Abdul's Blog: 03/20/18

Tuesday, 20 March 2018

President Buhari congratulates German chancellor, Merkel, on her re-election

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday congratulated German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, on her re-election for another term.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement said Buhari has conveyed his congratulatory message to Merkel in a letter.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with former Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Sambo was vice-president to former President Goodluck Jonathan during the last administration.

The meeting of the two leaders, which was held inside the President’s office, lasted about 25 minutes.

The suspects, Simon Tyozemda (27) from Benue State and Lucky Friday (24) from Delta State were arrested on Wednesday, 14th March, 2018 with two long knives inside a UBER operated cab, a Toyota Camry Saloon with the registration number APP 145 EE, which they had planned to kill its driver and steal.

Lionel Messi has revealed that a change in his diet is the reason he no longer gets sick and vomits on the pitch during games.

The Barcelona forward admitted in 2014 that it happened to him “all the time”, after vomiting while playing an international friendly with Argentina.

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Yinka Fatoki, Tuesday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that N180million, which was part of proceeds of shares sold by the Oyo State Government under Chief Rashidi Ladoja, was allegedly not remitted to the state.

The court also heard that the state government sent a petition to the EFCC following suspicions of fraudulent activities in the sale of the state’s shares in seven banks by the Ladoja administration.

Sprint legend Usain Bolt will attend next month’s Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast to watch the 100-metres final, former Jamaican world champion Yohan Blake has revealed.

Bolt, 31, who retired from athletics after August’s World Championships in London, has been busy preparing for a tilt at football and has also worked with Australia’s cricketers to boost their running between the wickets.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba missed France’s training session for treatment on Tuesday as Didier Deschamps’ side prepared for Friday’s friendly with Colombia.

Pogba, his United teammate Anthony Martial and Marseille winger Florian Thauvin were victims of “little knocks”, according to French officials.

Governor Samuel Ortom has stated that he lacked the powers to reverse or make adjustments to the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition Law which was enacted last May in the state but came into effect on November 1.

He explained that the law which was made collectively by the people of the state was made for the collectively interest of both farmers and herders alike.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that an electronic fence along the Israel-Egypt border has saved the Jewish state from jihadist attacks or what he believes would be worse — a tide of African migrants.

“Were it not for the fence, we would be faced with… severe attacks by Sinai terrorists, and something much worse, a flood of illegal migrants from Africa,” Netanyahu’s office quoted him as telling a development conference in the southern Israel desert town of Dimona.

At least four farmers who were on fishing expedition have been reportedly shot dead by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Their bodies were found in a bush in Uwheru community, in the Ughelli North Council Area of Delta State.

The incident, which was said to have occurred over the weekend, has resulted in palpable tension in the area, as other members of the fishing expedition reportedly sustained different degrees of gun wounds from the attack.

The Commissioner of Police in Taraba, Mr David Akinremi, on Tuesday in Jalingo announced the arrest of nine persons suspected to be kidnappers.

Akinremi told newsmen that the command’s anti-kidnapping team had, on Feb. 22, arrested Jibrin Buba, Suleiman Ahmadu, Haruna Abdullahi and Usman Mohammed for threatening to abduct one Abdullahi Ahmadu.

Former presidential spokesman, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has challenged the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, to carry out his threat to reveal details of the running costs of the principal officers of the National Assembly.

He, however, added that Sagay should also include that of President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ministers, special advisers to the President, and other top government functionaries, including himself.

Ekiti State Governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose, has said he intervened in the crisis that rocked the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti recently even though it is a federal institution because of the need to defend the interest of the people.

According to the governor, corporate interest must be placed above personal or even political consideration.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Timothy Weah has received his first call-up to the United States national team, as caretaker manager Dave Sarachan continues his youth movement by naming a 22-player squad for the March 27 friendly against Paraguay.

18-year-old Weah is the son of one-time World Player of the Year and current president of Liberia George Weah. After scoring a hat trick against Paraguay at the Under-17 World Cup last October, the 18-year-old made two first-team appearances with PSG this month, and Sarachan is keen to get a look up close.

John Chukwuemeka Nwafor who hails from Ogbaku in Mbaitoli Local Council of Imo State – recently celebrated 60 years of active service in the classroom. The teacher has been a primary school teacher for 60 years now, becoming the oldest primary school teacher in the country.

