Friday, March 14, 2014
Rape victim sets herself on fire
Woman dies from her wounds after setting herself
alight following release of key suspect in Punjab ,
says her brother .
The victim of a gang- rape in Pakistan has died after
setting herself on fire in protest against a police
report that led to the release of a key suspect, a
doctor and her brother said .
College student Amina Bibi died on Friday after
dousing herself with petrol and setting it alight on
Thursday outside a police station near Muzaffargarh ,
in the Punjab.
" She was under our treatment but she succumbed
to her wounds on Friday morning, " Muhammad
Usman , a local doctor, said , according to Reuters
news agency .
The police decision to release the main suspect had
been too much for Bibi to handle , her brother said .
" She was already depressed after going through the
trauma , but after the release of the accused, she
lost all hope of getting justice and set herself on
fire, " Ghulam Shabir said .
Bibi was raped by five men as she walked home
from her college on January 5, he added .
" I was with her when five men kidnapped her
at gunpoint and took her away , " he said . " I couldn 't
do anything because they were armed . "
Police said they would revisit the case following the
death.
" It seems the case had not been properly
investigated, " said senior police office Chaudhry
Asghar . " We have suspended the investigation
officer , Rana Zulfiqar, and placed him in detention . "
Rape and other forms of sexual assault and
domestic violence are widespread in Pakistan , but
such public acts of desperation by abused women
are rare .
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Murder in the hostel
A graduating student of the Delta State University (DELSU), Obiaka Megwai, has
been stabbed to death by an admission seeker, Victor Chukwudi Osodi, following
an argument over N50 to buy fuel. PHILIP OKORODUDU (Graduating student of
Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering) and ESE OKODUWA (300-Level
Home Economics) report.
IT looked like a movie scene; but it was real. A graduating student of Guidance
and Counselling at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Obraka Megwai,
was stabbed to death with a knife by Victor Chukwudi Osodi, an admission
seeker.
Obiaka was killed for failing to contribute N50 to buy fuel. The incident happened
in City Wise Hostel, an off-campus hall in Ekrejeta area of the university’s host
community. There was pandemonium in the hostel last Tuesday when the news
spread.
CAMPUSLIFE gathered that an argument ensued when the late Obiaka was asked
to contribute N50 by the hostel’s caretaker to buy fuel to power the pumping
machine. It was gathered that the slain student refused.
It was learnt that other occupants contributed the sum to the caretaker, who went
to buy the fuel.
Trouble, however, started when the pipe connecting the deceased’s apartment to
the water tank was disconnected by the caretaker. The late Obiaka was said to
have re-connected the tap without the caretaker’s consent.
In anger, the caretaker challenged the deceased and a row ensued between them.
Their argument attracted other occupants, who reportedly condemned the late
Obiaka’s action.
In the ensuing melee, Victor, who came to write the post-Unified Tertiary
Matriculation Examination (UTME) but was not offered admission, took it upon
himself to “deal decisively” with the late Obiaka. Victor was said to be living with
his younger brother.
An occupant, who craved anonymity, said: “The first thing we heard was ‘you no
fit try am’ and this was followed by a loud shout for help.”
CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the deceased was stabbed on the head and neck.
Seeing what happened, other occupants fled while the victim was taken to the
hospital where he was confirmed dead. The body was deposited at the Ufuoma
Mortuary in Abraka.
The assailant reportedly escaped after the crime. He was said to be staying in the
room of his younger brother, a 200-Level student, who had travelled before the
incident.
When CAMPUSLIFE visited the hostel, the building was shut. The police reportedly
fired several gunshots before locking the lodge.
An officer, who pleaded for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak,
confirmed the incident when our correspondent visited Abraka Police Station. He
said the police were on the trail of the assailant, who, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, may
have fled to his village.
been stabbed to death by an admission seeker, Victor Chukwudi Osodi, following
an argument over N50 to buy fuel. PHILIP OKORODUDU (Graduating student of
Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering) and ESE OKODUWA (300-Level
Home Economics) report.
IT looked like a movie scene; but it was real. A graduating student of Guidance
and Counselling at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Obraka Megwai,
was stabbed to death with a knife by Victor Chukwudi Osodi, an admission
seeker.
Obiaka was killed for failing to contribute N50 to buy fuel. The incident happened
in City Wise Hostel, an off-campus hall in Ekrejeta area of the university’s host
community. There was pandemonium in the hostel last Tuesday when the news
spread.
CAMPUSLIFE gathered that an argument ensued when the late Obiaka was asked
to contribute N50 by the hostel’s caretaker to buy fuel to power the pumping
machine. It was gathered that the slain student refused.
It was learnt that other occupants contributed the sum to the caretaker, who went
to buy the fuel.
Trouble, however, started when the pipe connecting the deceased’s apartment to
the water tank was disconnected by the caretaker. The late Obiaka was said to
have re-connected the tap without the caretaker’s consent.
In anger, the caretaker challenged the deceased and a row ensued between them.
Their argument attracted other occupants, who reportedly condemned the late
Obiaka’s action.
In the ensuing melee, Victor, who came to write the post-Unified Tertiary
Matriculation Examination (UTME) but was not offered admission, took it upon
himself to “deal decisively” with the late Obiaka. Victor was said to be living with
his younger brother.
An occupant, who craved anonymity, said: “The first thing we heard was ‘you no
fit try am’ and this was followed by a loud shout for help.”
CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the deceased was stabbed on the head and neck.
Seeing what happened, other occupants fled while the victim was taken to the
hospital where he was confirmed dead. The body was deposited at the Ufuoma
Mortuary in Abraka.
The assailant reportedly escaped after the crime. He was said to be staying in the
room of his younger brother, a 200-Level student, who had travelled before the
incident.
