The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, on Monday called for more support for members of the Nigerian Legion in appreciation of their contribution to the peace and security of the nation. Ashiru made the call at the launching of the Arm...
An Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court on Monday sentenced six persons to jail for attempting to vandalise communication installation in Maitama, Abuja. The six, who were charged with joint act and attempt to commit an offence, are Sani Abubakar, Mus...
Mr Ifeanacho Oguejiofor, the Director of Publicity, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), on Monday in Abuja expressed the party’s readiness for the April FCT council polls.
Oguejiofor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that candidates for the FCT elections had emerged in various council areas.
`` We are going to contest elections where we have strong base, areas like Abuja Municipal, Kuje, Bwari and Gwagwalada area councils.
`` We do not want our votes to be scattered, so we decided to concentrate in areas where we are sure we will emerge victorious,” he said.
He said the party had the wherewithal to contest the elections, adding that it was already campaigning.
`` The problem is that most people look at the Federal Government as if it is the only government in power.
``We want a situation where by if voted into power, we will be able to bring the government closer to the people.
`` We should be able to know the yearnings of the people and be ready to embark on programmes that have direct bearing on their lives
`` As you can see, items in the market are very expensive, this is because there are no access roads to bring those goods to the city centre,” Oguejiofor said.
According to him, ``we are going to sink bore holes, construct access roads in order to enable the indigenes to transport their farm produce to the cities without going through any stress''.
He said corruption was the major factor militating against meaningful development within the FCT and promised that if voted into office, the party would tackle it headlong.
Oguejiofor promised the people that the party would use all revenues and other funds to execute projects with transparency and accountability.
``Look at the wonderful works our party is doing in Anambra and Imo, we promised to do same in the FCT, if voted into power, ” he said.
He described the party as mass-oriented and progressive, adding that it had the interest of the people at heart and Nigerians in general.
He, however, urged the Federal Government to create a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of the elections to guarantee free, fair and credible results. (NAN)
The police in Lagos have arrested a NITEL Manager and 16 others for allegedly stealing NITEL cables worth N50 million from its warehouse in Victoria Island, Lagos.
A very reliable source at Victoria Island Police Station, who disclosed this on Monday to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the suspects were arrested at about 12:30a.m. on Sunday at NITEL Warehouse, Saka Tinubu, Victoria Island, Lagos.
“We have been on surveillance for about two months for the suspects-- after we got intelligence report about their activities.
"The ring leader, one Safui, had promised one of the police officers in the station N2 million, so as to assist them to steal the cables.
“Some officers were posted to keep watch over the facilities.
"They (suspects) came in with a disguised truck, with NITEL stickers, so as to suggest that they were NITEL staff.
“They were about driving out when our men swooped on them. A NITEL Warehouse Manager, one other NITEL staff and 15 others, were arrested on the spot.
“The truck and the cables are currently kept at the police station,” the source told NAN.
The police source said that the suspects attempted to bribe the police officers with N700,000, after their arrest.
“The suspected ring -leader also threatened to use his influence to post the officers from the station to other areas if they did not co-operate with him,’’ the source added. (NAN)
A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Peter Edeh ( ANPP-Ebonyi), on Monday in Abuja faulted INEC over request for full autonomy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC had proposed amendments to the Electoral Act to enable it disqualify candidates and political parties with flawed primaries from contesting elections.
Edeh said in an interview with NAN that there was the need for caution in trying to empower the commission.
"I do not share the opinion to allow INEC to have power to disqualify candidates in elections," he said.
According to him, if such powers are given to the commission, it will be abused by some chairmen with dictatorial tendencies.
He said that it was out of place for the commission to request for sweeping powers in carrying out its constitutional mandate.
"There is no authority in this country that is not subject to the supervision of any authority," he said.
He said the proposed request for amendments of the Electoral Act by INEC would be considered on its merit if it was brought to the House.
The legislator said that in spite of the achievements of the current chairman, certain powers should not be given to the commission.
Edeh described the nullification of election of 10 members of the National Assembly by a Federal High Court as democracy in action.
NAN recalls that a Federal High Court on Jan. 11, nullified the Certificate of Return issued to 10 lawmakers, members of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) representing Katsina State in the National Assembly.
He urged political parties to imbibe the culture of fair play by adopting internal democracy where every member would be given equal opportunity during primaries.
