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Court Registrar Jailed 3 Years For Bribery

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Court Registrar Jailed 3 Years For Bribery

The Registrar of a Magistrate Court in Enugu state, Anikwu Ambrose Ifesinachi, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment without of option of fine for demanding bribe in the course of discharging his official duty.

Ifesinachi was accused of demanding a bribe of N80, 000 from the relation of a suspect who had been in custody for two years before processing his warrant of release.

After persistent demands, the relation approached the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, who gave him marked money.

As soon as the accused collected the money, he was arrested by the operatives of the commission and was charged on two counts under the ICPC Act.

The case which commenced in 2010, suffered numerous adjournments at the instance of the defence.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution called three witnesses and tendered some exhibits while the accused gave evidence without calling any witness.

In his defence, he claimed to have collected the money on behalf of the complainants whom he did not call as a witness.

Delivering judgment, Justice A. A. Nwobodo, of the Enugu High Court, convicted the accused person for contravening section 10 (a) (ii) of the ICPC Act of 2000.

Afghan Journalists Boycott Taliban Reportage Over Colleague’s Murder

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Afghan Journalists Boycott Taliban Reportage Over Colleague’s Murder

Journalists in Afghanistan are staying away from reporting on the Taliban in the country in protest of the cold murder of their colleague, Sardar Ahmad, a senior reporter with the Agence France-Presse, AFP, by four teenage gunmen who stormed the Serena Hotel last Thursday.

The ABC News reports that the group, made up of more than 50 journalists, with the name “the Afghan Journalist Family”, representing Afghan and international media outlets, alleged on facebook that the Taliban carried out the attack, “which can never be justified, solely for the purposes of news coverage and projecting terror among Afghan citizens.”

“Therefore, the journalism family in Afghanistan, in a collective decision, has decided to boycott coverage of news related to the Taliban for a period of 15 days, refraining from broadcasting any information that could further the Taliban’s claimed purpose of terror,” the group added.

The journalists also asked the Taliban for an explanation of “how they justify the shooting from a close-range of innocent children.”

Ahmad, who reported for the AFP in the Kabul bureau, was shot and killed, along with his wife and two of his three children, in the attack.

His third child, a son, is still in emergency treatment for injuries he sustained in the attack.

The late reporter who is from Afghanistan had been with AFP since 2003 and was described as “courageous” and one of the “best journalists” at the organization for his coverage of the tensions within Afghanistan.

AFP chairman, Emmanuel Hoog, praised Ahmad for his “exceptional coverage of the news in extremely difficult conditions.”

“This is an immensely painful and enormous loss for Agence France-Presse,” Hoog said.

“During the 11 years he spent with AFP in Kabul, he always exercised immense courage and objectivity when reporting, despite the risks faced by journalists in that country,” added Gilles Campion, AFP’s Asia-Pacific regional director.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack which they say was targeted at “foreign invaders and puppets of high-ranking officials.”

At least 22 persons were killed in the attack, including two children.

Edo Govt Shuns Court Order, Conducts Teachers Competency Test

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Edo Govt Shuns Court Order, Conducts Teachers Competency Test

From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

The Edo State government Saturday conducted an assessment test for public school teachers in defiance to a court order restraining it from carrying on with the exercise.

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NIC, Abuja division, had Friday issued an interim injunction restraining the state government or its agents, servants or privies from conducting any competency test for the teachers who are claimants in a suit filed before it, pending the determination of the matter.

The court, presided over by Justice B.A. Adejumo, also restrained the state government from carrying out any act covertly or doing anything inconsistent with the present employment of the claimants, either by withholding their salaries, allowances and or any of their entitlements or terminating their appointments, pending the hearing and determination of the case.

But, in spite of the order, the state government went on with the test which it strongly believes is in the best interest of its citizens, not minding the low turnout of teachers for the exercise.

It was gathered that less than two hundred public school teachers in the entire state participated in assessment, as most of them heeded the advice of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary School, ASSUS, to shun the test.

Seventy three teachers were accredited in Edo south, while about 14 and 12 were accredited in Edo central and north respectively.

The state commissioner for higher education, Washington Osifo, who was accompanied to the accreditation hall by the chairman of the assessment test committee,  Denis Agbonlahor, said the state government was not aware of any court injunction stopping the state government from conducting the test.

“We are not aware of any restraining order stopping the test. An attempt to get an order does not in itself translate to an order stopping the conduct of the test,” Osifo said.

However, counsel to ASSUS, Olayiwola Afolabi, who was also at the accreditation venue, expressed displeasure over the state government’s decision to go ahead with the competency test even when a subsisting court ‎injunction ruled otherwise.

He debunked allegation credited to the state commissioner for Information, Loius Odion, that the court order was not served on the state government, adding that the it was pasted on the walls of ministry offices when state government officials were evading service..

