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
School Children Kidnappers: From left, Bekewel Agbojule aka. Prince Yellow, Are Philip Joel Kakadu,Romeo Council aka “Raw”, and Totki Okoda alleged kidnappers of 5 Turkish School student and 3 members of Staff paraded by Police with recovered N1.2 million yesterday in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga OlamikanSchool Children Kidnappers: From left, Bekewel Agbojule aka. Prince Yellow, Are Philip Joel Kakadu,Romeo Council aka “Raw”, and Totki Okoda alleged kidnappers of 5 Turkish School Children and 3 members of Staff paraded by Police with recovered N1.2 million yesterday in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan
Burkina Faso scored twice in the closing stages to beat Tunisia 2-0 Saturday and become the first qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.
Burkina Faso’s players celebrate at the end of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final football match between Burkina Faso and Tunisia at the Stade de l’Amitie Sino-Gabonaise in Libreville on January 28, 2017. AFP PHOTO
Substitute Aristide Bance scored on 81 minutes after a controversially awarded free-kick with big-screen replays suggesting the hand-ball decision was wrong.
Prejuce Nakoulma doubled the lead three minutes later in Libreville with a breakaway goal to clinch a semi-final against Egypt or Morocco next Wednesday
This morning, I woke up alone again, as I do every morning", said Caroline, tongue in check. She was trying to make me see the importance of separate bedrooms to some fledgling marriages. She continued: "I nipped down to the kitchen to make a plate of hot buttered toast and brought it back to bed with me with a cup of tea. I switched on the TV, laid back and happily scattered crumbs all over the sheets without feeling guilty.
"Ever since my husband and I decided to sleep in separate bedrooms some years ago, our marriage has been happier and more fulfilling than ever – we hadn't had an argument, nor is our sex life a thing of the past. As I heard him make his way to the kitchen to fetch his own moin-moin and coffee, I smiled as I recalled our 'date' in his bedroom yesterday evening, which ended with a good night kiss before I tip-toed back to my own sanctuary!"
Caroline is in some very good company. Sharing a marital bed is not as popular as it once was, she said. "I love my husband dearly and the physical attraction between us remains as strong as the day we met. But between his snoring and my fidgeting, we just couldn't get along while we are sharing a duvet.
Folusho and I met some 15 years ago when he was 45. Like a lot of men in this country, he snores – very loudly, every night, without fail. Then I read of a survey that revealed that more than half of all couples find snoring the most annoying habit in bed. For me, sleepless nights became a fact of life.
Yet my husband was so lovely in other ways that I felt compelled to try to turn a deaf ear to a habit he couldn't really help. This went on for years until six years ago when we separated. He already had two children from his first marriage and now in his 50s, was adamant he didn't want more than the only child I had for him.
"A year later, he managed to woo me back with the promise I could have one or two more. I was delighted because I really loved him – but didn't feel the same about his snoring. Our first few weeks back together were heaven by day, hell-on-earth by night. Ear plugs, anti-snoring sprays and nasal strips made zero impact. At my insistence he consulted his doctor who told him that his sonorous habit was caused by damage to his septum. On the basis that it would be painful and might not even work, he declined the suggested surgery.
"Not long after, we were on holidays abroad, his snoring became so bad that I woke him up and threatened that if he didn't stop snoring, I would drench him in icy cold water. I pleaded he should take a few pillows and sleep in the bathroom. He argued that since I was the only one complaining, I was the one who should sleep in the bathroom. So, I took myself off to a cold, tiled floor, next to a dripping tap!
"Once we got home, I told him straight away I wanted to sleep in the spare room and much to my amazement he greeted the idea warmly. He said he'd been trying to think of a way to tell me that my fidgeting and getting up to the loo so many times in the night was driving him insane! And so, five years ago, I moved into the spare room. I go to bed early and read – books, magazines, whatever. I ate biscuits and all sorts of snacks and got crumbs everywhere – a habit Folusho can't stand.
"Night after glorious night, I go to sleep and stay asleep. By contrast, my husband goes to bed very late and watches television with the AC in full force!
"Friends say we're missing out on those spontaneous moments of intimacy and early-morning nookie. But in reality, people wake up with bad breath and flatulence, not in a romantic embrace! Intimacy may feel like it's 'on tap when you share the same bed, but in my experience, couples who know they can do it any time actually end up doing it very little. But when you have separate beds, you make time for each other out of desire, not out of habit. In fact, our sleeping arrangements are so stress-free all round, that I have been recommending it as a fool proof way of reinvigorating a relationship."
What Those Headache And Migraines Are Telling You
When to go to the doctor: If you are taking the maximum dose of painkillers regularly to get relief, speak to your doctor. It's also important to differentiate between headaches and migraines. "The pain pathways are completely different," explains Boots Pharmacist Angela Chalmers (Migraines are typically throbbing, "one-sided" head pains, accompanied by light sensitivity and nausea. They are often preceded by fuzzy vision and made worse by movements). "Sumatriptan is a good over-the-counter painkillers for migraines," she adds.
Self-help: "Most headaches can be resolved without any medication at all," says Chalmers. "The trick is to work out what's caused it… When did you last eat or drink? Have you been at a computer for hours without break? It's also worth considering an eye test. Often, drinking a big glass of water, or rubbing the temples and neck for five minutes to relieve any tension, is sufficient." Similarly, keeping a diary can help to identify migraine triggers and avoid attacks.
For more information, go to: The Migraine Trust (www.migrainetrust.org.)
Leg health: Faulty veins are the main cause of serious leg problems.
"But only half of cases have any visible signs," says Professor Mike Whiteley, consultant surgeon and clinical director of the Whitely Clinic. Most worrying are 'hidden' varicose veins. Another common – and potentially fatal – problem is deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in one of the deep veins of the leg. This is usually caused by inactivity and restricted movement (which is why long flights can be a problem) but family history and obesity are risk factors.
When to go to the doctor: Symptoms of DVT include pain, heat, redness and swelling in the calf, all of which should be checked out urgently. "The tell-tale signs for varicose veins are legs that ache when you stand but get better when you sit down," explains Professor Whiteley. "You may also have swelling, itchy skin or red/brow stains in the lower leg and ankles – all caused by blood pooling under the skin. Left untreated, this can result in leg ulcers."
Self-Help: A venous duplex ultrasound scan is a good idea if you suspect hidden varicose veins. Sitting or standing for long periods? Help keep DVT at bay by rocking back and forth on your feet, rotating your ankle and pointing and flexing the feet. For more information, go to: Assess your risk of varicose veins at www.veinsscreening.co.uk.
By Candida REASONS people give for committing adultery gets more and more atrocious by the day. Gbemi had been married to Yori for four years after a courtship that lasted almost six years. Only, in the last few years, their relationship had disintegrated and when their son was born two years ago, the love-making stopped. According to Gbemi: "Sometimes I felt more like the nanny for his son than a wife. I did most of the chores helped by an inexperienced house- help, on top of which I had a full-time job. But I got no appreciation or affection in return.
"I'd tried everything I could think of to try to fix things. I'd dressed in sexy lingerie to try and seduce him. I'd even tried blatantly asking to have sex. But Yori was having none of it, always brushing me off with excuses. After which he started coming to bed hours after me. It had been two years since we last made love and I was at my wits' end. Our sex life had always been important to me. In my view it really helps a couple bond. Without it, you're just two people living together. In the end, I sat him down and demanded we talk about it. I told him: 'We need to deal with this because no matter what you think, this is destroying our relationship.'
"He looked uncomfortable and embarrassed. 'I just don't feel like having sex any more. I'm sorry, but the desire has gone.' He said, a bit sad. It was a blow – but what he said next shocked me to the core. 'If you want it so badly, why don't you try someone else?" I told him I wanted to save our marriage, not leave it. 'That's not what I mean,' he said, 'you could have an affair. I wouldn't mind. People do it all the time.' This was not the way I expected the conversation to go. I wanted him to agree to try harder, not suggest I try with someone else. 'I want you,' I shouted at him. 'I want to have sex with you, not with
anyone else. I want my marriage to work! But he's come up with 'his' solution and wasn't budging.
"He repeated the offer over a few months. I guess he knew I wouldn't do it. He was just saying it to shut me up. We were at this impasse, stuck in a sexless marriage when I ran into Francis, an old flame. We had gone out while we were at the university and he told me he was recently divorced. He was still handsome, still his jovial self. Even though I hadn't seen him for over 15 years we got on well and I was still attracted to him. He jokingly said he wouldn't mind taking me to bed for old time's sake and I said 'why not'.
"He looked like the cat that had got the cream. 'Are you sure?' he asked. 'I've never been surer of anything in my life,' I flirted back at him. In my mind, I needed this affair and I was going to make sure my husband found out. This would either save my marriage or ruin it forever. He quickly drove to a discreet motel where a simple meal turned into us polishing off a bottle of wine, and soon, we were slightly drunk. And the sex wasn't something I would want to remember.
"For the first time in 12 years, 1 had just slept with a man who wasn't my husband. I was officially an adulterer. Climbing out of bed, I started getting dressed. 'Why rush off?' Francis asked. 'What's the rush? Come back to bed. You may as well, enjoy yourself now you're here'. It had seemed a good idea two hours ago, but now all I wanted to do was go home.
