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Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, has said the military was avoiding the use of heavy power attacks on the abductors of school girls in Chibok, Borno, for the sake of the girls’ safety.







He, however, assured that the military would free the girls.



Mr. Badeh, an Air Chief Marshall, made the remark when the Board and Management of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, paid a visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.



The chief of defence staff assured that the military would soon free the school girls from their abductors.



He condemned the activities of the insurgents in the north, saying “what is happening in the northern Nigeria is pure madness.”



“It is not the number of those abducted that is the issue but the attendant psychological trauma of every parent.



“We were given information about where they are. We cannot use heavy power attack because we will kill the school girls but I assure you that we will free them’’, he said.



Over 270 girls were kidnapped from their school, Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on April 14 by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect. Of this number, 230 are yet to be found and are believed to be with their abductors. Forty-three others have been united with their parents with many of them escaping from their kidnappers.



Thousands of Nigerians have condemned the kidnap and asked the government to free the girls unharmed. On Wednesday, scores of women defiled the rain to protest in Abuja; demanding freedom for the final year school girls.



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Atletico Madrid set up a Champions League final against city rivals Real Madrid after coming from behind to win 3-1 at Chelsea in their semi-final second leg on Wednesday.



After a 0-0 draw in the first leg, former Atletico striker Fernando Torres put Chelsea ahead in the 36th minute at Stamford Bridge, but the London club were to lead the tie for only eight minutes.





Adrian Lopez scrambled home an equaliser shortly before half-time and second-half goals by Diego Costa, from the penalty spot, and Arda Turan sealed Atletico’s place in their first European Cup final since 1974.



Diego Simeone’s team are also two wins from claiming a first La Liga title in 18 years, meaning that they could be looking to complete an improbable double when they meet their old foes Real in Lisbon on May 24.



Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, was denied a reunion with his former employers Real, with whom he had also experienced semi-final disappointment in each of the previous three seasons.



The pre-match build-up had been dominated by talk about Chelsea’s ultra-defensive display in their 2-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday and Mourinho seemed determined to continue in the same vein by selecting three full-backs.



Fears of a new-fangled defensive configuration proved unfounded, as Cesar Azpilicueta was deployed as a fairly orthodox right-sided midfielder, but the early stages proved every bit as cagey as last week’s first leg.



Koke almost gave Atletico a fourth-minute lead with a mishit left-wing cross that deceived Mark Schwarzer and hit the crossbar, but the teams were generally content to hold each other at arm’s length.



The tie was on a knife-edge, but nine minutes from half-time Chelsea seized the initiative.



After Willian ran into a blind alley on the right flank, Azpilicueta followed up with a low cross that Torres steered past Thibaut Courtois via a deflection off Mario Suarez.



- Eto’o introduction backfires -



The former darling of the Vicente Calderon made a point of not celebrating, holding his hands in the air in apology, but Stamford Bridge celebrated with abandon.



It was the first goal that Atletico had conceded in seven games, but within the blink of an eye they were in control of the tie.



Former Chelsea midfielder Tiago Mendes picked out right-back Juanfran with a floated pass to the back post and his volleyed cross bobbled between a phalanx of defenders to Adrian, who swept home.



Despite Chelsea’s need for goals, it was Atletico who began the second half on top, with Schwarzer brilliantly tipping over a Turan half-volley and then comfortably fielding a low effort from Tiago.



In response, John Terry saw a header sharply blocked by Courtois, who is on loan at Atletico from Chelsea, before Mourinho sent on Samuel Eto’o in place of Ashley Cole.



The Cameroon striker’s introduction was intended to give the hosts greater punch in attack, but it was his contribution at the other end that was to prove telling.



Referee Nicola Rizzoli had already ignored an Atletico penalty claim when Turan was bundled over by Azpilicueta, but when Costa went down after skilfully nicking the ball past Eto’o, the Italian awarded a spot-kick.



Despite initially struggling to place the ball on the spot to his satisfaction, for which he was booked, Costa made no mistake with his shot, placing the ball into the top-left corner.



David Luiz planted a header against the post from a Willian free-kick as Chelsea pressed for an equaliser, but Turan killed the tie in the 72nd minute by tucking home after his own header came back off the bar.



getty Images



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Davido would seriously be a fun person to be friends with. He seems to always be laughing and goofing around!





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9,498 pupils in Lagos public primary schools have visual impairment or partial blindness, Lagos The Lagos State Government has said after tests were carried out on 74,000 of them.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris disclosed this today at a Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos.

“The School Eye Programme was scaled up to include training of two teachers in each of the 1,001 public primary schools in the state and installation of vision corridors in 180 primary school complexes and 501 schools were equipped with vision screening kits.

“The total number of pupils screened by the trained teachers was 73,694, out of which 9,498 had visual impairment. Follow up visit for the treatment of the pupils was carried out. 979 pupils were treated out of which 143 glasses were given,” he said.

According to the commissioner, the Eye Care Services Development and Community Outreach interventions of the government which was designed to reduce the burden of preventable blindness in the state, led to 7,206 patients being screened at 41 different screening venues, out of which 4,396 patients were given glasses and 175 surgeries done.

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Nigerian protesters marched on the National Assembly Wednesday to demand the government and military do more to rescue scores of schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram gunmen at Government Girls Secondary School, in Chibok,Borno State, more than two weeks ago.

Dubbed “a million woman march” and promoted on Twitter under #BringBackOurGirls, the protest was not expected to draw a massive crowd and turn-out was hindered by heavy rain in the capital Abuja.

But several hundred women and men, mostly dressed in red, marched through the rain towards the National Assembly carrying placards that read “Find Our Daughters.”

Protest organiser Hadiza Bala Usman had earlier said that the size of the protest was less important than raising awareness about the plight of the hostages whose April 14 abduction at gunpoint from their school in the northeast has outraged Africa’s most populous nation.

“The government has to understand that we are not going to allow this silence to continue,” Usman said.

In the northern city of Kano, roughly 100 people dressed in black marched towards the state governor’s office, calling for the girls’ immediate release.

The mass kidnapping in the Chibok area of northeastern Borno state was one of the most shocking attacks in Boko Haram’s five-year extremist uprising, which has killed thousands across the north and centre of the country.

The leader of Chibok’s elders forum, Pogu Bitrus, told AFP that he had received information indicating the girls were trafficked into neighbouring Cameroon and Chad and sold as brides to insurgents for 2,000 naira ($12).

Parents have voiced fury at the military’s efforts, accusing the security services of ignoring their daughters’ plight.

Former World Bank vice president Obiageli Ezekwesili, also an ex-Nigerian cabinet member, has emerged as a leader of the #BringBackOurGirls movement and addressed protesters at Unity Fountain in Abuja as the march kicked off.

She accused the military of having “no coherent search-and-rescue” plan.

“We are going to the National Assembly because that is where each of these girls has a representative,” she said.

Bitrus said it was “unbelievable” that the military, which claims to be working around-the-clock to find the hostages, had not yet tracked down any of the kidnappers.

Locals have scoured the bushlands of the remote region, pooling money to buy fuel for motorcycles and cars to conduct their own rescue effort.

Usman condemned what she called the official complacency which has followed the abductions.

“If this happened anywhere else in the world, more than 200 girls kidnapped and no information for more than two weeks, the country would be brought to a standstill,” she told AFP.

Usman said she had been promised that the House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and perhaps even President Goodluck Jonathan will speak to the protesters.

“We have booked an appointment,” she said. “We expect (both men) will come out and address us.”

Jonathan has faced scathing criticism over his handling of the Boko Haram conflict, which has already killed more than 1,500 people this year.

