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Showing posts from August, 2020

‘Incitement is not freedom of speech’ — Kaduna defends prosecution of Odinkalu, Maikori

The Kaduna state government says statements that could incite violence should not be categorised as freedom of speech.  The government is currently in court with Chidi Odinkalu, a former chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Audu Maikori, president of Chocolate City Entertainment, who were both accused of inciting the public against the government. A group of lawyers had petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), seeking the withdrawal of the invitation of Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, as a speaker at the annual conference of the association. The petitioners had accused the governor of violating human rights, citing the cases of Odinkalu and Maikori as examples of breach of rights to freedom of speech. But in a statement on Monday, Aisha Dikko, Kaduna’s attorney-general and commissioner of justice, said the government has never disregarded court processes.  She also accused the petitioners of personalising an issue which the state government is handling.   “

Chinese government is building $50m Transportation University in Daura for free – Amaechi

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has disclosed that the Chinese government is building the $50 million University of Transportation in Daura, Katsina State for free. Original    Speaking during his maiden inspection tour of the ongoing project in Daura, the Minister also disclosed that  he Chinese government will build a primary and secondary school which will cater for the educational needs of children whose families work there.   Amaechi said the project construction would commence in September and would be completed by the end of next year. The Minister who made a clarification on the project, said it is not part of the railway contract but was donated to the federal government by the Chinese government free of charge.   He said;    “Construction work will commence in September. What they are doing now is clearing, they have promised to build a primary school and a secondary school in the university. This university is a donation by the Chinese government through CCECC. Th

Hotel Rwanda' film hero, Paul Rusesabagina arrested on terrorism charges

Paul Rusesabagina whose true life story of saving hundreds of Rwandans during the genocide in the country by sheltering them in the hotel he managed inspired the 2004 Hollywood film 'Hotel Rwanda', has been arrested on terrorism charges.    The Hutu native who became well known after Hotel Rwanda, is wanted for a score of serious crimes. He is said to be the founder of the National Liberation Forces (FLN), '' an armed terrorist organisation '' under his Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD).   The Rwandan government is currently holding and trying dozens of FLN members for war crimes and other violations committed on Rwandan territory including murder. Callixte Nsabimana one of the FLN leaders is also undergoing trial in Rwanda.     According to the country's bureau of Investigation, Rusesabagina was arrested "through international cooperation" after an international warrant was issued. He is now in police custody in Kigali, Rwanda's ca

NDDC finally pays tuition fees of students on its scholarship scheme

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has paid $5,901,000 to 197 students on its scholarship scheme.   Recall that during the investigative hearing done by the House of Representatives on allegations of financial recklessness in the commission, several students sent abroad by the commission to study, came out to complain that they have been left stranded as the commission has failed to fulfill its promise to pay their tuition fees as well as give them some allowances.   The students staged a protest that got the attention of President Buhari who ordered the payment of the students' fees.    Well, respite has come the way of the students as the fees of some of them have now been paid while fees of others are currently being processed.   Director of Corporate Affairs, NDDC, Charles Odili, in an interview with Vanguard, said $5.901m have now been paid to 197 scholarship students. Odili said among the 197 beneficiaries were 12 Ph.D students from 2016 and 13 Ph.D. students from

Bride, 33, fighting for her life after suffering a 'heart attack' during her wedding in Israel

A 33-year-old woman is fighting for her life in the hospital after suffering a heart attack at her own wedding in Israel.   The bride, from the Sadot Negev region in southern Israel, collapsed in front of her guests during the wedding ceremony on Sunday, August 30.   According to IsraelHayom, the woman was kept alive by some of the guests who were medical professionals until paramedics arrived at the scene. The bride, who is also a doctor, was rushed to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba in a critical condition.    The woman received CPR en route to the hospital, local media said. She is currently being treated in the intensive care unit in the cardiology wing of the hospital.    The wedding was held in the garden of a private home as wedding halls have been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.    So far, there have so far around 113,000 diagnoses of coronavirus and 906 deaths in Israel.    

