Global Naija Info

A New York policeman outside the mosque where an Imam and his assistant were killed Two men, including an imam, were gunned down and killed Saturday near a mosque in New York City, police said. A lone gunman shot both men in the head, police said, but nothing so far indicates that the men were targeted because of their faith. The suspect is still at large, police said, and no motive was given. The shooting took place on a very busy street about a block from the al-Furqan Masjid Mosque in the Ozone Park neighborhood of Queen, N.Y.

Stepanova Russian whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova has had the account that shows details of her location hacked, the World Anti-Doping Agency has confirmed. Stepanova is in hiding after helping to expose Russian state-sponsored doping. Wada, which had been alerted that its website had been hacked, found the 800m runner’s account had been accessed by someone other than the athlete. “Wada is in contact with the relevant law enforcement authorities,” a statement said. Wada’s Anti-Doping Administration & Management System (ADAMS) allows athletes to enter information about their whereabouts from anywhere in the world to help the agency co-ordinate testing. “Through regular security monitoring of ADAMS, the agency noted that someone, other than Ms Stepanova, had accessed her account,” said the statement. “A subsequent investigation allowed the agency to determine that no other athlete accounts on ADAMS have been accessed.” Stepanova and her husband Vitaly, a former Russian anti-d

Yakubu Dogara The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Saturday restated that no money was misappropriated, stolen or lost in the 2016 budget. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan. The statement insisted that there was no act of corruption by the speaker during and after the preparation of the 2016 budget. It quoted Dogara as urging Nigerians to be vigilant with respect to the execution of the budget “to ensure that they are not short-changed’’. It said that the speaker had denied the allegations against him by Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin, describing them as false and baseless. “They are fictional and scandalous, untruths and falsehoods which will be dealt with at the appropriate time. “I wish to appeal to the public for patience as the truth which will vindicate the innocent in this unfortunate saga will unfold sooner than later,’’ the statement further quoted him as saying.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday night praised the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian soccer team to the Olympics Games, which saw them flying over Denmark 2-0 to qualify for the semi-finals. A statement by Mr Femi Adesina, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said an elated President Buhari urged the Dream Team to go for gold in the football tournament. “Again and again, the unconquerable Nigerian spirit has come to the fore, showing that where there is a will, there’s always a way. This was a team that was not given much chance, but which has now advanced into the semi-finals. “Go for it. Go for the gold, and let the Nigerian banner be held proudly aloft once again on the global stage. We are almost there. Let’s go.” President Buhari enjoined the Nigerian nation to pray and support the Nigerian contingent to the Olympics, “especially the soccer team, so that the rest of the world will know that even in the face of economic adversity, the Nigerian spirit

Manchester City players celebrate a goal Pep Guardiola needed a late Paddy McNair own goal to make a winning start at Manchester City as David Moyes lost his first game as Sunderland manager. Sergio Aguero’s penalty, after Raheem Sterling was fouled by Patrick van Aanholt, gave City an early lead. But Guardiola, who left England keeper Joe Hart out of his starting XI, saw his new side concede to Jermain Defoe. City made few chances, but snatched an 87th-minute winner when debutant McNair headed into his own net. Pep Guardiola, seen giving encouragement to Kevin de Bruyne, watched his side claim 77% of the possession against Sunderland It had been 195 days since City announced Guardiola would succeed Manuel Pellegrini at Etihad Stadium, and results stagnated during that period, with five wins from last season’s final 15 Premier League games leading to a fourth-placed finish. Guardiola, 45, arrived in Manchester with six league championships to his name – three each from his spel

Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said no fewer than 18 persons lost their lives and property worth over N700 million destroyed by flood in Kano state in the past two weeks. This is contained in a statement by the North-West Zonal Coordinator of the agency, Alhaji Musa Ilallah in Kano on Saturday. According to the statement, the massive flood ravaged the 22 local government areas of the state. It said that properties, including houses and farmlands were lost to the floods by no fewer than 1000 persons. “The worst affected local government areas are Shanono, Bagwai, Kiru with 749 victims and N347million worth of properties damaged. “The other areas affected are Rano, Kibiya, Bunkure, Gabasawa, Dawakin Tofa, Kano Municipal, Danbatta and Takai. “Others are Dawakin Kudu, Karaye, Rogo, Kura, Wudil, Bichi, Sumaila, Garun Mallam, Ungoggo, Bebeji and Warawa,” it said. The agency said that it collaborated with the State Emergency Mana

Nigeria have qualified for the semi finals of the male football event of the ongoing Rio Olympic games by beating Denmark 2-0. The Dream Team this night put up a brilliant performance to beat Denmark. Nigeria will now play Germany in the semi-final. Details later.

