Court Symbol

By Adaeze Iroha

A 48-year-old pastor Nduka Anyanwu, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to defiling and impregnating two teenage sisters, before a Yaba Chief Magistrates Court in Lagos.

Anyanwu is facing a two-count charge of defilement.

Following his guilty plea to both charges, the Chief Magistrate MrsA. Adedayo, remanded the defendant in a custodial center and adjourned the case to Sept. 15, for facts and sentencing.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, ASP Roman Unuigbe, told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in June, at Oshodi area of Lagos.

He said that the defendant, who is a Pastor, had slept with the two sisters, aged 17 and 13, respectively, (names withheld), on several occasions and impregnated them.

According to him, the defendant had allegedly defiled the sisters at the church complex, under the pretext of holding prayer sessions with them.

Unuigbe added that the offences contravene Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sections 137 stipulates life imprisonment for the offence of defilement of a minor. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Petrol tankers waiting to be loaded

By Esenvosa Izah

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its seven-day strike ultimatum given to Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and its contractors to recall and reinstate 175 workers they sacked.

NUPENGs National President, Mr Williams Akporeha and General-Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olawale, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

The statement announced that the union ordered the suspension following ongoing discussions to quickly resolve other outstanding labour issues.

However, NUPENG reiterates that the suspension of the strike ultimatum is not a total call off, but a respect to ongoing discussions the union is having with Chevron and it contractors.

The discussions include all the issues at stake, believing that management will act in good faith and decently in line with principles of social dialogue.

The leadership of the union appreciates all relevant government agencies for their quick interventions on the matters in dispute, it stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NUPENG on Aug. 20 issued the seven-day ultimatum to CNL and its contractors over the sacked workers through WhatsApp messages. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NEMA

By Ibrahim Bello

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials to 638 victims of rainstorm in Kebbi.

The Head, NEMA, Sokoto Operations Office, Dr Kofoworola Soleye, represented by Head of Account Unit of the office, Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, distributed the materials to the victims in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the windstorm, on June 19, destroyed no fewer than 300 houses at Badariya, Mobile Police Barrack, Bayan-Kara and some parts of Gesse III in Birnin Kebbi.

It also destroyed houses in Kwasara, Kaoje and Tuga in Bagudu Local Government Area.

Other areas include Saminaji in Koko/Besse Local Government Area, as well as some communities in Bunza Local Government Area.

Soleye said that the agency earlier sent an advanced team on assessment visit to ascertain the level of damage caused by the rainstorm.

We are here to show concern and give some relief materials to them to cushion the effects of the disaster.

The relief materials include 114 bags of rice, beans and millet, 12 kegs of vegetable oil, 10 cartons of tin tomatoes, 19 cartons of seasoning cubes, 228 pieces of mattresses, 342 pieces each of mats, blankets and mosquito nets.

Others are 980 bags of cement, 980 bundles of roofing sheets, 216 packets of nails, 109 bags of three-inch nails and 980 pieces of ceiling boards, Soleye said.

The coordinator sympathised with the victims for the loss of property.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Sani Dododo, said the victims were carefully selected by district and village heads in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area to ensure proper identification.

Dododo noted that the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) indicated that some parts of the state and the country might experience heavy rainfall in 2020.

The situation may be worse than what was predicted, as we have so far witnessed an extension of flood to other four local government areas that are not among the 11 earlier predicted to witness flood, by NIMET.

The agency will not relent in its efforts to ensure protection of lives and property.

We are going to collaborate with all stakeholders in the state to sensitise the public to take precautionary measures against disasters, especially flood and windstorm, he said.

The Chairman of Birnin Kebbi Local Government Council, Alhaji Aminu Magatakarda, commended NEMA for the gesture, and urged the victims to ensure judicious use of the items.

One of the victims, Mr Muhammad Shehu, lauded the agency for providing the relief materials. (NAN).

Source: NAN News

NECO

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The National Examination Council (NECO), has assured the public of its commitment to ensure effective and efficient conduct of all its examinations.

This is following complaints by some schools whose candidates are unable to sit for the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) that commenced on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020.

In a statement by Mr Azeez Sani, Head of Information and Public Relations (NECO) to news men in Abuja on Wednesday said that adequate opportunity was provided well in advance for all schools to register their candidates.

