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Thursday, 22 December 2016 02:32

Street dancing as UK court orders ex-Gov Ibori freed

People danced in the streets in southern Nigeria on Wednesday, celebrating news that a British court has ordered the release of a former governor convicted of stealing more than $70 million from Nigeria's treasury. James Ibori, governor of oil-rich Delta State from 1999 to 2007, was halfway through serving a 13-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to money-laundering and fraud. British High Court Judge Juliet May on Wednesday ordered his immediate release based on supported allegations that police investigators took bribes and prosecutors covered it up. In Nigeria, where corruption is endemic, Ibori supporters danced for joy and set off…

Thursday, 22 December 2016 02:30

Kaduna govt imposes 24-hour curfew on 3 local governments

A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on three local government areas in Kaduna State. The affected areas are Zangon-Kataf, Kaura and Jema’a. The State Security Council said it took the step following credible intelligence about risk to lives and property in the areas. Kaduna has 23 local government areas. Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this in a statement shortly after an emergency meeting of the Council on Wednesday in Kaduna. Mr. Aruwan disclosed that the Council also reaffirmed the ban on all processions and unlawful assembly throughout the state. The statement said that security agencies had also been…

Thursday, 22 December 2016 02:26

Angry Ekiti traders destroy government, police property

Traders and street hawkers in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Wednesday resisted attempts by officials of the Ministry of Works to restrain them from displaying their wares along the roads. Having prepared well to make huge gains in the ongoing yuletide, the traders considered the action of the task force a “disturbance,” and an attempt to deny them of their season’s profit. They also engaged in street protests, burn fires, and even vandalizing the office of the Commissioner for Works, Funmi Ogun. Trouble began when early on Wednesday morning, officials of the ministry, popularly called “Dagrin,” prevented street…

Wednesday, 21 December 2016 16:49

Expose corruption and make money as FG adopts new whistle blowing policy

The Federal Government has approved a new policy on whistle blowing that aims to encourage Nigerians to report financial and other related crimes to relevant authorities. The highlight of the policy is that whistleblowers whose revelations lead to recovery of money will be entitled to as much as 5 per cent of the recovered sum. The new policy was approved Wednesday at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari inside the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Villa. The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who announced the new policy to State House correspondents, said…

Wednesday, 21 December 2016 16:47

Buhari faces spreading opposition as economy slumps - Bloomberg

Yusuf Rabiu went door-to-door urging people in the northern Nigerian city of Kano to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in last year’s elections. Now he’s regretting his decision. “We expected him to solve our economic problems,” Rabiu, a 36-year-old hat seller, said at the city’s Kurmi market as a group of friends nodded in agreement. "I didn’t know voting for him would mean more hunger, more suffering.” After ending the 16-year reign of the People’s Democratic Party last year in what won praise as a peaceful transition of power in Africa, Buhari is facing a firestorm of criticism. Even some…

Wednesday, 21 December 2016 16:45

Yes, Ibori is out of jail, but he can't come home yet

Residents of Asaba, Delta State, who are currently celebrating the release of their former governor, James Ibori, may have to wait till well after January 2017 before they can physically embrace their son. According to reports, on Tuesday, a London High court had ruled that the Home Office could no longer hold the ex-governor who had served six-and-a-half-years of his 13-year jail term, as the sentence ran concurrently. Ibori was subsequently released on Wednesday morning. The British Home Office had made an unsuccessful attempt to prevent his release, claiming that Ibori’s assets confiscation hearing was inconclusive. However, on Wednesday, the…

Wednesday, 21 December 2016 16:43

CNPP urges Senate to scrap EFCC, says Magu's rejection in order

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has urged the leadership of the Senate not to bow to pressure or the antics of persons wishing to be immuned from corruption who are working to ensure that its effort to strengthen the war against corruption by the Muhammadu Buhari administration, which its rejection of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the EFCC represents. The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, noted that Magu's rejection is in order, and also called on…

