Global Naija Info

APC Mr Afolabi Olaposi, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owo, Ondo State, was killed by unknown gunmen on Thursday night in Owo. The Party said in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Abayomi Adesanya, on Friday in Akure that Olaposi was shot dead on his way home after attending a meeting of the party in preparation for the governorship election. “Olaposi, who is one of the leaders of our party in Igboroko Ward 1, Owo, was also an ardent supporter of our Governorship Candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN). “He was a perfect gentleman who was committed to the development of the party in Owo and Ondo State in general. “The assailant also went to the house of Chief Jamiu Ekungba, an APC aspirant in the Sept. 3 Primary, and vandalised seven vehicles in his compound. “Ekungba was not to at home during the attack. “We believe those calling for the postponement of the election and threatening a repeat of 1983 violence were behind these dastardly acts. “We

Gov. Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo State Less than 12 hours to tomorrow’s governorship election in Ondo State, the atmosphere in Ondo is tense as security agents with blaring sirens patrol the nooks and crannies of the state. Security checkpoints have been set up in strategic areas in the state to scrutinise both human and vehicular movements while residents have mostly restricted themselves to the confines of their homes. The situation was made worse with Governor Olusegun Mimiko vowing to resist an alleged plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the election in favour of an anointed candidate. Addressing journalists this afternoon, Governor Mimiko accused INEC of violating the electoral law which stipulates that a nominated candidate’s name for an election must be published 30 days before the election. The governor also accused INEC of taking sides and planning to subvert the will of the Ondo people during tomorrow’s election through the manipulation of poll

L-R: Kunle Ajibade, Molara Wood, and Ngugi wa Thiong’o after the panel on Prison Stories and Literature of Resistance at the Ake Arts and Book Festival. Photograph: Ake Arts and Book Festival. Legendary Kenya writer, Prof.Ngugi wa Thiong’o and the Executive Editor of The News Magazine, Kunle Ajibade have recounted their life experiences in prisons in their various countries at the recently-concluded Ake Arts and Book Festival in Lagos, Nigeria. The use of language as a form of resistance also dominated Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s speeches at the festival.The celebrated Kenyan author’s appearance began with a discursive session on prison stories and literature of resistance. Moderated by writer and journalist, Molara Wood, the session also featured Ajibade, who discussed his detention under the late Gen. Sani Abacha, former Nigerian military head-of-state. Prof. wa Thiong’o had initiated proceedings by acknowledging Mr Ajibade’s seniority in prison matters. Having spent one year in jail, co

Omotoso, reading a passage from The Woman Next Door. Photograph: Ake Arts and Book Festival. Yewande Omotoso is an architect and novelist resident in Cape Town. Her widely-acclaimed debut novel, ‘Bom Boy’, won the 2012 South African Literary Award for a first time published author and was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Fiction Prize as well as the Etisalat Prize for Literature. At the recently-concluded Ake Arts and Book Festival, she discussed her new novel, ‘The Woman Next Door.’ Your new novel, ‘The Woman Next Door’ explores the theme of racism, why did you choose to write about that? I didn’t so much as choose to write about that. More like I always enter story through character and as I started working on these two characters, Hortensia and Marion, some of the themes (there are several) that came up were the themes of prejudice, racism and class, how these intersect and how they are woven through the two lives their antagonistic relationship. You’ve done this through octog

Sarah Ladipo-Manyika Sarah Ladipo-Manyika is an accomplished academic and novelist. Her recently-published novella, ‘Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream To The Sun’ is the first African novel to be shortlisted for the prestigious Goldsmiths Prize. In this interview, she explains why the celebrated book tells a story through an elderly character. Your novel, Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream To The Sun was the first African novel to be shortlisted for the Goldsmiths prize. How do you feel about that? It was very exciting. You know when you’re shortlisted for a prize as an author it’s always very encouraging. It helps to sell books, but more importantly, it helps to expand your readership. So, all of a sudden, I had readers that I wouldn’t normally have. For me it was a special prize to be shortlisted for because it is a prize that rewards creative daring and I had done something that was a little bit unusual; I was writing about an older woman which is not something you find in literature a

