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Bauchi Police Arrest 32 Suspects over Campus Crisis

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Bauchi Police Arrest 32 Suspects over Campus Crisis

 

The Bauchi State Police command has arrested about 32 students of the College of Education, Kangere, in connection to the crisis that accompanied the school’s botched Students Union Government, SUG, election.

The situation degenerated into violence after the election which was scheduled to hold on Wednesday was postponed as authorities noticed that things had taken ethnic and religious dimensions.

Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer of Police Command, Haruna Mohammed, in a statement on Thursday, said that “following the postponement, hoodlums and misguided elements in their hundreds from the school and neighboring Community went on rampage and blocked Bauchi- Gombe Federal highway harassing innocent Citizens.”

Mohammed stated that before the Police arrived the scene of the riot, the military had already dispersed the rioters and arrested 32 suspects.

“Police Patrol Teams have been deployed to the Area, normalcy was restored in the school and the road blockage opened to enable free flow of traffic,” he added.

The Police spokesman also said that 8 persons sustained various degrees of injuries during the violence and were rushed to Specialist Hospital Bauchi for treatment.

The “suspects arrested were handed over to the police for discreet investigation after which they would be charged to Court for prosecution,” he said.

NEMA Relocates 270 Nigerian Returnees from Cameroon

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NEMA Relocates 270 Nigerian Returnees from Cameroon

 

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Yola Operational Office has announced plans to move about 270 Nigerian who returned from Cameroon where they had run for refuge during the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency to Maiduguri, Borno State, their home States.

Adamawa State Public Relations Officer of NEMA, Hafeez Bello made this known in a statement on Thursday.

He noted that the returnees who crossed into Nigeria through the Sahuda Border were received at Burn Bricks Transit Camp in Mubi South local government area of Adamawa State.

“NEMA and other security agencies have been collaborating in ensuring the safety, comfort and movement of returnees to their respective states,” he added.

Bello further stated that those being returned “include elderly persons, mothers and children who are adequately screened for security and health reasons.”

Many Nigerians have been deported from Neighbouring countries where they were taking refuge in the wake of the insurgency.

Most of them, especially the men, said they were forcefully deported and weren’t allowed to take any of their belongings. Some said their families remain in Cameroon as security officials didn’t allow them return to their refugee camps and collect them.

This is in spite of a memorandum of understanding between Nigeria, the United Nations and neighbouring countries that refugees should be allowed to stay until they voluntarily decide to leave.

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Court Orders DSS To Release Ifeanyi Uba Within 48 Hours

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Court Orders DSS To Release Ifeanyi Uba Within 48 Hours

The Lagos State division of the federal high court has ordered the Department of State Service, DSS, to release the Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas, Ifeanyi Ubah within the next 48 hours.

Justice Mohammed Idris in his judgment held that Ubah should be released since the DSS has failed to file a charge against him.

Counsel to the DSS had during previous hearings challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case, arguing that Ubah was arrested in Abuja.

But Justice Mohammed berated the DSS for lying to the court that Ubah was arrested in Abuja, while from every available evidence, he was arrested in Lagos and flown to Abuja, where he has been detained for some weeks.

Ubah was arrested by DSS for allegedly diverting petroleum products belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which was stored in his facility in Lagos.

The oil magnate turned politician has also instituted a rights violation suit against the DSS at an FCT high court over his continued detention.

When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday May 23, the DSS, through a counter affidavit deposed to by one of its personnel, Safwan Bello, claimed that Ubah committed an offence of economic sabotage which is “punishable by death.”

Bello said that Ubah was arrested on reasonable suspicion of his involvement in the commission of crime as he diverted Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly referred to as petrol, belonging to the NNPC.

“The PMS is worth over N11 billion,” he said. “The action of the respondent is affecting the distribution of petroleum products to the populace.

“The action of the respondent is sabotage of NNPC’s activities as it relates to distribution of petroleum products.

“If not for the urgent steps taken by the Federal Government, the action of the respondent would have plunged the country into widespread scarcity with its attendant effect on the economy”.

