Abdul's Blog: 02/07/18

Wednesday, 7 February 2018

Army to storm Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Kaduna, others over killings, kidnappings

The Nigerian Army has announced planned conduct of Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA in Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger states) from Thursday, 15 February to Saturday 31 March, 2018.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai made the announcement on Wednesday.

Dele Alli’s parents have cried out over his refusal to let them be a part of his life.

The Tottenham Hotspur star’s Nigerian father, Kehinde Alli, 47, and British mother, Denise, 53, made this known to Mirror UK on Monday.

They said the 20-year-old has refused to speak with them or visit home since he signed for Spurs from Milton Keynes Dons in February 2015.

Five men who allegedly posed as females on social media to lure and rape two women have been remanded in prison.

Gabriel Obinna, 20, Nnadozie Akabueze, 21, Hector Ugochukwu, 32, Chinedu Ezechukwu, 21 and Godwin Balogun appeared yesterday before the newly inaugurated Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, for allegedly using social media to lure, kidnap and rape two women in Lagos.

The bankers’ committee says commercial banks will no longer charge customers commission on retail foreign exchange transactions.

Retail forex transactions include purchase of forex for personal travel allowance (PTA), business travel allowance (BTA), school fees and medicals.

A Federal High Court, Kano, on Wednesday granted bail to Nuriani Adamu, son of former governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu, docked for alleged N32 million money laundering.

Justice J. k. Daggard also granted bail to one Felix Onyago, arraigned with Mr. Adama.

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has said that the state has benefited much more under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Speaking in Calabar, Ayade said though the president was a Muslim and from the North of the country, he had shown practical interest in Cross River which was governed by a PDP governor.

It has been reported that the officer in charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Saki unit, in Oyo State Police Command, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, was, on Tuesday night, macheted to death by Fulani herdsmen.

Manchester United star, Ander Herrera is set to be put on trial over an alleged match fixing scandal, according to Dailymail UK.

The 28-year-old Spaniard has been warned he faces being ordered into the witness stand with 33 other footballers including Atletico Madrid midfielder, Gabi over a 'suspect' May 2011 match between his former club, Real Zaragoza and Levante.

A self-professed lawyer, Chris Elisha who had been practicing as a lawyer for the past fifteen years without being spotted, was yesterday 6th of February, 2018, arrested at Ojo Magistrate court where he appeared on behalf of an accused person but found it difficult to move a motion for the variation of the bail condition of his client.

Nike have used their official YouTube channel to do a reveal of the new Nigeria jersey designs for the Super Eagles’ Russia 2018 World Cup campaign.

In a Nike Football video viewed on Wednesday, Super Eagles stars Mikel Obi, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho were seen reviewing the new designs, which also included those made for Nigerian fans.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino fears English football’s obsession with over-analysis of decisions and a fixation with diving could kill the sport.

Pochettino’s side drew 2-2 at Liverpool on Sunday in a match marred by contentious penalty decisions by referee Jon Moss.

Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa has continued his impressive form after returning to his former club, CSKA Moscow, during the January transfer window.

Musa who netted in his first game for CSKA on his return from Leicester City, in their 1-1 friendly draw against Norwegian side, Nordsjaelland last week, also scored twice in the Russian giants 3-0 win against Elche on Tuesday.

Morocco head coach Herve Renard believes the North African country is more than capable of staging a successful World Cup in 2026.

Morocco is bidding to become the second African country to host a World Cup, following South Africa’s successful staging of the 2010 edition.

Fresh regime strikes killed 15 civilians Wednesday in a rebel-held enclave near Damascus where overwhelmed medics were still treating the survivors of the Syrian conflict’s bloodiest day in months.

The district of Eastern Ghouta, controlled by jihadist and rebel factions, suffered some of its worst bloodshed in years Tuesday and the toll continued to mount overnight.

The Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Mr Chao Xiaoliang, says trade between China and Nigeria in 2017 amounted to about N4.97 trillion (13.78 billion dollars).

Chao made the announcement at the celebration of the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in Lagos by hundreds of Chinese nationals, with their Nigerian and non-Nigerian friends.

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently presiding over the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

But the President for the first time, altered the mode of prayer by appointing two Christian Ministers to pray before the commencement of the meeting.

As the gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun States draw nearer, the Accord Party in the southwest has said that its candidates would emerge winners of the two polls.

Mr Dokun Babarinde, the National Vice Chairman of Accord Party in Southwest, made the declaration on Wednesday in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), after its zonal meeting in Ibadan.

A Lagos High Court, Igbosere, on Wednesday sentenced 47-year-old businessman, Maduabuchi Onwuta, to 25 years imprisonment for defiling a 16-month-old baby.

