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  • Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Kukah Member Of The Dicsatery On Integral Human Development, Vatican City

    Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Kukah Member Of The Dicsatery On Integral Human Development, Vatican City

    Rev. Fr Christopher A. Omotosho – Sokoto

    The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed His Lordship, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto as a Member of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Human Integral Development. The appointment was contained in a letter to Bishop Kukah dated 11th December, 2020, and signed by His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Turkson, the Prefect of the Dicastery.

    By this appointment, Bishop Kukah will join other members of the Dicastery drawn from different regions of the world to advise and promote the holy Father’s concerns on issues of justice and peace, human rights, torture, human trafficking, care of creation and other issues related to the promotion of human dignity and development. The appointment, which is renewable is for an initial period of five years. The Council will be formally inaugurated on a later date.

    The Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development was created on January 1, 2017, when four Dicasteries, namely, the Pontifical Councils for Justice and Peace, Cor Unum, Pastoral Care of Immigrants and Itinerant People and Health Care of Workers, were all merged by the Holy Father.

    This appointment adds to Bishop Kukah’s string of national and international engagements within the universal Church. He was first appointed a Consultor and later a Member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, Vatican City* and served under three Popes. He is currently, Chairman, Dialogue Committees of both the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

    He was a member of the official Delegation of the Holy See that met with the Emir of Qatar when that country opened diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 2002. In 2016, he was nominated by the Vatican to represent Africa on the Advisory Board of the Vienna based, King Abdulazeez International Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue, KAIICID. KAIICID is the fruit of the collaboration between the governments of Saudi Arabia, Austria and the Holy See for the promotion of worldwide Dialogue between world religions. Bishop Kukah comes to the Dicastery on the Promotion of Integral Development with a lot of experience in the areas of human rights, justice and reconciliation.

     

     

  • Barcelona Star, Lionel Messi Handed Two-game Ban During Super Cup Final Against Athletic Bilbao

    Barcelona Star, Lionel Messi Handed Two-game Ban During Super Cup Final Against Athletic Bilbao

    By Admin

    Lionel Messi has been handed a two-match ban after being sent off for the first-ever time in his senior Barcelona career in the Spanish Supercopa final against Athletic Bilbao last Sunday.

    The 33-year-old Argentine playmaker was shown a red card in the final minute of extra-time after swinging his arm at striker Asier Villalibre as they were beaten 3-2 by Athletic Bilbao.

    Referee Gil Manzano missed the incident initially but after a VAR review, he showed Messi a straight red card for violent conduct.

    The Royal Spanish Football Federation’s competition committee met on Tuesday and deemed the challenge to be worthy of a two-game suspension.

    Messi will miss Thursday’s trip to third division Cornella in the Copa del Rey and Sunday’s La Liga game away at Elche. Should Barca beat Cornella, he will return for a potential round-of-16 tie in the Copa del Rey next week and will also be available for the league match at Camp Nou against Athletic Bilbao on Jan. 31.

  • Rovers FC Square Up Against 3SC in NNL Season Opening Match

    Rovers FC Square Up Against 3SC in NNL Season Opening Match

    By Kelvin Obambon

    Rovers Football Club Calabar will commence their campaign in the Nigeria National League (NNL) by slugging it out with Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) on away turf.

    The encounter slated for 30th January, 2021, would see the Calabar based team hit the road to Ibadan the Oyo State capital, where they will meet the Oluyole Warriors in the Lekan Salami Stadium.

    Rovers FC Calabar is lumped in group B1, consisting of Go Round FC, Akajobi FC, Stores FC, Giant Brillars FC, 3SC, Dynamite FC, Ekiti Utd FC, Delta Force FC, Vandrezzer FC, Nilayo FC and Nnewi Utd FC.

    The new kick off date for the 2020/2021 season was announced at the Nigeria National League Annual General Assembly held on Friday 15th January, 2021 at Salt Lake Hotel, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

    One of the major decisions also reached at the AGA was the readmission of four clubs (4) namely; FC Taraba, Real Stars FC, Jossy FC and Akajobi FC which could not meet the registration guidelines in the aborted 2019/2020 League season and for the fact that the said season was cancelled.

    Rovers FC Calabar formally resumed training on the 5th of January, 2021, and has since then intensified preparations with quality friendly games, as the team looks forward to putting up better performances that would ultimately lead to promotion when the season finally ends.