Army Arrests Mercenary, 12 Other Suspected Criminals In Taraba

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Army Arrests Mercenary, 12 Other Suspected Criminals In Taraba

 

Troops of the 93 Battalion of the Nigerian Army has handed over a notorious mercenary and 12 other suspected criminals to the Taraba State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, as part of efforts at ensuring safety of citizens and property in the State.

This was made known by Sagir Musa, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the 82 Division who noted that the handover was in compliance with a directive from the 82 division of the Army.

“The Battalion has successfully transferred/handed over the suspects and the exhibits of 1 x Ak 47 Riffle with 10 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition to the Commissioner of Police, Taraba State for further necessary action. The suspects and the evidences were handed over between 19 and 22 May 2017,” Musa stated.

The suspects include: Babatunde Oladiji – 48 years – a mercenary caught with AK 47 Rifles with 10 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition. He was handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, Takum Local Government, Taraba State.

Others are: “Igba Shiaondo – 26 years, Mngo Asui – 38years, Dengi Usman -28 years, Sani Ali – 20 years, Suleiman Yahaiya – 20 years, Umar Sanda – 19 years, Zakari Umar – 20 years, Ishiaku Gado – 19 years, Mulega Uma – 21 years, Yusuf Gbokolo – 20 years, Msughter Uter – 27 years and Innocent Danwua – 47 years.”

The statement further read: “Similarly, two impersonators, dressed in Nigerian Army camouflage uniform with walking boots, – (Makrop Jonah – 26 years and Nanbal James – 22 years), were apprehended by a patrol team of 93 Battalion at Ibi Local Government Area, Delta State on 5 May 2017.

“On questioning, the suspects claimed to be personnel of the Nigerian Navy Tactical Operations Unit in Delta State on “reconnaissance” for possible deployment on Ibi Water Ways (but) further scrutiny indicated that they are fake.

“They too, were transferred to the Nigerian Police Force Taraba State for necessary action.”

Dasukigate: Ex-PDP Chair, Bello Received N300 Million

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Dasukigate: Ex-PDP Chair, Bello Received N300 Million

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Haliru Bello, told the federal high court, Abuja, on Wednesday that the accused person received N300 million from the office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, under Sambo Dasuki.

Spokesman for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Wilson Uwajuren, said in a statement that the witness, Aliyu Mukddas, is a Senior Manager with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Mukddas told Justice A. R. Mohammed that the N300 million was transferred from the ONSA to Bam Projects and Properties, a company owned by former PDP chair.

The money is believed to be part of the funds meant for the purchase of arms to aid the fight insurgency in the North East of the country.

Mukddas, who was led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, O. A. Atolagbe, told the court that the narration on the payment mandate showed that the payment was given as “Safe Houses” which the amount was for N300 million.

When asked by the prosecuting counsel if it is the duty of CBN to know whether the contract was executed, the witness replied in the negative.

The witness, who was manager, between 2010 and 2015, gave details on procedures for payment to Ministries, Department and Agencies.

According to him, agencies would bring their payment schedule showing the date, name of the organization, amount in words/figure and details of beneficiaries.

“The confirmation would be done before us with his name, signature, date and thumb print”, he said.

“When the payment schedule is received, the CBN passes it for verification of signatories and also check account balance before it is passed for payment”.

Mukddas further explained that the ONSA account is managed by CBN and funded majorly by Office of Accountant General of the Federation.

According to him, “the account has two sources of funding, sometimes from office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and mostly from the Accountant General of the Federation”.

“Between 2012 and 2015, the main signatory to the account was Sambo Dasuki and also another signatory was the then Director Finance and Account S. A. Salisu, while the confirmation officer was Yazeed Ibrahim,” Mukddas said.

The case was adjourned to July 5, 2017 for continuation of trial.

Court Grants Former NNPC Boss Leave To Travel

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Court Grants Former NNPC Boss Leave To Travel

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has granted former Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Yakubu is facing a six-count charge of money laundering and false declaration of asset after millions of dollars were discovered from his house in Kaduna by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC.

