Global Naija Info

Madrid players celebrate one of their goals Gareth Bale scored his first Champions League goal since 2014 as holders Real Madrid comfortably beat Legia Warsaw. Moments after Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe had struck the post for the visitors, Bale cut inside and found the bottom corner. A Marcelo shot saw Tomasz Jodlowiec deflect in for an own goal but Miroslav Radovic pulled one back from the spot. Marco Asensio smartly side-footed in from 18 yards, and after the break substitutes Lucas Vazquez and Alvaro Morata completed the scoring. Cristiano Ronaldo was on target as Zinedine Zidane’s side won 6-1 at Real Betis on Saturday but he remains stuck on 98 goals in Europe despite having nine shots at the Bernabeu, finding the target twice. Ahead of kick-off in Madrid, three Polish fans were arrested for incidents in the city. The reverse fixture on 2 November will be played behind closed doors after Legia were punished for racist behaviour in their 6-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund. Zidane admitte...

Leicester City scored the only goal of the match Leicester City stand one victory away from qualification for the Champions League knockout phase after beating Copenhagen at the King Power Stadium to make it three wins from three in their group. Riyad Mahrez steered in Islam Slimani’s knockdown from close range five minutes before half-time time as the Premier League champions left their domestic struggles behind to remain firmly on course to top Group G. Leicester’s win was not without its anxious moments, with former Cardiff City striker Andreas Cornelius heading inches wide moments after the Foxes had taken the lead. And it took a brilliant one-handed save from goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in the closing minutes to thwart Cornelius again and maintain Leicester’s unblemished defensive record in this season’s Champions League. Leicester can now secure a place in the last 16 with a win in Denmark on 2 November, having already guaranteed at least a Europa League spot. When Leices...

Ken-wiwa jnr There are indications that Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr, the son of late environmental rights activist, has died. According to the Punch, it was gathered that Saro-Wiwa Jr, who was based in Abuja, died on ‎Tuesday after a brief illness. Born in 1968, ‎Saro-Wiwa Junior was an international journalist and an author and later served in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Former President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, Mr. Ledum Mitee, told the Punch that he was still shocked over the news of Saro-Wiwa Jr’s death. “Somebody just called me to tell me that he is dead, but I am still in shock and have not been able to confirm it,” Mitee said. Also, the Media Adviser to MOSOP, Mr. Bari-ara Kpalap, expressed shock over the news of Saro-Wiwa Jr’s death. Kpalap also said though a source called to alert him of the development, he had yet to confirm it.

Diop nicknamed ‘Yekini’ Yahya Diop is Senegalese ‘man-mountain’ wrestler who goes by the nickname ‘Yekini’. The fear of Diop is the beginning of wisdom as sight of him alone will make his opponent to pee in his underwear. For 15 years, he has been the king of the wrestling arena and now, he has thrown in the towel. Media in Senegal have been paying tribute to Diop, who has announced his retirement from the sport. Wrestling is one of the most popular sports in Senegal. The 42-year-old held the title of “king of the Arena” for 15 years before being beaten by the younger Balla Gaye 2. He said that after 24 years in wrestling, he thought this was the right time to retire. He went by the name Yekini, in reference to the late Nigerian footballer, whose Yoruba name signified “strength and winner spirit”. In the course of his professional career and his 22 fights, he won 19 times, lost twice and had one draw in Senegalese traditional wrestling. He was also a member of the Senegalese n...

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has written a stinging critique of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari in the New York Times. She starts off by saying that she welcomed his election in 2015, especially as it signalled a peaceful and democratic transfer of power. But that optimism is now gone and she says Mr Buhari missed his chance to change Nigeria. Ms Adichie attacks his initial policy of trying to support the currency, the naira, in the face of the overwhelming pressure for it to be devalued. She is also critical of the attempt to ban the import of certain goods. “His intentions, good as they well might be, are rooted in an outdated economic model and an infantile view of Nigerians. For him, it seems, patriotism is not a voluntary and flexible thing, with room for dissent, but a martial enterprise: to obey without questioning,” she said. She also discusses the insecurity in the country and the perception in the south of the country “that h...

