NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
General News

Ibadan Poly reverse self, lifts suspension on Students’ Union

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Ibukun Emiola

The Management of The Polytechnic, Ibadan has reversed itself and lifted the suspension earlier placed on the institution’s Students’ Union Government.

This is contained in a statement issued by the institution’s Registrar, Mrs Modupe Fawale, in Ibadan on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the institution had earlier suspended the Students’ Union Executives and its activities indefinitely, over alleged protest by students in the early hours of Monday.

Fawale said that the reversal of the suspension order earlier placed on the union was based on interventions in order to allow for further consultations.

“The management has decided not to use the big stick on the students, as they have also sheathed their swords.

“The management will be holding meetings with the leadership of the students to address their perceived grievances,” she said.

The registrar, however, said that the first semester examination, scheduled to commence on Jan. 9, remained postponed.

“A new date for the commencement of the examination will be announced to the students through appropriate channels,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Judiciary

Malami inaugurates Bar Council, cautions NBA against isolation of members

228 total views today
By Ebere Agozie

The Minister of Justice, Abubarkar Malami, SAN. on Monday inaugurated the General Council of the Bar with a call on the leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) not to isolate members.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Council inaugurated comprised all the Attorneys General of the  states, 20 members of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Attorney-General of the Federation who shall be the President of the Council as enunciated in the Section 1 (2)( a-c) of the Legal Practitioners Act 2004.

Malami said that the NBA serves as a vehicle for social conscience and therefore should not seek to isolate its members in government who are positioned to drive its success.

“We must work collectively to build an enviable legal profession that will be beneficial to us all, rejig it to change the current negative perception of the profession.

“The council should strive to overcome its inherent limitation to reinvent and reassert itself in the legal architecture of the country.

“This inauguration is an opportunity for all the constitutional heads of the legal profession and members of the Bar to meet and deliberate on pertinent issues affecting the legal profession, especially in view of current challenges and public perception of the profession’’.

He advised those inaugurated to continue to show commitment and dedication to the statutory duties of the Council, especially with regards to making and reviewing rules of professional conduct under Section 12(4) of the LPA.

“Together we must work to restore the confidence which the public hitherto reposed in members of the legal profession.

“This will only be possible if we as members demonstrate uncommon commitment and dedication to make a difference through our various inputs and services to the Council.

Responding,  the President of NBA, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN said that there was the absolute need to provide regulations that will guide the conduct of legal Practitioners towards the fight against corruption, money laundering, terrorism, economic crimes, and other criminal activities.

He said the profession maintained the privileges conferred on the it by the statutes, self-regulate it conduct as to make it accountable in the fight against the menaces that have bedeviled the nation.

Maikyau, therefore, urged all members to familiarise  themselves with the Legal Practitioner Acts, LPA and the Constitution of the Association which, he said remains the principal legal framework governing the operation of our Association’’. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Health

Mental Health Bill: Stakeholders commend Buhari

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By Justina Auta

Mr Chime Asonye, Founder, Nigerian Mental Health, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the National Mental Health Bill 2021, into law.

He, however, urged incoming administrations to prioritise and implement the National Mental Health Bill 2021, to boost the country’s healthcare system.

Asonye made the call in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

The Nigerian Mental Health is a network of leaders and organisations on mental health.

According to him, the bill is the first legislative reform adopted in the field since independence and a major milestone to improve support for psychosocial wellbeing.

“The mental health community came together to speak with one voice in support of the Bill.

“We now need Executive implementation, State Governments to domesticate this legislation, and those contesting for elected offices to make mental health a national priority,” he said.

The network also called on the government to enact other critical reforms for those with mental health conditions, such as decriminalising attempted suicide, which is currently a felony subject to a year in prison.

They also urged the National Assembly to ensure gazetted copies of the Bill are available to citizens, so they know their new legal rights.

Asonye quoted Prof. Gboyega Abikoye, the President of the National Association of Clinical Psychologists, whose organization submitted memoranda during legislative drafting as saying “past legislation was outdated and inhumane.”

“The previous regulatory regime was based on the regional Lunacy Act of 1958, a colonial holdover that needed to be replaced,”

Asonye noted that the regulation, assented to on Jan. 5, established human rights protections for those with mental health conditions, such as banning discrimination in housing, employment, medical and other social services.

