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(Nigeria) An Umuahia Magistrate Court, Abia State presided over on Wednesday commenced  hearing in the alleged impersonation and perjury brought against, Ikedi Ezekwesiri,  a member of the Abia State House of Assembly. Ezekwesiri is representing Umunneochi State Constituency, was on July 17, arraigned by the Police on a five-count charge of impersonation, forgery and false information. The Counsel to the accused, Mr Isaac Anya, at the hearing, raised a motion urging the court to mandate the prosecution to provide extra-judicial materials, including written testimonies of prosecution witnesses to the accused. Anya urged the court not to allow the prosecution to use ``tactics ambush’’ to deny the accused person justice by refusing him adequate facility on the matter. The Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Sampson Onyemuche,  urged the court to dismiss the application because there were two processes of commencing criminal trial. ``One is by information at the High Court,  while the oth

United States Secretary of State John Kerry signed the Arms Trade Treaty, ATT, which sets standards for conventional weapons deals; the total volume of the global arms market is estimated to be $70 billion, reports Itar-Tass. The official signing ceremony was held at the UN headquarters in New York. Before signing the document, Kerry announced that the ATT will "reduce the risk that international transfers of conventional arms will be used to carry out the world's worst crimes. The treaty builds on decades of cooperative efforts to stem the international, illegal, and illicit trade in conventional weapons that benefits terrorists and rogue agents.” The ATT was adopted by the UN General Assembly April 3. 154 nations voted for it. Iran, North Korea and Syria opposed it. 23 countries, including Russia, abstained. 87 states, now including the U.S., have signed the treaty; only four ratified it. In order for the ATT to come into force 50 nations need to join it. U

Anti-governmental protests escalate in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum. According to Arab TV channels, disorders are spread across a number of districts, reports Itar-Tass. The number of dead and injured is yet unknown. The riots which have been raging across the city for two days now with the majority of protestors being youths, were sparked by the government’s decision to cancel state subsidies for petrol and diesel fuel as part of ongoing economic reforms. The price of gas has immediately doubled, which became the biggest price hike in almost 25 years of Omar al-Bashir’s rule. Khartoum demonstrations began Tuesday; disorders spread to at least six districts by Wednesday. Demonstrators burned down several gas stations, blocked a highway connecting the city to the international airport near an upscale Rotana hotel; cars located at the hotel’s parking lot were burned down as well. Black smoke clouds of smoke tower above Sudan’s capital. Protestors block major traffic arteri

Iran is ready to immediately engage in the negotiations on its nuclear program the country’s new President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday, addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, reports Itar-Tass. According to Rouhani, these negotiations should have a clear-cut timeframe and be result-oriented. Rouhani reiterated Iran’s right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to enriching uranium. On the conditions that world powers recognise that right and that all nations’ nuclear programs are for peace purposes only, he said Iran “is prepared to engage immediately in time-bound and result-oriented talks to build mutual confidence and remove mutual uncertainties with full transparency.” Rohani also stated he listened to U.S. President Barack Obama's speech to the General Assembly earlier Tuesday and was also open to talks with the United States “to manage differences.” He expressed the hope that the administration of President Bar

(Nigeria) The Katsina State Police Command said five persons were killed and seven others injured in a dispute between suspected cattle rustlers and vigilance group in Danmusa Local Government Area of the state. The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the state,  Aminu Abubakar, stated this at a news briefing in Katsina on Wednesday. He said the incident occurred on September 17 in Danmusa when a vigilance group engaged some suspected rustlers in the area. Abubakar said the injured persons were receiving medical attention while police investigation was ongoing. The PPRO also said the police had killed four suspected armed robbers during an exchange of fire, adding that eight others were arrested at different locations in the state from September 1 till date. ''One was arrested at Rugar Haruna village in Sabuwa area, one in Funtua, three in Ummadau village of Safana area and three in Malumfashi area for committing robbery attacks in these areas,'' he s

