Policeman shoots driver to death in Ogun

A police corporal in Ogun State, whose identity has not been revealed by the state police  command, on Tuesday, shot dead a commercial vehicle driver identified as Likinyo Olumide at the Sagamu Tollgate area along the Lagos-Benin Expressway.
The driver was conveying seven passengers and their goods from Lagos to Okitipupa in Ondo State, when the tragic occurrence happened.
One of the seven passengers, who witnessed the killing, Folake  Egbeuwalo, said some policemen, who were around the tollgate area, had stopped the vehicle and the driver promptly parked by the road side.
For reasons which the passengers claimed not to have known, the corporal shot the driver where he was standing beside his vehicle, killing him on the spot.
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the corporal had been arrested.
Our correspondent gathered that the 42-year-old driver was survived by six children and a pregnant wife.
Egbeuwalo, who spoke with journalists at the Police Headquarters,  Eleweran, Abeokuta, on  Wednesday, said the incident occured at 9.45pm on Tuesday, as they were coming from Lagos, where they went to buy some goods and  heading back for Okitipupa in Ondo  State.
She said, “The late driver  was our permanent driver, he used to carry us from Okitipupa to Lagos. So, the man carried us from Idumagbo on Lagos Island. As we were coming,  we met many policemen and soldiers on the road,  we stopped and settled them.
“When we got to Sagamu Tollgate, we did not know that there were policemen on the road; they asked the driver to park and immediately he parked.
“As the driver came down from the vehicle, he stood beside the vehicle and the policeman moved to the other side of the road and shot him dead.”
Egbeuwalo added that the policeman and his colleagues, realising what had happened, fled the area immediately, but came back a few minutes later and took away the corpse in one of the Hilux vans with number plate NPF 104 OD.
She, however, lamented that all the passengers were abandoned and slept on the highway as none of them could  drive the car after the death of the driver.
A younger brother of the late driver, Likinyo Solomon, lamented the death of his deceased,  who he said was survived by six children and a pregnant wife.
He said, “I demand  to see the person that killed my brother and to know what actually happened before he was killed.”
During his visit to Ogun State on Wednesday,  the Assistant Inspector- General of Police, Zone 2 , Balade Hassan,   said the policeman would face the wrath  of the  law.
He said, “The regulation is clear and the constitution is clear about the right to life of all Nigerians. So, if anybody takes the life of anybody, be it a policeman or civilian, not as provided by the constitution, that person will face the full wrath of the law.
“You know the present Inspector-General of Police and previous IGs do  not take things lightly when things like that go wrong.
“You would recall that something like this happened in Lagos, the policeman was arrested, tried, dismissed from the force and arraigned in less than 24 hours after the incident.
“The police is trying to say anyone who flouts the rules and regulation, will get his case in court as the case may be.
“This case is not an exception from other cases. The person would be tried as prescribed by the law, after finding him guilty, he would be dismissed and charged to court.”
Adejobi, on his own part, said the command had arrested the killer cop

US general "Hospital never a legitimate target"

The US commander in Afghanistan said Thursday that his forces would never intentionally target a hospital and that all requests from Afghan troops for air support are thoroughly vetted.
General John Campbell was testifying to US lawmakers five days after a US air strike on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in the disputed Afghan city of Kunduz that killed at least 22 staff and patients.
President Barack Obama has apologized to the medical aid agency but three investigations — by the US military, by NATO and by Afghan officials — are underway and the general would not be drawn on their progress.

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But, asked about unconfirmed allegations that Afghan troops had called in the US strike because wounded Taliban fighters were being treated in the hospital, Campbell said that would not be a justification.
“A hospital is a protected facility. We would not target a hospital,” he told the US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee in Washington.
“When the Afghans call for fire, that’s not an automatic response. Every day the Afghans ask me for close air support and we just don’t go fire some place,” he said.
“We go through a rigorous procedure to put aerial fires on the ground — A US process, under the US authorities.
“So we’ve got to figure out what happened in that case but I don’t want people to think that just because the Afghans call fire that there’s automatic fire anywhere they want it, that’s just not the case.”
Asked whether the presence of Taliban fighters in a hospital could justify a strike, Campbell said simply: “No.”
On Thursday, Doctors Without Borders said nine patients and 24 staff are still missing after the bombing of the hospital, bringing the potential total toll to more than 50 people.