The judge, Sedotan Ogunsanya, in her judgement held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Ernest Merle Anziana, 48, was charged with human trafficking after he allegedly tried to buy an 11-year-old girl with $250 and meth

A Kansas man has been accused of trying to buy a little girl with cash and drugs so he could have sex with her and then impregnate her and keep the baby.

Ernest Merle Anziana was indicted on Tuesday by a Franklin County grand jury on human trafficking charges.

British Prince Harry and Fiancé Meghan Markle‘s romance will be chronicled in a movie titled `Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance.’

Actor Murray Fraser popularly known for his role in ‘The Loch’ will portray Prince Harry while Markle will be portrayed by actress Parisa Fitz – Henley.

Manchester United’s new boy, Alexis Sanchez, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison after he admitted defrauding the tax authorities in Spain.

Sanchez was accused of defrauding the treasury of €1million between 2012 and 2013 while he was at Barcelona.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has threatened to strike out a suit filed by a senator, Dino Melaye, if the lawmaker or his counsel fails to appear in court on the next adjourned date.

Mr. Melaye filed a suit before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba seeking an interpretation of the court’s judgment of September 11, 2017.

West Ham signed former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra on a free transfer on Wednesday, with the Frenchman set to link up again with former boss David Moyes.

Evra has won multiple league titles and the Champions League in an illustrious career but his spell at Marseille ended abruptly in November after he launched a kung-fu kick at a supporter.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI, has disclosed that he is now preparing for his death.

Benedict XVI turns 91 in April.

He told the Italian media on Wednesday that he is fading away.

An unlicensed doctor in India has been arrested for infecting 46 or more people with HIV with a used syringe.

Rajendra Yadav a mobile doctor who went from door to door offering cheap medical services to villagers was arrested by police after a case was filed against him for the spread of this disease amongst the Unnao district.

The leaders of the South- South Zonal Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gathered on Tuesday in Abuja and adopted President Muhammadu Buhari as their candidate for the 2019 presidential election.

The Caucus position was contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting.

Festus Keyamo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, has lashed out at former Presidents, Ibrahim Babangida and Olusegun Obasanjo for advising President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek reelection in 2019.

In a series of tweets via his verified Twitter handle, the Senior lawyer described both Babangida and Obasanjo as “expired leaders.”

Former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, has wondered why the Nigeria Police have declared his spokeman, Kassim Afegbua, wanted over a statement he authorized him to send out.

Afegbua revealed this to newsmen, when he reported at the Police Headquarters on Wednesday morning, in company of his wife, lawyer and friends.

Unknown gunmen have reportedly kidnapped the Headmistress of Ikot Udobia Primary School in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Chairman of Ukanafun Local Government, Mr Uko Idiong broke the news to Vanguard this morning during security meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyemi Ogujemilusi, Chairmen of the 31 Local Government Areas of the State and their Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) at the State Police Force Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia.

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Jabi, on Wednesday struck out a fresh bail application filed by Maryam Sanda, who is being prosecuted for allegedly stabbing her husband, Bilyamin Bello, to death, on November 19, 2017.

Justice Yusuf Halilu had, earlier in a ruling delivered on December 14, 2017, granted her three co-defendants bail, but declined her plea for bail and ordered her to be remanded in Suleja prisons.

President Nicolas Maduro of the Republic of Venezuela, has called for stronger bilateral ties between that country and Nigeria.

Maduro said this when the new Nigerian Ambassador to Venezuela, Amb. Martin Cobham, presented his Letters of Credence to the President in Caracas.

Zamfara State government has denied reports that only 24 candidates passed NECO exams in the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Muntaka Rini, has said that the report was fabricated by persons working against the interest of the state.

Japan’s Princess Mako has postponed her wedding to her college sweetheart until 2020, with speculations it was linked to the money trouble of the fiance’s mother.

In an announcement that came completely out of the blue, the 26-year-old eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito cited time constraints as the reason to delay the formal engagement.

Watford striker, Troy Deeney is facing another four-match ban – which would mean him missing 11 games out of 20 through suspension. Deeney was snapped aiming a single-digit gesture after opening the scoring from the penalty spot in the Hornets’ stunning 4-1 against Chelsea on Monday night.

And in a post-match radio interview, the Watford captain claimed it was a token of defiance, saying: “Obviously we have had a lot of transfer talk and speculation. I’ve kept quiet because I realise talking gets me in trouble.

Those who choose to leave by the end of March are being offered a cash incentive of $3,500.

The plan has drawn criticism from the United Nations' refugee agency as well as some in Israel, including Holocaust survivors who say the country has a special duty to protect migrants.

