Global Naija Info

Ricky Hatton Former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton tried to kill himself when he suffered from depression after quitting the ring, the Briton said on Thursday. Hatton, who won titles at light-welterweight and welterweight, retired in 2012 but had already been struggling with depression, drink and drugs. “I tried to kill myself several times,” the 38-year-old said. “I used to go to the pub, come back, take the knife out and sit there in the dark crying hysterically. “In the end I thought I’ll end up drinking myself to death because I was so miserable.’’ Hatton, who registered 45 wins in 48 bouts, said that even if he did not always drink he still could not cope with depression and that led to cocaine use. “I was coming off the rails with my drinking and that led to drugs. It was like a runaway train,’’ he explained. Hatton, who now works as a trainer and agent, said fighters needed a support system like footballers, especially after retirement when many found life tough outs

Governor Abiola Ajimobi laying the 2017 budget before the state House of Assembly Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Thursday presented N207, 671,495,300:00 as the 2017 budget of the state to the House of Assembly. The budget christened: “Budget of Self Reliance”, he stated has been designed to be Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) driven. Ajimobi further assured that in the informal sector, the state is targeting 20 percent of the population which is presently pegged at six million individuals with presumptive tax rate of N3000 per annum. Economic sector, Social Services Sector, Law and Justice Sector, and General Administrative Sector were allocated N46.618b representing 57.70 percent, N25.646b representing 31.74 percent, N0.880b representing 1.09 percent and N7.654b representing 9.47 percent respectively. “The aggregate percentage of 89.44 percent of the total budget allocated to the economic and social sub-sector underscores the State Government’s determination to contin

The tennis star and the social media co-founder got engaged in Rome, where they first met. Serena Williams has used the social media platform Reddit to announce that she is engaged to its co-founder, Alexis Ohanian. The tennis star made the announcement in the form of a poem. She said he took her to Rome, where they first met, to propose to her – and she said yes. It caps off a year in which Ms Williams won her seventh Wimbledon singles title and 22nd Grand Slam singles title, but dropped to world number two ranking. Reddit is a social media community where users group around topics, news articles and discussion points, rather than around people they know in offline life. Mr Ohanian founded it in 2005 alongside a college friend, Steve Huffman. Ms Williams posted to r/isaidyes, a forum where users share their stories of wedding proposals, saying he had taken her to the table in Rome where they first met, where he got down on one knee and “said four words”. One Reddit user respo

Rafael Nadal Rafael Nadal beat Tomas Berdych 6-0 6-4 on Thursday in his first match since October at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. The Spaniard, who ended last season early because of a wrist injury, will now play Milos Raonic in the semi-final of the Abu Dhabi exhibition event. World number one Andy Murray starts his preparation for the Australian Open at the tournament on Friday, facing Belgium’s David Goffin. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Murray had a bye into the semi-finals.

Putin and Obama The US has expelled 35 Russian diplomats as punishment for alleged interference into last month’s presidential elections, giving them 72 hours to leave the country. It will also close two compounds used for Russian intelligence-gathering. President Barack Obama had vowed action against Russia amid US accusations it directed hacks against the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Russia has denied any involvement and called the decision “ungrounded”. The US state department declared the 35 Russian diplomats from the Washington DC embassy and the consulate in San Francisco “persona non grata”, and gave them and their families 72 hours to leave the US. The move follows calls from senior US senators to sanction Russian officials who are believed to have played a role in the hacking, which some lawmakers referred to as America’s “political Pearl Harbor”. Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, who led the calls for sanctions, said they “intend

Dr. Adejare The Lagos State Government has urged Lagosians to handle naked fire in cigarettes, firewood, cooking stoves, among other sources with utmost care in order to reduce the incidents of fire outbreaks, especially during this harmattan season. The Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare who sounded this note of warning during an interactive section with pressmen in his office in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Thursday stated that this warning became necessary in order to avoid disasters in the state. According to him, “as our environment becomes dusty and hazy with dryness to everything including trees, wooden items, leaves and furniture, we urge residents to be extremely careful with fire so as to prevent outbreaks because fire is nobody’s friend.” “Lagosians will notice that there has been a change in the weather condition as a result of the North easternly winds blowing across the country after traversing vast Sahara desert. This has been a ye

