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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has debunked media reports claiming that he said the federal government does not know who will sign the 2017 budget.
In a statement issued to newsmen on Wednesday by his Special Adviser, Segun Adeyemi, the Minister said he was misrepresented in the statement, maintaining that such statement was a malicious misrepresentation of what transpired at the post-Federal Executive Council Meeting press briefing earlier today.
"Our attention has been drawn to a story in a section of the media quoting the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as saying "we don't know who will sign the 2017 budget".
"This quote is a malicious misrepresentation of what transpired at the post-Federal Executive Council Meeting press briefing on Wednesday, 17 May 2017.”
"When the Minister was asked a question relating to the signing of the 2017 Budget, his response was: "When it is transmitted to the Presidency, the issue will be addressed."
"Anything beyond that response amounts to deliberate mischief and should be ignored."
SEVERAL unresolved issues confronting the legal profession will be the focus of this year's Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos branch law week holding on May 24 to 27, 2017.
The law week with the theme: "Building and sustaining a vibrant law practice: Prospects and challenges." will feature corporate lawyer, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, who will deliver the keynote address while the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, is the Special Guest of Honour.
Chairman of the NBA, Lagos Branch 2017 Law Week Committee, Mr. Ahmed Akanbi said the theme was carefully chosen to address and resolve the myriad of challenges facing lawyers in practice.
"The recessionary climate has raised issues on how lawyers can survive and thrive in these difficult times. The law week programme has been carefully designed to be a one-stop response to such burning issues and challenges that continue to beset the minds of lawyers and the general public."
Other speakers are Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Mr. Layi Babatunde (SAN), Mr. Dolapo Akinrele (SAN), Mr. Uche Val Obi (SAN), Mr. Akeem Mustapha (SAN), and Mr. Ade Adedeji (SAN). Others are renowned capital market solicitor, Mr. Zik Obi; ace Nollywood actor, Mr. Desmond Eliot; Emem Ema Esq of KUSH fame; Mr. Sadiq Adamu (General Counsel/ED, Mobil Oil Producing Unlimited); Mr. Afam Nwokedi of Stillwaters LP; Mrs. Shade Morgan, Company Secretary & Head of Legal, Nigerian Bottling Company, and Mr. Rotimi Odusola, Head of Legal Department, Guinness Nigeria Plc.
The law week will kick-off with visits to Ikoyi and Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons, novelty football match, variety night and young lawyers' night. The programme will be rounded off with a dinner in honour of the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade.
By Simon Ebegbulem BENIN—FORMER Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-.General Idada Ikpomnwen, has said for the war against corruption to be more effective, the Federal Government must come up with legislation that will prescribe severe punishment to public fund looters including those in the National Assembly.
Ikpomnwen, who was reacting to a statement credited to Senate President, Bukola Saraki, that President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption was a circus show, agreed that if actually the war "has a bite, the issue of improper declaration of assets, forgery of Senate rules, padding of the appropriation bills ought to have been more seriously addressed to the extent that some senators ought to be in jail by now. I believe that to some extent, what the President of the senate is saying has some weight.
President Muhammadu Buhari during the Federal Executive Council Meeting held at the Council Chamber State House Abuja.
But let us even look at it in the Senate. If the fight against corruption was biting as planned by President Buhari, even the Senate leadership today needed to have been affected. But it is a good thing it has started, this is the first time Nigerians have seen corruption being fought by government. "So many people are in the process of being dealt with.
But a lot of people feel it is not holistic enough, that it is directed only towards opponents. But I believe that some of the loopholes being observed are because the man who was voted into office has not been enjoying the best state of health.
I believe they are measures to be taken to make this battle more effective. For example, putting square pegs in square holes.
I am saying this because I know that the President alone cannot do anything unless he has the right people in the right places.” And the president himself can even go to sleep if the right people are in-charge of the war".
The family of late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke says it will consider all legal options against the Chief Medical Director of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Prof. Akeem Lasisi, over the autopsy conducted on the late politician.
Dr Deji Adeleke, the immediate younger brother of the deceased, told newsmen on Wednesday in Ede that the family had not received the autopsy result and would not speculate on its contents.
Adeleke, however, said the family was worried over the statement credited to Lasisi at the coroner inquest that the deceased died as a result of overdose of a banned injection when the result of the autopsy was yet to be delivered to it.