Nigerians spend N35bn on POS terminals monthly

Nigerians spent a total of N35.84bn on transactions using Point of Sale terminals in the month of August, investigation has shown.

The money was spent in 2.7 million successful transactions that were carried out across the country using POS as the payment option in the month of August.

Head of Corporate Communications at the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System Limited, Lilian Phido, confirmed this in an electronic mail response to an enquiry by our correspondent.

NIBBS, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee have been in the vanguard of a national campaign to promote less use of the cash in the economy.

The CBN had in 2012 introduced a new policy on cash-based transactions which stipulates a cash handling charge on daily cash withdrawals that exceed N500,000 for Individuals and N3,000,000 for corporate bodies.

Poly Ibadan ND Cut off mark

Poly Ibadan - Shobizz Blog

CUT-OFF MARKS FOR ADMISSION INTO THE NATIONAL DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES FOR THE 2015/2016 ACADEMIC SESSION.

S/N	FACULTY	COURSE	CUT-OFF MARKS
1.	FBCS	Business Administration	30.0
		Mass Communication	50.25
		Music	30.13
		Office Technology & Mgmt.	37.63
		Local Government &Dev. Studies	37.13
		Public Administration	53.0
2.	FENG	Civil Engineering	45.75
		Mechanical Engineering	44.38
		Electrical Engineering	44.75
		Computer Engineering	40.38
		Mechatronics Engineering	31.38
3.	FES	Surveying & Geoinformatics	30.88
		Architecture	43.75
		Estate Management	30.25
		Urban & Regional Planning	30.13
		Building Technology	32.13
		Quantity Surveying	31.5
		Arts & Design	31.0

4.	FFMS	Accountancy	50.5
		Banking & Finance	47.75
		Insurance	39.88
5.	FSC	Computer Science	44.25
		Geology	30.88
		Science Laboratory Technology	48.0
		Statistics	30.13

Buhari’s meeting with N’Assembly leadership

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, described the closed-door meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly  held on Wednesday night as a welcome development.
Saraki,  according to a post on his social media page on Thursday, explained that the meeting signifies a good working relationship between executive and legislative arms of the country.
He described such interactions as “a necessity for National development. Additionally, the meeting demonstrates that the nation is working.”
Buhari  met with the leadership of the National Assembly, which included, Saraki; the Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Yakubu Dogara; and other principal officers of both chambers.
Also in attendance  was, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. The meeting lasted for about two hours.

Issa Hayatou named FIFA Acting President

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African football leader, Issa Hayatou has been named to take charge of FIFA after former president, Blatter was suspended and “stripped of all duties.”
African football leader Issa Hayatou on Thursday took temporary charge of FIFA after Sepp Blatter was “relieved of his duties” because of his 90-day suspension, the world body said.
Hayatou, 69, is president of the Confederation of African Football, and takes over as senior vice president of FIFA. He has in the past been reprimanded for misconduct by the International Olympic Committee.
“Joseph S. Blatter was relieved of all his duties as FIFA president” after the move by the FIFA ethics committee to suspend him for 90 days because he is under criminal investigation by Swiss prosecutors, FIFA said.

Diezani "EFCC quizzes Omokore, Atlantic Energy boss"

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has quizzed the Chairman of Atlantic Energy, Mr. Jide Omokore, over the ongoing investigations into the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Investigations revealed that the Subsidy Unit of the EFCC, which is entrusted with the responsibility of probing the NNPC oil scandal, on Monday invited Omokore to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja to answer questions in relation to the investigations.

