Italian athletes topped the rankings of drug cases in 2016, the World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA) revealed Thursday in its annual report.

The international doping watchdog said Italian athletes accounted for 147 anti-doping rule violations in 2016, the most recent year for which full figures are available.

French athletes accounted for the next highest number on the list with 86 cases while the United States was third with 76. Australia were fourth with 75 and Belgium fifth with 73.

Russia and India were next with 69 cases each.

Athletics had more cases than any other individual sport with 205, ahead of bodybuilding with 183.

Cycling was third with 165 cases while the drug-tainted sport of weightlifting was fourth with 116.

Football moved up to fifth in the rankings with 79 cases, though the total number of cases was smaller than 2015, when they reported 108 cases.

In total, WADA dealt with 1,595 doping rule violations across 112 sports in 2016, down from 1,929 cases in 2015.

A total of 1,326 rule violations arose from positive drug tests, while the remainder were derived from investigations and evidence-based intelligence, increasingly seen as a key weapon in the war on dope cheats.

We are continuing to see the impact of intelligence-based testing, an area of increasing focus for the Agency as we strengthen our investigations and intelligence-gathering capacity, WADA President Craig Reedie said in a statement.

While in- and out-of-competition testing remains critical to detecting doping, recent events have shown that investigative work is becoming ever more important as we look to protect clean athletes rights worldwide, he added.

Source: NAN

The President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki has led other senators to visit their colleague, Senator Dino Melaye at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Melaye was admitted at the hospital on Tuesday after being arrested by the police and attempted to be taken to Kogi to be paraded in court along with some suspected criminals.

The circumstances surrounding the hospitalisation of the senator are still unclear and some of his colleagues who tried to visit him on Tuesday and early Wednesday reported that the police prevented them from seeing their colleague.

However, the President of the Senate, following a resolution on the floor of the senate, led a powerful delegation to the hospital to see their colleague and ascertain his state of health.

The senate had adjourned plenary on Wednesday following a two prayer over the arrest and humiliation of one of them.

The decision of the Senate followed a motion moved by Senator Sam Anyanwu over the arrest of their colleagues. An yanwu had decried that the police refused he and other colleagues from seeing Melaye at the hospital.

However, the prayer that the senate adjourn was moved by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa who insisted that there was no need for the senate to sit about and debate when the health condition of their colleague was unknown.

He insisted that it was not only when a colleagues dies that the senate should adjourn but that the senate must adjourn over life threatening situations such as this.

The prayer was seconded by Senator Sunny Ugboji and adopted by the senate and the senate thereafter adjourned plenary.

The senate also adopted the motion that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, briefed the senate in plenary on Thursday.

As at the time of filing this report, the President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki as well as his colleagues had departed the National Assembly complex to go and visit their colleague.

Speaking, the President of the Senate said that the Senate leadership was very concerned about the turn of events surrounding the arrest and humiliation of their colleague.

Saraki said that he had already sent the Deputy Leader of the Senate to go and visit Melaye at the National Hospital Abuja.

We as leadership are very concerned, Deputy leader and others have been sent to look for Dino Melaye. But it has gone beyond that and I can appreciate the emotions that have passed.

The IGP should brief us tomorrow.

I want to thank those who contributed. At times like this it is difficult to speak the truth because this is a violation on one, a violation on all of us, a violation on the institution and a violation on democracy.

This action is a threat to the democracy we are all fighting for,

We are about to go into an election period, and if these are the kind of excesses we will see from those responsible to protect us, then it is a cause for concern.

We must all condemn this action, we should not be spending our energy on things like this, he said.

Saraki added that since the incidence, he had been trying to reach the Police IGP to no avail, adding that is smirks of disrespect to him and to the institution of the Senate.

I have not been able to reach the IGP and that is a disrespect, not only to me as an individual but to the institution of the Senate.

This must stop. There are procedures and there are ways.

We will go and ascertain Dinos state of mind and find a solution to this problem, he said.

Speaking earlier, Senator Chukwuka Utazi challenged his colleagues to speak the truth at all times insisting that it doesnt matter if the senator in question was liked by all.

According to him, it could be Dino today and someone else today, adding that the action was an affront on the institution and on democracy.

He charged his colleagues that anyone who refrained from speaking or who supports the actions of the Police was not acting in the interest of Nigeria.

Senator Shehu Sani who gave soul searching sermon called on his colleagues and all arms of government to be mindful of their actions while they are in power as power would not always remain in their hands.

He stressed that the right things must be done by all who are in position of authority so that posterity would judge them faily.

Shortly before the senate adjourned, the delegation that was earlier sent to the National Hospital by Saraki returned to brief the upper legislative chamber.

Deputy Leader of the Senate Bala Ibn NaAllah who led the delegation told the house that they were able to speak with the doctor in charge as well as the medical director of the hospital.

