Daily Trust Foundation trains corps members, interns

By Idowu Isamotu

Daily Trust Foundation, a non-profit making arm of the Media Trust Limited, Publishers of Daily Trust Newspapers has again trained its members of staff, corps members and students on internship on some aspects of journalism with a view to enhancing their news writing capacity.

Staff members of the organisation were trained on Inforgraphics, while corps members and interns were taken through the basics of investigative journalism.

The Chairman of the DTF, Dr Theophilus Abba, while making his opening remarks during the training, urged all participants to maximize the opportunity by being attentive throughout the training sessions.

Oil spill victims to get £30m from Shell

Victims of the two oil spills caused by Royal Dutch Shell in Bodo community of Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State, in 2008, will be paid £30 million as compensation. Dutch Shell declared willingness to pay up to £30 million (N7.5 billion) after a London court rejected a larger claim, Reuters reported.

About 15,000 residents of Bodo community represented by a law firm, Leigh Day, appealed in 2011 to a London court for more than £300 million in compensation.
Claimants say that the two spills resulted in the leakage of 500,000 barrels of oil, but Shell estimated the volume at around 4,000 barrels. Shell has already offered some compensation for the spills.

A Shell offer in September 2013 to settle the case for £30 million remained on the table. The lawyer representing the claimants rejected the sum.
“Shell has consistently sought to underestimate the damage whilst paying only lip service to an apology.

These spills, which are some of the largest oil spills in history, have devastated a community of many thousands of people and ravaged the environment.
“The offer of £30 million had been made before, but rejected by our clients, who found it insulting and derisory. Nothing has changed this view,” Martyn Day, said in a statement.

A trial is planned to start in May 2015 in Nigeria, but Shell urged the claimants to reach a settlement beforehand.
“From the outset, we’ve accepted responsibility for the two deeply regrettable operational spills in Bodo,” Mutiu Sunmonu, Managing Director of the Shell Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria,  said in a statement.

“We hope the community will now direct their United Kingdom legal representatives to stop wasting more time pursuing enormously exaggerated claims and consider sensible and fair compensation offers,” Sunmonu said.

Obiano's aide denies demanding N500m from Obi

Obiano

Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Inter-party Affairs, Chief Ben Obi, has denied demanding N500 million from former Governor Peter Obi, saying those making the allegation were only out to malign him.

Obi, who served in the same capacity during the administration of the former governor, told reporters that he had never complained to anybody that he was not fairly treated by his former boss who hails from his town.

According to him, those making the allegation are people bent on tarnishing the image of Mr. Peter Obi who he described as the best governor Anambra State has had.

We will retaliate any Boko Haram on Igbo soil- Group

PAN Igbo socio-political organisation, Obigbo, has warned Boko Haram insurgents to regard the South East as a no go area, noting that any attack on Ndigbo on Igbo soil would be met with reprisal attacks.

It also said that Ndigbo would not be part of any activity that will disintegrate Nigeria, adding that the Igbo would not watch while her people were killed in Igbo- land.
Briefing newsmen in Lagos, National Leader of the group, Chief Charles Ahize, urged all the governors of the south eastern states to tighten security in the region.

His words: “We want to make it aboundantly clear to the Boko Haram insurgents that if any life is lost on Igbo soil, there will be a reprisal of monumental proportions that the country will find difficult to contain.

“It is no longer in doubt that there is a clear and present danger to the lives and property of Ndigbo in Igboland. Obigbo, hereby, sounds a clear note of warning to the Boko Haram insurgents and their financiers that the South East is a no go region. Any attack on Ndigbo on Igbo soil would be considered crossing the rubicon."

My visit to Ojukwu's grave—Umeh

Still basking in the euphoria of his victory at the Court of Appeal which affirmed his position as national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor, has again visited the grave side of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, saying he did so whenever he won a court case because the Ikemba Nnewi was always behind his political successes.

Umeh, who stormed the late Biafran warlord’s Nnewi country home with hundreds of APGA supporters, venerated in front of Ojukwu’s mausoleum and showered praises on him, explaining that his strength was usually renewed whenever he visited Ikemba’s graveside.

Umeh said: “I am here to renew and recharge my strength. Ojukwu groomed me for five years. Ikemba as the national leader of APGA for five years and me as the national chairman of APGA, shared many secrets together on how to guard the interest of Ndigbo in Nigeria."

