The Federal Government has again emphasised the urgent need to de-congest prisons across the country, confirming

that about 70 per cent of the entire prison population constitute Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs). Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, reiterated this at a roundtable on Non-Custodial Sentencing, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Retroactive Justice System, organised by the ministry in conjunction with the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the CURE Nigeria Initiative. He said the government would vigorously pursue measures to address the disturbing statistics in Nigerian prisons. Adoke who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and the Solicitor General of the Federation Dr. Abdulahi Yola, stated that statistics revealed that over 70 per cent of the entire prison population are Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs). I expect this forum to address the root causes of our present disturbing statistics which put awaiting trial persons population at approximately 70 per cent of the entire prison population, this figure is indefensible and must not be allowed to persist as it reflects negatively on our entire criminal justice, both within and outside the country, he said. He stated further that new initiatives should be adopted by the nations criminal justice sector so as to give the system a humane face. According to him, if the country must achieve its objective of a more humane and efficient system which upholds the dignity of all persons in accordance with global practice, new strategies must be inducted into the system. There is, therefore, a need for constant review of relevant statutes and policies which, despite their good intentions, often create conditions which encourage the congestions of our prisons, he added. Adoke emphasised that the government is determined to ensure that fundamental human rights as guaranteed in the constitution were not cosmetic or academic, but practical. This, according to him, necessitated passage of landmark reform legislation which includeed National Human Right (Amendment) Act 2011, Legal Aid Council (Amendment) Act 2011 as well as the Evidence Act 2011

Three men, suspected to be armed robbers, were on Saturday apprehended by security operatives attached to the convoy of the governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. The incident occured at Ayebode-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of the state, while the governor was on his way to Omuo in Ekiti East Local Government Area to monitor the monthly sanitation exercise.

The suspeted robbers tried to escape when they sighted the governor's convoy, but three of them were unlucky as they were caught inside the bush while trying to escape. The arrested suspects gave their names as Usman Ahmed, Omolayo Seun and Niyi Bamisile, while three other suspected members of the gang escaped. The monthly sanitation exercise in the state was shifted from last Saturday to yesterday owing to whst the state government said was "logistic reasons." The duo of Seun, who wore a female dress and Ahmed claimed that they were not robbers but were on their way from the bush where they had gone to ease themselves, but Niyi who was in the same Suzuki minibus numbered XB 626 KER, gave a contrary account. However, residents of Ayebode Ekiti who came to the scene of the incident applauded the Governor for apprehending the suspects; adding that the community and other neighbouring communities had in the past two weeks had tough times in the hands of the hoodlums, resulting in the death of two people in the community. Speaking shortly after the incident, Governor Fayemi said he had spoken to the authority of the Nigeria Police in the state to beef up security in all the gateway points in the state to prevent opportunistic attacks by hoodlums whose plans was to rob people of their goods in this yuletide season. The governor urged residents to always be vigilant and alert the police about any suspicious persons in the neighbourhood. Last week I was in Ikole for my town hall meeting and one of the most serious issues raised by the community leaders at Ikole was the spate of robberies that had been going on on that road for the last two weeks. He added: To imagine that I and my entourage had to be confronted that simply underscores what the people have been going through and I am glad that we apprehended three of them though they have some explaining to do but I have told the Police authority that we must focus on those gateway points in the state particularly in this yuletide season.

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The chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Tarila Tebepah, has implored oil producing states in the country to provide enabling environment for the commission so that it could implement capital projects, capable of boosting the socio-economic growth of all the oil-bearing communities.

He contended that favourable working partnership with states in the South-South has become imperative, taking into consideration the crucial need to impact positively on the lives of residents of the Niger Delta. The NDDC boss, who made this known, in Yenagoa on Thursday, during a courtesy call on the Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, stated that the NDDC intends to build a healthy relationship with its advisory committee, which comprises the governors of nine oil producing states. We solicit for land from state government to enable the commission effectively carry out training programmes for youths, especially in the areas of agriculture and Information Technology and this would accelerate the development of Bayelsa State. In his response, the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu, said his administration was looking forward to a mutual and beneficial relationship with the newly inaugurated board of the NDDC. Said Sylva, NDDC and the state government need to collaborate and work as a team in order to avoid duplication of projects and ensure that such projects are well prioritised, adding that our administration would give necessary assistance to the commission to perform its duties in the state. While describing the appointment of Dr Tebepah as well deserved, the governor expressed optimism that he would do his best to make sure that Bayelsa State benefits from NDDC during his tenure. He, however, reminded the NDDC boss of the dearth of infrastructural development in the Niger Delta and tasked the board to come up with fresh strategies, which could fast-track the socio-economic growth of the South-South.

Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, has directed the immediate suspension of the salaries of traditional rulers in seven local government areas of the state. The local government areas Sunday Tribune gathered are Orsu, Isu, Nwangele, Orlu, Oru West, Nkwerre. This was contained in a press statement issued in Owerri and made available to Sunday Tribune and signed by the Senior Special Adviser on Media to the governor, Mr. Chinedu Offor.

