Global Naija Info

A 30-year-old, Taofeek Akintunde, who allegedly drove his truck recklessly and knocked down a motorcyclist, was on Tuesday brought before an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun. The accused, whose address is unknown, is facing a two-count charge of manslaughter and dangerous driving. The Prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Abdullahi told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 4 at 2.00 p.m. at Texaco Area of Ile-Ife. Abdullahi said the accused drove a truck with registration no. LAGOS BDG 913 XA recklessly on the public highway and killed a motorcyclist, Clement Odunewu, 29. The offences violated Section 4 of Road Traffic Act, Laws of the Federation. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty. Counsel to the accused, Mr Wole Omotosho, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms, saying he will not jump bail. Magistrate Olalekan Ijiyode granted accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum. The case was adjourned to Sept. 9 for hearing.

Yaya Toure lifting the African Cup of Nation he won with Ivory Coast Kazeem Ugbodaga Ivory Coast international, Yaya Toure on Tuesday announced his retirement from international football. The four-time CAF African Footballer of the Year, who has also been the recipient of the BBC African Player of the Year twice, released a statement on his website explaining the difficult decision to step away from playing for the Ivory Coast. According to Toure, his decision to quit international football was probably “the most difficult match of my life. After 14 years at the highest level, I’m sure this is the right time for me! The fact that I am 33 now, the intensity of training and the multitude of games are not the reasons why I am making this decision. “Football is everything to me and it gave me so much in my career that I no longer feel able to set myself new goals as a player with the Elephants of Ivory Coast. This decision I have made has come gradually, it has slowly matured in my h

Alhaji Seyoji Ahmed, the Emir of Pindiga, has decried the menace of erosion in Pindiga, Gombe State, saying that it washed away crops and farmland in the affected area. The Pandiga monarch stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Pindiga on Tuesday. According to him, erosion is a cause for serious concern in some parts of Gombe state. “We had a nasty experience this year in Pindiga community as a result of erosion, which washed our farmlands, scrapping the crops that were planted. “People had to plant it all over while others could not afford to plant again,” he said. NAN recalls that the Gombe State Government spent more than N2 billion on erosion control in 11 locations in the state. The state Ministry of Environment had been collaborating with the Ministry of Works to construct drainage and cross slabs to check the menace. The Ministry of Environment had also raised 500,000 seedlings, which were distributed to farmer groups, clubs and individuals

A 35-year-old cook, Emeka Akpama, was on Tuesday arraigned in Lagos for allegedly stealing the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card of his employer, who was away on Holy pilgrimage in Jedda. Akpama is facing a two-count charge bordering on theft at a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court. The prosecutor, Insp. Ben Ekundayo, told the court that the accused had on Sept. 1 at about 10.00a.m., stolen his employer’s Standard Chartered Bank ATM card at his residence in Lekki area of Lagos. “The cook stole the ATM card while his employer (names withheld) was away in Saudi Arabia for hajj.” He said the accused had on Sept. 2 and Sept. 3 at about 5.00 p.m. and 12.00 p.m. respectively withdrew a total of N130, 000 from his master’s account. “The master while on hajj was receiving debt alerts on his phone, so he asked his fiancee to lodge a complainant at the bank. “The bank later sent the photograph of Akpama who was captured by the camera at the ATM,” Ekundayo said. The offences contravened Sections

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed passengers not to turn on or charge their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices on board aircraft following recent incidents and concerns raised by its manufacturers. The aviation regulatory body gave the directive in a statement signed by its General Manager, Public Relations, Mr Sam Adurogboye, which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday. It warned that the phones must not be stowed away in any checked-in baggage. “NCAA is appealing to the passengers’ responsibilities in relation to ensuring safety and security of air transportation. “Importantly, all airlines are hereby advised to emphasise the prohibition of this devices on board during passenger briefings by the cabin crew. “Similarly, all those responsible for searching or screening checked-in baggage are expected to intensify the procedures to identify possible checked-in Samsung Galaxy Note 7,” it said. The NCAA reminded travellers that Sams

