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Saturday

Breaking News: ASUP Suspends 10 month old strike

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, has suspended its 10-month old strike on Saturday 12 July.
The decision to suspend the strike, which began in October 2013, was reached after a National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the union held in Abuja.

YOU’VE NO POWER TO SACK ELECTED LG OFFICIALS, S’COURT TELLS GOVERNORS

YOU’VE NO POWER TO SACK ELECTED LG OFFICIALS, S’COURT TELLS GOVERNORS The Supreme Court yesterday held that no state governor in Nigeria has the right to remove democratically elected local government officials. The judgement received swift accolades from eminent lawyers including former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide; the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Okey Wali, SAN; Constitutional lawyer, Itse Sagay and Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo. The apex court while delivering judgement in the case of the removal of 148 elected local government officials by the Abia State Government in 2006, held that the action was illegal and amounted to "official recklessness" by the governor. The five-member panel of justices of the apex court also ordered the Abia State Government to pay the sacked 148 elected officials their salaries and entitlement for the 23 months. It would be recalled that the Abia State local government elected officials, comprising local government chairmen and councillors were sacked by former governor Orji Kalu in June 2006. The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri had earlier declared as illegal, the dissolution of the local government areas in the state by the Abia State Government. The Appeal Court judgement stated that the elected LG Chairmen and councillors had not concluded their tenure. Shortly after the judgment was delivered, the then state's Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Ume Kalu, appealed against the judgment. Eminent lawyers hail judgement… Meanwhile, eminent lawyers have hailed yesterday’s judgement making it illegal for governors to remove elected local government officials. Keyamo said the ruling was perfectly in order. “It is what we have always known that the governor can only be acting unconstitutionally. Even the appointments of administrators of all the local government councils and the misuse of the funds accruable to local governments are all illegal. All of these acts have always been unconstitutional. The governors have always been treating the local governments as ministries under them, which is completely wrong. “If the federal government cannot tamper with the funds accruable to states, why should the states tamper with the funds accruable to local governments? So, it has always been a wrong practice and it is just a good thing and I’m happy that the Supreme Court has come out openly to say so,” Keyamo said. Wali described the judgement as “a very welcome decision.” He said the NBA had always held the view that local government autonomy must be respected. He added: “This idea of local government being appendages of states is not constitutional. They are constitutionally recognised and they should be allowed to run. So, I’m very happy, very, very delighted about the decision because that has always been the position of the Bar Association that local government must be autonomous. They are the closest government to the people. “If you get to London, I’m sure you’ve already heard about the Mayor of London, same in America, we all know about the Mayor of New York. So, we need to grow our democracy. That’s one aspect of our democracy that has been distorted and abused. I pray that with this development the governors will learn to respect the local governments system.” Akinjide said: “The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in the country. There’s no appeal against their judgment. Whatever legal pronouncement they made is final.” For Sagay, what the Supreme Court has done is correct because “it is exactly in accordance with what is in the constitution. He added: “The constitution made provision for only democratically elected local governments. So, if the local government is democratically elected and they have a fixed tenure, then nobody can remove them. Just as nobody can remove the State House of Assembly, just as nobody can remove the National Assembly until their period lapses. So, what the state governors were doing was illegal. It was contrary to the constitution. They are exercising powers they don’t have. So, what the Supreme Court has said is absolutely correct.” The lead judgment was written by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour while Justice Walter Onnoghen presided over the hearing of the appeal. The other three justices who agreed with the lead judgment are Suleiman Galadima, Kumai Bayang Aka'ahs and John Inyang Okoro. Source: Thisday
The Supreme Court yesterday held that no state governor in Nigeria has the right to remove democratically elected local government officials.
The judgement received swift accolades from eminent lawyers including former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide; the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Okey Wali, SAN; Constitutional lawyer, Itse Sagay and Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo.

