NigeriaNews24

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  • Nigeria’s diversity should be turned into our strength, Lawan tells leaders

    Nigeria’s diversity should be turned into our strength, Lawan tells leaders

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has called on leaders in the country to take advantage of the country’s diversity to wield the required strength to foster unity, peace and development.

    Lawan gave the charge while reacting to a point of order brought to the floor by Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP- Taraba South) during plenary.

    Lawan said: ”we should ensure as leaders that we use and weave this diversity into strength, and that is trying to provide leadership regardless of geographical, ethnic and religious differences.

    ” Many of our leaders are trying to do that, so i think you tried to deviate a little bit and it almost turned controversial.”

    Earlier, Bwacha while relying on order 43 of the Senate Standing Rules, drew the attention of his colleagues to the recent killing of George Floyd by the Police in Minneapolis, U. S.

    “The global protest against racism which was ignited from the action of a racist police in Mineapolis in the United States.

    “We are all aware of what followed, the wicked despicable manner the life of George Floyd was taken from this world.

    “This singular incident, Mr President, ordinarily would have generated debates even in this chamber. Meaning, I would have invoked order 52 to enable us debate this matter.”

    According to the lawmaker, his decision not to bring up the matter for consideration was due to the fact that “Nigeria lacks the moral standing to condemn the killing of Mr Floyd as the country presently grapples with its own problems of killings arising from ethnic and religious discrimination”.

    Bwacha was countered by his colleague, Sen. Adamu Aliero (APC- Kebbi Central), who also relied on order 43 on personal explanation, to crave the indulgence of the Senate not to entertain any matter that might spark unnecessary controversy.

    He explained that the reason for bringing up the death of George Floyd was to remind Nigerians on the need to work on all associated problems that were spin-offs from the country’s diversity.

  • NAPTIP urges governors to domesticate VAPP Act over incessant rape cases

    NAPTIP urges governors to domesticate VAPP Act over incessant rape cases

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has urged state governors to domesticate the Violence Against Person Prohibition Acts (VAPP) over incessant rape in the country.

    The Director General of the agency, Mrs Julie Okah-Donli, made the call at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, noting that such domestication would help in dealing with perpetrators of rape.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the VAPP Act, enacted in 2015 states that a person has committed rape if such person intentionally penetrates the virgina, anus or mouth of another person.

    It notes that the offence has been committed if the other person does not consent to the penetration or the consent is obtained by force, among others.

    A person convicted of this offence is liable to imprisonment for life, except where the offender is less than 14 years of age.

    The NAPTIP boss, therefore, urged state governors to “resolutely pursue the adoption of the VAPP Act before the issue of rape cases get out of hand.

    “As at today, only about five states have laws against sexual and gender based violence, Lagos and Ekiti are the top on the list.

    “This is a clarion call for states to domesticate the VAPP Act in their states to deepen the protection of women and children from predators in our society.

    “State governors and assemblies that are delaying the domestication are inadvertently promoting sexual violence in their domain.”

    She said that in many rape cases, the accused often hinged on consent.

    Okah-Donli added that the determination of consent often led to distressing cross examination of rape victims in court, saying that this led to victims not reporting to the police to press charges.

    She said that those charged with rape had a higher than average rate of acquittal mainly because it was difficult to prove a crime which usually had no third party witness.

    She stressed that cases of rape was usually under-reported and under prosecuted.

    According to her, the psychological reactions of victims in this regard include shame, humiliation, confusion, fear and rage.

  • Welder bags 5 years imprisonment over N3.7m fraud in Ekiti

    Welder bags 5 years imprisonment over N3.7m fraud in Ekiti

    A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday sentenced a welder, Olatunji Bangboye, to five years in prison for falsely obtaining the sum of N3.7 million from one Chinedu Okpara.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Uchena Agomoh, found the convict guilty of the three-count charge levelled against him and subsequently sentenced him, the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports.

    “Having given a careful submissions of both counsel in this sentence hearing, there’s no gainsaying that the convict is a first offender and he is remorseful.

    “Learned counsel to the convict has submitted that convict has domestic responsibility, having four children and aged parents.

    “This is a great responsibility and therefore wonders what happen if the convict is away for too long.

    “There is also an evidence before this honourable court that the convict had refunded the sum of one million through the police, out of the total contract sum; that shows he is remorseful and ready to restitute.

