Global Naija Info

Luis Suarez scored twice on Saturday as FC Barcelona cut Real Madrid’s La Liga lead to two points by thrashing Las Palmas. Suarez turned in an Andre Gomes cut-back for the only goal of the first half, but hosts Barca then scored three quick goals after the break. Lionel Messi tapped in and Suarez then steered a lovely shot into the corner, before Arda Turan made it 4-0. Aleix Vidal’s first goal for the club, placed into the corner from a Paco Alcacer pass, completed the rout. Elsewhere in La Liga on Saturday, Nicolas Gaitan’s eighth-minute goal strengthened Atletico Madrid’s hold on fourth place as they beat Real Betis 1-0, while Athletic Bilbao were held 0-0 at Leganes. Messi’s long-term future at the Nou Camp has been the subject of speculation for months. This has been with little sign of progress in negotiations to extend a contract that runs out at the end of next season. With talks seemingly at a delicate stage, FC Barcelona sacked an official who appeared to play down the...

Burkina Faso celebrate their equaliser Burkina Faso fought back to secure a 1-1 draw with Cameroon on the opening day of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon took the lead on 35 minutes when Benjamin Moukandjo superbly curled a free-kick into the left corner. Both sides created good chances, with one of the clearest falling to Clinton N’Jie who shot wide from six yards. The Burkinabe took full advantage when goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa could only parry a free-kick and Issoufou Dayo nodded in the leveller. Cameroon had been given numerous warnings as the Burkinabe repeatedly threatened from set-pieces – and the Indomitable Lions will also rue their inability to finish their opponents off when they had their own chances. In contrast to the earlier Group A game between hosts Gabon and Guinea-Bisau, which was also played in Libreville’s Stade de l’Amitie, this match had plenty of action. Ondoa saved well from Prejuce Nakoulma’s near-post poke and Bakary Kone fired the rebound wide...

Peace Corps of Nigeria The Peace Corps of Nigeria says it will recruit 2, 000 youths from Lagos State this year, Mr Mutairu Habib, the South-West Zonal Commandant of the corps said on Saturday in Lagos. “The corps is targeting to recruit 2,000 officers in Lagos State this year as part of efforts to reduce unemployment,” he told a news conference. The commandant said the recruitment was aimed at complementing efforts of federal and state governments in tackling youth unemployment. Habib, who is also the State Commandant of the Corps, urged governments at all levels to key into the policies of the security outfit. The National Assembly had in November 2016 passed the bill establishing the Peace Corps of Nigeria and it is currently awaiting presidential assent. Also, Senate President Bukola Saraki had said the passage of the bill would institutionalise the corps that had been in existence for several years as a voluntary organisation in the country. The Peace Corps is a volunteer ...

Ngige Chris, Minister of Labour and Employment Non-academic unions in the Nigerian universities say they will on Monday embark on a five-day warning strike over the inability of the Federal Government to implement the 2009 Agreements with the unions. The unions are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the unions in a statement stated that the warning strike became necessary in order for government to fully implement the 2009 FGN/Non-Teaching Staff Unions Agreements it freely entered into with the unions. JAC said that a letter of the warning strike signed by Mr Samson Ugwoke, SSANU President, Mr Sani Suleiman, President of NAAT and Chris Ani, NASU President had been send to the Minister of Education. JAC said that the letter was also copied to the Minister Labour and Employment, Executive Secretary, National Universities Comm...

Daddy Showkey Veteran Nigerian musician Daddy Showkey has just revealed one of his biggest regrets in life. In a recent interview with ThePointNg, Daddy Showkey said not having education is one major thing he regrets. In his words, ”It is education. When I see musicians who are graduates, I am proud of them. I like to have PhD too. ”Though my mother was a teacher, she still gave me the freedom to do what I wanted to do. But given another chance, I would like to take education seriously. I would have finished my secondary and university education before going into music’. When asked, ‘what stops you from going back to school now? He responded saying, ”I have so many people depending on me at the moment. ”Helen Paul and I even talked about it recently and she encouraged me to go back to school. But the truth is that I feel my children will continue from where I stopped”. from Entertainment – P.M. NEWS Nigeria http://bit.ly/2jwi1Vx via IFTTT

