By Lizzy Okoji

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mr Sidie Tunis, says the Fifth Parliament is keen on taking concrete actions to ensure the empowerment of women across the West-African sub-region.

Tunis made this known on Monday at the Liberian and Sierra Leonean Bo Waterside border Post where he was received by representative of the Liberian government, Sen. Edwin Snowe.

Tunis was received by the representative of the Liberian authority ahead of the ECOWAS Parliaments delocalized meeting on Women Empowerment scheduled to hold from April 13 to April 17 in Monrovia, Liberia.

Tunis said the focus of the delocalised meeting was to transform the talks and protocols concerning women empowerment into actions, and for women to become more inclusive across all sectors.

He said that the fifth legislature under his leadership is pushing to ensure that women have a mandatory 30 per cent representation in the ECOWAS Parliament.

According to the speaker, it is time to look and work with women as partners so that they can be present where decisions are taken on their behalf.

The Speaker noted that twenty five years down the line after the adoption o, noting that twenty five years down the line after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration, not much impact has been made in women empowerment.

Tunis however noted that Liberia was chosen by the ECOWAS to host the delocalized meeting on Women Empowerment considering the success attained by producing the first female President ad Vice President in the sub-region.

We are here for a very important meeting, a delocalized meeting. I decided that we will have the first Extraordinary Session in Sierra Leone and the first delocalized meeting in Liberia.

And the topic for Liberia is so interesting. That is, the empowerment of women in the West African Sub-region.

There is no way Liberia cannot be a venue for that kind of topic considering that it is Liberia that has produced the first female President and just few years down the line, they also produced the first female vice President.
And we do not know whether we are going to have more and more female Presidents coming from Liberia so we are her to discuss as Parliamentarians how we can empower women.
Twenty Five years after the Beijing declaration it has just been talks and talks but now, we are talking about actions and how we can transform the talks to action.
That is why we are going to be in Monrovia for the whole week, from April 13 to April 17, Tunis said.
Tunis also appreciated President George Weah of Liberia for his support to the ECOWAS Parliament.
Speaking on behalf of the Liberian Authority, Sen. Snowe commended Tunis for his efforts in strengthening regional integration since he became speaker of the fifth legislature.
Snowe noted that Tunis coming into Liberia crossing through the border was significant which further highlights his interest on strengthening regional intergration.
We have come this morning to welcome his Excellency, Hon Mohamed Sidi Tunis, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament to Liberia.
Liberia and Sierra Leone is only defined by this little water and the constituency of the speaker is just across.
When this mission was planned to Liberia, the Speaker said there was no way he could fly over his people into Liberia but he will drive in.
Today I am very happy to receive Mr Speaker on behalf of our President. For me this visit means a lot.
As you know, many years ago, we had a civil crises in Liberia and this bridge was used to trade arms that killed our people but today, this very bridge is being used to unite our two people.
When the speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament comes from Sierra Leone, driving through this bridge to enhance regional integration, peace and security in our region, Snowe said. (NAN)
LIZ/SH

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Agbaje

Two senior lawyers on Monday expressed support and solidarity for the industrial action embarked upon by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, (JUSUN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JUSUN began a nationwide strike on Tuesday, April 6, when the union directed all its members across the federation to shut down all courts after the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum earlier given over the failure of the government to implement the financial autonomy of the judiciary.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Paul Erokoro, told NAN in Abuja.
Absolutely, I support the agitation by JUSUN on the judiciary autonomy.

The 1999 Constitution is not working because the governors are just too powerful. The governors control everything in their states.

There are no checks and balances. He who controls the money coming in can dictate all the actions in that states, he said.
He said the judiciary should not be seen as another department of the government of the state.

It is an independent arm of government and so is the state house of assembly, he said.
The lawyer noted that presently, there was no state house of assembly that could disagree with its governor.

And the governors tend to see the judges as their staff. If the judges do not dance to their tune, they starve the judiciary of funding. So we must put a stop to this.

