Ameobi says fit for World Cup playoff in Ethiopia

ABUJA (AFP) – Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi has dismissed speculation over his fitness ahead of Sunday’s 2014 World Cup play-off in Ethiopia.

R-E-V-E-A-L-E-D: Untold story of how man was stabbed to death in a viewing centre

By Uju Mbanusi

Adebola Omowale,the 40-year-old man that was allegedly stabbed to death, last weekend, by some military officers in a viewing centre around Lekki beach area in Lagos state could have survived if he had received urgent medical attention after the incident.  In fact, it was revealed that the injured man walked to a nearby hospital, clutching his intestines in his hands only to be told by nurses that he would not be treated unless he produced a police report.  Crime Alert learnt that after several pleas for him to receive, at least, first aid treatment pending when sympathizers who came to the hospital with him will bring the report, the badly injured man reclined to fate and laid on a pavement helplessly, waiting for succour.

3 children emerge winners in Indomie awards

Lagos – In fulfillment of its renowned Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative towards children, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles has unveiled three lucky winners for this year’s Indomie Independence Day Awards (IIDA) and rewarded them with cash prizes worth N2.25 million.

Farmer, 25, kills lover’s husband

Jos – The Plateau State Police Command on Wednesday paraded a 25-year-old farmer, Nanbul Samson, suspected to have killed one Nanbol, the husband of a woman he was going out with.

Also paraded was Mrs Yakbyen Nanbol, 25, who was Samson’s lover.

According to Mr Chris Olakpe, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Samson committed the offence in Langtang North Local Government Area on Sept. 13.

1 in 5 adults experience mental disorder – UNIC

Abuja -  The United Nation Information Centre (UNIC) on Wednesday said that at least one in five adults experienced mental or neurological disorder at aged 60 and over.

This is contained in a statement signed by the UNIC National Information Officer, Mr Oluseyi Soremekun, made available in Abuja.

Driver’s wife delivered of quadruplets

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA & RACHEAL OLAYIWOLA
A Lagos driver, Kehinde Tijani, and his wife Grace, were recently blessed with a set of quadruplets at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos, on October 1. They already have three sons before the new additions.

Ironically, what should bring joy is gradually becoming a source of worry for this couple, as Kehinde, a driver and Grace, a small-time caterer, were already living from hand to mouth before the four extra mouths put them at crossroads.

2 suspected homosexuals arraigned in Osun

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE
OSOGBO — Two persons suspected to be homosexuals, have been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court, OsunState for allegedly copulating inside the Peace of Jesus Apostolic Church located at Asubiaro area in Osogbo.

According to the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Solomon Oladele, the suspects, a 19-year-old Samuel Friday and Oni Oluwatobi, aged 18 were said to have committed the act sometime in May, 2013 at 2a.m., in the church.

Missing female lawyer’s body found mutilated in her chambers

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI
ABUJA— Police in Abuja are investigating the suspected murder of a female lawyer, Mrs. Ijeoma Micah, whose lifeless body was found mutilated, yesterday, in her chambers in the highbrow Maitama area of Abuja.

Jonathan inaugurates confab c’ttee

ABUJA — President Goodluck Jonathan, Monday, inaugurated the 13-man Advisory Committee to establish modalities for a national conference aimed at resolving issues that currently cause friction in the polity.

Speaking  during the inauguration held at the State House, Abuja , Jonathan charged the members of the committee to consult widely before developing the framework that will guide the proceedings of the dialogue.

Woman caught planting bomb near Iraq primary school

BAGHDAD (AFP) – A guard caught a woman planting a bomb next to a primary school in Iraq on Monday, while two blasts killed four Sahwa anti-Al-Qaeda fighters, officials said.

The woman was trying to plant a bomb next to the wall of a school in Madain, south of Baghdad, but was discovered by one of the school’s guards, who turned her over to the army with the help of a second guard, an interior ministry official said.

China says ‘clock is ticking’ on US debt ceiling

BEIJING (AFP) – A senior Chinese official voiced concern over a looming deadline for raising the US debt ceiling Monday, saying the “clock is ticking” to avoid a default that could seriously harm China’s economic interests.

