AGF and EFCC in US over Halliburton, Malabu ...

Justice Minister - Abubakar Malami

Two key officials in the Nigerian government's prosecution of graft, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, are in the United States, barely two weeks after a similar trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where about $200b looted funds are believed to have been stashed away by former public officers.

Nigeria nominates for OPEC Sec-Gen

After the eventual exit of the former Minister for Petroleum as a key OPEC  official, Nigeria has put forward the name of a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mohammed Barkindo, for the position of Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries according to reports credited to Punch newspapers and Bloomberg.

Kerry states US support to repatriate loots

President Buhari and Secretary of State Kerry

The unending diplomacy of cajoling and seeking support over territorial thresholds  that has plunged President Buhari into a flurry of shuttles is yielding results. Reports has it that  President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the United States for help in returning stolen Nigerian assets stashed in U.S. banks as part of his efforts to crack down on corruption, according to a statement from his office Thursday.

Dangote proffers solution to domestic oil crisis

Aliko Dangote

Forbes-identified Africa's richest industrialist, Aliko Dangote, has been linked with finding a solution to the Nigeria's domestic petrol crisis. The peculiarity of this solution is that it is tied to hus acumen and the greater development of oil services in his business empire - the Dangote Group.

Kidnappers murder Army Colonel

Col. Samaila Inusa

The Nigerian Army has annunced that Colonel Samaila Inusa , who was kidnapped on Sunday, 27th March, 2016 was found dead Tuesday, 29th March, 2016 at about 6.00pm.

Army spokesman, Sani Usman, in a statement said preliminary investigation revealed that, most likely, the late senior officer was killed same day he was kidnapped by his abductors.

Rescue Damasak children too - Nigeria Govt told

some of the children and parents fleeing Boko Haram in Adamawa state

Global watchdog, Human Rights Watch, has protested the Nigerian Government over its worrying and inappropriate silence on the abduction of 300 children from Damasak, Borno State.

Local hunters seek license to join forces against B/Haram

Youths mobilised as vigilantes against Boko Haram

The impact of Boko Haram's activities in dislodging the lives of the people of the north-east of Nigeria and the untold and immeasurable sorrow and loss of lives seemed to have pushed the certain class of citizens into the formation of an armed militia group, albeit, without military training to bring an end to the terrorists' insurgence. This comes as an estimated assembly of 10,000 local hunters from the north-east of Nigeria have  vowed to rid the society of criminals.

N25 bn for Airports fences construction - FG

FAAN managing the Muritala Muhammed Airport

The Nigerian government has been reported to require at least N25 billion to construct perimeter and operational fences in all the 22 airports managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for the central government.

Kabu Terachi

The police in Tokyo, Japan captured a 23-year-old man who allegedly held a schoolgirl captive in his apartment for nearly two years, authorities said.

Don't bring your loot here - Cleric

St Peter's Cathedral Church, Ake

In what seems to be an awakening of the church's role to stem moral and religious debauchery, a prominent church leader has spoken out against bringing wealth that cannot be appropriately accounted for into the place of worship as thanksgiving, offerings, or tithes.

Tunji Braithwaite passes on

Dr. Tunji Braithwaite

The death has been reported of one of Nigeria's elder statesmen, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite. He died yesterday morning at the famous St. Nicholas Hospital in the heart of Lagos, Nigeria aged 82 years.

British Nigerian-born doctor critically injured in Las Vegas crash thanks well wishers who donated £200,000 for his treatment

Nigerian-born London doctor today, thanked well-wishers who donated almost £200,000 to cover his treatment while he was in coma and fighting for his life after being hit by a lorry in Las Vegas.

Dr Sebastian Kola-Bankole, 35, told how the money has helped pay for operations on his spine, ears and arteries – as well as a specially-arranged flight back to the UK – to put him on the road to a full recovery.

Foreign travels on a photoshopped budget. Travelling abroad from African settee

When Seve Gat's boarded the plane for her dream holiday to China, she actually did so in the comfort of her own home.

The Kenyan resident had her friends Photoshop her on to the tarmac, and she proceeded to take a virtual tour of the country, fulfilling one of her life dreams.

Their crude editing skills saw Seve plonked on to the Great Wall of China, placed bare-foot on the world's most dangerous hiking trail, and stand awkwardly with a group of tourists in front of a temple.

The hilariously bad photo-edits saw Seve skyrocket to Internet fame, but it also attracted the attention of a generous entrepreneur.

Minister denies plan to retrench civil servants

Hajiya Zainab Ahmed

The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, has said there is no plan by the Federal Government to retrench civil servants.

This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by Mr Charles Dafe, Director of Information in the Ministry.

