Yisa Jamiu

A former Deputy Speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly and in-coming fourth term member of the House, Mrs Funmilayo Tejuoso has said that it is time to have a female Speaker in the state assembly.

Tejuoso, one of the strong contenders for the speakership seat, made the remark during an interview with P.M.NEWS Political Platform recently.

According to her, “I think it is time for change. We talk about change as All Progressives Congress and it is time a woman takes position as the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly. I think it is time we support women to excel.

When asked why she wants to be the Speaker of the 8th Assembly, she said, “I think everybody is a potential speaker in this House of Assembly. I believe I have served this House diligently for several years. I believe that I’m qualified and capable to occupy that position.

•Funmi Tejuoso

“I’ve not gone out to lobby to be the speaker. Some of my colleagues in the House have approached me that they will like me to lead them in the next assembly. I believe that what a man can do, a woman can do better and we take it further to say that what a woman cannot do cannot be done.

“By the grace of God, the person that God wants to be Speaker will be. I don’t think it is the the hands or power of anybody to make that decision. It is up to anybody to aspire but God has the final say,” she said.

When asked that being a woman, does she believe she has the capacity to control an assembly dominated by men, she stated that it is not a matter of control but to work together as one to move the state forward.

“I don’t think it is a matter of control but work together to move Lagos State forward. I believe that as a legal practitioner, I’ve worked with a lot of men and I have been able to head my own chamber, Funmi Tejuoso and Co which was doing very well and still remains in existence.

“I want to believe that there is nothing that is extraordinary in a man that a woman doesn’t have, intelligence wise, and I believe that it is not a chore to be a woman in a man’s world but it is for us to appreciate that there is equality now. We even have laws that talk about equality in Nigeria. We have people talking about affirmative action because they appreciate the fact that women have had the short end of the stick for a very long time.

“We must also appreciate that when a woman is given opportunity to lead, we have more to prove. So, we put in extra effort and make sure that we succeed,” she averred.

When asked if she will promote a feminist theory of advantage if she eventually emerged as the speaker, she said, “when I was voted as House of Assembly member, I wasn’t voted only to be a voice for the women. I was voted to be a voice for my constituent and definitely being a speaker, you are expected to be a voice for the people of Lagos State.

“I will continue to be a voice for the women and children. I will continue to be a voice for the people who really do not have a voice. I will continue to be a voice for the men of Lagos because as a legislator, you are there not as a female or male but as a representative of that constituency to bring the dividends of democracy to the people,” she pledged.

Yisa Jamiu

The Presidential Candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in the last general election, Chief Martin Onovo, has urged the All Progressives Congress to avoid re-cycling old and ‘over-used’ politicians when it takes over power on May 29.

Onovo while speaking at the PAN-African Students Congress (PASCON) Award held in Lagos recently, also called for a government of national unity led by the APC .

“The old and recycled politicians have  failed many times and must give room for younger people with brighter vision to push the developmental agenda of this nation. These group of old people have a lot self interest stopping them from fighting corruption.

“The new administration should be a merger between old and new. If we continue with business as usual then sorry to Nigeria,” he said.

•Chief Onovo

He said that the most important thing and the only way forward for Nigeria today is a government of national unity.

“If we keep fighting, four years will pass. Our objective should be national development. If we do not have synergy, our effectiveness will be compromised

“APC campaigns against  corruption which is good as Nigeria cannot go anywhere without tackling it. There is need to improve on power generation. If we don’t have power the economy it will not grow,” he added.

He said further that the nation owed it’s youth a clear direction and good education.

“You can do all theoretically but action speaks louder than words. It is critical that we act right and show them good example,” said Onovo.

The NCP Presidential candidate said he accepted the PASCON award because he was a student leader while in the University of Ibadan, adding that it will also help him to continue to contribute his quota in helping out the African students who remain the most strategic group for Africa’s future.

“The youths here will be making critical decisions in the next five years. I am not excited by awards. I get a stream of offers but I decline.

“We must intervene with the youth, especially the undergraduates if we want our future to be great because they are critical to national development,” he added.

