INEC officials also caught in Diezani's slush funding

Former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke 

There seems to be more trouble for embattled former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing her involvement in a $115m (N23, 299,705,000billion) 2015 election bribery scandal.

The anti-graft agency has detained two bankers in connection with the scandal.

Labour asks for N56,000 minimum wage

Comrade Ayuba Wabba

The biting symptoms of socio-economic change from the political perspective is seen as having brought untold hardship to the daily lives of the people. But the faults occasioned have not been identfied. It is bitingly so as the nation's oil revenue has dwindled in the face of a slump in global oil prices. However, the hardships occasioned are not seen as a weather to be tolerated but one to which the government needs to rise to the needs of the citizens

Afenifere, Bishops decry Fulani herdsmen killings

Chief Reuben Fasoranti

The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, on Tuesday expressed worries over what it described as undue silence of President Muhammadu Buhari on the spate of killings in several parts of the country.

The feeling of Afenifere was one of the points highlighted in a communique issued at the end of its meeting held in the residence of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, and read out by its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin.

AGF directs EFCC to probe former AGF

Abubakar Malami

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to probe the circumstances surrounding the deal reached by his predecessor, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, not to prosecute a firm, Tidex Nigeria Limited, suspected of an alleged crime.

Another Nigerian makes history

Professor Abiodun Alao

A Nigerian academic, Professor Abiodun Alao, will today deliver inaugural lecture at King’s College, University of London, making him the first black African scholar to deliver such lecture since the institution was established in 1829. Alao, a professor of African Studies, was conferred with professorial title about two years ago alongside his Nigerian counterpart in the institution’s African Leadership Centre, Prof. Funmi Olonisakin, making them first black Africans to attain professorial cadre at the institution since its establishment.

Overhauled Railways up for grabs

Senator Olugbenga Ashafa

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Olugbenga Ashafa has disclosed that the National Assembly is in the process of opening up Nigeria Railway Corporation to private investors by re-enacting laws that will make it operate in accordance with global world practices.

IBB speaks about his health

Ibrahim Babangida

A former Nigerian head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida, also popularly referred to as IBB, has finally broken silence about his illness. He was speaking with some reporters on April 24, Sunday, in his home in Minna, the Niger state capital. Several days ago reports emerged that IBB,as many would call him, was seriously ill and disable. Former military president debunking the rumours said: “It is true I have minimised my appearance at public functions because of my ill health, but not to the level of incapacitation as being widely circulated in some media.”

Emergency billionaires to be quizzed

Prof. Yemi OSinbajo

Serving and former public office holders will henceforth be made to account for their wealth, Vice President, Yemi Osibajo (SAN), has said.

He stated this at a town hall meeting convened by the United Action for Change, UAC in Lagos on Saturday.

Politicians paid $100k visits to Aso Rock

Senator Babafemi Ojudu

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu has revealed that under previous administrations, a chief or politician who pays a visit to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa is handed $100,000 or $50,000 when leaving.

Speaking in an interview with Leadership newspapers, the presidency official, however, pointed out that his principal has put a stop to the practice as such cash gifts are now diverted into productive services and the provision of infrastructure.

Chad intercepts military weapons bound for Boko Haram

Brig. Gen. Bolduc

Neighbouring state, Chad, has intercepted a large cache of different types of weapons sent from ISIS affiliate in Libya and going to Boko Haram insurgents in the Lake Chad region.

The weapons were seized two weeks ago, underscoring the increasing ties between  Boko Haram and the Islamic State, which now has a foothold, from its northern base of Sirte,  south of Libya, next door to Chad.

Amosu returns N2.3billion

Air Marshall Adesola Amosu

Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, the former Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Chief of Air Staff,  has retuned N2.3b to the Federal Government, according to a source from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

'Disqualify Yourself ' lawyer tells Judge

Justice Danladi Umar, Chairman CCT

The on-going saga of the trial of the Nigerian Senate President, Bukola  Saraki, which has been filled with twists and turns took another dimension on Thursday, 21/4/2016 while the matter was being heard in court at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The drama occured when a lawyer to the embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki attempted to disrupt the tribunal's proceedings at its resumed hearing.

U.S. agrees to repatriate $480m Abacha family loot

The United States government has agreed to repatriate about $480million believed to have been stolen by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha and his family while he was military head of state. According toThe Nation, the US government agreed to the repatriation after a recent meeting between the Department of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

Oil Production freeze talks frozen

OPEC Secretariat

Some of the world’s biggest oil producers, including Nigeria, on Sunday failed to agree on the proposed production freeze for which they converged on Doha, the Qatari capital, in a bid to limit global supply and prop up prices.

The summit, which was attended by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, dragged on into the evening amid disagreements on the wording of the draft to freeze output at “an agreeable level.”

China's currency swap deal boosts trade

The hand shake of a new order

Last week, during President Muhamadu Buhari’s visit to Beijing, China, the Central Bank of Nigeria signed a currency swap deal with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited (ICBC), the world’s biggest bank by assets which is owned by the Chinese government lender.

