welcome to Adegokblog: 06/30/17

Wisdom Comes To Maradona After The Whistle By Louis Odion

With his latest fulminations, it would appear the transformation of the self-styled military president from an "annullist" to a federalist has turned full cycle. The kind of epiphany we read of biblical Saul morphing to Paul on the road to Damascus.
With intense words, retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida seized the last Sallah holiday to pen a strong petition against the present federal arrangement suffocating the states.
Time, he declares, has come to devolve more powers - and, of course, resources - to the constituents of the federation. With that, IBB deftly keys into the popular mood today as the Buhari administration increasingly looks helpless against centrifugal forces tugging at Nigeria's soul.
However, the Maradona of Minna has harsh words for those advocating the country's dismemberment. He even waxes poetic: "The drums of war are easy to beat, but their rhythms are difficult to dance. Starting wars or political upheavals comes with the slightest provocation, but ending them becomes inelastic, almost unending with painful footages of the wrecks of war. I have been involved and its ripples are tellingly unpalatable, with gory details of destruction and carnage."
Such stirring talk.
But IBB failed to be specific; was he nostalgic of the 30-month civil war or the national paralysis inflicted by June 12?
While we cannot take anything away from IBB's latest composition for its poetry and perspicacity, its hypocrisy should not be allowed to pass unchallenged, especially for the sake of the generation of Nigerians under-30 unfamiliar with the nuances of recent history.
One, the epistle would have sounded more sincere had the author, for once, evinced some humility by prefacing same with an apology for his poor understanding while in power and therefore the Herodian persecution of those who had foreseen and forewarned that the inherited rickety federal structure was tottering to a collapse.
Indeed, the unique convergence of historical forces of the 80s quite positioned IBB to radically alter the Nigerian narrative for good in the same way Nasser led the Egyptian military to transform the North African country from its age-old feudal squalor.
Rather, Maradona only clamped down on the likes of foremost nationalist Anthony Enahoro and courageous lawyer Alao Aka-Bashorun at the forefront of the restructure advocacy in the late 80s and early 90s. High on the agenda they were pushing then were the issues of fiscal federalism, redefinition of citizens' rights and return to parliamentary system.
Inspired by the tectonic shift in world order as signposted by the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the nation's progressive community actually took practical steps to convoke a sovereign national conference in 1990. But afraid that the movement could trigger a momentum that would sweep him out of ill-gotten power, then dictator IBB sent his goons to chase and tear-gas the activists away from where they assembled in Lagos.
Across the border in Benin Republic, a similar movement had ushered the ouster of dictator Mathew Kerekou. But the latter's loss was only temporary. He would reap bounteously few years later as he got elected president democratically through a process dictated by a sanitized political order.
Again, when Maradona now pontificates that "war not romantic", we wonder if he had, by any chance, come to that wisdom before June 23 in 1993 when, without fear of God nor respect for fellow citizens, he summarily annulled the results of the June 12 presidential elections clearly won by Abiola, thus plunging the nation into needless crises, exacting heavy human casualties, inadvertently inflicting lunatic Abacha on the country for another five dark years.
Only a shameless hypocrite would canvass the kind of lofty views contained in IBB's statement of last Monday and also be implicated in the June 12 perfidy.
Or, maybe the Maradona of Minna is still groping in the darkness of poor knowledge today. Otherwise, he should know that June 12 had substantially answered some of the national questions for which answers are still being sought today. June 12 had meant an end to ethno-religious tension and suspicion.
For predominantly Christian states voted a Muslim-Muslim ticket that day. A Southern presidential candidate defeated his opponent in his own native state in north. The presidential candidate of Yoruba extraction won an Igbo state.
That was the golden chance Maradona willfully squandered. Alas, he now seeks to affect wisdom long after history had blown the whistle on his sorry reign.

Former military ruler of Nigeria Ibrahim Babangida

Buhari’s Anti-Corruption Agenda Is Crumbling - It’s Taken Saraki’s Acquittal To Really See It By Kolawole Olaniyan

It’s often said that one person with a belief and courage is a social power equal to ninety-nine who have only interests. Nigeria would seem to have produced such person when President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office on Friday, 29 May 2015, at least judging by his perceived anti-corruption credentials during his stint as a military head of state in the mid-80s.

