Tag: Featured

  • Kano: Tanko, killer of 5 year old school girl to die by hanging

    Kano: Tanko, killer of 5 year old school girl to die by hanging

    Abdulmalik Tanko, the kidnapper and killer of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar has been sentenced to death by hanging.

    The Kano State High Court Justice Usman Naaba today, slammed a five-year jail term on the murderer for all the five charges levelled against him.

    The Court also found guilty, the 2nd accused in the case, Hashim Isiyaku on four charges and sentenced him to death by hanging

    He also has a two-year prison term hanging on his throat for attempts to kidnap.

    Justice Usman Naaba also found guilty the 3rd accused person, Fatima Musa guilty on four counts in the case of the murder of Hanifa.

    The 6 years old school girl was brutally poisoned to death by the proprietor of her school sometime in 2021 after collecting ransom from her parents.

    Delivering judgement on Thursday, Justice Usman Naaba, said the five count charges are for kidnappings Hanifa Abubakar, attempting to kidnap her, counselling to kidnap her, abatement and poisoning her to death.

    The Judge sentenced Fatima Musa for conspiracy and attempt to kidnap and sentenced her to one year each on the two counts because she is a nursing mother.

  • El-rufai threatens to sack Kaduna lecturers over ASUU strike

    El-rufai threatens to sack Kaduna lecturers over ASUU strike

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has threatened to sack all the Kaduna State University (KASU) lecturers if they continue to observe the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

    Recall that  ASUU has been on strike since February over the failure of the federal government to meet its demands.

    Many attempts by the government to make the lecturers return to the classrooms have not yielded results as of today.

    Just on Monday, labour unions commenced solidarity protests in some parts of the country with ASUU.

    However, speaking on a radio programme in Kaduna on Wednesday, El-Rufai told the lecturers to return to classrooms in order to avoid having their positions declared vacant, adding that KASU lecturers had no reason to join any strike.

    According to him, ASUU had a problem with the federal government, not the state government.

    He said, “The Acting Vice Chancellor has assured me that they will resume, but I have asked them to find out if they actually resumed work, because I initially instructed that their salary be stopped. But I was later told they didn’t join the strike, so I asked that it should be investigated and those that collected salary and joined the strike will be asked to refund the salary.

    “This is because Nigeria’s law says ‘no work, no pay’. This is the law. So whoever joined the strike will not be paid a salary. We have been telling the KASU lecturers that they have no problem with the State government. ASUU’s problem is with the Federal government. Therefore, why will our staff who have no problems with us join the strike?

    “If this continues, I will wake up one day to sack them all, I swear to God. We will sack them all and declare their positions vacant on the pages of newspapers. They once did the same thing and we gave them warning, now they repeated it. I’m only waiting to receive the report from the commissioner for education. I swear to God, we will sack all those that joined the strike if they refuse to resume work.”

  • “Democracy laboured for, will erode us if Buhari is not impeached”- Sen. Fadahunsi

    “Democracy laboured for, will erode us if Buhari is not impeached”- Sen. Fadahunsi

    Senator Francis Fadahunsi representing Osun East Senatorial District at the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly, has stated that democracy laboured for will erode us, should lawmakers refuse to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to Fadahunsi, the 9th Senate has all it takes to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari from office.

    Recall members of the opposition parties had, during Wednesday’s plenary, staged a walkout, after the move to serve impeachment notice on President Buhari was resisted by some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The impeachment move was hinged on the incessant attacks on Nigerians by dreaded insurgents and the latest threats to overrun Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    Addressing newsmen in his office shortly after the plenary, Senator Fadahunsi said, some APC lawmakers were in support of the impeachment move and the remaining naysayers would join the majority when the Senate resumes from the long vacation.

    “Remember I moved this motion two years ago that this President could offer nothing and that he should step aside. But the APC then, floating in the Atlantic Ocean didn’t understand what I was saying. Now that the dangerous Atlantic Ocean is sweeping them and they have overtaken even Abuja, they are gradually seeing reasons.