Omokore was said to have honoured the invitation and was quizzed and later released.

It was gathered that his invitation was in connection with the ongoing probe of the NNPC and a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Investigation revealed that Omokore was not detained by the operatives of the commission, who are working with their counterparts from the United Kingdom, to uncover alleged oil deals that were executed to the detriment of the nation’s economy.

A source, who confided in our correspondent, said, “The Atlantic Energy Chairman was at the commission’s headquarters to answer questions in relation to the ongoing probe.

“I don’t think it would be right to say that he was arrested as he came to the office on his own and was interrogated. He was later released to go on administrative bail.”

The granting of administrative bail by the EFCC means that the suspect will make himself available whenever he is needed by the commission.

Investigation further revealed that some key officials of the NNPC, who worked with the former minister and other key players in the oil sector, had been interrogated by the EFCC and had also been released on administrative bail.

It was learnt that a Managing Director of one of the NNPC subsidiaries, three former Executive Directors and some senior members of staff were being made to visit the EFCC periodically.

The former minister, the NNPC officials and three companies which featured prominently in the nation’s oil business are being probed in relation with billions of naira worth of crude oil that were allegedly lifted without being paid for.

It was further gathered that a four-man team of crack detectives constituted under the Subsidy Unit of the EFCC extracted information from the NNPC workers who said they allowed the lifting of the crude in obedience to directives from the leadership of the nation’s oil industry under Diezani.

Our correspondent made repeated efforts to get the comment of the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, without success as calls to his mobile telephone did not connect.

Nigeria at 55

The icy relationship between President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki appears to be thawing, as both leaders engaged in a tête-à-tête and laughed heartily during a private moment at the low-key celebration held to mark the nation’s 55th independence anniversary in Abuja on Thursday.

Since his emergence as the Senate president three months ago against the wishes of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), there has been no love lost between Buhari and Saraki.

Although Buhari had immediately after the leadership contest in the Senate said he would respect the outcome of the election, he never hid his displeasure over Saraki’s emergence and that of his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Saraki with the support of the opposition PDP senators trounced the favoured choice of the APC and Buhari, Senator Ahmed Lawan, who alongside other APC senators was at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, waiting to meet with the president when the election in the Senate took place.

Ever since, the president has studiously avoided meeting with the Senate president and on Tuesday in New York, where he was attending the United Nations General Assembly, said that his confidence in Saraki would depend on the outcome of the latter’s trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), where he is facing charges of false assets declaration.

Despite the cold war, Buhari and Saraki, who sat next to each other during yesterday’s ceremony, were all smiles and engaged in light banter.

Saraki also led Dogara and other leaders of the legislature to present a card to Buhari congratulating him on Nigeria’s 55th independence anniversary.

The event, which was held in the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, witnessed a special presidential change of guard to mark the event and lasted for about two hours.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal, had earlier indicated that this year’s anniversary would be low-keyed due to the state of the country’s finances.

The event started with the arrival of Buhari, who appeared in his trademark traditional attire with a white cap to match.

The president inspected the quarter guards before marching to the Presidential Villa forecourt to receive the national salute which was followed by a rendition of the National Anthem.

Prayers were offered by the Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, and the Deputy Chief Imam of the Abuja National Mosque, Sheikh Muhammad Kabir, reported the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The event witnessed the the 21-gun salute, inspection of new quarter guards, silent drills, posting of sentries and colour, while weapons and uniforms were inspected to ensure conformity with military standards by the Commander, Brigade of Guards, Brigadier-General Musa Yusuf.

Shortly after the ceremony, Buhari signed the anniversary register and released pigeons from cage.

The president, assisted by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Saraki, Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, and other top dignitaries, cut the anniversary cake.

Speaking in separate interviews after the ceremonial change of guards, Saraki, Justice Mohammed and the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to overcome its present challenges.

Saraki said he was hopeful and confident that the future was very bright. “In next few years, things will be even better,” he said.