LASU to resume in batches starting from September

Students of the Lagos State University, LASU, are to resume in batches, starting from September.   The Vice Chancellor,  Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN, made this announcement on Monday, August 31, while speaking on a radio interview.   He explained that 400, 500 and 600 levels students would resume first after which students in other levels would come onboard.   The 400, 500 and 600 levels students would resume for a duration of two months with intensive lectures starting from 9am – 3pm daily for those that live off-campus.   After the completion of 400 level,500 level and 600 level resumption; students in 200 level and 300 level are to resume for two months of lectures before the commencement of exams.   Resumption for the students in 200 level and 300 level was divided into different days of the week.   On Mondays and Wednesdays, 300 level students would be on campus for lectures. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, 200 level students would be on campus in order to maintain social distancing

Man stabbed to death for accusing neighbor of sleeping with co-tenant’s wife in Lagos

The police in Lagos state is currently on the trail of a man identified as Adekunle Adeyemi, for allegedly stabbing a co-tenant, Stanley Dickson, to death in the Grammar School area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.   According to the report, Stanley, Adekunle and one Arinze Onuoha, lived in the same compound. Stanley saw the ''close relationship'' Adekunle had with Arinze's wife had and interpreted it to mean they were having an affair. He informed Arinze's mother who informed Arinze who confronted Adekunle. During the confrontation, Arinze told Adekunle that it was Stanley who alleged he was having an affair with his wife.   Livid by Stanley's claim, Adekunle decided to wait until he returned from work before confronting Stanley. When he finally got the opportunity to confront Stanley, they had a heated argument that degenerated into a fight that led to Stanley's death.   A resident of the area, Ibidunni Adegoke, who spoke on the incident said “The victim (Stan

Hitman' accuses Bafana Bafana captain, Senzo Meyiwa's babymama of plotting his murder

One of the suspects linked to the murder of former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa,  has allegedly implicated his baby mama and singer Kelly Khumalo in the murder.   City Press reported that the hitman in a confession made before a magistrate in June, six years after Senzo Meyiwa’s death, alleged that the plot was hatched in a mall in Johannesburg.    Though no arrest has been made so far, it was however learnt that investigators have submitted the docket to prosecutors to obtain warrants of arrests for all implicated in the murder.     Insiders told the publication that a crack team of investigators appointed by Police Minister Bheki Cele, took eight months to wrap up investigations that had been stalled for years.   “We have a watertight case. We’ve managed to track down a firearm that was used to kill Senzo. The ballistic test results have positively linked the suspects to the murder, which we’ve established was premeditated."   In the detailed

Money has become ‘god’ to our church leaders – CAN president, Ayokunle laments

Rev. Samson Ayokunle, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has lamented that money has become the god of many Christians, especially church leaders in the country. He also said sexual immorality, gluttony, and financial impropriety prevalent in churches was due to lack of discipline. Rev. Ayokunle stated this in his speech at the ongoing virtual convention of the church. The cleric noted that one can no longer separate unbelievers from Christians. “The church is in a state where lack of discipline has led to many instances of sexual immorality, gluttony, financial impropriety, laziness, court cases, etc,” he said. He said that the behaviour of Christians has led to the name of God being maligned, with Obscene dressing and all forms of impurities happening among God’s children. Ayokunle cried out that most people who call themselves Christians cannot be trusted for any noble assignment, adding that “There appears to be no difference between them and the unbeliever

