Protesting Youths Shut Down National Assembly, Want Senate President To Resign

April 26, 2016

Hundreds of protesting youths under the aegis of Occupy National Assembly, today, Tuesday, virtually shut down the National Assembly, demanding amongst others, the immediate resignation of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

The youths made up of various Civil Society Organizations and students, were also demanding that the federal lawmakers should immediately revisit the grey areas identified in the 2016 budget by President Muhammadu Buhari.

They also asked 36 senators who have so far collected their own exotic jeeps to return them immediately or face the wrath of Nigerians.

The protesters marched from the Unity Fountain within the Central Area of the city to the National Assembly, a journey of about two kilometers and forced their way to the main gate. They defied all security network mounted by regular and riot police officers.

The youths closed down the main gate thereby preventing staff, lawmakers and visitors from either entering or leaving the premises.

The protesters, armed with placards containing various inscriptions, including: “Saraki must go,” “Enough is Enough” and “Legislooting” among others, vowed to seal off the federal parliament for the initial three days to see whether their demands would be met.

They said they would resume a permanent protest that would paralyze all activities of the National Assembly until all their demands are fully met. [myad]

Senate Suspends Debate On Petroleum Bill

Greenbarge Reporters

April 26, 2016

The Senate has suspended further debate on the Petroleum Industrial Bill (PIB). This followed a protest today, Tuesday, by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP senators had complained that the lead debate was not availability to them, with the minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, raising a point of order that the bill is very important and that every member needs to study it very well before debate on it.

According to him, it is important to give senators more time to go through the bill very well before debate on it.

Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki responded to the complaint by quickly stepping the bill down in order for senators to study the bill. [myad]

After 27 Year Trial On Hillsborough Stadium Mishap, Court Says 96 Fans Killed ‘Unlawfully’

Greenbarge Reporters

April 26, 2016

About 27 years after 96 fans of Liverpool died in Britain’s Hillsborough football stadium, the British Court has just ruled that the killing was ‘unlawful.’

In what was the longest-running inquest in English legal history, the jury today, Tuesday, concluded that the behaviour of Liverpool supporters on the day did not cause or contribute to Britain’s worst sports stadium tragedy.

The jury also found that there were errors in police planning for the match and on the day of the match which caused or contributed to the dangerous situation.

Relatives of the victims have fought a long campaign to get to the heart of what happened during the disaster.

The jury has been sitting since March 2014 in a purpose-built courtroom in Warrington, northwest England, 15 miles (25 kilometres) outside Liverpool.

After the judgment today, some relatives of the victims emerged from the courtroom hugging one another and shedding tears.

The disaster occurred on April 15, 1989 during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium in northern England. [myad]

Doctor Blames Lack Of Doctors For The Death Of 6 Doctors

Greenbarge Reporters

April 26, 2016

One of the medical doctors who survived the accident that claimed the lives of six doctors in the employ of the Ekiti State Government and the Chairman of the Ekiti State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. John Akinbote, has blamed the death of the doctors on lack of doctors and immediate medical attention in the hospital they were rushed to.
“Those that died would have survived if we got good medical attention from the point of the accident to the Doka General Hospital in Kaduna. It became even worse when we got to Doka Hospital and there was no single doctor to attend to us and the only nurse on duty had no first aid facilities to administer treatment.
Dr. Akinbote, who spoke with journalists on his hospital bed at St. Gerard Hospital, Kaduna insisted that lack of immediate medical care was the undoing of the late doctors and the driver of the vehicle.

“I am sure if the FRSC personnel that took us to Doka Hospital and the nurse on duty had medical facilities to give first aid treatment, our doctors and driver wouldn’t have died.”
Another survivor, Dr. Stephen Ayosanmi, said the driver had slammed the brakes when the tyre burst, causing the bus to somersault.
The doctors were involved in an accident on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on their way to Sokoto for the 56th Annual General Meeting of the NMA. The surviving doctors are currently receiving treatment at Grarad Hospital.

Those who lost their lives in the accident included Dr. Alex Akinyele, Dr. Tunde Adesanmi, Dr. O.J. Taiwo, Dr. J. B. Ogunseye, Dr. O. Olajide, Dr. Atolani Adeniyi, and the driver, A. Ajibola.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has attributed the accident to over speeding.
The Sector Head of Operations, Deputy Corps Commander Salisu Galadunci, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna said: “twelve medical doctors and a driver were in an 18-seater bus travelling to Sokoto for the Nigeria Medical Association’s annual conference and had a tyre burst due to over speeding.
“The vehicle overturned with the occupants and six of the doctors died along with the driver, while six others survived with various degrees of injuries.
“Bodies of the victims were evacuated to St. Gerard Hospital for depositing and medical attention.”
Galadunci said that over speeding was responsible for a larger percentage of accidents on Nigerian roads.
The officer advised drivers to desist from over speeding to save lives. [myad]

Ex Lawmaker To Spend 154 Years Behind Bars For Looting N1.4 Billion

Greenbarge Reporters

April 25, 2016

Lawyers at the Presidential election tribunal | Credit: Channelstv

A former member of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Gabriel Daudu is to spend 154 years in prison having been convicted today in Lokoja, for N1.4 billion fraud and money laundering.

The presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Lokoja, found Daudu guilty on 77 out of the 208 count charged preferred against him bynthe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The convict will however, spend two years in jail as the sentence on each of the 77 count will run concurrently.

During the trial that lasted five years, the prosecution, Wahab Shittu called 13 witnesses and tendered 47 evidences to prove his case against the convict.

The convict on other hand called seven defence witnesses through his counsel, Mr. O.J. Onaja (SAN) to prove his innocence.

But Justice Ekwo, in his judgment held that the prosecution has proved his case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the defendant.

Daudu once served as the Caretaker Chairman of the Ogori/Mangogo Local Government Area of Kogi State between January and July 2008.

He has been standing trial alongside a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Kogi State, Albert Adesina since April, 2010.

The EFCC had charged the defendants for offences bordering on conspiracy, advanced fee fraud and money laundering to the tune of N1.4billion.

While co-defendant, Adesina was discharged and acquitted, Justice Ekwo sentenced Daudu to two years imprisonment on 77 counts.

Daudu was first arraigned in 2010 before Justice Adamu Bello of a Federal High Court in Abuja who was later transferred to the Lokoja Division of the Federal High Court.

Daudu and Adesina were re-arraigned twice before Justice Ekwo, on amended charges where the matter started de-novo. [myad]

Lawyer Jailed 3 Years For Stealing

Greenbarge Reporters

April 25, 2016

A practicing Nigerian lawyer, George Uboh is to spend the next three years behind bars having been found guilty of criminal breach of trust by Justice Sunday Aladetoyinbo of FCT High Court.

The lawyer was charged on three count of criminal breach of trust contrary to Section 314 of the Penal Code. He was accused of having sold vehicles entrusted to him to run the affairs of Security and Communication Department of the Police Equipment Fund.
Aladetoyinbo, who sentenced Uboh after he pleaded for leniency, was given an option to pay a fine of N1 million.
He said that the convict should also pay a compensation of N12 million to Police Equipment Fund.
The judge held that the convict was sentenced under Section 312 because Section 312 contemplated breach of trust by a servant.
His counsel, Anthony Agbonlahor, told the court that Uboh was bereaved and that his wife who is a nursing mother as well as his mother have been hospitalized.
Agbonlahor appealed to the court not to impose harsh sentence to spare mother’s life.
Prosecuting counsel, Best Ojukwu, asked the court to exercise its discretion judiciously.
NAN. [myad]

Abuja Fights Polio That May Have Been Kicked Out Since 2013

Greenbarge Reporters

April 25, 2016

The Federal Capital Territory Administration is still fighting poliomyelitis by giving immunization to the residents, even though it was last reported in Abuja in 2013.
The FCT Acting Secretary of Health & Human Services, Mrs. Alice Achu, who made this known during the flag-off of the FCT 2016 African Vaccination Week at Saburi Community, a suburb of Abuja, confirmed that the last case of wild poliovirus was reported in February 2013.
She attributed the success achieved in eliminating polio to the collaborative efforts of government and other partners.
She said that, as part of activities for the FCT 2016 Vaccination Week, the FCTA would provide immunization services to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and nomadic settlements with poor routine immunization coverage.
This was even as the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajaikaiye described the theme for the 2016 campaign: “Close the immunity gap: Stay Polio Free,” as appropriate.
He assured that the FCT Administration would provide quality immunization services to all the residents to improve the health and well being of mothers and children.
Dr. Ajakaiye said that the administration would increase access to cost effective vaccinations against preventable diseases and make life saving critical health interventions, such as Vitamin A
supplementation, nutritional screening and management.
He said that the administration would double its efforts aimed at providing critical information on health education easily available to all residents.
The Permanent Secretary explained that the focus of the African Vaccination in FCT is to work together with other stakeholders to strengthen national immunization programmes in the entire African region.
He said that the FCT administration places top priority on the target of attaining Polio eradication and certification in Nigeria by 2017 and is therefore working to ensure availability of all relevant supplies to meet the demand that will be created.
Dr. Ajakaiye warned that all the resources provided must be judiciously utilized to improve the health of all the women and children in the FCT.
He called on all residents to avail themselves of the opportunity to receive immunization services, from the 24th to 30th April, 2016, in the health camps sited at selected areas including those in the Internally Displaced Camps, nomadic settlements and other high risk communities.
He also called for the collaboration and support of the Traditional rulers, religious leaders and other well-meaning Nigerians in the FCT to eradicate polio in Nigeria as projected. [myad]