Cyriacus Izuekwe

There was drama at Ejigbo Magistrates’ court, Lagos State, western Nigeria, when self-professed prophet, Destiny Onwudinjo, who was facing criminal trial suddenly jumped from the dock and ran out of the court.

The prosecutor, Mr Femi Adeleye, and some of the court officials ran after him and re-arrested him along the street.

His action disrupted the court’s proceedings as the litigants rushed out of the court due to the rowdiness that ensued.

Prophet Onwudinjo was arrested by the police at Shasha Division for brutalising a commercial motorcycle rider called Chika Izuogu for refusing to pay him N120,000 for deliverance prayer.

The incident happened at Olukosi Street, Shasha, Lagos where both of them reside.

The Okada rider, Chika Izuogu, brutulize by the prophet for refusing to pay money for deliverance

According to Izuogu, Onwudinjo told him that he had a revelation from God that he needed to embark on seven days deliverance prayer so that his condition would improve for the better.

Enugu State-born Onwudinjo explained to him that the money he asked him to pay covered the fasting and other spiritual materials he would use for the deliverance.

To convince Izuogu that the prayer will work after seven days, he told him that he will receive a divine blessing from God as an unknown person will give him N3 million he would use to start a new life and become rich.

Abia State-born Izuogu who seemed to be convinced told Onwudinjo that he would do the fasting by himself because he had no such amount to give him.

This caused disagreement between them and in the process, Onwudinjo allegedly beat up Izuogu and injured him in the process.

Izuogu said he held him and raised an alarm which attracted neighbours who contacted the police that arrested him.

After investigation, Onwudinjo was charged to court with attempt to obtain money under false pretence and assault.

It was while in court that he bolted.

When he was re-arraigned, the presiding Magistrate, Mr Peter. E. Nwaka ordered him to be remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri.

The court also directed the prosecutor to prepare another contempt charge against him for escaping from the court.

The matter was adjourned till 6 May, 2015.

Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Government says the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is delaying the conduct of Local Government election in the state as the electoral umpire has not made available the voters register for the polls.

The state government had in January set up a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the councils pending the conduct of elections into them, but the government is now saying that it did not know when election would be conducted into the councils.

Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ademorin Kuye, said at a ministerial press conference on Tuesday that government could not say when local government election would be conducted.

He said INEC had also yet to release about 400,000 Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs to some residents of the state, coupled with the fact that the body had not made available  voters’ register to the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, to conduct the poll.

“I cannot say when the election will be conducted. You will agree with me that since the last registration when INEC gave us the PVCs, the entire PVCs have not be totally released. We still have some outstanding left with the electoral commission, about 400,000.

“There is no way the state electoral commission, LASIEC can conduct any election without having the appropriate voter register for the state. And this register is still in the custody of INEC. It has not been released to the state. The moment it is released to the Lagos State Government, then we can start planning on when the local government elections will be held,” he stated.

INEC boss, Professor Attahiru Jega

On the 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, created by the state, Kuye believed that the new government of the All Progressives Congress, APC, would set machinery in motion to list the councils into the constitution to make them viable.

“I believe that the new government and legislatures will put national interest above partisan politics. This was because what happened in the last 16 years was the act of promoting politics above national interest.

“And I believe that this will be corrected by the change that has come into the country. And I expect that the 37 LCDAs will be given prompt attention and their name will be included in the country’s constitution,” he said.

On allegation that APC lost some councils because of non-performance by council chairmen, he said the allegation lacked merit as it was not true.

“This was because the last election was dictated and influenced by money politics. The party in power, especially the president brought a lot of money into the state. The President, Goodluck Jonathan, was in Lagos several times abandoning his office in Abuja to govern from Lagos.

“And during their time in Lagos, they were distributing money to people. Outside that, another factor was ethnicity. One will notice that in the area where we (APC) lost, they are areas dominated by certain persons from certain part of the country. They voted because they felt that the President, who also contested during the election, comes from their own region.

“We cannot say that the performance of the former council chairmen led to the loss of the five House of Representatives and eight House of Assembly seats. If we say that it was the fault of the councils, then the party wouldn’t have been able to win any seat,” he said.