Speaking by phone from Chibok, a father of one of the kidnapped schoolgirls voiced hope that attention to his nightmare from protesters near the seat of government could make a difference.

“We are poor with no influence whatsoever, which we believe is the reason the government does not care about our girls,” said the father, requesting anonymity.

“We believe if Nigerians, the high and the low, raise their voices from different quarters it will make the government sit up and do the right thing to free our girls.” [AFP]

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The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOS) to stop N750 monthly fixed charge consumers of electricity pay monthly – in any area without power supply for 15 days in the month.

The fixed charge is an element of an electricity customer’s monthly bill to enable the “Discos” to maintain and recover costs on permanent investments, such as transformers, cables and poles.

The NERC Chairman, Dr Sam Amadi announced the commission’s decision, yesterday, at a news conference, saying the order would be effective from May 1.

According to him, the commission took the decision based on consideration of complaints and agitations from customers and in line with its role in the electricity industry as provided by a 2005 Act.

“It is hereby ordered that effective from May 1, 2014, where any customer of a distribution licencee has not received continuous electricity supply for a period of 15 days in a month, such customer shall not be required to pay the fixed charge.

“This is provided that the disruption is not due to non-payment of electricity bills or other actions of the consumer, such as tampering, vandalism or totally unrelated to the fault of the distribution company,” Amadi said.

He explained that the 15 days without electricity could either be continuous or cumulatively during the month.

Amadi therefore urged customers to write a formal complaint to respective electricity distribution companies to address the situation “or report to dispute fora in each state for any breach of the order.

He, however, said NERC would not scrap the fixed charge but would continue to review it in line with the demands of the electricity market and international best practice.

Amadi said the new order would ensure that the Discos were more responsive so that operational issues under their jurisdictions, such as faulty transformers and cables were promptly replaced for customers’ usage.

He also urged customers not to be hostile to the companies’ officials when they come to effect repairs in their areas as that could attract sanctions.

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A 14-year-old Chicago girl accused of killing another girl in a dispute over a boy tried unsuccessfully to fire a gun before someone fixed it for her and handed it back to her so she could open fire, prosecutors said Tuesday.





That detail emerged during a hearing in juvenile court on the latest incident of violence grabbing headlines in Chicago. The alleged shooter appeared at the hearing on a first-degree murder charge in Monday’s slaying of 14-year-old Endia Martin.



Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy told reporters earlier in the day that the girls were fighting over a boy. According to prosecutors, the suspect went to a residence in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the city’s South Side around 4:30 Monday afternoon to continue a fight that began on Facebook.



A visibly upset McCarthy told reporters that the shooting illustrates a point he’s long made: It is far too easy to get a gun in Chicago. For more than a year, McCarthy has sought stiffer state penalties for gun crimes.





“What would have been, under any other circumstances, probably a fistfight between two 14-year-old girls because they were arguing over a boy turned into a murder,” he said.



According to a statement read in court and relayed later by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, the girl pointed the gun at a group of people standing on a porch and pulled the trigger, but it would not fire.



She then “handed the gun to an individual in the group to clear the malfunction and they handed it back” to her, at which point she opened fire with what police said is a .38-caliber revolver, striking the Martin girl in the back and a 16-year-old girl in the arm.



The 14-year-old suspect’s name has not been released because she is charged as a juvenile.



Chicago police said Tuesday night that a 17-year-old boy also has been charged in connection with the shooting for allegedly hiding the gun that was used. He faces a charge of felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of felony unlawful use of a weapon, and a misdemeanor reckless damage charge. Police did not release his name because he’s charged as a juvenile.





SOURCE: Newsone



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Spanish police say they have arrested a spectator suspected of throwing a banana at Barcelona's Brazilian footballer Dani Alves last weekend.





The racist incident took place as the player was about to take a corner in a match at Villarreal on Sunday.



Alves responded by peeling and eating the banana - which received praise worldwide and sparked a large social media campaign against racism.



The man detained has been identified as a 26-year-old Villarreal supporter.



He has been named as David Campaya Lleo, local media say.



The club said earlier the man involved had had his season ticket withdrawn and been given a lifetime ban.



The Barcelona defender expressed his surprise at the outpouring of support in the wake of the banana affair. His team eventually won the match 3-2, at Villareal's El Madrigal stadium in Castellon on Spain's east coast.



Alves told BBC Brasil on Wednesday it was "not an isolated incident", and that he had been denouncing racist insults for six years.



"I hope that this (campaign) can be an alert to ban this kind of attitude from football altogether. I hope the debate about racial prejudice will not fade away, but stays on permanently and not be restricted only to football," he added.



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I am sure many of our readers still remember the story of Julie Ward, the 28-year old British wildlife photographer who was killed in Kenya in 1988.







Julie went missing on a lonely photography safari in the Masai game reserve.



The Kenyan authorities seemed at that time to be more interested in the preservation of the integrity of their country’s profitable tourism business. They went into a denial. When her burned and dismembered body was first discovered, they said that they believed that Julie was struck by lightning, or that she had been eaten by lions.



The burned remains of her leg and part of her jaw were found near a tree in the bush. Her skull and spine were found nearby. Julie’s father, John Ward put a lot pressure on the local authorities to admit that she had been murdered, to direct their investigation in that direction.



He was noted all over the world for the campaign he waged in the effort to discover what actually happened to Julie. In the course of this, the retired hotelier spent nearly two million pounds and made more than 100 visits to Kenya.



In the end what unraveled the real cause of his daughter’s death were pictures he procured from a European Satellite of the incident as it happened and NDA evidence indicting two park rangers including the head park warden. Although attempts to bring the suspects to justice were unsuccessful as all three were acquitted by Kenyan Courts, it was instructive that the failure of the case had more to do with the lack of full cooperation of the authorities.



The important thing about this case was that as far back as two decades ago, the potential has been established for the use of satellite imagery to bring to criminal trial the park wardens who, as is believed by many, were those that conspired to assault and murder the lonely photographer in thick bushes of the game reserve.



The narrative of Julie Ward comes in handy at a time when schoolgirls, not one, not two, or three but in their hundreds have been stolen from their dormitory and today being the fifteenth day since the incident, no clue has yet emerged about where they are in the Sambisa forest of the North-Eastern State of Borno, Nigeria.



Accounts by the “Civilian JTF” yesterday rendered on radio suggested that the 200 or s0 missing schoolgirls may have already been shared out in forced marriages to terrorists scattered across the vast forest spanning over 100 kilometers. An interviewee said yet some others were ferried across Lake Chad, taken to Cameroun and Chad. Grieving parents have been shedding tears, threatening to charge into the forest to obtain their daughters. Some actually have gone in there, accompanied by the Civilian JTF, following which they said they saw a lot terrorist infrastructure but no police or soldiers carrying out searches.



From every indication, the search for these Nigerian schoolgirls will probably be the most difficult search in human history, not the Malaysian Flight MH370 as cited by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.



The difference between these two is that while both Australian and Malaysian officials issue daily bulletins and addressing press gatherings to report virtually nothing new in terms of substantial information, the Nigerian federal government which controls the army and police has retreated into a cocoon in the past one week.



It is probably that the Defence Headquarters, leading the operations got their hands burnt when they made a major faux-pax by announcing the rescue of the missing schoolgirls, only to be countered by local officials including the school principal that the girls had not been found. While the damage, both local and international to the credibility of the Nigerian Armed Forces arising from this incident may never be quantified, it is easy for us to understand how much damage is being done to the government of the day, led by Dr. Jonathan Goodluck, by the prevailing sense of cluelessness and inactivity the silence of the military is creating. Instead of engaging with Nigerians, government in its usual way of politicizing every issue, has surreptitiously launched a campaign against its hate-pet, the Northern political leaders.



