Nigerians Still Under Intense Hardship, Tinubu Informs PMB

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to do more to improve the lot of citizens. Tinubu gave the advice yesterday while unveiling a book, Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace and Prosperity, at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The 360-page book is a mid-term scorecard on the Buhari administration put together by the Presidential Media Team. The APC chieftain who refrained from commenting on the 2019 elections, said although Buhari had used the last two years to lay foundation for a better Nigeria, many citizens were still in lack, due to the prevailing economic crunch.

Nigeria, Ndigbo Are Just Same - PMB

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, advised people of the South East not to buy into what he described as senseless propaganda on secession.

President Buhari said the people of South East were known for their ingenuity, industrious and entrepreneurial, stressing that ‘Igbo is Nigeria and Nigeria is Igbo. Both are inseparable”

PMB Give Reasons To Back El-rufai In Planned Sack Of 21,780 Kaduna Teachers

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, backed the Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-rufai over the latter’s plan to sack over 21,780 teachers who recently failed the competency test conducted by the state government.

Buhari made the backing while speaking at the State House in Abuja during a special retreat of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the challenges facing the Education sector in Nigeria themed: “Education in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects”.

Wike And Amaechi Turned Traffic Altercation To Power Play For Control Of Rivers State

Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers State and his immediate predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi have once again taken their quest to assert control over the state to another level.

Both men on Saturday were involved in a traffic altercation, but turned it into a power play to justify who should be in charge of the politics of the state.

Ignore OBJ At Your Peril, He's The Boss Of All Bosses - GEJ

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has described ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo as the “boss of bosses.”

According to him, any politician who ignores the elder statesman does so at his peril.

About Five Persons Feared Dead In Renewed Ebonyi/Cross River Communal Crisis

Five persons have been killed in a renewed boundary crisis between Itim-Amagu in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi state and Adadama people of Cross River state. Confirming the incident to journalists yesterday, the local government chairman of Ikwo, John Nnabo said the deceased were from Ikwo, noting that the beheaded bodies of the victims have been recovered while three others have been declared missing.

Nnabo noted he was called on Thursday morning by his Vice over the incident, adding that the victims had gone to the area to uproot their cassava and other food crops only to be surrounded by the warlords of Adadama who unleashed mayhem on them.

Niger-Delta Avengers Ends Cease Fire Agreement With FG

A Nigerian militant group whose attacks on energy facilities in the Niger Delta last year helped push Africa’s biggest economy into recession said on Friday it had ended its ceasefire.

The Niger Delta Avengers announced a halt to hostilities in August 2016, although they carried out attacks in October and November last year.

MainaGate - EFCC, Police, Speak On Maina, Interpol

One week after the Presidency ordered the sack of wanted ex-chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, and announced the issuance of a fresh warrant for his arrest and listing of his name on its wanted list, indication has emerged that the fugitive’s name is not listed anywhere on the international police, Interpol, list.

Checks conducted according to Vanguard, yesterday, revealed that the current Interpol’s list of Wanted Persons for various crimes, including financial, organised crimes, drugs, trading on human beings and fraud did not have anyone with the name of Abdulrasheed Maina.

New SGF Named - Boss Mustapha; Buhari Sacks Babachir, Oke

Assailed by mounting criticisms, arising from what many perceived as lukewarm response to dealing with cases of corruption within and among members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday finally sacked former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and Ayodele Oke, former Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

In a statement credited to the Presidency and signed by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Buhari was said to have acted after studying “the report of the panel headed by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, which investigated allegations against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir David Lawal, and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke”.

FGN Recovered $85m From UK On Scandalous Malabu Oil Deal As Claimed

The Federal Government Thursday revealed that it had recovered $85 million from the United Kingdom, as part of illicit proceeds from the infamous Malabu Oil deal.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, made the disclosure at the ongoing consultative meeting on assets recovery in Abuja.

Malami however lamented the non-compliance of some countries which have continued to hold on to stolen assets against the terms of several treaties signed with the Federal Government to facilitate the return of the assets.

Review Decision To Subpoena Jonathan, Metuh Instructs Lawyers

Erstwhile publicity scribe of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, has instructed his lawyers to review the decision to subpoena former President Goodluck Jonathan to testify in his ongoing trial.