"As I walked through the motel, I could feel every eye on me. It felt like everyone knew what I'd done. I felt so ashamed. But it was something I had to do. It was the only way I could think of to save my marriage. On my way home, I stopped at a business centre and sent an 'anonymous' text to my husband informing him his wife had just been seen coming out of a motel and describing the dress I had on. I promptly deleted the message before I handed the phone back.
"When he later came home, he looked really beaten. I hadn't taken off my dress so he could see how accurate the text was. He reached for the phone and showed me the text. I looked defiant. 'What's all that about?' he wanted to know. 'I did what you advised,' I brazenly replied. He collapsed into a chair. 'You had an affair?' he asked. 'You must have told me to do it over 20 times. What did you expect when you won't sleep with me?' He looked crestfallen. 'But I never thought you would actually go ahead with it. How could you?' 'What do you want me to do? Our marriage is dying and you refuse to acknowledge it. I only did what you said I should.'
"He was enraged. 'Who was he?' he wanted to know. 'It doesn't matter. It meant nothing. It was just like you said – purely physical' He stormed out of the house and came home late at night. 'And what happens now?' he wanted to know. I told him it was up to him. That I still loved him but I wouldn't live in a sexless marriage.
"With a lot of dialogue, he confessed to be battling with depression which is what caused the drop in his libido. The real problem wasn't the lack of sex, it was the lack of communication. I could have coped if only Yori had told me there was something wrong. It is sad I had to do something drastic to shock him into action. I'm not proud of it, but it worked.
"There's no way I'll ever cheat again but in a strange way, my sleeping with another man is the best thing that ever happened to our marriage. I believe we would have been divorced by now if I hadn't. Our sex life still isn't where I'd like it to be, but we're working on it and we're talking, which is more important."
An Ijaw leader and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Chief Michael Johnny, has proffered what could be a lasting solution to the lingering land boundary dispute between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja communities in Warri South West local government and Udu local government areas.
Johnny, through his media office, yesterday, said it is becoming worrisome that over the years the government of Delta State has not been able to resolve the boundary dispute which had claimed many innocent lives and properties destroyed.
He said ‘ I am calling on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, being the chief security officer of the state to use part of the state’s security vote fund to acquire the “disputed land” from both communities, because all panel of enquiries set up by Okowa and previous administration on this matter produced no result”.
“I know Okowa inherited the Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja land dispute, let it also be on record that it was Governor Okowa who permanently resolved the land dispute crisis, after which a state or federal government project could be executed on the land to serve as a boundary between the communities.
His words: “For peace to reign, the people of Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja should coorperate and allow the state government to acquire the disputed land, to stop the frequent wasting of precious lives”.
By Funmi Komolafe Brethren gradually, the month of January is coming to an end. It's the month that many people have lean resources basically because so much money has been spent during Christmas and the New Year festivities. This was a period that we had so much to eat and give away.
My focus in today's edition is about the much we had to eat and how to carry on with our spiritual life.
What steps have you decided to take to enhance your life this year?
Yes, you have resolved to go to church regularly and may have started doing that. This is commendable but you require more than this to have a breakthrough this year.
For some people, even some churches, have decided to fast. I mean take a break from our eating habits with the ultimate aim of moving closer to God.
Why is fasting necessary? Let's refer to the conversation of our Lord Jesus Christ and his disciples with regard to their inability to cast out an evil spirit from a boy who has been bound with a lunatic spirit.
Matthew 17 vs 19 " Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said , Why could we not cast him out?
Let's see the reply of our Lord Jesus in verses 20 and 21 " And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you. If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting".
Note the reply of Jesus. First, he emphasized the importance of faith. One cannot claim to be a true Christian without faith in God. So, faith is important.
The last part of his response is the focus of this article " this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting".
Jesus had told us that we don't just need only prayer but also fasting to break yokes, especially stubborn ones. He has simply told us that fasting is a key to a major breakthrough.
Good as fasting may be, it must not be viewed as a way of putting pressure on God for immediate answers to our prayers. We should see it more as a way of lifting up our spiritual life. Indeed a way of moving closer to God.
Brethren, how many days in a week do you fast? You cannot afford to live your life for the physical alone. You must take steps to grow your spiritual life . Remember, the spiritual controls the physical.
You need not wait until your pastor or the church declares fasting before you fast.
Choose your own time of fasting. Fast and pray and as you grow up spiritually, challenges will melt away.
Even our Lord Jesus who came to live among men with the authority of the most high God still had to fast.
Our reference is Matthew 4 vs 1 &2 " Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungred".
Fasting and the power of the Holy Spirit helped him to resist the devil.
John the Baptist also fasted so did several other personalities in the Holy Bible. So, why won't you?
Fasting leads to breakthrough- 2nd Chronicles 20 verses 1-3 tells us about King Jehoshaphat and the multitude that came against him. Lets' see verses 2 and 3 " Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and behold , they be Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi".
What did King Jehoshaphat do? Verse 3 " And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah".
Why do you think he proclaimed a fast? The king knew that he needed divine help to defeat these forces and he succeeded.
In the name of Jesus, every gang up against your life, against your promotion, the Lord will arise and fight for you in the name of Jesus.
Fasting; a period when we abstain from eating and drinking but intensify prayers, moves us closer to God. The body is light and the Spirit is not too heavy to hear from God. Moreover, fasting teaches us to make sacrifice and present our burden to God .
Apart from the spiritual gains of fasting, there are also physical gains of fasting.
I'll share with you a sermon on fasting by Pastor Bisi Olowoyo, then of RCCG, Victory Chapel, Magodo.
Fasting according to Pastor Olowoyo clears the body of toxics.
It brings relief and rest to your digestive system and lowers blood and bad cholesterol.
Besides these, he said, fasting, sharpens your mental capacity. It also makes you loose weight. It also brings a change in our emotional attitude.
However, people with health challenges may not engage in fasting but such people can move closer to God by intensifying prayers .
Spiritual gains – Pastor Olowoyo describes fasting as a " time for soul cleansing".
Fasting he said, is also a time for " a new desire for God".
More importantly, the man of God said, it is a FAITH MOVE.
When we fast, it is " an expectation that God will fill us with the Holy Spirit".
The period of fasting is also a time for " sensitivity to God's words".
Fasting he said, releases spiritual power.
When we engage in fasting, he said, we are empowered to resist demonic oppression . It also helps to break the spirit of delay and also releases supernatural provision to us as Christians.
So, when last did you fast? Brethren, we need to make out time to fast if we want God to walk the journey of 2017 with us. Fasting and prayer is the foundation of victory over evil forces. It wards off the arrows of the enemy against one's life especially in the spiritual realm.
Brothers and sisters, you cannot afford to live by physical bread alone. In other words, eating and drinking 365 days in a year does not add value to our spiritual life. It rather weakens us and makes us vulnerable to spiritual attacks.
Take a personal decision to fast today. It could be once or twice a week or as the Spirit directs you. Please note that fasting is incomplete and ineffective without prayer.
Testimony – I'll share the testimony of this single lady.
She wrote, " I trusted God for a partner for 15 years . One day, the Holy Spirit ministered to me to join the sanitation department. I joined and I began to pick dirt from the floor. My story changed as my husband surfaced within a week. Now I am married at age 40".
Are you in a similar condition of waiting like our sister? Whatever it is that you are waiting on the Lord for, by the grace of the Almighty God, you will receive it early this year in Jesus name.
Prepare yourself for a breakthrough. Take the necessary steps and the Lord will intervene in that situation to your benefit in Jesus name.
It is gradually becoming a ridiculous trend for female entertainers to take a walk out of their marriage due to one reason or the other. For some, it is infidelity induced, while others are due to domestic violence, unresolved differences and the likes.
Tiwa Savage, Lilian Esoro, Kate Henshaw, Toyin Abraham (Toyin Aimakhu), Toke Makinwa, Muma Gee, Doris Simeon, Iyabo Ojo, Laide Bakare, Biola Bayo, Biodun Okeowo and others have been guilty of this trend.
Chinenye Uyanna
While discussing the incessant trend of marital crisis in celebrity marriages in an exclusive chat with Showtime, delectable Nollywood actress, Chinenye Uyanna dished out a piece of advice to female entertainers intending to follow the trend anytime soon.
In her opinion, even if the husband is a cheat or wife beater, walking out of the marriage is not the best option, but staying back to sort out the crisis is preferable. She stressed that any problem has a positive solution; therefore, walking out of a rocky marriage is not a profitable option. "Everything has a positive solution, love is patient and kind, love bears all things. To me, you are not supposed to walk out of your marriage because it is for better for worse. Stay in your marriage, pray and sort out your issues", she advised.
Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Yaya Toure scored as Manchester City secured their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a 3-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Gabriel Jesus, City’s £27 million ($33.9 million, 31.7 million euros) signing from Palmeiras, marked his full debut by setting up Sterling for City’s opener shortly before half-time at Selhurst Park.
Sane and Toure struck late on to rubberstamp a win that got Pep Guardiola’s side back to winning ways after their 4-0 thrashing at Everton and last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
Defeat ended Palace’s hopes of emulating last season’s run to the final and leaves them with only their fight to avoid Premier League relegation to focus on.