LASTMA Apapa Zonal Commander murdered recently The Lagos State Police Command may have been subjected to intense pressure by the State Government to fish out the killers of an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Surajudeen Olatunji Bakare who was brutally killed by irate mob in Apapa on December 15, 2016. Credible sources in the State Ministry of Justice confirmed on Thursday that the government has already written to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni demanding the arrest of the culprits. The letter was said to have been written following the failure of the police to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act despite the fact that the video had already gone viral on the internet with faces of the culprits. Bakare, a level 14 officer, was said to have been attacked by the irate mob who removed his two eyes and stabbed him after which he was stoned to death. A source who does not want to be named confirmed the existence of the letter, sa

The suspect and a section of 3rd Mainland Bridge One Abiodun Amos, suspected to be leading a group of militants planning to bomb the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, has been arrested by the police. The Police Spokesman, DCP Don Awunah, said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday that arms and ammunition recovered in connection with the crime are; two cartons of explosive devices, 125 detonators and two AK 47 rifles. Awunah said that the Intelligent Response Team (IRT) of the police arrested the suspect through the use a technical platform of the force before he and his gang could carry out the heinous crime. He said the 43-year-old militant leader also known as Senti was arrested on 2nd November, at a hideout at the bank of Majidun River in Ikorodu Area of Lagos State and the two AK 47 rifles were recovered from him. Awunah said: “The principal suspect is an Ijaw man and a native of Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State. “He is an Explosives specialist who specialises in asse

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the murderous sect, Boko Haram, on Thursday released a new video to dispute claims that the jihadist group had been routed from its Sambisa Forest stronghold. Shekau revealed that the video was filmed on Christmas day. Shekau who spoke in both Hausa and Arabic said: “We are safe. We have not been flushed out of anywhere. And tactics and strategies cannot reveal our location except if Allah wills by his decree,” Shekau said in the 25-minute video, flanked by masked armed fighters. “You should not be telling lies to the people,” he said, referring to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari who said on Christmas Eve that the extremist group had been defeated and driven away from the forest, its last known bastion. “If you indeed crushed us, how can you see me like this? How many times have you killed us in your bogus death?” he asked. Shekau’s last appeared in a video was in September where he disputed a claim by the Ni

Matthew Ashimolowo Kingsway International Christian Centre, a 12,000-member mega church in Britain headed by Nigeria’s Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo, lost $4.8 million to a Ponzi scheme after trustees carelessly invested money in it. The scam was the brainchild of former Premier League soccer player, Richard Rufus, who used to be a defender for Charlton Athletic. He promised investors along with the church a return as high as 55 per cent. The Christian Post reporting the findings of an inquiry published 14 December by the Charity Commission for England and Wales revealed that the Kent-based 12,000 members Christian Centre suffered a net loss of about $4.8 million (£3.9 million) after its trustees invested over $6.1 million (£5 million) in four instalments between June 2009 and June 2010. Rufus was a member and former trustee of the church. Rufus had guaranteed that the investments would earn a sizeable return totaling about 55 percent in a year. He was last year found guilty of defraud

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture Photo: Femi Ipaye/PM News The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has disclosed how a Federal permanent secretary retired from office recently and took away 40 brand new SUVs and other vehicles. Mohammed revealed this while articulating the Buhari administration’s strategy in the fight against corruption in the country. “The Federal Government is being guided by a well-articulated strategy in its fight against corruption in the country, contrary to the misconception in certain circles that the government is fighting corruption without a strategy, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said. The Minister said the strategy has proven so effective that it has led to, among others, the recovery of 40 brand new SUVs and other vehicles from one former Permanent Secretary who single-handedly appropriated the vehicles to himself when he left office. He said the federal government is not jus

