Monarch shot dead in Enugu On October 9, 2012 · In News 11:27 pm.. By Tony Edike ENUGU – The traditional ruler of Umuode community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Moses Nwoye has been reportedly shot dead. Sources said that Nwoye was assassinated at about 7. 30 pm Tuesday by two young men who fired several shots at him, leaving him in a pool of his own blood before escaping. The Royal father was said to have visited his shop at Akpoga Nike where he was killed. His body has been deposited at the Annunciation Hospital, Emene, near Enugu by some of his relations who confirmed the incident. Umuode, where the immediate former Minister of Power, Prof Bartholomew Nnaji hails from had been engaged in communal crisis with its neighbouring Uruku community over indigene and non-indigene tussle which had lasted for over 20 years. The current crises erupted soon after Prof Nnaji lost his position leading to several deaths in the last few weeks.

Blast kills Army Lieutenant, 31 others in Maiduguri On October 9, 2012 · In News 12:00 am.. BY NDAHI MARAMA & JOSEPH ERUNKE MAIDUGURI — A massive blast from an improvised explosive device, yesterday, in Maidugiri reportedly killed an Army lieutenant, a soldier and 30 civilians. The explosive was planted and targeted at a Hilux patrol vehicle of the Joint Task Force (JTF) by some suspected terrorists along Lagos Street of Gwange ward of Maiduguri, Borno State. The JTF, however, denied that an officer was killed in the explosion. Meanwhile, Nigeria and Canada have resolved to cooperate to enhance the operational capabilities of Nigerian security services to enable them respond adequately to internal and regional security challenges. Also consumed by the blast were over 100 houses and 50 vehicles on the streets close to the explosion. A shopping mall destroyed by fire during the Gwange blast in Maiduguri yesterday. It would be recalled that last Sunday, a similar incident happened along Gwange Lagos Street when some suspected terrorists detonated an IED at a patrol vehicle of the Task Force which led to the killing of two soldiers including a serving Lieutenant Colonel who later died in a hospital. Yesterday’s blast which occurred around 7:15 a.m sparked off volleys of gun shots from JTF soldiers leading to death of many civilians along the busiest road linking University of Maiduguri and the Teaching Hospital. Some people were trapped in their houses when the JTF forces descended on the town. Vanguard gathered that some suspected terrorists were killed by the JTF soldiers although the number could not be ascertained because the area was cordoned off by JTF. An eye witness who does not want his name mentioned told our correspondent that more than 50 people including some suspected terrorists were killed, while hundreds of houses and shops belonging to residents of Gwange were razed in the incident. The state’s Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, who visited the area amidst tight security, sympathised with the victims and promised that as soon as Governor Kashim Shettima who travelled to India, Pakistan and Turkey comes back, government will compensate them. Confirming the incident, JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa in a text message to journalists in Maiduguri said Boko Haram Islamic sect detonated an IED targeting a Hilux Patrol vehicle of the JTF which injured two soldiers aboard the vehicle. Twenty-year-old Dominic Yakubu (L) and Anselm Emmanuel sit after being discharged after suffering from gunshot wounds by unidentified gunmen at a private hostel, Tudunwada district, Mubi in northeastern State of Adamawa on October 5, 2012 . Twenty-seven students of the Federal Polytechnic, among other non-students, were last Monday massacred in their abode by yet-to-be identified gunmen in a night attack. AFP PHOTO Sagir, however, said no army personnel was killed in the blast, insisting that only two of his men were seriously injured and were taken to University of Maiduguri for treatment. Canada to train Nigerian security agents A communiqué released to newsmen said the agreement was reached at an inaugural Nigeria and Canada Bi-National Commission meeting in Abuja, yesterday. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, according to the communiqué, signed on behalf of Nigeria while Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Baid, signed for his country. “While recognizing that lasting security demands a multi-level approach, including development, education, democracy and human rights, both countries resolved to effectively cooperate particularly to enhance the operational capabilities of the Nigeria Security Services to enable them to respond adequately to internal and regional security challenges,” the communiqué read. “Welcoming the rapid growth in trade and investment between them, the two countries committed themselves to aim for the reduction and elimination of barriers to increased economic and commercial relations. To this end, both countries have decided to initiate discussions and negotiations on such agreements as may be necessary, particularly that will lead to the signing of a Foreign Investment Protection Agreement, FIPA,” it further said. The two countries also resolved to work closely on areas of power, mining, aviation, education and skill acquisition training. “Recognising the importance of power, mining, aviation, education (including skills acquisition training) to address youth unemployment) to national development and poverty eradication, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to support and facilitate foreign investment in these areas”, the communiqué said. It said both countries also welcomed the rapidly growing private sector interest in trade and investment including the establishment of the Canada-Nigeria Business Association and the increasing involvement of the Canadian-Nigerian Diaspora. ”The two countries also pledged to encourage new links between institutions at Federal and State/Provincial levels, and the expansion of people to-people ties particularly through improvement in the delivery of Both countries reaffirmed the underlying principles of the BNC and pledged that the BNC will be the basis for constructing a lasting strategic partnership between the two federal and multicultural democracies”,it further said. Considering that security and prosperity are inextricably linked, the two countries agreed that effective political, economic, security and development cooperation among them will contribute to building a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria. They further committed themselves to promoting human rights for all, good governance and democratic development just as they restated their commitment to work together on issues of common regional and global challenges, including counter-terrorism especially in Mali. Middle East and Commonwealth reform as well as visas by both countries were in the agenda. The two countries resolved to support programmes enhancing human and social development including free and fair elections through building capacity of electoral institutions. Canada pledged to work with Nigeria in improving its health care, especially maternal and child health,according to the communique.

