Queen Of Netherlands Visit Lagos State Governor Ambode

The Queen of The Netherlands, Maxima Cerruti, on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, as part of efforts to advance the United Nation’s financial inclusion advocacy as a vehicle to alleviate poverty and fostering equitable economic growth in Nigeria. Queen Maxima, who was visiting Nigeria for the first time in the last five years, in her capacity as the Special Advocate to United Nations’ Secretary General on financial inclusion for development, said she was impressed by the initiatives of the state government to improve service delivery especially towards expanding access to affordable healthcare. While noting that it was important for governments to prioritize access to affordable healthcare, she particularly lauded the health insurance scheme of the state government, which legal framework had already been put in place, saying that Governor Ambode deserved commendation for coming up with such laudable effort. She said: “Today I had opportunity to visit two clinics in the state where I saw the new pilot project in which you (Governor Ambode) has also started looking into which is to make health insurance possible even to the poorest of the people. “I was very impressed by the leadership that the state of Lagos has taken as to coming up with a law which makes health insurance mandatory and also to able to plan for the future and you are already doing some credit to some health facilities which off course will improve efficiency of a lot of these institutions. I commend you for your efforts and I will like to know from you Mr. Governor, what is your commitment on the future in this field,” she said. Responding, Mr. Ambode said the health insurance scheme of the state government aimed at expanding access and scaling up healthcare delivery in the state will commence in early 2018. He said the legal framework to guide the implementation of the policy had already been put in place, while every necessary efforts to ensure the success of the scheme were being put in place. Mr. Ambode, who received Queen Maxima alongside his wife, Bolanle Ambode, and other top officials of the state, commended the visitor for her efforts at advancing issues relating to healthcare and financial inclusion. Speaking on the health insurance policy of the state government, the governor said: “We are on the path of positive improvement on the things that have to do with health. Like the Queen rightly said, we have a law that allows us to do the Health Insurance Scheme which is targeted at the most-needy and the poor that cannot afford ordinary healthcare. We believe that if we pull the resources of every other person in the state together, those that cannot afford will be able to have a chance to access healthcare which is the main objective why the Queen has been going round to promote good healthcare for people generally. “We want to say that we are deeply committed to that vision and we are committed to that ideals and also say that we will do everything possible to make sure that the Health Insurance Scheme starts up early next year and we can now allow people to have some sense of inclusion which is one of the basic principles of good governance. “The main essence of good governance is for us to be able to carry everybody along. In a cosmopolitan city like Lagos that we have population of almost 22 million people and the majority can really not afford the things we want them to, and so we believe strongly that a partnership like this is one in the right direction.” On financial inclusion, Governor Ambode said the informal sector accounted for about 80 per cent of Lagos population, a development he said prompted his administration to set up N25 billion Employment Trust Fund (ETF) to serve as an instrument to grant members of the sector access to finance. Besides, Mr. Ambode said, it was time to call on the federal government to scale up financial inclusion with the view to expanding access for more people to benefit.

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MAINA BREAK SILENCE Says: I Will Expose CABALS In Buhari Government

• Declares he was invited by government to serve • ‘PDP can’t attack Buhari over ex-pension boss’ The former Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, threatened yesterday to open a can of worms and implicate what he called a cabal in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. Disclosing Maina’s position in a statement, his family said that he was invited to join the Buhari government. “It is on record that Abdulrasheed Maina ‘s reform put a stop to fraudulent withdrawal of huge sums from both the Nigerian Pension Board and the Nigerian Police Pension Board. Perhaps it is his noble effort that made him enviable to the present administration when they came into power to convince him to come back and assist in its change agenda,” the family said. Maina was sacked in 2013 for his involvement in a N100 billion pension scam. He later turned down summonses from authorities before fleeing the country. But Maina reappeared in the country as a deputy director in the Ministry of Interior. Following public outcry, Buhari recently ordered Maina’s sacking and probe into how he returned into the country and was posted to the ministry. But yesterday, the family of Maina came to his defence, saying he was in possession of facts capable of exposing the cabal after him

