The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has described as a huge scam and an illegality the ‘’Good Governance Tour’’ currently embarked upon by the minister of information, Mr. Labaran Maku, and a retinue of people, saying it must b...
Katsina State Government has contributed over N300 million to Community and Social Development Projects (CSDP), a World Bank- assisted programme, from 2009 to 2013. Gov. Ibrahim Shema said this while disbursing funds to some communities participa...
The Plateau Government has been advised to provide ``some level of social welfare’’ to young school leavers to minimise poverty largely blamed for the lingering violence in the state. Alhaji Ibrahim Mai-Salati, the President, International ...
The Management of Adamawa Polytechnic,Yola, on Thursday confirmed the accreditation and approval of seven new courses in the institute by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Rector of the Institution Prof. Bobboi Umar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola that the development was first of its kind in the history of the institution.
Umar said, " the institution is able to record a remarkable achievement where about seven new courses were accredited by the NBTE."
He explained that, the accredited programmes include mass communication, social development, business administration and four engineering courses.
According to him, the management of the institution is making arrangement to establish a radio station where students will receive training, following the approval of the mass communication course.
Umar, however, said that the institution was making effort to ensure that the accreditation of other relevant courses was successful during the next visit of the board.
He said that the state government had spent a lot on upgrading and expansion of the institution where nine departments and administrative buildings were constructed.
"Government has also supplied the institution with modern and sophisticated teaching equipment that can compete with any polytechnic in the country," he added.(NAN)
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Abubakar Mohammed, told senators yesterday that he was prepared to place a ransom on the head of the fleeing chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, if that could help to apprehend. Bu...
A Police corporal was on Wednesday night feared dead over an attempt to rescue a Lebanese business man from being kidnapped by some unknown gunmen in Festac area of Lagos.
The gunmen numbering three, it was gathered, stormed an eatery located at First avenue at about 9.30 pm and made straight for where the owner, a Lebanese with unknown identity was.
During the ensuing scuffle between the kidnappers and Lebanese, the Police Corporal said to have been deplored to the eatery, sensed danger and intervened.
But he was taken by shock as one of the gunmen reportedly opened fire on him. During the ensuing gun battle, the Lebanese was said to have escaped by the whiskers.
Although an unconfirmed report said the Corporal died on the spot, with his riffle taken away by the kidnappers but, his intervention was said to have foiled the kidnap attempt on the Lebanese.
It was learnt that some customers at the eatery reportedly sustained minor injuries while scampering for safety.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Lagos State Police Public Relations officer, Ngozi Braide, as she was said to be granting an interview when she was called.
But Police sources at Area 'E' command headquarters, Festac town, simply confirmed that there was shooting at First avenue but
could not state whether any arrest was made.
The MMIA Command, Lagos, of the Nigeria Customs Service yesterday arrested a passenger with $1.1 million at the international wing of the Lagos Airport. The passenger, identified as Professor Ofoegbu Charles Ononuju, allegedly claimed to be the directo...
Unknown gunmen yesterday allegedly set ablaze the warehouse accommodating the relief materials meant for distribution to the 2012 flood victims in Benue State. This was coming just as the Benue State Committee on Relief and Rehabilitation of Flood Vict...
Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has said that there is no rift between him and his boss, former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff a.k.a. SAS and his deputy, Alhaji Zanna Umar Mustapha as purportedly reported by some media (not Leadership...
Gov. Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State on Wednesday denied replacing the 2013 budget presented by late Gov. Patrick Yakowa with a reviewed one. The governor made the denial while receiving the 2013 passed budget from the Majority Leader of the state House o...
Market indices of the Nigerian Stock Exchange appreciated further by 1.12 per cent on Wednesday as some highly capitalised companies recording price gains.. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the All-share index appreciated by 373.07 points ...
The police on Wednesday arraigned two Indians and three Nigerians in the Federal High Court, Abuja, for damaging an NNPC pipeline in Okene, Kogi.
The Indians, Kamal Sharma, 32, and Ashok Agarwal, 66, were charged with dealing in petroleum products without appropriate authority or licence.
The charge stated that Sharma and Agarwal conspired with the three Nigerians and others at large on Jan.15 to commit felony.
It added that the Indians committed an offence punishable under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
The three Nigerian accused, Fatai Afolabi, Emmanuel Igboke and Tukur Mohammed, are also standing trial for damaging the oil pipeline.
The Prosecution counsel, Mr Friday Ibadi, said that the three committed an offence punishable under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
The prosecution noted that Afolabi, Igbokwe and Mohammed, through their illegal act on Jan.15, interfered with the free flow of petroleum products from the oil pipeline in Okene and, therefore, committed an offence.
The other defendant, Prism Steel Mill Ltd, managed by Sharma and Agarwal, was used to warehouse the stolen petroleum product, the prosecution added.
However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge.
Mr Lawal Rabana (SAN), counsel to Sharma, Agarwal and Prism Steel Ltd, urged the court to release his clients on bail.
Rabana pleaded: ``My lord, I am seeking your discretion in an application for the bail of these people on health grounds.
``My lord, the prosecutor is aware of the fact that Agarwal is 66 years old and has a terminal ailment that requires regular management.
``In fact, the offence for which my clients are charged with is not felony because they did not participate in the alleged damaging of the NNPC pipeline in Okene.
``Sharma and Agarwal do legitimate business in the country with their company, Prism Steel Mill Ltd, and they shall not jump bail if given.''
Mr Daniel Alumun, the counsel to the other accused, urged the court to grant his clients bail as well, adding that ``Section 35 of the Constitution guarantees their liberty.’’
He said the accused were assumed innocent till it was proved otherwise.
The prosecutor, however, opposed the bail application, saying that the offence for which they were charged was severe.
``The law, under which the accused applicants are charged with stipulates life imprisonment as punishment for act of economic sabotage,’’ Ibadi said.
The Judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, reserved Feb. 25 for ruling and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said on Wednesday that it generated N199.6 million in 14 months at Maje customs outstation in Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Mr Aliyu Bello, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs, who is the Station Officer...
Gunmen, who abducted six foreigners off the Bayelsa coastline, on Wednesday demanded for a ransom of N200 million for their freedom.
A Russian, three Ukrainians and two Indian sailors were abducted on Sunday when their vessel was attacked off the coastline.
The Police Public Relations Officer of Bayelsa Command, Mr Fidelis Odunna, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.
Odunna said that the Police Anti Kidnapping Squad was already trailing the suspects to secure the victims' freedom.
“We have already dispatched our men to track down the kidnappers.
``Contact has been established with them and they are asking for N200 million,” he said.
NAN recalls that Gov. Seriake Dickson recently signed into Law a bill prescribing death penalty for Kidnapping in Bayelsa
A man, who allegedly impersonated the National Environmental Standard Regulatory and Enforcement Agency (NESREA) was on Wednesday arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu. Jude Alagbado was arraigned on a four-count charge bo...