A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
IN his first official speech after taking over from Comrade Tony Nted Emmanuel, the newly-elected president general of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has declared that the union, under his watch would not tolerate the existence of cluster groups, fora and other ethnic associations.
He noted that the groups were the causes of several crises within the body, especially the pre-election face-off which according to him, was tactfully controlled before it could snowball into a full crisis.
Adeyanju warned that to avoid future crisis, all members of the union must remain obedient to the constitution guiding the MWUN and must operate by it alone. “I want to say that all associations and fora inside the port have been banned as from today. Our constitution in the union is the highest organ that we know. I don’t know anything about Alliance Maritime Forum, Oyo Forum, Ekiti Forum, Bakare Forum and so on. They are not enshrined in our constitution, so all these fora have been banned so that we would be able to concentrate and move the union forward”, he declared.
Adeyanju noted that the era of allowing thugs at Nigerian ports was successfully stamped out of the port by the union in the past eight years and that all the dock workers are now gainfully employed by terminal operators.
He expressed appreciation to the immediate past president general of the union, Comrade Tony Nted, assuring that the union would never derail from the standards he has laid.
By Chris Ochayi ABUJA – The leadership crisis rocking the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be coming to an end as the two factions loyal to the National Chairman, Senator All Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi led National Caretaker Committee have agreed to a ceasefire pack.Sheriff and Makarfi
This development was achieved Thursday following a meeting of the groups with Bayelsa State Governor and the Chairman of the party reconciliation committee Hon. Seriake Dickson in Abuja.
While Sheriff, the National Chairman of the party, was represented at the meeting by Ahmed Gulak, Bernard Mikko and Cairo Ojougboh, Makarfi, the Chairman of PDP National Caretaker Committee, was represented by Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Rt. Hon Dave Iorhemba.
“That the party should not dissipate her energy amongst itself but to focus on how to unite and be a formidable opposition capable of taking over power from the failed APC led government.
“That all key actors in the on-going peace process should henceforth desist from making public press statements attacking each other and statements insinuating negative acts capable of dragging the party to the mud.”
In the meeting chaired by Dickson, both factions agreed that "all key actors in the PDP have agreed to work together with National Reconciliation Committee led by Governor Seriake Dickson to engender peace and genuine reconciliation.
The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Walid Jubril has warned that selfish ambition is destroying the party.
Senator Jubril, stated this while receiving the report of the reconciliation committee, led by the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson in his Asokoro home in Abuja.
However Dickson had earlier cautioned the two factions, led by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi, to drop their ego and ambition for the unity of the party.
Much earlier Thursday, both factions of PDP led by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi, agreed to a cessation of inflammatory statements.
The agreement was reached under the supervision of the party’s reconciliation committee led by the Bayelsa State governor, Hon Seriake Dickson in Abuja.
According to Senator Walid, he warned that “Selfish or personal ambition should never try to destroy this party.”
He further dismissed plans to form a new party adding “Any attempt by any member to leave PDP for an unborn party is not a good decision. You cannot build a solid house and abandon it mid way. We must never behave as never do well. We must resolve our compromises. We need two strong parties, PDP and other one.”
He noted that while judiciary is doing its best to resolve the problem legally, the political solution is also welcome.
He stated that BOT will meet with other organs of the party, “So that we can call our convention before or latest by June. "I want to assure our members that Peace will return to PDP and all our differences will be resolved.”
Governor Dickson while presenting the report said “We will also be failing to point out that whether we succeed or how soon we succeed will be based on the collaboration of all of us.
“Let us leave all personal grievances and ambitions behind. This party is not about Makarfi and Sheriff alone. Let us all unite, leave egos and ambition.”
He maintained that Sheriff has written an undertaken to allow the convention committee free hand to operate and for party officers holding officer should resign ahead of the convention.
Libyan authorities on Thursday flew home 159 Nigerian migrants stranded after failing to reach Europe, in the second such voluntary repatriation operation this week.
African migrants from the Nigeria wait at Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport prior to being repatriated to their homeland under a voluntary repatriation program coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on March 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTOAfrican migrants from the Nigeria wait at Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport prior to being repatriated to their homeland under a voluntary repatriation program coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on March 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTOAfrican migrants from the Nigeria wait at Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport prior to being repatriated to their homeland under a voluntary repatriation program coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on March 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTOAfrican migrants from the Nigeria wait at Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport prior to being repatriated to their homeland under a voluntary repatriation program coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on March 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTOAfrican migrants from the Nigeria wait at Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport prior to being repatriated to their homeland under a voluntary repatriation program coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on March 23, 2017.African migrants from the Nigeria wait at Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport prior to being repatriated to their homeland under a voluntary repatriation program coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on March 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
POPULAR actor Chiwetalu Agu is taking his talent to another level as he concludes plans to release a debut video album titled "Mr. President."
