Attempted Rape,
WomanKills Cousin's Friend
Chimezie Parish Mgbuisii Marks Garri Sunday
Kidnappings: No responsible govt.'ll allow it -Mark
Ex-militants Laud FG For Maintaining Peace in N'Delta
Catholic Church honours legislators, others
New C.A.N President Calls for Peace and Justice - Sultan,
Abubakar, Obi React
Mass burial for 23 Accident Victims
Gunmen Kill 4 Policemen In Ogun
Trailer Crushes 7 vehicles
Signis Nigeria Inaugurated
Reduce Your Greed -GOV. Obi urges politicians
Agbaso Loses Again
Attempted Rape, WomanKills Cousin's Friend
The Lagos State Police Command has accused one Rachael Gbadamosi
of killing her cousin's friend, Christian Egbuchukwu, on July 11, 2010.it was
gathered that while many people were watching the final match of the world Cup
recently, Gbadamosi allegedly stabled Egbuchukwu with a knife in the neck at
their residence in Agege area of Lagos.
Although the suspect claimed that there was a commotion at the residence before
she stabbed Egbuchukwu, most residents stayed glued to their televisions as
Spain and Holland locked horns in the final of the World Cup and were not aware
that there was a problem in the neighborhood until after the match. By the time
neighbors realized that a man was dying, it was already late for Egbuchukwu
who was in the pool of his own blood. He had lost much blood and later died
in a private hospital.
Gbadamosi however told press men that she acted in self defense after Egbuchukwu
attempted to rape her. “I don't know how the knife entered his neck, I
was trying to stab his hand that he wanted to use it to strangle me,”
she said. She said that the recent incident was Egbuchukwu's fourth attempts
to try her. In her narratives, she opined “He came to live with us in
May, but since then he had been employing all manner of tricks to sleep with
me. There was a time I suddenly woke up to find him in bed with me, I woke him
up and told him to go to his own bed” she further stated “I did
not tell my brother (Cousin) initially, but after confiding in my mother, she
advised me to tell him. My brother (Cousin) works on Victoria Island and as
such comes home once a week. So when I told him, he (cousin) sent him packing;
but he started crying and I had to beg my brother to leave him after he promised
to move out soon and also leave me alone.”
However, on that particular day, Gbadamosi said Egbuchukwu came home late and
became quarrelsome because she had locked the door. She said, “He told
me to pack my brother's clothes and mine to one side and suddenly he tore my
night gown and started squeezing my neck. Before I knew it, he was lying on
top of me and it dawn on me that he wanted to rape me. I used all the strength
remaining in me to reduce the pressure on my neck and started shouting for help.
Nobody came to my rescue. As I was resisting him, I pushed myself up and reached
for a knife on the shelf. I wanted to stab his hand but unknowingly stabbed
him in the neck.”
She further disclosed that Egbuchukwu removed the knife from his neck and stabbed
her in the palm. “But I was able to escape. It was when he pursued me
to the street that I even realized that he was bleeding from the neck. We did
not see anybody to help take him to the hospital until after the match. The
doctor told us to look for blood but we were hoping to get it in the morning.
He died few hours later Gbadamosi added.
Consequently, the Lagos State police command spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, confirmed
that Egbuchukwu died around 11Pm. “And the circumstances of his death
are the crux of police investigations. Homicide department at the SCID had taken
over the case.
Chimezie
Parish Mgbuisii Marks Garri Sunday
The Catholic faithful of Chimezie parish Mgbuisii Ohaji Egbema
L.G.A. in Owerri, Archdiocese celebrated in a grand style their monthly garri
Sunday. Garri Sunday is a Sunday when the faithful bring Garri or its momentary
value to the church to show appreciation to God for blessing their cassava plantation.
This celebration has helped in no small measure towards erecting a befitting
church building in the area.
Preaching a homily at the mass of that Sunday, the assistant secretary to Archbishop
Obinna, Rev. Fr. Kenneth Anaeke charged Christians to emulate the example of
the Good Samaritan. He encouraged them on the need to eschew apathy especially
in those who suffer. According to him, every Christian is called to be a good
neighbor not only to those who live close to them but all those in need of help.