US President Barack Obama US President Barack Obama has told Donald Trump to “stop whining” following his claims that next month’s election will be rigged. He said Mr Trump’s attempt to discredit a poll before it has even taken place is “unprecedented” for a US presidential candidate. Also “unprecedented”, said Mr Obama, was the Republican candidate’s “flattery” of Russia’s president. Mr Trump is facing sinking poll numbers and accusations of sexual assault. The businessman-turned-politician has claimed the 8 November election will be “absolutely rigged” for Hillary Clinton. But in a White House Rose Garden news conference alongside visiting Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Tuesday, Mr Obama said his assertions were “based on no facts”. “I’d advise Mr Trump to stop whining and try to make his case to get votes,” Mr Obama said. “By the way,” he added, “doesn’t really show the kind of leadership and toughness that you want out of a president, if you start whining before th...

R-L: Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare; Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Engr. Adeyemi Abidemi during a Press briefing on the State Government’s position on the demolition of illegal structures under high tensions and river banks in the State, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday. Kazeem Ugbodaga The Lagos State Government on Tuesday clarified its decision to demolish illegal structures and shanties erected along the river banks and under high tension cables across the State, citing security concerns and flagrant abuse of its building regulations as its core reasons. Addressing journalists at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said that the move was in line wit...

L-R: Project Coordinator, Ewuro Project, Mr. Ayoola Jolayemi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Folasade Adesoye; Commissioner for WAPA, Hon. Lola Akande; Producer of Ewuro, Mr. Tim Godferey; Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Habib Aruna and Director, Child Development Department, Ministry of WAPA, Mrs. Alaba Fadairo during a Press briefing on the Ewuro Play Project to aid sensitization on Violence against Women, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday. Kazeem Ugbodaga With increasing wave of violence against women in the state, the Lagos State Government is set to stage this year’s Ewuro drama project in December to draw attention to the plight of women in the state. The focus of the Ewuro project is using the arts, music, drama and poetry to engage the audience and reawaken the minds of Nigerians to the true plight of the Nigerian women. At a news conference on Tuesday at the Lago...

The Federal Government has appointed two new Directors for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). FAAN’s Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, in a statement on Tuesday, gave the names of the new appointees as Mrs Nike Aboderin and Mr Sadiku Rafindadi. NAN reports that the government had recently sacked some of FAAN’s directors as part of efforts to restructure the agency. Yakubu said that Aboderin was appointed Director of Finance and Accounts, while Rafindadi was appointed as Director of Commercial & Business Development. She said: “Aboderin is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB). She holds an M.Sc degree in Banking and Finance of the University of Lagos. “Her over 23years experience in the financial services industry exposed her to both public and private exploits at different institutions including multinationals. “She is an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) graduate of Lagos Business School and also ho...

Former Delta State governor, James Ibori, was convicted for corruption in the UK The entire world is fighting economic and financial corruption, but with less efforts to eradicate moral corruption, which is the root of all corruption. The level of corruption in the world today is caused by evil desires. And corruption destroys, whether it is moral, economic or financial corruption, it makes a nation poor, kills hard word, hinders progress and gives bad name to a person or a nation. Decency is now a thing of the past because morality has gone out of the window. The shamelessness in this generation and perverted morals are appalling. Moral corruption will always bring down the judgment of God on the earth, every religion believes in this. It is a pity that mankind as a whole has increasingly degenerated into morally corrupt society. It is quite unfortunate we are living in a world where wrong is right. Even the society helps us to be what we are. And in turn all that we do affects the...

Nigeria-police The Adamawa Police Command arrested 11 robbery suspects terrorizing travellers on major highways in the state, Mr Musa Kimo, state Commissioner of Police, said on Tuesday in Yola. Kimo who was addressing newsmen said the robbers were arrested in separate operations on Numan- Lafiya and Ngurore–Mayo- Belwa roads. He said that exhibits recovered from the suspects included three single barrel guns, one locally made pistol with four rounds of ammunitions, two sharp cutlasses, three machetes, one laptop and three handsets. The commissioner, who assumed office three weeks ago, reiterated his commitment to rid the state of bad elements. “I pledged that my ultimate vision is to ensure that Adamawa is safe and secure, and above all, for its citizens to live peacefully with each other devoid of rancour and acrimony. “It is on this premise that the command re-strategised its operations by putting in place measures to confront head-on all crimes and criminalities in the stat...

