December 2017

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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.

A rainbow firework waterfall from Sydney Harbour Bridge celebrating Australia’s legalization of same-sex marriage marked a spectacular start to 2018 as Asia ushered in the new year.
The multicoloured display was the finale for 1.6 million people gathered around Sydney harbour to see a 12-minute firework show that organizers said was the largest ever mounted in Sydney.
Eight tons of 100,000 individual fireworks worth 7 million Australian dollars (5.5 million US dollars) blasted off around the harbour.
The event was beamed live to the rest of the world.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the rainbow-coloured firework waterfall from the bridge marked the December vote to legalize gay marriage, as well as the 40th Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Security was tight, with some police being issued Colt M4 rifles in case of terrorist attacks.
No terrorist incidents were reported, though there was a scare when thousands of people had to be evacuated from a beach north of Sydney after a barge loaded with fireworks caught fire.
Although its New Year’s celebration garnered more attention, Australia’s was not the first.
Before Sydney had its big moment, New Zealanders got to see a five-minute fireworks show from Sky Tower in Auckland.
The highest was expected to reach 280 metres into the sky.
However, the very first celebrations were on the Pacific nations of Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati. People there celebrated the new year with traditional juggling and dancing.
Midnight passed in Samoa at 1000 GMT Sunday.
It has only been among the first to celebrate since 2011, when officials decided to move the country from the eastern side of the international date line to the western side, switching it from the last nation to celebrate New Year’s to the first.
With the start of the Year of the Dog still six weeks away, China took a more low-key approach to the arrival of 2018.
Large cities saw many people gather to celebrate the new year, and hotels offer New Year’s Eve parties to Western guests, but there were no official firework displays to mark what is nevertheless still a public holiday.
As 2018 loomed in Europe, leaders sought to set the best tone they could for the year ahead.
In her New Year’s address, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Germany’s citizens to show solidarity and respect when engaging in political discourse with each other.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Theresa May promised to deliver a “successful” exit from the European Union, strengthen Britain’s economy and build a “fairer society for everyone” in her New Year’s message.
For his part, Russia’s long-time leader Vladimir Putin – who has rarely been out of international headlines as Russia exerts its influence abroad – called for greater understanding between generations in the year ahead.(dpa/LR News)
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The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari, over his unflinching commitments to end Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
Garbai made the commendation when the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, paid him a courtesy visit in Maiduguri.
He said that Buhari had demonstrated greater political will to end insurgency and address the humanitarian crisis ravaging the northeast region.
Garbai noted that the insurgents had ravaged the state and destroyed vital social and economic activities in the region.
“In the past three years, Maiduguri International Airport was closed down, major roads linking Maiduguri to other places were blocked by the insurgents.
“When President Buhari assumed mantle of leadership, he moved the Military Command and Control Center to Maiduguri.
“The president accorded priority to the provision of logistics and improvement of the welfare of soldiers which motivated them to put in their best and record significant successes against the insurgents.
“He also appointed our people into key government positions,” he said.
Garbai commended the military for their dedication to counter-campaign and pledged his council’s support to the command.
In his remarks, Nicholas said that he was at the palace to introduce himself and condole with the emir over the unfortunate incidents.
He recalled that he started his military career in Bama and served in various locations in Borno, which availed him the opportunity of being conversant with the geography of the state.
“My task is to restore sanity to the northeast. I am here to seek for your support and cooperation, to enable us succeed in our mission”. he added,
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is to conduct its optional mock examination in January, preparatory to a better examination later in the year.
The board made this disclosure in a statement signed by its Head of Media, Mr Fabian Benjamin and made available to the Latest Reality Metro on Sunday in Abuja.
The board also reiterated the need for candidates to register on time and ensure that they follow due process in order to avoid avoidable challenges.
“As we prepare for the 2018 examinations, beginning with the optional mock, we urge candidates to register on time, make clear their choices of institutions, disciplines and examination centres in the process.
“Candidates must note that their first choice can be a College of Education, a university, an Innovation Enterprise Institution, a polytechnic or a monotechnic.
“Others include the Nigerian Defence Academy or the Police Academy.
“We will conduct a better examination, ensure more transparent admission and make more remittances to the government,” stated the statement.
