Friday 7 February 2014

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Tuesday 4 February 2014

OBJ, Buhari, Amaechi, Absent at Council of State meeting

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Head of State General Muhammadu Buhari were today obviously absent at the Council of State meeting convened by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa.

The Council of State meeting which is chaired by the President is supposed to be attended by all past Presidents and Heads of States, past Chief Justices of the Federation, the 36 states incumbent governors as well as the leadership of the National Assembly.

Obasanjo and President Jonathan may not be in the best of terms as both not too long ago exchanged strong worded open letters.

The meeting which is ongoing at the council chambers of the Presidential Villa , kicked off at 10.45am.

Governors absent at the meeting include:  Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Adams Oshiomole (Edo), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano) and Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).

Those present at the meeting: include former Head of States Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Abdulsalam Abubakar and former Head of the National Interim Government Earnest Shonekan,
Senate President David Mark, Speaker House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

Governors present at the meeting are those of Osun, and Kaduna, Lagos, Ebonyi, Enugu, Cross River, Imo, Sokoto, Gombe, Cross River, Niger, Jigawa, Ekiti, Kaduna, Taraba, Jigawa, Ogun, Niger, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Nasarawa, Kano deputy governor, Deputy governor of Borno, among others.

Meanwhile a mild drama occurred shortly before the commencement of the meeting.

The Adamawa state governor was throwing banters at some of his colleagues asking them not to poison him.

Nyako speaking to his Abia state colleague said "I am telling, don't poison me here. I am not comfortable with you here. I anything happens to me here, walahi, my people will take you to court".

Orji replies "For how many years have we been sitting together? Is it this zero hour that I would poison you?"

Nyako relies "Who knows?"

 Nyako turns to Elechi "I am just warning himnot to poison me. Is there any law that says we should sit down together?"

Kano State Assembly Speaker Resigns, Cites Political Reasons

The Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly, Alhaji Gambo Sallau, on Tuesday announced his resignation from the position.

This is coming barely 24 hours after 26 out of the 31 legislators defected from the PDP to APC.

Sallau said in a broadcast on Freedom Radio, Kano, that his
decision to resign as speaker, was based on political reasons.

``I, Gambo Sallau, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, hereby announce my resignation as the speaker.

``Now that the PDP has become an opposition party, I will not continue to be the Speaker of the House'', he said.

He commended members of the house, the state government and the public for the support they had given him in the last two years.

Court Reserves Judgment Against FRSC Over Issuance Of New Number Plates

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has reserved judgment in a suit against the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) over the issuance of new number plates.

This was after counsel to the parties, adopted their written submissions.

Justice James Tsoho said that the date for judgment will be communicated to parties by hearing notices.

The plaintiff, one Ofoegbu Emma had in the suit on September 30, 2013, prayed the court to declare  that the threat by the respondents to impound vehicles of motorists, who failed to acquire the new number plates, is invalid and unconstitutional.

He argued that the old number plates were issued under the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations, NRTR, 2004, adding that the NRTR 2004, is a subsidiary legislation made under the FRSC Act, Laws of the Federation as revised in 2004.

According to him, the NRTR 2012, in Regulations 230 (2), provides that the revocation of the 2004 Regulations, shall not affect anything done, or purported to be done pursuant to that Regulation.

Ofoegbu said there is no law made in accordance with the 1999 Constitution as amended, which prohibits the use of the old number plates, or declares its use as an offence, adding that the threat by the respondent to impound vehicles and arrest motorists who failed to comply with the October 1 deadline, was a gross violation of the provisions of 36 (12) of the constitution, which guarantees the rights of individuals.

He wants the court to declare  as unlawful, the threat by the respondent, to arrest motorists using the old number plates because there is no law validly made in accordance with the constitution, prohibiting its use.

Amosun Declares War On Journalists

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, on Monday in the state capital Abeokuta declared 'war' on journalists in the state.

The Journalists had waited for over an hour at the Gateway Hall venue of the meeting between the governor, National Assembly members and other stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress were stunned when Amosun told the newsmen that he had drawn the battle line with them over the series of "fabricated stories" they had been writing about his role in the APC crisis.

The meeting was called to discuss the modalities for the registration of APC members in the state.

Governor Amosun, who emerged from the meeting looking rather unhappy, vented his anger on the journalists when they asked for his comments on the event.

Speaking angrily in Yoruba, Amosun also dared the journalists to publish all he was saying to them.

The governor then walked out on the journalists, declining to answer their previous question about what transpired at the meeting with the APC National Assembly members and other stakeholders.

He declared that the journalists in the state were not his friends.

The governor stressed that he had only decided not to move against the journalists because it was not the first time they had written fabricated stories about him.

Amosun said in Yoruba, "Nka ti eri ohun ko ni e nko. Ohun to sele ni yen. Eyin na mo pe gbogbo nkan ti e nko yen, agbelero ni. E ki i se ore mi o! Write it o, that I said you are doing 'agbelero'.

"E ti ko o; emi o kan soro mo ni o. Gbogbo agbelero ti e nko; se b'o ti sele simi ri, mo kan nwo yin ni; e maa lo ko lo! Mo ri pe enko loo, esi ma ko lo!" which can be translated to mean (You journalists have been writing fabricated stories. You only write what you don't see.
You all know that you have been fabricating stories. You are not my friends, go and write it that I said you have been fabricating stories.

I just decided not to take any action. All the fabricated stories, it has happened to me, I'm only looking at you. Go on and keep fabricating stories. I can see you keep fabricating the stories, keep

Dollar-bribe demanding Policeman nabbed

The Police High Command in Abuja,  yesterday, said it has identified the policeman who was caught in a hidden camera allegedly demanding for  dollar bribe.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, who made this known to source in a statement, said the policeman had been arrested and is currently in custody.
 
He added that the suspect, who is now in police custody, is undergoing Orderly Room Trial and if found guilty, will face appropriate disciplinary action.

Police IG, MD Abubakar

According to him, "the IGP has commended the unknown whistleblower in this case for his painstaking efforts in exposing what would have been a hidden crime. He equally enjoins other members of the public to emulate this noble and patriotic action which will certainly go a long way in checkmating crime in our society."

Meantime, the policeman was seen in a 45-second video, demanding dollars after apprehending a Nigerian-American and two other Nigerians at a bank in Egbeda Lagos, charging the victims for wearing a navy-like cargo pant.

The video also showed where the policeman insisted  the three men must pay him in dollars or be taken to the police station.

At some point, he even offered to show the men where they can change their  naira to dollars since the men said they had no dollars on them.

Sunday 2 February 2014

Finally Atiku Defects to APC

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Sunday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This is contained in a statement issued by the former vice president in Abuja.

According to the statement, his defection is coming after due consultations with his supporters and political stakeholders.

The statement quoted the former vice president as saying that the PDP cannot be redeemed and the APC is a party that is ready for change.

The statement quoted Atiku, ``In 2006, as a result of my firm stand in defence of our constitution and our democracy, my supporters and I were pushed out of the PDP.

``A party that we worked tirelessly with other compatriots to build as a vehicle to restore democracy to our country.

``We later returned to that party in 2009 when a new leadership of the party and the country promised a new direction.

``A direction of inclusiveness, internal democracy, end to impunity, adherence to the rule of law and respect for the dignity of members and Nigerians.

``Sadly, however, those promises have not been kept.  In addition, the PDP continues to be beset with many crises, mostly leadership-induced.

``It has since lost touch with Nigerians and efforts made by many well-meaning members and stakeholders to bring it back to the vision of the founders have been rebuffed."

It stated that Atiku said he joined some other leaders of the PDP to stage a walk-out at the party's last convention to demonstrate the seriousness of the matter.

The grievances that were table before the leadership of the party, Atiku said in the statement, were yet to be addressed.
``As I speak, most of the issues that led to that walk-out are yet to be addressed.

``Many founding members of the PDP, I included, continue to be marginalised and excluded from the affairs of the party.

``For instance, as a former vice president, I am by virtue of the PDP constitution, a member of the party's Board of Trustees and its National Executive Committee.

``However, I am not invited to the meetings of those organs nor consulted on their decisions.

``This was because I dared to exercise my right to contest in the party's primary election for a chance to be its flag-bearer in the 2011 elections.

``We have, therefore, concluded that the PDP cannot be redeemed.  