In a statement by a member of the family, Aliyu Maina, he stated that Maina was not a fraudster, but a messiah who brought remarkable reforms into the Nigerian pension scheme, as the reform under him averted fraudulent withdrawal and syphoning of pension funds. The statement reads: “You must have noticed the recent attempt by some cabal to ridicule and tarnish the image of the Maina family in both social, electronic and print media . where our brother, father and uncle have been blackmailed as a fraudster. The cabal has gone to the extent of marking our house in red paints with an inscription of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). “The entire family of Abdullahi Maina hereby categorically states that our son is not in any way a fraudster, rather he is a messiah whose effort saw the disappearance of pensioners roaming the streets of F.C.T and other state capitals. “We are aware that all this act of calumny is not targeted against Abdulrasheed Maina but the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Office of the Attorney General.” The family said it had contacted its solicitors and instructed them to act. “We equally know that Abdulrasheed Maina is in possession of so many facts that is against the cabal and interesting to the Nigeria populace, which he will disclose soonest. One must ask whether it is an offence for somebody to serve his father’s land faithfully,” the statement concluded. Meanwhile, the Presidency has insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has no moral rectitude to level any accusation against the current government in respect of Maina. In a statement yesterday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu described Maina as one of the monsters created by the former PDP government, and which are still rearing their ugly heads long after the party was soundly defeated in the 2015 elections. “Over and over again, the President Buhari government has pointed out that the administration’s greatest problem is the mess left behind by the previous government. Maina is just one more example,” he said. Referring to records from the investigations that led to the disgrace of the former pension boss and his being declared wanted by the EFCC, Shehu noted that Maina was not the only top member of the former government involved in the multi-billion naira pensions scandal, but a man warmly ensconced in the bosom of power. “Top officials in the PDP government, from sectorial heads to those charged with responsibility for law and order, received some of these billions of naira from Maina. We have all the transaction records and these are matters.

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Why MMM Crashed Again

Mavrodi Mondial Movement, simply known as MMM Nigeria has crashed again for the third time. Top Guider, Andrew Marc, took to his Facebook page on Wednesday morning to blame himself for the latest crash while confessing that there was no more ‘Provide Help’ (PH) in the system. This Marks the third time MMM has crashed in Nigeria. First was in December 2016, the second in August and now in October. Just recently, MMM came up with the plan to inflate the interest from 30% to 100% a move that lured many Nigerians to ‘re-invest’ in the system. He wrote, “There were big PHs which were unmatched. And we thought that PH exceeded GH. But it revealed that those PHs were fake. “Now its clear that the GH exceeds PH. And there not enough PH to dispatch. It was a big mistake done by us (especially me). “The reasons of misinterpretations of statistics that before we did not fully had random matching when matching proceeds consequently from the earliest PHs to the latest one, its obvious what volume of PH we have in the queue. But it was random. “We thought there was enough PH.”


News Source:  dailypost.ng

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List Of 2017 Best FIFA Football Award

The 2017 Best FIFA Football Awards have been unvieled on Monday in London. As widely anticipated cristiano Ronaldo won Lionel Mercy and Neymar to win the Best FIFA Men Player award. A total of Nine awards were presented at the ceremony in various football categories. See below the full list of winners at the 2017 FIFA Best FIFA award. The Best FIFA Men’s Player Cristiano Ronaldo The Best FIFA Women’s Player Lieke Martens The Best FIFA Men’s Coach Zinedine Zidane The Best FIFA Women’s Coach Sarina Wiegman The Best FIFA Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon The FIFA Puskás Award Olivier Giroud The FIFA Fan Award Celtic The FIFA Fair Play Award Francis Kone The Best FIFPro XI: Buffon (Juventus), Dani Alves (PSG), Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan), Sergio Ramos, Marcelo (Real Madrid), Luka Modric, Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Andreas Iniesta (Barcelona), Neymar (PSG), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid).

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AN IBADAN FAMILY THAT HAVE AN OVER 77 YEAR OLD CROCODILE LIVING WITH THEM

