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The African Democratic Congress ( ADC), on Monday rested its case after calling 29 witnesses and the Tribunal fixed July 29 for the respondents to open their case.

The party and its candidate, Jude Rex–Ogbuku are challenging the Feb.23 election for Ogbia Federal Constituency.

The party closed its case by calling Rex-Ogbuku as the star witness, before the Bayelsa National and State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

The petitioners who dragged the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and 63 INEC officials, are challenging the election on grounds that the election was marred with irregularities by corrupt practices and or non- compliance with the provisions and principles of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

The petitioners are also challenging the election on the ground that the first respondent, Hon. Fred Obua was not duly elected by majority votes.

They are therefore seeking for the cancellation of the election.

Testifying, Rex-Ogbuku, alleged that from the 12 wards that election took place, particularly ward 5, party agents signed election result under duress.

When he was further asked if the result he was relying on in seeking to be declared the winner of the election was the one declared by INEC, he also answered in the affirmative.

At the end of his cross-examination by the three respondents counsel, his counsel K. Oyewole said he had no need to re-examine him.

The three-man panel, headed by Justice K.O Wosu, therefore adjourned the matter until July 29, for the respondents to open their defence.

He also fixed Aug. 14 for the adoption of written addresses. (NAN).

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) on Monday advised the Federal Government to deepen its intervention programmes that would develop medium and small enterprises and enable them to thrive.

Mr Mauricio Alarcon, Second Vice-President of NECA, gave the advice at a stakeholders’ forum for the Organised Private Sector in Lagos.

According to him, government should create an enabling environment for small and medium enterprises, since its various initiatives and social programmes at poverty alleviation by the poverty index are insufficient.

He said the long term solution to poverty include job creation, improved standard and quality of education, increased access to finance and policies that encourage investment and general well-being of the people.

The association’s second vice-president noted that private sector operators were worried because of Nigeria’s growing population, estimated about 200 million in 2018, which grew social vices rather than corresponding economic growth.

“That is why we urge government to take urgent steps to facilitate the completion of the Agbara Industrial Estate Road; Apapa Ports roads and other strategic roads in the nation.

“Billions of Naira is lost annually due to the deplorable infrastructure. Necessary support should be given to players in the power sector, including a positive review of the reform.

“Grandstanding, name-calling and buck-passing have left businesses and the public disenchanted,” he said.

Alarcon noted that government, as a critical stakeholders in the country’s project, should refocus its attention on the needs of businesses to fast-track development of the nation.

He urged the government to tackle increasing kidnapping and general banditry that had left many dead and others homeless. (NAN)

The Nigerian Army on Monday handed over 151 repentant Boko Haram insurgents to Borno Government for rehabilitation and re-integration into the society.

Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Shafa, the Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor, made the disclosure during the handing over of the repentant insurgents at the Bulunkutu Rehabilitation Center, Maiduguri.

Shafa disclosed that the 151 male repentant insurgents comprised 132 adult and 19 minors, who completed 52 weeks of de-radicalization process at its center in Gombe.

He said that the clients were exposed to formal literacy classes, skills acquisition and Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) as well as drug and psycho-therapists during their training.

Shafa explained that the Operation Safe Corridor was designed to encourage Boko Haram insurgents to surrender, provide de-radicalization and rehabilitation programme, to enable them rejoin the society.

“The clients confessed their past misdeeds; denounced membership of Boko Haram group, asked for forgiveness and took oath of allegiance to Nigeria. I believe they are now good citizens to rejoin the society,” he said.

Shafa lauded the state government over its support and efforts to assist the repentant insurgents to reintegrate into the society.

Also, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, the state Deputy Governor, commended the Federal Government over implementation of Operation Safe Corridor to rehabilitate and reintegrate repentant insurgents into the society.

Kadafur said that the state government had adopted effective measures to accept the insurgents willing to voluntarily surrender and to create an enabling environment for them to rejoin the society.

He said that the state government had also directed community leaders to sensitize their people on the need to accept the rehabilitated insurgents, and warned against infringement on their rights.

The deputy governor added that the state government would support rehabilitated insurgents to set up their business, to enable them to engage in productive activities and contribute to the development of the society.

Tela Dandija and Kyari Buguma, some of the repentant insurgents, thanked the Federal Government for the amnesty granted to them and called on the insurgents still in the bush to surrender.

• They also called for support to enable them to set up their businesses in their respective communities.

By Joan Odafe
The Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Adelaja, on Sunday said that the rate of corruption among public officials would dwindle if traditional means of oath-taking is employed during their swearing-in ceremonies.

Adelaja said that the traditional process would put fear in the hearts of leaders on the need to be upright in their dealings with the people they serve and be accountable for their decisions.

The traditional ruler, who made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that many politicians and government officials lack the fear of God because they see God as merciful and forgiving.

He said that if leaders are made to take oath of office through the traditional gods, most government officials would be more conscientious in carrying out their activities.

“Leaders know they can get away with Christianity or Islam, but if they take oaths based on traditional gods like Ogun, they will never steal, knowing those gods do not accept sorry.

“They know that the gods will not spare them when they err. You steal, you die.

“We must practice our culture; all tribes have different cultures. If it is adopted while taking the oath of office, our leaders will be accountable.

“Let us go back to our culture. Anybody who wants to hold any political office, that needs to carry out projects, should be made to swear before Ogun,” he told NAN.

The monarch decried the rate of corruption among leaders within their short stay in the office, which, he said, could be linked to the state of poverty in the nation.

“Majority of kidnappers being arrested are graduates. After all said and done, they will say it is because the have no jobs,” he said.

The monarch appealed to the various tiers of government to create more employment opportunities for graduates in the country.

By Dada Ahmed

The hospitality industry in Madinah has witnessed a boost, following the arrival of Nigerian pilgrims in the city for the 2019 Hajj, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A NAN correspondent in Madinah reports that many Nigerian pilgrims were seen booking for lodging in some of the hotels located in the Al-Salam area of Madinah.

A check by NAN revealed that several Nigerians lodged in some of the hotels such as Wefadah Alzalrah, Gulnar Alsalam and Diyar Alsalam.

NAN also reports that some of the pilgrims, especially women, are engaging in purchase of gift items and other basic needs.

The gift items, according to them, are meant for presentation to their families, friends and well-wishers upon return home from the pilgrimage.

Some Nigerian women were also seen selling Nigerian foods such as rice, beans, chicken and tuwo masara, among others.

An operator of a provision store, AbdulAziz Abdulmalik, in an interview with NAN, described the presence of Nigerian pilgrims in the city as a positive development.

Abdulmalik added that the Nigerian pilgrims are boosting commercial activities in Madinah.

“I have made some profits since the arrival of pilgrims in Madinah, especially those from Nigeria who check into my shop to buy one thing or the other,’’ he said.

Sources from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) indicate that no fewer than 15,629 pilgrims from Nigeria had so far arrived Madinah in 33 flights for this year’s Hajj.

Ahmed Magari, the Madinah Coordinator of NAHCON for 2019 Hajj, told journalists that the commission had contracted a Madinah-based transport company, Hafil, to transport about 35,000 Nigerian pilgrims from the city to Makkah for continuation of their Hajj rites.

In a show of hospitality to the pilgrims, some Arabs were seen giving them chilled bottled water and other packed foods.