(Nigeria)  Residents of Nasarawa State were still in shock, Wednesday, over the discovery of the bodies of two bankers and their driver. They were allegedly ambushed by suspected Ombatse boys, who took them to the bush, killed them, set them ablaze with their car and buried them with the car by the riverside. The incident happened at Tudun Adabu in Obi Local Government Area of the state. The Police Command has arrested 14 suspects in connection with the murder. The deceased bankers are Alhaji Hassan Gidado, who was the managing director of the Police Microfinance Bank, and Mr. Tunde Banwo. The police, at a news conference on Monday, said after the the bodies were exhumed, they were deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia. It was gathered that the two top bankers, who lived in Abuja, were in Lafia for the wedding of a child of the police commissioner-in-charge of Cooperative. Police Commissioner Umar Shehu said the suspected killers would soon be take

(Nigeria) An Asaba Chief Magistrate Court, Delta State on Wednesday ordered that the four men who allegedly attempted to murder a serving commissioner in Delta, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, be remanded in prison. The accused persons Matthew Etuwewe, 34, Ughelli Badere, 33, Kelvin Egoshi, 32, and Henry Emogwua, 39 are facing two-count charge for conspiracy and attempted murder. The prosecutor, Mr Bassey Eko, had told the court that the accused persons and others now at large, on September 7, attempted to unlawfully kill Muoboghare by stabbing him with a dagger. Eko said that the accused attempted to kill the Commissioner for Basic and Primary Education, at the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Secretariat in Asaba. He also told the court that the accused persons and others now at large, on the same day and place, conspired among themselves to commit the offence. The prosecutor said that the offences were punishable under sections 320 and 324 of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol. 1 Law

(Nigeria) Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services, DSS in Delta State on Wednesday, said it arrested five kidnap suspects, including Kelvin Obvrubie, who had been on wanted list of security agencies in the state. The Director of DSS in Delta, Mrs Florence Ikanon, who confirmed the arrest in Asaba, said that Obvrubie was involved in many robbery and kidnapping cases in the state. Speaking through her assistant, Mr Igbeji Didhcus, she said that the most wanted suspect was terrorising residents of Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state. She said that the other suspects were arrested on September 17 in a forest at Osubi, Uwie Local Government Area of the state. The director said that they were arrested in connection with the kidnap of Mr Rufus Uzoma, a staff of Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, and Mrs Toyin Atoyebi. She said that in the suspects had confessed to planning and kidnapping the victim on Aug. 10 in his residence at Effurun, Uvwi

Britain on Wednesday pledged to donate 160 million dollars in aid to Syria, to provide food, water and medicine to civilians in the country and those who fled to neighbouring nations. British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced the aid at UN Headquarters, saying that the fund would put Britain's total commitment to Syria's humanitarian plea at a record 800 million dollars, the largest amount Britain has ever contributed to a single crisis. "The need for this funding is clear," Clegg said. "As the international community comes together to reach political solutions, we cannot avert our gaze from the Syrian people, especially children, who need help now."

(Nigeria) Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, NATCOMS, on Wednesday threatened telecom providers with litigation over non-payment of compensation for poor services. Ogunbanjo, the NATCOMS President, told News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the only alternative against the operators was litigation for refusing to compensate consumers for poor services rendered. The association had written to the operators, under the aegies of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, demanding for N5,000 compensation for each subscriber. Ogunbanjo said the letter was sent to ALTON in July and copies made to the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, but that the operators had refused to respond. He said that the association gave the operators Sept. 12 deadline to compensate their customers, a date which he said, had lapsed. ``We want to go to court right now and we are already filing our papers, not onl

