Abdul's Blog: 02/05/18

Monday, 5 February 2018

40-Year Old Woman Commits Suicide In Ebonyi

It was a sad episode yesterday in Ishinkwo, Abaomege community in Onicha local government area of the State, when the lifeless body of one Nkemjika Oyibe was found hanging on a tree in Onyemem forest in the community.

Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Loveth Odah said the case had been reported to the Command for further investigation.

The US Treasury Monday slapped economic sanctions on a Congolese general accused of cooperating with rebel groups, as well as three rebel commanders in the country’s turbulent eastern region.

The Treasury said Muhindo Akili Mundos, a general in the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo and an ally of President Joseph Kabila, had “cooperated profitably” with rebel groups in North Kivu province in 2014 when he was supposed to be working together with the United Nations stabilization mission for the region.

The Management of Dangote Oil Refinery Company (DORC) says about 150 indigenous engineers have been trained in refinery operations in preparation for the take-off of its Lagos Refinery and Petrochemical Plant.

Mohan Kumar, the company’s Director of Human Capital Management and Project Support, made this known at a news conference in Lagos on Monday while presenting 22 engineers who returned from Mumbai, India.

Ex-vice President, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to reports at the weekend which claimed that he is open to join the Olusegun Obasanjo-inspired Coalition for Nigeria Movement, CNM.

The former Vice President who recently returned to the Peoples Democratic Party, from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, while speaking with DAILY POST through his spokersperson, Mr. Paul Ibe, Atiku said he is committed to building a successful PDP.

Chelsea forward, Olivier Giroud admits he was disappointed by Arsene Wenger‘s desire to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and says the decision was the catalyst behind his move to Chelsea.

Arsenal broke their club record to sign the Gabon international in a £56 million deal from Borussia Dortmund, which then paved the way for Giroud to join the Premier League champions for £18m.

Anthony Chukwudi Mazeli officer of the Nigerian Army studying in the United Kingdom made the country proud as he distinguished himself by finishing with a distinction in Cyber Security, coming top in his class.

The Nigerian Army officer also bagged the Best Dissertation award and Best graduating student of Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Lancaster, UK. He bagged Master degree in Cyber Security.

Dr Bukola Saraki, the Senate President of Nigeria, has disclosed the details of a conversation he had with superstar Nigerian musician, Wizkid.

The lawmaker reportedly made the revelation in his keynote address at the Georgetown University African Business Conference in Washington DC, United States on Saturday.

Antoine Griezmann may have made a lot of Atletico Madrid fans happy when he opted to stay at the club beyond the January transfer window, but tensions between the striker and supporters reached a new level on Sunday.

The France international had yet again been the subject of speculation throughout another transfer period.

Former military President Ibrahim Babangida has spoken on the controversy around the statement he issued about the 2019 elections.

In the statement well-circulated in the media on Sunday, the retired military ruler, better known as IBB, asked Nigerians to have patience with President Muhammadu Buhari till his tenure ends in 2019.

Florence Otedola, the daughter of billionaire Femi Otedola, stole the show at the Global Partnership for Education Financing Conference in Senegal over the weekend when she taught Senegalese President, Macky Sall, and French President, Emmanuel Macron, how to DJ.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday swore-in five new members of the State Executive Council with a charge on them to hit the ground running and offer only the best of services to the people.

Speaking at a brief swearing-in ceremony held at the Lagos State Executive Council Chambers in Alausa, Ikeja, Governor Ambode said the new cabinet members were appointed based on their track record, expertise and experience, and as such they must immediately settle down in office and inject new ideas to reinvigorate and reenergize government machinery to the overall benefit of the people.

Some suspected assassins on Wednesday clubbed to death a 62-year-old Igbo businessman, Mr. Vitalis Okoro, in Calabar, Cross River State, after chasing away his son.

It was learnt that the assailants, after killing Vitalis in the bedroom, dragged the corpse into his Toyota Sequoia and drove some distance away from the house on Anaku Street, in the Ikot Effanga Mkpa area of Calabar.

After achieving the seemingly unimaginable feat of qualifying for the forthcoming 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, the Nigerian Women Bobsled and Skeleton team are hoping to go a step further by winning a medal at the competition.

Ngozi Onwumere, Akuoma Omeoga and Seun Adigun will represent Nigeria in the country’s first-ever appearance in the sport at the 2018 Winter Olympic which will hold from February 9 to 25.

Athletes for the forthcoming 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, are battling with cold temperature which hovers between minus 10 and minus 20 degrees Celsius.

However, athletes for Games on Monday welcomed the cold, while fans shiver.

The weather has freezing temperatures of minus 10 degrees Celsius in the day and around minus 20 (minus four degrees Fahrenheit) during the night.

Former Dutch international midfielder Clarence Seedorf will coach Deportivo La Coruna until the end of the season, the La Liga club said on Monday.

