Petrol price strike flops in Port Harcourt, Abuja, Lagos

MANY workers yesterday shunned the strike called by a faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by Ayuba Wabba to protest the increased price of petrol from N86.50 to N145. But there were rallies, which disrupted traffic in some cities.
All was normal in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja – the seat of the government – and in Lagos – the nation’s financial and business engine-room. The oil city of Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State, and many other state capitals were peaceful and busy.
Rallies were held in many places, including Lagos and Abuja. They were addressed by Labour leaders and civil society organisations.
Activities in government, public and private establishments were going on in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
At the State Secretariat, work went on. Earlier in the day, there was an attempt by an NLC group to lock up the place.
Local Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman Chika Onuegbu described the failed strike as a “tragedy” and “minus” for labour movement.
Onuegbu said there was need for the two factions of the NLC to unite, stressing that the success of any labour movement depends on a single and common agenda.
He said TUC withdrew from the planned strike because it found out that the action would be a fruitless effort without any benefit on the workers.
The TUC chairman called on living founding fathers of the labour movement to intervene in the NLC crisis, cautioning the Federal Government not conclude that it has won the battle.
Bank workers and customers in Lagos ignored the strike call as banks were opened. Government offices were also open.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report said security was beefed up at bank premises on Marina and the Lagos Central Business District (CBD) on Lagos Island.
There were normal activities in Ojuelegba, Mushin and on Ikorodu Road as well as other parts of Lagos. Traffic  moved freely all over the metropolis.
Major markets, such as the Computer Village, Katangowa, Mile 12, Ile-Epo and others were in full swing.

Petrol stations were dispensing fuel across the metropolis at N145 per litre. There were no queues.

At the Lagos State Government Secretariat, all was normal.

The Ikeja City Mall, housing the popular retailer Shoprite and major business outfits, was throbbing with people. All public and private schools in the Lagos metropolis were running.

Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) did not heed labour’s call for a strike.

An Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was stationed at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, popularly called the Freedom Park, but no one was seen entering the park for any protest, unlike in 2012 during the fuel protest when thousands of Lagosians thronged the park.

However, hoodlums were in the morning reported to have blocked the ever-busy Ikorodu Road, but the situation was quickly put under check.

The National Union of Airport Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Senior Services Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), threatened to shut down the Lagos Airport today, should the government fail to reverse the increase in petrol price.

They blocked major roads leading into the Lagos Airport, occasioning traffic gridlock on the Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja.

They seized the road early in the day, depriving limousine cab operators from taking passengers and airport workers to the airport.

Domestic carriers, including DANA Air, Arik, Aero, First Nation and Med-View operated skeletal services.

Most of them cancelled or re-scheduled flights because of low passenger turnout.

Most of the aviation agencies, including Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), opened their offices.

The Joint Action Front (JAF), led by Comrade Abiodun Aremu, staged a protest on the streets of Ikeja.

FCT workers declined to go on strike.

However, NLC President Wabba led out some members on a street protest which began from the Labour House to the Federal secretariat and terminated at the popular Berger Roundabout in the heart of the city.

Offices, banks and markets opened. There was heavy security presence around the city. Roads were, as usual busy.

The procession is to continue today, according to the NLC.

Policemen deployed to maintain the peace around the city were friendly and did not interfere with the procession. The labour leaders also refrained from harassing workers who turned out for work.

Addressing the protesters, Wabba pledged the commitment of the Congress to good governance and transparency in government business for the overall good of the people.

Wabba said the NLC would continue to fight against anti-people policies. “Therefore, Labour and particularly the NLC, has said consistently that if policies are right, we will support it. But if policies are anti-people, we will continue to resist it. That is why we are here today to resist this policy of the increase in fuel pump price.

“We must not allow market forces to drive the pump price of this very essential product in our country as continuous importation of fuel will be used to enslave Nigerians, the naira will be devaluated and prices will keep going up and there will be no end to it.”

Wabba said the congress will continue to demonstrate its commitment to the fight against corruption and good governance, adding the congress recognised the inherent corruption in the system, which, is responsible for the refineries not functioning.

He said the refineries could be turned around because Nigerian refineries are among the newest in the world. “We have refineries that have stayed up to 110 years and, with regular maintenance, refineries can be fixed and production capacity can also be upgraded for local consumption.”

National Union of Textiles, Garment and Tailoring Workers General Secretary Comrade Isa Aremu said the increase of petrol price by about 70 per cent was outrageous, adding: “You also increased the tariff of electricity with almost 50 per cent and there is no light. This is just too much for the common man as a lot of people are suffering.

