Nation
THE STATES
Ekiti
An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court has ordered that
Ayodele Ojo, 45, be remanded in prison custody over alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl in Ijero-Ekiti.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Bamikole Olasunkanmi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on February 18 when he unlawfully had carnal knowledge of the teenager at Ijero-Ekiti.
He said the offence contravened Section 221(1) of the criminal code, cap. C 16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.
Bamikole said he had duplicated and sent the case file to the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.
The plea of the accused was not taken and his counsel, Mr Tosin Osundahunsi, sought for an adjournment.
FCT
The House of Representatives has mandated its Com
mittee on Gas to investigate the alleged non-remittance of funds from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, Bonny, to the Federation Account.
The committee, which would investigate the non-remittance from 2004 till date, had three weeks to summit its report.
This resolution was sequel to a motion by Rep. Aminu Suleiman (APC- Kano) which was unanimously adopted without debate when put to vote by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.
Suleiman said that NLNG Bonny had breached Section 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which makes it mandatory for all ‘revenue’ collected by the government of the federation to be remitted into the Federation Account.
Kano
The Nigeria Environmental Standards, Regulations and
Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has solicited the support of media organisations in the dissemination of its activities.
NESREA’s Northwest Zonal Director, Dr Ahmed Kasim, made the call during a familiarisation visit to newsmen in Kano recently.
“Our activities will have more impact on individuals, groups and corporations with the full support of the media.
Kasim said the agency would continue to open its doors for consultations and advise from media organisations operating in the state.
Malam Muntari Tukur, NAN Kano correspondent, told Kasim that the agency would accord him the same good relationship it had with the former director.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government said that local government
councils would be provided additional funds to combat criminal activities in their respective areas.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Nurudden Kangiwa, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the gesture would help to enhance peaceful coexistence in the state.
Kangiwa said prompt release of funds to the councils on security matters would be accorded priority.
Kangiwa, however, urged the councils to extend support to vigilante groups in their areas by providing them with stipends and working tools.
The SSG said the state government would continue to collaborate with stakeholders on security to ensure a secured and peaceful environment through the 24-hour joint security patrol of the state.
Kogi
The Kogi State Government said it was in the process of
constructing public toilets in strategic areas in Lokoja to check open defecation in the state capital.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Mike Abu, the Chief Press Secretary to the state Deputy Governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, in Lokoja, recently.
It said that the decision was announced by Gov. Idris Wada at a meeting with the members of the organising committee of the National Environmental Sanitation Day 2014 headed by the Minister of Environment, Mrs Laurentia Malam.
The statement said that the decision was to check indiscriminate open defecation by residents.
Kwara
The Chairman, Baruten Local Government Area of
Kwara State, Malam Mohammed Omar-Bio, has solicited the assistance of the state government for victims of the rainstorm in the area.
Omar-Bio made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Kosubosu, headquarters of the council after an on-the-spot assessment of places affected by the rainstorm.
He said that a childless octogenarian, Mrs Kumbayeruma Gaaku, was among victims of the devastating rainstorm that wreaked havoc in the area.
“The effect was so much, particularly the house of an old woman, who has no child; I can assure you that we shall definitely do something to alleviate their sufferings.
“When we get back to the office, I and other members of my team will put heads together and see what we can do; very soon, you shall hear from us.
Lagos
A 24-year-old man , Valentine Ezike, charged with
obtaining N116, 000 on the pretext of procuring a Dubai visa for his client, has appeared before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused, who lives at No. 22, Francis Odoni St., Ajangbadi, Ojo, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and theft.
The Prosecutor, ASP Godwin Eze, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in February 2013, in Ojo.
He said the accused obtained N116, 000 from one Mr Peter Chidiebere, with the promise to assist him to get a Dubai visa.
Nasarawa
The Acting Provost of College of Agriculture, Lafia,
Nasarawa State, Dr Mohammed Salihu, has warned new students of the institution to shun cultism and indiscipline.
Salihu gave the warning in Lafia at the matriculation of 4,000 students for the 2013/2014 academic session.
The acting provost also urged the students to strive for academic excellence in order to justify their parents’ investments in them.
Salihu also warned the students against vices such as examination malpractice, indecent dressing and drug abuse.
Ogun
The Ogun State House of Assembly says it is
taking steps towards the establishment of state lottery board.