LAGOS PASTOR ‘IMPLICATED’ IN RITUAL SAGA OPENS UP

LAGOS PASTOR ‘IMPLICATED’ IN RITUAL SAGA OPENS UP The news broke, just like a thunderbolt. Mrs. Rosemary Chukwu, a mother of four, residing at 33, Omolegede street, a suburb of Ikorodu area in Lagos State, abducted a seven-year-old primary School pupil, Emmanuel Emeka, and was about taking him to a den when it was foiled . Shockingly, the suspect revealed to the bewildered crowd that gathered after she was caught that her pastor asked her to bring the boy. She mentioned the General Overseer of Holy Family Ministry a.k.a House of Mercy in the same Ikorodu, as her pastor. The pastor, identified as Ernest Chukwuemeka Nwankwo, 49, was said to be on the run and was later apprehended and handed over to the police at the State Criminal Investigations Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos for interrogation. Crime Guard was able to corner the embattled pastor as he was leaving the confines of police cell at Panti and he gave his own account of the ugly incident. Excerpts: INTRODUCTION “My name is Prophet Ernest Chukwuemeka Nwankwo, from Nsugbe in Anambra East L.G.A, Anambra State. I have a Ministry formerly called Jesus Divine Healing and Deliverance Ministry now called Holy Family, Happy Family Ministry. I was out of Lagos for two weeks. I came back on Tuesday, June 14, and came to my Ministry on Wednesday morning. My ministry is located at 319, Lagos road, Majudeen in Ikorodu. We carry out prayers and deliverance in the ministry. The ministry started in 1997. We have no less than 15000 members with a spread in virtually all the major cities in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. I started as a member of Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement before I established my own ministry. I am 49 yrs. “ I do not know how these allegations of ritual actions against me started. My ministry has existed for 17 years and we have never been associated with any bad thing or any untoward allegation. We have been doing well in carrying out God’s work since we came into existence. People troop to our ministry, we organize children’s day for over 30,000 children all over our branches every year. In Ikorodu, we normally have not less than 10,000 children during the day. We have hosted these children since we stated and we have never had any problem for more than 10 years now. We have equally been doing well in all our activities, we have rehabilitation center where mad people are healed. Relations of such people bring them to our ministry and also stay with them until they are healed after which they will go home. We do not charge them, we feed them free. So, the ministry has been flourishing in all our branches. “When I got to the office on Wednesday, June 15 to do some work and leave for Abuja for another programme, within 20 minutes, around 7.30am, a group of people, armed with dangerous weapons invaded our ministry, breaking down everything at sight. They also descended on our members who were over 50 in attendance for the morning worship. They were over 300 and were ferociously destroying all the properties and manhandling everybody. It was like hell was let loose on us. They were armed to the teeth and were unrestrained in their bid to destroy everything in the ministry. They not only subjected our members to serious beating, they also took all their bags and stripped all the women and children naked. I was inside the office when they invaded the place but they later broke into my office and descended on me. We were all seriously wounded and our bodies covered with blood. RESCUE Surprisingly, four of the hoodlums took pity on me and rescued me from their clutches as they were hitting my head with cutlasses and dangerous weapons. They took me to Owutu police station where I made a statement. When they asked me how it started, I could not explain but simply told them that some hoodlums invaded our ministry for no just cause. It was while we were there that the people that rescued me told us that a woman claimed I sent her to kidnap somebody’s child. It was like a fairy tale to me. Before the police I asked for the identity of the woman and why she claimed I told her to kidnap somebody and they said it was for ritual purposes. After I recovered from the shock, the policemen then advised that I should go and treat myself because I was bleeding profusely as a result of the beating. I then proceeded to the hospital for treatment only to start reading in the papers the following day a lot of other damaging stories and that I was on the run. I personally reported to the police at Owutu in Ikorodu after treating myself and also personally reported at Panti the following day on a Monday. AT PANTI By Thursday morning, unfounded rumours were flying every where. On Friday, while I was going to treat myself, I quickly sent my lawyer to Panti after hearing the rumours flying everywhere about me and that the case was transferred to Panti. My lawyer told them that I personally reported to the police at Owute after the incident and that I was allowed to go and treat myself. He then wrote an undertaking to produce me the next Monday and we all came to Panti that Monday straight from the General hospital Ikeja where I had an x-ray. Even one of my ribs was said to have cracked and I sustained other serious injuries. INTERROGATION AT PANTI I can’t remember seeing or meeting the woman before. A lot of people come to my ministry so, it will be very difficult for me to know all of them. However, the police at Panti interrogated both of us and, in fact, when they brought her before me, I could not remember seeing her in life and I told the policemen this fact. I can’t even remember whether she called me on telephone or not because I cannot say the number of people that call me on telephone for my number is open and given to people freely to help in solving their spiritual problems. Nevertheless, the police interrogated both of us, she claimed that Holy spirit told her that I should give her N2.5 million, and that she came and told me to give her the money but I told her that I had no money, that she came back again to me and requested for the money and I then told her to go and bring a child before I will give her the money. I then asked her where we discussed this, if she has any evidence to show that she ever visited my ministry because visitors to the ministry always register their names before seeing me, or if there is any other evidence to show that we discussed that kind of thing. I punctured her story because I cannot understand what concerns me with her message with her Holy spirit. SUCKING BLOOD She also claimed that I have been seeing her in the spirit to suck her blood and that of her daughter with two gallons since she failed to bring a child to me. She claimed that I used to stand at her door for two days, tormenting her, and that was why she had to go for the child when she was caught. I asked her where we met and discussed because I have been out of town for two weeks and how did she know that I came back. She said she was aware that I came back because I used to carry out consultations. It is well known by everybody that my consultation days are announced for members of the public to come and be healed. She also claimed she called me on phone in December last year and that she came to the ministry once this year but she could not substantiate where we discussed her claims. She was thoroughly interrogated but she kept on contradicting herself as if she was either insane or under a spell. Unfortunately, her daughter she claimed I was sucking her blood with hers whom she said was 14 years was not there during the interrogation. I had hoped that she was there for us all to be able to decipher what her mother was talking about because she is old enough to speak for her self at 14. I have never had this kind of ugly experience and I pray never to have it again. I also pray that the police should endevour to get to the route of this case because I have suffered so much over a matter I do not know anything about. KIDNAP SAGA The man that was shown saying he was kidnapped and brought from Anambra State is one of the mad people undergoing treatment in my ministry. The cousin that brought him to the ministry is Mr. Atuanya, a member of my ministry and his wife has been with him in the ministry while he was undergoing treatment. They are living witnesses and they are ready to testify to anybody that cares to know the truth. This rumor against me is very painful to me because I suffered for over fourteen years to build this ministry to serve mankind. All of a sudden, and from the pit of hell, an unknown figure materialized from no where to pour odium on me and accuse me of ritual acts. In all these years, nobody has ever complained or petitioned against my activities in the ministry. Instead, people have been pouring encomiums and giving glory to God for all we have been doing for mankind. The whole thing is still like a dream and I pray I would wake up and testify that it was really a dream. My ministry operates an open door policy, we have no go areas, both visitors and members of the ministry are never restricted even up to my personal office. Why must I send her to bring a child to me when I am happily married with children, what will I do with the child? INCALCULABLE DAMAGE This very ugly development has affected me psychologically in a tremendous way, the emotional trauma is untold. In terms of the good will I built over the years, the name, in fact, one cannot quantify the degree of destruction done to me by this very ugly and unfounded, mischievous rumor. I have suffered and lost almost everything because the ugly news went beyond the shores of this country. People have been calling from all the parts of the world and you know that bad news travels faster than any other thing. It is very unfortunate that people believe such a story when there is nothing at all to hang it on the head of the prophet. And, when you look at the woman, you will know that she is some how deranged and we are convinced that by the time police finish their investigation, the truth will be out. WHY ME? What I cannot fathom is why she choose to tell all these lies against me. She may have been sent by somebody to run me down because people in that neighborhood said they saw one mysterious SUV hovering around in the wee hours before the incident and also the mother of the victim reportedly said she saw an exotic vehicle that later picked up her children,. Police should investigate to find out who owns the vehicle and where they were taken to. Who ever picked her children must have a link with this incident. Police should also find out whether this is the first time she is doing this kind of thing and if it is not, how many people must have falling victims to her antics? Worse still, so far, nobody has told us where the woman is from because the way the media descended on the ministry, they left out the main ingredient of the whole matter as if they were sponsored to run down the ministry. All I know is that she cannot be doing this alone. Her sponsors should be fished out. So far, the police has been professional in their interrogation and they made us understand that investigations will take time and that the truth must surely surface. INSIDE THE CELL Inside the cell, I detested being treated like a criminal but I took it as another message point in terms of ministration after all, Jesus went through worst tribulation in life. Source: Vanguard
The news broke, just like a thunderbolt. Mrs. Rosemary Chukwu, a mother of four, residing at 33, Omolegede street, a suburb of Ikorodu area in Lagos State, abducted a seven-year-old primary School pupil, Emmanuel Emeka, and was about taking him to a den when it was foiled .
Shockingly, the suspect revealed to the bewildered crowd that gathered after she was caught that her pastor asked her to bring the boy. She mentioned the General Overseer of Holy Family Ministry a.k.a House of Mercy in the same Ikorodu, as her pastor.

