Global Naija Info

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano State Governor The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano State has declared Alhaji Tasi’u Ibrahim of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the state House of Assembly by-election in Minjibir. Announcing the result in Minjibir, the returning Officer, Prof Abu Mohammed, said the APC candidate, emerged winner by scoring 21, 970 votes to defeat the 14 other contestants. According to him, Alhaji Auwalu Ubale of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 1, 238 votes. He commended political party leaders and the candidates for their cooperation and understanding throughout the election period. He also commended security personnel deployed to the area to maintain peace for their efforts toward ensuring peace. The election which was conducted under tight security, was peaceful. The election was initially conducted on April 30 but had to be cancelled halfway as a result of violence.

ICC Video: Bayern Munich's Julian Green scores three goals in the first 35 minutes for a Hat Trick against Inter (ESPN)

Edwin Clark, Ijaw National Leader The Ijaw national leader Chief Edwin Clark said on Saturday that any dialogue between the Federal Government and militants in the Niger Delta would not yield result without involvement of Ijaw leaders. Clark stated this at the Ijaw leaders consultative council meeting with Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Delta Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro in Warri. The meeting was aimed at reaching common ground on the renewed militancy and its impact on the Niger Delta and Nigeria. Clark in his opening remark, at the meeting held behind close door, said it was not the first time this kind of crisis was happening. “In 2008 and 2009 similar incident happened and Gbaramatu was affected. We elders and leaders intervened and we got Amnesty. “Today we hear that the Federal Government is planning, already talking or negotiating with militants and nobody has consulted us. “That will not work. These children are our children and we cannot fold our hands when th

Professor Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò Not too long ago, a report in the social section of one of our national dailies caught my eye. One of the celebrants was identified as “Princess, Olori, Deaconess X”. Of course, I have been around long enough to know that such collocations are standard fare in my homeland. Yet, it caught my eye. More recently, I discovered via another public announcement that Town Planners, too, have joined architects, and sundry other professionals—pharmacists, engineers, etc.—in self-identifying as such in their designation in all spheres of life way beyond the confines of their professional memberships. No doubt, we are too familiar, those of us who travel to other African countries and interact with other Africans in various situations across the globe, with the many jokes about our love of titles in this neck of the global human woods. Beyond the jokes lies the ugly fact that surreptitiously, and quite firmly, we have transitioned into a country drownin

Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Representatives The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Rep. Mustapha Dawaki (APC-Kano), has denied the alleged shut down, seizure, relocating of committee system, records and document, including harassment of staff. Dawaki made this known while briefing newsmen on Saturday in Abuja, following report of alleged shut down of the secretariat of the committee by security agencies. The chairman said that the attention of the committee has been drawn to a newspaper report (name withheld) of July 29, alleging the shut down, seizure and relocation of the committee system and records. He said the alleged publication was false and therefore, should be disregarded because no member of staff of the committee was being harassed as reported. The Chairman read a letter dated July 29, 2016 written to the committee for its information and necessary action by Dr Abel Ochigbo, Clerk of the Committee on Appropriation to journalists. “I w

Mohammed Babandede, Comptroller-General of Immigration Thirteen inmates escaped in fresh jailbreak recorded at Koton Karfe prison in Kogi in the early hours of Saturday. A reliable source disclosed that the incident happened at about 7a.m. when the inmates forcefully brought down the wall of the prison. The all male prison facility which was inaugurated in 2014 has the capacity to accommodate 180 inmates. However, the facility was accommodating 263 inmates as at the time of the jailbreak on Saturday. One of the escaped inmates, it was gathered, was re-arrested almost immediately by security agents. This was the third jailbreak recorded in Koton Karfe as the old prison facility witnessed similar jailbreaks in 2010 and 2013. In previous jailbreaks 132 inmates escaped from the prison and majority were awaiting trials. It was gathered that Comptroller–General of the Nigeria Prison Service immediately sent a representative to Koton Karfe to assess the situation. The State’s Contro

ICC: Real Madrid play Chelsea at Michigan Stadium, where more than 100,000 fans are expected; watch live in the ESPN App (ESPN)

ICC: Barcelona defeat Celtic 3-1 in Dublin, Ireland behind first-half goals from Arda Turan and Munir El Haddadi (ESPN)

