbers at 1.30 p.m. ``The team was on patrol of the expressway as usual  when they encountered the robbers robbing road users at Alafia junction near J3 on the road. ``The police team engaged them in fierce gun battle; killing  two  on the spot while others escaped. ``One of them was arrested with bullet wounds but later died on the way to hospital; he, however, named other members of the gang before he died. ``One locally-made pistol and empty cartridges, cutlasses and assorted criminal charms were recovered from the gang,’’ he said. Adejobi said that the corpses were deposited at the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital. He said  the command would intensify efforts to

Reps to probe grounding of Rivers airplane

Image
(Nigeria) The House of Representatives on Tuesday in Abuja mandated its committees on Justice and Aviation to extensively investigate the justification and circumstances surrounding the alleged grounding of the Rivers Airplane. The committees are expected to report their findings to the house within two weeks. This resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Rep. Ahmed Idris (ACN-Plateau), which was unanimously adopted without debate when put to vote by Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. The motion is entitled: ``Urgent need to investigate the justification for and circumstances surrounding the controversial grounding of Rivers State Government Bombardier B700 Global Express''. Idris expressed concern that impunity and political vendetta were currently the order of the day in a 21st century democratic Nigeria. He said that a Bombardier BD700 Global Express Plane with registration number 5N565RS belonging to Rivers Government was grounded at Akure Airport on Ap

West African Gas Pipeline misses production deadline

(Nigeria) The West African Gas Pipeline project under which Nigeria is to supply Ghana, Togo and Benin with natural gas, will miss another deadline to resume supplies on Tuesday. The West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) had said it would resume transportation of gas to the three countries on April, 30 after completion of repairs to its damaged pipe in Togo. However, the company has said in a statement that it’s ``schedule had slipped because of two main challenges contracting and line cleaner defect”. Ghana, which has been suffering serious power shortage because Sunon Asogli,  a company which generates 200 megawatts of power using gas, which has been out of business since August last year, has expressed ``great concern” about the development. The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum noted in a statement in Accra on Monday that this was not the first time WAPCo was failing to deliver on its promise of resuming gas transportation to Ghana since the damage to the gas pipel

N33m fraud: 2 bag 7-year jail term

Image
  Justice Mohammed Shuaibu of a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna State, has sentenced two persons, Ifeanyi Echebiri and Sylvester Okoli to seven years imprisonment each for obtaining money under false pretence. The accused persons were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on May 13, 2011 on a 21-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. In the course of the trial, the EFCC called eight witnesses and presented several documents which were admitted as exhibits. After over two years of trial, Justice Shuaibu delivered judgment on April 26, 2013 and convicted the accused persons on 17 of the 21 counts. The accused persons were sentenced to seven year imprisonment on each of the counts but the sentence is to run concurrently. The court also ordere
 A six-man crew held hostage by Somali pirates for over two years has beenfreed following the payment of a ransom, the ship's Danish owners said on Tuesday.  The crew comprised of two Danish nationals, including the captain, and four Filipinos. ``The past two years have been extremely traumatic and dehumanising for our crew and their families,’’ said Claus Bech, chief executive of the shipping company Shipcraft. Bech planned to visit the crew, who are currently recovering from their ordeal at an undisclosed location. The six were abducted from the 67 metre-long vessel the Leopard, which was attacked in January 2011 off the coast of Oman. It was later found abandoned when it was boarded by Turkish military personnel taking part in international efforts to patrol sea lanes off the Horn of Afica. The crew members were taken to mainland Somalia, from  where they were moved to different locations. According to broadcaster TV2 a deal was sealed on April 14 be

