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
..No, you subjected our staff to crude intimidation over alleged Biafra, militants stories-The Sun
By Soni Daniel
Abuja: The management of the Sun Publishing Limited and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have disagreed on the visit of the anti-crime agency to the company's head office in Lagos on Monday.
While the EFCC claimed that its visit was to ascertain the state of its assets of the company, which it said were under a subsisting forfeiture order, the company accused the EFCC of subjecting its workers to crude harassment over stories it did relating to Biafra and Niger Delta militants.
EFCC operatives
The Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, made the position of the agency known in a statement released to Vanguard last night in Abuja.
Uwujaren said that the visit had nothing to do with any publication by the newspaper but was specifically geared towards determining the assets of the company.
Uwujaren said, "Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the early hours of today, June 12, 2017 visited the head office of the Sun Newspaper in Lagos. "The visit which lasted for less an hour was part of routine efforts to ascertain the state of the assets of the publishing company which is subject of subsisting interim forfeiture order. Prior to the visit, the Commission had written to the management of the company to account for its management of the assets for the period of the subsisting court order.
"The Commission still awaits the response of the Sun and will not be distracted by any attempt to whip up sentiments by alluding to an appeal which has been pending for ten years. The Commission's action is without prejudice to any appeal and only meant to verify the integrity of the assets.
"Contrary to claims in a statement released to the media by the management of the Sun, no staff of the media outfit was molested or intimidated for the few minutes that operatives of the Commission spent in the premises of the company.
"The claim that "EFCC operatives subjected our staff to crude intimidation, psychological and emotional trauma, even as some of the men accused our organization of publishing pro-Biafra, Boko Haram , and Niger Delta Militant stories ," is strange and clearly the figment of the imagination of the Sun.
"There was no reason to molest anybody as the commission has always related professionally with the publishing outfit. The attempt also to link the visit to the acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu's threat to sue the organization over a libelous publication is also diversionary.
"Magu is pursuing that option in his private capacity and his lawyer, Wahab Shittu, did write the Sun and his letter was widely published in the media on March 31, 2017."
But the Management of the Sun disagreed with the EFCC, saying that EFCC invaded its premises and subjected the workers to crude intimidation over stories.
Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi were on target as Iran confirmed their spot in the 2018 World Cup finals with a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Monday.
Iranian players celebrate with their coach Carlos Queiroz after winning the 2018 World Cup qualifying football match between Iran and Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on June 12, 2017. Iran won 2-0. / AFP PHOTO
It was Iran’s sixth win from eight matches in Group A which took the table-toppers to 20 points, while South Korea are second on 13 ahead of their match against Qatar on Tuesday.
Iran are still unbeaten in the third stage of qualifying and amazingly have not conceded a single goal during the campaign, thus underlining their credentials as one of Asia’s football giants.
On Monday, they recorded their second win over Uzbekistan on the road to Russia, with Rostov forward Azmoun first finding the net in the 23rd minute with a right-footed shot from the left of the box following a through ball from Alireza Jahanbaksh.
Iran were clearly the dominant side in front of their home fans and could have easily emerged winners with an even more impressive scoreline but for some lacklustre finishing.
In the 48th minute Taremi drew a foul from Akmal Shorakhmedov, but Masoud Shojaei fired the resulting penalty high over the crossbar.
The Uzbeks struggled for momentum and failed to break down the famed Iranian defence, eventually conceding their second goal of the match in the 88th minute with Taremi finishing from Azmoun’s pass.
Iran have played in the World Cup finals four times in the past – in 1978, 1998, 2006 and 2014 – while Uzbekistan are still seeking their first ever qualification.
Samvel Babayan’s men, who have 12 points from eight matches, are not yet out of contention for an automatic place but will have to win their remaining two matches and hope other results go in their favour.
Iran join hosts Russia and five-time champions Brazil in securing a place for the tournament which runs from June 14 to July 15, 2018.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has faulted the no confidence vote passed on Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) by the state House of Assembly.
The minister, who criticised the action on Monday in Enugu at the 16th power sector monthly meeting, appealed to the state government to settle the N2.6 billion it owed EEDC.
He said the debt contributed to the challenges faced by the distribution company in meeting the electricity needs of its consumers.
He expressed dismay that the company had been under assault in Enugu State.
Fashola
"EEDC appealed to me to intervene and impress on the state government to settle the huge debts it owed the company,'' he said.
He said that the distribution company might not have impressed its customers due to obvious challenges.
"The power sector is in transition and the type of result we expect may not come immediately.
"The interest of the EEDC and the customers will be better served if the state assembly collaborates with the company instead of the no confidence vote," Fashola said.
The minister said it was ridiculous that the state assembly passed no confidence vote on the EEDC when the government owed it N2.6 billion.
"The more attention we pay to the power sector by paying for the power we consume, the more result we get.
"If attention is not paid to the sector, there will be poor performance and no amount of vote of no confidence will improve their performance," he added.
Fashola said it was obvious that most of the power distribution companies had performed below expectation and urged them to improve on their performance.
He stressed the need for EEDC to improve on its communication with the public in order to build mutual trust.
He reiterated the commitment of the federal government to improve the power sector, which was evident in the institution of the power sector recovery plan that would soon be launched.
In the first quarter of 2017, Enugu state Assembly passed a vote of no confidence on the EEDC, citing poor service delivery.
Meanwhile, the state government through the Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, said the government is making efforts to settle the debts accumulated by successive administrations.
He said that the incumbent government had paid some amount of money to show its commitment.
The commissioner said that a committee made up of government officials and staff of EEDC had been set up to sort out the actual amount owed the company.
The Sun Publishing Limited has asked the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal for an order restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or its agents, servants, officers or anybody howsoever from further attempting to seal off its premises pending the hearing and determination of its appeal before the court.
The action was sequel to Monday invasion of the corporate Head office of the company by operatives of the anti-graft agency.
In a motion on notice dated and filed June 12, 2017, the company accused the EFCC of resorting to self-help by attempting to enforce an interim forfeiture order, which has been appealed upon.
The motion which was filed by counsel to the company, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) further drew the attention of the court to a pending motion for stay of execution of the ex-parte interim order of forfeiture.
The motion which was brought pursuant to order 4, rule 6 of the Court of Appeal rules, 2016 is seeking for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the respondent ( the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), either by themselves, their agents, officers, servants, privies or anybody howsoever described from enforcing or attempting to enforce, or purporting to enforce, the ex parte interim order of forfeiture made by Justice Anwuri Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja in suit No. FHC/ABJ/M/462/07 made on July 2007 adversely affecting and against the appellant/applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
The appellant had filed an appeal against the decision of Justice Chikere, which is still pending before the Court of Appeal.
In addition, the appellant also filed a motion for stay of execution of the ex-parte interim order made by the Federal High Court, adversely affecting the appellant/applicant, which appeal is also pending before the appellate court.
The publishing outfit has since filed her brief of arguments in this appeal and ready to prosecute the appeal, but the respondent who is out of time, he filed a motion for extension of time, which is yet to be taken, and which has delayed the hearing of the appeal.
Counsel to the appellant, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) has accused the EFCC of reporting to self-help by attempting to enforce the interim order by trying to seal off the appellant/ applicant’s office premises.
He told the Court of Appeal in his motion that the resort to self-help by the EFCC will render the appeal nugatory and will amount to undue interference with the subject matter in litigation be the court.
He submitted that as a mark of respect to the court of law, and respect for the rule of law, parties ought to stay every action in respect of the subject matter in litigation.
In a 20 paragraphs supporting affidavit deposed by Alexander Ebute, the applicant traced the history of the case with respect to the ex-parte originating summons filed by the EFCC and dated July 20, 2007 .
The said originating summons sought inter alia an order of the Federal High Court temporarily forfeiting the assets of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, the former governor of Abia State.
The appellant averred that it is a dully registered publishing company in Nigeria having a distinct legal personality, and is not an asset of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, and was not subject nor suspect of any investigation, and an accused person with any charge pending against her, and was not made a party to the proceedings before the said Federal High Court.
That Justice Chikere granted the interim order sought by the EFCC on July 24, 2007 without any notice to the
appellant or any investigation or charge pending against the appellant.
The depodent further averred in the supporting affidavit that being dissatisfied with the decision of the trial judge refusing to discharge the said ex-parte order affecting a third party, promptly filed a notice of appeal dated and filed on July 4, 2008.
Ebute further averred that the appellant also filed a stay of execution of the interim order of forfeiture before the Court of Appeal.
That the Court of Appeal has fixed hearing of the appeal for Wednesday, July 14, 2017.
That unfortunately, despite the pendency of this appeal, and the above said motions, the EFCC is seeking to resort to self-help in this matter to enforce the interim order, the subject matter of this appeal.
By Olasunkanmi Akoni Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State council, has condemned Monday’s invasion of the Apapa-Lagos premises of The Sun Newspapers by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
In a statement issued by the Chairman, Deji Elumoye, described as “barbaric” the gestapo- style seal up of the newspaper house.
The Council, therefore, issued EFCC a 72-hour ultimatum to publicly apologise to The Sun management and the affected staff for the un warranted siege “failure which we will not hesitate to ask our team of lawyers to seek redress in court”.