Dr Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health An Oncologist, Dr Kehinde Okunade, has said that no fewer than 9,000 Nigerian women die yearly as a result of cervical cancer. Okunade, also a Director, Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, an NGO, made the disclosure at a Health Sensitisation and Screening for Health Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) in Lagos on Saturday. According to him, cervical cancer had killed more people worldwide than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria put together. “More than 14, 550 Nigerian women are infected with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the major cause of cancer of the cervix. “In spite of this statistics, there is evidence that utilisation of screening for prevention of the disease is poor in Nigeria. “I am calling on women of reproductive age to observe regular cervical cancer screening because any woman who is sexually active is at risk,’’ Okunade said. Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Sebeccly, Dr Omolola Salako, said that early

A typical hot air balloon Sixteen people have died after a large hot air balloon caught fire this morning and crashed in a pasture near Lockhart, Texas, according to Texas authorities and the Federal Aviation Administration said. The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call around 7:44 a.m. local time about a possible vehicle accident. The fire apparently broke out during flight in the basket portion of the hot air balloon. “Investigators are determining the number and the identities of victims at this time,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. PHOTO: Federal officials say a hot air balloon carrying at least 16 people caught on fire and crashed in Central Texas, July 30, 2016.AP Federal officials say a hot air balloon carrying at least 16 people caught on fire and crashed in Central Texas, July 30, 2016. The FAA said its investigators are on their way to the crash scene and the National Transportation Safety Board, which will be in charge of the investigation,

Crowd at One Lagos brand. Picture-Pulse,ng Kazeem Ugbodaga It was indeed a night of glamour which culminated in the official launch of ‘One Lagos’ brand by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday night. The One Lagos brand is a three-day event which kicked off on 27 July and ended on the night of 29 July at the Lagos Bar Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. Friday night was the climax of the event which witnessed arrays of musical artistes and over 20,000 fun lovers. Friday night was the grand finale and the launch of the One Lagos brand. The ‘One Lagos’ brand is meant to showcase the true spirit of Lagos through different creative expressions while leveraging on the city’s abundant soft power in an attempt to celebrate the people, places and the unique heritage of Lagos. The brand was officially launched by Ambode, who was represented by Senator Gbenga Ashafa who did the countdown before the beautiful fireworks display. Big Chef performing on stage Highly recognized

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt Over 500 people have been reportedly killed in cult clashes in two local government areas of Ahoada-East and Ahoada West of Rivers State within nine months. A study carried out by the Institute for Strategic and Developmental Studies revealed that a greater number of those who lost their lives were youths. These facts were revealed by Nngeri GoodHead Goodlife, a lawyer and former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, who carried out a study on the root causes of cult clashes and the effects in Ahoada East and Ahoada West local government areas. Goodlife, who is a member of Ahoada East and Ahoada West local government areas peace, security and reconciliation committee, lamented that the deaths that had occurred in the area had been under reported. “People die in numbers of 20s,30s…and many of them are not reported. Many of them are youths and others are prominent persons in the society”

Mr Godwin Obaseki, Gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State flanked by Governor Adams Oshiomhole (right) and Hon Philip Shaibu, the APC gubernatorial running mate at the Edo Central campaign flag-off of the APC held in Irrua, weekend. Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says people of the state will not allow the PDP loot and deplete the state’s treasury the way they depleted the nation’s treasury. He called on the people of the state to reject the PDP and its candidate in the governorship election holding on September 10. Speaking at a rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) holding at Afuze, Owan East Local Government Area, on Saturday, Oshiomhole said the nation is presently in an economic recession because the past PDP government looted the treasury dry. He said: “The people who bled the treasury are now coming to tell you, the victims, that rice is now expensive, naira has suffered devaluation. If one man took over N2 billion, in Edo alon