(Nigeria) The police on Wednesday arraigned Ayomide Emmanuel, 22, in a Grade 2 Area Court, Kado, Abuja, for attempting to rape a five-year-old girl. Emmanuel was arraigned on a one count of attempting to commit an offence. The police prosecutor, Sgt. Simeon Ibrahim, told the court that Aboderin Abiodun, of plot 441, Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, reported the case at the Utako Police Station on September 19. Ibrahim said the accused on that said day, around the Good Tidings Bible Church, Utako, Abuja, at about 5 p.m., dragged the complainants five-year-old daughter to a secluded dark room and attempted to sexually assault her. Ibrahim told the court that the girl's screams alerted church members around there who rescued the girl. He said that Emmanuel was caught with the girl and handed over to the police. The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 95 of the Penal Code. Emmanuel pleaded not guilty, saying, ``I did not penetrate the girl.'’ If convi

(Nigeria) The Bayelsa State Government on Wednesday threatened to arrest and prosecute parents and guardians who fail to send their children or wards to school. The Commissioner for Education, Chief Salo Adikumo, who issued the threat when he  briefed  newsmen in Yenagoa, said the government took exception to children of school-age being out of school. Adikumo said that in view of the free and compulsory education policy of the state government, parents and guardians had no reason not to send such children to school. He said that the government’s free education policy was not just a mere propaganda, but had a well-articulated legal framework to ensure continuity as well as to convict violators. The commissioner said that modalities had been worked out to prevent children of school-age from hawking on streets during school hours. Adikumo explained that the proclamation of free and compulsory education by Governor Seriake Dickson, was informed by the government’s desire to el

(Nigeria) Edo State Government has denied receipt of any money from the Ecological Fund to tackle the erosion menace ravaging Auchi in Edo North and Queen Ede in Edo South. In a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs to the Governor, Prince Kassim Afegbua, the government said that those peddling the rumour only did so out of ignorance and mischief. Afegbua said: “Our attention has been drawn to a news report by the trio of His Royal Highness, Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Haliru Momoh, Ikelebe 111,  Zakawanu Garuba and Abdulrazak Momoh to the effect that the Edo State Government had received and spent ecological funds granted to the State without a kobo spent on the Auchi Erosion menace. As a responsible government, we would have ignored this outright ignorance and falsehood but for the person of our highly respected and learned traditional ruler; we decided to offer this clarification which is meant to educate the minds of undiscerning members of the public with resp

(Nigeria)  An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, Wednesday, awarded N25million damages for a libelous publication in favour of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State against Dockland Communications Limited, publishers of  News of the People magazine. Justice Efe Ikponmwonba in his ruling in the suit, held that Dockland Communications failed to prove the veracity of the libelous publication of the magazine in 2011, which was carried on the front page and at page 19, with the headline, “Oshiomhole’s sex power exposed: Impregnates young girl six months after death of wife”. The Governor had taken Dockland Communications Limited, publishers of News of the People to court after failing to retract the said story and meet the conditions of apologizing to him as contained in a letter to them by his lawyers, Ken Mozia and Associates. Oshiomhole who asked the court to award him N250 million in damages maintained that the defendant, among other things, falsely wrote that he bought

(Nigeria) Prof. Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, says he is confident that the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will soon be called off. Okojie, who spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at a media parley with journalists, said the commission was doing everything within its powers to ensure a speedy resolution of the issues raised by ASUU so that students could return school. ``We are part of the system and we understand the issues, we are meeting with members of the union all the time and the issues are being tackled. ``So, we are optimistic the strike will soon be called off and our children can go back to school in the shortest possible time.’’ He also reacted to the call by ASUU for NUC to be scrapped, saying ``the call is not in good faith as the commission has not gone to sleep over its duties''. Also speaking on the recurrent disagreements between the commission and some professional bod

(Nigeria) Factional chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in  Rivers State, Wednesday, accused the Governor Rotimi Amaechi of plotting to use the 13,000 teaching applicants in the state to stage a protest march against President Goodluck Jonathan. The Felix Obua faction of Rivers PDP in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Jerry Needam,  said “Wednesday gathering of teaching applicants at the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium for the purported collection of employment letters was a ploy by the Amaechi led government to use the frustrated youths as protesters on the streets of Port Harcourt against President Jonathan.” The party regretted  that Gov Amaechi was cashing in on the misfortune of hundreds of thousands unemployed youths in the state to play politics. The party notes that the applicants have long been interviewed, screened and employment letters given for the long vaulted 13,000 teaching jobs by Gov Amaechi and wonders why the helpless applicants were asked