It is possible that constitution amendment will be required. I know Mr President tried to solve the problem via an Executive Order; whether that is constitutionally valid, this needs to be explored.

Each time houses are built for judges, the governors boast as if they have done the judiciary a favour. We really need to change that, he stressed.
On why the law has become difficult to be implemented despite the Executive Order 10 by President Muhammadu Buhari, the senior lawyer said:

The governors are very powerful people as I told you. They can frustrate anything.
He attributed the development to the weakness of 1999 Constitution which, he said, placed all the executive powers in the governors.

He said: If you compare this with the 1963 Constitution where the Provincial Commissioners were equivalent of todays governors, it shared the executive powers with the District Officers or Dos as they were called. Dos were very powerful people.

So in the context of the present arrangement in the state, every governor would have shared executive powers with, maybe, eight other sub-governors so that no single person would have been as powerful as the governors are.

Erokoro, who called on the appropriate agencies and departments of government to intervene in the matter, also urged all parties to embrace dialogue to end the strike.

On his part, Ahmed Raji, SAN, who said he was in support of the resolution to the crisis, urged federal and state governments to engage with the union.

I will plead with them to embrace dialogue in the interest of the society so that we dont give wrong signals to the international community because the court is a very important segment of the societal institutions which we cannot afford to close.

I will plead with both of them, not apportioning blames to anybody. However, that is not to say that the claims or agitations of the union should not be looked into, he said.

NAN also reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had, on May 22, 2020, signed into law an Executive Order granting financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary across the 36 states of the federation.

The Executive Order No. 10 of 2020 made it mandatory for all states to include the allocations of both the legislature and the judiciary in the first-line charge of their budgets.

The order also mandates the accountant general of the federation to deduct from source amount due to the state legislatures and judiciaries from the monthly allocation to each state, for states that refuse to grant such autonomy.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has commended the Army for its renewed vigour in counter-insurgency operations by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, in the North East.

Zulum gave the commendation when he paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, on Monday, in Abuja.

He said that the military had achieved some level of success in the fight against Boko Haram and the Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in recent times in the state.

The governor said the current effort of the military had been yielding positive results, adding that more needed to be done to ensure that more farmers had access to their farmlands.

He called for increased support by troops to the governments efforts of resettling the displaced persons back in their communities.

Zulum assured that the state government would continue to support the army in all areas, to return peace and stability to Borno and the entire North East.

Honestly speaking, we have achieved some level of peace within the last two months not withstanding the recent attacks, but a lot still has to be done because we need to put heads together to say the right thing.

We are here to interface with Nigerian Army, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff, with a view to letting them know the actual situation on ground because it is only when you are apprised of the facts and figures on ground that you can think of the kind of intervention.

By and large, we are optimistic that insurgency will come to an end and we plead with the military to ensure the filling of the existing gaps.

Most importantly, we have to look into the political, cultural and economic dimensions of this war, which is very key because farmers need to back to their farm lands during this rainy season so that they can earn their means of livelihood, he said.

The governor also assured that the government had put in place a robust institutional arrangement for effective flow of information from the locals.

Responding, the Chief of Army Staff, Attahiru, commended the governor for the visit, saying it would afford them the opportunity to interact and discuss issues that would bring peace to Borno and entire North east.

Attahiru also commended the government for its continuous support to the operation Lafiya Dole and the Nigeria army in general, as well as the wounded troops and families of fallen troops.

He assured that the Nigerian army was determined to defeat boko haram and conclude the operation, within the shortest time possible.

According to him, he had authorised a review of some of their activities, operations and strategies, adding that the issue of manpower, arms and ammunitions were being addressed.

He appealed to the governor to consider the rehabilitation of some roads in the state to enhance army operations.

Let me assure you that the Nigerian Army, under my watch, will continue to do its best to support all your programmes and activities aimed at bringing peace that would enable socio-economic activities to thrive in Borno.

