Nigerian Eye

BREAKING NEWS: Plane crash in Adamawa State

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An Aircraft, NAF 801, belonging to the Nigerian Air Force, has crashed in Hong, Adamawa State. 
 
The Director, Defence Information, Col. Abubakar Rabe, confirmed this to Channels Television. 
 
The plane was said to be returning from an interdicted mission when it went down due to bad weather. 
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Only the pilot is said to have died in the accident. 
 
The Chief of Air Staff has set up a panel to investigate the cause of the crash.

Latest-News BREAKING NEWS: Plane crash in Adamawa State

An Aircraft, NAF 801, belonging to the Nigerian Air Force, has crashed in Hong, Adamawa State. The Director, Defence Information, Col. Abubakar Rabe, confirmed this to Channels Television. The plane was said to be returning from an interdicted missi…

Saraki assures of dilligent screening of miniterial nominees

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The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has assured that the 8th Senate would put Nigeria first and also carry out a dilligent work regarding screening of the ministerial nominees by next Tuesday. 
 
Saraki gave the assurance in Ikenne home of the matriarch of Awolowo family, Chief HID Awolowo when he led a delegation of the Nigerian Senate on a condolence visit to the deceased’s children. 
 
Aside the Senate President, those in the delegation are Senator Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun Central), Senator Biodun Olujinmi (Ekiti state) among others. 
 
Saraki noted that Nigerians would have the opportunity of participating in the screening process from the comfort of their homes as the exercise would be broadcast live, adding that notwithstanding any relationship with nominees, Nigerians would come first in the spirit of the constitution. 
 
“We have said that for the 8th Senate, it is not going to be business as usual. What I can assure you is that we will go with the constitution, the rules, we will put Nigeria first. 
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“Screening will be done with level of seriousness and what we are all about is our constitutional responsibility to ensure that we find people who are fit enough to be Ministers and particularly this time, to give President Buhari the support he requires. 
 
“It is not about who you like or who you don’t like and I want to assure Nigerian that will not be the basis, it will be based on the constitution and based on ability and our own assessment of capacity of the nominees to perform. 
 
“And I assure you that individual differences would not be an issue at all, and we have spoken with Senators and told them that. 
 
“At this moment of time, we have made sure that as much as possible, we share with the public, we try to ensure that all will be covered live so that everybody can see, we will all be screening from our bedrooms and sitting rooms as well along with the Senators. 
 
“You’re rest assured that we will do a good job Nigerians would be proud of,” he said. 
 
And earlier while commiserating with Mama’s children at Efunyela Hall within the family home, the Senate President described the late HID Awolowo as a great person, an icon and mother for all. 
 
He said this informed why the Senate passed a resolution mandating a delegation to be led by the leadership to pay a condolence visit to the family 
 
Saraki said: “on Wednesday the eight Senate passed a resolution mandated us to come here and commiserate with Awolowo family, the good people of Ogun State and Nigeria in general on the loss of great person and an icon. 
 
“Normally, as our tradition, we send a delegation, but, for Mama she deserved this even more is for the entire Senate represented by the presiding officers to be here in person I lead that delegation. That is why I am here in person representing entire eight Senate. 
 
“The country, not the family that has lost a great person, she was a great person because since the death of Papa for so many years she continued the life of virtues and his dreams and she sustained over many years she showed that she was a uniting factor not only in South West, but, Nigeria in general. 
 
“I can say that, because just few months ago we were here during the period of our campaign and I don’t think there had been a campaign in this country that no politician will not stop here to pay respect and honour. 
 
“She earned that because we have many wives and mothers who after their husband passed out have not been able to sustain the dream, I think she has shown herself that in the entire country she is the only person that has been able to achieve that that is a great achievement. 
 
“As we mourn we also celebrate the great life she has lived. I remember when we were here we thought we would come to celebrate her 100 years but that shows that we must believe that were of the Almighty God. 
 
” It is not we that decide some of these things when they happen, but, she lived a great life, she is someone we should be proud of not only here but also in Nigeria I don’t see if there is any wife or mother in the entire country, wife of a leader or politician that does what she has done , some years after her husband has gone she continued to sustain the dreams. 
 
” Once again on behalf of the entire Senate I commiserate with the Awolowo family , the Ogun State people and Nigeria at large. The country has lost a great person and we have a lot to be proud of and with the faces I am seeing mama HID is coming, I think she deserves the honour.” 
 
In her redponse, Mama’s eldest daughter, Mrs Omotola Oyediran, commended the senate leadership for identifying with them. 
 
She disclosed that her mother’s final journey to be with the maker, would commence on the 15th of November when the body will be taken to Apapa home of the Awolowo’s in Lagos for an interdenominational thanksgiving. 
 
On the 16th, the body will also depart Lagos for Ibadan for another service before heading to Ikenne in Ogun State where service will be held before a private interment the same day November 25th.

Latest-News Saraki assures of dilligent screening of miniterial nominees

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has assured that the 8th Senate would put Nigeria first and also carry out a dilligent work regarding screening of the ministerial nominees by next Tuesday. Saraki gave the assurance in Ikenne home of the matr…

Buhari sacks his Presidential liaison Officer, Nura Rimi, few months after his appointment

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 President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked his Presidential liaison Officer, Nura Rimi, few months after he was appointed into the post. 
 
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No reason was given for the president’s decision which has also not been officially announced. 
 
It was Alhaji Rimi who served as President Goodluck Jonathan’s Chief Protocol Officer was posted to Nigeria Embassy in Abu Dhabi shortly before the presidential Election but was recalled by President Buhari who appointed him as his PLO before his inauguration. 
 
His removal was effected last week, though no reason was given for his sudden disengagement from the Presidential Villa. 
 
He is a career civil servant who had served in high positions including Nigeria\’s embassy in the United States of America before he was posted to the presidential Villa as a Protocol officer where he served both President Umaru YarAdua and President Jonathan. 
 
During last visit to the United Nations General Assembly meeting in the United States of America, Alhaji Nura was with President Buhari entourage and facilitated most of the meetings that President Buhari attended in the sidelines of the UNGA. 
 
Since his swearing in, President Buhari has sacked some of his key aides including the CSO, Mani Abdulrahman and Widi Liman the Administrative Officer in the Presidential Villa. 
 
Repeated calls to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adeshina were unanswered as at the time of filing this report.

Latest-News Buhari sacks his Presidential liaison Officer, Nura Rimi, few months after his appointment

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked his Presidential liaison Officer, Nura Rimi, few months after he was appointed into the post. No reason was given for the president’s decision which has also not been officially announced. It was Alhaji Rimi who…

Boko Haram bombs Lake Chad, kills 37

22:11 Unknown 0

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Three explosions blamed on the Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram killed 37 people Saturday in a Chadian city on the shores of Lake Chad, security sources said. 
 
Another 52 people were reportedly wounded in the attacks that struck at around 4:00 pm (1500 GMT), one targeting the fish market at Baga Sola and the other two occurring at a refugee camp on the outskirts of the city. 
 
Lake Chad is shared between Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. 
 
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Climate change has reduced its surface in recent years, but it contains many islands and islets used by fishermen and its banks have dense vegetation, which makes infiltrations by Boko Haram Islamists into Chad much easier. 
 
The Chadian army has since the start of this year been involved in a regional offensive against Boko Haram, whose attacks have spread across Nigeria’s borders to neighbouring countries. 
 
At least 17,000 people have been killed, mainly in Nigeria, and more than 2.5 million made homeless since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009.

Latest-News Boko Haram bombs Lake Chad, kills 37

Three explosions blamed on the Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram killed 37 people Saturday in a Chadian city on the shores of Lake Chad, security sources said. Another 52 people were reportedly wounded in the attacks that struck at around 4:00 pm (…

Diezani Alison-Madueke suffers from breast cancer - Lawyer

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 Ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is under investigation over allegations of bribery and money laundering, has breast cancer and will undergo surgery in Britain, her lawyer said on Saturday. 
 
Nigerian authorities said Alison-Madueke, who served as petroleum minister from 2010-2015, was arrested in London last week. 
 
But her lawyer, Oscar Onwudiwe, denied this, saying she spent only 45 minutes with the police. 
 
“Mrs. Alison-Madueke was never arrested or detained and her passport was never seized. She was merely invited (by British police), and she honoured it promptly,” Reuters quoted the lawyer as saying in a statement. 
 
“She has breast cancer and it was not detected early. It was discovered nine months ago. She will have surgery in London next week. 
 