Hello Oduduwa team have reported the story of a family that traditionally rears crocodile as a cultural value passed on from their dead parents in Ibadan, Oyo State. Read the interesting story below: Ask anyone around the Oje axis in Ibadan for directions to Delesolu Compound, you can be sure you’ll get there without having to ask again. “Ile Dele”, as they call it, is well known especially because a crocodile is being reared there. In a bid to find out why a crocodile is being reared in a compound in the heart of one of Ibadan’s most popular markets in Ibadan, the quartet of Hello Oduduwa reporters - Emmanuel Okafor, Wole Adejumo, Segunfunmi Adedeji, Tunde Ayanda and Tunde Ajibade went to the compound. Having to wait as the head of the family, Chief Raufu Yesufu Delesolu, who doubles as the Oota Olubadan of Ibadanland was holding court proved useful. It provided a firsthand experience of what happens in Igbejo Delesolu. He was overseeing a matter brought by traders in the market. When he had settled the matter, we were ushered into the hall and one after the other, Chief Delesolu did justice to the questions posed by the team. When asked what was behind the rearing of a crocodile by the family, his response was “it is not a religious thing; it is just a family tradition. When our father came to Ibadan as a soldier, he had it. He had first settled in Ojaaba but when the place became too small for him and his family, he approached Iba Oluyole who was ruling Ibadan then and he gave him the place we are now. And when they came, they agreed that there had to be a crocodile”. While making it clear that the tradition is as old as Oje Market itself, he shed more light as he said “the present crocodile is not the first. The present one was brought in 1940”. Not done, Chief Delesolu explained that “we moved into this hall in 1949. That was when I was in Class One. And since then, I have never seen anyone bringing palm oil or salt to say they are doing any ritual. The only instruction our parents would give us was that we should go and fetch water and pour it where the crocodile is. Sometimes they would tell us to fetch six buckets each and we would be in a hurry to do so; in order to have time to play football”. He agreed that the crocodile has been a centre of attraction for decades; “back then, Europeans would come and see the crocodile. They were the ones that made us know that we should be feeding it with chicken. Our fathers never gave it chicken; all they did was just pour water. It used to go out then. It would go and stay in the pond near Ojo ‘Badan’s house. Maybe if not for that pond, it would have gone away long ago. Funny enough some herbalists would come and even people looking for children. There was a day some people in white clothes came and wanted to start circling the place but we quickly stopped them so that they won’t give our compound a bad name. I said this is not the Ka’aba, why would you be going round it? So we drove them away”. But does the croc perform any particular function? Oloye Delesolu said “as a family, we believe there are some things that cannot be seen by the ordinary eye. Maybe it has a way of protecting children in the compound. For instance, high fever is not heard of in the compound. You can see that we ran a pipe there; those days we used to pour water and drain the water manually, it would sometimes snatch containers and damage them with its teeth. It lays eggs, even without mating. It laid eggs some months ago and to retrieve the eggs, we would trick it with a chicken and use the wood there to enclose it at the other end before someone can enter to pack the eggs. There is nothing religious about it; it is just a family tradition. We are not the only ones that have a crocodile in Ibadan.” We didn’t leave without asking if there a taboo guiding the tradition or what would happen if there is no crocodile , he looked at the team and said “like I said, it is not a religion. When you know that this thing is your tradition, your family custom, that oh, this was how my fathers did it, you will want to continue that way. It has never harmed anyone and we don’t even allow it to go out so it is not posing any danger to anybody. We buy chicken for it but meat sellers in the market come to give it meat, sometimes when animals get killed by vehicles, they will come and give it to the crocodile”. Again we asked, can there be more than one? “Sometimes Hausa traders bring crocodiles for us to buy but we don’t oblige them because we are not rearing it for food so we don’t need more than one at a time. And when that one dies, whoever is the head of the family at that time will buy a new one”. When we asked how Igbejo Delesolu came to be, Chief Delesolu laughed and said “Allahu Akbar, this is our own Aso Rock because our family has about 131 compounds extending from Alafara Oje. Igbejo is what our fathers had before the British came with their court system and established customary courts. What we do here is to ensure that peace reigns in the market and till date, if there are disputes in the market they will come here and the matter will be resolved”

Story Credit: Hello Oduduwa team
News source: tori.ng



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NYSC 2017 BATCH B MOBILIZATION TIME TABLE

