Ogun demolishes N34m FG building

                                                                                  Scene of the demolition

The Ogun State Government on Tuesday demolished a building worth N34m belonging to a Federal Government agency, Public Complaints Commission, in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The building, which was still under construction, had become a pile of rubble when our correspondent visited the site, located opposite the governor’s office, Oke Mosan.

Bulldozers and trucks belonging to the state government were also stationed at the site.

About four officials of the state government from the Ministry of Urban and Regional Planning were also present, supervising the demolition.

One of the officials who declined to disclose his identity to journalists, said the structure did not have the approval of the state government.

‘Mbu never said police should kill civilians’

                                                                                           Joseph Mbu

The Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 2 Command, CSP Gbenga Adeoye, says the Assistant Inspector General of Police, , Mr. Joseph Mbu, never ordered the killing of 20 civilians for every policeman killed during his visit to the Ogun State Police Command.

Adeoye in statement on Tuesday said the purported claim was “gross misinformation,” adding that those criticising Mbu should have watched the video which he said was in the public domain before berating him.

The statement read, “For the interest of the people of Zone 2, comprising Ogun and Lagos states, and the Nigerian public , they should go to Youtube to listen to what the AIG said in Ogun State.

EFCC arraigns captain, 22 others for oil bunkering

                                                                                                   The suspects

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday took 20 men including one Captain Daniel Lebile before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly dealing in petroleum products without lawful authority.

The accused persons were arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba on three counts in relation to the offence.

Apart from Lebile, the others are Ala Ibanibo, Wole Ajayi, Adesunloye Fani-Kayode, Michael Mgbanwa, Segun Ekundemi, Johnson Mashebinu, Ndidi Benjamin, Bright Nwaezuoke, Blessing Omoviye and Kayode Ireti.

Others are Chuks Isiwepkweni, Friday Nchikpa, Peter Bayo, Ubom Amos, Zuopamo Embiowei, Olabamerun Owolemi, Adams Husseini, Ebisingha Timmy and Godwin Oputeh.

The accused persons were arraigned alongside their vessel, MV Long Island, and their companies, Afa Global Impex Services Limited and GFL Marine Service Limited.

Nigeria targets cargo imports from Niger Republic

                                     Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan Bello

Nigeria is targeting over three million metric tonnes of imported cargoes from Niger Republic through improved seaport efficiency .

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, disclosed this at an interactive session with journalists in Lagos.

Bello said Niger Republic, a landlocked country, was annually importing the said amount of cargoes through Togo, Republic of Benin and Ghana.

He said, “We are talking with Nigerien shippers. We want them to import their cargoes through our ports. Already, we have lost a tremendous amount of money to other African ports through cargo diversion.”

INEC to test smartcard readers in 12 states

                                 Resident Electoral Commissioner, Lagos State, Mr. Akin Orebiyi

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that smartcard readers would be tested in 12 states chosen from across the six geo-political zones of the country to assess their efficiency ahead of the general elections.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday.

According to the INEC boss, Lagos and Ekiti states have been chosen for the exercise in the South-West which would feature voters presenting their Permanent Voter Cards for accreditation and verification.

Orebiyi explained that the exercise would enable the electoral body to identify challenges that may rear its head on the election days with a view to correcting them.

Tinubu, Fashola, others to hold one-million-man march

                                                                                                  Tinubu and Fashola

In a bid to neutralise the effect of the visits of President Goodluck Jonathan to Lagos, chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, led by former Governor Bola Tinubu and Governor Babatunde Fashola, will on Saturday hold a one-million-man march.

Lagos, which has the highest number of voters in the country, will be a major battleground between the Peoples Democratic Party and the APC.

Addressing journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, the Lagos State coordinator of the APC Campaign Organisation, Mr. James Faleke, said the walk would begin from Maryland through Allen Avenue and end at Alausa, behind the Ikeja City Mall.

PDP planning to frame Jega, Tinubu, says APC

                              National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Lai Mohammed

The All Progressives Congress says it has uncovered a plot by the Peoples Democratic Party to frame the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in order to justify his sacking.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday that the PDP was plotting to deposit a huge amount of money into the bank account of Jega and make it appear as if the money emanated from Tinubu.

Mohammed said since the PDP had been unable to stop the use of Permanent Voter Cards and card readers, the next step would be a plot by the ruling party to attempt to undermine Jega’s credibility in the eyes of Nigerians so as to get him sacked.

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Onigbinde, Nwosu knock NFF over Keshi’s contract controversy

                                                     Former Nigeria coach, Adegboye Onigbinde

Former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, and ex-Golden Eaglets manager, Henry Nwosu, have knocked the Nigeria Football Federation for the lingering controversy over the appointment of a new coach for the national team.

Since November 2014, when Nigeria failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, the NFF has not been able to get a fresh coach for the national team or renew Stephen Keshi’s contract.

And since last week the federation has stuck in a controversy with Keshi over the details of contract proposal handed him.

Keshi’s agent was on Monday quoted as saying the new deal is a “slave contract” while insisting that the former Eagles’ captain would not accept it.

PDP planning to frame Jega, Tinubu, says APC

                        National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Lai Mohammed

The All Progressives Congress says it has uncovered a plot by the Peoples Democratic Party to frame the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in order to justify his sacking.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday that the PDP was plotting to deposit a huge amount of money into the bank account of Jega and make it appear as if the money emanated from Tinubu.

