THE NIGERIAN
9
THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2013
Abuja Group Donates Items To Prison Inmates ABUJA - Fountain of Hope International, a society in Saint James Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja, has donated items worth N2 million to inmates of the Medium Security Prison, Kuje, FCT. The items, which included mosquito nets, fans, food items and toiletries, were distributed to inmates shortly after a moment of exhortation and words of encouragement from the group. The group also distributed cooked food to all the inmates. Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, President of the group, Obiora Chidi, said the visit to Kuje Prison was part of its desire to cater for the needy in the society. “This visit is part of what we
are expected to do as Christians, spiritually and even in the bible it says we have to visit the imprisoned. “We visited them as part of evangelism to share scriptures with them, pray for them and give them the courage to be able to withstand what they are going through. They are so happy; we feel we are blessed having been able to do that. “My message for them is that this imprisonment is about the physical. They should have courage, they should be prayerful, and they should be there for one another. “They should learn to repent of any sins they’ve committed and plan to be better people when they are out of prison.’’
Chidi urged the inmates not to give up hope, saying that imprisonment was only meant to reform them and make them better citizens. He said: “We have gone to Motherless Babies’ Homes, so this year we decided to come to Kuje Prison. “If you read the book of Hebrew Chapter 13, verse 3, it says, do not forget those that are
Incitemeat:
ABUJA - Two employees of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Messers Mohammed Tanko and Ayuba Yohanna, have dragged the National Union of Hotels and Personal Services Workers before the National Industrial Court, alleging unlawful acts.
in prison; remember them as if you were in prison with them. Do not forget those that are suffering, remember them as if you are suffering with them. “So we have come to tell them that it’s not the end of life; they want to transform them, so that when they come out to the society they can change their lifestyles, their character and fit
well into the society. “There are 581 inmates; we cooked food for more than 600 people. Things we brought here are worth about N2 million.’’ One of the matrons of the society, Dr Mimi Ndukwe, who also spoke with newsmen, said the visit was part of the society’s mandate to care for the needy in the society.
She said the group deemed it necessary to visit the inmates and make provision for some of their needs to encourage them not to lose hope. She called on the inmates to be prayerful and to repent of their past sinful lives so they could become better persons by the time they re-united with their families and friends.
Workers Drag Union To Court The claimants are representing the junior workers of the hotel joined Mr Friday Ochai, the Chairman of the Union and Transnational Hotels and Tourism Services as codefendants in the suit. They alleged that the union’s
executive members were using their position to incite industrial action in the third defendant’s Transcorp Hilton without following the provisions of Trade Dispute Acts. The claimants were praying the court to declare that the second defendant and his executive members were not acting in the interest of the junior workers of the hotel by inciting them. They also prayed for a declaration that the first and second defendants were illegally hijacking the third defendant’s branch to pursue their personal agenda. The claimants sought for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the union and its executive from embarking on
industrial action in the hotel. They further demanded for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from transferring and/or removing any management member of the hotel without justifiable grounds. When the matter came up for mention on Monday, the claimant’s counsel, Mr Paul Eboigbe informed the court of the parties’ decision to settle the matter out of court. Eboigbo told the court that the terms of settlement of the case were drawn by the parties and prayed the court to adjourn to Tuesday to enable them file it. The presiding judge, Justice Maureen Esowe, however adjourned the case to Tuesday, July 23 for report of settlement.
Immigration Alerts Public To Activities Fraud ABUJA - The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has alerted the public over activities of fraudsters promising innocent people employment. Protest by the league of patrotic and progressive youth over life time pension of the Principal Officers of the The Comptroller-General of National Assembly and Non Autonomy of the Local Governments in Abuja the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. David Parradang, gave the warning in a statement made available to newsmen in ABUJA - The Actors Guild of The national chairman said She directed the leadership of Abuja. Nigeria (AGN) appeared they had paid a visit to the the guild to the Minister of Parradang said the individuals divided over the N3 billion grant National Film and Video Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjodesigned Website asking by the Federal Government to Censors Board (NFVCB) and Iweala, on the modalities earlier reached the intended innocent people to pay certain assist the movie industry in the briefed them on the moves by agreed on grant. practitioners. amount of money into bank country. some reputable producers trying She said that some people had She called on practitioners not accounts as processing fees for The state chairmen of the to divert the grants for their use. written to the minister stating to tear the industry apart, while the job. guild met in Abuja on July 18 He said that the board had that they no longer needed the threatening to sue anyone who “The Comptroller General of on the modalities to adopt in assured of its timely money while some were made unsubstantiated allegation Immigration (CGI) wishes to disbursing the grants. intervention in the crisis, adding working to ensure that the grant against her. reiterate that the NIS is The National Chairman and that the crisis would soon be
N3bn Grant Rocks Actors Guild
Secretary of the guild, Messrs. Agility Onwurah and Samuel Onibiyo, however, in separate interviews with newsmen, accused some practitioners of wanting to divert the grant. Onwurah accused some known movie producers of making moves to divert the grant for their use while leaving the upcoming artists behind. He said some were making surreptitious move of getting the money all alone, and that portended a great danger for those who are coming up.” “While practitioners suffered lack of funds and humiliation in the quest of producing films, some people were working to ensure that the guild remained static,” he alleged. He said that the chairmen had resolved that the grant be used on production and distribution of movies.
resolved. Onibiyo, in his reaction, berated the conduct of those he described as “star actors” who he alleged wanted to use the fund for their schools. He said the demand, if granted, would send the industry to the backstage, adding that those practitioners, who were already established, should not be allowed to take over the grant. It was gathered that Stephanie Okereke was one of the practitioners fingered in the alleged grant controversy.. Speaking to journalists, when contacted Okereke, debunked the allegation, describing it as baseless and unfounded. She said that the grant was broken into three stages; production, distribution and training.
Acting solicitorGeneral of the Federation, Mrs Olusola Moore; project Director, Democratic Governance for Development, Dr Mairtada Deme; Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Justice, Prof. Peter Akper (SAN) and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Unit member, Ministry of Justice, Mr Godwin Garuba, at the Public presentation of the Revised Guidelines on the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 in Abuja
presently not carrying out any recruitment exercise into the service. “The CGI calls on gullible members of the public to be wary of the antics of these few fraudulent people to avoid falling prey to them,’’ he said. He said the service would inform Nigerians of its recruitment exercise when it commences. Parradang said the service would adhere to rules guiding recruitment exercise as prescribed by the Federal Civil Service. He gave the assurance that only qualified persons would be recruited at the right time.