Zamfara Assembly abolishes law allowing payment of pension, allowances to former Governors, Speakers, Deputies

The Zamfara State House of Assembly in its sitting on Tuesday, laid to rest the raging controversy over payment of pension and other entitlements for the former governors, speakers and their deputies in the state by repealing the law outrightly.

This was disclosed by the Assembly’s Public Relations Officer, Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, in a statement issued to newsmen.

He said while presenting the bill before the House today, the House Leader, Hon. Faruk Musa Dosara (PDP Maradun 1), urged his collogues to as a matter of urgency consider the complete repeal of the law, which provides the jamboree pay for the former political leaders of the state at the detriment of the retired civil servants, who have not been paid their entitlements over the years.

According to Hon. Dosara, these category of past leaders were collecting over N700,000 million naira annually, which he said the present state economy cannot accommodate for now.

Seconding the motion at the chamber Hon. Tukur Jekada Birnin Tudu (PDP) Bakura Local Government, said the abolition of the law is highly necessary as its detrimental to the socio-economic well being of our people.

Kaura in the statement noted that, after serious deliberations and contributions by the house members, the speaker Right Honourable Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya ordered the Clerk to the house to give the bill first and second reading and later the house went for a committee of the whole in which thereafter the bill went for a third reading and resolved that the bill has now passed into law and will be sent to the governor for his assent.

With this development according to the spokesperson of the State House of Assembly Mustapha Jafaru kaura all past political leaders in Zamfara State will no longer enjoy any entitlements unless those prescribed by national revenue mobilisation allocation and fiscal commission.

The Spokesman noted the House adjourned sitting to tomorrow, Wednesday, 27/11/2019 by 10:00am prompt

Recall that, the former Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, had forwarded a letter to the state government demanding to be paid ten million naira as monthly upkeep allowances and a pension equivalent to the salary he was receiving while in office.

DAILY POST

From 965 to 1,230 — Nigerian Law School records more exam failure

More law graduates have failed the final bar examinations which are a prerequisite for being called to the Nigerian bar.

Speaking at the 2019 call-to-bar ceremony in Abuja, on Tuesday, Isa Ciroma, director-general of the Nigerian Law School, said 5,689 students sat for the examinations in August out of which 4,455 were successful.

According to him, 147 candidates had first class results, which represents 2.58 percent of the total figure; 741 made second class upper division, 13.03 percent, while 2,247 made second class lower division, 39.50 percent of the total figure.

He said the candidates, who scored pass mark, were 1,321, which represents 23.22 percent of the total figure.

“The screening committee of the distinguished Body of Benchers has perused the records of each aspirant and has found them worthy to be presented for the call to the Nigerian bar,” he said.

“I attest that they are fit and proper persons for call and admission to the Nigerian Bar.”

About 1,230 law graduates failed the exams, which is an increase from April 2019, where 724 failed.

In August, 2018, 965 students were recorded to have failed the examinations, representing 16.51 percent of the number of candidates who took the tests at the time.

In his remarks, Tanko Muhammad, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), congratulated the successful candidates.

He asked the new wigs to pursue justice in accordance with the law. He also asked them to make a difference by using the knowledge and skills they have acquired in making the society better.

“Your priority is to commit yourselves to the pursuit of justice. Where you see justice not being achieved, do all you can within the ambit of the law to ensure that justice is served,” he said.

“Needless to say, if the justice system fails, the confidence of the people in it declines. I urge you all to make a difference by leaving your footprints on the sands of time; you have all been equipped with necessary skills, trainings and the ability to make impact in the society.”

Also, the number of first class graduates dropped from 161 in 2018 to 147 in 2019. The University of Ibadan produced the highest number of first class candidates this year, with 26 graduates.

- THECABLE

Security guard allegedly caught raping 12-year-old stepdaughter in Lagos

An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday remanded a 39-year-old security guard, Ojo Apejua, for allegedly defiling his 12-year-old stepdaughter.

NAN reports that the Magistrate, Mrs Ejiro Kubeinje, who did not take the plea of the defendant, ordered that the case file should be sent to the state director of public prosecutions for advice.

Kubeinje adjourned the case until Jan. 9, 2020, for mention.

The defendant, who resides on Salawe Street, Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos State, is facing a charge of rape.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Lucky Ihiehie, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Oct. 10 at 10:00p.m. at his residence.

Ihiehie said the defendant had been defiling the girl since September and had threatened to kill her if she told anybody.

“On that faithful day, he was caught red-handed in the act by the girl’s mother.

“He left the house since that day but was later arrested by the police,” Ihiehie said.

The offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

- DAILY POST

How UNN students ‘exposed the powers of darkness’ while witchcraft conference was ongoing

After failed attempts to stop a conference on witchcraft from holding, students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) organised a prayer conference to fire back at the organisers.

The two-day conference on witchcraft, which was later renamed “Dimensions of Human Behaviour”, started on Tuesday in the university amid intense opposition.

Despite renaming the conference, the agenda was still on witchcraft. It is being organised by Professor B.I.C Ijomah Centre for Policy and Research at the university.

But on the day the programme began, the student affairs department of the university commenced a parallel “prayer conference” with the theme: “Exposing and destroying the powers of witchcraft”.

It was organised in collaboration with the graduate students fellowship of the university.

TheCable had reported that some members of the university community, mostly students, started online campaigns to register their displeasure over the conference.

Posters were also circulated in protest of the event tagged “gathering of witches.”

Various other groups including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria had kicked called for the cancellation of the conference and declared similar “prayer warfare” against it.

Egodi Uchendu, director of the centre, had denied the conference had anything to do with witches.

She had said witchcraft is only “the topic of the academic engagement”, and that even Christians would benefit from the programme.

“Church pastors discuss witchcraft regularly and preach against it all the time, drawing from their experiences during their training and in their ministries,” she had said.

“I am sure the information from this conference and the research findings would assist them in their work for the gospel.

- THECABLE

Manchester City’s owner sells stake

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, owner of English Premier League champions, Manchester City and City Football Group, has sold about 10 per cent of the shares to Silver Lake, a private equity investor for about $500 million. 

The deal values City Football Group at US$4.8B post-investment, Gulf News reported on Wednesday.

Apart from its ownership of Manchester City, CFG is the owner of football clubs and related businesses, including New York City FC, Melbourne City FC, Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, Club Atletico Torque in Uruguay, Girona FC in Spain and Sichuan Jiuniu FC in China. 

The company has more than 2,000 employees in 12 locations globally, overseeing more than 1,500 players and 2,500 games annually, and delivering a unique global platform to its commercial partners.

The proceeds from the investment will be used by City Football Group to fund international business growth opportunities and develop further CFG technology and infrastructure assets.

No existing CFG shareholders are selling equity as a result of this primary capital investment. Abu Dhabi United Group, the investment vehicle owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, remains the majority CFG shareholder ( about 77%). 

In addition, about 12% of CFG equity remains held by a consortium of Chinese institutional investors led by China’s leading media and entertainment conglomerate CMC Inc.

Pursuant to the agreement, the Board of the City Football Group Holding Company will increase from eight to nine members.

Mr. Egon Durban, a Managing Partner and Managing Director of Silver Lake, will represent Silver Lake as the ninth CFG board member.

“Silver Lake is a global leader in technology investing, and we are delighted by both the validation that their investment in CFG represents, and the opportunities for further growth that their partnership brings. We and Silver Lake share the strong belief in the opportunities being presented by the convergence of entertainment, sports and technology and the resulting ability for CFG to generate long-term growth and new revenue streams globally,” said Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of City Football Group.

Reported by Gulf News

Lagos to register churches, mosques in 2020, give reasons

The Lagos State Government says plans are on to register religious houses in 2020, to ensure sanity in the state.

The Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, made this known on Tuesday in Alausa, Ikeja, during a Stakeholders Meeting with the Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC).

She said that having a database of all religious bodies in the state would enable ease of reference, as well as ensure effective communication.

“We need to know our number, then we can know what we need, we can know where we belong, we can know what we are doing.

“So, we are coming up with the registration forms and we need your cooperation as religious bodies that represent us at the local government level.

“We will ensure that we have it on a platform that will be automated, then you can do it anywhere, it is not compulsory that you come to Alausa for the registration,” the commissioner said.

She said that once the platform was ready, religious bodies would be trained on how to use it for registration and at no cost.

Akinbile-Yussuf explained that the purpose was to have easy access to Churches and Mosques in order for them to benefit from government programmes.

She said that the Ministry of Home Affairs would collaborate with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources through the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), to eradicate noise pollution emanating from places of worship.

The official noted that Lagos could only be a 21st Century economy if there was a good environment devoid of noise pollution.

“We want to charge NIREC officials to ensure that they promote good environment by addressing all complaints by communities over noise pollution,” she said.

- DAILY POST

Handcuffed Nigerian jumps into Philippine’s river

An unidentified Nigerian, wearing a mysterious handcuff, was rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard Wednesday morning after he jumped into the Pasig River.

More mysteriously, the handcuff he was wearing does not belong to the police

According to a report by Coconuts Manila, village officials in Hulo in Mandaluyong City said they saw the man leap into the water at about 6am, radio station DZMM reports. 

