Just what Nigerians wants. Photos speaks: Ambode presents helicopters, gunboats, vehicles to Police

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase and Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, during the commissioning and handing over of Patrol vehicles, motorcycles, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), gunboats, helicopters to the Nigerian Police and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Friday.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase and Minister for Interior, Lt.Gen.Abdulrahman Dambazua (rtd.), during the unveiling of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) logo at the commissioning and handing over  of patrol vehicles etc.

Patrol helicopters and gunboats

Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), and other vehicles.

Drone on display.

Drone …

APC House of Assembly members in Kogi back Audu's son, threaten to impeach any 'substituted' candidate

Lawmakers on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, on Friday, threatened to impeach any candidate chosen to replace the late candidate of the party, Prince Abubakar Audu.

Some of the lawmakers, who were at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, told newsmen that their wish was that Mohammed Audu be given the mandate of his late father.

Mr Momoh Rabiu, who spoke on behalf of the lawmakers, said: "Based on our discussion, we have taken a decision and taken our resolution to the national chairman.

"We are overwhelmed by the response from them, but we are still waiting for a safe landing so that Kogi will not be doomed.

"We told the national chairman that on no account should anybody be smuggled in to occupy that position which we worked for in conjunction with the late Audu, without who there would be no APC in Kogi State today.

"We presented to the national leadership Prince Mohammed Audu to replace his late father. It is not because he is the first son, but try him, he is very intelligent and equal to the task. With him, we will have the Kogi of our dream."

Rabiu said the decision to replace the late Audu with his son was taken because of the commitment of the late standard-bearer and because the lawmakers do not want Kogi to continue to be ruled by the PDP.

Insisting that their threat to remove any candidate that emerged from the proposed primary was no threat but a fact, Rabiu appealed to the APC leadership to respect their wish.

"We are the legislators and have told the national chairman our position that in any case anybody emerges contrary to what we present to them, we know the best way to remove him.

"It is not a threat, but we told them that we have no intention of washing our dirty linen in public. Removing somebody is just a two-minute job for us as lawmakers in the state. We want the change we worked for and we want Kogi to be part of the moving train.

"We are not asking Faleke to stay away from the ticket. We equally worked with him during the campaigns. What we are saying is that it should be Mohammed Audu/Faleke ticket. The two of them must work together," he said.

30 judges for Federal High Court appointment approved by Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of 30 new judges for the Federal High Court.
The appointment was based on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.
Those appointed are:
1. Hon. Justice Yellin S. Bogoro​ – ​Bauchi State
2. ​Rosemary O. Dugbo Oghoghorie ​- ​Delta State
3. Taiwo Obayomi Taiwo​ – ​Ogun State
4. Ibrahim Watila ​- ​Borno State
5. Mallong Peter Hoommuk ​- ​Plateau State
6. Isa Hamma Adama Dashen ​- Adamawa State
7. Hassan Dikko ​-​ Kebbi State
8. Jude Kanyioh Dagat​ – Kaduna State
9. Olayinka Olusegun Tokode ​- ​Osun State
10. Simon Akpah Amobeda ​- ​Kogi State
11. Jane Egienanwan Inyang ​- ​Cross River State
12. Daniel Emeka Osiagor ​- ​Rivers State
13. Prof. Chuka Austine Obiozor​ – ​Anambra State
14. Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweib ​- ​Bayelsa State
15. Hassan Muslim Sule ​- ​Zamfara State
16. Hadiza Rabiu Shagari​ – ​Sokoto State
17. Saleh Kogo Idrissa​ – ​Yobe State
18. Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik ​- ​Edo State
19. Hillary Ide Osho Oshomah ​- ​Edo State
20. Fadima Murtala Aminu​ – Adamawa State
21. Toyin Bolaji Adegoke ​- ​Kwara State
22. James Kolawole Omotosho ​- ​Ogun State
23. Nehizena Idemudia Ekunwe​ – ​Edo State
24. Stephen Daylop Pam​ – ​Plateau State
25. Akintayo Aluko​ – ​Ekiti State
26. Dr. Nnamdi O. Dimgba ​- ​Abia State
27. Emeka Nwite​ – ​Ebonyi State
28. Abdulazeez M.Z. Anka ​- ​Zamfara State
29. Abdu Dogo ​​- ​FCT
30. Adamu Turaki Muhammed ​- ​Jigawa State.
The new judges are to be sworn-in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on December 2, 2015 by 10am.

EFCC arrests PASTOR for Alleged N200m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said Friday that it has arrested a “self-acclaimed pastor” and Chief Executive Officer of Chemtronics Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jonathan Ibinabo Alatoru, over alleged conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N200m
A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the Commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspect was arrested in a sting operation by operatives.

According to the EFCC, the 55-year-old suspect, who it said had jumped an administrative bail earlier granted him, was “awarded a contract by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Abuja for the construction of a skill acquisition centre at Igualeba, Orhiomwon LGA, in Edo State, to the tune of N1.7billion.”

It further noted that: “The contract, which was supposed to be completed within a year, was, however, terminated in 2011 when he could not complete the structure 18 months after.”

Commonwealth elects first female secretary-general

New Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland.

The Commonwealth has elected Baroness Patricia Scotland as its Secretary-General designate.

The British barrister and jurist, who was unveiled this afternoon at the Commonwealth summit in Malta, is expected to assume office on April 1, 2016 as the sixth Commonwealth Secretary-General and the first woman to take up the post.

“I am incredibly proud to be the first woman to be Commonwealth Secretary-General,” Scotland was quoted as saying in a statement on the Commonwealth website. “I want to put the women’s agenda firmly on the table and work with leaders, governments, local governments and other partners.”

She called on all Commonwealth citizens to join her in making the aspirations a reality.

Scotland, 60, added, “The Commonwealth shares a great deal. It has 33 per cent of the world’s population. It has the capacity to bring together people of all religions; concentrate on what joins us. It’s a real opportunity to invest and work together. If you work together with people respectfully, you can bring about change. Human rights and development go hand-in-hand.”

