Don’t Shield Dowen College Management, Students If Involved In Oromoni's Death – Women Lawyers, FIDA Warn Nigerian Government

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has demanded the overhaul of the educational system in the country to eradicate cases of violence in the schools.

The group was reacting to the controversial death of Sylvester Oromoni, the 12-year-old pupil of Dowen College in Lagos.

Oromoni had died after he was allegedly beaten by senior colleagues for refusing to join a cult group. 

In a statement signed by Amina Suzannah Agbaje, its National President, and Christiana Oyanvutu Adejumo, its National Publicity Secretary, FIDA Nigeria condemned the alleged torture and the death of the student.

The group said the incident was an indication that there was a need to overhaul the country's educational structure, noting that Oromoni died due to systemic failure. 

The statement read: "FIDA Nigeria has noticed that the trend of violence by and to children and youth in institutions of learning is becoming rampant and must be checked and stopped forthwith. 

"Reference is here made to the recent incident of a) 11-year-old Don Davies Archibong in Deeper Life High School, Idoro, Uyo Akwa Ibom State and b) 14-year-old, Keren-Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher, a Senior Secondary School (SSS1) student of Premiere Academy Lugbe, Abuja raped in her dormitory and so forth, who have suffered similar violence resulting in grievous injury and death.

"These terrible tales emanating from secondary schools across the nation are an indication of a failing system in dire need of overhauling. The grave situation must be addressed with utmost urgency."

Citing article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the group said children had the right to be protected from physical and mental violence, neglect, sexual abuse and exploitation, while they are in the care of parents or any other person.  

The group listed several demands essential to revamp the educational system and asked the government to ensure justice for Oromoni.

It added, "FIDA categorically states that the total well-being of our children matters and education is not just about getting excellent grades and the economic benefits that accrue to institutions, but about balancing academic performance against good character formation. 

"Attention must also be paid to addressing forthwith the issue of cultism and fraternities in our schools, the system must be sanitised. 

"FIDA demands prompt justice for Sylvester and insists on a complete thorough and objective investigation into all aspects of the case, (and indeed other recently reported cases), to determine the culpability of management, the truants involved and so forth, such that no one is shielded from investigation or punishment; that the Ministry of Education must take responsibility and act quickly in promptly addressing key issues affecting schools generally.  

"The Federal and State Government should overhaul the educational facilities/system with a view to instilling high moral and other standards, which will deter evil actors of crimes such as this.

"Parents working with schools should be proactive to teach and insist on good values, integrity and good character but above all, respect and dignity for persons (even as children) rather than shielding them 

"Proper and effective medical support in schools including psychological assessment for the well-being of a child in school; a child should not be so frightened that he/she cannot lodge a report to school authorities or parents.”

News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

from Latest News https://ift.tt/3ECEfhS
via IFTTT

Bandits Abduct 36 Residents In Kaduna Community In Fresh Attacks

Bandits have again invaded Jangali Bagoma in the Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna State and kidnapped 36 persons.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday and yesterday.

File Photo: Gunmen middleeastpress

According to Leadership, Malam Abubakar Mohammed, who is a resident of Birnin Gwari disclosed this to journalists in Kaduna.

He said, “The bandits attacked the community yesterday and this morning (Monday) and kidnapped the villagers, including women and children.

“They didn’t kill anybody during the attacks. We are still gathering the figures of the people they kidnapped today (Monday)”.

He lamented that the bandits attacked the community twice within 24 hours, a situation he described as heartbreaking.

It would be recalled that bandits kidnapped over 50 residents of Ungwa Gimbiya in Chikun local government area in the early hours of Friday, 3rd December, 2021.

Mohammed said “Nigerians are no longer safe in their homes, these people are kidnapping our people anyhow, anytime. Our government should do something and end this kidnapping, we cannot continue like this.”

He also called on the security agencies to put in more efforts in order to ensure the safety of Nigerians, he added.

When the police public relations officer, Mohammed Jalige, was contacted, he promised to confirm the incident and get back but did not do so as of the time of filing this report yesterday.

Jalige had confirmed the Friday’s attack, saying the bandits stormed the community at about 1am, killing two people and taking away 20 residents before the arrival of security operatives.

“A combined team of security operatives have launched a manhunt for the kidnappers with a view to rescuing the kidnapped victims and arresting the criminals,” he had added.

Insecurity Insurgency News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

from Latest News https://ift.tt/3DzZXl8
via IFTTT

Gombe State Acting Chief Judge, Pindiga In Age Falsification Scandal

The National Judicial Council has been petitioned over an alleged falsification of the age of the acting Chief Judge of Gombe State, Justice Muazu Pindiga. 

