Nation
THE STATES
Borno
The Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Suleiman
Abba, said last Wednesday that the Borno Government had donated 40 operation vehicles to the police.
Abba disclosed this while addressing officers and men of the Borno Police Command during an official visit to Maiduguri.
He said that the donation was part of the ongoing Police Reform Programme of the Federal Government to transform the Police Force for better performance.
Ekiti
Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami
Abubakar, last Wednesday, said that the myriad of challenges currently facing Nigeria was of serious concern to him.
Abubakar made the assertion at the inauguration of some projects at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH).
He said “as someone who was privileged to survive the civil war, and later returned the country to democracy, I am troubled by the challenges currently confronting our country.’’
He added that while the military onslaught against Boko Haram was good, “such war would be better complemented with negotiations.’’
Gombe
No fewer than 20 people sustained degree of
injuries in four road accidents recorded in Gombe State during the last Eid-el-Kabir period.
Mr Ayobami Omiyale, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in the state, disclosed this in an interviews with newsmen in Gombe.
Omiyale also said that the commission had impounded 73 vehicles for traffic offences during the period.
He advised motorists to be patient, avoid over-loading and speeding.
The sector commander also advised motorists not to go beyound 80 kilometres per hour on highways due to bad portions on some of the roads.
He urged the youth to always obey traffic rules and regulations and avoid the use of mobile phones while driving.
Lagos
A Federal High Court in Lagos last Thursday
fixed Oct. 29 to hear a committal proceeding filed by some pensioners against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), over disobedience of judgment.
The plaintiffs — Messrs James Jemilo, Thompson Edun, Jacob Amao, and Joachim Ajala – had filed the substantive suit for themselves and on behalf of all CBN pensioners, on May 6, 1999.
The suit was to compel the CBN to comply with the Federal Government’s directive on pension harmonisation.
Officials of the bank charged with contempt are: Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau; Director Human Resources, Ms Chizoba Mojekwu; and Director of Legal Services, Mr Simon Onekutu.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State University, Keffi, has
warned its staff against acts of indiscipline, absenteeism, abscondment or lateness to work.
The Registrar of the university, Alhaji Dalhatu Mamman, told newsmen in Keffi that the warning was issued to improve productivity and development in the institution.
“The institution will not and will never tolerate any act of absenteeism, lateness to duties and will sanction any truant staff who want to sabotage the good efforts of the management of the university and that of the State Government,” Mamman said.
The registrar said that the institution would not watch some staff sabotage the development goals of the institution and damage the image of the state government.
Niger
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger
state is collaborating with the state chapter of Nigerian Optometric Association to sensitise commercial drivers in Minna on their eye-sights.
The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Ogochukwu Ugboma, who made the plan known during an enlightenment campaign in Minna, said the measure was aimed at reducing road accidents.
“Apart from using the ‘World Sight Day’ to sensitise the drivers on their eye-sight, we normally go to the motor packs every morning to enlighten them on other road safety issues before they set out on their journey.
“The mandate of the corps is to ensure that road traffic crashes are reduced to the barest minimum on our roads,’’ he said.
Ogun
An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court yesterday re
manded a teenager, Hassan Muize, 19, in prison custody for allegedly stabbing a man to death, and injuring another.
The accused, whose plea was not taken, is facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, murder, attempted murder and belonging to secret cult.
The magistrate, Mr Martins Akinyemi, ordered the remand of the accused in Oba Prison, pending the advice of Director of Public Prosecution.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Moshood Hammed, said that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 23 at about 10.00 a.m. at Igbore in Abeokuta.
Ondo
An Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded
a 25-year-old man, Kabiru Alabara, at Olokuta Prison over the alleged killing of a seven-year-old boy, Lucky Ezekiel.
The police prosecutor, ASP Isah Atanegbe, told the court that the accused killed the victim on Sept. 25 at about 11:30 p.m. at Camp 1, Ofosu Area of Idanre, Ondo State.
Atanegbe alleged that the accused killed the victim by hitting him with an object on the head and both arms, adding that this later resulted in his death.
According to the prosecutor, the offence is contrary to section 316 and punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol.1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
Plateau
A PDP gubernatorial aspirant in Plateau, Mr
Geofrey Miri, has pledged to guard against misappropriation of funds meant for local governments in the state, if voted into office in 2015.
The aspirant made the pledge yesterday Thursday in Pankshin during a courtesy call on the Chairman of Pankshin Local Government, Mr Samuel Goar.
He said the visit was to notify the chairman of his ambition to contest the governorship seat of the state and seek to his prayer and support.
“I came out to contest the exalted seat of this our dear state, Plateau, to bring about total and positive change in all sectors of the state.
“I want to assure you sir, that the custom of fiddling with funds meant for you people in the local governments will stop forthwith, if I am voted, “ he said.
Sokoto
Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has
approved the appointment of a 13-man committee to organise reception for the state pilgrims returning from the Haj in Saudi Arabia.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Sahabi Gada, in Sokoto yesterday.
The statement said that the committee has the Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Isa Bajini as its Chairman, while Murdasi Buwai, Director of Administration, state Roads Maintenance Agency is its Secretary.
The committee also has two prominent journalists, Hajiya Halima Sarkin-Tudu, General Manager, State Radio and Alhaji Yahuza Anka, a Retired Editor of the State’s Newspaper Company, among its members.
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.