    “We decided at a close door session that an impeachment notice should be passed on him, but because somebody is still busy trying to protect his job, it was not possible.

    “Today, during the executive meeting, all of us agreed, that the man should be served an impeachment notice. Almost all the APC Senators conceded that the man should be served, except a few.

    “By the time we come back, that is, if all of us will come back; that is, if some of us are not inflicted by the insecurity; we would all come together, regardless of our political affiliations and ask that he should go”, he said.

    Senator Fadahunsi, who is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs and Trades and Investment, also lashed at Nigeria’s security chiefs for not doing enough.

    He said, “The soldiers are busy making money. The Generals are busy acquiring houses. Some of them do not even know what to do with the money, some of them are building universities and hotels.

    “Each time we invite them, they always complain of a shortage of funds and we would always approve money for them. So, they have now acquired much money.

    “All the people causing these issues, have you heard that anyone was arrested? The few ones arrested were also blown out of Kuje prisons and are now causing more mayhem. These people know exactly what they are doing”.

    Stressing further, Senator Fadahunsi said, “If the man in power is not ejected out of Aso Villa, the way things are going, this country would slide into militocracy and the democracy we all laboured for would erode us”.

    He said, “The Commander of his Brigade Command has been killed. About 30 soldiers under him cannot be found. If he goes and someone comes in, the person would understand the language”, saying, Buhari’s exit would sanitise the system.

    “At a point, El-Rufai who was part of those who brought them came out openly and confessed that the only way to eliminate them is to attack their hideouts and kill all of them, including those who are mediating. But who will give the order?

    “So, someone that cannot give order for this clampdown should take a leave and allow another person to come in”, Fadahunsi added.

    He was optimistic that, “by the time the Senate resumes, we shall sanitise the system and speak in one voice”.

  • Reps embark on long annual holiday as Insecurity bites hard

    Reps embark on long annual holiday as Insecurity bites hard

    As insecurity in the nation continues to bite hard, the House of Representatives has adjourned till September 20th to observe its annual long holiday.

    The lawmakers adjourned the House on Wednesday after the plenary.

    The holiday coincides with reports of a deteriorating security situation in the Federal Capital Territory.

    It would be recalled that the city has witnessed a hike in attacks as terrorists attacked Kuje Prison, setting criminals and terrorists free.

    Also, the government announced the shutdown of federal government colleges in the FCT.

    Speaking after the announcement of the adjournment, the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu urged his colleagues to stay away from the capital.

    “I want to beg members, Abuja is no longer safe, please, if possible, go back to your constituency. The place is so insecure,” he said.

    The Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase cautioned his colleague from making such a comment, noting that it could discourage investors from coming to Nigeria.

    “I believe the minority leader, maybe was putting some jokes but I do not believe that it was a joke on the security in the lives and property of the people and by the grace of God Abuja is going to be secured.

    “I do not think we should scare investors who are coming into the country, I do not believe that we should scare people who could come to add value to us,” he said.

  • NYSC- DG tasks corps members on sustaining high level of discipline

    NYSC- DG tasks corps members on sustaining high level of discipline

    The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Kaku Fadah has tasked 2022 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Corps members deployed to the Federal Capital Territory to maintain and sustain the high level of discipline, enthusiasm and compliance with camp rules and regulations.

    Fadah, made the call during the Official Opening and Swearing -in Ceremony of the 2022 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Corps Members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Kubwa.

    Ably represented by the NYSC FCT Coordinator, Alhaji Suleman Abdul, the DG advised corps members to continue to distance themselves from cultism, drug abuse and other social vices as well as avoiding the use of social media for spreading fake news, fuelling hatred and other negative purposes.

    Fadah also encouraged Corp members to avail themselves of the opportunities for self- employment offered through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED).

    A total number of one thousand, eight hundred and fifty three (1,853) corps members were sworn in by the FCT Chief Judge Justice Husseini Baba represented by Justice Kayode Agunloye.