Germany backs Nigeria against Boko Haram

Dr Ralf Brauksiepe

In what is seen in many quarters has proof of the cordial relationship existing between Nigeria and Germany over the decades, Dr. Ralf Braulsiepe has come with Germany's empathy and willingness to support the nation in her determined drive to rid the country of the terrorist militia, Boko Haram.

A cure for HIV/AIDS found!

Doctors in Barcelona, Spain consider they have discovered the remedy to HIV – the AIDS-causing virus that impacts the lives of greater than 34 million individuals worldwide, in line with WHO.

By utilizing blood transplants from the umbilical cords of people with a genetic resistance to HIV, Spanish medical professionals consider they will deal with the virus, having confirmed the process profitable with one affected person.

A 37-year-old man from Barcelona, who had been contaminated with the HIV virus in 2009, was cured of the situation after receiving a transplant of blood.

While sadly the person later died from most cancers simply three years later, having developed lymphoma, the Spanish medical workforce continues to be massively inspired by what it considers to be a breakthrough within the struggle towards HIV and associated circumstances, in accordance with the Spanish information supply El Mundo.Doctors in Barcelona initially tried the method utilizing the precedent of Timothy Brown, an HIV affected person who developed leukemia earlier than receiving experimental remedy in Berlin, the Spanish information website The Local reported.

3 fmr Chiefs of Army Staff, 292 others to be quizzed over arms purchases

Following the expose of the arms deals that were an embarrassment  to the government and inimical to the smooth running and capacity of the Nigerian army, President Muhammadu Buhari set up a committee to review arms procurement for defence purposes which has since commenced its duties according to the terms of reference given it.

Abducted with a will?

Mr. & Mrs Oruru - Ese's parents

On the 5th March, 2016, we posted a story about the abductions of teenage girls in Nigeria and did another some days later. One of the stories which provided a catalyst to the exposition of the spate of these systemic abductions and its attendant smears is that of Ese Oruru.

She was reportedly abducted and taken to the northern part of the country to be converted to Islam and married off to her abductor. Th e cries of the parents and the statements by them and Ese's brother reveal a further depth of sociological deviancy that has challenged religion, parenting, policing, law, and morality.

Buhari's potential economic team

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo_Eweala (Former Minister, Finance)

The issue that has almost knocked the Boko Haram insurgency and the ever-unfolding saga of public office holders in corruption tango has the ailing Nigerian economy. The domestic economy, it would appear, has got the citizenry quietly agitated as they hope that the poor state of things would change. This has led many a forum and summit undertake a review of the situation as its theme but this has not been sufficiently matched by the great expectation of government's action - at least to the citizenry.

Nigeria's crude interests China

Petroleum pipeline network

In what might be perceived as a welcomed development, China has said that it would need more crude oil from Nigeria. NAN reports that Zao LingXiang who is the economic and commercial counsellor of the Chinese embassy in Nigeria made the declaration in Abuja, the total amount of crude oil export to China was only about one million barrels which was just 1.3 per cent of Nigerian annual export.

Benin crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa was on Saturday in Benin formally installed as the Edaiken

Prince Eheneden Erediauwa

The Benin crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa was on Saturday in Benin formally installed as the Edaiken of Uselu after the successful completion of the mandatory traditional rites.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Erediauwa is expected to go through some traditional rites before he assumed the traditional stool of Edaiken of Uselu.

Trump tramps on Nigeria

US Presidential aspirant - Trump

Donald Trump, a front-line US presidential contender blast Nigeria for claiming to be giant of Africa. One of The highest producer of crude oil in Africa without nothing tangible to show for it. 56 years after independence, Nigerian leaders still can’t deliver “ordinary” electricity, water, home-refined petroleum products, transportation – road, rail, water and air – infrastructure.

NASS spent N10bn without approval - Audit Report

Sam Ukura - Auditor-General of the Federation

The office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, yesterday, submitted its 2014 report on Nigeria's accounts to the National Assembly, on behalf of the Federal Government. The 2014 audit report included those of all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to the leadership of the National Assembly. The report also captured embassies and foreign missions and opened a can of worm as a staggering sum of money was discovered to have been frittered away or not remitted to the federal government coffers.

Beauty Queen in coma after suffering allergic reaction to eye drops

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Marian Adejokun (left aged 19, before the incident) was left in a coma for a month after having a terrible but very rare reaction to over-the-counter eye drops. Now 24, she says she is 'stronger' after the ordeal

A young woman spent a month in a coma with her skin melting off after suffering a violent allergic reaction to eye drops.

