El-Rufai attends Sallah Durbar, gets new title

The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Friday attended the annual Sallah Durbar in Lere town.

Mr El-Rufai, who arrived Lere at 2:00 p.m., went straight to the palace of Sarkin Lere, Abubakar Muhammed II, who was waiting for him at the entrance of the palace. They both attended the Juma’at prayers at Lere Juma’at mosque.

Immediately after the prayers, traditional and royal drummers stormed the arena where festivities began.

Subsequently, a mini durbar was observed during which Mr El-Rufai was turbaned as the new Dan-Dakan Lere. The title means the ‘Insider’ of Lere.

In his speech, the governor thanked Lere emirate for honouring him with the title.

Read also: Kaduna govt. begins recruitment into public service

“Lere has always been a home for me as a person and throughout my political voyage in Kaduna. The people of Lere are hospitable and Kaduna State government will continue to pay attention to the needs of the people of Lere local government.

The Sarkin Lere commended the governor for honouring the invitation.

“We thank you much for honouring this invitation and we pray that you have a good trip back home,” he said.

Samson Siasia reacts as FIFA bans him for life

Former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has reacted angrily to FIFA’s decision to impose a life ban on him.

The world football governing body on Friday, banned Siasia from all football-related activities, after being found guilty over bribery and attempt to manipulation of matches at international level.

However, speaking with ex-Media Officer of the Eagles, Colin Udoh, he said: “I don’t know anything about this.

“I did nothing wrong and I have not received any letter from FIFA.”

Siasia made it clear he will fight to clear his name.

He also claimed hat he was never invited to defend himself and is hearing about the scandal for the first time.

​NUC: FG appoints Executive Secretaries

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has appointed Dr Suleiman Ramon-Yusuf as Deputy Executive Secretary (Academics) and Dr Kidado Kumo as Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration).

The commission’s weekly bulletin made available to journalists in Abuja on Friday announced the appointments.

According to the bulletin, the appointment which took effect from June 20 was approved by the Governing Board of NUC following nominations by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed.

Before his appointment as the Deputy Executive Secretary (Academics), Ramon-Yusuf, was the Director of Research, Innovation and Information Technology at the Commission, a position he held since 2017.

Ramon-Yusuf has a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine and Masters of Science in Environmental Toxicology, Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Environmental Toxicology.

He also went through specialised training in quality assurance, open, distance and E-learning with the UNESCO International Institute for International Planning in Paris and Institute for Socio-Cultural Studies of the University of Kassel, Witzenhausen, Germany.

Ramon-Yusuf participated in the university staff development programme in 2002 and earned a postgraduate certificate in quality assurance and curriculum development.

Kumo, until his own appointment, was the Director of Academic Planning at the commission.

He has a Bachelor in Education (B.Ed) degree in Islamic Studies from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Masters in Education (M.Ed) in Education Psychology and a Ph.D in the same field.

Kumo began his career at the commission as an Assistant Chief Research Officer in 1997 and rose through the ranks to become a Deputy Director in 2009.

He was appointed Director, Executive Secretary’s office in 2013, a post he held until his redeployment to the Department of Academic Standards in 2014.

Alleged rape: Court remands dismissed soldier pending legal advice

An Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday ordered that a 33-year-old dismissed soldier, Sunday Awolola, who allegedly taped a student of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), be remanded in prison, pending legal advice.

Magistrate Mayomi Olanipekun, who did not take the plea of Awolola, ordered that he4e be remanded in Olokuta prison custody, pending the legal advice from the Ogun Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Olanipekun ordered the police to send the case file to the State Chief Registrar for safe keeping.

He, therefore, adjourned the case until Nov. 15, for the advice.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Insp. Adeoye Adesegun, told the court that the suspect raped the student on July 31, at about 6. 30p.m. in Ikare – Akoko at a military checkpoint.

Adesegun alleged that the offence, contravened the provisions of Section 357 and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap37,Vol.1 Laws of the Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

However, the accused counsel, Mr Kayode Ikotun, prayed the court to grant his client a bail due to his health challenges.

Yabatech ASUP Resumes Services For Part-Time Courses

The Yaba College of Technology Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, has directed members to suspend the ongoing withdrawal of services from part-time programmes with immediate effect.

The decision was reached at the end of the union’s regular congress convened to discuss the part-time issues in the college on Friday.

Chairman of the chapter, Nureni Yekini, gave the directive as part of the resolutions reached at the end of the congress after they initially withdrew their services on July 28.

According to Yekini, the union will resume its services for the part-time programmes on August 16.

