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    Lagos by-elections: INEC cautions against vote buying, others

    From Left-Mr Sam Olumekun, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, INEC Supervisory National Commissioner and Mr James Popoola, INEC Administrative Secretary in Lagos at a news conference ahead of Saturdays Lagos East by-elections

    By Yemi Adeleye

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday cautioned politicians against vote buying, food sharing and other activities capable of buying the conscience of voters at polling units duing Saturdays Lagos East by-elections.

    Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, INEC Supervisory National Commissioner in charge of the by-elections, told newsmen in Lagos that the commission would not tolerate any act that would discredit the polls.

    Answering questions on how the commission intended to tackle vote buying, Ogunmola said that though INEC was not a security agency, it had done quite a lot in ensuring that the menace was reduced.

    We are in collaboration with EFCC and ICPC and some other security agencies in ensuring that people that perpetrate such acts were brought to book.

    The issue of making use of food at the polling units will be prevented. It was observed in Edo election and we tried to prevented it in Ondo.

    The same thing we are going to do here in Lagos because that is one way of ensuing that people pay for their pay masters, Ogunmola said.

    According to him, the recent governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States were huge success and the commission is prepared to raise the bar in Lagos by-elections and others.

    He said that though INEC was making efforts to stop vote buying at the polling units, it could not stop the vote buying before the elections.

    The INEC commissioner added: It is something that appears to be difficult to curb. We can only do our best to prevent it on election day.

    A bar has been set and it is the intention of INEC not to go below that bar and that is why we are engaging with all the stakeholders to ensure that these elections will be recorded as the best so far in the history of elections in Nigeria.

    We will put all hands on deck to ensure credible and transparent elections in Lagos, he said.

    Ogunmola said that INEC always factored imperfections of previous elections to perfect subsequent ones, hence so much had been done to ensure Lagos by-elections were credible and acceptable polls.

    According to him, the non-observance of physical distancing and face masks have done away with through proper enlightenment and engagement of voters at the grassroots.

    We also want to discourage the use of marked face masks in which a group of people using the same type of face masks. This is suggestive of the intention to perpetrate some irregularities and we frown at this.

    We are also engaging with security agencies to ensure that we are able to conduct free, fair and credible elections by tomorrow, Ogunmola added.

    He said that the security agencies had also assured the commission of raising the bar.

    Ogunmola said: We have all agreed that the only thing that can happen to the electoral processes is for it to be improved upon so that this will rub off on the entire society.

    INEC together with the security agencies will be able to encourage Nigerians to do the right things at all times.

    If we are able to get the election right, then a lot of things will change for the better. I want to assure you that INEC is fully prepared for tomorrows and we do hope we will be able to record huge success.

    On voter apathy, INEC commissioner said that the electoral body had been trying its best to encourage people to come out en mass to exercise their franchise.

    Ogunmola, who urged people to make informed decision during the polls, said their safety would be guaranteed by the security agencies. (NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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    Army decorates newly promoted officers

    COAS decorating one of the newly promoted officers

    By Sumaila Ogbaje
    The Nigerian Army on Friday decorated 39 newly promoted Major Generals with their new ranks.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the decorated generals were among the 136 senior officers recently promoted to the rank of major general and brigadier general by the army authorities.

    Among them are the Acting General Officer Commanding, 7 Division, Maiduguri, Maj.-Gen. Kalif Ibrahim and the Acting General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, Sokoto, Maj.-Gen. Aminu Bande.

    Also decorated is the Acting Provost Marshal, Maj.-Gen. Hussain Ahmed.

    While congratulating the newly decorated generals, the Minister of Defence, Retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, urged them to hold their heads high and remain responsive in the discharge of their constitutional duties.

    Magashi said the officers gained the promotion as reward for hard work, dedication and loyalty to the constituted authority.

    He also urged them to see their new rank as a call to make more sacrifice in the defence of the country.

    He said the Federal Government was committed to boosting the morale of the officers in terms of welfare and proper equipment.

    I urge you to justify the confidence reposed in you by working hard to rid the country of the prevailing security challenges, he said.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, urged the new generals to do their best in protecting the country within the confines of the constitution and rules of engagement.

    He said their promotion was well-deserved, while warning that the authority would not tolerate any form of indiscipline and disloyalty.

    Buratai also warned them against hobnobbing with politicians and lobbying for appointments.

    According to him, if they must lobby, they must lobby only the chief of army staff with hard work, discipline, excellence, loyalty and professionalism.

