The U.S. Senate on Saturday voted 50-48 to narrowly confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, ending a bitterly divisive fight over the controversial nominee.

It was the closest such vote in a century, according to AFP.
And it came amid controversy over sexual abuse allegations against him.

Even as the vote was being cast, more than 1,000 protesters rallied in Washington against the judge, with questions raised over his candour, partisan rhetoric and lifestyle as a young man.

The month long battle over the nomination has roiled American passions the vote was disrupted on several occasions by angry protests in the gallery but handed Trump one of the biggest victories of his presidency.

It drew the line under a bruising nomination process defined by harrowing testimony from a woman who says Kavanaugh tried to rape her when they were teenagers and by his fiery rebuttal.

The two-vote margin of victory made it the closest confirmation vote since 1881, when Stanley Matthews, President James Garfields pick, sealed a 24 to 23 win.

The confirmation means Trump has succeeded in having his two picks seated on the court tilting it decidedly to the right in a major coup for the Republican leader less than halfway through his term.

It reflects a high water mark of the Trump presidency: Republican control of the White House, the Senate, the House of Representatives and the judiciarys top court.

But the confirmation hearing inflamed passions as never before.

Just hours before the vote, scores of protesters broke through barricades and staged a raucous sit-in protest on the US Capitol steps, just feet away from the imposing doors to the Rotunda.

As protesters chanted Shame! and November is coming! police took several dozen protesters down the steps and put them in plastic flex-cuffs.

Kavanaughs confirmation process has laid bare the partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill and the political polarization of America just a month before midterm elections.

His promotion to the Supreme Court also stands as a demoralizing defeat for Democrats who had battled hard to block the 53-year-old judge at all costs.

But Senator Ed Markey insisted ahead of the confirmation that it would only galvanize Democrats to deliver a devastating blow to Republicans at the ballot box.

Source: NAN

Senate President Bukola Saraki and some other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party were at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission Abuja, to demand that INEC declare Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the governorship election in Osun state.

The protesters, who arrived in a vehicle, marked ‘justice’, included the party chairman, Uche Secondus, speaker of the house Yakubu Dogara, governor of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal and former governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido.

The protest coincided with the formal presentation by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the winner, Gboyega Oyetola to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Oyetola, a member of the All Progressives Congress was able to wipe out the 353 vote lead by Adeleke, in the first election on 22 September, by the crutches offered by Senator iyiola Omisore of the SDP.

Oyetola was given the certificate of election by INEC on Thursday, with the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Agbaje, vowing to resign if the Supreme Court eventually upturned Oyetola’s victory.

The Bafarawa Support AllianceGroup (BSAG) hascommenced the feeding of not less than 6000 delegates in Port Harcourt for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Convention.

This is part of efforts to woo delegates to support Bafarawa in the upcoming Presidential Ptimary of the PDP.

National Chairman of theSupport Group, Dr Frank Osagie,told newsmen on Thursday that the group would be visiting delegates in their hotels and other locations to deliver food and drinks to them.

According to Osagie, the welfare of the delegates in Port Harcourt was very paramount and it was in the realization of the importance that the group mandate itself to commence the duty.

He said that the group had commenced the delivery of food and drinks to delegates at some hotels while calling on those yet to benefit to identify with the group.

He added that the groups decision to embark on such important assignment was in realization of the fact that Bafarawa was the best candidate to fly the partys ticket and the most likely to emerge winner of the primary election.

The BASG chairman further commended the PDP for its recentassurance to party faithful that a mechanism had been put in place to ensure a level playing groundfor all the aspirants.

He said Bafarawa had earlier visited all the 36 statesof the federation and the FCT to consult with the party delegates who assured him of their votes.

According to him, Bafarawas integrity and clean political record distinguished him from other aspirants.

Osagie added that the former governor had left more than N12 billion in the states treasury which his predecessor had used toconsolidate on his achievements for eight years.

He appealed to the delegates to make a wise choice by voting Bafarawa whose credentials and integrity had been tested and proven and who was acceptable to every religion, region and tribe.

Osagiesaid wrestling power from the current APC-led administration would be much easier if Bafarawa flew the partys flag in 2019.

Source: NAN

The Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri in Imo is the best polytechnic in Nigeria, according to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Masaudu Kazaure made this known in Kaduna on Thursday, at the end of the Second Regular Meeting of the NBTE Governing Board. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Modupe Adelabu.

Kazaure explained that the polytechnic emerged the best after scoring 85.08 per cent in the assessment of 112 federal, state and private polytechnics in the country, in the pilot ranking of Nigerian polytechnics.

He said that the exercise covered 2015/2016 and 206/2017 academic sessions.

He said that the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun came second with 73.08 per cent, while Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna State came third with 72.31 per cent.

Other polytechnics in the top 10 included The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State, ranked fourth with 67.69 per cent; Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger, fifth, 65.38 per cent; and Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo, sixth, with 63.85 per cent.

Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Enugu State, seventh, with 62.31 per cent. Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Ondo State and Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos State were ranked eighth with 60.77 per cent.

Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra was ranked 11th with 60.00 per cent and Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi, occupied the 12th position with 59.23 per cent.

The NBTE boss also said that when disaggregated by ownership, the Federal Polytechnic Nekede also emerged the best Federal Polytechnic in the country followed by Federal Polytechnic Ilaro and Kaduna Polytechnic.

The Polytechnic Ibadan, IMT and Rufus Giwa polytechnics were the highest ranked among state polytechnics, while Lagos City Polytechnic is the highest ranked private polytechnic and the 16th in the country.

Dorben Polytechnic and Heritage Polytechnic were the second and third best private polytechnic in the country.

Kazaure explained that the polytechnics were ranked based on total number of programmes with full accreditation in the last two years and percentage of programmes with full accreditation.

Other criteria include proportion of academic staff showing the right mix, that is, chief lecturer and principal lecturer down to assistant lecturer; and ability of institution to introduce programme in new and emerging fields.

They were equally assessed based on capacity building of staff both within and outside Nigeria, teaching quality, including staff /student ratio and ratio of full-time to part-time staff.

Other areas are availability of current Campus Master Plan, Strategic Plan, and Academic Brief; percentage of academic staff with relevant higher qualification and professional registration; and 70:30
technology-non-technology enrolment ratio.

Another consideration was the incorporation of entrepreneurship education into the institutes curriculum and fully established Entrepreneurship Development Centre, he said.

He said other issues discussed by the board borders on quality assurance, accreditation, resource inspection visits and proliferation of illegal technical and health institutions in the country.

He said that 191 out of the 239 programmes in 41 polytechnics visited for accreditation between June and September 2018 were granted full accreditation while 48 got interim accreditation.

He also said that 117 programmes were scrutinised for resource inspection within the same period and 94 programmes were granted interim accreditation to commence operation, while 23 were denied.

Four proposed private polytechnics were also visited for approval and licensing within the period under review and only one was recommended while three were asked to remedy some identified deficiencies.

The governing board also approved a memorandum of understanding with Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria to reduce the burden of duplication of quality assurance visitation and accreditation activities.

The board also agreed to hold meetings with relevant stakeholders to put an end to proliferation of illegal technical institutions and unapproved private health institutions operating in the county.

The board particularly commended the effort of the Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Dr Paul Dogo for expressing concern to the board on illegal health institutions operating in the state, he said.

Kazaure added that the board equally frowned at the conversion of colleges of agriculture to polytechnics by some state governments and agreed to take necessary actions to put a stop to the development. (NAN)

Source: NAN

German second seed Alexander Zverev suffered an early exit at the China Open as he went down 7-6(4) 2-6 6-4 to Tunisias Malek Jaziri on Thursday.

The world number five appeared to have righted the ship after losing the opener in a tiebreak but paid the price for failing to convert his opportunities.

Jaziri, 34, executed an audacious tweener to win a point at 2-5 down in the second set and although Zverev still levelled he went onto claim his third victory over a top five opponent this season.

Up next for the world number 61 is a first Tour meeting with Nikoloz Basilashvili. The Georgian, ranked 34 in the world, overcame Spains Fernando Verdasco 7-6(3) 6-4.

Italys Fabio Fognini thumped Andrey Rublev 6-4 6-3 and will take on world number 45 Marton Fucsovics for the first time.

Hungarian Fucsovics beat surprise French Open semi-finalist Marco Cecchinato of Italy 6-4 6-2.

Its going to be a tough match because he (Fucsovics) is great, he played really well today, Fognini, currently ranked 11th in the race for the ATP World Tour Finals, said.

Top seed Juan Martin del Potro, who has already clinched his place in next months season-ending tournament in London, will meet Serbias Filip Krajinovic on Friday.

Briton Kyle Edmund takes on Dusan Lajovic in another last-eight clash.

Source: NAN

Former rap mogul Marion Suge Knight was sentenced in a Los Angeles courtroom on Thursday to 28 years in prison for manslaughter in the death of a man he ran over with his pickup truck outside a hamburger stand in 2015.

The sentence appeared to forestall any chance of a future recording business comeback for Knight, 53, known as much for repeated run-ins with the law as for his career as a hip-hop executive promoting the likes of Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Tupac Shakur during the 1990s.

He admitted then to using a deadly and dangerous weapon on Jan. 29, 2015, when he ran down two men with his pickup truck in an altercation outside Tams Burgers that spilled over from a quarrel on the nearby set of a TV commercial for the film Straight Outta Compton.

Carter later died of his injuries. The second man, Cle Bone Sloan, was left with a badly mangled left foot and head injuries. Knight, who was out on bail in a robbery case at the time, fled the scene but was later arrested.

Knight had previously contended that he accidentally struck the two men with his vehicle while trying to flee what he thought was an ambush attempt.

Had Knight been convicted of murder and attempted murder as originally charged, he faced a life sentence with no eligibility for parole for 25 years.

As part of his agreement with prosecutors to plead no contest the legal equivalent of guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter, all other charges in the case were dropped. Two separate criminal cases in which he was charged with robbery and making criminal threats were also dismissed.