The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has released the mobilization time-table for 2017 Batch B prospective corp members. The corps says online registration by foreign and locally trained Nigerian graduates will begin on October 23 and end on November 12 while prospective corps members are to start printing call up letters from November 13 to 17 2017. The 2017 Batch B timetable on the NYSC official website is as follows: 1. Briefing/Sensitization of Final year students/prospective corps Members from 12th Oct to 10th Nov 2017 2. Display of list of all approved programmes for institutions on NYSC portal for cross checking and feedback from 12th to 15th Oct. 2017 3. Collation of Prospective Corps Members’ Data by Corps Producing Institutions CPIs from 12th to 15th Oct. 2017 4. Uploading of Senate/Academic Board Approved Results for Full/Part-Time Graduates and Revalidation Lists by CPIs from 16th to 21st Oct. 2017 5. Submission of Senate/Academic Board Approved Results for Full/Part-Time Graduates and Revalidation Lists by CPIs from 20th to 23rd Oct. 2017 6. On-line Registration by Foreign and locally Trained Nigerian Graduates from 24th October to 12th November 2017 7. Entertainment of complaints from Prospective Corps Members by the state Deployment and Relocation officers and NYSC Help Lines/Desks officers from 23rd October to 12th November 2017 8. Forwarding of Complaints to Mobilisation Dept by State Deployment and Relocation officers from 23rd October to 12th November 2017 9. Deployment and Printing of Call-up Letters by ICT Department from 13th to 17th Nov, 2017 10. Notification/On-line Printing of Call-up Letters/Delivery of Call-up letters to Institutions (stream I) from 17th to 20th Nov, 2017 11. Online Printing of Deployment Disposition by Corps Producing Institutions (CPIs) from 18th to 21st Nov, 2017 12. 2017 Batch ‘B’ Orientation Course

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Ex-Philadelphia district attorney set to be sentenced for corruption scandal

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia's former top prosecutor is scheduled to be sentenced after pleading guilty in a corruption scandal. Court records show that Seth Williams is set to appear in federal court on Tuesday afternoon. He faces up to five years in prison for a single count of accepting a bribe from a businessman. The ex-district attorney was disbarred by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court last week. The two-term Democrat pleaded guilty in June, two weeks into a trial that included damaging testimony about a stream of money and gifts showered on him. A federal judge said he "sold" his office and ordered him immediately jailed. Williams was Philadelphia's first black district attorney. He spent years as an assistant prosecutor and was previously tasked with rooting out corruption as the city's inspector general. Read More @


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BREAKING NEWS: Unidentified Man Jumps Into Lagos Lagoon

An unidentified man has reportedly jumped into the Lagoon in Lagos from the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge. The man reportedly jumped into the lagoon on Friday morning. Rescue officials are currently combing the water in search of the unidentified. More Details@

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EFCC Arraigns Two Suspected Fraudster For $13,275 Fraud

The suspected fraudsters were arrested following a complaint received by the Commission from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Lagos zonal office, on Thursday, October 19, 2017, arraigned the duo of Eze Okoronkwo and Okechukwu Ariguzo before Justice Ridwan Mohammed Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on a five-count charge bordering on impersonation, forgery and obtaining money under false pretense to the tune of USD13, 275 (Thirteen Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy- five United States Dollars). The suspected fraudsters were arrested following a complaint received by the Commission from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The duo allegedly used forged NAFDAC, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) documents to obtain the sum from one Yaser , an India national. The offense is contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006. One of the counts reads: “ That you, Okonkwo and Okechukwu Ariguzo, between the 17th day of October 2016 and 10th day of November 2016 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of USD13, 275(Thirteen Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy Five United States Dollars) from one Mr. Yaser , an Indian national, through Ndukwe Darlington's First Bank Dollar Account Number 2028486705 under the false pretense that the said sum represented the cost of registration of some regulated products from Indian by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) which representation you knew was false, contrary to section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.” The accused pleaded not guilty to the counts preferred against them.

In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Idris Abdullahi Mohammed, asked the court for a trial date and to remand the accused in prison. However, counsel to the accused told the court about pending applications for bail on behalf of their clients and pleaded with the court to grant them bail on liberal terms. Justice Aikawa admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1 million with one surety each in like sum. The sureties must be resident in Lagos State and own landed property in the state. Also, the sureties must either be public servants with the Federal or state public service. The judge directed the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court to ascertain and verify the addresses of the sureties. The defendants are sign an undertaking not to delay the trial. The accused were ordered to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions. Consequently, Justice Aikawa adjourned the case to November 28, 2017 for commencement of trial.

News Source: SAHARA REPORT

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OVER 112M NIGERIANS ARE LIVING BELOW POVERTY LINE- SENATE STATED

Th e Senate yesterday on a day designated as International Day for Eradication of Poverty by the United Nations, lamented that “no fewer than 112 million Nigerians representing 67.1 per cent of the country’s estimated population are living below poverty level, going by the recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).” According to the upper legislative chamber, the scenario requires education in the country to be made free and compulsory at all levels by the federal government as a potent weapon of wiping out illiteracy in the land and eradicating poverty in the long run. It also demanded that the policies and programmes already evolved by the federal government through the Social Investment Programmes and other poverty alleviation measures are vigorously pursued towards achieving the desired result. The Senate’s resolutions in this respect were sequel to a motion moved to that effect by Senator Ali Wakili (APC, Bauchi South) and 22 others. Senator Wakili in his lead debate on the motion said the passage of the Poverty Eradication Bill has been the right step towards the actualisation of the UN agenda 2030 for sustainable development and meeting the obligation by all countries to end poverty in all forms.