    “The demeanor of the convict throughout the trial shows that he is remorseful. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chief Judge of Nigeria,(CJN) has urged judges to decongest correctional centres.

    ‘Therefore, on count one, the convict is sentenced to two years in prison without an option of fine. On count two and three, he Bangboye is sentenced to one year and six months on each count,” Justice Agomoh ordered.

    Agomoh said that the balance of the sum of N2.7 million must be paid by the convict to the victim within six months from July 1, 2020 with the knowledge of the prosecutor by way of showing restitution.

    NAN reported that earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Mr Samson Osobu had told the court that the defendant between 2015 and 2017, in Ado-Ekiti under false presence and intent to defraud obtained building materials valued at N3.7 million from one Chinedu Okpara.

    Osobu said the defendant between Feb. 22 and March 3, 2017 issued cheques to one Chinedu Okpara and when presented were dishonored due to lack of funds.

    The prosecutor said the offence committed by the convict contravened Sections 1(1)(3) and 11 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offence Act, 2006 and Section 1(a)(I) of the Dishonoured cheque Act.

    He relied on Section 11 of Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, praying the court to order restitution or compensation by the convict to the victim.

    The defendant, (Convict) had earlier pleaded not guilty to the three count charge when it was read to him by the court.

    The defence counsel, Mr Toyin Oluwole, also prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that the convict was remorseful and ready to restitute.(

  • Austria allows travelling with 31 European countries

    Austria allows travelling with 31 European countries

    Austria on Wednesday said it would lift pandemic travel restrictions with 31 countries in Europe from Tuesday, though curbs remains for Britain, Sweden, Spain and Portugal, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said.
    Quarantine and virus tests will be scrapped for travellers coming from most European countries including Italy, Croatia and Greece, which are the most popular summer destinations for Austrian tourists.
    However, a travel warning will remain in place for Lombardy, the Northern Italian region that had been hit hard by the pandemic.
    Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said given the improving infection trend in most European countries, it was no longer important to stay in Austria over summer.
    “What’s important is to travel responsibly,” he said.
    He, however, urged travellers to observe hygiene and distancing rules.

  • C/River, Isreali coy sign $15m cocoa city project agreement

    C/River, Isreali coy sign $15m cocoa city project agreement

    The Cross River Government and Israeli Bean & Co. Global Ltd. has signed a full Venture/Public Private Partnership agreement of 15 million dollars.

    The agreement was for the establishment of a special cocoa city project in the state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    The online virtual signing was carried out on Wednesday in Calabar, while the Memorandum of Understanding had earlier been signed on Feb. 14.

    The Cross River Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Okon Owuna and the Director General of Cocoa Regeneration Agency, Mr Collins Ogar, signed on behalf of the state government.

    The state Commissioner for Justice, Mr Tanko Ashang, witnessed the agreement signing.

    On the side of the Isreali, the Managing Partner, LR Group and Bean & Co, Mr Doron Rette, signed on behalf of the company.

    Owuna explained that the agreement has two components, the Agro Industrial Centre with a processing plant, seedlings nursery and training facility as well as pulp powder and dry cocoa beans for export.

    He said that the second component was the Farmers Outgrowers Scheme, which will cover 5,000 to 10,000 hectares of land.

    According to him, thousands of farmers will be involved and will operate under the technical protocol of Bean & Co who will buy all their produce consisting of the pods and wet cocoa beans.

    The Commissioner said that 65 per cent of the project sum would be covered by Bean & Co and its partners, while the state government would cover the remaining.

    “As stated above, this project will increase cocoa farmers’ earnings three times over and increase productivity six times over.

    “The project will engage thousands of farmers and employ Crossriverians in the cocoa city plus technology transfer.

    “The outgrowing scheme will cover Etung, Ikom, Boki, Obubra, Obudu and Akamkpa which are the cocoa producing local government areas in the state.

    “Under the funding proposal, the farmers will receive about N2.4million loan for four years to cover seedlings, pesticides, fertilizers, training, growing protocols and other necessary inputs,” he said.

    He added that due to the long gestation and harvest time for cocoa which takes an average of four years, repayment of the loan would commence in the fifth year.

    In his remarks, the DG of Cocoa Regeneration Agency, Ogar, assured that the Ministry and the Agency would work tirelessly to ensure the success of the project.

