Global Naija Info

Gunmen on rampage Two gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, on Tuesday night abducted Mrs Comfort Alaba, a staff of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Festac Town, Lagos. Sources revealed on Wednesday in Lagos that the two-man gang stormed Tastee Fried Chicken (TFC) outlet at 22 Road, FESTAC Town and abducted the woman at about 8pm. It was gathered that the victim, who was attached to Tincan Command SDV, a bonded terminal of the NCS, was with her two daughters, when the masked men stormed out of their car and picked her up. One of the victim’s daughters, Faith Alaba, went to social media to announce the abduction of their mother and called on Nigerians and security agents to assist the family to secure her release. She said: “My mother was kidnapped this evening in front of me and my younger sister in a black Murano jeep. “We were at TFC at 22 road, FESTAC outside in the car and two men came around. “My sister ran out of the car. My mother was still screaming and struggling when

Former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori has been released from UK jail where he was sentenced for 13 years for corruption. He was released after serving half of his term in prison after agreeing to be deported to Nigeria. Here are the first pictures of the former governor after his release from prison, courtesy Vanguard newspapers. Ibori after his release from prison Ibori after his release from prison Ibori after his release from UK prison

The suspects The operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested five traffic robbery suspects in different parts of the metropolis. The suspects were apprehended during a special raid by the RRS operatives on robbers who were attacking and dispossessing members of the public of their valuables in traffic. The suspects, Oyeleke Abdullah (24); Olajide Dipo (17); Saheed Alayande (17); Azeez Yusuph (21) and Oyeniwa Wasiu (18) were nabbed in Victoria Island, Ojodu Berger, Oshodi, Obalende and Ilubirin around the state. RRS investigator revealed that before the arrest, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni had directed RRS Commander to deploy more operatives to Ojodu Berger, Lekki and Oshodi in order to ensure Ember-month free crime. It was gathered that some operatives of the RRS’s Decoy Team, in arresting one of the suspects, Azeez Yusuph, pretended to have had a broken down car under the Ilubirin Bridge around 4:23 a.m. “I

Joe Igbokwe By Joe Igbokwe When he was barely a few weeks in office, the world renowned Economist wrote a scathing criticism against his competence to run the demanding task of governing Lagos. The magazine concluded that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode cannot fit into the big shoes left behind by his predecessor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, the present Minister of Works, Housing and Power. We were not persuaded by the tendentious arguments that led to this hasty conclusion and we said so. We maintained that The Economist wrote in a haste that was not known with the magazine. We stated that Governor Ambode will be a big hit, as his two predecessors, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Fashola. We knew that Lagos has always excelled in selecting and voting for the best and that it is given that with such tradition, coupled with a very deep bureaucratic experience, that Governor Ambode will eventually be a huge success and that The Economist will certainly eat its words. It didn’t take long for our

Mrs Yetunde Oni, Acting Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) says it has commenced mop up of the banned foreign fruit juices in Nigerian markets. Mr Carolly Ngobiri of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, NAFDAC, Lagos office, made this known on Wednesday during the mop up at Gbagada area of Lagos. Ngobiri told newsmen during the exercise that such products still abound in major markets and supermarkets across the country. According to him, a circular issued on Dec. 19 from the directorate directed an urgent visit to all markets and supermarkets across the states to mop up these items. “We are here to carry out one of the NAFDAC’s mandates; to ensure that all foreign juices are removed from the Nigerian markets. “We have given them a deadline from now to Dec. 31 to stop their sales and remove them from the shelves. “To ensure that these are totally removed

L-R: Lagos Deputy Gov. Dr Oluranti Adebule; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Governor Atiku Bagudu displaying the Lake Rice Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and his counterpart from Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu on Wednesday official launched the long awaited Lake Rice to be sold to the public at N12,000 per 50kg bag. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), his Kebbi State counterpart, Governor Atiku Bagudu (2nd right) with a 10kg Lake Rice during the official launch at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Wednesday, December 21, 2016. With them are Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (left) and Chief of Protocol , Kebbi State, Mr. Umaru Shehu Baiti Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (left), with his Kebbi State counterpart, Governor Atiku Bagudu holding a 10kg of the Lake Rice during the official launch at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Wednesday. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), with Kebbi State Governor Alhaji

