I’ll deal with officials extorting money from motorists, New LASTMA CEO

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lmpNGvys4G7SZ1Wsaaj2-y3tpYgsxM3zcnRvTHNPzVjUPLI97aKOlKk5_4ycR4w-w-6GK6-1KmgaI-lRBXu8hJ733nAEwPDHkVAPn7WZhneu7T1Cd_kieZS60jDXiFqzviqmn_a6r3D6/s1600/lastma3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lmpNGvys4G7SZ1Wsaaj2-y3tpYgsxM3zcnRvTHNPzVjUPLI97aKOlKk5_4ycR4w-w-6GK6-1KmgaI-lRBXu8hJ733nAEwPDHkVAPn7WZhneu7T1Cd_kieZS60jDXiFqzviqmn_a6r3D6/s400/lastma3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Rtd Assistant Inspector General of Police, Chris Olakpe has vowed to deal with any LASTMA officer caught extorting money from motorists.<br /> <br /> Olakpe said the era of LASTMA officials extorting money from motorists was over and that the officers must embrace discipline in the discharge of their duties.<br /> <br /> The LASTMA CEO who addressed staff on resumption of duty said the officers and rank and file of LASTMA must brace themselves for the upcoming task of removing traffic gridlocks and associated insecurity from the state roads.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> According to him, the officers must henceforth exhibit high level of discipline, commitment and dedication to duty, because gone were the days when officers engaged in extortions of motorists and idle on duty.<br /> <br /> The new CEO admonished staff to embrace the mantra of change that is blowing across the state or be swept off from duty due to their incorrigibility, while assuring them of his readiness to make the issue of staff welfare a priority.<br /> <br /> Olakpe advised traffic officers to implement the state traffic law with civility, decorum and respect to motorists and members of the public.<br /> <br /> “I am at LASTMA as part of the ongoing efforts to revamp, refocus, improved performance and better relations with the public. Therefore, every LASTMA official is a public relations of the Agency and must now perform the duty of enforcing traffic law within the ambit of the law,” he said.<br /> He promised to promote good relationship between the agency and other similar agencies in the state for better understanding, cooperation and improved service delivery.<br /> <br /> Olakpe further sought for support and cooperation of motorists and members of the public in the current effort of the agency to move the Lagos traffic forward.<br /> <br /> Receiving the new CEO, the General Manager, LASTMA, Mr. Braimah Bashir assured him of the readiness, support and cooperation of staff, especially now that the current administration wanted to use a seamless traffic to drive the state economy.

Latest-News I’ll deal with officials extorting money from motorists, New LASTMA CEO

The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Rtd Assistant Inspector General of Police, Chris Olakpe has vowed to deal with any LASTMA officer caught extorting money from motorists. Olak…

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Strike like thunder against Mali, Buhari instructs Osimhen

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSQI2LQpTklLK_RlCxIytcjj-RNcXhyphenhyphenbrB6E_BpsN4NJhaL_k6HNS4_eKRWrJHveeW2rEv9sb61Y6b5HmTas_CCydzEjGTD-tq-KuhKw2R8s5hcosOXVpLqnE_smt-VvUhBBLIiICVBd6/s1600/buhari+phone+call.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSQI2LQpTklLK_RlCxIytcjj-RNcXhyphenhyphenbrB6E_BpsN4NJhaL_k6HNS4_eKRWrJHveeW2rEv9sb61Y6b5HmTas_CCydzEjGTD-tq-KuhKw2R8s5hcosOXVpLqnE_smt-VvUhBBLIiICVBd6/s640/buhari+phone+call.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> For about 25 minutes on Saturday evening, President Muhammadu Buhari showed that he was more than a politician, he revealed ‘Buhari the football tactician’<br /> .<br /> Buhari who reeled tactics and discussed strategy with the team, instructed Nigeria and tournament top striker, Victor Osimhen to “strike like a thunder” against Mali in the final on Sunday.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Buhari spoke with the Golden Eaglets and their officials, urging them to strive for victory tomorrow in the final of the Under-17 FIFA World Cup holding in Chile.<br /> <br /> It would be recalled that Nigeria first won the same tournament in China in 1985, when President Buhari was military head of state, and he urged the team to repeat the same feat tomorrow against Mali, to make it the fifth time Nigeria will win the trophy.<br /> <br /> Starting with the head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, President Buhari congratulated him for leading the team to the final, and then said: “Your victory tomorrow will remind Nigerians of what happened in China 30 years ago, and it will raise the morale of Nigerians, especially the youths. We’re praying for you. We are anxiously waiting to receive the cup. Please put us on the world map of soccer again.”<br /> <br /> Speaking to Udoh Akpan, the goalkeeper, President Buhari said he was a very strategic member of the team, noting:”If you don’t let in the goals, then none will be scored against us. We look forward to lifting the cup.”<br /> <br /> To John Lazarus, a defender, the President said, “don’t allow anybody to penetrate the defense,” while charging Tobechukwu Ibe, another defender to “rest well today, because a lot of Nigerians will be depending on you tomorrow.”<br /> <br /> To top striker, Victor Osimhen, who has scored 9 goals so far, President Buhari said:”Strike like thunder tomorrow. I believe you will bring us victory.”<br /> <br /> The captain of the team, Kelechi Nwakali, was charged to maintain his winning leadership , while Joel Osikel, a midfielder, was told by the President that he was “the jewel of the team,” and challenged to contribute his quota towards victory.<br /> <br /> Apart from the 21 players and head coach, President Buhari also had encouraging words for other members of the technical team, the team doctor, physiotherapist, media officer, and other officials.<br /> Both Coach Amuneke and the team captain thanked President Buhari for his support, and promised not to let him and the country down.

Latest-News Strike like thunder against Mali, Buhari instructs Osimhen

For about 25 minutes on Saturday evening, President Muhammadu Buhari showed that he was more than a politician, he revealed ‘Buhari the football tactician’ . Buhari who reeled tactics and discussed strategy with the team, instructed Nigeria and tour…

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Taraba judgement clear miscarriage of justice – Fayose

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhzf0mNT5JUEd41ZfprruBPygC6cepFh242BewIywZIUAbGBRcy-UndzGfF-q5-OvXKqGbre_TP5foKahKzbDgNTm95BPpZukAZ-16pNGWJI1fq5aA1yoIeH5DS09yjY0nFfb1e64wKOA/s1600/fayose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhzf0mNT5JUEd41ZfprruBPygC6cepFh242BewIywZIUAbGBRcy-UndzGfF-q5-OvXKqGbre_TP5foKahKzbDgNTm95BPpZukAZ-16pNGWJI1fq5aA1yoIeH5DS09yjY0nFfb1e64wKOA/s640/fayose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Saturday described the tribunal judgement which sacked the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a ridiculous political judgement that can never stand before men of good conscience and God.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Fayose, who maintained that there was a conspiracy by the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government and a section of the judiciary against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), called on the Supreme Court to save the country from impending anarchy.<br /> <br /> In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor wondered how a tribunal could make conduct of the PDP primary that produced Governor Ishaku in Abuja an issue when the tribunal itself sat in Abuja.<br /> <br /> He said: “how does the emergence of party candidate, which is the clear internal business of the party and a pre-election matter concern the APC and the Election Tribunal?<br /> <br /> “Isn’t it funny that it is no longer about election rigging, but technicality of how PDP candidates emerged even when no one in the PDP went to court to challenge how Governor Ishaku emerged as the PDP governorship candidate?<br /> <br /> “If insecurity could make Taraba State Tribunal sit in Abuja and not in Jalingo, how then can it be justified that the same tribunal that sat in Abuja nullified the governor’s election because the primary election that produced him too was held in Abuja?<br /> <br /> “Is it not being manifested in this President Muhammadu Buhari led APC government that what is good for some people may not be good for others even though we operate the same constitution?<br /> <br /> “To me and the teeming supporters of the PDP, this judgement is one that must not be allowed to stand. It is a clear miscarriage of justice and we will seek redress from the court of men and the court of God.”<br /> <br /> While reiterating his commitment to speaking the truth in the overall interest of Nigerians, Governor Fayose said: “If everybody is persecuted and intimidated to submission, I will remain resolute in my resolved to always say the truth before men and God.”

Latest-News Taraba judgement clear miscarriage of justice – Fayose

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Saturday described the tribunal judgement which sacked the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a ridiculous political judgement that can never stand before men of go…

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Chelsea just three points from relegation zone after Stoke defeat

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nCsKmElAqI3cYTwjat_aB7fCKjaT_AzJ_UQO8L_oMAEOI2rovpJ9UibZo4Ir35kjA2UcR98tvbhQrCDkPGJRFN98eJ8ark0n7iVW9DAuQcPnco3i0aN_9s7w3JKJFPZxnBmV711g56JO/s1600/Marko-Arnautovic-504x296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nCsKmElAqI3cYTwjat_aB7fCKjaT_AzJ_UQO8L_oMAEOI2rovpJ9UibZo4Ir35kjA2UcR98tvbhQrCDkPGJRFN98eJ8ark0n7iVW9DAuQcPnco3i0aN_9s7w3JKJFPZxnBmV711g56JO/s640/Marko-Arnautovic-504x296.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <b>Talks of finishing in the top four for Chelsea is increasingly becoming unlikely after the defending champions lost 1-0 to Stoke City on Saturday.</b><br /> <br /> Chelsea looks far from conquering their demons in the current Barclays Premier League as they struggled to translate their early dominance into goals at the Britannia Stadium.<br /> <br /> The Blues were condemned by a 54th minute strike from Marko Arnautovic.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Defeat was the seventh in their first 12 Premier League matches for the Blues - the first time any defending champions have struggled so badly, as well as a personal unwanted record number of defeats in a league season for Mourinho.<br /> <br /> The last time Chelsea lost so many games so early in the campaign, 1978-79, they ended up being relegated - and although they will surely not suffer that same fate this term, they are now 16th in the table, just three points clear of the bottom three.<br /> <br /> Arnautovic's acrobatic goal ultimately proved the difference, as the Austrian forward scored with an excellent finish after 53 minutes.<br /> <br /> Pedro shot against the post as Chelsea pushed for a leveller late on, but that was the closest they went to finding an equaliser.<br /> <br /> The absent Mourinho made two changes to his starting line-up, bringing in Eden Hazard and Pedro for Cesc Fabregas and Oscar, who both dropped to the bench.<br /> <br /> Stoke were unchanged, with Jon Walters starting in attack following the news earlier on Saturday that he had signed a new contract with the club until 2018.<br /> <br /> The hosts made a bright start, as Xherdan Shaqiri shot off-target, before Glen Johnson collected a pass from Bojan, turned on to his left foot and sent a placed shot towards the corner to force Asmir Begovic into a diving one-handed save against his former club.<br /> <br /> It was then home goalkeeper Jack Butland's turn to impress when he got up well to push a dipping long-range effort from Ramires over the crossbar.<br /> <br /> Walters headed onto the roof of the net after good work from Shaqiri down the right, while Diego Costa’s shot was saved by Butland with his legs prior to half-time, and Stoke then opened the scoring eight minutes after the break.<br /> <br /> A superb slide-rule pass from Shaqiri found Johnson in space on the right and the former Liverpool defender's cross was helped on by Walters before bouncing to Arnautovic. The Austrian netted with an excellent scissor kick – his first home goal in the Premier League for 18 months.<br /> <br /> The visiting fans responded immediately with chants in support of their under-pressure manager, and Matic shot straight at Butland as Chelsea sought a response before Hazard lashed a shot off target.<br /> <br /> They thought they had levelled soon afterwards when Willian found Pedro and the former Barcelona forward unleashed a left-footed attempt from the edge of the area, but the ball struck the foot of the post and bounced to safety.<br /> <br /> Rui Faria and Steve Holland - taking charge of the champions in Mourinho's absence - brought on Fabregas, Oscar and Loic Remy in the closing stages as they attempted to turn the game around and Hazard shot just wide after a neat passing move with 10 minutes to go.<br /> <br /> Walters missed the target with a presentable opportunity to put the game beyond doubt at the other end after being found by substitute Mame Biram Diouf, before Remy - off-balance after being clipped as he attempted to round Butland - passed up the last big opportunity to save Chelsea as their terrible start to the season continued.

