Tunde Ajaja and Tobi Aworinde

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, on Thursday, were absent at a debate for candidates in the election.

The debate, which was organised jointly by a non-governmental organisation, Enough Is Enough, and Television Continental, was attended by Mr Abiodun Aluko of the Accord Party, Mr Akinloye Ayegbusi of the Social Democratic and Mr Segun Adewale of the Action Democratic Party.

The moderator, Mrs Ngozi Alaegbu, said the candidates of the APC and the PDP were contacted to participate in the debate. However, neither of them showed up.

In the debate, which focused mainly on education, security, healthcare and job creation, Aluko said his plan was to bring sustainable development to the state, by developing human capital and creating employment opportunities for the people.

He said, “It is very true that Ekiti State has many professors but that has not translated into development for us, so when I become governor, we will encourage entrepreneurship. On the issue of health care, there will be free health care for persons from zero to six years and persons above 70. And for the persons between six and 70 years, health care will be heavily subsidised.”

He also promised to focus on job creation, the increment in power supply and security of lives and property.

Ayegbusi said he decided to contest to eradicate poverty, which he described as devastating, while noting that the educational system in the state was archaic and needed to move from theory-based to entrepreneurship-based.

He added, “We urgently need to generate money for the state, especially through agriculture, so we can fix other sectors. On health care, there will be free medical care for persons aged 60 and above and pregnant women, from conception to delivery. We will also open up the state for tourism and we will see how to partner with Ondo State so we can have something like Ekiti-Ondo Airport.”

On his part, Adewale said his emphasis, if elected, would be wealth creation, saying he had been an entrepreneur and had been an employer of labour for years. He said new candidates and parties should be given the opportunity.

He added, “There must be a standard deviation from theory to actual wealth creation. Yes, we have many professors but we remain poor. Thus, our educational system needs a review. On health care, we would procure quality, basic equipment so our people won’t lose their lives to treatable illnesses. Developing the state is not as difficult as they make it look. I’m for wealth creation because with that we can do more.”

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Armstrong Bakam, Bauchi

Elephants at the Yankari Game Reserve and Safari have killed a nine-year-old boy and a 45-year-old man who gathered around them to take pictures.

They were said to have been killed near Bajama village close to the Game Reserve.

The management of Yankari Game Reserve and Safari confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen in Bauchi on Thursday by the Sole Administrator of the Reserve, Habu Mamman.

READ ALSO: Bayelsa APC leader falls from two-storey building, dies

He said the incident happened on July 8, 2018 when elephants went out of the reserve through Sharam early in the morning and headed towards Bajama village.

He said, “The elephants went to Gwartanbali forest where villagers living around there got excited and came in large numbers and put the elephants in a circle, taking pictures and trying to touch them.

“Tradegy struck when the elephants got charged and scattered the crowd and the villagers all ran for safety but as a result, they pushed down a nine-year-old boy, Fa’izu Chiroma Musa, who was trampled by one of the elephants and he died on the spot around 10am.”

Mamman added that the elephants proceeded to the forest but some villagers kept on following them.

Another villager, Haruna Abubakar, who was trying to get a close picture of the elephants was hit by one of the animals resulting in his death around 4pm.

“It took our rangers some hours to control the crowd who kept on following the elephants before they could chase the elephants back into the reserve.

“Normally the rangers are able to provide rapid intervention and chase the elephants back into the reserve when they go out, but this case was difficult because the villagers were very excited and wanted to go close and touch the elephants.

“They said it is their first time of seeing and coming in contact with elephants,” the sole administrator stated.

He stated that conflict between elephants and human was not uncommon around Yankari, disclosing that this was the first fatal case the reserve had recorded.

READ ALSO: 32 get mass burial, as NASS, Tambuwal, govs condemn Sokoto killings

He said the Yankari Reserve management had visited the families of the deceased and “they said that they were ignorant that elephants can be dangerous and admitted that it was their fault for getting too close to the elephants.”

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic promised that his side won’t be out for revenge in their World Cup final against France on Sunday.

Dalic’s men overcame an early Kieran Trippier goal to beat England 2-1 in extra time in the tournament’s second semifinal on Wednesday, setting up a rematch of the tiny country’s 1998 semifinal with France.