IF THIS IS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE— FAYEMI

A speech by Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti conceding defeat to gov-elect Ayodele Fayose in the guber election.

Fayemi and wife about to cast vote

Fayose casting his vote

If This Is the Will of the People
Concession Speech
His Excellency
Dr. Kayode FAYEMI
Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Following the
2014 Gubernatorial Elections
Government House, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Sunday, June 22, 2014

Protocols

In o kun o Ekiti kete.

Yesterday, Ekiti State decided. Following the gubernatorial elections held in the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially returned the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.

If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti People, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heed your voice.

I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the Governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would work together to institute a smooth transition programme.

It has been a hard fought election. As expected, in the course of the campaigns, there were unsavory episodes as the candidates toured the nooks and crannies of the state to sell ourselves to the people. Elections tend to be highly divisive affairs that often see brother rising against brother. Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti State. Ekiti is ours to build together.

On our part, over the course of the campaigns, we presented our scorecards before the people of Ekiti State. We never at any point took your support for granted. We campaigned, we canvassed and we traversed the nooks and crannies of this State. Our performance and achievements in office will remain the backdrop against which the next government and indeed future governments will be assessed. We are proud that with the support of Ekiti people, we have raised the bar of excellence in governance. In all, we gave our best, for conscience and for posterity.

Indeed a new sociology of the Ekiti people may have evolved. However, the task of understanding how the outcome of this election has defined us as a people will be that of scholars. For us as an administration and a cadre of political leaders in Ekiti State, we have fought a good fight, we have kept faith.

To members of our party, our campaign team and indeed all Ekiti people who defied the siege on our state to cast their votes for our party, I salute your exemplary courage and doggedness in the face of harassment. Thank you for staying the course. The incidences of brazen harassment, intimidation and allied infractions on fundamental human rights, which many of you suffered in the hands of agents of the state, would be documented and communicated to the appropriate authorities, for the records.
I thank you all for listening.

May God bless the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi
Governor, Ekiti State
Sunday, June 22, 2014

Anglican church suspends 34 knights

No fewer than 34 Anglican knights have been suspended by the Anglican Diocese on the Lake over alleged inactivity in the church.

The Bishop, Rt. Rev. Chijioke Oti, announced the suspension at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, Oguta, during the investiture service of 13 new knights.
“The 34 knights, who now stand suspended, have not been participating in diocesan activities, especially programmes of the Council of Nights in the Diocese,” Bishop Oti said.

The Anglican cleric was particularly irked that the affected knights brazenly flouted his earlier directive that all knights should not only get registered but must participate in the 2014 diocesan synod.

“Let me, however, say that any of the suspended knights who showed serious signs of remorse, and reapplies for possible reconsideration, would be re-admitted into the fold,” Bishop Oti said.
He reminded the new knights that knighthood was neither a secret cult group nor a place for fun-seeking individuals but a call to serve God and man.

Delivering the sermon during the service, the Bishop, Diocese of Egbu, Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Okorafor, said knighthood was not a status symbol.
The bishop said: “Knighthood is not a status symbol. I urge you all to shun pride, arrogance and insubordination. You must see yourselves as soldiers of Christ.”

Court bars Ebonyi govt from pipeline production site

A High Court sitting at Ohaukwu judicial division, weekend, issued an interlocutory injunction preventing Ebonyi State government or persons acting on its behalf from entering the ongoing pipeline production site located at Egu-Effium Nsalakpa, Ezzamgbo.

The court also ordered the defendants, the Attorney General of Ebonyi State, Dr. Benjamin Igwenyi, and the state Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Housing, Mr. Nwogha Moses, not to fence, partition and allocate the land to any other person or group of persons or body that will alter, change or affect the current status of the land, pending the final determination of the substantive suit.

The presiding judge, Justice H. A. Nkoju, after hearing the submissions of counsels to the plaintiff and defendants,  Ikechukwu Agbo and S. N. Ogbuinya respectively, granted the application of the plaintiff.

US military awaits approval to use force to free Chibok girls

The US military may soon be deplored in the search of the over 200 abducted secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno state.

A US Congressional Delegation made up of Representatives Steve Stockman, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Frederica Wilson and Lois Frankel, told a news conference in Abuja on Sunday said a directive is being awaited on the issue.

According to Stockman: ” We get briefed by the military and pending the approval of the government of Nigeria and our government, we plan to take action but I don’t think we are going specifics this time.