The Commonwealth noted that Scotland was born in Dominica in 1955, and moved with her family from there to Britain. She obtained her LLB in 1976, was called to the Bar in 1977 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1991.

She received a life peerage and was created Baroness Scotland of Asthal in 1997 and has held many ministerial positions in the United Kingdom government, including as Minister of State (Criminal Justice and Offender Management from 2003 to 2007.

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in Malta for the Commonwealth Summit.

I want to be Chelsea boss – Drogba

Didier-Drogba

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba says he has an agreement to return to the club once he finishes playing and wants it to be as manager.

Drogba, who now plays in Canada, scored 164 goals in two spells with the Blues.

“I want to give back to the club which has given so much to me. I have agreed that with the club directors,” the 37-year-old told BBC Africa.

“Why not manager? Why not sporting director, trainer at the academy or maybe an advising role for strikers?”

Drogba scored the penalty that won the Champions League for Chelsea in 2012 and won his fourth Premier League title on returning to the club last season before he joined Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.

However, the champions have struggled this season, losing seven of their opening 12 league matches, and are 15th in the Premier League.

Drogba has given his support to manager Jose Mourinho, saying he is the “still the right man” for the job and insisted that he believes the players also still back him, despite rumours of divisions within the dressing room.

“If the club has kept him that means owner Roman Abramovich thinks that he is the right man,” he said. “I think the players trust him and he is giving his best to change the situation.”

Drogba admitted Chelsea had been going through a “difficult moment” this season, but that back-to-back victories over Norwich and Maccabi Tel Aviv indicated this was now being reversed.

“They have quality when it comes to the players, and quality when it comes to the management,” said Drogba.

“This is a club which usually doesn’t have a bad season twice."

Woman charged with grinding machine theft

A 38-year-old woman, Mary Irabor, has been arraigned in an Oredo Magistrates’ Court in Benin for allegedly stealing a grinding machin

The prosecutor, ASP Sylvester Omor, said the accused, along with others now at large, committed the offence on August 22, at No. 741 East Circular road, Benin.

Omor told the court that the grinding machine that was valued at N35,000, was the property of one Janet Iria.

He said that the accused also obtained credit facility of N120,000 under false pretext from one Evelyn Edobor.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 516, 419 (1) (a) and 390 (4) (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 48 Vol. II laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976 as applicable in Edo.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

The Magistrate, Mrs. C.A Nwoha, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 and a surety in like sum.

Mrs. Nwoha adjourned the case till November 27 for hearing.

UPDATED: Gunmen attack Polish ship, kidnap 5 crew members off Nigerian coast

Gunmen abducted five Polish seamen, including the captain and three officers, from a cargo ship on Nigerian waters, Poland's government said, on Friday.

Polish Foreign Minister, Witold Waszczykowski, said the five were abducted, on Thursday night from the ship Szafir. A further 11 crew members, who escaped abduction by barricading themselves inside the ship, were safe and in contact by phone, he said.

Sea Industry and Navigation Minister, Marek Grobarczyk, said it looks like the attack was carried out by pirates.

The ship, which belongs to a Polish company but is flying a Cypriot flag, is some 30 nautical miles from the Nigerian coast.

There were no reports of injuries and no traces of blood were found, Waszczykowski said. The ship was damaged when the attackers opened fire.

Waszczykowski said no demands for ransom had been made and the government is waiting for contact from the abductors either directly or via the Nigerian government to be able to open negotiations.

The ship was traveling from Antwerp, Belgium, to Nigeria and was carrying metal cranes and other items, not containers.

50 people for execution in Saudi

The family of a Shiite activist sentenced to death after protesting in Saudi Arabia has voiced concerns for his fate as a rights group warned of his imminent execution.

AFP
Image captionMost of those condemned to death in Saudi Arabia are beheaded, but some are shot.

The sentence against Ali al-Nimr, only 17 when he was arrested in February 2012, has drawn international condemnation over his young age and allegations he was tortured.

Ali al-Nimr’s uncle told AFP on Friday his family fears “the government is serious, very serious” about carrying out the sentence.

Jaffar al-Nimr said that his nephew reported that he had undergone a medical check when his family last spoke to him two weeks ago.

Amnesty International warned Thursday that Ali al-Nimr was among more than 50 people, including other Shiite activists, at increased risk of soon being put to death in a single day.

His mother and the mothers of other detainees implored King Salman for clemency after learning of preparations possibly associated with impending executions, the London-based rights group said.

Ali al-Nimr’s case has provoked a call for clemency from France, while the United States expressed “deep concern”.

Activists say Ali al-Nimr is one of three Shiite protesters who were minors at the time of their arrest and have been sentenced to death. They have exhausted all appeals.

“International law prohibits the use of the death penalty against anyone under the age of 18,” Amnesty said on Thursday.

It added that there were “credible allegations” the three youths had been tortured.

Their fate rests with King Salman who, activists say, must give final approval before death sentences are carried out.

The case of Jaffar al-Nimr’s brother, Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, also rests with Salman after the Supreme Court last month upheld his death sentence for sedition.

“They are peaceful people,” Jaffar al-Nimr said. “They are not criminals.”

The sheikh was a driving force behind protests that erupted in 2011 in eastern Saudi Arabia, where most of the country’s estimated two million Shiites live.

The protests developed into a call for equality in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, where many Shiites have complained of marginalisation.

Amnesty said Nimr al-Nimr was among six Shiite activists at imminent risk of execution who were “clearly convicted in unfair trials.”

The rights group earlier this month reported that a surge in executions in Saudi Arabia had pushed to 151 the number of people put to death this year.

In recent weeks, however, there has been a marked drop in the number of executions, all of which are reported by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Thursday was asked about the case of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, sentenced to flogging and 10 years in jail for allegedly insulting Islam.

“We expect other countries to respect our legal system,” he said.

Turkey ‘crossed the line’ with plane downing – Lavrov

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday said that Ankara has crossed the line by shooting down a Russian warplane this week and warned the incident could severely undermine Turkey’s interests.

“We believe that the Turkish leadership has crossed the line of what is acceptable,” Lavrov said at the start of talks with Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem in Moscow.