Daddy Showkey Veteran Nigerian musician Daddy Showkey has just revealed one of his biggest regrets in life. In a recent interview with ThePointNg, Daddy Showkey said not having education is one major thing he regrets. In his words, ”It is education. When I see musicians who are graduates, I am proud of them. I like to have PhD too. ”Though my mother was a teacher, she still gave me the freedom to do what I wanted to do. But given another chance, I would like to take education seriously. I would have finished my secondary and university education before going into music’. When asked, ‘what stops you from going back to school now? He responded saying, ”I have so many people depending on me at the moment. ”Helen Paul and I even talked about it recently and she encouraged me to go back to school. But the truth is that I feel my children will continue from where I stopped”.

Vice President, Prof. Osibanjo Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is to begin tour of communities in the Niger Delta on Monday in a bid to solve the lingering crisis in the oil-rich region. The move is part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to resolve the crisis in the area through engagement with the locals. The visit will see the Vice President visiting Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States to engage with community leaders. A statement issued by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assiatant on Media & Publicity, Office of the Vice President said “in further demonstration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s readiness and determination to comprehensively address the Niger Delta situation, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will be visiting a number of oil communities across some Niger Delta States starting on Monday, January 16, 2017, when he travels to Delta State. “At a later date to be announced soon, the Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo would also be visiting Bayels...

Lagos Transportation Commissioner, Prince Anofiu Elegushi (middle) with other stakeholders at the meeting. The Lagos State Government says it will soon begin the construction of phase II of Alapere dual carriage road in order to decongest traffic in the area. The government said the move was to unlock the traffic gridlock besetting part of Lagos by adopting ingenious engineering solutions and infrastructure development. Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi disclosed this during a “meet the community” programme to present the government plans with respect to Phase II of the Alapere Transport projects at the Agboyi Ketu Local Council Development Area, LCDA Headquarters. The Commissioner, who noted that the Ambode administration being a responsive and responsible government had prioritized the greater interest of the citizenry to undertake key projects it is embarking on. He added that a significant number of citizens would be impacted by this pr...

Oby Ezekwesili, the action woman. Time to match words with action. Will she follow them to Sambisa forest? The Bringbackourgirls advocacy group has replied the Federal government’s letter inviting the group to follow troops to the Sambisa forest for a search of the missing Chibok schoolgirls. In its letter, BBOG said it was willing to undertake the tour but called for a pre-tour meeting with the National Security Adviser to the President and the other officials of government including: 1. The Minister of Defence, 2. The Chief of Army Staff, and 3. The Chief of Air Forces. It also asked that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, should retract and apologize to BBOG for receiving and endorsing a group he received at the Army Headquarters, who had accused BBOG of engaging in “social advocacy terrorism.” Read BBOG’s reply below: “We write to thank you and acknowledge your letter on the above subject, dated January 11, 2017 which we received by email transmission yesterday,...

Chelsea players jubilate with Alonso after scoring one of his goals Marcos Alonso scored twice as Chelsea beat Leicester to move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, despite Diego Costa’s absence. The Blues were without their top scorer after a training ground dispute over his fitness, amid reports he has been offered a lucrative move to China. That saga did not affect them at the King Power Stadium, however, with Eden Hazard setting up Alonso to fire home after only six minutes. The Spanish wing-back added his second early in the second half when his shot from the edge of the area was deflected home. Pedro made sure of the points with a deft header from Willian’s cross. Leicester, lining up in a new-look 3-5-2 formation, struggled to find a way back into the game. Ahmed Musa had tested Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois before his side fell behind, but the defending champions did not manage another shot on target.

Mohamed Chambas United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) says ECOWAS has decided to take all necessary actions to enforce the results of the Dec. 1, 2016 presidential election in the Gambia. Mohamed Chambas Head of UNOWAS, disclosed this while briefing the UN Security Council on the political and security situation in the region. Chambas is also the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General. Chambas pointed out that there was progress in West Africa and the Sahel, but warned of the region’s political challenges, the Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said at the briefing. The UN envoy cited a “rising tide of democracy” throughout the continent, noting that a number of countries had recently held elections which largely complied with electoral norms and standards, upholding their status as a model in the region and beyond. Referring to the presidential elections in the Gambia, and the ensuing crisis, Chambas said: “However, some coun...

