North Korean president executes official for not sitting correctly at meeting

<br /> <br /> North Korea has executed its education minister, Kim Yong-Jin, 63, because of his ‘bad sitting posture’ in parliament, according to reports.<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLh6Fe-qsscPWrwKUz40Yh_tt4TCXBxJJDMqRh7V45zw1SeKIKdMdWGFEDE0aWtDKANMI7jVAyDtCuHSnjJPY0CHLwTJ-bJ_HwPA9V0uYxiHzZjUDS2plrmaH2Ap5CNwJq3n1yxZymolg/s1600/kim-jong-un-+north+korea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLh6Fe-qsscPWrwKUz40Yh_tt4TCXBxJJDMqRh7V45zw1SeKIKdMdWGFEDE0aWtDKANMI7jVAyDtCuHSnjJPY0CHLwTJ-bJ_HwPA9V0uYxiHzZjUDS2plrmaH2Ap5CNwJq3n1yxZymolg/s400/kim-jong-un-+north+korea.jpg" width="400" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Korea leader</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> Before his execution in July, a south Korean official said topofficial was interrogated and found to be an ‘anti-revolutionary agitator’ .<br /> <br /> South Korea ’s unification ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said: “Vice premier for education Kim Yong-Jin was executed.”<br /> <br /> He added: “Kim Yong-Jin was denounced for his bad sitting posture when he was sitting below the rostrum.”<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

Latest-News North Korean president executes official for not sitting correctly at meeting

North Korea has executed its education minister, Kim Yong-Jin, 63, because of his ‘bad sitting posture’ in parliament, according to report...

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Planned Chibok girls swap not sign of failure – Military

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeWjxqi1pyZi5_jnzNbktT65Gil8K8wWPDRkXz5Y58MT2JldCkVJN3LtKoMEwLsJQpes7VEN5no_rVinR8MZTqD_yjB8HptzFjwAja0e0ODIXbg0rcS3L8QswpXeiGRS8n-9TxTWlKOs/s640/Boko_Haram_Nigeria_FG.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> The Nigerian military has again reiterated its commitment to reclaim Sambisa Forest and bring the Boko Haram insurgency to an end.<br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> The military, which stated this through Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, the theatre commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, also said the proposed swap deal involving the missing Chibok schoolgirls with some captured Boko Haram members should not be seen as a sign of failure.<br /> <br /> Irabor said if President Muhammadu Buhari in his wisdom, decided it was right to go with the swap deal on the missing Chibok girls it should not be seen as a sign of failure on the part of the President or the military to rescue the missing girls.<br /> <br /> Irabor, who spoke at the 23rd Armoured Brigade Jalo Cantonment in Yola on Wednesday, after he received operational briefing from Brig. Gen. Benson Akinroluyo, the Brigade Commander 23rd Armoured Brigade, and other military officers involved in the counter-insurgency operation from the Adamawa axis.<br /> <br /> He said Nigerians ought to commend President Buhari for his wisdom to opt for the negotiated release of the missing schoolgirls held in captivity by the Boko Haram sect.<br /> <br /> He said, “The operative objective of the military in its counter-insurgency operations derives from the President’s statement that the war against insurgency would not be said to have been won without the rescue of the Chibok girls.<br /> <br /> “If in the wisdom of the Commander-in-Chief, he believes that the swap for the release of the Chibok girls is what is best, that doesn’t mean failure. How does it amount to failure?”<br /> <br /> President Buhari, in his inauguration statement in May 2015, had said until the Chibok girls were rescued, the war on Boko Haram insurgency could not be seen to have been won.<br /> <br /> Irabor argued that the military could not now be adjudged to have failed in carrying out that mandate if it opted for negotiations.<br /> <br /> He said, “There are other countries where this had been done and so we don’t need to go into any contention with that. Don’t forget that these people that we are talking about are Nigerians. Mr. President is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He’s the President of every Nigerian, both good and bad. Thus, it is not good to say that the military has failed if there’s a swap.”<br /> <br /> He added that the military would do the needful to bring the insurgency to an end and if that entailed hunting down the insurgents until the last man, it would do so.<br /> <br /> He said, “Regarding Shekau; we have had a series of Shekaus that had been killed. And I can confirm to you that the original Shekau was actually killed, the second Shekau was also killed. That, I can also confirm to you.<br /> <br /> “The man that now presents himself as Shekau, I can also confirm to you, was wounded a few weeks back. I am yet to confirm whether he is dead or not.”<br /> <br /> He pointed out that the current divisions within the Boko Haram sect was proof that the sustained military clampdown on the insurgents had brought the sect under pressure and strained their cohesion as those who had felt the heat were now on the verge of surrendering.