Flood destroyed no fewer than 4,070 houses and 13,147 farms in Cross River in August and September 2016, the state Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA) said on Tuesday. The Director-General of the agency, Mr John Inaku, gave the figures while addressing journalists in Calabar. Inaku said that 46 communities in seven local government areas were affected by the flood. According to him, the local government areas are Ikom, Etung, Obubra, Biase, Yala, Abi, and Ogoja. “From our statistics, 36 houses were destroyed by flood in six communities in Ikom, while 16 houses were destroyed by flood in five communities in Etung. “Fifty-six houses were destroyed in six communities in Obubra, 902 houses destroyed in seven communities in Biase, and 1,131 houses were destroyed in nine communities in Yala. “Also, 29 houses were destroyed by flood in four communities in Abi while 1,900 houses were destroyed in nine communities in Ogoja. “On farmlands, 221 farms were affected in Ikom, 76 in Etung,

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it had distributed 1.2 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Ondo state ahead of Nov. 26 governorship election in the state. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, made this known at a news conference in Akure on Tuesday and added that the distributed cards was as at Aug. 11, 2016. Agbaje said that a total of 331, 078 PVCs were yet to be collected by their owners. He said a total of 1, 531, 771 PVCs were received in the state before the continuous voter registration carried out in the state about two months ago. He congratulated the 30 political parties that would participate in the election for the successful conduct of their primary elections. The REC advised politicians on violent-free campaigns, saying “it is my belief that a peaceful campaign is a likely harbinger to the conduct of a peaceful election”. He said that INEC had a good relationship with all the existing political pa

The gavel of justice A 47-year-old man, Ayobami Ogundipe, was on Tuesday arraigned in Ota, Ogun, for allegedly obtaining N450,000 under false pretense. Ogundipe, who resides at No. 24, Odesanmi St., Iyana-Ilogbo, Ota, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretense. The Prosecutor, Cpl. Abdulkareem Mustapha told the court that the accused, and others still at large, committed the offences on Sept 23, 2014 at Ilasa Road, Ota. Mustapha said that the accused and his accomplices conspired among themselves to obtain N450, 000 under false pretence from one Olawoyin Tunji to sell a plot of land to him. He said that the offences contravened Sections 390(9)418 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.I Adelaja, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum. Adelaja said that the sureties must be resident within the court’

Yaya Toure Yaya Toure has been told his Manchester City career is over unless he apologises for comments made by his agent. Sky Sports reports that Pep Guardiola issued the ultimatum after he was angered by public criticism from Dimitri Seluk in the wake of Toure’s omission from City’s Champions League squad. Seluk claimed the four-time African Footballer of the Year had been left humiliated by Guardiola’s decision but said Toure would stick out the remaining year of his contract. The 33-year-old, who called time on his Ivory Coast career on Tuesday, is yet to appear for City this season. And ahead of Wednesday night’s EFL Cup tie with Swansea, Guardiola made it plain that will not change unless his terms are met.

A legal practitioner and rights activist, Mrs. Theresa Mbanifo, has cautioned against rising cases of divorce petitions in the country. Mbanifo in Dutse, Abuja, on Tuesday, said that with exceptions of abuse in marriages, spouses must learn to tolerate each other’s eccentricities. She identified the causes of divorce to include wife battering, intolerance and infidelity, among others. According to her, relevant institutions, groups and agencies must embark on campaign against causes of divorce, while sensitising couples on the need to be tolerant and patience. “For me, I expect to see less divorce cases in courts as we begin this new legal year. “In as much as it is our job to fight for or against cases like that while earning a living in the process, I plead with spouses to think thoroughly before filing such petitions. “Some of us still believe in the institution of marriage, if not, for the sake of other parties involved like the children. “I must say, it is disheartening to

The Nigeria Safe School Association (NISSA) has concluded plan to confer an honorary award on the Nigerian Army for its sacrifice in ensuring safety and security in educational institutions. Mr Dauda Rasheed, Programme Director of the association, made the statement on Tuesday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said that the award was meant to encourage the military that their efforts in promoting security was recognised and appreciated. “The award is a symbolic gesture of appreciation from education stakeholders and members of the association. “The officers and men of the Nigerian Army have been able to liberate schools from terrorists in the North-East Zone of the country due to their gallantry and sacrifice. “Their efforts in re-opening of schools in the zone and ensuring the security of staff and pupils are highly commendable,’’ he said. He noted that all the schools in the zone could have been shut down permanently if not for the joint effort