``It is against this background that we should understand the visit by the leaders of the APC and their invitation to me to join hands with them to save the country.

``Consequently, I have been consulting my supporters and associates, my family and friends for the past few weeks.

``My decision may not satisfy some of my friends and associates, but, I have to put the interest of our country first.

``Following this extensive consultative process I have, therefore, decided to cast my lot with the APC, a party of change committed to the improvement of the lives of our people.

``My resignation letter as a member of the PDP will be delivered to the party tomorrow.

``I encourage my political associates and friends to register and join the APC once the registration exercise commences, so that together we can change this country for the better.

``That is what I have decided to do. I will do all within my God-given powers to help the APC win elections all over Nigeria.

``I will also join hands with other true progressives to bring true change to our country and its long-suffering people," the statement quoted the former vice president, as saying.

Police Apprehends Four Suspects For Car Theft

The police in Delta state has apprehended four robbery suspects believed to be specialists in car snatching and refurbishing.

The suspects, according to the police are indigenes of Onitsha in Anambra state, but chose to be carrying out the activities in Asaba, the Delta state capital.

Parading the suspects, the Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Adada, said the men after refurbishing stolen cars, resell to unsuspecting members of the public.

The suspects however denied knowledge of the car activities which they have been apprehended for.

The Police Commissioner said that one of the vehicles was stolen from a woman in Enugu and was traced down to Asaba based on information, stating that "information is power" he added.

He therefore advised Nigerians to be involved with "intelligence networking", "as far as we are concerned in Delta state, we have declared war on crime and criminality". He emphasized that adequate information should be given to the police to help in further investigating crime.

Amaechi Sack Jonathan's Man, Secondus

Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has approved the sack of the national deputy chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and key loyalist of President Goodluck Jonathan, Prince Uche Secondus as the chairman, board of directors of the Port Harcourt Flour Mills Limited.

Amaechi also approved the sack of the pioneer state woman leader of the PDP Madam Jane Nna Chinwa, as a member and representative of the State government in the board.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the commissioner for Commerce and Industry Chuma Chinye said the governor approved the appointment of the former commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Marcus Nle Eji and Mr Francis Elechi, as the new chairman and member respectively of the board.

The statement directed the ministries of Finance, Commerce, and Industry to ensure that necessary steps were taken without delay to formalise the changes.

Fire Outbreak At St Nicholas Specialist Hospital, Lagos

A fire outbreak is on now at Saint Nicholas Specialist Hospital, Lagos lsland.

An official  from the Lagos State Fire Service disclosed to source

He said,  fire trucks from Sari lganmu are on ground battling with the outbreak.

Details later.

NSC warns federations over competitions

The Director of Sports Federation and Elite Athletes Department (FEAD) of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba has warned sports federations to desist from entering for international competitions without the approval of the NSC.

He stated that the NSC's endorsement  was  required for Sports Federations to enroll for international competitions, describing the action of some federations that enter for such competitions without the knowledge and endorsements of the Commission as ''wrong and a breach of established sporting procedure."

Dr. Ojo-Oba said the Commission frowns at this attitude and would henceforth consider sanctions for erring federations.
Dr. Ojo-Oba spoke in the light of the controversy that has trailed the camping of Nigeria's volleyball team, which is preparing for an international competition. "The Commission is unaware that that they were going for any competition. As at today, we do not have any written request for funds from them.

"These include available funding, sports development goals, rating of the team and others," he said.

"Federations should not just wake up and say they are participating in international competitions. When they enter for such competitions, it is under the banner of Nigeria and so the Commission, which is the premier sports agency in the country, should be fully aware to give  approval. This is essential for proper planning."

Police nab 22-yr-old for cloning Egba monarch’s facebook

A middle-aged man, Gani Akinmade, has been arrested by operatives of the Special Fraud Unit, Milverton, Ikoyi, Lagos, for allegedly   cloning the identity of the  Alake of Egbaland on facebook, with an attempt to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

The Commissioner of Police SFU, Tunde Ogunsakin, in a statement said the unit received a complaint on  July 22, 2013, where it was alleged that between May 3 and 22, 2013, a frausdster with phone number 08096897566 opened a facebook account with the name of HRM Oba Micheal Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland and attempted to swindle one Olubukola Awofeso, a UK resident whom he met on social network facebook, of  N300,000.00.

The suspect was also said to have attempted to lure the victim to partner in a business of supplying 300 transformers valued at more than N1 billion.

The said Gani Akinmade is 22-year-old and a native of Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.  A drop-out of Tai Solarin College of Education, Ijebu-Ode.

He confessed to the crime but stated that he conspired with one Seyi Lewis and Ifeanyi to perpetrate the fraud.

Thursday 30 January 2014

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Tuesday 28 January 2014

Samsung to Produce "Galaxy Glass"

Samsung was early to market with a smartwatch in the Galaxy Gear, and now it looks like it might be one of the first in the mix with a glasses-based computing device. A new report from the Korea Times (via Verge) suggests that Samsung is currently developing a Google Glass competitor, which is in fact provisionally named "Galaxy Glass," set for launch in September at the annual IFA tech conference.

Google has yet to put a firm timeline on the consumer launch of its own Google Glass wearable computer, which is available to developers and early adopters via Google's 'Explorer' program. Some reports had suggested a general launch for late 2013, but then later information from Google revised the release timeline to sometime in 2014. Samsung could conceivably beat Google to the punch, but as we saw with the Galaxy Gear, that's not necessarily a good thing.


The Gear was likewise telegraphed before its actual launch, with Samsung coming right out and admitting the device was on the way at IFA. This time around, there's no named source discussing the device, but the Korea Times does quote a Samsung official as saying that the potential in the market is huge, and that Samsung is very interested in getting a first-mover advantage in the space.

As for what Samsung Glass would do, it sounds like it would essentially provide a basic heads-up display for your smartphone on your face, pushing notifications, music playback information and basic controls to the lens of a head-mounted display.

Samsung getting in among the early crop of device-makers hoping to ride this trend is in keeping with its recent strategy, which seems to be one of putting everything they can out as a shipping product. It's a plan that gets them lots of props as a company eager to pursue innovation and drive new product development, but the first-mover advantage has only questionable use value if these first generation products keep failing to impress.

Both the smartwatch and the eyeware-based computing models are interesting because OEMs seem to be pursuing them fairly aggressively without any evidence that this is a direction consumers necessarily are interested in. We'll apparently see in September if Samsung has managed to build a face computer that moves the tech forward, however.

Culled from TechCrunch

I’m confident Nigeria will win the battle on Wednesday - Hamilton

Former Nigerian manager, Paul Hamilton has said there is nothing to worry over the semifinal clash between Ghana and Nigeria at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.

Both West African perennial foes will confront each other on Wednesday at the Free State Stadium, Manguang to decide who progress to the final of the biennial football showpiece.Nigeria stopped Morocco 4-3 in the quarter finals on Saturday while the Ghanaians pipped DR Congo 1-0 to set up the epic clash between familiar opponents on Wednesday.

Hamilton said the semifinal encounter will turn out to be the most unpredictable game of the entire matches played at the championship."The Ghana, Nigeria semifinal tie will be the most exciting game of the championship, both countries are perennial rivals and West African football giants."Both sides play good football, it's an encounter that'll be too difficult to predict its outcome. We'll just keep our fingers crossed hoping for the very best for the Nigerian side. Everybody must expect a. tough contest between both sides.

"But I know the Nigerians are equal to the task and I'm confident Nigeria will win the battle on Wednesday," said the former Nigerian star to supersport.com.Hamilton said the Super Eagles must do everything humanly possible to avoid trailing their Ghanaian opponents, the Black Stars as they did against the Atlas Lions of Morocco."We must not for any reason trail behind the Ghanaians as it may prove too tough to comeback as we did against the Moroccans.

"And once we go up scoring we must not stop scoring and not until the whistle sounds signifying the end of the encounter the Ghanaian side remain a dangerous side. Only goals win the match so we must continue to score goals," said the former Super Falcons manager.Hamilton assured the Eagles coaches will correct the lapses noted in the side's previous matches before the game on Wednesday against Ghana.

"No side is perfect but correction of mistakes is a continuous exercise, we've our shortcomings same as the Ghanaian side but I'm sure the coaches will work on those mistakes before we face Ghana," Hamilton said.

