Nation
THE STATES
Benue
Justice Theresa Igoche of Makurdi High Court in Benue State
has sentenced two students, Vershima Kaachi and Akaazua Akpen, to death by
firing squad for armed robbery.
The convicts were arrested on the eve of Christmas in 2007
for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, contrary to Sections 5(b) and 1(2)
of the Robbery and Firearms Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.
In his testimony, the victim of the offence, Jonathan
Usenge, told the court that five armed men came to his house, attacked and
robbed him of some valuable items on that day.
He stated that the robbers collected his Nokia 1600 phone
valued N12,700.00, two torch lights valued N350.00 and a sum of N16,500.
Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo has urged the 2,555
intending Muslim pilgrims from the state to shun vices and be good ambassadors
of the country while in Saudi Arabia.
Dankwambo made the call in his farewell address to the
pilgrims at the Hajj camp, Lawanti in Akko Local Government Area of the state.
The governor enjoined them to exhibit exemplary character
and cooperate with Hajj officials to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
“As usual, government has subsidised Hajj fares for all
intending pilgrims from the state.
Jigawa
A lawmaker, Abdullahi Sarki, says he has set up an
enlightenment committee in Miga Local Government Council of Jigawa State to
sensitise communities on flood disaster.
Sarki (PDP-Miga constituency) told newsmen in Dutse that the
committee was gathering data on weather predictions by the Nigeria Metrological
Agency (NIMET) and would disseminate the information to rural communities.
He said that the exercise was aimed at educating the
communities on the and precautionary measures to be taken to mitigate the
effects of flood disaster.
The legislator added that he had also distributed relief
materials to displaced persons in the affected communities in his constituency.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has evacuated 118 Kaduna State
students from Mubi, following the recent killing of some students at the
Federal Polytechnic, Mubi in Adamawa.
The Senior Special Assistant on Students Affairs to Governor
Patrick Yakowa, Mr Bagudu Joseph, said the evacuation followed a Save-Our-Souls
(SOS) message by the students over a 14-hours ultimatum by the school
authorities for students to vacate the campus.
Joseph said the government had employed the services of the
Adamawa Sunshine Transport Company to move the students out of the state.
He said that 82 of the students returned to Kaduna while the
others alighted in Jos, Saminaka and other places where their families resided.
Kano
The Kano State Police Command Have Arrested Eight Suspected
Gunmen In Connection With The Killing Of The Two Policemen.
The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, confirmed
the arrest of the suspects to newsmen in Kano, saying that they were in an
uncompleted building at Kofar Dawanau quarters in Dala local government area of
the state.
“The area was condoned off by the security operatives and we
succeeded in arresting eight suspects.
‘’Three AK 47 rifles were recovered from the uncompleted
building where the suspects were arrested.’’
Kwara
The Kwara State Government has said it would ensure a
successful hosting of the 26th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST)
billed for between October 13 and October 20 in Ilorin.
The state’s Commissioner for Social Development, Culture and
Tourism, Mrs Rahmat Adeshina-Abaya, said this in an interview with newsmen.
She said everything was being put in place, especially the
provision of accommodation for more than 7,000 people coming from different
parts of the country.
“ As you know that Kwara is a state of harmony, peaceful and
accommodating, we are hosting NAFEST in which we are ready for about 7,000
people that are coming from different parts of the country.
Kogi
The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Mr Yomi AwoniyI, has said
that the state has now come to terms with the reality of the level of damage
done to it by the flood.
This is contained in a statement issued by his Press
Secretary, Mr Michael Abu, in Lokoja.
It stated that Awoniyi made the observation when he made
another round of visit to flooded areas in the state.
He said that the process of rebuilding the washed-away
roads, providing nets, fishing boats among other items to enable the displaced
persons to resettle after the flood remained enormous.
According to him, Ibaji Local Government Area has been
completely cut off from the other parts of the state.
Lagos
Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has
urged members of the public in Niger to report criminals to security agencies.
Abubakar made the call in Lapai, Niger, after the Board of
Trustees meeting of foundation endowment fund for the Ibrahim Badamasi
Babangida University.
The former Head of state is the chairman of the board.
The call followed the recent killing of three policemen by
unknown persons in Minna, the Niger State capital.
“It is unfortunate that we have decided to go and start
killing ourselves unnecessarily; all the criminals are among us.
Nasarawa
Nasarawa State Government has expressed its commitment to
restore water supply to Keffi Local Government Area and environs.
The Nasarawa State Commissioner of Water Resources and Rural
Development, Mr Samuel Alu, said this in Garaku during an inspection visit to
the site of the ongoing rehabilitation of pipes.
