Belgian ship, 15 crew members arrested for illegal bunkering

Yenagoa – The Nigerian Navy has confirmed the arrest of a Belgian ship, MT St Vanessa and her crew for alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering in Bayelsa.

The navy said the ship was arrested off the Brass/Akassa coast in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

Nigeria loses 5bn dollars to oil theft annually – Shell

Abuja -  Mr Mutiu Sumonu, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Plc., said on Tuesday, in Abuja, that Nigeria was losing 5 billion dollars annually to oil theft.

Sumonu spoke at the public hearing on the upsurge of illegal oil bunkering activities in Nigeria’s coastal region.

Air Nigeria to cooperate with NCAA

Lagos- Air Nigeria will cooperate with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure that issues relating to the suspension of  its domestic and regional flight operations are resolved, a statement said.

Solar powered telecom network set to debut in Nigeria

By Prince Osuagwu

Nigeria will soon experience a solar powered telecommunications network tagged WorldGSM through a company under the Shyam Group, VNL. Shyan Group is a West African and Middle East based Operator.

According to VNL, WorldGSM will be the first solar powered broadband network in Nigeria and has been designed to serve rural populations in developing economies. It will also help to bring mobile infrastructure to billions of people yearning for it in the rural and remote areas.

Boko Haram invades Damaturu Prison, frees 40 prisoners

BY NDAHI  MARAMA
Damaturu— Suspected members of the Jam’atul Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram, yesterday, staged a daring attack on the Damaturu prison on Gashua Road, and set free 40 of their members who were being detained.

FG, Lagos govt on collision course over closure of Third Mainland Bridge

BY LEKE ADESERI, South West Regional Editor, OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO
BARELY five days to the commencement of repair works on the Third Mainland Bridge, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Monday, said the closure of the bridge would not be total afterall.

However, the Federal and Lagos State governments may be on collision course over which agency will spearhead traffic management that will result from the diversion during the four months period.

Four prison guards killed as gunmen raid prison

KANO (AFP) – Attackers with guns and explosives raided a jail in a restive northeastern city on Sunday, leaving four prison guards dead and freeing 40 inmates, authorities said.

The raid occurred in the northeastern city of Damaturu, previously hit by heavy violence blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram and which last week saw gun battles between security forces and extremists that killed at least 40 people.

Nigerian musician shines in Australia

These are not the best of times for Nigeria’s image abroad but in far away country of Australia and out of the gloom and doom comes a rising shining star.

Daniel Okoduwa a.k.a Scrim  as he is more fondly called by his peers and fans in Australia, was honoured with the prestigious award of Entrepreneur of the year in Sydney, Australia.

Dealers in counterfeit drugs to get life imprisonment – DG, NAFDAC

By PETER DURU, Makurdi
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC,  has finalised plans to present a bill to the National Assembly, prescribing life imprisonment for dealers in counterfeit drugs.

Akpabio approves N250m grant to medical students

UYO – Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has approved N250 million grant to students of the state origin studying Medicine and Surgery in universities across the country.

Banks refund N5.06bn in response to customers’ petition

By Babajide Komolafe

…As CIBN  addresses customers complaints in banks
Banks have refunded N5.03 billion to customers in response to petitions against their services sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Meanwhile the CBN has begun to examine banks to monitor their compliance with the directive to establish Customer Complaints desk and e-mail addresses.

Food crisis looms as dealers threaten to stop distribution

BY TONY EDIKE

…Over  illegal levies, harassment  by miscreants
ENUGU—FOOD crisis looms in the country as members of the Federated Foodstuff Dealers Association of Nigeria, FFDAN, yesterday, threatened to stop its distribution across the country if the Federal and state governments fail to intervene and stop imposition of incessant illegal levies and harassment by persons acting as members of task forces on federal highways.

End of the road for notorious cable thieves in Abuja

By Emma Nnadozie, Crime Editor

…As Immigration record heavy catch, arrest 10 suspects
TEN men suspected to be members of a notorious gang that specializes in stealing cables belonging to Power Holding of Nigeria, PHCN; Nigeria Telecommunications Company, NITEL, and CCTV cameras in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have been rounded up by vigilant Immigration guard duty operatives.

2015 presidency linked to calls for emergency declaration in Kaduna

BY Henry Umoru

ABUJA—THERE were strong indications yesterday that the fight for the presidency in 2015 is responsible for calls for the declaration of state of emergency in Kaduna state following bombings of Churches and the reprisal attacks that followed during which scores of people were killed.

Killer salt sells in Sapele market

BY GODWIN OGHRE, Sapele
A killer salt is now in circulation in Sapele market, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State and unless an urgent intervention is put in place the lives of buyers and consumers of the product may be jeopardy.