The officials called the Coast Guard, who then fished him out of the river and noticed that he was wearing handcuffs.

The Nigerian told the Coast Guard that before jumping into the river, he had visited a Makati police station but did not explain why. 

He also didn’t say how he ended up in Mandaluyong, according to radio station DZBB.

He was taken by the Coast Guard to a Mandaluyong City police station where they determined that the handcuffs he was wearing did not belong to the Philippine National Police. 

The Nigerian remains at the police station, where he is currently being questioned by the authorities.

- PM NEWS

Afe Babalola: I rejected ministerial appointments because I can’t work with civil servants

Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, says civil servants are the problems of Nigeria.

Babalola spoke at a dinner in celebration of the conferment of a honorary doctor of letters on him by the University of Ibadan (UI).

The dinner was organised in his honour by lawyers of Emmanuel Chambers & Co.

He said he turned down ministerial appointments because he cannot work with the “present type of civil servants in this country”.

The senior advocate of Nigeria said none of the civil servants in the country can work the way he does.

“Well, I turned ministerial appointments down for two reasons,” he said.

“One, I cannot work with the present type of civil servants in this country. The civil servants are the problems in this country. None of them can work the way I work. I will create instant enemies if I had accepted to be a minister.

“The second reason is that my clients are so many. They protested and felt I would be disappointing them if I accepted to be a minister. ”

He admitted that Nigeria is a difficult county but expressed the hope that things could be better.

He said UI has trained well over 300,000 people, including billionaires, yet the university “could not boast of of N5bn in endowment”.

“Great universities in the world today depend not only on tuition fees but mostly on endowments and donations, “he said.

In his address, Adebayo Adenipekun, principal partner of Afe Babalola & Co, said they will always follow the parts of honesty and integrity laid down by Babalola.

“I wish to assure you, sir, that the chambers is well and kicking and still fulfilling your ideals, ” he said.

“No matter how tempting the brief may be, we always ensure that we maintain the integrity of the chambers and would not go beyond the bounds of due process of law.

“We are unperturbed by any disability we may suffer. We are determined to follow your footprints of honesty and integrity. “

- THECABLE

Nigeria hijacked by criminals – Tuface Idibia

Nigerian Music legend, Innocent Idibia popularly known as 2face has criticised the present administration over the state of the country.

The ‘African Queen’ crooner described the Nigerian system as a joke.

According to him, Nigeria has been hijacked by criminals.

Tuface, however, hopes the younger generation will cause a positive change in the country.

On his Twitter page, he wrote: “Naija system is a total joke, criminals have hijacked Nigeria.

“Men and women that have dedicated their time to make sure that Nigeria will carry last. No shame, no dignity, no honour.

“I pray the young men that have entered the system will do their best to influence positive change.”

- DAILY POST

Solskjaer speaks on Pochettino replacing him at Man Utd after getting sacked

Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. has laughed off suggestions that Mauricio Pochettino’s availability has put extra pressure on his job.

Pochettino was sacked by Tottenham Hotspurs on Tuesday but was seriously linked with Old Trafford job, before Solskjaer eventually got it.

“It doesn’t bother me at all,” Solskjaer told a news conference on Friday.

“I’ve got the best job in the world and if you’re in or out of a job you want this job, so it doesn’t really matter whatever happens around it.

“I’ve got to focus on my job at Manchester United and do it as well as we can. I speak with Ed [Woodward] and the owners all the time about how we move the club forward and that doesn’t change if others change managers.”

- DAILY POST

Sowore sues DSS N500m over illegal detention

Convener, #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore has sued the Department of State Services, DSS, claiming N500 million for his illegal detention despite two courts directing the body to free him.

Sowore is asking the court to order the DSS to pay him N500m as general and aggravated damages for his detention and illegal violation of fundamental rights.

The activist made the demand in a suit marked FHC/ABJ /C51409/2019 dated November 20, 2019 and obtained by Sahara Reporters in Abuja on Friday.

The suit was supported by a 21-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Abubakar Marshall and accompanied by a written address.

It reads, “A declaration that the detention of the applicant from November 7, 2019 till date in violation of the order for his release made on November 6, 2019 is illegal as it violates his fundamental right to liberty guaranteed by Section 35 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Article 6 of African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act (CAP A10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“An order of this court compelling the respondents to pay to the applicant the sum of N500,000, 000, 00 ( Five hundred million naira) as general and aggravated damages for the illegal violation of the applicant’s fundamental right to life, dignity of his person, fair hearing, health, freedom of movement and freedom of association.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further violating the applicant’s fundamental rights in any manner whatsoever and however without lawful justification.”

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), is joined in the suit.