The President of the Interim Committee of PMAN, Mr. Pretty Okafor, and some members of his executive committee on Friday paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in his office in Abuja. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has endorsed the use of barcode in Nigerian movies and music as a measure to protect intellectual properties from undue exploitation. The Minister, who was responding to a request to that effect by the Caretaker Committee of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja on Friday, advised the Association to also liaise with the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and other regulatory bodies to ensure the success of the new measure. “You asked that we make a declaration making it illegal for NTA, FRCN and other radio and television stations from using any music or movi

Fidel Castro Fidel Castro has written a long letter thanking Cubans for their support on his 90th birthday and once again criticizing President Barack Obama. In the letter in state media Saturday, Castro relays “my deepest gratitude for demonstrations of respect, greetings and praise that I’ve received in recent days, which give me strength to reciprocate with ideas that I will send to party militants and relevant organizations.” Castro accompanies his thanks with reminiscences about his childhood and youth. He returns at the end to a critique of Obama, who appeared to anger the revolutionary leader with a March trip to Cuba in which he called for Cubans to look toward the future. Castro also criticizes Obama for not apologizing to Japan during a trip to Hiroshima in May.

Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo The wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, has appealed to organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support to the needy and malnourished children in the country. Osinbajo made the appeal at the launch of the “Get Involved” Initiative to prevent annual death of thousands of malnourished Nigerian children in the internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Lagos on Saturday. According to her, the gesture can be in form of material items. The wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, launched the ‘Get Involved’ initiative at the State House, Abuja on July 21. The programme is a major component of her “Future Assured”, pet project to tackle malnutrition. Osinbajo said that women and children were the most vulnerable, and stressed the need to invest in providing succour to the IDPs in the country. “We are appealing to all Nigerians to get involved in providing humanitarian support for these needy and malnourished children in the country, especially

Bayo Onanuga The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, said the agency was being repositioned to meet global standard and be able to cope with the industry’s challenges. Onanuga stated this on Saturday in Kaduna while addressing members of staff of the agency in the North-West zone. He said that his mission in NAN as the chief executive was to restore the agency to its position as the major news provider that broke the news first. He said that the world had gone digital and that NAN must be reposition in that direction to meet local and global demand on it for quality and reliable services. Onanuga pointed out that there was currently a high competition in the information business as everybody had become a newsmaker and publishers. He assured that management of the agency would equip staff with necessary tools to ensure efficiency, adding that he was in the zone to intimate the staff on the new direction of the agency. The managing director des

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State The Police, Taraba Command, on Saturday presented to newsmen 142 cows and 26 sheep it recovered from suspected cattle rustlers in Serti, Gashaka Council Area of the state. The State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Yakubu Babas, told newsmen in Jalingo that the animals were intercepted in collaboration with Tabital Pulaaku Vigilance Group. According to him, the police recovered the animals after a gun battle with the suspected cattle rustlers. “On the receipt of the intelligence information, a team of policemen with vigilantes were drafted to the area. “On sighting our men, the rustlers engaged them in a shootout but due to the superior power of my men, they took to their heels abandoning 142 cows and 26 sheep. “The recovered animals are now in police custody and three people have so far identified some of the animals to be their own,” Babas said. The commissioner advised genuine owners of the animals to visit the command with proof of ownersh

Navy authorities at NNS DELTA, Warri, on Saturday said two middle-aged men suspected to be involved in the series of attacks on oil installations belonging to Chevron in Delta had been nabbed. Commander of the Naval Base in the oil city, Commodore Joseph Dzunve, told newsmen that the suspects were apprehended in Sapele area of the state following a tip-off. Dzunve said that the attacks on the oil facilities located in Warri North Local Government Area were carried out between May, 2016 and July, 2016. He added that the suspects were already providing the authorities with useful information that could assist in arresting other members of the group. ”Today, I am pleased to inform you that after persistent efforts, the NNS DELTA, being part of the maritime component of the Operation Delta Safe, has arrested two suspects responsible for the attack on Chevron facilities. ”They were deeply involved in various forms of crimes, including pipeline vandalism and sea robberies along the wate

Adama Diomande (number 20, left) was awarded Hull’s opening goal, the first of the new Premier League season, although Abel Hernandez (right) also got a touch Source; BBC Leicester’s defence of their Premier League title began with a shock defeat at newly promoted Hull, who are managerless and relegation favourites. Under caretaker boss Mike Phelan, Hull took the lead when Adama Diomande and Abel Hernandez combined acrobatically, with Diomande awarded the goal. Riyad Mahrez replied from the penalty spot at the start of the second half after Demarai Gray had been fouled. But Robert Snodgrass earned the Tigers victory after a cross was not cleared. Danny Simpson’s clearance from Ahmed Elmohamady’s ball into the area only found Snodgrass on the edge of the box, and he drilled home. It is the first time the reigning English champions have started the season with a defeat since 1989, when Arsenal lost at Manchester United. The Foxes’ title success was built on a solid defence and i