Nurse Wins Landmark HIV case By Patience Ogbo. A Landmark judgment that will change the way people living with HIV/AIDs has been delivered by the Lagos State High court. The judgment delivered by Justice Y.O Idowu bothers on the lawsuit instituted by Georgina Ahamefule against the Imperial Medical Centre and Dr.Alex Molokwu over allegation that Mrs Ahamefule was dismissed from the Imperial Medical Centre as a result of her HIV/AIDS status. The judgment delivered on September 27th 2012 was instituted by the Social and Economic Rights Action Centre(SERAC) on July 14th,2000 held that the termination of Mrs Ahamefule'employment as an auxillary nurse by the Imperial Medical Centre on the ground of her HIV positive status is illegal,unlawful and actuated by Malice and extreme bad faith. The jugdgment stated in part that "the purported termination of the plaintiff's (Mrs Ahamefule) employment is illegal,unlawful and actuated by malice and extreme bad faith". Also "that the Defendants'(Dr. Molokwu) action in denying the Plaintiff medical care on grounds of her HIV positive status constitutes a flangrant violation of the right to health guranteed under article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples'Rights. The court also ruled that the sum of N7million be awarded to Mrs Ahamefule being compensation for unlawful conduct of HIV testing without her consent and general damages for the wrongful termination of the her employment. Reacting to the Judgment,Felix Morka the SERAC Executive Director at a brief briefing in Lagos stated that the judgment will go a long way in checking discrimination against people living with HIV. "This is a landmark judgment in the first ever Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) discrimation lawsuit filed by SERAC twelve years ago challenging the termination of Georgina Ahamefule's employment as an auxillary nurse by the Imperial Medical Centre and its Chief Medical Director ,Dr. Alex Molokwu based on her HIV-positive status. We are happy that after twelve years of pursuing this case victory is finally ours. We believe that this epochal decision will go a long way in correcting the wrongs suffered by people living with HIV as many of them have been discrimated against and have lost their jobs due to discrimination just like Georgina" Mr. Morka however condemned the lengthy period of twelve years in getting justice. In her reaction an elated Mrs Ahamafule expressed her joy with the judgment stating that the emotional and psychological truama she suffered have been alleviated. "I joined the Imperial Medical Centre as an auxillary nurse in 1989. I discovered I was pregnant and my skin started having boils on my skin and sought medical attention from Dr. Alex Molokwu who carried medical examinations and diagnostic tests without disclosing the nature and outcome of the test on me.Dr. Omolokwu later asked me to see one Dr. Okanny at University of Lagos Teaching Hospital where further test was carried out and I was informed that I am HIV positive. I was not provided any form of counselling and Dr. Molokwu promptly terminated my employment on October 23rd 1995. As if that was not enough, I suffered a miscarraige of my four months pregnancy due to the truama but when I went to the Imperial Medical Centre ,to have an evacuation done,thesame Dr. Molokwu turned down my treatment as I was further victimised,rejected,humilated and put at great risk when Dr. Molokwu declined to carry out his own prescribed evacuation of the miscarried pregnancy on ground of my HIV positive status. It wass medical doctors at another hospital that carried out the evacuation.I have been positive despite the delay in the case. I trusted God and SERAc and today we have victory not just for ourselves but for persons living with HIV. I contracted this virus from the hospital while doing my job but its thesame hospital that sadly discriminated against me"Mrs Ahamefule said. In tackling discrimination against persons living with HIV virus,Mr Morka urged the government to sensitise and engligthen the public on HIV and to discourage every act of discrimination against persons living with HIV by passing the bill on discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS into law