Ifeoma-Fafunwa, Love and recession (play) director ‘Love & Recession’, a stage play produced by ‘iOpenEye Limited’ in partnership with Etisalat Nigeria will on Thursday begin a four-day-run premiere in Lagos. The play is adapted from Femi Osofisan’s 1992 Adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s ‘A Marriage Proposal’. The comic play is directed by Ifeoma Fafunwa who directed the popular stage drama ‘Hear Word’. According to Fafunwa, `Love & Recession’ is a celebration of the creativity and ingenuity of a Nigerian in addressing challenges without the involvement of external help. It is a hilarious comedy with intriguing themes that highlights the current harsh economic realities, and also depicts how many are managing to pull through the challenging times, being resourceful in their own way. ‘Love & Recession’ also plays up the need to celebrate Nigerian traditional culture and languages to promote unity, togetherness, collaboration and partnership needed to build a better Niger

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom-Emmanuel Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has donated assorted food items to people of Eket to mark the Yuletide season. Mr Frank Archibong, the Transitional Chairman of Eket Local Government Council, said the items included 266 bags of rice, 300 chickens and hampers. Archibong stated this during a large Christmas party for members of the PDP in Eket Local Government Secretariat on Thursday. “The Governor has asked me to give PDP family in Eket 266 bags of rice, 300 chickens and hampers to share in various wards in the area,’’ he said. He explained that the food items would be shared through the 11 electoral wards in the area. Archibong urged the PDP family to love one another, live in peace, unity and eschew violence as exemplified by the life of Jesus Christ. “My appeal is that everybody should stay in love, live together with one another devoid of division. If we are together, there will not be rancour in the party. “Let us build the party in

Ifeoma-Fafunwa, Love and recession (play) director ‘Love & Recession’, a stage play produced by ‘iOpenEye Limited’ in partnership with Etisalat Nigeria will on Thursday begin a four-day-run premiere in Lagos. The play is adapted from Femi Osofisan’s 1992 Adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s ‘A Marriage Proposal’. The comic play is directed by Ifeoma Fafunwa who directed the popular stage drama ‘Hear Word’. According to Fafunwa, `Love & Recession’ is a celebration of the creativity and ingenuity of a Nigerian in addressing challenges without the involvement of external help. It is a hilarious comedy with intriguing themes that highlights the current harsh economic realities, and also depicts how many are managing to pull through the challenging times, being resourceful in their own way. ‘Love & Recession’ also plays up the need to celebrate Nigerian traditional culture and languages to promote unity, togetherness, collaboration and partnership needed to build a better Niger

Agbo Jedi Abiodun Olaifa of Aremo area, Ibadan, on Thursday told the Idi-Ogogo Customary Court, Agodi, Ibadan, that hawking of bitter liquor, popularly called `Agbo-Jedi’, exposed his wife to immorality. Olaifa, while testifying in a divorce petition filed against him by his wife, Oluwaseyi, said the plaintiff also turned deaf ears to his warnings against the use of bleaching creams. “She receives midnight calls from her suspected concubines and has no regard for me as her husband since she began hawking Agbo-jedi, which I kicked against. “She uses the opportunity of hawking Agbo-jedi to commit extra marital affairs; she has been over exposed and cannot be controlled. “I support the divorce suit and pray the court to grant her request so that she can have maximum freedom to do as she wishes,” Olaifa said. Earlier, Oluwaseyi had prayed the court to end her 11-year-old marriage with Olaifa on the grounds that the defendant beats her regularly, burns her clothes and victimises her

Mrs Yetunde Oni, Acting Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The National Agency for Drugs Administration and Control(NAFDAC) on Thursday in Sokoto destroyed fake, counterfeit, expired and unwholesome regulated products worth over N100.8 million. The acting Director-General of the agency, Mrs Yetunde Oni, led the destruction exercise at Dutsen Babari near Kwannawa, in Dange/Shuni Local Government Area of the state. Oni, who was represented by Dr Musa Umar, Director of Narcotics and Controlled Substances of the agency, stated that the burnt products were seized in Sokoto and Zamfara states. “We must stress that some of these products were voluntarily submitted to NAFDAC by various governmental and non-governmental organizations. “Others were mopped up from open markets via enforcement activities and surveillance system of NAFDAC. “We assure you that with our strengthened enforcement and surveillance system, we would have little

