Divorce decree

By Adedeji Egbebi

A Customary Court in Ekiti on Wednesday dissolved a 32-year-old union between Mr Oladipo Ogunleye and his wife, Adeola Falade over failure to pay dowry.

The President of the Court, Mrs Yemisi Ojo, dissolved the union on the grounds that Ogunleye beats Falade.

Delivering judgment, Ojo held that it is evident that no marriage exist between the parties but a mere cohabitation .

She ordered both parties to go their separate ways as they stand unmarried.

The petitioner is advised to build a cordial relationship with his five children. Iadvice the respondent to encourage all the children to spend holidays with their father in order to maintain the bond between father and his children.

The court orders the petitioner to be involved in his childrens lives by paying their school fees. Bothparties are advised to maintain peace, she said, adding that should any of the parties violate the order, the wrath of the law would be meted out against such a person.

Earlier, the petitioner, Ogunleye, 61, and a mechanic, in his evidence state that there is no marriage between him and the respondent but they have five children.

The petitioner told the court that while they were living together, he was fully responsible for the upkeep of the home and the children but since the respondent left with the children, he ceased to be responsible for their welfare.

Ogunleye, however prayed to the court for the dissolution of his association with the respondent and the same time, solicits for the custody of his fifth child.

Falade, 48, a public servant, denied the allegations.

My husband beats me and chases after me. He also threatens to send me out of his house, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

A gully erosion site

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Youths under the aegis of Anambra Youth Diaspora Initiative, FCT (Abuja) branch on Wednesday appealed to the Federal Government to urgently address the rising effects of gully erosion in Anambra.

President of the group, Mr Augustine Udoba, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as he described the current situation in the state as deplorable.

Udoba said that erosion had taken its toll on the wellbeing of people living in the affected communities who faced hazards of the damage caused on daily basis.

People are becoming helpless as the erosion continues to carry away their houses.

Lands used for aesthetic, agricultural and industrial purposes, ancestral homes, crops, livestock and other infrastructure are lost to erosion at an alarming rate.

Government should come to our aid by increasing the intervention efforts because the environmental hazard has remained active over the years, defying control measures put in place by communities and individuals.

Some of the areas affected are Nzam, Igbokaenyi, Inoma, Anam, Ode, Owerri road to mention a few, Udoba said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Kuwait royal family members

Kuwaiti Emir Nawaf al-Ahmed Al Sabah on Wednesday named his 80-year-old half-brother and senior security official, Mishaal, as crown prince, according to the royal court.

Nawaf, 83, became the oil-rich countrys ruler last week following the death of his predecessor and older half-brother, Sabah.

Mishaal al-Ahmed Al Sabah has been the deputy head of National Guard since 2004.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the national guard personnel played an important role along with the military and police in enforcing the curfew and other measures the state imposed to curb the spread of the virus.

After finishing his studies at Londons Hendon Police College in 1960, he worked at Kuwaits Ministry of Interior.

Between 1967 and 1980, he was the head of the State Security Agency.

Mishaal never took charge of a ministerial portfolio and has largely stayed away from political disputes other members of the royal family were involved in over the years.

He was also close to the late emir Sabah and accompanied him on many of his medical trips, including the final one to the United States, where he died on Sept. 29.

An official said that Al Sabah family gave its blessing to the emirs nomination of Mishaal, KUNA news agency reported.

According to the constitution, parliament has to approve the appointment. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Students writing their final year exams

By Blessing Odega

The Plateau Government directs public and private schools in the state not to exceed 20 students in a class in compliance with social distancing protocol of COVID-19.

The Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB) Executive Chairman, Prof. Matthew Sule, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Jos.

Sule explained that before the OVID-19 pandemic, UNESCO standard was 40 to 45 students to a teacher in a class.

For the nursery section in the past, we used to have 25 pupils, but the number has been reduced by the state government to 10 or maximum of 15 pupils to a teacher.

The reduction is aimed at ensuring that the children are well-spaced to avoid direct contact and the spread of the deadly disease, he said.

He also said that the Plateau SUBEB has trained teachers in primary and Junior Secondary schools on the COVID-19 protocols.

Sule said that due to the reduction in the number of pupils and students in the classrooms, schools would now run on two shifts.

Some students will attend classes in the morning and others in the afternoon, he said.

NAN reports that the Plateau government said that an official date for resumption of school activities will be announced by the end of October.

The government said, preparatory to reopening of schools, a committee headed by the Secretary to the Government as well as sub-committees on Readiness and Compliance headed by the Commissioner for Secondary Education and Chairman, SUBEB was set up. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Abdulrasheed Maina protesting allegation of fraud against him

By Taiye Agbaje

The absence of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, again stalled the trial of Abdulrasheed Maina, Chairman, defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), for alleged N2 billion money laundering.