Henry Ojelu

Homeowners within the Pearl Garden Estate situated at Sangotedo Village in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State have dragged a property developer, Oyetubo Jokotade Estate Resource Limited, to court over alleged incessant harassment and imposition of arbitrary charges.

The claimants filed the class action before Justice Abisoye Bashua of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Epe.

The N100 million suit was instituted by Messrs Francis Adesuyi, Felix Obiakor, Martin Ajayi-Obe and Peter Afenotan on behalf of themselves and all interested homeowners within the Pearl Garden Estate.

Joined in the suit as second defendant is CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company Limited, which is in charge of providing estate management services to the claimants.

At the hearing of the suit recently, the counsel to the defendants, Mr R.A. Aladesanmi, said they had filed an application asking the court to stay proceedings of the suit, pending the referral of the arbitration proceedings.

Aladesanmi argued that all purchases of the land entered into an arbitration agreement contained in their individual Sale and Management Agreement, adding that the appropriate place to resolve the dispute was through arbitration.

The claimants’ counsel, Mr Adeyinka Adeyemi, however objected to the application, arguing that some of the parties in the suit did not sign the arbitration clause.

Adeyemi further contended that the said agreement was entered between some of the claimants and the first respondent, adding that the second defendant (BCM) was not a party to the agreement.

He said it was ironic that the same defendants asking for arbitration had filed notices of appeal at the Court of Appeal against a previous order of the court which restrained them from restricting the claimants from the estate.

“As at now, there is no appointed body to even conduct the arbitration. They have not taken any step to show that arbitration has commenced.

“The arbitration is nonexistent so the court cannot stay proceedings.

“It will be gross injustice for the matter to be referred to arbitration,” Adeyemi said.

Following their submissions, the judge adjourned the matter till 21 May for ruling.

In the suit, the claimants are asking the court for a declaration that the incessant harassment, restriction of movement and the imposition of arbitrary charges on them by the defendants as illegal and unlawful.

They also asked the court to declare that the refusal of the second defendant to allow them install borehole in their homes as illegal and unlawful.

The claimants also asked for : “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, jointly and severally, their agent, privies and cronies from further demanding or collecting reticulation charges in the sum of N650,000 or any other sums from the claimants contrary to the express terms of the Deeds of Assignment and the Sale and Management Agreement.

“A mandatory order directing the second respondent to refund to the claimants and other residents all monies collected forcefully as part or full payments of the unlawful imposition of the reticulation charges and the unilateral estate charges immediately to the respective claimants and other homeowners.”

They also asked for an order restraining the defendants from further harassing them and also the sum of N100 million as general damages for the barricade, destruction of property and unlawful denial of the claimants access to the estate on 13 March, 2013.

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of Eze Samuel Amaechi, the monarch of Igbo-Agwurasa kingdom in Etche Local Government Area of the state night and has launched a manhunt for the kidnappers, who also killed his police orderly.

Eze Samuel Amaechi, who is a Rivers State government recognised First Class traditional ruler, is the Medical Director of Nobsams Clinic, Port Harcourt.

He was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen at Mile 4, Diobu area of Port Harcourt while returning home from Clinic at about 7.50pm.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Ahmad Muhammad, who confirmed the development to journalists, said anti-kidnapping unit of the command was on the trail of the kidnappers.

Muhammad said “the manhunt for rescuing him safely is still on-going. Our men are on the lookout for where he is being kept and I can assure that we

anticipate a breakthrough.”

A source close to the monarch’s family said he was close to his house when four armed men blocked his chauffeur-driven car, shot and killed his police orderly before forcefully dragging him out of the car. They then fired in the air to scare passersby.

In a related development, the Mr Ojims Chikere, Secretary of APC in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state was rescued from abductors who had kidnapped him very close to his residence in Rumuobiakani area of the state.

“They had dragged me into their waiting car and were about to zoom off when one of them decided to make a phone call to confirm from their sponsor if I was the real target before they could waste me.”

“However it was within the period of the call that youths within the community blocked them and rescued me. But before they could escape the police that had been tipped off arrived and arrested them,” Chikere narrated.

