Nigerians ‘subjected to dehumanising treatment’ at Indian high commission

Aminu Garba, chairman, board of trustees, Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR), has raised the alarm over the “dehumanising treatment” of Nigerians at the Indian high commission in Abuja.

According to Garba, Nigerians are treated without decency by the visa officers.

Recounting his own experience, Garba said he had an appointment for 10:15am on March 10 but was delayed until few minutes before 12 noon.

He said he had been invited by the center for health and social justice based in New Delhi, India, to participate in a two-day workshop.

After submitting all the necessary documents at the embassy, Garba said, the visa officer asked him to bring a cover letter from his bank as well as photocopies of all his degree certificates and professional qualifications.

He accused the officer of talking with a “degree of arrogance and contempt”.

Garba said many Nigerians were treated the same way and were kept under the sun throughout the duration of the waiting time.

As a “humble protest for the Indian high commission to start treating Nigerians with respect and human dignity”, Garba said he collected all his documents and cancelled his trip.

He called on the Indian high commissioner to institute a “customer care response box” as is obtainable in many embassies in Abuja.

“Review the exorbitant visa prices in line with the different visa categories. Train the visa officers on strategic interpersonal communication and counselling,” he said.

“Remove the tinted glass in the visa window and start treating Nigerians with decency. Respect appointment time as it is stated in the visa application forms.” - Cable Nigeria

Benue killings: Fayose mocks Buhari for saying IGP disobeyed his order

Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, has mocked President Muhammadu Buhari over his claim that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, disobeyed him over the lingering crisis in Benue.

President Buhari on Monday denied knowledge of number of days the IGP spent in Benue State after he was ordered to relocate to the state.

Addressing stakeholders at the Government House in Makurdi, the President said he was just learning of the alleged noncompliance by the IGP.

He promised to call the police boss for inquires upon his return to Abuja, the ‎Federal Capital Territory.

“What I did was to call him and give him the directive. I didn’t know he moved here (Benue State) and didn’t spend … and then moved to Nasarawa. It’s only now that I am knowing that.

“But I know I dispatched him here,” the President said.

Reacting, however, Fayose said it was unfortunate that the president might not know what was happening in Nigeria.

He tweeted: “What manner of a President will give order to the IGP on January 9, only to be telling Nigerians on March 12 (2 months after) that he never knew that the IGP disobeyed his order? Does this President really know anything about happenings around him, not to talk aboutNigeria?” - Daily Post

Didier Drogba to retire at end of USL season

Former Chelsea and Ivory Coast star Drogba plans to retire at the end of Phoenix Rising's 2018 United Soccer League season.

Drogba, now player-owner of USL side Rising, has enjoyed an illustrious career in football.

The striker, who turned 40 on Sunday, started out in France, impressing with Le Mans, Guingamp and then Marseille, whom he helped to the 2003-04 UEFA Cup final, before losing 2-0 to Rafa Benitez's Valencia.

His performances across Ligue 1 and the European competitions persuaded Chelsea to sign him and he became one of the most iconic players in the club's history.

In his nine seasons at Stamford Bridge - including a one-year return in 2014-15 - Drogba won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three EFL Cups and one Champions League, Chelsea's first.

Since the end of his second spell at the club, Drogba has been plying his trade in North America, representing Montreal Impact and then heading to second-tier side Rising, a club he is now part-owner of.

And, while Rising's target this season is to secure a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise, Drogba expects to call it a day at the end of the campaign in October regardless of the club's successes.

Speaking to Telefoot, Drogba said: "It's really a pleasure for me to play. I started late at the top level.

"I really enjoy playing. I like my role of owner-player a lot. I'm surrounded by a lot of youngsters, and I like passing my know-how on to them. But this season is the last. I'm 40, it's time now." - Goal

PL news : Paul Pogba return date unknown after injury talks with boss

 Pogba and Jose Mourinho held a meeting to discuss the severity and length of his injury on Saturday, the MEN reports.

Pogba suffered a cut to his thigh during Friday’s training session ahead of United’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool. United were also without Anthony Martial for the visit of Liverpool which was seemingly a blessing in disguise after Marcus Rashford provided two magnificent goals.

France international Pogba has been on the end of criticism of late, with a few poor performances on the bounce, but was always going to be a huge injury blow due to his ability to light up a game in an instant.

The midfielder travelled to Old Trafford to witness the huge win which boosted United’s campaign and interrupted his manager’s post-match interview to congratulate him on the win.

Mourinho met with Pogba directly after his conference, in which he stated he is not sure on how long the Frenchman will be out.

