Headlines - Daily Trust
A Kano Magistrate court presided over by Faroukh Ibrahim Umar has sentenced the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yautar ward, Aminu Ali, to two years imprisonment for unlawful possession of 367 permanent voters cards (PVCs) bearing different names.
Daily Trust reports that Ali was in October arrested for collecting PVCs from different people in Gabasawa Local Government Area of the state and that he conspired with some members of his party to commit the offence.
The court sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the two-count charge, which contravened section 22 (a) of the Electoral Act, 2022 as amended.
However, the magistrate gave the convict an option of N500,000 fine for the first offence.
The court sentenced him to six months with an option of N50,000 fine for the offence of criminal conspiracy, which is contrary to section 97 of the Penal Code.
There was a mild drama Monday night at the headquarters of Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Maiduguri, as representatives of foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) shunned journalists' enquiries on their exit plans from the conflict-prone areas following the gradual return of peace.
A team of investigative journalists from Abuja, including Daily Trust's Defence Correspondent, were on a fact-finding mission to the North East zone of the country to investigate the activities of the military and NGOs, particularly alleged maltreatment of women and children in the areas.
The journalists had scheduled separate meetings with the representatives of both establishments in order to get their official reactions to their findings, especially on terrorism financing, and managing internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps, among others.
Our correspondent reports that no fewer than 243 local and foreign NGOs are currently operating in the zone which includes Borno, Adamawa and Gombe states providing food, health, shelter and other necessary things for the victims of insurgency.
Findings by Daily Trust revealed that some of the NGOs had booked rooms in different hotels for at least 5 to 10 years.
"Some of our customers who have booked to stay here for up to 5 years to 10 years are majorly foreigners. I noticed the majority of them are on humanitarian assignments," an official of one of the hotels told our correspondent.
However, the drama began at the venue of the meeting at about 6pm when the deputy head of OCHA, Ms Esty Sutyoko, halted the introduction of participants at the meeting, describing it as "unnecessary".
When some questions were raised about the exit plans of NGOs, Ms Sutyoko mounted the podium, deviated from the main question and announced ongoing 16-day gender activism against women, saying it was imperative for the journalists to participate actively.
When another question was directed to the officials of the World Health Organisation, the two representatives quietly left the gathering without offering any explanation.
But the head of civil-military coordinator, OCHA, Mr Brian Laguardia, who spoke on their behalf, simply explained that they "are collaborating with the Nigerian government to bring succour to the victims" without giving further details.
Earlier in the day, Daily Trust approached an official of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at the Joint Investigation Centre located at Giwa Barracks, to state how her organisation has been helpful but declined the request.
The federal government had earlier said foreign NGOs, banks, financial technology firms and Point of Sale terminal operators have been linked to terrorism financing in the country.
It specifically identified the affected NGOs to include those operating in terror-prone areas and engaged in humanitarian activities, service provision and faith-based activities.
These were contained in the 2022 National Inherent Risk Assessment of Terrorism Financing in Nigeria report.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, says the Nigerian Army is working tirelessly to ensure that the 2023 elections are conducted peacefully in the country.
Irabor said this yesterday at the headquarters of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), a multi-security task force maintaining peace and harmony in Plateau and some parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states while inaugurating some projects executed by the OPSH Commandant, Major General Ibrahim Ali.
The CDS who was in Jos to deliberate on issues related to security in the country said the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian police were working in synergy to provide a peaceful atmosphere for the upcoming elections.
He said, "We are working with the police, which is leading the agency for the conduct of the election. The operational activities that we are conducting will also add up to the ambience for the peaceful conduct of the exercise. The whole world is looking up to us. I am quite sure that the exercise is going to be a good one. For us in the army, it will help us to deepen the democratic process and we will continue to sustain the effort."
In his remarks, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander OPSH, Major General Ibrahim Ali, said the projects would provide a conducive working environment for troops to carry out their responsibility effectively.
Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has granted approval for the deduction of 3 per cent of the basic salaries of civil servants in the state to the Kebbi State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KECHEMA).
A press statement by Kebbi State acting Head of Service, Alhaji Safiyanu Garba Bena made available to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Monday, said the approval by the governor was sequel to the request made by the organised labour.