The assurance we have is that they are doing what is possible to stabilize him. Currently he is in the intensive care unit and they are doing all they can to stabilize him.

We tried to see him but the instruction is that only Senator Kaka and Abu Ibrahim have the permission to see him.

There is one issue that is worrisome: his feeding is an issue, the Police is afraid to feed him, the National Hospital also expressed reservation about feeding him, but before we left we had a discussion on how to feed him.

It was agreed that if there is a way they can arrange for food from any source but the source must taste the food first.

There is an insistence to remove him from the National Hospital but the hospital has insisted that the police must sign an undertaken before he can be removed, he said.

Source: NAN

As was expected, the Nigerian Senate cut short its plenary session today to visit embattled Senator Dino Melaye at the National Hospital in Abuja.

It also summoned the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to appear before it on Thursday to face its scrutiny over the treatment of one of their members, Dino Melaye.

This happened after many of the Senators had taken turns to attack the Police and the executive for what they termed as the ill-treatment of the senator representing Kogi West in the upper chamber.

The swash-buckling and voluble Melaye turned himself over to the police on Tuesday, to face trial for allegedly supplying arms to two thugs in his home state of Kogi. But while he was being taken to Lokoja for trial, he jumped out of a police vehicle, in traffic, after two Hilux vans had blocked the police vehicle.

According to the video in circulation, the police were cautious in applying maximum force and allowed those thay called miscreants and hoodlum, to take him away, in an ambulance to a clinic in Mabushi area of Abuja. Moments after, the police came calling again to remove him to the National Hospital, with a promise to arraign him without any further delay.

He was initially declared wanted after he snubbed a court appearance on 28 March in Lokoja, the same day, the two two thugs, then in police detention vanished dramatically from their cells.

The police got another trial date for May, after re-arresting the suspects, along with four others.

But Melaye snubbed police invitations, until he was arrested by the Nigerian Immigration Service on Monday morning at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, while preparing to board a flight to Morocco, for what he called a Federal Government assignment.

On Wednesday, it was Senator Sam Anyawu who first spoke on the incident that occurred yesterday, saying that Melaye was treated as a common criminal. Anyanwu also told his colleagues that he and some other senators were denied access to Dino in the National Hospital.

Senator Chukwuka Utazi said Melaye has rights and throwing a jibe at the police, said coercion will not work.

Due process should be followed if anyone seeks to oppose.

It was only an allegation against Senator Melaye and since the matter is still in court, he should not be forced to go to Kogi, Senator Isah Misau, himself a former police officer, said.

Senator Aliero Adamu condemned the manner of Melayes arrest. He said the SARS(the Special Anti-Robbery Squad) of the police embarrassed the distinguished senator as he was like a common criminal.

If this can happen to a serving Senator, Democracy is being rubbished,Aliero said.

Senator Shehu Sani, the human rights activist in the chambers stated his concern about the state of the country and that all should remember there is no permanence in power.

What happened to Senator Dino Melaye is an abuse of power, Sani said.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu from Lagos also condemned Melayes arrest and she was also against the arrest of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, last week by the police. If Senators Melaye and Ovie Omo-Agege can be taken away by the police, it destroys the sanctity of this chamber, she submitted.

The people look to the Senate for protection. The average man needs protection just as we do, Tinubu, who is the wife of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress added.

We did not vote this Government to abuse democracy. I condemn shameful act totally. We should invite all those involved to speak to us and this case openly to the public, Senator Ubali Shitu suggested.

At the end of the contributions, Senate President Bukola Saraki said: I think that the information Senate Leader wanted to pass, is that this morning, we were very concerned and we have sent our Deputy Leader out to go and look for him, but with the motions that I can see, it has gone beyond us sending representatives.

I can appreciate the motions that have transpired in that area. The issue of the IGP briefing us should be immediate and that should be tomorrow and the DG and Chairman of Police should do that, Saraki added.

Moments after, the Senate shut down to visit Melaye in the National Hospital, Abuja.

Source: NAN

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has called for the regulation of campaign finance of political parties in the country.

Mr Paul Atser, INEC Administrative Secretary in Kwara made the call on Wednesday at the opening of a two-day training workshop on Campaign Finance Tracking and Reporting for INEC staff.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the zonal workshop was attended by INEC staff in North Central states comprising Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Kwara and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Atser agreed that money and other resources were required for the running of political parties and for candidates and aspirants to fund their campaign.

However, in a society such as ours, there is the need for regulations to be put in place to regulate the undue influence of money in politics, he said.

The administrative secretary said it would also prevent subversion of the will of the people through the use of money.

Atser expressed worry about the overbearing influence of money in politics as exemplified in some recently conducted elections.

The creation of Campaign Finance Tracking unit in the Department of Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) is part of efforts at tracking this worrisome trend.

The provisions in this regard in the Constitution, I believe, have been well thought of in order for stakeholders to uphold the supremacy of the constitution, Atser added.