The album, which reflects on the everyday activities of an average Nigerian, will be released soon and the actor is working round the clock to ensure that he makes a big statement with his venturing into music.
Chinwetalu Agu
In one of the tracks titled 'Mr. President' the comic actor reflected on the blessings Nigeria has received from God as well as on the poor leadership that has destroyed it, adding that he would do better things if he was made the president.
"Nigerians are suffering, there is hunger in the land and someone who is in speaking position has to say something about it. The song is not just about trolling politicians, but has other fun tracks that will make you dance, laugh and merry. It is an album for everyone" the actor said.
According to the management of Kings Music Entertainment, who are packaging the album, the five-track video album will be released soon and their spokesperson has it that almost everything is set before the video hits shops and TV stations.
"He is a legend and we know so many people across the globe will be looking forward to the album. It is clean for the family and you will also expect to see some of his comic lines on the songs", the spokesperson said.
Political bigwigs, dignitaries and other eminent Nigerians from all walks of life will on March 28 converge on Lagos for the annual Bola Tinubu Colloquium.
The event, the ninth in the series, is to commemorate the birthday of former Lagos State governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) national stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who turns 65 on March 29.
According to a statement by Tinubu Media Office on Thursday and signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman, this year's colloquium has as its theme- "Use What We Make, Make What We Use".
Tinubu
It is to hold at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to the organisers, the Colloquium will focus on the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit in Nigeria.
"The goal is to create a space where ideas and people relevant to creating innovative but everyday solutions in Nigeria can share knowledge, experiences and proffer solutions to the challenges facing the sector,'' they say.
The organisers say the idea of holding a colloquium yearly in honour of the APC leader was first conceived in 1999 by his close friends and associates.
"The friends and associates thought it important that the rich debates and intellectual discussions that often marked cabinet and other meetings with Tinubu be translated to a platform which would expand the conversations and lead to tangible outcomes,'' the colloquium website says.
Libyan authorities on Thursday flew home 159 Nigerian migrants stranded after failing to reach Europe, in the second such voluntary repatriation operation this week.
“In coordination with the IOM (International Organization for Migration), we are repatriating 159 Nigerians… including three infants,” Badreddine Ben Hamed, head of Libya’s anti-illegal immigration force, told AFP at Mitiga airport.
African migrants from the Nigeria wait at Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport prior to being repatriated to their homeland under a voluntary repatriation program coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on March 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
The Nigerians, wearing tracksuits and new sneakers, were driven to the airport near the Libyan capital in two buses.
“I wish I could go to Europe but I can’t,” said a woman called Fate, carrying a baby in her arms.
“I’m happy to be going home,” said another Nigerian woman.
IOM head William Lacy Swing, who was in Tripoli on Wednesday, visited a reception centre for migrants accompanied by the UN special envoy for Libya, Martin Kobler.
“We can no longer turn our back on the communities affected by the current migration crisis” in Libya, said Swing, who met with Libyan officials.
Kobler said it was “a humanitarian imperative” to improve the living conditions of migrants and help with repatriations. “Voluntary return must be assisted,” he wrote on Twitter.
A group of 150 nationals of the Ivory Coast, gathered from detention centres around Libya, were flown home on Tuesday.
Six years since a revolution that toppled dictator Moamer Kadhafi, Libya has become a key departure point for clandestine migration to Europe via perilous boat crossings of the Mediterranean.
The IOM has said 521 migrants died in the Mediterranean from January 1 to March 5, 2017.
Frozen-out star forward Karim Benzema wants showdown talks with France coach Didier Deschamps about his international future and said Thursday he hasn’t given up hope of a recall.Benzema
The 29-year-old Real Madrid striker has not been picked by Deschamps since October 2015 after being embroiled in a sex-tape blackmail scandal involving former international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.
It cost him a place in France’s Euro 2016 squad and with Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann now the undisputed first-choice forward for France, Benzema remains out in the cold.
But with the World Cup in Russia next year, he hasn’t given up hope.
“For now I haven’t ended my international career, I don’t want to give up,” Benzema told RMC radio station.
“It’s tough (to be left out) when you play in a big club. Me, I love football, the big matches. The national team is top-class matches.”
Benzema was booted out of the squad, along with Valbuena — the victim of alleged attempted blackmail — due to the scandal.
In December, a French court rejected Benzema’s request to have the investigation into his alleged involvement dropped and the case is likely to go to trial later this year.
Investigators suspect Benzema of acting as an intermediary between the presumed blackmailers, including one of his childhood friends, and Lyon midfielder Valbuena.
“It’s a year and a half since I played for France, it hurts. I find it unfair because I haven’t had an explanation,” said the 81-time capped player, who again said he was not guilty.
