Jonathan sacks NNPC director, appoints five new GEDs

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday sacked the Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Abiye Membere, and appointed five new ones to fill existing vacancies.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the new appointees and their portfolios are Mr. Ian Udoh, Group Executive Director, Refining and Petrochemicals; Dr. Dan Efebo, Group Executive Director, Corporate Services; and Ms. Aisha Abdurrahman, Group Executive Director, Business Development.

Others are Mr. Adebayo Ibirogba, Group Executive Director, Engineering and Technical; and Dr. Joseph Dawha, Acting Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production.

Abati said the appointments took immediate effect.

Among the GEDs, the one in charge of the Exploration and Production is one of the most influential in the hierarchy of the NNPC because the department is responsible for producing the crude oil that is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy.

It was gathered that some of the old GEDs had retired from the corporation without the government filling their positions, while some served in acting capacities.

For instance, the former GED, Refining and Petrochemicals, Mr. Anthony Ogbuigwe, and GED, Business Development, Mr. Aminu Babakusa, were said to have retired from the services of the NNPC.

The former acting GEDs, Corporate Services and Engineering and Technical were replaced with substantive directors.

Those that retained their portfolios are the GEDs, Commerce and Investment, Dr. Attahir Yusuf; Finance and Accounts, Mr. Bernard Otti; Gas and Power, Dr. David Ige; and Comapny Secretary/Legal Adviser, Anthony Madichie.

Udoh, according to the statement, is a native of Akwa Ibom State and has been the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited since November 2012.

He has considerable experience of managing the nation’s refineries, having previously held the position of Executive Director, Operations, at both the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited and the PHRPC.

In addition, Udoh had previously served as a general manager in the Refining and Petrochemicals Directorate of NNPC.

Efebo, who hails from Bayelsa State, was until the latest appointment the Group General Manager in charge of the NNPC’s Human Resources Division. He was previously General Manager, Human Resources, Brass LNG.

Abdurrahman is a native of Kogi State and was the Managing Director, Nikorma, NNPC’s shipping subsidiary.

She also served as Managing Director of Hyson, an NNPC trading subsidiary; and as Executive Director (Services), Pipelines and Products Marketing Company.

Ibirogba, a chemical engineer, until now was the Group General Manager, Engineering, NNPC’s Engineering and Technology Directorate, and hails from Ogun State.

He served at various times as General Manager (New Business), General Manager (Gas Development), and Group General Manager, Greenfield Refineries.

In 2010, Ibirogba became the first African to be elected to the Board of Directors of the World LP Gas Association.

Dawha, who replaces Membere as Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, was previously the Managing Director of Integrated Data Services Limited.

He is an indigene of Borno State and has served the corporation over the years in various capacities in the upstream and downstream sectors of the industry.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, Mr. Babs Omotowa, on Wednesday said the firm paid N220bn as tax on its operational profit in 2013.

According to him, the firm prides itself as the biggest tax payer and gas income earner in the country.

Omotowa said this in Abuja at the inauguration of the company’s university support programme.

“Our corporate income tax will exceed N220bn per annum, which is by far the highest in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.

He added that the NLNG had also commercialised over four trillion cubic feet of natural gas to lead the country’s aspiration for flare reduction at oil production sites.

Forget Kwara, APC tells Jonathan

The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Wednesday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to face governance, adding that his claim that the Peoples Democratic Party would reclaim Kwara State was not realistic.

Jonathan had on Tuesday while granting audience to a delegation of Kwara State chapter of the PDP in Abuja, said all the mandates of the party allegedly stolen in the state by virtue of recent defection by the state governor and others would be returned to the PDP. The Presidency had made similar comment in the past.

But  the Interim Publicity Secretary, APC, Kwara State, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, stated that there was no stolen mandate in the state.   He said Jonathan’s comment was suspect and wondered whether Jonathan would adopt unorthodox and unconstitutional means to upstage the political leadership in the state.

It remains a mirage how a party without leadership and structure, with no councillor in any of the 193 wards;  a party with no chairman in any of the 16 local governments  councils of the state and with just two members out of 24 members in the House of Assembly, will win any election in Kwara State.

“Or is Mr. President thinking of announcing election results from Abuja? This will certainly attract uprising from Kwarans and it should best remain in his imagination,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kwara South Senatorial District has said that it is not opposed to the nomination of a former Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Gbemi Saraki, as a minister by President Jonathan.

In a statement signed by the representatives of the  three blocks  of the district, the party said the appointment of Saraki as a minister had never been an issue of concern.

Sacking: FG asks court to dismiss Olotu’s suit

President Goodluck Jonathan and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, SAN, have asked an Abuja Federal High Court to strike out a suit filed by Justice Gladys Olotu to challenge her dismissal.

Justice Olotu, a former judge of the Abuja Federal House Court, who was dismissed by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, had approached the court in a bid to set aside her compulsory retirement.

