Benue Petition Tribunal upholds Ortom’s election

MAKURDI—Benue State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, the state capital, has upheld the election of Governor Samuel Ortom.

In a three-hour judgement delivered yesterday by Justice Elizabeth Karatu, the Tribunal dismissed the petition of Terhemen Tarzoor, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate at the last general elections for lack of diligent prosecution.

After assuming jurisdiction to entertain the matter and recognizing Tarzoor’s locus standi to challenge the emergence of the APC candidate,  Justice Karatu anchored her judgement on the provisions of Section 177 and 138(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and  held that Governor Ortom met all the criteria for being recognized as the validly elected  candidate of the APC.

She went further to point out that the petitioner failed to provide valid evidences to show that the APC did not hold its primaries as required by law.

According to her, the petitioners witness (one) made mockery of the Tribunal by presenting to it a report of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the APC primaries which was not written on an INEC letter headed paper nor signed by the relevant persons.

Justice Karatu further pointed out the failure of the petitioner to spell out the relief being sought in the matter.

She held that “by the provisions of Section 140(2) of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended, in the face of the paucity of facts presented before the Tribunal, the petitioner has to succeed on the strength of his own case.”

She stated that this principle was discountenanced by the petitioner in the course of the trial thereby dealing a blow to his petition.

Justice Karatu added: “The petitioner did not ask for the conduct of fresh elections, the court therefore cannot grant a relief that was not pleaded. The petition is therefore dismissed and the return of the First Respondent (Governor Ortom) is thereby upheld.”

Benue Petition Tribunal upholds Ortom’s election

Housewife to die by hanging for killing step son

Makurdi  –  A Makurdi High Court Judge, Justice Jennifer Ijohor, on Thursday, sentenced a housewife, Mrs Ternenge Tersoo, to death by hanging for the murder of her one year-old step son, Pineter Tersoo.

Mrs Tersoo of Mbayegh-Gaav in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue was found guilty of culpable homicide punishable with death under Section 221 of the Penal Code.

The convict’s husband, Mr Iorchir Tersoo, reported the matter to the police on May 28, 2012 that his first wife had killed his son.

Tersoo said he had been married to the convict for seven years without a child, which made him to marry a second wife, Torkwase Tersoo, who gave birth to the deceased within one year.

The complainant said that his first wife had complained bitterly that the little boy and his mother had taken over the affairs of the house and that the husband gave more attention to the second wife.

According to him, the convict collected the child from his nanny and strangled him to death.

During trial, however, the convict pleaded not guilty to the charge against her and testified in her own defence without calling any witness.

However, the prosecution called two witnesses, including the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Cpl Solomon Mnyim, who tendered a medical report of the autopsy carried out on the deceased at the General Hospital, Vandeikya.

Delivering judgment, Ijohor said that prosecution had proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt to warrant the conviction of the accused.

The judge said the autopsy report showed that the boy was actually strangulated to death.

She condemned the situation where a woman would take the life of another person’s child and advised that a woman married into polygamous home and had no child should pray to God for the gift rather than harbouring evil.

vanguard

Housewife to die by hanging for killing step son

25 die, others injured celebrating Buhari’s victory

KANO—No fewer than 25  persons died in Abuja, Kano, Makurdi and Kontagora yesterday, while celebrating the victory of President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

While 17 of the victims died in Kano, four died in Abuja, three in Kontagora, Niger State and one in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, while several others sustained injuries.

However, police authorities in Kano claimed only seven bodies of unknown person were discovered by their men after the celebration, Tuesday night.

An eyewitness, Ali Sufi of Naibawa quarters said three people were crushed to death at Naibawa U-turn, when a man in a Toyota Camry car lost control and rammed into those celebrating.

Sufi, further disclosed that one Sabo Ali, an ad hoc staff of communications giant, Etisalat, lost his life alongside his friend when a reckless driver knocked them down at Ungwa Uku end of Zaria Road within Kano metropolis.

Late Ali’s guardian, Mallam Idi Naibawa, confirmed that Sabo died yesterday morning at Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital from injuries he sustained in the accident.

Idi Naibawa explained that “a good Samaritan, who identified Sabo’s motorcycle reported the accident, and our fear was confirmed at Yarakwa police station that rescued and took him to the hospital.

“We have accepted his death as a fulfilment of destiny and barring any hitch, Sabo would be buried before 5p.m. local time today (yesterday).”

Another resident of Naibawa quarters, Ibrahim Dogo, said that two teenagers were crushed to death along Zaria Road by a crazy driver.

Dogo said: “We received two dead bodies this morning at the Tiga Naibawa quarters and we are set to bury them.”

Reports from Hotoro also confirmed the death of six youngsters during the crazy celebration that engulfed the commercial city.