Judge Ronald Coen said Knight had earned the equivalent of 4.2 years credit for time served in pretrial detention. He also is eligible to shave another 15 percent, or 4.2 years, off his term for good behaviour while in prison, meaning he could end up serving nearly 20 years before release.

Seated beside his lawyer and wearing an orange jail uniform and horned-rimmed glasses, the burly, bald ex-college football player showed no visible emotion as sentence was pronounced. He did not address the court.

Knight previously served more than half of a nine-year term for violating the probation he received in 1995 for an assault on two aspiring rappers at a Hollywood recording studio.

The probation violation stemmed from a scuffle involving Knight at a Las Vegas hotel in September 1996, hours before Shakur was shot to death while riding in a car with Knight on the Las Vegas Strip. Knight was slightly wounded in the attack.

Knight was later named by police as a suspect in the shooting death of rival rap artist Christopher Wallace, known as Notorious B.I.G., but was never charged. Both rap murders remain unsolved.

In 2002, the year after his release from prison, a federal racketeering probe of Knight and his record label was closed with the company pleading guilty to misdemeanour tax charges. The onetime college football star and gangsta rap pioneer eventually lost control of his label in bankruptcy proceedings.

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has moved a step further as its governors met with President Muhmmadu Buhari and later with the leadership of the party to assess the fallout of the primaries conducted across the country,

The meetings were conducted as a family to boost the morale of stakeholders and find a way of getting out stronger from such quagmire.

They are of the conviction that the party would come out stronger after primaries across the states of the federation.

They spoke in Abuja after a closed door meeting with Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the partys National Chairman, of the party.

They noted that the challenges that followed the partys primaries in some states were normal in a big and vibrant party like the APC.

Gov. Abudull azi Yari of Zamfara said they were in Abuja to meet with the partys national chairman to find a way forward following matters arising from the partys primaries in some states.

He expressed optimism that the party would come out stronger as one family from whatever challenge it may be facing, saying that it was sure of electoral victory in 2019.

He added that resolutions had been made and that steps were being taken to address the situations and ensure better understanding.

We are working hard and faster to ensure that we got these things done so that we can go for the Presidential National Convention on Saturday, Oct. 6.

He, however, said that the governors were particularly concerned about INECs deadline for the conclusion of party primaries which is Oct. 7.

We are concerned because if we are not having candidates anywhere by Oct. 7, that automatically means we are not fielding candidates for the positions, he said.

Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi said that the meeting was convened by the partys national chairman, adding that the governors collectively exchanged ideas and made suggestions on the way forward.

We have had the Presidential Direct Primary and it went well. There were about thousands of party members across the state, who turned out in 225 wards, and they all voted in support of President Muhammadu Buhari as the partys candidate in the 2019 general election, he said.

He noted that while the primaries went well in some states, there were challenges in others, because according to him, it is a human process.

It is a human process, and there are bound to be issues and challenges in one or two places because it is a dynamic process, everything will be resolved.

I am quite pleased with what is happening. We are ready and tomorrow we will be on our way to participate in the last legal act of making President Muhammadu Buhari the 2019 presidential flag bearer of the APC, he said.

Also speaking, Gov.Rochas Okorocha of Imo, said party primaries normally comes with challenges, especially in a democratic structure.

The APC do have some challenges in some states and we have come to soften the rough edges so we can rebuild unity in the party and ensure that aggrieved persons are settled.

We are here to look at what to do, and of course you know our party believe in free, fair, justice and equity.

We are making sure we keep to that by giving everybody a chance to vote and be voted for, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the APC national leadership had suspended the Imo governorship primaries indefinitely.

Okorocha said the direct primary mode of election being adopted in the state would enable everyone exercise their franchise.

Whichever it is in Imo, we are fine, and we on ground.

We shall make sure everybody is in one place because we do not want to give the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) edge whatsoever, because I know they are coming up with their crisis.

We will be able to resolve our own crisis as quickly as possible before the main elections, he said.

Okorocha added that despite individual differences, members of the party in the state still believe in the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun said because it was a political season and everybody was trying to get the partys ticket, such challenges were expected.

I think that is just what has happened, as a party you will expect that everybody wants to win, We are only disagreeing to agree, he said.

He added that the meeting was to resolve lingering problems that was confronting the party.

The governors had earlier in the day, met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The bookies odds for the Nobel Peace Prize winner point towards the Koreans, or Donald Trump. The experts are betting on the fight against sexual violence or defenders of the press.

But all speculation ends Friday when the prize is unveiled in Oslo.

At 0900 GMT, the annual Nobel prize-giving week reaches its peak as the five-member Norwegian committee ends the guessing game by announcing this years winner.

And anticipation is likely to be heightened after the postponement of this years Literature Prize for the first time in 70 years over a rape scandal that came to light as part of the #MeToo movement which took off exactly a year ago.

This year, a total of 331 individuals and organisations were nominated for the prestigious peace award, almost a record number. But with the list a closely guarded secret, guessing who might be a contender is largely a game of chance.

