Activists in fresh push for abolition of death penalty, says Maryam Sanda must not die

As Ms Maryam Sanda, last week, joined the over 2000 condemned prisoners on death row in various correctional service formations in Nigeria following the pronouncement of death sentence by hanging on her by an Abuja high court, the debate on the abolition of death sentence from the nation’s statute book came alive. In this piece, Ise-Oluwa Ige examines the case against Ms Sanda by the state, the position of the defence, the judgment of the court with particular attention to its ratio decidendi, the global polemics about the abolition or retention of death sentence and the argument of a school of thought in Nigeria that the Sanda’s case is a good instance to renew the on-going campaign for abolition of death sentence in Nigeria.


Background
Last week, a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja pronounced a sentence of death by hanging on a widow, Ms Maryam Sanda. 


That was after the trial judge in the case, Justice Yusuf Halilu found her guilty of a two-count charge of murder.
In the charge, the police had accused Sanda of stabbing her husband, Bilyamin Mohammed Bello, to death with kitchen knife |||READ MORE …

Contending with pebbles in local rice

The issue of tiny sands in rice since the local rice revolution started in the country last year is generating wider attention. In this report by ELEOJO IDACHABA with agency reports, analysts say it is a serious concern in view of global standard.

Face to face with reality

“My problem with this local rice policy of the government is that it is not safe to eat because of the number of stones in it. Each time I want to cook, the number of minutes it would take me to pick the stones is enough to get the foreign rice ready; that is basically my problem with local rice, otherwise it is sweet,” says Mrs Linda Attah, a mother of two. She said apart from the fact that her children have aversion for eating local rice, she said when they remember that they have to crack a stone when eating, the simply protest whenever she serves them for lunch in their schools |||READ MORE …

Friday sermon at a Sunday pulpit

Zulum and Buratai (in front row) after their meeting

A sermon is supposed to be short and precise, making it a collage of knowledge that is comprehensible and can easily be recollected, especially at the most auspicious times — when it needs to be applied or utilised. These days, sermons and the custodians of sermons in religious spaces have found it hard to remain apolitical and they have dabbled in too much politics, you would believe they were chairmen of political parties and campaign directors of political aspirants. The sermons become too long and lack proper ‘sermon content’. We remain keen on learning from the preachers, hoping to enjoy the body of knowledge that can be harvested from enjoying such sermons; but many atimes we are let down by unnecessary and unsolicited banter over political content and other matters of social discourse. I found myself on the outskirts of Bauchi as Tami had taken me to a mosque nearby, close to his residence and luckily for him, his office as well. We, of course, couldn’t help but lament the fact that there were over five mosques that offered Friday prayers in the same vicinity, and how they all have to inconvenience motorists, as all access roads are blocked from around 1pm till after 3pm. Insecurity around this practice have long receded but yet, we are faced with precautionary measures that have more or less become traditions; that have probably come to stay, untill we have a Zulum as state governor in every state in dear naija |||READ MORE …

Women only report harassment ‘from ugly men’, Ecuador’s president says

Ecuador’s president Lenin Moreno has been criticised for saying women only report harassment “when it comes from an ugly person”.

Mr Moreno made the comment at an economics conference in the city of Guayaquil on Friday, where he also said that men are “permanently subject to the danger of being accused of harassment”.

According to local newspaper El Universal, he said that although it was “good” that women report harassment, he added that women sometimes “are angry with ugly people” |||READ MORE…

Australia fires: Canberra escapes worst as fires rage on

A bushfire near the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) continues to rage, although the damage is not as serious as previously feared.

Residents in some areas around the capital, Canberra, had been warned that it was "too late to leave" and they should try to seek shelter.

The fire south of Canberra is still out of control and has already burned more than 20% of the territory's landscape |||READ MORE …

'Empathy' for independent Scotland joining the EU says Tusk

Donald Tusk: "Sometimes I feel very Scottish - especially after Brexit

Former European Council president Donald Tusk says Brussels feels "empathy" towards an independent Scotland joining the European Union.

Nicola Sturgeon has said an independent Scotland would seek full EU membership.

When asked if this would be looked upon favourably, Mr Tusk said there would be enthusiasm but he warned the country would not be automatically accepted.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab warned the comments could encourage "separatist tendencies" in the EU |||READ MORE …

Your call for Buhari’s resignation; infantile, unfortunate – Ekiti APC tells Abaribe

The Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has described the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe’s outburst that President Muhammadu Buhari has failed and should resign as not only political and sentimental, but flied in the face of common sense. The party which called on Abaribe to seek forgiveness of God, said the issue of kidnapping, bombing and killing associated with insurgency and banditry, predated Buhari’s government.

Adding that the Senator who was also serving in the senate at that time had on several occasions defended and Romanized the inefficiency of GoodLuck Jonathan’s administration on the floor of the senate |||READ MORE …

APC raises alarm! ….Says Boko Haram plotting religious war

Amidst public outcry over increasing rate of violent crimes across the country especially the ‘degraded’ Boko Haram insurgents, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC yesterday raised alarm accusing the ‘degraded’ insurgents of plotting to cause religious war between the Christians and Muslims.

Reacting to the ongoing commentaries about killings across the country, the party through its National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu also noted that some politicians were taking the advantage to negatively influence the discuss adding that such “is a red flag that must be checked for our collective well-being.”

Lanre in a statement in Abuja yesterday cautioned Nigerians not to fall for such “divisive ploy” describing Boko Haram sect as a common enemy blind to religion, politics and tribe |||READ MORE …

The 'accidental journalist' who's been in court 137 times

GETTY IMAGES

Tanzania's Maxence Melo, the winner of last year's International Press Freedom Award, never set out to be a journalist.

