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Soldiers Beat, Injure two Television journalists In Mozambique

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Soldiers Beat, Injure two Television journalists In Mozambique

Caption: Alexandre Rosa laid on TIMs van after being severely beaten by the ARMY

Soldiers of the Mozambican Armed Forces, FADM, on Thursday beat two journalists until one of them fainted in Matola, a city 12 kilometres from Maputo, the capital.

The two Independent Television of Mozambique, TIM, journalists, Alexandre Rosa, (chief editor) and Claudio Timana (camera man) were reporting an alleged case of abuse by the military in the city when they were arrested and beaten by soldiers.

Rosa reportedly fainted from the battering received and having been abandoned by FADM was then rushed to Sommershield Clinic of in Maputo.

However, as at the time of filing this report, Timana remains detained at FADM barracks in Matola.

The TV crew was covering allegations of military threats and abuses to local villagers because of a land dispute in the neighborhood of Malhampsene, Matola.

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Harassed villagers are said to have contacted TIM reporters to report abuses by the soldiers.

However, when they arrived the scene, the two journalists were arrested and then beaten by the military.

TIM has already submitted a complaint at the local police station against the military.

New Pension Scheme Administration Commences In November

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New Pension Scheme Administration Commences In November

The head of the civil service of the federation, HCSF, Bukar Aji, has announced that the Pension Transition Arrangement Department, PTAD, established to centrally manage the old pension scheme is to commence operation with effect from Sunday, November 10.

Aji, according to a statement signed by Tope Ajakaiye, the director of communication in the office of the head of service, has also directed all the pension directors to report directly to the PTAD director-general, Nellie Mayshack.

“Directors of the Civil Service Pension Office, Police Pension Office, Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Office, CIPPO, and the Pension Board of Trustees of Federal Government Parastatals have been directed to report directly to the Director-General of PTAD from the take-off date,” it said.

As a result, the head of service also directed the pension offices to prepare detailed hand-over notes of their activities, including assets and liabilities to the director-general.

President Goodluck Jonathan recently approved the establishment of a PTAD in line with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act, 2004, appointing Mayshack to take over the management of three of the offices presently running the old pension scheme, the statement said.

Accordingly, the director-general is expected to spearhead the smooth transition of the three offices into a single pension administration and management under the supervision of the National Pension Commission, PENCOM.

The PTAD is to directly report to the office of the co-ordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for co-ordination and control.

UBEC Staff In Trouble Over Visa Scam

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UBEC Staff In Trouble Over Visa Scam

Two staff of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Beatrice Molokwu and Jasper Erekosima, are facing prosecution at a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, over alleged visa scam.

The Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, which is the prosecutor, arraigned the suspects before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, alleging that sometime in June, they presented fake UBEC documents to the Belgian Embassy for the purpose of procuring a visa.

ICPC lawyer, Michael Adesola, said the accused persons also got a false statement of account number of GT Bank, with the intent to deceive the embassy to get visa for one Udoka Cyril.

He noted that the offence contravened section 97 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 364 of the law with at least 14 years jail term.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Adesola then asked for leave to amend the charges and grant his application for “substituted charge” so that the accused persons could be re-arraigned on new charges.

Counsel to the accused persons, Oyikachi Ikpeazu, did not object to the application for amendment of charges.

The judge granted the request and adjourned the case to January 15, 2014, ordering Adesola to serve the accused persons with a copy of the amended charge before the next adjourned date, to enable them to prepare for their defence.

Appeal Court Orders Oyinlola’s Reinstatement

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Appeal Court Orders Oyinlola’s Reinstatement

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the reinstatement of Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Delivering the judgment, Justice J.T. Toh said the decision of the Federal High Court to sack Oyinlola from office was inappropriate.

“I and my brother justices have gone through the appeal and the objections filed by the respondent, but we discovered that the trial court erred in its judgment,” the judge said and ordered that the lower court’s decision given by Justice Abdu Kafarati be set aside.

Toh said: “The trial court acted in error by granting the declarative reliefs sought by the Ogun State chapter of the PDP which challenged the election of the appellant. It is hereby ordered that the appellant, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, assume his original position as the National Secretary of the PPD forthwith.”

The high court had held that Oyinlola’s participation in the election was in violation of two separate orders of a Lagos Federal High Court.

Oyinlola had approached the appellate court and urged it to set aside the court’s decision on the ground that it infringed his right to fair hearing.

The appellate court invoked Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act and held that the lower court, indeed, infringed on the appellant’s fundamental human rights to fair hearing.

Iran’s Culture Minister Wants Ban On Social-Networking Lifted

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Iran’s Culture Minister Wants Ban On Social-Networking Lifted

Iran’s Culture and Islamic Guidance minister, Ali Jannati, has urged the government to legalize access to social-networking websites including Twitter and Facebook.