He said, “The decision above was reached after extensive deliberation of the management’s compliance to the demand of the union especially on ‘amputated’ payment and other claims like project supervision, administrative claim and others.

“Meanwhile, we have agreed to compile the outstanding claims and submit to the management through the Deans of the various schools for payment to be made as early as possible.

“We hereby, suspend the ongoing withdrawal of services from part-time programmes with immediate effect.”

How police foiled prison break in Edo

The Edo State police command has paraded three suspects who were arrested by the Inspector General of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in an attempt to blow up Oko prison with improved explosive device (IED).

The suspects, Amos Isuku ‘m’ 35, Oheneme Kingsley ‘m’ 40 and Raphael Ebisin ‘m’ 34 where on a mission to liberate some of their gang members detained since December 2017 for kidnapping, murder and other sundry cases.

Parading the suspects in Benin city, the state Commissioner o police Danmallam Mohammed told newsmen that the command have eight suspects involved in various crimes.

He said, four out of the total suspects paraded were notorious armed robbers and kidnappers who specialized in kidnapping and robbing innocent citizens of their hard earned money and valuables.

“The command arrested one Osaro Iguodala ‘m’ 20 who posed as passenger along Ekenwan road Benin city. Our State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) also arrested a seven man armed robbery gang acting on credible intelligence. We recovered four locally made cut to size guns and one unregistered Toyota Camry salon car and they are currently under investigation.”

One of the suspects, Raphael Ebisin who narrated his side of the story said it was one of his friends that called him to drive him somewhere but he never knew they were going for illegal work.

While assuring readiness of the police in the state in making sure that residents sleep with their two eyes closed, CP Mohammed charged Edo people on the need for them to be vigilant at all time and to report any clandestine activity in their domain for prompt intervention by the police.

Items recovered are five vehicles, four GSM phones and five arms.

Ekiti women farmers seek Fayemi’s support

Women Farmers in Ekiti State have urged the state government on necessary support to boost food production in Ekiti State.

The women farmers also enjoined the administration of Dr John Kayode Fayemi to inculcate women into farming in order to add value to agriculture.

The women under the aegis of Build Up Women in Agriculture (BUWIA) declared that women are beginning to take their place in farming.

The Build Up Women in Agriculture is an organization that trains and supports women in Farming to showcase the value addition of farm products.

The programme and activities of BUWIA is based on three stages -Farming, Processing and Marketing

Speaking with newsmen yesterday at the launching of BUWIA Monthly Agric Magazine in Ado Ekiti the leader of the initiative, Reverend Mrs Funmi Agbaje said agric is the main survival of the nation.

She said, “Women in Agriculture are out with the determination to make Ekiti  basket of the nation, with focus on plantation of rice, maize and cassava”

Mrs. Agbaje who said the demand for rice consumption is high added that “Since last year there was ban on importation of rice, we are ready to tap into that and be packaging rice for consumption, we  engage in production of semovita, flour derived from cassava and guinea corn.”

New minimum wage: NLC breaks silence in delayed implementation

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has dispelled ongoing reports that negotiations between the organised labour and the Technical Committee on Consequential Adjustment of the new minimum wage had stopped.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, the NLC National President, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the negotiations were still ongoing.

He said even although the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) were not directly involved in the negotiations, they would step in if any disagreement occurred.

It would be recalled that the new minimum wage bill was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in April.

However, deliberations were ongoing as the issue of relativity/consequential adjustment of salaries still persisted.

The Federal Government had on May 14 inaugurated the relativity/Consequential Adjustment Committee which in turn set up a Technical Sub-Committee to work out the template for the adjustment of salaries of Public Service Employees.

However, with negotiations resuming on Aug. 14, Wabba noted that Nigerian workers had waited so long for the new minimum wage.

Wabba said people would want to see an end for its full implementation, adding that it was the desire of the organised labour that this became a reality.

“In spite of that the NLC and TUC are not directly involved during the process of consequential adjustment, the process is ongoing; because I read in the papers of how people were saying it had stopped.

“The report that I read from the Joint Negotiating Council is that they are meeting, and if there is any stalemate we will be informed and will step in to assist and all the details of their discussions have been made public.’’

Wabba said that the delay on the issue was not caused by the NLC.

“For anybody on that table to come and say that labour is the one delaying the process he/she is not saying the obvious.

“This is because I learnt that the person that made the statement is the chairman of the technical committee; so clearly speaking, I think it is not in good faith.

“I think also that workers are becoming very concerned, including us because the process must actually have an end where workers will benefit.

“How can a worker or unions that are at the receiving end be the ones delaying the process.

“For us as a union we wanted this money to be in workers pockets long before now.’’

