DAILY TRUST
49
Tuesday, January 18,2011
Court allows NGO to settle with journalist By AbubakarYakubu
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AN FCT High Court yesterday granted the request of counsel to Risk and Accident Preventive Society of Nigeria to settle with Mr Ben Atonko, in a NIO million as damages suit instituted by the latter for alleged violation of his fundamental rights. Mr Atonko, an Abuja based journalist had sued one Nwike Emmanuel and Risk and Accident Prevention Society of Nigeria seeking reliefs for the court to declare that the alleged assault, hurt and torture melted on him
by the respondents is unlawful. The journalist also sought the court's declaration that the alleged seizure of his phones and publica, lion of his GSM text messages by the respondents is unlawful. He also wanted an injunction restraining the respondents. their agents or otherwise from further publishing publicly his call records, discussion, correspondence and text messages. Other costs requested by the journalist were NSO,OOO for the seized GSM phones, amount expended on the suit and a public apology from the respondents for
allegedly violating his fundamental rights. When the case was mentioned yesterday, Justice A.A.! Banjoko inquired from the respondent's counsel whether he will prefer.to settle the case out of court or allow trials ;continue and the counsel opted·on settling. Lawyer to the journalist, Barrister Esther Uzoma, told the court that her client is open to settlement if the respondents show seriousness. The judge then adjourned the case to Janu;lry 25 IO give time for the settling prvce".
Drivercharged with theft·· By Itodo Daniel Sui. A 27 -year-old driver was on Thursday arraigned before an Abuja Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing a handset belonging to one Alhaji Ali Baba Abdullahi. Timothy Eze of Karu village, Abuja, was accused of joint act and theft, offences contrary to Sections 79 and 287 of the Penal Code. Police prosecutor, Udeh David, informed the court that on January 10, one Abdullahi reported at Wuse Police Station that while he was entering a bus at the Wuse bus stop,
Voter's registration: Youth leader calls for massive support By Abubakar Sadlq Isah
FCTA to establish more farm markets By Abubakar Sadiq Isah THE FCT Secretary for Agriculture and Rural development, Malanl Harnza Buwai, Friday said the secretariat is nlaking plans to establish more farm markets in major areas of the FCT. He said the idea for such markets is to have places for farmers
to market their products, assuring that such places will not be turned into retailer markets. The agric secretary informe9. that the present FCT administration has taken steps to inlprove on the distribution of farm inputs to farmers in order to incr~ase their yields next farming season. He said that the administra-
tion would in this month launch a meat haulage system to standardise the transportation of meat from abattoirs before distribution. "We want to ensure that meat transportation from abattoirs to selling points ·are properly guarded and that the meat is kept in proper hygienic condi, tion," he said.
the accused and three others now at large jOintly attacked him and stole his handset wOl~h NI40,OOO. He said that the accused confessed to the crime during police investigations. . When the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty and requested for bail. Magistrate Vera Tom Tukura granted the accused bail in the sum ofNlOO,OOO with a reliable surety, who must be resident within the court's jurisdiction. The case was adjourned to February 13 for hearing.
THE National Youth Leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Malam Abubakar Maikudi, has called on youths across the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to register enmass in the forthcoming voter's registration exercise. in ()rder to vote for change in the country's leadership. Maikudi stated this while addressing a group of youths from the six area councils at the party's secretariat in Abuja yesterday.
He said the forthcoming general eletlions hold a lot of promises for youths of this country, adding that the only way to reap the benefi ts is to vote wisely for the party. According to him, the party can change the plights of Nigerians and bring ahout pOSitive developments across the six geopolitical zones as well as ensure massive youth empowerments. The youth leader warned youths to be wary of money bag politicians, who will use money to hire them as thugs in order to win by all means.
INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHI RAJI'UN
------------------~-------------------------------------------------~----------,-. With deep sorrow and submission to Almighty Allah, we announce the death of our beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather and friend, Alhaji Adamu Hassan, who died in Maiduguri on Sunday, 9'0 January, 2011 after brief illness. He was 72 years old. He left behind two wives, seven children, many grandchildren, brothers and sisters. Until his death, he was the chairman of the following companies: • Cit I Centa Guest House, Abuja • Sima Spri ng Water ltd • Ideal Communrcations International ltd • Ideal Haulage ltd • Zam -Zam Drinks ltd • Ideal Emirates ltd (Doha, Qatar) We pray Almighty Allah to put him in AI-lannatul-Firdaus, and all of us the fortitude to bear the loss.
Signed:
Wives, children, brothers, sisters, grandchildren