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Syrian troops backed by Hezbollah and Iranian fighters made advances on Saturday in their offensive to retake territory around the northern city of Aleppo from insurgents and jihadist fighters, a monitoring group said. The campaign around Aleppo, which the army launched on Friday, is one of several assaults it has waged against rebel fighters since Russian jets began carrying out air strikes on September 30 in support of President Bashar al-Assad, reports Reuters . It has concentrated so far on clearing rebel areas south of Aleppo rather than the city itself, which is home to 2 million people and divided between government forces and rebels. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the army and its allies retook three villages amid fierce fighting in which at least 17 Islamist fighters and eight soldiers or allied forces were killed. Troops are also trying to advance to the east of Aleppo towards Kweires military airport, aiming to break a siege on the base by Islamic State and

Three suspected Palestinian knife attackers were shot dead by Israelis on Saturday as tensions in the region run high after weeks of street violence. The West Bank city of Hebron was the scene of two attacks, the Israel Defence Forces and police said, reports dpa . In the first, an Israeli civilian shot a knife-wielding Palestinian man who had allegedly attempted to stab him. Hours later, a female Israeli police officer fired at a Palestinian woman after being stabbed. The officer was slightly injured. In Jerusalem, a policeman shot dead a Palestinian who was attempting to stab officers. There have been more than two dozen Palestinian stabbing attacks against Israelis since October 6. The unrest has been fuelled in large part by Palestinian fears that Israel wants to change the status quo observed for decades at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam. The mosque sits on a site in the Old City called the Temple Mount by Jews and the Noble Sanctuary by Musl

United States Uznd South Korean leaders have said that they are willing to sit down with North Korea to resolve concerns over Pyongyang's nuclear programme if the reclusive regime is willing to renounce atomic weapons. "At the point where Pyongyang says, 'We're interested in seeing relief from sanctions, and we're prepared to have a serious conversation about denuclearization,' we'll be there at the table," US President Barack Obama said in a White House press conference with visiting South Korean President Park Geun Hye, reports dpa. Obama and Park discussed the deal between Iran and six world powers, and Park said the deal had important lessons for addressing North Korea. "The difference is that you need to have this genuine willingness on behalf of North Korea that they are willing to give up nuclear weapons," Park said. The leaders reaffirmed US-South Korean defence and security cooperation. They vowed not to accept a North Korean nuc

A toddler and a 5-year-old girl were raped in separate attacks in New Delhi, police said Saturday, sparking outrage in the Indian capital. A 2-and-a-half-year-old girl was abducted and sexually assaulted by two men in west Delhi on Friday evening, police officer Pushpendra Kumar told reporters, according to dpa. She was found unconscious and bleeding in a park near her home hours later, her parents said. No arrests have yet been made. In another incident, police arrested three suspects in connection with the gang rape of a 5-year-old girl in east Delhi on Friday. Both minors were being treated in hospital, where doctors described their condition as stable. The brutal sexual assaults come a week after the rape and torture of a 4-year-old girl in New Delhi, and have triggered fresh outrage in the city. "Repeated rape of minors is shameful and worrying. Delhi police has completely failed to provide safety," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said. "When will Delhi

(Nigeria) The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has described immediate past governor of the state, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, as the best possible choice for ministerial appointment from the state, noting that President Muhammadu Buhari was on point for nominating him for consideration by the Senate. “Going by his antecedents, Amaechi will be an asset to the Buhari administration and also a strong voice for Rivers State as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Rives APC said in a statement by its Chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya on Friday in Port Harcourt. The party said it was eagerly looking forward to the confirmation of Amaechi’s ministerial nomination by the Senate on Tuesday. “Judging Amaechi by the much he achieved as governor of Rivers State – from education to proper management of the State’s resources, road construction, agriculture, security, tourism, transport, commerce, human development, etc – one can safely conclude that when he becomes a minis