The Chairman, Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LACSCO), Dr Dipo Fashina, said the increase of the price of fuel pump to N145 was arbitrary, unjust and against all rules of good governance.

Fashina said the increase was a subversion of the 1999 Constitution.

Pastor allegedly rapes friend’s daughter, remanded

An Iyaganku Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ibadan has remanded a 62-year-old pastor, Isaiah Akinojo, in prison custody for alleged raping his friends daughter.

The Chief Magistrate, Alhaja Modinat Akanni, remanded the accused at Agodi prison pending the advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

The plea of the accused, arraigned on a one count of having unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor, was not taken.

  Akinojo, according to the charge, is a pastor at Light of life Ministry International Church, Egbeda, Ibadan.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Sikiru Ibrahim, said the offence was committed on May 10 at about 7 pm at the church premises.

Ibrahim said, “The offence took place inside the church while Akinojo sent the girl’s junior brother on an errand.’’

He said that the victim usually returned to the church everyday after school before their father would pick them home in the evening.

Ibrahim said the offence contravened Section 218 of the Criminal Code Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State 2000.

The case was adjourned till July 15, for mention.

Ajimobi warns herdsmen against illegal grazing, rape

Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, on Wednesday, mediated in the constant clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the state.

During a town hall meeting with farmers, herdsmen and other stakeholders at the state secretariat in Ibadan, Ajimobi warned all the parties involved not to go against the law as offenders would be arrested and prosecuted.

 

While calling on herdsmen not to graze on farmlands or attack their hosts, the governor also warned farmers not to poison crops or water with the aim of killing herdsmen’s cows.

Present at the meeting, which was organised by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, were monarchs of agrarian communities of the state, farmers’ representatives, heads of Fulani communities and other stakeholders.

The governor said, “There is the need to form committees that would discuss regularly, issues concerning the relationship between host communities and herdsmen. If there is a regular interaction between them, we will succeed in solving many of the problems that have been identified. I want each of the committees to meet once in a month.

“Animals will eat wherever they find food but we must agree on where the cows will graze. It is not possible for herdsmen to graze their cattle on farmlands. We will not allow that. We will create a path where the cattle must be taken through to graze.

“If by mistake the cattle strayed and eat farm products, the owners must be ready to pay compensation to the farmers concerned. We must agree on one fact that farmers and herdsmen know themselves.

Ajimobi said the establishment of ranches by his administration was under way.

In his contribution, the Sabiganna of Iganna land, Oba Saliu Oyemonla, thanked the governor for his interest in finding a solution to the constant clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

How we uncovered Saraki’s N375m London property – Witness

The first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Mr. Michael Wetkas, continued his testimony on Wednesday, giving details of how his investigative team uncovered a property in London owned by Saraki.

Wetkas, who said he led a team which investigated intelligence reports leading to the charges preferred against Saraki, is a detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.


He said under cross-examination by defence lawyer, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), on Wednesday, that the London property was acquired by Saraki  in 2010 but was not declared in his asset declaration form which he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau after completing his second term as the governor of Kwara State in 2011.

He said Saraki obtained N375m loan from the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc in 2010 and used it to pay for the London property through a mortgage redemption payment system.

He said there was debit entry of $1.2m on the dollar account in favour of the pounds sterling account on February 10, 2010 and $1m on February 15, 2010.

He alleged that as contained in Count 11 in the charges preferred against the Senate President, the defendant failed to declare in his asset declaration form which he submitted to the CCB in 2011, the N375m loan as his liability and the property which he allegedly used the proceeds of the loan to buy.

Wetkas, who was led by Usoro to read from Saraki’s statements of  account with GTB, traced the movement of the loan disbursed in Saraki’s naira account with its dollar equivalent transferred to his dollar account and finally its pounds sterling equivalent transferred to Saraki’s pounds sterling account.

He said foreign investigative partners “unofficially” disclosed the address of the property as No 8 Whittaker Street, London and that it had a title number NGN802235.

He said the foreign partners also disclosed “unofficially” that Saraki acquired another property with title number NGN 802661at No 7 of the same street in London in 2015.

According to him, his team of investigators, discovered Saraki’s  reason for obtaining the loan in the letter by the GTB offering the N370m loan to the Senate President.

He also said the telex message also revealed that the transfer was for the purchase of a property.

He said, “From the loan document attached to Exhibit 7, you will see the offer letter. It was stated in the offer letter that the loan was for the purchase of property in London.

“We got to be convinced when we saw the telex showing that the money was wired for property; the mortgage redemption was for property. We were convinced based on the offer letter and the remittances shown on the telex.”

He confirmed that the three telexes showing the actual transfer from the pounds sterling account of the Senate President were prepared by the GTB.