”It also guarantees that those receiving treatments have the right to participate in formulating their medical plans and cannot have forced treatment, seclusion or other methods of restraint.

“And other common practices in mental health facilities without appropriate safeguards,” he said.

According to him, other provisions of the Bill include establishing a new Mental Health Fund, a Mental Health Department in the Federal Ministry of Health, and a Mental Health Assessment Committee to protect stakeholders.

Asonye further explained that the Bill also expanded community-based coverage and improve the care and management of those with mental health conditions.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Education

Tech education: Firm set to train, employ millions of Nigerians

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By Adeyemi Adeleye

Bullseye Digital Manpower, a technology-focused job placement and career management brand, says it is set to train and empower millions of Nigerians with in-demand digital technology competencies in 2023.

The Founder of the firm, Mr Lare Ayoola, in a statement by the organisation’s Head of Communications, Mr Damola Olofinlua, disclosed this on Saturday in Lagos.

Ayoola, an entrepreneur who doubles as Chairman of Tranter IT, said that the training and empowerment would cover software development, software quality assurance, UI/UX design, data science, and digital marketing within six or 12 months.

“Bullseye will empower enrolees with ample opportunities to gain hands-on experience during their programme, after which they would be placed in technology jobs with organisations across different industries in Nigeria and beyond.

“Already, the institution is set to admit the first stream of students into its software development programme,” Ayoola said.

According to him, in the coming weeks, other courses will be introduced in addition to the software development courses.

He said these “would also follow Bullseye’s robust curriculum which is guaranteed to set them on the right path to achieving their career goals and life ambitions”.

“With courses spanning 6 or 12 months and classes held on weekdays or only weekends, enrolees are spoilt for options based on their preference.

“Its flexible arrangement makes it a great choice for recent graduates of higher institutions, secondary school leavers with intermediate knowledge of their chosen field, professionals in the early years of their career or even those more advanced in their career, desirous of a switch to tech.

“Students also have the option of making one-off payment, in instalments, or access a friendly facility payable within 3 years after their post-graduation job placement when they would already be earning,” he said.

Ayoola said that, with Bullseye, recruiters would have a ready pool of trained and experienced talents to fill openings.

He added that well-meaning organisations like NGOs, international organisations, professional bodies and governments at all levels could also support the national quest towards capacity development, by sponsoring interested enrolees of their choice.

Ayoola said other training institutions could leverage Bullseye’s talent placement proposition to secure jobs for their trainees.

“Bullseye will address some of the major challenges in the technology and human capital management industries, including the high attribution rate of talent, the increasing lack of specialised skills in technology, and the rising global demand for local talent, among others,” Ayoola said.

According to him, the firm is celebrated for its provision of technology support staff to some of the foremost organisations across Nigeria for over a decade.

He said that in about a decade, Tranter IT had outsourced over 8000 tech talents to organisations across Nigeria.

The founder said that Bullseye Digital Manpower, the tech education, recruitment, and career support brand, would enhance the reskilling and upskilling of interested participants.

He said it would fill the widening talent gap in the technology ecosystem with proficient and experienced specialists and accelerate tech entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

“We have set up Bullseye Digital Manpower to empower enrolees with ample and practical opportunities to skill up in the most sellable aspects of technology services and solutions delivery.

“Not only would enrolees be trained in real-life environments by some of the most qualified tech tutors on the continent, they would also benefit from internships and job placements in leading companies during and after their programme,” Ayoola added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
AYO/SOA

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Politics

Elections : Action Alliance threatens to protest over exclusion of its candidates

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From Left:  Amb. Suleiman Abdulrasheed, National Secretary of Action Alliance; Mr Solomon-David Okaniguan, the Presidential Candidate of the party; National Chairman, Dr Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje; Alhaji Ibrahim Isa, Deputy National Chairman and the party’s National Woman Leader, Mrs Esther Esevohare, during a press briefing on Saturday in Abuja.

 

 

By Angela Atabo

Action Alliance (AA) on Saturday, threatened to stage a peaceful protest at the National Assembly over alleged exclusion of its candidates from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s list for the 2023 general elections.

The National Chairman of AA, Dr Adekunle Omo-Aje, stated this at a news conference at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

Omo-Aje said that INEC’s alleged failure to upload the names of all the candidates presented to it by his leadership in spite of various court orders against the recognition of the list of candidates submitted by the sacked national chairman of the party, Mr Kenneth Udeze, might jeopardise the forthcoming polls.