The kidnapped Oba, Goriola Oseni Prince Saheed Oseni, the son of the kidnapped Oba Yushau Oseni, traditional ruler of Iba town in Lagos state , on Saturday said the monarch was still in the captivity of his abductors, 14 days after. The 74-year-old monarch was abducted in his Palace in Iba ‎on July 16 at about 8 p.m. Oseni who spoke in Lagos following the rumours that his father had been released, said that the monarch was still with the kidnappers. He, however, pleaded with the kidnappers to release the traditional ruler. “Contrary to rumours making the rounds that the monarch had been released by the kidnappers, he has not been released; rather efforts are ongoing to ensure he reunites with his family members and Iba community safe and alive. “The Lagos State Government (LASG) is also working to ensure his release and everyone in the palace is not relenting in their efforts,’’ he said. Oseni who hoped the rumour could become a reality, appealed to every Nigerian to also join

Kano State Government on Saturday said 105 people were arrested and convicted by mobile courts operating under the Kano Sanitation Committee for violating the monthly environmental sanitation in the state. The defaulters paid N86,000 as fines for violating the exercise. The state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Ali Makoda, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen shortly after the exercise in Kano. He commended various self help groups for cleaning drains in the metropolis. Makoda said the commendation became necessary because they were providing the services to their communities at no cost. The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Sagir Wali, said the state government would soon introduce allowances to support the groups. He said the state government would also assist the groups with working tools to enable them discharge their duties effectively. The committee had also visited some public hospitals to ensure proper sanitary c

Dr. Adejare addressing residents of Alimosho during the sanitation exercise. Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered all local government councils in Lagos to embark on fencing of markets in the state to curb the menace constituted by street trading. Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare disclosed this while monitoring the July edition of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise held in Alimosho area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. He said the entrenched practice of leaving the market shops to trade on roads was currently causing traffic congestion around market areas in the state. “It is the governor’s directive that all markets should be fenced. For instance, I have shut Obele-Oniwahala market in Surulere in the last three days. We will fence the market and protect the infrastructure within the market. We spend millions constructing the infrastructure but residents destroy them. “Though the establishment of markets is not the state government resp

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State The National Universities Commission (NUC), has approved the establishment of the University of Africa for Bayelsa, the 43rd state university in the country. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson in Yenagoa on Saturday. According to the statement, NUC handed over the letter of approval to Gov. Dickson when he visited the commission in Abuja. It quoted Dickson as expressing gratitude to the NUC’s Executive Secretary for the warm reception accorded him and his team. “The approval of the university followed the formal presentation of relevant gazette law, academic brief, physical master-plan as well as the satisfactory report of the advisory resource assessment visit by the commission. Dickson explained that the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, was conceived as a public private partnership venture and designed as a first rate institution of learn

Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on Saturday called on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) not to contemplate any further hike in import duties. The National Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr Stanley Ezenga, made the call in an interview in Lagos. He was reacting to media reports that the Customs was planning another 10 percent increase in import duties shortly after it hiked duties by 43 percent recently. In a recent circular, the Nigeria Customs Service had directed the 43 percent hike in duties in line with government`s adoption of the flexible foreign exchange regime. Ezenga said, “Just recently, the Customs increased the import duties based on the argument that that they could no longer operate the fixed N197 to $1 following the government`s adoption of the new forex policy. “We all saw how the hike greatly affected importation and how those engaged in the business of importation ar

Dr Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kwara Chapter, has declared one of its members, Dr Abdulkareem Abdulrahman missing. Dr Victor Iroha, the Secretary of NMA in the state, announced this in a statement in Ilorin on Saturday. Iroha said Abdulraheem, a medical officer with Hospital Management Bureau, was posted to General Hospital in Omu- Aran. He said Abdulraheem had not been found since 6a.m. of Sunday July 24, 2016. “Abdulraheem drove out of his residence opposite Federal Road Safety Commission Office, GRA in his Navy blue Toyota Corolla car with registration number BWR 532 RP and had not been seen since then. “His phone has also been unreachable and there has been no trace of either him or his car”, he added in the -statement. Iroha also stated that all search efforts had so far yielded no results. He said the matter had been reported to the Police and allied security agencies. The NMA appealed to people with useful information contac

Kevin Gameiro AFP/Getty Images Atletico Madrid have signed French forward Kevin Gameiro from fellow La Liga side Sevilla for an undisclosed fee, reported to be about £28m. The 29-year-old has signed a four-year-deal and will have a medical at the club on Saturday. #WELCOMEGAMEIRO . @kevingameiro9 will wear read and white for the next four seasons! https://t.co/EXEAZmBbr0 http://pic.twitter.com/cHn1hvjFNd — Atleti English (@atletienglish) July 30, 2016 Gameiro scored 29 goals in all competitions last season, but was not selected in France’s Euro 2016 squad. He joined Sevilla from Paris St-Germain in 2013, helping the Spanish side to three successive Europa League titles.