According to a resident, Masaud Badamasi, “we lost six boys to the crazy celebration last night and we are getting ready to give then a heroic burial.”

Vanguard further learned that two persons lost their lives at Bachirawa/Kurna axis of the city, while report from Gwarzo local government indicated that two people were crushed to death by a motorist.

Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majia, said: “We discovered seven dead bodies of unknown persons on the streets after the celebration and investigations has commenced on how and why it happened.”

He said the development had forced the command to sponsore radio jingles to sensitize the city dwellers on how to go about the victory dance.

The police spokesman revealed that Divisional Police Officers had been mandated to monitor the celebrants to minimize casualty, while victory dance lasts.

Acrobatics in Makurdi

In Makurdi, Vanguard learned that the victims were among youths in Wadata and North Bank area, who since the announcement of the election results, had been engaged in dangerous acrobatic displays with their motorbikes around the town.

According to a source, the unidentified youth met his death at North Bank, when he fell off his motorbike in one of his displays and gave up the ghost before he could get medical attention.

The source said: “Since the announcement of the presidential results, most of the youths took over the streets, many of them that have motorbikes removed the mufflers of their bikes in other to generate much noise as they rode dangerously in the streets.

“Unfortunately, one of them fell off his bike, broke his neck and eventually died before he could get medical attention.

“The other two sustained injuries in similar circumstance, but were lucky to have survived the crash and are presently receiving treatment in a private hospital in the area.”

At press time, youths were still in the streets at Wadata and North Bank areas, celebrating the victory with many of them still displaying dangerously with their motorbikes.

Eyewitness account said the four who died in Abuja lost their lives while trying to climb the Lugbe Pedestrian bridge by Julius Berger junction with their motorcycles and fell.

Several others sustained injuries.

In Kontagora, Niger State, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olusola Amore, confirmed that three supporters of All Progressives Congress, APC, were crushed by a motorist, while jubilating on the highway.

 

25 die, others injured celebrating Buhari’s victory

Police arrest five suspected kidnappers in Benue

Benue State Police Commissioner, Mr Hyacinth Dagala, has revealed that his command on Wednesday arrested five kidnappers while trying to abduct a teenage girl.

Dagala, in an interview with our correspondent on Thursday in Makurdi, the state capital, said his command had renewed its strategies against criminal elements in the state.

He said, “We arrested five kidnappers yesterday (Wednesday) while trying to abduct a teenage girl and they will be charged to court as soon as preliminary investigations are concluded.”

The Police boss added that he had been working round the clock to purge the state of criminal elements.

He said, “Whoever is a criminal in all its sense, should understand that Benue State is not the place for now and even in future.”

According to him, the command will continue to ensure restrictions of motorbikes in Makurdi metropolis from 7pm to 6am.

He however appealled to the people of the state to continue to cooperate with the Police by giving them timely information that could help them to curtail criminal activities.

It is observed that kidnapping activities in the state has been on the increase in recent times.

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Police arrest five suspected kidnappers in Benue

Catholic bars corpses in church over Ebola

Makurdi – The Catholic diocese of Makurdi, Benue, has barred the faithful from taking corpses of late relations to churches for funeral Mass as a measure to check the spread of Ebola virus.

Ebola

The diocese directed that corpses of deceased members should be given immediate burial.

It, however, said that it would allow corpses to be brought to the churches in the area only when death certificates issued by relevant medical authorities were produced.

This is contained in a statement by the Director of Communications in the diocese, Rev. Fr. Moses Iorapuu, in Makurdi on Saturday.

The statement, which was issued on behalf of Bishop of the diocese, Very Rev. Athanissius Usu, also announced changes in two aspects of activities during mass, including the mode of administering the Holy Communion.

According to the statement, parishioners will henceforth be served the eucharistic feast on their hands as against the practice of putting it on their tongue by the priest.

Also, it said, the exchange of the sign of peace, involving handshakes has been replaced with other suitable gestures to avoid the possibilities of contacting the Ebola virus.

The diocese advised priests, who conduct pastoral visitation to hospitals to be cautious and seek doctor’s permission before touching sick people with undisclosed illnesses.

It also announced the prohibition of group prayer sessions that involved touching and praying over unknown sicknesses.

According to the statement, the measures, which are in accordance with Federal Government’s directive on ways to prevent the spread of Ebola virus, are aimed at safeguarding the health of members.

“We hope that with these preventive pastoral and standard procedures and with prayers and steadfastness in responsible behaviours, the Lord will keep this virus away from us.

“We also encourage personal hygiene, washing of hands regularly, clean environment and eating habits.

