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    Court grants Badeh permission to travel abroad

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday granted permission to former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh to travel abroad to visit his family and friends.

    The judge, Justice Okon Abang, granted Badeh permission following an application by his counsel, Mr Akin Olujimi (SAN).

    As a result of some reservations by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, (SAN), Abang ordered that one of Badehs sureties must sign an undertaking that he would return to face his trial.

    He also said the surety must deposit his international passport with the court pending the return of Badeh to continue with his trial.

    Jacobs had said that although he was not opposed to Badehs application to travel, he was concerned that no reason was given as to whether he was traveling for medical reasons or holiday.

    Justice Abang adjourned the matter until Oct. 22 to Oct.26 for continuation of trial.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Badeh was earlier re-arraigned on a 14-count charge bordering on fraud, to which he entered a not guilty plea to all counts.

    The former defence chief is standing trial for allegedly abusing his office by diverting N3.97 billion.

    The diverted money is said to have been meant for arms purchase in the face of worsening destructions by Boko Haram terrorists.

    Meanwhile the judge adjourned the case of former PDP Spokesman, Olisa Metuh until July 6 for continuation of trial.

    Source: NAN

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    School feeding: Kaduna teachers eating food meant for pupils

    A has alleged that some teachers in Kaduna state were eating the food meant for pupils in the ongong Federal Governments School Feeding Scheme.

    The School Feeding Field Monitors of the NGO Connecting Gender for Development (COGEN), on Wednesday made the allegation during a town hall in the state.

    Ms Rachael Musa, one of the monitors said during a Town Hall Meeting on the Federal Governments Home grown School Feeding Programme in Kafanchan, Jemaa Local Government, said the ration do not usually go around.

    Musa also said although every child was supposed to be given an egg once week, the eggs do not usually go round because of short supply.

    Similarly, Mr Monday John, another monitor alleged that some politicians were collecting money from food vendors on the ground that they were not members of the ruling All Progressive Congress.

    John also said that some members of the Peoples Democratic Party have equally stopped their children from eating the food, saying it could be poisoned.

    He described the development as serious, and urged those involved to stop the act so as not to sabotage the programme.

    Mrs Esther Gushe, Assistant Head Teacher, Aduwan III Primary School, confirmed that eggs were always in short supply in her school.

    Mr Yakubu Kyari, the Desk Officer of the programme in the local government, said he receives between 300 and 400 crates of egg weekly instead of the 730 crates for the 177 schools in the area.

    Kyari said teachers eating up food meant for pupils have been warned to desist from the act or risk sanction.

    COGEN Head of Programmes, Mr Ebenezer Omolekun, told the town hall meeting that findings by the NGO revealed that one egg is being shared for between two to four pupils in 46 schools, whiletwo pupils share juice and biscuit in 26 schools.

    He explained that the meeting with the theme, Together We Can Build Our LGA and Make it More Prosperous was primarily organised to mobilise communities and stakeholders to monitor the implementation of the school feeding programme.

    He explained that COGEN, with support from MacArthur Foundation is tracking the programme in 60 schools, 20 each in Kaura, Jemaa, and Zangon Kataf Local Government Areas.

    He said that the goal was to ensure successful implementation of the programme in promoting learning, enrolment, retention and completion of primary schools by pupils.

    The official said that similar town hall meetings were organised in Kaura and Zangon Kataf to enlist community support in monitoring the programme.

    What we want is to ensure transparency, accountability and responsiveness by all stakeholders involved in the programme, Omolekun said.

    Also speaking, the Chairman of the Local Council Mr Peter Averik, commended the NGO for supporting the Federal Government initiative and pledged their support because the programme is for the benefit of our children and our community.

    Also, Mr Hosea David, District Head of Ambam Kaninkon, commended the NGO for creating the needed awareness on the programme and enlisting their support to ensure success.

    The News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) reports that 420 schools in the state are being tracked by five NGOs with support from Macarthur Foundation.

    Source: NAN

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    Macron: What happens in the shrine remains in the shrine
    French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday night made the audience at Fela Anikulapo Kutis Afrika Shrine laugh, when he joked that What happens in the shrine remains in the shrine.

    He was asked to relive some of his nostalgia of having been a patron of the Shrine when he worked in Nigeria at the French Embassy in 2004.

    Some of the memories of his six months stay in Lagos he relived when he met President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, including remembering attending a concert by Femi Kuti, Felas first son,

    But he was not ready to go down memory lane on Tuesday night and instead threw the humorous line at the audience.

    WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SHRINE REMAINS IN THE SHRINE - PRESIDENT MACRON

    A post shared by Afrika Shrine (@afrikashrine) on

    In another video of the night posted by Afrika Shrine on Instagram, President Macron was caught, along with host, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, applauding the afro-ballistic performance by Femi Kuti and his Positive Force band.

