Friday 23 October 2015

Tribunal upholds Amosun's election


The governorship election tribunal sitting in Abeokuta in Ogun State has upheld the election of Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun. Delivering judgement today, the tribunal dismissed the petition of the PDP candidate, Gboyega Isiaka, saying it lacked merit.

Wait, what? Chris Oyakhilome pledges N1billion to Benson Idahosa university


Spanish billionaire owner of Zara clothing overthrows Bill Gates as the richest man in the world


Super Eagles Coach Oliseh arrives Belgium for medical treatment..


Super Eagles Coach - Sunday Oliseh has arrived Belgium for his medical treatment. The official twitter handle for the Super Eagles confirmed this this afternoon and shared a statement the Coach released. More tweets after the cut...

Emir of Kano pictured with his cute children (photos)


Michael Jackson's doctor who was rumored to be biological dad of his kids dies


Late Michael Jackson's longtime physician Dr. Arnold Klein, has died. The man rumored for years to be the biological father of Michael's two oldest children, Prince and Paris, passed away Thursday night in California according to TMZ. He was 70 years old. 

Klein, who was one time the biggest dermatologist in Hollywood, was admitted to the hospital four days ago suffering severe abdominal pains. He was also suffering from Multiple Sclerosis & confined to a wheelchair at the time of his death. Klein hinted on many occasion that he was the biological father Prince and Paris.

Photo: Woman gives birth to 14-lb baby

Pastor assassinated in Bayelsa state


Photos: Buhari receives the Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary


Pics: Omotola signs multimillion Naira Endorsement with scanfrost


Photos: Billionaire Chima Anyaso welcomes first child with his wife


I gave my life to Christ at 19 – US Gospel singer, Lincoln Brewster

US Number 1 album Gospel Music star, Lincoln Brewster, has revealed that he gave his life to God through Jesus when he was only 19.
The Gospel music star, whose latest album, Oxygen, peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Christian Album charts and at number 51 on the Billboard top 200 albums also said he grew up in a chaotic home environment in which he was never told about God and His Son Jesus and never went to church.
He revealed that he gave his life to Christ on a couch at his friend’s house in Los Angeles when he was in the secular music world.
Brewster revealed this in an interview with author and Christian TV show host, Reno Omokri. The anticipated interview will be aired in America on Sunday October 25 at 2.30 PM on KTLN channel 25.
It will recalled that  Brewster comes from a popular Alaskan family and his brothers  John and Andy are the stars of the hit Discovery Chanel TV show, the Deadliest Catch.
Before his phenomenal gospel music success, Brewster was lead guitarist for music super star, Steve Perry who ranks at No. 76 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Singers Of All Time.
Watch video here

Death toll in Yola mosque attack rises to 27, as 96 injured

The death toll in Friday’s bomb attack on  a Mosque in Jambutu, Jimeta, Yola, the Adamawa state capital, has risen to 27, with 96 others injured.
File Photo: Gombe presidential rally Car-Bomb-Blast in 2014
File Photo: Gombe presidential rally Car-Bomb-Blast in 2014
According to spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sani Datti, 27 persons were killed in the incident that occurred during Juma’at prayer, while 96 others were injured and evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Yola and the Specialist Hospital Jimeta, Adamawa state.
Datti said: “As I speak to you, dismembered bodies of several victims are being moved and the place have been cordoned off,” he said.
The Yola attack occurred hours after a similar explosion occurred in a mosque in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, killing and injuring many worshippers during the early morning prayer session.
That blast, according to residents, occurred in Jiddari Polo area at about 5am when Muslims were performing the first congregational prayer of the day.

Kogi: Appeal Court reinstates sacked LG chairmen

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday reinstated the 21 Local Government Council Chairmen wrongfully sacked by Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi.
A Kogi State High Court sitting in Koton Karfe on Dec. 9, 2014, nullified the May 4, 2013 Council elections that produced the Chairmen and their Councillors.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Mustapha Mohammed held that the decision of the lower court was a judicial error.