Parent of murdered Uniport student petitions Mark On October 9, 2012 · In News 3:25 pm.. By Henry Umoru & Abutu Agada The mother of Mr. Chiadika Biringa, one of the four students of the University of Port-Harcourt killed last week under controversial circumstances has petitioned the senate demanding justice for her son and others killed. In a petition addressed to the senate Mrs. Chinwe Biringa debunked allegations that her son was killed for the theft of a blackberry phone and a laptop computer, affirming that her son had possessed a blackberry phone and laptop computer since his primary school days. Mrs. Biringa whose husband is a very senior staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC in the petition completely exonerated her son from theft claimed that her enquiries showed that her son and the other three victims were on their way to lecture and were waylaid in what was a premeditated act. Calling for justice to be meted out, she said: ‘’My name is Mrs. Chinwe Biringa. I am the mother of Mr. Chiadika Biringa, a second year student of Theater Arts at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT). My husband is a very senior staff officer at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. See video of the killed students here. Be warned it is gory ‘’My son turned 20 years old this week and we gave him pocket money to celebrate it with his friends. On Friday morning, we were called by my second son, also a UNIPORT student, that all was not well and he was hearing bad rumours that villagers at ALUU, the host community of UNIPORT had murdered four students. I immediately rushed to the scene only to see my son’s dead body being taken away naked to a mortuary in UNIPORT Teaching Hospital. I could not believe my eyes and collapsed. ‘’What did my son do? What did the other three young men who died with him do? First, we heard that the four students were alleged to have stolen a Blackberry phone and a laptop computer. This could not be further from the truth. My son has had a Blackberry phone and in fact a laptop computer since he was in primary school. No way could my son steal such a common thing as a cell phone which every village woman now owns. University of Port Harcourt students brutally beaten and burnt alive ‘’We have been subjected to several gory videos and pictures on the internet. This shows that someone filmed the whole barbarism from beginning to end. My son and his friends were savagely beaten and burnt to death while villagers at ALUU watched. All this has been caught on film! ‘’The video shows that all this was filmed in broad day light which suggests that they were killed after 7.30 am. Further investigation has revealed that they left their friend’s house at ALUU at about 7 am to go and prepare for lectures. ‘’To waylay them and beat them with planks until they died like chicken is the most savage thing one can witness in Nigeria of 2012. First they were stripped naked, marched around like frogs and then beaten to death. What savagery and bestiality. ‘’My husband and I want only two things, namely:a) To clear the name of Chiadika, b justice ‘’Your Excellency, every responsible parent knows what I, my husband, and the entire family are passing through over this beastly murder. ‘’Again, and for emphasis, the film shows everything in clear view and all the perpetrators must answer for their crimes. ‘’We want Justice. Those who murdered my son must face the wrath of the law. Heartbroken mother.’’

FG blames Mubi massacre on school authorities On October 9, 2012 · In News 7:54 pm.. By Demola Akinyemi ILORIN – Against the backdrop of the killing of 46 students at Mubi, Adamawa State, the Federal Government has said vice chancellors, rectors and provosts of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, respectively, would be held responsible for the safety of students, particularly those living off campus beginning from the 2013 academic year. Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, who made this known in Ilorin, blamed the recent violence on some students of higher institutions across the country on the chief executives of the institutions, saying the government’s new position followed its understanding that it was not the fault of the students to live off campus.

Police detain NPL stars over murder On October 9, 2012 · In Sports 10:08 pm.. Two unnamed Akwa United stars are being held by police over the murder of a lady, MTNFootball.com has learnt. The players hold top positions at the NPL outfit. One of them was a delight to watch last season as he scored vital goals from setpieces on Akwa’s return to the top flight. A top source at the Uyo-based club informed that the two players have been in police net for the past one month following the death of a lady, who was reportedly a girl friend to one of them. “The players have been in police custody over the murder of a lady for the past one month,” the source disclosed. “The police said they were tipped off that kidnappers were heading in their direction and they were in a black Toyota Camry, which was the same description as the one the players were driving on that fateful day. “The players’ version of the story is that the police opened fire on them and one of the bullets hit the lady and killed her, but the police insist they met the lady dead in the car.”

Lagos ACN appeals tribunal judgment in PDP’s favour On October 10, 2012 · In News 12:03 am.. BY ONOZURE DANIA with agency reports IKEJA – The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has appealed against the judgement of the Lagos State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal which declared Mr. Babajide Obanikoro of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Chairman of Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area. The ACN and its candidate, Mr. Adewale Adeniji, filed the appeal yesterday before the Lagos State Local Government Election Petitions Appeal Tribunal. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Babajide is the son of Ambassador Musiliu Obanikoro, a chieftain of the PDP and a former gubernatorial candidate in the state. The lower tribunal sitting in Ikeja, had on Oct 4 declared Babajide the winner of the election conducted on Oct. 22, 2011. The five-member tribunal presided over by retired Justice Dolapo Akinsanya held that Babajide scored the highest number of valid votes in the election. It said that the evidence before the tribunal showed that he scored 3,770 valid votes, while Adeniji scored 3,248 votes. The tribunal, therefore, ordered the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, to issue a Certificate of Return to the PDP candidate. However, in the appeal, the ACN stated that the tribunal erred on four grounds of law. The appeal was filed on the ACN’s behalf by its counsel, Mr. Olayinka Okedara. It said: “The lower tribunal erred in law when it held that the ward collation results tendered by the respondents cannot be ascribed any value, and that there is no credible evidence before the tribunal to relate them to.