Usain Bolt The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has nominated Usain Bolt, Wayde Van Nierkerk, David Rudisha and others ahead of the IAAF Award Night in Monaco on Dec. 2. This is contained in a statement on Tuesday by IAAF Communications Department. It said that this week marked the opening of the voting process for the 2016 World Athletes of the Year. The list of nominees included 10 men and 10 women who were selected by an international panel of athletics experts. The nominees for 2016 World Athlete in the men category are: Usain Bolt of Jamaica, Thiago Braz da Silva of Brazil, Ashton Eaton of U.S.A, Mo Farah of Great Britain. Others are Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, Conselsus Kipruto and David Rudisha, Omar McLeod of Jamaica, Christian Taylor of U.S.A and Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa. In the women’s category are Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana, Ruth Beitia of Spain, Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya, Kendra Harrison of U.S.A, Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia and Bahrain’...

The gavel of justice A 25-year-old man, Adeyemi Bamgbola, was on Tuesday charged before an Ota Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ogun for alleged breach of peace. Bamgbola, who resides at No. 26 Ogunsanya St., Iyana-Iyesi, Ota, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, breach of peace, assault and unlawful extortion of money. The Prosecutor, Sgt.Chudu Gbesi told the court that the accused and others still at large committed the offences on Sept.16 at about 11 p.m at Joju, Ota. Gbesi said the accused and his accomplices conspired to cause a breach of peace by assaulting motorists who refused to give them money. The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 89(b) subsection 1(a) (b) and 516 of the Criminal Code Vol.1, Laws of Ogun, 2006. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Senior Magistrate, Mr S.O. Banwo granted the accused bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum. He said the sureties must reside within the jurisdiction of the ...

Some former players of Ibadan league side, 3SC, and the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Tuesday lamented the killing of Izu Joseph. Joseph, a defender with the Ibadan-based Oluyole Warriors, was reportedly shot on Sunday at Okaki, Rivers, by a member of the Joint Task Force ensuring security in the Niger Delta region. Former international, Felix Owolabi, described the death of Joseph as a sad development in a civilized society. “It is a sad development that the player was killed the way it was reported; now the club and the family have been denied his services when they need him the most. “At a time like this when we are just celebrating the release of the Chibok girls, something tragic happened again and Joseph was killed in a hale of bullets. “I just wish the family and the club, 3SC, the fortitude to be able to bear the irreparable loss,” Owolabi, popularly called Owoblow said. Joseph, who recently sat on the bench when 3SC played against Abia Warriors at Umuh...

Pretoria The Nigeria Union in Pretoria has confirmed that two Nigerians residing in South Africa have been killed this month. The Secretary of the union, Mr Adetola Olubajo, said in Pretoria on Tuesday that the first victim, one Adeniyi Olumoko, a petty trader, was stabbed to death on Oct.7. Olubajo said that Olumoko, 37, an indigene of Ogun, was killed at Marabastard in Pretoria by a South African, who forcefully took the victim’s goods without paying. He cited witnesses as saying that Olumoko was left bleeding for up to five hours because para-medics could not show up to attend to him. The secretary said that the killing had been reported to the Central Police Station in Pretoria and Nigerian Mission in South Africa. Olubajo said that another Nigerian, Christian Onwukaike, was also shot dead by assailants at Empangeni in the North Coast area of Kwazulu Natal on Oct.16. He said that reports from the union`s chapter in the province, indicated that the assailants shot the victi...

FILE PHOTO: A police patrol vehicle The Kaduna State Police Command, on Tuesday, said it had deployed two additional units of mobile police personnel to restore peace in Godogodo. The command’s Public Relation Officer, ASP Aliyu Usman told the News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] in Kaduna that the personnel were mandated to hunt down perpetrators of the crisis. Usman said policemen were also deployed to Kafanchan and environs to forestall any reprisal attack. He said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Sanusi Lemu had undertaken an assessment tour of the area. “The CP also accompanied the Kaduna State Deputy Governor to pay condolence visits to relatives of the deceased and the Chiefdom.” He said that the visit was part of efforts to boost the morale of police personnel deployed to enhance security of lives and property. Usman said the Area Commander, Kafanchan, ACP John Yusuf, has initiated dialogue with various stakeholders involved in the conflict, to find lasting soluti...