Governor Fashola Urges Nigerian To Vote Out PDP And Get Steady Electricity Supply

VOTE OUT PDP, GET ELECTRICITY -FASHOLA Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Friday said uninterrupted power supply could be achieved in the country. He explained that the only way to achieve the feat was for Nigerians to vote out the ruling Peoples Democratic Party from power in the 2015 general elections. Fashola, who said this at an event to mark his administration’s 2,600 in office in Ikeja, said power crisis in the country was caused by lack of ideas and insincerity of purpose on the part of the Federal Government. He said,” Yes, it is possible to generate electricity and to make sure that everybody in this country has electricity , I agree with you it is simple what we have done in Lagos within the areas where we are constrained showed that it can be done . But you know what the only way that you and I will have electricity in this country will be to vote out the PDP.” “In 16 years hundreds of billions of naira, trillions of naira have been spent and we cannot switch on electricity and in seven years we have created four plants , it showed that something is missing. So unless you vote for All Progressive Congress, an inefficient government, it is going to be difficult to have electricity. “They started from vision 2020-20 and I told you then that they were having nightmare that there was no vision. They moved to seven point agenda and now they are transforming. ” Let me also say that in the last seven years, ask how many new power plants the Federal Government has commissioned because sometimes the power that is coming to Lagos at most is 1000 mega watts.” Fashola said his administration in the last 100 days gave priority attention to provision of homes for Lagosians through the Lagos Home ownership Mortgage Scheme. He explained that the state government in a bid to reduce the housing deficit in the state has continued to give out 200 housing units every month to subscribers to the scheme, adding that the state government intensified efforts to ensure that those in the informal sector benefit from the scheme. In the area of infrastructural development , he said the state government completed so many road projects across the state within the period , noting that 205 roads projects were at various stages of construction in the state. Source: Punch
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Friday said uninterrupted power supply could be achieved in the country.
He explained that the only way to achieve the feat was for Nigerians to vote out the ruling Peoples Democratic Party from power in the 2015 general elections.