Ankara “risks putting Turkey in a most severe situation, with respect to both its long-term national interests and the situation in the region,” he said.

Moscow is reeling after a Russian warplane carrying out strikes in Syria was shot down on the Turkish-Syrian border on Tuesday — an incident President Vladimir Putin described as a “treachery” and a “stab in the back.”

Ankara has argued that it did not realise the plane, which it said had violated Turkish airspace, was Russian, and claimed it issued multiple warnings to the pilot to change course.

The incident led to the death of two Russian officers — Moscow’s first combat deaths since it launched a bombing campaign in Syria on September 30 — including the pilot and a special forces soldier who participated in a rescue operation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday sought to ease tensions with Moscow, calling for unity against the Islamic State group and arguing the shooting of the plane was not an act against Russia.

The Kremlin however did not seem in a conciliatory mood.

Putin on Friday discussed the downing with his security council, particularly the “increased tensions over Syria against the background of Turkey’s aggressive and unpredictable actions,” his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The Russian government is currently preparing economic retaliatory measures against Turkey, a major trading partner particularly in the tourism and agriculture sectors.

Peskov confirmed the Kremlin had received a proposal from Erdogan to hold a meeting with Putin in Paris next week but did not say whether Moscow had accepted or refused the offer.

Putin had previously refused to take Erdogan’s call following the plane downing.

Peskov confirmed that Putin was “made aware” of the Turkish leader’s attempt to communicate, which was made several hours after the plane was shot down.

APC is best platform for change — Sylva

By Samuel Oyadongha

APC candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva says his party remains the best platform to bring the desired change in Bayelsa just as he has dismissed claims by his rivals that the PDP is an Ijaw party.

Sylva in an interview in Yenagoa urged the Ijaw to embrace the APC, declaring that the state has a history of aligning with the ruling party at the centre.

He described as cheap sentiment the claim that the PDP is “Ijaw party” saying the only true Ijaw party was the National Solidarity Movement (NSM) formed by the late Chief Melford Okilo.

The former Bayelsa State governor said though the forthcoming election is not about him or his main rival, Governor Seriake Dickson of the PDP, “it is about Bayelsans and the Ijaw people.”

Sylva said he was one of the founding members of the PDP in the state before he left for the APC and described the incumbent governor as a beneficiary of the PDP  having crossed from the, Alliance for Democracy, AD.

“I have said in other fora that none of the parties, either APC or PDP is an Ijaw party, they are national parties. I was one of those who brought PDP into Bayelsa; he (Dickson) was not even a member of the PDP. He was a member of AD at that time.

He was never even a member of the PDP and that is, he doesn’t know that I know the PDP more than him and what the PDP stands for even though I am not a member of that party now.

“The APC is also a national party. The true Ijaw party we had was called the NSM, the National Solidarity Movement, formed by the late sage, Chief Melford Okilo. That party, when Chief Okilo realize that PDP has won the national government he decided to subsumed that party into the PDP because he thought that we cannot survive without the centre.

“So, if we are talking of Ijaw patriot, I consider myself one as I think today that well meaning Ijaw people are quite happy with me because they believe that without me, there would have been no link with the centre, there would have been no bridge builder.

“It is not the Ijaw people that lost the election because Ijaw people did not contest an election, I didn’t see Ijaw people on the ballot. I saw the PDP and the PDP Presidential candidate, who was an Ijaw son, but he lost and we have to carry on in this state, we have to carry on in this country,” Sylva said.

CAF U-23 AFCON: Siasia faces double pressure

NIGERIA’s Under-23 team coach Samson Siasia is under intense pressure to produce result when Nigeria tackle Mali in the group B opener of the Under-23 African Cup of Nations, Sunday at the Caroline Faye Stadium, in Mbour, Senegal.

Siasia disappointed after the Nation’s Cup ouster

The former Nigerian international is fighting hard not to be distracted by the kidnap of his mother, who is still unaccounted for, two weeks after she was taken in Bayelsa State. He is also wary of his team’s goal shy attitude.

“The coach is under stress following the kidnap of his mother. But he is not allowing it to dis tract him. He is rallying round the boys for a good outing on Sunday against Mali,” said team media officer Timi Ebikagboro.

He added that the boys are determined to reach the crucial stages of the tournament where an Olympic ticket is guaranteed.

“Spirit in camp is high, nobody wants to lose the first game, they see qualifying for Rio 2016 as a must.”

The team was held to a 1-1 draw by their Gambia counterparts in a friendly before they left for Senegal. Siasia is banking on Taiwo Awoniyi and Junior Ajayi to solve the goal scoring problem of the team as was witnessed at the Africa Games in Congo.

Why Customs ‘ll on physically examine cargo – Edike

By Godfrey Bivbere

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has said that it will continue physical examination of cargo for now because scanners which should aid e-examination are broken down.

Charles-Edike

Acting Comptroller General of Customs, ACG, in charge of Zone “A”, Charles Edike, who disclosed this in Lagos, said that the Service has no choice but to rely on physical examination as the scanners left by the Service Providers engaged by the Federal Government to provide and maintain them were “rotten.”

The customs boss explained that the Service could not be maintained because Customs do not have standing agreement with the manufacturers of the equipment.

According to him, “You know that when Service Providers were leaving they gave us rotten scanners, the scanners were bad. Customs does not have agreement with the manufacturers, Service Providers had it and therefore Customs was unable to meet them to come and do the servicing. There is grade one, two and three. We were able to do one or two but three had to be done by the manufacturers. I must tell you that efforts are being made to get the scanners working again.”

On the acquisition of new scanners he said “the CGC is already discussing with some people and soon all of these will be sorted out.”

He further noted that Zone “Ä” under him would focus on trade facilitation but would not sacrifice revenue collection and the war on smuggling for it.

He, therefore, charged officers and men of the Service to hold on to the rules of the Service in accordance to the new position of the leadership because anyone caught would be made to face the law.

He asked officers to continue to encourage legitimate trade by ensuring that cargo clearance documents are not unduly delayed except in cases where there are discrepancies in documentation.