A woman prepares a meal by a flooded road at Sildubi village, in the northeastern Indian state Indian authorities on Saturday tried to rescue thousands of people stranded in flooded villages after a week of heavy rain killed at least 52 people and uprooted tens of thousands of others from their homes in the states of Assam in the remote northeast and Bihar in the east. Twenty-six deaths have been reported in Assam, where incessant downpours have damaged roads and snapped telephone cables in several districts, a government statement said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh flew over the worst-hit areas on Saturday and said the floods were “very serious.” Twenty-six deaths also have been reported in Bihar due to drowning and home collapses in 10 districts bordering Nepal. The Bihar state government was running more than 350 relief camps providing food and other necessities to the flood victims. The federal government-run National Disaster Response Force was helping with relief efforts. V

Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi The younger sister to late Lt.-Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, Mrs. Remi Ajayi, who was with him on the day of the 1966 coup, shares her memory of what happened to the then military governor of the old Western region in an interview with TheNEWS magazine. Read the interview here: Where were you on the night that Colonel Fajuyi was killed? I was with him on the night of the incident. I was with him throughout the six months he was in the Government House in Ibadan as governor. That night, there was a cocktail party for all the Obas (monarchs) who came to Ibadan for a meeting and the Head of State, General Aguiyi Ironsi, was in attendance. I was watching them from where I was upstairs. After the meeting, everybody departed. Around 4am, I heard gunshots. It was strange to me because I had not heard gunshots before. I just closed my ears and went back to sleep. When I woke up, I went to the kitchen to greet the staff and to collect my meal. Then the staff asked if I hea

Femi Falana Human rights lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has narrated how a governor tried to bribe him with one million pounds (N405m) to launder funds abroad for him. Falana disclosed this at an anti-corruption workshop in Abuja. The revelation was contained in ALERT, the monthly magazine published by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Falana was quoted as saying that “The governor asked me to assist him in transferring money abroad, and that I should claim it to be proceeds from sale of his property in Nigeria. “And the price was extremely attractive. He was going to pay me a million pounds then, when money was money. “The governor said he had chosen me for the shady deal, because ‘nobody will suspect you.’ “I told him, ‘Your Excellency, so it is my reputation that you want to buy with your one million pounds? “Some of my colleagues thought I was stupid, but those who accepted the offer later found themselves in trouble, as they were

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana Being the speech delivered by Femi Falana SAN to mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, first military governor of Western Region at the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos) The life and times of Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi Francis Adekunle Fajuyi was born on June 26, 1926 at Ado, Ekiti. He was a clerk when he decided to join the West African Frontier Force in 1943. As a sergeant in the colonial army he was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1951 for containing a mutiny in his unit over food rations. He trained at the Eaton Hall Officer Candidate School in the United Kingdom and was commissioned in 1954. He served in the Congo where he distinguished himself and was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery in North Katanga in the Congo. Upon the completion of his service in the Congo he was appointed the first indigenous commander of the 1st Battalion in Enugu. He also served as the Garrison Commander at Abe

Sani Abacha, former Nigerian dictator Nigeria and Switzerland on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the repatriation of $321 million stashed in the European nation’s banks by the late maximum ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha. The pact also seeks to block accounts linked to stolen funds. This is the second batch of the stolen money linked to the late Abacha. Switzerland in 2005 also repatriated $722m to Nigeria. Eric Mayoraz, the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, hinted that both countries are now in the process of repatriating the looted fund. According to him, the MoU, will help to remove all the legal bottlenecks in the fund repatriation. The envoy according to The Nation spoke during the signing of MoU on Mutual Legal Assistance on criminal matters, between the Swiss government and the Federal Government in Abuja. Mayoraz noted that Friday’s event is significant in eradicating every bottleneck associated with the repatriation of stolen funds kept in his country. The am