The union wondered why EFCC would ransack the premises of the media outfit without any search warrant and subject innocent workers to unnecessary harassment and stress.
According to the statement, “The EFCC by the invasion had infringed on the fundamental human rights of the workers whose movement in and out of the company was curtailed by security operatives for over an hour
“This is a great violation of the freedom of movement and association of the affected Nigerian citizens as entrenched in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended.”
Lagos NUJ added that if The Sun as a media outfit had erred or had issues with EFCC or anybody/ organisation, the court of law is the proper place to seek redress “rather than taking the laws into their hands as EFCC just did.”
The Republic of Indonesia has rekindled its bilateral economic cooperation with Nigeria with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on business exploration between both countries.
The MoU, signed during the Indonesia-Nigeria Business Forum held in Lagos recently, was witnessed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Nigeria, Mr. Harry Purwanto; Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Mrs. Retno Marsudi, delegations of business communities from both countries among other stakeholders.
The Acting Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Dr. Yetunde Oni, was at the event.
The Indonesian ambassador said he believed that since the two countries shared some commonalities in terms of natural resources, the time was up for them to leverage these for the prosperity of their citizens.
Purwanto said, "Given that Nigeria and Indonesia share many commonalities, it is high time for us to work together using our activity and initiatives to transform our relationship for something concrete that will bring mutual progress, prosperity for the people of both countries.
"I attach great importance to this meeting to be translated into action in continuity and making our relationship mutually beneficial."
According to the ambassador, Nigeria is one of its key trade partners in Africa, adding that aside many Indonesian companies operating in Nigeria, his country sells some items to the Nigerian market.
Among these, he said, were building materials and palm oil.
Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Retno Marsudi, noted that since the establishment of bilateral relationship between the two countries in the mid 60s, their political relationship had grown.
She, however, lamented the sharp decline in the volume of trade between the two countries.
She said, "Indonesia is the largest and most dynamic economy with a Gross Domestic Product of $861bn and growing at five per cent, Nigeria's GDP of $586bn is strong with 182 million population.
“We have all the energy and potential to enhance our economic cooperation in order to transform our strong political relation to something that will be beneficial to our people."
On this year's World Environmental Day with the theme; "'Connecting People to Nature", LG Electronics has urged global organisations to invest in things that would protect the environment.
The World Environment Day, WED, is a widely celebrated global day for positive environmental actions. As the biggest annual event for positive environmental action, it is celebrated every year on June 5th, and it creates an ideal opportunity for robust Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, activation programmes.
To mark the day in Lagos, employees of LG trouped out to support local heritage and environmental conservation programmes in line with United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP. Among activities to mark day includes; e-waste clean ups, tree planting, beach clean ups and awareness campaigns across its various regions.
Speaking on the day, LG Electronics, Middle East and Africa, Mr. Kevin Cha, observed that Global companies like LG need to remain at the forefront of social and environmental contribution, and they must lead as examples with authenticity within the global community.
Cha stated that his organisation believes in responsible environmental stewardship and has identified environmental conservation as one among the global CSR pillars.
He added that with World Environment Day bringing together the global community to make a global impact, the ongoing efforts would not only support the environment but make lasting changes among the employees to become forever agents of positive social change.
"As long-time partner of UNEP, LG Electronics has been screening the organization's World Environment Day's video on its outdoor LED displays in the New York City Times Square throughout the month of June. In Nigeria, staff of LG electronics converged at the Hermitage beach resort along Epe expressway in Lagos state, to clean-up the expansive beach which is in line with this year's theme "Connect more with Nature. The company also donated some cleaning items to the host community for the regular cleaning of the beach.
Speaking on what informed the event, Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Taeick Son, said "It is only in cleaner and secured environment that we can achieve meaningful growth and development in the country. This is what has informed us as a company to embark on this beach cleaning exercise to mark the world environment day and the reason why we continuously design products that would meet world environment standard thereby helping our teeming consumers experience cleaner and greener lifestyle."
He called on LG consumers and its employees to remain responsible citizens and advocates of social and environmental change.
He recalled that since 2016, more than 90,000 LG employees from 89 business sites in 48 countries volunteered for social contribution initiatives, and the employees have been actively contributing towards social and environmental causes.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors received with shock news of the invasion of the premises of the SUN Publishing Limited by heavily armed EFCC operatives in the early hours of June 12, 2017.The fierce looking operatives prevented staff of the organisation from either entering or leaving the premises of the company and disrupted the circulation processes.
The unwarranted siege to the company subjected staff of the organisation to crude intimidation, psychological and emotional trauma.
The EFCC had accused THE SUN of publishing pro-Biafra , Boko Haram and Niger Delta militant stories.
The latest action of the EFCC on a newspaper house is a sad reminder of the dark years of military dictatorship and a deliberate effort to muzzle the press.
As a statutory agency birthed by an Act of Parliament in a democracy, we had expected the EFCC to explore civil means of addressing perceived infraction by a critical stakeholder in the Nigerian democratic project.
EFCC operatives
Rather than see the Fourth Estate of the Realm as an opposition, the Commission should realise that the media is an indispensable partner in its fight against corruption.
The Guild notes that the latest affront on THE SUN by operatives of the EFCC is one in a number of targeted attempts by a section of the nation's security apparatchik to gag free press. We recall the recent expulsion of Mr. Olalekan Adetayo, the State House correspondent of Punch Newspapers from Aso Rock by Bashir Abubakar, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The alleged forfeiture order the EFCC brandished this morning is 10 years old and a matter still before the Court of Appeal. The Guild wonders why the Commission felt it had to act ahead of a case before a court of competent jurisdiction.
It bears restating that such an attempt to intimidate the media does incalculable damage to the image of the EFCC and indeed the Nigerian government. Besides, it does not only undermine the foundation of our young democracy, it is a major threat to its sustenance and existence.
The Guild condemns the EFFC action in its entirety and calls on the Commission to purge itself of all anti-democratic tendencies in order to foster mutual cooperation with the media and other stakeholders in its crusade against graft.
The Guild calls on the EFCC to put an end to its current attempts to gag the Press and also demands an unreserved apology from the Commission to the SUN Publishing Limited.
The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has, Monday, cleared Senator Mudasiru Hussein to contest the party's primaries for the Osun West senatorial district holding tomorrow, Tuesday June 13, 2017.
This is the outcome of the meeting of the NWC in Abuja which reviewed the decision of the Appeal Panel which had earlier dismissed the appeal filed by Senator Hussain on Sunday.
A statement signed by the Director, Media & Strategy, APC, Osun, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi said that "by the regulation of the party, the decision of the NWC of the party is final."
The statement also said that "therefore, delegates for the APC West senatorial district primaries are to proceed to the designated centre for the exercise on Tuesday."
Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon reaffirmed he is “99.9 %” sure of retiring at the end of next season — unless he finally ends his quest to win the Champions League.
Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon
“Yes, I’m 99.9 % sure that’s how it will go,” said Buffon when asked by Sky Sport if he would keep to an earlier promise to hang up his gloves at the end of the 2017-2018 campaign.
“I will have one final, intense season full of key dates, then it will be time to call it a day.”
Buffon, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, had previously said next season would be his last, although he is not expected to fully retire until after the 2018 World Cup in Russia — if Italy qualify.
But the 39-year-old left a tiny chance of going back on his decision, after losing the 2017 Champions League final to Real Madrid (4-1) and the 2015 edition to Barcelona (3-1).
“If we win the Champions League I will continue to play one more season so I can also try to win the World Club Cup and other trophies,” he added.
Owing to the quit notice threat issued Igbo in the northern part of the country by the Coalition of Northern Youths, (CNY), Vanguard gathered that Igbo are likely not to comply because of the following reasons:
1. Federal government is not in support of the given threat and as such the national assembly has warned people seeking for the division of the country to desist from such act.
According to the Senate President Bukola Saraki, "the Senate must stand for a non negotiable and united Nigeria, and that unity and peace were key issues that must be guaranteed for any meaningful development to take place.
"We must stand clearly and act clearly to defend this country. The unity of this country is not negotiable" Saraki said.
Also, the Chairman Senate Committee on Army, Sen. George Akume, said the senate must rise up to make a statement condemning the various agitations in parts of the country. He said if the senate kept quiet in the face of the agitations, it would be failing as a major legislative arm of government.
According to him "I want to call the attention of this Senate to movements in this country, including Biafra, Arewa, some groups in the Western part of the country and many others.
"We must rise up to make a statement on what is happening. We will be failing if we do not do something that will reassure the people on the need for one Nigeria. "We are greater being together than going our separate ways,'' he said.
2. Chief of Army staff, Tukur Buratai, has told those agitating for an independent state to "forget it." According to him "Those individuals and groups that are bent on destabilising our country I think they have to wait till may be the next three or four millennia for them to do that. That is, may be the next generation of officers and men will allow them at all," he said.
"Having been given the millennium hero award, I want to call on all the agitators for separation and other acts of destabilisation; they better forget it, not in this era, not in this millennium.
"I want to say that we would continue to do our best to maintain security atmosphere that is needed as provided for in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. We have been tasked to defend our country, he finally said.