But the famous dictum that Buhari is ‘Mr. Integrity’ personified that could take on the corrupt system in the country may after all not be wholly true, if the corruption crisis and apparent lack of capacity or will by his government to end the prevailing impunity of perpetrators are anything to go by.
On assumption of office, Buhari put fighting grand corruption, sending high-ranking officials and politicians to jail and recovering stolen public funds at the top of his list of priorities and political agenda, something the public overwhelmingly supported. But over two years after, his supposed anti-corruption agenda seems to be falling apart.
The Nigerian democratic project still looks very much like a system run on a basis of self-interest and profit. The simple truth of the matter is that the Buhari/Professor Yemi Osinbajo government is neither “frying big fish” (sending top officials and politicians to jail) nor promoting the much-needed reform in the justice system that could hold corrupt leaders to account, serve as a robust protection against systemic corruption and allow access to effective remedies by those affected by corruption.
Corruption remains in full public view. A handful of Buhari’s friends have come under criticism for their apparent mixing of official position and business interests, but no charges have been brought against them. Much of the noise has been on the opposition camp.
The outcry against the recent judgment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal letting the Senate President Bukola Saraki off the hook by discharging and acquitting him of all false asset declaration charges, brought against him in September 2015, seems to suggest that the public is no longer having any of the excuses by the government as to why its professed anti-corruption agenda is tottering. The government has appealed the judgment but public optimism of a positive outcome appears low.
Saraki’s case is just the latest in a series of major corruption cases that the Buhari/Osinbajo government has lost in recent times. So, it has become so easy for public officials and top politicians to steal with almost absolute impunity.
This increasing level of corruption in the public sphere, and the abject failure of the criminal justice system and anti-corruption agencies to secure convictions in clearly simple corruption cases, have battered public trust and confidence, and strengthened the perception that corruption is unavoidable.
Apart from the cosmetic sacking of some officials in the Budget Office, those leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives accused of ‘padding’ the 2016 budget or tampering with our commonwealth are allowed to walk free; the president and acting president couldn’t even respond to the letter of the whistle-blower Abdulmumin Jibrin urging the government to do justice in the matter.
Several lawmakers and former governors under corruption investigation are getting away with their alleged crimes. Former first lady Patience Jonathan and some of the judges accused of corruption have also been set free, due to a combination of factors, ranging from incompetence of the criminal justice system to political expediency.
The leadership of the National Assembly and many of their members, top politicians, and state governors (who have refused to pay workers’ salaries for several months despite the so-called bailout funds they got from Buhari) are taking full advantage of the president’s absence (away in London for medical treatment) to exploit the system for financial and other benefits, and position themselves for the 2019 general elections.
The government doesn’t seem to have the capacity or will to end the growing evidence of intense inter-agency rivalry and conflicts within the security and anti-corruption agencies.
The justice system and key anti-corruption agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Code of Conduct Tribunal, you name it—that are supposed to provide accountability—seem overwhelmed and overpowered by Aso Rock power brokers, the leadership of the National Assembly, state governors, and no match for a small but powerful group of politicians, a coterie of elite bureaucrats, and those in their inner circle.
The tragedy of the country’s criminal justice system is that it’s quick to impose maximum punishment on petty criminals while curiously reluctant to get tough with top officials and politicians who confuse their private accounts with the public treasury.
A government’s role, especially in a democracy, is first and foremost to uphold the rule of law but under Buhari/Osinbajo’s watch, the judiciary and operation of the rule of law have weakened considerably, to the point that orders of properly constituted courts are now routinely disobeyed by the government.
A landmark judgment by Justice Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos ordering the government to publish and account for the spending of recovered stolen public funds since the return of democracy in 1999, and another by Justice Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordering the release of the leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeinab, remain ignored.
Yet, persistent disobedience of court orders is a recipe for state tyranny and corruption to grow and take even deeper root.
The country is dropping deeper into a pattern of corruption, impunity, insecurity, and instability; with Nigerians still feeling a complete disconnect between what’s happening down in Aso Rock, and what’s happening on their doorstep.
This isn’t the ‘change’ that Nigerians apparently voted for.
It’s rather unfortunate that Nigerian politicians seem more concerned with their personal gratification than the relief of poverty and suffering of their own people. The love for public treasury and personal aggrandizement has in effect dried up in them the milk of human kindness. Systemic corruption has caused majority of the citizens to fall below an unacceptable level of well-being while corrupt officials are taking care of their own families, relatives and associates.
Let there be no mistake: Nigerians won’t buy into the Buhari and Osinbajo’s anti-corruption agenda if they can’t even challenge corrupt behaviors within their own government.
It’s true that corruption cannot be eradicated overnight but combating the problem requires a fundamental change of direction, and not more of the same. Radical reforms of the anti-corruption laws and institutions are overdue, and must begin to happen now, if the country’s anti-corruption agencies are to become more independent and free from the whims and caprices of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The fight against corruption has to be backed by firm and fair enforcement of the laws, and effective sanctions if top officials and politicians are not to continue to get away with their crimes. The judiciary and anticorruption agencies themselves would need to break free of the corrupt system to hold corrupt leaders to account, challenge the political elites and spoil their efforts to protect themselves.
Until Buhari and Osinbajo restore public trust in the criminal justice system and the credibility and legitimacy of anticorruption agencies, the corruption crisis would get even worst. If Buhari and Osinbajo are sincere about ‘rooting out corruption and jailing top officials’, the time is now for them to show courage and political will, and seize the initiative to revitalize the government’s crumbling anti-corruption agenda.

