Home Blog Page 3344

Two-Week Reporting Trip To Brazil Open To Journalists

Editorial
-
0
Two-Week Reporting Trip To Brazil Open To Journalists

The International Reporting Project, IRP, is accepting applications for a two-week new media reporting trip to Brazil between April 5-19  that will focus on issues related to health, poverty, hunger, and development.

Other areas of focus include successes and challenges in maternal health, child mortality, HIV/AIDS, hunger and food security, technological innovation, economy and business, urban and rural health care, environmental sustainability and women’s empowerment, among others.

The trip will include visits to Brazil’s urban and rural areas to see how the country has addressed issues of poverty, health, hunger and other social factors such as human rights and equity issues, governance, and marginalized communities.

Application are welcome from media professionals, bloggers, influential social media practitioners, and freelance contributors but priority will be given to participants from the United States, United Kingdom, India, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. However,  applicants from all nations are eligible.

Interested candidates must provide a detailed essay describing the types of stories they might pursue during the Brazil trip. Click here to apply.

The deadline for applications is Monday, February 3.

Nasarawa Assembly Orders Gov Almakura To Sack NASIEC Commissioner

Editorial
-
0
Nasarawa Assembly Orders Gov Almakura To Sack NASIEC Commissioner

By Godwin Ojoshimite, Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Tuesday gave a matching order to Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to sack the commissioner on electoral matters to the Nasarawa Independent Electoral Commission, Hassan Ibrahim for being partisan.

The sack of the commissioner was recommended by the House on grounds that Ibrahim ridiculed it in an interview granted to The Forum, a programme on Nasarawa Broadcasting Service, NBS.

Tanko Umar Tunga, Chairman Joint Committe on Information, Security & Special duties and committee on NASIEC who presented the report of his committee to the House, accused Ibrahim of undermining the powers of the house and recommended that he should be sacked or made to retract his statement.

“The committee was asked to verify the truthfulness of Hon. Ibrahim Hassan’s statement on NBS TV on January 21, 2014 where he said the LG law passed by the House can only be bidding on us. We invited him for questioning and after he denied making such statement, he owned up because we showed him the video clip. He apologise to the house and said it happened as a result of over zealousness.

“However,the committee recommends that since  the commissioner pleaded and accepted that he was a politician before, he can’t hold such position and should be removed. Secondly, since he has apologised, the House may pardon him and make him to retract his statement through the same medium”, he said.

Deliberating on the Matter, Anthony Obande representing Doma South Constituency, aligned himself with the first recommendation of the committee. He said, any body who is holding such office must not be partisan and requested for the removal of the commissioner.

Danladi Jatau from Kokona West constituency said Governor Almakura is a product of free and fair election and should avail aspirants of local government election the same privilege.

He also submitted that the said commissioner be dismissed within 24hours for  partisanship.

Also contributing, Francis Orugu, member representing Keana Constituency was not only of the opinion that the commissioner be removed, he also requested that the committee should be directed to visit NASIEC and other security outfit in the state to assess their
level of preparedness to conduct local council polls in March.

Orugu who is also the Chairman House Committee on Public Account, raised alarm over the new youth empowerment programme initiated by the governor.

He noted with dismay how the governor abolished youth empowerment programme initiated by previous administrations and bringing a new policy that is not captured in the budget.

He accused governor Almakura of injecting N400 million ‘illegal funds’ into the youth empowerment programme.

Orugu, therefore prayed the House to summon the Commissioner for Youths, Special Adviser to the governor on Youth development and the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Youth Empowerment to appear before it for questioning.

At the end of the deliberation, the House resolved that the commissioner on electoral matters to NASIEC, should be removed from office for gross misconduct.

The Assembly also mandated its standing joint committee on Information, security and Special Duties and committee on NASIEC to visit the commission and other security outfits in state to assess the level of preparedness for the elections.

It also lifted the embargo placed on NBS for the purpose of re-broadcasting the interview of the commissioner for the people of the state to judge.

The Assembly However, requested the presence of the 3 state government officials in charge of youth development for questioning on Wednesday January 29.

It would be recalled that the controversial LG law was passed by two third majority of the House after governor Almakura refused to accent to the bill of the House which allows local government council officials in office for a year.

Read also:

Reps Want Arrest of Boko Haram Suspects In Rivers Investigated

Editorial
-
0
Reps Want Arrest of Boko Haram Suspects In Rivers Investigated

The House of Representatives on Tuesday mandated its committees on Police Affairs and Human Rights, to investigate the arrest of 320 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect in Rivers.

This resolution emanated from a motion moved by the deputy minority leader, Suleiman Kawau (APC-Kano), which was adopted without debate.