Third Mainland Bridge to be shut from July 1

By LEKE ADESERI, South West Regional Editor & BOSE ADELAJA

THE  third mainland bridge in Lagos will be closed to traffic for repairs in four months starting from July 1, 2012. The first signals for the proposed closure came through several banners hung in strategic places that show that maintenance works would be carried out on the all-important bridge from July 1 to Nov 6, 2012.

S-Africa begs Nigeria

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, KALU UDUMA & VICTORIA OJEME
LAGOS—AFTER six days of diplomatic stand-off that led to the deportation of 256 nationals, Africa’s two powerhouses, Nigeria and South Africa, have mended fences and reached a five-point agreement to avert a recurrence.
The much needed truce came after the South African government sent a letter of apology to Foreign Affairs Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, apologizing to Nigeria for barring 125 Nigerians from the country last Friday over alleged possession of fake yellow fever vaccine cards and the acceptance of the apology by the wronged party. Since the first deportation, Nigeria, in retaliation, has turned away 131 South Africans.
“We apologize for this unfortunate incident and we hope this matter will not in anyway affect our bilateral relations,” Deputy Foreign Minister, Ebrahim Ebrahim, told reporters in Pretoria.

Ex-militants, sea pirates flee Bayelsa creeks

By Emma Amaize
WARRI -  EX-MILITANTS and sea pirates operating on Nembe and Ogbia waterways in Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa state have fled their camps following a crackdown on  them by the Joint Military Task Force, JTF, codenamed “Operation Pulo Shield”.
One of the fleeing ex-militants, who was among those agitating for inclusion in the post-amnesty programme told Vanguard in Warri, Wednesday,  “Many of us have fled from Bayelsa state because JTF is ransacking everywhere after the killing of four military men and four policemen , last week”.

Cash withdrawal limit: CBN grants PMIs, MFBs waivers

Lagos – The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday waived the daily cash withdrawal limit of N1 million for some customer of  Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs) and Microfinance Banks (MFBs).
A circular by Mr Giaus Emokpae, Assistant Director (Banking and Payment System) in the CBN, said that the waiver was due to the nature of their businesses.
“It has come to our notice that some Deposit Money Banks apply cash withdrawal/deposit limits for corporate organisations to PMIs and MFBs.

Ancient Bibles and Torahs in rare Vatican show

VATICAN CITY-(AFP) – Ancient Torahs and Bibles have gone on show in the Vatican in an “inter-religious exhibition” aimed at exploring the common heritage of two of the world’s main monotheistic religions.
The show “Verbum Domini” (“The Word of God”) in St. Peter’s Square puts on display for the first time outside the United States the contents of the Green Collection — the world’s biggest archive of ancient biblical texts.

SNC is a call for trouble – Uduaghan

By DAPO AKINREFON
LAGOS — Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State said, yesterday, that irrespective of the deficiency in the 1999 Constitution, advocates for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, SNC, were calling for trouble.
He also said that although a state governor was entitled to request more revenue, it must be done in line with the provision laid down by the  Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC.

Trade, investment and leadership failure in Nigeria (2)

SO while Nigeria is the giant of Africa in term of population, more than 80  percent of Nigeria’s population is full of sound and fury in the brain because of the shallow education which they have been receiving. This is why majority of Nigerian professionals are not depending on their professional training for a living. Also no Nigerian university is among the best 200 universities in the world.
Even in area of sports Nigeria’s vast  population has not been put to advantage to achieve significant success. Nigeria is a Lilliput when it comes to sports even in Africa. This is a clear case of a retrogressing country, development wise.

Nigeria/S-Africa face-off: Reps insist on ‘fire for fire’

…ask Foreign Affairs Minister to invoke the tenets of reciprocity
BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE
ABUJA – THE Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mrs Nnena Elendu-Ukeje,Tuesday asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Gbenga Ashiru to invoke the tenets of reciprocity in tackling the present face-off between Nigeria and South Africa.
The House Committee had on Monday summoned the Minister to appear before it and explain the relationship between Nigeria and other African Countries over the repatriation of 125 Nigerians aboard South Africa Airline and Arik Air, a Nigerian carrier.

Man slices rival’s penis

AIX-EN-PROVENCE  (AFP) – A Frenchman goes on trial Thursday for cutting his girlfriend’s lover’s penis off and flushing it down the toilet.
Blaise Fragione, 38, admits that in October 2008 he knocked out the victim, named only as “F.”, with a blow to the head, severed most of his penis with a razor knife and threw it in the toilet.
Fragione says that he “lost it” after F. came to tell him he was having a relationship with “Mado”, his partner of 14 years and mother of his two children.

Jonathan urges Shell to invest in power

By Oscarline Onwuemenyi
…Warns against increasing oil spill in the Niger Delta
ABUJA – President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has challenged Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to actively participate in the Federal Government’s efforts at infrastructural development, especially in the power supply.

Umunna, Nigerian born British MP speaks against witchcraft

London – Mr Chuka Umunna, Nigerian born Member of the British Parliament  on Monday kicked against the branding of children as witches in the UK, describing it as an “awful act punishable under the law. ’’
Umunna represents Streatham, one of the three constituencies representing Brixton, an area with one of the largest African Diaspora populations in the UK.