Olaniyan is the author of ‘Corruption and Human Rights Law in Africa’.

Certificate Forgery no case against Senator Andy Uba says Court

Today, an Abuja High Court sitting in Apo, Gudu District dismissed a certificate forgery suit filed by one Uchenna Nnadi against Senator Andy Uba.

Justice Valentine Ashi ‎said the law says that 'he who asserts must prove; and that the plaintiff had failed to lead the court with further evidence.

The judge went on to say that the ‎plaintiff should have investigated and gotten his facts from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which cleared the defendant as being eligible for elections.

He also said the plaintiff should have conducted checks at Union Secondary School, Awkunawu, Enugu State, where the defendant said he obtained his School Leaving Certificate as opposed to Boys’ High School, Awkunawu, which the plaintiff claimed. The judge dismissed the suit and said the plaintiff failed to investigate the defendant’s claims and therefore failed to prove the forgery case against him. ‎

Nnadi had sued Uba on the grounds that he presented a forged School certificate from Boys’ High School, Awkunawu, and so unqualified and ineligible to stand for elections

Kogi Recall: Dino Melaye Offered Bribes To 2 INEC Officials, Says Group

A pro-democracy group, Conscience Nigeriana, has accused the embattled Mr. Dino Melaye of attempting to bribe two officials of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) with plots of land in an attempt to stave off his recall from Senate, where he is representing Kogi West Senatorial District.
The group’s allegation was contained in a statement signed on its behalf by Mr. George Solomon. The statement said Mr. Melaye, after initially boasting that his constituents would not sign up for his recall, has been jolted that 188,000 signed the petition. This figure, noted Conscience Nigeriana, is higher than the number of votes in the 2015 Kogi West Senatorial election.
The group claimed that it was Mr. Melaye’s realization that his days in the Senate are almost over that made him forge a document claiming that leaders of the Okun zone of Kogi State are opposed to his recall. Among the leaders named by Mr. Melaye were Professor Eyitayo Lambo, former Health Minister, and Chief Bayo Ojo, former Attorney-General of the Federation.
Mr. Melaye’s latest move, according to Conscience Nigeriana, was a meeting with two INEC officials in the last 48 hours to seek their assistance. The officials, said the group, are Mr. Mohammed A.T., Director of Operations, and Mr. Paul Ayize, Deputy Director, Voter Registry. Mr. Melaye was said to have promised to give them plots of land in Abuja if they could help save him from being recalled.
The group warned INEC officials to give Mr. Melaye a wide berth before he lands them in trouble. It wondered why Mr. Melaye is fretting after boasting that signatures demanding his recall were forged, saying it will continue to monitor any action aimed at muffling the voice of the people of Kogi West, who have made it clear they no longer want Mr. Melaye in the Senate.
“Kogi West is united for this historic task. Senators and other representatives of the people will begin to know that they cannot continue to disgrace their constituents like Dino has been doing. Dino must come home. Enough of his rape threat,” said Conscience Nigeriana.

Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West)

Braking news UK Deports 28 Nigerians Over Illegal Stay

The United Kingdom (UK) deported another 28 Nigerians from its country on Thursday for remaining in the country illegally.
The deportation came two days after Spain repatriated 23 Nigerians for criminal and immigration-related offenses.
Thursday’s deportees were returned aboard a chartered Titanic Airways plane with the registration number AWC-761/2.
The deportees, comprising 21 men and 7 women, touched down at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos at about 12:15 p.m.
One of the female deportees was brought back into the country in a wheelchair and was immediately attended to by Port Health officials, who in turn transferred her to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ayinke House in an ambulance.
Our correspondent observed that she was paralyzed.
Mr. Joseph Alabi, the spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command, confirmed that 28 Nigerians were repatriated from UK.
He said that the deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Nigeria Police Force.
Also on the ground to receive them were officials the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other security agencies.
On arrival, the deportees were profiled by immigration authorities and were each given a stipend to facilitate their transportation to their respective states from the Hajj and Cargo terminals of the airport.
Some deportees were seen clinging to their handbags at the outside gate of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) at the airport without a particular destination in mind, while others were seen with mobile phones trying to contact their family members.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport

One nigeria lady Name Bukola Bolarinwa , meets the Queen of England

Bukola Bolarinwa, the brain behind the NGO, Haima Health Initiative, was one of the Nigerian representatives that met with the Queen of England at Buckingham palace yesterday June 29th.

The UK monarch presented medals to young men and women who made her "Queen Young Leaders" list this year. More photos after the cut...

Six Killed, Scores Wounded In Fresh Boko Haram Attack In Borno

At least six civilians were killed and scores seriously injured when Islamist terrorist believed to be Boko Haram members attacked a community in the southern part of Borno State on Wednesday, sources from the besieged community have said.
The terrorists reportedly stormed the village of Boderi in Damboa local government area of Borno State Wednesday night, leaving six men and many others wounded. Boderi is located about 18 miles away from Damboa, a town in the southern part of Borno State.
An eyewitness, a local hunter who escaped the attack, told Saharareporters by phone from Chibok that the attackers arrived in the community on motorbikes and attacked helpless inhabitants.
“They [attackers] arrived on motorcycles, three armed men riding on each motorcycle. They opened fire at the same time on members of our community. We ran into bushes for safety, but when we returned to our village on Thursday I counted six dead bodies, all men,” said the hunter.
He added, “The wounded ones have been taken to Chibok General Hospital and currently receiving treatments.”
Another resident of Boderi confirmed the attack, stating that Wednesday’s attack was the second assault within a week. “We are helpless,” said the resident. “Just last week, two people went to their farms but did not return. When we searched for them we found their corpses. And then two days ago, they [Islamist terrorists] murdered our brothers again.
“Now, we are afraid to go back and continue farming because we are no longer safe. There are no soldiers to help our local hunters, who are the only security men we have.”

Boko Haram Fighters

Police Detain Alhaji Usman Adamu for suspect in Death Of Joy Odama

The police in Abuja have detained one Usman Adamu as a suspect in the death of a young woman, Joy Odama. According to a statement released earlier today by a police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, Mr. Adamu is being detained as the police continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms. Odama’s death in the suspect’s apartment in Abuja.
Apart from Ms. Odama’s death, another young woman in the suspect’s residence, Victoria Ezekiel, fell gravely ill but was resuscitated at the Federal Medical Center in Jabi, Abuja.
The police spokesman disclosed that the Mr. Adamu’s investigation for culpable homicide began after a law firm representing Philomena Odama, the mother of the deceased young woman, wrote a petition to the Inspector General of Police. In the petition, dated January 5, 2017, Mrs. Odama urged the IGP to order an investigation into her daughter’s death in Mr. Adamu’s apartment.
The late Joy Odama was a second-year student of Mass Communication at Cross River State University of Technology. The police statement said she “died mysteriously in the flat of Alhaji Usman Adamu located at Ibro Quarters, Karmo, Abuja on 21/12/2016.”
According to the police report, on December 18, 2016, one Elizabeth Okpata James asked Ms. Joy Odama to go with her to Mr. Adamu’s house along with another woman, Martha Hassan. The report added that Mrs. Philomena Odama later met Mr. Adamu “who promised to offer her a job with the
Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).” On December 20, 2016, the suspect requested that Joy Odama come to his apartment to help take care of his ill house-help while he sought the services of a medical doctor.