    Macron challenged Nigerian youths to get involved in politics to change the narrative of the nation.

    Macron, while describing politics as important, said only Nigerians could change their image before the comity of nations.

    The French President gave the challenge at the event tagged Celebrate African Culture.

    He noted that the future of Africa and the task of making it great rested with Africans, saying that the youths have a crucial role to play.

    Africa needs a new generation of Africans to share the new narrative about Africa all over the world, he said.

    According to him, politics is important because it is a tool to change the society.

    Macron described the Afrika Shrine as an iconic place of strength, music, culture and the late Fela as a politician who wanted a change for the society.

    I am very happy to be here. Let me remind you that this place shrine is a music place as well as politics which is needed to change the society.

    So, I will say to the youths, politics is important, be involved, he said.

    Macron also announced the launch of the 2020 African cultures season in France.

    He said the event would help create a unique face for African culture in Europe.

    Earlier, Gov. Ambode said Macrons visit was expected to signal the dawn of a new collaboration between France and Lagos State in the quest to make the state the culture and entertainment capital of Africa.

    Ambode said the event was also about celebrating African culture which was a positive step for France as it sought to rebuild its relationship with Africa.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event had in attendance personalities including, Dr Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra, Chief Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun, Prof. Wole Soyinka,, Sen. Ben Bruce among others.

    NAN reports that the event presented an opportunity for Macron and Ambode to interact with musicians, artists, fashion designers and film makers.

    Source: NAN

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    Macron urges Nigerian youths to join politics

    French President, Emmanuel Macron, has urged Nigerian youths to get involved with politics to change the narrative of the nation.

    Macron, while describing politics as important, said only Nigerians could change their image before the comity of nations.

    The French President, who was accompanied by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, gave the challenge during a visit to the Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, on Tuesday night at an event tagged Celebrate African Culture.

    He noted that the future of Africa and the task of making it great rested with Africans, saying that the youths have a crucial role to play.

    Africa needs a new generation of Africans to share the new narrative about Africa all over the world, he said.

    According to him, politics is important because it is a tool to change the society.

    Macron described the Afrika Shrine as an iconic place of strength, music, culture and the late Fela as a politician who wanted a change for the society.

    I am very happy to be here. Let me remind you that this place shrine is a music place as well as politics which is needed to change the society.

    So, I will say to the youths, politics is important, be involved, he said.

    Macron also announced the launch of the 2020 African cultures season in France.

    He said the event would help create a unique face for African culture in Europe.

    Earlier, Gov. Ambode said the Presidents visit was expected to signal the dawn of a new collaboration between France and Lagos State in the quest to make the state the culture and entertainment capital of Africa.

    Ambode said the event was also about celebrating African culture which was a positive step for France as it sought to rebuild its relationship with Africa.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event had in attendance personalities including, Dr Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra, Chief Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun, Prof. Wole Soyinka,, Sen. Ben Bruce among others.

    NAN reports that the event presented an opportunity for Macron and Ambode to interact with musicians, artists, fashion designers and film makers. (NAN)

    Source: NAN

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    Senate plans state police
    Senate President Bukola Saraki has said the senate plans to amend the 1999 constitution to allow for the creation of state and community police as a major strategy in combating insecurity.

    Saraki said on Tuesday: Today, my colleagues and I in the eighth Senate resolved to begin the process of amending the Constitution to allow for the creation of State and Community Police. This is following our debate on solutions to the killings across the country.

    He told the Conference of State Assembly Speakers that he and his colleagues in the 8th have resolved to begin the process of amending the Constitution to allow the creation of State and Community Police.

    The senate president revealed in a tweet,

    Today, my colleagues and I in the 8th Senate resolved to begin the process of amending the Constitution to allow for the creation of State and Community Police. This is following our debate on solutions to the killings across the country.

    Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki)

    The plan by the Senate comes after years of calls by a section of Nigerians for the creation of state police and debate over the issue.

    Recent killings in several states have revived the debate over state police with several governors lamenting, over time, about their helplessness to provide security for residents of the state.

    In reaction to the killings, the Senate had previously called for more decisive action with some Senators demanding the removal of the service chiefs.

    The decision of the Senate to amend the Constitution in favour of state and community police followed a debate on the killings across the country and in Plateau State after a Point of Order raised by former Plateau Governor, Senator Jonah Jang.

    In his comments, the Senate President condemned the killings once again and said it was necessary for the Senate to condemn it and play its role in ensuring the security of lives and property.

    We have talked about the fact that whether these killings were initial acts of aggression or reprisal attacks, it is clear that either way, it is totally unacceptable and we must condemn it in all totality, he said.