The former Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan star replaces Spaniard Cristobal Parralo, who was sacked on Sunday following a 5-0 defeat to Real Sociedad that left the club in the relegation zone.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, January 25, 2018 re-arraigned Colonel Nicholas Ashinze before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on a 13-count amended charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N5.6billion.

Image result for Courts Jails Three Oil Marketers 8 years for N789.6m Oil Fraud

Justice Latifat Okunnu of the State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has convicted and sentenced three oil marketers - Adamu Maula, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel Morah on a 26-count amended charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and forgery to the tune of N789.6million preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Nigerians may no longer be able to carry out international transactions as Egmont Group is considering expelling the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

A major consequence of the expulsion will be the blacklisting of Nigeria in international finance. This could affect the issuance of Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards by Nigerian banks.

A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, was on Monday produced on a stretcher before the Federal High Court in Abuja for his ongoing trial in respect of the N400m he allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2014.

The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, had to adjourn the matter due to the condition of the defendant.

Security operatives have arrested a notorious gunrunner; one Christian Chidebere and Benjamin Mallo at a hideout in a village in Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau state, according to a statement released by Operation Safe Haven.

Christian Chidebere, a native of Enugu State, had been hunted by the army and police for a long time before he was found and arrested by troops last week.

A driver was beaten and his face bloodied by his passengers over disagreement on bus fare. The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) officers attached to the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) in Toyota Bus Stop along Oshodi-Mile 2 expressway gave the danfo driver First Aid Treatment before transferring the case to Olosun Divisional Police Station.

Nasarawa people are looking up to President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit on Tuesday as a panacea to herdsmen and farmers crisis in the area.

Some residents in Nasarawa state have opined that the visit will play a key role in ending clashes.

Mr Samuel Akala, Special Adviser to Gov. Umaru Al-Makura on Youths, Students and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs), said the mere presence of Buhari and dialogue with relevant stakeholders will douse tension and pave way for peace to return between farmers and herdsmen.

The Plateau State Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday announced the “indefinite suspension” of the local government election which was scheduled for February 17, 2018, citing “security reasons.”

But a source which preferred anonymity, alleged that the chairman of PLASIEC, Fabian Ari Ntung, took the decision because he was “under pressure to compromise standards.”

Kevin De Bruyne admits he is struggling physically as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City chase glory on four fronts, hampered by a series of injuries to big-name players.

The midfielder has missed only three of City’s 39 games in all competitions and says he was feeling tired during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Burnley.

A survey indicates that the states have evolved programmes to encourage enrolment in schools, in addition to the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme of the Federal Government.

Stakeholders in the area say the free feeding programme is playing key role in attracting pupils to remain in school.

Kassim Afegbua, a spokesperson for former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, said on Monday that he received no invitation from the police over a statement he signed on behalf of his principal Sunday afternoon.

“There’s nothing like that,” Mr. Afegbua, who had served as spokesperson for the former military ruler for over a decade, told PREMIUM TIMES Monday afternoon. “It’s a cooked up story.”

Finance Director at the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Abdulyekin Sanchi, slumped and died while taking part in a badminton tournament in Abuja on Saturday.

Sanchi was also vice-president of the Wembley Badminton Club.

The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, is currently addressing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes on recoveries made by the agency in 2017.

The committee is chaired by a member from Ogun State, Kayode Oladele.

Ambode swears in five cabinet members

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday swore in five new members of the State Executive Council with a charge on them to hit the ground running and offer only the best of services to the people.

Speaking at a brief swearing-in ceremony held at the Lagos State Executive Council Chambers in Alausa, Ikeja, Ambode said the new cabinet members were appointed based on their track record, expertise and experience, and as such they must immediately settle down in office and inject new ideas to reinvigorate and reenergize government machinery to the overall benefit of the people.

Maryam Sanda, who allegedly stabbed her husband and ex PDP chairman son, Bilyamin Bello to death, has reportedly told a Federal High Court in Jabi, that she is 3 months pregnant.

Sanda, whose trial started on Monday, asked the presiding judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, to accede to her earlier application for bail.

Neymar’s behaviour during his switch to Paris St-Germain is the reason for football’s inflated transfer fees, according to Barcelona’s vice-president, BBC Sportreports.

Jordi Mestre said the Brazil forward, 25, played “cat and mouse” with the club before his exit in August.

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, may likely lose its slot as the second busiest airport in Africa, coming second to OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, because of poor aviation fuel supply and the outrageous price of the product, known as Jet A1 in the industry.

This was disclosed by CITA, a major aviation fuel supplier to Nigeria, other countries in Africa and beyond in partnership with Puma Energy.

Kano State Governor, Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, at the weekend, urged all herdsmen resident outside Kano to relocate to the state. Ganduje said: “All Fulani herdsmen resident in other parts of the country, especially Benue and Taraba states, should relocate to Kano State since the state has vast grazing land to accommodate them and their cattle.”

