Month: December 2023

 

By Flowerbudnews

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology , Chief Uchenna Nnaji, says his ministry’s collaboration with International Human Rights Observatory Africa (IHRO-Africa) will enhance socio-economic and educational development in the county.

 

Nnaji said this when he received members of IHRO-Africa, led by Amb. Dr Chimbo Obieze, Special Envoy and Country Director of IHRO-Africa, that paid a diplomatic visit to his office in Abuja.

 

The statement on the diplomatic visit on Friday was released to newsmen in Enugu on Saturday.

The minister said that it was a pleasure to host the diplomatic visit of members of IHRO-Africa, adding: “I am particularly impressed by IHRO-Africa’s dedication to promoting human rights, supporting education and fostering social-economic integration in Africa”.

 

“Learning about IHRO-Africa’s ongoing initiatives, especially their work in support of the African Charter was both enlightening and inspiring.

 

“The organization’s impact is commendable and I believe our collaboration can further amplify these efforts,” he said.

 

Nnaji said that his ministry was eager to explore concrete avenues for collaboration based on “our shared visions”, adding: “Their (IHRO-Africa) insights and expertise will be invaluable in advancing our joint initiatives”.

Earlier, Obieze applauded the minister’s notable achievements and doggedness in using innovation, science and technological platforms to address the challenges of socio-economic development across the federation within his short period in office.

 

“IHRO-Africa is an international civil society organization registered with its international headquarters in the USA; and its continental headquarters in France, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Kenya.

 

“We appoint special envoys globally for Diplomatic Missions. IHRO-Africa supports the African Charter which was universally adopted at the OAU meeting of African Heads of State and Government held in Kenya on June 27, 1981.

 

“Indeed, the Charter lists the rights and duties that should be respected at all times according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on Dec. 10, 1948,” he said.

 

According to him, IHRO-Africa is not taking these conventions/charters for granted that is why we deem it necessary to pay Your Excellency this Diplomatic visit to accelerate peace, diplomacy, climate change and to promote science and innovation technology.

 

“We believe that a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology can significantly contribute to the advancement of our shared goals.

 

“These shared goals are within the 4-point Agenda of IHRO-Africa, which we offer through our Support Children Education Fund (SCEFUND) Technology, which includes: To promote science, technology and climate change control and achieving Africa Union (AU) Agenda 2063.

“To change the narrative of online fraudsters into youths’ technology creative hub for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to use new technology to fight Ponzi Scheme Master (PSM) node.

 

“Lastly, to develop Innovation, Science and Technology Decentralized Protocol Bond (ISTTPB) through block chain technology for easy access of quality education and empowerment of tech-innovative drive,” he said.

 

Among members of IHRO-Africa that came for the diplomatic visit included: Amb. Uzoamaka Ezedioranma, Head of Operation IHRO-Africa and Amb. Chinaelo Ogbata-Ejorh, IHRO-Africa’s Special Envoy to South-East on Women Cares, Children Education and Good Governance. (Flowerbudnews)

 

By Zubairu Idris
Katsina:.  Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina State has directed for immediate suspension of a staff of Ministry of Education in the state for alleged sexual harassment of a female student.

The directive is contained in a statement issued by the Director Press, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Abdullahi Aliyu-Yar’adua, and made available to newsmen on Friday in Katsina.

The statement said, “Gov Dikko Radda has received a report of alleged sexual harassment against one Lawal Ibrahim, now a staff of the Ministry of Education.

It said Ibrahim was the then Principal of Government Day Secondary School, Dantankari, Dandume Local Government area.

“In consequence therefore, the governor directed the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary School Education to immediately suspend Lawal Ibrahim and investigate the allegation with dispatch.

“Take appropriate action and report back to the governor.”

The statement further directed the Commissioner of Police to investigate the allegation.

“The Commissioner of Police should investigate the allegation, and to also investigate the Divisional Police Officer, Dandume, for compromise on the matter, and report back to the governor,” the statement said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng /Flowerbudnews

 

By Flowerbudnews

Enugu: The Enugu State Government has started implementing robust and proactive equipment, man-power and sensitisation upscale to tackle fire outbreak and ensure “zero fire losses’’ this dry/harmattam season.