(Nigeria) Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, had said that Nigeria must return to its strict tax policy which was applicable before the oil boom of the 70s as a way of getting out of the current crisis caused by a crash in the price of crude oil. The governor who said nobody is above taxation as even the President and governors pay their taxes, noted that the states and Federal Government must deepen their Internally generated Revenue base as this is what obtains in developed countries of the world. Speaking during a visit to his office by Course 24 participants of the National Defence College, on a study tour of Edo State, on Friday, Oshiomhole, said, “Central to every debate to every country with mature democracy is the issue of tax payment. We have to find the courage to be firm and just and we have to give commensurate service. “When I was growing up, the only thing we had was the Local Government Authority Primary school and everybody who was up to eighteen years and above

The Ukrainian army has withdrawn 12 mortars with a caliber of under 100 mm from the engagement line in the Donbas region in east Ukraine over the past 24 hours, the press center of Kiev’s military operation reported on Friday. "Efforts are continuing to pull out armaments as stipulated by the Minsk accords. Yesterday, 12 mortars with a caliber of less than 100 mm were moved from the frontline to a distance of over 15 km in the rear. The pullout will continue today," the press office said in a statement, reports Tass. The "silence regime" is observed in the engagement area. The Ukrainian troops are reporting about mine clearing in the area, the press office said. Ukrainian General Staff spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov said earlier that Kiev forces had started on October 5 to pull out tanks as the first stage of the weaponry withdrawal from the disengagement line and planned to complete the process within two days. The spokesman also said "the pullout of artill

Bulgaria has rejected Russia’s request for an air access for the emergencies ministry’s plane carrying humanitarian aid for Syria due to formal reasons, the official spokesperson for Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday. "We refused to grant permission for the flight in the Bulgarian airspace for the Russian aircraft due to the late submission of the application," Betina Zhoteva said, reports Tass . Russia sent the request on October 14 and the flight was scheduled on Friday. "Under the regulations, it takes five days to consider it," she said. Bulgaria’s refusal to provide its airspace for the Russian plane bound for Syria will have no impact on the delivery of humanitarian aid to the war-torn country, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said on Friday. "The special flight of the emergencies ministry has successfully flown to Latakia [Syria] via an alternative route. Bulgaria’s refusal to allow the flight through its territory has no way affected the human

(Nigeria) The Rivers State Government has faulted report it said is media propaganda  and being circulated by the All Progressives Congress, APC sponsored online medium,  that Governor Nyesom Wike was bribing Senators to stop the clearance of their benefactor,  Mr Rotimi Amaechi whose ministerial screening  by the Senate  has been deferred. Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant, Media to the Rivers State Governor in a statement on Friday in Port Harcourt, said "Nigerians should disregard this report as it is a mere fabrication by a medium  built  on the foundation of falsehood.  "While it is the  prerogative of the online medium and other APC sponsored media outfits to support their benefactor, Mr Amaechi despite the glaring cases of mass corruption hanging  over his head as exemplified by the White Paper  on the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Sale of Valued Assets of Rivers State and other matters, they should  leave Governor  Wike  and the distinguished Senators ou

No fewer than 13 people were killed when suicide bombers struck at the outskirts of Maiduguri, Borno State,  north-east Nigeria on Friday, hours after of scores of worshippers were killed in an attack on a nearby mosque. Three female suicide bombers blew themselves up in Mulai village, killing themselves and six people, Maiduguri resident Ahmed Baba said, reports dpa. Around 20 injured people are receiving treatment at hospital, he said. Local television channels reported the attack was carried out about 5:10 am (0410 GMT), when Muslim worshippers were preparing for morning prayers. In another attack in the area on Friday morning, four people died when a female suicide bomber prematurely detonated her bomb, a local vigilante member said . "The woman panicked and detonated her bomb when she saw soldiers'" Umaru Sani said. She and three others died after the explosion, which happened close to Molai mosque that was attacked by suicide bombers on Thursday night. One of

