7 Nigeriens arrested over tree felling in Kwara

By DEMOLA AKINYEM
ILORIN — Fifteen Niger Republic nationals have been apprehended in Kwara State over alleged involvement in illegal felling of trees.
Speaking on the development, yesterday, Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Mr. Kayode Towoju,  commended the new Forestry Monitoring Committee for apprehending the suspects.
He noted that the state government had invested on sensitisation campaigns against misuse of the forest reserves, which had caused climatic challenges in the state.
Towoju said that economic trees like Bombas (Ose), Shea Butter (Emi) and Locust Bean (Igba) were destroyed in Woru village to produce 800 pieces of carved woods of various sizes by the Nigerien.
He also said that the estimated cost of woods felled in Woru was more than N1 million, while warning other village heads to desist from aiding and abeting illegal activities in their areas.
He disclosed that the carved woods were impounded and deposited at the Area Forest Office, Ilorin while the culprits had been transferred from A Division Police Station, Ilorin to the office of The Nigerian Immigration, Ilorin.
Towoju called on the citizenry to support the state government’s efforts at ensuring that more trees are planted to protect the environment from total degradation.
Meanwhile, Vanguard reliably gathered that the affected nationals were arrested in Woru town in Ilorin East local Government of the state by the Forestry Monitoring Committee of the state’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

www.http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/7-nigeriens-arrested-over-tree-felling-in-kwara/

NDLEA arrests suspected drug peddler

BY DANIEL ETEGHE
LAGOS —THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday arrested a drug suspect with 1.295 kilogrammes of methamphetamine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight on his way to Thailand.
The 22-year-old suspect, Mr. Ilechukwu Ejikonye, who claimed to have invested about N750,000 into drug trafficking was apprehended by officers of the anti-narcotic agency who detected the drugs during the outward screening of passengers.
Speaking on the arrest, NDLEA Commander at the Airport, Mr Hamza Umar said that the drug was carefully hidden in the suspects’ luggage in a bid to beat officers of the agency.
“Like several factory modes of drug concealment, we had to practically cut the bag open to detect the drugs. Ordinarily when you open the bag you will not see the drug. We found two brown parcels of drugs weighing 1.295kg” Hamza stated.
He further noted that the agency has also apprehended a 36 years old suspect, Mr. Akpata Martin Chukwudi who ingested twenty wraps of cocaine on his way from Brazil.
According to Hamza, the suspect was arrested upon arrival at the MurtalaMuhammedInternationalAirport, Lagos when he tested positive to drug ingestion during the inward screening of passengers on Qatar Airline flight adding that the suspect excreted twenty wraps of cocaine weighting about 350 grammes while he was kept on observation.
Narrating his ordeals, one of the suspects, Mr. Ilechukwu Ejikonye said that he was lured into the drug deal by a friend he met in Thailand.
“I am a business man. I relocated to Thailand last year where I buy goods and send to Nigeria. It was in Thailand that I met a man who introduced me into drug business. He gave my number to his partner in Lagos who lodged me in a hotel. They made me to contribute 750,000 naira as my contribution and promised me a handsome reward on arrival in Thailand. My focus was on the profit that will accrue to me, it was when I was arrested that I realized I had made a big mistake” he said.
Also Mr. Akpata Martin Chukwudi said “I saw hell trying to ingest the drugs in Brazil. They brought about 100 wraps but I was only able to ingest 20. They were angry and disappointed but the more I force myself the more difficult it was for me to swallow. Eventually, they gave me 800 dollars in anger instead of 5,000 dollars. I actually decided to smuggle drugs because I needed money to settle my mother’s hospital bill”.
Meanwhile, NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade said that the Agency would investigate all cases and bring drug culprits to justice stressing that they would all be charged to court soon.
“The Agency is prepared to bring drug barons to justice. Our target is to reduce the drug problem to the barest minimum” Giade stated.

www.http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/ndlea-arrests-suspected-drug-peddler/