He said that INEC had been charged by the constitution to monitor political campaigns and provide rules and regulations which should govern the conduct of political parties.

The commission is also charged with the responsibility of monitoring the organisation and activities of political parties, including their finances.

It is in the light of this that the workshop is significant particularly as it relates to the monitoring of political parties finances, Atser said.

He said campaign finance tracking and reporting would curtail money laundering, provide level playing ground for all parties and ensure accountability and transparency.

It will also curtail the use of state resources to unduly support or undermine a particular political actor or party.

It is, therefore, a welcome development that the capacity building of INEC staff is being embarked upon for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the law as it is in the Constitution, Electoral Act and guidelines for political parties, Atser said.

Prof Antonia Simbine, National Commissioner in Charge of Election and Party Monitoring, in her address, said the commission did not have enough capacity to carry out the monitoring of campaign finance.

She however, said that INEC would collaborate with other agencies of government like the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), ICPC, EFCC and CBN to effectively track campaign finances.

Simbine said that the constitution provided a limit to campaign fund during election, adding that every elective position had a limit to which they could spend for campaign.

The National Commissioner expressed the hope that whatever INEC was able to track and report during elections would be forwarded to relevant government agencies and took the next step in the discharge of its duties.

She noted that there was a lacuna on what should happen to report of campaign finance, adding that it was the responsibility of INEC to track and report them.

Source: NAN

Unemployment: NILDS recommends agric villages for job creation

The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILS) has recommended the establishment of agricultural villages to create jobs and the boost food production.

Director General of NILDS, Prof. Ladi Hamalai disclosed this at a one-day agro-investment policy dialogue with legislators in the House of Representatives as well as researchers.

Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Hamalai noted that there has been some growth in agriculture in the past years.

She however lamented that the growth, as little as it may be, has not translated into job creation adding that Nigeria must take fast steps to translate agriculture into jobs and into food.

For Hamalai, she suggested the establishment of agricultural villages will not only attract youths and thereby creating jobs but will also help provide adequate food especially in view of the projected population growth by 2050.

Nigeria may be World most populous country in 2050 and we stand a huge risk if we dont grow agriculture through agric villages so as to create jobs.

The Federal Government should partner donor agencies to create agricultural villages to attract youths to come into agriculture.

We can establish them in all the geo political zobes. Even if it is one that can be established, youths and investors will come in and it will grow from there.

We also need to link research with policy and policy implementation using the agric villages to drive the implementation, she said.

She expressed optimism that the National Assembly will assist the institute in passing the right laws that will drive the policies.

Speaking at the Dialogue, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Agricultures, said that the meeting will provide a platform for partnership between the National Assembly and Research communities.

He said that Nigeria was yet to fully utilize the opportunities that abound in agriculture and its value chains.

Less than 40 per cent of Nigerias 84 million hectares of arable land are cultivated while over 19 million youths remain unemployed.

This may be as a result of underdeveloped agricultural value chain, weak institutions, gross underfunding, policy inconsistencies, poor infrastructure, unconducive operating environment among others.

This dialogue will afford the legislature and researchers to interact and discuss the various findings from research carried out by NILDS and other partners.

Budgetary allocations to the agricultural sector has been less around 2 per cent for several years and this is a far cry from the 10 per cent bench mark in the Maputo Declaration, he said.

He added however that the 2018 budget captures investments in the agricultural value chains adding that it was important that more funds be devoted to agriculture.

Source: NAN

Thirty-four state chairmen of the Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), in what political pundits termed a big blow to the Uche Secondus led PDP.

And the ceremony was held at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, contrary to the statement by the publicity secretary that they should join the party in their wards.

Among the former PDP big guns that joined the APC were Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki and Sen. Teslim Folarin.

The defectors were led to the APC National Secretariat, Abuja by Dr Cairo Ojougboh where they were received by the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

Ojougboh, who was the Deputy National Chairman of the Sheriff faction of the PDP, said the decision of the defectors to join the APC had been on for seven months.

Odigie-Oyegun, who received the defectors in company of governors of Kaduna, Kano and Kogi states and the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) Boss Mustapha, described the development as the first in the history of the party.

This is the first time this magnitude of event is happening since the amalgamation of the party and since the APC came into being.

It is the first time we are receiving a total party with all the structures all over the nation fusing into the APC.

We have three of our Governors from three of our most potent states and the SGF to be here and to receive you all, because seeing is believing, he said.

Odigie-Oyegun added that the movement of the defectors to the APC gave lie to the fact that PDP was a vigorous and leading party, adding that people did not join a losing party.

He advised the defectors to ensure that they formally register as members of the party at the ward level, assuring that they would be accorded same privileges like old members.

Fortunately, you are men and women of quality, attainment and achievement, and so it will be easy for you to fit into your proper place and role in APC Odigie-Oyegun said.