“We urge you not to ignore government’s advice and other official statements on how to prevent the outbreak of Ebola virus,” it stated. (NAN)

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Catholic bars corpses in church over Ebola

Again: Female students attacked, girls allegedly molested in Benue

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

The attack on females are on the rise in some part of the north as a gang of cultists have attacked and molested some female students of the College of Advanced and Professional Studies, CAPS, in Makurdi, the state capital on Tuesday.

Cult clash

This attack came barely a week after some suspected cultists invaded the female hostel of the Benue State University, BSU.

The armed men, numbering up to 12, invaded the hostel at about 5 a.m while many of the students were still asleep, according to vanguard.

The sources said ”the armed men stormed the school and gained entrance into the school, after disarming the security men whom they tied up before carrying out their operation that lasted over one hour.

”They molested and beat up female students and made away with their cellphones, money and other valuables.

”At the end of the operation, at least 11 students sustained varying degrees of injuries while most of them were traumatised .

Dr. Tyotom Keghku, who is the Sole Administrator of the college denied the story of molestation, arguing that no students were sexually abused during the incident.

Dr. Keghku added that the state Police Command had been informed of the incident, he however said the attackers could be from the neighbouring village, adding that two were injured in the incident and had been treated.

 

Again: Female students attacked, girls allegedly molested in Benue

Again! Gunmen attack institution in Makurdi

Barely a week after some suspected gunmen invaded female hostel of the Benue State University (BSU), another higher institution was attacked yesterday.

Gunmen

The gunmen, numbering over 10, were said to have invaded College of Advanced and Professional Studies (CAPS) at about 5am. They attacked the female hostel which is located on the way to the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

No fewer than 10 students were said to have been injured during the incident just as the suspected gunmen carted away money, handsets and electronic gadgets belonging to the students.

According to eyewitness, the gunmen were said to have disarmed the security men whom they tied up before carrying out their operations which lasted for two hours.

The Sole Administrator of the College, Dr Tyotom Keghku, in a telephone chat, confirmed the attack but said that two students were injured during the incident and have been given adequate medical treatment.

Mr Keghku, who alleged that the perpetrators could be community members, intimated that the matter has since been reported to the police.

However, as at the time of filing this report, Benue State Police Command Public Relations’ Officer, PPRO Daniel Ezeala, said no report of such incident had reached him.

Again! Gunmen attack institution in Makurdi

Three-month-old baby stolen in Makurdi

The Benue Police Command on Monday confirmed that a three-month old baby belonging to one Mr. Ikyavngi Imande had been stolen in Makurdi.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the baby was stolen on April 19 at about 8.00pm on Inikpi Street, High Level, Makurdi.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Daniel Ezeala, told NAN in Makurdi that the command had opened full investigation into the matter.

Ezeala said that police had arrested one suspect, while the others were still at large.

He assured the family and the people of the state of adequate security.

NAN reports that the prime suspect, simply identified as Chichi, was in Makurdi to adopt a baby, but was turned down by the government officials.

Speaking to NAN, the mother of the baby, Mrs. Msendoo Ikyavngi, said that her baby was stolen in her house on Saturday, April 19, around 8.00pm.

“It was on Saturday evening around 8.00pm that Chichi, the girlfriend of my neighbour, Mr. Amos, came to my house, tricked my nanny and stole my baby.

“My nanny was with the baby and she was crying.

“So, Chichi came and took the baby for the purpose of making her stop crying. She now sent my nanny to get water for her to drink.

“It was then that Chichi ran away with my baby right in my house.

“When this was happening I had dashed out of the house to buy food items.

“We have been seeing her recently and we felt she is a friend,” she said.

Three-month-old baby stolen in Makurdi

Benue PDP: 33 Aspirant indicate interest in governorship election

Makurdi – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue said that 33 aspirants had indicated interest to contest the governorship election on the platform of the party in 2015.

PDP

The Benue Chairman of PDP, Dr Emmanuel Agbo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi on Friday that the party’s primaries must be free and fair.

Agbo said that all members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party had resolved to ensure that all candidates were given equal opportunities.

“33 aspirants have so far indicated their interest to contest the party’s governorship ticket in the forthcoming election.

“Our primaries must be transparent, free and fair for contesting party members.

“We members of the State Working Committee have resolved to provide a level-playing ground for all candidates.

“The executive committee members in the state have so far exhibited exemplary leadership qualities toward ensuring that the PDP produces an acceptable candidate that would win the hearts of our electorate.

“We have deliberately removed ourselves from the process to make it free for all candidates.

“Above all these, all our aspirants have so far abided with the party’s guidelines as they go about the consultations process,’’ the party leader said.

Agbo said that all the aspirants were good, adding that they would all defend the party “very well’’ if elected.

He said that the PDP was the only party in the county capable of delivering the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

Agbo commended President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing many sons and daughters of the state into top positions and into his cabinet. (NAN)

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Benue PDP: 33 Aspirant indicate interest in governorship election