Lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Thursday were divided over the declaration of June 12 as National Democracy Day by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The division followed a motion by Rep. Wale Raji (APC-Lagos) brought under Urgent Matter of National Importance on the need to commend Buhari for the June 12 democracy day initiative, at the plenary.

Buhari had on Wednesday declared June 12 as National Democracy Day with effect from 2019.

Buhari also said that the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 election, Chief Moshood Abiola, would posthumously be awarded the highest award of the land, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

He added that Abiolas running mate in the election, Amb. Babagana Kingibe, and late human rights lawyer, Gani Fayehinmi (SAN) would be vested with Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON).

Moving the motion, Raji called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release the result of the 1993 election and declare Moshood Abiola, President-elect.

Raji said that the 1993 presidential election was widely acclaimed as the freest, fairest and most credible election in the nations history.

He lamented that the result of the election was however annulled by the then military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

According to him, since the return of democracy in 1999, successive governments had failed to recognise June 12 as National Democracy Day.

He urged the house to commend Buhari for the courageous step, adding that it was a sign that he listened to the voice of the people.

Also, Rep. Chris Azubogu (PDP-Anambra) commended the mover of the motion, saying that it was a worthy initiative.

He, however, drew the attention of the house to the exclusion of the electoral umpire, Mr Humphrey Nwosu, who conducted the election, from the list of those honoured.

Azubogu said that Nwosu was a key actor in the June 12 election and risked his life to conduct a free and fair election.

He said that Nwosu should be given due recognition for the role he played in the election as it would encourage future umpires of the electoral process to be free and fair.

In his contribution, Rep. Edward Pwajok (APC-Plateau) drew the attention of the house to the Public Holidays Act which stated that May 29 should be recognised as National Democracy Day.

Pwajok said that for the declaration of the president to take effect, the Public Holidays Act had to be amended.

He said that for a contestant to be referred to as President-elect, he had to be declared winner of the election by the National Returning Officer.

Pwajok, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), also said that there was a court order prohibiting INEC from releasing the result.

He explained that until the courts decision was stepped down by the same court or a higher court, the decision remained.

In his contributions, Rep. Mojeed Alabi (APC-Osun) said that there would have been no May 29, 1999 without June 12, 1993.

He said that prior to the presidential declaration, only Osun recognised June 12 as Democracy Day.

Alabi commended Buhari and urged the house to support the motion.

A rowdy session, however, erupted in the chamber when Rep. Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta) challenged the presidential declaration.

He said that the usurpation of the powers of the Legislature by the Executive was becoming too rampant.Ossai argued that an Act of Parliament could not be changed by a presidential declaration and that if June 12 must stand, it should follow due process of amendment of the Public Holidays Act.

Members roared in disapproval and tried to shut him up while others waved at him to sit down.

Supporting him, Rep. Toby Okechukwu (PDP-Enugu) said that the country must be ruled by law and not by persons or groups.

He said though the intention of the president was good, the declaration needed to be guided by the law, explaining that it was necessary so that nobody would in the future challenge the honour to Abiola.

After he spoke, the rowdiness in the chamber became intense and members left their seats to engage one another in shouting matches.

This lasted for over 20 minutes and when the Speaker of the house, Mr Yakubu Dogara, restored order, he referred the motion to the Committees on Justice and Rules and Business for further consultation.

He mandated the committees to look into the matter and make recommendations to the house before a decision would be taken.

Source: NAN

The Federal Government has promised to pay promotion arrears and backlog of allowances owed public servants.

The Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs, Winifred Oya-Ita, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja at a Peer Review Mechanism (PRM), meeting for Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.

Public servants can now breath a sigh of relief as backlog of outstanding liabilities, such as promotion arrears would soon be addressed.

The Ministry of Finance has begun the disbursement of promotion arrears to some civil servants, she said.

Speaking on the PRM, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence Mrs Nuratu Batagawara, said the programme had provided a veritable platform for the exchange of ideas and Information to strengthening public policy implementation.

According to Batagawara, through the mechanism, participants have identified the nexus between foreign and security policies, and the need to strengthen both.

Participants at the meeting also gave recommendations on measures required to improve and strengthen public policy implementation.

They also undertook a tour of the Ship House, headquarters of the Ministry of Defence with specific emphasis on the crche and the medical centre.

