6 wedding guests killed by generator fumes, 20 unconscious

Six wedding guests have been killed by generator fumes in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, Channels TV has reported.

The incident happened at a house in Umuomumu-Mbieri community.

Imo State Police Public relations officer Orlando Ikeokwu who confirmed the incident said 20 other people who were unconscious have been admitted a nearby hospital for treatment.

He said the victims affected were guests who attended a traditional marriage ceremony in the community.

He said the commissioner of police Imo State police command Rabiu Ladodo has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident with a view to unravelling the mystery behind the tragedy.

Generator fumes have killed scores of Nigerians in the past, who ignorantly kept a functioning generator in an enclosure inhaling the deadly carbon monoxide it spewed out.

- PM NEWS

I ran away from my matrimonial home to avoid being killed, ex-gov’s wife tells court

The estranged wife of former governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, Clara, on Monday told an FCT High Court Apo, that she left her matrimonial home for fear of her life.

Clara, made the allegation while being cross-examined by the counsel for the former governor, Paul Onyia, in the petition filed by Chime for the dissolution of their 11-year-old marriage.

Clara informed the court that she met her husband while he was Enugu State governor.

”I bought two vehicles, a Lexus 570 SUV and a BMW S6 for myself while married to the former governor.

”I did not use his money to buy those vehicles from the allowances I received as the wife of the governor,” she said.

The former governor’s wife also informed that she bought her landed property from the Enugu State Housing Corporation, adding that she paid for it after leaving the office.

“I have the title documents of the landed property,” she told the court.

Asked if she was aware that the petitioner ceased to be governor since 2015, Clara said, “I am aware that he ceased to be Enugu State governor on May 29, 2015.”

She, however, disclosed that she did not know how much the former governor earned as pension, saying, “I have no idea of how much he is being paid as pension.”

The former governor’s wife also informed the court that she was involved in oil and gas business, adding that she had been living well despite not receiving maintenance allowance from her husband since 2013 they had been living apart.

She also alleged that her estranged husband has refused to allow her see her only child.

”I only see my child during Church service or social events whenever I am in town,” she said.

After listening to her testimony, Justice Angela Otaluka, adjourned the case until Oct. 14 for adoption of final written addresses.

- PM NEWS

Buhari signs June 12 bill into law

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed June 12 bill into law.

Presidential aide on National Assembly matters, Senator Ita Enang told state house correspondents that with the assent to the amendment, May 29 is no more a public holiday.

President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the Public Holiday Amendment Act, declaring June 12 of every year a public holiday and Democracy Day.

- PM NEWS

NEXT LEVEL KILLING ! Gov Tambuwal buries 25 persons killed in fresh bandits attack

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Sunday attended the funeral of 25 persons killed by bandits in a fresh attack which occurred on Saturday in three communities in Rabah local government area of the state.

Tambuwal, together with heads of security agencies, traditional rulers and government officials later condoled the families of the victims after the burial held at Gandi town.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the bandits who were in large numbers raided Kalhu, Tsage and Geeri villages near Gandi and killed the 25 persons.

The attackers were said to have engaged in indiscriminate shooting from around 5pm on Saturday till Sunday morning, after which they carted away hundreds of cows, sheep and other valuables.

Rabah has been experiencing bandits’ attacks in recent time, with people losing their lives while many others who were rendered homeless now taking refuge at an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Gandi.

Tambuwal pledged that the government would take more measures “to end such uncivilized and barbaric attacks”, and urged community members to assist security agencies with useful information to track the bandits.

Speaking to newsmen, Sokoto state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Kaoje, said four persons including a woman informant who pretended to be a lunatic were arrested.

Kaoje said that a joint security operation was in progress to contain banditry and other crimes in the state.

The state Chairman, IDPs’ Welfare Committee, Malam Lawal Maidoki said relief materials had been delivered to the victims.

With the present 25 killed in the latest attack, the total number of persons killed by bandits in Sokoto state has risen to 108 from 2018 to date.

Other places affected by armed bandits’ attacks were Dalijan, Rakkoni and Tabanni communities within the period.

- PM NEWS

Dangote: Power sector hindering Nigeria’s economic growth

Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote group, says the poor performance of the country’s power sector is hindering growth of the economy.

Dangote spoke at a consultative roundtable session for public and private sector stakeholders in Lagos on Saturday.

The programme was organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to Dangote, Nigeria had been struggling to increase its electricity output for the past 18 years without success.

He urged the federal government to improve the sector, saying that “no business will thrive with business owners generating powers themselves”.

“How do you have economic growth without power? So, no power, no growth because without power there can’t be growth,” he said.

“Egypt increased its electricity by 10 gigawatts, which is equivalent to 10,000 megawatts in 18 months.