(Nigeria) Ahead of the presentation by the Nigerian Government of the country’s human rights report under the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in October, the World Evangelical Alliance, WEA, and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, have urged the Council to put pressure on the government to end corruption and impunity of perpetrators. The call by the groups was made this week in Geneva as the government prepares to attend the 17th Session of the Universal Periodic Review, UPR, in October. In their updates to the Human Rights Council and ambassadors in Geneva, the groups expressed “serious concern that the government has so far failed and or neglected to implement its commitments and promises made during the 2009 UPR review. “During the 2009 UPR review, Nigeria committed to pursue its fight against corruption so that all its citizens can enjoy peace, health and security. Those recommendations were accepted by Nigeria. Howe

(Nigeria) The Senator representing Rivers South East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe has described the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur as the major problem of the party. Sen. Abe, who stated this in Port Harcourt, said the current crisis rocking the PDP was self-inflicted by the party’s leadership, following the refusal to adhere to laid-down guidelines. “The division started because members don’t like what Bamanga Tukur is doing in the party. His disregard for party rules, execution of party programmes and actions; and injecting of clauses into the party constitution without due consultation are unacceptable impunity.” He said. Sen. Abe, who is the chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) said senators were not thinking of anything like impeachment as there was no justification for such action and that the Senate remains a united house under its President, Senator David Mark. He disclosed

(Nigeria) The police on Wednesday arraigned a 30-year-old applicant, Tersoo Aji in a Life Camp Magistrate Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing N6,500 from his sick friend, Gbenga Ogunsakin. Aji, an applicant and resident of Daki-Biyu Village in the FCT, was charged with theft, an offence which contravened the provisions of Section 287 of the Penal Code. The prosecutor, Cpl. Simon Emmanuel, told the court that Ogunsakin, the nominal complainant, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station on September 9. Emmanuel said that the complainant had solicited the assistance of the accused to take him to a native doctor to treat him of an ailment. He added that while they were on the way to the native doctor, the complainant’s sickness worsened and he slumped and became unconscious. The prosecutor said that after he was revived, the complainant discovered that the N6,500 which was in his pocket was missing. He said ``when the complainant asked the accused about the missing

At least 250 people were killed and more than 400 others were injured till Wednesday afternoon in a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Tuesday afternoon, officials said Wednesday, reports Xinhua. Jan Muhammad Buledi, spokesperson of the Balochistan government, told the media that Awaran district of the province, the epicenter of the earthquake, was the worst-hit area, where about 40 to 50 percent of houses in urban area and 90 percent houses in rural areas were leveled to the ground. Awaran, about 645 km away from Balochistan's capital Quetta, is home to 300,000 people and is among one of the country's least- developed districts where health, medical and other facilities are not easily available. The spokesperson said that rescue teams have so far pulled out 210 bodies and more than 300 injured people from thousands of demolished houses, where rescue work is still going on. Rasheed Gadozai, deputy commissioner of A

President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya has declared three days mourning for the persons who lost their lives during the Westgate terror attack  on Saturday. Kenyatta made the announcement in a live broadcast on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, KBC. He called for support from Kenyan friends across the globe to deal with the situation, adding that terrorism is a global problem that requires global solution. It would be recalled that the Kenyan authorities had announced the killing of 68 people, including foreign nationals and six security agents in the attack suspected to have been carried out by Al-Shabaab. The attack also left at least 240 others with various degrees of injuries from gunshots as well as fractures and wounds sustained while trying to escape the attack. Kenyatta announced that so far more than 60 people had been operated upon at various hospitals across the country following the injuries sustained. The president announced that six of the attackers had been killed