    I challenge you to maintain state of fitness and be ready to show fitness in leading your troops and also pay attention to the welfare of your subordinates.

    There is much work to be done and some of you are in the theatre of operation while some of you can also find yourselves there, he said.

    The Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Lt.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, urged the newly promoted generals to be firm in decision making and mentoring.

    Adeosun said that all 2-star generals were decision makers, adding that they must ensure that whatever advice they offer must be appropriate.

    You are all answers by the authority of the rank you are wearing and you cannot afford to make careless mistakes, he said.

    Adeosun urged the senior officers to pay attention to mentoring rather than godfatherism, adding that mentorship was seriously lacking in the system.

    The Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen. Usman Yakubu, said that Nigerian Army had ensured that only worthy and qualified officers and soldiers were elevated to higher ranks as and when due.

    Yakubu said that the officers were promoted based on their professional competence among other requirements.

    He said that several officers of the rank of Brigadier General were presented before the board, adding that the board found the 39 officers worthy in character and competence.

    Source: NAN News

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    First Lady urges strategic partnership to end GBV

    Aisha Buhari

    By Ahmed Ubandoma

    First Lady Aisha Buhari has called for strategic partnership to end the raising cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against women and girls in Nigeria.

    She made the call on Friday at a Seminar to mark the 2020 United Nations UN Womens campaign for 16 days of activism against GBV in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised by the Secretariat of the African First Ladys Peace Mission in collaboration with the office of Nigerias first lady.

    The theme of the Seminar is The first lady as leader and mobiliser of women and youths for peace building, conflict Resolution and Resilience in the Post COVID-19 Era.

    Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women Affairs and Administration, Dr Hajo Sani, the first lady charged the wives of governors to expedite action to protect the rights of women and girls in their states.

    As a Mother, I feel a sense of duty to make my contribution by sharing ideas with first ladies in the states who will eventually cascade the messages of the seminar to women and youth in their respective states.

    Many young people are now at risk of being left behind in education, economic opportunities, health and wellbeing during a crucial stage of their life.

    This is evidenced in the anger, protests, and demonstrations happening around the world as well as the violence, to which most victims are women and the youths themselves, she said.

    She, however, expressed the need to engage the women and youths for greater opportunities and peace building.

    We, therefore, have a duty to mobilize women and youths for peace building, community conflict resolution and resilience.

    Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic and its social and economic impact have created a global crisis unparalleled in history.

    Women and young people are particularly vulnerable to the disruptions the pandemic has caused, she said.

    On her part, the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, urged stakeholders to join hands with the ministry to ensure sustainable progress on the programme of the girl-child education.

    Tallen, who was represented by Mrs Jummai Idonije, also said the ministry will continue to create enabling environment for the girl-child to achieve their potentials.

    We must individually and collectively continue to emphasize education of the girl-child and promotion of second chance education to address societal vices.

    Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, urged the wives of the governors to always engage the youths in positive conversations.

    Dabiri-Erewa expressed the need for the youth to be encouraged to participate in politics.

    As mothers we need to mentor them, we in the diaspora commission look forward to working with the wives of governors to tap from the experiences of our youth in diaspora, she said.

    In her remark, the Chairperson of the Governors Wives Forum, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, said the forum appreciated the role of the first lady in supporting efforts to check violence against women and children.

    Fayemi, however, said governors wives make giant stride in promoting the girl-child education and protection of the rights and privileges of women and youths in their respective states.

    She, therefore, urged participants to partner with the forum to support the advocacy against GBV.

    NAN also reports that the UN Womens Generation Equality campaign is amplifying the call for global action to bridge funding gaps, ensure essential services for survivors of violence during the COVID-19 crisis.

    The UN report says, even before COVID-19, violence against women and girls had reached pandemic proportions.

    The report indicates that 243 million women and girls were abused globally by an intimate partner in the past year, while less than 40 per cent of women who experience violence report it or seek help. (NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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    Appeal Court affirms death sentence for Maryam Sanda

    Court symbol

    By Edith Nwapi

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Friday, upheld the conviction and death sentence that was handed to Maryam Sanda, daughter-inlaw to a former Chairman of the PDP, Mohammed Haliru.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Stephen Adah, who read the decision on behalf of the three-member panel of justices held that the trial judge was right in his decision.

    I have gone through the record before the court and I am fully certain that the learned trial court did not engage any investigation outside the evidence before it, he said.

    The appellant did not point out where the trial judge went out of the scope of his duties to carry out an investigation.

    He said the word investigation used by the lower court was taken out of context by the appellant.

    The judge also held that ingredients of the offence were clearly established as it is required.

