Posts

Showing posts from January, 2016

Gov Dickson turns 50, re-commit self to God

Image
(Nigeria) Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Seriake Dickson has re-committed his life to the service of God and humanity, stressing that life was only meaningful only when it is dedicated to the service of God and mankind.

Death toll in Damascus IS twin bomb attack hits 60

Image
The death toll in the Islamic State twin bomb attacks near Syrian  holiest Shi'ite shrine, in the southern suburb of Syria’s capital Damascus on Sunday, has risen to 60.

Navy hands over suspected stolen diesel to NSCDC

Image
(Nigeria) The Nigerian Navy in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has handed over 42,000 litres of diesel suspected to have been stolen to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, for prosecution.

Delta Monarch wants adequate security for royal fathers

Image
(Nigeria) Chairman of Urhobo Traditional Rulers Council in Delta, State Ovie Riachrd Ogbon, has urged the state government to provide adequate security for traditional rulers in the state.

Gov Ayade bags 2016 UNESCO excellent award

Image
(Nigeria) Cross River State governor, Professor Ben Ayade has been conferred with the Award of Excellence by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, for his leadership and foresight in improving the life of the people of the state.

6 Britons arrested over expatriate quota over violation

Image
(Nigeria) The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has arrested six Britons for allegedly breaching immigration regulations regarding Nigeria's Expatriate Quota.

'Judiciary is my main headache in fighting corruption' ----Buhari

Image
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said ongoing fight against corruption in Nigeria could be effectively tackled with the strong support of the judiciary.

Fayose's election, a coup --Aluko .. as Fayose's aide react

Image
(Nigeria) Sacked Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State, Dr. Temitope Aluko has said that the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State gubernatorial poll that procuded of Chief Ayodele Fayose as governor was never an election, but a coup against the people where the state was under siege, using federal might.

Pipeline sabotage: Warri South-West LG sets up inquest

Image
(Nigeria) To assist the Federal and Delta State governments track down perpetrators of the recent bombing of crude and gas pipelines in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, Chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Area, Mr George Ekpemupolo has inaugurated a seven-man board of enquiry to ascertain “the immediate and remote causes of the heinous crime.”

Harriman denies ownging property in Dubai

Image
(Nigeria) All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain, Temi Harriman has dismissed claims of her ownership of a property in Dubai, saying that she has never been to the Middle East country or made any investment in the country.

47 killed in Damascus twin bomb attack

Image
No fewer than 47 people, including civilians, were killed Sunday in a twin attack in a mainly Shiite area in the Syrian capital Damascus.

S-Court didn't void my election ----Sen. Andy Uba

Image
(Nigeria) Sen. Andy Uba (PDP-Anambra South) says the January 29, 2016 judgment of the Supreme Court in respect of the political situation in Anambra State did not void his election into the Senate as being misrepresented.

Over 50 killed in Boko Haram attack in Dalori, Borno

Image
(Nigeria) The Nigerian Army on Sunday confirmed the killing of scores of people after suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched a night attack on Dalori village at the outskirt of Maiduguri, Borno State.

Pipelines bombing: CEPEJ caution against using military might

Image
(Nigeria) The Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, has advised the Federal Government to tread softly on the renewed attacks on pipelines in the creeks of Delta state by suspected militants, so as not to stoke up embers of fresh crisis in the oil rich Niger Delta region.

Edo State pays N2bn gratuities to pensioners

Image
(Nigeria) Edo State Government has paid out a total N2 billion gratuity to 539 pensioners from the 2010, 2011 batch in the state, even as the state workers have got their salaries for January, 2016.

UNHR chief worried over allegations of sexual abuse in CAR

Image
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Al Hussein says he is extremely alarmed at continuing allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse of minors in the Central African Republic, CAR, by members of foreign military forces. The UN chief said that the alleged crimes mostly took place in 2014, but only came to light in recent weeks. According to a statement by Hussein on Friday in New York, a joint UN team in CAR recently interviewed a number of girls who said they had been sexually exploited or abused by foreign soldiers. "These are extremely serious accusations and it is crucial that these cases are thoroughly and urgently investigated,” he said. According to his Office, OHCHR, four of the girls said their abusers were attached to contingents operating as part of the European Union operation (EUFOR/CAR). It added that two of the girls interviewed said they were raped by EUFOR soldiers, and the two other girls said they were paid to have sexual relationsh

