Global Naija Info

Boko Haram drug and fuel suppliers arrested by the Nigerian Army The Nigerian Army has announced the arrest of major suppliers of drugs and fuel to Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa forest, Borno State. The announcement is coming shortly after it made public the killing of five soldiers and three civilian vigilantes (JTF) by the terrorists during an ambush in Sambisa forest. Nigerian Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, disclosed in a statement that the supplier of drugs to the terrorists was arrested while trying to cross into Sambisa forest. “Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE on patrol from Bama to Pulka, intercepted suspected Boko Haram terrorists drugs and other logistics suppliers from Firgi and Zawan axis, Bama Local Governmnet Area of Borno State, at suspected Boko Haram terrorists crossing point, trying to cross into Sambisa forest today afternoon. “The troops pursued them but were only able to apprehend Kadiri Umate, 35 years, while others fled into the bush. “The

Hillary Clinton, US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager on Sunday demanded the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to explain its decision to reopen its investigation of the Democratic presidential nominee’s email. Nine days ahead of the election, campaign chairman John Podesta said Clinton was cooperating with the latest revelations, adding that there had been no charge of wrongdoing and the new investigation may not be about the former secretary of state. FBI Director James Comey set off a political firestorm on Friday by announcing in a letter to Congress that the agency was reviewing more emails that came to light during an investigation of disgraced former New York congressman Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of Clinton’s closest aide, Huma Abedin. Weiner is under investigation for allegedly sending lewd messages to an under-aged girl. The FBI found the emails on computers that it seized in that investigation, according to news rep

The Nigeria Army says suspected Boko Haram terrorists ambushed and killed five soldiers, three vigilantes and one Civilian JTF in Borno on Saturday. A statement by Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, on Sunday said that 19 other soldiers and one Civilian JTF sustained various degrees of injuries during the attack. Usman said the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole were ambushed by the terrorists at Ugundiri village, Damboa Local Government Area, while returning to base after clearance operations on suspected Boko Haram terrorists hideouts in Talala and Ajigin in southern Borno “The bodies of the late soldiers and civilians have been evacuated to Maiduguri, while the injured are receiving commensurate medical care and are in stable condition,” he said. Usman said that the troops destroyed the terrorists Gun truck and recovered two Anti-Aircraft guns, two spare Gun barrels, one General Purpose Machine Gun, one Rocket Propelled Grenade, one AK-47 rifle and 320 rounds

Elias Antonio Saca, former president of El Salvador The former president of El Salvador has been arrested after corruption charges were made against him, his lawyer confirmed on Sunday. Elias Antonio Saca and two former employees were taken into custody, his lawyer, Silvia Bonilla, said in the capital, San Salvador. Saca, who was president of the Central American country from 2004-09, faces prosecution for money laundering and establishing a criminal association, among other charges, according to a police statement. The chairman of the ethics commission of the highest court made serious accusations against Saca in a television interview last week. Sidney Blanco said the 59-year-old was responsible for the misappropriation of state money during his time in office. Saca is a member of the conservative Nationalist Republican Alliance party, the opposition party which is known by its Spanish-language acronym ARENA. Six other people, including Saca’s close associates Cesar Funes and

Hillary Clinton, US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager on Sunday demanded the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to explain its decision to reopen its investigation of the Democratic presidential nominee’s email. Nine days ahead of the election, campaign chairman John Podesta said Clinton was cooperating with the latest revelations, adding that there had been no charge of wrongdoing and the new investigation may not be about the former secretary of state. FBI Director James Comey set off a political firestorm on Friday by announcing in a letter to Congress that the agency was reviewing more emails that came to light during an investigation of disgraced former New York congressman Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of Clinton’s closest aide, Huma Abedin. Weiner is under investigation for allegedly sending lewd messages to an under-aged girl. The FBI found the emails on computers that it seized in that investigation, according to news rep

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged South African President Jacob Zuma to reconsider his country’s decision to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC). On Oct. 21, South Africa announced that it will withdraw from the ICC, saying its membership has hampered its efforts to help resolve conflicts in Africa. In a phone call with Zuma, Ban expressed his regret over South Africa’s decision and noted his appreciation for the “continued and unwavering commitment of the South African government to justice and accountability,” a UN statement said. The parliament in conflict-ridden Burundi voted in favour of leaving the ICC earlier this month. Gambia also announced its intention to withdraw from the ICC, but has not officially notified the UN yet. There is a widespread feeling in Africa that the tribunal unfairly targets African leaders more than those of other continents. The ICC, established in July 2002, exercises jurisdiction i

