If urgent steps are not taken to redress the electoral lapses that occurred during the recently conducted Ekiti governorship election in which the main opposition party, PDP and other well-meaning Nigerians have continued to accuse the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and some security agencies of working for the victory of the All Progressive Congress, APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the country’s democracy may be threatened.

An Onitsha based social activist and former Chairman of Onitsha Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, OMATA, has warned that major political players in the country should align for the successful conduct of the 2019 general elections by urging INEC to curb her excesses and electoral bias as witnessed in the last Governorship Election in Ekiti State.

Chief Ozor Anaekwe who spoke with our correspondent in Onitsha over the issue yesterday said that the outcome of Ekiti election was an eye opener to what is expected in the 2019 general elections in Nigeria.

The aggrieved former market leader stated that a situation in which about 30,000 policemen were deployed for a single election in a state to create fear and intimidation in the minds of the electorate was unacceptable even when the presence of the numerous security agents in the state did not deter some political parties and their agents from engaging in election malpractices.

Chief Anaekwe who frowned at the huge number of security agents deployed for that particular election, however, queried why even half of that number was not deployed to the crisis ridden Middle-Belt Region where Fulani herdsmen have been killing and maiming innocent Nigerians.

While decrying the hurried nature with which the EFCC has proposed to arrest the outgoing Gov.Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, the activist maintained that it was high time the financial crime- bursting agency realized that it was not owned by President Buhari or the ruling party, but a statutory institution created by an Act of Parliament which belongs to all Nigerians and should not be taking sides just to please a particular person or political party.

He, however, called on all Nigerians, the Judiciary and Legislature to work assiduously towards rescuing the country from the destructive path of dictatorial leadership if the country must continue to enjoy true democracy.

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BISHOP of the Diocese of Egbu, Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Okorafor has berated the Imo State House of Assembly, IMHA, over the proposal to pass into law the grazing bill in the state, despite its rejection by the governments and people of the South East states.

The Bishop who made the remarks during his homily at St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Alulu, in Ngor Okpala LGA noted that the bill prohibiting rearing and grazing of livestock while providing for the establishment of ranches and livestock administration, regulation and control, among other matters, reported to have passed the second reading in the House, was worrisome and unacceptable.

He urged the Assembly to dump the bill, which he acknowledged has generated a lot of tension in the state since it was presented on the floor of the House.

The prelate maintained that the anxiety in the State was a reflection of the disaffection of the people of the State over the proposed bill. He also cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari not to see the outcry by Nigerians over the herdsmen killings as blackmail because of his being a Fulani man.

He averred that as President of the country, the security of life and property of the citizenry was his constitutional responsibility and urged him to be more responsive to these challenges rather than perceiving it as targeted at him owing to tribe.

He said the President should create the requisite structure for peace to reign in the country. He expressed regret that the parish was unable to present candidates for the Christian Men’s Fellowship and Mothers Union and appealed to all youths above 40 years of age to enlist into men’s fellowship, having lost their eligibility to be in the youth fellowship.

He also advised those yet to wed to beginning to plan towards that in order to make their wives eligible to be admitted into mothers union, adding the parish was the only place where no candidate was put forward for admission and induction since the exercise began in the year.

Bishop Okorafor renewed his call on every parishioner to ensure they have their PVC before the exercise closes on August 17, ahead of the 2019 General elections.

The Bishop’s Chaplain, Rev Progress Okoroafor earlier in his sermon assured all faithful that notwithstanding the threat and challenges to their live, God he said would provide respite for them in a manner beyond their expectations, stressing that the battles is the Lords.

Rev Okoroafor expressed regret that the people see their challenges as above them and encouraged them to be resilient, believing that their battles were of the spirit and not of the flesh.

He explained that if a young lad as David with no experience in warfare was able to bring down the mighty Goliath presupposes that nobody can battle with God.

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DISTURBED by the plight of the Internal Displaced Persons IDPS, the state government has inaugurated a Committee for their return to their original abode and warned that the government will not tolerate indiscriminate occupation of lands by any group in the name of land grabbing.
It would be recalled that over 35,000 persons were displaced and more than 200 people killed recently in Barakin-Ladi and other local government areas in the state. Also, there is a complaint of illegal occupation and destruction of farm lands by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

Speaking shortly before the inauguration, Secretary to the State Government Hon. Rufus Bature observed with dismay the indiscriminate occupation of land as a result of the attacks in Barakin-ladi, Riyom, Mangu, Jos South, Jos North and Bokkos local government areas of the state adding that there were also reported cases of farm lands being destroyed and in some cases crops harvested.
The Secretary to the State Government who said the government will not condone such atrocity warned that the administration will deal decisively with any group of people engaging in such acts.