In that game, Davor Suker’s goal in the 46th minute was cancelled out by a pair of strikes from France defender Lilian Thuram at the Stade de France, but Dalic said his Croatian team won’t be thinking about that semifinal loss.

“In 1998 I was in France for the first three games as a supporter. Everyone in Croatia remembers that game when Thuram scored and we lost 2-1. This has been the topic of discussion for the past 20 years,” Dalic said. “I remember when we celebrated Suker’s goal but as soon as we sat back down it was level.

“Both teams have shown their qualities, we do not seek revenge, this is football, this is sport, but what we have to do is focus on preparing to play our best game of the tournament in the final.”

Croatia needed extra time and penalties to overcome Denmark and Russia before outlasting England in another marathon knockout-stage match.

Dalic’s side seemed to get stronger as the match wore on and he hailed his team’s grit and willingness to run in the historic match against the Three Lions.

Luka Modric, left, and Zlatko Dalic, right, were pivotal in Croatia’s comeback win vs. England. Getty

“What our players did today, the strength they’ve shown, the stamina, the energy levels. I wanted to substitute but no one wanted to be subbed, everybody kept saying ‘I’m ready, I can run on’,” he said.

“Some players played with minor injuries with which they would not have played some other games. Two players played with half a leg, but it didn’t show!

“Nobody wanted to give in when I was preparing the first XI, nobody wanted to say I was not ready in extra time, no one wanted to be subbed and this shows character and what makes me proud. Nobody gave up.”

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

A former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, has lambasted the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for failing to live up to its promises to Nigerians.

Gana, therefore, declared his intention to run for the Presidency.

The former minister said this in Abuja on Thursday while addressing journalists and supporters at the national secretariat of the Social Democratic Party where he went to purchase the N1m expression of interest form.

He said the tension in the country had not been this intense since the end of Nigeria’s Civil War in 1970.

Gana said, “With the utmost sense of responsibility and honour, I hereby express my well-considered interest to aspire as the Presidential candidate of the SDP with a view to ultimately contesting in the forthcoming Presidential election in 2019.

“Being a patriotic and committed democrat who has carried a burden for the rapid, effective and even development of our dear nation for decades, I am deeply concerned with the very real prospect of Nigeria imploding unless our great party comes to the rescue with a God-fearing, dynamic leadership.

“Nigeria is facing an existential threat, the seriousness and proportion of which have never been witnessed since the end of the civil war.”

The former minister promised to effectively tackle the security challenges in the country if voted into office.

Gana said any government that failed to protect lives and property was an incompetent one.

He added, “The security of the lives of the people is the primary purpose of the government, according to the constitution. Any government that cannot secure the lives of Nigerians is not worthy of being called a government.

“Therefore, APC, Nigerians are tired of you. The SDP is coming, the SDP will win and the SDP will govern well and Nigeria will be at peace.”

The former minister said the only way Nigeria could maximise its potential is to restructure the country and ensure that power was devolved to the states.

He said with restructuring, states would be able to exploit their resources and security would be decentralised.

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

John Ameh and Leke Baiyewu, Abuja

A bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow the creation of state and community police has been laid before the Senate.

The bill was sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who is the Chairman of the Committee on the Review of the constitution.

It was observed that 75 other senators co-sponsored the bill, out of the 109 lawmakers in the chamber.

Two seats are currently vacant due to the deaths of senators Mustapha Bukar (Katsina-North) and Ali Wakili (Bauchi South).

A court had also jailed Senator Joshua Dariye (Plateau Central) recently over corruption charges.

Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary on Thursday, said passage of the bill would be accelerated.

“The committee has fulfilled its mandate, now the bill has been taken for the first reading. I am sure that as soon as possible we will take the second reading (of the bill), and probably send it to public hearing through the committee as well so that we can fast-track it as directed by the Senate,” he said.

A similar bill had passed the second reading at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The Senate had on July 3, 2018, begun the process to amend the constitution to de-centralise the current central policing structure.

The upper chamber of the National Assembly had mandated the Ekweremadu-led committee to present an amendment bill within two weeks.