Sowore was arrested in Lagos on August 3, 2019 for calling on Nigerians to take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations to demand a better country from the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The government has accused him of insulting President Buhari and planning to bring down his government – charges observers around the world including leading legal practitioners describe as frivolous and laughable.

- PM NEWS

Pastor slumps, dies after defecting to APC in Edo

A cleric identified as Pastor Aimola John has reportedly slumped and died.

According to the Nation, Pastor John slumped shortly after joining Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Aimola was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Former Secretary of Owan East, Mr. Godwin Imoudu confirming his death, said late Aimola was in Benin to defect to the APC when the incident happened.

He was said to have been a former chairmanship candidate for Owan East Local Government Area.

DAILY POST recalls that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state had expelled its former governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Ize-Iyamu was expelled following his refusal to confirm or refute his rumoured defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (PDP).

He was expelled from participating in any PDP related activities with immediate effect.

- DAILY POST

‘Everybody will bow to me, once I beat Ruiz’ – Anthony Joshua

Former Heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua made an erratic statement about what he expects from fans after he fights Andy Ruiz this December in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Mexican-American, Ruiz, shocked the world when he beat Joshua in 7 rounds in New York’s Madison Square Garden in June, but Joshua believes he will be adored this time around if he regains the 3 heavyweight belts on the line.

‘I’m fighting the best man in the world now. I’m going to whup him, and show how great I am,’ Joshua told Sky Sports.

‘They think he’s so great, so when I beat him I want everybody to bow to my feet and tell me how great I am. I couldn’t beat Ruiz Jr before and get the credit I deserved. You saw me in the ring [before the fight] – I wasn’t fighting King Kong, was I? I didn’t have that mindset. Apparently I’m fighting the quickest hands and the best fighter in the division. So once I beat him I want everybody to bow to me’ he bragged.

Joshua’s fight with Ruiz tagged ‘clash of the dunes’ is being sponsored by the Saudi Arabian government with reports circulating that about $40m has been budgeted for the fight which is to be shared between both boxers and their promoters.

- PM NEWS

RUBBER STAMP 'SINATORS' !! Senate approves N10bn for Kogi — 3 days to gov election

The senate has approved the sum of N10 billion for Kogi state.

The sum is a refund for projects executed on behalf of the federal government by the state government.

The approval is coming two days to the governorship election in the state.

On October 15, President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for the funds was read on the floor of the upper legislative chamber by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

While presenting his report on Wednesday, Clifford Ordia, chairman of the senate committee on local and foreign debts, said the Kogi government carried out repairs on seven federal government roads in the state.

“Based on our findings, some of the highways were in the state of disrepair before the intervention was carried out,” Ordia said.

“The state government has paid all the contractors that constructed the road.

“Our humble recommendation is that the senate do approve the refund of N10 billion for projects executed on behalf of the federal government.”

But Enyinnaya Abaribe, senate minority leader, spoke against the recommendation by the committee.

“What I don’t want is the misuse of these funds because it is for the people of the Kogi state,” Abaribe said.

“This is not the right time, this is the time where the exigencies of the moment may be used.”

But Lawan said the senate’s approval of the refund only coincides with election.

“Kogi state applied for this in the last senate, all the other states were paid. Kogi was not approved at that time, we as a senate has seen it as a necessity and it is a coincidence,” he said.

- THECABLE

Trailer being chased by police crushes 20 persons to death in Yola

No fewer than 20 persons were reportedly crushed to death after a trailer loaded with farming produce overran several tricycles popularly known as Keke Napep, Tuesday, at Vinikling bridge (Hayin Gada) in Yola, Adamawa State.

Residents told DAILY POST that the accident was caused by police officers, who were pursuing the truck driver for refusing to give them money.

A resident of Viniklang, Malam Umar Shehu, who also sent pictures of the accident to DAILY POST reporter, said he participated in evacuation of corpses to the hospital in Yola.

According to him, the explanation the police gave was that, they were chasing the truck driver for carrying goods suspected to be foreign rice, a situation which led to the unfortunate incident, resulting in the death of many.

“But, there was no foreign rice in the truck, it was farm produce. The driver said they were chasing him for refusing to give them money at a checkpoint the police mounted,” Umar said.

One of the passengers, a student at the Modibo Adama University, who identified himself as Salisu Ibrahim said he narrowly escaped death by whiskers.

“I did not know what happened, but we suddenly saw the truck coming with speed and police van was pursuing it. All of us in our Keke Napep jumped out and fled, the driver lost control and the truck began to hit other Keke Napep and crushing people before our very own eyes. It was horrific,” Ibrahim said.

DAILY POST, however, made several attempts to get Othman Abubakar, the Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa to speak but his phone was switched off at the time of this report.