He noted that the achievement of a world free from poverty provides a path towards achieving peaceful and inclusive societies as envisioned in Goal 16 of theSDGs, which key target is to ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision making at all levels. In his contribution, Senator Atai Aidoko Ali (PDP, Kogi East) called for adequate funding of necessary agency saddled with the responsibility of poverty eradication with a view to making life bearable for the masses of the country. In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, said: “As a responsible senate we must focus on poverty eradication. We must ensure that we redistribute our resources and income to benefit every class of people.” Story Credit: blueprint.ng

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SUSPECTED MILITANT KIDNAP FOUR BRITISH NATIONAL IN DELTA STATE

Suspected militants have kidnapped four British nationals in southern Nigeria, police and community leaders said on Wednesday. The four had been providing “free medical care and religious activities” in the Burutu area of Delta state, said Chief Theo Fakama, from the local Enukorowa community. Fakama said locals were “saddened” by the kidnapping as the victims had “brought succour to residents of the community for the past three years”. The spokesman for Delta state police, Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed the kidnapping, which happened on October 13. “The victims are of British nationality, two of whom are a couple, and have been rendering humanitarian services in the area for a while. “But unfortunately, they didn’t let the authorities know of their presence in the area all this while. “There is a militant group that has been operating in the area and we believe they are the ones behind the abduction. “Immediately the militants struck, they whisked the victims to the interior regions of the creek where we believe they are being held for the past five days.” It was unclear whether any contact had been made with the kidnappers or the motive for the seizure, he added. Kidnapping for ransom has long been a risk in Nigeria’s south, where high-profile individuals and their families are a frequent target for criminal gangs. Victims are usually released after a few days once payment is made. On October 14, the Vatican said an Italian priest was kidnapped by gunman just outside Benin City, which is the capital of Edo state and neighbours Delta state to the north. Delta state commissioner of police Zanna Ibrahim told reporters in the state capital, Asaba, on Tuesday: “An anti-kidnapping team is already on the trail of the suspects.” He suggested the abduction could be linked to a recent military operation against violent crime, which has seen an increase in troops in southern Nigeria. Your Comments and Suggestions are welcome....      News Source:

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PRESIDENT BUHARI SIGNED BILL ESTABLISHING FUPRE INTO LAW

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, signed into law the Bill establishing the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE, Effurun, Delta State. President Buhari, in a brief ceremony at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, pledged his continued support for the socio-economic development of the Niger Delta region. The President according the statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said: “This administration is fully committed to supporting the Niger Delta in its endeavours to achieve socio-economic development.” He appealed to all communities in the region to strive for peace through dialogue in resolving all conflicts not only among them, but also with business entities and the authorities. With the signing of the bill into law, the path has been cleared for the establishment of the specialised university in the Niger Delta, charged with training and research in petroleum technologies. Recall that the Federal Government in 2006 under the leadership of former President Olusegun Obasanjo approved the upgrading of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Effurun into a degree awarding institution. With the approval, it became the first Nigeria Petroleum Engineering University with the former PTI operating as one of its faculties. The Nigerian Senate passed the bill establishing the Petroleum University in 2014. Read more at:

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How suspected Fulani herdsmen kill 27 in fresh Plateau attack