According to Kawu, on January 27, the Police arrested 320 women, men and children in a convoy of 17 buses at the boundary between Rivers and Imo States.

He said that the arrest had raised several issues that required immediate attention of every well-meaning Nigerian.

The legislator maintained that the arrested persons were petty traders and menial job seekers in the state and that such arrest and injustice portrayed obvious danger capable of further overheating the polity.

He said that section 41 of the 1999 Constitution amended  guarantees every Nigerian the right to move freely within the country.

Kawu said that the Police in Rivers had abandoned its responsibility of protecting the people to harassing innocent people.

Court Awards N17.3 billion Against INEC Over Illegal Use Of Electoral Materials

Editorial
-
1
Court Awards N17.3 billion Against INEC Over Illegal Use Of Electoral Materials

By Kevwe Ebireri

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday awarded the sum of N17.3 billion against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in a patent rights suit filed against it by Bedding Holdings Limited.

The company had sued the electoral body for not seeking its consent as the owners of the patent over the use of a data capturing system and transparent and collapsible ballot boxes in Nigeria before awarding a contract for the supply of the electoral materials used in the 2011 general election.

The plaintiff claimed ownership of the patents and copyrights over the Proof of Address System Scheme, PASS, used in the gathering of biometric data as used by INEC in compiling the electronic voters register.

By awarding contracts for the electoral equipment over which he had patent right, Beddings Holding lawyers argued that his right was breached and demanded for over N17 billion compensation, half of the cost of all the items imported for the election, which it claimed would have been “minimum reasonable royalty accruable” to it.

The plaintiff had approached the court through his lawyer, John Okoriko, on November 25, 2010 seeking the following reliefs:

“A declaration that the plaintiff is the bona fide owner of the Patent Rights No. RP 16642 and Copyrights Designs No. RD 13841 in and over Electronic Collapsible Transparent Ballot Boxes (ECTBB) and Patent Rights No. RP NG/P/201-/202-Proof of Address System/Scheme (PASS) (Embedded with the Concept of the Coded Metal Plate) and the process and application of these products respectively to produce the Voter’s Register,

“A declaration that the contract entered into between 1st and 2nd Defendants (INEC and its chairman, Attahiru Jega respectively) of the one part and the 4th-6th Defendants (Haier Electrical Appliances Corporation Limited, Zinox Technologies Limited and Avante International Technology Incorporation respectively) of the other part for the production, procurement, supply, acquisition, importation, purchase, receipt, sale of the Direct Data Capturing Machines, Laptops and/or the collation/compilation and production of the Voter’s Register for the 2011 general elections or any other elections without first seeking and obtaining the written license, consent and authority of the plaintiff is a flagrant infringement on the plaintiff’s Patent Rights No. RP 16642 and Copyrights Designs No. RD 13841 in and over Electronic Collapsible Transparent Ballot Boxes (ECTBB) and Patent Rights No. RP NG/P/201-/202-Proof of Address System/Scheme (PASS) (Embedded with the Concept of the Coded Metal Plate),

“A declaration that the plaintiff is entitled to 50% of the total contract sum of N34, 517.640,000.00 (Thirty Four Billion, Five Hundred and Seventeen Million, Six Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira Only), which is N17, 258, 820,000.00 (Seventeen Billion. Two Hundred and Fifty Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira Only) being the minimum reasonable royalty accruable to the plaintiff for the production, , procurement, supply, acquisition, importation, purchase, receipt, sale of the Direct Data Capturing Machines, Laptops and/or the collation/compilation and production of the Voter’s Register for the 2011 general elections or any other elections by the Defendants (particularly the 4th-6th defendants) without first seeking and obtaining the written license, consent and authority of the plaintiff who is the bona fide patentee of the Patent and Deigns in and over the process and application of the said products respectively to produce the Voter’s Register,

“An order compelling the Defendants to obtain the plaintiff’s written license, consent and authority forthwith for the production, supply, supply, acquisition, importation, purchase, procurement, receipt, sale of the Direct Data Capturing Machines, Laptops and/or any other equipment ancillary to, or associated with the process and application of the said products respectively to produce the Voter’s Register as the bona fide patentee of the patent and Designs Rights over the said process and application of these products respectively to produce the Voter’s Register.”

The presiding judge, Ibrahim Auta, in granting all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff, ruled that “the patent clearly belongs to the plaintiff as the defendants have failed to prove otherwise.”

The Judge also held according to Section 6, sub section 1(b) of the Patent and Designs Act of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, that the patent right of the plaintiff was breeched by the award of contract by INEC to other suppliers without entering into agreement with plaintiff.

