Global Naija Info

Former Comptroller-General, NCS, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Incredible but true. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that a former Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Dikko, returned N1 billion to the Federal Government. EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren on Saturday in Abuja confirmed reports making the rounds on social media that the former customs boss actually returned the sum to the Federal Government. Uwujaren said Mr. Dikko, who was Comptroller-General of the NCS between August 2009 and August 2015, was arrested by the EFCC in June over alleged diversion of N40 billion from the service’s coffers. He was later released, reportedly due to his poor health and was expected to return more money. Mr. Uwujaren also confirmed the seizure of a multi-billion naira property belonging to the former customs boss at 1 Audu Ogbe Street, Jabi District of Abuja, saying it was under investigation. The EFCC spokesman also confirmed the relea

Shell logo Fifteen schools in Jigawa participated in the National Safety Competition for Senior Secondary Schools organised by Shell Petroleum Development Company in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). Mr Angus Ibezim, the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, said the competition, sponsored by Shell and conducted by the corps, was aimed at testing the participants’ safety knowledge and consciousness. Ibezim said that it has also equipped the students with modern skills and knowledge on how to deal with safety and other emergency situations in schools and homes. “This is an annual event, a competition being organised by FRSC in collaboration with Shell Petroleum; FRSC is driving it while the Shell is sponsoring it. “The essence of this competition is to drive the Federal Government’s effort and programme on “Catch them Young.” “It is FRSC project meant to ensure that we inculcate in the children the enduring road safety, so that as they grow up with it,

Eden Hazard has scored in four consecutive Premier League matches. Eden Hazard scored twice as Chelsea climbed to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season with a stylish victory over Everton. Hazard put Chelsea ahead with a low angled shot before Marcos Alonso added a second when he slotted through Maarten Stekelenburg’s legs. Diego Costa made it 3-0 from a corner just before half-time and Hazard scored the pick of the goals after the break. Pedro put the gloss on the result when he tapped into an empty net. Everton spent the majority of the game penned in their own half and did not manage a shot on target in the entire 90 minutes as Chelsea produced a ruthless and dominant performance. Many of the visiting Everton supporters left Stamford Bridge well before the final whistle. Those that remained applauded the home side off the pitch with the biggest ovation of all reserved for Hazard who capped a brilliant display with two superb goals. In an attempt to sti

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Media networks are the platforms that announce elections results and declare winners of elections in the U.S., rather than the election commission, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) disclosed this on Thursday to a correspondent of NAN participating in the U.S. 2016 General Elections Embed Programme. Two Nigerian journalists from NAN and Channels Television are among the 24 participants at the programme drawn from 15 countries. The programme is being administered by the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) and sponsored by the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Press Centres and U.S. Embassy Posts. Christian Hilland, Deputy Press Officer of FEC told NAN that the commission did not tabulate or announce winners of elections. “As I’ve already mentioned, the Federal Election Commission does not perform vote tabulation and it certainly does not announce winners of elections. “While there isn’t an

The new Chibok schoolgirl, Maryam, rescued with a baby The Nigerian Army on Saturday handed over Maryam Ali Maiyanga, the Chibok girl, with her ten-month-old son, to the Borno Government after they were rescued from Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, by troops. Maj-Gen. Lucky Irabor, The Theatre Commander of 7 Div. of Nigeria Army, disclosed this to newsmen in Maiduguri. Irabor said, ”At about 6 a.m., while screening some escapees from Boko Haram terrorists’ hideout in Sambisa forest, we discovered one of the abducted Government Secondary School Chibok girls, named Maryam Ali Maiyanga, among them. “She was discovered to be carrying a 10-month-old son, named Ali. “She revealed to us that her husband, who is the father of her child, was killed by Boko Haram insurgents during one of the military operations in Sambisa forest. “The Nigerian Army felt very elated because the desire of any army officer in operation Lafiya Dole is to make sure that every person that is held hostage by

An archive photo showing army chief presenting merit award to Late Lt Colonel Abu Ali Soldiers confronting Boko Haram terrorists in the North East are mourning the death of Lt. Col. Muhammad Abu Ali, described as a gallant, battle tested and trusted patriotic soldier of the Nigerian Army. In a statement on Saturday, the Theatre Command Centre of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, said Ali, nicknamed, Sarkin Yaki [Chief Warrior], was the Commanding Officer, 272 Task Force Battalion at Mallam Fatori in Northern Borno. He died in confrontation with suspected Boko Haram terrorists who attacked 119 Battalion, Nigerian Army location at Mallam Fatori on Friday, in a failed attempt to capture the town. Four other soldiers also died in the attack. “He served the nation with unwavering commitment and dedication, paying the ultimate price so that millions can sleep on their beds in peace. “We are deeply pained at the loss of one so selfless and committed to routing the misguided terrorist