Wednesday 14 October 2015

She ran away from home after being married at age 16 because she wants to go to school


Article written by Chukwudi Iwuchukwu. Read below...

Imagine if the US president crashed your wedding? Well, that's what happened to this couple (photos)


Newlyweds Stephanie and Brian Tobe will never forget their wedding this weekend, where President Obama became an unexpected wedding crasher. 

The Tobes, who have been together for eight years, wed at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California, Sunday. While they knew Obama would be golfing nearby that day, they had no idea he would come meet them before the ceremony.

"Then he finishes his game and goes down to the lawn area, which is where our ceremony was," Stephanie told ABC News.
She said all her 60 wedding guests lined up to shake his hand.
"Our photographers, they had earpieces in, talking to each other," Stephanie said. "So one photographer, Erin, she was down talking on the lawn and our photographer, Jeff, was up with us in the suite. And they’re talking to each other, and saying things, like 'Oh. this might be the one chance; you’ve got to go now.'"
"Stephanie was like, 'We're going to go do this,'" Youngren recalled, and "She bolted out the door."
"Once I heard that that there might be an opportunity to even just say hi, shake his hand or even try to take a picture, we darted," Stephanie said. "We ran to the closest elevator, got downstairs and I picked up my huge dress and I just started running across the lawn to get over to the president.”

Youngren said, "I've never seen a bride run so fast in such an elegant gown.”
With Brian in tow, they ran out and onto the grass.
"I think he [Obama] saw us coming from a distance and kind of paused," Youngren said.
Stephanie added, "It was so cool because all of our friends were screaming and cheering for us. They weren’t even looking at the president, they were looking at us. It was so exciting. And we just ran out across through the crowd and got up to the president and got to shake his hand."
"As we were running out there, I started crying ... It was an emotional experience and then to see the sitting president there was even wilder," she said.
Brian told ABC News:
"Right when we saw him, Stephanie got to him first. And he said congrats to Stephanie right away. And at that moment he pointed out that my foot was actually on the train or the trail of her wedding dress on the ground and he said, I don’t remember his exact words, but he’s so relaxed, and he says nope, nope you know ... you can’t step on the wedding dress.”
"I think it was our first marriage advice," Brian said.
"I still can't believe it happened. It was not what we expected when we woke up that morning," he said.
Youngren said he was "so taken aback by how kind the president was to our couple ... it was amazing to see."
"He has so much going on and so much stress ... to see him just be so calm and gracious and kind to a couple on their wedding day ... It made me really hopeful and excited, and just proud to have him as a leader," Youngren said.
The newlyweds will be spending their honeymoon in Obama’s home state of Hawaii. 

NNPC warns against panic buying


NNPC warns against panic buying
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has urged the public to avoid panic buying of petroleum products, especially premium motor spirit (petrol). The The warning followed the return of queues yesterday at filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).
NNPC Group General Manager (Group Public Affairs Division), Mr. Ohi Alegbe, said in a statement that there was enough stock of the product to last the country for 23 days.
He said besides the meeting of the management of the corporation with members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) to seek their support for the uninterrupted fuel supply policy of the President Muhammadu administration, it had set up a monitoring team at the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to check sharp practices that could affect the distribution and supply system.
NNPC put the quantity of petrol at its depots across the country at 927,461,000 litres, which it said was enough to serve the country for the next 23 days.