He said that the preliminary investigation by the police revealed that the foiled abduction was actually an assassination bid and politically motivated to silence APC members who may have evidence to give at the election petition tribunal.

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State

Rivers State Government has banned the consumption of local gin popularly called Ogogoro following the death of about 22 persons in Bonny Island, Bonny, and Woji in Obio Akpor local government areas of Rivers.

They died after consuming dog meat delicacy and local gin popularly called ‘Kai-Kai’ or Ogogoro which allegedly contained poisonous ethanol.

The Rivers government through the Department of Disease Control said the ban became necessary measure to avoid more people consuming the toxic substance.

The Director of Disease Control in state ministry of Health, Dr. Roland Obed Whyte, however expressed concern over the difficulty in getting samples of the particular gin through clinical analysis because the irate youths of Woji had set ablaze the shop of Friday Dickson, aka Etiaba where the suspected toxic gin was bought and consumed erasing the remaining samples of the gin. Dickson is presently in the custody of the Police.

Whyte however said that health officials from the Ministry have been dispatched to Woji for house-to-house enlightenment on dangers in the consumption of highly toxic local gin.

He also said that preliminary findings revealed that the symptoms exhibited by the affected victims include, vomiting and blindness.

PM NEWS also learnt that another challenge facing the state ministry of Health is that some of the remains of the deceased were buried without autopsy making further medical examinations a Herculean task.

In Bonny Island, Simon Wilcox, a youth leader and spokesman for Bonny kingdom confirmed yesterday the death of 17 persons after the consumption of the toxic local brew popularly kai-kai imported into the Island.

“As I speak with you 17 persons have been confirmed dead.We are going to the hospital to attend those who are lying critically ill.We need the help of World Health Organization, WHO, Federal and Government agencies to assist people of Bonny kingdom,” Wilcox said.

Over seventy-five dead bodies have been retrieved at the Goil Filling Station at the Nkrumah Circle in Accra that caught fire during Wednesday’s torrential rains, reports Ghanaweb.

The Ghana National Fire Service has confirmed that officially 75 people are dead and fears the number could rise as the salvage operation continues.

It is, however, unclear what sparked the inferno at the Service Station behind the GCB Towers and opposite the Vienna City night club.

Meanwhile, people helping the security services in the rescue operation are telling Starr News that about 96 charred bodies have been found.

Starr News’ Asabea Akornor who is at the scene reports that the police are still counting and bringing out the victims from their respective homes around the scene of the outbreak.

•Scene of fuel station disaster in Ghana

The inferno followed hours of heavy downpour in the capital that led to power outages in several communities.

Firefighters battled the blaze into the early hours of Thursday while police and soldiers joined emergency crews helping rescue people trapped in the wreckage, said city Mayor Oko Vanderpuije.

Accra is flooded following torrential rains that continued for several hours.

Hundreds of workers in the capital have been left stranded at their work places as the heavy downpour submerged the city.

Most of the principal streets in Accra are flooded and unmotorable as commercial and private vehicles are trapped in the deluge which is above knee level.

•A fuel station in Ghana where over 70 people were burnt to death last night

Most of the drivers have parked their vehicles on the inner and outer pavements to prevent their vehicles from being carried away by the flood.

Tables, chairs and broken stalls of sellers could be seen floating on the submerged streets, especially on the Ring Road and Nkrumah Circle.

Reports reaching Starrfmonline.com indicate that walls have collapsed at flood-prone areas like Awoshie, Santa Maria, Kwashiebu and Tabora and their surrounding areas and residents are struggling to evacuate their homes for safety.

.Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama said as he toured the scene that “This loss of life is catastrophic and almost unprecedented.

“A lot of people have lost their lives and I am lost for words.”

Bodies of the Ghana gas explosion victims

Mahama extended his condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones and said “precautionary measures” needed to be taken against flooding that hits the city every year.

A senior police officer said that “the fire service alone has retrieved about 73 bodies,” while Red Cross disaster management coordinator Francis Obeng put the death toll at “more than 70.