“What I’d like is to have a discussion with the coach, if it’s for that (the ongoing investigation) or something else.”
Benzema said he last spoke to Deschamps towards the end of last season.
“He told me he wouldn’t pick me. At the time I didn’t need any more explanation than that.
“Now, on reflection, I’d like him to explain why it’s still the case — I ask myself that every day.”
The man who mowed down pedestrians and stabbed a policeman in Wednesday’s deadly assault outside Britain’s parliament has been identified by police as 52-year-old former convict Khalid Masood.
Known by “a number of aliases”, London’s Metropolitan Police said he had been convicted for a string of offences but none of them terror-related.
Born on Christmas Day 1964 in Kent in southeast England, Masood had been living in the West Midlands where armed police have staged several raids since the attack, storming properties in the city of Birmingham.
Over the course of two decades, Masood chalked up a range of convictions for assault, grievous bodily harm, possession of offensive weapons and public order offences, police said, with the offences taking place between 1983 and 2003.
But Masood had never been convicted of terrorism offences and “was not the subject of any investigations,” the police said, noting there was “no prior intelligence about his intent to mount a terrorist attack”.
At 52, his age has been highlighted by commentators as unusual, with most Islamist extremists behind similar attacks far younger.
Prime Minister Theresa May said he was once investigated by the intelligence service MI5 “in relation to concerns about violent extremism”.
Although the police believe Masood acted alone, the Islamic State group claimed he was one of its “soldiers” acting on a call to target countries fighting the jihadists in Iraq and Syria.
– ‘A nice guy’ –
Masood rented the car used in the attack from the Solihull branch of Enterprise, on the outskirts of Birmingham, the company confirmed in a statement.
According to the BBC, he told the car rental company that he was a teacher.
“He was a nice guy. I used to see him outside doing his garden,” Iwona Romek, a former neighbour of his told the Birmingham Mail.
“He had a wife, a young Asian woman and a small child who went to school,” she added, pointing out that the family had abruptly moved out of their house in Winson Green, a neighbourhood in western Birmingham, around Christmas.
Other media have reported that he was a married father-of-three.
Senate on Wednesday rejected the nomination of two out of 47 non-career ambassadorial nominees presented for approval by President Muhammadu Buhari in January.
The affected nominees, who were rejected, based on the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs are 82 year old Justice Sylvanus Nsofor from Imo State and Mr. Jacob Igbekele Daodu from Ondo State.
Justice Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor, retired as a Justice of Court of Appeal in March 2005, after clocking the mandatory retirement age of 70.
He had served as a judge for 28 years with about 13 years spent in the Court of Appeal.
The committee, headed by Senator Monsurat Sunmonu (APC Oyo Central), screened the nominees.
Senator Sunmonu, while presenting the report, said Justice Nsofor looked fragile and tired while his responses to the issues raised during screening were either not answered or devoid of details.
She added that Daodu did not respond to issues raised satisfactorily, apart from the negative security report against him by the Department of State Services, DSS.
"During the screening exercise the nominee's answers did not have direct bearing to the issues raised and the answers were not satisfactory to the committee's expectation.
"Besides, there is an adverse report on the nominee's suitability for appointment as ambassador", she said.
Daodu, from Akoko area of Ondo State is an architect by profession and also a former commissioner for physical planning in the state. He lacked the support of the APC executive in the state, who accused him of anti-party activities in the last governorship election, won by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Those who were approved include: Uzoma Emenike (Abia), Aminu Iyawa (Adamawa), Maj Gen Godwin Umoh Rtd (Akwa Ibom), Christopher Okeke (Anambra), Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (Bauchi), Baba Madugu (Bauchi), Stanley Diriyai (Bayelsa).
Others are Stephen Ugba (Benue) Baba Ahmad Jidda (Borno) Etubom Asuquo (Cross River), Frank Efeduma (Delta) Jonah Odo (Ebonyi), and Uyagwe Igbe from Edo State Eniola Ajayi (Ekiti), Chris Eze (Enugu), Suleiman Hassan (Gombe).
Others include Justice Sylvanus Nsofor (Imo), Amin Dalhatu (Jigawa), Ahmed Bamilli and Deborah Iliya (both from Kaduna), Prof D. Abdulkadir(Kano) and Haruna Ungogo (Kano), Justice Isa Dodo(Katsina) and Mohammadu Rimi Barade (Katsina) and Tijani Bande from Kebbi State.
The other nominees who scaled the Senate hurdle are: Prof Y. Aliu (Kogi) Nurudeen Mohammed and Prof Mohammed Yisa (both from Kwara), Justice George Adesola Oguntade and Modupe Irele (both from Lagos), Musa Mohammad (Nasarawa), Ahmed Musa Ibeto (Niger), Suzanne Aderonke Folarin (Ogun), Jacob Igbekele Daodu (Ondo), Afolahan Adeyemi (Osun), and Maj Gen Ashimiyu Olaniyi from Oyo State.