“It was a classified briefing. We stand ready to help and as soon as our government and Nigerian government approves, we will take action.”
But in the meantime, US is helping Nigeria to train its military.

Jackson-Lee said, “What I want to say is that I think what it is right now is to work with the Nigerian government in training of the military. I want to emphasise again here that we have come all these miles to say that our Congress stands ready to cooperate and the government in a manner that is appropriate and with the consent of Nigerian government.

” And I want to emphasise the need for the Victims Relief Fund because there is so much suffering going on by the young girls and the their families that have been touched by this violence.”
The delegation also urged Nigeria government to establish a National Victim Fund.

Make June 12 unity Day, recognise Abiola, UPN tells FG

As Nigerians marked the 21st anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, has called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to immortalise Late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Abiola and proclaim June 12 as Unity Day.

In a statement by the party signed by its Director of Publicity, Mr Felix Oboagwina, the party regretted the failure of the Federal Government to name another edidficy after the hero of June 12, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola after students protested naming of the University of Lagos after the late politician.

Quoting the chairman of the party, Dr. Frederich Fasehun, he said, “today’s politicians must continue to acknowledge that Abiola’s sacrifice and martyrdom paved the way for the democracy Nigeria currently enjoys.”

Muslims not out to Islamize Nigeria – Sultan

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Thursday declared that Muslims in Nigeria are not out to Islamize the country.

Sultan Abubakar, who is also the President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to reconsider dialogue with the Boko Haram insurgents.

The Royal Father spoke in Abuja while declaring open the Annual National Conference organized by the Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN), in Abuja, with the  theme: “Rule of Law and Social Justice: A Panacea for Unity and National Development.”

He insisted that the government can only win the ongoing war against insurgency through dialogue.

He also called on Muslim lawyers in the country to offer free legal services to detained Boko Haram suspects so as to ensure freedom for those who are not connected with the deadly sect.

He decried a situation where non-Muslims are kicking against the inclusion of Sharia in the Constitution at the ongoing National Conference, even as he urged Muslims not to oppose provisions that would be of direct benefit to non-Muslims in the Constitution.

The Sultan said: “I have said it one million and one times, as far as America, when I delivered a lecture at Harvard University that the problems of Nigeria is not caused by Muslims.

“I want to assure you that we have been doing our best to educate people on what Islam and Muslims stand for and want to do in Nigeria.

“I have said one million times, Muslims in Nigeria are not out to Islamize Nigeria because it is not possible. We all know what is said in the Holy Quran. So why should anybody be afraid of the strength of Muslims in this country?


He insisted that no country can win insurgency war without dialogue.

Terrorism: UK boosts Nigeria military

 The United Kingdom will increase its military and educational aid to help Nigeria tackle Boko Haram, Foreign Secretary William Hague has announced.

He said Nigeria’s army would receive extra training, especially in counter-insurgency, and a million more children would be given schooling.

This is the latest promise of Western help since Boko Haram abducted some 200 schoolgirls in April.

Since then, the sect has stepped up its attacks.

Mr. Hague stressed that human rights must be respected in the operation against the militant group.

Human rights groups have accused Nigeria’s army of killing hundreds of civilians in crackdowns following Boko Haram attacks.

The British foreign secretary also insisted that the extra aid must be spent effectively. There have been reports of corruption in the military.

Mr. Hague said the extra assistance would be provided in conjunction with France and the United States.

He also said that Nigeria, Chad, Benin, Niger, Cameroon had confirmed they will put into operation a regional intelligence fusion unit – to “tighten the net around Boko Haram.”

The BBC reports that the meeting took place on the sidelines of the London summit on ending sexual violence in conflict, co-hosted by Mr. Hague and United Nations special envoy and actress Angelina Jolie.

It follows last month’s summit in Paris where regional powers pledged to co-ordinate action against the group.

Post-election violence: Court awards N10m to victim's widow

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has awarded the sum of N10 million as compensation to a Nigerian widow, Mrs Dorcas Afolalu as a result of the post presidential violence that claimed the life of her husband, Mr Felix Afolalu in Kaduna in 2011.

The court's judgment came three years after late Afolalu of the Kaduna Polytechnic was gruesomely murdered by rioters during the political violence which greeted the announcement of the results of the 2011 presidential election in several parts of the North of the country.