He also confirmed that the telex messages only talked about mortgage redemption.

Responding to further questions put to him by Usoro, Wetkas confirmed that “mortgage redemption means money is being refunded for facility that would have been provided for the property.”

He confirmed that he had “little knowledge” about mortgage issues, but he said he knew that mortgage agreement “usually have their terms, the property involved and the person who has the property.”

On why he did not get details and the mortgage agreement on the London property, Wetkas said GTB officials claimed that Saraki did not disclose the details to the bank.

He also said he did not have the title document for the property.

The witness said apart from the telex messages and the offer letter for the loan, he did not have any other document linking Saraki to the said property.

He also said he did not question Saraki on the details of the property during investigation and did not see the mortgage agreement.

He added, “We contacted our foreign partners to help us find out about the  properties the defendant bought in London between 2010 a 2015.

“They confirmed to us that the defendant  bought two properties – one in 2011 and the other in 2015.

“They told us No 8 Whittaker Street, London, with title number NGN802235 was purchased in 2011 and that the second one with title number NGN 802661 which was at No. 7 of the same street was bought in 2015.

“This information was sent to us unofficially. And they promised to send it to us officially soon so that we can tender it.”

He explained that given the international dimension to the case, they needed to go through the governments of the relevant nations before information could be officially obtained from foreign partners.

Usoro also questioned Wetkas on Count 5, in which Saraki was accused of failing to declare his property at  37 A Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and the alleged annual income of N5.5m on the asset.

He said his team discovered that the property was acquired by Saraki through his company, Carlisle Properties Limited while executing a search warrant on the company’s office.

The trial was adjourned till May 25 for further cross-examination of the witness.

I slept with 400 men in five months – 22-year -old trafficking victim

A human trafficking victim, Love John, says she slept with more than 400 men in less than five months in the Sango Ota area of Ogun State.

Love, 22, and her 23-year-old sister, Happiness, were lured into prostitution sometime in January by their eldest sister, Mary.

 

Mary also tricked a cousin, Joy Lawrence, 25, promising the three ladies that she could give them jobs that would help them make a decent living.

However, by the time they discovered that they had been trafficked, the victims said they had become trapped.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Lawrence and another victim fled the hotel on Monday when they could no longer bear the pain they were subjected to.

Lawrence was reported to have been brought to the Lagos zonal headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service, which then stormed the hotel and rescued other victims.

The agency also arrested Mary and the owner of the hotel, one Mrs. Akpojaro Rose, an indigene of Warri, Delta State.

It was learnt that the ladies collected between N500 and N700 per sex, paid N200 per day for hotel rates, and made about N340,000 in savings within the period.

Narrating her ordeal, Love told our correspondent she did not have any formal education because their father died when they were toddlers.

She explained that her sister lured her into prostitution, saying she slept with an average of four men a day.

She said, “I was learning tailoring in the village. My sister told me she could help me get a job in Lagos; she didn’t tell me that it was prostitution I was coming to do. After we got to Lagos, she said we should do this (prostitution) job so we can make money to be able to finish my craft as a tailor. I sleep with about four men in a day and each of them pay me at least N500.”

Her elder sister, Happiness, also said she was not aware she had been trafficked until she arrived in Lagos and was introduced to prostitution.

“I didn’t go to school and I have not learnt any trade. I came to Lagos a few months ago. My sister didn’t tell me this was what I was coming to do in Lagos. She said it was a good job,” she said.

Lawrence, who fled the hotel on Monday, said she was told she would be trading when she left their hometown in Ogoja, Cross River State.

“I ran away because I didn’t like the work. I don’t want to do it again. I never knew this was the job,” the victim said.

But Mary said she did not want to bring her relatives into the trade, adding that she gave in to pressure when they kept asking her to take them to Lagos.

She said, “I came to Lagos with a friend in 2014 and my friend introduced me to this job. We were first using a hotel called Happiness Hotel before we moved to Morning Star Hotel in Sango Ota.

“When I travelled to the village, my sisters started disturbing me that they wanted to follow me to Lagos to go and work.

“When they continued to disturb me, I decided to take them with me; but I didn’t tell them I was into prostitution. I told my mother I was working in a beer parlour.

“Each of us makes N2,500 to N3,000 daily. We sleep with an average of three to four men and they pay between N500 and N700.”

The 32-year-old said from January till May 16 when they were arrested, she had saved N340,000 for the three girls.

She, however, alleged that the hotel was raided by some policemen from the Sango Ota division, whom they settled with N150,000.

The owner of the hotel, Rose, told PUNCH Metro  that she gave out rooms to the girls at the rate of N200 per day.