Over 27 persons have been killed while asleep in Nkiedonwhro community, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State by unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani militants. The killings happened barely 48 hours after the imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew by Governor Simon Lalong in the LGA. The latest attack was about the third in the LGA since Friday when the governor imposed the indefinite dusk-to-dawn curfew. As of the time of this report, the Plateau State Government was said to be in a security meeting, after which it would make its position on the killings known. Our correspondent learnt that the gunmen stormed the village in the early hours of Monday, shooting indiscriminately. While one account said 20 persons were killed in a classroom where they ran into for safety, an eyewitness said the villagers were killed in a classroom where they were evacuated to by security operatives. A resident, who did not want to be quoted, said while some of the people killed had been given a mass burial, those injured were being treated at various hospitals in the Bassa LGA. Reacting to the allegation of soldiers’ involvement in the killing, the Special Military Special Task Force, codenamed, Operation Safe Haven, deployed to restore law and order in Plateau State, promised to investigate the alleged involvement of soldiers in the killings. The Commander of OPSH, Maj. Gen. Anthony Atolagbe, made the pledge on Monday evening when he went for an on-the-spot assessment of the attack in the village. He said, “Soldiers have been sent to the headquarters of the OPSH for a proper investigation on how the attack took place in the village under their watch, especially when curfew was imposed in the village and there was supposed to be restriction on movement". Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has said the “madness” in Plateau State which led to recent killings of at least 20 people has gone too far. He has, therefore, instructed the military and the police to bring the violence to an end. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement. Read more @

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MONKEY POX SPREAD: 31 monkey pox cases in Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, others

Monkey pox, which started with an index case in Bayelsa on September 22, has spread to six other states, including Lagos. There are 31 cases, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said yesterday. NCDC National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu listed the states as Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Cross River. He said samples had been collected from each suspected case for laboratory confirmation. Said Ihekweazu: “It is unlikely that many of the suspected cases are actually monkey pox, but all are being investigated.” He said all the suspected cases were receiving medical care and the patients improving clinically in their various states. Ihekweazu said the centre had activated an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) to coordinate the outbreak investigation and response across the affected states. “The EOC is currently supporting state ministries of Health in their response to the outbreak through active case finding, epidemiological investigation and contact tracing. Measures have been put in place to ensure effective sample collection and testing to enable laboratory confirmation. Risk communication activities have been heightened to advise the public on preventive measures. All 36 states and the FCT have been notified for preparedness,” he explained. The Lagos State Government confirmed yesterday that it had recorded two suspected cases and appealed to residents to remain calm and vigilant. Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris told reporters that the two suspected cases were being investigated. “Though no confirmed case has been recorded, there is need to sensitise members of the public and provide adequate information on measures for prevention and control of the disease in line with the policy of the state government,” he said. Idris said the two suspected cases were recorded in a private hospital which he did not name. He added that one of the suspected cases just came from Bayelsa State and ate bush meat. Idris said the two suspected cases had been quarantined in their various houses pending the result of the investigation. The commissioner said in the wake of this outbreak, the government was reiterating the need for members of the public to observe and maintain a high standard of personal and environmental hygiene at all times as part of the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease to the State. He urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspected case of the disease to the nearest public health facility or the Directorate of Disease Control in the Ministry of Health. “Also, health workers are advised to practise universal safety precautions in the management of suspected or confirmed cases, wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment when attending to cases, wash hands after each contact with patient or contaminated materials while surveillance system must be strengthened. “The state government has mobilised the Disease Surveillance Officers in the 57 LGAs and LCDAs in the state and health workers in both public and private health facilities have been placed on high alert,” Idris said. Idris called on residents to remain calm and go about their businesses without fear as the government had put in place adequate measures to effectively prevent and control the spread of the infection to the state. “In case of any suspected case of Monkey Pox, the Lagos State Ministry of Health should be notified through the following mobile lines: 08037170614, 09087106072,” the commissioner said.

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ILLEGAL FIREARMS DEAL: 51 SUSPECTS INCLUDING 9 POLICEMEN FACES TRIAL

