A Niger State magistrate court sitting in Minna, the state capital, has sentenced one Isah Aliyu to five years imprisonment for intending to sell his 9-year-old child for N10m.
The incident occurred on November 15 when the buyer, one Mallam Magaji, agreed to buy the child for N7 million.
But the buyer promised to pay half of the money and balance at a later date. The father of the child was said to have refused because of his desperation to collect the N7 million at once.
After the negotiation, the father agreed to the half payment but, instead of bringing the money, the buyer headed for the police station to report the deal.
The police then followed Magaji to the meeting place and arrested Aliyu who was still waiting for the money so that he could hand over his son. Aliyu was charged to court under the clause prohibiting selling of child in the Niger State Child’s Right Act.
Aliyu pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years imprisonment without an option of fine.
When asked why he intended to sell his son, the convict said, “The poverty in the country is biting and things are difficult for me and my family. I felt since the boy was under my custody and he is my son, I could sell him and use the money to cater for the rest of the family.”
The Chief Magistrate Hassan Mohammed described his reason as inhuman, adding that poverty was not a strong reason for the father to sell his son.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
NINE DIE IN BAYELSA COMMUNAL CLASH
No fewer than nine persons were on Friday feared killed and many others declared missing in Bayelsa State after a violence erupted between Agudama-Epie and Akenfa communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
Witness said youth from both warring communities, armed with guns and machetes, attacked one another in a fierce battle during the early hour of the day.
The source who attributed the cause of the fight to a farmland behind the Law School campus said, nine dead bodies have so far been recovered while many others were said to have sustained various degrees of gun and machete injuries.
“Nine corpses have been recovered; youth from both communities are still missing, while many others had gunshot injuries,” the source said.
Bayelsa Police Command spokesman, Alex Akhigbe confirmed the clash, but however failed to disclose the casualties’ figure.
He said the Command had deployed policemen to the affected communities to calm the situation.
Witness said youth from both warring communities, armed with guns and machetes, attacked one another in a fierce battle during the early hour of the day.
The source who attributed the cause of the fight to a farmland behind the Law School campus said, nine dead bodies have so far been recovered while many others were said to have sustained various degrees of gun and machete injuries.
“Nine corpses have been recovered; youth from both communities are still missing, while many others had gunshot injuries,” the source said.
Bayelsa Police Command spokesman, Alex Akhigbe confirmed the clash, but however failed to disclose the casualties’ figure.
He said the Command had deployed policemen to the affected communities to calm the situation.
Friday, November 22, 2013
NGIGE, NWOYE UBAH REJECT SUPPLEMENTARY ELECTION IN ANAMBRA STATE
Three principal candidates in the November 16 Anambra elections have rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s decision to go ahead with a supplementary election in the state.
Mr Ifeanyi Ubah of the Labour Party, Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Tony Nwoye jointly condemned the INEC chairman’s pronouncement and insisted that they will not participate, as they are set to boycott the supplementary elections.
It would be recalled that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, after a meeting of the commission on Friday, addressed journalists and announced Saturday, November 30 as the date for the Anambra supplementary election.
He cited the inability of the political parties to provide substantial evidence to support outright cancellation of the process as a validation for the refusal of the commission to cancel the entire election.
Reacting to Professor Jega’s claims, the candidates told newsmen that they have provided sufficient evidence to convince INEC that the entire exercise was a sham.
“As far as we are concerned, we have rejected the supplementary election fixed for 30 November, and we are not part of it. We advise the Independent National Electoral Commission to save the resources for that election, but they can go ahead and announce the APGA candidate as winner of the election, we will be more comfortable with that.” Dr Chris Ngige said.
Mr Ifeanyi Ubah of the Labour Party, Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Tony Nwoye jointly condemned the INEC chairman’s pronouncement and insisted that they will not participate, as they are set to boycott the supplementary elections.
It would be recalled that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, after a meeting of the commission on Friday, addressed journalists and announced Saturday, November 30 as the date for the Anambra supplementary election.