Among the bookmakers, the choice was largely unanimous with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in frontrunners for the prize for their efforts at rapprochement between the two nations.

But choosing Kim may be a step too far for the Norwegian committee, given the UNs damning verdict on North Koreas long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights.

Another unexpected favourite is Donald Trump, who at 7-1 is one of three frontrunners flagged by online bookies Betsson, with the odds suggesting the bombastic American president is 10 times more likely to win than figures like Frances Emmanuel Macron or Russias Vladimir Putin.

Taking a step back from the international spotlight, several Nobel experts see the prize honouring those involved in the fight against sexual violence at a time when the aftershocks of the #MeToo movement are still making waves around the globe.

A top contender would likely be Congolese gynaecologist Denis Mukwege, better known as Doctor Miracle, who has spent two decades helping women recover from the violence and trauma of rape in war-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Another possible laureate is Nadia Murad, a 25-year-old Yazidi woman who was kidnapped by Islamic State militants in 2014 and endured three months as a sex slave before managing to escape.

One area yet to be honoured by the Nobel committee is the campaign to protect press freedom, which has been spearheaded by organisations like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Such an award would be a nod to the role of a free press as a pillar of democracy at a time when the profession is increasingly under threat from repression, violence and the proliferation of fake news.

Other potential laureates include the World Food Programme, the UN refugee agency UNHCR, jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi and Russian human rights champions like the NGO Memorial and opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

Last year, the prize was won by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).

The 2018 Nobel season opened on Monday with two immunologists, James Allison of the US and Tasuku Honjo of Japan, winning the Medicine Prize for research into how the bodys natural defences can fight cancer.

Tuesdays Physics Prize was won by three scientists, Arthur Ashkin of the United States, Gerard Mourou of France and Donna Strickland of Canada, for inventing optical lasers that paved the way for advanced precision instruments used in corrective eye surgery.

And on Wednesday, US scientists Frances Arnold and George Smith and British researcher Gregory Winter won the Chemistry Prize for applying the principles of evolution to develop proteins used to make everything from biofuels to medicine.

This years award season will end on Monday with the economics prize.

Up to three nominees can share the prize, which consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a cheque for nine million Swedish kronor (around $1 million or 867,000 euros).

The award will be presented at a ceremony in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of prize creator Alfred Nobel, a Swedish philanthropist and scientist.

Source: NAN

A Seoul court on Friday jailed former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak for 15 years, making him the latest in a string of high-profile political and business leaders ensnared by corruption charges.

Lee is the fourth former South Korean president to be jailed, with his successor Park Geun-hye imprisoned over a separate graft scandal that toppled her from power in early 2017 and fed concern over cozy ties between government and business.

Lee faced charges of having accepted around $10 million in illegal funds from companies such as conglomerate Samsung and his own intelligence service, but he denied any wrongdoing, saying the investigation was politically motivated.

Source: NAN

Two judges, Rita N. Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court and James T. Agbadu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria have been recommended for dismissal by the National Judicial Council.

They were found guilty of misconduct.

THE recommendation, the first of its type has been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari. Past recommendations had always been for compulsory retirement.

Rising from its 87th meeting held on Wednesday, the NJC also directed Justice Joshua E. Ikede of the Delta State High Court to refund what he earned as salary and other entitlements since October 2016.

The NJC said it found that Justice Ikede altered his age. It rejected the retirement letter the judge sent to it on October 1.

NJCs Director of Information Soji Oye said in a statement that the investigation of Justices Ofili-Ajumogobia and Agbadu-Fishim was based on petitions written against them by the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

The NJC said the petitioner alleged that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is a Director/Chief Executive Officer and sole signatory to Nigel and Colive Company contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

It said there was also allegation that several personalities, individuals, government officials and business partners lodged funds into various accounts belonging to the judge.

The NJC said it was also alleged that there was an ex-parte communication between the judge and Mr. Godwin Oblah, SAN, during the pendency of his matter before the judge.

The council said it could not consider other allegations in the petition because they are already before a court where the judge is standing trial. It left those matters for the trial to take its legal course.

Oye said Justice Agbadu-Fishim was also recommended for removal by dismissal from office sequel to the findings of the council on the allegations contained in another petition by the Acting Chairman of EFCC alleging that the judge received various sums of money from litigants and lawyers that had cases before him, and some influential Nigerians, under the false pretence that he was bereaved or that there was delay in the payment of his salary.

This is contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the interim, the council, in exercise of its disciplinary powers under paragraph 21 (d) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, has suspended Justices R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia and James T. Agbadu-Fishim with immediate effect pending their removal from office by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On Justice Ikede, Oye said: Council rejected the letter of voluntary retirement, purported to be with effect from October 1, 2018, submitted to it by Hon. Mr. Justice Joshua E. Ikede of the Delta State High Court.

This followed the findings on an allegation of falsification of age contained in a petition written by Zik Gbemre, National Co-ordinator of Niger Delta Peace Coalition. Council found that the Hon. Judge ought to have retired since October, 2016.