A LOVE triangle ended tragically when an 18-year-old woman from Harare committed suicide by downing poison after her sister discovered that she was bedding her husband under her nose.

The tragic incident occurred last week when the teenager, Farai Chirara from Ushewekunze area in the outskirts of Harare, ran away from home before committing suicide by drinking poison after receiving death threats from her sister, Memory Mojoko, accusing her of bedding her husband Obvious Mudemba.

A gang of five 'drug dealers ' were last Monday arrested for 'smuggling £50m worth of cocaine on a private jet flown from Colombia To UK.

The five men, two Brits, two Spaniards and an Italian were held after half a tonne of the class-A drug were allegedly found in their luggage.

Update: Two Nigerian migrants among the victims of drive-by shooting in Italy

Two Nigerian migrants Jennifer and Gideon were among the six Africans injured in the brazen drive-by shootings in central Italy last Saturday.

A gunman later identified as a right wing extremist, Luca Traini, draped in an Italian flag had opened fire on passersby in the central Italian city of Macerata, injuring the African migrants in an attack that officials say appear to be racially motivated.

Man sentenced to 4 life terms for filming the rape of a 3-Month old baby

A pedophile who was convicted of four counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child for continuously raping a 3-month-old infant, has been sentenced to four consecutive life sentences.

38-year old David Vincent Akins, Jr., has been behind bars since 2016 when his landlord reported him after finding child pornography on his computer. An investigation into Akins' graphic collection of pictures and videos led authorities to conclude that some of the images appeared to be homemade.

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has berated a Federal High Court judge, Abuja, Okon Abang, over the appearance of the former Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, on a stretcher at his court’s sitting on Monday.

He described the judge as a disgrace to Nigerian judiciary, for insisting on the physical appearance of Mr. Metuh despite a medical report on his indisposition.

The Nigerian Air Force said yesterday that it has airlifted scores of Boko Haram hostages from the Sambisa Forest following the capture of the forest (Camp Zairo) by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

The Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya said in a statement issued in Abuja that the rescued hostages including the aged, women and children were airlifted to the 105 Composite Group, Maiduguri by the NAF Agusta 109 helicopter.

The Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations in Nigeria (FONGON) yesterday accused those who looted the nation’s treasury of being behind the campaign against the second term aspiration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The forum, which comprises 200 NGOs with three million members, asked Nigerians not to fall for the trap of looters who want to regain power through the backdoor.

A supervisor at Chrisland School in Victoria Garden City in Lekki Lagos raped a two-year-old pupil several times.

An ex-social worker, Miss Gloria Chinoyera said this today in a testimony at the newly-inaugurated Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court.

There are indications that OLX, an online marketplace owned by Naspers, has shut down its offices in Nigeria, a move that will affect over 100 of its employees.

It was gathered that the workers were formally informed of the decision on Tuesday through a notice of termination, which will commence in March, and will be followed by the management team in April.

Justice Nayai Aganaba, Bayelsa State High Court, on Tuesday, sentenced to death by hanging of 30-year-old Victoria Gagariga for the killing of her husband, Henry Gagariga, on February 4, 2015 at the residence along Ebisam Road in Akenfa, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The deceased, a lawyer from Sagbama Local Government Area and his wife Victoria from Brass Local Government Area and staff of the Bayelsa Arts and Culture, had been cohabiting for years before they decided to legalise their union in 2014, though it was yet to produce children before the unfortunate incident.

Ten smugglers are in the custody of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)’s anti-smuggling unit, Zone A in Lagos in connection with N1.61billion exotic vehicles, 6,444 bottles of Indian whisky packed in 537 cartons and other contraband.

Human rights lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to order.

Ogunye said Idris’s decision to declare Kassim Afegbua wanted for releasing a statement on behalf of ex-military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, was improper.

Senator Kashamu Buruji has cautioned those advising President Muhamadu Buhari not to run for re-election to allow the electorate to determine his fate.

He said the only way for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to make a headway is for its leaders to ensure that aggrieved members get justice.

Nigerian equities declined for the second consecutive trading session yesterday as investors stepped up profit-taking amidst concerns that global equities slowdown may negatively impact the domestic market.

Most advanced and emerging global markets have witnessed contractions in recent days.

With nearly three losers for every gainer, the benchmark index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed average decline of 0.87 per cent yesterday, equivalent to net capital loss of N138 billion. Nigerian equities had lost N135 billion on Monday.

A Nigerian, Innocent Oseghale, who allegedly killed an Italian teenage girl, sparking a revenge attack against African migrants at the weekend, is no longer a murder suspect.

Oseghale, 29, was arrested recently in connection with the death of Pamela Mastropietro, an 18-year-old girl from Rome, whose dismembered body was found in two suitcases on Jan. 31.