H e a r d n e w s

Air Force Cadets apprehended by Lagos State Governor’s convoy, for locking a citizen, in the trunk of the car, at Mile 12 on Ikorodu road, Lagos. Photos: Lagos press

A baby delivered inside the lavatory of an Indian train slipped through the toilet bowl to fall on rail tracks but survived. Police officer, Anil Sirohi said on Wednesday in New Delhi that a pregnant woman had labour pains while travelling on Monday on the train in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Monday. He said that the 23-year-old went to the toilet and delivered a baby girl that slipped out and onto the tracks from the train. “Passengers on the train heard her cries for help and pulled the emergency chain to bring the train to a halt. “Moments later they ran toward the baby and found it was alive,’’ he said. The officer said that the railway police moved both mother and child to a nearby hospital. Railway official, Chandra Mohan-Jindal, said it was a miracle that the newborn girl survived after falling on concrete boulders of the track from such a height. “Fortunately the train was not at a great speed as it had just begun its journey from the railway stat

Scene of the tanker fire Samson Folarin No fewer than seven people cheated death on Tuesday in the Lekki tollgate area of Lagos State after a white Iveco truck suspected to be loaded with fuel burst into flames. This is just as the Galaxy Television station on Fatai Atere Way, Mushin, was affected by another fire. PUNCH Metro learnt that the tanker fire, which happened around 2pm, was caused by an electrical fault in the tanker’s engine. It was gathered that as the driver and other mechanics attempted to fix the fault, there was a spark, which led to an explosion. Firefighters from the Lagos State Fire Service, Lekki Phase 1, were said to have put out the flames. An official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority told our correspondent that nobody was injured or killed in the inferno, adding that the fire was quickly contained by the firefighters. He said, “The tanker was coming from Ajah and heading towards Lekki when it developed a fault on the r

Nnamdi Kanu Ade Adesomoju The Federal Government has said the transmitters for Radio Biafra, which has been accused of spreading secessionist agenda and campaigning for the carving out of a Biafra Republic from Nigeria, were found to be installed on MTN masts in Enugu and Anambra states. According to the Federal Government, the installation of the transmitters on the telecommunications company’s masts was to ensure wider coverage for the radio. The headquarters of the radio station is “presumably in London.” This is contained in the government’s case summary of the fresh six counts of treason and other ancillary offences instituted against the founder of Radio Biafra and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and two others, before the Federal High Court in Abuja. One of the two other defendants in the six counts filed by the Federal Government is a field maintenance engineer, David Nwawuisi, charged with the responsibility of maintaining t

By Job Osazuwa To Onuzulike Godsown Odilichukwu, it still appears like a dream. He went blindly into a deal with some fellows purporting to be businessmen in Guinea who told him they dealt in gold. This young man had stumbled on this big time ‘gold dealer’ on the Internet, and later travelled to Guinea to confirm that the beautiful profile he had read online about the dealer was true. According to him, when he got there, he was convinced beyond every reasonable doubt that he was in for a big and real business. He was showed real gold and he saw what looked like a full-fledged company established for the business. The proposal was attractive; his joy was full. But soon, his eyes were opened. His excitement turned sour and he began to regret. He then blamed himself for not looking very well before he leaped. It all started on December 18, 2013. Odilichukwu said that was when the sales and purchase agreement between Mr. Abdoul Mohammed Bah, representing Kouroussa Co

By Ochuko Akuopha OLEH—FORUM of Former Youth Leaders of Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State, yesterday, condemned allegations of diversion of N1.4 billion Ndokwa youths empowerment funds leveled against the Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Friday Osanebi, by the Coalition of Ndokwa Youths. The coalition, it will be recalled, had alleged that the money was provided by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, for the empowerment of youths of Ndokwa nation. Reacting to the allegation, leader of the forum, Israel Arueighe, said there was no iota of truth in their claim, saying that the commission has a Youth Directorate where verification could be made. Noting that Osanebi had on his own been empowering Ndokwa youths “even before 2011,” he said, “the unwarranted allegations and restiveness are not the hallmarks of our youths. “We beg Osanebi to forgive this group since their allegations are baseless.”