16yr-old girl abducted, converted in FCT

Ifesinachi before and after conversion

The web of teenage abductions ravaging the country has hit the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. This time, a 16-year old, SS-2 student of Govern­ment Secondary School, Apo Reset­tlement, Ifesinachi Ani, was abducted about six months ago and taken to unknown destination.

The missing girl is a native of Amaechi Awkunanaw in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State. The mother, a widow of four, lamented that neither the FCT Police Command nor other organ­isations have been able to offer any reasonable assistance to secure the release of the girl and called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Sol­omon Arase, to help rescue her child.

History of the Obama girls through pictures over the two term years

Growing up in the public eye is certainly not easy, but First Daughters Sasha and Malia Obama have done it with flair — and with style.

New Ooni weds Princess Otiti in Benin today

Today, all roads will literally lead to Benin City as His Imperial Majesty Oba, Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, ties the proverbial knots with his new bride, Wuraola Otiti Zynab Obanor, an Architect based in Dubai, UAE.

EU holds back on aid to Nigeria

Ingeborg Graessle, EU Budget Committee Chairman

It has emerged that the European Union are afraid to give Nigeria an aid package on the basis that the fund will be stolen by corrupt officials.

The £26.8million aid package incidentally is earmarked to assist Nigerian efforts to combat corruption. Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had benefited from such aids in the past as its work is grossly underfunded by Nigeria’s government.

Nigerians are to blame

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Femi Adesina, was guest on Radio Continental programme Friday last week (March 4,2016). Here are excerpts from the interview:

FG apologises for poor power supply , and blames...

Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Minister, Information & Culture)

Can it be a sign of political responsibility? Or an admission of poor service? Or better still the opportunity to blame someone somewhere for hindering the performance of your responsibilities?

News reaching us say that the Federal Government has apologised to Nigerians for the hardship, which the poor power situation in the country has imposed on them in the last few months, blaming the prevailing situation on gas failure, sabotage and vandalisation of power infrastructure.

The menace of kidnapping in the Ikorodu creeks, kidnapper gives full details

They kept crying, we feared they’d die, Say their abductors

By CHIOMA IGBOKWE

THE last has not been heard of what transpired while the three kidnapped girls of Babington Ma­caulay Junior Seminary, (BMJS), Agunfoye- Lugbusi, Ikorodu were held in captivity. They were ab­ducted from their school on Febru­ary 29 by gunmen at about 8pm and released seven days later at Imota, another town on the outskirt of Ikorodu.
The girls identified as Timilehin Olosa, Tofunmi Popo Olaniyan and Deborah Akinayo told the police that although they were not sexu­ally molested, they were kept under inhuman condition throughout the seven-day stay in the kidnapper’s den in the creek of Adama.
The girls and Adama creeks
Saturday Sun learnt that although the girls confirmed that they were not sexually molested, they were however made to sleep inside a bamboo hut in Adama creeks, in­fested with mosquitoes.

The Obamas host Canada's new prime Minister The Trudeaus

The president of the United States, Barack Obama had the first state dinner of his final year in office in honor of Canada and its dashing new Prime minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. This will be the first hosted by the White House for Canada in nearly 20 years.

Michelle Obama and Sophie Trudeau's both stole the show in floral-themed dresses. 

Review of remuneration of Politicians etc - RMAFC yet to submit report

Engr. Elias Mbam (former chairman)

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has clarified its position on the recently-concluded review of revenue allocation formula and remuneration packages for political, public and judicial office holders.

This is following what it terms misleading media reports that the commission was on the verge of withdrawing the two reports it had earlier sent to the presidency for onward transmission to the National Assembly in line with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Printing & Minting staff may strike

Trouble, real trouble has started brewing in the problematic Nigerian Printing and Minting Company popular known as MINT. PowerSteering Magazine gathered that the staff of the publicly quoted company where the Central Bank of Nigeria holds majority shares are on the verge of exposing what has hitherto been the business as usual in that company; the staff who have perfected plans to expose the leadership rot will proceed on nationwide strike afterwards. Aside the alleged corruption, the operations of the company revolved around extreme partisanship such that only those brought in by powers that be are the ones smiling daily in a company that has severally suffered series of operational setback traceable to corruption.

Return $757million - Amaechi writes Bancorp

Amaechi (Ex-Governor  Transport Minister)

According To Hope for Nigeria, Former Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi has written to Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in the United States that the alleged $757 million Dollars domiciled in an account in his name; was authorized by him in error; from a Rivers State Government Account with Access Bank Plc.

The Nigerian most corrupt governor according to CNN letter reveals that a similar letter was also written to a bank in Switzerland; stating that a similar authorization was made in error.