Source: NAN

U.S. President, Donald Trump says on Thursday that everything was ready to go for the next week summit with the Korean Leader Kim Jong-un.

Trump made the remarks when he welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the White House for preparatory talks before the summit.

The summit is all ready to go, Trump told reporters. Its all going along very fine. I hope it continues on this track.

Trump and Abe were to hold a joint press conference at the White House at about 2:00 pm local time before heading to Canada for what promises to be a tense Group of Seven (G7) summit clouded by the US leaders controversial trade tariffs.

But before tackling the thorny trade issue, Trump expressed unbridled optimism about his June 12 summit with Kim in Singapore.

His enthusiasm to hold the meeting with Kim has reportedly prompted concerns in Tokyo that a hasty deal between the US and North Korea would leave Japan exposed to a perceived North Korean missile threat.

Japan has been anxiously watching ever since a thaw began first between Pyongyang and Seoul and then between North Korea and the US.

Japan also reportedly fears that Trump could eventually agree to reduce US military forces in South Korea, leaving Japan which has been highly dependent on US military protection since Tokyos defeat in World War II to fend for itself.

Source :

Source: NAN

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chinyeaka Ohaa, has said that the coming into operation of the Abuja Light Rail service would accelerate FCT economy by boosting investments and creating job opportunities.

Ohaa gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja when he led directors and management staff of the Administration on an inspection of the 78km Abuja Light Rail.

He reaffirmed FCT Administrations commitment to ensuring that the Mass Transit service was inaugurated in a matter of weeks.

According to him, already the FCT Administration has written to the Presidency for a convenient date for its inauguration.

The benefits of the project include the potential for over 20,000 jobs, aside boosting the economic fortunes of the Territory.

He said the Abuja Rail project which started in 2009 would help to curtail drastically traffic congestion in the nations capital city.

Ohaa added that all the necessary infrastructure and human personnel have been put in place for a successful event.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tour of the project from the Metro Station up to the Airport Terminal station up to Kubwa station showed that about 98 per cent of the work had been completed.

The permanent secretary, who described the project as a new experience in Africa, added that he wasmpressed with the level of work done so far.

He further revealed that the facility has ample escalators and lifts for physically challenged and adequate security devices for protection of passengers.

Ohaa said that both President Muhammadu Buhari and FCT Minister have shown tremendous commitment to ensure the Abuja Rail Mass Transit comes on stream while calling on residents to own the project.(NAN)

Source: NAN

Mr Philip Gwada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the rescheduled chairmanship election in Jaba Local Government Area.

The Returning Officer, Grace Doyaro, who announced the result in Kwoi on Thursday said Gwada secured 17,967 votes to defeat the APC candidate Mr Benjamin Jok who scored 7,401 votes.

Doyaro described the election as free and fair, devoid of rancour, adding that the PDP won all the 10 councillors seats in the local government.

Source: NAN

The Senate on Thursday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to release result of the June 12, 1993 presidential election result which late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was presumed winner.

The upper chamber also called for all allowances and entitlements be made available to the family of late Abiola and his running mate in that election, Amb. Babagana Kingibe.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday directed that effective from 2019, Nigerian Democracy Day, marked every May 29 for the past 18 years should be shifted to June 12.

These resolutions were sequel to a Point-of-Order raised by Sen. Olanrewaju Tejuoso (APC-Ogun) at plenary.

He said that recognition of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day was a remarkable event in the country’s history.

“I believe President Muhammadu Buhari needs further encouragement to continue this reconciliation that he started.

“There are so many reconciliations that we need, like reconciliation between the Executive and the Legislature.

“We need to encourage the President-what he has started took us 25 years to achieve.

“So I believe that the Senate should acknowledge this major feat of the President and to ensure that the peace we need, pre-election of 2019, we will begin to develop it from now.”

Contributing, Sen. Biodun Olujimi (PDP-Ekiti) said the late Abiola had done well especially for those of the Southwest Nigeria.

“This is one time that a President had given to what MKO Abiola and his family went through to fight for this democracy that we today encourage.

“I salute the president’s courage and I thank my colleague for bringing it to the fore.

“However, going forward, there are issues to be addressed so that we can feel confident and comfortable that this is not a Greek Gift.”

Olujimi who noted that the result of that election was never announced said this was the time for the result to be properly announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“This is because government is a continuum; MKO declare should be declared president.