3. Another is the South East governor's statement issued today. According to statement signed by Engr. David Nweze Umahi, Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of South East Governors Forum "The South East Governors Forum has repeatedly reiterated its commitment to and preference for the existence of a virile, united, prosperous and progressive Federal Republic of Nigeria where justice, fairness, equity, mutual respect and equality of opportunity to all citizens regardless of creed, ethnicity or gender will reign supreme under the inflexible rule of law.We have had occasion recently to take this position publicly in response to the agitative but peaceful actions of some Igbo youth. We will continue to take a similar stance in response to any action that might threaten the cohesiveness of this nation or designed to cause its rupture.
"We call on all our Igbo sons and daughters resident in Northern Nigeria to go about their lawful daily engagements without fear of intimidation, hindrance or molestation."
4. The encouraging words of Governor Nyesom Wike, that Niger Delta will not divide Nigeria, "unity non-negotiable".
According to him, "Sultan of Sokoto,Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, has been working tirelessly to ring peace and to bring unity to the people. So for all of us this is what is meant by one Nigeria.
"We cannot run away from this country. The unity of this country is very, very paramount. The unity of this country is non-negotiable.'' He said that he was from the Niger Delta, Rivers State to be specific, "So I cannot see us in a divided country. No way. We stand for the unity of this country."
5. What will happen to their properties (businesses and mansions) if they decide to come back? This is a very important point given by an interviewee who sticks that Nigeria will be a better place undivided than divided. He asked the following questions, will they carry their mansions on their head? Who will buy their properties if they want to sale it? And how much will they slate for the mansion? How sure are we that Igbo are going to make it if they abandon their properties and travel to their various villages?
These are critically questions that need urgent answer. Please do air your opinions here.
Former minister of Aviation Mr Femi Fani-Kayode had decried the raid on The Sun newspaper by the the Economic and Financial Crime Commission.
Femi Fani-Kayode
The company in a statement on Monday morning said that heavily armed men from the office of the EFCC invaded its premises and ordered the security personnel to take them round the company premises.
Fani-Kayode reacting to raid said that the raiding of the Sun Newspaper by agents of the EFCC was barbaric and irresponsible. It was nothing but a crude and shameless power-show by a weak, dying, paranoid and nervous government.
He further said ‘I am not in the least bit surprised by this development because that is the way this government has been behaving for the last two years.’
‘If it is not the homes and offices of opposition figures that they are raiding for no just cause it is that of judges, National Assembly members, bloggers, writers and journalists.
‘They do not know how to run a country and their incompetence is not only self-evident but it also speaks volumes.
‘They are always threatening the most basic freedoms of the Nigerian people attempting to destroy and malign them.
‘The truth is that they want to turn Nigeria into a police state and to intimidate everyone and anyone that is ready to expose their evil and that speaks truth about their abominable record of performance in office. In this respect they are worst than Hitler’s Nazis.
What they fail to appreciate is that they will not be in power forever and that governments come and governments go.
One day they themselves will be subjected to this kind of wickedness and they will be the ones on the receiving end of this type of evil.
I am surprised that Acting President Osinbajo, who I have some respect for, can sit by and allow such things to happen under his watch.
The EFCC and any other government security or intelligence agency ought to be encouraged to do their job but they must operate within the confines of decency and the law.
They are not above the law and they should stop breaking it and operating with impunity. They should stop violating the human rights and civil liberties of the Nigerian people in the course of their duty.
The Acting President should call them to order and keep them on a tight leash. This government must be made to understand that nobody is intimidated by the antics of these gutless and cowardly bullies or by their gestapo tactics.
The worse they can do is to kill and they can only do that if God permits it.
They are heartless, wicked, contemptuous, crooked, full of poison and evil and God will punish them for their lies and the wickedness that they continue to inflict on good and decent innocent men and women all over this country.
Yet whatever they choose to do let it be clearly understood that an attack on the media, the press, free speech and press freedom is an attack on us all and we will resist it with every fiber of our being.
We cannot be muscled, muzzled or silenced and they have absolutely no right to behave in this barbaric and unlawful manner.
I condemn this shameless raid and I urge the Sun Newspaper and ALL other media houses, both online and offline, not to allow themselves to be intimidated or cowered into submission.
It is only a matter of time before this evil darkness that has gripped our nation and that torments our people passes.
The Economic and Financial Crime commission has raided the office of The Sun Newspaper in Lagos.
According to a statement from the The Sun Newspaper on Monday morning heavily armed men from the office of the EFCC invaded the company’s premises and ordered the security personnel to take them round the company premises.
Read the statement from the company:
Law -abiding staff of The Sun Publishing Limited resumed work this morning, June 12, 2017 to behold heavily armed EFCC operatives in our company. They claimed to have "orders from above" to seal up the premises of The Sun Publishing Limited.Orji Uzor Kalu
At gunpoint, they ordered our security personnel to take them round the company premises, after which they proceeded to prevent staff from either entering or leaving the premises, and disrupted our circulation process.
For one gruelling hour, EFCC operatives subjected our staff to crude intimidation, psychological and emotional trauma, even as some of the men accused our organisation of publishing pro-Biafra, Boko Haram and Niger Delta militant stories, as they surveyed our premises.
We recall that in 2007, (10 years ago) the EFCC had obtained an interim forfeiture order in respect of some assets of The Sun, attached to a suit against our Publisher, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, for which we have filed an appeal, which is still pending in court.
We also recall that the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu had written a letter personally signed by him dated 23rd of May and received on the 7th of June, asking The Sun management to report to the Commission on 5th of June, detailing our operations in the last 10 years, on account of an interim order of forfeiture under appeal
As law-abiding corporate citizen, our lawyer, Chief Chris Uche SAN, wrote the Commission to intimate the Agency that the issue was pending before the court of Appeal. The receipt of our correspondence was duly acknowledged.
We were therefore shocked that our premises would be invaded by the Commission under whatever guise. This is condemnable and reprehensible. No one, agency or authority should be above the laws of our country. An abuse of the law is a recipe for chaos.
Magu had in an earlier letter threatened to sue The Sun over a report published by one of our titles, pertaining to a report on the investigation of a property allegedly traced to his wife. But up till now, we are yet to receive any court process.
In the light of the above, we strongly view this onslaught against The Sun as a personal vendetta by the leadership of the Commission, and by extension a declaration of war against the media.
In this invasion of our premises, it is crystal clear that what Magu and his Commission are after is not only to intimidate and muzzle us, but a furious attempt to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it.
On the issue of the interim order, which he purportedly based his invasion, Magu knows the matter has been on appeal since 2007 for which hearing comes up this week. But rather than wait for the court process, the commission under the leadership of Magu, typically resorted to self help.
We want the general public to take note of this authoritarianism and high-handedness, which has been the hallmark of Magu's leadership of the EFCC.
The other charge of publishing Biafra, Boko Haram and Niger Delta militant stories is very ridiculous, baseless and anti-Press freedom.
We like to state that we are neither an ethnic, political nor religious newspaper, but we are the Voice of the Nation, reflecting all sides, all views and all shades of opinion in line with the ethics of our profession.
We challenge Magu and his Commission to show where The Sun's stories have been different from other papers in the country.
We call on well-meaning citizens and relevant authorities to restrain Magu and his Commission from taking the laws into their hands.
The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has reiterated that the recent faceoff between the State Government and the Oil Marketers in the State was not meant to witch-hunt anybody or group but to guarantee the safety of lives and properties of the citizens of the state.
The governor said this while inaugurating a 12 Member Committee on Re-certification of Petrol Filling Stations in Ekiti held at the Conference Hall of the Governor's Office in Ado-Ekiti .
Mr. Fayose who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, expressed his view that the operations of Oil Marketers and their filling stations should conform with minimum safety measures in the society where they operated.
The Governor advised the committee to be thorough and ensure that they delve into all aspects relating to the size, location and other technicalities regarding the siting and operation of petrol filling stations.
He said that his government believed that the caliber of personalities that made up the committee would do the needful to ensure absolute compliance to global best practices.
Responding, the Chairman of the Re-Certification of the Petrol Filling Stations Committee, Mr. Kayode Oso thanked the Governor for giving them the opportunity to serve the state with the assurance that the committee would work assiduously to accomplish the task placed before within the time frame of one month giving to them.
The membership of the Committee which was drawn from the representatives of the state government, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has Mr. Kayode Oso as the Chairman and Barrister Soji Awe as the secretary.
Other members are Mr. Bisi Akinola, Dr. Samuel Omotosho, Hon. Kole Abiodun, Dr. (Mrs) Adekunmi Obaisi and Comrade Tokunbo Korodo.
Others are Comrade Olujide Kilanko, Comrade Tayo Aboyeji, Mr. Sina Amao, Mr. George Idowu and Mr. Wale Oseni, who was represented by Mr. Adewole Emmanuel.
Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Monday in Abuja described sports as the only vaccine to end agitations and unnecessary anxiety in the country.
"Apart from ICT, sports is the second largest employer in the world and only sports can address the challenges of this country,'' Dalung said while addressing the newly-inaugurated seven-man electoral appeal committee for the National Sports Federation elections.
The minister said sports is the only vaccine and instrument to stop agitations, with the way the country is presently.
"If the right thing is done, young people will realise their talents and will have hope in this country, or else the sermon of peace will be like a mere gospel to a hungry man,'' he said.