Who’s who on Buhari’s ministerial final list

Who’s who on  Buhari’s ministerial final list
With the final list of his ministerial nominees sent to the Senate for screening and approval, the stage is set for President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the implementation of policies and programmes. Group Political Editor OLADESU EMMANUEL profiles some of the nominees.
LESS than 24 hours after he got the second list containing the names of 16 ministerial nominee from the Presidency, Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday read the names of the nominees sent to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Three aides to President Muhammadu Buhari – Alhaji Abba Kari (Chief of Staff), Senator Ita Enang and Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila (both Senior Special Assistants on National Assembly Matters), conveyed the nomination memo to National Assembly at about 4.20pm on Monday.
It was exactly 12 days after the Red Chamber got the first list of 21 nominees with a promise from the President to send the supplementary list in earnest. Ten of the 21 nominees appeared before the Senate Committee of the Whole for screening yesterday. The remaining 11 are due for screening today.
In the latest list are: Khadija Buka Abba Ibrahim, (Yobe); Claudius Omoleye Daramola (Ondo); Prof. Anthony Anwuka (Imo); Geoffrey Onyeama; Brig-Gen. M.M. Dan-Ali (rtd), (Zamfara); James E. Ocholi (Kogi); Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed; Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia); Muhammad Bello (Adamawa); Mustapha Baba Shehuri; Ms. Aisha Abubakar; Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa); Adamu Adamu (Bauchi); Prof. Isaac Adewole (Osun); Pastor Usani Usani Uguru and Abubakar Bwari Bawa (Niger).
Some of the ministers
Ocholi
James Eneojo Ocholi, (SAN), is a Christian leader and prominent politician in Kogi State. He is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Salem University, Lokoja. He was the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Disciplinary Committee, Abuja branch. A respected All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, he was in the race for governor. But, he lost to former Governor Abubakar Audu. He was the leader of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Until recently, he as the APC National Deputy Legal Adviser.
Lokpobiri
Born on March 3, 1967, Heineken Lokpobiri  earned an LLB (Hons) from Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RUST), Port-Harcourt, Rivers State in 1994. He was called to the bar in 1995 and  was the Speaker of the House of Assembly in Bayelsa State between 1999 and 2001. He was in the Senate between 2011 and 2015. As a senator, he was a member of the Sports, Public Accounts, Police Affairs, Niger Delta and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) committees. He defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, shortly after the general elections.
Adewole
Prof. IsaacAdewole is a celebrated university don. His areas of medical specilaisation are obstetrics and Gynecology. The climax of his academic career was his appointment as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. A physician of note, he has taught medicine at the institution’s College of Medicine. He has served as the Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, and Provost of the College of Medicine. He was part of the investigative team involved in the international study of fertility intentions of HIV-infested persons. The project was sponsored by NIH. Adewole is also the President of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC).
Anwuka
Prof. Anthony Anwuka was born on April 22, 1951 in Egbuoma, Imo State. Until his nomination, the professor of Education was the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). He was the Vice Chancellor of Imo State University for five years. He earned a degree in English Language from Fourah Bay University, Sierra-Leone and a Master Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Portland, Oregon, United States (U.S.). He obtained a post-graduate degree in General Curriculum, System Analysis and Social Studies at the University of Washington, Seattle, U.S. in 1977.
Abba-Ibrahim
A celebrated politician, Mrs. Khadija Buka Abba-Ibrahim is the wife of the former governor of Yobe State, Senator Bukar Abba-Ibrahim. She is a former Commissioner for Transport in the Northeast state. He was elected into the House of Representatives thrice. But, she could not realise her bid for the Deputy Speaker of the Green Chamber.
Daramola
A native of Ode-Ayein Okutiputa Local Government Area of Ondo State, the professor of  Sociology  of Education at the University of Ilorin, Prof Claudius Omoleye Daramola, attended the University of Sokoto (now Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto), where he received a B.Sc (Ed) degree in Sociology.  He later attended the University of Jos, Plateau State for a Master degree in the Sociology of Education.
He is reputed as good manager of men and recourses as well as a selfless team player.
Enelamah
Okechukwu Enelamah is a medical doctor and chartered accountant. He is the Chief Executive Officer of African Capital Alliance, a leading private equity firm in Africa. He holds a MBA from Harvard Business School.
Zainab Ahmed
Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed is the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).Until her appointment, Mrs. Ahmed was a member of the National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) of NEITI and the former Managing Director, Kaduna Industrial and Finance Company. She holds a degree in Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and Master in Business Administration. Mrs. Zainab Ahmed is a member of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria and Fellow, Institute of Certified Company Commercial Accountants of Nigeria among other professional organisations.
Geoffrey  Onyeama
Born on February 2, 1956, Geoffrey Onyeama studied Political Science at the (Columbia University, Columbia College), New York, United States (U.S.).  He also obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree at Cambridge University (St. John’s College), Cambridge, United Kingdom (UK) and Master of Laws (LL.M) from the Universities of London, London School of Economic and Political Science (LSE), U.K, before having pursuing a Master of Arts degree at St. John’s College.
He worked as Research Officer at the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Lagos, between 1983 and 1984 and practiced law in Enugu between 1984 and 1985 before joining the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in 1985.
Onyeama, who speaks English, French, German and Ibo, is WIPO’s Deputy Director-General of Development Sector.
Usani
Usani Usani, a pastor, was the local chapter Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State. He was also the party’s standard bearer at the April 11 governorship election in the Southsouth state.
Usani has taken shots at the Cross River State Government House twice.