Chevron gas rig explosion is killing us – Koluama communities

BY EMMA AMAIZE, REGIONAL EDITOR, S-SOUTH
WHEN Vanguard visited Koluama I, Koluama 2, Temazau, Ebidouama and other communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, which were affected by the January 16, 2012 explosion of a gas rig, K.S Endeavour (Panama), near the North Apoi platform/field, west of the Funiwa field, on Wednesday, February 22, it was observed that neither the Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, operator of the rig nor the Federal Government, had undoubtedly evaluated the environmental, health and economic implications of the disaster on the people.

Ojukwu represented public accountability, probity, good governance – Jonathan

Abuja – President Goodluck Jonathan said in Abuja on Monday that late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu represented a worthy example of public accountability, probity, good governance and a fervent advocate of justice.
Jonathan was speaking at a special reception of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s remains held at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Fire scare in Supreme Court….as CJN, six justices scamper for safety

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA-There was pandemonium at the Supreme Court this morning owing to a mysterious fire that forced a 7-man panel of Justices headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, to scamper for safety.

The apex court was on the verge of concluding hearing on a suit involving First Bank of Nigeria, when a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Amechi Nwaiwu, SAN, spotted the uncanny fire that was gradually engulfing the left wing of the court.

Worshippers Kill Suspected Fleeing Church Bomber

Sun Feb, 26 2012

By NAN
Angry worshippers at the headquarters of Church Of Christ In Nations (COCIN) in Jos on Sunday killed one of the two suspected bearers of the explosives that hit the Church in the morning.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bomber and one other, who both wore army camouflage, drove into the Church and beat the security before hitting the building.
NAN correspondent, who was at the scene, reports that the suspect appeared to be in his early 30s.

The suspect, who wore a neatly carved moustache, looked well-fed.
But probably afraid of dying, the bomb carrier jumped out of the vehicle just before the blast went off and attempted to run but could not move as he was affected by the blast.
The angry worshipers, however, descended on him and clubbed him to death.
An eyewitness and a worshipper in the Church, Joyce Dalyop, told NAN that there were arguments among the worshipers over what to do with the bomber before he was finally killed.

Fugates of Kentucky: Skin Bluer than Lake Louise

By SUSAN DONALDSON JAMES
Feb. 22, 2012
Benjamin "Benjy" Stacy so frightened maternity doctors with the color of his skin -- "as Blue as Lake Louise" -- that he was rushed just hours after his birth in 1975 to University of Kentucky Medical Center.

As a transfusion was being readied, the baby's grandmother suggested to doctors that he looked like the "blue Fugates of Troublesome Creek." Relatives described the boy's great-grandmother Luna Fugate as "blue all over," and "the bluest woman I ever saw."

Tankers seize Apapa-Oshodi Road

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Victor Ahiuma-Young –
LAGOS — Motorists plying Apapa—Oshodi expressway literally went through hell, yesterday, spending hours in the traffic as fuel tankers waiting to load fuel at the tank farms in the area blocked the entire expressway. This was in spite the 72-hour ultimatum given to the tanker drivers on Sunday by the Lagos State Government to remove the vehicles from the highway or  be forcefully relocated.
The traffic which stretched several kilometres was very chaotic at Mile 2 and Julius Berger yard as there were no officials of Lagos State Transport Management Authority, LASTMA to restore sanity.
The state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, gave the ultimatum when he paid an on-the-spot assessment of the damage at the scene of the last Saturday’s tanker explosion at Mile 2 which claimed three lives and 36 vehicles

Court dissolves 10-year-old marriage over childlessness

Ijebu-Ode (Ogun) – An Ijebu-Ode Customary Court in Ogun on Wednesday dissolved a 10-year-old marriage between of one Alhaji Ibrahim Oduwole and his wife, Shade, on the ground of childlessness and provocation.

Africa will require 1,101 new aircraft by 2030

Addis Ababa – Africa will require 1,101 aircraft by 2030 when the continent’s air traffic is likely to grow at above world’s average, Mr Alan Pardoe, Airbus Head of Marketing Communications has said.
In an interview in Addis Ababa, Pardoe said Airbus latest Global Market Forecast showed that the value of the required aircraft would be 126 billion dollars.

Explosions, gun shots rock Kano

By AbdulSalam Muhammad
KANO – Multiple explosions and gunfire rocked Tishama quarters in Kano metropolis Wednesday morning as JTF raided a suspected hide out for the Boko Haram sect.
Locals says the early morning raid by JTF started around 4.00am local time and that the operation lasted for about four hours.

