Thursday 29 November 2018

SAD !! Generator fumes kill female police officer, son, one other in Osogbo


A yet-to-be-identified female police officer, alongside her child and mother-in-law were reportedly found dead in Oloosa-Oko compound, Oja-oba area, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The woman, who was popularly known as Mummy Jumoke, was said to have gone to sleep with her children and the said mother -in-law, leaving her generating set on with little or no space for ventilation.

According to Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs Folashade Odoro, the late officer and other two might have died of carbon-monoxide emission from her generating set.
She added that the other children, who were discovered to be gasping for breath when neighbours forced their way into the apartment were quickly rushed to Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital for immediate medical attention.
She said “About 0850hrs, a woman Sergeant attached to police headquarters along with her mother-in-law and a child were reportedly found dead in her apartment at Oja-Oba Osogbo.
“The two other kids found in the same apartment still gasping for breath were rushed to OAU-IFE for medical attention ; carbon monoxide emission from her generating set is reasonably suspected to have been the cause of death, however, investigation is in progress.”
A neighbour of the deceased, Mr Kayode Akande, said the woman, together with her mother -in-law and three children were the only ones occupying the 3-bedroom apartment, adding that the husband, who is also a police officer is currently serving at Ogun State and only visits his family occasionally.
“We are all surprised to wake up this morning and found the people dead, I saw the woman last on Monday, she has always been a quiet and easy going person, one can hardly know that she is a police officer.
“I think the fumes of the generating set responsible for her death, even the mother -in-law was still alive when we forced the door open, she later gave up the ghost on her way to the hospital, it is really pathetic.”
- Daily Post

Students may stay long at home, ASUU warns

Students may stay long at home, ASUU warns
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says students may spend more time at home since no solid agreement has been reached in its negotiation with the federal government.
Abiodun Ogunyemi, national president of ASUU, said this on Thursday while speaking with reporters in Lagos.
The union commenced an indefinite strike on November 5.
Ogunyemi appealed to parents and students to show understanding, saying the industrial action is meant to avert total collapse of the country’s university system.
“We want to call on our students and parents to show understanding with our struggle as we are in this together,” he said.
“The whole essence of this struggle is to ensure that our students get worthy and deserving certificates that they will be proud of anywhere they may find themselves in the world.
“The struggle is to ensure too that we save Nigerian universities from going the way our public primary and secondary schools have gone.
“Today, most parents are sending their children and wards to private primary and secondary schools around the country because of the perceived or alleged falling standards.
“We do not want our universities to go the same way because a lot of our parents may not be able to afford the private university fees.”
Ogunyemi asked Nigerians to rise up and join the union to put pressure on the government.
“The sad thing now is that the World Bank is giving funds to some private universities to thrive over public universities,” he saidd.
“Unless Nigerians rise to the occasion and join ASUU in putting pressure on both the federal and state governments to pay adequate attention to our universities, secondary and primary schools, we may be facing a total collapse of our educational sector.
“We met on Monday in order to reach an agreement on the key issues we are agitating for but nothing tangible came out of the meeting.
“Rather than come out with firm commitment on what to do about these demands, they were appealing to us to go back to the classrooms while they tackle the issues; and to us they have missed the point.
“We were told that the negotiation will continue on Friday, November 30 but up till now, as we speak, I have not received any notice of meeting to that effect.”
Two weeks ago, the meeting between the union and the federal government ended in a deadlock.
- THeCable

FG freezes bank accounts of suspects on ‘looters list’


The federal government has frozen the bank accounts of suspects being tried in court over allegations of corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), TheCable can report.
This, TheCable understands, is part of the implementation of the Executive Order No. 6 on the “preservation of suspicious assets connected with corruption and other relevant offences” signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2018.
The federal government has also  placed a travel ban on the affected persons, but the list is yet to be officially made public.
“I issued a cheque of N250,000 to a friend and it was turned down,” a former minister who was affected informed TheCable.
“When I called my account officer, he invited me for a meeting, where I was told there is a ‘post no debit’ instruction on all my accounts because of the executive order. They told me I am not the only one affected. All persons undergoing trial are affected.”
On Tuesday, Olisa Metuh, former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he did not have money to buy even “panadol” because all his accounts had been frozen by the EFCC.
On March 30, Lai Mohammed, minister of information, had released the list of alleged looters following a challenge from Kola Ologbondiyan, spokesman of the PDP.
“The PDP has challenged us to name the looters under their watch. They said they did not loot the treasury. Well, I am sure they know that the treasury was looted dry under their watch. Yet they decided to grandstand,” he had said.
“This shows the hollowness of their apology. This list is just a tip of the iceberg, and the PDP is aware of this. We did not make these cases up. Many of these cases are in court and the records are available.”
Among those listed were Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser; Dieziani Alison-Madukwe, former minister of petroleum resources; Kenneth Minimah, former chief of army staff; Alex Badeh, former chief of defence staff; Inde Dikko, former comptroller-general of customs; and  Bala Mohammed, former minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).
Others are Stella Oduah, a serving senator; Babangida Aliyu, former Niger State governor; Jonah Jang, former Plateau governor; Nenadi Usman, former minister of finance; Bashir Yuguda, former minister of state for finance; Femi Fani-Kayode, former minister of aviation; Raymond Dokpesi, founder of DAAR Communications and Uche Secondus, national chairman of the PDP.
The list released in two batches contained 29 names. Dokpesi and Secondus had sued the federal government over the issue but lost and file appeal. The cases are ongoing.
- TheCable