The country currently blocks access to websites it considers politically sensitive and to social-networking sites, which activists used in 2009 to organize street protests after a disputed presidential vote.

The existing ban has spurred some Iranians to use virtual private networks to circumvent the controls through computers located abroad.

About two million Iranians have Facebook accounts, half of them in the capital, Tehran, Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabi-Fard said in January.

Several Iranian officials including, foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif and foreign ministry spokeswoman, Marzieh Afkham, have Facebook or Twitter accounts or both.

“Not only Facebook, but other social networks should be accessible and the illegal qualification should be removed,” said Jannati, a former ambassador to Kuwait and the son of the influential Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati.

President Hassan Rouhani, who was elected in June and has a Twitter account with more than 122,000 followers, has pledged to allow more social and press freedom and reduce state “policing” of Iranians’ private lives.

Since Rouhani’s term began in August, journalists have taken advantage of new freedoms he has backed.

Articles appearing in local media in recent weeks have debated subjects once taboo, ranging from the impact of sanctions to the usefulness of the decades-old revolutionary slogan, “Death to America.”

Newspapers have also published a string of stories about opinion makers from the U.S. long dubbed the “Great Satan” in Iran’s official discourse.

However, the president’s conservative rivals say young people can be corrupted by Western-style TV shows, which Iranians also access illegally through satellite channels, or Western websites such as Facebook.

Facebook is a “calamity” in the life of married couples and may result in their divorce, Iran’s Khabaronline news website said in an October 21 editorial.

It said time spent on social networks, where one can interact with people outside the family, can weaken relations and lead to alienation.

Nyiam Explains Reason For Resignation

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Nyiam Explains Reason For Resignation

Tony Nyiam, a retired colonel and former member of the presidential advisory committee on national dialogue, has said his resignation was in the interest of a successful National conference.

Nyiam in a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, dated November 3, 2013, had said he was compelled to opt out of the committee in order not to cause distraction or be used to destabilise the “noble cause” of the conference.

Tracing the issues that led to his resignation back to an encounter with the governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, in Benin City, Nyiam accused the governor of “insensitiveness to the ethno-nationalities yearning for self-determination.”

He said in his letter: “What became troubling was the governor’s talking down on the people that gathered, among whom were former governors, senators, retired armed forces generals and judges.”

Nyiam, in a meeting between the Femi Okurounmu-led committee and stakeholders in Edo state, had expressed great resentment for Oshiomhole’s comments that the proposed national conference would end up in the archives like the previous ones held and was therefore of no use.

“I will be surprised if anything changes. Sincerely, I have no business to deceive or mislead anyone. I believe that the outcome of this conference will not be different from that of other conferences we have had in the past,” Oshiomhole said.

The debate led to a heated argument between supporters of both sides and the abrupt end of the meeting.

Defending his position, Nyiam said it was imperative for him to set the record straight so that “evil propagandists bent on derailing the dialogue train would stop fabricating based on ill motives.”

The governor in turn, perceived Nyiam’s reaction as having no regard for constituted authorities, adding that “he might still be hallucinating, thinking he is an Army officer who must be obeyed.”

While thanking the President for giving him the opportunity to serve Nigeria, Nyiam said one of the useful lessons of the Benin incident was that some Nigerian leaders needed to know that they could not continue to use their privileged positions to confuse citizens and present their personal agenda as patriotism.

He however apologised to those who might feel offended by his over-reaction on the matter and promised to continue to assist the committee to achieve its aim.

“I will be leaving the committee, believing that equity, fairness and justice will continue to be guiding principles of its deliberations. Like all Nigerians, I look forward to the report and will continue to believe that a better and greater Nigeria is possible,” he said.

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Meanwhile, President Jonathan has approved the appointment of Solomon Asemota as Nyiam’s replacement on the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue.

This is according to a statement signed by Sam Nwaobasi, the special assistant on Media to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim.

The statement said that Asemota would assume duties with the committee on Wednesday.

G7 Governors May Consider Joining APC – Babangida Aliyu

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G7 Governors May Consider Joining APC – Babangida Aliyu

Nma Shekwolo – Minna

The governor of Niger state, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, leader of the G7 governors in the breakaway faction of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says members will consider joining the All Progressive Congress, APC, if the on-going negotiation with the Bamanga Tukur-led group fails to yield the desired result.

Aliyu said this when he played host to leaders of the APC led by its interim national chairman, Bisi Akande, in Minna on Tuesday.

The APC leaders were in the state to show support to the G7 governors in their struggle to reform the ruling party and to woo them to joining the new coalition party.