“In Nigeria, we have been struggling for 18 years without adding 1,000 megawatts and we have spent about three times above Egypt, why?

“So, I think we all need to be concerned about that.”

Dangote urged government to promote import substitution for foreign exchange accumulation through proceeds from exports.

He said instead of depending on proceeds from crude oil sales, government should focus on the non-oil sector of the economy, with particular reference to finance, manufacturing and agriculture.

“Government needs to encourage non-oil sector growth rather than depending on proceeds from crude oil to pay salaries,” he said.

“Proceeds from crude oil sale should be for major investment in the country.”

Godwin Emefiele, governor of CBN; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos state governor; Jim Ovia, Zenith Bank Chairman; Oba Otudeko, chairman of Honeywell Flour Mills; Atedo Peterside, former banker and serial entrepreneur  and Segun Agbaje, chief executive officer of Guaranty Trust Bank, were the stakeholders present at the consultative round table session.

- THECABLE

Falana: NBC lacks power to suspend licences of media organisations

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) lacks the power to suspend licences of media organisation without an order from the court.

In a statement on Sunday, the senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the regulator cannot also ban radio houses from playing records of artists or impose fines on alleged offenders without recourse to the court.

On Thursday, the NBC had suspended the licences of DAAR Communications Plc, owners of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower over “breach of broadcasting code”.

Falana described the closure of media houses as a dangerous trend, advising the regulatory agency to act within the confines of the law if it wants to checkmate the excesses of any station.

“No doubt, the NBC has been empowered by the NBC Act to regulate all broadcasting organisations in the country. But in exercising its wide powers NBC has to be made to appreciate that it can no longer operate outside the ambit of the Constitution as was the case under military rule,” he said.

“Since fundamental rights including freedom of expression can no longer be curtailed or abrogated except in a manner permitted by law, the NBC ought to realise that it cannot suspend licences of media houses, ban radio houses from playing records of artists or impose fines on alleged offenders without a court order.

“Alternatively, the NBC may request the Attorney-General to charge a media house for breaching the provisions of the NBC Act or penal statutes. Otherwise, the powers of the NBC may be arbitrarily exercised to the detriment of law and order in the society.”

He described the reopening of AIT and Raypower FM as victory for democracy, calling on security agencies to withdraw their men from DAAR Communications, head office in Abuja.

“The NBC has just lifted the suspension of the licences of AIT and Raypower FM Radio stations in compliance with the ex parte order granted by the federal high court. It is hoped that the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force and State Security Service will withdraw the armed goons mounting siege in the compound of the AIT/Raypower FM stations without any delay,” he said.

“As far as democratic forces in the country are concerned, the battle for press freedom has been won, once again. But it is a temporary victory which should not be celebrated without caution.

“Even under the most vicious military junta in Nigeria the courts ordered the reopening of the premises of the National Concord and Punch newspapers which were illegally closed down and occupied for months by armed troops. And the court orders were complied with by the military dictators.”

- THECABLE

Nigerian Catholic priest suspended for allegedly raping American woman

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh in the United States has suspended Nigerian priest Cyprian Duru from ministering, after accusation of rape and legal action by a 68 year-old retired English teacher, Kathy Coll.

In addition, he has been banned from presenting himself as a priest or wearing clerical garb.

According to CBS Television, Coll in a legal suit, detailed how Duru stopped by her home in December 2016 on the pretence of giving her a Christmas card and allegedly raped her.

Coll claimed that when she offered him a cold drink, he followed her to her family room, overpowered her and assaulted her as she screamed for him to stop.

Since then, Coll claimed she has been trying to seek healing from the trauma of rape; adding that the shame, anxiety and depression were daunting.

“The hardest part was telling my pastor, who sat and cried with me and then notified the diocese,” Coll recalled.

Last week, she filed a suit against the St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Church, the Pittsburgh diocese, and Bishop David Zubik.

Coll maintained that she was disappointed that District Attorney Stephen Zappala’s office said prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence to pursue charges.

But the retired high school English teacher said her biggest disappointment was learning that a church she continues to love and turned to for help had scant resources for abused women.

“There were visits by the (Pittsburgh) Diocese Trauma Team to my house offering prayer and help to find a therapist. But I found out they really don’t have anything for women who have been abused,” Coll said.

Coll said a therapist the diocese recommended within minutes of meeting her declared that she was depressed, anxious and suffering from PTSD.

“He said, ‘We’ll get you on medication and four or five sessions here, and you’ll be on your way.’ I walked out of there after 20 minutes and never went back,” she said.

Eventually, she found a therapist who helped her marshal her strength.

As she regained her footing in the world, the widowed mother of two adult sons resolved to doing something to help others.

- DAILY POST