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Ekiti Traditional Ruler, Alumni Seek Govt Attention Over Dilapidated School

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The Onise of Odo Oro-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba Babatunde Jemilehin, ALADESODEDERO I, has appealed to the state government to renovate and construct the dilapidated classrooms at the St Thomas’ Catholic Primary School in the community.

Also, the coordinator of the Old Students Association, Prince Segun Okunoye, said there was need for the government and other stakeholders in the education sector to save the school from total neglect in the interest of the young pupils.

They both spoke in Odo Oro-Ekiti at the weekend during the handing over of a newly renovated block of three classrooms by the old students to the school management and the school officials.

Oba Jemilehin, who lamented the unpleasant experience of the pupils under the deplorable classrooms especially during raining season, said solid and conducive infrastructures remained one of the measures in the standard of education in any society.

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While commending the old students for the timely gesture of renovating the block of classrooms as the pupils resume for the new academic session, the traditional ruler reiterated the need for the state government to act fast in giving the pupils a befitting and conducive learning environment.

According to him, “The buildings in this primary school have been in very terrible dilapidated forms for a long while. That has been source of concern to not only the school management, but equally to me as the traditional ruler of the town and the generality of the odo Oro Ekiti indigenes.

“The harrowing experiences the pupils go through to study in such a deplorable condition and the effects on their psychology as they visit others schools with good structures cannot be over emphasised. Their teachers too are not left out in the trauma of teaching pupils drenched whenever it rains

“It is in the spirit of this understanding that I am making this passionate appeal to the government to come to the aid of our primary schools in Odo Oro Ekiti.”

Okunoye explained that the old students were moved by the pictures and videos of pupils learning under the deplorable structures and decided to pull resources together in the renovation of the block of three classrooms.

He noted that there was need for the people to collaborate with the government in improving the standard of education especially the basic, adding that government should be deliberate in attending to the other blocks for the pupils to be motivated in learning.

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“With the limited resources available to us, we set to work and the complete renovation of the building we are handling over today was completed in August this year, preparatory to the resumption of academic activities for the new session.

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“We, however, regret to say that of the four buildings that need immediate attention, we could only handle one, while the remaining three are in their dilapidated shapes as we can all see. It is therefore on that note that we want to call on the state government, the State Universal Primary Education Board and other governmental agencies that are stakeholders in the administration of primary school education, to urgently come and assist in renovating the remaining buildings in this school.”

Speaking, the head teacher of the school, Chief Idowu Adeyemi, commended the old students for the gesture, which she said would go a long in ameliorating the suffering of the pupils and staff.

The primary school, which was established in 1954, has 240 pupils.

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DHQ Vows Decisive Response To Killers Of Soldiers In Delta

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The Defence Headquarters on Monday vowed that there would be measured responses and injurious consequences for killers of its personnel in Delta State.

No fewer than 15 military personnel were killed during a communal clash over a land dispute in Bomadi and Okuoma communities in Delta State.

The personnel attached to the 181 Amphibious Battalion were responding to a distress call when they were ambushed and killed on Thursday.

The DHQ, in a statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, stated that its rule of engagement and human rights laws would be respected while dealing with the culprits.

READ ALSO: Pastor Preaching With AK-47 Seeks Judicial Review Of Trial

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The statement partly read, “The senseless and barbaric killings of these men is a tragedy. They were killed in a dehumanised and unspeakable manner. Accordingly, on behalf of the CDS, Gen CG Musa, the armed forces mourn the loss of these gallant troops who paid the supreme sacrifice for the nation. We console their families, colleagues, and loved ones over the tragic incident. They have died trying to restore peace in the nation.

“It is necessary to reiterate that both the Constitution and the Armed Forces Act saddled the military with the responsibility of the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation. Accordingly, the armed forces consist of citizens from every nook and cranny of the nation that have taken an oath of allegiance to put themselves in harm’s way to defend our great country.

“The military assures all that there would be measured responses and injurious consequences for the perpetrators of these dastardly acts. Nevertheless, the armed forces being a disciplined force that complies with rules of engagement, laws of armed conflict, and respect for human rights would be tempered by these provisions. We would not be led by emotions but by the rule of law.”

Buba also denied reports of reprisal attacks by troops in the community after the incident.

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According to him, the community had been deserted before the arrival of the troops on the scene.

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Buba urged those dishing out false information on the incident to stop disrespecting the dead.

He called on the community to assist the military in arresting the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

Buba said, “It is against this background that the military debunks all claims that the military embarked on reprisal attacks in Okuama Community after the incident. The community was deserted even before troops arrived at the scene.

“Importantly, those involved in peddling this misinformation, disinformation, and fake news that the military had embarked on reprisal attacks on the community following the incident should desist from further dishonouring our fallen heroes.

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“Rather, it behooves the community leaders, elders, and even the people of Delta State to assist in the investigation to identify the perpetrators of the dastardly act so that they can be held accountable for their actions.

