The Senate on resumption from its two-week Easter break suspended plenary in honour of its member, the late Mustapha Bukar who died on April 4.

Until his death, Bukar, 63, represented Katsina North Senatorial District in the Red Chamber and was Chairman Committee on Capital Market.

Leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, moved a motion for suspension of plenary.

A minute silence led by the President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki was observed for the deceased.

Saraki, thereafter, said a valedictory service would be held on Wednesday in honour of their deceased colleague who served the country immensely.

It is a great loss, Saraki said.

In separate interview, Sen. Abu Ibrahim (APC-Katina South) said every life will test dead.

We are in this world as actors on stage: we come and do our action and leave.

He was a prominent politician, a well known person, he was my in-law, my son is married to his daughter, he was a highly respected person, he said.

Similarly, Sen. Victor Umeh (APGA-Anambra) prayed God to spare the National Assembly of these deaths.

We carry a lot of stress , a lot of problems of Nigerians here.

These sudden deaths are signs that those who are in the National Assembly to take things easy.

Nigerians should pray for the members of the National Assembly, he said.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari in a letter to the Senate dated April 4, 2018 said I was saddened to receive the news of the deaths of Senators Ali Wakili and Mustapha Bukar.

He said their various contributions to the Senate deliberations and the wider democratic process in the country had been of immense values.

Please accept Mr Senate President, the expression of my deepest sympathy, Bugatti said.

Source: NAN

Comrade Oladele Nihi, an aspirant for the seat of the President, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), says he is excited over President Muhammadu Buharis decision to seek re-election in 2019.

Nihi, who addressed newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the Presidents declaration had put to rest the speculations on whether he would run in the 2019 elections or not.

Before now, we have listened to comments from both the sides of those who want the President to re-contest and those who do not.

Others have even written open letters and counter letters advising the president of what to do.

All these created some form of palpable tension in the polity. We are happy that the uncertainty has been brought to an end by Mr Presidents decision.

Nihi, who is the Chairman Kogi State chapter, NYCN, said it was time for all interested parties to return to the drawing board to strategise the way forward and let the people decide.

He lauded Buhari for the successes achieved so far in the area of security, anti-corruption fight, economy and social welfare.

The aspirant however, urged the President to ensure the total independence of INEC in carrying out its duties.

According to him, INEC is the umpire that will oversee the conduct of the 2019 elections and the scope of its independence will determine how efficient and effective it would be.

Though we are optimistic about free, fair and credible elections in 2019, youths must remain steadfast and avoid being used as tools to propagate disunity among ourselves. It takes the collective effort of all to achieve a better Nigeria, Nihi said.

He used the opportunity to call on the President to, as a matter of importance assent to the Not Too Young To Run Bill to give room for more people to participate in the electoral processes.

Nihi also pleaded with the president to reconsider his decision on the Peace Corps of Nigeria Bill as it was youth-oriented.

Source: NAN

The Senate on Thursday suspended a pro-Buhari senator, Ovie Omo-Agege for 90 legislative days for his remarks during and after the consideration of the electoral acts amendment.

Omo-Ageges suspension followed the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Sam Anyanwu.

With the suspension, Omo-Agege will stay suspended for 90 legislative days. This means that if the senate were to sit without any interruption, recess or adjournment for committee work, it would take 30 weeks (7 months for Omo-Agege to completely serve his suspension.

Currently the senate is yet to take its over 2-months long annual recess as well as its December break during which times the suspension will not be counted.

The senator had gone against the senate during the consideration of the electoral act amendment and went ahead to grant a press conference where he said that the move by the senate was targetted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senator was one of the 9 other senators who had insisted during the amendment that the election sequence targeted President Muhammadu Buhari.

His comments which infuriated other senator was seen as unethical and the senate mandated its committee on Ethics to investigate the matter.

However, Omo-Agege who later recanted came to the floor on another legislative day to tender an unreserved apology to his colleagues, however Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu who presided over the days plenary only noted the apology and asked the ethics committee to submit its reports as soon as possible.