    He held that where there are no organic facts leading to get the cause of death, circumstances surrounding the death can be the best proof of what is being alleged in a case.

    He added that the trial court rightly considered the facts and circumstances of the case before it concrete enough to secure the conviction of the appellant.

    We have no choice also in the face of these convincing situations that the conclusion of the trial court cannot in light of the facts in the face of the records before us be faulted, Adah held.

    Having resolved all the issues against the appellant, it is our conclusion that this appeal is lacking in merit and the appeal is hereby dismissed.

    Then that of the trial court delivered on the 27 day of January 2020 is affirmed and also the conviction and sentence handed down by the trial court are also affirmed.

    Sanda and three others were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on culpable homicide.

    She was convicted andsentenced to deathby hanging on January 27, 2020, by Yusuf Halilu, the trial judge.

    Haiku held that She should reap what she has sown, for it has been said that thou shall not kill and whoever kills in cold blood deserves death as his own reward,

    Convict also clearly deserves to die, accordingly I hereby sentence Maryam Sanda to death by hanging until she dies.

    Aggrieved by the death sentence, Sanda approached the appellate court, seeking to upturn the judgment.

    In a notice of appeal predicated on 20 grounds, the appellant through her legal team described the judgment of the trial court as a miscarriage of justice.

    She submitted that the judge relied on circumstantial evidence as there was lack of confessional statement, absence of murder weapon.

    She added that there was lack of corroboration of evidence by two or more witnesses and lack of autopsy report to determine the true cause of her husbands death.

    She also submitted that the trial judge erred and misdirected himself by usurping the role of the police when he assumed the duty of an investigating police officer (IPO) as contained in page 76 of his judgment. (NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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    WHO supports treatment of 301 mental health patients in Borno

    who

    By Yakubu Uba

    World Health Organisation (WHO) says it supported the treatment of 301 mental health patients and referred 12 others for further management in Borno from January to November 2020.

    Dr Henry Nwanja, the WHO Public Health Officer, Emergency Programme, North East, made this known in Maiduguri on Thursday while handing over the Borno Psychiatric Hospital, rehabilitated by WHO to Borno Government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the hospital was vandalised by insurgents in 2013.

    Nwanja said ever since then, the hospital has been non-functional and totally dilapidated until 2019 when the government approached WHO to facilitate the reconstruction, equipping and restoration of healthcare services at the hospital.

    He added that WHO, through the European Union, made funds available for the restoration of services at the health facility.

    He noted that the rate of common mental disorders doubled by 20 per cent in Borno because of violent conflicts.

    The WHO public health officer stressed the need to scale up mental health interventions to meet urgent needs as the capacity of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Maiduguri, currently serving the entire North East is over stretched.

    He said in response to that, WHO has been supporting the clinical management and referral of mental health cases from communities and primary healthcare facilities through the Mental Health Gap Action Programme.

    The Chief Medical Director of Borno Hospital Management Board, Prof. Mohammed Arab, lauded WHO for the intervention and assured the organisation of proper management of the facility.

    Arab said that the 48-bed capacity hospital has two wards with pharmacy, therapy and social welfare sections, among others.

    Gov. Babagana Zulum, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Rehabilitation, Resettlement, and Reconstruction, Abdulkarim Abdulrahman, also commended WHO for its sustained support to healthcare delivery in the state.

    The governor, however, called for support to establish similar facility in each senatorial district of the state. (NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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    NAF will continue to train personnel to meet global trends  CAS

    Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal, Sadique Abubakar

    By Sani Idris

    The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, has restated his commitment towards training the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel to meet global trends.

    Abubakar stated this on Thursday at a workshop on transformational leadership in Nursing for head nurses of health facilities in the NAF and at NAFs School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine in Kaduna.

    Abubakar was represented by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Air Training Command of the NAF, AVM Musa Mukthar.

    He said the training of personnel to meet global trends was part of the desire of the current NAF leadership to reposition the service into a highly professional and disciplined force.

    The Air Force, being a highly technical service, requires skilled able personnel with sound mind and good health to operate, maintain and support its array of platforms and equipment for optimum exploitation, he said.

    According to Abubakar, in achieving the objectives of repositioning NAF, the medical specialty is key to ensuring that personnel maintain healthy lifestyles to enable them carry out assigned tasks in fulfillment of the constitutional roles.

    Training and re-training of personnel across all specialties is vital towards the attainment of organisational objectives.

    With the current trend of globalisation occasioned by modern technology, NAF has made a paradigm shift towards its operations in view of numerous transformations occurring in various fields, including the medical.