When CAMPUSLIFE visited the hostel, the building was shut. The police reportedly
fired several gunshots before locking the lodge.
An officer, who pleaded for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak,
confirmed the incident when our correspondent visited Abraka Police Station. He
said the police were on the trail of the assailant, who, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, may
have fled to his village.
mystery death of a law student
How did Oladipupo Maranantha Ige die? This is the puzzle students of the Obafemi
Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, could not unravel last week when
news of the rumoured suicide of the 400-Level Law student broke. OLUWAFEMI
OGUNJOBI (400-Level Language Arts) reports.
“By the time you read this, I would have been dead.” That was the text the late
Oladipupo Ige allegedly sent to his mother’s mobile phone on that fateful day.
His mother, it was learnt, did not get the text in time because her phone was off.
Several minutes later, Oladipupo was found dead in his room. He allegedly
committed suicide.
The incident happened last week in Asherifa Hostel, opposite the Obafemi Awolowo
University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State. The late Oladipupo was a 400-Level Law
student.
But the police disagreed with the suicide theory. The Osun State Police Public
Relations Officer (PPRO), Folashade Odoro, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said
the student died of “stomach ache”.
Students besieged the hostel, following the news of Oladipupo’s death. The late
student reportedly left a written statement detailing how his properties should be
shared. His books should be buried with him, he was said to have written.
The late Oladipupo, who was in his early 20s, reportedly left for his hostel on
Friday without telling his neighbours where he was going. He returned in the
evening of the following day, after which he composed the text he sent to his
parents.
CAMPUSLIFE learnt that when his mother got the text around 10pm, she called
Bola Okiji, the late Oladipupo’s close friend and classmate. Okiji was said not to
have been around at the time. Mrs Ige then sent a woman living around the
school to check on her son.
On getting to the late Oladipupo’s hostel, the door was found locked from behind.
When the woman peeped through the door, she reportedly saw the late Ige’s body
dangling. She alerted other occupants and they broke into the deceased’s room.
When our correspondent visited the house, the neighbours declined to speak. One
of them, who did not want her name in print, said: “Lately, Oladipupo had been
doing weird things; at times, he would wake up in the midnight and start washing
the toilet. Sometimes, he would be banging his door at midnight.”
Emmanuella Odum, the deceased’s friend, described his death as unimaginable.
“We still played together on Friday after lectures, before he left the campus. Why
he contemplated suicide is what I cannot explain,” she said.
Okiji described the late Oladipupo as a brilliant student, who could have graduated
with a Second Class (Upper Division). Okiji said his friend could not have
committed suicide for academic reason.
Last Sunday, the late Oladipupo’s parents conveyed his remains to their Iree, Osun
State hometown.
When our correspondent visited the Law Faculty, his classmates were seen
discussing in hushed tones. “He was a recluse and kept to himself; he never
talked to anyone. When I go to read at the faculty, he would be seen at dark spots,
staring into space. At times, he would question the existence of God. I think he
had a weird personality,” a classmate said.
Ayotola Tehingbola, in an article published on the faculty’s notice board,
described Oladipupo’s death as shocking. She wondered why the deceased would
contemplate suicide, noting: “Oladipupo, I don’t know what went through your
head in the last few hours of your life, but I am sorry that you saw life as not
being worth it. I cannot begin to imagine the fear and hopelessness you felt in the
last hour of your life.
“I met Oladipupo on my matriculation day. His dad and my dad worked in the
same company at that time; so it was sensible for us to meet. I vividly remember
the last time I spoke to him, just before the Nigeria University Games (NUGA)
began. We stood, laughed, argued and scribbled in front of Auditorium II.”
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, has condoled with the bereaved family,
saying the institution shared in its grief.
There are insinuations that the late Oladipupo may have died of bipolar disorder –
acute depression. But the police said the deceased called a friend, identified as
Olajuwon, moments before his death. He was said to have complained of stomach
ache. According to the police, Oladipupo died before Olajuwon reached h
Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, could not unravel last week when
news of the rumoured suicide of the 400-Level Law student broke. OLUWAFEMI
OGUNJOBI (400-Level Language Arts) reports.
“By the time you read this, I would have been dead.” That was the text the late
Oladipupo Ige allegedly sent to his mother’s mobile phone on that fateful day.
His mother, it was learnt, did not get the text in time because her phone was off.
Several minutes later, Oladipupo was found dead in his room. He allegedly
committed suicide.
The incident happened last week in Asherifa Hostel, opposite the Obafemi Awolowo
University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State. The late Oladipupo was a 400-Level Law
student.
But the police disagreed with the suicide theory. The Osun State Police Public
Relations Officer (PPRO), Folashade Odoro, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said
the student died of “stomach ache”.
Students besieged the hostel, following the news of Oladipupo’s death. The late
student reportedly left a written statement detailing how his properties should be
shared. His books should be buried with him, he was said to have written.
The late Oladipupo, who was in his early 20s, reportedly left for his hostel on
Friday without telling his neighbours where he was going. He returned in the
evening of the following day, after which he composed the text he sent to his
parents.
CAMPUSLIFE learnt that when his mother got the text around 10pm, she called
Bola Okiji, the late Oladipupo’s close friend and classmate. Okiji was said not to
have been around at the time. Mrs Ige then sent a woman living around the
school to check on her son.
On getting to the late Oladipupo’s hostel, the door was found locked from behind.
When the woman peeped through the door, she reportedly saw the late Ige’s body
dangling. She alerted other occupants and they broke into the deceased’s room.
When our correspondent visited the house, the neighbours declined to speak. One
of them, who did not want her name in print, said: “Lately, Oladipupo had been
doing weird things; at times, he would wake up in the midnight and start washing
the toilet. Sometimes, he would be banging his door at midnight.”