Senior EFCC operative arrested for extortion

Image
(Nigeria) An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrahman Biu, a Deputy Detective Superintendent, DDS, has been arrested for offences of extortion, influence peddling and personation. The officer, it was gathered arrested on January 25, 2016 following intelligence report that he extorted the sum of $150,000 from some  Military officers on the pretext that he would help give them a soft landing in the ongoing  investigation into the arms deal  scandal. It was learned that upon his arrest, a search was executed on his residence in Abuja where the following items were recovered, including $20,000 cash, N500, 000 cash, two police uniforms bearing his name with the ranks of Deputy Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, Police warrant card No: 27/2014 with the rank of DSP allegedly obtained from Kano Constabulary office, documents relating to military arms investigation and account information of several senior military officers. It was further gathered th

EFCC arrest FIRS Director over fax fraud

Image
(Nigeria) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested Abumere Osagie,  deputy director, regional tax office, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, in a case of abuse of office and bribery. The suspect was picked following a complaint about his attempt to extort a University proprietor of the sum of N5million. Osagie and one Jamila Ojora had on January 27, 2016 allegedly approached Senator Ahmed Datti, the Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja and gave him a tax assessment of N20,029, 496.00 through a letter of intent, which he paid. However when he requested for the assessment certificate, they refused to oblige him. Instead they allegedly demanded for N5million gratification. It was gathered that all pleas by him fell on deaf ears.  Consequently, he petitioned the EFCC, and was advised  to play along. Consequently, marked N5million was delivered to the director through Ojora in a sting operation. Ojora was arrested after she collected the N5m. His confession

Minister calls for citizens' coalition against corruption

Image
(Nigeria) The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called on the citizens to form coalitions that will galvanize their individual efforts to tackle corruption, saying there is a role for everyone in tackling graft. ''This is not Buhari's war. This is not APC's war. This is a war for all Nigerians, and we must all join hands in waging the war,'' the Minister said while delivering the Distinguished Guest Lecture of the Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, on Friday. He said once the people are determined to battle corruption, they are assured of victory, adding: ''No power has ever been great enough to defeat a people who are determined to win. Let us all form what I call citizens' coalition against corruption by speaking up against the crime, refusing to glorify or support looters, irrespective of how much dirty cash they dangle before us, and refusing to be divided along religious or ethnic lines. '

S-Court sack Okosa Anambra PDP faction senators, Reps

Image
(Nigeria) The Supreme Court on Friday sacked Chief Chukwudi Okasa faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, three senators and 11 members of the House of Representatives representing Anambra. The senators are Andy Uba, Stella Oduah and Uche Ekwunife, even though the Court of Appeal, Enugu, nullified the election of Ekwunife. Delivering judgment, Justice Binta Ogunbiyi held that the lawmakers were illegally foisted on the PDP by an unrecognised state executive of the party led by Chief Okasa. Ogunbiyi held that the Chief Ejike Oguebego-led executive was the only constitutionally recognised leadership of the PDP to conduct the party’s primaries. The decision prematurely terminates the tenure of the former Aviation minister Oduah in the senate. It also quashed the legislative career of Sen. Andy Uba, presidential aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Ogunbiyi held that the candidates who emerged from the primaries conducted by the Oguebego-led group were the true represent

APC has accepted Rivers' Supreme Court judgment ----Peterside

Image
( Nigeria) The All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Rivers State in the April 2015 election, Dr Dakuku Peterside, has said that he and the party  had accepted the Supreme Court judgment which upheld Governor Nyesom Wike`s election. Wike was candidate of the Peoples Democrstic Party, PDP. Peterside on Friday in a phone interview, said "I thank God for giving me the opportunity to go this far. The learned Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria have arrived at a decision, which was a clear departure from the earlier findings of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and Court of Appeal. `` We accept the verdict. We magnify God for giving us the will to go thus far,`` he said. Peterside, a former member of the House of Representatives (APC-Opobo/Nkoro federal constituency), thanked the people of the state for their support during and after the election. According to him, the party fought for the good and interest of the state and not a selfish fight.