“If and when that is done, there has to be reparation of all his entitlements,” she said.

Also speaking, Leader of the Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan said President Buhari had shown clearly that he was a democrat.

“There is no history that could link May 29 to actual democratic evolution of Nigeria better than June 12.”

Similarly, Deputy Senate President Mr Ike Ekweremadu said the recognition was “a good day” for Nigeria.

“We must commend the President because finally, we are beginning to address injustice in the country.

“Our prayer is that this must be sustained. We must address the injustices all over the country.

“Those who are complaining about environmental degradation, marginalisation, killings or any kind of injustice.

“This is time to address them,” he said.

He added that any country that allowed this was heading to a major crisis.

Ekweremdu, however, said that there were two critical issues involved including:

“The provisions of Section 135 of the Constitution on the tenure of the President.

“If we now say that June 12 is now democracy day, presupposing that in 2019, the President will be sworn in June.

“This is legally impossible because the law says subject to the provision of this Constitution, a person shall hold the Office of the President until when the successor in office takes his oath of office.

“The implication therefore is that May 29 remains the day the President will be inaugurated and he takes his oath of office.

“If we are moving from May 29 to June 12, it means we are to amend this Constitution otherwise we will be extending the tenure of a President beyond what the Constitution stipulates.

“We have to advise the President properly,” he said.

Source: NAN

Hafsat Abiola-Costello, daughter of MKO and Kudirat Abiola, went for poetry to celebrate the recognition of her father by President Muhammadu Buhari and the dual honour done for his memory.

In one fell swoop, President Buhari gave Abiola a posthumous honour that ranked him with all Nigeria’s leaders and also declared June 12, the day Abiola clearly won a democratic election that was annulled by Babangida’s junta, as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

Hafsat, who only a day before became the President of Women in Africa, was short of words, but instead sought the help of poetry to express her happiness and gratitude to Muhammadu Buhari, while at the same time chiding Obasanjo, a beneficiary of June 12, for ignoring MKO. Obasanjo did not even ask for a minute of silence for the Democracy martyrs on his inauguration on May 29, 1999, she noted.

Here is Hafsat’s poem for all time:

Twenty five years after June 12: Our Long Wait for Justice is Ending

I had expected that the handover from military rule to democracy would be held on the 12th of June.

That would have signalled the completion of a circle that began with a dream deferred.

That became one fulfilled.

But I waited in vain.

The handover was set for May 29, a date pulled out of thin air, signifying nothing.

Then I thought that the chief beneficiary would ask the country to observe a minute of silence,

In memory of MKO, Kudirat, Alfred Rewane, Umaru Yar’Adua, Bagauda Kaltho, the thousands of students, the tens of journalists, traders and politicians who lost their lives fighting to actualise an unjustly annulled election.

Again, I waited in vain for he started his inauguration speech…

And nothing was said.

The first four years passed and it became clear that the goal was to erase the name of the man whose sacrifice paved the way for our democracy.

Those four years set the tone.

And I got tired of waiting

As it slowly became clear that to wait was to wait in vain.

I stopped expecting my country to do the right thing by my father and instead began to understand why Nigeria struggles to find patriots among its leaders.

Until today.

Today when President Muhammadu Buhari gave an executive order to declare that June 12 was Nigeria’s Democracy Day;

To confer on MKO the title of GCFR, an honour reserved for presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

To confer on Gani Fawehinmi, the dogged fighter for justice, and my father’s running mate, Babagana Kingibe, the title of GCON, the second highest in the land;

And in one day, demonstrated to my bruised heart that integrity, fairness, honour were alive and well in a country for which both my parents had sacrificed their lives.

There are no words that can capture the depth of my gratitude nor the breadth of my joy.

I thank God that I am alive to witness this day.

May we live to witness many more days when justice triumphs over injustice, when sacrifice and service win over arrogance and fraud, and when the blood of our heroes reach from across time to boldly claim the reward that their actions wrought.

May the sacrifices of our past heroes and heroines never be in vain.

Source: NAN

The House of Representatives has directed the investigation of Muhammed Kazaure for daring to reveal the collection of signatures for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari,

The House of Representatives resolved to investigate Kazaure on Wednesday over his comments on an alleged plot to impeach Buhari.