James Dmika and Haruna Abdullahi (both from Plateau), Orji Ngofa (Rivers), Sahabi Isa Gada and Kabir Umar (both from Sokoto) Jika Ado (Taraba), Goni Zanna Bura (Yobe), Garba Gajam and Capt Bala Mohammad Mairiga (both from Zamfara) and Habbiss Ibrahim Ugbada from the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, were also approved by the Senate.
The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki commended the committee for a job well done.
He called on the nominees to be good ambassadors of Nigeria in any country to which they are posted.
He further called on the Federal Government to ensure the payment of salary arrears of the Nigerian Embassy staff across the globe in order to project the country's image positively.
The man who mowed down pedestrians and stabbed a policeman in a deadly assault on the British parliament was identified by police on Thursday as 52-year-old Khalid Masood.
London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement that Masood was known by “a number of aliases”.An arrangement of newspapers pictured in London on March 23, 2017, as an illustration, shows the front pages of the UK daily newspapers reporting on the March 22 terror attack that claimed at least three lives in Westminster central London. Britain’s parliament reopened on Thursday with a minute’s silence in a gesture of defiance a day after an attacker sowed terror in the heart of Westminster, killing three people before being shot dead. Sombre-looking lawmakers in a packed House of Commons chamber bowed their heads and police officers also marked the silence standing outside the headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police nearby. / AFP PHOTO
He was born in Kent in southeast England and had been living in the West Midlands, which includes the city of Birmingham where there was an armed police raid overnight in connectiong with Wednesday’s assault.
Police said Masood had a range of convictions for assault including grievous bodily harm, possession of offensive weapons and public order offences ranging from 1983 to 2003.
However, it said Masood had never been convicted of any terrorism offences and that he “was not the subject of any investigations and there was no prior intelligence about his intent to mount a terrorist attack”.
Earlier Thursday, Prime Minister Theresa May said the man behind the attack had once been investigated by the intelligence service MI5 “in relation to concerns about violent extremism”.
An arrangement of newspapers pictured in London on March 23, 2017, as an illustration, shows the front pages of the UK daily newspapers reporting on the March 22 terror attack that claimed at least three lives in Westminster central London. Britain’s parliament reopened on Thursday with a minute’s silence in a gesture of defiance a day after an attacker sowed terror in the heart of Westminster, killing three people before being shot dead. Sombre-looking lawmakers in a packed House of Commons chamber bowed their heads and police officers also marked the silence standing outside the headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police nearby. / AFP PHOTOIndian sandartist Sudarsan Pattnaik gives the final touches to a sand sculpture on Puri Beach, some 65kms from Bhubaneswar on March 23, 2017, the day after an attack in London. Seven people have been arrested including some in London and Birmingham over the terror attack at the British parliament, the police said, revising down the number of victims to three / AFP PHOTOPolice officers arrive with a bunch of flowers to lay in honour of police officer Keith Palmer, who was killed during the March 22 terror attack in Westminster, at the National Police Memorial in Westminster, central London on March 23, 2017. Britain’s parliament reopened on Thursday with a minute’s silence in a gesture of defiance a day after an attacker sowed terror in the heart of Westminster, killing three people before being shot dead. Sombre-looking lawmakers in a packed House of Commons chamber bowed their heads and police officers also marked the silence standing outside the headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police nearby. / AFP PHOTOPedestrians and cyclists cross Westminster Bridge with the Houses of Parliament in the background in central London on Marhc 23, 2017 after it reopened following its closure by security services during and after the March 22 terror attack. Britain’s parliament reopened on Thursday with a minute’s silence in a gesture of defiance a day after an attacker sowed terror in the heart of Westminster, killing three people before being shot dead. Sombre-looking lawmakers in a packed House of Commons chamber bowed their heads and police officers also marked the silence standing outside the headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police nearby. / AFP PHOTOA police officer lays flowers on Whitehall around a photograph of police officer Keith Palmer who was killed in the March 22 terror attack in Westminster, in Westminster near the Houses of the Parliament in central London on March 23, 2017. Britain’s parliament reopened on Thursday with a minute’s silence in a gesture of defiance a day after an attacker sowed terror in the heart of Westminster, killing three people before being shot dead. Sombre-looking lawmakers in a packed House of Commons chamber bowed their heads and police officers also marked the silence standing outside the headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police nearby. / AFP PHOTOBelgian Ministers and MPs hold a minute of silence for the victims of the attack in London that killed three people the day before, on March 23, 2017 at the beginning of a plenary session of the Chamber at the Federal Parliament in Brussels. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack in London that killed three people, the Amaq propaganda agency linked to the jihadist organisation said. The claim marks the first time the group has taken responsibility for an attack in Britain. / AFP PHOTOA police officer lays flowers on Whitehall around a photograph of police officer Keith Palmer who was killed in the March 22 terror attack in Westminster, in Westminster near the Houses of the Parliament in central London on March 23, 2017. Britain’s parliament reopened on Thursday with a minute’s silence in a gesture of defiance a day after an attacker sowed terror in the heart of Westminster, killing three people before being shot dead. Sombre-looking lawmakers in a packed House of Commons chamber bowed their heads and police officers also marked the silence standing outside the headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police nearby. / AFP PHOTO / Justin TALLISMargot Wallstrom Sweden’s foreign minister (C) pauses with other members during a minute of silence at the Security Council on March 23, 2017 at UN Headquarters in New York. Four people were killed and 40 injured after being run over and stabbed in a lightning attack at the gates of British democracy on Wednesday attributed by police to “Islamist-related terrorism”. The attack unfolded across Westminster Bridge in the shadow of Big Ben, a towering landmark that draws tourists by the millions and stands over Britain’s Houses of Parliament — the very image of London. / AFP PHOTOPolice secure a cordon blocking access to the Houses of Parliament in central London March 23, 2017 the day after the March 22 terror attack. Britain’s parliament reopened on Thursday with a minute’s silence in a gesture of defiance a day after an attacker sowed terror in the heart of Westminster, killing three people before being shot dead. Sombre-looking lawmakers in a packed House of Commons chamber bowed their heads and police officers also marked the silence standing outside the headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police nearby. / AFP PHOTO
The House of Representatives Committee on Economic Recession has expressed optimism that the country will soon overcome recession.
The Chairman of the committee, Dr Bode Ayorinde, stated this in an interview with reporters shortly after the committee met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
Ayorinde said the committee's meeting with Osinbajo, who is the Chairman of the National Economic Team, was to suggest ways that the country could exit recession.
"Government is by action; but before you take action, you plan.
Economic recession
"We are now at the planning stage and already you see there is a slow response.
"The inflation rate dropped gradually and gradually, all other steps that are being taken when they are in full force (will work).
"Nigeria is a strong country; we have a lot of resources; all we need to do is to wake up.
"When there are challenges, it leads to innovation.
"It is when you are hungry that you remember that you have something around the corner of your house that you can turn into food.
"Nigerians should be patient with government and, by the grace of God, we shall be out of recession.''
Ayorinde said that the Reps Committee was made up of experienced finance people who could assist in designing programmes that could engender speedy economic recovery.
He commended both the executive and legislature for collaborating to solve the nation's economic problems.
"We are glad that we are on the same page; some of our suggestions have been acknowledged to be the way they were thinking and some of our suggestions have been innovative.
"By the grace of God Nigerians will feel the effect of this committee and the effort of the Federal Government very soon,'' he said.
Ayorinde also said that the recovery plan was being compiled adding that the Federal Government would soon come out with a package to exit the recession in fulfilment of its essence to address the welfare of the people.
Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (House of Reps),
Mr Suleiman Kawu, who was at the meeting said the executive was glad about the resolutions of the committee adding that the executive would come out with a position.
"We heard what they (Reps) said; we will come up with a position too and, in the end, we want to arrive at a position where Nigerians will be happy with the government,'' he said.
Kawu noted that the Reps and the executive arm of government enjoyed a harmonious relationship that was "rancour-free, intact and doing serious consultations''.
Three people were killed in the terror attack outside Britain’s parliament: a woman picking up her children from school, a man from Utah, and an unarmed police officer.
Westminster Bridge, where the attacker mowed down pedestrians before stabbing a police officer, is a busy tourist spot with its views of parliament’s Big Ben clock tower.Police officers arrive with a bunch of flowers to lay in honour of police officer Keith Palmer, who was killed during the March 22 terror attack in Westminster, at the National Police Memorial in Westminster, central London on March 23, 2017. Britain’s parliament reopened on Thursday with a minute’s silence in a gesture of defiance a day after an attacker sowed terror in the heart of Westminster, killing three people before being shot dead. Sombre-looking lawmakers in a packed House of Commons chamber bowed their heads and police officers also marked the silence standing outside the headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police nearby. / AFP PHOTO
Those injured in the attack included many foreigners.
Here is what we know about the victims so far.
– ‘Hero’ police officer – Unarmed police officer Keith Palmer, who was fatally stabbed as he stood guard at an entrance to parliament, has been hailed as a hero.
The 48-year-old husband and father had been a police officer for 15 years and was part of the parliamentary protection force.
Prime Minister Theresa May called him “every inch a hero”.
He previously served in the British army alongside James Cleverly, now a Conservative MP, who tweeted: “A lovely man, a friend. I’m heartbroken.”
