Jonathan, Ihedioha condole with Vanguard Publisher over mum’s death

Jonathan, yesterday, condoled with the Publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka, over the death of his mother, Mrs. Teshoma Amuka-Pemu, and the Chairman of National Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, who lost his wife yesterday.

The President, in his condolence messages prayed that "God Almighty will comfort both families and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss of the matriarchs who played very commendable roles in improving the lives of their family members and communities."

Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, also condoled with the Publisher and the entire Amuka-Pemu family on the passing away of Mrs. Amuka-Pemu.

He said: "Mama lived an exemplary life and the best way to honour her is to uphold her legacy of virtuous living as a loving matriarch, community heroine and a devout religious faithful, who impacted positively on so many lives in her generation and those after her."

Jonathan also commiserated with Governor Ibrahim Dankwan-bo and the people of Gombe State over the death of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar.

#BringBackOurGirls Borno revises downward number of missing girls by 4

MAIDUGURI  (AFP) – Authorities in northeast Nigeria on Wednesday revised downward by four the number of schoolgirls held captive by Boko Haram, denying media reports that the hostages had escaped from the Islamists in recent days.

A source at the government in northeastern Borno state who requested anonymity said the number of girls who are currently missing was now 219, not 223 as previously reported by most media.

Police in Borno said 276 girls were kidnapped by the Islamists on April 14 from a secondary school in the town of Chibok.

Authorities had said that 53 of the hostages had escaped in the first days following the attack.

But, following closer investigation, it emerged that in fact 57 had run to freedom shortly after the attack but that the parents of four girls had neglected to inform officials that their children had safely returned, according to the source.

Borno's education commissioner, the point man on the hostage crisis, revealed the revised figures to members of a presidential committee when the panel visited the state capital Maiduguri last week, the source added.

The commissioner "was furious with the parents for keeping the government in the dark," about the fact their children were among those who had escaped, the source added.

Nigeria's remote northeast has a poor mobile phone network and shoddy roads, hampering communication in an area hit hard by Boko Haram's deadly five-year uprising.

Some local media on Wednesday reported that the girls had escaped in recent days or had perhaps been released by the Islamists after falling ill.

Calculating the number of girls taken in the attack has been hampered from the outset by conflicting reports from parents, officials and the security forces.

Days after the attack, the military said all but eight girls had been freed, a claim that was swiftly retracted.

Some parents in Chibok have insisted that more than 300 girls were taken, but in recent weeks most media have reported the figures provided by police in Borno, which have the backing of the state government.

Abakaliki Rice Mill Company sends SOS to Jonathan

ABAKALIKI — THE current leadership of Abakaliki Rice Mill Company has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to take urgent steps to address the illegal intrusion of Ebonyi State government into the affairs of the company to save it from extinction.

It should be recalled that Governor Martin Elechi had in a press conference to mark this year's Democracy Day in the state, reiterated that his administration would not relent until it drove out the rice millers from their present location.

But in a statement issued in Abakaliki, chairman of the company, Deacon Joseph Ununu, who agreed that they were ready to implement the relocation order by the state government, insisted that they would act accordingly, only if the state government paid them adequate compensation commensurate with the magnitude of their individual and collective investment at the Rice Mill.

He stressed that the reason they were calling on President Jonathan to intervene in the matter was because of his good disposition to farmers and their pains, that a company which had contributed immensely to the growth of agriculture in the country was gradually fading away because of Governor Elechi's insensitive posture to the plight of the people.

The statement read: "I want to use this medium to inform you, Mr. President that should anything happen to me from this date, Ebonyi State government and her illegally appointed four-man committee should be held responsible; security agencies in the country are hereby notified too.

"That  on May 8, 2014, the four-man committee illegally appointed by the state government, hired cultists who invaded our company and caused destruction of property.

"That on May 24, 2014, the Nigeria Police from Ebonyi State police command, vide our petition, arrested a total of 14 armed robbers who perpetrated the act," among other accusations.

Nigeria, Scotland share 4 goals in friendly

LONDON (AFP) – Result of pre-World Cup international friendly between Nigeria and Scotland played on Wednesday in London:

UNITED KINGDOM, London : Nigeria's striker Shola Ameobi (L) vies with Scotland's defender Charlie Mulgrew (R) during the international friendly football match between Nigeria and Scotland at Craven Cottage in London on May 28, 2014, ahead of the FIFA World Cup . AFP PHOTO

Nigeria 2 (Uchebo 41, Nwofor 90) Scotland 2 (Mulgrew 10, Eguwekwe 52-og)

AfDB fines Dutch firm N912m over NLNG bribery scandal

THE AFRICAN Development Bank, AfD, has imposed a fine of  $5.7 million (N912 million) on a Dutch firm, Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V.  for its alleged involvement in bribe payments for Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, contracts.

The fine was announced in a statement  by the Bank Group, yesterday, entitled, 'ÁfDB charges Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. US $5.7 million in monetary sanction for corrupt practices.'

The Bank said, "Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. admits to corrupt practices from 1995 until 2004 by affiliated companies in relation to the award of AfDB-financed services contracts for liquefied natural gas production plants on Bonny Island, Nigeria.

"The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group on May 28, 2014, announced the conclusion of a Negotiated Resolution Agreement with Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. following the company's acceptance of the charge of corrupt practices by affiliated companies in an AfDB-financed project. A

"As part of the Negotiated Resolution Agreement, the Bank's Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department, IACD, levies a financial penalty of US $5.7 million against the company.

"The funds will flow into AfDB projects preventing and combating corruption in the Bank's Member Countries on the African continent.

"In total, the AfDB has collected US $22.7 million in fines from four companies, including Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V., involved in bribe payments in connection with the liquefied natural gas production plants project on Bonny Island, Nigeria.           "In addition to the payment of a monetary sanction, the Negotiated Resolution Agreement foresees the debarment for a period of three years.

"These companies are eligible for cross-debarment under the April 2010 Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions entered into by the African Development Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank Group and the Inter-American Development Bank Group.

"The Portuguese entities affiliated to Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. played an active role in funneling bribes to public officials.

Manchester United owner Glazer dead – Offical

Manchester United owner Malcolm Irving Glazer (born May 25, 1928)  an American businessman and sports team owner  is dead, official said

Glazer

Malcolm Glazer, the owner of English Premier League giants Manchester United and American football team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, died Wednesday, it was announced.

"The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are saddened to announce the passing of Owner/President Malcolm Glazer earlier this morning at the age of 85," a statement on the Buccaneers website said.

"A dynamic business leader, Glazer helped mold the Buccaneers into a model franchise and one respected league-wide."

Glazer purchased Manchester United in 2005, controversially saddling the world famous club with hundreds of millions of dollars in debt in a leveraged buyout.

Glazer's stewardship of United has coincided with a glut of silverware — including five Premier League crowns and the 2008 Champions League title — and has also been the subject of sustained anger from Manchester United's fan base.

Fans have complained that Glazer's ownership model has forced United to spend millions of pounds servicing the club's debt — money which could have been spent on the transfer budget.

Glazer, 85, passed away early Wednesday, a statement on the Buccaneers website said.

More details soon