Sam Allardyce has won just one of his first eight games since succeeding Alan Pardew as Palace manager, but having made six changes, he clearly had half an eye on Tuesday’s trip to Bournemouth.
Guardiola made five changes, which included a first appearance for captain Vincent Kompany since City’s 2-1 win at the same ground on November 19, when the Belgian centre-back suffered a knee injury.
The visitors began brightly, Sterling narrowly failing to pick out Sane with a cross from the right and Toure teeing up David Silva for a volley that Wayne Hennessey blocked at his near post.
Manchester City’s Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus (C) stretches for the ball during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park in south London on January 28, 2017. AFP PHOTO
Palace, though, began to find joy on City’s flanks and for a period during the first half they had Guardiola’s men on the back foot.
Willy Caballero, deputising in goal for Claudio Bravo, had to field a Jordon Mutch header and produce a smart save to repel a James Tomkins snapshot after City failed to clear Lee Chung-Yong’s free-kick.
Toure was perhaps fortunate to avoid a red card when, two minutes after being booked for a foul on Joe Ledley, he tripped Mutch as he forged down the Palace right.
– Jesus comes to life –
Referee Mike Jones spared the Ivorian and from Andros Townsend’s free-kick, via Mutch’s flick-on, Christian Benteke headed over.
Jesus had been quiet, but two minutes from half-time he came to life, neatly controlling the ball with his back to goal, turning sharply and freeing Sterling to slot a low shot past Hennessey.
The Brazilian almost made it 2-0 on the stroke of the interval with a right-foot shot that was parried by Hennessey, the ball rebounding against a Palace defender and looping over the bar.
Loic Remy, a half-time substitute, came close to an equaliser when Mutch’s blocked shot bounced into his path and he sent an acrobatic effort whistling over the bar.
A Fabian Delph effort turned behind by Hennessey was followed by an almighty rain and hail shower that left the pitch sprinkled with white specks and briefly threatened to put City off their game.
After failing to control Caballero’s pass, Gael Clichy was robbed by Lee, who fed Ledley, and the Welshman drilled a shot narrowly wide.
Ledley would also go close with a diving header from Townsend’s cross, but by that stage Sane had put the game beyond Allardyce’s side.
Silva’s pass down the inside-left channel was allowed to find its way to Sane and he shot across Hennessey for his third goal in three games.
Jesus squandered a chance to add a third late on, succumbing to an untimely attack of cramp after skirting Hennessey, but Toure did find the net with a fine stoppage-time free-kick.
Abuja's super sexy runway queen, Yetunde Barnabas is presently basking in the euphoria of celebrations as she recently pocketed two mouth-watering endorsements.
The UNILAG babe who emerged as the 2016/2017 Most Beautiful Girl Abuja got a complementary land as an ambassador for Numerville Tourism Estate in Abuja.
Yetunde Barnabas
In the same vein, she also bagged a lucrative endorsement from Multichoice DSTV as an ambassador while Dolce Entertainment gave her a car gift courtesy of her crown.
Yetunde Barnabas is warming up to kickstart her pet project aimed at creating awareness on logical ways to prevent sickle cell anemia this February.
Iranians and Iraqis planning to fly to the United States were prevented from boarding on Saturday after US President Donald Trump’s order to restrict arrivals from seven Muslim countries.
Iran slammed the “insulting” ban and said it would reciprocate.
On Friday Trump signed a sweeping executive order to suspend the arrival of refugees and impose tough new controls on travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
His move sparked widespread international criticism.
Travellers from the Middle East were stopped from boarding US-bound planes.
Some who were already in the air when Trump signed the executive order were detained on arrival, the New York Times reported.
In Tehran, two travel agencies told AFP they had been instructed by Etihad Airways, Emirates and Turkish Airlines not to sell US tickets or allow Iranians holding American visas to board US-bound flights.
An Iranian studying in California said she could not now return because her ticket had been cancelled under the new restrictions.
“I had a ticket for Turkish Airlines on February 4, but it has been cancelled,” the girl, who did not wish to be identified, told AFP in Tehran.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani did not comment directly on the ban Saturday, but criticised Trump, saying that now was “not the time to build walls between nations”.
Iran’s foreign ministry said it would “respond in kind after the insulting decision of the United States concerning Iranian nationals” until the measure is lifted.
It said the decision was “illegal, illogical and contrary to international rules”.
More than a million Iranians live in the United States.
– Legal challenge –
In Khartoum, the Sudanese foreign ministry expressed its “regret” at the US ban.
On Saturday in Egypt, a country not included in the new restrictions, an Iraqi couple and their two children were told they could not board an EgyptAir flight from Cairo to New York.
Airport officials said the four Iraqis all had American visas.
The New York Times reported that two Iraqi refugees were detained on arriving at New York’s John F. Kennedy airport hours after Trump signed the order.
On Saturday, the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups filed a legal challenge to Trump’s order.
Lawyers representing the Iraqi pair also filed a court appeal for their release, saying they were being unlawfully detained.
The United Nations responded by urging Trump to continue his country’s “long tradition” of welcoming refugees and to ensure their equal treatment, regardless of race, nationality or religion.
French President Francois Hollande said Europe must have a “firm response” to Trump, and “when he refuses the arrival of refugees, while Europe has done its duty, we have to respond”.
Hollande was due to speak with Trump later Saturday.
In Lebanon, Syrian refugees struggling to get by in makeshift camps bemoaned their fate.
“What on earth have the Syrian people done to deserve this?” asked Abu Mahmoud al-Ghol, at one informal camp in the Marj area.
“And to think it’s a democratic country doing it,” the 44-year-old said.
– Refugees barred –
Nearly six years of conflict in Syria have driven more than half the population from their homes, with many fleeing abroad and dreaming of new lives in the West.
Trump’s executive order specifically says no visas will be issued for 90 days to migrants or visitors from the seven Muslim-majority countries.
It also bars Syrian refugees from the United States indefinitely, or until Trump himself decides that they no longer pose a threat.
His decree suspends the entire US refugee resettlement programme for at least 120 days while tough new vetting rules are established.
Qatar Airways, which flies to around 15 American cities, said it would abide by the new regulations, adding however that passengers who have “the proper documentation” will be able to fly.
An alert on its website said citizens of the seven barred countries could travel to the US if they have permanent residency there.
Government officials and their immediate family are exempt from the travel restrictions along with representatives of international organisations, the Gulf carrier said.
Trump’s move has also angered one of Iran’s most popular actresses, Taraneh Alidoosti who stars in the Oscar-nominated “The Salesman”.
She said she would boycott next month’s Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.
“Trump’s visa ban for Iranians is racist,” she tweeted. “Whether this will include a cultural event or not, I won’t attend the #AcademyAwards 2017.”
One of the most popular Ghollywood actresses making waves in Nollywood is undoubtedly beautiful and refreshingly sexy Ella Mendoza Mensah. The actress first hit Nollywood in 2012 and has since made Nigeria her second home.
When Potpourri cornered her recently to seek her opinion on whether infidelity is enough for a woman to walk out of her marriage, the mother of one, let out the fire in her. " Yes, if a man loves a woman, he will never cheat on her. Because he knows cheating on her will hurt her and if you love someone, you don't hurt them. I will dump your ass fast if you cheat on me", she blurted out.
When she was reminded that people believe it is in a man's nature to cheat, the 'Educated Housemaids" star retorted: " It's a horrible nature and it's bad. Men and women have veins in their system. No one is better than the other, we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord. So therefore, men don't get to do things that only favour them, it's wrong. If he loves me, he wouldn't cheat on me in the first place."
At least three Nigerian soldiers were killed when Boko Haram jihadists raided a military post near the country home of Nigeria’s army chief in northern Borno state, military and civilian sources said Saturday.
The Islamist group however claimed to have killed five troops in the attack.
Armed jihadists from the Islamic State-supported Al-Barnawi faction of Boko Haram launched a midnight attack Thursday on Nigerian troops in the village of Kamuya, around five kilometres (three miles) from Buratai, the native home of army chief of staff General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, a military source told AFP.
“The terrorists who rode on camels attacked our checkpoint at Kamuya, killing three soldiers after a gun battle,” said the military source who asked not to be identified.
“The troops retreated to Buratai where they teamed up with another detachment and went after the terrorists in the bush,” the military officer said.
Troops sealed the area, preventing villagers from leaving and making it difficult to get a detailed account of the incident.
Nigerian military officials declined to comment on the attack.
In a tweet from the IS-affiliated Amaq news agency, Boko Haram claimed it killed five soldiers from the regional coalition fighting the jihadists.
“Killing of five African coalition soldiers and 11 injured after attack by Islamic Caliphate forces… in Kamuya town,” the tweet read in part.
A civilian resident in the nearby Miringa village said the Kamuya assault was carried out by fighters from the Al-Barnawi faction who are known to be hiding in the area’s Ajigin forest.
Umar Sanda told AFP that Ajigin forest was the bastion of the Al-Barnawi fighters and that “they are responsible for most of the attacks in the area including the one in Kamuya.”
He added that the residents have repeatedly told the soldiers that “Ajigin is the hideout of Boko Haram in the area and as long as they are not dislodged there will no end to their attacks.”