He tasked members of the Committee to put in their best in reaching workable recommendations that will enhance the resettlement of the Internal Displaced Persons back to their places of abode.
“With the inauguration of this committee, Government wishes to assure all citizens that it is alert to its responsibilities. We want to re-affirm the determination of this administration in sustaining peace and security in the state, as without peace meaning development cannot take place” he said.

The Committee has the following as members, Air vice Marshal Bala Dababa (rtd) as Chairman, CP Patrick Garba (rtd), Alhaji Saleh Bayari, Da. Christopher Gwom, Acting Executive Secretary of State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Reverend Yakubu Pam and Abus Ibrahim Izang.
According to him, the terms of reference include; “identifying the areas affected, to identify those displaced and areas they were displaced from, to ascertain the number of people affected and displaced.
“To identify those who have annexed the destroyed villages and to work out modalities for their effective return of the affected persons to their original places of abodes.

Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Air Vice Marshall Bala Danbaba (rtd) said the assignment of the Committee was not what anyone will want to do considering the circumstances surrounding it but assured that the committee will carry out the assignment with all sense of responsibility to ensure that those displaced return to their original abodes within a short period of time.

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FORTY five underprivileged students in Adamawa State have been provided with scholarship support by the Chinese Government to the tune of N100,000 each.

The students were selected from Modibbo Adama University of Technology, MAUTECH, Yola, and Adamawa State University, in the state.

Speaking at the ceremony held at Moddibo Adama University of Technology, MAUTECH, Yola, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian said the measure was to mark the 47 year bilateral relationship between China and Nigeria.

Pingjian reiterated the commitment of Chinese government to continue to partner with Nigeria in many field of endeavour.

At the occasion, the Vice Chancellor of MAUTECH, Prof Mohammed Kyari represented by Prof. Abraham Mokolo, lauded China for the gesture which he said would go a long way in assisting the students.

Kyari said the university has similar support programme for intelligent underprivileged students and urged for more support for the programme from organizations and philanthropists.

The vice chancellor also solicited for China’s support to the institution particularly in areas of technology.

Speaking at the occasion, the Admawa Commissioner for Education, Mr Julius Kadala, lauded Chinese government, adding that Adamawa government was committed to education and had already declared state of emergency on education in the state.

In his remarks, Convener of the programme who is also the House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Nigeria/China Relations, Rep. Yusuf Buba of Hong/Gombi Federal Constituency, urged beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by being more serious in their studies.

In another development, the Chinese Ambassador, Pingjian has lauded the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Nigeria/China Relation, Rep. Yusuf Buba (APC-Hong/Gombi) for effectively contributing in transforming his constituency.

Pingjian made the commendation in his speech at the inauguration of some empowerment projects in Hong and Gombi local government areas executed by the lawmaker.

He urged the people of the constituency to make proper utilization of the projects and facilities provided which included 310 boreholes, 270 vehicles, two feeder roads with bridge, six blocks of classrooms and tools for 800 trained entrepreneurs.

Inaugurating the project, Gov. Muhammadu Bindow represented by Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ahmad Sajoh, also lauded the lawmaker for quality representation and initiation of people oriented projects with direct bearing on his people.

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President Mohammadu Buhari has reacted to the defection of senators and lawmakers from Nigeria’s ruling party, APC to opposition parties.

Mr Buhari while reacting admitted that the All Progressive Congress did it best to prevent the lawmakers from defecting.

Buhari who reacted in a tweet on his handle says:

• I wish all of our party members who today defected, the very best in their future undertakings. The APC has done its best to stop the defections, and I must commend the party leadership for working tirelessly to unite the party and position it for future victory.
• I am confident that no harm or injury will be done by these defections, to the APC and its aspirations. I urge party faithful to not despair, but to instead see this as something that happens in seasons like this, on the eve of elections.
• As the saying goes, all politics is local. We understand that some of the Distinguished and Honourable lawmakers have issues in/with their home states, especially on zoning which bars some of them from seeking another term in their constituencies.
• Let me also note that none of the defecting federal lawmakers has any specific grievances against me or the government I lead; neither do I harbour any ill-feeling towards any of them. I fully respect their freedom to choose what party to associate with.
• I am using this opportunity to restate my total commitment to the values of democracy, as well as my total willingness to work with ALL members of the National Assembly, irrespective of their political party, for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.

Nigeria Pilot reported that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu had their homes in the early hours of Tuesday taken over by security operatives.

The plot is alleged to be a ploy to prevent them from making it to the National Assembly today because of a plan by many lawmakers to decamp from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The plan failed as Mr Saraki latter surfaced at the Senate and while his deputy was prevented from leaving his residence.

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The following are photographs of senators who visited Deputy Senate President Ike Ikweremadu , at home on Tuesday .

The senators were led by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Operatives of the Department of State Services and men of the Nigeria Police had laid siege to the Abuja home of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu .

The security operatives arrived at the home in the early hours of Tuesday .
See photos by Leke Baiyewu :

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The immediate past Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr. Ladan Salihu has emerged as Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Bauchi South Senatorial District bye election.

Dr. Ladan Salihu was voted at the just concluded Party’s Primary Election held yesterday polled 575 votes to defeat his closest contestant Alhaji Garba Dahiru with 96 votes and Hajara Yakubu Wanka with 35 votes.

Addressing the gathering shortly after his election, Dr. Ladan Salihu assured that if voted into power during the bye election scheduled for 11th August will ensure good governance and economic revival of the zone.

He promised to initiate empowerment programmes to reduce poverty and high rate of unemployment in the Constituency.

Dr. Ladan Salihu commended the delegates and the entire PDP members for giving him the opportunity, promised to justify the confidence reposed in him if elected.

Also Speaking after the election, a Onetime FCT Minister, Senator Bala Muhammad said PDP has resolved to establish a credible and acceptable framework in conducting Primary elections to ensure credibility in nominations by the Party.

Senator Bala Muhammad assured Nigerians that if returned to power, the party will improve on it’s performance especially in the execution of developmental projects.

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Former Vice President of Nigeria and leading aspirant for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has defeated Senate President, Bukola Saraki and former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in an online poll conducted by popular blogger, Japeth Omojuwa.

In the Twitter online poll which ended on Tuesday, Atiku Abubakar polled 42% compared to Saraki’s 37% and Kwankwaso’s 15% with the other candidates settling for 6% of the votes.

The poll conducted on the heels of the defections of a sizeable number of Senators and members of the House of Representatives from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party was ostensibly to gauge the popularity of the defectors with presidential ambition versus Atiku as far as the PDP ticket is concerned.

Kwankwaso, who is known to have presidential aspiration decamped to the PDP on Tuesday along with several others. However, Saraki has not defected to the opposition party though there are indications that he will follow suit. Atiku had earlier in December of 2017 rejoined the PDP, a party he had helped found at inception in 1998.

Voters were asked: ‘Who will emerge the PDP candidate for 2019’. The choices were listed as Bukola Saraki, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Other (Reply with name).
This is one in a series of polls in which Atiku has come out tops. In a massive online poll that attracted almost 30,000 votes, Atiku vanquished President Muhammadu Buhari and other likely PDP contenders – Governors Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo and Aminu Tambuwal of Gombe and Sokoto states respectively. The poll was conducted by Senator Ben Murray-Bruce.

In answer to the question ‘If the 2019 Nigerian Presidential election were to hold today and the candidates are as below, who would you vote for?’, 44% said they would vote for Atiku Abubakar. This compares to 31% for President Buhari, 17% for Dankwambo and 8% for Tambuwal.

This result is also consistent with a number of recent polls, including those done by well known supporters of President Buhari, who had following the third anniversary of the administration on May 29 initiated polls ostensibly to test the popularity of the incumbent President.

On June 6, 2018, the former Vice President in two polls conducted simultaneously by Omojuwa defeated Buhari. In the first poll Atiku polled 35% of the votes compared to Buhari’s 32%. In the second poll, Atiku secured 39% of the votes while Buhari earned 34% of the votes.

A week earlier, Atiku had also trounced other aspirants in another poll conducted by pro APC consultant, Mark Essien. Atiku polled 43% compared to Buhari’s 35%.

In yet another poll conducted by @YNaija, Nigeria’s most successful youth blog run by Red Media, who played a key role in Buhari’s media during the 2015 elections, Atiku handed Buhari a crushing defeat of 70% versus 19%.

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Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, yesterday cautioned against any attempt to subvert democratic governance in Nigeria, alleging that democracy under President Buhari is nose diving, and he seems not to care.

The IYC called on the political leadership and other key players in the nation’s political space to give the requisite attention to the sustenance of democracy and avoid acts that could truncate it in the country.

In a statement on Tuesday signed by the President Barr Peretubo Oweilaemi and Secretary-General Mr. Alfred Kemepado said, the siege on the Abuja homes of the leadership of the Senate has further confirmed that the nation’s democracy is truly under threat.

“The exploitation of state security apparatus to harass and intimidate perceived political opponents is not a healthy development. It is a display of political desperation which should not have a place in our democracy.

The recent developments at the National Assembly and the harassment of perceived political opponents are without doubt threats to democratic governance in the country.

The National Assembly is an autonomous organ and shouldn’t be subjected to such a degrading harassment.

“The blockade of the convoy of the Senate President and the failed attempt to arrest him with a view to prevent the Senate from sitting is unhealthy.

The group added further that, for democracy to thrive, the principle of separation of powers enshrined in the constitution must not be subjected to violation.

The youth leaders insisted that, there must be strict adherence to democratic ethos and values, which should not be desecrated.