Dalung added that Nigerians must change their attitude to sports development, in the areas of sponsorship and encouraging the youths to do sports.
"If we neglect sports we should forget about peace,'' he said.
The 2017 elections into the boards of the national sports federations are scheduled for Tuesday in Abuja.
REMARKS BY AG. PRESIDENT YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, AT THE SIGNING OF THE 2017 APPROPRIATION BILL INTO LAW ON MONDAY 12TH JUNE 2017 AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, ABUJA.
A few minutes ago, I signed the 2017 Appropriations Bill into law. This is an important milestone in our economic recovery and Growth plan laid in April by President Muhammadu Buhari.Acting President Yemi Osinbajo signing a document
I would like to express my appreciation to the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as the entire leadership and members of the National Assembly for completing work on the 2017 Appropriation Bill. And I will return to this point presently.
The process of preparing and processing this Bill was much smoother than the 2016 Appropriations Bill. On the executive side, there were no allegations of errors, or mistakes, and there was a significant improvement in the quality of the preparation, as well as the presentation.
I wish to commend the Ministry of Budget and Planning for such a remarkable improvement over a single budget cycle.
On the side of the National Assembly, I wish to commend the collaborative spirit of the engagements our MDAs had with their various committees, and with the leadership, during the budget defence sessions. There were far fewer reported cases of acrimony, or hostile wrangling this year, than in the past.
From the reports we received, the sessions were generally conducted in a friendly atmosphere. There is no doubt that our democracy is maturing.
However, the final presentation and the signing of the budget has been considerably delayed. This was largely due to disagreements we had about the changes introduced to our 2017 Budget proposals by the National Assembly.
The executive took the view that the changes fundamentally affected some of our priority programmes and would make implementation extremely difficult and in some cases impossible.
I must say that the entire leadership of the National Assembly led by the Senate President and the Speaker, adopted a commendably patriotic and statesmanlike approach to our engagements on resolving these critical issues.
In sum, the engagements yielded acceptable results . The most important being that the leadership of the National Assembly has given us a commitment that the National Assembly will re-instate the budgetary allocations for all the important executive projects, such as the railway standard gauge projects, the Mambilla Power Project, the Second Niger Bridge, the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway etc. which they had reduced to fund some of the new projects they introduced.
This re-instatement will be by way of an application for virement by the Executive which they have agreed will be expeditiously considered and approved by the National Assembly.
It is as a result of that understanding and the outcome of our detailed engagements that we feel able to sign the 2017 Appropriations Bill into law today.
I am also pleased to mention that, in our discussions with the leadership of the National Assembly, we have jointly resolved to return to a predictable January to December fiscal year.
It is a particularly important development because this accords with the financial year of most private sector companies, underscoring the crucial relationship between government and the private sector.
Therefore, on the understanding that we will be submitting the 2018 Budget to the National Assembly by October 2017, the leadership of the National Assembly has committed to working towards the passage of the 2018 Budget into law before the end of 2017. I must, once more, express my appreciation to the leadership of the National Assembly, for the collaborative spirit in which these discussions were conducted.
The 2017 Budget, which I have signed into law today, is christened "Budget of Economic Recovery and Growth" and reflects our commitment to ensure strong linkage between the medium-term Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) recently launched by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari and the annual budgets.
It is designed to bring the Nigerian economy out of recession unto a path of sustainable and inclusive growth. The budget has a revenue projection of N5.08 trillion and an aggregate expenditure of N7.44 trillion. The projected fiscal deficit of N2.36 trillion is to be financed largely by borrowing.
Let me assure those who have expressed concern about the growing public debt that we are taking several actions to grow government revenues as well as plug revenue leakages. This is because, notwithstanding the fact that our borrowings are still within sustainability limits, we are determined, in the medium term, to reduce our reliance on borrowings to finance our expenditures.
Details of the budget, as approved by the National Assembly, will be made available by the Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning.
As you are all aware, our economy is already signaling a gradual recovery as growth is headed towards positive territory. First quarter GDP, at -0.52% compares favourably with -2.06% in the first quarter of 2016. Inflation is declining – down to 17.24% from 18.74% as at May 2016. Our external reserves are now US$30.28 billion as at June 8, 2017 up from US$26.59 billion as at May 31, 2016.
We are also gradually instilling confidence in our exchange rate regime. This improvement in GDP growth and other macro-economic indicators is largely attributable to our strategic implementation of the 2016 Budget as well as stronger macroeconomic management and policy coordination.
I am confident that the 2017 Budget will deliver positive economic growth and prosperity – one that is self-sustaining and inclusive. In this regard, the 2017 budget will be implemented in line with our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
Over the 2017-2020 plan period, we are focusing on five (5) key execution priorities, namely: *Stabilizing the macroeconomic environment; *Agriculture and Food security; *Energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products; *Improved transportation infrastructure; and *Industrialization through support for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs).
The 2017 budget includes provisions that reflect these priorities.
To demonstrate our commitment to following through our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, the 2017 budget allocates over N2 trillion to capital expenditure, principally infrastructure.
For instance, we are committing over N200 billion to improve transport infrastructure such as roads and rail; over N500 billion for investments in works, power, and housing; and N46 billion for Special Economic Zone Projects to be set up in each geopolitical zone.
The signing of the budget today will trigger activities in the domestic economy which will lead to job creation and more opportunities for employment, especially for our youth. And, as I indicated earlier, we will be returning to the National Assembly to seek upward adjustments by way of virements in relation to a number of critical projects which have received inadequate provision in the budget just passed by the National Assembly.
We acknowledge that government alone cannot achieve the overarching goal of delivering inclusive growth; that is why the 2017 budget provides a lot of opportunities for partnerships with the private sector.
To help the private sector thrive, we are determined to create an enabling business environment. We are already recording verifiable progress across several areas ranging from a new Visa-on-Arrival scheme to reforms at our ports and regulatory agencies. The Online business registration process has reduced time required for business registration from 10 to 2 days. It is expected that the Executive Order on transparency and efficiency in the business environment will make it even easier for investors to get the permits and licenses they require for their businesses.
Pursuant to our commitments to the Open Government Partnership, we recently issued an Executive Order that will promote budget transparency, accountability and efficiency. We want to make the Federal budget work more efficiently for the people.
Thus, beyond the huge provisions for investments in critical infrastructure, we have mandated Government agencies to spend more of their budgets on locally produced goods. This will open more opportunities for job creation with benefits for government in form of tax revenues.
We are also working hard to improve our revenue collection efficiency so that we can achieve our revenue projections. While we are deploying technological tools to enhance collections, the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) will continue to contribute significantly to improving transparency and accountability over government revenues.
Our fight against corruption is yielding positive results. Some of the recoveries are included in the 2017 Budget which will be expended on identifiable capital projects.
Already, we are beginning to see some improvement in the quality of public expenditure. This is great motivation for us to remain resolute in our fight against corruption so that economic prosperity is enjoyed by all Nigerians.
Let me reiterate that the implementation of our 2017 Budget will bring added impetus to our ongoing economic recovery. We will intensify our economic diversification efforts in our bid to expand opportunities for wealth creation and employment, thereby creating inclusive and sustainable growth.
Our path to progress and abundance is clear. The tools are in place and the resilient, resourceful and hardworking Nigerian people are set to go. I have no doubt that by the grace of God, the bleakness of recession is about to witness the uplifting dawn of abundance.
Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state has condemned the quit notice recently given to Igbos living in northern Nigeria by Arewa Youth Coalition Forum and sued for unity among Nigerians.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in Yanegoa on Monday, Dickson said it was regrettable that some people would deliberately build-up hatred against fellow Nigerians.
He said that all Nigerians were guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution to live in any place of their choice and pursue their legitimate businesses without molestation.
Dickson said that it was high time the Federal Government showed leadership by designing a comprehensive master plan to reconcile all citizens irrespective of tribe or religion.
According to him, the Federal Government must deliberately build confidence among all the people, give a sense of belonging to all component parts and deliberately return sovereignty to the people to stem the tide of quit notices.
•Gov Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa
He said that breaking the country was not in the interest of anybody or ethnic group.
"Our strength as a country lies in our diversity and population. We are better off, if we continue to live together as one people.
"This is why the Federal Government must urgently show leadership and deliberately reconcile all sections of this country and address legitimate questions.
"Only leadership can put to rest the tension and hate in this country,'' he said.
The governor commended the Northern Governors and their Eastern counterparts for rising in unison to condemn the quit notices and hate comments.
He said that the Nigerian Governors Forum was worried about the state of the country and had set up a committee "of which I am a member, to intervene and give hope to the people of Nigeria and resolve conflicts''.
On the lingering leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dickson urged the party faithful not to lose hope "because PDP will bounce back''.
He called on those defecting from the party to desist from such action, stressing that PDP was a national institution that must not die.
He stated that the country was in need of a strong political party in government and a strong opposition party, and claimed that such were currently lacking as the All Progressives Congress (APC) was also enmeshed in crisis.
Dickson, who is the Chairman of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee, said that he was speaking out of concern following the defection of PDP members to other parties and reports of party leaders floating alternative political platforms.
He said that if PDP leaders had accepted his committee's reconciliation template, "a unity national convention would have held this month to elect national leadership''.
According to him, this would have put to rest the leadership crisis rocking the party.