However, when Joy Odama’s mother called the suspect the next day to ask after her daughter, Mr. Adamu reportedly pretended not to know the young woman. The next day, the distraught mother was invited to Karmo Police Division where she was informed that her daughter, Joy Odama, and Victoria Ezekiel had become unconscious the previous day in Mr. Adamu’s home and were rushed to the Federal Medical Center, Jabi where her daughter Joy Odama was pronounced dead but the other young woman regained consciousness.

The police said the hospital placed Ms. Ezekiel on oxygen and treated her for conditions that included carbon monoxide poisoning, dehydration, vomiting, and headaches.
The police spokesman disclosed that two autopsies were done at the National Hospital, Abuja to ascertain Ms. Joy Odama’s cause of death. He said the first autopsy, done by Dr. Jibrin Paul, was inconclusive, but the second, carried out by Dr. Wilson Akhinwu, determined that the cause of death was “carbon monoxide poisoning from generator fumes” aggravated by “a pre-existing cardiomyopathy.” The autopsy ruled out the presence of cocaine in the deceased.
The police spokesman revealed that Mr. Adamu would remain in detention, adding that the case file would be sent to Federal Director of
Public Prosecutions for legal advice and further action.
The police urged the family of Ms. Odama to remain patient, promising that police investigators would do a thorough job and ensure that justice was done in the case.

Joy Odama

Ogun College Suspends Lecturer For Impregnating Nursing Student

A lecturer with the Ogun State College of Health Technology, Ilese Ijebu, Dr. Seyi Adu, has been indefinitely suspended by the college for allegedly having sex with a nursing student of the school, Mosunmola.
PUNCH Metro learned that the suspension was posted on a notice board at the administration block of the college, where the academic community was asked not to have any dealings with him.
Our correspondent had reported that Adu and Mosunmola had sex in a hotel sometime in August 2016, which both parties did not deny.
READ: Lecturer impregnated me, rejects pregnancy, says nursing student • It wasn’t me, I used condom – Lecturer
However, while Adu, who is married with two children, accused the 28-year-old of seducing him, Mosunmola said the lecturer coerced her into the relationship as a precondition to passing his course which she failed.
A human rights lawyer with the state ministry of justice was said to have successfully brokered a deal between the duo, wherein Adu agreed to pay Mosunmola a monthly stipend of N5,000 in addition to N7,000 for her ante-natal registration.
Within two months, the agreement broke down after Mosunmola presented a list of items required for her delivery, which she valued at N50,000.
Adu was said to have refused the payment, saying she wanted to turn him to a cash-cow.
The 28-year-old lamented that she had been abandoned to her fate, adding that she could not raise money for the baby items.
Mosunmola was later delivered of a baby boy at the General Hospital, Epe.
A source at the college told PUNCH Metro that a notice was posted at the administrative block of the school, announcing Adu’s suspension.
He said, “The notice stated that he had been suspended and nobody should have any dealings with him. Everybody in the school has been talking about the notice.”
The college spokesperson, Ayodele Alaga, confirmed the development.
He said, “It is true. The suspension is indefinite. We have severed the relationship with him. He was an adjunct lecturer. We will await the final outcome of the investigation by the ministry of health.”

Dr. Seyi Adu and impregnated Dental Nursing student at the Ogun State College of Health Technology, Ilese Ijebu

Nigerian Showbiz Superstar, Falz, Back At Coke Studio Africa-2017; Set To Collaborate With Uganda’s Bebe Cool