This was given that some schools and/or candidates may have faced difficulties in the course of the registrations.

Due largely to this and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council extended the duration for registration to 12 midnight of Friday, Aug. 21. 2020.

The extension was widely publicised through various platforms. The aim was largely to accommodate late registration.

It is regrettable that in spite of these measures, some schools failed to complete the registration or enrollment processes.

It is therefore instructive to restate that the closure of the Portal on the said date was not punitive or designed to undermine registrants and schools.

It was, however, to allow the Council produce and distribute materials to Examination Centres for seamless conduct of the exercise, he said.

He, therefore, promised that NECO would continue to engage all stakeholders as may be appropriate, within its statutory mandates. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Sandra Umeh

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, underscored the importance of an enhanced Justice delivery system, in a bid to keep the Nigerian legal system in tune with global best practices.

The President made the call at the opening ceremony of the 60th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

The 2020 NBA AGC tagged Step Forward is holding both virtually and physically from Aug. 26 to Aug. 29 in Lagos and Abuja.

Buhari, in his opening remarks, felicitated with the leadership of the NBA on her 60th AGC and urged that the Bar takes congnisance of its role in the Administration of Justice.

The president who was represented virtually by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, SAN, noted that Law and Order is crucial to the sustenance of the countrys Democracy adding that the legal profession must ensure it plays its role.

The theme you have selected Step Forward is so apt and this means, taking responsibility, and it may also mean making progress.

There are areas where I believe we need to step forward and resolve some of the problems of our system, he said

He outlined some of the areas as:

The slow pace of trials in our Courts, multiple and conflicting orders of court, seeming bias towards technicalities, appointment of judges, security, law and order, as well as Rape and Sexual offences.

Harping on the issue of slow pace of trials the President said:

I was before the court for two and half years from 2003 to 2005 and it took me two and a half years to fight for a four-year -Presidential mandate .

In 2007, I was again in court for 20 months, almost two years, as petitioner, and later as appellant in the case of Buhari Vs INEC and in 2011 again as petitioner in the case of CPC Vs INEC and at the end I lost all three cases; Then, I wondered why we had to take so long.

If I had I won the case then some one who did not legitimately win the election would have occupied office all the while.

I was in court again in 2019; I was no longer a petitioner but a respondent in the case of Atiku Vs Buhari and the whole process took barely six months; Now what was the difference?

.The law had changed since my ordeal in 2003, 2007 and 2011; You had now introduced time limits for election petitions.

Why cant we then put a rule that will say that a criminal trial up to the supreme court must not exceed 12 months in duration.?

I think that for me, will be. stepping forward he said

According to the president, the speed of our legal institutions and processes, must match with the global base

Meanwhile in his remark, The Attorney General of the Federation Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, also commended the NBA on its 60th AGC and urged its leadership to keep in tune with the evolving ICT.

Malami who was also represented virtually by the Solicitor General of the Federation, Mr Adedayo Akpata (SAN), said that at the onset of the pandemic the office of the A-G took it upon itself to adopt the use of ICT.

He said ICT saw the introduction of virtual court proceedings which helped to keep the courts open and also set the pace for a post COVID-19 Justice system.

My office will continue to drive the much needed legal reforms in promoting the rule of law, and publishing full financial autonomy for the state legislator and state judiciary and re-invigorating the office of the A-G as the Chief Law officer, he said

According to him, the foregoing will continue to serve as a catalysts to the things being recovered by his office which includes about 201 million dollars loot, which he said is being plunged into some critical infrastructure.

He said that measures are also being put in place to prevent mismanagement and reoccurrence.

Malami stressed the need for the NBA to rise above circumstances and Step forward to positively enhance the law making process.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NBA 2020 AGC has over 22,000 registered delegates

Physical attendance at the Conference is holding at both the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, as well as the NBA Headquarters in Abuja, with not more than 30 persons allowed at the venue.

The conference is to showcase over 28 law sessions to be anchored by renowned Nigerian legal practitioners (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sen. Gbemisola Saraki

By Lucy Ogalue

The Federal Government has approved N10 billion to cushion the sufferings encountered by road transport workers and operators as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister of State for Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja afterthe President, Public Transport Owners of Nigeria Association (PTONA), Isaac Uhunwagho, led the associations National Executive Committee and Trustees to visit her in Abuja.