The police in Enugu has arrested no fewer than 12 suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), the state command’s spokesman, Mr Ebere Amarizu, has said. A statement signed by Amarizu and made available to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday said that the suspects were arrested during their ‘sit-at-home’ campaign at the Ogbette Main Market in Enugu. It stated that the suspects allegedly went into the market with a public address system and ordered the traders to observe a sit-at-home directive on Sept. 23. “Suspects were arrested by our operatives, as the alleged announcement was being carried out and 21 handsets were recovered from them. “Also recovered, include flags suspected to be that of the group with their insignia, public address systems, one wireless microphone,” the statement said. The statement stated that the suspects would be arraigned in court after investigation. Meanwhile, Amarizu said that the command had collaborated with other sister agencies

Resumption of plenary by the National Assembly after eights week recess failed on Tuesday following the announcement of the death of a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Elijah Oluwatayo (APC-Lagos). The aborted resumption was to mark the beginning of the second legislative year of the 8th assembly. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, while reading a letter from the family of the deceased, said that Oluwatayo died on July 20, 2016, at the age of 66. Dogara also announced the death of three former members of the House – Muhammed Useni, Alex Eze and Etim Atakpa. He said that Useni represented Makarfi Federal Constituency of Kaduna state from 1999 to 2003, while Eze represented Nsukka/Igboeze Constituency of Enugu state within the same period. He said Atakpa represented Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal constituency of Akwa Ibom from 1992 to 1993 on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention. “As a serving member is involv

Mr Thompson Osadolor, the KOWA Governorship Candidate for the Sept. 28 election in Edo, has said that he did not step down from the contest. Osadolor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Asaba that he did not step down for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu. “I am still very much in the race for the Edo governorship seat; there was no time I withdrew from the race. “I have no plan to step down for anybody and I have not told anybody that I have done that, and I will never step down,’’ he said. He told NAN that he only expressed the fact that his party’s manifesto was similar to that of the PDP. The candidate said that he remained committed to realizing his ambition and that he was confident of victory. “I am determined to see the end of it all because I know I will win the race. I have a bright chance of winning. I have campaigned across the nooks and crannies of the state; I have sold myself to the people,” he said. NAN reports tha

The Jigawa chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, called on the state government to dissolve the caretaker committees it appointed for Local Government Councils in the state. The PDP, in a statement issued in Dutse by its Publicity Secretary, Malam Musa Abdullahi, described the caretaker committees as “illegal”. The party said that the government must also conduct elections into the 27 Local Government Councils in the state. “The PDP wishes to announce its position on the illegal management of the 27 local governments of Jigawa state by caretaker committees with expired tenures.” The party said it had since gone to court to challenge the decision of the state government not to conduct elections into the councils as provided by the Constitution. It said that the suit was also “challenging the legality of forming an ad hoc arrangement called “Caretaker Committees” to run the affairs of local governments in the state.” The statement noted that the six months ten

Hajj The Chairman, Oyo State Muslim Welfare Board, Alhaji Taofeek Akewugbagold, has said that the last batch of pilgrims from the state will on Sept. 30 arrive from Saudi Arabia. Akewugbagold said this on Tuesday in a phone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan. The chairman said that the first batch of 176 pilgrims arrived the state on Tuesday around 6.00 a.m. According to him, the second batch of pilgrims from the state will arrive on Wednesday with 450 pilgrims. NAN reports that a total of 1,358 pilgrims from the state participated in this year’s Hajj operation. Akewugbagold said that the Board recorded success in the 2016 hajj operation compared to last year, adding that no casualty was recorded. He said that the state government had been very supportive, adding that this contributed to the success recorded.

A 57-year-old man, Matthew Isawumi, on Tuesday, appeared before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court over alleged assault. The prosecutor, Idoko James, told the court that the accused person committed the offence on Dec. 15, 2015, at about 11.00am in Ile-Ife, Osun. James said the accused conspired with others now at large to assault one Prince Adeleke Adedoyin Gbadebo. He said the accused used dangerous weapons such as axe, iron rod, cutlass and stick to inflict injuries on the complainant. The prosecutor also said that the accused and his alleged collaborators destroyed the windscreen of Gbadebo’s Mitsubishi vehicle registration number No. LSR 953 AS . James said the offence committed contravened sections 517, 451 and 351 of the criminal code cap 34 vol.11 Laws of Osun, 2003. The accused pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy and assault with malicious damage. Counsel to the accused, Mr Ola Babatunde, prayed the Magistrate to grant his client bail in the most liber