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has advised youths to imbibe peace, tolerance and reconciliation to curb ethnic, religious and social strife in the country. Ugwuanyi gave the advice when he received the executive members of the Student Christian Movement of Nigeria (SCM), during a courtesy visit to him in Enugu on Tuesday. “As a government, we will continue to demonstrate our commitment toward building a new foundation for our children through expansive youths development policies, programs and enactment of quality legislation. “One such concrete commitment by my administration is the passage and signing into law of the Enugu State Child Rights Act”, he said. The governor lauded the movement for the significant milestones it had recorded in its 75 years of existence which he said stemmed from their dogged commitment to the founder’s noble goals. He commended their decision to hold its 25thAnniversary in Enugu, describing the gesture...

Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State The Jigawa Government has reinstated the suspended Caretaker Committee Chairman of Sule Tankarkar Local Government, Alhaji Nasidi Abdullahi. This is contained in a statement issued by Malam Najib Umar, Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Local Government Affairs on Tuesday in Dutse. The state government had on July 22 suspended Abdullahi and Malam Muhammad Abubakar, both political office holders, as a result of a misunderstanding between them. Subsequently, the government set up a committee to look into the cause of the misunderstanding, which submitted its report on Aug. 5. According to the statement, the chairman was reinstated based on the recommendations of the committee. It quoted the state’s Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad, as saying that Abdullahi was, however, transferred to Kaugama local government to swap with Alhaji Haladu Bulama, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Kaugama council. “The Com...

Olojo Festival The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, says preaching peace and unity is the only way to guarantee progress among the Yoruba. The Ooni made the remark while addressing newsmen at the grand finale of the annual Olojo Festival on Monday evening in Ile-Ife. He pledged to continue to work for the unity of the Yoruba, adding that the only way to progress in life was to pursue love while promoting unity. “Without peace and unity, there cannot be any development or achievement. “United we stand, divided we fall; I urge peace and unity among the Yoruba. This will enable us to achieve greatly in life, thus taking us to the Promised Land,” he said. The Ooni also advised the Yoruba to cherish their potentialities. He acknowledged the support he had been receiving from various parts of the country, especially from the Yoruba. The traditional ruler promised to modernize the festival in order to boost tourism and strengthen the community’s economy.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola Justice Adeniyi Ademola, the judge in the case against the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has withdrawn from the cases. Ademola, one of seven judges arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on allegations of corruption, claimed that he was being harassed and intimidated by the service. He cited allegations of corruption by DSS against him, which is prosecuting Dasuki’s case, as the reason for his action. The judge claimed that he was being harassed and intimidated for granting bail to Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu, the Director of Radio Biafra.

League Management Company (LMC). Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of League Management Company (LMC) on Tuesday condoled with the family of late Joseph Izu and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan. Dikko’s condolence message is contained in a statement by Harry Iwuala, LMC’s Media Officer and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. According to the statement, Dikko spoke to the father of the late defender, Pa Reuben Izu and the General Manager of Shooting Star, Rasheed Balogun on Monday. It said that LMC chairman commiserated with the family of the deceased, assuring them that the body would support them. “Reports say the defender died while holidaying in his hometown, Okaki in Bayelsa State on Sunday from gunshot injuries. “The gun was said to have been fired by a member of the joint security agencies. “On reading the report on a social media platform, Dikko had placed a telephone call to Pa Izu and afterward to Balogun, the General Manager of 3SC,” the st...