“The moment you fail to obey court order, it is contempt of court. Edo state government is not above the law. It is on record that a former Attoney-General of this state went to prison because of contempt of court order. If they go ahead with the test, we will file contempt charges against the government of Edo state and we will jail them,” Afolabi said.

There was total compliance to the union’s boycott advice in Auchi and Ekpoma, as no teacher showed up for the assessment test.

In explaining the importance of the competency test, the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, said a few weeks ago at an Education Summit organised for the state that the exercise is meant to purge the state’s education sector of the decay caused by incompetent hands.

He said the assessment test will also provide opportunities to young capable persons, especially of Edo origin, who have what it takes to move the sector forward.

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Fayose Emerges PDP Governorship Candidate In Ekiti

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Fayose Emerges PDP Governorship Candidate In Ekiti

The Peoples Democratice Party, PDP, has voted Ayodele Fayose, as its candidate for the Ekiti state governorship election which comes up on June 21.

Fayose, who ruled the state between 2003 and 2006 before he was impeached on corruption charges, got 462 out of 477 votes, defeating former moinister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, who got seven votes, Dayo Adeyeye, who came third with 3 votes and Modupe Ogundipe, who clinched forth position with one vote.

The result of the primaries was announced by the chairman of the committee set up for the exercise. Peter Odili, former governor of Rovers State

Some of the aspirants had pulled out from the primaries in protest against last Wednesday’s ward congresses which they said was hijacked by Fayose.

But speaking with reporters shortly after the primaries that was held at Ado-Ekiti, Fayose enjoined other aspirants of the party to join hands with him in rescuing the state from the present administration.

Fayose described the process which led to his emergence as successful and peaceful.

The three main contenders for the governorship seat are Fayose, Kayode Fayemi,of the All Progressive Congress, APC, the present governor, and Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party, LP.

Fayose was accused of embezzling up to N416 million state funds, particularly the Ekiti State Poultry Project handled by his childhood friend and contractor, Gbenga James.

Army Recovers Arms In Burnt Church In Borno

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Army Recovers Arms In Burnt Church In Borno

The Nigeria Military said Friday it had discovered a large cache of arms and ammunition hidden in the premises of a burnt church in Kalabalge local government area of Borno state.

The director of Information for the Army, Chris Olukolade, a major general, said the discovery was made when an arrested terrorist, who claims to be a Cameroonian and an arms courier for the Boko Haram terrorist group, led a military team to where the arms were buried inside the burnt church.

Other items recovered by the troop include anti aircraft guns, rocket propelled guns, machine guns as well as various caliber of rounds of ammunition.

The arrested terrorist disclosed that the weapons were stockpiled to be used in a pending attack on some communities around Nigeria-Cameroon border.

Olukolade said the weapons have all been evacuated while military patrols are being maintained in the general area and the surrounding localities.

He said troops have continued with various operations assigned to the formations involved in the counter terrorist campaign, adding that the caves of a particular mountain captured overnight is currently undergoing a thorough search for terrorists who are believed to have fled there in the wake of the ongoing offensive on various terrorist enclaves.

48 Killed in Plateau Violence

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48 Killed in Plateau Violence

Forty-eight people were killed Thursday in violence that erupted in Langtang South local government area of Plateau State, the Special Task Force, STF, in the state said.

The STF spokesman, Salisu Mustapha, a captain, told newsmen that invading gunmen killed 28 persons in Magama, Bongong and Karkashi communities, while the task force in turn killed 20 of them in a gun duel that lasted several hours.

He said that many of the assailants sustained gunshot wounds and were arrested by the STF, even as motorcycles, weapons and ammunition were recovered after the face-off.

Mustapha said that the attackers were suspected to be Fulani herdsmen and that they withdrew toward Yamini, Yelwa-Shendam and Agikamai villages in Shendam local government area after the attack.

The situation, according to him, has been brought under control and more troops deployed to secure the area are conducting a robust patrol to guard against further attacks on innocent persons.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Langtang South local government, Naanman Darko, said that more than 6,000 displaced persons were taking refuge at the councilheadquarters in Mabudi.

“In fact, more people are still trooping into the secretariat following rumours that more attacks are underway. The local government has been making arrangements to provide relief materials to the displaced persons,” he added.

ABU Sacks Registrar

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ABU Sacks Registrar

Authorities of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, have relieved the registrar of the institution, Isah Mohammed-Abbas, of his appointment for acts of misconduct.

According to a letter addressed to Mohammed-Abbas, the governing council of the institution found him guilty of violating the conditions of his appointment as registrar of ABU by not handing over his duties to the designated officer before leaving for Hajj and for “various acts of misconduct”.

The letter read: “The Council, at its 151 regular meeting held on January 25 and January 26, considered the report submitted by the panel (the one it set up to investigate the allegations against the registrar) after careful deliberations was satisfied that you committed various acts of misconduct in violation of the condition of your appointment as registrar of ABU.”

