H e a r d n e w s

THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate how the $500million (about N65billion) Abacha loot recovered from Switzerland was spent. The Non-Government Organisation (NGO) is urging a probe into the role of the Federal Ministry of Finance in disbursing the funds which it said went into the 2014 and 2005 budgets for roads, electricity, education, water and health nationwide. SERAP, through its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, is making the demand based on reports the group claimed it received from two World Bank officials, Ann May of the Access to Information Team and a director, Mr. Rachid Benmessaond. In a statement, SERAP said “In the meantime, our preliminary review of some of the documents and the letter from Mr Rachid Benmessaoud have revealed certain facts which raised more questions about what exactly happened to Abacha loot: First, that Minister of Finance in a letter dated Jan...

The recent coordinated terror attacks on different locations in Paris, France, by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have increased the need for a global action against terrorism. About 129 people were killed while over 360 others were injured in the attacks. The attacks have obviously demonstrated that ISIS has no scruples. Some weeks back, it shot down a Russian plane in the Sinai Peninsula that killed all the 224 people on board. It had set off massive bombs in huge crowds in the city of Beirut that killed nearly 40 people. Ten months ago, 17 people were killed in Paris by Islamists’ attack on Charlie Hebdo’s offices. Apart from having promptly claimed responsibility for the dastardly attacks, ISIS has also warned the world of more such attacks. Its threat to attack Washington DC should not be ignored by the US authorities. Many world leaders have condemned the horrific attacks on Paris. While the French President, Francois Hollande, described the attack...

BY CHIKA ABANOBI T he crisis bedeviling the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, is far from over as about 3,800 students of its external system are yet to receive their results, which are said to have been ready since March this year, according to sources close to the university. This is because the Senate has been unable to meet and ratify the results, as required by the law governing the university. Initially, this was attributed to the then ongoing agitation by the unions – ASUU, NASU, SSANU, NAATI – that not only saw Prof. John Obafunwa driven away from the university but also the administrative blocks locked up and some fetish objects reportedly placed at their entrance. Some staff of the university management were also said to have been advised to stay away from the university premises for their own safety. But since the dissolution of the former university governing council by the state governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, and the reconstitution of a new one heade...

When Prince Abubakar Audu died last Sunday, after the hectic campaign that preceded the Kogi 2015 governorship election, which he was well on the way to winning before the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC declared the poll inconclusive, his death naturally evoked an outpouring of emotions. Since his passage, more notable individuals like the APC chieftain, Niyi Ejibunu, an associate of the late Prince Audu, Mr. Ben Ndalayi Abel, Head of SERVICOM, Federal University, Lokoja and his younger brother, Alhaji Usman Audu, who interacted with him have continued to pour encomiums on the man Audu. Below, they express their opinions on a man many easily describe as Colossus in Kogi politics. Prince Audu was a father of modern Kogi –Niyi Ejibunu I knew him right from the creation of Kogi State, when he became the first executive governor of the state. Then I was in Social Democratic Party (SDP), while he was in National Republican Convention NRC). I later joined...

Kano - Boko Haram on Saturday claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on a Shiite Muslim procession near Kano that killed 22 people. The group said in a statement in Arabic on social media its bomber "detonated his explosives which led to the death" of the victims on Friday. "And by the permission of Allah these attacks of ours against Shi'a polytheists will continue until we cleanse the earth of their filth," it warned. At least 21 people were initially reported killed but the toll rose after one more person was confirmed dead. "For now, we have 22 deaths following the death of one more person yesterday. Thirty-eight people have also been injured, two of whom have been discharged from the hospital," one of the organisers of the march Ali Kakaki told AFP Saturday. He said that, despite the attack on Friday, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria members had continued their march from Kano to Zaria in neighbouring Kaduna state, where the...

It wa s a colourful events this evening when Dj.Kinsteen and Nkechi join hand together and cerebrated their traditional mariage in uzo uwani local government area of Enugu State.

Kano - Nigeria repeatedly claims to have severely weakened Boko Haram and is eyeing an end to the conflict by year-end, yet the Islamists still show a capacity to launch deadly attacks. Most of the nearly 1,500 people killed in Nigeria since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in May have died in suicide and bomb attacks on northeastern towns and cities. Simultaneously, remote areas of Cameroon, Chad and Niger have been targeted, underlining the Islamic State affiliate's threat to regional security. Also read: UN requires $200 million to address Boko Haram crisis Eighteen people were killed and 100 homes torched in a dead- of-night attack in southeastern Niger on Thursday. But Maiduguri, where Boko Haram was formed in 2002, has borne the brunt of the carnage despite heavy security and the presence since May of Nigeria's military high command. Last Sunday, eight people were killed when a female suicide bomber detonated her explosives among women and chil...