10 hunters in police net over mysterious death of colleague

BY DAYO JOHNSON
AKURE — AT least 10 friends who are hunters have been arrested by the police in Ondo State over the mysterious death of one of their colleagues, Abiodun  Olanipekun during hunting expedition in Arigidi Akoko, Akoko North West area of the state.
The deceased also a hunter was said to have gone on hunting expedition with his friends in the thick Agbaluku forest in Arigidi only to be brought back dead.
Although OndoState police PRO, Wole Ogodo said that the preliminary investigation showed that it was suicide, he noted that investigation into the case continuing.
Family of the deceased informed Vanguard that reports brought by the suspects was that Abiodun while fiddling with his dane gun mistakenly shot himself dead.
Another source said that Abiodun was trying to adjust his gun after he missed killing an animal but ended up shooting himself mistakenly.
He was said to have aimed the gun at an animal but the bullets refused to be released following which he decided to adjust it only for the cork to snap killing him instantly.
The police, is however, trying to unravel another report that maybe one of the hunters mistakenly shot the deceased thinking he was an animal during the expedition.
However, Vanguard learnt that the bullets pierced through his mouth and the head and ripped it open.
He was said to have died on the spot and his corpse deposited at the mortuary of the Specialist hospital in Ikare. His 10 friends are said to be in detention at the Oke-Agbe Divisional Police station for questioning but the police PRO, Ogodo claimed ignorance of the arrest of the suspects.
Ogodo, however, said that a paramount traditional ruler in the town reported the matter to the divisional Police station in Arigidi.
An Uncle of the deceased, Mr Dele Ajayi who confirmed the death of Abiodun said that several versions of what happened in the forest during the tragic hunting expedition were given by the suspects.
Ajayi, however, said that the family members of Abiodun have taken the ugly incident as an act of God.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the traditional ruler has promised the police authorities in the state to help in fishing out other suspects now on the run.
Police PRO said that the investigation into the death of the hunter continues.

www.http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/10-hunters-in-police-net-over-mysterious-death-of-colleague/

Man bags 20 yrs jail for killing his father

By AUSTIN OGWUDA
ASABA— AN Asaba High Court, yesterday sentenced a 30-year-old farmer, Opukeme George to 20 years imprisonment for killing his father on Christmas eve.
The convict, who hails from Tuomo town in Bomadi local government area of DeltaState, was found guilty of killing his father, Kosine George with a cutlass following quarrel that broke out between them over missing fish.
He told the court that he killed the father on December 24, 2011, due to provocation, saying that it was the father that attacked him first when he (son) demanded to know the whereabouts of the two pieces of fish that he kept.
Prosecution called one witness to prove its case while the covict testified for himself.
Presiding Judge, Justice M.O. Omovie stated that “in the final analysis after reading the written submissions by both counsel, I hold that the accused is guilty of manslaughter. I hereby convict you for manslaughter.”
www.http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/man-bags-20-yrs-jail-for-killing-his-father/

Closed market: We’re losing N100bn daily, cry Ladipo traders

By DONALD ARJI
LAGOS — TRADERS in the popular Ladipo auto parts market closed down, yesterday, by Lagos State Government on Monday have started counting their losses, saying they are losing at least N100 billion daily.
Traders who spoke to Vanguard yesterday, lamented that they were already feeling the pains of the closure as they could no longer meet their obligations to their families.
Speaking, Secretary of the Aguiyi Ironsi Traders Union, Mr. Christain Igbaunam told Vanguard that his members would be losing over N100billions per day to the closure and lamented that efforts to meet with the Lagos State Task force on Environmental and Special Offenses (Enforcement) Units, to negotiate the opening of the market had proved abortive.

*Ladipo Market traders protesting against the closure of the market

He said: “We have over 15,00 registered members. Individual members make not less than N10 million daily. On the average, members will be losing over N100billions on a daily basis to the closure of the market.”
He denied allegations that their security guards arrested were armed robbers, saying “those allegations made against our security guards are false. They were not armed with guns and were not against the state officials. They were only misunderstood. These are security guards put in place by the association to arrest criminal activities in the market. I am pleading for their release.”
A trader who spoke on condition of anonymity, said “whenever I offload my containers, I make not less than 15millions. Just imagine what I will be losing now that the market has been shut.”
Another who gave his name as Jude Tobechukwu, pleaded for the re-opening of the market, saying “we are losing billions of Naira to the closure of this market. Today’s (yesterday) is the second day that we have been shut out. I have lost over N10 millions since the closure. That is a huge sum of money even those in government do not want to lose.”
One Okolie Amadi, claimed his wife was in the hospital for a kidney transplant, lamenting that “I was hoping to use this week to look for money for the transplant.  My wife is lying helpless in the hospital awaiting a kidney transplant due to lack of money. I came to the market to see if I can raise some money for her operations only to see that armed mobile police men have barricaded the entrance to the market. I am pleading to the state government to have piety on us.”

www.http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/closed-market-were-losing-n100bn-daily-cry-ladipo-traders/

Jonathan averts constitutional crisis, signs 2013 budget

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Okey Ndiribe, Emman Ovuakporie & Joseph Erunke
ABUJA—President Goodluck Jonathan last night signed the 2013 budget into law, averting an unprecedented constitutional crisis and a face-off with the National Assembly.
Confirmation of the President’s assent of the budget came as the House of Representatives spoiled for war, yesterday, at a closed door session of the House.
At the end of the session, the House had resolved to mandate its leadership to consult with the Senate on taking action concerning the President’s purported refusal to give his assent to the budget.
President Jonathan, however, took the wind off the sail of his critics last night when he signed the budget into law despite what the presidency described as its reservations.

