08/02/18

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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.
Prof. Wole Soyinka


Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, says he does not believe anyone who decides to leave a party should be crucified for making such decision.

He said this on Thursday in Lagos at the presentation of his new book ‘Who Is Watching The Watchmen?’.

Professor Soyinka, however, criticised the ill intentions of some politicians as their reasons for dumping one political party for another.

He faulted some of the events that played out in Benue State recently, especially the reactions that trailed the defection of Governor Samuel Ortom.

Similarly, the Nobel Laureate engaged in an interactive session on the subjects raised in the book.

One of the issues he spoke about was what he referred to as ‘the mal-administration’ in one of the previous governments.

Soyinka noted that the administration was a part of the sabotage which led to the failure of electricity in Nigeria at that time.

The interactive session also had in attendance human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Femi Falana, as well as a renowned journalist, Mr Kunle Ajibade, among others.

Although there has been a lingering political crisis in Benue, the situation got worsened after members of the State House of Assembly replaced Mr Terkimbi Ikyange with Mr Titus Uba as their Speaker.

Ikyange, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was impeached on Tuesday last week after Richard Ujege (Konshisha State Constituency) moved a motion of no confidence against him.

The crisis took another dimension the following day when Governor Ortom defected from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While the governor has since decried the manner of running the affairs of the ruling party in the state, he said he took the decision to leave the party after consulting with the people.

On Monday, the impeached Speaker and seven other APC members of the Assembly served an impeachment notice on the governor, a move which the National Assembly described as unconstitutional.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, as well as the governors of Kwara and Sokoto states, Abdulfatah Ahmed and Aminu Tambuwal, had consequently joined Ortom in the PDP.

Earlier, the ruling party lost dozens of lawmakers in the National Assembly to the opposition party, but the APC has continued to nurture hopes of victory in the forthcoming general elections.

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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.

Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa said on Thursday that he had won the presidential election, and President Emmerson Mnangagwa knew he had lost otherwise the results would have been announced by now.
In his first public appearance since the vote on Monday Chamisa, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), urged his supporters to be calm and await “massive celebrations” for his victory.
Chamisa said he could not give any figures because he would be breaking the law.
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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.

First Bank Nigeria Plc, has on Thursday unveiled its chat banking on WhatsApp  to ensure effective service to its customers,
Mr Chuma Ezirim, the bank’s Group Head, E-Business, said the application would enable customers leverage the real-time messaging
capabilities of the WhatsApp Business Solution to check their account balance.
Ezirim said that customers would also leverage on the solution to perform simple banking queries.
He said in a statement in Lagos that the launch which took place on Aug. 1 was at its pilot phase and would be available to a select group of customers after which it would be made available to all customers.
Ezirim said additional details on the solution would be provided in the coming weeks as customers are encouraged to keep interacting with the bank on its various social media channels for updates.
“Customers expectations are constantly changing and it is our duty as a customer-focused bank to ensure that our customers are provided with the means to carry out banking services through any channel they desire.
“We are constantly seeking new ways and opportunities to meet customers at their preferred touch points and we understand our customers are actively engaged on WhatsApp.
“With First Bank chat banking on WhatsApp, it is not just about staying connected with friends and loved ones, but also keeping in touch with your bank anytime and anywhere you are,” Ezirim said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that First Bank is the premier bank in West Africa with about 14 million customer accounts and also provides a comprehensive range of retail and corporate financial services with over 750 business locations.
It has international presence through its subsidiaries, FBN Bank (UK) in London and Paris, FBNBank in the Republic of Congo, Ghana, the Gambia, Guinea, Sierra-Leone and Senegal as well as a representative office in Beijing. LR News
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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 Lagos-Ibadan standard rail line would be commission in December, transport minister Rotimi Amaechi gave the assurance in Lagos on Thursday.
After a closed door meeting with Gov.Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, Amaechi thanked members of the communities whose property were affected by the construction.
He said the contractors handling the project would commence work on the Lagos axis next week on both the standard gauge lines.