“We shall move to the National Assembly on a protest and, to submit our protest letter and to inform our lawmakers that, if the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, is not called to order, there will be negative consequential effects on the outcome of 2023 elections.

“We shall use all legal channels to ensure we get justice against any form of exclusion from presenting our candidates for elections, and every such election stands the chances of annulment by law,” he said.

Omo-Aje alleged that “Yakubu is covertly orchestrating a clandestine plan against the 2023 elections, and Action Alliance will not fold our arms and watch our nascent democracy rubbished and wounded.”

He said that Udeze was the party’s national chairman up to June 2019 before he was suspended and expelled.

Omo-Aje said he emerged the national chairman after a national elective convention conducted in February 2020 and monitored by INEC officials.

He said instead of Udeze to challenge his suspension and expulsion from the party internally and through the courts, he instituted several court cases urging the courts to declare him national chairman of the party but lost all.

According to him, in spite of fulfilling all INEC electoral guidelines and requirements according to the Nigerian constitution with the commission, the electoral umpire is “hell bent on excluding Action Alliance from the coming 2023 general elections.”

“It has gotten to the level for us in Action Alliance to come out in the open and make categorical statements loud and clear on the rooftop to the hearing of all concerned citizens of this country.

“This forms the crux of our press briefing, to draw the attention of the relevant authorities and the nation in particular about the miscarriage of justice in INEC, actively promoted by its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu,” he said.

He also called on the Nigerian Bar Association to intervene in concertedly sanitising the legal profession by fishing out bad eggs among its membership.

“There is a clique of lawyers today on our streets that neither cares about the ethics of the bar nor give credence to professionalism.

“These lawyers sniff around for legal lacuna to exploit, not minding whether such constitute abuse of court processes or not.

“In the course of our ordeal, we have seen a lot of these tactical unprofessional practices where lawyers are engaged by persons to sue themselves as if they were truly sued in real terms, ” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at a national congress held by AA in Abuja, Mr Solomon-David Okanigbuan emerged the party’s presidential candidate, among others.

But retired Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former aide to late Gen. Sani Abacha, also won the presidential primary election conducted by the Udeze-led faction on June 9 in Abuja.

The electoral umpire had recognised all the candidates presented to it by the Udeze-led faction, despite court judgements declaring that Udeze was no longer a member of the party.

There is also an order directing INEC to accept and publish all the candidates sent to it by the Omo-Aje leadership of the AA.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Defence/Security

El-Rufai hails NAF for improved security in Kaduna

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By Sumaila Ogbaje

 

Gov Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has commended the heroic performance of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the restoration of relative peace in the state.

 

El-Rufai gave the commendation when he paid a courtesy visit to Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, at NAF Headquarters on Friday in Abuja.

 

The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Wap Maigida, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

 

El-Rufai disclosed that there had been significant improvement in the security situation in the state in the last three months, adding that several terrorists’ commanders had been neutralised by the NAF while the remnants had relocated from the state.

 

“On behalf of the Government and people of Kaduna state, I came to thank the Chief of the Air Staff, Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding, officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force for the excellent work done and still being done in the state.

 

“The security situation in our state and environs has improved drastically. Please keep up the excellent work,” he said.

 

Responding, Amao thanked the governor for the visit as well as the support and cooperation the NAF had been receiving from the Government and people of the state in tackling the security challenges in the entire North West region.

 

He said that NAF would continue to do its best to make the country safe and secured in line with its constitutional responsibilities.

 

“We will continue to do our best until the entire country is safe. We have professional and experienced operational Commanders overseeing various operations across the country,” the CAS said.

 

The Air Chief said that the numerous successes the NAF had recorded so far in the fight against insurgency and terrorism was as a result of the overwhelming support of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

He said the President had been providing the needed resources for the service to achieve its mandate.  (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Stanley Nwanosike/Maharazu Ahmed

Defence/Security

New NAF spokesman assumes office

133 total views today

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The newly appointed Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Wapkerem Maigida, on Friday took over office following the recent posting and redeployment by the service.

Maigida, who was the Commander of 551 NAF Station in Jos, took over from Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, who also replaced him in Jos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAF Headquarters on Wednesday announced the redeployment of its commanders at various levels.