Alassane Ouattara, President of Ivory Coast Violence erupted at around 100 polling stations in Ivory Coast on Sunday as voters decided whether to approve a new constitution that President Alassane Ouattara argues will guarantee peace in the wake of years of political turmoil. Elections worker Nandi Bamba was preparing to open the voting when a group of young men, some of them armed with clubs and machetes, attacked her polling station in Abidjan’s Yopougon neighborhood. “They demanded we stop working because the new constitution wasn’t for the people. Then they smashed the ballot boxes, scattered the ballots. They broke everything,” she said. Under Ouattara, Ivory Coast has made an impressive recovery since a 2011 civil war capped a decade-long crisis. The International Monetary Fund projects it will be Africa’s fastest growing economy this year. However, despite five years of peace, Ivorians remain deeply divided along political and ethnic faultlines. Both they and the investo

Victor Moses Victor Moses says he is “relishing” playing as a wing-back for Chelsea this season after struggling to hit the ground running since joining the Blues in 2012. Moses opened up on the club’s website on why he has thrived as a wing-back despite having never played in that role before and credits his outstanding performance to his Italian manager at the club, Antonio Conte. The 25-year-old has featured in eight Premier League matches for Chelsea, including in their last three against Hull City, Leicester City and Manchester United which they have won without conceding. The Nigeria international said he was only focused on improving as a wing-back in Chelsea’s 3-4-3 formation. “I have not played there before. I have just got to listen to what the manager asks me to do in that position and the way he wants me to do it. “It’s very important to understand your teammates; so, every game we played, I just want to keep on improving. “The more games you play, the more experien

Former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh in court for alleged looting A cleric in Taraba, Rev. Fr Charles Nyameh, has admonished looters of Nigeria’s treasury, to return their loots in exchange for God’s mercies. Nyameh, priest in the Catholic Diocese of Jalingo, in a sermon in Monkin, Zing Local Government Area of the state, supported his call with the story of Zachaeus, a rich Tax Collector, who, on encountering Jesus, repented and was forgiven. He said that Zachaeus, who climbed a tree just to see Jesus, pledged to return four times what he stole as a Tax Collector. The priest urged treasury looters in the country to emulate Zachaeus for a better country and for them to enjoy salvation and real fulfillment. “Zachaeus’ encounter with Jesus led to his repentance and promise to make restitution of what he stole from others. “Our public and political servants who know they acquired their wealth in a corrupt manner, should follow Zachaeus example and make restitution of what they

Andy Murray proudly holds the Erste Open trophy after his victory in Vienna Andy Murray’s charge toward the world number one ranking continued as he beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 7-6(6) to claim the Vienna Open title on Sunday. The Briton, seeking to end Serbian Novak Djokovic’s stranglehold on the number one spot by the end of the year, was cruising toward his third consecutive title before Tsonga turned the match into a real fight. Murray was 3-1 ahead in the second set and had three break points to move 4-1 ahead but Tsonga dug in and began to play some stunning tennis to the delight of the crowd. Tsonga broke for the first time to level the set at 4-4 when Murray made a rare unforced error and began hitting with ferocious power to shake the Scot. The 29-year-old Murray, who won the titles in Beijing and Shanghai to eat into Djokovic’s lead in the rankings, would not be denied though and played a typically solid tiebreak. He failed to convert his first match point whe

The suspected kid thieves Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested six teenage mobile phone thieves in Oshodi, Lagos, Southwesst Nigeria. The suspects who were brought in batches to the RRS’s Headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja were all apprehended the same day in Oshodi while brazenly dispossessing commuters of their belongings. The suspects; Ganiyu Adebayo (15), Timilehin Oluwaseun (14), Ogundare Moyinoluwa, Toheeb Tijani (19) and Adeleke Sodiq (17) were arrested on Friday morning in Oshodi Oke. According to one of the suspects, Ganiy Rahman, “we are over 50 boys. We are always in Oshodi-Oke, from morning till late night. Some of us genuinely help people to carry their loads while a lot of us are there to snatch handbags, phones and other valuables from people. “At time, we pretend to be helping them but our focus are their valuables. Most times, we work in groups. While the other is helping out, another person is stealing the victi