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, has charged 51 defendants, including nine policemen with illegal dealing in firearms. Our correspondent on Monday obtained a copy of the information sheet containing two counts, filed before the Yola Division of the Federal High Court. The case marked, FHC/YL/80C/2017, was filed on behalf of the AGF by an Assistant Chief State Counsel of the Department of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice, on October 3. by the prosecution read. The defendants were accused of committing offences contrary to sections 1(14)(a)(i) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria punishable under section 1(14)(a) (i) of the Act. The firearms allegedly recovered from them were 22 AK47, two Pump Action short guns, eight locally-made revolvers, three locally-made pistols, one Uzi Rifle and 1,150 rounds of live ammunition. The policemen named in the case are Yuguda Abubakar, Sarkin Fada Habila, Donan James, Dipha Namiel, Abba Mailalle, Bwamson Tanko, Yason Dauda, Idris Salisu, Zakari Pofi, and Rabo Bello. The rest of the 41 defendants are those to whom the policemen allegedly sold guns and other firearms to. They include Oliver Haniel, Alhaji Hodi Adamu, James Nabi, Edal Anderawus, Nuhu Ishaya, Sumobiu Yakubu, Gaman Yohela, Titus Dawe, Stanley Congo, Aamu Eli, Anderawus Batelo, Shehu Audu, Akila Dimliura, Oliver Diuwan, Munlura Amos, and Majo Aliyu. Others are Usman Saudi, Amos Tafida, Godwin Umaru, Bello Bulus, Nnanna Emmanuel, Samuel B. Samba, Juli Inusa, Adamu Lolo, Inusa Mohammed, Mohammed Rabiu, Umar Dauda, Suleiman Buba, and Gidado Garba. The rest are Umar Jafung, Aliyu Mohammed, Mohammed Abdullahi, Yaya Saidu, Mohammadu Kwaire, Atiku Ibrahim, Ibahim Isah, Idi Juli, Abdulkareem Umar, Ibrahim Umar and Hammadu Abdullahi. Only four of the accused persons were named in the first count, while the whole of the 51 accused persons were named in the second count. Count one reads, “That you, Yuguda Abubakar of Kaewa Police Barracks, Yola, Adamawa State; Sarkin Fada Habila, of Bidoma Division, Adamawa State, Nnanna Emmanuel of Dong Park Village, Numan LGA, Adamawa State, and Oliver Hanniel of Dikir Village, Song LGA, Adamawa, between 2013 and 2016 at Yola and other parts of Adamawa State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire to deal in prohibited firearms and ammunition to wit: 22 AK7 rifles, two Pump Action short guns, eight locally made revolvers, three locally made pistols, one(1) Uzi Rifle and 1,150 rounds of live ammunition which said firearms and ammunition are prohibited from importation by section 18 of the Firearms Act, Cap F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and you hereby committed an offence contrary to section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria punishable under section 1(14)(a) of the same Act.”Read more @

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Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich has named Jupp Heynckes as head coach

Bundesliga giant,Bundesliga giant, Bayern Munich has named Jupp Heynckes as head coach until the end of the 2017/18 season following the sack of Carlo Ancelotti last week. The German champion made the announcement on their website on Thursday. The 72-year-old retired from football following the 2012/13 season, in which he led the Bavarians to an unprecedented treble of Bundesliga, DFB Cup and UEFA Champions League titles. Heynckes also bagged the FIFA World Coach of the Year award in 2013. Ancelotti was relieved of his duties in the wake of Bayern’s disappointing start to the current campaign, with a 3-0 defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League proving to be the final straw for the club’s hierarchy. Assistant coach and former Bayern right-back Willy Sagnol took over the reins of first-team for Matchday 7, a 2-2 draw away to Hertha Berlin that leaves them five points behind Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund. This will be Heynckes’ fourth spell at the club, having previously been at the helm from 1987-1991, a five-game spell in 2009, and again from 2011-2013. Bayern Munich has named Jupp Heynckes as head coach until the end of the 2017/18 season following the sack of Carlo Ancelotti last week. The German champion made the announcement on their website on Thursday. The 72-year-old retired from football following the 2012/13 season, in which he led the Bavarians to an unprecedented treble of Bundesliga, DFB Cup and UEFA Champions League titles.

Heynckes also bagged the FIFA World Coach of the Year award in 2013. Ancelotti was relieved of his duties in the wake of Bayern’s disappointing start to the current campaign, with a 3-0 defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League proving to be the final straw for the club’s hierarchy. Assistant coach and former Bayern right-back Willy Sagnol took over the reins of first-team for Matchday 7, a 2-2 draw away to Hertha Berlin that leaves them five points behind Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund. This will be Heynckes’ fourth spell at the club, having previously been at the helm from 1987-1991, a five-game spell in 2009, and again from 2011-2013.

