IGP performs groundbreaking ceremony at 1004 Police Housing Estate Abuja

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, on Monday performed the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of 1004 housing units for police personnel at Gosa town in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the police boss said the landmark project marked the commitment of Police leadership to address one of the most fundamental challenges facing officers and men of the service which is access to decent accommodation.

“Today's event represents another historic step towards advancing the welfare oriented policing component of my Strategic Police Plans as Inspector General of Police.

“The uniqueness of today’s event, however, rests on the fact that this is the first time that international bodies will be collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force for the purpose of addressing the housing needs of the personnel of the force,” he said.

Arase disclosed that the project is the brainchild of the Nigeria Police Force Property Development Company which is partnering Shelter Afrique and UN Habitat.

The partnership is expected to yield twenty five thousand (25,000) units of low cost houses for members of the Nigeria Police Force across the country.

“The construction of one thousand and four (1,004) units of this initiative is being launched in the FCT.

“Prior to this time, similar projects have been completed and handed over to members of the Rank and File cadre in Katsina, Adamawa, Edo and Enugu States. This was made possible through the incorporation of the Nigeria Police Force Property Development Company which engages direct labour using our assets in the Logistics and Supply Department to construct such houses,” he said.

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Saraki cries out over alleged plot to unseat him

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki on Monday raised the alarm over alleged scheming by some of his political enemies to remove him from office.

Saraki's Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Yusuf Olaniyonu conveyed his fears in a statement he issued in Abuja on Monday.

“The Office of the Senate President has alerted members of the public on the plan by some politicians to create public disorder tomorrow through a sponsored demonstration that will seek to ground human and vehicular activities on some major streets of Abuja, particularly, those leading to the National Assembly Complex.

“We have information that the sponsors have been deploying resources to ensure that a sizable crowd was mobilized to create chaos, confusion and tension around the streets of Abuja. Money and other materials are being provided for the organizers by the sponsors.

“Their aim, as we have earlier stated, is to further create an atmosphere of confusion by forcing the Senators to move against their leadership, particularly, the Senate President.

“We have insisted that while Nigerians have the inalienable right to express their opinion, move and associate freely with others, so as to convey their wishes and aspirations to their leaders, they should avoid being used by those who have ulterior motives, particularly those who want to settle political scores on the streets instead of the floor of the Senate.

“Our concern is to warn that those who are recruiting others to protest and their recruits should not create a situation of breakdown of law and order or create an atmosphere that will be seized by hoodlums to bring about needless crisis.

“We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, his officers and men to prevent any incident that can be used to wreak havoc on the generality of the people or on public institutions and facilities. Nigerian should learn to respect due process and allow the rule of law to take its natural course,” he said.

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Six Ekiti doctors killed in yet another Abuja-Kaduna road accident

The bloodsucking Abuja-Kaduna road has claimed yet another set of illustrious Nigerian lives.

This time around, six of the thirteen doctors from Ekiti State on their way to the Nigeria Medical Association Delegates
Conference in Sokoto were despatched to their untimely deaths when their vehicle suffered a burst tyre and rolled over.

The deadly crash is reported to have happened at the same spot where a Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, James Ocholi suffered a similar fate and perished with his wife and one of his sons.

A survivor of Sunday's accident and Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Ekiti State chapter , Dr. John Akinbote who spoke to newsmen from his sick bed at St Gerrard's Catholic Hospital in Kaduna blamed the lack of immediate and proper medical attention  for the death of his colleagues.

“Those that died would have survived if we got good medical attention from the point of the accident to the Doka General Hospital in Kaduna.

“It became even worse , when we got to Doka Hospital. There was no single Doctor to attend to us and the only nurse on duty had no first aid facilities to administer treatment.

“I am sure, if personnel of Federal Road Safety, FRSC that took us to Doka Hospital and the nurse on duty had medical facilities to give first aid treatment, our doctors and driver wouldn’t have died,” he said, adding that the driver of the vehicle also died in the crash.

Those who lost their lives in the auto crash were listed as Dr. Alade Sani, Dr. OJ Taiwo, Dr. Akinyele Lexy, Dr.Ogunseye, Dr. Olagide, Dr. Adeniyi James, and the driver, Mr. Ajibola.

Following the latest tragedy on the Abuja-Kaduna road, APC's Senator Shehu Sani who represents Kaduna Central has called on the Federal Government to fix all the bad spots on the notorious road to prevent more avoidable deaths in the future.

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Buhari receives Equatorial Guinea Minister in Abuja (Photos)

The Foreign Affairs Minister of Equatorial Guinea, H.E. Mr Agapito Mba Mokuy was received by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja on Monday.