Buhari: selfish elite behind criticism of my appointments



Buhari: selfish elite behind criticism of my appointments
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday fired back at critics of the appointments he has made so far. He blamed the elite for orchestrating criticisms of his appointments into government positions.
The President spoke through his deputy, Prof Yemi Osinbajo at the opening of the 21st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja Buhari.
He described as unfortunate that Nigerians pay more attention to sectional and religious interests, rather than the competence of the appointees, claiming that misgivings on the elite.
The President noted that those seeking the promotion of selfish interests were fuelling complaints on where government appointees come from, adding that the fact that a northerner is in government does not necessarily mean good fortune for his people.

Immigration job tragedy: Employment of victims’ family members ‘a ruse’


Immigration job tragedy: Employment of victims’ family members ‘a ruse’
HOUSE of representatives’ members were stunned yesterday to hear that former  President Goodluck Jonathan’s order for employment of 176 victims and families of the 2014 Nigerian Immigration Service’s recruitment tragedy was “merely symbolic”.
Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary Abubakar Magaji said this yesterday at the National Assembly during the investigative public hearing held by the Femi Gbajabiamila-led House Ad-hoc Committee on “Immigration Recruitment Stampede”.

Stray bullets kill mum, daughter

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Stray bullets kill mum, daughter
•Robbers raid two banks in Lagos
•Fleeing bandits drop N27m cash
They were in their home, minding their business. Unknown to mother and daughter, there was terror on the street outside.
Robbers laid siege close to their house in Festac Town, Lagos, shooting indiscriminately from a machine gun reportedly mounted at 23 Road Junction.

Why we want to serve, by Fayemi, Mohammed, Onu

Why we want to serve, by Fayemi, Mohammed, Onu
Udoma, Danbazzau, Amina Mohammed, Ehanire, Jibrin, Ogbeh,  Adamu also screened
Saraki unveils 16 would-be ministers
For over five hours yesterday, 10 would-be ministers took turns before the Senate, answering questions on their plans for the country, if confirmed.
They were the first set of ministerial nominees to be screened.
They are on the first list of 21 nominees sent to Senate President Bukola Saraki on September 30 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Tuesday 22 September 2015

20 Nigerian pilgrims die in Makkah

20 Nigerian pilgrims die in Makkah


The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) yesterday confirmed the death of 20 Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
The commission Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, who spoke at a pre-Arafat stakeholders’ meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, said 14 pilgrims died following cardiac arrest and other ailments, and six lost their lives in the September 11 crane crash.
He said three Nigerians were injured in the crash, as against six earlier reported by the media.
The chairman said the pilgrims, who submitted valid documents to the commission for visa, were transported to Saudi Arabia.