The board, which described 2017 as year of transformation to success with the support of stakeholders, added that 2017 was its most eventful year so far.
“In 2017, the board conducted one of the most transparent, inclusive and acceptable examinations with the least incidence of malpractices.
“We invested significantly in the development of intellectual structures, examination infrastructure and human resources.
“This will propel more development in 2018 and put the board in the position to compete favourably with any public institution; globally, be it an examination body or service agency.
The board also noted that while it had opened its “entire functionality to public participation and scrutiny”, it had been able to adopt some of the suggestions made by the public, which it said, had helped “to build the new JAMB”.
It promised to sustain and make better the entire process in 2018, noting that the success of its Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) portal helped to achieve success.
“Candidates were exposed to the new admission software to check admission excesses and our aim is to ensure that no candidate is unjustly treated.
“The only way to achieve this was to open the process up for everybody to see who is admitted, with what aggregate score, and who is not and why is he or she was not admitted.
“Also, candidates were able to use the CAPS window to monitor admissions into institutions of choice to ensure that they are not cheated”.
The board added that it would continue to take up its statutory responsibility in order to meet the mandate of the government, which was to bring new ways of generating revenue while also improving service to the public.
“We will continue to do everything possible to support the drive of this administration towards excellence”.
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As efforts to fight drug abuse in Nigeria hit to gear, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) is set to constitute a Codeine Control and Other Related Matters Working Group (CCRWG).
This is coming barely two weeks after the Senate, led by its President, Dr Bukola Saraki, held a Roundtable on Drug Abuse in Kano.
The Roundtable which was held with the Pharmacists Council, NGOs, State Governments and Traditional Rulers, sought to proffer solutions to the menace of drug abuse that is fast claiming many youths in Nigeria.
At the roundtable, Saraki who expressed grave sadness at how youths, including young girls and nursing mothers were held by the clutches of drugs, vowed to go after importers and distributors in a bid to curb abuse of codeine and other substances..
It is in a similar vein that the Pharmacists Council is set to constitute a group that will control the distribution of codeine in Nigeria. (Codeine is a narcotic pain-reliever and cough suppressant similar to morphine and hydrocodone. It it now being abused and used as a stimulant and an intoxicant)
Speaking to our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday, Mr Elijah Mohammed, Registrar of the Council said that the control group would also sensitise the public on the dangers inherent in codeine consumption.
Mohammed specifically said that the group, which would consist of regulatory bodies and relevant stakeholders, would assist in the implementation of a communication strategy in the pharmacies and the patent and proprietary medicine vendors’ shops in various communities.
The registrar frowned at the large number of Nigerians that are already addicted to some of these medicines damming the consequence.
According to him, the group will aid in enlightening the society on the dangers associated with the abuse of preparations containing codeine and other related substances.
He added that the strategy will also involve pharmacy screening, monitoring and surveillance and how those addicted can get assistance and be rehabilitated,
Explaining the why codeine is being abused, he said: “Codeine is an opioid drug similar to morphine and has been approved and accessed over the counter in low doses for relieving patients of symptoms associated with dry cough,
“The codeine in such preparation, usually in smaller doses, serves as a cough suppressant and relieves pain associated with the stress of coughing,
“However, due to its inherent properties when used in high doses over a long period  it has been associated with dependence and powerful addictive propensity especially when used for recreational purpose,” Elijah noted.
Mohammed identified the side effects of codeine to include euphoria, apathy, drowsiness, false sense of belonging among others.
He further added that the addict could withstand pains of various degrees and commit crime which in normal circumstances such individuals would not get involved in.
According to him, on the demand side, there is unhindered access to the preparations by the public due to sudden increase in the number of unregulated vendors selling these products all over the country with more impact on Nigerians in northern part.
Elijah urged manufacturers, importers and distributors of these preparations to display more sense of ethical and moral responsibilities in the production, supply and distribution of these products since there was no proven evidence of cough epidemic in the country.
He noted that the council was currently working with technical groups of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and other relevant stakeholders to institute programs to be driven by CCRWG to help addicts overcome the challenges of addiction. LR News
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The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has ordered investigation into alleged extortion of truck drivers by soldiers on the Maiduguri-Gamboru Ngala road in Borno.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman said in a statement on Sunday that the order followed the complaint by a man, who identified himself as “DanBorno” on his Twitter account.