“He’s downstairs now and I will go and speak with him.The injury? It was contact with a player in the last minute of the training session yesterday.”

United will be desperate to have Pogba back on the pitch as soon as possible, with the next two games likely to be pivotal in the club’s season.

A Champions League deciding leg against Sevilla and the FA Cup clash with Brighton are two of the most vital games fans have seen at Old Trafford will see this term. - Read Sport

Ebonyi : Four killed in fresh herdsmen, farmers’ clash

Four persons have been confirmed killed by the Ebonyi Police command following a fresh Fulani herdsmen and farmers’ clash in Enyibichiri community, Izzi local government area of Ebonyi state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Loveth Odah, who spoke to DAILY POST on phone confirmed that 2 farmers died instantly during the clash.

She noted that another farmer, including one herdsman who was wounded during the clash later died at the federal teaching hospital Abakaliki.

It was gathered that the clash ensued when the Fulani herdsmen invaded one of the farmers’ farm land but on trying to ask them to vacate the area, they were attacked by the herdsmen.

Odah revealed the preparedness of the state command to ensure that there was peace and order in the affected community, just as she said that hundreds of policemen ha been dispatched to the warring community to maintain law and order. - Daily Post

Osinbajo : Banks not impacting on the Nigerian population, 40% under-banked

The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday decried the low impact of commercial banks on the citizenry with no fewer than 40 per cent of the people under-banked.

He said this in a remark at the public presentation and launching of the book “Banking Reform in Nigeria: the Law, the Prospects and the Challenges’’ written by a doctor of Law, former lecturer in the University of Ife and a member House of Representive,  Bode Ayorinde in Abuja.

Audio attached

“It is perhaps accurate to say that for most Nigerians, banks have not really significantly impacted their lives or livelihoods.

“First, the under-banked population is said to be in the order of about 40 per cent, which means that a significant number do not even have access to banking facilities let alone banking products of any kind.

“The majority of those who have bank accounts for a variety of reasons are not able to access personal loans, mortgage or business loans

“This explains why financial inclusion has gained inclusive currency and resonance in the past few years.’’

Cue out audio

According to Osinbajo, depositors give their hard-earned funds to the banks at single-digit interest rate but cannot get anything less than double-digits when they seek the same funds for their businesses or mortgages for homes.

He noted that the practice occurred against the backdrop of what seemed to be regular declarations of hefty profits by banks.

The Vice President stated that the issue was not just about safe keeping of funds especially for the poor and those in the rural areas.

He said everyone should have access to financial products designed for low income earners as well as for the SMEs.

Osinbajo stated that when the administration started the conditional cash transfer scheme for the poor it experienced the banking problems first hand.

He said the government had relied on the words of enthusiastic banks for sending N5,000 to the first batch of the One million poor but got disappointed when the banks could not perform.

He said that by the way bank businesses were designed in the country there was little room for financial inclusion and little room for those who could pay the banks charges.

He, however, said it was not the fault of the banks alone as the financial system favoured the strong  and excluded the weak.

Osinbajo noted that there was a need to use mobile banking as an important tool to reach more Nigerians.

“It is an important consideration in any economy that the banking system must be able to provide loans adding that the intention of the administration was to facilitate the growth of SMEs.

Osinbajo stated that the author had stirred intellectual discourse on the subject matter and there was the need for all to pay attention to his suggestions and adapt those that could propel the economy.

Accordingly, he said  banking supervision was crucial as regulation was at the heart of the  financial system.

“Regulation is at the heart of our whole financial and economic system.

“One thing that we have learnt from the last decade is that more often than not it is these ordinary citizens who pay for the misadventures of the financial services sector and the failures of government regulation.

“Not only do they lose their homes and moneys, sometimes even their live savings they also shoulder the cost of the bail outs in the banks.

“This is why, it is my view that independence governance of the CBN and closer and more regular forensic scrutiny of banks is fundamental,’’ he added.

According to Osinbajo, it is not more rules and regulations but greater enforcement.

”It is holding our bankers to account; it is insisting that they keep their books honestly and transparently and to sanction effectively those who so often step out of line.”

He expressed gratitude on the conversation of the book on the financial sector and the economy adding that it would be a worthwhile contribution on what needed to be done in the regulation of the financial system

Update : No going back on my marriage to my sister – Anambra teacher

Chiadi Ezeibekwe, a mathematics teacher, who got married to his sister has said that there was no going back on the marriage.

DAILY POST had previously reported that the 23-year-old and his 17 year-old younger sister got wedded by the older brother, Chijioke Ezeibekwe

Ezeibekwe who works in a secondary school in the Aguata local government area of Anambra state also said God “sanctioned” his marriage to his sister.