Local hospitals said morgues were full, with the death toll likely to rise, according to security officials.

Communications minister Edward Omane Boamah described the situation as a “national emergency”.

Boamah said the armed forces, police, fire and the National Disaster Management Organisation have been deployed to help those affected.

“The general public is kindly advised to avoid fast-moving rainwater and areas they know have big drains. Stay on higher ground, where necessary, to prevent loss of life,” he added.

Hosni Mubarak

CAIRO (Reuters) – Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak will face a second and final retrial over the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising which forced him from power, the high court said on Thursday

The judge accepted the public prosecution’s appeal against an earlier court ruling that dropped the case against Mubarak.

Mubarak, who ruled Egypt with an iron first for three decades, has already spent at least three years in prison for other cases.

The judge said the retrial, based on charges against him of conspiring to kill protesters during the 2011 Arab Spring uprising centered around Cairo’s Tahrir Square, would begin on Nov. 5.

Last month an Egyptian court sentenced the former ruler and his two sons to three years in jail without parole in the retrial of a corruption case.

IG of Police Solomon Arase

The Police in Kogi on Thursday announced the rescue of the state Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr Stephen Maiyaki , who was abducted on May 30.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Shola Adebayo, said in a statement in Lokoja that Maiyaki was rescued at about 2 am from the kidnappers hideout at Abobo village in Adavi Local Government area of the state.

NAN reports that the commissioner and six other persons were abducted at Osara village also in Adavi local government while there to resolve a land dispute.

The statement said that Maiyaki had been reunited with his family but was silent on the fate of the other six persons abducted along with him.

It was also silent on the fate of Justice Samuel Obayomi of the state High Court who was abducted in the same local government area on May 25.

The kidnappers had shot to death the policeman attached to the High Court Judge before taking him away.

The judge was on his way to court when he was kidnapped by six masked men.

Already judiciary workers and lawyers in the state have embarked on strike in protest over his abduction.

The police command in the state has since deployed units of mobile policemen and special anti-robbery squad to areas where Obayomi and others are believed to be held by the abductors.

Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T) on Thursday filed a fresh recall for 75,000 cars in Japan to replace air bag inflators made by Takata Corp.

A Mazda spokesman, who spoke to reporters under anonymity, said the recall followed an order to expand a multi-million-vehicle recall in the United States.

Of that, about 38,000 had previously been called back for investigative purposes in December, the spokesman said.

Mazda’s latest move follows similar actions taken last week by Honda Motor Company and other automakers as part of an expanded recall by Takata to comply with demands from U.S. auto safety regulators.

Mazda said it would make a corresponding filing in the United States on Thursday.

To date, the tally for Takata-related recalls stands at 811,000 vehicles globally, Takata Corp said.

Takata is at the centre of a global recall of tens of millions of cars for potentially deadly air bag inflators that could deploy with too much force and spray metal fragments inside vehicles.

Regulators have linked six deaths to the component so far.

Josephine Odum-John

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad of Lagos State Police Command has arrested a man for allegedly selling his 2-year-old son for N300,000.

Investigation revealed that Kanayo Awurum, a painter, from Imo State, eastern Nigeria, allegedly impregnated his girlfriend, Ugochukwu Kelechi, and absconded shortly after that.

It was after Kelechi gave birth to the boy that he was sold when he was two years old without her knowledge.

Two years later, Awurum allegedly came back and apologised to her.

•Kanayo Awurum: Sold his son for N300,000

Thereafter, he relocated to Lagos to meet Kelechi at Ikotun. It was gathered that he had no money after he relocated. As a result, he told Kelechi  about his intention to use his son for a loan, with a promise that after three months, he would offset the loan and claim the boy back.

His wife was said to have objected to that. But the suspect who relocated to Lagos with his wife left his son in the care of a relation in his village.

Awurum’s friend, Ibe Emmanuel, allegedly advised him to sell off the boy.

It was alleged that Ibe even went ahead to assist in looking for a buyer and found one in  Port Harcourt where the boy, Chukwunonyerum Samuel, was allegedly sold to Mrs. Chinwe for N300,000.