Nigeria-Super-Eagles Nigeria’s Super Eagles are starting the year as the 50th placed team in the FIFA World Rankings. According to the rankings table on the website of the world football governing body on Thursday, Nigeria broke into the first 50 by displacing Burkina Faso who went down by three spots. The Super Eagles are able to garner 619 points as against 616 it had in December 2016. The one spot movement has, however, placed the team as the 7th team in Africa behind Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and DR Congo respectively. On the global scene, the top 34 positions remain unchanged with Argentina, Brazil and Germany still holding first, second and third place, respectively. With only 12 Grade A matches played since the final rankings in 2016, there are few big changes in the January edition of the ranking. But in spite of the overall stability of the January table, two new teams have broken into the Top 50, Saudi Arabia (48, up 6) and Nigeria (50, up 1), T...

Oby Ezekwesili, the action woman. Time to match words with action. Will she follow them to Sambisa forest? The Federal Government has invited members of the Bring Our Girls Back (BBOG) to a short trip in a military operational flight into Sambisa forest in search of the missing Chibok girls. The invitation extended to members of the BBOG, an advocacy group for the release of the missing school girls from Chibok, Borno, was contained in a letter dated Jan. 11. The letter signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and addressed to Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, the convener of the group was made available to the media on Saturday. In the letter, the government asked the BBOG to nominate three of its members to join on the guided trip on Jan. 16 in recognition of the unwavering commitment of the group to the release of the girls “The trip being planned by the military will see the ministers of defence and information, the Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Army Staff j...

Guinea Bissau celebrate their equaliser Debutants and shock qualifiers, Guinea-Bissau stunned hosts Gabon by pulling off a 1-1 draw in the opening match of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. In the 90th minute, Juary Soares scored the equaliser with a diving header from a free-kick from the right. Gabon had taken the lead on 50 minutes when superstar, Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang turned in Denis Bouanga’s cross-shot. Home fans jeered loudly at the end, making their discontent evident. But the draw was no more than a spirited Guinea-Bissau side deserved as they frustrated their opponents throughout and took their chance to continue what has been a fairytale run. BBC reports that few predicted Guinea-Bissau would take anything from their group games at the tournament but they arguably looked more dangerous in a game that only livened up after half-time. While Aubaemyang showed his predatory instincts to finish off Bouanga’s ball across the face of the box, the...

Dr Wale Adebanwi President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigerian author and scholar, Wale Adebanwi, on his appointment as Rhodes Professor in Race Relations at the School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, describing him as an African gem and role model who has brought honour and respect to the continent. Buhari, in a statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) on Saturday said as the first black African scholar to be appointed to the endowed Chair since it was created more than 60 years ago, Prof. Adebanwi’s sharp intellect and distinguished learning was worthy of emulation by other young Nigerians. The statement said the President, who has maintained a keen interest in the soaring profile of the scholar right from his early years in journalism in Nigeria to a lecturer in the University of Ibadan, was delighted to see him achieve this much very early in his life. “At just 47 years, ...

Soldiers The Nigerian Military says it has successfully repelled an attack by the Boko Haram terrorists at Kangarwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno. The military said it killed 10 terrorists in the process and lost three soldiers in the battle Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations, said in a statement in Maiduguri that the operation was carried out on Friday. According to him, the operation was carried out with the assistance of the Nigerian Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance planes. He said “the futile attack, launched by the terrorists group from the shores of the Lake Chad in the evening, lasted till midnight. ““The resilient troops repelled the incursion and in the process killed 10 insurgents and wounded several others.” Usman said the troops recovered one Pulemyot Kalashnkova Machine (PKM) gun with 67 rounds of ammunition, one AK-47 Riffle with 18 rounds of ammunition, two AK-Rifle top covers and three Dane guns with on...