The lawmakers resolved that the bill would enjoy speedy consideration, setting a target for its passage before they would proceed on their annual recess by the end of July.

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, had called for the support of state Houses of Assembly for the amendment when he met with the speakers of the state legislatures, led by the Chairman, states’ Assembly Speakers Conference and Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Abdulmumin Kamba.

The Senate President had noted that state and community policing had become necessary due to the rising security challenges in the country.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday communicated his decision to withhold assent to four bills to the National Assembly.

At the House of Representatives, the presidential decision was contained in a letter read to members by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, at the start of the day’s proceedings.

The bills are the “Corporate Manslaughter Bill, 2018,” “Agricultural Credit Scheme Bill, 2018,” “National Child Protection Bill, 2018” and “Court and Tribunal Standard Scale Fines Bill, 2018.”

Buhari gave reasons for rejecting the bills.

For instance, on the corporate manslaughter bill, Buhari said several of its provisions were inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.

He also rejected the agricultural credit scheme bill on the grounds that the National Assembly increased the fund created in the scheme to N50bn.

The President explained that he was more convenient with the extant provision of N100m.

On the child protection bill, Buhari noted that the proposed agency would merely duplicate the functions of already established agencies and the Ministry of Women Affairs.

He turned down the court and tribunal bill for being “ambiguous” and conflicting with extant laws.

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

The Police Command in Kebbi on Thursday confirmed that a suspected herdsman had killed a policeman, Umaru Danladi, at Kaoge in the Bagudo Local Government Area of the state.

It said the herder, Babuga Kuaara, had already been arrested for the alleged offence, adding that the deceased policeman was attached to the Kaoje Police Division in Bagudo Local Government Area.

The suspected herdsman was reported to the police division by a farmer in the area that the herder grazed his cows on his farm, destroying the crops on Wednesday evening.

[READ ALSO] Sodomy: Teenage boy cuts off inspector’s penis in Katsina

A witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told newsmen on Thursday that ”a police officer attached to Kaoje police division was ordered to go and arrest the herder who was still wandering with his cattle within the area.

“The police officer who came with his rifle, arrested the suspect, but as he was taking him to the waiting patrol vehicle, the herder drew his machete and stabbed the officer on his neck.

“We saw the officer groaning in pains and bleeding but he died before we could apply first aid. The herder was overpowered by officers who rushed to the scene,” the witness said.

 The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Mustapha Suleiman, told journalists that the suspect had been arrested.

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Serena Williams will face Germany’s Angelique Kerber for an eighth Wimbledon singles title after both won their semi-finals in straight sets.

The American former world number one overpowered Germany’s Julia Gorges 6-2 6-4, while Kerber beat Latvia’s JelenaOstapenko 6-3, 6-3.

Saturday’s final will be a re-match of the 2016 showpiece, which Williams won.

Williams will be seeking a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title and her first since giving birth in September.

Williams was in control from the outset against 13th seed Gorges, who was making her Grand Slam semi-final debut.

It was the first time at these championships that the American had faced a player ranked in the top 50 and she stepped up with a powerful display that also showed better movement around the court than in previous rounds.

She broke in the sixth game of the first set when Gorges went wide and then took the set on the German’s serve when her opponent sent a forehand wide.

The second set followed a similar pattern, with the only brief wobble coming in the ninth game when Williams was broken. But she struck back immediately and looked to the sky when an attempted lob from Gorges flew out to give her the victory.

Gorges, who had spent more than 10 hours on court before this match, the longest of any of the semi-finalists by around two and a half hours, was put out of her misery on Centre Court in just 70 minutes.

“It’s crazy. I don’t even know how to feel because I literally didn’t think I’d do this well in my fourth tournament back,” said Williams.

“I don’t have anything to lose and I feel I can play so free. That’s what I’m doing.

“This is not inevitable for me, I had a really tough delivery and multiple surgeries and almost didn’t make it to be honest. I couldn’t even walk to my mailbox, so it’s definitely not normal for me to be in a Wimbledon final. I’m enjoying every moment.”

Williams only returned to the Tour in March, having “almost died” giving birth to her daughter last September.