A total of $9.7 million and £74,000 were discovered hidden in a fireproof safe at a property owned by the ex-NNPC boss at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna State.

At the resumption of the trial on Wednesday, Yakubu’s counsel, Ahmed Raji, pleaded with the court to allow his client travel to the UK to complete his medical treatment which he abandoned when he was summoned by the EFCC.

Raji asked the court to release the accused person’s international passport which he deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court as part of his bail conditions.

Counsel to the EFCC, Ben Ikani, did not object to the application, saying it was up to the court to decide.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in his ruling, said he was granting the motion since it was not opposed by the prosecution.

He gave Yakubu three weeks permission to travel to the UK for completion of his medical treatment. The three weeks would commence from May 25.

The court however directed that one of Yakubu’s sureties must file a separate affidavit agreeing to be held liable if the accused person fail to return to face his trial.

Justice Mohammed also ordered that the accused person must resubmit his travel documents to the Deputy Registrar of the court on his return.

Yakubu had earlier been granted bail to the tune of N300 million with two sureties in like sum.

Bayelsa, World Bank Partner To Create 7,000 Jobs

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Bayelsa, World Bank Partner To Create 7,000 Jobs

The Bayelsa state government has said it intends to create at least 7,000 temporary jobs through the implementation of projects funded from the $50 million development loan obtained from the World Bank.

The loan is part of a $200 million World Bank intervention in four states in the Niger Delta region including Bayelsa, Edo, Rivers and Delta.

In a chat with journalists after a project tour of completed and ongoing interventions, the Bayelsa Project Coordinator of State Expenditure for Results, SEFOR, Ayens Adogu, said more than 3,000 jobs had already been created in the first phase of the project.

He expressed optimism that the state would exceed the targeted 7,000 temporary jobs at the end of the second phase of the programme going by the successes so far recorded.

Adogu said some youths have been engaged to provide labour for the concrete road projects for a period of one year on a monthly stipend of N20,000, adding that a new set of youths will be employed at the end of the year to rotate the jobs among the unemployed.

He also explained that some micro projects were being carried out using the direct labour approach in order to engage youths who were trained in skills and entrepreneurship.

The project manager said part of the conditions for the temporary one year jobs included a compulsory saving which could only be withdrawn at the end of the contract to assist as start-up capital for the youths.

SEEFOR project is a collaboration between the Bayelsa Government, World Bank and European Union to fund quick impact development projects such concrete walkways, streets, market stalls, craft centres and health centres.

According  to Adogu, benefiting communities are selected based on needs and the communities’ readiness to contribute 10 percent of the N10 million set aside for each benefiting community.

He further said that about 108 micro projects have so far been executed in the first phase of the project while an advert for another 136 projects has just been published.

“The government of Bayelsa is using the World Bank credit to reflate the economy of the state and boost economic activities to improve the living standards of the people,” Adogu said.

“The impact of the project has touched the state’s economy; for instance, the payment of over 3,000 hitherto unemployed youths involves 10 banks and not to mention the award of small contracts for the over 108 micro public works projects across the state.”

The project manager revealed that the $50 million dollars development facility has a 40-year term and 10-year moratorium at concessionary interest rate.

Nigerian Military Says No Confirmation Of Coup Plot

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Nigerian Military Says No Confirmation Of Coup Plot

The Nigeria Defence Headquarters has said that there is no confirmation of a coup plot by any group of officers in the armed forces.

Director of defence information, John Enenche made this known while speaking with journalists on Wednesday.

It would be recalled that the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, had last week issued a statement warning officers and men of the army to stay away from politics and politicians.

Buratai in his statement said he had information that some officers were holding meetings with politicians for “undisclosed reasons”.

But spokesman of the DHQ, during his interaction with newsmen on Wednesday said there was no confirmation that a coup was being planned by anybody in the Nigerian military.

Enenche said the warning by the COAS was a caution to officers to remain professional in their conducts.