Emmanuella Odum, the deceased’s friend, described his death as unimaginable.
“We still played together on Friday after lectures, before he left the campus. Why
he contemplated suicide is what I cannot explain,” she said.
Okiji described the late Oladipupo as a brilliant student, who could have graduated
with a Second Class (Upper Division). Okiji said his friend could not have
committed suicide for academic reason.
Last Sunday, the late Oladipupo’s parents conveyed his remains to their Iree, Osun
State hometown.
When our correspondent visited the Law Faculty, his classmates were seen
discussing in hushed tones. “He was a recluse and kept to himself; he never
talked to anyone. When I go to read at the faculty, he would be seen at dark spots,
staring into space. At times, he would question the existence of God. I think he
had a weird personality,” a classmate said.
Ayotola Tehingbola, in an article published on the faculty’s notice board,
described Oladipupo’s death as shocking. She wondered why the deceased would
contemplate suicide, noting: “Oladipupo, I don’t know what went through your
head in the last few hours of your life, but I am sorry that you saw life as not
being worth it. I cannot begin to imagine the fear and hopelessness you felt in the
last hour of your life.
“I met Oladipupo on my matriculation day. His dad and my dad worked in the
same company at that time; so it was sensible for us to meet. I vividly remember
the last time I spoke to him, just before the Nigeria University Games (NUGA)
began. We stood, laughed, argued and scribbled in front of Auditorium II.”
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, has condoled with the bereaved family,
saying the institution shared in its grief.
There are insinuations that the late Oladipupo may have died of bipolar disorder –
acute depression. But the police said the deceased called a friend, identified as
Olajuwon, moments before his death. He was said to have complained of stomach
ache. According to the police, Oladipupo died before Olajuwon reached h
controversy
Defence Minister, Aliyu Gusau, asks Jonathan to
call ‘rude’ military chiefs to order
Ini Ekott - 16 mins ago
NATIONAL, NEWS
His powers challenged by military commanders he
believed he was appointed to supervise, Nigeria’s
Defence minister, Aliyu Gusau, on Tuesday sent a
letter to President Goodluck Jonathan threatening
to quit if the Commander-in-Chief failed to rein in
chiefs of defence, army, navy and airforce,
according to new details of a row that climaxed
Wednesday in a dramatic resignation claim.
In the letter, Mr. Gusau accused the chief of
defence staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, of being
“rude”, officials knowledgeable about the
communication said.
Mr. Gusau and the presidency have denied the
minister was leaving office barely a week after he
was appointed as part of Mr. Jonathan’s new effort
at curbing a bloody insurgency by the extremist
Boko Haram sect.
Earlier reports said the minister submitted a
resignation letter citing insubordination after Air
Chief Marshal Badeh disparaged Mr. Gusau and the
minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, for
criticizing his failure to arrange a meeting between
the new ministers and the service chiefs.
But several officials who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES
narrated a troubling power tussle between the
ministers and service chiefs with far-reaching
implications on the administration’s war against
Boko Haram which the government has largely
failed to stem.
Government insiders said while the retired general
did not expressly submit a resignation letter, he
made it clear to the president he will not work with
military officials he considered “insubordinate”.
The officials said since his swearing-in, Mr. Gusau
made repeated efforts for a meeting with the
service chiefs, but failed to secure one.
When AVM Badeh met with Mr. Gusau on Monday,
he explained that the minister lacked the powers to
summon the service chiefs to meetings without his
(Badeh’s) knowledge.
Mr. Badeh also reportedly insisted that it was not
the place of the defence minister to directly issue
directives to the heads of the army, navy and air
force, without routing same through the office of
the defence chief.
Under the Nigerian constitution, and the Armed
Forces Act, Mr. Badeh explained, only the
president has the powers to so direct the service
chiefs as Mr. Gusau, a retired soldier, sought to
do. Even so, he added, the president, with all his
powers, hardly breaches the chain of command.
Largely, Mr. Badeh was right. Under Section 217 of
the constitution, and Section 7 of the Armed Forces
Act, only the president has such powers. Were he
to delegate them, the minister of defence, is not
included in the chain of command.
Still, a potentially contentious subject, analysts
also point to the constitutional provision allowing
the president to delegate his powers to the
ministers.
Officials said those were the explanations Mr.
Badeh gave, which infuriated the minister.
After sending a letter of complaint to the President
on Tuesday, Mr. Gusau failed to show up on
Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council
meeting, triggering speculations he had quit the
cabinet in anger.
Presidency sources said Mr. Jonathan is working
to resolve the crisis and has tapped the National
Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, President of the
Senate, David Mark and former Military President,
Ibrahim Babangida, for help.
call ‘rude’ military chiefs to order
Ini Ekott - 16 mins ago
NATIONAL, NEWS
His powers challenged by military commanders he
believed he was appointed to supervise, Nigeria’s
Defence minister, Aliyu Gusau, on Tuesday sent a
letter to President Goodluck Jonathan threatening
to quit if the Commander-in-Chief failed to rein in
chiefs of defence, army, navy and airforce,
according to new details of a row that climaxed
Wednesday in a dramatic resignation claim.
In the letter, Mr. Gusau accused the chief of
defence staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, of being
“rude”, officials knowledgeable about the
communication said.
Mr. Gusau and the presidency have denied the
minister was leaving office barely a week after he
was appointed as part of Mr. Jonathan’s new effort
at curbing a bloody insurgency by the extremist
Boko Haram sect.
Earlier reports said the minister submitted a
resignation letter citing insubordination after Air
Chief Marshal Badeh disparaged Mr. Gusau and the
minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, for
criticizing his failure to arrange a meeting between
the new ministers and the service chiefs.