'Clock' boy withdraws from school that suspended him over clock, Engineer says boy didnt invent the clock

The family of the 14-year-old Muslim student who got in trouble over a homemade clock mistaken for a possible bomb withdrew the boy Monday from his suburban Dallas high school.
Ahmed Mohamed's father, Mohamed El-Hassan Mohamed, said he has pulled all of his children from their schools. Mohamed said the family is still deciding where to send the children to school.
Ahmed has said he brought the clock he made to MacArthur High School in Irving last week to show a teacher. Officials say he was arrested after another teacher saw it and became concerned. Ahmed wasn't charged, but he was suspended from school for three days.

Presidency exempts NNPC, PHCN, BoI, 10 others from TSA

Presidency exempts NNPC,  PHCN, BoI, 10 others from TSA
•President Buhari


The Federal Government has exempted 13 government agencies from the  current Treasury Single Account (TSA) arrangement related to electronic or e-collection  and mop up exercise of government funds from commercial banks.
A circular exempting the  agencies was communicated to Central Bank of  Nigeria (CBN) from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation  (OAGF).
The exempted agencies of government are “profit oriented government business entities that pay dividends to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

Tariff hike: NLC, CNPP, consumers plot against NERC, operators

Tariff hike: NLC, CNPP, consumers plot against NERC, operators


The plans to review electricity tariff  has provoked customers of the distribution companies. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and others are angry. The consumers warn against a price hike in the face of a metering deficit, low investments in infrastructure and lingering insufficient supply.  JOHN OFIKHENUA, reports.
Should the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Presidency approve the new tariffs being proposed by the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOS) and Generation Companies (GENCOS), two options will be opened to customers – to pay and depend on the firms for the utility or, find alternative power source.
If the plans are anything to go by, customers of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) will record 25 per increase, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) will have to contend with 21 per cent hike,  Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IEDC) have a marginal  1.76 per cent increase to cope with. The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) have 19.25per cent rise to bear.  The commission’s Principal Manager, Market Competition and Rates, Aisha Mahmud, dropped the hint at a presentation to stakeholders in the sector, including the generating and distribution companies, of the Consumer Forum and others last Tuesday at Abuja. There was no information yet on what customers of  Port Harcourt, Ikeja, Eko and other companies will paying at the frozen point to allow a comparative analysis of their new tariffs.

No more concessional posting for corps members - NYSC

Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Johnson Olawumi has said that there would no longer be concessional posting for all corps members. Brig. Olawunmi said this while speaking with journalists during the opening ceremony of the training organised by the NYSC and the Housing Developers Cooperative Society for Corps Members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja yesterday September 21st.

Monday 21 September 2015

Former Presidential candidate Olu Falae kidnapped from his home

Former Presidential candidate and chieftain of Afenifere Olu Falae has been kidnapped. He was reportedly kidnapped at his home on Oba-Ile Road, Akure, the Ondo state capital this afternoon. The police and all security agencies in the state have launched a manhunt for his kidnappers. Olu Fale ran for presidency on the joint platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the All People’s Party (APP) in 1999.

Photos: Buhari receives Dein of Agbor Kingdom

Pres Buhari yesterday received the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, HRM Benjamin Ikechuku Keagborekuzi I in Aso Villa Abuja. More photos after the cut...

FG declares Thursday & Friday public holiday for Sallah celebration

The federal government has declared Thursday September 24th and Friday September 25th as public holidays to mark this year's Id-El-Kabir celebration. The public holiday declaration was contained in a statement released today by the Director of Press, Ministry of Interior, Yusuf Isiaka Alhaji on behalf of the Ministry's Permanent Secretary Abubakar Magaji.

'I will be at the Tribunal tomorrow' - Saraki says

Senate President Bukola Saraki says he will be at the Code of Conduct Tribunal tomorrow September 22nd as a mark of respect for the rule of law. He said this in a statement he released this afternoon on his Facebook page
The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki will appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal tomorrow Tuesday 22nd of September 2015. While the Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had stated and maintained that he is ready to submit himself to due process of the law on any issue concerning him, he also believes that he has an inalienable right to resort to the same judiciary for protection when he feels his fundamental rights are about to be infringed upon.

