Arms Deal: How EFCC Raided Ex-VP Sambo’s Office

Still shopping for evidence to nail top Nigerians who might have benefitted from the $2.1 billion arms cash, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have raided the Abuja office of former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, carting away $50,000 from his safe.

The raid was carried out, weekend, on the building which houses a top European High Commission’s Visa Processing Centre opposite the National Defence College, Abuja, throwing some occupants into confusion.

Why We Transferred Fr Mbaka — Catholic Church

The Catholic Church has explained the recent transfer of controversial Catholic priest, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka from Enugu to Emene.

The Church said the essence of his transfer was to make him more   useful.

In a reaction through the Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Reverend Father Ralph Madu, yesterday, the church said the posting was not meant to be punitive but a “normal church procedure.”

According to him, “Mbaka’s transfer is not an exception; the Bishop has the right to post any priest wherever he feels his service would be more useful to the church.

Nigeria Will Start Producing Pencils In 2018 - Onu

Ogbonnaya Onu, the minister of science and technology, says Nigeria will start producing its own pencils in another two years, as part of a wholesale production-sector revamp to be witnessed in the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust, Onu expressed assurance that the plan would have a “meaningful impact” on the economy, because the wide aim of the ministry is to “commercialize developed ideas and research findings to principal levels”.

He dismissed questions over the importance of pencil production, saying Nigerians would be amazed at the multiplier effects, which will include the creation of at least 400,00 jobs.

Alleged N1trn Rail Contracts Scam: Reps Invite Amaechi, NRC MD, Others

ABUJA—MEMBERS of the adhoc committee of the House of Representatives on failed rail contracts have summoned the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, Seyi Sijuwade; former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Mohammed Bello Haliru; and former Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, to explain their roles in the alleged N1 trillion rail contracts scam.

The adhoc committee is headed by Ehoizuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, PDP, Ikpoba/Oha Federal Constituency. They are expected to appear before the committee tomorrow during the investigative hearing.

15 Buildings Sealed In Anambra For Tax Evasion

THE Anambra State Government has sealed off 15 buildings in Nnewi, a commercial city in the state, for tax evasion.

The buildings are three filling stations, two residential homes, one private school and one hospital.

The Anambra Property and Land Use Charge carried out the closure of the buildings following judgments it obtained from an Nnewi Magistrate’s Court against the owners of the property.

APC Condemns Rev.Fr. Ejike Mbaka's Transfer By Enugu Catholic Diocese

The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday, condemned the decision by the leadership of the Catholic Church, Enugu Parish to transfer the fire-brand cleric, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka from Christ the King Parish, Government Reserved Area, GRA, of the state to Our Lady Parish, Emene, and a suburb of the state.

The fiery priest and Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry has presided over Christ the King Parish for 20 years but is expected to serve under another priest at the Emene Parish.

Spokesperson of the APC South-East Caucus, Osita Okechukwu, “It was wrong to punish the fearless priest for his prophecies which has proved to be from God.”

Judiciary Is My Main Headache On Fight Against Corruption - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said ongoing fight against corruption in Nigeria could be effectively tackled with the strong support of the judiciary.

A statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said that Buhari stated this while speaking at a town hall meeting with Nigerians living in Ethiopia.

The president said that far-reaching reforms of the judiciary remained a key priority for his administration.

“On the fight against corruption vis-à-vis the judiciary, Nigerians will be right to say that is my main headache for now.

10 People Killed In Bauchi Suicide Attack

At least 10 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up on Friday at a busy market in a town in Bauchi where the Boko Haram group is waging an insurgency, residents and a Red Cross official told Reuters.

Boko Haram has been waging an almost seven-year campaign in Nigeria’s remote north to build an Islamic state. Thousands have been killed and more than two million people displaced by the campaign.

SECURITY ALERT: Terrorists Now Disguising As ‘Mad People’

The Nigeria army has warned members of the public to be wary of people dressed as “mad people”, especially in the north-east, saying they could be suicide bombers waiting to detonate their explosive devices.

Rabe Abubakar, a brigadier-general and acting director of defense information, issued the warning on Saturday.

“It has come to the notice of the Defense Headquarters (DHQ) that Boko Haram members, in their desperation to cause colossal havoc, have now devised a new method where they dress like mad persons to gain unsuspecting access to public areas to detonate bombs,” Abubakar said in a statement.