- DAILY POST

What Thierry Henry said about Lacazette

Thierry Henry has said he has always liked Alexandre Lacazette as a number nine.

Lacazette has scored 38 times in 97 Arsenal games but is currently being overlooked by France manager, Didier Deschamps.

He has not featured for Les Bleus, since netting a double against Germany in a friendly in November 2017.

“Didier knows what he’s doing.

“Didier’s the boss of the national team so I don’t know why he (Lacazette) hasn’t been called.

“All I can tell you is what I see, like I’ve been doing for a little while, for Lyon and Arsenal. He’s a goalscorer but competition is massive in France to play upfront.

“Giroud is doing extremely well, Griezmann can also play there. Plea is also doing well for Monchengladbach. Ben Yedder is doing well for Monaco and when he went to Sevilla.

“That’s the stuff that’s very difficult for me to talk about because you have to respect the decision of the coach.

“I always liked Lacazette as a No. 9 but the most important thing is that Didier likes him,” Henry told Goal.

- DAILY POST

JAMB to create new platform for candidates denied admission

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it will create a platform that will enable candidates who scored 250 and above know why they are denied placements in their respective schools of choice.

Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Head of Media and Information, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

According to him, the development is to further engender transparency and equity as well ensure that candidates do not fall prey to fraudsters who may claim to be in a position to influence their placements if they (candidates), can meet their terms.

“The board is urging all candidates to have faith in the system as they need not beg, pay or patronise anybody to secure admission.

“Reports reaching us indicate that some persons have been going around collecting candidates’ registration numbers and scores under the guise of helping them to secure placements in their respective institutions of choice.

“Most of these candidates are high scoring candidates who in the board’s 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) ordinarily could have secured their admission on merit considering the system put in place by the board,” he told NAN.

“The board, has through the Central Admission Process System (CAPS), defined all parameters for admission, and once a candidate meets the requirements, such a candidate is automatically picked by the system without interference.

“Unfortunately due to the ignorance of some of these candidates on how the system is being configured to engender transparency, equity and fairness, they allow themselves to be defrauded by some criminals, parting away with huge sums.

“Apparently, these candidates, in the event of being able to secure admission through the CAPS, attribute their success to these criminals who had collected money from them, without knowing that they made no contribution to their success.”

According to Dr Fabian, it is against this backdrop that the board has decided to create a platform that will guide high scoring candidates, from 250 and above on their admission status.

“These group of candidates are to visit the platform and know why they are not admitted in the case of such an eventuality and take necessary precautions for subsequent exercises.

“This is to ensure that these candidates have confidence in the system, as well as prevent them from falling prey to fraudsters.

“We, therefore, also call on all institutions of higher learning to key into this sensitisation of disclosing why some high scoring candidates may not be admitted,” Benjamin said.

- DAILY POST

IATA: Nigerian airlines ‘lost N1.4bn’ to charges, expensive fuel in Q1

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says airlines operating in Nigeria and other African countries lose an average of N554 ($1.54) on every passenger they carry.

Data made available by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) showed that local airlines transported 2.56 million passengers on 42,905 flights in the first quarter of 2019.

This would mean that local airlines lost N1.41 billion in the first quarter of the year.

Speaking at the 51st annual general assembly of the African Airline Association (AFRAA) in Mauritius, Alexandre de Juniac, the IATA president, said user charges account for 11.4% of airlines’ operating costs in Africa.

“The success of African aviation is also challenged by high costs. African carriers lose $1.54 for every passenger they carry,” he said.

“High costs contribute to these losses. Jet fuel costs are 35% higher than the global average

“User charges are excessive. They account for 11.4% of African airlines’ operating costs. That is double the industry average.

“And there is a plethora of taxes and charges, some unique like redevance fees, hydrant fees, railage fees, royalty fees and even solidarity taxes.

“Flying is not a luxury—it is an economic lifeline for this continent. That’s why it is critical for governments to understand that every extra cost they add to the industry reduces aviation’s effectiveness as a catalyst for development.”

Apart from cost, the IATA boss said other priorities for African aviation are safety, liberalizing intra-Africa access to markets and gender diversity.

- THECABLE

Noise Pollution: LASG reads riot act to religious centers, others

Lagos State Government on Tuesday while reading the riot act to operators of night clubs, bars, karaoke centres, churches and mosques in the state who are shut down due to noise pollution say the affected centres will not be reopened until a letter of guarantee is issued on their behalf by the residents association of such areas.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, he stated that the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has been mandated to apply the full weight of the law in this wise.

He added that on a continuous basis, LASEPA officials will be going round such centres/homes and anyone found to have exceeded the allowed level of sound output will be closed down and the appropriate sanctions applied.