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Zambia’s Chipolopolo To Storm Uyo Today and Vow to defeat Nigeria Super Eagle

Zambian national team fondly call Chipolopolo arrived Abuja, Nigerian capital city, yesterday ahead of this weekend’s crucial 2018 World Cup Qualifying match against Super Eagles at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. The team which touched down at the Abuja Airport early hour of yesterday and spent night at Chelsea Hotel will be heading to Uyo this morning, in readiness for Saturday’s mega World Cup qualifying encounter. The Super Eagles, who are topping the group with three points ahead of Zambia, know that a win will automatically secure their place at the global showpiece in Russia next year. While a win is only a realistic chance for Zambia to reviving their World Cup hopes. If Coach Wedson Nyirenda side get the better of Gernot Rohr’s team this weekend in Uyo, it would leave the two sides level on points heading into the final round of matches in November. In the first leg tie between the two sides in Ndola, Super Eagles triumphed 2-1 with goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi, but Zambia have since recovered from the defeat and are now the only team in the group with a chance of overhauling Nigeria. The Zambians are eager to benefit from the big pay of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup by deal a major blow to Super Eagles hope return to the finals for the six times after reaching the second round in Brazil in 2014. For participating in the 2018 World Cup, Nigeria or Zambia, will receive a minimum of $12 million (equivalent of N4.3 billion), and that amount will rise if they make it to the knockout stage. The preparation fee for the 32 qualified teams is expected to be in the region of $2 million while $10 million will be paid to the sixteen eliminated teams in the group stage.

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Ambassador Osayomore Joseph kidnapped in Benin City

BENIN—POPULAR Edo State-born musician and social critic, Osayomore Joseph, was Tuesday abducted by kidnappers in Benin, the state capital. It was learned that his wife, who tried to beg for her husband, was shot in the head. Osayomore was kidnapped at about 10p.m. at Orovie village off Upper Ekewan Road, Egor Local Government Area. Recalled that on September 24, three policemen stationed at the Ogba Zoo and Nature Park were killed by kidnappers, while the Managing Director of the Zoo, Dr. Andy Ehanire was abducted. Andy, brother to the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, is yet to be released by his abductors. Reacting to the abduction of Osayomore, Edo State Police spokesman, DSP Moses Nkombe, said Police received report about the abduction at about 11p.m. DSP Nkombe said security operatives had been drafted to hot spots across the state, assuring that the Police will do its best to secure Osayomore’s release. Meanwhile, the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, has condemned his kidnap, describing the abduction as an abomination, noting that the veteran musician was abducted after he performed at the palace of the Oba of Benin. State Chairman of PMAN, Eghenova Willie, in a statement called for the unconditional release of Osayomore. Willie, who appealed to Governor Godwin Obaseki to beef up security in the state, said it was shocking that kidnappers had turned on musicians in the state. His words: “He should be released unconditionally. He is a musician and has done no harm to anybody. It is a taboo for somebody to be kidnapped after performing for the Oba of Benin. “He left the Oba’s Palace few minutes before he was kidnapped. The kidnappers should know that it was an abomination to kidnap him.” Read more at

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NYSC Corp member got Rape in BAKASSI LGA of cross River

A dealer in petroleum products in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State has been arrested by operatives of the state Police Command for allegedly breaking into the apartment of a National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, member (names withheld) and raped her. The incident occurred at Obutong Estate, Ekpri Obutong, in the council. According to a neighbour of the victim, who pleaded anonymity, the suspect broke into the house of the NYSC member at 11p.m. on Friday, raped her, and stole her phones, cash and other valuables. According to the source, “as you can see, this house does not have burglary proof. It is just the glass and anyone can enter our house at anytime. We live in a very dangerous environment and we have been facing serious security challenges in this estate. “This is not the first time they are raping women in this place. But it is quite unfortunate that at this time, it is a visitor (NYSC member) that was the victim. “We learned that she has been moved to Calabar because as we speak, she is still in shock. But we are also happy that the Police did a good job by apprehending the culprit. We believe justice will be served.” How she recognised her attacker Another NYSC member, who did not want to be named, told Vanguard that the victim recognised her attacker because he stayed for close to 30 minutes in her apartment. The NYSC member said: “She told us that she recognised the suspect’s voice and shoes. Although she is still in shock, she is glad he has been arrested.” A Police source revealed to Vanguard that the suspect, who knew that he had been recogni-sed, took refuge at Akpabuyo, where he was arrested. The source added that the suspect is a popular petroleum dealer in the area with a wife, who recently gave birth. Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident. He said: “It is true; we have arrested the suspect, and he has been identified by his victim as the person who broke into her house that fateful night. ”NYSC reacts When contacted, the PRO, Cross River NYSC, Mallam Abdulahi Yuguda, said the NYSC member was aware of the challenges facing corps members and that the secretariat was in touch with the local government inspector for Bakassi and the Head of LG Administration on the matter. He said: “We applaud the role played by security agencies in Bakassi, which led to the arrest of the culprit. The NYSC will not relent until justice is done.” Read more @

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