Watch Signature TV 30mins: Special Investigation Panel Considers Thirty-two cases of Gender-Based Violence

The special investigation panel on sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria began its second round of sitting in Abuja on Monday.

The Abuja sitting is considering Thirty-two cases out of which a total of 161 cases which it will attend nationwide in this second round.

In the first round of sittings, the panel heard 114 gender-based violence cases.

Signature TV Correspondent Blessing Adejoh was at the National Human Rights Auditorium, the venue of the second Abuja sitting and tells us more. #

 

 

Members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have asked the Federal Government to honour its agreement with the union.

They warned that should the government fail to honour its agreement in the next four weeks, they would be forced to declare another indefinite nationwide industrial action.

Addressing reporters on Monday in Abuja, NARD President, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, noted that authorities in Abia and Imo States owe resident doctors 20 months and five months arrears, respectively.

He stressed the need for the state governments to pay up the arrears within the widow of suspension of the strike by the doctors which he said was four weeks.

Dr Okhuaihesuyi also clarified that the suspension of the industrial action which lasted 10 days was conditional, saying the union would review the government’s responses to their requests by the end of April.

The doctors asked the Federal Government to remove medical training from the concurrent list to allow for the universal implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act across the Federation, including state training institutions. #

 

 

Top military officers Monday paid their last respects to the Twelve soldiers killed by a local militia in Bonta, Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.
The burial ceremony which took place at Wurukum Cemetery in Makurdi kicked off with the deceased servicemen lying in-State.
Family members, colleagues, and senior officers of the 72 battalions Makurdi led by the Commander, 4 Special Forces Doma, Brigadier General L.G Lepbung and the Commander Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Adeyemi Yekini attended the burial ceremony.
The soldiers were on a peacekeeping mission in the state when they were attacked. #

 

 

Military authorities have confirmed the rank of the Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru as Lieutenant General.

And in his first major re-shaping of army regimentation, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru has taken the Army back to its dress code which was changed under his predecessor, Tukur Buratai.

In a signal to all army units and formations across the country, the Chief of Army Staff ordered that from Monday, April 12, 2021, officers and men will dress in their plain jackets on Mondays and Fridays.

The dress code is popularly known as the number four dress in the army.

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the soldiers are to dress in number five dress, a plain green uniform that requires them to tuck in.

The mode of dressing contained in the new directive was what was obtained before Tukur Buratai changed them. #

 

 

The Catholic community of Imo State University is in a jubilant mood as one of their priests, Revered Father Marcel Onyeocha kidnapped by suspected Fulani herdsmen regained his freedom in the early hours of Monday.

Both the police and spokesperson of Imo State University have confirmed the development.

Revered Father Onyeocha, a professor of philosophy at the Imo State University, Owerri was kidnapped on Saturday evening in the Ihugbe community along the Enugu-Okigwe expressway.

According to the provincial secretary of Claratian Missionaries, Revered Father Iwuagwu, his abductors dropped off in the early hours of Monday in the same location where he was kidnapped.

The police which confirmed the release of Revered Father Onyeocha said a manhunt for his abductors is continuing to bring the criminals to book. #

 

No life was lost as unknown gunmen on Monday morning attacked residents of Ebele village, Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Aliyu who confirmed the attack said he was awaiting further information.

Speaking in Ebonyi, the Commissioner for Internal security and border peace, Stanley Okoro Emegha said many houses were razed but no casualty has been established yet.

He further stated that the identity of the attackers has not been established but some residents claim they are Fulani herdsmen while others say they are Agila people from Benue State.

The attack has been described as unprecedented, as some victims of the incident are presently taking shelter in the homes of some stakeholders. #

 

 

The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC has warned the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN to mind their utterances especially as it relates to the use of hijab in the country.

This is coming as CAN earlier said that Muslim female soldiers are free to wear hijab on the military uniform if it will deflect bullets, a statement which has sparked criticism from MURIC.

Responding to the statement, the Director of Muslim Rights Concern, Professor Ishaq Akintola said that the Nigerian Army belongs to all Nigerians both Christians and Muslims and therefore should reflect people’s culture and religion.

The Director who accused CAN of nursing bad intention against Muslims over hijab, added that whether hijab can shield female soldiers away from bullets or not was the bone of contention but over-emphasizing it, means that CAN never wish people found outside its own faith well. #

 

FAAN to enforce rules on picking passengers at airports

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN says it will strictly enforce the rules guiding the picking up and dropping off of passengers at airports across the country.

FAAN is now requesting travellers and drivers to cooperate with it as the rules are to secure the nation’s airports better.

In a statement on Monday, FAAN said that picking up passengers at the frontage of airport terminals is now prohibited. All arriving passengers must walk to the carparks from where they pick up commercial or their private vehicles.

FAAN however says departing passengers can be dropped off in front of the terminals and their vehicles cannot wait or pick up anybody. #

 

ON THE FOREIGN SCENE

 

Ex-banker Guillermo Lasso won Ecuador’s presidential election on Sunday after his socialist opponent Andres Arauz conceded.

Conservative Lasso declared himself president-elect and accepted the challenge of changing Ecuador’s destiny.

With 93 per cent of votes counted, the 65-year-old Lasso held a lead of almost five percentage points over economist Arauz.

Economist Arauz, best known as the protege of former president Rafael Correa, was magnanimous despite earlier claiming victory following a tight exit poll.

The National Electoral Council said Lasso had 52.51 per cent of the vote compared with Arauz’s 47.49 per cent, with 93.14 per cent of votes counted.

The Director-General of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, congratulated Lasso on the win, saying he hoped they could work together in strengthening democracy, human rights, security and development.