By Amina Ahmed

An NGO, neVDEX, is to train 50 secondary school girls in Bauchi State on menstrual hygiene and how to produce reusable sanitary napkins.

The executive Director of the NGO, Mr Polit Victor, who made this known at a stakeholders meeting in Bauchi, said that the training which supported by the Development Center(DEC), Ikra Foundation for Women Youths Development and Brot, Germany, will be for six months.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that neVDEX is an NGO working to promote girl-child education in Bauchi state.

We want tofundamental role that good menstrual hygiene management plays in enabling women and girls to reach their full potential.

We are also working to ensure that women and girls are not limited by something as natural as their periods.

We will train them on the production of recycling sanitary towels and build their capacity to become mentors among their peers.

During the six months training, we will conduct surveys and research to enable us to scale up the activities across the state, he said.

The training, he said, will start at the Government Comprehensive Secondary School and Kings Secondary School in Bauchi Local Government Area.

He acknowledged the commitment of the Gov. Bala Mohammed-led administration toward provision of quality education in the state.

Also speaking, Mrs Deborah Paul, Head of Department, Women Programme, Bauchi State Agency for Mass Education, said girl-child education was a responsibility for all.

Paul appealed to parents and custodians to ensure basic education for their girls.

Also, a representative of the Government Girls Secondary School, Bauchi, Mrs Binta Mohammed, said that the school would establish clubs and societies for girls to fast track the learning process on menstrual hygiene, mentorship and leadership skills.

Source: NAN News

By Muhammad Nasir Bashir

Jigawa Police Command in Dutse, says its operatives are searching for a man, simply identified as Umaru, for allegedly stabbing to death a 45-year-old man over suspicion of dating his ex-wife.

The commands spokesman, SP Abdu Jinjiri, confirmed the incident, which occurred on Monday, at Dakaiyawa in Kaugama Local Government Area (LGA), of the state, to newsmen on Wednesday.

Jinjiri said that the fleeing suspect, on Monday, attacked and killed the victim, whom he suspected of having an affair with his ex-wife, who recently divorced him.

On Nov. 9, at about 3 p.m., the Police in Dakaiyawa village in Kaugama LGA, received a report that at about 2:30 p.m., one Sale Dange aged 45, was stabbed with a knife by one Umar, of unknown address.

The fleeing suspect stabbed the victim because he saw him with his ex-wife, whom he divorced just three days ago, Jinjiri said.

He explained that upon receipt of the information, the Police rushed to the scene and took the deceased to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The police spokesman added that the corpse had been deposited at the mortuary after a postmortem examination.

He saida manhunt had been launched to arrest the suspect, as investigation into the case continued.

Source: NAN News

Coronavirus

The Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu on Wednesday confirmed its first case of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

The remote island country of around 300,000 people had been one of the remaining few COVID-19-free countries in the world.

Prime Minister Bob Loughman announced the case in an address to the nation, assuring citizens that the country remains safe.

The government through the COVID-19 task force will continue to give the public up to date information on the COVID-19 situation and this case in particular, he said, as cited by Radio New Zealand (RNZ) Pacific news.

The infected man had travelled from the U.S. to Vanuatu, via Sydney and Auckland.

He was asymptomatic when he arrived in Vanuatu on Nov. 4, but returned a positive test on Tuesday during routine fifth-day testing, the health ministry said.

Loughman said the man had been moved to an isolation facility for treatment and monitoring.

Vanuatu closed its borders andannounced a coronavirus emergency on March 25.

In spite the lack of COVID-19 cases, due to its vulnerability the state of emergency was extended to Dec. 31.

It has only recently started allowing in repatriation flights.

Vanuatu is ranked by the World Bank as the most at-risk country in the world to natural disaster.

In April, a powerful Category-V tropical cycle tore through the country affecting more than 159,000 people.

According to the latest World Health Organisation data, the remote island nations and territories of Micronesia, Samoa and Tuvalu are among those still believed to be coronavirus-free. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Hassana Yakubu

A former Kaduna State Governor, Balarabe Musa, died on Wednesday morning in Kaduna at the age of 84.

One of his sons, Kallamu Balarabe-Musa, confirmed the death of the former National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at his residence in Kaduna.