4.7 million have participated in NYSC since inception — DG

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says more than 4.6 million graduates have participated in the scheme since inception in 1973.

The director-general of the scheme, Shuaibu Ibrahim, said this on Thursday in Abuja while giving the scheme’s scorecard.

Mr Ibrahim said the scheme has achieved so much in fostering unity and contributing to national development over the years.

He said the educational development of the country has also been positively impacted by the presence of corps members as teachers in schools.

“Since inception, 4,664,804 Nigerians have participated in the NYSC scheme. The scheme has done a lot to foster unity and integration through the policy of posting of corps members to other states than their state of origin,” he said.

“Educational development of the country has been positively impacted through the posting of corps members to schools.

“The level of literary has also been improved among the populace through the activities of the corps Mass Literary Group which has the mandate of reducing illiteracy, especially among adult non formal level to the barest minimum,’’ he said.

Mr Ibrahim said the NYSC has also contributed to strengthening healthcare delivery through posting of corps members to public hospitals as paramedics.

He added that over one million corps members have also benefited from the scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED).

“The SAED was established in 2012 with the mandate to drive the scheme’s collaboration with various stakeholders toward addressing the problem of graduate youth unemployment.

“The scheme is collaborating with national and international organisations toward providing material, technical and financial support for the programme.

“So far, 1,132,409 corps members have been sensitised and over 70,000 have undergone various forms of skills training,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim said that the NYSC was determined to strengthen the relationship with the media to maintain its positive visibility.

Adenike Adeyemi, NYSC’s Director of Press and Public Relations, said that the NYSC had become a household name due to its relationship with the media.

“As an organisation that values its critical stakeholders, we have continued to enlist the support of our media partners to showcase the scheme’s efforts and contribution towards advancing our dear country to greater height,” she said. (NAN)

Businessman in court for allegedly assaulting, defrauding girlfriend of N4.5 million

A businessman, Obinna Amaefula on Thursday appeared before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos and was remanded by Magistrate Ejiro Kubeinje for allegedly defrauding his girlfriend of N4.5 million and aborting her five-month-old pregnancy.

Amaefula is charged with four counts bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, stealing and assault.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Lucky Ihiehie told the court that the defendant committed the fraud on May 20 on Atunrase Estate, Gbagada in Lagos State.

He said, “The defendant collected the sum of N4,550 000 from his girlfriend and the complainant, Ese Odobo, on the pretence of purchasing three `tokunbo’ cars for her business, a representation he knew to be false.

“He fraudulently obtained the money and kept lying to her and giving excuses why the said cars had not arrived.

“The complainant suspected a foul play and demanded her money but she was assaulted by the defendant with series of slaps, and he knew she was pregnant for him.

“The defendant went further, after some days of assaulting the complainant, to drug her and unlawfully aborted her five months’ pregnancy,” the prosecutor said.

The offences violate sections 171, 236, 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Magistrate, Ejiro Kubeinje adjourned the case until Aug. 28 for substantive hearing.

Borno donates Sambisa Forest for Ruga

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has donated part of  Sambisa Forest,  Boko Haram’s stronghold,  to the Federal Government for the Rural Grazing Area programme.

According to TheCable, Zulum announced the donation when the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai El-Kanemi, visited him at  Government House, Maiduguri during Sallah.

He said the  Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, agro rangers and hunters had been mobilised to secure the area.

Zulum said, “We have identified six different locations we consider safe for the pilot scheme in the state. The Ruga scheme is as old as history; it is not a new thing. I don’t know why some people are politicising it.

“This administration is determined to strengthen the security architecture to encourage farming and herding activities across the state.”

The governor said the government would provide  80 patrol vehicles to boost security in the state.

Zulum said,  “About 75 trained agro rangers and 300 hunters will also be mobilised next week to enable farmers to cultivate their farmlands.

“The state government is determined to address the root causes of insurgency through improved security, fight against drug abuse and enhance food security with increase job creation for  youths.”

Meanwhile, Zulum has said the recent Boko Haram attacks on Gajiram, Gajigana, Dalori and Gubio will not discourage the people.

He said his government was more committed than ever before to take on the insurgents and ensure peace in the state.

The governor said this on Wednesday during the official launch of the NSCDC Agro Rangers Squad.

The Assistant Commandant General of NSCDC, Augustine Obiekwe, who represented the Commandant General of the corps, said agro rangers would be deployed all over the country to protect the agricultural resources.

Okorocha to Ihedioha: your actions ‘ve taken Imo backwards

Immediate past Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha, has accused his successor Emeka Ihedioha of driving the state backwards since he assumed office by destroying everything he met on ground just to spite him.