He cited the inability of the political parties to provide substantial evidence to support outright cancellation of the process as a validation for the refusal of the commission to cancel the entire election.
Reacting to Professor Jega’s claims, the candidates told newsmen that they have provided sufficient evidence to convince INEC that the entire exercise was a sham.
“As far as we are concerned, we have rejected the supplementary election fixed for 30 November, and we are not part of it. We advise the Independent National Electoral Commission to save the resources for that election, but they can go ahead and announce the APGA candidate as winner of the election, we will be more comfortable with that.” Dr Chris Ngige said.
INEC SHEDULES SUPPLEMENTARY ELECTION IN ANAMBRA FOR NOVEMBER 30
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attairu Jega has announced November 30 as the day for the supplimentry election in Anambra State. He declared that the commission would not cancel the last Saturday's election in the state as demanded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Jega argued that “there are no substantial evidence to warrant the outright cancellation of the entire election”.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), had demanded that fresh election should be conducted instead of the planned supplementary election in some local government of the state.
Jega expressed deep regret over the flopped election, noting that the commission alone should not be blamed for the inconclusive poll saying that politicians also contributed to the problem.
He urged political parties to cooperate with INEC during the exercise.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), had demanded that fresh election should be conducted instead of the planned supplementary election in some local government of the state.
Jega expressed deep regret over the flopped election, noting that the commission alone should not be blamed for the inconclusive poll saying that politicians also contributed to the problem.
He urged political parties to cooperate with INEC during the exercise.
NOLLYWOOD STARS TO GET N150m GRANT FROM FG
The federal government has again awarded the sum of N150m naira to Nollywood.
The Federal Government also announced that it awarded various grants, adding that this was in line with President Jonathan’s vision for the industry.
Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the economy Paul Nwabuikwu acclaimed that the beneficiaries of the grant emerged after the applications submitted by the practitioners were processed and found to have met the qualification for the training and skills acquisition programme.
The training programme according to him will cover script writing, film production, and production design, special effect, lightning sound effect, make-up, editing etc.
The grants which are currently being processed would enable the practictioners receive high quality training in accredited institutions to improve their competence in various areas of film craft.
The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, expressed satisfaction with the development and appealed for more applications from qualified practitioners.
The Federal Government also announced that it awarded various grants, adding that this was in line with President Jonathan’s vision for the industry.
Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the economy Paul Nwabuikwu acclaimed that the beneficiaries of the grant emerged after the applications submitted by the practitioners were processed and found to have met the qualification for the training and skills acquisition programme.
The training programme according to him will cover script writing, film production, and production design, special effect, lightning sound effect, make-up, editing etc.
The grants which are currently being processed would enable the practictioners receive high quality training in accredited institutions to improve their competence in various areas of film craft.
The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, expressed satisfaction with the development and appealed for more applications from qualified practitioners.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
ASUU STRIKE UPDATE: UNION DEBUNKS NEC MEETING RUMOURS
Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter, Dr Olusegun Ajibola has confirmed that stories which made the rounds on Saturday, that the National Executive Council, NEC, would hold an emergency meeting in Kano, were false.
Ajiboye who spoke in an interview on Diamond FM, University of Ibadan stated that the union was till in the middle of a seven-day morning, which was declared in honour of the late Professor Festus Iyayi, a former national chairman of the Union.
It would be recalled that Iyayi lost his life in an auto crash, on his way to Bayero University, Kano, where members of ASUU were to meet and reach a final decision, on whether to continue with the strike or accept the federal government’s offer.
Ajiboye who spoke in an interview on Diamond FM, University of Ibadan stated that the union was till in the middle of a seven-day morning, which was declared in honour of the late Professor Festus Iyayi, a former national chairman of the Union.
It would be recalled that Iyayi lost his life in an auto crash, on his way to Bayero University, Kano, where members of ASUU were to meet and reach a final decision, on whether to continue with the strike or accept the federal government’s offer.
