Nation
THE STATES
Abuja
The police has arraigned Kabiru Salisu, 26, of Kurudu and Ebijimi Adeola, 35, of Karu at the Karu Upper Area Court for alleged disturbance of public peace.
Police prosecutor, Francis Udifai told the court that on May 4, at about 9 a.m., the accused persons engaged in physical combat at Abattoir market in Karu, Abuja.
He added that during police investigation, it was discovered that the accused had disagreement during meat supplies to their customers at the market.
He further said that the offence contravened provisions of section 113 of the Penal Code.
The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The presiding judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N20,000 each and a surety each in like sum.
He adjourned the case to July 1 for further hearing.
Adamawa
Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has inaugurated the sale of fertiliser for the 2013 farming season to farmers in the state.
Nyako urged farmers to take advantage of the government’s various agricultural programmes to facilitate agricultural production.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Kobis Aris, gave assurance that the government would continue to support farmer groups in the state.
He also assured farmers that the government would partner with international and national agencies in promoting the state’s agriculture sector.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Lucy Ishaku, said that the launch was an annual event intended to herald the formal commencement of the sale of inputs to farmers.
Benue
Wife of Benue State governor and founder of the SEV-AV Foundation, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam has been named the face of Akata fishing and Cultural Festival.
The festival, a celebration of the rich culture of the Tiv people in Benue State, will begin on Tuesday, June 4, 2013.
A statement issued in Lagos by the principal consultant, Gren Business Dimensions, Mrs. Rosemary Duamlong named the first lady of the state as the ambassador and face of Akata 2013 because of her achievements in the area of women and youths empowerment through the SEV-AV Foundation.
The statement commended Mrs. Suswam for the establishment of crafts and skills acquisition centres at Vandeikya and Gboko, Sev-Av Agro-processing Centre in Katsina-Ala and Ukum Local Government Areas and the three PMTCT Clinics in Vandeikya, Gboko and Otukpo.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Scholarship Board on Thursday said it had disbursed more than N200 million bursary to indigent students in the state.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Babandi Abubakar, said in Dutse that, 11, 218 students benefited from the exercise.
Abubakar said the beneficiaries include 3, 074 students studying in various state and federal universities and 4, 606 students of the colleges of education. He said that 3, 538 students of the polytechnics also benefited from the scholarship.
Abubakar explained that, the board had deployed personnel to more than 60 universities and other tertiary institutions in the country for the payment of the money.
He said that the gesture was part of the state government’s effort to assist the students and promote academic excellence.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has said that it would prosecute three suspects for theft.
Our correspondent reports that the suspects were arrested in Dukku section of the metropolis for possession of diesel suspected to be stolen.
The state NSCDC Commandant, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the suspects had been in the custody of the corps.
He said the first suspect confessed to the theft while the second denied involvement in the crime. He said the third suspect, a commercial motorist, however, admitted that he was instructed by the second suspect, a businessman, to load the commodity for him before they were arrested.
Kogi
Hundreds of people displaced in the current face-off between Fulani herdsmen and Agatus in Benue State are now taking refuge in some communities in Kogi State.
Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State confirmed this in Lokoja during a meeting with the chairmen of the 21 local government councils in the state.
He said that the displaced persons, including women and children, took refuge in Bagana, Abejukolo and six other communities in Omala Local Government of area of the state.
The Governor said that the influx of people from Benue to Kogi was an indication that the government and the chairmen of local government councils must be on red alert.
Earlier in the day, the Chairman of Omala Local Government, Alhaji Labaran Oigebe, expressed concern over the influx of Agatus from Benue into his local government.
Kwara
The newly-appointed Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Mr. Agboola Oshodi-Glover, on Tuesday formally assumed office at the police headquarters, Ilorin.
Our correspondent reports that the police boss arrived at the office at about 8.00 am.
Oshodi-Glover, while addressing newsmen, warned criminals to keep away from the state.
The commissioner urged the people of the state to continue to give useful information to police to curb crime to the barest minimum.
Oshodi-Glover is the 28th commissioner of police in Kwara and succeeds the late Mr Chinweke Asadu who was assassinated at his native home in Enugu in February.
Lagos
The Director of Studies, Lagos School of Travels and Tourism, Mr Segun Adeshina, said the institute had trained 2,800 students in eight years.
