Dickson Wrestling Championship begins with early upsets

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

……As governor commissions new gym

The Second Governor Dickson Wrestling Classic Championship began at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, Bayelsa  Friday with performances which showed that Nigeria is inching her way into becoming a global power house in wrestling.

The number of wrestlers who registered for the championship was unprecedented as over 300 in both female and male categories have been sweating to make the national team even as there were early upsets. Commonwealth champion, Sinivie Boltic was humiliated by an unknown wrestler from Delta State.

The championship which involves 30 weight classes in Greco Roman and Freestyle is aimed at selecting athletes for the national team as president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Dr Daniel Igali said that any athlete who fails the championship may have lost his or her place in the build-up for the Commonwealth Games next year.

An elated Igali who spoke on the high standard on display added that Nigeria is sure of podium performances at the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year and the 2020 Olympic Games. He commended the young wrestlers for giving the old ones a run for their money.

 

The post Dickson Wrestling Championship begins with early upsets appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2mdIZ4k

Super Eagles’ star, Omeruo, others rally round ailing Emeteole

http://ift.tt/2n447Mg

Emetole

Succour has come for former Rangers of Enugu and Heartland FC Coach, Kelechi Emetole, who is in need of $11,000 to treat a throat cancer in India.

Emetole, also known as ‘Caterpillar,’ was diagnosed with throat cancer recently and is said to be on sick bed breathing with the help of a pipe.

Touched by the story of Emetole, Turkey-based Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo has donated N2 million to enable him go for the treatment.

It was also learnt yesterday that Head coach of Enyimba of Aba, Gbenga Ogunbote, General Manager of Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan Rasheed Balogun and the management of high-flying MFC FC of Lagos have made donations to the ailing Emetole.

Omeruo was said to have gotten in touch with Emetole’s wife, ​Phoebe, from his base in Turkey.

According to Emetole’s wife, he​r husband needs $11,000 for ​an urgent surgery​ to be carried out in India.​

Emeteole, a defender in his active days played for the then Green Eagles at the 1976 Nations Cup in Ethiopia. He has also served as assistant coach in the national teams; first with the Golden Eagles at 1985 FIFA U-17 World Champions, and later with the U-20 side (Flying Eagles) and the senior team (Super Eagles).

Emetole’s family is appealing for more support from well-meaning Nigerians through the United Bank for Africa (UBA) account number 1007868369.

Meanwhile, former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph has appealed for more donations from Nigerians to enable Emetole threat himself in India.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2n3SZyR

NAU to train journalists for special programme in Anambra

http://ift.tt/2n8mjDQ

Succour would soon come to the way of practising journalists in Anambra State, as the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, has approved an 18-month professional diploma programme to further enhance their profession.

Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State council, Mr Emma Ifesinachi, who presented the proposal to NAU management last year for consideration, said the idea has become necessary in order to improve the theoretical knowledge gap observed among some members of the profession.

He pointed out that the programme was designed to enable journalists who have no background knowledge in the field of mass communication to acquire relevant skills on the job.

According to Ifesinachi, who spoke yesterday, when he led a delegation of NUJ officials to a courtesy call and thank you visit to the Vice Chancellor, (NAU), Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, in his office, said the programme is the first to be organised in a university in the country, and hoped that it would be adopted by the national body of NUJ to make it a nationwide programme.

In a remark, the Dean of Social Sciences Faculty, Prof. Stella Okunna, assured that the Mass Communication Department would partner NUJ to improve the skills of journalists as well as make them compete favourably anywhere in the world.

Okunna, who was among those who facilitated the programme, said the department under her watch would do everything within her powers to ensure the programme succeeds within stipulated time.

Also, Ahaneku hailed the partnership, saying it was part of the institution’s corporate social responsibility in the development of society. According to Ahaneku, the programme would further enhance the journalism legacy of the late Zik of Africa whose name the institution bears, and promised that NAU would always play its role towards contributing to the growth of journalism profession in Nigeria.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2n8xoVj

Mugabe, 93, flies to Singapore for ‘medical review’

http://ift.tt/2lVM2kP

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. AFP PHOTO / ALEXANDER JOE

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who celebrated his 93rd birthday last week, flew to Singapore on Wednesday for a “scheduled medical review”, his spokesman said.