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja The United Kingdom has told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it is very much interested in how events playing out in Kogi State’s inconclusive governorship election finally unfold. British High Commissioner, Mr. Paul Arkwright, who dropped the hint when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the electoral commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, further expressed happiness over conduct of credible elections in Nigeria. Charging the INEC boss to surpass the 75 per cent name recognition of his immediate predecessor, Professor Attahiru Jega, the UK Government equally promised to help Nigeria in improving on visible deficiencies noticeable in computerised electoral system in the country. His words: “We are here to see how we can work with you in future in alliance with your commissioners. We want to see how we can continue our relationship wi...

From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja and Chinenye Anuforo Federal Government yesterday set up a $25 billion infrastructure investment  fund with a view to closing the nation’s huge infrastructure gap. Speaking at the inauguration of the Capital Market Master Plan Implementation Council (CAMMIC), National Investor Protection Fund (NIPF) and the launch of the Corporate Governance Scorecard for quoted companies by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Lagos Thursday, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said that  in the current environment of significant revenue squeeze and other budgetary constraints, these investments will clearly not come from government coffers alone. “We believe this is where the capital market can really make itself relevant by stepping in to close the funding gap. Government is already looking to set up a $25 billion fund wholly dedicated to infrastructure investments. A crucial assignment we have for the capital market communi...

From Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has disowned the South-East Governors’ Forum, elders and Ohanaeze over their alleged role in the agitation for the release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Mr. Emma Powerful, leader of the group said this in a statement on the heels of a warning from Anthony Nwoko, an Enugu-based prophet to President Muhammdu Buhari to desist from truncating the actualisation of a Biafra state. Powerful said IPOB rejected South-East Governors’ Forum and Ohanaeze stance on the continued incarceration of Kanu and warned the groups to desist from sabotaging the efforts of IPOB. He described the groups as “disappointments to Ndigbo and Biafrans in general,” adding: “They can only be talking about an unconditional release of Kanu and not try to stop Biafra peaceful protests, “We will not stop until our leader is released unconditionally. Those claiming they are representing IPOB should desist from it becaus...

From Kemi Yesufu and Fred Itua, Abuja THE cost of the destruction caused by Boko Haram in the North-East continues to rise as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase said a tidy N4 billion is needed to re- build 56 police stations, formations and other important facilities. Arase said this at an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs yesterday in Abuja. Speaking on the capacity of the police to combat terrorism, the IGP lamented that mobile police, who are currently working with the military, are highly unmotivated and hardly given credit for their work. He said: “A total of 56 police stations, formations and facilities have been destroyed by insurgents. The situation has greatly impaired efficiency, as it constitutes a major challenge to the capacity of the police within the formations. “The total replacement value of the affected structures comes to about N4 billion for us to put those things back to shape....

… Wants FG to immortalise Audu By Olabisi Olaleye and Fred Itua, Abuja THREE months after he was appointed acting executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Com- mission (NCC), Senate, yesterday, confirmed Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta as the substantive CEO. NCC is the telecommunications regulator for all telecoms operators and service providers in the country. President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Danbatta in an acting capacity on August 4 following the expiration of the tenure of Dr. Eugene Juwah. Senate also confirmed the appointment of Ahmed Kuru as managing director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), as well as Kola Ayeye, Eberechukwu Uneze and Aminu Ismail as executive directors. Confirming their nominations, Senate said it was satisfied that they would deliver on the mandate as- signed to them by Buhari. In the meantime, the Senate has passed a resolution, urging the Federal Government to immo...

