THE STATES

The police in Benue State  have charged two
members of a suspected syndicate of kidnappers with conspiracy, kidnapping  and causing hurt, before a Makurdi Upper Area Court.
The accused, Sunday Ogbole, 24, and Emmanuel Alphonsus, 20-were arraigned on a three-count charge.
According to the prosecutor, Cpl Omaye Ujata, Ogbole a Nigerian, and Alphonsus, a native of Cotonou, Benin Republic, conspired and attempted to kidnap Mrs Ogwa Agada in her house at Ehaji Owukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area.
“When the victim raised alarm, the accused persons stabbed her with a knife and took to their heels,’’ Ujata submitted.

Kaduna

A  lecturer at the Department of History, Kaduna
State University,  Malam Sulaiman Shehu, has called on political parties to always allow internal democracy to prevail in their electoral  processes.
Shehu told newsmen in Kaduna that applying internal democracy would make the political parties stronger and more reliable.
The lecturer said democracy within the political parties would always produce the best candidates for the electorate.
According to him, political parties should desist from hand picking candidates because such practice will breed contempt among the electorate.

Kwara

An aspirant to the House of Representatives from
Kwara State, Chief Rex Olawoye, said yesterday that the proposed autonomy for local governments in the country would give them a new lease of life.
Olawoye, a two-time Chairman, Ifelodun Local Government in Kwara, said this on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.
“By this autonomy, a new lease of life has come to the local government councils in the country and will make them perform better,” Olawoye added.
He commended the National Assembly for the bold move, saying it would truly make the councils the third arm of government as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

Kano

The Presiding Pastor of Shalom Evangelical
Assembly, Sabon-Gari, Kano, Mr Kehinde Babatunde, has  expressed optimism that the 2015 elections in Nigeria will be peaceful.
Babatunde told newsmen in Kano that: “The forthcoming general election is going to be the most peaceful election people have ever seen or witnessed in this country.
“Let everybody in the country be calm because the election will be conducted peacefully.’’
Babatunde also expressed hope that the security challenges bedevilling the country would be a thing of the past.
“The country will also witness economic growth and prosperity in the year 2015 and people will have peace.

Lagos

Two students of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos,
who allegedly threatened to kill their lecturer, yesterday appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused – Tayo Ogunyomi, 24, and Kehinde Olaoye, 28, – reside at Yaba and Gbagada areas of Lagos respectively.
They were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, breach of public peace and membership of an unlawful society.
The prosecutor, Inspector, Rita Momah, told the court that the offences were committed on October16 at 9 p.m. on the school campus.
She said the students sent text messages to the phone of their lecturer, one Mrs Abraham Ibe, threatening to kill her.

Nasarawa

Governor  Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has
appointed Mr Yakubu Lamai as his new Chief Press Secretary following a minor cabinet reshuffle.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Zainab Ahmed, and made available to newsmen in Lafia yesterday
It said Al-Makura also made minor cabinet reshuffle by reassigning commissioners to oversee some ministries following the sack of eight commissioners last month.
According to the statement, Mr Hussaini Abubakar, Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, has been moved to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Ondo

A teenager, Segun Temi and a man,Tunde Akinagbe –
were yesterday brought before an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for alleged break-in and theft of mobile phone and N20,000.
The accused -Temi, 16, and Akinagbe, 21 -whose addresses and occupations are unknown, are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, felony, burglary and stealing.
The prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the accused had committed the offences on Sept. 19 at about 9.00 a.m. at 19, Kajola St., Ode Aye near Okitipupa.
Orogbemi said the accused broke into the house of one Bolanle Samson and stole a Samsung phone valued at N6, 000 and a wallet containing N20, 000.
He said the accused broke Sections 390(9), 411, 430(1) and 516 Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo State 2006.The duo pleaded not guilty.

Osun

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Osun
State says 10 persons died from road accidents in the state in September.
The state Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Muhammad Husaini,  disclosed this to newsmen in Osogbo yesterday0.
According to Husaini, 26 crashes involving 126 persons occurred during the month.
He attributed the crashes to speeding, deplorable roads and failure by motorists to comply with road traffic rules and regulations.
He lauded the efforts of the state government for complementing activities of the commission through its road construction and rehabilitation projects.

Oyo

Oyo State Government says  it has set aside N125
million to boost cocoa production for the 2014/2015 Planting Season.
General Manager, Cocoa Development Unit, Oyo State,  Mr Gabriel Kehinde, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
He said, “While N110 million is for the commencement of Youth Empowerment Programmes in Cocoa Production, N15 million is for one million cocoa seedlings for free distribution to farmers.
The General Manager said that government distributed 640,000 and 350,000 metric tonnes of free seedlings to farmers in all the 33 Local Government areas of the state in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Sokoto

The District Head of Gagi, Sokoto South Local
Government Area of Sokoto State, Alhaji Sani Umar, said residents of the area have raised N500,000 for enrolment in the community health insurance scheme.
He also said that the people of the area had already opened a dedicated bank account for their monthly donations meant for the execution of the scheme.
Umar told newsmen in Sokoto that the fund would be used for the execution of other self-help development projects across the community, which is located some few kilometres east of Sokoto city.
“We have to take our destiny into our own hands. The three tiers of government are trying their best in terms of the provision of social amenities to the people.
“However, there are so many social needs of the people requiring the attention of the government and its efforts must have to be complemented by Nigerians,” said the monarch.

Gov. Sule Lamido( right) of Jigawa State, Receiving the Chairman, Governing Council of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Mustapha Jumare in Dutse, recently. Photo: NAN