Mugabe appeared frail at his birthday party on Saturday, when he stood for more than an hour to deliver his speech, but he paused for lengthy periods and mumbled at times.

“The president left this morning for Singapore for a scheduled medical review,” his press secretary George Charamba told the state-run Herald newspaper.

“We expect him back in the country early next week.”

Mugabe, the world’s oldest national leader, has held power since 1980 during a reign marked by repression of dissent, vote-rigging and a sharp economic decline for the country.

He recently spent several weeks in Asia on his annual vacation, returning in late January, though it has not been officially confirmed that he had medical treatment during the trip.

He has made regular trips to Singapore for medical check-ups, and his health is a frequent subject of speculation.

In 2011, WikiLeaks released a US diplomatic cable from 2008 saying that Mugabe was reported to have prostate cancer and had less than five years to live.

In 2016, the government had to deny that he had died abroad during his annual vacation.

The ruling ZANU-PF party has been riven by factionalism for years as Mugabe has declined to name a successor.

Senior Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is seen as a leading contender to be the next president, as is Mugabe’s 51-year-old wife, Grace.

Mugabe’s spokesman was not available to comment to AFP.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lBclu2

Cleric assures of stabilised economy

http://ift.tt/2mMSNDg

The General Overseer, Messianic Word Ministries Inc., Prophet Odumegwu Joseph, has urged Nigerians to repose their confidence in God despite all the challenges confronting the nation.

He said that Nigeria would recover her lost glory with the economy stabilised in no distant future.

The General Overseer gave the advice during a press briefing on the special miracle night programme scheduled for tomorrow, March 3, 2017 at FHA Stadium, 23 Road, FESTAC Town, Lagos, by 8.00 p.m.

Joseph also assured the youths in the country that they would also occupy the positions God has in mind for them despite the sit-tight syndrome of elderly people who had occupied leadership positions for long.

He also called on the Church to pray for Nigeria in line with the scriptures that enjoins her to pray for her Jerusalem.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lBiZ3J

Reps task Fashola on breakdown of 2016 habitat’s budget

http://ift.tt/2mMVEfz

Babatunde Fashola

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday appeared before the House Committee on Environment and Habitat, promising to submit a breakdown of how the 2016 budget on habitat was spent.

Fashola explained that he was not conversant with the last year’s expenditure on habitat, but would supply the data after conveying a meeting of the ministry’s technical committee.

The Chairman of the committee, Obinna Chidoka, said the minister had failed to come with the details, despite the fact that it had officially written to him to do so.

Chidoka said Fashola was in a better position to explain the sub-sector’s expenditure, since housing and urban ministries were merged with that of power and works.

He urged the minister to include the extent, to which the previous allocations were utilised, to enable the committee to make provision for adequate funding.

The minister said a breakdown on the actual allocation, expenditure, outstanding projects and projections in the sector would be sent to the committee in a few days time.

Fashola announced that the ministry would roll out its habitat agenda to accommodate workers in the public and private sector, particularly persons with low incomes.

He added that workers from grade levels 08 to 15 would also benefit from the scheme.

According to him, the new policy would be made flexible to accommodate the building needs of Nigerians across ethic, cultural and religious backgrounds.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lVJ7ZL

LUTH inaugurates equipment to ease patients’ stress

http://ift.tt/2mNbZ3N

LUTH

Multi million naira machine to run 800 tests in an hour
Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in its bid to attain sustainability and ultimate health care delivery has introduced state of the art equipment that will ease stress for the patients as they go about their medical activities in the hospital.

At the inugration of the laboratory that housed the new multimillion naira equipment, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, said that the new equipment called Architect C-4000 which is located at the Accident and Emergency Unit is meant to reduce the patients stress of running around during their medical test as everything is now combined at one place.

Bode said that the essence of the machine is to make the hospital a one stop shop for patients.

