Tag: SON

Importation Of Sugar Unfortified With Vitamin A: Appeal Court Dismisses Suit Against SON

A file photo of a court gavel.
A file photo of a court gavel.

 

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja recently dismissed the appeal filed by Sunshine Chemical Development Company Limited against the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) claiming that SON had acted in bad faith in rejecting the company’s application to import sugar unfortified with Vitamin A.

Dissatisfied with the ruling of Justice B. F. M. Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja that SON had merely acted pursuant to the lawful directives of its supervising Ministry and in accordance with the Vitamin-A Food Fortification Regulations of 2005, in denying the application of the said to import sugar unfortified with Vitamin A into the country. Sunshine Chemical Development Company Limited had gone to the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the judgment.

The appellate court, in a decision by a 3-man panel of justices led by Justice Biobele Abraham Georgewil, held that SON acted neither in bad faith nor outside the scope and limits of its powers under the enabling statute, regulations and directives from its supervisory Ministry.

READ ALSO: Osinbajo Launches FG’s Energy Transition Plan As Nigeria Seeks $10bn Initial Support Package

The Court of Appeal also held that the company’s cause of action was undoubtedly and irredeemably statute barred by the virtue and operations of the provisions of Section 2(a) of the Public Officers Protection Act, LFN 2004. The case was dismissed for being statute barred.

The spokesperson of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Mrs. Foluso Bolaji, explained that ”by virtue of the provisions of the Vitamin A Food Fortification Regulations of 2005, importation of sugar not fortified with Vitamin A without the leave of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment is prohibited”, she affirmed.

According to Mrs. Bolaji, in 2005, Sunshine Chemical Development Company Limited applied for an approval from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria for the importation of 7,500 metric tonnes of sugar unfortified with Vitamin A.

The company was duly informed of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s policy on sugar importation and advised that by the intervention of the Presidential Technical Committee on Sugar Importation, three companies were permitted to coordinate the importation of sugar unfortified with Vitamin A for manufacturing purposes with the condition that the final products will be fortified with Vitamin A.

She also explained that the request from the company was forwarded to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, who confirmed the position of government and advised the company to re-route its request through any of the three companies approved by the Federal Government to coordinate such importation. Dissatisfied with the position, Sunshine Chemical Development Company Limited instituted a case against SON.

The SON spokesperson noted that the judgment of the Appeal Court has cemented the fact that SON as an organization is living up to its mandate of promoting standardization and quality assurance with the aim of protecting Nigeria and Nigerians from the adverse effect of substandard goods. She stressed that the organization works tirelessly to assist business owners improve their businesses through standardization within the ambit of the law.

Mrs. Bolaji went on to explain that SON has graduated from just being standards providers and regulator to being business facilitators in line with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business initiative. She reiterated the commitment of the Director-General /Chief Executive of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim to supporting and encouraging local industries in an effort to revitalizing the nation’s economy.

Salah And Son Heung-Min Share Premier League Golden Boot

A photo combination of Son and Salah holding their gongs.

 

Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min shared the Premier League Golden Boot on Sunday after both forwards scored on the final day of the season.

South Korea’s Son netted twice in Tottenham’s 5-0 win at Norwich to move to 23 goals — one clear of Salah, but the Egypt forward struck late in Liverpool’s 3-1 win at home to Wolves.

Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo finished third with 18 goals in his first season back in the Premier League.

Salah’s goal was ultimately in vain as Jurgen Klopp’s team finished one point behind Manchester City, who scored three goals in five minutes to beat Aston Villa 3-2.

Tottenham’s win secured a fourth-place finish, meaning they qualify for next season’s Champions League.

READ ALSO: Arsenal Miss Out On Champions League For Fifth Season In A Row

Son, 29, said it was “incredible” to have the award.

“I can’t believe it,” he told the BBC. “I got really emotional. I dreamed of it as a child. Literally it’s my in hands. I can’t believe it.

“Until my goal I was really frustrated that I missed big chances. I told the players I missed the easiest chances and scored one of the toughest ones.