But several officials who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES
narrated a troubling power tussle between the
ministers and service chiefs with far-reaching
implications on the administration’s war against
Boko Haram which the government has largely
failed to stem.
Government insiders said while the retired general
did not expressly submit a resignation letter, he
made it clear to the president he will not work with
military officials he considered “insubordinate”.
The officials said since his swearing-in, Mr. Gusau
made repeated efforts for a meeting with the
service chiefs, but failed to secure one.
When AVM Badeh met with Mr. Gusau on Monday,
he explained that the minister lacked the powers to
summon the service chiefs to meetings without his
(Badeh’s) knowledge.
Mr. Badeh also reportedly insisted that it was not
the place of the defence minister to directly issue
directives to the heads of the army, navy and air
force, without routing same through the office of
the defence chief.
Under the Nigerian constitution, and the Armed
Forces Act, Mr. Badeh explained, only the
president has the powers to so direct the service
chiefs as Mr. Gusau, a retired soldier, sought to
do. Even so, he added, the president, with all his
powers, hardly breaches the chain of command.
Largely, Mr. Badeh was right. Under Section 217 of
the constitution, and Section 7 of the Armed Forces
Act, only the president has such powers. Were he
to delegate them, the minister of defence, is not
included in the chain of command.
Still, a potentially contentious subject, analysts
also point to the constitutional provision allowing
the president to delegate his powers to the
ministers.
Officials said those were the explanations Mr.
Badeh gave, which infuriated the minister.
After sending a letter of complaint to the President
on Tuesday, Mr. Gusau failed to show up on
Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council
meeting, triggering speculations he had quit the
cabinet in anger.
Presidency sources said Mr. Jonathan is working
to resolve the crisis and has tapped the National
Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, President of the
Senate, David Mark and former Military President,
Ibrahim Babangida, for help.
controversy
Defence Minister, Aliyu Gusau, asks Jonathan to
call ‘rude’ military chiefs to order
Ini Ekott - 16 mins ago
NATIONAL, NEWS
His powers challenged by military commanders he
believed he was appointed to supervise, Nigeria’s
Defence minister, Aliyu Gusau, on Tuesday sent a
letter to President Goodluck Jonathan threatening
to quit if the Commander-in-Chief failed to rein in
chiefs of defence, army, navy and airforce,
according to new details of a row that climaxed
Wednesday in a dramatic resignation claim.
In the letter, Mr. Gusau accused the chief of
defence staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, of being
“rude”, officials knowledgeable about the
communication said.
Mr. Gusau and the presidency have denied the
minister was leaving office barely a week after he
was appointed as part of Mr. Jonathan’s new effort
at curbing a bloody insurgency by the extremist
Boko Haram sect.
Earlier reports said the minister submitted a
resignation letter citing insubordination after Air
Chief Marshal Badeh disparaged Mr. Gusau and the
minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, for
criticizing his failure to arrange a meeting between
the new ministers and the service chiefs.
But several officials who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES
narrated a troubling power tussle between the
ministers and service chiefs with far-reaching
implications on the administration’s war against
Boko Haram which the government has largely
failed to stem.
Government insiders said while the retired general
did not expressly submit a resignation letter, he
made it clear to the president he will not work with
military officials he considered “insubordinate”.
The officials said since his swearing-in, Mr. Gusau
made repeated efforts for a meeting with the
service chiefs, but failed to secure one.
When AVM Badeh met with Mr. Gusau on Monday,
he explained that the minister lacked the powers to
summon the service chiefs to meetings without his
(Badeh’s) knowledge.
Mr. Badeh also reportedly insisted that it was not
the place of the defence minister to directly issue
directives to the heads of the army, navy and air
force, without routing same through the office of
the defence chief.
Under the Nigerian constitution, and the Armed
Forces Act, Mr. Badeh explained, only the
president has the powers to so direct the service
chiefs as Mr. Gusau, a retired soldier, sought to
do. Even so, he added, the president, with all his
powers, hardly breaches the chain of command.
Largely, Mr. Badeh was right. Under Section 217 of
the constitution, and Section 7 of the Armed Forces
Act, only the president has such powers. Were he
to delegate them, the minister of defence, is not
included in the chain of command.
Still, a potentially contentious subject, analysts
also point to the constitutional provision allowing
the president to delegate his powers to the
ministers.
Officials said those were the explanations Mr.
Badeh gave, which infuriated the minister.
After sending a letter of complaint to the President
on Tuesday, Mr. Gusau failed to show up on
Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council
meeting, triggering speculations he had quit the
cabinet in anger.
Presidency sources said Mr. Jonathan is working
to resolve the crisis and has tapped the National
Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, President of the
Senate, David Mark and former Military President,
Ibrahim Babangida, for help.
call ‘rude’ military chiefs to order
Ini Ekott - 16 mins ago
NATIONAL, NEWS
His powers challenged by military commanders he
believed he was appointed to supervise, Nigeria’s
Defence minister, Aliyu Gusau, on Tuesday sent a
letter to President Goodluck Jonathan threatening
to quit if the Commander-in-Chief failed to rein in
chiefs of defence, army, navy and airforce,
according to new details of a row that climaxed
Wednesday in a dramatic resignation claim.
In the letter, Mr. Gusau accused the chief of
defence staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, of being
“rude”, officials knowledgeable about the
communication said.
Mr. Gusau and the presidency have denied the
minister was leaving office barely a week after he
was appointed as part of Mr. Jonathan’s new effort
at curbing a bloody insurgency by the extremist
Boko Haram sect.
Earlier reports said the minister submitted a
resignation letter citing insubordination after Air
Chief Marshal Badeh disparaged Mr. Gusau and the
minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, for
criticizing his failure to arrange a meeting between
the new ministers and the service chiefs.