Michael Phelps bidding the sport he loved most bye-bye No means no. No amount of cajoling, arm-twisting and pleading by his team mates and swimming fans around the world will make Michael Phelps change his mind about retiring after the Rio Olympics. The great American swimmer made that abundantly clear on Friday after winning the 27th Olympic medal of his career, a three-way dead-heat silver in the men’s 100 meters butterfly. “No,” he said as the question was still leaving the journalist’s lips, a succession of further ‘no’s following in close succession. “Done. (South African co-silver medalist) Chad (Le Clos) asked me in the award area and the Dwyers were chanting ‘four more years’. “They did the same thing in London. The 800 free relay guys said four more years … No. I am NOT going four more years. “And I’m standing by that,” he insisted. “I’ve been able to do everything I’ve ever put my mind to in this sport. And 24 years in the sport. I’m happy with how things finished.”

Dr Idiat Adebule, Deputy Governor, Lagos State. The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, on Saturday called for intensified collaborative efforts among African countries in their struggle for the full emancipation of women. Adebule made the call at the South Africa’s National Women’s Day Celebration in Lagos organised by the South African High Commission in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA). The theme of the programme was : ‘Women United in Moving South Africa Forward – Women United as Agents of Socio-Economic Development. She said there was the need to achieve effective synergy to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goal Five which is about the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women in Africa According to her, women need to be treated with honour and dignity. “Women are still being discriminated against in many countries. They are still not well represented in the political and most decision

Actor Robert De Niro talks to reporters and film professionals during “Coffee with…” event during the 22nd Sarajevo Film Festival in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, August 13, 2016. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic U.S. actor and producer Robert De Niro said on Saturday that U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump should not run for president because he was “totally nuts”. Trump, a billionaire businessman seeking his first public office, has courted controversy with a string of inflammatory statements about his main opponent Hillary Clinton, guns, Mexicans, Muslims and war veterans, among others. De Niro made the comments to a Sarajevo audience as he presented a digital version of Martin Scorsese’s film “Taxi Driver”, in which he starred, to mark its 40th anniversary, reports Reuters. “I don’t know, it’s crazy that people like Donald Trump …, he shouldn’t even be where he is, so God help us,” De Niro said to wide applause in the Sarajevo National Theater. “What he’s been saying i

Motorists on a bad portion of the Benin-Auchi Highway, Benin. The Federal Government has mobilised back to site Reynod Construction Company (RCC), the contractor handling the dualization of the Benin/Ehor section of the Benin/Auchi/Okene highway. It would be recalled that the company that started the dualization work on the highway in 2012, moved out of site late 2014 due to non-payment. Mr Denis Orji, the Federal Controller of Works, confirmed this in Benin on Saturday. Orji said the mobilisation of RCC back to site has seen more than 300 workers that were laid off after they closed site in 2014, reabsorbed. The controller said the first task before the construction company was to see that the potholes and failed sections of the highway are made motorable. “Though their scheduled is between Benin/Ehor section of the road, but they are to ensure that the section up to Iruekpen is passable by carrying out maintenance work. “If you go through the road as we speak, you will see t

NSCDC operatives Dr Muhammad Fari, Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Yobe, said the command had adopted special measures to check violence against women and children in the state. Fari stated this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Saturday. According to him, the command will intensify its activities to protect women, young girls, boys and elderly persons against violence and abuse. “The command will work assiduously in all the 17 local government areas to ensure that the rights of these vulnerable groups are protected against abuse. “The command will also ensure that women and children relocating to the liberated communities are fully protected from violence and abuse,” he said. Fari said that the command had already deployed personnel to areas liberated from Boko Haram to complement the restoration of civil authority in these areas. “The vulnerable group needs assurance of security to their personal safety in these communitie

Pastor Uguru Usani, Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs . The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs said Akwa Ibom Government and Mobil Company have agreed to collaborate to complete the ongoing skill acquisition centre at Owuochang, Ibeno, Local Government Area. The Minister, Pastor Uguru Usani, disclosed this on Saturday in Ibeno, while inspecting the skill acquisition centre. The Ministry in 2008 had initiated the Skills Acquisition Centres in nine states namely: Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Ondo, Imo and Abia. He said the skill acquisation centres were designed to equip and empower the youths in the region with relevant skills and help them start their own ventures after the completion of the programme. “Our skills acquisition centre is designed for the purpose of engaging the minds of our youth, which is very critical. . “These trainees will be engaged in under water wielding and others fields in oil and gas sector, while those who wish to set up th