“I didn’t give up. I wanted to score today. The team helped me a lot at half-time. They wanted to help me, you could see it today.”

Spurs manager Antonio Conte was delighted to see club and individual ambitions realised with the rout of the Canaries at Carrow Road.

“This was our target,” he told the BBC.

“First to get in the Champions League but then when there was a chance to help Sonny reach the top scorer, we enjoyed it,” the Italian added.

“I have seen his team-mates try to help him. The award is for Son but it’s for the whole team. They helped him reach this big achievement.”

AFP

Alleged Forgery: SON Arraigns Two Men For Falsifying Official Documents

A file photo of a court gavel.
A file photo of a court gavel.

 

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Tuesday arraigned two men before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos for allegedly forging official documents of the organisation.

But the duo, Isong Michael and Ojo Samuel, pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge made against them.

The Principal State Counsel of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Yusuf Lawan, who represented the agency, told Justice Tijani Ringim that both defendants conspired to forge an SON receipt marked APP/243835, knowing the same to be false, and with the intent that it may be acted upon as genuine, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 465, 467 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C39, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The first defendant was also arraigned for allegedly evading the payment of N14,700 as a service charge payable to the SON, an offence contrary to and punishable under section 31(1) of the SON Act, 2015.

READ ALSO: Inmates Clash In Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre

The alleged offences were said to have been committed on March 18, 2022, at Olawole market in the Apapa area of the state.

If found guilty, the defendants risk a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment and a fine of not less than N1 million.

After their pleas were taken, the prosecutor applied to the vacation judge for the defendants to be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility, and for the case file to be remitted to the regular court for trial to fully commence in May after the Easter vacation.

But the defence counsel, MacAnthony Aikharialea, sought the court’s permission for a short date to file and hear their bail applications during the vacation period which ends on Friday next week.

In his ruling, Justice Ringim ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and adjourned till April 19 for the matter to be heard by another vacation judge, Justice Abimbola Awogboro.

Son Shines As Tottenham Hold Liverpool In EPL Thriller


Tottenham Hotspur’s South Korean striker Son Heung-Min celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 19, 2021. JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP

 

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp claimed referee Paul Tierney has a “problem” with him after Tottenham’s Son Heung-min punished Alisson Becker’s blunder to rescue a thrilling 2-2 draw on Sunday.

Klopp’s side recovered from Harry Kane’s early strike to move in front thanks to goals from Diogo Jota and Andrew Robertson.

But South Korea forward Son equalised after Alisson missed his attempt to cut out Harry Winks’ pass.

Liverpool held on for a point despite having to play the final 13 minutes with 10 men following Robertson’s dismissal for an ugly hack on Emerson Royal.

READ ALSO: Wolves Frustrate Chelsea As Man City Crush Newcastle

Klopp was booked after protesting over two key Tierney decisions, insisting Kane should have been sent off and Jota deserved a penalty.

The German took aim at Tierney in a post-match blast, saying: “I have no idea what his problem is with me.

“I was a bit more emotional in the game. I’d have preferred the right decisions on the pitch.

“Kane was definitely a red card. For the penalty, the referee told me he thinks Jota stops on purpose. It is incredible.

“He had the best spot on the pitch and doesn’t give it. You will have to ask him what his problem is with me.”

For the first time in four years, Liverpool won’t be top of the Premier League table on Christmas Day.

The Reds are three points behind leaders Manchester City, who thrashed Newcastle 4-0 earlier on Sunday.

After winning their previous eight games in all competitions, Liverpool once again left London frustrated having lost at West Ham and drawn at Brentford this term.

The pulsating encounter was a welcome antidote to the coronavirus mayhem which has engulfed the Premier League, with six games postponed this weekend.

Amid calls for the Christmas programme to be postponed to stem the virus spread, Klopp said: “We play now on Wednesday, Sunday and Tuesday. That is impossible.

“We do not have the players. We could maybe have another case or two. We have to think about it, we cannot just push it all through. If we don’t play any more and have a break I am fine.”