A High Court presided over by Justice Adamu Bello, on June 5 held that the firm was the lawful owner of the patent rights for the ballot boxes and declared as illegal the use of the materials for the 2011 general elections without the consent of the plaintiff.

The court, in the judgment, also barred INEC from using the boxes for any subsequent election, including the Edo State gubernatorial poll, without first obtaining the approval of Bedding Holdings Limited.

However, INEC had flouted this order and had gone to use the said ballot boxes for the conduct of the 2011 general elections and the 2012 Edo State governorship election.

INEC is prohibited henceforth by today’s judgement from using any of the above listed patented products for elections without the express permission of the plaintiff.

My Interrogation Was Boring – El-Rufai

Editorial
-
0
My Interrogation Was Boring – El-Rufai

Former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nasir El-Ru’fai has been released by the State Security Service, SSS, after over 12 hours of interrogation on Monday that spilled into early Tuesday morning.

Details of the discussion are not yet known but El-Rufai on his twitter handle describes the exercise as “great fun but boring,” dismissing the incident as “part of life”.

Seemingly unperturbed by Monday’s grilling, el Rufai took to his twitter handle, a platform where he regularly airs his mind, to accuse the government of planning to rig the forthcoming elections.

“They have definite plans to rig the elections in Ekiti & Osun in 2014, & the entire nation in 2015. We will not be intimidated into silence!” he said.

The former minister, had voluntarily submitted himself to the SSS on Monday accompanied by his wife, governor or Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, former governor Anambra State, Chris Ngige, and other APC chieftains.

The SSS had last Thursday summoned El-Rufai to its headquarters for questioning over his comments that  the 2015 general elections would be marred by riots and other forms of violence that may lead to loss of lives and property, if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies failed to hold free and fair polls.

The former minister had, however, written to the agency saying he would answer questions in his house but would not go to the SSS headquarters as he had a subsisting court case against it arising from the Anambra State governorship election.

52 Killed In Fresh Boko Haram Attack On Borno

Editorial
-
0
52 Killed In Fresh Boko Haram Attack On Borno

The Islamic extremist group, Boko Haram, has used explosives to attack a village in Borno State, killing 52 people and razing more than 300 homes, officials have said.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak, a police official who evacuated wounded victims confirmed at least 52 people were killed.
He said the attackers, suspected to member of the Boko Haram sect planted several explosives at a market around Kawuri village Sunday evening which wrecked havoc in the community.
Kawuri District is one of the big towns in Konduga, on Maiduguri-Bama Expressway, which is about 60 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.
Those injured are receiving treatment at the Konduga General Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital in the state.
Police commissioner, Lawan Tanko confirmed the attack, but would not give details on casualties.
This is the second attack the town is witnessing. The first was in October last year, when Boko Haram terrorists clashed with vigilante youth, popularly known as civilian JTF, which led to the killing of 10 people including three members of the Civilian JTF, with 18 others injured and the burning of 48 shops and 200 houses.

EFCC Files Ammended 40 Count Charges Against Fani-Kayode

Editorial
-
0
EFCC Files Ammended 40 Count Charges Against Fani-Kayode

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday filed an amended money laundering charge against former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, at a Federal High Court in Lagos.

At the resumed hearing of the case, the prosecutor, Festus Keyamo, informed the court of the amended charge containing 40 counts and applied that the plea of the accused be taken.

After first count was read to the accused, his counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe, raised an objection that the charge was invalid and his client could not plead to it.

Adedipe argued that the count stated that the accused “accepted cash payments of over N10 million,” without stating the donor of the said money.

He said it was alleged throughout the charge that the accused “accepted various sums of money”, without mentioning the names of the persons from whom they were received.

In his response, argued that the charge bordered on money laundering in which monies involved had no source as opposed to conversion or stealing where there was a particular source.

He submitted that he was prepared to file a written address on the issue.

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, in a short ruling, said that both parties were at liberty to either file written addresses or address the court orally on the issue.

She adjourned the case to February 3 for ruling.

Fani-Kayode was earlier re-arraigned on February 11, 2013 on an amended 47-count charge to which he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.

In the charge, the accused was alleged to have transacted with funds exceeding N500, 000 without going through a financial institution and was alleged to have accepted cash payments of about N100 million while he served as minister in the ministries of Aviation and Culture and Tourism respectively.

Northern Elders Reject Election Timetable

Editorial
-
1
Northern Elders Reject Election Timetable

The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, and the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, have rejected the 2015 election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

According to them, INEC should conduct all elections on the same day, “to reduce cost and avoid bandwagon effect.”

National publicity secretary of the ACF, Anthony Sani, said the forum was uncomfortable with the sequence of the election and has called on the National Assembly to provide an enabling law that will make it possible for the elections to hold on the same day.