Ganduje, who stated this while inspecting vaccination of over one million cattle and other small animals’ free-of-charge at Kadawa Artificial Insemination Centre in Garum Malam Local Government Area of the state as part of activities to mark the 2017/2018 livestock vaccination programme, condemned the recent killings emanating from clashes between farmers and herdsmen, describing it as unacceptable.

A little girl has been hospitalized after being beaten by a snake on her hand. According to information gathered online, the girl was bitten by the poisonous reptile some weeks ago and was rushed to the hospital after one of her fingers started to swell. The girl is yet to fully recover, according to reports.

However, the driver was able to drive smartly into the Police Training School, where a Police Response Team immediately met him.

Inquiry revealed that the Hausa family was heading to Calabar from Makurdi, but had a punctured tyre at Wannune, where the hoodlums attacked them. Although, the vehicle was damaged, none of the occupants sustain any injury.

The Benue State Police Command on 03/02/18 at about 2000hrs received an information that a Toyota Corolla salon with reg. no. SEL 726 AA was snatched from its owner on gunpoint at Joecy Hotel Makurdi and one Alexander Princess abducted by some criminals.

On receipt of the information, Police Anti Crime Patrol Team went in pursuit of the criminal gang. The hoodlums who were traced to an abandoned building, on sighting the Police fired some gunshots and fled in different direction.

100 premier league goals; Harry Kane gifted Nike Boots

Harry Kane was gifted specially made Nike boots and a Tottenham shirt to celebrate reaching 100 Premier League goals on Sunday. The Spurs and England striker reached the milestone with a penalty on 95 minutes – having missed one near the end of normal time.

The master marksman kept his cool with the second spot-kick – to earn the 2-2 draw with Liverpool – and he got a few personal accolades to add to the Premier League point he secured.

Justice Dije Aboki of the Kano State High Court on January 25, 2018 convicted and sentenced one Alhaji Munir Sagagi, Chiarman of the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industries, Kano Chapter, to seven years imprisonment without option of fine.

Trouble started when he was arrested by the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following a petition by one Alhaji Nasir Abubakar.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos zonal office, on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, arraigned one Obi Terry before Justice Mojisola Dada of the State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on one-count charge bordering on stealing to the tune of N9million.

The defendant was arrested sometime in September 2017, following a petition received by the Commission from a complainant, Okezue Johnson.

The Nigerian Army says it has completely defeated Boko Haram insurgents in the country. The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Rogers Nicholas, disclosed this when he spoke at the inauguration of the Nigeria-Cameroon military joint mission in Maiduguri, Borno State capital yesterday February 3rd.

Channels TV reports that General Nicholas said troops under the operation “Deep Punch II” on Friday dislodged the insurgents for their tactical ground “Camp Zairo.”

Former Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) Chairman Abdulrasheed Maina has sued Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Ibrahim Magu and the agency for alleged defamation of character.

The suit dated January 15 and filed on his behalf by his counsel, Mr. James Onyilo, before a High Court of Justice, Lafia, accused Magu of granting media interview, which were slanderous, untrue and malicious.

The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole in Borno State, Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, has said Boko Haram insurgency has been completely defeated.

He spoke at the inauguration of the Nigeria-Cameroun Military Joint Mission, at the weekend, in Maiduguri.

Former Plateau state governor now Senator, Jonah Jang, says the Nigerian senate is not meant for young people who have no political pedigree and experience. Jang who is over 70 years old, said this when he spoke on a TV programme yesterday February 3rd.

"I woke up this morning without a father" Rapper The Game mourns his father

Rapper The Game is in mourning. He lost his father, George Taylor on the morning of Wednesday, January 17 but he is still in pain from the loss.

The rapper took to Instagram hours ago to share photos of himself at his father's funeral with the capton: "I woke up this morning without a father."

A Nigerian man named Fakorede Sola, has taken to Facebook to lament his loss after his farm was set on fire by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Ekiti state. According to the distraught man, he invested his live savings on the farm because of the passion he has for farming before it was set on fire by the herdsmen because they were warned to stop their activities on the farm.

Read what he shared online;

A serious crisis has broken out among students at the Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH) Yola, leading to a hurried deployment of soldiers and anti-riot police.

‘’Already the university is closed on the alleged orders of the Vice Chancellor,’’ security sources and fleeing students told PREMIUM TIMES.

Morocco strolled past Nigeria 4-0 to lift the 2018 African Nations Championship trophy on Sunday night.

The north Africans inspired by Zakaria Hadraf’s brace and strikes from Walid El Karti and Ayoub El Kaabi were torn apart by the Super Eages who ended the game with 10-men after Moses Eneji was given the marching order.

The 30 youths selected by the Abia State Government to proceed to China for training on automated shoe making have completed their training in china and are on their way back to Nigeria.

A woman who killed her pregnant neighbour by cutting the baby from her womb has apologised for the crime as she was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Brooke Crews, who was convicted of murder, told a court she wished she could take the pain away from the victim’s family.