The lawmaker was said to have accused some lawmakers of collecting signatures from their colleagues.

He reportedly made the allegation on Tuesday during an interview with reporters in Abuja, shortly after the emergency joint executive session of the National Assembly.

Kazaures colleagues, Nicholas Ossai and Kingsley Chinda, told the House during Wednesdays plenary that the lawmaker accused them of gathering signatures to impeach the president.

He was consequently directed to appear before the House Committee on Rights and Privileges for questioning.

Meanwhile, the House has also resolved to investigate another member, Abdulmumin Jibrin, for allegedly accusing some lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of planning to impeach the President.

Shortly after the joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday in Abuja, Mr Jibrin issued a statement on behalf of lawmakers under the aegis of the Parliamentary Support Group of the Senate and House of Representatives.

In the statement, he faulted the resolutions of the lawmakers and asked the National Assembly leadership to remove the log in its own eyes before removing the speck in the eye of the President.

The lawmaker, who represents Bebeji/Kiru Federal Constituency of Kano, is being probed barely three months after he returned from a suspension which lasted for 17 months.

A Federal High Court has nullified the suspension as illegal and unconstitutional.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has scored a big goal as activists on Thursday commended him for declaring June 12 as the new Democracy Day and bestowing the highest national honour on the winner of the election, MKO Abiola.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Buhari on Wednesday declared that June 12 will henceforth be celebrated as Democracy Day

He also conferred a posthumous national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic on the winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential election, MKO Abiola.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA), said: We accept these honors no matter how belated because we and other Nigerians have campaigned around these issues over the years.

She said June 12 could not be forgotten so fast by Nigerians because it was the day Nigerians freely elected a President in the freest and fairest election.

The rights activist prayed that the spirit of June 12 would take firm root in Nigeria future elections.

It is our wish that the essential spirit of June 12 takes firm root in our land with free and fair election and become a norm in our land.

From the Ekiti elections scheduled for July 14 and the general elections in 2019. That is the moment the spirits of Abiola and all martyrs of June 12 will forgive Nigeria. She said.

Alhaji Balarabe Musa, National Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party and former governor of old Kaduna State, said Buharis action had given Nigerians renewed hope.

President Buharis action with regards to declaration of June 12 as democracy day and award of the highest honour to late Chief MKO Abiola are relevant, just, courageous and patriotic.

The actions give hope that President Buhari can do the right thing and correct wrongs before its too late for him and for the nation, Musa said.

Hafsat Abiola-Costello, daughter of MKO composed a special poem to thank President Buhari for honouring her father, after 25 years.

Dear friends, words cannot truly express how happy I feel. Here is President Buharis executive order declaring that June 12, the day of the election that my father won, would henceforth be Nigerias Democracy Day and conferring on my dad the title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, a title reserved for presidents. Twenty five years after June 12; Please celebrate with me.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buharis surprise replacement of May 29 with June 12 as Democracy Day celebration has spiralled commendations from across all activists and groups.

Activists and non-activists on Thursday commended President Buhari for the declaring June 12 which he said would henceforth be celebrated as Democracy Day beginning from next year.

The President also conferred a posthumous highest national honour on the presumed winner of June 12, 1993, Presidential election, MKO Abiola.

Abiolas Vice Presidential candidate Babagana Kingibe and late human rights and fiery lawyer Gani Fawehinmi are also to be bestowed with National honours on June 12.

All the states in the West have always observed June 12 as democracy day.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA), said: We accept these honors no matter how belated because we and other Nigerians have campaigned around these issues over the years.

She said June 12 could not be forgotten so fast by Nigerians because it was the day Nigerians freely elected a President in the freest and fairest election.

The rights activist prayed that the spirit of June 12 would take firm root in Nigeria future elections.

It is our wish that the essential spirit of June 12 takes firm root in our land with free and fair election and become a norm in our land.

From the Ekiti elections scheduled for July 14 and the general elections in 2019. That is the moment the spirits of Abiola and all martyrs of June 12 will forgive Nigeria. She said.

Alhaji Balarabe Musa, National Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party and former governor of old Kaduna State, said Buharis action had given Nigerians renewed hope.

Musa who has never seen anything about Buhari said: President Buharis action with regards to declaration of June 12 as democracy day and award of the highest honour to late Chief MKO Abiola are relevant, just, courageous and patriotic.

