By Moji Eniola

Mr Victor Okpara, the defence counsel of Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans has said the ongoing strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has stalled the trial of his client.

Evans was scheduled to continue his defence on Wednesday before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court for the alleged kidnap of Mr Donatus Dunu, the Managing Director of the Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Speaking to the the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Okpara said that Evans had opened his defence and testified that he was innocent of all the allegations levelled against him by the state.

He has testified before the court as to his innocence regarding all the charges leveled against him as contained in the charge sheet.

The matter was adjourned until April 14, for continuation of trial, because we have some other witnesses who are to corroborate what he has said but we cannot go on due to the strike, he said.

Okpara, however, noted that though the ongoing strike by JUSUN had stalled the case, but said that the demands of the judicial workers was for the overall good of the judiciary.

JUSUN is fighting for the financial autonomy of the judiciary which every right thinking lawyer should actually support.

We cannot say our judiciary is truly independent when they are tied to the apron strings of the executive and they usually go cap in hand asking for money, he said.

Okpara said though that every defendant has a right to have his day in court as provided in the 1999 Constitution, the most recent delay in the case is caused by unforeseen circumstances.

NAN reports that Evans was arraigned before Justice Oshodi on Aug. 31, 2017 on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping alongside five co-defendants.

His co-defendants are Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba.

According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly kidnapped Dunu along Ilupeju Road, Lagos on Feb. 14, 2017 and collected 223,000 Euros as ransom from his family.

The trial has been delayed due to Evans changing his legal representation five times and most recently, the ongoing JUSUN strike which began on April 6.

Four prosecution witnesses including Dunu testified during the trial on behalf of the state.

As at the time of filing this report, no new date has been given by the court for the continuation of the trial due to the strike. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Aderogba George

The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) says no fewer than 1.2 million children in Nigeria are yet to be immunised.

The figure accounts for about six per cent of 20 million children globally who are yet to be vaccinated.

Mrs Folashade Adebayo, UNICEFs Communication Officer, made the disclosure in Yola on Wednesday, at an ongoing Media Dialogue On Routine Immunisation, Post Polio Certification and COVID-19 Vaccination.

The meeting was organised by The Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in collaboration with the UNICEF.

According to science.org.au, immunisation is described as the process whereby people are protected against illness caused by infection with micro-organisms, formally called pathogens.

The term vaccine refers to the material used for immunisation, while vaccination refers to the act of giving a vaccine to a person.

Adebayo said that over 20 million children in the world are not immunised, adding that, about six per cent of them are in Nigeria are basically missing out on vital vaccines.

According to her, there is a need to report more stories on poor immunisation rates in Nigeria to wake parents up to do the right thing for their children.

Adebayo said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had also disclosed that Nigeria is the country with the highest number of under five-deaths in the world.

She said that this position really called for serious attention on the part of the parents to take the issue of immunisation of their children serious at this point time.

Improving survival and well-being of our children matters most here, the direct or underlying cause of 45 per cent of all deaths of under five children is immunisation.

Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunted children in the world, 2.7 million other children are wasted.

Also the COVID-19 pandemic and measures to contain it are worsening, she said.

She, however, called for change in the narrative on the part of the parents, adding that, governments and other relevant agencies must also play their key role to achieve better results. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Paris St Germain (PSG) reached the Champions League semi-finals despite a 1-0 home defeat by holders Bayern Munich, on Tuesday, as they progressed on away goals.

This was after a 3-3 aggregate result in a thriller that was on a knife edge until the final whistle.

Bayern striker, Eric Choupo-Moting scored the only goal before the interval, but it was not enough to overturn the German sides 3-2 loss in last weeks first leg.

Mauricio Pochettinos PSG side, who struggled at times in Munich, had the clearest chances but lacked efficiency, with Neymar hitting the woodwork twice and Kylian Mbappes speed proving tough to handle, but with no end product.

PSG kept their composure in a nerve-wrecking finale to book a last-four spot against Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund, who play on Wednesday, as they aim to reach the final for the second year in a row in their third semi-final appearance.

Bayern eventually paid for the absence of injured talismanic striker Robert Lewandowski and forward Serge Gnabry, who had tested positive for COVID-19, while PSG managed to live without captain Marquinhos and influential midfielder Marco Verrati.

