France Disgraces Eagles out of World Cup

Ahmed Musa of Nigeria competes for the ball with Mathieu Debuchy of France | credits: FIFA

France reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup as Paul Pogba’s header and Joseph Yobo’s own goal knocked out Nigeria in Brasilia.
Nigeria’s Emmanuel Emenike had a first-half goal ruled out for offside before Vincent Enyeama saved Pogba’s volley.
Victor Moses cleared Karim Benzema’s shot off the line after the break and Yohan Cabaye volleyed against the bar.
Pogba headed home after Enyeama’s misjudgement before Yobo diverted Mathieu Valbuena’s cross into the net.
France will play the winners of Monday night’s match between Algeria and Germany in the quarter-finals at the Maracana on Friday.
The final scoreline was harsh on Nigeria, who dominated for large parts of the second half, but late mistakes from their tiring players ensured they will have to wait for their first ever quarter-final appearance in a World Cup.
France have pedigree in the knockout rounds having reached at least the semi-finals on the last five occasions they have progressed past the first round at the World Cup.
Nigeria’s last-16 preparations had been disrupted by a row over bonuses and, with their group victory over Bosnia-Hercegovina their only World Cup win in 11 matches, this tie was always going to prove a big ask.
But, attacking with pace down the wings through both Moses and Ahmed Musa, the Super Eagles looked threatening early on. Only a flag for offside denied the powerful Emenike the opener, when he tapped home Musa’s cross.
Nigeria’s goalkeeper Enyeama made the most saves of any goalkeeper in the group phase and had to be alert again to keep out Pogba’s fierce close-range volley as the play swept from end to end in a first half that saw both sides look vulnerable defensively.
Juventus’s Pogba was being afforded a lot of space but, as was the case all over the pitch, the final ball was all too often wasteful with Mathieu Debuchy’s shot wide the only other notable attempt in a half that promised more than it delivered.
France, the 2006 runners-up, did not make it past the group stage in South Africa four years ago but they appear to be much more united as a squad in this tournament.
That togetherness was needed as Nigeria controlled the opening stages of the second half and only a sharp stop from Hugo Lloris prevented Peter Odemwingie’s low shot from giving the Africans the lead.
Against the run of play Benzema almost gave France the lead. The Real Madrid man played a neat one-two with Antoine Griezmann before seeing his shot partially blocked by Enyeama and then hacked off the line by Moses.
The introduction of Griezmann for Olivier Giroud saw France emerge more as an attacking force, with Benzema playing more centrally, and the breakthrough came when Pogba headed into an empty net after Enyeama had misjudged Valbuena’s corner.
And, as Nigeria pushed for a leveller, Joseph Yobo flicked Valbuena’s low cross into his own net on the day he surpassed Jay-Jay Okocha’s record of nine World Cup matches for the Super Eagles.

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We have no idea of the location of Chibok girls – US

The United States said on Friday it had decreased its surveillance flights in the search for the about 219 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram, but added that the overall effort was unchanged due to more flights by other countries.

It stated that it had no idea of the location of the girls, noting however that there is no letup in the efforts to locate and rescue them.

“We don’t have any better idea today than we did before about where these girls are, but there’s been no letup of the effort itself,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters, according to Reuters.

Kirby said the same level of effort was being sustained now through international involvement.

A US defence official speaking on condition of anonymity said American flights had been reduced only after a body of intelligence had been gathered and that the cuts had been offset by the British and the French support.

Kirby denied a suggestion that US flights over Nigeria had been reduced to accommodate increased US surveillance over Iraq, where Washington is flying unmanned and manned aircraft to gather intelligence about Sunni insurgents.

He said some of the resources that were being used in Nigeria had been diverted from other missions in Africa and could now be used elsewhere on the continent.

Officials declined to say how long heightened U.S. surveillance over Nigeria had lasted.

Asked whether it was just a week or two, the defence official said, “No. We were building this baseline for a good period of time.”

US surveillance flights over Nigeria were now intermittent, the source said.

US military personnel are in Abuja helping to coordinate the effort, and some 80 others were sent to Chad in May to support the surveillance operation.

Chad is northeast of Nigeria and borders the area in which Boko Haram is known to operate.

In the last month, US officials had played down expectations about a swift rescue of the girls and stressed the limitations of intelligence from surveillance flights.

One US official voiced concerns that Boko Haram might have booby-trapped areas where the girls could be held, and there had been reports that they might have been split up into groups that were not being held in one place.

The defence official said surveillance alone would not lead to a resolution. “It will take the Nigerian piece of the equation with their own sources and human intelligence coupled with the other forms to really understand the picture,” he noted.

In an opinion piece in the Washington Post on Friday, President Goodluck Jonathan said his government and security services had “spared no resources, have not stopped and will not stop until the girls are returned home.”

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Court admits video evidence on Cynthia Osokogu’s murder

Justice Olabisi Akinlade of the Lagos High Court in Igbosere, on Monday admitted in evidence, a video containing confessional statements of the alleged killers of Facebook lover, Cynthia Osokogu.
The defendants, Okwumo Nwabufo 34; Olisaeloka Ezike, 24; Orji Osita, 33; and Ezike Nonso, 25, are charged with conspiracy and murder of Cynthia by the Lagos State Government.
At the hearing, Emmanuel Peters, a film editor and cinematographer, led in evidence by Ade Ipaye, Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, told the court how he made the video recording and its certification.
Mr. Peters told the court that in continuation of the hearing, he connected his Sony digital camera to a Panasonic DVD player with a DELL laptop which he used in producing the DVD after which he destroyed the copy in the camera.
Mr. Peters identified the DVD and the certification document which was then tendered as evidence by Mr. Ipaye.
The counsel to the second defendant, Michael Ajayi, however, opposed the admission of the video, saying the document did not fulfil the provisions of Section 104 of the Evidence Act.
He argued that the certification was done after the trial had begun and that there was nothing to show that legal fees were paid to obtain the document, citing the case of Tapik United Vs GTB Plc.
Mr. Ipaye, however, cited Section 141 of the Evidence Act that proof of payment was required where “there are legal fees prescribed in that respect.”
He said that “the DVD was produced on the instruction of the police in the course of investigation; the whole purpose is to put it in evidence in a prosecution initiated by the state as between the police and the prosecution authority.
“What the Supreme Court said on the case cited by the defence counsel was that the learned trial judge ought to have ordered counsel to ensure that the said documents are paid for after which the trial continues.”
He urged the court to admit the DVD with the certification as evidence “as they are very relevant”.
Justice Akinlade subsequently ruled that the video recording was relevant to the trial and admitted it alongside a certification document as exhibit P16a and P16b respectively.
In his evidence, Yemi Olagbende from the homicide section of SCID, Panti, Yaba, a prosecution witness, told the court that he came into contact with the accused while investigating the matter.
I came into contact with the defendants when the case was transferred to my department, with instructions to find out the cause of death of Cynthia and the circumstances surrounding it.
At this point, Ade Ipaye applied for an adjournment for continuation of trial to enable the police officer to call witnesses to appear in court
The case was subsequently adjourned till September 19, October 3 and October 10 for continuation of trial.
(NAN)

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Northern delegates accuse Confab leadership of hidden agenda