9,660 patients tested positive to HIV in Lagos---Authorities

(Nigeria) No fewer than 9, 660 residents of Lagos State, tested positive to Human Immune Virus, HIV  out of the 102, 279 patients examined in the last one year, says the authorities in the state. The government government, meanwhile, said that 431 healthcare facilities across the state would be shut for contravening the state healthcare standards. It also said it was impossible to  guarantee total free healthcare services for the over 18 million residents of the state, saying “there was no fund to provide the services.” Lagos Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris,  during the 2013 ministerial briefing on the activities of his ministry, said that in order to prevent the increase in HIV, the state government through the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency,LASACA, distributed 520, 000 male and female condoms across the state. He noted  that the state government had established HIV/AIDS counselling and testing centres in health facilities across the state, a measures to check t

Ogun monarch appears in court over land dispute

(Nigeria) The Abepa of Joga Orile in Ogun,  Oba Adeyemi Adekeye, on Tuesday appeared before  an Abeokuta High Court VI over alleged illegal acquisition of  500 hectares of land at Isaga Orile. The case, with suit  number AB/187/08, was initiated by the Oniyide  family in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state. The family, through their counsel, Mr Ayotunde Faniyi, had on Nov. 19, 2012,  told the court that the monarch encroached on the family land. He said further that the Oniyide  family, who he claimed owned the land, had been using it for farming and other purposes before the alleged incursion by the monarch. The counsel had also called on  witnesses,  including the monarch of Isaga Orile, Oba Joseph Tella, to buttress his point that the Oniyide family did own the land. He told the court  that the monarch had erected structures such as hospitals, markets, and stalls among others on some portions of the land in dispute. But giving his test

Dutch King Willem-Alexander inaugurated

Image
Following the abdication of Queen Beatrix, the new King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander was officially inaugurated on Tuesday. The 46-year-old King Willem-Alexander succeeded his mother Beatrix, who abdicated earlier on Tuesday during a ceremony at the Royal Palace. The investiture of the new King took place during a joint session of the two houses of the parliament, the States-General at De Nieuwe Kerk church in Amsterdam. Under the Constitution, President of the Senate Fred de Graaf presided over the joint session. After all the international guests, the members of the States-General, the royal family and now Princess Beatrix entered the church, the new King Willem-Alexander came in, wearing a tail coat with white tie under the royal mantle, accompanied by his wife Queen Maxima. His entrance was followed by the singing of the Dutch national anthem Wilhelmus. Sitting on the throne Willem-Alexander gave a speech to the attendees in which he emphasized on the t

Israeli airstrike kills Palestinian in Gaza

Image
A Palestinian was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza city Tuesday, medical sources and witnesses said. It was the first Israeli targeted killing by aircraft in the Gaza Strip since an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire ended eight days of cross-border clashes between Israel and militants mainly affiliated with Islamic Hamas movement. Witnesses said al-Mis'hal was attacked as he was driving his motorcycle on the beach road to the west of the city. The Israeli army confirmed the airstrike, saying the targeted man was involved in firing rockets earlier this month from the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula into Israel's Red Sea resort of Eilat. Tension has been high over the past two days around Israel's Gaza borders. Unknown militants believed to be affiliated with al- Qaida fired two rockets into Israel over the weekend. As a result, Israel indefinitely shut down its crossing point with Gaza.

13 killed, 70 wounded in car bomb blast in Damascus

Image
At least 13 people were killed and 70 others wounded when a car bomb went off Tuesday in the heart of the Syrian capital Damascus in front of the old headquarters of Syria's Interior Ministry, the state-TV said. The blast targeted the rear gate of the ministry in the time- honored al-Marjeh Square, local media said, adding that many of those wounded are in critical conditions. The new building of the ministry is located in the Damascus' district of Kafar Souseh as the old one is believed to be confined to paper work and similar tasks. Meanwhile, Xinhua reporter at the site saw scenes of destruction and carnage with blood seen all over the ground and tens of cars were totally destroyed. The explosion was followed by heavy gunshots and heavy black smoke was seen spiraling high into the sky. The 23-storey Damascus Commercial Tower has also been partially damaged due to the explosion. Ambulances and fire engines run immediately to the site and firefighters