Housewife Found Dead In Kidnapper's Home

DETECTIVES attached to the Criminals Investigation Depart­ment (CID) of the Lagos Police Command are probing the circum­stances surrounding the death of a 40-year-old housewife, Helen Peters, whose lifeless body was found in the house of a young man identified as Henry Uwadiegwu on January 19, 2015.

The victim was allegedly lured by Henry to his house on number 36, Fashola Street, Agege, with the intention of abducting her for ran­som. To perfect his plans, Henry allegedly hired some thugs to tie her up on the excuse that she was insane. He also contacted a nurse who injected her with an unidenti­fied drug to sedate her for 8 hours. But the drug ended up killing her.

Supreme Court Sacks Uba, Oduah And Others

The Supreme Court on Friday sacked senators representing Anambra South, Andy Uba, and his Anambra North counterpart, Stella Oduah, as well as other state and National Assembly legislators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The apex court, in its judgement, affirmed as null and void a caretaker committee, headed by Col. Augustine Akobundo (retd.), and its list, nominating Oduah and Uba, as well as the rest of PDP state and federal legislators from Anambra State to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the party’s candidates for the 2015 general elections.

A five-man panel of the apex court, led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, unanimously affirmed an earlier verdict delivered by Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 15, 2014, which had affirmed the Ejike Oguebego-led executive committee of the party, along with the primaries conducted by it, and its list of candidates that emerged from the exercise.

Six People Died As Boat Capsises In Lagos

Six people have died after a commercial boat taking them to Lekki area of Lagos capsised in the Badore.

The boat was on the way to Lekki from Ijede in Ikorodu when it capsised.

The information we heard said that 11 of the passengers were rescued while six died.

El-Rufai suspends monarch caught with marijuana

The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, on Thursday announced the suspension of the Village Head of Goma in Gimi District of Danga Local Government Area, Alhaji Danladi Ibrahim, over a drug-related offence.

The monarch was said to be in possession of 1.5kg of marijuana (India hemp) when he was arrested by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on January 20, this year.

El-rufai, through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, said the suspension was with immediate effect.

Buhari Using Weapons I Bought To Fight Boko Haram - Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says he is proud of the foundation he laid for the present progress the Nigerian Army is recording against the Boko Haram sect.

He said the military equipment purchased during his administration is still being used to prosecute the terror war, adding that no new equipment has been bought since he left office.

Jonathan said this on Wednesday night during a programme titled, ‘Focus on Africa’ aired on an international news and current affairs television channel based in Paris, France 24.

Asked to speak specifically on whether he was sure his administration laid the groundwork for the recent breakthroughs recorded by the army, Jonathan said, “Of course, you know the new government is working hard and I believe they are still using the equipment we procured.

“The 2016 budget is still being debated and no new equipment has been bought. So, even what the new government is still using to prosecute the war is the equipment we procured. I believe that with what we left behind, and the new ones they would acquire, this issue of Boko Haram will be taken to a logical conclusion.”

Metuh Released From Prison After 13 Days

The PDP National Publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh was released from Kuje Prison after providing the requirements for his bail conditions that was imposed on him by a Federal High Court in Abuja on January 19.

Olisa Metuh stayed in prison custody for 13 days due to charges of fraudulent receipt of N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2014 and money laundering involving separate $2m cash transaction.

The charges were preferred against him and his company, Destra Investments Limited.

#BayelsaDecides: Dickson wins Bayelsa Governor Poll

Total Registered Voters 654,493

Accredited Voters 242,114

Total Valid Votes 225,520

Rejected Votes 6647

APC – 86,852

PDP – 134,998

Pictures Of Jonathan At Press Conference In Switzerland

Below are the pictures of former President Goodluck Jonathan during world press conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

Enough Of This Change Mantra Okogie Tells Buhari

The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Car­dinal Olubunmi Okogie, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to re­tool and lead by example on all fronts or risk plunging Nigeria into a state of despondency.

In a statement by the Director of Social Com­munications of the Diocese, Monsig­nor Gabriel Osu, Okogie accused the pres­ident of acting disdainfully towards the judicial authorities while millions of Nigerians are abandoned to face unimaginable social problems.

Supreme Court Upholds Wike's Election

The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party as governor of the oil-rich Rivers State.

Jonathan In Geneva: Explained How He Tackled Boko Haram

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Wednesday gave a press conference at the Geneva Press Club to a packed audience of diplomats, policy makers and journalists where he gave details of his post presidential focus and touched on some of the roles his administration played in key areas of the Nigerian and West Africa polity, with particular emphasis on Security and Education.