Latest-News Chelsea just three points from relegation zone after Stoke defeat

Talks of finishing in the top four for Chelsea is increasingly becoming unlikely after the defending champions lost 1-0 to Stoke City on Saturday. Chelsea looks far from conquering their demons in the current Barclays Premier League as they struggle…

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REVEALED: The real reasons why APC’s Alhassan was declared Taraba governor

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjidjmycp8QzFPH3pg-R9HqLvBDRBCQyyd2RaDsXX_KJKUnYMFO96K2aK2_4tzeGNelcF9OW9am9DyjcpmZttQGfkPGh_5xpF_RM1N-dKJSCvUsb25nTRymc-lQqBZr8h1vA55Oe9mR5C/s1600/taraba+jumaai+aisha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjidjmycp8QzFPH3pg-R9HqLvBDRBCQyyd2RaDsXX_KJKUnYMFO96K2aK2_4tzeGNelcF9OW9am9DyjcpmZttQGfkPGh_5xpF_RM1N-dKJSCvUsb25nTRymc-lQqBZr8h1vA55Oe9mR5C/s640/taraba+jumaai+aisha.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for Taraba on Saturday nullified the election of Taraba Governor, Darius Ishaku, of the Peoples Democratic Party.</b><br /> <br /> The Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress and a Minister designate, Aisha Alhassan, as the winner of the April 11 governorship election in the state.<br /> <br /> The three-member tribunal held that Mr. Ishaku was not validly nominated as candidate of the PDP and therefore did not qualify, from start, to contest the governorship election.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Specifically, the tribunal held that the governorship primaries purportedly conducted by the PDP in the state was done in violation of section 78 (b) (1)(2) of the Electoral Act which guides parties nomination to the position of governorship candidate.<br /> <br /> It held that contrary to the provision of the section, PDP conducted the purported primaries at its national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja with no clear delegation from the local government areas in the state.<br /> <br /> The tribunal sustained the testimonies of the head of election monitoring of Independent National Electoral Commission that the commission was not aware of any primaries conducted by the party in line with the provision of the electoral act which produced Ishaku as the party’s flagbearer.<br /> Section 78 (b) (1)(2) of the Electoral Act states: In the case of nomination to the position of Governorship candidate, a political party shall where they intend to sponsor candidates:<br /> <br /> (i) hold special congress in each of the Local Government Areas of the States with delegates voting for each of the aspirants at the congress to be held in designated centres on specified dates.<br /> <br /> (ii) the aspirant with the highest number of vote at the end of the voting shall be declared the winner of the primaries of the party and aspirant’s name shall be forwarded to the commission as the candidate of the party, for the particular state.<br /> <br /> The tribunal said the defence by the PDP that the primaries were shifted to Abuja because of security challenges in the state was rejected by the tribunal.<br /> <br /> It sustained the evidence of the INEC official that there was no primaries election in the state and the emergence of Mr. Ishaku through the purported election in Abuja was after the statutory stipulated time for party primaries had elapsed.<br /> <br /> It held that since Mr. Ishaku was not duly sponsored by the PDP, the party had no candidate in the governorship election in the eyes of the law.<br /> <br /> The tribunal therefore voided the votes of the PDP and Mr. Ishaku in the election saying “it is a waste’’ and declared the APC and its candidate, who came second, as the valid winner of the April 11 election.<br /> <br /> Reacting to the judgment, counsel to APC, Abiodun Owonikoko, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the judgment was a landmark being the first time the election of a governor would be nullified on the doctrine of wasted votes.<br /> <br /> He said with the judgment, the era of impunity in party primaries was gone and it would be a lesson not only for PDP but all political parties.<br /> <br /> On whether Mr. Ishaku will vacate the seat immediately, Mr. Owonikoko said the judgment “is not the end of the road, there is opportunity for all the parties to explore whatever the grievance they have’’.<br /> <br /> Mr. Owonikoko added that if the governor or the party did not appeal within 21 days, Ms. Alhassan will be sworn-in as governor.<br /> <br /> The counsel to the PDP was not available to comment on the verdict of the Tribunal as they all rushed out of the venue after the judgment.<br /> <br /> (NAN)

Latest-News REVEALED: The real reasons why APC’s Alhassan was declared Taraba governor

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for Taraba on Saturday nullified the election of Taraba Governor, Darius Ishaku, of the Peoples Democratic Party. The Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress and…

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We have made history in Nigeria – Taraba APC

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJeeOvGmklstPRZv0ONDJ0KnX7CzbQHRUNuGLfx11avzoXygKOKWvlP82xeCF1_0m9xRi0GKgH8fNoK9laCbJL5cqkJe3WxEOTzwosznbSLkulwh4IsV4Mefk6efyk4aTlhGGTyU3vvO2/s1600/mama+t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJeeOvGmklstPRZv0ONDJ0KnX7CzbQHRUNuGLfx11avzoXygKOKWvlP82xeCF1_0m9xRi0GKgH8fNoK9laCbJL5cqkJe3WxEOTzwosznbSLkulwh4IsV4Mefk6efyk4aTlhGGTyU3vvO2/s400/mama+t.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Taraba State on Saturday said the court had restored their joy and glory of producing the first democratically-elected female governor.</b><br /> <br /> The APC supporters told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, shortly after the judgment of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal for Taraba which declared Mrs. Aisha Alhassan of APC as governor.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The tribunal, in its judgment delivered at the Court of Appeal premises in Abuja, nullified the election of Darius Ishaku of the PDP on the grounds that he was not validly nominated at the PDP primaries to contest the governorship election.<br /> <br /> One of the supporters, Amina Dauda, said the victory was well-deserved “and it shows that the judiciary is the last hope for aggrieved people.<br /> <br /> “I am happy that a woman is now the governor of Taraba.<br /> <br /> “It is a good encouragement for us and we have made history in Nigeria.”<br /> <br /> Another supporter, Mr. Suleiman Ibrahim, said “the judgment is a confirmation that Taraba is for APC.”<br /> <br /> Ibrahim said he was happy that a woman from APC was declared winner of the election by the tribunal “and that is a reflection of the wish of Taraba people.”<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, the court premises and surroundings were agog with celebration as the verdict of the tribunal filtered to the crowd who were anxiously waiting inside and outside of the premises.<br /> <br /> APC supporters were seen jubilating and shouting “APC!, Sai Baba!!.”<br /> <br /> Some other groups were also seen outside the court premises blasting music and dancing.<br /> <br /> It took the efforts of security men to clear the way for the APC candidate to gain access to her car when she stepped out of the court room, as security was beefed up within and around the court to control the crowd.<br /> <br /> (NAN)

Latest-News We have made history in Nigeria – Taraba APC

Supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Taraba State on Saturday said the court had restored their joy and glory of producing the first democratically-elected female governor. The APC supporters told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, short…

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Nothing like juicy committee in National Assembly - Senators

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitx-lVY3dpErKmrF0MOQOrZhcN651qZdsmJs6iLTKtTN7hXuYWye68P2R9JA-qrq1sx2zkY8FD3uBRBLMM1PdQaAVjk30PpGDflEL2RireIESKtcI_8F5FcSjDo5C4gxdw0Dca2JcLdWL9/s1600/senate+nigeria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitx-lVY3dpErKmrF0MOQOrZhcN651qZdsmJs6iLTKtTN7hXuYWye68P2R9JA-qrq1sx2zkY8FD3uBRBLMM1PdQaAVjk30PpGDflEL2RireIESKtcI_8F5FcSjDo5C4gxdw0Dca2JcLdWL9/s640/senate+nigeria.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Some Senators on Saturday in Abuja, said that there is nothing like ‘juicy committee’ in the 8th national Assembly under the government of the All Progressives Congress.<br /> <br /> The Senators, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria, likened the perceived juicy committees to corruption that characterised the past administration.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Ibn Na’Alla, said that he did not understand what they meant by juicy committees, especially with the fight against corruption by the APC government.<br /> <br /> “I am saying it with all degree of responsibility that Senator Na’Allah does not understand what is a juicy committee or what is not juicy committee.<br /> <br /> “It is even more so under the present dispensation, where there is going to be zero tolerance against corruption.<br /> <br /> “So what existed before the coming of this government and what can be referred to as juicy committee; I am absolutely sure will cease to exist in this administration.<br /> <br /> “What I know will be are committees that should rededicate themselves to the service of their fatherland through doing those oversight functions that have been conferred on them,” he said.<br /> <br /> Na’Allah said that while he was a federal representative, he had as a matter of policy avoided membership of any committee charged with probe of government agencies or those considered as `juicy.’<br /> <br /> According to him, the work of a senator is that of service to humanity, to his constituency and to the nation.<br /> <br /> Na’Allah said, “I had been member of committees such as House Committee on Judiciary, House Committee on Justice and House Committee on Rules and Business.<br /> <br /> “Today I am a member of the Ethics and Privileges Committee because I have passion for ensuring that code of conducts is maintained.<br /> <br /> “It is degrading, it does not show seriousness, and it does not portray service to humanity, when we begin to say some committees are juicy.<br /> <br /> “Let me be honest with you; this thing is only known to this country and it is only known to Nigeria’s democracy.<br /> <br /> “I have never heard in any parliament anywhere in the world where committees are referred to as Juicy and none Juicy.”<br /> <br /> In his view, Senator Kabir Marafa (APC Zamfara Central) said that he had no idea of what makes a committee to be juicy except if juiciness is synonymous with work.<br /> <br /> He said that he had been privileged to work in a number of committees and they were all juicy as far as work was concerned.<br /> <br /> “Now, if you are talking of juicy in terms of making money, then you are in the wrong government.<br /> <br /> “If juicy means a committee that will engage you 24 hours and bring the best out of you, I think all committees have that potential.