The Senate president said that in the legislature it would not be business as usual, stating: “We will ensure that the National Assembly will be people-oriented and will make laws that will make impact on Nigerians.”

The CJN said: “We will make it by the grace of God. We are on the right path,” while Oyegun said at 55, Nigeria has finally discovered that it was on the wrong road.

“We have finally moved to the road that leads to progress, hope, employment, prosperity and that will lead to Nigeria finally attaining that greatness that God destined it for. We are on the way,” the APC cheiftain added.

Those who attended the ceremony were former Heads of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Chief Ernest Shonekan, and former Senate Presidents Ken Nnamani and Joseph Wayas.

Others were the service chiefs, the current and former Inspectors-General of Police, former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme and Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd), other top government functionaries and members of the diplomatic corps.

Dija "Why I always add my Lebanese, Hausa, to my music:

The singer who is of mixed parentage, in an exclusive chat with Showtime said, ‘I usually wear my traditional garments to perform, and I constantly put my language in everything  I do.

Mavin Records singer, Dija, has said that she will do everything within her power to always infuse her Hausa, Lebanese and Sierra-Leone culture into her music.

Don’t forget that Yaro, the title of one of my songs, is an Hausa word as well. I’m not only Hausa, I’m also partly Lebanese and Sierra-Leonean as well, so I try my best to bring my cultures from my father and mother’s sides to bear on my craft as much as I can. For me, the more I can talk to, and relate to my fans, the happier I am.’

Akinwunmi Ambode to improve Judcial Sector

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has said his administration will continue to improve on the achievements in the judicial sector and ensure that judges, magistrates and the courts in the state work in a conducive atmosphere.The governor, who spoke on Friday at the 2015/2016 Legal Year Dinner at the Nigeria Law School, Lagos, reiterated the important role the judiciary plays as the last hope of the common man. He said the Lagos State Judiciary had been the pioneer of judicial sector reforms in the country from 1999, when Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state. He said his predecessor in office, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, also followed suit by initiating and implementing far reaching reforms which went a long way to improve on the justice delivery system.Ambode added, “It was these reforms that gave birth to the Office of Public Defender, Citizens Mediation Centre, Public Advisory Centre, the Multi-Door Court House System, which offers an alternative and effective dispute resolution mechanism; the construction of more courts as well as the appointment of more magistrates and judges. ADVERTISEMENT “These initiatives have expanded the frontier of justice delivery, which has deepened its relevance as the last hope of the common man.“I am committed to ensuring that this administration continues with these reforms. We will work with the judiciary to move our justice sector to a higher level. The reform process is not a finished business, it is a work in progress.”He alluded to the fact that a recent World Bank ranking of countries on the basis of ease of doing business, rated Nigeria low, noting that one of the parameters considered was the ease with which disputes arising from business transactions were resolved.Ambode explained that the report was an indication that the nation’s desire to build a globally competitive economy that would attract foreign investors, could not be achieved without a vibrant judiciary.“It is therefore imperative that as we address the issue of infrastructural deficiency to ease the process and reduce cost of doing business, the issues of rule of law and timely dispensation of justice must also be given priority,” he said.Responding to an appeal made by the Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Funmilayo Atilade, in her welcome address, the governor promised to address the issues raised accordingly.Justice Atilade expressed concerns that the Lagos State Judiciary was still financially subservient to the Ministry of Justice, saying it was most undesirable as the arrangement clearly negates relevant laws and constitutional provisions.She appealed to the governor to assist in effecting the return of Judiciary Capital Vote as required by Law and in the spirit of separation of powers as applied to the other arms of government.“To a very large extent, as we demonstrate our implicit confidence in our able governor to right the wrongs of the past, help reposition and propel the State Judiciary to desired heights, we must sincerely express our gratitude to His Excellency for all the support and kind understanding.“Truly, he has within the short period of his administration demonstrated strong interest and concern in the growth of the Judiciary and in the welfare of judicial officers, magistrates and all personnel the of the Lagos State Judiciary,” she added.