THE STATES

Bauchi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State
has screened 17 governorship aspirants from Bauchi, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa States seeking to contest on the platform of the party in the 2015 general election.
Our correspondent reports that the aspirants had appeared before the screening panel chaired by a former governor, Achike Udenwa, who assured them of fairness.
The four governorship aspirants that appeared before the panel from Taraba include immediate former acting governor, Garba Umar, former Minister for Niger Delta, Darius Isiaku, Mr David Kente and Amb Musa John.
Former Minister of State for Finance, Dr Yarima Ngama and a PDP youth leader, Hassan Kapayos, were the only governorship aspirants from Yobe at the screening.
In troubled Adamawa, Governor Bala Ngilari, former EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, Auwal Tukur, the son of former PDP national chairman, Bamanga Tukur, Sen. Abubakar Girei, Markus Gindiri, Aliyu Modibbo and Brig. Gen Aliyu Kama (rtd) appeared before the panel.

FCT
The Nigerian Army has announced the promotion of three Captains to the rank of Major in recognition of their exceptional gallantry in the fight against terrorism in the North-East.
Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen.Olajide Laleye,  announced this in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the  activities lined up for the  2014 Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference to be held next month in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Laleye gave the names of the officers as Captains IA Manga, AH Ali and Y Micah.
“It is my pleasure to announce the elevation from the rank of Captain to Major of  three brave officers who have shown aggressive posture and uncommon gallantry in the face of the enemy particularly in the counter-insurgency operations in the North-East,” He said.

Jigawa

Alhaji Aminu Ringim, one of the four gubernatorial
aspirants on the platform of the Peoples  Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State, said last Sunday, that he was not annointed by Governor Sule Lamido as insinuated in some quarters.
He spoke in an interview with newsmen in Dutse shortly after his arrival from Kaduna where he attended the PDP North West zonal screening.
“I think, as someone who served as Chief of Staff to former Governor Saminu Turaki for five years and served in similar capacity to Governor Sule Lamido for about eight years, it is an experience enough to enable me consolidate on such gains and to continue from where my principals stopped.
“After all, there are four of us contesting,  I don’t think there is any one of us that was anointed by the Governor.
“If you say anointment, you can go and ask the people because they are the ones that anointed candidates not the governor.”
Kano

The National Environmental Standards and Regula
tions Enforcement Agency (NESREA), says it is willing to partner corps members to promote awareness on clean environment in Nigeria.
The agency’s North West Zonal Director, Dr Ahmed Kasim, dropped the hint at a lecture delivered at the 2014 Batch “C” NYSC Orientation Course in Karaye, Kano State recently.
He said: “In pursuit of its statutory responsibility to resuscitate the integrity of the Nigerian environment, NESREA collaborates and partners with relevant government ministries and agencies as well as the private sector  among others.
“It is this cooperation, collaboration and partnership that NESREA earnestly seeks to establish with the corps members in Kano State and other states across the country.
Kebbi

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Kebbi
State, has commenced voters’ education campaign as part of efforts to ensure that registered voters would elect credible leaders in the 2015 general elections.
The state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Shehu Sambawa, who represented Governor Saidu Dakingari, at the event, directed state owned media stations to ensure equal coverage of activities of all the political parties.
Sambawa urged media stations to be fair and neutral in their coverage of political campaigns, stressing that state owned media stations had been so directed on the issue.
He advised the media organisations to shun inflammatory messages for sustenance of peace and unity in the country.

Lagos

Former President, Association of National Accoun
tants of Nigeria (ANAN), last Sunday urged the Federal Government to diversify the economy to meet the challenges of prevailing slump in oil prices.
Nzekwe told newsmen in Lagos that the federal government must improve the performance of the non-oil sector, particularly the agricultural sector, in order to mitigate the effect of the slump on the economy.
“Everybody was talking about diversifying the economy. Oil could finish and we were being warned everyday that one day oil would finish.
“Most countries use oil windfall to develop infrastructure and create enabling environment for their economies to thrive.
“It is unfortunate that we waited so long until now when the price of oil in the international market came down and we started planning,’’ Nzekwe said.

Ogun

The police in Ogun State  have arraigned a 40-year-old
woman, Beatrice Bello, at an Ota Magistrates’ Court for stealing N485,000.
Bello, who lives at No. 25 Oshinleye Str., Ilogbo-Awela in Ota, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy.
The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Mustapha Abdulkareem, told the court that the accused and others at large, committed the offence on March 24 at about 2 00 p.m. at Iyana Iyesi, in Ota.
He alleged that the accused and others at large fraudulently stole the sum of N485, 000 belonging to one Rukayat Akinlade.
Abdulkareem said that the offences contravened Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Revised Law of Ogun State, 2006.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

Ondo
A 33-year-old driver, Dayo Farodoye, has been
araigned  before an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for causing the death of one Mrs Busayo Adetoye.
The accused of no fixed address is facing a three-count charge of manslaughter, dangerous driving and driving without driver’s licence.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the accused on September. 2, at about 3:00 p.m. along the Okitipupa-Ore road, drove a Bedford lorry marked Lagos XS 288-AKD dangerously on the public highway.
Orogbemi said that the accused, who had no drivers licence coupled with the dangerous driving caused the death of Adetoye on her way from Ore.
He said the offences contravened Sections 5, 6 and 10(6) of the Federal Highway Act, Cap.F13, Vol.VI, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

Osun
The Modakeke Chief Magistrates’ Court in Osun has
ordered that one Tunde Adeyemi, 20, should be remanded  in the Ile-Ife Prison custody for alleged manslaughter.
The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Christian Olajide, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 30, 2014 around 6:30 p.m. at Modakeke, in the Ife East local government area of Osun.
Olajide alleged that the accused intentionally killed one Sakin Olayioye by hitting him with stick in his head, which led to his death.
He said that the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code cap 34 Vol 11, Laws of Osun State, 2003.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Olusegun Ayilara, did not take the plea of the accused but ordered that he should be remanded in prison.

Zamfara
A Gusau Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded two
men, Nabangi Umma-Oro and Abubakar Danbanga, for allegedly killing one Isah Muhammad.
Umma-Oro and Danbanga, who are residents of Natsira Village in the Adapka District of Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and culpable homicide.
The Chief Magistrate, Alhaji Bello Kucheri, ordered the remand of the accused persons and adjourned hearing to December 4.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Yakubu Abuga, told the court that on October 18, the accused invited Muhammad to a meeting and thereafter attacked him with a machete.
Abuga said that the two accused also slit the throat of Muhammad with the machete, which resulted to his death.

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State (right), receiving the Chairman, Governing Council of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Mustapha Jumare in Dutse, recently.