The governor lamented that some party leaders opted for the court, which could only adjudicate but could not reconcile feuding parties.
He said that political leaders in Nigeria exerted much pressure on the judiciary by failing to do things rightly, "by failing to build consensus and refusing to respect laid down rules of politics''.
He added that such leaders also branded anybody holding contrary opinion as being "anti-party'', saying that the implication was that Nigerian politicians had become more ''militant than the military''.
Dickson, therefore, advised political leaders to stop relying on the judiciary to resolve an internal affair of a party, saying that internal disputes could best be resolved through a political solution.
He noted that the failure of the PDP leaders to unite, especially after the loss of federal power, had weakened the party across the country, particularly in Edo, Ondo, Benue and Lagos.
The governor said that his committee has not relented in the reconciliation and confidence-building assignment in the party, irrespective of the lingering litigation.
A US appeals court on Monday left in place a block on President Donald Trump’s travel ban targeting citizens from six Muslim majority nations — the latest in a string of judicial blows for the controversial measure.
US President, Donald Trump
The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit largely upheld an injunction on the ban issued by a lower court, but however said the government was within its right to review the vetting process for people entering the country.
“Immigration, even for the president, is not a one-person show,” the ruling said. “The president, in issuing the executive order, exceeded the scope of the authority delegated to him by Congress.”
The decision came just ahead of a deadline for states challenging the ban to submit briefings before the US Supreme Court in response to the Trump administration’s request that the nine justices hear the case.
The US Justice Department filed an emergency application to the Supreme Court on June 1, urging it to undo two lower court rulings blocking Trump’s decision to prevent entry to travelers from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
The Trump administration argues the ban is needed to ward off terrorist attacks in the country.
Critics say the ban is discriminatory and violates the US constitution by specifically targeting Muslim-majority countries.
American singer and songwriter, Katy Perry is ready to bury the hatchet on her long-running feud with pop rival Taylor Swift.
Katy Perry and Taylor Swift
Perry, described Swift, as a "fantastic songwriter" and expressed the hope that they can be examples of strong women in the music industry.
However, Swift, 27, had yet to respond to the olive branch on Sunday and end the bad blood between two of pop music's biggest female singers.
"I am ready to let it go," Perry said in a global podcast on Saturday to promote her new album "Witness."
"I forgive her (Swift) and I'm sorry for anything I ever did, and I hope the same from her. I love her, and I want the best for her. And I think she's a fantastic songwriter," Perry, 32, added.
The feud, which started as a dispute over back up dancers, has dominated the personal and professional lives of the two singers for more than three years and played out in their songs.
Swift on Friday released her back catalogue to streaming services, after eschewing most such platforms for three years, on the same day that Perry released her new album "Witness" in what was widely seen as a bid to steal Perry's thunder.
Swift's 2014 single "Bad Blood" was believed to be directed at Perry.
Perry described her new single, "Swish Swish," released last month, as "a great anthem for people to use whenever somebody's trying to hold you down or bully you."
In her Saturday podcast, Perry said she hoped both she and Swift "can be representatives of strong women that come together despite their differences."
"I just really truly want to come together in a place of love and forgiveness and understanding and compassion," Perry said.
Swift, who has not released an album since 2014's best-selling "1989" and has adopted a low public profile in recent months, stayed silent on her social media accounts at the weekend.
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
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, the Most Rev. Adewale Martins, on Sunday called on Nigerians irrespective of religious beliefs to pray for the unity, peace and development of the country.
Martins made the call at the 50th anniversary of SS Mulumba and David Catholic Church, Lawanson, Lagos.
Martins said that an environment of peace, tolerance and harmonious living among the people irrespective of religious and political differences could lead to meaningful development.
"All hands must be on the deck to build again a virile nation, where love and harmony, forgiveness and peace, equity and prosperity will reign supreme.
"Our country's shoulders will be raised high among the comity of nations. All Nigerians irrespective of religion should pray for the resurrection of what our nation has lost, "he said.
The cleric urged Nigerians to remain patient in the face of political and religious intolerance, insecurity and economic hardships because Jesus would help them triumph over all of them.
He also urged Christians to pray for the country's leaders to lead the citizens with the fear of God.
"We should pray for fresh outpouring of Holy Spirit on our leaders so that they can lead us aright. We must not trade the unity of our nation, the federal character of our nation must be respected.
"Therefore, as a nation, those who have responsibility of our nation should ensure there is true federation, they must establish trust among the leaders and the led, they must work for the unity of our country, " he added.
Martins urged Catholics to show the importance of the most Holy Trinity by making the sign of the cross.
"As we celebrate the Holy Trinity today, we celebrate the majesty which belongs to only God alone and the glory that belongs to the Holy Trinity.
"We should be united and take as our lesson from the Holy Trinity to make a difference in the world as Christians," he said.
Martins called on Christians to always thank God, saying that the celebration of 50 years of the church called for thanksgiving for blessings received individually and as a community.
He urged the faithful to strive to attain holiness and make heaven which is their goal,
He also admonished the faithful to be their brother's keeper and live a life of holiness and virtue.
The archbishop administered the sacrament of confirmation on 200 youths from different parishes on the occasion.
The archbishop explained that confirmation made recipients soldiers of Christ, ready to preach the gospel and work for God.
Notorious kidnap kingpin, Chukwudi Dumeme Onuamadike, AKA, Evans, who was arrested by police in Lagos on Sunday said that he chose to collect ransom in American dollars to be different from other kidnappers.
The suspect, while being paraded at the Lagos Police Command in Ikeja, told newsmen that he started kidnapping in 2015, after he left his spare parts business, a claim that contradicted the police statement that he was declared wanted in 2013.
He claimed that he lost N20 million to Customs officers, which made him to leave his trade.
The suspect was arrested in his mansion in Magodo area of the state on Saturday.
Evans, notorious kidnapper
Evans, who wasn't sure of how many people he had kidnapped, said the highest he had collected as ransom was one million dollars.
"I can't figure out how much I have collected so far or how many people I have kidnapped, but I have kidnapped up to 10 since 2015.
"I chose to collect ransom in dollars to be different, and the maximum I have collected as ransom so far is 1 million dollars.
"I work in two groups. A team moves with me to kidnap victims while we hand over to the other team that takes the victim to the hide out.
"Kingsley introduced me to kidnapping, but I usually get my ammunition from one Chinedu and Ehis whom I met at Ago-Iwoye.
"I also do drug business that enabled me to buy my property," the suspect said.
According to the police, Evans collected $1million from no fewer than four of his victims.
Among them are:
* James Uduji, who was kidnapped close to his house at 7th Avenue Festac late last year. The Evans gang held for six weeks. He paid $1million to regain his freedom.
* Chief Raymond Okoye – Odu- Na –Ichida,, who was kidnapped in 2015. He also paid $1million as ransom. He was released after two months in captivity.
* Uche Okoroafor, a trader at Alaba who was also kidnapped in 2015 for three months, also paid $1million.
* Elias Ukachukwu kidnapped November 2015 similarly paid $1million. The police said the Evans gang demanded an additional $1million, claiming family members were rude to them during negotiation.
The Force PPRO, Jimoh Moshood said that the suspect had collected billions of naira from his victims and had property in and outside the country.
He said that Evans was declared wanted in 2013, following a kidnap attempt that was foiled by the police.
"He is said to have masterminded several kidnap cases in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and South-South states,'' the police said.
Moshood said further investigation into his activities were ongoing.
Video clips shows the CSP Abba Kyari carried shoulder-high as undercover policemen dance and celebrate the arrest of notorious kidnapper Evans.
VIDEO: @PoliceNG officer CSP Abba Kyari carried shoulder high by colleagues after the capture of kidnapper Chukwudi Onuamadike aka “Evans” pic.twitter.com/CmbzSbYNLB
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) 11 June 2017
Prof. Ganiyu Arinola of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, says certain lifestyles including excessive consumption of alcohol may damage the human immune system with high risk of susceptibility to infections and life-threatening conditions such as liver cancer or liver diseases.
"Excessive alcohol may damage the immune system because alcohol reduces white blood cells (cells of defence system) and destroys essential nutrients like vitamins needed by the white blood cells to function well.
"Excessive alcohol intake can harm the body's immune system in two ways — it produces an overall nutritional deficiency depriving the body of valuable immune-boasting nutrients.
"Also, it can reduce the ability of white blood cells to multiply, inhibit the action of killer white cells on cancer cells," Arinola, the Chemical Pathology lecturer, told the Newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday.
According to him, the amount of alcohol that is enough to cause intoxication will suppress immunity.
Arinola, who is also a Consultant Immunologist at UCH, said alcohol could cause serious consequences for a person's body and mind as well as impede the immune system to fight infections and diseases.
`Digestion of nutrients is impaired by alcohol as a result of damage caused to the cells in the digestive tract.
"Alcoholism as a lifestyle can also impede the ability of the liver to store important vitamins and prevent the body from absorbing enough protein," the expert said.
The professor explained that too much alcohol in the body could reduce the ability of white cells to kill germs.
"The human body is exposed to numerous germs every single day which can be found in the air, food or water.
"The immunity of children and the aged is not strong enough to combat some diseases. Infants are born with only passive immunity received from the mother through the placenta and breast milk.