US President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump to update him on transition planning in the Oval Office at the White House on November 10, 2016 in Washington,DC. / AFP / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) As U.S. President Obama prepares to turn the White House over to President-elect Donald Trump next Friday, he is offering some advice to his successor. Excerpts of Obama’s advice to Trump were broadcast on Friday in his recorded interview with CBS News’ Steve Kroft for “60 Minutes”. “One thing I’ve said to him directly, and I would advise my Republican friends in Congress and supporters around the country, is just make sure that as we go forward, certain norms, certain institutional traditions, don’t get eroded, because there’s a reason they’re in place,” Obama said. The interview would be Obama’s last network interview before he leaves office on Jan. 20, after a two-term as president. In a transition period that found the Preside...

NNPC-logo Mr Ndu Ughamadu,the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), says the corporation has resumed loading of petroleum products in all its depots nationwide. Ughamadu made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. He said that the resumption of activities at the depots across the country followed the suspension of strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers,(NUPENG). He further said that the current petroleum products, stocked for supply by the corporation, would be sufficient for over 37 days. According to him, with the resumption in production of diesel and kerosene by the nation’s three refineries, Nigerians can be assured that the current seamless flow of petroleum products will be sustained. The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs further assured Nigerians that NNPC would sustain the prevailing harmonious relations with industrial unions. He, therefore, called on...

Mr Muda Yusuf, Director-General Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has advised the Federal Government to grant special incentives to private investors in the domestic refining of petroleum products. Mr Muda Yusuf, the Director-General of the Chamber, on Saturday in Ota, Ogun said that such incentive would reduce pressure on Nigeria’s foreign reserve. Yusuf further said that better incentives for investors would also ease the pressure of petroleum products imports on the economy. According to him, there is a need for the federal government to make domestic refining a top priority. “Public Private Partnership model for the development of new refineries should be considered in order to accelerate growth in the sector. “Private investors in the domestic refining should be given the desired incentives to put an end to the importation of petroleum products in 2017,’’ the LCCI boss said. Yusuf also advised the government to...

Harry Kane Harry Kane struck a hat-trick as Tottenham moved second in the Premier League table with a display of total dominance against West Brom at White Hart Lane. Spurs equalled their club record of six straight Premier League wins with ease as they set about dismantling their visitors, amassing 10 shots and 78% possession by half-time. Kane smartly lifted Christian Eriksen’s neat through ball in off the upright, before Eriksen’s own effort went in via Gareth McAuley. England striker Kane – who became a father this week – was a continued threat and he turned in Kyle Walker’s low cross, before completing his treble with a low finish across Ben Foster. There was one black mark for Spurs in the form of an injury to Jan Vertonghen, which boss Mauricio Pochettino said “looks bad”. But his side are now showing real momentum and they simply outclassed Tony Pulis’ Baggies, who stay eighth.

Defiant Gambian president Yahya Jammeh on Friday met ECOWAS mediation team for peaceful transfer of power in the country. The meeting with the team was deadlocked as Jammeh insisted on remaining president. Defiant Gambian president Yahya Jammeh receives President Muhammadu Buhari with Quran and tesbir President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia leading other ECOWAS leaders to his office President Buhari greets Liberia’s president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf The ECOWAS leaders at a meeting with Jammeh in his office

Femi Marshal Femi Marshall, One of the sons of Nigeria’s popular Fuji musician Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, also known as KWAM 1, has taken a huge step out of bachelorhood. According to Damilola Marshall who is Femi’s sister, the young man proposed to his girlfriend last night. She shared a picture of the couple via twitter and jokingly added “Daddy will hear this” Femi Marshal and fiancee King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall is popular for his contribution to Fuji music with singles like Berlin, Awade, Ro Ra se. He is also known for holding great wedding parties for his children. In the past, the legend hosted three wedding parties in less than one month for his daughters. Jennifer Okundia

Gunmen on rampage About five staff and two students of the Tulip International School, located in the Isheri area of Ogun State, have been abducted from their school premises by gunmen. This was confirmed to Channels Television, by the anti-kidnapping squad of the Ogun state police command. The source said that the gunmen invaded the school, formerly known as Turkish International School, Friday night in a white Hilux and took the students and the teachers away. The students, one from the Junior Secondary School and the other in Senior Secondary, were said to have been part of a moral instruction class when they were taken. Members of staff abducted, alongside the students, included three Nigerians and two Turkish nationals. According to staff of the school, the gunmen gained entrance through the back fence of the school, escaping through the swamp. Meanwhile, men of the Nigeria Police and the anti-kidnapping team of the Ogun State Police Command are currently on the ground, wh...