He said that Musa will be buried by 4p.m. after funeral prayer at the Sultan Bello Mosque, Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Musa was born on Aug. 21, 1936 in Kaya, Kaduna State.

He studied at Zaria Middle School from 1947 to 1952 and at the Institute of Administration, Zaria, 1952 to 1953.

Musa, who was an accounts clerk and a school teacher, held various managerial positions related to accountancy from 1960 to 1976, while studying at different colleges in London to gain additional qualifications.

He was elected governor of the old Kaduna State in 1979 on the platform of the PRP, a party founded by late Mallam Aminu Kano.

As governor, he was was prevented from constituting a cabinet by the state house of assembly, dominated by the opposition National Party of Nigeria (NPN) members.

Eventually the House impeached him in June 1981, making him the first Nigerian state governor ever to be impeached.

He was the PRP candidate for the presidency in the 2003 elections, and later Chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP).

On Aug. 31, 2010, Balarabe-Musa quit active politics due to health issuesand announced his immediate resignation from chairmanship ofthe PRP.

NAN also reports that Musa, in a last interview he granted NAN on Oct. 4, said that the aspirations of Nigeria could be achieved if both the leadership and followers resolved to play their part in earnest nation building .

Honestly, the country has not fared well at 60. It is very disappointing that this is where we are.

But things can be better; we can still achieve the dreams of the founding fathers if we all play our role in nation building,he said.

He urged leaders to always make the welfare and well-being of the people the focus of their policies and programmes.

The former governor stressed that political and economic restructuring of the country was key for progress

We need to restructure the country politically and economically. We need to ensure that power actually resides with the people.

The economic and political models we are currently operating only empower a few. Governments must be structured to impact positively on the masses,he said.

Source: NAN News

Japanese authorities are to cull about 11,000 chickens at a farm in western Japan on Wednesday after a bird flu outbreak was discovered.

The Kagawa prefectural government confirmed Japans third outbreak of H5 avian influenza this season in the city of Mitoyo.

The farm has reported a growing number of chickens death a day ago.

The outbreak came in spite of the restriction of the movements of poultry, eggs and others from anotherfarm in the same city where this seasons first case was found on Thursday.

The local government had to slaughter about 330,000 chicken at that farm.

All three outbreaks were discovered in the prefecture as local authorities also culled around 48,000 chickens in the city of Higashi-Kagawa this week.

We need to enhance a sense of caution as outbreaks take place earlier than usual, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a news conference. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Polo Tournament action

By Victor Okoye

Hamisu Buba ( 4) struck late in the fifth chukker for Malcomines to snatch a 7 and a half to 7 goals win over shell-shocked Lintex in a nerve-wracking game at the ongoing Nigeria National Carnival Polo Tourney in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high goal match was for bragging rights in the Presidents Cup (for handicaps 11-15) as both teams slugged it out in a neck-to-neck encounter at the Guards Polo Club.

Both teams are traditional rivals as they had met at several occasions with the Jos-based Malcomines having a slight edge over their Abuja based counterparts in the head-to-head statistics

Malcomines, who were awarded half a goal to level the teams handicap difference at the start of the first chukker, made it count as they maintained their lead at the end of the fourth chukker with a 6 and a half to 6 goal score line.

The key player for Malcomines was the highly rated Hamisu Buba ( 4), the younger brother of Bello Buba ( 4), Nigerias number one ranked polo player.

He scored a total of six goals for Malcomines, thanks to Argentines Juan Cruz ( 5) who was the engine room of the team, creating a lot of goal opportunities for Buba and also grabbing a goal of his own.

The Abuja-based Lintex team, on the other hand, had the hired assassin South Africas Chris McKenzie, in their arsenal as he scored a total of six goals for them.

Bashir Dantatata ( 3) was the Lintex midfield maestro who created a lot of scoring chances for the team and also grabbed a goal of his own in the first chukker.

It was, however, Malcomines day as they held on to the half goal advantage at the end of the pulsating encounter and ensured they stayed top of the group table with three points.

The other match in the high goal category saw the Sen. Hadi Sirika-led Rubicon locking horns with Hon. Ahmed Wadada-led Keffi Ponys on Wednesday for a shot at the Presidents Cup.