Despite her maternity break, she is now into a Grand Slam final for the 12th consecutive year.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Kerber reached her second Wimbledon final with a commanding performance against an error-prone Ostapenko.

The 11th seed saved a break point in game six before breaking the Latvian’s serve in the next game.

The 30-year-old then gained an early break in the second set on her way to the victory.

“It is such a great feeling to be back in the final and to play on Centre Court is always a great experience,” said Kerber.

“I’m happy and proud to be in another Grand Slam final, I will just try to play like I did and just focus on my game. Jelena is always fighting until the last point, hits the ball really hard, and I was trying to stay focused. It was quite tough but I’m happy to be through.”

Ostapenko, who won the 2017 French Open title, was playing in her first Wimbledon semi-final.

Despite making 18 first-set winners compared to only six from Kerber, the 21-year-old also made 19 unforced errors, with Kerber only making two.

The former world number one then capitalised on more poor play from Ostapenko, breaking her serve at the first time of asking in the second set and again in the sixth game.

Ostapenko saved a match point in the seventh and gained one break back, but it was not enough against the 2016 Australian Open and US Open champion.

Three young men have been reportedly struck to death by thunder in the Ijebu Ode area of Ogun State.

It was gathered that they were struck to death around 3pm on Thursday by thunder during a downpour accompanied by thunderstorm.

The victims, who were on the same motorcycle when the rain started, had reportedly disembarked from it to seek shelter around the Equity (Gateway) Hotel in the town for the rain to subside.

Sources said they were struck to death simultaneously by thunder where they stood.

Another person, who was with them, was said to have fled the scene.

One of the sources said, “The incident is not ordinary as death by thunder is usually as a result of punishment for wrongdoing.”

Sympathisers were said to have thronged the scene to catch a glimpse of the victims.

Policemen in the town were said to have visited the scene, but refused to remove the corpses and stayed away from a bag belonging to one of them.

A resident said the policemen did not touch the corpses because the corpse of anyone killed by thunder could not be buried until after some traditional rites were done.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Oluwatobi Akindele

A blacksmith, Damaemi Yinyegha, is critically ill in a hospital after the grinder of a sharpening machine that he used for his work broke and cut his stomach.

 PUNCH Metro gathered that the faulty machine cut open Yinyegha’s stomach and exposed his intestines, leaving him half dead.

It was learnt that sympathisers immediately rushed the blacksmith to a hospital in the area, and he had remained bedridden since April 14, 2018, the day of the incident.

Our correspondent gathered that the 24-year-old learnt the blacksmith trade from his father and took over the business after his father died in 2015.

He was said to be using the sharpening machine to sharpen some knives on the day, when the machine broke and the grinder sliced his stomach.

It was gathered that he was initially taken to the Comprehensive Health Centre at Arogbo, Ondo State, from where he was referred to another hospital.

Family members said his condition had been steadily deteriorating as had been moved from one hospital to another.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, the Ondo State indigene said, “I work as a blacksmith, I learnt the trade from my father. When he died, I took over the job fully.

“On that day, while I was using the sharpening machine, it broke and the grinder cut open my stomach. My intestine came out and I was rushed to the Comprehensive Health Centre at Arogbo.

“There, a nurse worked on me but it was not properly done. Because the stitch started leaking and faeces started coming out from there.

“I was subsequently referred to the General Hospital Igbokoda, Okitipupa. I was told that it will heal up and there is no need for me to be operated on again. I was there for six weeks without food and water.

“Later, I was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where I was operated on again. During the operation, I started bleeding. The doctors had to close me up to save my life. Despite that, my condition is not getting any better.”

The first of seven children said he was still in excruciating pain as faeces are still coming out from his stomach. He added that he had lost much weight and that his family did not have money for further treatment.”

Damaemi’s mother, Tanro Yinyegha, said money had been a challenge in getting proper treatment for her son.

“We have been on this issue since April. After he was operated on at the health centre, it started leaking. We were at the General Hospital, Okitipupa, and we are now at Federal Medical Centre, Owo.

“When he was operated on the second time, he almost lost his life. But his stomach is still leaking and it keeps getting worse. Now, we have been given a separate ward because whenever faeces leak out of his stomach, the smell is really bad. I have been the one going around with him. Money has been a challenge because we are not getting help from anybody and we need money to help him get better,” the mother of seven said.