Lagos-Ibadan rail project
The minister said the Lagos State Government had been very helpful in the payment of compensation to those affected.
The federal government, he said, was looking for private partnership to build the two mega Stations in Lagos.
He said that the one at Apapa and the other at Ebute-Meta would be expanded to accommodate a mall and hotel.
Amaechi said discussions were also on with the contractor handling the narrow gauge lines.
He explained that newly awarded contract for Tin Can-Oworonshoki-Ojota road would also aid in evacuating cargoes from the Ports in addition to the two rail lines which would both terminate at the Apapa seaport.
Host Ambode thanked the Federal Government as well as the Minister of Works, Power and Housing for expediting action described the efforts being made as a two-prong approach to ease the Apapa gridlock.
He reiterated the State Government’s commitment to collaborate with the Federal Government on the project as it would alleviate the sufferings of the people.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both the Federal and the State Governments have been making concerted efforts in the last few weeks to find lasting solutions to the traffic gridlock which had caused a lock down on both businesses and private activities in the Apapa axis. LR News
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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.
OBJ’s in-law John Abebe, middle, gets court bail

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s in-law, Mr John Abebe, has been granted bail in a $4 million fraud case.
The younger brother of late Mrs Stella Obasanjo, was granted the bail by the Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos on Thursday.
Abebe is facing a four-count charge of forgery, fabricating evidence, using fabricated evidence and attempt to pervert the cause of justice slammed on him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He, however, denied the charges during his arraignment on July 26 and was remanded for a week at the Ikoyi Prisons by Justice Mojisola Dada.
At Thursday’s bail proceedings, Mr Kanu Agabi (SAN), Abebe’s lawyer, via a bail application dated July 25 and supported by an 11-paragraph affidavit, asked the court to grant Abebe bail.
Agabi said the judge should take cognizance of Abebe’s high status in the society and that the defendant in a bid to absolve himself of the charges had hired the services of four Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
“My Lord, the fact that the defendant has taken the trouble to hire the services of the calibre of counsel here shows that he is not
interested in jumping bail.
“He is anxious because his reputation is at stake, the granting of bail is in your discretion and it is not at all a formality.
“Lastly, My Lord, there is a principle that applies during sentencing particularly when Your Lordship wants to apply a fine in terms of imprisonment.
“This applies to bail, the bail should be affordable, if not the bail would be an illusion. Merely looking at the defendant, you will see
he is a man of rank and position.
“Our law permits bail to the defendant and that provision will be useless if he cannot avail himself of the bail,” Agabi said.
Responding, Mr Babatunde Sonoiki, the EFCC counsel, in an application supported by an 8-paragraph affidavit, said Abebe should
face justice irrespective of his status.
He told the court : “Every citizen of Nigeria is being called before the law and before the law there is no high profile or low profile
person, justice is blind.
“If the court is minded to give bail, we want the bail to be such that it would compel his attendance in court as these are serious
allegations against him.”
Granting Abebe bail, Justice Dada noted that documents before her revealed that investigations had been concluded in the case, adding
that the chances of interference in the proceedings from the defendant were low.
“In view of the facts before the court, I hereby grant the defendant bail upon the submission of his international passport to the
court registrar with one substantial surety.
“The surety must own property in a choice area of Lagos and must provide proof of ownership,” she said.
Following the ruling, it was brought to the judge’s attention by the defence that Abebe’s passport was still in the possession of
the EFCC.
Justice Dada said: “Since the passport of the defendant is with the EFCC, he is hereby granted bail on fulfillment of other
conditions.”
According to Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC prosecutor present at Abebe’s arraignment on July 26, the defendant committed the
offence on June 22, 2010 in Lagos.
“Abebe knowingly forged BP Exploration Nigeria Ltd’s letter dated Nov. 30, 1995 to Inducon (Nigeria) Ltd.
“He committed the forgery by inserting in page two of the said letter the following words: Also note that the ‘Buy-Out Option’ only applies to the pre-production stage of the NPIA. The $4 million buy-out is thus irrelevant from production of oil in any of our fields.
“He purported same to have been issued by BP Exploration Nigeria Limited,” the EFCC prosecutor said.
The prosecution claimed that the defendant used the said forged letter as evidence in suit: FHC/L/CS/224/2010 between Abebe,
Inducon Nigeria Ltd and Statoil Nigeria Ltd at the Federal High Court.
The evidence was admitted and marked exhibit BB in the suit.
According to the EFCC, the defendant through his actions attempted to pervert the course of justice.