The IYC leaders argued that, the emerging political situation in the country was a further justification of the growing call for the restructuring of the country.

According to them, the brazen violation of court orders, which have become rampant in the current administration, the lingering security issues, among others would be effectively addressed in a restructured Nigeria.

The IYC stressed that, it was important for politicians to play by the rule and place the interest of the Nation and its stability above individual and selfish political interests.

The IYC further urged Nigerians to stand by democracy and resist any attempt by any group of persons or political interests to endanger the ideals of democracy in the country.

The IYC also commented on the disturbing state of insecurity occasioned by the herders/farmers killings across the states and called on the political leadership and security agencies to halt the killings.

The Council added that, Nigerians of good conscience would be disturbed by the reprehensible slaughter of innocent people across the country.

The Council insisted that Nigeria should not be reduced to a killing field.

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Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West Senatorial district at the National Assembly was on Wednesday arraigned in an FCT High Court, Apo, on a six-count charge, bordering on attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody and damage of police property.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Judge also ordered him to produce two sureties in like sum, as part of the bail condition.

Orji ordered that the sureties must be Directors in the civil service, reside in the FCT, and depose to affidavits of means.

The prosecuting counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), had told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences on April 24.

Izinyon stated that the defendant while being conveyed in a police vehicle to Lokoja, forced his way out and escaped, ‘’He sat on the ground, holding a substance in one hand threatening to drink it to kill himself so that he can put the police officers in trouble’’.

The prosecutor also added that the defendant broke the glass of the vehicle with his elbow and caused damage to police property.

He said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 148,153,173,231, 326 and 327 of the Penal Code.

The counsel to the defendant, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), had requested the court to allow the bail granted to the defendant at the Magistrates’ Court Wuse on the same charges to

continue.

The prosecution opposed the application, adding that bail was at the discretion of the court.

The judge upheld the submission of the prosecution and gave the new bail conditions.

He said that the case would be assigned to another judge by the chief judge after the vacation.

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Federal High Court Abuja yesterday, fixed August 8 to hear a suit challenging the Presidential Executive Order No. 6 of 2018 on the preservation of assets connected with corruption and other relates offences.

The vacation Judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, fixed the date following an application by two lawyers, Mr Ikenga Ugochinyere and Kenneth Udeze, the plaintiffs, that the matter be heard during the court’s vacation.

The plaintiffs are seeking the court’s interpretation and determination of the Executive Order No. 6, whether the order has a right to take away people’s property as per the names listed in the schedule.

The defendants in the suit are the President and the Attorney-General of the Federation. Arguing the matter through their counsel, Mr Obed Agu, they asked the court to determine whether by the combined effects of Sections 5, 36 and 43 of the Constitution, the President lacked the powers to issue the order.

“And whether having regard to the combined effect of Sections 5, 36 and 43 of the Constitution, the act or conduct of the president in issuing the order which intends to interfere with ownership, and disposition of assets or properties of the persons listed at the First Schedule is constitutional.”

They also want the court to determine whether having regards to the same sections, the president can validly exercise his constitutional powers by deliberately undermining the rights of any citizen to fair hearing.

According to the plaintiffs, having determined the questions above, they want the court to declare that the president lacked the powers to issue executive order No.6 as it is not connected with the execution and maintenance of the constitution.

“A declaration that the act or conduct of the president in issuing the order interfere with, or encroach into the ownership, or otherwise of the assets or properties of any person without such person being found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, is unconstitutional, null and void.

“A declaration that the president cannot validly exercise his constitutional powers by deliberately undermining, limiting and/or inhibiting the entrenched constitutional rights of any citizen of Nigeria to fair hearing vide the issuance of the Order.

Consequently, they are asking for an order of court setting aside and/or nullifying the provisions of the Executive Order No. 6 for being unlawful, unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

The plaintiffs also want an order of injunction restraining the defendants from enforcing or giving any or further effect to the controversial order.

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Wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, Dr. Rachael Dickson has been commended for her steadfastness in the faith and support for the Ijaw girl child and the women of in the State.

The President of the National Women’s Fellowship of the Glorious Covenant Ministry, Mrs. Blessing Daniel Kalio made the commendation when she led other women on a courtesy visit to the wife of the Governor in Government House, Yenagoa.

Presenting a plaque and other items to the Wife of the Governor, Mrs Daniel Kalio urged Mrs. Dickson to continue to stand by the girl child.

The First Lady, who in her response appreciated the women for their visit and appreciation of her modest support to the Women and the Girl Child in the State, thus assuring them that, she will continue to be a part of their fellowship.

Dr. Dickson called on them to always pray for the first family, the restoration government of the State, stressing that, they need the presence of God to function and impact positively on society, especially the people of the State.

She further assured them of her unrelenting support at all times and wished them a safe journey back to Port Harcourt.

