By Bridget Ikyado

A legal practitioner, Josephat Abaagu has advised Nigerians to approach the courts whenever their fundamental human rights were infringed upon.

Abaagu, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)) in Abuja.

The legal practitioner is also the Vice Chairman, Justice Development and Peace Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja.

He advised aggrieved persons not to resort to self-help as the courts now accord top priority to such cases.

Anyone who approaches the court using the fundamental rights enforcement tools, there are time limits within which such cases are supposed to be dealt with.

If your grounds are about fundamental human rights the court will prioritise such cases and you will be given justice because your rights are being threatened, he added.

Abaagu, however, said there was no justification for the courts to allow any case to linger for a long time.

The delay of justice in any manner engenders suffering for the people and create a form of disquiet in the society, he added.

He said that it was important to build and sustain the trust of citizens in the justice system.

Abaagu urged courts to dispose of cases as quickly as possible, as anyone who approaches the court is seeking for justice, relief or help in a way. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has advised the retired and discharged officers of the Nigerian Army to make maximum use of their entitlements.

Yahaya gave the advice at the Regimental Dinner in Honour of Retired Officers of the Rank of Colonel and Below on Friday in Abuja.

Represented by Maj.-Gen. Gbemiga Adesina,Director, Personnel Services, Army Headquarters, the COAS advised them to stay guarded against the antics currently being used by fraudsters to target pensioners and retirees for monetary scams.

He urged them to be careful of falling victims of the fraudulent activities as many of their colleagues had fallen victims to their tricks.

Yahaya described the officers as fine crop of citizens who meritoriously served and contributed immensely to the growth and development of the Nigerian army and the country at large.

According to him, it is only befitting that this ceremony is arranged for all you gallant patriots, as a similar ceremony was held in this same venue.

He said that retirement was a phase of life, which most of the serving military personnel hopefully prayed to enjoy in a gratifying and peaceful manner after giving their best to the system.

It is therefore, a milestone which is worth celebrating. I am certain that the transition from active military service to retirement is not without its own peculiar challenges.

But I believe there is also much to enjoy in retirement especially if you have prepared well for it.

All efforts are being made to ensure that entitlements for retired and all discharged personnel are paid on time, he said.

The army chief also commended the retired officers for their sacrifices to keep the nation peaceful and united, urging them to be ready to continue to contribute their quota even out of service.

I will end this remarks by imploring all the celebrants to devote themselves to the service of the nation and to eschew any action that could jeopardise the dignity and integrity of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the nation at large.

You still remain very important to the Nigerian army as your experience will continue to count and could be required at any time, he said.

The Commander, AHQ Garrison, Maj.-Gen. Kabir Garba, said that similar regimental dinner was held for officers in the rank of Major-Generals and Brigadier-Generals who retired in 2021.

Garba said it was the first time that regimental dinner would be held for officers who retired with the rank of colonel and below in the Nigerian army.

This, according to him, is another landmark achievement by the COAS in his effort to entrench full regimentation in the army in line with his command philosophy anchored on professionalism, readiness, administration and cooperation, he said.

The retired officers served in Army Headquarters Garrison and Army Headquarters Departments prior to their retirement in 2021.

Speaking on behalf of the retirees, Col. Isah Shuaibu, said he served in the army for 32 years and retired from the Corp of Supply and Transport.

Shuaibu said while retirement is good, it could never be better than when in service and appreciated God for granting them peaceful retirement.

He expressed gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff for counting them worthy for such honour as regimental dinner, saying the gesture had given them a sense of self worth.

He pledged that the retired personnel were ready and would make themselves available for service whenever called upon by the army.

(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

Some women groups have called for a review of legal administrative parameters used for deployment of force personnel to Very Important Personalities (VIPs) to avert assault, sexual abuse and other inhumane treatment meted on them.