The actions give hope that President Buhari can do the right thing and correct wrongs before its too late for him and for the nation, Musa said.

Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, socio-cultural group in South West, considered the declaration as a reward for all progressives in the country.

Mr Akin Malaolu, Secretary-General of the forum, applauded the decision of Buhari and said the decision and recognition provoked emotions and tears of joy throughout the country, especially in the Western region.

He noted that Abiola was a political figure that was respected by all tribes in the country and across the world in his life time.

We had this opportunity in 1999 when Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo was president, but despite all appeals to him, he turned the teeming masses down.

But GOD and Allah said that this day shall come and it came without rancour but happiness and warm smiles everywhere.

Candidly, when the news broke, artisans, market women and workers were in jubilation, commercial drivers and passengers hugged one another with smiles.

Every word that came out from the jubilant crowd can be interpreted as: do good and good will follow you, Malaolu said.

He congratulated Nigerians and the victims of brutal killings during the struggle for the actualisation of June 12 in 1993.

He also thanked President Buhari, the Vice President and others, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the decision.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State hailed the announcement and lauded the President, saying that the development was a historic and symbolic moment in the nations political trajectory.

This is a welcome development. It is a historic moment in our nation, and I join other Nigerians to commend President Buhari on this announcement.

By this move, he has done what previous administrations failed to do.

This not only shows that the president is a man of history and character but also eloquently confirms that the heroes of democracy did not die in vain after all, Ambode said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ebenezer Babatope, also commended President Buhari. He said Abiola, was the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election until his death on July 7, 1998.

Babatope, a former Minister of Transport and member PDP Board of Trustees, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone that the presidents motivation was right.

Even though one may question the timing, the motivation is right.

We should commend Buhari for the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day and the conferment of GCFR on the late MKO Abiola, he said.

Also Mr Wasiu Eshinokun-Sanni, the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, said that the truth had prevailed.

Eshinokun-Sanni, who noted that he received the news with a mixed feeling, commended the Lagos State Government to have recognised Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a late human rights lawyer.

The good part is that effort of Nigerians in forgetting religious and tribal sentiments as exhibited by the June 12 elections is not in vain. June 12 is Democracy Day is also symbolic.

What Obasanjo (former President) failed to recognise all this while in spite being the greatest beneficiary of June 12, a Nigerian of northern extraction has brought it to the front burner, he said.

Source: NAN

Osun Governor, Rauf Aregbesola has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for recognising June 12 as Democracy Day, in place of May 29.

In a statement by his media adviser, Sola Fasure, Governor Aregbesola commended the president for mustering the courage to take this historic step 25 years after the freest and fairest presidential election ever held in the history of Nigeria

According to Governor Aregbesola, President Buhari has secured for himself an incomparable position in history for summoning the courage to take this historic step of recognising June 12 as Democracy Day and honouring Chief Moshood Abiola posthumously.

June 12, 1993 was the day democracy was born in Nigeria. It was the day Nigerians negated all the social and political constructs that had been thought would make national unity impossible and democratic governance impossible, but Nigerians in their heterogeneity overwhelmingly voted for a candidate whose very essence was in defiance of religious, ethnic and regional categorisation.

It is most regrettable that the election was annulled and Chief Abiola clamped in illegal detention where he later died.

Successive administrations had suppressed the significance of June 12 and resisted every admonition to recognise the date and honour Chief Abiola.

We have since the advent of our administration shunned May 29 and celebrated June 12 as Democracy Day.

We are glad therefore that President Buhari has taken this bold step and set the record straight. History will be kind to him for this. I commend him for this uncommon courage and demonstration of leadership, the statement said.

Source: NAN

For stealing chickens and eggs from his neighbors poultry, a 31-year-old farmer, Samuel Asam, is to spend the next two months in prison.

An Epe Magistrates Court in Lagos State handed down the sentence to Asam on Thursday.

The Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Fowowe-Erusiafe, however, gave the convict an option to do 40 hours of community service.

Asam, a resident of Igbojia village in Ibeju-Lekki, near Lagos was convicted on a two-count charge, bordering on breaking and entering and theft.

He was accused of stealing chickens and eggs worth N527, 600 from his neighbors poultry.