Having said that, let me use this medium to appeal to you to, as a matter of urgency, consider the rehabilitation of roads and main supply routes that link some of the local government areas in the state and indeed the humanitarian hubs.

This will facilitate passage, keep open humanitarian corridors, as well as enhance our operations. It will equally reduce the threat posed to our troops by improvised explosive devices, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Zulum was accompanied by the three Senators representing Borno in the National Assembly, Kashim Shettima, Ali Ndume and Abubakar Kyari. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhammad Adam

Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has inaugurated 86 housing units for Internally Displaced Persons in Girei Local Government Area (LGA) in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the housing units of two bedrooms flats, were built by Most Rev. Stephen Dami Mamza, Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese.

Fintiri inaugurated the estate, with a Mosque in it, in Sangere-Marghi village, Girei LGA, on Monday.

The governor, commended the laudable initiative and commitment of Mamza, to serving humanity and to promoting religious tolerance in the state.

We are gathered to celebrate one of the outstanding humanitarian efforts in the history of care and support as a nation.

We are happy to be part of this effort to resettle our brothers and sisters that were displaced by insurgency since 2014 Fintiri said.

In his remark, Mamza disclosed that the Catholic Diocese built the estate with the support of national and international partners.

This project is a tall dream come true since the Catholic Diocese of Yola first opened its doors to host IDPs on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2014.

This was after the collapse of some local governments in Northern Adamawa, following Boko Haram attacks on villagers.

At the height of the displacement in October 2014, when Mubi town and environs came under Boko Haram occupation, thousands fled into Yola and approached us for food and shelter.

It was at this time that St. Theresas IDP Camp housed 4,700 persons.

We have been taking care of the IDPs for the past seven years with the little assistance we receive from our major partners.

The Catholic Diocese of Yola, with its local resources also constructed a Mosque for some of our Muslim IDPs, Mamza said.

He appealed to government and humanitarian actors for more assistance saying that displaced persons needed to be given opportunities to be productive and self-reliant.

According to him, this will prevent the IDPs from being passive recipients of aid, which results in dependency syndrome.

In his remark, the Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, said that the significance of building the housing estate and the Mosque should not be lost.

Nigerians should learn to practice religion of tolerance and love for their neighbour.

It is important that Christians and Muslims appreciate what the Diocese of Yola has done today, Kukah said.

The renowned cleric charged Fintiri to impress upon other northern governors on the need for synergy between government and religious leaders to promote love and peace in the region, and the country at large.

Kukah said he would continue to pray that one day, the Muslims would reciprocate the gesture by building a Church for Christians in the state.

NAN reports that many notable personalities, including Rev. Bulus Yohanna, Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, representative of Lamido of Adamawa, other top clergy, government officials and politicians, attended the event.

Source: NAN News

By Muhammad Nasir

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, has declared Tuesday, April 13, as the first day of Ramadan 1442 AH in Nigeria.

Abubakar announced the sighting of the new moon in a radio and television broadcast in Sokoto on Monday.

He said the new moon was sighted in different parts of Nigeria and that report of the crescent sighting were received from Muslim leaders and organisations across the country.

After due verification and authentication by the national moon sighting committee and state committees confirmation, as well as routine scrutiny, I hereby announce the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan which signifies the end of Shaaban 1442 AH.

Consequently, in accordance with Islamic law, Muslim Ummah is directed to commence fasting on Tuesday accordingly, he said.

The Sultan enjoined Muslim faithful to devote themselves to the worship of Allah throughout the Holy month, urging them to use the period to pray for the progress, peace and prosperity of the nation.

We further call on Nigerians to continue to live peacefully with one another irrespective of religious and tribal difference, he said.

He urged Muslim faithful to use the period to pray for leaders on their commitment towards addressing all health related issues and security challenges in the country.

The Sultan also urged wealthy individuals to assist the poor, while stressing the need for increased religious tolerance and brotherhood in Nigeria.