She informed the delegation that the fund was domiciled at the Federal Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment adding that the Ministry of Transportation was currently working on the modalities for its disbursement.

While appreciating the fact that 90 per cent of Nigerians travelled by road, Saraki stated that the Federal government would soon initiate a master plan that would reform the sector.

She therefore solicited the buy-in of all stakeholders in that regard.

On challenges operators faced from State governments and other stakeholders, the Minister gave the assurance that she would discuss the issues through the National Transport Commissioners Forum.

Saraki said she was also working with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on the concessionning of some routes which according to her was the best way to go to increase government revenue.

She further, enjoined the group to avoid duplicity and formalise their structures in an organised manner for better engagements, with the ministry and other relevant agencies.

The National President of PTONA, Uhunwagho, stated that their visit was in respect to the challenges being faced by the body.

He appreciate the efforts of the Minister towards ameliorating the challenges PTONA has been facing since the pandemic in February, 2020.

He also commended the cooperation and protection which the Ministry was providing for public transportation in the country.

Uhunwagho said that with this, our future in the one chance business is now encouraging.

The PTONA president appealed for COVID-19 financial palliatives for her members to prevent their businesses from folding up.

He said:PTONA members felt the impact of the lockdown the most as their branded buses could not operate due to the ban on interstate travel.

According to Uhunwagho, the general motor parks did not comply with the ban as their parks became a safe haven for flouting the ban and they enjoyed black market transportation boom.

He lamented that in spite the fact that PTONA members were major investors in the transportation sector, their companies were the prime target for state and local government authorities who imposed taxes, levies and other ridiculous conditions.

Uhunwagho said these challenges among others necessitated the visit on the Minister and expressed hope that their pleas would be looked into. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

From left, Lagos SWAN Chairman, Debo Oshundun, receives vehicle documents from the LSSC DG, Oluwatoyin Gafar, during the official presentation of a new 18-seater executive bus to the chapter by the state government.

By Olanrewaju Akojede

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has presented a brand new 18-seater executive bus to the states chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in fulfillment of his campaign promises.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sanwo-Olu had during his governorship campaign in 2019 promised Lagos SWAN a brand new 18-seater capacity bus.

The Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Oluwatoyin Gafar, made the formal presentation on behalf of the governor to the Lagos SWAN Chairman, Debo Oshundun, on Wednesday in Lagos.

The gift is in fulfillment of the campaign promises in the area of sports development in Lagos state and Gov. Sanwo-Olu has delivered. He has said that every promise made will be fulfilled.

The bus is a reward for hardwork by the Lagos SWAN members. They truly worked to earn it and this is the recognition of their work.

The state government is desirous of human and capital development of sports which has formed one of the cardinal blueprints of the present government, he said.

In his remarks during the presentation, Lagos SWAN Chairman, Debo Oshundun, commended the state government for fulfilling its promise, adding that the bus would be put to optimal use.

During the campaign tour by the governor, he asked for our needs and we requested for some things, especially a befitting bus, and he has now delivered on his promises.

We should have even received the bus before now, about six months ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic denied us of having it as at when due.

I can only thank the Lagos State Governor for keeping to his promises. It shows that he is a man of his words.

We have good relationships with the state government and we promise to continue to do so by contributing positively to the development of sports in the state, he said.

It is important that we place it on record that the LagosState Government and the State Sports Commission have always been there for us all the time we need them.

During the very intense period of the COVID-19 pandemic, we got some of the best materials as palliatives in the country.

As for the bus, we will make judicious use of it, and it will not be converted to any personal use but collective use.

We will deploy the bus as part of the image of the association for competitions, such as league matches, marathon races and other competitions, Oshundun said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Policemen

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Mr Dibal Yakadi, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 5, has assured of peaceful, free and fair governorship election in Edo, scheduled to take place on Sept. 19.

The AIG who spoke during a meeting with stakeholders in Benin on Wednesday, said everybody must work towards ensuring that this happened.

While warning that stiffer penalties awaited offenders during the Edo poll, the AIG appealed to the stakeholders to warn their supporters, wards or group against any act of violence before, during and after the poll.