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Following incidents of incessant flooding and erosions recorded in some parts of Nigeria, the Institute of Disaster Management and Safety Science, IDMSS, has established that specialised education was required by Nigerians to effect meaningful improvement in the global response to disaster management.

The Registrar, IDMSS, Mr. Ochagwuba Edwin, gave the advice in Abuja yesterday. This is according to the Agency reports.

He then called on Nigerians to be more safety conscious in order to prevent and reduce the risk of disasters in the country.

“Every year, thousands of people and property worth billions of Naira are affected by disaster, often receiving aid after a long delay and suffering.

“Nigeria is prone to multiple disasters like floods, erosion, droughts, desertification, terrorism, conflicts, and communal clashes.

“Many die or are injured needlessly as a result of inadequate social preparation, untrained and ill-prepared leadership for disaster response.

“We call on all Nigerians to be safety conscious by avoiding any form of carelessness both at home and the office for disaster risk reduction in the country,” he said.

He said the Institute is mandated to position Nigeria and Africa for disaster risk reduction, capacity building, security management, peace building and partnership through collaboration and empowerment.

The registrar disclosed that the Institute conducted training programmes, class room and online professional courses for various levels of stakeholders and members of the society.

“The Institute is a research body for human resource development, capacity building, professional competency certification and policy advocacy in the field of disaster risk management and Safety science.

“We give policy support for organisations and advice on disaster risk reduction and Safety strategies for safe living,” Edwin said.

He, therefore, enjoined Nigerians to be safety conscious and pro-active in order to reduce risks of disaster in the country.

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Despite losing his last two attempts to seek the PDP gubernational ticket, the former Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Barrister Mukhtari Shehu Shagari, yesterday declared his intention to contest in the PDP gubernatorial primary for the 2019 election.

Shagari who made his declaration to party supporters at the state secretariat of the party said that he was the most qualified among all those who would contest the governorship primary in terms of cognate experience in governance, administration and politics.

The former Water Resources Minister, who is the only one so far to have declared his interest in PDP the ticket in this dispensation, said that he was ready to abide by the party’s decision irrespective of the method used to produce the party’s flag bearer.

He said that if eventually elected as governor his focus would be on agriculture, education, women and youth development, health, water supply, rural development, roads and general infrastructure.

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Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano

, has revealed that the state government would soon partner prospective investors to boost production of food spices for both consumption and exportation.

The Governor gave this hint yesterday after an inspection tour of Tiger Food Production Company situated at Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

Obiano who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Nkem Okeke, said his government would perfect other avenues of engaging farmers in the state in growing the raw materials needed for its production.

According to him, “From what I saw on ground, the Company is committed to its services. We’ll continue to see how to engage farmers in the State more in growing the raw materials needed for its production, which will be of immense benefit to the state.”

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing and Export, Mr Afam Mbanefo, also disclosed that the government hopes to commence production of spices with 100 hectares of land at Ndikelionwu and Ugbenu communities.

He said that Tiger Foods has investment interest in Chili pepper, Tumeric, Local Basil and Vegetables, stressing that partnering the firm has economic, social and political benefits.

In his response, the Managing Director of Tiger Foods, Mr. Don Ebubeogu, appealed to the government to help in identifying communities where such commodities could be grown and encourage people to cultivate them.

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Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Dr. Ibrahim Musa, has said that at least 70 percent of Nigerians still get water from unprotected sources due to factors like underfunded water infrastructure, lack of effective co-ordination and monitoring of water projects  in the country.

Musa said this on Wednesday, in Abuja at the occasion of the National Co-ordination Workshop on the achievements on the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, 6 in the Water Sector.

The Permanent Secretary who disclosed that before the SDGs, Nigeria could not meet up with the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, for water and sanitation disclosed that at the close of the global programme ‘’ national access Water supply was 69 percent  and sanitation was  29 percent’’ which means that a majority of Nigerians still draw water from unprotected sources.

‘’In the same vein, about 70 percent of Nigerians do not have access to improved and unshared sanitation facilities.’’

National estimate of open defecation rate is 25 percent which indicates that open defecation is still prevalent across the country.

According to the Perm Sec said, “ some of the reasons adduced for this include; underfunded water infrastructure, poor management and operations, limited human resources, inefficient sector governance, inadequate private sector investment, lack of effective co-ordination, monitoring and bench marking, among others.’’

He gave  assurance that the National Co-ordination  workshop on achieving SGD6 is aimed at achieving six point agenda which includes co-ordination of mechanisms for all SDGs intended projects, develop strategies to fast track implementation of projects, collate information for effective monitoring of progress in the water sector, among others.

Director, Water Resources Planning and Technical Support Services of the Ministry, Engineer Gerald Osuagwu who declared the workshop open said that the workshop is organized by the ministry to develop a framework for tracking of SDGs 6 in the water sector.