Tottenham had been hit the hardest by Covid, with Liverpool’s visit their first game in a fortnight after matches against Rennes, Brighton and Leicester were postponed.

Nine of Antonio Conte’s squad contracted the virus and some of them remain in isolation.

Liverpool weren’t immune either and, just hours before kick-off, Thiago Alcantara tested positive, while Jordan Henderson was sidelined by a non-Covid illness.

Virgil Van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones remained absent having missed Thursday’s win against Newcastle after testing positive.

Racing onto Tanguy Ndombele’s pin-point pass into the Liverpool area, Kane guided a clinical finish into the far corner in the 13th minute.

It was only Kane’s second Premier League goal of a difficult season for the England captain.

Rush of Blood

Liverpool’s Scottish defender Andrew Robertson (2L) reacts after an altercation with Tottenham Hotspur’s Brazilian defender Emerson Royal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 19, 2021. JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP

A feisty affair grew more heated after Kane was only booked for a studs-up foul on Robertson that could easily have been a red card.

Liverpool equalised in the 35th minute as Robertson darted into the area and clipped a precise cross towards Jota, who powered a header past Hugo Lloris for his 11th club goal of the season.

Jota appealed in vain for a penalty moments later, going down under heavy contact from Emerson.

Seconds after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s push on Dele Alli failed to yield a Tottenham penalty, the right-back popped up with a driven cross that Robertson headed home from close-range in the 69th minute.

But Alisson’s rush of blood gifted Tottenham a point five minutes later when he charged out of his area and missed Winks’ pass, leaving Son with the simple task of slotting into the empty net.

Robertson became the first Liverpool player to be sent off in 113 games in the 77th minute.

Initially booked for his foul on Emerson, Robertson saw red after Tierney changed his decision following a VAR check.

AFP

Katsina Govt Signs MOU With SON To Develop MSMEs

 

Katsina State Government has revealed its effort towards achieving success in the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the state.

Some of these efforts include among others; identification of priority products, capacity building to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises as well as the provision of land to the Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON for the construction of office and laboratory.

The State Governor, Aminu Masari, through his Deputy, Mannir Yakubu made the revelation on Monday after he signed a Memorandum of understanding with the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) led by the Director-General of the organization, Malam Faruq Sulaiman.

READ ALSO: Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun Receives COVID-19 Vaccine

According to Yakubu, the signing of the MOU which was held in his office at the Katsina Government House followed a visit by the Katsina state delegation under the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Council to the SON Headquarters in Abuja.

He explained that part of the requests forwarded to the Standard Organization of Nigeria by the state government includes the establishment of Certification Centre and sensitization to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises on how to make their products and services up to standard.

In his response, the Director-General of the Standard Organization of Nigeria, Mallam Faruq Sulaiman, explained that the MOU was out to facilitate training and create awareness programs aimed at building capacity in the area of standards development, application, quality assurance, and conformity assessment as enshrined in Standard Organization’s mandate.

Shortly after the state deputy governor, Mannir Yakubu signed the MOU on behalf of the Katsina State Government, and the SON Director-General, Malam Faruq Sulaiman signed on behalf of his organization an offer for the piece of land was presented to the Standard Organization of Nigeria by the state government.

Son Shines As Five Star Tottenham Devour Southampton

son and harry kane
Son and English striker, Harry Kane celebrating a goal during the match. Photo: [email protected]

 

South Korean star Heung-min Son was the star of the show, scoring four goals as Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham bashed Southampton 2-5 in a Premier League encounter Sunday.

Just 24 hours after Tottenham signed Gareth Bale, South Korea forward Son delivered a virtuoso display that showed Jose Mourinho’s side already have plenty of firepower.

Bale has returned to Tottenham on a season-long loan from Real Madrid seven years after he left the north London club for a then world record £85 million ($109 million) fee.

But the Wales forward will not be available until mid-October as he recovers from a knee injury, so Mourinho needs Son and Harry Kane to carry the attack until then.