A sponsored group says “the disappearance of the girls is part of the Northern elders’ agenda to embarrass and distract the Goodluck Jonathan government”.



The group is also blaming the victims, saying that the school authorities “deliberately ignored the government’s directive”, that schools in that area should be closed down. This rubbish reminds many of the Abacha days when NADECO was blamed for everything, including the failure of the dictator’s toilet to flush.



Nobody benefits from silence in times of crisis. Rather, it is the time when all “gates” to news-flow are opened and everyone relishes live coverages as they are relayed by the international media, whether this is from the search for the Malaysian plane under the waters of the Indian Ocean, a bomb blast in Pakistan or earthquake in Latin America. Famous sociologist, Lucien Pye once wrote that problems of development are essentially problems of communication.



Without informing and educating the people and subsequently mobilizing them, there is no way government can succeed in pushing back this violence, including the tracking of the insurgents in their whereabouts and recovering the girls. In addition to mobilizing local support for this, government needs to talk to the international community about its successes and shortcomings. Satellite was used to partly unravel Julie’s murder in the Kenyan foreign forests because someone bid for the pictures and obtained them.



In a recent article, I wrote about the upcoming World Economic Summit in May in Abuja about which Nigerians know very little or nothing. When South Africans hosted the World Cup in 2010, taxi drivers were trained for a re-branding of their own country. Every London taxi driver is serving a government purpose. People don’t get to drive taxis mere on account of being beneficiaries of constituency projects.



The Nigerian defence establishment has started something good by pooling all the spokesmen of the various services so that they can speak with a common purpose. To regain credibility, they need to repose confidence in the people as represented by local journalists. They must carry the people along. And for the sake of their own credibility, they need a new face for their public information in order to move away from the scandalous misinformation they dished about which they had to make a painful u-turn.



Someone must make the sacrifice or be sacrificed.



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The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is facing contempt charges for disobeying a judgment on statutory transfers delivered at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in respect of a suit filed at the court by the Centre for Social Justice.





This follows a Notice of Consequences of disobedience to court order dated April 29 served the minister by the FHC.



The court, through an order of mandamus, dated February 25, compelled Okonjo-Iweala to grant the group access to the details of the statutory transfers in the 2013 appropriation act specifically.



The details of the transfers granted are for the National Judicial Council, Niger Delta Development Commission, Universal Basic Education, National Assembly, Independent National Electoral Commission and the National Human Rights Commission.



Justice Abdul Kafarati had on February 25, in line with the applicant’s prayers, granted relief that denying the applicant access to the details of the statutory transfers in the 2013 Appropriation Act by the respondent without explanation constituted an infringement to the applicants right guaranteed and protected by Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011.



The court also declared that the continued refusal of the respondents to grant the applicant access to details of statutory transfers in the 2013 appropriation act despite applicant’s demand violated section 4 of the FOI act.



Shedding more light on the court proceedings, the Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that since the order was made, the minister had refused to comply with the order.



He said, “Since the order was made, the minister has refused and neglected to comply with the order of the honorable court.



“Counsel for the applicant, Kingsley Nnajiaka even wrote a letter to the minister on the need to comply with the order of the court.



“Series of meetings were held in the ministers office without success. With this notice, the minister has two days to comply with the order of the honorable court or risk being committed for contempt of court.”



The group had demanded a breakdown of the sums of money earmarked in the 2012 Budget as Statutory Transfers.



They include the N150bn for the National Assembly and N85bn for the National Judicial Council, Niger Delta Development Commission, Universal Basic Education, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, which had allocations of N54bn, N68bn, and N40bn respectively.



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The Police Special Fraud Unit, SFU, has arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly operating an internet fraud syndicate that specializes in defrauding unsuspecting wealthy foreign women who are in dire need of husbands.





Henry Ogu, and his accomplice, Yunusa Okonkwo, 42, were arrested after defrauding a New Jersey lady of US$350,000 (about N56 million) via an internet dating site.



In a statement on Wednesday, the SFU said that it received an e-mailed petition from a U.S. citizen, whom it did not name, sometime in April 2013. The petitioner alleged that she met Mr. Ogu on a dating site.



According to the petition, the couple started a relationship which lasted for months until the Mr. Ogu allegedly manipulated and made the lady to believe that he was in trouble in Nigeria and needed some financial assistance.



“She further stated that she sent the sum of $350,000.00 US Dollar to the two account numbers provided by the suspect,” the police said in the statement signed by Ngozi Isintume-Agu, Police Public Relations Officer, SFU.



“The account numbers belonged to Faneece Business Services International, owned by Mr. Okonkwo of No. A1 Giwa Road, U/Muazu Kaduna where he was subsequently arrested. His arrest led to the arrest of the principal suspect, Henry Chinedu Ogu.”



Mr. Okonkwo, a native of Amuri Nkanu West local council of Enugu State, is a patent medicine dealer who runs a Bureau De Change.



He confessed that he is the account holder of Faneece Business Services International, according to the police, and admitted that he provided his two bank accounts for the transactions.



“He also stated that the 2nd suspect, Henry, provided him with his account number where he transferred the money after converting it to Naira. The account detail is … with account name Raydeus Synergy Nigeria Limited. He also added that he always deduct his commission of N2.00 per Dollar before paying in the money,” said the police.



“Henry Chinedu Ogu, from Amafor – Ishingwa Umuahia, Abia State, claimed to be one of the Directors of a company called Raydeus Synergy Nigeria Limited. He confessed to the alleged crime that he sent the account details of the 1st suspect to the victim who in turn paid the sum of $295,000.00 Dollars into the account which the 1st suspect Yunusa converted to Naira before paying into his Diamond Bank.



“He corroborated the Complainant’s statement that they met on a dating site last year January 2013 and started communicating and exchanging e-mails.



“He also confessed that he deceived the victim into believing that he wanted to marry her but was stranded in Nigeria and needed financial assistance. He further admitted that he had spent all the money, that he used N9million to purchase a heavy duty generating plant which the Police had recovered.



“Also he purchased a plot of land for N800,000.00 along Lagos – Ibadan Expressway. The cash sum of N2million was also recovered from him.”



The police said that investigation has continued and the suspect would be charged to court soon.



“The Commissioner of Police, SFU, CP Umar Farouk Idris uses this medium to reassure the public of the Unit’s commitment to fight internet fraudsters and advises that such cases should be promptly reported through the Unit e-mail addresses: specialfraudunitlagos@yahoo.com sfulagos@yahoo.com info@specialfraudunit.org.ng,” the police added.



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A pregnant road sweeper working with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has been crushed to death.



The deceased identified as Mrs. Kikelomo Bamidele was crushed at Ojota, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, by a petrol tanker with registration number Kano NSR 592 YQ while working inside the BRT lane near the pedestrian bridge.



It was gathered that the road sweeper died at the Lagos State Emergency Centre at the old toll gate of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway where she was rushed.





Witnesses at the scene of the accident revealed that the accident occurred as a result of break failure.

Lagos road sweepers at work

“The tanker driver had break failure and was trying to manouver the vehicle when he veered into the BRT Lane where he crushed the sweeper. The sweeper’s leg was totally crushed and she lost a lot of blood,” a witness revealed.



The tanker also damaged another salon car on the road. The driver of the vehicle was unhurt.



An attempt by the tanker driver to escape from the scene was foiled by a LASTMA staff who pursued and arrested him. He was promptly handed over to the police at Ogudu.



The vehicle was also taken to the station.



A source at the Ijora Olopa headquarters of LAWMA revealed that the deceased was survived by five children.







via nigerianeye

A fellow journalist, Jennifer Ehidiamen witnessed the incident.