As a tribute, Charlton Athletic football club placed a scarf in its red and white colours on Seat 166 of its stadium, which Palmer held as a season ticket holder.
Thousands of people also donated money to Palmer’s family via a crowdfunding page set up by the police force union.
Within a day, it had already collected nearly £200,000 ($250,000, 232,000 euros).
– Mother-of-two – Colleagues of Aysha Frade, a mother who was run down and killed as she was on her way to pick up her children, said she was “loved” and would be “deeply missed”.
A Spanish diplomatic source confirmed to AFP that Frade was a 43-year-old British national whose mother was Spanish.
Media reports said her daughters were seven and nine years old.
Rachel Borland, principal of DLD College London where Frade worked in the administration team, said she was “highly regarded and loved by our students and by her colleagues”.
– ‘A great American’ – Kurt Cochran from Utah in the United States has been named as the third victim.
US President Donald Trump took to Twitter to pay tribute to “a great American” adding that his “prayers and condolences are with the family and friends”.
Clint Payne, Cochran’s brother-in-law, explained in a statement that Cochran and his wife Melissa Payne Cochran had been in London to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.
“Our family is heartbroken,” he said in a statement emailed to AFP.
Cochran’s wife is reportedly in hospital, where she is recovering from a broken leg and rib and a cut on her head.
The police said only that a man in his 50s had died.
– Injured – Police said 29 of around 40 people wounded were treated in hospital. Seven remained in “critical condition” on Thursday.
Three French pupils on a school trip to London, all aged 15 or 16, were among those hurt, including two who suffered broken bones but were not reported to be in life-threatening condition.
The teenagers are from a high school in Concarneau, in the western Brittany region, and were joined by their families on Wednesday evening. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault arrived in London on Thursday to visit them.
Five South Korean tourists — four women and a man in their 50s and 60s — were also wounded after being knocked to the ground by people fleeing as the assailant mowed down pedestrians, Seoul’s foreign ministry said.
In an address to parliament on Thursday, May said that among the people admitted to hospital were 12 Britons as well as two Greeks and two Romanians, one German, one Pole, one Irish citizen, one Chinese national, one Italian and one American.
A woman with serious injuries rescued from the River Thames near Westminster Bridge after the attack, as well as her fiance, are believed to be the two Romanians.
Local media in the eastern European country have named them as Andreea Cristea, a 29 year-old architect and Andrei Burnez. Authorities did not confirm the reports.
The injured also included three police officers who were returning from an event recognising their bravery, two of whom remain in serious condition.
Among the injured British nationals were four students from Edge Hill University in Ormskirk in northwest England, who were on an educational visit to the parliament.
The Police in Lokoja on Thursday paraded 20 persons suspected to be kidnappers and armed robbers.
The Commissioner of police in the State, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, said some of them were arrested for criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and culpable homicide.
He said the suspects were arrested at Igalamela/Odolu, Ankpa, Ibaji, Odo-ere, Okene and Odo-Ape during security operations by men of the Special Anti Robbery Squads (SARS).
Those paraded were Musa Audu, Adamu Lamun and Bodori Ide for allegedly kidnapping one Aishetu Shehu on Feb. 4, 2017.
Inalegwu said the suspects collected N500,000 ransom before releasing her.
He said that Enemona Godwin, Solomon Anthony, Yakubu Abdullahi, Hassan Abdullahi, Ekele Attah, Umar Abubakar, Ahmadu Panya, Jeremiah Olorunmowaju, Idris Umar, Umar Mohammed and Hussaini Yahaya were arrested for armed robbery and kidnapping.
According to him, four pump action guns, four AK47, two pistols, two double barrel guns, two Dane guns, 200 live cartridges, 150 wraps of Indian hemps, military cap, boots and belts are some of the items recovered from the suspects.
Inalegwu said the new security strategies he introduced had started yielding results.
The commissioner, who assumed office barely a month ago, commended members of the local vigilance groups for their contribution to the fight against crime and promised to make the state safer for people.
Last week, Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, accompanied by Inalegwu and other members of the state security council, supervised the demolition of two houses used by terrorists and armed robbers in Okene.
In recent time, many commuters had been kidnapped or robbed while passing through the state.
Worried by misapplication of the federal character principle, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi said on Thursday that the principle should be based strictly on merit rather than on ethnicity.
Sanusi spoke at the 10th memorial lecture of Chief Kehinde Sofola (SAN) with the theme: "The Role of the Legal Profession in Nation Building: the Nigerian Context."
The emir, who chaired the lecture, said the government should only ensure that representatives of the people in political, legal, or economic institutions in the country were drawn from suitably qualified individuals and not on ethnic considerations.