He added that the action became imperative because his office has been inundated with complaints and petitions from many residents and residents associations all over the state about the obnoxious noise levels of many of the leisure centres and religious homes.

Tunji Bello explained that it was also discovered that many of such leisure centres/religious homes after being reopened by the State Government usually go back to the same noise pollution for which they were earlier axed, adding that this prompted the issue of involving the residents’ associations.

He advised the affected leisure centres to procure soundproof equipment which would lessen the decibel of sound that goes out when such leisure or religious homes are engaging in business.

He emphasized that the State Government will not allow any business concern to put the healthy well being of the residents at peril simply because it wants to operate or be in business.

- PM NEWS

DSS must stop display of naked power, release Sowore now – Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has warned the Department of State Services, DSS, to stop the charade and display of crude and naked power by releasing the Convener, #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore still being kept in their custody despite meeting his stringent bail conditions.

Operatives of the DSS had on Tuesday fired gunshots and used pepper spray to disperse protesters who were gathered around the service headquarters to demand the release of Sowore.

Soyinka, in a statement he personally issued late Tuesday night also said it should become abundantly clear by now that Civil Society Organisations, committed to the entrenchment of the Rule of Law and the defence of fundamental human rights must come together.

“This is not a new cry. They must meet, debate, and embark on a binding pact of tactical responses whenever these two pillars of civilized society are besieged by the demolition engines of state security agencies. The sporadic, uncoordinated responses as in the case of  Omoyele Sowore, the absence of a solid strategy, ready to be activated against any threat — these continue to enable these agencies in their mission to enthrone a pattern of conduct that openly scoffs at the role of the judiciary in national life.

“Result? A steady entrenchment of the cult of impunity in the dealings of state with the citizenry – both individuals and organizations. The level of arrogance has crossed even the most permissive thresholds. It is heart-warming to witness the determined efforts of  “Concerned Nigerians” in defence of these rights,” he said.

According to him, predictably, the ham-fisted response of the DSS continued to defy the rulings of the court. adding that the weaponry of lies having been exploded in their faces, they resorted to violence, including, as now reported, the firing of live bullets.

“Why the desperation? The answer is straightforward: the government never imagined that the bail conditions for Sowore would ever be met. Even Sowore’s supporters despaired. The bail test was clearly set to fail!  It took a while for the projection to be reversed, and it left the DSS floundering.

“That agency then resorted to childish, cynical lies. It claimed that the ordered release was no longer in their hands, but in Sowore’s end of the transfer. The lie being exploded, what next? Bullets of course,” he said.

Soyinka said such a development was not only callous and inhuman, but criminal, as it escalated an already untenable defiance by the state.

“As I remarked from the onset, this is an act of government insecurity and paranoia that merely defeats its real purpose. And now – bullets?  This is no longer comical. Perhaps it is necessary to remind this government of precedents in other lands where, even years after the event, those who trampled on established human rights that generate homicidal impunity are called to account for abuse of power and crimes against humanity.

“The protests for Sowore’s release go beyond only acts of solidarity, they are manifestations of the judgment and authority of courts of law, under which this nation is supposedly governed. Either it is, or it isn’t. The answer stares us all in the face. The principles that now fall under threat implicate more than one individual under travail. They involve the very entitlement of a nation to lay claim to membership of any democratic, humanized union,” he said.

The Nobel Laureate said “Enough of this charade, nothing more than a display of crude, naked power. Release Omoyele Sowore and save us further embarrassment in the regard of the world. An apology to the nation by the DSS and the judiciary would also not be out of place. It would go some distance in redeeming the image of an increasingly fascistic agency and reduce the swelling tide of public disillusionment.

“Let the rule of law reign. Failing that, have the honesty to proclaim the death of ordered society. Then we’ll all know just where we stand.”

- PM NEWS

Osinbajo: Fani-Kayode makes claim on VP’s ‘replacement’

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has claimed that some names have been penciled down as alternatives to embattled Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

This was contained in an article he released Wednesday morning titled ‘ The humiliation of the villa fiend’.

The former presidential spokesman said Nigerians should not pity Osinbajo, noting that the Law Professor knew what he was getting into before he became President Muhammadu Buhari’s deputy.

He wrote: “Over the last two months, despite all pretentions to the contrary, things have gone downhill for him and he appears to be a drowning man.

“It is only a matter of time before the final offensive and assault is unleashed against him by his traducers in the Presidency, the axe falls and he is finally thrown out.

“I have been reliably informed that three names, all from the South West, have been penned down and are all being considered as his possible replacement.

“If this proves to be true I would not be the least bit surprised because those that ride on the back of the tiger always end up in its stomach.”