The Good Samaritan he said, proved himself a good neighbor even though he did
not know the victim. He looked beyond the accident and concentrated on the substance
which makes us who we are. The Good Samaritan manifested a high sense of mercy
and Charity to the unfortunate victim. The priest called on Christians to always
be sensitive to the plight of the people and try to show solidarity to all who
suffer, while praying God to give all, the spirit and courage to always emulate
the Good Samaritan by being good neighbors to their fellow human beings.
The mass was followed by the presentation of Garri to the altar to mark this
Garri Sunday. The entire Catholic faithful in jubilation and thanksgiving presented
to the Lord what He has blessed them with.
At the end of the ceremony, Rev. Charles Ozuoma on behalf of the parish priest
Rev. Fr. Moses Anuna thanked the entire parishioners for their generosity and
benevolence towards the building of the house of God, he thanked Fr. Anaeke
for his homily and for being part of the celebration, he then prayed God to
bless and reward all abundantly.
Kidnappings:
No responsible govt.'ll allow it -Mark
The Senate President, Senator David Mark recently condemned the spate of kidnapping
and abduction of Nigerians in recent times, saying that no responsible government
will allow such to continue.
The Senate President, therefore, tasked security operatives in the country to
rise to the challenges and save the citizens from avoidable hostility in the
hands of criminals.
“Enough of this embarrassment. We cannot continue to allow this to happen.
Criminality of any form is condemnable. It cannot be our way of life. As it
is now, everybody is a potential victim. The earlier we tackle the matter headlong
and put it to an end, the better for all of us,” Senator Mark stressed.
Senator Mark, who was reacting to the kidnapping of the five Journalists in
Abia State recently, urged all Nigerians to rise to the occasion and curb the
menace just as he appealed to the kidnappers to release forthwith the abducted
journalists unconditionally.
According to Senator Mark “our security operatives must stand up and be
counted as responsible and responsive agencies of government. Security agencies
should comb all nook and cranny of this country and locate the hideouts of the
kidnappers and bring them to book.”
The Senate President also called on communities, particularly traditional rulers,
to join the fight against kidnapping, saying that; “these people live
in our midst. They live in our communities and all of us cannot continue to
feign ignorance about the activities of criminals in our midst, community leaders
must take responsibility for his abnormality.
Ex-militants Laud
FG For Maintaining Peace in N'Delta
As the second batch of the ex-militants leave for Calabar, Cross River State, this week, the federal Government has been commended for its efforts at restoring peace to the Niger Delta region.
Besides, they also lauded government's initiatives at making them more useful to the society.
The ex-militants, under the ageis of Ilaje Dynamic Patriots, who spoke at the inauguration of the new executive members of Riverine Gwama Boys executives said the orientation organized by the Federal Government would equip them mentally to contribute their quota to the development of the country.
The names of the newly constituted executive members of the group include Kasali Olatokunbo, general chairman; Manfimisebi Folarinde, secretary; Samagbeyi Jigolo, P.R.O; Biobaku John, treasurer, Ogbonnema Nasiri, coordinator and Ayetimiyi Adegbenro, financial secretary.
While urging the Federal Government not to renege on any of the agreements, the group added that the hardship being faced by the people in the oil producing areas should be ameliorated so that there would be no reason for anybody to go back to the creeks again.
“We restored to armed struggle in the past because of the untold hardship and suffering our people were being subjected to. Having realized that the strupendous amount of money being made through the sale of our oil was being used to enrich some people at expenses of the people from the areas, which bear the brunt of the attendant crisis always associated with oil exploration and exploitation, hence the resort to self-defence as a mechanism to show our grievance”, the group lamented.
They, however, agreed that the ongoing amnesty programme of
the Federal Government was a right step in the right direction, even as they
commended Governor Olusegun Miniko for his efforts to peace in the state.
The ex-militants promised to join hands with the state government to build the
sunshine state as well as the nation so that militancy would be a thing of the
past.
Catholic Church honours
legislators, others
The legislators and 12 others have received special merit award
from St Louis Catholic Church, Uruagu. Nnewi Anambra State.
The honour was for distinguishing themselves in various developmental projects
in the Catholic community.
The awardees included Mr. J. C. Okeke, member of Anambra State House of Assembly, representing Nnewi North constituency, Mr. C. I. D. Maduabum, member representing Nnewi North/South and Ekwusigo federal constituency in the House of Representatives and Senator lkechukwu Obiora, who represents Anambra South Senatorial District.