Obla Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday struck out the N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Godwin Obla, SAN, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. It would be recalled that Obla, who was detained by the EFCC for allegedly offering N5m gratification to Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, had filed a N1 billion suit against the EFCC, urging the court to declare his detention by the EFCC was unlawful. Obla, through his counsel, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), had urged the court to declare that the seizure of his mobile telephone by the EFCC was a violation of his fundamental right to own property. But in his judgment on Friday, Justice Idris, declared that he found nothing unlawful in his detention, as he said that fundamental rights were not “absolute”. The judge, while taking into cognizance the argument of the EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, agreed that Obla and Justice Ofili-Ajum

Ogunlewe and others being led to court on Friday The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday arraigned the trio of Senator Adesewe Ogunlewe, former Works and Housing Minister and Pro Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAB; Prof. Olusola Oyewole, the Vice Chancellor and Mr. Moses Olusola Ilesanmi, Bursar before Justice O. O Majekodunmi of the State High Court sitting at Abeokuta, Ogun State. They were arraigned on an 18 -count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, obtaining money by false pretence and abuse of office. They however pleaded not guilty to all the charges. In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, Bennedict Ubi and Festus Ojo asked the court to remand them in prison custody pending the commencement of trial. The defence counsel to the first, second and third defendants Wale Adesokan (SAN), Benjamin Ogunmodede and Lapite Ademola urged the court to admit them on bail having filed the various applications before the cou

Senator Iyiola Omisore As the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State deepens, a faction of the party on Friday suspended Senator Iyiola Omisore over allegations of anti-party activities. A statement issued and signed by the party’s chairman, Mr. Soji Adagunodo and the Secretary, Mr. Bola Ajao said Omisore and others had been suspended for anti-party activities. The Adagunodo-led executive also suspended the chairman of the other faction of the party, Dr. Bayo Faforiji; Bunmi Jenyo; Chief Ojo Williams and Bade Falade for the same offence. According to the statement, the state executive committee received recommendation from various wards to local governments and senatorial districts, to suspend “the following PDP members : Dr. Bayo Faforiji, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, Chief Ojo Williams and Hon Bade Falade. “In accordance with the provisions of the PDP constitution, and inherent powers vested on the the State executive committee of the party

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State The Enugu State Government says it will recruit 2,000 volunteer teachers for primary and post-primary schools in the state. The state’s Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, said in Enugu on Friday that the planned recruitment is aimed at revamping the education sector. Udeuhele said that English and Mathematics teachers would be recruited for the primary schools, while Agriculture, Basic Sciences, English, and Mathematics teachers would be engaged for the secondary schools. “This would enable us to meet the demand for teachers in primary and post-primary schools so that the sector would be repositioned in line with Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s vision for education,’’ he explained. He said the recruitment of the teachers would begin in December. According to him, those engaged will be expected to begin teaching in 2017. He said the state government had concluded arrangement to employ already existing volunteer teachers in primary

Nigerian-senate The Chairman, Senate ad hoc Committee on the Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East has pledged to unravel massive corruption allegedly perpetrated by public officers in the management of Boko Haram crisis. Alhaji Shehu Sani made the pledge during a courtesy visit to Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno in Maiduguri on Friday. Sani said that the committee was constituted following reports of alleged mismanagement of scarce resources by those in charge of managing the crisis. “We are here as a result of a motion tabled on the Senate on Oct. 4, raising concern on the humanitarian crisis in the North-East. “Our mandate is to investigate how millions of taxpayers’ money pumped in through Federal Government Committees and agencies here failed to impact positively on the living conditions of Internally Displaced Persons. “We have documents on the ways and manners federal funds disbursed for the upkeep of displaced persons have not been spent well. “We are deeply concerned th

Magistrate-court A 30-year-old man, Idowu Ojo, who allegedly stole N250, 000 from his sister under the pretence of settling the police who arrested him was on Friday brought before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court. Ojo, who resides in Ojota area of Lagos State, is facing a three-count charge of obtaining by false pretence, stealing and threat to life. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Ihiehie Lucky, told the court that the offences were committed on Nov. 20 at Maidan-Oride in Mile 12. He said the complainant, a sister to the accused, reported that her brother collected the sum of N250, 000 pretending that the police arrested him and he needed the money to settle them. She later found out that her brother lied to her and asked him for the money only to get a threat to her life from him. “He threatened her with a cutlass and that he was going to use to kill her with his gang if she ever disturbed him again,” Ihiehie said. The offences contravened Sections 312, 285 and 66 of Criminal Law of Lagos