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has assented to the bill creating 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state. Mr Toye Arulogun, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, said this while briefing newsmen in Ibadan. He said that the bill, which was enacted by the state House of Assembly, gave legal backing to the creation of LCDAs in the state. Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, he said, assented to the bill on Oct. 6. after extensive deliberations on the legislation by the state house of assembly. He said that a committee would be set up to formulate the modalities for the smooth take off of the LCDAs. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Assembly at its sitting on June 16 discussed the creation of LCDAs and subsequently sent correspondence on it to the executive for consideration. The assembly in its correspondence requested the executive arm to create LCDAs in order to facilitate development at the grassroots. NAN reports t...

Bishop-Martins Uzoukwu The Catholic Bishop of Minna Diocese, Martins Uzoukwu on Tuesday advised the Federal Government to continue ongoing dialogue with Niger Delta militants to end attacks on oil facilities. Uzoukwu also cautioned the militants to stop bombing oil facilities, saying it would not solve the challenges facing the region. He said in Minna that the militants must sheath their swords and accept to dialogue with the government. The bishop lauded the release of 21 Chibok school girls by Boko Haram and called on the federal government to ensure the release of the remaining girls. Uzoukwu urged Nigerians to sacrifice an hour of their time daily to pray for the survival of Nigeria. He said Nigerians must also assist security officers with relevant information to stem insurgency, kidnapping, militancy, cattle rustling and other criminal activities in the country. Uzoukwu said the government should equip security agencies with modern equipment, to enable them tackle secur...

Nassarawa-state-commissioner-of-education The Nasarawa State Government says it has removed five principals from different schools for charging fees from students. Ramatu Ajuji-Abubakar, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, made this known in Lafia on Tuesday. “From our investigation so far, we discovered and have removed five principals of different schools for charging students fees”, she said. She further threatened to sanction any principal in public schools caught collecting fees from students. According to her, the free education policy of the State Government is still in force from primary to secondary levels. “Students are not supposed to pay any money and any principal caught extorting money from the unsuspecting students in the name of school fees would be sanctioned. “Students in all the public boarding schools across the state are not to pay money or give any food item as the government has taken full charge of their feeding”, the comm...

Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II A former Chairman of Ife East Local Government Area of Osun, Chief Gbenga Owolabi, has commended the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, for modernising the 2016 edition of the Olojo festival through technology. Owolabi gave the commendation while speaking on the sidelines of the grand finale of the Olojo festival on Monday in Ile-Ife. He said this year’s festival was “unique and extraordinary’’ by the way the Ooni had modernised it. “ This brings a new dawn and new beginning to the cradle of the Yoruba,’’ he said. Owolabi also commended the monarch for prioritising Yoruba culture as well as promoting peace and unity among traditional rulers and the entire Yoruba race. He admonished all stakeholders to support Ogunwusi in implementing initiatives to empower the people. Owolabi also expressed support for the return of history as a subject in the school curriculum, saying it would help preserve culture and tradition. The Asiwaju...

vietnam-helicopter A Vietnamese air force training helicopter crashed in southern Vietnam on Tuesday with three people on board. The deputy transport minister, Nguyen Nhat, said the Eurocopter, EC130, lost contact some 15 minutes after take-off at 8.30 a.m. (0130GMT), adding that the pilot and two students on board remained unaccounted for. Nguyen quoted an army official that rescued forces as having found the suspected crash site on Dinh Mountain in the province of Ba Ria Vung Tau. However, Rescue forces were trying to approach the site, where smoke was observed rising into the air. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered the Army to review its planes to avoid any further accidents.

suleja-minna-road The National Union of Roads Transport Workers (NURTW, on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to reconstruct the dilapidated Suleja-Minna road in Niger State. The union members, who spoke in Minna, said that the road has become a death trap. Alhaji Abubakar Isa, a representative of the group, said that the state of the road had continued to affect commercial activities within the area. He said that farmers in villages along Dikko to Minna road face hardship transporting their crops to markets. Isa added that reconstruction of the road would boost commercial activities especially in Dikko, Lambata, Paiko junction, Barin Doki and Kwakuti. “We will continue to support the laudable policies and programs of the present administration at the federal and state governments for peace, progress and political growth of the country,’’ Isa said.