    On Wednesday this week, players and officials of Rovers Football Club Calabar underwent COVID-19 and Electroencephalographic (ECG) tests as mandated by the Nigeria National League (NNL) in compliance with directives from the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC).

    The Coach Samson Unuanel tutored side would spare no effort in ensuring that its participation in the 2020/2021 season counts.

  • Sen. Gershom Bassey Facilitates The Training And Empowerment Of Constituents On Installation And Maintenance Of Street Lights & Inverters

    Sen. Gershom Bassey Facilitates The Training And Empowerment Of Constituents On Installation And Maintenance Of Street Lights & Inverters

    By Admin

    Over 200 youths and women across the seven Local Governments that makes up Cross River Southern Senatorial District were trained and certified on Street Lights and Inverters installation and maintenance. The trainees after a 5-Day intensive training were empowered with tool boxes and financial grants of one hundred thousand naira (#100,000) each as part of a human capacity development program courtesy of Sen. Gershom Bassey.

    The Senator was represented by Barr. Mba Ukweni SAN and Barr. Ekpo Ada while presenting the toolboxes and financial grants to the trainees promised that more human capacity development programmes will be unveiled.

    Barr Mba Ukweni stated that Senator Gershom Bassey is poised to changing the old order where the youth will cluster at the gates of politicians begging for money, he said it is better to empower the youths with relevant skills that will make them independent. He also added that this informed the Senator’s decision to train constituents on installation and maintenance of solar streetlights and inverters and other empowerments which would help create jobs for the teeming youths and make them self reliant.

    Also speaking, Barr Ekpo Ada said, Senator Bassey’s perception of government and representation is to create centers to develop people to be self reliant and become professionals on their own. He believed this training will make our youth and women become self employed and some gainfully employed by the government.

    Mr Ogban Samuel, a beneficiary from Biase Local Government Area thanked the Senator for training them in 21st century skills and empowering them at this hard time to in turn build others. He maintained that he will never forget this kind gesture and acknowledged that it is real representation.

    Mr Ekikere Ekanem, ward 11 chairman from Calabar south said the Senator has changed the narratives and enjoined other representatives to emulate him.

    Mr. Ita Francis from Odukpani Local Government said if all the representatives can do this yearly, unemployment will be reduced and he prayed for more Grace for the Senator. Other Beneficiaries also expressed their gratitude to the Senator and promised to make judicious use of the training in fending for themselves and their families.

  • Unical COVID-19 Task Force Seeks Collaboration With C/River Primary Healthcare Dev. Agency As Keystone, First Bank Promises Support

    Unical COVID-19 Task Force Seeks Collaboration With C/River Primary Healthcare Dev. Agency As Keystone, First Bank Promises Support

    By Admin

    The University of Calabar COVID-19 Task Force Committee has sought the collaboration of the Cross River Primary Healthcare Development Agency in the control and management of the pandemic on campus as the University announces Feb. 5 for resumption of academic activities.

    Chairman of the Committee, Dr Kingsley Akaba, who paid a courtesy call on Dr Janet Ekpenyong, the Director General of the Agency in her office in Calabar, said the committee needed the support of the agency to effectively have a seamless academic session free from the pandemic.

    Akaba told the DG that her agency plays a critical role in healthcare delivery at the community level, hence Unical community would also need her support and collaboration.

    “COVID-19 has ravaged the world. We have lost almost one year academic year due to the outbreak of the pandemic.

    “We are here today to seek for collaboration and support because we want to have a seamless academic session as students prepare to resume school.

    “On our path, with the support of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, we have already set modalities in place that would help us to effectively implement the COVID-19 protocols on campus,” he said.

    Responding, Dr Ekpenyong who lamented the adverse effect COVID-19 had caused on the economy and educational sectors, expressed happiness that schools have resume in order to keep the students academically engaged.

    She told the Committee that the state has been very proactive in the fight against the pandemic through the enforcement of nose mask and ban on large gatherings.

    “For us as an agency, we are going to share our experience and template with the committee to serve as a guide towards helping in the implementation of the protocols on campus.

    “I want to advise the committee to set up a mini isolation centre on campus with a view to manage any suspected case that may be detected.