President Muhammadu Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday expressed Nigeria’s solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of the ballistic missile launched by Houthi militias targeting the holy city of Mecca. A statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said Buhari made his feelings known when he spoke with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia via telephone. Buhari condemned the heinous act which targeted innocent people. According to him, it is reprehensible and ignoble for terrorists to target a holy land, where millions of Muslims from around the globe gather for pilgrimage. The president expressed delight and appreciation to Almighty Allah that the Saudi defence forces intercepted and downed the missile, 65 km from the holy city of Mecca. Buhari reiterated the need to strengthen international support and coalition in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. He noted that, “when t

TURNING-POINT-Bola-Bolawole “What is the problem with your brother?” “He was arrested by the EFCC.” “I see! Was it in respect of the Dasuki arms money bazzar?” “Nobody knows. We have not been told.” “That must be the reason. Any politician arrested these days have one thing or another to do with the ONSA.” “But he is not a politician; he is a journalist who was in government to perform a professional duty as spokesperson to the former president.” “In that wise, he was a politician. You cannot speak for a politician if you are not a politician yourself.” “In that sense, it will be difficult for professionals to work in any civilian administration.” “I agree. How much did they say they traced to your man – millions or billions?” “I just told you we have not even been told his offence!” “But I just also told you it must have to do with the ONSA! Can’t you see that everyone arrested these days have their hands in the ONSA pie one way or another?” “Until they say so, I will not

Dominika Dominika Cibulkova claimed the biggest victory of her career with a 6-3 6-4 win over world number one Angelique Kerber in the decider of the WTA Finals in Singapore. Making her debut at the season-ending event, she raced into a 3-0 first-set lead, wrapping it up in 30 minutes. The Slovak, 27, kept up the momentum and sealed an emotional victory with a dramatic double net-cord. “This is the biggest moment of my career,” said the world number eight. She had lost to Kerber in the round-robin phase and booked her place in the final after a thrilling three-set win over Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia on Saturday. And she once again showed her determination and commitment against the German, who won two Grand Slams this year in Australia and the United States. Cibulkova found her range from the start of the match, hitting winners at will and Kerber struggled to cope with the variety of shots. The only time Cibulkova looked nervous in the 76-minute match was when she was servi

Balotelli scored one of the goals Mario Balotelli continued his career revival in France with another goal as Nice beat Nantes to move six points clear at the top of Ligue 1. The Italian, who has scored seven goals in his first seven Nice games, latched on to Jean Michael Seri’s pass over the top to slot home their second goal. The ex-Liverpool striker had a hand in the opener, Wylan Cyprien scoring after Balotelli was tackled. Emiliano Sala pulled one back but Alassane Plea and Cyprien sealed it. Balotelli has scored six goals in his first five games in the French league, having managed only two league goals in the previous two seasons for Liverpool, who let the 26-year-old leave for free on transfer deadline day, and AC Milan. Nice, who have not won the league since 1959, are unbeaten in their opening 11 Ligue 1 games since the summer appointment of Lucien Favre. They are six points above rivals Monaco and third-placed Paris St-Germain.

Eden Hazard Chelsea kept pace with the leading pack in the Premier League as they moved into fourth place with an impressive win at Southampton. The Blues took the lead when Eden Hazard capitalised on poor marking before cutting inside Steven Davis and powering a shot through the legs of keeper Fraser Forster. Southampton had plenty of the ball but could not find a way through a well-drilled Chelsea, who looked the more threatening and went close when strikes from Hazard and Diego Costa were saved. Costa, however, beat Forster at full stretch with a wonderful curled effort from 22 yards. Victory was Chelsea’s fourth in a row in the league – a feat they last achieved in April 2015 – and put them one point behind Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. Hazard getting back to his best Eden Hazard was the 2014-15 Premier League player of the season during a campaign in which former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said the Belgian had outperformed Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo

Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo The Federal Government has described as false reports that it had terminated the 10 years contract awarded to ex-militant Chief Government Ekpmuopolo,(Tompolo) through his company, Global West by Nigerian Maritime Safety Agency (NIMASA). This clarification was made by Dr Dakuku Peterside, the Director-General of NIMASA and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State in the 2015 election during a media chat in Port Harcourt. According to Peterside, “NIMASA and Global West still have subsisting Public, Private Partnership (PPP) agreement for it to supply NIMASA Vessels which it will pay back over a period of 10 years. “In addition to supplying NIMASA vessels, the company is also to help NIMASA in the enforcement of its responsibilities offshore and the revenue that is derivable from that enforcement of responsibilities offshore will be shared between NIMASA and Global West as a partner, who invested money

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to drop Justice Iche Ndu (retd) and Okey Wali, SAN, former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) from the Judicial Ethics Committee. The party described the judges as loyalists of Governor Nyesom Wike and the Peoples Democratoic Party (PDP). A statement signed by Chris Finebone, Publicity Secretary of the party, expressed shock over the appointment of two well-known PDP sympathisers, foot soldiers and close associates of Governor Wike as members of the 10-man Judicial Ethics Committee of the National Judicial Council (NJC) with a mandate to review the Code of Conduct for judicial officers in the country. ”The APC vehemently rejects the inclusion of these two individuals in a critical committee such as the Judicial Ethics Committee of the NJC charged with an all-important task of reviewing the code of conduct for judicial officers. ”Indeed, their inclusion un

6.6 magnitude earthquake in central Italy At least 20 people were injured when a powerful 6.6-magnitude earthquake rocked central Italy on Sunday morning, in the strongest tremor to hit the country in more than three decades. The earthquake follows tremors last week and comes on the heels of a devastating quake in August, which killed nearly 300 people and flattened entire villages. Residents ran onto the streets in a panic as the quake struck at 7:40 a.m. local time (2:40 a.m. ET) Sunday, and rescuers were seen soon after, helping evacuate a group of nuns from a church. They worked through aftershocks that hit every 20 minutes or so. Authorities are hopeful there may be no deaths since many residents in the region had already been evacuated to emergency camps and hotel rooms paid for by the government after the August quake and last week’s temblors, and schools had shut down in anticipation of powerful aftershocks. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Rome thanked rescuers a

Prolific-Entertainment A Nigerian born singer based in Australia, Simon Oshi, on Sunday said he had concluded arrangements to hold a peace concert in Jalingo. Oshi, 31, who is also a comedian, told journalists in Jalingo that he would use the concert to promote the importance of peace to societal development. He said he was in the state purposely for the peace project coming up next week, which would be managed by his record label, “Prolifick Entertainment”. “My desire for sustainable peace in the country is what informed my decision to come here all the way from Australia. “I appreciate the efforts of Gov. Darius Ishaku in ensuring peace within the shortest period he has been in power. “But that effort must be complimented by individuals and non governmental organisations for the peace to be sustained, “he said. Oshi, who hails from Kaduna, said he would also take his campaign to the remotest parts of Taraba, to empower the youth and assist Internally Displaced Persons. “Wit

Prolific-Entertainment A Nigerian born singer based in Australia, Simon Oshi, on Sunday said he had concluded arrangements to hold a peace concert in Jalingo. Oshi, 31, who is also a comedian, told journalists in Jalingo that he would use the concert to promote the importance of peace to societal development. He said he was in the state purposely for the peace project coming up next week, which would be managed by his record label, “Prolifick Entertainment”. “My desire for sustainable peace in the country is what informed my decision to come here all the way from Australia. “I appreciate the efforts of Gov. Darius Ishaku in ensuring peace within the shortest period he has been in power. “But that effort must be complimented by individuals and non governmental organisations for the peace to be sustained, “he said. Oshi, who hails from Kaduna, said he would also take his campaign to the remotest parts of Taraba, to empower the youth and assist Internally Displaced Persons. “Wit

cultists A total of 40 youths on Sunday in Calabar said they have renounced their membership of various secret cult groups in the area. The repentant youths were mostly students of the University of Calabar and Cross River University of Technology. The youths, comprising 30 males and 10 females, were encouraged to renounce their cult membership by the Campus Cult Eradication Foundation (CCEF). The repentant cultists, who belonged to various cult groups such as Pyrate Confraternity, Vikings, Black Axe, Klans, among others, did not surrender any arms at the event. Samuel Ejembi, National Coordinator of the Foundation, said the CCEF was established to eradicate cultism in tertiary institutions and the larger society. Ejembi said the Foundation also had the mandate to rehabilitate and reintegrate the cultists into the society. “Cultism is a deadly menace that destroys the lives of members directly or indirectly, thereby rendering them hopeless; it is a threat to security of the st

