By Glory Abuh-Adejoh

An FCT High Court on Wednesday fixed June 9 to rule in admissibility of evidence in the suit filed against a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and five others.

The former SGF is facing trial alongside his younger brother, Hamidu, a director of Rholavision Engineering Limited forallegedN544 million grass-cutting contract scam suit,

Others charged arean employee of the company, Suleiman Abubakar; Managing Director of Josmon Technologies Limited, Apeh Monday,Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd.

The Judge, Justice Charles Agbaza adjourned the matter for ruling as a result of argument by defendants counsel on the admissibility of documents tendered by the prosecution witness, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The witness, Fatima Umar ( PW3), a deputy head of Digital Forensic Laboratory with the EFCC, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Offen Uket said part of her job function was to identify, observe, collect and analyse data based on proven technical methodology.

Umar further said that she also served as expert witness who gave data generated through automated processes to investigators to aid and serve as first responder to locate potential storage in crime scene.

In addition, she said that she had been a Digital Forensic expert for seven years that was qualified and certified to be able to give evidence and write reports.

According to the Forensic expert, she was in court because she received a request letter to carry out a digital examination on an IPhone 7.

The prosecutor, Uket thereafter proceeded to ask some questions bordering on who sent the request letter, who the phone belonged to, the condition of the phone when she received it, to how she went about retrieving and extracting data from the said phone.

Umar explained the processes involved in retrieving the data, as manual, digital and physical extractions.

She also said the investigator, Ibrahim Salihu gave her key words to search for like SGF, Abia, Abdullahi and some other words.

In the process of my search, I came across a contact saved as SGF.

According to Umar, the particular nature of data extracted from the phone were messages between the owner of the phone, Musa Bulani and the said contact saved as SGF.

She equally said the data were extracted from the phone, analysed, burnt into a compact disk ( CD), printed into a hard copy using an HP printer and a report was written.

Uket at this point led her to mention the documents she wanted to tender in evidence as, the request letter, burnt CD, print out ( hard copy) and the EFCCs r forensic report.

Akin Olujimi SAN, the first defendants counsel, told the court that he was not objecting to the admissibility of the request letter dated March 8,:2018.

Olujimi however, urged the court to reject the remaining three documents.

He said the witness extracted the information from the phone which meant the extracted print out was not the original source, rather the phone which was not before the court.

He added that the extraction was a public document as it was extracted by the witness in the cause of performing her official duty as a forensic analyst.

He therefore said that as a secondary evidence which was permissible to be tendered in evidence, it ought to have been signed as a certified True Copy ( CTC).

The counsel further argued that the extraction which was a computer generated document by section 84 of the Evidence Act (2011), should have fulfilled the four conditions as stipulated by the section.

He said one of the conditions was that the document ought to have been accompanied by a certificate. Olujimi in addition said another way the document would have be permissible would have been through oral evidence.

We recall that when this witness testified, she never claimed to have had any connection with that phone beyond when it was sent to her to analyse.

He concluded by urging the court to reject the documents tendered by prosecution as evidence.

John Itodo, counsel for the second defendant, Napoleon Idenala, counsel for the third defendant, Ocholi Okutepa, counsel for the fourth and sixth defendant, M. E Oru, counsel for the fifth defendant all aligned themselves to Olujimis submission and adopted it as their arguments.

The judge, thereafter adjourned adjourned the matter until June 9, to rule in the admissibility of the documents.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN), reports that the defendants were first arraigned before Justice Jude Okeke of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja on Feb. 13, 2019, however the case had to be transferred to Justice Agbaza following Okekes death.

This development led to the re-arraignment of the defendants on Nov. 30,2020,on 10 amended counts charge bordering on fraud, criminal conspiracy diversion of over N544 million and diversion of over N544m belonging to the Federal Government.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants committed the offence when Lawal was the SGF.

The anti-graft Agency alleged that he allegedly awarded contracts to these companies in which he had interests in.

Source: NAN News

By Aisha Ahmed

The Kano State Task Force Committee on Counterfeit, Fake, Drugs and other consumables, said it had sealed a warehouse in the Bompai area of Kano metropolis with two trucks loaded with suspected fake foods.

The Information Officer of the state Ministry of Health, Mrs Hadiza Namadi, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said that the items seized were mostly juice drinks.

In his remarks, over the sealing of the warehouse, the committee Chairman, Dr Ghali Sule, said that the discovery was made following the interception of a vehicle conveying some of the suspected food items from the warehouse.

Sule stressed the committees commitment to also free the state of substandard and unwholesome drugs, which posed danger to peoples health.

He enjoined the public to provide the committee with information on the locations of where such heinous acts were being suspected.

In the meantime, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Aminu Tsanyawa, has also reiterated the ministrys determination to stop the circulation of fake and substandard drugs and food items in the state.