The suspects Operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS, Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos Island, have arrested two suspected robbers terrorising residents of Ire-Akari Street, Ejigbo and Isolo areas of Lagos. The police identified the suspects as Chinedu Ajogwu, 24 and Uchenna Chukwudi Mbah, 33. The alleged ring leader simply identified as Small is said to be at large. Nemesis caught up with the suspects who claimed to reside at Ejigbo area of Lagos on 31 October, 2016 when they raided residential apartment, mechanic workshop and car sales outlets where they stole and vandalised vehicles. The police alleged that while the operation was going on, victims alerted the DCP in charge of FSARS, Mr. Ibrahim Kaoje, who dispatched a team led by CSP Megida Dauda to the scene to arrest the suspects. On sighting the police, the suspects opened fire but the police overpowered them with superior firepower and arrested two suspects while the alleged leader called Small escaped. Item...

Eunice-Elisha, murdered pastor Suspects reportedly arrested over the killing last year of an Abuja-based pastor, Eunice Elisha, have been released. The suspects, whose identities were not revealed by the Abuja police command, were released because police investigation “could not link them to the murder,” said spokesperson of the command, Manzah Anjuguri. “What happened is that when the incident occurred, arrests were made. But during the course of the investigation we found that the persons arrested could not be linked to the said murder. And we cannot keep them if we do not have any case against them,” Mr. Anjuguri said. “They were released under the condition that they will be invited for questioning whenever the need arises. The commissioner has instructed the Divisional Police Officer for that region to intensify efforts on the matter; the case has not been closed. The investigation is still ongoing,” said Mr. Anjuguri. His statement contradicts his earlier claims that the s...

Femi Marshal Femi Marshall, One of the sons of Nigeria’s popular Fuji musician Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, also known as KWAM 1, has taken a huge step out of bachelorhood. According to Damilola Marshall who is Femi’s sister, the young man proposed to his girlfriend last night. She shared a picture of the couple via twitter and jokingly added “Daddy will hear this” Femi Marshal and fiancee King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall is popular for his contribution to Fuji music with singles like Berlin, Awade, Ro Ra se. He is also known for holding great wedding parties for his children. In the past, the legend hosted three wedding parties in less than one month for his daughters. Jennifer Okundia from Entertainment – P.M. NEWS Nigeria http://bit.ly/2juTKzp via IFTTT

A former staff of Ecobank Plc, Lagos, Kayode Ayodele, 34, who has been on the run since last year over alleged N30m fraud has been arrested in Ogun State, Western Nigeria. Police alleged that the suspect connived with two other former staff of the bank, Tiaminu Lukman, 48 and Shaga Olu Sheriff, 34 now facing trial for the same offence to hack into the account of their employer and withdrew N30m which they shared. The incident, according to the police, occurred between August 2013 and June 2015 during working hours. The bank management uncovered the fraud when they audited the account book and reported the matter to the DPO in charge of Ikoyi division, Lagos, SP Tijani Mustapha, who directed the team led by Sergeant Tope Ijatuyi to track and arrest the suspect. While Tiaminu Lukman and Shaga Olu Sheriff were arrested last year and charged to court, Ayodele went into hiding. Ayodele was however tracked and arrested in January, 2017 at Ijoko area of Ogun State and brought to Lagos. ...