"Some drugs used for medication, cocaine and opioids (used medically to relieve pains) may also damage the immune system," Arinola said.
He advised people both young and old to engage in physical exercise daily to boost their immunity.
"The World Health Organisation and the American Heart Association have advised a minimum of 30 minutes of daily physical exercise for at least five days a week.
"Adults who perform moderate physical exercise have better immune system than those with sedentary life."
The Lagos State Government on Sunday joined Oyo, Ogun and Osun states to declare Monday public holiday to mark the June 12 anniversary in the state.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, said the state remains committed to the ideals of the annulled 1993 Presidential election.
Ambode said the holiday was in honour of the ideals which June 12, 1993 Presidential election represented, being a day that the country experienced an election that was adjudged as the freest and fairest in Nigeria's history.
He said that 24 years after, the ideals of June 12 are still worth celebrating, describing the day as one of the most defining moments of the country's political history which had positively shaped its democracy.
The Governor urged Nigerians to go beyond the commemoration and strive to entrench a viable democracy.
He said that this was a way to immortalise the late winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Chief M.K.O Abiola through the practice of true federalism and conduct of credible and fair elections.
"June 12, 1993 is a day we must not forget in the annals of our democratic history. Our present democratic experience may still be far from the ideal, but we must all make concerted efforts to entrench fiscal federalism which is the only way to achieve true nationhood."
Ambode said that part of the enduring lessons of June 12 election was that it imbued the patriotic and nationalistic zeal in all Nigerians, to speak with one voice to make a political choice, devoid of ethnic, racial or social sentiments.
"On June 12, 1993, majority of Nigerians across all divides demonstrated through the ballot box that irrespective of class or ethnic sympathies, the Nigerian people are united and would always join hands to promote our unifying values.
" Though the peoples' hope was dashed with the annulment of the elections by the military junta, the lessons of the elections cannot be wished away despite subterranean efforts by many to do," Ambode said.
He described June 12 as the real Democracy Day in Nigeria.
"We owe it a duty to genuinely immortalise the fallen heroes of the June 12 struggle nationally and deepen our democratic values to ensure that never again will such anti-people action be allowed to take place," he said
He also assured that his administration would remain committed to the ideals of June 12 by carrying out people-oriented programmes across the State and making life more comfortable for the people.
He said that State Government, through the office of Civic Engagement, had perfected arrangement for the annual public symposium which would hold on Monday to celebrate June 12.
Declares June 12 as public holiday By Rotimi Ojomoyela Ado Ekiti- The Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has described the ultimatum given to Igbos living in the North as a recipe for anarchy, calling on the Federal Government to put those behind the pronouncement in check. Ayodele Fayose According to him, the statements credited to some elements in the North has not only put the unity of the country in total jeopardy but a clear indication that Nigeria is no longer one.
Fayose said this while reacting to a quit notice served on the Igbo in the north by the Coalition of Northern Groups, and which was recently backed by some northern elders, including a former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Ango Abdullahi.
”The gap has widened beyond measure because of the body language of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. We are more divided than ever. The elements are emboldened because they believe their person is in office and nothing would happen.
“This is not surprising to some of us as the herdsmen set the tone and became notorious under the watch of Buhari.
“If this continued, it would further heat up the already tensed situation and promote distrust among ethnic groups in the country.”
Fayose urged the federal government to accept responsibility for trend and called for a decisive action to stop it.
“Buharis government has not taken responsibility; no responsible government would encourage this. It is an empty threat that if not checked would snowball. This is why people are calling for restructure.
“The government should take responsibility and take decisive actions on those promoting war situation in our country.
“It is disheartening that a personality like (Ango) Abdullahi would support that; that’s danger lurking in the country.
“He should be invited for questioning by security agencies. Leaders should rise up and condemn this instead of giving tacit support to the ultimatum.
“So many lives have been lost due to the lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government. All these I saw when I warned that Buhari would leave our country worse than he met it in 2015.”
Meanwhile, the Governor has declared tomorrow, Monday, June 12, 2017 as Public Holiday to mark the 24th year of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola.
In a statement issued on Sunday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said it was in the spirit of a united Southwest States and the Yoruba nation agenda to speak with one voice at all times.
Governor Fayose, who made the declaration in a state broadcast, noted that his action was in line with the united spirit of the Yoruba nation.
According to him, his administration is taking the step for the first time to align with other South Western States that had done the same, noting that “the interest of the people being represented supersedes political or economic interests.”
Department of State Service (DSS) has denied a trending online report that its operatives have recovered $9m from the home of Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen during an operation.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen,
A top security officer with the intelligence service told PRNigeria that the report is false in its entirety.
The officer said: " The entire report claiming that DSS has found close to $9m in the account of the Chief Justice of the Federation is complete falsehood and baseless insinuation.
"In fact, there is no single operation or raid at any residence or home of the Chief Justice. The media and the public are kindly advised to ignore such reckless reports.
"It is unfortunate that some mischief makers may go to any length to fabricate stories to cause confusion in the polity.”
The Igbo National Council, INC, Sunday, called on the Federal government to declare state of emergency in the Northern part of Nigeria, following the statement by Arewa youths that Igbo should vacate the region before October 1st.
The, INC, National President, Comrade Chilos Godsent, stated this in a release, a copy which was made available to Vanguard in Owerri.
The release also warned the North that nobody has a monopoly of violence as well as described the call by the Northern youths as “naive and childish.”
It stated: “The Igbo National Council (INC) note with dismay the position of some Northern Nigerian Youth organizations mandating Igbo people leaving in the North to leave within seventy two hours or face the wrath of the North.
“We wish to state without fear of contradiction that the call contravened the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The call is also naive and childish.The Igbo National Council (INC) would like to remind the North that nobody have a monopoly of violence.
“We would also request these group of Northern youths to go and study history. Those who make peaceful change in possible make violent change.
“On the forgoing, the Igbo National Council (INC) we like to reiterate that if the fanners of ethnic war should think twice before they make real their threat.
“As the Igbo race will not fold their arms and watch those shenanigans destroy lives and properties of the Igbo people resident in the North.
“Consequent upon the above, the INC call on the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to immediately declare a State of Emergency in the Northern Nigeria in other to forestall the avoidable breakdown of law and order in the country.
“Please we wish to state that if this our demand is treated with levity, We shall have no other option than to call on Northerners living in Southern Nigeria to Immediately leave the region with the next seventy two hours or face the wrath of the law.”
“Wonder Woman,” the muscular feminist superhero from Warner Bros. and DC Comics, stayed strong over the weekend, easily holding onto the top spot in North American theaters while leaving newcomer “The Mummy” in the dust.
Wonder WOMAN
With $57.2 million in ticket sales for the three-day weekend, according to industry estimates, “Wonder Woman” has taken in a total $205 million in its first two weeks, elevating it to what Variety.com dubbed “box office royalty.”
The well-reviewed film stars Gal Gadot, she of the “Fast and Furious series,” as the Amazonian goddess-princess-superhero whose lasso, bracelet and tiara have magical powers. Patty Jenkins last week became the first female director to break the $100 million mark for an opening weekend.
Universal’s “The Mummy,” meanwhile, placed second but fell below industry expectations.
Industry tracker Exhibitor Relations said the Tom Cruise movie, the latest revival of the original “Mummy” made in 1932, took in $32.2 million in its first weekend. Made for $125 million, it has been widely panned by critics.
But studios increasingly rely on overseas ticket sales, and there “Mummy” has not disappointed. Its $141.8 million international launch made it the largest opening ever for a Cruise film, Boxofficemojo.com reports.
In third on North American screens was “Captain Underpants: The First Epic movie,” a Fox animation based on the popular children’s books by Dav Pilkey.
“Underpants,” which tells the story of two students who hypnotize a school principal to believe he is a superhero, took in $12.3 million for the weekend.
Next was Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” the latest installment in the popular franchise starring Johnny Depp as a dreadlocked pirate, at $10.7 million.
Fifth spot went to another Disney production, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” at $6.2 million. The lighthearted tale about misfit space adventurers played by Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel has taken in $366.3 million domestically since it opened on May 5.
Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Sunday said his administration was working out measures to curtail the menace of Fulani herdsmen in the state.
A week ago, some cattle gained access to classrooms at Ohovbe Primary School at Ikpoba-Okha Local Council of the state.
The pupils were said to have stayed outside for about one hour before the herdsman came to take the cattle out.
Obaseki made the disclosure on the sidelines of a thanksgiving service at the Christ Embassy Church in Benin for his victory at the appeal Court.
He promised that the state government would build fence around schools in the state to address the indiscriminate grazing of cattle in Schools' premises.
Obaseki ascribed his election as Governor of Edo to the Grace of God upon his life, adding that he would capitalise on that to develop the state.
In his sermon, the Rev. Tom Amekhena commended the governor for his developmental leadership, stating that although he had never met him, he has heard of his good policies and projects in the state.
He said, "we are seeing the burning desire you have not only to develop the state but also to transform it."
Protests against Islamic law rocked in cities across the US drawing counter-protests by people who said they stoked unfounded fears and a distorted view of the religion.
According to News.com, hundreds marched through downtown Seattle, banging drums, cymbals and cowbells behind a large sign saying "Seattle stands with our Muslim neighbours."
