Global Naija Info

Traditional ruler (Baale) of Temidire Community in Alagbado in Lagos, Nojeem Abioye, and his son, Wahab Abioye, have been remanded in prison custody over the alleged murder of a police informant, Rasaki Olatunji a.k.a Alhaji Gay. Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of an Ikeja High Court, who gave the order, said the men should remain behind bars pending when their bail applications would be heard. The duo had pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder. The judge ruled: “The defendants are hereby remanded at the Kirikiri Medium Security Prisons. “This case is adjourned to June 23 for arguments of the bail application.” Olatunji was reportedly killed on July 20, 2015 in Temidire during a protest by landlords and residents purportedly led by the traditional ruler and nine others. The deceased was allegedly murdered by the defendants over allegations of land grabbing.

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai The Nigerian Army says it will continue to observe the two-week ceasefire declared by Federal Government, even as militants continue their attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta region. Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, said this on Wednesday, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the meeting held at the Army Headquarters in Abuja. He said that the decision was part of the resolutions reached at the end of a meeting of field commanders and principal staff officers, which was convened by the Chief of Army Staff in Abuja. He, however, warned that the military would resume its operations in the region if the militants continued to disregard the ceasefire. Attahiru said that the meeting of the Army’s field commanders was also held to appraise the current security situation in the country, with a view to finding solutions to them. He said that the Ar

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday heard that former acting Director-General of NIMASA, Calistus Obi, allegedly built a hotel in Asaba,using the agency’s funds. Obi, who was a former NIMASA Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Service, took over from Patrick Akpobolokemi, the immediate past DG of NIMASA, who is facing six separate charges of conversion and theft. He was charged alongside three companies – Dismass Alu Adoon Ltd, Grand Pact Ltd., and Global Sea Investment Ltd on eight counts bordering on conversion of funds to the tune of over N378 million from NIMASA. At Obi’s trial on Wednesday, a witness, who is an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Orji Chukwuma, said that the accused used NIMASA’s funds to build a hotel. He alleged that the money was taken from an account opened for NIMASA’s Technical Ratification Committee on Maritime Labour Congress. According to the witness, about N10million was paid to Seastroke Int

Maria Sharapova was on Wednesday banned for two years after failing a drugs test but insisted she will appeal a decision which could effectively end her career. Russian star Sharapova, 29, tested positive for the controversial banned medication meldonium during January’s Australian Open. A statement on the Internationl Tennis Federation (ITF) website said “an Independent Tribunal” had “found that Maria Sharapova committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation” and consequently had “disqualified the affected results and imposed a period of ineligibility of two years, commencing on 26 January 2016”. Sharapova blasted the ban as “unfairly harsh” in a statement on her Facebook fan page. “While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension,” fumed Sharapova. “The tribunal, whose members were selected by the ITF, agreed that I did not do anything intentionally wrong, yet they seek to keep me f

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday commiserated with the family of the late former Super Eagles Captain and Coach, Stephen Keshi, and the entire country over his untimely death. Late Stephen Keshi Buhari, in a twitter message, described the late Keshi as a great sportsman, football player and coach. The twitter message read: “Nigeria today lost a great sportsman, football player, coach and a citizen. “President Muhammadu Buhari commiserates with the family of late Stephen Keshi, and with the entire country on his untimely passing (away).” Also, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had also issued a statement commiserating with the family of the late soccer star who died at the age of 54 years on Wednesday.