Yakadi listed unemployment, poverty, lack of sportsmanship by political actors, desperation by politicians, proliferation of small arms and access to illicit drugs as being responsible for election violence.

He also warned political parties to stop hate speech and circulation of fake and unconfirmed stories.

He said the media, Independent National Electoral Commission, religious leaders, political parties and security agencies were critical stakeholders who must play their roles to ensure free, fair and credible poll.

The stakeholders must work as a team to deliver free, fair and credible election.

The media must develop high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties, while religious leaders must also continue to preach peace.

NYSC must work to ensure that only corps members willing to dutifully carry out election assignments are recruited; security agencies should be neutral and not be partisan during elections, he stated.

He urged INEC to ensure that all logistics for elections were put in place before the elections.

To stop election violence, Yakadi said employment should be created while voters education should be carried on a regular basis.

He assured that the police will ensure regular engagement of stakeholders before the Sept. 19 election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that all security agencies were present at the meeting as well as traditional rulers, religious and youth leaders, political parties and civil society organisations. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has called on stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to work together to ensure the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Mr Nicholas Odinuwe, President of the association made the call at the ongoing Virtual Nigeria Energy Industry Transformation Summit (NEITS),on Wednesday.

The summit with the theme Changing global energy landscape: Strategies for Industry sustainability was organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

Odinuwe said that for the industry to reposition for sustainability, stakeholder must ensure full implementation of the legal framework for the sector.

I commend the organisers of this programme; the choice of the topic is apt but for the sector to reposition for sustainability, it is the responsibility of all stakeholders. We must ensure that the legal framework for the industry is passed now and not in the next twenty years.

We must put pressure to ensure the passage of the PIB for our industry to reposition for greater development because non passage of the bill over the years has hindered required development in the industry, he said.

He further said that the industry was recently faced with various challenges occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic, adding that adequate commitment was required to move it forward.

COVID-19 has negatively impacted the country and the sector at large, closure of activities and low energy demand have necessitated that we put all hands on deck to be able to come out positively.

It is time for all of us to be pragmatic and ensure cost reduction through aggressive use of local contractors, he said.

According to him, local contractors have contributed to the growth of the sector.

He noted that SPE and PETAN must advocate for the use of local contractors for the growth of the sector.

He called for promotion of local production of petroleum products, adding that it was not good for Nigeria as the sixth largest oil producing country in the world to depend on importation of the products.

In his remarks, the SPE Chairman, Mr Joe Nwakwe, said that choice of the topic was to discuss the issues that would help drive the growth of the sector.

Nwakwe expressed the hope that the panelists would proffer solutions to some of the challenges facing the sector.

Also, Mr Alex Tarka, National Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) President, noted that the topic of the summit was significant to the growth of the sector and called on stakeholders to support SPE to move the sector forward. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NSE

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday sustained upward posture, in spite of a negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recorded in the second quarter of 2020.

Speficially, the market capitalisation increased further by N33 billion or 0.25 per cent to N13.194 trillion against N13.161 trillion posted on Monday.

In the same vein, the All-Share Index rose by 62.61 points or 0.25 per cent to 25,291.73 compared to the 25,229.12 points recorded on Monday.

Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Ltd., said the market defied the negative Q2 GDP of 6.1 per cent due to improved half year corporate earnings.

Omordion stated that the half year corporate earnings performance were above the market expectations, with emerging sectors outperforming the traditional sectors in the new normal.

The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; BUA Cement, Julius Berger, Flour Mills, Lafarge Africa and NEM Insurance.

Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said Given the gaining streak, we expect investors to take profit in subsequent trading days.

NEM Insurance dominated the gainers chart in percentage terms, gaining 9.63 per cent to close at N2.05 per share.

Wapic Insurance trailed with 6.25 per cent to close at 34k, while Japaul Oil appreciated by 4.76 per cent to close at 22k per share.

Jaiz Bank garnered 3.51 per cent to close at 59k, while Julius Berger grew by 3.03 per cent to close at N17 per share.

Conversely, Beta Glass led the losers chart in percentage terms, losing 9.99 per cent to close at N55.40 per share.

May and Baker followed with a loss of 9.90 per cent to close at N2.73, while Arbico dipped 9.52 per cent to close at N1.14 per share.

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