Mali court drops case against newspaper editor

A court in Mali threw out a case against a newspaper editor who was arrested after publishing an article criticizing the leader of last year's military coup, reports Reuters. Boukary Daou was detained on March 6 and charged with inciting revolt after an open letter in his Le Republicain newspaper accused Captain Amadou Sanogo of taking a large salary while leaving his soldiers poorly equipped. Sanogo headed a putsch that toppled President Amadou Toumani Toure. The editor's arrest by intelligence services demonstrated the coup leaders' continuing control over state security even after they officially handed power back to a civilian administration. The presiding judge said on Tuesday the authorities had failed to follow proper procedure and the case was therefore invalid. "I pay homage to my country's legal system, which has just rendered justice through a sane, clear and correct application of the law. It has proved its independence by voiding the c

Police arraign nursing mother over alleged theft of N400, 000

(Nigeria) A 29-year- old nursing mother, Temitope Adenuga, on Tuesday appeared before an Igbosere Magistrate Court in Lagos, charged with stealing N400, 000. Adenuga, who lives around Obalende area of Lagos and a member of staff of Oando Mega Filling Station, Ikate, Lekki, Lagos State, was arraigned on a one-count charge of theft. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Emby Ingobu, told the court that the woman committed the offence on April 12, at the Oando Filling Station, where she worked. ``The accused stole the sum belonging to one Mr Adeboye Tajudeen, who is the manager of the filling station," Ingobu said. The Prosecutor also said that the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. Section 285 of the Criminal Code provides that anyone found guilty of theft is liable to imprisonment for three years. The Magistrate, Mrs I.O. Omotosho, granted the accused bail in the sum of N300,

Justice Auta calls for jail term for corrupt officials

Image
(Nigeria)  Justice Ibrahim Auta, the Chief Judge of Federal High Court, on Tuesday advocated severe punishment for corruption-related offences in the country. Auta said in Abuja that corrupt persons should not have any option of fine to serve as deterrent in the dispensation of justice. He canvassed the punishment at a one-day public hearing on ``the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill 2013'', organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Justice. The bill seeks to strengthen the administration of justice system in the country. According to him, incidences of corruption will be reduced if offenders were jailed without option of fines. ``When penalities are stiffened, the incidence of commission naturally comes down, but when they are relaxed, the opposite is the case. Corruption related offences should not have any option of fine. Most of us still remember the hue and cry that greeted the discretion a judge recently exercised in fa

2 NNPC agents, pipeline vandal docked for alleged conspiracy

(Nigeria) Two security agents of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, are standing trial before a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State over an alleged conspiracy with oil pipeline vandals. The two suspects are Adeoye Ojeniran, a security contractor with the responsibility of providing guards to secure NNPC Right of Ways and Oludele Akande, one of such security guards. The accused persons are charged along with Moses Ogunwale, a suspected vandal arrested at the scene of the crime. The prosecutor, Mr Matthew Ojeah, alleged that the trio conspired and attempted to damage NNPC oil pipelines at Ajawa, near Ogbomosho, Oyo State on Dec.11, 2009. Ojeah alleged that the acts of conspiracy and attempted damage to the pipelines violated the Miscellaneous Offences Act of the Federation 2004. In opening the case, Ojeah invited Insp Owoyele Ojutunwase of the Anti-pipeline Vandalism Unit of the police force as a prosecuting witness. Ojutunwase told

Lagos Chief Judge frees couple, 94 others from Kirikiri medium, female prisons

(Nigeria) Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, on Tuesday released a total of 96 inmates from the Kirikiri Medium and Female Prisons in Lagos. Among the released inmates were a nursing mother, Comfort James and her husband, Bassey Ude, who had delivered a child in prison. The couple had been in custody since March 2011, when they were charged to court, with stealing of jewellery. 88 inmates were released from the Kirikiri Medium Prison, while eight others were freed at the female facility. Releasing the inmates, Phillips admonished them to "go and sin no more". She said: ``To err is human, to forgive, divine. Nobody is above mistake. When you leave these walls, you should go away and make something of your lives. You should make a vow never to return here again because I am sure you have learnt your lessons." The chief judge said she was saddened that there were so many awaiting trial inmates and promised to look into their ca