Rio Olympic Paralympic Games: Team Nigeria Nigerians, especially athletics buffs on Tuesday continued to commend the performance of the special athletes who participated in the just-concluded Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil achieving what the able-bodied could not. They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that they attained glory in spite of perceived discrimination and little support from corporate organisations. They also said that the special athletes should be given all the needed support to encourage them to do more in future competitions. NAN reports that the para-athletes won two gold and a bronze out of the eight gold, two silver and two bronze medals claimed by Nigeria at the Games held from Sept. 5 to Sept. 18. Taiwo Kasunmu, the Technical Director, Para-athletics Federation of Nigeria (PFN), who praised the athletes, said the medals won were through individual efforts. “These athletes won medals not because they went on tours for adequate pr

NSC Public Relations Officer, Mr Wale Adeniyi. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it seized rice worth N597.7 billion brought into the country through the borders between January 2016 and August 2016. The Public Relations Officer of the service, Mr Wale Adeniyi, made this known in Abuja on Tuesday. He said that the worth of the commodity confiscated during the period was higher when compared with N330.5 billion value of the good seized in the same period in 2015. He said that the increase in the seizures was an indication that the customs was operating zero tolerance to illegal importation of rice. Adeniyi said that the service’s rapprochement with its counterpart in the Republic of Benin also facilitated the spate of confiscation of rice along the borders between both countries. “Our seizure on rice from January to August was N597.7 billion as against N330.5 billion during the same period in 2015; this shows a huge increase. “The number of seizures from the statistics sho

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says that there is no vaccine that is clinically proven to be effective in the prevention of Lassa fever at the moment. Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Chief Executive Officer of NCDC told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that the only medical tool available to combat the disease for now was called Ribavrin. According to Ihekweazu, Ribavrin is a medicine if given early to patients who are infected with Lassa will protect, prevent death as well as further spread. He noted that early detection was key in saving affected patients with Lassa virus and protecting others. “Unlike Ebola, the good thing with Lassa is that there is a treatment available but the treatment has to be given early. “For instance, if you keep treating malaria for three weeks before testing and discovering it is Lassa, and you administer Ribavrin at the fourth week then it is unlikely that you will succeed. “But if Lassa is detected early and treatment

Prof. Nasiru Shua’ibu of Biochemical Parasitology Department, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has developed a new malaria vaccine to prevent high rate of death from malaria fever. Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria, Kaduna State on Tuesday, Shu’aibu said the new malaria vaccine was different from others currently in use. Shu’aibu, who is currently working with the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Japan, said the result of the research on the new vaccine would soon be out for Nigerians to use. “In a simple term that a layman can understand, the content of this malaria vaccine research is difficult, but let me try if I could simplify it, it is called DNA Vaccine. “It is a new technology for discovery and delivery of vaccine against any infectious disease that was developed in the early to mid 1990s. “The DNA of the malaria parasite was extracted and the portion of the DNA that is tested to be a good vaccine candidate is subjected to molecular biology method

The UN trucks attacked in Syria The UN has suspended all aid convoys in Syria after its lorries were attacked by warplanes near Aleppo on Monday. The convoy had received proper permits, and all warring parties – including Russia and the US – had been notified, a UN spokesman said. Eighteen of the 31 lorries, containing wheat, winter clothes and medical supplies, were destroyed. A senior local official of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent was among a number of civilians killed. The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, has described the attack as a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law”. The US has expressed “outrage” over the attack, which took place in the town of Urum al-Kubra hours after the Syrian army declared a US-Russian brokered truce over. Washington has said it will “reassess the future prospects for co-operation” with Russia – an ally of Syria’s government. Aid deliveries to besieged areas had been a key part of the cess

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday slammed a N350,000 bail on a banker, Lekan Idris, for allegedly crushing a car owner to death. The Magistrate, Mr A.A Adesanya, who granted bail to the accused after he pleaded not guilty, ordered him to produce two sureties in like sum. He adjourned the case till Oct.10 for mention. Idris, 33, a resident of Dalemo Area Ogun, is being tried on charges bordering on dangerous driving and causing death. The prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu told the court that the accused committed the offence on Sept.15 at No 18, Ojuelegba Str., Dalemo, Ogun. He said that the accused being the driver of a rover car, FKY 263DZ, caused the death of a 45-year-old man, Adeyemi Olalekan. Nwosu said that the accused drove his car in a dangerous and reckless manner by dozing while driving and in the process lost control and caused the death of the victim. “The accused was dozing on steering, lose control and rammed into the stationery car where the owner was loading g

