by Oke Efagene

3 Nigerian men debate on the same sex bill on Rubbin’ Minds (Watch)

The conversation on the same sex bill continues.

3 young men were invited to Rubbin’ Minds on Channels TV to speak on the controversial bill.

Each of them expressed different opinions on the matter.

Watch the videos here:

 

INEC Decries Growing Conflicts Within Political Parties

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday expressed concern over growing conflicts among contestants within the various political parties.

The National Chairman of INEC, Attahiru Jega, disclosed this view in Abuja at the National Youth Conference on the road map to the 2015 elections in Nigeria.

Jega said that INEC remains “deeply concerned” about widespread absence of moderation among Nigerian politicians and growing conflicts within parties and between contestants.

Leadership report:

“This is because even if the management of elections meets the highest standards, insofar as the contestants are unwilling to play by the rules, there will be grave problem.

“The threats are now exacerbated by insecurity in some parts of the country, making the conduct of elections in those parts even more risk-prone,“ he said.

The chairman, represented by a National Commissioner of the commission, Mr Ismail Igbani, appealed to politicians to avoid provocative statement on the 2015 elections.

“If you listen to comments of some politicians on 2015 general elections you will assume that Nigeria is preparing for war,“ he said.

The chairman said the use of language by some politicians was in most cases “ indecorous and encouraging supporters to follow suit with more intemperate language“.

According to him, parties even find it difficult to select candidates, which create a situation in which practically every nomination process ends in a court case.

He said that the commission had on several occasions, got either directly or vicariously involved in the conflicts and court cases.

“ Indeed, some pre-election court cases in the past have threatened to derail preparations for elections. Of particular note is the spate of ex-parte injunctions issued against the commission,“ Jega said.

He, however, stressed the need for active citizens’ participation in the political process to provide checks against impunity in political culture.

Jega called on the youth to come out en-mass and register to enable them to vote candidates of their choice in 2015 elections.

The Project Director, Democratic Governance for Development, Dr Mourtada Deme, urged the youth to engage in the electoral process to give them a strong political voice in the country.

Deme said that an inclusive democratic society should ensure that youth participated in its affairs, stressing that effort should be made to educate the youth on the importance of voting. 

10,000 applicants scramble for 60 jobs in Kogi IRS

Over 10,000 unemployed graduates have applied to fill 60 vacancies at the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The Kogi IRS had earlier advertised for applications from suitably qualified candidates to be engaged as Revenue Trainee Officers.

It was learnt that about 900 of the applicants had First Class and Second Class Upper Division degrees as well as Distinction and Upper Credit at HND level.

According to a report by Today’s Telegraph:

It was gathered that government embarked on the recruitment drive to harness fresh brains following its resolve to reposition the service for operational efficiency in conformity with international best practises in tax administration.

The IRS office had been flooded with letters, notes and calls from government officials and politicians in frantic efforts to secure positions for their children, wards and relations.

The source said that only candidates adjudged most suitable and qualified would be short listed and subsequently offered jobs, and that government was determined to ensure transparency in the exercise.

However, the Executive Chairman of the service, Alhaji Ahmed Musa, confirmed that the service had advertised the job vacancies and that the office had been inundated with application letters.

He assured that no stone would be left unturned in the effort to meet the target of N8 billion target revenue for this year.

He said that the bulk of the target was expected from capital gain tax, stamp duties and rent income tax levied on landlords in the state.

Musa said that the state government in its bid to strengthen tax administration and drive for improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the state had granted full financial autonomy to the service.

Housewife jailed for stealing shirt and laptop in Abuja

A housewife, Halima Mohammed, has been sentenced to 6 months in prison by an Abuja Upper Area Court today, for stealing a shirt and a laptop.

The presiding judge, Adamu Wakili, sentenced Mohammed after she pleaded guilty to the charge of criminal trespass and theft.

Wakili, however, gave the convict an option to pay N8, 000 fine and warned her to desist from committing crime.

According to Nigerian Eye report:

“Based on your admission of guilt, I hereby sentence you to six months in prison but with an option to pay a fine,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the judge as saying on Tuesday.

Earlier, the prosecutor Sgt. Ambi Ayuba, had told the court that one Sgt. Kenny Dodo of the National Defence College, Abuja, reported the matter at the Durumi police station on January 21.

He said the convict trespassed into the National Defence College Quarters, Apo, Abuja, and stole an HP laptop and a shirt valued at N150, 000.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 342 and 288 of the Penal Code.

2 Men In Court Over Alleged Theft Of Cows

Ibrahim Abu, 18 and Fashola Abiodun, 25, appeared before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun today, over the alleged theft of 3 cows.

Both of the accused are facing a 2-count charge of conspiracy and theft.

The prosecutor, Peter Molokwu, told the court that the accused, conspired with others still at large, to commit the offences on January 20, at Oju Sango Village, via Ifo, in Ota.

Leadership report:

Molokwu said that the accused, and others at large, stole three live cows valued at N270, 000 belonging to one Adam Mohammed.

He explained that the offences contravened Sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Law of Ogun State, 2006.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Titi Bello, granted them N100, 000 bail each, with one surety each  in like sum.

Bello ordered that the sureties must have a landed property each, as part of the bail conditions.

She said that the sureties should show evidence of gainful employment and tax payment to the state government in the past one year.

Bello also ordered that the sureties should be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and the addresses should be verified by the police.

She adjourned the case till February 17, for mention. 

Man, 24, bags 5-year jail term for unlawful assault

A Magistrates’ Court in Ikorodu on Tuesday sentenced a 24-year-old man, Obafemi Samuel, to 5 years imprisonment for inflicting injury on Umoru Yahu, with a broken bottle.

Samuel, who resides at Itaoluwo road, Ikorodu, pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of unlawful assault.

 

Magistrate B.A. Sonuga, speaking on the case said that the prosecutor had been able to prove the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

Leadership report:

Sonuga said that the sentence was without a fine option, adding that it would commence from the day Samuel was put in custody earlier this month.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Iyabo Johnson, told the court that Samuel, and others now at large, faced a charge of unlawful assault.

She said that Samuel and his colleagues assaulted Yahu by stabbing him on his back with a broken bottle.

“The incident happened on Jan. 22 at Ita Oluwo, Odongunyan in Ikorodu, during an argument between the accused and the complainant.

“The injury has become a permanent deformity,” Johnson said.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 243 of Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.