The ex-minister had previously denied any wrongdoing when questioned about allegations of missing public funds and graft in Nigeria.

Latest-News Nigerian News Diezani Alison-Madueke suffers from breast cancer - Lawyer

Ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is under investigation over allegations of bribery and money laundering, has breast cancer and will undergo surgery in Britain, her lawyer said on Saturday. Nigerian authorities said Al…

Alamieyeseigha’s Death is a personal loss to me – Governor Dickson

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Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has confirmed the sudden death of the former governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, describing it as a personal loss to him, the government and people of the State. 
 
In a statement by Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sarike said Chief Alamieyeseigha was a strong pillar of support to the restoration government. 
 
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He said Alamieyeseigha’s demise is a very painful and monumental loss to the entire Ijaw nation, which he has always stood firm for in all its ramifications. 
 
The Bayelsa State Government also commiserated with the deceased wife, Margret, his immediate family, the Alamieyeseighas, the entire people of the State, noting that, the Ijaw nation has lost a rare gem.

Latest-News Alamieyeseigha’s Death is a personal loss to me – Governor Dickson

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has confirmed the sudden death of the former governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, describing it as a personal loss to him, the government and people of the State. In a statement by Daniel Iwor…

Enough of the theatrics, go to court - Amaechi tells Wike

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Former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi has described the panel constituted by his successor, Governor Nyesom Wike to probe his administration as a silly and sickening distraction saying that Wike should go to court if he has any case of alleged corrupt activities against him. 
 
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The former governor who made the remarks in a press statement released by his media office said it was obvious that the Wike panel was on a mission to indict him. 
 
The full statement: 
 
As we expected, the Justice G. O Omereji Commission of Inquiry set up by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike supposedly to probe the immediate past Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi did not disappoint. The panel lived up to expectations as a shambolic inquisition panel that was set up to indict Amaechi. 
 
Crudely, without any sense of finesse or attempt to disguise its mission to ‘hack down Amaechi’, the Omereji panel did the bidding of its paymaster. As we earlier warned, it turned out to be a comedy, a circus show to grab media headlines with bogus, phantom and fabricated claims of corrupt practices against former governor Amaechi and officials of his administration. It achieved nothing beyond political excitements, entertainment and theatrics. 
 
From the Chairman, to the way the panel conducted its ‘probe’ activities, it was obvious even to the blind that the Wike panel was on a mission to indict Amaechi. Video from the public hearing of the panel that has gone viral on the internet clearly shows the world the crude inquisition Wike conducted against Amaechi. 
 
At every point during the public hearing, Justice Omereji clearly showed his bias and his determination to indict Amaechi and officials of his administration. Most times, the panel chairman simply concluded that they are corrupt, even before all the facts are made known to the panel, even before all sides have been heard. On one occasion, Omereji said he wished the panel had the powers of a court so he could lock up, perhaps for life, these so called corrupt officials. 
 
Witnesses invited by the panel were coerced, directed, ordered and told in clear terms, sometimes with written notes from the commission staff, what not to say and what to say. The chairman of the panel prevented counsels to those invited, from asking relevant questions that are likely to deviate and detract from their pre-determined agenda and conclusion. 
 
Lawyers and witnesses invited by the panel were constantly intimidated, harassed and bullied. Witnesses were constantly bullied to toe the line of the commission pre-determined agenda and conclusion. The panel chairman was ordering witnesses not to answer questions that would expose the commission’s bias to indict Amaechi. 
 
Indeed, the Wike panel was an inquisition against Amaechi. Wike should go to court if he has any case of alleged corrupt activities against Amaechi. His panel is not and can never be a law court. 
 
Wike’s regular childish tantrums, theatrics, comedy and drama of screaming huge bogus and phantom figures of missing or stolen or misappropriated billions of naira by the Amaechi administration have become a silly and sickening distraction. Mr. Wike, since you do not know and none of your coterie of court-jesters is bold enough to tell you, we will tell you; you sound like a broken record. Our polity can certainly do without this madness.

Latest-News Enough of the theatrics, go to court - Amaechi tells Wike

Former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi has described the panel constituted by his successor, Governor Nyesom Wike to probe his administration as a silly and sickening distraction saying that Wike should go to court if he has any case of all…

Tinubu not under security watch – Presidency

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The Presidency on Saturday said there is no iota of truth in a media report that a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is under security watch over alleged plot against President Muhammadu Buhari. 
 
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Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement, described the report as a false and sensational story. 
 
Shehu asked Nigerians to ignore the report, referring to it as baseless. 
 
While saying that Tinubu was not of any interest to any of the nation’s security agencies, the presidential spokesman said the relationship between him (Tinubu) and the President could not be better than it was at the moment. 
 
He stated, “According to the perverted logic of the newspaper, the respected leader of the APC is into a plot against the leader of the country. The Presidency is unaware of any such plot against the President. 
 
“I got on the telephone a short while ago with Gen. Babagana Munguno (retd.), the National Security Adviser, and the Director General of the SSS, Lawal Daura, who both dismissed the published reports as acts of pure mischief. They are not aware of the Asiwaju being on any kind of watch. 
“It would appear that a competition is on between two or three newspaper establishments on how best to breach the excellent relationship between the pillars of our party and government. 
 
“So far, they have not made a headway and there is no indication that they will succeed in the future. It suffices to say that such reports, written without fairness and balance can only take away from whatever is left of the credibility of these newspapers. The general public is hereby advised to ignore them on these reports.”

Latest-News Tinubu not under security watch – Presidency

The Presidency on Saturday said there is no iota of truth in a media report that a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is under security watch over alleged plot against President Muhammadu Buhari. Senior Special As…

Former Bayelsa governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha dies of hypertension

21:54 Unknown 0

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 A former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, has died of hypertension. 
 
Former State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Ebitimi Agary, confirmed this to our correspondent on Saturday. 
 
Alamieyeseigha, 63, was said to have died at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, where we was receiving medical attention. 
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Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa Governor, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria, in a telephone interview. 
 
He said government would issue a statement on the death of the former Air Force Officer. 
 
The United Kingdom government, which arrested the former governor on allegation of money laundering in September 2005 during the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, recently requested for the extradition of Alamieyeseigha to face the charges for the alleged crime in the UK. 
 
He had earlier been impeached, arrested, tried and convicted and sent to jail in Nigeria for two years in 2007 for fraud after he fled the UK, disguising as a woman to evade trial in December, 2005.

Latest-News Former Bayelsa governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha dies of hypertension

A former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, has died of hypertension. Former State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Ebitimi Agary, confirmed this to our correspondent on Saturday. Alamieyeseigha, 63, was said to have d…

DSS ordered to influence judgments of election tribunals – PDP

21:54 Unknown 0

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The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the Department of State Services of “hijacking” election petition tribunals. 
 
It said the security outfit had been asked to influence the outcome of the governorship election petitions currently ongoing before tribunals in some states. 
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National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, made the allegation at a hurriedly convened press conference in Abuja on Saturday evening. 
 
Metuh said he had it on “good authority that ” a prominent politician from one of the affected states met with the DSS where he claimed the directive that the judgments be influenced was given. 
 
He alleged that the DSS had summoned the election petitions tribunal judges in order to allegedly give the direction their judgments should go. 
 
He added, “The DSS has summoned tribunal judges to dictate what the judgments of the tribunal be. 
 
“Yesterday, one of the ministerial nominees insisted that they (the DSS) should summon the tribunal judges to influence the judgement of his state. 
 
“We have it on good authority that the DSS has interfered by summoning the tribunal members in some states, especially PDP controlled states like Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Abia and others. 
 
“We want to inform the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on what is happening. We want to say that the judiciary is not an arm of another arm of government.” 
 
Metuh insisted that the allegation was true and challenged the DSS to be bold enough to deny his allegation.

Latest-News DSS ordered to influence judgments of election tribunals – PDP

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the Department of State Services of “hijacking” election petition tribunals. It said the security outfit had been asked to influence the outcome of the governorship election petitio…

Recruitment: NIS warns public against fraudsters

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The Nigeria Immigration Service has warned members of the public to beware of activities fraudsters. 
 
This is contained in a statement issued by the NIS spokesperson, Mr. Ekpedeme King, on Saturday in Abuja. 
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King said the service was not engaged in any recruitment exercise. 
 
He cautioned members of the public, especially the youths, not to pay money to any faceless individual in a bid to get employment in the service. 
 
“The attention of the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. Martins Abeshi, has been drawn to some faceless individuals deceiving unsuspecting members of the public for placement into the Nigeria Immigration Service. 
 