Thursday 3 September 2015

Woman tries to sell her virginity for $16k but gets raped instead



Images of the moment a young actress who tried to sell her virginity for $16,000 makes her desperate escape, after she was allegedly raped during the encounter has emerged. The 20-year-old from Azerbaijan, agreed to meet a man she met online in the city of Perm, in central Russia.

ICPC to probe Fashola, Akpabio, other governors


The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC, has set up a task force to immediately probe eight former state governors. According to Punch, a top operative of ICPC, who confided in their correspondent said that the task force was set up following petitions written against the former governors.

Investigations have commenced for former governors; Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State; Chief Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Sullivan Chime of Enugu State while the other four, Mr. Raji Fashola of Lagos State, Godswiil Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State and Alhaji Sule Lamido of Jigawa State were on the waiting list.

Army reinstates over 3000 dismissed soldiers


The Nigerian Army has reinstated not less than 3,032 dismissed soldiers who were dismissed for failing to engage Boko Haram members. Most of the soldiers were dismissed after they rebelled due to poor weapons to the terrorist sect. NAN reports that the Nigerian army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman confirmed that those reinstated were among the 5000 recently dismissed soldiers.

Tuesday 1 September 2015

‘Fear of competition forced Obasanjo, others out of PDP’


‘Fear of competition forced Obasanjo, others out of PDP’
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said stiff competition from formidable opponents was responsible for the exit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the party.
At a press conference in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the PDP’s loss of the May 29 presidential election also contributed to the exodus of its members.
Some of its foundation members who quit the PDP are Mr. Audu Ogbeh, Senator Barnabas Gemade and Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
Others who left on grounds of injustice include a former National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Senate President Bukola Saraki; Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
Also, five of the party’s former governors left in 2013. They are Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); and Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara).
Metuh said: “In PDP, no matter where you come from or who you are, you compete. People left because they could not stand competition. Some members felt that they were not well protected when they sought assistance.
“Others left because we lost election, others for individual ambition, while some others left when they honestly felt they were not accommodated in the party.

Insurgency ’ll end soon, says Defence spokesman


Insurgency ’ll end soon, says Defence spokesman
The Defence Headquarters said yesterday that the end of insurgency in Nigeria is in sight and that all known camps of insurgents on Nigerian territory have been dislodged.
The Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, spoke yesterday in Abuja when he visited Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Mr. Ima Niboro.
Abubakar said the military will continue to dominate the insurgents’ hideouts in the North East so that the Boko Haram menace would end soon.
“We, for the past weeks, have been in the North East to ensure that we do all what we can as military personnel to quell the activities of these insurgents.
“So far so good as I’m speaking with you the major hideouts and the major camps of the militants are no more.
“They are in disarray now, the central command of the terrorists, the center of gravity is no more with them so are scattered all over the place.

Anti-graft war: Jonathan’s ministers fight back


Anti-graft war: Jonathan’s ministers fight back


After a long while, former President Goodluck Jonathan is set to defend his integrity. He has rallied his troops – members of his cabinet where actions and inactions contributed to the mess the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is cleaning. How will this battle be fought? Ask Bunmi ogunmodede and Oladesu Emmanuel
PINNED against the wall with allegations that they mismanaged public resources and plundered the nation’s wealth, some of the ministers who served in the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan regrouped at the weekend.
But for the fact that they were no longer in government, the gathering, which held on Sunday in Abuja, would have passed for a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by the former President.
No fewer them 15 of the former FEC members attended what many called ‘the Abuja strategy session”, at the end of which took exception to bashings from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration that they grounded the economy.
After appraising their performance in government, they scored themselves high and said they were not corrupt as being portrayed by the Buhari adminstration.
Not a few Nigerians have been calling for the probe of those who flattened the nation’s economy. Some even want the probe extended beyond the immediate past administration to serve as a deterrent.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) said the looting by public officials under the Jonathan administration was so massive that over-looking it by the Buhari administration will amount to a disservice to Nigerians.
Its spokesman Lai Mohammed said in a statement on August 16 that only the total recovery of every kobo stolen from the public till could placate Nigerians, who have been short-changed by those entrusted with the commonwealth.
Mohammed said that whoever attempts, either by deed or word, to sabotage the recovery efforts of the Buhari administration could not be seen as patriots.
The APC statement reads: “It is absolutely gratifying that Nigerians are vehemently opposed to the few who would rather have the government of the day turn a blind eye to the looted funds and, in their words, carry on with the process of governance.
“Truly, what sort of governance can go on if the billions of naira in a few hands are not recovered? In the first instance, the government needs every kobo of the funds it can muster to bring about the change it has promised Nigerians.
“Secondly, leaving such hair-raising funds in the hands of the few looters is dangerous, because they can use the funds to destabilise any government.

