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Kogi NUJ Chairman losses wife, Gov. Bello condoles family

Published

1 year ago

January 6, 2023

The Chairman, Kogi Council, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Jimoh Adeiza, has lost his wife, Zainab, on Friday.

Mrs. Zainab Adeiza, 46, reportedly died in an Abuja private hospital after a protracted illness.

A statement issued by the Chairman and Secretary, NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Messrs. Friday Idachaba and Oyibo Salihu, respectively, described her death as “sad” and “shocking’’.

The chapel, while condoling Adeiza and family as well as the Kogi NUJ Council, prayed God to grant her soul an eternal rest.

Also, Gov. Yahaya Bello, on behalf of the people and government of the state, commiserated with the Adeiza family over the irreparable loss.

Bello, in a statement issued on Friday in Lokoja by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Onogwu Muhammed, expressed sadness over the death.

The governor prayed God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest and give the family fortitude to bear the loss.

“I was moved by the powerful message I received from the deceased’s husband, which showed the level of closeness between late Mrs. Zainab and her husband.

“I hereby urge the NUJ Chairman to put everything to prayer as it was only God that understands why He had to take her away at this point in time.

“As humans, no one could question the actions of God Almighty, more so that death is a necessary end even though mortals seek longevity of life to fulfill some of their desires.

“Mrs. Zainab was no doubt a caring mother and pillar of support to her husband while she was alive.

“The rain of testimonies about her humility and selflessness no doubt endeared her to many, including her husband’s associates and professional colleagues,” Bello stated.

While sympathising with the bereaved family, the NUJ and friends of the deceased over the irreparable loss, the governor said “only the Almighty could explain fully to ordinary mortals why some things happened, so we should all take heart”.

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Man gets jail term for assaulting KAI officer in Lagos

Published

37 mins ago

April 18, 2024

NewsDirect

A mobile court in Oshodi has sentenced a man, identified as Paul, to nine months in prison for assaulting an enforcement officer and failing to use the pedestrian bridge at Agbado Oke-Ode area of Lagos State.

It was reported that the officer sustained an injury while trying to arrest Paul for not using the pedestrian bridge.

The Commissioner, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made this known via his X handle on Thursday.

“Paul was apprehended on 16 April for not using the pedestrian bridge at Agbado Oke-Odo and in the process, he assaulted and wounded the enforcement personnel of #LAGESCOfficial (KAI).

“The Mobile Court sitting at Oshodi yesterday sentenced him to 9 months imprisonment.”

According to the commissioner on Wednesday, 138 persons were arrested at Oshodi Oke, Iyana-Ipaja, Ikeja and Ladipo axis of the state.

This is a result of the state government’s commitment to enforcing the use of pedestrian bridges and bringing defaulters to book.

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Court fixes April 23 for ruling in substituted service on Yahaya Bello

Published

45 mins ago

April 18, 2024

NewsDirect

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned until April 23 for ruling im an application by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking a substituted service of the charge on the immediate-past Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, and the ex-governor’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, presented their arguments for and against the oral application.

When the matter was called for the arraignment of Bello on a 19-count money laundering charge preferred against him, the former governor was not in court.

However, his team of lawyers, including Adeola Adedipe, SAN, was in court.

Mohammed, who announced appearance for Bello, challenged the validity of the charge on the ground that the the court lacked jurusidction to entertain the matter on the one hand and to have issued the arrest warrant against his client on the other hand.

He informed the court that a preliminary objection had already been filed before the court to the effect.

The lawyer, who urged the court to vacate the arrest warrant order, said a High Court of Kogi had on Feb. 9 restrained the anti-graft agency from arresting, detaining or prosecuting Bello.

He said the ruling was on a fundamental rights suit filed by the former governor and that the EFCC was a party in the matter.

He added that two of the senior advocates representing the anti-graft agency in the instant charge were also in the matter.

Mohammed said the order was challenged by the EFCC at the Court of Appeal and the matter was already fixed for hearing.