These groups made the call at a joint press conference on Friday in Abuja over the alleged recent assault and human right abuse of Inspector Teju Moses by Prof. Zainab Abiola, a legal Practitioner and human rights activist.

Prof. Joy Ezeilo, Founder, Women Aid Collective (WACOL) described the incident as barbaric and inhumane, calling for thorough investigation to establish the culpability of the suspects and prosecution.

Ezeilo decried the plights of security forces attached to VIPs, who are often abused physically, psychologically and used in manners inconsistent with their line of official duty.

The fall out of the instant case calls to mind the need to review the legal and administrative parameters under which the force personnel, particularly the female gender amongst them are deployed to VIPs.

It also underscores the need for psycho socio assessment and validation to be carried out on these VIPs before police personnel will be attached to them.

This is to ascertain whether the VIPs have the mental, psychological, social and emotional wellbeing to accommodate and work with these police personnel, she said.

She also called for urgent review of the working and posting conditions of the police service personnel, especially the female police officers attached to VIPs remain paramount in the circumstances.

Also, Mrs Ene Obi, Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria commended the Inspector General of Police for acting promptly in responding to right violations and arrest of the suspects.

This will serve as a deterrent to all those abusing the rights of both male and female officers attached to them, that the eyes of the law are very active, and justice will be served, she said.

Obi, however,called on the police to review the welfare and roles of the orderlies and officers assigned on special duties as well as other police officers to avert future occurrences.

She also advocated a panel to conduct a survey or assessment on how officers assigned to private citizens were treated and ensure the Nigerian Police Force support the development and implementation of workplace policy to address GBV.

The Nigerian Security Officers are toiling day and night to protect the citizenry and it is time to protect them too, she said.

On her part, Ms Chibuzo Nwosu, Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Abuja Branch,said the association cannot prosecute, but would monitor the prosecution and ensure justice is served.

Meanwhile, Mr Emmanuel Ikule, Network of Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), Foundation said cases of abuse meted on orderlies and special duty officers were recurring, calling for immediate action to forestall it.

The police should not just look at this case alone, but seize the opportunity to look at other similar ones that have been reported and take action to stop such,he said.

Mrs Moji Makanjola, Execute Director, International Society of Media and Public Health (ICSMPH) called for prosecution and justice to prevail in cases of abuses, irrespective of the highly placed position of the suspects.

Makanjola, said our health institutions were overburdened by such preventable cases.

NAN reports that Abiola was alleged to have assaulted her police orderly, Insp Teju Moses on Tuesday at her residence in Abuja following refusal to carry out menial and domestic chores at her residence.

The trending and viral audio clip available all over the social media showed the police orderly bleeding profusely on her face.

It was later reported that the suspect has been arrested together with her housemaid, Rebecca Enechido, while certain domestic servant and cohorts in commission of the alleged unlawful act remain at large. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Victor Okoye

The Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) Task Force says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should not engage in the act of defying a court order regarding its upcoming elections.

Harrison Jalla, Chairman of PFAN Taskforce, told newsmen on Friday in Abuja that all those in the NFF defying court orders would face the consequences of their actions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NFF Electoral Committee had fixed Sept. 30 for the Federations elective congress in Benin and proceeded to release a schedule of events.

But an order of a Federal High Court Abuja order on Sept. 15 has since put the NFF Elections on hold.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, ruling on an ex-parte motion, ordered the Youth and Sports Development Minister and the NFF President, or any person acting on their instruction, to maintain the status quo.

This he said would be pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

The attention of PFAN Task Force has been drawn to publications in the media space on the threat by the NFF and its Electoral Committee to defy the Sept. 15 court order.

In the light of this, the PFAN Task Force has taken appropriate steps and has duly informed all relevant agencies of government that there is a threat to cause a breach of the peace by defying the court order, Jalla said.

He disclosed that PFAN Task Force was exploring all possibilities within the ambit of the law to ensure those already defying the court order would face the consequences of their actions.

Jalla said it was worrisome that NFF has continued to violate and breach court orders.