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar observed by Muslims worldwide as a month for fasting, prayer, reflection and assisting the needy.

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is a compulsory religious obligation on all adult Muslims.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed the beginning of Muslims holy month of Ramadan with a call on Nigerians to remember the poor and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Muslims fast throughout the 30 days of the holy month.

Buhari, in a message to mark the commencement of the month, prayed to Allah to accept our sacrifices and increase the unity, solidarity, peace and prosperity of the nation.

The message signed by Malam Garba Shehu, Special Assitant on Media and Publicity, was made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

It quoted Buhari as urging Muslims in the country to exercise patience and tolerance, and reject voices that seek to divide the nation.

The president also urged citizens to show compassion to the poor and remember those that had been displaced by conflicts, in their charity and prayers throughput the fasting period. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

TAJBank has deployed NQR Payment solution, an indigenous Quick Response Code by Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) as the newest addition to its e-business channels.

The Founder/Chief Operating Officer of the bank, Mr Hamid Joda, said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

Joda said that the ingenious solution would further drive TAJBanks culture of innovation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NQR Payment solution is a secure QR-code-based payment and collections platform developed for merchants and customers to receive and make payments in an easy and secure manner.

Joda said that the NQR would also create a seamless payment experience for the banks rapidly growing individual and corporate customers in their banking transactions.

We are excited to have this payment channel introduced into the nations financial system as an addition to other innovative solutions we have deployed over the past few months.

This is a proof that, as we have said in our communications signature line, TAJBanks interest is always in our customers, he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder of the bank, Mr Sherif Idi, said that the deployment of the NQR payment solution would revolutionise the e-payment experience.

Idi added that it would open new frontiers for small, medium and large scale businesses which were major stakeholders of the bank.

He assured of the banks track record of growth and innovation, and rendering quality services to customers.

He said that NQR solution was open to all customers of the bank, both merchants and individuals, across all its branches and digital channels globally.

TAJBank is Nigerias second licensed non-interest financial institution offering innovative and customer-oriented products and services that span private banking, retail banking, business banking, development finance and the public sector. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Team Rivers say they will protest what they have seen as poor officiating in their 65kg bout in Dambe at the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the quarter-final fight between Michael Olayemi of Rivers and Hassan Yusuf of Bauchi state on Sunday ended in favour of Yusuf.

It was declared a knock-out in the second round by the umpire.

Dissatisfied with the official result, Emmanuel Ogolo, Secretary of Rivers State Sports Council, said his team would protest the decision.

Dambe is a martial art in which competitors in a typical match aim to subdue each other into total submission mostly within three rounds.

It often results in serious bodily injuries for the challengers such as broken jaws and ribs.

I rate the officiating as being unfair. Almost all the spectators here and even some of the officials saw what happened, but its like what they are doing here is favouritism, which is not right.

A fighter cannot be fighting with his hand and somebody is using his leg to cross over and make him fall. It is wrong.

I have not experienced that before and that is why we are making a protest in this game. It is either the game is canceled or declared a rematch, he said.

Reminded of the protest fee of N20,000, Ogolo said his team resolved to protest the referees decision and were ready for the consequences.

We are ready for that, anything that will make us succeed in this particular game, we will do it. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Segun Giwa

Ondo State-born Olympics-bound wrestler, Odunayo Adekuoroye, has won a gold medal in the 57kg category of the wrestling event at the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF).

In her fight, Adekuoroye stamped her authority on the game as world number two by defeating Jumoke Adesoye from Kano State 10-0.

Also joining Adekuoroye on the medals table was Princess Bankole who won a bronze medal for Ondo State in the 50kg category of the wrestling event.

Isaac John of Ondo State defeated his opponent in the 74kg of the mens event to win a silver medal

Also in other sports, Joy Usenbor recorded 54.00 seconds in the 400m women final of the athletics event to secure a bronze medal for Ondo State.