His stepfather, Monday Kurumah, said the assistance of kind-hearted Nigerians was needed to help his stepson get proper treatment.

He said, “Since the incident happened, we have spent all we have to get medical treatment. We need the assistance of kind-hearted Nigerians to help him get medical care because we were told that he would need over 500,000 to get him back on his feet.”

The Public Relations Officer of Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Mr Goke Omolade, told our correspondent to come down to the hospital to have a better assessment of the situation.

He said, “I am a civil servant and I am not authorised to speak with the press except I have the permission of the Chief Medical Director, which I don’t have now.

“Also, I may not be able to give the full details that are required of me. If the patient is on admission, it is better to come to the hospital to get the full story. You will go to the ward and speak with the doctor in charge of the person.”

After our correspondent in Ondo State visited the spokesman, the spokesman called back this reporter, saying he still could not speak on the issue.

He said, “I have visited the patient, but his medical reports cannot be released to me without the approval of the Chief Medical Director, who is not available presently.”

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Oluwatobi Akindele

An Ogba Magistrates’ Court on Thursday convicted and jailed a 27-year-old bread seller, Ifeanyi Osuohae, for spending fake N1,000.

The magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola, sentenced the Imo state indigene after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

He was, however, given the option to pay N50,000 as fine.

The convict was earlier arraigned by the police on one count.

PUNCH Metro had reported that the convict was caught with fake naira notes, totalling N2,000.

A police prosecutor, Mike Unah, had told the court that the convict committed the offence on June 11 around 1.30am on Akerele Street, Agege, Lagos.

Unah had said Osuohae boarded a taxi and paid his fare with a fake N1,000 note, adding that  after the driver checked the N1,000 note, he found out that the money did not have the CBN governor’s signature.

It was reported that the driver quickly drove to the nearest police checkpoint and alerted the cops on duty, who searched the convict and found another fake N1,000 note on him.

Unah had said the offence contravened Section 372 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Upon being arraigned, the accused pleaded guilty and begged for mercy, saying he was not aware that the notes were counterfeit.

In his judgment, Fashola said he would be lenient with the convict because he readily owned up to the offence without wasting the time of the court.

The magistrate subsequently sentenced Osuohae to one year’s imprisonment which would run from June 11, 2018, when he was arrested.

He was, however, given the option to pay N50,000 as fine.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Alexander Okere, Benin

A boy, identified as Benedict Sani, has been electrocuted in the Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred in Eyaen community at about 1pm on Thursday.

It was said that the deceased was a teenager and a pupil of Eyaen Secondary School.

It was learnt that Sani had allegedly touched a fallen electric pole located around his school, unaware of some live wires around it.

It was also learnt that the victim died instantly as he was partially burnt.

The development was said to have sparked a protest by some residents, who blamed the Benin Electricity Distribution Company for allegedly failing to fix the pole.

The protesters marched to the palace of the Enogie of Eyaen, where they registered their displeasure.

The protest grounded the traffic temporarily on the Benin-Auchi Expressway.

 The Edo Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Chidi Nwabuzor, said that he had yet to get details about the incident.

Nwabuzor, however, noted that operatives of the command had been deployed in the area.

He said, “The command has dispatched police operatives to that place and they are currently there. It is only when they come with a report (that) we will know what the situation is over there.”

However, a resident in the area said the pole fell after a vehicle rammed into it on Monday.

The resident, who did not want to be named, said that complaints had also been lodged with the BEDC without any action taken by the company.

“Three days ago, the pole fell as a result of a truck that rammed into it. Today, one of the pupils of the Eyaen Primary School touched it and he was electrocuted,” the source said.

Reacting, the BEDC said that it would investigate the incident and take appropriate action.

The Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Tayo Adekunle, said, “I am just getting to know about the incident. Our field officers have yet to send a report concerning that particular incident.

“As soon as we get the report from our field officers, we are commencing full investigation into the issue. And we will take appropriate action based on the outcome of the investigation.”

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Oluwatosin Omojuyigbe

The leaders of the Fishers of Men Charismatic Church have debunked the allegation that the church wedded a 17-year-old and her male partner without the parents’ consent.