Fani-Kayode added that Osinabjo was now at the receiving end after launching attacks on top members of the opposition, among others.

He lamented that Osinabjo “told lies against ex Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition leaders brandishing them as corrupt and unfit for public office whilst he serves the most corrupt, sectional and oppressive government in our entire history.

“He insulted Afenifere leaders and those that called for restructuring and described them as jobless people that are just seeking for relevance; insulted his own in-law, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, by saying he was wrong when he described Nigeria as a mere geographical expression

“He betrayed his own mentor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; used his Redeemed Church and his spiritual father to split Christendom and help put in place an evil Antichrist Government. I have no sympathy for Osinbajo and I do not think any southermer, Middle Belter or Christian that is in his right mind ought to either.”

- DAILY POST

Nigerian man locks up sister for 2 years

A Nigerian woman who was locked up in a dark room at her family residence for two years, has regained her freedom.

Hassana Sale, mother of four was locked up by her brother to prevent her from rejoining her estranged husband.

Kaduna based NGO, Arida Relief Foundation and a team of policemen found her in a “terrible state” locked up in the room in Rigasa area of Kaduna.

According to the founder of the NGO, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, the victim, Hassana, was deprived of her freedom by her elder brother, one Malam Lawal Sale over her intention to go back to her matrimonial home.

Salisu explained that the woman became depressed when she was divorced by her husband, but due to the love for the children, visited them daily.

“She visits the children on daily basis, so the elder brother and the some of her relatives decided to lock her up in a dark room for two years so that she will not go back to her ex-husband,” she told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Kaduna.

“We have taken her to the hopital and when she becomes stable, she would be handed over to the state Ministry of Human Service and Social Development to pursue the matter.”

The elder brother has already been arrested by the police

- PM NEWS

Hate Speech Bill: Nigeria currently on road to tyranny, authoritarianism-Shehu Sani

Former Senator, Kaduna Central Senatorial district, Shehu Sani, has condemned the recent first reading of the hate speech bill on the floor of the senate.

Shehu Sani lamented that Nigeria was currently on the “road to full-blown tyranny” with the introduction of the bill sponsored by Senator Sabi Abdullahi.

The former lawmaker who registered his displeasure on Tuesday through a Facebook post insisted that the bill was an authoritarian step to “protect power by fear and silence.”

He wrote: “The parliament must not be complicit in the destruction of our democracy and the building of a totalitarian state. A bill to regulate social media and to prescribe death sentence for a so-called hate speech is a road to full-blown tyranny; An authoritarian step to protect power by fear and silence.”

DAILY POST had reported that Senator Sabi Abdullahi representing Niger North Senatorial district on Tuesday sponsored a private bill to tackle hate speeches and other social media related contents, considered antagonistic to the interest of Nigerian society.

The lawmaker, who was Senate Spokesman in the 8th Senate and now Deputy Chief Whip, wants the National Assembly to establish a Commission with administrative structures to deal with hate speeches in Nigeria.

The bill titled: “National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches (Est., etc) bill, 2019 (SB. 154)” passed its first reading on Tuesday.

The introduction of hate speech bill has since been met with backlash from Nigerians and lawmakers.

- DAILY POST

Odinkalu: Real theft in Nigeria is by the executive — not legislature

Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), says the “real theft” ongoing in the country is in the executive, not in the parliament.

In an interview with PUNCH, the human rights activist said the issue of reducing the number of federal lawmakers has been blown out of proportion.

He added that cutting the cost of governance should begin in the executive arm.

“I think we are fixating too much on symptoms and not causes. Do I think Nigerians are over-represented? No. Do I necessarily think that 360 representatives are too many for Nigerians? No. It all depends on how we want the system to run,” he said.

“The national assembly surely has to make an effort to show it cares about the people and to reduce appearances of conspicuous consumption by its members. That is important. And legislators all over the country should.

“But the real theft in the country happens not in the parliaments but in the executive and if we are going to make progress in reducing the cost of governance; that is where I believe we should begin.

“One more thing: citizens also have to take some responsibility. It is okay for us to ask legislators to cut their costs. But we should also cut the demands and expectation we have of them as Father Christmases.”

‘PRESIDENCY HAS GONE OFF-SHORE’

Odinkalu added that it was not proper for President Muhammadu Buhari to carry out official duties such as his recent assent to the bill amending the deep off-shore act.

He said: “While he has been on the private visit, the Presidency has been off-shored. He has assented to the Deep Off-shore Act, in London.

“His chief of staff took the bill to him there to assent to, which begs the question how private is this private visit. If you recall, in the final days of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, the attorney-general then, Michael Aondakaa, told us that the president could rule from anywhere.