There was mild drama at the ongoing National Conference on Monday when Northern delegates accused the confab leadership of habouring a hidden agenda.
Trouble started when Ishaq Modibo drew the attention of the Conference, under a matter of urgent national importance, to media reports which he said, questioned the integrity of the Conference leadership.
Mr. Modibo said two reports on Daily Trust newspaper indicted the Deputy Chairman, Bolaji Akinyemi, of lobbying Northern delegates in order to smuggle in a demand for a new Constitution in the Conference final report.
He also drew the attention to another publication in a section of the media, alluding that the Conference was trying to adopt a geo-political arrangement in the country.
“Mr. Chairman, I want to urge that the leadership should come out and clear its name from the allegations contained in the newspaper report,” Mr. Modibo said.
But Sergeant Awuse disagreed with Mr. Modibo, saying that the Conference should not be distracted from doing its job because of unfair media reports.
To buttress his point, Mr. Awuse said, “We should avoid grandstanding. Most of those sponsoring these publications are from this Conference. I am pleading that we continue the good work we are doing.
“There are many people who do not support the Conference but there are more people in support of what we are doing here.
“If there is a delegate here who has been approached by the Deputy Chairman, such delegate should rise up and say it. But if there is none, then we should ignore the publication sponsored by people inside this Conference.”
Mike Ahamba, however, disagreed with Mr. Modibo on the need for the Deputy Chairman to address the Conference on account of the allegation in the newspaper report.
“We must always try to act in accordance with what we know. When we started, a lot of people said the Conference will break in down less than two weeks,” he began.
“But they have failed. We have a duty to disappoint them. There is no young person here; even those who are youth here are not very young.
“When people start writing about things that are not true and quote sources that are nonexistent, we should not be pulled into it. If there is anybody that has been lobbied, he should stand up and tell us.
Haruna Yerima, however, insisted that dismissing the newspaper publication would not be in the best interest of the Conference.
He said Mr. Akinyemi has been mentioned and the onus is on him to rise up and clear his name.
Mr. Yerima said, “You either clear your name here and now or you will have morality demands that you take it on yourself to defend your name in this Conference. This is the opportunity for you to clear your name. I am advising you as a patriot, as a friend and as a true Nigerian.”
Given the opposing views on the matter, Mr. Ahamba moved a motion to invite those who were lobbied to speak up publicly.
This was supported by Ken Nnamani who argued that it was necessary for the Conference Vice Chairman to clear his name.
He said, “Whereas God gave us two ears to hear two sides of the story, I hereby move that the Vice Chairman should clear his name from the allegation made against him in the media report.”
Responding, Mr. Akinyemi said, “Since the beginning of this Conference, whenever I find controversies arising, I have always tried to reach out to people on both divides to resolve them.”
We have an issue coming up which has to do with the modality for implementing the outcome of this Conference.
“I approached those who say they want to write a new Constitution. I also approached those who kick against the writing of a new constitution. I had approached Ibrahim Kumasi, who is the leader of the Northern delegates.
“And I said to them, I have spoken to the people who say they want us to write a new Constitution and those who say we don’t need a new constitution. I had told him we need to build a consensus.”
Mr. Akinyemi argued that he was merely trying to build bridges between the two groups in a bid to create a consensus when the matter came up for debate on the floor.
He listed some of those he approached as Iyorchia Ayu, Mr. Kumasi, among others.
Ibrahim Ida argued that two issues where involved in the controversy, saying one had to do with a document which he showed to the Conference.
He explained that what was contained in the document were some of the things already rejected by the Conference.
He warned that anybody propagating a report that claims to be an agreement made by the Conference was trying to scuttle the entire process.
He said, “Mr. Chairman, it is even carrying the logo of the Conference. It is now an opportunity for the leadership to come out before the world and disown this document. I believe this is the time for this Conference to come and disown this document.”
The Conference Chairman, Idris Kutigi, said he has not seen the document referred to.
“I know nothing about this. I have not seen this before,” he said.
Since the name of Mr. Kumasi was mentioned in the newspaper publication, he was asked to stand up and clear the air on the matter.
Speaking, Mr. Kumasi explained how the Deputy Chairman had sent a note inviting him for a meeting with some persons.
He told the Conference that he accepted to attend the meeting but noted that since Mondays were his regular fasting days, he opted to send some delegates to represent him.
He named some of the delegates he sent to attend the meeting to include Iyorchia Ayu, Jerry Gana, among others.
On the final note, Mr. Kumasi said, “Raymond Dokpesi has been organising meetings among Northern and Southern delegates. I was told that a new constitution has been written.
“Later, Dokpesi came over to me and handed to me the document and from that day, the Northern delegates have not attended the meeting. The document has the logo of the Conference and even has the name of the new state to be created.
“I wanted to meet the Northern delegates but I found this published in the Daily Trust today.”
When Mr. Dokpesi rose to address the Conference on issue, he agreed that he was involved in the activities of the National Consensus Building Group headed by Ibrahim Gambari.
He said the objective of the group was to close the gaps in the decisions taken by delegates at the Conference, adding that membership was extended to as many members as possible.
Mr. Dokpesi said right from the outset there were fears that there would be problem in achieving consensus on some of the reports, saying that leaders of the geo-political zones nominated three delegates to join the Gambari-led group.
According to him, during the first meeting, the group tried to harmonize the position on the report of the Committee on National Security.
He said the group agreed that there was need for a multi-tier policing in the country, adding that five other reports of the Conference were considered.
“Any person that is honest will say that all the reports of the committees are embedded in that report as well as the concerns of the all the groups,” Mr. Dokpesi said.
He noted that Mr. Yadudu was not nominated to join the group but he came into the meeting, adding that the document prepared was merely a working document covering all the issues discussed at the Conference.
Mr. Dokpesi continued, “I want to aver that the leadership of this Conference has no hand in this document. There is nobody who does not know that what we have is a working document and not the decision of the leadership.”
After Mr. Dokpesi’s contribution, Mr. Kutigi said, “It is now clear, that the leadership of this Conference is not aware of the report.
“We know nothing about the technical committee. If you want to do anything for yourself, you are free but don’t bring us into it.”

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Nigerian military Bust Terrorist’ Intelligence Network, Arrest Leader

“Babuji has been coordinating several deadly attacks in Maiduguri since 2011.”

The Nigerian military on Monday said it has busted a major intelligence cell of the Boko Haram and arrested some of its leaders.

The cell, the military said, played a major role in the kidnap of over 250 girls in Chibok on April 14 and the murder of the Emir of Gwoza on May 30.
In a statement by the spokesperson of the Defense Headquarters, Chris Olukolade, the military said it arrested Babuji Ya’ari, a man whom it said participated in both attacks
“The man, Babuji Ya’ari, who is also a member of the Youth Vigilante Group popularly known as Civilian JTF which he uses as cover while remaining an active terrorist, also spearheaded the murder of the Emir of Gwoza,” the military said. “Babuji has been coordinating several deadly attacks in Maiduguri since 2011, including the daring attacks on Customs and military locations as well as the planting of IEDs in several locations in the town.”
Mr. Olukolade, a Major General, said the arrest of Mr. Ya’ari led to the arrest of other members of the cell, including a woman, Hafsat Bako, who was responsible for paying sect members and had initially escaped to Gombe.
“Another female suspect named Haj Kaka who doubles as an armourer and a spy for the terrorists group has also been arrested,” he said.
About 217 of the teenage girls kidnapped from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, are still in the custody of the Boko Haram despite international efforts and condemnation. The military had said it knew the whereabouts of the girls but would not use force to free them to avoid casualties.
In an opinion he wrote for the Washington Post last week, President Goodluck Jonathan said he was not weak in his handling of the kidnap of the girls.
“I have had to remain quiet about the continuing efforts by Nigeria’s military, police and investigators to find the girls kidnapped in April from the town of Chibok by the terrorist group Boko Haram,” the president said. “I am deeply concerned, however, that my silence as we work to accomplish the task at hand is being misused by partisan critics to suggest inaction or even weakness.”
Mr. Jonathan’s statement comes amidst criticisms of his government and the military’s handling of the Chibok kidnap and the whole Boko Haram crisis, which has claimed over 13,000 lives since 2009.