Nigerian superstar entertainer, Falz, will feature at Coke Studio Africa for the second time this year. Falz, famous for hits like Jeje, Soft Work and Soldier, will paired with legendary Ugandan artiste, Bebe Cool, who makes his anticipated debut on the show this year.
Last year, Falz was paired with Tanzanian rapper, Joh Makini, with the two stars producing hit covers of each other’s songs and an original track, You Dey Hot.
Speaking exclusively at the show’s Behind the Music Studios in Nairobi during the recording, Falz said: “It feels very good to work with Bebe Cool. He is a very cool and chill guy. So far, we have a good working relationship and we are getting along well. I am looking forward to learning more from him about his culture and language. That’s what is most exciting about the Coke Studio experience.”
Falz and Bebe Cool will be produced by top Nigerian music producer, GospelOnDeBeatz. On his collaboration with Bebe Cool, Falz said: “Bebe Cool is a huge dancehall artiste and I am a hip-hop artiste, so that fusion is going to be electric. Expect a lot of fire.”
The two artistes will also feature in a Coke Studio special dubbed The Global Fusion Edition. They will be joined by Coke Studio Africa’s international guest star, the American Pop/R&B star, Jason Derulo, and eight other African stars, who include Dela (Kenya), Mr. Bow (Mozambique), Joey B (Ghana), Betty G (Ethiopia) and Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe). Others are Shekhinah (South Africa), Locko (Cameroun) and Denise (Madagascar).
Aside the music collaboration, Falz and Bebe Cool will feature in Coke Studio’s Food Culture Exchange segment.
This year, Coke Studio has merged Coke Studio Africa and Coke Studio South Africa into the bigger Coke Studio Africa 2017. The show promises to bring together renowned music producers and top-notch artistes drawn from across Africa.
The merger increases the number of participating countries to 16, up from 11 in previous edition.
Falz, a comedian, actor and musical artiste, is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most successful entertainment exports in the last decade. He won a BET Award and an AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Award, two of the continent’s most prestigious entertainment laurels.
His sound is funky, cool and peppered with pop and street vibes. His rap style is a fusion of witty lines, rendered in countryside dialects.
Coke Studio Africa is Coca-Cola’s flagship African music show. It is a non-competitive show that brings together diverse African music talents for world-class showcases, while giving upcoming artistes the opportunity to work with some of the best local and international music and production talents. The show brings together artistes from different genres, eras and regions to create a modern and authentic African sound through fusion.

Fola Falana aka Falz D Bahd Guy

Kaduna Youths attack vigilante on killing young man

Irate youths in Kontogora, Kaduna state yesterday attacked and burnt the offices of the Vigilante group in their community after a youth was killed by a member of the vigilante group.

The youths set the office of the vigilantes on fire and also attacked some persons found in the office. Three persons sustained injuries during the attack and are currently receiving medical attention at a hospital.

The remains of the deceased youth has been deposited at the state mortuary.

Student arraigned for removing friend’s teeth

For allegedly punching off a friend’s four teeth at a go, an 18-year-old secondary school student, Emmanuel Edu, was on Friday hauled up before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
The accused, who resides at Festac Town, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of assault and causing grievous harm.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N100,000.
The Magistrate, Mr M.A. Etti, who gave the ruling, also granted the accused one surety in like sum as part of the bail conditions.

Etti said the surety must be gainfully employed and should also show evidence of a two-year tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The prosecution had alleged that the accused had given Innocent Obinna several blows in the mouth and removed four of his
teeth on the spot.
According to Sgt. Olusegun Kokoye, the accused committed the offences on June 23 at 512 Road, Festac Town, Lagos.
Kokoye said the complainant and the accused, who are friends were playing football when an argument arose.
“Efforts by other students at the scene to settle the dispute were unsuccessful.
“Obinna reported the case to the police and Edu was arrested.”

The offences contravened Sections 173 and 244 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 173 prescribes a three-year jail term for assault occasioning harm.
The case was adjourned until July 7 for mention.

GOOD NEWS ON PRESIDENT HEART; President recovering from illness says APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Friday that President Muhammadu Buhari is fast recovering from his illness contrary to allegations that he is on life support.
The National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, gave the assurance in Abuja while speaking with newsmen at the end of a meeting between the party`s National Working Committee (NWC) and state governors elected on the party’s platform.
“We are glad to inform you that President Muhammadu Buhari is recovering in a very robust manner.
“We hope he takes it easy and when he comes back, I have no doubt at all that we will have a new and active period of activities.’’

He, however, said only the president’s doctors abroad could decide when he would be fit to return to the country.
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, had recently alleged that President Buhari was on life-support in a London Hospital where he is receiving medical attention.
The APC chairman, however, refused to respond to the governor’s comment, saying he would do that at an appropriate time.
“If I respond, I will be dignifying him.
“At the appropriate time, people will answer him; at the appropriate level; at the appropriate time.
“He is in a different world altogether,’’ Oyegun stated.