Participants chanted "No hate, no fear, Muslims are welcome here" on their way to City Hall, while a phalanx of bicycle police officers separated them from an anti-Shariah rally numbering in the dozens.
In front of the Trump building in downtown Chicago, about 30 people demonstrated against Islamic law and in favour of President Donald Trump, shouting slogans and holding signs that read "Ban sharia" and "sharia abuses women."
Protests for and against Islamic law rocks U.S
About twice as many counter-protesters marshalled across the street.
A similar scene played out in a park near a New York courthouse, where counter- protesters sounded air-horns and banged pots and pans in an effort to silence an anti-Shariah rally.
"The theme of today is drowning out racism," said counter-protester Tony Murphy, standing next to demonstrators with colourful earplugs. "The more racists get a platform, the more people get attacked."
The rallies, held in more than two dozen US cities, were organised by ACT for America, which claims Islamic law is incompatible with Western democracy.
The organisation said it opposes discrimination and supports the rights of those subject to Shariah.
However, the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, calls it the largest American anti-Muslim group.
"I don't believe Islam can peacefully coexist with the Constitution," said Seattle anti-Shariah demonstrator Aaron Bassford, 29.
"I'm not going to tell them they can come here and take away my Second Amendment right. We need unity in this country under no ideology and no banner except the Constitution of the United States of America."
But the overwhelming majority of Muslims don't want to replace US law with Islamic law, known as Shariah, and only "radical extremist groups" would call for that, said Liyakat Takim, a professor of Islamic studies at McMaster University in the Canadian city of Hamilton, Ontario.
Sharia, Takim said, refers to guidelines or principles — how Muslims should live. "Fish" refers to jurisprudence, or specific laws.
The values embedded in Shariah do not change and are shared among Muslims, he said, while fish is open to interpretation and change, and in fact differs among Islamic sects and communities.
"The Koran allows slavery, so does the Old Testament. That doesn't mean we allow it today, too," he said.
"Laws are amenable to change," Takim said.
The marches come amid a rise in reports of anti-Muslim incidents in the U.S., including arson attacks and vandalism at mosques, harassment of women wearing Muslim head coverings and bullying of Muslim schoolchildren.
France midfielder Blaise Matuidi has called on home fans to join in the singing of the English national anthem when the nations meet in a friendly on Tuesday out of solidarity following recent terror attacks.
Matuidi
“I encourage those who will be at the stadium — if the English anthem is sung, everyone should join in,” said the 30-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star.
Matuidi’s call on home fans attending the game at the Stade de France to sing along with ‘God Save the Queen’ comes after the attacks in England over the last month.
Eight people were killed in an attack in London last weekend, while a suicide bombing in Manchester on May 22 left 22 people dead after an Ariana Grande concert.
Tuesday’s end-of-season friendly will be the first meeting of the countries since November 2015, when they clashed at Wembley in the aftermath of a wave of attacks in Paris.
On that occasion, the English crowd had joined in the singing of the French anthem ‘La Marseillaise’ in tribute to the 130 people killed in the French capital days earlier.
Matuidi added: “That country deserves it, especially with everything that has happened recently. It would be a pleasure. It would be our way of supporting them after all that has gone on.”
The Nigerian Police Force made good its promise to parade Nigeria's billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudi Dumeme Onuamadike, alias Evans and members of his gang, revealing their victims and the ransom collected at various times.
Most shocking, the police also unveiled a woman, Ogechi Amadi as one of the gang members.
"Ogechi Amadi is the woman who rented the house and cooks for the kidnappers and their victims in the camp", the police said.
Evans, the kingpin was arrested in his mansion in Magodo estate in Lagos on Saturday by the police Joint Special Forces led by the Intelligence Response Team, the Lagos State Police Command's Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Technical and Intelligent Unit of the Force under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.
The police described Evans, a native of Nnewi, "as the vicious leader of a highly organised kidnap-for-ransom syndicate and criminal gang terrorising and responsible for several kidnap of notable/prominent Nigerians in Lagos State, including the Western, Eastern, South-South and some Northern States".
"He has his gangs active and spread across these mentioned states", the police said.
Ogechi Amadi: a member of the Evans kidnapping gang
"After an intense gun battle that lasted several hours, Chukwudi Dumeme Onuamadike and his gang were overpowered by the Superior Fire Power of the Joint Special Forces and he was arrested at Magodo Estate, in Ikeja Lagos.
"Chukwudi Dumeme Onuamadike a.k.a EVANS was first declared wanted in August, 2013 when he masterminded the attempted kidnap of CHIEF VINCENT OBIANUDO, the owner of Young Shall Grow Motors in Festac, Lagos, where a Policeman attached to the victim foiled the attack and killed three three of Evans gang members but also lost his life in the process.
Some of Evans gang members were subsequently arrested, but he regrouped after with several gangs and became more vicious and unleashed terror in the mentioned States of the Federation.
" Evans and his gang keep their victims kidnapped in Lagos Area at House No. 21 Prophet Asaye Close New Igando, Lagos State until the ransom is paid to him.
"Ransom money are paid to him in Millions of Dollars, some victims are kept for upward of six to seven months until the last penny is paid. He never reduces his tagged ransom money. None of his gang members knows his house.
MODUS OPERANDI
"In every kidnap attack he has a separate armed group that kidnapped victim with him and has another armed group who takes over the victim to their hideouts and prevent them from escaping. The members of the two '2' groups don't know each other. They complied with Evans instructions.
"Evans, and the dreaded vampire who died during a gun duel with the Police Special Forces led by IRT and Imo State Police Command in a forest in River State early this year are axis of evil in kidnappings in Southern Nigerian States and some Northern States. This is a huge success for the Nigeria Police Force. The Force will build on this success and continue to prevent kidnap cases and criminality generally in the country, and ensure prompt detection of those crimes that cannot be prevented, and also ensure that perpetrators are arrested, investigated and prosecuted".
PROPERTIES OWNED BY EVANS:
The Police said Evans has two (2) Mansions in Magodo GRA Phase 2 worth about three hundred million naira (N300,000,000). He also has two (2) House in the Highbrow area of Accra City in Ghana among many other properties such as exotic cars, expensive watches, Jewelries e.t.c, he bought from the ransom.
EVANS GANG MEMBERS:
* Felix Chinemerem 36yrs Native of ArichukwuOhafia LGA of Abia State second in command of Evans.
* Nwosu Chikodi Chukwuma aka Sudo 42yrs, 3rd in Command to Evans. He has over 20yrs experience in Armed robbery and about 8yr experience in Kidnapping.
*Uchechukwu Amadi, Native of Anambra State longtime Evans Boy and head of the detention Camp in Igando.
* Ogechi Amadi is the woman who rented the house and cooks for the kidnappers and their victims in the camp.
* Suoyo Paul aka Nwana 42yrs Native of Bayelsa States Gangmember and Supplier of Rifles and Ammunitions to Evans.
* Ikenna Emeka 28yrs Native of Anambra State.
EVANS VICTIMS IN LAGOS:
* Mbarikatta William Uboma, 35, kidnapped June 16th, 2012 at about 11.am on his arrival from Hungary while he was close to his house. He was in his Toyota Car 2010 model in company of his brother to drop him at his house when a Passat car emerged from nowhere and blocked his car.
They blindfolded him and forcefully abducted him to an unknown destination. They later demanded a ransom of N10M. However, N2M was later paid while they collected other personal accessories. He was finally dropped at Okota on the third day.
* Paul Cole, 34, from Ohafia in Abia State. A Director with Ocean Glory Commodities, Apapa, kidnapped August 3rd, 2012 at Festac Town together with his General Manager, Jude Ugoje and another staff, PiriyeGogo, and taken to an unknown destination. They demanded for N10M. On August 6th2012, they collected N5M ransom at Maza-maza area of Lagos State.
* Mohammed Jamal, 22, a Lebanese, kidnapped on August 19, 2012 at Ajah by three armed men, taken away blindfolded. N7M ransom was later paid at Ojo Barracks.
* Kingsley Nwokenta, 34, kidnapped September 19, 2012 after he left Lebanana Bar in Festac at Mile two under bridge. Later, paid N1.5M ransom while they made away with his black Toyota Venza and other accessories.
* Anthony Ozoanidobi, 41, kidnapped in October 10th 2012 along Marwa Road Satellite Town. Ransom of N1.5M paid after which he was released at Apple Junction, Amuwo-Odofin.
* Leo Abraham 58, kidnapped August 20, 2012. Paid ransom of N5M and was later released along Badagry road, Lagos.
* Ojukwu Cosmas, 45, sells Toyota parts at Aspanda Trade Fair. Kidnapped January 21, 2016 at Festac Town. It was not clear when and how he was released.
* James Uduji; kidnapped close to his house at 7th Avenue Festac late last year. Held for 6 six weeks. Paid $1M.
* Chief Raymond Okoye – Odu- Na –Ichida, kidnapped 2015. Paid $1M as ransom, held captive for 2months
* UcheOkoroafor, trader at Alaba, kidnapped 2015, held captive for three (3) months, paid $1M.
* Elias Ukachukwu kidnapped November 2015. Paid $1M. Date of release unknown but it was gathered that his abductors were insisting on another $1M claiming family members were rude to them during negotiation.