PDP to Fani Kayode: You represent the bad, the ugly and the scandalous

I  was not indicted, says Fani-Kayode

LAGOS — Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described as a primitive, display of self- righteousness, comments credited to the former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode over last Thursday’s crash of an Associated Airline in Lagos.

Nwabueze opts out of National Conference, nominates Asemota

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG
National Chairman of The Patriots, Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, has written President Goodluck Jonathan, asking to be excused from the 13-man Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, which will be inaugurated today.

Taraba political logjam ridicules Nigeria’s democracy—Tsav

MAKURDI—Former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, has described the ongoing political logjam in Taraba State as a sad development and a ridicule of the Nigeria’s democracy.

Nigeria ranked high on implementation of environmental agreements

Abuja - A Kaduna-based environmental legal consultant, Mr Caleb Mutfwang, has ranked Nigeria high in the implementation of environmental multilateral agreements signed by the country.

Mutfwang in Abuja on Tuesday said that Nigeria had achieved a lot in the process of implementing those agreements.

Nokia to sell handset business to Microsoft for $7.2bn

Helsink – Two years after hitching its fate to Microsoft’s Windows Phone software, Nokia collapsed into the arms of the U.S. software giant, agreeing to sell its main handset business for 5.44 billion euros ($7.2 billion).

AGRA: Africa's soils are in trouble, says Jane Karuku

By JIMOH BABATUNDE, Maputo, Mozambique

The President of the Alliance for Green revolution in Africa (AGRA), Jane Karuku, has said that for Africa to be able to feed itself and  for its farm produce to be competitive in international market there is  need to use both organic and inorganic fertilizer.

Critical assets under threat, says Jonathan

By VICTORIA OJEME

Nigeria’s substantial investments and critical infrastructure are under threat of the actions of terrorists, vandals and saboteurs, President Goodluck Jonathan has said.

Jonathan expressed the concern, yesterday, in Abuja while declaring open a two-day stakeholders’ forum on the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, CNAI.

Woman arrested for dumping baby in toilet

Dutse - The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa on Tuesday arrested a 23-year-old woman for allegedly dumping her new born baby boy in a toilet in Hadeja town of Hadejia Local Government Area of the state.

Abortion saga: Rochas Okorocha bows

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI – Governor Rochas Okorocha Tuesdday, bowed to he superior fire power of the fiery Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, over the obnoxious abortion law.

Nigerian vigilantes take on Islamic extremists

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — The battered old car, cutlasses and nail-studded clubs poking out of its windows, careens down the road and squeals to a stop. Its young occupants pile out, shouting with glee, and set up a roadblock.

Who leads the APC?

By Ochereome Nnanna
THERE is no doubt about it – the registration of the All People’s Congress (APC) is very well received and acclaimed.

Patience Jonathan’s mother to be buried on Oct. 31

Abuja – The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has disclosed that the burial of her late foster mother, Mrs Charity Oba, would take place on Oct. 31.

Nigeria as dump ground for all devices

WITH the continued explosion in service offerings powered by ICT, it is little wonder that devices of all nature from all nations are finding their ways into Nigeria, and the market, unguarded, unprotected, even largely undiscerning gobbles them up, turning anonymous start-ups into instant millionaires in their countries.

300 Nigerian girls languish in Libyan prisons- YAMIDR

By SIMON EBEGBULEM
BENIN CITY — THE Initiative for Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Re-integration, IYAMIDR, yesterday, raised alarm that over 300 Nigerian girls are languishing in different prisons in Libya.

FIFA asks for clarity on Russian gay law

Football’s world governing body FIFA on Wednesday said it had asked 2018 World Cup hosts Russia to explain in more detail its controversial new law banning “homosexual propaganda” after criticism from athletes and activists.

Boko Haram has destroyed Nigeria’s reputation- FG

By Henry Umoru
ABUJA- THE Federal government Tuesday raised alarm that the lingering Boko Haram insurgency in some parts of the north where thousands of persons have been brutally killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed has damaged the reputation of the country.

RAMADAN TALK: I’tikaf for Night of Majesty

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

As the rainy season is suitable for farming,where crops and farm produce will grow and remain fresh, the period of Lailatul Qadri is a period for renewing our relationship with Allah and ensure closeness to Him.