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai Fidelis Soriwei, Abuja The Nigerian Army has arrested seven suspected Boko Haram bomb experts who specialised in the production of Improvised Explosive Devices. The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Sunday that the terror suspects were arrested by the soldiers in Kaduna. He said that the seven suspected insurgents were picked up ‘after painstaking surveillance and proactive intelligence operations over a period of time.’ Usman said that the members were in Kaduna to conduct suicide attacks and perpetrate mayhem in the city during the festive period. He recalled that some suspected Boko Haram bombers were also picked up by the security agents while attempting to detonate bombs concealed in food containers in public places in Maiduguri. Usman said that the arrest of the suspects would aid the ongoing campaign against the insurgency in the North East. The Acting Army spok

Olufemi Atoyebi and Kunle Falayi Disaster struck on Christmas Day in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, as more than 200 shops were burnt in a major plank market at Alaro area of Sango. According to eyewitnesses, the fire started at around 3.00pm. However, our correspondent, who visited the scene of the incident at 7.30pm, observed as men of the state fire service tried to put out the fire, which was still raging. Some of them expressed fear that if they failed to put out the fire, it could extend to other shops overnight. It was learnt that the fire was fuelled by the stockpile of planks and heaps of sawdust in the market. But as of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire had yet to be established. Some of the marketers estimated the loss to the fire incident to be over N250m. Our correspondent learnt that one fire service truck was deployed to the market and observed as some of the traders, who feared that the fire could extend to other areas overnight, bough

As Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus, former president, Goodluck Jonathan took to his official Facebook page to send a Christmas message to Nigerians and also urged the citizens to be united. The former president was seen as an agent of peace when his decision to concede defeat after he lost the presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari was applauded internationally. Jonathan demonstrated his love for peace by asking Nigerians to be united in his message. READ ALSO: President Muhammadu Buhari Sends Christmas Message To Nigerians Using the analogy of a football game where team effort brings success, the former president in his Christmas message urged Nigerians to stand firm and embrace unity as that is the only way the country can succeed. Former president, Goodluck Jonathan He said: “I love the game of football, and today, as I was watching a game, it occurred to me that even the most talented footballer in the world can not go anywhere if he

Lagos - Nigerian-born UK artiste, Skepta went on Instagram and described Wizkid as a ‘legend’. Skepta and Wizkid performed at the Beat FM Christmas Concert, which held was Sunday, December 20, 2015. Also read: Wizkid’s Ojuelegba gets a surprise guest The duo teamed up on the remix of Wizkid’s Ojuelegba, and after the performance, Skepta, whose real name is Joseph Junior Adenuga, shared images and videos of the performance and also tagged American rapper Drake who was also on the remix. “Me and the legend Wizkid performing Ojuelegba last night in Lagos, it was a moment. Wish you were here fam @champagnepapi” he wrote.

Lokoja -  Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State has filed a petition challenging the return of Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the November 21, and December 5 governorship polls in the state, reports Punch. Wada’s petition was filed at the state's Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Lokoja, the state's capital, at about 19:15 on Tuesday. Also read: Wada’s second term bid suffers setback The petition signed by Chris Uche, who is leading two other Senior Advocates of Nigeria among other lawyers, had the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Bello and the APC as respondents. Wada was the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) candidate in the election.

Lagos – The lawyer for Sambo Dasuki, Ahmed Raji has said that the former National Security Advisor has met the bail conditions but he is still in prison, Leadership reports. The advocate claimed that Dasuki met all the bail requirements after he was granted bail, but they still require the signature from the judge before he can be released. It has been reported that Dasuki might spend Christmas in custody if the lawyers cannot get the judge to sign the release forms in time. Also Read: Nigerians want capital punishment for Dasuki The former NSA is standing trial with four others for money laundering and corruption.

General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, says the Army plans to establish a military unit at Ashaka, Gombe State. Buratai stated this on Wednesday in Gombe, when he paid a courtesy call on Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo. He said the move to establish the military base in the area was part of measures to check any incursion by insurgents through the axis. Buratai said the relationship between the military and civilians in the state has been cordial, adding that it should be maintained. The Army chief said he was on his way to visit troops in Biu, Buni Yadi and other locations in the North-East to celebrate the Christmas with them. The governor hailed the military for ensuring that the state remained peaceful. He said the state government had approved a parcel of land with a Certificate of Occupancy for the construction of the military unit. The governor added that the state government wou

The leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria otherwise known as Shi”te, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky The Nigerian Army has warned members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, to desist from making misleading comments, capable of breaching public peace and order. This is contained in a statement issued by Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). “The Army is aware of clandestine campaign of calumny and misinformation on the incident of Dec.12, 2015 in Zaria.’’ He said that “a group of high ranking members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), led by one Dr Abdullahi Danladi, a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria,’’ had misrepresented facts about the incident. “He was at the university on Wednesday soliciting for support and telling lies about the circumstances surrounding the incident and the incident itself. “He also went further to make false and unfounded allegations of casualty figures and desecration of burial g

BAUCHI State has emerged the 2015 best cultural troupe at the ongoing Calabar festival, carting home a star prize of N5 million after defeating five other states of Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Oyo, Kogi, and Kaduna. Also, in the local governments competition, Bakassi topped the list carting home N3 million as the best overall troupe after being adjudged as the best in the application of the festival theme, entitled, “climate change”. Flagging off the cultural parade at the Millennium Park, Calabar, Cross River State Governor Prof Ben Ayade, reiterated the determination of his administration to improve upon the culture and heritage of the state in 2016. The governor explained that Africa remains the last frontier where civilisation, expansion, growth and opportunity are becoming hilarious, hence, the need to focus on the culture and heritage, improve and bring same to a level that it becomes envy of the entire world. “Today, Cross River is going to lead the entire Africa

Takes COAS, IGP to ICC for human rights violation INDIGENOUS People of Biafra (IPOB) has slammed an N8.9 billion suit against the Federal Government for alleged killing of their members at separate incidences in Onitsha, Anambra State. Also, the group has signalled intent to drag the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the IGP to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against human­ ity. IPOB, in an application filed on behalf of deceased and injured members by the Kingdom Human Rights Foundation in a suite no: FHC/ABJ/CS/1035/2015 is demanding N8.5 billion as damages over the alleged killing and maiming of pro-Biafra protesters. Joined as respondents in the suit are the President; Attorney General of the Federation; National Assembly; the COAS, Inspector General of Police; Commissioners of Police, Imo, Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers State Police Command; Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Co

AMNESTY International has alleged that about 200 civilians were killed in Russian air strikes in Syria from September 30 to November 29, this year. Quoting witnesses, the human rights group accused Russia of using cluster bombs in civilian areas, and said such attacks could constitute war crimes. Russia has however insisted it only targeted the positions of “terrorist” groups. Amnesty said in its report that it was also investigating the US-led coalition air strikes in Syria. The US has rarely acknowledged civilian deaths in its air bombardment of the so-called Islamic State (IS), which began in September 2014, although some monitoring groups have said the toll could run into hundreds. Russia began air strikes in September this year, saying it was acting at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and was targeting IS and other groups it had designated to be terrorists, some of which are backed by the West. In the repor

AN explosion on the tarmac at Sabiha Gokcen Airport in the Turkish city of Istanbul has killed a female cleaner. The woman who died was working on a Pegasus airlines plane overnight when the blast took place. A colleague who was with her was wounded. BBC reported that the cause of the explosion was being investigated. Armed police had imposed tight security at the airport’s entrance, but flights appeared not to have been disrupted. The woman killed, 30-year-old Zeyhra Yamac, died of head injuries. No passengers were on the plane or nearby at the time, Although the cause of the blast was unknown, police were investigating whether it was a bomb. Fragments from the blast damaged five other planes, according to the Turkish Transport Minister, Binali Yildirim said. “[A] weakness in the airport’s security is out of the question,” he added. Some witnesses claimed to have heard three consecutive explosions. Located on the Asian facing side of Istanbul, Sabiha

Washington - A teen driver who died a few days after a July car crash near Pittsburgh has been confirmed as the eighth death in the U.S. due to an explosive air bag made by auto parts maker Takata, federal transportation officials said Wednesday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration officials also announced a significant expansion of the U.S. vehicles with Takata airbags that are being recalled, and the appointment of an independent monitor to see the company's compliance with a government consent order on the recalls. NHTSA learned of the latest death last week after a lawyer for the teen's family contacted the agency, NHTSA spokesman Gordon Trowbridge told reporters in a conference call. The car involved was a used Honda Accord owned by a relative of the teen, he said. He didn't identify the teenage or provide other details of crash. Also read: Explosion near bus station in Gombe kills 5: witnesses The death makes the 9th death worldwide a

Abuja - Hundreds of Shiite Muslims were killed by Nigerian soldiers and buried in mass graves in an "unjustified" attack earlier this month, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday. Nigerian soldiers killed "at least 300" members of the radical Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) earlier in December when they fired "without any provocation," said the New York-based rights watchdog in a statement. Witnesses said that the soldiers of Africa's biggest economy disposed of hundreds of bodies by throwing them in mass graves, making it difficult to establish an accurate death toll, according to HRW. The violence erupted on December 12 when members of the minority Shiite group erected a makeshift road block during a religious procession, blocking the path of a Nigerian army chief. "It is almost impossible to see how a roadblock by angry young men could justify the killings of hundreds of people," said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at HRW.