Tunis - The Islamic State extremist organisation (ISIS) on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the explosion that killed 12 members of the Tunisian presidential guard on Tuesday. The group, in a statement circulated by supporters on social media, said one of its members, named as Abu Abdullah al- Tunisi, blew himself up with a suicide belt on the bus carrying the troops. The claim, which could not immediately be verified, is in line with similar claims of responsibility made by the group in the past. It is accompanied by a picture of the supposed attacker wearing what appears to be a suicide vest and with his face masked. - DPA

Perhaps, you do not know, a new case of the Ebola Virus Disease was confirmed in Liberia last Friday. The news is coming after the declaration of the West African country free of the viral disease for the second time. Currently, no fewer than 158 people are under observation in the county. This obviously is not good news to citizens and health officials who lost their loved ones and colleagues to Ebola at the height of the outbreak in the country. Interestingly, the new case is coming at a time when many countries, including Nigeria and Liberia, think that the end has come for the viral disease that has killed over 10,000 persons globally. Nigeria lost some of its brilliant professionals to the menace, especially a senior physician, Dr. Stella Adadevoh, who handled the treatment of the index case. Meanwhile, the newest Liberia case has thrown up some issues. For instance, people still wonder why there are so many Ebola causalities. The reason, of course, is simple....

Chioma Igbokwe A police corporal (names withheld) attached to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) Ikeja, Lagos Police Command, on Tuesday night, mistaken shot his wife in their residence at Egbeda area of Lagos. Daily Sun investigation revealed that the officer, who is described as one of the best officers of the command, forgot to put the pistol on safety catch when he got home at about 10.00pm. Excited to see her husband, the deceased hugged her husband and also helped him to hang his clothes while they chatted about family issues. He was about to remove the gun from its pouch when it allegedly fired and hit his wife who was sitting on their matrimonial bed on his laps. Neigbours, who heard the gunshot said the corporal on realising what happened, grabbed his bleeding wife and raced to the nearest hospital. All efforts to save her failed. At the command headquarters, his colleagues were seen in groups discussing the unfortunate incident. ...

Abuja - The Senate has directed the Minister of Petroleum Resources, President Muhammadu Buhari, to end the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country within two weeks from now, Vanguard reports. Chairman of the committee, Senator Uche Ekwunife, who gave the directive,Thursday, in Abuja, during the committee’s meeting with top officials of Ministry of Petroleum Resources, insisted that the petroleum minister must not only end the scarcity but ensure that fuel was sold to the public at government’s controlled price of N87 per litre. Senator Ekwunife,representing Anambra South, on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,frowned at the ongoing fuel crisis, saying Nigerians were suffering untold hardship following the development. Also read: Kachikwu directs free distribution of hoarded petroleum products Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, last week instructed the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to distribute petrol of any...

Lagos - National Union Of Petroleum & Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has said the traffic gridlock in Apapa axis in Lagos will continue until the scarcity of petrol is resolved. It said that petrol tankers across the country were loading at Apapa depots. Tokunbo Korodo, the South-West Chairman of the union, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that NNPC depots had not been loading because of activities of vandals. He said that tanker drivers were now coming to private depots in Lagos to carry fuel. Also read: Senate commended at moves to end Lagos traffic woes Korodo said that the traffic gridlock would have been checked if NNPC was using over the 50 private depots in Lagos to distribute the product. "At present NNPC is using only six private depots in Lagos to distribute the product and they are all in Apapa axis. "They are Capital Oil and Gas, The Joe Oil and Gas, Folawiyo Oil and Gas, Eternal Oil and Gas, Wisco Oil and Gas and Nipco Oil a...

Turin - A first-half strike from Mario Mandzukic saw last season's beaten finalists Juventus into the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over injury- hit Manchester City. City, already qualified following their 3-1 win at Sevilla last time out, travelled to Turin looking to secure top spot in Group D as well as avenge their 2-1 defeat to the Bianconeri at the Etihad Stadium in September. But a second successive defeat to the Italian champions means City now look likely to finish second behind Juve in the group. City manager Manuel Pellegrini said beating Juventus on their own turf would also be a gauge of his side's Champions League-winning potential, but it quickly became clear their current injury woes would play to Juve's advantage. City forwards Wilfried Bony, David Silva and Samir Nasri are all still sidelined but the absence of Belgian centre-back and captain Vincent Kompany was most felt as Juventus went two points clear of...

Turin - A first-half strike from Mario Mandzukic saw last season's beaten finalists Juventus into the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over injury- hit Manchester City. City, already qualified following their 3-1 win at Sevilla last time out, travelled to Turin looking to secure top spot in Group D as well as avenge their 2-1 defeat to the Bianconeri at the Etihad Stadium in September. But a second successive defeat to the Italian champions means City now look likely to finish second behind Juve in the group. City manager Manuel Pellegrini said beating Juventus on their own turf would also be a gauge of his side's Champions League-winning potential, but it quickly became clear their current injury woes would play to Juve's advantage. City forwards Wilfried Bony, David Silva and Samir Nasri are all still sidelined but the absence of Belgian centre-back and captain Vincent Kompany was most felt as Juventus went two points clear of...