Victor Anichebe scored a superb equaliser for Sunderland Nigeria’s international, Victor Anichebe inspired 10-man Sunderland to record their first league win of the season as Jermain Defoe’s second-half penalty handed them victory against Bournemouth. It was a remarkable result for the Black Cats, who continually soaked up pressure from their opponents and found themselves a man down when Steven Pienaar was sent off in the 59th minute. The Cherries took an 11th-minute lead when Dan Gosling converted Adam Smith’s cross from close range for his third goal of the season. The Black Cats lost 4-1 at home to Arsenal last week and once again looked vulnerable at the back, with Junior Stanislas and Joshua King both going close after the opener. But they surprisingly drew level in the 33rd minute when Victor Anichebe smacked his six-yard shot high past the reach of keeper Artur Boruc. Sunderland began the second half well but were dealt a huge blow when Pienaar was shown a second yellow c

Pep Guardiola Marten de Roon’s injury-time leveller snatched a draw for Middlesbrough as Manchester City were made to pay for a sloppy second-half performance at Etihad Stadium. Sergio Aguero put City ahead, stabbing in Kevin de Bruyne’s cross for his 150th City goal with their 18th shot of the afternoon. Boro were hugely improved after the break and Alvaro Negredo brought a fine save from Claudio Bravo with an audacious lob from the halfway line. Pep Guardiola’s side looked to have withstood the isolated spells of Boro pressure but De Roon’s header from George Friend’s 91st-minute cross denied them. It was the midfielder’s first goal in a Middlesbrough shirt, and came just a minute after De Bruyne missed an empty net following a mistake by Boro keeper Victor Valdes. Five minutes before that, Aguero missed a clear chance to seal the win, firing badly wide when found by Jesus Navas in the box. Guardiola described City’s 3-1 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesd

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang marked his return to the Borussia Dortmund side with four goals in a thumping win at bottom club Hamburg. Aubameyang, 27, was dropped for Wednesday’s Champions League win over Sporting Lisbon for “internal reasons”. He was recalled by Thomas Tuchel on Saturday and scored a 23-minute first-half hat-trick before adding a fourth shortly after half-time. Ousmane Dembele also scored for Dortmund. Both of Hamburg’s goals came from Nicolai Muller. Gabon international Aubameyang now has 13 Bundesliga and Champions League goals for Dortmund this season. The win lifted Dortmund to fifth in the table, six points behind leaders Bayern Munich, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Hoffenheim.

Reuben Abati Former Presidential Spokesperson, Reuben Abati has been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), its Spokesperson, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed on Saturday. Uwujaren disclosed in Abuja that the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was released to a surety without further conditions. An online medium, PREMIUM TIMES, had earlier reported that Abati confirmed his own release on Saturday morning and was “putting up somewhere in Abuja’’. The ex-presidential aide turned himself to the EFCC on Oct. 21 after he was accused of receiving N50 million from detained former National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki.

Victorious Andy Murray Briton Andy Murray will take over from Novak Djokovic as world number one Tennis player when the rankings are updated on Monday. This was after his Paris Masters semi-final opponent Milos Raonic withdrew with a leg injury on Saturday. “I have a grade one tear on my right quad and unfortunately won’t be able to face Murray in the semi-final,” Canadian Raonic told a news conference. The record four-time champion Djokovic arrived in Paris to reach the final to ensure he remained ahead of a rapidly approaching Murray. But the Serb’s bid to register a fourth straight title in the French capital ended abruptly as an improbable escape act fizzled out against an in-form Marin Cilic. The ninth seed, Cilic dumped a struggling Djokovic out of the Paris Masters quarter-finals on Friday to pave the way for Andy Murray to become the new world number one. Cilic had lost all 14 previous meetings with Djokovic but cast the Serb’s 122-week reign at the top of the rankings