The judgment delivered by the ECOWAS court was sequel to a $2million suit slammed against the Federal Government by Afolalu's widow through her lawyer, Mr. Sola Egbeyinka of the Falana & Falana's Chambers for the unlawful killing of her husband on April 18, 2011.

Sweeping our feer by APC is a threat – Mu’azu

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ahmadu Mu’azu, has described the sweeping of the Ekiti stadium by the All Progressives Congress (APC) after last Saturday’s campaign by the PDP as provocative.
 Mu’azu, who spoke at the All Party Summit in Abuja on Thursday, described the APC supporters’ action as provocative, wondering why “men should be carrying brooms.”

He said: “I wonder why the APC would use brooms to sweep off our footprints each time our party goes to campaign in states under their control.

“It was equally wrong for the APC to go to the stadium in Ekiti State immediately after our rally in the state to sweep off our feet. I was worried about such conduct and I don’t know when men started carrying brooms.”

Akunyili’s corpse arrives Nigeria

The remains of the former Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Prof Dora Akunyili, arrived the country today in preparation for burial.

A former aide of the former Information Minister confirmed that the remains of the late NAFDAC boss had been deposited at the National Hospital mortuary in Abuja.

According to the source, the corpse, which was ferried by a chartered aircraft, arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 5:30 pm on Wednesday from an Indian hospital where she died last week.
The body of the late national delegate was accompanied by the former Anambra State Governor, Mr, Peter Obi, Mrs. Uche Ekunife, the husband and children of the deceased.

The family will meet with the officials of the Federal Government before a burial date and programme is agreed upon, according to a competent source.

It was learnt that the Federal Government had indicated interest in giving the late information minister what a source described as a ‘befitting burial’ as a result of her enormous contributions to the development of Nigeria.

Stella Odua bags chieftancy title

Former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah was honoured with a chieftaincy title “Ada Eze Chukwu” by her kinsmen at the weekend.
She was bestowed with the chieftaincy title for her outstanding service to Nigeria from her community, Ogbaru LGA, Anambra state on the 7th of June.
Oduah will commenting on her facebook page, captioned the award as “Reception of a Title from the Community for Outstanding Service to Nigeria”.

Senator Ben Obi described Stella’s exploit at the aviation’s ministry as someone who came, saw the ailing ministry and conquered it, leaving it better than she met it.

“She is a visionary. She is a woman who single handedly worked and changed the 22 domestic airports in Nigeria.”

He said “Stella Oduah may have stumbled into troubled waters in the course of navigating the nations industry, and one thing the people of Ogbaru have taken into cognizance is her doggedness to achieve results in the male dominated world,” he further said.

Court declares ban on #BringBackOurGirls protest illegal

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Gudu, yesterday, held that the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, had no power under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to stop any group from staging peaceful protest/rally, over the abduction of over 270 girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by the Boko Haram sect.

In his judgment, Justice Abubakar Talba declared that the Public Order Act, Cap 382 Laws of Nigeria 1990, did not in any way empower the Police to disrupt peaceful rallies and processions.
It will be recalled that the controversial Commissioner of Police for the FCT, Mr. Joseph Mbu, had placed reliance on the Police Order Act to stop further protests over the kidnapped Chibok girls, a decision that was quickly reversed by the Inspector General of Police amid widespread condemnation.

The judgment of the court was a fallout of a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye.
The erstwhile lawmaker had gone to court to challenge the disruption of a rally he led in Abuja on May 9, by armed police men who allegedly threw canisters of hot water at the protesters.

Declaring the action of the Police as highly unconstitutional, Justice Talba ordered the police authorities to tender a written apology to the applicant as provided for under Section 35(6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Similarly, the court granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further “harassing, molesting, intimidating, abducting, arresting, detaining and prosecuting the applicant in respect of peaceful rallies or procession in Abuja or any part of Nigeria.”
Justice Talba also awarded the sum of N150,000 as damages and cost against the respondents and in favour of the applicant.

Tuition Hike: LASU students reject 'joke' reduction

The state government, however left the final decision of the reduction from one department to the other to the Governing Council of the university.

In the resolution read by Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, the Lagos State Government, stated that it accepted recommendation of the Adhoc committee set up by the state government that fees and charges payable by students for incidental services and materials were amenable to a downward review for two main reasons.

