II NEWS
TUESDAY. MARCH 29. 20 11
Academy commends Mimiko on mega schools
Ifl ~~~~ ~
A
group, Campaign Against Corruption in Judiciary, has urged ttie Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu. : to probe the alleged N6bn fraud rocking the National Judicial Institute. The group said th is in a statement by its leader, Mr. Oludare Lateef, in Lagos on Monday. He said. "Nobody s hould shield any official of the NJI from investigation . This is necessary
t9
ensure
officers were: above the law.
'Agriculture, priority for FG' ERMANENT Secretary, State House. Abuja, Dr. Ibrahim Dawud, said on Monday that agriculture still remained the mainstay of Nigeria' 5 economy as it contributed more than 40 per cent to the Gross Dometic Product. Dawud told the News Agency of Nigeria that
P
also
a
to
priority
the
remained
Federal
Government. He said it was nec~a ry for
all stakeholders. particularly
Sunday Aborisade, Akure
~1
HE Nigerian Acade my of Letters has described the establishment of mega public primary schools with modern facilities by the Ondo State
T
Government as a progressive
measure that is capable of improving the educational sector in the country.
The NAL team led by its founding president. Prof. Ayo Bamgbose; the current president. Prof. Ben Olugbe; and other members. Professors Ayo Banjo. Olatunji Oloruntimehin, Kunle Adeniran and Romanus Egudu. gave the commendation when they paid a courtesy visit to the state governor.
• L-R Director, Port Inspectorate, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Mr. Segir Momodu; IT Deputy Manager, Webb Fontain e Nigeria Limited, Mr. Wladisla s Za rnowiescki; Director-General, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii; and Deputy Comptmller of Custom s in Charge of Automated Systems Control Unit of Data, Mr. Ambrose Akwuelegwu, during th e inauguration of NAFDAC-E Clearance office, in Lagos ... o n Monday. Photo: Stanley Ogidi
PD~
HE Action Congress of Nigeria and the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State are currenUy at loggerheads over the arrest of members of the ACN. _ Five members of the ACN were allegedly arrested by operatives of the Joint Task
T
Force,
driver in Nigeria.
"If you look at the rest of the countries of the world. private sectors had always been in the driving seat in agriculture development.
the government does is to facilitate, create enabling environment where banks will support those private sector that are in agrioulture and where markets will be open and value added processes will be put in place. "I think that way when ')'\11
you now see infrastru cture
development by the Federal Government, by the state govern ments in terms of roads, in terms of other infrastructure
like power. a ll these will be giving the necessary support and impetus for agriculture to
who
stormed
Lewe
Community in Gokana Local Govern ment Area of the state at about lOpm on Sunday. Those arrested ' were identified as Bariala Baravi ,
I\agbara Gbarakaa, Sunday Afii. Barivule Gboro and Legio Mgboh . Speaking with THE PUNCH on the matter. the National Treasurer of the ACN in the state. Mr. Kenneth "obani. insisted that members of the party were not arrested. but abducted by the JTF operatives on the orders of the
PDP in the state . Kobani added that the whereabouts of the five members of the ACN were yet to be ascertained. claiming
the private sector. to invest agriculture to regain its status as the number one economic
ACN bicker over arrest by JTF
Chukwudi Akasike, Port Harcourt
that they were taken away by security operatives.
He expressed surprise that the JTF could invade a place w ithout any reason, claiming
th at the unprovoked arrest of the ACN members was politically-motivated. Kobani said, "They were abducted a t about lOpm last night in . Lewe Community when four JTF trooper vehicles invaded their community. The (arrested persons were members of the ACN . "The invasion was and clearly unprovoked a part of the harassment and
intimidati on
currently
Ogun PDP crisis: Friday Olokor, Abuja
remain unknown ."
He said, "It was not abduction; it was only a n arrest. The JTF visited an
But the State PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Celestine Ebemeri , who is from Gokana Local Governmen t Area, fa ulted the claims of Kobani, saying the arrest was not targetted at the ACN
always smoking Indian hemp and arrested them. It has nothin g to do with politics." Also reacting to the allegation, a spokesman for the JTF, Col. Timothy Antigha,
being used by the PDP. The whereabouts of these persons
explained that it was wrong
Ebemeri said the ACN 's description of the incident as an abduction of their members
fo r Koba ni to use the word 'abduct' , adding that the JTF
was incorrect, insisting that
in kidnapping a nd politics. Antigha wa rn ed that the JTF would resist any attempt by a ny misguided politician to drag it into political issues.
what the JTF did was to arrest some youths who were
smoking Indian hemp within the community.
coalition of four groups
on Monday visited the premises of the Supreme Court and Federal High Court in Abuja to protest against the alleged conduct of a Judge of Federal High Court in Abuja. The groups also urged the Acting Chief Judge of the FHC, Justice Ibrahim Auta. to
UNDREDS of farmers in Auchi. Edo state. have peacefully protested aga inst the delay by the Nigeria Na ti onal Petroleum Corporation . to pay them their outstanding o il spill compensa tion , th e News Agency of Nigeria reports. The farmers. d isplaying
H
lheir
cutlasses
and
other
farm implements. blocked the entrance gates to the now station at Avie le. near Auchi.
after locking o ut the station manager. Mr Duke Ijirigho. Chan tin g war songs, the farmers said they wou ld not back down from the picketing of the now stati on until the NNPC management fulfilled its obligation to them . A spokesman for the farmers. Mr Audu Momodu,
told journalists that they were taking the action because NNPC had decided to play politics with the issue. Momodu, who decried the management's attitude toward
their pligh t, said the farmers wou ld not be held responsible for any consequence that might arise from their action .
