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Senate Moves To Increase Number Of Law School To 12

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Senate has commenced a process to increase the number of the Nigerian Law School campuses in the country from six to 12.

A bill to that effect, sponsored by Senator Smart Adeyemi from Kogi state, has scaled second reading at the Senate.

The existing law school campuses are located in Lagos (South West), Abuja (North Central, Yola – Adamawa – (North East), Kano (North West), Enugu (South East) and Yenegoa – Bayelsa State – (South South).

The six additional campuses being proposed include Kabba Law School Campus, Kogi (North Central); Maiduguri Law School Campus, Borno (North East); Argungu Law School Campus, Kebbi (North West); Okija Law School Campus, Anambra (South East); Orogun Law School Campus, Delta (South South) and Ilawe Law School Campus, Ekiti (South West).

It was titled: “A Bill for an Act to amend the Legal Education (Consolidation etc.) Act by establishing the campuses for the Nigerian Law School, and for other related matters.”

Senator Adeyemi, Chairman of Senate Committee on Aviation, said it had become necessary to establish six additional Law School campuses to cater for yearly increases of law graduates seeking admission into the six available law school campuses in the country.

He said based on the admission quota of Law Students allocated to Universities annually, 5,640 students are admitted yearly into their Law Faculties.

“The implication of this data is that, about 5500 Law Graduates are produced from the 55 Universities yearly.

“It should be noted that while the records of the Nigerian Law School indicates that it has the capacity to admit 6,510 Students yearly, which ordinarily would have been adequate to accommodate all prospective Law Graduates from the Universities, unfortunately the less than or about 70 per cent yearly performance of the Law School, has over several years accumulated about 30 per cent failure yearly.

“This record implies that about 2000 of the 6510 admitted yearly have to repeat the School for another year, with no automatic guarantee of making it on the second attempt.

“A five year analysis of this spillover of about 2000 students amounts to 10,000, while it builds up to 20,000 over a period of 10 years.

“The consequences of the situation narrated above carries negative financial, psychological, emotional, social and productivity implications on the Law graduates from Universities, their parents, the economy and government of Nigeria.

‘In the last five years or more, Law graduates are made to wait for between two to four years, awaiting admission into the Nigerian Law School, due to lack of vacancy to admit them into the few campuses available.

“Much as the standard of the Nigerian Law School has been one of the best across the globe, any attempt to stretch its admission capacity beyond its facilities and human resources will be counter productive as it will negatively affect the welfare and performance of the students.

“Also, to allow the present situation persist for the next few more years will spell doom for this nation in several ways.

“In view of the imminent disaster in our legal industry, this amendment to the Nigerian Council of Legal Education Act is to encourage the Federal Government of Nigeria to increase the number of campuses of the Nigerian Law School to 12, at the minimum, by establishing additional one each in the six Geopolitical Zones of Nigeria.”

The Senators in their contributions, supported the Bill and approved that it be read for a second time when it was put to voice vote by Senate President Dr Ahmad Lawan.

Dr Lawan later referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters headed by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele for further legislative work and is to report back to Senate plenary in four weeks.

Osinbajo Leads Delegation To UN Energy Event In London; May Visit Tinubu

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has left Abuja for London to represent President Muhammadu Buhari at a United Nations High Level event on the Energy Transition in Africa agenda with special focus on Nigeria.

The event, which starts today at the Imperial College, will feature meetings organised by UN Energy ahead of the UN Climate Conference COP26 which would be hosted by the United Kingdom in Glasgow, Scotland.

Spokesman to the vice president, Laolu Akande said in a release that Prof Osinbajo would also hold talks with the President Designate of COP26, Mr Alok Sharma, a cabinet rank UK Minister and the Chair of the UK Government’s COP26 Energy Transition Council (ETC).

According to him, “Prof Osinbajo and Sharma will be discussing issues regarding the 2050 global Net-Zero emissions target and the need for the international community to align on the key elements of a just and equitable transition for all.

“The meeting holds at Whitehall.

“The Vice President will also deliver an address at the Imperial College London, where he is billed to interact with the academic community on the global energy transition and Nigeria’s position on a just transition.

“Imperial College is at the forefront of research on generating a new understanding of the investment opportunity in renewable energy, clean technologies, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

“Nigeria is playing a prominent role in shaping the energy and climate agendas in 2021.

“In its role as a Global Theme Champion for the theme on Energy Transition at the UN High-Level Dialogue on Energy, Nigeria led the advocacy on behalf of developing nations for the clean energy offer and recognition of various transition fuels.