    “Also, you must do a lot of awareness and advocacy to continuously instill the preventive measures on students, staff and to the entire Unical community,” she said.

    The DG, assured the committee of the agency’s support and collaboration in all its activities, as well urged the committee to strengthen the university’s medical centre as students were expected to resume on Feb. 5.

    The Committee in its desire to sought for support from corporate organisations, also sought the audience of Keystone and First Bank respectively.

    Both banks promised to support the committee with relevant materials to enhance the implementation of their blueprint against the pandemic on campus.

  • Janet Ekpenyong Calls On Cross Riverians To Discard Misconception And Myth On Covid-19 Vaccines

    Janet Ekpenyong Calls On Cross Riverians To Discard Misconception And Myth On Covid-19 Vaccines

    By Simon Ushie

    The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has called on Cross Riverians to discard every form of misconception or myths on the Covid-19 Vaccines which is soon to be introduced in Nigeria even as she called on the Federal Government to expedite actions on the availability of the vaccines for all Nigerians.

    The DG made the assertion recently in an interview to Sensitize and create demand for the Covid-19 Vaccines which according to her is considered the most effective remedy to checkmate the spread of Covid-19 as well as it’s resultant morbidity and mortality.

    Dr Ekpenyong noted that “just like every other vaccines, the Covid19 Vaccines will help boost the immunity and fight against complications that may arise from contacts with infected persons even as the world awaits a permanent treatment and prophylaxis for the new strain of the avian influnza.

    “With Cross River State already ranked among top performing states on Immunization exercise across the country, the state and it’s people are assured of a viable and potent vaccines, which would meet all international requirements and certified by both the Nigerian Medical Association, National Agency for food, drugs Administration and control, Standard Organization of Nigeria and other monitoring and regulatory bodies”

    Ekpenyong called on the Federal Government to utilize all Federal mechanism to intensify information dissemination on the Covid-19 vaccines. She reiterated the need for states to also intensify Sensitization and awareness creation to help stop the spread of fake news and unverified myths against the vaccines.

    The DG called on Cross Riverians to embrace the vaccines and ensure to receive the vaccine when available, while appealing to rumour mongers to desist from spreading false rumour about the vaccines. She used the opportunity to call on traditional rulers, religious leaders, CSOs, CBOs and other key influencers to lend their voices and support the state Government to ensure Cross Riverians takes the vaccines when available to help curb the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

    With a total confirmed case of 108,943 people and 1420 deaths as at Saturday, January 16th 2020, the need to boost the immunity of Nigerians especially the elderly and others on essential duties cannot be over emphasized and this has necessitated the purchase of 100,000 vaccines for the first batch which is expected in the country between the end of January and Early February for the commencement of Immunization.

    Aside vaccination, the easiest means of preventing oneself from contracting the virus includes, regular hand wash, use of facemask, application of alcohol based hand sanitizer and well as the maintenance of social distancing.

  • Controversy Trails The Appointment Of A substantive Chief Judge In Cross River As NJC Turns Down The Extension Of Justice Eyo Ita

    Controversy Trails The Appointment Of A substantive Chief Judge In Cross River As NJC Turns Down The Extension Of Justice Eyo Ita

    Chiemeka ADINDU, Calabar

    Culled From TNN Online

    There seems to be uncertainty in the Cross River State Judiciary after the National Judicial Council, NJC turned down the request of the state governor demanding for the extension of Justice Eyo Ita as the acting chief judge of the state.

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mba Ukweni disclosed this during an interview with him in Calabar. He said the governor has kept the state’s judiciary in a shameful state following his continuous refusal to confirm Justice Akon Ikpeme who is the most senior judge in the state as the chief judge.

    He therefore appealed to the governor to do the needful by approving the recommendation of the NJC and confirm Akon Ikpeme as the substantive chief judge of the state.

    He said: “reliably, the National Judicial Council has turned down the request of the governor for the extension of Eyo Ita; which means by 12 midnight today, the tenure of Justice Eyo Ita will come to and end. The only option as I’ve said, open to the governor, and the most honourable option is for him to go back to the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, retransmit his request for the house to confirm Justice Akon Ikpeme as the chief judge and swear her in before we turn into another crisis.