FILE PHOTO: Armed men Five men and a woman on Monday had their hands cut off in a suspected act of vigilante justice, local media reported in Mexico. It said the victims were found near the city of Guadalajara in western Mexico, adding that the hands were left at the scene in plastic bags. However, it added that a seventh person was found dead. A note found at the scene signed by the “Elite Anti-Rat Group” claimed that the victims were criminals, suggesting they were targeted by a vigilante group. The word “rat” is commonly used in Mexico for thieves. The victims were taken to hospital where they refused to tell police what had happened. “Here nobody gives any information about anything,” police official Eduardo Palacios said.

The gavel of justice The police on Monday arraigned a 29-year-old man, Adio Abraham, in an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court for stealing a Techno Cell Phone. Abraham is being tried on charges of stealing and impersonation. The Prosecutor, Insp Monday Ojiezele, told the court that the accused committed the offence around 12 p.m at Focus Model College, Ile-Ife on Sept 22 Ojiezele said the accused stole one Tecno Tab Handset and N154,000 cash all property of Oluwatimilehin Emmanuel and Taofeek Adepoju, respectively. He further told the court that the accused was facing a charge of impersonation because he presented himself to the complainants as a pathologist. Abraham pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, Mrs Risikat Olayemi, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum. Olayemi said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation and a civil servant not below grade level 06. He said the surety must deposit his last promotion letter,...

Barnabas Bantex, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State. The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Barnabas Bantex, has said that the solution to the unending crisis at Godogodo in Jemaa Local Government is in the hands of the warring parties and stakeholders of the area. Bantex said this when he took delivery of relief materials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for persons displaced by the crisis. He attributed the security challenge to poverty and idleness and said the state government was doing everything possible to create job opportunities to absorb idling youths to stem the menace. He commended NEMA for the assistance, describing it as heartwarming. Earlier, NEMA Director-General, Sani Sidi, represented by the Zonal Director of the agency, Musa Ilela, condoled with the Kaduna government and its people over the loss of lives and property in the crisis. Sidi said NEMA had 100 bags of maize and guinea corn, 50 bags of rice, 100 bundles of roofing sheets, 300 bags of ...

Dr Paul Enenche, General Overseer, Dunamis International Gospel Centre. Dr Paul Enenche, the General Overseer of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, has thrown a further challenge to Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai when he affirmed that no law whatsoever can stop him or any other person from preaching in the state. Enenche while speaking on Sunday, made the proclamation during a programme tagged ‘Apostolic Invasion in Kaduna State’, he said despite the government ban, he can preach in any part of the state including the stadium. Enenche added that since the devil is not in charge of the state, he cannot stop anyone from preaching in the state. He said, “On my way here, I discovered that some persons were sitting in the staircase. The whole place is filled up. I think this kind of thing should be happening in the stadium. “Don’t worry, no devil can stop us from preaching in Kaduna State. They’ve not born the devil. We are in charge and no devil can stop us from carrying out...

Governor Nasiru El-Rufai Authorities of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State have relaxed Sunday’s 24-hour curfew imposed in Kafanchan following rising tension in the area The 24-four hour curfew followed tension and attacks witnessed in Godogodo Area that led to the killing of scores and destruction of property. The Interim Council Chairman, Dr. Bege Katuka, told NAN in a telephone interview that the curfew was relaxed to 6 a.m to 6p.m, adding, “people can go about their usual activities within the said hour”. Katuka said security personnel have been on top of the situation and urged the people to comply with government’s directives. He assured the people that the curfew would soon be lifted and normalcy restored to the affected areas. The chairman cautioned youths against unguided utterances and tendencies capable to breaching public peace and advised the people to remain vigilant and report any suspected person or group of persons to the appropriate authority.

Precious Chikwendu Fani-Kayode, wife of former Minister of Aviation says she was badly treated in Ado Ekiti while her son was denied food by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Ekiti State on Monday. She disclosed to the Punch newspaper after the incident that she went to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, to see Governor Ayodele Fayose when she stopped at the branch of Access Bank in the town to withdraw money. She was stopped by some officials of the anti-graft agency who accused her of trying to withdraw money from a frozen account. She warned the anti-graft agency to leave her alone as she was not a politician but a private person. “I’m not a politician and that account had been dormant for about five years. I only activated it last month in Port Harcourt. “I decided to go to Access Bank to make some withdrawals when I was detained on the instructions of the EFCC. “They told me the account had been frozen and they were asked by the EFCC to arr...