Boko Haram, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, has been in the grip of a power struggle.
One faction is led by Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the 22-year-old son of Boko Haram’s founder Mohammed Yusuf, who was named leader by the IS high command in August.
Villages in the area have been razed and plundered in deadly raids by Boko Haram since Tukur Buratai became Nigerian army chief in June 2015.
The attacks are believed to be reprisals over the successes by the Nigerian troops who have pushed Boko Haram from swathes of Nigerian territory they had seized in their bid to carve out an Islamic Caliphate.
The military campaign which succeeded in substantually cutting off Boko Haram’s food, fuel and weapons supplies has also seen Boko Haram losing its Sambisa forest stronghold to Nigerian forces.
Boko Haram violence is estimated to have killed 20,000 people and displaced 2.6 million since the start of its insurgency in 2009.
New York – The UN has cautioned the U.S. government on the "Refugee Order'' signed on Friday by President Donald Trump temporarily banning refugees into the country from seven countries.U.S President Trump and Vice President Pence
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in a joint statement said the contributions of refugees to their countries of refuge had been positive.
"The needs of refugees and migrants worldwide have never been greater, and the U.S. resettlement programme is one of the most important in the world.
"The longstanding U.S. policy of welcoming refugees has created a win-win situation: it has saved the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the world who have in turn enriched and strengthened their new societies.
"The contribution of refugees and migrants to their new homes worldwide has been overwhelmingly positive,'' the UN agencies stated.
According to the statement, resettlement places provided by every country are vital.
The UN agencies pledged to engage with the U.S. government to ensure the protection of refugees and migrants in the country.
"UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and IOM, the International Organisation for Migration, hope that the U.S. will continue its strong leadership role and long tradition of protecting those who are fleeing conflict and persecution.
"UNHCR and IOM remain committed to working with the U.S. Administration towards the goal we share to ensure safe and secure resettlement and immigration programmes,'' the statement said.
The statement said the UN agencies also urged equal treatment for refugees and migrants without discrimination.
"We strongly believe that refugees should receive equal treatment for protection and assistance, and opportunities for resettlement, regardless of their religion, nationality or race.
"We will continue to engage actively and constructively with the U.S. government as we have done for decades to protect those who need it most, and to offer our support on asylum and migration matters,'' it stated.
New York – California has announced a proposal, called "Calexit" that would establish it as a separate nation from the U.S., officials have said.
The proposal for California to secede from the U.S. was submitted to the Secretary of State's Office on Thursday, according to a report.
The proposed "Calexit" initiative was a name borrowed from the UK's "Brexit" departure from the EU.
"Calexit" would ask voters to repeal part of the state constitution that declares California an inseparable part of the U.S.
A recent poll found that one in three California residents would support a possible secession from the U.S. due to their opposition to President Donald Trump, according to the proposal.
No mention has been made of the president in the proposal.
If the proposal qualifies for the ballot and is approved by voters, it could be a step to a future vote on whether the state would break away from the rest of the nation.
Secretary of State Alex Padilla said the group behind the proposal, 'Yes California Independence Campaign', was cleared to begin attempting to collect nearly 600,000 voter signatures needed to place the plan on the ballot.
"In our view, the United States of America represents so many things that conflict with Californian values.
"And our continued statehood means California will continue subsidising the other states to our own detriment, and to the detriment of our children," the Yes California Independence Campaign's website says.
Patigi (Kwara) – A fire incident has destroyed property worth over N10 million at the Kwara Government-owned property, Patigi Regatta Motel in Patigi, Patigi Local Government Area of the state.
The Managing Director of the Motel, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mustapha-Rifun, who conducted newsmen round the motel on Saturday, expressed shock over the incidence. He described it as a setback to his efforts toward giving the edifice a face-lift. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the motel was leased out to Rifun River Investment in 2013 for effective operation.
The managing director, who attributed the cause of the fire to power surge, said the fire incident affected all the section of the motel already renovated.
He explained that his decision to take over the property was borne out of the desire to complement the developmental efforts of the government.
He explained that the management of the motel would require between N15 and N20 million to give the motel a face-lift.
Mustapha-Rifun appealed to the state government to intervene with relief and incentive to assist in realising the mandate of putting the state's property into a modern status and judicious use.
Ten of the twenty-five rooms in the motel were seriously damaged
Reacting to the development, the immediate past state Head of Service, Alhaji Dabarako Muhammad sympathised with the owner, describing the incident as unfortunate.
Alhaji Muhammad, who is from the community, said he was a member of the State Government Committee that lease the property, pointed out that the fire incident is a setback to the community and the state government.
Networking/Sponsorship •Terwase, 22, an upcoming music artist, an afrobeat singer with stage name Sweetboy Smallex, and resides in Benue State, needs sponsorship. 08038036147 •Emmanuel,needs kind hearted Nigerians to sponsor his Agro farming business . 09052805255 •Kolawole, needs kind hearted Nigerians to sponsor his Agro/Aqua farming business. 08051218185, 07068521186 •Kolawole David, FBN Bank Acct 3000532836 Victoria, 20, and resides in Lagos, needs someone to sponsor her education. 09072680163,08174128483
•Olatunde, a graduate with good grade needs someone to help him with a job. 08178348668
Links •Ifeanyi Obi wants to link up with all the people that did their National Youth Service Corp in Nigeria Military School, Zaria NMS in 1991-1992. 08035848175 •Princely, wants to link up with his father, Mc Orlando Stoison, he used to live at 151, Adeniyi street, Olodi Apapa Lagos, in 1980s. 08136767311,08035848175
Friends Searching Male •Felix, 29, from Warri, needs a matured andserious mended male friends. 08025434210,08105268974
Lovers Searching Female
•Bolajoko, 29, resides in Lagos, needs a Yoruba man, aged 34-40, for a relationship, that can lead to marriage. 08129034837,09096400120 •Oluwatoyin, 48, a widow, and resides in Kwara state, needs a mature man, for a seriousrelationship. 08038482289,08174128483 •Sandra 24 busty and sexy, needs a hot man on bed for a relationship. 08144692028 •Jules, beauty with brain, sexually provocative, amazing smile and a beautiful heart needs an elderly God fearing man aged 50 and above to call her own.07088775420 •Bibiana , from Delta, a single mother, needs a man, aged 35-45, for a serious relationship, that will lead to marriage. 08143523929 •Mara, 20, chocolate in complexion, average height and decent, from Anambra state, but resides in Abuja, needs a responsible, matured man, in Abuja for a relationship. 08163347026 •Rence, dark in complexion, average height, a single mother of one and employed, from Bayelsa /Rivers, needs a matured man who is ready for marriage, aged 44 and above. 07010498616 •Sandra, 32, a graduate and resides in Lagos, needs a God fearing, educated, employed, single, divorced, widower man, aged 38-50, for a relationship. 09064365494,09026823456
Searching Male •Josh, 31, needs a nice and romantic lady, for a relationship, in Delta state. 08063790548
•Richard, 26, tall, dark in complexion, slim and from Delta state, needs an average height, busty, decent and God fearing lady, for a decent relationship that would lead to marriage. 08159628600,08034498802
•Ben, 35, a graduate, resides in Delta state, needs a pretty, intelligent, mature minded, caring and employed lady, for a serious and honest relationship that will lead to marriage.07064961728
•Emmanuel, 27, caring, gentle, calm, tall, light skin, and a businessman, in Benin City, needs a good, hardworking , smart and light skin lady, for a relationship that will lead to marriage, aged 20-25. 07069300964,09082864311
•Abimbola, 24, tall, dark in complexion and a graduate, needs a matured lady, aged 35-50, for a romantic relationship.08093286708 •A man, 38, from Imo state and employed in a hospital as a laboratory scientist, needs a lady, aged 35 and above, for marriage. 07034382149 •Bob, resides in PH, needs an adventurous, smart, good looking, intelligent lady for a secret affair. 09027162120 •Samuel, 51, employed, needs a rich lady, aged 40-50, in Ibadan, for a relationship.09055721445, 07063685654 •KC, 25, a student in Delta state, needs a beautiful, sexy and romantic lady, aged 18 and above for a relationship. 09050162433 •Ashley, 28, handsome and cute from Delta state, needs a beautiful, caring and influential, lady for a serious relationship.07038678547, 08182828871 •Tom, handsome, from PH, but resides in Delta state, needs a hot lady for a relationship.09072181187 •Mark, a lawyer, needs a matured, honest and responsible lady for a good relationship.09031682761
•Kelvin, needs a lady for a relationship.08065147128
•Aruna, 38, resides in Lagos, needs a slim lady, for a relationship that can lead to marriage.08023046822
•Collins From imo base in Lagos need a lady of 18-30 for a serious dating that will lead to marriage 07037842149
Sugar Cares Searching Male •Gift, resides in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy, aged 23-45, for adventure. 09037775480 •Joe, needs a busty and fair in complexion sugar mummy, aged18-28, for a love affair. 08029086423
•Michael,Ibo, 28, handsome, intelligent, educated, caring,courageous and practical, needs a sugar mummy. 09057582634 •Larrydox,24, a student, resides in Akwa Ibom needs a sugar mummy that will assist him financially for a romantic,relationship. 08051518330,08065069066
•Bright, 25, from Warri Delta state, needs a sugar mummy. 08137712918 •Morris 27, needs a sugar mummy who can satisfy him in bed.08063317937 •John, 29, needs a rich sugar mummy, in PH, who will help him with connections. 08112807594,07036493397
•Victor,34, mature,handsome, sexually active and resides in Lagos, needs a sexy, caring and loving sugar mummy, for mutual satisfaction. 08174051781, 07034484160
Disclaimer!
Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking. Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For enquiries, text or call 08026651636
The Department of State Services, DSS, has invited Apostle Johnson Suleiman of the Omega Fire Ministries World wide, OFM, for interrogations on Monday by 10 am.
BREAKING…
DSS invites Apostle Suleman to its Abuja office for interrogation by 10am on Monday 30th January 2017.
US rights groups filed a legal challenge Saturday to President Donald Trump’s order halting the arrival of refugees and travelers from seven Muslim countries.
The suit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups after two Iraqi men were detained Friday night at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. It seeks their release on grounds of unlawful detention.
The groups asked that the challenge be given class action status so they can represent all refugees and travelers held up because of Trump’s executive order on Friday.
The New York Times reported that airport authorities started detaining travelers as early as Friday night.
It said one of the Iraqi men held in New York had worked for the US government in Iraq for 10 years and the other was coming to America to join his wife, who had worked for a US contractor.
The Times quoted their lawyers as saying both men had valid visas to travel to the United States.
His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has called on Christians to be more generous to God, saying this could help the nation out of its current economic recession .
Onaiyekan said this in an interview with newsmen during the Foundation Laying of the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles Cathedral, held at Papal Ground, Kubwa, Abuja on Saturday.
He advised Christians to contribute to projects, especially those that have to do with God and the church, as this would reaffirm their faith in Christ.
He prayed that the nation would continue to grow in peace, prosperity, and harmony and move very fast toward coming out of recession.
Cardinal-Onaiyekan
According to him, when you have good ideas and good intentions to serve the Lord you do not allow any challenges to stop them.
"The time has come for this project to take off after more than 30 years in preparation and we do hope that it will be finished quickly.
"Some people may be asking that in the midst of recession, we are undertaking a project that will cost a lot of money.
"We will go to a good distance in the next few years and depending on how quickly we raise the funds the work will move very fast.''
Onaiyekan described the project as a magnificent one and encouraged the Catholic Church to keep building more dioceses not just by way of physical structures but also with faith in the gospel of Christ.
"We shall continue to build our diocese not only with physical structures, which are no doubts important and necessary but also above all with faith and gospel of Christ.
"We will give in charity to the needy of whatever kind. The cathedral will be a sign of our spiritual grandeur of our community that stands out as light in the darkness,'' he said.
He also informed the faithful that the late Dominic Cardinal Ekandem,the first bishop of the then Diocese of Abuja initiated the idea of buiding the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles at a time that there was very little resource on ground.
"His Eminence, late Cardinal Ekandem pushed for the building of the cathedral at a time when there was very little on ground to start the project.
"He did not only do it in the archdiocese but also in the FCT as a whole. Ekandem's vision has brought us to this day. I am happy that this day has come.
"Our cathedral will push us to ever greater love and solidarity with our fellow men and women. There is no better way to show honour and glory to God,'' Onaiyekan said.
At least 45 people, including a newlywed couple, were killed Saturday as a lorry fell from a bridge into river in Anjozorobe, a town 90 kilometres northeast of Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital.
"Forty five, including nine children, 27 women and nine men, were killed on spot while 24 others injured, during the accident," the mayor of Anjozorobe, Dr. Lova Andriamanantsoa, told Xinhua by telephone.
"The victims were in wedding procession when a lorry which transported around 70 relatives of the newlyweds failed a bridge and dropped directly into a river called Mananara," Andriamanantsoa said.
"The newlyweds were also inside the lorry," Andriamanantsoa said, adding that the main reason of the accident is not yet known because the driver also died.
"Most of them were killed by suffocation in the water."
In general, in rural areas of Madagascar, there are few cars and the road condition is usually very bad, especially during the rainy season.
Only a lorry is practicable to transport many people, a reason the family rented a lorry to transport their guests during the wedding.
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
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday said it had intercepted two helicopters and 23 consignments of accessories illegally imported into the country. Mr Dan Ugo, a Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, told newsmen in Lagos that the two helicopters and accessories, valued at N9.7 billion, were impounded at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport. "The consignment was detained at SAHCOL cargo shed. Upon examination, the consignment was found to contain two civil models of Bell Helicopters 412 EP, with serial numbers 36608 and 36606. "The consignment also contains 23 packages of accessories, weighing 11,475kg," the customs boss said. He said that the two helicopters and other accessories were seized because the importer could not provide End User Certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). Ugo said that the importer had contravened Section 36 (2) of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004. According to him, the consignment, which was impounded on Nov. 7, 2016, had a Duty Paid Value of N9, 757,135,240.86. "This equipment was seized because the importer contravened the Customs Act. "The Comptroller General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali, in appreciation of the roles of Air Force has directed that the equipment should be handed over to the Nigerian Air Force. "When we make seizures, we go through legal process by approaching the court of competent jurisdiction to file for condemnation and forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria, which had been done.
"This falls within the purview of the Nigerian Air Force which will put it to use maximally to protect us as a nation,'' Ugo said.
He called for continuous synergy between the customs and other government agencies for the safety and security of the nation. Ugo commended the customs officers who made the seizure and assured them of continued moral support from the customs service. Air Commodore Hyacinth Eze received the consignment on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar. Eze commended the Customs for a job well-done.
"The handing over of these helicopters by Nigerian Customs would go a long way to assist the force,'' he said.
Eze said that the actual physical examination of the consignment would be done at Nigerian Air Force Base. Also speaking, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), MMIA command Comptroller Frank Allanah, said that the command generated N55.5 billion between January and December 2016, compared to N42.7 billion collected in the corresponding period of 2015. Allanah said that the N12.8 billion increase in revenue was recorded in spite of decline in cargo throughput from 76.9 metric tonnes in 2015 to 64.63 metric tonnes in 2016. He said that the command, in 2016, also made seizures of elephant tusks and foreign currencies.
Total average of 2,548GWH of energy was generated by 25 power stations in the country in the fourth quarter of 2016.
The report release by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Abuja on Friday indicated that Egbin Power Plant contributed about 12.47 per cent of the average energy generated in the period under review.
The report said that the generation from Egbin represented the highest generation among the 25 power plants.
According to the report, an average of 2,497GWH of energy was sent out as Okpai Power Plant recorded the highest percentage of 12.13 per cent of average energy sent out.
It reported that daily energy generation attained a peak of 3,859.59MW on Oct. 15, 2016, while daily energy sent out on same date was 3,798.16MW.
Similarly, the highest daily energy generated per hour attained a peak of 92,630MWH on Oct. 15, 2016 and daily energy sent out per hour on same date was 91,156 MWH.
It also indicated that, the lowest daily energy generation of 2,522MW in the fourth quarter of 2016 was attained on Oct. 28, 2016, while daily energy sent out on that date was 2,472 MW.
It stated that the lowest daily energy generation per hour was also attained on same date with 60,546 MWH generated and 59,328 MWH sent out.
In November 2016, daily energy generation attained a peak of 3,707.09MW on Nov.22, 2016, while daily energy sent out on same date was 3,644.86MW.
Similarly, the highest daily energy generated per hour in the month under review attained a peak of 88,970MWH, while daily energy sent out per hour on same date was 87,477,156 MWH.
The report showed that daily energy generation dropped to 2,685.26 on Nov. 24, 2016, while daily energy sent out on same date was 2,640.99MW.
In November, the lowest daily energy generation per hour was also attained on same date with 64,446 MWH generated and 63,384MWH sent out.
For December 2016, daily energy generation attained a peak of 3,197.03MW on Dec.1, 2016, while daily energy sent out on same date was 3,153.86.
According to the report, the highest daily energy generated per hour attained a peak of 76,729MWH on Dec. 1, 2016, while daily energy sent out per hour on same date was 75,693 MWH.
The report indicated that the lowest daily energy generation attained in December 2016 was 2,737.34, while the lowest daily energy of 2,691.70 sent out of 2,691.70 was attained on Dec.4.
It further reported that, the lowest daily energy generation per hour of 65,696 MWH was also attained on same date, while 64,601 MWH was sent out.
The High Court of Plateau State, Jos, presided over by Hon. Justice D.G. Mann, at Court No.3, has refused to hear an application for an order setting aside the entire results of all matches played in the last season, 2015/2016, of the NPFL, the top tier professional football league in Nigeria.
The Court made its position clear in its ruling delivered on Friday, 27th January, 2017. The application had been brought by the plaintiff in the case, who is contesting in court the decision of LMC to expel Giwa FC from the league for multiple infractions of the Rules of the League. The plaintiff claims that as a fan of Giwa FC his fundamental human rights have been injured by the decision of LMC, the manager and operator of the NPFL.