He also charged clearing agents and other stakeholders to give Customs compliance to enable it serve them better. He explained that every stakeholder who is compliant in his or her transaction have nothing to fear while further directing such stakeholder to report any officer that try to hinder trade facilitation and leave the rest to the Service.

He added that the Zone under his watch will not be dormant as the Comptroller General has empowered the zonal offices to oversee the operations and performance of commands under each zone.

“The CGC has just said that everything the Zone was doing before should resume.  He even said if revenue falls in any command, the Zonal coordinator will be held responsible,” he noted.

Alleged $2bn fraud: Court declines to summon Dasuki

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA — The Federal Government, yesterday, failed to persuade the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to summon the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki( retd), to appear before it.

Former national security adviser of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki . AFP PHOTO

Dasuki is answering to a five-count criminal charge bordering on money laundering and alleged illegal  possession of firearms.

He had since pleaded not guilty to the charge, even as the court, in a ruling on November 3, permitted him to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

Dasuki, who told the court that he has cancer, was granted three-week medical leave by trial Justice Ademola Adeniyi. However,  a day after the order was made by the court, operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, besieged Dasuki’s home and had since prevented him from travelling.

In a ruling yesterday, Justice Ademola Adeniyi dismissed an  application filed by the Federal Government with a view to securing an order that will compel the presence of Dasuki in court.

Arguing the application, the Director of the Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, insisted that it was wrong for Dasuki to stay away from the court when motions bordering on his criminal trial were being heard.

He noted that the former NSA was absent on three consecutive times the case against him came up before the high court.

The DPP maintained that  Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 made it mandatory that an accused person must always be present in court whenever his case is called up.

However, Justice Adeniyi dismissed the application, yesterday as “frivolous, unwarranted and lacking in merit.”

He agreed with counsel to Dasuki, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, that the DPP misinterpreted the section of the ACJA upon which the application was anchored.

The judge held that going by the law, the presence of an accused person could be dispensed with in court during hearing on interlocutory applications.

He said the presence of Dasuki was not mandatory since the court is still  entertaining interlocutory applications from both parties.

The former NSA had filed an application before the judge to permit his absence in court for now, saying he has been under house arrest  since November 4.

In his fundamental right enforcement application, Dasuki, prayed the court for  an order directing the Federal Government and operatives of the DSS to vacate his house located at 13, John Kadija Street, Asokoro with immediate effect.

Sequel to the application, Justice Adeniyi summoned the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, to appear in court to explain why Dasuki was barred from traveling despite the permission of the court.

Meantime, Justice Adeniyi has slated December 3 to hear an application asking the court to revoke the bail it granted to Dasuki.

Only one LGA now in Boko Haram territory, says Borno Speaker

By Demola Akinyemi

ILORIN— Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, in Nigeria and Speaker, Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, has said only one local government is yet to be liberated from the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State out the 20 local government areas earlier occupied.
24 April 2015

Previous videos have not shown the faces of those claimed to be Boko Haram fighters

He also assured that the December deadline to rout the Boko Haram insurgents from Nigeria would be met.
Lawan spoke in Ilorin, yesterday, at the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly organised to deliberate on a model administration of criminal justice act.

The speaker said the Nigeria military had never been so committed in the fight against insurgency.

According to him, “as of now, only one local government is yet to be liberated from the clutch of the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State. That’s the Abadam, located along border town of Niger Republic.

“Nineteen local governments are now in control of the military. And the people are gradually returning to their homes in the affected areas. Military is very serious in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency. We never experienced the kind of commitment from military before.

“They have driven the Boko Haram to the bush. I am sure the military is equal to the task and will meet the time line of December 2015 to rout the insurgents by December. The Chief of Army Staff is leading the military.

“Various local governments captured by Boko Haram have been recaptured with the federal troops stationed there as they proceed to other local governments. So, now only Abadam local government is not liberated. I am sure they are going to liberate every local government in the state.”

He urged the people of the area to continue to support the military to”find an end to this madness and unislamic act. Because Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states have suffered so much due to this security challenge in the last six years. Now, we are gradually getting relative peace. So, I advise the people in all these areas to support the military.”  .

Declaring open the workshop, the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed said: “A sound criminal justice system is imperative for economic growth, political stability and social equilibrium. It is impossible to have a sound economy without a solid foundation of good laws that can curb anti-social behaviours and other disruptive tendencies in the society.

“Additionally, a sound criminal system is a prerequisite for rule of law which, as you know, is an essential component of good governance. This is because no modern society can thrive unless there are strong laws to guide social, economic and political conduct of its citizens.”

“Unless the citizens are aware of and abide by a robust criminal justice system, the sense of security, peace and lawfulness for economic and political development will be missing.”

Ahmed however lauded the initiative of the speakers of the 36 states of the federation to organize the workshop saying that, their deliberations would go a long way of fashioning out way out of dwindling criminal justice in the country.

Edo CRPP backs Oshiomhole’s probe of Igbinedion’s administration

By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—THE Coalition of Registered Political Parties, CRPP, in Edo State has backed the planned probe of the administration of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion by Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s administration, saying it is a decision that is overdue.

CRPP urged the governor to  look into the sales of the industries built by the Igbinedion administration, including the Ava Cement factory, saying that the probe was in line with the transparency policy of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration which, according to it, would help sanitise the country.

Addressing journalists in Benin, yesterday, chairman of CRPP in the state, Dr Samson Isibor, described those calling on Governor Oshiomhole to apologize to the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, as professional sycophants and commended the governor for taking the bold step in confronting those who, he alleged, pauperized the people of the state for 10 years.

He said: “ It does not matter whether it took the governor seven years to detect the fraud perpetrated by the Igbinedion administration. It is better late than never and that is why we commend this bold step to recover the funds of the state looted by people who have no conscience. We stand by the governor and we will resist any attempt to divert the attention of the people of Edo State from the ills of the former administration.

“We condem the protest by some sponsored misguided elements, selfish individuals and groups to discredit the governor’s effort in this regard.”