It stated that the enrolment of civil servants in the scheme as a formal sector would enable the agency to provide easy access to health care for civil servants at an affordable rate.
The acting head of service said the deduction for KECHEMA would enable the agency to commence its services to civil servants in the state.
Ekiti State government is set to fence 19 public secondary schools as part of efforts to curb insecurity in the state.
Wife of the Ekiti State governor, Dr Yemi Oyebanji, dropped the hint in Ado-Ekiti during a meeting tagged, "A day out with principals and teachers of public secondary schools."
Oyebanji said the initiative was being undertaken under the Adolescent Girls Initiative Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) intervention to improve security in the schools.
She called on teachers to be agents of change by creating a safe and violence-free learning environment where boys and girls would have equal opportunities to learn.
In her welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Science and Technology, Dr Kofoworola Aderiye, emphasised that principals and teachers were the agents set aside to carry out the programs and projects of AGILE in their various schools.
Earlier, the state Coordinator of AGILE, Mrs Yemisi Alokan, said the initiative was committed to the needs of the younger generation, creative thinkers, problem-solvers, and critical thinkers to prepare them for the future.
Two journalists working with Trust TV, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz and Zaynab Bala, have been shortlisted for the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR).
They were shortlisted alongside 11 other journalists from various print, broadcast and online media outfits for the award to be hosted by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).
The centre, on its verified Twitter handle, WSoyinkaCentre, said the 13 journalists were shortlisted from across the six categories of the awards and that the 17th Wole Soyinka Award presentation would take place on December 9 at 3pm at NECA House, Lagos.
It would close a two-day Amplify In-depth Media Conference to be organised by the centre.
Abdulaziz, is the Deputy General Editor of Daily Trust, a publication of the Media Trust Group with Trust TV as one of its subsidiaries.
Abdulaziz's entry titled, "Nigeria's Banditry: The Inside Story," was released in March 2022.
It followed the intricate challenge of insecurity in the North West part of the country to its root by talking to victims and key actors.
The documentary unearthed how neglect of local communities, injustice and impunity created an atmosphere of vicious conflict and humanitarian crises.
On her part, Zaynab's three-part documentary funded by the international women's media foundation, Howard G. Buffet Fund for Women Journalists (FWJ) for Trust TV, takes a look at poverty, medical negligence, as well as cultural norms and practices, in three different states in northern Nigeria, as contributing factors to maternal mortality deaths in the country.
Nigeria currently accounts for about 20 per cent of global maternal deaths.
Each year, approximately 262,000 babies die at birth, the world's second-highest national total.
Despite efforts at the national and sub-national levels to reduce maternal fatalities, Nigeria's maternal death rate has remained very high.
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology has directed the Office of the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State to return two Hilux vehicles purchased by the state government for Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Mr Daniel Ogazi, the chairman of the committee, gave the directive on Tuesday in Lafia when the management of TSC appeared before the committee on its 2023 budget defence.
Ogazi said that the vehicles were purchased for the TSC to ensure effective monitoring and supervision of teachers and other activities.
"We are directing that the office of the SSG should return two vehicles purchased by the state government for the Teacher's Service Commission.
"As provision was made in the budget as requested by Teachers Service Commission for the purchase of the two vehicles to monitor and supervise the activities of teachers and other activities.
"We are directing that the office of the SSG should return the two vehicles purchased or being invited by this committee to explain why, up till now, the TSC have yet to access the vehicles," he said.
Ogazi urged the commission to continue to be up and doing in ensuring effective supervision of teachers in the state.
Earlier, Pastor Benjamin Baka, the secretary of the commission, commended the committee for supporting its activities to succeed.(NAN)
Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has urged clerics in the country to continue praying for the prosperity of Nigeria and its leadership.
He made the call yesterday when the National Leader of Jama'atul Izzalatu Bid'a Wa Iqamatu Sunnah (JIBWIS), Shiek Abdullahi Bala Lau, paid him a courtesy call in Abuja.
In a statement by his spokesman, Mamman Mohammed, Buni said religious leaders have great roles to play in shaping the thinking of leaders, the people, and the government for a better country.