Saraki, Ekweremadu shun suit seeking their sack


Saraki, Ekweremadu shun suit seeking their sack


•Judge deplores Senate leaders’ conduct
•Returns case file for re-assignment
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and three others yesterday in Abuja shunned the resumed hearing of a suit seeking their sack.
Although it was not mandatory for Saraki, Ekweremadu and the other defendants in the suit to attend proceedings in person, they were required to be represented by their lawyers.
Yesterday, none of the defendants was represented by lawyers when the case was called before Justice Adeniyi Ademola, to whom the case was transferred from Justice Gabriel Kolawole, who ended his sitting as the vacation judge at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Nigeria’s first IVF baby to study medicine abroad


Nigeria’s first IVF baby to study medicine abroad


Nigeria’s first test tube baby is heading for Hungary to study medicine.
Hannatu Kupchi, 17,was born at Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja on February 11, 1998.
A ceremony was organised by the hospital on Sunday in Abuja to mark her departure. Medical Director Dr. Ibrahim Wada said Kupchi’s birthday marked the fulfillment of his medical career.
“It is very difficult to make a statement on a day like this. When I was out of this country, I knew there were people who wanted babies. I made the decision to come back to Nigeria to help people. It happened on February 11, 1998 when this historic event occurred at this hospital.
“The baby of that historic day is going to become a doctor. Because the parents stood firm, we were able to help others. You gave us government recognition and that was important. It was the first time that a minister came to receive a baby in Nigeria.

Akpabio’s convoy, U.S. embassy’s car collide in Abuja


Akpabio’s convoy, U.S. embassy’s car collide in Abuja
Former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio yesterday spent hours at the National Hospital in Abuja after a car accident . He was discharged at about 5.10pm, accompanied out of the hospital by Governor Udom Emmanuel and Senator Theodore Orji.
They left in the governor’s official car.
Akpabio, who is also Senate Minority Leader, was said to be on his way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, to catch a flight when the accident occurred.
He was rushed to the National Hospital in the city, where doctors described his condition as stable.
Akpabio’s car ran into a convoy of a U.S. diplomat.
A Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) personnel, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Akpabio may have suffered some injuries in the chest region “due to the way he held his chest after the incident”.
The FRSC operatives also said “from the look of things other occupants of the vehicles in the convoy and Akpabio’s driver did not seem to have sustained any injury”.
The officer said he was at the scene of the accident around 7.30 am near Bolingo Hotels on the Abuja Airport Road in the Central Business District of the Federal Capital territory (FCT).

APC, governors, others join row over Buhari’s choices


APC, governors, others join row over Buhari’s choices
SGF, Oshiomhole, Okorocha, Oyegun: they’re on merit
Ohanaeze urges Igbo to be calm
CRITICS of President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments yesterday got a reply  – they are based on merit.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and some governors defended the appointments which have been criticised as sectional.
The President’s men also denied that they were appointed based on sentiment, after three of them took the oath of office yesterday in Abuja.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Southeast’s leading socio-cultural group, urged the Igbo to remain calm. Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) said the appointments came strictly on merit.
President Buhari swore in Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Mr. Babachir David Lawal, National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Babagana Monguno and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Mr. Femi Adesina.
Adesina was appointed on May 31.  Monguno was appointed on July 13 and Lawal was appointed August 27.
At the brief ceremony, Lawal, who spoke on behalf of others, said: “We want to thank God for granting President the vision, wisdom, kindness and boldness to consider us worthy for positions of responsibilities.
“We got appointed into these positions, not because of our tribes or our faiths or our political groups.