The Promoters of Michael Jackson's last tour were "so excited" about making huge profits that they hired an unfit doctor for the star, his family's lawyer said Tuesday in closing arguments. As a five-month trial draws to a close, Jackson attorney Brian Panish said the self-styled King of Pop was "an easy target" for AEG Live, which was managing his "This is It" tour starting in London in 2009. "We may never see the likes of Michael Jackson again," Panish told the 12-member jury in a courtroom in downtown Los Angeles, where the trial opened in April and has seen nearly 60 witnesses and over 800 pieces of evidence. Jackson died on June 25, 2009 from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol at his rented Holmby Hills mansion outside Los Angeles, where he was rehearsing for the "This is It" shows at London's 02 Arena. He was 50 years old. Dr. Conrad Murray, a cardiologist, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in a

(Nigeria) Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, on Tuesday urged the National Assembly to ensure speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, to transform the nation’s oil and gas sector. The Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr Andrew Yakubu, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the 3rd Upstream and Downstream Oil and Gas Conference. Speaking on a paper entitled ``PIB and Investment Opportunities-Characteristics of the Document’’, Yakubu said passage of the PIB would attract Foreign Direct Investment into the oil and gas sector. According to him, the PIB, when passed into law, will go a long way in complementing government’s reforms in the sector. ``The PIB, currently before the National Assembly, offers an opportunity to increase investments in the entire value chain of the petroleum industry with attendant positive impacts on the economy,’’ he said. Yakubu noted that the PIB was painstakingly drawn up with inputs from all stakeholders in the oil a

(Nigeria) The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on Tuesday retained the lending rate at 12 per cent, the CBN Governor, Malam Lamido Sanusi, said. Sanusi said this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, in Abuja. ``The committee noted that the actions taken at the last MPC have served the purpose of helping the Naira avoid the fate of other developing countries’ currencies by keeping it a little bit stable. ``Finally, with the Federal Open Market Committee, FOMC, decision not to begin tapering asset purchases immediately, and the improved outlook for financial stability in Europe after the German elections, the risks of currency instability are significantly reduced. ``The monetary stance maintained by the U.S. Federal Reserve is positive for international oil prices and portfolio flows. ``In consideration of all these issues, the committee decided by a vote of 11 members to hold the MPR at 12 per cent. One member voted for a redu

(Nigeria) The Edo Stae Police on Tuesday said that 54 suspects, who were arrested for various crimes in the state from Aug. 21 to date, had been charged to court. Mr Foluso Adebanjo, the state Commissioner of Police, announced this in Benin at a news briefing. He said that the suspects were arrested in different parts of the state for alleged crimes like robbery, rape and unlawful possession of firearms. He, however, said that the state had not recorded any case of kidnapping in the last two weeks, reiterating the command's resolve to rid the state of criminals. Adebanjo urged the people to assist the law-enforcement agencies by giving them useful information. ``Like we have said, we are poised to arrest every form of criminality in the state but the people must assist us to work better. The people must watch any suspected movement of persons in their neighbourhoods and report such movements to the police. ``The people must be very conscious of their own security, esp

(Nigeria) The Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Tuesday handed over 61 suspected oil thieves to the police in Bayelsa for further investigation and prosecution. The suspects included a Ghanaian and Cameroonian. Also handed over was a suspect allegedly involved in illegal possession of firearms and protection of illegal refineries in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa. Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, the Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Usman, handed over the suspects to the Police Commissioner in the state, represented by an Chris Nwaogu. The FOC said the seven vessels impounded by the navy in the state's water ways would remain in its custody until the matter was concluded in court. Represented by the Command Operations Officer, Commodore Emmanuel Enemor, the FOC said that vessels impounded are: MT WHARF DALE, MV HENTY, MV TOBILOBA, MT EMMANUEL, MT PAULINE and  MV. S. Also T VICTORIA (Tug) and a large w