Ibe who assisted in getting a buyer was allegedly given N50,000.

Awurum allegedly used part of the money to rent a self-contained room at Ikotun and paid for a year and half.

After some time, one of Awurum’s relatives called him for a house painting contract in Owerri. He proceeded to Owerri from where he called Kelechi and told her that the landlord should rent out the self-contained room in Lagos to another person

The woman became worried and suspicious until Awurum stopped picking her calls. This prompted her and the landlord to report the matter to Ikotun Police station and the matter was later transferred to Lagos.

He was tracked down and arrested and upon interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the police that he sold his son.

Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu confirmed the arrest.

He said that SARS operatives have been despatched to Port Harcourt to arrest the buyer of the boy and recover him, adding that all those who participated in the illegal child abuse, human trafficking and sale of the boy would be prosecuted as soon as investigation is concluded.

The victim’s mother Kelechi, 28, from Ikeduru, Imo State, an apprentice caterer, said she met Awurum while she was in a secondary school and they both dated for 10 years before she got pregnant for him.

“He came to my family to tell them he wanted to marry me. They told him to go and bring his family members. Since then, he ran away. After one year, I gave birth to the baby that was sold. He called me and started begging. My brother warned his family that he does not want to see him in our house. When he had an accident, I was worried and went to see him. When he recovered, he told me that if I was still interested I should prepare to relocate with him to Lagos. I never knew it was a ploy to sell our son. I am now two months pregnant  for him again,” she said.

Jamiu Yisa

Senator Bukola Saraki has expressed confidence that with the feelers he is getting and the goodwill of his colleagues, there is high hope for him to win the senate presidency seat.

Saraki said that in spite of the decision of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) setting criteria for aspirants for the position, it is the rules of the Senate that  will determine in who becomes the President of the Senate.

Senator Bukola Saraki

Speaking Thursday morning on the Sunrise Daily on Channels Television, he stated that the party’s roles in the choice and election of the leaders of the National Assembly is advisory.

“The party’s role is advisory because at the end of the day, it is the rules of the Senate which take precedent on this matter,” he said.

According to him, the party has always harped on the need for merit in choosing leaders at any level and he believes he has what it takes to lead the 8th Senate when it is inaugurated on Tuesday, 9 June, 2015.

“Yes, party will advise the lawmakers who and who the party thinks should occupy one position or the other but it is the lawmakers who will eventually elect their leaders based on the rules of the respective assemblies and in this case, Senators will elect their President in accordance with the rules of the Senate,” he said.

Melinda Gates announced on Thursday that she and husband Bill’s foundation will spend $776 million tackling hunger in Nigeria and four other countries over the next six years, doubling existing commitments.

Gates made the announcement in Brussels, where she urged European leaders to make the nutrition of women and children a priority. The huge pledge also unlocks $180 million in matched funding from Britain’s Department for International Development.

“Malnutrition is the underlying cause of nearly half of all under-5 child deaths,” said Gates. “Yet for too long the world has underinvested in nutrition. Today we see an opportunity to change that.”

Much of the money will be spent in India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Burkina Faso, where there is serious malnutrition and a real chance to make positive changes, the foundation said.

Bill and Melinda Gates

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the world’s largest private philanthropy organization, with a $40 billion endowment. It aims to tackle disease and poverty in the developing world. Bill Gates earned his billions as co-founder of Microsoft.

Every year millions of children die because they get substandard nutrition during the critical 1,000-day period from their mother becoming pregnant until their second birthday, the foundation said in a statement.

“Many European donors are now prioritizing nutrition, which we believe will be one of the fundamental solutions to help cut child mortality in half by 2030,” said Melinda Gates.

The extra funding announced in Brussels will aim to help women and girls before they get pregnant, improving the likelihood of a healthy mother and child. It will also be spent on solutions “proven to improve nutrition” including fortifying food and promoting breastfeeding.

Women and girls play a crucial role in reducing poverty and improving health, Gates said. “From their leadership as farmers, entrepreneurs and consumers to their role as mothers; investment in women and girls will be key to improving nutrition globally.”