"No side is perfect but correction of mistakes is a continuous exercise, we've our shortcomings same as the Ghanaian side but I'm sure the coaches will work on those mistakes before we face Ghana," Hamilton said.

"No side is perfect but correction of mistakes is a continuous exercise, we've our shortcomings same as the Ghanaian side but I'm sure the coaches will work on those mistakes before we face Ghana," Hamilton said.

Culled from Supersport

Sunday 26 January 2014

SCAM ALERT: HKN'S B-RED IN SHOW OF SHAME AT GQ LOUNGE IBADAN!

Ibadan went agog last night when Rolake a former Ibadan Beat FM presenter organized industry night for Club GQ,and brought Bred, patoranking, classiq, glen, magnito, Pizzy, Kshab. Etc

Before B-red climbed the stage to perform, a certain Ibadan based artiste called ''Pizzy'' performed and thrilled the crowd by his performance. This dampened B-Red's morale as he started to doubt his own stage craft knowing he could not beat Pizzy's performance. In an attempt to win the crowd, immediately he got on stage, he decided to run a little competition with a promise that whoever could dance Skelewu better than him will get One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira from him.

A winner finally emerged but B-Red didn't give the money he promised, when the crowd started murmuring, B-red boasted ''The Money is in my car, you know i am from the richest clique in the industry'' , The statement made the crowd calm as they continued to enjoy the show, until B-Red finished performing and ran off the stage to his car.
                         
Seeing what tricks B-red was playing, the Skelewu dancer moved to follow B-red in anticipation of the money but to his surprise, B-red offered him a cup of drink and asked the dancer to take a picture with him. When the dancer asked for the money again, B-red said he was leaving already but the dancer should meet him in another club.
                
Unfortunately for the dancer, on getting to the club, B-red asked his bouncers not to let the dancer come close to him. B-red eventually left the club in anger saying '' I told the DJ and the hypeman i will send my PA to give them Ten Thousand Naira each, but they refused to hype me nor play my song''. He left the club dashing the skelewu dancer's hope of being A hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira richer, and he also did not fulfill his Twenty Thousand Naira Promise to the Hypeman and the Dj.


Sure HKN CEO, Davido won't be proud of his cousin... GOBE!

Monday 13 January 2014

Open letter to Basket Mouth by Citizen Evelyn

Dear Bright Okpocha (aka Basket Mouth),

I am a very good fan of your comedy show including my husband and kids, I would rather have spoken to you over the phone or make time to see you face to face, but as it is the season of open letter in Nigeria, I would like to use this medium to express how disappointed I am over your comment or joke as you may call it on "Rape".

First let me try to educate you about the meaning of Rape, maybe you did not check your dictionary for the meaning or you don't have one at home.

Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another without any consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or against a person who is incapable of valid consent, such as one who is unconscious, incapacitated, or below the legal age of consent. The term rape is sometimes used interchangeably with the term sexual assault.

Rape and sexual slavery are recognized as crimes against humanity and war crimes. Rape is also recognized as an element of the crime of genocide when committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a targeted ethnic group.

People who have been raped can be severely traumatized and may suffer from post traumatic stress disorder; in addition to psychological harm resulting from the act, rape may cause physical injury, or have additional effects on the victim, such as acquiring of a sexually transmitted infection or becoming pregnant. Furthermore, following a rape, a victim may face violence or threats thereof from the rapist, and, in some cultures, from the victim's own family and relatives. More about rape and its effect of victims can be obtained for free from the Encyclopaedia.

Bright, let me ask you, have any of your relation been raped before? Have your blood sister or daughter been raped before? If the answer is yes, then how can you possibly make a joke about it. but if the answer is no, then you must be ashamed of yourself ….

Your lack of respect for women has manifested. When you first began to make jokes about Nigerian women we thought that it was to make people laugh, now you can be easily accused of making these jokes because you want to disrespect, humiliate and insult Nigerian women. Why should Nigerian women be painted black by a fellow Nigerian who they pay money to watch his show? These women who come to your shows are the people putting food on your table, the clothes you wear, pay your bills, fuel your car and you have the innuendo to rubbish them?

As a brand ambassador of some companies in Nigeria, you are supposed to be a role model for our children, but what are you teaching them, are you teaching them that rape is fun?

you are telling them that any girl they want to have sex with and who says no should be raped? To the girls you are simply calling them sex toys that can be bought with money. By your joke you have reduced Nigerian women to zero. How will men from other countries see our women?

Finally, I will advise you to always think about the consequence of what you open your mouth to joke about because that mouth that brought you fame and good things of life may still play a part in bringing you down.

Evelyn Ejiogu

Missing Fund: NNPC insists $30bn oil revenue remitted to Federation Account

Following the controversy that trailed the controversial $49.8 billion missing from federation account, the  Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC has disclosed that the disputed balance of $10.8 billion from the  original amount, which has not been paid into the Federation Account, is not missing but formed part of its operational costs within the period, January 2012 to July 2013, which was referred to by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, in his letter to President Goodluck Jonathan on unremitted oil revenues.

In a statement issued by the Corporation's General Manager, Media Relations, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, it insisted that issues surrounding the allegation of the unremitted $49.8 billion against it had since been explained, but it appears that the initial dust raised by Sanusi's letter was yet to settle.
It explained that repairs on Nigeria's 5,000 kilometres of petroleum pipeline network, which is constantly subjected to vandalism, unpaid subsidies on kerosene and petrol, as well as its maintenance of national strategic reserves for petroleum products, were all parts of its operational costs accounted for by the $10.8 billion.

According to Ibrahim, the Corporation considered it necessary to make further clarifications on the burning issue, considering the extant media reports on the same issue, which it considered as misleading.

"We are therefore constrained to respond and clarify the issues once again to help those who do not yet understand the clarification made earlier by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs.  Diezani Alison-Madueke, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, at a joint press conference which was widely reported in the media.

"For the avoidance of doubt, there was no where it was stated or admitted by any of the parties in the course of the press conference or anywhere else that the sum of $12 billion or $10.8 billion out of he alleged unremitted $49.8 billion was missing.

"The truth of the matter is that as at the time of the press conference, $30 billion of the alleged unremitted oil revenue had been reconciled by all the parties involved. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala did explain that the reconciliation was an ongoing process and that the balance of $10.8 billion was still being reconciled," said the Corporation's spokesperson.

"At no time did anybody, be it the Coordinating Minister for the Economy or the CBN governor say that the outstanding $10.8 billion was missing. It is simply curious how some sections of the media are not prepared to see the difference between the two positions – reconciliation in progress versus money missing. These two positions are simply not the same thing no matter the angle from which anyone chooses to see them."

Giving a breakdown of NNPC's operational expenses, which make up the $10.8 billion, Ibrahim said, having made that point, it is also pertinent to further clarify that NNPC as a national oil company is saddled with certain onerous responsibilities that other oil companies are free from.

"For instance, as the supplier of last resort, NNPC has the responsibility of ensuring that there is adequate supply of petroleum products whether the market is favourable or not.

"The yet to be reconciled $10.8 billion can be located in the expenses on some of the responsibilities, which the Corporation carries out on behalf of the federal government with respect to the domestic crude oil utilisation.

"One of such issues is the unpaid subsidy on kerosene and premium motor spirit (petrol). It would be recalled that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was earlier in 2013 reported to have stated that she had not paid any subsidy on kerosene since she assumed office.

"The truth of the matter is that since 2007 when the late President Umaru Yar'Adua reviewed the prices of petroleum products, following the general strike in protest against the price hike by his predecessor, the issue of subsidy payment on kerosene was left hanging and NNPC was mandated to continue to sell the product at a subsidised rate of N50 per litre.

Bizzare! Fire Outbreak Roasts Teenager in Lagos

A fire outbreak is on now at 35, Oke Erin Streer, Ekore bus stop, Oworoshonki, Lagos.

The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe  who confirmed the outbreak told Daily Times said, "Yesterday ,(Saturday) January, 11, we responded to an outbreak of fire ,one of them involved a male hostel at Oriwu college, lkorodu. An outbreak of fire is on now at 35, Oke Erin Street, Ekore bus stop, Oworoshoki, Lagos. A teenager was found roasted by fire."

However, Fadipe said fire fighting operation is battling hard to douse the fire.