Hajj The Kano State Government has transported the first batch of 486 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2016 Hajj. The pilgrims left the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on board a Max Air Boeing 747 aircraft on Friday night. The pilgrims were from six Local Government Areas of the state which are: Ajingi, Warawa, Garko, Gaya, Sumaila and Wudil. Addressing the pilgrims before their departure, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje advised the pilgrims to avoid acts capable of denting the image of the state and the country. He also advised them against taking any prohibited items to the Holy land as the Saudi authorities would not hesitate to prosecute any of them, who violate its laws. He also urged them to ensure strict adherence to the laws of Saudi Arabia while in the Holy land. The governor urged the pilgrims to pray for the state and the country, urging them to avoid unnecessary spending. “Let me use this opportunity to call on you to pray for our country to overco

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai Arrangements are on to formally receive and honour the Green Beret Football Club which recently excelled in the Nationwide League One (NLO), the Nigerian Army said on Saturday. Col. Sani Usman, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, in a statement in Abuja said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has already congratulated the club. “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has congratulated the team for this unprecedented feat. “To further encourage them, arrangements are at top gear to formally receive and honour the team by the Nigerian Army. “Congratulations to the Green Beret FC and all the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army,” he said. The Green Beret FC, owned by the Nigerian Army, had on Friday in Ibadan emerged as champions of NLO Division Two. The club has thus gained promotion to the NLO Division One.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State The Enugu State Government has dissolved the board of the State Water Corporation with immediate effect, Commissioner for Information, Dr. Godwin Udeuhele has said. Udeuhele announced this on Saturday in Enugu while briefing Government House correspondents on the outcome of the state executive council meeting held Friday night. The council also sacked the Managing Director of the Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (ENRUWASA) who was alleged to have failed to provide potable water to residents of the state. The commissioner said that the state government had to take the decisions as a result of the continued abysmal performance of the water corporation. He said that the state government frowned at the inefficiency of the corporation, which had resulted to perennial scarcity of potable water in the state and had put residents in dire needs. He said that the commissioner for water resources has been ordered to restructure

Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation. The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has described the late former Minister of transport, Mr. Ojo Maduekwe, as a polished man and an embodiment of humility. Amaechi said this at the night of tributes organised by the ministry of transportation and the family of the late former minister in Abuja. He stressed that Maduekwe when he served as the minister of transport, brought his intellect to bear on solving pressing problems of national development. According to him, Maduekwe has transited from our mortal environment and his soul has returned to his maker. “To sum up what the late hero meant to me in a few words is really difficult. The thought that a polished, disciplined human being and an embodiment of humility like Ojo Maduekwe has joined the saints above, brought to my heart a combination of grief and gratitude, I said grief because we have lost a colossus, a patriot and a compassionate leader. “We are also grate

Col-Sani-Kukasheka-Usman Troops of 35 Battalion, 1 Brigade Nigerian Army on Friday killed a suspected cattle rustler and armed bandits on Tsambe-Fafare road, Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. This is contained in a statement issued by Col.Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations on Saturday in Abuja. He said the troop were in a joint patrol with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Katsina State, under operation “SHARAN DAJI” He said the operation followed information received from well patriotic citizens that three gunmen were sighted on motorcycles in the area. Usman said that the team swung into action and pursued the suspected armed bandits towards Dumburu forest in Zamfara. The spokesman said during the encounter, the team killed one of the suspected cattle rustlers and armed bandits, while the other two escaped with gunshot wounds. He said that items recovered included an AK-47 rifle with registration number 1985PS6288, additional AK-47

Late Ayodele Adu The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on economic matters, deployed to the Vice-President office, Ayodele Adu, has died in an Indian hospital on Friday. The Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, confirmed the death of the Presidential aide in a condolence message issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Olayinka Oyebode. Fayemi, who expressed shock and sadness, described Adu’s death as a personal loss to him and a major loss to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigeria in general. The minister stated that the deceased, who served as a board member of the Fountain Company Limited of the Ekiti state government when he was governor of the state, was a man of courage, character and conviction. “He was a distinguished Nigerian, an honourable Ekiti man, who through hard work and determination worked his way to the top of his professional calling and left marks of excellence on every assignment he undertook,” Fayemi was

Pope Francis: showing love were there was none Pope Francis on Friday surprised 20 former prostitutes by popping in for a surprise visit at their safe house in Rome. The women who had been rescued from their pimps were given shelter and protection at an apartment run by a Catholic charity in Italy’s capital. The pontiff took his time to chat with the women, some of which were trafficked from Africa and elsewhere in Europe, for more than an hour. The 79-year-old cleric has repeatedly described human trafficking as a “crime against humanity”. The Pope sat down with the women, including seven Nigerians, six Romanians and four Albanians, and listened to their stories of forced prostitution, the Vatican said. The other three in the group came from Italy, Tunisia and the Ukraine. The Vatican also stated that the women were all aged about 30 and had “suffered serious physical abuse” and now lived under protection. Most times, these women are promised jobs, once the traffickers bring