 

The Director of Enugu State Fire Service, Engr. Okwudiri Ohaa, told newsmen in Enugu on Thursday that the state fire service had been making proactive preparation to ensure that the state government’s “zero fire losses’’ initiative is achieved.

 

Ohaa said that Gov. Peter Mbah restoration of water supply to Enugu after 20 years had robbed off tremendously well on the job of the state fire service and increase its efficiency and service delivery to the residents of the state.

He said that the restoration of water, after just 180 days in office as promised by Gov. Mbah during his electioneering campaign, had resuscitated water hydrants belonging to the service especially in its fire stations.

 

“As we work to achieve the “zero fire losses” initiative this season; His Excellency Dr Peter Mbah has up scaled our operation by his laudable provision of water to Enugu in his first 180 days in office, thus, resuscitating our water hydrants within and in the outskirt of Enugu metropolis.

 

“With adequate and steady water supply from our water hydrants scattered all over the state; our work, as first responders to fire outbreak incidents, is made easy for us as well as increased our efficiency rate,” he said.

 

He also said that provision of the water hydrants had made government public potable water accessible to people and nighbourhoods that live around the areas where these water hydrants are located.

Ohaa, who is also the Chief Fire and Rescue Officer of the state, said that the state government also gave a recent directive for installation of fire extinguishers on all government-owned public buildings to ensure fire safety this season.

 

According to him, the service has undertaken the training of civil servants occupying these public buildings on how to use and maintain these fire extinguishers for ir prevention and maximum positive result.

 

“Also, graciously, His Excellency has given us approval and funding to procure those things we usually need during this (critical) season; and in fact our suppliers in Lagos has given me phone number of the truck that are coming to drop something for us.

“Most especially the chemicals we use. Funds for it have been released and we have made necessary payment and before tomorrow the truck will be arriving here in Enugu and dropping the items.

 

“Most of the chemicals like AAF (foam-making agent), which we are purchasing nothing less than 40 drums; equally paid for dry chemical powders, we equally paid for hoses, branches, fire man axes among other requirements,” he said.

 

The director noted that as part of pro-active preparation, 21 staff of the Enugu State Fire Service are currently undergoing in-service training in order to build their capacity and skill or maximum service delivery.

 

He said that the service within the past three weeks had engaged in massive media and stakeholders’ sensitisation on prevention and putting up emergency contingent plans to forestall fire outbreaks in the state.

 

“I have been on the air in most media houses even using local dialect to remind our people on the need to be cautious this season and do due diligence in switching off all electrical appliance at the close of work/business or while leaving home in the morning hours.

 

“They should also avoid putting on fire indiscriminately and totally avoid bush burning under the guise of hunting bush meat or other reasons.

“We have in the past weeks engaged the educational board offices and traders in various markets on fire prevention and need to have functional fire extinguishers and Enugu State Fire Service emergency numbers,’’ he said.

 

Ohaa noted that the “state fire service is planning to extend its robust sensitisation and engagement to all major markets in the state within the next two weeks before Christmas”.(Flowerbudnews)

 

Abuja:  The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Friday awarded N50 million in damages against Gov..Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and six others for failure to pay the outstanding balance of N3,374,889,425.60 (N3.4 billion) from the N4,874,889,425.60 (N4.9 billion) debt, arising from a May 7, 2021 judgment of the Supreme Court.

A three-member panel of justices, in a unanimous judgment, condemned Makinde’s conduct, which it described as disrespectful of the nation’s judicial system.

The court affirmed the April 27 decision of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ordering the state governor to paid the outstanding balance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the N4.9 billion debt arose from the judgment of the Supreme Court given against Makinde, the state’s Attorney-General (A-G), Accountant-General and four others in an appeal by chairmen and councillors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but sacked on May 29, 2019, by Makinde, upon assuming office.

In the judgment, the appellate court upheld the arguments by the lawyer to the ex-council chiefs, Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, resolved the two issues, identified for determination, against the appellants and dismissed the appeal filed by Makinde and six others for lacking in merit.

The court awarded N50 million cost against Makinde and co-appellants, to be paid to the ex-council chiefs led by Bashorun Mojeed Bosun Ajuwon.