Benin - Members of Edo House of Assembly, on Wednesday asked the Commissioner for Health, Mrs Aihamuwa Eregie to vacate the house for improper dressing. Eregie was asked to leave the hallowed chamber during the presentation of the 2015 budget performance of the Ministry of Health. Deputy Speaker, Mr Bright Osayande, (APC- Ovia North-East II) who raised the observation, said the commissioner was not properly dressed and should not be allowed to appear before the house. Mr Adjoto Kabiru, (APC Akoko-Edo) who concurred with the observation, said that the commissioner’s mode of dressing contravened the house rule. "Mr speaker, you will recall that when one of us was not properly dressed, he was asked to leave the chamber. Also read: Dogara emerges new Speaker of the House "So the commissioner should excuse us because she is not properly dressed," Kabiru said. Other lawmakers, who commented on the point raised by the deputy speaker, gave their unanimous sup...

Benin - Members of Edo House of Assembly, on Wednesday asked the Commissioner for Health, Mrs Aihamuwa Eregie to vacate the house for improper dressing. Eregie was asked to leave the hallowed chamber during the presentation of the 2015 budget performance of the Ministry of Health. Deputy Speaker, Mr Bright Osayande, (APC- Ovia North-East II) who raised the observation, said the commissioner was not properly dressed and should not be allowed to appear before the house. Mr Adjoto Kabiru, (APC Akoko-Edo) who concurred with the observation, said that the commissioner’s mode of dressing contravened the house rule. "Mr speaker, you will recall that when one of us was not properly dressed, he was asked to leave the chamber. Also read: Dogara emerges new Speaker of the House "So the commissioner should excuse us because she is not properly dressed," Kabiru said. Other lawmakers, who commented on the point raised by the deputy speaker, gave their unanimous sup...

Yola - The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday delivered drugs and other medical requirements to hospitals for treatment of victims of last week’s bomb blast in Yola. The drugs were presented to Federal Medical Centre, Specialist Hospital, and Peace Hospital in Yola. State Coordinator of NEMA, Sa’ad Bello, said the delivery was part of the agency’s responsibilities to ensure adequate and free medical attention for victims of the bomb blast. Bello lauded the effective role being played by the hospitals in treating victims of bomb blast and other disasters brought to them by the agency. Also read: NEMA gives drugs to hospitals to treat Kano bomb victims “Whenever we alert you on any emergency we are impressed to notice that before we arrive with the first victim you are already set to receive us”, Bello said. Chief Medical Director of FMC, Profesor Mohammed Abubakar, that of Specialist Hospital, Dr Bala Sa’id, and Peace Hospital, Dr Niyi Oriolowo ...

Abuja - President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness on the passing away of the Paramount Ruler of the Tiv people of Benue, the Tor Tiv, Alfred Akawe Torkula and a Minister of Defence in the First Republic, Alhaji Inuwa Wada. In separate condolences, the President commiserated with the immediate families, friends and associates of the deceased, the governments and people of Benue and Kano States. He urged them to take solace in the knowledge that the departed distinguished Nigerians lived well and contributed significantly to the development of not only their states but the country in general. Also read: Buhari appoints new NIMC director general President Buhari, who noted that the Fourth Tor Tiv was a great advocate of peace and unity during his 24-year reign, urged his subjects to maintain the existing peace during and after the succession process. On Wada, the President recalled with pride his active years as a renowned teacher, parliamentarian and minister up ...

 By Brown Chimezie Eze Ndigbo of Lagos, Hyacinth Ohazulike has declared that implementation of the national conference report would end protests by Pro-Biafra agitators and other militants in the North-East and other parts of the country. Ohazulike, who is also the president of Ndieze Ndigbo in the Diaspora, South, said protests and violence in different parts of the country are symptoms of discontent among the geopolitical entity, which make up Nigeria. He said the earlier the Federal Government implements the conference report, which has already taken care of creation of additional states for the South-East, more autonomy for the federating unit and resource control, the better for Nigeria. On the decay of infrastructure in the South-East, Ohazulike lamented that the Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway and the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway had been abandoned for decades by successive governments which only paid lip service to the rehabilitation of the roads, adding th...