“I warned Mary that the girls were too young, but she didn’t listen to me. I have 15 rooms in my hotel and I have seven girls, who were paying me N200 every day. If I had children of their age, I will not allow them do this,” she said.

The Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration, Musa Maza, who handed over the victims to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other related matters, said the suspects would be prosecuted at the end of investigations.

He said, “This is a human trafficking case in the form of enslavement and prostitution. The victims were forced into sex against their wish. Two of them actually escaped. The whereabouts of one is unknown, but the second victim contacted someone who brought her to the immigration office.

“Parents should be vigilant and wary of those who come for their children asking them to be released in search of greener pastures. We are handing them over to NAPTIP for prosecution. We believe this will serve as a deterrent to those that will want to engage in this useless business.”

Enyeama, Emenike return to Eagles

FORMER Super Eagles skipper, Vincent Enyeama of Lille FC France, and striker Emmanuel Emenike of West Ham are set to don the colours of Nigeria again.

Eyeama who threw in the towel last year when Sunday Oliseh was coach of the Eagles will play for Nigeria again next week.


However, Enyeama is going to wear his gloves for the Joseph Yobo Testimonial match billed to take place on May 27 at the Adokiye Amesimeka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

He will feature for the Nigerian team against Yobo’s friends. Event coordinator, Waidi Akanni confirmed yesterday that Enyeama was ready for the testimonial game.

“We have a confirmation to that effect and there are many other goodies lined up for fans because Yobo is so passionate about this project,” Akanni said.

Another player who retired from Eagles last year, Emmanuel Emenike, has also confirmed to hit Port Harcourt for the Yobo Testimonial match.

“Emmanuel is coming. He spoke with me personally and I am so elated with the love shown by my colleagues,” the former international said. Top players who made name in various European leagues especially the EPL will be in Port Harcourt for the match. The list of those who have confirmed for the testimonial include Samuel Eto’o,  Didier Drogba, John Terry, Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney, the Ayew Brothers: Dede and Jordan, Sulley Muntari, Djibrin Cisse and Tresor Lualua amongst others. Yobo featured at three FIFA World Cups and six AFCON tournaments, leading Nigeria to victory in his last outing in South Africa.

Some of the corporate bodies who have indicated their support for the Joseph Yobo Centenary Game include, Sifax Group, NICON Insurance and Beko Electronics Ltd.

The Joseph Yobo Foundation is in partnership with Rivers State Government for the Centenary Game at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in the Garden City.

We ‘ll break F/Eagles W/Cup jinx – Amuneke

CHIEF coach of the national U-20 team, Emmanuel Amuneke has said the present team under his tutelage is working hard to break the jinx where every successful U-17 team that graduated to the Flying Eagles have not been able to replicate that feat.

Amuneke who spoke yesterday in Abuja shortly before leading his team to Burundi for the 2017 African Youth Championship (AYC) said the calibre of players in the team are capable of doing the country proud at the world stage when they get there.

 

The former Super Eagles winger while speaking on the game in Bujumbura this Saturday said the plan of his team is to secure victory over their hosts so as to make the return leg in Nigeria a mere formality.

He stated that all the 18 players he selected are fit for the cracker including the 2015 Golden Eaglets goal merchant, Victor Osimhen who was an initial doubt after a shoulder injury during a friendly match with the Dream Team V1 in Abuja last week.

“We are going to Burundi with the aim of winning so that the return leg here will be a mere formality. We have trained very well and ready to go but our long term aim is to end this seeming jinx where despite doing well in the U-17, we are yet to repeat that at the U-20 level. But I am optimistic that with the support of Nigerians we can achieve this goal.”

Despite huge successes at the FIFA U-17 level with five titles, Nigeria is yet to win the FIFA U-20 championship as her best result was the second place finish at the Saudi ’89 tournament.

Coke breaks Liverpool hearts in Europa League triumph

Sevilla right-back Coke broke Liverpool hearts with a second-half brace in a controversy-filled 3-1 victory that secured a record third consecutive Europa League title on Wednesday.

Liverpool travelled to St Jakob-Park with an army of fans and confident in their chances of a first Europa League trophy since 2001 after an impressive campaign in Europe’s second tier competition.

But Jurgen Klopp’s men failed to build on Daniel Sturridge’s superb 35th minute opener, and when Kevin Gameiro found Liverpool asleep to level seconds after the restart, it opened the floodgates.

Liverpool’s heads went down and, as they began to sit back, Coke struck in six second-half minutes to give Unai Emery’s men a 3-1 lead by the 70th minute.