Head of department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion at LUTH, Dr. Tilitope Adeyemo, said the machine would carry out every biochemical test excluding biological tests, which still have to go through process of incubation.

A representative of the Abbot Diagnostics Company, Clement Mark, said the machine carries out 800 tests in a space of one hour- 400 pictometric tests and 400 electrolyte tests and that they cut across parameters which include kidney function test, glucose profile among many others.

He also explained that the machine processes samples and produces results within four to 10 minutes, but it all depends on protocol

Mark continued: “The machine is equipped with a processing module, with a system monitor unit which works by feeding a unit in the equipment called analyser with samples.  A sample called probes picks the sample, mixes with the reagent in another compartment of the machine, allows it to incubate for a while and the result will be displayed on the monitor and then printed out for doctor’s use.”

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lBa81G

NDDC donates 180 million exercise books to schools in Cross River

http://ift.tt/2lpSUqW

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has donated 180 million exercise books to different primary and secondary schools in Cross River state to boost education.

The Commissioner representing the state on the board of NDDC, Sylvester Nsa who made the donation said the exercise books were distributed across 90 schools randomly selected across the three senatorial districts.

Nsa explained that the books were given to five schools per local government comprising three primary and two secondary while each school got about two million exercise books.

He urged other schools that are yet to benefit to exercise patience while assuring that they would be accommodated in the second phase of the exercise.

The commissioner clarified that the donation was part of the effort of the NDDC and the All Progressive Congress (APC) led government at the center to ensure that children are in school with minimal or no burden at all.

Apart from the exercise books, Nsa added that all ongoing construction projects in schools would be completed and put to use as soon as the project verification process by the board is ready.

He said, “So far, we have been able to push some of the contractors back to site. Some of the projects awarded are at different level of completion while others have been completed. There are lots of road projects with economic values and we intend to complete them as soon as possible. We would also look into some fresh projects but not too many as we are poised to complete the ongoing ones.

Some of the benefiting schools include Army Day Secondary School, Ikot Ansa, Calabar; Government Primary School Esuk Ekpo Edet, Akpabuyocouncil; Government Primary School, Itighidi in Abi council, Boki Comprehensive secondary school, Okonde in Boki council; St Matthias Primary, Igiogbor, Bekwara council and Yala Secondary Commercial school, Okpoma in Yala council.”.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lVGKGa

Man escapes assassin’s bullet moments after release from prison

http://ift.tt/2mvyb6v

Ibuoye

A fifty-four-year-old businessman, Ibrahim Ibuoye, has narrated how he escaped the assassin’s bullet a few minutes after he was released from prisons.

Fearing for his life, Ibuoye, the Chief Executive Officer of GB Ibuoye Nigeria Limited, a mining company, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to investigate the alleged shooting and fish out those behind the attempt on his life.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos yesterday, he said he was detained at Ikoyi Prison on some frame-up charges, but was later granted bail. “Moments after I regained freedom, some gunmen believed to be sent by my business partner shot at me in front of Ikoyi prisons, but they missed their targets,” he said.

The miner, who was narrating his ordeal from his hospital bed at Egbeda, a suburb of Lagos metropolis, amid intense pains sustained while escaping the assassin’s bullet, traced his ordeal to his ex-business partner, whom he claimed brought up a kidnap/murder attempt allegation against him following a petition he lodged with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a N92 million royalty debt, which his ex-business partner owes the Federal Government.

“I know the source of my travail; it is the handiwork of one of my ex-business partners. I got to know him sometime in 2008 when I wanted to do some mining works at Ojo Barracks and he accepted to assist me in procuring a licence from the Ministry of Defence for the purpose. He requested for N15 million as the total cost of procuring the licence, which I gave to him and he was able to procure it. But when we wanted to start job at the barracks, military authorities prevented us on the ground that the documents we were parading were fake.

“When my bail conditions were met on Friday, I insisted that I wouldn’t leave until my relations show up but prison warders violently pushed me out fueling speculation that all was not well.  Outside the prison, I noticed some fierce-looking persons and immediately took to my heels while they chased after me. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me shouting for help.

