Defend yourselves if attacked, Benue gov tells residents

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has called on the people of the state to defend themselves if attacked.
The governor, who spoke on a radio programme titled, ‘Issue of the moment’ monitored by our correspondent on Tuesday, said it was necessary for the people to defend themselves in order not to become easy preys.
Ortom noted that in spite of the presence of policemen in the state, killings were still going on in two local government areas.

Court threatens to strike out Dino Melaye’s suit for non-appearance

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has threatened to strike out a suit filed by Sen. Dino Melaye, if the senator or his counsel fails to appear in court on the next adjourned date.
Melaye filed a suit before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba seeking an interpretation of the court’s judgment of Sept. 11, 2017 .
The court in that judgment, held that INEC acted within its constitutional rights in commencing the process for Melaye’s recall.

Badoo: Herbalist, five others arraigned for allegedly killing pastor, family

Six men, including a herbalist, who were alleged to be “Badoo” cult members, were on Wednesday charged with murder for smashing the heads of a pastor and other family members with a grinding stone at an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court.
The accused are Chibuzor Igwe, 19; Omotayo Onamoyegun, 25; Samuel Ameze, 38; Gift Ameze, 35; Uche Igwe, 23; Fatai Adebayo a.k.a Aleshe, 34; and a herbalist.
The trial of the accused, who are facing a seven-count bordering on conspiracy, murder, and stealing, started at 3.00 p.m. and ended at 4. 05 p.m.

Police arrest mother, six others for selling her one-month baby

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom says it has arrested seven suspects over their alleged involvement in child trafficking.
This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Odiko Macdon, and made available to newsmen in Uyo.
Macdon said that the police, acting on intelligence, arrested one female, Eno Archibong Emah, who was alleged to have conspired with others to sell her baby boy for N400, 000.
The suspect, who hailed from Ikot Eman Itam in Itu Local Government Area, was said to have been arrested on January 20.

NHIS boss’ reinstatement won’t stop EFCC probe – FG

The Federal Government on Wednesday said the reinstatement of the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf, will not stop the investigation being carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on him.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this during an interview with State House correspondents at the end of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

‘The Wedding Party 2-Destination Dubai costs N300m’

Nollywood acclaimed blockbuster movie, The Wedding Party 2-Destination Dubai, cost N300m to produce.
The Managing Director of FilmOne Distribution Company, one of the Executive Producers of the movie, Kene Mkparu, on Wednesday said the N300m is excluding publicity.
The WP2 released on December 15, 2017, has raked in over N500m within the six weeks of its release in cinemas, making it the highest-grossing Nollywood film ever.
The filmmaker is one of the resource persons at the on-going Consumer Forum of the National Film and Video Censors Board at the Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State.
“Wedding Party 1, cost us over N150m to make plus publicity and the Part 2 cost us N300m.
“We believe you have to spend money to make money, and if you can show from your business plan how you would recoup this money, the banks are willing to give you.”
Mkparu further explained that partnership with relevant stakeholders, especially in tourism, in Dubai added colour to the glitz and glamour of the WP2.

Why I joined Arsenal – Aubameyang

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang says he will try to emulate Thierry Henry at Arsenal after sealing his move to the club, Skysports reports.
Arsenal broke their club-record transfer fee to bring Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund, where he scored 98 league goals in 144 appearances for the German club, for a fee of around £60m.
Aubameyang admitted he is not yet worthy of comparisons with Henry, Arsenal’s all-time record goalscorer with 228 goals in 377 games, but insists he will strive to have a similar effect on the club.
“I think the club has such a big history and great players like Thierry Henry,” Aubameyang told Arsenal Player. “He’s an example for us strikers. I’m really happy.
“I’m a fast player and I score goals too, like Henry a little bit. But as I said, I have to work a lot more.”

Benue killings: Senate summons IG over failure to arrest suspects

The Senate on Wednesday summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, for alleged non-compliance with a directive by the lawmakers to arrest and prosecute the suspected herdsmen who attacked communities in Benue State, killing 73 people.
Idris was asked to appear before the Senate Committee on Police Affairs on Thursday (today) to explain why a resolution by the upper chamber of the National Assembly asking him to arrest and prsecute the suspects was not complied with.
The committee was asked to report to the Senate on Tuesday, when the chamber would deliberate on the next line of action.
The Senate had, at the plenaries on January 16 and 17, 2018, debated killings by herdsmen and other armed groups across Nigeria.
Part of the resolutions passed was for the police boss to arrest and prosecute the suspects within 14 days.

We’re running a bastardised federal structure, says Oyegun

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said the nation is running a bastardised federal structure.
He, therefore, said there was the need to revisit the dysfunctional structure in order to change the narrative and ensure that the structure work efficiently for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Also, the Chairman of the APC’s Committee on True Federalism, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has said elections should not detract leaders from the task of nation building.
They spoke at the public presentation of the committee’s report, in Abuja, on Wednesday.
Odigie-Oyegun said, “There is no question that where we are today is a bastardised federal structure – more or less a unitary system.  What we are going to present to you today is the considered view of the majority of Nigerians.”

CHAN: Nigeria beat Sudan 1-0, face Morocco in final

Nigeria on Wednesday beat  Sudan 1-0  to  face hosts Morocco in the final of the   2018 African Nations Championship on Sunday.
Gabriel Okechukwu gave the Super Eagles the victory.
Goalkeeper Ikechukwu  Ezenwa  was injured in  the 10th minute, forcing Nigeria assistant coach Salisu Yusuf, who is in charge of the CHAN 2018 assignment, to replace him with  Plateau United goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye.