POLICE KILLED BY CIVIL DEFENCE CORP

Tragedy as civil defence personnel kills mobile policeman

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
A personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps yesterday accidentally shot dead his colleague, a mobile policeman, during a gun battle with suspected armed robbers at Etegwe in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.  It was gathered that the civil defence personnel and the deceased mobile policeman were attached to the Bayelsa State Police Command security outfit, Operation Doo Akpoo.
The incident, Daily Sun checks revealed, occurred at Etegwe during a gun battle with suspected armed robbers who were trying to escape.  A witness said the civil defence personnel in an attempt to shoot at the armed robbers, shot the mobile policeman, who was trying to take position to also shoot the bandits.
“On sighting the described vehicle of the bandits, they engaged in hot pursuit. When the occupants of the vehicle shot at the police, the civil defence personnel jumped down and shot at the bandits, who were trying to escape. But not before the deceased mobile policeman jumped into the line of fire while taking position to also shoot,” the eyewitness recounted.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, who confirmed the incident described it as unfortunate.
“The deceased policeman and the civil defence personnel were attached to the state special security patrol team known as Doo Apoo. He accidentally shot his colleague during a pursuit of suspected armed robbers,” Akhigbe explained.

NEW APPOITMENT CHEKOUT

Jonathan nominates 12 ministerial candidates

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday in Abuja forwarded the names of 12 ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

Jonathan also sent for confirmation the names of the newly-appointed Chief of Defence Staff and other service chiefs to the upper legislative chamber, which was just resuming after the Christmas holidays.
The Senate President, David Mark, read out to the Senate the letters sent by the President for the confirmation of the ministers and the service chiefs.
The letter concerning the ministers reads in part: "In accordance with Section 147(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I have the honour to forward ministerial nominees for consideration by the Senate."
The nominees include Hon. Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Hajia Jamila Salik and Amb. Aminu Wali (both Kano State) and Mrs Akon Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom).
Others are Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos State), Dr T.W. Danagogo (Rivers), Asabe Ahmed (Niger) and Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun).
The rest are Lawrencia Mallam (Kaduna State), Gen. Aliu Gusau (Zamfara), Mr Boni Haruna (Adamawa) and Dr Khaliru Alhassan (Sokoto State).
For the service chiefs, the President’s letter said he was forwarding the names to the Senate in compliance with the provisions of Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.
The service chiefs include Air Marshal Alex Badeh (Chief of Defence Staff), Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah (Chief of Army Staff) and Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin (Chief of Naval Staff).
The name of Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu was also forwarded for confirmation as Chief of Air Staff.
It will be recalled that the new service chiefs were appointed on 16 January by the President.
Jonathan also expressed the hope that the Senate would treat the requests expeditiously.
This is the first time the President was forwarding the names of appointed service chiefs to the Senate for confirmation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Federal High Court had ruled that the appointment of service chiefs must be confirmed by the Senate.
This was as a result of a case initiated by Mr Festus Keyamo, a Lagos based lawyer.

SMOKING, NOT GOOD FOR HEALTH STOP IT

Public smoking banned in Lagos

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday approved a bill which bans smoking in public.

P.M. News reports that offenders will be punished with a N10,000 fine, three months imprisonment or both.
AllAfrica.com reports that the bill prohibits smoking prohibits all public places including libraries, museum, public toilets, schools, hospital, day care centres, public transportation and restaurants among others.
Premium Times reports that any person who smokes in the presence of a child would be slapped with a N15,000 fine, imprisonment or both.