    “The junior lawyers may not be restrained from going to the streets any longer because it has become a cycle of shame, cycle of foolishness. You know this is a foolish act and you continue doing the same thing. If he can’t do that, the option open to him, is the cycle of foolishness I am talking about, is to appoint Honourable Justice S. M. Anjor as the fourth person in acting capacity who will stay for another 3 months.

    “That is the major problem. The other one is the punishment the National Judicial Council has been meting on us. This is the third time judges are been appointed across the states of the federation and we don’t have one because of the attitude of the governor. The implication is that our number will continue depleting in the judiciary and we are not having our share with regards to the judiciary.

    ”His major agenda is to appoint his in-law, Maurice Eneji who will do his biddings, as the chief judge. He wants to appoint a crony so as to take over that office as he has taken charge of other arms of the government. That is the domineering pattern he wants to take”, the senior lawyer frowned.

    Ukweni also noted that unusual things are beginning to happen in the state, bemoaning the recent withdrawal of magistrates in the state from sitting in court because of the governor’s inability to pay them for over one year.

    He also said the governor owe residents of the state an apology for his inability to fulfill his campaign promises which has made him to go back to repairing potholes which he earlier said he was not a governor of potholes.

  • CRS Governorship 2023: No Official Statement Yet – Sen Onor

    CRS Governorship 2023: No Official Statement Yet – Sen Onor

    By Admin

    The Director General of the Caterpillar Movement, Chief Joe Obi Bisong has described as malicious, mischievous, baseless, false, misleading and a figment of political jobbers imagination, the report that emanated from Paradise News and published by Opera News alleging that Sen. Sandy Onor declared intention to contest the 2023 governorship election during the inaugural planning meeting of the Central Planning Committee for the burial of Elder Statesman, Chief Wilfred Oden Inah.

    In a release made available to The Lumine News, Chief Obi denied that there was no declaration to run for any office at the said venue as quoted.

    The relrase reads in full “The attention of the Caterpillar Movement has been drawn to a publication that purported to have  emanated from paradise news and published by Opera News official to the effect that Distinguished Sen Prof Sandy Onor declared to run for the Guber race of Cross River State in 2023. Without any fear of contradiction, the statement is mischievous, baseless, false and misleading.

    “As someone who was at the inaugural meeting of the Central Planning Committee for the burial of Elder Statesman, Chief Wilfred Oden Inah, I want to state categorically that there was no declaration to run for any office at that venue.
    The Distinguished Senator’s speech was limited to the life, times and burial of Late Chief Wilfred Inah whom he described as an Icon Extraordinary who lived a succinctly simple, sincere and steadfast life.

    Senator Onor stated that this is the inuagural meeting of the Central Planning Committee (CPC) for the burial of Late Chief Wilfred Oden Inah held today in Calabar on Friday, January 15, 2021. In my capacity as Chairman of the CPC, I  charge members of the committee and sub-commitees to put in their best to give the late icon a befitting burial. Speaking further, he said:
    We all know why we are here; our father, brother, uncle, an extraordinary icon deserves a befitting burial. Chief was blessed with biological children. He also adopted a lot of us as sons and he spoke about a lot of them to me each time we had the opportunity to discuss and I can see us here.

    “We must do everything possible to give chief the kind of befitting burial he deserves. I would charge all of us, to throw in all that we can to make that possible. Chief deserves no less and am sure by the grace of God we would find favour, we would find the resources to do exactly that.

    “In attendance were the representatives of the Family, Ugep community, St Patrick’s Parish Calabar, The Catholic men organization of the same Church, Knights of St Mulumba Nigeria, Association of retired permanent secretaries, representatives of government of cross River State, friends and close associates.

    “The meeting lasted for 1 hour, after which the Distinguished Senator proceeded to  visit the Late Chief Inah’s widow  in their Federal Housing  residence where he  signed the condolence register.
    An elder statesman of repute, Chief Inah was a one time secretary of the Cross River State Civil Service Commission, Head of Service of Cross River State, Commissioner in the Federal Character Commission and gubernatorial aspirant of the defunct National Republican Convention(NRC). He is survived by a wife, children and grandchildren. In more senses than one, the death of such an icon should in no circumstance be polticised by political jobbers.
    Please be guided”

    Joe Obi Bisong
    Director General
    Caterpillar Movement

  • Custom Intercepts 5,200 Live Ammunition In Cross River

    Custom Intercepts 5,200 Live Ammunition In Cross River

    By Sulaimon Salau, Guardian Newspaper

    The Customs Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, Owerri has intercepted 5,200 live ammunition (cartridges of 30GR 70mm calibre) in Cross River State.