NAN also reports that in other matches played on Tuesday, ZMD Group beat Titans/M-Seven 5 goals to 2, while Susplan whipped Katsina Kangiwa 9 goals to 4 and a half goal in the FCT Ministers Cup (for players with handicaps of 3-6).

Rubicon 2 beat Sikka Spa and Salon 5 goals to 4 and a half also in the FCT Ministers Cup, while FAS Agro beat Casiva 6 and a half goals to 4 in the Legislative Shield (for players with 7-10 handicaps).

The tournament, which began on Nov. 9, is expected to climax with the grand finale on Sunday. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Bayo Olawunmi

Golfers totaling 99 in number are expected at the inaugural DStv Premium Golf Day scheduled for the Ikeja Golf Club in Lagos on Saturday.

Jenkins Alumona, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Flykite Productions, the events organisers, said Multichoice Nig. Limited were bankrolling the competition.

The 99 golfers were selected from over 500 golfers who registered for the event, which will follow the strokeplay format.

The number of participants was pruned in accordance with the COVID-19 safety protocols, he said.

Alumona disclosed that the best 50 golfers would also be hosted to a cocktail at the end of the event, in line with the safety protocols.

Alumona said further that the first prize at the event was a business class ticket to Dubai for a weekend stay at a five-star hotel.

The second prize is a business class ticket to Rwanda for a weekend stay at a five-star hotel.

The third prize is a weekend stay at a five-star hotel in Lagos, with the prize for the longest drive a 55-inch television set, he said.

Speaking also, the Ikeja Golf Club captain, Oladimeji Durojaiye, said he was delighted at the huge interest shown in the competition by golfers.

And, in view of this, we commended the sponsors, Multichoice, for partnering with our club.

While explaining Multichoices sponsorship of the event, Martin Mabutho, the Chief Costumer Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, said it was because the sport enjoys considerable followership among DStv Premium subscribers.

This is an exciting opportunity for us because we understand that golf tournaments are some of the most important games for our DStv Premium subscribers, hence this sponsorship.

So, were excited to be a part of this, with Ikeja Golf Club, and we are hopeful that this will further consolidate our relationship with our Premium subscribers, he said.

Source: NAN News

Motsepe in CAF Presidency race

South African billionaire and owner of the football club, Mamelodi Sundowns, Patrice Motsepe, on Monday declared his intention to contest the presidency of the Confederation of African football (CAF).

He is therefore the third candidate contesting in the election which will be hosted in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, on 12 March 2021.

The other two candidates are Malagasys Ahmad Ahmad, occupying the position since he defeated Cameroonian Issa Hayatou in 2017 after 28 years in office, and Ivorian Jacques Anouma, former chairman and president of honour of the Ivorian football federation (FIF), who joined days ago.

The bid of Motsepe, brother-in-law of the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, now in quarantine because of the Covid 19, was made public in Johannesburg by the chairman of the South African football federation, Danny Jordan, and the minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa.

Motsepe already has the support of the Nigerian football boss, Amaju Pinnick, who is yet to present his bid for the position, and that of the chairwoman of the Sierra Leonean football federation, Isha Johansen.

As the deadline (Thursday, 12 November) for bids is drawing near, it is expected that other candidates will declare their interest. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

By Lydia Ngwakwe

The Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday in Lagos, said that the disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic were felt both in the financial and the judicial systems.

Emefiele said this at the 20th National Seminar on Banking and Allied Matters for Judges.

The theme of the two-day semunar is,The Judiciary and the Financial Services Industry in the New Normal: Challenges, Innovation and Regulations.

Emefiele, who was represented by the the Deputy Governor of CBN, Aisha Ahmad, said that both systems, in their respective areas, had to take steps to meet up with the challenge.

He said he was aware that at the peak of the lockdown, court sittings were suspended across the country, except for the hearing of urgent, essential or time- bound cases in accordance with existing laws.

Of course, this situation would have resulted naturally in the buildup of backlog of cases in a judicial system that has already been challenged with high incidence of protracted trials.

The closure of courts during the lockdown would likely also have impacted on the revenue generation as some fees, such as filing fee, etc, most likely would not have been earned, he said.

Emefiele said this was in addition to the health risk exposure to judicial workers, litigants and the general public for the court that sat during that period.