A 20-year-old foreign student who allegedly hacked into United States servers and passed information to Islamic State militants has been arrested in Malaysia, police said Friday. The suspect, who is awaiting extradition to the United States, was arrested last month on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, police chief Inspector General Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement, reports dpa. The suspect allegedly hacked into several US computer servers to gather information about US security forces and passed it on to a ranking Islamic State leader in Syria, Khalid said. The suspect is a native of Kosovo who came to Malaysia in August 2014 to study computer science and forensic computing, another police source said. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation tipped off Malaysian authorities about the suspect's illicit activities, according to the police source, who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media about the case. A US Justice Department statement identif

Mazda Motor Company is recalling 923,672 vehicles in Japan due to possible defective ignition switches, the carmaker said on Friday. Mazda reported 13 fire incidents as a result of the defect, but the carmaker said it is not aware of any injuries or deaths caused by the problem, reports dpa. The recall includes 21 models, including Demio, Familia, MPV, Ford Festiva and Ford Laser, the carmaker said. A spokesperson for the company said that some vehicles abroad would also be recalled over the same issue, but the carmaker does not know how many cars would be affected .

No fewer than 60 people, including 30 children and women, were killed in Russian and Syrian airstrikes on rebel-held areas in the central province of Homs, a monitoring group reported on Friday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the dead included 17 rebel fighters, reports Reuters . The overnight strikes were part of a major attack launched on Thursday by troops of President Bashar al-Assad, with Russian air support, against Islamist rebels on the northern outskirts of Homs. Russia, an ally of al-Assad, has denied reports about civilian casualties resulting from its air campaign that started in Syria on September 30. Moscow says its airstrikes are aimed at weakening the Islamic State extremist militia, which rules large parts of war-torn Syria. According to media reports, the ground attack by government troops was continuing Friday in the north and north west of Homs, mainly in the villages of Talibsseh and Khalidiyeh, which the officials refer to as "main hid

(Nigeria) An Ondo State High Court on Thursday in Akure remanded the five people accused of kidnapping Chief Olu Falae, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, at the Olokuta Prison. The accused, who were arraigned, were Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibrahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal. They were alleged to have participated in the abduction of the former Minister for Finance on September 21 at his farm in Ilado, Akure North Local Government Area of the state. The accused persons allegedly released the septuagenarian on September 24 after collecting N5 million as ransom. They were arraigned on a five-count charge of kidnapping and abducting, aiding and abetting, kidnapping, conspiracy and armed robbery. However, all them pleaded not guilty to the offence when the charges were read to them. The judge, Justice Rotimi Olamide, adjourned the case till November 10 for further hearing.

(Nigeria) A Gudu Upper Area Court in Abuja, on Thursday remanded an alleged baby seller, Chukwuebuka Olasosimi, 27, for criminal intimidation. Olasosinmi was remanded for allegedly threatening to kill one Mrs Chinwe Nwokola of Adisa Estate, Abuja, for refusing to buy a baby boy from him. Prosecuting Counsel, Oyeyemi Adeniyi, told the court that the complainant, Nwokola, wrote a petition to the office of the Inspector-General of Police on August 8 reporting the incident. Adeniyi said that the defendant offered to sell a baby boy to the complainant between April and August but that the complainant refused the offer. The prosecutor also said that the defendant allegedly extorted the sums of N330, 000, N70, 000, N30, 000, N45, 000, N30, 000 and N100, 000 at different times from the complainant through threats and blackmail. He said Olasosinmi reportedly threatened that for refusing his offer, he would send hired killers wipe out the complainant’s family. He said that the offences of

(Nigeria) Mrs Aisha Buhari, wife of the President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that a good education offered the Nigerian girl child an opportunity of being a valued member of the society. She spoke on Thursday in Abuja during the International Day of the Girl Child Summit, which was organised by the National Centre for Women Development, NCWD and commemorated yearly on October 11. The theme of the celebration was ``Empowerment and training: Innovating for Girl-Child education’’. Mrs Buhari, who was represented by Mrs Alamanda Lawal, wife of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said education was the key that opened the door to an opportunity to succeed beyond customary measures. ``Education is a fundamental right which is the only chance that most Nigerian girls have to rise above the cultural and traditional systems of stratification; ``That continues to cast women as inferior to their male counterparts, economically, politically and socially. ``A good education off