Latest-News Nothing like juicy committee in National Assembly - Senators

Some Senators on Saturday in Abuja, said that there is nothing like ‘juicy committee’ in the 8th national Assembly under the government of the All Progressives Congress. The Senators, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria,…

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IS group frees 37 kidnapped Syrian Christians

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nx07cvUtgyYQx6kjN4LvJKG9CKFDlAHRybzV9dFP4gwB1EukT41UpmzK53b4-ioTKXHTRC5tGhmgKGE66AUzHAFRut64ke9D-3NFr3JEW8-Uwhv8nOw8fQ08dJcbhs6X6eCjZ6yvDl4U/s1600/isis+new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nx07cvUtgyYQx6kjN4LvJKG9CKFDlAHRybzV9dFP4gwB1EukT41UpmzK53b4-ioTKXHTRC5tGhmgKGE66AUzHAFRut64ke9D-3NFr3JEW8-Uwhv8nOw8fQ08dJcbhs6X6eCjZ6yvDl4U/s400/isis+new.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> The Islamic State group on Saturday released 37 Syrian Christians, most of them women, who were among more than 200 people kidnapped more than eight months ago, an NGO said.<br /> <br /> The Assyrian Monitor for Human Rights said the group of freed Assyrian Christians included 27 women and 10 men, most of them elderly.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> They arrived on Saturday morning in the town of Tal Tamr in the Khabur region of Hasakeh province in northeastern Syria, the group said.<br /> <br /> The releases were confirmed by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, which said most of those freed were from other towns elsewhere in the Khabur region.<br /> <br /> The former hostages were among a group of 220 Assyrians captured by IS when they overran parts of the Khabur region in February.<br /> <br /> Since then, a trickle of the prisoners have been released, with between 140 and 150 believed to still be held by IS.<br /> <br /> The Assyrian Monitor said the releases were the result of negotiations carried out by the church, but other reports suggest IS has been paid to free the hostages.<br /> <br /> Assyrians numbered about 30,000 among Syria’s 1.2 million Christians before the country’s conflict began. They lived mostly in 35 villages in Hasakeh.<br /> <br /> In February, IS overran many of the villages, but Kurdish forces later expelled them.<br /> <br /> IS has captured hundreds of hostages, including Christians from different sects, in territory it controls in Syria and Iraq.<br /> <br /> Elsewhere, the Britain-based Observatory said the toll in Thursday’s air strikes on the town on Albu Kamal on the Syrian border with Iraq had risen to 49 people, at least 31 of them civilians.<br /> <br /> The monitoring group had previously said at least 22 people were killed in the strikes, but it was not able to confirm who was behind the attacks.<br /> <br /> Russia, Syria’s government and a US-led coalition are all carrying out air strikes on Syrian territory, sometimes operating in the same areas.<br /> <br /> The Observatory said at least four of those killed in the raids on the IS-held town were children.<br /> <br /> (AFP)

Latest-News IS group frees 37 kidnapped Syrian Christians

The Islamic State group on Saturday released 37 Syrian Christians, most of them women, who were among more than 200 people kidnapped more than eight months ago, an NGO said. The Assyrian Monitor for Human Rights said the group of freed Assyrian Chri…

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INEC captures 99,000 more voters for Bayesa, Kogi polls

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbPV716TUzhk-QXpL_aOp6UEiNKgIXQBod5Eoiaf914M9InbXSRFV1Rdxm6CeQyUFeqXCywiO06DjRKYnGHCvVODPRqcSdUlzSOel5iNH8y9g1d-W_OrtXtuMEpzOR1UAVUKXe49JgYcp/s1600/INEC+ballot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbPV716TUzhk-QXpL_aOp6UEiNKgIXQBod5Eoiaf914M9InbXSRFV1Rdxm6CeQyUFeqXCywiO06DjRKYnGHCvVODPRqcSdUlzSOel5iNH8y9g1d-W_OrtXtuMEpzOR1UAVUKXe49JgYcp/s400/INEC+ballot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Independent National Electoral Commission says it has captured additional 99,281 voters in Bayesla and Kogi States ahead of the governorship elections in the two states.<br /> <br /> INEC’s Deputy Director for Publicity and Voter Education, Mr. Nick Dazang, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Abuja.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Dazang explained that the figure represented voters whose data were collected at the just-concluded Continuous Voter Registration and the commission’s approval to receive voters transfer requests in the two states.<br /> <br /> The INEC official, however, did not give a separate breakdown of the figure in terms of CVR and the voter transfer for the states.<br /> <br /> According to him, while additional 46,512 voters were captured in Kogi, Bayelsa added 52, 769 to its registered voters.<br /> <br /> Asked if all requests for voters transfer were granted by INEC, Dazang said the commission granted approval to those that met the requirements.<br /> <br /> “This does not mean that all those that sought transfer got the approval since the Electoral Act stipulated that voter transfer must be concluded 30 days before the election date.<br /> <br /> “Therefore, when you are seeking for transfer at the last minute, you will not get it,” he said.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, INEC has confirmed that 663,748 voters have been registered in 1,939 polling units for the Bayelsa governorship election slated for December 5.<br /> <br /> According to the commission, 1,397,786 voters would participate in the governorship election holding in Kogi on November 21.

Latest-News INEC captures 99,000 more voters for Bayesa, Kogi polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission says it has captured additional 99,281 voters in Bayesla and Kogi States ahead of the governorship elections in the two states. INEC’s Deputy Director for Publicity and Voter Education, Mr. Nick Dazang, …

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Nigerians react to Tribunal's decleration of 'Mama Taraba' as the first female governor in Nigeria

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb4fJ0tQPVClXLkc5m40cbZowywa1SLZtkm25vjBZOFDLXjgX9eeodSQaycZZLcKdYuMj563VTywYsqN5vfRdpdPf1G7mgwDc4P1w4Pj4PhxsWvsICzaAZ1SzZhcR4KysQwL8U15dAqgW/s1600/aisha+hassan+taraba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb4fJ0tQPVClXLkc5m40cbZowywa1SLZtkm25vjBZOFDLXjgX9eeodSQaycZZLcKdYuMj563VTywYsqN5vfRdpdPf1G7mgwDc4P1w4Pj4PhxsWvsICzaAZ1SzZhcR4KysQwL8U15dAqgW/s640/aisha+hassan+taraba.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> The Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.<br /> <br /> ‎The tribunal headed by Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar declared the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, Senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan, as the bona-fide winner of the April 11 governorship poll in the state.<br /> <br /> Several Nigerians have taken to social media to congratulate the country's first female governor.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="storify"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="no" height="750" src="//storify.com/CuteNaija/nigeria-react-to/embed?border=false" width="100%"></iframe><script src="//storify.com/CuteNaija/nigeria-react-to.js?border=false" type="text/javascript"> </script><noscript>[<a href="//storify.com/CuteNaija/nigeria-react-to" target="_blank">View the story "Nigerians react to Tribunal's decleration of 'Mama Taraba' as the first female governor in Nigeria" on Storify</a>]</noscript></div>

Latest-News Nigerians react to Tribunal's decleration of 'Mama Taraba' as the first female governor in Nigeria

The Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. ‎The tribunal headed by Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar declared the gubernatorial can…

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Taraba judgment, another evidence of executive interference – PDP

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3neDg-fwsp_bciNd_jhKsalXe5XW6zhMseUHB9jG_mmLnRk5x7TTau2h5rH4ZgZiek8Kmd3o16VyqhnqMQGf1uyYQCRZ1jiAWVsquQwtZdY_2XwRmfpHo0IB5VB2eN0ov75nppcp7_uiQ/s1600/PDP-logo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3neDg-fwsp_bciNd_jhKsalXe5XW6zhMseUHB9jG_mmLnRk5x7TTau2h5rH4ZgZiek8Kmd3o16VyqhnqMQGf1uyYQCRZ1jiAWVsquQwtZdY_2XwRmfpHo0IB5VB2eN0ov75nppcp7_uiQ/s1600/PDP-logo1.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says Saturday’s judgment of the Taraba state gubernatorial election tribunal in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hajia Aisha Jummai Alhassan is another evidence of executive interference in the judiciary.<br /> <br /> The party said the reason given by the tribunal for arriving at the bizarre decision is intriguing and further exposes the contradictions and double standards inherent in most tribunal rulings against PDP interests recently.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said in a statement on Saturday that the Taraba state tribunal ruling again brings to the fore the organized plan by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Federal Government to deploy all unorthodox means to decimate the opposition.<br /> <br /> “It is rather curious and a great conflict of irony that the Taraba tribunal sitting in Abuja on security grounds faulted the conduct of PDP primaries shifted to the same Abuja on security reasons”, the party stressed.<br /> <br /> The PDP said if the tribunal is faulting the party primaries as basis for its decision, it then means that no APC gubernatorial candidate can stand the test, as their party never had acceptable primaries in any of their states.<br /> <br /> The PDP wants democracy watchers globally to recall that it had earlier alerted the nation and the international community of the grand design by the APC to use the judiciary to wrestle some PDP states, particularly Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Taraba states.<br /> <br /> “Evidence that Taraba ruling was a product of Presidency manipulation can be deduced from the fact that few hours before the judgment was delivered, the APC had arrogantly announced their victory on the new media”, it said.<br /> <br /> PDP said it is totally confounded by the brazing show of power by the executive and warned that the development clearly portends grave danger to our democracy and indeed national cohesion and development.<br /> <br /> Finally the party calls on its members across the country, especially in Taraba state to remain undaunted as the appellate courts will restore its well-deserved victory.

Latest-News Taraba judgment, another evidence of executive interference – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says Saturday’s judgment of the Taraba state gubernatorial election tribunal in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hajia Aisha Jummai Alhassan is another evidence of executive interference in …

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Residents jubilate in Jalingo over sacking of Governor Ishaku

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9nwkk6nbsaYJVFpMV_E0GO0ZXkvHqLvdnBJ_HMiuBKd9PWht3O-tz4Zk3CJb1nlkj7LJB_bMdDnCfcaR7iesCEP_Ox1IWfytKlHmE_pflMCFPvTZwRBHDglQid45EJTAllD5_i2atGjI/s1600/taraba+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9nwkk6nbsaYJVFpMV_E0GO0ZXkvHqLvdnBJ_HMiuBKd9PWht3O-tz4Zk3CJb1nlkj7LJB_bMdDnCfcaR7iesCEP_Ox1IWfytKlHmE_pflMCFPvTZwRBHDglQid45EJTAllD5_i2atGjI/s640/taraba+map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <b>There was wide jubilation in Jalingo Taraba state capital as The Governorship Election Tribunal seating in Abuja sacked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor of the state Mr Darius Ishaku.</b><br /> <br /> Although the state police command had earlier deployed high number of policemen in the state to calm any attempt by anybody to use the judgment to course trouble.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Some suspected members of APC took to the streets of Agwan Gaadi, Barde way, Wuro-Sambo and Angwani all in Jalingo in celebration the Tribunal’s judgment which was in favour of the APC gubernatorial candidate Aisha Arhasan.

