Global Naija Info

The gavel of justice For allegedly pouring hot soup on a police officer, an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court, on Monday remanded 33-year-old Emmanuel Imole in prison custody. The police prosecutor, Sergeant Bankole Olasunkanmi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 13 at about 5.30 pm at Ilawe road, Ado-Ekiti. He said that the accused unlawfully poured hot soup on a police officer attached to Iyin police station while performing his lawful duty. Olasunkanmi said the accused poured the hot soup on the policeman’s face and uniform and attempted to collect his rifle. He said that the offence contravened Section 356(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16, Vol.1, Laws of Ekiti state 2012. He requested for adjournment to enable him study the case file and assemble his witnesses. The accused however pleaded not guilty to the charge. Counsel to the accused, Mr Gbenga Alabadan, prayed the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms, adding that he would provide reaso

Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has fired his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on Monday in the face of sagging poll numbers and a presidential campaign facing increased pressure from the Republican Party. A statement from Trump spokesperson cited by Washington Post and other U.S. media, thanked Lewandowski for his hard work. Four weeks before the decisive Republican convention in Cleveland and four months before the general election, the Trump team’s inner circle, including the billionaire’s children, met on Monday. According to the statement, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss strategy in the face of falling poll numbers and a bad press in recent weeks. A series of recent surveys showed presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton polling ahead of Trump by as many as 10 points. Republican Party leadership, and most especially important potential big donors, have been critical of Trump’s campaign tactics and lack of discipline.

File photo: A flooded area in Nigeria Some parts of Kano metropolis were flooded on Monday following prolonged rainfall. The rains, which began Sunday midnight, persisted till about 10 a.m. Monday and result in the flood. A correspondent who went round the metropolis, reported that some schools affected by the flood were shut. Areas mostly affected are Sabintiti, Tal’udu and Gadon Kaya as residents were sighted clearing the drains and wading through water. Malam Lawan Sani, a resident of Dandago quarters, disclosed that many people, who were affected by the flood, could not leave their home for work on Monday. At Sallari area in Tarauni Local Government Area, the flood affected some Islamic and formal schools, necessitating their closure. A Director in the state Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Jafaru Gwarzo, advised the people against erecting structure on water ways, saying that might worsen future flood situation.

Osagie Ize-Iyamu, PDP Candidate for Edo governorship race Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on Monday emerged the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 10 governorship election in Edo. In the result of the primaries announced by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, Chairman of the committee that conducted the exercise, Ize-Iyamu polled 584 votes to defeat two other aspirants. His closest opponent, Mr Mathew Uduoeyekemwen, according to Umahi, scored 91 votes while Chief Solomon Edebiri polled 38 votes. Ize-Iyamu was Secretary to the State Government during former governor of the state, Chief Lucky Igbinedion’s administration of 1999 to 2007. He was South-South leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before defecting to the PDP in 2014. Umahi said that 713 delegates were accredited for the primaries from a total delegates’ list of 751, adding that there were no invalid votes. Presenting Ize-Iyamu to the party members, primaries committee chairman thanked all PDP go

Prepaid Meters An indigenous meter manufacturer, Mr Atilade Bolarinwa, on Monday listed finance, technical partner influence and corruption as major reasons why Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) were not patronising made-in-Nigeria meters. Bolarinwa, who is the Vice-Chairman of Unistar Hi-teck System Ltd., an indigenous meter manufacturing company, made the assertion in an interview in Lagos. He explained that indigenous meter manufacturers did not give credit facilities to DISCOs as a result of the hostile Nigerian business environment. The manufacturer, however, said that the DISCOs get credit facilities from foreign countries, while local manufacturers refused to grant them such facility. “Secondly, most of the distribution companies have technical partners which may be Korean or Indian, and who use their influence to get meters for them. “So, when we talk about patriotism, it is expected that Nigerians should be patriotic but in the face of corruption and inducemen

Members of the National Association of Resident Doctors protesting in Abuja, recently The Borno chapter of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) said its members would not participate in the nationwide strike due to start on Monday, June 20. The state acting President of the Association, Dr Muhammad Abdullahi, made the state chapter’s position known in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Monday. The statement quoted Abdullahi as saying “it should be noted that majority of inhabitants of the 27 local government areas of Borno are currently residing in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps in Maiduguri. “Two days ago, about 200 victims with different ailments were freed from captivity within Bama town and its environs, all receiving care in our facility. “Maiduguri is a war theatre comprising men of the Nigeria Army who need all our support in terms of provision of healthcare services. “It should also be noted that University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital is

Maiden Ibru: Guardian Publisher Kazeem Ugbodaga Former Managing Director of The Guardian, Emeka Izeze, has clarified reports on his departure from the newspaper. He said he was never sacked as reported but that he resigned on his own volition. Speaking with our correspondent, Izeze said he had been the Managing Director of The Guardian for 17 years and that he could not have been sacked, but resigned to pursue other career goals. Izeze was formerly The Guardian’s Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief until the position was split about few years ago, which made him the Managing Director while Debo Adeshina became the Editor-in-Chief. He was also the Editor of The Guardian at a point before he was promoted. Izeke had his university education at the University of Leicester, United Kingdom between 2001 and 2003. During his tenure, the newspaper became a force to reckon with in the Nigerian newspaper industry. The Guardian was established in 1983 by Alex Ibru, an entrepreneur, and Sta

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has rearrested oil magnate, Jide Omokore, and a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu, for alleged money laundering. Andrew Yakubu and Jide Omokore This was disclosed by a source from the Commission, who said that Omokore and Yakubu would be arraigned on four counts of money laundering. “Other defendants to the charge are: Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, David Mbanefo, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited”, the source revealed. The arraignment of Mr Andrew Yakubu, and others has been fixed for July 4. Yakubu, Jide Omokore and others were expected to be arraigned by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering on Monday. The defendants were not in court and sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that  “My Lord has fixed the formal arraignment for July 4.’’

Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engr. Adebowale Akinsanya The Lagos State Government has warned residents to keep up the Ogun River, near the Kara Cattle Market which was recently blocked by vegetation, saying that the river could open up at any time with dire consequences. Last weekend, the river was taken over by vegetation, caused by a heavy storm, which created a compacted layer over the river. Residents in the area were stunned by the incident and turned the area to a tourist site of some sort, with some residents seen walking on the blocked river and taking pictures. But the State Government on Wednesday in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engr. Adebowale Akinsanya, said it was dangerous for residents to besiege the dry area as the flow of the river was still active beneath. He said, “It is important to notify the public that have been worried about the environmental consequence of a dried up river to

The trial of former governor of Taraba, Jolly Nyame, was stalled on Monday in an FCT High Court Gudu, due to the absence of EFCC prosecution witness. The prosecution was to produce its witness in court to testify against the ex-governor. Nyame, who is facing trial on a 41-count charge of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and gratification of N1.64bn Taraba fund was present in court. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), counsel to the EFCC told the court that he could not get in contact with his witnesses due to the fact that they changed their addresses. Jacobs, however, promised the court that on the next adjourned date, he will appear with his witnesses. “These witnesses are no longer with the Commission, that’s what makes it difficult to contact them.” He said he shall contact the Commission’s chairman in order to facilitate the process. Mr Ahmed Yusuf, the defence counsel asked the court for a date for the next hearing after the court’s vacation. Speaking, Yusuf said they did not

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu By Adebayo Adeyinka My dear Asiwaju, I am compelled to write this open letter to you because of the state of affairs of the Yoruba nation. Firstly, I wish to acknowledge that fate has put you in a prime position to determine to a large extent the direction that the Yoruba people will go. The indisputable truth is that one may quarrel with your politics but your sagacity is never in doubt. Even those who don’t see eye to eye with you agree that you are imbued with unusual native intelligence, uncommon people skills and unrivaled foresight. You, more than any other person, has been the game changer since the advent of democracy in 1999. It is for these reasons that I have chosen to direct this letter to you. My singular purpose is to tug at the strings of your heart. I am not writing to appeal to partisan considerations but to see, if per chance, I can pour out my heart to you in a manner of speaking. God has blessed you even beyond your wildest imagination. You

The naira plunged against the US dollar on Monday after Nigeria’s government scrapped its fixed exchange rate and allowed market forces to determine the currency’s value. According to an anoymous forex trader, “Trading started at 9:00 am this morning. All the 24 commercial banks are participating. The offer is 249 to 265 naira to the dollar.” At 11:00 am, the naira was quoted at 262.50 against the dollar but the trader said supply and demand were still in the process of being matched. “All the bids will be put on the table and the rate will based on the offers,” the trader said. Analysts are of the opinion that the naira may settle in at around 250, compared with 350 to the greenback on the black market. Nigeria had pegged the naira to the dollar at 197-199 since March 2015, even as other oil exporters have let their currencies devalue in the wake of plunging global crude prices. President Muhammadu Buhari previously stated that he would not “kill the naira” by letting it devalue

Ummy Mwalimu, Tanzania’s Minister of Health, on Monday in Dar es Salaam said that a strange disease in central Tanzania has killed seven people and 14 others have been admitted to hospitals for treatment. The minister said the disease has hit Chmela and Kondoa districts in the country’s central region of Dodoma, wreaking havoc to residents in the areas. Mwalimu said the government came to know about the disease on June 13 through the office of the chief medical officer for Dodoma region. The minister said it started with nine members of a single family at Mwaikisabe village in Chemba district who reportedly fell sick after eating beef. Mwalimu said the meat was sourced from a cow that was slaughtered after one of its legs got broken in an unknown circumstance. She, however, said some of the people who also ate the very same beef were alive and kicking, forcing the government to cast its net wider in the endeavour to examine what the disease could be and its likely causes. Mwalimu

South Africa-based Telecoms giant MTN on Monday named a new chief executive after resolving a dispute with Nigeria over a huge fine for failing to disconnect millions of unregistered mobile phone lines. MTN announced that Rob Shuter, a South African who is currently the Vodafone Europe CEO, will take over as its new group president and CEO next year. Rob Shuter Africa’s biggest wireless operator, MTN said in a statement that “following the successful resolution of the Nigerian dispute, it has completed the review of its governance and management structures.” The Johannesburg-based company was last year hit with a $3.9 billion fine for failing to cut off 5.1 million unregistered SIM cards, amid fears that some of the affected lines were being used by Boko Haram insurgents. The conflict sparked by the Islamic extremist group has left at least 17,000 dead and forced more than 2.6 million people from their homes since 2009. On June 10 MTN announced that following negotiations with