Global heritage: UNESCO lists wrestling, reggae, others

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), has added Jamaican reggae, Georgian wrestling and Japanese Raiho-shin rituals, among six new elements to its list of “intangible heritage” for the world to treasure.
The UN cultural agency said the listings were meant to further improve the visibility of often little-known and understood arts traditions.
The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is meeting until December 1 in Mauritius, inscribing new elements to its much coveted-list
A lot of music lovers were happy to learn that Jamaican reggae, originating from marginalised groups, mainly in Western Kingston, was also inscribed.
UNESCO said the genre’s “contribution to international discourse on issues of injustice, resistance, love and humanity underscores the dynamics of the element as being at once cerebral, socio-political, sensual and spiritual”.
From the border between Asia and Europe, in Georgia, it added Chidaoba, which combines elements of wrestling, music, dance and special garments.
The practice encourages a healthy lifestyle and plays an important role in intercultural dialogue, according to UNESCO, which called its code of conduct “chivalric,” and noted that “occasionally the wrestlers leave the arena with a Georgian folk dance”.
Hurling, a field game from Ireland, which dates back 2,000 years, and features strongly in Irish mythology, also made the grade.
Played by two teams using a wooden “hurley” stick and a small “sliotar” ball, UNESCO said, “hurling is considered as an intrinsic part of Irish culture and plays a central role in promoting health and wellbeing, inclusiveness and team spirit”.
Japan’s Raiho-shin rituals, used to admonish against laziness and teach children good behaviour, was another winner.
Stemming from folk beliefs that deities visit communities and usher in the new year or season, local people dress in outlandish costumes and visit houses as deities.
The UN cultural agency said: “By performing the rituals, local people – notably children – have their identities moulded, develop a sense of affiliation to their community, and strengthen ties among themselves”.
Practised across many areas of Jordan, As-Samer, another new inscription, consists mainly of dancing and singing. Performed on various occasions, most commonly during weddings, UNESCO explained.
The UN agency said that poetry formed an integral part of the tradition, “expressing feelings of joy, peace, intimacy and empathy” among those in attendance.
Marking the end of the old and beginning of a new annual horse-breeding cycle, the spring festive rites of Kazakh horse breeders were also inscribed.
Rooted in traditional knowledge of nature and an age-old relation between man and horse, the rites involve skills inherited from nomadic ancestors, adapted to meet present-day conditions to ensure its continued viability.
Also listed was a historic joint bid made by both North Korea and South Korea, to include traditional Korean wrestling known as “ssirum” or “ssireum”.
Fundamentally linked to land and agriculture, UNESCO said its Executive Director, Audrey Azoulay, was instrumental in persuading North and South Koreas to combine cultural forces, embracing both a national sport and a very popular cultural practice.
UNESCO quoted Azoulay as saying the “unprecedented result” was “a highly symbolic step towards inter-Korean reconciliation, that reminds us of the peace-building power of cultural heritage”.
The UN cultural agency said: “All the listed elements are important in maintaining cultural diversity in the face of growing globalisation, without recognising standards of excellence or exclusivity”.
- PM News

Floyd Mayweather, DJ Khaled charged over token offerings

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and music producer “DJ Khaled” with failing to disclose payments.
The charge is about payments they received for promoting investments in initial coin offerings (ICOs).
The two did not admit or deny the regulator’s charges but agreed to pay a combined 767,500 U.S. dollars in fines and penalties, the SEC said in a statement on Thursday.
- PM News

INEC promotes 2,209 staff


The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it has promoted 2,209 members of staff in its 2018 promotion exercise.