She sued President Jonathan and the AGF, alongside the NJC, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Mukhtar, and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta.

But in a notice of preliminary objection filed by their counsel, Taiwo Abidogun, the President and the AGF asked the court, presided by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, to dismiss Justice Olotu’s suit.

They argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Stating the grounds upon which they asked the court to strike out the matter, the President and the AGF noted that, “The substantive matter relates to and is connected with the employment of the applicant, an erstwhile employee of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

They insisted that the suit should not have been filed at the FHC as Section 254 (c) of the Constitution vested jurisdiction on employment matters on the National Industrial Court.

“The Federal High Court has no jurisdiction over employment matters by virtue of sections 251 and 254 of the 1999 Constitution.

“We are of the humble opinion that this matter is best struck out to save time and cost of both the court and the parties.

“We submit that this matter be struck out for want of jurisdiction and humbly urge your Lordship to so hold,” they argued.

Justice Ademola on Wednesday fixed April 28 to hear the suit.

Justice Olotu was relieved of her duties after the NJC found her guilty of gross misconduct, following investigations into petitions that were brought against her.

However, following the development, she filed a motion, through her counsel, S. I. Ameh, SAN, seeking a judicial review of her suspension and recommendation for retirement by the NJC.

The former judge also asked the court to restrain the President, AGF, NJC and the other defendants from tampering with any benefit or privilege that is due to her as a judge of the Abuja FHC, pending the hearing and determination of her application for a judicial review of her sack.

She was dismissed alongside Justice U. A. Inyang of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

It would be recalled that on February 27, the Acting Director of Information in the NJC, Soji Oye, had explained in a statement that the Council, headed by the CJN, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, suspended the two judges and forwarded the recommendation for their dismissal to the President at a meeting on February 26.

The recommendation for the compulsory retirement of the two judges was based on findings made by the NJC after investigations into allegations contained in the petitions brought against them.

According to the NJC, Justice Olotu “failed to deliver judgment only to deliver same in Suit No. FHC/UY/250/2003, 18 months after the final address by all the counsel in the suit, contrary to the constitutional provisions that judgments should be delivered within a period of 90 days.”

The Council added that Justice Olotu “admitted before the Fact Finding Committee of the Council that investigated the allegations that she forgot she had a pending ruling to deliver in an application for joinder.”

The NJC equally found that she “entertained a post Judgment matter in Suit No. FHC/UY/CS/250/2003 in Port Harcourt after delivering judgment, which made her functus officio.”

It was also established that “in another case, Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/505/2012, Justice Olotu failed to deliver judgment twice.”

However, Justice Olotu has debunked the allegations, describing the petition which warranted her suspension and subsequent dismissal as malicious and in bad faith.

Ekiti gov aspirant asks PDP to disqualify Fayose

A Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mr. Deji Ajayi, has asked the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, to disqualify a fellow aspirant, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, from taking part in the PDP primaries scheduled for Saturday.

Ajayi, in a petition, which he also sent to President Goodluck Jonathan, threatened to seek legal redress if Fayose was not barred from the primaries to produce the PDP candidate in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti.

He said that Fayose had ceased from being a member of the party, having defected to the Labour Party in the past and that there was no constitutional recommendation to the National Working Committee of the PDP for Fayose’s readmission to the party.

Ajayi’s letter read in part, “Sir, the subject person, Mr. Ayo Fayose, who is not a party member has been parading himself as an aspirant on the platform of the party for some time without going through and/or fulfilling the constitutional prerequisites to becoming a member of the party.

“It may be apposite to state the facts of how Mr. Fayose, who was once a member of the party lost his membership and has never been re-admitted to full membership of the party to confer the status of participating in the electoral process leading to emergence of the party candidate.

“Sir, the subject person was the Governor of Ekiti State between 2003 and 2006 when he was impeached by the State House of Assembly and went on a self-imposed exile. Upon his return, he left the party and joined the All Nigerian Peoples Party and campaigned across the state for that party’s candidate in the 2007 gubernatorial election.

“In 2013, he did not only join the Labour Party, he was also the candidate of that party for the Ekiti Central Senatorial seat which he lost with a wide margin to the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria. Sir, it is a fact that cannot be denied that the subject person, with these antecedents lost his membership of the party.

“It is conceded that the subject person has, to the general knowledge and to the personal knowledge of our client, taken the initial steps towards becoming a member of the party (PDP) in line with the provision of section 8(17) of the Constitution of the party, however, no recommendation has been made to the National Working Committee for his readmission to the party.”

Vietnam jails blogger for critical posts

A Vietnamese court sentenced a dissident blogger to 15 months in prison for posting online criticism of the government, the latest case in an intensifying crackdown against dissent in the one-party communist country.

