Jonathan bombs Tinubu, others, calls them political anarchist

L-R: Jonathan and Tinubu

The presidency Thursday took a swipe at former Governor of Lagos State and leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for seeking the resignation of President Goodluck Jonathan.

A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe in Abuja Thursday stressed that it was clear that Tinubu and other leaders in the APC who made the statement were merely seeking to enthrone anarchy in the country.

Murder at the Synagogue: Joshua fails to appear before coroner

Joshua

The founder, Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet Temitope Joshua, on Wednesday failed to appear before the coroner, Magistrate O. A. Komolafe, probing the cause of the September 12 building collapse in the church.

The church lawyer, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, told the coroner that Joshua failed to appear before the coroner because he was not served any summon.

Consequently, Komolafe said another appearance date would be given to Joshua when the court reconvenes on Thursday (today).

APC in disarray as Osoba, Ogun deputy gov, dump party...Move to SDP

L-R: Osoba and Amosun

A former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba and the Deputy Governor, Segun Adesegun, have defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Social Democratic Party.
A reliable source, who made this known on Wednesday, also said that the three APC senators from the state and six members of House of Representatives had joined the SDP train.
The Senators are Adegbenga Kaka, Gbenga Obadara and Akin Odunsi, who represent Ogun East, Ogun Central and Ogun West respectively.

Jubilation as court sentences Boko Haram financier to 10 years imprisonment

Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday sentenced a financier of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour amid jubilation.

The Boko Haram financier was among four suspects secretly tried before the judge by the Department of State Security (DSS).

The suspects included Adamu Mohammed, Mohammed Mustapha, Bura Husseni and Mohammed Ibrahim.

After months of legal battle, Appeal Court finally okays new number plates

 The Court of Appeal, Lagos, has granted the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, the permission to go ahead with the new number plate.

Justice Shagbaor Ikegh, gave the ruling in a judgement last Friday which was released to newsmen yesterday in Lagos.

The plaintiff, Mr Emmanuel Ofoegbu, had filed a suit against the FRSC before a Federal High Court, Lagos.

Anarchy reigns supreme as B’Haram takes over Mubi, enforces Sharia law, amputates 10

Members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, have instituted the Shara law in Mubi, Adamawa State, captured by the insurgents last week.

The insurgents were also said to have amputated the hands of 10 residents said to have been found guilty of sundry offences, including looting of property of fleeing residents.

Sources in Mubi town said they saw the terrorists parading 10 persons whose hands were said to have been amputated.

The victims were said to been amputated in the presence of residents the insurgents asked to converge to witness the enforcement of Sharia law.

Single currency: ECOWAS targets 2020 date

African currencies

The Economic Community of West African States has set 2020 as deadline for the use of single currency in the region.

The Head of ECOWAS National Unit, Ghana, Mr. Bonaventure Adjavor, said this on Monday in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, during a meeting of the commission on strategic planning framework for 2016-2020.

Confusion as Army accuses Air Force of bombing soldiers at checkpoints

Type  of the Nigerian Airforce jets used for the bombardments of the soldiers

As the battle between the Nigerian military and the outlawed Islamic sect, Boko Haram, intensified in Adamawa State, some Army officers have accused their counterparts in the Air Force for bombarding checkpoints manned by Army.

One of the soldiers, who spoke on condition of anonymity to our correspondent on Monday in Yola, said “ We are 17 in number, manning checkpoints on the Mubi side, when an Air Force plane drop bombs on us. We all fled the area. Up until now, I cannot say where my colleagues are, because we ran in different directions.

Shame: Terrorists take over Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh’s home town

Badeh, CDS

Few hours after the commercial nerve centre and the second biggest town in Adamawa State fell into the hands of Islamic sect, Boko Haram, the insurgents, yesterday, overran Vimtim, the home town of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh.

The terrorists have thus rubbished the purported ceasefire agreement announced by the Chief of Defence Staff and his earlier vow on January 20 this year that the Boko Haram menace would end last April.