The convict had admitted committing the offences and begged the court to tamper justice with mercy, saying that he did not know what came over him.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Moses Oyekanmi had earlier told the court that one Tosin Fadayemi of Igbojia village had on June 2, reported incident of theft at his poultry.

Oyekanmi said that Asam had stolen 120 broilers, valued at N420, 000; 17 cockerels, valued at N51, 000; five red cocks, valued at N17, 500 and 46 crates of eggs, valued at N39, 100.

He said that during police investigation, Asam had confessed to the crime but that the police was however, unable to recover all the stolen items from the convict.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 308 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

Source: NAN

By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Federal Government has appointed Prof. Alex Akpa, the Acting Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA).

Mrs Ifeoma Ndefo, the Head of Communication and Protocol of the agency made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

She said the appointment, which was made by Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, would take immediate effect.

Akpa is the most Senior Director of NABDA and had served as Director and Head of the Medical Biotechnology Department in NABDA from June 1, 2008 to June 1, 2016.

Akpa took over from Mr Abayomi Oguntunde, a Director in the ministry of science and technology, who was the overseeing Director-General following the completion of the tenure of Prof. Lucy Ogbadu.

He is a professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, a Fellow of the World Health Organisation (FWHO), the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene(FRSTMH).

He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria (FCAI).

He has four patents granted for his original inventions and had won several international grants for the development of medical biotechnology in Nigeria.

The statement described the new NABDA boss an astute professor, who has 57 publications including technical reports and scientific papers in both local and International peer reviewed journals.

Akpa was a five time winner of the internationally competed for UNDP/World Bank/World Health Organization, Tropical Diseases Research (WHO-TDR) Research Training/Operational Research grants.

The professor of pharmaceutical microbiology and biotechnology had served as a consultant to several international agencies and bodies including the WHO-TDR on Onchocerciasis.

Others are UNDP on Infectious Diseases including HIV and AIDS control at Community Level; UNICEF on Childhood Diseases.

The Carter Centre/ Global 2000 on operational research involving the assessment and evaluation of the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme in Nigeria and the rehabilitation of broken down boreholes in guinea worm endemic parts of Enugu and Ebonyi States.

NABDA is an agency under the ministry of science and technology established to promote, coordinate and set research and development priority in biotechnology for Nigeria.

Source: NAN

A U.S. man who was found innocent after serving 25 years in prison has received 10 million U.S. dollars on Wednesday as compensation.

The settlement set a record for the city of Philadelphia, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, where Anthony Wright, who was 20-years-old when the alleged crime occurred, was sentenced to life without parole for a 1991 rape and murder case.

DNA evidence discovered later proved that Wright was innocent.

Innocence Project, an activist group promoting DNA evidence in criminal investigations, said in a statement that Wright was the victim of poor investigation procedures by the police, who allegedly threatened to beat Wright if he wouldn’t sign a confession written by the police.

The group said Wright now 44, is the 344th DNA exoneree in the nation.

It would be recalled that the Philadelphia district attorney’s office in 1991 indicted a 20-year-old black man named Anthony Wright on a charge of capital murder after describing the crime as “heinous.”

A 77-year-old woman had been robbed in her home, then raped and stabbed to death.

The case against Wright was turned around on a confession written by the police, which Wright had signed.

Wright maintained from the beginning that he signed the document only after interrogating officers threatened to “poke his eye out.”

He was later convicted after the jury deadlocked 7–5 in favor of a death sentence.

In Pennsylvania, death penalty verdicts must be unanimous and as such Wright was sent to prison for life without the possibility of parole.

Source: NAN

Roberto Firmino has called Sergio Ramos an “idiot” after his sarcastic response to claims he injured two Liverpool players in the Champions League final.

Real Madrid captain Ramos was involved in the first-half incident in Kiev last month that saw Mohamed Salah substituted with a shoulder injury.

Firmino responded to Sergio Ramos’ comments about the Champions League final.

Footage after the game showed he caught Loris Karius with an elbow and scans revealed the goalkeeper had been concussed.

But Ramos wasn’t accepting the accusations, saying: “I am only missing Firmino saying that he got a cold because of a drop of my sweat.”

When the Brazilian striker did have a chance to comment, he kept it short and to the point.

“I prefer not to talk about it,” Firmino said, before talking about it.

“It’s OK, [Ramos] is a champion. But I think it’s an idiot thing of him to say.”