But several officials who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES
narrated a troubling power tussle between the
ministers and service chiefs with far-reaching
implications on the administration’s war against
Boko Haram which the government has largely
failed to stem.
Government insiders said while the retired general
did not expressly submit a resignation letter, he
made it clear to the president he will not work with
military officials he considered “insubordinate”.
The officials said since his swearing-in, Mr. Gusau
made repeated efforts for a meeting with the
service chiefs, but failed to secure one.
When AVM Badeh met with Mr. Gusau on Monday,
he explained that the minister lacked the powers to
summon the service chiefs to meetings without his
(Badeh’s) knowledge.
Mr. Badeh also reportedly insisted that it was not
the place of the defence minister to directly issue
directives to the heads of the army, navy and air
force, without routing same through the office of
the defence chief.
Under the Nigerian constitution, and the Armed
Forces Act, Mr. Badeh explained, only the
president has the powers to so direct the service
chiefs as Mr. Gusau, a retired soldier, sought to
do. Even so, he added, the president, with all his
powers, hardly breaches the chain of command.
Largely, Mr. Badeh was right. Under Section 217 of
the constitution, and Section 7 of the Armed Forces
Act, only the president has such powers. Were he
to delegate them, the minister of defence, is not
included in the chain of command.
Still, a potentially contentious subject, analysts
also point to the constitutional provision allowing
the president to delegate his powers to the
ministers.
Officials said those were the explanations Mr.
Badeh gave, which infuriated the minister.
After sending a letter of complaint to the President
on Tuesday, Mr. Gusau failed to show up on
Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council
meeting, triggering speculations he had quit the
cabinet in anger.
Presidency sources said Mr. Jonathan is working
to resolve the crisis and has tapped the National
Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, President of the
Senate, David Mark and former Military President,
Ibrahim Babangida, for help.
Defence Minister, Aliyu Gusau, asks Jonathan to
call ‘rude’ military chiefs to order
Ini Ekott - 16 mins ago
NATIONAL, NEWS
His powers challenged by military commanders he
believed he was appointed to supervise, Nigeria’s
Defence minister, Aliyu Gusau, on Tuesday sent a
letter to President Goodluck Jonathan threatening
to quit if the Commander-in-Chief failed to rein in
chiefs of defence, army, navy and airforce,
according to new details of a row that climaxed
Wednesday in a dramatic resignation claim.
In the letter, Mr. Gusau accused the chief of
defence staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, of being
“rude”, officials knowledgeable about the
communication said.
Mr. Gusau and the presidency have denied the
minister was leaving office barely a week after he
was appointed as part of Mr. Jonathan’s new effort
at curbing a bloody insurgency by the extremist
Boko Haram sect.
Earlier reports said the minister submitted a
resignation letter citing insubordination after Air
Chief Marshal Badeh disparaged Mr. Gusau and the
minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, for
criticizing his failure to arrange a meeting between
the new ministers and the service chiefs.
But several officials who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES
narrated a troubling power tussle between the
ministers and service chiefs with far-reaching
implications on the administration’s war against
Boko Haram which the government has largely
failed to stem.
Government insiders said while the retired general
did not expressly submit a resignation letter, he
made it clear to the president he will not work with
military officials he considered “insubordinate”.
The officials said since his swearing-in, Mr. Gusau
made repeated efforts for a meeting with the
service chiefs, but failed to secure one.
When AVM Badeh met with Mr. Gusau on Monday,
he explained that the minister lacked the powers to
summon the service chiefs to meetings without his
(Badeh’s) knowledge.
Mr. Badeh also reportedly insisted that it was not
the place of the defence minister to directly issue
directives to the heads of the army, navy and air
force, without routing same through the office of
the defence chief.
Under the Nigerian constitution, and the Armed
Forces Act, Mr. Badeh explained, only the
president has the powers to so direct the service
chiefs as Mr. Gusau, a retired soldier, sought to
do. Even so, he added, the president, with all his
powers, hardly breaches the chain of command.
Largely, Mr. Badeh was right. Under Section 217 of
the constitution, and Section 7 of the Armed Forces
Act, only the president has such powers. Were he
to delegate them, the minister of defence, is not
included in the chain of command.
Still, a potentially contentious subject, analysts
also point to the constitutional provision allowing
the president to delegate his powers to the
ministers.
Officials said those were the explanations Mr.
Badeh gave, which infuriated the minister.
After sending a letter of complaint to the President
on Tuesday, Mr. Gusau failed to show up on
Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council
meeting, triggering speculations he had quit the
cabinet in anger.
Presidency sources said Mr. Jonathan is working
to resolve the crisis and has tapped the National
Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, President of the
Senate, David Mark and former Military President,
Ibrahim Babangida, for help.
call ‘rude’ military chiefs to order
Ini Ekott - 16 mins ago
NATIONAL, NEWS
His powers challenged by military commanders he
believed he was appointed to supervise, Nigeria’s
Defence minister, Aliyu Gusau, on Tuesday sent a
letter to President Goodluck Jonathan threatening
to quit if the Commander-in-Chief failed to rein in
chiefs of defence, army, navy and airforce,
according to new details of a row that climaxed
Wednesday in a dramatic resignation claim.
In the letter, Mr. Gusau accused the chief of
defence staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, of being
“rude”, officials knowledgeable about the
communication said.
Mr. Gusau and the presidency have denied the
minister was leaving office barely a week after he
was appointed as part of Mr. Jonathan’s new effort
at curbing a bloody insurgency by the extremist
Boko Haram sect.