“It has, therefore, become imperative to state categorically that the Nigeria Immigration Service is not engaged in any recruitment exercise,” he said. 
 
He called on Nigerians to ignore any offer of employment as such activity remained the handiwork of fraudsters. 
 
King explained that the service had a duty to advertise any recruitment in line with the extant laws and would always advertise it in the media. 
 
(NAN)

Latest-News Recruitment: NIS warns public against fraudsters

The Nigeria Immigration Service has warned members of the public to beware of activities fraudsters. This is contained in a statement issued by the NIS spokesperson, Mr. Ekpedeme King, on Saturday in Abuja. King said the service was not engaged in a…

1000-year-old rock crushes mother, children to death in Ogun

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Tragedy struck in Abeokuta, Ogun state after four persons, including mother, two children and a grandchild were crushed to death by over 1000 years old rock that tipped off its base and rammed lethally on them after knocking down the wall of their bedroom. 
 
The incident which happened in the rocky Iberekodo community in Abeokuta North Local Government Council of Ogun state on Friday night, took the grieving residents in shock. 
 
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However, the man of the house Ismail Lawal, Sukurat and Rofiat survived the assault on the modest home by the deadly rock because they happened to be relaxing at the sitting room when it struck but that is not without injuring them seriously. 
 
The victims – Mrs Silifat Lawal, her two children: Raaheedat (15), Semia(4) and a grandchild – Mariam, had barely fallen into a deep sleep on their bed after a Friday dinner when the rock killed them while the injured were taken to hospital for treatment. 
 
 
It was gathered further that the heavy downpour on Friday night which had softened the base of the rock situating on a location overlooking Ismail Lawal’s home, caused the ground to give way, and the rock having lost its balance tumbled and rolled lethally on Lawal’s home beneath. 
 
It was also gathered that the rock has been in existence in Iberekodo community before the Egba people settled in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital around 1830 AD.

Latest-News 1000-year-old rock crushes mother, children to death in Ogun

Tragedy struck in Abeokuta, Ogun state after four persons, including mother, two children and a grandchild were crushed to death by over 1000 years old rock that tipped off its base and rammed lethally on them after knocking down the wall of their b…

Banker steals employer’s N79 million

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A senior staff with the United Bank for Africa Plc, UBA, Anslem Ekenna, 36,has been arrested by the police from the Lion Building Division, Lagos Island, western Nigeria, drawing the sum of N79m from the account of his employer without authorization. 
 
Police alleged that the suspect unlawfully hacked into the account of his employer to fraudulently transfer the money to various accounts from where he withdrew the money and converted it to his personal use and escaped. 
 
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The alleged crime, according to the police, was perpetrated in September, 2015 at the bank’s branch at Idowu Taylor Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. 
 
Police further alleged that the fraud was uncovered when the management of the bank audited their account book. 
 
The bank immediately sacked the suspect and reported the matter to the police. 
 
Following a complaint, the divisional police officer in charge of Lion Building Division, Lagos Island, SP Tanaruno Anthonia, directed a team led by Sgt. Olaoye Rafiu to track and arrest the suspect anywhere he may be found. 
 
The suspect was arrested at a hideout in Lagos and taken to the station. 
 
The suspect, a resident of Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, was arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on a three-count charge of felony to wit: stealing. 
 
The prosecutor S. Molo said the offences are punishable under sections 409, 285(5)(e) and 338 of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011. 
 
The accused however pleaded not guilty to the crime in the open court. 
 
Chief magistrate Mrs. A. O. Sholadoye, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a chartered accountant. 
 
Sholadoye adjourned the case to 11 November, 2015 for mention while the defendant was taken to Ikoyi prison pending when he will fulfill his bail condition.

Latest-News Banker steals employer’s N79 million

A senior staff with the United Bank for Africa Plc, UBA, Anslem Ekenna, 36,has been arrested by the police from the Lion Building Division, Lagos Island, western Nigeria, drawing the sum of N79m from the account of his employer without authorization…

Issa Hayatou “delighted” at assuming FIFA command

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Issa Hayatou says he is “delighted” to step up to become acting FIFA president following Sepp Blatter’s suspension. 
 
The 69-year-old Cameroonian head of the Confederation of African Football has taken temporary charge of the sport’s world governing body as it wrestles with mounting sleaze allegations after Blatter’s 90-day ban from FIFA’s ethics committee. 
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“I’m really very delighted to have this responsibility,” Hayatou told Cameroon television during a visit to Yaounde on Friday. 
 
“I know what’s expected of me because I know FIFA. I will do everything to be able to live up to the confidence that the (FIFA) regulations have given me.” 
 
“It’s up to the president to ensure everything runs correctly, but one person isn’t able to do this enormous task, we are 209 associations around the world, so I can’t say I’m going to do everything, one has to be modest, and rely on the existing structures.” 
 
Hayatou took command of FIFA on Thursday after Blatter was suspended for 90 days as Swiss prosecutors investigate him for criminal mismanagement. 
 
He insisted he had nothing to worry about in terms of the corruption scandal engulfing FIFA. 
 
“I’m at ease, do you think with all that’s happened the investigators would let me take up this post if they had the slightest suspicion about me?” 
 
Hayatou is expected at FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Tuesday.

Latest-News Issa Hayatou “delighted” at assuming FIFA command

Issa Hayatou says he is “delighted” to step up to become acting FIFA president following Sepp Blatter’s suspension. The 69-year-old Cameroonian head of the Confederation of African Football has taken temporary charge of the sport’s world governing b…

NAHCON transports 36,000 pilgrims back to Nigeria

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The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria on Saturday said it had so far transported 36,269 pilgrims from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, back to Nigeria. 
 
The commission had transported more than 66,000 Nigerians to Saudi Arabia for the 2015 Hajj. 
 
The Director, Public Affairs of the commission, Alhaji Uba Mana, said this while fielding questions from the News agency of Nigeria in Mecca. 
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Mana said the exercise had been hitch-free since its commencement on Monday, September 28, adding that the pilgrims had been transported in 93 flights. 
 
He said the commission had started transporting pilgrims from Kano on October 9, while most of the pilgrims from Lagos, Ogun, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kogi, Abuja, Gombe, Bauchi, Katsina. Borno, Nassarawa and Jigawa were transported back home. 
 
Mana said the exercise would be concluded on schedule, stressing that air carriers had been working hard to achieve that. 
 
He urged pilgrims not to carry Zamzam water to Jeddah or Madinah airports as 5-litre gallon of the water would be given to each pilgrim at Nigerian airports. 
 
He also urged the pilgrims not to exceed 32 kilogrammes for main luggage and 8 kilogrammes for hand luggage. 
 
NAN reports that about three million Muslims from across the world participated in this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia. 
 
Most of them had gone through Madinah to visit the tomb of the Messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad (SAW), other important Islamic sites and offered prayers before proceeding to Mecca for the pilgrimage. 
 
Others who could not visit Madinah before Arafat were expected to do so before leaving Saudi Arabia to their respective countries. 
 
(NAN)

Latest-News NAHCON transports 36,000 pilgrims back to Nigeria

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria on Saturday said it had so far transported 36,269 pilgrims from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, back to Nigeria. The commission had transported more than 66,000 Nigerians to Saudi Arabia for the 2015 Hajj. The Director, …

APC govt completely bereft of ideas – PDP

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The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has again lampooned the All Progressives Congress, APC led government, saying it was now clear to Nigerians that the administration was completely bereft of ideas needed to effectively manage the nation. 
 
According to PDP, the action of government in the last five months has led to a sudden decline in the economy, general anxiety, prevailing unhappiness and grumbling among Nigerians across board. 
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In a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party noted that APC’s citizens’ disenchantment has been a cause for serious for Nigerians, just as it decried what the PDP termed, APC’s arrogance and insensitivity to Nigerians. 
According to Metuh, the prevailing widespread disenchantment being expressed by Nigerians over the inept handling of governance and insincerity so far exhibited by the APC -led Federal Government has become a huge source of worry for the health of the nation. 
 
Metuh said: “The party notes that the attitude of the APC administration to governance in the last five months and the feelings of a cross section of Nigerians underscore the fact that the PDP, notwithstanding the setback of the last general elections, remains the only true pan-Nigeria vehicle that guarantees the unity, stability and prosperity of the nation as well as the welfare of individual Nigerians, irrespective of class, creed and tribe. 
 
“It now manifest to all that the APC administration is completely bereft of ideas needed to effectively manage the nation, a consequence of which is the sudden decline in the economy, general anxiety and prevailing unhappiness and grumbling among the citizens across board. 
 