Latest-News Residents jubilate in Jalingo over sacking of Governor Ishaku

There was wide jubilation in Jalingo Taraba state capital as The Governorship Election Tribunal seating in Abuja sacked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor of the state Mr Darius Ishaku. Although the state police command had earlier deployed…

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PDP cautions Buhari, APC over Biafra

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRtDJP2Pf3K6G1MZT8e8NG63G0W30R6KxVRX1SO_y4AHiWRh0_1qyq42SNluZgDHXt_a7bILQnCp7ZK5bu6sYvh8fxlrEKpYbcqCl2cGZiVyOmugxEcKLicellIGrwDFy8z4DUFNWaJ6g/s1600/Muhammadu-Buhari-court-suit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRtDJP2Pf3K6G1MZT8e8NG63G0W30R6KxVRX1SO_y4AHiWRh0_1qyq42SNluZgDHXt_a7bILQnCp7ZK5bu6sYvh8fxlrEKpYbcqCl2cGZiVyOmugxEcKLicellIGrwDFy8z4DUFNWaJ6g/s400/Muhammadu-Buhari-court-suit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is deeply concerned about the unfolding political events and developments in the South East and South South of Nigeria.<br /> <br /> The PDP also stated that it is not comfortable with the methods being applied by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government in handling of restive youths in the South South and South East geo-political zones, who are agitating under the Biafra movement, and urged the President to personally intervene as the matter affects the territorial integrity of Nigeria.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The party said it is concerned that the Federal Government and its agencies have failed to approach the situation with the inclusiveness and seriousness it deserves, but have instead been resorting to the use of security forces.<br /> <br /> PDP National Youth Leader, Hon. Abdullahi MaiBasira said in a statement on Saturday that President Buhari and his party should be held to account for the escalation of the agitation, which threatens the unity and national security interests of Nigeria as an indivisible entity.<br /> <br /> The PDP also urged the ruling party to ensure and guarantee an inclusive administration that will promote harmony among all sections of the country.<br /> <br /> The party further notes the seemingly lack of any clear-cut policy direction that concerns the development, mainstreaming and inclusion of young people in the country by the Federal Government, a worrisome issue that brings to question APC’s campaign promise to generate and give 3 million jobs annually to Nigerian Youths.<br /> <br /> “The fact that none of the President’s ministerial appointees confirmed by Senate is below 40 years also puts to question APC’s belief for the next generation of leaders, mentorship and transfer of responsibility. So far, the resultant effect of this lack of clear-cut policy is the stagnation of the economy and laying-off of thousands of people from their jobs.<br /> <br /> “Rather than the use of force as an option which usually fails as a solution in this type of self inflicted socio political problem, President Buhari should as a matter of national interest and practical necessity, make haste to call representatives and leaders of the South East for discussions before the situation deteriorates”, the party said.<br /> <br /> The PDP said President Buhari and his party should know that sidelining any section of the country is bound to generate unhealthy relations among all integral parts of the Nigerian people.<br /> <br /> The party said that cohesion, development, prosperity and unity should be paramount in government policy and warned that unless and until all sections of the country are accommodated, certain sections will experience civil tension and agitations as a means of expressing their discontent.<br /> <br /> “Finally, as young people who believe in the present and future stability of Nigeria; we urge President Buhari to see himself as the father of the nation and try to open his heart to all by carrying everybody along and through that, create enabling environment for peace, progress and development in the interest of all”, the statement said.

Latest-News PDP cautions Buhari, APC over Biafra

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is deeply concerned about the unfolding political events and developments in the South East and South South of Nigeria. The PDP also stated that it is not comfortable with the methods being applied by the P…

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Falae jets out to London for medical treatment

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDJDY3aCEZ2v1C8H4Q7isH8t1Zs_Db9ckulsSydOMe3vNyB7EauJfqaEL-aAsuZPMarZFNi4v0U7nl8-zkxYZmJ2IEkZ5sjgn3rcK9FhZX3tIqWO442sKdA0TAthWSEueROcTvkzJE1hz/s1600/Olu-Falae-360x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDJDY3aCEZ2v1C8H4Q7isH8t1Zs_Db9ckulsSydOMe3vNyB7EauJfqaEL-aAsuZPMarZFNi4v0U7nl8-zkxYZmJ2IEkZ5sjgn3rcK9FhZX3tIqWO442sKdA0TAthWSEueROcTvkzJE1hz/s640/Olu-Falae-360x225.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Few weeks after his kidnap and release, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Chief Olu Falae jetted out of the Country to the United Kingdom for a thorough medical treatment.</b><br /> <br /> The former Finance Minister was abducted by some Hausa Fulani herdsmen alae was kidnapped by some Fulani herdsmen on his farm in Ilado village, Akure. North Local Government Area of Ondo State on his birthday.<br /> <br /> He was later released after the family paid a ransom of N5milliion to the kidnappers after spending 72hours in their den.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Four of the kidnappers have been arrested and charged to court by the Police.<br /> <br /> The octogenarian politician has identified the suspects after they were arrested from their hideouts ‎by the Police in different states.<br /> <br /> It was learnt yesterday that the Politician decided to seek for a thorough medical attention in London following the injuries and trauma he went through in the hands of his captors.<br /> <br /> He trekked for days in the bush after he was kidnapped and was made to sleep on the floor for the three days he was kidnapped.<br /> <br /> One of his aides, the Personal Assistant, Captain Moshood Raji (rtd ) confirmed that the former minister has traveled out of the country for medical check up.<br /> <br /> Raji said that the politician “had not been able to have enough rest after the abduction saga.<br /> <br /> According to him ” Chief Falae would used the opportunity of the vacation to do some other things which include medical treatment.<br /> <br /> The Personal Assistant added that “Chief traveled to the United Kingdom on vacation and would also have his medical check up there, but he is expected to be back by the end of this month”

Latest-News Falae jets out to London for medical treatment

Few weeks after his kidnap and release, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Chief Olu Falae jetted out of the Country to the United Kingdom for a thorough medical treatment. The former Finance Minister was abducted by some …

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Sierra Leone marks end of Ebola

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq90renEgCyxdgJ1wnEKnUGkw7ts93WR9qlVYUraWrCwMQum2JqVaE36PGmLOC_nAjVRhV8HTZ1RnPv1SDZcmsdwU6JCuC_Dt2Hb4BZ63LENKC7lhSJbLrQroDRhCTxVMS5KzRa0-DIYxx/s1600/ebola+naijaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq90renEgCyxdgJ1wnEKnUGkw7ts93WR9qlVYUraWrCwMQum2JqVaE36PGmLOC_nAjVRhV8HTZ1RnPv1SDZcmsdwU6JCuC_Dt2Hb4BZ63LENKC7lhSJbLrQroDRhCTxVMS5KzRa0-DIYxx/s400/ebola+naijaa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Residents of Sierra Leone’s capital held a candlelit vigil and celebrations to mark the end of an Ebola epidemic that has killed almost 4,000 people including more than 220 health workers since it began last year.<br /> <br /> Following 42 days with no new cases, the West African nation’s epidemic was declared over on Saturday at a ceremony attended by President Ernest Bai Koroma and World Health Organization representative, Anders Nordstrom, Reuters reported.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Thousands of people gathered overnight around the Cotton Tree, a massive tree in the centre of Freetown, for a candlelit vigil organised by women’s groups to pay tribute to health workers who lost their lives.<br /> <br /> “They died so we could live,” university student Fatmata said with tears in her eyes. Many of the health workers who died were infected due to inadequate protective equipment and training.<br /> <br /> The country’s first confirmed Ebola survivor, Victoria Yillia, told the crowd she was “happy that this disease which almost killed me has finally ended.”<br /> <br /> She appealed to authorities not to forget survivors, many of whom have faced social stigma and persistent health problems.<br /> <br /> Elsewhere in the city, residents celebrated the end of the epidemic, which forced schools to close, overwhelmed healthcare systems and hurt the local economy.<br /> <br /> “We’re happy. I feel free again after a period of bondage in the hands of Ebola,” said trader Joseph Katta as he clutched a pint of beer at a pub in the suburb of Lumley.<br /> <br /> Ebola has killed more than 11,300 people in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea since the epidemic was announced in March 2014 and about 28,500 were infected, according to WHO data. Sierra Leone’s death toll was 3,955 people.

Latest-News Sierra Leone marks end of Ebola

Residents of Sierra Leone’s capital held a candlelit vigil and celebrations to mark the end of an Ebola epidemic that has killed almost 4,000 people including more than 220 health workers since it began last year. Following 42 days with no new cases…

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Troops rescue 14 children, 6 women from Boko Haram enclaves

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbwsIYJQHpOvZyVWFuatjAhM98UWwQ-uv3ESBYJY1zTe2G0R6qx1l9ZBmn30cTBL-Lzo7Dj_i1xJKlqh6vRBwBZ-2Q4smw-Z4ST1itk1XL-yJbpaG5QH-vfIylOSrH2PBZ5eQ_JYwDUFw/s1600/troops+rescue+women+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbwsIYJQHpOvZyVWFuatjAhM98UWwQ-uv3ESBYJY1zTe2G0R6qx1l9ZBmn30cTBL-Lzo7Dj_i1xJKlqh6vRBwBZ-2Q4smw-Z4ST1itk1XL-yJbpaG5QH-vfIylOSrH2PBZ5eQ_JYwDUFw/s640/troops+rescue+women+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> The military has announced that troops of 103 Battalion under the 21 Brigade in Borno State on Saturday morning rescued 20 people from Boko Haram terrorists.<br /> <br /> According to a statement signed by the Media Coordinator of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Sani Tukur, the rescued people included 14 children and six women who were held captive in the Bama axis where the operation was carried out.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The statement added that four Boko Haram enclaves were cleared during the operation, with some insurgents killed and two captured alive.<br /> <br /> It reads: “In continuation of the offensive operations to clear the Northeast of Boko Haram activities, the troops of 103 Battalion under 21 Brigade early this morning conducted 23 kilometer wide clearance operations in RIGAGA and its adjourning villages in Bama axis.<br /> <br /> “The operation recorded a major success. Four Boko Haram enclaves along the route of the operations were cleared and a number of terrorists killed. Two of them were captured alive and currently undergoing investigation in accordance with the Nigerian Army rules of engagement.<br /> <br /> “The troops also rescued 20 people held in captivity by terrorists in the area. They included 14 children and six women. The recued persons are currently receiving medical and other necessary attention in our facility.”