The state government had in 2020 named Pindiga as acting capacity after the Nigeria Judicial Council rejected its Chief Judge's nominee list over the omission of the most senior judge, Justice Beatrice L. Iliya. 

Iliya's name was omitted from the nomination list by the Gombe State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Zubairu Mohammed Umar, for being a Christian, sources had told SaharaReporters.

In the petition also addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed, dated 29th November, 2021, the petitioner, a Nigerian, Hussaini Musa, stated that Gombe State acting Chief Judge altered his age from 1st January, 1957 to 1st April, 1957, thereby influencing his retirement age from January to April 2022.

Also mentioned in the petition obtained by SaharaReporters, were; the Secretary of the council, the Director General, Department of State Services, the Chairman, Interview Committee set up by NJC, Justice Mary Odili, All members of the NJC and the President, Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata. See Also Legal Nigeria Judicial Council Rejects Gombe Chief Judge's Nominee List Over Omission Of Most Senior Judge For Being A Christian 0 Comments 1 Year Ago

The petitioner added that Pindiga ought to have given his statutory three months’ notice of retirement on September 1, 2021.

Musa said, “My lord, the records submitted by Justice Muazu Pindiga at the time of his appointment as required by law, through a statutory declaration of age or birth certificate, states his date of birth as January 1, 1957, therefore, his expected retirement date is January 1, 2022).

“This information is contained on the National Judicial Council’s Nominal Roll of Judicial Officers in the High Court of Gombe State; his Curriculum Vitae; National Judicial Council’s Data on Judicial Officers which was filled and signed by Justice Muazu Pindiga as far back as June 30, 2004; National Judicial Council’s Survey on Facilities Form which was also filled and signed by Justice Muazu Pindiga as far back as August 30, 2006); and the Compendium of Judicial Officers in Nigeria by the National Judicial Institute, Abuja on page 444 which was published in 2011.

“From the foregoing, it is clear that Justice Muazu Pindiga ought to have given his statutory three months’ notice of retirement on September 1, 2021. See Also Legal Most Senior Judge In Gombe Excluded From Chief Judge Nominees List For Being A Christian 0 Comments 1 Year Ago

“However, in a un-scrupulous and desperate bid to stay longer in office, and to defraud the government of undeserved salaries and allowances and other attendant benefits, Justice Muazu Pindiga has declared a different date of birth April 1, 1957 in another Statutory Declaration of Age which, though stated on the face of the affidavit to have been sworn in 2013, was only recently submitted by him to the Secretary of the NJC. This new and questionable declaration was meant to extend his stay in office and retirement date to April 1, 2022).”

Scandal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

from Latest News https://ift.tt/3DsynGt
via IFTTT

EXCLUSIVE: Dowen College Parents’ Forum Reacts To Online Campaign To Withdraw Children From School Over Sylvester's Death

 

The Dowen College Parents’ Forum in Lagos State has reacted to an online campaign that parents should withdraw their children from the school following the death of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni, who was allegedly bullied and killed by fellow pupils.

The forum earlier called for a change of school management and hostel teachers as well as the installation of Closed Circuit Television Cameras in the school amid the public outrage that has followed Sylvester’s painful death.

In an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters on Tuesday, one of the executive members of the forum, Aituaz Kola-Oladejo, said parents withdrawing their children from the school would not solve any problem.

There has been an online campaign tagged #justiceforsylvesteroromoni, asking parents to withdraw their wards from Dowen College over the way the school has handled the matter.

However, Kola-Oladejo said the moment should be seen as an opportunity to totally reform secondary education in Nigeria, generally.

“People react differently to information. We are parents in the school. Academic wise, the school is very sound, I must say; I have three children there,” she said. See Also Scandal Dowen College: Over 180,000 Persons Sign Petition, Demand Justice For Sylvester Oromoni 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

“There are lapses but I would not say that people should withdraw their children at this point in time. I would rather say this is a time to heal, reconcile and build. That is my message for Dowen parents; let us work with Dowen management to build and Dowen management is ready to cooperate but they are going through a lot now with the police and all of that.

