Fulani Herdsmen: Benue Governor cautions Defence Minister

Benue State governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, yesterday faulted Minister of Defence,  Mansur Dan-Ali for attributing the invasion of the state by killer herdsmen to the enactment of anti-open grazing laws.

He said it was unfortunate that the minister prefer conferring immunity on cattle to human beings.

He said herdsmen attack on farmers is a monster that has the capacity of consuming the entire country. 

He said as at Thursday, there were reports of killings in Guma part of the state.

Ortom, who reacted to the Minister’s claims at the Benue People’s House, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the minister.

He said: “It is unfortunate, but I want to console myself that,  that thing is not coming from the Honourable Minister. But if it did, I’ll say that it is very, very unfortunate. Then the solution to the security challenges we have in this country is not in sight having those kinds of people in position who are not able to give quality advice and to also proffer solution to the security problems we have here."

“For instance, if you say it is because of the law that killings by herdsmen are going on in Benue, is there any law prohibiting open grazing in Adamawa State? Is there any one in Plateau State? Is there any law in Kaduna, Ondo, Bayelsa, Imo, Ebonyi, Delta or Edo State?"

“In Edo State, cattle have taken over even schools. This is provoking. It is like dancing on the graves of those people who were murdered and slaughtered in this state on the first of January. “It’s unfortunate that you have those kinds of people who are saddled with the responsibility of providing security for our country. I do not want to join issues with him, but I will personally see him and try to find out why he had to say that."

JAMB Announces 2017 Admission Deadline; Speaks on Validity of UTME Results

 

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed all institutions to end their 2017 admission by January 25. 2018. 

This was disclosed by the Head of Media, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, during an interview with newsmen. According to him, candidates who have gained admissions into various institutions and are yet to register or do not have admissions by January 25 should begin to make preparations to purchase the 2018 UTME form.

Dr. Benjamin equally emphasized that the UTME results are valid for only one year and not three years as widely rumored. 

He, however, said that if changes are made on the validity of UTME results, the board will communicate that to the public. 

He further reiterated that the UTME examinations would take place between March 9 and 17 while the mock exams would take place in the first week of February, and advised candidates who wish to purchase the UTME and Direct Entry Form to do so before the deadline, which is February 6^th, 2018.

He confirmed that both the UTME and Direct Entry Forms will end on the same date.

EFCC in fresh moves against Patience Jonathan’s $8.4m, N7.3bn found in 15 bank accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is in fresh moves to seize funds in 15 bank accounts linked to Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

The funds, which the EFCC is seeking to seize, include a total of $8,435,788.84 and over N7.35bn.

The EFCC had appeared before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos with an ex parte application, seeking the forfeiture of the funds. 

The move was, however, interrupted by a train of Senior Advocates of Nigeria led by Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Mr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who challenged the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the ex parte application.

They told the judge that the funds, which the EFCC seeks to seize, were already a subject of litigation.

But counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, maintained that the SANs had no right of hearing in the court, since his application was ex parte, wondering how they got wind of the move by the anti-graft agency.

In view of the development, the judge adjourned the case till January 23, 2018 and directed the EFCC to file an affidavit to convince it that there were no pending lawsuits relating to the funds before other courts.

UTME: Police arrest two over alleged illegal registration in Lagos

The Police have arrested two men in Lagos for allegedly engaging in an illegal registration of candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Lagos State Coordinator of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Mr Sunday Aladegbaye, confirmed the arrest in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Lagos. 

“Two men and co-owners of a computer-based test centre, Vision Computer Academy, were on Saturday night arrested for allegedly engaging in the illegal registration of candidates for the 2018 UTME.

Benue massacre: Miyetti Allah want compensation for herdsmen affected in crisis

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has appealed to the Federal Government to pay compensation to herdsmen affected by all forms of crisis in the country.

The National Secretary of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Ngelzarma, made the appeal while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Sunday on the position of the association to the crisis between farmers and herdsmen across the country.

Ngelzarma said the decision was the position of members reached at the end of its National Council meeting.