Author: Swift Wave Reporter

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have begun investigation into the alleged sale of a six-week-old baby by her a 23-year-old mother, Miracle Johnson.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, who confirmed the incident, described it as a serious offence.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Miracle sold the baby, Greatness, to an orphanage in Onitsha, Anambra State, for N200,000.

It was learnt that the nursing mother, who hails from Agenebode, in the Etsako East Local Government Area of the state, was paid in cash.

She was said to have used part of the proceeds to buy a mobile phone.

Miracle, a mother of two, blamed her action on frustration and the inability of her husband to take care of her and her other children.

She said she was persuaded by one Mama Joy, said to be at large, to sell the infant and give the money to her husband to start a business.

She said, “My baby was born on July 2. I sold her due to frustration. My husband was just struggling (to provide for us).

“My friend (Mama Joy) said that since my husband was not taking care of me, if I did it (sold the baby), I could give the money to my husband to start a business or buy a motorcycle.

“Two weeks later, she came back. I did not know what happened to me. So, I carried a bag, picked some things and left.

“I sold her to an orphanage in Onitsha. The orphanage bought the child for N200,000. I just bought only a phone; I did not want to buy it, but she (Mama Joy) forced me to do so,” she added.

Miracle stated that she regretted her action and later confessed to her pastor.

She said, “I told my pastor what I did and that it was a mistake for which I would never forgive myself. So, my husband and I went to a police station to report. I know what I did was not good. I pray that my child will …

The Lagos State Government has said that the 3rd Mainland Bridge will be temporarily shut down for four days starting from midnight of August 23 to midnight of August 26, 2018 for Investigative Maintenance Test to be carried out.

The State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ade Akinsanya, who disclosed this in a statement, said the decision was taken after due consultation with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

The four-day closure, according to Akinsanya, will enable the contractors assess the true state of the bridge after which works would commence by the end of the year or early in 2019.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had earlier announced plans to shut the bridge in July, but had to be shelved after due consultation with the State Government and wide deliberations with other stakeholders, who expressed concern about the indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles on other alternative routes which would have adversely affected traffic.

Subsequently, a Joint Task Force set up to remove the articulated vehicles from the highway was able to achieve tremendous success.

Justifying the need for the closure, Akinsanya said: “The 3rd Mainland Bridge which was opened about 30 years ago by the then military government has had haphazard maintenance and repairs in the past which the present Federal Government is committed to correct by carrying out proper and continuous maintenance and repairs on it.”

Consequently, the State Government appealed for the cooperation, support and understanding of all motorists and residents, advising them to minimize non-essential travel and movements during the four-day closure.

Besides, Akinsanya said all traffic management agencies including the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Police, among others, have been mandated to ensure smooth flow of traffic on all the other alternative roads and traffic corridor.

Alternative routes

Akinsanya urged motorists from Lagos Abeokuta, Agege, Ogba and Ikeja to make use of Oshodi via Mushin Ojuelegba to connect Carter Bridge into Island, while those from Ikorodu, Maryland are to make use …

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Tuesday advised all Nigerians to actively play a role in ending the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country.

He stated this at a three-day National Conference organised by Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University held in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the theme of the conference is: “Promoting Peace, Security and Human Rights: Curbing Unsavoury Relationship between Herdsmen and Farmers in Nigeria”.

Buratai, who was represented by the Commandant, Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, Maj-Gen. Victor Okwudili-Ezugwu, said the call became necessary in view of the recurrence of the conflict across the country.
He observed that herdsmen/farmers conflict had remained global and well known historical phenomena, adding that the two groups derived their means of livelihood around common resources, including land and water.

Buratai observed that while developed societies have found a way out of the problem, some parts of Africa and indeed sub-Saharan Africa were still grabbing with the problem.
The COAS attributed causes of herdsmen/farmer conflicts to competition for scarce resources, urban development and land grabbing, increase in herds population, destruction of farmers’ crops, encroachment on grazing routes and lack of acceptance of herders by host communities.

He also identified climate change as one of the key causes of conflict, saying it leads to environmental degradation, desertification, drought and inadequate rainfall in some places which forced herders to move around the country.
Buratai prayed that the conference would at the end proffer solutions which would be acceptable to the government toward ending the crisis.
He said: “Nigeria is a great nation, nobody will argue that and Nigeria is the hope of Africa, nobody will argue that too.