“The apparent lack of capacity and ingenuity by this APC government to run the affairs of our dear nation has become evident in the myriads of political and economic glitches that have bedeviled the polity since it took office on May 29. 
 
“Nigerians, going by their comments, are deeply disturbed that instead of focusing on issues that directly touch on their lives, especially given its long list of campaign promises, the APC administration has remained high on propaganda, violating the constitution for partisan capital, hounding perceived political enemies; while at the same time continuing in their trick of hoodwinking the populace, using their so-called body language theory in the attempt to appropriate achievements of the previous PDP administration. 
 
“In the last five months under the watch of the APC, the polity has become shambolic, with official reports showing sudden decline in the economy with spiral rate of inflation, stagnation in domestic and foreign direct investments, halt in infrastructure development projects in most parts of the country, with investors scared away due to the prevailing uncertainty arising from government’s inability to articulate a precise economic policy direction. 
 
“Even more pathetic is the fact that this government has been unable to pursue any investment in any of the critical sectors, eliciting public fears of serious economic crisis in the coming years. This is in addition to the heart-breaking fact that the APC administration, in its apparent insincerity, has been attempting to disown its list of campaign promises upon which it rode to power. 
 
“Instead, what we witness is an appalling cosmetic governance, where endless drama and theatrics of the APC government have reduced governance to an unproductive reality show, which lack even the basic production quality of regular Telemundo shows. 
 
“This administration has shown itself to be the most unprepared government in the history of our country since independence, be it military or civilian. This is a verifiable fact and we challenge the APC to prove us wrong by showing Nigerians any government that they are better than, in terms of organization, direction, performance or any other indices within the period of their first five months in office. 
 
“We now have a situation where routine and mundane duties and appointments by government have become subjects of major national discussions, while the main business of governance suffers, with persons claiming closeness to the seat of power perpetuating financial sleazes in the system under the so-called “New Sherriff”. 
 
“Unfolding events are beginning to show to Nigerians that the APC is indeed not the desirable alternative to the PDP, but a band of power grabbers, who swindled the electorate to get into office using false promises and propaganda. This is more so as it has become obvious, given its arrogance, that the APC has no predisposition to change from the insincerity, ineptitude and undemocratic tendencies it has exhibited in the last five months. 
 
“It is on this note that we charge all our members to close ranks and remain committed to the ongoing rebuilding effort in our great party in the interest of our nation and the welfare of all citizens. 
 
“As a party built on the strength of the people as the driving force of democracy, our interest, at all times lies on the overall wellbeing of the citizens. We are therefore reengineering and addressing all issues that led to our temporary setback while assuring Nigerians that we will, at the end of the day, present a stronger and more focused platform to rescue our dear nation from the APC and return power to the people, to whom it rightly belongs, come 2019.”

Latest-News APC govt completely bereft of ideas – PDP

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has again lampooned the All Progressives Congress, APC led government, saying it was now clear to Nigerians that the administration was completely bereft of ideas needed to effectively man…

Military in massive hunt for vandals, criminals

17:41 Unknown 0

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There is heavy presence of Nigerian military personnel in Ikorodu, a suburb of Lagos, western Nigeria, as they intensify massive hunt for vandals and criminals that have invaded the area in recent time. 
 
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Last month, vandals killed at least seven security operatives in Ikorodu and escaped through the Lagoon. 
 
The Lagos State Government has urged residents of Ikorodu not to panic over the heavy presence of security operatives in Ikorodu and its environs, saying the onslaught is part of efforts to liberate residents from hoodlums, pipeline vandals and other undesirable elements that have continued to make the town the base of their nefarious activities. 
 
The Lagos State Commissioner for Police, Fatai Owoseni, says residents of Ikorodu should not panic as they should expect sporadic gunshots sometimes as the security operatives were fully ready to dislodge vandals and criminals from the town. 
 
An emergency State Security Council meeting was held Saturday at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos, with the Director, State Security Service, Mr. Kunle Ajanaku; Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni; the Chief of Staff, Mr Samuel Olukunle Ojo; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, among others present. 
 
According to Owoseni at the end of the meeting, the state government said it was committed to ensuring that the hoodlums terrorising Ikorodu, disturbing the peace in the town and making life unbearable for residents, did not have a field day any longer. 
 
He said that security surveillance would be carried out 24 hours throughout the week, adding that the activities of the hoodlums and the criminal elements in the area had become unacceptable and uncontrollable, “hence government cannot fold its arms, but take necessary actions by deploying security operatives to the area.” 
 
“Government will not allow criminal elements in the state and we want to say that the immunity for the vandals is over, the arbitrary and uncontrollable rape, vandalism and harassment is over,” he said. 
Owoseni appealed to residents not to panic as they might witness or hear sporadic gun shots, urging them to go on with their normal activities. 
 
He, however, cautioned them to restrict their movements to areas where the operations were not intensive. 
 
Assuring residents that innocent citizens would not be harassed or molested during the operations, the police boss said it had become necessary to restrict the operations of tricycles and motorcycles (okada) throughout the period of the onslaught so as to prevent the fleeing hoodlums from using them as get-away transport. 
 
He said the restrictions on both okada and tricycle operations in the area would be total, urging residents to consider the inconveniences witnessed as a result of the restrictions as a necessary sacrifice. 
 
“Residents are advised to restrict their movement and be informed also that we are going to restrict the use of both motorcycle (okada) and tricycles (Keke Marwa) in the area to ensure optimal and maximum performance during the operation. 
 
“As government, we are concerned about the security situation in the state especially the activities of hoodlums and vandals in the area. We are assuring residents that the end of such activities is near and it won’t be business as usual in the area. They should not panic as we have directed security operatives in the area not to harm innocent civilians but make security of lives of the people their utmost concern,” he said.

Latest-News Military in massive hunt for vandals, criminals

There is heavy presence of Nigerian military personnel in Ikorodu, a suburb of Lagos, western Nigeria, as they intensify massive hunt for vandals and criminals that have invaded the area in recent time. Last month, vandals killed at least seven secu…

Death toll from twin blasts in Turkey rises to 86

17:41 Unknown 0

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The death toll from twin blasts in the Turkish capital Ankara on Saturday rose to 86, while 186 others were injured, the Turkish Health Ministry said. 
 
The explosions hit a train station where several unions, civil society organizations and pro-Kurdish People’s Democracy Party were due to hold a rally, private Dogan news agency reported. 
 
The rally aimed at protesting conflict between the state and Kurdish militants in southeast Turkey. 
 
There were no claims of responsibility for the attack. 
<a name='more' id="more"></a> 
 
Witnesses said the first blast took place in front of a train station and the second occurred across the station. 
 
Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan condemned the attack, which he said targeted the unity of the country. 
 
Turkey is set to hold snap elections on Nov. 1 amid increased tension and polarization among major political parties that failed to form a coalition government in June elections. 
 
Turkey resumed offensive against the outlawed Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) in late July after two policemen were killed by the terrorist group, apparently in retaliation for a suicide bombing in the Suruc district of southeastern province Sanliurfa on July 20, which killed 34 pro-Kurdish activists and was blamed on the Islamic State (IS). 
 
Violence has since escalated sharply, with the PKK stepping up attacks on security forces. More than 100 members of Turkish security have been killed in clashes. 
 
The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. 
 
(Xinhua)

Latest-News Death toll from twin blasts in Turkey rises to 86

The death toll from twin blasts in the Turkish capital Ankara on Saturday rose to 86, while 186 others were injured, the Turkish Health Ministry said. The explosions hit a train station where several unions, civil society organizations and pro-Kurdi…

Veteran sports journalist, Felix Okugbe dies after battle with cancer

17:41 Unknown 0

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Veteran on-air personality, Felix Okugbe, is dead. 
 
The Mundial Sports International boss was reported to have died in the wee hours of today, October 10, 2015. 
<a name='more' id="more"></a> 
 
According to reliable sources, Okugbe passed-on to the great after prolonged illness which was reported to be protracted cancer. 
 
The deceased covered international competitions such as the UEFA champions league, FIFA World Cup, the Olympics Games and the All Africa Games. 
 
Okugbe was also The Head of Sports of DAAR Communications and RAY Power. 
 
He was survived by a wife and children.