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo *VP Osinbajo, Governors to review Strategic Plan Tomorrow Nigeria’s first national Home Grown School Feeding programme which would affect about 5.5m Nigerians in the first year of its operation would be rolling out soon in several states, preceded by a Stakeholders Forum holding in Aso Rock on Thursday to be addressed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Now in the final rounds of preparation for the commencement of the free school feeding programme for primary school pupils, the federal and state governments will review the Strategic Plan for the rollout of the scheme which is part of the N500B Social Investment plans of the Buhari presidency. The strategic plans runs until 2020 and forms the cornerstone of the nationwide Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF) programme which when fully realized will provide a nutritious hot meal a day to over 24 million primary school children. HGSF programmes provide free school meals procured from

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria *Non-graduates’ training programmes also open for additional 100,000 young Nigerians In what is the first roll out of its N500bn social investment programmes, the Buhari presidency will start taking applications online for positions in the 500,000 direct teacher jobs scheme, through an internet portal named npower.gov.ng. While the portal would be live on Saturday June 11, applications are expected to start coming in on June 12, the beginning of next week. Young unemployed Nigerians are advised to visit the website and apply. It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari in his May 29th Democracy Day broadcast to the nation formally launched the unprecedented social investment programmes already provided for under the 2016 Appropriation by the administration. The 500,000 Teacher Corps, nicknamed N-Power Teach on the portal, is one of the three direct job creation and training schemes Nigerians can start applying for from Sunday, June

Rihanna and Jay Z (Photo by Jerritt Clark/WireImage) Rihanna and Jay Z, who runs her music label Roc Nation, are being sued for allegedly collecting money for a concert she never gave. The Work singer, 28, was allegedly booked to perform a show in Nigeria by Chris Ubosi and his radio station Megalectrics back in May 2013, TMZ is reporting. Ubosi claims he made a deal with two individuals who represented Rihanna, Roc Nation and Jay Z with the promise that she would be paid $425,000 for a 65-minute performance at the Eko Hotel in Lagos – but a rep for Rihanna’s label says the promoter was the victim of a scam. The promoter coughed up $160,000 in three installments but then he claims her people asked to push back the concert to July. According to TMZ, Ubosi agreed on the condition that Rihanna alert her fans of the date switch on social media. DailyMail.com has reached out to Rihanna’s representative for comment. In his lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Ubosi claims that

GOtv subscribers will have access to select matches of the UEFA European Championship (Euro 2016), which will hold in France from 10 June to 10 July. The matches, available on all GOtv packages, will be broadcast live on its SuperSport Select 1 (Channel 30). This was announced in a statement issued by the pay-TV service provider. According to the statement, the matches are being made available as a way of adding value to subscribers’ viewing experience through exciting content that is close to their hearts. On Friday, at 8:00pm (CAT), GOtv subscribers will watch the opening match of the tournament between the host country, France and Romania on 10 June on SuperSport Select 1. Other first round matches that will air live on GOtv include England v Russia, Belgium v Italy, Germany v Poland, Portugal v Austria and Croatia v Spain. In the round of 16 and quarter-final stage, GOtv will air two live matches respectively. Subscribers will also watch one live semi-final match and the bigg

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State The House Leader, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar (APC-Tureta), has resigned from the assembly. This is sequel to his recent election as the Chairman of Tureta Local Government Council of the state under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Abubakar on Wednesday tendered his formal letter of resignation from the Assembly to the Speaker. “The decision comes as a result of series of consultations with all the relevant stakeholders from my constituency, following my election as Chairman, Tureta Local Government Council,” he said in the letter. Abubakar thanked all his colleagues, the management and staff, people of Tureta local government area and the state in general, for their support during his tenure in the legislature. Meanwhile, the House has adopted its sitting calendar for the second session of the 8th Assembly in the state. This followed a motion moved on Wednesday by the Deputy House Leader, Al

Senator Bukola Saraki The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has commiserated with the family of the late former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, saying his excellent leadership skills remained unparalleled. Saraki in statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, on Wednesday in Abuja said Keshi’s death came at a time when the nation needed his rich experience in sports. It said that Saraki lauded his contributions to football development, his doggedness and exemplary contributions that saw the nation clinching international trophies as a player and as a coach. “His days, while donning the national colours and his stint as a national coach of the Super Eagles should be regarded as `Nigeria’s golden moments’ in national and world soccer. “Keshi lost his wife late last year and today we heard the sad news of his demise. This must be a heavy burden for the family to bear. “His death at 54 is both a shock and highly unfortunate. “We take solace in the fac