At a two-hour trial at the Hanoi People’s Court, Judge Ngo Tu Hoc said on Wednesday that Pham Viet Dao was guilty of “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe the interests of the state” by posting dozens of articles that “distorted, vilified and smeared the senior leaders”.

Dao, 61, confessed to the court and apologised for the “erroneous” details in some of his posts, but said he did not do that on purpose.

“I don’t think that my articles have had bad impact on society,” said Dao, who refused a lawyer and defended himself at the trial.

‘Sincere confession’

“The defendant’s acts are dangerous to the society, causing anxiety among the public and reducing people’s trust in the leadership of the (Communist) Party and the state,” the judge said.

Hoc said the court handed down a light sentence because of Dao’s “sincere confession,” clean criminal record and contribution to the country.

Several Western diplomats and foreign reporters followed the court proceedings via a closed circuit television screen in a separate room.

Dao, a former Cultural Ministry official and member of the Vietnam Writers Association, was arrested at his Hanoi home last June. His membership to the Communist Party was suspended after his arrest.

Earlier this month, a court in the central city of Danang sentenced a well-known blogger, Truong Duy Nhat, to two years in jail on the same charges.

New York-based Human Rights Watch issued a statement on Tuesday calling for Dao’s “immediate and unconditional” release.

“The Vietnamese authorities are shaming themselves before domestic and international public opinion by staging yet another political trial of a peaceful critic,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Human Rights Watch says that the number of people sentenced in political trials in Vietnam has increased every year since 2010, and that at least 63 people were imprisoned for peaceful political expression last year.

Protesters occupy Taiwan’s Legislature over China pact

Hundreds of students remained barricaded in Taiwan’s Legislature early Wednesday in protest of the ruling party’s push for a trade pact with China, which demonstrators claim will hurt the island.
The protesters, mostly university students, entered the main assembly hall inside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei on Tuesday night and blocked the entrances with chairs, according to images and accounts filed from the scene with CNN iReport.
Police responded but had not dispersed the protesters, who also filled the streets around the Legislature in the center of Taipei.
The students said they plan to occupy the Legislature until Friday’s session, when the pact was to be deliberated.
Taiwan’s state news agency reported that 38 police officers were injured when more than 400 protesters took over the Legislature.
Four protesters were arrested in two unsuccessful attempts to evict them, the news agency reported. Police said there were more than 2,000 protesters both inside and outside the building, with a equal number of officers on the scene.

S’Africa’s Zuma criticised for home upgrade

South African President Jacob Zuma “benefited unduly” from a $23m state-funded security upgrade to his private home that included a swimming pool, cattle enclosure and an amphitheatre, the public protector said.

In a report released on Wednesday, just six weeks before an election, South Africa’s top anti-corruption watchdog accused Zuma of conduct “inconsistent with his office” and said he should repay a reasonable part of the cost of the unnecessary renovations.

“The president tacitly accepted the implementation of all measures at his residence and has unduly benefitted from the enormous capital investment in the non-security installations at his private residence,” Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said in her report.

The improvements included a visitors’ lounge, amphitheatre, cattle enclosure and swimming pool, referred to in official documents as a “fire pool” on the pretext it could double up as a water reservoir for fire-fighters, the paper said.

Zuma’s spokesman declined to comment, but the ruling African National Congress (ANC) immediately threw its weight behind its leader, saying it believed he had done nothing wrong.

As the report’s formal release day approached, several senior party officials have appeared in the media questioning the integrity and independence of Madonsela, whose office is enshrined in South Africa’s post-apartheid constitution.

The newspaper said Madonsela’s draft report, entitled “Opulence on a Grand Scale”, found Zuma had derived “substantial” personal gain from the home improvements paid for by the state and recommended he should repay some of the money.

The report, which was leaked early in November, provoked derisive cartoons of Zuma sipping cocktails and relaxing in his “fire pool”, and reinforced the perception of runaway corruption in Africa’s biggest economy during Zuma’s first term in office.

Despite voter concerns about corruption and shoddy public services, the ANC is almost certain to win the May 7 election, handing the 71-year-old Zuma another five years at the helm.

Before the leak, the government had gone to court to try to prevent Madonsela releasing her findings on the grounds that they might jeopardise Zuma’s security. The challenge was dropped after Madonsela made clear there was no threat.

The paper also said Madonsela accused Zuma of misleading parliament by telling it in 2011 that all the buildings in the sprawling compound had been built “by ourselves as family, and not by the government”.

Zuma, a polygamous Zulu traditionalist, has been beset by scandal throughout his political career.

The extent of Zuma’s unpopularity in urban areas was highlighted by the boos that greeted him at a memorial to Nelson Mandela at Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium in December, although he still enjoys huge support in the countryside.

Malaysia plane: Australia sees possible debris

Australia is investigating two objects seen on satellite images that could potentially be linked to the missing Malaysia Airlines plane, officials say.