Read Mr. Olukolade’s full statement of Monday below:
TROOPS BUST TERRORISTS’ INTELLIGENCE NETWORK … ARREST A KEY ACTOR IN CHIBOK ABDUCTION
A terrorists’ intelligence cell headed by a businessman who participated actively in the abduction of School Girls in Chibok has been busted by troops. The man, Babuji Ya’ari who is also a member of the Youth Vigilante Group popularly known as Civilian JTF which he uses as cover while remaining an active terrorist, also spearheaded the murder of the Emir of Gwoza. His main role in the group is to spy and gather information for the terrorists group.
Babuji has been coordinating several deadly attacks in Maiduguri since 2011, including the daring attacks on Customs and military locations as well as the planting of IEDs in several locations in the town.
The arrest of the businessman who is known to deal in tricycles has also yielded some vital information and facilitated the arrest of other members of the terrorists’ intelligence cell who are women. One of them, Hafsat Bako had earlier escaped to Gombe State to avoid suspicion but was tracked and arrested. Prior to her arrest, Hafsat coordinated the payment of other operatives on the payroll of the group. In her confession, she disclosed that a minimum of N10,000 is paid to each operative depending on the enormity of his task.
Another female suspect named Haj Kaka who doubles as an armourer and a spy for the terrorists group has also been arrested. Until their arrest, all the suspects actively operated a terrorists’ intelligence cell in collaboration with others still at large.
In another development, troops deployed in Goniri, Yobe State, over the weekend, had an encounter with terrorists, resulting in casualties on both sides after the attack was successfully repelled.

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87-year-old drags bank to court for suspicious withdrawal

An 87-year-old woman, Mrs. Sanusi Adebisi, has taken the Union Bank Plc to court over N253,000 withdrawn from her account in the bank via the Internet sometime in October 2013.

The claimant told the Magistrate’s Court sitting at the Ojokoro, Agbado area of Lagos that she just got N200,000 of the sum from her cooperatives to operate the tumour in her eye.

She told the court that the tumour had worsened since the scam took place because no longer had money to get rid of it.

Adebisi, who sells drinks in Orile-Agege, said she had been the sole signatory to her account since 1970s before her only daughter, Sanusi Ifedayo, was included as a joint signatory due to a health problem.

Ifedayo claimed she did not know anything about Internet transaction and told the court that she had rejected the use of an ATM card for the account, but an official of the bank insisted that she applied for it, saying some amount could not be cashed across the counter.

“I had withdrawn N40, 000 for Mama (mother) that day before the scam. It was my husband who went to greet her that very day that noticed the debit alerts on her phone.

I wrote a letter of complaint to the bank and its officials promised to investigate the matter. After a week, I was told that the money was withdrawn online by an unknown person. I don’t even know how to operate a Facebook account not to talk of using Internet for transaction. The bank is in best position to tell us what transpired,” she said.

She also claimed that she had never revealed the ATM pin to anyone.

The claimant’s counsel, Mr. Gbenga Julius, presented before the court, a signed and stamped printout of his client’s statement of account reportedly accessed from the Union Bank – an exhibit the defence counsel, Mr. Seyi Solaja, refuted.

Solaja maintained that the exhibit was not the same as the one the bank issues to its customers, adding that it was null and void under Section 84 of Evidence Act.

The magistrate, Mrs. T. Akani adjourned the case to July 27, 2014 for further hearing

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Mark, Fayemi, Amaechi call for more prayers

Senate President, David Mark

Nigerian leaders including Senate President, David Mark, Governors Kayode Fayemi and Rotimi Amaechi of Ekiti and Rivers states respectively have called on Muslims to make the continued survival of Nigeria the focal point of their prayers as they joined their colleagues in the world to observe the Ramadan fasting.

Mark in a goodwill message to the Muslim faithful, contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh, urged them to pray for the nation and its people in order to overcome the trying times.

He said, “More than anything else, the nation requires your support and prayer to triumph over forces of evil facing the nation.

“Our security operatives have been overstretched. Our people are daily being killed needlessly. Our only hope is in the divine intervention of the Almighty Creator to salvage the situation.

“It has therefore become imperative that you commit yourselves to praying for the peace, unity and survival of Nigeria in this holy month of Ramadan.”

He also called for support and cooperation of Nigerians to the security operatives to combat the menace of insurgents ravaging the country.

Mark canvassed religious tolerance between and among religious groups pointing out that in spite of the security challenges, the unity of Nigeria should not be compromised.

Also, Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, described Ramadan as “the glory of all months in the Islamic calendar.”

He added that Ramadan fast was one of the five pillars of Islam that Muslims must strictly adhere to it in line with the injunction of the Almighty Allah.

Stating that Ramadan offered an opportunity to draw closer to Allah and deepen relationship with him in submission to his will, he urged Muslims to use the period to pray for peace to reign in all the troubled spots in the country.

The governor also urged them to use the Ramadan season to pray for peace and prosperity in Ekiti State, especially as the state was about to witness a change in leadership.

Fayemi explained that Allah established Ramadan to bring about equality among the faithful irrespective of social status.

Amaechi, in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, in Port Harcourt on Sunday, urged Muslims to make Nigeria their focal prayer point as they observed the Ramadan rites.

The governor also expressed the need for Muslims to use the Ramadan period to engage in persistent prayers for the country’s leaders to enable them to act right to the benefit of the masses.

“At this point in the life of our country where peace and safety of the citizens has become critical, it is evident that we need divine intervention in our nation.”

Also, the lawmaker representing Lagos East Constituency, Gbenga Ashafa, has challenged Muslims to pray for peace in Nigeria before breaking their fast daily.

Ashafa in a Ramadan message on Sunday, said Muslims must use the opportunity of their holy month to intercede for peace.

He said, “At this moment, fasting faithful muslims prayer is accepted easily by God. One of those moments that God accepts prayer easily is the moment before breaking fast. Muslims should always pray for Nigeria during the Tarawih (evening prayer) and during their Tahajud (mid-night prayer).”

(PUNCH)

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Ghana, South Sudan deepens academic relations

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is to expand its distance learning programme to the Republic of South Sudan.

Professor William Otoo Ellis, the Vice-Chancellor, announced the programme, following discussions between the University authorities and South Sudanese Ambassador, an initiative designed to bolster development of the human resource base of Africa’s newest independent country.

Prof Ellis said the project is being executed under KNUST’s International Distance Learning Platform, which was launched last year to give opportunity to the University to establish strong presence in other countries.

The programme had so far seen the University make in-roads in Nigeria and Dubai as it aspires to become a Centre of Excellence in science and technology education, training and research.

Prof Ellis, who was addressing a congregation of KNUST School of Graduate Studies in Kumasi, affirmed the authorities’ resolve to work assiduously to achieve their mission.

A total of 2, 292 students graduated with 22 out of the number receiving doctorate degrees. This brings to 8, 055 the total number of students who graduated from the University’s six Colleges.

Professor Ellis indicated that the University made major strides in the field of research, particularly last year, winning a number of grants in the area of renewable energy, soil and seed sciences, as well as business development and food sciences.