Ochendo and inspirational legacy projects-- Dele Sobowale

Ochendo and inspirational legacy projects BY Dele Sobowale “We have six dialysis machines in the Diagnostic Centre. Two are reserved for people with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis separately, while the remaining four are used for other patients to avoid infecting other patients with those diseases.” Prof. A.U. Mbanaso, CMD, Abia State Untra-modern Diagnostic Centre, Umuahia, Abia State, June 13, 2014. Politics has reached fever pitch in Nigeria; even when the 2015 elections are still seven to eight months away. Not wanting to be left on the starting block, politicians have embarked on doing what they do best – peddling half truths or blatant falsehood against their opponents and in their own favour. The last thing the public should expect is absolute truth from professional politicians. When Louis Howe, 1871-1936, wrote that, “You cannot adopt politics as a profession and remain [totally] honest”, (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 192), he left us with an axiom which will stand the test of time. And, of all politicians on earth, the Nigerian breed is in a class of its own. It is the only specie of politicians known globally to practice “Politics without principle” (Gandhi in BOOK OF QUOTES, p 245) and he is not ashamed of it. A Nigerian politician would spend years raining maledictions on the opposition party and then call a press conference one day to announce that he had joined the “devils” he was denouncing just a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, when Nigerian politicians operate at their worst, my fellow media practitioners forget the strong advice by Malvin Kalb in 1997. Said Kalb, “A journalist [or media practitioner] should be pursuing a fair rendition of truth without regard to popular moods, the journalist should not be swayed by public opinion..” (BOOK p 109). Unfortunately, Nigerian “mediaticians” working for several newspapers have become so partisan they have lost their objectivity. Whatever Jonathan does will be viewed and presented through the prism of biased lenses. For some, the action can never be faulted; for others, it can never be right. Yet, that is precisely the sort of “journalism” we don’t need – if Nigeria is ever to have a chance of making solid progress. And, it is for that reason that I have refrained from being a card-carrying member of any political party. If, as we all proclaim, we want free and fair elections, we must start with impartial “referees and linesmen/women” in the Fourth Estate of the Realm. Being impartial does not mean not blowing the whistle for a foul committed; or even awarding a penalty, if it is deserved. It means not prejudging every measure taken by an elected or selected public official in advance. I have deliberately withheld comment on the Pension Bill passed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly because it would amount to the highest form of hypocrisy for me to denounce it when it is only the latest in a series of pension bills passed by governors in APC and PDP – mostly without any protest from those who now denounce Akpabio. On account of this, I made up my mind to investigate and comment on as many cases of controversy concerning the performance of governors in various states – without prejudice to anybody regardless of political affiliation. Selecting a starting point was easy, Abia comes first in alphabetical order and there is a storm of controversy about what had been or not achieved by its Governor, fondly called Ochendo, by the people. So, to Abia, I went. Just before my departure, there was a news report about Governor T.A.Orji, being crowned as the AGRIC GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR 2014, at the AGRIKEXPO organized by NAFDAC among other sponsors. Remarkably, this is governor being portrayed by his political opponents as a non-achiever. If out of 36 governors a fellow comes first, on food security, I don’t care which political party he belongs to, he has earned my deepest respect. My scale of preferences for elected officials is as follows: food first, health second, education third, infrastructure next. Contrary to what most people believe, governments cannot create enough jobs to employ all the people; they can only create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive and create the jobs. Let President, Jonathan or a Governor provide sufficient food for Nigerians to banish malnutrition and I will worship whoever it is – irrespective of party. But, before the deification starts, I will go out and find out things by myself – using official resources and branching out to conduct independent survey. Rest assured I am sufficiently familiar with just about every part of Nigeria not to be fooled by official proclamations. Since AGRIKEXPO had done my “dirty” work for me on Ochendo’s achievements on agriculture, I focused next on health. Here, I not only received a rare education on the uses, and especially abuses, of DIALYSIS machines from the Abia State Ultra-Modern Diagnostic Centre, more on that later on, that I could hardly wait till this day to pass the knowledge across to Nigerians. And, I urge everyone of the readers of this article to help pass the message. Dialysis machines have indisputably served to prolong the lives of people suffering from chronic or total kidney impairment. But, unknown to most of us, they can also result in cross infection if the same machines are used for all the patients. HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis have been identified as possible risks patients dialysed on machines which serve all comers. To the best of my knowledge, only Abia State’s Diagnostic Centre has made this life-saving distinction. Years ago, a book titled IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE was a global best seller. I learnt only one great lesson from that book. If you are searching for excellence in any field of endeavour in any country, get out, travel wide and see things for yourself. Abia State’s Diagnostic Centre can only be described in one word EXCELLENT…. Don’t believe me. Go and see it for yourself. http://primechronicle.com/

“We have six dialysis machines in the Diagnostic Centre. Two are reserved for people with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis separately, while the remaining four are used for other patients to avoid infecting other patients with those diseases.” Prof. A.U. Mbanaso, CMD, Abia State Untra-modern Diagnostic Centre, Umuahia, Abia State, June 13, 2014.

Imagine This 21-Year-Old Student Hangs Self Over Girlfriend Jilt

JILTED BY LOVER: 21-YR-OLD STUDENT COMMITS SUICIDE FRIENDS and family members of a 21-year-old student of Maritime Academy Oron, Effiong Otu are at a loss why he committed suicide by hanging himself on a rope in his room on Thursday morning after he was jilted by his girl friend. Ann, a family member told Vanguard that Effiong was found hanging in his room at Diamond Hill, a few minutes after he collected a rope from neighbours who became suspicious soon after he went inside his room with the rope wondering what he wanted to use it for. According to the source, when his mother Grace Otu, a nurse at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital left the house at about 3pm on that fateful day, the young man borrowed a rope and killed himself. According Ann: “The 10th of July was the 10th anniversary of his father’s death in a car accident and after the anniversary and everyone had left the house including his mother, he went to a neighbour and borrowed a rope which he took to his room and hung himself.” Ann said: “The neighbours became suspicious of what he was doing in his room with the rope and decided to rush there but found the door to the room locked and before they could force the door open he had died.” She said before he hung himself, he called one of his friends, Adu on phone requesting him to tell his girl friend, Blessing who works with the UNICEM that she should now be happy that he has killed himself for her. “Before his friend could rush to the house, the door had already been forced open by neighbours and Effiong’s body was hanging from the ceiling of the house”. Ann stated that Effiong was an only son of the family and was given the late father’s name as a source of succor for the family but “he has again left us by this thoughtless action” Perhaps to give an inkling of his planned action , Effiong had posted his face book page on the 6th of July the following message “It’s not about being engaged, married or in a relationship. It’s about being happy, safe, secured, relieved and feeling good. It’s about peaceful state of mind, it’s about sleeping at night without the fear of losing what you’ve got. It’s being yourself and not someone else, it’s about feeling loved, happy, respected, understood, cared for and appreciated.! Goodnight my beautiful people!! Efforts to speak with Hogan Bassey, the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer did not yield any success as his phone was switched off. Effiong’s body has been removed and de[posited at the mortuary of the General Hospital, Calabar. Source: Vanguard
FRIENDS and family members of a 21-year-old student of Maritime Academy Oron, Effiong Otu are at a loss why he committed suicide by hanging himself on a rope in his room on Thursday morning after he was jilted by his girl friend.