He said that as the Ramadan fasting period approached, some merchants take advantage of high demand for sundry items to engage in unwholesome activities so as to make money by any means.

Tsanyawa said that the ministry would convene a stakeholder meeting to discuss strategies to minimise the rampant circulation of fake and substandard items in the state.

He further said that the ministry, in collaboration with the National Agency for Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC), would soon commence investigations to ascertain the source of the fake and substandard items.

Source: NAN News

By Cecilia Ijuo

The Federal Government, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Sterling Bank and other stakeholders have promised to partner EDULEAD Development initiative to solve problem of out-of-school children and other educational challenges.

The stakeholders made the commitment at the launch of Education DreamGap Project, initiated by EDULEAD Development initiative on Tuesday in Abuja.

EDULEAD Development initiative is a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) that promotes quality education, sustainable agriculture, good governance and a healthy environment.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, while unveiling the project, assured EDULEAD of Federal Governments readiness to work with it in ensuring positive change in the education system in Nigeria.

Nwajiuba was represented by his Special Assistant on Project, Mr Adewale Adenike.

He commended EDULEAD for the laudable initiative, saying what you are doing is a great initiative.

In education, like we all know, no government can do it all. There must be partnership from the private sector and NGOs ought to be part of those driving our education system.

I can tell you there are still lacunas. All we do is talk and after that we talk nothing changes.

From what I hear, you are well focused here. You know exactly what you want to do and they are all itemised, he said.

The minister stressed that one thing I can guarantee you is that if you follow this path you have the support of the Ministry.

What the ministry wants are people who know exactly what they want to do and how they are going to achieve it.

On out-of-school children, he said that the statistics was worrisome but assured that the federal government was working hard to ensure that all children of school age went to school.

One thing this government has done under President Muhammadu Buhari is to try and focus on the out-of-school children.

A lot of things are being done to encourage parents to allow their children not only to come to school but to stay in school, to the extent of having to pay people who are looking after the almajiri children for proper education.

What we are now doing is that we are not asking you to come to school, we are bringing school to you.

Nwajiuba decried the numerous challenges faced in the sector, adding that some reports had it that in some parts of the country, classrooms were filled beyond capacity, making learning difficult.

We have a problem. The problem is not wanting to go to school or not wanting to go to school. We need to provide the environment, we need to provide teachers with what they need to teach.

Teachers were demi-gods in those days, but nowadays if you say a teacher is coming they will tell you to get lost because we do not place value on teaching.

Would anybody become anybody without teachers? Would you have doctors or ministers without teachers? If we are not going to have that then the teaching profession has to be looked at.

He further said, one of the areas we are looking at in terms of reform is, if someone is to study engineering, medicine, accounting, you are asking for all the As. But when it comes to teaching, you are willing to drop that grade to get the Cs, the Ds and Es.

You expected this C, D, E teachers to produce A students. There is something not right. Currently this government is looking at that. In Finland, you cannot teach in a primary school without a Masters degree.

You will not be allowed to enter the classroom to teach.

In Nigeria, it is a different ball game. I have been to some classes where you listen to what the teacher is saying and he is saying absolute nothing to the children.

At the end of the day, we have empty children who are expected to go and take over the leadership of this country.

So, we need people like EDULEAD to work together with. We need teachers training and retraining.

There are some people who are made to teach and others who love to teach. Some go into teaching because they could not get the course of their choice.

He further said, they are not really interested in teaching. They just want to go there to earn a living.

A teacher who is not ready to wake up on time and go to the classroom to make a change should not be there in the first place.

For a youth organisation like yours to come up with this then there is hope for us and the ministry of education would love to work closely with you.

Nwajiuba said that the partnership would go a long way in solving challenges in the sector, decrying that, you are asking a teacher to teach ICT. Someone who cannot turn on a computer and does not have an android phone.

A representative from UNESCO, Dr Safiya Muhammad, congratulated the NGOs move to help revamp education in Nigeria.

I want to congratulate EDULEAD on this very wonderful initiative. I have seen from your presentation of the overview that your dream is very tall as it covers other fields.

I want to acknowledge most of the statements made by the Federal might, the representative of the minister of education.

He hit the nail on something UNESCO is really encouraging.

In the global context, over 30 million children are out of school, but in Nigeria, the statistics mostly quoted is about 10 million or 11 million.

She disclosed that UNESCO was interested in speaking about the recent trend in education, which is impact of COVID-19 on the sector.

She said, many children have been out of school and a new normal has been created, where learning has to take place somehow and mostly at home. Now, there are so many problems surrounding that.

There are those coming from poor countries, rural areas where there is no internet, no electricity, do not have laptops, the teachers have no access to these technological innovations not to talk of parents and students.

Muhammad stressed that the new normal had affected the girl child more.