In the male event of table tennis, the Ondo State team defeated their counterparts from Lagos 3-0 to qualify for the final of the event.

Also, Kemi Aliu qualified for the final in the heavyweight division in the female boxing event. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

The Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria has hailed Edo state government for providing standard gymnastics facilities at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Benin.

Abba Mohammed-Inuwa, vice president of the Federation told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium that the federation was considering the state as host for future championships.

I will like to express our appreciation to the government and people of Edo state for providing this state-of-the-art equipment.

These equipment are very sophisticated and I am very sure that it is the first of its kind in West Africa as a whole.

Yesterday (Sunday), we were here with the Deputy Governor (Philp Shaibu) for more than an hour and we informed him of our plans to make use of these facilities as a national camp, where we will be camping our athletes.

And we are even soliciting for the cooperation and support of Edo state government so that we can host championships, nationally and internationally in Edo state.

This is the only way we can have athletes that are fit and trained in Nigeria that can represent this country in future events.

He has given us his words that Edo state is going to collaborate with the federation to ensure that these facilities are being put to use, he said.

NAN reports that the gymnastics event which is still ongoing at the festival is expected to end on Tuesday. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the United Nations (UN) have expressed deep concern over the situation in Somalia.

According to a joint statement on Sunday, in their latest virtual meeting the AU, EU, IGAD, and UN noted the gravity of the ongoing political stalemate in Somalia over the holding of delayed elections, and the continuing impasse in dialogue between the Federal Government and some Federal Member State leaders.

They expressed serious concern that the political stalemate was impacting negatively on peace, security, stability, and prosperity in Somalia and beyond.

They, therefore, called on Somali political leaders to continue the progress made in state-building and inclusive politics, especially elections and peaceful transition of power.

The organisations appealed to the countrys leaders to deliver today on the vital interests of the Somali people for peaceful, free, fair, and credible elections.

The meeting urged all Somali leaders to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any actions that could lead to an escalation of tensions.

They reiterated their respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and unity of Somalia.

They also called upon Somali leaders to prioritise the national interest of Somalia and immediately return to dialogue to seek compromise on the outstanding issues.

The international organisations urged the Somali leaders to ensure that no actions were capable of undermining the stability of Somalia were taken, which is critical to the maintenance of international peace and security.

While stating that the Sept. 17 Agreement remained the most viable path towards the holding of elections in the shortest delay possible, they urged the Federal Government and the Federal Member State leaders to review and validate the Feb. 16, 2021 Baidoa Technical Committee recommendations and seek agreement through compromise on any outstanding issues necessary for rapid electoral implementation.

Commending the international partners for facilitating communication between Somali leaders, they called on the partners to strengthen engagements and identify, if needed, new ways of supporting a return to dialogue among the political stakeholders in the country

They also reaffirmed the decision not to support any parallel process, partial elections, or new initiatives leading to any extension of prior mandates. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Guillermo Lasso has won Ecuadors presidential run-off vote.

The 65-year-old got to 52.52 per cent of the vote with almost all votes counted, while left-wing candidate Andres Arauz received 47.48 per cent of the vote, the electoral office announced late Sunday.

The two candidates were at the opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Arauz was seen as the protege of former president Rafael Correa and a win would have likely see him continue Correas policy of 21st century socialism, increased subsidies and oppose the austerity programme demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Lasso meanwhile campaigned on a liberal economic platform and wanted to create jobs and attract foreign investors.

He is a member of the ultra-conservative Opus Dei association and is strictly against same-sex marriage and abortion.

The vote marked Lassos third presidential candidacy.

For years Ihave dreamt of being allowed to serve Ecuadorians so that the country can advance and we can all have a better life.

Today you have made that possible. It is the start of a new era of coming together, he told his supporters in the city of Guayaquil.

Arauz conceded defeat and said he would phone his rival to congratulate him.

This is an electoral failure, but not a political or moral defeat, he told supporters outside his home late Sunday.