He said: " We state that as at now, the family has not received the autopsy report and the family will not engage in speculations over its contents.
" However, it has come to the knowledge of the family that the LAUTECH CMD on May 15 appeared before the kangaroo inquest set up by the state government and gave evidence of the cause of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke's death when neither the family had been briefed nor the autopsy report released. "
Late Isiaka Adeleke
Adeleke said when the family requested for the autopsy result from the CMD on May 9, he confirmed that it was ready and that a copy of the result had been given to the Osun Police Command and the Chief Pathologist at LAUTECH.
The family, he said, queried the CMD for releasing a copy of the result to the police without any given to the them.
Adeleke, who said Lasisi later promised to send a copy of the result to the family on May 15, added:
"The family later called the CMD to remind him of the autopsy result as promised but he changed the story again, saying the report was not ready.
"When the family asked him when the report would be ready, he responded that it would be ready "as soon as possible.''
Adeleke said unknown to the family, the CMD had already appeared and testified before the coroner inquest the same day.
But in his reaction, Lasisi told newsmen that the autopsy report was not with him.
Lasisi said he acted within the law to have testified at the coroner inquest, adding that he did not claim to have seen the result.
" I don't have the result with me and the only person that can give the result is the pathologist.
"Maybe, they are talking out of ignorance because I don't have the result," he said.
Lasisi maintained that he was only an administrator of the hospital and not a pathologist.
" I am a surgeon and administrator of the hospital, so the person who writes the result is the pathologist.
" I have told the Minister of health as well that I don't have the result.
"As I am talking to you, I have not set my eyes on the result," he said. Lasisi on Monday appeared before the coroner inquest set up by the state government and gave evidence that the deceased died as a result of overdose from a banned injection.
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola on May 2 signed an executive order setting up a coroner inquest into the death of Adeleke.
Adeleke, 62, who died on April 23, was representing Osun West Senatorial District at the Senate under the platform of All Progressives Congress.
The Senate, Wednesday, debunked the rumours that it is mocking the President Muhammadu Buhari-led anti-corruption fight.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki had, two days ago, stressed that the Senate is fully in support and also is contributing to the anti-corruption fight powered by President Buhari. According to him, “"When fighting corruption, I am convinced that prevention is better than cure."
Saraki give the charge at the launch of Senator Dino Melaye’s book titled, "Antidotes For Corruption – The Nigerian Story."
Corroborating the above, a statement from Senate said “Contrary to the views being expressed by some mischievous elements that Senate is mocking the anti-graft war of the Federal Government, there are more than enough proofs to show that the lawmakers are working to strengthen the anti-corruption process and institutions for increasing the efficiency of the war.”
“Senators definitely acknowledge the successes and achievements recorded so far by the Buhari administration in the bid to eradicate corruption. They acknowledge that a lot has been done in the last two years to eliminate this vice from the national psyche.”
SENATE CHAMBER
“Available facts point to the fact that the Senators are really complementing the efforts of the executive arm in order to achieve better results. Today alone, two anti-corruption bills passed the second reading stage in the Senate and were referred to relevant committees for further action. The bills are : 1) the Proceeds of Crime Bill and 2.) Assets Forfeiture Bills. Both bills are private member bills sponsored by Senators. A third anti-corruption bill is already in the works.”
“Also, today, the Senate passed a motion in which it resolved that all statutory corporations should submit their budget estimates within two weeks and should refrain from spending money on capital projects. This is a strong move to block loopholes through which revenues due to government are being siphoned. That is sure one of the boldest moves to stop corruption in revenue generating agencies.”
“With all these moves, the Senators are backing their talk on fight against corruption with tangible action. Therefore, mischief makers who want to knock the heads of the executive and the legislature should desist from their dirty antics. These two arms are working from different angles to achieve a common purpose. The goal to eliminate corruption is shared by both arms of government.”
The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has called for concerted efforts by the international community to tackle terrorism, poverty and illegal migration.
Saraki in a statement issued by Chuks Okocha, his Special Assistant on Print Media and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, described the menace as global challenge.
The statement said Saraki made the remark when a delegation of students from the Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom, led by Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Craig paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday.
He said the rising incidence of the menace constituted threat to the peace, stability and wellbeing of humanity irrespective of their countries of residence.