This is in spite of President Muhammadu Buharis advice that they (NFF) go back as a body to amend the statutes, expand it and accommodate those who have been disenfranchised.

As we speak, they are already breaching the orders of court because we see correspondences after the court order, and campaigns for elections are still going on.

So, we are taking the appropriate steps to ensure that those who do this dont go scot-free.

He said PFAN Task Force did not need government to do the job of ensuring a stop is put to the act of defying court orders.

We have all it takes within the ambit of the law to ensure that the election does not hold, Jalla stated.

He noted that the court order to halt the elections was a result of a consistent and deliberate acts of breaching court orders by the NFF since 2021.

Every Nigerian is a citizen of the country, and the threat by NFF to defy the court order is unacceptable as nobody is above the law.

The NFF has no immunity from the laws of the land, even as FIFA itself has no immunity from the laws of Switzerland.

The order we got from court didnt just start today. Weve been in court four times, and the two parties have been in court since 2021.

At the last hearing date in June, the court gave us Oct. 31 to come back.

We asked for an interlocutory order because we anticipated that an election would hold.

They (NFF) said they are not going to do any election because there was no cause for that action and the court agreed with them as there was no electoral committee in place at the time.

The PFAN Task Force Chairman added that the judge thereafter stood down the order and gave all involved parties an Oct. 31 date to return to court.

In between that period, they set up an electoral committee and started selling nomination forms. There is no court that will accept that anywhere in the world and that was how this fresh order came about.

So, when the court order was issued, it was because they were already violating the process in court. This has really nothing to do with stopping the election.

If any other group is now telling us that they are not bound by that order of court, then we will take it from there, he said.

Also, Victor Baribote, the PFAN spokesman, said it was very clear the Nigeria football governing body was not in order.

In the last eight years, there has been nothing to show for all what the Federal Government did in terms of supporting the NFF with massive funding.

Also, all the funds FIFA brought in and all the funds that were realised from the private sector cannot be seen in what is on ground.

We are all aware of the activities which have been going on within the football circle of late.

This is why on June 26 in 2021 PFAN set up a task force in its wisdom, to look at issues on how we can advance our football.

We are all aware and are witnesses to the fact we have been recycling old hands in the NFF.

On the strength of that, the task force wrote a letter to the NFF last year in line with Article 29, requesting for an ammendment of the Statutes to include every stakeholder.

But to cut the long story short, the NFF has blantantly refused to do anything about it, he claimed.

The former Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Chairman said the position of PFAN was that election was not important at the moment, and that fixing the nations football was the top priority.

He noted that Nigeria had all it takes for its football to become the biggest employer of labour in the country, if the right things were done.

It is not about election because the election we are talking about is the same one that will reproduce the same people who brought us to where we are today, and that is unacceptable.

So, we are ready to answer any name to make football work again in this country. We are not going to let it go. The President (Muhammadu Buhari) himself has said it is a national asset that should be guarded jealously.

So, our position is that we have to sit down as a group, fix the game, include those who are supposed to be part of it and we take it from there.

If that is not done, then if it is FIFA or the Federal Government that wants to intervene in this process, it is left for them to come and do what is necessary, Baribote said.

Jalla, Baribote, Austin Popo, and the registered trustees of the National Association of Nigeria Footballers (trading under the name of Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria) are the plaintiffs in the suit.

PFAN is advocating for equal representation for all the five statutory bodies that make up the NFF as it relates to voting rights and representation on the NFF board. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawale Alabi

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released a 422-member Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) ahead of the commencement of the partys 2023 presidential campaign to be headed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the list of members of the council released in Abuja on Saturday.

Sen. Bola Tinubu, the partys 2023 presidential candidate and Abdullahi Adamu, its National chairman, are to serve as deputy chairmen of the council.

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau is the Director General with James Faleke as secretary of the council.

