Nigerian News Leader First with details then facts 
By Mahmoud Dogara (Bauchi State Correspondent)
As part of efforts to ensure a hitch-free celebration of the Yuletide season, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Zone 12 comprising of Bauchi, Yobe and the Borno States, has said it has deployed no fewer than 1,300 Officers and Men for the effective conduct of the operation.
By Our Correspondent
A renowned human rights lawyer, Barr. Joni Icheka, has dragged the dismissed former Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NgCC) and the President of the Copyright Society of Nigeria Ltd/GTE (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, to court over defamatory publications.
The plaintiff, who is a senior civil servant at the NgCC, is asking the court to award N500m to him as general damages and the equivalent sum of money as special damages for the alleged civil wrongs caused against him by COSON, Chief Okoroji and Dr. Jaja, jointly and severally, for the said publication.
According to Barr. Icheka, in suit no CV/3398/2020, the defendants had on September 15th, 2020, and addressed to Dr. Jaja, who was then the Chairman of the Governing Council of NgCC, that the plaintiff is a co-defendant in the on-going trial in a purported N7 billion fraud alongside Mr. Kenny Martins, for his alleged role in the forgery of documents that were used in defrauding the Nigerian Police Equipment Fund.
The plaintiff disclosed that the defendants in the libelous publication claimed that the Director-General of the NgCC, "concealed this critical information from the Governing Board and deceived the board to approve the appointment of Barr. Icheka".
The plaintiff further asserted that the defendants forwarded petitions containing this false information to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice (AGF) Mohammed Adolescent, SAN; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geofrey Onyeama; the Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau, and the Chairman, ICPC.
He said such petition with criminal invitations and widely circulated to the above listed, and also to all members of the Governing Council of NgCC, staff members of the parastatal, other persons and institutions, including the D-G NgCC, without verification as to the veracity of the allegations made against him, "constitutes libel" as it has impacted negatively on his employment and put him on the harm's way as a breadwinner of his family.
Icheka exhibited Charge No: CR/267/18 referred to by the defendants, pending before Justice Modupe Adebiyi of the FCT High Court, to prove that the statements of the defendants were false in their entirety.
On the contrary, Icheka stated that he was a lawyer to a defendant in the said criminal charge and wondered how he transformed to an accused in that matter.
"The claimant avers that the defendants exhibited utter callousness and negligence in the publication and circulation of the false information by failing to act with a reasonable level of care in simply cross-checking their source of the false information abnitio, having regard to the existence of the Open Court Registry and the EFCC who is a sister government agency from which the defendants could have cross-checked and authenticated their information prior to publication or republication of the false petition".
He maintains that by the said publication, the defendants adversely affected his current employment and his future chances of advancing to the very top echelon in the public service. He also claims that career people, including his colleagues, now see him as "a dubious person of low quality and who is morally bankrupt and should not be trusted by all and sundry".
Icheka attached a certified true copy of the charge sheet alluded to, filed by Festus Keyamo, SAN, on June 20th, 2018; affidavit of completion of investigation filed with the charge sheet sworn to by Allu Dauda, an Inspector of Police; list of witnesses in the referenced charge; the Case Summary; the libelous petition addressed to the NgCC Governing Board and signed by Dr. Jaja; petition by COSON written on their instruction by White Dove Solicitors; petition to the D-G NgCC against Icheka by Dr. Jaja; petition to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) on Mr. Icheka, and several other petitions written against Icheka.
In asking for N1 billion as damages, the plaintiff further asked the court to direct the defendants to tender a formal apology to be published in three national newspapers as well as the order for perpetual injunction against them again further publishing of defamatory materials against the plaintiff. NNL.
By Musa Ubandawaki (Sokoto State Correspondent)
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, has described the death of the pioneer Military Governor of the defunct North-Western State, retired Police Commissioner, Alhaji Usman Faruk, as a colossal loss to Nigeria.
By Musa Ubandawaki (Sokoto State Correspondent)
As part of an effort to end Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Harmful practices ( HP), the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammad Saad Abubakar III Foundation, has trained 160 Women and Girls Rights Defenders at a One-day training program held in Sokoto.
The objectives of the one-day training are to identify and discuss the higher prevalence of violence against Women and Girls and strategies to promote gender-equitable norms, prevention, and response to EVAWG/SGBV/SRHR/HP in society.
Participants at the workshop will also share experiences of handling, supporting and advocacies for victims of SGBV/HP.
The trained Women and Girls rights defenders are expected to better engage the community and religious leaders towards ending VAWG and HP at the community level.
Speaking during the One day program, the chairman of the occasion, Professor Isah Muhammad Maishanu, highlighted the importance of defending the Rights of Women and Girls in the society
He said there is a need for people with relevant skills, Religious and community leaders to engage one another in the crusade to end violence and other harmful practice against women and Girls in Sokoto state.
In a paper presented at the Workshop by Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad Liman Sifawa, he recommended the provision of concrete legislation, increased availability and utilization of Data, child spacing, and improved utilization of quality essential services as measures to end GBV in the state.
The paper refers to violence as any act that is perpetrated against a person's will based on his gender affiliation which inflicts harm on women, girls, men, and boys and is the most severe violation of several human rights.
Dr. Salisu Ismail in his paper presented at the Workshop duel on Medical and psychosocial effects of Gender-based violence and other harmful practice where he mentioned early marriage as a serious factor depriving young Girls access to education.
Dr. Ismail, in the paper, spoke on the dangers of female genital mutilation which he said most of the time resulted in obstruction in labor and visico viginlal fistula.
"family planning and family life education are very essential in the gender-based reproductive method., in which women and Girls can decide when to start having children"
Dr. Fatima Binta Musa a Data facilitator to the foundation stated that Broken homes, child labor, ignorance, sexual Hawking, street begging, child trafficking, frustration, and drug abuse as factors militating against GBV and other harmful practices.
Also in her paper presentation, Barrister Safiya Muhammad of Usman Danfodiyo University Faculty of law blamed access to justice by victims of GBV/SGBV/HP as a contributing factor to the scourge which is becoming pandemic.
She said victims of GBV/SGBV in the rural areas could not have justice as courts are mainly centralized in the Urban centers, saying that times transport fare becomes a problem to the parents and victims alike.
A guidance and counseling Doctor with Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Halimatu Sadiyya Abubakar, blamed parents for not enlightening their wards on the dangers of rape and sexual vices.
She said parents need to inform their children about having sex before marriage as well as coming in close contact with men at an early age. NNL.
By Musa Ubandawaki (Sokoto State Correspondent)
Following his official trips in the past few days, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has come in close contact with some personalities, some of whom have tested positive for COVID-19, and was medically advised to self-isolate.
By Chinwendu Agoha (Governance Reporter)
A pro-Buhar/good Governance group, the Buhari Media Organization (BMO), has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his new age of 78 years, saying that he is a blessing to the country.
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