Maigida had served as Acting Director Defence Information at the Defence Headquarters before his posting to Jos in 2022.

In his address, he promised to consolidate on the achievement of his predecessor, adding that it was a rare opportunity for him to serve as the image maker of the service.

The director thanked the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, for the honour and privilege, saying he was fully aware of the responsibilities of his office to project the operational engagement and other activities of NAF.

“With the aim of galvanising support and goodwill for the NAF in striving to project air power to conquer the myriads of security challenges currently bedeviling the country.

“Let me assure you that the directorate will keep forging ahead under my watch to continue to churn out and leverage on online social platforms to bring out NAF stories in clear picture.

“Indeed, I will continue to use the media space to strive and bring the narrative of NAF in enhancing national security architecture in the country.“

The NAF spokesman urged media professionals to as partners, bear in mind that the current security challenges facing the country called for concerted efforts to stem the tide.

He appreciated media practitioners for their individual support and cooperation during the tenure of the outgone DOPRI.

“I urge you to remain steadfast as you carry out your work in informing and enlightening the public and bring them abreast of happenings within the defence and security sector.

“I urge you to use your reportage and media outfit to shape public perceptions and views about the NAF towards enduring national security and defence of the country.

“This I believe will boost combat efficiency and effectiveness of NAF towards enhancing operational airpower capabilities to confront the enemies of Nigeria,” he said.

Maigida pledged to continue to project the service towards enhancing critical airpower capabilities and joint force employment in pursuit of national security imperative.

He also promised to promote the clear values of NAF among the airmen and airwomen of the directorate for better services.

The outgone DOPRI, Air Commodore Gabkwet, urged the new spokesman to strive hard to consolidate on what the directorate had done so far during his tenure as the image maker of the service.

He urged the airmen and airwomen as well as other civilian staff of the service to extend the same cooperation he enjoyed during his tenure to the new image maker of the service.

Gabkwet also urged media professionals to give the new director the maximum cooperation and support accorded him.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

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Economy/Business

Alarm over national debt unnecessary – DMO

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By Kadiri Abdulrahman

The Debt Management Office (DMO) says the alarm created around the country’s projected public debt by a segment of the media was unnecessary.

The Director-General, Mrs Patience Oniha, said this in a statement to react to reports by a segment of the media that the next government would inherit N77 trillion debts.

Oniha stated that Nigeria’s debt would only attain that level when the Ways and Means Advances from the CBN were securitised.

According to her, the securitisation of the Ways and Means Advances will enable the DMO to include the debt in the public debt stock thereby improving debt transparency.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the public presentation of the 2023 Appropriation Act, Oniha had explained the projected debt stock using the actual public debt stock of N44 trillion as a basis.

She stated that the total debt stock included external and domestic debts of the Federal Government, the 36 state governments and the FCT.

“Taking into account a number of on-going activities, the total public debt stock; that is the external and domestic debts of the Federal Government, the 36 state governments and the FCT would be about N77 trillion.

“The debts that will be added to the public debt data in 2023 include the N1 trillion Ways and Means Advances to finance the supplementary budget.

“This has already been approved by the National Assembly (NASS).

“It also includes N22.72 trillion Ways and Means Advances currently under the consideration by the NASS.

“The projected debt stock for May 2023 also includes N5.567 trillion, representing about 50 per cent of the new borrowing of N11.134 trillion in the 2023 Appropriation Act.

“It also includes new Promissory Notes estimated at N1.5 trillion to be issued to settle arrears of the FGN and judgement debts,’’ she stated.

According to her, also included are estimates for new borrowings by state governments and the FCT.

“From these figures, it is clear that the Ways and Means Advances of N22.72 trillion which represents funds already spent, is the largest source of the increase,’’ Oniha stated. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng

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Edited by Alli Hakeem

Judiciary

2023: Appeal Court rejects application to reinstate Al-Mustapha, others as AA candidates