Planes and ships from Australia, New Zealand and the US were heading to the area 2,500km (1,550 miles) south-west of Perth to search for the objects.

The largest appeared to be 24m in size, maritime authorities said, but warned they could be unrelated to the plane.

Australia has been searching in the southern Indian Ocean for the aircraft.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 when it lost contact with air traffic controllers. A total of 239 people were on board.

Twenty-six nations have been involved in a major search for the missing plane, which Malaysia says was intentionally diverted.

Investigators have been scrutinising the backgrounds of both the crew and the passengers, but have so far identified no evidence of terror or other potentially relevant links.

A number of sightings of possible debris have been investigated in the course of the search but so far none have proved to be linked.

Lebanese army deploys in restive border town

Lebanese army deployed in the town of Arsal along the border with Syria, reopening the main road linking the town to the rest of Lebanon after a night of violent protests.

The mainly Sunni town had been sealed off by residents from the mostly-Shia neighbouring town of Labweh, where one person was killed last week by rocket fire.

The closure of the main road out of Arsal prompted fury among Sunnis in other parts of Lebanon, and many took to streets across the country on Tuesday night to burn tires in protest.

In the wake of the tensions, President Michel Sleiman was meeting on Wednesday with Prime Minister Tammam Salam and top security officials, the official National News Agency reported.

Residents of Labweh blame Sunni Arsal for the rocket fire, although it was reported to have originated across the border in Syria.

Rising tensions

Tensions between residents of the two towns have increased since the fall of the Syrian rebel bastion Yabroud, just across the frontier, on Sunday.

Yaborud’s capture prompted an exodus of hundreds of Syrians to Arsal, where residents are sympathetic towards the Syrian uprising.

Angry Sunnis during the night blocked roads in Beirut, along the coast and in the Beqaa valley to protest what they called a “siege” of Arsal by Labweh residents.

The unrest led to the death of one man and the injury of four others in a Beirut suburb.

The army reacted on Tuesday night by announcing it would deploy in the northern Beqaa border area, “particularly in the areas of Arsal and Labweh and inside them”.

It said it would open the roads between the towns and work to “maintain security and stability in the region”.

Aerial bombardment

The deployment began deploying in the early hours of Wednesday, Arsal municipal council member Bakr Houjairi told AFP news agency.

“The army arrived around 5:00am, they have deployed in Arsal and they have opened the road leading out of the town towards Labweh,” he said.

“So far the situation is very calm, we will see what will happen later, but we are happy to see the army here and opening the road up.”

The conflict in neighbouring Syria has exacerbated existing sectarian tensions in Lebanon, particularly between Sunni and Shia residents.

Many Sunni Lebanese back the Sunni-dominated Syrian uprising, while many Shia support Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah movement, which is allied with Syria’s government and fighting alongside it.

The border region has become particularly fragile, with Arsal hosting some 51,000 civilian refugees and facing accusations that it allows rebel fighters to establish bases in the area around it.

On Wednesday, Syrian air force launched strikes on the outskirts of Arsal, Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported.

Warplanes belonging to President Bashar al-Assad’s army have frequently bombarded the mountainous border region.

Canada gets new finance minister

Former natural resources minister and investment banker Joe Oliver has been sworn in as Canada’s finance minister, a day after Jim Flaherty resigned.

Mr Oliver was chosen by PM Stephen Harper to assume the role on Wednesday.

Mr Flaherty, 64, said he planned to return to the private sector after eight years as finance minister.

Mr Oliver, 73, served as the government’s point man on the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline, currently under review in the US.

“I’m honored that Prime Minister Harper has appointed me to continue on our low-tax plan for jobs and growth,” Mr Oliver wrote in a statement.

Mr Harper wrote on Twitter that Mr Oliver, a Conservative MP from Ontario, “will continue to strengthen the economy and balance the budget by 2015″.

But the Canadian prime minister, also a Conservative, is said to have accepted Mr Flaherty’s resignation “with great reluctance”.

He had been the third-longest serving finance minister in Canada’s history.

Mr Flaherty has said his decision is not related to his health – he has been treated for a rare skin disease over the past year.

Ukraine proposes demilitarised zone in Crimea

Ukraine has proposed that Crimea, scene of a Russian-backed armed takeover, be declared a demilitarised zone by the United Nations with a pull-out by both Russian and Ukrainian forces.

“The Ukrainian government will immediately appeal to the United Nations to recognise Crimea as a demilitarised zone and take necessary measures for Russian forces to leave Crimea and prepare conditions for redeployment of Ukrainian forces,” security chief Andriy Parubiy said on Wednesday.

Earlier, several men in civilian clothing, later joined by military-looking personnel believed to be Russian, had seized the Ukrainian naval headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol.

Parubiy told journalists that in the face of the growing likelihood of military confrontation with Russia, the Ukrainian foreign ministry had been given the task of introducing visas for Russians visiting the former Soviet republic.