Normally, my team has so much quality in the final third, but today they were lacking that final punch.

We have to accept that, even though we would have liked a different outcome, said Bayern coach, Hansi Flick, who added that he would decide on his future at the club at the end of the season

Now were in the semi-finals and we can dream big, said Neymar.

Pochettino added: We were very focused. It was a really tough match Im really happy because the players deserve big credit. To win and qualify for the semi-finals is an amazing moment for us.

PSGs home form has been a cause for concern this season, but this time they did not freeze and proved extremely dangerous on the break throughout the match.

Without the injured Marquinhos, Danilo started alongside Presnel Kimpembe in central defence for the French champions, while Bayern were also without Leon Goretzka in the midfield.

Bayern applied the pressure early on, but PSG threatened on the counter with Mbappe and Neymar having the early chances in an error-strewn start.

The visitors had their first attempt in the 25th minute when Leroy Sanes curled short from outside the box went just wide.

PSG came then close on a quick break as Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer denied Neymar in a one-on-one after the Brazilian had been found unmarked by Mbappe.

Neymar was at it again three times in a handful of minutes with a powerful shot that Neuer deflected onto his post, a superb curled effort that crashed against the bar and another attempt that hit the post after he was played through by Mbappe.

But Bayern then went in front as Choupo-Moting headed home after PSG keeper Keylor Navas deflected David Alabas shot into the path of the former PSG player, giving the German champions the lead on the night five minutes before the break.

PSG went close again early in the second half when the excellent Angel Di Maria controlled Mbappes cross and sent the ball past a flying Neuer across the goal only for Neymars stretch to come up inches short as he tried to slide it home.

Mbappe thought he had equalised in the 78th minute after being played through by Neymar from just inside Bayerns half, but a VAR review confirmed Italian referee Daniele Orsatos decision to rule it out for offside.

Flicks team created danger in the box repeatedly in the closing stages but the home defence held firm as PSG avenged last years 1-0 final defeat by Bayern.

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Stephanie Onusiriuka, a 10-year-old gold medalist in Gymnastics has appealed for support to enable her to realise her dream of participating in the Olympics.

The gymnast, who represented Anambra at the National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin, won a gold medal in Aerobics, a silver medal each in Floor and Best-All-Round category and a bronze medal on Beam exercise.

Onusiriuka, who is also participating in the National Sports Festival for the first time, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Wednesday that she was excited about the victory.

I feel very happy because this is my first National Sports Festival.

Though I was scared of the other opponents at some point because they were doing double back, double Arabian and falling.

In the next 10 years, I see myself in the Olympics but I ask the government to give us better equipment so that I can be able to do my double back myself, she said.

Amaka Onusiriuka, Stephanies mum who has been present with her daughter for over a week at theevent, appealed for financial support to help the gymnast realise her dreams.

I feel so happy and proud, because I have been supporting her all this while, taking her to the gym and helping her build her talent.

The Anambra state government is doing its best for the sports festival but Stephanie actually needs more support for her to go for her training tours outside the country.

This support Anambra state is giving is just for the National Sports Festival and thats where it ends so every other thing comes from her parents.

I see Stephanie winning medals in the Olympics before or in the next 10 years.

But I would need people to sponsor her trips and her competitions because she won a gold medal when she went to South Africa two years ago at just eight years old and it was all from my pocket, no support from anybody.

I feel if anybody is willing to support her and make her dream come true, we would really appreciate it.

She has four countries to tour beginning from June; Seychelles, South Africa, U.S. Dubai ( UAE) and she also has other competitions.

If anybody sees the talents she has and is willing to support her, we will appreciate it, she said.

On his part, her coach Tony Asuquo promised that any investment on the gymnast would not go to waste.

We are going to Seychelles and we are going to South Africa for a training tour in the University of Pretoria.

We have a competition in Boston and another one in Dubai, if the pandemic allows but all we need for Stephanie the support.

Anybody that is ready to support her, any sport loving Nigerian that can invest in this girl (Stephanie), your money will not be a waste, I promise you.

She is only 10 years old and she is already performing an Olympic standard skill in that class.