She said, I want to narrow this to the girl child. The negative impact has affected our daughters globally more than any other category of students.

Girls are now forced to stay at home and shoulder the responsibility of household chores than when they were going to school.

There are so many early pregnancies, early marriage, sexual violence, affecting our women and girls as a result of the COVID-19.

How do we bridge the gap for the female gender to catch up with education?

She said that to tackle the problem, UNESCO was launching campaign on sending students back to school, particularly female students.

She assured EDULEAD of UNESCOs readiness to partner it in solving the problem.

In the states you have earmarked, we can work with you in Imo State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). We can get the details of what you do.

Send it to us as quickly as possible and we can discuss how this can be done.

We need to find out how we can assist the female gender to close the huge educational gap that has been created by COVID-19.

A representative from Sterling Bank, Mr Stanley Ejelue, also assured of the banks support.

Ejelue, who covers education business for Sterling Bank in Abuja and the Northern region, commended EDULEADs effort.

I want to start by commending EDULEAD. This is a fantastic idea and for us in Sterling Bank, it resonates with what we are doing.

We are at the forefront of education. Speaking to his project, it resonates with the vision of Sterling Bank.

One of our visions is to enrich life and we do that by adding value. Our goal is not just to look for deposits, ask you for money but to also add value.

We are going to collaborate and we are going to take this across the country.

Earlier, in his address of welcome, the Executive Director, EDULEAD Development Initiative, Mr Chinedu Opara, said the project was borne out of the need to help fix the deficits in the education sector.

He said that the NGO had identified some of the challenges in the sector, affecting mostly rural education to include teachers welfare, security and result outcomes among others.

According to him, the project tagged Education DreamGap Project will start in April with focus on five states of the federation in its first phase, which will last for two years.

Opara disclosed that the first phase which would concentrate on basic education in 10 schools picked from Kogi, Gombe, Yobe, Imo and the FCT.

We promote quality education with whatever resource we have. We realised there is huge gap in the education system.

He further noted that part of the mandate of the NGO was reviewing the education policy to monitor implementation.

The executive director said, we want to see how the education policy is implemented.

The policy is holistic; so, we want through this project to monitor schools.

He stressed that the initiative would further focus on quality of teaching and learning, work tools for teachers, teachers training on effective and modern teaching methods and techniques among others.

Source: NAN News

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Cititrust Financial Services, an investment firm, has perfected arrangements to list by introduction on the nations bourse before the end of the second quarter.

The Country Chief Executive Officer of Cititrust Financial Services, Mr Ikechukwu Peter, disclosed this at a media parley on Tuesday in Lagos.

Peter said that the companys decision to list on the exchange was to make its shares available to more Nigerians and as well to raise capital.

He said that the company would also grow its balance sheet size of N36 billion by 50 per cent before the end of 2021.

We are also looking at growing our lending powers, we have a risk asset portfolio of about N12 billion, we are also looking at growing that by another 50 per cent incrementally by the end of this year, he said.

He said that the company was also making plans tomigrate Living Trust Mortgage Bank from a state licenced mortgage bank to a national mortgage bank.

We are coming up with a programme through our Cititrust Academy on April 15, where people can learn the basics of business and be able to impact their operational lives as they move on.

We expect that by mid next year, all our subsidiaries will be top industry players in the space where they play, because we believe that money is made at the top, he said.

According to him, there are lots of initiatives that the investment firm want to bankroll in terms of Corporate Social Responsibilities to its communities, adding that all of these needs money and the whole idea was to see how to give back to the society.

Speaking on fintech, he said, the earlier the government and financial institutions begin to look at that sector, the better for the economy.

He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had further validated the need for businesses to go digital.

The truth of the matter is that fintech is the way, any business that is not positioned for that right now, will experience a dramatic nose dive. We are not there yet, we are putting the virtual processes in place.

The platforms are being built as we speak, the engagement with vendors is actually in top gear. So, between now and the end of the year, we should be playing actively in that space because the truth is, it is an investment that cannot go wrong. Plans are seriously in motion and before the end of the year, we will be active in that space, he added.

Speaking on the companys loan exposure, he said it was minimal and within the threshold of regulatory requirement of five per cent.

He attributed the reason for high non-performing loan to lack of effective monitoring from the point of disbursement.

If you dont monitor these loans properly, you will discover that even the customer that has the capacity to pay, will not pay.

When proper structures are on ground, the monies will come back. When the monitoring is there, things will not go bad. The structure of the loan is another thing that should be looked at. Once all these dynamics are properly understood, the exposure will be minimal, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

Popular Nigerian artiste, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo , popularly called Dbanj, has rewarded five young talented Nigerians with one million naira each to develop themselves.

The reward came through the CREAM Platform, Nigerias premiere creative reward platform founded by Dbanj and supported by Heritage Bank.