The Court upheld the arguments of LMC’s Counsel, Mr. Olumide Olujinmi, that the Court should decline to assume jurisdiction to hear the application because the parties to the suit are currently before the Court of Appeal on several appeals arising from the original suit and also that, the Court of Appeal has reserved its ruling after hearing arguments on the same issues now brought before the lower Court by way of the application.
After hearing counter arguments from Mr. Adzard Adzard, the Counsel to the plaintiff, Court had adjourned its ruling for delivery on 27th January, 2017.
The decision of the Court has no doubt avoided a potentially catastrophic situation for professional football in Nigeria, whose new season has started, in view of the fact that teams have been promoted to and relegated from the league based on last season’s result, which have been ratified by the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), the football governing body in Nigeria, at its Congress in December 2016, at Lagos.
The Supreme Court on Friday struck out a land suit filed by the Lagos State Government against the Federal Government.
The disputed land is No. 10 Gerald Road, Ikoyi, which the plaintiff had used as test case for many of such lands in Lagos.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Musa Muhammad held that the plaintiff lacked the standing to sue.
Muhammad also held that the suit lacked the strength to force the invocation of the original jurisdiction of the court to assert a title the plaintiff no longer had.
"It will be academic and hypothetical for the court to proceed on the matter. It never does.
"For the foregoing, defendant's preliminary objection which is well taken is hereby sustained and the plaintiff's action accordingly struck out.
"Parties are to bear their respective cost,'' the Judge said.
The parties are the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF-defendant) and Attorney-General of Lagos State (Plaintiff).
The Plaintiff took out a civil summons dated March 2011, invoking the original jurisdiction of the apex court against the defendant.
On Oct. 10, 2016, the AGF gave a notice of preliminary objection pursuant to Order 2 Rule 29 of the Supreme Court Rules 1999.
It also hinged the objection on Section 232(2) of the Constitution and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The defendant had asked for order striking out the suit as it argued that the court lacked the requisite original jurisdiction to entertain it.
It also sought for an order striking out the suit as the plaintiff allegedly lacked the locus standi to institute the action.
The defendant had argued that the court could not exercise original jurisdiction in causes or matters purely on ownership of land.
The plaintiff having divested its interest in the subject matter of the suit, according to the defendant lacks the locus standi to institute the action.
On its part, the plaintiff sought a declaration that the acts of re-issuing of Certificate of Occupancy, granting of consent or exercising rights of ownership, control and management within Lagos by the defendant was illegal.
It sought for further declaration that defendant's consent was not required for the plaintiff to convey valid title to persons that acquired title through it.
The plaintiff sought for an order or perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from re-issuing of certificate of occupancy, demanding or granting consent.
It also asked for an order directing the defendant to account for all public revenues it had received from 1967 till date from its dealings with the plaintiff's lands within its territory.
The plaintiff further sought for an order setting aside all certificates of occupancy and consents issued by the defendant over the plaintiff's land, including No.10 Gerald Road Ikoyi.
The Lagos government also prayed for an order of rectification of the records of the defendant's land Registry, by expunging entries in respect of the plaintiff's land in the defendant's territory.
"It is evident that the foregoing that the dispute between the plaintiff and the defendant pertains to land.
"I agree with the plaintiff that by the combine effect of sections 1, 40 and 52(2) of the Land Use Act title to Federal and state lands are vested in the Federal and state governments.
"In the case at hand, where the plaintiff asserts interference with the title in lands under its management and controls by the defendant, a dispute between the two appears discernible to warrant invocation of the court's original jurisdiction.
"But that is not all, for this court has persisted on the principle that when a party's standing to sue is in issue, as it is in the instant case, caution must be taken.
" The question is whether the person whose standing is in issue is a proper party to request an adjudication of a particular issue and not whether the issue itself is justiceable.
"The strongest wicket of the defendant is that the plaintiff has failed to show, given the averments in its amended statement of claim that it has a standing to maintain the suit,'' Muhammad said.
He further said: "Plaintiff's real grouse, it is contended and rightly too, relates to the regularisation consent.''
"The defendant insists persons who acquired federal lands must obtain consent from it before title effectively vests in the transferees.
"Having transferred its titles in the lands to others, it is untenable for the plaintiff herein to assert that the very title that ceases to vest in it is adversely threatened by the defendant's interference,'' the judge held.
Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to cooperate with the state government to achieve their set goals.
The Governor made the call when the Board and Management of NDDC paid a him a courtesy call on Friday in Port Harcourt.
He also urged the commission to inform the government of its plans, adding that the two entities shared similar goals of delivering service to the people.
Wike said, ''It is not good to start fighting with the state government if you are sure what you want to do is to develop the state, '' he said.
He urged the commission not to fight the state government over the construction of road projects or on any other issue.
Wike said that no matter the political leaning of members of the board of the commission, they needed to cooperate with the government to achieve their aims.
The governor urged the board members of the commission to always let government know of contracts to be awarded to avoid duplication.
Wike further urged NDDC to be focused on its core mandate, in a bid to ensure quality delivery of service to the people of the state.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the board, Sen. Ndoma Egba, pledged to work with the state government and ensure cordial relationship with other state governments.
He urged the Rivers government to rescind its decision to revoke Certificate of Occupancy of the land given to it by the state government.
The chairman disclosed that the commission had a master plan since 2007, adding that the board would ensure its implementation.
He refuted rumours making rounds that it was the commission that sponsored the last election in the state in favour of the All Progressives Congress.
There is surely more looming troubles for Indian controversial courtesans, Kiran and Jyoti Matharoo famous as escorts for Nigeria’s rich and mighty as they failed to appear in court on Wednesday to continue a hearing on their lingering case."The two sisters alongside their Nigerian accomplice, Babatunde Oyebode a.k.a Baudex are in a messy trouble as they face charges of extortion, cyber-bullying and blackmail. The trio met their waterloo after trying to blackmail billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola
The case, with file no. A/203/2016, which is between the Lagos state commissioner of police and the 3 defendants following a petition filed to the police by Otedola, was called up at about 10:03 am on Wednesday.
Femi Otedola
Only Oyebode and his legal counsel showed up. Spotted in a brown blazer and black trousers, Oyebode briskly walked to the stand. When queried by the presiding judge, Justice E.A Ojo on the whereabouts of the girls, Oyebode quickly stated that he had no knowledge of their whereabouts
After his chat with court officials, Justice Ojo issued a bench warrant for the girls and placed an order for their sureties to show cause. Justice Ojo then filed for the case to be transferred to the Federal high court in Lagos.
The matter has been adjourned to the 1st of March 2017.
The absence of the ladies in court today has further fueled rumours that the two sisters allegedly fled Nigeria silently last week through the help of their high profile political clienteles. It is believed the sisters are still in possession of some digital copies of compromising pictures and videos of promiscuous businessmen and politicians discovered on laptops and iPads seized from them by the Nigerian police.
Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike said on Friday that the visit of the Primate of the Methodist Church of Cameroon, The Most Rev. Dr Alfred Ewube to Rivers was a blessing to the State.
Wike, who spoke when the Primate paid him a courtesy call, also commended the Church for its prayers, saying the prayers had accounted for the survival of the state.
He pledged the support and cooperation of the state government for all programmes of the church, but urged it not to relent in coming forward with its requests, any time there was the need.
''Government will always assist the Church; if not for the Church, we won't know where we would have been now,'' he said.
Earlier, Ewube had commended the Governor for the warm hospitality accorded him and his entourage, the good road networks and the numerous other developmental projects in the state.
The primate stated that it was the developmental strides of the governor that earned him the award of the Independent Newspapers as the Governor of the year and qualified him as the Jubilee Governor.
He also commended the Governor for the construction of an international chapel in the Government House and requested to names it, '' a Chapel of everlasting grace.''
Wealth is nothing if it cannot be used for the advancement of society and mankind. This age-long wise saying is not strange to Olori Wuraola, wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.
As part of her efforts to put smiles on the faces of the less-privileged, Olori Wuraola is presently helping to draw attention to the plights of orphans and women, especially in the south west region of the country.
Her organization, the Olori Wuraola Orphan Aid Project, an initiative under The House of Oduduwa Foundation, is working hard to empower the less-privileged children in Nigeria, regardless of their cultural and religious affiliations.
•Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi
"The Orphan Aid Project is committed to helping orphaned children in the country. We want to help them fulfill their potential. We want to assist in the renovation of local orphanages and also provide food and supplies for orphans in rural areas of Nigeria and across Africa," Olori Wuraola said.
"Our Orphan Aid project is able to support these needy children through humanitarian aid and we take pleasure in putting smiles on the faces of the-less privileged by reaching out and showing love through a Giveback Concert slated for February 28th, 2017."
The concert is planned to create a medium where orphans in the country can have a sense of belonging. According to Olori Wuraola, the concert will also explore the gifts and talents embedded in the less- privileged children and expose them to opportunities that are capable of launching them into stardom in their various profession.
The funds realized from the concert would be used to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their structures, activities and programs designed to ensure adequate and proper care for orphaned children.
More than 20 orphanages are lined up to benefit from the proceeds, which she promised would be used to renovate such orphanages.
With performances from top Nigerian artists, including Cobhams Asuquo, 2face and Darey Art Alade among others, the concert is expected to be a talk-of-the-town for a long time.
