Benue

The Benue State House of Assembly has directed former Chairman, Ukum Local Government Area, Mr David Sevav to refund N25 million, following an audit report which indicted some officials in local government councils in the state..

Sevav is to pay the money into the treasury of the council’s cooperative thrift within one month with evidence of payment to be submitted to the Committee on Public Accounts.

The House also directed the Sports Officer of Apa LGA, Mr Matthew Ofenkwu to refund N2 million to the coffers of the local government within one month.

The House gave the directive during a debate of the report of the Auditor-General on activities of Local Government Counclis from 2008 to 2010.

Borno

Borno State Police Command has denied media reports on alleged killing of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Gwoza Local Government Area by suspected terrorists.

Some media organisations had reported that the DPO and his deputy were killed during an attack by suspected terrorists recently.

But Mr Dideon Jibrin, the spokesman of the command, said in a statement in Maiduguri that the story was untrue.

“I wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that at no time was the DPO or his deputy killed by suspected terrorists.

“The story is absolutely untrue,” Jibrin said.

FCT

An Abuja Grade 2 Area Court has sentenced a labourer, Abbah Lawal, to two months imprisonment for stealing a generator under the guise of assisting a trader to salvage his property from fire.

The trial judge, Ahmed Ado, sentenced Lawal, after he pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of theft.

Ado said the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others who might want to engage in such act.

He, however, gave the convict an option of N2000 fine.

Gombe

Gombe State Government has acquired and installed equipment worth N200 million for the full take-off of Gombe State University Medical College.

The Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr. Isa Wade, made the information known in an interview with newsmen in Gombe.

“The equipment which we bought for N200 million have been delivered and some of them are being put into use for the training of students,” he said.

According to Wade, the governor has approved another N50 million for the purchase of furniture, laboratory equipment and other facilities for the college.

Kaduna

The Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria, Kaduna State, has lauded the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for developing and reviewing its 87 curricular and 356 instructional materials in engineering, science, business and technology.

Alhaji Adamu Aliyu-Shika, the Institute’s Rector, said this at a one day training workshop on curriculum and instructional materials organised for technical and vocational education teachers by the institute.

He said that without the support of NBTE, being the supervisory body of polytechnics and other similar institutions, the success achieved would not have been possible.

Aliyu-Shika explained that the workshop was primarily designed to enhance the curricular of technical and vocational education teachers’ programmes.

Kebbi

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission says it has embarked on inspection of the ongoing Federal Government projects in the six geo-political zones.

It’s Commissioner, Alhaji Zakari Sada, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.

Sada said that the inspection was part of measures to ensure strict compliance to budget implementation.

He said the commission embarked on tour of Federal Government projects in the six geo-political zones “to obtain assess compliance to financial commitment of the government.

Kwara

The newly appointed Secretary, Board of Fountain University, Osogbo, Mr Yinka Yahaya has called for the establishment of more universities in Nigeria.

Yahaya made the call in Ilorin while speaking with journalists.

He said that the establishment of more universities would ease the difficulty Nigerian students faced in seeking admission for higher education.

According to him, more universities will enhance the development of human capital and accelerate national development and technological breakthroughs.

Lagos

The China Machinery Engineering Corporation, managers of Phase 2, Omotosho Power Plant, Ondo State, says it has completed the 500mw plant.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr Liu Zhao-Long, told newsmen in Lagos that all the four turbines were functioning.

“The project had been completed but the official commissioning will take place later this month. It will be commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We have finished work on Omotosho Phase 2. The four turbines are contributing 500 Mega Watts to the national grid.”

Nasarawa

The House Committee on Finance and Appropriation in Nasarawa State House of Assembly says it increased the 2013 budget of N107 billion by N3 billion.

The Chairman of the committee, Mr Philip Gyunka, made this known while presenting its report on 2013 budget in Lafia.

Gyunka said the addition would facilitate the conduct of local government election, provide infrastructure for rapid development and fertilisers to boost food production in the state.

“The committee has added N3 billion to the budget of N107 billion earlier presented by Gov. Tanko Al-Makura, to ensure adequate provision of infrastructural facilities across the state.

Niger

The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Jibrin Ndajiwo, has said that inadequate funding of the judiciary by the federal and state governments was responsible for delays in justice delivery.

Ndajiwo made the statement in Minna at the opening of the 39th Joint Conference of Chief Judges, Grand Kadis and Presidents, Customary Courts of Appeal of the Northern States and FCT.

According to him, there is no compliance with Section 121(3) of the 1999 constitution.

The section states: “Any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state shall be paid directly to the heads of the courts concerned.’’

Ogun

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo last Wednesday urged Nigerians to take advantage of public institutions that were established for their benefits.

Obasanjo said this in Abeokuta while playing host to the Commissioner, Public Complaint, Commission in Ogun State, Mr Wale Banjo and his team.

He said that one of such institutions was the Public Complaints Commission established to intervene and investigate acts of injustice and victimisation of any citizen free of charge.

“Most citizens do not make use of this opportunity probably because they do not know enough about the commission,” he said.

Oyo

A 25-year-old, Tijani Bilia, was remanded in prison custody for stealing an iron rod valued at N150,000.

The defendant was arraigned on a one- count charge of stealing before a Senior Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor, Insp. Aliu Samad, told the court that the defendant stole the iron rod belonging to one Babatunde Oladele.

Samad said the incident occurred last Friday at 10:00am at Oluyole Estate in Ibadan, adding that the offence contravened section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II Laws of Oyo State, 2000.