Latest-News Veteran sports journalist, Felix Okugbe dies after battle with cancer

Veteran on-air personality, Felix Okugbe, is dead. The Mundial Sports International boss was reported to have died in the wee hours of today, October 10, 2015. According to reliable sources, Okugbe passed-on to the great after prolonged illness whic…

North Korea showcases new ‘nuclear’ long-range missile

14:32 Unknown 0

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North Korea on Saturday showed off what it said were long-range ballistic missiles carrying miniaturised nuclear warheads, its latest claim to the sophisticated technology which state television said could destroy enemies in a “sea of fire”. 
 
Rows of the intercontinental ballistic missiles known as KN-08, which some think could fly far enough to reach the continental US, were paraded through the capital as part of a massive military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers Party. 
<a name='more' id="more"></a> 
 
A defence analyst in Seoul said the new missile appeared to have been modified to allow it to be fitted with a miniature nuclear warhead — a claim echoed by North Korea’s state TV — but others experts said it was impossible to tell. 
 
North Korea has long claimed it has technology capable of launching nuclear bombs at its distant enemies, but experts are sceptical whether the impoverished country has acquired the sophisticated technology needed to produce such weapons. 
 
“With the vengeful desire to turn the citadel of our enemies into a sea of fire, our powerful tactical rockets loaded with diversified and miniaturised nuclear warheads are on the move,” the commentator said, as rows of missiles were shown on screen. 
 
Leader Kim Jong-Un on Saturday told crowds assembled for the parade that the country’s armed forces “are capable of fighting any kind of war provoked by the US and we are ready to protect our people and the blue sky of our motherland”. 
 
Lee Il-Woo, a defence analyst at Korea Defence Network, said the new version of the KN-08 — which has an estimated range of up to 12,000 kilometres (7,500 miles) — had a more rounded end than the version unveiled in 2012. 
 
“This means North Korea might have successfully developed technology to minimise nuclear warheads and fit them on top of missiles,” he told AFP. 
 
But another analyst, Chae Yeon-Seok at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, cautioned that the missiles might be mock-ups. 
 
“You never know what is inside by just looking at them. It has never been verified that North Korea has developed any nuclear-tipped ICBMs,” he said, using a short-hand for intercontinental ballistic missile. 
 
Seoul’s Yonhap news agency, quoting military sources, also said it remains unclear whether the warheads on display might be ordinary explosives or nuclear devices. 
 
“Its cone has a different shape now. We need further analysis to determine whether it is filled with ordinary high explosives or a nuclear warhead,” the military official said. 
 
(AFP)

Latest-News North Korea showcases new ‘nuclear’ long-range missile

North Korea on Saturday showed off what it said were long-range ballistic missiles carrying miniaturised nuclear warheads, its latest claim to the sophisticated technology which state television said could destroy enemies in a “sea of fire”. Rows of…

In 2013 a prophecy was made that I will be vice president of Nigeria, but I didn’t take it seriously - Osinbajo

14:01 Unknown 0

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The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Christians to reciprocate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross by being righteous and worshipping him. 
 
Osinbajo made the call on Friday night at the Pan African Gathering Conference for 2015 of House of Revival Church, Brakpan, South Africa. 
 
He said that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was profound because He was crucified for the sins of the world. 
<a name='more' id="more"></a> 
 
According to Osinbajo, the prophetic gathering was special because God works in a miraculous way. 
 
“ This prophetic gathering is very special indeed. One of the reasons why it is special is because it just shows you God works. 
 
“ God doesn’t look at size, he doesn’t look at anything fancy, he just does it in accordance with His grace and mercy. 
 
“ I was sitting here in 2013 when a prophecy was made that I will be vice president of Nigeria and I didn’t take it seriously,“ he said. 
 
Osinbajo, who said the prophecy had shown that God works in an incredible way, added that the head of the church at the end of March 2015 predicted that there would be a mighty honour for him. 
 
The vice president prayed that God should bless that gathering and answer their prayers. 
 
“I want us to bear in mind that what makes Jesus Christ special and what makes that sacrifice special is because Christ is so life transforming and Christ is God almighty,“ he said. 
 
The General Overseer of the House of Revival Church, Pastor Daniel Awusanya, said he was linked with Nigeria 16 years ago when he worked with Osinbajo at the Redeemed Christian Church of God. 
 
He said God was building a new Africa and would make it a unique continent. 
 
“ God said he will build a new Nigeria, a Nigeria of honour. This government will be one of the best in Africa, with honour and integrity,“ he said. 
 
Awusanya prayed God to give Osinbajo divine wisdom to contribute to the building of a new Nigeria. 
 
The President of Nigeria Union in South Africa, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, and some executive members attended the service.

Latest-News In 2013 a prophecy was made that I will be vice president of Nigeria, but I didn’t take it seriously - Osinbajo

The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Christians to reciprocate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross by being righteous and worshipping him. Osinbajo made the call on Friday night at the Pan African Gathering Conference for 2015 of House of Revival …

Platini fights ban as FIFA plunged into chaos

14:01 Unknown 0

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UEFA chief Michel Platini has appealed against a 90-day ban slapped on him over an ongoing corruption probe, as FIFA gears up for a crunch meeting over its raging sleaze crisis. 
 
The news comes a day after FIFA president Sepp Blatter also launched an appeal against a simliar 90-day ban from all football-related activities over a Swiss criminal inquiry. 
 
The bans on Blatter and Platini — the two most powerful men in world football — were announced by FIFA on Thursday as its ethics watchdog geared up its investigation into fraud and corruption at the heart of the organisation. 
 
<a name='more' id="more"></a> 
 
 
The 60-year-old Platini, a frontrunner to succeed Blatter as chief of football’s scandal-tainted world governing body, denies any wrongdoing in taking a $2 million payment from FIFA in 2011. 
The former France skipper has slammed the ban as “farcical”, insisting the payment was legitimate, and on Saturday a close associate said an official appeal had been lodged at FIFA’s Zurich headquarters. 
 
Much now hangs on a crunch October 20 meeting of FIFA’s ruling executive committee — announced late on Friday following pressure from influential regional and national federations. 
The fate of the election to replace Blatter — slated for February 26 — could depend on the summit, with some senior FIFA figures suggested the committee could debate postponing the vote. 
 
Interim FIFA president Issa Hayatou, who Friday insisted ongoing health problems would not stop him doing the high-pressure job, is rushing from his native Cameroon to take the reins at FIFA HQ and is expected in Zurich on Tuesday. 
 
The dramatic suspension of Blatter and Platini along with FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke was the latest blow to an organisation reeling from months of scandal. 
 
The crisis has been building since May, when US authorities announced charges against 14 officials and sports marketing executives over bribery allegations amounting to more than $150 million. 
 
The suspensions handed out on Thursday can be renewed for another 45 days when they run out in January, which would take the exclusion until just before the FIFA election. 
 
– Appeals – 
 
Should either Blatter or Platini see their appeal rejected, they would still have the right to take their cases before the final-instance Court of Arbritation for Sport (CAS), based in Lausanne. 
Adding to the controversy, Thursday’s purge by the ethics committee also felled South Korean tycoon Chung Mong-Joon — like Platini a candidate to replace Blatter — who was banned from football activities for six years. 
 
Furious Chung has vowed to sue FIFA and take his case to CAS. 
There was further drama on Friday as the ethics committee rejected Blatter’s claims he was not allowed to give evidence before he was banned, saying he was given “all his rights”. 
 
 
There were reports the 79-year-old Blatter, head of FIFA since 1998, had complained that he only found out about his suspension after it was made public. 
 
But ethics committee spokesman Andreas Bantel said Blatter had been given the chance to put his case on October 1. 
 
Platini also “had the very same rights” at an interview on the same day, Bantel said. 
The former Juventus star had presented himself as the man to clean up FIFA but a cloud now hangs over his candidacy, though he insists he will press on with his bid for Blatter’s hotseat. 
 
He was named in a Swiss probe into Blatter for criminal mismanagement over the $2 million payment which Platini says was payment for consulting work he undertook years earlier. 
 
But his candidacy still needs to come under the microscope of FIFA’s elections commission who will examine his suitability. 
 
Blatter, who decided to quit in June just days after being reelected, has so far resisted calls from major sponsors including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Visa for him to step down immediately.

Latest-News Platini fights ban as FIFA plunged into chaos

UEFA chief Michel Platini has appealed against a 90-day ban slapped on him over an ongoing corruption probe, as FIFA gears up for a crunch meeting over its raging sleaze crisis. The news comes a day after FIFA president Sepp Blatter also launched an…

Fuel scarcity hits Osun

14:01 Unknown 0

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Fuel scarcity has hit Osun State, crippling business activities in the state in the past few days, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. 
 