He stressed that the arrest warrant the commission surreptitiously got from the court was an attempt to bring the court on collision course with the Appeal Court.

Bello’s lawyer, who insisted that the issue of jurisdiction was a threshold which the court must address first, argued that the charge ought not to have been filed in view of the appeal.

Mohammed disagreed with Pinheiro’s submission that the court should direct that he should be served with the charge in the open court since he represented Bello.

The senior lawyer said he was not authorised to receive the charge on his client’s behalf.

He argued that if the commission could not serve Bello personally with the charge, they should formally apply so that the defendant could respond accordingly.

Besides, he insisted that their objection to the whole charge and the arrest warrant on the ground of lack of jurisdiction had not been dealt it.

He urged the court to refuse EFCC’s application.

However, EFCC’s lawyer disagreed with Mohammed’s submission.

Pinheiro said the matter was fixed for Bello’s arraignment and Mohammed, having announced appearance for the ex-governor, could be served in the open court for the matter to proceed.

Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until May 23 for ruling on substituted service.

The judge had, on Wednesday, ordered that EFCC should be issued a warrant for the arrest of Bello despite the subsisting judgment by a Kogi High Court restraining the commission from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting him.

The court had also ordered that the ex-governor be produced in court today (Thursday) for his arraignment.

News

Food security: Poultry industry contributes over 25% to Nigeria’s GDP — FG

Published

51 mins ago

April 18, 2024

NewsDirect

The Federal Government says the poultry industry in Nigeria contributes over 25 per cent of the agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Egg Powder Processing and Utilisation in Nigeria.

The theme of the forum was “Promoting Sustainable Egg Processing and Utilisation for Food and Nutrition Security in Nigeria.’’

He said the poultry industry in Nigeria had made tremendous progress in the last decade, adding that it had grown into an organised and highly productive industry.

“It has become the most commercialised component of the livestock sub-sector, contributing over 25 per cent of the agricultural GDP.

“One of the major products of the poultry industry is egg.’’

Abdullahi said that reports had it that Nigeria was the largest producer of eggs in Africa, with an annual egg production of about 21 billion eggs.

“Egg is one of the most highly nutritious and important foods of animal origin.

“It remains a major source of high quality protein, vitamins and minerals in infant, children and adult’s diets.

“This is why egg is regarded as a complete meal on its own.

“Apart from its direct consumption by humans, egg is an important raw material in the confectionery, beverage, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.’’

He said there was need for a more sustainable and long-term solution to the challenge of egg glut (surplus) in the country.

“Egg processing is a veritable solution to this quagmire because it has more advantages over egg preservation.

“Egg can be processed into dry powder or frozen liquid egg,” he said.

Abdullahi said the focus of the forum was egg powder processing and its utilisation.

According to him, egg powder processing is a value addition procedure that dehydrates the egg and turns it into powder.

He said that government would continue to support science, technology and indigenous innovation in the industry; and also provide incentives to actors in the poultry value chain.

Earlier, Mrs Winnie Lai- Solarin, the Director, Department of Animal Husbandry Services, Ministry of Agriculture, said that egg was an invaluable component of staple food in Nigeria.

Lai- Solarin, who was represented by Mr Victor Egbon, the Deputy Director, Monogastric Division in the ministry, said egg remained a major source of protein, minerals and vitamins in infant, children and adult’s diets.

She explained that egg powder had a wide range of application in confectionery, beverage, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

“No doubts, there is a huge investment opportunity in egg value addition,” Lai- Solarin said.

She said the poultry industry was often faced with challenges of storage, preservation, transportation and marketing of fresh eggs, which always resulted in egg glut at certain periods of the year.

Lai- Solarin said that lots of wastage and economic losses were recorded at those times.

She called on all stakeholders to work together to unlock the full potential of egg powder processing and utilisation in Nigeria.

The director said this would contribute immensely to the realisation of sustainable food and nutrition security in the country.