Earlier reports said the minister submitted a
resignation letter citing insubordination after Air
Chief Marshal Badeh disparaged Mr. Gusau and the
minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, for
criticizing his failure to arrange a meeting between
the new ministers and the service chiefs.
But several officials who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES
narrated a troubling power tussle between the
ministers and service chiefs with far-reaching
implications on the administration’s war against
Boko Haram which the government has largely
failed to stem.
Government insiders said while the retired general
did not expressly submit a resignation letter, he
made it clear to the president he will not work with
military officials he considered “insubordinate”.
The officials said since his swearing-in, Mr. Gusau
made repeated efforts for a meeting with the
service chiefs, but failed to secure one.
When AVM Badeh met with Mr. Gusau on Monday,
he explained that the minister lacked the powers to
summon the service chiefs to meetings without his
(Badeh’s) knowledge.
Mr. Badeh also reportedly insisted that it was not
the place of the defence minister to directly issue
directives to the heads of the army, navy and air
force, without routing same through the office of
the defence chief.
Under the Nigerian constitution, and the Armed
Forces Act, Mr. Badeh explained, only the
president has the powers to so direct the service
chiefs as Mr. Gusau, a retired soldier, sought to
do. Even so, he added, the president, with all his
powers, hardly breaches the chain of command.
Largely, Mr. Badeh was right. Under Section 217 of
the constitution, and Section 7 of the Armed Forces
Act, only the president has such powers. Were he
to delegate them, the minister of defence, is not
included in the chain of command.
Still, a potentially contentious subject, analysts
also point to the constitutional provision allowing
the president to delegate his powers to the
ministers.
Officials said those were the explanations Mr.
Badeh gave, which infuriated the minister.
After sending a letter of complaint to the President
on Tuesday, Mr. Gusau failed to show up on
Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council
meeting, triggering speculations he had quit the
cabinet in anger.
Presidency sources said Mr. Jonathan is working
to resolve the crisis and has tapped the National
Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, President of the
Senate, David Mark and former Military President,
Ibrahim Babangida, for help.
Defence Minister, Aliyu Gusau, asks Jonathan to
call ‘rude’ military chiefs to order
Ini Ekott - 16 mins ago
NATIONAL, NEWS
His powers challenged by military commanders he
believed he was appointed to supervise, Nigeria’s
Defence minister, Aliyu Gusau, on Tuesday sent a
letter to President Goodluck Jonathan threatening
to quit if the Commander-in-Chief failed to rein in
chiefs of defence, army, navy and airforce,
according to new details of a row that climaxed
Wednesday in a dramatic resignation claim.
In the letter, Mr. Gusau accused the chief of
defence staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, of being
“rude”, officials knowledgeable about the
communication said.
Mr. Gusau and the presidency have denied the
minister was leaving office barely a week after he
was appointed as part of Mr. Jonathan’s new effort
at curbing a bloody insurgency by the extremist
Boko Haram sect.
Earlier reports said the minister submitted a
resignation letter citing insubordination after Air
Chief Marshal Badeh disparaged Mr. Gusau and the
minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, for
criticizing his failure to arrange a meeting between
the new ministers and the service chiefs.
But several officials who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES
narrated a troubling power tussle between the
ministers and service chiefs with far-reaching
implications on the administration’s war against
Boko Haram which the government has largely
failed to stem.
Government insiders said while the retired general
did not expressly submit a resignation letter, he
made it clear to the president he will not work with
military officials he considered “insubordinate”.
The officials said since his swearing-in, Mr. Gusau
made repeated efforts for a meeting with the
service chiefs, but failed to secure one.
When AVM Badeh met with Mr. Gusau on Monday,
he explained that the minister lacked the powers to
summon the service chiefs to meetings without his
(Badeh’s) knowledge.
Mr. Badeh also reportedly insisted that it was not
the place of the defence minister to directly issue
directives to the heads of the army, navy and air
force, without routing same through the office of
the defence chief.
Under the Nigerian constitution, and the Armed
Forces Act, Mr. Badeh explained, only the
president has the powers to so direct the service
chiefs as Mr. Gusau, a retired soldier, sought to
do. Even so, he added, the president, with all his
powers, hardly breaches the chain of command.
Largely, Mr. Badeh was right. Under Section 217 of
the constitution, and Section 7 of the Armed Forces
Act, only the president has such powers. Were he
to delegate them, the minister of defence, is not
included in the chain of command.
Still, a potentially contentious subject, analysts
also point to the constitutional provision allowing
the president to delegate his powers to the
ministers.
Officials said those were the explanations Mr.
Badeh gave, which infuriated the minister.
After sending a letter of complaint to the President
on Tuesday, Mr. Gusau failed to show up on
Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council
meeting, triggering speculations he had quit the
cabinet in anger.
Presidency sources said Mr. Jonathan is working
to resolve the crisis and has tapped the National
Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, President of the
Senate, David Mark and former Military President,
Ibrahim Babangida, for help.
call ‘rude’ military chiefs to order
Ini Ekott - 16 mins ago
NATIONAL, NEWS
His powers challenged by military commanders he
believed he was appointed to supervise, Nigeria’s
Defence minister, Aliyu Gusau, on Tuesday sent a
letter to President Goodluck Jonathan threatening
to quit if the Commander-in-Chief failed to rein in
chiefs of defence, army, navy and airforce,
according to new details of a row that climaxed
Wednesday in a dramatic resignation claim.
In the letter, Mr. Gusau accused the chief of
defence staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, of being
“rude”, officials knowledgeable about the
communication said.
Mr. Gusau and the presidency have denied the
minister was leaving office barely a week after he
was appointed as part of Mr. Jonathan’s new effort
at curbing a bloody insurgency by the extremist
Boko Haram sect.