PUNCH Metro had reported that the family of Blessing Udoye had condemned the alleged wedding between her and a man they called ‘stranger,’ which was officiated by a pastor of the church in Isiokpo, Imo State.

The family had alleged that the pastor ordered Blessing not to notify her family members of the wedding until after the marriage.

But the church in a statement on Thursday said a team was sent to the village where the wedding took place.

The church noted that Blessing, who met with the members of the team, said she was 18 years old, saying that was the information she presented to the church.

The church stated that Blessing family members attended the wedding except her brother, Raphael Udoye, who made the allegation.

“In order to get the details of what transpired, the church authority sent investigators to unravel the mystery behind the allegation.

“Blessing Uduoye was there to speak with us amidst smiles and laughter, According to her, she is 18 years old and that is the information she presented to her pastor.

“The entire family members, except for Raphael Uduoye who was referred to as dissidents, were at the traditional marriage and church wedding.

“The father was traced to his business place and he gave a full analysis of his consent to the union.

“The team of investigators also visited the family house of Blessing Uduoye and the mother was interviewed. According to her, ‘I have prayed for my daughter to have a blissful matrimonial experience.’ To consolidate her acceptance, she further prayed for her daughter,” the church said.

The church added that the allegation of Blessing not informing her parents of her wedding as a doctrine of the church was a misinformation, urging Raphael to channel his grievance to the appropriate quarter.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

The Police on Thursday announced the arrest of a former chairman of the Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, Alhaji Ahmed Kassim, and two others for alleged breach of peace.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Dibal Yakadi, told the News Agency of Nigeria that a crisis was triggered by an alleged attempt by the former chairman and his loyalists to gain entrance into the Suleja secretariat as the substantive chairman.

Yakadi, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspect was trying to force his way into the council secretariat.

Kassim was removed from office by the legislative arm of the council over allegations bothering on abuse of office.

His removal was later affirmed by the state assembly after investigating his alleged offences.

Since then, litigation over his ordeal had lingered at the state High Court which eventually ruled in his favour, ordering his reinstatement.

But the incumbent Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Maje, appealed against the judgment at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

NAN reports that the alleged attempt by Kassim to gain access to his former office on Thursday resulted in fracas, grounding activities in the town.

The development led to the blockage of the main federal road linking Suleja to the Federal Capital Territory, thereby forcing motorists to divert.

The Niger police command sent policemen to avert an imminent breakdown of law and order.

There was also a heavy presence of security operatives around the secretariat.

The council’s chairman, Maje who was in his office, appealed for calm, saying security operatives were on top of the situation.

He called on residents to go about their legitimate business.

He explained that the local administration would not tolerate any act capable of bringing confusion into the area.

“We will deal decisively with any person or group of people found tampering with the peaceful atmosphere which our area is known for,” he said.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Oluwatosin Omojuyigbe

Residents on Simpson Street, in the Ebute-Meta area of Lagos State were thrown into mourning on Wednesday after the corpse of a three-year-old boy, identified as Waris, was found dead in a cesspit of an uncompleted building.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Waris was with his mother in their apartment before he went out to play.

His mother was said to have raised the alarm when she did not see Waris in the compound.

It was gathered that the mother and her neighbours searched for the boy, which was initially unsuccessful.

Waris, who was said to have got missing around 3.30pm, was later found inside the cesspit around 7pm.

The father of the deceased, who declined to give his name, said the cesspit was opened because workers wanted to work on it.

He said, “His mother went to pick him in school and when they got home, his mother changed his clothes and he went out to play.

 “They don’t normally open the cesspit, but yesterday (Wednesday) they wanted to work on it, so they opened it to bring out water that was inside.”

One of the neighbours, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as unfortunate.

He said, “His mother was taking care of the younger brother inside the house and she discovered that she could not find him and she informed the neighbours who conducted a search.

“After searching for a while, someone discovered one of his slippers beside the cesspit and a ladder was brought to search inside the cesspit and his body was found in there.”

He said Waris was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Chidiebube Okeoma, Owerri

The apex socio-cultural organization in Owerri zone, Olu Owerri, has asked their brother and embattled deputy governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere, to tender his resignation letter before the state Assembly lawmakers “disgrace” him out of office  by impeaching him.