Governor Okorocha said the action became necessary because of increase in criminal activities in the affected local governments. The governor also reinstated the commitment of his administration towards the protection of lives and properties of indigenes of the state in line with his rescue mission.

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Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said his administration will provide the necessary support for The Polytechnic Ibadan to become a full-fledged degree-awarding institution with a bias for all-round technological development. The governor stated this in an address at the 27th convocation and 40th anniversary ceremonies of the institution on Friday. He said the 1987 amended edict of the school empowered its governing council to run degree programmes, promising to do all that was required to realise the vision. My administration is aware of the efforts being made by The Polytechnic, Ibadan, particularly with foreign universities, to partner and award degrees in B. Tech. to graduates of the institution. The state government is in full support of this effort and will give the institution all the required support to ensure that it eventually becomes a full-fledged degree-awarding technology institution, he said.

The governor promised adequate funding for the school and passed a vote of confidence in the ability of its new governing council led by a retired Head of Service of the federation, Professor Oladapo Afolabi, to pilot the institution to the envisioned destination. He called on the Federal Government to issue a white paper that will eliminate the disparity between polytechnic and university graduates in the country, noting that the discrimination posed a grave danger to polytechnic education and technological development of the nation. Meanwhile, the Oyo state government has designed a housing programme that will churn out mass low-cost accommodation for the citizens of the state from 18 years above by the year 2013. The Special Assistant to the governor on Housing, Mr Gbolagade Abiodun disclosed this in Ibadan at the weekend, after an inspection to the housing estates within Ibadan metropolis. Gbolagade hinted that as a prelude to the housing project, Governor Ajimobi would soon launch a mass empowerment programme where over 33,000 youths would be engaged, trained and empowered basically on production of building materials. He noted that the project was in tandem with the determination of the governor to reposition, transform and restore the glory of the state, in all sphere of public life, to the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the Premier of the defunct Western Region headquartered in Ibadan. According to him, we have been mandated to ensure every citizen of the state enjoys suitable accommodation. Beneficiaries of this scheme will be any citizen of the state who is 18 years and above and has accommodation problem.

BY WALE AKINOLA The last appears not to have been heard on the operation of foreign accounts charges levelled against Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu while in office as Lagos State governor by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as Tinubu is threatening to seek redress. The charges weer last week dismissed by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on the grounds that the charges lacked substance. Tinubu, formally reacting to the acquittal, yesterday, said he would seek further redress because of the injury caused by my reputation and inflicted on my businesses and family. In a statement by the national leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), he maintained that his anger lingered over the non-full disclosure of the alleged bank accounts and other details relating to the charges

by the government in an effort to portray and falsely classify him as a money launderer and looter of public funds. Where and when are the transactions in these accounts operated? What are the balances in each of these accounts? What is the ageing analysis of those balances and their sources if any?, Tinubu queried. The government prosecutors and some of their political leaders in their media campaign listed these accounts and made spurious allegations making it seem as if I looted public funds and stashed it away in these accounts. Yet they have failed to provide evidence to prove these weighty, yet unfounded allegations, which shows clearly at the tribunal that this was a political persecution from the very beginning, he said. Political vendetta He went on: The government and its lawyers in their handling of this case have revealed a crass lack of knowledge of financial rules at home and abroad thus, embarrassing me as a citizen, their own government and the country. The ACN leader stated that wasting millions of public funds to prosecute a political vendetta is unjustifiable and failing to apply both the principle and doctrine of materiality; cost and benefit analysis in investigation and prosecution of the case questionable. I feel ashamed that the government is using a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and a costly team of attorneys to prosecute this case, thereby demonstrating lack of policy direction to develop and train hundreds of lawyers in the Ministry of Justice and office of the public prosecutor. I dare ask, what is the aim of outsourcing a case like this to outside lawyers with huge professional bills?. The government equally failed to employ the FOI to disclose to Nigerians how much are in these accounts and how much the government was expending to prosecute. I am still in consultation with my attorneys on the next plan of action. The long time of media trial and political persecution have had toll on my businesses, my political reputation and constituted an infringement of my rights and that of my family as Nigerian citizens. It is only a wicked system that will list minors and portray them as looters for having in their accounts amounts in the hundreds meant for their upkeep and school runs. Tinubu believed that the battle for the salvation of Nigeria has just begun and he is willing and ready to join hands with all like-minded people to move Nigeria forward as a land of democracy for justice and a secured democracy.

Russians are voting in polls that will decide the shape of the lower house, or Duma, for the next five years. There have been allegations of violations of election law, with Russia's only independent monitoring group, Golos, logging 5,300 complaints. Its head was held at a Moscow airport after refusing to hand over her laptop. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who leads the ruling United Russia party, has accused foreign powers of meddling in election preparations. The Golos monitors, who are not affiliated with any party, are funded largely by the US and EU. Duma members have questioned why the foreign-funded organisation - whose name means "voice" or "vote" - is allowed to monitor Russian elections.