 

Coke looked offside, but after angry scenes that saw Klopp sprint down the touchline to confront the linesman, Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson pointed to the centre circle after consulting with his official.

“We didn’t do ourselves justice,” Liverpool captain James Milner told BT Sport after a defeat which also denied the club a Champions League place next season.

“We never got started in the second half and it is devastating. We didn’t show near our ability and that is the biggest disappointment.

“We were ready, we made sure we said the right things at half-time. We gave a sloppy goal away and never got back into the game.

Milner added: “It is nothing to do with the referee, it is about us. We didn’t do it on the night that mattered.

“We didn’t think about the Champions League, it was about winning this trophy. We didn’t manage to get over the line. It is a double blow not to be in Europe next season.”

Emery had demanded a last push from some of the experienced players who had helped the Spaniards to four Europa League crowns since 2006, and they came good in a stunning second half.

Yet Klopp looked to have made the correct choice when he left Jordan Henderson and Divock Origi on the bench as both recently recovered from respective injuries.

Sturridge stepped in for Origi to play in front of Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana and spurned two half-chances before beating David Soria with a delightful shot with the outside of his left boot on 35 minutes.

It sent St. Jakob-Park into raptures, although the massive army of Reds supporters — some of whom got into scuffles with Sevilla fans inside the stadium prior to kick-off — were conspicuously quiet after the interval.

– Penalty appeals –

Sevilla got off lightly when Liverpool twice saw penalty appeals waved away, while Dejan Lovren saw his header from Sturridge’s corner ruled offside.

Eriksson waved away the first, in the early stages, after the ball came off the hand of Daniel Carrico when Firmino turned inside the central defender.

Carrico was even luckier to escape punishment when he deliberately put his hand down to slow the ball as Sturridge readied to run past him into the area.

UEFA made history by using Hawk-Eye goalline technology in a Europa League final for the first time, but the organisers could have done with it around the penalty area as well.

Sevilla were kept on a tight rein in the opening half although Gameiro, with 28 goals this season including seven in eight Europa League games, had his first sniff with an ambitious overhead kick after Coke’s cross on the right following a corner.

But Liverpool were beginning to fire, and when Coutinho found Sturridge unmarked to his left the England striker coolly beat Soria at his far post.

Neither Firmino nor Sturridge could get to the ball when Lallana released Nathaniel Clyne down the right for the right-back to deliver an inviting ball across the face of goal just before half-time.

It would prove costly, because whatever Emery said at half-time worked wonders.

When right-back Mariano Ferreiro pounced on a poor clearance from Alberto Moreno seconds after the restart, the Sevilla right-back was allowed to power unchallenged down the right to deliver for Gameiro, who tapped home from yards out.

Liverpool’s confidence sunk and Coke got his first after a great combination with Banega, who dribbled through the Reds defence before seeing Coke ram the ball past Mignolet from 20 yards.

It took several minutes for officials to finally decide whether Coke’s second was valid, but it will take Liverpool’s fans much longer to get over what was a poor second half display.

Reps move to probe imported cancer causing tomato paste

ABUJA-APPARENTLY disturbed by reported importation of fake, substandard and cancer-causing tomato paste into the country the House of Representatives, on Wednesday mandated its Committees on Health Services and Drug and Narcotics to investigate the reported substandard and cancer-causing paste.

The house directed the committees to report findings back to it within three weeks for further legislative business.

This was sequel to a motion under matters of urgent public importance promoted by Rep. Ossai Ossai,Delta,PDP, which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

Ossai in his submission stated that there was an increase in importation of fake and substandard food into Nigeria particularly tomato paste.

He expressed concern that the ugly development of importation of cancer- infested tomato paste was killing a lot of Nigerians.

According to him, it is reported that this mafia group are collaborating with a few indigenous manufacturers in Nigeria who are being used as a cover-up.

Ossai further said that the fake and substandard and cancer- causing tomato paste had flooded the Nigerian markets with low prices.

The Delta state lawmaker further explained that this has compelled the closing down of many and genuine indigenous tomato paste processing companies in Nigeria which has resulted to retrenchment of over 50 per cent of their staff.

“Section 5 subsections (a) to (e) and (I) of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act has given NAFDAC the onerous task of ensuring that fake and substandard food items are not found within the Nigerian markets.

“This is in conformity with Order XViii Rules 160 (2) (n) of the Standing Orders of the House of the Representatives.”

Barbers stab nieghbour in the eye with screwdriver

Two barbers who alleged stabbed one Sunday Adufe in the eye with a screwdriver were on Wednesday granted N250, 000 bail each by an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused, Tanko Wasiu and Buhariyu Sulaimon, were also granted two sureties each in like sum as part of their bail conditions by the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Omolade Awope.