    Secondly, these are acts of criminality and we should not encourage any other colouration to it, be it religious or otherwise. This is criminality. And as such, we have a role to ensure that we must address this criminality to see how we can fight it.

    We have spoken on many platforms and made suggestions to the Executive on the fact that there is a need for an urgent review of the security architecture of the nation.

    Having made suggestions and listened to security agencies over the killings, Saraki said it was important for the lawmakers to do their own part.

    We as the Senate must come up with our own actions. We do not need to flog the issue. We have told the Executive what to do. We have told them privately and we have told them publicly. However, on our own part, we must decide on what we need to do.

    The senate condemned the terrorist attacks, mass killings and displacement of the people and occupation of their homes and farmlands;

    We MUST all put aside our political, personal, and ideological differences and work together to stop the bloodshed, he tweeted.

    UPDATE: Security: Senate Begins Work on Creation of State and Community Police. The Senate President Speaks.

    The Senate President (@SPNigeria)

    Saraki said: The security and welfare of the people is primary purpose of government. This is what the Constitution we all swore to uphold says. At no time whether in the past or in the present is it okay to lose even one Nigerian life.

    Source: NAN

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    Nigeria, France in $475m deal
    Nigeria and France on Tuesday in Abuja signed three agreements worth US$475 million on social amenities and reforestation.

    The agreements cover Urban Mobility Improvement Programme of Lagos State, sustainable water supply in Kano city and reforestation in Ogun.

    President Muhammadu Buhari and the visiting French President Emmanuel Macron witnessed the signing of the agreements during their bilateral talks held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Lagos agreement involved a letter of intent for the financing of urban mobility improvement project through a loan of 200 million dollars.

    The urban mobility project will involve development of eight priority bus corridors connected to the Lagos mass transit network.

    In Ogun, a French firm in conjunction with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority is to mobilise from investors about 200 million dollars for land reclamation to correct the massive degradation of arable land being witnessed in the state.

    Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, who spoke on the signed agreement, said the project aimed to reforest 108,000 hectares of depleting forest in Ogun.

    Amosun, therefore, hailed the signing of the agreement, describing it as very vital to not only addressing climate change challenges and recreating the forest, but also providing employment to the people of the state, among other benefits.

    France, through its foreign development agency, Whence Francaise de Development (AFD), will also extend a credit facility of 75 million dollars towards improving water supply in Kano city.

    The concessional loan is expected to help Kano State Government ensure more residents of the city have access to drinking water while improving the financial viability of the state water board to increase its revenues.

    Addressing newsmen after the signing of the agreements, Buhari and Macron, who addressed a joint press conference at the forecourt of the presidential villa, expressed the readiness of their countries to continue to promote socio-economic interests for the general good of both countries.

    The two presidents pledged to increase the cooperation between Nigeria and France in tackling security challenges occasioned by Boko Haram and ISIS jihadists in Nigeria and the Sahel region of Africa.

    Macron said he was more concerned about how African governments organised themselves to effectively tackle the challenges posed by terrorists on the continent.

    He said: The main plan is an African plan and France is not the one to solve or fix African situations.

    So what we want to do is that we will intervene and maintain our presence in Africa and Sahel to fight against terrorism, especially in Mali and in the region.

    What is important to me is how the different African governments organise themselves to fight against terrorism and get rid of these people and especially, jihadism. That is why I do promote the G5/Sahel Initiatives.

    As far as we are organised, Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon is also very important, it is Boko Haram. I think first we have to increase the operations and the pressure against these jihadists.

    We can fix the situation in the coming months and obviously France will remain present in Africa for as long as they want it.

    On his part, Buhari thanked French government for its support and assistance to Nigerias efforts in combating insurgency and violent extremism in the country and the Sahel region.

    He said already Nigeria had cultivated the culture of friendship with all its neighbours with a view to ensuring security and political stability in the region.

    Source: NAN

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    Update: Najib ex-Malaysia PM charged with theft
    Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was formally charged Wednesday with corruption linked to a multi-billion dollar financial scandal that contributed to his shock election defeat less than two months ago.

    The first ex-premier in Malaysia to appear before a judge, Najib pleaded not guilty to three counts of criminal breach of trust and a separate charge that he abused his position to pocket 42 million ringgit ($10.4 million)

    Each charge could see him jailed for up to 20 years.

    The unprecedented court appearance came the day after the 64-year-old was arrested at his luxury home by officers probing how billions of dollars of state funds disappeared on his watch.

    In court, the former leader appeared tired and hung his head often during proceedings.

    Allegations of massive corruption were a major factor behind the electoral earthquake in May that toppled Najibs long-ruling coalition and ushered in a reformist alliance headed by his 92-year-old former mentor Mahathir Mohamad.