The Commission disclosed this in a statement issued by Mr Mohammed Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Member, Information and Voter Education Committee on Thursday in Abuja.
The promoted staff according to Haruna is made up of 847 junior and 1,362 senior staff.
Haruna said that the Commission at its weekly meeting held on Thursday considered, among other things, the report of its Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee (AFDC) on the 2018 promotion exercise.
“In furtherance to the Commission’s commitment to the welfare of its staff, 2,209 were promoted.
“Out of a total of 927 junior staff who sat for the 2018 promotion examinations, 847 passed and were promoted accordingly.
“Of the 1,847 senior staff who took the exams, 1,517 passed. However, 1,362 were promoted in accordance with the existing vacancies.
“Out of this number, 315 persons were promoted to Directorate Cadre, eight of whom have become Directors,” he said.
- Daily Post

Residents go spiritual, seek divine intervention over new Ogbomoso-Oyo Express Way


Hundreds of Ogbomoso residents of various religious divides on Thursday gathered at the popular Randa area in Ogbomoso to seek divine intervention for the quick completion of the new Ogbomoso-Oyo Express Way.

The construction of the new Ilorin-Ogbomoso-Oyo-Ibadan Express Way, DAILY POST gathered started during the first term of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as President.
However, the Ilorin-Ogbomoso and Oyo-Ibadan sections have been completed, the Ogbomoso-Oyo section of the Express Way were yet to near completion.
Ogbomoso residents had in June, during a press conference, urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency on the Express Way.
Also on August 1st, they blocked the old Ogbomoso-Oyo Express Way in protest. 
The residents, who said that they had written several letters to the Federal government informed journalists that the next thing for them was to seek the face of God.
They said that the essence of the inter-faith prayer session held on Thursday was to call on God to intervene.
Present at the special prayer session organised by Ogbomoso Community Forum (OCF), included, the Soun of Ogbomoso who was represented by Onijeru of Ijeru, Oba Popoola Olaniyi, Chairman, League of Imams and Alfas, Ogbomoso and environs, Alhaji Atanda Nafiu and Chairman of the prayer committee, Bishop Abraham Oyetunji. Others are Iyafin Anifowose and Pastor Moses Oyelami, Alhaji Akorede Federal and Oluawo of Ogbomoso, Babaawo Opeyemi Opeifa.
OCF Chairman, Reverend Israel Olaniyan while speaking maintained that the old Ogbomoso-Oyo had become a death trap.
He insisted that the number of lives that had been lost on the old Ogbomoso-Oyo Express Way is more than those killed by Boko Haram.
He said, “What led us to this occasion is the uncompleted project of the federal government that passed through Ogbomoso to Oyo. Ibadan to Oyo is completed, Ilorin to Ogbomoso is completed but Ogbomoso to Oyo, in fact from Ogbomoso to Oyo is almost undone. It is from Oyo side that something is being done. And this old road, Ogbomoso-Oyo has become a death trap. In fact, recently, a whole family of nine, the father, the two wives and all the children perished just about three weeks ago.
“The old road has become a place where you are not sure of where you are going.
“We have discovered that both the federal government and the National Assembly are at fault. The National Assembly is not voting enough money for the road. Raji Fasola has made us to know at a recent town Hall meeting that it is the National Assembly that is not voting enough money. And we are using this opportunity to appeal to the National Assembly to help us put enough money that will complete this road in the 2019 budget.
“Number two is that the Federal government, our President, Muhammadu Buhari should take this road as a priority project to be completed even before the end of his first tenure. We know this is possible. We are made to understand that the contractor handling the project can do the work even within three months if money is released. So we are appealing to the federal government to please, release money to this contractor. Let him do his job and let the work be completed.”
The Senator representing Oyo Central district in the National Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu has, however, assured the people of Ogbomoso that one of the priorities of the federal government was to ensure the completion of the new Express Way without delay.
Sunmonu in a statement mailed to DAILY POST on Thursday while reacting to the special prayer session added that the Senate was still worried by the low pace of work on the new Express Way.
Sunmonu said, “I assure the people of Oyo Central and the people of Oyo, Ogbomoso in particular of federal government utmost commitment to the completion of the Oyo-Ogbomoso road in a matter of time.
“The Senate was worried by the slow pace of work at the site of Ogbomoso-Oyo road, hence the reason why the Chairman Senate committee on works, Senator Kabiru Gaya inspected the site some weeks ago. I would not relent in my efforts in making sure that the Ogbomoso-Oyo road completed as soon as possible.
“I acknowledge the hardship the people of the area are facing, which will soon be over. I, therefore, call on the people of Oyo central and Ogbomoso not to be discouraged as the rehabilitation of the road will soon be completed.” 
- Daily Post

UNIJOS declares lawmaker’s certificate fake


Mr. Monday Danjem, Registrar, University of Jos, on Thursday told a Federal High Court in Jos that a Business Administration Diploma claimed by Mr Ibrahim Baba-Hassan, a member of the Plateau House of Assembly, is fake.