Latest-News Troops rescue 14 children, 6 women from Boko Haram enclaves

The military has announced that troops of 103 Battalion under the 21 Brigade in Borno State on Saturday morning rescued 20 people from Boko Haram terrorists. According to a statement signed by the Media Coordinator of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. San…

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U.S policemen to be charged over boy’s death

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-laFcgrXebJt2a_tOTNSIPCmy-KL63oBKL4CiOSjpZtAKLTvXqofC3UtoQnCiD70gkbIeFXcgnW1aCMatnJ680beTNIvka3hWOQ1kWmAcem5Z-N2duRKNEdVT7w7DQfOZXZeBRd2V58A/s1600/gun+kill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-laFcgrXebJt2a_tOTNSIPCmy-KL63oBKL4CiOSjpZtAKLTvXqofC3UtoQnCiD70gkbIeFXcgnW1aCMatnJ680beTNIvka3hWOQ1kWmAcem5Z-N2duRKNEdVT7w7DQfOZXZeBRd2V58A/s640/gun+kill.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Two marshals in the U.S state of Louisiana are to be charged with murder after the fatal shooting of a six-year-old boy.<br /> <br /> Jeremy Mardis and his father, Chris Few, were in a car when they were shot in Marksville on Tuesday night, the BBC reports.<br /> <br /> Officers Norris Greenhouse and Derrick Stafford were arrested after a vehicle chase that left Mr. Few, who was driving, critically injured.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Jeremy died at the scene and Mr. Few remains in hospital.<br /> <br /> The two officers were arrested on Friday after body-camera footage taken from them was assessed.<br /> <br /> It is still unclear what led them to pursue Mr. Few and what triggered the shooting.<br /> <br /> Both were working secondary jobs in Marksville as marshals when the shooting happened, Col. Michael Edmonson of Louisiana state police told a news conference.<br /> <br /> “He [Jeremy Mardis] didn’t deserve to die like that and that’s what’s important,” Col. Edmonson said.<br /> <br /> Referring to the body-camera footage of the incident, Col. Edmondson added: “I can tell you, it is the most disturbing thing I’ve seen, and I’ll leave it like that.”<br /> <br /> The two officers have been charged with murder and attempted murder over the shooting.

Latest-News U.S policemen to be charged over boy’s death

Two marshals in the U.S state of Louisiana are to be charged with murder after the fatal shooting of a six-year-old boy. Jeremy Mardis and his father, Chris Few, were in a car when they were shot in Marksville on Tuesday night, the BBC reports. Offi…

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NFF to retain Amuneke as Eaglets coach

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfgX1KjTXme5hkzwegBfbd-vyVgCm3R5Az1aN2TPz9qDDFfoTforIsB4eKMz44Wgwzf8JSBg9LpPdP2KA1M9iwH2iKGrF6bqIEuYfgln0Eij9ajO__ipJEvHfj10vTUcBhRbIkaiUocLu/s1600/amuneke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfgX1KjTXme5hkzwegBfbd-vyVgCm3R5Az1aN2TPz9qDDFfoTforIsB4eKMz44Wgwzf8JSBg9LpPdP2KA1M9iwH2iKGrF6bqIEuYfgln0Eij9ajO__ipJEvHfj10vTUcBhRbIkaiUocLu/s320/amuneke.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> Golden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, will retain his position as the cadet team coach irrespective of what happened in Sunday’s final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, a top Nigeria Football Federation official has said.<br /> <br /> Nigeria plays African champions Mali in Sunday’s title decider in Santiago, Chile.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Previous Eaglet coaches have often been automatically promoted to the Flying Eagles, but with disappointing results, africanFootball.com says.<br /> <br /> John Obuh was elevated to the Flying Eagles after he guided the country to the final of the 2009 U-17 World Cup, which incidentally Nigeria hosted.<br /> <br /> He subsequently reached the last eight of the U-20 World Cup in 2011, before he crashed out in the Round of 16 two years later.<br /> <br /> Manu Garba won the U-17 World Cup in style in 2013, but he could only lead the Flying Eagles to the Round of 16 at this year’s U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.<br /> <br /> The records of Obuh and Manu are insignificant for a country with two silver medals and one bronze at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.<br /> <br /> “It is expected that the (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, will announce Amuneke will stay on as U-17 coach so as to build on the experience and gains of his first stint as head coach.<br /> <br /> The arrangement of automatically promoting a coach from U-17 to U-20 has not worked because we are talking of two different levels of the game,” the official told africanFootball.com.<br /> <br /> “Take the example of Mexico. The coach who led them to the final two years ago in Abu Dhabi is the same man that guided them to the semi-finals in Chile. There are many such examples.”

Latest-News NFF to retain Amuneke as Eaglets coach

Golden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, will retain his position as the cadet team coach irrespective of what happened in Sunday’s final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, a top Nigeria Football Federation official has said. Nigeria plays African …

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Family of four killed in another building collapse in Lagos

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORPjIyWWY85uFQ759Pa01ICQTLokK81YpYSV7KbXSxIUHpV8HeCpRVmQN5eZGDOymsg-bTfb7wkU9MXs6YyRZ828G2cmcam04z6MVwiEvbpS962n5HZLUEdSl-rklSub7Qgr2h7R2Tu6i/s1600/building+collap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORPjIyWWY85uFQ759Pa01ICQTLokK81YpYSV7KbXSxIUHpV8HeCpRVmQN5eZGDOymsg-bTfb7wkU9MXs6YyRZ828G2cmcam04z6MVwiEvbpS962n5HZLUEdSl-rklSub7Qgr2h7R2Tu6i/s400/building+collap.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> No fewer than four persons, including three children were on Saturday morning confirmed dead, after another building collapsed in Lagos.<br /> <br /> The building, a bungalow located at Orisha Street, Isheri, Magodo caved in during a heavy rainfall.<br /> <br /> Their names were given as Sylva Odiah, 24; Sayo Odiah,15; Clinton Odiah, 11 and eight year-old Endurance Odiah.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The deceased were said to be siblings from the same mother, who was said to have collapsed and was rushed to a nearby hospital.<br /> <br /> It was learnt that Mayflower Hospital, where the mother of seven was initially taken to rejected her because ‘there was no card,’ before she was eventually rushed to Tabasco Hospital.<br /> <br /> According to a resident, the bungalow did not collapse by itself. “Around 6am, we heard a loud sound. But we did not know that the upper part of another building beside the bungalow has fallen on it.<br /> <br /> “Unfortunately, it fell just on the room where Mr. Godwin Odiah’s children were sleeping. The man has seven children but three of them are not around.<br /> <br /> “He was the one who saw it and started screaming for help. He said he was in the bathroom when he heard the sound but did not know that it was in his compound.<br /> <br /> “Another building also collapsed again but I don’t know if anyone was killed.<br /> <br /> “Government needs to do something in this area. It is sandy and water logged. I think the incident is not unconnected with the heavy rain and the topography in the area,” said the resident.<br /> <br /> At the time of filing this report, emergency workers comprising the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the police were on ground to manage the situation.<br /> <br /> Confirming the incident, NEMA’s spokesman for the southwest, Ibrahim Farinloye said the collapse was caused by mudslides from the cleavage of a hill beside River Ogun.<br /> <br /> He said: “Four persons were recovered dead. The cause of the collapse was the heavy rainfall.<br /> “Mudslides from the cleavage of a hill beside River Ogun hit the three bedroom flat, unfortunately the room where the deceased were recovered was the one hit by the mudslides.<br /> <br /> “Another mudslide fell on one single room building in the area but no one was trapped there.”

Latest-News Family of four killed in another building collapse in Lagos

No fewer than four persons, including three children were on Saturday morning confirmed dead, after another building collapsed in Lagos. The building, a bungalow located at Orisha Street, Isheri, Magodo caved in during a heavy rainfall. Their names …

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Police disperse pro-Biafra agitators in Asaba

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM73vk3lyGlHT-I1tWsNooNEGi_5cEcRNettLjYB6-Es8nihHHoZJ8jre9fZqxupO0amprzHlfnRrLVuZGkovPEuVQMLhj69oOz03eFD7oQeScWeQsLsXRPQXjv5GqwAy8kK2VnCUcAfid/s1600/biafra-flag-grunge-1152x720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM73vk3lyGlHT-I1tWsNooNEGi_5cEcRNettLjYB6-Es8nihHHoZJ8jre9fZqxupO0amprzHlfnRrLVuZGkovPEuVQMLhj69oOz03eFD7oQeScWeQsLsXRPQXjv5GqwAy8kK2VnCUcAfid/s400/biafra-flag-grunge-1152x720.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> The Police in Delta on Friday used teargas to disperse dozens of pro-Biafra agitators who staged a protest rally in Asaba.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The protesters said they were in solidarity with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).<br /> <br /> Some members of the group were arrested for blocking the Asaba-Benin expressway.<br /> <br /> They chanted songs calling for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, a member of the Pro –Biafra group.<br /> <br /> However, a police source said that the arrested members were later released following “an order from above”.<br /> <br /> Members of the group had poured into the Asaba-Benin expressway, blocking a large portion of the ever-busy road, from Summit Junction to Coker Junction axis in Asaba.<br /> <br /> The group held up vehicular movement on the road for hours, forcing many transporters to make a U-turn, diverting into Asaba main town, thereby causing a major gridlock.<br /> <br /> However, police patrol teams from the Delta Police Command confronted the protesters, using tear gas to disperse them.<br /> <br /> One of the protesters, Mr. Uche Obiakor, said that the police intervention in the rally was injustice to the group, saying that members of IPOB were on a peaceful rally.<br /> <br /> “What the police did today is a great injustice to the Biafra people because we are not armed neither did we attack anybody.<br /> <br /> “We are just on a peaceful protest for the unconditional release of our leader, Nnamdi Kanu.<br /> <br /> “We want Nnamdi Kanu to be set free, and all charges against him dropped unconditionally,“ he said.<br /> <br /> The spokesperson of the state Police Command, DSP Charles Muka, confirmed the incident on phone .<br /> <br /> He, however, declined to comment on the arrest and subsequent release of the IPOB members.<br /> <br /> “What I can tell you is that the police are on top of the situation. We are on it; that is all I can say for now,” Muka said.

Latest-News Police disperse pro-Biafra agitators in Asaba

The Police in Delta on Friday used teargas to disperse dozens of pro-Biafra agitators who staged a protest rally in Asaba. The protesters said they were in solidarity with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Some members of the group were arrest…

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Tribunal sacks PDP’s Ishaku as Taraba governor, declares APC's Aisha Jumai Alhassan‎ as the first female governor in Nigeria

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWL7i-wFyUTTHErpEU7k-PLD2CdFra_qnKtlqsXCp3ZR1-1JmFehBp8cQAZpZLHlk-_avTXgGTeov_SxJC_muD7LfakPgEVck9_BsJAQthCckbMRTF2JEySTNeRIU9Ai2iP6AJ3_aAF3Kn/s1600/taraba+jumaai+aisha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWL7i-wFyUTTHErpEU7k-PLD2CdFra_qnKtlqsXCp3ZR1-1JmFehBp8cQAZpZLHlk-_avTXgGTeov_SxJC_muD7LfakPgEVck9_BsJAQthCckbMRTF2JEySTNeRIU9Ai2iP6AJ3_aAF3Kn/s640/taraba+jumaai+aisha.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <b><br /></b> <b>The Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.</b><br /> <br /> ‎The tribunal headed by Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar declared the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, Senator A, as the bona-fide winner of the April 11 governorship poll in the state.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> ‎Alhassan was among those that were cleared by the Senate to take up Ministerial appointment under President Muhammadu Buhari.<br /> <br /> Mrs. Alhassan, a former senator, will be Nigeria’s first female governor if Mr. Ishaku fails to challenge the ruling, or loses the appeal.

