Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa voted at Polling Unit 005, Ward 2, Toru-Orua community, Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, alleging that the All Progressives Congress of working with security agencies to hijack voting materials.

He said after voting that security agencies had aided the APC to move voting materials meant for Nembe and Southern Ijaw local government areas to unknown destinations.

There is a well-organised election crime ongoing in our state; they have established unofficial collation centres in some places.

There whole intention is to subvert the will of the people and jeopardise the efforts of well-meaning Bayelsa people to develop the state, he said.

He, however, commended the people of Toru-Orua for their turn-our during the election, saying, your passion for positive change is commendable

But some community people who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN expressed satisfaction at the level of calm and order in the conduct of the poll.

They said that the presence of security personnel in the community had reduced the tension among the voting public.

Chief Abite Alawei, a community leader said that he was confident that the process would be concluded without violence.

We have not witnessed any breach of law and order in the community since the process began, our people have conducted themselves orderly.

As you can see, voting is also ongoing, and the process is orderly, we pray it continues this way till the end, he said.

Mr Amaye Soldier, a teacher, also told NAN that he was satisfied with the conduct of the polling officials in the unit.

We are watching the process, so far, we are comfortable with the conduct of the election officials, they have shown fairness and purpose, he said.

NAN reports that Gov. Dicksons residence did not witness the usual beehive of activities that characterise a governors country home during elections.

Some local community people say the attention and loyalty of political followers had shifted to candidates of the major political parties contesting the election.(NAN)

Source: NAN

By Shedrack Frank

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, voted at unit 39, Ward 13 at the Otazi Playground, Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jonathan voted at 11.30 a.m., while his wife voted at 11.35 a.m.

Ward 13 is made up of five communities of Otuoke, Otuaba, Ewoi, Otuabula 1 and Otuabula 2.

In his remarks after voting, Jonathan expressed dissatisfaction over the lateness of the arrival of the materials to the polling units.

He said: We must conduct ourselves if we want to real bring people to rule us either as president or governors.

Nigerians are always blaming people in authorities and the leaders, so here they must blame themselves.

Look at even this voting, I was around earlier, but the materials had yet to arrive in the polling unit.

I have led election monitoring teams to other African countries, we use to go 30 minutes before the time and in our reports, we indicate the exact time when the vote starts.

So, for election to start after that time it is an indictment to the electoral body that manages election, there is no reason here election should not start by 8:00 a.m.

So, even the youth should stop blaming old people, you blame yourselves and do things properly.

I am really disappointed on what I observe today compare to other African countries I monitor elections..(NAN)

Source: NAN

By Francis Onyeukwu

The Anambra State Police Command has smashed a kidnapping syndicate terrorising the state; and has arrested two suspected top members.

In a statement signed by by SP Haruna Mohammed, the Commands Public Relations Officer (PRO), on Saturday, the police said the arrest followed a fierce gun battle with the criminals.

Mohammed said that police also recovered one revolver pistol, four live ammunition, and a victims body.

He said the gun battle between the police and the syndicate took place on Friday, at Owerrinta, Abia State.

According to him, the shootout took place when the abductors came to collect N3 million ransom from the victims family.

Following actionable intelligence, Puff-Adder operatives, in conjunction with the Commands Special Anti robbery Squad (SARS), tracked and arrested at Aro Ngwa, Owerrinta in Abia State, one Anthony Robbert m 25 years.

Robert was arrested alongside one Udoka Nwoko m 27 years, after a fierce gun battle.

The two suspects were fatally wounded during the encounter, it said.

The commands spokesman said the encounter followed the kidnap of one Amaechi Ike m, at Awada in Onitsha, Anambra.

The suspects later collected N3 million ransom from his family, and still went ahead to kill the victim (Ike), he said.

Mohammed stated that the suspects voluntarily confessed to the crime and immediately took Police detectives to a shallow grave, where they buried the victim.

He said that the corpse was exhumed and recovered as exhibit and later deposited at a morgue.

The PPRO said that police recovered one locally made revolver pistol and four live ammunition from the suspects.

He said the suspects had since been taken to the hospital for medical attention; and they would be charged to court after investigation.

The PRO used the medium to re-assure the public of Anambra Commissioner of Police, Mr John Abangs readiness to combat crime in the state.

He appealed to residents to always provide useful information that would assist the Police in protecting lives and property of all citizens (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Gami Tadanyigbe

The Chairman of Kuje Area Council, FCT, Malam Abdullahi Sabo, on Saturday launched a ten-day integrated Measles and Meningitis A vaccination in the area.

Speaking at the ceremony at the Primary Health Care Centre in Kuje, Sabo said the measles vaccine was to be given to children between the age of nine months and five years.

He further explained that only children between the age of one year and five years were to be immunised against meningitis.

Represented by his wife, Hajia Salamatu, Sabo said that the two diseases, which were airborne, were common in African countries and often occurred during the dry season.