"You serve as reminders, guiding leaders in government and society.
"Your sermons and preaching should guide leaders to serve God and humanity for improved welfare of the people.
"You should always and continuously remind leaders of their roles in serving God and the people.
"You should not abandon leaders to their ideas and wisdom in piloting the affairs of state or country," Buni said.
Earlier, Shiek Bala Lau said he led Yobe State leaders of the Islamic organisation to congratulate the governor on the award of the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Lau assured Buni of JIBWIS' support for his administration to succeed.
"We will continue praying for Yobe State and Nigeria for sustainable peace, progress and prosperity," the cleric assured.
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Pyrates Confraternity, has expressed concern over the increasing rate of suicide threats among women who have experienced Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Kaduna.
It raised the concern at a sensitisation exercise organised for secondary school girls and women on the dangers of GBV, in collaboration with Kaduna State Ministry of Health, as part of activities to mark the 2022 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Speaking on the theme, "Unite activism and end violence against women and girl child," the Capone, NAS Kaduna State chapter, Ambassador Obinna Okpara, urged women and girls to be courageous and speak up against GBV.
Head of the National Library of Nigeria, Kaduna State, Mrs Egwuibe Okwuchi, who is also a member, called on Nigerians to end inequality against women and girls.
A survivor, Lois Adams, advised women and girls facing abuse to speak up saying, "Silence has not helped anyone facing GBV."
The National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chinedu Okoronkwo, has said almost all the depots owned by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Ltd are not working, hence the persistent fuel scarcity in the country.
Okoronkwo stated this during an interview on Channels TV's Politics Today on Tuesday.
The IPMAN president said that private depots owners are now responsible for the distribution of the products since the NNPC depots are not working.
He said NNPC had enough stock, but the distribution method was complicating the situation.
He said, "It's very important for you to know where we belong in the chain. This product (PMS) is the product the government is still paying subsidy. That is to say government brings in NNPC and when this product is brought, remember nearly all the NNPC depots are not working because of vandalism. We have at least 21 that I can count and what happens when they bring the product in, they now begin to put in private depots owners and pay them some charges.
"And when this product is pumped into these depots, the owners claim to have ownership. Remember we control over 80% of the market and the situation where my members cannot easily access this product, they now be made to buy from these private depot owners, a third party. Remember what we get from NNPC is N148.19 but these private depots owners by they time they begin to put their own charges, haring vassals, NIMASA, NPA, we get it N185 to N200.
"Those who have the muscles and everything to buy, they will buy. The product is there it is because of what have just said. NNPC has enough stock, but because of this distribution something that is why we need to do something."
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The Ohimegye of Opanda-Umaisha Kingdom in Toto LGA of Nasarawa State, His Royal Highness (HRH) Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, has commended the state government under the leadership of Gov-ernor Abdullahi Sule for reviving the abandoned electrification project in the area.
Alhaji Abdullahi, while speaking when he received the governor in company of the speaker of the state house of assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, at his palace on Monday, noted that the revived electrification project in his kingdom has remained uncompleted since 1999.
He said connecting it to the national grid would boost socio-economic activities and improve the liv-ing standards of the people of the area and its environs.
He also commended the governor for his quick intervention and providing relief materials to flood victims of riverine communities under his kingdom.
He also noted that his subjects are now experiencing some relief as a result of the governor's efforts to tackle kidnapping and banditry in his kingdom.
A Kafanchan magistrates' court in Kaduna State has ordered the remand of a 25-year-old farmer, Isti-fanus Musa, in a correctional centre for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl.
Musa was charged by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with rape, contrary to Section 289 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law.
The NSCDC prosecutor, Mr Marcus Audu, told the court that the matter was referred to the corps of-fice by the Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Kafanchan on Nov.18.
He said the accused person lured the girl into his room at Mabushi, Zango Kataf LGA of the state, and forcefully had sex with her.
The presiding judge, Michael Bawa, however, did not take the accused person's plea as the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
He directed the prosecutor to forward the case file to the State Director of Public Prosecution and adjourned the matter until Dec.12. (NAN)
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