Oscar Pistorius will be released on parole on October 20, about a year into his five-year sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, authorities said. The South African Department of Correctional Services said in a statement on Thursday that the Olympic and Paralympic track star would be placed under house arrest from Tuesday, reports Reuters . Pistorius is behind bars in the capital, Pretoria, after being convicted in September last year at the end of a seven-month trial. He was found guilty of culpable homicide, the equivalent of manslaughter, when he fired four shots through a locked toilet door on February 14, 2013, killing model and law graduate Steenkamp. Pistorius was due to have been freed on parole in August after serving 10 months but Justice Minister Michael Masutha blocked his release, saying the parole hearing had been held prematurely. The department of correctional services said parole conditions would include him undergoing psychotherapy, Pistorius, a gun

FIFA Acting President Issa Hayatou, has arrived at the headquarters of the ruling football body as he takes over the duties of suspended Joseph Blatter. In a statement issued on Thursday in Zurich, FIFA said Hayatou was welcomed by the association Acting Secretary General Markus Kattner and addressed staff before spending the rest of the day in his office, reports dpa. It said that Hayatou would stay in Zurich until next week and chair an emergency executive committee meeting on October 20. ``It's certainly an unprecedented situation for FIFA," the statement quoted Hayatou as saying in reaction to Blatter's 90-day suspension last week by FIFA’s Ethics Committee. The committee handed down the suspension after Swiss authorities launched criminal investigation against him on suspicion of mismanagement. ``But we remain focused on the necessary reform process, the Presidential election and on supporting the current investigations. ``To restore public trust is a crucial ob

(Nigeria) The Inspector-General of Police, IG, Mr Solomon Arase, has ordered the arraignment of suspected abductors of Chief Olu Falae in an Ondo Magistrate Court. In a statement by the Force Spokesperson, acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Olabisi Kolawole, in Abuja on Thursday, Arase had on October 13 confirmed the arrest of five suspects of the eight-man gang who kidnapped Falae at their hideouts in Niger, Ekiti and Ondo states. The Department of State Service, DSS, had also arrested two suspects in connection with the incident. Arase said the Nigeria Police under his leadership would leave no stone unturned at ensuring that all criminals in the country were brought to justice. He solicited the cooperation and partnership of Nigerians to enable the police to protect lives and property. The IG commended his men for the quick arrest of the suspects.

(Nigeria) An unspecified number of passengers were feared dead on Thursday when an 18-seater commercial bus plunged into the Arun River at Ogere, near Ijebu Ode in Ogun. The Public Information Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA,Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the incident. He said in Lagos that rescue operation had begun. ``A report has just reached NEMA that an 18-seater bus plunged into Arun River at Ogbere, after Ijebu Ode in Ogun. ``NEMA, in strong partnership with the Ogun State Government, Ijebu East Local Government Area, the Federal Road Safety Commission and the police have mobilised local volunteers and divers to begin recovery of the victims,’’ Farinloye said. He noted, however, that only two bodies had been recovered from the scene.

(Nigeria) A suspected fraudster and member of a syndicate, Edward Abiodun,  has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  before Justice Beatrice Iliya of Gombe State High Court, Gombe, Gombe on a two-count charge of conspiracy, personation and obtaining money by false pretence. The accused person and his accomplices, Murtala Bello and Esther Momoh( who are now at large), had allegedly claimed to be staff members of the EFCC, Abuja office, in order  to dupe one Umar Bello. The complainant alleged that Bello had, on March 13, 2015, phoned him, assuring him that the syndicate could ‘kill’ the purported petition written against him, if he could pay the sum of  N10 million. Consequently, Bello was said to have sent the phone number of Momoh who claimed to be a Principal Detective Superintendent, PDS, with EFCC to the victim for further discussion on how the money could be paid to them. The complainant also alleged that the suspects offered to collect N300,

