Global Naija Info

Reuben Abati Cameroonians got their chance of introducing into the syllabus of Comedy and Other Comic Forms (a subject I taught in my other career), what seemed like a variant of the domestic nature of humour and wit, when in the last week and more days, they forced humour out of what seemed like an ordinary situation and added to the Ice Bucket Challenge and the Mannequin Challenge, what has become known internationally as the #Bidoung Challenge or the #CourberDosChallenge. While we were busy here disgracing the Super Falcons who won the Golden Trophy at the 10th African Women Cup of Nations Championship Football Tournament (AWCON), by refusing to pay them their entitlements, and forcing them to take to the streets to advertise national shame and disgrace, the Cameroonians who came second in the tournament, were treated to a Presidential banquet and special romp with the President and his wife. It was a special occasion in sports whereby a silver medal was better rewarded than a go

court-of-law A 42-year-old man, Emmanuel Jagede, who allegedly defrauded an accommodation seeker of N550, 000, was on Tuesday released on a N200, 000 bail on the orders of a Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja. The defendant, an estate agent, who lives in Kurudu, Abuja, is facing a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating. Prosecutor Gideon Ayana told the court that a man, Friday Sunday, reported the incident at Central Police Station on Dec. 11. According to him, sometime in July the defendant presented himself as an agent and collected the sum of N550,000 from the complainant to rent a house for his friend. “The defendant promised to get the complainant’s friend a three-bedroom flat at Kurudu. “He also agreed to renovate the house before handing it over to the complainant. “Instead, the defendant converted the money to personal use and has since been avoiding the complainant.” The prosecutor said when the complainant pressured the defendant to pay h

Orijin Five men, who allegedly stole 10 cartons of Origin, a Nigerian alcoholic beverage, worth N660, 000, were on Tuesday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court. The accused — John Ejeh, 27; Kingsley Omeruo, 36; Adeyefa Adewunmi, 27; Fakinolu Precious, 25; and Ali Joseph, 21 — are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing. Prosecutor Ishola Samuel told the court that the accused committed the offences on Dec.17 at Pedro’s Bar on Iju Road in Agege area of Lagos. Samuel said the accused, who are workers of the complainant, Victor Ehigie, sold off 100 cartons of various brands Orijin drink and failed to remit the money to him. The offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. The magistrate, Mrs A. R. Onilogbo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N20,000 each with two sureties each in like sum. The case has been adjourned to Jan. 18, 2017 for mention.

Arik Airlines Aviation unions on Tuesday shut down the operations of Arik Air, leaving hundreds of the airline’s passengers stranded across the country. The strike was embarked upon by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers(NAAPE). The unions embarked on the joint strike following the airline’s failure to pay seven months salary arrears and other alleged anti-labour practices. The unions said the industrial action would continue indefinitely until their demands are met by the management of Arik Air. They shut down Arik Air’s flight operations at both the local and international wings of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and also barricaded the airline’s corporate headquarters within the airport premises. As early as 6:00 a.m, the aggrieved workers stormed the airport chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with various

Oba Rasheed Akanbi, oluwo of Iwo A Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo has issued a bench warrant against the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi following his refusal to appear in court in a case instituted by the Oluwo of Iwo Oke, Oba Kadiri Adeoye. Although Oba Akanbi was represented in court on Tuesday by his counsel, Mr. Olaide Yekeen, Magistrate Olusola Aluko issued the bench warrant despite the application for stay of proceeding; notice of preliminary objection and a notice of appeal filed before the court. Oba Akanbi was dragged to court by the Oluwo of Iwo Oke, who leveled some criminal allegations against the paramount ruler in Iwo land. The magistrate had at last sitting of the court on December 2nd threatened to issue a bench warrant against the monarch if he refused to appear in court on Tuesday ( today). PUNCH reports that counsel for Oba Akanbi had told the court that his client had several applications before the court and he told the court that the notice of prelimi