Referring to his demilitarisation proposal, Parubiy, secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, said he hoped the UN would support the idea.

“This formula is the best for de-escalation … We hope that common sense will prevail,” he said.

‘Self-defence’ units

A naval spokesman on Wednesday said there had been no violence during the takeover of the base and that he believed the men belonged to so-called “self-defence” units, mainly made up of volunteers who have supported Crimea’s transition from Ukrainian to Russian control, the Reuters news agency reported.

Dozens of despondent Ukrainian soldiers, one of them in tears, filed out of the base.

“We have been temporarily disbanded,” a Ukrainian lieutenant who identified himself only as Vlad told the AFP news agency.

“I was born here and I grew up here and I have been serving for 20 years,” he said as a Russian flag went up over the base without a single shot being fired in its defence. Where am I going to go?”

Sergiy Gayduk, the Ukraine navy commander appointed after his predecessor switched allegiance in favour of Crimea’s pro-Kremlin authorities at the start of the month, was detained.

Three Russian flags were later seen flying at one of the entrances to the base.

Ukraine’s acting president on Wednesday said Crimea’s separatist leaders had three hours to release Gayduk or face “an adequate response”.

Oleksandr Turchynov said in a statement that “unless Admiral Gayduk and all the other hostages – both military and civilians ones – are released, the authorities will carry out an adequate response … of a technical and technological nature.”

As tensions continued to rise, the AP news agency reported that Ukrainian Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh had been denied entry to Crimea.

Earlier, at a cabinet meeting in the capital Kiev, acting Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk had asked his first vice PM Vitaliy Yarema and Tenyukh to fly to Crimea immediately to de-escalate the crisis and try to prevent the conflict from turning into a military one. The officials immediately left for the airport.

Govt. closes College of Health Technology, Ningi over protest

The Bauchi State Government on Wednesday closed the School of Health Technology, Ninigi, due to students’ protest over the death of their colleague.

Dr Sani Malami, the Commissioner for Health, told newsmen in Bauchi that the school had to be closed to forestall breakdown of law and order in the institution.

“I have directed the indefinite closure of the college to forestall a complete breakdown of law and order.

“This has become necessary following a riot orchestrated by a handful of the students, protesting against the death of their fellow student, allegedly of cholera.

“Unfortunately, what began as a peaceful protest was hijacked by miscreants who seized the opportunity to molest and terrorise law abiding commuters on the Bauchi-Ningi-Kano highway.

“This is totally unacceptable and we condemn the abominable act in the strongest terms,” he said.

Malami said the authorities of the institution have been directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident.

He expressed surprise that the institution, with three functional boreholes, best school clinic in the state, adequate WC and VIP toilets and a very hygienic environment, could be said to harbour cholera virus.

“With these facilities on ground, how could the students have acquired cholera?

“As matter of fact, up till this moment, there is no laboratory confirmation that we are dealing with an outbreak of cholera in the school,” he said.

The commissioner said that “nevertheless, we have strengthened our surveillance and epidemiological processes in and around Ningi town to ascertain and arrest the situation.”

He added that Gov. Isa Yuguda had directed that additional sources of water and sanitary disposal of waste be provided in the institution.

The commissioner condoled with the family of the deceased, and prayed that God almighty may grant him eternal rest.

The commissioner also called for understanding of the members of the public, stressing that government would do everything necessary to safeguard the lives of the people.

Rape and medical care

Parents or guardians often accompany rape survivors to the clinics when it is already too late. I once attended to a particular undergraduate who presented with complaints of tiredness, headache and weakness.

Her mother had brought her; and her medical history was more in keeping with pregnancy, as was later confirmed by pregnancy test and pelvic scan.

The girl and the mother confessed that about two months earlier, the young lady had boarded a cab late one evening on her way back from school. The cab driver took the advantage of her being alone late at night to rape her.

The mother wanted the pregnancy to be terminated, but I refused for medical and legal reasons. Why have they kept silent for two months?

A second case is that of a 12-year-old Primary Six girl who was rushed to the medical emergency where I was the casualty officer on duty. The complaint was bleeding in the 12-year- old.

She looked pale; and it turned out that she had earlier been taken to a quack where criminal abortion was done, leaving the young girl with complications. She died within two hours of medical attention in the process of stabilising her vital signs, which included making arrangement for blood transfusion for her.

The mother later admitted that the girl was raped by her teacher, resulting in pregnancy which they had tried to abort. Again, why did the mother keep silent for so long?

A third case happened in the village where a mentally-challenged lady was taken to the traditional doctor. While her treatment by the herbalist lasted, the mother dropped her in the morning at the local treatment centre on her way to the farm and came to pick her by noon.

She was found pregnant after some months of treatment for mental illness. She delivered the baby safely, but the baby was brought to the hospital for treatment with nobody to pay medical fees.