“Therefore, I want to pray that the deliberations we are going to have here will find solutions for our national unity to be unequivocal and sacrosanct.”
In a goodwill message, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, prayed that at the end of the conference, solutions would be proffered to end the conflict.
Saraki, represented by Prof. …

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission kept the Deputy President of the Senate, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, in its Abuja facility overnight from Tuesday as he was being questioned over issues bothering on abuse of office and money laundering.
Ekweremadu had arrived at the EFCC facility based on an invitation extended to him by the anti-graft agency last week Tuesday.

According to the letter inviting him for questioning by the Director of Operations of the EFCC, Mohammed Abba Umar, Ekweremadu was told to report at the commission’s office at 8am on the same day the letter was delivered to him.
The EFCC had earlier issued a notice alleging that Ekweremadu failed to declare 22 properties in his assets declaration form to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
The properties were said to be scattered over Nigeria, United States of America, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates.

The properties in March became a subject of a suit in the Federal High Court in abuja, where the Federal Government sought an interim order to temporarily seize them.
The motion ex-parte was filed by Festus Keyamo (SAN) on behalf of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property.

The properties were identified as: 11, Evans Enwerem Street, Apo Legislative Quarters, Apo, Abuja; Plot 2633, Kyami, Housing Estate, Abuja; Plot 1106, CRD, Cadastral Zone 07-07, Lugbe, Abuja; Plot 2782, Asokoro Extension, Abuja; houses at Citi Park Estate, Gwagwalada, Abuja; Plot 1474, Cadastral Zone BD6, Mabushi, Abuja; Congress Court, Abuja; Flat 1, Block D25, Athletics Street, (24th Street), Games Village, Abuja; and Plot 66, 64 Crescent, Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja.

Those outside the country were Flat 4, Varsity Court, Harmer Street, WIH 4NW, London; 52, Ayleston Avenue, NW6 7AB, London; Room 1903, The Address Hotel, Downtown Dubai; The Address Boulevard, 3901, Dubai; two Flats of Burij Side Boulevard (the signature), Dubai; Emirate Gardens Apartment No.

EGG1/1/114, Dubai; Emirate Gardens Apartment No. EGG1/115, Dubai; apartment DFB/12/B 1204, Park Towers, Dubai; Flat 3604, MAG214, Dubai; Villa No 148, Maeen 1, The Lakes Emirates Hills, Dubai; 4507 Stella …

The management of the University of Ibadan on Tuesday renamed its Arts Theatre after Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

The university also named the Practical Theatre as Geoffrey Axworthy studio.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Axworthy was the founding Director of the School of Drama of the university in 1962.
Soyinka was also the founding head when the school was transformed into a full Department of Theatre Arts in 1970.

Speaking at the unveiling of the theatre, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, said the event marked a major landmark in the history of the university.
The vice-chancellor said the two iconic figures had played significant roles in the development of the department and the growth of performing arts in the country.

According to Olayinka, the quest to rename the theatre after Soyinka received the approval of the Senate at its meeting in October 2017.
He said: “But the honour being conferred on Prof. Wole Soyinka today belongs to a special class.
“Not only is he being honoured during his lifetime, he is physically present to receive it in good health of body and mind.”

According to Olayinka, the theatre was constructed in 1956 to provide a forum for performances and other forms of entertainment.
“Now that the Arts Theatre is being renamed, we are hopeful that the new vision for Wole Soyinka Theatre will be realised sooner than later with the active support of benevolent philanthropists and well-meaning corporate organisations,” he said.
In his remarks, Soyinka said he was happy to be in the university, adding that he was in a familiar environment with lots of memories.

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He said: “This is a place of memories for me.
“I also felt contented co-honouring me with Geoffrey Axworthy who fought so hard to make the department what it is today.
“It is very easy to forget pioneer, but I have to say that our successors here have a sense of history, so, I must thank you all for …

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday emerged the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States.

Buhari on Tuesday replaced the Togolese president, Faire Gnassigbe. He was named as the chairman at the end of the commission’s meeting in Togo today.

His Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, disclosed this in a message posted on his Twitter handle, @BashirAhmaad.

He wrote, “President @MBuhari emerges as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS.”

In a telephone interview, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu confirmed the emergence of the President, saying “He did not ask for it, they just gave it to him.”

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