Lassa fever kills 5,000 annually in west Africa

LAGOS (AFP) – An outbreak of Lassa fever, which according to the World Health Organisation  is the causes of some 5,000 deaths annually in west Africa,  has killed 40 people and infected dozens of others in a third of Nigeria’s 36 states over the past six weeks, a senior health official said Wednesday.
“We have 40 deaths, including two doctors and six nurses, from lassa fever which broke out in 12 states in the past six weeks,” health ministry’s chief epidemiologist Henry Akpan said.
A total of 397 cases were reported, out of which 87 have been confirmed.
Lassa fever is an endemic acute viral haemorrhagic illness common in west African countries including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Senegal.
The virus is spread through contact with rodent excreta.
Its symptoms include fever, headache, difficulty in swallowing and it can lead to infection of vital organs and death. It was named after the town of Lassa in northern Nigeria’s Borno State where it was first identified in 1969.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/02/lassa-fever-kills-5000-annually-in-west-africa/

18 students in ghastly accident, as tanker crushes man to death

By DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA- A load of  18-seater bus carrying students  of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State on Tuesday somersaulted several times on Kobape road, along Abeokuta/Sagamu Expressway in Obafemi Owode local Governmentarea of Ogun state, leaving three of them critically injured while others  sustained various degree of  injuries.

Boko Haram: S/Korea to assist Nigeria on counter terrorism

BY KINGSLEY OMONODI
The republic of South Korea disclosed, Tuesday, that it was ready to share her experience in the handling of terrorism issues and challenges with Nigeria following increased Boko Haram attacks facing our nation.
Making the disclosure when he visited the minister of defence, South Korean ambassador to Nigeria, Jong Hyun Choi whose country has been having territorial issues with North Korea, noted that his country have one of the best counter terrorism forces and program in place saying South Korea was willing to share such expertise with Nigeria to help her checkmate terrorist threats.

We ‘re tired of bombings – Jonathan

BY DAUD OLATUNJI & FRANKLIN ALLI
ABEOKUTA — President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, echoed the anger and frustration of the generality of Nigerians over the menace of Boko Haram in the country, saying Nigerians are tired of bombing.
The president who spoke at  the official commissioning of six million metric tonnes Dangote Cement Manufacturing Plant, Ibese, Ogun State also lamented the rate of unemployment in the country, describing it is our greatest problem. He also defended the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, (GCON) given to the Chairman, Dangote group of companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote by the Federal Government.
Speaking on challenges of insecurity in the country, Jonathan said, Nigerians want to hear about commissioning of industrial plants and not bombing.

Protest rocks Onitsha as policeman kills driver over N50

BY VINCENT UJUMADU
AWKA- VIOLENT protest sparked off in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State Thursday, over the killing of a commercial bus driver simply identified as Edwin by a trigger happy policeman for failing to part with N50 tip.

According to the conductor of the bus, Samuel Ekwueme who was crying uncontrollably, the police, at Anambra State Broadcasting  Service (ABS) Awka Road Onitsha junction check point, had stopped the Coaster bus driver with registration number AA 763 AHB and asked for N50 tip, but the driver gave him the normal N20.

Madalla Bomb suspect, Kabir Sokoto re-arrested

The main suspect of the Christmas Day bombing at Madalla , Suleja, in Niger state, Kabir Sokoto has been re-arrested.

Sokoto, is suspected to have masterminded the Christams Day 2011 bomb blast at the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State.

Microsoft, British Council plan 80 digital hubs in Africa

By Emeka Aginam
Software giant, Microsoft, in partnership with British Council will each invest $1 million over the next two years including human resources  and in-kind resources to build 80 digital hubs across 6 Sub Saharan countries.
The Africa digital schools project “Badiliko” is the first project to be implemented as part of the new global agreement between Microsoft and the British Council.

Panic grips oil industry over MEND’s threat

By Emma Amaize
*JTF put men on alert
WARRI- FEAR  enveloped the oil industry, Wednesday, as  the fear-provoking militant group,   Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND,  renewed, its warning to carry out more serious attacks on the Nigerian oil industry in the next few  weeks.
In response to the threat, however, the Joint Task Force, codenamed, Operation Pulo Shield, which dismissed the forewarning as propaganda,  has put its men on the alert in the Niger-Delta.
Investigations showed that oil companies, including Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNPEC, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Agip and others, have put in place some measures, which an industry source described as “normal” to avert danger.

Mother docked for selling son for N30,000

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, OWERRI.
A mother of three, Mrs. Chinenye Aghandu, of Umuezike, Anara, Isiala Mbano local council area of Imo State, is now cooling her heels in police custody, for allegedly selling her day-old baby boy for N30,000.
The other people arrested for allegedly being active participants in the alleged crime include the owner of a maternity home in Nwaorieubi, Mbaitoli local government area, as well as the couple that purchased the baby.

Visa racketeers siphon N3.6bn from Nigeria

By Hugo Odiogor
VISA processing and issuance procedures have become a major source of capital flight as Nigeria loses N3.6 billion through a web of criminal conspiracy between officials of government, embassy staff and consular officers of some embassies on one hand; desperate intending travellers and agents, their agents and proxies, making the West African country the most lucrative consular operating centre in the world.