No one would question the quality of that pair and they underlined the point with superb performances that ripped Southampton to pieces.

Danny Ings put Southampton ahead in the first half, but Son equalised before the break and scored three more in the second half.

Kane, who hit the back of the net twice in the first half only to have them ruled out for offside, capped a swaggering display with his second goal of the season.

After losing to Everton in their Premier League opener last weekend, Tottenham have lifted the gloom with this vibrant second half performance after the Bale coup.

Dele Alli was left out of Tottenham’s squad and Mourinho raised fresh questions about the midfielder’s future when he said: “We have too many players for some positions and some of them are paying the price for this.”

But Alli wasn’t missed thanks to Son and Kane’s heroics.

Tottenham were playing the second of five games in 10 days, an unrelenting schedule that Mourinho had derided as “crazy” and initially they looked fatigued.

Hugo Lloris made a superb save to keep Tottenham level when he tipped over Che Adams’ ferocious strike.

– Devastating Spurs –

Tottenham escaped again when Lloris rashly raced off his line and headed the ball straight at Ings, who curled into the empty net only to see the goal ruled out for handball by the Saints striker.

Southampton winger Moussa Djenepo hit the outside of a post with a curling effort from the edge of the area.

Ings has been linked with a move to Tottenham after a prolific campaign last term and the qualities that attracted Mourinho were on show as he put Southampton ahead in the 32nd minute.

Running onto Kyle Walker-Peters’ long pass, Ings displayed his astute movement as he got in behind Eric Dier, then demonstrated his predatory instincts by guiding his shot across Lloris into the far corner.

With Tottenham looking increasingly bedraggled, it was a surprise when they equalised against the run of play in first half stoppage-time.

Tanguy Ndombele picked out Kane on the left and the striker’s cross reached Son, who ignored the acute angle to clip a sublime finish past Alex McCarthy.

Son’s goal was a huge boost to Tottenham’s morale and they took the lead with a well-crafted goal two minutes after half-time.

Once again it was Kane and Son who prised open the Southampton defence as the England captain fed the South Korean with a delicate pass.

Son surged through on goal and calmly guided a precise strike past McCarthy with his left foot.

Tottenham’s star forwards weren’t finished yet and they left Southampton for dead in the 64th minute.

Dropping deep to devastating effect, Kane was the provider with a superb lofted pass over the Saints defence and Son finished in emphatic fashion.

Southampton had no answers to Kane and Son and another deft pass from the Tottenham striker in the 73rd minute picked out the South Korean, who was never going to miss from close-range.

Kane and Son have now combined for more Premier League goals (24) than any other duo in the competition since August 2015.

Kane got the goal he deserved with a close-range finish in the 82nd minute before Ings netted again with a 90th minute penalty awarded for handball by Matt Doherty.

AFP

Gunmen Attack Yobe Community, Abduct Village Head And Son

Chief Imam’s Son, Two Others Kidnapped In Ogun Community
File photo of a gunman wearing several bullets on his body

 

 

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents have attacked a community in Yobe State.

The attackers went into Mashio community in Fune Local Government Council and started shooting sporadically, abducting the village head, Isa Mai Buba, and his son.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, ASP Dungus Abdulkarim, and Acting Chairman of the affected Local Government, Abubakar Kolere confirmed the incident to Channels Television.

They explained that the incident occurred on Saturday night, noting that the son of the village head escaped in the early hours of Sunday but his father is still in captivity.

Yobe is situated in North-East Nigeria
Yobe is situated in North-East Nigeria

 

 

The attack comes a few days after 14 people were recently killed by gunmen at Ukuru village in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abiodun Wasiu, confirmed the attack and casualty figure in a statement.

But a resident of the community, Musa Audu, who witnessed the attack, narrated what transpired to Channels Television in a phone conversation.

He explained that the gunmen invaded the community at a time when members of the vigilante were out of the community to patrol some of the forests in the area.

Audu, whose cousin was among those killed by the gunmen, stated that the attack took place during the popular Mariga market which had many traders from various locations.