She said the sureties must show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Wasiu, 33 and Sulaimon, 22, both residents of No. 19, Calvary close, Obawole, Iju in Lagos State, are facing four-count charge bordering on breach of peace and assault.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Ezekiel Ayorinde, told the court that the accused with some others still at large committed the offences on April 26 at Obawole Community, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.

He said the accused assaulted Adufe by stabbing his eye and beating him with sticks and cable wires

“Adufe said the trouble started when he went to Wasiu’s wife to ask for the money she borrowed from him in March.

“The accused, then armed themselves with dangerous weapons, took Adufe to a carnal near their residence and accused him of having an affair with Wasiu’s wife before beating him,’’ he said.

Ayorinde said the offence contravened Sections 166, 170, 171 and 244 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 171 prescribes three-year jail term for offenders.

The accused, however, pleaded innocence of the offences.

Awope adjourned the case to June 3 for mention.

African Hockey Federation fines Nigeria 4,000 Euros for failure to participate in competition

This is contained in a letter of sanction issued to the NHF in Abuja and signed by Nii Quaye-Kumah, the Vice-President of AfHF.

The national junior hockey teams could not participate in the competition due to the delay in the release of funds.

NAN reports that the 2016 JAC was slated for Windhoek, Namibia from March 18 to March 28.

The AfHF letter noted that the NHF did not at any time communicate a formal withdrawal of the teams and also failed to participate in the competition.

“The Executive Board of the AfHF makes reference to the regulations guiding the competition.

“The regulations state that any National Association which withdraws its entry less than 30 days prior to the commencement of the tournament is subject to penalties as determined by the board.

“The board hereby informs you that the NHF has been sanctioned to pay a fine of 4,000 Euros,’’ the letter reads.

It also indicated that the NHF should contact the Treasurer of the AfHF to make the payment to the federation with immediate effect.

The letter warned that failure to make the payment would mean NHF would not be eligible to participate in any of AfHF competitions.

Expect gains of fuel price hike in one month – IPMAN

Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), yesterday, disclosed that the country would start reaping the benefits of the new pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, in less than one month, which might include a reduction in the price of the commodity.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, President of IPMAN, Mr. Obasi Lawson, also called on Nigerians to ignore those calling for strike action against the hike in the price, stating that the new pump price will liberalize the oil and gas industry and also engender competition which will likely force price reduction of the product.

He called for patience, stating that the new policy would be beneficial to all at the end, stressing that tight as the new pump price may seem, IPMAN was looking forward to a gradual price decrease that will accommodate all stakeholders in the near future.

He, however, called on the Federal Government to release the proposed palliatives as quickly as possible to cushion the effects of the hike.

According to him, initially, the implementation of the policy would cause some form of pains, but in less than one month, Nigerians will start reaping the benefits of the new policy.

Lawson explained that over 7,000 tickets of PMS cargoes worth more than N20 billion, some of which were as old as one year, were tied up in the NNPC system, while he expressed optimism that with the new policy in place, the pending cargoes would b e easily released.

He emphasized that it is pertinent that the market be opened up for other stakeholders, due to the fact that the NNPC cannot meet up with petrol supply requirements in the country.
He said, “The new policy of the Federal Government that effected the change in price of PMS is a welcome development. We members of IPMAN welcome the policy because it is going to bring about total liberalisation and also engender competition in the industry.

“We have also put arrangement in place to import petroleum products so that we can serve our members. The policy is a good development so the issue of strike should be ignored. In fact, we are calling on all our members to go about their normal businesses and keep their petrol stations open.”

NMA backs FG on deregulation of oil sector

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, yesterday lend its weight to the Federal government deregulation of the oil sector.

In a press statement signed by its President, Prof Mike Ozovehe Ogirim‎, the medical doctors however insisted that the deregulation must be on grounds that part of the proposed palliatives would include the immediate release of at least 5 percent of the consolidated revenue fund as the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHPF) which the National Health Act has given to Nigerians and has guaranteed it’s availability.

Ozovehe Ogirim‎, posited that the fund would revamp Primary Health Care (PHC) and reinvigorate the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to cover all Nigerians.

According to him, “We also press for the immediate rehabilitation and establishment of functional PHC in all the wards nationwide as a way of cushioning the harsh effects of out-of-pocket expenditure and various inequities in Healthcare delivery.”

He further urged the federal government to mobilise contractors to sites of ongoing road rehabilitation as this will reduce delays in reaching health care facilities and reduce road traffic accidents in the country.

