Police brutality: Senator Dino Melaye gets N10m in damages

Senator Dino Melaye has been awarded N10m in damages by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court – Melaye was granted the sum, following a lawsuit filed against the Inspector General of Police  The controversial Senator was arrested by the police for a peaceful protest against ex-minister of aviation, Stella Oduah

Following the ruling of a Federal High Court which sat in Abuja on Wednesday, October 5, Senator Dino Melaye will be getting a N10million award in damages. Justice Gabriel Kolawole granted N10 million in damages to Melaye, over a lawsuit filed by the senator against the Inspector General of Police.
Senator Melaye had filed the lawsuit in 2014 after the police stopped him from protesting against former Aviation minister, Stella Oduah, who was fingered in a scam in which she authorized the purchase of two overpriced bulletproof BMW cars for her personal use.

Police had manhandled and briefly detainedMelaye as he led a group of protesters against the former minister, who is now a senator representing Anambra state. The police had justified their actions on the grounds that Mr. Melaye and fellow protesters had not obtained permission to stage their protest. Sahara Reporters report that Justice Kolawole ruled that the police had violated Mr. Melaye’s rights, and awarded N10 million in damages to the senator. However, in a parting shot, the judge reportedly mocked Mr Melaye as a “self-styled” anti-corruption activist. He said he awarded the cost to the plaintiff because Nigerians have a right to peaceful protest, but also noted that  Melaye has now become a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The usually charismatic and vociferous senator made little noise about his court victory. Meanwhile, the senator representing Kogi Central senatorial district has bought a new supercar which is worth about N180million. Premium Times reports that Melaye, who already owns a fleet of luxury and antiquated cars worth billions of Naira, has acquired a 93-year-old Rolls Royce. The Rolls Royce has the customized license plates “MELAYE 2” and is believed to cost some $400,000.
source:Naji

President Buhari's speech at Leadership Awards

The 2016 Leadership Awards held today, October 6. The event which was chaired by former Head of State General Abudulsalami Abubakar (rtd) was attended by top dignitaries. President Muhammadu Buhari, his predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, were honoured with the ‘Leadership person of the year’ award.
Buhari delivered the closing remark and below are some takeaways from his speech.
 1. About the political actors in the 2015 election

 Those of us who were participating actors in the elections were led by the higher ideal of the future of our great country and the well-being of our people rather than the mere desire of politicians to win elections.

2. Prophets of doom were disappointed

It is, therefore, our commitment to this ideal, the patriotic zeal of President Jonathan, the impartiality of the electoral umpire, INEC and exemplary conduct of the political parties, foreign pressure and other actors that we collectively disappointed the prophets of doom who had predicted the disintegration of the country after the 2015 general elections.

3. 2015 election strengthened democracy

Our democracy has been strengthened by the outcome of the 2015 elections as our people now have more faith in the electoral system in the sense that their votes would count when choosing political leaders at various levels. We, the political class should build on the experience of the 2015 elections to nurture our democracy.

4. Nigerian media urged to support the government

He called on the Nigerian media to join his government in pursuit of its goals and not just to criticize to prove their independence. The goals are to defeat terrorism and violent extremism in the country, fight corruption and diversify the economy to create jobs for our teeming population and generally improve the standard of living of Nigerians.
source:naji

Fashola Workers demand minister, permanent secretary's immediate sack [PHOTOS]

The workers are demanding Fashola's sack over poor working condition and the alleged high-handedness. 

Workers at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing on Thursday, October 6, 2016, demanded the sack of the minister, Babatunde Fashola and the permanent secretary, Abubakar Magaji.

The workers, consisting of workers from the two arms of the ministry-Works and Housing, were protesting the poor condition of service and the alleged high-handedness, and aloofness of the leaders.

"All the contractors handling major projects are Magaji's friends,"No more corruption, it must stop," read some of the placards.

Comrade Aliyu Abdulazeez and Sam Apeh (in-house union leaders) were said to have been arrested on the order of the minister.

"There are a lot of issues in contention. When this man joined us in February, it has been lies upon lies. He came, for him to address the staff, took him a lot of time," said Comrade Alaka Olumuyiwa, the chairman, Union Council,  Works and Housing."And in terms of welfare, he has deliberately refused to pay burial benefits, first 28days and promotion arrears. Even our staff that have retired and supposed to get reparation, have not been paid.

"This is October, we have not started any training and we heard that money has been released for that purpose. The ministry is stagnant."

He also lamented the merging of Works and Housing ministries under the same headship, adding that the housing sector had been neglected on account of that.

However, a source in the ministry stated that the workers were protesting because it was no longer 'business as usual' in the ministry.

source:pulse 

Gov appoints female Chief Press Secretary, first-ever in Northern history

Onyegbele becomes the first woman to occupy the position in the history of northern Nigeria, and the second in Nigeria's history.

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has named Petra Akinti Onyegbule the Chief press secretary of the state government.

Onyegbele becomes the first woman to occupy the position in the history of northern Nigeria, and the second in Nigeria's history.
The Governor confirmed her appointment on Tuesday, October 4.

Before her appointment, Onyegbule served as Bello's special assistant on electronic media.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday, September 20 upheld Bello's victory in the December 2015 gubernatorial election in the state.

SOURCE:PULSE