He series
lamen ted
that
of meetings
the
between
the farmers and the NN PC on the issue had not yielded any meaningful resu lts. hence, the demonstration.
He said. "They have made several promises
and
have
refused to fulfill any: we did not even see the relief materials they promised at the earlier
stage. "Nigerians should know we have been patient enough
operatives were not involved
A statement by the Press Officer to the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Dayo Akindele, on Monday. explained that the team was received by the SSG, Dr. Aderotimi Adelola. on behalf of Governor Olusegun Mimiko. The statement added that the academy was particular
about the establishment of mega primary schools which Mimiko said were designed to take the primary school education system to the next level. The schools were designed to accommodate not less than 1,000 pupils and would be equipped with all the necessary facilities including functional laboratories well-stocked libraries, sports facilities in a child-friendly environment just as each of the schools will cost the government N350m to construct.
OPC, COSEG protest against judge re-assign Justice Abdu l Kafarati
A
area where some youths were
members.
from handling cases arising from the crisis rocking the Ogun
State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party. The protesters also despatched a petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Justice Aloysius Katsina-A1u. asking him to intervene in the matter to save the judiciary from ridicule .
The petititon was copied
Auchi farmers picket oil flow station
and be in the dliving seat for
strive,"
......Q
that
the judiciary retai ns public confidence." . Lateef added that the disagreement between the CJN and the then Acting Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices Other Related Commission, Dr. Uriah Angulu, on the issue made it mandatory for the CJN to i nve~i gate the alleged fraud . ''This must not go unexplai ned. ' It is better for the CJN to step aside as the Chai rman of the Governing Council of the NJI to ensure that he is neutral when the probe of the .a1leged fraud is o n," he said. ' " said the La teef not deve lopment; might be unconn~cted with the controversy that led to the removal of Angulu from his acting position, adding that the situation ' could give the impression that some public
agriculture
,.
9
and we can no longer exercise more. it is our means of
liveli hood we are talking about here." he said. The chai rman of the farm ers' unio n. Alhaji J afaru Amedu. said all they wa nted "is the immediate payment of compensation
as recommended by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Age ncy." But Ijirigho's appeal and entreaties failed to assuage
the farmers' anger as they refused to unlock the gates. Ijirigho appea led for calm. saying that Abuja was already hand ling the matter. An oil spill o n August 10. 2008. that lasted 42 days destroyed more than 169.25 1 hectares of farm land in Auchi.
to The Presidency; President. the Court of Appeal. Justice Isa Salami; Nigerian Bar Association: Inspector-General of Police: Director-General.
'Bassey Ikpeme truncated June 12. Kafarati may h'uncate 2011 .' The groups fur ther urged the CJN to in vestigate why
the State Security Service: and the Attorney-General of
all
the Federation and Minister of
attention of Justice Kafarati .
Justice. Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN) .
to investigate for review. the
The
organisations.
under
the aegis of Coalition Against Annulment, included Oodua Peoples Congress. Coalition of Oodua Self-Determination Group. Centre for Ethics Development and Democracy and the National Association of Nigerian Students. The protesters, who were
led by Executive Director of CEDAD. Ismail Olawale; Kazeem Dauda and Femi Davies. said Justice Kafarati
should be removed. claiming that he was partial in handling certain cases before him and
his alleged collaborati on with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to perpetrate injustice to the people of Ogun State. Some of the placards displayed by the protesters include. 'UAD demands that for free. fair elections. we need impartial judges.' 'NANS demands resignation of Justice
Kafarati.' 'Nigerian democracy stinks'. 'Save our democracy.
Kafarati must quit now' and
matters
involvi ng
PDP always had
the
the special
They also want the CJN injunction granted by Justice I\afarati which held that the Joju Fadairo led-faction of the PDP in Ogun State should not be recognised as the legitimate executive. and the judgment which declared the Obasanjo's faction of the party as the authentic faction of the PDP in the state. They are also asking the CJN to reassign the case between the Ogun State F'tlP and Peoples Party of Nigeria in line with the directive of
the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court that all election matters be treated in the state from where they origina ted.
Speaking during the protest. the FCT coordinator of OPC. Chief Adedeji Oluwole. warned that there wou ld be a repeat of the popular June 12 impasse if the corruption in the judiciary was not addressed. saying it was a threat to the country's democracy.