Shell raises alarm over oil theft

LAGOS (AFP) – Shell raised the alarm on Monday over repeated damage to a key pipeline in southern Nigeria by what it said were thieves seeking to siphon off crude for sale on the lucrative black market.
The Anglo-Dutch oil giant said the Nembe Creek Trunkline had been hit by an increased number of attacks by thieves “barely 16 months after the old line was replaced due to repeated sabotage attacks.”
While highly organised crude theft — locally called “bunkering” — has long been a major problem in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, authorities have warned that the practice has been on the rise.
It involves thieves tapping pipelines to siphon off oil either to be sold as crude or to be treated at makeshift refineries. The oil is often directed toward waiting vessels.

MEND resumes hostilities

Blows up Agip trunk line in Bayelsa
BY EMEKA MAMAH & EMMA AMAIZE
WARRI – AFTER cessation of hostilities for some months in the Niger Delta, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, weekend, threatened to bomb telecommunications giant MTN, SACOIL and other investments by South Africans in Nigeria over alleged interference of President Jacob Zuma in its struggle for justice in the oil producing communities.
The militant group also bombed  a trunk pipeline at Brass in Bayelsa State. The pipeline belongs to Italy’s Eni SpA, ENI, which lost “around 4,000” barrels per day of “equity production” from the incident, the Rome-based company said in an e-mailed statement  yesterday  confirming the attack.
The pipeline carries crude to an export terminal in the coastal town of Brass, about 250 kilometres south west of the oil-industry hub of Port Harcourt.

Akpabio donates N50m to Xmas Day bombing victims

The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has donated N50 million to the victims of Christmas Day bombing at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State.
About 43 persons were confirmed dead and more than 100 others injured in the attack which the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for. Victims of the bomb blast were recently buried in a mass grave.

Forensic evidence: Ngige, Akunyili know fate Tuesday

BY VINCENT UJUMADU
AWKA – Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka yesterday ruled that it would next Tuesday decide whether or not to reject  written statement of the forensic expert that investigated the votes cast in April 26 senatorial election for Anambra Central senatorial zone.
The tribunal is handling the petition brought by Prof Dora Akunyili who contested the election on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, against Sen Chris Ngige of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

Robbers cart N96m at Lagos Airport

By ALBERT AKPOR, LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE
ROBBERS, Wednessday night, carted away  US$600,000 (N95, 969, 998.17 million) from a Bureau De Change operator inside  Murtala Muhamed International Airport Lagos.
A source at the airport told Vanguard that the robbers stormed the car park which is usually in darkness and shot sporadically into the air, wounding a woman, before dispossessing their victim of the said amount at about 8.30pm.
The incident, according to the operator who simply identified himself as Salisu took place without any intervention from the security agencies stationed at various locations at the airport.
Salisu said the robbers who arrived with sophisticated weapons traced a Dubai bound passenger that came to change his money into American dollars, adding that the operator ran into the robbers and was disposess of the foreign currency.
However, efforts to reach the Commissioner of Police, at MMA Command, Mr. Gwari Alkali proved abortive as he did not pick his calls or reply the SMS that was sent to him.
The Command Public Relation Officer, Mr Denis Ifijen was also contacted on telephone to confirm the  incident but his phone number  did not go through.

 

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/02/robbers-cart-n96m-at-lagos-airport/

Arrested kingpin not our spokesman – Boko Haram

MAIDUGURI(AFP) – A member of Islamist group Boko Haram has confirmed one of the group’s high-ranking members was arrested, but refuted reports that the detained person was its spokesman.
In a phone conference with journalists in the northeastern city of Maiduguri late Thursday, the man said Boko Haram’s head of “public enlightenment” Abu Dardaa was arrested and not spokesman Abul Qaqa.
The man speaking on the phone claimed to be Abul Qaqa himself, but his voice sounded different from previous such conferences in which the purported spokesman has claimed responsibility for scores of deadly attacks.

Jonathan didn’t contest AU chairmanship – Presidency

President Goodluck Jonathan has debunked reports in a section of the media that he contested the AU Chairmanship position and lost to President Yayi Boni of Benin Republic at the 18th AU summit held in Addis Ababa.
In a statement, Monday,  by Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity),Reuben Abati; ” It is not true that President Yayi Boni “defeated” President Goodluck Jonathan in an election; there was no contest in the first place and President Jonathan was not a candidate for the AU Chairmanship position.”

Man docked for stealing of Policeman’s N30,000

By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE & CHIDIMMA OKEREAFOR
LAGOS — A 28-year-old man, Jamiu Surakat, who allegedly stole N30,000 belonging to a policeman, Sgt. Henry Okon, during the nationwide strike and protests against Federal Government removal of fuel subsidy, has been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos.