Jigawa-gov Rep. Ibrahim Abdullahi,(APC Dutse/Kiyawa Federal Constituency) in Jigawa has empowered 220 women in Dutse Local Government Area of the state with cash, according to his Personal Assistant Alhaji Abubakar AbdusSalam. AbdusSalam said in Dutse on Saturday that said that the women were selected from each of the 11 wards of the councils of the constituency. The personal assistant also told NAN that each of the beneficiaries was given N5,000 to start business. He further said that the gesture was part of the lawmaker’s efforts to empower women to enable them become self-reliant. According to him, it is also to empower the women to contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of their families and communities. AbdusSalam recalled that Abdullahi recently distributed 70 sewing machines and 70 grinding machines to 140 women in the area. He, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously in order to be self-reliant. NAN reports that the wife of the lawmaker...

AFCON 2017 Football enthusiasts in Ebonyi say they have selected countries to support during the 2017 AFCON in Gabon to reduce the psychological effect of the Super Eagles absence from the competition. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Eagles would be conspicuously absent from the competition which commences on Saturday with its last appearance being the tile win in South Africa in 2013. The enthusiasts, who spoke to NAN in Abakaliki noted that they would not miss the fervour and thrills of the biennial African event due to Nigeria’s absence. Godwin Ezeh, a FIFA-Graded Referee from Ebonyi, noted that he would support Egypt in spite of Nigeria’s elimination from the competition. “The Egyptians thought us how to prepare for a major competition by appointing an experienced foreign coach in Italian Hector Cuper, while Nigeria dilly-dallied with Sunday Oliseh and Samson Siasia. “The Pharaohs also displayed utmost resurgent-spirit by qualifying for the competition wit...

Instagram Logo Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday expressed concern over the rise in the use of Instagram, a social media platform to defraud unsuspecting users. The platform, which is popularly used to connect friends and family by sharing personal photos and videos on the internet has gradually become one for business activities. Large-scale businesses have used the site to showcase goods and services available for sale inspiring start-up entrepreneurs to follow suit with an online market that does not require an official website or established shop. However, the business concept has been observed to have been soiled by individuals creating fake business accounts to acquire money from users fraudulently. Some of the residents, who spoke to newsmen, claimed to have fallen victim to some of the fake business accounts available on the social media website. Miss Hope Idemudia, a Nigerian youth service corps member serving in Abuja, said that she had...

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State No fewer than 50 persons have been arrested by operatives of the Edo State Police Command for alleged involvement in illegal tax collection. The suspects who are currently being detained at the Police Command headquarters in Benin, were picked up at different locations in Benin City, for flouting the directive of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, banning illegal tax collection. This was made known by Mr. Taiwo Akerele, the Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki, at the end-of-the-year party of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council. He said in line with Governor Obaseki’s determination to weed out illegal tax collectors, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Haliru Gwandu, has set up a 20-man squad to ensure total compliance with the directive. In his statewide broadcast on January 1, Governor Obaseki announced prohibition of tax collection by private individuals contracted by the administration of immediate past Gove...

raped child A six-year-old girl named Mariam has narrated in chilling details, how the son of her school’s proprietress, Sirotullahi Abdufatahi, 21, raped her 7 times. Little Mariam attends a boarding school at Iju, Ogun state called Medinat Al Munawarat Islamic Nursery and Primary School. She is Basic One and her mother Sola (not real name) is a widow. According to Punch, Sola had to send her only child Miriam to the boarding school at such a young age because it was run by people in her religion, and she believed she could get the right education and care as she worked to cater for her. Sola had no inkling anything was wrong with her only child when she was brought home on holiday during the Yuletide. She had no idea about the abuse her daughter had been suffering in the school. Until the week Mariam was supposed to resume school for the year, she was at her big aunty’s house when she decided to share with her cousin, a girl about her age, her “school stories”. In the story,...

MMM Youths all around the Kogi state capital city of Lokoja on Saturday were at several beer parlours to celebrate the return of the controversial Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM), a Ponzi scheme that froze the accounts of 3 million Nigerian members in December, causing panic and anxiety. The scam returned yesterday, a day before it’s initial comeback date of 14th January. Most of the revellers were students of the state-owned polytechnic in Lokoja. They expressed surprise about the comeback of the pyramid money investment scheme, that promises players 30 percent return, a day ahead of schedule. Segun Ademola, a student, said he had invested over N300,000 in his MMM account. He said he was glad to have the operation bounce back. He has a lot of high hopes, that he would reap his investment. “I am the happiest person on earth today, God bless Mavrodi,” he said. Fola Owobo, another student, said she used her school fees to provide help to some other person she did not know at all...