    Speaking through the virtual video conferencing, President of LR Group, Mr Roy Yami, said the contract would be a good investment opportunity for cocoa farmers in the state.

  • Nkwocha, Yobo join other African legends in COVID-19 campaign

    Nkwocha, Yobo join other African legends in COVID-19 campaign

    Nigeria’s Perpetua Nkwocha and Joseph Yobo have joined other African legends in the social media stay safe campaign by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in partnership with Speak Up Africa.

    A statement on the website of the continental football governing body on Wednesday said, ”CAF in partnership with Speak Up Africa have launched a social media challenge to further raise awareness on proven COVID-19 prevention methods as part of the Stay Safe Africa campaign

    ”The new online challenge forms part of the Stay Safe Africa campaign, which seeks to empower communities and individuals to take simple and proven preventive measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Africa.

    “Stay Safe Africa, launched by Dakar-based advocacy tank Speak Up Africa, brings together partners to work towards a common goal of saving lives by increasing investments and awareness to protect our continent.

    “This new threat will ensured access and treatment from other ongoing health threats.

    ”As part of the challenge, influential players are inviting their peers and everyone to participate in the challenge by recording a video of them doing 19 kick ups and sharing it on social media.

    ”To date, African football legends Ahmed Hassan (Egypt), Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria), Joseph Yobo (Nigeria), Karim Haggui (Tunisia) and Trésor Lomana Lualua (DR Congo) have shared videos, ” the statement read.

    It added that CAF Deputy General Secretary, Anthony Baffoe, has also participated in the challenge, as CAF lends its influential voices, clubs and legends to the campaign to help protect one billion Africans from COVID-19.

    ”In Africa, there are currently over 157,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and over 4,000 deaths.

    ”Several risk factors mean the virus can spread quickly across the continent.

    ”A coordinated Africa-led approach to stop the spread of COVID-19 is crucial, as high population densities, communal living and the constrained access to water and washing facilities all increase the likelihood of coronavirus infections and fatalities.

    ”We are thrilled to have CAF’s influential players and members taking part in this exciting social media challenge and raising awareness of the importance of protecting yourself and others from COVID-19.

    ”Sport is a powerful tool to transform the continent, particularly when it comes to health initiatives.

    We encourage everyone to take part in this online challenge to raise awareness and incite positive change in health practices and behavior”, said Yacine Djibo, Executive Director of Speak Up Africa.

  • Court dissolves 8-year-old marriage as husband starves wife of sex

    Court dissolves 8-year-old marriage as husband starves wife of sex

    An Upper Area Court in Makurdi on Wednesday dissolved the marriage between Jennifer Ojeka and Joseph, on grounds that he starves his wife of sex.
    Delivering judgment, the judge, Ms Rose Iyorshe, held that evidence before the court showed that the marriage had broken down completely.
    Iyorshe ordered Ojeka to return the bride price paid by Joseph.
    The News Agency of Nigeira (NAN) reports that Ojeka instituted a divorce case against her estranged husband, Joseph on grounds that he beats her up at any little provocation and denies her of sex.
    “I have tried everything possible to make the marriage work but all efforts failed,” the petitioner told the court.
    She said that she married to Joseph in 2012 under the Calabar Marriage Law and Custom.
    The respondent who refused to honour court summons, however, sent an account number to the court for the petitioner to pay back the bride price.

  • COVID-19: SDG sensitises 2,400 Almajiris, gives them PPE in Yobe

    COVID-19: SDG sensitises 2,400 Almajiris, gives them PPE in Yobe

    The Yobe office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) says it has sensitised 2,400 Almajiris across the state on personal hygiene and distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to them in order to curb the spread of COVID-19.

    The state Programme Officer, Mohammed Ibrahim, made this disclosure on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu.

    He said the SDG had so far reached out to 2,400 Almajiris in 24 schools in some Local Governments Areas within the three zones of the state, as part of the response to COVID-19 pandemic.

    “We sensitised them on personal hygiene and distributed PPE to them such as hand sanitisers, face masks, soap and wash-hand-basin among other items”.

    Ibrahim said the decision to take the campaign against COVID-19 to Almajiri (Tsangaya) schools was informed by the neglect being suffered by the Almajiris in the implementation of various programmes.

    He noted that the effort of Mai Mala Buni led administration of upgrading the Tsangaya schools and giving the Almajiris access to quality education was in line with that of the SDG.