The absence of the judge also hindered continuation of other matters, including the alleged N29 billion money laundering charges against former Adamawa Governor, Murtala Nyako, and others by the EFCC,scheduled for the days proceeding.

The anti-graft agency is prosecuting the former governor, alongside his son, Abdul-Aziz Nyako; two companies, Sebore Farms and Extension Ltd and Pagado Fortunes Ltd.

They are first, second, sixth and seventh defendants respectively in the trial.

Other defendants are Zulkifik Abba, Abubakar Aliyu, Blue Opal Ltd, Tower Assets Management Ltd and Crust Energy Ltd as third, fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth defendants respectively.

Although the EFCC had arraigned them on a 37-count charge of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observes that ten cases were listed for Wednesdays sitting.

While the case of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs. Abdulrasheed Maina and another was the first on the cause list, the Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs. Murtala Nyako and three others was on number eight.

NAN reports that the ongoing trial of Maina was, on Monday, hindered by the absence of the judge and the ex-pension reformed boss.

The court registrar, who announced that the court was indisposed, said the trial would continue the next day.

However, at the resumed trial on Tuesday, though counsel to all the parties were in court, including Sen. Ali Ndume, who is standing as surety for the ex-pension reformed chair, Justice Abang and Maina were conspicuously absent.

The registrar, for the second time, announced that the court would not be sitting because Abang was on official engagement.

He said hearing in all the criminal matters, including Mainas case would be rescheduled for Oct. 7.

On Wednesday, neither Justice Abang nor Maina was in court, although Ndume was in attendance to sign the court register as part of Mainas bail conditions.

NAN reports that Maina was recently released from Kuje Prison nine months after he was able to produce Sen. Ndume, who deposed to an affidavit to always bring him to court at every adjourned date or forfeit the N500 million bail bond.

Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, had told the court, on Oct. 2, that he did not know the whereabouts of Maina after he was absent from court since the trial resumed for the third time.

The judge, in the last sitting, had ordered Ndume to produce Maina unfailing at Mondays proceeding or he would be forced to grant the EFCCs prayers to revoke Mainas bail and issue a warrant of arrest against him.

Besides, the anti-graft agency had also prayed the court to make an order for the lawmaker to forfeit the N500 million bail bond to the Federal Government and be remanded in prison pending the time he was able to meet the pledge.

Justice Abang had ordered that the trial would be on a daily basis, except on public holidays.

The court registrar, on Wednesday, later announced that there would be no sitting for the day.

Mainas trial is expected to continue on Oct. 8 (Thursday) going by the order of the court.

The EFCC arraigned Maina (1st defendant) before Justice Abang, on Oct. 25, 2019, alongside his son, Faisal; and firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd.

Although Maina is facing 12-counts bordering on money laundering, he pleaded not guilty to all the charges. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigerias Senate under Ahmed Lawan

By Kingsley Okoye

The Senate on Wednesday passed the 2021-2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) for the fiscal years.

The passage followed the adoption of the recommendations of the report of its joint committees on National Planning and Finance, on the 2021-2023 MTEF and FSP documents.

The documents were submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate for consideration on July 21.

Chairman of the joint Committee, Sen. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), while presenting its recommendations said there was need for the National Assembly to ensure effective collaboration with the executive to ensure effective implementation of the MTEF and FSP.

Following the presentations and contributions by some senators on need to cut cost of governance, reduce borrowing, reduce waste and shore up government revenue, Senate approved the 20-point recommendations of the committee.

One of the recommendations was that the Federal Government retained revenue of N7.89 trillion of the total proposed expenditure of N13.08 trillion in the 2021-2023 MTEF/FSP.

The Senate also approved the fiscal deficit of N5.19 trillion and borrowings of N4.28 trillion, including foreign and domestic borrowings.

Others are statutory transfers, totalling, N484.4 billion, debt service estimate of N3.12 trillion, while sinking fund to the tune of N220 billion was also approved.
It also approved pension, gratuities and retirees benefits of N520.6 billion and Federal Government aggregate expenditure of N13.08 trillion.

The expenditure is made up of total recurrent (Non-debt) of N5.66 trillion; Personnel Costs of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of N3.05 trillion.

It includes capital expenditure (exclusive of Transfers) of N3.58 trillion, Special Intervention (recurrent) amounting to N350 billion and special intervention (capital) of N20billion.

The Senate also approved daily crude oil production of 1.86mbpd for 2021; 2.09mbpd for 2022; and 2.38mbpd for 2023.