On Saturday, January 11, Daily Times reported that a fuel tanker fully ladden with 33,000 litres of PMS gutted fire at Ajasa bus-stop, command Ekoro in Lagos.

Man Drowns At Lagos Bar Beach

An adult man in company of friends was on Sunday evening, January 12, drowned at the Lagos bar beach.

The Public Information Officer, National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), Mr. Farinloye Ibrahim disclosed to Daily Times that, "The man and his friends stayed far from the usual area where fun-seekers converge until one of them raised alarm on the drowning of the man. Immediately, the beach rescuers made frantic efforts at saving the man but they could not rescue him."

Ibrahim said, "This incident has brought the number of those drowned at the bar beach to 5 in 12 days. Four people were drowned on the new year, Wednesday, January 1, and efforts to rescue them proved abortive till two days later when their remains were recovered."

In his words of advise, he said, "It is pertinent that the state government advise people along the coastlines that the climate change effects are fully here; therefore, they need to be safety-conscious as they embark on their various activities in the area."

I’m being attacked because of Jonathan — Kashamu

Prince Kashamu Buruji yesterday explained that the attacks on him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo were because of his unflinching support for President Goodluck Jonathan adding that Obasanjo's letters were spreading his popularity beyond measure.

Buruji who spoke during a media interaction following an Ogun State PDP stakeholders' meeting in his Ijebu Igbo country home vowed not to ever recant his support for Dr. Jonathan.

"Jonathan is a good president, he is loyal to Nigeria, he's a complete gentleman, transparent and a believer in due process. We are ready to go the extra mile in delivering the South West for him," he said.

"You ought to know the strategy of Obasanjo, that Obasanjo wanted to hijack me from Jonathan, that if I don't support Jonathan in South West, the South West would be easier for them. How many times has he called me? How many times Obasanjo has sent people to me that why am I so stubborn?

Many that he had sent, I did not answer them because I am not a betrayer.

"When I love somebody and believe in the leadership of somebody, whatever happens I accept that I will go with the person. I believe in the leadership of Jonathan, I believe in the government of Jonathan and in his transformation agenda
"It's only Jonathan that can open his mouth and say don't support me again. What I'm doing is for the party, for Jonathan and the country. Jonathan is a good president, he is loyal to Nigeria, he's a complete gentleman, transparent and a believer in due process. We are ready to go the extra mile in delivering the South West to him. You know when it comes to mobilizing the people, I'm a grassroots person. I've already opened offices all over the South West.

In Ogun State over two million registered in the last election but only 400,000 voted. In each state, I have registered in my data over 20, 000 supporters. Tell me which grassroots does Obasanjo have? The last election we did, they beat him flat. I have 80 per cent of PDP leaders in Ogun.

PDP Still Needs You, Tukur Tells Obasanjo

The PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on Saturday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo`s fatherly aura and experience in politics were still required by the party.

Tukur said this in reaction to a letter written to him and President Goodluck Jonathan, dated Jan. 7, 2014, by Obasanjo.

Obasanjo had, in the letter, raised some issues related to the PDP in the country's South-West geo-political zone.

The letter had also conveyed Obasanjo's decision to withdraw from participating in the party`s politics at all levels.

'It is an honour that you deemed it fit and proper to intimate me with an issue important to your mind and our party in the south-west zone.

'It is my wish and prayer that such cordial and positive relationship will continue,'' Tukur said.

He stated that Obasanjo's experiences as one of the party`s founding fathers were required in its drive to get stronger and become more formidable.

Tukur said the PDP had more pressing challenges, bordering most importantly on the coming Ekiti and Osun states' governorship elections and the 2015 general elections.

All this, he said, required strong inputs from the former president.
 
The PDP national chairman said continuous dialogue was needed for a stronger partnership among the party's stakeholders.

He maintained that the need for PDP to reclaim lost grounds in the south-west required the full support of party leaders like Obasanjo.

Tukur expressed gratitude to Obasanjo for his manner of approach and for presenting his grievances on issues in the PDP south-west.

''1 thank you for your gesture and I pray that we shall all continue to dialogue and partner, so he can move our party forward.'' he said.
 
Baba also said there was the need for PDP to attain success in the governorship elections coming up in Ekiti and Osun and the subsequent elections in 2015.

This, according to him, was critical to reclaiming lost grounds in the South-West zone of the country.
 
On issues raised by Obasonjo in the letter on the state of PDP in the south-west, Tukur said the crisis within the PDP in the zone preceded his emergence as the party`s national chairman.

He insisted that the party`s National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Working Committee were never part of the problems in the south-west PDP.

"We came in when we were threatened with contempt of court charges for not obeying the court's order to dissolve the south-west zonal executive and remove some officers of the party.

"We complied with the court orders because of our belief in the rule of law and to avoid consequences of disobeying such orders.'' Tukur said.

Rivers crisis: Senator Abe shot, flown to London

The steaming political crisis in Rivers State took a turn for the worse, yesterday, when Senator Magnus Abe was allegedly shot in the chest twice with a rubber bullet at a rally of the Save Rivers Movement, a pro Governor Chibuike Amaechi group at Obio/Akpor Local Council of the state.

There were conflicting accounts, claims and counter-claims over who shot the serving senator, who has been flown to London for better medication after first aid treatment in two hospitals in Nigeria.  While    Governor Amaechi's aides accused the police of shooting Abe, the police distanced themselves from the act, saying that they do not use rubber bullets and did not fire any shot at the event.

Also, there was an allegation that the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, directed the police to disrupt the rally, which the minister denied.

The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr Tony Okocha, who claimed that he was with the Senator when the Police shot him at very close range, said they also fired teargas at them, adding that one of the canisters of the teargas hit him (Chief of Staff) on his leg.

Okocha said he had to escape into somebody's house in the neighbourhood to save his life, adding that the Police kept on firing the teargas to disperse those that were there for the rally.

How we were attacked — Okocha

His words: "This morning was a huge surprise to me. It's the turn of Obio/Akpor Local Government to host the Save Rivers Movement; we had gone to Eleme and also to Asari-Toru. Today (yesterday) is the turn of Obio/Akpor and as law-abiding citizens of Nigeria we wrote to the police, informing them of our programme and there was no negative response. We chose College of Arts and Sciences because it's more expansive, it could accommodate at least 10,000 persons that will come out of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area today (yesterday).

"At about few minutes past 12,  I received a call from somebody; highly placed, informing me that the Commissioner of Police had been reached by the Supervising Minister for Education to dislodge our people today and I couldn't place it. About 4:30am, our men on ground, who were left there to secure the gadgets and facilities, called me to say that the police had taken over the place. For God's sake, we are defenceless free citizens of Nigeria, we don't carry arms. Save Rivers Movement is an organisation that insists that Rivers State must be saved, out to salvage the state from political buccaneers who want to put Rivers State into their pockets. We are in the business of sensitising our people from LGA to LGA. You are aware of a group called GDI, they go through all the LGAs with convoys of police, giving them all kinds of protection, including the commissioner of police, he's always in their convoys, providing security for them and ensuring that what they do in the LGAs are trouble-free.

"When they called me I couldn't place it immediately so I had to go there myself to see things. I was smoked as if I was a rabbit. I ran into someone's house and unfortunately the man has children, they were all suffocating, they were all dying. So we had to improvise, they said we should use coke, some said kerosene would work. We had to use all of that to ensure that the man's children live. That was what I saw; I was quarantined in somebody's house.

"I was wondering whether it is the CP that is the chief security officer of Rivers State or the governor. They said the CP ordered that we should not gather and I said our rights to gather and associate is inalienable, you can't take that away from us.

"As I talk to you, a Senator of the Federal Republic (Senator Abe) is lying critically ill in the hospital. I learnt arrangements are being made to fly him out of the country. We were together, he was even trying to make contacts with the IG when they shot him point blank. Senator Magnus Abe was shot in the chest with this their rubber bullet thing. My own was teargas shells. If they were doing the right thing they wouldn't be shooting teargas and be picking the shells, so they knew they were doing the wrong thing. They brought in seven Armoured Personnel Carriers inside the College of Arts and Sciences. To kill common criminals? Are we criminals? These are defenceless citizens of Rivers state and Nigeria. We have our rights and we are not aware of any court order that has taken these rights away or restricted us from gathering."
Continuing,  Okocha said: "I heard that a young boy in the company of his mother, coming to church, suffocated and died instantly. I also heard that one house at Number 1 Elegbam Road was burnt because of the canister of teargas shot into it. They said it almost burnt down but people came to help put the fire out. A lot of people have been injured, there are people with varying degrees of injuries. Look at Magnus Abe, a senator of the republic, both of us were talking to the police, we were trying to explain to them and somebody was bold enough to shoot  him point blank. Of course, they are working on the orders of the commissioner of police."

