HOPELESS COUNTRY !! UNICEF promises to assist over 500,000 out-of-school children in Nigeria

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says 501,749 out-of-school children are being targeted in its Educate a child (EAC) programme in four northern states.

The organisation disclosed on Monday this during a media dialogue in Kebbi state.

The EAC programme was introduced as “a funding window” to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states by 2020.

Part of its components, according to UNICEF, include the cash transfer programme (CTP) in addition to other grant opportunities.

Speaking at the media dialogue, Isah Usman, CTP coordinator in Kebbi state, also said over 31,000 pupils in the state are currently being paid N8,000 every academic term to encourage learning.

According to him, CTP was introduced as a social security net to assist “the poorest of the poor in accessing education.”

“The pupils are being given the sum of N24,000 every year through the women caregivers like their mothers to enroll, stay in school and complete their education,” he said.

“The Cash transfer intervention under the EAC aims to reach 41,391 child beneficiaries and their female caregivers in four years: 31,044 in Kebbi state and 10,347 in Zamfara state.

“Kebbi and Zamfara states are considered as ‘educationally disadvantaged’ states in Nigeria. Despite the fact that primary education is officially free and compulsory, there are high number of out of school children, something this project aims to address.

“The poverty level of rural community members largely restricts their level of participation in the education of their children. Majority of them cannot afford purchases of basic learning materials, not to even support school infrastructural development.”

Lai Mohammed, minister of information, said the high number out-of-school children in the north posed serious danger to the children and the nation at large.

Mohammed, who was represented by Uche Chuta, an assistant director at the ministry, identified the major causes of the menace as poverty, early marriage, illiteracy and teenage pregnancy.

- CABLE NIGERIA

Yari: In five years, bandits have killed over 3000 in Zamfara

Abdulaziz Yari, governor of Zamfara state, says armed bandits have killed 3,526 persons in the state in the last five years.

Yari spoke at a town hall meeting in Gusau, the state capital, on Tuesday.

According to NAN, the meeting was attended by Mohammed Adamu, inspector general of police (IGP), traditional and community leaders, as well as herders and farmers.

Yari, who was represented by Abdullahi Shinkafi, secretary to the state government (SSG), also said “nearly 500 villages” have been destroyed by the attackers.

He added that “over 13,000 hectares of farmlands were either destroyed or made useless as farmers can no longer use the lands for farming”.

“Nearly 500 villages have also been devastated and 8,219 persons were injured, some are still in critical condition,” he said.

“The economy of the state has seriously suffered because thousands of shops were destroyed by the rampaging bandits who had displaced thousands of our people from their places of abode, many of whom cannot sleep with their two eyes closed because of fear.”

Yari said the government had written volumes of reports containing over 7,000 pages, giving details of the crises right from the beginning to the “infiltration from Libya and Boko Haram”.

He said the government was aware of eight prominent bandits camps at different locations in the state.

The governor said recent suspension of mining activities in the state by the federal government must “be followed by enforcement, because, it is one thing to ban, and another to enforce.”

Earlier, the IGP told the gathering that the police would take more proactive measures in the fight against bandits and commended the state government for providing “enabling environment” to security personnel to operate in the state.

Last week, 50 persons, including members of the civilian joint task force (CJTF), were reportedly killed in Kaura Namoda local government area in a single day.

-CABLE NIGERIA

51-year-old man duped man of N2.4m for spiritual cleansing

A 51-year-old-man, Temitope Adeoye, who allegedly obtained N2.4 million under the pretence of conducting spiritual cleansing on a man, on Tuesday appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

Adeoye was brought before the court on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and obtaining under false pretence.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Insp. Kehinde Omisakin, told the court that the defendant obtained the sum from one Mr Yusuf Akanbi under the false pretence of performing a spiritual cleansing on him to enable him to attract favour.

Omisakin submitted that the defendant also presented counterfeit 40,700 dollars to Akanbi as genuine so as to entice him.

She added that the defendant threatened to deal with Akanbi if he would ask for the defrauded money.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 56, 314, 365 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Komolafe, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties each in like sum.

Komolafe directed that the sureties must be gainfully employed.

She fixed mentioning of the case for May 9.

- DAILY POST

Man caught withdrawing money without ‘ATM card’ in Ibadan

A young man identified as Azeez Morufu, was caught while allegedly collecting money from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) without using naira MasterCard, popularly known as ‘ATM card’ in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital on Tuesday.