Attendants at some filling stations in Osogbo blamed the scarcity on what they described as a subtle protest by petroleum marketers, who were anticipating a downward review of the pump price of fuel. 
 
A source familiar with the development said Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria in Osun had since directed its members to stop lifting fuel. 
<a name='more' id="more"></a> 
 
NAN reports that virtually all filling stations along Gbongan-Osogbo Road, including the NNPC Mega Station, had stopped selling fuel since October 6. 
 
At the ancient city of Ile-Ife, long queues could be seen at various communities, while filling stations along Ede road were under lock and key. 
 
Only one filling station was selling fuel at Ikirun but the station closed early on Saturday. 
 
Long queues were also seen at Ilesa, Oke-Ogbo and Ijebu-Ijesa Road. 
 
(NAN)

Latest-News Fuel scarcity hits Osun

Fuel scarcity has hit Osun State, crippling business activities in the state in the past few days, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. Attendants at some filling stations in Osogbo blamed the scarcity on what they described as a subtle protest by pe…

VP Osinbajo urges Christians to reciprocate Christ`s sacrifice

13:46 Unknown 0

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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Christians to reciprocate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross by being righteous and worshipping him. 
 
Osinbajo made the call on Friday night at the Pan African Gathering Conference for 2015 of House of Revival Church, Brakpan, South Africa. 
<a name='more' id="more"></a> 
 
He said that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was profound because He was crucified for the sins of the world. 
 
According to Osinbajo, the prophetic gathering was special because God works in a miraculous way. 
 
“ This prophetic gathering is very special indeed. One of the reasons why it is special is because it just shows you God works.

Latest-News VP Osinbajo urges Christians to reciprocate Christ`s sacrifice

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Christians to reciprocate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross by being righteous and worshipping him. Osinbajo made the call on Friday night at the Pan African Gathering Conference for 2015 of House of Revival Chur…

Chelsea still title favourites - Cech

13:33 Unknown 0

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Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech says he is surprised by the Blues' poor start to the season, but insists they are still favourites to win the title. 
 
The reigning Premier League champions have had a disastrous start to the campaign and sit 16th in the table, having won twice from their opening eight games. 
 
Jose Mourinho has admitted the run of form is the worst period of his career, but has maintained he will not resign from his role. 
 
And Cech, who left the club in the summer to join Arsenal, is confident the Stamford Bridge outfit will get out of the situation and challenge for the title. 
 
<a name='more' id="more"></a> 
 
"Their form surprises me because Chelsea are among the best in the Premier League," he told iDNES. 
 
"I am no longer there, so it is hard for me to evaluate what is going on. Anyway, the season is long and Chelsea are still favourites in my eyes." 
 
However, the Czech Republic international is happy with his new side's current form and still feels his they can put up a fight to win the league this term too. 
 
"After the first defeat for us against West Ham, everyone said that we can never win anything big. Now we are again being compared to the most famous Arsenal, who didn't lose during one season. 
 
"I just know that we have a team that can fight for the title until last round." 
 
"Twice Arsene Wenger has decided that David Ospina play in the Champions League over me and I have to respect that. In such a big team and in such a long season it is not possible for a man to play all the time, though I obviously wanted to." 
 
 
(Goal.com)

Latest-News Chelsea still title favourites - Cech

Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech says he is surprised by the Blues' poor start to the season, but insists they are still favourites to win the title. The reigning Premier League champions have had a disastrous start to the campaign and sit 16th i…

Nigerian Senate to LiveStream Ministerial Screening + You can send in questions you would like to ask nominees

13:33 Unknown 0

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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">The 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has announced that the screening and confirmation process of the first batch of ministerial nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari to serve in his cabinet shall be streamed live on the National Assembly website.<a href="http://www.nass.gov.ng/" rel="noreferrer" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Www.nass.gov.ng</a> and <a href="http://www.senate.gov.ng/" rel="noreferrer" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Www.Senate.gov.ng</a></div>
<a href="http://www.senate.gov.ng/" rel="noreferrer" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a><a name='more'></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a></blockquote>
Additionally, on Friday, the Senate through its official Twitter account @NGRSenate, has also announced that the general public would be able to send in questions they would like to ask nominees by forwarding same to their Senators using the hashtag: #MinisterialScreening. All questions must be received before 5pm on Monday. 
 
The @NGRSenate Twitter handle will also be providing live tweets throughout the screening process. 
 
Nigerians would recall that the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, took office amidst a pledge to reform the Senate and make its processes more transparent, inclusive and visible by employing e-Parliamentary technology in the Upper Chambers. Since then, the Senate President has tasked the Committee on Rules and Business to develop an e-Parliamentary system that can be employed at Senate Plenary sessions. 
 
This screening will create an avenue for Nigerians from all works of life to partake in governance, as the bridge between representatives and constituents will be bridged; with Senators asking questions sourced from Nigerians on Social Media. Additionally, the submitted resumes of candidates will be made available in the public space for Nigerians to examine. 
 
Bloggers and news organizations that are interested in Live Blogging or Live Tweeting, or those interested in plugging into the livestreaming of the Ministerial screening are asked to contact the New Media Office of the Senate President for entry passes to the National Assembly, and the Senate gallery. All requests must be submitted by 5pm on Monday. 
 
Signed, 
Bamikole Omishore 
Special Assistant on New Media 
Office of the Senate President

Latest-News Nigerian Senate to LiveStream Ministerial Screening + You can send in questions you would like to ask nominees

The 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has announced that the screening and confirmation process of the first batch of ministerial nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari to serve in his cabinet shall be streamed live on the National Assem…

Chibok girls alive; Many impregnated, carrying VVF, other diseases – Escapee Chibok girl reveals

13:16 Unknown 0

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 There were indications weekend that many of the 200 girls of the Government Secondary School, Chibok abducted in April 2014, are alive and holed up in the Lake Chad region of the North-East epicentre of the battle to dislodge Boko Haram terrorists from Nigeria. 
 
Our source revealed that the girls who were relocated from the initial Sambisa Camps of the terrorists, following unrelenting bombardments by air and land operations, have been relocated to Lake Chad area with some of the girls spread along border communities. 
 
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It was gathered that about two weeks ago, one of the abducted girls who was formerly kept in a Sambisa forest camp, escaped from the hands of the abductors and ran into the hands of some Fulani herdsmen. It was the Fulani herdsmen having confirmed that the girl was a Chibok girl, who assisted her to get to the Baga military base of the multi-national Joint Task Force. 
 
At the Baga base, the escapee girl was said to have confessed that many of them were forcefully married to the terrorists who not only impregnated them but infected some of them with different diseases. On her part, she was not only impregnated, but she got the VVF disease from one of the terrorists. 
 
According to the escapee, at the camp where she escaped from there were about 60 of the girls while others were shared and moved to border communities. Narrating more tales of woes on what the Chibok girls went through and are still going through in the hands of the terrorists, the source said though the Chibok girl had just put to bed, the VVF (Vesicant Virginal Fistula) disease with which she was infected by the terrorist had made her uncomfortable hence her decision to flee to seek for medical help, as she was repeatedly passing solid waste uncontrollably. 
 
Continuing, the source said, “When the Fulani herdsman saw the girl in the bush and questioned her about her mission, she narrated her experience, which made the herdsman to take her to the soldiers in that area. With her escape, there are now 59 of the girls left in her camp.” 
 
Emphasizing that almost all of the girls have been married out to the Boko Harram terrorists while quite a number of them have delivered babies, the escapee told security agencies that the girls were always moved from place to place in the Sambisa forest during the bombardments but that when the heat was too much, they were all moved out of the forest. 
 
The escapee further disclosed to security agencies that Boko Haram terrorists have been seriously weakened and are now moving from place to place aimlessly like lost sheep, planting mines and IEDs (improvised explosive devices) which some security forces have mistakenly fallen prey to. 
 
“All of us were forced to become Muslims but kept in camps far from each other”, she revealed. “You can only see and recognize those in your camp as any of us who refused being Islamized was either beheaded or shot at point blank range.” 
 
She revealed further that the camps where the Chibok girls are now kept are in Kangoora, Mallam Fatori, Damasak, Tunbun Kaka and Tumbum Gira. Many of these towns are located in the border communities around Lake Chad with some in Nigeria and others in Chad. 
 