The KNUST, he said, was also selected as the West African Regional Centre for Water and Environmental Sanitation to advance research and the training of the critical human resource to spearhead development in those areas.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, and Chancellor of the University, challenged the graduating students to be problem-solving.

He said the knowledge they have acquired, should offer them the capacity to research and come out with alternative solutions to alleviate the plight of the people.

(GNA)

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Air transport workers may begin strike July 5

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN has threatened to call out its members for strike if the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, failed to meet its demands.
The national president of ATSSSAN, Benjamin Okewu, issued the threat in a statement in Lagos.
Mr. Okewu said the union demands that all pending issues on workers’ welfare before the NCAA management should be resolved before July 5.
“It was gathered that so many outstanding employees’ files on welfare matters, allowances, travel claims, have been piled up on the desk of the Director-General of NCAA, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka, and unattended to since in the last 10 to 12 months,” he said.
He expressed the union’s displeasure with the way the aviation agencies were handling the 2014 staff training.
The ATSSSAN boss also demanded that the union should be furnished with the staff training proposals by all agencies in the aviation sector.
The agencies are NCAA, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, and the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology.
Mr. Okewu argued that human capacity development in the sector could not be ignored due to the expanding investment prospects and safety challenges in the industry worldwide.
He, however, called for the full implementation of the approved conditions of service for workers in the industry.
He said the union would move its national secretariat temporarily to the NCAA headquarters until the issues of staff welfare were resolved.

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How Scores were killed, properties burnt in communities near Chibok

Scores of people were feared dead after armed men attacked two communities near Chibok in Borno State early Sunday.
Gunmen stormed Kwada and Kautikari when most residents were worshipping in different Churches, witnesses and security sources said.
The Borno State police spokesperson, Gideon Jubrin, said he had been informed of the attack, but declined to give details. Mr. Jubrin said he was yet to contact the district police officer in charge of Chibok.
“My attention was brought to the incident by a reporter and we have been battling to connect with our Divisional headquarters in Chibok for details, but it seems all the communication networks are down or something,” he said.
Residents said gunmen struck first in Kwada, where they attacked worshippers and set fire to at least four Churches, including COCCIN church, EYN church and Deeper Life Bible Church.
Kwada is about 10 kilometres from Chibok, where extremist Boko Haram abducted nearly 300 schoolgirls more than two months ago. Kautikari is about seven kilometres from Chibok.
A resident of Kwada, who identified himself as Mallam Yahi, told journalists that armed men attacked worshippers and burned Churches and houses in Kwada, before heading to Kautikari.
Several residents fled into the bushes to escape the attack, Mr. Yahi said.
A police officer, who lives in Chibok, confirmed that his brother was killed in the attack.
The officer, who asked not to be named as he was not authorized to speak, said he received a telephone call while he was in Church, informing him that his younger brother had been killed in Kwada.
One of the houses destroyed in Kautikari belonged to a special assistant to the Borno State governor, Baba John, a relative of the politician confirmed.
Mr. John could not be immediately reached.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, although Boko Haram is suspected.

Panic-stricken villagers in Chibok had made distress calls to journalists and security operatives in Maiduguri calling for urgent help. It is not also clear if they received immediate assistance.
A text message sent by a resident at about 9:30 a.m. read: “Massive attack on Kautikari now. All security agencies should be notified, and call for divine help now.”
An official of Department of Security Service confirmed the information but asked not to be named.

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National Confab approves state police, National Border Force

Delegates rejected recommendation that 70 per cent of Federal police officers in any state should be indigenes of that state.
The National Conference on Thursday approved the creation of state police, National Border Force and Coast Guard; among others, for improved security across the nation.
The decisions were taken during the adoption of the report of the Conference Committee on National Security, headed by a former Inspector General of Police, Gambo Jimeta.
It was during the presentation of the Committee’s report on Wednesday by its Vice Chairman, Albert Horsfall, that the Conference Chairman, Idris Kutigi, chased journalists of out of the plenary session.
The situation later degenerated to a stage where journalists accredited to cover the Conference proceedings, decided to boycott the day’s sitting.
When the Conference reconvened on Thursday morning, the delegates commenced voting in a bid to amend as well as adopt the recommendations of the Committee.
The Vice Chairman of the Conference, Bolaji Akinyemi, who presided over the voting, read the recommendations and the concomitant amendments before putting the question to the delegates.
On a unanimous voice vote, delegates approved the establishment, funding and operation of state and community police based on state laws.
Another important decision taken was the adoption of the recommendation for the establishment of a National Border Patrol Force under the ministry of defence. However, an attempt to situate the new force under the Nigerian Immigrations Service, NIS, was stoutly rejected by majority of the delegates.
The Conference also rejected the recommendation that the proposed Border Patrol Force should maintain a single entry point into Nigeria.
After a brief disagreement, the Conference adopted the recommendation to ensure that federal police officers from Deputy Superintendent to the least rank should be indigenes of the state they are deployed to.  However, the delegates disagreed with the recommendation that 70 per cent of federal police officers in any state should be indigenes of that state.
There was a stalemate on the mode of operation and superiority between the federal police and the state police.
Ayo Adebanjo said the state police should be autonomous and should operate as a coordinate with the federal police. He argued that the state is a coordinate to the Federal Government.
On his part, Femi Falana noted that there were states with different police operations with commissioners of police manning them.
The Conference finally agreed that the police, whether operated by the state or the federal government, should be properly funded.
The Conference further adopted the recommendation to limit the number of vehicles on government convoys and to empower the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, to set speed limits for convoys.
The recommendation for the creation of Security and Intelligence Services Oversight Commission was adopted after Mr. Akinyemi had taken a little time to explain why the commission was necessary.
The Conference also adopted the recommendation to re-organise the Defence Industry Company of Nigeria and creation of a Military Industrial Complex in the country.
The Conference, however, rejected the recommendation to bar the Nigerian Army from being drafted for electoral duties.
It rejected the recommendation that the NSCDC, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the NDLEA, and the Custom Service be represented in the States Security Council.
Sam Egwu suggested that the Conference should place the security votes of state governors under the control of the state security council, arguing that the situation where billions of naira was being approved as security vote without control was inimical to the proper utilisation of the funds.
The Conference adopted the recommendation that retired military personnel be trained and engaged in the fight against Boko Haram.
It, however, rejected the recommendation that the National Security Adviser establish a Homeland Security Force and the merger of the NSCDC and FRSC with the police.
It also adopted a recommendation for a life insurance to be created for all armed security personnel in the country but rejected the recommendation for the establishment the Police Complaints Authority.
The Conference adopted the recommendation that the office of the Chief of Defence Staff be incorporated in the Nigeria Constitution.
The Conference also adopted the recommendation that the Federal Government should compensate communities destroyed during internal security crisis.
Adebola Ogunsola and Atedo Peterside eventually moved for the adoption of the report of the Committee on National Security with the amendments made.

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INEC gives certificate of return to Fayose

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday gave Certificate of Return to Ekiti State governor-elect, Ayo Fayose to further authenticate his emergence as the new governor of the state.

Mr. Fayose came into the state INEC Headquarters, Ado-Ekiti, along with hundreds of admirers and party faithful. He pledged to make a difference in the act of governance and promised not to deviate from the pact he made with the Ekiti people to make life comfortable and worth living for them.

Mr. Fayose said he would run an all-inclusive government where people with good ideas and intentions would be accommodated to offer advice capable of moving the state forward.

The governor-elect promised to deliver the goodies of democracy to the people of the state in a manner that those who said he could not make any difference would be shocked.

He added that every Ekiti state-based contractor would be given jobs so as to eliminate matters relating to capital flight among the people.