The South American country was in a deep economic crisis due to the drop in oil prices and the Coronavirus pandemic.

The previous president, Lenin Moreno, had recently seen his popularity plummet and did not stand for re-election. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Chinas top disease control official said his comments on the effectiveness of his countrys vaccines over the weekend were misinterpreted.

The director of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Fu, said it was a complete misunderstanding that he had said Chinese vaccines offer a low level of protection, in comments to state newspaper the Global Times on Monday.

He had been presenting a scientific vision that adapting vaccine sequences or administering different jabs on after the other could also be options for increasing protection, he said.

The protection rates of all vaccines in the world are sometimes high, and sometimes low. How to improve their efficacy is a question that needs to be considered by scientists around the world, Gao said.

Gao Fu was talking at a conference in Chengdu on Saturday on the topic of how to solve the insufficient protection of current vaccines, Chinese news outlet Pengpai Xinwen (The Paper) reported.

It is also necessary to consider ways to address the low protection rate of existing vaccines, he was cited as saying.

His comments prompted a reaction because there is far less data available on Chinese vaccines than those being produced in many other countries.

Critics have complained of a lack of transparency when it comes to Chinese jabs, which have not been authorised in many European nations.

Data from the third phase of clinical studies was particularly sought after.

Because China has the Coronavirus pandemic largely under control and was reporting hardly any local infections, studies so far have only been published from other countries where vaccines were being used.

Source: NAN News

Archaeologists have found a total of 165 millennia-old tombs at a single relic site in east Chinas Shandong Province.

The tombs, unearthed in the city of Heze, include 156 that date back to the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220 A.D.) and nine from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-221 B.C.), according to Shandongs institute of cultural relics and archaeology.

All of the tombs belong to the 1.3-hectare Sundayuan Site, the recent excavation of which also revealed five pits from the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 B.C.) and 27 from the Neolithic Longshan Culture, said Sun Qirui, an archaeologist with the institute.

Sun said that among the Han Dynasty tombs were earthen tombs with brick coffins and pottery figurines, and brick tombs complete with passage structures.

While few items were found in the Shang Dynasty pits, the Longshan Culture pits boast abundant artifacts, including pottery pieces carrying different patterns, he said.

The long time span of the Sundayuan site has offered precious insight into cultural evolution and integration in the area, researchers have said. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Maureen Okon

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on Monday congratulated Nigerian-Born Canadian Foluke Oyedeji-Laosebikan, for receiving an honour for her designation as the Queens Counsel in Canada.

NiDCOM in a congratulatory message via its Twitter account @nidcom_gov, said Oyedeji-Laosebikans designation as Queens Counsel was equivalent to the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) usually conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than 10 years standing and who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession.

NAN reports that Oyedeji-Laosebikan is the proprietor of FLK Law Firm in Melfort, and presently the President of Law Society of Saskatchewan, Canada.

NiDCOM quoted the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Saskatchewan, Gordon Wyant as saying during the designation ceremony on March 15: I am pleased to recognise Dr Laosebikan for her commitment to the legal community and her dedication as the President of the Law Society of Saskatchewan.

She is well-deserving of the Queens Counsel designation.

Individuals must live in Saskatchewan, Canada, and must have practiced law for at least 10 years in the superior courts of any province or territory of Canada, the United Kingdom or Ireland to earn the honour of Queens Counsel.

Queens Counsel appointments are based on recommendations from a committee consisting of Saskatchewans Minister of Justice and Attorney General, the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan or the Chief Justice of the Court of Queens Bench, and the past presidents of the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Saskatchewan.

Oyedeji-Laosebikan started practicing in Canada in 2011.

She finished her secondary school at Moremi High School, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Nigeria.

She obtained LLB, LLM, and Ph.D. degrees in Nigerian and South African universities.