“I know that there have been cases in other schools where students were bullied as well. It is an opportunity for reform in Nigerian secondary schools generally. Withdrawing your children from this school is not the solution to the problem but that might be the first reaction out of fear. I don’t think it is a graveyard. The school will turn 25 years next year and a number of people who attended the school have done well. See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Lagos Government Indefinitely Shuts Dowen College Where Deceased 12-Year-Old Was Allegedly Tortured For Refusing To Join Cult 0 Comments 3 Days Ago

“And there were some processes they put in place in January but it is just unfortunate that some other things that they should have addressed were not addressed and those things are also as important as academic work but I cannot comment further on this because we are also waiting for the outcome of the investigation.

“Justice for Sylvester is justice for all and that is where the Dowen Parents’ Forum stands and that is why we are planning a candlelight service for him tomorrow to honour his memory and commiserate with his parents.”

On why it took the parents’ forum so long to react to the death of Sylvester and the controversies that have surrounded the school in recent times, Kola-Oladejo said it took some time to get the parents to come together, adding that it was important to have a common voice. See Also CRIME Police Detain, Quiz Three Dowen College Students Over Death Of 12-year-old Colleague, Sylvester Oromoni 0 Comments 3 Hours Ago

She said, “The parents really didn’t have an online forum. If you notice, this is the parents’ forum and not the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association), so we had to reach out to all the parents with children in different classes – junior and secondary schools – to organise this forum and we agreed that we had to put a statement out there because we are also saddened by the loss of Sylvester.

“We have been working on this and there are several other things that we are working on. We are working on a wellness committee to help traumatised children and parents, so that is why it also took us some time to react. Some parents are traumatised; I couldn’t sleep for days. Some children are traumatised as we speak. Some were classmates, roommates, bunkmates of Sylvester. It is really painful so we had to come together and express ourselves with a common voice because this a tough time for every Dowen parent.”

When queried about why bullying was allegedly not taken seriously in the school by the management and the parents, she said there had been nothing as serious as Sylvester’s case in the school’s history.

“This is the first time I personally have heard of a case this bad, there can be cases of a student bullying another student in class but the school has an anti-bullying policy so such students have been reprimanded and there have been cases in the past when Dowen College suspended some students.

“So really, this particular one is one very serious one. They have had cases but I don’t think they have had a case this bad in its history, which is about 25 years. I am personally not aware of a case this bad in the 4-5 years (I have had children) in the school.”

SaharaReporters earlier today reported that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, revealed that three students of the college were being investigated over the death of Sylvester.

Although Odumosu did not give the identities of those in custody, he had insisted that they were the main suspects.

The story of 12-year-old Sylvester went viral last week after a family member went on social media to demand justice.

In a series of Tweets, the family member, with handle @Perrisonoromoni, said Sylvester was assaulted by some senior students of Dowen College.

He added that Sylvester died after sustaining multiple internal injuries from being tortured and bullied.

Also, in a video released online by the family member, Oromoni Jr was seen writhing in pain. His teeth were stained dark red with blood. His legs were swollen, and his belly was bloated.

The Management of Dowen College in a statement had claimed that Sylvester was injured while playing football. In another statement, they assured that they would cooperate with authorities to investigate the incident.

The Lagos State government through its Ministry of Education paid an inquiry visit to the college and announced on Friday that the school be shut down indefinitely.

Exclusive News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

from Latest News https://ift.tt/3dtqW7x
via IFTTT

If I Didn’t Visit Nnamdi Kanu, They’d Still Blame Me – Ex-Abia Governor, Kalu Speaks On Claims Of Plotting With Secret Police, DSS

The Chief Whip of the Senate and former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, has refuted claims on social media that he instructed Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services (DSS) to work against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Nnamdi Kanu's brother, Prince, had on Tuesday alleged that the DSS operatives denied the separatist leader food and also not allowed him to see his medical test results.

Reports are also being circulated that Senator Kalu told the DSS operatives not to feed Nnamdi Kanu after his visit to Kanu in the DSS facility in Abuja on Monday, November 29.

Reacting on his verified Facebook page, Kalu debunked the reports, while urging Nigerians to ignore them.

Kalu said, “A friend said the statement below is been (sic) circulated on social media and I urge you to please ignore as it's a big fat lie and cheap propaganda. The circulating lie says, "When Senator Orji Uzor Kalu visited DSS and Mazi Nnamdi, he told the DSS to stop giving Nnamdi Kanu food and Nnamdi Kanu has been living without food since then. 

"My brief take is that there is nothing one would do that people won't talk about. If you don't visit, they will blame you for not visiting. If you visit, they will still blame you. But more sympathetic to me is those that believe and propagate any cock-and-bull story. If the agenda is to create hatred between me and my brothers, it's a waste of time because my people love me and I love them too. I will always respond to hate with love.”