Consequently, it backdated his retirement to 2016 and recommended to the Government of Delta State to deduct from the retirement benefits of the judge, all salaries received by him from October, 2016 till date and remit it to NJC, which pays salaries of all judicial officers in the federation.

Council also decided to issue a letter of advice to Hon. Mr. Justice K. C. Nwakpa of High Court of Abia State to guard against unwarranted utterances in matters before him.

This was as a result of a complaint to the council by one Princewill Ukegbu.

It added: Council considered the reports of various investigation committees and dismissed the petitions written against Hon. Mr. Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Hon. Mr. Justice E. O. Osinuga of the High Court of Ogun State, and Hon. Mr. Justice E. O. Ononeze-Madu of the High Court of Imo State.

The petition by Wema Bank against Hon. Mr. Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court was dismissed because the allegation of misconduct was not established.

The judges handling of the related matter did not amount to the alleged misconduct.

On the petition on allegation of inducement, bias and alteration of ruling written by David Olawepo Efunwape against Justice E. O. Osinuga of High Court, Ogun State, the NJC said it was found to be false.

The statement said: Council, therefore, decided to report David Olawepo Efunwape, Esq., to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for appropriate sanctions for making false allegations against a judge.

The petition written by Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu against Justice E. O. Ononeze Madu was dismissed by the council for lack of merit. The council warned the petitioner and asked him to apologise to the judge for the false allegation of inducement.

New petitions written against 26 judicial officers from the Federal and state high courts were considered by council, after which it resolved to empanel four committees to investigate.

The statement said: The remaining petitions were summarily dismissed for obvious and manifest lack of merit, being subjudice, concerning administrative matters, or that such petitions were matters for appeal.

*Published by The Nation

Source: NAN

Mobile courts are now to summarily try those bastardising the national currency, the naira, the Bankers Committee said on Thursday.

The committee said those who spray naira notes at parties risk going to jail for six months or earning a fine of N50,000 after trial by mobile courts that would be deployed nationwide.

Cantral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) spokesman Isaac Okorafor said the police and the Ministry of Justice would be involved in the operation, adding:

If a celebrant is dancing and you spray him/her, you may go to jail from the party venue because the law enforcement agents will be there, waiting to arrest you.

It is the duty of law enforcement agencies to catch offenders and take them to court. Our collaboration with the police will intensify as we move to implement the mobile court for offenders.

Admonishing Nigerians on how to use cash as gift, Okorafor said: If you want to give, put the money in an envelop, and give it the celebrant. Lets know that anybody hawking and writing on the naira will face six months in jail or N50,000 or both.

Managing Director of First Securities Discount House (FSDH) Merchant Bank Mrs. Handa Ambah said people selling naira notes would be punished.

She said: We need to let them know that this is money. The fact that you cannot spray money at parties does not mean that you cannot put money in an envelope and pass it to the celebrants.

*Reported by The Nation

Source: NAN

Comrade Chinonso Obasi, the immediate past President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has been appointed the Executive Director of African Students Education Support Initiative (ASESI).

Obasis Media Aide, Comrade Samson Ggbemiga, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

ASESI is a Non-governmental and Non-profit organisation which mandate revolves on education, good governance, anticorruption, accountability and rule of law.

Its operational jurisdiction is within the 54 Countries of Africa.

According to Ggbemiga, ASESI is a child of necessity as issues and projects that will uplift Africa shall be addressed judiciously as Obasi resumes officially on Sept. 24 at the ASESI head office, Gudu Abuja.

Obasi was the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) 2017/2018.

His administration as the then leader of the Nigerian Students body was one that regained the lost voice of Nigerian students.

He carried out interventions for the betterment of Nigerian students and Nigerian students leaders, supported masses oriented demands-call for local Government Autonomy by NULGE.

Obasi had represented Nigerian students in the 2014 Nigerian national Conference where he fought patriotically for the removal of the BSC and HND dichotomy in tertiary institutions.

He had also represented Nigerian students in the first Nigerian Petroleum Summit in 2018 where he also made case for the students of Petroleum Training Institute(PTI) Effurun Delta State, Ggbemiga said.

Obasi was the 2009/2010 Student Union Government (SUG) President of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana Ebonyi State and was later the zonal coordinator of NANS zone B (South-South/South-East).

Heis a graduate of Mechanical Engineering (Production option) and also a graduate of Welding Engineering and offshore Technology of the prestigious Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Effurun, Delta State.

Obasi, who hails from Ebonyi State, was born on April 27, 1987. He is married and has two children.

Source: NAN

The United States on Monday will adopt an aggressive posture against the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, threatening sanctions against its judges if they proceed with an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by Americans in Afghanistan.

President Donald Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, is to make the announcement in a midday speech to the Federalist Society, a conservative group, in Washington. It will be his first major address since joining the Trump White House.

The United States will use any means necessary to protect our citizens and those of our allies from unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court, Bolton will say, according to a draft of his speech seen by Reuters.