Blasphemy: Ganduje vows to sign death warrrant of singer

Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has vowed to sign the warrant of the death sentence passed on 22-year-old Yahaya Sharif-Aminu for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Muhammad. The Governor, who supports the ruling by Upper Shari’a Court, said he will promptly sign the warrant if Sharif-Aminu does not appeal the sentence. Sharif-Aminu, a resident of Sharifai quarters in Kano municipal, was sued for “insulting religious creed, contrary to section 382 (b) of Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law 2000.” According to the litigation, he committed blasphemy against the prophet in a song he circulated that went viral via WhatsApp in March 2020. The Shari’a court, presided by Khadi Aliyu Muhammad Kani, found him guilty of the charge and ordered he should be hanged to death. Ganduje applauded the judgment while speaking at Africa House, Government House Kano, in a ‘Special Meeting’ with Muslim Ulamahs. Leaders of the Ulamahs, who represented the three major sects of Islam: Izalah, Tijjaniyya and Kadiriyya

BREAKING: FG postpones resumption of International Flights, reveals new date

The Nigerian Government has postponed the resumption of international flights scheduled for August 29th 2020. This was announced on Thursday afternoon by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika during the Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19. POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that the new date for the resumption of flights in September 5th 2020. The statement read; “Regret to announce that the international flight resumption earlier scheduled to resume on 29th August has been shifted to 5th September 2020.”

Akinwumi Adesina re-elected as AfDB’s President

Nigeria’s  Akinwumi Adesina has been re-elected as the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), for another five-year term. The re-election took place electronically during AfDBs’ 2020 Annual Meeting. Its was reported that  Mr. Adesina  disclosed  his intentions to run as the multilateral bank’s President for a second time yesterday. Mr. Adesina stressed the need for unity to enable the continent to pull together and stay focused on the goal of fighting the effect of the pandemic on Africa’s economy. According to him,  “pulling together has always been the strength of the African Development Bank.” He said that Africa has lost a decade’s worth of economic growth due to the pandemic and that despite Africa’s recovery being long, the need for unity would be needed now more than ever in the AfDB. “Now we must help Africa to build back, boldly, but smartly, paying greater attention to quality growth: health, climate, and the environment,”  he added. He also disclosed that the bank

Nigerian man ,kaycee madu appointed minister of justice in Canada

A Nigerian man, Kaycee Madu has made history after being appointed a Minister of Justice in Alberta, Canada.  Premier Jason Kenney on Tuesday August 25, elevated Madu to the justice portfolio from Municipal Affairs in a cabinet shuffle that saw Calgary-Elbow MLA Doug Schweitzer move from justice to an economic portfolio. With the appointment, Madu is now the first Black Canadian to occupy either provincial or federal justice positions of the justice minister, attorney general or solicitor general.  Kenney said;   “This effectively takes the Economic Development, Trade and Tourism portfolio (and) renames it. Additional functions will be added to the ministry over the weeks and months that come. “This is a broadened and expanded ministry. Alberta is being hit especially hard with the double whammy of the global coronavirus recession, on top of that the collapse of energy prices which has clobbered our largest industry — oil and gas." Madu on his own part tweeted;  "

Mother dead, baby injured as police chase suspected ‘Yahoo Boy’ in Benin

A 29-year-old woman, Mrs Grace Obajay, lost her life in an auto crash that occurred along Airport Road, Benin City, Edo State, while doctors are still battling to save the life of her one-year and five months old baby, at a private hospital. Two other persons: the Uber driver and yahoo suspect who also sustained severe injuries were said to be receiving treatment at the hospital. Information  revealed that the deceased who would have been celebrating her two years marriage anniversary in two months, worked with Floret Systems, as its Secretary. She had ordered for Uber last Friday, after the close of work and had occupied the back seat with her baby. Barely had the Uber driver, Precious John, begun the journey, then a green Toyota Camry on high speed, hit the black Nissan Murano Uber car with plate number RRU 362 NE, from the driver’s side. The baby was said to have been flung out of the vehicle due to the impact of the hit. He wailed in excruciating pains waiting for the soothing hand