Osuagwu said that water is one of the key drivers for all social and economic development activities, hinting that in Nigeria, surface groundwater reserves cumulatively stand at 440 billion cubic meters based on 2013 National Water Resources Master Plan.

He said, “ managing water in an environmentally sustainable manner, protecting the ecosystems that preserve, store and deliver clean fresh water for multiple uses, promotion of sanitation and hygiene practice are crucial aspects of sustainable development.”

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Marriage they say is for better for worst, but when one partner decides to get a divorce and the other bluntly refuses, the court steps in. the story of Tini Owens is one that is very captivating. She has been married to Hugh for 40 years, had extra marital affairs and claims her marriage is now ‘loveless’ (in other words, she is bored). Her husband Hugh, refuses to grant her the wish of freedom. Let’s just say he believes in the ‘marriage institution’.

Read story below.

A 68 year old woman by name Tini Owens has been refused a divorce to her 80 year old husband Hugh Owens of 40.

Tini who claimed that her marriage has broken down filled for divorce but was refused by her husband who revealed that Tini had cheated on him after claiming that their relationship had become boring.

Hugh and Tini are living in separate houses but hugh still insist that they shouldn’t be granted divorce as they still have ‘a few years’ to enjoy their live together.

Mrs Owens previously told judges that her husband makes her feel ‘unloved, isolated and alone’.

Mr Owens’ lawyers said he took ‘no pleasure’ from the legal process, but felt his wife’s petition for a divorce should be contested.

The lawyers’ statement said: ‘He should not be unfairly criticised for attempting to save his marriage.

‘He did not accept that his behaviour during the marriage was such as to justify the ending of the marriage by divorce. At the outset he hoped that there could be a reconciliation with his wife.’

Mrs Owens’ solicitor, Simon Beccle, said many people would find the Supreme Court decision ‘hard to understand’.

He said she had hoped the Supreme Court justices would make a decision which would be ‘forward-thinking and fit with the current social mores’.

He added: ‘Mrs Owens is devastated by this decision, which means that she cannot move forward with her life and obtain her independence from Mr Owens.’

Her lawyer is demanding a change in the law by introducing ‘no-fault’ divorces, where a spouse does not have to prove that his or her partner has done anything wrong.

Supreme Court justices analysed rival legal arguments, which revolved around concepts of ‘unreasonable’ behaviour and ‘fault’, at a hearing in London in May and delivered a ruling today.

Lady Hale, Britain’s most senior female judge, said: ‘I have found this case very troubling. It is not for us to change the law laid down by Parliament – our role is only to interpret and apply the law.’

She said she had been ‘reluctantly persuaded’ that Mrs Owens’ appeal should be dismissed.

Five Supreme Court judges waved away Mrs Owens’ pleas to let her end the union and ruled she must stay married.

Top judges backed previous court rulings that Mrs Owens has failed to establish that her marriage had irretrievably broken down, as required by law.

A number of justices expressed their reluctance to make the ruling, but said they were bound by the law.

Mrs Owens who is the wife of mushroom farmer had already lost two rounds of the battle. In 2016 she failed to persuade a Family Court judge to allow her to divorce.

Last year three appeal judges ruled against her after a Court of Appeal hearing in London. They said Mrs Owens had failed to establish that her marriage had, legally, irretrievably broken down and dismissed her challenge to a ruling by Judge Robin Tolson.

One appeal judge said she reached her conclusion with ‘no enthusiasm whatsoever’ but that Parliament would have to decide whether to introduce ‘no fault’ divorce on demand.

Another said Parliament had ‘decreed’ that being in a ‘wretchedly unhappy marriage’ was not a ground for divorce.

Mrs Owens’ lawyers say she should not have to prove that Mr Owens’ behaviour has been ‘unreasonable’ – only that she should not ‘reasonably be expected’ to remain with him.

They say the case is about ‘proper interpretation’ of legislation.

Barrister Philip Marshall QC, who leads Mrs Owens’ legal team, told Supreme Court justices that a ‘modest shift’ of focus in interpretation of legislation was required.

But barrister Nigel Dyer QC, who leads Mr Owens’ legal team, disagreed and raised concern about the introduction of divorce on ‘demand’.

Mr and Mrs Owens married in 1978 and lived in Broadway, Worcestershire, judges have heard. Mrs Owens petitioned for divorce in 2015 after moving out.

They have two grown up children, Katherine, 38, and Thomas, 36, who is also a director of his father’s haulage company, which made a £451,000 profit in 2015.

Mr Owens, who describes himself as a ‘Mushroom Growing Specialist’, runs a successful fruit and vegetable growing company near Evesham with a £7.2million annual turnover. He and his wife are the two main shareholders.