Bolton will also say that the State Department will announce the closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) office in Washington out of concern about Palestinian attempts to prompt an ICC investigation of Israel.

The PLO office in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The United States will always stand with our friend and ally, Israel, says Boltons draft text.

The draft speech says the Trump administration will fight back if the International Criminal Court formally proceeds with opening an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by U.S. service members and intelligence professionals during the war in Afghanistan.

If such a probe proceeds, the Trump administration will consider banning judges and prosecutors from entering the United States, put sanctions on any funds they have in the U.S. financial system and prosecute them in the American court system.

We will not cooperate with the ICC. We will provide no assistance to the ICC. We will not join the ICC. We will let the ICC die on its own. After all, for all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us, says Boltons draft text.

In addition, the United States may negotiate more binding, bilateral agreements to prohibit nations from surrendering Americans to the Hague court, says the text.

The courts aim is to bring to justice the perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

The United States did not ratify the Rome treaty that established the International Criminal Court in 2002, with then-President George W. Bush opposed to the court. President Barack Obama took some steps to cooperate with the organization.

We will consider taking steps in the U.N. Security Council to constrain the courts sweeping powers, including to ensure that the ICC does not exercise jurisdiction over Americans and the nationals of our allies that have not ratified the Rome Statute, says Boltons draft text.

Source: NAN

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP), a forum of religious leaders, has stressed the need for peaceful coexistence among Muslims and Christians in Benue.

Alhaji Ibrahim Yahaya, Head of IDFP, in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, gave the advice when he visited the Benue chapters of the Christian Association Nigeria (CAN) and the Jamaatu Nasril Islam (JNI)

Yahaya said that the IDFP visited the state to interact with Muslims and Christians leaders as well as other stakeholders on how to end the security challenges bedevilling the state.

According to him, IDFP activities of promoting peace and dialogue in resolving crisis were being supported by the Vienna-based KAICIID Dialogue Centre.

Responding, Rev. Augustine Leva, the Benue state CAN Chairman, noted that adherents of both faiths benefit from living in peace and harmony.

According to Leva, there is mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among Muslims and Christians in Benue, while the security challenge in the state has nothing to do with religion.

We have no problem amongst us because we have in time past collaborated and work together for peace.

When we staged a protest in support of the anti-grazing bill assented by Gov. Samuel Ortom, we worked as a united force.

We have always received invitations from our Muslim brothers during Ramadan to breakfast with them; we have an excellent relationship with our Muslim brothers, he said.

The chairman, however, advised the herders to embrace the reaching policy, saying that its the best solution to ending the herders/farmers clashes in the state.

On his part, Alhaji Garba Baba, JNI Chairman in the State, said there was no conflict between adherents of both religions in the state.

`I have three wives, two of them are Idoma, and one is Tiv. We all are living in peace and we have no problem whatsoever.

Sometime, the media misinform the people and that is why we do have some misconception, the chairman said.

Also speaking, Alhaji Baba Ahmed, the state secretary of JNI, handed over a written submission to the team on ways toward ending the security challenges in the state.

Ahmed welcomed the IDFP team to Benue and expressed hope that the visit will put an end to the crisis in the state.

Source: NAN

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday accused China of aggression in areas from security to trade as he portrayed the Asian power as a villain interfering in US elections.

Expanding on a theme first aired by President Donald Trump at the United Nations last week, Pence accused China of waging an unprecedented effort to influence American public opinion ahead of critical congressional elections on November 6.

To put it bluntly, President Trumps leadership is working; China wants a different American president, Pence said in a speech at the Hudson Institute, a conservative Washington think tank.

There can be no doubt China is meddling in Americas democracy.

The administrations offensive on China comes as a cloud hangs over Trump with an investigation into whether his campaign colluded with Russia to swing the 2016 presidential election in the Republican real estate tycoons favour.

Just hours before Pence spoke, the US Justice Department indicted seven Russian intelligence agents as part of a joint crackdown with Britain and The Netherlands on alleged hacking by Moscow, including against the Democratic Party, Trumps domestic rivals.

But Pence said: As a senior career member of our intelligence community recently told me, what the Russians are doing pales in comparison to what China is doing across this country.

Pences sharply worded address comes days before Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due to visit China on a trip focused on nuclear diplomacy with North Korea an area on which the United States still seeks Beijings cooperation.

Relations between the worlds two largest economies have plummeted in recent weeks with Trump slapping $200 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods amid complaints over Beijings trade policies.

Trump has made clear that well levy even more tariffs, with the possibility of substantially more than doubling that number, unless a fair and reciprocal deal is made, Pence said.

He lashed out at China for focusing its retaliatory tariffs on states vital to the Republicans electoral chances.

Source: NAN

Sen. David Umarus bid for a fresh tenure suffered a major setback on Thursday after he lost the All Progressives Congress ticket to contest the 2019 elections.

At the primary election held in Minna, Umaru, who represents Niger East Senatorial District, polled 5,870 votes to concede the ticket to his challenger, Alhaji Sani Musa, who scored 39,192 votes.