A statement by Chief Damian Okoroafor, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CREAM Platform, said that five other fans of Dbanj got N200,000.00 each after an electronic random picking of numbers.

Okoroafor also said that Dbanj promised to support the businesses and passion of the fans who got the ne million naira and N200,000.00 reward respectively.

CREAM Platform, Nigerias premiere creative reward platform, officially kicked off its partnership with Heritage Banks YNSPYRE Initiative with the commencement of the CREAM Monthly draws on March 26, 2021.

It rewarded subscribers who dialed the 745463# code with lots of cash and other prizes.

The event, hosted by one of CREAM Platform YNSPYRE beneficiaries, Damilola Adeyemi, started off with an Instagram live session with the host to usher in Dbanj who was greeted with a warm welcome.

Testimonials from previous CREAM beneficiaries were on display for all to see before the major events of the night happened.

The day rounded off with three selected winners from CREAM Platform with HANZY, a music artiste winning the Cream Top 10 category, while BERRI TIGA got the winning nod based on Merit.

CLARA ADEN, a visual artist was picked based on Innovation, the statement quoted Okoroafor as saying.

According to Okoroafor, the CREAM and YNSPYRE are out to leave an indelible mark in the African Creative Industry.

He said that fans could partake in the goodies by just dialing 745463# from any network or visit www.creamplatform.com to get a chance of winning in the next edition scheduled to hold on April 30.

The monthly event will also hold on May 28, June 25, July 30 and Aug. 27, 2021, which is the grand finale draw date in celebration of CREAM Platforms 5th year anniversary, Okoroafor added.

Popular Nollywood Actress and Ambassador, Tonto Dikeh attended the event.

Others at the event included George Oko-Oboh, Regional Executive, Abuja and North, Heritage Bank Plc; Isaiah Ediae, Executive at Heritage Bank Plc, and Seyi Akinrinmade, General Manager CREAM Platform. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

Alhaji Sani Lulu, a former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said on Tuesday that plans are in the pipeline to transform his football Academy, FOSLA, into a football university.

Lulu who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, explained that the move was to give players of the academy the best education as they build their football career.

He said the move would also help players of FOSLA Football club to to strike a balance between their studies and playing football, as they now participate in the Nationwide League One (NLO).

Basically, you can see that the NLO league is on and all my players are university undergraduates. I just need the country to create enabling environment for these boys to excel instead of going abroad.

When I started this programme, I met the Vice Chancellor of the Nasarawa State University and we entered into partnership with them but the school calendar is quite different from what is obtainable in the league.

This is just the beginning of the programme, the ultimate objective is to look for the best way to run this programme and also participate in the university programme.

Ultimately, if there is support from government, I should be able to establish FOSLA University where there will be no interference to accommodate their academic session.

It was quite frustrating getting our players to combine their academic programme and football activities; we know what we went through. So, the best way to run this type of programme is to have our own University.

And if really we have to get the best and in no distant time, we shall be streamlining this and getting it collectively done, Lulu said.

According to him, the players are being trained to play in the elite league in the country unless foreign clubs are able to meet their demands.

I wish the players can stay in the country after graduation so that the value of football will be so high that they will be generating revenue for not only the club but also for the Nigerian government; this is my vision.

It is not only about getting mineral resources to generate revenue; we can generate revenue through football.

Through this programme, we should be able to harness their talents so they can be very useful to our nation.

I will not be in a hurry to sell them to foreign clubs but where they are so outstanding and can be rated as any other international player, not at a cheap rate, then the clubs can take them if they meet our demand.

So, anybody who wants to take them must be prepared, if not, they will play in our local leagues and become the best in the continent.

If foreign clubs must take them, the money they pay should be enough for me to develop others. So, the most important thing is that the boys would be encouraged to finish their education, he added.

He noted that players would be valued more financially after graduating from the University while playing football and would worth less if the reverse is the case.

If a player is not educated he may be denied the minimum requirement to be an independent citizen and he cannot manage his resources no matter how much is involved. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

The Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd.) says the military has recorded a progressive return of peace to the North-East.

He stated this when the Senate Committee on Defence, led by its Chairman, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko visited the ministry on Tuesday for oversight.

Magashi who said that Nigeria had been contending with diverse internal security challenges, noted that peace was returning to some parts of the country affected by insurgents.

Nigeria has been contending with diverse internal security challenges even as it grapples with the unconventional warfare waged against her by the terrorist group, Boko Haram and banditry in some states like Niger, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara.

The armed forces is confronting the emerging threat of banditry in other parts of the country especially in the North-Central and the North-West.

These challenges have tasked the constructive capabilities of our armed forces with attendant losses of our gallant officers and men in the line of duty.