OYO: Fulani herdsmen, farmers in fresh collision course

Ibadan—The relative peace that existed between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Oyo State  was ruptured yesterday as hundreds of farmers in Ido Local Government Area of the state staged a peaceful protest over continued invasion and destruction of their farmlands by the cattle rearers.

Dissatisfied by alleged non- response to their persistent reports to the security agents, the angry farmers have threatened reprisals.

Numbering about 400, the farmers mobilised themselves from villages in Ido Local Government and called on the state government to do something very urgent to check the alleged excesses of the rampaging herdsmen who allegedly inflicted machete cuts on the helpless farmers after destroying their farms.

The villages that assembled at Omi Adio where the protest started from include Onikanga, Mabolese, Alatori, Agbetu and Olorode.

Their spokesperson, Alhaji Asimiyu,  the Secretary, Osho Forestry Reserve in the Local Government Area said some of the farmers that were attacked came from Adedapo, Olorode, Keji, Aboke, Pelu, Alagbe, Gbagba Elewure and Areyinjetu.

He further explained that all their crops such as cassava, maize, yams, tomatoes, potatoes, pepper and vegetables had been ruined by the cattle rustlers.

He said; “Many of us have been ruined following the incessant invasions of our farms by the grazing cattle of these Fulani herdsmen, as we have no other means of livelihood,” he lamented, as he narrated the ordeals of the agitated farmers to newsmen.

“This year alone, some of our members were matcheted on their farms by invading Bororos while nothing seems to have been done by the authorities to checkmate them.”

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Leye Oyebade  brokered a peace meeting between the two parties and warned them sternly to avoid any action that could rupture the agelong relationship between them.

Yamma and Sarkin Sasa, Alhaji Haruna Maiyasin said he would intervene, pleading  with the aggrieved farmers to be calm and allow him to intervene into the matter.

Yakubu moves to depoliticise INEC

By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA – Apparently peeved by the recent partisan debates regarding his appointment, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has expressed his resolve to depoliticize the commission”so that INEC will no longer be an issue in our elections”.

He said he has witnessed elections in other climes where the identity of the chief electoral officer was not a subject of partisan debate, saying the time has come for Nigeria to join the league of advanced democracies.

Yakubu spoke yesterday when he received in audience the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright in Abuja.

According to the INEC boss, his first priority at the commission is to bring professionalism into election administration in the country and as well “instutionalize ICT-based solutions”.

He added that, “the success of the last general elections and the recent inconclusive governorship election in Kogi was made largely possible with the deployment of ICT”.‎

Yakubu also pledged ‎to improve engagement with major stakeholders for maximum participation, with emphasis on women, youths, the disadvantaged, internally-displaced persons and other vulnerable groups.

While seeking more technical assistance from the UK government, Yakubu said he would ensure that the commission consolidates on its modest successes in the last general elections.

In his remarks, Arkwright expressed the readiness of his home government to‎ partner with INEC in order to deepen Nigeria’s democracy.

He said the British government looks forward to getting a comprehensive brief from INEC stating major areas of necessary assistance.

Governor Ayade wonders: How can one say Cross River State is poor?

Governor Benedict Ayade of Cross River State, a former senator, a professor of environmental studies was in Lagos for an interactive session with relevant stakeholders involved in the forthcoming Calabar Festival. On the sidelines of the meeting the governor had an interactive session with newsmen during which he opened up on his style and strategic approach to governance. Excerpts:

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

On how he is approaching the tough economic challenges

Well the economy is slowing down and so government is supposed to downsize, reduce the number of ministries, cut down allowances and salaries, but that is really not the right way to go. Economics teaches us that it is as such times that governments that are socially sensitive are supposed to expand. At this period of cash crunch is when I have increased the number of ministries from 18 to 28.

So, I am now increasing the number of commissioners, this is because as more young people get unemployed, as the cash crunch bites harder, what happens is that when people have no alternative to survival, then the survivalist instinct which pushes them to criminality begins to manifest and then you have social tension and so, you spend more on security which distracts from spending on productive assets and so you are just going round the clock.

In America today, when things get really tough like that, government puts more money on people’s pay checks, increases their pay checks for them to increase consumption.

Governor Ben Ayade

At this time of cash crunch is when people are supposed to consume more. So for our own government we will expand within the limits of what is financially possible to expand government to increase consumption and that is why Cross River State is going to have a very high number of appointees at the political level. They don’t add up to the risk and cost of leaving them unemployed. If you know what it takes for you to be a commissioner and then after four years you leave office for nothing.

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Release Kanu unconditionally, Uwazuruike tells FG

Chief Ralph Uwazuruike

LEADER of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has passionately appealed to the Federal Government to unconditionally release of Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
He made the appeal on Thursday, while addressing scores of loyalists and friends of MASSOB, who stormed Owerri, the Imo State capital, for the third anniversary of death of Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu.
Notable personalities that honoured the event were Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, Dr Fredrick Fasehun, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, who was the special guest of honour, Alhaji Yerima Shetima; president, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Professor Alu Danladi, Ambassador John Fashanu, Alhaji Abdullahi Zaria, Alhaji Sale Hassan, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu, Alhaji Zallari Bello and Alhaji Aminu Gwaru, among others.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Uwazuruike urged the Federal Government to ignore their earlier empty threats, stressing that if there was any group that should be feared in Nigeria, it was MASSOB.
“We are not operating from any foreign country. The so-called Radio Biafra, London, was opened by MASSOB in London and Nnamdi Kanu appointed as the Director, after MASSOB had operated Voice of Biafra International in Washington DC for three years. The purpose of Radio Biafra London was to showcase the marginalisation of Ndigbo,” Uwazuruike he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Major Al-Mustapha said he was able to learn a lot from the late Ojukwu, especially his wisdom and capacity to understand issues an period in time. 
“I am not here to recall the circumstances that led to the three-year civil war in Nigeria, but I believe that it was our collective destiny to have had that war. 
“For now, it is unfortunate that the unity of purpose and sense of care to be our brothers’ keepers are still missing in our psyche and some people, instead of investing their resources here in the country, prefer to invest it abroad,” Al-Mustapha said