The INEC National Commissioner in-charge of Southwest, Layi Olurode, presented the certificate to Mr. Fayose on behalf of the commission.

Mr. Olurode said the commission was elated and encouraged by the array of encomiums showered on it by Nigerians since the result of the election were announced.

He said the commission would go back to the drawing board and see how further elections could be conducted better.

(NAN)

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U.S. transfers military equipment to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram

The United States has transferred some equipment to the Nigerian Army to aide in the fight against insurgency.
A statement by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria said the equipment transferred included non-lethal transportation, communication, and force protection equipment.
The equipment was received by Ibrahim Sani, a Major General, from his U.S. counterpart, James Linder, a Brigadier General. The equipment are to support the Nigerian Army in the battle against terrorism.
Mr. Sani said the equipment will enhance the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Army.
The U.S. government has been supportive of the Nigerian government since the abduction of over 250 girls from their dormitory in Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, on April 14.
About 219 of the girls are still in the custody of the Boko Haram despite the global outcry and condemnation that trailed their abduction.
The U.S. on Tuesday tried to clarify why the girls have not been freed despite the support of American officials in their search.
Ambassador Phillip Carter of the US African Command (AFRICOM) said in Accra that the U.S. government is only assisting the Nigerian government in the search for the girls.
“Fundamentally, the question of what this (the assistance to Nigeria) is achieving, that is a question you should pose to the Nigerian government and not AFRICOM,” he said.

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RBM governor warns Malawians against forcing govt to spend excessively

The Governor, Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM), Charles Chuka has warned Malawians against forcing government to spend beyond its means.
Chuka was speaking in Blantyre during the inauguration of CDH House which houses CDH Investment Bank.
Chuka’s warning comes at a time Members of Parliament are meeting in Lilongwe to draw up a provisional budget for the 2014/15 financial year.
The governor said forcing the administration to spend beyond its pockets has a potential to fuel high interest rates and increased inflation in the country.
“The country’s investment climate and indeed the country’s prospects for growth are enshrined in our ability to kill the person called inflation,” said Chuka.
“Inflation is destructive to businesses, is destructive to people’s lives. People struggle economically when inflation is rising and is too high. Focusing on fighting inflation is a key issue of our country,” said Chuka.
He said Malawi’s inflation comes from two things which are lack of food and too much government borrowing and printing of money.
“Sometimes we play ourselves the devil by pushing government to spend beyond their means. I think we should learn that when we push government to spend beyond its means, we are only creating problems for ourselves and the country,” said Chuka.
He said Malawians, both businesses and individuals, need to be realistic when making their demands to government.
Malawi is one of the countries on the continent with an extremely high inflation. The country’s inflation was recorded at 22.6 percent in May.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) expects average inflation to fall to 19.6 percent in 2014 compared to 28.6 percent in 2013, as a result of falling global food prices and aid funded subsidies for poor households.
They expect inflation to moderate to an average of 8.6 percent in the period 2014 to 2017 as productivity increases and as rising local fuel prices are offset by easing food prices.
(BnlTimes)

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President Mahama appointed AU trade committe Chairperson

President John Dramani Mahama was on Thursday picked up as the Chairperson of the high level African committee on trade at the on-going African Union ordinary session in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

He takes over from Mr Idris Deby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad, for the next one year.

This formed part of the highlights of the 23rd ordinary session of the AU Heads of State and government meeting in the Central African country.

During the two-day session, the African leaders would among other issues deliberate on agriculture and food, security, agricultural mechanisation, human rights abuse and industrialisation pertaining to the continent.

They would also draw synergies with other development partners to find lasting solutions to some of the development challenges of the continent.

(GNA)

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Ghanian Teacher jailed for indecent assault

A 27-year old teacher who made an eight year old girl to suck his penis was on Thursday sentenced to three years imprisonment by a Circuit Court in Accra.

Charged with indecent assault, James Ntim Gyakari pleaded guilty.

Gyakari however pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement. The court therefore asked Gyakari to reappear on July 24.

Handing down the sentence on the charge of indescent assault, the court presided over by Ms Sedina Agbemava said Gyakari was a teacher and he should have known better.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Acquah said the complainant was a broadcaster, who resides at Gbawe, a suburb in Accra with her daughter (the victim).

According to prosecution, Gyakari resides in the same area.

ASP Acquah said in May this year, the accused person lured the victim into his room and had sex with her.

On June 14, this year, prosecution said Gyakari lured the victim into his room and made her suck his penis.

According to the prosecution, a witness in the matter, who saw the accused person and victim in a suspicious manner through the window, reported the matter to the complainant who lodged a complaint with the Police.

Accused person was later arrested by the Police.

(GNA)

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Muntari expelled from Ghana camp

Tearful Sulley Muntari has been sacked from the Black Stars camp in Brazil.

The midfielder has been indefinitely suspended from the team.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) said that "The decision was taken in the wake of his unprovoked physical attack on an Executive Committee member of the GFA and a management member of the Black Stars, Mr. Moses Armah on Tuesday 24th June, 2014 during a meeting.

"Muntari’s accreditation for the 2014 World Cup has been withdrawn with immediate effect.

Muntari is one of the only two Ghanaian players to have featured for the Black Stars at all three World Cups.

(GNA)

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Ghana’s economic slowdown is reversible- Investors

Board Chairman of Tikowrie Capital Limited, Dr Kennedy Annoh-Koranchie says the current economic slowdown could be reversed through a conducive business environment to allow investors to streamline their operations.

The financial year has been a challenged one, beginning with difficult outlook but could be upturned by “reigniting the investment cycle and creating favourable environment for investments,” he said.

Speaking at the opening of the first Tikowrie investment management summit in Accra on Thursday, Dr Annoh-Koranchie called for stiffer measures to stem the economic challenges facing the nation.

Ghana’s economic growth has been clouded by a high inflationary environment, mounting fiscal imbalance, and rising commodity prices, primarily oil.

Dr Annoh-Koranchie expressed fear that recent depreciation of the cedi, “if it prolongs may translate into further stress on the economy.”

He said revitalising investment cycle with infusion of risk capital would witness more activity on fund raising and deployment of funds.

“The private equity industry has been playing a stellar role in channeling risk capital into the country, and has emerged as one of the largest sources of fresh risk capital for the economy,” he said.

He expressed the belief that despite the recent setbacks, growth in Ghana would come out in the long term.

He charged firms to consolidate their positions and focus efforts on “differentiated investment products, which seek to generate quality and risk mitigated returns” for investors.

He urged government to promote non-oil exports and cut the dependence on imports, adding that, “diversification of the economy should be paramount in the minds of the managers of our economy.”

Mr Francis Bentil, Investment Banker, told the Ghana News Agency that until the Bank of Ghana stopped competing with the private sector for funds, attempt to check depreciation of the cedi would be a mirage.

With the prevailing conditions in the economy, Mr Bentil observed that it is safer and profitable for businesses to buy treasury bills than to extend credit facilities to private businesses, because firms enjoy 25 per cent interest per annum for keeping their monies with the central bank.

He said it also appears monies accrued from treasury bills are not reinvested but channeled into consumption expenditures or unprofitable ventures.

He called on the central bank to judiciously use the outcome of the open market operations system.

(GNA)

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Over 100 Police Officers dismissed in Ghana

The Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau under the Ghana Police Service said 108 Police Officers were dismissed between January 2011 and June 2013 after they were found guilty of various offences.

The Ghana Country Report of the Human Right Commission available to the Bureau said 132 officers were reduced in rank, 239 received warning and 433 cases pending.