“Some of the components have applied to students across all levels when in fact they can be justifiably limited to students at a particular level only; some of the charges included can still be reduced on compassionate grounds.

“On the basis of these principles, government agrees that with the subsidised tuition fees and appropriate moderation of the incidental fees, a reduction, ranging from 34 to 60 percent is possible across the different faculties and courses”, government said in the resolution.
The council said it approved the reduction in accordance with the law setting up the university, saying that it had forwarded its approval to the governing council for consideration and implementation.

“Pursuant to its statutory mandate, the University Governing Council will issue details of what is now payable by students in each department and deal with all other management matters of the university”, and advised all individuals and groups within the community to relate to the university council accordingly.

The council observed that notwithstanding the reduction, government will continue with scholarships and bursary provisions for students.

On the retirement age for lecturers, the council is of the view that the decision cannot be unilaterally extended by employees themselves unless the employers cede total control of the institution to employees, which it said is not possible in this instance.

“Regarding the Vice Chancellor’s tenure of office, government also considers it a state prerogative exercisable by Law pursuant to concurrent legislative power of the state government to establish the university and make statutory provisions for their management, and not that of its employees or proprietors of other universities. Government will retain the option of a second term for a Vice Chancellor in order to benefit from good leadership whenever the occasion arises.”

In a swift reaction, the students speaking through the President of the Students Union Government, SUG, Mr. Nurudeen Yusuf, rejected the reduction as announced by the government.

According to him, ‘We had our meeting immediately after we got the news and decided that we will not accept this reduction. It is a ridiculous one as far as we are concerned.  This is our position. When the Lagos State Government increased the fees in 2011, it was not announced through the Governing Council.

It was the Government that announced it. But now, the Governor is sending the Governing Council to us, he is supposed to make such a announcement by himself. Another issue is this: why are we being given this information in terms of percentages? How can a market woman whose child is in LASU calculate 34 – 60 percent? Even then, it is not a fair position at all. We want it to be reduced to at most N65, 500 for fresh students and N46, 500 for freshers.

“We are not yet happy about the latest development because the govt is yet to tell us the exact amount they have reduced the fees to in Naira and Kobo.

They should come out in clear terms to tell us directly the exact amount we are going to be paying, not saying the Governing Council will determine the amount each faculty will be paying. When the fees were hiked in 2011, it was government who directly told us in naira and kobo what each faculty will pay, and not in percentages.

This is our stand which will be made known in a press conference tomorrow” (today).
Meanwhile when contacted to confirm the reduction, the Pro-Chancellor, Mr. Teju Augusto said: “I am currently out of the country, so I am not aware of any reduction.”

19-yr-old remanded for raping blind octogenarian

A Yaba chief magistrate's court in Lagos, yesterday, held that a teenager, Avoseh Satingo, has a case to answer in the alleged rape of an 80-year-old blind woman.
It, therefore, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

 Magistrate Yewande Aje-Afunwa made this known following advice by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
She said the DPP advised that a prima facie case had been established against 19-year-old Satingo.
The Police had on March 24 charged the teenager with raping an octogenarian on her bed.

The prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, told the court that the accused, who resides at the Cele Church Bus Stop, Bilewu Oshoffa area, Agbovipe village, Badagry, raped the grandmother in her  room.

According to him, Satingo committed the offence on February 17 at 1p.m.
He said: “Satingo took advantage of the condition of the blind complainant and raped her on her bed.
“He was apprehended by members of the community who sighted him coming out of his victim’s room as she cried for help."

He said the offence contravened Sections 258 and 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The court had, in March, adjourned the case pending the DPP's advice.

Kaduna arrests 1,000 stray animals

The Kaduna Environment Protection Authority (KEPA) said yesterday that it had arrested more than 1,000 stray animals.

General Manager of the agency,  Alhaji Sani Aminu, said in Kaduna that the animals were arrested within the last 12 months.
Aminu said the animals comprising dogs, sheep, goats and pigs were arrested for disturbing traffic flow and causing accidents within the city.

He, however, said that about 400 of the animals were claimed by their owners after paying penalties to the agency.
Aminu said the recent increase in public complaints about the menace caused by such animals necessitated the arrest.

"We receive more than 20 complaints in a day on the menace of the animals," he said.
The general manager said that the animals also contributed to making the streets dirty, thereby  causing environmental pollution, which threatened the health of the residents.