    “Gov. Buni’s position on Almijiri education system is very clear. He believes that Borno and Yobe states have been the hub of Quranic knowledge for centuries.

    “Gov. Buni feels that Yobe cannot relocate Almajiris. Instead, he directed the State Universal Basic Education Board to develop a strategy for integrating the Tsangaya school into a formal learning system,” he said.

    In their resction, Mallam Sani Salisu and Bukar Babagana, Almajiri school teachers in Damaturu, lauded the state SDG for the sensitisation and provision of PPE.

    They also expressed optimism on the state government’s plans to integrate the Almajiris into the formal learning system, saying that would bring out the best in the Almajiris.

  • COVID-19: Viewing centre operators set to enforce NCDC protocols

    COVID-19: Viewing centre operators set to enforce NCDC protocols

    Operators of viewing centres in Kwara have expressed readiness to obey government order by providing hand sanitisers for use and as well observe physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

    The operators spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Wednesday,

    They expressed their readiness to play according to the rules of safety as football league across Europe is set to resume fully in few days’ time.

    The owner of Champion Viewing Centre in Olunlade, Ilorin, Bayo Olatunji, said that he would allow few number of viewers in order not to violate government directive on social gathering.

    “I have made up my mind not to flout government order. I have already bought enough hand sanitisers and water buckets to use at the entrance and I will also allow 30 customers in to allow one metre each for their sitting arrangements,” he said.

    Another viewing centre operator in Offa Garage, Wasiu Olarewaju, said he would prevent crowd from gaining entrance.

    “I will play according to the rules. It will be first come first serve.

    “My viewing centre used to accommodate over 70 before the coronavirus but now I will not allow overcrowded centre. I will allow just 50 people in,” he said.

    Kunle Abolaji, Chief Executive Officer of Millennium Viewing Centre at Sango, Ilorin, warned other football viewing centres not to provoke government but to obey government order on safety.

    “What we have been praying for has happened. Football is back.

    “We need not provoke government to close down viewing centers. Let us obey safety conditions put in place,” he advised.

    Bode Babatunde, a viewing centre operator at Taiwo, Ilorin, said he had placed safety rules at the entrance of his football house.

    “I have specified the rules such as compulsory use of facemask before you can be allowed inside. Compulsory washing of hand and use of sanitiser before match and during half time as well as one metre space between every viewer,” he said.

    Another operator at Unity area, Ilorin, Kayode Aina, said viewing centre had been his only source of income.

    “I don’t have any alternative. I am ready to do the right thing and screen everybody coming in to watch matches.

    “I will enforce use of face mask and allow small number of viewers in order not to provoke government,” he said.

    NAN reports that football activities had been suspended for the past three months across the globe due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

    NAN also reports that football activities resumed in some parts of the world as German Bundesliga resumed two weeks ago.

    Spanish Laliga, English Premier League and Italian Serie A are set to resume June 11, 17 and 20 respectively with other top leagues also set to resume soon.

  • Woman in court over alleged N110m land fraud

    Woman in court over alleged N110m land fraud

    A 49-year-old woman, Aishatu Sani,on Wednesday appeared in a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Wuse Zone Six, over alleged N110 million land fraud.

    The police charged Sani, who resides in FHA, Lugbe, Abuja, with three counts of criminal conspiracy, cheating and fraud.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Fidelis Ogbobe, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in 2015.

    He alleged that the complainant, David Anidi, reported the matter at the Area Command Metro through a written complaint in August 2015.

    Ogbobe alleged that the defendant conspired with one Gbenga Olarenwaju, currently at large and deceived the complainant into believing that she was the owner of a plot of land.

    In addition, the prosecutor alleged that the complainant, Anidi transferred N110 million into the defendant’s Skybank account number 3011984315, being payment for the land.

    He further said the complainant also gave Olarenwaju the sum of N100, 000 to effect change of ownership of the land to his name.

    Ogbobe said it was when the complainant went to the Abuja Municipal Council to verify the land papers, he was informed that the documents were fake.

    He said every effort to get his money back failed.

    The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 97,322 and 364 of the Penal Code Law.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Magistrate Ahmed Ndajiwo admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million with one reasonable and reliable surety in like sum.

    Ndajiwo adjourned the case until July 20, for hearing.