Naira now N306 to dollar at parallel market

Image
(Nigeria) The Naira on Friday continued to maintain an average value of N306 to the dollar, few days after the apex bank retained its Monetary Policy Ratio, MPR. The apex bank's Monetary Policy Committee retained its MPR at 11 per cent and the Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR at 20 per cent. The naira lost a point from the N305 to a dollar it had previously exchanged, a depreciation of 0.3 per cent. It, however, closed at N197 to the dollar at the official Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, rate. Traders at the market cited shortage of the greenback and anxiety over calls for the devaluation of the nation's currency. They argued that the devaluation wind was still affecting sales at the market.

Court adjourns ex-NIMASA DG, trial to Feb. 17

Image
(Nigeria) The trial of  a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, was on Friday stalled at a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, due to the absence of Governor Juan, the sixth defendant in the charge. Juan is said be in prison custody due to his inability to meet the bail condition granted him in a separate charge file against him and others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere. At the Federal High Court, the EFCC arraigned Akpobolokemi and nine others, including two companies, before Justice Saliu Saidu. They were accused of conspiring to convert N3.4 billion belonging to NIMASA.   The commission said the money “was derived from stealing.” EFCC said the alleged offence contravened Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition/Amendment) Act of 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3). The other accused are Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuc

Nigerian court deny Biafra' Nnamdi Kanu bail

Image
(Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria has denied bail to detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu‎, who has been in detention since October 2015,  pending his trial The judge, John Tsoho also denied bail to two other pro-Biafra agitators, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, who are standing trial alongside Kanu. Justice Tsoho in refusing their bail applications said, "The situation as perceived by this court is that there is conflict of interest between the applicants who insist that they have a right to agitate and the respondent (federal government) ‎which argues that it has the responsibility to maintain peace and order. "Personal liberty of an individual within the contemplation of section 35 of the 1999 constitution is a qualified right that is not absolute. It can be curtailed in other to prevent a person from committing further offence. "Section 35 cannot be used as a canopy to escape lawful detention by p

Gov Wike  embarks on meet the people victory parade 

Image
(Nigeria) Rivers  State  Governor,  Nyesom Wike on Friday  formally dedicated  his victory  at the  Supreme Court to the ordinary  people of the state during  a "meet the people people  victory  parade" across the major residential  areas of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of the state. Greeted by several thousands of residents which included women, youths, children and  men, Governor  Wike  said  that  the Supreme Court judgment was made possible  by  votes of the people  on April 11 and 12, 2015 and their prayers while the litigation  lasted in different  courts. The "meet the people victory parade " was carnival-like as Rivers  people sang popular  Wike campaign  songs as his motorcade drove by. Governor Wike who drove in an open roof Sports Utility  Vehicle  waived and  shook hands with residents, thanking them via the use of a megaphone.  The  governor  told the  people of  the  state  that he will remain committed  to  their welfare all

Metuh meets bail condition, regains freedom

Image
(Nigeria) Detained National P ublicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP‎, Chief Olisa Metuh has regained his freedom having met his bail conditions, as stipulated by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

Finland to expel 20,000 of asylum seekers

Image
Finland is set to expel tens of thousands of the asylum seekers who arrived in the country last year amid the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe.

Syria peace talks stalled as opposition stays away

Image
The Syrian opposition said it will not attend peace talks due to begin in Geneva on Friday, derailing the first attempt in two years to hold negotiations aimed at ending the five-year-long war.

Obasanjo still frustrated over failed 3rd bid ----Melaye

Image
(Nigeria) Senator Dino Melaye has descended heavily on former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the letter to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, alleging massive corruption in the National Assembly.

Buhari restates commitment to clean-up of Ogoniland

Image
(Nigeria) President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his administration's steadfast commitment to the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP's recommendations for the clean-up of Ogoniland and other parts of the Niger Delta damaged by crude oil spillage.

Suspected Boko Haram member arrested in Sapele

Image
(Nigeria) A middle-aged man suspected to be a member of the Boko Haram sect has been apprehended in Sapele, Delta State, by officers of the 19 Battalion of Nigerian Army.

Tompolo to appear in court at the appropriate time ---Media aid

Image
(Nigeria) The former Niger Delta warlord, Mr Government Ekpemupolo ``Tompolo’’ will appear in court at the appropriate time, Mr Paul Bebenimibo, his media adviser and consultant, has said.