The directive, according to Metuh, followed insinuations that he is out to embarrass Jonathan. Metuh in a statement, yesterday, vowed that he would never embarrass the former president and would not seek to embarrass him to negotiate his freedom from those he said are equally determined to humiliate the two of them.

SEC's Disclosure Of How Oando Manipulates Profit, Dividend To Swindle Shareholders Takes Oando To Court

Oando Plc has secured a court order restraining Nigeria’s apex capital market regulator, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), from going ahead with its announced forensic audit of the operations of the indigenous energy group. The court order also restrained the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) from placing Oando’s shares under technical suspension. The order was served on SEC and NSE on Tuesday, October 24, 2017.

According to Ripples, documents obtained have however outlined preliminary findings by SEC, showing how Oando allegedly manipulate its share prices through creative accounting profits amidst several contraventions of the extant rules and laws governing the capital market.

Dasuki Tells Court Why He Can't Testify As Witness For Metuh’s Trial

Detained former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd, on Tuesday, gave reasons why he would not testify in the ongoing trial of erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh.

Dasuki maintained that it would not be proper for him to appear as Metuh’s witness before the Federal High Court in Abuja since he was already labelled as an accomplice in the charge.

Power Uti Arraigned In Court Over The Controversial Death Of His Wife

A renowned wrestler, John Eke Uti a.k.a. Power Uti, was on Tuesday brought before an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly killing his wife, Toyin.

Uti, 55, was arraigned before Magistrate Bola Folarin-Williams on a two-count of murder and disrespect of corpse.

Buhari Disagree On Same Currency For West Africa By 202

President Muhamadu Buhari on Tuesday in Niamey, Republic of Niger, urged member countries of the Economic Community of West African States to tread carefully in pushing for a single currency in the sub-region by 2020.

He cited the challenges faced by the European Union in realising the same goal to buttress his position.

Buhari's Men; Dambazau, Maina, Malami And All Others – Fani-Kayode

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has said embattled former Chairman of the Presidential Task Reform Team, Abdulrahseed Maina, Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, are about to make Nigeria explode.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain made the claim while claiming that the above men were President Muhammadu Buhari’s people.

Leadership Style Of Buhari Seem To Querry His Competence, Exposes The Struggling Economy To Higher Risks

As the latest scandal in Nigeria’s historically reputation-challenged oil industry continues to generate widespread reactions, the issues thrown up so far in the allegations contained in the leaked memo from the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, and the points made in the counter-response from the Nigerian National Petroleum Resources (NNPC), point to a larger issue— President Muhammadu Buhari’s now-established flawed detached leadership style.

In Kachikwu’s memo, he had accused Maikanti Baru, the NNPC’s Group Managing Director, of insubordination, recounting instances of being sidelined alongside the NNPC board in crucial decisions including the award of contracts over the $20 million threshold totaling $25 billion, as well as staff retirement, replacement and promotion, all matters he argued were mandated by the NNPC Act to require authorization from the NNPC board.

Missing Biafra Separatist Leader - Nnamdi Kanu Fails To Appear In Court

The leader of a group calling for the secession of a Nigerian territory formerly known as Biafra did not appear at a court hearing on Tuesday, stoking concerns among his supporters who say they haven’t seen him in weeks.

Nnamdi Kanu’s family and backers say they haven’t heard from him since what they described as a military raid on his home in the southeastern region on Sept 14. Nigeria’s army has denied any such raid took place.

Wife Of Former President Jonathan Sues EFCC For N2bn

Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday fixed Nov. 16 to hear the N2 billion Fundamental Rights suit brought against the EFCC by Mrs Patience Jonathan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the wife of the former president Goodluck Jonathan had filed the suit in June to challenge her alleged incessant harassment by the anti-graft commission.

At the resumed hearing, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) announced to the court of his readiness to move his client’s application.

Nigerians Gripped By Fear Over The Disapperance Of Seperatist Leader - Nnamdi Kanu

A secessionist leader seeking independence from Nigeria has been missing since an alleged military raid more than two weeks ago left his house in the city of Umuahia riddled with bullet holes, its windows smashed and doors hanging off hinges.

The disappearance of Nnamdi Kanu, after the raid the army says did not happen, threatens to ignite separatist unrest capable of destabilizing southeastern Nigeria, a region where a million people died in a 1967-70 civil war over the short-lived Republic of Biafra.