He called for international support to enable Nigeria overcome its present economic challenges, adding that Nigeria was very critical to the growth of the African continent.
"Terrorism, poverty and migration, are issues of great importance to us.
"How do we address them; how do we secure our people from the ravages of terrorism, illegal migration and biting poverty?
"When you talk about economic growth, security challenges, humanitarian issues, health and education, all these are in Africa.
"I still believe that a lot can be done in the fight against terrorism. I think more can be done to support what we have achieved,'' the statement quoted Saraki as saying.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Maj.- Gen. Craig, said they were in Nigeria as part of their study tour of West Africa.
The aim of the tour, he said, was to learn at first hand the efforts being made by the various governments to ensure stability, security and prosperity in their countries.
Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged members of the party to ignore an advice for those of them desirous of contesting elections to look for alternative platforms.
Sheriff said this in a statement issued by Mr Bernard Mikko, the acting PDP Spokesperson to Sheriff on Wednesday in Abuja.
The National Caretaker Committee-led by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi had said that states chapters of the party were free to decide on any political platform their candidates could contest while waiting for Supreme Court's verdict on the leadership tussle.
Makarfi said that the call became necessary following the party's experience in previous elections in Edo and Ondo where Sheriff fielded candidates against the party's choice.
"We call on all loyal members to ignore this call and see them for what they are; destroyers of our much cherished party.
"We equally call on all members who are desirous of contesting elections to use the PDP and be rest assured of level playing field guaranteed by internal party democracy.
"It is now clear that having failed to convince members to follow them to their proposed new party, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi and his co-travellers have resorted to using everything available to destroy our party.
"This new antic will also fail,'' Sherif said.
According to him, the party's National Caretaker Committee is illegal.
He assured all PDP aspirants that the end to impunity and imposition of candidates in the party was in sight.
Meanwhile, the Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee had denied a report that the committee directed PDP members to defect to other political parties.
The committee in a separate statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dayo Adeyeye described the publication as misleading, saying the committee had never asked anyone to defect.
Adeyeye added that it was a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the committee's position and cause confusion among the rank and file of PDP members.
He said that clarification became necessary following the confusion caused by a newspaper headline that the committee directed PDP members to vote for another party in the forthcoming local government elections in Lagos.
"There was no such directive from the National Caretaker Committee.
"Our statement was very clear and unambiguous which was to the effect that we are in court and have absolute faith and confidence in the judiciary to dispense justice without fear or favour.
"We are aware that PDP is being disenfranchised in some elections and that different states have adopted different approaches to the issue without prejudice to the substantive matter before the court.
"We state categorically that the National Caretaker Committee has never asked anyone to defect to another Party. PDP is our party.''
He enjoined PDP members to continue to demonstrate total commitment and loyalty to the party.
Police in Bayelsa said suspected assassins on Wednesday killed a former acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa, Mr Pamo Hobobo.
The Spokesman of the Police Command in the state, Mr Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident to newsmen.
"One Pamo Christopher Hobobo of PDP Road, Yenagoa, was found dead in his house at about 7 a.m. today (Wednesday).
"Preliminary investigation revealed that he was stabbed on the chest with a sharp object.
"His corpse has been deposited at FMC Yenagoa for autopsy. Investigation is ongoing," Butswat said.
Residents said Hobobo, who hailed from Agbere in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, was attacked in his house at Yenizue-Gene in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
They said the assassins forcibly broke into the deceased's home and stabbed him to death without stealing anything.
They gained access to his apartment after pulling down the burglary proof attached to the door.
The sound of gunshots from the deceased house was said to have attracted neighbours who alerted the police.
The former PDP chieftain was, however, discovered dead and covered with blood by the time the police arrived at the scene.
An uncle to the deceased, Elder Hobobo, also confirmed the incident and said that the family was in grief and too sad to comment.
"We are in grief and still in shock. I am short of words, please let me be for now," he said
LIFE Progress Booster, the entrepreneurial radio show that supports upcoming businesses in South-East Nigeria, sponsored by Life Continental Lager Beer has announced plans to support 200 entrepreneurs with N300, 000 each, up from the N250, 000 it gave to individual entrepreneurs in 2016.
Josiah Akinola, Assistant Brand Manager, Regional Mainstream Brands, Nigeria Breweries Plc, made the announcement in Aba where its first set of 30 beneficiaries received N300,000 each to support their businesses.