(Nigeria) Shareholders of the defunct Oceanic Bank on Tuesday asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos  State to compel the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, to return the N191 billion worth of assets forfeited by Cecelia Ibru back to Oceanic Bank. Ibru, convicted former Managing Director of Oceanic Bank, had forfeited the assets as part of the plea bargain arrangement between her and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which was sanctioned by the former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Dan Abutu. The fresh suit, which has Chairman, Association of Oceanic Bank Shareholders, Boniface Okezie and Adewale t Abolanle as plaintiffs, also has AMCON, CBN, EFCC, Federal Attorney General and Ibru as first to fifth defendants respectively. The plaintiffs, who are representing all the aggrieved shareholders of Oceanic Bank in the suit, are praying for an order declaring that Ibru was liable to make good

(Nigeria) The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Malam  Garba Mohammed, has called on  members of the union to  embrace  its  insurance scheme. Mohammed made the appeal on Tuesday at the  Oyo State NUJ  2013 Press Week held at the Iyaganku Press Centre, Ibadan. The NUJ boss, who was represented by the Zonal Secretary, NUJ Zone 8, Mr Gbenga Lawal, said that the scheme  became imperative in view of the hazardous nature of the work of journalists in the country. Mohammed, who recalled that the union lost some of its members in an auto crash on Aug. 2, described the insurance scheme as a crucial welfare initiative. He commended the NUJ  in the state  for its “invaluable achievements” in the last three years  under the leadership of Mr Gbenga Opadotun. Earlier, Opadotun said that the celebration was low-key to reflect the mood of the union following the loss of one of its members in the  August  2 crash.  He, nonetheless, promised that the executive

(Nigeria) Hours after his removal, erstwhile speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Alhaji Muazu Gangara, has dismissed his purported removal, saying that he was still in charge. Gangara told newsmen on Tuesday in Kaduna that the 19 members who signed for his removal did not form the required quorum, as such their action was a nullity. He announced the suspension of the sitting of the Assembly ``till further notice'', and called on the people of the state to remain calm. ``Our fellow citizens i want to categorically inform you that the purported sitting by some members of the Assembly is a nullity,'' he said. The speaker was accompanied by his principal officers. It will be recalled that 19 out of the 34 members of the House had earlier sacked Gangara and appointed, Alhaji Shehu Tahir as new speaker.

(Nigeria) The police on Tuesday arraigned a Skye Bank worker, Popoola Peter, and Michael Auta, in a Karu Senior Magistrate Court in Abuja, for defrauding a victim of N3 million. Popoopla, who works in the Garki branch of the bank, and Auta of no fixed address, were arraigned before Senior Magistrate Hadiza Shagari, for joint act and forgery. The prosecutor, Insp. Philip Akogwu, of Asokoro Police Station, told the court that the accused forged the documents of plot No. 510, Lugbe, and sold it to one Chase Ogunleye for N3 million. He said that Ogunleye later discovered that the documents of the land were forged. Akogwu said that during investigation, it was discovered that the accused formed a common intention, by forging the land documents, in order to defraud the victim of his money. He said offence contravened the provisions of sections 79, 364, 312 and 322 of the Penal Code. Mr Joseph Kolawole, who represented the accused in court, made an oral application for his clien

(Nigeria) Chief Olu Falae, a one-time Presidential Candidate of Alliance for Democracy, AD, on Tuesday in Lagos warned that corruption might ``sink Nigeria’’ if it was not tackled headlong. Falae spoke at the public presentation of a book:`` Post Independence Political Evolution of Western Nigeria: Chief Obafemi Awolowo Factor.’’ The book was written by an octogenarian, Pa Adio Mosanya, a former Youth Leader of the defunct Action Group under the late sage. Falae, who described corruption as endemic, called for a concerted effort by Nigerians to stamp out the scourge. ``In state and federal government agencies, senior civil servants are now businessmen and women and have incorporated their own companies. The best imposing edifices and buildings are built by serving public and civil servants that did not take loans from banks. ``This (corrupt practices) should stop so that we can move forward as a country. Public office holders should emulate the welfarist programmes of the