Nigeria-police The Police in Taraba has confirmed the death of one person in an attack on the convoy of Alhaji Adamu Mohammed, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibi Local Government Area of the state. The command’s Public Relations Officer, David Misal said in an interview with newsmen in Jalingo on Thursday, that the incident occurred at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Mala village. He added that three persons, critically injured in the attack, were on admission at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo. The police spokesman gave the names of those injured as Abubakar Zaidu, 26, Ibrahim Abdulkadir 26, and Sahabi Manaja, 34. He explained that Adamu, a former local council chairman, was earlier assaulted by some youths when he visited Dampar ward to fraternize with APC supporters over Christmas. According to him, the situation in Dampar ward was however contained, but the politician’s convoy was later attacked by gunmen when he left Ibi. Misal said no arrest was m

Chicken contaminated with bird flu The Kano State government said it has so far killed 9,000 birds since bird flu resurfaced in the state two weeks ago. Dr Shehu Bawa, the Director in the state’s Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, made the disclosure on Thursday in Kano. He said that the birds were killed in two poultry farms that had been infected with the disease in the state. He added that “as I am talking to you now, only two farms were hit by the disease and the farms had since been depopulated. “We killed 500 birds in the first farm, while 8,500 were killed in the second farm.” Bawa said the ministry would intensify surveillance and disinfection of other farms to check the spread of the disease, and would continue to sensitise farmers on the need for them to ensure clean environment. He urged Federal Government to pay compensation to farmers who lost their birds in 2015 as the affected farmers were yet to receive anything from government. He emphasised the n

The Association of Persons Living with Disability in Jigawa, on Thursday, commended the State House of Assembly on the passage of State Disability Bill. The State Chairman, Malam Mohammed Usman, made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse. Usman said the bill had captured most of the challenges faced by persons with disabilities and would help to enhance their livelihood. He, therefore, urged Gov. Badaru Abubakar to assent to the bill for it to become law in the state. According to him, the bill has made it necessary to provide relevant facilities for people with disabilities to have easy access to public places including schools, banks, offices and public conveniences. The chairman added that the bill also highlighted issues of education, access to health, and empowerment for physically challenged persons and their children. Usman noted that several public hearings were conducted by the assembly where his association made inputs before t

Edgar Lungu, Zambia president Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu ordered the air force on Thursday to join other government agencies in an emergency operation to contain the spread of pests that have invaded maize fields in many parts of the country. The armyworms, which feast on young maize plants and are capable of wiping out entire fields, have been spotted in about six of Zambia’s 10 provinces, Agriculture Permanent Secretary, Julius Shawa said. The Zambia Air Force began airlifting pesticides to the four worst affected provinces and will team up with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) in responding to the crisis, presidential spokesman Amos Chanda said in a statement. The air force will not carry out aerial spraying of the insecticide, however. Zambia’s maize production rose to 2.87 million tonnes in the 2015/2016 crop season from 2.60 million tonnes the previous season due to better than anticipated rainfall and early delivery of

The gavel of justice A 32-year-old unemployed man, Gbenga Ogunfemi, who allegedly escaped from police custody, was on Thursday in Lagos arraigned before Magistrate E. Kubeinje. The accused is facing a three-count charge of breach of peace, unlawful entering and escape from lawful custody at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court. Ogunfemi, a resident of Satellite Town off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, however, pleaded not guilty and was admitted to a bail of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum. The prosecutor, Insp. Essien Ndarake said the accused committed the offences on Dec. 13 in Ikeja. Ndarake said the accused, who was detained for unlawful entering the departure hall of Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, escaped from detention. “The accused was detained because he was found inside the airport lobby which is a restricted area, without any permission or authority from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). “He engaged himself as a tout by rendering unsolic