He said that the Life Progress Booster Show is aimed at nurturing and encouraging entrepreneurs from the South-east, while also creating a platform for budding businessmen and women to present their proposals and transform their ideas to realities.
"The Progress Booster Show was initiated to raise more entrepreneurs and self-dependent individuals in South-east Nigeria. The average Igbo man is business inclined, and the region is known as an excellent environment for businesses. Through the years, the Life Continental Beer brand has focused on empowering our consumers, and we have shown willingness and dedication to contribute to their successes and achievements." Mr. Akinola said.
On his part, Idowu Adeshina, Regional Trade Marketing Manager Aba, NB, said: "Progress Booster is a programme we started to support the people of the South-East who have great and innovative business ideas to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of the people.
Last year we empowered 200 entrepreneurs. Our goal for 2017 is to increase the prize money to N300,000 and financially enable 200 entrepreneurs through the Progress Booster platform."
For the Aba grand presentation, 10 entrepreneurs were selected from those given the opportunity to present their business ideas to judges through a live interview at the venue.
The police in Bayelsa have confirmed that suspected assassins have killed Mr Pamo Hobobo, former acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Asinim Butswat, the spokesman for the state police command, confirmed the incident on Thursday in Yenagoa in an interview with the Newsmen.
"One Pamo Christopher Hobobo of PDP Road, Yenagoa was found dead in his house at about 7000hrs today (Wednesday).
"Preliminary investigation revealed he was stabbed on the chest with a sharp object.
"His corpse has been deposited at FMC Yenagoa for autopsy and investigation is ongoing," Butswat said.
Hobobo, who hailed from Agbere in Sagbama Local Government Area, was attacked in his house at Yenizue-Gene in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
Residents of the area said the assassins broke into his house and stabbed him to death without stealing anything.
They reportedly gained access to his apartment after pulling down the burglary proof attached to the door.
Sound of gunshots from the deceased house attracted neighbours who alerted the police.
The former PDP chieftain was discovered dead in a pool of his own blood when the police arrived the scene this morning.
Uncle to the deceased, Elder Hobobo, who also confirmed the sad incident, said the family was in grief and he was not in a position to comment.
"We are in grief; we are still in shock. I am short of words, please let me be for now," he pleaded.
An Ogudu Magistrates' Court in Lagos State, Wednesday, sentenced a 20-year-old undergraduate, Innocent Onyeoziri, to three years imprison for stealing phones in one of the Redeemed Christian Church of God branch in Lagos.
The Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat, convicted and sentenced Onyeoziri, without an option of fine.
The undergraduate, who resides on Adaranito Street, Famous Bus Stop, Alapere in Ketu, Lagos, had admitted guilt.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Lucky Ihiehie, submitted that Onyeoziri stole two phones worth N62,000 and a SIM card in a Redeemed Christian Church of God parish on Okunusi Street, Alapere on Dec. 13, 2016.
Ihiehie said that the phones belonged to Mr Oluwasanmi Olukunmi and Mr A. Agbolade, who reported the case along with one other persons, at the Alapere Police Post.
"On Dec 13, 2016 at 7.00p.m., the complainants were at the Redeemed Christian Church of God on Okunusi Street, Alapere for evening service.
"During the service, Oluwasanmi was charging his phone as well as the other two complainants – Jaiyeola and Agbolade.
"The accused came into the church and took the phones of Oluwasanmi, removed the SIM card in the phone of Jaiyeola and took the Injoo phone of Agbolade, and absconded,'' he said.
The prosecutor said that it took Jaiyeola some time to track the convict through the SIM card he used to borrow airtime to the tune of N30,000.
"On May 10, the accused came back to the church area and was arrested,'' Ihiehie said.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015
FORMER Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday, refuted claims that his progenitor, Obanikoro of Lagos, was not from Bini Kingdom, Edo State.
Obanikoro
Setting the records striaght, the former Minister clarified that the legendary Obanikoro was an Awori from Idiluwo-Ile in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos.
He, however, faulted the account of the former Minister of Works, Chief Femi Okunnu who said Obanikoro was from Benin saying the account was false.
He said while he personally had a link with Benin City through his paternal great grand mother, who was from Eletu-Odibo family, the first Obanikoro was not from Benin.