According to Usman, DanBorno alleged soldiers collected N300,000 from each truck driver to escort the long queue of vehicles on that road.
“The Nigerian Army has noted with great concern an allegation of complacency and extortion against soldiers
“Consequent upon this, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General T.Y. Buratai has ordered for immediate investigation over these allegations.
“The Nigerian Army as a professional military institution thrives on discipline, selflessness and dedication to duty and operates within the confines of the laws, Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement.
“It would not tolerate any act of misdemeanour by any of its personnel.
“Similarly, we encourage members of the public to take advantage of our toll free telephone number 193 to report any observed lapses or allegation against any officer or soldier,” he said.
The army spokesman also called on the members of the public, especially affected individuals in Borno to cooperate and volunteer information to the investigation team. LR News
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Two men, with 30 jerry cans of petrol have been arrested in Kubwa Abuja at the NNPC Super Mega Station by a monitoring team led by the Group Managing Director of the company, Maikanti Baru.
The men were arrested Friday with the jerrycans kept in their navy golf saloon car.
They have been handed over to the NSCDC for prosecution, the NNPC said as it also announced the clearing of queues at filling stations in Abuja and Lagos.
In a statement by spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu, the company promised to increase truck-outs to other states to restore normalcy to the petrol supply and distribution across the country.
“As far as truck out is concerned, we have more than doubled the number of trucks that are going out into the country. Yesterday, we loaded and distributed products from coastal and strategic inland depots like Jos. We loaded I,733 trucks yesterday and the actual normal number of trucks we required to keep the country wet is about 700 but we have been doing 800 to 850 trucks before the petrol scarcity. We have stepped up the number of truck-outs to 1,733 as a minimum and we have sustained this for a week and there will be more than enough products for motorists in the weeks ahead,” Dr. Baru said.
The NNPC helmsman said the Corporation would remain focused at ensuring that all the other state capitals are wet with petrol latest by Sunday.
Dr. Baru said that the petrol scarcity was self-inflicted following the sharp practices of some unscrupulous marketers who took to hoarding and diversion of the product.
“We have maintained our position that this scarcity is self-inflicted by marketers. The NNPC has more than 30 day sufficiency of supply of petroleum products, especially PMS and at the current consumption rate of about 27 to 28million litres per day, we should be very comfortable until the end of January 2018 even if we don’t import a drop of petrol into this country,” Dr. Baru reassured.
Dr. Baru appealed to marketers who have diverted petroleum products to please be mindful of their brothers and sisters and stop profiteering, stressing that they bought PMS at N133.28k per litre apart from their profit margin and a transportation cost of N7.20k per litre.
He urged the marketers to listen to the voice of reasoning to avoid the long arm of the law catching up with them, adding that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been mandated to invoke the law against any defaulting marketers.
He appealed to motorists to cooperate with the NNPC in restoring normalcy to the petrol situation by reporting marketers who sell PMS above N145 per litre to the emergency lines of the DPR and NSCDC.
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The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said that no fewer than 158 persons were killed in road accidents in Katsina State in 2017 as against 183 in 2016.
Mr Godwin Ngueku, the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Katsina.
“One hundred and eighty three persons were killed in road accidents in 2016, while 158 were killed in 2017, that indicates a reduction in fatality rate, which is one of the strategic goals of the FRSC,” he said.
He said that 284 road accidents which involved 466 vehicles were recorded across the state.
Ngueku further said that 1,749 people were involved in the accidents out of which, 993 persons sustained various degrees of injury during the period under review.
He attributed the major causes of the accidents to overloading, speeding, wrong overtaking, and reckless driving among others.
Ngueku urged motorists to always abide by traffic rules and regulations, as well as desist from using worn-out tyres as part of measures to avert accidents on the highways.
The sector commander called on passengers not to board overloaded vehicles.
“Passengers are human beings with dignity, never enter overloaded vehicle because overloading causes accident.
“Though, most of the overloading are done outside motor parks, we will continue to use any avenue available to enlighten passengers and sensitise motorists on road safety measures,” he said.
He also stressed the need for traditional and religious leaders to continue to join hands with the command to enlighten people on road safety measures with a view to reducing road accidents in the country.
“We want religious leaders to continue to assist us to preach to their followers on road safety measures because people listen to them.
“Road safety is a collective responsibility of all and sundry,” he said. NAN/LR News
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North Korean Leader, Kim Jong-un