Friday

Anambra State Government Distributes 36 Vehicles To President of Customary Courts in the State


Anambra state government has reiterated  his administration’s resolve to provide the judiciary with necessary facilities that would speed up justice system in the state.

Kim and Kanye Call It Quits . . . on Their $11M Reno!

Well, we didn't see this one coming . . . Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are reportedly selling their $11 million Bel Air, CA, mansion. A quick turnaround considering they're not even done with the renovations. Purchased last year - before their epic wedding - the couple has been gutting the

How Obasanjo Shunned Ogun PDP Mega Rally

 
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday shunned South-west sensitisation mega rally of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

How Abia Commissioner Was Shot By Unkown Gunmen

Abia Commissioner Shot By Gunmen Unknown gunmen have attacked the Abia State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Kenneth Nwosu, shooting him severally on his way home after the day’s work. According to a source, the gunmen who waylaid Nwosu at the Amakama —- Olokoro road in Umuahia South council area acted like hired assassins because they did not take collect anything from his vehicle. The incident which happened at about 7pm yesterday (Wednesday) was said to have left the Commissioner badly injured as the gunmen shot him at the abdomen at close range. “We were attracted by the gunshots. When it died down, we started hearing cries for help. We later summoned courage and went to the scene, only to discover that it was the Commissioner who was attacked. He was taken to the hospital. One of the people who were with him told us that the gunmen blocked his car as he was descending the hill and started shooting. The Commissioner and his aides alighted from the car and took to their heels, but the gunmen caught up and shot him at the abdomen. He lost too much blood.” As at the time of filing this report, Nwosu who was the Executive Director of National Roots Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, before his present appointment, was said to be receiving medical attention at the intensive care unit of an undisclosed hospital at Umuahia. Attempts to reach the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Geoffrey Ogbonna was not successful, but a senior police officer at the State command headquarters confirmed the incident adding that the police have launched a manhunt for the fleeing gunmen. 247ureports
Unknown gunmen have attacked the Abia State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Kenneth Nwosu, shooting him severally on his way home after the day’s work.
According to a source, the gunmen who waylaid Nwosu at the Amakama —- Olokoro road in Umuahia South council area acted like hired assassins because they did not take collect anything from his vehicle....

Thursday

Taraba A.G Arraigned For N1.56Billion Fraud

TARABA STATE ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL ARRAIGNED FOR N1.56BILLION FRAUD The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today arraigned the Taraba State Accountant – General, Joel Joseph Lenbang, before Justice Donatus Nwabueze Okorowo of the Federal High Court Jalingo for defrauding Taraba State Government to the tune of N1.56 billion. He was docked on an 8-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretense, offenses contrary to and punishable under the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006. When the charges were read to him, the accused person pleaded not guilty. The malfeasance came to light following a petition received from a concerned Taraba State indigene, sometime in February 2014, alleging massive looting of Taraba state funds. The petition triggered investigation of the lifestyle of some of the officers mentioned in the petition and who were believed to be living above their means. The investigation uncovered systematic withdrawal of state funds through a scheme mastermind by the accountant - general of the State, Joel Lengbang. Withdrawals were allegedly made under the guise that such monies were used for sundry payments on behalf of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as well as payment of Bank Commissions on Turn over (COT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) which became a monthly affair. A total sum of N1,567,226,557.081 (one billion, five hundred and sixty seven million, two hundred and twenty six thousand, five hundred and fifty seven naira, eighty one kobo) was discovered to have been looted from the state treasury between January 2012 and December 2013. In view of the plea of the accused, prosecuting counsel, Al Qasim Ja’afar applied for a date to commence trial. Counsel to accused, Abayomi Akamode, however, informed the court that he had filed a motion for bail this morning and urged the court hear it. But Al Qasim told the court that he was just served the motion on notice in court and would need time to peruse and respond appropriately. Justice Okorowo adjourned the case till July 11, 2014 for hearing of the bail application and remanded the accused in prison custody. Wilson Uwujaren Head, Media & Publicity 9th July, 2019
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today arraigned the Taraba State Accountant – General, Joel Joseph Lenbang, before Justice Donatus Nwabueze Okorowo of the Federal High Court Jalingo for defrauding Taraba State Government to the tune of N1.56 billion. He was docked on an 8-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretense, offenses contrary to and punishable under the Advanced Fee Fraud and Othe...r Related Offences Act, 2006.

Is President Jonathan A True Democrat?


 The All Progressives Congress has described President Goodluck Jonathan as Nigeria’s number one enemy because of what the party called the President’s “propensity to perpetrate impunity, abuse federal institutions and tolerate corruption, all in a dangerous clamour to win re-election at all costs.”
In a statement in Osogbo on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said under Jonathan’s watch, Nigeria had been thrown into “unprecedented crisis” in the opposition strongholds of Rivers, Edo, Adamawa and Nasarawa states and elsewhere across the country.