This was revealed by Mr Mustapha Abdallah, Research Officer at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Accra, at a seminar organized by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in commemoration of UN Day in support of victims of torture.

The seminar, comprising of security agencies, including Prisons Service and Immigration Service is on the theme: “Eliminating Torture: A crime against humanity.”

He said the legal framework governing the work of the police is the Ghana Police Service Act 1970 (Act 350) and that the Inspector-General of Police has overall responsibility for the prevention of crime, the enforcement of law and order, the promotion of the safety of citizens and respect for human rights.

According to Mr Abdallah the situation on the ground regarding the practice of torture or ill-treatment by the police is in relation to abuses in some cases during arrest, transfer to police stations and interrogation, but there was no evidence that those abuses were part of a widespread pattern or systemic practice.

He said the study conducted at the Nkawkaw Central Police station, Ejisu Police station, the Cape Coast regional Police station and Kotokuraba central police station noted that traumatic scars on inmates’ bodies were consistent with allegations of beatings with canes or batons.

Mr Abdallah said at the Nkawkaw Police station, the report examined two detainees who had physical injuries, which were consistent with their testimonies of recent beatings by fists or blunt instruments used by police during the course of their arrests, transportation and, in particular, interrogation.

“The majority of the detainees interviewed by the Special Rapporteur had no complaints about their treatment by prison officials, although they sometimes alleged ill-treatment by the police” the report added.

Mr Abdallah said over-crowding is a major problem in the prisons, stressing that the level of over-crowding and the ratio of prison staff to prisoners is severely distorted.

He mentioned the Kumasi prison as one of the most densely overpopulated prisons, where the officer-inmate ratio is 1:20 rather than the recommended 1:4.

Ms Laureta Vivian Lamptey, Commissioner for the CHRAJ, said June 26, is a day set aside by the UN globally to raise awareness as well as remind all about the need to guard against any acts that undermined the dignity of the individual or groups.

She said Ghana is a state party to the UN Convention against Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, which has the responsibility to implement the tenets of the international instrument.

Ms Lamptey said the objective of the seminar was to ensure that participants understood the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners and developed a more humane strategy for handling suspected criminals including arrest and retrieval of information during investigation.

(GNA)

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PDP In Diaspora Disowns Temitope Ajaye . . . As Amazon Int’l Honours Patience Jonathan

 

The People Democartic Party (PDP), USA chapter has disassociated itself from the activities of one Mrs. Temitope Ajaye, saying that the said lady is not and has never been a member of PDP in the United States.

In a letter of disclaimer written to the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu jointly signed by the Interim Chairman, Chief Oluwafemi Sanyaolu and Interim Secretary, Prince Hyginus Ohaekelem, the party said Mrs. Temitope Ajaye was never nominated to represent PDP or Nigerians in Diaspora.

The party further said it was bringing the ugly development to the attention of the national leadership of the party to fostal any inappropriate act or behaviour that is capable of dragging the good name of the party into disrepute.

‘’ It is in the light of this that we in PDP USA will continue to work with you and the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to ensure a better and respected PDP both at home and outside Nigeria. Mrs. Temitope Ajaye has made so many submissions at various agencies in Nigeria including the National Confab that she is the representative of the Diasporas which is false and deceptive.

‘’We disassociate the chapter from any dealings or representations made by Mrs. Temitope Ajaye in Nigeria’’.

Meanwhile, the Amazon International will honour the first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan at the 2014 International Women Summit billed to hold on September 20^th in Houston, Texas USA.

The President of Amazon International, and Dynamic Women, USA, Apostle Stella Alhassan who stated this in Abuja, said the award is to celebrate Dame Patience Jonathan as ‘Amazon of African Politics’ for making Bergin Conference declaration a reality in Nigeria.  

According to Apostle Stella Alhassan, with the efforts of the first lady, many women have been made politically relevant and are actively participating in advancing the fortune of Nigeria economy. She commended the first lady for empowering Nigerian women and also President Goodluck Jonathan for giving women a place in his administration.

She further said women in the Diaspora have been creating awareness about the transformation agenda of President Jonathan and women empowerment initiatives of the first lady. The theme of this year’s summit is, ‘’The Nigerian Women in Politics, the Challenges So Far’’.

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Court stops Atuche’s bid to stall trial over N27bn Bank PHB fraud

Francis Atuche

Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Wednesday stopped further attempts by a former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche, to delay trial in a N27.5 billion suit instituted against him and two other defendants by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
At the resumed trial of the case on Wednesday, the EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, insisted that the defence team, led by Tayo Oyetibo, call Atuche or his wife Elizabeth, to the witness box, following their failure to produce a witness who, according to them, was meant to come in from Abuja, but could not make it due to bad weather.
“I recall the defence telling this court that they will close their case on Tuesday, and today, a witness is absent again. My Lord, apart from the witness that is not present in court, the defence said the defendants will give evidence in this case and the defendants are in court and no reason has been given why the first and second defendants cannot testify. I implore my Lord to order the defence to call the defendants to give their evidence in order not to waste the time of the court”.
Mr. Oyetibo countered that “the evidence of the witness need to go before those of the defendants.”
After listening to both arguments, Justice Okunnu ruled that “a good reason must be given for adjournments and the court is bound to act judicially and judiciously. I have also seen that there has been rainfall but not a storm. I do not believe that any cogent and tenable reason has been given for the absence of the witness, so this court is being asked to wait at the leisure of the witness. I urge the defence to call the first or second defendant to the stand, to give evidence. The court will therefore stand down this case to enable the defense confer with their client”.
At the resumed session, Mr. Oyetibo further argued, “I came into the case after Chief Idigbe, SAN, who was the defense counsel, took ill and travelled abroad for treatment and I have not had access to the volumes of documents earlier tendered. I believe the first and second defendants should be accorded the opportunity to be led in evidence by Chief Idigbe, who was present when evidence was tendered against the first and second defendants.
I pray the court to adjourn to the dates earlier fixed”.
Mr. Pinheiro immediately reminded the court that Mr. Oyetibo came into the case more than a year ago, on February 11, 2013, which was enough time for him to be fully abreast of the matter.
According to him, “the defense filed a colossal 475- page address on the no -case submission, and it was a full analysis of the case, attacking the prosecution’s evidences and Oyetibo contributed in no small measure to that document. Against this background, I find his excuse untenable. But as a midway suggestion, let one of the defendants be called to the witness box and sworn-in before taking an adjournment”.
Justice Okuunu then ruled that no tangible reason had been given for a second adjournment, so defence should call their witness and then the court can call for an adjournment.
Mr. Atuche was called into the witness box and was still giving an account of his biography when Justice Okuunu stopped him and adjourned the matter till July 7, 8 and 11, 2014.
Francis Atuche, Elizabeth Atuche and Ugo Anyanwu are standing trial on a 47-count charge for allegedly stealing N27.5 billion from Bank PHB while Mr. Atuche was the Managing Director of the bank.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
25th June, 2014

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Shettima calls for investigation into mass abduction of women

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno has ordered an investigation into alleged abduction of 60 women by suspected insurgents in Damboa Local Government Area of the state.
This is contained in a statement by Isa Gusau, his Special Adviser on Communications.
Mr. Gusau stated in Maiduguri on Wednesday that the governor was disturbed by reports on the alleged mass abduction.
“Governor Shettima has read with serious concern, media reports about yet another abduction in part of Damboa Local Government Area of the state.
“He has since directed the chairman of the affected local government and other government officials from the affected areas to make very urgent but accurate enquiries from communities.
“He also directed them report to him as soon as they can, even as security agencies take appropriate actions.
“The governor views the reported abduction with all the seriousness it deserves.
“He is also worried that weighty developments such as information concerning the abduction of 60 persons require careful enquiry in order to obtain information that is comprehensive and beyond any reasonable doubt.
“The governor is worried that only recently, leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association were reported as refuting similar reports that some 30 Fulani women were kidnapped at a community in Chibok,” Mr. Gusau stated.