Obanikoro said the descendants of Chief Obanikoro, including Ajayi-Bembe, Ogunlana Arewa, Abisawo Otun, Osadeko, Aregbe and Oyerokun, were conscious of their Awori root.
He said: "Chief Okunnu said Obanikoro was from Benin, we are not from Benin. We are from Aworiland. We are from Idiluwo-Ile in Ojo local government. Personally, I have Bini blood. My paternal great grand mother was from Eletu-Odibo family. Eletu-Odibo came with the Oba of Benin to Lagos. She was the daughter of Ogabi Eletu-Odibo. But, Obanikoro was not a Bini man. He was an Awori."
The family of late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke says it will consider all legal options against the Chief Medical Director of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Prof. Akeem Lasisi, over the autopsy result conducted on the late politician.
Dr Deji Adeleke, the immediate younger brother of the deceased, told newsmen on Wednesday in Ede that the family had not received the autopsy result and would not speculate on its contents.
Adeleke, however, said the family was worried over the statement credited to Lasisi at the coroner inquest that the deceased died as a result of overdose of a banned injection when the result of the autopsy was yet to be delivered to it.
He said: " We state that as at now, the family has not received the autopsy report and the family will not engage in speculations over its contents.
" However, it has come to the knowledge of the family that the LAUTECH CMD on May 15 appeared before the kangaroo inquest set up by the state government and gave evidence of the cause of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke's death when neither the family had been briefed nor the autopsy report released. "
Adeleke said when the family requested for the autopsy result from the CMD on May 9, he confirmed that it was ready and that a copy of the result had been given to the Osun Police Command and the Chief Pathologist at LAUTECH.
The family, he said, queried the CMD for releasing a copy of the result to the police without any given to the family.
Adeleke, who said Lasisi later promised to send a copy of the result to the family on May 15, added:
"The family later called the CMD to remind him of the autopsy result as promised but he changed the story again, saying the report was not ready.
"When the family asked him when the report would be ready, he responded that it would be ready "as soon as possible.''
Adeleke said unknown to the family, the CMD had already appeared and testified before the coroner inquest the same day.
But in his reaction, Lasisi told the News Agency of Nigeria( NAN) that the autopsy report was not with him
Lasisi said he acted within the law to have testified at the coroner inquest, adding that he did not claim to have seen the result.
" I don't have the result with me and the only person that can give the result is the pathologist.
"Maybe, they are talking out of ignorance because I don't have the result," he said.
Lasisi maintained that he was only an administrator of the hospital and not a pathologist.
" I am a surgeon and administrator of the hospital, so the person who writes the result is the pathologist.
" I have told the Minister of health as well that I don't have the result.
"As I am talking to you, I have not set my eyes on the result," he said.
Newsmen recall that Lasisi on Monday appeared before the coroner inquest set up by the state government and gave evidence that the deceased died as a result of overdose from a banned injection.
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola on May 2 signed an executive order setting up a coroner inquest into the death of Adeleke.
Adeleke, 62, who died on April 23, was representing Osun West Senatorial District at the Senate under the platform of All Progressives Congress.
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Anambra has imposed a two-month suspension on its state Chairman, Mr Mathias Aninwachukwu for violating the party's constitution.
The communique signed by 10 out of the party's 15 state executive council members, accused the chairman of high handedness in handling the affairs of the party.
It claimed that Aninwachukwu ran the party as a personal business and had failed to convene statutory meetings of the state working committee and the state executive committee.
"He openly denigrated members of the state executive committee, ran the party without approved budget, and refused to inaugurate and empower some functional organs of the party as stated in the party's constitution.
"He unilaterally accepted a gubernatorial aspirant and attempted to make him a consensus candidate and BoT member at the same time; failed to open bank account as well as render appropriate accounts of the funds accruable to the party," it added.
It warned members of the public, INEC, IPAC and DSS against dealing with the suspended chairman until further notice.
However, Aninwachukwu, dismissed report of his suspension, insisting that he remain the authentic PRP chairman in Anambra.
"I just came out of a meeting as the chairman of the party to receive your call; if anyone or group of persons say I have been suspended, then it is for selfish reasons and their meeting was illegal.
He said the Publicity Secretary, who allegedly sponsored the 'kangaroo suspension' against him had been penciled for suspension two months ago for unruly behaviour.
The National Industrial Court, Abuja has fixed July 11, for ruling in a case of alleged dismissal instituted by Euphemia Agu against the Federal Civil Service Commission.