The judgment was on the appeal marked: CA/595/2023 filed by Makinde, the Oyo State’s A-G, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Accountant-General of Oyo State, Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, the House of Assembly and Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC).
In the lead judgment, Justice Danlami Senchi held that, as against the contention by the appellants, there was no dispute in relation to the amount that constituted the judgment debt.
The judge referred to a letter written on Dec. 13, 2021, by the A-G of Oyo State, where the state put the salaries and allowances due to the ex-council chiefs at N4,874,889,425.60 and pledged to pay everything within six months.

He said the court could not allow Oyo State Government and its officials to approbate and reprobate; blow hot and cold at the same time by claiming the amount constituting the debt was not ascertained despite the letter by the A-G and the fact that the appellants took steps to settle the debt by making part payment.

Justice Senchi also faulted the appellants’ contention that the ex-council chiefs failed to first obtain the consent of the Oyo State A-G before initiating a garnishee proceeding to seize the state’s funds to settle the judgment debt.

The judge said asking the ex-council chiefs to first seek and obtain the consent of the Oyo A-G, who was one of the judgment debtors, amounted to making him to be a judge in his own case, “which requirement is unfair to the judgment creditors.”

“The ex-council chiefs were in order to have initiated the garnishee proceeding, because there was a judgment debt to be paid by the appellants by virtue of the judgment of the Supreme Court,” he said.

The Supreme Court had, in its May 7, 2021 judgment, declared the action of the ex-council chiefs, who sued through 11 representatives, led by Bashorun Majeed Ajuwon, as lawful and ordered the Oyo State Government to compute and pay them their entitled salaries and allowances within three months of the judgment.

Rather than comply with the judgment, the Oyo State Government paid only N1.5 billion, prompting the judgment creditors (the ex-council chiefs) to initiate a garnishee proceeding against Makinde and others before the High Court of the FCT.

In the April 27 ruling, Justice A. O. Ebong of the High Court of the FCT issued a garnishee order absolute, directing Makinde and others to pay the balance of the judgment debt on instalment basis, begining with N1,374,889,425.60 to be paid immediately.

Justice Ebong ordered them to subsequently pay the remaining N2b billion at N500 million quarterly, with the first instalment payable on July 31, a decision Makinde and others challenged at the Court of Appeal.

NAN reports that it was the April 27 ruling by Justice Ebong that the Court of Appeal affirmed in the judgment delivered on Friday.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews

 

By Flowerbudnews

Enugu:  The Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL) and Congress of Civil Societies, coalitions of NGOs, have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Federal Government and Bauchi State Government to unconditionally release Mrs Rhoda Ya’u Jatau.

It would be recalled that Rhoda Jatau was unlawfully incarcerated for demanding for justice for Deborah Samuel, a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto. who was brutally murdered after advising against sending religious materials on a WhatsApp page.

This is contained in a statement issued in Enugu on Friday by the President-General of CONYL, Comrade Goodluck Ibem and the Coordinator of Congress of Civil Societies, Comrade Damian Ogbuike.

According to the statement, it amounts to treason against the Nigerian State and Nigerian Constitution for anyone under whatever guise to unlawfully detain Rhoda a Christian with a Sharia law.

It said: “This is a travesty of the Law and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

“When has it become an offense to demand for justice to be done to another follow Nigerian?

 

“Those who unlawfully detained Rhoda are now telling the world that it is lawful for citizens to take laws into their own hands by killing their follow human beings.

 

“We demand for the immediate and unconditionally release of Rhoda Jatau, a mother of five children, who was unlawfully imprisoned since May 22, 2022 in Bauchi State for allegedly sharing a video condemning the lynching of a student, Deborah Samuel Yakubu, in Sokoto State.”

 

The statement noted that it was the height of lawlessness, gross abuse of power and gross insensitivity for the Bauchi State authorities to hold Rhoda for 18 months in prison.

 

“It is an infringement on her fundamental human rights as enshrined in our Constitution and the United Nations charter on human rights.

 

“We demand for the arrest and prosecution of those who unlawfully detained Rhoda. Her unlawful incarceration is a pure case of treason and should be treated as such,” it said. (Flowerbudnews)