The mother said the victim was raped by the herbalist, threatening to get him arrested. The question is, why has she kept quiet till now?

Guide for victim, family

This article is intended as a general guide for the public, victims, friends, parents and family members of a person who have been sexually assaulted. It is also intended to assist the public in breaking this tradition of silence.

Rape or sexual assault is defined as any sexual act performed by one (or more) person(s) on another without the latter’s consent. It may include the use of threat of force. In some cases, the victim cannot give consent to have sex because he or she is unconscious or otherwise incapacitated.

The public/victims should seek specific guidance about assault situation from a person who is experienced in the care and management of these victims, such as the casualty doctors, family physicians, general practitioners and gynaecologists, among others.

A person may be raped by a stranger, an acquaintance or date, or a family member. After being sexually assaulted, rape survivors may have a lot of questions, including: Why did this happen to me? Could I have prevented this? Will I develop HIV/AIDS or other infections? Will I become pregnant as a result of the assault? Who should I call first? Should I report this to the police? Is this reportable? Isn’t this my fault?

Recommended steps after rape

• Find a safe environment away from the assailant

• Call a close friend or parents/relatives — someone who will offer unconditional support

• Call the police or your health care provider.

• Rape is a medical emergency, Call 767 or 112

• Seek medical care; do not change clothes, bathe, douche, or brush your teeth until evidence is collected.

• Follow up with a health care provider one to two weeks later

• Seek counseling services

It is advisable people seek medical care early. However, medical care can be at any time; but  if some time has elapsed since the event, there will be scanty or no evidence for collection.

A health care provider can offer advice on reporting the event, address concerns regarding infection, pregnancy, and safety, and help you to begin to recover.

People who are raped may not be able to say they were raped or seek help. Most will come to complain and get medical help for a different complaint such as headaches, eating problems, body or abdominal pain and sleep problems.

Rape Trauma Syndrome

Many rape survivors will experience Rape Trauma Syndrome, a collection of emotional responses to the extreme stress of the sexual assault and may include anger or hostility, confusion, crying or feeling numb, fear, loss of emotional control, nervousness or inappropriate laughter, not eating or sleeping well, tightly controlled behaviour, withdrawal from family or friends.

They are also prone to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Victims of rape should be encouraged to understand that the act was not their fault. Any fault or blame is solely on the rapist.

Soldiers attack B’Haram camp, seize 700 vehicles

The Special Forces involved in the ongoing campaign against the Boko Haram insurgents have recorded what security sources have described as one the greatest breakthroughs in the  campaign against terrorists  in the North-East.

Investigations on Tuesday revealed that the Special Forces, comprising ground troops and the Air Force fighters, had demobilized one of the strongest fortresses of the Boko Haram sect.

It was learnt that the soldiers, who carried out the operation, were shocked by the volume of arms and ammunition and hundreds of operational vehicles that they captured at the camp.

A source put the number of vehicles captured from the insurgents at 700 while several members of the sect were arrested.

The spokesman of the 7th Division, Col. Mohammed Dole, referred our correspondent to the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, for comments on the issue.

Olukolade, who confirmed the capture of the Boko Haram camp, said that several terrorists who were wounded in the military raids were arrested and had made useful confessions.

The Director of Defence Information said in an electronic mail on Tuesday that some of the wounded terrorists who were captured near Lake Chad were pleading for mercy and were cooperating with interrogators from the Multi-National Joint Task Force.

Olukolade said that some of the insurgents were captured by troops around Dikwa, Cross Kauwa, Kukawa and Alargarmo.

He said that the captives revealed during interrogation that some of the camps were disbanded as the sect could no longer sustain the operation.

“In their confessions, it was revealed that some of the camps have been disbanded following the directive of their clerics who declared that the operation of the sect had come to an end as the mission could no longer be sustained.

“The captured terrorists, who are giving useful information as to the locations of their remnant forces, are full of apologies and pleas for their lives to be spared promising to cooperate,” the statement reads in part.

Olukolade said that the captured insurgents complained of starvation and the frequency of bombardments as some of the major problems which affected them.

The Defence spokesman warned members of the public to stay away from the area, saying troops were still continuing with the operation in the three states.

“They confirmed that starvation was a major problem in addition to ceaseless bombardments on the camp locations even when they kept relocating.  They also confirm that several members of the group have been wounded and no treatment was forthcoming.  Troops have continued their assault on other locations across the states covered by the state of emergency.

“Meanwhile, members of the public who have started visiting to engage in sight-seeing in some dislodged camps and fringes of  forests such as Sambisa and others have been warned to desist from doing so as the tendency will no more be condoned where operations are still ongoing.

“The general area still remains a theatre and movement remains restricted as the environment has to be cleared for safety of citizens.    The public will be informed when the locations are safe enough.”