This is even as the group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the state governor, Rochas Okorocha against the impeachment plot against his deputy.

At a press conference in Owerri on Friday, the president of Olu Owerri socio-cultural organisation ,Martin Opara, said that the ongoing impeachment process against the deputy governor was politically motivated.

He said that all the allegations levelled against Madumere by the state Assembly as the ground for his impeachment were false.

 He said, “Imo State is about exploding because of the undemocratic, inordinate and provocative actions of the governor as well as the induced activities of the Imo State House of Assembly led by Acho Ihim, and Olu Owerri, the apex socio-cultural organisation of Owerri zone hereby raises an alarm that the style of governance of the Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha and his desperation to install his son-in-law as successor will trigger a revolt very soon if nothing is done urgently.

“We want the world to know that the elastic limit of the patience of the good people of Imo State has been exhausted, it is unfortunate that the President of Nigeria, the National Assembly, the security agencies and the international community are keeping quiet while the institutions of democracy are being desecrated by a man who rose to power by goodwill of the common masses.

  “For the second time in seven years, the people of Owerri Zone are about witnessing the impeachment of two of our sons whose only sin is serving the state as deputy governors under Governor Rochas Okorocha.

“We want to inform the world that by the records available to us, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Madumere Eze, has not been personally served the notice of his impeachment as stipulated by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We also state here that Prince Madumere is innocent of all the trumped up allegations against him by the induced Imo State House of Assembly.”

He said that Madumere had never been imprisoned by any court within or outside Nigeria as being alleged by the lawmakers and therefore, cannot be regarded as an ex-convict.

Olu Owerri said that the allegation that Madumere absconded from his duties as the Deputy Governor of the state was false and only intended to impeach him.

He said that the only offence Madumere committed was to declare his intention to contest the governorship position against the wish of the governor.

“His sin is that he told the governor that he is contesting for the governorship ticket of their party, the All Progressive Congress which the governor promised Owerri Zone when he sought their support in 2011 and 2015  but has now reneged.

“His sin is that he joined the men and women of conscience in the APC Imo State to challenge the governor on his inordinate ambition of installing his son-in-law who comes from the governor’s zone that has held power in Imo for sixteen years since 1999.

“These are the sins of the Deputy Governor. This is why he must be blackmailed and impeached after all the support to his boss.

“These are also part of the sins of the five (suspended members of the House) who are heroes of the masses today. We make bold to say to you and the whole world that God is not sleeping.

 “We inform the Governor that Madumere is not alone. We stand with him. We stand with all the members of the house who were suspended because of their stand for the truth.

“We are aware of the inordinate and devilish moves to hound down the Deputy Governor at all cost. We also alert the Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Nnadi of the vigilance of the Imo people as he begins the constitutional provision of investigating the above allegations against an innocent man when he is properly served by the House of Assembly. We urge him to make a name for himself and the judiciary by resisting all intimidations and inducements.

“Having said all these, we have studied the trend in the state and consulted the good people of Imo State and Owerri zone in particular on the recent events and it is the opinion of majority of our people in Owerri zone that the Deputy Governor should resign from the Rochas Okorocha led government without further delay while waiting to be served the notice of his impeachment by the IMHA personally as his continued association with the governor is a negative stigma. We are certain that his innocence will be proved and the compromised House members put to shame in this their latest hatchet job.

We hereby inform the Governor that the Owerri Zone Governorship project 2019 is divine and will be pursued to a successful and logical conclusion. It is the turn of Owerri zone to produce the next governor of Imo State.”

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

An Indonesian was killed when his mother’s coffin fell from a funeral tower and crushed him during a service on the island of Sulawesi.

Samen Kondorura, 40, died when pallbearers lost their footing carrying the coffin up a bamboo ladder in North Toraja District. According to Daily Mail UK, the casket fell as the group hoisted it onto an ornately carved tower where the dead are placed before elaborate traditional funeral rites.

“As the mother’s coffin was being raised to the lakkian, suddenly the ladder shifted and collapsed, the coffin fell and hit the victim,” Julianto Sirait, Chief Commissioner of the Tana Toraja resort police, told AFP.