“Consequently, upon the confirmation and satisfaction that you have committed the alleged misconduct, the council has approved your removal as registrar, ABU, with effect from January 26, 2013,” the letter stated.

Two Police Officers Jailed For Collecting N800,000 Bribe

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Two Police Officers Jailed For Collecting N800,000 Bribe

Two Police officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force, Kwara State command, Ilorin, have been convicted and jailed for bribery.

The two accused persons: Alih Tenimu, a  sergeant, and Salawooden Abubakar, a  corporal, were  sentenced to three and two years imprisonment respectively for demanding and collecting N800,000 as bribe from a suspect involved in a criminal matter.

The two Police Officers alongside one Amodu Adamson, now deceased, were said to have asked one Bello Manisara to pay them the sum of N800,000 in order to close the case of criminal breach of trust and threat to life being investigated by them.

Following their persistent demand, Manisara was forced to forward a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, which immediately embarked on a sting operation.

The first accused person was arrested in his office while counting the bribe money he had received from the petitioner and consequently his accomplice was also apprehended and both were charged to court on a four-count charge on June 1, 2013.

The accused persons were said to have contravened Section 26(1)(c) and Section 10(a)(ii) of the ICPC Act, 2000.

In delivering judgment on the matter, Justice A Mohammed of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin convicted the two accused persons on all the four-count charge.

Reps Probe Petroleum Minister Over N10 Billion Spent On Private Jet

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Reps Probe Petroleum Minister Over N10 Billion Spent On Private Jet

The House of Representatives, Thursday mandated its public accounts committee to probe the alleged spending of N10 billion by the petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Maduekwe, to charter and maintain a private jet for her personal use over the last two years.

The legislators arrived at this position following a motion by Samuel Babatunde Adejare (APC Lagos), who expressed concern that despite “the dwindling national revenue which has reduced the quality of governance and deprived the people of dividends of democracy, an official of government could waste public funds on such luxury for extra official use”.

Adejare said that are indications that the expenditure on a private key charter is “only a tip of the iceberg, as several other billions of naira have been allegedly wasted on flying jets all over the world obviously for the leisure of the minister and her immediate family on trips that are of no benefits to the country”.

In his motion titled ‘Urgent Need to Investigate the Waste of Resources on the Arbitrary Charter and Maintenance of a Challenger 850 Aircraft for non-official Use’, the lawmaker said he had evidence that the minister has been committing the sum of 500,000 Euros (N130 million naira) monthly to maintain the aircraft.

Going by this estimate, Alison-Madueke would have committed at least N3.120 billion in maintaining the private jet which is used solely for her personal needs and those of her immediate family, in the last two years, Adejare said

He said: “This colossal waste is currently estimated at N10 billion which include the payment of allowances to the crew for the trips, hanger parking and rent based on the lease agreement”.

The lawmaker reminded his colleagues that in recent times, most states of the federation have been facing acute shortage of allocations due to the dwindling federal revenue which has reduced the quality of governance and deprived the people of dividends of democracy, and that for a public officer to be able to afford such luxury in the midst of this shows that there are more shocking revelations to be uncovered.

The House, therefore, directed the committee to conclude the investigative hearing within two weeks and report back.

Kwara Govt Shuts Down Illegal Aviation School

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Kwara Govt Shuts Down Illegal Aviation School

The Kwara State Government has closed down an aviation school operating illegally and offering Bachelor of Science and Education degrees to unsuspecting people.

The state commissioner of Education and Human Capital Development, Saka Onimago, told newsmen on Wednesday that the school known as HIK School for Aviation was not accredited by the Nigerian University Commission, NUC and does not have the approval of Nigerian Education Research and Development Council, NERDC.

Onimago who was represented by the director of quality assurance bureau of the ministry, Mohammed Abubakar, said the consultant prepared his own scheme of work formulated by the HIK centre and had been duping unsuspecting students N43,000 per semester.

According to him, those studying in the school have no science orientation as most of them major in Christian Religious Knowledge, Islamic Religious Knowledge and Yoruba language among others.

The commissioner noted that victims who graduated from the illegal aviation school claimed it was affiliated to Kwara State University, KWASU, which is false claim.

He warned that the state government would not hesitate to deal with anyone trying to undermine its efforts at ensuring that the best education is given to students.

The consultant of HIK School of Aviation, Kolawole Idris, who identified himself as a Professor was unable to produce any evidence of his qualifications.

He told the joint task force from the ministries of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology and Education and Human Capital Development that he was a pensioner of the Nigerian Airways.

According to him, he is operating a non-University programme awarding Diploma, B.SC and B.ED in Aviation.

Idris also told the officials that he got his expertise in aviation studies in Europe, adding that the school operates between 2:00pm-7:00pm and has a number of about one hundred and fifty students.

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