Credits: The Nation

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Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja (Photo)

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki watching the proceedings during Monday's session of his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja.

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Former lawmaker goes to jail for stealing N1.4b

A former member of Kogi State House of Assembly, Gabriel Dauda was on Monday sentenced to two years imprisonment for fraud and money laundering by a Federal High Court in Lokoja.

Justice Inyang Ekwo convicted Daudu on 77 out of 208 charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Daudu, was the Caretaker Chairman of  Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State between January and July 2008,

In the trial which started in April 2010, the EFCC called 13 witnesses and tendered 47 exhibits to prove its case against the convict.

The defense counsel, Mr. O.J. Onoja, SAN called seven witnesses to prove Daudu's innocence, but the court found him guilty as Justice Ekwo held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore sentenced him to two years imprisonment.

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More trouble for Giwa FC as NFF imposes extra sanctions

Giwa FC found itself in deeper waters on Monday as the Nigeria Football Federation not only upheld the sanctions imposed on it by League Management Company, LMC but also meted additional punishment.

After a meeting of its disciplinary board in Abuja on Monday, the NFF said in a statement issued by its spokesman, Ademola Olajire that the sanctions imposed on Giwa FC by the LMC were in line with its rules and regulations.

Giwa earned the sanctions following crowd trouble during its Match Day 12 fixture in the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL game played on April 17, 2016 in Jos, Plateau State.

In a statement upholding the LMC sanctions on the club, the NFF said ;

“ After a careful observation of all documentary evidence presented before it, the NFF Disciplinary Board hereby rules as follows;

“The NFF Disciplinary Board wishes to state clearly that adequate invitation notice was served to GIWA FC requesting that they forward their written submission to the secretariat of the NFF Disciplinary Board.

“NFF Disciplinary Board hereby adopts all sanctions earlier pronounced by the LMC which the NFF Disciplinary Board after careful observation noted, are in in line with the Rules and Regulations Guiding the LMC.

“NFF Disciplinary Board also added additional sanctions to GIWA FC for further violating sections of the FIFA Code of Ethics, FIFA Disciplinary Code and the LMC Rules and Regulations.”

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that the additional sanctions involved fine, suspension of some team officials and banishment from the club's home ground.

“A fine of N5 million for the discontinuation of the match and that the match shall be continued behind closed doors at the National Stadium, Abuja on Wednesday, 27th April, 2016, from the point of disruption (i.e. from the 74th minute).

“The result of the match at the point of disruption shall stand (i.e. 0-1); Due to the disturbances as stated in paragraph 2 above, Giwa FC is banned from the Rwang Pam Stadium

“This shall be for its next three home matches, which shall be played at the Ilorin Township Stadium, Ilorin, Kwara State.

“... due to the persistent nature of such disturbances by supporters of Giwa FC in the match under review, Giwa FC shall play its remaining home matches behind closed doors.

“Supporters of the Club are banned from all League match venues for the remainder of the season; provided that the LMC reserves the right to lift the ban at any time.

“This would be on the condition of receipt of firm and satisfactory assurance and commitment (including training and orientation seminar for supporters of the Club under the supervision of the LMC).

“Giwa FC is expected to guarantee responsible behaviour and orderly conduct of supporters of the Club."

The NFF also imposed a fine of N750,000 on the club for failure to control its players and officials.

“A fine N500,000 being N250,000 each – for assault on the referee and the match commissioner.

“Giwa FC is required to ensure, within the next seven days, that in addition to the apprehension of one Sodiq Goje, his co-culprit identified as one Mustapha Apiya is also apprehended and prosecuted.

“This is for assaulting the Referee, failure of which a fine of N25,000 per day shall accrue, until such a time that the offender is apprehended and charged to court.

“For acts and conduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute, a suspended two-point deduction is imposed on Giwa FC subject to any subsequent incidents of disturbances by supporters of the Club in breach of the League Rules for the remainder of the season,’’ the statement added.

The football federation also condemned the actions of Yakubu Daylup, Administrator of the Club, and David King, the Media Officer of the team who were indicted for inciting the spectators to attack the match officials

“This act is a breach of Art. 53 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code hence; both officials of the club are hereby suspended from all football related activities for a period of twelve (12) months.

“Upon expiration of twelve months they are to write an official letter to be of good conduct and submit same to the NFF before they can be allowed to participate in any football-related activity.

“The NFF Disciplinary Board further notes that for failure to cooperate with the Disciplinary Board which is a breach of Art. 42.1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, Giwa FC is hereby further fined the sum of N500,000 which is to be paid to the NFF as procedural cost for the NFF Disciplinary Board.

“This decision is in line with Art. 59.1 of FIFA Code of Ethics,’’ the statement said.

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