Adeshina told newsmen in Lagos that the management of the school had been training an average of 350 students per year since 2005.
The director expressed the need to train more professionals to explore and develop the industry to meet foreign standard.
He noted the shortfall of professionals in the industry, and called for establishment of more tourism schools to produce additional professionals.
Adeshina urged the Federal Government to invest more resources in the sector so that more people could be employed.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Education, Mr Hussaini Abubakar, said on Thursday that principals and teachers found to be aiding students in examination malpractice would be sanctioned.
The commissioner who gave the warning in an interview in Lafia said that government would not spare anyone found indulging in the act.
He warned that chief education officers of any examination centre that had been de-registered by WAEC or NECO as a result of malpractice would also be sanctioned.
He charged education officers to ensure proper monitoring of the ongoing WAEC examinations in their schools to reduce malpractice.
Abubakar also called on parents, conniving with teachers to perpetrate the act to desist as the government would not hesitate to sanction them.
“Anybody that is caught involved in it, be it a teacher, principal, student, parents or anybody in the system would face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
The commissioner also called on the management of private schools across the state to also guard against the act.
Plateau
A Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State has dismissed a case of negligence brought against security agencies by some victims of 2011 attack at Rukuba road, Jos.
One Mohammed Abdullahi and 10 others had filed a suit on behalf of 27 others before Justice Ambrose Allagoa, claimed that they were attacked by some miscreants on Auugust 29, 2011 at a praying ground.
The plaintiffs, through their counsel, Mr. Hassan Liman (SAN), claimed that during the attack, they sustained injuries while some lost their lives and property worth millions of naira.
Liman prayed the court to compel the Federal Government and its agencies to pay his clients N100 million as general damage and N280,000 being expenses incurred on treatment of injuries sustained during the attack.
But the counsel to the security agencies, Mr Ali Zachariah, who also represented the Attorney-General of the Federation, objected to the claims, saying that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case.
Zechariah prayed the court to dismiss the entire case for lack of merit.
Allagoa, in his ruling, struck out the case for lack of merit.
“This case didn’t fall within the purview of section 251 (1) of 1999 Constitution in view of the proviso therein, therefore this court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain this matter.
“Since the case was not brought in a way of writ of summon, it is hereby struck out, “ the Judge said.
He added that by virtue of that ruling, three similar cases before him had collapsed and therefore dismissed.
Shortly after the ruling, Zachariah told newsmen that he was satisfied with the ruling and described it as “well thought out“.
But Liman, who spoke through Mr. Aliyu Sange, said “we are heading to the court of appeal to challenge this ruling which is a miscarriage of Justice.”
The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
South East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu considering his commitment to achieving a practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly angered by the Senate’s rejection of the need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent 1993 elections stormed out of the Senate Chambers and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South), as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .
Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says the Nigerian Military is committed to facilitating sustainable food security in the country through the establishment of farms.
Musa said this in Abuja yesterday during the unveiling of the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products Logo.
He noted that the agricultural sector played crucial role in guaranteeing food security which was requisite for sustainable national security.
He said that the adverse impact of climate change, environmental degradation and conflict across some parts of the country had continuously threatened food security with dire consequences on national security.
According to him, to address this, the Defence Headquarters in May 2023, conceptualised the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative.
“This is with the aim of keying into the federal government’s efforts at addressing food security challenges in the country.
“The initiative which aligns with the ‘People Centric’ policy thrust of my leadership concept is aimed at creating job opportunities and enhancing rural infrastructural development while significantly contributing to food security in the Country.
“Considering the extensive consultation, planning and preparation made by the committee thus far, I am optimistic that the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative will have a positive transformative impact on host communities while enhancing national security.
“With similar initiatives replicated across the country, I envision a future characterised by modernised farming techniques in which the agricultural sector significantly contributes to economic growth and national development.”
The CDS enjoined all members of the Armed Forces and the general public to embrace the initiative and maximise its associated gains.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, for his sterling leadership and relentless pursuit of national peace, security and economic prosperity.
He also appreciated the efforts of members of the committee who worked assiduously to actualise the initiative.
Earlier, the Chairman, Defence Farms Committee,