President Goodluck Jonathan

President of the Senate, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and Special Adviser to the president on National Assembly matters, Senator Joy Emodi, were among other dignitaries present at the signing yesterday.
Presidency statement
A statement by Dr. Rueben Abati, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said further legislative actions would be taken by the National Assembly to address the observations made by the presidency on the N4.98 trillion budget passed by the National Assembly.
The president had last October presented to the National Assembly a N4.92 trillion spending proposal for the Federal Government which the National Assembly, however, hiked to N4.98 trillion when it passed it last December.
President Jonathan had refused to give his assent to the budget transmitted to him on January 14 on the claim that there were mistakes in the details, the refusal to apportion funds for the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, and the increase in the benchmark for oil revenue from $75 per barrel to $79 per barrel.
The statement confirming the president’s assent to the budget bill read: “Following consultations and an agreement between the executive and the legislature on the 2013 Appropriation Bill, President Goodluck Jonathan today (yesterday) signed the bill into law.
“President Jonathan wishes to reassure all Nigerians that the consultations have been in the best interest of the country, and in pursuit of understanding and mutual cooperation between both arms of government.
“As part of the understanding reached with its leadership, the observations of the executive arm of government about the Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly will be further considered by the National Assembly through legislative action, to ensure effective and smooth implementation of the 2013 Appropriation Act in all aspects.
“The administration remains fully committed to the positive transformation of the country, and effective and efficient service delivery for the benefit of all citizens.
“All Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government have therefore been directed to work very hard to ensure that all the services, projects and programmes contained in the budget are successfully delivered on schedule in spite of the slight delay in its enactment.”
If he hadn’t signed…
If the president had failed to sign the budget at the end of the 30 working days deadline, he would have been expected to re-present it, or another proposal, to the National Assembly in line with Section 59 (4) of the Constitution.
A constitutional lawyer in the National Assembly pointed to what he claimed was the ignorance of presidency officials who were mistaking the constitutional provisions on appropriation with that pertaining to other bills.
Whereas Section 58 of the Constitution pertaining to ordinary bills allows the president to wield a veto on a bill passed by the National Assembly and allow the National Assembly to override the veto, the president is, however, bound by the provisions of Section 59 (4), which applies to money bills, to re-present the budget where he applies the veto.
Constitution’s provision
(4) Where the President, within thirty days after the presentation of the bill to him, fails to signify his assent or where he withholds assent, then the bill shall again be presented to the National Assembly sitting at a joint meeting, and if passed by two-thirds majority of members of both houses at such joint meeting, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required.
A constitutional lawyer in the National Assembly leadership speaking on the issue, yesterday, expressed concern that the country could be headed towards a constitutional crisis unless the President immediately signs the budget bill.
Speaking before the President signed the bill last night, the source said: “It is in the best interest of the President to sign the bill before him otherwise we are headed towards a constitutional crisis where the budget would be taken from him and he would no more have a say on it.
“Should he fail to sign it, he is now bound to physically re-present the bill to the National Assembly and from then he would lack any power to make an input again.”

www.http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/jonathan-averts-constitutional-crisis-signs-2013-budget/

SINGLE AND MARRIED

I maried my husband but i don't love him.
Please advice me. Read the full story:
My name is Jesica, a nigerian, am the only child of my parent. My parent are not rich but they are ok.
I married my husband but i don't love him. The marriage was not intentional. It started when i was doing my NYSC, i actually served in lagos. After my service, i decided to stay back in lagos to look for job and i was having a problem of accommodation. My parent were hoping that after my service, i will find a job and make them proud. I stayed with one of the girls that served with me in the same PPA. She later drove me out because of financial problem. This guy came and asked to help, too short for my liking, i could not refuse because i have no other option. He accommodated me, buying for me whatever i needed, always there for me. I left myself for him and he pregnated me. I wanted to remove the pregnancy but am a dedicated christian though condition made me do what i shouldn't have done. I decided keep the baby, i couldn't live him after given birth to the baby because he cares for me and were ready to do anything for me not to go. I told my parent i want to come back but they refuse and insisted that i stay. Now we are having the second child but my mind is still telling me to go. Am always ashame to go out with him. Please i need urgent advice. Am confused
Please be mature to give ur advice, no abusive word or unnecessary talk.
Thanks as u help to solve a preblem.

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