Late Comrade David Ofoeyeno Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has commiserated with the state council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) over the death of their Chairman, Comrade David Ofoeyeno. In a condolence message to the family, Okowa described the deceased as a respected labour leader whose support and contributions to labour movement would be missed by all. The message signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Charles Aniagwu, was made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Asaba. Okowa also described Ofoeyeno as a friend. “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta, I mourn the demise of a friend and brother, Comrade David Ofoeyeno. “Ofoeyeno, until his death, was the Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Delta State Council and President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Delta State Council,” he said. He urged the Ofoeyeno Family to see the demise as an act of God and

Residents of Salvation Avenue in the Ajegunle, Ikorodu area of Lagos State have found the corpse of a man by the riverside. The deceased, Bolaji Waheed, was found around 1.30pm at the bank of the Itowolo River with a bottle containing a substance suspected to be poison. PUNCH Metro gathered that 52-year-old Waheed had been declared missing on Saturday after his family members could not find him. According to reports, Waheed’s dead body was found by the riverside on Monday, which caused confusion in the area. A police source said Waheed was believed to have taken the poison and plunged into the river. The matter was said to have been reported at the Owode Police Division, which took the corpse to a morgue. Relating how Waheed’s corpse was found, a resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a pastor in the area saw the corpse by the riverside and alerted the others. According to her, “Pastor Ajiboye, who has a church in our area, was the one who reported the matter at th

The Ajaokuta Steel Plant On a site four times the size of Manhattan along the banks of the Niger river, the Ajaokuta steel plant was supposed to symbolize Nigeria’s modernity and prosperity rather than its failure. Russian contractors first started building it in 1979 and estimates on how much has been spent range from $4 billion to $10 billion. The state-owned company that owns the facility calls it “the bedrock of Nigeria’s industrialization.” It’s yet to produce any steel. “It’s not about resuscitating it, it’s about developing it,” Frank Jacobs, who runs a company making wine from pineapples and heads Nigeria’s main manufacturing association, said at his office in Lagos. “If you say resuscitating, it means it was working before. It hasn’t worked. There’s nowhere a country can industrialize without steel.” Africa’s most populous country has gone from a promised land for Nigerians and foreign investors alike to one of frustrated fortunes. The decline looked complete last month w

The Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said flood had killed 18 persons and destroyed 6,637 houses in about 19 local government areas in the state. Its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Yusif Sani, said this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the agency on Tuesday in Dutse. Sani said that the incidents occurred during the current rainy season. He explained that the persons died in Gwaram, Dutse, Jahun, Gumel and Ringim local government areas of the state. The executive secretary said that the flood destroyed 141 houses in Dutse; 419 in Jahun; 525 in Hadejia, 417 in Babura; 525 in Ringim; 822 in Gumel; 529 in Malammadori and 126 in Birninkudu local government areas. According to him, the disaster also claimed 68 houses in Taura; 120 in Kazaure; 691 in Maigatari; 336 in Gagarawa; 67 in Buji; 96 in Kirikasamma; 101 in Garki; 856 in Kiyawa; 87 in Kafinhausa; 57 in Gwaram and 54 in Suletankarkar local government areas. Sani added that some of deaths were as a result o

Former President George H W Bush is reportedly voting for Hillary Clinton in November, according to a Facebook post from John F Kennedy’s niece. The post by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend – the former lieutenant governor of Maryland and daughter of Robert F Kennedy – shows her posing with George H W Bush with the caption “The President told me he is voting for Hillary!!” Townsend – writing on Facebook under the name Kathleen Hartington – has been a longtime vocal supporter of Clinton’s campaign. Jim McGrath, a Bush family spokesman, told the Guardian “The vote President Bush will cast as a private citizen in some 50 days will be just that: a private vote cast in 50 days. He is not commenting on the presidential race in the interim.” The former president made clear in May he would not endorse Donald Trump, a stance echoed by his son, former president George W Bush. At the time, Jim McGrath, a spokesman for George H W Bush told the Guardian “At age 91, President Bush is retired from polit