He, however, gave the defectors the partys Constitution to study and for them to be abreast with it.

Sen. Uzodinma, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, thanked the APC leadership for accepting them into the party.

The Senator represents Imo west in the Senate.

We have seen the goings on in our country.

We think that as a country, it would take the very good sense of judgment and the participation of all of us to solve the problems of our people and develop our country.

We are here, officially, to let everyone know that we are now collapsing into APC.

We ask for only one thing, the enabling environment and equal participation which you had graciously approved, Uzodinma said.

He added that the coming of the defectors was deliberate, saying that it was to become part of the population of the APC and part of governance of the country.

He also said that their entrance into APC would change the narrative for the better and in the interest of their people.

Gov. Umar Ganduje of Kano state, who also spoke at the occasion, said the defection was historic because the most accepted faction of the PDP joined APC.

It is our luck that we are taking the better part of PDP, he said, adding with the new entrance, APC was sure of victory in 2019 general elections.

He assured that being politicians of repute, the new members were in a familiar terrain.

Source: NAN

Dr Cajetan Iheanacho, Department of Mass Communication, Imo State University, Owerri, has urged media practitioners to expose incidence of underage voting to enhance the integrity of electoral process in the country.

Iheanacho made the call at a two-day workshop on Responsible Media Coverage of Elections, organised by the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), and facilitated by Hammersmith Training Consult L.t.d, on Thursday in Owerri.

He stressed the need for the media to ensure thorough coverage of process of election at the Polling Units to guide against electoral fraud, adding that media must play the role of watchdog to salvage the nations democracy.

Iheanacho, who said that the role of the media in ensuring credible elections could not be overemphasised, urged Journalists to change the face of the political terrain in the country.

Speaking on the paper titled, Media Core Roles in the Context of Elections, the lecturer said that no nation could function effectively without the media, adding that the media was crucial for nation building.

He, therefore, enjoined journalists to help in making ways for things to change for the general improvement of the Nigerian citizens by ensuring neutrality, fairness, objectivity and impartiality in their daily reportage.

Iheanacho also admonished media professionals to give equal coverage to all political parties and candidates during campaigns.

He stressed the need for newsmen to always verify allegations against political actors before going to press.

Similarly, he advised journalists to avoid publishing inaccurate or misleading information, saying ensure to scrutinise any information you have before publication.

In her remark, Mrs Stella Jubrin, Director, Research and Documentation, NPC, stressed the need for media practitioners to adhere strictly to the Code of Ethics of Journalism to counter hate speech.

She noted that media professionals had a responsibility to build and nurtured the nations democracy by providing platforms for citizens to make informed decisions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 70 persons are presently attending the workshop; most of them were drawn from the print, broadcast and online platforms across five states in the South East region.

Source: NAN

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has ordered a speedy retrial of the case between NFF President Amaju Pinnick and embattled NFF Factional leader, Chris Giwa, at the Federal High Court Jos.

Delivering the judgment, the Supreme Court held that the Appeal Court which gave judgment in favour of Pinnick after the High Courts ruling in 2015 which favoured Giwa, did not follow the principles of law in giving its decision.

It affirmed that it is only the High Court that can rule on the substantive case.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Giwa is contesting the authenticity of the Pinnick-ledExecutive of the NFF and has dragged the matter to the apex court having already lost out at the Appeal Court.

It would be recalled that Giwa was elected as NFF President in August 2014 in Abuja, while Pinnick was given same mandate at a separate congress held in Warri, Delta State, on Sept. 30 the same year.

Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Zurich, Switzerland later ruled in favour of the Pinnick-led board.

The latest development may truncate Nigerias participation at the Russia 2018 World Cup after been drawn in Group D alongside Croatia, Iceland and Argentina because FIFA detest government interference or court cases in football administration.

Source: NAN

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Dr Cajetan Iheanacho, Department of Mass Communication, Imo State University, Owerri, has urged media practitioners to expose incidence of underage voting to enhance the integrity of electoral process in the country.

Iheanacho made the call at a two-day workshop on Responsible Media Coverage of Elections, organised by the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), and facilitated by Hammersmith Training Consult L.t.d, on Thursday in Owerri.

He stressed the need for the media to ensure thorough coverage of process of election at the Polling Units to guide against electoral fraud, adding that media must play the role of watchdog to salvage the nations democracy.

Iheanacho, who said that the role of the media in ensuring credible elections could not be overemphasised, urged Journalists to change the face of the political terrain in the country.

Speaking on the paper titled, Media Core Roles in the Context of Elections, the lecturer said that no nation could function effectively without the media, adding that the media was crucial for nation building.

He, therefore, enjoined journalists to help in making ways for things to change for the general improvement of the Nigerian citizens by ensuring neutrality, fairness, objectivity and impartiality in their daily reportage.

Iheanacho also admonished media professionals to give equal coverage to all political parties and candidates during campaigns.