Supreme Court sacks Bayelsa, Adamawa, Sokoto, C/River, Kogi govs

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
The Supreme Court has in a judgement delivered, Friday morning, sacked the five governors of Bayelsa, Adamawa, Sokoto, C/River, Kogi state from their respective office.
In a unanimous decision, a 7-man panel of justices of the apex court, maintained that the affected governors exceeded the 4-years tenure that was specifically stipulated in section 180(2) of the 1999 constitution.
Counsequently, it made an order setting aside the two lower courts judgments that ab-initio elongated the tenure of the governors till this year.
The affected governors areTimipre Sylva(Bayelsa) Magatakada Wamakko,(Sokoto) Liyel Imoke(C/River) Ibrahim Idris(Kogi) and Murtala Nyako( Adamawa)

 

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/breaking-news-supreme-court-sacks-bayelsa-adamawa-sokoto-criver-kogi-govs/

FG urged to refund N350bn to states on federal roads repairs

BY DANIEL IDONOR
ABUJA — THE National Economic Council, NEC, comprising the 36 states and the Federal Government, yesterday, rose from its first quarterly meeting of the year with a resolution that the central government refunds the over N350 billion that states expended on the repair of federal roads in their respective domain.
At the end of the meeting, the state governors successfully secured a commitment from the Federal Government to accelerate the verification and payment of claims regarding the rehabilitation of federal roads.
Addressing State House correspondents, Governors Theodore Orji (Abia), Olusegun Mimiko, (Ondo), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) with some of his colleagues explained that the NEC mandated the Federal Ministry of Works to liaise with the state governments towards ensuring the resolution of the matter.

Lagos begins deflooding of 370 schools

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo
LAGOS – No fewer than 370 of the 623 primary and secondary schools identified to be flood prone are currently undergoing various channelization, aimed at combating the perennial flooding problem across the state.

Mechanic to die by hanging for stealing car stereo

By Austin Ogwuda, Asaba
A motor mechanic has been sentenced to death by hanging for armed robbery.  He was sentenced to death for robbing a University Lecturer of his car stereo at gun point in company of another accomplice, now deceased.

Girl born without limbs in Bauchi

By Emeka Mamah & Suzan Edeh
BAUCHI—A baby, girl, without hands and legs, has been born in Sandigalua village in Zaki Government Area of Bauchi State. The baby, named Fatima, was born to the family of Ahmadu Didda, a peasant farmer and wife, Rukaiyya, on January 13.

We're on Northern govs’payroll – Boko Haram

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, AbdulSalam Muhammad, Victoria Ojeme & Ndahi Marama
LAGOS —The Boko Haram sect has cited the stoppage of its monthly financial support for the recent attacks on northern states, claiming that the group was until recently being bankrolled by some northern governors.

600 million new jobs needed in next 10 years says ILO

GENEVA (AFP) – The International Labour Organization on Tuesday released a pessimistic report for the global jobs market in 2012 saying urgent attention is needed to create 600 million new jobs in the next 10 years.
“Despite strenuous government efforts, the jobs crisis continues unabated, with one in three workers worldwide, or an estimated 1.1 billion people, either unemployed or living in poverty,” said ILO director-general, Juan Somavia, in the Global Employment Trends 2012 report.

Kano blast: Police confirm 186 dead

By AbdulSalam Muhammad
KANO—The Police authority in Kano yesterday confirmed that a total of 186 persons died from last Friday multiple bomb blast that rocked the ancient city of Kano
A statement signed by the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris in Kano put the civilian casualty at 150, while his Command lost a total of 29 personnel during the attack

Alhaja Odofin, 7-yr-old son declared missing

Former chairmanship candidate of Peoples Democratic party, PDP, in Eti Osa Local Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Odofin, popularly known as Eleshin has declared his wife, Alhaja Fatimoh Odofin and his 7-year-old son, Toheeb Odofin missing and appealed to anyone with useful information on their whereabouts to contact the nearest police station.
Alhaji Odofin said his wife and son left home on December 22, 2011, and have not been located since then. According to him, Alhaja Fatimoh Odofin whose maiden name is Fatunwase Abimbola Yetunde drove out with their son in their Toyota FJ Landcruiser car with registration number AP980EKY.

ICC denies deal for Kaddafi’s son to be tried in Libya

THE HAGUE (AFP) – The International Criminal Court denied Monday that it had agreed that Seif al-Islam, slain Libyan dictator Muammar Kaddafi’s most prominent son, can be tried in Libya.
“The ICC has made no decision on this matter,” court spokesman Fadi el-Abdallah told AFP in response to a claim by Libya’s Justice Minister Ali H’mida Ashur that Seif would be judged by a Libyan court.
The ICC said earlier in a Twitter message that it had received a reply from the Libyan authorities to questions asked by its judges by a Monday deadline.