Buhari’s appointment based on merit – Oshiomhole

ABUJA—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has urged Nigerians to encourage the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to confront the problems militating against the nation by appointing persons based on merit and not ethnicity.
Gov Oshiomhole
Gov Oshiomhole
Oshiomhole stated this while commending the President on the appointments of the Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and others made so far, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria.
According to Oshiomhole, “The Nigerian nation has come to a point where we have to use the best hands to confront the peculiarity of our problems. It is not all the time we descend to the level of geopolitical balancing; we need to employ unusual methods to solve an unusual problem. The level of decay in the country at present requires very seasoned hands and incorruptible Nigerians that will help translate the APC agenda of change for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“We must not reduce governance to political patronage of bread and butter. The governor congratulates the Chief of Staff, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Comptroller General of Customs, all of who he had very close relationship with and whose credentials stand tall among their compeers. He wishes them well in their new jobs of helping to sanitize a system that has become so rotten and corrupt as a result of manifest incompetence and mismanagement.”

Lawyer accused of abusing 9-yr-old-girl re-arraigned

Lagos —The 40-year-old lawyer, Chika Uzoamaka, who was alleged to have sexually assaulted a nine-year-old girl (names withheld) was yesterday re-arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court.
The defendant is facing a four-count charge bordering on sexual assault and an indecent act preferred against him by the police.
The prosecutor, Sergeant Aondohemba Koti, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence on August 12, at about 12:45p.m. at the magistrate’s courtroom 4, Tinubu, on Lagos Island.
He said that the defendant sexually assaulted the little girl by penetrating her anus and virginal without her consent, adding that he wilfully and without an excuse perpetrated an indecent act in a public place.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

Sunday 30 August 2015

Mourinho: I am to blame for home loss to Crystal Palace


Aug 28, 2015
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he blames himself for the champions' 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The Blues slumped to their second Premier League loss of the season thanks to Joel Ward's winner after Radamel Falcao had equalised Bakary Sako's opener.
The result leaves Chelsea eight points behind Manchester City after just four games and Mourinho says he must take his share of the blame for the result.
"I cannot say I had 11 players at the same time performing. To be fair, two or three of them, individual performances were far from good," he told reporters.

Jonathan, Diezani under probe over $6m mobile stages


Aug 28, 2015
The ongoing probe of the past administration by President Muhammadu Buhari has indicted his predecessor, President Goodluck Jonathan, and two of his former officials, over an alleged purchase of three mobile stages to the tune of $6.9million, a Presidency source has said.
It added, "By the next month, an NNPC payment voucher number 3840336 was already in place revealing that the money was released.

American arrested on Sierra Leone 'blood diamond' charges


Aug 28, 2015
DAKAR Spanish authorities have arrested a American man on charges of enslavement and diamond pillaging during Sierra Leone's civil war, a victims' association said on Saturday.
Michel Desaedeleer, who has U.S. and Belgian citizenship, is suspected of forcing enslaved civilians to mine for diamonds in Sierra Leone's eastern district of Kono between 1999-2001, according to Swiss-based Civitas Maxima.
During Sierra Leone's long conflict, the diamonds were sent to neighboring Liberia where former President Charles Taylor used the proceeds to finance weapons for rebels.
"(The case) will help to raise awareness of the pivotal role played by financial actors in the trade of mineral resources that fuel armed conflicts in Africa and elsewhere," said Alain Werner, director of Civitas Maxima, which has been working for years to document the crimes and assist victims.