He stressed the need for newsmen to always verify allegations against political actors before going to press.

Similarly, he advised journalists to avoid publishing inaccurate or misleading information, saying ensure to scrutinise any information you have before publication.

In her remark, Mrs Stella Jubrin, Director, Research and Documentation, NPC, stressed the need for media practitioners to adhere strictly to the Code of Ethics of Journalism to counter hate speech.

She noted that media professionals had a responsibility to build and nurtured the nations democracy by providing platforms for citizens to make informed decisions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 70 persons are presently attending the workshop; most of them were drawn from the print, broadcast and online platforms across five states in the South East region. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Rukayat Adeyemi

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is to chair the 22nd Convocation Lecture of the Lagos State University (LASU) as the institutionplans students graduation forMay 23 and May 24.

The universitys Spokesman, Mr Adekoya Martins, made the disclosure in aninterview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

Martins said that arrangements for 2016/2017 Convocation were in top gear.

He said that Obasanjo would be the Chairman of the Convocation Lecture to be delivered on May 22 by Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission.

According to the spokesman, the lecture is entitled: Role of Education in Promoting Social Cohesion and Peace: Opportunities and Challenges for Nigeria.

He noted that LASU held convocations in March, saying that the 2018 edition was rescheduled due a nationwide strike by non-academic university workers.

NAN reports that the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the National Association Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) embarked on an indefinite strike on December 4, 2017 under the aegis of Joint Action Committee (JAC).

The union blamed the strike on governments non-implementation of some parts of an agreement it had with JAC on Sept. 20, 2017.

Following understanding JAC had with agreement the government, the workers, however, suspended the strikeon March 15.

Martins told NAN that activities heralding the convocation would beginon May 17.

He told NAN that the convocation cup competition for staff would take place on May 17, Jumat service, May 18 and a special thanksgiving service, May 20.

There will be Coconut Breaking Festival and command performance on May 21, according to Martins.

The official told NAN that award of first degrees in all faculties would take place on May 23 while higher degrees and honorary doctorate degrees would be awarded on May 24.

Source: NAN

By Glory Abuh-Adejoh

The National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Friday ordered the Kogi Government to pay a civil servant, Ameh Onoja, whose salary was stopped in March 2014.

Onoja had approached the court to seek redress when he was told that his salary was stopped because he had attained the compulsory retirement age.

Justice David Isele in his judgment, held that evidence before the court showed that the claimant had not reached the mandatory retirement age of 60.

Isele also said neither has the claimant spent 35 years in service as required by civil service rule before retirement.

The court went further to order the restoration of the claimants monthly salary of N153,298 from March, 2014 till date within one month.

Daniel Onuh, the claimants counsel told the court that his client was born on Oct. 1, 1960.

Onuh also said the claimant joined the civil service in 1983 as a class teacher with the Benue government and in 1995 transferred his service to Kogi.

Onuh said his client is still serving as the Vice Principal (Academics) of Ogugu Community Secondary School, in Olamaboro Local Govt. Area of Kogi State.

He said since no disciplinary action has been instituted against the claimant for any misconduct, and he has not received any dismissal letter, he is entitled to his salary from when it was stopped till date.

Also joined in the suit are the Kogi Civil Service and Ministry of Justice.

Source: NAN

By Blessing Ibegbu

A housewife, Mrs Sandra Ekpa, on Friday begged an Upper Area Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, to dissolve her three-year-old marriage because her husband allegedly practices juju and also denies her sex.

Ekpa told the court that her pastor husband, Gideon Adejoh, had ruined their marriage and killed the love she had for him.

She said that she married Adejoh on April 18, 2015 according to native laws and custom of the Igala people in Kogi.

She said that the union was blessed with a child.

Shortly after our marriage, my husband began to do awful things in the house like practicing juju and seeking extra-powers.

In addition, my husband stopped having sex with me ever since I gave birth to my baby, who is a year and six months old now.

I have made all efforts to see that he changed for good but all proved abortive, rather he kept telling me to pack and go if I cannot stay.

The divorce-seeking woman told court that there was no longer love in the marriage and as such I cannot continue again because I have lost the love and affection I had for him.

She pleaded for immediate dissolution of the marriage and for the court to grant her custody of the only child from the union.

Ekpa also asked the court to compel the respondent to pay her N30, 000 monthly for the childs upkeep.

However, Adejoh denied the allegations, pleading with court to give him time to enable him and his wife to discuss and appraise the issues.

The Presiding Judge, Mr Ibrahim Shekarau, adjourned the case until May 3 to allow the parties settle out of court.

Source: NAN

A Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court on Friday sentenced 30-year-old man Musa Jimoh to five strokes of the cane for stealing a standing fan.

The Judge, Mohammed Marafa, however, warned Jimoh, who was charged with one count of theft, to be of good behaviour and to desist from committing crime.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Babajide Olanipekun, had told the court that Jimoh dishonestly stole a Binatone standing fan from Peace Mass Transit Company, Mpape, Abuja, on April 8.