She was also a professor for a period of time in South Africa prior to moving to Melfort in 2004. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is optimistic of winning the Nov. 6 Anambra governorship election and revamp the state.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said this in a statement by Assistant Director (Head of Unit), Publicity Department, PDP, Richard Ihediwa.

Ologbondiyan, playing host to a coalition of Anambra youths under the aegis of Anambra Youth Initiative For Good Governance, in Abuja, saidthe PDP presents the hope for the state to rebuild and realise its full potentials.

He said that the victory of the PDP in the recent Abia National Assembly by-election was a signal that the South East was for PDP.

According to him, the assemblage of leading aspirants and the surge of the people to the PDP, clearly indicate their resolve to elect the next governor of the state on the platform of the PDP.

The reality of the direction the Nov. 6 governorship election in Anambra will take is already manifest.

Ndi Anambra are very industrious, resourceful and inventive people and they have collectively realized that they can only achieve their full potentials on the platform of the PDP.

This is particularly given our robust manifesto and wealth creation principles of inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, massive infrastructural development and empowerment of the people.

Across our nation today, it is only PDP governors that are commissioning legacy projects, he said.

According to him, projects upon projects are being commissioned by the party on daily basis in line with its manifesto in different states of the federation.

He said that the states included Rivers, Bauchi, Sokoto, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Benue, Abia, Adamawa, Edo, Oyo, Cross River, Zamfara, Enugu, Taraba and Delta.

Ologbondiyan added that PDP states were opening new development and investment frontiers in critical sectors, including agriculture, aviation, energy, power, healthcare, education, real estate manufacturing and massive industrialisation.

This is why Ndi Anambra have firmly resolved to rally on our platform to revamp and move their state towards realizing its full potentials in all spheres of life, Ologbondiyan stated.

Speaking during the visit, the National Convener of the Coalition, Mr Okechukwu Umeh, restated the confidence of the people of Anambra in the PDP.

Umeh added that all hands were already on deck to ensure the victory of the PDP in the November election.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

A conservative former banker, Guillermo Lasso has won Ecuadors presidential run-off vote.

The 65-year-old got to 52.52 per cent of the vote with almost all votes counted, while left-wing candidate Andres Arauz received 47.48 per cent of the vote, the electoral office announced late Sunday.

The two candidates were at the opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Arauz was seen as the protege of former president Rafael Correa and a win would have likely see him continue Correas policy of 21st century socialism, increased subsidies and oppose the austerity programme demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Lasso meanwhile campaigned on a liberal economic platform and wanted to create jobs and attract foreign investors.

He is a member of the ultra-conservative Opus Dei association and is strictly against same-sex marriage and abortion.

The vote marked Lassos third presidential candidacy.

For years I have dreamt of being allowed to serve Ecuadorians so that the country can advance and we can all have a better life.

Today you have made that possible. It is the start of a new era of coming together, he told his supporters in the city of Guayaquil.

Arauz conceded defeat and said he would phone his rival to congratulate him.

This is an electoral failure, but not a political or moral defeat, he told supporters outside his home late Sunday.

The South American country was in a deep economic crisis due to the drop in oil prices and the Coronavirus pandemic.

The previous president, Lenin Moreno, had recently seen his popularity plummet and did not stand for re-election.

Source: NAN News

By Usman Aliyu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted claims by Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, that Nigerian economy was in critical situation due to huge debt burden.

Retired Col. David Imuse, chairman of the state APC caretaker committee, said this in a statement by Mr Ofure Osheobo, the assistant secretary of the committee on Monday in Benin.

Imuse described Obasekis criticism of the Federal Government on handling of the economy as a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.

The true position is that under Obasekis watch, the economy of Edo is in dire straits with the governor bereft of ideas on how to get it out.

The state is engulfed in a foreign debt of 300 million dollars and a domestic debt including loans from commercial banks, the capital market, and other doubtful sources, approaching N120billion as at March, for non-existent projects.

In the past seven months, Obaseki has plunged Edo into higher debts by taking more loans which has seen a 67 per cent increase in its debt profile.

