Global Naija Info

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday received President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic who came on an official visit to the country at the State House Abuja. Photos: Sunday Aghaeze R-L;President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic inspects guards of honour during his official visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House. R-L; President Muhammadu Buhari receives the President of Republic of Benin, Mr. Patrice Talon during his official visit to the country R-L; President Muhammadu Buhari introduces the Minister of Defence, Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan Ali to Mr. Patrice Talon during the visit R-L; President Muhammadu Buhari introduces the Minister of Defence Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan Ali to Mr. Patrice Talon during the visit R-L; President Muhammadu Buhari and President Patrice Talon during the visit R-L: PRESS BRIEFING: President Muhammadu Buhari and President Patrice Talon during a press briefing at the State House President Muhammadu Buhari receives President Patrice

Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has advised Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to beware of the activities of some unlicensed International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) in Nigeria. The advice is contained in a statement made available to newsmen by CBN’s Acting Director of Communication, Mr Isaac Okorafor on Abuja Tuesday in. It stated that the warning became necessary because of the activities of some unregistered IMTOs, whose modes of operation are detrimental to the Nigerian economy. “All financial services providers in Nigeria, just as in other jurisdictions, are required to be duly licensed in order to protect both customers and the financial system as well as to ensure the credibility of financial transactions. “For the avoidance of doubt, all licensed International Money Transfer Operators, are required to remit foreign currency to their respective agent banks in Nigeria for disbursement in naira to the beneficiaries. “The foreign c

Ali Modu-Sheriff The Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday overturned the suspension of party members in Abia. This is contained in a statement jointly released to newsmen by Sheriff and his National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, in Abuja. Sheriff and his scribe described the suspension of Chidi Nwosu (Umuahia South) Emeka Ejiogu (Umuahia North) and Chukwuemeka Osoagbaka (Ikwuano) as a witch-hunt. ”The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has been drawn to the purported suspension of some of our party members by the Abia State Chapter. ”The NWC frowns at a situation where party members are being victimised because of their loyalty to the leadership at the national level. ”It is important that all organs of the party must respect party members’ wish to associate with other members irrespective of various affiliations. ”The crisis going on in the party is an internal matter and is in the process of resolution. “It is wo

Jibrin and Dogara: Allies Torn apart by budget padding scandal The All Progressives Congress (APC) has set up a panel to broker peace between feuding legislators in the ongoing budget padding controversy in the House of Representatives. The man who opened the can of worms on the underhand dealings in the Green Chamber, Rep. Abdulmumuni Jibrin, was at the APC national secretariat on Tuesday with a retinue of lawyers and aides to answer questions by the committee. The panel was set up to wade into the crisis involving the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker, Lasun Yusuf and the House Minority Leader, Leo Ogor. Decked in white brocade with cap to match, Jibrin arrived at the party’s secretariat at 2.05 p.m. in a black Land Cruiser with registration number BWA 768 AMY. National Deputy Chairman (North) of APC, Sen. Shuibu Lawal and leader of the panel, said the committee had met with Dogara separately before meeting with Jibrin. Other party stalwarts in the panel include National

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo The Economic Management Team met with top economists and financial experts in Abuja on Tuesday in continuation of its consultations towards tackling the economic recession in the country The meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had in attendance Mr Bismarck Rewane, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, Dr. Ayo Teriba, Prof Badeye Sani and Mr Bode Augusto. The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, told State House Correspondents after the meeting that the economic team was in the middle of consultations to develop a mid-term economic framework. He said the experts made presentations to the Economic Management Team on their response to the draft Medium Term Economic Framework (MTEF), which was still a consultative document. “It is part of a comprehensive consultation process that we are embarking on to make sure that we reach out to a wide spectrum of Nigerians to get a feed back in terms of how best to make

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State Jethro Ibileke/Benin ‎Abductors of two nurses at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), have demanded the payment of N17 million ransom for their release. The branch Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Austin Osigbeme, confirmed the development to journalists in Benin. The nurses, Mrs. Osemelu Lydia and Ovbiosu Bose, both said to be nursing mothers, were abducted last Wednesday at Oluku, in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State on their way home, after picking their children from school. According to Osigbeme, the abductors contacted family members of the victims and demanded N15 million and N2 million for their release. ‎ Osigbeme who disclosed that family members of the two nurses have been in pain since their abduction, disclosed that the kidnappers have started reducing the ransom money demanded. “They have not released them. They are asking for ransom. They started with N15 millio