Owner of upscale Cave Bar, Ikeja Lagos, Dr Shina Eddo has joined the growing league of top cooperate Nigerians who are fatherless, following the death of his late father, Pa Amos Ayo Eddo, timber magnate who died in Benin city, few month ago.
The 88 year old business man, an old boy of kings college, Lagos and school mate to late Chief Odumegwu Ojuhwu and Dr Alex Ekwueme, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was said to be celebrated by his contemporaries like late Chief Michael Ibru and late Alhaji Yinka Folawiyo, the Baba Adini of Musulumi of Nigeria for his glaring business acumen which may have robbed-off on his son, Shina CEO of Cave Bar, the biggest strip club in Africa.
Dr Eddo, who is poised to give his father a memorable burial, divulged that he would do everything humanly possible to record a befitting burial ceremony.
This, according to him, "is a duty his off-springs owe him. We are not kidding about it at all. We are set to bury him like the king we see him as".
His strong stance, may have found good explanation in the time, dedication and capital invested in the burial which have really given all concerned the high hopes expected.
The venue of the envisaged grand burial has been dusted for a hitch free frenzy carnival, many top socialist from all walk of life have been warming up to be part of.
No wonder the four days event which starts from February 2nd through 5th, will be rounded off with thanksgiving service at the Holy Cross Cathedral Church, Benin City, marking the end of this historic big do that have dominated discussions among Benin top social elite for quite some time.
An old-skool themed party to celebrate the 50th birthday of co-founder and director of Sahara Group, Tonye Cole was held recently. The event which took place at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, last Friday, had in attendance top dignitaries from all sectors of the Nigerian high society including an assortment of Nigeria's leading businessmen, bankers, politicians and socialites.
•Tonye Cole and wife
Many people were simply thrilled by the lavish celebration as he attained the golden age of 50. The party had people rocking fashion from the 70s till the 90s, from afro wigs to flared pants and more. The theme of the party was "Old School-Bringing the 70s Back". It was a classy birthday party that had an array of the best and most expensive assorted wines in stock.
Some of the faces at the birthday party include; Rotimi Amaechi, Banke Meshida-Lawal, Lanre DaSilva-Ajayi, Mo Abudu, Adebola Williams, Kate Henshaw, Timi Dakolo, Cobhams Asuquo, and many others.
Expectedly, the Sahara Energy's co-founder was visibly excited and appreciative of the large turnout and display of love and goodwill towards him by his friends, family and business associates and he minced no words in acknowledging that.
Wife of the President, Her Excellency Mrs. Aisha M. Buhari has commended the activities of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their global interventions to improve the well-being and livelihood of the poorest people in the world. She made the commendation while receiving Mrs. Melinda French Gates, the Co-chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, who paid her a visit at the State House recently.
Aisha Buhari and Melinda Gate
Mrs. Buhari spoke on the need to have stronger support from the foundation as well as more productive and enduring partnerships with relevant bodies in Nigeria to implement reproductive, maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH).
Mrs. Melinda Gates expressed her satisfaction with Her Excellency's Future Assured programme for the way it is touching the lives of the poor and vulnerable in the society, and said efforts like these count in the individual lives of the beneficiaries of the programme.
Also present at the meeting held in Aso Rock were; wife of the senate president Mrs. Toyin Saraki, Hon. Minister Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, Sen. Lanre Tejuosho, Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Monsurat Sumonu, Sen. Binta Maci Garba and some governors' wives.
Following the industrial dispute between the management of ENL and the Dock workers which has led to the parties taking the matter to court, the Lagos State House of Assembly through its Chairman, Committee on Establishment, Mr. Dayo Famakinwa has pleaded with them to consider out of court settlement.
The House made the appeal when feuding parties as well as management of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA were invited to appear before the House over the allegation that the employers refused to pay workers for 10years.
According to the spokesman for the Dock workers, Mr. Gerald "over 688 workers have left the job since 2015 after they were seriously beaten while demanding for their long overdue salary". He claimed that they were thereafter invited to a military zone and given a token of N350,000 for 10years of hard work.
Public relations officer of NIMASA, Mrs. Oluyemisi stated that part of the responsibilities of the agency is registration of maritime workers and seafarers and that in a bid to protect the interest of both parties several meeting have been held with the two parties.
Famakinwa emphasized that the House of Assembly wants to mediate between the dock workers and their employers and appealed to then to withdraw the case from the court of law and settle the issue amicably.
Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, has issued a Seven-Day ultimatum to owners and occupants of two buildings identified to be seriously distressed beyond control and redemption at Oyingbo in Mainland Local Government Area, LGA of the state.
The state government, while directing occupants to vacate the buildings, cited structural failure and imminent building collapse as reason for the order.
The spokesperson of the Ministry, Mr. Shina Odunuga, who disclosed this to newsmen Wednesday, explained that a Contravention and Quit Notice were served by the Monitoring and Enforcement Department of the Ministry, Lagos State Building Control Agency, LABCA, on two buildings located at No. 27 and 31 Oloto Street, Ebute- Metta, following defects which could culminate in imminent collapse.
According to Odunuga, during an on-the-spot inspection of the buildings by the ministry's Technical Services Department, TSD, it was noticed that the physical structures of the two buildings were failing and the entire structures dilapidated and therefore unfit for human habitation.
Residents of Lagos have cried out over the health implications of heaps of refuse that have taken over the city of Lagos. There is hardly any place in Lagos, where there are no heaps of refuse with offensive odour oozing out making passers-by cover their noses as they passed
Several communities in the state such as Ilaje, Sangotedo, Awoyaya, and Abijo on the Island have been defaced with refuse. In Ilaje bus-stop, at the BRT terminal, the sight of refuse there was appalling. The situation in Sangotedo, Corner bustop, Abijo was not different.
Likewise in Mainland, between Orile and Mile 2, there was hardly a place where refuse dump was not sighted. So also were Amuwo-Odofin, Ikotun, Coconut, Berger Cement, Apapa, Ajegunle, Okokomaiko, Alaba, and Iyana-Iba to mention a few.
Some residents of Ikotun in Alimosho Local Government Area accused the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) of refusing to evacuate refuse from their areas and expressed fear that it could lead to an outbreak of communicable diseases like cholera.
refuse dump at Orile
A school teacher, Mr John in Ajah area of Lagos told Vanguard that the dirty environment could endanger residents' lives if nothing was done as soon as possible. "It is so disturbing; everywhere is littered with heaps of refuse. Unfortunately, after the Christmas break, the refuse had not been cleared", he said. Also, a businessman in Orile, Ike James, lamented that refusal to evacuate the wastes has degenerated to a sorry situation.
Reacting, Head of Public Affairs of LAWMA, Mr. Lanre Bajulaiye, said that many factors were responsible for the problem. According to him, "one of the reasons was the carry over of the yelutide period. Secondly, many people were carrying out renovation of their homes and therefore did not want to have dirt around them, they wanted to discard the old things and bring new ones.
"The PSP operators that were supposed to go into the streets to cart away dirt and take it to the dump sites are also not doing want they are supposed to do. So, residents decided to take their refuse to the highways with the excuse that the PSP were not coming. Some of the residents also refused to pay LAWMA bill.
He however assured that, the authority was doing its best to ensure that all the streets and highways in Lagos were cleared of wastes that had been dumped indiscriminately. "I can assure you that within the next 48hours, all the refuse-dumps would be cleared", he said.
At one of my women's meetings during the Christmas holiday, I was not surprised when the discussion suddenly took a turn away from the agenda and into something rather personal. This often happens at most women's gatherings. Someone drops an information and then we find ourselves diving into our archives of experiences as we let our hairs down to share and compare notes.
Most call it gossip, but that far from the truth. There are lessons to learn from, shoulders to cry on and hearts full of compassion to encourage and cheer you on at these gatherings most of the time. Of all the stories, I was most fascinated by the account I am sharing with you today. What would you do if after an eleven year courtship, your fiance dumps you for the daughter of his boss?
As a man, what would inform your decision on who to marry should two ladies become pregnant for you at the same time? Everyone was held spellbound as Ronke, poured out her heart. I went home drained of emotions as I marveled at man's inhumanity to one another. Indeed, love is a battle out there and it might take more than a good heart to win.
"It's difficult to believe that after 11 years of courtship, I will be raising my child on my own. I have never felt so disappointed in myself or with life like I did when it happened. In fact, up until Remilekun was about three years old, I couldn't bring myself to really love my child the way I do now.
Each time I looked at her, I saw something of him in her and the hatred and hurt I felt for her father would come rushing back and I just won't feel like holding her not to mention loving her. I am only too glad that she's a girl and not a boy. Perhaps, I would have left the child at the hospital had it been a male. Now it's better for me.
Almost fifteen years have rolled by and I've been coping very well with my life. I have a job, a family, my friends and most of all, my lovely daughter who is doing great. So, when I think about it now, all those 11 years were not wasted after all. Without the years, I wouldn't have had my daughter.
I met Bolu at a literary and debating event. We were both in Senior Secondary, SSS2 and had been part of the teams that represented our schools at events. The relationship did not however begin until we both left Secondary School. Almost everyone thought we were a perfect match.