FRSC The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) says it will restrict inter-state traffic during Saturday’s Governorship Election in Ondo State. Mr Umoru Abdullahi, FRSC Unit Commander in Ore, Ondo State, said the restriction would start from 8:00 am and end at 2:00 pm. The FRSC also advised motorists, especially those plying Ore-Benin expressway, to find alternative routes to their destinations. “As we all know that the governorship election is holding in Ondo tomorrow, we advise motorists, especially on Ore-Benin expressway, to use alternate route between 8:00 am and 2:00 am. “We have also deployed over 200 personnel to check abuse of vehicular movements of residents in the four local government areas under this unit,” he said. Abdullahi, however, said that vehicles used by INEC officials, journalists and security agents involved in the conduct of the election were exempted from the restriction.

teenage-marriage The Principal of Day Secondary School Bari Kinsale, Minna, Hajia Hajara Mohammed, has urged parents to resist teenage marriage in order to curtail the incidence of Vesico Virginal Fistula (VVF) ‎disease. Mohammed said this in Minna on Friday‎. She noted that teenage marriage was prevalent among out-of-school girls in ‎the state. “A girl child that is not up to 18 years is vulnerable and ‎should not be married out because some of them at childbirth come down with VVF. “These categories of females are dumped by their husbands while some of them don’t have money to go into minor or major operations.” Mohammed said that the situation the teenage girls suffering from VVF found themselves was very deplorable and made their husbands to abandon them. She emphasised that mothers should be cautious of the inherent dangers of marrying off their teenage girls early and chart a better course for them. “Mothers should strive to ensure that their girl child attained 18 year

Oba Akeem Adesanya, the Alara-of-Ilara The Alara of Ilara, Oba Akeem Adesanya, on Friday called on investors to take advantage of the abundant investment opportunities available in Epe community of Lagos state. Adesanya said in Lagos that with the state government’s rapid infrastructure development effort in the community, the stage is being set for commercial activities in the area to improve. He commended Gov. Akinwumi Ambode for his commitment to developing infrastructure in the ancient city. “There are lots of roads being upgraded. New ones are being constructed too. “There is constant electricity supply; there are basic amenities and other plans to make the community a commercial hub are currently ongoing,’’ he said. Adesanya identified fish farming, crop farming, and tourism as some of the areas with huge investment opportunities in the city. “In the next two years, Epe will be one of the mega cities in the country, because of the rapid development going on in the commun

child-with-tribal-marks Some residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday expressed mixed reactions over marrying persons with tribal marks on their faces. Tribal marks are cultural practice in some parts of Africa, which entails inscription on the body by burning or cutting of the skin during childhood for identification of a person’s tribe, family or patrilineal heritage, and as a symbol of beauty. In Abuja, some residents said they find tribal marks on the body, particularly on the face attractive, while others said it was repulsive, hence cannot marry anyone with it. Miss Clara Omeiza, a beautician, said even though the practice was fast declining due to cultural interaction and modernization, tribal marks makes the person looks less attractive and unappealing. “ As a makeup artist, I find the practice of marking a face repulsive and unattractive. “ Fortunately for us that practice is fast fading as people no longer see the need to mark their child’s face, pro

Dangote The Yobe Committee on Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on Friday distributed food items donated by Dangote Foundation to nine communities in Tarmuwa and Damaturu Local Government Areas. Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, the state Deputy Governor and Chairman of the IDP resettlement committee, while distributing the materials in Babbangida, said that Dangote Foundation was partnering with the state government to provide succour to victims of insurgency. Aliyu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Muhammad Lamin, urged leaders of the communities to ensure fair distribution of the food items to the displaced persons. He assured that government would do everything possible to facilitate the resettlement and rehabilitation of the IDPs in their original communities. Aliyu said that government was reconstructing public institutions destroyed by insurgency for speedy resettlement process. 300 bags of rice, 510 bags of semolina, 650 cartons of Sp

Gianni Infantino, FIFA president Russian football chief Vitaly Mutko has urged the ruling body FIFA to promote the 2018 World Cup in Russia in a better way. “It is high time that FIFA becomes much more active in its promotion of the World Cup. “FIFA should make more use of international football stars as advertisers and for instance show a video of the upcoming World Cup during half-time breaks of qualifying matches,’’ Mutko said. Mutko, who is also Russian sports minister and a member of the FIFA council, said he wanted to raise the issue with FIFA president Gianni Infantino around the draw. “We expect many questions from him on the state of our World Cup preparations, but we also have many questions for him,’’ Mutko said. Infantino was due to arrive in Russia on Friday and meet with the nation’s president, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow before heading on to Kazan.