According to him, the party’s leadership has confidence in President Buhari.
He added that the meeting x-rayed the nation, ongoing agitation for its restructuring and inciting statements emanating from different parts of the country.
Oyegun stressed that such inciting statements are not good “for the nation`s health and have to be stopped.”
According to him, the party maintains its earlier position on the restructuring of the country as clearly stated in its manifesto.
He further said the party’s leadership would do all it could at all times to ensure that the unity of the country was preserved.

GOOD NEWS Arik Air resumes Abuja-Accra flights July 17, says CEO

Arik Air, Nigeria’s largest carrier said on Friday it would resume daily flight operations between Abuja and Accra, Ghana on July 17.
The airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, disclosed this on Friday in Lagos that the resumption of flights between the two countries was part of efforts to satisfy the company’s customers.
Ilegbodu said flights were suspended on the Abuja-Accra route in March following the closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to pave way for the rehabilitation of the runway.
He said the Abuja-Accra flight would operate daily at 5.30 p.m. (local time) departure out of Abuja with a departure time of 7.40 p.m. (local time) in Accra.

“The re-introduction of the Abuja-Accra operation is part of the management’s strategy to optimise flight schedule and respond to the needs of our valued customers.
“Arik Air has been in the forefront of providing customer-centred services since our inception and we will continue to respond to the needs of our customers,” the CEO said in a statement.

Teenager sold father’s car to buy drugs – NDLEA

A teenage boy has reportedly sold two of his father’s Sports Utility Vehicles valued at N7.5 million for a N350, 000 in Umuahia, Abia, in order to buy hard drugs.
The Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state, Mr. Akingbade Bamidele, who spoke at a workshop on substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking for senior secondary school students, organized by the National Committee on Narcotics and Substance Abuse, said the teenager carried out the act because of his involvement in drugs.
Bamidele, who spoke on the topic: “Illicit Drug and the Law,” said the teenager was later brought to NDLEA facility by his parents for counseling and rehabilitation.
He said: “There’s a boy at Umuahia that his father brought to us for counseling. He sold two vehicles – a Lexus and a Forerunner worth N7.5m for N350,000.

“Do you know why? The reason is because he was involved in drug abuse and has gotten to dependent stage where there’s absolutely nothing he cannot sell, just to buy drugs. It was a situation of keep this vehicles for me and just be giving me drugs. You notice when things began to miss at home, that something is wrong.”
The NDLEA commander, who attributed high rate of violent crime amongst youths to drug abuse and consumption of illicit drugs, warned that ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
“The cult boys that cut the heads of other students at Uturu and used them for goal post, when they were arrested, we went and tested them and it was clear that they were high on drugs and that gave them such mind to severe another persons’ head for goal post.
“You have to be very careful. The young man you saw on the screen was sent to deliver a parcel of which he doesn’t know much about and today, he’s in trouble. Ignorance is not an excuse in law. The rich will use the children of the poor to do their illicit drug trafficking,” he added.

Sign death warrant of prisoners on death row- FG says to state Govern

As part of efforts to de-congest the prisons in Nigeria, the Federal government yesterday called on all state governors to sign the death warrant of prisoners in their state that are currently on death row.

Some governors have for religious and personal beliefs, refused to sign the death warrants of convicted murderers in their various prisons.

The Federal government made the appeal at the National Economic Council, NEC meeting in Abuja, presided over by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja.

Speaking to state house correspondents after the meeting, Ebonyi state governor, Dave Umahi, said

“In our NEC meeting today, the Minister of Interior (Abdulram Danbazzau) and the CG of Prisons came to brief us about the status of our prisons and the inmates through out the country. The situation painted by the Minister and the CG of Prisons was pathetic and some of them gave graphic examples of what is happening in our prisons up to the states. For example last few months, we had a jail break in my state and to true confession, that was the first time I visited prison. What I saw was a very terrible situation that shouldn’t be allowed and that is how it has been through out the country in all the states. Some of us on our own developed some initiatives. Some have succeeded in the states from transferring the prisons from the urban centre outside the city centre. Some are providing medical services, some are building new prisons.