Simon Lalong, Plateau State Governor Mr David Wuyep, the Plateau Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, says his ministry has resuscitated three water treatment plants in three local governments areas of the state. Wuyep disclosed this at a news conference in Jos on Tuesday. He said that the resuscitated water treatment plants were in Shendam, Pankshin and Bokkos local government areas. He said that the plants had not been functional for long and the current administration decided to resuscitate them to ensure that people had potable water as well as to reduce incidence of waterborne diseases. The commissioner said that the ministry also replaced old pipelines which streched several kilometers within Jos/Bukuru metropolis. According to him, the ministry, in collaboration with the European Union and UNICEF, also drilled 340 hand pump boreholes in Shendam and Riyom local government areas. He promised that additional 300 hand pump boreholes would be inaugurated in other loca

Magistrate-court A suspect, Ibiabinisi Ayodele,44, was on Tuesday arraigned in an Ikeja Magistrate’s’ Court, Lagos for allegedly obtaining N50,000 under false pretences. Ayodele , whose address and occupation were not disclosed in court, is facing a four-count charge bordering on stealing and obtaining money under false pretences. The prosecutor, Insp Eruada Victor, told the court that the accused committed the offence sometime in April at Surulere St. Dopemu Agege, Lagos State. Victor said that the accused collected N50, 000 from one Glory Umoh on the pretext of procuring a room and parlour for her. He also obtained a sum of N20, 000 from Alagbe Sunday on the pretext of securing a job for him at Micro Finance Bank. “The accused failed to fulfill his part of the agreement he made with the complainants,” the prosecutor said. He said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty. The magistra

Ayanfe Falana, Miss Eko Miss Ayanfe Falana, the “Most Beautiful Girl, Eko 2016’’ on Tuesday said that the role of a beauty queen was a multi-tasking job that required energy, courage and determination. Falana, at the 40th Miss Nigeria Beauty Pageant, said that there was more to being a beauty queen. Miss Nigeria Pageant is organised by the Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) in partnership with many organisation and the media. The pageant show held at the Eko Hotel and Suite, Victoria Island, Lagos. The beauty pageant which commenced in 1957 had been an important event since then for both young and old and has attracted young female participants across the country. Commenting, Falana, said that the beauty pageant ceremony was just the climax of all the trainings, orientations and weeding tests that the contestants went through. “It takes a lot to be a Miss Eko, it transcends the beauty queen that people assumed it to be. First, before winning you must exhibit what you have inside of

National Youth Service Corp members The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) said on Tuesday that the scheme was assisting government in reviving the education sector by deploying more corps members in rural schools. The Zamfara Coordinator, Mallam Ballama Bello, made this remark in Gusau. “We are aware of the fact that most of the schools in rural communities in the state have problems of inadequate teachers. “We are therefore posting corps members to these schools in order to contribute to the educational development of our children. “One of the NYSC objectives is to utilise the corps members in nation-building efforts; so we are now using the scheme to support education as the bedrock for future development. “We have been collaborating with the state Ministry of Education to realise this objective and we are ready to partner with government or non governmental organisations for national development,’’ he said. Ballama urged the corps members to be good ambassadors of Nigeria

Ayanfe Falana, Miss Eko Miss Ayanfe Falana, the “Most Beautiful Girl, Eko 2016’’ on Tuesday said that the role of a beauty queen was a multi-tasking job that required energy, courage and determination. Falana, at the 40th Miss Nigeria Beauty Pageant, said that there was more to being a beauty queen. Miss Nigeria Pageant is organised by the Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) in partnership with many organisation and the media. The pageant show held at the Eko Hotel and Suite, Victoria Island, Lagos. The beauty pageant which commenced in 1957 had been an important event since then for both young and old and has attracted young female participants across the country. Commenting, Falana, said that the beauty pageant ceremony was just the climax of all the trainings, orientations and weeding tests that the contestants went through. “It takes a lot to be a Miss Eko, it transcends the beauty queen that people assumed it to be. First, before winning you must exhibit what you have inside of