Olanipekun said that Jimoh took the fan to Byazhin Kubwa, Abuja, in an attempt to sell it but was caught and arrested on April 10 and the fan recovered from him.

He said that the offence contravened Section 286 of the Penal Code.

Jimoh pleaded for leniency, saying that he stole the fan in order to use the proceeds to travel for his late mothers burial.

Source: NAN

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki has visited the female Sergeant-at-Arms, Mrs. Sandra Davou who was assaulted during the invasion of the Senate on Wednesday.

The Senate was invaded on Wednesday by hoodlums suspected to have been led by the suspended Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, and the mace which is the symbol of authority of the senate was snatched and stolen from the complex.

Mrs Davou who bravely stood her ground to protect the sanctity of the senate and its staff of authority, was assaulted by the hoodlums who also attempted to kidnap a senator before making their way out of the complex.

The President of the Senate who was in Washington DC at the time to attend some of meetings by the World Bank and IMF, just returned and went to the home of the brave staffer to pay her a visit.

Saraki was accompanied on the Visit by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu.

See Pictures from the visit below:

While in Washington, Saraki condemned the attack while commending his colleagues in the Senate and others in the House of Representatives for standing up in solidarity to defend democracy in Nigeria.

He also called on the security agencies to ensure that the culprits are brought to Book.

Meanwhile, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who was alleged to have orchestrated the attack and was arrested by the police on the day of the attack, has been released.

The Senator also got an injunction from the court preventing the Police, DSS and the Attorney General from arresting him or ordering his arrest.

Source: NAN

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will be the guest of US President Donald Trump on 30 April in Washington, the White House announced on Sunday.

According to the statement, Trump will discuss issues such as promoting economic growth and fighting terrorism with Buhari.

The relationship of the United States with Nigeria is deep and strong, and Nigerias economic growth, security, and leadership in Africa will advance our mutual prosperity, the statement said.

Nigeria has been combating the terrorist organization Boko Haram since 2009.

The State Department under Trump approved the sale of 12 high-technology attack planes and equipment worth $600 million to Nigeria last year after the Obama administration halted the sale because of accusations that Nigerias air force was bombing civilians.

The scheduled meeting will be the second between the two leaders. Last year September, the two leaders met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, during a luncheon Trump held for a select group of African leaders.

President Buhari who came to power in 2015, announced last week Monday, that he plans to seek reelection in 2019.

The Nigerian leader who left Abuja for the U.K. On Monday, will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit which begins in London on 18 April and ends on 20 April.

Source: NAN

The Federal Government has reacted to the barrage of attacks by some of the named treasury looters and has gone further to name 23 others, most of them members of the Peoples Democratic Party.

In a press statement, Minister of Information and Culture, ALhaji Lai Mohammed said the list of alleged looters which Government released on Friday was based on verifiable facts, including the amount involved, the date the amount in question was collected and from where it was taken.(Read

Mohammed, also said those complaining that the list was too short apparently did not understand that it was strategically released as a teaser.

At the press conference where the list was released, I did say it was a tip of the iceberg. Apparently, this does not mean anything to people whose style is to comment on issues they barely understand, or
just to shoot down anything coming from the government, he said, adding that the Federal Government has a large number of alleged
looters on its list.

Alhaji Mohammed slammed the PDP for daring to challenge the Federal Government over an issue that the party knows is its weakness: Looting
of public treasury.

What was the PDP expecting when it challenged the FG to name the looters of the public treasury under the partys watch? Did the PDP actually believe that the massive looting under its watch was a joke?
Did they think it is April Fool? he queried.

The Minister said the PDPs reaction to the looters list has shown that its recent apology is an election-induced act, contrived to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians to vote for the party in the 2019 general election, even when it has not come clean on its looting spree during its time in office.

The hysterical and panicky reaction from the PDP has shown that the party is not at all sincere about its choreographed apology. Were it not the case, the party would have followed in the footsteps of one of its leaders, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, who simply owned up to his role in the partys rigging in the past elections and said he had turned a new
leaf.

It is said that a true confession is done in humility with an attitude of repentance. It is clear that the PDP does not know this,
hence its resort to hubris instead of humility and genuine penitence, he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the Federal Government will neither be intimidated nor blackmailed into silence, adding that it will also not
rest until all those who looted the public treasury have been brought to justice.

SECOND BATCH OF ALLEGED LOOTERS AND THE AMOUNT ALLEGEDLY EMBEZZLED

1. Former NSA Sambo Dasuki: Based on EFCC investigations and findings
   alone (this is beside the ongoing $2.1billion military equipment
   scandal), a total of N126 billion, over $1.5 billion and 5.5 million
   British Pounds was embezzled through his office. A good number of
   these monies were simply shared to persons and companies without any
   formal contract awards.