North Korea has finally agreed to give up its nuclear programme but with a condition that the United States (U.S.) and its allies should stop blackmailing it.
It also demanded that the U.S. suspend its war drills with its allies in the Korean Peninsula.
The country’s official Korean Central News Agency took the oft-repeated stance on Saturday as it reviewed the country’s major nuclear weapons and missile tests this year.
North Korea conducted its most powerful nuclear test to date in September and launched three different intercontinental ballistic missiles into the sea in July and November.
These tests raised fears that the country is closer than ever to gaining a nuclear arsenal that could viably target the United States.
KCNA said North Korea’s “entity as an invincible power can neither be undermined nor be stamped out.”
Source: Fox News/LR News
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Femi Adesina

President Muhammadu Buhari’s media team has highlighted some of the achievements recorded by his administration this year, perhaps inspired by the epigram that ‘if you don’t blow your horn, somebody else will turn into a spittoon’.
“At the twilight of 2017, and at the threshold of a brand New Year, it is fitting to recount some key achievements of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the outgoing year”, said Femi Adesina, special adviser on media and publicity.
First on the list of the 17 milestones trumpeted was Nigeria’s exit from economic recession
“Despite global economic challenges and initial outlook of slow, or unlikely, recovery, the Nigerian economy trumped predictions and witnessed some remarkable changes in 2017, which include exiting from the worst recession in decades and a gradual stabilization of the naira.
“In our review of the economy based on facts and figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, we are pleased to note that the economy has been on the path of steady growth since the second quarter, after contracting for five consecutive quarters.
Adesina said President Buhari is hopeful that the exit from recession, stabilization of the naira and robust harvest in the agricultural sector will continue to impact on the livelihood of Nigerians.
“Already, multilateral institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have projected higher growth for the economy in 2018, and we are hopeful that the gains of 2017 in agriculture will be further improved.
The major strides recorded in the agricultural sector were also noted in the statement issued by Adesina.
Agriculture, he said, posted consistent growth levels throughout the recession, leading other sectors into positive growth rates.
“Accordingly, Nigeria saw bumper food harvests, especially in rice, whose local production continues to rise significantly with states like Ebonyi, Kebbi and Kano leading the pack, while Ogun joined the loop by the end of 2017.
“The price of a 50kg bag of rice – a staple in our country – has fallen by about 30 per cent since the beginning of 2017, as local production continues to rise. The price will keep falling, as production remains consistent and rises.
“The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said the number of Nigerians facing food insecurity in the northeast dropped by half this year.
“Against all odds, 2017 has turned out the Year of Nigeria’s Agriculture Revolution, embodied by the successes of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) and the Anchor Borrowers Programme, which were launched by President Buhari.
“For the records, more than a dozen moribund fertilizer blending plants were revived under the PFI this year”.
“Furthermore on the improved indicators, the inflation rate fell for ten consecutive months in 2017, February to November, with the Central Bank of Nigeria projecting that it is likely going to drop to single digit by 2018.
”The Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme rolled out across the states and currently 5.2 million primary school children in 28,249 schools in 19 states are being fed daily, while 200,000 unemployed graduates were enlisted into the N-power Job Scheme.
“As part of the empowerment programme, 250, 000 loans were distributed to artisans, traders and farmers in 2017.
“In the power sector, the Federal Government launched a N701 billion Intervention Fund (Payment Assurance Programme) aimed at supporting power generating companies to meet their payment obligations to gas and equipment suppliers, banks and other partners. The impact is already being felt as the amount of power distribution is now steady at around 4,000MW.
“Dream turned reality in 2017 when the Federal Government began paying pensions to police officers who were granted Presidential Pardon in the year 2000 after serving in the former Biafran Police during the Nigerian Civil War. These officers, and their next of kin, had waited for their pensions for 17 years since the Presidential Pardon.
“Reforms by the Federal Government to inspire start-ups to cut unemployment saw Nigeria rise 24 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking, earning the country a place on the List of Top 10 Reformers in the world.
“Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves grew by $12 billion, reaching the highest level since 2014. Nigeria also added, this year, an additional $250m to its Sovereign Wealth Fund. Also, Nigeria’s trade balance crossed over into surplus territory, from a deficit in 2016.
“To change the narrative on infrastructure deficit, the government successfully issued two Eurobonds (US$4.5bn), a Sukuk Bond (N100 billion), a Diaspora Bond (US$300m), and the first Sovereign Climate Bond in Africa, raising billions of dollars for infrastructure spending.
“By March 2018, the Federal Government’s launch of a Tax Amnesty scheme is expected to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenues for investment in the country.
“The Federal Government’s fight against corruption took a new turn in 2017 as the successful implementation of a Whistleblowing Programme saw millions of dollars recovered.
“The Nigeria Customs Service recorded its highest revenue collection, crossing the One Trillion Naira (N1, 000,000,000, 000) mark; the target for 2017 was 770 billion Naira (N770,573,730,490) and 2016 collection was just under 900 billion (N898,673,857,431.07).
“The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), under the new management appointed by President Buhari in 2016, remitted N7.8 billion to the coffers of the Federal Government, a staggering distance from the N51 million remitted by JAMB between 2010 and 2016.
“Finally, President Buhari’s investment in infrastructure will see major facelifts across the country in power, rail and roads, which have been scheduled to come on stream in 2018”, said Adesina.
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TY. Buratai