Igwe Francis A 36-year-old Nigerian man, Igwe Francis, living in India has died under mysterious circumstances, moments after he got into a scuffle with his former landlord, in Southwest Delhi’s Uttam Nagar, on January 6th, 2017. Reports have it that Francis got into an argument with his former landlord, Liaquat Ali, who claimed he owed him Rs 30,000 in rent. The argument led to a fight, after which Francis tried to run away. Francis collapsed on the road after running about 200 metres, the police said, citing eyewitnesses. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but it didn’t have any life-saving equipment. Francis was then taken to Mata Chanan Devi Hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Surender Kumar, DCP (south-west) said an initial investigation revealed Francis had bruises on his body. “As per the initial report doctors gave us, he had an injury on the back of his head. We are yet to establish if he hurt himself or if he was beaten up. We have questioned at least 25 p...

Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, (FRSC) The Benue Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has convicted 417 motorists for various offences in 2016 in the state. The Legal Officer of the Command, Route Commander Prince Chima in Makurdi said that the motorists were convicted by a mobile court between Jan. 9 and Dec.20, 2016. According to him, 568 offences were committed and 472 offenders charged. He said 417 offenders were convicted and 55 others were discharged. Chima said that the mobile court was part of FRSC mandate to prosecute traffic offenders with a view to bringing sanity to the roads. The legal officer disclosed that seat belt violation was the most prevalent offence with 89 offenders. “Other motorists were arrested for overloading and not having driver’s license and vehicle license. Others were tyres, number plate violations, and obstruction of marshal on duty,’’ Chima said. He said more traffic violators were convicted on Makurdi-Aliade Otukpo r...

Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM) Popular money-doubling scheme, Mavrodi Mundial Moneybox (MMM), which resumed activities Jan. 14, 2017, after placing a one-month ban on all withdrawals from Dec. 13, 2016, has succeeded in filling the hearts of Nigerians with joy. MMM Nigeria investors and participants yesterday organised a get-together to celebrate the return of the Ponzi scheme amidst serious dancing and jubilation. Following the unfreezing of access to confirmed Mavros, Nigerian participants engaged in serious celebrations over the new development as they couldn’t hide their happiness. Prior to the unfreezing, many predicted doom while relating the one-month freezing of confirmed Mavros placed on Nigerian participants accounts to similar incidents of fraud in South Africa, Zimbabwe and other countries the scheme had initially being present. In a Facebook video which has been making waves on the internet, excited participants danced and jubilated in sheer excitement to the new de...

Barrow and Jammeh The Gambia’s President-elect, Adama Barrow, has left the country after talks failed to persuade President Yahya Jammeh to step down. Nigeria’s president flew to Banjul to try to broker a deal but Mr Jammeh would not relinquish power. Mr Barrow is now heading to Mali, where he will meet West African leaders attending a summit there. The former estate agent wants to resolve the transitional deadlock so he can be sworn in next week. President Jammeh’s term ends on Thursday. The African Union has said it will no longer recognise Mr Jammeh’s rule beyond this point. Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari had flown to The Gambia’s capital, Banjul, to try to broker a deal, as the region fears the consequences of a non-peaceful transition. Ecowas, a 15-nation bloc of West African states that organised the delegation, has it said it would consider removing Mr Jammeh using military force if he refuses to step aside. Mr Barrow is travelling to Mali with the Ecowas delegation ...