The legislator enjoined the members involved to accept the verdict and allow the country's democracy to grow. (NAN)
The EU has no plans to give any combat role to its upcoming military training mission in Mali, an EU foreign policy spokesman said on Monday.
The EU made its position known, following France's intervention in the sub-Saharan state against al Qaeda-linked Islamists last week.
The EU plans to speed up preparations to send military trainers for the Malian army.
This mission is now expected to start late in February or early March.
But the format of the mission will not be changed for now, spokesman Michael Mann told a daily briefing.
When asked whether he could rule out a combat mission by the EU, he said, ``Yes, I can.’’
Islamist rebels in Mali launched a counter-offensive on Monday after three days of strikes by French fighter jets on their strongholds in the desert north.
France is determined to end Islamist domination of northern Mali, which many fear could act as a launch pad for attacks on the West and a base for coordination with al Qaeda in Yemen, Somalia and North Africa. (Reuters/NAN)
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Monday in Abuja condemned the renewed attack on its facilities at Arepo in Ogun. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the System 2B pipeline at Arepo was again vandalised on Saturday barely...
Armed men yesterday abducted the 78-year-old mother of the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Konbowei Friday, Mrs. Betinah Okunwa Benson.
The gunmen,reportedly arrived the residence of the Speaker's mother in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state at about 12.30am.
According to a statement issued by the Media Aide to the Speaker,Mr.Preye Kiyaramor, the gunmen who came in two speed boats shot sporadically into the air to scare away people before going away with their victim,"The incident has been reported to the police. No contact has been made with the kidnappers at the time of sending this report."
While supporters of the Assembly Speaker are pointing accusing fingers at the Sacked Five Council Chairmen following the Speaker's claim last week of an alleged sponsored impeachment plot against him,Others claimed the crisis rocking the Speaker's community over his involvement in the tenure elongation of the Community Development Executives may have been responsible.
The Coordinator of the Media Centre of the Joint Military Task Force code named Operation Pulo Shield,Lt.Col. Onyeanka Nwachukwu said he was not aware of the incident. But the spokesperson of the Bayelsa Command of the Police,Mr.Fidelis Oduna,confirmed the incident,"Yes,the Mother of the Bayelsa Speaker has been kidnapped and we have dispatched our men into the area with a view of unravelling those behind the kidnap".
The Joint Task Force (JTF) on ``Operation Restore Order’’ says that it has apprehended Mohammed Zangina, a suspected Boko Haram commander, in Maiduguri.
JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, said this via a statement on Sunday in Maiduguri.
Musa said that Zangina was arrested after an operation at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Maiduguri.
``The JTF has arrested a high-profile Boko Haram commander and `Shura’ Committee member at about 12:30 a.m. on Sunday. He was arrested in GRA, Maiduguri,'' he said.
Musa said that Zangina was in Maiduguri to plan for series of attacks before he was captured.
``He came to Maiduguri to plan several deadly attacks against civilians and security personnel.
`` Zangina, a.k.a Malam Abdullahi, is often referred to as Alhaji Musa. He is the leader of Boko Haram in the north-central part of the country; he is the coordinator of most of the suicide attacks and bombings in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jos and Potiskum.
``He is a key member of the `Shura’ Committee of the Boko Haram terrorists and he is among those declared wanted. A bounty of N25 million was placed on him by the JTF in November 2012,'' he said.
Musa said that Zangina had survived numerous attempts to capture him before he was eventually arrested in Maiduguri.
``He has survived several security manhunts in his hideouts in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jos and Potikum before his eventual arrest,'' he added. (NAN)
In this chat with SEFIU AYANBIMPE, the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Olumo Sunday Akere, speaks on the activities of the present administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the state. He dismisses the criticisms of the opposit...
It is time for the country to embrace electronic voting in order to ensure the integrity of its elections, the ACN has said. In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said with electron...
The Federal Government has placed a $1m fine on importers of the vessel that carried the toxic waste which was intercepted in Tin Can Island Lagos on January 5. Addressing Journalists in Abuja at the weekend on the impounded vessel, the Minister of Env...
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson praised his side’s “really intense” victory after they beat Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford. Robin van Persie and Nemanja Vidic gave them a seemingly comfortable lead, although Daniel Sturridg...
In line with its determination to fight financial crimes and make the country a currupt free society, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will today arraign the Deputy Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Mato Dary Dogara be...