The armed forces have continued to contend with the challenges of ensuring insurgents intermittent incursions are constantly repelled.

However, we have achieved a level of tranquillity, Magashi said.

The minister, however, said that with the support of the National Assembly. the ministry would consolidate on its current strides and ultimately achieve sustainable tranquillity.

In his remarks, Wamakko said he was confident that Nigeria would overcome its security challenges.

The entire country wants to know where we are in terms of security. I am confident that we will overcome our challenges as daunting as they are, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has departed Abuja for London, United Kingdom, for routine medical check-up.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president and few of his aides departed the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja for London at about 2.30p.m.

Those at the airport to bid the president farewell included the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammed Bello, Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu and other presidential aides.

NAN reports that before departing the presidential villa the president had met behind closed doors with security chiefs where he directed them to fish out and crush heads of bandits, kidnappers and their local collaborators to restore confidence in the society.

NAN reports that the president, who last travelled to London for medical check-up in May 2018, is expected back in the country during the second week of April, 2021. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

The fifth legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament has adopted its four-year strategic plan, (2020-2024) that would provide a direction in decision making and allocation of resources across member states.

The ECOWAS Parliament adopted the draft strategic plan, on Tuesday, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, at its ongoing Extraordinary Session, according a statement on Tuesday by its Public Relations Department.

The statement stated that the strategic plan identified program areas, with themes and priority areas that would systematically assist the Parliament in executing its mandate, as defined by the ECOWAS Supplementary Act.

It added that the Strategic Plan would provide direction in decision making and allocation of resources, to enable the Parliament attain its goals, while focusing on its mandates and top priorities.

It will provide guidance on the efficient and effective utilisation of scarce resources.

In addition, it will serve as the basis for Monitoring and Evaluating of the performance of Parliament, during the tenure of the current legislature, the statement said.

Members of Parliament further expressed optimism that the Plan would serve as a springboard to launch a new revolution that would bring the Community Parliament closer to the people.

The strategic document disclosed that the ECOWAS Parliament, for the purpose of the fifth legislature, has adopted its Vision and Mission as follows:

Vision, emergence of a citizen oriented parliament aimed at fostering the ideas of integration.

Mission, to promote citizens representation, participation, and ownership in decision-making.

On its strategic orientation, the Parliament noted that the document had revealed that since its inception in 2000, it had remained a body that represented the interest of the people in West Africas integration process.

That focus, it said, had never changed, except that the style might vary from one leadership to another.

While noting that the ECOWAS Parliament was relatively assured of basic funding due to the advantages derivable from the Community Levy, the strategic plan pointed out that lack of dedicated membership at the ECOWAS

Parliament had affected the conduct of its programmes and activities.

The Parliament further noted that in order to implement the plan, an Annual Work Plan would be drawn, to provide details of activities to be implemented each year. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The National Defence College (NDC), on Tuesday, officially pulled out the immediate Commandant, Rear Adm. Mackson Kadiri, out of service, following his retirement from active military service.

In his valedictory speech, Kadiri thanked God for a successful sojourn in the armed forces, adding that he had spent nearly 37 years in the military, which he described as a unique profession.

He added that he was proud to be identified with the profession, because of its excellent tradition and the training it provided him in the last 37 years to acquire professional skills, through which he was able to contribute to nation building.

I have had the privilege of being nurtured by the armed forces, particularly the navy, where I have travelled far and wide in the world, to gain experience and also meet people.

I will join the league of my illustrious seniors, who are on retirement, to continue to mount advocacy for improvement in the capacity of armed forces, particularly in todays world where the immediate and strategic security environment is fluid and dangerous, he said.

The former Commandant commended the bravery and resilience of members of the armed forces of Nigeria in ensuring that the nation remained inviolate.

He urged members of the armed forces to continue to give their best to ensure that the problem of insecurity was addressed.

To the officers who are gathered here, I will like to urge and reiterate that the capacity of the armed forces will depend to a large extent on the leadership that officers provide.

I will urge you to bear it in mind that the effectiveness of human authority has a moral and ethical content.

To this extent, I will like to say that the leadership that we will continue to give to the men and women in uniform will not only be by the authority of power rank, but by the authority of power example, he said.

Kadiri also called on participants at the college to take advantage of the composition of the courses at the NDC that reflected the requirements to tackle and manage the nations complex security environment.

According to him, because the situation was complex, it required a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency approach.

He urged them to apply the course in their schedules with a view to improving global security, to make the world a better place for all. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

Mohamed Tunis, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament has appealed to President Julius Madda Bio of Sierra Leone to champion the campaign for direct universal suffrage at the level of the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of States and Government.

The Public Relations Department of the Parliament which disclosed this on Tuesday said Tunis made the appeal at the ongoing 2021 First Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Freetown, the Sierra Leonean capital.