    The cartridges, said to have been intercepted on “credible and timely intelligence” on December 13, 2020 along Nwezenyi-Ikom Road in Cross River State, were concealed in other goods and household items in a Toyota Sienna passenger vehicle.

    The unit also intercepted various contraband items with a duty paid value (DPV) of N378.8 million between November 23rd and December 27th, 2020.

    The unit also recovered N7.6 million from demand notices (DNs) on general goods from the seaports that had evaded the right duties through false declaration or transfer of value, bringing everything to approximately N386.3 million for the month under review.

    Speaking on the ammunition, Comptroller Yusuf Lawal, expressed worries at the trend in arms and ammunition smuggling using different routes, with reference to the interceptions in Lagos in 2017, Kwara in 2018 and just recently in Kebbi.

    “Only God knows what would have happened if these cartridges got to their destination unchecked, considering the fragile security of the nation – from armed robbery, kidnapping and banditry to insurgency,” a statement from the Command Public Relations Officer, Jerry Attah, quoted Yusuf to say.

    He explained that the seized ammunition falls under schedule 4 of the Common External Tariff, which importation is absolutely prohibited. Other seized items included 1,215x50kg foreign parboiled rice, mostly concealed in bags of beans, maize and groundnut seeds, and 38 jumbo bale of used clothing.
    There were also 204 cartons of imported tomatoes and four exotic vehicles, including one new bullet proof Toyota Land Cruiser 2019 model (without end-user certificate), two fairly used Toyota Hilux 2016 and 2015 respectively, and a Mercedes Benz ML350 2015, as well as controlled pharmaceutical products. Three suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.

    Comptroller Yusuf attributed the achievement to the leadership style of Customs management team for recognising hard work, dedication and commitment.

    Adding that: “Without the management motivation and necessary logistics support, we won’t have attained this feat within this short period.”

    He commended the commitment, doggedness and diligence of the officers and men of FOU ‘C’ for thwarting the dare-devil smugglers/economic saboteurs, who used different methods to deceive the NCS.

    He further charged them to be more professional and diligent in their statutory responsibilities, stating: “We believe we have what it takes to do more in this new year. Consequently, let me use this special privilege to call on the general public to join the Customs in the advocacy against smuggling.”

  • Man Gets 12 Years Imprisonment For Allegedly Withdrawing 1M From His Boss Account

    Man Gets 12 Years Imprisonment For Allegedly Withdrawing 1M From His Boss Account

    By Admin

    A 35-year-old bartender, Godwin Job, was on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 sentenced to eight years in prison for illegally withdrawing the sum of N1,079,290 (One million, Seventy Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety Naira) from a Fidelity Bank account belonging to his boss, Olufemi Joseph Odusanya.

    Job was convicted by Justice Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court in a two-count charge bordering on stealing, filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office.

    Following an investigations into a petition from his estranged boss, the Commission arraigned Job on August 17, 2020 to answer for the criminal allegations against him.

    The charges are: “Godwin Job (a.k.a Nifemi) “M’ sometime in August 2019 or there about, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this court did steal an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Card, property of Olufemi Joseph Odusanya and thereby committed an offence Punishable under Section 390 (9) Criminal Code, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State 2000.”

    “Godwin Job (a.k.a Nifemi) “M’ sometime in August 2019 or there about, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this court did steal the sum of One million, Seventy Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety Naira (N1,079,290) the property of Olufemi Joseph Odusanya, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 (9) Criminal Code, Cap 38 Law of Oyo State 2000.”

    The boss had accused Job of stealing his Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card through which he withdrew cash and made Point of Sales (POS) transactions totaling N1,079,290.

    In the course of investigation, the Commission discovered that Job made 14 transactions within two hours to evacuate the said amount from the victim’s account.

    Though he pleaded not guilty upon arraignment, the judge held that the prosecution was able to convince the court beyond reasonable doubt that the accused indeed committed the unlawful act.

    He then found him guilty as charged and sentenced him to four years in prison in each of the charges, which will run concurrently from the day of conviction.