By Bridget Ikyado

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Joseph Edeh/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Victor Okoye

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Olawale Alabi

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

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Source: NAN News

By Peter Uwumarogie

Source: NAN News

By Oluwatope Lawanson/Florence Onuegbu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He also prayed for a peaceful and violence free election.

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Angela Okisor/Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

By Lydia Ngwakwe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Salif Atojoko

Source: NAN News

By George Odok

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Agbaje

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the reinstatement of two aggrieved directors of Green Energy International Limited, Dr Bunu Alibe and Mr Ayo Olojede, who were illegally removed by the companys management.

Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, in a judgment, described their removal from the oil company as unlawful.

Olajuwon said that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company held on Nov. 12, 2020, during which Alibe and Olojede were removed, was convened in contravention of Section 285 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020.

The judge, who ordered that all the backlog of the directors entitlements, including salaries and allowances be paid, also awarded three million naira in favour of the duo for damages.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alibe and Olojede had in a suit marked, FHC/ABJ/PET/20/2020, sued Green Energy and Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe as 1st and 2nd defendants.

Adegbulugbe was a former Special Adviser on Energy in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

The plaintiffs, in the suit which commenced via a petition, accused Adegbulugbe of series of corporate misdemeanours, including unilateral usurpation of executive responsibilities, contrary to the provisions of CAMA, 2020 and the companys Article of Association.

They claimed that they were unlawfully removed by the chairman of the company they jointly nurtured to fruition.

Responding, Adegbulugbe also filed a separate suit against the two directors before the court marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1390/2020.

Although the matter was formerly before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, the case was, however, reassigned to Olajuwon following the transfer of Ojukwu to the Calabar division of the court recently.

Delivering the judgement, Olajuwon said that notice of general meeting to all directors and members of a company must be given 21 days from the day it was issued.

She held that the petitioners were only given 20 days notice instead of 21 days, as required by the law, for the meeting held on Nov. 12, 2020.

According to her, Section 241 of CAMA provided a lengthy time to be provided for a meeting of a company to be held.

The judge held that the argument of the defence that Ojukwu had ordered that parties should attend the AGM as part of the efforts to resolve the crisis rocking the company and that the aggrieved directors failed to comply did not hold water.

I have carefully read the proceedings of Hon.Justice Ojukwu.

The notice of the Annual General Meeting was served before the order of the court was made and the court did not abridge the length of time for the meeting to be held.

Where the provision of the law is clear and unambiguous, the court must give it its meaning, she said.

Olajuwon, therefore, declared that all actions taken at the AGM held on Nov. 12, 2020 were null and void.

A declaration that the alleged non-election and/or removal of the petitioners as directors of the 1st respondent (Energy Oil) was unlawful, illegal and not in accordance with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters 2020 in that proper procedure was not followed or adopted.

A declaration that pursuant to Article 27 of the 1st respondents Articles of Association, the provisions and powers contained in Section 285 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 are neither exercisable nor applicable to the 1st respondent.

An order invalidating and setting aside the holding of the purported Annual General Meeting of 12 November, 2020 and nullifying every decision taken thereafter, including the purported non-reelection of the petitioners as directors of the 1st respondent.

As the petitioners are still members of the 1st respondent, the court hereby restrains the respondents whether by themselves or their servants, agents, privies or how whatsoever, from denying the petitioners any or all rights, emoluments and benefits due to them as directors of the 1st respondent, including but not limited to unhindered access to the companys offices and sites, settlement of all bonuses and financial entitlements and allowances due and or payable to them.

General damages in the sum of N3 million is hereby awarded in favour of the petitioners for their unlawful removal as directors of the 1st respondent in contravention of the provisions of CAMA 2020, the judge further declared.

She held that the petitioners were not given fair hearing in the decisions taken by the company.

The petitioners case succeeds in part because they were not given adequate notice, she said

The judge also dismissed the sister suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/1390/2020, and filed by Adegbulugbe against the two directors.

Earlier, Olajuwon had also dismissed the defence motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

Olajuwon, however, dismissed the allegations levelled against Adegbulugbe that he took unilateral decisions in the running of the company and turned the firm into a family affair.

According to Olajuwon, he who asserts must prove.

She held that the two directors failed to discharge the burden of proof of the allegations as no sufficient materials were placed before her to believe so.