The Nigerian Army has carried re-deployment and posting of 399 principal officers, commanders and General Officers Commanding.
Most of the affected officers are from the Defence and Army Headquarters, Corps Commander and General Officers Commanding (GOCs).
Army spokesman Brig.-Gen Sani Usman said on Friday in Abuja that the redeployed officers included Maj.-Gen.l R.O Yusuf, Commander Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) who is now the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army).
Maj.-Gen. A.A Salihu, Chief of Defence Communications will now take over as Commander, TRADOC; Maj.-Gen. L.O Adeosun, from Defence Headquarters, has been appointed Commander, Infantry Corps.
With the posting , Maj.-Gen. C.M Abraham moved from 2 Division to Defence Intelligence Agency as Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence, while Maj.-Gen. O.F Azinta replaced him as GOC 2 Division.
Maj.-Gen. U.S Yakubu takes over as Commandant of Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, while Maj.-Gen. F.O Agugo is now Commander, Command Army Records.
Maj.-Gen. J.S Malu, Commander, Abuja Garrison is now the Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Engineers and Maj.-Gen. J.G.K. Myam, the Director of Operations is now the Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, Abuja.
Others are Commander, Guards Brigade, Maj.-Gen. M.S. Yusuf is now GOC 6 Division, replacing Maj.-Gen. E.O. Udoh, who is reassigned to 81 Division as GOC.
Brig.-Gen. U.T. Musa is now the Commander, Guards Brigade.
Maj.-Gen. I.B.J. Okeke is now Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Medical Corps, while Maj.-Gen. K.O. Kadiri is now Group Managing Director, Nigerian Army Welfare Holding Limited/Guarantee.
Maj.-Gen. E.J. Enenche, Director Defence Information, is now Commandant, Army War College Nigeria, while Brig.-Gen. J.A. Agim takes over as Acting Director, Defence Information.
According to the posting, Brig.-Gen. J.T.E. Chukwu is now the Commandant of Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information.
Brig.-Gen. L.T. Omoniyi, Commander of the newly established 17 Brigade with Headquarters in Katsina and Brig.-Gen. E.T. Essien, Commander 29 Task Force Brigade.
Brig.-Gen. T.A. Lagbaja moved from the Headquarters, 8 Division to Army Headquarters as Acting Director Operations and Brig.-Gen. G.N. Mutkut takes over as Commander 7 Multinational Joint Task Force Brigade.
The army spokesman said all the postings and appointments would take effect from Jan. 2, 2018.
He explained that it was aimed at injecting new hands to further actualise the vision of the Chief of Army Staff which is “to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its Constitutional roles”.
Some senior officers were recently promoted to the ranks of Brigadier Generals and Major Generals.
Some have also left service on completion of mandatory years of service in the Army. LR News
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Abiodun Adisa, managing director of Picket Suites and Services Limited, who issued N130m dud cheques to one Okechukwu Enelamah,  will spend the New Year in jail.
It was not clear whether the case was referring to the minister of trade and industry, who bears the same name.
Adisa was sent to jail by a Federal High court in Lagos after he was docked by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), of the Nigeria Police Force.
The SFU alleged that Adisa issued 15 Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) cheques to Enelamah, who has connection with Fredliz Estates Limited, in settlement of his indebtedness to the company. The cheques were issued between August 22, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
All were dishonoured for lack of funds.
The SFU said the offences violated section 1(a)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheques (offences) Act Cap. D11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Adisa pleaded not guilty to the charge.
His lawyer, Mr. Adewale Olawoyin, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), pleaded with the court to grant his client bail in liberal terms, pending the trial.
Olawoyin (SAN) particularly informed the court to discountenance the allegation made by the prosecution that his client will not come to court if granted bail, saying that even when the accused was granted administrative bail, he travelled to America for medical treatment, and he willingly reported back to the police on his arrival.
Olawoyin (SAN) therefore, urged the court to grant his client’s bail application.
The prosecutor, Mr.Slevester Azubike, objected to the bail.
He told the court that police had filed a 15 paragraph counter-affidavit against the bail application, doubting the nature of the accused sickness and the medical report presented, having not emanated from any government hospital.
After listening to the submissions of both parties, Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari, ordered that the accused be remanded in prisons custody until 3 January 2018, for ruling on the bail application.
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UNILAG VC. Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe

Nigerian universities can rank best in Africa, if we can have a stable academic calendar, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, has said.
Ogundipe spoke with the Latest Reality Metro on Thursday in Lagos against the backdrop of incessant strikes by labour unions in the nation’s university system.
According to him, there is need for everyone, especially the key stakeholders in the education sector to look inward to ensure that crisis which gives rise to strikes are managed effectively.
“I make bold to say that universities, especially the first generation institutions in the country, can be ranked best in Africa if we can have a stable academic calendar.
“There is need for everyone to look inward and manage the crisis in the system effectively so that our university system can be ranked among the best in the world,’’ Ogundipe said.
He said that there was need for Nigerian Government too to take the running of universities and other related issues seriously.
“If you want to run a university, you should go all out and do it in line with the best practices.
“We are talking about the global ranking of universities, and here we are still grappling with the issues of strike.’’
The VC noted that such development do not speak well about the country as “lots of people around the world are reading and taking note of it’’.
He explained that most of the facilities that would guarantee conducive teaching and learning environment were being handled by non-academic (support) staff that were on strike.
Ogundipe added that with the strike, their academic staff counterparts and others were now forced to adjust to the situation.
“The strike has affected the operations of the university indirectly,’’ he said.
According to him, issues of power and water supply, the use of laboratory and others have taken their toll on the operations of the university.
“I am sure that the academic staff will be up to their assignments.
“This group of staff is not on strike; the classrooms are open, lectures are going on since the inception of NASU strike.
“Even, as we resumed on Dec. 27, lectures have started in most faculties in Unilag.
“The non-teaching staff has their grievances; the strike is a national strike and not a local one.
“To this effect, there is little the university authorities can do,’’ the vice-chancellor said.
LR News reports that the unions, under the aegis of JAC, had on Sept.11 declared an indefinite strike across all the federal universities over the non-implementation of an agreement they entered into in 2009 with the Federal Government
The strike was suspended while dialogue continues between the parties, only to embark on another strike on Dec. 5.
Mr Solomon Ugwoke, the National President of JAC, who also doubled as the president of SSANU, one of the striking unions, had stated that there was no going back on the strike.
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Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has ordered the confiscation of over 50 cows and arrest of three herdsmen.

The suspects were arrested for violating the law banning open grazing in the state and for obstructing the governors’ convey while returning to Makurdi from Tarka local council.

Governor Ortom after giving the order on Wednesday, December 27 lamented the increased violation of the law banning open grazing law in Benue State.

He added that two people were recently killed in Odonto village of Otukpo local council due to an attack by herdsmen, a result of the violation of the open grazing ban.

At the time of filing this report, three herders including one Benue State indigene have been arrested and were taken to the police for investigation and prosecution while the arrested cattle were guided to a detention ranch.


The Benue State government on November 1, officially effected its ban on open grazing throughout the state. This was after Governor Ortom on May 22, signed the anti-open grazing and anti-kidnapping, abduction, cultism and terrorism bills into law.
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Around 40 people were killed and dozens more wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a Shiite cultural centre in Kabul on Thursday, officials said.
It was  the latest violence to hit the Afghan capital.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the Taliban was quick to deny involvement in the assault near the Afghan Voice Agency, a media outlet which earlier reports had suggested could have been the target.
Deputy interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told AFP the attack was in fact aimed at the Shiite Tabayan cultural centre in the west of the city.
“The suicide attacker detonated himself during a gathering at Tabayan cultural centre causing a lot of casualties,” Rahimi said.
The main explosion was followed by two smaller bomb blasts that did not cause casualties, he said, adding that the gathering was being held to mark the 38th anniversary of Soviet invasion in Afghanistan.
There were chaotic scenes at the Istiqlal hospital where ambulances brought victims, including women and children. Many of them were suffering severe burns to their faces and bodies, as well as shrapnel wounds, AFP reporters said.
 
