Judges' break stalls judgment in Igbinedion’s case

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Press Release

Justice J. Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo state, has again moved judgment in the N25 billion fraud trial of Michael Igbinedion and Charles Eboigbodin to Monday April 20, 2015, due to the extended Easter break of judges. The new date was communicated to parties concerned as the court failed to sit on Friday, April 17, 2015.

The development is coming barely a month after Justice Liman promised there would to be no further delay in delivering the ruling  which has suffered several adjournments since January 30, 2015, when the case was first fixed for judgment. 

How prison accountant, Esu-Nte, laundered prisons funds – Witness

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 Press Release

The trial of Imaobong Akon Esu-Nte, an accountant with the Nigeria Prisons Service and two others: Olukolade Olabamiji, a businessman and Mohammed Abdulkadir, a banker commenced on Thursday, March 16, 2015 with the first prosecution witness, Sini Omar telling the court how the Prison Accountant conspired with the other accused persons to launder funds from the Nigeria Prisons Service into the accounts of companies where she has interests.

Journalists assaulted, chased covering protest in Nigeria

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Abuja, Nigeria, April 16, 2015 - The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the attacks on journalists covering a government workers' strike in Nigeria and calls on Nigerian authorities to ensure police launch a thorough and efficient investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.

About a dozen journalists were at the government secretariat in the southern state of Osun on Tuesday to cover a three-day strike called by one branch of the Trade Union Congress in Osun State, a national union that advocates for workers' rights, according to local journalists and news reports. 

R2K Nigeria calls for public declaration of assets

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Right To Know (R2K), Nigeria commends Nigeria’s President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari on his recent statement on Sahara TV aired on Sunday 12 April, 2015, in which he stated that he would ensure all governors, ministers, permanent secretaries, head of foreign staff and political appointees declare their assets on assumption and at the end of their term in order to ensure accountability in the public service.

Drama as EFCC arraigns prison accountant, two others for money laundering

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 Press Release

Even without ruling on an oral motion for bail, Justice E. S Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Maitama Abuja today released the trio of Imaobong Akon Esu-Nte, an accountant with the Nigeria Prisons Service; Olukolade Olabamiji, a businessman and Mohammed Abdulkadir to their counsel, Titus Olasupo Ashaolu, SAN despite protest from the prosecution counsel, Aso Larry Peters.

Before they were arraigned today, some of the accused persons had engaged the prosecution in a hide and seek game, deliberately making themselves unavailable for service. Surprisingly, when the matter was called, the accused persons were present. 

Somali journalist shot by gunmen in Mogadishu

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The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the shooting attack on a Somali photographer in Mogadishu and calls on authorities to thoroughly investigate the case and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. 

Farhan Suleiman Dahir works for the state-run Radio Mogadishu, whose journalists have been targeted several times in recent years.

Chibok girls: Makoko children join in commemoration

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On Tuesday, April 14, the world united in sad commemoration of the one year anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok school girls by the Boko Haram sect. 

The Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE), a child’s right and welfare NGO joined in the global activities by holding a seminar and rally for our teenagers and children in Makoko, Lagos' biggest slum.  

Registration opens for World Young Readers prizes

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The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has opened registration for the 2015 World Young Reader Prizes, which annually honour news media that develop strategies and projects to effectively engage children, teenagers and young adults.

 Deadline for entries in 5 May.

NNPC moves to end fuel queues in Abuja, employs monitoring team to check product diversion

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The Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC on Tuesday assured members of the public that the noticeable queues at fuel stations in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs would soon become a thing of the past as the Corporation has increased fuel truck-out from the Suleja depot to Abuja to ease distribution challenges. 

The Corporation in statement noted that the artificially induced distribution challenge in the FCT was as a result of the few days lull in the loading gantries caused by the recently concluded general elections across the country. 

Register now! UNESCO’s free online Media and Information Literacy course for youth

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UNESCO, in partnership with Athabasca University and in cooperation with the UNESCO-UNAOC University Network on Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue, opens a third call for registration for online course on media and information literacy (MIL).