The offences violated Sections 120(1), 120(2), 126(2) and 467 of the Criminal Code Law of 2003.
Justice Dada adjourned the case until Oct. 23, Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 for trial. LR News
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The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has delisted four Healthcare Facilities (HCF) in Bauchi State over non-adherence to rules and regulations guiding the scheme.
Sani Affa, the NHIS Coordinator in the state said in a statement on Thursday in Bauchi, that the four healthcare facilities were delisted for poor performance.
The coordinator noted that the facilities were approved to provide primary and secondary healthcare services to NHIS clients but they worked in conflict with the rules guiding NHIS.
“The facilities are: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Health Centre, Peoples Clinic Ltd, Alwadata Consultants Hospital and Under-5 Health Centre all in Bauchi,”the coordinator stated. ‎
She explained that the action followed the recent assessment of NHIS programmes in healthcare facilities in the country, and warned against the violation of the scheme’s operational guidelines by existing HCF.
Affa stressed that the NHIS would not compromise standard in the ongoing efforts to sanitise the scheme.
The NHIS coordinator however, said the scheme had issued accreditation to additional 53 Healthcare Facilities (HCF) in the state.
Affa explained that the number of HCF in the state had increased from 49 to 53, adding that the scheme would scale up qualitative and affordable healthcare coverage, enforce standard, compliance and discipline.
She said that the newly accredited healthcare facilities are; 261 Nigeria Air Force Reference Hospital, Nagari Medical Clinic Laboratory and Maternity and As-Salam Hospital all in Bauchi, and Katagum Medical Centre, Azare.
“The scheme accredited four existing healthcare facilities for the provision of additional secondary services in key areas of healthcare needs to complement the range of services being offered,” Affa added.
The facilities includes: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital, Reeme Medicare Nigeria Limited all in Bauchi and the Federal Medical Centre, Azare.
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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 Bank of Thailand (BOT) has confirmed that hackers have stolen information of more than 120,000 customers in a massive data breach into two major commercial banks.
Cybersecurity operators at BOT have vowed to step up security measures and oversight after Kasikornbank and Krung Thai Bank reported cyber-attacks during the Buddhist Lent holiday.
However, executives of both banks said no suspicious transactions took place.
Krung Thai Bank President Payong Srivanich said hackers used “advanced hacking techniques” to obtain personal data from 20,000 customers who had applied for credit online.
According to the bank’s website, customers applying for loans or lines of credit need to provide a copy of their ID card and census registration, including income and bank statements.
Payong said the bank was able to immediately stop the hacking after the bank’s IT Division reported suspicious activities of stealing data.
“Krung Thai Bank quickly had cybersecurity expert to stop the breach and therefore no damages have been reported so far.
“However customers who were affected were quickly notified,” said Payong.
Pipit Aneaknithi, president of Kasikornbank, said hackers obtained data from about 3,000 corporate customers who use an online bank guarantee service.
Pipit said he believes the hackers were local bred and had the cybersecurity expert quickly block access into the bank’s internal data.
“The data that might have been leaked was public information of the customers including company’s name and contact details,” said Pipit, “there have been no reports of suspicious transactions from the hack.”
Pipit said he promises compensation to those affected.
Thai Bankers Association President Predee Daochai said with the advanced technology in the Internet of Things, it is necessary to find more advanced levels in cybersecurity in the face of a rising global threat of cyber intrusion.
Xinhua/LR News
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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 woman in northern India has chopped off her husband’s genitals for allegedly neglecting her and staying with his second wife, police said on Thursday.
Yunus Ahmed, 45, has been admitted to a hospital in Uttar Pradesh state’s Muzaffarnagar district and the woman has been arrested, Area Police Chief, Anil Kaparwan said.
Ahmed married the second time with the consent of his wife in 2017 since they did not have a son.
Police said the two often had quarrels over his staying at the second wife’s residence.
“On Wednesday, their fight flared up and the woman, who repeatedly accused him of not spending time with her and ignoring her, cut his genitals using a knife,” Kaparwan said.
“He was rushed to the hospital in a serious condition and is receiving medical treatment,” Kaparwan said adding the woman was detained after the victim’s relatives filed a complaint with police.
The woman faces charges of causing grievous hurt and bodily harm and could face a maximum of 10 years in jail, police said. 
dpa/LR News
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