    He said that medical personnel, especially Nurses, required training and re-training to meet up with modern medical trends which relates to handling of patients.

    Abubakar further stated that the global security trend being experienced would require leaders who would think outside the box to proffer solutions to some of the challengse.

    Abubakar stressed the need for members of the Armed Forces to continue to support the Federal Government in its policy thrust towards improving the economic, social and political development of the country.

    This can only be achieved by improving and transforming our leadership styles at all levels; the workshop
    organised today is geared towards ensuring you acquire the requisite knowledge and skills as Nurses.

    He implored participants to exhibit high level of discipline, proficiency, hard work, loyalty, patience and perseverance while placing service before self which forms the core values of NAF.

    He thanked the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria for their support and cooperation towards the improvement of nursing services and education in the NAF.

    Earlier, commandant of the NAF School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine, Air Commodore Glenn Nkanang, had said that a total of 65 participants reported for the programme.

    He added that in the past few years, a lot had been achieved towards the full takeoff of the school which made the
    Midwifery Council of Nigeria to grant provisional accreditation to it.

    He thanked the CAS for establishing the school and approving the conduct of the programme, noting that he had
    showed enormous interest on the school and had taken giant strides towards ensuring its success.

    He also thanked the CAS for approving the payment of accreditation fees to some regulatory bodies and renovation of temporary site for the takeoff of the College Medical Sciences for the schools. (NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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    Maiden Epe Heritage Festival holds Dec. 20

    Babajide Sanwo-Olu,Lagos State Governor

    By Idris Olukoya

    Scores of supernatural artistes, comprising magicians, illusionists, contortionists and others with extraordinary talents, will converge on December 20 for the Epe Heritage Festival in Lagos State.

    Otedola 10dollar, organiser of the festival, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Epe that the show would open up the entertainment industry in the coastal city.

    He said that Epe Heritage Festival would be a world class supernatural and magical entertainment show in Nigeria.

    Otedola said that the supernatural sector of the entertainment industry was huge with enormous human potential but added that magical entertainers were limited.

    I am, therefore, using this platform to showcase the talented magical entertainers to the world and bring new innovations into the entertainment industry, Otedola said.

    According to him, the show is first of its kind and is billed to be a national concert that would be held across the country in due course.

    Among activities lined up for the festival are magical shows, supernatural displays, live performances by upcoming artistes and traditional/cultural phenomenon, among others.

    More than 10,000 guests are expected to attend the one-day show holding at Epe Recreation Centre from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with intriguing and exciting entertainment on display.

    The organiser said that COVID-19 safety protocols would be strictly adhered to while maximum security had been put in place for the show. (NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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    Court remands Maina in prison pending conclusion of trial

    Maina, back to jail

    By Taiye Agbaje

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, ordered that the arrested fugitive and former Chairman, the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, be remanded at a correctional centre, pending conclusion of his trial.

    Justice Okon Abang gave the order following counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mohammed Abubakars oral application to the effect.

    At the resumed hearing, Abubakar, urged the court to make an order for Mainas remand in correctional centre having been produced in court after jumping bail.

    He said Maina was produced in court following the court order for his bail revocation and issuance of bench warrant for his arrest.

    I want to inform the court that the 1st defendant (Maina) is in court pursuant to the bench warrant issued by the honourable court on Nov. 18 for his production in court.

    The bench warrant was executed and we apply to the court to issue an order to remand the defendant (Maina) in prison custody, he said.

    However, Mainas new counsel, Abel Adaji, opposed the EFCC counsel application.

    Adaji, who appealed to the court not to grant Abubakars request, said he would have filed a process in response to his application but the exigency of time will not allow us to do that.

    Earlier, Abubakar told the court that the matter was slated for continuation of evidence-in-chief of the ninth prosecution witness.

    But Adaji prayed the court for an adjournment, informing that he had just been briefed about the matter this morning.

    We will be applying for a short date to enable us prepared.

    The anti-graft agencys lawyer objected to the application for an adjournment.

    He said such plea contravened Section 349(3) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 because Maina had already engaged a counsel.

    He urged the court to allow the witness continue with her evidence-in-chief and that Mainas new counsel could then sought for adjournment for cross examination if he so wished in the overall interest of justice.

    But Adaji, who opposed Abubakars submission, insisted that he needed more time to study the proof of evidence in the interest of justice.

    Ruling, Justice Abang recalled that Mainas bail was revoked on Nov. 18 because he jumped bail and the court ordered a bench warrant for his arrest and that the trial should continue in his absence.