Mubi town was invaded, yesterday, by the terrorists who stormed the 234 Nigerian Army Battalion, burnt down the police station and the Mubi prison, setting the inmates free. The insurgents also hoisted their flag at the Palace of the Emir of Mubi. When the insurgents invaded the town, the troops and the residents fled while they had a field day looting and burning property.

EFCC declares lawyer, bank manager wanted for duping ex Lagos Gov., Mobolaji Johnson N135m

Johnson

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared a manhunt for a lawyer and two bank managers (names withheld) for allegedly duping a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brig. Gen Mobolaji Johnson, of the sum of N135m.

A source at the EFCC said the lawyer had offered a property belonging to the former Governor for lease without his approval.

The source said the lawyer connived with the two bank managers to clear a cheque issued on a phoney lease agreement by opening a fake fix deposit account in the name of the former governor.

Ceasefire deal collapses as Boko Haram abducts 60 women in Adamawa

The recent ceasefire agreement allegedly reached by the Federal Government and Boko Haram may have completely collapsed with the reported abduction of no fewer than 60 women by members of the outlawed group who recently stormed Waga Mangoro and Garta villages in Adamawa State in fresh attacks.

Forty of the women were said to have been abducted in Waga Mangoro while 20 were reportedly abducted in the Grata area of the state.

Residents of the affected area, who escaped during the attack, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone on Wednesday.

Encomiums for Mba, NBC as Africast 2014 kicks off in Abuja

DG NBC Mr. Emeka Mba (Expect exclusive photos from Africast 2014 opening ceremony, tomorrow)

It was indeed the gathering of the very best and brightest in the nation’s broadcast industry and beyond as this year’s Africast kicked off in Abuja on Tuesday, October 21, amid plaudits and encomiums for the Mr. Emeka Mba-led National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), organizers of the historic event.

The theme of this year’s event, which was officially declared open by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim is: Digital Broadcast Content: Production, Sourcing and Delivery.

Shocker: I wasn’t ready to be Head of State — Gen. Gowon

Gowon

A former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, yesterday, revealed that he was not ready to become the Nigerian leader after the July 1966 coup d’etat that caused the death of his predecessor, General Aguiyi Ironsi.

Gowon stated this during an interactive session on mentorship with youths, organised by Stand Up Nigeria to celebrate his 80th birthday.

The former military ruler also stated that the decision to become Head of State was made by junior military officers who had mistrust about senior officers, and he rejected the offer.

Badeh assures Boko Haram will release 218 Chibok girls on Monday

Chibok girls

There are strong indications that the 218 schoolgirls abducted six months ago in Chibok, Borno State, by the violent Boko Haram sect may be released on Monday following a ceasefire agreement between the sect and the Federal Government.

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian military, had on Friday said that it had agreed to a ceasefire with the violent sect and that the Chibok girls would soon be released.

The deal was announced by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh.

The military has struggled to defeat Boko Haram sect which began attack against Nigeria since 2009.

2015: Jonathan takes on co-contestants, calls them serial losers

Jonathan

The Presidency on Wednesday gave an indication that President Goodluck Jonathan will seek re-election during the 2015 presidential election, saying he will contest against those it described as “serial failures.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, disclosed this in an interview with State House correspondents.

Okupe was reacting to an online report which alleged that Jonathan is not interested in seeking re-election in 2015 but is working towards a two-year tenure elongation for himself and other public office holders across the country.

2015: Obanikoro, Wike, Maku, Wogu, Onyebuchi others resign

 

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday led other members of the Federal Executive Council to bid seven ministers who will be seeking elective positions in 2015 farewell.

Barring any last minute change of mind, the seven ministers will send their resignation letters to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, latest by Monday, hence they will not attend the next FEC meeting.

The seven ministers, according to the President, are Mr. Labaran Maku (Information); Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu (Health); Mr. Nyesom Wike (State, Education); Samuel Ortom (State, Industry, Trade and Investment); Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (State, Defence); Mr. Darius Ishaku (State, Niger Delta) and Chief Emeka Wogu (Labour).