NEXT LEVEL KILLING !! 10 confirmed killed in fresh Kaduna attack

The Chairman Sanga Local Government Council, Kaduna State, Mr Charles Danladi, has confirmed the death of 10 persons in an attack on Nandu village in the area.
The chairman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kafanchan on Saturday that the attack occurred on Friday and 11 houses were burnt.

Danladi, however, said that normalcy had since returned to the affected village, as the local council intensifies efforts at dousing tension to prevent reprisal.

He said youths of the area had been summoned and counselled against embarking on any acts capable of escalating the ugly situation.

A resident of the affected village, who pleaded anonymity told NAN that the attack was suspected to have been launched by Fulani herders in retaliation for an attack on them by locals before the general election.

He said, at least 11 cows and 28 sheep were killed during that attack.

Efforts to get police reaction was unsuccessful as the Spokesman of Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Yakubu Sabo did not respond to calls on his handset.

- DAILY POST

Patience Jonathan loses another N2.4bn to FG

Patience Jonathan, former first lady, has lost more money to the federal government after the supreme court affirmed another order of the Lagos division of the federal high court for the interim forfeiture of a sum of N2.4 billion allegedly traced to her.

The development comes barely eight days after the apex court had upheld an order for the federal government’s interim seizure of the $8.4 million believed to be owned by the ex-first lady.

The supreme court had also directed her to return to the lower court in Lagos to explain why the fund should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

In a judgment on Friday, a five-man panel of the apex court rejected the appeal by Lawari Furniture and Bath Limited, a firm which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had linked to the former first lady, on the grounds that it was without merit.

The appeal was filed and argued for the appellant by Mike Ozekhome. The EFCC had said the various funds were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

But in the lead judgment, read by Sidi Bage, on behalf of Amiru Sanusi, who was not present, the apex court held that there was no justification to “interfere with the concurrent findings of the two lower courts.”

The court, in the lead judgment, said it would only interfere with concurrent decisions of the lower courts only when “there is a special circumstance where the decision is perverse or there is misapplication of law or the facts”.

The supreme court also rejected the argument by the appellant who faulted the interim order of forfeiture obtained by the EFCC through an ex-parte motion, and prayed that it be set aside.

- THECABLE

UNILORIN organises candlelight procession for Pius Adesanmi

The University of Ilorin has described the death of Pius Adesanmi as a colossal loss to the country and humanity in general.

Adesanmi, Canadian-based professor of African studies and critic who graduated from the university in 1992, was killed on Sunday in a plane crash in Ethiopia.

In a statement on Saturday, Sulyman Abdulkareem, vice-chancellor of the university, said Adesanmi was “a true nationalist, a rare patriot, a humanist and indeed an embodiment of all the ideals that Unilorin represents.”

He said faculty of arts of the university will be organising a candlelight procession in his honour by 2pm on Tuesday.

He said Adesanmi’s death came at a time when the nation needed his robust intellectual and incisive contribution to her development most.

He said that the country had benefitted immensely from the late professor’s dispassionate interventions through well-researched social commentaries on national issues at critical points of its socio-political and economic development.

“Being a committed nationalist, the late Prof. Adesanmi was never happy at the state of rot in critical sectors of the nation, and he never kept quiet nor indulged in complacency, as many of his colleagues who had found comfortable solace abroad are wont to,” the statement read.

He added that less than 24 hours before Adesanmi’s demise, the patriotic zeal in the late social critic was evident on his Twitter handle where he was still discussing the then ongoing governorship and states house of assembly elections in the country.

Commiserating with the nation and especially the immediate family Adesanmi left behind, the vice-chancellor urged Nigerians not to allow the don die in vain but emulate his patriotic zeal towards taking the country to greater heights.

- THECABLE

SAKAMANJE GOVT !! Minister apologises to Nigerians over suspension of free train ride

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Friday apologised to Nigerians over the suspension of the Iju-Abeokuta free train ride during the 2019 general elections.

Amaechi tendered the apology during the monthly rail inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan modernisation project in Ibadan.

He said that the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) suspended the three months free train ride due to security and safety of passengers.