He said that the state government had awarded contract for
the rehabilitation of the pipes to SCC Nigeria Limited and that the company was
given one week to complete the work.
While assuring the people of the government’s commitment to
fulfil its campaign promises, Alu said that the work would be completed within
one week.
Ogun
The management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY),
Abeokuta, Ogun State has absolved itself of complicity in the N1.1billion
alleged scam reported in the institution’s branch of Non Academic Staff Union
(NASU).
The institution’s spokesman, Mr Sulaimon Adebiyi, said in a
statement in Abeokuta that no member of the institution’s management was linked
to the alleged scam.
He said three executive members of the school’s branch of
NASU were arrested by EFCC operatives for allegedly mismanaging N1.1billion.
The money, which was secured as loan from a consortium of
banks by the union, was to be given as loans to members.
Osun
A 28-year-old man, Suleiman Hasssan, has appeared before an
Osogbo Senior Magistrates’ Court in Osun State, charged with inflicting teeth
bites on two police officers, who were discharging their duties.
The police Prosecutor, Insp. Solomon Oladele, told the court
that the accused on October 4, at about 5 p.m. at Oluode Area of Osogbo
assaulted Sergeant Afolabi Taofeek and Corporal Adetula Samuel, while resisting
arrest.
Oladele said the officers were on assignment to arrest the
accused when he was reported for being in possession of hard drugs, but that he
turned violent and in his bid to resist arrest bit the officers thereby
inflicted injuries on them.
He added that the accused was also found in possession of
weeds, suspected to be Indian hemp when he was finally arrested.
He said the offence committed was contrary to and punishable
under section 356 and 430(1) of the Criminal Code cap 34 Vol. 11 Laws of Osun
2003.
Oyo
The Oyo State Government has appealed to the Federal
Government to increase its education intervention fund to accommodate the large
number of pupils in the state.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Moses Adeyemo made the
appeal in Ibadan while receiving the Senate Committee on Education led by Sen.
Uche Chuckwumerije.
“The state appeals for the raising of the education
intervention fund given to us so as to accommodate our large number of
pupils,’’ Adeyemo said.
He said the appeal was necessary for development to thrive,
adding that education was the bedrock of meaningful development in any society.
Plateau
Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang has approved the
appointment of Mr Francis Bot as his Chief of Staff.
The Director of Press Affairs to the Governor, Mr James
Manok, said in a statement in Jos that
Bot’s appointment was with immediate effect.
Our correspondent reports that Bot replaced Mr Gyang Pwajok,
who resigned in September to contest the Plateau North Senate seat.
Pwajok won the election held on Saturday.
Until his appointment, Bot was the state Coordinator,
Millennium Development Goals.
Sokoto
The Chairman Of The Nigeria Bar Association (Nba), Sokoto
State Chapter, Alhaji Mustapha Abubakar, Has Called On The Federal Government
to identify the sources of arms importation in the country.
He told newsmen in Sokoto that this would serve as a measure
to checkmate illegal possession of arms as well as put an end to the senseless
killings going on in parts of the country.
“ I strongly suggest that a high powered committee of
seasoned security personnel should be constituted to find out all those
involved in illegal arms importation.”
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has decried the high level of forgery of A Level certificates used for the registration.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, who raised the alarm, recalled that the Board had commenced the 2023 Direct Entry registration on Monday, 20th February but immediately suspended it following the discovery of the plethora of devices and machinations to circumvent and compromise the standard of A ‘level qualifications required from DE candidates.
He disclosed that out of 148 candidates verified by Bayero University Kano (BUK), only 6 were found to be genuine.
“By implication 142 of the results were forged. Oloyede said. Bayero University, Kano (BUK) has also consistently brought to the fore the high rate of forgery of A’Level qualifications for DE.
“It was discovered that in previous years, some candidates used unacceptable and forged A’ level certificates/ qualifications to register for Direct Entry and eventually got admitted. For example out of 148 candidates verified by BUK, only 6 were found to be genuine. By implication 142 of the results were forged.
“The Board, concerned stakeholders and institutions are working assiduously to detect such and the ones already found are being dealt with according to the provisions of the law.
“In order to further checkmate the anomaly and to also prevent recurrence of such irregularity, the Board has decided that the 2023 DE registrations will not only be restricted to JAMB (Professional Test Centres (PTCs) but will also be done under strict supervision,” Oloyode said.