This it said was to ensure greater budget realism and disruptions due to attacks, sabotage in the Niger-Delta which had substantially abated for a while.

The Senate also approved that the benchmark oil price of 40 dollars per barrel should remain because of the clear evidence of wide consultations with key stakeholders.

It also approved the exchange rate of N379 dollars proposed by the executive for the 2021-2023.

This it said was based on the determination of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to pursue unification around its rate over the medium term, where investors and exporters transact dollars at market determined prices.

It also approved the projected Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 3.00 per cent, given the Federal Governments response via fiscal policies adapted to contain the damage of COVID-19, including the N500 billion stimulus fund.

It also approved the projected Inflation rate of 11.95 per cent among other recommendations.

President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan, in his remarks, said that the Senate Committees via its oversight must ensure that revenue generating agencies meet their targets of revenue to the federation account.

When it comes to revenue generation and remittances, we need to work so hard to meet our expectations especially for funding of development projects in the budget.

Now that so many more agencies of government have been added, there is need for our committee on finance to closely monitor the revenue meeting of targets for these agencies.

We should explore other options of funding the budget and minimise borrowing but we cannot eliminate borrowing totally.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dollar

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Ronke Onadeko, an energy expert says high exchange rate of Naira to the dollar is responsible for increase in price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also called petrol, in the country.

Onadeko disclosed this on Wednesday in Lagos at a policy dialogue on reporting the oil and gas sector.

According to her, when the price of crude oil, which sells in dollar in the international market, drops the high exchange rate of naira affects the price at which refined products are imported into the country.

We are at the point where government has access to money, but people who want to import petrol cannot find dollar to buy.

When there is scarcity of dollar, there is always a challenge.

What happens is that when Nigerians hear that crude oil price has gone down and will be excited that price of petrol will come down, it will not happen.

When you source forex to buy the PMS and bring it to Nigeria, it has negated the gains you are supposed to make.

Even if the price of crude drops to 10 dollars per barrel and you buy one dollar at N550, something you were buying at N360 before, you can see there is trouble already.

You will not see the difference with low crude oil price, she said, adding that it was unfortunate that people kept forgetting the foreign exchange element in the oil business.

Onadeko noted that going back to the subsidy regime as demanded by unions and some Nigerians would further drain the economy that was near sinking.

According to her, finding alternative to petrol is a step in the right direction for the nation to move forward.

We can move our industries, generators and public transports to gas where we are doing better and the train system is coming up.

We have more of gas, we dont have to import it, we are going to save foreign exchange and if we start moving to gas investors will come to invest in gas infrastructure, she said.

The Minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, had hinted that the Federal Government would establish gas plants at all NNPC filling stations.

Silva had said this was to ensure the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as alternative to petrol, saying that CNG was cheaper and cleaner source of energy. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the award of contracts for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri eastern narrow gauge railway, with new branch lines and trans-shipment facilities.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the 18virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (NAN).

The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The minister also revealed that the Council approved the construction of a new deep seaport in Bonny, under Private-Public- Partnership (PPP) programme and the construction of a railway Industrial park in Port Harcourt.

The Federal Executive Council today, approved the award of contract for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Gauge Railway, with new branch lines and trans-shipment facilities.

It also approved the construction of a deep seaport in Bonny under PPP and construction of a railway industrial park in Port Harcourt.

The railway line will be at the cost of ,020,279,549. The industrial park, which is under PPP, at no cost to federal government, will cost ,154,389.31.

The Bonny deep seaport will cost ,924,369, at no cost to the federal government.

The Port Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge railway will have new branch lines: from Port Harcourt to Bonny and from Port Harcourt to Owerri are new lines.

There is another connecting to narrow gauge to standard guage at Kafanchan.

There is a branch line from Gombe or before Maiduguri to Damaturu and Gashua. Thats what has been approved, he said.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, who also briefed the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting.

He said the Council approved N653.8million to procure and deploy hybrid spectrum monitoring system that would cover the Southeast zone of the country.

He explained that the approval followed the presentation of an investigative report by the ministry to the council on the use of illegal frequencies, saying that 106 out of the 320 frequencies being operated across the country were illegal.

Pantami, therefore, expressed the hope that the deployment of the new hybrid spectrum would go a long way in promoting safety and security, enhance revenue and create many jobs for the citizens.

From January to August 2020, within the period of eight months, we discovered 320 frequencies being used all over the country and of this 320, 106 were illegal.

This is very worrisome because the usage of this illegal spectrum or frequencies will compromise our security and safety in the country.

It is because of the agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari of promoting security that we came up with this initiative of monitoring the usage of frequencies and uncovered the legal and the illegal ones.