According to her, “I saw a crowd gathering around a heap by the gutter in Fadeyi area of Lagos.My curious self crossed to the other side and was about to ask, “wetin dey happen” when I saw it. A lifeless newborn (baby) wrapped in a blanket.

She went on “One of the cleaners found the baby in the gutter. Lagos lookers were cursing the person responsible for dumping the baby. Some said they suspect the person lives around the corner. So they raved and cursed.

Why will anybody dump a new born baby in the gutter?

Poverty. Shame. Judgmental stress.Lack of support, sickness, poverty of the mind? The list of possible reasons might not occupy this space. There are many reasons why that can happen. But does it justify the action?”

You need to see this video to see what we are talking about! WATCH THE VIDEO

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Nollywood actress, Daniella Okeke shows off her car garage filled with exotic cars……See it after the cut:






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Senator Emmanuel Bwacha from Taraba state on Wednesday, raised a fresh alarm on the floor of the senate that a strange helicopter had been dropping strange armed personnel and equipment in the Dakar area of the state, fueling fears among the residents.





Bwacha, who stated this under a point of order during the senate plenary, therefore, urged the federal government and the military authorities to move to the area immediately to flush out the insurgents before they establish another Sambisa camp in Taraba state.



He said, “I want to say that our attention has been drawn to a suspicious movements and activities around Dakar in Taraba State and it is believed also that a helicopter is dropping materials and personnel around the place.



“We fear that this may be another Sambisa that is in the making in Taraba State.I recall that sometimes in December, our colleague, Senator Alkali Jajare drew our attention to the fact that what is happening in Yobe and Borno State could spread to other states of the federation not only in the North East.



“What has happened in my constituency appears to be a confirmation of what our colleague had drawn our attention to.”



Bwacha said members of the Taraba state House of Assembly had already passed a resolution Now, “which appears to have been an expression of lack of confidence of the capacity of the state to contain the crisis.”



He said the state lawmakers had subsequently called on the Federal Government to take over the security of the state.



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Former Chief Security Officer to the Late Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Wednesday dragged a Kaduna based Islamic preacher, Sheikh Sanusi Khalil before the Upper Shariah Court, Daura Road, over alleged defamation of character.





Al-Mustapha is accusing the cleric of defaming his character in a sermon he preached at the Sani Zango Daura Jummu’at mosque in December 2013, accusing him of training snippers to be used for political purpose.



The case which came up Wednesday amidst tight security could however not hold due to the absence of the presiding judge, Mallam Mustapha Umar.



In a direct criminal complaint filed by his counsel, Sadau Garba, Al-Mustapha is accusing the Islamic cleric for defamation and mischievous propaganda against his person.



“The defamatory” words, according to the summons, “are contained in both CD and DVD plates recorded with the knowledge and consent of the accused person and were being sold to members of the public both within and outside Nigeria” contrary to the provision of section 137 (1) Shariah Penal Code 2002, Kaduna State.

It further said that the Islamic cleric, in the course of his preaching was alleged to have stated thus: “The evil that men do lives after them. Information has reached me (that) you are in charge of training some young snipers and killers to promote your political ambition.



“These boys are being trained to kill some 1,000 people in this country perceived to be stumbling block on your part to achieving your political ambition. That is what (Obasanjo) said in his letter. If it is Sanusi that said this, they will accuse him of abusing some people.



“This is what Obasanjo told Jonathan in his letter. About two to three Fridays ago, in this place, I told you about the existence of these sniper boys….



“The person that was given this unfortunately is a Muslim brother. He has been given the contract of training and mobilising them on how to use these boys in wanton killings in order to win election at all cost. Let’s call a spade a spade, the person that was given this contract is Al-Mustapha.



“I swear with the name of God where he first started sitting with these boys, the venue and the time he sat, I swear with the name of God I have all the details.



“Are you not the one being accused of bringing terrorism into Nigeria? Al-Mustapha when you were arrested and detained, the poor Muslims, Christians, soldiers, police, Nigerians both within and outside the country all sympathised with you, prayed for you. If you are to pay for these prayers, I swear with the name of God, you don’t have the money to pay.”



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About 150 South Africans on Wednesday cast their votes in Nigeria ahead of their national and provincial elections slated for May 7.





Consul-General of South African High Commission, Mokgethi Monaisa, told News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that “this is the first time South Africans will be voting outside their country.



“They voted in Lagos and Abuja like in other parts of the world. Out of these votes, 120 South Africans voted in Lagos while another 30 of them voted in Abuja.



“We believe that it is the constitutional right of every South African to vote for their choice of candidates irrespective of where they live in the world.



“It is now their chance to exercise their voting rights once in every five years’’, Monaisa said.



The consul-general said the ballot boxes would be sealed and sent to South Africa tonight, and would be counted with the overall votes on May 7.



He commended South Africans in Nigeria for coming to vote in the country’s first Diaspora elections.



Mrs Koketso Dibestso, one of the voters, expressed joy at her government’s decision to allow its citizens to vote from any part of the world.



“This is good enough and very well organised. It is really a good experience being able to vote in my country from Lagos, Nigeria.



“The opportunity has given me and others a sense of belonging and participation in our country’s elections’’, she said.



Another voter, Mrs Dainty O’grady, said it was “a step in the right direction”, adding that it would enhance development in South Africa.



“Today, although I am in Nigeria, I now know that I have a say in the affairs of my country from here,” she said.



NAN reports that voting materials and officials were ready before the voting which commenced at 10 a.m.



Registration and voting for the elections, which took place at the South African High Commission in Victoria Island, Lagos, were hitch free.



via nigerianeye

The Chinese Premier, Mr. Li Keqiang, will be leading a high powered 129-member delegation to Nigeria on a three day visit.





The visit is slated for May 6-8.



The Premier, who will be visiting Nigeria as part of his four- nation tour of Africa is expected to also attend the plenary session of the World Economic Forum for Africa.



While in Nigeria, Keqiang, according to a statement issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to meet President Goodluck Jonathan.



Besides, Nigeria and China are expected to sign six major agreements/Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs)



The expected agreements are – agreement on economic and technical cooperation between the government of both countries; handover and acceptable certificate for the malaria diagnosis equipment and consumables for China-Nigeria anti-malaria centre, exchange of letters for China-aided Nigeria anti-malaria drugs programme, Bilateral Air Services agreement between both governments, Memorandum of Understanding between Food and Drug Administration of China and National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC) on regulatory cooperation of pharmaceutical products, Medical devices and cosmetics and agreement o Special facility for the development of Africa’s SMEs with Nigeria banking sector.



Also, several agreements will be concluded by the organized private sectors of the two countries.



via nigerianeye

The Senate has constituted a 22-man committee to meet President Goodluck Jonathan over the abducted 234 female students in Borno State.



Senate President, David Mark, would lead 21 other Senators to the meeting with the President.





The Senate had on Tuesday unanimously resolved to send a delegation to the President over the lingering Boko Haram insurgency in the country, especially the abduction of 234 Senior Secondary School students of the Federal Government Girls College, Chibok in Borno State.



Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, representing Ekiti North had during a debate on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday suggested that a delegation of the upper chamber meet with the President over the worrisome situation.



Mark, on Wednesday announced the names of 21 Senators who will accompany him on the mission to the President.



The meeting is expected to take place at the Aso Rock Villa on WWednesday night.



The listed lawmakers include those from the troubled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe and they are Senators Boluwaji Kunlere, Babafemi Ojudu, Zainab Kure, Alkali Jajere, James Manager, Helen Esuene, Chris Anyanwu, Ali Ndume, Ahmed Zannah, Mai’na Ma’aji Lawan, Nenadi Usman, Mohammed Magoro, and Emmanuel Bwacha.