Police rescue 3 abducted oil workers in Edo

Image
(Nigeria) Three oil workers reportedly abducted on Tuesday, have been rescued unhurt by operatives of Edo State Police Command.‎

Buhari fighting Boko Haram with arms I bought---Jonathan

Image
(Nigeria) Former Nigerian leader, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has said that the President Muhhamadu Buhari  administration was prosecuting the war against the Boko Haram insurgency with the arms his administration procured.

There is no Ibori loot anywhere in the world, Ibori replies AGF

Image
(Nigeria) Former  Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori’s has expressed shock at a statement, recently credited to the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, that about 6.9m British Pounds Sterling was being expected as Ibori loot.

Flu death in Ukraine hits 122

Image
The death toll from a flu outbreak in Ukraine has reached 122, a senior health official said on Thursday.

Judiciary the only hope for Nigeria -----Governor Wike

Image
(Nigeria) Rivers   State  Governor,  Mr Nyesom  Wike has  declared  that  the  Judiciary  was the only hope of the country, if the judiciary  crumbles the  nation  is gone.

More witnesses testify at on-going trial of Metuh

Image
(Nigeria) More witnesses were presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, before Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to testify in the ongoing case of alleged money laundering involving the National Spokesperson of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited.

EFCC arraigns 2 oil dealers over Petroleum Equalisation fraud

Image
(Nigeria) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, arraigned the duo of Aku Ben Aku and Philips James Aliku alongside their company, Al-Aminu Oil and Gas Limited, before Justice Sulaiman Aliyu Tukur  of the High Court of Kaduna State, Kaduna on a five -count charge of conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N14. 602 million.

Court remands man in prison for possession of 69.5kg of drugs

Image
(Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Thursday remanded one Aina Olusegun in prison custody for alleged possession of 69.5 kilogrammes of Indian hemp.

A-Court reserves judgment in Ibinabo's appeal challenging conviction

Image
(Nigeria) The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Thursday reserved judgment in the appeal by star actress and former beauty queen, Ibinabo Fiberesima challenging the judgement of a Lagos High Court which sentenced her to five years imprisonment for the death of one Dr. Giwa Suraj.

Student arraigned for allege rape of mentally challenged girl

Image
(Nigeria) A 28-year-old student, Japhet Fahonum on Thursday appeared before a Makurdi Magistrates' Court, Benue State, charged with raping a 15-year-old mentally challenged girl.

Do not be dismayed by judgment, Rivers APC tells members

Image
(Nigeria) The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers on Thursday urged its members and supporters not to be dismayed by the Supreme Court`s Judgment which upheld Governor Nyesom Wike`s election.

5 killed in Medevac helicopter crash in Kazakhstan

Image
A helicopter has crashed in Kazakhstan, killing all five aboard, including an infant being taken to a hospital, news website Tengrinews.kz reported on Thursday.

Man, 32 charged to court for alleged rape

Image
(Nigeria) A 32-year-old applicant, Victor Pomak, on Thursday appeared in an Abuja High Court, Jabi, Abuja, for allegedly raping a 27-year-old woman at Nyanya.

6 convicted of gang rape, murder in India

Image
An Indian court convicted six men Thursday of gang-raping and murdering a student as she walked home after an exam in 2013, in a case that sparked outrage over women's safety.

Russia decline comment on terrorists responsible for A321 crash

Image
The Kremlin has declined to comment on media reports on identification of terrorists allegedly responsible for the crash of the Russian A321 jet in the sky over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula by Russian and Egyptian intelligence services.

Gbagbo goes on trial for war crimes at ICC

Image
The war crimes trial against Ivory Coast former president Laurent Gbagbo opened at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Thursday.

Court adjourns to Feb. 16 suit seeking to stop new Olubadan selection

Image
(Nigeria) An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on Thursday fixed February 16, 2016 for hearing in a motion seeking to stop the Olubadan-in-Council from appointing the new Olubadan of Ibadan land.

EFCC arraigns ex-Customs officer over N40m fraud

Image
(Nigeria) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, arraigned Chinyere Ekanem, a former Customs Officer and Asuka Ebiye before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja on a 16-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N40 million.