“From the university’s records, Ibrahim Baba-Hassan enrolled into a Diploma in Business Administration programme in 1994, but failed six courses and did not write them so as to complete the programme.
“He did not complete that programme and could not have obtained any certificate in 1996 as is being claimed,” Danjem explained while being cross examined by the defence counsel, Mr Solomon Umoh (SAN).
Baba-Hassan, member representing Jos North-North Constituency in Plateau House of Assembly, is standing trial over alleged forging of the university’s diploma certificate in Business Administration, which he claimed to have obtained in 1996.
NAN reports that the complainant in the case is Alhaji Abdul Sale, an APC member, who contested the state constituency primary elections in 2o14 and lost the party’s ticket to Baba-Hassan.
Sale is alleging that Baba-Hassan was not qualified to have contested the primary election having presented a forged certificate to INEC for clearance.
The Registrar told the court in his evidence-in-chief that the diploma certificate the lawmaker issued to INEC in 2014, while contesting for the Plateau House Assembly seat, did not emanate from the University of Jos.
Dajem said that the lawmaker failed courses during the programme, adding that there was no way the university could have issued him with a certificate.
He also told the court that even when the Nigeria Police Force wrote to the university to confirm the authenticity of the certificate, the institution wrote back “and bluntly told the Police that it did not issue the diploma certificate”.
Dajem spoke further: “On March 9, 2016, we saw a publication in Punch Newspaper claiming that the university issued Ibrahim Baba-Hassan with that diploma certificate; we found that strange and promptly countered it via a disclaimer published in the Vanguard Newspaper”.
“The University of Jos at no time issued the defender with such a certificate knowing fully well that he did not complete the course, ’’ he stated.
Again, when Umoh presented a 2000 Convocation booklet to the Prosecution witness and showed him where Baba-Hassan was issued with a B.Sc Degree in Management Science, Danjem declared that it was “only a semblance of the university’’.
“I need to compare this convocation booklet with what I have in the school before I could be convinced that it is a true copy.
“There is even a contradiction. The Degree certificate you earlier showed me claimed that Baba-Hassan had a second class lower division in 2000. But in the convocation booklet you are showing me, he obtained a third class.
“So, I need to compare this booklet with that which I have, so as to be sure if this is printed by the university,” Dajem said. ’
He explained that the university had every record about Baba-Hassan right from the time he enrolled into the university for the diploma programme, but reaffirmed that the lawmaker did not graduate and could not have been issued with a certificate after failing six courses.
Mr David Ibeawuchi, prosecution counsel and Mr Joseph Danboyi, who held brief for the APC counsel, Mr L. D. Dafar, did not re-cross examine Danjem after the defence counsel completed his task with him.
The judge, Justice Musa Kurya, adjourned the case to Dec. 7 for continuation of hearing.
- Daily Post

Why US should not give Atiku visa – Buhari govt


The Federal Government has told the U.S. to be cautious in granting visa to the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in order not to create the impression of endorsing him for the 2019 election.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the government position at an interactive session with media executives in Abuja on Thursday.
Mohammed said that the government was aware of the move by the former Vice President to lobby the U.S. to lift the visa ban imposed on him.
He said while the U.S. has the prerogative of whom to issue visa, it should be mindful of the timing, in order not to give the impression that Atiku has been endorsed by the U.S. government.
“We understand and appreciate the fact that it is the prerogative of the U.S. to grant a visa to anyone who applies.