On the aborted Project Horizon Contract, she held that it was executed by Adegbulugbe in the interest of all the shareholders and the firm while the petitioners could not prove their allegations against him.(NAN)

(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Source: NAN News

By Georgina Adegbie

William Glenwright, International Cricket Councils (ICC) General Manager (Development), is scheduled to visit Nigeria on a tree-day working visit ahead of the U-19 World Cup Division 2 Qualifiers in Abuja.

A statement by Emeka Igwilo, General Manager, Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), said Glenwright will inspect facilities in Lagos, Edo and Abuja from Sunday to Wednesday.

The visit according to Igwilo comes ahead of the ICC mens cricket World Cup Africa division 2 qualifier taking place in Abuja from Sept.30 to Oct. 9.

He said cricket has improved in Nigeria, with the country winning two development awards in the last three years.

Igwilo said the visit would further cement the federations developmental efforts in the sport.

We hope to also leverage on his coming to showcase and drive our plans deeper with various stakeholders.

Nigeria also plays a strategic role in terms of supporting the growth of the game amongst other countries, in this part of the continent.

We are involved in some facility developments in Ghana, where our ground men are supporting the Ghana Cricket Federation to upgrade their cricket pitches to meet international standard.

Ghana will be the host of the All-Africa Games in 2023 and Cricket will be featuring for the first time, so we have to offer our expertise in that regard,he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rwanda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Ghana and Nigeria will participate in the Qualifiers.

NAN also reports that Nigeria won the Female Initiative of the Year for Africa in 2021 and the ICC Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative Award in 2022. (NAN)()

Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Joseph Edeh

Source: NAN News

By Constance Athekame

The Nigerian electricity supply industry has recorded 31 deaths and nine injuries in the fourth quarter of 2021, says Nigerias regulatory agency.

The accidents involved both employees of the companies and third parties.

This is contained in the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Fourth Quarter Report 2021, released late on Thursday.

The report said that the total number of incidents that occurred in the quarter under review were 40 with nine injuries and 31 deaths compared to the 49 incidents recorded in Q3 with 19 injuries and 30 deaths.

According to the report, the commission has launched investigations into all the reported incidents with a view of understanding the root causes records as well as meting out relevant sanctions against the licensees.

In line with its 2017-2020 strategic goals, the commission has intensified efforts at implementing various safety programmes aimed at eliminating accidents in the industry.

Some of the safety programmes implemented by the Commission include the standardisation of protective schemes, public enlightenment on health and safety, engagement of government agencies on Right of Way (RoW) violations.

And a review of an operational procedure for distribution system operators on fault clearing, it said.

The commission also said that out of the 87 mandatory health and safety reports expected from licensees in Q4, 2021, it received 75 reports against 85 submitted in the Q3.

Port Harcourt DisCo had three outstanding reports while AES Barge, Afam Power, Abuja, Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ibadan, Ikeja, and Kano Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) each had one outstanding report for Q4.

The report said that in accordance with Section 32(1)(e) of(EPSRA), the commission continued to monitor the health and safety performance of the NESI.

In order to guarantee the delivery of safe and reliable electricity to Nigerians, the report said.

It said that the commission had developed new processes to track the submission of statutory reports, including the health and safety reports by licensees.

The report said the processes would guide the implementation of relevant actions against licensees that do not meet their obligations.

The health and safety reports were analysed in line with the provisions of Section 32(1)(e) of ESPRA for monitoring and evaluating of health and safety performance of licensees.

In order to ensure that operators abide by their responsibility of delivering safe electricity services to consumers, the report said in part. (NAN)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, John Onaiyekan has called government and religious organisations to collaborate in boosting humanitarian works across the country.

Onaiyekan made the call in a keynote address titled The Church in the Service of Integral Human Development: The Nigerian Experience, at the Caritas Nigeria Day Celebration, on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the celebration with the theme: The Church in the Service of Integral Human Development: The Nigerian Experience, marked the 12th anniversary of Caritas humanitarian activities in the country.

Caritas activities cover Health and HIV/AIDS, Good Governance, Anti-Human Trafficking and Force Migration, Emergency Response and Humanitarian Services.

Other areas are Institutional Development and Capacity building, and Agricultural and Livelihood Interventions.

Looking forward there is need to put more effort on collaborations with government and other organisations, including religious organisations.

Caritas Nigeria has different departments in which they render humanitarian assistance to individuals, groups and society. They also have many partners, he added.

Onaiyekan also said the organisation had worked with Nigerian Government in the areas of education and health, until the civil war, when the collaboration was terminated.