Latest-News Planned Chibok girls swap not sign of failure – Military

The Nigerian military has again reiterated its commitment to reclaim Sambisa Forest and bring the Boko Haram insurgency to an end. Th...

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Wike dissolves 17 LG caretaker committees

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VEeCaKnyUmEQbugbitgLNP40UX36gB-yE7F_BlvPeQsUJz9kzonV0bgSduCwKQW8P7jcUte2X-BrZs9aaOvJpK1yPe4wXfFTls-bVJ959FiyFXg-ZpA-Wtmz8Pa_ASzprB2wClbdDNU/s400/wike1.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> <br /> The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Thursday dissolved the Caretaker Committees of 17 out of the 23 local government areas in the state.<br /> <br /> Wike’s decision to dissolve the caretaker committees is coming on the heels of the suspension of the state Head of Service, Mr. Rufus Godwins, four commissioners and one special adviser.<br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> Though no reason was given for the development, the governor, through his Special Adviser on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, said the dissolution of the LG caretaker committees would take immediate effect.<br /> <br /> “The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has dissolved the Caretaker Committees of 17 local government areas of the state.<br /> <br /> “The dissolution of the caretaker committees takes immediate effect,” the statement issued in Port Harcourt read.<br /> <br /> The statement listed the affected councils as Abua/Odual, Akuku-Toru Ahoada East, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme and Emohua.<br /> <br /> Others are Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Omuma, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt City, Etche, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Ogu/Bolo and Okrika and Tai.<br /> <br /> The statement, however, directed the affected caretaker committee chairmen to hand over to the most senior officials in their respective councils.

Latest-News Wike dissolves 17 LG caretaker committees

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Thursday dissolved the Caretaker Committees of 17 out of the 23 local government areas i...

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55 persons under Lassa fever surveillance healthy, says Delta

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy9aAN1Vb_6XfK0XWoIxg7YHtGUmytKX8qzzdx0IOwF_ZYsj0aLxOfvx_R6dT0ic5kH8SuVuLa57JSeLYZ8TK6ZMexdWWkPBZeHfKSHkkRzVnqJVzDM5bJEBkaqEi_XxDtioxlL9HJpM/s400/lassa-fever.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> The Delta State Government has declared 55 persons put under surveillance following the death of a doctor who was admitted in a private hospital in Asaba, the state capital, and thereafter died in Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge, has said that the Lassa fever outbreak has been brought under control.<br /> <br /> Azinge, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Asaba, revealed that none of the 55 persons placed under surveillance for having direct and indirect contact with the deceased showed any sign or symptom of Lassa fever.<br /> <br /> He noted that samples from the five persons including the laboratory technician who took the deceased’s blood sample were taken to the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, for diagnosis and analysis. He said the results showed that they had no symptom of the disease.<br /> <br /> Our correspondent learnt that the wife of the deceased and his seven children were all doing well, saying that none of them had the symptom. He added that the hospital where the diseased was treated before he died had already been disinfected.<br /> <br /> Azinge added that the state Ministry of Health was currently collaborating with the Ministries of Information, Education, Environment and relevant stakeholders to step up actions and activities that would ensure thorough monitoring and prevention of the disease.<br /> <br /> He added that awareness and sensitization campaigns were already stepped up through jingles on radio and television stations, as well as educating market women on prevention outbreak of the disease.<br /> <br /> Azinge expressed satisfaction while appreciating the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for his quick intervention in releasing funds to contend with the disease, he commended the Federal Government’s response team comprising officers of the Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme and the National Centre for Disease Control, led by Dr. Ihenkwezu Chikwe, for their support and technical assistance in combating the outbreak.

Latest-News 55 persons under Lassa fever surveillance healthy, says Delta

The Delta State Government has declared 55 persons put under surveillance following the death of a doctor who was admitted in a private h...