My View Of Restructuring - Prof. Ben Nwabueze

The object of re-structuring for which there is a widespread clamour among Nigerians, is not to break up the country or to enable agitators to secede from its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Far from that, the object is, by reforming the governmental structures and attuning them to the needs and wishes of the people, to ensure that the immense diversity of ethnic nationalities comprised in the state will continue to co-exist together in peace, prosperity and progress as citizens of one country united by common interests, common aspirations and a common destiny.

The clamour for Re-structuring must therefore be seen as a clamour for the setting up of appropriate platforms or fora to renegotiate suitable governmental structures for the pursuit and realization of our common needs for development, good governance and national transformation.

Court Orders Dasuki’s Appearance In Olisa Metuh’s Trial

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday ordered Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Service to produce the detained former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, before a Federal High Court in Abuja to enable him testify in defence of a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh.

In a unanimous judgement delivered by its three-man panel, the Appeals Court also ordered the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, of the Federal High Court, Abuja before whom Metuh is being prosecuted to immediately sign the subpoena filed by the ex-PDP spokesperson. Justice Peter Ige, who prepared and read the lead judgement of the appellate court, directed Justice Abang to indicate the date which the DSS must produce Dasuki in court and other subsequent dates.

Gunmen Abducts Asst Police Commissioner, Family Members

An Assistant Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Adeniyi, and members of his family have been reportedly abducted by armed gunmen along the Birnin Gwari-Funtua road in Kaduna State.

The incident was said to have occurred on Wednesday when the police officer, serving in Gusau, Zamfara State, was travelling with members of his family along the Birnin Gwari road noted for banditry.

Trials Of Suspected Boko Haram Members To Be Held In Closed Doors

Trials of Boko Haram suspects in Nigeria will take place behind closed doors with no media present, a justice ministry official with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Friday.

The move was made on security grounds following discussions between the government and the Department of State Services intelligence agency.

Falana Goads CAN To Christianise Nigeria With Interest-Free Banks

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to “Christianise” Nigeria by setting up interest-free banks.

Falana said this in reaction to the dust raised by the N100 billion Sukuk bond issued by the federal government.

CAN had said the issuance of the bond was an attempt to sell Nigeria to Islamic nations.

INEC Frustrated In An Attempt To Serve Notice To Melaye, As He Refuses To Abandon Plenary

Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), yesterday, frustrated efforts by legal officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to serve him with a notice of recall.

Officials of INEC, yesterday, stormed the National Assembly complex with four “Ghana must go” bags to serve Senator Melaye with recall processes, but his office was locked despite his presence at the plenary.

Nigeria To Quite From Membership Of 90 World Organisations

The Federal Government has resolved to withdraw Nigeria’s membership from 90 world organisations over the financial implications of it’s membership of such organisations.

The decisions was arrived at during the Wednesday weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Senate Reshuffles Leadership Of Committees, Upheld The Ban On IPOB

The Senate has supported the Federal Government’s ban on the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). It also advised that all groups seeking to pursue any agitation should do so through the constitutional means.

This resolution was announced by the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki. The Senate spokesman, Aliyu Abdullahi Sabi, told journalists after plenary yesterday that IPOB through the extant law has been proscribed.

UN Security Council Obsolete, Undemocratic As Declared By Nigerian Government

Nigeria on Wednesday criticized the obsolete and old-fashioned composition of the UN Security Council, and described it as undemocratic.

The Security Council is the UN’s most powerful principal organ with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security as well as accepting new members to the UN.

Youths Of The South-South Gives Another 365 Days H/Qts Relocation Order To Oil Firms

Conference of United South-South Youth  Council, USSYC, the apex youth body of all ethnic nationalities of the South-South region, weekend, gave the Chevron Nigeria Limited, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Agip, ExxonMobil and other oil companies operating in the zone a time frame of 365 days  to relocate their headquarters to their operational bases in the Niger Delta.

Addressing newsmen in Warri, Delta State, USSYC national president, Chief Egbe Pereotubo, called for “The zoning of the office of the Presidency of Nigeria among the six geopolitical regions in the federation to give each a sense of belonging.”