He said the council was targeting more than 300 children in the area, urging caregivers, parents and guardians to take the exercise seriously.

According to the Primary Health Care Coordinator of Kuje Area Council, Mr Haruna Agwai, the ailments were associated with the dust of dry season and that preventive measures are necessary before the season sets in.

Agwai added that the vaccination was a second chance to children who did not meet up with the first exercise at the time they attained nine months.

He, however, called on parents in the area to cooperate with the health workers for the success of the exercise.

According to him, Kuje Area Council Administration and the Primary Health Care Centre were determined to ensure that children in the area were healthy. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Mrs Busola Dakolo, wife of Nigerian inspirational singer Timi Dakolo has refuted the report in some sections of the media that an FCT High Court in Bwari fined her N1million in her suit against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an FCT High Court on Thursday declared Busola Dakolos suit on her alleged rape by Fatoyinbo, founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), as statute barred.

The Court presided over by Justice A.O Musa, ruled that the matter was filed out of time because the events that crystallized to form the cause of action took place 16 years ago.

The Court further ruled that the claimant, Mrs Dakolo had only six years within which to seek redress in court in line with the statute of limitation.

But Busola through her lawyer Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi in a letter addressed to Punch Newspapers demanded an apology from media organisations that reported the matter contrary to court ruling.

The letter read in parts: We write in respect and reference to your online publication on the 14th day of Nov., 2019, with the caption Sponsored; Court Throws Out Busola Dakolos Case Against Fatoyinbo where in the said report you falsely stated, to wit: the Court also awarded cost of N1, 000, 000 against Busola Dakolo and held that the fine should have been 10 times more because the courts time was wasted .

This false report sponsored on your platform was copied by other media platforms and widely circulated on social media including television stations, deliberately misrepresenting the Courts decision in a clear attempt to ridicule our client in its ruling/judgment as there could not have been any basis for that.

Olajengbesi further demanded a confidential release of the name of the person who sponsored the News content, and failure to do so in 48 hours would force them to take other permissible actions under the law against the Newspaper(s).

See the copy of the letter below as sent to NAN:

Mrs Dakolo who is also a celebrity photographer had accused Fatoyinbo of raping her in Kwara, when she was 17 years.

Fatoyinbo, however, denied the allegations stressing that he had never raped anyone before, not even as an unbeliever.

He eventually filed an objection and an affidavit at the court stating that Busolas statements were concocted to embarrass, scandalise and ridicule him. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Abdullahi Shugaba,

The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Jigawa chapter has introduced what it called, End Well programme for its members.

The Chairman of the union, Alhaji Abdulkadir Yunusa, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Saturday.

Yunusa said that the programme was meant for interested Teachers who wished to save some money monthly which they would collect after their retirement from service.

And interested members can as well access loan facilities from the saving, he said.

He said the programme was not compulsory, as teachers were at liberty to save or not to save against their retirement.

There is no fixed amount for the savings, everybody is free to decide on what he or she can save monthly.

It will interest you to know that you can collect your money immediately after your retirement to start life before you collect your gratuity from the government.

We have a Board of Trustees for the programme manned by a Chairman and members, the chairman said.

He, therefore, advised members of the union to key into the programme to enable them to enjoy its immense benefits during their retirement.

Source: NAN

By Lizzy Okoji

Nigeria, the Republic of Benin and Niger, have established a joint border patrol team comprising the Police, Customs, Immigration of the tripartite countries to recommend a date for the reopening of the borders.

The three countries agreed in a resolution on Thursday in Abuja at the end of the Tripartite Anti-Smuggling Committee Meeting of Nigeria, Benin and Niger.

Reading the communiqu at the end of the meeting, Nigerias Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the meeting took note of all concerns raised and agreed to establish a monitoring and evaluating committee of the three countries.

Onyeams said that the committee will comprise of Ministers of Finance, Trade, Foreign Affairs, Customs, Immigration and National Security Adviser.

He said that the Committee is with a mandate to ensure actions that would facilitate and enhance the suppression of smuggled goods and other related matters.

The meeting agreed that the monitoring and evaluation committee will ensure the full implementation of the adopted mandate of the Joint Anti-Smuggling Human Trafficking Committee.

Nigeria, Benin also agreed on the establishment of trade facilitation committee among the three countries, comprising of Ministers of Finance and Trade.

To promote intra-regional trade among the three countries, as well as put in place, sanctions against smuggling of goods.

The governments agreed to ensure persons from the three countries to enter/exit each others state with valid ECOWAS recognised travel documents through recongnised controlled posts.

Establishment of Joint Border Patrol Team comprising the Police, Customs, Immigration of the three countries.

The team is to hold its first meeting in Abuja from Nov. 25 to Nov. 27, 2019.

The patrol team is to agree on the modality to carry out its operation and recommend a date for the opening of the borders, Onyeama said.

On the anti-smuggling issues, Onyeama earlier said the meeting deliberated on the myriad of challenges faced by the three countries.