    Wednesdays court hearing was the latest step in a quick-moving investigation into alleged wrongdoing by Najib, his family and many of his close political and business allies.

    Najib is the first (former) prime minister ever to be charged in court in the history of Malaysia, said Tian Chua, vice president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, a key political party in the current ruling coalition.

    It signals a new era where no one in public office will be immune from punitive action if they abuse power, he added.

    Najib is expected to be freed on bail later Wednesday after the court decided on at one million ringgit bond.

    The former premier was also ordered to surrender his two Malaysian passports.
    Attorney General Tommy Thomas, who leads a 12-member prosecution team, had requested bail of four million ringgit in cash, but Najibs lawyer Muhammad Shafee insisted his client was not a flight risk.

    The court set a tentative date for the trial, beginning in February 2019.

    According to an investigation by the Wall Street Journal, $10.6 million originating from SRC International Sdn Bhd, an energy company that was originally a subsidiary of 1MDB, was transferred to Najibs personal bank accounts, a fraction of hundreds of millions of dollars from 1MDB that was allegedly funnelled to him.

    Najib and the fund deny any wrongdoing.
    *AFP

    Source: NAN

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    0_1530653897229_Bukola-Saraki.jpg

    Hundreds of angry youths on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly protesting allegation of budget padding by the lawmakers and demanding resignation of Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    Police quickly locked the gates to prevent the crowd from gaining entrance but the protesters were able to unlock the gates and entered the premises.

    0_1530653970036_Protesters-1-at-NASS.jpg

    The police managed to curtail the situation.

    The protesters are also demanding the resignation of Senate President Bukola Saraki to face trial over his implication in the Offa robbery.

    0_1530653979292_Protesters-at-NASS.jpg

    They said that the constituency projects injected in national budget by the lawmakers was for self-enrichment.

    The protest is facilitated by Citizens Action to Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN)

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    Embattled Plateau relaxes curfew
    The Plateau State government has relaxed the curfew it imposed on three local government areas in the state in the wake of the attacks that left at least 100 dead.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Rufus Bature, announced the decision in a statement on Monday.

    Bature said that the relaxation of the curfew was due to the relative peace and calm that is gradually returning to Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas.

    The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong has approved the relaxation of the earlier dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on the areas from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. with effect from today, Monday, July 2, 2018, he said in a statement.

    This comes nine days after suspected herdsmen raided villages in Barkin Local Government, killing scores, burning over 50 houses, and causing panic and tension in the state.

    A day after the killings, on June 24, the state government imposed a curfew on Barkin Ladi and two neighbouring LGAs Jos-North and Riyom to forestall reprisals and the breakdown of law and order.

    The attacks had attracted widespread criticism and led to the deployment of special forces to the state.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Nigerian Governors Forum as well as former President Olusegun Obasanjo all paid condolence visits to the state.

    Although the state government believes that relative peace and calm have returned to the affected areas, it urged residents to show restraint.

    Citizens are advised to exercise restraint as they go about their legitimate activities without fear of any form of molestation and to remain calm and report any suspicious movement to the law enforcement agents, the SSG said.

    Source: NAN

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    Governor, others face trial over graft
    Governor Sospeter Ojaamong of Busia County in Kenya and nine of his officials are to face trial over corruption, abuse of office and conspiracy to steal public funds.

    Kenyas top prosecutor on Tuesday ordered that the governor face charges in the countrys anti-graft campaign.

    Noordin Haji said evidence presented by the national anti-corruption agency was enough to prosecute Ojaamong, the governor of Busia County, and nine other officials accused of helping him to steal millions of Kenyan shillings in public funds.

    The prosecutor said in a statement he had instructed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to arrest all of the suspects and have them brought before court.

    Ojaamong was not immediately reachable for comment.

    As with some other scandals involving alleged corruption by government officials, the case is based on evidence of suspicious procurement practices for a public works project that was never completed.

    The project in Busia involved a solid waste management system.

    The prosecutor said in June that several recent investigations by the EACC had gaps and lacked strong evidence, forcing him to return the cases to the agency for further work.

    In Tuesdays statement, Haji said the investigation into the governor had been resubmitted to his office in June.

    It had gaps that, in my opinion, if not covered would not have sustained a credible prosecution, Haji wrote in a text message.

    The government led by President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was re-elected in 2017, has said it is undertaking a renewed push to tackle graft.

    The charging of dozens of civil servants and business people over the past two months suggested an attempt to fight corruption through prosecution, but the countrys track record on that front is poor.

    Kenyan media have reported on more than a dozen corruption scandals involving state agencies and officials since Kenyatta took power, but there have been no convictions of high profile figures, according to a Reuters review of the cases. (Reuters/NAN)

    Source: NAN

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