Mohammed said since the PDP had been unable to stop the use of Permanent Voter Cards and card readers, the next step would be a plot by the ruling party to attempt to undermine Jega’s credibility in the eyes of Nigerians so as to get him sacked.

Obasanjo scores two goals in birthday’s match

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (left); former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Deacon Victor Durodola, during a novelty match organised by the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library

It was a fun filled football match on Wednesday evening at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta when a team led by former president Olusegun Obasanjo of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library slugged it out with a team of Ogun State Government led by the governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

At the end of the novelty match which was to commemorate the 78th birthday of Obasanjo, OOPL team beat the state government team 2-1.

The two goals were scored by Obasanjo while the Special Assistant to the governor on Special Duties scored the only goal for the government team.

Petrol subsidy rises to N1.43tn in 26 months

For the whole of 2013, 2014 and the first two months this year, a total amount of N1.43tn was recorded as the total petrol subsidy claims from oil marketers.

Out of this amount, the Federal Government is said to be owing marketers a total of N264bn. N164bn of this amount is the actual subsidy covering part of 2014 and the first two months of 2015.

The remaining N100bn, according to the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, comprised accumulated interest on loans obtained by marketers from banks for petrol imports, and foreign exchange differentials occasioned by the devaluated naira.

Agitations by marketers last month had made the Federal Government agree to pay marketers a total of N264bn as subsidy arrears for the periods under review in March (this month).

Patience Jonathan, a crude woman, says APC

                                                               Mrs. Patience Jonathan

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation on Wednesday described the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan as “an incredibly crude woman.” The party also commended Nigerians for putting up with her.

The campaign organisation was reacting to a report that Mrs. Jonathan described the APC Presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), as brain dead at a campaign rally in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on Tuesday.

The President’s wife also warned women against voting for Buhari because, according to her, the APC presidential candidate would put women in purdah and trample on their rights.

Senate in rowdy session over Obanikoro’s screening

                                                          Musiliu Obanikoro

The Senate had a rowdy executive session for about two hours on Wednesday as a result of attempt by Senate President, David Mark, to convince his colleagues to give Musiliu Obanikoro an easy passage, in accordance to the tradition of the upper chamber in the screening of former senators nominated for appointment as ministers.

The Senate had over the years adopted the “take a bow” treatment for nominee ex-senators. Obanikoro was a member of the upper federal legislative chamber between 2003 and 2007 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy. His name is among the eight new ministerial nominees before the Senate for consideration.

Members of the opposition All Progressives Congress in the Senate had, last week, vowed to oppose the confirmation of Obanikoro.

Fuel queues’ll disappear by weekend – FG

                                           Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

The Federal Government on Wednesday assured Nigerians that the current petrol scarcity being experienced in many parts of the country would be over before the end of the week.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stated this shortly after meeting with members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria.

The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, was also attended by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, representatives of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency and depot owners.

Surrender or face death, Chadian President warns Shekau

                                                           President Idriss Deby

President Idriss Deby of Chad on Wednesday called on Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, to surrender or face death.

Derby told a news conference in N’djamena, that he knows the whereabouts of Shekau, who, according to him, was sighted in Dikwa , a village in Borno State two days ago.

“Abubakar Shekau must surrender. We know where he is. If he doesn’t give himself up he will suffer the same fate as his compatriots,” he said.

“He (Shekau) was in Dikwa two days ago. He managed to get away but we know where he is. It’s in his interests to surrender,” Deby added.

APC, Fayose in war of words over Jega

                APC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed and Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, and the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday engaged in a war of words over the fate of Prof. Attahiru Jega as the chairman of the the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Fayose began the verbal onslaught when he described the claim by the APC   of a plot by the Presidency to fire Jega, as a “mere comedy.”

The governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, advised the opposition party to stop acting as if Nigeria belonged to it.

“President Goodluck Jonathan can sack Jega if he wishes and if he does, heavens will not fall,” Fayose boasted, alleging that the APC had, by its actions, shown that it had a pact with the INEC chairman.

Pope Francis didn't make pets in heaven comment

Vatican City - It was a heartwarming story for legions of pet owners and animal lovers around the world.

Pope Francis, talking to a distraught boy whose pet had died, declared there was a place in heaven for the creatures we share our lives with. His comment was reported this week by many news media outside Italy, with dozens of articles in the United States. It was veritable catnip to social media.

However, it turned out the pope had not made the comment.

Boko Haram 'likely behind Jos, Nigeria bombings'

Lagos - A double bomb attack that killed 31 people in a crowded market in the central Nigerian city of Jos was likely to have been carried out by Boko Haram, the state government said on Friday.

"It's an extension of the terrorist acts that have been penetrating all states and cities," Pam Ayuba, spokesman for the Plateau state governor Jonah Jang, told AFP by telephone.

The blasts happened at about 18:00 on Thursday at a makeshift market near the Terminus bus station, not far from the site of a previous attack in May that left at least 118 dead.

Twin bomb blasts have rocked Jos

Abuja - Twin bomb blasts on Thursday rocked Jos, the capital of Plateau state in north-central Nigeria, killing at least 31 people, the newspaper Vanguard reported.

Reports said the bombs exploded at a makeshift market near a busy motor park and a fast food restaurant.

"The bodies recovered so far are 31, but rescue workers are at the scene and the figures may change," Vanguard quoted a spokesman for Plateau state governor as saying.