Culled from Vanguard

Latest-News Chibok girls alive; Many impregnated, carrying VVF, other diseases – Escapee Chibok girl reveals

There were indications weekend that many of the 200 girls of the Government Secondary School, Chibok abducted in April 2014, are alive and holed up in the Lake Chad region of the North-East epicentre of the battle to dislodge Boko Haram terrorists f…

You can't be happy after just burying your mother, then your coach humiliates you - Enyeama

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Latest-News You can't be happy after just burying your mother, then your coach humiliates you - Enyeama

…

I deserve ministerial nomination - Lai Mohammed

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The ministerial nominee from Kwara state and the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed insisted that he deserved the ministerial nomination from Kwara state which nobody,or group of persons could deny him. 
 
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Lai Mohammed in his reaction, to journalists in Ilorin, to counter protest against his ministerial nomination insisted that himself and his family registered in Oro, his hometown,adding that he contributed in no small means to the development of the party in his local government and the success of the member of house of representatives from that area and challenged the protesters‎ to cross check these facts. 
 
The ministerial nominee who admitted that he was not in Kwara state during the elections also said that his national assignment to the party during the period was more important than coming to cast a single vote in kwara state. 
 
He further said that since nobody could deny him of being a citizen of Kwara state, he reserved the right to stay in Lagos or any part of Nigeria and so he deserved the ministerial nomination. 
 
The APC spokesman also explained that the emergence of his son as a member of Lagos state house of assembly was his own political reward for his service to the people of the area which they willingly gave him,and so had nothing to do with his own nomination as a minister.

Latest-News I deserve ministerial nomination - Lai Mohammed

The ministerial nominee from Kwara state and the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed insisted that he deserved the ministerial nomination from Kwara state which nobody,or group of persons could deny him. Lai Mohammed in his reac…

India protests to Saudi after maid’s hand chopped off

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India said Friday it had lodged a protest with authorities in Riyadh after a maid from Tamil Nadu allegedly had her hand chopped off by her Saudi employer for complaining about her work conditions. 
 
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India’s foreign minister deplored a “brutal” attack on 55-year-old Kasthuri Munirathinam, who is being treated at a hospital in Riyadh, and which comes weeks after a Saudi diplomat based in New Delhi was accused of rape. 
 
“Chopping of the hand of an Indian lady — we are very much disturbed over the brutal manner in which this Indian lady has been treated in Saudi Arabia,” Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter. 
 
“This is unacceptable. We have taken this up with Saudi authorities,” Swaraj added. 
 
A spokesman for the foreign ministry confirmed that Indian diplomats in Riyadh had lodged a formal complaint at the Saudi foreign ministry. 
 
Munirathinam, who comes from a village in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, had suffered a catalogue of abuse since taking up a post as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia three months ago, according to her family. 
 
“Her right hand was chopped off by her employer when she tried to escape the daily harassment, torture and abysmal work conditions,” her sister S. Vijayakumari told AFP by phone from Tamil Nadu’s capital Chennai. 
 
Vijayakumari said that her sister had gone to Saudi Arabia to help pay off her family’s debts and she had been promised a monthly salary of around 180 dollars. 
 
“But she was not paid, she was barely given enough to eat and not even allowed to speak to her family … Now she only wants to come home,” Vijayakumari said. 
 
The family says that problems started for Munirathinam — who was one of five domestic workers in the same household — after she complained to the local authorities about her situation. 
 
Footage of Munirathinam lying in her Saudi hospital bed was broadcast by several Indian media outlets. 
 
Foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup confirmed to AFP that Munirathinam was still recuperating in the Riyadh hospital but said that efforts were being made to bring her home. 
 
“We are in touch with the woman, hospital and the local police authorities. She will get all possible legal and other help from the embassy,” Swarup said. 
 
Hundreds of thousands of Indian migrants work in households in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries but complaints about their treatment by their employers often make headlines back home. 
 
A video showing a male Indian worker being beaten by his Saudi employer went viral in September, sparking a widespread backlash on social media. 
 
There was also widespread anger last month when the first secretary at the Saudi embassy left India under diplomatic immunity after being accused of holding captive and raping two Nepalese maids in his home. 
 
(AFP)

Latest-News India protests to Saudi after maid’s hand chopped off

India said Friday it had lodged a protest with authorities in Riyadh after a maid from Tamil Nadu allegedly had her hand chopped off by her Saudi employer for complaining about her work conditions. India’s foreign minister deplored a “brutal” attack…

13 PDP Reps protest Amaechi’s nomination, send petition to Saraki

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Thirteen Peoples Democratic Party members of the House of Representatives from Rivers State on Friday protested the nomination of Mr. Rotimi Amaechi for appointment as a minister by submitting a petition to the Office of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki. 
 
Amaechi, the immediate past governor of the state, is among the 21 ministerial nominees President Muhammadu Buhari forwarded to the Senate last week. 
 
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The list was unveiled by Saraki on Tuesday this week. 
 
The petition by the Rivers legislators is among the rising number of petitions against the former governor, a development that may cause a rowdy session in the days ahead as senators begin the screening of the nominees. 
 
In the petition, the legislators called on the Senate to disqualify Amaechi on the grounds of having several corruption allegations against him. 
 
The petition, dated October 6, alleged among others, that Amaechi unlawfully sold government property during his tenure as a governor and that he showed disrespect for the rule of law. 
 
The petitioners are Betty Apiafi; Kingsley Chinda; Gogo Tamuno; Kenneth Chikere; Blessing Nsiegbe; Jacobson Nbina; Dumnamene Dekor; Awaji – Inombek Abiante; Uche Obi; Randolph Brown; Boniface Emerengwa; Jerome Eke; and Boma Goodhead. 
 
The petition partly read, “We, the Rivers State Caucus of the House of Representatives, have read with concern and utter disappointment, the nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari of Mr. Rotimi Amaechi as Rivers’ ministerial nominee and we deem it necessary to place on record that we vehemently protest the said nomination of Mr. Amaechi. 
 
“We believe that the war against corruption should be complete, total and nobody with a taint of corruption should be allowed to hold public office, not even on sympathy or compensatory grounds. 
 
“This is the reason the country waited patiently for about four months for Mr. President to painstakingly and very meticulously choose persons that are without blemish.” 
 
The lawmakers referred to the judicial commission of inquiry set up by the state government to investigate the sale of public property, noting that in spite of the allegations levelled against Amaechi, he did not appear before the panel to clear himself.

Latest-News 13 PDP Reps protest Amaechi’s nomination, send petition to Saraki

Thirteen Peoples Democratic Party members of the House of Representatives from Rivers State on Friday protested the nomination of Mr. Rotimi Amaechi for appointment as a minister by submitting a petition to the Office of the President of the Senate,…

Rivers orders Amaechi, others to return N97 Billion

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Rivers State Government on Friday ordered the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, former military administrator of the state, Anthony Ukpo (retd.) and others who had held public offices in the past to return N97bn. 
 
This is just as the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, had announced the suspension of some permanent secretaries said to have been indicted by the report of the Justice George Omereji commission of inquiry. 
 
The state government, who briefed newsmen shortly after the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, declared that the sum was misappropriated in the sale of Rivers State valued assets. 
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The State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Emma Okah, who spoke with newsmen after a White Paper was issued based on the report of the commission of inquiry, said Amaechi and others found to have been involved in the misappropriation of state funds must return them or face prosecution. 
 
The state governor had set up a judicial commission of inquiry into the sale of valued assets belonging to Rivers by the immediate past administration. 
 
Okah specifically said that the state government had ordered its Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Chinwe Aguma, SAN, to start the process of charging Amaechi and two others to court over the sale of the state gas turbine without due process. 
 
Though no ultimatum was given to the former governor and others indicted by the commission of inquiry to return the said funds, Okah added that an ex-commissioner for Finance, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside and Augustine Nwokocha, who was the immediate past commissioner for Power, would also be prosecuted. 
 
He explained that the state attorney general was expected to begin the process of recovering funds accruing from the sale of four gas turbines from Amaechi and the former commissioner for Power. 
 
According to him, “The Omereji commission had several terms of references and we will be taking them one after the other. The first term of reference is to ascertain the sale of the Omoku 150 megawatts gas turbine; Afam 360 megawatts gas turbine; Trans-Amadi 136 megawatts gas turbine and the Eleme 75 megawatts gas turbine by the administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi. 
 
“The commission finds as a fact that the sale of 70 per cent equity from the First Independent Power Limited in Omoku gas turbine, Trans-Amadi gas turbine, Afam Phase I gas turbine and Eleme gas turbine, have been very difficult to justify. 
 