FMBN pensioners seek prompt payment of arrears

The Nigerian Union of  Pensioners, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria branch, has urged the management of the institution to ensure prompt payment of their pension arrears. The union made the call on Tuesday in Ibadan at  its second delegate's  lecture entitled: `` The role of Federal Mortgage Bank pensioners in promoting Housing Delivery in Nigeria.’’ The president of the union, Chief Ladipo Ani, said the main concern of  members was  the legitimate demand of pension and arrears. `` This is supported by National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Section 173 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and the Supreme Court judgment against the Central Bank of Nigeria management. `` We chose the path of dialogue in addressing the plight and deplorable conditions of our members without compromising their earnings and aspirations,’’ he said. Mr Dauda Yusuf, the Head of  Corporate Affairs of  FMBN, who declared open the forum,  assured the union that the bank

FG misapplied N1.04 trn special fund in 10 years - Senate report

(Nigeria) The Senate Committee on Public Accounts alleged on Tuesday that the Federal Government misapplied N1.04 trillion from the Special Funds Accounts, SFA to unrelated purposes. The committee’s finding is contained in a report on the status inquiry into the SFA, which was presented at the floor of the Senate in Abuja. Presenting the report, Sen. Ahmed Lawan (ANPP-Yobe), Chairman, Senate Public Accounts Committee, said the infractions were made between 2002 and June 2012. Lawan said that several approvals of funds from the SFA during the period did not conform with the purposes for which the funds were established. The SFA was established in 2002 as an interventionist fund for the development of the solid minerals sector, ecology and other critical areas of the economy.  The SFA, managed by the Federal Government, comprises the three per cent Development of Natural Resources Account, 1.46 per cent Derivation and Ecology Account, and 0.72 per cent Stabilis

2 soldiers, one other in court for alleged murder

(Nigeria) The Police on Tuesday arraigned three men, Asovabo Clement, Cpl Alhassan Halidu and Cpl Linus Anthony before an FCT High Court for alleged criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide. The prosecutor, ASP John Ijagbemi, said the three men were of kabaji Village, Mararaba, Nasarawa State; DHQ DR and  D Division, Area 7, Garki, Abuja, respectively. Ijagbemi said on February 14, 2011 at 1.30 a.m. in Gaduwa, a settlement within the jurisdiction of the court, the three men committed culpable homicide. He said the three had beaten up one Ubale Abdullahi of Gaduwa Junction, Abuja, (now deceased) with military belt and blocks. ``The deceased sustained injuries on the frontal part of the head and bruises all over his body, as a result he died on the spot.’’ He said the offence was punishable under Section 221(a) of the Penal Code. Section 221(a) states that ``anybody who intentionally causes death or such bodily injury as is likely to cause death.... shall b

Pastor, 50, in court for allegedly raping 3 pupils

(Nigeria) Emmauel Mathew (50) was on Tuesday arraigned before Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja for alleged rape of  three pupils in his school. Mathew, who is the pastor and General Overseer of The Choice Bible Church, Mpape, and proprietor of the primary school where his victims attended, was arraigned on a six-count charge of rape. He was accused of having carnal knowledge of two seven-year-old pupils and a nine-year-old on different occasions in his school office without their consent, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 283 of the Penal Code. ``Whoever has canal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 14 years and shall also be liable to fine’’, the Penal Code reads. Mathew pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge, while the presiding judge ordered the prosecuting counsel to amend the remaining