Okorocha urged the Imo governor to borrow a leaf from his Oyo State counterpart and desist from attacking his legacies with the sole aim of getting accolades from his party members.

The former governor, who was reacting to the constitution of a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to review lands acquired and allocated by successive governments from 2006 to 2019, described it as another ploy to further revoke his taken while serving as the State governor.

A statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, reads: “on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 Governor Emeka Ihedioha announced the Constitution of a seven-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry on lands’ allocations from June 2006 to May 2019.

“Looking at the members of the panel, who are all card-carrying members of the PDP and their terms of reference, one would have no other option than to conclude that the governor as usual, has his target or mission, which is to continue his vendetta against the past APC government in the State and the man who headed it, Senator Rochas Okorocha.

“Governor Ihedioha has set up more than fourteen Committees and Panels since he became governor and each of the Committees or Panels has one or two specific assignments to carry out and all against the APC government which Senator Okorocha had led. For instance, the Prof. Jude Njoku’s education committee took no other action than to take over the PPP-oriented Eastern Palm University and also scrapped the 6 new Universities, 4 new Polytechnics and 3 new Colleges of Education built by Okorocha”.

It added: “The Panel on infrastructure made no other recommendation than to give the governor the licence to demolish some of the Prime Projects of the former governor like the flyovers, tunnels, waterfalls and so on, to the extent that his men were captured at night on Camera tampering with the tunnels just to invent excuses to damage such lofty projects built with Imo people’s money.

“They have also taken over all the establishments handed over to private Investors for efficiency and productivity following the ill-fated recommendations by all these one – way – traffic Committees and Panels.

“For instance, the Concord Hotel which the past PDP governments in the state had grounded through complimentary accommodations which Okorocha handed over to a private investor, who remodeled and revived the hotel has been taken over and the Investor chased away and a Committee made up of PDP members, handed over the management of the hotel. Ditto, Oguta motel, Adapalm, Avutu Poultry. These actions would definitely discourage investors.

“Governor Ihedioha has taken the State backward instead of moving it forward by taking actions that are obviously counter-productive both in Contents and in implementations.

“In all these belligerent actions, he has never considered their attendant implications but only keen in using them to get at his Predecessor and party.

“When we told them that the on-going Political War in Imo led by the governor and his PDP Chieftains is not only against Rochas Okorocha and his family or aides but also against APC and President Buhari, some people thought we were telling folklores.

“But early this week, the NBC sanctioned two private radio stations in the State owned by a PDP Chieftain in the State who is a member of the House of Assembly, Chief Uche Ogbuagu for allegedly describing the President as “uneducated bigot and hater of the Igbos”.

“We would only ask Governor Ihedioha to borrow a leaf from his fellow PDP governor who also succeeded an APC governor in Oyo State, Chief Seyi Makinde, who said that he wouldn’t“Cancel APC Administration’s good Policies”.

“That is how a governor who means well should reason or act, because at the end of the day, the overall interest of the State and her people should remain the ultimate goal.

“He should give his administration a human-face instead of the monster-face the administration is having at the moment”.

Lagos Assembly C’ttee resumes screening of Sanwo-Olu’s second batch cabinet nominees

The Lagos State House of Assembly’s 16-man Ad hoc Committee for Screening Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Commissioners and Special Advisers on Thursday resumed screening of the second batch of the nominees.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee, headed by Rotimi Abiru, representing Somolu Constituency II, made this known in a statement in Lagos.

NAN reports that the committee on August 1 commenced the screening of the first batch of the cabinet list comprising 25 nominees and had concluded the exercise on August 3.

Following the receipt of additional 13 nominees on Tuesday, shortly after the screening of the first batch, Mr Abiru said the committee had been mandated by the Assembly to continue the screening.

“Please, be informed that the screening of the 2nd Batch of the governor’s nominees for the position of commissioners/special advisers commences on Thursday, the 15th of August, 2019 at 2 p.m. prompt.

‘’We shall be taking seven of the nominees on Thursday while the remaining six will be taken on Friday at 10 a.m. prompt.

‘’Sorry for any inconvenience this short notice might have caused you,’’ Mr Abiru said.

NAN reports that Mr Sanwo-Olu’s second batch of cabinet nominees are Oladele Ajayi, Oluwatoyin Fayinka, Yetunde Arobieke, Olanrewaju Sanusi and Joe Igbokwe.

Others are Bonu Solomon Saanu, Kabiru Ahmed, Lola Akande, Anofi Elegushi, Solape Hammond, Moruf Fatai, Shulamite Adebolu and Tokunbo Wahab.