“The women were abducted between Thursday and Sunday in southern Borno villages of Kummabza, Yaga and Dagu, Damboa local government area, Borno State”, said Abba Aji Khalil, the Command of Sector 5 unit of the Civilian-JTF.
“Some suspected Boko Haram members invaded Kumanza, Yaga and Dagu villages and kidnapped 91 persons. More than sixty married women and young girls, the rest 31 were young men and were forcefully taken away by Boko Haram terrorists. Four villagers who tried to escape were shot dead on the spot,” Mr. Khali added.

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Nigerian Muslims asked to look for new moon Friday

Muslims in Nigeria have been advised to look for the new crescent of Ramadan on Friday, June 27.
This is contained in a statement from the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, on Wednesday in Abuja, signed by its Secretary General, Is-haq Oloyede.
Mr. Oloyede also stated that members of the National Moon Sighting Committee have been deployed with appropriate gadgets to various parts of the country for easy sighting of the moon.
“However, other individuals who are able to sight the crescent are requested to contact, through appropriate authorities, any of the following:
“1. The President-General of NSCIA and the Sultan of Sokoto Tel: 08036470422 2.
2. The Deputy President-General (North) of the NSCIA and the Shehu of Borno Tel: 08037855555, 08023549558 3.
3. The Secretary – General Tel: 08034540120.
4. The Emir of Gwandu and all other Emirs Tel: 08036154369.
5. The Lamido of Adamawa Tel: 07056344449.
6. The Etsu NupeTel: 08039668707.
7. The Otaru of Auchi
8. The Deputy Secretary-General (North) of NSCIA (Tijani El- Miskin) Tel: 08023577013.
9. The Deputy Secretary-General (South) of NSCIA (Adam Idoko) Tel: 08036759892.
10. The President of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yoruba Land: Chief Imam of Osogbo Tel: 08035740333
11. The Baba Adini of Lagos, Hafiz Abou Tel: 08033085292 and
12. The Chairman, National Moon Sighting Committee, Hafis Wali Tel: 08036009090, 08023037478.”
The statement also said where the authorities are satisfied that the crescent has been duly sighted; The President-General and Sultan of Sokoto would announce the commencement of the fast.
“However, if the crescent is not sighted on Friday, the Tarawih prayer should be observed on Saturday the 28th of June for the commencement of Ramadan on the 29th of June whether or not it is sighted on that Saturday,” it said.
The statement also urged all media houses in the country to promptly publicize any announcement by the Sultan of Sokoto.

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Court stops Adamawa Assembly from impeaching Nyako

A High Court sitting in Yola, the Adamawa state capital, has barred the state House of Assembly from serving impeachment notice on Governor Murtala Nyako.
The court presided by the acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ambrose Mamadi, also stopped the legislators from proceeding with the impeachment process against Mr. Nyako.
In another ruling on a matter brought by the All Progressives Congress, the Adamawa High Court restrained all defected members of the party from participating in the activities of the House.

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Jonathan cuts short Equatorial Guinea trip, to return Thursday over Abuja blast

Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has immediately suspended his plan to attend an African Union, A.U., summit in Equatorial Guinea, and will return to Nigeria Thursday after a car bomb killed at least 21 people in Abuja Wednesday.
The president travelled to the Central African nation Wednesday for the A.U. meeting just as a blast hit Emba plaza, a busy shopping complex in Wuse 2, Abuja.
Police said 21 persons had been confirmed dead and 17 injured. Force spokesperson, Frank Mba, said one suspect was arrested.
Presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, contacted PREMIUM TIMES late Wednesday to react to an earlier story about the president’s decision to continue the trip amid the explosion.
Mr. Abati denied that the president travelled while Abuja was attacked.
He said the president departed Abuja 3.30 pm Wednesday, which would mean about 30 minutes before the blast. Witnesses had said the bomb occurred at about 4p.m.
He said the president and his entourage were arriving at their hotel in Malabo, the Equatorial Guinean capital, when they received news of the attack.
The president took an immediate decision to return to Nigeria early Thursday, Mr. Abati said.
Mr. Jonathan travelled left to participate in the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union’s Summit of Heads of State and Government, Mr. Abati said in a statement.
He was accompanied by his wife, Patience, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Water Resources, Health and Industry Trade and Investment.
The president planned to return on Friday.
In an earlier statement, Mr. Abati said the discussion at the summit would focus on the evolution and implementation of fresh strategies and measures to improve agricultural production and food security in the continent, among others.
He said this is keeping with the AU’s declaration of 2014 as the Year of Agriculture and Food Security.
The president and other African leaders, participating in the summit, will also deliberate on the appointment of judges of the African Court of Justice, the statement said, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
“They will deliberate on the appointment of judges of the African Human Rights Court of Justice and the appointment of the President and Vice-President of the Pan-African University,” the statement had said.
“The African heads of state and government will also consider and adopt the decisions and recommendations of the 25th Regular Session of the African Union’s Executive Board.
“They will also consider the Declarations of the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Conference of the union.’’
The presidential delegation is expected back in Abuja at the end of the summit on Friday
(PREMIUM TIMES)

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How ex-customs official, daughter was buried alive in Ogun State

Clockwise: Kerry, Obiagulum and Azeez
| credits: Olaleye Aluko

The Lagos State Police Command on Monday paraded a 64-year-old native doctor, Alhaji Olatunji Azeez, who confessed to have killed a retired customs officer, Mrs. Angela Kerry, and her 10-year-old adopted daughter, Obiagulum, on May 10, 2014.

PUNCH Metro had reported on Monday that the decomposed bodies of the woman and her daughter were found in Azeez’s house in Ire Akari Crescent, Ajuwon Akute, Ogun State by operatives of the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad. The police subsequently marked the building as a kidnapper’s den.

Azeez, an Oyo State indigene with three wives and five children, said he was forced to kill the customs officer and her daughter after she threatened to kill him over a sum of money.

He explained, “I have been a trado-medical doctor for about 30 years, but I knew Angela over five years ago. She initially came to me for protection from family attacks. One of her friends called Lizzy introduced her to me. The relationship began to grow, and she kept patronising me for one thing or the other.

“Then, about three years ago, she mentioned her barreness problem, adding that the daughter that was with her was adopted. I was shocked. But when she told me her age, I told her it was impossible to make her pregnant. But she insisted that prophets in the churches she went had assured her she would get pregnant.”

Our correspondent learnt that Azeez later lied to the woman that she would get pregnant and collected N9m from her for the job.

Azeez added, “I did the normal concoction for her, but it didn’t work because of her age. But I collected the money because I knew if I did not, she would go to where they would collect it. After some months without result, she came to my place to complain. She then demanded a refund, but I told her that I could not repay it. She then began to threaten me. Within a month, I tried to repay N2.5m. On that fateful week, she came back for the remaining N6.5m.

“It was Saturday, May 17. She came with her daughter and insisted that she wanted her balance. She said as a retired customs officer, she could kill me if I didn’t pay back the money. Then I thought, I must kill this woman before she killed me. The hole at the back of my house was not built for killing. It was dug for drainage during rainfalls.”