Hospitalised Abe can't talk — Aide
Meantime, Media aide to Senator Abe, Mr Honour Sirawoo, told Vanguard that Senator Abe who represents Rivers South East Senatorial district, was first admitted at a hospital in D line area of Port Harcourt but was later transferred to another hospital with better equipment to handle his situation after series of tests.

Sirawoo told newsmen that he was not with the Senator when he was shot but that he rushed to the hospital to see the Senator who was on drip and could not talk.

Senator treated for traumatic shock  – Doctor
Dr  Mackay Anyanwu who administered first aide to Senator Abe at  Krisany Medical services, in  D line where he was  first rushed to,  told newsmen that the Senator was treated for traumatic shock.

He said:  "The patient was brought in a state of  shock, as evidenced by low blood pressure. He was restless and he couldn't communicate or reason coherently. As a first aid, we treated him for traumatic shock because the implication of his state was that there was severe blood trauma and the amount of layers affected could not be detected immediately. This can only be done through  haemorrhoid tests".

….Abe hit by high calibre weapon
"We have administered oxygen treatment on him for resuscitation and primary medication, but we also detected severe internal bleeding and high level haemorrhaging in him. Another bad news is that we also detected that the affected side is showing severe swelling, which led me to the conclusion that he must have been hit by a high calibre weapon and my fears were confirmed when I was told that he was shot with a rubber bullet", he said.

Effort by the Save Rivers Movement to regroup at Rumuigbo Civic Centre for the rally was again aborted by the Police as Policemen came and fired teargas to disperse the gathering.

The   Police later blocked the civic centre part of the ever busy Ikwerre Road to traffic, a situation that caused gridlock on the other sections of the road and the adjourning part of East West Road.

Senator Abe was not shot —Police
However, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, said it was not true that the Police shot at Senator Abe with rubber bullets. According to him, Senator Abe and the Chief of Staff, Mr Okocha "walked peacefully" out of the venue of the proposed rally. While urging the press to give the Police fair hearing on the issue, he challenged media men to try to access Senator Abe to confirm if he was shot.

The Police spokesman confirmed that the Police used teargas to disperse youths who were there, stressing that no bullet was expended during the exercise.  He also said the Police had to disperse the gathering because the organisers did not apply for police approval for the event.

"I want to state categorically that the Police did not fire any shot, no single ammunition was used. We don't shoot rubber bullets. We used minimum force to disperse the gathering at College of Arts and Science, Rumuola. When I say minimum force I mean smoke, teargas.

"Senator Abe along with the Chief of Staff walked peacefully out of that place. I wonder why people now say that he was shot at. I challenge you Journalists, you have a social responsibility to go and see Senator Abe if they will allow you to see him. You know they are very good in telling lies against the Police. I want to remind you that this gathering they planned to do today (yesterday), there was no application for permit to the Police neither was there approval. Based on this reason we had to disperse them.  You will recall that we even provided security for them in Eleme because they applied.

When they gathered at the stadium we provided security for them because they applied and the Commissioner of Police granted approval. You remember Chief Bisi Akande, General Buhari, the governor, etc, all of them were at the programme at the stadium.  Because they did not apply for approval for this programme that was why we dispersed the gathering," he said.

Newsmen gathered that the Police moved into the Arts and Science venue of the rally on Rumoula Road as early as 6am to start dismantling canopies that had been mounted for the event. When they allegedly retreated, the youths came back again to erect the canopies.   Eye witnesses told newsmen that the Police later mobilised to the venue this time heavily armed.  They allegedly fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the gathering.

Some members of the group who spoke to newsmen under condition of anonymity said they had wanted to shift the rally which was originally fixed for 12 noon to about 9am, yesterday, before the Police aborted the exercise.

Chairman of the Save Rivers Movement, Aholu Okechukwu said the Police lied when it said the group did not apply for permit for the rally.  According to him, they wrote to the Police on January 7 over the rally.
Wike's convoy diverted

Meanwhile, at about 10.20 am, the Police mounted barricades on the two portions of the ever-busy Rumoula Road, diverting traffic heading to the two ends of the road to adjourning streets.  At about 10.28 am, the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike drove from Aba Road into Rumuola Road in a convoy which included some security vehicles.   He did not alight from the unmarked jeep conveying him. When his convoy got to the Police blockade on the Oroazi end of the Rumoula Road, it made a U-turn back to Aba Road.

I didn't disrupt rally —Wike
Denying allegations that he asked the Police to disrupt the rally, Wike in a telephone chat with Vanguard said it had become the tradition in the state for his opponent to link him with any action of the Police. "So I was the one who told Police to allow them to hold their rally at the stadium. I was also the one who asked the Police to allow them to hold their rally at Eleme. Sometimes you people should not be asking some questions".

Reminded that his convoy was on Rumuola Road at about 10. 28 am yesterday, he said: "' Yes. I was on my way to
Ahoada. I got to the road but the Police blocked it. I had to turn back.  Did you see me come down from my vehicle?  You must have seen that I did not come down from the vehicle."

Saturday 11 January 2014

19 killed in auto crash in Calabar

Nineteen people including the drivers of a bus and truck were among those killed in an auto crash along the devastated Calabar – Uyo highway on Wednesday evening when an Onistsha bound bus collided    with two trucks.

The accident, an eye-witness, Mr. Peace Monday told Source  occurred when   a Cross Link bus carrying 18 passengers from Calabar   to Onitsha,  in Anambra State  was  hit by two trucks  at the Obot Isong  bridge in Odukpani Local Government Area, close to  the Calabar River.

According to him, the bus was descending the slope leading to the bridge when a truck which had apparently failed brake swept it from its lane to the lane of oncoming vehicles and was hit by a truck coming from the Akwa- Ibom State end of the road.     "The truck was descending the slope on very high speed. May be, its brakes had failed   as it attempted to over take the bus from the right side but ended up sweeping the  bus towards  the  other lane and a low board truck was coming on top speed and it hit the bus head on"

The impact of the hit tore the bus apart killing  everybody  except one lucky passenger who sustained severe   injuries.

The truck that swept the bus to the other lane also   tore through the railings on the bridge and plunged  into the valley   with its tires facing the sky. "The driver and the conductor were removed   from under the truck   dead but two other conductors   who sat   behind the truck on the chippings sustained serious injuries because they were flung very far from the truck to the bush". Peace narrated.

Narrating further, Peace said, those who came out alive   were the driver of the   low board trailer which ran over the bus and the two conductors who sat atop the rock chipping of  the upturned truck who were flung into the bush   and one   passenger in the bus   ."The Federal Road Safety Commission men from Akwa Ibom came to remove the corpses, while the man who survived was taken back to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, for medical attention.

When the scene of the accident was visited  on Thursday morning, personal effects including bags, shoes, clothes and consumables like biscuits , cocacola,   laca cera bottles were liltered around the scene of the incident.

In a telephone interview, Federal Road Safety Commission Commander for the Cross River State Command confirmed the accident, stressing that officers from Akwa Ibom State carried out the operation that removed the dead and wounded victims.

Gunmen kill policeman in Bauchi

Gunmen yesterday attacked the Gumau Divisional Police Station in Toro local government of Bauchi State and killed a Sergeant and took away his riffle.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed who confirmed the incident said, there was exchange of fire between the Police and the hoodlums but did not give a full account of the incident.

DSP Haruna assured that he will brief newsmen on the incident as soon as the police is through with its investigations . "We do not have a full account of the incident for now, nevertheless, the Police is still conducting its investigation into the incident and once we are done, we will brief the journalists," he said.

Also,confirming the incident, a security source  said, there was an exchange of   fire between the  sergeant who was on duty and the gunmen.

According to him,"in the process of exchange of fire, the sergeant was killed and his riffle was taken away. We suspect that the hoodlums were armed robbers looking for arms.After the attack, the gunmen fled and escaped to an unknown destination".

