Nigerian Team Racks Up Points at Youth World Cup

By Brent Latham Kano, Nigeria30 October 2009

Nigeria's national youth football (soccer) team has represented the host nation well thus far in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, with two good performances to start the tournament.

With a win over Honduras in its second match of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, Nigeria's young footballers have virtually assured their spot in the elimination rounds of this year's youth World Cup, being played across Nigeria.The Golden Eaglets, as the team comprised of players seventeen and younger is known here, edged the Central Americans, 1-0, on a second half goal by Abdul Ajagun. While the team has players with great individual skill, Nigerian Coach John Obuh said they also play well as a unit. "We did play together. You can have individual players that can play together. We still have those, but I think we played together in the second half," he said,xz

In the victory, Nigeria put in a strong second-half performance for the second straight match. In their opening game, the Golden Eaglets fell behind by three to European champions Germany, only to rally back with three second half goals to salvage a vital tie. Nigeria is now likely to advance out of a very difficult group that, aside from Germany and Honduras, also includes perennial football power Argentina.

The hosts face the Argentinians, who have won both of their matches so far, Saturday night in Bauchi, in a game that will decide which team wins the group.The Nigerians may not be anxious to move on from Abuja, where large crowds have gotten behind them at the national stadium. Over 42 thousand spectators were on hand for the match with Honduras. The Honduran coach, Eugenio Umanzor, said the boisterous partisan crowd was a factor in the game, but that the play on the field was the key.

The coach said his players had seldom experienced an environment like the one they faced in Abuja. He added that the Nigerian side looked ready to defend the title they won in the previous edition of the tournament, played in 2007 in South Korea.The Under-17 World Cup is played once every two years. This year's champion will be crowned on November 15th at the National Stadium in Abuja.

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Reps move against corporate prostitution in banks

By Luka Binniyat

ABUJA—The House of Representatives yesterday passed into Second Reading a bill that prohibits the use of Nigerian women by banks in manners that makes them compromise to meet set targets and keep their jobs.

The bill, however, went through a heated debate before it was passed through a voice count that marginally defeated opponents of the bill.

The bill, tagged: A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Corporate Prostitution and Exploitation of Women in Corporate Organisation and Other Matters Connected therein, was sponsored by Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.

Leading the debate, Gbajabiamila said that in the quest for making huge profits, Nigerian banks put their female employees in difficult conditions that push some of them to engage in corporate prostitution, if they must meet their targets.

“We have seen where a female bank employee was given a job in January and by September was expected to meet a target of N500 million,” he said.

“It is no longer news that these women are seen everyday parading the corridors of offices knocking on doors, and once let in, some would begin to weep, begging for help to meet their target or they will get sacked,” he said

He said that many marriages and relationship have been broken as a result of this practice.

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AFRICAN WEDDING IN ROME...THE FILM

Libya halts execution of Nigerians on death row

Libya halts execution of Nigerians on death row

By Davidson Iriekpen, 10.01.2009 
Thursday, October 1, 2009

Temporary relief has come the way of Nigerians on death row in Libya as the country's authorities have agreed to stop their execution. The suspension was made  pending the final determination of a case brought by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in Banjul, The Gambia.
THISDAY gathered the decision by Libya followed a Provisional Measure issued by the African Commission which ordered the country to halt the execution.
The North African country's adherence to the measure was made known in a paper titled Debating the Death Penalty: Experiences from Different Regions, dated September 25, 2009 and presented by a member of the African Commission, Ms Catherine Modupe Atoki, at the International Peace Institute in New York last week.
“Early September this year, a communication was filed with the African Commission against Libya by a Nigerian Non-Governmental Organi-zation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). It alleged that over 200 Nigerians are on death row for offences ranging from immigration, murder, drug and armed robbery. 

"The Commission requested from the President of Libya a provisional measure to stay execution pending the determination of the communication. Happily, the President obliged and for now there is a hold on the execution of the convicted persons," said Atoki who delivered the paper.
It was gathered that one of the prisoners, Miss Juliet Okoro, reportedly claimed that the accusation of murder for which she has been placed on death row since 2000 was forged. Her indictment, she further claimed, followed no legal representation.
However, Okoro confirmed that the Libyan President, Muammar Gaddafi had granted amnesty to the convicts who are waiting for the Nigerian embassy in Libya to sign some documents for their deportation.
SERAP’s lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, welcomed the news of suspension but challenged the Nigerian government to be more responsive to its citizens abroad.

“It is now time for the Nigerian government to show responsibility by immediately ensuring the safety and well-being of the Nigerians on death row in Libya, and facilitating their safe return back home. The continuing silence and inaction of the Nigerian government on this matter is a failure of leadership and simply unacceptable,” Falana said. 

The feisty lawyer asked President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to rise up to the occasion in defending the rights of Nigerians across the world. According to him, the Libya case is proof that the rights of Nigerians outside the country could be protected when and if their government takes action.
It is important for the government do discharge its "Constitutional and International responsibility," towards Nigerians he added. Falana commended the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and SERAP for fighting for the rights of the condemned persons.
SERAP had through its solicitor, Falana, filed a case before the African Commission on September 6 2009, on behalf of the prisoners.
He alleged "serious, persistent and irreparable violations of the Complainants’ rights to life; to communicate with their embassy or consular post; to competent and effective legal representation; to trial within a reasonable time or to a release; to trial by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law; to the presumption of innocence; to an interpreter and to translation; to appeal to an independent and impartial tribunal, and fair trial guarantees during appeals.”
The Commission in the Provisional Measures with reference number ACHPR/ PROVM/LIB/01/75, dated September  9, 2009, and signed by Acting Chairperson of the Commission, Bahame Tom Mukirya NYANDUGA, expressed concern about Nigerians on death row and those held under "inhuman and degrading treatment," in Libya.
The Provisional Measures reads in part: “The Complaint has been registered as a Communication against Libya. I would also like to inform you that the Communication shall be tabled before the African Commission, for seizure during its next Ordinary Session, which is scheduled to take place from 11-25 November 2009, and will subsequently be sent to the authorities.” 

The Commission also said: “In accordance with Rule 111(3) of the Rules of Procedure of the African Commission, I urge you to intervene in the matter with the view of preventing irreparable damage being caused to the victims while the African Commission inquires about the veracity of the Complaint. The appeal is particularly pertinent in respect of the imprisoned Nigerians, whom the Complainant alleges that they await the death penalty.” 

The African Commission is the body charged with overseeing compliance with legal obligations under the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights

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