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EFCC has no reason to torture suspects - Magu

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV90b7yI-0liUW7HalA2KXRzs09qhSWwsPdNSdGPQKjTnht6aWQQaronayFtP2eZuNy09urP1WkmoF-hOo7El6SpHiv7uRHy9QF3DMAfkRivoHM9bnERlEnk6jz1QUw_l3cXvPLJ1GSyA/s640/efcc+chairman+magu.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> <br /> THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman Ibrahim Magu yesterday said the commission has no reason to torture suspects.<br /> <br /> He said the agency’s functions involve the use of facts and figures, which suspects are asked to explain.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> The commission, he said, has secured over 45 convictions in Lagos courts since January.<br /> <br /> He denied that the commission tortures suspects in its detention centres to extract confessions.<br /> <br /> Magu said suspects who get sick are immediately taken to the commission’s clinic or referred to a hospital.<br /> <br /> The EFCC chairman, represented by Deputy Director of Operations, Lagos Zonal Office, Mr illiyasu Kwarbai, said suspects are only detained beyond 48 hours with a court order.<br /> <br /> According to him, medical bills incurred by anyone in detention are borne by the commission. Suspects, he said, are fed three times daily, adding that EFCC has an open-door policy.<br /> <br /> Kwarbai, who took journalists and civil society leaders on a tour of the commissions Lagos facilities, said despite the resistance of some accused persons, the operatives are professional in their approach.<br /> <br /> Among the facilities visited were EFCC’s detention centre on 7, Okotie-Eboh Street, Ikoyi, its clinic, interview rooms and computerised offices.<br /> <br /> Each room in the detention facility, with male and female sections, has a mattress, a shower and a toilet. Kwarbai said two suspects are assigned to a room.<br /> <br /> There is also a church, named “House of Reconciliation with God”, and a mosque. The clinic has two consulting rooms with two doctors, nurses and a dispensary.<br /> <br /> Kwarbai said: “In the course of interviews, some other windows will be opened, which may require further interrogation. In that case we secure court order or remand warrant to enable us keep them.<br /> <br /> “Before we put them in detention we serve them with bail conditions which they will sign. They’re immediately admitted to bail pending when they produce reasonable sureties, so that if they’re released we ensure that they come back.<br /> <br /> “So, we don’t beat any person here. We don’t extract confessional statements. We investigate financial crimes, not robbery or murder where suspects leave the scene and make up an alibi.<br /> <br /> “We don’t need confessional statements to gather facts and figures. We go to the banks and other places and get our facts. There is no need for us to introduce any harsh method of interrogation at all. We don’t do it.”<br /> <br /> According to him, some suspects who were used to life of luxury “fall sick” once they are taken to the detention centre. He said a vehicle is stationed at the centre to move any sick person to the clinic, which the EFCC staff also use.<br /> <br /> Kwarbai said one of EFCC’s strategies is to recover stolen funds from suspects. Over N2billion, he said, has been recovered this year, including properties worth billions.<br /> <br /> “Our recoveries are in billions. If we don’t recover some of these funds and you leave them with the accused persons, then we are in trouble and the country is also in trouble, because they have ‘destructive’ weapons,” he said.<br /> <br /> He said some suspects run to the court to prevent their arrest, while others hire the best lawyers to delay the cases.<br /> <br /> “Sometimes by mere invitation, these accused persons will go to court. We didn’t go to arrest them – just to come and answer to allegations against them in the interest of fair hearing, but they won’t.<br /> <br /> “If they have stolen N10billion, they will set aside N3billion for litigation. There was a time I was in the witness box for more than five hours being cross examined by the defence lawyer,” Kwarbai said.<br /> <br /> The EFCC chief said the commission was open to plea bargaining, as it saves the government time that would have been wasted on prosecution and enables the suspect to get a lighter sentence after returning what he stole.<br /> <br /> Head of Legal and Prosecution in Lagos, Gbolahan Latona, said EFCC was not at loggerheads with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.<br /> <br /> “The AGF and the state counterparts are the chief law officers as enshrined in the Constitution. Under the EFCC Act, the AGF or his representative is a member of the board of EFCC.

Latest-News EFCC has no reason to torture suspects - Magu

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman Ibrahim Magu yesterday said the commission has no reason to torture suspects...

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Ogun appoints Abia, Kogi indigenes, 12 others as perm secs

