UNIBEN to curb social vices by partnering CAN

Management of the University of Benin on Friday said it would collaborate with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Edo to curb social vices in the institution and state. This is contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Michael Osasuyi, in Benin.

According to the statement, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Faraday Orumwense, stated this when he received the President of CAN in the state, Rt. Rev. Peter Imasuen, who visited him.

Orumwense said the institution had been able to clamp down on social vices, especially cultism, adding that collaborating with the Christian body to curb cultism in the state was a welcomed idea.

He disclosed that the institution had constituted “University of Benin Cult Renunciation, Reconciliation, Reformation and Rehabilitation Committee” to address the menace.

He said that the committee had recorded successes in reducing cultism and related vices in the school, adding that partnership with the Christian community would no doubt, attract miraculous successes.

Earlier, according to the statement, the CAN president commended the University for fighting the menace of the social vices, especially curbing the cultism whose rate had become alarming.

He also commended the academic performance of the institution, saying that “UNIBEN is a factory where lives are being modelled and it has produced great men and women”.

The cleric, who is also the Bishop of Benin Diocese, Anglican Communion, commiserated with the vice-chancellor on the death of his mother.

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Oba of Benin funeral rites: Crown Prince performs Ukpukpe rites

The burial rites for the late ‎Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, continues on Thursday morning with the Crown Prince and Edaiken n’Uselu, Eheneden Erediauwa, performing the Ukpukpe rites.

Also present at the ceremony which was held at the Ugha Ozolua Grounds, inside the Benin Palace, were other children of the departed Monarch and palace chiefs.

The ‎ceremony involved a simple dance by the Crown Prince from the Altar of Oba Ozolua to the main gates of the Benin Palace four times. The Edaiken n’Uselu who was decked in white traditional shirt, light brown royal skirt and red hat to match and armed with a sword, was assisted by palace attendance who held his hands all through.

Earlier before the arrival of the Crown Prince from his Edaiken Palace in Uselu, various palace groups had performed different dance ceremonies on the palace grounds.

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Court jails man for stealing BlackBerry phone

An Evbouriaria Magistrates’ Court sitting in Benin, Edo State, on Wednesday sentenced a 25-year-old man, identified as Unity Agbonifo, to 18 months imprisonment for stealing a BlackBerry phone.
The Prosecutor, Sergeant Olatoye Oluwaseun, had told the court that Agbonifo committed the crime on March 21, on Sapele road in Benin.

Oluwaseun had explained that the convict damaged the PVC ceiling of his victim, one Mr. Alfred Omoruyi’s house while attempting to escape with the phone, valued at N35,000. According to Oluwaseun, the offence contravened Sections 509 and 451 of the ‎Criminal Code Cap 48 Vol. II Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, as applicable in Edo.

The presiding magistrates, Mrs. C. E. Oghuma, sentenced the Agbonifo to one year on count one and six months on count two. She, however, gave an option of fine in the sum of N20,000 and N10,000 for counts one and two, respectively.

Meanwhile, an Egor Magistrates’ Court in Benin has order that a 21-year-old man, Peace Akpos, be remanded at Oko prison for allegedly raping a ‎seven-year-old girl. ‎The presiding magistrate, Mr. W. E. Aziegbemhin, gave the ruling on Wednesday, after Akpos pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, C. O. Nnamdi, had informed the court that the accused committed the offence sometime in 2014, at Ravic Education Centre, in Ogida Quarters, Benin. The offence was said to have contravened Section 222 of the ‎Criminal Code Cap. 48 Vol. ll Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria,1976, as applicable in Edo.

The magistrate, however, adjourned the case till April 29, for hearing.

-Punch

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Man jailed for setting pregnant lover ablaze

An Egor Magistrates’ Court in Benin, Edo State, on Monday sentenced one Lucky Esonahae to five years imprisonment for setting his pregnant lover ablaze. The 37-year-old bar operator was arraigned on one count bordering on causing bodily harm.

The charge read, “That you, Lucky Esonahae, on July 6, 2015, at Uwelu Quartres, Benin, in the Egor Magisterial District, did cause grievous harm to one Stella Isaac, by setting her on fire with kerosene, which cause her bodily harm and, thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section 355(B) of the Criminal Code Cap 48, Vol. II, Law of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, as applicable to Edo State.”

The prosecuting officer, Sergeant Ganiyu Yahya, told the court that the incident occurred at Uwelu Quartres in Benin, and was reported by the victim, Stella Isaac, on July 6, the same day it occurred.
Yahya said Esonahae had poured kerosene on the head of the woman, who was said to be seven months pregnant, lit a match and set her on fire.

He said that the victim was later rescued by one of her sons and her neighbours, who forced the door of her room open, as she had been locked in. He said the victim, who was later rushed to the Central Hospital, where she received treatment sustained burns on her hands and forehead.

The police prosecutor also told the court that Esonahae had earlier accused the pregnant woman of infidelity for allegedly returning at about 6pm from her ante-natal care and had threatened to kill her, before she ran to her sister’s residence.

The accused pleaded guilty to the offence and begged for leniency. But the presiding magistrate, Igho Braimoh, said the court would not be lenient, adding, “for a 37-year-old man to set a lover on fire leaves much to be desired.” She, therefore, sentenced him to five years in prison with hard labour.

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Man jailed for setting pregnant lover ablaze

An Egor Magistrates’ Court in Benin, Edo State, on Monday sentenced one Lucky Esonahae to five years imprisonment for setting his pregnant lover ablaze. The 37-year-old bar operator was arraigned on one count bordering on causing bodily harm.

The charge read, “That you, Lucky Esonahae, on July 6, 2015, at Uwelu Quartres, Benin, in the Egor Magisterial District, did cause grievous harm to one Stella Isaac, by setting her on fire with kerosene, which cause her bodily harm and, thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section 355(B) of the Criminal Code Cap 48, Vol. II, Law of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, as applicable to Edo State.”

The prosecuting officer, Sergeant Ganiyu Yahya, told the court that the incident occurred at Uwelu Quartres in Benin, and was reported by the victim, Stella Isaac, on July 6, the same day it occurred.
Yahya said Esonahae had poured kerosene on the head of the woman, who was said to be seven months pregnant, lit a match and set her on fire.

He said that the victim was later rescued by one of her sons and her neighbours, who forced the door of her room open, as she had been locked in. He said the victim, who was later rushed to the Central Hospital, where she received treatment sustained burns on her hands and forehead.

The police prosecutor also told the court that Esonahae had earlier accused the pregnant woman of infidelity for allegedly returning at about 6pm from her ante-natal care and had threatened to kill her, before she ran to her sister’s residence.

The accused pleaded guilty to the offence and begged for leniency. But the presiding magistrate, Igho Braimoh, said the court would not be lenient, adding, “for a 37-year-old man to set a lover on fire leaves much to be desired.” She, therefore, sentenced him to five years in prison with hard labour.

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