2. Former Petroleum Resources Minister Dieziani Alison-Madukwe: In
   just one of the cases the EFCC is investigating involving her, about
   N23 billion is alleged to have been embezzled. She is also involved in
   the Strategic Alliance Contracts of the NNPC, where the firms of Jide
   Omokore and Kola Aluko got oil blocks but never paid government taxes
   and royalty. About $3 billion was involved. The Federal Government is
   charging Omokore and Aluko and will use all legal instruments local
   and international to ensure justice.

3. Rtd. Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah: N13.9 billion. N4.8 billion
   recovered by EFCC in cash and property

4. Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika: N4.5 billion. N29m recovered by the EFCC so far.

5. Alex Barde, former Chief of Defence Staff: N8 billion, and EFCC recovered almost N4 billion in cash and property already.

6. Inde Dikko: former CG Customs: N40 billion, and N1.1 billion in cash recovered in cash and choice properties.

7. Air Marshal Adesola Amosun: N21.4 billion. N2.8 billion recovered in cash. 28 properties and 3 vehicles also recovered.

8. Senator Bala Mohammed, former FCT Minister: N5 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.

9. Senator Stella Oduah: N9.8 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.

10. Former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu: N1.6 billion from NSA.

11. Senator Jonah Jang, former Plateau State Governor: N12.5 billion.

12. Bashir Yuguda, former Minister of State for Finance: N1.5 billion. $829,800 recovered.

13. Senator Peter Nwaboshi: N1.5 billion

14. Aliyu Usman: Former NSA Dasukis aide: N512 million

15. Ahmad Idris: Former NSA Dasukis PA: N1.5 billion

16. Rasheed Ladoja: Former Oyo Governor: N500 million

17. Tom Ikimi: N300 million

18. Femi Fani-Kayode: N866 million

19. Hassan Tukur, former PPS to President Goodluck: $1.7 million

20. Nenadi Usman: N1.5 billion

21. Benedicta Iroha: N1.7 billion

22. Aliyu Usman Jawaz: Close ally of former NSA Dasuki: N882 million

23. Godknows Igali: Over N7 billion

Source: NAN

John Yusuf, the pension thief who five years ago, was given a slap on the wrist by Justice Abubakar Talba of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, for stealing N32.8billion police pension money, has finally gotten his deserved sanctions.

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal Abuja Division, headed by Justice Abdul Aboki, on Wednesday jailed him six years and also asked him to refund N22.9billion.

Justice Talba had sentenced him to two years in jail, with the option of paying a fine of N750,000. The judgment triggered national outrage.

The ruling by the appellate court was the climax of the appeal by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which on April 26, 2013 approached the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the lower court.

The five grounds of the appeal, bordered on the exercise of discretion of the Judge in imposing sentence on the respondent who pleaded guilty to the three count charge, in which he admitted converting an aggregate sum of over N24 billion of Police Pension fund into his personal use.

The EFCC asked the Appeal Court to decide whether the trial judge exercised his discretion judicially and judiciously when having convicted the respondent of a three count charge of conversion of over N3billion contrary to section 309 of the Penal Code, His Lordship imposed two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N250, 000 on each of the three counts.

Yusufs lawyers on 10 June 2015 raised a preliminary objection on the competence of the appeal for which they argued that the notice of appeal was filed outside the mandatory 90 days and therefore in contravention of s. 24(2)(b) of the Court of Appeal Act, 2010 (as Amended) and therefore urged the Court to dismiss the appeal.

The Justices of the Court of Appeal, dismissed the preliminary objection on the grounds that; Having considered the computation of time volunteered by both parties, the question to be answered was whether the day the Judgment of the trial court was delivered was to be inclusive in the computation of the mandatory 90 days for which a notice of appeal was to be filed?

That the day the Judgment of the trial court was delivered being the 28January, 2013, was not to be included in the computation of the 90 days.

That since the day of the Judgment is not included, the 90 days starts running from the 29January, 2013 and the 90day will fall on a Sunday.

That by virtue of s. 15(2) of the Interpretation Act CAP 123, where the last day is a holiday, the counting shall continue until the end of the next following day which is not a holiday.

That since the 90th day was a Sunday and by virtue of s. 15 (5) of Interpretation Act, a Sunday is a holiday, the next day which the notice of appeal was filed is within time, hence the appeal is competent and is therefore allowed.

Ruling on the substantive matter, the Justice Emmanuel Agim, who delivered the unanimous judgement of the Court of Appeal held that the three counts involving the respondent (Counts 17, 18 and 19) clearly stated the amounts for which the appellant alleged that the respondent converted for his personal use.

The judges ruled that since the respondent pleaded guilty to the three counts and thereby admitted to the conversion of an aggregate sum of about N24billion to his personal use, the judgement of the lower court was light, lenient and the fine unreasonably low.