The Federal Character Commission Act was promulgated in 1995 and later fused into the 1999 Constitution in the wake of agitations for fair share of political positions across the country.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano
In the guiding principles and formula for the distribution of all cadres of posts across the country, the Act stipulates in its Part 1 that (1) "Each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory shall be equitably represented in all national institutions and in public enterprises and organisations. (2) The best and the most competent persons shall be recruited from each state of the federation to fill positions reserved for the indigenes of the FCT."
It was introduced to promote national unity and foster national loyalty instead of regional interests and eventually give every Nigerian a sense of belonging no matter anyone's religion, language or ethnic group.
Sanusi said:"The issue of federal character should not be an excuse for nepotism; it should be based strictly on merit and not on family or ethnic sentiments."
According to him, a true application of the federal character principle will help to preserve the rule of law in the country.
Described democracy as rule of law based, the one-time Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria called on Nigerians to protect and defend the integrity and dignity of the nation's legal institutions.
"As we live today, we must understand that it is our duty to respect the various institutions of our country.
"We cannot sit and watch as spectators as our institutions are being destroyed; to be a true Nigerian we must learn to look at our leadership and tell them where they are going wrong," Sanusi said.
On human rights and liberty, the emir stressed the need for the society to pay attention to child rights.
"No religion permits infringement on the rights of any child. You find children in the streets hawking when they should be in school while some female children are even forced into marriage.
"Even the Sharia Law requires you to first seek the consent of your female child before giving her out in marriage and so the rule of law expects us to be law abiding," he said.
Sanusi also urged leaders at all levels to obey the rule of law rather than being intoxicated with power, saying "power is transient".
As leaders, he said, they should perform their duties diligently for the benefit and common good of the people in accordance to the laws of the country.
For Sanusi strict adherence to the rule of law and treading the path of truth was the panacea to the scourge of corruption currently ravaging the country.
A human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), a discussant at the lecture, called on lawyers to abide by the rule of law and shun every form of corrupt practices in court and in public life.
According to Falana, the rule of law demands that the country is governed by law and the constitution.
He appealed to leaders to ensure that the rights and liberties of the citizenry were protected, adding "this can only be done by adherence to the law."
Falana condemned corrupt practices by judicial and political officers and urged citizens to stand up and fight corruption.
He described law as the sole guide and guard for any society, and that the court remained the temple of justice with judges as administrators in the temple.
Comparing the operation of law in Africa and Europe, Falana bemoaned the spate of violation of the law particularly in Nigeria and called for a redress.
He noted that some legal officers use of frivolous applications in court to stall proceedings and put a clog in the wheels of justice.
"Take a look at court proceedings and you find some cases lingering on for more than five years; the situation is even worse when such lawyers still come to the same court to seek adjournments.
"There is also this "rude" practice where lawyers undertake briefs for their clients, and seek their opinion if they would prefer the case to be delayed in court; this is simply absurd."
Falana, who urged lawyers must see themselves as officers of the court and act accordingly, said they should shun practices aimed at subverting the law.
In her remarks, another discussant, Prof. Isabella Okagbue, also criticised frivolous applications aimed at perverting justice and condemned corruption in the legal profession.
"The court must not adjourn any case at the request of counsel; cases must go on and frivolous adjournments must be discouraged."
A former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Philips, who spoke on behalf of Kehinde Sofola Chamber's Alumni, extolled the virtues of the late legal icon.
She described Sofola as a watchdog for all his employees and kept everyone on his toes as well as demanded dedicated to the profession.
She attributed her success in legal practice to the "ever present help" of the late legal icon, adding that lawyers must learn from the good conduct of their predecessors in order to be successful.
The lecture was attended by Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki, a political activist, Dr Junaid Muhammed, Justice Bimbo Obaseki-Adejumo and senior lawyers.
President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the names of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) to the Senate for confirmation.
The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, read the letter dated 27 February, 2017.
It was signed on behalf of President Buhari by the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Osinbajo, who wrote the letter when he was the Acting President.
The letter stated that the nominations were in compliance with the provisions of section 14 (3) (a) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
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The letter reads: "In compliance with the provisions of Section 14 (3) (a) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I write to request the confirmation of the following nominees for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners.
The nominees are: Prof. Godswill Obioma (Abia), Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa), Alhaji Ahmad Makama (Bauchi), James Apam (Benue), Barr. Mike Igini (Delta), Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji ( Ebonyi), Dr. Illoh Joseph Chuks (Enugu), Hussaini Halilu Pai (FCT), Sadiq Abubakar Musa (Kaduna), Jibrin Ibrahim Zarewa (Kano), Dr. (Mrs) and Asmau Sani Maikudi (Katsina).