“Nigeria also put forward an ambitious Energy Compact focused on accelerating energy access both through electrification and access to clean cooking solutions and has been a focus country for the Energy Transition Council (ETC) of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).”

On the Vice President’s delegation are the Minister of State for Environment, Mrs Sharon Ikeazor and the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr Adeyemi Dipeolu, among others.

Prof Osinbajo, who is expected back in the country on Sunday 10th October, 2021, may also likely use the opportunity to visit his political godfather, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is presently reparcurating in London after undergoing surgery for an undisclosed ailment.

Qatar 2022: Super Eagles Charged For Central African Republic, Gun For Victory

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Super Eagles - Qatar 2022 Qualifiers

By Akinwale Kasali

The atmosphere in the Super Eagles camp is tensed, as the 23-Man team invited by Coach Gernot Rohr to prosecute the Group C encounter of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Central African Republic are battle ready in getting the maximum point.

By 5pm Nigeria Time today, Thursday 7th October, 2021, the Super Eagles will trade tackles with their Central African Republic opponent at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria, with the sole aim of getting victory.

According to Rohr, “The team is in top shape and are ready to put smiles on the faces of their fans by getting the needed victory”.

Having won their two previous qualifying matches against the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde in Mindelo and Liberia in Lagos, the three time African Cup of Nations Champion sit atop their Group with Six point, while their opponent today have One point from their draw with Cape Verde.

Possible line up for the Super Eagles in the crunchy tie are; Maduka Okoye in goal, Leon Balogun, William Troost Ekong, Olaoluwa Aina and Jamiu Collins in the defense set up.

In the midfield, Joe Aribo, Frank Onyeka, Moses Simon and Ahmed Musa, while Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho would spearhead the attacking line.

Newly invited Taiwo Awoniyi of Union Berlin Football Club of Germany could make his debut, likewise Calvin Bassey depending on the way the game turn out to be.

Update: Why Maina’s Son, Faisal, Was Sentenced In Absentia

By
Uche Mbah
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Faisal Maina

By Uche Mbah

Faisal Maina, the son of Abdulrasheed Maina, the controversial former Pension boss, who has been sentenced to Fourteen years in jail for money laundering, was sentenced in absentia.

An Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Okon Abang had handed down the sentence Thursday.

The father had been sacked by the administration of Goodluck Jonathan, but the Muhammadu Buhari administration brought him back. At a time he was nursing governorship ambition.

Faisal was shown to have a fictitious account with the United Bank for Africa, UBA. His father was said to have laundered N58.1 million through the account.

The account name was Alhaji Faisal Farm 2.

He was said to have withdrawn from the account between October 2013 and 2019.

Faisal is 21.

However, during the trial, he  jumped bail and has been absent at sittings.

Justice Abang continued the trial in his absence, and, during the sentencing, declared that he should be arrested anywhere he is sighted and taken to prison.

In the event he has left the country,  the Federal Government, “shall legally or lawfully commence extradition proceeds to bring him into the country to serve the jail term”.

He ordered that Alhaji Faisal 2, the corporate entity in whose account the money is laundered, be closed down.

The EFCC said that the defendant has fled to the United States of America.

Insecurity: Uzodimma flags off Operation “Golden Dawn” in Imo

By
The Source
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Golden Dawn Launch in Imo

Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has flagged off the Armed Forces exercise that would help bring sanity in the State ahead of the Yuletide, tagged Operation  “Golden Dawn” with a promise to support the leadership of the security agencies succeed in the three months assignment.

The headquarters of the Operation is at Super Camp Orlu, in Orlu LGA, Imo State.

In his address while flagging off the ceremony on Wednesday, Governor Uzodimma commended the Security  Agencies for their vision in creating the Centre to address the peculiar nature of the security situation in the South East zone and Imo State in particular.

Governor Uzodimma said: “This is a special period and season in the lives of not only Christians all over the world but  the people of South East who are predominantly Christians coming back for the celebration of Christmas which usually starts from October to December.”

He reasoned that “the exercise would go a long way in improving on the security situation in the South East region and also give our people sense of security and further encourage our brothers and sisters who are resident abroad to come home because the area is safe and secure.” 

The Governor acknowledged that it is a great achievement on the side of the security agencies, hence “they should be commended, encouraged and supported.”

He reiterated that Operation Golden Dawn is an exercise that will create an enabling environment for people to go about their businesses without fear of molestation.