Edo under him has overtaken Rivers as the state with the highest foreign and domestic debt in the South South and it is on a steady course to displace Lagos as Nigerias most indebted state, he said.

Imuse said that while Kogi had successfully reduced its domestic debt from N132.5 billion to N73 billion, Edo had spent more money servicing debts than financing education, healthcare and infrastructure even without a state cabinet.

He described as spurious, alarmist, untrue and wicked, claim by Obaseki that Nigeria was on its way to becoming another Argentina in terms of low currency value.

He advised the governor to use his membership of the National Economic Council, Nigerian Governors Forum and Nigerian Economic Summit to offer useful suggestion on how to move the economy forward.

This, he said was better than singling himself out for pediatric applause, because the management of Nigerian economy was not just the responsibility of one person, but that of the government, of which he was a part.

Everybody today knows that since 2015 when APC came on the scene, Nigeria has been on the path of progress and things are definitely much better than how PDP left it, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army says, its troops supported by Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) have thwarted Boko Haram terrorists incursion into Damasak, Headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno, killing scores.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, in as statement on Monday, said the success was recorded on April 10.

Yerima said the troops engaged the terrorists with superior fire power both from the air and on the ground which compelled them to withdraw in disarray with several men and equipment casualty.

He disclosed that two gallant soldiers paid the supreme price while one officer and two other soldiers were injured in the encounter, adding that the injured were currently recuperating at a military hospital in Maiduguri.

Yerima also disclosed that troops of Sector I, OPLD on picketing duty along Ngwom-Mafa-Maiduguri road had on Sunday, neutralised seven members of Boko Haram terrorist group and recovered four AK-47 rifles .

He said the terrorists were supposedly lying in wait to attack troops and innocent citizens plying the busy road.

According to him, troops who have continued to dominate the areas with massive clearance patrols and ambushes sprang the surprise attack on the terrorists that have been menacing the peace and livelihood of the people in the area.

They however ran out of luck as they were instead trapped and neutralised in their own web.

After the duel and successful neutralization of the terrorists, the troops continued their clearance patrol up to Maiduguri.

Meanwhile, troops of OPLD will continue to maintain aggressive posture to ensure the entire area is cleared of terrorists elements and their activities while maintaining high moral and fighting efficiency.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, has congratulated the gallant troops and urged them to maintain their high and satisfactory morale and fighting efficiency, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kevin Okunzuwa

Edo Government has warned land speculators to desist from encroaching into Godwin Omonuwa Estate in Upper Adesuwa College Road area of the Government Reservation Area(GRA) within Benin metropolis.

The state government in a statement on Sunday by MrTom Obaseki,Project Coordinator, Edo State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, said the estate was earmarked for the Benin water storm project.

It stated that the whole area of land had been designated to be used in the Implementation of the on-going stormwater alleviation works at the GRA area of Benin

It noted of a subsisting law suit at the Federal High Court (Suit No: FHC/B/CS/111/2020) amongst several stakeholders, including members of the Godwin Omonuwa family that restrains any form of transaction or sale activities on the said Land.

This Public notice became necessary as the government has recently observed some form of illegal construction and transaction activities on the above-mentioned landed area by unknown persons.

The state government hereby alerts the general public not to be deceived into buying any plot of land at the area known as Godwin Omonuwa Estate, Upper Adesuwa road, GRA as doing so is at the buyers risk, it stated.

It stated that government was resolved to use the said land in solving the perennial flooding that had made life unbearable for residents of Gapiona-Ugiokuen-Abuja Quarters and the larger part of the GRA over these years.

The government charges buyers to desist from having any transaction on the said land or carrying any form of development on the same Godwin Omonuwa Estate, situated at Upper Adesuwa road, GRA.

Request for clarification/further information can be routed through the email:or Telephone numbers; 08099732111 or 07053066000, it noted.(NAN)

Source: NAN News