Buhari Recommends Social Justice As Antidote To Cure Internal Conflicts In Africa

Greenbarge Reporters

April 25, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has recommended strict adherence the observance of social justice which he said is a solution to conflicts in Africa.
He said that to achieve greater peace and political stability in their countries, African leaders must work harder to ensure social justice for all their citizens.
Speaking at an audience at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with the Foreign Minister of Equatorial Guinea, Mr. Agapito Mba Mokuy, President Buhari stressed that as leaders of sovereign nations, African Heads of Government must be allowed to discharge their responsibility for peace and security within their countries, without external interference.
The President said that this was why Heads of State and Government of the African Union decided against sending peacekeeping troops to Burundi during the country’s recent political crisis.
President Buhari said that he expected the Government of Burundi to work towards greater peace, national unity and social justice for all Burundians to justify the decision of the African Union.
“Governments should be responsible for the security of their countries. Burundi must therefore ensure social justice for all of its people so as not to disappoint Africa in the eyes of the world,” the President told the minister who was in Abuja as a Special Envoy of President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
President Buhari assured him that Nigeria will continue to work with Equatorial Guinea and other nations to strengthen the African Union and its various organs for the good of the continent.
He said that Nigeria will welcome more cooperation with Equatorial Guinea and other members of the Gulf of Guinea Commission to curb piracy and enhance security in the gulf. [myad]

Why We Appoint Sani Omolori Next Clerk To National Assembly – Fika

Greenbarge Reporters

April 25, 2016

Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Alhaji Adamu Fika has explained that Alhaji Mohammed Sani Omolori was appointed to succeed the outgoing Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa because he (Omolori) still has longer years to offer before he retires.

In a memorandum, he submitted to the 440th meeting of the Commission held on April 20, Fika explained that the deputy Clerk, Mr. Benedict Efeturi who is supposed to succeed Maikasuwa would proceed on retirement leave on August 2.

He said that in conformity with the convention and practices of the service, no officer who has less than six months to retire would act in higher office.

“Mr. Benedict Efeturi, who presently acts as Deputy Clerk to National Assembly, will also proceed on his three months terminal leave on 2nd August, 2016 days before the end of the current Clerk’s terminal leave.

“It is neither expedient nor in conformity with convention and practices of the Service for an officer who has less than six months left to retire from service to act in a higher office.

“Mr. Mohammed Sani-Omolori, the present Clerk of the House of Representatives who therefore remains the next most senior officer in the services of the National Assembly will remain in service till 2021.”

Meanwhile, the Act establishing National Assembly Service Commission, as amended indicates that its action is not subjected to the direction of any authority or person in considering anybody for appointment.

Section 6 (8) of the Act says: “In exercising its power to make appointments or exercise disciplinary control over persons, the Commission shall not be subjected to the direction or control of any authority or person.” [myad]

2019: I Will Run For Presidency Under PDP – Sule Lamido

Greenbarge Reporters

April 25, 2016

Former governor of Jigawa state and Nigeria ex foreign affairs minister, Sule Lamido has said that he will contest the 2019 presidential election should the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) find him deserving of the ticket.

Lamido who spoke to news men in his village, Bamaina in Birnin-kudu local government area of the state, admitted, though, that he would have to first earn it, as nobody gets the PDP presidential ticket on a platter of gold.

“If my party finds me worthy of the party’s presidential ticket to serve Nigeria, I will thank God and oblige,” he said.

“Although there are issues in the party that we are all working to resolve, we hope to have success soon and come out united. As I’m talking to you now, we are working silently to resolve our differences and bring back to our fold those that left the party for APC.”

He blamed PDP’s underwhelming outing at the 2015 general election on its internal crisis.

“PDP has the capacity to rule the country again but the members must work hard to achieve that,” he said even as he denied any rift with his successor, Muhammad Badaru of APC.

“We have mutual respect for each other and I have no differences with him other than political ideologies.”

Earlier on Saturday, Lamido, seeking to explain the poor performance of PDP in the north at the 2015 general election, had claimed that many northerners did not have the freedom to vote their choices because of the branding of the PDP as a Christian party.

“In the build-up to the last general election, PDP was vilified, intimidated with religion, falsehoods and propaganda through Facebook postings. Rwandan genocide pictures were posted as Boko Haram victims. PDP was blackmailed into silence,” he said.

“When you queued to vote in the north, people viewed you as an infidel. You were all there and these things happened in a country where freedom should be the operating word. APC man can vote APC but if Lamido votes PDP, he is a Christian; he is a pastor.” [myad]

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