(Nigeria) Louis Crayton, an instructor with the Federation of International Football Associations, FIFA, on Tuesday in Abuja rated Super Eagles’ goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama as one of the best goalkeepers Africa has. Crayton gave the rating in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria, on the sidelines of the FIFA Member Associations, MA,Goalkeeping Course at the Abuja National Stadium. He said Nigeria was one of the few countries which have goalkeepers playing for foreign clubs, and Enyeama has also proven himself to be one of Africa’s finest. ``Nigeria is one of the countries which have goalkeepers in foreign clubs, such as Lille FC of France where Enyeama is, and Hapoel Be’er Sheva in Israel where Austin Ejide is. ``Enyeama is also one of the best, if not the best goalkeeper in Africa”, Crayton, who was a former Liberian national team goalkeeper, said. The instructor said the aim of the course was to improve goalkeeping skills of the coaches who would then pass on th

(Nigeria) United States based Chevron Corp will receive bids on September 30 from prospective buyers of three oil blocks in the Niger Delta, with several local Nigerian firms in the running, industry sources told Reuters on Tuesday. Oil industry sources estimate the mean value of the three blocks combined at $500 million to $600 million and anticipate winning bids will be around those levels. Chevron said in June it would be selling its 40 percent interest in five onshore blocks, joining Royal Dutch Shell , Italy's Eni and France's Total in selling stakes in Niger Delta assets. U.S. firm ConocoPhillips is also selling its Nigerian assets to Oando Energy for $1.79 billion. Chevron wants to sell OML 52, 53 and 55 to one buyer and suitors will have to pay 15 percent of bids on September 30, three sources close to the deals told Reuters. The firm will sell two other blocks, OML 82 and OML 85, in a separate bidding process. The U.S. firm did not respond to a request for comme

A powerful earthquake killed at least 30 people in Pakistan's western province of Baluchistan on Tuesday and destroyed scores of houses in a remote mountainous area, a local official said. Abdul Qadoos, Deputy Speaker of the Baluchistan Assembly, told Reuters that 30 people and at least 30 per cent of houses in the impoverished Awaran District had been destroyed. 

(Nigeria) The Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Alhaji Mu'azu Gangara, has been removed from office by 19 out of the 34-member legislature. The 19 members took the action on Tuesday during a sitting in which both the speaker and his deputy, Mr Dogara Matoh, were absent. The lawmakers, headed by Mr Phelimon Gidanmana (PDP-Makera), also announced the appointment of Alhaji Shehu Tahir (PDP-Giwa West), as the new Speaker. The  attempts to remove the speaker had been on since August, forcing the House leadership to agree to a 30-day ultimatum within which to change its style of leadership to accommodate all members. The ultimatum had expired on September 14, and the aggrieved members said there had been no changes since the deadline. The motion for the removal of the speaker, tabled by Gidanmana and seconded by Yakubu Soja (APC-Zaria Kewaye), was unanimously adopted by the members. In his acceptance speech, the new speaker said the task before him was to

Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, ICC,  Fatou Bensouda said that she was ready to work with Kenyan authorities to ensure that those who attacked a shopping mall in Kenya were brought to justice, reports Xinhua. In a statement, Bensouda also expressed her deep sympathy to the victims of the appalling attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi which has so far left 62 people dead and 175 others injured. ``She expressed her solidarity with the victims, their families and the people of Kenya and her full respect for the primacy of jurisdiction of the Republic of Kenya. ``The prosecutor stands ready to work with the international community and the government of Kenya to ensure that those responsible for these crimes are brought to justice,’’ she said. The ICC chief prosecutor prayed that the hostages held in the mall have been safely delivered and for a swift end to this dire situation. She said that such attacks by armed groups upon innocent civilians were cont