The 25 nominees earlier screened were Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Aderemi Adebowale, Tunji Bello, Adekemi Ajayi-Bembe, Wale Ahmed, Akin Abayomi, Hakeem Fahm and Gbenga Omotoso.

Others were Bolaji Dada, Lere Odusote, Moyo Onigbanjo, Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, Segun Dawodu, Folashade Adefisayo, Ponnle Ajibola, Rabiu Olowo, Olatunbosun Alake and Samuel Egube.

The rest were: Idris Salako, Frederick Oladeinde, Gbolahan Lawal, Aramide Adeyoye, Ruth Olusanya, Afolabi Ayantayo, and Femi George.

The screening of the first batch took place at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium of the Assembly Complex in Ikeja.

It featured the screening of each nominee’s resume and what innovative idea such nominees would bring on board.

At the end of the exercise for individual nominees, Mr Abiru told them that the House of Assembly would get back to them through the governor.

He said the committee would present its report to the larger Assembly of 40 members before a final decision on their confirmation or otherwise would be taken.

(NAN)

Ondo govt bans operations of Okada riders

The Ondo State government has placed total restriction on the activities of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as “Okada”, in Ofosu and Ajebamidele axis of the Benin-Ore highway in Odigbo Local Government area of the state.

The state government, in a statement issued on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, stated that the ban became imperative on the stretch of the road which borders Edo State and Ogun State, due to what it described as the nefarious activities of the Okada riders.

In the statement, Ojogo maintained that their activities will henceforth be restricted within Ore town, pointing out how increasing crime rate in the affected areas are mostly perpetrated under the guise of those riding okada.

The statement read, “Government has observed with serious concern, the activities of some unscrupulous elements who have hidden under the guise of engaging in motorcycle business, popularly also known as Okada, to perpetrate crime on the Ofosu-Ajebamidele route along the Ore Expressway.

“Disturbed by the activities of these criminal elements which include armed robbery, kidnapping, their mode of operations as well as the heightening cases of loss of lives, the Ondo State Government has placed a total ban on commercial motorcycles (Okada) along the entire stretch of the route in question. This action is with immediate effect and shall suffice until further notice.

“By this development, all activities of commercial motorcyclists are henceforth, restricted to internal confines of Ore town and other communities in the area. Security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police, are consequently directed to apprehend forthwith, anyone who flouts this restriction order.

“Government appeals to the general public to co-operate with security agencies in the enforcement of this action in order to stem the growing rate of criminal activities along the area.”

Court remands woman for ‘hitting daughter with hammer’

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court yesterday ordered that a 32-year-old woman, who allegedly hit her 11-year-old daughter with a hammer on the forehead, should be remanded in prison custody pending legal advice.

Chinonso Michael, a resident of Iwaya, Yaba, Lagos, pleaded guilty to beating her daughter with a wooden turning stick.

Chief Magistrate Olufunke Sule- Amzat, who did not take the defendant’s plea, ordered that she should be remanded in Kirikiri Prisons.

She ordered the police to send the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

The case was adjourned till September 30.

The defendant is facing a two-count charge of assault and assault occasioning harm.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Benson Emeurhi said the defendant committed the offences on July 28 at their home.

He alleged that the defendant beat her daughter with a wooden turning stick and also hit her with a hammer on the head out of frustration.

The prosecution alleged that the daughter was rescued by neighbours, who were on the scene.

Emeurhi said the matter was reported to the police and the defendant was arrested.

Anambra Catholic priest leads protest against government

The priest in charge of St Joseph Catholic Church, Achina, Rev. Fr. Vincent Nwokoye, on Wednesday, led residents of the area to a protest to draw government’s attention over the deplorable condition of roads in most communities in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The priest warned that if nothing urgent was done, the area would be eaten up by erosion.

He called for the immediate intervention of the Federal and State governments on roads Achina, Onneh, Agbudu, Umuomaku, Ogboji and Enugwu-Umuonyia communities.

He said the roads were on the verge of being pulled down.

He said, “The erosion is so much that it is gradually encroaching into the church’s property, including the primary school and the parsonage. Attendance to church services has also reduced drastically following the impassable condition of the road.”

One of protesters who spoke to reporters, Otitochi Okeke, “The Achina-Onneh-Agbudu-Ogboji road which was awarded by your administration in 2014 is in a very deplorable state, with gullies developing at various points.

“Also, the Ezira-Umuomaku-Enugwu-Umuonyia-Achina road which you flagged off in 2015 is in dire need of attention as no work is ongoing at the site.”