It is better to collaborate than to stay apart and I think it is not too late for us to insist that we must collaborate with our government.

Once in a while, the government talk about Public Private Partnership with private business people, have they ever thought of partnership with groups like the churches and other agencies?, Onaiyekan asked.

He explained that in other countries, religious organisations were given funds to carry out humanitarian activities, adding that it was necessary for Nigeria to adopt that.

The collaboration between the church and the state must continue to grow, it is only then that we can belong to clubs of countries that are helping others.

The church need to be seen as agent of integral human development that no person should be left out.

We must continue to make our services available to everybody who ask for it. This is in line with church doctrine, he said.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of Caritas Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina said the celebration was organised to showcase what Caritas has been doing and motivate men of good will to partner with the organisation.

We all know the level of the unavailability of basic necessities to Nigerians, and the responsibility of the church that is close to the people is enormous.

That is why we feel we have a duty as a church and as men and women of the faith to build hope among those who have no hope. So Caritas is a participation of the work of the church.

The church has a responsibility for her sons and daughters, men and women of goodwill, but this job has to be systemically and professionally carried out.

That is why we work in partnership with other agencies and funding partners to realize the goals and vision of Caritas, Obodoechina said.

According to him, Caritas is working on 31 projects in 35 states, touching the lives of over seven million poor and vulnerable households in the country.

In their responses, the panelists, Dr Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye from Ford Foundation, Dr Rose Uchem of Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary and Rev. Fr. Maurice Kwairanga, also highlighted the need for corroboration to boost humanitarian works.

Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, the former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission who spoke virtually, cautioned that the collaboration between government and the church should not lead to silencing the church or compromising the word of God.

According to Odinkalu, it would be wrong for a politician to win election on the altar of rigging and come to give thanks to God for such victory in the church.

The event attracted many stakeholder, including National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Catholic Relief Services, among others. (NAN)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Ethnic Coalition for Peace, a Non-Governmental Organisation, says troops of the armed forces have shown courage and determination to wipe out those threatening the peace of Nigeria.

The coalition said this is a statement by its Convener, Mr Isiaka Gani and Co-conveners, Obi Okoro and Abdullahi Mustafa on Thursday in Abuja to commemorate the 2022 International Day of Peace.

The coalition described the ongoing military operations in various parts of the country as courageous, saying the efforts would ultimately lead to the restoration of peace in the country.

According to the statement, peace is a necessity for socio-economic development and the news coming out from the North-East is commendable.

The coalition noted that the military had been reinvigorated to sustain ongoing operations, and advised criminals, terrorists and bandits to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

The 2022 International Day of Peace should be an opportunity for deep retrospect on the advantages of having peace in a country. No country can make progress where there is crisis.

We urge criminals, terrorists and bandits to lay down arms in the interest of the country. We cannot continue to spend scarce resources to prosecute an unreasonable war.

We celebrate troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for keeping the momentum and the positive results seen in the various theatres of operations.

As the 2023 General Election approaches, we urge Nigerians to seek every avenue for peace to reign, to enable peaceful conduct of the polls, the coalition said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

in collaboration with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), has launched a Call to Action towardending all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Africa.

Habib stated that the call was launched during a high-level meeting by the AFLPM in New York on the margins of the 77th UN General Assembly (UNGA) with the theme: The Role of Young Women and Girls in Advancing Peace and Security: Promoting a Culture of Peace in Fragile Settings.

She added that, this Call to Action contains commitments, recommendations and request for urgent action by signatories, public i

girlsin

She listed such articles to include the October 2000 UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peaceand Security (WPS) which specifically addresses the situation of women in armed conflict,and the December 2015UNSCR on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS), among others.

She stated that the African first ladies urged member states to give youths greater voice in decision-making at the local, national, regional and international levels, and empower young women and girls with skill-sets that would accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Africanfirstladies also urged

deliberate measures toward ensuring that women, including young girls, are among the front-row occupants at the decision-making table in all state matters.

The first ladies urged states to prioritise girls education under safe environment as critical to improving the well-being of women and for their meaningful inclusion and participation in the formal sector, as well as a strategy for poverty reduction.

nsure availability of quality, accessible, affordable, resilient preventive and response services for all forms of GBV and strengthen universal health coverage systems.

platform to support these efforts for the development of women and girls in the region. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

The Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG) has collaborated with community leaders, women and youths of Bwari Area Council, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to end sexual and gender-based violence.