Earlier reports said the minister submitted a
resignation letter citing insubordination after Air
Chief Marshal Badeh disparaged Mr. Gusau and the
minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, for
criticizing his failure to arrange a meeting between
the new ministers and the service chiefs.
But several officials who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES
narrated a troubling power tussle between the
ministers and service chiefs with far-reaching
implications on the administration’s war against
Boko Haram which the government has largely
failed to stem.
Government insiders said while the retired general
did not expressly submit a resignation letter, he
made it clear to the president he will not work with
military officials he considered “insubordinate”.
The officials said since his swearing-in, Mr. Gusau
made repeated efforts for a meeting with the
service chiefs, but failed to secure one.
When AVM Badeh met with Mr. Gusau on Monday,
he explained that the minister lacked the powers to
summon the service chiefs to meetings without his
(Badeh’s) knowledge.
Mr. Badeh also reportedly insisted that it was not
the place of the defence minister to directly issue
directives to the heads of the army, navy and air
force, without routing same through the office of
the defence chief.
Under the Nigerian constitution, and the Armed
Forces Act, Mr. Badeh explained, only the
president has the powers to so direct the service
chiefs as Mr. Gusau, a retired soldier, sought to
do. Even so, he added, the president, with all his
powers, hardly breaches the chain of command.
Largely, Mr. Badeh was right. Under Section 217 of
the constitution, and Section 7 of the Armed Forces
Act, only the president has such powers. Were he
to delegate them, the minister of defence, is not
included in the chain of command.
Still, a potentially contentious subject, analysts
also point to the constitutional provision allowing
the president to delegate his powers to the
ministers.
Officials said those were the explanations Mr.
Badeh gave, which infuriated the minister.
After sending a letter of complaint to the President
on Tuesday, Mr. Gusau failed to show up on
Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council
meeting, triggering speculations he had quit the
cabinet in anger.
Presidency sources said Mr. Jonathan is working
to resolve the crisis and has tapped the National
Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, President of the
Senate, David Mark and former Military President,
Ibrahim Babangida, for help.
Defence Minister, Aliyu Gusau, asks Jonathan to
call ‘rude’ military chiefs to order
Ini Ekott - 16 mins ago
NATIONAL, NEWS
His powers challenged by military commanders he
believed he was appointed to supervise, Nigeria’s
Defence minister, Aliyu Gusau, on Tuesday sent a
letter to President Goodluck Jonathan threatening
to quit if the Commander-in-Chief failed to rein in
chiefs of defence, army, navy and airforce,
according to new details of a row that climaxed
Wednesday in a dramatic resignation claim.
In the letter, Mr. Gusau accused the chief of
defence staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, of being
“rude”, officials knowledgeable about the
communication said.
Mr. Gusau and the presidency have denied the
minister was leaving office barely a week after he
was appointed as part of Mr. Jonathan’s new effort
at curbing a bloody insurgency by the extremist
Boko Haram sect.
Earlier reports said the minister submitted a
resignation letter citing insubordination after Air
Chief Marshal Badeh disparaged Mr. Gusau and the
minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, for
criticizing his failure to arrange a meeting between
the new ministers and the service chiefs.
But several officials who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES
narrated a troubling power tussle between the
ministers and service chiefs with far-reaching
implications on the administration’s war against
Boko Haram which the government has largely
failed to stem.
Government insiders said while the retired general
did not expressly submit a resignation letter, he
made it clear to the president he will not work with
military officials he considered “insubordinate”.
The officials said since his swearing-in, Mr. Gusau
made repeated efforts for a meeting with the
service chiefs, but failed to secure one.
When AVM Badeh met with Mr. Gusau on Monday,
he explained that the minister lacked the powers to
summon the service chiefs to meetings without his
(Badeh’s) knowledge.
Mr. Badeh also reportedly insisted that it was not
the place of the defence minister to directly issue
directives to the heads of the army, navy and air
force, without routing same through the office of
the defence chief.
Under the Nigerian constitution, and the Armed
Forces Act, Mr. Badeh explained, only the
president has the powers to so direct the service
chiefs as Mr. Gusau, a retired soldier, sought to
do. Even so, he added, the president, with all his
powers, hardly breaches the chain of command.
Largely, Mr. Badeh was right. Under Section 217 of
the constitution, and Section 7 of the Armed Forces
Act, only the president has such powers. Were he
to delegate them, the minister of defence, is not
included in the chain of command.
Still, a potentially contentious subject, analysts
also point to the constitutional provision allowing
the president to delegate his powers to the
ministers.
Officials said those were the explanations Mr.
Badeh gave, which infuriated the minister.
After sending a letter of complaint to the President
on Tuesday, Mr. Gusau failed to show up on
Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council
meeting, triggering speculations he had quit the
cabinet in anger.
Presidency sources said Mr. Jonathan is working
to resolve the crisis and has tapped the National
Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, President of the
Senate, David Mark and former Military President,
Ibrahim Babangida, for help.
call ‘rude’ military chiefs to order
Ini Ekott - 16 mins ago
NATIONAL, NEWS
His powers challenged by military commanders he
believed he was appointed to supervise, Nigeria’s
Defence minister, Aliyu Gusau, on Tuesday sent a
letter to President Goodluck Jonathan threatening
to quit if the Commander-in-Chief failed to rein in
chiefs of defence, army, navy and airforce,
according to new details of a row that climaxed
Wednesday in a dramatic resignation claim.
In the letter, Mr. Gusau accused the chief of
defence staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, of being
“rude”, officials knowledgeable about the
communication said.
Mr. Gusau and the presidency have denied the
minister was leaving office barely a week after he
was appointed as part of Mr. Jonathan’s new effort
at curbing a bloody insurgency by the extremist
Boko Haram sect.