The couple have been living in neighbouring properties in Worcestershire since February 2015.

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The absence of the embattled Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, in court on Thursday, has stalled his gun-running trial.

The gun running trial involves the senator and two others.

Dino’s Barrister Yemi Mohammed, who stood in for Mike Ozekhome (SAN) told the trial magistrate, Suleyman Abdalah, that he had it on good authority that Senator Melaye was attacked in Gwagwalada on Wednesday on his way home from the court.

“I learnt that he was attacked yesterday in Gwagwalada on his way home from the court. Up till now, I have not been able to reach him. I don’t know where he is at the moment,” he said.

He said that the prosecution counsel was not ready to open the case “due to the reason best known to them.”

However, the officer in charge of Police prosecution, Theophilus Oteme, told the court that the prosecuting counsel had an emergency yesterday, which made it “extremely difficult to appear in court.”

He, therefore, asked for long adjournment to September 23, which was opposed by the trial magistrate who argued that “it contravened administration of criminal justice law of Kogi State as amended.”

He, therefore, adjournment till 9th August for commencement of trial.

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A 35 year old man by name Carlos Delacruz has been arrested for having sex with two women with an unknown object. Carlos who only had sex with these women only when the lights were out never allowed them touch him or see him naked in order to hide his secret. Delacruz was later found to be without a penis during examination while in custody.

The victims whose name are being withheld for security and legal reasons complained of experiencing ‘extreme pain’ during intercourse with DeLacruz and were forced to stop, and both suffered from thrush afterwards.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told both women, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, were left shocked after they subsequently discovered Delacruz did not have a penis and had been using an unknown object to enter them.

Delacruz admitted to penetrating both women with an unknown object without their consent when he appeared at the city court on Tuesday.

Fiscal depute Kirsten Cockburn told the court Delacruz had been in a relationship with both women at separate times between May 27, 2013, and May 14 last year.

Ms Cockburn said: ‘The accused was in a relationship with one of the women between May 2013 and January 2016 and they first had sex in May 2013.

‘She believed she was being penetrated by his penis. The accused does not have a penis.

‘She knew he was self conscious about his body and always wore a t-shirt.

‘[On one occasion] the accused turned his back [while in bed together] and she heard him with a [condom] wrapper. The accused turned around and inserted his penis into her.

‘During intercourse he would hold on to the base of the penis with his hand.’

e fiscal added Delacruz and the woman would have sex around once a month despite her suffering ‘extreme pain’ and only being allowed to touch his body ‘over his clothing’.

‘During their relationship the woman continued to believe he had a penis’, the fiscal added.

Ms Cockburn added the woman suffered from thrush following the lovemaking sessions with Delacruz.

The couple split up in January 2016 and the woman informed the police in May that year after she learned Delacruz had been lying to her and did not have a penis.

Delacruz then began a second relationship with another woman in August 2016 and after two months of dating they moved in together.

The second victim also ‘believed Delacruz had a penis’ and the couple always had the lights off during when they had sex.

She also suffered ‘extreme pain from penetration’ during lovemaking and on the first occasion had to tell Delacruz to stop as she was bleeding.

The couple then had sex around ten times over the course of their nine-month relationship and the woman also contracted thrush afterwards.

The relationship failed in May 2017 due to ‘financial matters’ the couple were having and the court was told the woman discovered Delacruz’s sordid secret the following month and decided to call in the police.

Ms Cockburn said during a subsequent police interview Delacruz made no comment and that he was medical examined while in custody and it was ‘found he did not have a penis’.

No details of Delacruz’s gender position were read out in court and defending brief Cameron Tait said he would reserve his full mitigation to the sentencing.

Sheriff Alison Stirling placed Delacruz on the sex offenders register for a term still to be determined.

Sheriff Stirling deferred sentence to September but warned Delacruz that ‘all options remain open to the court at the sentencing’.

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The All Progressive Congress senators, have revealed the outcomes of their Wednesday evening closed door meeting with President Mohammadu Buhari.

The senators said they went to assure him of their loyalty, and also informed him that the APC still has clear majority in both chambers of the National Assembly.

The meeting which began at about 9:30 p.m. held inside the conference room in the office of the wife of the president at the State House Villa, Abuja, had in attendance 39 senators, the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, and top government officials.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan said “we have come to pay a courtesy call on Mr President, our leader, and we informed him of what happened yesterday at the Senate and indeed the National Assembly.”

Mr Lawan also said they told Mr Buhari that some of their colleagues left the ruling party to join various political parties such as PDP, ADC and APGA.

“We informed Mr President of how we stand in the Senate. As at today, the Senate APC Caucus is 53 in number followed by the other minority parties.

“The PDP is the largest minority party with 48 senators and then the ADC with 2 senators, APGA has two senators and we have two vacant seats which were occupied by APC senators who are late now,” he said.