Two of the robbery suspects arrested by the operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command for killing a Taxify driver and snatching his vehicle have confessed that they formed their robbery gang in Kirikiri Prison.

The suspects, Simon Tyozemda (27) from Benue State and Lucky Friday (24) from Delta State were arrested on Wednesday, 14th March, 2018 with two long knives inside a UBER operated cab, a Toyota Camry Saloon with the registration number APP 145 EE, which they had planned to kill its driver and steal.

As Borno State joins about five other states that have made giant strides in the Buhari administration’s efforts to make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production, President Muhammadu Buhari is set to launch the rice pyramid in the State on March 27, 2018.

This followed the decision of the State in joining Kebbi, Ebonyi, Ogun and Jigawa States in keying into the Central Bank of Nigeria funded Anchor Borrowers Scheme.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed a suit seeking to remove Kogi Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, from office.

Justice John Tsoho dismissed the suit on grounds that the plaintiffs, Mr Michael Elokun, Mr Ibrahim Sule and Mrs Hawa Audi had no business instituting the case.

The plaintiffs were asking the court to grant an order for the return and immediate swearing-in of Mr Idris Wada, former governor of the state.

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted various contraband with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2.55 billion between March 1 and March 19.

The Area Controller of the Unit, Muhammed Uba, told journalists in Lagos on Tuesday that the seized items included 16 exotic vehicles of mostly 2017 model.

An Osogbo Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday ordered the remand of a 23-year-old woman, Jimoh Simiat, in Ilesa prison for allegedly killing one Esther Oge, believed to be her friend.

Magistrate Tunde Badmus ordered that the accused be remanded in prison pending her arraignment before a judge at the State High Court.

A package exploded early Tuesday at a FedEx distribution facility in Texas, news reports said, two days after the latest in a series of blasts in Austin attributed to a serial bomber.

This time the explosion rocked a facility in the town of Schertz, in the San Antonio area. Reports said one employee was injured.

The Washington Post, quoting the FBI, reported that the package had been bound for Austin, the state capital.

Saudi Arabia’s young crown prince heads to the White House Tuesday, looking to underscore his grip on power and ensure that several emerging points of friction don’t threaten a burgeoning alliance with Donald Trump.

In front of the cameras, it will be all back-slapping, handshakes, smiles and warm words.

This is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s first visit to the Oval Office since the 32-year-old cemented his role as the kingdom’s de facto political leader and embarked on economic and social reforms long sought by the west.

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that reforms by his administration and the state’s strategic assets account for the increasing interest of Asian investors in the state.

The governor made the submission when he received the Director/State Coordinator of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs. Ladi Katagum, at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

CAF Confederation Cup seeding for play-offs draw in Cairo on Wednesday:

Pot A: Al Hilal (SUD), Saint George (ETH), V Club (COD), Zanaco (ZAM)

Pot B: USM Alger (ALG), SuperSport Utd (RSA), Al Hilal Obied (SUD), Enyimba (NGR)

Newcastle United must effect significant changes and establish a clear structure for progress off the pitch to improve their on-field performances and compete at a higher level, manager Rafa Benitez says.

The Spaniard took charge of Newcastle United in 2016 and helped them earn promotion from the Championship last season.

Former Nigeria national team coach Sunday Oliseh has hailed Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi calling him a world class player.

Oliseh has described the Super Eagles midfielder as world class and talented, and said he is a lovely player on the football pitch.

While speaking with news reporters in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital on Monday, the Nigerian Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, disclosed that the Police have charged Senator Dino Melaye and three others with criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms before a Federal High Court in Lokoja.

The assistant commissioner of police said that the case was filed on March 16, following the confession of a “wanted criminal” that the senator gave him arms and cash.

Facebook shares took a big hit Monday, shaving about $37 billion off the value of the company.

The stock tumbled about 7% Monday on news that data firm Cambridge Analytica, which had ties to Trump's campaign, reportedly accessed information from about 50 million Facebook users. This is the stock's biggest drop, on a percentage basis, in four years.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was being held in police custody on Tuesday for questioning by magistrates looking into allegations of Libyan funding for his 2007 election campaign, an official in the French judiciary said.

A lawyer for Sarkozy could not be reached immediately for comment.

Daniel Idemudia, a 64-year-old man, has been arrested by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, with over 280 bags of Indian hemp found inside the ceiling of his house.