Our correspondent gathered that Morufu was caught early Tuesday at ATM points of one of the new generation banks beside the Ibadan zonal headquarters of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) on Oba Adebimpe Road, Dugbe.

A source told our correspondent that the suspect was caught when a passer-by saw him with a huge amount of money at the machine.

He added that Morufu who made some confessions after he was caught said he has a code he always input on the ATM to dispense without a card.

An eye witness, who drew the attention of others to the scene, explained that she became suspicious when she noticed the young man in dirty clothes was withdrawing huge amount from the ATM.

She said that the suspect has, however, been handed over to police from the Iyaganku division.

However, all efforts made by DAILY POST to get the reaction of the spokesman of the state police command, Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi proved abortive as at the time of filling this report.

Several calls put through Fadeyi’s line were not answered while an SMS sent to him asking him (Fadeyi) to respond has not been replied.

- DAILY POST

CL : Allegri confirms Ronaldo’s condition ahead of Juventus, Ajax clash

Cristiano Ronaldo has been declared fit to play for Juventus in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at Ajax Amsterdam on Wednesday.

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri disclosed this to Sky Italia in Amsterdam.

Ronaldo was rested by the Turin club after his sensational hat-trick against Atletico Madrid in the last round of the Champions League on March 12

He had picked up a thigh strain while on national team duty with Portugal in March.

- DAILY POST

Ex-governor Jang diverted N2bn from CBN – Witness alleges

A witness, Mr Taiwo Olorunyomi, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) alleged that former Governor Jonah Jang diverted N2 billion which the CBN released to the state government for Micro Enterprises and SME’s.

NAN reports that the EFCC on May 7, preferred a 12-count bordering on alleged corruption and misappropriation against Jang.

It alleged that Jang, who served as Plateau governor between 2007 and 2015, misappropriated N6 billion, two months to the end of his tenure as governor.

Being led in evidence by ICPC Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, in a High Court in Plateau, Olorunyomi,said:”the CBN entered into a partnership with the Plateau Government to establish a state SME development Agency which would be the vehicle to disburse the funds and recover same.

NAN reports that the EFCC alleged that Jang embezzled the money through Mr Pam Yusuf, then a cashier in the office of the Secretary to the State Government.

“We discovered that when the money was released, it went to the Plateau Project Account instead of the SME project.

” The money again was later moved into another account.

“In our investigation we discovered that the money was used for classified expenditure, an expenditure that has no document to prove how it was expended.

“The defendant (Jang) to our amazement in his statement told us that he did not know what classified expenditure meant.

“From our investigation, the said money is still with the defendant,” he told the court.

Olorunyomi also claimed that the defendant also withdrew another N3 billion N700 million and N400 million cash in trenches from the state SUBEB Account.

He said that Jang stated that the money was borrowed from the account to pay contractors, fund other liabilities in the state and for ‘classified expenditure’.

The witness said that the second defendant (Pam) withdrew the said amounts in cash and delivered it to the first defendant (Jang) stating that their action hindered the activities in SUBEB at the time he was governor of the state.

Also, Jacobs while presenting the second witness, the Secretary to the State Government of Plateau and tendering the statement of the second defendant prayed the court to accept documents tendered by the witness.

Counsel to Jang, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, however objected the prayer, stating that the prosecution did not present him with the documents before sitting and therefore could not present same to the court, describing it as an ‘ambush’.

Ozekhome prayed the court to reject the calling of the witness and accept the statement of the second defendant as he was not served with the documents before the court sitting.

The judge, Justice Daniel Longji, in his ruling, held that a party must not be taken by surprise especially in a criminal case.

Longji held that if one must present a document as exhibit, the defence must have the document.

He adjourned the matter until April 11, for continuation of hearing.

- PM NEWS 

Pension Commission again fails to provide documents to account for N33bn

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) on Tuesday again failed to provide required documents to the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee investigating the alleged withdrawal of N33Billion from the commission’s account.

At a hearing in Abuja, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Johnson Agbonayinma (APC-Edo) said that the committee had written to PenCOM 10 times, requesting for various documents to enable the investigation but the commission had consistently failed to supply.

He said that the committee requested for account statements of the commission, minutes of its 46th board meeting among other documents.

The lawmaker said that the aim of the investigation was to correct the wrongs in the commission and to move the nation forward saying that it was not about witch-hunt.

He said that many retired officers had died trying to accessing their benefits many years after retirement.

Agbonayinma said that every officer will grow old and retire one day and if not corrected, the issues of accessing retirement benefits would get more complicated for the aged.