Mother of Mrs Jonathan, Sese dies in autocrash

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME
PORT HARCOURT:  Mother of Mrs Patience Jonathan yesterday died in a ghastly motor accident around Elele part of the East West road while on her way to Bayelsa state.

Ondo senator weeps for endorsing under age girl marriage

By DAYO JOHNSON

AKURE — THE Senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly Senator, Ayo Akinyelure wept profusely publicly for being the only senator from the South-West that supported the inclusion of under age girl marriage in the constitution.

30 million girls still at risk of genital mutilation – UNICEF

United Nations – The UN Children Fund (UNICEF) has said that 30 million girls would still be at the risk of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in the next decade.

This was contained in a report entitled “Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A statistical overview and exploration of the dynamics of change”, launched on Monday.

Britain’s Kate gives birth to a baby boy

Prince William’s wife Kate on Monday gave birth to a baby boy who will one day be heir to the British throne, Kensington Palace said in a statement.

Kate William

“Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4:24pm (1524GMT),” said the statement. “The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz. (3.8 kilos).”

Seaburn is the Only Greek Bookstore in New York!

By Afroditi Lakkiotis

Sam Chekwas

One of the most well known sights in Astoria is the Greek bookstore owned by Sam Chekwas. This is the only Greek bookstore in New York!   Seaburn is situated on 33-18 Broadway and offers a variety of Greek books.  Topics include ancient literature and history, modern literature and history, biographies, studies even art books.  Books are written in Greek and English.
48- year-old owner Sam Chekwas is a Nigerian who feels Greek.  He is fluent in Greek.  He was a student in Nigeria, when he read the tragedy “Antigoni” in English. From then on he became a huge supporter of the Greek spirit. In the 1980′s he came to Greece to study and learn the Greek language. After becoming a dentist, he left Thessaloniki and travelled to America to meet his brothers. In 1992, he invented Seaburn publications. He has already published 120 Greek books, including an anthology entitled Salonica Press. In 1994, he inaugurated his bookstore which offers about 7,000 books. Who reads them? “They order them to me, and then I deliver them everywhere there is a Greek population.”, adds Sam. Recently there is a decline in selling books as they are very expensive in America.

Arrest of royal father sparks crisis in Lagos community

By Bose Adelaja

A popular saying has it that where two elephants fight, the grass suffers. This aptly describes the present state of Imowo-nla community in Ikorodu area of Lagos State where the land owners popularly called Omo-Oniles have taken the law into their hands, threatening the peace of this ancient community in the process.

PPMC puts out Ilado pipeline fire

…Navy says no casualty recorded

By Sebastine Obasi

Pipeline and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, the marketing arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, confirmed that it had successfully put out a pipeline fire, which occurred while vandals tried to siphon fuel.

Attempts by the vandals to steal oil from the Akinbo Jetty, Ilado, Lagos, on Tuesday backfired as their canoe gutted fire, thereby preventing them from carting away with their loot.

Most Nigerian hospitals lack equipment – FRSC

Jos – The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said on Wednesday that most hospitals in Nigeria lacked the essential equipment and manpower to handle trauma cases.

Nigeria receives N2.08trn from global agencies

By Dotun Ibiwoye
Nigeria has received a total of N2.08 trillion ($13 billion) from international donor agencies under the Country Assistance Framework, CAF, as at the end of 2012, according to a report on CAF programme for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Court orders arrest of EFCC boss, Lamorde

By IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI
ABUJA — Justice Peter Kekemeke of an Abuja High Court has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to arrest the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, for disobeying a valid court order.

APGA Long Road to Peace

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor
A fresh move to heal the multiple crises in the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, has gained pace with the inauguration of a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Committee headed by Chief Reagan Ufomba, the party’s erstwhile gubernatorial candidate in Abia State. But given the vested interests, finding truth and applying justice would be an arduous task.

Obama unlikely to see Mandela

PRETORIA (AFP) – US President Barack Obama is unlikely to see critically ill Nelson Mandela when he visits South Africa later this week, the country’s minister of international relations said Tuesday.
“President Obama would have loved to see president Mandela, but he is indisposed,” said Maite Nkoane Mashebane.