A video making the round on the Internet shows the ladder slip just as the casket enters the tower, sending the men tumbling several metres to the ground where the victim is crushed by the coffin. Horrified onlookers rush to the men’s aid but Kondorura died later in hospital.

Sirait said the accident happened because the ladder was not properly reinforced but the family has declined to press charges. The body of the victim is now resting alongside his mother Berta, he added.

When ethnic Torajans die, local residents hold elaborate funerals that can last for days and involve music, dance and the sacrifice of water buffalo.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

A ‘curious’ 13-year-old boy has had a USB cable removed from his penis by doctors after he inserted it up his urethra and it knotted in his bladder.

The teenager, whose name was not revealed by Metro UK is said to have inserted the cable about 20 centimetres up his penis before realising he could not pull it out again. His parents took him to a local hospital in the county of Linkou in China’s north-eastern Heilongjiang province where medics applied lubrication in a bid to pull the cable out. But that proved unsuccessful and left him in intense pain, so he was transferred to another hospital the next day.

Doctor Xu Liyan, the facility’s resident urologist, said: “He cut off one end of the cable and inserted it into his urethra.

“The cable reached his bladder, where it tangled and ended up in a knot, so when he tried to pull it back out, it became stuck.”

The medical practitioner said she had no choice but to operate on the boy, revealing that they had to cut into his bladder to find the knotted cable, snipped the tangled section and removed the remaining cord through his urethra the same way it went in.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

A 92-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of her son after allegedly telling him “you took my life, so I’m taking yours”, over his decision to place her in a care home.

Anna Blessing is accused of shooting her 72-year-old son during an argument at their home in Maricopa County, Phoenix, Arizona. Police were called to the property at around 10:00am on Monday night by the son’s girlfriend, who reportedly disarmed Blessing in a struggle after the incident.

According to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, as reported by Msn.com, Blessing said she had been thinking about her son’s plan to place her in a home for a number of days prior. She told detectives she then took two pistols and concealed them in the pockets of her robe before confronting him in his bedroom. The nonagenarian had moved in with her son four months earlier and the girlfriend told officers she had “become difficult to live with”.

In her statement to police, the girlfriend said Blessing told her son she was tired of the way she was being treated by the pair. The sheriff’s report said during the confrontation, the old woman pulled out one of the pistols and fired multiple times at her son. The victim, who has not been named, was later found with a gunshot wound to the neck and jaw and pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives said the 92-year-old then pointed the pistol at her son’s girlfriend, which was knocked out of her hand before reaching for the second pistol, which was also taken from her. The young lady then called the police and the old woman was placed into custody.

Court documents said that as Blessing was escorted from the home, she said to detectives that she had told her son “you took my life, so I’m taking yours”. She explained she felt her life was effectively being ended by her son and his girlfriend’s decision to place her in a home. Asked what she thinks should happen to her, she told detectives she should be “put to sleep”.

The nonagenarian has since been charged with first degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of kidnapping.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Alexander Okere, Benin

A little girl, whose fingers were burnt by her grandmother over a meal of noodles, will undergo a re-constructive surgery.

The victim, identified as Hope, had suffered grievous burns when her grandmother allegedly placed her palms on a gas stove as a punishment for eating the meal without her permission.

The incident, which reportedly occurred in Benin, had left Hope in severe pains.

The victim was later said to have been taken to a hospital for treatment by officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

Her grandmother was also said to have been arrested by the police.

It was learnt that the girl was later taken to an orphanage in Benin where she was recuperating.

Southern City News learnt that the surgery became necessary as the injury left her palms disfigured.

It was also gathered that the operation would be sponsored by some good-spirited Nigerians.

A Benin-based legal practitioner, Mr. Jefferson Uwoghiren, told our correspondent that the matter had been charged to court and would be heard later in the month.

“I will be in court, by the Grace of God, that day. I know that the state is very much interested and it has done so well, in terms of legal representation and support for the child.

“We can only support its work. When we have evidence that it is not doing very well, then we will raise our concern. So far, we have no reason to raise objections to the nature of that support,” he said.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com