PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013
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News Extra Lagos swears-in new judges as Fashola calls for greater justice dispensation From Matthew Irinoye, Lagos
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agos state Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday swore-in six new High Court Judges. The new judges are the Chief Registrar of the court, Mr. Ganiyu Safari (a Magistrate), Ms Folashade Bankole-Oki, daughter of late Chief Tanimose Bankole Oki, the former Chairman, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Mrs Oyindamola A. Ogala, wife of Babatunde Ogala, the former chairman of the Lagos state House committee on judiciary, a Magistrate, Mr. Michael Akintunde Savage, Mrs. Sedotan Ogunsanya and Mr. Wasiu Animahun. Fashola charged them to ensure that justice dispensed by them serves the needs of the public, adding that they should apply the laws fearlessly and rigorously, with integrity to combat crime in the state. With the swearing-in of the three female and three male judges, the Lagos High Court currently has 56 judges, 40 females and 16 males. The Governor said the increase in the number of judges was imperative as the most sophisticated legal practices in the country were taking place in Lagos State. The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said the judges were appointed by the Governor based on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. In her remark, Lagos state Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, said there was need to ensure speedy dispensation of justice in the state hence the elevation of the new judges to the High bench is deemed most appropriate. She said there was no doubt that Lagos state Judiciary remains the most virile in Nigeria, urging the new judges to ensure that they contribute positively to the dispensation of justice in Lagos state.
FG inaugurates committee on policy direction for cement sub-sector By Stanley Onyekwere
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s part of efforts to enhance self-sufficiency and competiveness of the Nigeria cement sub-sector in the international market, the Federal Government yesterday inaugurated a 14-Man Technical Committee on review of the nation’s backward integration policy and formulation of a new policy direction for the cement sub-sector of the economy. The committee comprising of relevant individuals, stakeholders and MDAs in the cement industry, has as its cardinal mandates guided by nine terms of reference, to include review of the implementation of
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xecutive Secretary Kaduna State Primary Health care Development Agency, Dr Sufiyanu Mu’awiyyah Babale yesterday said the state government is committed towards eradicating polio transmission by the end of 2013 as he urged parent to remain resolute and continue to cooperate with government until every child under age five is vaccinated in the state. Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, Babale said a total of 3.4 million children had been vaccinated in the state. He said that despite the achievements recorded in the fight against the virus, their effort was still
respect, investors in the industry were encouraged to redirect efforts towards using the huge deposit of raw materials available in all the Geo-political zones of the country.” “The execution the policy has so far, generated more than two million direct and indirect employment, increased the nation’s installed capacity from three million metric tonnes per annum in 2002 to about 28 million metric tonnes per annum in 2012. “It attracted over US $ 6 billion worth investment into the cement sub-sector and saved the nation over US $210 billion foreign exchange, hitherto expended on
importation; and in addition, it became the major contributor to Gross Domestic Profit (GDP) under the manufacture sector”, he said. The committee is headed by the Chairman of Cement Manufacturers Association Nigeria (CMAN), Engr. J Makoju, members include Joe Hudson, MD, Lafarge cement, a representative each for ministers of Petroleum Resources, Works, Housing, Science and Technology, representative of Chief Economic adviser to the President, representative of Bulk User of Cement, FBN Capital, and amongst others.
L-R: Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki, Chairman, Technical Committee NCP, Chief Peterside Atedo, Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, jointly briefing journalists after their meeting with Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo on National Council on Privatisation, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye
KDSG vows to eradicate polio From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna
the current backward integration policy and conception of a policy direction for the industry. While inaugurating the committee, in Abuja, the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom, explained that it had become imperative to review the industry with a view to charting new strategies that would not only ensure efficiency but strong competiveness of the industry. According to him, the policy was designed to gradually reduce importation of cement, increase local production by progressively boosting value addition; “in that
being challenged by high proportion of missed children and non compliance in some polio risk LGAs. According to him, “findings from the just concluded May 2013 exercise reveal steady improvement in the quality of the round since January this year. “As we currently have about 50 per cent local government areas attaining greater than 80 per cent coverage in the analyses conducted among 15 selected areas and this is the first time this year we are achieving this much. “As we move towards stopping polio transmission by the end of the year 2013, I urge you (parents) to remain resolute and continue with the active oversight and cooperation until every child under five years in the state is vaccinated with the oral polio vaccine.
Court remands former Osun LG Chair over alleged fraud By Lambert Tyem
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ustice F.E. Owolabi of the Osun State High Court yesterday remanded Chief Rufus Woleola Ojo, a former Chairman of Orolu local government Ifon, Osun state, in prison custody. Woleola is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) for stealing and diversion of public funds to the tune of N22 million. EFCC Spokesman Wilson Uwujaren said the ordeal of Woleola who was arraigned on a one count charge of criminal embezzlement and diversion of public funds, followed
a petition dated 3rd June 2010, by Atilade Quadri and Comrade Bashir on behalf of Orolu Integrity Forum where it was alleged that the accused collected money for the constituency projects including a nine classroom building without executing the project. EFCC’s investigation showed that on 14th December 2006, the sum of N22, 058,021 meant for the classrooms construction was transferred from the account of Orolu local government to the account of Rulekal Ventures limited at Oceanic Bank, where Woleola is a sole signatory. The accused who confessed
to have completed only one out of the 10 classrooms that were scheduled for construction told operatives of the Commission that he diverted the money to set up a personal poultry, Rulekal Farms Limited. When the one count charge was read to him, Woleola pleaded not guilty, necessitating the prosecution counsel, Aso Larry Peters, to pray the court to remand the accused person in prison custody pending a formal bail application. Justice Owolabi, while adjourning the case till July 9, 2013, for trial urged the defence to file a formal bail application.