New Miss Nigeria The winner of the 40th Miss Nigeria Beauty Pageant, Miss Chioma Obiadi, from Anambra has promised to be the best expected of her during her reign as the beauty queen. The queen, crowned on Monday night, made the pledge while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the event at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island. The highly elated queen spoke of her desire to use her position as queen to motivate young ones and model them in the right direction. “I promise to be the best in my capacity as the beauty queen. Nigerians are expecting and the kind of queen they desire has emerged. “Today is a great day for me being crowned as Miss Nigeria and I want to keep pushing because this is not my first time in the competition. “I was confident that I could become the next Miss Nigeria, so, I tried to put in my best. “I thank everyone that has contributed to my success, my parents, friends and colleagues and my course mates, God bless you all. Apart from the title, C

Nigeria Police emblem Following the recent declaration of “Operation Nkpochapu Phase two” by the Imo state police command, over 25 criminals terrorising the citizens of the state have been arrested. Mr Taiwo Lakanu, the Police Commissioner, made the disclosure in a press statement issued by Mr Andrew Anwerem, the command Public Relations Officer. The statement, made available on Tuesday in Owerri, said that some of the suspects had been charged to court, while others were still undergoing investigation. Lakanu said that the Nkpochapu declaration would guarantee maximum security in Imo especially this festive period. He said that a criminal, Obinna Onuoha, who was declared wanted by the police, was arrested by the command on Dec. 4. He added that the suspect had confessed to have murdered four persons at various occasions in recent time. He said that Thankgod Igwe, the leader of a five-man gang, who led his group to terrorise five different families Umuagwa Obazu and shot one p

Arik Airline: one of Nigeria’s airlines The United Labour Congress (ULC) and the Nigeria Pilots and Engineers union on Tuesday shut the offices of Arik Airlines, due to the inability of the airline to pay its workers for seven months. The Acting Chairman of ULC, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, said in a telephone interview in Lagos that the union could no longer tolerate the inhumane treatment of Arik’s management to workers. Korodo said that apart from owing workers for seven months, the management of the airline was not remitting the taxes of workers to relevant bodies. The unionist said that five executive members of the ULC working in Arik had been sacked. “We have shut down Arik Airlines operations, due to non-payment of seven months salary and non- remittance of workers’ taxes to relevant agencies. “The office will remain shut until the end of the year, unless the management reaches a compromise with our union on the anti-labour issues. “We cannot continue to watch Arik Airlines’

Ahmed Indimi and Zahra Buhari The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has expressed profound gratitude to friends and well wishers who joined her in prayer during and after the wedding of her daughter, Zahra Muhammadu Buhari. Mrs Buhari, who expressed the appreciation on her facebook page on Tuesday, prayed that God would assist mothers in Nigeria to witness successful wedding of their daughters. ” On behalf of my family, I express my profound gratitude to friends and well wishers who joined me to celebrate the wedding of my daughter, Zahra. ” It is my prayer that God will make it possible for us to all witness same with our children, thank you and God bless us all,” Mrs Buhari said. President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday gave out Zahra in marriage to Ahmed Indimi, a businessman from Borno. The wedding Fatiha took place after the Deputy Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja, Sheikh Ibrahim Makari, led other Muslims Ummah to a two Raka’at Jumma’at Prayer. A representative

Newly crowned 40th Miss Nigeria, Chioma Obiadi from Anambra State. The winner of the 40th Miss Nigeria Beauty Pageant, Miss Chioma Obiadi, from Anambra has promised to be the best expected of her during her reign as the beauty queen. The queen, crowned on Monday night, made the pledge while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the event at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island. The highly elated queen spoke of her desire to use her position as queen to motivate young ones and model them in the right direction. “I promise to be the best in my capacity as the beauty queen. Nigerians are expecting and the kind of queen they desire has emerged. “Today is a great day for me being crowned as Miss Nigeria and I want to keep pushing because this is not my first time in the competition. “I was confident that I could become the next Miss Nigeria, so, I tried to put in my best. “I thank everyone that has contributed to my success, my parents, friends and colleagues and my course