He said bodies of 15 persons have been found, adding that many people who sustained injuries ran into a nearby bush and they were still being searched for.

Meanwhile, the PPRO has disclosed that the state command is making efforts to rescue the traditional ruler unhurt.

Son’s Brace Seal Win For Tottenham Against Aston Villa

Tottenham Hotspur’s South Korean striker Son Heung-Min (C) celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on February 16, 2020.
Justin TALLIS / AFP

 

Son Heung-min struck deep into stoppage time as Tottenham’s chances of Champions League football next season were boosted by a 3-2 win at Aston Villa on Sunday.

A third consecutive Premier League victory lifts Spurs up to fifth — which could be enough to secure Champions League qualification with Manchester City facing a two-season ban from the competition — and within one point of fourth-placed Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho’s men were worthy of their victory after bouncing back from a nightmare start when Toby Alderweireld sliced into his own goal.

The Belgian quickly made amends at the other end with a thumping finish before Son followed up after Pepe Reina had saved his penalty to put the visitors in front.

READ ALSO: Edo Sports Festival: Ikpoba-Okha LGA Tops Table With 240 Medals

Slack defending threatened to cost Tottenham all three points when they allowed Bjorn Engels to equalise early in the second half.

However, Engels was the culprit to cost Villa a point in their battle to beat the drop as he wrongly controlled a long ball forward in the 94th minute and Son sprinted clear to finish calmly.

Alderweireld had not travelled with his teammates to Birmingham after attending the birth of his child on Saturday and admitted to feeling heavy-legged after he turned Anwar El Ghazi’s deflected cross into his own net after just nine minutes.

Tottenham were all over the place defensively and only a goal-line block from Ben Davies denied Douglas Luiz from doubling Villa’s lead from Jack Grealish’s pass moments later.

However, Villa find themselves in a relegation battle due to their own defensive deficiencies.

No team in the Premier League have now conceded more than Dean Smith’s men.

Alderweireld made amends for his earlier error by smashing a loose ball from a corner high past the helpless Reina.

A rash challenge by Engels on Steven Bergwijn handed the visitors the chance to go in front just before the break, albeit it took a VAR review to award a penalty.

Son’s spot-kick was saved by Reina, but the South Korean followed up to prod home and become the first Asian player to score 50 Premier League goals.

But Spurs allowed Villa back into the game early in the second half.

El Ghazi fired the warning shot that Hugo Lloris did well to save.

Yet, Mourinho will have been furious at how easy his side made it for Engels to head home a Grealish corner on 53 minutes.

Tottenham took the game to the hosts in the final quarter, but struggled to find a way past the inspired Reina.

Son placed a shot too close to the Spanish goalkeeper from the edge of the box; Villa defenders scrambled to block Bergwijn’s effort behind before Reina again stood tall to block from Alli.

The on-loan AC Milan stopper was needed to perform more heroics in the closing stages as he twice denied Son.

However, the South Korean had the final say by composing himself to slot just beyond Reina’s reach with virtually the last action of the game and send Spurs closer to a fifth straight season of Champions League football.

AFP

Lampard’s Chelsea Beat Mourinho’s Tottenham Amid Crowd Racism

Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder Willian (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 22, 2019.
Glyn KIRK / IKIMAGES / AFP

 

 

Frank Lampard out-witted Jose Mourinho as Chelsea powered to a 2-0 win at Tottenham on Sunday that featured a double from Willian, a red card for Son Heung-min and allegations of racist abuse.

Billed as a showdown between Mourinho and Lampard, an explosive London derby showed the student is more than a match for the man who served as his mentor during their time together at Chelsea.

Blues boss Lampard pulled a tactical masterstroke as he cleverly changed his team’s formation, leaving Tottenham manager Mourinho unable to respond as Willian opened the scoring with a blistering strike and increased Chelsea’s lead with a penalty before half-time.

Tottenham’s South Korean star Son was sent off for a needless kick at Antonio Rudiger in the second half as Chelsea swept to a sweet victory over their former manager.