But Ramos suggested the criticism of him was down to jealousy after he lifted the Champions League for an unprecedented third season in a row.

He said: “When Ramos does something like this, it sticks a little bit more.

“I don’t know if it’s because you’re at Madrid for so long and win for so long that people look at it a different way.”

Source: NAN

President Trump has announced that he had commuted the life sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, a 63-year-old serving for a first-time, nonviolent drug offense, on Wednesday.

Trumps decision comes days after reality star Kim Kardashian spoke with him about prison reforms and Alice Marie's sentencing.

Kardashian has spent months using her platform to publicize Alice Marie's incarceration. She met with the president to discuss the possibility of revisiting Johnson's sentence.

I would like to thank President Trump for his time this afternoon, Kardashian said after her visit in May.

It is our hope that the President will grant clemency to Ms. Alice Marie Johnson who is serving a life sentence for a first-time, non-violent drug offense.

Johnson was apprehended for helping a multi million-dollar cocaine ring, something Johnson said she did because she was unable to support her family.

In an op-ed titled for CNN, Johnson wrote that her life began to spiral out of control after the loss of her son and her divorce.

I made the biggest mistake of my life to make ends meet and got involved with people selling drugs, Johnson wrote in her CNN piece.

This was a road I never dreamed of venturing down. I became what is called a telephone mule, passing messages between the distributors and sellers.

I participated in a drug conspiracy, and I was wrong.

The White House released a statement on Wednesday commending Johnson for her ability to rehabilitate herself in prison.

Johnsons clemency was supported by her warden, Arcala Washington-Adduci, who told the White House she is a model inmate who is willing to go above and beyond in all work tasks.

While this Administration will always be very tough on crime, it believes that those who have paid their debt to society and worked hard to better themselves while in prison deserve a second chance, the White House statement read.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari in a surprise move Wednesday declared June 12 Nigerias Democracy Day and also awarded Nigerias highest honour, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, to the late businessman Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, winner of the election held on same date in 1993.

The election, adjudged to be the freest and fairest up till that year, in Nigerias history was annulled by the military junta headed by Ibrahim Babangida, plunging Nigeria into a five-year political crisis. Abiola died in 1998 and General Sani Abacha, who was one of the beneficiaries of the annulment, died some weeks before him.

President Buhari said Abiolas running mate, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe will also be honoured with Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, the second highest honour. And so will Chief Gani Fawehinmi, the indefatigable lawyer and senior advocate who campaigned for the actualisation of June 12 up till Abiolas death in 1998. The event will hold on June 12.

From 2019, June 12 will now replace 29 May, the day the military handed over to civilians in 1999 as Nigerias democracy day. And it means that the rest of Nigeria will join states in the South West to celebrate the day.

South West Nigeria since 1999 has been observing June 12 as Democracy Day but failed to convince their son, former President Olusegun Obasanjo to accord the date national recognition, when he ruled from 1999-2007

President Buhari said he decided to honour Abiola and the immortal date after consultations with Nigerians.

In the view of Nigerians, as shared by this Administration, June 12, 1993 was and is far more symbolic of Democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29, or even October 1, President Buhari said.

In a statement signed by Buhari,he said: For the past 18 years, Nigerians have been celebrating May 29 as Democracy Day. That was the date when for the second time in our history, an elected civilian administration took over from a military government.

The first time this happened was on October 1st, 1979. But in the view of Nigerians, as shared by this Administration, June 12th, 1993, was far more symbolic of Democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29th or even the October 1.

June 12th, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our Independence.

The fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then military Government does not detract from the democratic credentials of that process.

Accordingly, after due consultations, the Federal Government has decided that henceforth, June 12th will be celebrated as Democracy Day. Therefore, government has decided to award posthumously the highest honour of the land,

GCFR, to late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12th 1993 cancelled elections.

His running mate as Vice President, Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe, is also to be invested with a GCON.

Furthermore, the tireless fighter for human rights and the actualization of the June 12 elections and indeed for Democracy in general, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN is to be awarded the GCON.

The investiture will take place on Tuesday June 12, 2018, a date which in future years will replace May 29 as a National Public Holiday in celebration of Nigeria Democracy Day.