Mum and son ‘caught having sex’ by son’s wife to face 20 years in jail

A mother and her son were allegedly caught having sex by the man’s wife and the couple could now face 20 years in jail for incest.   Tony L Lavoie, from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, was allegedly caught having sex with his mum Cheryl Lavoie, 64, in May earlier this year. police were called to reports of a disturbance and the responding officer was greeted by a cousin of the wife of Tony.   The cousin then told the officer Tony’s wife had called her about walking in on her husband having sex with his mother before calling 911, reports Sentinel & Enterprise.   The officer then reportedly spoke to the mum and son to acknowledge they had consensual sex relations. It is alleged they both said it was the first time it had happened, reports add.   The police officer says Tony said: “I don’t know. It just happened.”   It is further alleged Tony told the officer he wanted treatment for this, the officer said.   After asking Cheryl the same question, she allegedly answered that they had gotten

Luxury buses stopped from operating in Kano

Owners of luxury buses have been stopped from operating in Kano state following an ex parte motion granted by a chief magistrate court at Gidan Murtala area of Kano.    The ex parte motion was filed by Mutawakkil Muhammad, principal counsel of the state ministry of justice and secretary/legal adviser of Kano state road traffic agency (KAROTA) following the failure of luxury bus operators to obey the directive of KAROTA to relocate to Unguwa Uku motor park.   Baffa Babba-Dan Agundi, managing director of KAROTA who reacted to the court order said the legal move was taken due to the disobedience of the bus owners to relocate to the new park to continue their businesses. He warned that any luxury bus owner that violates the court order would be dealt with.

Foreigners exchange arms for gold , others in zamfara - Gov

The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has said some foreigners are exchanging firearms for gold and other precious stones in the state. . He said the development was contributing to the security challenges in the state. Matawalle spoke with State House correspondents after a meeting with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday evening. He said, “It is very important to us as a government, particularly on the issue of insecurity, to know the cause of insecurity. “Zamfara State is blessed with many mineral resources and some people outside the country come in to buy gold and other precious stones and sometimes, instead of paying money, they pay with arms. “The state government is engaging the miners. We will be buying some of the gold from them with the limited resources we have.” The governor identified illegal mining as one of the challenges facing the state. Matawalle said his purpose of visiting the Preside

40% of married of Nigerian men are bi-sexual - Halima Abubakar

A few days ago, popular Nollywood actress, Halima Abubakar took to her social media account to send a cryptic message which set the platform agog as many of her friends and followers read meanings to the message. The actress simply posted, “Don’t blame people who jump from one girl to another. Some times what they really want is another man. Don’t hurt yourself. Dust yourself and move on.” In an exclusive chat with Punch, the Kogi state born actress shared her reason for the cryptic message. She revealed that about 40 per cent of married Nigerian men are on the “Down-low” (bi-sexual). She said, “We have over 40 per cent of down-low (bi-sexual married men) in Nigeria, whether you want to believe it or not. Sadly, their families don’t even know. Instead of them putting their families through hurt, infect them with various diseases and end up killing their wives or themselves because they are scared to open up, I feel they should be truthful and realistic about their needs and

DSS/IPOB CLASH:Army places troops on high alert

The military authorities have placed troops of 82 Division, Enugu, on high alert following the clash between the operatives of the Department of State Services and the Indigenous People of Biafra in Emene, Enugu. It also asked troops to avoid individual movement in uniforms outside the barracks in order to prevent reprisals by IPOB members.   The violent clash which happened on Sunday, reportedly claimed many lives, including two DSS officers said to be on patrol before they were allegedly attacked by IPOB members holding a meeting in the area. But the Army in a signal despatched to different formations and unit commanders asked troops to be at alert and avoid individual movement in uniforms outside the barracks. It also warned troops to avoid losing their weapons to criminal elements, adding that commanders must sensitise their men to maintain high alert. The signal read, “Following the killing of two DSS personnel at Emene and subsequent attack on Keystone Station at Awgu

Nigeria’s economy performed better than US, UK, others in 2nd quarter – Presidency