Dr. Jide Idris, Lagos State Commissioner for Health For allegedly forgetting a towel inside a patient after surgical operation, two doctors working with a private hospital in Lagos are to face the full wrath of the law. The duo, Dr Taiwo Shogunle, 53 and Dr. Adeleke Olusegun, 43 of St. Raphael Divine Mercy Specialist Hospital at Ijede, Ikorodu, Lagos State have been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court for allegedly causing the death of their patient, Omojola Bamgboye during surgical operation. The doctors were arrested by operatives of the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos. After investigation by Inspector Monday Omoigui and his team, the doctors were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on a one count charge of felony, to wit, murder. Police prosecutor, Supol Eshiet Eshiet told the court in charge No L/28/2016 that the accused persons committed the offence between 18 and 19 December, 2015 at St. Raphael Divine Mercy Specialist Hospital, Ijede, Ikorodu, Lagos

Godwin Obaseki, APC governorship candidate for Edo State The people of Abudu in Orhiomwon Local Government Area have declared their total support for the candidacy of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the September 10 election in Edo State. Speaking at a rally of the APC in Abudu, Orhiomwon Local Government Area on Tuesday, Secretary of the Community, Mr Osakpolor Martins in a statement he read on behalf of the Odionwere of Abudu Community said: “our heart is full of gratitude to Almighty God for the way he has used your Excellency to meet the yearnings of youth and old members of this community that had hitherto been neglected over the past years by successive administrations at federal, state and local levels. “As we have always mentioned, your coming on board is God’s making to redeem the poor and neglected rural and urban communities in Edo State. Before you officially commission the multi-billion naira road projects you have

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State An Abuja-based Civil Society Organisation, Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), has called on the relevant anti-corruption agencies in the country, especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to immediately commence investigations into the alleged mismanagement of the N30 billion bailout fund given to the Kogi State Government. But the Kogi State Government denounced the allegations, saying it has only gotten N20 billion bailout so far and not from the Federal Government. The group alleged that monumental fraud and rapacious movement of cash is currently rocking the Kogi State Government. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Sadiq Jobi, EMA said the spate of the depletion of the bailout funds and other statutory funds under the Yahaya Bello’s administration, especially within the last two weeks was mind-boggling and must not be glo

Ali Modu-Sheriff The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has overruled the suspension of three stalwart of the party in Abia State. The NWC, in a statement signed by the National Chairman of the party,Sen. Ali Modu Sherriff and the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, said its attention had been drawn to the purported suspension of some party members by the Abia State Chapter, namely: Chidi Nwosu (Umuahia South), Emeka Ejiogu (Umuahia North) and Chukwuemeka Osoagbaka (Ikwuano). “The NWC frowns at a situation where party members are being victimized because of their loyalty to the leadership at the National level. “It is important that all organs of the party must respect party members’ wish to associate with other members irrespective of various affiliations. The crisis going on in the party is an internal matter and is in the process of resolution,” it stated. According to the NWC, “It is worthy to note that party members in Abia state being

The suspects during a parade in Abuja The police on Tuesday paraded a three-man gang of notorious fraudsters specializing in defrauding highly placed personalities in Abuja through threat to their lives and intimidation. The suspects identified as AbdulRahman Shuaibu, 21, Isiaku Maheed Zambuk, 47 and Hassan Haruna, 35, were arrested by the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team, (IRT) following several complaints from individuals and highly placed personalities in Abuja of serious threat to their lives, intimidation and attempts to defraud them of huge sums of money. Nigeria police spokesman, DCP Don Awunah, in a statement stated: ”The syndicate specialises in sending text messages and calling highly placed individuals such as Honourable Ministers, Senators, Governors, Captains of industry etc on phone demanding for huge sums of money or else the victims should await a grievous consequences if they failed to comply. ”Abdulrahman Shaibu, 21, who is the leader of the

Barack Obama and trump President Barack Obama offered one of his sharpest denunciations of Donald Trump to date Tuesday, declaring the Republican nominee entirely unfit to serve as president and lambasting Republicans for sticking by their nominee. The strong rebuke in the White House East Room came after Trump’s criticism of the family of a slain Muslim US soldier, along with comments that displayed apparent confusion related to the Russian incursion into Ukraine. “The Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president,” Obama said at a White House news conference with the Prime Minister of Singapore. “He keeps on proving it.” The Trump campaign responded by going after the Democratic nominee as well as the President. “Hillary Clinton has proven herself unfit to serve in any government office,” a Trump statement said, listing a number of policy concerns. “Obama-Clinton have single-handedly destabilized the Middle East, handed Iraq, Libya and Syria to ISIS, and allowed our personn

The Federal Ministry of Works said on Tuesday that three kilometres of asphalt had been removed from the ‘Long Bridge’ on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Mr Kayode Ibrahim, the Ministry’s engineer in charge of the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Section One of the expressway project, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Ibrahim, who is the Engineer Representative on the project, said that Julius Berger had completed three kilometres of work on the Lagos-bound carriageway of the bridge. He said that repairs on the damaged expansion joints were also ongoing. Ibrahim said that Julius Berger has “fully re-mobilised back to site, to begin massive rehabilitation work on the expressway”. “Julius Berger has moved new equipment and personnel to site, to speed up the work and they also now have a new asphalt plant at Ogere, in Ogun State. “Massive earth works is currently going on in some portions of section one and work is also going on the long bridge.