“I scaled a fence and landed on my back in a compound when they started firing gunshots at my direction. It was the piece of broken bottles on the fence that cut my hands, pierced my stomach and tore my clothes into shreds.

“As I speak to you now, my life is not safe; someone wants me dead so as to cover the track of the N92 million he owed the Federal Government as well as the money he owes me,” he said.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mvzaDz

Lent and the importance of self-sacrifice

http://ift.tt/2ky3ZCU

Gabriel Osu

Wednesday, March 1, 2017, is Ash Wednesday. The day kick-starts Lent, a forty-day period of fasting and almsgiving. Lent is a season of solemnity and sacrifice commemorating Jesus exodus into the wilderness. It is a Christian tradition that is observed in many denominations. It is the hallowed forty-day period of sacrifice leading up to Jesus’ death and Resurrection. During Lent, Catholics and some Protestants prepare for Holy Week by fasting, praying, and reconciling with the Lord. These forty days are wonderful times to rethink everything and allow ourselves to take up our crosses, as Christ once did.

During the Lenten season, we are expected to make sacrifices, as children of God and followers of Christ. The sacrifices should remind us of the one made by Jesus through which He saved us from sin and won for us salvation of our souls. The sacrifice does not have to be something extraordinary. It may mean cutting down on our excesses on a daily basis and allowing God’s grace to reign in our lives. If, for instance, you are in the habit of eating three square meals, you may need to cut it down to twice and give the third ration to someone who does not have to eat. If you are in the habit of consuming much alcohol, you may decide to cut it down drastically or just do without it during this period of lent.

We are expected to show more concern for the poor and needy this lent. The poor are those lacking in material needs. Due to circumstances beyond them, they are unable to provide adequately for their daily needs. They abound in our society. We can find them at the bus stops begging for alms, down the street and even in our neighbourhoods. Some of them are our neighbours. What are we doing to assist them?

We may recall that the early Christians were very particular about helping the poor, especially the brethren. When we read the book of Acts, we see what commitment the early Christians had for the poor in their midst. In fact, in order to remove any form of disparity, they even decided to live in a community in order to abolish the existing class system. They did things in common. Those who were poor sold their lands and properties and brought the proceeds before the Apostles. What does this show us? Through it, we are taught that we cannot truly call ourselves followers of Christ, if we fail to help those who are genuinely in need.

Apostle Paul in the book of Galatians 2: 9 and 10, enjoined us to always remember the poor in our midst. In Colossians, we see how he instigated a special collection for the poor, which were then taken to Jerusalem. What does this tell us? We should not be selfish. We should try and share our wealth with others. You can also make sacrifices this Lenten season, by giving to the poor and needy around you.

Man is made up of spirit, soul and body. Each day, we nourish our body with food, water and other nutrients. Without food and water, the body gets ill, mal-nourished and eventually dies. And because we don’t want to die, we invest so much on food and other nourishments, making sure that we remain strong and healthy. That is good. But beyond the upkeep of our mortal body, lies the need to also take care of our spirit, that part that links us to our Creator.

I believe it is divinely arranged to help bring sanity into our polity. As a solemn period of prayer, fasting and abstinence, if well observed, it is capable of attracting God’s divine favour to our land, and drive away all the forces of darkness and dis-stability.
• Very Rev. Msgr. Osu, Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.
If we were faithful to the sacrifice of the period, God would drive away the stubborn hearts in us and turn it to one of love and tolerance. So, I want to call on all Christians, and indeed all Nigerians, to use this period of spiritual reflection to solicit for divine intervention for our country. 
• Very Rev. Msgr. Osu, Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lI5v8H

The power of your obedience

http://ift.tt/2kfLZRZ

Olanrewaju OBEMBE

Job 36:11 “If they OBEY AND SERVE HIM, they shall SPEND THEIR DAYS IN PROSPERITY and THEIR YEARS IN PLEASURES.”