It was learnt that the  seized vehicles included those that the insurgents used for attacks and other vehicles they snatched from people.

Military sources said that the camp was well planned with boreholes, dispensary and other facilities to aid the operations of the insurgents.

‘Gender-based violence should be tackled from home’

The Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State House of Assembly,  Mrs. Omotayo Oduntan, has said gender-based violence should be nipped in the bud from the home.

Oduntan said this during a symposium to celebrate the International Women’s Day in Lagos at the newly commissioned Police Officers’ Wives Association secretariat and multi-purpose hall, GRA, Ikeja, a statement from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation said on Tuesday.

Oduntan said, “Parents, particularly mothers, should treat both male and female children equally.  Children should not be given household chores based on gender. Boys should not be allowed to play football or watch television while girls are asked to go to kitchen.”

Delivering the keynote address, wife of the state governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, who was represented by the wife of Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mrs. Rhoda Ayinde, commended WAPA’s commitment to women development.

She advised parents, particularly mothers, to invest not only money in their children, but also time.

She said, “Mothers should inculcate in their children that real men don’t abuse or beat women, and the girls should also behave lady-like by being courteous and respectful in all that they do.”

Founder, Yemi Royal Organisation, a non-governmental organisation, Mrs. Yemi Osoba, delivered a lecture on impact of violence on women and girls.

Osoba said, “It is imperative for women to speak out against violence on them so that the menace can be curbed.”

She also advised parents to stop encouraging their daughters to stay in relationships engulfed in violence.

A director in WAPA, Ms Funke Odutola, commended  the government for its commitment and investment in programmes designed for women empowerment.

Repairs: LASG to close Dopemu, Iyana Ipaja bridges

The Lagos State Government says Dopemu and Iyana Ipaja bridges along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway will be closed to public use for 10 days each.

The government explained that while Dopemu Bridge would be closed from Saturday March 15 to Monday March 24, 2014, Iyana Ipaja Bridge would be shut between Tuesday March 25 and Saturday April 5, 2014.

The spokesman for the Ministry of Transportation, Sina Thorpe, on Tuesday in Alausa, Ikeja, explained that the closure was to allow for the maintenance of the bridges, which would commence on Saturday March 15, and end on April 5, 2014.

He said, “The contractor would commence work at the Dopemu Bridge for the first 10 days — Saturday March 15 to Monday March 24, 2014 — and thereafter move to the Iyana Ipaja Bridge from Tuesday March 25 to Saturday April 5, 2014.”

Thorpe, an Assistant Director, said the government had put strategies in place to prevent traffic problem in the areas during the period of the repairs. He said during the period that the contractor would be working on Dopemu Bridge, motorists were expected to obey government’s plan.

“Consequently, vehicles approaching Dopemu Bridge from Ile-Zik inward Iyana Ipaja could make a U-turn back to Dopemu Bridge via the open median along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway or take a left turn into Alimoso Road and use the link roads in the area back to Akowonjo or Iyana Ipaja Road.

“Similary, vehicles coming from Orile Agege and environs, and approaching Dopemu Bridge, will take a right turn through Surulere Road to link Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and make use of the open median barrier into the link roads. In addition, vehicles from Akowonjo, Shasha going into Agege will go through Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and turn at Ile  Zik back  to Agege,” the spokesman explained.

Thorpe said by the time repair works commenced on the Iyana Ipaja Bridge, vehicular movement in the area would also follow the special plan.

He said, “Vehicles coming from Dopemu, and proposing to use the Iyana Ipaja Bridge, will either make a U-turn back to Iyana Ipaja Bridge or a left turn into Abule Oki Street at the proposed median barrier opening on the expressway, go through Chief Adebayo Street back to Iyana Ipaja Roundabout.

“Also, vehicles coming from Iyana Ipaja Road will use the Abule Oki Street and navigate through Chief Adebayo Street back to Iyana Ipaja Roundabout, while vehicles coming from Iyana Ipaja Road will have to go through Dopemu Bridge area.”

He added that the traffic re-routing would facilitate seamless flow of traffic, urging motorists to use alternative routes provided by the government to avoid delays.

“The state government appeals for caution and cooperation from all road users by obeying all traffic regulations and ensuring traffic flow during the period of closure.

“The government, while regretting any inconveniences, has directed all relevant agencies to ensure free flow of traffic,” Thorpe said.

Ugandans challenge anti-gay law

Ugandan rights activists and politicians have filed a legal challenge to overturn a tough anti-gay law condemned by Western donors.

The law violated the rights of gay people and subjected them to “cruel and inhuman punishment”, they said.

Several cases of “violence and retaliation” have been reported since President Yoweri Museveni signed the law last month, the activists added.

Uganda is a deeply conservative society where many people oppose gay rights.

However, some people are beginning to question whether punishments proposed in the law are too harsh, reports BBC Uganda correspondent Catherine Byaruhanga.