Following the fresh six-count charges filled by the Federal Government of Nigeria against the embattled leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, a federal High Court judge has exempted himself from hearing the case. Justice Ahmed Mohammed who announced the decision on Wednesday in Abuja after Mr. Kanu objected to the case, said that it was needless, as the federal government had repeatedly disobeyed previous court rulings. Kanu was charged before the Federal High Court, Abuja alongside two others, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi in a fresh six-count charge of treason and managing the affairs of ‘an unlawful society.’ The government is accusing Mr. Kanu of plotting to split Nigeria, by creating a Biafra Republic with south east, south south states, and parts of Kogi and Benue states, as component units. Kanu, who was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Wednesday, told the court before commencement of the prosecution’s plea that he prefe

From Fred Itua, Abuja BARELY 24 hours after Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, blamed the lingering fuel scarcity on former president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, President Muhammadu Buhari has apologised to Nigerians. Buhari, who offered the apology yesterday during the budget presentation also promised to ensure the scarcity is brought to an end soon. “The current fuel scarcity with long queues at petrol stations all over the country causing social dislocation is very unfortunate. Government profoundly apologises to Nigerians for this prolonged hardship and misery. “It is as a result of market speculators and resistance to change by some stakeholders. Government is working very hard to end these shortages and bring fuel to the pumps all over the country.” Blaming the scarcity on stakeholders and saboteurs who are opposed to change, Buhari revealed that the management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been direct

By Adeze Ojukwu THE recent death of Chinenye, a fresh graduate, in an lndian hospital is apparently a sad reflection of Nigeria’s poorly funded health sector. The young lady, who graduated last month from the University of Abuja, went to India for a corrective limb surgery. The distraught mother, in an online publication, said her daughter allegedly ‘died due to carelessness of some doctors at Fortis hospital Delhi.’ The bereaved mother who made the allegation, while lamenting about the tragic loss of her daughter after the operation accused ‘the hospital of negligence and recklessness.’ The story, which went viral on several social media sites, has continued to elicit public fury. Undoubtedly, the weighty allegations and circumstances surrounding the inexplicable death of Citizen Chinenye are reflective of Nigeria’s appalling health sec- tor, which has forced many citizens into a new and growing medical tourism abroad. Obviously, medical tourism which has cont

From Molly Kilete, Abuja Defence Head Quarters (DHQ), yesterday alerted the public of yet another trick by Boko Haram who now pretend to be in distress and cry for help to attract victims. The DHQ said members of the terrorist group who are now desperate, have devised some means where they use various tactics which include crying and feigning pains and shouting for help to attract sympathy from unsuspecting public. As soon as they get such help, according to the DHQ, “they would then detonate the Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which they usually conceal under their clothes.” Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Mohammed Rabe, who made this known in a statement issued in Abuja, linked the recent bombing in Damaturu, Yobe State in the same vein. “Similarly, suicide bombers use monetary incentives and other inducements especially in crowded places to lure innocent citizens in order to cause colossal damage to both lives and property. Yola

Istanbul - Turkish police killed two female "terrorists" in a pre- dawn raid Tuesday on a cell of suspected militants in Istanbul, media reports said. The Dogan news agency said the clash, which also left four police lightly wounded, took place in the Gaziosmanpasa district in the north of the European side of the city. The report did not specify which organisation the two suspects were affiliated with. But Gaziosmanpasa is known as a stronghold for supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the ultra- left Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C). The report said the pair were part of a cell linked to a mysterious bomb attack on December 1 near an Istanbul metro station that wounded up to half a dozen people. No group ever claimed the attack, which appeared to have targeted a passing police vehicle. Also Read: Amnesty reports mistreatment of refugees in Turkey Tuesday's clash, which lasted half an hour, took pla