Benin's long-ruling former president Mathieu Kerekou has died at the age of 82, leading to a week of national mourning. Kerekou, a Marxist who seized power in a coup ruled for 28 years and set a new wave of African democracy, reports Reuters . Announcing the death on Thursday, President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic described Kerekou as ``a great man.’’ He added that ``in the government's name, I declare a week-long state of national mourning with all flags in the land flying at half-mast.’’ Considered by many to be the father of modern Benin, Kerekou was born in 1933 and received military training in Mali and Senegal before joining former colonial master France's army and rising through the ranks to major. He seized power in 1972 and converted to a Marxist ideology two years later, although he later renounced Marxism and came to accept multiparty democracy, organising a broad-based national dialogue in 1990 and stepped aside when he lost a vote the following year. Kere

Niger Republic has imposed a state of emergency on the southeastern region of Diffa where 40 people were killed in recent attacks blamed on the insurgent group Boko Haram. A statement by the government on Thursday said that the 15-day state of emergency would allow authorities to beef up security, impose a curfew and restrict the movement of goods and people, reports Reuters . It will be recalled that the government instituted similar measures in February. Niger, Cameroon and Chad have all suffered a spillover of violence from Boko Haram's northern Nigerian strongholds and Niger has arrested at least 1,100 suspected Boko Haram militants this year. According to a United Nations report, Diffa has endured at least 57 attacks since February where around 150,000 refugees seeking protection from Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria reside.

(Nigeria) The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Gombe State on Wednesday, upheld the return of Ahaji Ibrahim Dankwambo of the  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as the duly elected governor of Gombe State. Delivering judgement on the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress, APC and its gubernatorial candidate in the state, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Mohammad Sirajo, held that the petitioners had not mustered enough evidence to prove their allegations of electoral malpractice and irregularity. He said that the allegations of violence during the election, over-stuffing and snatching of ballot boxes as well as falsification of results, were criminal in nature that needed to be proved “beyond all reasonable doubts”. The Chairman noted that the petitioners had failed to discharge their responsibility of providing enough proof that would warrant the granting of their prayers. He therefore dismissed the petition for lack of merit and upheld the return

(Nigeria) The five-man panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State on Wednesday unanimously struck out the petition filed by the Oyo State governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja. Ladoja had approached the court to challenge the ruling of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ibadan. The tribunal had on August 18 struck out an application filed by Ladoja seeking the leave of the court to call in a forensic analyst to tender the report made on the inspection of ballot papers and ballot boxes. Ladoja had filed a petition challenging the declaration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of APC as the winner of the April 11 governorship election in Oyo State. But in the ruling, the court headed by Justice M. Saulawa dismissed the entire case and upheld the ruling of the tribunal. "Handing a different ruling will be an exercise in futility. "The appeal is dismissed in its entirety and the ruling of the lower tribunal on Aug. 18 is

(Nigeria) By Simeon Nwakaudu  Those who followed developments  before  the last general  elections knew that  Rivers State was PDP and no level  of  propaganda,  intimidation  and under-the-table  tactics  would  change this reality.  Therefore,  the  results  of the Presidential /National Assembly election  of March 28 and the  Governorship /House of Assembly election of April 11 only confirmed  public  knowledge.  The APC in Rivers State was decimated and its  electoral  value for the election  ganged raped by  the  unprecedented  corruption  of former governor Rotimi Amaechi,  his unimaginable treachery of the Niger Delta  agenda and Amaechi’s  lack of respect  for his benefactors  and other Rivers  leaders. Amaechi himself  rarely campaigned for the APC  in  Rivers State. He breezed in and out of the Presidential  campaigns  whilst  Governor Wike  engaged in ward to ward campaigns  across the 23 Local  Government  Areas. The  other level  of  PDP  leadership  covered the 4442 po

