News

Mr Wole Olaniran, the Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Zone RS5 in Benin, on Thursday threatened to arrest and sanction reckless motorists in the state.

The zone comprised Edo, Delta and Anambra states.

He issued while fielding questions on efforts to curb reckless driving from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin.

Olaniran specifically warned tipper drivers who convey sand without cover to desist forthwith or risk severe sanctions.

He said that such acts could ``constitute nuisance on the road and eventually lead to crashes’’.

Olaniran also warned tipper drivers who dump sand indiscriminately along the Benin-Sapele Road Bye-pass, saying that the act was constituting hazards to road users.

``After this warning, they (motorists) would henceforth be made to face the full wrath of the law,'' he said.

The FRSC boss also warned those who dump refuse on the high ways to stop forthwith because of the inherent health and environmental hazards associated with such acts.

While describing such acts as unpatriotic, Olaniran liken it to throwing stones in the market place.

He also warned motorists against disobeying traffic laws, saying that officers and men of the corps had been deployed to different black spots with orders to apprehend erring motorists.

``This is to make our roads safe for all users,’’ said Olaniran. (NAN)

An Abuja High Court on Thursday remanded an Abuja-based businessman, Usman Gumi, in EFCC custody over alleged issuance of a dud cheques pending its ruling on oral application for bail.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, reserved March 8 for ruling on the application for Gumi's bail as submitted by his Counsel, Mr Adegoke Basi..

The businessman is standing trial on a 10-count charge for alleged issuance of cheques worth N100 million but which were dishonoured.

Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Salisu Majidadi, told the court that the offence was punishable under Section 1 sub 1b of the Dishonoured Cheques Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Majidadi said the accused, who was the account signatory officer of Cell Wireless Ltd, had, sometime in March 2011, allegedly issued a N10 million Guaranty Trust Bank cheque.

He said the accused first issued the cheque with teller number 26476970 to Nebas Integrated Limited for the credit he obtained.

The counsel added that the accused later issued N10 million dishonoured cheques on nine different occasions to make the said N100 million amount.

He said the cheques were all dishonoured as a result of insufficient funds in the account of Cell Wireless Ltd.

Gumi, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution then prayed the court to fix a date to enable it present its two witnesses to support its case in view of the accused’s plea of not guilty.

The defence counsel, therefore, moved an oral application for bail which was opposed by the prosecution.

Justice Bello then fixed March 8 for ruling on the application and adjourned the case to April 24 for hearing.(NAN)

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said on Thursday that it would train journalists on how best to report disasters in the country.

Alhaji Abubakar  Kanar, the North East Zonal Coordinator of the agency, disclosed this in a statement issued in Yola.

Kanar said that NEMA would organise a one-day sensitisation workshop on the role of media in disaster management and control for journalists in the region.

The statement explained that the workshop was designed to sharpen the techniques of media practitioners from the zone  on the role of the media  in proper reporting of the agency's activities and emergencies.

``It is in view of the aforementioned that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is organizing workshops for critical stakeholders and media practitioners at the Zonal level on the role of the media in reporting emergencies and sensitisation for checkmating the re-occurrences of flood related disasters," Kanar said.

The coordinator noted that the recent flood disasters that claimed several lives and property, and displaced many communities needed appropriate management.

According to him, the essence of disaster management was to protect people’s lives, properties and the environment in general.

``The key to attaining success is the involvement of all jurisdictions, sectors, disciplines and resources in an organised and coordinated manner. 

``The media is viewed as a critical stakeholder in information dissemination; before, during and after emergencies," he said.

Kanar added that more than 50 different media organisations are expected to receive the training.

He said that the workshop would hold on March 13, in Yola, Adamawa. (NAN)

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