To the officers and men of the Armed Forces, the Governor thanked and assured them that Government will continue to stand by them, encourage and support them.

He acknowledged the sacrifices the agencies of the Armed Forces have made and are still making to secure Imo State and assured them that “government will show sufficient appreciation at the appropriate time.”

In his brief welcome address, the Commander 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General R.T. Utsaha explained that “Exercise Golden Dawn” is meant to “build on the gains so far recorded over the menace of IPOB and ESN by the security agencies so far” and that all “security agencies are involved in the exercise.”

He noted that the aim of the exercise is to further secure lives and property of the people of the South East in general and Imo in particular and to reassure citizens of the South East returning for the Christmas celebration of adequate security. He said the Operation will start in October and end December 31, 2021.

He informed that troops of the Operation Golden Dawn will be quartered at Orlu for the rest of the year to ensure that socio- economic activities in the region and Imo State in particular will continue to take place unhindered.

Breaking: Maina’s Son, Faisal, Bags 14 Years For Money Laundering

By
Uche Mbah
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0
Faisal Maina

By Uche Mbah

Faisal Maina, the son of Abdulrasheed Maina, the controversial former Pension boss, has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for money laundering.

An Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Okon Abang handed down the sentence Thursday.

The father had been sacked by the administration of Goodluck Jonathan under controversial circumstances, but the Buhari administration brought him back. At a time he was nursing governorship ambition.

His father is also being prosecuted. Both father and son were arrested the same day in an Abuja Hotel after the senior Maina had disappeared, and stayed away in Dubai for years.

He later jumped bail, but was rearrested in Niger Republic.

The younger Maina was a student in Dubai before his father’s activities put him in trouble with the law.

Don’t Eat Frozen Chicken, Turkey – NAFDAC

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control, NAFDAC, has warned Nigerians against the consumption of frozen chicken, turkey, and other poultry products.

NAFDAC’s spokesman, Abubakar Jimoh, warned that these products are  preserved with Formalin, a poisonous chemical popularly used to preserve the human body in mortuaries.

Speaking in Abuja, the nation’s Capital, Jimoh said some unscrupulous business owners had been using formalin to preserve poultry products, chicken and turkey, in particular which is detrimental to human health after consumption.

Warning Nigerians sternly, NAFDAC said Formalin is capable of preserving such products for weeks before they get to consumers, which is dangerous to human health.

“NAFDAC is alerting Nigerians to this practice. There are enough poultry products in the country than to resort to frozen chicken smuggled in, despite Federal Government’s ban,” Jimoh said.

Jimoh also called the the attention of consumers to the economic import of patronising business owners who smuggle poultry products into the country.

For several months now, following the directives of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, borders have been blocked, yet, illegal products including frozen poultry foods are still been smuggled into the country.

NAFDAC noted that if such patronage continued, indigenous poultry farmers and marketers would not grow as desired, as the money spent on smuggled products would only go to producers of the products.

“The patronage of imported or smuggled products would also continue to negatively affect Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves”, it warned

Veteran Sport Journalist, Ben Alaiya Is Dead

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Ben Alaiya

By Akinwale Kasali

The nations sport enclave and the Sport Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, have been thrown into mourning, following the demise of seasoned Sport Journalist and former Media Officer of Nigeria National team, Super Eagles, Ben Alaiya.

The late Alaiya was also the Editor of Sports Day Newspaper, before he was appointed as the Media Officer of the Super Eagles.

He died in his hometown, Ososo, Edo State, in the early hours of Tuesday 5th October, 2021.

Although the cause of his death is not public yet, but it was gathered he had travelled to his hometown a month ago, became bedridden, and was receiving treatment before he gave up

Paying tributes to the late Alaiya, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on its Instagram handle of the Super Eagles on Wednesday wrote, “We are sad to announce the sudden passing of our former Media Officer, Mr Benjamin Alaiya. May his soul Rest In Peace and our thoughts are with his family.”

He read English Language at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, before earning a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication from Nigeria’s Premier Monotechnic, the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ.

Born in Ososo, Edo State on December 9, 1968, Alaiya will be sorely missed by sport enthusiasts, media friends and family.

World Bank Says Nigeria’s Economic Growth Depends On COVID 19 Vaccination

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The World Bank has predicted that Nigeria’s economy will grow by2.4 per cent in 2021. The Bretton Wood, United States of America, USA based financial institution, however, said that much of the growth will depend on how seriously Nigerians take the issue of COVID 19 vaccination.