They therefore ruled that the sentence of the lower court, does not serve as deterrence to both the convict and others. Consequently, they ruled that the sentence is hereby quashed and deserves to be reviewed as follows:

*on Counts 17, the Respondent is hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment with an addition of fine of N20billion Naira;

*on Counts 18, the Respondent is hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment with an addition of fine of 1.4billion Naira;

*on counts 19, the Respondent is hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment with an addition of fine of 1.5billion Naira.

The prison sentence will run consecutively and the fine is to be cumulative.

In a related development, the Supreme Court on March 9 dismissed the appeal by Onyia Ifeanyi, seeking to upturn his conviction and sentence to 7 years imprisonment on November 28, 2013 by the Federal High Court Enugu presided over by Justice M.L. Shuaibu ( as he then was) for the offence of obtaining by false pretence and being in possession of documents containing false pretence.

Dissatisfied with his conviction, the appellant had lodged an appeal against it at the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the decision of the trial court.

Still not satisfied with the decision of the appellate court, the convict proceeded to the Supreme Court. The apex court in a unanimous judment on March 9, affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal

Source: NAN

One insurgent has been killed in a successful operation to repel rampaging Boko Haram at Gamboru-Ngala in Borno.

Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement said that several others fled in the operation.

Chukwu said: troops of 3 Battalion on operation LAFIYA DOLE had successfully repelled Boko Haram terrorists attack at Gamboru Ngala, Borno State.

One Boko Haram terrorist was neutralised during the encounter while other members of the group fled following a superior fire power from the troops.

Unfortunately, one soldier lost his life during the attack.

Chukwu disclosed that the troops recovered one Rocket Propelled gun, seven tube, one Anti Aircraft gun, two AK 47 rifles and two empty magazines.

The army spokesman called on the people to cooperate with troops, provide useful and timely information to security agencies. (NAN)

Source: NAN

In a bid to create awareness for the prevention, early detection and control of cancer, the Founder-President, Wellbeing Foundation Africa, Mrs Toyin Saraki, hosted key stakeholders to a meeting to review the cancer assessment report.

The meeting which held in Abuja brought together Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; the Vice-Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Senator Clifford Odiar; the West Africa Regional Director, Amref, Dr. Sylla Thiam; the Country Director, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, Mitchelle Akande; among others.

The Rapid Assessment of the Prevention and Control of Cancer in Nigeria report, is a collaborative study undertaken by the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, with support from Amref Health Africa.

Speaking at the vent, Mrs Saraki who is the wife of the President of the Nigerian Senate, told the stakeholders that she was optimistic that the review meeting will proffer solutions that can key into the National Cancer Control Plan.

I want to thank everyone who has made this event possible, and I believe that those of us present can harness our wealth of knowledge to key into the National Cancer Control Plan.

We must teach our people and engage them to stop high risk behaviours, and to be best positioned to detect cancer at the early stage, when it is most cost-effective to treat.

The biggest challenge in development is transforming global goals and national goals into grassroots actions.

I would want to quote Margaret Meade in saying we must never doubt the power of a small group of people united with a common purpose; and our purpose is to prevent cancer, detect cancer, and provide infrastructures to be able to respond to the needs of our people in relation to all types of cancer.

I would like to again thank everyone present; Amref Health Africa for your partnership and the Federal Ministry of Health for giving civil society such a role in taking the traction from what you have begun, she said.

Mrs Saraki who was recently named by Devex as a Global UHC Champion and Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) urged the stakeholders to come up with recommendations that will help address the problem of cancer in Nigeria.

Also speaking at the opening of the meeting, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that the government was currently pushing to strengthen the training of cancer-related healthcare workers.

He said that it was the plan of government to improve infrastructure and strengthen service delivery for cancer care, including prevention and palliative care.

We welcome inter-sectoral collaborations, as well as partnerships with local and global stakeholders in order to improve awareness and information on preventive practices, as well as encouraging early diagnosis and management of all cancers, he said.

Dr. Sylla Thiam of Amref, she commended Wellbeing Foundation Africa for carrying out the study, stressing that the timing was very apt considering that the disease has taken a toll on the country.

Source: NAN

Fire on Saturday razed the two-storey building of Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM), few weeks before the Local Government Election in the state.

The election in the 23 LGs and 255 wards has been scheduled for May 12.

Eye witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the huge fire was noticed around 11: 24 a.m. on top of the building located along Sokoto Road, GRA, Kaduna.

Ibrahim Musa told NAN the huge flames followed a thick smoke that was noticed from the top floor of the building earlier.

The cause of the fire had yet to be ascertained, even as fire fighting officials were seen putting out the fire.

The Agency had said it procured six thousand electronic machines and card readers for the May 12 LGs elections.

As at press time, Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs Saratu Dikko, who arrived at the commissions premises with other officials, declined to comment.

Source: NAN