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“Furthermore, it must be noted that the dispute between Okuama and Okoloba communities remains unresolved. It, therefore, implies that there could be untoward activities not initiated by the military.”

Buba, however, urged Nigerians to resist the temptation of sharing the gory videos of how the soldiers were killed.

“We urge the public to resist the temptation of allowing any videos of the incident of the killed personnel from going viral. Their loved ones are still alive, even though they have died protecting our country and its citizens.

“It would be dishonoured to the fallen heroes to allow such ugly videos of their demise go viral. Above all, as the military mourns, it remains ever determined to ensure the safety and security of citizens across the country,” he said.

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JUST IN: Tinubu Appoints Chairman, Executive Secretary For Almajiri Commission

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President Bola Tinubu has made adjustments to earlier appointments he approved at the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education.

Brigadier-General Lawal Isa (retd.), whom he appointed Executive Secretary on March 15, will now serve as chairman of the commission.

Dr. Idris Sani will now serve as its executive secretary/CEO.

The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement he signed Monday evening titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new Almajiri Education Commission leadership team.’

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“Brigadier-General Lawal Ja’afar Isa (Rtd) is now to serve as the Chairman of the Board of the Commission, while Dr. Idris Sani is to serve as the Executive Secretary/CEO,” the statement read.

Sani replaces Sha’aban Sharada, who served as the commission’s pioneer leader since its creation in May 2023.

On May 28, 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the National Commission for Almajiri and Out of School Children Education Bill 2023 and appointed Sharada, the outgoing Member of the House of Representatives for Kano Municipal, as Executive Secretary.

A former military administrator of Kaduna State from 1993 to 1996, Ngelale described Isa as a respected leader.

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Meanwhile, Sani holds master’s and doctorate degrees in Islamic Studies.

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He was the Director-General, Al-Iman School Lafia; Commissioner, Basic/Secondary Education, Yobe State; Chairman, Nigerian Arabic Language Village, Borno State; Member, Nasarawa State Government Committee on Enlightenment Campaign, and Secretary-General, Association of Private Schools in Nasarawa State.

The President expects that the new appointees will “bring their vast experience into the management of this critical Commission, which impacts the very core of society, by ensuring that his administration’s drive to guarantee Nigeria’s out-of-school children the most comprehensive education is realized in the superseding interest of the nation’s future,” said Ngelale.

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Pastor Preaching With AK-47 Seeks Judicial Review Of Trial

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The Presiding Pastor of the House on the Rock in Abuja, Uche Aigbe, arraigned before an FCT Magistrates Court for bearing an AK-47 rifle, has approached a Federal Capital Territory High Court to seek judicial review of his trial.

Aigbe, during a Sunday church service in February 2023, mounted the pulpit with an AK-47 rifle to illustrate his sermon titled “Guarding your faith.”

He was subsequently arraigned alongside Olakunle Ogunleye and Promise Ukachukwu for possession of a prohibited firearm (AK-47 rifle), inciting disturbance and abetting illegal possession of a firearm.

They were arraigned before Senior Magistrate Mohammed Ismail, sitting at Zuba, Abuja.

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Aigbe was specifically said to have contravened Section 3 of the Firearms Act, Cap F28 Law of the Federation.

At the FCT High Court on Monday, the counsel for the defendants, P.H. Ogbole, SAN, told the court that they filed a motion on notice seeking a judicial review of the proceedings at the lower court.

He added that the issues of jurisdiction were raised, urging the court to grant their prayers.

In the motion on notice marked M/13706/2023, the lawyer alleged that the magistrates’ court violated their fundamental rights to a fair hearing in one of its proceedings.

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He said, “The proceedings of March 28, 2023, at the Zuba Magistrate’s Court, wherein the magistrate descended into the arena of conflict is wrongful, in a clear misapplication of the law and a violation of their fundamental right to a fair hearing.”

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He further sought a declaration, among others, ”That the proceedings of June 19, 2023, at the Magistrate’s Court in the trial of the applicants wherein the magistrate admitted a compact disc as an exhibit without viewing the content of the exhibit in the open court is wrongful, in clear misapplication of the law and a violation of their fundamental right to fair hearing.”

The lawyer stated that the motion was brought pursuant to Section 227(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended); Sections 19 and 33 of the FCT High Court Act Cap 510 LFN 2007; Order 44 Rule 1 of the FCT High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2018.

On his part, counsel for the commissioner of police, Inah Umoh, urged the court to dismiss the application.

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He urged the court to allow the lower court to continue with the matter.

“The essence of a judicial review is to show that the trial court exceeded its jurisdiction.

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“In this case, Section 27(4) and (5) give jurisdiction to the court to try such offence summarily,” he added.

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, after listening to the submissions of both counsel in the matter, fixed May 15 for ruling on the application.

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