 

This entry-level online course will provide youth with basic media and information competencies to become critical citizens and agents of change. The course is designed to enable youth to:

Again, court defers ruling on Okoyomon’s extradition

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Justice E. S Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja today April 14, 2015 deferred ruling in the extradition proceedings brought against Ehidiamhem Okoyomon, former managing director and chief executive of Nigeria Security, Printing and Minting  Company, NSPMC, by the office of Attorney General of the Federation, to May 4, 2015.

CDD’s preliminary report on accreditation of voters for the 2015 governorship and state assembly elections

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Preamble

(April 11, 2015) Today, Nigerians return to the polls to elect governors and state legislators in 29 and 36 states of the federation respectively. Over 10 political parties are participating in today’s exercise. 

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) deployed observers and reporters in 21 states namely, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Plateau, Ondo, Oyo, Taraba, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Enugu, Delta, Rivers and Sokoto states.

German student makes FoI request to see test papers before exams

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By Ben Knight 

German students sit the Abitur exam. Photograph: Patrick Seeger/EPA

Simon Schräder, 17, uses freedom of information law to ask to see Abitur exam questions, but keeps revising in likelihood request is denied.

A German schoolboy has taken exam preparation to ingenious new levels by making a freedom of information request to see the questions in his forthcoming Abitur tests, the equivalent of A-levels in the UK.

Norway-Africa Energy Summit takes place in Oslo

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African Ministers of Energy from Ghana and Zambia are amongst the attendees at the Norway - Africa Energy Summit organized by Norfund and the Norwegian-African Business Association (NABA).

The African Ministers of Energy will, alongside energy companies, investors and researchers, highlight the current status on energy in Africa. They will underline the necessity of putting in place a robust energy system, which will ensure electricity for the population and serving both the public and the private sector.

Authorities arrest Shabelle Media Network journalists, close station again

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Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency raided the Shabelle Media Network offices on April 3, arrested staff and shuttered the privately ownedstations Radio Shabelle and Sky FM, according to local journalists. 

The raid came after the network aired a clip of the militant group Al-Shabab claiming responsibility for the attack on a university in Kenya, a Security Ministry spokesman said.

New e-book shares views on youth and digital media

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An ebook presenting diverse diverse views, experiences, and insights on key challenges and opportunities.

April 7, 2015 (Cambridge, MA) - The Berkman Center for Internet & Society and Youth and Media are excited to announce the release of the new ebook “Digitally Connected: Global Perspectives on Youth and Digital Media,” a first-of-its kind collection of essays that offers reflections from diverse perspectives on youth experiences with digital media and with focus on the Global South. It creatively combines adult voices with written and visual contributions by young people from around the world.

N11bn contract scam: Ex-Gov Audu’s trial resumes April 15

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Press Release

Justice A.O Adeniyi of a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed Wednesday April 15 for further hearing in the on-going trial of a former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu. 

Audu and one Alfa Ibn Mustapha, a former Director General of the Directorate of Rural Development, Kogi State, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for offences bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N10, 965,837,040 (Ten billion, Nine Hundred and Sixty five Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Seven Thousand, Forty Naira) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Oba of Lagos should apologise to Igbo people ‘without delay’ – Falana

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has told the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, to apologise to the Igbo people in Lagos “without delay” over his controversial statement.

During a courtesy visit by Eze Ndigbos (Igbo traditional rulers) of all the local governments in Lagos at the Oba’s Palace on Sunday, Mr. Akiolu had said that Igbo residents in the state should cast their votes for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Akinwunmi Ambode, or “perish inside the lagoon.”

MOSOP congratulates Nigeria’s President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari

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Members of the apex organisation of the Ogoni people, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has congratulated the President-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari (retd.) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who clinched victory at last Saturday’s presidential election. 

It has as well commended Nigerians for the adjudged peaceful national polls, which, although imperfect, ended successfully.

Global media monitoring project 2015 takes place

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Gender equality in the news media was scrutinized on March 25 in more than 130 countries around the world.

National newspapers, television, radio and internet news broadcasts and tweets were analyzed by the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) from Argentina to Zimbabwe, Bangladesh to Yemen, Barbados to the Solomon Islands, and New Zealand to Canada.