According to the speaker, Parliament under his leadership remains committed to the call for direct election of members to the ECOWAS Parliament which he said was one of the strategic plans of the fifth legislature.

I seize this opportunity to call on Your Excellency, Mr President, to kindly grant this your unwavering support by serving as the champion of this cause at the level of the Authority of Heads of States as its success will guarantee that the people have vested interest in civic affairs and being actively involved in the decision-making processes at all levels and in all dimensions, the speaker said.

Tunis noted that since its formation in 2000, the Parliament had endeavoured to perform its role diligently.

He, however, expressed regret that the election of members by direct universal suffrage, the power to initiate legislation, and the Parliamentary Ombudsman had remained noticeable casualties.

That is why during the inauguration of the 5th Legislature, I identified the election of members by direct universal suffrage as a key policy agenda of my tenure.

In order to achieve this, I immediately established an Ad hoc Committee which comprises of 16 Members of Parliament and chaired by the Honorable 1st Deputy Speaker.

To review the feasibility of achieving the election of Members to the Community Parliament by direct universal suffrage.

The Committee successfully held its first meeting in Lagos and the report from that meeting was adopted during our last session.

More engagements are on the way and the prospects of achieving this are high.

You would all agree with me that direct election by the people we serve creates a sense of responsibility in the leaders and makes them realize that they have been chosen by the people to perform in a patriotic and dedicated role, he added.

This will compel them to use the power and authority they have in a positive way for the benefit of the masses.

We believe that unless people participate in the development process, our set targets and objectives cannot be fully attained, Tunis stated.

President Bio who lauded the idea of direct universal suffrage said it would promote accountability in the representation process of member states.

Pledging to lead the campaign at the highest level, Bio said he was certain that the Authority of Heads of State of the community would discuss the matter when it is laid before them.

He also urged ECOWAS to consider the countries in the region prime destinations for investment.

We can do so by adopting practices, policies, and regulations (including taxation) that are uniform and even across borders.

We should harness greater regional economic integration and more market linkages in the entire sub-region, Bio said.

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The National Working Committee (NWC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated a four man executives for Borno chapter of the party.

PDP National Chairman, Mr Uche Secondus, performed the ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja.

Secondus, represented by PDP Deputy National Chairman (North), Sen. Suleiman Nazif, advised PDP members in the state to be united towards winning the state in 2023 governorship election.

We will have turbulence in capturing the centre if we do not win Borno, all of you are aware of the need for PDP to capture Borno in 2023.

All the organs of the party listen to the voice of Borno PDP leaders, we want PDP winning power in the state, he said.

Secondus advised that what happened in the state in 2019 should not be allowed to repeat itself, saying that 2019 was a bad outing for PDP in the state.

He called on the new executive officers to be a rallying point for members in the state.

Mr chairman, you must show the NWC that you are willing to work with every member of PDP in Borno.

You must do everything that will promote the unity of our great party in Borno, he said.

He commended the party leaders in the North-East for unifying the factions within the party in the state.

He pledged that PDP national leadership would give the necessary support to the state chapter.

Speaking on behalf of the new executives, Mr Usman Badairi said with the Supreme Court ruling of March 12,2021 reinstating the executives in the state, PDP was ready to regain power in 2023.

He appreciated the judiciary for standing in the path of truth and justice in recognising the four executive officers.

He stressed that the judgment was not for him but for survival of democracy.

He said the judgment and subsequent inauguration of the executives had put an end to factionalisation in the state PDP.

What we have now is Borno PDP and no more factions, he said.

He commended the Bukola Saraki led national reconciliation and strategy committee for its role in reconciling the PDP factions in the state.

Source: NAN News

By Obinna Unaeze

A faction of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Chanchaga Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger has suspended former Gov. Babangida Aliyu from the party for alleged anti-party activities.

This is contained in a statement signed by eight ward Chairmen and seven members of the PDP in the LGA in Minna on Tuesday.

The former governor of Niger, Dr Babangida Aliyu is hereby suspended from the party in Chanchaga LGA in pursuant to a stakeholders meeting held on March 29.

That the allegations leveled against him be forwarded to him to respond within 14 days.

However, Mr Jemilu Saidu, the LGA PDP Chairman, exonerated the ex-governor of the allegations, insisting that he was still a member of the party.

How can you suspend a member of the party without confirmation from the party Chairman from his local government area.

We heard the news this afternoon that the state party leader, Dr Babangida Aliyu has been suspended by a group of party members.

In fact, we held a meeting with Aliyu yesterday and this group in question was not at the meeting, he said.

Malam Yahaya Ebbo, the PDP ward Chairman of Tudun Wada where the former governor hailed from also dissociated himself from the suspension.

We are not aware of any suspension against our party leader, he said.