Others are – Ahmed Lawan, , Barnabas Gemade, Sola Adeyeye, Bindowo Jibrilla, Ehigie Uzamere, Bello Tukur, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, and Eyinnaya Abaribe.



Mark while announcing the list said: “You will all recalled that we agreed to a suggestion by one of the distinguished Senators during our debate on the motion on the abducted girls on Tuesday that a delegation of the Senate should meet with Mr. President on the issue.



“I have called the President (Goodluck Jonathan), on phone and he said we should come by 10pm on Wednesday night. I will suggest that those concerned should come to my residence so that we can go to the villa in a bus or two.”



It was gathered that the parley would enable the executive and the legislature, exchange ideas on how best to rescue the abducted school girls out of the hands of their abductors and reunite them with their parents.



via nigerianeye

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on the authorities of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, to release the names and pictures of the female students abducted by Boko Haram gunmen from their dormitories on April 14, 2014.

Former Aviation Minister and PDP National Women Leader, Dr. Kema Chikwe, made the call while leading a PDP Women’s prayer session for the unity of the country in Abuja on Monday.

The ex-minister pointed out that the issue of the kidnapped girls had raised a number of questions which nobody has been able to provide answers.

According to Mrs. Chikwe, the abduction of the schoolgirls had left the hearts of the womenfolk not only broken but also bleeding.

She said women would continue to intensify prayers for an end to the Boko Haram scourge, terrorism, insurgency and kidnapping in the country.

“We need a peaceful and united Nigeria. We as women of Nigeria, as mothers will intensify our prayers for the end of Boko Haram, end of kidnapping, release of the Chibok girls, end of terrorism and insurgency in some states in Nigeria

“Let the truth be told with God’s intervention. Our hearts are bleeding, not just broken. Please God send the Chibok girls home to their mothers and families,

“We plead with the school authorities to release their names and their pictures. Let God touch the hearts of those who know and have perpetrated this heinous action”, she said

The PDP Women leader also decried the recurrence of corruption, armed robbery and other violent crimes in the country.

She condemned what she described as “hypocrisy about corruption among Individual Nigerians”.

She stressed that the kidnaping of the Chibok girls was the worst of the crimes in recent time.

“There are many questions to be asked and more to be answered. How did it happen? Who is behind this? Who are those behind this? Those behind these crimes love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil”, she said

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The Jukun, Tiv and Fulani communities in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba on Wednesday in Wukari signed a peace agreement to end ongoing clashes in the area.

The agreement was signed at a meeting presided over by the state acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, and the Paramount Ruler of Wukari and Chairman, Taraba Traditional Council, Dr Shekarau Angyu.

Umar said at the occasion that the government would pay compensation for property destroyed and also continue to provide relief materials for the internally displaced persons.

“We thank God that the major tribes involved in the crisis have decided to give peace a chance by calling us to witness the signing.

“The state government will help in looking for the cows and other items that were missing during the crisis so that peace will permanently return among the tribes in Wukari and other parts of the state”, he said.

Those who signed the agreement on behalf of their people include: Mr Zando Hoku, state Chairman Jukun Cultural Association, Mr James Nungwa, state Chairman Tiv Cultural and Development Association and Alhaji Mafindi Danburam, state Chairman Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association.

Others were all heads of security agencies in the state, all traditional rulers in the affected communities and youths groups.

NAN reports that with the peace deal, the curfew imposed on Wukari is now relaxed to run from 4 p.m. to 6 a.m.

NAN recalls that crisis broke out in Wukari on April 15 following protest by youths of the area over alleged killings in the surrounding villages by suspected herdsmen, leaving at least 50 persons dead and property destroyed. (NAN)

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An Ikeja High Court on Wednesday adjourned hearing in an application filed by the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Services Ltd., Wale Babalakin, till May 12.

Babalakin, in the application filed before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, had asked the court to dismiss the N4.7 billion fraud charge preferred against him and four others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court had earlier fixed Wednesday, April 30 for hearing of the application but could not sit due to Lawal-Akapo’s absence.

The judge was said to be attending a workshop on Continuous Legal Education organised by the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

NAN gathered that the new date has been communicated to the parties involved in the suit.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Babalakin with allegedly transferring the money on behalf of convicted former Delta State Governor, James Ibori.

Babalakin is standing trial alongside Alex Okoh and their companies-Stabilini Visioni Ltd., Bi-Courtney Ltd. and Renix Nigeria Ltd.

They are facing a 27-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony, corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action and retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct.

His co-defendants had also filed similar applications, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the charge.

They had also challenged the competency of the charge, arguing that the EFCC lacked the power to prosecute them before a state high court without a valid fiat. (NAN)

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Lagos lawyer and prominent human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore a call by former federal commissioner for information and Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, to suspend democratic structures in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, preparatory to a full declaration of emergency rule in the affected states.

Falana said in a statement on Tuesday described the call by Clark as diversionary and the act of removing elected governors or suspending democratic institutions during emergency rule in a state as illegal.

According to the lawyer, such a call should not be dismissed with a wave of the hand as it was coming from a personality like the Ijaw leader, who he said “wields enormous influence around the presidency”.

He, therefore, urged the president to shun such advice by “people with vested political agenda to resort to undemocratic tactics associated with military dictators”.

Falana said, “As Nigeria has successfully replaced autocracy with democracy all actions of the government have to be conducted in strict compliance with the tenets of the rule of law.

“In view of the clear provision of the Constitution on the vexed issue of a state of emergency I am compelled to urge the President to ignore the illegal and unconstitutional call for the removal of the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states”.

Clark had been widely quoted in the media to have said that, “There is nothing like partial declaration of a state of emergency in the 1999 Constitution; what section 305 (c) of the Constitution contemplates is the recourse to ‘extraordinary measures to restore peace’ and security where there is a breakdown of public order and public safety.

“This in effect means that all democratic institution should be suspended to permit the military exercise full control until peace and order returns”.

But in a counter-argument, Falana said that nothing in section 305 of the constitution referred to by Clark empowered the president to suspend democratic institutions in a state under emergency rule.

His words: “With profound respect to the elder statesman, Section 305 of the Constitution which empowers the President to declare a state of emergency in any part of the country does not make any provision, expressly or impliedly, for the removal of elected democratic structures.

“In other words, the power of the President, to take ‘extraordinary measures to restore peace and security’ under a state of emergency does not include the removal of elected public officers or the dissolution of democratic structures.

“In any case, state governors cannot be held vicariously liable for the inability of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to stem the rising wave of insurgency in the country”.

He noted that Clark was unable to point to any law or decided court case to justify his stand in enjoining President Jonathan to follow what he termed the ‘bad example’ set by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Falana said the suspension of the then Governor of Plateau State and the Acting Governor of Ekiti State for six months by Mr. Obasanjo during his tenure as president was “in utter violation of the Constitution”.

He added, “That was an era of executive recklessness, which has been consigned to the dustbin of history.

“Assuming without conceding that President Obasanjo was right is Chief Clark suggesting, by any stretch of imagination, that if the Federation is waging a war against another country leading to the imposition of emergency rule in the entire land the President should vacate office for a retired General to take over and run the country like a Sole Administrator?”

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The Peoples Democratic Party has called on the authorities of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, to release the names and pictures of the schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents on April 14, 2014.



The National Women Leader of the PDP, Dr. Kema Chikwe, made the comment while conducting a PDP Women’s prayer session for the unity of the country in Abuja on Monday.







Chikwe said the issue of the kidnapped girls had raised a number of questions which had not been answered.



She said the abduction of the schoolgirls had left the hearts of the womenfolk not only broken but also bleeding.



She said women would continue to intensify prayers for the Boko Haram scourge, terrorism, insurgency and kidnapping to be brought to an end in the country.