The place of OBEDIENCE in our walk with God cannot be substituted. Obedience is a powerful force for our upgrade and personal transformation. Every instruction from God always moves us forward and God’s instructions to us are not in anyway to reduce us or bring us down. The missing link today in our Christian experience is OBEDIENCE, which is KEY and the true test of our faith. Imagine a community, where everyone there OBEYS GOD. The positive effects of our collective adherence to God’s instructions cannot be quantified. It is very easy to preach, teach and do many other things.

Satan is a preacher. He even preached to JESUS (Matthew 4). Some of us even want to sacrifice, engage in 100 Days dry fast, etc. But God says to obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22-23 “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as GREAT DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES, as in OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? Behold, TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, and to HEARKEN than the FAT OF RAMS.” Luke 5:5-6 “And Simon answering said unto Him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless AT THY WORD I WILL LET DOWN THE NET; and when they had this DONE, they INCLOSED A GREAT MULTITUDE OF FISHES: and their net brake.” Peter continued to toil until he received specific instructions from the LORD.

His professional expertise, business acumen, huge assets and resources could not bring the needed breakthrough, until he followed the LORD’S directives. One instruction from God that is fully complied with will terminate struggling and bring the needed turnaround. Abraham would never have been a father of many nations, if he had remained in the Ur of the Chaldeans. His obedience of faith put him in a very unique position and special relationship with God. All through Biblical history, those who obeyed God by faith received God’s distinct touch of Grace. Noah and his household would have been destroyed, if he did not obey God’s instructions of building an Ark of safety. No position we occupy empowers us to disobey God.

The quality of our relationship with God can be measured by our constant and consistent obedience to God’s instructions. It is even said that we are in the era of Grace, which is basically the era of instructions. Every instruction by grace moves us to another level of unprecedented overflow of God’s blessings. All those who have made their positive marks in ministry, always declare how God spoke to them and they complied. Naman (the Syrian military general) would have remained leprous, if he did not wash seven times in River Jordan. It is amazing how God rates disobedience with witchcraft, idolatry and other ungodliness. God says the man who, worships idols and practices witchcraft, is in the same category with the one who walks in disobedience or rebellion. God told King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:23 “FOR REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT and stubbornness is as iniquity and IDOLATRY.

Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king.” In effect, it means that you are a witch and an idol worshipper, if you walk in disobedience. ARE YOU A WITCH? We have nothing to lose by obeying God. What is God telling you personally? Stop arguing with Him. Do what the LORD says. You will surely blossom and prosper. All those who disobeyed God in Scripture suffered negative consequences for their actions. Saul, Eli, Esau, etc. did not live to maximise their potentials because of disobedience. God says if you OBEY AND SERVE HIM, you will spend your days on earth in prosperity and your years in fulfilment and contentment. Ask God today to destroy every force of disobedience in your life. Pray that you will be swift to repent and obey God in everything. Obeying God is very rewarding. Isaiah 1:19 “If you are WILLING and OBEDIENT, you will eat the good of the land.”

PRAYER: Today, I renounce the spirit of disobedience in my life. I belong to the LORD Jesus and I am the sheep of His pasture. I obey the LORD’S voice constantly and consistently. By the grace of the Almighty God, I will always walk in obedience.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kAvlMZ

We’re ready for Plateau United, says Tornadoes’ Bala

http://ift.tt/2kArP5a

Plateau united

Coach of Niger Tornadoes, Abubakar Bala, is confident his players are going to put up a good performance against league leaders and host, Plateau United.

Coach Kennedy Boboye-led United will want to return to winning ways on the Match Day Nine of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), after suffering their first league defeat in eight matches against Akwa United in Uyo.

Bala has, however, said his team is not going to be intimidated by the current position of their host, as they currently top the NPFL table, in the encounter scheduled for Rwang Pam Stadium.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Bala, whose team is currently sixth, with five unbeaten league matches, said his team is ready for the epic battle.

“My boys are going to prosecute the match as a usual league game and we are well prepared for it. We are not taking the match as if we are going to play the league leaders; we are taking it as a normal league game. We are fully prepared for it because we have our game plans and I believe we are going to get something out of it at the end of the day.