Hajiya Habiba Haruna, the State PDP Women Leader, said there was no need for the gang-up against the ex-governor as he was carrying along every member as the party leader.

What these people are doing is to serve their selfish interest. If not how can you suspend such a calibre of person without following due process, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Aderogba George

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Tuesday launched a policy document aimed at tackling all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the country.

Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouk, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said in Abuja that the document was to institutionalise an internal gender mainstreaming strategy in NAPTIP.

Umar-Farouk said that it was also targetedat giving proper operation to GBV issues and address gender gaps by contributing to the realisation of eliminating the menace.

I believe that the launch of this NAPTIPs gender policy will complement the agencys operational strategies to curb gender-based violence and address gender gaps.

It will also chart a new course in the management of the agencys relationships with its various partners and clients, she said.

Umar-Farouk called on policy makers to analyse the society critically in order to recognise the discriminatory practices against women in particular, as well as men.

The ministercalled on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to adopt and strengthen measures to mainstream gender concerns in all their activities and programmes.

Earlier, NAPTIP Director General, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, stated that the policy document was produced in collaboration with some foreign organisations.

According to her, it was produced under the two years programme on prevention of forced migration and trafficking in women and girls in Nigeria.

She said the document would provide the platform that would guide NAPTIP work in gender secure response.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim added that it would promote gender sensitive environment that would address forced migration, trafficking and other GBV crimes.

Women equality and empowerment, being one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is integral to all dimensions of inclusive and sustainable development.

Of particular reference is SDG five, which is aimed at eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women in the public and private spheres.

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world, she stated.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that the document would strengthen gender clauses and mainstreaming of gender into policies, legislations, programmes and operations of NAPTIP.

It willassist in the prosecutionof male and female offenders, with attention to their gender needs, strengtheningthe network of stakeholders, groups, and individuals at all levels in Nigeria, she added.

Ms Comfort Lamptey, UN Women Country Representative for Nigeria and ECOWAS, pledged to support Nigeria in the area of protection of womens rights.

Lamptey called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to take necessary steps to implement the policy.

She commended NAPTIP for coming up with such a policy document as well as government for the political will to end human trafficking.

The achievement of gender equality and protection of womens rights is critical if Nigeria is to meet its deepest aspirations in this decade of action as we race to attain the SDG targets, Lamptey said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olaitan Idris

A 56- year-old Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Yusuf Adewale, who allegedly drove in a dangerous manner that resulted in the death of one man, on Tuesday appeared in a Surulere Chief MagistratesCourt.

The police charged Adewale, who resides in No 25, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Otta, Ogun State, with two counts of reckless driving and manslaughter.

Adewale, however, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution counsel, Insp Adewale Sodiq, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 18, along Funsho Williams Avenue by Albati Barracks inwards Ojuelegba, Lagos.

Okoliko, alleged that the defendant recklessly drove a BRT bus with registration number: EKY 569 XY and caused the death of a pedestrian.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 18 and 20 of the Road Traffic Law of Lagos State, 2012.

Magistrate O.O. Otitoju admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500, 000, with two responsible sureties in like sum.

She ordered the prosecutor to send the case file to the State Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

Otitoju adjourned the case untill April 22. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Nicholas Obisike

Boniface Onovo, director, Enugu State Ministry of Youths and Sports says 48 Enugu State athletes and officials for the forthcoming National Sports Festival have taken COVID-19 vaccine.

Onovo who made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday, added that the contingent was made up of 31 athletes and 17 officials.

He said that the members of the contingent received the jab on Saturday and those who could not take it, got vaccinated on Monday.

Onovo said all arrangements had been concluded and the contingent was waiting for the April 3 date of departure.

All members of the contingents have taken the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine which is one of the prerequisites for participation in the festival.

We cannot attend the festival with all sports because we are not going there solely for participation sake.

Our plan is to win medals, we have to attend the festival with sports we have a comparative advantage.

The sports we are confident of securing medals include boxing, para-powerlifting, para-athletics, karate, deaf athletics, field, and track, athletics, he explained.

Onovo said that the sports were approved by the state for the festival.

He said that the athletes had been training with their coaches under the Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports supervision.

We could not have a camp for athletes owing to the several postponements of the festival.

Until action resumes in Benin, Edo State that is when we will know the festival is taking place, Onovo added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Edo has dispelled the rumours that the hosting right for the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged Edo 2020, has been taken away from the state.

Musa Ebomhiana, the Project Manager, Media and Communication Sub-Committee for the games, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Benin City.

He stressed that not only would the state play host to the rest of the country from April 4 to April 14, but that the scheduled date remained sacrosanct.

I can authoritatively tell you that Edo remains the host and the date remained as earlier announced, April 4 to April 14, it has been scheduled that states will start arriving for the festival from April 2.