Speaking with Channels Television, the teacher who is the sixth of 10 children said, “Even if it were death coming my way, I would still believe it.

“There were visions and everything. On the evening of 15th January, I was told to announce that marriage.

“I announced this very place I’m standing. Had it been this place is a human being, it would bear me witness.

“I didn’t even tell them one after the other, I just came out and announced to the whole family that ‘look, we have agreed to marry ourselves.’” - Daily Post

Why I revealed how much Senators earn – Shehu Sani

Senator Shehu Sani has explained why he revealed how much he and his colleagues receive monthly as running cost.

Sani, who represents Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, had confirmed that each Senator gets N13.5 million as running cost.

The lawmaker noted that this was in addition to the over N750,000 monthly consolidated salary and allowances of each member of the Senate.

He, however, kicked against allowances, advocating that Senators should only be paid salaries.

In an interview with BBC, Sani said “I decided to burst it open. It was a moral issue.

“The National Assembly is one of the most non-transparent organs of government. It pricked my conscience and I decided to burst the bubble and open the National Assembly to public scrutiny.”

“If the expenses payment system was ended then parliament would only be attractive to people who contribute ideas,” he said. - Daily Post

Suspected mentally challenged man kills 2 pupils in Ogun

A suspected mentally challenged  man   on Monday hacked to death  two pupils of Saint John’s Anglican Primary School in Agodo, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun.

It was gathered that the assailant  entered the school premises from a nearby bush and inflicted machete cuts  on the children who were observing lunch break with their colleagues.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the assailant  fled the scene at about  11 :15 am after the incident.

It was learnt that the deep machete cuts inflicted on the victims left them in the pool of their blood.

Sources  said while  the school has  a perimeter fence it has no gates.

NAN gathered that parents and guardians thronged to the school after the incident to withdraw their wards while security agents have commenced investigation.

Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta.

Oyeyemi gave  the  names of the two victims as  Mubarak Kalesowo and Sunday Obituyi , both aged four and in Kindergarten class.

“The incident happened at 11:30 a.m.  during lunch break. The children were on the field playing. The guy just emerged from the bush and hacked two of them to death and immediately he did it, he ran away.

“Those who know him (suspect) said he is a madman and also an indigene of that place. But we are not relying on that.

“We are on his trail, we want to get him arrested.

“It is only a  medical expert that would confirm whether he is a mad person or not.

“Our ultimate aim is to get him arrested. As I’m talking to you now, the Area Commander and the DPO Abigi are at the scene. We have set machinery in motion to get him arrested, ”  he said. 

2019 poll : INEC seeks electoral offences tribunal

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the National Assembly and other stakeholders to expedite action on the bill to establish the National Electoral Offences Commission/Tribunal ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The Commission also disclosed that it recorded 1,080 cases of electoral offences during the 2015 general elections and subsequent bye-elections.

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated these in a memorandum he submitted to the Senate joint committee on INEC and the Judiciary on Monday.

He said 124 of the cases were filed and 60 convictions secured in various courts across the country.

Yakubu expressed dismay that reports of the Electoral Reform Committee (the Uwais Report) of 2008 and the Post-election Violence (Lemu Report) 2011 have been left to gather dusts on the shelves.

He said the two reports recommended the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission/Tribunal to address all forms of electoral violence and impunity that had continued to undermine the stability of the nation’s democracy.

Yakubu lamented the fact that though INEC has the powers to prosecute, it lacks the powers to effect the arrest of electoral offenders.

This, he said has continued to hamper effective prosecution of electoral offenders.

Yakubu said: “While the Uwais Report was transmitted by the executive to the National Assembly in 2010, the White Paper on recommendations of the Lemu Report directed the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minster of Justice to take steps towards the establishment of the Electoral Offences Tribunal.

“Nearly a decade later, there has been no legislative action on these aspects of the recommendations of the Uwais and Lemu reports, making the present effort by the Senate and the concurrent effort by the House of Representatives a welcome development.

“The failure to systematically and consistently enforce sanctions has encouraged impunity and the violence that often characterised electoral contest in Nigeria, thereby subverting the will of the people and undermining the nation’s electoral democracy.

“At present, INEC is saddled with the responsibility of prosecuting electoral offender. Section 150(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) empowered INEC to prosecute electoral offenders through its legal officers or any legal practitioner appointed by it without the powers to arrest and investigate thus depending on the police for this purpose.

“Without the capacity to make arrest and investigate violations, the prosecutorial role is severely hampered. INEC cannot effectively focus on this role given its other variegated responsibilities under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).” - The Nation