Agu, a Secretary attached to the Ministry of Defence, was allegedly dismissed from the Commission on June 24, 1997 over alleged absenteeism from work.
The claimant is asking the court to either reinstate her or convert her purported dismissal to retirement by backdating it to the dismissal date of June 24, 1997.
The claimant joined the Minister of Defence as co- respondent in the suit.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Ebeye Isele, fixed the date after listening to submissions of parties in the suit.
The respondent's Counsel, Mr Chindo Usman, in his preliminary objection had argued that the claimant's prayer had been overtaken by events, adding that the suit should not be entertained.
The court would also determine the issue of statute of limitation on whether the suit was filed within time.
Counsel to the claimant, Mr Collins Onwuemelie in his submission told the court that the claimant had for long suffered continuous damage and injury.
He urged the court to dismiss the preliminary objection of the respondent and give his client the opportunity to ventilate her grievance.
The court then fixed the adjourned date for ruling.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday confirmed that another Chibok schoolgirl had been found, barely 12 days after the release of the 82 abducted girls by their captors.
Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, who made this known to State House correspondents in Abuja, said the recovery of the girl was announced by the acting president during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.
According to her, the affected girl has been brought to Abuja to join her colleagues who were rescued from captivity. Cue in audio – Adesina
"Yes, at the Federal Executive Council's meeting, the Vice-President broke the cheering news to members of the cabinet and after that I have also spoken to defence people who confirmed it.
"The details are yet to fully unravel . But in terms of is it true- yes, it is true. I learnt she is already being brought to Abuja, but I have not seen her
Cue out audio – Adesina
The presidential aide expressed the hope that the remaining Chibok schoolgirls and other Nigerians in captivity would soon be rescued.
He also dismissed the assertion that members of the Boko Haram sect had started regrouping in the Sambisa forest, saying that the Federal Government had the capacity to confront any security challenge arising from any part of the country.
Cue in audio – 2 (Adesina)
"One thing you can be sure of is that this government has the capacity to confront any security challenge that arises.
"So, if they are regrouping they will be flushed out again.
"I believe that we have seen the worst of that insurgency. We are in a mopping up process and I believe the mop up would be completed.''
Cue out audio – Adesina
Newsmen report that 82 girls were recently released by their captors in exchange for five Boko Haram (commanders) suspects held by the federal government. Twenty one others were released in October last year and another three also regained their freedom, in separate circumstances.
They were released to international negotiators who have been working in collaboration with the federal government for their safe return since they were kidnapped in April 2014.
Rwanda's telecom industry regulator has fined MTN Rwanda, a division of South Africa's MTN Group, 7 billion francs (8.5 million dollars) for running its IT services outside the country in breach of its licence.
The regulator said in a ruling posted on its website in Kigali that MTN Rwanda was hosting its IT services hub in Uganda, which it had prohibited.
"They are punished for relocating their IT services outside Rwanda, and this was deliberate,'' Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority Spokesman Anthony Kulamba said.
MTN Group said it had also received a notification about the fine.
"MTN has been engaging with the regulator on this matter over the past four months.
"MTN Rwanda is currently studying the official notification and will continue to engage with the regulator on this matter," it said in a statement.
In 2016, MTN, which operates in 20 countries, set aside 600 million dollars to pay a fine imposed by the Nigerian government for not disconnecting unregistered SIM cards.
It paid N30 billion (95.24 million dollars) of the amount in March.
Other telecoms companies operating in Rwanda are Tigo, a unit of Millicom and Airtel Rwanda, a unit of India's Bharti Airtel.
Abuja – National Vice-Chairman (South-South) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Emmanuel Ogidi, said his zone would heed National Caretaker Committee's directive empowering state chapters on platforms for members contesting elections. Ahmed Makarfi He said that there was nothing wrong in allowing state chapters of the party to decide the political platform their candidates could use to contest imminent elections pending resolution of the party's leadership tussle.
Ogidi made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that the decision of the committee headed by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi was apt, alleging that the National Chairman, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, had continued to sabotage the party's efforts in elections.
"Yes, the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt said that Sheriff is the chairman of the party but we have appealed against that; therefore, we still maintain our position.
"The committee's directive is right since we know that in any given election in any state, at a particular time Sheriff will want to bring his candidate against the choice of party.