“We have very good information about them, this is a team we played against before the start of this season in a friendly in Jos. We even had an opportunity of watching them lose to Akwa United in Uyo.

“We know much about their strength, and on our part, we have prepared well and ready for them. Hopefully, by the grace of God, we are going to give them a good match,” he said.

Meanwhile, four NPFL’s matches were postponed due to CAF’s engagements by some clubs representing the nation at various international competitions.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kAwVy8

Usman wants a spot in Nigeria’s FIBA AfroBasket 2017 roster

http://ift.tt/2kQ0HyA

Abubakar Usman on the ball when Kano Pillars took on Nzui-Manto Basketball Club at the 2016 FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Men Final Round in Cairo. PHOTO: FIBA AFRICA..

With a terrific display at FIBA Africa Champions Cup (ACC) last December in Cairo, Abubakar Usman reminded everyone how he is preparing to regain a place in the Nigerian national team.

The Kano Pillars shooting guard, who recorded a tournament-high 35 points against Algerian champions, GS Petroliers, last represented his country at FIBA AfroBasket 2011. 

Since then, a lot has changed for good for both parts.While the Nigerians became the first African nation to qualify for an Olympics tournament via the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2012, they also claimed a first FIBA AfroBasket title two years ago.

Meanwhile, as his chances of earning a spot in the national team seemed elusive, Usman continued making strides at club level.He revealed to FIBA.com that he was part of a group of local-based players – alongside Stanley Gumut and Abdul Yahaya – invited for the D’Tigers preparations for the FIBA

AfroBasket 2015, but somehow things didn’t work out.Usman, Gumut and Yahaha couldn’t get entry visas to France where head coach, Will Voigt, and the team held the final phase of preparations before storming into Tunisia to beat Angola in the final.  

Now, Usman says he couldn’t feel any better and prepared to earn a spot in Nigeria’s final roster for the final round of FIBA AfroBasket 2017 in Brazzaville, The Republic of Congo in August (19-30).

“I will take my chances,” he said. “I know it won’t be easy because we have some high-quality players but I have been working very hard over the years. There is nothing like representing your country in a competition like the AfroBasket. I know that special feeling [of playing for a national team].”

By virtue of winning the tournament two years ago, Nigeria –  along with hosts Congo – remain as the only teams ensured a place in the final round so far, while the qualifiers get underway next month across the continent for the remaining 14 places. 

“I think three or four locally-based players are good enough to play for Nigeria in Brazzaville,” Usman replied to a question about the influence and impact of foreign-based Nigerian players.

“I think people should come to Nigeria to watch us play more often. The league is getting better and better and local players deserve more publicity. Angola had dominated Africa with mostly home-based players because they invested in local players.

“When FIBA’s New Competition System begins [November 2017], I believe local players will have more chances to play for our country for sure.”Asked about Nigeria’s chances of winning a back-to-back AfroBasket, Usman had no doubts. 
“Right now, we are the best team in Africa. The goal is to win the AfroBasket again.”
• Culled from http://www.fiba.com.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2k4GVQ5

Court tests voluntariness of NIMASA ex-boss’ statement to EFCC

http://ift.tt/2j1nFRD

Haruna Baba Jauro

Insisting he made statement under inducement, a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered a trial-within-trial to test the voluntariness of statements obtained from the former Acting Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro, who is facing N304.1 million fraud charges.

Jauro’s counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo had, on behalf of his client, raised objection to the tendering of his client’s statement on grounds that it was not made voluntarily.

As a result, the trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun gave a brief ruling ordering a trial-within-trial to ascertain the voluntariness of the statement.

The defendant is standing trial alongside Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Limited on 19 counts bordering on the offences.

They were arraigned on April 12, 2016 and had pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court had admitted them to bail in the sum of N5 million each with two sureties each in like sum.

When the case was mentioned yesterday, the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo called on the first prosecution witness, Mr. Orji Chukwuma, an investigating officer with the EFCC.