In his statement during the award ceremony, the Parish Priest of the church, Rev. Fr. Afam Ike, extolled the relentless efforts of the awardees, whom, he said had been of immense help to the church and their various communities in general for the service of humanity.
Fr. Ike said they were selected for special thanks for the special role they played which, according to him, endeared them to the church.
“To the awardees, the priest recounted thus; “we know that the reward of good work is more work, for to whom much is given, much is expected. Special recognition like merit award, among other things, is meant to challenge the recipients to double their efforts both in their moral and spiritual as well as their material support for the work of God.”
“We therefore encourage you to keep on supporting our parish and the entire church in her apostolate. God, on his side, is faithful. He will keep on blessing you in all your endeavors.”
New
C.A.N President Calls for Peace and Justice - Sultan, Abubakar, Obi React
The Newly-elected president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the Co-Chairman of Inter-Religious Council of Nigeria, Pastor Ayodele Joseph Oritsejafor has called for peace and Justice in Nigeria. Oritsejafor made this call recently at the Imo Concord Hotel Owerri, during the opening ceremony of the second quarter general meeting of the Inter-Religious Council of Nigeria. In his words of admonition, the man of God hinted “there is need for both Muslims and Christians to join hands and advocate for justice and peace where there is none. I believe in Nigeria, I believe that we can move together for future Nigeria”
Reacting to the call and worried by the insecurity of lives and property in the country, the Sultan of Sokoto and the President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), ALHAJI Sa'ad Abubakar has called on all stakeholders to work for peace that is fundamental to realizing national goals and aspirations. The duo who also spoke during the meeting at the Imo Concord Hotel, made it clear that the days were gone when antagonism and conflicts were order of the day among Muslims and Christians in the country. They urged those who make provocative and inflammatory statements to desist from such.
In a related development, the Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi who was represented at the meeting by Chief Emeka Nwaja Umeh, maintained in his comment that “Anambra State government will continue to encourage anything that will bring peace in Nigeria because the Igbos live everywhere in the country”
However, the top agenda for the meeting was to reiterate on the need for peaceful co-existence between the two dominant religions in Nigeria which have often engaged in bloodbath because of intolerance. As such, they believed that if peace and crisis-free situation must exist in the county, there is need for the government at all levels to provide jobs and secure a tranquil atmosphere for human inhabitation. Also present for the meeting were: Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Prof. Is-Haq Oloyede, Deputy Governor of Imo State, Dr. Ada Okwuonu who represented Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State, Out-going CAN president, Archbishop John Onaiyekan, Chairman South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Emirs, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ohakim on Inter-Religious Affairs, Chief Kenney Zanders and some Islamic Leaders in and outside Imo State.
In his closing prayer for the session, the Sultan of Sokoto
prayed that the participants would not be kidnapped in Imo State through out
their stay, as the menace has turned to the day by day trade in the state.
Mass burial for 23 Accident Victims
Amidst tears, 23 people including two school children who lost their lives in a multiple road accident involving six vehicles along Ibadan- lfe, the bonier town between Oyo and Osun States were on Tuesday July 13, 2010 given mass burial by the official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) few metres away from the accident scene which occurred about 6:30 pm Monday July 5 2010.
The accident involved a Hilux SUV with registration number OSHA 34, Hummer Toyota bus with registration number XV 639 AAA, a Toyota Hiace XS 103 AKN, Isuzu Truck number XS 449 AAA, tuner lorry whose registration number had been allegedly removed by the driver and Mazda E2000.
Press men however gathered that the accident occurred as a result of reckless driving on the part of the tanker driver who lost control while descending a slope and veered off its lane to face vehicles coming from the opposite side. The tanker lorry, heavily loaded with fuel before landing collided with a Toyota Hiace passenger's bus coming from Ife end of the expressway, trapped the 19 passengers before it eventually went up in flame.
It was also gathered that about 44 people were involved in the accident, 23 people were burnt beyond recognition, and five were seriously injured while the remaining victims escaped unhurt and the only victims who could be identified among the bunt victims of the accident were two children who were between the ages of two and three years. Four policemen who were the occupants of a Toyota Hilux were lucky as they escaped before their vehicle went up in flames.