Nigeria-police The Enugu State Police Command has urged residents of the state to be law abiding while celebrating New Year in their various localities. The command’s Spokesman, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, made the appeal in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Enugu. Amaraizu said that the command had been working in partnership with sister security agencies as well as relevant stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free yuletide celebration. “The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has restated its commitment towards a hitch free New Year celebration by members of the public within Enugu and its environs. “The command has earlier put in place effective modalities before, during and after the yuletide which includes deliberate sensitisation of members of the public on the need to be law abiding and security conscious,” he said. Amaraizu, therefore, urged the residents of the state to always partner with the police on the need for a safe and secure

Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, Enugu State Police Commissioner The police command in Enugu on Thursday confirmed two persons dead, following a fracas at the Gariki Market in Awkunanaw, Enugu. The Police Public Relations of Officer of the command, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident, said the fracas broke out late on Wednesday. He explained that one of the dead men had during a quarrel, stabbed the other to death, prompting a mob to descend on him. Amaraizu said that the person who was severely beaten by the mob later died in hospital. “Two persons were confirmed dead yesterday in the course of a clash between the two over an alleged misunderstanding that arose among them in the evening at Gariki Awkunanaw Market. “Security has been beefed up in the area to avoid escalation of the fracas and to check breakdown of law and order in the market. “Investigations have commenced into the incident to unravel what really happened and those behind it,’’ the spokesman stated. No one had b

Medview Airline Medview Airline on Thursday, says it has made good its promise by delivering leftover baggage from London to the affected passengers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The airline’s Media Consultant, Mr. Obuke Oyibhota, made the disclosure in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. He said that the management of the airline also offered compensation to the affected passengers in form of travel coupons for their next travel plans. Oyibhota recalled that the ordeal of Medview Airline and the affected passengers started on Dec. 19 when Gatwick Airport closed the main runway for maintenance. He said that the authorities of Gatwick Airport asked the airline to use the shorter runway, adding that since the aircraft load was heavier than the shorter runway, the affected baggage was offloaded. He said: “Sadly enough, owners of these baggage traveled to Lagos without their bags on board. “We explored all avenues to get

Debbie Reynolds Debbie Reynolds, a leading lady in Hollywood musicals and comedies in the 1950s and 1960s, including “Singing’ in the Rain,” died Wednesday, her son Todd Fisher said. According to Fisher, his mother died one day after the death of her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher. Reynolds, 84, an Oscar-nominated singer-actress, was rushed to Cedars-Sinai hospital earlier on Wednesday. “It’s true she’s with Carrie,” her son told Reuters, adding that shortly before suffering a stroke, Reynolds had said she missed her daughter and wanted to be with her. “She left very shortly after that and those were the last words she spoke,” Fisher said. After the news of Reynolds’ death, numerous people took to social media and wrote that “she died of a broken heart.” One of the most enduring and endearing Hollywood stars of her time, Reynolds received a best actress Academy Award nomination for the 1964 musical; “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.” Carrie Fisher, who rose to fame as Princess Le

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State The 16 former Ekiti Local Government chairmen sacked by former Gov. Kayode Fayemi have rejected the N35 million offered by Gov. Ayodele Fayose out of the N3.3billion owed them. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Supreme Court had on Dec. 9, ordered the State Government to pay the chairmen and counsellors N3.3 billion as compensation. In a unanimous judgment read by Justice Chima Nweze, the Supreme Court held that the sack by Fayemi was illegal and unconstitutional. Mr Ogunbiyi Olasunakanmi-Synergy, who led the sacked chairmen, made the rejection known at a news briefing on Thursday in Abuja. He said that an attempt to subvert the Supreme Court’s judgment would be resisted by “the good people of Ekiti’’ and called on Fayose to obey the verdict of the apex court. Olasunkanmi-Synergy said that violating the Supreme Court would amount to a total disregard to the judgment of the court. “All the local government chairmen between

