Guard gets 1 month jail term for stealing 18 roofing sheets

A security guard, George Bitrus was on Thursday sentenced to 1 month in prison by a Grade 1 Area Court in Lugbe, Abuja for stealing 18 pieces of corrugated iron sheets.

The 32 years old security guard who is a resident of Jeddo Estate,  Abuja was convicted after pleading guilty to a one-count charge of stealing.

He begged the court for leniency, pleading that his employer had not paid him for several months.

"I am sorry, very sorry for stealing the zinc; I am pleading with the court not to convict me.

"I stole the zinc because I don’t have money to take care of myself and my family in the village. I am working but my boss has not paid me since September last year till date,

"My boss said I should wait until he sales his house,’’ he pleaded.

Bitrus explained to the court that the woman he sold six pieces of the roofing sheets to denied buying the said items.

After considering his plea for leniency, the presiding officer, Garba Ogbede sentenced the accused to 1 month in prison with an option of N5,000 fine.

Ogbede ordered that the recovered roofing sheets be returned to the owner.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Miss Oporomo Vivian, had told the court that one Anthony Mmuofunanya of Jeddo Estate had on July 8, lodged a complaint at Iddo Police Station, Abuja.

The prosecutor alleged that the convict who was attached to a building site along Jeddo Estate to protect properties dishonestly converted 18 pieces of roofing sheets to his own use.

She said that during police investigation Bitrus admitted committing the offence while 12 pieces of  the roofing sheets were recovered from him.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 288 of the Penal Code, and prayed the court to try the accused summarily under Section 347 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

The convict could not pay the N5,000 fine and was taken to Kuje Prison to serve the sentence.

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2016 Budget padding: committee chairman resigns

Following the furore generated by the alleged padding of the 2016 budget proposal, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin has resigned his position.

The lawmaker told a press briefing on Wednesday that he took the decision after thorough consultation with his family.

Jibrin had been accused of allocating 20 projects worth N4.3b to his constituency without the consent of his committee members.

Furthermore, and leadership of the National Assembly appropriation committees was said to have cornered N40 billion worth of projects to themselves
without the consent or knowledge of other members.

Although some members had called for Jibrin's resignation at the time, he said that his decision to step down was a personal one.

"Whether I like it or not, I was the Chairman of Appropriations and my signature was on all the documents even though I know that I am not at fault.

“Of course we are all aware of a lot of issues that took place during the process of the 2016 budget. I have always maintained one position, that as the Chairman Appropriations, i did my very best. Until date, I have said that if anybody has anything that I have done that amounts to an abuse of my office, or amounts to an illegality, that it should be brought forward.

“I’ve said it severally, that I can be reported to the authorities or the relevant arm of government, or the internal disciplinary measure of the House. Should take its course. And as it is until date, nobody has raised any issue against me.

“And that has been the case even while I was Chairman Finance. For four years, I was chairman Finance and I executed my responsibility diligently and I left an unblemished record.

"There were a lot of “obstacles here and there “during the 2016 budget appropriation.

“Even if I’m not at fault, it’s only proper that I take the responsibility. I believe that the best thing I should do under the circumstances is to step aside so that the committee can move forward.”

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Shi'ite massacre: Panel indicts Nigerian Army

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna State government to investigate the December 12, 2015 Zaria clash between the Nigerian Army and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria has indicted the Nigerian Army for the killing of at least 347 members of the Islamic sect.

Those indicted included the General Officer Commanding, 1st Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade who was said to have authorized the operation against the Shi'ite sect.

The commission said that although it could not get the cooperation of military officials to establish the actual number of those killed, it was able to confirm the death of 349 people, among whom was a soldier.

“All the officers who testified were not forthcoming in providing full disclosure on the number of the dead, wounded and missing persons.

“There was no evidence that there was the requisite delegation by the president to the officer who issued oral order for the deployment of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army for the cordon and search operation,” the report said.

The commission recommended that the indicted persons be brought to trial before a court of competent jurisdiction.

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Shi'ite massacre: Panel indicts top Army officers

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna State government to investigate the December 12, 2015 Zaria clash between the Nigerian Army and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria has indicted the Nigerian Army for the killing of at least 347 members of the Islamic sect.

Those indicted included the General Officer Commanding, 1st Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade who was said to have authorized the operation against the Shi'ite sect.

The commission said that although it could not get the cooperation of military officials to establish the actual number of those killed, it was able to confirm the death of 349 people, among whom was a soldier.

“All the officers who testified were not forthcoming in providing full disclosure on the number of the dead, wounded and missing persons.

“There was no evidence that there was the requisite delegation by the president to the officer who issued oral order for the deployment of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army for the cordon and search operation,” the report said.

The commission recommended that the indicted persons be brought to trial before a court of competent jurisdiction.

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Halliburton scandal: Aisha Buhari sues Fayose

Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari has dragged the government of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose to court over his claim that she was involved in the Halliburton scandal.

Fayose had alleged that Mrs Buhari was involved in the Halliburton scandal over which US lawmaker, William Jefferson was convicted.

Fayose had rebuffed Mrs Buhari’s demand for a retraction of the offending statement, saying that she should wait until 2018 when he would finish his tenure as governor.

In an ex-parte motion, filed on July 20, 2016, and obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Mrs. Buhari prayed the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, to grant her reliefs to issue writ of summons against Mr. Fayose and his media advisers, Idowu Adelusi and Lere Olayinka.

The presiding judge, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi granted all reliefs sought by Mrs. Buhari, including an order of substituted service.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Mary Ekpere prayed the court for the lawsuit to be served on Mr. Fayose and his two aides, even though Ekiti State is outside the jurisdiction of the Abuja Division of the FHC.

Justice Adeniyi approved that the service be done through a courier service, DHL, or “by publication in the online media platform, namely PREMIUM TIMES with web page: www.premiumtimesng.com,” according to court filings sighted by PREMIUM TIMES.

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22 lives lost in 10 PMT accidents in 6 months - FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC has said that Peace Mass Transit Company was involved in 10 road accidents claiming 22 lives in the last 6 months.

FRSC's Head of Media and Strategy, Mr Bisi Kazeem said that the organization has been interfacing with the transport company to arrest the ugly trend.

He added that FRSC had not blacklisted Peace Mass Transit, contrary to speculations.

"The essence of this clarification is just to make Nigerians know that contrary to the way it was reported, FRSC never indicted PMT and FRSC never blacklisted PMT.

"It is a routine interface when we noticed upsurge in road traffic accidents involving PMT and which is not limited to them.

"We came out with a statistics to show that about 22 people were killed (in accident involving PMT) in recent time.

"But unfortunately, when we sent the press release out, there was an error where 37 were mentioned. It is actually 22.

"As a responsible and responsive organisation, we felt, we should correct the mistake because we are not here to spoil business for anybody. Our own concern is safety and the way forward.

"Once we - FRSC observe a trend, may be a particular fleet operator is getting more involved in crashes than expected where more lives are being lost such organisation is invited.''

Recall that the FRSC and PMT met on July 13 following increasing involvement of  vehicles in the fleet of the company in road accidents.

They  thereafter, agreed for the continuous inspection of PMT's vehicles by the FRSC to ensure compliance with traffic safety rules.

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Buhari at Wednesday's FEC meeting (Photo)

President Muhammadu Buhari and his cabinet members during Wednesday's Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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