So what we think the impact of this new normal could be on this two key sectors particularly, is for the judicial system to rise to the challenge posed by the new normal.

As the financial services sector continues to witness rapid innovation in the product and service delivery channels, it is important to mention that this was happening prior to Covid-19 as we saw new technology, new innovations spring up, new entrants, new activities and new players in the system.

But now with coronavirus even more prevalent, the CBN and other financial services have had to adjust the regulatory and supervisory framework in response to these changes.

In this phase, the Judicial system will also need to keep abreast of this transformation in order to be in full position to adjudicate cases presented by the sector, he said.

The Attorney-General of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo, represented by his Senior Special Assistant, Mrs Mujibat Oshodi, also said that the pandemic had impact on the sectors.

He, however, said it also brought some desired innovations that most forward thinking justices and practitioners had been clamouring for.

For instance, the courts are now settling cases and adopting cases management systems that progressive practitioners had been advocating over time now; virtual hearing happens to be the reality.

The Supreme court accepts the use of virtual hearing as constitutional judges in Nigeria and around the world have resorted, in delivering judgment virtually through platforms like skype, zoom etc.

As far as Nigeria is concerned, such procedures seemed unlikely as at January 2020, however, recent judgments, rulings and proper court proceedings have held virtually in the past few weeks and the legal sector is better for it.

These rapid developments are still in the crawling stages but its certainly refreshing to see that the judiciary and the legal practitioners are willing to embrace the new normal which has come to stay, Onigbanjo said.

He urged business institutions and the society at large to set work mechanism to fit the situation.

According to him, there is need for the judicary to be further strengthened to improve the quick dispensation of justice in commercial or business transactons.

Onigbanjo said: While the financial system plays a major role in the economic development of the country, the judiciary must be seen to protect the rights of parties and promote responsibilities in the financial industry in order to promote economic and buisness growth.

Earlier, Mr Bayo Olugbemi, President of CIBN advised that innovation could not and should not be limited to leveraging technology in the judicial process alone.

I know that when we speak of innovation in the context of the new normal, we refer usually to leveraging technology to improve the efficiency of the administration of justice process.

Innovation is also required in the area of interpretation of statutes and resolution of disputes between parties in the time-honoured tradition established by distinguished jurists such as Lord Denning, Honourable Justice Kayode Eso, JSC, Honourable Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, JSC and Honourable Justice Mohammed Bello, CJN (all of blessed memories) who used judicial engineering to ensure that justice is done to parties before them by interpreting statutes and case law to cover novel situations previously not contemplated.

The judiciary must continue in this innovative tradition in the resolution of commercial and other disputes brought before them and thereby contribute its quota to the development of the economy and other areas of national life, he said.

NAN reports that Justice I. Tanko Muhammad, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute; President, Nigeria Bar Associaion, Olumide Akpata; and Justice R.P.I Bozimo, Administrator, National Judicial institute, also spoke at the event.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seminar was organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute, under the auspices of the Bankers Committee of CBN. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Modupe Oremule

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has unveiled new houses for the Chief Boatswains Mates (CBM) of the Western Naval Command (WNC) and Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC).

Rear Adm. Oladele Daji, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), WNC and Special Guest of Honour at the ceremony, held at the Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos, said that it was part of the naval authorities efforts to boost the morale of the personnel.

It is a unique opportunity to unveil the institutional houses, as part of the going and consistent efforts by the NN to boost personnels morale through various welfare programmes, he said.

Daji said that the new institutional houses were in appreciation for the CBMs dedication to duty.

The CBMs as admirals of the lower deck are leaders and the backbone of every major shore establishment in the NN due to their rich experience by virtue of their long years of service.

The CBMs are a veritable link and moderating influence between the officers and the ratings cadres. They train, direct and supervise working parties and routine maintenance in the NN establishments, he said.

The FOC expressed the hope that it would spur other ratings to aspire to attain the rank of Navy Warrant Officer (NOW) and the office of CBM.

Therefore, these institutional houses being inaugurated today are symbolic of NNs appreciation for their dedication to duty and to spur other ratings to aspire to attain the rank of NWO and the office of CBM, he said.

Daji said that the navy would continue to improve on the welfare of the officers and their families to ensure that they were comfortable in carrying out their constitutional duties.