According to a Vanguard report, on his arrest, Idemudia reportedly admitted knowledge of the exhibits, saying “a friend of mine kept the cannabis inside the ceiling of my house. The house was built by my son, who resides in Europe.”

Professor Wole Soyinka was keynote speaker at the maiden annual lecture of the Ripples Centre for Data and Investigative Journalism held in Lagos on March 15. Topic: “Rebuilding Trust in a Divided Nigeria: Can Nigeria be fixed?” The Nobel Laureate did not disappoint. His presentation titled “From Miyetti to Haiti: Notes from a Solidarity Visit” took us on a journey to Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Nigeria also, and other parts of the world, including the past and the present, raising questions along the line about the humanity of the average Nigerian – the leaders, the followers - his or her humanity or non-humanity, the possession of a sense of dignity, shame, decency, memory, common sense, or lack of it, in comparison with conditions elsewhere.

A mentally challenged woman gave birth to a cute baby boy on the street along Decimal Road by water street in Sapele, Delta State. The mother after delivering the boy – abandoned him as the baby was taken into custody by a well meaning resident.

The lady seen in the photos carrying the baby – is said to have been the one taking care of the child since the mother abandoned him.

Nine persons, including a traditional ruler, were killed in attacks on Agbenema, Ajichekpa, Opada and Iyade villages, in Omala Local Government of Kogi State.

Several houses were burnt.

The Onu of Agbenema, Musa Edibo, and his wife were burnt in the palace, with the home of ex-Vice Chairman of Omala council Adofu Stephen, also torched.

Ford says it is recalling nearly 1.4 million cars in North America after the company discovered that steering wheels in two vehicle models could come off while driving. The Michigan-based automaker said bolts on the steering wheel may become loose, leading to a loss of control and an “increased risk of a crash.”

Ford said it is aware of two accidents, with one injury, allegedly related to the defect.

A Lagos High Court in Igbosere has sentenced an Internet scammer, Demola Ajibade, to 15 years’ imprisonment for attempted robbery.

Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya convicted Ajibade, 36, of attempting to rob his childhood friend, Charles Akpati, with a toy gun on February 7, 2014.

The sentence, which takes effect from the date of his arrest in February 2014, was without an option of fine.

The world's last surviving male northern white rhino has died after months of ill health, his carers said.

Sudan, 45, lived at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. He was put to sleep on Monday after age-related complications worsened significantly.

A notorious gun runner has been arrested by men of the Nigeria Army in Rigachikun area of Kaduna state.

According to a statement from the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Texas Chukwu revealed that the soldiers recovered 2 AK 47 assault rifle with 38 rounds of 7.62mm special from the criminal.

Trey Songz has turned himself into the Los Angeles Police Department to face a felony domestic violence charge, TMZ reports. He was reportedly released on $50,000 bond. In February, Trey (whose real name is Tremaine Aldon Neverson) was accused of hitting a woman named Andrea Buera at a party in Los Angeles. A statement from Buera’s lawyer read, “He called her names, choked her and repeatedly punched her in the face. Several people were present and no one helped her,” according to the Los Angeles Times. The statement continued: “When she took out her phone to call an Uber to get out of there, he threw her phone off a cliff to prevent her from leaving. She took out a second phone and he threw that off the cliff as well.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday supported calls for the restructuring of the country.At the third annual political summit organised by the Save Democracy Africa in Abuja, Dogara canvassed the creation of a unique system of federalism that best suits Nigerians and the local circumstances in the country.

By his admonition, the speaker has joined other eminent citizens, including former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar to demand the restructuring of the country. Also, regional groups such as Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and South South leaders have demanded true federalism in the country through restructuring.

A Nigerian man simply identified as Igwe Fabnwokeoma on Facebook took to the platform to recount how he survived an accident involving a bus belonging to Peace Mass Transit on Saturday.

Nollywood actor, Frankincense Echeben is engaged. He proposed to his girlfriend few days ago and the excited lady took to her Instagram page to show off her engagement ring.

See her post and more photos of the couple below…

A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has explained why anti-corruption fight is difficult in the country.He said there are over 3,800 ongoing corruption cases in various courts in Nigeria, adding that they represent the highest in the history of corruption globally.He disclosed this yesterday at a Town Hall meeting organised by MacArthur Foundation in Abuja.