  • CAMA: Religious Leaders Are Worried About Abuse Of Processes – Osinbajo

    CAMA: Religious Leaders Are Worried About Abuse Of Processes – Osinbajo

    Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said that the major concern of religious leaders with the recently enacted Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 is the fear that the processes are not abused in a way that compromises the entire structure and operation of the organisation

    Professor Osinbajo who spoke during the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference on Thursday stated that these leaders want to be accountable, contrary to views based on reactions to a section of the act.

    He maintained that the CAMA 2020 is massive legislation that covers a wide range of issues on companies and if a section is contentious, what the aggrieved parties can do is to approach the National Assembly and propose an amendment.

    “As a general position, I do not think it will be right to say that pastors don’t want to be accountable. I believe that several Christian organizations and pastors are willing to be accountable. The problem that they may have is ensuring that processes are not abused in such a way as to compromise the entire organization. And I think that if all that is required is some process of accountability, I think it will be easier for organizations to accept that.

    “The concern of the Churches is that it could lead to a situation where practically anybody could be appointed as a trustee to oversee the Church and a Church or a Mosque is a spiritual organization and if you do not share the same faith with the Church or Mosque, you may be the wrong person and if a wrong is appointed, you may create more trouble for the organization.

    “What can be done is that, whatever the proposal for amendment may be, whatever the views of the leadership of the church may be, regarding the question of how the trustees, whether they are interim trustees or not, can be put in the form of a proposal that will be taken to the National Assembly for consideration for an amendment to the law, that is the process which is entirely opened and ought to be pursued,” the Vice President added.

    CAMA Fears

    President Muhammadu Buhari signed the CAMA bill into law in August, repealing and replacing the extant 1990 act, with the aim that the new legislation will be the most significant in three decades, promoting the ease of doing business, while reducing regulatory hurdles in the country.

    However, a portion of the legislative piece tagged Incorporated Trustees, states that religious bodies and charity organisations will now be strictly regulated by the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission and the supervising minister.

    Additional clauses in the act show that the commission can suspend the trustees of an association and appoint an interim manager to run the affairs of the organisation

    But Vice President Osinbajo clarified that the section will affect these organisations; “Churches, Mosques, and church organizations are regarded as charities. It is the Incorporated Trustees Section of the Companies and Allied Matters Act that has become controversial. And because churches are charities, the provisions in the incorporated trustees’ section obviously affect the churches.

    “What the Churches are concerned about is a provision that says that in the event that some wrong-doing is found to be perpetrated by the trustees of the particular organization or Church, the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) can go to court and get an order to appoint interim administrators or interim trustees for the Church or whichever charity organization and manage the organization.”
    C.A.N Talks Tough

    Meanwhile, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) kicked against the act and called on President Buhari to suspend the law in the interest of the country.

    “While we are not against the government fighting corruption wherever it may be found, yet we completely reject the idea of bringing the Church, which is technically grouped among the NGOs, under control of the government. The Church cannot be controlled by the government because of its spiritual responsibilities and obligations. This is why we are calling on the Federal government to stop the implementation of the obnoxious and ungodly law until the religious institutions are exempted from it.

    “How can the government sack the trustee of a church which it contributed no dime to establish? How can a secular and political minister be the final authority on the affairs and management of another institution which is not political? For example, how can a non-Christian head of Government Ministry be the one to determine the running of the church? It is an invitation to the trouble that the government does not have the power to manage. Let the government face the business of providing infrastructure for the people.”

  • Two Dead, One Injured In Lagos Helicopter Crash

    Two Dead, One Injured In Lagos Helicopter Crash

    Two persons have died and another critically injured after a helicopter crashed into a private building in the Opebi area of  Lagos State on Friday. 

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s aide, Gboyega Akosile, confirmed the casualty figure and said the victims have been taken to the hospital.