This is a further testimony to the Chief of the Naval Staffs untiring efforts at upgrading the existing infrastructure and develop new ones across all commands, units and establishments in the Nigerian navy, he said.

He assured the chief of naval staff that the houses would be well-maintained and that the command would continue to accord priority to improving the infrastructure provided by government in all the barracks and bases.

It is pertinent to mention that the NN would not have been able to accomplish the enormous infrastructural development witnessed over the past five years without the support of the Federal Government, he said.

Source: NAN News

Wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun

By Olawale Jokotoye

Wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun on Tuesday inaugurated the Nigeria Police Family Support Unit (FSU) for the Sango-Ota Area Command.

Mrs Abiodun used the occasion to declare a renewed commitment to the fight against domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence in the state.

She described the FSU as a safe haven where victims of domestic violence, regardless of their age or gender, could go and speak up without fear of intimidation or stigmatisation.

Mrs Abiodun, who is also the Chairperson of the Management Committee of Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law in the state, added that the committee would partner with the FSU for effective result.

She added that the support unit would be replicated across the state.

We all know that the great deterrent against crime is law enforcement. When potential perpetrators of crime know that they will face the consequences of their actions, they will think twice before engaging in those kinds of acts, she said.

She also emphasised the need for continuous enlightenment programmes on the elimination of domestic violence.

The Commander, Sango Ota Area Command, ACP Monday Agbonika, earlier in his address of welcome, appreciated Mrs Abiodun for the provision of necessary logistics and other supports for the unit.

Wife of the Commissioner of Police, Mrs Habiba Ajogun, described the initiative as novel in the history of the Area Command.

The Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege, in his goodwill message, commended the state government for the initiative, saying that it will help to ensure justice for victims of domestic violence.

He recommended strict penalties against anyone found guilty of domestic violence to serve as deterrent to would-be violators. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard

By Busayo Onijala

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard has launched the 2020 U.S. Consulate General Lagos Documentary Film Festival.

Declaring the festival open, Leonard noted that it was an expression of the U.S. missions commitment to strengthen the ties that linked Nigeria and the United States of America.

This was disclosed in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to the ambassador, both countries have recognized common interests and concerns.

We are very proud of the U.S. Governments engagements with Nigerians in areas as diverse as health, education, trade, economic development, security assistance, and the promotion of democratic institutions.

You will see exciting and inspirational stories that span entrepreneurship, womens empowerment, education, community engagement, and STEM.

We also engage with the creative community and especially support their efforts to use the power of film, music, dance, and literature to create dialogue and find solutions to societal challenges, Leonard said.

The virtual festival will hold from November 9 to 25 and highlight five contemporary documentaries from the American Film Showcase, the premier film diplomacy program of the U.S. Department of State, which is produced in partnership with the University of Southern Californias School of Cinematic Arts.

It was noted in the statement, that the screenings which offered a contemporary view of American society and culture as seen by independent filmmakers, would be accompanied by panel discussions, workshops and master classes with the filmmakers and Nigerian panelists.

The opening film for the festival wasThe Empowerment Project,directed by Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Ms. Sarah Moshman.

This documentary spotlights 17 transformational women leaders across a variety of industries and seeks to inspire the next generation of women to pursue their career ambitions.

Other films scheduled for screening during the festival are:Neverthelessby Sarah Moshman,Libraries Now: A Day in the Lifeby Juliane Dressner,An Educationby Juliane Dressner andMake It Workby Kip

COVID-19

Lebanon will impose a nationwide lockdown between Nov. 14 and Nov. 30 due to an alarming surge in the number of COVID-19 infections and to ease pressure on an overwhelmed health sector, an official said.

The Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab on Tuesday in Beirut after a National Defence Council meeting, chaired by Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that the country had reached a very dangerous phase.

According to a council statement, most shops, restaurants and public facilities will close, while the airport and portwillremain open.

Local media also reported that a 12-hour curfew from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. will be in place during the lockdown.

Many officials had opposed the decision,arguing it will deepen the countryseconomic hardship.

Lebanon is experiencingits worst economic crisis since the 1975-90 civil war.

Coronavirus infections have increased in Lebanon since a massive explosion hit the Beirut port on Aug. 4.