Onyeama added that more importantly, the meeting dwelt on the areas of smuggling of goods and services that were not approved under the Protocols on ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme.

He said that the meeting also proffered to address issues as regards Free Movement of Persons without valid ECOWAS travel documents, as well as plethora of illegal warehouses along the border corridors.

In this regard, the meeting acknowledged smuggling of goods, as well as human trafficking as collective violation of ECOWAS Protocols on ETLS and Free Movement.

That pose severe ecnonomic and security threats to intra-regional trade and free movement, Onyeama also said.

Onyeama said that Niger and Benin Republic however appealed for the reopening of the land borders.

Responding to the attack of Nigerian traders in Ghana, Onyeama said that the Nigerian High Commission was engaging with the Ghanaian government and the leadership of the Nigerian traders in Accra.

Onyeama said that there was however no threat to the physical safety of Nigerian traders in Ghana, adding that the tripartite meeting have agreed on modalities for the way forward. (NAN)

Source: NAN

A High Court in Bwari, Abuja on Thursday threw out the case filed by Photographer, Busola Dakolo against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA).

This came after Fatoyinbo filed an objection and an affidavit at the Court reiterating that Busolas statements were false and concocted to embarrass, scandalise and ridicule Fatoyinbo.

He argued that from the inception, she sought the attention of the media and press, and brought the civil action even while the Polices investigation was ongoing.

According to Justice Oathman A. Musa in her judgment, the matter amounted to injustice, and an abuse of judicial process as the case was empty and purely sentimental, adding that the case was aimed more at cruelty than obtaining justice.

The court also awarded costs of N1,000,000 against Busola Dakolo and held that the fine should have been 10 times more because the courts time was wasted.

Dakolo had filed the suit against Fatoyinbo after she claimed that the COZA pastor raped her 20 years ago when she was 16 years in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Fatoyinbo denied the allegations and even took a break from the pulpit and later came back to ministration.

Source: NAN

Healthcare

Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, Chairman, TY Danjuma Foundation, on Thursday marked 10 years of his philanthropy and promised to refocus solely on healthcare delivery and hygiene.

Danjuma said this while giving his address at an event to mark the foundations 10th year anniversary in Abuja.

He said that the foundation had come a long way, adding that we admit we have made some mistakes but we will make correction going forward.

He said although the foundation had a lot to celebrate but the state of the nations highway that had been taken over by armed men was a worrisome situation.

So, even as we celebrate 10 years today because we have done well as a foundation by caring for people, it saddens me because the roads are not safe.

The foundation has restored sight and dignity to men, took care of destitute and displaced persons, victims of terrorism and tribal and intertribal wars.

So as we blow our own trumpet in celebration, we cannot forget we now live in an unsafe environment and the sad thing is that it all took place within the last 10 years.

As a soldier who fought in the civil war, I never needed escort while traveling to visit my family but now, I dare not do that.

Danjuma said the foundation decided to scale down its 10 years anniversary to spare a thought for the nations situation.

He said that he decided to help the less privileged especially to access healthcare because of the experience and what he went through during his years of service in the army.

Danjuma thanked the grantees and staff members of the foundation for using their skills to give healthcare to the needy in the last 10 years.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation is committed to enhancing the quality of life in Nigeria by supporting initiatives that improve access to health and education.

The foundation in 10 years awarded N3 billion cummulative grants to eight million direct beneficiaries and also implemented 280 projects in 31 states of the federation including the FCT.

Some of the grantees commended the foundation for funding them to help contribute to building a Nigeria where all citizens have access to affordable quality healthcare, education and equal opportunities to realise their potential.(NAN)

Source: NAN

By Temitope Ponle

A charity organisation, the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Pyrates Confraternity, Abuja City Centre, has appealed to politicians and other stakeholders to avoid acts that trigger violence and play by the rules of the game.

The call, contained in statement signed by Mr Ugochukwu Nwodo, Capoon, NAS Sahara Deck, is coming ahead of the Nov. 16 gubernatorial elections in Kogi.

Nwodo said that election was entirely a civil affair that requires citizens to exercise their franchise as provided for in the constitution and guidelines for elections.

Violence and all forms of thuggery, intimidation and chaos should not have a place in 21st century electoral process.

He also urged security agencies to ensure that the electorate in the state was freely allowed to exercise the right to vote in a violence free environment and without fear of any reprisals.

Furthermore, he called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to play the role of a fair umpire.

He urged INEC to ensure free, fair and credible election which should also be generally seen to be so by all concerned.

He assured of the groups commitment to all efforts geared towards ensuring that our electoral processes are strengthened and devoid of violence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC, in May, had announced a new date for the governorship elections in Kogi and Beyelsa from Nov. 2 to Nov. 16.

The commission said the change in date followed several appeals from Bayelsa that the election date coincided with the states Annual Thanksgiving Day which is backed by law. (NAN)

Source: NAN