United Nations member states aim to agree in September a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), targets for making progress and reducing inequality in areas such as poverty, health, education, women’s rights and climate change by 2030.

Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi

Paul Agbota, a domestic staff of a former Minister of External Affairs, who allegedly stole watches and luxury accessories valued at N20 million, was on Thursday docked in Lagos.

Agbota, 29, who resides in Ikeja, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

He, however, entered a not-guilty plea.

The prosecutor ASP Eranus Nnamonu told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 23 at 5.30 p.m. at his employer’s residence at No. 3, Femi Deru Close, Opebi, Lagos.

He said Agbota conspired with others still at large to steal from his employer, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, a Rolex watch valued at N11million.

According to him, the accused also stole other watches and luxury accessories valued at N9 million.

Nnamonu said the offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Abimbola Komolafe, granted the accused bail in the sum of N1million with two responsible sureties in like sum.

She also ordered that the sum of N50,000 be deposited at the office of the court’s deputy registrar as part of the bail conditions.

The case was adjourned to July 9 for hearing.

Reuben Bojor/Calabar

New Governor of Cross River State, Senator Ben Ayade has turned the heat on the civil servants as he wants them to resume at 8am every working day.

He started the enforcement of punctuality on Monday, his first day at work, when he locked out some of the workers who resumed late. He later pardoned them and said henceforth lateness to work would not be tolerated.

Prof. Ben Ayade

The action which left everyone in the state wondering, was, however welcomed by some while others do not find the development funny.

With four days running, P.M.NEWS noted that gates of ministries are now shut at 8am to enable security personnel check late commers.

On Thursday morning, the main gate to a secretariat located along a major highway was crowded with human and vehicular traffic while checks by security personnel lasted.

On Tuesday Governor Ayade had issued a circular through the Ministry of Information stating the direction of his administration. These include: Executive Council meetings to hold once a month instead of weekly as was the case in the past, the dissolution of the taskforce on illegal logging, sanitary workers to clean up garbage in the night, salaries to be paid on the 25th of every month and lots more.

Akin Kuponiyi

Buruji Kashamu

A federal high court sitting in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria for the umpteenth time adjourned till June 19 the contempt proceeding against Ogun East senator-elect, Buruji Kasamu while reaffirming its earlier order that the parties involved in the extradition saga stand down, not to undermine the court pending the determination of the contempt proceeding before the court.

In addition the presiding Judge Ibrahim Buba also warned the parties to avoid a situation whereby conflicting order of the court are obtained by the parties from the same court.

When the matter was mentioned today, Buruji’s lawyer Ajibola Oluyede told the court that the order made by the court for NDLEA to vacate Buruji’s house by NDLEA operatives was treated with disdain as they refuse to vacate the place until he signed an undertaking which was exhibited before the court,

Oluyede further told the court that the NDLEA and the Attorney General of the Federation ought to be committed to prison for disobeying the order of the court, adding that, they obstructed the administration of justice by filing extradition notice which was served on him this morning, therefore urging the court to make the following orders: “An order nullifying the Attorney General’s application for extradiction filed on 28th of May 2015.

(ii) Nullify any warrant of arrest that may prompt any attempt to commence extradition proceeding and

(iii) An order mandating the Inspector General of Police to provide adequate security for Buruji Kasamu.

However in her response the counsel representing the Attorney General of Federation, Mrs Olanike K N. told the court that they have not been served with any court process in the case especially the better and further affidavit filed by the applicant

The Director of prosecution of the NDLEA, Mr Joseph Sunday Nbona, in his reaction told the court that the true position has not been stated before the court, noting that, NDLEA has not been served with any court process in the matter, only the order of the court have been served on them and immediately they were served with the order of the court they complied.

Nbona further told the court that based on the request by the United States of America’s request, the Attorney General of the federation has formerly filed extradition request based on extradition procedure, the case filed by the applicant borders on abduction and as a law abiding Agency of government, they will not embark on any illegality but valid request have been made by a country having extradition treat with Nigeria.

He noted that NDLEA are embarking upon the right procedure, therefore it will be better for them to go and challenge the process instead of hiding under contempt proceeding.