FG moves to tackle graduate unemployment, skills gap

THE Federal Government has said it is alarmed by the growing youth unemployment which is aggravated by serious disconnect between university training and the needs of the labour market in Nigeria.
Accordingly, the government through the National Universities Commission (NUC), has kick-started the process of conducting industrial skills gap assessment and Pilot Tracer Study of graduates from Nigerian universities.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who declared open on Thursday, in Abuja, a  workshop on Pilot Tracer Study of selected graduates from Nigerian universities, said this becomes imperative in view of the fact that the issues of job creation and the need for highly skilled workforce, were critical to the economic development of the nation.
Adamu, lamented that in spite of the huge number  of graduates that are churned out from the nation’s university system on an annual basis, some industrialists and employers of labour prefer to source their workforce internationally to the detriment of Nigerian graduates.
He said: “In year 2000, a World Bank study revealed a serious disconnect between university training and the needs of the labour market in Nigeria. This mismatch has been and continues to be socially costly to Nigeria.
“Dangote group, for instance, prefers to source its workforce internationally to the detriment of Nigerian graduates. It is therefore, pertinent that Nigerian universities need to produce the skilled workforce that matches the needs of the market both in terms of quality and quantity,” he said.
While expressing concerns about disturbing rate of graduate unemployment in Nigeria, the minister, however, said youth unemployment was a global challenge, disclosing that in January 2015, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, it was observed that global youth unemployment was growing at an unprecedented rate.
He said it was further observed that the growing rate of youths unemployment was as high as 50 per cent.
He noted that the collaboration between NUC and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation  (UNIDO), was to conduct a pilot Tracer Study of graduates of Science and Engineering programmes from selected universities.
Adamu, explained that survey would provide information required to evaluate the employability of graduates of Science and Engineering programmes.
Tracer Studies are also used to provide data to students, parents, career guidance professionals and policy-makers as to which programmes are likely to lead to employment, while universities and planners would use the information to help them plan and improve on their curriculum and programmes

ICPC to draft youths for monitoring corruption in public sectors

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has agreed in principle to deploy Nigerian youths to monitor corruption in public sectors at both federal and state levels with a view to reporting cases of grafts to it for necessary action.

Already, the anti-graft Commission in a communiqué, agreed to the process of urging the youths, mostly students in the tertiary institutions, to monitor the disbursement of the bailout funds released by the Federal Government to the states, while reporting any fraud associating with process of disbursements.
The youths are also to pay attention to cases of unnecessary increase of school fees by school administrations, police extortion, and other corrupt acts that affect students in their respective states.
A synergy between ICPC and the Nigerian youths on the fight against corruption was the fallout of just concluded two-day National Conference on Youth against Corruption, which held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The Conference themed, Eradicating Corruption in Nigeria: Youths Perspective and Engagement drew participants and representatives from Federal Government, Nigerian students, youth groups, youth-based Non-Governmental Organisations and youth entrepreneurs.  
Federal Government officials at the conference had advised the youths to shun all acts of corruption in order for them to effectively take possession of the struggles for reducing corruption within the Nigerian society.
After the two days of deliberations, the Conference, resolved to create a platform for youths across Nigeria to unite for the purpose of creating awareness among themselves on the danger corruption constitute to their future and how to join the anti-graft agencies in combating the vices.
A communiqué issued at the end of the Conference, has however, indicated that ICPC will launch Campus Watchdog Initiatives to establish its presence and help the students fight tertiary institution-related corrupt acts.
The Communiqué also among others stated: 
“That the anti-corruption war should be deepened on the Internet and the social media; and the legal framework for fighting cybercrime be strengthened to fight technology-induced corruption;
“Government should support ICPC with more funding to enable the agency execute a more intensive fight against corruption.
“That the teaching of the National Values Curriculum in schools be intensified to ensure its widespread implementation across the educational system.
“That access to broadband Internet should be considered a human rights issue and be made available to all youths; while the relevant authorities martial out a comprehensive IT-based career development plan for the youths;“That government should address the high tariffs charged by the GSM companies;
“That government should monitor the spending of internally generated revenues raised by school authorities through increased fees and levies; “That religious organisations and institutions should be mobilised to join the crusade against corruption

FG plans N5trn infrastructure investment fund

The Federal Government is setting up a N4.975 trillion ($25 billion) fund wholly dedicated to infrastructure investment. The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who stated this at the inauguration of the Capital Market Master Plan Implementation Council (CAMMIC) in Lagos yesterday, said the plan was due to the significant revenue squeeze and other budgetary constraints.

She said the investments would clearly not come from government coffers alone, stressing that the capital market could really make itself relevant by stepping in to close the funding gap.

Adeosun, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, noted that going through the master plan, it was heart-warming to note that this is “the type of capital market you envision for our country and, indeed, we desperately need such a market to emerge in order to tackle Nigeria’s biggest challenges of huge infrastructure deficit and unacceptable level of unemployment.

“As you all know, to grow our economy, we require significant funds to modernise our critical infrastructure.” She described efficient and vibrant capital markets as an indispensable feature of any modern economy, supplying affordable medium-to-long term capital needed for growth.

According to her, they facilitate mobilisation of savings, accelerate capital formation, provide investment avenues and enhance efficient allocation of capital to growth sectors. She said Nigeria needed and deserved a capital market characterised by high level of liquidity, depth, breadth and sophistication to enable rapid socioeconomic development. She expressed worry that less than three per cent of Nigerians currently invest in the capital market and even more worrisome, only 0.2 per cent of Nigerians invest in mutual funds.

“Imagine the kind of savings to be mobilised, the liquidity to be injected and the sophistication to be developed if we improve these numbers by bringing millions more Nigerians to invest in the capital market.

For Nigerians of faith and people who prefer ethical investments, we must deepen the non-interest product space so they can be involved in wealth creation opportunities the capital market offers.