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTEcjBW7ifqR-nn7zvTmvQyi9XQeC-8rhf1SoMt3ZqeDmi4YrijKYhaPTcCGwJu9X5U6hPSrch3G_AhtMtrQlnXd45k1kS1FXj90Khh8S4ipVB_wOst-PT9VcaIw49Aik-_PnmSjKn7k/s1600/Governor-Ibikunle-Amosun-504x289+ogun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTEcjBW7ifqR-nn7zvTmvQyi9XQeC-8rhf1SoMt3ZqeDmi4YrijKYhaPTcCGwJu9X5U6hPSrch3G_AhtMtrQlnXd45k1kS1FXj90Khh8S4ipVB_wOst-PT9VcaIw49Aik-_PnmSjKn7k/s320/Governor-Ibikunle-Amosun-504x289+ogun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> TWO non-indigenes–Ndimele Emmanuel Ofor (Abia State) and Steve Olusegun Ipinniwa (Kogi State) – are among the 14 permanent secretaries appointed into the Ogun State Civil Service by Governor Ibikunle Amosun.<br /> <br /> Ofor, Ipinniwa and the others were sworn in yesterday by Amosun at the State Executive Council Chambers in Abeokuta.<br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> The governor said hard work rather than where people come from should be the basis for promotion.<br /> <br /> He added that Nigerians should move away from ethnicity and emphasise more on hard work.<br /> <br /> Amosun said: “I congratulate all of you who are being elevated as permanent secretaries today. I particularly want to congratulate Mr. Ofor. Some people said he is a non-indigene. But I don’t see it that way.<br /> <br /> “I believe that if someone has been serving in a place for 20 to 30 years, he can no longer be called a non-indigene. He has been with us and he has worked with us. He is now part of us. He cannot be called a non-indigene. It will be unfair and unjust to deprive someone who worked for you his deserved elevation on account of where he comes from.<br /> <br /> ”As a nation, we need to move away from things like ethnicity and emphasise more on hard work.”<br /> <br /> Other appointees include Mrs. Odumusi Bettey Olubunmi, Mrs. Ajayi Funmi Mofoluke, Mr. Adewunmi Olayiwola Matthew, Mrs. Dosunmu Titilayo Olubodunrin, Onajobi Jonathan Olukunle, an engineer and Adelana Ademola Oluwole, an engineer.<br /> <br /> The list also include Mr. Olatoye Julius Olufemi, Bakare Adeoye Tunde, an engineer, Mrs. Gbadamosi Muibat Abiola, Mr. Rasheed Sefiu Aremu, Mr. Osolase Afeez and Mr. Agbaje Babatunde Aina.

Latest-News Ogun appoints Abia, Kogi indigenes, 12 others as perm secs

TWO non-indigenes–Ndimele Emmanuel Ofor (Abia State) and Steve Olusegun Ipinniwa (Kogi State) – are among the 14 permanent secretaries app...

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Nigeria’ll come out of recession - Kumuyi

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-tu2BusxSRN0QRWvDWoyTv678jGMjeDbs98dMvCuRzg4KxuOk-hyGaOcoYH1-cIUeIp6zRUqG3FvYB9AeyzXoqcKon_e5hWqgBcBElIy4OSPUAfcv3DBK6WUH4etPCSZNaEdjhHdfN4/s400/Kumuyi.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> General Overseer of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry Pastor William Kumuyi yesterday said Nigeria would come out of recession.<br /> <br /> He kicked against the notion of the Islamisation of Nigeria, saying nobody can impose any religion on anyone in the country today.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> Pastor Kumuyi, who is in Calabar for a crusade, said: “The information is now made public and official that this is the worst recession situation in Nigeria in the last 29 years. Well, as it affects the church, it also affects everyone. But there are things we still do in spite of the economy. Money is just a servant to man, and it is not supposed to be the master. There are things we keep doing even when the money is not there. I believe that we will come out of this recession.<br /> <br /> “I would not be able to pinpoint one particular place where we got it wrong. Different situations brought us to this climax. So, we must have got it wrong somewhere but I cannot pin it to one.”<br /> <br /> On islamisation, he said: “I think it depends on the will of the people. You cannot impose a religion on a country without the will of the people. Worshiping God is a personal thing. If I chose my way so will it be. If a country is said to be going through a process, if the people are asleep and they do not have any conviction, then it becomes easy for another person to impose what he feels he has on you. But the will of the people will not be easily overruled.”<br /> <br /> On the alleged killing of Christians in the North, he said: “When we say alleged killing we will need to investigate well. Neither of the two dominant religions in Nigeria, Christianity and Islam, advocate the killing of neighbours. The love of our neighbour is key here and the Islamic religion came in through Abraham, so basically we are having the same great grand-grandparent. So, we should rethink and understand that it would be good to allow people to live together in peace and allow them to have their free will to choose how to worship.<br /> <br /> “I am here basically to show the love of God to the people. We are saying that because God Almighty is still on the throne, we should not lose hope despite the hiccups in personal lives, family lives and the state of the nation.”

Latest-News Nigeria’ll come out of recession - Kumuyi

General Overseer of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry Pastor William Kumuyi yesterday said Nigeria would come out of recession. He kic...

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