Police thwart fresh attacks, find over 100 bombs in Kano

KANO  (AFP) – Nigerian police foiled fresh attacks in the city of Kano Monday, discovering eight bomb-laden cars and over 100 unexploded devices around sites attacked last week.
“So far we have discovered over 100 home-made bombs in the operation we have launched in bomb recovery in different parts of the city,” said a senior police official on condition of anonymity.
He said “lots of the unexploded bombs were recovered around the police headquarters” which was one of the targets struck in the deadly Friday attacks.

Emir of Kano weeps as Jonathan visits

By AbdulSalam Muhammad & Victoria  Ojeme
KANO—The pomp of royalty was set aside, yesterday, as the revered Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero broke down in tears as he recounted the loss of human lives that followed last Friday’s Boko Haram attack on the ancient city before a visiting President Goodluck Jonathan.
Right in front of his subjects while receiving President Goodluck Jonathan, the octogenarian monarch could not hold back his tears, while reflecting on the level of carnage and the hundreds of innocent souls who had been killed from bomb blasts by the Boko Haram sect.

DSP, army corporal, 8 others killed as explosions rock Bauchi

By Suzan Edeh with agency report
Bauchi— Barely 24 hours after explosions rocked several parts of Kano State metropolis, leaving 162 persons dead, two churches were destroyed when two bombs exploded in the neighbouring Bauchi State in the wee hours of yesterday while some unidentified gunmen invaded the Tafawa Balewa area of the metropolis killing eight civilians, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP,  a soldier and another unidentified police corporal. The deceased DSP was simply identified as Adeleke.
*warning: graphic image below*

Bombs, gunfire rock Nigeria; more than 140 killed

LAGOS, Nigeria — Coordinated attacks claimed by a radical Islamist sect left at least 143 people dead in Nigeria's second-largest city, a hospital official said Saturday.
The official said Saturday that the figure represented those in a mortuary at Kano's largest hospital, as well as those whose bodies have already been claimed by families for burial.

Wikipedia, Google protest Internet bills

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Wikipedia went dark, Google blotted out its logo and other popular websites planned protests on Wednesday to voice concern over legislation in the US Congress intended to crack down on online piracy.
Wikipedia shut down the English version of its online encyclopedia for 24 hours to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) introduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate version, the Protect IP Act (PIPA).

Soldiers ‘ll remain on the streets – FG

By Rotimi Ajayi, Henry Umoru & Gbenga Akanmu
ABUJA- THE Federal Government declared, yesterday, that it was not in any way prepared to withdraw soldiers who have been deployed to patrol the streets of Lagos and some other cities across the country until there was total peace in such areas. This came as Lagos lawmakers have joined others in condemning government’s action and called for the withdrawal of the soldiers.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed said that the deployment of soldiers became imperative following security reports that some persons had concluded plans to hijack the protests and rallies and make the government ungovernable for President Goodluck Jonathan even if the organised labour called off the strike. He explained that soldiers were deployed to give support to the Police.

Much ado about fuel subsidy

By TUNDE BAKARE –
DEFINITION: To subsidise is to sell a product below the cost of production. Since the Federal Government has been secretive about the state of our refineries and their production capacity, we will focus on importation rather than production. So, in essence, within the Nigerian Fuel Subsidy context, to subsidise is to sell petrol below the cost of importation.
The unsubstantiated claims of the Federal Government: The government claims that Nigerians consume 34 million litres of petrol per day. The government has also said publicly that N141 per litre is the unsubsidised pump price of petrol imported into Nigeria. (N131.70 kobo being the landing price and N9.30 kobo being profit.)

Soldiers rescue Eze Igbo from suspected Boko Haram

BY VINCENT UJUMADU
AWKA—IGBOS residing in Mubi, Adamawa State, are still having rough times in the hands of the dreaded Boko Haram sect as members of the sect weekend attempted to kill Eze Igbo in the area, Chief Malachy Agbazue. They were, however, unsuccessful as soldiers came to his rescue.
Agbazue was said to have been working with Lamido Mubi, Alhaji Issa Amoudu, to stop further killing of Igbos in the area.

Affordable malaria medicines: When will Nigerians begin to benefit?

By CHIOMA OBINNA
Little Nkem was the joy of her parents who were childless for over 15 years before her birth. From the date of her birth, Nkem was adored as the princess of the house. Her parents never ceased to thank God each day that breaks. But little did they know that their joy will be short lived.
It started like a fairy tale when Nkem all of sudden became ill. All efforts to bring down the high fever proved abortive. Sadly, there was no money to take her to a health centre. They, they resorted to self medication. Nkem was bombarded with different types of pain relievers in the absence of standard medical treatment in any hospital.

Puzzle as convicted Nollywood actress escapes prison custody

By TINA AKANNAM, Dutse
•She was aided internally -  Comptroller
PRISON officials at the Hadejia Prisons in Jigawa State are still battling to unravel the circumstances surrounding the ‘mysterious’ disappearance from custody, of a convicted Nollywood actress, Rabi Ismaila. The Kano -based actress said to have made her marks in Hausa home videos is popularly called Rabi Cecilia by her numerous fans.