Azeez added that he went to the backyard, covered the hole with a white cloth that Angela normally saw in another shrine in his house.

He said, “After we talked, we moved with her daughter to the place. I said she should kneel down on the mat with her daughter. She did so and fell into the pit with her daughter. The operation was successful because no member of my family was around in the house.

I then began to cover the pit up with sand. I poured in roughly 50 buckets of sand. The following day, I got two bricklayers to cement the portion. But I had first taken out the belongings she brought.”

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, stated that the police had concluded their investigations on the case, adding that the native doctor was going to be charged to court for murder.

He said, “The woman and her daughter were reported missing on May 10 at the Oko Oba Police Division by the family.

“Azeez was eventually arrested through a tracking device installed on the victim’s Toyota Camry. Azeez, a herbalist, had hypnotised the woman for a long time. He had taken over N200m from her both in cash and property. We discovered he cleverly constructed a well in his house, lured the woman with her daughter into the room, and buried them alive.

“We were able to recover the decomposed bodies of the victims from the well. We also picked their property which was buried along with them. We have finished our investigations, and he will be charged to court for murder. We will leave the rest to be decided by the court.”

(PUNCH)

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Terrorists using Internet to recruit, plan attacks

China launched a campaign on Friday to rid the internet of audio and video materials that promote terrorism and violence.

Terrorist groups are using the internet to recruit people, raise funds and plan attacks in China, the State Internet Information Office, SIIO, said on Tuesday.
The Spokesperson for the agency, Jiang Jun, told reporters at a press conference in Beijing that many internet sites have been placed under surveillance.
He called audio and video materials that promote terrorism a “cancer’’ of the Internet.
“The terrorist forces have turned the internet into a principal tool for their operations,’’ he said.
He said that the groups have sought to spread terrorism and violent beliefs and teach terrorist skills online.
Mr. Jun added that such actions must be struck down decisively.
China launched a campaign on Friday to rid the internet of audio and video materials that promote terrorism and violence.
According to SIIO, the move is aimed at safeguarding social stability in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and long-term peace.
(Xinhua/NAN)

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Nigerian Lawmakers adjourn sitting to honour late Kuta

Kuta

The Senate and House of Representatives, at their plenary meeting on Tuesday, adjourned sitting till Wednesday to honour late Dahiru Kuta who died on June 12 while the legislators were on break.
Mr. Kuta, the Senator representing Niger east, died at the age of 65.
The Senate President, David Mark, in his speech, expressed grief at the loss of Mr. Kuta, saying Nigeria lost a patriotic citizen who was
always ready to help the nation.
“The Senate has lost a very patriotic citizen who at all times joined hands with other patriots to move the country forward.
“The late Senator Kuta made the Senate committee on Federal character very vibrant and responsive to the needs of Nigerians in terms of making relevant agencies under it to bring about equitable recruitment a into federal service and allocation of resources, ” Mr. Mark said .
He said a valedictory service would take place on Wednesday to enable people pay their last respect to Mr. Kuta.
“I don’t want to comment on how the Senate will immortalize or honour him because a special valedictory session has been slated for tomorrow. His state governor and some other governors, along with his family members, would be in session”.
The deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, also expressed grief over the demise of the lawmaker.
“We have lost a man I call a congress man, he was indeed a great man, we are going to miss him heavily.”
“Almighty God would accept his soul and that his perfect soul which was indeed perfect would rest in peace.”
Mr. Ekweremadu also extended his condolences to the family of the deceased and the people of Niger State.

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Nigeria seizes N10 billion pirated materials in 2 years

The Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, on Tuesday said it intercepted and seized pirated cinematography, musical and educational books worth
N10 billion from January 2012 to date.
The NCC Zonal Manager, Lagos Operational Office, Chris Nkwocha, said this in Lagos.
Mr. Nkwocha explained that other seized materials include home movies, literary, inspirational, and educational books.
He said that over 17 container-loads of pirated books and other‎ confiscated merchandise had been seized between January 2012 and June
2014.
The NCC boss said that the containers were intercepted and seized at‎ Bollere Logistics West African Terminal, Kirikiri, Lagos and AP Moller‎ Terminal, Apapa Area Customs Command, Lagos.
He said that over five container-loads of pirated books and musical‎ were seized in 2012; and about eight container-loads were seized in
2013, while four container-loads were confiscated between January and June 13.
“Over 17 containers of pirated cinematography, musical, movies, and inspirational books have been seized in the last two years.
“The containers were loaded with over 300,000 copies of pirated materials in 50,000 cartons.
“Some of the materials are best-selling American titles: `Daughter of Destiny’ by Kathryn Kuhlman, `Me and My Big Mouth’ by Joyce Meyer and
`The Midas Touch’ by Kenneth Hagin.
“Others are `Mysterious Secrets of the Dark Kingdom’ by J.P Timmons, and copies of Oxford Advance Learners Dictionary, which originated
from China and bible titles belonging to Bible Society of Nigeria.
“The seizures were done in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Services, State Security Service, National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency, the Media and the Nigeria Police,” Mr. Nkwocha said.
He said that the commission would continue to fight piracy in line with the Copyright Act Cap C28 LFN 2004.
(NAN)

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FG seeks AU support for ITU seat

Shola Taylor
The Federal Government of Nigeria is seeking the African Union’s, AU, support for the candidature of Shola Taylor, for the post of the Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union, ITU.
The ITU elections will hold during the plenipotentiary conference of the union in Busan, South Korea scheduled for between October and November.
The Minister of Foreign of Affairs, Aminu Wali, who is expected in Malabo later on Tuesday for the 25th Ordinary Session of the AU, will seek the endorsement of Mr. Taylor.
Already, Nigerian diplomats attending the AU summit have stepped up campaign to get the support of African countries for their candidate.
Nigeria is contesting for the post alongside candidates from Canada, Egypt, Mauritania, Poland, Tunisia and the UK.
An official of the ministry who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Nigeria has already secured the ECOWAS endorsement for Mr. Taylor and was campaigning very strongly to obtain AU’s endorsement.
On the margins of the AU summit in Malabo, foreign ministers of the 15-member states of the AU ministerial candidature committee are expected to select one candidate from among the three African contenders as the AU candidate for the post.
The contest is between Nigeria, Mauritania and Tunisia with the exception of Egypt, which is currently suspended from AU.
Members of the committee are Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritius, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda.
Mr. Taylor, 58, is a leading authority on telecommunications in Africa and has over 30 years of postgraduate experience in international telecommunications.
The Nigerian has extensive experience in radio communication matters, having worked at Intelsat, Washington DC U.S.; ITU, Geneva, Switzerland; Inmarsat, London U.K.; and the Nigerian Telecommunications Ltd. (NITEL).
He has also served as a former Chairman of the ITU Radio Regulations Board.
(NAN)

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Global Aviation Plane ”missing”

The plane had only the American pilot on board.

A four-seater plane flying from Nigeria to Gabon via Cameroon has disappeared, Cameroon aviation sources said on Tuesday.
The plane, owned by the U.S. company Global Aviation, took off from Kano in northern Nigeria at 1800 hours on Monday en route Libreville in Gabon, where it was scheduled to arrive at 2300 hours, after a‎ stopover in Douala, Cameroon.
However, the station said that the plane, with only the American pilot on board, did not make it to Douala.
It said the last contact the plane had with the control tower took place in Mongo, which is two hours flight from the Cameroonian economic capital.
Report says that search and rescue operations led by Cameroon’s civil aviation authorities have not yielded any positive results.
(PANA/NAN)

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