“ACF prefers electoral disputes in courts to be disposed of before inauguration, but now INEC timetable is too close to inauguration. As a result, inaugurated winners will still use government resources to fight electoral disputes in tribunals and courts. That will be most unfair to the alleged losers in the elections and Nigerians,” the forum said.

On its part, the NEF said that apart from the possible bandwagon effect that is likely to be associated with the current timetable as announced by INEC, the likelihood of a winning presidential candidate in the February 14 poll manipulating the subsequent elections cannot be ruled out.

“There is nothing so significant about the dates that have been reeled by INEC; however, I do not see any reason for INEC’s inability to conduct the elections the same day because it is possible and this is done all over the world, so Nigeria cannot be an exception in this case,” it said through its spokesman, Ango Abdullahi.

INEC had on Friday released the timetable for the general election. The presidential and National Assembly elections were fixed for February 14, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls will hold February 28.

El-Rufai Submits To SSS Questioning

Editorial
-
0
El-Rufai Submits To SSS Questioning

Former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and deputy national secretary of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Nasir el-Rufai, on Monday morning honoured the invitation of the State Security Service, SSS, when he visited the headquarters of the agency in Abuja.

He was accompanied by his wife, governor or Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, former governor Anambra State, Chris Ngige, and other APC chieftains.

The SSS had on Thursday summoned El-Rufai to its headquarters for questioning over his comments that  the 2015 general elections would be marred by riots and other forms of violence that may lead to loss of lives and property, if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies failed to hold free and fair polls.

The former minister had, however, written to the agency saying he would answer questions in his house but would not go to the SSS headquarters as he had a subsisting court case against it arising from the Anambra State governorship election.

The SSS said on Friday that it had secured a warrant for his arrest from a competent court, after an attempt to arrest him at his Abuja residence without a warrant failed.

When El-Rufai showed up with several others this morning, the SSS refused Amaechi and Ngige and other members of the entourage entrance into its headquarters, as they took their guest in for questioning.

Before taking off for the SSS headquarters, El-Rufai had alleged that his arrest was politically motivated and related to the court case he instituted against the agency.

The SSS has, however maintained that it only wants to question El-Rufai over statements he made about the possibility of violence in the 2015 elections if they are not free and fair.

“The next election is likely to be violent and many people are likely going to die. And the only alternative left to get power is to take it by force, this is the reality on ground,” the former minister had warned.

Read also:

PDP Says Its Chairman Has No Case With The EFCC

Editorial
-
0
PDP Says Its Chairman Has No Case With The EFCC

The Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, has denied that its new national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The party, however, admitted that “Mu’azu, at the end of his tenure as Bauchi State governor, was, like many other governors who were leaving office, invited by the EFCC, “adding “This was to respond to some petitions. But Mu’azu was never invited again by the EFCC on any other issue.”

In a statement issued on Sunday by its national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, the PDP said reports that Mu’azu is being investigated for misappropriating N19.8 billion at the end of his eight-year tenure in 2008 by the EFCC, are mischievous and calculated to mislead the public.

“They are completely false and baseless,” it said.

According to Metuh, the reports were part of a scheme by PDP’s opponents to distract its national chairman from his determination and commitment to rebuild and reposition the party as the paramount party in Nigeria.

“The succeeding government, elected on the platform of the defunct ANPP in 2007, instituted a Panel of Inquiry. The panel went ahead to issue a White Paper against Mu’azu in spite of the fact that he did not appear before it.

“In the exercise of his lawful rights, Mu’azu challenged the entirety of the White Paper in suit no BA/295m/2009 at the Bauchi State High Court, No. 1.

“The suit was heard by no other judge than the Chief Judge of Bauchi State, Justice Mohammed Zango who, after hearing all the arguments, set aside the whole findings and quashed it into the dustbin of history.

“Consequently, Mu’azu remains cleared of all allegations as contained in the said White Paper,” the PDP national publicity secretary said.

He said it was therefore highly misleading for any person to make statements or sponsor publications purporting that Mu’azu was under investigation or any form of trial whatsoever.

Metuh urged those behind the statements and publications to desist from such and to bear in mind that there was divine judgment for those who bear false witness against the innocent.

He said Mu’azu was duly appointed as the PDP national chairman and was totally committed to performing his duties, irrespective of attempts from any quarter to distract him.

When invited by the EFCC to clarify the allegations of misappropriation of public funds, Mu’azu did not honour the invitation but instead travelled outside the country for some years.
Since his emergence as national chairman of the party, some groups have urged the EFCC to revisit the case but the commission has so far kept mum on the issue.
1...3,3433,3443,345...3,439Page 3,344 of 3,439