Soyinka’s Daughter Buried Amidst Eulogy

The burial service for the daughter of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Iyetade Soyinka, was held on Friday at the Chapel of the Resurrection, University of Ibadan, with the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State, Donald Duke, wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Bola, and wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunke Amosu amongst those who were in attendance.
 
Iyetade's remains were interred at the Ultimate Gardens, Ibadan. At the funeral service, Rev Olufikayo Oyelade, reminded the people of the vanity of life and the importance of showing interest in the lives of other people, which he said Iyetade exhibited in life. He also called on those present to be of good courage, saying that the deceased had only completed her mission on earth.
 
He said, "For believers, death is not the end but an end to ajourney. To those who do not believe in God, life on earth is best; but for Christians, it is different, Death is gain. We gain an immortalised body and have escaped all the sorrows that the world has in it. We gain a better body that cannot be sick or die.
 
"Iyitade can't battle with sin again, she is free. Death is real andthere is no way one can stop it. So why do we continue to live as if we are not going to die again? No matter how long we stay on earth we will stay longer in heaven."
 
In his tribute, the deceased older sibling, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, whois the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, said although his sister's death was painful, the passing would make him a better person.
 
 He said, "It (Iyetade's death) has reminded me of this quote: 'Ourtime on this beautiful earth is limited and we should seize the opportunity of a loss, to forgive, share, explore and love'. I will do this; it is how I will honour her memory."
 
Sister of the deceased, Moremi Soyinka-Onijala, described Iyetade as abrilliant and the most intelligent person in the family of Soyinka. "She was very passionate about justice, truth, development, peace and human rights. My sister was very compassionate and was often the defender of the underdog", she said.
 
 Iyetade's children, Oreofe and Adeoto Omolaolu, said the death oftheir mother had robbed them of a true friend, guardian and comforter, but took solace in the belief that their mother would rest in the hands of God.
 
Eldest of the two, Oreofe, said in her tribute that, "You were alwaysthere for advice, guidance and assistance whenever the need arose. Mom, no matter how I write and write, it can never adequately describe just how much I miss you. You will be forever and ever loved by us.

But I know that God has His reasons for everything. I am happy that you are now resting in heaven without worry about the cares of this world. I know that you will always be watching over Adeoto and me."

APC crisis: Chieftain calls for intervention of National Secretariat

As the crisis in the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State  over the inauguration of the harmonisation committee rages, a chieftain of the party,  Hon Olufemi Adekanmbi yesterday called for the intervention of the National Secretariat of the party.

Adekanmbi equally advised the leadership of the party in the state not to allow their personal interest  to frustrate the efforts of the party's National Executives to form the ruling party in 2015.

His call is coming on the heels of the crisis that trailed the inauguration of a 31-member interim Executive Committee in Ondo State in which 19 of the members alleged imposition of unknown party members into the committee.

Aggrieved members  led by a Special Adviser to the state governor on Environment, Mr. Bola Ilori and Chief Sola Iji expressed grievances on the inauguration of the committee, saying the executives were not duly appointed.

Other aggrieved members are mainly  members of the defunct CPC and ANPP in the state who alleged they were sidelined in the committee

However, Adekanmbi while speaking with newsmen in Akure  appealed to members of the party to work together as a team ahead of the 2015 general elections in the state. He  said the party cannot afford to be relegated in the state politics again.

Truck driver arraigned over death of 3 passengers on Christmas day

A truck driver, Ganiyu Hammed, on Friday appeared before a Surulere Magistrates' Court, Lagos, charged with causing the death of three persons on Christmas day.

Hammed, who resides at No. 18, Bale St., Ijora Badia, Lagos, is facing a four-count charge of dangerous driving, damage, causing injury and causing death.

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Jimah Iseghede, said that the accused, on Dec. 25, 2013, caused the death of a 13-year-old child and two other persons at the Alaba Bus Stop on the Lagos– Badagry Highway.

He told the court that the accused, while driving his Fiat T3 truck with registration number AY 792 SMK, ran into a Volkswagen LT bus and caused the death of three passengers.

Iseghede said that a woman was also injured in the accident and was receiving treatment at a General Hospital.

The prosecutor said that the accused also damaged the Volkswagen LT bus with registration number. MUS 975 XC.
According to him, the offences contravene Sections 19, 26 and 20 of the Road Traffic Act.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mrs A.F. Adeeyo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case to Feb. 2 for mention. (NAN)

MYSTERIOUS: Face of dead cleric appears on Mosque wall

Over 1,000 Muslims Friday gathered to see the alleged mysterious face of a Moslem cleric, Alfa Sheikh Ibrahim Niass, who died 39 years ago, but was seen on the wall of Ilogbo Central Mosque, Lagos.

According to an eye witness who simply gave his name as Mustapha, the mysterious appearing of Niass was a blessing to Muslims and Nigeria.

He said: "I went to the Ilogbo Central Mosque and saw a huge crowd, both Muslims and Christians. I saw people using "Pure Water" to wash some parts of the Mosque, and allowing the water to fall into their container. Those without container used handkerchief in cleaning the wall before using it on their body, saying it will heal their sickness.

"The face of late Alfa Niass was just appearing on different parts of the wall at Ilogbo Central Mosque, and shortly it will disappear. As at 1pm (yesterday) that I got here, the crowd was too much. Even when the police saw the crowd that came, they had to go back. Some of us who had wanted to pray in the mosque could no longer pray because of the crowd.

Saturday Vanguard correspondent who went to the scene saw the face of   cleric  on the wall of the said Mosque yesterday afternoon, but was informed that the face started appearing since Thursday night.

Making Muslims in the area waste no time in getting to the mosque very early Friday morning.

Source:Vanguard

Jonathan orders release of 165 Boko Haram suspects

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the immediate release of a fresh batch of over 165 persons apprehended by security agencies in connection with the onslaught on Boko Haram terrorism in the North East States of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.

A statement signed by Major General Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information said, "Over 165 persons apprehended in the course of military operations on terror in three states in the North-East are to be released from custody in compliance with Presidential directive".

"The suspects are those earlier recommended for release by the Joint Investigation Team, (JIT) set up by the Defence Headquarters last year".

"Of the number, 157 are from facilities in Borno, 9 from Yobe and one suspect from Adamawa".

Olukolade recalled that other detainees, particularly women and children have benefited from similar gestures which started in May last year.

"More suspects in this category are also to benefit in the present exercise" he said.

"The suspects will be released to their respective state governments".

Friday 10 January 2014

Mother of 18-yr-old boy who killed virgin for ritual speaks

Mother of the 18-year-old boy, Ikechukwu Lucky, who was arrested by the police in Lagos State for strangling a 12-year-old girl, Bose Ogoja, to death for money ritual, in Badagry area of the state, has said her son is possessed of an evil spirit that has been tormenting him.

The mother of the boy, Esa Egbo, told newsmen, yesterday, that her son had been arrested four times for attempting to rape little girls between the ages of 10 and 15 years by the police in Badagry Division.

Mrs. Egbo also said she and her family are members of Perfect Christianity Mission in Surulere area of Lagos, where Dr. Ofuche Ukoha (aka Sign Fireman) is the General Overseer,  adding that her son does not know or have any access to the cleric, whom he claimed sent him to kill the girl.

Neighbour laid a curse on him

She explained that two years ago, a neighbour laid a curse on her son and after then he started behaving strangely, thereby attempting to rape little children whenever he sees them.

According to her, "He started two years ago to molest girls in attempt to rape them. It is not an ordinary thing. You know some people are very good in hurting other people's children.
So for that reason I am suspecting that. He has been staying with me from birth and just two years ago when he was 16 years old, a man who lives close to us laid a curse  on him.

"What happened was that we have a well in our compound and Ikechukwu and one of the man's daughters were at the well fetching water and they had a quarrel.  Ikechuwu beat up the  girl and when the man returned he brought out a belt to whip Ike and I prevented him. He started boasting that he was going to make Ike useless and miserable. I thought he was joking but after that Ikechuwu started behaving funny.

"Whenever he goes out during the day and sees a little girl he would grip and attempt to rape her and the girl would scream alerting people around, who would arrest and beat him up before handing him over to the police at Badagry Police Station.

Arrested four times for attempted rape
"On lucky days, he would escape and flee the area.  He has been arrested four times over the same offence and I am the one who normally goes to bail him.