Mrs Abiodun Essiet, the Executive Director, AEIG, made the commitment during an inter-phase meeting with the members of the community on Thursday, in Abuja.

She said that the meeting was aimed at enlightening the community and drafting an action plan on how to address the menace.

According to her, the meeting was important to strengthen traditional justice system on how to handle such cases, as community leaders were mostly the first point of call once there is a case.

We want to eradicate this menace in the FCT and as we are in the right step in the right direction.

That is why we gathered members and key stakeholders of the community to provide them with more knowledge on sexual and gender-based violence and how to address it.

So far, we have realised that some of them do not know much about it, some things that are categorised as sexual and gender-based violence are not regarded as such because of their cultural and religious background.

So we are here to create awareness on how cases as such can be handled and how they can refer cases to appropriate agencies, she said.

Mr Timothy Dakcoye, Acting District Head, who represented the Esu Palace, Bwari Area Council, appreciated the organisation for the sensitisation and the partnership.

He added that the knowledge gained would be shared among other community members to effectively mitigate the menace.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Source: NAN News

By Felicia Imohimi

The Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development Programme (FGN/IFAD)-Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) says it has trained 6,793 members of farmers organisations from January to August.

Dr Fatima Aliyu, National Programme Coordinator, IFAD/VCDP said this on Thursday in Abuja at the Federal Government/IFAD-VCDP Additional Financing Implementation Support Mission.

Aliyu, represented by Mr Usman Mohammed, Financial Controller of IFAD-VCDP, said the number trained representing 119 per cent achievement weremore than the annual target of 5,706.

She said that a total of 23,265 beneficiaries had been trained from inception of VCDP additional financing in 2019.

Aliyu said the overall VCDP objective was to enhance on a sustainable basis, incomes and food security of poor rural households engaged in the production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava in the programme states.

The NPC said members of the groups were trained on financial literacy.

Giving a breakdown of achievement in 2022, Aliyu said 188 cassava farmers groups consisting of 390 adult males, 320 adult females, 236 male youths and 152 female youths were trained.

She added that they were trained in Enugu and Nasarawa being VCDP new states.

A total sum of N31,340,900were deposited to pay for their matching grant support for 2022 cassava wet season production.

709 rice farmers groups consisting of 447 adult males, 301 adult females, 164 male youths and 145 female youths in the two states deposited a sum of N50,176,032 matching grant support for 2022 rice wet season production.

VCDP implementing states are nine consisting of Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Niger, Ogun, Taraba, Enugu, Nasarawa and Kogi, Aliyu said.

Dede Ekuoe, IFAD Nigeria Country Director, said the implementation support mission of the project done twice annually with a team of international and national experts was to access project performance against annual target.

Ekuoe said the essence of the mission was basically to accelerate project implementation.

According to her, IFAD and the Federal Government are trying to see how they can leverage resources to impact many more farmers and also to yield a deeper and more positive transformation of the livelihoods of farmers.

Implementation support mission is to help the project achieve its purpose and then to accelerate implementation of programme activities to ensure that the project is on course.

The mission go to the field, assess what is in the report, interact with farmers, stakeholders, VCDP staff in participating states to see the progress made and address the bottlenecks in terms of implementation.

Weare here to provide our technical guidance so that we can really boost the results to the full potential of VCDP, a transformative programme that has been recognised as a key tool for improving rural livelihoods,
Ekuoe said.

Also,Ms Carine Toure, Senior Procurement Specialist IFAD West and Central Africa, saidadditional finance would help Nigeria to absorb money to fast-track VCDP project and enable beneficiaries timely access to goods and services.

Toure saidIFAD and the government decided to extend VCDP projects to enablemore rural farmers in the country benefit. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Razak Owolabi

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army team has won seven gold and two silver medals in the just concluded 2022 Armed Forces Inter-Service Sports Competition.

The Army secured the first position having won the highest number of laurels in different games of the competition.

The three services, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force competed for five sports in Basketball, Cross-Country, Taekwondo and Volleyball in men and women category but only men competed in football.

The army teams won gold medals in basket ball (female), cross-country (male and female), volley ball (male and female) and taekwondo (male and female) as well as silver medals in basket ball (male) and football (male).

Also; the Nigerian Air Force won gold medals in basket ball (male) and football (male) with three silva and four bronze medals while the Navy won four silva and five bronze medals.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi commended the outstanding performances displayed by the atheletes.

Represented by the Director, Army Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Mr Sunday Attach, the minister said the competition had engendered unity and comradeship among the competing services personnel.