Others are: Dr. Mahmuda Isah (Kebbi), Prof. Samuel Egwu (Kogi), Amb. Rufus Akeju (Lagos), Prof. Mustapha Zubairu (Niger), Agboke Mutiu Olaleke (Ogun), Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun (Ondo), AbdulGaniyu Olayinka Taju (Oyo), Prof. Riskuwa Shehu (Sokoto),
Also nominated are: Barr. Kasim Gana Geidam (Yobe), Ahmad Bello Mahmud (Zamfara), Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda (Plateau), Umar Ibrahim (Taraba), Prof. Francis Chukwuemeka Ezeonu (Anambra), Mr. Emeka Ononamadu Joseph (Imo), Obo. O. Effanga (Cross River) and Dr. Briyai O. Frankland (Baylesa).
After the Senate President read the letter, no action was taken as it has to be listed on the Order Paper on another legislative date for further consideration.
Around 250 African migrants are feared to have drowned in the Mediterranean after a rescue boat found two partially submerged rubber dinghies off Libya, a spokeswoman for the NGO which operates the vessel said Thursday.
Laura Lanuza of Spanish charity Pro-Activa Open Arms said its boat had recovered five floating corpses close to the dinghies, about 15 miles off the Libyan coast.
“We don’t think there can be any other explanation than that these dinghies would have been full of people,” she told AFP, adding that they would typically have been carrying 120-140 migrants each.
The Japanese Government has given a major boost to the Abuja Environmental Protection Board to be able to provide effective waste disposal and management in the capital city of Nigeria.
As part of the collaboration with the AEPB, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, JICA, has established two pilot sanitation and waste disposal schemes at the Maitama General Hospital and the Police Quarters at LifeCamp, all in the FCT with a view to providing a congenial living condition for the residents.
Speaking while conducting journalists round the two project sites, the JICA Representative in Nigeria Mr Hirotaka Nakamura, said that the sanitation scheme was aimed at providing continuous quality improvement in the health sector of Nigeria.
Nakamura said: "The introduction of the 5S-KAIZEN, a Japanese word meaning change for the better and Total Quality Management (TQM) serves as a tool for continuous quality improvement in the health sector and further strengthen bilateral ties between Nigeria and Japan.
"Our overall aim is in keeping with the Japanese '5S KAIZEN' which means to sort, set, shine, standardize and sustain. "Japan through JICA will continue to explore possible areas of assisting Nigeria to achieve sustainable development and health care delivery for its people in line with our mutual cooperation status," he said.
The Director of the AEPB, Mrs. Omolola Olanipekun, who was represented by Mr Muktar Ibrahim, explained that the partnership between the JICA and the AEPB is basically for the preservation and conservation of the FCT environment so as to ensure better health and sustainable development for the Abuja residents.
The AEPB Director said, “JICA's integrated solid waste management project focuses on prevention, composting, recycling and disposal of waste in such a way as to protect human health and its environment, which clearly explains why the Blue Bin programme was introduced”.
He pointed out that the Blue Bin project is designed to promote and achieve the target of reducing, reusing and recycling waste in the FCT.
At the Maitama General Hospital, the Medical Director, Dr Adetoun Sotimiehin confessed that the introduction of the improved sanitary and waste disposal project by JICA in the hospital had led to a large patronage by Nigerians in recent years and resulting in its emergence as the best hospital in the FCT.
The House of Representatives, on Thursday urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to urgently withdraw and destroy mutilated naira notes in circulation.
The house also charged the National Orientation Agency to carry out sustained public enlightenment to educate Nigerians on the need to handle the naira notes cautiously with care.
The resolutions followed a motion by Rep. Adekola Alexander (PDP- Ekiti).
Moving the motion, Alexander said that the alarming rate of mutilated currency notes in circulation had become a national embarrassment.
He added that banks were issuing torn, mutilated and unhygienic currency notes through ATM machines and across the counter.
"I observe that in spite of arrest and subsequent prosecution of the culprits, there is still a cartel in CBN and commercial banks, which make brisk business recycling old naira notes meant for destruction.
House of Representatives
"They enrich their bank accounts, acquiring properties through these illegal proceeds by converting the equivalent of the mutilated notes into their accounts and selling printed mint meant for customers, to touts and hawkers.
"Section 21(4) of the CBN Act of 2007 makes it a punishable offence for any person to hawk, sell or trade in naira notes, coins or any other issued by the apex bank," he said.
The lawmaker expressed worry that most of the mutilated currency notes in circulation harboured pathogenic micro organisms hazardous to human health.
He said that the mutilated notes also harboured infectious disease such as diarrhea, food poisoning and respiratory problems which could be spread through the notes.
The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.
The house, therefore, mandated the Committee on Banking and Currency to conduct an investigation into the activities of the cartel by beaming searchlight on the CBN, commercial banks and other allied institutions.
The committee was given six weeks to carry out the assignment.
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