"In April last year, he made me lose over N25,000 I paid as WAEC exam fee. On the day he was supposed to start the exam, he left home with his school uniform and didn't return  until after two weeks. When he came back he told me that the demon  came over him on his way to school and he gripped a girl and when the girl screamed he managed to escape so he decided to run away from home.

"I and the father went to beg the people whose child he molested and I decided to follow him to school through out his NECO examinations.

"The last one before this occurred on December 10, 2013 at Imeke. He was arrested and charged to court and remanded in Badagry Prison. I got a lawyer who stood for him before he was granted bail.

"While these things were happening, I told our branch pastor at Badagry about it but I didn't tell our GO.

"Whenever he sees a little girl he would grip the girl and when she screams he would return to him self. He does not do it at night, it's always during the day time.

On the current issue
"On this particular case, he told me that he was going to work at a place where a building was demolished by government opposite the French Village in Badagry.  They are actually constructing a factory at that place and he used to help them carry bags of cement for which they paid him some stipends at the end of the day.

"He  failed to return  home that day and I and his father went out to look for him at his place of work and people around told us that they didn't see him.  The next day we didn't see him, so by Wednesday, we decided to go to the police station at Badagry.

"A police woman we met told us that we should go to the SCID to look for him. I asked her what was his offence and she refused to tell me, rather she said when I got to the SCID that I would know what was my son's offence.

"The next day I and my husband went to the SCID and  when I saw my son he told me that there was a woman who sells food close to where he used to work and the woman had a daughter.

"He said on that day he was eating at the woman's shop when he saw the girl passing and all of a sudden something came over him and he stood up and followed the girl and gripped her so tight and the girl screamed and died after which he regained consciousness.

"He attempted to run, but someone at a building close by who saw all what happened apprehended him. He used to tell me that he was not misbehaving consciously but that something used to come over him and I have told our branch pastor about it and he prayed for him.

I dont know the boy — Sign Fireman
"My son didn't accuse the GO. I don't have the GO's phone number and that of my son.   My son didn't beg the GO for money and even our branch pastor he has never gone to beg for money. Ikechukwu was the most gentle of all my children but this demon  destroyed his life."

Contacted, Dr. Fireman told source that he was innocent of the allegations, saying he does not know the boy.

He said: "I don't know that boy and if anybody should know him or his family as members of our church, it's the Badagry branch pastor.  I am the GO of my church. You can imagine how possible it would be for an 18-year-old boy from a distant branch to have easy access to me talk alone contracting him to kill someone on my behalf."

Tonto Dikeh announces launch of personal mobile phone brand

Although the information is still a bit faint, but the gist is that Nollywood actress, Tonto may be preparing to add another feather to her cap soon.

The actress took to Twitter to announce that everyone should watch out for the sale of Malivelihood mobile phones. They will be in the market from February 2014 nationwide.

But we are not sure if it's her personal brand or she's endorsing it for a mobile phone company.

Just in case it happens to be hers, we wish her good luck but we sincerely hope it wont flop like D'banj's Koko Mobile.

Lagos tanker fire: Stakeholders want tank farms relocated

Victims of last Tuesday's inferno in Apapa area of Lagos State where 15 people were burnt to death, have called on the government to relocate the fuel tank farms from their present location in Apapa, saying the number of casualties arising from tanker-related accidents in the area was on the increase.

Also, the victims want the government to assist them get back on their businesses.

A victim, Mr. Daniel Apere, lamented that he lost goods worth more than N5 million to the inferno.

"I don't know where to start from, I watched all my life earnings totalling more than N5 million being consumed by the raging fire. Also, my elder brother lost over N30 million to the fire."

Apere appealed to the Federal Government to relocate the tank farms from Apapa, saying: "The number of casualties from tanker-related accidents is increasing daily, as a result the tank farms should be removed from Apapa and environs.''

It would be recalled that Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, while assessing the extent of damage caused by the explosion at the MRS tank farm, last year, urged the Federal Government, in the interest of the masses, to relocate the tank farms from the area.

Another victim, Collins Okafor, said: "All my goods were completely burnt and I could not salvage anything. For the past four months, we have been experiencing fire disasters around here but this is the greatest of all. An orange seller lost her son to the inferno and she also got burnt in the process, in her bid to rescue her son."

Mr. Oke Udeagbara, President of the Berger Business Community, lamented the loss of his members. He said: "The loss was unimaginable. We lost over N1 billion on that day.

One can imagine all the shops loaded with engines and the least of the truck engines costs N800,000. The explosion occurred at a time some of our members had just stocked their shops with new arrivals.''

Mr. Moses Okolie, chairman, Board of Trustees of the traders, said five of the traders who had rushed to the scene to salvage their property were injured in the process.

Mr. Arinze Okolie, manager, Berger Suya car park, said: "The fire started at about 10:00 pm and immediately spread to nearby buildings, burning several people to death."

Okolie, who attributed the incident to negligence on the part of the tanker driver, said: "The fuel-laden tanker experienced brake failure and rammed into the Police post at the bus stop.
Its content spilled  on the road caught fire. The driver should have checked the brake system and other parts of the vehicle before setting out on the journey.''

Govt should rehabilitate our roads —Residents
Residents of Osho Drive, the closest community to the scene of the incident, yesterday, expressed disappointment with the state of Kirikiri-Ajegunle road and called on government to rehabilitate its and save them from incessant tragedies.

Chairman, Osho Drive Community Development Association, Mr. Nwogu Emmanuel, who spoke to Vanguard said the road was an eyesore.

He said: "May I state categorically that the tragedy was aggravated by the bad road. The tanker driver would have been able to handle the situation if not for the deplorable condition of the road. The bus-stop is prone to gridlocks as a result of the bad road, the number of casualties would have increased if there was gridlock on that day.''

The CDA chairman, however, affirmed that many of the victims were non-residents of the community.

He said: "Nobody has come to search for their relatives because the victims mostly consist of traders, lotto dealers and suya dealers who come from far away places to transact their businesses in the area."

Tankers should operate at night —Petroleum dealers
President, Petroleum Dealers Association, Badagry branch, Otunba Adisa Osiefa, said the tankers were causing more havoc than good especially in day time.

He said: "We cannot continue to lose lives on our roads. Tankers are not supposed to be on the road during the day, rather, they should move in the night. I have travelled far and wide and discovered that things like this rarely happen in foreign countries.

I have told the government on many occasions to restrain tankers from operating during the day. The amount we make on tankers cannot be compared with the number of lives lost each time an explosion occurs on our road."

Fresh tanker explosion averted
What could have been another petroleum tanker explosion was averted in Lagos, yesterday, through the quick intervention of the state's fire fighters and men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, who prevented an overturned tanker from igniting fire.

According to an eyewitness, a tanker fully loaded with petrol which registration number was removed, while on transit suddenly overturned in the process of negotiating a bend and spilled the content on the road.

The incident which reportedly occurred at about 1pm at Oke Ajuwon, along Iju-Ishaga road, in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Council Development Area, LCDA, led to traffic congestion as men of the Lagos State fire fighters and LASTMA, who sped to the scene following distress call, kept onlookers and  motorists away from the spot of the incident.

According to Mr Tayo Adewale, a banker in one of the new generation banks in the area, "It is a miracle that the tanker did not burst into flames. But thank God for the quick arrival of LASTMA and fire fighters, it would have been a different story."

The situation was brought under control few hours later and the tanker was removed from the road.

Nigeria Records 58 Per Cent Polio Reduction -NPHCDA

The Executive Secretary of  National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Ado Muhammad has disclosed that, Nigeria has recorded a reduction of polio eradication by 58 percent in the last one year.

Muhammed made this known when the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu visited the Agency in Abuja on Thursday, January 9.

"In the last one year, we have been able to reduce the burden by 58 per cent. We have also been able to collapse the genetic clause end from eight to two. We have also been able to restrict the case to Borno, Yobe and Kano. We are now carrying out the final onslaught and we are optimistic that this year, Nigeria will say bye-bye to polio," he said

Reiterating the federal government's commitment to intensify efforts to eradicate polio in the country, Chukwu said the federal government is committed to increase the national immunisation campaign in order to strengthen human resource for the elimination of polio virus.