Gov. Sani Bello of Niger State. A total of seven people have died in a boat mishap on River Gbako in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State on Friday, an official of the state emergency agency said. Similarly, six people also died when fuel laden tankers collided in Mokwa. Malam Ahmed Inga, Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency told newsmen in Minna on Saturday that four women and three children drowned when the boat they were travelling in capsized. He explained that the boat was conveying 10 female farmers from Balsa community to a rice farm across the river. Inga said that three women were rescued by local divers after the accident, which occurred at about 11 am. “Yabagi Ibrahim, the owner of the farm lost a wife, a daughter and granddaughter in the unfortunate incident,” he said. Gbako River is located on the border between Katcha and Lavun local government areas of the state. Similarly, six people also died when fuel laden tankers caused multiple

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose Gunmen on Saturday morning in Ekiti State abducted a pastor and four others. Local sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado Ekiti that the victims included a pastor identified as Ojo, his driver, Jimoh, and three others. They were said to be traveling in two vehicles on Ise Ekiti road in Ise/Orun Local Government Area of the state when they were abducted. Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Alberto Adeyemi, confirmed the incident. He said two of the victims had been released, and that the police were on the trail of the hoodlums to rescue the remaining three persons. Mr. Adeyemi urged residents to help the police with useful information to track down criminals in the state. -NAN

Phillip Ihenacho, Chief Executive Officer, Seven Energy Seven Energy International Limited, the leading integrated gas company in south east Nigeria, has signed a $112 million Partial Risk Guarantee (PRG) with the Federal Government of Nigeria for the supply of natural gas, delivered by its wholly owned subsidiary Accugas, to the 560 MW Nigerian Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Calabar, Cross River State. The Partial Risk Guarantee is a financial instrument that will secure the supply of up to 130 million cubic feet per day (“MMcfpd”) of natural gas to NIPP Calabar, thereby enabling the consistent generation of an additional 560 MW of electricity to the national grid, approximately 20 per cent of current power generation in Nigeria. This arrangement, which guarantees payments to Accugas for gas supply, is backed by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank. It will be the first of its kind for gas supply in Nigeria and is a demonstration of the Federal Government’s com

Nigerian soldiers Suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked 119 Battalion, Nigerian Army location at Malam Fatori in northern Borno, on Friday, killing one officer and four soldiers. The Army Spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Saturday that the troops fought gallantly, repelled the attack and killed 14 Boko Haram terrorists. Usman gave the name of the officer that died in action as Lt.-Col. Muhammad Abu Ali, the Commanding Officer of 272 Task Force Tank Battalion. He said that four other soldiers sustained various degrees of injury during the encounter. “It will be recalled that because of the late senior officer’s exceptional bravery and gallantry, he was given an accelerated promotion from the rank of Major to Lieutenant Colonel and was decorated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, at Gamboru Ngala on Sept. 9, 2015, during an operational visit,’’ he said. Usman, however, said that the troops recovered one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), seven

•Abati Former presidential spokesman in the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Dr. Reuben Abati, has been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Abati who confirmed his release to the PREMIUM TIMES this morning, spent 15 days in the cell of the anti-graft agency for allegedly receiving N50m from the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki who is being tried for misappropriating $2.2 billion arms fund by the agency. The popular writer from The Guardian newspaper confirmed that he was staying somewhere in Abuja after he was released by the EFCC. Abati was arrested on 21 October after honouring an invitation from the EFCC. His passport was later seized. He was granted administrative bail last week but couldn’t fulfill the conditions attached to it and so remained in detention. It’s not clear whether he was able to fulfil the conditions before he was released today. There were reports that the writer agreed to return N5m out of the amount he was

Beyonce-Hillary-Clinton-and-Jay-z Hillary Clinton enlisted some star power Friday with a concert featuring Jay Z, Beyonce, Chance the Rapper and Big Sean, part of an effort to drum up excitement behind her campaign the weekend before Election Day. The group of rap and hip hop icons urged voters to head to the polls on Tuesday and firmly backed Clinton’s candidacy. “I want my daughter to grow up seeing a women lead our country and knowing that her possibilities are limitless,” said Beyonce, sporting a black-and-white polka dot pantsuit. “And that’s why I am with her.” Her performance was backed by dancers in blue pantsuits, an obvious reference to Clinton. CNN reports that the Cleveland concert, meant to drive up turnout among young people in Ohio, was announced weeks ago, but only as a Jay Z performance, not a joint appearance with his wife. “We have unfinished business to do,” Clinton told the audience after the concert. “More barriers to break and with your help, a glass ceil