The LOC chairman, who happens to be the Deputy Governor of Edo, had a telephone conversation with the Minister of Youths, Sports and Social Development, Mr Sunday Dare, this morning on the rumour that the games may be taken to Abuja.

The minister reaffirmed Edos hosting right and promised that the financial assistance made by the Federal Government will come.

I can tell you that the state will receive this fund between now and tomorrow (Wednesday), the minister was quoted as saying.

NAN also reports that recently a letter signed by Peter Nelson, the Secretary of the Main Organising Committee for the Sports Festival titled: SCHEDULED DATE FOR THE 20TH NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL was sent to every association.

It read in part: Arising from the above, I am directed to inform you that the 20th NSF is now scheduled for April 2-15, 2021.

The details are : Opening of the Games Village- April 2-3, 2021; Opening Ceremony slated for April 4, 2021; the closing ceremony would come up on April 14, 2021 while the closing of the Games Village would be on April 15, 2021.

It would be recalled that the festival had suffered several postponements in the past owing to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Zubairu Idris

The Katsina State Government is planning to reintroduce development levy and cattle tax in order to raise its revenue.

Alhaji Faruq Lawal-Jobe, who chairs the committee on the reintroduction of the taxes made the disclosure at a public sensitisation on the initiative, on Monday in Katsina.

Lawal-Jobe, who is also the Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, said that the government would soon commence the capture of prospective tax payers data.

He said that the taxes would go directly into a special account meant to assist widows and orphans affected by banditry and other security challenges in the state.

We are going to take bio-data of the people killed by bandits, to know the number of wives and children they left behind.

That will help to prevent such children from indulging in such acts, he added.

He revealed that the government had constituted a committee saddled with the responsibility of assisting victims of banditry in the state.

The committee will use the funds to assist widows and orphans in the state and will ensure that the funds were used in improving the lives of the widows and the orphans, Lawal-Jobe said.

He noted that the state has a population of about 10 million people, but with just over two million in public school.

According to him, the new tax regime was necessary, as the state receives about N6 billion monthly from the Federation Account and spends N3 billion on payment of salaries and allowances.

Also speaking, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, stressed the importance of paying taxes, adding thatno country in the world could survive without its citizens paying taxes.

The Emir said that money generated from taxes would assist the government undertake people centred programmes.

He assured that the traditional institution in the state would continue to support the administration in its efforts to develop the state.

In his remarks, Gov. Aminu Masari said that the taxes would be used to enhance the living condition of the people andaddress the insecurity challenges facing the state.

Masari disclosed that a comprehensive data of people rearing cattle and other animals would be generated for proper tax administration.

The governor said that the government would involve traditional and religious leaders, and the state Inter Party Advisory Committee to ensure the success of the scheme.

He urged citizens of the state to forward their advises to the State House of Assembly during a public hearing on the matter. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhammad Nasir Bashir

The Police Command in Jigawa, has arrested a 40-year-old man for allegedly killing his one and a half year old son.

The commands Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Zubairu Aminuddeen, confirmed the arrest to newsmen in Dutse on Monday.

On March 19, 2021, one Yanusa Mohammed, aged 30, of Dantanoma quarters Gumel Local Government Area, reported the incident at Gumel police station.

Aminuddeen said that the complaint had informed the police that the suspect took the child from the mother, a month ago, on the pretext of taking him to his sister in Kano.

The suspect later informed her that the baby died on his way to Kano and has been buried, Mohammed told the police, and called for investigation.

The PPRO said based on the complain, the suspect was arrested by the police for interrogation.

He said investigation had revealed that the child was born out of wedlock and was allegedly killed by the father who hid thecorpse in a gutter along Maigatari road.

According to him, the police were able to locate and recover the corpse, which was allegedly hidden by the suspect for over three weeks.

The corpse was taken for medical examination and later released to the relatives for proper burial.

The incident is still under investigation, after which the suspect will be charged to court. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested two suspects over the corpse of a young lady found in the gutter along Presidential Road, Independence Layout of Enugu metropolis.

The Commands Public Relations Officer, Mr Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Tuesday in Enugu that the deceased had been identified as Miss Chiamaka Orji, 20 years old.

Ndukwe said that the Command was appealing to the general public to aid the police with useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of all perpetrators involved in the crime.

He said that the body was evacuated to the hospital, following information received in the early hours of March 29 by police operatives attached to New Haven Police Division, Enugu.

The police spokesman said that she was confirmed dead by a doctor on duty at the hospital and her corpse was deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, has ordered the states Criminal Investigation Department to carry out a full scale investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the young lady.

To this end, the Commissioner also advised young persons in the state to be wary of whom they go out with to avoid becoming victims of such despicable acts.

He enjoins the general public, especially residents of Enugu metropolis, to assist the police with useful information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of all the assailants, Ndukwe said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News