Sixteen years ago, he co-founded Jamii Forums, a website that exposed corruption and helped push for political accountability - as an alternative to the mainstream news outlets.

It won him global acclaim, for representing the best of journalism. But in the last three years, he has been to court 137 times and has been detained overnight for his work |||READ MORE …

Calls for security chiefs’ sack diversionary –CSOs

The Conference of Civil Society Organisations for Peace, Security and National Development has faulted the call by the National Assembly and other pressure groups for the sack of military chiefs saying they were ill-timed and diversionary.

The CSOs at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday jointly addressed by its conveners, Mike Msuaan and Comrade Adamu Kabir Matazu, stated that the military “deserves support from all strata of society considering the complexity of fighting insurgency.”

According to them, “We were all witnesses to the reaction that greeted the pronouncement by the federal government of plans to withdraw the military from the North-east. The whole nation was unanimous of the need for the military to stay longer in the troubled region. This is a testimony that significant feet have been recorded in the fight against insurgency |||READ MORE …

Lagosians stranded, resort to trekking as Lagos govt’s Okada, Keke ban takes effect

Oshodi- Apapa Expressway at Mile 2 road few Bikemen seen working due to fear of getting arrested by enforcement agencies.

Several commuters were stranded in Lagos Saturday as the state government’s ban on commercial motorcycles (popularly called Okada) and tricycles (popularly known as Keke) came into force.

The ban, which is being enforced in 15 local government areas and local council development areas across the state, became necessary due to the “scary” casualty figures resulting from their use, the government said.

PREMIUM TIMES monitored the enforcement of the ban in several roads and highways across the state |||READ MORE …

Kogi launches Kogas, improve info sector

Kogi State Open Governance and Accountability Systems (KOGAS), an online application designed to hold public office holders accountable to the people of the state is set to be launched in the state.

The commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, who stated this while interacting with newsmen in Lokoja over the weekend said Governor Yahaya Bello led administration is poised to run an all inclusive government.

He added that the platform will be made available and open to the people of the state as an avenue to score each sector of the state based on its performance and to allow the people ask relevant questions from the leadership. |||READ MORE …

Nwosu commends Buhari for increasing corps member’s allowances

The governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in 2019 Imo state election, Chief Uche Nwosu, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government for increasing the allowances of the National Youth Corps Members (NYSC).

Nwosu also said the issue of security in the country should be an all inclusive thing adding that Nigerians should not vilify President Muhammadu Buhari  for the present security situation in the country.

He said the issue of security all over the world is a collective responsibility of all the citizens. |||READ MORE …

Why we placed travel restrictions on Nigerians —US

The United States has given reasons for imposing visa restrictions on Nigerians and five other countries’  nationals.

It said Nigeria did not comply with the established identity-management and information-sharing criteria assessed by the performance metrics.

The US also said  Nigeria did not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information necessary for the protection of the national security and public safety of the US. |||READ MORE …

FG To Establish Two Dairy Plants In Jigawa

The Federal Government on Sunday says it has concluded plans to establish two dairy plants in Jigawa. 

Sabo Nanono, the Minister for Agriculture, made the disclosure in Jahun, Jigawa while speaking to newsmen on the sideline of his two-day visit to the state. 

Nanono disclosed that the dairy plants would be established at Ringim and Gujungu towns in Ringim and Taura local government councils, respectively. |||READ MORE …

Serena Williams needs to 'face reality', says coach Patrick Mouratoglou

Serena Williams needs to "change her strategy" and "face reality" having not won a Grand Slam title since returning to tennis, says her coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

The American 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, 38, has lost four major finals since giving birth to her daughter in September 2017.

She was knocked out of the Australian Open in the third round last month. ||| READ MORE … 

Hong Kong medical workers strike to demand total border closure

Hong Kong, China – Standing at the picket line just 200 metres from her hospital entrance, Kaddy Chan wished she could report to duty as usual.

For weeks now, the outpatient nurse and her colleagues have been grappling with shrinking supplies of surgical masks and hazmat suits, avoiding trips outside the wards to keep their protective gear free from contamination. ||| READ MORE …

Wuhan turns to social media to vent anger at coronavirus response

Chongqing, China - Jianguo was exhausted when he returned home after a long day's work at Wuhan's Pulmonary Hospital, one of the medical facilities designated to treat those infected with a new type of coronavirus in the central Chinese city.

The 52-year-old cleaner said his hospital was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people seeking medical care, with doctors and nurses overworked and supplies running low. ||| READ MORE …

Coronavirus death in Hong Kong, as China admits 'shortcomings'

Hong Kong reported its first death from the coronavirus on Tuesday - only the second outside China - as the death toll from the outbreak rose to at least 425 and China admitted "shortcomings and difficulties" in its response to the flu-like infection.

The Hong Kong victim was a 39-year-old man from Wuhan, where the virus first originated, who had underlying health problems, the authorities said. It was the second death recorded outside China - the first was in the Philippines on Sunday.  ||| READ MORE …

U.S EMBASSY SAYS IT DID NOT DENY OYEDEPO A VISA

The United States embassy has come out to state that it did not deny Bishop Oyedepo a visa. Earlier today, it was widely reported that the embassy had turned the down the popular man of God for a visa.

The story went viral with Oyedepo reaching the number one trend on Twitter in a couple of hours.

“#FalseNews Alert! Be advised, the reports making the rounds about a visa being denied to Nigerian Bishop Oyedepo are false” tweeted the U.S Embassy. ||| READ MORE …