Jibrin and Dogara: Allies Torn apart by budget padding scandal Full statement by Abdulmumin Jibrin over the press conference addressed by nine members of the Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives All the accusations they leveled against me are not in any way different from the bunch of lies contained in the shameless statement released by Speaker Dogara and the 3 other principal officers through Hon Namdas which I have fully provided response to. But to prove my innocence, I have resolved that I will respond to any accusation or allegation leveled against me, unlike the corrupt Speaker Dogara, who rather than respond to the 25 allegations I leveled against him and others, has resorted to use legal gimmicks to stall the allegations. Mr Speaker, you cannot sweep such hefty allegations under the carpet. You think Nigerians are not watching? First, only 9 out of the 40 appropriation committee members agreed to participate in such a dishonorable press conference afte

Nigerian Turkish Nile Univeristy – Library The Managing Director of Nigerian Turkish international colleges said Nigeria should disregard the request by Turkey’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hakan Cakil, to close down the schools. Orhan Kertim, in a statement said the envoy’s call contained misleading information and would not have dignified it with a response. According to Kertim, the schools have been operating in Nigeria since 1998 and as law-abiding schools they owe Nigerians a duty to expose the ulterior motives of the ambassador. “The NTIC is not a Turkish government- run institution, but a privately funded institution by a group of Turkish investors. “As a responsible organisation operating in Nigeria since 1998, we are conversant with the laws of the land’’, he added Kertim, however, said the call by Cakil “is not only baseless, but also unfounded and of poor taste.’’ The government of Turkey through Cakil had on Thursday alerted the Nigerian government on the existence of

Arsene Wenger, Arsenal manager Arsenal are interested in signing Torino full-back Bruno Peres, 26, with the club wanting £16.9m for the player. (Gazzetta World) Arsene Wenger’s side are in talks to sign Valencia’s German defender Shkodran Mustafi, 24, who has a £42.1m release clause in his contract. (Sky Sports) Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen, 24, has turned down a new contract as he wants a significant rise on his current £30,000-a-week deal. (Evening Standard) New England manager Sam Allardyce wants Leicester assistant manager Craig Shakespeare to join his backroom staff. (Daily Star) Manchester United defender Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, 19, could leave the club on loan after having discussions about his future at Old Trafford. (Manchester Evening News) Paul Pogba’s transfer to Manchester United and John Stones’ move to Manchester City are both “only a matter of time” before they happen, says Times journalist Rory Smith. (5 live in short) Everton have not made a bid

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku Chelsea have had a £57million bid for Romelu Lukaku rejected by Everton – but are confident of agreeing a deal to re-sign him this summer. The two clubs are haggling over a fee, with the Toffees holding out for a club-record £75million. But they have finally accepted the 23-year-old striker is determined to rejoin the club they bought him off two years ago. Chelsea ’s bid for Lukaku is more than double the £28m they received for him when he moved to Goodison Park in the summer of 2014. Boss Antonio Conte has already landed one Belgium international striker, £33m Michy Batshuayi from Marseille, this summer and remains confident of keeping Spain frontman Diego Costa , despite sustained interest from his former club Atletico Madrid. The fee Everton are demanding would be just short of the £78m deal which saw Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain – 29 in December – move from Napoli to fellow Serie A side Juventus this week. It would be another monster payday

Alexandre Lacazette Arsenal are ready to test Lyon’s assertion that Alexandre Lacazette is not for sale by making an improved bid for the France striker. Having failed to persuade Jamie Vardy to leave Premier League champions Leicester City, Arsene Wenger had also targeted Lacazette but had an initial 35 million euros (£29.3 million) offer rejected. Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas claimed on Thursday that Arsenal would not be returning with a new offer but the club are ready to bid around £35 million in the hope of solving their current striker shortage. Olivier Giroud will miss the start of the season after reaching the final of Euro 2016 with France and Danny Welbeck is out until at least next year, leaving Wenger increasingly likely to start the season against Liverpool with Theo Walcott, Chuba Akpom and Joel Campbell as his main senior options. Akpom and Campbell each scored in the 2-1 win against the MLS All-Stars in San Jose on Thursday night but Wenger wants to add a more