Group Capt. Ayodele Famuyiwa The Nigerian Air Force has destroyed another set of illegal barges in the Niger Delta Region. A statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Capt. Ayodele Famuyiwa made this known to newsmen in Abuja Tuesday. “NAF has destroyed two additional illegal barges laden with stolen petroleum products in the Niger Delta. The barges were set ablaze by NAF helicopter around Opu-Bille, Yellow Island and Bille Area of Rivers. “The latest operations like the previous ones, are clear pointers to the fact that it is no longer profitable to steal crude oil in Nigeria,” Famuyiwa said. Famuyiwa added that it had also become increasingly difficult for anybody or group of persons to divert the nation’s commonwealth for selfish interest. He restated NAF’s commitment to continue its operations to rid the creeks of criminal elements to make the region safe for genuine economic activities. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that NAF, had in t...

Musiliu Obanikoro Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Obanikoro who arrived the country early Monday morning went straight to Abuja to meet the EFCC over allegations of N4.75b arms funds traced to his account and that of his sons. His counsel, James Onoja, SAN, confirmed to Premium Times that Obanikoro will pass the night at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja. Onoja said the former minister may be grilled overnight by EFCC detectives, adding: “He submitted himself to them upon returning to the country this morning (Monday). Unfortunately, he won’t be out again today.” The lawyer said Obanikoro told his interrogators all he knew about the arms funds. “He told them all he knew in his statement, so we hope he’ll be released tomorrow (today)” but “if he’s not released, then we’ll have to do the needful. At least we have the courts and this is still a country that should be governed by th...

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and his wife, Chikwendu Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation under the Obasanjo regime, has cried out over the arrest of his wife and eight-month old son in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In a statement he issued on Monday, Fani-Kayode alleged that his wife, Chikwendu, who went to visit Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State was arrested along with his eight-month old son, Aragorn, when they went to withdraw money from a bank in the city. Fani-Kayode alleged that his wife and son were detained and brutalized by the EFCC before they were saved by Governor Fayose. Read Fani-Kayode’s statement detailing the arrest of his wife and son and subsequent rescue by Governor Fayose below. ”This govt is sick and cowardly and so are the EFCC. If you have a problem with me face me and leave my family alone. ”My wife travelled to Ado Ekiti to see my friend and brother Governor Fayose and ...

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state on Monday in Ado-Ekiti stopped the arrest of a woman who tried to withdraw money from an account already red-flagged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The woman described in some posts as the wife of Chief Femi Fani Kayode and her child were reportedly detained by the EFCC. Femi Fani-Kayode confirmed that the woman and son arrested by the EFCC were his wife and eight-month old son, Aragorn. But the EFCC in a late statement Monday denied detaining any one, while also revealing the role of Governor Ayo Fayose in frustrating the arrest. Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman said Fayose stormed the bank in Ado-Ekiti with thugs to stop the arrest. “Contrary to the media spin about the purported arrest of mother and child, a certain Chikwendu Sonia today attempted to withdraw money from an Access Bank account that had been placed on ‘Post No Debit’ Category, following the discovery of illicit cash flows i...

Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah The winners of the Kuwait-sponsored, Al-Sumait 2015 Health Award and 2016 Food Security Award have been announced by the Board of Trustees at a meeting in Kuwait City Monday’s Board of Trustees meeting of the Al-Sumait Prize for African Development (http://ift.tt/1TzMAVa) honoured ground-breaking research on tackling childhood malaria and addressing undernourishment through Africa, which both impact the lives of ten millions of children across the continent. The Board awarded the 2015 Al-Sumait Prize for Health to Professor Kevin Marsh, from the University of Oxford and African Academy of Sciences, Kenya, for his sustained efforts to control and eradicate malaria, which impacts the health of tens of millions of African children. The 2016 Al-Sumait Prize for Food Security honored two organizations-The Sweet Potato for Nutrition Team International Potato Centre, Peru, in advancing the contribution of sweet potato to African farmers and household...