The blast killed more than 190 people and woundedsome 6,000 others.

According to the Health Ministry, atotal of 95,355 people have now been infected with the coronavirus since it was first detected in the country in February.

A total of 732 people have died due to virus complications.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned on Tuesday that food and financial aid are vital if Lebanon goes back into lockdown, as over 55 per cent of Lebanons more than six million population lives under the poverty line.

The number of people living in extreme poverty has tripled from eight per cent in 2019 to 23 per cent in 2020, HRW said. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola

By Olajide Idowu

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun on Tuesday presented the 2021 budget estimate of N109,855,051,640 before the state House of Assembly for consideration andapproval.

While presenting the budget christened Budget of Providence, Oyetola said the 2021 budget would be the 30th annual budget of the state since it was carved out of the old Oyo State on Aug. 27, 1991.

He said budget presentation was in consonance with the constitutional provision as enshrined in Section 121(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Oyetola explained that capital expenditure in the year 2021 budget would be N59.2 billion while recurrent expenditure would be N50.6 billion.

He explained further that N10.7 billion of the total expenditure would be spent on education while N10.6 billion would be spent on health.

Oyetola said that the budget would be funded by federal allocations (45.75 per cent of the budget), internally generated revenue (24.26 per cent ), aids and grants (22.88 per cent) and other capital receipts (7.11 per cent).

The governor said the bulk of the state governments revenue for 2020 came from federal allocations.

He added that the implication was that taxable adults would have to support the government in the coming year to explore ways of boosting the states internal revenue which was the only reliable source, to finance the budget.

Earlier, Speaker of the House, Mr Timothy Owoeye lauded the executive arm for making the 2020 budget live up to the peoples expectations even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Owoeye urged the executive arm to enhance ease of doing business and remove bottlenecks that could scare investors away from the state.

He said the state house of assembly would continue to embark on effective oversights to ensure timely completion of government projects in the state.

On his part, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr Taiwo Olodo gave assurance that the budget would be given a speedy passage. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

German Court of Justice

A 92-year-old German man name withheld, on Tuesday in Court admitted to killing his infirm wife after almost 70 years of marriage.

His defence lawyer argued that he acted out of love, rather than self-interest or ill will.

All these years I cared for my wife to the best of my ability, the elderly defendant said in a statement that was read out to the court in Wuerzburg, a city in the German state of Bavaria.

The husband looked after the 91-year-old woman, who suffered from dementia, essentially round the clock for decades, receiving help just twice a week from a welfare centre, the court heard.

The man is said to have acted out of desperation, overwhelmed by the burden of care and fearing that his wife will be sent to a care home.

The couple, who had no children had purportedly agreed to die together. An attempt by the man to commit suicide was unsuccessful.

According to prosecutors, he smothered his partner with a cover and suffocated her on Nov. 3, 2019.

Prosecutors also believe that the man had seen no other option due to his determination to live a healthy and independent life together with his wife.

The defendant must answer to a manslaughter charge without being a murderer, the chief prosecutor said.

It is assumed that the man was severely depressed when he killed his wife, meaning that his culpability could be reduced in the eyes of the court. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Goats suspected to be stolen

By Suleiman Shehu

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) RS11.35, Egbeda Unit Command in Oyo State, has impounded a Sienna car with registration number KRD 815 GN loaded with allegedly stolen goats.

The FRSC Unit Commander in Egbeda, Assistant Corps Commander, Akeem Kareem, disclosed this while showing the goats and the vehicle to journalists on Tuesday in Ibadan.

Kareem said that the Sienna car loaded with the goats was abandoned on the road in front of FRSC office in Egbeda around 4.00 am when it had a burst tyre, and the driver of the car ran away.

The unit commander said that the FRSC officials met the car engine still running when they arrived at the scene and the goats inside the car were tied in the mouth with tape.

He said the vehicle was eventually removed from the road to prevent obstruction and road crashes.

Kareem said the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Mrs Uche Chukwurah, had instructed him to hand over the goats and the vehicle to the police for further investigation since statutorily, FRSC could not investigate the matter.

Road safety is everybodys business.

And, because of the insecurity in the country, anything we see on the road, we pick interest and make sure it is corrected before it gets out of control, he said.