Sen. Kashim Shettima, the partys Vice-Presidential candidate is the vice chairman of the council and Adams Oshiomhole, former APC National Chairman is the deputy director-general (Operations) while Hadiza usman is the deputy director-general (Admin).

The 422-man campaign council has Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Chairman Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), as Vce Chairman and state Coordinator.

Godswill Akpabio, former Akwa-Ibom Governor, is vice chairmen (South-South and Uju Kennedy, the former female APC presidential aspirant is vice chairman South-East.

Gov. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa is the Regional Coordinator and Chairman for North and his state, Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, regional coordinator South and Ebonyi; Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River is regional director South-south and Ebonyi.

Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu is zonal coordinator for South-West and Ondo State; Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello is the zonal coordinator for North-central and his state.

Gov. Muhammed Yahaha is zonal coordinator for the North-East and Gombe and Gov. Bello Matawalle is the zonal coordinator for the North-West and Zamfara.

The list showed that all APC governors are coordinators of the presidential council in their respective states and where there was no sitting governors of the party, its governorship candidates were the coordinators.

Others appointed were Gov. Yahaha Bello of Kogi as National Youth Coordinator, Felix Nicholas, Deputy National Youth Coordinator; Festus Keyamo, spokesperson, Chris Tarka, deputy secretary, Gov. Kayode Fayemi is the Coordinator for Ekiti State and Adviser Foreign Affairs.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan is made Senior Adviser on strategic planning, Femi Gbajabiamila, Adviser on Legal Matters, Aliyu Wamako, former Sokoto State Governor, Adviser on Special Duties.

Rotimi Amaechi, is adviser on infrastructure; Ibikunle Amosun, adviser on contacts and mobilisation; Dele Alake, Adviser on Media, Communications and Public Affairs.

Others are Abdullahi Ganduje, adviser political affairs and Kano coordinator; Nasir El-rufai, coordinator, Kaduna State and senior adviser, policy, strategy and enforcement and Abdulrahaman Danbazzau adviser, strategic engagement.

Faleke, Secretary to the council, advised all nominees to pick their appointment letters on Monday at the APC presidential campaign office.

The PCC with its many directorates would be inaugurated on Sept. 26 at the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Office in Abuja. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

The Sappers Engineering Nigeria Ltd. (SENL), a subsidiary of the Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE), Friday sought for collaboration with the Federal Government on effective implementation of ecological projects in the country.

Its Director of the Project, Brig.-Gen. Aderemi Gbedebo, at a visit to Ecological Project Fund (EPO) in Abuja, said the company was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Gbedebo, who visited the EPO with some members of his team, said the company had been involved with several government projects, including construction of roads/bridges, buildings, canals and reservoirs across the country.

He said that the SENL was a subsidiary of the Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE), and was committed to work with the EPO for efficient implementation of projects.

According to him, the purpose of the visit is to reach out to the EPO to offer technical expertise in the implementation and operation of ecological projects in the country.

The company has the human resources, equipment and capacity to carry out any of the intervention projects towards national development.

The SENL had performed similar projects with some Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as constituency projects.

The projects are professionally and thoroughly executed by our team of experts, he said.

The Director, Overseeing the EPO, Dr Famous Eseduwo, while expressing delight over the visit, said that the office was ready and committed to work with the SENL.

Eseduwo said that the EPO would encourage the company to be involved in the execution of some of its projects, especially, considering the present security challenges facing the country.

Security is a frontline issue in governments efforts at meeting some of the needs of Nigerians and to mitigate their challenges. I believed that the collaboration will be an added value.

I want to assure that the request will be escalated to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation ((SGF), Boss Mustapha, for further necessary action. (NAN) (

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

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Source: NAN News

By Peter Uwumarogie

Source: NAN News

By Oluwatope Lawanson/Florence Onuegbu

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has charged Nigerians to elect candidates that could sustain the country, in the 2023 general elections.