President Muhammadu Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari has requested the Senate to confirm nominees into positions of Chairman, Executive Commissioner, and Non-Executive Commissioners of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Mr Femi Adesina, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said Buhari made the request through a letter dated Aug. 2, sent to President of the Senate, Abubakar Bukola Saraki. The statement said Sen. Olabiyi Durojaiye (South West) was nominated as Chairman, while Mr Sunday Dare (South West) got the nod as Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management. Those nominated as Non-Executive Commissioners, according to the statement, are Aliyu Sa’idu Abubakar (North East), Clement Omeiza Baiye (North Central), Chief Okoi Ofem Obono Obla (South South), Pastor Ezekiel Yissa (North Central) and Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume (South East). “The nominations are in accordance with Section 8(1) of the Nigerian Communications Commission Act 2003,” the statement sai

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Anambra says it has arrested a 31-year-old man, Vincent Chidiebere, for allegedly peddling hard drug worth N1.78 billion. Addressing newsmen in Onitsha on Tuesday, the Commander of NDLEA in the state, Mr Sule Momodu, said that the suspect was arrested in Awka on July 28 with methamphetamine weighing 25.2kg. Momodu said that the arrest followed a tip-off that a shipment of methamphetamine would pass through Anambra from Enugu to Lagos. “Based on the information, we were able to set up a team to search certain vehicles from a particular company. “At about 11a.m. same day, we were able to intercept the vehicle carrying the substance and arrested the suspect.” Momodu, who said the substance tested positive, described the substance as “one of the most potent illicit drugs in the world which has a lot of destructive tendencies on the user.” According to him, someone under the influence of such drug can be influenced to make disastrou

The Katsina State Government has distributed 720 high breed of goats worth N104 million for distribution to women under its Women Empowerment Scheme. Alhaji Abdulkadir Nasir, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Empowerment, disclosed this on Tuesday in Katsina at the launching of the programme. He said that each of 240 women selected across the 34 local governments would be given two female goats and one male goat. The official said that the animals, which were purchased in Niger Republic, were highly reproductive and good for breeding. “Research has showed that the goats reproduce twice a year and give up to two liters of milk daily. “The goats are also insured for one year and veterinary officers will be going round in all the local governments to provide medication to the animals if the need arises,” he said. Nasir said that the animals were being given to the beneficiaries under a loan scheme and the cost was expected to be repaid after a year. He urged the bene

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Representatives The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS (Joint Campus Committee), Ogun State has called on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Honourable Yakubu Dogara to step aside following allegations of budget padding. The student body’s call for him to step down comes after former Chairman of the Appropriation Committee in the House of Reps, Abdulmumin Jibrin claimed that Dogara and other principal officers wanted him to pad the 2016 budget. In a statement signed by the Chairman, NANS (Joint Campus Committee), Ogun State. Comrade Dotun Opaleye,a.k.a. Zamora on Tuesday, the students group disclosed that it was appalled by the revelations emanating from the Federal House of Representatives on allegations bothering on the Padding of the 2016 Budget. NANS then called on anti-graft agencies to commence investigation into the matter without fear or favour, stressing that, they do not believe in the

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right), in a handshake with Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah (left) during the visit of the Togolese President to the Dangote Refinery at the Lekki Free Trade Zone. With them are President of Togo, Mr. Faure Gnassingbe (middle); President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (2nd left) and Chairman, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, Mr. Femi Otedola (right). Kazeem Ugbodaga Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday said the Dangote Refinery being developed at the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) by Africa’s richest man and business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote will surely resolve fuel supply challenge in the West African region. He said the fefinery being sited in Lagos was another confirmation that Lagos is a prime investment destination, as the project would positively change the face of oil and gas business in the West African region. Ambode, who spoke at the LFTZ during an extensive inspection

Two men, Isiaka Ibrahim and Ismaili Abdullahi – who allegedly broke into some shops at night and stole items worth thousands of naira have appeared before an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State. The duo of Ibrahim, 19, and Abdullahi, 24, is facing a two-count charge of burglary and stealing before Magistrate Bola Olagbegi-Adelabu. The accused, whose addresses and occupations are unknown, pleaded not guilty. But the prosecutor, Cpl. Mary Ajiteru insisted that the accused committed the offences sometime in April. She said the accused burgled and stole various items from more than 15 shops at Idumota on Lagos Island in the night. “The burglary and stealing took place between midnight and 4.00 a.m. “The shop owners were surprised to see that their shops had been looted when they open for business in the morning.” The offences contravened Sections 21(1), (2), (b) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The magistrate granted the accused N50,000 bail each with two res