Iranian-train-crash Two passenger trains collided in Iran’s north-central province of Semnan on Friday, killing no fewer than 15 people and injuring dozens, Iranian media reported, saying the number of fatalities and casualties expected to rise. “No fewer than 15 people were killed and over 20 others have been injured in the crash,’’ it reported. Iranian media gave contradictory reports on the death toll and number of injured passengers in the crash. The semi-official Fars news agency said 52 people were injured, and they were transferred to nearby hospitals. Reports gave no details on the number of passengers in the trains, but Fars said 100 passengers had been rescued. State television showed footage of four derailed carriages, with two of them on fire. A spokesman for Iran’s Red Crescent, Mostafa Mortazavi, told Fars that firefighters were trying to control the blaze. “The accident happened when a passenger train in motion crashed to another one that had stopped at the sta

hurricane-otto Hurricane Otto battered Nicaragua and Costa Rica with powerful winds and torrential rains on Friday, damaging homes, forcing thousands to evacuate and causing an undetermined number of deaths. “The hurricane, which weakened rapidly after hitting the south-eastern coast of Nicaragua, became a tropical storm,’’ the U.S. National Hurricane Centre said, as dangerous flooding continued in both countries. In Costa Rica, President Luis Guillermo Solis said on Thursday that there had been a number of deaths, but added it was too early to say how many people had died. “I regret to inform you that there are people dead and missing,’’ Solis told a news conference. The Miami-based hurricane centre said Otto, the seventh Atlantic hurricane of the season, landed north of the town of San Juan de Nicaragua as a Category 2 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of intensity. However, thousands of people were evacuated from its path. It weakened to a tropical storm, with top

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State The Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, says all Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps in the state would be closed down by May 29, 2017. Shettima said on Friday in Maiduguri, that the state has nearly two million displaced persons. He said the government had placed priority on the reconstruction of communities destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents, to facilitate the return of IDPs to their towns and villages. “We have reconstructed Bama by 25 per cent; my target is to reach 50 per cent by the end of this year and 75 per cent by first quarter of 2017. “I want to close down all IDP camps latest May 29, 2017, because the IDP camps are becoming a huge problem on their own. “If we allow the entrenchment of these IDP camps, they are pregnant with loads of challenges of early child marriage, prostitution, drug abuse, gangsterism. “And we will be confronted with huge social challenges of an entitlement complex of people feeling that they a

U.S. Police Two persons were killed and four were injured in a shooting at a Thanksgiving Day football tournament in Kentucky on Thursday. The shooting occurred at Shawnee Park, where a youth football tournament called the Juice Bowl is held every year on Thanksgiving Day. Louisville Metro Police said officers responded to a call of multiple shootings at Shawnee Park on Thursday afternoon. Police said there were no suspects in custody and they had not established a motive for the shooting, which occurred during an annual football tournament that dates back to the 1950s. Dwight Mitchell, spokesman for the Louisville Metro Police Department, said that as yet, no one is aware of the motive for the shooting. Mitchell told reporters that the four survivors suffered non-life-threatening injuries and had been taken to the hospital. The police spokesman said the department has not made any arrests, and are still searching for possible suspects. “When you have a tragedy like this take

Abandoned-police-barracks Mr Paul Agbo, the District Head of Akwana in Wukari Council Area of Taraba, has appealed to the Federal Government to revive the Mobile Police barracks in the district. Agbo told newsmen on Friday in Akwana that reviving the barracks would help to tackle the fragile security situation in the area. He expressed concern that the barracks, built in 2003, had not been put to use by officers of the mobile police force. He said: “the MOPOL barracks was built in 2003 through the efforts of Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha, our amiable representative in the National Assembly. “It was built to tackle ethnic clashes between Tivs and infiltrating herdsmen and also to ensure a sustainable peace in the area. “Unfortunately, since the structures were erected, the barracks has not been occupied by policemen. “We are aware that a group of Police officers had previously come to inspect the barracks, but nothing has been done to revive it.” Agbo also urged the federal government