Dealers at the Nigeria Stock Exchange Major blue chips on Wednesday on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) recorded price losses due to sell pressure, as preparations for the Yuletide heighten. Seplat led the losers’ table with a loss of N19.50 to close at N370.50 per share. Forte Oil came second with a loss of N9.22 to close at N85.47 and CAP dipped N1.66 to close at N31.60 per share. Beta Glass shed N1.52 to close at N28.88 and Unilever dropped N1 to close at N35 per share. Consequently, the All-Share Index shed 122.76 points or 0.46 per cent to close at 26,418.11 compared with 26,540.87 posted on Tuesday. Also, the market capitalisation which opened at N9.132 trillion lost N43 billion to close at N9.089 trillion. The market indicators for the third consecutive day remained on a negative trend, which market analysts attributed to retail investors’ effort to raise cash in readiness for the festive period. On the other hand, Conoil led the gainers’ table, growing by N1.69 to clo

court-of-law A 35-year-old businesswoman, Adenike Bale, who accused her husband of beating her incessantly, on Wednesday, asked an Agege Customary Court to dissolve her nine-year-old marriage. Adenike, an indigene of Ogun and a mother of two, who resides at 16, Railway Line, Fagba, Ifako, Lagos, also alleged that the respondent, Mr Lanre Bale, had threatened her life. . She also claimed that Lanre was not a caring husband and father, and was temperamental. “My husband beats me constantly, especially when l come home late from the shop. He has turned me to a punching bag, causing me grievous bodily harm. “Whenever we have any misunderstanding, he always threatens to kill me. “The suffering is unbearable. There is no peace of mind and his family, especially his father, does not like me,’’ she said. The petitioner said that on Nov. 19, she told her husband that she was going to church for a vigil but he vehemently disagreed. “Afterwards my husband came to me for sexual intercours

Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia State, The Local Government elections in Abia State were held on Wednesday amidst late dispatch of electoral materials from the Registration Area Centres (RAC) to polling units. The election, billed to start by 8 a.m. and end by 3 p.m. took off as late as 12 noon at most polling centres across Aba. In Osisioma Local Government Area (LGA), the materials started arriving from 10: 30 a.m. while voting began at different times. At Ngwa High School Polling centre, Ward 5, voting commenced at about 11:49 a.m. with a low turn-out of voters. A correspondent who also visited the Abayi-Umueze Primary School Centre, Ward 3, reports that the centre was almost empty by 9.30 a.m. except three persons seen waiting for electoral officials. At Amuzu Ward 5, still in Osisioma LGA, voting began at about noon. At Aba North Local Government Headquarters, an electoral officer who refused to be named said the late distribution of the materials was as a result of th

The Federal Government has declared Monday, Dec. 26, and Tuesday Dec. 27 as public holidays to mark the Christmas and Boxing Day. Government also declared Monday, Jan. 2, 2017 as public holiday to mark the New Year The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration in a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday. In the statement signed by the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, the minister called for peace and unity in the country. He‎ enjoined all Christian faithful and Nigerians in general to remain committed and supportive of the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained efforts toward building a peaceful, united and prosperous nation. ‎Dambazau also urged Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for peace, unity and peaceful co-existence across the country. ‎ The Minister wished all Nigerians at home and abroad, a Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year 2017.

(L-R)Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; and President Muhammadu Buhari at the Federal Executive Council Meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday (2/11/16) 8159/2/11/2016/Callistus Ewelike/BJO/NAN FROM LEFT: Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; and President Muhammadu Buhari at the Federal Executive Council Meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday (2/11/16) 8159/2/11/2016/Callistus Ewelike/BJO/NAN The Buhari administration has approved a new policy on whistle blowing that aims to encourage Nigerians to report financial and other related crimes to relevant authorities and be paid for doing so. The highlight of the policy is that whistleblowers whose revelations lead to recovery of money will be entitled to as much as 5 percent of the recovered sum. The new policy was approved Wednesday at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari inside the Council Chamber