And so NEC considered all the submissions and came up with an agreement that the governors should assist the Federal Government in partnership to rehabilitate the prisons. And it was also agreed that the states that have the capacity to build prisons should go ahead including private sectors participation. And of course the minister made it very clear that over 70 percent of inmates are awaiting trial. The Minister did point out that they are beginning to do some farming in prisons and purchase some agric equipment which means that some of these prisoners that are available and could move freely could be engaged in agricultural programmes. This was agreed. The governors were also advised to do a number things to decongest the prisons. For example the Chief Judges of various states should do a more frequent visits to the prisons. They have constitutional role to perform during such visits. The governors on their own from time to time should also be able to visit. On the condemned criminals, the governors and NEC agreed that the governors should either sign their death sentences or commit them as they would wish because they will also serve as a risk if judgement has been delivered and no appeal is pending and the governors are not taking action on that. On the whole, NEC viewed that there should be emergency situations in terms of our prisons so that these people that are supposed to be reformed right there should not be further hardened”

Nigeria loses N80bn to road accidents annually — FG

Nigeria loses N80 billion annually due to road accidents, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole said in Friday.
Adewole who made this known at a handover ceremony of 31 ambulances donated by the Japanese Government in Abuja, said that Nigeria was among countries with the highest rates of vehicle accidents globally.
“As a matter of concern, next to Boko Haram Insurgency, road crash is the second highest source of violent death in Nigeria.
“According to FRSC reports, Nigeria is among the countries with the highest road accident rates in the world, having 5,400 deaths in 12,077 road crashes in 2015 and 18,353 people injured in road crashes between 2009 and 2013.

“According to WHO report in 2015, one in every four road crash deaths in Africa occur in Nigeria, having a higher death toll than malaria.
“ Also, Nigeria loses about N80 billion annually to road accidents,’’ he said.
The minister said the donation of the ambulances was the outcome of a Memorandum of Understanding both parties signed in September 2016.
He added that the ambulances donated by the Japanese government would support the Federal government’s policy on emergency medical services, developed in 2016 in response to the trend of road accidents.
Adewole further said that the ambulances were to be distributed to selected tertiary health institutions in each state of the country.
“This move by the Japanese government has provided the opportunity to strengthen greater collaboration and partnership between our two countries.

“”This gesture will contribute immensely in supporting the Federal Government’s efforts in strengthening the National Emergency Response Programme of the Federal Ministry of Health.”
In his address, Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Sadanobu Kusaoke said health was among the top priorities of Japan’s relations with Nigeria.
Kusaoke said that the ambulances were part of a series of Japan’s aid project to Nigeria’s health sector.
“”Through our Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, the Japanese Embassy, in partnership with local NGOs, has been providing various primarily health care facilities for rural communities.
“”We have also supplied advanced medical equipment for secondary health centres; another support is scholarship programmes for undergraduate medical students for training in Japan.
“”These ambulances are the latest example of a series of our aid projects in the health sector. “
He said the ceremony marked the delivery of the first batch of 31 ambulances in health centres in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the remaining 12 ambulances would be handed over in 2018.
NAN also reports that the Japanese Government earmarked 400 million Japanese Yuan (approximately 4.1 million dollars) for the project.
The ambulances would be delivered to 15 teaching hospitals and 13 Federal Medical Centres in the country.

Old age photo of 130 nigeria man

A Nigerian cleric, Chiadikobi Emmanuel, shared the photo above. According to him, pictured (right) is a 130-year-old Nigerian man.

"Today I bless the name of God meeting a man above 130 years. In 1930, Mr Ifem used to ride his biscyle from Amazu Ebenator IMO state to Port Harcourt. Today he is still very strong and healthy. Long life is reality. As I celebrate Mr Ifem, I covet his long life. May the grace for long life rest upon you and your family in Jesus name," Emmanuel wrote on Facebook.

Private jet, Rolls Royce! Banky W, Tekno, Toke Makinwa live the life in new photoshoot

In these photos, taken by renowned photographer, Anuel Modebe, we see the trio on a landing strip boarding a private flight to a destination nobody seems to know about.

The Cîroc ambassadors have indeed arrived. The Samantha crooner, the critically acclaimed On Becoming author and the recently engaged EME Boss have indeed had a great year. More photos after the cut.