Brig-gen-Paul-Boroh The Presidential Amnesty Office received a total of N25 billion appropriation under the 2016 Budget including a N5 billion loan from the government. A statement from the coordinator of the programme Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh, said the funds were received under three line-items; Stipends which has seen 99.7 per cent expenditure, Reintegration which has had 93.62 per cent implementation, and Operational Activities which has had a 98.615 percent application. He said the payment of stipends to amnesty beneficiaries cannot be endless, adding that his Office is sensitizing beneficiaries and their leaders to this reality. He said that “Stipends cannot be forever; the best thing is to teach people how to fish than to be given fish forever” Boroh reiterated Government’s commitment to the training and empowerment of all beneficiaries under the Programme before exiting them. He, however, revealed that the office would on Nov. 28, deploy 500 ex-agitators to undergo training

China-power-plant accident Police took 13 people into custody as the death toll in the collapse of a platform under construction at a power plant in eastern China rose to 74, with two others injured, state media said on Friday. Deadly accidents are relatively common at industrial sites in China, where anger over lax standards is growing. The media report said three decades of swift economic growth have been marred by incidents ranging from mining disasters to factory fires. It noted that 68 of the 74 dead have been identified so far, with victims ranging in age from 23 to 53. The accident happened on Thursday in Fengcheng, in Jiangxi province, during work on a cooling tower for the coal-fired power plant. The media report said the accident happened when a tower crane collapsed, triggering the collapse of the entire construction platform as the night shift was being relieved by the morning shift. “We will conduct a serious investigation into the cause of the accident and hold t

illegal-chinese-workers Philippine immigration officers have arrested 1,240 Chinese nationals suspected of working illegally in a province north of Manila, the authorities announced on Friday. “As of 2 a.m. our immigration unit has counted a total of 1,240 Chinese nationals arrested in the operation,’’ Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said. He said the arrest took place at a leisure park in the Clark Freeport Zone, a former American airbase which also includes a hotel and casino. “Our immigration officers have started conducting verification of passports of the suspects,’’ Morente said, adding that they were now being guarded by the police. On Sept. 9, immigration agents also arrested 154 Chinese nationals for breaking immigration laws and for illegal online gambling in the Clark Freeport Zone. The immigration bureau said the arrests were part of a sustained effort to weed out illegal aliens and undocumented foreign nationals with the help of law enforcers. In

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture Photo: Femi Ipaye/PM News The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has revealed how he addressed the challenge of employment racketeers in his ministry and parastatal agencies. Addressing members of Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism on oversight to his ministry on Thursday in Abuja, the minister said the racketeers swindled many unsuspected job seekers, promising t give them phantom jobs. “When I came in, we were able to uncover a number of cartels engaging in unlawful employment. “They gave bank account details which their victims paid huge sum of money into and after the payment they issued them with letters of employment. “They even camped some of them in hotels for capturing into Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) “In fact, in a particular organisation, a level 17 Officer was involved in this racketeering, but unfortunately he is late now. “When we discovered this we swung

sport-equipment Mr Ahmed Gumel, Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund says the organisation has donated sports equipment to 47 public primary schools in Plateau to promote sports development in Nigeria. The secretary made this known on Friday in Jos. He said the organisation would distribute sports equipment to 2,000 schools in the country in line with the law establishing the organisation. According to him, the law empowers it to utilise proceeds from lottery operations to execute developmental projects across the country. He said lottery fund had been able to utilise the remittances it received from lottery operators and promoters in the country to support many sporting activities. “ We have been able to support the 9th All African Games in Algiers in 2007; we sponsored the Police West African games in 2009. “We have also purchased sports equipment for sports like football, basketball, volleyball, judo and hand ball among others to be distributed to 2,000 sc