“We need a peaceful and united Nigeria. We as women of Nigeria, as mothers will intensify our prayers for the end of Boko Haram, end of kidnapping, release of the Chibok girls, end of terrorism and insurgency in some states in Nigeria



“Let the truth be told with God’s intervention. Our hearts are bleeding, not just broken. Please God send the Chibok girls home to their mothers and families,



“We plead with the school authorities to release their names and their pictures. Let God touch the hearts of those who know and have perpetrated this heinous action,” she said



Chikwe also decried the recurrence of corruption, armed robbery and other violent crimes in the country.



She condemned what she described as “hypocrisy about corruption among Individual Nigerians.”



She stressed that the kidnaping of the Chibok was the worst of the crimes in recent time.



“There are many questions to be asked and more to be answered. How did it happen? Who is behind this? Who are those behind this? Those behind these crimes love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil,” she said



via nigerianeye

This is really a big embarrassment! But they say “love conquers all”.. So this is to all the men out there, what will you do if this eventually happens to your girl in public? SEE IT HERE





via NaijaGossip

See What Most Girls Do at Home when they are Extremely Bored. SEE IT HERE





via NaijaGossip

The military has urged Nigerians to pray for a successful outcome in their efforts to free the remaining 230 girls abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.







Chris Olukolade, the military spokesperson, on Wednesday revealed while responding to claims that a deal is “within reach” in the release of the girls, said that the military are doing their best to rescue the students.







“The concern & anxiety from all quarters is quite understandable,” Mr. Olukolade, a Major General, said in a text message response.



“Please be assured that much as the forces may not disclose details of action being taken to secure the freedom of the girls, every information received on the subject is duly analysed & acted upon as necessary.



“No information is being ignored in the concerted effort to ensure the safety & freedom of the girls. Just pray for the successful outcome of all the efforts please,” he added.



Channel 4, a U.K. based media organization, had reported on Tuesday that a hostage negotiator, who is in direct contact with the kidnappers, disclosed that a deal for the safe release of the girls is being finalized.



“The girls, we believe, are alive but they have been moved from the location to which they were originally taken,” the negotiator, who was not named, reportedly said.



“It would not be hard to engineer a deal. It looks like they want to release them. They want a way out,” he added.



In their report, the tv station stated that it had established that the school girls are no longer being held in Boko Haram’s bush camps inside the Sambisa forest.



“Instead, the hostages have, we understand, been split into smaller separate groups, a number of whom have been taken close to – or across – Nigeria’s eastern border with Cameroon. This is an area from which Mohammed Nur, one of Boko Haram’s leading commanders is known to operate,” the report added.



About 273 girls were abducted from their school by suspected Boko Haram insurgents two weeks ago.



Of the number, about 43 had escaped from the captors unharmed and have reunited with their families.



Nigerians have largely criticized the federal government for failing to show concerted efforts – or empathy – in rescuing the abducted teenage girls.



On Tuesday, the House of Representatives summoned Alex Badeh, the Chief of Defence Staff, and other Service Chiefs over the military’s efforts to rescue the girls.



Several protests are also being held to demand for the release of the girls. One organized by the Women for Peace and Justice holds Wednesday afternoon in Abuja.



via nigerianeye

The Ovation International publisher and ThisDay Newspaper columnist posted the teaser asking his 15,350 what they think about a Buhari/Tinubu All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket next year.

He captioned the picture thus: “The next President & his Vice, General Muhammadu BUHARI & Senator Bola Tinubu? Give us your opinion….“

Here are some of the responses below:

- empirevision01 2 wrongs can never make a right …. Why Ex Ex wants power back by all means ….

- abdulnome22 Impossible…. De will just gv Pres Jonathan an easy ride

- lady_phareedah Buhari should give up already, what is he looking for in aso rock that he wants to get in so bad… sigh

- seyidharams So dey appreciate working beside a turbo train…and dey can fix one in dia country despite bn past government leaders….ish for all of dem. Muslim-Muslim ticket no go fit work for naija ooo

- krabiu They should give room for the younger ones. Kwankwaso and Fashola is more like it

- surebaba55 New face can’t change the pdp family.we need strong people like buhati and tinubu to change the face of power from PDP first .change is all we need

- ebonyslim1 Very bad combo. Tinubu in my opinion is not electable. He shd be content being d political godfather he’s known for. Buhari and someone else better. Buhari is a disciplined no nonsense taking person. (at least dats d opinion I have always had abt him). I won’t vote for APC if tinubu runs it anybody. Am sure alot of peeps share my sentiments too.

- _onimisi_Who confirmed theme as the APC presidential candidates Mr @ovationinternational ? APC, so far haven’t confirmed any runner, so why do you come posting pictures that make people wanna Luz hope on APC? This ain’t fair. I’ll advice you alow them make their choice first before posting more wrong photos.

- fjebriku Omg! What a dream…this two men can not rule us. If anything at all it is you we want instead @ovationinternational. Or better still we make do with the current administration of President Jonathan.

- adediana123 I hate it when I see all this EX hustling to be in power again it’s only in Africa a man will rule a nation until he dies like it is his birthright! They taking the train in London and taking pictures like that is suppose to impress anyone!!!! The day they take the BRT in Lagos and the danfos in Abuja then I will b impressed! It’s high time this old jokes who called themselves politicians get the hell out and go back to their villages and retire with the little shred of dignity they have left!!!!!

Buhari, who contested and lost previous elections to former president Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan, has told all who care to listen that he is yet to determine whether to contest in the 2015 election or not. He gave assurances that his decision will be made after widespread consultation with his supporters and party stakeholders.

The Momodu post has generated over 50 comments so far with more responses coming in.

What do you think about a Buhari/Tinubu candidacy?

via NaijaGossip

Nigeria has warned that a civil war in Ukraine can destabilise the international community and wants all concerned parties to resort to dialogue to resolve the conflict.



Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu, made this known in New York on Tuesday night at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Ukraine.





Ogwu, who is currently the president of the Security Council for the month of April, spoke in her national capacity as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UN.



Her comments came after Pro-Russia activists were reported to have stormed several more buildings in eastern Ukraine and kidnapped international monitors in the crisis-torn country.



“The situation in Ukraine remains tense and the risk of further escalation remains a matter of grave concern to the international community.



“Utmost care needs to be taken to ensure that the crisis does not degenerate into a civil war.



“If it does, it might become an internationalised conflict, with its attendant reverberations everywhere.’’



Ogwu said that Nigeria had followed with keen interest recent talks in Geneva on Ukraine which resulted in a joint statement issued by Russia, Ukraine, the EU and the U.S.



She noted that the Geneva Statement had called for the disarmament of all illegally armed groups, the return of seized buildings and amnesty for protesters.



She said that Nigeria strongly believes that the agreement reached in Geneva would constitute the basis for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.



“This glimmer of hope, I’m afraid, is fast fading before our eyes as armed men continue to occupy buildings in eastern Ukraine and the level of violence is escalating.’’



Ogwu called for the immediate release of the kidnapped international monitors, and stressed that the way to lasting peace rested in dialogue by all concerned parties.



She said that the alternative of a military option would “bleed the already-open veins of Ukraine’’ and a strong surgical procedure would be needed to mend those veins.



“Dear colleagues, the clock is ticking, Ukraine is the patient and this council and the international community constitute the surgical team.



“Let us stabilise and restore the patient to health or many more might bleed. It is a collective responsibility,’’ Ogwu told the 15-member council.



Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the council earlier on Tuesday voted unanimously to partially lift the arms embargo on Cote d’Ivoire, differentiating between lethal and non-lethal arms.