* Francis Umeh also a spare parts dealer at Aspanda, kidnapped July 2016 at Raji Rasaki Estate, released after two months in captivity.
* The last Victim is Mr Donatus Duru. He was kidnapped in Ilupeju February 2017 and fortunately the man escaped from the Igando House where Evans kept him with his boys last month.
Police said during interrogation and preliminary investigation, Evans and his gang confessed to all the kidnappings linked to them and made confessional statements on the various roles they played in the commission of the crimes.
They will be charged to court on completion of investigation, police spokesman Moshood Jimoh said.
Nasarawa State Police Command has confirmed that a policeman, Sgt. Thomas Agada, has committed suicide after shooting his wife and maid.
The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday at Masaka in Karu Local Government Area of the state.
The command's spokesman, Mr. Kennedy Idirisu, told newsmen in Lafia that late Agada served at the Police command in the FCT, but resided at Masaka, where the incident occurred.
Idirisu explained that before killing himself, the deceased had shot and injured his wife and maid at their shop around De Memories Hotel in Masaka.
He said the wife and maid were currently receiving treatment at the Asokoro General Hospital in the FCT, adding that investigation had begun to ascertain the motive behind the shooting.
"We cannot say for sure now what could have led to the dastardly act but we believe that the wife, currently being treated would be of great help to our investigation, once she stabilises," Idirisu said.
…Says State Remains Committed To Ideals Of The Annulled Elections
The Lagos State Government on Sunday declared Monday public holiday to mark June 12 celebration in the State, saying that the State remains committed to the ideals of the annulled 1993 Presidential election.
In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello on behalf of the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the government said the holiday was in honour of the ideals which June 12, 1993 Presidential election represents being a day that the country experienced an election that was adjudged as the freest and fairest in Nigeria's history.
The Governor said 24 years after, the ideals of June 12 commemoration were worth celebrating, describing the day as one of the most defining moments of the country's political history which has positively shaped its democratic rule.
Governor Ambode said the time has come for Nigerians to go beyond the commemoration and entrench a viable democracy as a way to immortalise the late presumed winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Chief M.K.O Abiola through the practice of true federalism and conduct of credible and fair elections.
He said: “June 12, 1993 is a day we must not forget in the annals of our democratic history. Our present democratic experience may still be far from the ideal but we must all make concerted efforts to entrench fiscal federalism which is the only way to achieve true nationhood."
Continuing, Governor Ambode said part of the enduring lessons of June 12 election is that it imbued the patriotic and nationalistic zeal in all Nigerians to speak with one voice to make a political choice devoid of ethnic, racial or social sentiments.
"On June 12, 1993, majority of Nigerians across all divides demonstrated through the ballot box that irrespective of class or ethnic sympathies, the Nigerian people are united and would always join hands to promote our unifying values," he said.
Governor Ambode said though the peoples' hope was dashed with the annulment of the elections by the military junta, the lessons of the elections cannot be wished away despite subterranean efforts by many to do, describing June 12 as the real Democracy Day in Nigeria.
"We owe it a duty to genuinely immortalize the fallen heroes of the June 12 struggle nationally and deepen our democratic values to ensure that never again will such anti-people action be allowed to take place".
He also assured that his administration remains committed to the ideals of June 12 by carrying out people-oriented programmes across the State and making life more comfortable for the people.
Meanwhile, the State Government, through the office of Civic Engagement, has perfected arrangement for the annual public symposium which will hold at the De Roof, LTV 8 in Ikeja, to celebrate June 12.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, apex socio-political organisation of the Igbo, has said that the northern youths asking the Igbo to leave the north should be treated like Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) he also said that the ‘Ohanaeze has called on the Igbo in the North to go about their normal activities and to be law-abiding’
Nnia Nwodo, President-General of Ohanaeze Chuks Ibegbu, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in an interview with PUNCH on Sunday, went further to say that ‘Ohanaeze believes in the rule of law, Ohanaeze has advised the security agencies to do their job.
‘It is their duty to protect lives and property.
‘So, they should ensure that nothing happens to the Igbo living in the North.
Ohanaeze has called on the Igbo in the North to go about their normal activities and to be law-abiding. Ohanaeze however advised that they should be vigilant. Ohanaeze has also called on northern leaders to caution their youths. Ohanaeze has equally asked the Federal Government to address the situation.
About justice in Nigeria
Speaking on justice in Nigeria he said ‘that the only way the government can convince Nigerians that there is justice, equity and fair play in this country.
‘The authorities know that these northern youths are calling for secession.
‘The Federal Government should arrest them and also charge them with treason. That is what we expect the Federal Government to do.’
On whether the Igbo will give northerners ultimatum to leave the South-East Ibegbu said that the Igbo will not retaliate similar quit ultimatum to northerners in the South-East
‘No! The Igbo are too sophisticated to engage in such behaviour. We will never ask the northerners to leave. They are welcome and nobody will molest them in the South-East. The Igbo have never asked their visitors to leave. In fact, we are encouraging the northerners in the South-East to expand their businesses, build factories and prosper as much as possible.
‘Come to think of it, the Igbo have always been hospitable – the first Mayor of Enugu, Mallam Umoru Altine, was a northerner. Don't forget that northerners have been doing business in the South-East for centuries; nobody molested them. The Igbo are very hospitable and we can't change because of this provocation. If the northern youths should ask their elders questions, they will learn that Igbos contributed immensely to the development of the North. In the 1930s, the Igbo unions set up schools in the North.
‘Majority of the current crop of northern intelligentsia are beneficiaries of those schools set up by Igbo unions in the North. The North owes a debt of gratitude to the Igbo. Instead, they are repaying us with ingratitude and threats. But Igbos will not be provoked into taking similar steps against northerners that are living in the South-East.
On secession he said that ‘Ohanaeze believes more in a restructured Nigeria; a Nigeria that has a level playing field for all sections of the country; a Nigeria that gives each part of the country a sense of belonging.
‘For example, in a country of 36 states, the South-East has five states and 95 local governments; while Kano State alone has 44 local governments. The other time, we saw the statistics of recruitment in the Department of State Services with Katsina State alone having 51 allocations. Yet, we have the Federal Character Commission. We want the FCC to investigate the recent recruitment in the DSS. Abia State got only six allocations; Enugu State, six; Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, got 51 slots.
‘These are the sort of issues that elicit agitations. When there is no level playing ground, do you think people will keep quiet? Abia State alone produces more graduates than 10 states in the North combined, yet you gave them only seven opportunities and gave Katsina 51.
‘We are not saying Nigeria should be divided, but the issues these young men are talking about should be addressed. Instead, it seems they want people like Nnamdi Kanu to shut up without addressing the issues, judging by the bail conditions (they gave him).
The British prime minister's office on Sunday confirmed President Donald Trump’s visit to Britain, after the UK Guardian reported that the trip has been postponed.
The newspaper, citing an unnamed adviser at May’s office, said Trump had told May by telephone in recent weeks that he did not want to come until the British public supported his visit.
“We aren’t going to comment on speculation about the contents of private phone conversations. The Queen extended an invitation to President Trump to visit the UK and there is no change to those plans,” a spokeswoman for May’s office said.
ABUJA: The Adamawa State Government has asked Nigerians to be careful of the antics of the Boko Haram group, saying its members now disguise as epilepsy and abdominal pain patients to carry out their nefarious acts among large crowds.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, Adamawa state Commissioner for Information, Ahmad I. Sajoh, said “the government is taking proactive measures but it is difficult to read the minds of people who are satanic”.
He said; “We are also aware that the terrorists now have another tactics which is that they will come to a place where people are gathered and begin to pretend as if they are epileptics or having severe stomach pain, and once people gather to assist them, they will detonate the bomb.
“So, we are also doing advocacy to tell people not to fall for such tactics. We have had it in the past; the first bomb blast in Yola was engineered like a street fight. Two people were fighting and people gathered to watch the fight and they detonated the bomb.
“The second one, they went to a tipper garage where labourers were buying food, they declared the food free of charge, paid the woman and started giving people N500 gift, then people rushed down and gathered and then they detonated the bomb.
“We have now understood and going on advocacy to the parents to tell their children not to collect anything from people they do not know.”
While narrating how the terrorists were able to detonate an explosive that killed two children last week, the commissioner said: “What happened last week was very simple; a man was driving a vehicle and he stopped somewhere he saw some children playing, he gave them a parcel to take to their parents but unfortunately for these kids and fortunate for the parents, it was suppose to be a timed bomb but children being children continued playing and did not immediately take the parcel to their parents.
“And by the time they took the parcel to take it to their parents, the bomb exploded and two of the children, age 8 and 7 died immediately while three others were injured.”
On the recent measures taken to forestall such incidences, the commissioner said government had realized that terrorists all over the world, normally scale up their game during Ramadan, “because of that we had series of security council meetings and in fact we did not sleep over this in the first two days of Ramadan, and we took some measures.”
He said as part of the measures taken, the government interfaced with all the traditional rulers, followed by local government chairmen with instructions that they should also do that with their councillors
“We also interfaced with all the Vice Chancellors, Rectors and their heads of security in anticipation that something like this could happen. We took several measures but you know somebody who is planning evil may have more ways than you can imagine.”