The deal which was reached following a meeting between Buhari and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to the director general of the African affairs department of China’s foreign ministry, Lin Songtian, means that the renminbi (yuan) is free to flow among different banks in Nigeria, and the renminbi has been included in the foreign exchange reserves of Nigeria.

NIPOST to begin banking in rural Nigeria

Adebayo Shittu - Minister for Communications

The Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) will soon introduce banking services to rural areas of Nigeria, Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has said.

Shittu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, that the banking services would avail Nigerians in rural areas the opportunity to carry out banking transactions.

He said that the Ministry of Communication was making effort to re-position NIPOST to make it vibrant and to diversify its services.

Army rescues 455 from Boko Haram

Women and children rescued from Sambisa forest 

As troops push inside Sambisa Forest to clear the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists, the military has repelled a reprisal attack and killed over 50 terrorists in several attacks. And in an operation, 455 captives, including women, girls and children, abducted by the terrorists group for months, were rescued. “In the early hours of Friday, some elements of Boko Haram terrorists in 5 gun trucks, motorcycles and 2 Golf cars laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from Sambisa forest axis attempted an attack on 121 Task Force Battalion at Pulka”, a statement by Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said, yesterday.

Merkel allows joker's prosecution

President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey

Germany granted Turkey the right to pursue a criminal inquiry against a comedian who read a sexually suggestive poem with references to Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Comic Jan Boehmermann recited a satirical poem on German broadcaster ZDF that stated Erdogan enjoyed child pornography and sex with animals.

Samsung partners FG in digital education

Going digital in the learning process in secondary education is fast becoming a response to the broad nature of educational facilities and the acceptance of the western methodology for the elite transformation of teaching. To this end, using technology to transform Nigerian educational system has received a boost as Samsung Electronics West Africa in partnership with the Federal Government and Skool Media will digitalize 104 unity schools in Nigeria on the platform of mobile learning. 

Ghana prepares against terrorist attacks

President John Mahama (Ghana)

Ghana is now in the news radar of potential terrorist threat. This comes as the report that the country is stepping up security measures, immigration officials said Friday, following reports that Islamist terrorists could target the country after attacks in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.

Married cancer patients live longer

Cancer patients live longer if they are married, new research suggests.

The rate of death was 27 per cent higher among unmarried men and 19 per cent higher among unmarried women compared with those who had tied the knot.

The study, published in the journal CANCER, analysed information on almost 800,000 Californians who were diagnosed in 2000 to 2009 with invasive cancer and were followed through 2012.

Chibok girl's father recieves call

Michelle Obama adds her voice

When Dauda Yama retrieved his mobile phone from a neighbour’s house in January this year, he noticed a missed call from his daughter Saratu who had been missing for almost two years.

The last time he spoke with Saratu was on April 14, 2014, when she rang to say men from the Islamist group Boko Haram had loaded her and her classmates from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok in Borno State onto trucks.

Judge returns to give verdict on Saraki

Justice Abdul Kafarati

Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court judge, reversing his position, will this week return to the bench to give a major ruling on the human rights case filed by embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki to stop his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

PMB not to blame for poor power

Babatunde Fashola SAN

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, this week, appealed to Nigerians not to forward the blame of the current poor power situation all over the country on President Muhammadu Buhari, but rather put the blame on electricity workers.

Falana protests Chinese loan

Femi Falana

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has vehemently opposed the plan of the federal government to obtain a $2bn loan in China to augment the deficit in the 2016 budget.

Instead, Falana wants president Muhammadu Buhari to direct relevant government/anti-corruption agencies to recover $200bn “withheld from the federation account or stolen by looters"

Dangote constructs $1bn cement factory

Kayode Fayemi, Minister

The Dangote Group, yesterday started constructing a $1 billion cement factory in Okpella, Edo State, to expand its cement production in Nigeria.

The six million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa) Okpella plant and the upcoming six mmtpa plant in Itori, Ogun State, will increase the company’s local production capacity to 41 mmtpa annually.

The Okpella project, which is to be constructed within 26 months, will provide 6000 direct jobs and 45,000 indirect jobs in the community.

Investigate Panama Nigerians - SERAP

SERAP in session 2015

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Code of Conduct Bureau to investigate current and past high-ranking public officers in Nigeria named in the Panama papers.

The call is contained in a statement issued by the group on Sunday in Abuja.

The statement which was signed by the Executive Director of SERAP, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, stated that gave CCB 14 days to carry out the investigation.

Fuel Tanker explodes at MMA

Murtala Mohammed International Airport

Tragedy was averted in Lagos yesterday evening at the tanker park at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos as a fuel tanker exploded while undergoing repairs by a welder. The place of the incident was about 300 meters to the international terminal of the airport. A source close to the scene of the incident told our correspondent that the welder was severely burnt because of the incident. As at the time of filing in this story, the identity of the welder was yet to be ascertained, but the source told our correspondent that he was working on one of the trailers parked at the motor park before the explosion occurred.