“It was suspended by the Chinese and the excuse they gave me was that they cannot allow it run because of safety, since they have not completed the second line but they are almost through with it.

“It is almost completed from Iju to Abeokuta. I want to apologise to Nigerians that they suspended it when they left the country, which I didn’t envisage, they will go back soon,” Amechi said.

Speaking on his passion for the project, Amaechi said that the responsibility was given to him by President Muhammadu Buhari, which must be delivered to create jobs and boost the economy.

“I know you will say I’m stressed up but as a minister, I have a responsibility passed to me by Mr President and I must deliver on it.

“Also, the economy of Nigeria can be driven most importantly, if we can link the seaport to hinterland because when cargoes come, they must go.

“The more you are able to move goods and services to hinterland, the more you will create jobs and the more you create jobs, the more growth that you will have and that is my drive,” he said.

- PM NEWS

39-year-man sent to prison for stealing 4 bottles of wine

A 39-year old man, Victor Chigom has been arrested and arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing four bottles of blue label wine valued at N288,000 at Damy Supermarket, Agungi, Lekki, Lagos.

A Police source alleged that the accused, a resident of Awoyaya, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos was ordered arrested by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Ilasan Division. Lekki, Lagos, CSP Oyinye Onwuamaegbu following a complaint by the owner of the Supermarket, Mr Ayeh Daniel.

Chigom was charged before the Igbosere Magistrate Court on a one count of felony to wit, stealing.

Police Counsel, Reuben Solomon told the court in charge No M/16/2019 that the accused committed the offence on 1 March, 2019 at Damy Supermarket in Lekki, Lagos.

Solomon informed the court that the accused started stealing at the Damy Supermarket in December, 2018 till March, 2019 before nemesis caught up with him.

He said that the accused would enter the supermarket on the pretext of buying items and in the process, would cleverly steal a bottle of blue label wine and hide it in his clothes and escaped.

Solomon said that when the management of the supermarket noticed in February, 2019 that they were making loses in sales on blue label wine, they played the CCTV cameras where they saw that the accused was the one who had been stealing the wine and they directed all security men to be on the alert for him.

He said that nemesis, however, caught up with the accused on 1 March, 2019 when he entered the supermarket again to steal wine and was caught by the security men on duty and they invited the police to arrest him.

He stated that during investigation, the accused allegedly confessed to the alleged crime that he had stolen four bottles of wine at the supermarket successfully, unknown to him that CCTV cameras had captured him.

Solomon said that the offences committed was punishable under section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and Magistrate A.M Davies granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties.

Davies adjourned the case till 28 March, 2019 for mention and ordered that the defendant be kept at the Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos till he fulfilled the bail conditions.

- PM NEWS

Why building collapse persists – NSE

Adedamola Falade-Fatila, the Chairman of the Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has hinged the rising cases of building collapse on quackery and compromise in standards.

Falade-Fatila, who spoke in Ibadan on Saturday, was reacting to the collapse of a building in Ibadan barely 72 hours after a similar incident in Lagos.

He said: “If every client, builder or developer consults a registered engineer to design their structures, we won’t find ourselves in this situation.

“This is purely the result of quackery and compromises in materials, skilled labour and so on.

“It is as they say in computer, garbage in, garbage out, what you put in is what you get.

“If you put in expertise, quality and professionalism, you will get a solid structure that will stand out and stand the test of time.

“The one that collapsed in Ibadan is still under construction and it gave way; that tells you that something is wrong somewhere.”

He said the association had been engaged in sensitisation programmes to encourage the use of engineers for projects.

“If you have a structure that is above two floors, get a registered structural engineer, and if it is not up to that, get a registered engineer to do your design for you.

“In doing that, the engineer will give you advice and supervise your project so that there would be no compromise by the time the structure is being put up.

“If you meet anyone who claims to be an engineer, ask for his proof; in the age we are now, it is easy to know a registered engineer.

“You can check on the internet; registered engineers have their names compiled by the Council for the Regulation of the Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

“Google COREN and check the person’s status by typing in his or her name; if the person is truly registered, you will find his or her name and address there.

“Anyone who claims to be an engineer and his name is not in the database of NSE and COREN is a quack,’’ he said.