United-Nations The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned that Boko Haram insurgency and rising inflation have left more than five million people in northeast Nigeria facing acute food insecurity. The UN agriculture agency has appealed for 25 million dollars through May 2017 to support irrigated vegetable production and micro-gardening in the dry season, as well as rebuild livestock systems. In a situation update, FAO said the urgently needed funds would tackle food insecurity among returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities. In addition, the agency is seeking funds now to provide critical agricultural inputs to farmers in time for the 2017 main rainy season. “We must act now to rapidly restore food security and combat severe hunger and malnutrition,” FAO said in the update. It noted that inflationary pressures in the national economy have pushed the prices of staple food crops extremely high across the three northeastern states of Adamawa,

Toyin Aimakhu and ex-lover Toyin Aimakhu’s ex-lover and Lagos-based Nollywood film-maker, Seun Egbegbe, has been remanded in Kirikiri prison pending the fulfilment of the conditions attached to his bail. He was arraigned on Thursday before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing nine pieces of iphones at the Computer village, Ikeja. The presiding Magistrate Aje Afunwa granted him bail in the sum of N1 million and two sureties in like sum. The accused pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of stealing preferred against him. A mild drama, however, played out outside the court as Egbegbe’s supporters threatened to beat up any journalist who tries to take photograph of the accused. It took the intervention of the police and court orderlies who sent the rowdy mob out of the court premises. While journalists waited to take Egbegbe’s picture, the prison warders assisted by his family members sneaked him out of the court premises through the back door into a waiting pris

Gareth Bale Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale will have ankle surgery next Tuesday and is expected to be out for four months. Bale, 27, hobbled out of Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League win at Sporting Lisbon with what has been diagnosed as a “traumatic dislocation of the peroneal tendons” in his right ankle. He will be operated on in London and is at risk of missing Wales’ 2018 World Cup qualifier against Republic of Ireland in Dublin on 24 March. That game is exactly four months away. Chris Coleman’s Wales are currently third in Group D, four points adrift of leaders Ireland and two points behind Serbia. Bale extended his Real deal in October and is now tied to the Spanish giants until 2022. He has made 20 appearances for club and country since August, scoring 11 goals.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State Edo State Government Thursday announced the sack of Major Lawrence Loye (Retd), from office as Permanent Secretary in the Public Service of the State with immediate effect. His sack was contained in a statement issued and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq. The statement reads in part: “I write to inform you that His Excellency, the Governor has approved your removal from office as Permanent Secretary in the Public Service of the State with immediate effect.” He was also ordered to hand over all government properties in his possession to the most senior director in his ministry. No reason was however given for his sack in the statement. Until his removal, Major Loye who hailed from Ilesa, Osun State, was the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Transport. It would be recalled that Major Loye came into the limelight few years ago when as the head of the task force on the demolition of illegal structure

Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney is one goal from matching Sir Bobby Charlton’s Manchester United scoring record. Wayne Rooney became Manchester United’s record European goalscorer as they beat Feyenoord to keep their Europa League fate in their hands. The Red Devils captain scored his 39th European goal for the club when he clipped the ball over Brad Jones from Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s perfect through ball – with Feyenoord appealing unsuccessfully for offside. Rooney then set up Juan Mata to slide home the second. The win was secured when former Liverpool keeper Jones deflected Ibrahimovic’s cross into his own net, and Jesse Lingard curled in a fourth in injury time to make it Jose Mourinho’s biggest win as United boss. A draw or win at Zorya Luhansk in the final Group A game on Thursday, 8 December would take United into the last 32. United’s £26m summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan was impressive on only his second start for the club. Mourinho has said the former Borussia Dortmund midf

Bodies of some of the militants killed Many militants were reported killed when the Joint Task Force (JTF) code-named ”Operation Delta Safe” raided a suspected militants’ camp in Okosugbene along the Burutu/Warri in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta on Thursday. A source told newsmen in Warri that the military personnel stormed the camp with two Fighter Jets and about eight Gunboats at about 6 a.m. The camp was said to be an abandoned hideout used by the former militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and now occupied by sea pirates. The JTF were said to have acted on a tip-off on a raid that lasted for about an hour. ”Information about casualties is still unknown. ”The raid caused tension among dwellers of riverine communities as residents fled for safety,” the source said. The Sector (1) Commander of the JTF, Col. Alhassan Grema, confirmed the raid but declined to give details.