With top four rivals Manchester United losing at Watford earlier in the day, it will be a happy festive period for Lampard’s fourth placed side, who sit six points clear of seventh placed Tottenham after ending a run of four defeats from their last five Premier League games.

There was little Christmas cheer for Tottenham, who may have to answer for the behaviour of their fans amid claims Rudiger was racially abused and an object was thrown at Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

A fan was seen directing a ‘monkey gesture’ at Rudiger and three announcements over the tannoy that “racist behaviour from spectators is interfering with the game” painted a bleak picture of the latest racist incident to scar European football this term.

Lampard had already beaten Mourinho last season when his Derby met the Portuguese coach’s Manchester United in the League Cup and once again he proved too smart for his old boss.

After a hug and handshake between Lampard and Mourinho, there was a poignant minute’s applause for Tottenham and England World Cup winner Martin Peters, who died aged 76 on Saturday.

Those shows of respect marked the end of the civilities as Tottenham fans booed Marcos Alonso vociferously and chanted about his involvement in a fatal car crash in Spain several years ago.

Tactical Tweak

Chelsea had the perfect response to the cruel taunts as they completely dominated possession in the early stages and took the lead in the 12th minute.

With Tottenham too slow to mark up, Willian took a short corner to Mateo Kovacic and when the Brazilian received the return pass, he adroitly side-stepped Serge Aurier before curling a superb finish into the far corner of Paulo Gazzaniga’s net.

There was an extra edge about Willian’s celebrations given the abuse of Alonso as he sprinted to pose in front of the Tottenham fans.

Aware of Chelsea’s frailties at the back, Lampard had switched to a five-man defence and dropped Jorginho in a move that allowed N’Golo Kante to return to his preferred deep-lying midfield role.

The tactical tweak worked a treat and Tottenham’s only decent chance of the entire match was wasted by Harry Kane, who fired over from Moussa Sissoko’s cross.

With the supply lines to Kane shut down, Lampard’s team deservedly doubled their lead in first-half stoppage-time.

To the chagrin of Tottenham’s fans, Alonso was the catalyst as he chased a long ball into the penalty area and was clattered by Gazzaniga’s desperate rush off his line.

After a VAR review, the spot-kick was awarded, with Willian calmly slotting past Gazzaniga for his fifth goal of an exceptional campaign for the winger.

That made it an alarming 14 goals conceded in all competitions by Tottenham since Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino.

Any hopes of a Tottenham comeback were quashed in the 62nd minute by Son’s needless clash with Rudiger.

Falling to the turf after a collision with the Chelsea defender, Son responded by kicking both feet at Rudiger.

A lengthy VAR review led to Son’s dismissal for violent conduct, sparking an ugly end to the clash as Tottenham fans appeared to tarnish their club with sick racist taunts at Rudiger.

US First Lady Wades Into Impeachment Fight To Defend Teen Son

US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania waves as he arrives on board Airforce 1. LOIC VENANCE / AFP

 

 

US First Lady Melania Trump on Wednesday publicly rebuked a scholar who used her 13-year-old son’s name to make a point during a hearing as part of the impeachment inquiry into the president.

Constitutional law professor Pamela Karlan invoked Barron Trump, the son of Donald and Melania Trump, to demonstrate how the Constitution imposes distinctions between a monarch’s power and that of a president.

“The constitution says there can be no titles of nobility,” Karlan told lawmakers during the House Judiciary Committee’s first hearing on impeachment, which featured four constitutional scholars.

“So while the president can name his son ‘Barron,’ he can’t make him a baron.”

The pun led to chuckles in the congressional hearing room, but Melania Trump made clear it was no laughing matter.

“A minor child deserves privacy and should be kept out of politics,” the first lady tweeted shortly afterwards.

“Pamela Karlan, you should be ashamed of your very angry and obviously biased public pandering, and using a child to do it.”

President Trump retweeted his wife’s message to his 67 million followers.

As the row snowballed, Karlan quickly tried to stem the damage by expressing her regret.