-PM NEWS 

Catholic Archbishop of Lagos advocates unity among Nigerians

The Archbishop of Lagos, Adewale Martins, on Saturday urged the Catholic faithful to promote unity rather than division among the various ethnic groups in the country.

He gave the advice at the end of the 2019 edition of the annual Lagos Archdiocesan Lenten Pilgrimage held at Ave Maria Catholic Church, Lekki.

The pilgrimage had in attendance several faithful from no fewer than 145 parishes from the Archdiocese.

He said that though the elections had come and gone, some still had reservations and objections, adding that it should not be allowed to cause disunity among them as children of God.

“We prayed a lot before the elections, by the grace of God, the elections have come and gone, some felt that their prayers were answered, while others felt that their prayers were not answered.

“Whatever way we have felt, what is important for us at this time is to remain peaceful, to remain focused and to remain in prayer for the peace of the nation,” he said.

The archbishop appealed to politicians who lost during the elections to accept defeat or seek legal redress instead of overheating the polity.

He noted that before the governorship elections in Lagos state, there were the weeping up of ethnic sentiments and division that spread on the internet.

“My dear friends, we as Christians, particularly as followers of Christ, must ensure that we are not part of the weeping up of ethnic sentiments.

“For us, the waters of baptism should be thicker than the blood that flows in our veins.

“We are bound together by one body of Christ and we are all children of one God, the father and children of one body of Christ,” he said.

Archbishop Martins called for continued prayers by all for unity to prevail in the country rather than division on their journeys through this world.

“Let us pray for continued unity for our nation; and continued unity among ourselves so that together, we can build a kingdom that we will be proud of,” he said.

Speaking earlier during the reflection, Rev. Fr. Fidelis Umole advised the pilgrims to focus their lives on faith that would lead into a better relationship with God and their neighbours.

“Christians are faced with physical and mental challenges and the only solution is building on a solid faith in God,” he said.

He condemned Christians who always moved from one church to the other, looking for magic and not miracles, which is simply a sign of faithlessness.

“You see Christians running from pillar to post; expecting unnecessary solutions, they only end up multiplying their problems,” he said.

The cleric urged the pilgrims to grow their faith by reading the scripture daily, praying daily and without season, especially, when faced with challenges.

Umole also called on parents to play their roles in faith building in the family.

He assured them that the church would always compliment it by protecting the faith of its members.

- PM NEWS

TEMPORARY GRA GRA ! Collapsed Building: Lagos demolishes more distressed buildings on Lagos Island

The Lagos State Government on Saturday continued the demolition of distressed buildings on Lagos Island area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria in order to avert building collapse.

The move was instigated by the collapsed of a three-storey building at Ita-Faji area of Lagos Island on Wednesday, killing 20 children and adults.

The state government, through the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, had on Friday begun the demolition of distressed buildings on Lagos Island on the order of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

On Saturday, LASBCA officials, escorted by armed task force officials stormed Ojo Giwa, Okediji and Seriki Streets on the Island to demolish distressed building.

At Number 33 Ojo Giwa, a three-storey building was demolished by the officials in order to avert another collapsed building.

At 34, Seriki Street, another distressed three-storey building was pulled down by LASBCA officials, while at 21, Okediji street, a three-storey building was demolished.

The exercise was led by the Acting General Manager, LASBCA, Omotayo Fakoluju.

He said 150 distressed buildings had been identified on the Island, but 30 had already been demolished in the last one year while 80 would now be demolished.

Fakoluju added that the agency would carry out the demolition the 80 structures in phases.

The Acting GM, also disclosed that 20 of the 80 buildings earmarked for demolition were on Adeniji Adele, saying that the agency would no longer look back but ensure that distressed buildings were pulled down immediately.

He disclosed that lots of buildings on the Island had been marked for demolition, but that some of them were subject of litigation which prevented government from going ahead to pull them down immediately.

“Over 80 buildings are ready for removal but we shall be removing them in phases. In buildings which are subject of litigation, we try to evacuate the occupants from the buildings so that there will not be loss of lives,” he said.

- PM NEWS