Castro dies, and the Cuban revolution ....

Fidel Castro - as Cuban President

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro, who led a rebel army to improbable victory in Cuba more than 50 years ago, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of 10 U.S. presidents during his half century rule, has died at age 90.

With a shaking voice, Cuban President Raul Castro said on state television that his older brother died at 10:29 p.m. Friday. He ended the announcement by shouting the revolutionary slogan: “Toward victory, always!”

Castro’s reign over the island-nation 90 miles from Florida was marked by the U.S.-backed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis a year later that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. The bearded revolutionary, who survived a crippling U.S. trade embargo as well as dozens, possibly hundreds, of assassination plots, died 10 years after ill health forced him to hand power over to Raul.

Falana compares Jonathan, Buhari

Femi Falana, SAN

Fiery Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, yesterday confessed that there is inherent evil in the proposed $29.9 billion loan that President Muhammadu Buhari seeks to borrow.

Falana stated this while speaking at the 4th Convocation Lecture of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu,  Ile Ife.

Doctors in the US & Africa collaborate of Ebola

Symbol of  Medicine

Thousands of people died during the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, but as memories fade and concerns about future outbreaks of that magnitude subside, health care specialists say the danger is not completely over.

While the worst affected countries - Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone - have been declared free of the deadly virus, there have been some minor flare-ups.

“The virus can hang around in the bodies of people who’ve survived Ebola and can then be spread to other people and start new outbreaks... In fact there have been seven clusters of Ebola since the epidemic was controlled: three in Liberia, three in Sierra Leone and one that started in Guinea,” said Dr. Barb Marston of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, director of the CDC's office for Ebola -affected countries.

Cameroun opens border markets to Nigeria

Camerounian President -  Paul Biya

Cameroon has cautiously reopened its border with Nigeria, launching business activity three years after the border was closed due to Boko Haram atrocities. The central African state says although business with Nigeria has been relaunched because Boko Haram attacks have fallen off during the past two years, all business persons traveling to Nigeria and back must be screened and escorted.

Hundreds of merchants have returned to the Limani border market in the Far North region in Cameroon. They are once again selling and buying with their Nigerian peers.

Tell EFCC to release me - Bala Mohammed

Sen. Bala Mohammed

An Abuja high court on Monday fixed November 24 for hearing in a motion on notice filed by former FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged violation of his fundamental right.

Mr. Mohammed, former minister under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, had been in the custody of the EFCC since October 25 following petitions against him.

The former minister, through his counsel, Chris Uche, brought a motion of violation of fundamental human right against EFCC for detaining him for four weeks.

He also sought the order of the court for EFCC to release him on bail and also to award N100 million damages against EFCC.

UNO commends Nigeria Army on Boko Haram

Mohammed Ibn Chambas

The United Nations Organization (UNO) has commended the Nigerian Army for being professional in handling Boko Haram terrorism and insurgency especially in the North East Nigeria, saying their conduct was exemplary and it is in line with international best practices.

The Special Assistant to United Nations Secretary General (SRSG), Office for West Africa, His Excellency, (Doctor) Mohammad Ibn Chambas gave this commendation during the UN solidarity visit to the Chief of Army Staff Nigerian Army, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai in his office, at the Headquarters of the Theatre Command of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, Borno State.

The SRSG said that the UN has been explicit and consistent in condemning the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists in the region. He went further to commend Nigeria’s neighbouring countries for collaborating with Nigeria in fighting the common terrorists. He said the UN was conscious of the hardship caused to the people of Nigeria as a result of the activities of the BHT and promised the United Nations readiness in collaboration with other Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to bring succour to the affected persons.

Mr Mohammad also extended his appreciation to the Borno State Government, National Emergency Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Agency (SEMA) and other Humanitarian Agencies in providing succour for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East saying the UNO will do everything possible to support, rehabilitate and resettle the victims of this menace. He also used the opportunity of the visit to pay tribute to Nigerian military personnel that lost their lives in the cause of the conflict, describing them as heroes, whom he said paid the supreme prize for others to live.

In his response, the Chief of Army Staff, thanked the UN chief for the visit, kind commendation and promise of continuous support to the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria. He also thanked the world body for all the support given to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) especially at the formation stage of the Task Force when he was the pioneer Force Commander, saying that the MNJTF has achieved a lot in the fight against terrorism, which he attributed to the solid foundation at its take off.

The Chief of Army Staff promised to continue to lead the Nigerian Army until the terrorists surrendered to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Mr Chambas was accompanied on the visit by some top diplomats of the United Nations.