Stephanies parents are not that rich to sponsor her here and there but I believe we have Nigerians that can do this for us, Asuquo said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

There is increased security presence in Benin ahead of the closing ceremony of the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) on Wednesday evening, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

This is seen in an increase in the presence of security personnel, even though NAN could not get the figures of those involved.

The security measure may not be unconnected with the expected arrival of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo who is to declare the festival closed.

A NAN Correspondent who monitored the situation in the town reports that security personnel were strategically positioned along Airport Road and Akenzuwa Road.

These roads lead to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, venue of the closing ceremony.

NAN also reports that these security personnel were particularly noticeable in front of Golf road junction, off Airport road, which leads to the Edo Government House.

They have also been stationed at Akenzua road and Stadium road.

It was also noticed that more security men had been deployed to the Stadium premises as well as its main bowl.

Though there has been presence of security personnel since the commencement of the festival on April 2, but this Wednesdays situation is different.

The increase in the number is expectedly as a result of the closing ceremony which will normally see an increase in the attendance of the occasion by some dignitaries.

NAN reports that three Nigeria A-Class artistes, Franchise, Joeboy and Teni have been lined up to spice up the closing ceremony of the 20th NSF.

The ceremony will last for just three hours, as from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

NAN reports that the 20th NSF which had suffered several postponements finally got underway on April 2, with the official opening ceremony held on April 6. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

A generation of athletes could miss out on going to the Olympics if the Tokyo Games are cancelled or postponed again, Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, has warned.

Coe notes that the organisation of this years Tokyo Olympics is taking place in incredibly challenging times.

But he added there were several COVID-19 protocols in place and the organisers were working hard to reassure the Japanese locals.

There will not be a remote possibility of a postponement again, Coe said on Wednesday.

That will be a cancellation and the athletes who we are working absolutely flat out from around the world to provide this competition would have probably, for a generation of them, missed the opportunity to go to a Games.

He added it was going to be a different type of Games for the athletes even when the Games are held in July, with sightseeing not allowed to happen this year. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Officials say 20 nursery school children died in Niger Republic on Tuesday in a fire that trapped them in straw-hut classrooms.

There were 20 deaths, most of them young children, said the head of Nigers fire service, Col. Bako Boubacar.

He said the origin of the fire in Niamey was unknown.

An official of a Nigers teachers union said the school in the popular Pays Bas neighbourhood had around 800 students, including children in the nursery section.

The fire apparently started around the school gate. Without an emergency exit, many were trapped and students were forced to scale the wall to escape.

Those that died were mostly children in the preschool, Mounkaila Halidou said.

Authorities had arrived at the scene and launched an investigation, the government said. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Nnamdi Onochie, has taken his peace building initiative to traders in Onitsha and other parts of the South East, asking them to embrace peace to make Nigeria stand.

This is contained in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Onochie had since last month been paying advocacy visits to prominent Nigerians, including traditional rulers and associations, to persuade them to preach unity and oneness among Nigerians in their various domains.

Last month, he was at the palace of the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman, to persuade the traditional ruler to sensitize his subjects on the need for Nigeria to remain an indivisible entity.

Onochie, speaking when he paid a courtesy visit on the Chairman of Onitsha Amalgamated Traders Association, Chief Nnanyelugo Ekwegbalu, pleaded with the traders to rise and stand with Nigeria at its moment of need.

He noted that the support of traders was needed in the effort to pull Nigeria out of its current travails, saying that unity of purpose was needed to make Nigeria to rise again.

Onochie, however, advised the government to take immediate steps to provide a conducive atmosphere for market men and women to thrive in their businesses.

He pointed out that the hallmark of good governance was the enthronement of a congenial environment that would give confidence to local and foreign investors to do business in Nigeria.

Nigerians need a country where traders will not be harassed or intimidated by anyone, including security agents.

Prosperity of the business class can only be achieved by freedom to operate and engage in fruitful and legitimate ventures. We need peace and unity to achieve these goals.

The multi-lingual politician disclosed that he planned to visit community leaders in the five South Eastern states to advocate peace and to ask traditional rulers to prevail on their subjects to have faith in one Nigeria.

Onochie noted, however, that sustainable peace could only be achieved in Nigeria when every ethnic group respected equity, fairness, justice and fair play as necessary ingredients for national cohesion.