Kareem urged the public to always alert FRSC whenever they noticed any obstruction on the road in order to avoid avoidable accidents. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

A pregnant woman enjoying her meal

By Yinusa Ishola

A consultant physician, Dr Philip Ogwu on Tuesday advised pregnant women to imbibe regular monitoring of their food in takes to avoid complications of gaining unnecessary weight during pregnancy.

Ogwu gave the advice during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

According to him, heavier mothers, especially those who are over-weight when they conceive and gain more weight during pregnancy are at greater risk for gestational diabetes and hypertension.

Their babies tend to be larger in the process and can cause serious difficulties during delivery or child-birth, he said.

The medical expert disagreed with the old belief and tradition that eating plenty of food would produce healthier and stronger babies.

He also advised pregnant women to do regular exercises in order to keep fit and guard against overweight.

You dont need to gain a great deal of weight to have a healthier baby.

A fetus generally requires only an extra 100 calories a day in the first trimester and 300 calories in the third trimester, he said.

Ogwu also emphasised the need for pregnant women to prioritise dental examination to prevent mother-to-child transmission of bacteria and infections during pregnancy.

According to him, such procedure is necessary, especially at the early stage of pregnancy to ensure better healthy status for both mother and child.

One possible reason is that oral bacteria harbours prostaglandin, a labour inducing hormone.

Fluctuating hormone can cause swollen, bleeding gum.

This, if left untreated can lead to periodontal diseases, which in turn can raise the risk for low birth weight and premature delivery.

If you reduce the bacteria in the mouth, you reduce the low-level infections that can cause preterm labour.

So, pregnant women are advised to undertake clinical examination and cleaning of their teeth at least once to have a clean bill of health, he said.

Source: NAN News

Gov Okowa during the meting with traditional rulers in Delta

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has said that the states security outfit, Operation Delta Hawk, created to tackle kidnapping and other violent crimes, including farmers-herders clashes, would commence operations before Christmas.

The governor, who disclosed this on Tuesday at a meeting with traditional rulers and religious leaders in Asaba, said establishing the outfit took a while because he wanted to ensure that everything was in place.

He said that necessary operational equipment required to enable it tackle carry out its mandate had been procured and that it would work closely with vigilante groups across wards and communities to discharge its responsibilities.

The team has already been selected and trained and we have been able to get men on ground to participate.

For them to be able to undertake such programmes, they also need body armour, the vests, which we have gotten recently.

We are in the process of concluding installation of the communication equipment; the mast is already being provided and by the time we are able to complete the installation, then we can truly start, he said.

Gov. Okowa also briefed the stakeholders on the activities that took place in the state during the ENDSARS protests and thanked traditional rulers for their roles in community development.

He disclosed that a presidential delegation, led by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff to President Buhari, would be meeting with South-South stakeholders on Friday in Port Harcourt.

According to him, the state had already constituted a delegation, comprising two traditional rulers, one religious leader, two youths and two women, to attend the meeting.

He recalled that issues of illegal detention, police brutality and death of youths triggered the recent protests which emanated from Ughelli and Lagos.

A lot of other issues came up with the protests and we thank God for helping us to control the process.

The destructions that took place in Asaba were orchestrated by people who infiltrated the state from neighbouring states, and from our intelligence reports, we have them in all urban centres in the state, he said.

He urged Traditional rulers to be vigilant and help government fish out the leaders of the perpetrators, following the destructions they caused in Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River and in Edo, where they even freed prisoners.

Okowa attributed the EndSARS protests to the unemployed and unengaged state of the youths, adding that their idle nature ignited the protests.

They are agitated and the ENDSARS protests gave them the opportunity to vent that anger and frustration that they had bottled up over the years, he said.

He appealed to leaders to brace up to their responsibilities of mentoring the youths, saying, we all have our roles to play in building the youths as they have rightly drawn our attention about their challenges, particularly the issue of unemployment.

Weve just inaugurated the Rural Youths Skills Acquisition Programme (RYSA) and we had, a few months ago, inaugurated the Girl-Child Empowerment Training Programme, he said, adding that government had earmarked N5 billion for all its skills acquisition and empowerment programmes in 2021.