 

News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

from Latest News https://ift.tt/3GnT9sY
via IFTTT

Slain OAU Student: Court Denies Bail Application Of Hilton Hotel Owner, Adedoyin

The bail request made by Dr. Ramon Adegoke Adedoyin, the detained founder of Oduduwa University in Ile-Ife, Osun State, has been declined by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Adedoyin had in an ex-parte motion, filed along with a fundamental rights enforcement suit, prayed the court to admit him to bail pending the conclusion of investigation by the police or pending the determination of his fundamental rights suit.

He had also asked to be allowed access to quality medical facilities of his choice pending the conclusion of police’s investigation and his possible arraignment.

Meanwhile, Justice Inyang Ekwo after listening to Kunle Adegoke, the lead counsel for the defendant, declined to grant any of the prayers but instead ordered Adedoyin to serve the motion and other processes in the case on the sole respondent, the Inspector General of Police (IGP). 

He then adjourned the case till December 9 for hearing. See Also Scandal Hilton Hotel Had Been Monitoring My Husband Before He Was Killed – Wife Of OAU MBA Student, Adegoke 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

Adedoyin, the owner of the Hilton Hotel, Ile Ife, Osun State, where a Masters student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Timothy Adegoke, was allegedly murdered, has been arrested for some time now in relation to the murder.

Chief Segun Aworinde in a supporting affidavit, who described himself as Adedoyin’s younger brother, said despite being informed that Adedoyin was hypertensive and diabetic, the police refused to release him or allow him access to quality health facility since he was arrested on November 15.

Aworinde said he knew “Adedoyin as an established industrialist and educationist and also a business mogul that owns several higher institutions of learning among which is Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife. He is around 65 years of age with business interests spread over the country. See Also CRIME How Son Of Hilton Hotel Owner, Adedoyin Dumped OAU Student’s Corpse In Bush – Osun Police 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

He added that Adedoyin was “arrested on the 15th day of November, 2021 by the respondent (IGP) and has since then been in detention in connection with some allegations bordering on the mysterious death and dumping of the corpse of one Timothy Adegoke who was said to have lodged in the Applicant’s hotel, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, situate, lying and being at Ile-Ife, Osun State.

“By virtue of my relationship to the applicant as aforementioned, I know as a fact that the applicant is a hypertension and diabetes patient for over 15 years and has been on specialised drugs and treatments including but not limited to traditional herbs but to which he has not been able to have access since his incarceration by the respondent.”

Legal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

from Latest News https://ift.tt/3rJ5dAX
via IFTTT

COVID-19 Vaccines Should Reach 70% Of Citizens Before 2022 Ends – Nigerian Government

The Nigerian government has said it is prepared to vaccinate 70 per cent of Nigerians against COVID-19 before the end of 2022.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, said this on Monday in Abuja.

According to Daily Trust, Mustapha spoke at the National COVID-19 Summit with the theme: “Pushing Through the Last Mile to End the Pandemic and Build Back Better”.

“We are now in the era of vaccines and non-pharmaceutical intervention measures.

“We need to encourage all eligible persons to get vaccinated and keep observing washing of hands, wearing of face masks, keeping physical distance and avoiding crowded areas. Nigeria has invested in vaccines that can cover over 70 per cent of our population before the end of 2022.

“These vaccines are safe and efficacious; it is better and safer to be vaccinated against this virus, now,” Mustapha said.

He said that at the end, the committee was expected to have carried out the review of the country’s COVID-19 response from February 2020 to November 2021 to identify successes, gaps and lessons to be learnt; and also to identify resources and develop strategies that will actualise the country’s expressed international commitments toward ending COVID-19 by 31st December 2022 among others.

The SGF said that other expectations were an articulation of actionable recommendations to President Muhammadu Buhari on the governance structure, resources and policies needed to end COVID-19 in Nigeria by 31 December 2022.

He said that the recommendations would include how to rebuild the health system and the economy for a better response to future threats.

He said, “Nigeria’s COVID-19 response has been driven by science, data and experience since then till date.

“The national response has been driven by a multi-sectoral process which facilitated expansive and in-depth consideration of issues as well as speedy decision-making.

“The process enjoyed the overwhelming support of partners from the private sector and the international community. Through these partners, Nigeria was able to put in place critical infrastructure nationwide, procure scarce medical equipment, test kits and personal protective materials.”

 

PUBLIC HEALTH News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

from Latest News https://ift.tt/3lHxUKv
via IFTTT