President Muhammadu Buhari Bad weather condition prevailing in some parts of the country has forced an indefinite postponement of the official visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Bauchi State. The President was scheduled to be in Bauchi (today) Thursday, Dec.29 and residents of the state had prepared to receive him. NAN also reports that this is the second time the visit had been postponed, the first as a result of his trip to Gambia over the leadership crisis in that country. The State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, told newsmen on Thursday that the latest postpone was communicated to him. He said the president had extended his apology to the people of the state over the postponement. “The postponement of the visit of Mr President is due to the bad weather condition in Abuja. “Lots of such postponements had happened elsewhere; Mr President has called to extend his apology over the postponement,” he said. The governor thanked the people for coming out in large numbers

Debbie Reynolds Debbie Reynolds, a leading lady in Hollywood musicals and comedies in the 1950s and 1960s, including “Singing’ in the Rain,” died Wednesday, her son Todd Fisher said. According to Fisher, his mother died one day after the death of her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher. Reynolds, 84, an Oscar-nominated singer-actress, was rushed to Cedars-Sinai hospital earlier on Wednesday. “It’s true she’s with Carrie,” her son told Reuters, adding that shortly before suffering a stroke, Reynolds had said she missed her daughter and wanted to be with her. “She left very shortly after that and those were the last words she spoke,” Fisher said. After the news of Reynolds’ death, numerous people took to social media and wrote that “she died of a broken heart.” One of the most enduring and endearing Hollywood stars of her time, Reynolds received a best actress Academy Award nomination for the 1964 musical; “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.” Carrie Fisher, who rose to fame as Princess Le

Ahmet Sik Prominent Turkish author, journalist and government critic Ahmet Sik has been arrested in Istanbul, according to reports. “I have been arrested,” adding that one of his earlier tweets on tweeter seemed responsible for drawing the attention of the state prosecutor. There was no further information about the arrest. Since a mid-July coup attempt, Turkish authorities have come down hard against critics of the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The investigative journalist has for years strongly criticized the movement led by exiled Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, which Erdogan has blamed for the failed July 15 coup. Sik has also attacked the ruling AKP party for supporting Gulen until a rift between Gulen and Erdogan became public in 2013. Prior to that break, Sik spent nearly a year in detention in 2011 for the Imam’s Army, his book about the Gulen movement which was banned from publication. “To discuss the Gulen movement while at the same time ignoring the AKP’s com

court-of-law A 26-year-old man, Papa Saviour, who was allegedly captured by a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera stealing from two offices, was on Thursday arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. The accused was arraigned before Magistrate E.Kubeinje for burglary and stealing. Saviour, whose residential address was not disclosed, however, pleaded not guilty and was admitted to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum. According to the prosecutor, Insp. Essien Ndarake, the accused committed the offence on Dec. 3 at NAHCO warehouse, Ikeja, Lagos. He told the court that the accused burgled the offices of two airlines at night to steal. “The accused broke into the offices of Qatar airways cargo and Rwanda airways cargo to steal N639,000. “He stole N139,000 from Qatar airways office and N500,000 from the office of Rwanda airways,” the prosecutor said. Ndarake added that a CCTV camera installed in the premises helped the police to discover the ident

Thirty-two people were wounded when two home-made bombs exploded during a boxing match in a Philippine town, an army spokesperson said on Thursday. The victims were watching the boxing competition organized as part of an annual festival at a public plaza in the town of Hilongos in the province of Leyte when the blast occurred. Sixteen of those hurt were still in the hospital, while the rest were discharged after being treated, said Colonel Benjamin Hao, citing a joint statement by the police and the military. The improvised explosive devices were made from 81-millimetre mortars, based on fragments recovered from the blast site, and were detonated with the use of a mobile phone, Hao said. Police are looking into the possibility that the bombing was in retaliation for the arrest of a woman during a drugs raid in October in Hilongos, said First Lieutenant Cherry Junio, a regional army spokesperson. The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has launched an aggressive war agains