"From those experiences, the states' chapters will happily do with the option to decide which platform their candidates can contest elections. There is nothing wrong with that order,'' Ogidi said.
He, however, expressed optimism that the problem in the party would soon be resolved with the expected pronouncement of the Supreme Court on its leadership tussle.
"I believe that very soon the matter will be resolved after the judgement.''
The Supreme Court had fixed May 25 for continued hearing in the PDP leadership case before it.
National Caretaker Committee of PDP had, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday said that state chapters were free to consider platform appropriate for members to contest pending elections in the meantime.
The statement by the committee's National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, said while the party awaited Supreme Court's verdict on its leadership tussle, the committee was confronted with pending councils' elections in many states.
It said that there were also National and State Assembly bye-elections to be contested in many states.
It explained that the order to the states was to avoid a repeat of Edo and Ondo gubernatorial polls' experiences where "Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and his co-travellers scuttled the chances of PDP members''.
But, in a swift reaction, Sheriff condemned the directive, saying that Makarfi-led caretaker committee had no authority to issue the order.
In a statement by Dr Cairo Ojougboh, his deputy, Sheriff said that the committee was not recognised and was therefore, an illegal body.
"As far as we are concern, we are one family and whatever problem we have in PDP we should not wash our dirty linen in the public.''
He added that the door of peace was still open to Makarfi's group, advising, however, that they could go back to Seriake Dickson's reconciliation committee's recommendations.
The nine years old marriage between Muideen Akinyemi and Maroofat has been dissolved over disobedience, disrespect and laziness.
President of Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, Mr Ademola Odunade, dissolved the marriage on Wednesday.
Odunade held that the court had no option but to put an end to the union between Muideen and Maroofat because the duo refused any amicable settlement.
He granted Maroofat custody of the two children while Muideen was ordered to pay a monthly feeding allowance of N5,000 for the children in addition to being responsible for their education and welfare.
"Muideen shall also pay N12, 000 for one year accommodation for Maroofat and the children as well as N3,000 for the movement of her belongings", the arbitrator stated.
Muideen had told the court that his wife was highly disobedient, a trouble maker, highly disrespectful and lazy.
Maroofat said that the plaintiff was such an ingrate and irresponsible husband.
"My lord, Muideen is such an ingrate because I risked all that I have in my life to ensure that he becomes successful educationally and in his career", she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Muideen is a building contractor and resides at Iwo road while Maroofat is a trader and resides at New Gbagi area of Ibadan.
VAYA, a film direct-ed by Akin Omotoso, a Nigerian living in South Africa and a South African production has been nominated in ten categories for the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) 2017.
At a press conference addressed by the Academy Jurors last Sunday at the Raddison Blu Hotel and Conference Centre in Kig ali, Rwanda, the President of the Jury, Mr. Berni Goldblat, a Swiss citizen named Vaya, Queen of Katwe from Uganda, 93 and 76 both from Nigeria among films with higher number of nominations.
This year, a total of thirty categories are up for grabs by Africa's leading actors and film makers from the continent and the Diaspora. The Jury announced a new AMAA Best Comedy category and three special Jury prizes this year following the quality of films that were submitted for the awards according to Mr. Goldblat.
"Every year the competition gets stiffer and this year in particular we have great films for consideration.
The quality of production in Africa continues to improve and national governments are investing to support the growth of the motion picture industry. This is a major achievement for AMAA in its 13 years history.
The government of Senegal recently announced $3million fund to support film makers. However, because of the level of standards AMAA has established as a jury based awards, filmmakers in Africa are very conscious of attention they put into their works and this has impacted on production value compared to 13 years ago when AMAA started," he said.
After Vaya, '76, a periodic Nigerian film got the most nominations with eight while Ugandan movie about local chess champions, Queen of Katwe which stars Lupita Nyong'o, was also nominated in eight categories. 93 Days, a movie about the 2014 Ebola crisis in Nigeria, earned seven nominations and other Nigerian productions such as Oloibiri and Slow Country got seven and four nominations respectively.
Shaibu Hussieni, a member of the jury and chairman of College of Screeners briefed the journalists in Kigali about the process that led to the selection of the nominees from the pre-college screening stage by AMAA film selectors to when the College of Screeners decided on the best among the 438 films that were submitted for the AMAA Jurors' consideration.
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