He chairman said that all other parties in the investigation which includes the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the Head of Service, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pension Fund Administrators(PFA) had all provided documents requested for by committee.

According to him, some of the submission contradicts the explanations made by PenCom on the alleged missing N35 billion in the cause of the hearing.

The chairman said that the investigation was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s drive to end corruption in the country.

In his explanations on the alleged missing funds, the Head of Contribution Bond and Redemption Department of PenCom, Mr Loyinmi Lana said that there was a process the funds must follow before it gets to the final stage where the retired gets the benefits.

He said that in some cases, other agencies such as he Office of the Account General of the Federation were involved in the process which should be funded by the Federal Government.

Accounting to him, at the contribution stage, there is no problem but we have a problem at the Federal Government counterpart funding stage.

On the failure to present document requested for by the committee, Lana said that there were some ambiguity in the letters from the committee.

He said that the committee did not specifically demand for account statement but requested for evidence of commission’s activities within a given period which it complied.

He, however, said that the commission will finish the committee with every other relevant document requested for by Thursday.

The House of Representatives had in December 2018 resolved to investigate the activities of PenCom from April 2017 to date.

The aim was to account for N33 billion pension fund allegedly missing from the coffers of PenCom.

- PM NEWS

Fulani herdsmen massacre 20 people in Kaduna

Suspected herdsmen have reportedly massacred 20 people in a fresh attack on Anguwan Aku Village, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Several others were said to have sustained injuries in the attacks which occurred around around 7.00am on Monday.

A resident of the area who craved anonymity said the attackers were dressed in military uniform and armed with AK-47 rifles, machetes and sticks.

According to him, “They were shooting indiscriminately and everybody started running to the bush. They were pursuing us as we ran to the bush, some people were killed in the bush.

“Some of them were wearing military uniforms with bulletproof vests. I saw them from where I was hiding. The police came in eight Hilux vehicles, but instead of pursuing the bandits who ran to the bushes, they just turned back.”

He said there had been speculations about an impending attacks since last week, which the state government was aware of.

“We had thought that the government would have taken the speculations seriously and be proactive, but they didn’t take it seriously and this had led to the killing of more of our people. It is rather very unfortunate,” he said.

Danladi Yarima, a former president of the Adara Development Association (ADA), confirmed the killings in a telephone interview, describing it as unfortunate.

Efforts to get the reaction of Yakubu Sabo, spokesman of the Kaduna police command, was unsuccessful as his telephone was out of reach.

Kajuru recorded its first killing in 2019 in February, TheCable reports.

- PM NEWS

Two Nigerians stabbed to death in Xenophobic attacks in South Africa

The death toll of Nigerians killed in South Africa has continued to rise with another two being the latest victims in ongoing xenophobic attacks on foreigners in that country.

The latest victims were stabbed to death during xenophobic attacks in Johannesburg and Cape Town on April 5 and April 6, 2019, respectively.

The Assistant Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Union in South Africa (NUSA), Mr Odefa Ikele, confirmed the killings in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from Johannesburg on Monday.

”The Nigerian community lost two citizens to gruesome murders over the weekend.

”Mr Bonny Iwuoha, 48, from Ihitte/Uboma in Imo state, was stabbed to death at about 11:45 p.m. on April 6, 2019 in Johannesburg South.

”We gathered that his assailants followed him from 152 Hay Street Turffontein, and thereafter, stabbed and killed him in front of his gate at Turf Road, Turffontein.

”The killing was witnessed by Mr Izochukwu Nwokocha, also known as, Nwa Father,” he said.

Ikele said the killing had been reported and a case of murder opened at Booysens Police Station in Johannesburg South.

He said that another Nigerian, Goziem Akpenyi, also lost his life in similar circumstance on April 5, 2019.

”Akpenyi was allegedly stabbed to death by three unknown coloured South African men after an argument with the deceased.

”The incident took place at Bellville Stadium parking lot in Cape Town at about 1 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2019.

”These latest killings adds to four other Nigerians who were shot dead in March. Three of the victims were murdered in Sunnyside, Pretoria and one in Balfour Park, Johannesburg,” he said.

Ikele said that NUSA was concerned over the incessant killings of Nigerians and worried that the perpetrators had not been brought to book.

According to him, the arrest and prosecution of the culprits by the South African Police would put to a stop the daily killings of Nigerians.

”We call on the Nigerian Government to impress on their South African counterpart that the killings have to be investigated and the culprits prosecuted,” he appealed.

- PM NEWS