News Today!

Good morning! Here are things you need to know this morning according to dailypostng.

-. President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday told Senators agitating for his removal to focus more on issues of national importance instead of plotting against him. Jonathan had reacted to the impeachment threat through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe.

- The Lagos state police are in search of a 13-year-old girl, Chikwuo Ezennia, who reportedly fled her house with a yet-to-be-identified man, who is alleged to be her lover. The girl who has record of fleeing her home to stay with men was in Lagos for holiday, but alleged that she was being maltreated in her aunt’s house and would be staying away for one week. Report says she was seen with a man.

-. Lagos state has been chosen as the venue of December 10 presidential primary of the APC. Report says eight thousand delegates are expected to participate in the convention. The primary will hold at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

- Olubukunola Onabanjo, the daughter of the late governor of Ogun state, Chief Bisi Onabanjo has resigned her appointment as the chairman of the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission. in her reason for the decision, she said the governor had accused her of having a ‘soft spot’ for a former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

- The All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Rivers State, Mr Dakuku Peterside has said that the allegation leveled against him by the Rivers Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that he is a cultist was not only unkind but uncharitable and evil. He has vowed to challenge any attempt by anybody or a group of persons to tarnish his hard-earned reputation.

- Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party from Rivers State, numbering over 200 stormed the national headquarters of the PDP in Abuja, protesting against the alleged plan by the party and the Presidency to impose a former Minister of State (Education), Mr. Nyesom Wike, on them as the party’s governorship candidate. The protesters who took over the party secretariat forced the secretariat to shut down, as the entrance was blocked.

-The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday in Abuja said that the conduct of the 2015 general elections in the North-East would be based on advice from security agencies. INEC says only assurances from security agencies on the safety of its personnel, materials as well as free atmosphere will determine whether election will hold in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in 2015.

-.A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has said he will appeal the Federal High Court judgment on Tuesday where his bid to return as PDP chairman was dismissed. Tukur through his lawyer, Mr. Adeboro Adamson, on Wednesday told journalists that the notice of appeal would be filed in the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Thursday.

- About nine persons were reportedly killed and scores injured as gunmen, suspected to be Fulani marauders, on Tuesday evening invaded Ashige community of Lafia East Development Area of Nasarawa State. Report says the incident occurred at 5pm when the gunmen attacked farmers who were returning home from their farm.

Man remanded in prison for raping 11-year-old girl with Down’s Syndrome

An Evboriaria Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikpoba-Okha, Edo State, has remanded a 27-year-old man, Austin Okonkwo in prison custody for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl with Down Syndrome.

The accused, who was described with unprintable words when his victim was presented in the court, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge preferred against him.

Police Prosecutor, Aigbedion Obakpolor, informed the court that the offence was committed on November 29.

When the case was mentioned, Chief Magistrate Frank Idiake, who refused the bail application, said rape cases were on the increase.

A relative of the victim, who pleaded anonymity after the court sitting, told Vanguard that the accused took the girl to his room where the act was committed.

The relative said the victim cried of pains in her private part, which led to the arrest of the accused.

The case was adjourned to January 21, 2015 for continuation of trial.