Nigeria heading for civil war – Soyinka

LONDON (AFP) -  Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka warned on Tuesday that his country was heading towards a civil war, blaming political leaders who spread religious intolerance.

Asked whether he agreed with President Goodluck Jonathan that the current unrest was worse than the 1960s civil war, he told the BBC World Service: “It’s not an unrealistic comparison — it’s certainly based on many similarities.

Oil prices rally as traders monitor situation in Nigeria

LONDON (AFP) – World oil prices rose on Tuesday, in line with gains across global stock markets as buoyant US consumer data and simmering tensions in crude producers Iran and Nigeria provided support, analysts said.
New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery in February, rallied $1.38 cents to $102.69 a barrel.

5 dead, 10,000 displaced after clashes in Benin

BENIN CITY (AFP) – Clashes that broke out after Muslims were violently targeted in Benin have left five people dead and more than 10,000 displaced, a Red Cross official said Tuesday.
“We have recorded so far five deaths — on both sides, those that have been attacked and the attackers,” said Dan Enowoghomwenwa, secretary general of the Nigerian Red Cross in Edo state, said
“We have over 10,000 internally displaced persons in various places."

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/5-dead-10000-displaced-after-clashes-in-benin/

Libya gets $20 bn of Muammar Gaddafi freed assets

TRIPOLI (AFP) – Libya has received roughly $20 billion in assets that were held overseas by Muammar Gaddafi’s regime and frozen during the conflict that ousted him, the country’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.
An estimated $150 billion (117 billion euro) Gaddafi’s overseas assets were frozen following United Nations Security Council sanctions against his regime during the popular uprising and civil war that led to the veteran dictator’s downfall.

Mandela’s life story to be turned into TV series

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela’s life story is to be turned into a six-part television mini-series co-created by his grandson, the producers behind the multinational project said Monday.
Entitled “Madiba”, Mandela’s clan name, the series “will take a broad view of the inner passions and outside forces that guided him,” they said in a statement.
With a budget of $30 million (24 million euros), the project will explore Mandela’s relationship with his mother, his political activism, imprisonment, rise as political leader and election as South Africa’s first black president.

Quintuplets: Three discharged, two still under intensive care

BY EBUN SESSOU
On Friday 23, 2011, the news of the Nigerian born quintuplets (five babies) who were born at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba, spread across the country. The news was not just for broadcast only but for people to know that such a wonder also takes in this part of the world.
The three weeks old babies born into the family of Mr and Mrs Wale Shofunlayo are still hale and hearty but they are still at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital where they are being taken care of.
At present, three of the children have been released to their parents while the other two are still under a close watch by the authorities of the hospital.

Counting the cost of a Greek gift

By Charles Kumolu
ISAIAH Danmaliki (not real name) works with one of the Federal Government parastatals in Lagos State. But for the recent increment of the national minimum wage he lived on a monthly salary of N18,000 before now.

In Rivers, food prices sky-rocket, fares now 300 percent higher

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME
PORT HARCOURT: Mrs Chigozie went to the popular Mile 1 market in Port Harcourt Wednesday evening to buy food items. As she was haggling with meat sellers, she did not know when she suddenly burst into tears. Later when she pulled herself together, she muttered to those around that she was forced to start weeping when she realised that the prices of things in the market had gone up by over a 100 percent.
Her experience has become almost a regular occurence at the market where periwinkle that sold for N100 a cup before the withdrawal of fuel subsidy now goes for N250.

Bonga oil spill: RA/FoE findings

Location: Odioama Community, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State
Following an alert from fisher folks in Odioma community on the discovery of oil slick suspected to be from Shell’s Bonga Field, ERA/FoEN monitors visited the Atlantic shoreline in the company of some of the fishermen where spreading spill was sighted.

Nigeria takes on Rwanda in 2013 Africa Cup of Nations draw

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – The struggle for places at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on the western island of Sao Tome e Principe this weekend — more than a month before the 2012 final is staged in Gabon.

Fayemi grants amnesty to 10 inmates

Ten inmates of the Ado-Ekiti Prison have been granted amnesty by Gov. Kayode Fayemi as part of the new year celebrations. They include eight males and two heavily pregnant female inmates of the prison.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, said the two pregnant inmates, Bose Joseph and Omotosho Yetunde, were at advanced stages of pregnancy and there were fears that their prospective babies could suffer stigmatisation if allowed to deliver in the prison yard.
The statement said the eight other inmates had been under incarceration in the prison for between 12 and 14 years while awaiting trial.

Fire guts Wema Bank head office

LAGOS – Wema Bank Plc’s head office in Lagos, yesterday, was gutted by fire which emanated from the power generating set.
However, the bank was unable to ascertain the cost of damage that might have occurred as a result of the fire at press time.