“We call for the immediate establishment of National emergency ambulance service for quick rescue and resuscitation of emergencies from our roads, provision of low tariff buses and rehabilitation of our railway system.”

Why FG must not revive subsidy corruption’

Stand up Nigeria, SUN, has described subsidy as fraudulent construct by cabals in government and the petroleum sector to aid them rob the country blind and pleaded with the President not to revive it.

 

National Secretary of SUN, Comrade Sunday Attah while presenting a speech at the office of the secretary to the federation, in a peaceful protest in Abuja, yesterday, declared that Subsidy Corruption came to a deserved end after it became glaring to the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was brave enough to damn the consequences and pull the plug on the complex life support system that has sustained this criminality to the detriment of other sectors, adding that it should be buried.

“We are in a hurry to bury Subsidy Corruption even before it is certified thoroughly dead because we do not want to risk the cabals bringing in experts from the organised labour and compromised experts from the CSOs to revive an evil that is best dead.

“This abomination should be interred before it reanimates and cause further damages in our land. Our sincere hope is that the other productive sectors of the economy – education, health, transport, manufacturing and others – can now thrive with the death of Subsidy Corruption. Its death has ushered in an era of citizens taking more interest in governance and demanding accountability”, Attah said.

Confirming that talks are ongoing between organised labour and the Federal Government and that labour has demonstrated unrivalled ability to revive Subsidy each time it is killed, the group appealed to President Buhari not to give room for Subsidy Corruption.

“No blackmail should make the government revive this monster. Nigerians want subsidy payment and the corruption it typifies buried forever without the possibility of it resurrecting again. This outing today confirms to Mr President that Nigerian Civil Society Groups welcome the removal of subsidy.

“We want to be free of the fraudulent groups and individuals that had hidden under it to feed fat to the detriment of the rest of the population. Please Mr President on no account should Subsidy Corruption be revived. This appeal is especially against the backdrop that a few members of your cabinet have been promoting the idea that it was foreign currency support that was withdrawn and not subsidy”, he said.

Members of the group bore a casket showing that fuel subsidy as a monster is dead and will remain in the grave forever.

Zika virus could spread in coming months – WHO

Zika virus is expected to spread in Europe within the next few months, the World Health Organisation has disclosed.

First seen in Brazil last year, the mosquito-borne virus has been detected in more than 50 countries and has been linked to thousands of cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect marked by unusually small head size.

In an assessment, WHO Europe, which made the assessment, said aalthough it has classified the risk of an outbreak at low to moderate, the risk should not be underestimated.

It is highest on the island of Madeira and the Black Sea coast of Russia and Georgia, where the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that are responsible for most of the infections are indigenous.

But the risk is still considered moderate in 18 countries where a different mosquito, Aedes albopictus, breeds. Although this mosquito is not as efficient at spreading the virus as Aedes aegypti, it has been shown to be a potential transmitter of the virus in Africa, Mexico and in lab experiments.

France is the most likely to have a Zika outbreak among those countries with a moderate risk, because of factors including the density of its urban population, WHO Europe said.

It is followed by Italy, Malta, Croatia, Israel, Spain, Monaco, San Marino, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Georgia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The risk in the UK is low.

The WHO assessment concerns the likelihood of the virus spreading in late spring to summer if nothing is done to stop it. It is based on the presence of Zika virus-transmitting mosquitoes, a suitable climate for establishment of mosquitoes, a history of transmission of dengue or chikungunya, ship and flight connections, population density and urbanisation.

But it also considered the capacity of countries in Europe to respond – and most would do so efficiently and fast. Because of that, it classifies the Europe-wide risk as low to moderate.

“The new evidence published today tells us that there is a risk of spread of Zika virus disease in the European region and that this risk varies from country to country,” Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe.

“With this risk assessment, we at WHO want to inform and target preparedness work in each European country based on its level of risk. We call particularly on countries at higher risk to strengthen their national capacities and prioritise the activities that will prevent a large Zika outbreak.”

WHO based its assessment of how well countries would respond on their answers to a questionnaire. The results suggested that 79% – 41 states out of 51 in the European region plus Lichtenstein – have good or very good capacity although on specific issues there was substantial variation.

Russia and Georgia already deal with mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, said WHO officials. Asked whether they were engaging with WHO on the issue of Zika, Dr Nedret Emiroglu, who heads WHO Europe’s division of communicable diseases and health security, said: “We are in close touch with them.” they and Madeira have been invited to a meeting in Portugal in June to discuss the control of Zika across the region.

Countries with a high or moderate risk are being urged to take stronger measures to stop the spread of mosquitoes and reduce their numbers, including encouraging communities to get rid of pooled water that can form a breeding ground.