It allows life imprisonment as the penalty for acts of “aggravated homosexuality” and also criminalises the “promotion of homosexuality”.

‘Tenants evicted’
The Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law, which represents about 50 groups, filed the petition in the Constitutional Court, asking for the law to be annulled.
Ruling party MP Fox Odoi, who is Mr Museveni’s former legal adviser, was among the lead petitioners.

Uganda’s anti-homosexuality act

Life imprisonment for gay sex, including oral sex
Life imprisonment for “aggravated homosexuality”, including sex with a minor or while HIV-positive
Life imprisonment for living in a same-sex marriage
Seven years for “attempting to commit homosexuality”
Between five and seven years in jail or a $40,700 (£24,500) fine or both for the promotion of homosexuality
Businesses or non-governmental organisations found guilty of the promotion of homosexuality would have their certificates of registration cancelled and directors could face seven years in jail
He broke ranks with his party by opposing the law in parliament, and said he did not fear a backlash from voters in the 2016 election, our reporter says.

“I don’t fear losing an election. There is only one thing I fear – living in a society that has no room for minorities. I will not live in a society that doesn’t respect and protect people who are different from the majority,” Mr Odoi said.

Prominent Ugandan journalist Andrew Mwenda also supported the court action.

“This Act not only represents an effort by the executive and parliament to scapegoat an unpopular minority for political gain, but we believe it also violates the highest law of our country,” he said.

Patience to support UN on women, children rights

The First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on Tuesday pledged to work with a UN Human Rights Commission to advance the rights of women and children.

Jonathan made the pledge when Ms Navanetham Pillay, UN High Commissioner on Human Rights paid a courtesy visit to the presidential villa in Abuja.

“I’m ready to work with you so that women and children can enjoy their rights. We are trying our best so that women will be given their rightful positions,” she said.

She outlined her efforts in advocating for women’s inclusion in governance so that women could contribute their quota to the development of the nation.

“We have advocated for 35 per cent inclusion and today, the President included women who hold key positions in governance.

“The president also ensured free education for the girl-child and we are still advocating for the states that are yet to adopt the child rights act to do so,” Jonathan said.

Earlier, Pillay said she was in Nigeria because the UN was advocating that all countries develop a culture of human rights.

“We want you to help us make people aware of their human rights, especially violence against women, development issues and protection of children.

“It would be so important if you raise your voice for the children. Nigeria can be a leader on the continent if it complies with these matters,” Pillay said.

She condemned the maltreatment of a Nigerian by the police in South Africa which was caught on video.

Russia refuses Ukraine talk

Russia’s leaders are refusing all negotiations with their Ukrainian counterparts, Ukraine’s acting President Oleksandr Turchynov has said.

Mr Turchynov told the AFP agency that Ukraine would not intervene militarily in Crimea, even though a secession referendum there was a “sham”.

Meanwhile interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk is travelling to the US to meet President Barack Obama.

On Thursday he is due to address the UN Security Council in New York.

‘A provocation’
“We cannot launch a military operation in Crimea, as we would expose the eastern border [close to Russia] and Ukraine would not be protected,” Mr Turchynov told AFP.

Confab: NSCDC deploys 2,000 personnel, hotels offer discount

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed about 2,000 personnel, and sniffer dogs for the national conference which is commencing next week.

The corps said its men and dogs have taken charge at the National Judicial Council venue of the confab along Airport Road, Abuja.

The NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Okeh, told our correspondent that all the entry and exit points of the Federal Capital Territory had been placed under security watch by the service.

He said, “We have already deployed about 2,000 personnel  and sniffer dogs to ensure extensive security coverage for the national conference. The conference venue, and all the entry and exit points have been placed under security watch and we are working with other security agencies to ensure a hitch-free confab.”

The police on the other hand, have yet to roll out their strategy measures for the conference, because the leadership of the FCT Police Command, has not met to take a decision on it.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Altine Daniel, stated that the management team would soon meet to take a strategic decision on the security for the delegates and at the confab venue.

Checks showed that hotels in Abuja are preparing to host the delegates as some of them are offering discounts and other incentives to lure them to lodge with them for the three-month duration of the event.

Findings indicated that the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, is offering a discount of about N35,000 to delegates, as well as free breakfast daily.

The hotel’s Public Relations Officer, Nanji Tyem, who confirmed the offer on Tuesday, added that guests would also enjoy a variety of activities lined up by the management during the stay of the delegates.

It was learnt that the NICON Luxury hotel, was also making overtures to officials in the office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, to accommodate some delegates in the facility.

It was learnt that the sales department of the hotel, was also offering generous discounts to the government, to sway them into lodging the delegates with them.

But it could not be confirmed if the government planned to handle the accommodation of the delegates or whether it intends to pay them their hotel allowances to them to enable individuals make their own arrangement.