Anguished relatives searching for their loved ones inside the medical facility, slapping their heads in fury as they cried and cursed the government for seemingly being unable to end the regular carnage on their streets.
Some were so distraught they crawled on the ground pulling their hair.
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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received a new set of 157 Nigerian returnees from Libya.

The returnees who voluntarily returned back home include 54 adult females, 90 adult males, three children and 10 infants eight including pregnant women and one medical case.

They arrived in flight BURAQ Airlines Boeing 737-800 with Registration number 5A-DMG at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) at 9:45 p.m on Wednesday.


The Director-General of NEMA, who received the returnees asked them to turn a new leaf as they have seen that there are no greener pastures anywhere outside Nigeria for Nigerians than the greens available for its citizens in the country.

The Director General who was represented by the Southwest Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu also said the Federal Government is doing everything possible to bring back all Nigerians that are willing to return and special incentives are being put in place for all to restart their lives.

He asked them to see their sojourn as a way of challenge to make Nigeria greater by looking at the present challenges on positive ways.

“You have gone out to see things yourself that Nigeria is a great country, your contributions can make it a greater country you crave for and I wants you all to turn things round for the development of this nation.


“Nigeria is blessed with all resources that everyone can tapped from without any fear of being molested or exposed to inhuman treatment,” he said.
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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.

The Indian government on Thursday introduced a bill in parliament aimed at prosecuting and jailing Muslim men who divorce their wives through the “triple talaq”, or instant divorce.
Indian muslim women have  complained that ‘triple talaq’ violates their right to equality.
In August, the Supreme Court ruled as unconstitutional , the religious practice which allows Muslim men to divorce their wives simply by uttering the word “talaq” three times.
Muslim women had petitioned the court, arguing that  husbands who divorce them through “triple talaq”, including by Skype and WhatsApp, not only violated their rights but left many women destitute.
“Only a law can explicitly ban triple talaq, we have to enforce legal procedures to provide allowance and protect custody of children,” said Law Minister Ravi Prasad.
The bill, if approved, would make the practice a non-bailable offence with a possible three-year jail term.
Muslims are the biggest religious minority in Hindu-majority India and relations between the communities have been occasionally strained since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party won a 2014 election.
India is one of the few countries where the practice of instant divorce has survived and some Muslim groups have said that while it was wrong, the law should be reviewed by the community itself.
Members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board said the government had no right to outlaw instant triple talaq, as it was directly interfering with the Muslim personal law.
India’s civil codes are designed to protect the independence of religious communities. Unlike most Hindu civil laws, which have been codified and reformed, Muslim personal laws have largely been left untouched.
Zakia Soman, founder of a Muslim women’s group, the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, said once ‘triple talaq’ becomes a legal offence, victims could approach the police and the legal system to initiate action against offenders.
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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.

As part of its appreciation for recognising Jerusalem as its capital, Israel has concluded plan to build a $700 million underground train station for U.S. President Donald Trump.
Israel’s transportation minister Yisrael Katz’s plan is to dig a railway tunnel under Jerusalem’s Old City, passing near sites holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims, and ending at the Western Wall with a station named after Trump.
Katz’s plan, currently in the initial stages, involves constructing two underground stations and excavating over 2 miles (3 kilometres) of tunnel beneath downtown Jerusalem and under the politically sensitive Old City.
Transportation Ministry spokesman Avner Ovadia said on Wednesday that if approved, the project would take four years to complete.
The project would extend Jerusalem’s soon-to-open high-speed rail line from Tel Aviv to the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray.
The route will run close to — but not directly under — the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where tradition holds that Jesus was crucified and buried, and a contested holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.
Previous excavations by Israel near the holy site — the spiritual epicentre of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — have sparked violent Palestinian protests.
Because of those sensitivities, the proposal will likely meet with heavy resistance from the Palestinians, neighbouring Arab countries and the international community.
Katz, a senior Cabinet official who also serves as Israel’s intelligence minister, is a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and is seen by many as his likely eventual successor as head of the Likud party.
Read More: ABC NEWS/LR News
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