He urged the court to strike out the contempt proceeding case.

Justice Buba in his bench ruling, ordered the parties not to resort to self help, rather they should obey court orders until such orders are set aside or in the alternative parties not satisfied should go on and appeal.

He then adjourned till 19th of June the hearing the pending applications when all parties must have been served.

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of Daar Communications

Scores of workers of Daar Communications Plc, operator of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM Radio, on Wednesday shut down all broadcasting activities at the Benin studio in protest over unpaid salaries.

The protesting workers were said to have blocked the main entrance to the station located along the Benin/Lagos bypass.

A detachment of anti-riot policemen were however called by the management of the station to forestall any break down of law.

It was gathered that the protesting workers put at 50 of AIT and Ray Power, were owed salaries salaries spanning between 12 and 17 months.

One of the protesting workers who did not want his name in print for personal reasons, said newly employed staff of AIT were being owed 12 months while old staff were yet to be paid salaries between 13 months and staff of the Raypower FM, the Radio arm of the broadcast outfit were owed 17 months.

“The stations generate millions of naira on a daily basis, so there is no reason why we should not be paid our salaries. They have no excuse not to pay us our money. It is share wickedness and man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. We have families to care for and children to pay their school fees. Many of our children have stopped going to school. But their own attend schools abroad.

“Look at where our station is located, in another village so far away from Benin City. You have to chatter a taxi carb for not less than N500.00 to get there if you miss the staff bus. And not even every cab driver will agree to go there because of the wrong location of the station, yet, they expect us to be there everyday, whether you have anything to do or not,” the source told P.M. NEWS on phone.

Chairman of the organization, Raymond Dokpesi (Jnr) was said to have spoken to the protesters on phone. He allegedly appealed for calm, assuring them that the management will within one week do everything possible to pay parts of the salary arrears.

He however allegedly threatened to pay-off any of the staff that decided to resign from the establishment.

IG of Police Solomon Arase

The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Solomon Arase, on Wednesday mandated the Police Works Department of the Force to build 6000 units of modern houses for the rank and file personnel.

Arase gave the mandate at a one-day workshop held for officers of the works department in Abuja.

The IG, however, said that corrupt officers would not benefit from the project.

He said 500 units of the houses should be located in each of the 12 Police Zonal Commands across the nation.

Arase, who mandated the department to complete the houses in six months, said it was part of efforts to improve the welfare of junior officers

He decried shoddy projects carried out in the past for the force by some building developers at high costs.

He said the new initiative should be driven by the relevant professional expertise in the force.

“Upon completion, a unit of two bedroom flat will be delivered to officers at a cost not above N4 million as materials will be sourced directly from manufacturers.

“Officers will be able to acquire the houses through NPF Mortgage Bank Plc,” he said.

He explained that the bank in collaboration with National Housing Fund would finance the project with the investment department of the force coordinating it.

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi

The Rivers State Liaison Officer for Abuja liaison office, John Enebeli has dismissed the allegations of looting of Government properties in Abuja liaison office as not only frivolous but tissues of lies being manufactured to tar and demonize him as a common criminal.

Enebeli said that contrary to the allegations of looting “This is the first time that a proper inventory and documentation of government properties in Abuja liaison office done and handed over by an exiting administration to the incoming one.

Enebili threatened to sue the top officers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who he alleged made away with properties of the state under his watch including exotic BMW cars.

The Liaison Officer who called in during a live programme on a radio station in Port Harcourt threatened that he may be compelled to seek redress in the court of law to clear his name.

The Liaison officer stated that he understands that this are trying times for some ambitious members of PDP who are positioning themselves for political appointments. He said smearing the integrity of imaginary opponents ups their ante and profile for getting such desired appointments from Governor Nyesom Wike.

Elsewhere, Mr Harry Halliday, immediate past Chief of Protocol to ex-Governor Chibuike Amaechi narrowly escaped death in hands of suspected assassins at his residence in Abuloma, Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Although the details of the incident remains sketchy, however, the state Police Command through its spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad confirmed the incident and said that two suspects had been apprehended over the botched assassination attempt.