Catfish may soon be out of the reach of the average Nigerian as the hike in prices of feeds has forced some fish farmers out of business. Some farmers who spoke on the issue on Wednesday in Lagos described the development as worrisome, calling on government to ensure price stability in the industry. Skyretting Feeds had in the first week of June increased the price of a bag of its 2mm feed from about N5, 000 to N8, 000. A farmer, Mr Emmanuel Ogharegbe, said that many of his colleagues had since abandoned the business, due to arbitrary hike in the prices of feeds. Ogharegbe said the price hike did not translate to an increase in the price of fish as fish traders operated a cartel that could frustrate any increase in per kilo price of fish. Another farmer, Mrs Josephine Obi, wondered how she would survive if the price of feed continued to increase. “On June 1, I received a text message from a woman who was selling feeds to me announcing an increase in the prices of feeds. “Early t

By Okey Ndibe Professor Okey Ndibe I’m deeply troubled by what appears to me to be Nigeria’s growing industry of making and exhibiting corpses. The Nigerian state—represented by its police and military—continues to refine its capacity for the production of corpses. It’s as if, by the day, the state’s expertise in killing its subjects becomes more manifest. And after the gruesome act, the state now routinely justifies itself by claiming that its victims, essentially, asked for it. Not to be outdone, a mini-industry of corpse-exhibitors has emerged among Nigerians. The Internet is an arena in which people of all demographics travel. There are the children in that online space. Yet, it’s become rather common—indeed commonplace—to click on a website or twitter update and find splashed for your viewing horror the different images of mutilated, bloodied humanity. It’s not only the state that’s become adept at this macabre game of producing corpses and industrial-scale carnage. On the l

President Jacob Zuma of South Africa The South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Lulu Mnguni, on Wednesday announced his government’s decision to commence the issuance of 5-year visas to Nigerian professionals, business people and other frequent fliers. Mnguni also diclosed in Lagos that his government was now prepared to eliminate the difficulties usually faced by Nigerians when seeking South African visas. The High Commissioner also said that his government was moving away from having political diplomacy to more of economic diplomacy with Nigeria. “There has been growing concerns from both Nigeria and South Africa on the issue of visas. There have been complaints by Nigerians on how they are treated when seeking visas. “Our President has indicated that Nigeria and South Africa need to intervene by making it easier for our nationals to have visas to our two countries. “We came to an agreement that business people and frequent fliers between South Africa and Nigeria

The gavel of justice An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court in Ekiti on Wednesday dissolved an eight-year-old marriage between Mr Tajudeen Owolabi and his wife, Idayat, over the latter’s alleged stealing habit. The court cited threats to his life, ill treatment, cursing and disrespect as other reasons for the divorce. Tajudeen, 35, of Balota Street in Odo-Ado, Ado-Ekiti, had told the court that his wife’s bad habits had left him restless. “She is fond of stealing my money and will not allow my business to grow,” he claimed. The father of two also alleged that his wife hardly prepared food on time and would not wash his clothes. “She is fond of saying that my business will go down (crash) and that I will see paper and call it money. “Each time I reported my wife to her parents, the mother was always supporting her daughter; it is only the father that was always telling her the truth.” The petitioner alleged that Idayat once stormed his house in company of her family members and “disorgan

Eric Bailly is Mourinho’s first signing Manchester United have completed the signing of Villarreal defender Eric Bailly, subject to a work permit. The 22-year-old Ivory Coast international joins for about £30m on a four-year deal. Bailly said: “It is a dream come true to be joining Manchester United. To play football at the highest level is all I have ever wanted to do.” United manager Jose Mourinho said: “Eric has the potential to become one of the best around.” Bailly has played 40 times in La Liga, the first five of which were for Espanyol. He joined Villarreal for £4.4m in January 2015 and played in every game as Ivory Coast won the Africa Cup of Nations just weeks later. Bailly is Mourinho’s first signing at Old Trafford, with the club also tipped to complete the acquisition of Paris St-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Issa Hayatou, CAF President CAF President, Issa Hayatou, on Wednesday condoled with the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, and Nigerians on the death of former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi. This is contained in a statement on the association’s website. Hayatou expressed his “dismay” and “immense sadness” at the sudden death of the former Nigeria international. He paid glowing tribute to the deceased, who emerged as the only African coach to have qualified two African teams to the World Cup – Togo in 2006 and Nigeria in 2014. “’His other enviable record is being the only African trainer to have steered a team to the Second Round of the FIFA World Cup, with Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. “He had achieved the same feat as a player with the Super Eagles at their maiden participation at the Mundial in 1994, in USA. “’The CAF President conveyed the condolences on his own behalf, the CAF Executive Committee and African football family on