Second Niger Bridge, Hope Long For, Yet to Be Restored

Photo: Jubilation as second Niger Bridge takes off ….South East gets second bridge at last From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha After many years of playing a high powered politics with the construction of the second bridge across the River Niger, the gateway to the South East geopolitical zone, President Goodluck Jonathan has finally made his promise come to fruition with the flag off of the construction of the bridge. Interestingly, the politics of the second bridge which undoubtedly is the main entrance into the South Eastern parts of Nigeria had been and remained insoluble and so to say, looked unrealizable before Monday, 10th March when President Goodluck Jonathan officially flagged off the construction of the project. However, the pains of the people of the zone were not because of the failure of the successive administrations in the country to deliver on their campaign promises which the second Niger bridge had been the major stroke, but their woes are often compounded by the seemingly deteriorating condition of the only bridge that connects Ndigbo to the rest of the ethnic nationalities. However, before the colonial era, canoes were the only means of crossing River Niger which is the boundary between Asaba, the capital of the present day Delta state and the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra State. Then, during the advent of colonial administration that ushered in a modicum of improvement and civilization, the introduction of ferry services came to be. It therefore became very imperative that the successive administrations in the country should have commenced the construction of the second Niger bridge long before now owing to the importance and threat the existing bridge pose to Nigerians in their large numbers who are often conscripted to travel with their lives in their palm on the existing bridge. However, in a solemn but shot progamme that marked the commencement of the construction of the much awaited second Niger bridge, President Goodluck Jonathan said the present administration was committed to the construction of the bridge as one of the landmark achievements of his administration. President Jonathan while performing the groundbreaking ceremony at the Krisoral ground, Atani, Ogbaru council area of Anambra state, to mark the commencement of the construction of the bridge awarded to German construction giant, Julius Berger at the cost of over N117 billion disclosed that the construction of the second Niger Bridge was critical to his administration’s resolve to improve the economic fortunes of the country, adding that in fulfillment of his campaign promises, he came to perform the groundbreaking ceremony shortly before Governor Peter Obi leaves office next week. The President while commending the efforts and resilience of Governor Obi in making sure that the project is actualized also assured that that the bridge will be built to last for so long, while reiterating the readiness of his administration to monitor the progress of work at the bridge. “It is my resolve and that of my administration to ensure the unity bridge is built to connect Asaba and Onitsha. I want to urge the Governors of Anambra and Delta states to ensure that the project is built on time and specification. The essence of monitoring the progress of work at the bridge is to ensure timely completion of the second Niger Bridge. We have every reason to deliver the second Niger Bridge” Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state expressed happiness that at last; the construction of second Niger Bridge had come to reality, while assuring that the project when completed will increase the economic activities in the entire country and South East at large. “Mr. President, I don’t need to tell you how happy my people are, it is evident that the people of the South East and Nigeria at large are happy that today, you are building the second Niger Bridge. It is the most important project that will connect all the communities to the other, now people from this part of the country can travel to any parts of the country and even outside the Sub regions. We have confidence that the bridge will be built to last” Governor Obi also commended President Jonathan for effectively ensuring speedy construction of Zik’s mausoleum which he said would ensure that the spirit of the former President of Nigeria rests in peace in his final resting place. The Minister for Works, Mr. Mike Onolemenen said the project as part of the transformation agenda of Mr. President is to improve the infrastructure and socio-economic activities of the nation and that the federal government is executing the project under the Public Private Partnership, PPP arrangement for a concession period of 25 years through Design Build Finance, Operate and Transfer, DPFOT model. Mr. Onolemenen said the second Niger Bridge is 1590 metres long and forms part of the 11.90 km length project which construction cost is put at N117, 860, 700, 741. 82 vat inclusive, adding that the construction of the second Niger Bridge will last for 48 months. The Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Abia state, Chief Theodore Orji said Mr. President with this latest development have shown that South East is of great importance in the Nigerian project and said the bridge which will serve as a gateway to the Southern part of Nigeria will boost economic activities of the people and solve the problem of loss of man’s hours being spent on the existing Niger bridge. Governor Orji said “Mr. President, you have shown your love for the country and the people of the South East in particular; you have shown today that you are a man of your words and we have every cause to believe you and your transformation agenda which has helped reposition the country and put us back to track. We shall be happy because the second Niger Bridge which you flagged off shall increase the economic potentials of the people of this zone” The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan assured President Jonathan that his state and Anambra would ensure complete monitoring of the project to make sure that it is delivered as and when due in line with Mr. President’s agenda and thanked the President for fulfilling his campaign promises. The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu said the project is a dream fulfilled through while extolling the leadership qualities of President Goodluck Jonathan whom he said had demonstrated an uncommon love for Ndigbo and Nigeria at large by the commencement of the second Niger Bridge. Hon Anslem Bada, the Coordinator, National Support for Jonathan/Sambo West Africa said Nigeria is born again with the commencement of the second Niger Bridge and urged Mr. President to present himself for re-election in 2015. “we are happy today that at the end the second Niger Bridge is being constructed and it goes ahead to show that with this, Nigeria is born again” In her own remarks, the Coordinating Minister for Economy and Minister for Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala described the groundbreaking ceremony as an epoch making event that marked the turn-around in the country’s socio-economic life, adding that Mr. President was committed to the completion of the project. She thanked the people of the South East especially the out-going Governor Peter Obi for being on their feet to pressurize the federal government to fulfill the promise of delivering the second Niger bridge before the expiration of the present administration and expressed optimism that with the new development, the country is going to witness a tremendous improvement in commerce and industry. Member representing Anaocha/Dunukofia/Njikoka federal constituency, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife also lauded Mr. President for coming to the commercial city of Onitsha within a short period of week interval to flag off the construction of the second Niger Bridge which she said would enhance economic fortunes of the people of the country. Mrs. Ekwunife further expressed happiness that finally, the people of the South East geopolitical zone would have cause to smile again that the much awaited second Niger Bridge has come to reality, adding “Mr. President is committed to the construction of the second Niger bridge which is evident in the type of construction company that got the contract, we all know that Julius Berger is a very serious construction firm and can be trusted” The President was accompanied by the Governors of Abia, Chief Theodore Orji, Ebonyi, Chief Martin Elechi, Delta, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Deputy Governor Enugu state, Chief Sunday Onyebuchi while Ministers including the Coordinating Minister for Economy and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Labaram Maku and Senators, Ayogu Eze, Ken Nnamani, Andy Uba and Joy Emodi and Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha also attended. Ends
From EMMANUEL UZOR 
After many years of playing a high powered politics with the construction of the second bridge across the River Niger, the gat...eway to the South East geopolitical zone, President Goodluck Jonathan has finally made his promise come to fruition with the flag off of the construction of the bridge.