On COVID-19, the governor said that Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical firm, had announced that it had discovered a vaccine that could provide immunity, but warned that this was no time to be complacent.

The virulence of the COVID-19 virus in Nigeria and Africa has been minimal compared to what it is in Europe and America. However, it is not a time for us to relax, but a time to wear our masks and use our sanitisers, he added.

Dr Emmanuel Efeizomor II, Chairman, Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and the Obi of Owa Kingdom; Orodje of Okpe, Orhue I, and the Olu of Warri, Ikenwoli Emiko, who spoke at the meeting, called for the restructuring of the country for overall development.

They added that it was the failure of the country to restructure that was to blame for its backwardness.

The Traditional rulers, who applauded Okowa for establishing Operation Delta Hawk, advocated for proper training of police personnel and better remuneration with a view to enhancing their operations.

Source: NAN News

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM)

By Maureen Okon

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Counselling and Rehabilitation of Prisoners Initiative (CAROPI), an NGO, have pledged to collaborate in assisting Nigerians in the Diaspora who were victims of wrongful incarceration.

The two organisations announced their commitment in a statement signed by Gabriel Odu of NiDCOMs Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement quoted the Chairman/CEO NiDCOM, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, as reiterating the need for an accurate and comprehensive database of Nigerians incarcerated in various prisons globally, at a closed door meeting she held with members of the CAROPI.

The four-man CAROPI team was led to the meeting by the President, Dr. Hajiya Rabia Cengis and accompanied by Mrs Victoria Nor-Ugor (Head Medical Department), Barr Justice Uhuegbu (Head Legal Department) and Mr Shiver Akuku (Secretary CAROPI).

Dabiri-Erewa explained that efforts were underway to compile a detailed list of Nigerians wrongfully arrested and incarcerated, while being innocent of their alleged crimes.

She disclosed that the Commission had gone to several countries, such as Brazil, South-Africa, Togo and Benin Republic, to facilitate the release of some Nigerians wrongfully arrested and incarcerated.

The NiDCOM chair highlighted a specific case in Brazil of a 74-year old woman who was wrongfully arrested, but the Commission was able to get her released only for her to die shortly afterwards.

She urged Nigerians travelling outside the country to be of good behaviour and avoid committing crimes or participating in criminality.

Also speaking at the meeting, CAROPI president Rabia Cengis explained that many Nigerians had been victims of wrongful arrest and incarceration in many of the countries she had visited and that this was an issue that needed to be addressed.

Other members of her delegation expressed optimism over a robust working relationship with NiDCOM in such areas as legal assistance, reintegration and rehabilitation as well as provision of a conducive environment for justice and equity for all.

Source: NAN News

17,602 teachers to sit 2020 qualifying examination, says TRCN

No fewer than 17,606 teachers across the country are to sit for the 2020 qualifying examinations billed for Nov.12 -14, the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, has said

Ajiboye, who announced this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja, said that Osun state tops the list with 1,727 candidates, followed by Adamawa, 1,623 candidates, Nasarawa State 934 candidates and the FCT with 850 candidates.

He said that Jigawa and Ekiti states were, however, excluded from the computer-based examination for their failure to meet the benchmark of 100 candidates per state.

The registrar disclosed that the number of candidates was reduced from over 40,000 as in the previous examination, to 17,606, and that the number of batches were also reduced from three to two, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The registrar added that the date for the examination had also been staggered to ensure social distancing and compliance with other relevant COVID-19 guidelines.

We organised a minimum of two qualifying examinations in a year. Last year we conducted three batches of examination but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we made it two batches this year.

The effect of the pandemic was so much that learning almost ceased, but for the emergency remote learning techniques like radio and television we adopted, Ajiboye explained

He further said: When we started the computer based test in 2018 it was as if we knew there was going to be COVID-19 which would change the way teaching and learning is conducted.

With this development, teachers who are not technology savvy are now focused on learning how to use technology in teaching and we are happy about that.

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The registrar commended the Federal Government for making commitments to improve teachers welfare in the country, while assuring that TRCN would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in ensuring improved quality of teachers.

Ajiboye cited Finland as having the best education system in the world because they placed the learner at the centre of education and the quality of their teachers is top notch, saying that that is what Nigeria should emulate.

Source: NAN News