He said the objective of fostering good working relationship between the services had been achieved notwithstanding the physical and mental fatigue that the championship might have exerted on the athletes.

I, therefore, commend all the competing athletes for the efforts they have put into winning laurels for their various Armed Services.

Specifically, I congratulate the athletes that have distinguished themselves by winning individual prizes during this sports competition.

Let me once again assure our hardworking service personnel of the commitment of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, at ensuring their welfare is adequately catered for.

Additionally, the provision of the enabling environment required for our service personnel to function effectively and professionally remains undented.

I, therefore, urge you all not to rest on your oars as you remain loyal, patriotic and committed to your oath of allegiance to defend the territorial integrity of our dear nation, Nigeria, he said.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor said the competition was designed to sharpen the physical fitness, mental alertness and skills of the military personnel essential for combat readiness in the light of current security imperatives.

Represented by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, Irabor said the competition also provided opportunity for participating teams from the three services to compete for laurels and display comraderie and team spirit.

According to him, the level of sportsmanship exhibited during this competition further gives credence to the premium placed on sports by the AFN and efforts towards enhancing the combat readiness of its personnel.

He said the armed forces had continued to evolve joint training with emphasis placed on physical training and sports in general.

It is my belief therefore, that continuity and sustainability of this level of training and competition, coupled with ongoing reequipping of the force forces will develop the required capacity to overcome the security challenges that confront us today and in the future.

Accordingly, as we draw the curtains on the 2022 Armed Forces Inter-Service Sports Competition, I will like to encourage everyone to sustain one form of sports or the other as the resultant effects are enormous.

It is on this note that I congratulate everyone that participated and particularly for those that won medals.

It is one thing to win medals and another to hold unto the medals won.

I will, therefore, encourage you to hold unto these medals as well as improve on winning more medals in subsequent competitions and games particularly at the forthcoming World Military Sports Championship in Beja, Portugal, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says the biggest threat to democracy is no longer the gun, but propaganda, fake news and disinformation.

Jonathan stated this in Abuja at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation 2022 Peace Conference with the theme, Nation Building: The Role of Peaceful Elections in a Multi-Ethnic Context.

Jonathan urged young Nigerians to embrace good conduct rather than hate speech, saying those advocating for violence and orchestrating fake news were the big threats to democracy.

We must discourage this issue of hate speech and propaganda that are going on because before this time, we were always afraid of the gun as a threat to democracy.

But the biggest threat to democracy now that we know is the issue of propaganda, fake news and hate speech. Anybody that is an advocate or vanguard of this is a threat to democracy just like the gun.

So, our young people should know that we must embrace good conduct that would lead to good elections, Jonathan said.

Jonathan also advised political parties, their candidates and supporters to put the country first in their conducts towards the 2023 general elections.

I always say that, first we must have a country and state before you talk about having a president or having a governor. If you destroy the country, then where do you need a president? We dont need a president.

So, anybody that is interested in leadership at the level of the president, governor, senator etc you have the biggest stake of protecting the country.

If you know where nations are in crisis, you will not think about economy and before you know it everything will go down.

So, those who want to be president, governors and their supporters should first know that we need a nation before whoever you are supporting can emerge as a governor or president, Jonathan said.

He added that the interest of every politician should be the people first; saying those who are going into politics to make money should rather go into business.

Jonathan urged religious leaders and civil society to continue to sensitise Nigerians until the country was better.

The former president, who noted that the electoral process of the country had improved, said that with the introduction of technology it would continue to be better and faster.

The Executive Director of the foundation, Ms. Ann Iyonu, said that as the 2023 election approached, there was a compelling need now more than ever for multi-stakeholder consensus building towards ensuring credible, transparent, and peaceful elections in Nigeria.

Iyonu said that to avoid a situation where elections divide rather than strengthen nations, all stakeholders needed to make a conscious effort to embrace and promote a culture of peace, justice, equity, and fairness for all groups in the polity.

She said that the aim of the conference was to provide the avenue to examine how the Nigerian democratic space had evolved, discuss the trends and threats to an inclusive and peaceful election.

Promote the culture of tolerance among different political actors and highlight best practices for the conduct of credible and violence-free elections in Nigeria.

We also hope that at the end of the deliberations, we would have canvassed strategies toward nation-building that will consolidate our nations 23 years of democracy and sustain a culture of peaceful elections in the country, she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Mark Longyen/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News