Leading his witness in evidence, Oyedepo had showed him exhibit G, H and I and asked the witness to identify the various exhibits.

The witness told the court that exhibit G represented a request for the transfer of N176 million to seven beneficiaries, which document was signed by one Captain Ezekiel Agaba, who is also facing charges of fraud before another judge.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kfPaFa

HURIWA condemns extra-legal killings in handling IPOB, Shiites

http://ift.tt/2jnhzbO

“The current hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force has sadly returned the policing institution to the late Sani Abacha’s infamous police state characterized by excessive use of force to disperse peaceful protesters, extra-legal executions of perceived opponents of the government at the center and the abridgement in the most cruel and violent way the fundamental right to freedom of peaceful assembly guaranteed under chapter four of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended)”.

With the above, a pro-democracy and non-governmental organization, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has condemned the incessant physical attacks by armed police of peaceful civilian protesters belonging to either the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) or Shiites.

Calling for an end to the incessant high-handedness and deployment of brute force to disperse peaceful demonstrators, the rights group affirmed that the shameful actions of the police and the military constitute grave threats to democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights and constitutionalism.
In a statement by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the national media affairs director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA strongly condemned the “extra-legal killings of over a dozen members of the peaceful IPOB recently who assembled in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in support of the newly inaugurated President of the United States of America Mr. Donald Trump.”

The group said it has resolved to send strong worded protest letter to the office of the President of the United States to demand that he uses the standing of his nation in the United Nations Security Council to compel the Nigeria government to arrest and prosecute all the armed security operatives who have been indicted over the “killings of members of both the Indigenous People of Biafra and Shiites Islamic movement.”
HURIWA expressed shock that the police could be deployed to attack demonstrating IMN members who are only demanding that President Muhammadu Buhari should respect a binding and subsisting order of the competent court of law that the detained leader of Shiites in Nigeria Sheikh El Zakzaky be freed unconditionally.

It stated: “In civilized climes, the Federal Attorney General and minister of justice would have by now been arrested and prosecuted by the police for openly urging the President to disrespect several binding orders made by the court of law. Why should the Police obstruct law abiding group of Nigerians who are publicly urging the President to respect the constitution by abiding by the Court order and release their leader?”

HURIWA lamented that “the Nigerian government under Buhari has so far failed to investigate the illegal killings of hundreds of IPOB members and the Shiites which were carried out by members of the armed security forces.”

The rights group warned that the current brutal attacks of peaceful demonstrators by police seriously threaten the sustenance of democracy and constitutionalism.

And alleging that “the hierarchy of the Department of State Services (DSS) has embarked on deliberate clampdown of vocal Christian leaders opposed to the incessant killings of farmers all over Nigeria by armed Fulani terrorists,” HURIWA has also raised the alarm, calling for caution to avoid catastrophic religious crisis in the country.

HURIWA specifically condemned the invitation for interrogation by the DSS of the Edo State-born Pentecostal leader and founding pastor of Omega Fire ministry Worldwide, Reverend Apostle Johnson Suleiman, who had called for self-defence against the “unbridled but primitive attacks of Nigerians by well armed and well-coordinated Fulani herdsmen.”

HURIWA has totally condemned the unwillingness of security forces in Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration whose leadership are majorly dominated by Hausa/Fulani Moslem Northerners who have done nothing whilst armed Fulani terrorists kill thousands of Christian farmers all across Nigeria and mostly the Christian-dominated communities in Kaduna, Benue, Plateau and Taraba states. The group wonder why the DSS does not want Nigerians under attacks by Fulani hoodlums to adopt self Defence to stay alive even when chapter four of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) makes right to life a sacred fundamental human right.

HURIWA said the invitation was believed to be connected to Suleman’s alleged inciting comments that Christians should defend themselves against attacks by Fulani herdsmen even as the group lambasted the DSS for failing in its constitutional duty of preventing the frequent bloodsheds by armed Fulani terrorists. HURIWA said what the DSS would have done was for the Director-General to resign forthwith rather than turning his aggression against the innocent Christian leader who as a father has played the fatherly role of asking his followers to defend their right to life.