Earlier reports said the minister submitted a
resignation letter citing insubordination after Air
Chief Marshal Badeh disparaged Mr. Gusau and the
minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, for
criticizing his failure to arrange a meeting between
the new ministers and the service chiefs.
But several officials who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES
narrated a troubling power tussle between the
ministers and service chiefs with far-reaching
implications on the administration’s war against
Boko Haram which the government has largely
failed to stem.
Government insiders said while the retired general
did not expressly submit a resignation letter, he
made it clear to the president he will not work with
military officials he considered “insubordinate”.
The officials said since his swearing-in, Mr. Gusau
made repeated efforts for a meeting with the
service chiefs, but failed to secure one.
When AVM Badeh met with Mr. Gusau on Monday,
he explained that the minister lacked the powers to
summon the service chiefs to meetings without his
(Badeh’s) knowledge.
Mr. Badeh also reportedly insisted that it was not
the place of the defence minister to directly issue
directives to the heads of the army, navy and air
force, without routing same through the office of
the defence chief.
Under the Nigerian constitution, and the Armed
Forces Act, Mr. Badeh explained, only the
president has the powers to so direct the service
chiefs as Mr. Gusau, a retired soldier, sought to
do. Even so, he added, the president, with all his
powers, hardly breaches the chain of command.
Largely, Mr. Badeh was right. Under Section 217 of
the constitution, and Section 7 of the Armed Forces
Act, only the president has such powers. Were he
to delegate them, the minister of defence, is not
included in the chain of command.
Still, a potentially contentious subject, analysts
also point to the constitutional provision allowing
the president to delegate his powers to the
ministers.
Officials said those were the explanations Mr.
Badeh gave, which infuriated the minister.
After sending a letter of complaint to the President
on Tuesday, Mr. Gusau failed to show up on
Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council
meeting, triggering speculations he had quit the
cabinet in anger.
Presidency sources said Mr. Jonathan is working
to resolve the crisis and has tapped the National
Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, President of the
Senate, David Mark and former Military President,
Ibrahim Babangida, for help.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Italian pensioner hires an escort who turns out
to be his son's girlfriend The woman had told her boyfriend and his
family that she worked as a waitress The Italian town of Treviso, where the encounter
took place By ANTONIA MOLLOY Friday 07 March 2014 An elderly Italian man got a rather unwelcome
surprise when he ordered an escort – and his son’s
girlfriend turned up. The 70-year-old from Treviso, a city in the
northern region of Veneto, hired the escort from
the neighbouring town of Vicenza. But to his shock, it was his 40-year-old son’s
South American girlfriend who arrived at his
house, The Local reported, citing Italian newspaper Il Gazzettino. Red-faced, the pair declined to take the encounter
further and swiftly parted ways. The man pondered whether to tell his son that the
woman was not the waitress she had claimed to
be, as it would mean exposing his use of the escort
service. But he decided honesty was the best policy,
prompting a bitter fight between the pair. The incident, which happened four years ago,
came to light recently during a court hearing, after
the son decided to sue his father for injuries. However, the hearing was postponed by the judge
after unsuccessful attempts to get the pair to make
amends.
3D-printed 'electronic glove' could help keep
your heart beating for ever Custom-fitted membrane expands and
contracts with the heart, and could one day
deliver electric shocks in response to a heart
attack This photo shows the new cardiac device ― a thin,
elastic membrane ― fitted over a rabbit's heart. By JAMES VINCENT Monday 03 March 2014 Scientists have created a revolutionary new
electronic membrane that could replace
pacemakers, fitting over a heart to keep it beating
regularly over an indefinite period of time. The device uses a “spider-web-like network of
sensors and electrodes” to continuously monitor
the heart’s electrical activity and could, in the
future, deliver electrical shocks to maintain a
healthy heart-rate. Researchers from the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign and Washington University in
St. Louis used computer modelling technology
and a 3D-printer to create a prototype membrane
and fit it to a rabbit’s heart, keeping the organ
operating perfectly “outside of the body in a nutrient and oxygen-rich solution”. The use of high-resolution imaging technology
means that unlike current pacemaker and
implantable defibrillator technology, the thin,
elastic membrane will be custom-made to fit
“snugly” over the real heart. "When it senses such a catastrophic event as a
heart attack or arrhythmia, it can also apply a high
definition therapy,” said biomedical engineer Igor
Efimov of Washington University, who helped
design and test the device. “It can apply stimuli, electrical stimuli, from
different locations on the device in an optimal
fashion to stop this arrhythmia and prevent
sudden cardiac death,” Efimov told local radio
station KWMU-1. ‘Cardiac socks’ of a similar design have been
around since the 1980s but have previously been
crude, fabric sleeves with electrodes sewn into
place. This makes keeping the sensors in full
contact with that famously restive organ the heart
extremely difficult, if not impossible. The innovation in this new device is the use of
stretchable electronics developed by John Rogers,
a materials scientists from the University of
Illinois. Although Rogers' electronics use the same rigid
materials found in normal electronics (eg silicon),
the circuits are laid out in curved, s-shaped design
that allows them to stretch and bend without
breaking. High resolution 3D imaging was used to scan
the rabbit's heart and create a mold. Rogers himself compared the silicon sleeve to the
pericardium, the heart’s own membrane, telling
KWMU-1 that “this artificial pericardium is
instrumented with high quality, man-made
devices that can sense and interact with the heart
in different ways that are relevant to clinical cardiology.” Although immediate use for the device will be as a
research tool allowing scientists to study how
heart rate changes in response to different
conditions in the future, electronic membranes of
this sort could become common, monitoring at-
risk individuals and safeguarding them from heart attacks. The research is published in the journal Nature
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