Latest-News Tribunal sacks PDP’s Ishaku as Taraba governor, declares APC's Aisha Jumai Alhassan‎ as the first female governor in Nigeria

The Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. ‎The tribunal headed by Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar declared the gubernatorial ca…

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Buhari decries influx of foreign construction workers

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-LAA5C3_qrxMxmMvn5dT4ILxnFNNIFwPFhRsu24Lhc1Dh-VrjssFnpPeCN09y2syqXdpIE6uK0KTS_4UlGiSNdEv9QsmUNcPrsacOrSMYq9_dwXk-JBik8CIDRRCAXYmBWhhcZvbDXy9/s1600/buhari+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-LAA5C3_qrxMxmMvn5dT4ILxnFNNIFwPFhRsu24Lhc1Dh-VrjssFnpPeCN09y2syqXdpIE6uK0KTS_4UlGiSNdEv9QsmUNcPrsacOrSMYq9_dwXk-JBik8CIDRRCAXYmBWhhcZvbDXy9/s400/buhari+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Federal Ministries of Works and Lands, Housing and Urban Development to urgently prepare action plan for speedy revitalisation of the nation’s vocational training centres.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> A statement by the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Buhari gave the directive at a meeting with the Board of Directors of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.<br /> <br /> It said that the president was told that, because of shortage of competent construction workers and artisans in the country, construction companies were forced to bring in skilled expatriates.<br /> <br /> The statement quoted the president as observing that the practice was very detrimental to his administration’s commitment to boost employment opportunities for young Nigerians.<br /> <br /> “Buhari, therefore, pledged that his administration would move quickly to address the shortage of skilled construction workers in the country.<br /> <br /> “He demanded for a comprehensive report on the current status of existing vocational training centres established by the Federal Government across the country.<br /> <br /> “He said that his administration would take necessary action to reposition the centres as efficient producers of skilled workers for Nigeria’s building and construction industry,” it said.<br /> <br /> According to the statement, the president assured that his administration would ensure that the Building Craft Training School and Skill Improvement Centre in Lagos were fully revamped, staffed and equipped to produce more skilled artisans.<br /> <br /> Technicians expected to be trained at the centres, it said, included electricians, brick and block layers, carpenters, painters, welders, fabricators and plumbers.<br /> <br /> Buhari reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the proper education and training of Nigerian youths for the current demands of the labour market.<br /> <br /> He said that the Federal Government would act expeditiously to remove all impediments to the fulfillment of its promise of more jobs for unemployed Nigerians.<br /> <br /> He also assured that in spite of present funding challenges, the government would continue to do everything possible to settle genuine outstanding payments due to contractors.

Latest-News Buhari decries influx of foreign construction workers

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Federal Ministries of Works and Lands, Housing and Urban Development to urgently prepare action plan for speedy revitalisation of the nation’s vocational training centres. A statement by the president’s Se…

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Military clears 9 more terrorists’ camps in Borno

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dFTqK_oyvpWuu3QA9Lde-OcGXmgkyL_8G4Mi2meSiJUY8bUh8qwNMI_ftCW3BemtRPT8GrK2mImDZ8CK1818nLcoM4XB2oHtebYTvd9UEmAVO5RJx8Sduh6UIF_Mwe9q73ypXUj4YsgH/s1600/boko+borno+destroyed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dFTqK_oyvpWuu3QA9Lde-OcGXmgkyL_8G4Mi2meSiJUY8bUh8qwNMI_ftCW3BemtRPT8GrK2mImDZ8CK1818nLcoM4XB2oHtebYTvd9UEmAVO5RJx8Sduh6UIF_Mwe9q73ypXUj4YsgH/s640/boko+borno+destroyed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> The Nigerian Army said on Friday that it had cleared nine more suspected Boko Haram terrorists camps in its operations in Borno.<br /> <br /> Col.Tukur Gusau, the Media Coordinator of Operation Lafiya Dole, said this in a statement in Maiduguri.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “In a major boost, troops of 115 Task Force Battalion under 28 Task Force Brigade while on clearance operations between Nov. 4 and 5, cleared nine more terrorists strong holds around Lassa axis.<br /> <br /> “The terrorists’ camps include Lassa, Muthavo, Dagukumabza, Isge, Unworozangore, Kilekasa and Pumpum”, Gusau said.<br /> <br /> He added: “During the offensive, four Boko Haram terrorists met their waterloo in the hands of gallant troops of the Nigerian Army.<br /> <br /> “Some of the terrorists fled, abandoning their weapons.”<br /> <br /> He said that the military also carried out offensive along Korede area in Damboa LGA.<br /> <br /> “In a related development, troops of 25 Brigade, on Thursday, conducted another offensive operation along Korede axis in Damboa LGA.<br /> <br /> “In the operations, three motor cycles suspected to be used during Sunday’s attack on Azir village, were recovered along with stolen food stuffs from the village.<br /> <br /> “Terrorists observation posts were destroyed in a high ground in Korede.<br /> <br /> “Our troops continued to dominate roads leading to Azir, Wajikoro, Damboa and Biu towns to deny Boko Haram terrorists any possible freedom of activities in the area.<br /> <br /> “The fighting spirit of the troops remains very high”, he said.

Latest-News Military clears 9 more terrorists’ camps in Borno

The Nigerian Army said on Friday that it had cleared nine more suspected Boko Haram terrorists camps in its operations in Borno. Col.Tukur Gusau, the Media Coordinator of Operation Lafiya Dole, said this in a statement in Maiduguri. “In a major boos…

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NBA to probe Saraki’s lawyers over walkout at Code of Conduct Tribunal

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BXrFnAQUVNROODUVyNrEokRq3oqFB57Bzhr2f_AFVi7NQi8z5u_sUMealzkq0wXymDKIxS07EU2JhvzZ3pqCZaCX26481EiYdcPaN7KvvcFA8H3ckp3dErPCF8XBdZJp6rB7qpLlXN58/s1600/Bukola-Saraki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BXrFnAQUVNROODUVyNrEokRq3oqFB57Bzhr2f_AFVi7NQi8z5u_sUMealzkq0wXymDKIxS07EU2JhvzZ3pqCZaCX26481EiYdcPaN7KvvcFA8H3ckp3dErPCF8XBdZJp6rB7qpLlXN58/s400/Bukola-Saraki.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="goog_1506670300"></span><span id="goog_1506670301"></span><br /></span><br /> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-left: 0.5rem; margin-right: 0.5rem; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Nigerian Bar Association has said it would investigate the action of the senior counsel who represented the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The NBA General Secretary, Afam Osigwe, said on Friday in Abuja that the association would undertake the investigation to ascertain facts of what transpired at the tribunal before taking a position.</span></div> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“We got different accounts in the media and would need the correct details to allow the NBA to react from an informed position.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“From the accounts we got through the media some said the lawyers walked out while others said they withdrew.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“So, due to the inconsistent choice of words, we cannot speak on the matter until we get the full and accurate details,’’ he said.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The lawyers, Mahmud Magaji and Ahmed Raji, had withdrawn their services as lawyers representing Mr. Saraki at his trial on allegation of false asset declaration before the tribunal.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They had also staged a walk out with the junior lawyers who appeared with them before the tribunal concluded the case.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The lawyers openly announced their withdrawal following their perceived dissatisfaction with the ruling of the tribunal on their application for stay of proceedings.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They said that they were displeased with the decision of the tribunal refusing the application to stay proceeding in the trial pending the determination of an appeal they filed before the Supreme Court.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Specifically, Mr. Magaji had said: “This is a judicial rascality and I cannot be part of this process. I therefore withdraw my representation as the respondent’s counsel.’’</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Speaking in same vein, Mr. Raji said: “We have pending application before the supreme court.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I believe that in the hierarchy of court we have the tail and the head and the tail cannot dictate for the head as we have seen here.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I also withdraw my services as lawyer to the respondent.”</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile, a cross section of lawyers in Abuja condemned the “walkout” by the senior counsel, describing it as a “disgrace to the bar’’.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of the lawyers said the action of the lawyers was unethical, while some blamed the judge for not taking appropriate action to charge them for contempt.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nnanna Oketa said young lawyers were highly disappointed with the conduct of the senior advocates, adding that the action was more political than judicial.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“The truth is that what transpired yesterday at the Code of Conduct Tribunal is to say the least degrading of our profession; it was terrible and should not be associated with lawyers.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Lawyers are expected to conduct themselves appropriately with the highest level of decorum when they are in court. That is not how we are trained and we hope that does not happen again.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“The truth is that, if your prayer is not granted by the court, there is a window of appeal if you are not comfortable with the ruling of the court,’’ he said.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mr. Oketa stressed that lawyers and citizens alike must be properly guided by the rules of court in their conduct before the court and a judge.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another legal practitioner, Anthony Ekuma, said the action of the senior lawyers was “most unruly’’.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“What they have done is a violation of Section 30 of the Rules for Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007 as amended.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“With due respect to the learned seniors, they should know that notice of appeal does not constitute a stay in the hearing of a trial before a court,” he said.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mr. Ekuma also condemned the action of the tens of Senators who accompanied Mr. Saraki to the tribunal.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Senator had reportedly raised their voices in support of the lawyers when they walked out of court thereby disrupting the proceedings of the tribunal.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“The law is in no respecter of anyone, no matter how highly placed therefore you are expected to conduct yourself orderly while in court.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“There must be maintenance of decorum in the conduct of anybody in the court during proceedings no matter who the person is,’’ he said.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mr. Saraki, who is standing trial at the tribunal over allegations of false asset declaration, had appealed to the Supreme Court to stop the trial.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The lawyers had applied to the tribunal to stay proceedings in the trial pending the decision of the apex court.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The tribunal, presided over by Justice Danladi Umar, however, in its ruling upheld the argument of the prosecution that staying proceeding would hamper speedy trial.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In his ruling, Mr. Umar relied on Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which states that: “An application for stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before the court shall not be entertained’’.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Similarly, he said that Section 305 (1) of the Act allows the trial court to exercise its discretion on stay of proceeding if an issue on the interpretation of the constitution is raised before an appellate court.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The section reads: “Where a question as to the interpretation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria arises in the course of trial and is referred to the Court of Appeal under the provisions of the constitution, the court before which the question arose may in its discretion:</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“(a) adjourn the trial until the question has been considered and decided</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“(b) conclude the trial and postpone the verdict until such time as the question has been considered and decided, or</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“(c) conclude the trial and pass sentence but suspend execution until such time as the question has been considered and decided,</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“And in any such case the court in its discretion shall commit the defendant or convict to prison or admit him to bail in accordance with the provision of Part 19 of this Act’’. (NAN)</span></div> <br />

Latest-News NBA to probe Saraki’s lawyers over walkout at Code of Conduct Tribunal

The Nigerian Bar Association has said it would investigate the action of the senior counsel who represented the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday. The NBA General Secretary, Afam Osigwe, said on Frid…

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Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release