“For a country and economy of our size, there is no reason why we should not be able to actualise the targets and aspirations we have set for ourselves within the Master Plan. Indeed, with diligent implementation, we shall emerge as Africa’s most modern, efficient and internationally competitive capital market that catalyses Nigeria’s emergence as a top 20 global economy. “With a detailed master plan, we get to reap the benefits of strategic thinking, policy consistency, greater coordination, and hopefully better results.

As we inaugurate the Council that will lead advocacy for the Capital Market Master Plan, I urge everyone here to see this as the important national assignment it represents, “she said. She assured that as the minister in charge of supervising the capital market, she would support the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to ensure that this project is successful.

Speaking earlier, the Director General of SEC, Mounir Gwarzo, said that SEC’s enabling law, Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007, in foresight, required it to set up a national investor compensation scheme.

Specifically, Section 13(k) of the Investment and Securities Act 2007, enjoins the Commission to act in the public interest having regard to the protection of investors and the maintenance of fair and orderly markets, and to this end, establish a nationwide trust scheme to compensate investors whose losses are not covered under the Investors Protection Funds administered by Securities Exchanges and Capital Trade Points.”

Gwarzo said that the 10-year Nigerian capital market Master Plan, which has become SEC’s guiding document, considered the investor protection fund as a critical ingredient for restoring and sustaining investor confidence. He recommends the urgent establishment of the fund.

Kogi poll: Legal fireworks begin

Declare me winner, Faleke tells INEC

Lawyer sues AGF, INEC, APC

PDP: We’re going to court to save Nigeria’s democracy

The impasse over the Kogi State governorship election deepened yesterday as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate, Hon. James Faleke, finalised arrangements to settle the matter in court.

The PDP said it resolved to challenge the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in court “in order to save the nation’s democracy from imminent collapse.” 

Faleke told New Telegraph yesterday that he has instructed his lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), to seek judicial redress over the Kogi election.

“We have filed the process and we’ve written INEC,” he said on the telephone last night. Both PDP and Faleke are laying claim as the winner of the November 21 governorship election.

While PDP asked INEC to declare its candidate, Governor Idris Wada as winner, Faleke has written the electoral umpire stating that he is the governorelect. Already, Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has dragged the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Ibrahim Malami (SAN), INEC, PDP and APC to the Federal High Court in Lagos over the inconclusive gubernatorial election in Kogi State. INEC had declared the election inconclusive on the ground that the number of cancelled votes is higher than the margin of votes between the APC and PDP candidates.

A constitutional problem arose with the death of the APC candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, on Sunday. Audu was leading with 240,867 votes to Wada’s 199,514 votes at the time the election was declared inconclusive. INEC, on Tuesday, fixed December 5 for the supplementary election, and said APC could nominate a replacement for its deceased candidate, so as to participate in the supplementary polls.

Faleke yesterday told INEC that it lacked powers to declare the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State inconclusive and also lacked the power to order the party to do a fresh primary election. Faleke, through his counsel, Olanipekun (SAN) in a letter dated November 26 and addressed to both the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and APC respectively, noted that it is unconstitutional for INEC to declare the Saturday election inconclusive.

The letter reads in part: “In accordance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines/regulations, elections results were declared first at the polling unit level, then at the ward level and later at the local government level. As the declaration is being made by INEC, same were relayed and announced on radio and television station, as well as social media. “The necessary INEC forms EC8A, EC8B and EC8C have also been duly filled and signed and made available to respective parties, participants in the elections, “Despite that, INEC curiously declared the election inconclusive and that a supplementary election will hold in some units…

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Nigeria loses N50bn to oil thieves in nine months –NNPC

Senate gives Kachikwu two-week ultimatum to end fuel scarcity

Nigeria has lost 531 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol valued at N50 billion to pipeline vandals between January and September 2015. The Nigerian National  Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) stated that the losses were at the problematic System 2B Pipeline network, which stretches from the Atlas Cove in Lagos to Ilorin.

Managing Director of the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the NNPC, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, yesterday said the N50 billion loss accrued from the incessant hacking of the pipeline at the notorious Arepo to Mosimi axis of the pipeline artery, which has made the task of providing seamless flow of petroleum products to retail outlets more burdensome.

Nnamdi-Ogbue spoke yesterday when the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) met with the officials of the Ministry of Petroleum, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), PPMC, and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) on the persistent fuel scarcity.

She said that despite the challenge posed by the unavailability of the vital System 2B Pipeline network, the PPMC has continued to ensure that the country remains wet with petrol through massive truck-out from depots in Lagos, Oghara and recently Calabar. Nnamdi-Ogbue also fingered sharp practices at the petroleum depots including illegal charges and diversion of fuel by marketers, as some of the factors that provoked the scarcity and discrepancies in the price of the product being witnessed in the country today.

Lamenting that these sharp practices amounted to economic sabotage, Nnamdi-Ogbue hinted that the PPMC had gone into collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Police to tackle the sabotage in the sector. Notwithstanding, the Senate has ordered the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to end the lingering fuel scarcity across the country within two weeks.

It also directed the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and other agencies in the petroleum sector to ensure availability of the products within the stipulated period of two weeks.

The Senate further directed that relevant agencies should ensure that fuel was sold at the N87 regulated price all over the country.

The Senate had, on Tuesday, mandated the committee to examine all the issues associated with the current scarcity of petroleum products in the country; determine how the legislature would collaborate with the executive arm of government to bring lasting solutions that would prevent any future problem of fuel scarcity in the country, and report back in two weeks.

Chairman of the Petroleum Committee, Senator Uche Ekwunife, noted that what Nigerians needed at this point in time was to see an end to the menace, and not to listen to stories from stakeholders.

“Nigerians want to see the immediate end of this fuel scarcity and also the uniformity of the price of the products across the country. As a committee, our target is that scarcity and discrepancies in price must stop and it must be done. “Therefore, we are mandating the Minister, the Permanent Secretary and other relevant agencies in the sector, that fuel scarcity must stop in the next two weeks, and must be sold at the uniform price of N87 per litre everywhere in the country,” she ordered.

Also, Ekwunife asked the Permanent Secretary to submit within 24 hours, all documents needed by the committee to do its report on the 2015 supplementary budget, for possible approval by the Senate in plenary next week.

