Speed limit violation: Government may prosecute Ocholi's driver

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr David Babachir Lawal has hinted that James Elegbede, the driver of the Lexus SUV that killed the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister James Ocholi and two members of his family along Abuja-Kaduna road on Sunday may be prosecuted.

The interim report of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC indicated that Elegbede was over speeding and had no driver's license

Lawal told State House correspondents after Wednesday's Federal Executive Council, FEC meeting that the final report on the accident would determine if the driver would be prosecuted.

“As to the issue of whether we would prosecute the driver, yes, Nigeria is not short of laws. The problem is that Nigerians find it very difficult to obey the laws.

“There is a speed limit in place and so if anybody chooses not to obey the traffic laws, of course, it is subject to prosecution by the agencies concerned. But as to this
particular incident, I think we will leave it until the final report of the investigation comes out.

“But, of course, as we say, accident is accident and nobody goes out deliberately to summersault and die, but as to allegations you claimed from the family, we are not aware and anybody who has anything to the contrary – that they didn’t die in an accident – is free to report to the law enforcement agencies who will appropriately take it up,” he said.

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Musa's paternity: Gowon owns up at last

After 48 years of denial, war-time Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon has admitted that he is the father of Musa Gowon.

The development followed confirmation by DNA test.

Over the years, Gowon had denied having a love child with the late Edith Ike-Okongwu.

Musa recently returned to Nigeria after 23 years in a USA jail for drug trafficking.

In a statement he issued yesterday, the former Head of State requested for privacy for the Gowon family.

“Following years of doubt and speculation, a DNA test was conducted to ascertain the paternity of Musa Gowon, who recently returned to the country.

“The results of the tests were conclusive and they confirm his paternity. We, the family, are working to assist in his rehabilitation following a difficult period in his life.

“As we look forward to the future with faith in God, we request that our privacy be respected.”

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FG sets up burial committee for the Ocholis

The Federal Government has  inaugurated a 13-man committee to oversee the preparations for the burial of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister James Ocholi, his wife and son.

According to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, the committee comprising ministers, Ocholi's family members and his church members has concluded the burial arrangements as directed by the President.

“As soon as we got his directive, we set up a burial committee comprising 13 people, drawn from government, the family of the deceased and his church.

“After series of meetings, the burial rites will hold from March 16 to18.

“On the March 16, there will be a service of songs at the International Conference Centre Abuja by 7:00 p.m. The corpses will leave Abuja on Thursday.

“A wake keep will be held in his hometown in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi by 6:00 p.m. same day while the internment will hold by 12:00 p.m. on Friday 18,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the condolence register at the end of the FEC meeting, after which the ministers took turns to pay tribute to their fallen colleague.

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FG grants employment, scholarship to late Ocholi's children

The Federal Government has announced the offer of employment to two of the four surviving children of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister James Ocholi.

The other two who are still in school were offered scholarships to enable them complete their studies.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF Mr David Babachir Lawal made the announcement at the end of Wednesday's valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council in honour of the late Minister.

“The president has directed that we should find immediate employment for the children of late Ocholi who are of working age.

“He died and left behind four children, two of them are university graduates for whom we will find immediate employments in any parastatal or ministry of their choice.

“Again, the president has directed that the other two children, still of school age, be given scholarships up to university level, after which again they would be given employment in any agency or parastatal of their choice,” he said.

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Abuja-Kaduna road at it again as four die in car crash

Three days after the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister James Ocholi and two members of his family were killed in an accident along the Abuja-Kaduna road, four persons have lost their lives in an yet another accident on the same road.

According to a Facebook post by the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, four persons were also injured in the accident.

FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORPS ( FRSC), NIGERIA ROAD TRAFFIC CRASH ALONG KADUNA-ABUJA ROUTE, 25KM FROM CHUKURI VILLAGE.

4 male adults injuries and 4 male adults fatalities were recorded in a lone crash that occurred on 09/03/16, 1300hrs along Kaduna-Abuja route, 25km from Chukuri village. The vehicle involved was a Citron 806. The victims were taken to the St. Gerard Hospital Kaduna.

2 hrs· Public Like Page· More

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Ese's abductor charged with unlawful carnal knowledge

Yunusa Dahiru, aka Yellow has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State for the abduction, forced conversion to Islam and forced marriage of 13 year-old school girl, Ese Oruru.

The accused is being prosecuted on a five-count charge bordering on criminal abduction, Illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful canal knowledge of a minor.

According to the charge sheet signed by Special Police Prosecutor, Kenneth Dika, the charges against Yunusa are as follows :

“That you, Yunusa Dahiru, a male resident in Opolo-Epie area of Yenagoa in Bayelsa State, conspired with the duo of Dankano Mohammed and Mallam AlHassan between August 2015 and Febuary 2016 to commit an offence of abduction and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27(a) of the Trafficking in persons (prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

“That you, Yunusa Dahiru, abducted Ese Oruru by means of coercion, transported and harboured her in Kano State and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 13(2)(b) of the Trafficking in Persons prohibition Enforcement and Administration Act,2015.

“That you, Yunusa Dahiru, induced Ese Oruru by the use of deception and coercion to go with you from Yenagoa to Kano State with intent that she be forced or seduced into illicit intercourse and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 15(a) of the Trafficking in persons (prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act,2015

“That you, Yunusa Dahiru, procured Ese Oruru and subjected her into sexual exploitation in Kano State and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act,2015.

“That you, Yunusa Dahiru, had unlawful canal knowledge of Ese Oruru without her consent and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 357 of the criminal code Act and punishable under section 358 of the Criminal code ACT,Cap.C.38 LAWS OF THE Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in prison custody till the adjourned date of March 14.

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Minister's death caused by over speeding - Corps Marshal

The accident that claimed the lives of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister James Ocholi, his wife and son along Abuja-Kaduna road on Sunday was caused by over speeding.

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi gave the verdict on Tuesday while presenting the accident’s Road Traffic Crash Investigation Interim Report to the Federal Executive Council, FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Boboye said that investigation revealed that Ocholi and his family who were at the back seat suffered the most from the accident because they did not have their seat belts on.

He also said that the driver of the vehicle had no driver's license.

Ministers from the six geopolitical zones paid tribute to the fallen minister, while members of the cabinet resolved to visit the bereaved family immediately after the FEC meeting.

March 16 - 18, 2016 was announced by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Babachir Lawal as the tentative date for the burial of the remains of the late Ocholi, his wife and son.

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