<div align="center"> <img alt="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63cCdVnE1ZigociEJNgO7oH7F2DMttZEUzz5Us3zat-dEE5YplxdOd1QI6y5GJRh3xEVQt1GZUUXncqN0SOre-5-Co_IrNsGrnNiIoDQjst-_GYVghKbgq0RAGinyS-BfGmQ_wSFFof9Q/s400/bia2.jpg" title="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" width="400" /></div> <br /> Supporters of the Director of Radio Biafra and leader of the indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday, grounded commercial and vehicular activities in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State, in a bid to call for the immediate release of their leader, who is still reportedly being detained by the Department of State Services, DSS.<br /> <br /> Motorists and commuters who were said to be leaving and entering the south-east, through the River Niger Bridge, in Onitsha, this morning, were held to standstill for over six hours, as members of IPOB in their thousands, barricaded the entry and exit routes of the Head Bridge.<br /> <br /> <div align="center"> <img alt="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp54xcCisUk-JifLnTIfNDNwmXrQrryxbYwSRGeBobGGg-9cyVzs4PrhSIQ7naNCgqW09MoOhlX1JOBFhGX4cjvWBNhBJDLV2IVNA4eAQ8_1s-g3gYoPyqiRn9OWwLm6jB6rGcv1Q1iDmF/s400/bia1.jpg" title="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" width="400" /></div> <br /> <br /> An eye witness, Mr. Kelechi Amaeze, who was travelling from the south-east to Lagos on Friday, told revealed that thousands of travellers, including himself, were held to standstill at the Onitsha head-bridge owing to the protest, which members of IPOB had tagged, “One Million Match.”<br /> <br /> It was also gahered from another account that IPOB protesters where already taking their demonstration into Asaba, the Delta State capital, but where stopped by security operatives in the state, who had already re-mobilised on getting a tip-off of the protest.<br /> <br /> <div align="center"> <img alt="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzRMZKke3IxvHgYwD5Ap8-SmkL7v56FzKW1UYr_ciaXA3xWR4sRfhsc2eGSx1pdK73bjy9xhBfsvMUjVlOJgj7ui6gpf1y1_OlvZDSBDdoC_Q9ttgJeUsASLPxRWYQC8P3_WcItWl4z9g/s400/bia3.jpg" title="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" width="400" /></div> <div align="center"> <img alt="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKR3dasdNgqShKk0B4wxzyAkz9xlZNR2EFSZUVSmJwIP1ZJbKqD0BPSGlNaFewdnwvdShevRetsDongLWJ9hx_ewQPkVSEPAMk6wwk0n8nlsD_Ggdf6VhWKsMaw0h_MUCwsEiq2WbpwVhK/s400/bia4.jpg" title="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" width="400" /></div> <br /> <br /> It was also gathered that the armed-to-the-teeth security operatives barricaded the exit point of the Head Bridge into Asaba with an Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, to stop the irate protesters from gaining entry into the south-south region.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZwPeMwDQZ1fylJEiu9P-npGaxEefr5yzQAtKty2CLAdKb1nG0J_ONzKKTy_MA1JBHNz_fIEGkrbMcV4OQQdLQtcnthD4_XwsfOdqOJHmMhY0d3YiG9LR_4VLfYVST3IF42OKH2RzLlIR/s400/Mazi-Nnamdi-Kanu-504x273+biafra+radio.jpg" title="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" width="400" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /> The protest which also reached the Ochanja area of Onitsha, saw one of the protesters allegedly shot dead by an accidental discharge from the shots of a soldier, in a bid to quell the raging protest.<br /> <br /> <div align="center"> <img alt="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7x2337ki8na4Wj0m_yQU2G50nh20ueXP6WoVZ_yYPqb9-DFw8c6HIfZ0x2NFdtg3RN1e6gRr7k5y3gZ3yd9T7o3JqJyRQhdUy-orNBcXkSsihWqnGuC5YK6N-rHE1Do1KpUfaFQenwEL1/s640/bia5.jpg" title="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" width="478" /></div> <div align="center"> <img alt="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy6r5egap4_M3t9wMfzE5G7vjgWBJD3WcLuGzeZvKbg5MiLve0dw1tMB7wiH3h5RDNtxSKLw77ERrGj36TS4ok98guderQq4THDT7NRwLnyCSRyDstu8jckF-d1zvJaHs6TwHYCW1Is1U/s640/bia6.jpg" title="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" width="360" /></div> <div align="center"> <img alt="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fvviAJfFpI0iKvXnry0RA2YDWZk_Bit1-2iz74AifeD8_SQFkzkL1wOL0oobu9sfPSzvEOiUxZV9QBUq2s5w7aw6Nd6oDuo4ZqeD_BOlxzA-GxtznyToO2wDq68QE-xEUMeSO6fSOUX1/s1600/bia7.png" title="Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release" /></div>

Latest-News Nigerian News Supporters of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu block Niger bridge, demand for his immediate release

Supporters of the Director of Radio Biafra and leader of the indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday, grounded commercial and vehicular activities in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State, in a bid to call for the …

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UK plans to deport 29,000 Nigerians

<div align="center"> <img alt="UK plans to deport 29,000 Nigerians" border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8iRNRv_fB8FPC8MsqbFByW786YN0S13LzFMoG5cyYRQMghX2D1fQqdsWdSPvtzft5dvxoCoHzcshG_uwoECUvflxuNzp98RzQnHBPWsAmH9STJ_nNevQsPGam5tvoqoDSBsjYnT65Nql/s400/uk%252Bnigeria.gif" title="UK plans to deport 29,000 Nigerians" width="400" /></div> <br /> Britain is working with the Federal Government on the planned deportation of 29,000 Nigerians from the United Kingdom, an exercise that is expected to commence soon after fulfillment of all legal obligations.<br /> <br /> The UK stated that it would continue to maintain dialogue with the FG “on this important and sensitive matter which is of vital importance to our relations.”<br /> <br /> The UK High Commission in Nigeria told our correspondent in Abuja that the removal of persons who did not have a right to remain in the UK is carried out in conjunction with relevant Nigerian authorities including the Nigeria High Commission in London.<br /> <br /> The acting Nigeria High Commissioner in London, Olukunle Bamgbose, had informed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during his visit to London in October, 2015, that the UK government had placed deportation tag on 29,000 Nigerians.<br /> <br /> He expressed worries over the removal policy of the UK government, noting that the migration policy came as a result of the migration crisis created by the troubled regions in the world.<br /> <br /> “I think about 29,000 Nigerians have been designated to be deported. We are insisting that due process must be followed before Nigerians are really removed from the UK to Nigeria,” Bamgbose had said.<br /> <br /> But responding to inquiries by newsmen, the Press and Public Affairs Officer, UK High Commission, Joe Abuku, said the UK had always worked with FG to facilitate visas for large numbers of travellers between the two countries and “to ensure the return of the small minority who choose not to return when their visa expired.”<br /> <br /> He did not confirm the number of Nigerians that would be affected by the deportation exercise, but stressed that those concerned would be removed “after we have determined nationality.”

Latest-News World News UK plans to deport 29,000 Nigerians

Britain is working with the Federal Government on the planned deportation of 29,000 Nigerians from the United Kingdom, an exercise that is expected to commence soon after fulfillment of all legal obligations. The UK stated that it would continue to …

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50 Nigerians make first class from Malaysian university

<div align="center"> <img alt="50 Nigerians make first class from Malaysian university" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZREYjxnATgOt3nGZxSxRx6kxplLrNETUL6sbXjAyhVf61Kynl4i4ear89qRSg9Bbqw6cFTDX5vydfdCcydl4hc1ht6uOwZnMmtEP0p7HdJX1UgETh5sD9gLAszkOporxJ90Ph14aYTNg4/s400/convocation+graduation.jpg" title="50 Nigerians make first class from Malaysian university" width="400" /></div> <br /> Of the 253 Nigerians who graduated in various academic disciplines at the 2015 convocation ceremony of the Linton University College Malaysia, 50 made first class honours, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund has said.<br /> <br /> According to the Fund, 35 PTDF scholars were among the 253 Nigerians who graduated at the 2015 convocation ceremony which was done in collaboration with University of East London and Coventry University, United Kingdom.<br /> <br /> The Fund, in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday said, “Altogether 50 Nigerian graduates distinguished themselves with first class honours degrees, among whom were 13 PTDF scholars who earned first class degrees in Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Business Management and Civil Engineering.”<br /> <br /> The Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to Malaysia, Mrs. Janet Odeka, according to the statement, said the unprecedented achievement of the Nigerian scholars in the university in Malaysia had contributed in creating a positive image for Nigerians living in the country.<br /> <br /> She said, “I am really excited and grateful because this is the first time we are having such number of graduates who produced good results such as first class and second class upper. We have had students from Nigeria who were involved in criminal activities and other immoral acts, but for the first time we are celebrating something we should be proud of as Nigerians and I wish to appeal to Nigerians here that they should emulate what these graduands have done to attract a good name for Nigeria.”<br /> <br /> The Executive Secretary, PTDF, Mr. Femi Ajayi, urged the graduands to take advantage of the opportunities that were opening up in Nigeria under a new administration to deploy their new skills and knowledge.<br /> <br /> He said, “Rather than being skeptical about the future and apprehensive about job opportunities back home in Nigeria, you should be excited knowing that a new chapter has opened in Nigeria that provides the enabling environment for those who genuinely wish to make it in Nigeria.”<br /> <br /> Ajayi said their areas of specialisation, which were engineering related, would serve as stepping stones for building bridges between opportunities and dreams.<br /> <br /> He said, “This is something to be very proud of and excited about, particularly when you know the areas they specialise. We have high hopes for them. If you have people who have excelled, the thing to do is to deploy their knowledge in the right direction. Some will proceed for their masters and PhD and for those who want to work, we will link them up with available job opportunities in Nigeria.”<br /> <br /> “With the kind of knowledge and experience they have here, I am hopeful that their skills and knowledge will be readily utilised in Nigeria and I will encourage them to go back home.”

Latest-News World News 50 Nigerians make first class from Malaysian university

Of the 253 Nigerians who graduated in various academic disciplines at the 2015 convocation ceremony of the Linton University College Malaysia, 50 made first class honours, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund has said. According to the Fund, 35…

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Government will ensure safety of corps members - NYSC

<div align="center"> <img alt="Government will ensure safety of corps members - NYSC" border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIR7bmxpNsD6O9A7-QMIRd458eVutvd43QpZxW4Ukc_WeXRw-gXb913Qlj9sbpsLjisInnzoYw187C80ULrkd2v8JKg5IJRLviGcGVl7r1jSx3SCtzjkTftH3nczEAuK7WIKpOf1ks6sMW/s400/nysc+otondo.jpg" title="Government will ensure safety of corps members - NYSC" width="400" /></div> <br /> The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, has said that governments at all level will ensure safety of corps members during their service year.<br /> <br /> He urged corps members to be disciplined and security conscious throughout the service year.<br /> <br /> Gen. Olawumi stated these while addressing corps members at the NYSC orientation camp, Yikpata, in Edu local government area of Kwara State, on Friday.<br /> <br /> He said: “Nigerian youth should be patriotic, disciplined, loyal and committed to the wellbeing of our great country.”<br /> <br /> He admonishes members of the 2015 Batch ‘B’ corps members to be patriotic citizens of Nigeria.