Here is President Buharis Statement:

Source: NAN

The House of Representatives has directed the investigation of Muhammed Kazaure for daring to reveal the collection of signatures for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari,

The House of Representatives resolved to investigate Kazaure on Wednesday over his comments on an alleged plot to impeach Buhari.

The lawmaker was said to have accused some lawmakers of collecting signatures from their colleagues.

He reportedly made the allegation on Tuesday during an interview with reporters in Abuja, shortly after the emergency joint executive session of the National Assembly.

Kazaures colleagues, Nicholas Ossai and Kingsley Chinda, told the House during Wednesdays plenary that the lawmaker accused them of gathering signatures to impeach the president.

He was consequently directed to appear before the House Committee on Rights and Privileges for questioning.

Meanwhile, the House has also resolved to investigate another member, Abdulmumin Jibrin, for allegedly accusing some lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of planning to impeach the President.

Shortly after the joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday in Abuja, Mr Jibrin issued a statement on behalf of lawmakers under the aegis of the Parliamentary Support Group of the Senate and House of Representatives.

In the statement, he faulted the resolutions of the lawmakers and asked the National Assembly leadership to remove the log in its own eyes before removing the speck in the eye of the President.

The lawmaker, who represents Bebeji/Kiru Federal Constituency of Kano, is being probed barely three months after he returned from a suspension which lasted for 17 months.

A Federal High Court has nullified the suspension as illegal and unconstitutional.

Source: NAN

The bridge at the Children’s Amusement Park located at the Ikemba Ojukwu Centre in Owerri, Imo, built by Gov. Rochas Okorocha’s administration has collapsed.

Witnesses at the scene told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri on Wednesday that nobody was killed or injured in the incident.

The incident which caused pandemonium in the area, gave room for criticism by some parents whose children visited the place on May 27 during the 2018 Children’s Day Celebration.

A NAN Correspondent, who visited the scene, reports that the incident occurred after a heavy downpour on Tuesday night.

The bridge, being a major tourism site, has been used to generate funds for the state government.

When contacted, the State Commissioner for Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment, Mrs Ogechi Ololo, told NAN that she had yet to be briefed on the cause of the incident.

Mr Collins Ibe, who witnessed the incident, told NAN that the windstorm that accompanied the downpour might be responsible for the collapsed of the bridge.

Another witness, Mrs Mary Nlemadim, said: “It is unfortunate that this is happening in the state, especially at a place that is supposed to be a recreation centre.

“I thank God that it happened in the night when people were not around; otherwise, there might have been casualties.

“I urge the state government and engineers working on construction projects in the state to be more dedicated and thorough,” she said.

Also, an Engineer, Mr Okechukwu Uba said: “There is need to critically look at all the construction projects going on in the state.

“This is necessary to avoid unnecessary waste of resources, time and human capacity.

“These projects need to get proper approval from professional hands or bodies; they also need to be properly supervised by qualified and experienced personnel.

“Again, they have to be done systematically and not many things at the same time.

“These projects need to be finished up in a tidy manner and subjected to stress tests where necessary, before being opened to the public,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the state Chairman of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Mr Emeka Ugoanyawu, had earlier warned against substandard engineering work in the state.

Also, the National President of Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN) Mr Kashim Ali, had recently faulted the quality of a flyover constructed by the Okorocha administration, located at Orji.

Ali, as a matter of urgency, urged Gov. Okorocha, to stop work on the flyover.

Source: NAN

A Kenya Red Cross vehicle carrying a team headed to join the search and rescue efforts for the missing FlySax plane has been involved in an accident.

The Red Cross vehicle carrying the search team collided head-on with a lorry as it headed for the rescue mission.

Three patients were rushed to the Nakuru General Hospital in critical conditions while eight others were taken to the JM Memorial Hospital in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County.

The Cesna C208 craft, registration number 5Y-CAC, was flying from a Kitale airstrip in Trans-Nzoia County when it lost contact with control tower at 5p.m. Tuesday in the Aberdares.

The plane left Kitale shortly after 4p.m. with eight passengers and two crew members on board and was expected in Nairobi about an hour later.

The missing 12-passenger plane is operated by East Africa Safari Air Express, a subsidiary of Fly540.A statement from the airline acknowledged its aircraft was indeed missing but combined efforts of KCAA, Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) and the Air Accident Investigation Division of Kenya (AAID), had been going on to locate it.

Source: NAN