Though not from the same State, our towns were close. But for boundary demarcations, we could just be from the same place. Though we both lived in Lagos, we were not really Lagos people in the real sense of it. We both lived with relatives in Lagos and had our roots and families firmly planted in our native towns. In other words, it will not be incorrect to say we were in Lagos in pursuit of a better life.
Unfortunately, I never knew that Bolu's quest for his, would be my downfall. Our love burned like a house on fire. None of our friends who met at about the same time we did, had relationships that lasted as ours, and many used to envy our dedication and devotion to each other.
The relationship continued into our University days. He went to Nsukka while I was in Lagos, but despite the distance, the relationship continued. We would only meet during the holidays. During the period, nothing or no-one could separate us. Not even when we visited our parents back in the villages. We would always plan to go back there at the same time, so we could continue seeing each other.
It was all worked out between us, that we were going to get married eventually. He did date a few girls on the side. At least, I knew about two of his affairs, though he would always deny them fervently. But the knowledge didn't hurt so badly because it was clear that I was highly preferred and respected above all of them. Besides, I only had eyes for him and wanted nothing else than to eventually be his wife.
After our graduation, I managed to pick a teaching job with the Lagos State Government almost immediately, while he was still searching for the perfect job. In fact, he was also contemplating going for a Masters degree if he did not get his choice job on time. Things were still better in the country than they are now. There was money and though he didn't ask, I would buy him gifts freely just because I could afford them.
He finally secured a job with a communications outfit in Lagos. It's one of the well established ones and he had good prospects too. It was only natural that our next project should be making plans towards our wedding. Since he had always insisted that his dream was to be able to provide everything for his wife and children, the first step was to secure an apartment, which we did in Ikeja area of Lagos. I can't start recounting how much of my own money went into setting up the place, even though he paid for it.
Where do I start from? Is it the plates or cutleries? Name any kitchen utensil you can think of, I bought it. The kitchen is always the major concern of a woman as you must know and I spent a lot on what I assumed would be mine. Despite the fact that my uncle didn't like my spending the night away from home, he would sometimes allow me to spend the weekend with him since they all knew we were going to get married eventually.
After just a year in the company, mother luck seemed to shine on him and he was made Personal Assistant to the Managing Director. His job profile included travelling outside the state or country and we were overjoyed at this. For me, everything was perfect.
It was in the course of the job that he met the MD's daughter. This woman is even older than him oh. According to the stories that filtered to me at the time, it was the lady that threw herself at him. Being quite old at that time, she was desperate to hook any stray guy that came her way. Unfortunately, mine caught her attention for whatever reason she had.
She had returned home from England where she'd gone to study, to join her father's company. The old man was said to be grooming her to take over the company, and so, she was also working directly in his office and under Bolu's supervision. They must have started sleeping together during the course of working hours or thereabout. And I did not know anything until it was too late.
As fate would have it, I discovered I was pregnant. I was overjoyed because after our "little mistake" during our undergraduate years, I had not experienced such a thing until then. At a point, I had even began regretting our decision but he'd assured me that everything would be alright. So, I was really surprised when I did not see the reaction I was expecting when I broke the news to him one evening.
It was when I told him that I was going to keep the baby since we would be getting married anyway, that I saw that he was really troubled. To me, the pregnancy would only make things happen but he was obviously not as happy as I thought he should be. He seemed scared and confused, mumbled something I could not understand and I did not see him for the next two weeks. I had to go and fish him out of his hide-out, when I couldn't stand the suspense anymore.
Still, he refused to start making plans towards our wedding like I thought he should. Then, he told me he was not ready for marriage yet and that we must abort the baby and wait a little longer. Over my dead body, I told him and a serious quarrel erupted. And though I was so scared and ashamed to tell my uncle or my parents about the development, I was determined to keep the baby and marry him.
Then one day, he invited me out, together with a close friend of his whom I had known for almost as long as we'd been dating. He then tabled his troubles before me. He told me that he'd met another girl and that the girl was also expecting his child. He said the girl had already informed her parents and they had summoned him for questioning.
He was sorry as he had already given them his consent that he would marry their daughter, and that plans were already on by the family towards the wedding. He said he was sorry he could not go back to inform them that he was no longer interested as the lady was his boss' daughter and his job would be on the line. I couldn't believe it. I wanted to ask several questions, but I could only ask if his own family were aware and he answered yes. I just got up and took a taxi home.
And though he kept calling, it was to know if I'd made up my mind on what to do next. I kept to my guns too and told my parents what was happening. When they summoned him, he turned it into a quarrel, declaring that he would have nothing to do with the child if I kept it. His declaration made me only more rigid, like a rebellion, I told him to go to hell.
They got married and it wasn't until after the wedding that his mother deemed it fit to seek me out. She'd heard I was in town and had come to apologise to my parents and to acknowledge my pregnancy, but in anger, my parents told her not to come around again. They've had two other children now while I live with my daughter as a single parent.
Over the years, he'd offered to assist with the bills and contribute to her upkeep, but I have always turned him down. When my daughter is old enough to understand, I hope to tell her everything. If she finds it possible to forgive him, then she can. But for me, he will forever remain an enemy." Hmm!
ABUJA- KOGI State Executive Council, Leaders, Stakeholders, Elders and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Friday passed a vote of no confidence on Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, saying that his one year in office has brought unprecedented hardship, agony, impoverishment to the people of the state, just as they stressed that the state is at the moment, sick.
Addressing Journalists in Abuja on behalf of the Stakeholders, party Executive and Elders of the APC, Senator Dino Melaye, APC kogi West said that the political leaders of the State have given governor Yahaya Bello 4 weeks ultimatum to reconcile the on-going staff audit in the state with the realities on the ground.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has warned that Nigerians should be beware of new tactic adopted by suicide bombers in the North East.
DHQ in a statement on Friday said that female suicide bombers are now evading detection from security operatives by carrying babies on their back.
The DHQ in the statement signed by Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, Acting Director Defence Information, appealed to members of the public to be patient and cooperate with the military and other security agencies while carrying out thorough security search and checks as the essence is to nip in the bud the murderous intention of the Boko Haram suicide bombers.
He said ”female suicide bombers are now evading detection from security operatives by carrying babies on their back, that ordinarily pass them for innocent nursing mothers. The two recent suicide bomb attacks in Madagali, Adamawa State are instructive in this regard.
‘The DHQ wishes to seize this opportunity to appeal to members of the public to be patient and cooperate with the military and other security agencies while carrying out thorough security search and checks as the essence is to nip in the bud the murderous intention of the Boko Haram suicide bombers.
‘The DHQ wishes to state further that the usual traffic "go-slow" at military and security check points as a result of rigorous security checks are not meant to cause public discomfort or a deliberate action to induce traffic disruptions on our roads, but an effort put in place towards protecting the lives and properties of our innocent citizens.
‘Members of the public are therefore urged to always volunteer useful information to the military and other security agencies that would assist in exposing Boko Haram and their evil machinations in our society and to make our communities safe and secure for all to live.
The Supreme in Abuja on Friday dismissed a suit filed by the Federal Government challenging the Land Regularisation Policy of the Lagos State Government.
A seven-man panel of the apex court, in a ruling, upheld the preliminary objection filed by the State Government to contest the legality of the suit.
By the policy, the State Government had specified the process of ratifying the title of holders of Certificates of Occupancy said to have been obtained from the Federal Government.
But the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) represented by Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), had in a suit with reference number SC/50/ 2011, invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to challenge provisions of the policy.
While arguing the case, Agbakoba had cited particular properties where title holders were required by Lagos State to pay certain amount as “Ratification” of their title before any other transactions can be permitted on such land.
But by way of a preliminary objection, the State Government raised objection to the effect that the Supreme Court could not exercise original jurisdiction in the matter, reason being that the subject matter was a land matter within the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court.
The office of the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, also argued that the AGF lacked the locus to file the action on behalf of the Federation against the State Government on account of the fact that the matter in dispute was between Federal Government and the Lagos State Government.
The arguments of the State was said to have been based on a recent judgment of the Supreme Court delivered in 2014 where the apex court held that disputes between a State Government and the Federal Government cannot be arrogated to the Federation of Nigeria in order to cloak the Supreme Court with Jurisdiction to hear same.
After considering arguments for and against the suit, the Supreme Court in its ruling delivered by Justice Clara Ogunbiyi held that although it did not agree that it could not entertain the matter in its original jurisdiction, but from available evidence, the Federal Government had divested itself of the titles to properties which were subject of the suit and therefore had no locus to bring the action.
The preliminary objection of the State Government was therefore upheld and the suit dismissed.
By the decision, the Supreme Court has now laid the dispute to final rest.
Minna – Sheik Sule Atitogo, Chief Imam of Unguwar Gwari Central Mosque on Friday, called on Nigerians to pray for the safe return of President Mohammed Buhari.
TAtitogo was speaking during the Friday sermons at the Mosque.
" Nigerians should develop the habit of praying for their leaders for God's guidance in ensuring good democratic government.
"Nigerians should ignore comments by rumour mill and pray for the president.
"God has a reason for creating us with different tribes, background, ethnic and religious differences.
"We must be seen to be tolerant with one another for peace, progress and political stability of our country,'' he said.
He also called on Nigerians to support the effort of security agencies by coming forward with useful information that could lead to the arrest and prosecutions of miscreant in the society.