Sanwo-Olu gave the charge at a Special Prayer Session/Jumat Service to commemorate the 62nd Independence Day Celebration, organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque Alausa, Ikeja on Friday.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said the APC Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu if elected, has the ability to sustain the nations economy, hence the need to support him.

The governor urged Nigerians to vote wisely come 2023 general elections by choosing a good leader for a better Nigeria.

He also urged Nigerians to be astute in their voting in 2023, avoid elevating issues that are unnecessary and consider what the candidates had done in their various communities.

Sanwo-Olu urged Nigerians not to listen to bogus statistics but consider the candidates plans, especially in the areas of security, economic development, social and physical infrastructure provisions.

We should look at who have access to the sources for businesses, so that they can employ, ability to sustain the economy of our country, so that we can have a bigger pie and then we can share across the states.

Nigerians should look at who has ability to protect the integrity of our country by sustaining the military, training them well, he said.

Speaking on the religious distractions within the country, the governor stated that the election should be based on capacity, achievement instead of religion and other inconsequential considerations.

According to him, there is no point in elevating religion instead of the virtues required of a productive leadership.

If we can put our lives in the hands of doctors without asking for their religion before surgery, why then are we neglecting what we are supposed to do and doing otherwise in the name of religion.

We should not play politics under the guise of religion, he said.

The governor tasked Nigerians on fixing the country and making it better, noting that every developed nation had been lucky to have good leaders at a point in time.

He added that Nigeria would not be an exception while citing Singapore, having Lee Kuan Yew or America having Abraham Lincoln at the right time which led to rapid development of the different countries.

It is fundamental for all to do the right thing and it is in our interest to fix the country and make it a better place for all, the governor said.

Sanwo-Olu, therefore, prayed that Nigeria would not miss the opportunity of choosing a good leader.

He also prayed for a peaceful and violence free election.

Earlier in his sermon, Sheik Saheed Aro enjoined leaders to always go about their responsibilities toward the nation and the people with the fear of God.

Aro said they should always be reminded that they would give account of whatever they did on earth before their maker, God Almighty, after death.

The Sheik also urged Nigerians to commit the 2023 elections into the hands of God almighty for a peaceful, free and fair election, devoid of bloodshed and rancour.

Nigerians are also advised to do the right thing at all times wherever they find themselves. They are also enjoined to always pray for their leaders to do well rather than condemn or curse them. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Angela Okisor/Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

By Lydia Ngwakwe

The Naira appreciated slightly against the dollar at the Investors and Exporters window on Friday as it exchanged at N436.33.

The rate represented a 0.04 per cent appreciation compared to the N436.50 for which the dollar exchanged on Thursday.

The open indicative rate closed at N434.83 to the dollar on Thursday.

An exchange rate of N438 to the dollar was the highest rate recorded within the days trading before it settled at N436.33.

The Naira sold for as low as N425 to the dollar within the days trading.

A total of 106.11 million dollars was traded at the official Investors and Exporters window on Friday. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko

Source: NAN News

By George Odok

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Friday inaugurated the Evergreen Energy Limited, signalling the commencement of the Calabar depot operations.

Mr George Ene-Ita, Regional Coordinator of NMDPRA, South South, led his team of officials to perform the inauguration of the facility on behalf of the Authority on Friday in Calabar.

Ene-Ita said that with the inauguration of the facility, the depot was now ready to begin full operations in the area, andurged the management of the facility to maintain high safety standards within their facility.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the facility was first licensed in 2019, but has remained non functional ever since.

NAN also reports that the depot is expecting its first cargo vessel receipt soon.

The team from NMDPRA further inspected equipment and installations in the facility with a view to ensuring compliance to standards.

Mr Abdulrazak Hashiru, Managing Director of Evergreen Energy, promised to work in harmony with all relevant authorities to ensure a safe and seamless operational environment.

The management of the facility demonstrated their readiness in event of a fire emergency by activating the critical safety equipment including the sprinkler systems at the gantry and on the tanks respectively. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News