Wednesday, 21 December 2016 16:41

FG declares three-day holiday to mark Christmas, New Year

The federal government has declared Monday 26 and Tuesday, 27 December 2016, as public holidays to mark the Christmas and Boxing Day celebrations. Similarly, Monday, January 2, 2017, is to be marked as holiday to usher in the New Year. A statement signed by Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Interior said the Minister, Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau who made the declaration on behalf of the federal government, enjoined all Christian faithful and Nigerians, in general, to remain committed and supportive of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, in his sustained efforts towards building a peaceful, united…

Wednesday, 21 December 2016 16:40

Don’t borrow to celebrate Christmas, CAN urges Nigerians

Coordinating Chaplain, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Bishop Peter Ogunmuyiwa, has advised Christians to eschew borrowing money to celebrate yuletide. He gave the advice on Wednesday in Abuja. The bishop also urged them learn to manage the little resources at their disposal to achieve best result, reminding them that the nation was passing through economic challenges. “We should learn to revere God; we should embrace him, appreciate him, don’t do things to impress people and don’t do it to the extent of going into debt. “We are not just doing a birthday party but we are also celebrating the birth…

Wednesday, 21 December 2016 02:52

AGF Malami queries Magu, begins probe into DSS allegations

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, has begun investigations into various allegations against some top Federal Government officials as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday. Our correspondents learnt on Tuesday that following the President’s directive, the AGF had, on Monday, issued a query to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu. Sources in the Federal Ministry of Justice and the EFCC confirmed that the query was delivered to Magu on Monday. It was learnt that the query was accompanied by allegations contained in the security report prepared…

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Wednesday, 21 December 2016 02:50

Dispora Nigerians remit $35bn in 2016 - Dabiri-Erewa

Diaspora Nigerians have remitted over $35 billion back home this year alone, according to the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Matters, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa. Dabiri-Erewa, who disclosed this when she visited the Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS, in Abuja, yesterday, said: “In 2016, they remitted $35 billion, which is higher than what was remitted in 2015. This the highest in Africa and the third largest in the world remittance by Nigerians living abroad.” She urged the service to pay particular attention to concerns of Nigerians in the Diaspora who had complained about multiple…

Wednesday, 21 December 2016 02:48

47 career ambassadors assigned to countries of service

The Federal Government has assigned portfolios to all the 47 career ambassadors cleared by the Senate. A document seen by our reporter listed the envoys and their portfolios as Abia: Obinna Chukwuemeka Agbugba (Togo), Adamawa: Salisu Umaru (Senegal), Paragalda Ilyasu Audu (Turkey), Akwa Ibom: Inyan Udo-Inyang (Gabon), Anambra: Okeke Vivian Nwunaku (Spain), Nonye Udo (Austria); Bauchi: Liman Munir (Congo), Benue: Ndem Jane Ada (Sweden), Demenongu A. Agev (Equatorial Guinea), Borno: Mohammed Hassan Hassan (Kenya), Toko Ali Gongulong (Sao Tome & Principe), Lawan Abba Gashagar (Mali), Cross River: Martin Nyong Cobham (Thailand), Odeka Janet Bisong (Zimbabwe), Delta: Janet Omoleegho Olisa (Jamaica),…

Wednesday, 21 December 2016 02:46

Southern Kaduna youths protest, stone El-Rufai’s convoy

There was mayhem in Kafanchan, in Jema’a Local Council area of southern Kaduna yesterday, as youths protested against Governor Nasir El’Rufai’s handling of killings by Fulani herdsmen. The governor had visited Kafanchan, a day after a clash occured between the native Christian majority in the town and the resident Hausa/Fulani Muslims. The natives were said to be on a peaceful protest against the killing of their villagers and the burning of their houses, when they were attacked by Muslim youths. According to an eyewitness, the fight that followed led to the burning of some churches and a mosque, as well…

Wednesday, 21 December 2016 02:45

Nigerian Army to set up cattle ranches nationwide

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has said that the Nigerian Army would be raising up cattle ranches in such a manner that in almost all the divisions, and all the brigades, cattle will be reared. Buratai who was represented by the Chief of Army Logistics, Major General Patrick Akem, stated this on Tuesday at the Commissioning of Mogadishu Cantonment New Mammy Market (former Abacha Barracks), Abuja. The Army Chief disclosed that in keeping up with modern cattle rearing tradition, he sent officers of the Army to Argentina to look at how cattle were reared. “Argentina has a…

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