The Presidency on Wednesday said the nation’s economy, despite contraction, performed better than that of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and others in the second quarter of 2020. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had said the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP declined by –6.10% (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2020, ending the 3-year trend of low but consistently improving positive real growth rates recorded since the 2016/17 recession. It said consequently, for the first half of 2020, real GDP declined by –2.18% year-on-year, compared with 2.11% recorded in the first half of 2019. Reacting to NBS’ figures, the presidency in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said the overall decline of -6.1% (for Q2 2020) and -2.18 per cent (for H1 2020) was better than the projected forecast of -7.24% as estimated by the National Bureau of Statistics. He said the figure was also relatively f

Lord's Chosen Pastor pleads guilty to defiling and impregnating two underage sisters

A Pastor of the The Lord's Chosen Charismatic Revival Church, Nduka Anyanwu has pleaded guilty to  defiling and impregnating two underage sisters .   This came after Police Prosecutor ASP Roman Unuigbe told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in June, in Oshodi area of Lagos. Unuigbe also disclosed that the randy Pastor impregnated the two sisters aged 17 and 13 (names withheld), after defiling them on several occassions at the church complex, under the pretext of holding prayer sessions with them.   He added that the offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 which stipulates life imprisonment for the offence of defilement of a minor.   Chief Magistrate Mrs A. Adedayo who presided over the case remanded the defendant in a custodial center and adjourned the case to September 15 for facts and sentencing.

How I Killed Another Woman After My Escape – Ibadan Serial Killer Makes Shocking Confession

Sunday Shodipe (L) and Herbalist he alleged sends him on mission Sunday Shodipe, the 19 years old serial killer, who was rearrested by the  Oyo State  Police command has said that the herbalist who was detained with him ordered him to escape from the cell to shed more blood to appease spirits tormenting him, Vanguard reports. He made the confession just as he confessed to killing another  woman , Mrs Oladeji Funmilayo, after his escape from police custody last Sunday. The suspect, during his parade alongside other 32 criminals by the Oyo State Police Commissioner, CP Joe Nwachuwu Enwonwu he escaped from police custody in order to get more blood to appease some spirits tormenting the life of the herbalist with whom he was in detention. The suspect clarified that he was the actual Sunday Sodipe that escaped from police custody, but re-arrested on August 13, 2020. “The herbalist with whom I was detained told me to escape from detention to provide blood to appease some spirits who were suc

Trials are terribly slow - President Buhari says as he proposes one-year limit for criminal cases

President Muhammadu Buhari who spoke at the 60th annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),   proposed a 12-month time limit for criminal cases to be heard and decided upon.   Recalling how long it took the tribunal to hear and pass verdict on the lawsuit he filed following his loss in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential polls, President Buhari who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said someone who did not legitimately win the election would have been in office all the time the case was in court.    He added that since there is now a time limit for electoral cases, criminal and civil matters should also be time-bound.   Buhari said;    “At the end, I lost all three cases. I wondered then, why it needed to take so long to arrive at a verdict and if I had won the case, someone who did not legitimately win the election would have been in office all that time,” Buhari said. “In 2019, I was no longer a petitioner. I had now become a respondent in the cas

"We are ready to resume' - University lecturers tell FG

                          Nigerian University Lecturers have asked the Federal Government to reopen tertiary institutions in the country as they are ready to work following nationwide educational shutdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.   The lecturers under the aegis of Congress of University Academics (CONUA), a breakaway faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), released a press statement on Wednesday August 26, after it held a National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.   The statement signed by CONUA’s National Coordinator, Niyi Sunmonu (pictured), and titled ‘Stop intimidation of CONUA members’ reads; “The meeting called on the government to reopen universities as soon as possible as CONUA members are ready to resume work. “Everything necessary in terms of COVID-19 protocols must be put in place before reopening the universities in order to prevent students and staff from contracting the disease. “CONUA further stated that the education sector cannot continu