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Sector Commander for Oyo State, Godwin Oghagene, while speaking with journalists on the accidents, blamed the driver of the tanker for his recklessness while advising other drivers to be conscious that they were not the only road users. Commander Oghagene confirmed that another vehicle, Mazda E2000 with four passengers ran into the tanker, killing all the occupants, adding that another vehicle with registration number XY 449 AAA, coming from Kaduna swerved to avoid running into the inferno caused by the tanker.
Gunmen
Kill 4 Policemen In Ogun
It was a terrible day for officers and men of the Ogun State Police Command
recently as four of them were killed by unidentified hoodlums in Ago-Iwoye.The
incident occurred on the Ijesa-Ijebu/Ilishan Road in Ago-Iwoye division of Ijebu
North Local Government Area of the State.
The affected policemen were reportedly ambushed along the busy road. The causalities
include an Inspector, two corporals and one constable while the driver of the
police vehicle, a sergeant escaped with serious wounds. Though unconfirmed,
therefore our correspondent reliable gathered that the robbers carted away the
rifles of the dead policemen. The identities of the affected policemen were
still unknown.
The incident' which occurred at Ako Village, a distance of about five kilometer
from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, has left residents in adjoining communities
in confusion with many of them running away from their homes.It was further
learnt that the policemen, who were returning from a road block around Ago-Iwoye
were allegedly trailed by the robbers.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi,
confirmed the killing.
Adejobi, who pleaded with the public to assist the police with useful information,
added: “These people are not spirits; they are human beings. It is one
of the hazards of the profession. The robbers know the policemen because the
police will always be in uniform but hardly will you recognize the hoodlums.
That is why we need both the physical and spiritual support of members of the
public.”
According to the PPRO, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Daura, had held
a strategic, close-door meeting with officers of the command, on how to rise
the level of security in the state. “We are leaving no stone unturned,
I can tell you that the hoodlums will be arrested,” he assured.
Trailer
Crushes 7 vehicles
Thirty ton Mack trailer ran over and destroyed about seven vehicles including
three tri-cars injuring more than five persons including a seven years old girl
who was left unconscious on Tuesday at the Evan Enwerem University Junction
on Okigwe road, Owerri.
The heavy duty lorry with registration number, Abia XC 730
NGK which was coming from the Okigwe end of the road is said to have lost control
on high speed and knocked off the vehicles in front of him, jumped over one,
destroyed a pedestrian walkway and almost pumped into a compound on the road.
Vehicles affected include, a Volvo car with registration number,
Anambra AQ 537 AWK, a Peugeot 505 Lagos CK 61 EKY, a Toyota Camry 2.0 Imo AE 807 MGD, four Tri-cars with registration numbers QD 429 UMG, 0146, QC 525 NHA and IM-10-A-20. All of the vehicles were badly destroyed. The driver of one of the destroyed Tri-cars, Mr. Freedom Nwabuisi told zest Daily reporter that his Tri- car was the first to be knocked off
The road.' I heard a very loud disturbing noise from a lorry
coming from behind me. I looked through the side mirror and discovered it was
coming fast so I jumped out of the road.
Signis
Nigeria Inaugurated
Signis Nigeria, an affiliate of Signis World, the Catholic Church Organization
comprising of workers of the electronic media and modern information technology
services was inaugurated in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, on Tuesday, June 29,
2010.
The inauguration ceremony which featured a workshop on the vision, mission and activities of Signis World by the Secretary General of the Organization, Dr. Alvito De Souza from Brussels; election of officers for an Interim Executive Committee and speeches from Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) Episcopal Chairman of the Directorate of Social Communications, Bishop Felix Femi Ajakaye of the Diocese of Ekiti, Rev. Fr. Raphael Madu, Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) and representatives of the various provinces, Archdioceses and dioceses was attended by about 120 media practitioners, including priests and Catholic lay faithful, from all parts of the countr y.
The ceremony was preceded by a concelebrated Holy Mass with Archbishop Felix Alaba Job, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria and Metropolitan of Ibadan Archdiocese, as the chief celebrant assisted by Bishops Emmanuel Badejo, Felix Ajakaye and fourteen other priests Including Rev. Fr. Ralph Madu, Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN).
In his homily, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye spoke on the theme: Signis in the Service of the Word: Advancing Communication through Collaboration and pointed out that media technology could be used to change the world adding that through collaboration, media communicators can make the world a better place.