Rivers govt faults Nigerian government quarry over Bombardier aircraft ownership

Image
(Nigeria) Rivers State Government, yesterday, expressed dismay at the statement attributed to officials of different agencies in the aviation sector on the status of the aircraft belonging to the state government, a Bombardier BD 700 Global Express jet. The state Commissioner of Information and Communications, Mr Ibim Semenitari, in a statement, said “It is pertinent to note that all of the information and queries about this aircraft have only been through the mass media.   Rivers State Government had not received any communication from the Ministry of Aviation or any of its agencies querying the status of its aircraft even up till this moment. “ Rivers State Government is surprised to read about matters of administrative procedure and allegations of illegality and abuse of process in the media. Rivers State Government wishes to note that this press conference and the various issues raised arose only after the embarrassing incident of a delay of the aircraft and its passenge

May Day: NUJ to picket media houses over unpaid salaries

(Nigeria) The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ and the civil society groups will on May 1 begin picketing of  media houses in Lagos and Abuja, over unpaid salaries of journalists. The union said the affected media houses in Lagos and Abuja had been duly notified by its national secretariat. A statement by NUJ President, Malam Mohammed Garba and the National Secretary, Shauib Usman Leman,said the picketing would be extended to other states later. ``The National Executive Committee gave April 30 as deadline for the payment of all outstanding salaries. The union, labour and civil society groups are  to picket defaulting media houses as from May 1, in Lagos, before being extended to other states and Abuja,’’ the statement added. On the arrest of four journalists of the Leadership newspapers in Abuja, the NUJ described it as a siege on the media. ``It is undemocratic and uncalled for. The union will not shy away from its responsibilities in protecting its members.’’

UNESCO calls for safety of journalists

(Nigeria) UNESCO on Tuesday called for safety of journalists across the globe ahead of this year’s World Press Freedom Day scheduled for May 3. This is contained in a statement by Mr Oluseyi Soremekun, the National Programme Officer Communication and Information, UNESCO in Abuja. It urged countries to promote a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independently, without undue interference. It expressed concern over the increased threat to journalists by non-state actors, adding that the precondition for press freedom was a free, independent, and pluralistic media environment. The statement said that building a culture to support press freedom was generally a lengthy process. It said that the gains achieved so far of a free press could also be lost when negative forces take control of leadership of a country. ``The potential for progress has become possible in many cases through changes such as in countries touched by the Arab Spring as we

Diamond Bank’s Regional Manager charged for N43.7m theft

(Nigeria) A 43-year-old banker, Ige Adegboye, on Tuesday in Lagos appeared before an Igbosere Magistrate  Court, Lagos, charged with alleged theft of N43.7 million. The accused, whose address is unknown, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and fraud. The prosecutor, Mr Raymond Akhaine, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in 2008 in Lagos in his capacity as the Regional Manager of Diamond Bank, Kaduna Branch. According to him, the accused stole the money-- property of the bank. ``The accused obtained a facility from the bank under the pretext of using a fixed deposit of National Union of Textile Garment as a security,’’ Akhaine said. The offences, he said, contravened Sections 285, 313 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. Section 313 provides a maximum of 15 years imprisonment for convicted felons. Adegboye entered a not-guilty plea and was granted bail in the sum of N2 million, with two sureties

Senator says suspension of Rivers lawmakers is an intimidation of legislature

Image
(Nigeria) Sen. Magnus Abe, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-Rivers South-East, Tuesday said that the suspension of 27 lawmakers by the Rivers State PDP chapter was an intimidation of the legislature. The Chief Felix Obuah-led Rivers PDP executive had on April 29, suspended the 27 members of the state House of Assembly. Obuah said the legislators were suspended for their failure to rescind decision to suspend the chairman, vice chairman and 17 councillors of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. Abe, who represents Rivers South-East senatorial zone in the Senate, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that it was unconstitutional to intimidate the legislature. He said the action taken by the state chapter of the party undermined the constitution. ‘’Everybody who is a legislator will tell you that nobody, by the laws of this country, is supposed to try to intimidate the legislature in the execution of their constitutional duties. So, what this amounts to is a clear effort by somebody to u