“They have therefore recommended the review of the sale of the power assets and the Government of Rivers State has accepted that recommendation on the refunds of proceeds by Chibuike Amaechi, Chamberlain Peterside, and Augustine Nwokocha. In furtherance of these findings that the sale of the four gas turbines was unjustifiable and against the interest of the government and people of Rivers State. 
 
“The commission recommends that the former governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, along with his former commissioners for Finance and Power, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside and Augustine Nwokocha, respectively, should be held to account for their roles in the sales of the power generation assets of First Independent Power Limited and the disbursement of the proceeds there from. 
 
“Government accepts this recommendation and directs the office of the honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, to promptly set in motion the appropriate machinery for the recovery of the proceeds of the sale of the gas turbines from the former governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, and every other person implicated in the commission’s report.” 
 
Again, Okah disclosed that the state attorney general and commissioner for Justice had been instructed to recover the sum of N3bn from the former Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Emma Chinda, adding that the said amount meant for agricultural grant to farmers was diverted. 
 
The Housing commissioner pointed out that another commissioner under the Amaechi administration, Dr. Sampson Parker, who was in the Health Ministry should be made to return some amount of money running into billions of naira meant for the construction of the Justice Karibi-Whyte Hospital. 
 
He said the former commissioner for Transport, Mr. George Tolofari, and former military Governor of old Rivers State, Anthony Ukpo, were expected to join Amaechi in returning N33bn spent on the state monorail project without passing through due process. 
 
On the suspension of some permanent secretaries, Okah explained that the suspension would continue until when they would be able to defend themselves on the allegations against them. 
 
Reacting through a statement, Rotimi Amaechi’s Media Team described the claims by the commission as a mischief and a desperate tactic to reduce the former governor’s towering stature. 
 
Defending the governor on the alleged missing N53bn from the State Reserve Funds, the team said the withdrawals were duly approved by the State House of Assembly. 
 
“The statement credited to the panel’s chairman Justice Omeriji of a “missing” N53bn is unfortunate and leaves much to be desired. The mischief is all the more evident as the funds referred to are funds from the Rivers State reserve fund which was duly approved by the Rivers State House of Assembly and whose expenditure were duly captured and appropriated. 
 
“Ordinarily we might not have responded to the mischief of Mr. Wike knowing that having failed with his various desperate tactics to stop the nomination of the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi as a minister, he has embarked on this last ditch effort which is his trump card in the hope that it will diminish the former governor’s towering stature as a statesman and honest Nigerian. 
 
“Between 2013 and early 2015, the revenue accruing to the Government of Rivers State was cut in half due to dwindling federal allocation to states. From about an average of N20bn, the state began receiving between N9 and N10bn. By the middle of the first quarter of 2015, the state revenue dipped to as low as N6bn. Salaries alone stood at over N9bn besides other expenses. 
 
“Government had set aside the reserve funds for the rainy day and had need to fall back to it to fund salaries and projects,,” the statement read.

Latest-News Rivers orders Amaechi, others to return N97 Billion

Rivers State Government on Friday ordered the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, former military administrator of the state, Anthony Ukpo (retd.) and others who had held public offices in the past to return N97bn. This is just…

NDLEA arrests Brazil-bound passenger with $34,000 in underwear

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a passenger for attempting to smuggle out 23 wraps containing $34,000 to Brazil. 
 
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This was contained in a statement by the Head, Public Affairs of NDLEA, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, on Friday in Lagos. 
 
The statement said the passenger, Ozoh Ikenna, was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, during the screening of passengers boarding Etihad Airways flight to Abu Dhabi. 
 
It said the money was packed in wraps and concealed in Ikenna’s boxer shorts. 
 
According to the statement, the NDLEA airport commander, Mr Ahmadu Garba, said the arrest was facilitated with the aid of a scanning machine. 
 
“The wraps of dollars found on Ikenna were detected with the aid of scanning machine. 
 
“We also conducted a follow-up operation where one Ogbo Emmanuel, who gave Ozoh the $34,000 was arrested,” the commander is quoted as saying. 
 
The statement said investigation conducted by the NDLEA’s Assets and Financial Investigation Directorate revealed that the suspects were involved in the laundering of substantial amount of illicit drug proceeds. 
 
“We were able to trace over N226m to one bank account belonging to the second suspect, Ogbo Emmanuel. 
 
“The account name is Eternal God International Limited,” the head of the directorate, Mrs Victoria Egbase, is quoted as saying. 
 
According to the statement, it was also discovered that suspected drug proceeds were regularly deposited in the said bank account by members of an international drug cell that smuggles cocaine from South America to West Africa. 
 
The statement quoted NDLEA’s Chairman, Mr Ahmadu Giade, as saying that the Agency was strategically targeting criminal wealth. 
 
(NAN)

Latest-News NDLEA arrests Brazil-bound passenger with $34,000 in underwear

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a passenger for attempting to smuggle out 23 wraps containing $34,000 to Brazil. This was contained in a statement by the Head, Public Affairs of NDLEA, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, on Friday in Lagos. T…

Buhari’s ministerial nominees are no pushovers – Ngige

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A former governor of Anambra State, Chris Ngige, on Friday said there was no pushover in the first batch of ministerial nominees forwarded to the Senate for screening by President Muhammadu Buhari. 
 
Mr. Ngige stated this while reacting to questions from State House Correspondents, after a closed door meeting with President Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 
 
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He said the nominees would assist the president to deliver on his campaign promises to Nigerians. 
“If you look at the list very critically, you will observe Mr. President wants to go his voyage with people who have cognate experience in governance. 
 
“When I mean cognate experience, we are talking of people who have been tested, tried and trusted by their various people. 
 
“So, I don’t think Nigerians should expect anything less than what Mr. President is already doing from that team. 
 
“The team will help Mr President to deliver on most of the promises he made to Nigerian people, in fact much more quickly than is even envisaged because I don’t think there is anybody on that list that you can call a pushover in terms of government business,’’ he said. 
 
Mr. Ngige, who is one of the ministerial nominees, frowned at those criticising the president for not attaching portfolio to the names of the nominees. 
 
According to him, the Constitution does not say that the President must attach portfolio. 
 
He said the constitution only prescribed that those to be appointed as ministers must have qualifications that would enable them to be members of the House of Representatives. 
 
“That is the minimum and you know that the age of the House of Representatives is lower than that of the Senate and the educational qualifications as enshrined in the Constitution. There is nothing there about not attaching portfolios. 
 
“The President is taking it slowly according to his words. When people say he his Baba go slow, he said; yes, yes that he will go slow and steadily and steadily we shall get there. 
 
“In other climes like America and other developed world, they attach portfolios and that is what their constitution says.’’ 
 
Mr. Ngige dismissed the insinuation that some of the ministerial nominees were “Analogue and old school’’. 
 
“Am I analogue? Don’t let Anambra people hear that you called me analogue. I am digital and I don’t know who is analogue on that list,’’ he concluded. (NAN)

Latest-News Buhari’s ministerial nominees are no pushovers – Ngige

A former governor of Anambra State, Chris Ngige, on Friday said there was no pushover in the first batch of ministerial nominees forwarded to the Senate for screening by President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr. Ngige stated this while reacting to questions f…

Drama in Ilorin as suspected robber falls from bank’s roof

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There was drama on Friday at the Unity Road Branch of Guaranty Trust Bank in Ilorin as a suspected robber fell from the bank’s roof, throwing the banking hall into pandemonium. NAN gathered that the suspect was hiding in the roof of the bank while waiting for his accomplices to commence a robbery operation when he fell. 
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A security man attached to the bank told NAN on condition of anonymity that the suspected robber must have been hiding in the roof overnight. He also said nobody knew how the suspect got into the roof of the bank as there was no sign of damage to any of the security doors in the bank. 
 
The security man said the suspect was promptly apprehended by some customers inside the banking hall and later handed over to the police. The Police Public Relations officer, ASP Okasanmi Ajayi, confirmed the incident to NAN. 
 
He said immediately the report reached the police command, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Esosa Amadasun, visited the bank. The police spokesman said nobody was injured in the incident while interrogation of the suspect had commenced. 
 
When NAN visited the bank, it was under lock while a security man was busy directing customers to the Taiwo Road branch of the bank. 
 
(NAN)

Latest-News Drama in Ilorin as suspected robber falls from bank’s roof

There was drama on Friday at the Unity Road Branch of Guaranty Trust Bank in Ilorin as a suspected robber fell from the bank’s roof, throwing the banking hall into pandemonium. NAN gathered that the suspect was hiding in the roof of the bank while w…

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