The bank, had last week, approved a $400m credit to Nigeria to boost COVID-19 vaccination in the country.

In a statement the bank said “The government of Nigeria today received approval from the World Bank Board of Directors for a $400m credit in additional financing from the International Development Association to provide upfront financing for safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine acquisition and deployment within the country. This will be implemented as part of the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project.

“The additional funding is designed to ensure COVID-19 vaccination of 40 million Nigerians, increasing the rate of vaccination to up to 50 per cent.

“Building on the government’s plan to break the chain of local transmission of COVID-19 and limit the spread of the virus, the original COVID-19 response programme will be expanded to enable equitable access to purchase affordable COVID-19 vaccines for 18 per cent (40 million) of Nigeria’s population and support effective vaccine deployment to 50 per cent (110 million) of its citizens.”

The bank, in a report on Wednesday, titled ‘Climate change adaption and economic transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa’,  stated that much of the growth will be experienced in the service sectors of the economy.

According to the report “Within Africa, recovery is also multi-speed. Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa, the largest economies in the region, are expected to emerge from the 2020 recession, yet at different paces.

“Angola is expected to grow by 0.4 per cent in 2021, after five consecutive years of recession. The country is still battling to gain momentum, with elevated debt levels and weak performance of the oil industry. Nigeria is expected to grow by 2.4 per cent in 2021, supported by the service sector.”

The bank said Nigeria and South Africa are still trailing behind other Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of economic growth, adding however that Nigeria has made steady progress in the last two years, particularly in the non-oil sector which contributed greatly to the growth.

The report said “Excluding South Africa and Nigeria, the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa is rebounding faster, with a growth rate of 3.6 per cent in 2021.

“Nigeria’s economic growth shows little sign of speedy recovery from the 2020 recession. The economy grew five per cent in the second quarter, from 0.5 per cent growth in the first quarter. This was the third consecutive quarter of positive growth since the pandemic crisis.

“The main driver of the recovery is the non-oil sector, with a growth rate of 6.7 per cent compared with 0.8 per cent in the first quarter.

“The service sector recovered strongly after a disappointing first quarter, rising from -0.39 per cent to 9.27 per cent in the second quarter, while agriculture contracted from 2.28 in the first quarter to 1.30 per cent. Industrial activity also declined to -1.23 per cent in 2021Q2, down from 0.94 per cent in 2021Q1.

The bank had earlier in January projected a 1.8 per cent growth for the country in the outgoing year.

 

Visa: Over 500 Nigerians Stranded In UAE

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The United Arab Emirates, UAE has refused to renew the visas of over 500 Nigerian thus making them to lose their jobs in the Asian country, according to a report by The Punch.

The newspaper reported that most of the affected persons had now returned to Nigeria, while hundreds of others are still in UAE in the hope that Abu Dhabi would reverse the decision.

The UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Fahad AI Taffaq, had said there was no official communication on the issuance of work permits for Nigerians living and working in his country.

Taffaq, who stated this when he received the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the Embassy in Abuja, in August, noted that he read about the ban in the social media, stressing that “UAE has no restrictions against any nationality.”

But giving an update on the situation in a telephone interview with The Punch on Wednesday, a UAE resident, Chukwudi Kalu, said he has presented the list of over 500 Nigerians who lost their jobs due to their inability to renew their work visas to the Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Kalu explained that the Federal Government through the embassy and the NIDCOM had held talks with the Emirati government.

He stated, “It is a diplomatic issue between the two countries and there are still ongoing discussions between Nigeria and UAE. It has been very difficult for Nigerians out here. Over 500 Nigerians are affected.”

He added, “Most of those who lost their jobs have gone back home (Nigeria) while some are still here trying to see when this issue would be discussed. Nigerians are losing their jobs in high numbers, that’s the fact.

“I have a Nigerian graduate who was earning N40,000 back home and he came here to UAE and was being paid almost N500,000 every month. Now, his visa would expire by November, he couldn’t renew. He kept calling me every time for an update.”

A Dubai-based activist, Oluwatosin Fadoju observed that the UAE was using the policy as a punishment against Nigeria, stressing that the FG was not doing enough to resolve the issue.

He stated, “A lot of people are on the streets. People are getting jobs but they cannot work because is there is no work permit. We have not seen any action from Nigeria. We want the Nigerian government to step in.

Esther Sunsuwa, the spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the federal government will take all diplomatic steps to resolve the issue.

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