The council, in a meeting presided over by Nigeria also lifted the ban on importing rough diamonds from Cote d’Ivoire.



Also, the council extended for another year the mandate of the UN mission tasked with monitoring the ceasefire in Western Sahara and organising a referendum on self-determination for the people of the territory.



The resolution called for greater efforts to improve human rights in Western Sahara, but stopped short of widening the mandate of its peacekeeping mission.



It will be recalled that Rights groups and the government of Western Sahara has repeatedly called for human rights monitoring to be included in the mandate of UN peacekeepers.



However, the move was fiercely opposed by Morocco.



Last week, the Saharawi Ambassador to Nigeria, Ubbi Bachir, told NAN in Abuja that the Saharawi Government had strong evidence of Morocco’s human rights abuses in the occupied Western Sahara.



NAN reports that Nigeria’s government strongly supports the liberation struggle of Saharawi people since their occupation in 1975 by Morocco after the departure of colonial power, Spain.



Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, reaffirmed Africa’s support and position at a press conference on Monday in New York.



“The African position on Western Sahara has always been consistent; the OAU first recognised Western Sahara in 1982.



“That has been our position as the African Union up till today,’’ Wali said. (NAN)



via nigerianeye

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has disclosed that the state government has begun implementing the recommendations of the retired Justice Joseph F. Gbadeyan-led judicial panel of inquiry into the killing of security personnel at Alakyo village by suspected Ombatse ethnic militia last year.

The governor noted that there would be no sacred cows in the implementation of the report, adding that whoever was found wanting by the panel, and the other two panels before it, would face justice.

Gov. Al-Makura dropped the hint yesterday in Lafia, the state capital, at a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while reacting to the recent massacre of over 50 persons by Eggon youths at Igga village in Nasarawa Eggon local government.

He affirmed that the state government would not fold its arms and watch innocent citizens to be killed by criminals, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“As a government, it is incumbent upon us to guarantee the security of life and property and we cannot allow our people to continue to live in fear”, he said.

“Those criminals, who carried out the senseless attack in Igga where over 50 people were killed, will be tracked down wherever they are, whoever they are”, Al-Makura vowed.

Speaking on the party’s preparations for the forthcoming state congress, the governor gave the assurance that it would hitch-free just like the ward and local government congresses and called for more cooperation from party members.

Speaking earlier, chairman of the appeals committee, Senator Joseph K. Waku, said that after the successful conduct of the ward and local government congresses in the state, not a single appeal was filed before his committee.

He, therefore, hailed the governor for abiding by the principle of true internal democracy where officials were elected on merit.

“It is worth commending that throughout the exercise the governor has not endorsed any single candidate for any office which is the mark of a true democrat”, he said.

Speaking in the same vein, chairman of the Congress Committee, Barr. Ahmed El-Manzuk, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of members during the congresses noting that despite the religious and ethnic diversity in the state, the just concluded exercise was rancor free and urged other states to emulate Nasarawa.

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Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar on Tuesday cautioned against politicizing the country’s security challenges, saying it could worsen the already bad situation.

The former military ruler pleaded with politicians to always put national interest ahead of personal or party interest.

Gen Abubakar, who made this known in Lagos at the launch of The Cable online newspaper, published by a former ThisDay Editor Simon Kolawole, recognized the fact that ‘politicians will always be politicians’ but underscored the need not to engage in destructive politics.

“I appeal to politicians and all Nigerians to always put Nigeria first. I appeal to them to forget their differences when issues of security or Nigeria are at stake. Don’t play politics with security.

“Perhaps our politicians can learn some lessons from America. Whenever there is an election, they identify themselves as Republicans and Democrats.

“As soon as election is over, they identify themselves as Americans. I understand that politicians will always be politicians, but politics should not be destructive”, Gen Abubakar said.

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This is worth congratulating, keep it up bro!!!





via NaijaGossip

Aggrieved mothers and other indigenes of Chibok, Borno State, today in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, staged a protest to demand the immediate rescue or release of the more than 200 secondary school girls abducted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on April 14.








The protesters, most of them members of the Kibaku Development Association, Chibok, converged at Eagle Square in Nigeria’s capital. From there, they marched to the National Assembly to submit a protest letter. The women were led into the premises of the national legislature by a group of senior female police officers.




Senators Barnabas Gemade and Helen Esuene received the protesters, telling them that the Senate was considering a motion in relation to the abducted girls. The two senators assured that the content of the Senate’s resolution would be communicated to the women later today. The senators appealed to the protesters to calm down and show restraint, pledging that everything would be done to secure the release of the girls in due course.




Some of the protesting women, who were all dressed in black, seemed unimpressed by the senators’ tepid words. A number of the women betrayed their emotion and wept profusely, a few of them rolling on the ground.




Some sources in the state have told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that some of the abducted girls had been ferried across into Chad where they were being married off for 2000 naira per girl











via nigerianeye

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State yesterday denied the allegation that he called for the suspension of all democratic structures in the three North-East states currently under state of emergency.

Akpabio was reacting to a joint statement issued by the spokespersons of Governors Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State and Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State, in which the lampooned their Akwa Ibom State counterpart and frontline Ijaw leader, Chie Edwin Clark, for purportedly calling for the declaration of a total state of emergency in view of recent happenings in the affected states.

But Akapbio, in a statement by issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications Aniekan Umanah, said: “At no time did Governor Akpabio offer such an advice nor granted an interview on the issue”.

He said: “Matters of emergency rule are vested in the President and no governor has any say on such decision, as it is the prerogative of Mr President and the Senate.

“The allegation is a calculated attempt to malign Akpabio’s person and office. The governor was one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, who applauded the President for retaining democratic structures in the affected states, and could therefore not work against the continuation of the democratic structures in the states.

“Akpabio sympathises with victims of the insurgencies and prays for an end to the security challenges facing the nation”.

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Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has declared that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke is still under investigation despite a court process challenging the lawmakers’ probe into the N10billion allegedly spent to maintain a chartered aircraft used by the minister in two years.

Tambuwal said the Public Accounts Committee of the House will only stay action pending receipt of legal advice on the matter before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

“We have not closed that investigation. When we get legal advice, we will know the next line of action”, Tambuwal stated at Tuesday plenary session of the House while ruling on a point of order raised on the propriety of the court action.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke has allegedly not only used the said chartered aircraft for official trips, but also private trips, an allegation the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has debunked.

The NNPC explained that chartering aircraft for its officials’ use is common and in line with best global practices.

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Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday denied granting any order preventing the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives from probing the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, over an alleged reckless spending of N10billion on aircraft charter within a space of two years.

Apparently perturbed by media reports that he purportedly granted the minister’s exparte motion filed on 11th April seeking to stop her probe by the House of Representatives, Justice Mohammed said he only directed the respondents (National Assembly and House of Reps) to appear before the court on April 17, 2014 and show cause why the orders of interim injunction being sought by the applicants’ motion on notice filed on April 11 should not be granted.

According to Justice Mohammed: “I have seen a press release in the media, said to have been issued by the House of Representatives that this court has made an order restraining the House of Representatives from continuing with the probe.

“As far as I am concerned and as the judge presiding over this case, no such order was made”, he added.

The judge explained that the Court only ordered the defendants (National Assembly and the House of Representatives) to be put on notice after the plaintiff counsel moved an ex parte motion praying for an order of interim injunction to restrain the House of Representatives from summoning the minister.

“This court in a ruling directed the defendants to appear in this court on April 17 and show cause why the interim order should not be made.

“On April 17 plaintiff counsel informed the court that processes have not been served on the defendants owing to the Nyanya bomb blast and the court adjourned till today (Tuesday, April 29).