Soldiers The Nigerian Military says it has successfully repelled an attack by the Boko Haram terrorists at Kangarwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno. The military said it killed 10 terrorists in the process and lost three soldiers in the battle Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations, said in a statement in Maiduguri that the operation was carried out on Friday. According to him, the operation was carried out with the assistance of the Nigerian Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance planes. He said “the futile attack, launched by the terrorists group from the shores of the Lake Chad in the evening, lasted till midnight. ““The resilient troops repelled the incursion and in the process killed 10 insurgents and wounded several others.” Usman said the troops recovered one Pulemyot Kalashnkova Machine (PKM) gun with 67 rounds of ammunition, one AK-47 Riffle with 18 rounds of ammunition, two AK-Rifle top covers and three Dane guns with on...

US President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump to update him on transition planning in the Oval Office at the White House on November 10, 2016 in Washington,DC. / AFP / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) As U.S. President Obama prepares to turn the White House over to President-elect Donald Trump next Friday, he is offering some advice to his successor. Excerpts of Obama’s advice to Trump were broadcast on Friday in his recorded interview with CBS News’ Steve Kroft for “60 Minutes”. “One thing I’ve said to him directly, and I would advise my Republican friends in Congress and supporters around the country, is just make sure that as we go forward, certain norms, certain institutional traditions, don’t get eroded, because there’s a reason they’re in place,” Obama said. The interview would be Obama’s last network interview before he leaves office on Jan. 20, after a two-term as president. In a transition period that found the Preside...

NNPC-logo Mr Ndu Ughamadu,the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), says the corporation has resumed loading of petroleum products in all its depots nationwide. Ughamadu made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. He said that the resumption of activities at the depots across the country followed the suspension of strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers,(NUPENG). He further said that the current petroleum products, stocked for supply by the corporation, would be sufficient for over 37 days. According to him, with the resumption in production of diesel and kerosene by the nation’s three refineries, Nigerians can be assured that the current seamless flow of petroleum products will be sustained. The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs further assured Nigerians that NNPC would sustain the prevailing harmonious relations with industrial unions. He, therefore, called on...

Mr Muda Yusuf, Director-General Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has advised the Federal Government to grant special incentives to private investors in the domestic refining of petroleum products. Mr Muda Yusuf, the Director-General of the Chamber, on Saturday in Ota, Ogun said that such incentive would reduce pressure on Nigeria’s foreign reserve. Yusuf further said that better incentives for investors would also ease the pressure of petroleum products imports on the economy. According to him, there is a need for the federal government to make domestic refining a top priority. “Public Private Partnership model for the development of new refineries should be considered in order to accelerate growth in the sector. “Private investors in the domestic refining should be given the desired incentives to put an end to the importation of petroleum products in 2017,’’ the LCCI boss said. Yusuf also advised the government to...

Nigerian-army The Military says it has successfully repelled attack by the Boko Haram terrorists at Kangarwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno. Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations, said in a statement in Maiduguri that the operation was carried out on Friday. According to him, the operation was carried out with the assistance of the Nigerian Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance planes. He said “the futile attack, launched by the terrorists group from the shores of the Lake Chad in the evening, lasted till midnight. ““The resilient troops repelled the incursion and in the process killed 10 insurgents and wounded several others.” Usman said the troops recovered one Pulemyot Kalashnikova Machine (PKM) gun with 67 rounds of ammunition, one AK-47 Rifle with 18 rounds of ammunition, two AK-Rifle top covers and three Dane guns with one cartridge. “Others include, one rocket propelled grenade tube with three bombs, one rocket propelle...

Kamiyah Mobley and her kidnapper An 18-year-old South Carolina woman’s life was turned inside out this morning when the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and FBI informed her that the woman she called her mother for her entire life had been arrested for kidnapping her from a Jacksonville hospital when she was a day old. Kamiya’s biological mother two days after her baby was stolen Kamiyah Mobley whose name was changed to Alexis Manigo was kidnapped at about 3 p.m. July 10, 1998, when Gloria Williams posing as a nurse, snatched the 8-hour-old baby from her mother’s room, brushing past the Aiken and disappearing. It was a tip last year that led Jacksonville police to South Carolina, where they found an 18-year-old woman with Kamiyah Mobley birth date but a different name. They soon found out that fraudulent documents had been used to establish her identity. . Kamiya Mobley and her kidnapper Gloria Williams A DNA sample was taken and matched with the original newborn DNA ...