Pyongyang Hold Anti-US Rally As Trump Cranks Up North Korea's Threats

U.S. President Donald Trump dialled up the rhetoric against North Korea again at the weekend, warning the country’s foreign minister that he and leader Kim Jong Un “won’t be around much longer”, as Pyongyang staged a major anti-U.S. rally.

North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday that targeting the U.S. mainland with its rockets was inevitable after “Mr Evil President” Trump called Pyongyang’s leader a “rocket man” on a suicide mission.

Natives In Abia State Gripped By Fear Over Threats From Herdsmen For Refusing Them To Graze Cattle On The Land

CRISIS is looming in Ndiolumbe Nvosi Autonomous Community in Isiala Ngwa South Council   of Abia between the people and Fulani herdsmen over the refusal of the natives to allow the Fulani herdsmen graze their cattle.

But the Fulani herdsmen have insisted that they would remain in the community  graze t in their land and they have gone ahead to camp in the community and graze their cattle.

Soldiers' Presence In South-East, Democracy Under Threat - NADECO Yells

Like Senate President Bukola Saraki, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) has stated that the deployment of soldiers with armored tanks to Abia State in the South East is unconstitutional.

It warned that democracy in Nigeria is threatened once again under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

Articulated Vehicle/Trailers & Petroleum Tankers Should Stay Away From Lagos - State Government Warns

The Lagos state government has directed owners and operators of articulated vehicles/trailers and petroleum tankers to stay away from the state “for now”.

Olanrewaju Elegushi, acting commissioner for transportation, said the move is to curtail the gridlock that has taken over Apapa and its environs.

Seven (7) Days After; Operation Python Dance II

IF the Nigerian Army had anticipated the knocks it received following the setting up of Operation Python Dance 11 in the five states of the South East, perhaps it would have shelved the idea. Its intention to mount obstacles and check points associated with the usual military activity two days before its take-off might have been responsible for the controversy generated by the exercise.

As a result of this controversy, the resultant effect was the whittling down of the scope of the operation in the five states after the initial brouhaha.

2016 US Election; Wisconsin, Ohio, California Among States Targeted By Russian Hackers

Wisconsin, Ohio, California and 10 other states said on Friday they were among 21 states that Russian government hackers targeted in an effort to sway the 2016 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump though no votes were changed.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed it had notified the states of the activity but declined to identify them. Russia has denied election meddling, and President Trump has denied any collusion with Russia.

Northern Elders - We’re Not Afraid Of Restructuring, But Won’t Be Stampeded

Northern Elders Forum, NEF, yesterday, again, weighed in on the state of the nation, saying while the region was not afraid of the persistent calls for restructuring, especially from other parts of the country, it would, however, not allow itself to be stampeded into adopting a premeditated design that could spell doom.

NEF’s declaration came on a day chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, committee on restructuring, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, disclosed that his committee will submit its report to the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, by end of October.

I Will Not Dethrone Nnamdi Kanu's Father Says Ikpeazu

GOVERNOR Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Tuesday said that he will not dethrone the traditional ruler of Afara Ukwu Ibeku Autonomous Community of the state, His Royal Highness, Eze Isreal Kanu, the father of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu because of the involvement of his son in the ongoing tension in the state.

There have been calls from some people from Umuahia that the governor should dethrone Kanu’s father following the horrible experience the people had from the military that had invaded all streets in the area to curb the activities of IPOB.

I will 'Totally Destroy' North Korea If America Is Threatened - Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his standoff with North Korea over its nuclear challenge on Tuesday, threatening to “totally destroy” the country of 26 million people and mocking its leader, Kim Jong Un, as a “rocket man.”

In a hard-edged speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump offered a grim portrait of a world in peril, adopted a more confrontational approach to solving global challenges from Iran to Venezuela, and gave an unabashed defense of U.S. sovereigntyysovereignty.

Buhari Urges Resolution Of Myammar, North Korea Crises In His Speech At 72nd UNGA

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the United Nations to ensure a peaceful resolution of the North Korea nuclear crisis.

In his speech to the ongoing 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mr. Buhari also urged the government of Myammar to halt what he said “from all indications is a state-backed programme of brutal depopulation of the Rohingya inhabited areas in Myanmar on the bases of ethnicity and religion.”