“As the press release was issued by the House of Representatives which is the 2nd defendant in this suit, and as the House of Representatives is not represented in court today, the only fair thing to do is to adjourn this matter and issue the House of Representatives with a hearing notice to appear before the court and clear the air on whether it has been served with a restraining order issued by this court”, he said.

The case has been adjourned till May 5.

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The mid-weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council will not hold today.

The meeting was called off by President Goodluck Jonathan as a sign of respect to Capt. Yusuf Sabo Sambo, the immediate younger brother of Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Yusuf died when he lost control of his BMW X6 and crashed into a tree, with the car bursting into flames on impact, along the Bill Clinton Drive, airport road, Abuja on Sunday.

In a statement by Sam Nwaobasi, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, the president said the cancellation is to allow Council members attend the three-day prayers for the deceased taking place in Abuja today.

The statement reads: “His Excellency, Goodluck Ebere Jonathan, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has directed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will not meet tomorrow, 30th April, 2014, to enable Council members attend the three day prayer for the late Captain Yusuf Sabo Sambo, the younger brother of the Vice President”.

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Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed into law a controversial marriage bill legalising polygamy.



It brings civil law, where a man was only allowed one wife, into line with customary law, where some cultures allow multiple partners.





Controversy surrounded an amendment to the bill, supported by many male MPs, allowing men to take more wives without consulting existing spouses.



Traditionally, first wives are supposed to give prior approval.



Last month, female MPs walked out of parliament in disgust after their male counterparts voted through the amendment.



They argued that a decision to take on another wife would affect the whole family, including the financial position of other spouses.



The bill was also opposed by Christian leaders who urged the president not to sign it into law, saying it undermined Christian principles of marriage and family.



“The tone of that bill, if it becomes law, would be demeaning to women since it does not respect the principle of equality of spouses in the institution of marriage,” Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki, from the National Council of Churches of Kenya, was quoted by Kenya’s Standard newspaper as saying.



The marriage legislation has been under discussion for several years and some initial proposals were scrapped at committee stages.



It has abolished the practice of unofficial traditional marriages which were never registered and could be ended without any legal divorce proceedings.



But plans to ban the payment of bride prices were dropped – although a person must be 18 to marry and this now applies to all cultures.



MPs did reject the committee amendment which said a woman should only be entitled to 30 per cent of matrimonial property after death or divorce.



The law now allows for equal property and inheritance rights – previously a woman had to prove her contribution to the couple’s wealth.



However, the BBC’s Frenny Jowi in the capital, Nairobi, says this aspect of the legislation could create chaos in polygamous marriages.



The law stipulates that a wife is entitled to an equal share of whatever the couple acquired during their marriage but in the case of multiple partners it is going to be difficult to determine what each spouse is entitled to if one of them divorces or their husband dies, she says.



There had also been a proposal to recognise co-habiting couples, known in Kenya as “come-we-stay” relationships, after six months, but this too was dropped.



It would have allowed a woman to seek maintenance for herself and any children of the union, had the man left.



via nigerianeye

Ahmed Zana, a Senator representing Borno Central Senatorial in the Nigerian Senate disclosed in the National Assembly on Tuesday that information available to him indicated that most of the over 200 girls abducted in Chibok about three weeks ago have been moved to Chad and Cameroon.



He added that some of the girls are in Chukungidiya in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.







The Senator spoke while contributing to a motion sponsored by Senate leader Victor Ndoma Egba and other 107 Senators to condemn the abduction of the school girls and the Nyanya bomb blast that claimed the lives of over 75 persons recently.



But Senator Zana whose constituency included the Chibok area where the girls were kidnapped also disclosed that the girls have been forcefully married by the insurgents who are currently residing in some of the 40 islands in Borno.



“I have been constantly in touch with the security agencies, telling them the developments, the movement of the girls from one place to the other and then the splitting of the girls and eventually the marriage of these girls by the insurgents.



“What bothers me most is that whenever I inform where these girls are, after two to three days, they will be moved from that place to another and still, I will go back and inform them that see, this is what is happening.



But I lost hope two days ago when I found out that some of them were moved to Chad and Cameroon.



Actually, some of them move through the Mandara Mountain, that is in Gwoza and some of them are just a stone throw from their barracks, even now as I am talking to you, in Cameroon because it is in Kolofata, which is in Cameroon about 15 kilometre or even less to the borders.



“One of the insurgents called somebody in Bama and said I just got married and said I am now settling in Kolofata and then three or four days ago, some Fulani men reported that they saw some girls being taken by boats into the island in Lake Chad and that some of them happened to be between Marte and Mungonu, maybe,” said the Senator.



While contributing to the motion, another Senator from Borno, Ali Ndume, said the military attempt to rescue the girls was hampered by lack of information when the kidnapping occurred.



While narrating how the girls were abducted, Ndume said when the insurgents arrived at Chibok, they went to the Motor Park and seized seven vehicles to add to the ones they came with.





“The commanders had alleged that their allowances were not being paid and that the number of soldiers are inadequate. There is no new equipment, all of them are old. The other time we went there, one of the armoured tanks broke down and we had to tow it with another vehicle”—Senator Ali Ndume.



He also said the military has not been able to rout Boko Haram because the troops were not well motivated and equipped for the task.



“The commanders had alleged that their allowances were not being paid and that the number of soldiers are inadequate. There is no new equipment, all of them are old. The other time we went there, one of the armoured tanks broke down and we had to tow it with another vehicle, said the Senator.



Senate president David Mark had while welcoming the Senators who were resuming after a three week break called attention of the lawmakers to the raging insurgency in North east Nigeria which he likened to war. He said only a decisive action by the government against the insurgents can save the country.



“There is no doubt that our nation is at war. The enemy has clearly and unequivocally served the nation notice of its vile intentions. Therefore, a clear, unambiguous and decisive military response from the Government, beyond the imposition of a state of emergency, is urgently required in this circumstance. This is an option we must consider now.



“It is obvious that we are dealing with insurgents and well funded nihilists who are determined to violently trample upon the secularity of the Nigerian State and destroy the country.



“A modern, vibrant, progressive, multi-ethnic, multi-religious Nigeria is an anathema to them. Because they are fired by zealotry and extremism, they are not likely to be swayed by overtures of any kind. We must henceforth shift from fighting terrorism to fighting insurgency,” Mark said while setting off the emotional debate that lasted over three hours.



Senators who contributed to the debate also identified lack of cooperation from the local communities, inferior military equipment, lack of motivation, and insufficient personnel as the major factors impeding the war against the success of the military in the war against the insurgents.



The Senators noted that the abduction of the school girls was a clear indication of the deteriorating security situation in Borno and other parts of the country.



“I had a 30 minutes chat with the traditional ruler in Chibok yesterday and the briefing he gave to me is identical with the submission of Senator Zana and the other people from Borno State,” the Senate President said while making his own contribution to the motion.



But he added the problem is not so much as to whether the girls kidnapped by Boko Haram are even in the country now or not, but that 234 girls can disappear and up till now none has been rescued. He also noted that the 53 girls who are back escaped on their own.



“The story that Ndume narrated about soldiers going in the wrong direction when they got the information is a clear indication of what we are in for. The people we are dealing with are well trained. They are not terrorists, they are insurgents. All along we have been reactive, if we are not proactive we cannot deal with it.



“I have been in the fore front of saying we must dialogue with them but I think we must take the battle to a level where they also must beg for dialogue.



“We cannot do this unless the locals on group there corporate with the members of the armed forces,” said Senator Mark.



The Senate subsequently adopted the prayers of the motion which includes urging the federal government and all security agencies to intensify efforts aimed at rescuing the abducted girls and seeking the support of the United Nations Security Council and other international organisations in the battle against Boko Haram insurgents.



via nigerianeye