In his admonition after the celebration of the Mass, Archbishop Felix Alaba Job called on media practitioners in Nigeria to prevent foreign culture and practices, which portend lack of discipline and immorality from permeate the African continent, particularly Nigeria.
In his own address, Bishop Emmanuel Badejo noted that the inauguration of Signis Nigeria is of paramount importance to the continent of Africa because “Nigeria occupies a place of pride in the comity of nations especially in Africa not just because of her immense size, wealth and cultural diversity but also because of her long standing and remarkable engagement with the electronic media.”
In the course of the workshop, the Secretary General of Signis World described the organization as a network of Catholic professionals serving the Church through the media within the Church and outside the Church.
Officers elected to coordinate the activities of the new body are: Rev Fr. Walter Ihejirika of Centre for the Study of African Culture and Communication (CESACC), President; Linda Osuala (Vice President), Fr. Mike Umoh (Secretary), Fr. Bitrus Maigamo (Assistant Secretary), Fr. Ralph Madu (Treasurer), Mr. Godwin Tata (PRO). Other members of the executive are: Fr. Chris Anyanwu, Mr. Kizito Ikenna, Commander C.O.C Nze, Rev. Fr. Charles Uganwa, Rev. Fr. Damian Aman, Fr. R. Danbonna and Chief B. Laotan
The new executive has the mandate to put in place all structures that will ensure the proper consolidation of the association within a period of one year.
Reduce
Your Greed -GOV. Obi urges politicians
Governor peter obi of Anambra has called on politicians to
reduce their greed for wealth to enable the country to move forward. If people
in government can reduce their greed, things will work well for the country,”
Obi said in an address at the first Sylvester money Foundation Lecture series
in Asaba recently. Chief Ernest shonekan, former Head of Nation Interim Government,
chaired the occasion, While Malam sanusi Lamido sanusi the Governor of the Central
Bank of the Nigeria, was the guest lecturer.
Obi said people in government should be blamed for the country's problems, noting
that it was time politicians stopped diverting public funds. He however, blamed
financial regulators for the failure in the banking sector, saying: “But
I think I agree that we have all paid a price as every one here suffered the
impact. What I am pleading with everybody is that we must find a way to lend
money to the small man on the street and not just to the big man.
“Otherwise, the Gross Domestic product (GDP) growth that we hear is increasing
will continue to be so on paper, while industries are closing down “No
farmer in my village has received any loan, While the GDP continues to rise.”
On his part, host Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta said the state's three-point
agenda was fashioned to address its mono-economy.
The three-year old legal tackle over the office of the governor of Imo state between Chief Martin Agbaso of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, and Chief Ikedi Ohakim of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been laid to rest.
Four out of the five-man panel of the Supreme Court dismissed Agbaso's appeal challenging the refusal of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to entertain his suit on the ground that it lacked the jurisdiction to do so
In the lead judgment delivered on the matter by Justice Walter Unnonghe, the court observed that the issue that gave rise to the APGA candidate's suit arose from the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the governorship election in the state held on 14 April, 2007 and noted that the only place constitutionally empowered to entertain such issue is the Election Petition Tribunal as set out in section 285 (2) of the 1999 Constitution and section 140 of the Electoral Act 2006.The court observed that outside the Election Petition Tribunal, that no court in Nigeria has the jurisdiction to handle such matter.
Agbaso, at the Federal High Court, had sought to be returned
as the winner of the election which the INEC cancelled but the apex court agreed
with the decision of that court which declined jurisdiction over the matter
and said that it is only the election tribunal that was empowered to handle
such relief.
Justice Chukwuma Eneh who delivered the dissenting judgment however disagreed
with his colleagues and noted that Agbaso's suit originated from the cancelled
election and had nothing to do with the repeat election held on 28 April 2007.
He is of the view that the event of the 14 April election automatically
becomes a pre-election matter which the Federal High Court has jurisdiction
to entertain.
Justice Eneh maintained that Agbaso's suit at the Federal High Court where he
also sought for a judicial review of the action of the electoral body in cancelling
the election is competent.
This seeming lone voice in the wilderness, however, brought
little reprieve to Agbaso as he lost the case to Governor Ikedi Ohakim on the
strength of 4 to 1.