The PDP stalwart noted that the founding fathers of the party had envisaged enduring unity in the country with Article 7, Section 2, Sub-section C of the partys constitution, which mandated zoning of all the partys and government positions.

The same provisions are akin to the Federal Character law inserted in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Both provisions provide a buffer of unity, equity and fairness, a bedrock of all federal and multi-ethnic societies.

He argued that the political parties, especially the two dominant ones, should zone their presidential slots to Igbo-speaking areas of the country during the 2023 elections to give the people a sense of belonging in the Nigerian project.

Also speaking, Ekwegbalu said that Onitsha traders would always support a united and indivisible Nigeria, noting, however, that traders in Onitsha expected the presidency to be zoned to Igbo-speaking areas in 2023.

He appealed to government to introduce policies that would help traders to overcome current hardships facing them, including unfavourable exchange rates and multiple taxations by government agencies. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kingsley Okoye
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the nomination of Dr Halilu Shaba as the Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency.

The confirmation followed the presentation and consideration of a report of the Committee on Science and Technology by the Chairman, Sen. Uche Ekwunife (PDP -Anambra Central) at plenary on Wednesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on March 2, asked the Senate to confirm Shaba as DG NASRDA.

In the letter, Buhari urged the lawmakers to give his request an accelerated consideration.

Ekwunife, while presenting the report said the nominee had shown evidence of more than 21 years of post-doctoral research experience in space science, six years above the minimum requirements to be appointed director general of NSRDA.

She said the nominee was cleared by the Nigerian Police, Department of State Security Services (DSS) as eligible for appointment.

Ekwunife maintained the nominee provided evidence of tax clearance and code of conduct acknowledgement slip.

She said the committee was ultimately satisfied with the qualifications, performance and suitability of the nominee for the position.

The committee is convinced the nominee is eminently qualified to hold the position he is being nominated for and accordingly hereby recommends him for confirmation of Senate, Ekwunife said.

The Senate, after a voice vote confirmed the nomination of Halilu Ahmad Shaba for appointment as Director General of NSRDA.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, says revenue distributed at Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) is generated by Federal Government agencies.

The minister fielded questions from State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

She faulted recent allegations by Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo that Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) printed N60 billion in March to support federal allocation to states.

The governor was also reported to have said that the economy was in dire condition due to huge debt burden.

The issue that has been raised by the Edo State Governor for me is very, very sad because it is not a fact.

What we distribute at FAAC is revenue that is generated and the FAAC revenue distribution is public information and we publish it.

So, it is the revenue generated by the FIRS, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the NNPC that we distribute at FAAC. So, it is not true that we printed money to distribute at FAAC.

On borrowing, Ahmed said that Nigerian debt was within sustainable limits.

According to her, what is needed is to improve the nations revenue to enhance its capacity to service not only our debt obligation but also to service the needs of running government on a day to day basis.

So, our debt currently at 23 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is at a very sustainable level.

You can look at the reports that you see from multilateral agencies; those facts are stated.

The minister said that her ministry presented a memo to FEC on behalf of the FIRS.

She said that the memo sought councils approval for award of contract for the construction of the FIRS building at Ilupeju Medium and Small Tax Payers Office in the sum of N539 million inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT.

Ahmed said the completion period of the project was 52 weeks.

The Ministry also presented on behalf of NCS a memo that was seeking for the councils approval for the design, construction and supply of two NC 36 M Monohull patrol boats in the sum of N5.06 billion inclusive of five per cent VAT with a delivery period of 12 months.

We also presented a memo again on behalf of the NCS for the approval of Council for the design, construction and supply of seven fast assault boats and seven regular patrol boats at the sum of N501 million inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT with a delivery period of eight weeks.

The purpose of purchase of these two types of patrol boats is to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of operations of the NCS in its bid to control smuggling and also ensure enhance efficiency of Customs duty operations in the marine unit of the NCS.

We also presented again on behalf of the NCS a request for councils approval and council approved the procurement of 427 operational vehicles for the NCS operations in favour of various contractors in the combined sum of N14.55 billion inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT with a delivery period of four weeks, she said.

She said there were several contractors, including Wada Motors, Elizade Motors, Westwood Motors and Globe Motors, providing different category of vehicles that are meant for field operations of the NCS. (NAN)

Source: NAN News