Finally our POLICE agrees they are corrupt as IG says "Poor funding responsible for corruption in police "

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has explained why corruption persists among police personnel. He revealed that the inability and unwillingness of government to adequately fund the Police was responsible for the endemic corruption in the Force.

Arase spoke yesterday at an interactive session with the House of Representatives’ Committee on Police Affairs. He lamented that police operatives were working under a very difficult and frustrating condition, living in dilapidated houses and working in offices not befitting of their roles as police officers. “For us to tell our men not to be corrupt on the highway, we must be able to put those things in place that will be able to serve as check to make them not corrupt,” the IG said.

He explained that over the years, the police had made serious efforts to solve the problem of personnel’s welfare, but this has been made difficult by the lean envelope it was receiving in its budgetary requests. According to him, in the year 2010, the police asked for over N45 billion in the overhead budget, but was given a paltry N15 billion that was hardly able to take care of stationery. Arase added that in the same year, the police asked for over N53 billion under the capital budget, but was given about N39 billion.

Arase expressed regret that the N57 billion appropriated for the police in the 2010 to 2014 budget was outstanding but has not been released till date. He said that in spite of the present staff strength, the police needed to recruit additional numbers to boost its strength to increase its coverage of the large population and vast landmass.

He complained that the poor funding has been an age-long problem to the Force, expressing faith in the committee and the Eighth House of Representatives to save them from this plight. On the war against terrorism, the IG said the Nigeria Police needs N8.7 billion to effectively combat insurgency in the North- East.

This is as the Force is yet to receive N5.4 billion appropriated for its operations. He said: “A total of 56 police stations, formations and facilities have been destroyed by insurgents since 2009 when it started. The present devastative situation has greatly impaired as it constitutes a major challenge to the capacity of the police within the formations.”

He pointed out that the destruction of the facilities had affected the communication process crucial in the fight against insurgency in the area. The IG lamented that Nigeria Police was highly demotivated and needed a re-engineering and total rebranding for a better Nigeria.

“Our Mobile Police personnel are currently fighting side by side with the military in the North- East and that is never mentioned when people are talking about police contributions to the fight against insurgency,” he said. On training, Arase said all constables presently serving would go on compulsory training to enable them move to the rank of corporal “and only the proposed 10,000 recruits will now spot the uniforms of constables in the police force.”

Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Hon. Haliru Jika (APC-Bauchi), said that the National Assembly was committed to quality legislation that would guarantee effective policing in the country.

Oyo lawmakers begin indefinite strike over unpaid salaries

Lawmakers in the Oyo State House of Assembly yesterday embarked on an indefinite strike to press home their demand for unpaid salaries and allowances.

Claiming that they are being owed furniture and car allowances as well as two months running cost for the Assembly, the legislators, who had last week staged a mild protest by boycotting a sitting, said they last received salaries in August.

Owing to the development, the sitting that was to take place yesterday was postponed according to one of them who preferred not to be named, for as long as it would take Governor Abiola Ajimobi to pay all outstanding allowances.

The lawmaker said they took the ‘no allowance, no sitting’ decision after all entreaties to have the matter peacefully resolved had failed. “During the last Assembly, which was Governor Ajimobi’s first term, all the lawmakers were bought cars.

They were also paid furniture allowance. The running cost of the House was also paid regularly. These allowances are statutory. “We understand that the crash in the price of crude oil has brought the economy to its knees. The consequent drop in revenue affects all the 36 states, as well as the Federal Government.

But in spite of this dire situation, other governors have sorted out the allowances of their state Houses of Assembly. Only those of us who are lawmakers in Oyo State are left languishing throughout the country.

“Last week, we boycotted sitting to protest the lack of concern for our welfare. Without the running cost, the Assembly cannot function. The running cost for the office of the governor is paid regularly. Why is the House left out?,” the lawmaker queried.

Contrary to last week’s protest, where only 20 of the 32 lawmakers boycotted the sitting, New Telegraph learnt yesterday that the unanimous decision to embark of the strike was discussed at a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the House.

Oshiomhole signs Primary Healthcare Agency bill into law

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday signed into law the Primary HealthCare Development Agency bill meant to regulate the activities of healthcare providers in the state. Also yesterday, the governor signed into law a bill establishing the Edo State College of Nursing and Midwifery.

The governor said: “We have a bill establishing the Edo State College of Nursing and Midwifery and other matters.

Although, we have a School of Nursing, but there were huge gaps and we checked all the records with the Ministry of Justice and there was no law formally establishing the institution, which raises legal issues about the status of the institution and we forwarded a draft bill to the House of Assembly to formally pass the bill to enable us, as it were, formally establish in law the School of Nursing and Midwifery.”

He noted that the school as an old institution, “has produced several nurses and midwives over the years and somehow there was no formal set up and as they say, better late than never.

The School of Nursing was established many years ago and I think at the level of the Federal Ministry of Health, there are issues arising from the absence of enabling laws with regards to the School of Nursing and Midwifery in Edo State.

Governor Oshiomhole lauded the role played by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Victor Odoror, the Deputy Speaker and other principal officers of the House “for passing the bill into law, which he said has somehow enriched ‘our institution’ and I now have the honour of formally signing the bill into law,” he said.

Olamide’s father dies

Nigerian rapper, Olamide Adedeji, known with the showbiz moniker, Olamide, lost his father to an undisclosed ailment yesterday.

The lead act of Yahoo Boys No Laptop (YBNL), a towering record label in Nigeria took to Instagram to break the sad incident.

The multiple awardwinning singer etched emotive words: “O God, who hast commanded us to honour our father and our mother; in Thy mercy, have pity on the soul of my father, and forgive his trespasses; and make me to see him again in the joy of everlasting brightness, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Rest well Dad. Forever in my heart.”

After going online with the news, the 26-year-old rapper switched off his phone and his manager’s. The duo were incommunicado as at press time. Checks on his father’s abode on Adebola’s Street, Lady Lak Somolu, Lagos, yesterday, revealed not many are aware of the man’s demise, an indication that he passed on somewhere outside his residence.