For the legal ones to ensure they renew their licenses annually and for the illegal ones, necessary actions are being taken according to the gravity of the offence.

We discovered that our monitoring did not cover south east. It covered five zones northeast, northwest, north central, southwest and south south. However, south east has not been covered.

It is because of this that we presented our memo, seeking for councils approval of N653,886,584 to procure and deploy hybrid spectrum monitoring system that will cover the southern part of the country, most importantly the south east.

So, Council approved for the deployment, and this project will go a long way in promoting safety and security and secondly, identify the usage of illegal spectrum and thirdly, enhance revenue for the federal government and fourthly, in the long run it will create many jobs for the citizens.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Personnel of FSARS

By Edith Nwapi

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) InTuesday commended the Inspector-General of Police (I-GP), Mohammed Adamu for banning the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS).

Mr Tony Ojukwu, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, gave the commendationin Abuja, while reacting to the recent ban on SARS and other special teams of the Nigerian Police from routine patrol duties

His order is in line with the Commissions recommendations following a report on the Presidential Investigation Panel on allegations of human rights violations against SARS.

This is not the first time such a proclamation is made by the Police hierarchy and that compliance to such orders has remained a problem.

It is hoped that this time the directive which is expected to preserve and protect the rights to privacy and dignity of the human person from atrocious acts of some bad eggs in the Nigeria Police will be enforced to the fullest Ojukwu stated .

He lamented that reported cases of human rights violations against the police was assuming an alarming proportion.

Ojukwu recalled that in an effort to mitigate such violations, the Vice President in 2018 gave a directive for the setting up of a Special Investigation Panel to look into the activities of the SARS.

He restated the shocking revelations that came out during the panel sittings which the report already submitted to government, contained far-reaching recommendations.

Ojukwu added that the recommendations included the establishment of state and local government Police structure and banning FSARS from embarking on routine patrol, stop and search duties etc.

He expressed optimism that the recent ban of SARS and other similar Police teams from routine operations will afford the force the opportunity to rejig its operations and re-focus it in line with human rights best practices.

He also expressed regrets in the manner which some of the officials of SARS operate is inimical to the image of the Police and that of the country in general.

This is due to the fact that such officials often operate contrary to the rules of engagement and standard of procedures of the force.

Most times they do not wear Police uniforms, making it difficult for one to identify them as Policemen.

The commission has continued to record cases of extra-judicial killings, series of extortion, harassment, and intimidation of innocent citizens by FSARS without much being done to change the status quo, thereby tarnishing the image of the country among the global community he lamented.

Ojukwu emphasised that accountability was key in dealing with such cases as nobody should be above the law.

He expressed the readiness of the Commission to continue to work with the police especially in the area of training and retraining all FSARS officers. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Ahmad Abdurrahman

By Stanley Nwanosike

Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Ahmad Abdurrahman, has directed strict compliance to ban of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) and other tactical squads from routine and conventional low-risk duties.

Abdurrahman gave the order in a statement issued on his behalf by the states Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, on Tuesday in Enugu.

The Commissioner also directed Officers-in-Charge of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Anti-Cultism Squad and Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command to henceforth, desist from posting operatives to perform the said banned duties.

According to him, they are to ensure their officers and men focus completely on the performance of the duties for which the Units were established.

He warned that anything in the contrary would be met with severe disciplinary actions.

I have directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the State CID, Command Provost Marshal as well as Officers in-charge of the State Intelligence Bureau and X-Squad to henceforth conduct intense covert and overt monitoring operations.

This is to ensure operatives of the Command directly dealing with members of the public by way of patrols, stop and search, investigation, charge-room duties, etc, comply with the Forces extant Standard Operating Procedures and/or rules of engagement, including wearing of appropriate uniforms.

They are also to identify and bring to book any police officer found to be unprofessional, corrupt, high-handed, uncivil and infringes on the fundamental human rights of citizens in the discharge of his/her duties.

I have also directed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Heads of Departments to properly supervise and ensure their subordinates maintain the highest level of professionalism, civility and respect for the fundamental human rights of citizens in the performance of their duties.

As, they, the supervising heads, will be held vicariously liable for any form of dereliction of duty, he said.

Abdurrahman, however, reassured of the Commands commitment to upholding fundamental human rights of residents by officers and men of the Command.

He also enjoined the public, especially law-abiding citizens of the state, to continue to keep faith with the police and promptly report any erring police officer on or off duty to the nearest police station.

Residents should call the Commands emergency hotlines on: 08032003702, 08086671202, 08075390883 or 08098880172; or send an email to, the police boss said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News