Dr-David-Oyedepo Dr David Oyedepo, the Bishop of the Living Faith Church worldwide, has appealed to those criticising the school fees charged by Covenant University to desist to avoid incurring the wrath of God. Oyedepo, in a telecast to a pre-Shiloh 2016 Convention gathering of the church monitored via satellite in Jos on Saturday, said the critics were acting in ignorance and risked incurring the wrath of God. He said one of such critic smitten with a strange plague of chronic mouth odour over the act only received spiritual pardon following his confession and “my intervention before he was restored to dignity”. Oyedepo said the issue of school fees paid by students of the university was a godly agenda to meet the demands of raising godly children in an environment conducive for learning. He said such criticisms were products of ignorance as what students pay could not be compared with what obtained elsewhere that lacked facilities. “The school fees has God’s approval and is

Maryam-Wokili-rescued-Chibok-girl Troops of 121 Battalion, Nigerian Army, deployed at Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno, for Operation Lafiya Dole, on Saturday rescued one of the kidnapped Chibok girls. A statement issued by the army Spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, in Abuja, said the girl was discovered while the troops were screening some escapees from Boko Haram terrorists’ hideout in Sambisa forest at about 6 a.m. Usman gave the name of the rescued girl as Maryam Ali Maiyanga. “She was discovered to be carrying a 10-month-old son, named Ali. She has been taken to the unit’s medical facility for proper medical check up. “It is imperative to state that troops have been working round the clock to clear remnants of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hibernating and also rescue all persons held hostages by terrorists,” he said. The Boko Haram terrorists had released 21 of the 219 kidnapped girls on Nov. 13 after negotiations between them and the Federal Government w

The new Chibok schoolgirl, Maryam, rescued with a baby Troops of 121 Battalion, Nigerian Army, deployed at Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno, for Operation Lafiya Dole, on Saturday rescued one of the kidnapped Chibok girls. A statement issued by the army Spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, in Abuja, said the girl was discovered while the troops were screening some escapees from Boko Haram terrorists’ hideout in Sambisa forest at about 6 a.m. Usman gave the name of the recued girl as Maryam Ali Maiyanga. “She was discovered to be carrying a 10-month-old son, named Ali. She has been taken to the unit’s medical facility for proper medical check up. “It is imperative to state that troops have been working round the clock to clear remnants of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hibernating and also rescue all persons held hostages by terrorists,” he said. It will be recalled that the Boko Haram terrorists released 21 of the 219 kidnapped girls on Nov. 13 after negotiations b

Catholic-radio-network The suggestions by an ultraconservative Catholic radio network that Italy has been punished by God with devastating earthquakes after legalising gay unions are offensive and scandalous, a top Vatican official said. Archbishop Angelo Becciu, who acts as the Vatican’s Deputy Prime Minister, told newsmen on Saturday, in comments later picked up by Vatican Radio. he said “These are offensive remarks for believers and scandalous for non-believers.” Since Aug. 24, central Italy had been hit by five earthquakes with magnitudes of 5 or more and 22,700 seismic events of lower intensity. Almost 300 people died amid the quakes, which left tens of thousands homeless. During a call-in session on Thursday, Radio Maria presenter, Father Giovanni Cavalcoli, said “the natural disasters are God’s punishment for the original sin. “But may also be a rebuke against laws that offend Church views on family, marriage and sexual morals. “It really makes you think, let us call i

Professor Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò A Nigerian doctor, a professor of paediatric surgery, Oluyinka Olutoye, has been in the news lately, the world over. He has been the toast of the world of medical research. He has been interviewed on BBC and has been written about widely. All the accolades are well-deserved. What he did was as close to a miracle as you will see science come to. He was the attending physician in a case in which a foetus early in its development was found to have a rare cancer on its tailbone that was sure to be fatal if not excised. But what to do. There were no precedents. He led the team that took the foetus from the mother’s womb, cut out the cancer, and put the foetus back. The baby was born after full gestation. I add my voice to the congratulatory messages that are being sent to the good doctor from all corners of the globe. May he continue to prosper in his work and life. Then, as if on cue, our parliamentarians must find a way to turn the occasion into an “Ówàḿbe ̀