Chukwu said the government had not relented on its efforts to continue routine immunisation in the state despite the killing of some health workers in Kano.

"The State Governor, Musa Kwankwaso, along with the community heads, has assured us that there is nothing that can discourage them in the fight against polio. Though, the Federal Government shared their views, but we noticed that there were operational issues in some local governments.

"We found out that the performance was not at the level that we expected, what we are doing now is to begin to inject new human resources. Those we think could be more committed to take over from those who may not have been doing it that well. With what has happened, we are looking forward to the next round of the campaign,'' he said.

However, Muhammad assured that the agency would do more to ensure that the mandate vested on the organisation was discharged effectively to make Nigerians healthier in the fight against polio.

Northern group wants Obasanjo to debate with Al – Mustapha

The Northern Emancipation Network, NET, has called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to respond to Major Hamza Al-Mustapha's challenge of a public debate, to afford Nigerians the opportunity of knowing the truth about some unresolved issues that happened during his tenure as president.

It also dismissed reports that Al-Mustapha was in South Korea at the time Obasanjo's letter was made public, adding that the former chief security officer to late Gen Sani Abacha, was in India for medical treatment at that time.

A statement by NET's national coordinator,  Abdul-Azeez Sulaiman called on President Goodluck Jonathan to shelve his liberal politicking which it said, allowed people to take advantage of.

The statement reads: "We became particularly excited when Major Hamza Al-Mustapha who was covertly referred to in connection with some of Obasanjo's allegations challenged the former president to a public debate to afford Nigerians the opportunity of learning the truth of some of the allegations and other issues. We want to insist that Obasanjo should take up that challenge

"We also call on President Jonathan to shelve his liberal politicking which people like Obasanjo take advantage of to cause mischief in the land. President Jonathan should remember that apart from being the chief accounting and security officer of Nigeria, he is also the chief enforcer of discipline in the land."

It further said, "and to those that think they can take the President's extraordinary liberal disposition for granted by manipulating it to their undue advantage, we say, we are prepared to protect him as our president, as well as a symbol of the generational power shift the country needs to conform with the global trend that favours the infusion of fresh thinking and vibrancy in governance."

Apologise or lose upcoming elections, Muslims tell PDP

Muslim faithfuls under the aegis of Muslim Rights Concern have threatened that they may not vote for PDP in the upcoming election if the party does not apologise for drawing Islam into "unfounded politics".
 
The Director of the Muslim group, Prof. Ishaq Akintola made this known in a statement to condemn statement credited to PDP that APC was an agenda for the Islamisation of Nigeria.
     
He warned the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Party not to involve Islam in their "unguarded, unprofessional, and parochial" politics.
 
 "We appeal to PDP mainstream to call its spokesperson to order. No political party should attempt to turn Islam into a pawn in its political chess game. We warn that any political party which attempts to drag the name of Islam into the murky waters of Nigerian politics will have the Muslims to contend with.
 
"The way forward for PDP leadership is to withdraw the fraudulent statement credited to its spokesman, apologises to Nigerian Muslims in particular and all Nigerians in general."
 
He noted that the religion was not against participating in politics, adding that was why Muslims would not stop to vote in the country.
 
"We are in all political parties (PDP, APC, Labour, PDM, APGA, etc) and we cannot afford to be partial or parochial. We wish all of them well. Our members voted for all political parties (including the PDP) and they will continue to vote for political parties of their inclination without being prompted from the minbar (mosque's pulpit)," he said.

INEC is ready for Ekiti, Osun guber polls —Jega

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared that it has  plans on how to conduct Ekiti and Osun state governorship elections later  this  year.

This declaration was made,  yesterday,  at the commission's headquarters, in Abuja, during a courtesy visit by the Netherlands' Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr.  John Groffen.

Jega expressed confidence that INEC would conduct a much better  election  in 2014 than it did in 2011, adding that what happened during the last governorship election in Anambra State was unfortunate.

According to him: "Anambra was an unfortunate case, but it doesn't in anyway indicate our level of preparedness for the forthcoming general elections in 2015."

The INEC boss pointed out that conducting credible election in the country was the joint responsibility of INEC and all its stakeholders, including political parties, civil society groups and international partners.

"As we move towards 2015, we would strengthen our relationship with our stakeholders," he said.

He thanked the various stakeholders for assisting the commission overcome its various challenges.

Earlier on, the Netherlands' envoy had said his country's government wanted its  long standing relationship with Nigeria as business partners to continue.

He, however, observed that for business to thrive in any country, there must be a conducive environment which must be anchored on peace and stability, adding that his country's government was interested in ensuring that the forth coming general elections are free and fair.

He stated that he visited the commission to find out the challenges faced by it in order to examine the prospects of partnering with INEC.
 

Yaya Toure is CAF African Player of The Year 2013

Manchester City's Yaya Toure has been named the African Player of the Year 2013 by the Confederation of African Football at an awards ceremony held in Lagos on Thursday evening.

The Ivoirian won the title for a third straight time beating off competition from compatriot Didier Drogba and local favourite John Obi Mikel to the title.

In a ceremony dominated by Nigeria who swept the Coach of the Year and Team of the Year awards, many had expected Chelsea's Mikel to win the top gong on the back of the Super Eagles' victory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

However, it was the Ivoirian Toure who was called up to the podium again, walking in the footsteps of Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o who won it thrice between 2003 and 2005.

Toure told media that he felt 'lucky' to win it considering the size of the competition. In the other awards given on the evening, Egyptian Mohamed Aboutreika won the award for best African player based on the continent. It was a good send off for the 35-year-old who announced his retirement from football at the end of last season.

Aboutreika beat off competition from compatriot Ahmed Fathy and Nigerian midfielder Sunday Mba.  It wasn't all gloom for Nigeria as their coach Stephen Keshi was named best coach and the Super Eagles won the award for Team of the Year.

Youngster Kelechi Iheanacho who led Nigeria to the Fifa U17 World Cup victory was named Promising Young Player while his team was named the Youth Team of the Year.

Four Nigerians also made it into CAF Team of the Year.
 
The Full Awards
National Team of the Year
Nigeria
Youth National Team of the Year
Nigeria U17
Club of the Year
Al Ahly of Egypt
Fair Play Award
Nigeria Supporters Club
Referee of the Year
Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria)
Most Promising Talent
Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria U17)
Coach of the Year
Stephen Keshi (Nigeria)
African XI:
Enyeama; Fathy, Benatia, Constant, Mikel, Yaya, Aboutreika, Pitroipa, Emenike, Gyan, Aubameyang
Coach: Keshi
African Player of the Year (Africa-based)
Mohamed Aboutreika (Egypt)
African Player of the Year
Yaya Toure (Cote D'Ivoire)
CAF Legend Award
Bruno Metsu
Jose Mehdi Faria

FG signs prisoners’ transfer deal with UK

The Federal Government and Britain, yesterday, signed a Prisoners' Transfer Agreement.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammad Adoke, SAN and the United Kingdom,  Minister of Justice, Mr. Jeremy Wright sealed the deal at a ceremony, in Abuja.

Wright said: "This is a good agreement for both Nigeria and UK. It gives us an opportunity to strengthen our partnership and friendship. It is also an opportunity to ensure that the prisoners which come from either country will serve their sentences in their own countries, that is better for their rehabilitation," he said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri, who earlier received Wright in her office, said "experts from both countries will now sit down to bring the modalities for implementation. After which the two countries will go back to ratify and then it will come into force.

"We have two arrangements with UK on prisoner transfer.

Already we have an existing agreement under the commonwealth scheme which provides transfer with consent and we have been implementing that.
 

PDP Leaders Will Save it from Disintegration - Mark

The Senate President, David Mark, has assured that the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will unite to save the party from its current crisis.

This information is contained in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja on Thursday.

Mark gave the assurance ahead of the forthcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party.

``We will arrest the current situation and save our party from further disintegration,'' Mark said.

According to him, some Nigerians are talking about tsunami in the PDP because of the defection by some members of our party holding elective and non-elective positions.

But as leaders, we will not sit by and continue to allow this drift. We shall do the needful and ensure that we save our great party.''

He said the development was a challenge, and assured that genuine efforts would be made to reconcile members of the party so as to restore peace and unity in the party.

He was optimistic that the Senate was a united family, saying that the Senate was interested in whatever affected the welfare and well being of Nigerians.