The popular WhatsApp smartphone messaging application came back to life Thursday in Brazil as a court threw out a two-day suspension that had infuriated millions of users. Brazilians had woken up shocked and cranky because of the order issued Wednesday night by a judge. That judge acted because the Facebook-owned service failed to disclose information requested by prosecutors as part of a criminal investigation. The free service is widely used in Brazil where cell phone tariffs for texting and calls are among the highest in the world. The app is installed in nine in 10 smartphones in the country. It was to have remain suspended until midnight Friday. But in the end, the cut-off lasted around 12 hours as a court in Sao Paulo overturned the judge’s order. “Because of constitutional principles, it is not reasonable that millions of users be affected,” the Sao Paolo court overseen by judge Xavier de Souza wrote. Authorities said they could not disclose detail

Mourinho Following Jose Mourinho’s dismissal as Chelsea manager on Thursday, AFP Sports lists five of the most memorable quotes from his two spells at Stamford Bridge: “I have top players and I’m sorry, we have a top manager. Please do not call me arrogant because what I say is true. I’m European champion. I’m not one out of the bottle. I think I’m a special one.” – In his introductory press conference after arriving from Porto in 2004, Mourinho earns himself the nickname ‘The Special One’ “It is like having a blanket that is too small for the bed. You pull the blanket up to keep your chest warm and your feet stick out. I cannot buy a bigger blanket because the supermarket is closed. But I am content because the blanket is cashmere. It is no ordinary blanket.” – On an injury crisis at Stamford Bridge “I think he is one of these people who is a voyeur. He likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to

For the first time ever, the luxury shoe brand known for their covetable red-soled heels, Christian Louboutin, has appointed a plus-size beauty. Utterly gorgeous 27 year-old Clementine Desseaux is the new face of their first lipstick range. The brand launched a nail lacquer range in 2014, and now seems to be branching into other cosmetics. What will be next: maybe a killer mascara? Oh, yes please. The French "plus-size" model spoke to the Mail Online about her appointment, saying that it is a massive step for a French company to use a curvier girl like herself. I mean just think about it: have you ever seen high-fashion brands like Chanel or Dior use curvaceous models? Um, no. I can hear them already: "Couture needs to hang, darling. It needs to hang like it would on a hanger." We are incredibly excited to see what this will do for Desseaux's career as she has until now been relatively unknown outside of France.

Backs govt’s stance on corruption, TSA policy AS part of measures to create enabling environment for manufacturers across the country, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged the Federal Government to review its foreign exchange policy. The union, in a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, argued that the restriction placed on 42 items under the government’s foreign exchange policy may cause more damage to the country’s ailing industrial sector. The communiqué, signed by TUC President, Bobboi Bala Kaigama and General Secretary, Musa Lawal ,urged the government to urgently resolve the situation and make the policy flexible, adding that it is hampering genuine manufacturers’ access to raw materials. The union also called on the Federal Government, to address all pending issues concerning collective bargaining agreement reached with workers. On the alleged plans to privatise government hospitals, the union said

Kachikwu Prices fluctuate to $37.57 per barrel THE Federal Government has put the country’s crude oil production for October at 2.2 million barrels per day (mbpd). This represents an increase of 4.16 per cent relative to August output. Besides, the price of Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, fell by 88 cents at $37.57 while West Texas Intermediate declined by 0.8 per cent to $37. Brent had earlier increased yesterday morning by 1.38 per cent to $38.45 and WTI by 2.78 per cent to $37.35 before the current decline. The Federal Government pegged crude oil benchmark at $38 per barrel in the 2016 budget proposal. The oil price has been in recovery mode in recent days. After hitting post-crisis low of close to $36 a barrel on Monday, it has since rallied and at one point yesterday, was back above $38 a barrel. Nigeria, which had pegged crude oil benchmark at $52 to run the 2015 budget, had difficulties in meeting the financial needs in the country.

Credit: venturesafrica.com Violence against persons, particularly the vulnerable groups which includes women and girls, is rooted in obnoxious cultures and traditions commonly practiced in Nigeria. These range from physical, sexual and emotional abuses. Many women, especially in the southern parts of Nigeria, are prone to violence such as female genital mutilation, forceful ejection from marital homes owing to the death of a husband. Other harmful cultural practices include forceful shaving of a woman’s head to mourn dead husband, being forced to drink the bath water of the deceased husbands and being subjected to physical humiliation such as battery and assault, all of which arise from long-held abominable cultural beliefs are only a few to be mentioned. Surprisingly, though, Section 55 of the penal code (in operation in Northern Nigeria) gives legal backing to the corrective beating of a child, pupil, servant or wife as long as this does not cause ‘grie