UPDATE: ASUU MAY END STRIKE TODAY
There are strong indications that the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) might soon be called off as the union is currently having its NEC meeting at Bayero University Kano. More update soon...
Friday, November 15, 2013
ASUU MAY END STRIKE TODAY
There are indications that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may end its four-month old strike today Saturday, November 16 2013.
About 120 chapters of the union have voted in support of the decision to end the strike at their various congresses held in their institutions.
However, the National Executive of the body has not ratified the decision to end the strike.
It was reported that a Pro-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Senator Effiong Bob, has urged ASUU to end the strike in honour of Late Fetus Iyayi, a former president of the union who died in an auto-crash on Tuesday November 12 on his way to kano for a meeting of the union
“ASUU Should call of the strike so that both the union members and students can come and give him the last respect he deserves during his funeral,” he said.
In a meeting with the leadership of the union, President Goodluck Jonathan had agreed to provide 1.1 trillion Naira (about 6.9 billion dollars) in the next five years and the balance of 62 billion Naira (about 390 million dollars) and allowance to each university.
It would be recalled that the union hmbarked on a nationwide strike on July 1 suspending all academic activities.
About 120 chapters of the union have voted in support of the decision to end the strike at their various congresses held in their institutions.
However, the National Executive of the body has not ratified the decision to end the strike.
It was reported that a Pro-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Senator Effiong Bob, has urged ASUU to end the strike in honour of Late Fetus Iyayi, a former president of the union who died in an auto-crash on Tuesday November 12 on his way to kano for a meeting of the union
“ASUU Should call of the strike so that both the union members and students can come and give him the last respect he deserves during his funeral,” he said.
In a meeting with the leadership of the union, President Goodluck Jonathan had agreed to provide 1.1 trillion Naira (about 6.9 billion dollars) in the next five years and the balance of 62 billion Naira (about 390 million dollars) and allowance to each university.
It would be recalled that the union hmbarked on a nationwide strike on July 1 suspending all academic activities.
EFCC ARRESTS GOVERNOR LAMIDO SANUSI'S SONS OVER ALLEDGED FRAUD
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Aminu and Mustapha Lamido, two sons of Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, over an alledged 10billion naira fraud. It was learnt that Aminu and Mustapha Lamido were picked up in Kano yesterday (Thursday) and flown to Abuja this morning(Friday) and are currently being interrogated at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja by a crack team of detectives.
From the report given by insider, the arrest of the governor's sons were in connection with an investigation that began in December 2012 when Aminu Sule Lamido was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano Airport en route Cairo, Egypt over his failure to declare he had $50,000 on him.... Detail shortly.
From the report given by insider, the arrest of the governor's sons were in connection with an investigation that began in December 2012 when Aminu Sule Lamido was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano Airport en route Cairo, Egypt over his failure to declare he had $50,000 on him.... Detail shortly.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
INEC OPENS HOTLINES FOR ANAMBRA ELECTION
The independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dedicated 10 hotlines at its headquarters, Abuja ahead of tomorrow's governorship election. The Commission's spokesman, Kayode Idowu while speaking with newsmen added that another 31 lines have been assigned to electoral officers and security personnel in Anambra.
According to him, the move is to enable Nigerians to reach out to INEC officials and security personnel during the governorship election.
The numbers are; 07098117563, 07098114865, 070816381 for voice calls while the public can also send short messages services (SMS) through 08101774434 and 07032492303.
The election is expected to be conducted in 326 wards and 6,581 voting units with 1,784, 536 registered voters.
Twenty-three political parties have presented candidates to contest the election.
According to him, the move is to enable Nigerians to reach out to INEC officials and security personnel during the governorship election.
The numbers are; 07098117563, 07098114865, 070816381 for voice calls while the public can also send short messages services (SMS) through 08101774434 and 07032492303.
The election is expected to be conducted in 326 wards and 6,581 voting units with 1,784, 536 registered voters.
Twenty-three political parties have presented candidates to contest the election.
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