Bayelsa - A former acting governor of Bayelsa State, Nestor Binabo, has accused the Bayesla State Governor Seriake Dickson of trying to take his life, Punch reports. Binabo, who spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, on Monday, said Dickson, while addressing Non-Governmental Organisations inside the Banquet Hall, in the city, publicly declared that he (Binabo) was his greatest enemy in the Sagbama Local Government Area. Binabo handed over power to Dickson in 2012. Also read: Sylva accuses Dickson of meddling in APC’s affairs The Peoples Democratic Party has however denied Binabo’s allegation, describing it as callous. The Director of Publicity, Restoration Campaign Organisation of the party, Jonathan Obuebite, said that there was no time Dickson addressed any gathering where he threatened that “Nestor Binabo was his greatest enemy as alleged.” Obuebite said any attempt to link the governor to such allegation was not only wicked but callous political orchestration, ...

Abuja - The Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has appealed for the support of international agencies and donors to assist victims of terrorism in the Northeast. He solicited for assistance by development partners, United Nations agencies, multilateral and bilateral partners, international and non-governmental organisations as well as development banking institutions and agencies. ”The private sector organizations and Companies in Nigeria cannot be left out in this effort. We know they are doing a lot already. We thank them for their commitment and efforts so far while hoping that they will do more,” Dogara said during an advocacy workshop and launching of United Nations High Commission for Refugees-Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) handbook for parliamentarians at the national assembly complex in Abuja He commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to end terrorism and return Internally Displace Persons (IDPs) back to their respective communities. ...

Abuja - The Nigerian Air Force has intensified research and development efforts to produce locally-made spares and other related equipment. This part of plans to address the challenges associated with spares procurement from third party countries. It is in line with the Research and Development Seminar held in Kaduna recently as well as the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) vision to ‘reposition the Nigerian Air Force into a highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building initiatives for effective, efficient and timely employment of air power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives.’ Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who expressed optimism while receiving the interim report from a committee establish to drive the NAF’s objectives to manufacture equipment locally, stated that the NAF was at the verge of breaking even at producing locally made spares for maintenance of its aircraft. Also Read: Nigerian Air Force jet crashes, kil...

Yoga may benefit men who are undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer, according to a small study. Many such patients experience side effects, including fatigue, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence and a decline in their quality of life, the researchers said. Psychosocial benefit The new study included 27 men who attended 75-minute yoga classes twice a week. These patients saw their quality of life and side effects remain stable throughout their radiation treatment. "Data have consistently shown declines in these important measures among prostate cancer patients undergoing cancer therapy without any structured fitness interventions, so the stable scores seen with our yoga programme are really good news," Dr Neha Vapiwala, an associate professor in the radiation oncology department of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, said in a university news release. Yoga may help reduce cancer – and treatment-related fatigue...

Los Angeles - Snoop Dogg helped hand out over 1,500 Thanksgiving turkeys in California. The Drop It Like It's Hot hitmaker joined Inglewood mayor James Butts at an indoor event last Thursday to give away the birds to families in need ahead of the forthcoming holiday, and he was more than happy to stop and pose for photos for everyone who asked. Mayor Butts said: "Snoop Dogg took pictures with over 800 people at the event. "We had a tented area for seniors to sit in, and the first thing he did was go over to take pictures with everyone there. "Once he was done taking pictures, he made his way over to the line of over 800 people and took pictures with each of them." This was the second time Snoop - whose production base is in Inglewood - has taken part in the giveaway, having previously done so last year after asking the city how he could help give back to the local community. This year, more than double the birds that were given in 2014 were h...

One of the most visible evidence that Nigerians are still under the bondage of mental slavery is the “Who is really Eboe, Ibo or Igbo?” question. Not may Nigerians know who is Igbo and many believe Igbos are people from the South-East while some people from the South-South say they are not Igbo. I am not sure how many Nigerians have taken time to find out the origins of their tribes and how the names came or where the names were derived from. The legacy of slavery, colonialism and neocolonialism has forced many Nigerians and infact most black people to allow the oyibos and the slave masters to think for us and write our history for us. What many Nigerians today know as Igbo is people of the South-Eastern zone whereas the British when they arrived knew the entire Biafra territory as “Eboes” and the old Eastern region as “Eboes” also. Unfortunately, for some weird reason or perhaps mental slavery even educated people do not answer these questions nor ask them. A basic r...