Jonathan receives award

Former President Goodluck Jnathan

Dr Jonathan, who was represented by a former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye apologised for Jonathan’s inability to be present for the award. Former President Goodluck Jonathan Adeyeye said “he is unable to come and personally receive this award because as many of you may know, today is the burial of Dr Alamiyeseigha, the former governor of Baylesa State, who was at one time, his boss. 

National debt is N12trillion

Abraham Nwankwo

National debt is N12trillion

The Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Finance, has stated, in a paper delivered at a one day Enlightenment workshop for the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) which held in Abuja yesterday, with the theme ‘Debt Sustainability and the Challenge of Financing Economic Recovery’, that Nigeria's debt profile for both domestic and external debts as at December 31,2015, stands at 12 trillion naira.

NIG to borrow N1.8 trn

Muhammadu Buhari

The Federal Government on Wednesday assured of effective implementation of the 2016 budget in order to achieve accelerated development in the country.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, gave the assurance when he received the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Micheal Zenner in Abuja.

Govt may prosecute Public 'Panama' officers

Nigerian Attorney-General Abubakar Malami

The leak of the Panama papers may yet impact on the stand of Nigerian government in her anti-corruption crusade and efferts to have stolen funds repatriated. the stance of the country's President has so far warranted his constant travel out of the country and promises of support to have funds sent back to Nigeria; and ina few cases resulted in the establishment of treaty.

Romance for escapism in northern Nigerian novels

Hadiza Sani Garba writes her novels in bed or in her sitting room, by hand, in small composition books.

Not far from the epicenter of religious violence in Nigeria, a romance novel industry is booming.

The books shift between morality tales and classic pulp romance. Often written by hand in small composition books, the stories find a wider audience after they are transcribed and published online.

Nigerians kids attract Ivy League schools

Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna

The Elmont Memorial High School in New York is in the news again - and all for the right reason: excellence in education. It is also newsworthy that the harbingers of the occasion have both been Nigerians. So what is it about Nigerians and education that it is proving to be an 'exportable' endowment that has not been cultivated  for national pride and resource?

Iceland Prime Minister resigns for hiding fortune in Panama offshore accounts

Iceland's prime minister has sensationally resigned two days after he was caught up in the offshore tax scandal.

Sigmunder David Gunlaugsson is the first victim from the leaked Panama Papers which revealed the tax-avoidance arrangements of the rich and famous around the world.

The documents claimed he and his wife set up a company in the British Virgin Islands to hide millions of pounds with the help of Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca.

21 former political office holders are still drawing millions of dollars in salaries from public purse

Alh. Balarabe Musa 

It would appear that the stringent realities of the national economy and as well the economies of the states, some of whom have gone a-borrowing, is not having a deterrent to the various political wage bills in the country.

Nigerians to apply for Ghana visas

Nigerians won't enter Ghana From July without Visas

Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama has said that citizens from Nigeria and other African countries must apply for visas before allowed entry into Ghana, according to Nairametrics.

The President said visas will be issued at the entry point and would attract an option of 30 days stay in the country.

FG recommences payment of oil subsidy

The Federal Government on Saturday recommenced the payment of subsidy on petrol as it subsidised the commodity by N5.84 for every litre of premium motor spirit consumed in Nigeria.

Subsidy on petrol was stopped in January after the review of the pricing template of the product by the government.

Shekau's deputy captured in Kogi

Add captioBrig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar

According to reports, the Nigerian security operatives, last Friday, made a major breakthrough in the intensified campaign against the Boko Haram insurgency by arresting the leader of the Ansaru Islamic Sect, Khalid Albarnawi.

The Acting Director Defence information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, confirmed the arrest of the top wanted terror suspect to a Punch newspaper correspondent on the telephone on Saturday.

Adewusi bows out

Late ex-IG-P Sunday Adewusi

The burial activities for former Nigeria Inspector-General of Police, Chief Sunday Adedayo Adewusi, will begin next Tuesday, 5 April, 2016 with tributes and cultural activities being organised by Ogbomoso Community Foundation (OCF).

The deceased, who was also the founding leader of OCF, a non-political social organization, passed on at the ripe age of 79 years on ‎ the 26th January,this year.

PMB addresses Diaspora

PMB in Washington

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians in the diaspora of his administration’s determination to move the country forward as quickly as possible. He stated this to an audience of Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various professions in the United States. He further pointed out that the present administration is fully committed to correcting the errors that have hindered Nigeria’s progress as a nation.

Another Refinery on bolster oil supply

The Group Managing Director, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Mr Anthony Iheanacho, said on Saturday, 2/4/2016, to newsmen in Lagos that the company had been given provisional licence to commence preliminary work for a 20,000-barrel capacity modular refinery. H e added that its 116 million dollars modular refinery would come on stream before the end of 2016.