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By Taiye Agbaje
The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Thursday, rejected an appeal by the sacked Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA) party, Chief Kenneth Udeze, seeking to reverse the nullification of the candidacy of retired Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha and others.
A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by its President, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, in a ruling, held that the appeal was defective and hence, incompetent.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Al-Mustapha, the former aide to late Gen. Sani Abacha, won the presidential primary election of the party conducted by Udeze faction with a total of 506 votes, defeating Samson Odupitan, his only opponent, on June 9 in Abuja.
Justice Dongban-Mensem, in the lead ruling, held that Udeze was wrong to have initiated the appeal in the name of the AA and also listed the party as a respondent.
The judge said that the AA could not be an appellant and a respondent in the same appeal.
The ruling was on the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/1472MI/2022, with which Udeze (who was suspended and later expelled) had sought to void the Dec. 22, 2022 ruling of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja.
NAN reports that Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Abuja FHC had, on Dec. 22, 2022, dismissed Udeze’s application to set aside the court’s Nov. 4, 2022 judgement recognising the candidates produced by the Dr Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje leadership of the party.
Udeze, whose suspension and expulsion as the AA chairman had been upheld in two judgments of the Court of Appeal, had applied to the FHC, Abuja to set aside the Nov. 4 judgment, claiming it was obtained by fraud and that he was still the party’s national chairman.
In the Nov. 4 judgement delivered by Justice Abubakar, the court ordered INEC to accept the list of candidates submitted to it by the Omo-Aje leadership of the AA and to discountenance the candidates submitted by Udeze, which Major Hamzat Al-Mustpha was a presidential candidate.
Also in her Dec. 22 ruling, Justice Abubakar reaffirmed that, with the two subsisting judgments of the Court of Appeal and another decision by a FHC in Abeokuta, Udeze cannot lawfully lay claim to being the Chairman of the party.
The two judgments of the Court of Appeal were delivered on Jan. 7, 2022 and Nov. 11, 2022, while the ruling by the FHC in Abeokuta was delivered on Sept. 8, 2022 by Justice J. O. Abdulmalik in a suit marked: FHC/AB/CS/120/2022.
Justice Abubakar held that her earlier judgment delivered on Nov. 4 was not obtained by fraud as claimed by Udeze.
The judge described Udeze as a busy body and meddlesome interloper, trying to interfere in the affairs of the party from which he was suspended and later expelled.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
TOA/SH
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edited by Sadiya Hamza

Judiciary

Lawyer petitions Ugwuanyi over alleged demolition of Enugu paint factory

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Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu

By Taiye Agbaje
Mr Chukwuma-machukwu Ume, SAN, has urged Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State to investigate an allegation levelled against a businesswoman, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, over the demolition of a paint factory in the state.
Ume, in a petition addressed to Governor Ugwuanyi through his law firm, said the demolition of the factory, Legacy Paints Ltd, was allegedly orchestrated by Kennedy-Ohanenye.
The petition, which was made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, also copied noble personalities, including former governors and clergymen, in the state.
The lawyer said that the N1.3 billion ultramodern paint factory located at Plot M4, Cattle Lairage Site, Emene, Enugu State, was lawfully owned by his client.
“The Enugu state government through the state’s Ministry of Lands in 2013, validly granted Statutory Certificate of Occupancy (No: CAL/07566, dated 25th November, 2013 and registered as NO: 5 at page Vol. 126, Land Registry, Enugu) for 99 years to Dezern Nigeria Ltd in respect of a commercial piece of land known and situated at Plot M4, Cattle Lairage Site, Emene, Enugu State.
“It is also in the record of your state government that this company duly applied and got the necessary factory buildings approval.
“As a follow-up, they, in line with your state government policy of encouraging indigenous industrialisation of the state, immediately (with borrowed funds) constructed and established an ultra-modern paint manufacturing factory at a cost of N1 billion.
“The factory with a teaming workforce of over 70 staff has steadily remained in active production and has been paying huge sums of money to your state confers in form of Personal Income Tax of employees,” the petition read in part.
He said that before the factory was pulled down, the paints and other allied chemical produced by the company had added tremendous value to commercial activities in the state, country and the West African sub-region.
Ume, who said despite the pendency of the matter over the disputed land in court, Kennedy-Ohanenye, who was also a chieftain of a political party, allegedly masterminded its demolition on Dec. 22, 2022.
He also queried the sudden withdrawal of the appeal marked: CA/E/224/2021 filed by the state government on the matter.
The senior lawyer, who urged Ugwuanyi to instruct the state’s Ministry of Justice to re- file the withdrawn appeal for proper prosecution, demanded for the cancellation of any allocation made or attempt to have been made to Kennedy-Ohanenye.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

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