Senator Umaru, 59 years old, graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1980 and was called to the bar in 1981.

According to the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Alhaji Saidu Akawu, four other aspirants Shuaibu Gwada, Umar Faruk, Usman Danjijo and Afiniki Dauda scored 2,653, 1,750, 206 and 146 votes respectively.

Akawu commended the party members for demonstrating political maturity in their conduct during the direct primary election, and also praised the aspirants for their patience.

Alhaji Jibril Imam, APC Chairman in Niger, advised party members to mobilise voters toward victory in the senate election next year.

What we have started doing is a house-to-house campaign to sensitise members of the public on the need to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), and use it to install leaders that would improve their living standards, he said.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reminded political parties that Oct. 7 remains the deadline for conduct of primaries for all elective positions for the 2019 general elections and resolution of disputes emanating from the primaries.

The reminder is in a statement by Mr Solomon Soyebi, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee in Abuja on Thursday.

Soyebi stated that the resolution was made at the end of the commissions weekly meeting held on Thursday in Abuja.

He noted that the commission, among other things, considered the status of political party primaries to elect candidates into various positions for the 2019 general elections.

He said that 89 of the 91 registered political parties that gave notice of their intentions to conduct primaries as required by the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) had commenced and were at various stages of the process.

He added that INEC wishes to restate that the conduct of primaries and resolution of all disputes arising therefrom must be concluded on or before Oct. 7 as earlier published in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 general elections.

The last day for submission of lists of sponsored candidates (Form CFOO2) and personal particulars (Form CF001) remains Oct. 18 for Presidential and National Assembly and Nov. 2 for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly.

Soyebi restated that the commission would only accept list of candidates submitted by the National Chairman and the National Secretary. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri in Imo is the best polytechnic in Nigeria, according to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Masaudu Kazaure made this known in Kaduna on Thursday, at the end of the Second Regular Meeting of the NBTE Governing Board. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Modupe Adelabu.

Kazaure explained that the polytechnic emerged the best after scoring 85.08 per cent in the assessment of 112 federal, state and private polytechnics in the country, in the pilot ranking of Nigerian polytechnics.

He said that the exercise covered 2015/2016 and 206/2017 academic sessions.

He said that the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun came second with 73.08 per cent, while Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna State came third with 72.31 per cent.

Other polytechnics in the top 10 included The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State, ranked fourth with 67.69 per cent; Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger, fifth, 65.38 per cent; and Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo, sixth, with 63.85 point.

Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Enugu State, seventh, with 62.31 per cent. Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Ondo State and Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos State were ranked eighth with 60.77 per cent.

Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra was ranked 11th with 60.00 per cent and Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi, occupied the 12th position with 59.23 per cent.

The NBTE boss also said that when disaggregated by ownership, the Federal Polytechnic Nekede also emerged the best Federal Polytechnic in the country followed by Federal Polytechnic Ilaro and Kaduna Polytechnic.

The Polytechnic Ibadan, IMT and Rufus Giwa polytechnics were the highest ranked among state polytechnics, while Lagos City Polytechnic is the highest ranked private polytechnic and the 16th in the country.

Dorben Polytechnic and Heritage Polytechnic were the second and third best private polytechnic in the country.

Kazaure explained that the polytechnics were ranked based on total number of programmes with full accreditation in the last two years and percentage of programmes with full accreditation.

Other criteria include proportion of academic staff showing the right mix, that is, chief lecturer and principal lecturer down to assistant lecturer; and ability of institution to introduce programme in new and emerging fields.

They were equally assessed based on capacity building of staff both within and outside Nigeria, teaching quality, including staff /student ratio and ratio of full-time to part-time staff.

Other areas are availability of current Campus Master Plan, Strategic Plan, and Academic Brief; percentage of academic staff with relevant higher qualification and professional registration; and 70:30
technology-non-technology enrolment ratio.

Another consideration was the incorporation of entrepreneurship education into the institutes curriculum and fully established Entrepreneurship Development Centre, he said.

He said other issues discussed by the board borders on quality assurance, accreditation, resource inspection visits and proliferation of illegal technical and health institutions in the country.

He said that 191 out of the 239 programmes in 41 polytechnics visited for accreditation between June and September 2018 were granted full accreditation while 48 got interim accreditation.

He also said that 117 programmes were scrutinised for resource inspection within the same period and 94 programmes were granted interim accreditation to commence operation, while 23 were denied.

Four proposed private polytechnics were also visited for approval and licensing within the period under review and only one was recommended while three were asked to remedy some identified deficiencies.

The governing board also approved a memorandum of understanding with Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria to reduce the burden of duplication of quality assurance visitation and accreditation activities.

The board also agreed to hold meetings with relevant stakeholders to put an end to proliferation of illegal technical institutions and unapproved private health institutions operating in the county.

The board particularly commended the effort of the Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Dr Paul Dogo for expressing concern to the board on illegal health institutions operating in the state, he said.