Health professionals should be trained and equipped to detect Zika infection and report it within 24 hours. Pregnant women should be enabled to protect themselves from infection, including through sexual transmission.

In February, the WHO declared a global health emergency over the Zika virus.

How troops rescued Chibok schoolgirl

One of the 219 schoolgirls kidnapped from their school dormitory in Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014, has been rescued from Sambisa Forest.

This came as troops of 7 Division of Nigerian military special clearance and rescue operations, otherwise known as Operation Crackdown, Tuesday, cleared Boko Haram terrorists out of their Njimia camp within Sambisa forest.

The girl, Amina Alli, was reportedly found near the edge of the large forest, close to Cameroon’s borders.

The girl is said to have escaped while on a mission to gather firewood to prepare meal for one of the leaders of the Boko Haram leaders keeping her.

A statement by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, confirmed that one of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls was among those rescued by troops at Baale, near Damboa.

 

He said: “In continuation of Operation Crackdown, troops of 25 Brigade Damboa in conjunction with Civilian JTF deployed in one of the blocking positions at Baale, near Damboa rescued one Miss Amina Ali and a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Mohammed Hayatu, who claimed to be her husband.

“Both were brought to headquarters, 25 Task Force Brigade, Damboa at about 2.30pm today (yesterday).

“Preliminary investigation shows that she is indeed one of the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists on April 14, 2014 at Chibok and her name is Amina Ali as against Falmata Mbalala that was earlier stated.

“In addition, she is a nursing mother with a four-month-old baby girl, who was named Safiya. Both the suspected Boko Haram terrorist and the nursing mother have been taken to Maiduguri for further medical attention and screening.”

After she was taken to Chibok, where she was identified by her parents, Amina told the community leaders that: “All the girls are in Sambisa forest, but six of them had died.”

A source quoted Amina as saying that the remaining girls were “well secured and protected” to stop the Nigerian Army from rescuing them.

ActionAid Nigeria reacts to news of found Chibok Girl

The group said: ”It was great news that the first Chibok school girl had been found. This raises hope that the remaining 218 girls and others still held captive would be rescued and reunited with their families.”

ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Ojobo Ode Atuluku said: “We celebrate with the family of the found Chibok girl, and commend the effort of the Nigerian Army and the Civilian Joint Task Force for their efforts at ending insurgency in the North-East of Nigeria. The Nigerian government must intensify efforts and give them all required support to seek out the remaining girls.

Mohammed Hayatu

“It is important for the government to strongly advocate against the stigma and discrimination women and girls face when they return. We also expect the Victims Support Fund of the Federal Government to be accountable and give report of how, girls and their babies are being cared for,” she said.

EgyptAir plane sent distress message before vanishing – airline

A missing EgyptAir flight sent a distress message before vanishing from radar screens on Thursday that was detected by the military, the airline said in a statement.

The message was received at 0226 GMT, less than 10 minutes before the flight disappeared, an EgyptAir official told AFP.

How To Activate The New Airtel 750MB For N500 That Last for 14days

Hello guy's hope you all are very very okay, tonight am here with a new data plan from Airtel that most of you might have received the message yesterday but if you didn't receive yours from Airtel no need for you to panic because we would be talking about it tonight. The message was about a new 750MB data plan which costs only a token of N500 and also it's valid for 14days that is two weeks.

Now we have some few data plans which can sustain us in this free browsing season scarcity. I got this message yesterday from Airtel but I was to busy to make a post about it, so I apologize for that and I also hope my apologies are accepted. Though the 750MB data plan is not enough but it's still manageable shaa.

THE MESSAGE I GOT FROM AIRTEL
"Get the EASY PLAN Today and enjoy 750MB Worth of data for just N500.Simply dial *418# or click on http://bit.ly/1X7en3t to subscribe, valid for 14 days."

HOW CAN I ACTIVATE THE AIRTEL 750MB DATA PLAN?
◾ Recharge up to 500 Naira on your Airtel sim

◾ Dial *418#.

◾ You can check your data balance by simply dialing *140#.

You can also remember that MTN has a plan like this also.

Will You Be Participating In The Etisalat TopUP Blast Promo?

Lucky Etisalat customers continue to win from the ongoing #ETopUpBlastPromo.
These lucky customers; Grace Kalu (Enugu) and Mathias Abok (Nasarawa) just won 10, 000 naira airtime monthly for one whole year!!! You can also participate.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

All you have to do is simply go to an Etisalat experience centre and buy an e-top up airtime worth N500, to qualify for the raffle and you could be a lucky winner too. #EtisalatCares

Are you also going to be participating in these promo too?