Google late Monday sent out invitations to an October 4 event, hinting that the Internet titan will show off a new smartphone powered by its Android mobile software. Emailed invitations revealed only the time and place for the gathering in San Francisco, the message topped by blue, red, yellow, and green dots of color. Google fired off a Twitter message with hashtag #madebygoogle and a video of what appeared to be a long rectangular search term box morphing into a silhouette of a smartphone. Industry trackers have been expecting Google in October to show off its own smartphone, showcasing the prowess of its new Nougat version of Android software. Google may stamp its latest smartphones with a “Pixel” brand instead of the “Nexus” name it has used in the past for Android smartphones it has made in collaborations with partners. A Google smartphone would be fielded as a standard to which other’s making Android devices should aspire, and would come just weeks after Apple’s began selli

Aids convoy to Syria The United Nations has suspended aid operations in Syria after a deadly attack on an aid convoy in rural Aleppo on Monday night, a UN spokesperson told CNN. “At the moment (the) aid operation remains suspended while we assess and reevaluate the situation on the ground,” the spokesperson said. An aid convoy carrying life-saving aid to 78,000 people was attacked near the Syrian city of Aleppo Monday, the United Nations and aid organizations said. Officials from the UN and US said they were “disgusted” and “outraged” by the incident, which according to the UN saw 18 of the 31 trucks in an aid convoy hit. Twelve people involved in the aid delivery were killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based organization that monitors the conflict in Syria. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks and it is unclear whether the convoy was hit by an airstrike or shelled. The Syrian Civil Defense, a volunteer EMS service, posted video of t

The Bank of Industry said on Tuesday it had set aside N10 billion this year for the Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES) Programme of the Federal Government. Malam Aliyu Umaru, North East Regional Head of the bank, made the disclosure in Maiduguri at the opening of a five-day capacity building workshop for participants under the programme. Umaru said that the bank would engage 25, 000 youths quarterly for the programme nationwide. “We had about 71, 788 applications based on the two online registration batches that we did. “Based on this, we are envisaging that we will be getting 25, 000 participants every quarter and that makes it about 100,000 participants in a year,” he said. He said that the participants were selected based on their business proposals and workability of their plans. Umaru said that the participants would be granted loans of up to N5 million to set up their businesses at the end of the training. “At the end of the training, we will determine the exact require

FILE PHOTO: Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia The Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board has confirmed the death of two pilgrims from the state in Saudi Arabia during the 2016 Hajj. The Public Relations Officer of the board, Alhaji Ibrahim Hashim, confirmed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Dutse. Hashim said the male and female pilgrims died after brief illness. He said the male faithful hailed from Birniwa Local Government Area, while the female was from Dutse Local Government Area. The spokesman said the deceased had since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites. NAN reports that no fewer than 2,369 pilgrims from the state performed the 2016 Hajj.

Students wearing Hijab Following the resumption of Lagos schools on Monday, the Lagos State Area Unit of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), issued a warning to the Tutor-Generals/Permanent Secretaries, principals and teachers, to adhere to the Appeal Court judgement granting the right to wear hijab in public schools in the state. This warning came two months after the Court of Appeal granted the right to wear hijab in all public primary and secondary schools in Lagos State, interpreting that sections 38 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees the fundamental human right of wearing hijab. Also, the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), has asked members not to direct students to remove or seize hijab. Amir of the MSSN, Lagos State, Mr. Saheed Ashafa, who gave the warning on Sunday in a statement, insisted that students should neither be punished, harassed nor victimised for wearing hijab within and outside the

Patience Jonathan First Law Associates, the solicitor to former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, has given the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC), 14 days with effect from September 18 to defreeze her accounts and tender a public apology to her. Timipa Okponipere Esq., Senior Partner, First Law Associates, in an open letter to EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, urged the Commission to leave Mrs. Jonathan alone, warned that if it refused to conform: “We shall file an action at the African Commission on Human Rights at the Gambia demanding N5 billion in exemplary and punitive damages.” The solicitor observed: “There is no established legal or political precedent for what the EFCC is currently doing to our client. How many former First Ladies in Nigeria have received the Patience Goodluck Jonathan Treatment (PGJT) to have warranted the EFCC to engage in the effrontery to freeze our client’s accounts and subject her to public opprobrium, ridicule and disgrace? This nonsense must s

Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, former governor of Katsina State Three mansions belonging to the detained ex-governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema have been seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his alleged involvement in a N74.6billion fraud. The houses will remain seized until the EFCC concludes its probe of the allegation. Shema was yesterday subjected to another round of quizzing by the commission. Operatives of the anti-graft agency on Monday stormed Katsina following preliminary interaction with the ex-governor, this led to the sealing off of the ex- governor’s houses at 1 GRA Modoji Road, Barhim Estate, Madachi Road and Makera Estate, Kirni Road by the detectives. According to a source in the EFCC who spoke with The Nation but pleaded anonymity, he said: “Our investigative team on Monday grilled the ex-governor for some hours on more contracts executed during his tenure. “Also, in line with the ongoing probe, we have placed three houses of the ex-go

Governor Adams Oshiomole Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is ready for the Sept. 28 gubernatorial elections. Oshiomhole, who spoke with State House Correspondents, said that the ruling party was also sure of victory having worked for Edo people in the past seven and half years. “We work for Edo people. There is no ward in the state that you won’t find the government’s standard projects whether it is roads, school, health centre, and water. “These are things that they have never seen for the 10 years of PDP in the state,’’ he said. He added that the state had climbed from 30th position to 2nd position in the School Certificate examination showing that the state was no longer regarded as `miracle’ centre for students. He said that before his administration came into office, public schools were dead and had to be resurrected to save the future of the children and the entire state. He said that in the past student paid their way to obt

President Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in New York called on warring leaders in South Sudan to honour the terms of the Peace Agreement they signed in Aug. 2015. A statement issued in Abuja by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said Buhari made the call at the meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on the Situation in South Sudan. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the ongoing 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71), in New York on Monday. The President described the unconditional implementation of the Agreement as the “cornerstone of peace and reconciliation” in that country. He noted that whatever reservations that might exist against the agreement, “should under no circumstances be the pretext for failure to implement the Agreement.” According to the President, it is regrettable that lack of unity and political progress in South Sudan has remained a major obstacle to peace. He, h

Col. Sani Usman, acting Director of Army Public Relations The Nigerian Army has confirmed that six civilians died Monday in Borno in an attack by remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists looking for food. This is contained a statement issued by acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman. Usman said the unfortunate incident happened when the terrorist ambushed troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE escorting commercial vehicles from Damboa to Maiduguri, at Sanda general area. According to him, three soldiers, who sustained injuries during incident had been evacuated to Maiduguri. “Consequently, another robust patrol team has been despatched to reinforce the troops, clear the general area and pursue the terrorists.‬ ‪”This unfortunate incident has brought to the fore the need for more vigilance and cooperation amongst all.‬ ‪”We would like to assure the public that we would not allow this isolated incident to thwart the peace and security commuters enjoy along the route and

Governor Adams Oshiomole Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is ready for the Sept. 28 gubernatorial elections. Oshiomhole, who spoke with State House Correspondents, said that the ruling party was also sure of victory having worked for Edo people in the past seven and half years. “We work for Edo people. There is no ward in the state that you won’t find the government’s standard projects whether it is roads, school, health centre, and water. “These are things that they have never seen for the 10 years of PDP in the state,’’ he said. He added that the state had climbed from 30th position to 2nd position in the School Certificate examination showing that the state was no longer regarded as `miracle’ centre for students. He said that before his administration came into office, public schools were dead and had to be resurrected to save the future of the children and the entire state. He said that in the past student paid their way to obt

New York bombing suspect New York and New Jersey bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami has been charged with five counts of “attempted murder of a law enforcement officer,” according to a release from the Union County, New Jersey Prosecutor’s office. Rahami is also charged with “second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon” and “second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose,” according to the release. CNN reports that bail was set at $5.2 million by state Superior Court Judge Regina Caulfield. “Convictions on first-degree criminal charges are commonly individually punishable by 10 to 20 years in state prison, while second-degree charges typically result in terms of 5 to 10 years,” per the release. Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, was taken into custody in Linden, N.J., following a shootout with police, officials said. Rahami was sought in the Saturday evening New York City bombing, which injured 29 people in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, and in an explosion in Seaside