Mr Lawan said they assured Mr Buhari that the APC will reclaim the two vacant seats during the bye-election fixed for August 11. Nigerian Pilot reported how INEC fixed senatorial bye-elections in Katsina and Bauchi following the deaths of the previous lawmakers there.

“By the special grace of God, APC will retain those seats and that will take our majority to 55,” Mr Lawan said.

“Less than 24 hours into the defection, we had some discussions with some of our colleagues who defected and they have shown their willingness and interest and readiness to retrace their steps.”

One of the defecting senators, Lanre Tejuoso from Ogun State, was among those who met the president Wednesday night.

Mr Lawan said the remaining senators are working with the leadership of APC to ensure that those who defected return to the party.

He said apart from APC senators, others from the opposition PDP have also indicated their interest to move to the ruling party.

“I want to say that what has happened in the National Assembly yesterday, particularly in the Senate was supposed to be a disagreement in the family, but I think there was a misjudgment.

“When you disagree, you don’t kill or break the entire house or burn it down, you normally sit down and look for solution and way out.

“Going forward, therefore, we believe that this family will get back all its members and for those that have remained in the Senate APC caucus, will definitely receive the kind of attention and support from our party and administration,” he said.

Mr Lawan also said they told Mr Buhari of their resolve to work with him to fulfil the campaign promises made by the APC.

He said the party campaigned on three core issues including fighting insecurity, revitalising the economy, especially creation of jobs, and fighting corruption.

“This administration will end as a very successful one. So far we have done so much with so little in terms of giving development and infrastructure across the country.

“2019 will be the year that this administration will be given a renewal by Nigerians and the National Assembly will witness a higher majority of APC in both Houses by the grace of God and of course, across the states, we will have more states,” he said.

On Mr Buhari’s reaction, Mr Lawan simply said “What do you expect when children come to their father and their leader? He was happy to receive us, extremely delighted and of course he has shown his willingness to continue to support the legislature in the implementation of our programmes as a government, as a party.”

He said Mr Buhari also assured them of his commitment to work with the National Assembly.

“He believes in the separation of powers, like we all do. But we must have a relationship that will be characterised by interdependence rather than emphasis on independence; by partnership, cooperation, consultation and coordination. And we will give him everything that he requires to ensure that he succeeds,” he said.

Also, the senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, who is one of the aggrieved senators yet to defect, said he attended the meeting in his capacity as a member of the APC caucus of the Senate.

“My presence here does not mean that my issues have been solved 100 per cent. But I am of the belief that we have a leader in the party who is doing everything possible to see that the problems that we have are solved.”

He said he revolted because he found it necessary to do so.

“Revolt at times is most necessary. In fact, APC is a reflection of a revolt, it revolted against a system of iniquity, injustice, and today it is in power.

“So, I am here because I believe in the leadership of the party, I believe also in the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and I am also of the believe that there is no issue that we cannot solve as human beings, as men of conscience and conviction,” he said.

Mr Sani said the discussion with the president was “reassuring and in every possible way; soothing and comforting that a process has started to heal the wounds and also address issues that led us to where we are today.”

“I always tell the chairman of the party that he inherited both a civil war and cold war in the party and he is doing everything possible to solve them and I am of the belief that a forum like this is a big step forward.

“I don’t pretend to see the problem that led to my decision to think twice about the party have all been solved; but I believe this leadership can solve the problem and that is why I am here,” he said.

On his part, the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole said he was delighted for having “a very good day.”

He said the APC has 53 senators out of 107, and that in the next couple of weeks, two more senators will be added to the list after bye elections are held in Bauchi and Katsina state.

Speaking about the meeting with Mr Buhari, Mr Oshiomhole said “the good thing about this meeting is that the senators have come in huge numbers to prove what the Senate leader earlier said, that APC remains the party with the largest number of senators in the Senate.”

Speaking specifically about the defection of some senators, Mr Oshiomhole said many of them are victims of misinformation.

“There was a clear attempt by a few who have other agenda to try to play up fears and then seek to profit from those fears by spreading misinformation in a manner that they did.

“But like everything that is not based on truth, overtime the truth emerges and people who are victims of disinformation retrace their steps; which is why a senator from Ogun (Mr Tejuoso) has returned to the fold and I am sure more and more, who left out of confusion and who were misled, I am sure will come back,” he said.

He said the meeting has also agreed that going forward, both the administration of Mr Buhari and the leadership of APC cannot be intimidated or distracted.

“We remain focussed, we remain committed to addressing those critical challenges that confront our country; insecurity, economy and fighting corruption,” he said.

On reports that he tried to entice senators who left with return tickets, Mr Oshiomhole said “there was no departure ticket; how can you talk of return ticket? There are questions that even on their face value, you don’t want to ask.”

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