(Nigeria) Residents of Umuahia, the Abia State capital, trooped to the streets in their thousands on Tuesday to protest the judgment of the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld the election of ex-Governor Theodore Orji for Abia Central senatorial district. The irate residents, who chanted anti-Orji songs, carried placards with various inscriptions, such as ‘’Abia youths reject tribunal’s judgment,’’ ‘’Orji bought over the tribunal members,’’ ‘’Orji stole Abia state red’’ and ‘’We did not vote for Orji’’ and ‘’Ahamdi Nweke is our senator,’’ among other uncharitable descriptions about the former governor. The protesters, which included mainly traders, market men and women, students further decried the judgments so far delivered by the tribunal on the March 28 general elections in the state. A trader, who identified himself simply as Austin from Umuafai-Ndume Umuahia, said ‘’Orji is our in-law but nobody from this community voted for him during the elect

(Nigeria) Two suspected members of a syndicate involved in Internet fraud have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.    The suspects, Arinze Ihekwo and Chinemelu Utaku, are to  be arraigned on a 13-count charge  bordering  on alleged Internet fraud, Email hacking and obtaining money by false pretence before a Federal High Court sitting in saba, Delta State. One of the counts of the charge  reads: ‘‘That you Arinze Ihekwo on or about November 1, 2013 in Asaba within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court retained the sum of $34,020 only in your current account number:0046750454 domiciled at Guaranty Trust Bank which sum you reasonably ought to have known represent proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15( 2) (d) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.’’ EFCC launched investigation into their activities, following a petition by the Department

(Nigeria) The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on  Tuesday  closed its  defence  of  the  election of Governor Nyesom Wike, while urging the  Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to dismiss the Rivers State All Progressives Congress,  APC petition and that of  her candidate,  Dakuku Peterside because  they lack merit. The PDP backed its submission by tendering Thisday edition  of  April  22, 2015  wherein former INEC  National Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega  declared  the  Governor Wike  election credible  and peaceful.  The  Tribunal  adjourned  the  petition  to  October 22 for  the adoption  of  written addresses by the  petitioners  and respondents preparatory  to the  delivery  of  judgment.  At the hearing  on Tuesday,  the  PDP  tendered  result sheets, INEC  Form EC 8a in specific  polling  units  where Rivers State APC Governorship candidate  had alleged  that elections  did not  hold.  Counsel to the PDP, Goddy Uche, SAN, said that contrary  to  the  claims of

(Nigeria) Snakes washed by flood into Kanke, Kanam and other communities in Plateau have bitten more than 50 people in the last two weeks. Rep. Timothy Golu, representative of the area at the National Assembly, confirmed the development in Jos after visiting the victims. Golu said that some had died while others in critical conditions were on admission in various hospitals and traditional snake treating homes. He said that 13 victims were at Zamko clinic in Langtang, 20 in traditional healers' treatment homes, seven in herbalists' centres, while some visit the centres for daily treatment owing to lack of bed space. ``Some have even been treated and discharged, but a woman at my place, who has been treated and discharged, still has pus gushing from the bitten spot and we have advised her to return to the hospital for fresh checks. ``We fear that something worse may result from the wound if not properly treated because she is already limping,'' he said. Describing t

(Nigeria) Five men on Tuesday appeared before a Senior Magistrates Court in Katsina, for allegedly impregnating a 13- year-old minor. Those arraigned incuded Amadu Mairake, 60, Samaila Hamza, 30, Hassan Surajo, 40, Sani Abdullahi, 30, and Hassan Ila, 40. The suspects, who reside at Borin-Dawa village in Malumfashi Local Government of Katsina State, were charged with a one-count charge of rape. According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), the accused persons committed the offence on September 2, 2015. The FIR said that on September 2, 2015, at 9a.m., one Abdul-Malik Nuhu reported at Malumfashi Police station that his 13-year-old daughter had been impregnated by the five suspects. It stated that the suspects had been having unprotective sexual intercourse with the minor, which led to the pregnacy. The FIR said that the accused persons had committed an offence contrary to section 283 of the penal code. When the matterr came up for hearing,the police prosecutor, Mr Hashim