He reiterated that the armed forces remain loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari, urging Nigerians to disregard any rumour of imminent coup.

“All fears about a coup should be allayed as the contemporary Nigerian military is abreast with the best international practices in governance, which is democracy,” the defence spokesman said.

“It is pertinent to state that if there are signs of actions that point to likely breaches of military code of conduct as it were, professionally, it is a command responsibility to caution officers and men on routine basis to conform to ethics of the military.

“Officers and men are cautioned to exercise command and control by appropriate superior authorities through commanders at various levels.

“This is to prevent members of the armed forces from derailing from their core focus of total dedication to their oath of allegiance.

“Cautions or warnings are issued with investigations following.”

Following the warning by the Chief of Army Staff, several eminent Nigerians had warned that Nigerians will resist any action that could plunge the country back to the dark days of Military rule.

Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former Governor of Lagos State Bola Tinubu, lent his voice to the calls, urging anyone mulling the idea of coup to desist.

Tinubu said that the democracy being enjoyed in the country today came at a price so high some people had to pay the ultimate price for it.

Ethiopian Doctor Becomes First African WHO DG

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Ethiopian Doctor Becomes First African WHO DG

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus from Ethiopia will be the next director general of the World Health Organization, WHO.

He will be the first African to head the UN agency, after winning the most votes from 186 member states.

He replaces Margaret Chan, who will step down from her 10-year post at the end of June.

During Chan’s tenure, the WHO’s response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa was criticised for being too slow.

The agency was accused of missing key warning signs about the severity of the outbreak that began in December 2013 and ultimately killed more than 11,000 people.

Addressing the World Health Assembly shortly before the vote, the new WHO chief promised to respond to future emergencies “rapidly and effectively”.

He also promised to stand up for the rights of the poor.

“All roads should lead to universal health coverage. I will not rest until we have met this,” he said.

52-year-old Tedros is married with five children and lives in Ethiopia. He had at different times served as Ethiopia’s minister of health and foreign affairs as well as chairman of the board of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria

He is also an internationally recognised malaria researcher, with a PhD in community health.

Tedros’ election was not without controversy as he was recently accused of covering up three cholera epidemics in Ethiopia, but his supports say this is untrue.

The new WHO DG said his vision was of “a world in which everyone can lead healthy and productive lives, regardless of who they are or where they live”.

He told delegates at the World General Assembly: “I promise I will get up every day, determined to make a difference… I am ready to serve.”

His top five priorities in his new job are: Advancing universal health coverage; ensuring WHO responds rapidly and effectively to disease outbreaks and emergencies; putting the wellbeing of women, children and adolescents at the centre of global health and development; helping nations address the effects of climate change on health and making the agency transparent and accountable.

27 Year Old Nigerian Wins UK Engineering Award

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27 Year Old Nigerian Wins UK Engineering Award

A tutoring app developed by a 27-year-old Nigerian, Godwin Benson, has won an engineering award given by the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering.

Benson designed Tuteria, a platform that links qualified tutors to students in their area and within their budget.

He developed the platform based on the experiences he had as a tutor.

The engineering innovation award was launched in 2014 and rewards innovators in sub-Saharan Africa.

Benson beat 16 participants to clinch the £25,000 ($32,000) prize money.

Other entries in the competition included a system that reduces the amount of energy used to heat water, an app that controls water consumption and a smart jacket to identity pneumonia.

The group received coaching on preparing business plans and communication ahead of their final presentation on Tuesday in front of a live audience in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

The head judge of the competition Malcolm Brinded said that Tuteria could change the lives of people eager to learn: “We’re proud to have him as our third Africa Prize winner, and we trust Tuteria will go on to change the lives of millions of people who are eager to learn and develop new skills.”

The app has a ratings system, and allows students to book lessons using an upfront online payment system.

Tutors are then paid once the lessons have been confirmed, and Tuteria takes 15 to 30% commission for each paid lesson.

Tutors cover a range of academic subjects.

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