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

•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

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.

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.

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.

‘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

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

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

•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 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

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

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

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.