In a statement in reaction to the invitation the civil society group warned the officials of the DSS to stop painting the graphic impression that there is a deliberate attempt by the Presidency to Islamize Nigeria by deploying government’s armed agencies to intimidate, harass and physically brutalize Christian leaders only because they refuse to keep silent whilst armed Fulani terrorists kill their members and parents without the Nigerian security forces ever adopting fool proof strategy to arrest, prosecute and punish these armed hoodlums who are operating without let or hindrance.

HURIWA said it amounts to double standards for the DSS to go after Christian Leaders for speaking out in defence of their members even when leaders of other ethno-religious communities in the core North are not arrested even when there are proven cases of abduction and false marriages of child brides as has happened in Katsina Emirate.

“We are shocked that the DSS that couldn’t stop the genocides of Southern Kaduna, Agatu community in Benue and the attacks of Enugu and Abia states all by armed Fulani terrorists is now in a dangerous hurry even at the threat of igniting inter-religious warfare to arrest Christian Leaders whose only ‘crime’ is to counsel their members not to standby and allow their lives be taken away by armed marauders.”

“The invitation to Apostle Johnson Suleiman is an invitation to anarchy and this divide-and-rule tactics of the Alhaji Daura-led DSS hierarchy is absolutely condemnable, reprehensible, illegal, unconstitutional and totally unjustifiable. Let all Nigerians of goodwill speak out now before this current leadership of DSS drag Nigeria into a needless religious war.”

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2jWhwYV

Okorocha lauds VCN Sports for grassroots sports growth

http://ift.tt/2iAFEKW

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has commended VCN Sports Limited for the growth of grassroots sports in the state.

He thanked VCN Sports Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Victor Nwaribeaku, for his unflinching support in the growth of sports as the recently organised football tournament held at Egbu Village in Awo-Idemili autonomous Community in Orsu Local Government Area of the state.

Okorocha said the yearly competition would further help to unite the youths and citizens of the community, adding that the efforts Nwaribeaku at grassroots sports would promote friendship, unity and progress among the indigenes.

The governor extolled Nwaribeaku as a true son of the community, who aside the grassroots sports development programme, he also provided and commissioned a 1.5km road project, borehole project and 300 KVA electric transformer.

Nwaribeaku, however, said he hoped to continue in his efforts at contributing his own quota towards the community and nation building.

According to the organisers, the third VCN football championship will hold at a yet to be announced date in Lagos this year.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kfKf71

Alleged breach of contract trial continues March 7

http://ift.tt/2ivPzGD

Continuation of the case between a Lagos businessman, Alhaji Lasisi Ayomumoye and a new generation bank (name withheld) over alleged breach of contract sub-lease would continues on March 7 before a Lagos High Court, Badagry.

Ayomumoye had sued the bank claiming the sum of N36.8 million over breach of deed of sub-lease by it.According to his statement of claim, which was filed by his counsel, Akinpelu Salau, the claimant said a deed of sub-lease, which commenced on October 1, 2006 over his building situated at Plot 15, Aina Layout, Lagos Abeokuta Road, Dopemu, Lagos State, was breached by the bank.

The claimant also stated, that contrary to the deed of sub-lease, the bank wholly demolished the property and erected a new structure without the his consent or approval.

The claimant also added that, upon the discovery of the breach, the claimant wrote several letters to the bank, requesting for compensation, but the bank ignored him nor responded to any of the letters.

As a result, the claimant is demanding the sum of N24 million, in addition as the cost of restructuring the building similar to what the structure was when the deed was signed.

The claimant through his counsel also alleged that the bank, in 2008, also registered a forged deed of sub-lease, purporting same to be the one executed by him.

He added that the document fraudulently registered by the bank on the property was fundamentally different from that which was executed by both parties in 2006.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, counsel to the defendant, Tokunbo Ajidelu, requested for an adjournment for trial.After listening to both parties, Justice Okikiolu Ighile,adjourned the case to March 7.

Vía The Guardian NigeriaThe Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kaMLMJ