Jigawa state governor Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa says his administration has distributed 16,000 bags of assorted fertilizers to 1620 farmers in the state this year. Badaru disclosed this on Sunday in Birninkudu at the distribution of empowerment items and scholarship awards by Alhaji Da’u Aliyu, member, House of Representatives representing Birninikudu/Buji Federal Constituency. He said that 60 notable farmers were selected from each of the 27 local government areas of the state. According to him, each of the farmers got between eight and 10 bags of fertilizers, adding that the distribution team ensured that the items got to the right people. “There is transparency in the system now unlike in the past where fertilizers meant for farmers were diverted and conveyed in trucks to sell in neighbouring states,’’ he said. The governor said that his administration would make farming a profitable business in order to tackle poverty and create employment opportunities for the citizen

Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a Police Secondary School in Bauchi to carter for the North East sub-region. Mr Rabiu Ladodo, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Force Education Officer, said this on Sunday in Bauchi while inspecting Police Children Schools in Bauchi Ladodo said that the force headquarters had received approval for the setting up of the school. He explained that the North East was the only region in the country that had no police secondary School. He said that with the approval by the federal government, the region would get one very soon. Ladodo promised to address the problem of inadequacy of teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as poor infrastructure currently facing the three police children schools in the state. He had earlier visited the three police children schools at Yelwa and Yandoka in Bauchi metropolis and Kafin Madaki in Ganjuwa Local Government Area. Abubakar Yahaya, Head Teacher

sen-Abdullahi-Abubakar The Chairman, Senate Committee on State and Local Government Affairs, Sen. Abdullahi Abubakar, on Sunday said provision has been made in the ongoing Constitution amendment process to totally abolish the contentious joint account between states and local governments. Abubakar, who made the disclosure in Birninkudu, Jigawa, also said the lawmakers plan to abolish States Independent Electoral Commissions. He said that the decision was taken at a recent retreat in Lagos by Speakers of State Houses of Assembly and Members of the House of Representatives. Abubakar explained that the decision was taken to strengthen local government administration, for optimal performance. The Senator said that the National Assembly was working tirelessly to dialogue with State Governors to allow local governments operate independently. Abubakar said it was unfortunate that only 10 out of 36 states in the country had conducted election into local government councils. “This mean

FILE PHOTO: a herd of cows The Commandant, Nigerian Navy School of Armament Technology, Kachia, Kaduna, Commodore Timothy Dakwat, has said that the command arrested two cattle rustlers and recovered 285 cows and seven sheep from them. Dakwat made this known when he presented the suspects and the cows to newsmen in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday. He said the suspects were arrested on Oct. 29, at about 1.00 a.m., following an intelligence report on the hide out of the rustlers. “Acting on a tip off on their hideout at Maro, Gidana Auta and Rijana village, in Kachia Local government, we mobilised our patrol team and ambushed the rustlers which led to the arrest, recovery and evacuation of the cows.” He said there was exchange of fire between the security operatives and the rustlers before the security officers overpowered the bandits. Dakwat, who said nobody died in the incident, stated that one of the suspects sustained injury and was taken to the hospital

Reuben Abati One week after he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly collecting N50m from the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, former presidential spokesman Reuben Abati is still in the gulaq. PREMIUM TIMES reports that Abati is still being detained by the EFCC because he has been unable to fulfil the conditions of the administrative bail granted him by the anti-graft body. The conditions include depositing his passport with the EFCC and presenting a senior federal civil servant —preferably a director— with landed properties in Abuja. When operatives questioned him about how he spent the funds, Mr. Abati reportedly said he disbursed it to media practitioners in his capacity as the spokesman for the Goodluck Jonathan administration. But he said he did not keep records of the disbursement when queried for evidence. The journalist was subsequently granted an administrative bail that requires presenting a senior federal

Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, is also chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) No fewer than 520 pregnant women living with HIV are receiving antiretroviral drugs in Zamfara. Dr. Med Maumbi, the Project Director of Management Sciences for Health, the implementation project partner in the state, disclosed this on Sunday in Gusau. Maumbi said that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Prevention Organizational System, AIDS Control and Treatment (PRO-ACT) HIV and AIDS and Tuberculosis Control programme in the state. The USAID, she said had funded the programme since 2013 in six out of the 14 local government areas of the state where significant achievements were recorded. She added that this was particularly in relation to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Maumbi said that 4,436 people were enrolled in the programme after testing positive in 2013 and that the programme had managed their treatment over the period

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that no fewer than 800 suspected violent herdsmen have been arrested across the country by security agencies. Osinbajo said this in Houston, Texas in the U.S. on Friday at a Townhall event where he interacted with US-based Nigerians, according to a statement, issued on Saturday, by his spokesperson Mr Laolu Akande. The Vice President fielded about 30 live and internet questions at the event moderated by Mr Rudolf Okonkwo of Sahara Reporters and Prof. Nimi Wariboko of Boston University. On the herdsmen attacks in certain states across the country he said the Federal Government was acting to curb the menace. “The President has given firm instructions to the security agencies to arrest not only herdsmen who are attacking communities anywhere in the country but anyone of them or anyone at all in possession of firearms. “There are about 800 of suspected violent herdsmen in the country that are cur

Arrested Boko Haram agents The Borno command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Sunday raised the alarm that youths in Maiduguri are now being recruited by Boko Haram to supply fuel in Gamboru Ngala area of the state. The Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi made the revelation in an interview in Maiduguri. Abdullahi said the command had intercepted a reasonable quantity of fuel packaged in a carton of groundnut oil, bound for Gamboru Ngala local government area in the state. He said since Boko Haram are running out of food and other supplies, they have employed all sorts of means to replenish stock. “The command had so far arrested a suspect, who confessed that he did not know the owner of the consignment that he was asked to deliver to the insurgents trapped in Gamboru Ngala. “He later confessed that each of the five litres of fuel is sold at N15,000 to the insurgents. “You will recall we raised the alarm that some agents of Boko Haram were tr

IDPs Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed behind Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, Damboa road, Maiduguri, on Sunday intercepted and killed a male suicide bomber. Col. Sani Usman, the army spokesman said in a statement that the troops, who were deployed on security duty, killed the bomber, who had attempted to sneak through their inner parapet towards the IDP camp. He said that the incident occurred at about 9.00 a.m. It will be recalled that suicide bombers killed some nine people close to the camp on Saturday after detonating their explosives. “The vigilant sentry sighted the bomber and laid in wait until the suicide bomber came close. “The sniper instantly shot and killed the terrorists as he tried to force his way to the western flank of the IDP camp fence. “Unfortunately, the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) vest strapped on the bomber failed to detonate. “Consequently, a combined team of military and police Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) have been c

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Africa’s richest woman, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija on Saturday in Lagos exchanged words over the latter’s decision to take over an oil block allocated to her in 1993. The verbal exchanges took place at the 2016 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Forum. Alakija, in her speech, alleged that the Obasanjo administration frustrated her effort when she ventured into oil business by illegally taking an oil block allocated to her company after her family had invested all its savings to strike oil in commercial quantity. “This oil block is in 5000 feet depth of water and was extremely difficult to explore. “It took 15 years from the time that we were awarded the licence in 1993 till 2008 when we struck the first oil “When this event happened, 60 percent out of our 60 percent equity in the business, was forcefully taken from us by the government of the day without due process. “We had to fight back by going to court to seek

Mrs. Patience Jonathan Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Federal High Court to dismiss a suit filed against it by the former First Lady Patience Jonathan because her group is unknown to the law. Mrs Jonathan and her group Union of Niger Delta Youth Organization for Equity, Justice and Good Governance had accused SERAP in suit number FHC/L/CS/1349/2016 dated 6th October 2016 of “using online, print and electronic media to publish to the public unfounded and malicious allegations that she stole $15m (US) and ought to be prosecuted.” But SERAP in a preliminary objection dated 27 October 2016 and signed by its executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni stated that, “Patience Jonathan’s claims cannot be maintained because they are brought on her behalf by a group that is unknown to law. Mrs Jonathan’s group is not a registered organization envisaged by law. This very point calls into question the legal capacity to file this suit against SERAP, and the juri