A German woman of Pakistani origin was shot dead allegedly by her husband during a visit to Pakistan, police said on Thursday. The husband was arrested after the death of his wife, a doctor, in the Jehlum district of Punjab late Wednesday, police spokesperson Abdul Rehman said. She had been tortured before her death, according to reports, citing the victim’s sister, who said she had seen multiple marks of torture on her body. “We have found three marks on her body including a bullet which was the cause of death,” Mian Mazhar Hayat, a doctor at Jehlum hospital said. Hayat said that the other two marks were found behind the neck and below the right knee. The marks suggested that she might have fallen, he added, saying he could not confirm reports of torture. When asked whether Khan’s death was a possible honour killing, police spokesperson Rehman said it was “a bit premature” to talk about a motive. The husband told the police that his wife was killed in an accident while he was

Alhaji Lai Mohammed The Federal Government says it has recovered 40 brand new SUVs and other vehicles from a former Permanent Secretary who single-handedly appropriated the vehicles to himself when he left office. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos on the effectiveness of the anti-corruption strategy of the government. Mohammed said that government is being guided by a well-articulated strategy in its fight against corruption contrary to the misconception in certain circles that the government is fighting corruption without a strategy. He said the government was not just fixated on only prosecution, but in taking preventive measures to make corruption unattractive. The minister stressed that the strict enforcement of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has largely reduced the diversion of government funds to secret accounts. He said the TSA has also reduced the constraints in fishing out ghost wor

Mrs Eunice Ortom, Wife of the Benue Governor. The Wife of the Benue Governor, Mrs. Eunice Ortom, has donated two cows and foodstuffs worth millions of naira to 300 widows and youths in the state. Ortom donated the foodstuffs in Tse-Aondona-Naka in Gwer-West Local Government Area of the state. The items she donated include bags of rice, salt, millet, guinea corn, garri, and gallons palm oil. Ortom, who hails from the local government area, said she made the donation so that her kinsmen would be able to celebrate Christmas and New year in merrily. The governor’s wife, who was accompanied by her siblings and children, assured the people of the area that Gov. Samuel Ortom would uplift their living standard. “We are aware that we do not have enough health care facilities, roads, schools and electricity and my husband has made adequate budgetary allocations to address most of the issues,” she said. She urged the community to key into her pet project, ‘Eunice Spring of Life Foundatio

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday said that his administration would ensure that Badagry becomes the hub of tourism and resort enterprises in Africa. Ambode said this at the `One Lagos Fiesta’ which took place at the Badagry Grammar School in Badagry, Lagos State. He added that his administration would ensure that the town becomes a flashpoint for development projects in the state. “This administration is determined to transform this ancient city into a tourism hub that would attract so many international people to this great city. “The six-lane road construction would further boost its economic activities and let’s not forget the seaport that would soon be developed in the town in the nearest future. “Our eyes are set on Badagry and we are doing things for the future because we intend to open up Badagry forever,” he said. Ambode commended the turnout of people at the event. “I have been to two different events but I must commend the t

Congo flood At least 50 people have died in Western Congo after flooding caused by heavy rains on Thursday. More than 1,000 houses were flooded in the city of Boma near the Angolan border, according to local authorities. Some 10,000 people have been left homeless, the city’s mayor Marie-Jose Nsuami said. A crisis task force had been set up to help the flood victims and rescue operations was ongoing.

court A mobile court has sentenced a motorist, Mr Aurhur Nwankwo, to six months imprisonment for assaulting a road marshal in Edo while on duty. Mr Samuel Odukoya, the Edo Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps [FRSC] made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Benin. Odukoya said that the motorist assaulted a road marshal attached to the Uwan Esigie Unit Command of the FRSC. He said that Nwankwo was among 26 offenders convicted by the mobile court for the violation of traffic rules on Wednesday. The commander said the convict was sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour or pay a fine of N90,000 after he was found guilty of a seven-count charge including assault. According to him, the motorist was charged for hitting and injuring the marshal on the Abudu axis along Benin-Asaba expressway on Dec. 27. “The victim is currently receiving treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. “The convict was also o