The Speaker of the assembly, Mr Suraj Adekunbi, stated this in Abeokuta at a Public Forum on the Bill for an Act to establish Lottery Board for the state.
The speaker said when passed and assented to, it would also regulate public on-line lotteries.
Adekunbi, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Tola Banjo, said the need to protect the interest of citizens and regulate the activities of operators necessitated the bill.
Plateau
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Zone 4, Jos,
said recently that it had recorded “significant reduction in fatal accidents’’ in the early part of this year in the zone.
“The zone, which comprises Nasarawa, Plateau and Benue states, has recorded less accidents when compared to the early part of 2013 accident rate,’’ the corps said.
Mr Yakubu Attah, the FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer (ZCO), disclosed this while briefing newsmen on their activities in Jos.
“In January 2014, the zone has recorded 38 fatal accidents that claimed the lives of 55 people while 434 people sustained injuries.
Taraba
The Acting Governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar, has
urged the people to live peacefully with one another to achieve peace in the state.
Umar disclosed this in Jalingo at the inauguration of projects recently.
According to him, living in peace would enhance development in the state.
“As this administration makes concerted efforts to improve living standards, let me reiterate the fact that our objective can only be achieved if we continue to give peace a chance.
Yobe
Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has directed
political office holders to interact with people at the grassroots to assess the impact of government’s programmes on the lives of the citizens.
He gave the directive in Damaturu while swearing into office two former national legislators and two former commissioners as special advisers.
Gaidam said the advisers were appointed to tap their potentials for the socio-economic development of the state.
“We are glad to have the right calibre of people into the offices to fast track and move the state forward,’’ he said.
Asiwaju of Egbe, General Yinka Adeniyi (rtd) (left), presenting an award to Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State (right), at the inauguration of the revitalised ECW Hospital in Egbe, Kogi, last Saturday.
The Chairman of Malumfashi Local Government Council of Katsina State, Maharazu Dayi, has been impeached.
Maharazu Dayi was impeached yesterday by 11 out of 12 councillors, barely two days before the local government elections in the State.
The councillors reportedly took action following allegations of misconduct and poor governance against the chairman after a dispute over the distribution of the council’s Paris Club funds.
The development has sent shock waves across the local government area, especially as the impeached chairman is among those who failed to secure the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest in the forthcoming election.
The Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association, Mile 1, Port Harcourt, has urged the state government to utilise the available spaces within the area to build phase 3 of the Rumuwoji Market in order to solve the ever increasing needs of traders.
The association, which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, also described as a welcomed development the decision by the state Governor to open the phase 2 of the market for business.
According to the association, “We consider it as an answer to the various cries of the people, because he is a man on a mission who is out to place the interest of Rivers people first. It is a dream come true for the first time for the market to be dully allocated and open for business”
Chairman of the association, Hon Godspower Wobo, who briefed the press shortly after a meeting of the association in Port Harcourt, also urged the public to disregard the activities of some persons whose stock in trade is to cause disaffection in the market.
He said the attention of the association was drawn to the activities of some strange fellows who went about misforming the people about situation in the market, stressing that apart from his association, no other group exists in the market except subdiary unions.
Wobo also tasked the reallocation committee to tread with caution so as to avoid being deceived by any group.
According to him, time has come for the state government to engage in robust discussion with aggrieved shop owners who went to court and those who paid monies to the state coffers and issued with allocation certificates for the overall interest of peace.
He also advised the public to deal directly with his association, stressing that the meeting was to review activities for the last year as well as unveil their new Constitution.
Also speaking, former Chairman of the association, Deacon Kenneth Eze urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to open the phase 2 of the market, as it is long overdue.
Eze who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association also urged the public to do business with only the Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association as it is the only union recognised by the traders.
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has debunked reports linking him with the race for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.
Reacting to the report on his X handle yesterday, following a recent interview with Arise TV, the AfDB boss said his quotes were misrepresented and misinterpreted in several Nigerian media reports.
However, the AfDB president denied the media reports, stating that he never said that he wanted to contest for President.
“A segment of my recent interview on @Arise TV has been both misinterpreted and misrepresented in several Nigerian media outlets. What I said was, “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.”
“A listen to the substantive and robust interview, which is available online, will show this to be the case. For clarity and for the record, I did not say that I am running for the office of President of Nigeria,” Adesina said.