Latest-News Nigerian News Government will ensure safety of corps members - NYSC

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, has said that governments at all level will ensure safety of corps members during their service year. He urged corps members to be disciplined and security c…

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Nigerian Army establishes media centre in Maiduguri

<div align="center"> <img alt="Nigerian Army establishes media centre in Maiduguri" border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfj35E6hTwJkB6dVh_Q1A40X6KGbSuO8-WR11bBLhGS_Sw_IiFkHFFCXA8TxvvSHviBqBvGCACWPxaeNYfGXw22sgCCsnloYHpjycJzbr4y8uVmtGMZ_6alQQ7paKetrs3goAoEBfkZ2M/s640/nigerian+army.jpg" title="Nigerian Army establishes media centre in Maiduguri" width="640" /></div> <br /> As part of its drive for proper information dissemination in the counter-insurgency operation in the northeast, the Nigerian Army has set up a media centre for the operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.<br /> <br /> The Centre which was commissioned by GOC of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Lamidi Adeosun on behalf of the theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Yusha’u Mahmud Abubakar, said the establishment of the media centre in Maiduguri underscores the importance of the media in the on-going war against the insurgency in the country and the North-East region.<br /> <br /> Maj. Gen. Adeosun explained that the military has gained tremendously from media reports on its activities in the troubled region hence the need to take the relationship to the next level especially in the last lap of the operation.<br /> <br /> He said the centre will attend to media 24/7 on the activities of the Army in the North-East region, specifically the counter-insurgency operation.<br /> <br /> He added that the media is very key to the success of the operation in the troubled region and would not want to deprive them of all needed information.<br /> <br /> He called on all media practitioners to always contact the centre for needed clarifications on the activities of the military concerning Operation Lafiya Dole.

Latest-News Nigerian News Nigerian Army establishes media centre in Maiduguri

As part of its drive for proper information dissemination in the counter-insurgency operation in the northeast, the Nigerian Army has set up a media centre for the operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The Centre which was com…

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As a boy, pope wanted to be a butcher

<div align="center"> <img alt="As a boy, pope wanted to be a butcher" border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZVeYnxguE44SMacRVOblxz__kyT0sRLzBhzuB0RfzvAb_SSS3qF5ESGoi9v644t0qHIhzY2a73tCFJTTR3ieXn0OlbqShrMlcN0fEVi_bd0sNCdwpBZMIHWsf0CCTJ3VA3nsf5gwhl3p/s640/pope+francis+2.jpg" title="As a boy, pope wanted to be a butcher" width="640" /></div> <br /> When he was still knee-high to a grasshopper, Pope Francis never dreamt of becoming the leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Roman Catholics. His secret desire? To be a butcher.<br /> <br /> “When I was little, there were no shops where they used to sell things,” the pontiff said in an interview published Friday, as he recounted his life growing up in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires.<br /> <br /> “There was a market with a butcher and a fruit-seller. I used to go with my mother and my grandma to do the shopping. I was little, four years old. And they asked me ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ and I said ‘butcher!’.”<br /> <br /> The revelation came during an interview with a Dutch paper, “Straatnieuws”, sold by the homeless in the central city of Utrecht.<br /> <br /> The pontiff, the first to grace the Vatican from Latin America, also confided that he missed being able to walk on the streets.<br /> <br /> In his modest district of Buenos Aires, there was a small square where he played football, although with little success. “Those who played like I did were dubbed the hard potatoes. In other words, we had two left feet.<br /> <br /> “But I would play, and often I’d be goalie.”<br /> <br /> It’s been a tough week for the pontiff, after two people were arrested last weekend for allegedly leaking confidential documents revealing gross financial mismanagement at the Vatican.<br /> <br /> The pope again explained why he had snubbed the grand official Papal Apartments with some 10 rooms, comparing it to “a funnel. It’s big, but with a small door.”<br /> <br /> “It means isolating oneself. I thought I can’t live there, it wouldn’t be good for my mental health.”<br /> <br /> Instead, the pope chose to take up residence in a two-room flat in the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence, where he can receive visitors and eat with others in the canteen.<br /> <br /> “Like that, the golden cage doesn’t seem such a cage,” said Francis, who also revealed that he “would love” to be able to go out for a pizza from time to time.<br /> <br /> But he brushed aside his new-found celebrity, saying “I don’t think about the fact that I’m famous.”<br /> <br /> “I tell myself, you have an important position now, but in 10 years time no-one will still recognise you,” he added with a laugh.<br /> <br /> (AFP)

Latest-News World News As a boy, pope wanted to be a butcher

When he was still knee-high to a grasshopper, Pope Francis never dreamt of becoming the leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Roman Catholics. His secret desire? To be a butcher. “When I was little, there were no shops where they used to sell things,” t…

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I don’t like watching football - Neymar

<div align="center"> <img alt="I don’t like watching football - Neymar" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvp4A_iyPjXIeeF8zyXd1RFPx-WtWuyU181Rarw59cixpbD_DJWBpn-OF2_-f8ZqOP7lA3y5jaeS5aG0BJEYJHvfG-1H8J3oNZ30HZDzlVEmgm4J6OBrJmYiFLxItgChiwvlThhX0Dp9i/s1600/neymar+brazil.jpg" title="I don’t like watching football - Neymar" /></div> <br /> Barcelona star Neymar claims he does not like watching football when he’s not playing but admits he is enjoying life at Camp Nou after a strong start to the season.<br /> <br /> The Brazil international has scored eight goals in his last six games for Luis Enrique’s side, who are level on points with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.<br /> <br /> The two sides will go head-to-head in El Clasico after the international break, and Neymar says the first goal he scored against Real Madrid was one of the best moments of his career.<br /> <br /> “It was a great moment. I always dreamed about a moment like this. It was one of the happiest days in my life,” he told BeIN Sports.<br /> <br /> “Brazil – Argentina is very similar to a Barcelona – Real Madrid. It’s going to be a very difficult game<br /> <br /> “This is my best year, I’m playing the way I like, I’m very happy. I feel like I’m at home. My first year was to learn, the second was better.<br /> <br /> “I always loved the way Barcelona play and the players. I adapt to their play. Luis Suarez and I have to run to find space to receive passes from these great players.<br /> <br /> “I don’t know if we [Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi] are the best, but we have great players. I hope we can be in our best form for many years.”<br /> <br /> (Goal.com)

Celebrities Latest-News I don’t like watching football - Neymar

Barcelona star Neymar claims he does not like watching football when he’s not playing but admits he is enjoying life at Camp Nou after a strong start to the season. The Brazil international has scored eight goals in his last six games for Luis Enriq…

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Magufuli sworn in as Tanzania’s president

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWCOCmmjkXo0TyupH_U4OwifcihDi0xJFQwFTWyYuUyMcruS1PgBXJUfTUpckR1U3uyyGe56V8gkn9HfzrRHaiD51q5-T5K3Ysb0YftuTRplanYDKMgk2Xp-6SSpFKcglEtzmy3reoUps/s1600/tanzania-president_650x400_61446133121_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWCOCmmjkXo0TyupH_U4OwifcihDi0xJFQwFTWyYuUyMcruS1PgBXJUfTUpckR1U3uyyGe56V8gkn9HfzrRHaiD51q5-T5K3Ysb0YftuTRplanYDKMgk2Xp-6SSpFKcglEtzmy3reoUps/s400/tanzania-president_650x400_61446133121_0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Tanzania’s new President, John Magufuli, has promised to unite the country, create more jobs and drive up economic growth.<br /> <br /> “It is now time for us to unite and put our ideological differences aside,” Magufuli, 56, told thousands of supporters during his swearing-in ceremony at the country’s National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, on Friday.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “I will work hard for all Tanzanians regardless of their tribal, religious or ideological affiliations,” he said.<br /> <br /> Magufuli took over from Jakaya Kikwete, who served two terms.<br /> <br /> The ruling CCM party, which had governed the East African country since independence in 1961, faced its toughest electoral challenge in years after the main opposition parties united for the first time around a candidate, Edward Lowassa.<br /> <br /> Lowassa, 62, a former prime minister who defected from the ruling party in July, rejected the electoral commission’s declaration, claiming that he won the presidential polls.<br /> <br /> Both candidates had promised to speed up development in a nation that has vast agricultural land, a wealth of mineral resources and huge gas reserves but remains impoverished.<br /> <br /> Magufuli secured 58 per cent of the votes, while Lowassa had 40 per cent.<br /> But, his victory was overshadowed by a political crisis in Tanzania’s semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago.<br /> <br /> Guests at the swearing-in included South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn and Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Mugabe.<br /> <br /> The main opposition coalition, which contested the Oct. 25 poll results, boycotted the inauguration and threatened to hold nationwide demonstrations.<br /> <br /> (NAN)

Latest-News Magufuli sworn in as Tanzania’s president

Tanzania’s new President, John Magufuli, has promised to unite the country, create more jobs and drive up economic growth. “It is now time for us to unite and put our ideological differences aside,” Magufuli, 56, told thousands of supporters during …

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EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde to appear in senate on Tuesday to answer questions on allegations of fraud

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57_7UR5mOeOEs22ARolwrn1mk1fEW4OzVkzjbDnE0hphkM8nhcFUd-ey45Mbjx1jXRXHGEu0cw9TTwP-F9NoKYVO8A7zcqM07ou3K43uanlZ67vU0VclJNs8r0BHRq5_mzUwdSBrK5UlQ/s1600/EFCC-Chairman-Ibrahim-Lamorde1-360x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57_7UR5mOeOEs22ARolwrn1mk1fEW4OzVkzjbDnE0hphkM8nhcFUd-ey45Mbjx1jXRXHGEu0cw9TTwP-F9NoKYVO8A7zcqM07ou3K43uanlZ67vU0VclJNs8r0BHRq5_mzUwdSBrK5UlQ/s640/EFCC-Chairman-Ibrahim-Lamorde1-360x225.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> The Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, confirmed on Friday that the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, would appear before his panel on Tuesday to answer questions on allegations of fraud preferred against him.<br /> <br /> Anyanwu, told newsmen in a telephone interview in Abuja that the committee would have invited Lamorde earlier before now but for its other engagements.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He said, “We are ready to resume our investigation on the petition brought against the EFCC chairman and he had been summoned to appear before us next week Tuesday (October 10). We should have done it much earlier but for the tight schedule of the committee”<br /> <br /> Also, a member of the committee who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Senator Dino Melaye, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that the upper chamber was set to resume the probe of the EFCC boss.<br /> <br /> He attributed the delay in summoning Lamorde to appear before the panel to the fact that the Senate was in the last three weeks, preoccupied with the screening of the ministerial nominees, adding that the committee was overwhelmingly involved in the exercise.

Latest-News EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde to appear in senate on Tuesday to answer questions on allegations of fraud

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, confirmed on Friday that the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, would appear before his panel on Tuesday to answer q…

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