FILE PHOTO: Fire Residents on Wednesday at Akenfa, a suburb of Yenagoa, in Bayelsa State, promptly responded to a fire outbreak at a petrol station before the arrival of Fire Service. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inferno destroyed properties worth millions of naira at the fuel station; Millomi and Sons Enterprises Nigeria Limited. It was gathered that the fire started from the generator house behind the building. No life was lost in the incident even as the filling station was not dispensing fuel when the accident occurred. Several policemen from Akenfa Division were seen drafted to the scene of the fire incident to maintain law and order. An eyewitness Mr Emmanuel Stanley said that some youths from the area equally mobilized to put out the raging fire. He said that they used water mixed with detergent as well as sand to put out the fire before men of the Bayelsa State Fire Service arrived at the petrol station. “When we came here, they told us that the f

Bags of rice Mr Raymos Guana, the Chief Executive Officer of Raymos Guana Farms, says the decision of the Federal Government to ban rice importation is too hasty. Guana, a former Commissioner for Lands in Delta, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba on Thursday. According to him, the quantity of rice being produced in the country today will not be able to meet the demands of Nigerians. He said that government should have given farmers at least three to five years notice to work toward boosting rice production that could adequately feed the nation. “With such target, each state of the federation would be given specified quantity of rice to be produced within the stipulated time. “For example, Delta will produce one million tonnes of rice, Anambra two million, while Ebonyi will produce five million tonnes of rice. “With this target, I am very sure that each state would work toward achieving its goals and expectation,” he said. Guana

The Police have arrested one Abiodun Amos, 43, suspected to be the leader of a militant gang planning to bomb the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos. The Police Spokesman, DCP Don Awunah, said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday that arms and ammunition recovered in connection with the crime are; two cartons of explosive devices, 125 detonators and two AK 47 rifles. Awunah said that the Intelligent Response Team (IRT) of the police arrested the suspect through the use a technical platform of the force before he and his gang could carry out the heinous crime. He said that Amos, alias Senti was arrested on Nov. 2, at a hideout at the bank of Majidun River in Ikorodu Area of Lagos State and the two AK 47 rifles were recovered from him. “The principal suspect is an Ijaw man and a native of Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State. He is an Explosives Expert who specializes in assembling and modifying large-scale Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) for terrorist act. “The suspect also

Arik plane Arik Air on Wednesday said it has chartered a B767-300ER aircraft to minimise the disruption and inconveniences caused passengers on its Lagos-New York route. The airline also announced the resumption of flight to the American city from Thursday. Mr Ola Adebanji, the airline’s head of communications revealed this in Lagos, while also regretting that the chartered plane could not fly on Tuesday due to the closure of Lagos airspace for several hours because of bad weather He said the airline decided to charter the aircraft following the damage to its A330-200 aircraft by a ground handling company at JFK International Airport, New York, a few days ago. He noted that this arrangement was put in place to cover for the period until the return to service of its A330-200 aircraft on Dec. 28. “The Lagos-New York flight which was scheduled to be operated by the charter company and depart Lagos on Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 11am, could not operate due to poor visibility.” Adebanji sa

Mrs Frances Iweha Onukwu The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says blind candidates also cheat during examinations. They cheat by colluding. The Head of Test Administration of WAEC in Nigeria, Mrs Frances Iweha-Onukwu, made the revelation in an interview in Lagos on Wednesday. Iweha-Onukwu said the reason could be that the candidates were usually not well equipped individually for the examinations. She added that this had been responsible for what she described as ‘not too wonderful performance’ among the blinds. “We have discovered that there is usually high incidence of collusion among blind candidates during examinations. “That is why their performance has not really been anything wonderful. “Our society is such that there have not been adequate and conscious efforts to take care of the challenged. “There have not been enough trained personnel to guide blind candidates before being exposed to major external examination’’, she said. She lamented a situation where j