Aliko's game plan to solve oil crisis

Aliko Dangote

Africa's richest industrialist on Forbes list has proffered a solution to Nigeria's domestic oil crisis. His solution would be so viable that Nigeria would have the largest single oil refinery in the world.

Badeh remanded in Kuje prison

Air Marshall Alex Badeh

A Federal High Court, in Abuja, has ordered a former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, remanded at the Kuje Maximum Prison, pending the determination of his bail application on March 10.

Justice Okon Abang gave the ruling Monday after Mr. Badeh was arraigned for alleged  fraud, relating to the diversion of N3.9 billion meant for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian military.

Nigeria Army loses Theatre Commander

In just about 48 hours after the news of the death of the Minister of State for the Labour ministry, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN), his wife Blessing, and son, Joshua in a vehicle accident along the Kaduna-Abuja road, a similar accident has claimed the life of the Theatre Commander in charge of operations in the country's war against Boko Haram.

Buhari 'pushed' for a cabinet reshuffle

Geoffrey Onyeama

Nigerians have waited to see more of the change or changes to be executed by the President Muhammadu Buhari's administration. While the nation waited until about three months ago for the inauguration of the ministerial cabinet, the expectation of radical reforms grew while the people enthused in the change slogan in support of the administration.

Apparently, the weight of expectation has also grown on the president who is reported to be under pressure from chieftains of the All Progressives Congress to re-organise his cabinet.

ARRESTED KIDNAPPERS OF LAGOS SCHOOL GIRLS SING LIKE PARROTS, security tightened in Lagos

  

 Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday said his administration has the will and capacity to fight all forms of crime and criminality in the state, just as he read the riot act to persons who have taken to kidnapping, warning that there would be no hiding place for such act.
The governor, who addressed journalists on the safe rescue of the three girls abducted by gunmen from the Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu last Monday, warned that the state government will spare nothing to clamp down on all forms of crime in the state.

Homeless man on trial for begging 10p

A furious Judge has thrown out the case of a homeless man arrested for begging just 10 pence, saying it is ‘not in the interest of justice’ to proceed with a prosecution.

Ashley Hackett is a familiar face among the homeless community of Brighton, East Sussex. The 34-year-old is one of around 90 people who sleep rough in the seaside town on an average night, a figure that is on the rise.

World Bank flags employment initiative for N31.5bn

Mr. Rachid Benmessaoud

The World Bank has inaugurated a $160m (N31.5bn) growth and employment initiative in Nigeria on Tuesday. The initiative aimed at stimulating economic activities in some sectors of the Nigerian economy.Some of the identified sectors are entertainment, Information and Communication Technology, construction, manufacturing, agro-processing, hospitality and tourism.

Teenage Abductions for marriage

Abducted: Patience Paul

The Sokoto State Hisbah (Sharia Police) have admitted that they have given out in marriage Patience Paul, 15 years old, to a man who has taken her to Bauchi. The Head of Sharia said she was married by the order of the Sultan of Sokoto in a recorded phone conversation with Patience’s elder brother. He said since she has been converted to Islam, the Sarkin Muslumi, that is the leader of Muslims, that is the Sultan, is her father now and was the one who ordered that she should be married out.

EFCC takes 2 SANs to court for corruption

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is set to arraign two Senior Advocates of Nigeria,SAN, Rickey Tarfa and Dr. Joseph Nwobike, at the Lagos State High Court.

In two separate charges filed by the anti graft agency, the learned silk are accused of offering gratification running into millions of naira to judges in bizarre ploy to influence decisions in their favour.

EFCC recovers N10bn

Emeka Mba, Ex Director-General NBC

The sum of N10,061,172,600 has been recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) being the value of alleged inflation of collateral funds meant for Digital Set-Top -Boxes. The commission is set to prosecute a former Director-General of NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba and three others.

Also to face trial is  the NBC’s Director of Finance, Mr. Patrick Areh, who received a curious transfer of N390million and another N20million cash gift from the contract sum.

NNPC broken into 30

Dr. Ibe Kachikwu

NIgeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, has disclosed that the nation's lead petroleum coy, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been  broken into five major operational zones with about 30 independent companies with their chief executive officers given measurable targets to achieve.

He further stated that the Federal Government will announce the final outcome of this planned major overhaul of the entire structures of the state oil company next week.

Buhari to re-direct N5000 stipend

President Muhammadu Buhari

Reacting to President Muhammadu Buhari's statement that he was considering committing the N5,000 social security stipend in the country into developing infrastructure, schools, agriculture and mining sectors in the country an indigenous mining company, NASAMAN Mining Company Limited, on Thursday applauded the President’s recent pledge to revamp these sectors.