New Miss Nigeria The winner of the 40th Miss Nigeria Beauty Pageant, Miss Chioma Obiadi, from Anambra has promised to be the best expected of her during her reign as the beauty queen. The queen, crowned on Monday night, made the pledge while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the event at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island. The highly elated queen spoke of her desire to use her position as queen to motivate young ones and model them in the right direction. “I promise to be the best in my capacity as the beauty queen. Nigerians are expecting and the kind of queen they desire has emerged. “Today is a great day for me being crowned as Miss Nigeria and I want to keep pushing because this is not my first time in the competition. “I was confident that I could become the next Miss Nigeria, so, I tried to put in my best. “I thank everyone that has contributed to my success, my parents, friends and colleagues and my course mates, God bless you all. Apart from the title, C

Donald Trump The 538-member Electoral College sealed Republican Donald Trump’s victory on Monday, formalising his Nov. 8 election and making him officially the 45th elected U.S. President. The Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the U.S. reports that Trump took to his twitter handle to break the news of his victory to his supporters. “We did it! Thank you to all of my great supporters, we just officially won the election (despite all of the distorted and inaccurate media),” Trump said. “Today marks a historic electoral landslide victory in our nation’s democracy. “I thank the American people for their overwhelming vote to elect me as their next President of the United States. “This election represents a movement that millions of hard working men and women all across the country stood behind and made possible. “With this historic step we can look forward to the bright future ahead. “I will work hard to unite our country and be the President of all Americans,” T

Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen Hadi Sirika, says the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, will be closed for six weeks in February and March 2017 for total repairs on the runway. Sirika told newsmen in Abuja on Monday that the closure was to allow Julius Berger carry out total re-construction on the badly damaged airport runway. He said that while the runway would still be put to use under the six months of rehabilitation, the six weeks would allow the mid section of the runway to be reconstructed. According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstruction through the emergency procurement procedure for work to commence. This, according to him, is because of the centrality, economy and the importance of Abuja to the general administration of the country. He said government could not afford to close down Abuja airport for a long time as palliative repairs had been ongoing at the runway in the last

EFCC acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu Senate Leader Ali Ndume on Monday in Abuja dismissed media reports that the Senate had rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Ndume, who spoke after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, said the confirmation of Magu was only suspended pending clarification from the presidency. ”What we said is that the Senate on that Thursday could not go ahead with the confirmation of Mr Ibrahim Magu because we are in possession of a letter from the Department of State Service which requires clarification from Mr President, who is the principal or the head of the government. ”That was what happened, anyway. Because of this controversy that can come out. I’m one of those that wrote the short press statement which states that the Senate cannot continue with the confirmation. ”So, the other four members have been referred to the committee and the committee will resume its

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (left), decorating Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army Cantoment, Ikeja, Brigadier General Sani Mohammed (right) while the Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Lagos State Chapter, Col. Samuel Akande, rtd. (middle), watch during the launching of the Y2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem Appeal at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday announced a donation of N5 million towards the welfare of widows of members of the Nigeria Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, urging Nigerians and corporate organizations to continue to donate generously towards their welfare. Governor Ambode, who announced the donation at the launch of the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem Appeal, held at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said members of the Armed Forces over the years have continued to demonstrate courage and gallantry, which according to him have resulted in the return of relative peace to the North

Chris Ndulue, Managing Director of Arik Airline The unions in the aviation sector have directed the commencement of a joint strike at Arik Air, with effect from Dec. 20, over the airline’s failure to pay seven months salary arrears and other anti-labour practices. The unions gave the directive in a strike notice obtained in Lagos on Monday. The notice was signed by Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and Mr Frances Akinjole, General Secretary, Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN). It was also signed by the General Secretary of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Mr Aba Ocheme. The unions said the strike would continue indefinitely, until their demands are met by the management of Arik Air. Their demands include: “That the management of Arik Air allows total unionisation of its employees, in compliance with extant labour laws and with respect to the constitution of

Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Ankara, was killed on Monday by a gunman while attending an art exhibition in Ankara. The gunman who was shouting “Aleppo” and “revenge” shot Karlov while he was visiting an art exhibition in Ankara on December 19, witnesses and media reports said. The Turkish state-run Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been “neutralised” in a police operation, without giving further details. The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks a gallery in Ankara Monday Dec. 19, 2016. A gunman opened fire on Karlov at a photo exhibition on Monday. The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said he was hospitalized with a gunshot wound. The gunman is seen at rear on the left. An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turke