Re - You Bathed In The Blood Of Biafrans By Fani-Kayode

THE HOMICIDAL RYTHM OF THE PYTHON DANCE

On the 15th September 2016, one year ago today, I wrote the following.

“You bathed in the blood of Biafrans, you crushed their bones and stripped away their dignity and self-respect just to keep Nigeria one.

Now you say their children have no right to ask for self-determination simply because you killed their fathers and mothers during the war and shattered their homes.

Human Rights Group Challenges Nigerian Military Over Classifying IPOB as Terrorist Organisation

The Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC) has insisted that it is not within the jurisdiction of the military to declare the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist group.

In a statement by Micheal Ajayi and Sanusi Suleiman, the group’s executive secretary, and middle belt coordinator, NHRC said the military should have made its findings and submitted to the National Assembly for consideration.

Buhari To Enroute London After UN General Assembly Meeting

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will pass through London, where he spent five months on medical leave this year, on his way home from the United Nations General Assembly, his spokesman said on Friday.

Buhari will depart for New York on Sunday, his spokesman said in an emailed statement. It will be the first time he has left Nigeria since returning on Aug. 19 from Britain, where he received treatment for an unspecified ailment.

"Heavy Boot" Response Of Nigerian Army To Pro-Biafra Sentiment Is "Not The Solution" – OBJ

Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said that President Muhammadu Buhari must meet with the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu before violence between the army and separatists escalates into a full-blown conflict.

Obasanjo speaking in London, with Newsweek said that “I don’t see anything wrong in that (Buhari meeting with Kanu). I would not object to that; if anything, I would encourage it,”

Zidane's Striker Shortage Eases As Ronaldo Returns

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has underlined the importance of welcoming back World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo for the holders Champions League opener against APOEL Nicosia on Wednesday.

Ronaldo has been suspended for Real’s last four games after pushing a referee in the Spanish Super Cup and has been badly missed as the European champions have been held at home by Valencia and Levante in their last two outings.

“He doesn’t just bring goals,” said Zidane on Tuesday.

Soldiers Attack Journalists, Invade Kanu's Home

Soldiers of the Nigerian army have reportedly surrounded the country home of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in Umuahia, Abia state.

The presence of troops in Kanu’s hometown is the second of such in three days as they had earlier clashed with his supporters on Sunday.

The soldiers were said to have arrived on Tuesday in armoured carrier vehicles and Hilux vans.

Panel Set Up To Investigate Crimes By Nigerian Army Should Be Impartial and Independent - Amnesty International

Amnesty International has urged that the Nigerian government must ensure the presidential investigative panel earlier set up to investigate human rights violations by Nigeria’s military is independent, impartial and effective.

Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, noted that “the establishment of this investigative panel is an opportunity for Nigeria to ensure justice for victims of the countless allegations of war crimes by the military in the country – and it must not be wasted.”

Burutai Orders Redeployment Of Troops To South-east To Curb Biafra Agitation

Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, has ordered the deployment of troops in the south-east to stop “violent” secessionist agitations.

DD Ahmadu, army chief of training and operations, who spoke on behalf of Buratai at a news conference on Friday, announced that a military exercise tagged ‘Operation Python Dance’ would commence in the five south-eastern states from September 15.

Nigerian Navy Attache Honoured With United State's Presidential Medal Of Honour

The Government of the United States of America, USA, yesterday, bestowed a rare honour to a Nigerian Navy attache, Navy Captain Kolawole Oguntuda, with its Presidential Medal of Honour.

Oguntuda, who is the Nigerian Deputy Military Attachee to the United States, bagged the honour for his outstanding achievement in playing a wonderful part in advancing a strategic role by enabling cooperation between the US and the Nigerian Navy.

Commander, United States Naval Forces in charge of Europe and Africa, Admiral Michelle Howard, presented the award to the Nigerian born Oguntuda, on behalf of President Donald Trump, at the Nigerian Naval Headquarters, Abuja.

Battery Against Husbands On The Rise In Lagos As 55 Husbands Report Wives — Attorney General

A total of 55 husbands have reported to the Lagos State Government how their wives battered them in the last eight years in renewed cases of domestic violence in the state.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Adeniji Kazeem at a media briefing in Ikeja, yesterday, revealed that more men were now coming forward to report cases of violence against them by their women.