Nigeria-police The Police Command in Kaduna State on Saturday said it had arrested suspected murderer of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the state. The command’s Public Relation Officer, ASP Aliyu Usman, told the News Agency of Nigeria in an interview that the kingpin was arrested on Nov. 2. Usman said the suspect, Adamu Jibrin, 22, had made useful statement to the police on the offence. “We recovered six loaded cartridges, two knives, two cutlass, a double barrel and one Samsung phone in his room at Unguwar Yero Area in Kaduna,” Usman said. The late NYSC member, Lawal Kontagora, was killed on the Oct. 17. Two suspects were earlier arrested on Oct. 20. According to him, the kingpin is still under investigation, but the two other suspects have already been charged to court. The police spokesman said the arrest were carried out by the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB). He assured the public of their commitment to rid criminals and criminality in Kaduna. “We need

EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu With the heightened frequency of astonishing disclosures of official graft, and its accompanying high-profile arrests, interrogations, detentions, recovery of looted funds, confiscation of property allegedly acquired fraudulently and prosecutions, no one is left in doubt that President Muhammadu Buhari is living up to his pre-election promise of making the fight against corruption at all levels a top priority of his government. Though no conviction of any momentous significance yet, one thing is clear: this government, in spite of its tendency to commit unforced errors at intervals, has so far demonstrated a rare political will which has given birth to a renewed zeal in the anti-graft agencies to deal with corruption in a more determined and forthright manner. It is, therefore, safe to predict that sooner rather than later, their efforts would begin to yield results that Nigerians would be happy about. But it should be placed on record that one instituti

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Saturday approved special financial intervention for development of schools handed over to churches by the state government. Wike announced this at an interactive session with religious leaders in Port Harcourt. He said the state government took the decision after it discovered that most of the schools returned to missionary owners were in various stages of disrepair. The governor also announced the establishment of an economic development fund for church members in the state. “This economic development fund will assist church members with health and business challenges to get back to their feet. “This is like a social scheme that will assist indigent church members in these trying times, and not a fund meant to build churches, but an empowerment for less privileged members. “I have also directed the Commissioner for Education and the Special Adviser on Religious Matters to liaise with owners of missionary schools

One of Lagos historical fashion family and grand daughter of Baba Eko of Lagos State, Abioye A‎ina has launched her own cloth line ”  RAAWYALTY Fashion” recently.‎ ‎  The graduate of Babcock University who managed her grand mother’s Fabric business for years, decided to flag up a clothing line‎ to make impression in the fashion industry. Abioye’s clothing concept is designed to fit in both male and female clients especially with regards to body fiting, colour combination, words inscriptions and ofcourse eye catching designs.   ‎ The soft spoken lady ‎ who had her formative years in Atlanta Georgia, United States of America, is set to make an appearance at the Face Of Nigeria World event holding today in Lagos with her stylish swag and impressive presence of the T-shirts showing notable words like FinishWork, Who You Epp, I Concur, Ladies Next Door, Back To Back, I Dey Mad etc. Already recommended for an award in December, the CEO and the fashion creative lady whose operational of

The late Olaniwun Ajayi President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family of Ajayi and the entire Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, on the passage of one of its oldest surviving members, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, aged 91. In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, President Buhari also commiserated with the government and people of Ogun State on the demise of their illustrious son, author, legal practitioner, elder statesman and nationalist. The statement was signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina. President Buhari paid tribute to Pa Ajayi’s inspirational and dedicated work to entrench and strengthen democracy in Nigeria through his passionate engagements in Afenifere, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and the Patriots. The President noted that the deceased, who was guided by Chief Obafemi Awololo’s principle, had “effectively combined his sharp commentary on the state of affairs in Nigeria with uncommon patriotism

Dr Muslim Omoleke, Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ekiti State. Osun State Commissioner of Police Mr Fimihan Adeoye Friday evening announced the release of the kidnapped Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ekiti State, Mr Muslim Omoleke. “I am happy to let you know that the gentleman has been freed and united with his family,” the Osun police boss stated. Omoleke was kidnapped at Iwaraja community, near Ilesa in Osun State on Thursday He was said to have been driven away into the forest of Ijesaland by his abductors, together with his son and driver in his official car. A source at INEC disclosed that the abductors later released Omoleke’s son and the driver, along with the car. The spokesperson of INEC in Ekiti State, Alhaji Taiwo Gbadegesin, confirmed the incident. He said a report has been made to security agencies in Ondo, Osun and Ekiti States. Gbadegesin said the administrat