Kazaure added that the board equally frowned at the conversion of colleges of agriculture to polytechnics by some state governments and agreed to take necessary actions to put a stop to the development. (NAN)
FDY/

Source: NAN

Some houses and vehicles were burnt in Epe, Lagos East, on Thursday as political violence erupted following the killing of a supporter of one of the aspirants contesting to represent the All Progressives Congress in the House of Representatives election next year.

The person killed was identified as Idris Alooma, said to be 30 years old.

He was shot by hoodlums who attacked a polling unit in Ward 4, after voting had taken place and party members were awaiting the declaration of the result.

Four persons were cleared to contest for the APC ticket to the House of Representatives. They are Wale Raji, the incumbent, Lanre Odubote, a former Rep member, Remi Adebowale and Segun Olulade, a member of the House of Assembly.

Voting had ended at Ward 4, when the gunmen arrived at about 4.15 pm and shot Alooma, a witness Mr Akeem Lawal said.

He said the hoodlums stormed the polling unit after learning that their candidate had lost.

Lawal complained that the security in Epe was loose because there were no police officers at the polling unit when the attack occurred.

A NAN reporter who monitored the election reports that, some aggrieved youth set houses and vehicles ablaze across Epe community, after the killing of Alooma.

The Divisional Police Officer in Epe, CSP Adeyeri Sunday told NAN that one of the suspects, who attacked Alooma, had been arrested, adding that his team would do everything humanly possible to arrest other suspects and bring them to book.

The direct primaries to elect the candidates for both the House of Representatives and the Senate were held at the 19 wards in the Epe Federal Constituency.

Senator Gbenga Bariyu Ashafa, cleared to run unopposed for the Lagos East senate seat by the APC National Working Committee, had an opponent in Bayo Osinowo, a four-time member of the state of House of Assembly.

Voting started at about 3:45 p.m. in many of the wards in Ibonwon, Ikosi-Ejirin, Epe Recreation centre and Ogunmodede among others.

Results are being awaited.

Source: NAN

A witness, Izuchukwu Ezeuko, on Thursday told an Igbosere High Court in Lagos how he dropped $1 million dollar ransom for the alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans.

The ransom was to save Mr. James Uduji, then held hostage by Evans.

Ezeuko, a manager in Udujis firm, made the revelation while giving evidence at the ongoing trial of Evans.

The manager, who was the fifth witness in the trial, said he agreed to travel from Lagos to the South East to drop the ransom in order to save his boss life.

Evans is facing two separate charges bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder before Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

In the first charge, Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

In the second charge, he is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

At the resumed trial of the case on Thursday, Ezeuko narrated how he paid one million dollar ransom in two tranches of 800, 000 and 200,000 dollars to the kidnappers of his employer.

The witness said that on Sept. 7, 2015, his employer came to the factory at Agbara as usual.

According to him, at 5.00 p.m. he got a call that his employer who had left the factory for home was kidnapped.

However, after some weeks of the alleged kidnap, on Oct. 10, 2015, he got a call from a private number, who said he should speak with his boss.

My boss then spoke to me and said if I want him alive, I should go to the East to deliver money to the alleged kidnappers.

I went to Festac Town and met Mr Edwin Uduji, the victims brother, who arranged the first 800, 000 dollars for me to travel with.

On October 11, I drove to the East with the victims elder sister, and in the East, a voice gave us instructions on how to drop the money, Ezeuko said.

He said they were made to drive round Anambra from Awka to Ozubulu, also to Ekwuluobia and the environs until they were asked to stop at Oba.

It was at Oba that the voice asked the victims sister to come down from the vehicle with the money.

The voice directed her to an uncompleted building where she dropped the money. It was dark so we did not see the person who picked the money, Ezeuko told the court.

He said two weeks after the 800, 000 dollar ransom was dropped and the kidnappers released his boss.

However, towards the end of October, his boss asked him to take another 200, 000 dollars to the kidnappers because the kidnappers were still threatening his life.

Ezeuko said he took the money down to East and was asked to drop it on the Onitsha expressway by the voice that gave him instructions.

However, during cross-examination, counsel to Evans, Mr Olarewaju Ajanaku, asked Ezeuko if he informed the police that such ransom was to be paid or gave the call logs of the person he interacted with the to the police.

The witness said he did not inform the police about the ransom before paying and did not give the call logs to the police.

However, another witness, Sgt. Kingsley Harold, gave evidence concerning the first charge, in which Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba, over the kidnap of Mr Donatus.

Harold said after Evans was arrested, he was asked to make a statement at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office in Ikeja but Evans said he was not too good in writing.

He said Evans, however, asked him to write the statement for him, adding that the statement was recorded in an open office in the presence of senior police officers and other people who came to the office for other cases.

He said the statement was recorded in a conducive environment between 2.00 pm and 3.00 pm, adding that the defendant was cautioned before making the statement.

However, the defendant s counsel opposed the admissibility of such statement and a trial-within-trial was conducted to ascertain the admissibility of such evidence.

After listening to the arguments, Justice Akintoye adjourned until Oct. 8 for continuation of trial.

Source: NAN