“However, we want the U.S. to be neutral and be wary of taking any decision that will give the impression that they are favouring or endorsing one candidate over the other
“Impression must not be created that the U.S. government is endorsing one particular candidate over the other,’’ he said.
The minister recalled that for years, there has been a kind of congressional bi-partisan investigation on corruption against certain individuals which had made it difficult for Atiku to secure a U.S. visa.
“I am sure you will all recall the Jefferson’s case and the cold 90,000 U.S. dollar in fridge.
“We are not unaware that Atiku has engaged the services of some lobbyists to persuade the U.S. to issue visa to him.
“Our position is that if the former Vice President is seeking the U.S. visa we have no problem about it.
“However, we want the U.S. government not to create the impression that it is endorsing one candidate over the other,’’ he said.
Speaking on security, the minister insisted that despite the recent set back brought about by attacks on the military, the Boko Haram insurgents had been largely decimated.
He recalled that when they took over in 2015, Boko Haram was active in 10 states including the FCT where they chose where and when to attack
The minister said that 20 of the 27 Local Government Areas in Borno were under the insurgents where they hoisted their flags collected taxes and deposed the Emirs.
He said since they took over, no inch of Nigeria territory is under the control of the insurgents who now operated in the fringes –Lake Chad Island- to launch guerilla attacks.
“What happened was a set-back and it is not enough to say that we are losing the war against the Boko Haram.
“We want to appreciate the gallant military who are sacrificing day and night and those who have lost their lives to protect Nigeria’s sovereignty,’’ he said.
The Minister added that the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Borno and his ongoing visit to Chad were indications of renewed vigour to end the war.
Mohammed also denied the allegations that the government was closing media space against the opposition.
- Daily Post

Ritualists behead 12-year-old girl, remove vital organs in Delta


Suspected ritualists, in the early hours of Thursday, beheaded a 12-year-old girl, simply identified as Eguono, at Okwemeva junction off Scott road in Oghara, Ethiope-West Local Government Area of Delta State, DAILY POST can report.


It was learnt that vital organs of the deceased were also severed by the suspected ritualists.
At the moment, residents, still in shock over the development, are afraid to speak to the press for fear of the unknown.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force, Oghara Division, have gone to evacuate the remains of the deceased.
When contacted, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Mustafa said, “The DPO actually called me; but they said the girl was not mentally okay.
“Yes, it is confirmed, but the DPO has commenced investigation to unravel the true story as to why the girl was beheaded.”
- Daily Post

Nigeria to overtake India as world capital for under-five deaths, says World Bank

Nigeria to overtake India as world capital for under-five deaths, says World Bank
World Bank says Nigeria will take over India as the world capital for deaths of children under the age of five by 2021.
In its bi-annual economic update on Nigeria seen by TheCable, the Bretton Woods institution, said Nigeria records the highest number of child malaria deaths anywhere in the world.
The bank added that Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children anywhere in the world, and 90 percent of these children are from northern Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s weak revenue mobilization has major implications for its growth and development, including for improving its dire social service delivery outcomes,” the World Bank said.
“Poverty remains high in Nigeria and access to basic social services is not universal. In 2016, the World Bank estimated poverty at 38.8 percent of the population using the national poverty line.
“But by the international poverty line of PPP-corrected $1.90 per capita per day, an estimated 49.2 percent of the population lived below poverty in 2017.
“With 9 million children out of school, Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children of primary school age in the world; with over 90 per- cent of them in the North.”
The bank said “vaccination coverage rates in Nigeria have changed little over the last 25 years, in sharp contrast to other West African countries which have made more rapid progress even though they started from higher levels”.
“Nigeria will overtake India in 2021 as the country with the most under-five deaths in the world. More children die of malaria in Nigeria than in any other country in the world.”
Based on current World Bank figures, India, with a population of 1.3 billion recorded 989,000 under-five deaths in 2017, while Nigeria, with 196 million citizens, recorded 714,000 deaths in the same year.
- TheCable

FIFA rankings: Nigeria now fifth in Africa, retains 44th in the world

Nigeria is now placed fourth in Africa and retains its 44th spot in the world with 1427 points as against October’s 1431 points in the FIFA/Coca Cola Rankings on released on Thursday.
Tunisia that led the continent’s teams in the last rankings dropped to second place behind Senegal, with the North African side dropping four places, now 26th in the world with 1493 points.
Senegal now top the CAF teams with 1505 points and placed 23rd in the world, while Morocco rests in third place with Congo DR in fifth after garnering 1440 and 1420 points as 40th and 49th placed respectively.
Belgium, France and Brazil remained unchanged as the highest ranked in the world with 1727, 1727 and 1676.
According to FIFA website, “www.fifa.com’’, defeats for the leading duo in the UEFA Nations League resulted in both dropping six ranking points.
Brazil, though still 50 points behind France added seven after wins over Uruguay that is seventh ranked and 55th placed Cameroon.
Meanwhile, the big climbers included African quintet of Mozambique (117th, up 5), Angola (125th, up 5), Sudan (127th, up 8), Comoros (143rd, up 5) and Gambia (166th, up 7).
The rise of Kosovo (131st, up 6) was also notable as it took them to their highest position ranking to date.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on Dec. 20.