“The Board has provided additional guidelines to all DE registration outlets (JAMB-owned centres), Officers of the Board and candidates on the 2023 Direct Entry registration exercise:
“At the point of registration, all candidates must fill in Registration/Matriculation Number of the previous school attended where the qualification was obtained; Subject(s) of qualification; Awarding Institution; Institution actually attended”, he said.
As post-election crisis gathers momentum, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria’s 2023 general elections has declared that Nigerians have lost confidence and trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) owing to lack of transparency and operational failures.
The EU EOM Chief Observer, Barry Andrews, made the assertion at a Media Briefing to present the Mission’s second preliminary reports, in Abuja, Monday.
Andrews noted that although Nigerians had great appetite for democracy and keen to engage in various civic activities, their expectations were dashed.
According to him, the apathy recorded at the governorship and states House of Assembly elections conducted last Saturday was a clear consequence of failures by political elites and “unfortunately, INEC.”
Andrews said: “Obstruction and organised violence limited the free expression of the will of the voters, despite efforts by civil society to promote democratic standards.
“Throughout the Mission, we saw that Nigerians have a great appetite for democracy and are keen to engage in various civic activities. However, in many parts of the country, their expectations were not met.
“Many were disappointed and we witnessed voter apathy that is in part, a clear consequence of failures by political elites, and unfortunately, also by INEC.
“Positively, INEC introduced some corrective measures ahead of Saturday’s polls, allowing a timely delivery of sensitive materials and improved use of election technologies, yet, the institution continued to lack transparency.”
The Mission also observed that voting started early with INEC ad-hoc officials present and ready to serve voters, but the exercise was unfortunately, disrupted by “multiple incidents of thuggery and intimidation of voters, polling officials, observers, and journalists”.
The Mission noted that Lagos, Kano, and other States in the Southern, Northern and Central parts of the country were mostly affected, adding that the election was equally characterised by casualties, fatalities, as well as vote-buying, which according to the observers, further detracted from an appropriate conduct of elections.
“EU EOM observers also saw misuse of administrative resources, including through various financial and in-kind inducements to voters, giving an undue advantage to the party in power.
“Furthermore, the protracted deadlines for candidacy disputes created uncertainty for voters and electoral contestants alike, while clear underrepresentation of women as candidates demonstrated a stark lack of internal party policies to support constitutionally prescribed inclusion
The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Sani Tambuwal, has expressed optimism that the recently established National Climate Change Innovation Hub would help in harnessing the potential among Nigerian youths towards addressing climate issues.
The CNA stated this during the commemoration of the 2023 Commonwealth Day with the theme ‘Forging A Sustainable And Peaceful Common Future’ held at the instance of National Assembly management, in Abuja, Monday.
Represented by the Deputy Clerk, National Assembly (DCNA), Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana, Tambuwal observed that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and other climate issues in the world if not properly managed, would posed great danger to world peace and a sustainable future.
He assured that Federal Government had put measures in place to address some issues on climate change through the establishment of youth climate change hub to harness their ideas and include them in decision-making process as well as develop long-term vision for zero gas emissions.
In her presentation, Mrs. Rabi Audu stressed the need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders towards forging a sustainable and peaceful environment.
Audu also urged the youths to engage in activities and programmes that would promoter innovations and inclusivity for all.
According to her, governments and parliaments have to increase opportunities for schools across the Commonwealth countries, adopt higher education partnerships and development programmes that would lead to economic growth, social inclusion and environmental conservation.
While noting that the establishment of more programmes like the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) would aid the attainment of these, Audu further stressed the need for Commonwealth member countries to establish technical and vocational education that would help in gainfully equipping the youths with skills to further tackle high rate of youth unemployment.
Some of the students who participated in the programme tasked parliaments across Commonwealth member States on the need to hold their governments to account particularly on the areas of public spending, international crisis, investment sustainability and promotion of the benefits of inclusive and diverse representation in truly open societies.
-
Business4 days agoNigeria’s LNG Output Struggles, Despite Europe’s Demand
-
Sports4 days ago
Betking Partner Ikorodu City Football
-
Crime/Justice2 days ago
Nigeria Currently Has 679 Peacekeepers In Global Operations – NDC Commandant
-
Niger Delta2 days agoAssembly Poll: Bayelsa Speaker, Deputy, House Leader Win …As Chief Whip, Others Lose
-
Business2 days agoExperts Query Expatriate Heading NNPCL Subsidiary
-
Politics4 days ago
Abia Guber: Otti In Clear Lead
-
Nation4 days ago
ICPC Arrests Four Vote-Buyers In Sokoto, Katsina
-
News4 days ago
Polls: NHRC To Invite Kogi Gov, MC Oluomo For Questioning