The Nigerian Navy on Tuesday said that Operation ‘Tsare Teku’ had reduced piracy and hostage taking in the country’s waterways close to zero percent. The Director of Information, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, made the disclosure during a familiarisation visit to NAN headquarters in Abuja. Ezekobe said that there were two incidences of piracy within the first 90 days which showed that there would be a zero incidence report in the next 90 days. He said that all Naval commands had a mandate to put at least one platform to sea each day, aside the ongoing operation Tsare Teku. He said that the initiative had tremendously increased the presence of the Navy in the country’s waters. The spokesman said that there were Special Forces engaged in the fight against insurgents in the North-East that carried out specific missions. “We also have Special Forces , just like the US SEAL, engaged in the North-East, they carry out specific missions and get out,” he said. He said

Community Development Associations (CDA) in communities recently ravaged by pipeline vandals between Ikorodu in Lagos State and Sagamu in Ogun have applauded Federal Government’s deployment of security forces in the area. Some officials of the CDAs in Ikorodu on Tuesday said that the intervention of the forces had checked criminalities in the areas. The officials suggested a permanent presence of the forces for a lasting solution to the problem of pipeline vandalism. Mrs Ramat Momoh, the spokeswoman of Igba Otun CDA in Muti-Ereko, Sagamu, urged the Federal Government to do more by establishing a police station in one of the affected communities. “People are still running away from the communities and parking out for fear of reprisal by the pipeline vandals. “It is important for the government to reassure us that our safety is guaranteed with a police station built here,” she said. Momoh noted that the activities of the vandals including killings had also affected buying and selli

The Jos Zonal office of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has handled 426 cases of alleged human rights abuses in the last one year, its Coordinator, Mrs Grace Pam, has said. Pam, who paid a courtesy visit to the Jos Zonal office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Jos on Tuesday, said that most of the cases had been “effectively and conclusively tackled”. She said that the cases bordered on family issues, child abandonment, violence against women, rape, child abuse and torture. “In the course of our investigation, we found some of the cases inadmissible, others were referred to other agencies like the Public Complaints Commission, while some complainants were just advised and their matter settled,” she said. Pam said that the NHRC had also carried out several advocacy programmes and visits to enlighten members of the public on their rights and the need for them to report any abuse to the commission. She said that the commission had also organised various sessions w

Donald Trump, official Republican Presidential nominee Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has suggested that the November election could be “rigged” and branded his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton ‘the devil.’ He told a rally in Columbus, Ohio, that he had heard “more and more” that the contest would be unfair. He offered no immediate evidence. At another event he called Democratic rival Hillary Clinton “the devil”. Mr Trump has come under fire from across the political divide for remarks he made about the parents of a US Muslim soldier killed in action. On the forthcoming vote, he told supporters “I’m afraid the election is going to be rigged, I have to be honest”. He later repeated the claim on Fox News, adding “I hope the Republicans are watching closely or it’s going to be taken away from us.” Mr Trump has made similar comments before in relation to the Democratic race, suggesting the party fixed its system to favour nominee Hillary Clinton over her challenger B

Shia Muslims protesting A judicial inquiry has concluded that Nigerian troops should be prosecuted for the killing of 349 Shia Muslims in the northern city of Zaria last year. The report corroborates findings by human rights organisations on the use of “excessive force” by the army. A Nigerian army spokesman said the report was being studied. The military previously blamed the unrest on the Shia sect, which it accused of trying to assassinate army chief Gen Tukur Buratai. The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) denies those allegations. The commission has recommended steps to identify and arrest the soldiers. The IMN boycotted the commission of inquiry because it said it was denied access to Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, its leader who is still being held by police. The commission also blamed the Shia leader for failing to control his followers. Initially, the military told the BBC that it had killed no-one in Zaria, leading to accusations of a cover-up. But this official inquiry d

Boroh and three graduates Three of the ex-agitators of the Niger Delta under the Presidential Amnesty Programme have graduated with First Class Honour degrees from universities in the United Kingdom. This was stated in a statement issued by the media and communications consultant of the Amnesty Office, Mr. Owei Lakemfa, which emphasised that three of the ex-agitators made First Class from Liverpool and Bedfordshire Universities, while 19 other students under the programme completed their academic programmes with Second Class Honours Upper Division. Lakemfa noted that a total of 144 students of the Amnesty Programme successfully completed various academic programmes in 17 UK universities. He said, “Lucky Azibanagein had a First Class in Mechatronics and Robotic System Engineering from the University of Liverpool while Messrs. Torubein Fawei and Nicholas Nathaniel Goodnews made First Class in Telecommunications and Network Engineering, and Public Relations respectively, at the Univ