Charles Okah The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday fixed June 16 for ruling on admissibility of the alleged confessional statement of Obi Nwabueze in the Abuja 2010 Independence day bomb blast. Justice Gabriel Kolawole adjourned ruling in the case after parties concluded their trial-within-trial to ascertain the veracity of the statement. Nwabueze, the second defendant in the case, had alleged that the statement he made in the DSS custody was obtained under duress. He was arraigned by the DSS alongside, Charles Okah, on charges bordering on conspiracy and terrorism. They both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Yahaya Bello sworn in as Kogi governor The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for Kogi sitting in Abuja on Wednesday dismissed the petition filed by the Labour Party for failing to substantiate its claims. Justice Halima Muhammad, the tribunal Chairman in a two-hour judgment, dismissed the petition, saying that it lacked merit. According to her, there are not enough evidences to prove the allegations made by the party in the petition. Muhammad said that the evidence given by a witness of the petitioner that he did not write a report after monitoring the election, closed the case of the petitioner. She also said that the allegation of corrupt practices by the petitioner during the conduct of the election could not be substantiated. The party had alleged that there were issues of irregularities during the conduct of 2015 Kogi governorship election. Labour Party also alleged in its petition that Gov. Yahaya Bello, the first respondent, was not validly elected and that his ele

Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor The Senate has summoned the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele and bank chiefs, to appear before its committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions over current retrenchments in banks. This followed a point of order raised by the Chairman Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim, on the floor of the senate on Wednesday. The chairman said his attention was drawn to media reports on Wednesday over alleged directive given to banks by Ngige to suspend ongoing retrenchments. He said it was necessary for the minister and other stakeholders to appear before the senate to give explanations on the directive. The lawmaker argued that given the sensitive nature of the industry, any misguided statement could have negative effect on the economy. “Without any prejudice to the position of the minister, as chairman of the committee on banking, insurance

The gavel of justice An 18-year old student, Richard Oneh, on Wednesday appeared in a Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nassarawa State, for alleged abduction of a girl. Oneh, who resides after Aunty Alice, Mararaba, is facing a charge of abduction. The Prosecutor, Sergeant Stephen Kwaza, said that Saidi Olajide of beside Pantaker, Mararaba, reported the matter at the Sani Abacha Road Police Station, Mararaba, on June 4. Kwaza said the accused on June 2, took the complainant’s daughter, Mariam Olajide, a 16-year old girl, to his house and kept her there for days. He said in the course of investigation, the said girl was found in the accused room. The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 272 of the Penal Code. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. The presiding officer, Mr Vincent Gwehemba, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum. Gwehemba said that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and tender two recent

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has described the death of Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, former Captain and Coach of the Super Eagles as a great loss to the nation and to Edo State where he was resident. The Governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, described the late Stephen Keshi, fondly called the ‘Big Boss’, as a thoroughbred professional, complete gentleman, a good citizen who impacted positively on his immediate environment where he lived a quiet life. Oshiomhole said: “On behalf of the Government and People of Edo State, I join millions of Nigerians and other sports lovers worldwide to condole with my brother, the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on the sudden death of this illustrious son of the state. “He was a thoroughbred professional, a complete gentleman and a good citizen of Edo State where he lived quietly and peaceably with his neighbours before he gave in to the cold hands o