Rivers State Lawmaker Known to Be Ameachi's Loyalist Kidnapped

Golden Chioma, a lawyer and Chairman of Judiciary committee of Rivers State House of Assembly representing Etche Constituency was kidnapped last night by unidentified gunmen in Diobu, Port Harcourt, southern Nigeria. No one knows his whereabouts and the Rivers State Police Command was yet confirm the kidnap at the time of this report. Chioma is one of pro-Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s

Nigerian Media Mourn The Death Of A Social Activist Bamidele Aturu Who Died At 49

By Ajayi Bamidele
The death of prominent Human Rights activist, Lagos lawyer per excellence Barister  Bamidele Aturu has been announced and was received with rud shock and mix feeling that where lies the hope of a few speechless Nigerian as we morn the passing away of this Legal luminary

Wednesday

Breaking News: Anambra DSS Parades Two Ritual Killers

Two Native Doctors suspected to be ritualists have been arrested  for the alleged murder of one John Nwosu a Vulcanizer who resides in  Nkpologwu Community, in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

COUNCIL OF STATE: CHIBOK GIRLS MUST BE RESCUED ALIVE

The Council of State today met at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and resolved that the abducted schoolgirls of Chibok, Borno State, be rescued alive.
This was the first time the council spoke on the incident since Boko Haram insurgents kidnapped the schoolgirls on April 8.

Photos: Nigerian troops chase terrorists from Balmo Forest,weapons and equipment recovered

Nigerian troops have chased and taken over Balmo forest in a military operation that lasted throughout the weekend. Prior the operation, Balmo forest stretching from Bauchi through Jigawa states with links to the fringes of Sambisa forest was used by terrorists as base and hideout for launching attacks.
Terrorists and armed gangs operating in the forests were completely rooted out while some were captured during the operation including two foreigners who are suspected to be mercenaries. Also recovered were weapons and equipment including power generating sets, communication equipment, vehicles, motorcycles, foodstuff and kitchen utensils.

Shekarau Sworn In As Nigeria New Minister of Education


President Goodluck Jonathan has sworn-in the four new ministers, who were cleared by the National Assembly. They include Ibrahim Shekarau, Stephen Oru, Adedayo Adeyeye and Abdul Bulama. Mr. Shekarau, a former Kano State governor, decamped from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Shortly after swearing them in, the President announced

Ex-minister, others back 50-year jail term for corrupt judges

Former Minister of Sports , Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, on Tuesday expressed support for the 50-year jail term recommended for corrupt judges by delegates at the National Conference.

Alleged Soldiers Mosque And Hausa Shops Raid In Abia State

SOLDIERS RAID MOSQUE, NORTHERNERS’ SHOPS IN ABIA • Arrest 2 clerics, 5 others • We can’t confirm – DHQ Some military personnel yesterday raided the central mosque in Aba, the Abia state capital, and arrested the chief imam of the mosque, his deputy and a youth corps member, as well as four other Muslims of northern extraction, a report on Hausa service of the BBC has revealed. The report, monitored from Abuja, said another group of 50 soldiers raided several shops owned by northerners in a cattle market located in Lokpanata town of the same state. The Imam of the raided mosque, Malam Idris Bashir, according to leader of the northern Muslim residents of Aba, Alhaji Halidu Imam, was nabbed along with his deputy, Malam Bello Maijama’a, as well as the corps member who was not named, during the raid in the early hours of yesterday. Alhaji Halidu said, “they (the soldiers) also went to the Onions Market (in Aba) and arrested Malam Ibrahim Bargi and Sani Jos. From there, they proceeded to the Yam Market where they arrested Sarki Salisu and another person called Isa”. The Hausa community leader in Aba stressed that: “We were also told that 50 soldiers went and raided a cattle market in a town called Lokpatana around 2am”. Asked if those arrested had committed any offence, Alhaji Halidu said, “we don’t know, but these are people with whom we’ve lived for years together here”, stressing however, that the security operatives had during their raid on the Lokpatana cattle market picked up a security guard in whose possession two bags of fertilizer were found. However, the military authorities have neither confirmed nor denied the arrests up to press time yesterday. When contacted last night on the alleged raids, the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, who requested for time to cross-check the report, called back to say he was unable to verify whether the reported raids were true. It would be recalled that last month, 486 northern jobseekers, travelling within Abia state en route Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, were arrested by military personnel in Abia on the guise of suspected Boko Haram members. The suspects were reported to have been arrested on their way to Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital in a convoy of 35 buses on the grounds that they were going there in search of jobs. Earlier in January this year, the police arrested and detained over 300 Jigawa state indigenes over allegations that they were suspected Boko Haram members. The people, who were later discovered to be jobseekers, were however released thereafter. Source: People’s Daily
 Some military personnel yesterday raided the central mosque in Aba, the Abia state capital, and arrested the chief imam of the mosque, his deputy and a youth corps member, as well as four other Muslims of northern extraction, a report on Hausa service of the BBC has revealed.
The report, monitored from Abuja, said another group of 50 soldiers raided several shops owned by no...rtherners in a cattle market located in Lokpanata town of the same state.