“It was in response to that that the national assembly amended the constitution requiring the president to hand-over to his deputy in these kinds of circumstances.”

He, however, added that such action of the president is not surprising “with the way they have been treating the vice-president recently.”

“Let’s be honest, did you realistically expect them to comply with the constitution on this matter? Essentially, these folks find the constitution worse than inconvenient,” he said.

- THECABLE

Unemployment: 29,000 applicants battle for 1.500 jobs in Ogun

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun has said a total of 29,000 applicants are currently jostling to fill the 1,500 existing vacancies in public primary and secondary schools in the state.

Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin said the 29,000 people applied for the jobs through the recruitment window of the government.

According to him, the state government has started analysing the profiles of the would-be teachers, following the closure of the application on Saturday.

The governor said recruitment of more teachers became necessary to reposition the state’s education sector.

He explained that his government’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for teaching and learning made it embark on the reconstruction of schools across the 236 wards in the state.

- DAILY POST

N241b Security votes: SERAP sues Buhari, NASS leaders

How much money do the Federal Government, state governors and council chairmen, spend on the unaccountable security votes every year?

A rights group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) is seeking an answer and has sued President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, asking the Federal High court to order them disclose details of allocations.

The group wants information on disbursement and spending of security votes by the Federal Government, 36 state governors and 774 local governments between 1999 and 2019.

The suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1369/2019, filed last Friday followed SERAP’s Freedom of Information requests and “the respondents’ failure to account for some N241.2 billion of public funds allocated, disbursed and spent yearly as security votes, and the corresponding lack of effective protection of the rights to security and welfare, life and physical integrity of millions of Nigerians.”

Others joined as parties in the suit are: Mr Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Ahmed Idris, Accountant General of the Federation and Mr Anthony Ayine, Auditor General for the Federation.

According to SERAP: “Nigerians have the constitutional and international human right to know details of the exact amounts that have been spent as security votes and specific areas and projects covered by the allocations, disbursement and spending. There is overriding public interest in Nigerians having access to these details, and the respondents have legal obligations to facilitate public access to such information.”

“Constitutional provisions requiring governments to ensure the security and welfare of the people are intended to protect the security and safety of citizens and not the security of a few individuals in government. Without transparency and accountability, the mismanagement and corruption in the allocation, disbursement and spending of security votes will continue with devastating consequences.”

The suit filed by SERAP’s lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi read in part: “The respondents have a legal duty to proactively record, keep and disclose information in respect of allocation, disbursement and spending of security votes without waiting for SERAP to request for such information. They are also required to maintain and publish documents containing information relating to the receipt or expenditure of public funds.”

“Public officials receiving and spending security votes ought to come clean with Nigerians on how exactly these public funds are spent. Unless the reliefs sought are granted, Nigerians would continue to see the appropriation of public funds as security votes as a tool for self-enrichment.”

“The suit is seeking to offer governments at all levels an important opportunity to be transparent and accountable with the exercise of their discretionary powers in the allocation, disbursement and spending of security votes. The public interest in the disclosure of these details outweighs any private interest the respondents may be seeking to protect.”

“The huge financial resources budgeted for security votes by successive governments have not matched the security realities in the country, especially given the level of insecurity, violence, kidnappings and killings in many parts of the country, which seem to suggest massive political use, mismanagement or stealing of security votes by many governments.”

“As revealed by a 2018 report by Transparency International (TI), most of the funds appropriated as security votes are spent on political activities, mismanaged or simply stolen. It is estimated that security votes add up to over N241.2 billion every year. On top of appropriated security votes, governments also receive millions of dollars yearly as international security assistance.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

- PM NEWS

Badagry expressway, a show of shame – CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has decried the slow pace of work on the Agbara–Seme section of the Lagos–Badagry expressway, describing the condition of the road as “pathetic” and a shame to the nation.

The 46 km Agbara–Seme border expressway which was awarded to CGC Construction Ltd, had only witnessed about five km of drainage construction from Age Mowo to Mowo since the contractor moved to site in November last year.

Speaking to News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Tuesday, CAN Coordinator in Badagry, Sunday Hunyinbo, narrated what some foreign missionaries visiting Badagry for the first time had experienced on the state of the road.

“Recently, we had some visitors from Texas, U.S.A., who came to Badagry to conduct Leadership Programmes for Ministers of God here.

“When they came, if you hear the tales of sorrow from their mouth on what they experienced before reaching Badagry, you will pity them.

“They were shouting, your roads are bad. It was a show of shame to us,” he said.

Mr Hunyinbo urged the government to show some understanding with the motorists and commuters by completing the project on schedule.

“The deplorable state of the road is affecting everybody including students.

- PM NEWS