“I want to apologize for what I said earlier about the president’s son,” she told the panel.

“It was wrong of me to do that,” she said, before adding that she also wished “the president would apologize, obviously, for the things that he’s done that’s wrong.”

For years, members of both political parties have agreed that the minor children of US politicians, particularly presidents, are off-limits.

During the hearing, Republican congressman Matt Gaetz snapped at Karlan, telling her that invoking Trump’s son “does not lend credibility to your argument. It makes you look mean.”

‘Unhinged, petty kook’

The incident quickly brought an onslaught of criticism from corners far beyond the hearing room, as Republicans and members of Trump’s re-election campaign voiced grave disapproval.

“Democrats have disgraced themselves by giving a platform to this unhinged, petty kook,” the campaign wrote on Twitter, while its deputy director of communications, Matt Wolking, called Karlan an “unhinged liberal professor” over the comments.

Lawmakers and Trump administration officials followed suit, echoing scathing assessments of Karlan’s words.

“Democrats are so desperate that one of their biased witnesses is now attacking the President’s 13-year-old son. Absolutely disgraceful,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy wrote on Twitter.

Republican Congressman Markwayne Mullin, meanwhile, called the episode “reprehensible” while Trump Senior Counselor Kellyanne Conway questioned why “Hunter Biden is off-limits but Barron Trump is not?”

The Trump impeachment investigation is looking into pressure Trump placed on Ukraine’s president to investigate 2020 election rival Democrat Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.

During a speech Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence told an audience that “one of the Democrats’ witnesses actually used the president and first lady’s 13-year-old son to justify their partisan impeachment. Democrats should be ashamed.”

Melania Trump has taken up the cause of youth wellness in America, and last year launched a public awareness campaign to counter youth cyberbullying and drug use.

SON Workers Protest Over Alleged Poor Welfare

Workers protest at the Abuja office of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. PHOTO: Sodiq Adelakun/Channels TV

 

Members of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Tuesday staged a protest at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The workers carrying various placards assembled at the entrance of the SON headquarters.

According to the workers, the protest is against alleged cases of corruption, poor staff welfare, and non-payment of entitlements.

READ ALSO: Picketing: TCN Workers Clash With Protesting TUC Members

The workers under the umbrella body of the amalgamated union of public corporations, civil service technical and recreational services employees are demanding the immediate approval and implementation of better conditions of service at the agency.

They also claim illegal promotion of some directors and are calling for the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes (ICPC) into the operations of the organisation.

They alleged that the Director-General of SON, Osita Aboloma, has refused to obey the directive of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Employment on voluntarism.

The head of public relations at SON, Dipo Fashina, in reaction says the issues raised by the workers is being addressed.

He added that the budgetary allocation has been provided in the 2019 budget to settle all outstanding allowances.

See more photos below…

 

 

 

SON Arraigns Four For Alleged Illegal Production Of Engine Oil

SON Arraigns Four For Alleged Illegal Production Of Engine Oil

 

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has arraigned four men before Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo at the Federal High Court in Lagos, for allegedly producing and selling substandard and adulterated engine oil.

The accused persons, Uche Johnson, Olaide Shittu, Kingsley Meteke and Abdulquadri Olayinka, were alleged to have adulterated 128 drums and 9.45 litres of engine oil, and charged with four counts of production, possession, dealing in and distribution of substandard engine oil.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and claimed that the products were good for public consumption and for optimum engine performance, which the prosecution said was false.

The counsel to SON said the defendants indulged in production of engine oil which did not meet mandatory industrial standards and the offence contravened the provisions of sections 1(8) and 1(8)(II) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004.

The prosecutor urged the court to fix a date for trial to enable it produce its witnesses to establish its case against the defendants.

The defence counsel informed the court of a bail application filed on behalf of the defendants and urged the court to grant them bails on liberal terms.

Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo ordered that they be remanded in prison custody pending ruling on their bail application and adjourned until March 19 for ruling on the bail application.

She, thereafter, fixed May 2, 7 and 9 for trial.