President Muhammadu Buhari and the career ambassadors The Federal Government on Wednesday released the postings of the 47 career ambassadors recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari. The lists of the Ambassadors, who are currently undergoing a four-day induction in Abuja, are as follows: Abia: Obinna Chukwuemeka Agbugba (Togo), Adamawa: Salisu Umaru (Senegal), Paragalda Ilyasu Audu (Turkey), Akwa Ibom: Inyan Udo-Inyang (Gabon), Anambra: Okeke Vivian Nwunaku (Spain), Nonye Udo (Austria). Bauchi: Liman Munir (Congo), Benue: Ndem Jane Ada (Sweden), Demenongu A. Agev (Equatorial Guinea), Borno: Mohammed Hassan Hassan (Kenya), Toko Ali Gongulong (Sao Tome & Principe), Lawan Abba Gashagar (Mali), Cross River: Martin Nyong Cobham (Thailand), Odeka Janet Bisong (Zimbabwe). Delta: Janet Omoleegho Olisa (Jamaica), Edo: Itegboje S.Sunday (Permanent Mission in New York), Queen I. Worlu (Cuba). Others are: Ekiti: Olatunde Adesesan (Angola), Emmanuel Kayode Oguntause (Benin), Enug

FILE PHOTO: Illegal immigrants The Cross River Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has received four illegal immigrants who willingly went to the command’s office to report that they got entry into Nigeria without valid travelling documents. Mrs Funke Adeuyi, the State Comptroller of NIS, who said that the victims came to the state command to report themselves on Friday, Dec. 16, added that they were deported from Algeria on Dec. 2. Adeuyi gave the names of the victims as Manzila Wamy, Ebe Makobe, Mrs.Ebe Kajema and a 9-year-old, Ms. Ebe Kidebwa, all from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She said that the command had done carried out a massive public enlightenment campaign to ensure that illegal migrants were unable to find their way into the state for any reason. According to her, the NIS has interrogated the victims and would transfer them to the service headquarters in Abuja, where they will be provided with logistics and necessary documentation to go back to Co

A 24-year-old man, Godwin Simon, was on Wednesday arraigned in an Ebute Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stabbing one Bankole Olubode to death. The accused, who resides at No. 73, Olaro Road, Abule-Egba axis is facing trial on a count charge of murder. The plea of the accused, was, however, not taken. The prosecutor, Cpl. Hafsat Ajibodu had told the court that the offence was committed on Dec. 2 at about 9.30 p.m., at No. 1, Sadiku St., Oke-Odo, Abule-Egba. She alleged that the accused and the deceased had a misunderstanding, while Simon used a kitchen knife to stab the deceased in his neck. Ajibodu said that the offence contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 221 prescribes death sentence for convicts. The Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Salawu ordered that the accused should be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons, pending an advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions. The case was adjourned till Jan. 23.

Fulani cultural festival The Kebbi Government is to host the annual Fulani cultural festival, Hottungo, in January 2017. Alhaji Ibrahim Kamba, Commissioner of Commerce, via a statement he issued on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi, said the festival would hold in Dakingari town, Suru Local Government Area, between Jan.12 and Jan.14. He listed the events to feature as Sheep racing, Camel racing, Sheep fattening, Women hurt decoration, Cultural entertainment, Archery and Cattle fattening. The commissioner said that the competitions would showcase the rich Fulani cultural heritage.

polio-victims Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on Wednesday called on the incoming administration in the state to sustain the zero polio eradication policy laid by his administration. Mimiko spoke at a meeting with the state task force members on polio eradication and routine immunization in Akure. The governor said that continuous task of safeguarding children through the adequate and qualitative delivery of immunization services was a responsibility that should be passed on to the incoming administration. “We must be relentless in our individual and collective efforts, as stakeholders, to ensure that Ondo State does not return to the dark moment of high under- 5 morbidity and mortality due to the dreaded polio virus. “You will bear us witness that throughout our engagement on this platform, our administration demonstrated its commitment to ensuring optimal immunization coverage among our under- 5 children population throughout the state. “We have weathered the storm of Poli