Keshi Resquests 10M Monthly Salary Increase Before Considering Retaining His National Coach Job

KESHI DEMANDS N10M-A-MONTH CONTRACT –REPORT Stephen Keshi has reportedly demanded a significant salary hike to sign a new contract to remain as Nigeria coach. According to africanfootball.com on Tuesday, Keshi, who announced last week that his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation had expired after the Super Eagles crashed out of the World Cup following their 2-0 defeat by France, told President Goodluck Jonathan that he will sign a new deal if the NFF agrees to pay him N10m a month. The former Nigeria captain received N5m a month in his initial contract. Africanfootball.com reported that Keshi made the demand when he met with Jonathan at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on arrival from the World Cup in Brazil. He was also said to have demanded that his new salary be paid upfront to avoid the delays he suffered in the previous deal, as well as the recall of his former assistant Sylvanus Okpalla. A top official at the Presidential Villa told africanfootball.com, “He (Keshi) demanded for N10m a month, which he wants to be paid upfront to check any delays. “He also wanted what he called a free hand as regards his team selection and preparations, saying he no longer wishes to deal with the technical committee.He also wanted Okpalla back to his backroom staff. “The President has assured him that his demands will be considered.” Meanwhile, Keshi pocketed a total of $300,000 when he led Nigeria to the last 16 of the World Cup,africanfootball.com has learned. He reportedly got $260,000 as appearance fee for the World Cup . Source: Punch
 Stephen Keshi has reportedly demanded a significant salary hike to sign a new contract to remain as Nigeria coach.

Bank Manager Kills Self Over Office Presure

Bank manager commits suicide over too much stress in his working place: More report on the news i posted earlier about the corpse of a Commercial Bank Manager in Ogun State, Habeeb Olatunde, that was found hanging in an uncompleted building in Arepo, Ogun State, on July 5.The 44-year-old, who is a Kwara State indigene, had earlier been declared missing by the police on June 18, after his family members filed a report. His decomposed body was found hanging two-weeks later in an uncompleted building in Arepo, located along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.The Public Relations Officer of Ogun State Police Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, said that after declaring him missing, the police intensified efforts to find the bank chief before his body was discovered with the help of members of the community. “The police detectives attached to Ibafo Divisional Headquarters led by the Divisional Police Officer Salawu Jimoh have discovered the body of one Mr Habeeb Olatunde,m,44, native of Kwara State, the Manager of a Commercial bank, who was declared missing since 18th June 2014, in an uncompleted building at Arepo, near Ibafo, at about 1500hrs on Saturday 5th July,” Mr. Adejobi stated. “The decomposing body was found hanged in the building when the police detectives arrived at the scene. Preliminary investigation revealed that the top bank official committed suicide by hanging,” he said premium times reported he stated. The police spokesperson said investigations revealed that the deceased actually complained of stress in the office and was permitted to get rest,premium times reported. He said the deceased might have committed suicide while he was away from work on casual leave. Mr. Adejobi said the corpse has been released to the family for burial according to Islamic rite. VIA: Afikpo Chic Blog. http://afikpochic.blogspot.com/
More report on the news i posted earlier about the corpse of a Commercial Bank Manager in Ogun State, Habeeb Olatunde, that was found hanging in an uncompleted building in Arepo, Ogun State, on July 5.The 44-year-old, who is a Kwara State indigene, had earlier been declared missing by the police on June 18, after his family members filed a report. His decomposed body was found hanging two-weeks later in a...n uncompleted building in Arepo, located along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.The Public Relations Officer of Ogun State Police Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, said that after declaring him missing, the police intensified efforts to find the bank chief before his body was discovered with the help of members of the community.

President Jonathan, Abubakar,Babangida Obasanjo, In Crucial Meeting

JONATHAN, OBASANJO, BABANGIDA, OTHERS IN CRUCIAL MEETING President Goodluck Jonathan is currently presiding over a meeting of the Council of State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting which started at about 11:40am had in attendance Vice President Namadi Sambo; President of the Senate, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Shehu Shagari and former Head of the Interim National Government, Ernest Shonekan. Others are former military Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon; Abdusalam Abubakar and Ibrahim Babangida as well as some former Chief Justices of Nigeria and state governors. Service Chiefs including the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar are waiting in the tea room of the Council Chamber venue of the meeting to brief them on security situation in the country. Embattled Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, is making a surprise appearance at the meeting. Nyako is currently in the eye of the storm as the state House of Assembly has commenced impeachment process against him and his deputy, James Ngilari. The meeting is still ongoing at the time of filing this report. Source: Punch
 President Goodluck Jonathan is currently presiding over a meeting of the Council of State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting which started at about 11:40am had in attendance Vice President Namadi Sambo; President of the Senate, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Shehu Shagari and former Head of the Interim National Governme...nt, Ernest Shonekan.

Monday

Internet Fraudster Disguising As Rev. Father Nabbed In Enugu

A student of Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Anambra State in sixth year, studying Industrial Physics has been arrested for alleged internet fraud by the operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad,SARS, at a border town, Ugwuoba, Enugu State. The suspect, Umeokeke Cyprian Uche, who hails from Aku Village in Ezinifite, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State,24,male, has been using his



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