    Tunji Oketunmbi, the spokesperson of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) had earlier confirmed the incident to Channels Television and said rescue workers have been mobilized to the scene of the incident.

    The helicopter crashed at 16A Salvation, Opebi Road in  Ikeja, Lagos.

     

    Details later…

  • BREAKING: Akinwunmi Adesina re-elected AfDB President

    BREAKING: Akinwunmi Adesina re-elected AfDB President

    Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina has been re-elected as the President of the African Development Bank President for a second five-year term.

    The election took place electronically on Thursday at the virtual annual general meeting of the bank.

    Adesina’s reappointment on Thursday at the helm of the 56-year-old bank is considered a formality as he is the sole candidate, Lespanafricaines reports.

    The head of the African bank had appealed on Wednesday for a second term in office after a months-long storm over alleged corruption and poor governance that ended after he was cleared in an independent probe.

    In a speech at the AfDB’s annual meetings, Adesina formally requested a second term as president, declaring that he was “doing it with an acute sense of duty and commitment.”

    “I do it to serve Africa and our bank, in an unbiased way, to the best of the abilities that God has given me,” he said, according to a statement issued by the bank.

    Adesina, the son of a farming family, became in 2015 the first Nigerian to head the bank, one of the world’s five biggest multilateral lenders and an important but often unseen player in economic development.

    He gained continent-wide recognition last October when the AfDB secured $115 billion (105 billion euros) in funding pledges, a move that doubled its capital and cemented its triple-A credit rating.

    The AfDB has estimated that the continent could lose at least $173.1 billion in GDP in 2020 and $236.7 billion in 2021 as a result of the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis.

    The bank has moved swiftly in response, setting up a coronavirus funding mechanism in April of up to $10 billion.

    The number of shareholders in the AfDB rose to 81, Adesina said, with the admission of Ireland. Fifty-four shareholders are African, while the others are from the Americas, Asia and Europe

  • LIVE: NBA Conference Enters Second Day

    LIVE: NBA Conference Enters Second Day

    The 60th edition of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference entered its second day on Thursday.

    The conference is being held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos State.

    According to NBA President, Paul Usoro, the 60th edition of the conference represents a novel platform for knowledge exchange on the continent.

    It hopes to bring together world leaders, political icons, judges, leading lawyers, thought leaders, policymakers, business icons, and civil society.

    The participants will not just discuss but produce an implementation plan to foster the adoption of policies, standards, and practices leading to socio-political stability, economic growth, sustainable and infrastructural development for accelerated regional and economic integration.

  • Alleged N471m fraud: Court fixes Oct. 20 for ex-HoS, Oyo-Ita’s trial

    Alleged N471m fraud: Court fixes Oct. 20 for ex-HoS, Oyo-Ita’s trial

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, fixed Oct. 20 for continuation of trial of the immediate-past Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita.
    Justice Taiwo adjourned the trial on the grounds that he was not properly briefed about the latest scheduled date.
    According to him, I am not aware that the matter will be coming up today and since the matter is not time, it is better to adjourn it for another date.

    “Besides, the recorder is not here and I believe that we should all keep safe. This court is too congested,” he added.
    The judge also said that due to the spike of COVID-19 pandemic, it was necessary for everyone to comply with public health advisory.
    He further said that the trial would continue when the court returns from vacation.
    Justice Taiwo then adjourned till Oct. 20 and Oct. 21 for trial continuation.
    Our Correspondent reports that Oyo-Ita and two others were arraigned before the court on March 23 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an18-count charge bordering on fraud to the tune of about N471 million.
    Ubong Effiok, her Special Assistant, and Garba Umar, are among the defendants.
    Other defendants, which are companies, are Frontline Ace Global Services Limited, Asanaya Projects Ltd, Slopes International Ltd, Gooddeal Investments Ltd, U & U Global Services Ltd, which is linked to Effiok and Prince Mega Logistics Limited.
    All the defendants in the case pleaded not guilty to the charge.