    Abang acknowledged that Maina who was now in court, was still presumed to be innocent until contrary is proved.

    The judge held that Maina was still entitled to all the constitutional rights under relevant section of the countrys 1999 Constitution, especially with regard to fair hearing.

    Justice Abang, who granted Mainas counsel prayer for an adjournment in order to be properly briefed, said the decision was in overall interest of justice.

    Abang also upheld Adajis argument to adjourn the continuation of evidence-in-chief of the ninth prosecution witness to allow Maina briefed his lawyer properly.

    He said the decision was in accordance with Section 349(3) of ACJA.

    He, therefore, ordered that Maina should be remanded in a correctional centre pending conclusion of trial.

    The judge, who did not specifically named a particular prison where Maina shouls be remanded, adjourned the matter until Dec. 8 for trial continuation.

    Shortly after commencement of sitting, Francis Oronsaye, who had been appearing as Mainas lawyer, told the court that he filed a notice of withdrawal of legal representation for Maina dated Nov. 24 and filed Nov. 25.

    Oronsanye, who works at the law office of Joe Gadzama and Co., said their decision not to appear in court for Maina lately was not borne out of their disrespect for court.

    Our non-appearance before the court in the last sitting was not born out of disregard to court.

    We have written to the 1st defendant indicating our intention to pull out of representation and we went further to file a notice of withdrawal of appearance, he said.

    He said the statutory provision to take such action was three days before hearing, which they had fulfilled.

    We hold this court in high esteem and we have complied with the statutory requirement of three days.

    We adopt the said notice of withdrawal formally, he said.

    Abubakar, who confirmed the service of the application, did not oppose Oronsayes motion.

    Justice Abang then granted the application in accordance with Section 349(7) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had, on Friday, produced Maina in court after his extradition to Nigeria from Republic of Niger.

    Maina, who is being prosecuted by the EFCC on N2 billion money laundering charges, had jumped bail and fled to the country.

    Maina last attended court in July and had subsequently missed up to six court sessions since Sept. 29.

    Besides, his surety, Sen. Ali Ndume, was imprisoned by the court for his inability to produce him in court but later granted him bail after spending five days in detention. (NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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    Insecurity: CAS inducts 3 reactivated fighter jets in Kano

    Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar

    By Rabiu Sani-Ali

    The Nigerian Air Air Force (NAF) on Friday inducted three reactivated aircraft in Kano, to enhance its platforms and engagement in the campaign against insurgency and banditry in the country.

    The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who spoke during the handover of the reactivated L-39ZA aircraft, at the 403 Flying Training School (FTS), Kano, said the platforms would enhance its operations.

    Abubakar said the aircraft were reactivated with support of technical partners from the Czech Republic and engineering personnel of the service at the training school.

    He said reactivation work on two L-39ZA aircrafts were successfully completed while the remaining one would soon be concluded.

    The air chief said the service was currently reactivating two Alpha jets at Kainji while one other jet would be reactivated at Ikeja, Lagos State.

    The reactivation, he said, would facilitate capacity building of its personnel, save maintenance cost and enhance air support operations in the theatre of operations.

    Abubakar said the service prioritised collaboration with technical partners to train its personnel towards effective maintenance of its platforms.

    While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for the support to the service, Abubakar reiterated commitment to end insurgency and banditry as well as protect national territorial integrity.

    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports the CAS also inaugurated the 403 FTS historical gallery at the training facility. (NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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    Alleged ,000 Bribe: Court adjourns suit against Shehu Sani

    Sen. Shehu Sani in Court

    By Wandoo Sombo

    The Federal High Court Abuja on Friday, adjourned the alleged bribery case filed against Shehu Sani until Jan. 27 over the prosecutions unpreparedness to play an audio recording it tendered in evidence.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Sani with two counts of bribery and influence peddling.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    At the resumed hearing on Friday, the EFCC counsel, Mr Ekele Iheanacho told the court that the business of the day was listening to the audio recording the prosecution obtained as evidence.

    However, when asked what efforts he had made to ensure that the audio recording was played in court, the prosecutor said; it was this morning that I informed the registrar that I have a laptop to set up for the audio.

    The Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, wondered why the prosecutor had to wait only to contact the registrar on Friday to set up the audio.

    The matter was adjourned since Oct. 23 and it is only today that you approached the court that you want to set up audio.

    You did not take any other steps before now so it means you are not ready for your case.

    Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter until Jan. 27 and Jan.28, 2021.(NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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