“We have declared ceasefire because we are negotiating, after that you can come with a blast. If we resolve, we will still be friends and if we don’t resolve, you will have as many of us as possible. As a group, we the G7, are people who keep to agreement,” Aliyu said.

The G7 leader described the APC as a harbinger of a revolution that will sanitise the politics of Nigeria, saying that the emergence of the party in the political landscape “would bring the best out of 2015 elections as Nigerians would have the opportunity to have two major parties to seek for their favour.”

He therefore warned the ruling PDP to be cautious, tread softly and be tolerant with opposition parties, predicting that “the ruling party today may be opposition tomorrow”.

He described the internal struggle rocking the PDP as a revolution aimed at sanitising the party.

Earlier in his short address, the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the political barometer shows that the time for change in the country is ripe.

Tinubu noted that the country requires changes that have the welfare of the people as a cornerstone of its economic policies and is focused on quality of life for all citizens.

Other leaders of the APC on the delegation.former Presidential aspirant, Muhammadu Buhari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari, Senate Miniority Leader, George Akume and former minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Ikimi.

Also present were former minister of Works, Hassan Lawal, former Edo State governor, John Oyegun Odigie, former minister of Labour, Musa Gwuadabe and the party’s national publicity secretary, Lai Mohammed.

African Media Leaders Meet To Tackle Industry Challenges

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African Media Leaders Meet To Tackle Industry Challenges

The African Media Leaders Forum, AMLF, will convene at the United Nations Convention Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, between November 6 and 8 to debate on the theme ‘Media and African Renaissance’.

Delegates from across the continent and beyond are expected to table the core issues facing the industry on the continent and develop strategies and solutions to ensure that the media plays its rightful role in the emergence of a strong, inclusive and dynamic Africa.

Amadou Mahtar Ba, chief executive officer of the African Media Initiative, AMI, convener of the annual forum, said press freedom and freedom of expression are critical ingredients to ensure a stable, dynamic and growing continent.

On November 8th, the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta,will deliver the keynote speech at a special panel on the topic “Practice and Challenges of Press Freedom in Africa: Cases from Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, South Africa and Tanzania.”

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, as well as the heads of the United Nations Commission for Africa, UNECA, African Union, AU, and the African Development Bank Group, AfDB, will also feature on the panel.

Mahtar Ba said the African media leaders will contribute to this dialogue in an open and candid manner and will tackle other issues including the necessary infrastructure, institutional backbone to improve citizens’ lives and strengthen the continent’s media landscape.

AMLF 2013 will also be an important showcase for landmark and innovative projects across the continent in the areas of digital innovation, leadership and ethics as well as new business models.

The forum is also expected to feature a Heads of State Roundtable on the theme “Reflecting on Enabling a Conducive Media Development Environment in Africa: Funding, Ethics, Technological Innovation and Freedom”.

The AMI is the continent’s largest umbrella association of African media owners, senior executives and other industry stakeholders.

Pension Scam: EFCC Arraigns Former Oyo Head of Service, Others

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Pension Scam: EFCC Arraigns Former Oyo Head of Service, Others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will on Thursdato commence  prosecution of a former head of service in Oyo State, Kudirat Iyabo Adeleke, and 11 others for allegedly diverting N5.6billion meant for the payment of pensions and gratuities to various categories of retired teachers in the state.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said the suspects would be arraigned before the Oyo State High Court for charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and criminal breach of trust.

The eleven other suspects who will be arraigned alongside Adeleke are some former members of the Oyo State Pension Board – Muili Hakeem Aderemi, former executive secretary; Adesina Jimoh Ayoade, former cashier; Adebiyi Olasumbo Musendia, former Administrative Officer; Iyabo Giwa, former Cashier and Oguntayo Banji, former Internal Auditor.

Others non-member of the Board suspects are: Johnson Bosede, Muili Adedamola, Adewale Kehinde, Olujinmi Adebayo, Kareem Rasheed and Adedutan Johnson.

Supreme Court Validates Nwoye Candidacy For Anambra Election

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The Supreme Court has upheld Tony Nwoye as the validly nominated candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the November 16 Anambra governorship election.

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who delivered the judgment in an application filed by Nicolas Ukachukwu said the appellant did not question the candidacy of Nwoye which was upheld by the appellate court and, therefore, the apex court agreed that Nwoye is the validly elected candidate of the PDP.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt on October 23, set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling which declared Ukachukwu as the Anambra State PDP candidate and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to recognise Nwoye as the duly elected candidate of the party in the forthcoming election.

Ukachukwu, through his counsel, Joseph B. Daudu, approached the apex court to challenge the decision of the appeal court, arguing that he was not given fair hearing.

The Supreme court ruling was unanimously supported by the five other justices on the panel and the court fixed January 31, 2014 to give reason for its decision.

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