Gbadamosi quits on a high

Chief (Dr.) Rasheed A. Gbadamosi, OFR

The former Chairman of Petroleum Products Prices Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, OFR, has passed away at the age of 72.

Chief Gbadamosi who hails from Ikorodu in Lagos state had prior to his transition held public office nationally and was a renowned playwright and lover of the arts on the Nigerian landscape. A foremost industrialist and Co-Chairman, Lagos @ 50 Planning Committee, he finally died after a one-year long battle with stroke.

Lagos State Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, announced his passage on his twitter handle @stevoree shortly after he passed on.

In his message, the commissioner said the state government mourned the passing of a leading industrialist, art patron, former minister and Co-Chairman of Lagos@50, Rasheed Gbadamosi, who died at 72.

“Gbadamosi will be remembered for being a true Lagosian, a nationalist and art aficionado. His remains will be interred at 2pm tomorrow,” the commissioner said.

Gbadamosi had been suffering from multiple strokes since last year and had recently gone abroad for medical treatment.

Gbadamosi, former chairman, Bank of Industry, and one-time Director, National Sports Lottery Plc, was named co-chairman of Lagos @50 Planning Committee and long with Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode last year.

Gbadamosi was a former chairman of PPPRA and a one-time minister. He was an economist, playwright, industrialist and former minister.

Supreme Court Registrar arraigned

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in Jabi, Abuja, yesterday granted a request by the Federal government to arraign the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Ahmed Saleh, and two others on a nine-counts bordering on gratification and diversion of N2.2bn belonging to the apex court.

Government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation had on November 3, 2016 charged Saleh alongside Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal, with the offences of receiving gratifications totalling N74.4m from private contractors providing services to the Supreme Court between 2009 and 2016.

Don't legalise Sharia in Nigeria - Rev. Datiri

Rev. Dachollom Datiri

The President of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Rev. Dachollom Datiri, has pleaded with the National Assembly that, passing into a bill to legalise Shari’a into law, may ignite religious war in the country.

Rev. Datiri stated this yesterday when he addressed clergymen at the 19st General Church Council meeting at the Church’s Headquarters, in Jos, capital of Plateau State.

CBN warns on 'illegal' transfers routes

Isaac Okoroafor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday warned Nigerians in the Diaspora to desist from patronising illegal International Money Transfer Operators as “they stand the risk of losing their hard-earned money.”

According to the apex bank, the unscrupulous operators lure unsuspecting customers with ridiculous exchange rate and use Naira accounts opened in local banks for legal business to pay out the proceeds to the beneficiaries while channeling the foreign currencies to fund the parallel market.

Four Nigerians in US elections

Charles Ejike Onyejiaka

Americans in Franklin, New Jersey, will vote for Charles Ejike Onyejiaka, a fellow citizen and a transplant from Imo State, Nigeria, as the U.S. general election unfolds today.

Mr. Onyejiaka, a democrat, is the incumbent in a two-way race for Ward 3 Councilman seat in Franklin. He was one of three men presented to Franklin Town Council as fill-in candidates for the unexpired term of Phil Kramer, former Ward 3 Councilman, who became Mayor of Franklin last January.

CJN admits evidence against judges

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed

Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday revealed that National Judicial Council, NJC, reconsidered its position on some judges facing corruption allegation after it was confronted with overwhelming evidence.

Supreme Court operates a secret account - DSS

A Supreme Court’s bank account said to  contain billions of naira has attracted  the  attention  of  the Department of State Security Services ( DSS).

Nigeria/World bank sign $500m agreement in Abuja

The Federal Government and the World Bank on Thursday signed a Partial Risk Guarantee (PRG) agreement for the supply of gas to the $500 million Calabar gas plant to boost energy supply by 500 megawatts.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who witnessed the signing of the agreement at the Presidential Villa, said the event is very significant for the country as it would encourage investment in gas infrastructure.

Reps stall deliberations on bank deposits

Cross section of the House in session

The House of Representatives on Wednesday failed to discuss matters bordering on suspicious bank deposits detected after Nigeria's adoption of the Bank Verification Number.

Lawmakers were expected to discuss billions of naira left unclaimed in Nigerian banks because their owners had failed to register a BVN or link to existing ones where appropriate.

Nigeria/EU trade increases

In 2014 alone, Nigeria’s total trade with the European Union (EU) stood at €39 billion with the EU accounting for 31 per cent of Nigeria’s total trade.

Senate holds closed door parley

Senate in session

The Senate on Wednesday went into a closed-door session, where they are expected to deliberate on the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, and the establishment of grazing areas.

The senators went into the executive session at 10.25 am.