(Nigeria) The National Assembly Petition Tribunal in Ilorin, Kwara State has affirmed the election of Dr Bukola Saraki as a senator representing Kwara Central. The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Josiah Majebi, upheld Saraki’s election when he delivered judgment in the petition filed by Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP . Abdulrasaq had challenged the victory of Saraki in the March 28 election. The tribunal also upheld the election of Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim as duly elected to senator for Kwara South. The petitioner, Lola Ashiru, had challenged the victory of Ibrahim in the March 28 polls. Majebi, in the judgment, held that Abdulrasaq had failed to prove the reliefs sought against Saraki and also failed to prove that he scored the highest number of votes cast in the election. He also agreed with Saraki’s counsel that the petition was incompetent as it was filed outside the stipulated 21 days allowed by the Electoral Act 2010. The tribunal said the t

(Nigeria) Ijaw Justice Forum, IJF, Delta State, has said that the recent attack on former President, Dr.  Goodluck Jonathan, by Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, was emblematic of him and, therefore, did not come as a shocker to it. IJF in a statement by its president, Karona Etonye and secretary, Mr. Ekenwan Akwagbe, said “We wish to state that this anti- Jonathan utterance from this self-styled Ijaw national leader is not a surprise to us because this is his stock in trade. “To us who are from the same constituency with him, we know him as utterly ungrateful and destructive. “Here is a man, who often referred to Dr. Jonathan as his son, right from his days as governor of Bayelsa state until he relinquished power as President and Commander In-Chief of the armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. When Dr. Jonathan was in power, Chief Clark did not see anything wrong with him, including his perceived weakness to fight corruption because he was gaining immensely from th

(Nigeria) The Nigeria Police on Tuesday in Abuja said it had arrested two suspects in connection with the October 2 bombings in Nyanya and Kuje, both in Abuja. Itwill be recalled that 20 persons died and 21 others were injured in the blasts in the two satellite towns. The Inspector-General of Police, IG, Mr Solomon Arase, who confirmed the arrest at the Conference of Senior Police Officers, said that the suspects aged 25 and 27 were from Kogi. He said that the arrest had foiled an attempt by the suspects to undertake another attack in the FCT. Arase said that 12 already prepared and prime Home Made Explosives, HME,  concealed in 12 Farouk soft drinks cans and 28 pieces of electric detonators were recovered from the suspects. "The suspects are aiding detailed police investigations into their broad terror network and will be brought to deserve justice,"he said. The IG assured that the police would continue to deploy its potentials to ensure public safety that could be att

(Nigeria) President Muhammadu Buhari has submitted another batch of ministerial list to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, for screening and confirmation. Sen. Ita Enang, Senior Special Adviser, SSA, to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), confirmed the submission of the list to the senate. Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, Special Adviser on Media to the President of the Senate, also confirmed that the upper legislative chamber had received another batch of ministerial list. ``The list has been received by the Senate President. ``We received it at 4:24p . m and the list was brought by the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari. ``He was accompanied by the SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Hon. Sumaila Kawu,’’ he said. Olaniyonu, however did not confirm if the list was the last to be sent to the Senate for screening and confirmation. ``We don't know until the

(Nigeria) The Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, has said that the committee was yet to conclude on the petitions against some ministerial nominees. Anyanwu on Monday in Abuja while briefing newsmen after hearing the petitions , said that the committee would take a position on the matter after it concluded the report, which it would present to the Senate within the period of the screening. Anyanwu, however, did not confirm if the screening of the nominees affected by the petitions would have to be deferred until the report was ready. ``It doesn't matter. We have two, three days to do our screening. Anybody that is not screened tomorrow (Tuesday) could be screened the other day. ``Nobody has been cleared. Whatever report we turn out, is the entire Senate that will clear the nominees. ``If the reports are ready for any of them, the person will be taken tomorrow and of course, the Senate is going to take them batch by batc