•Steven Keshi The family of the late former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has moved his remains from Faith Mediplex Hospital, Benin, to Stella Obasanjo Hospital for autopsy. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Keshi’s remains had been deposited at Faith Mediplex where the former Super Eagles captain was rushed to early on Wednesday. The family’s spokesman, Ricky Aburimen, who had rushed the late national team player to the hospital, told newsmen that the move became necessary for autopsy to be conducted on the body. He said Keshi was not a registered patient in the hospital where he was pronounced dead. “And as such, his remains needed to be moved to a government-owned hospital for a proper investigation into cause of his death,’’ Aburimen said. He said the cause of his death should not be a subject of speculation, hence, the reason for the autopsy. Aburimen, who is the immediate older brother to the late wife of the Nigeria soccer icon, described Keshi’s death a

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said that the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government will address the challenges of mass transportation in the country. Amaechi disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos at an event organized by a Lagos based Radio station tagged “Migrating Workforce; the Challenges of Mass Transportation”. Amaechi also said, to address the problems of mass transportation, the Federal Government will invest hugely in the sector. “The Federal government will invest hugely on transportation. We will continue to make policies that will improve our mass transportation system. The problem of mass transportation is poor governance; by the grace of God we will complete the Lagos/Ibadan rail project in two and half years. In two and half years, we will also try to complete the Port Harcourt to Calabar rail. We are encouraging Dry Ports that will encourage the transportation of goods and ser

Late Stephen Keshi.. Chairman, Edo State Football Association (EFA), Frank Ilaboya, confirmed on Wednesday that the remains of former Super Eagle’s coach, Stephen Keshi, had been deposited in a mortuary in Benin. The privately-owned mortuary, Faith Mediplex is located on the Benin Airport road in the Edo capital. Ilaboya quotes Keshi’s faimily member, Ricky Aburimen, as saying the Eagle’s former coach as having only complained of a leg ailment while holidaying at his Aiprport road home in Benin before he passed away. He said that Keshi died on the way to the hospital at about 3a.m. The ex- international lost his wife , Nkem Kate Keshi only last December. They had been married for 33 years. She died after a prolonged battle with cancer. Keshi is survived by four children and his mother. Meanwhile, a statement on the coach’s death had been released by Emmanuel Ado, brother and aide to the late Keshi. It said: “with thanksgiving to God, the Ogbuenyi Fredrick Keshi family of Illah

Late Stephen Keshi Family sources have explained how Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, former Nigerian football captain and coach died. Keshi, 54, died early today in Benin, capital of Edo State, just about six months after his wife, Kate died in the United States. According to close family sources, Keshi complained of being unwell just before midnight on Tuesday and he was found to be gasping for breath. He was rushed to Faith Hospital in the Benin Government Reservation Area. He died around 00.30 this morning. His body has been deposited at the Central Hospital in the city. Keshi was born in Azare Bauchi state on 23 January, 1962. He spent most of his growing up years in Lagos. He started playing football for the defunct African Continental Bank in 1979. He joined the New Nigerian Bank in 1980 and played for four years. He joined Stade d’Abidjan in 1985. Two years after, Keshi moved over to Lokeren in Belgium, a country where he also played for Anderlecht. Keshi played for Nigeria

Late Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi Former Super Eagles coach and captain, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi is dead. The 54-year old who also coached the national team of Togo and Mali repprtedly died of cardiac arrest. In a statement issued by Emmanuel Ado, brother to the late Keshi, he said: “With thanksgiving to God, the Ogbuenyi Fredrick Keshi family of Illah in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, announces the death of Mr. Stephen Okechukwu Chinedu Keshi.” “Our son, brother, father, father-in-law, brother-in-law, has gone to be with his wife of 35 years (Nkem ), Mrs. Kate Keshi, who passed on on the 9th December 2015. “Since her death, Keshi has been in mourning. He came back to Nigeria to be with her. He had planned to fly back today Wednesday, before he suffered a cardiac arrest. He has found rest.” It would be recalled that Keshi lost his wife of 35 years, Kate, to cancer last December.