While submitting its report on Thursday, the Sam Anyanwu-led committee recommended that the lawmaker be suspended for 181 legislative days.

However, after pleas from many of his colleagues, the senate resolved to suspend senator Omo-Agege for 90 legislative days.

In a related development, the Senate also disbanded the Parliamentary Support Group for President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group was chaired by Senator Abdullahi Adamu while Sen. Omo-Agege was the secretary. The group was made up of 11 members including the late Sen. Ali Wakili.

More details later

Source: NAN

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has pledged the willingness of his administration to upgrade allowances of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the state.

Ugwuanyi made the disclosure in Enugu on Thursday during the passing-out ceremony of 2017 Batch A Stream 1 corps members in the state.

The state government recently increased allowances of medical and paramedical corps members serving in the rural areas from N3, 800 to N30, 000.

The governor, who was represented at the event by the Special Assistant on Special Duties, Mr Uwakwe Azikiwe, said the gesture would soon be extended to the rest of the corps members.

Recently, the state government upgraded the allowance of medical and paramedical personnel and very soon this gesture will be extended to other corps members in the state.

As a responsible government, we will make sure that your state allowances will continue to be paid as and when due, he said.

Ugwuanyi urged the out-gone corps members to make good use of the skills they learnt during the service year as a veritable option for self employment in the face of white collar job.

You are stepping into another phase of life where you may discover that some of your preconceived ideas and dreams are not in tandem with present economic realities with regard to job opportunities.

It is now time to use the lessons learnt from this exposure to make the right decisions for your future, he said.

Ugwuanyi called on them to remain resolute and confident in their ability to decent living from genuine and honest endeavours.

Earlier, the NYSC Coordinator in the state, Alhaji Ahmed Ikaka, commended the state government for organising a befitting passing out parade for the corps members.

Ikaka said that the corps members had commenced their service year on May 23, 2017, adding that their performances were satisfactory.

He, however, said that four of the corps members absconded from the service and would be re-mobilised to start the service afresh whenever they resurfaced.

He also noted that six corps members whose performances were exceptional were honoured with the state award.

With heavy heart, I wish you to inform you that we lost two corps members to death who are supposed to be passing out today.

I wish to acknowledge with gratitude the unwavering support and assistance the scheme enjoys in the state and as humans, we plead that you should not be tired of our ceaseless requests, he said.

Ikaka also commended the local government areas of the state, traditional rulers and employers for their contributions to the success of the scheme in the state.

Finally to my outgoing corps members, I congratulate you on your great achievements in rendering your services to the people of the state.

As you move ahead to assume greater responsibilities, do not forget the positive experiences acquired during your service and stay in Enugu State, Ikaka said.

The last time an elaborate passing out parade was organised for corps members was in November 2015.

Source: NAN

A trial by the London School of Hygiene

More than 100,000 households in England could be living in bed and breakfast accommodation and hostels by 2020 due to a critical housing shortage, a study showed on Thursday.

The report by charity group Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JFR) said current trends indicated the crisis would get worse as local councils battled to find homes for those in need.

It said 78,000 homeless households were in temporary accommodation so far in 2018, with Britain experiencing a housing crisis as homebuilding has declined since the 1970s, driving up property prices faster than wages.

High housing costs, low pay and insecure work are locking people in poverty restricting their choices: with councils finding it harder to help, more families are being forced into temporary accommodation, JRF Chief Executive Campbell Robb said in a statement.

Government data shows about one in six properties in England, or 4 million homes, are social housing, a figure that has stagnated for a decade.

The Crisis and JFR report, which is published each year, said 70 percent of local councils said they struggled to find social housing for homeless people last year.

About 89 percent of local authorities surveyed said they had also found it difficult to secure private rented accommodation with more landlords not wanting to rent to people on welfare.

It is pretty much impossible to access the private rental sector. The cost of doing so is prohibitive and the solution is unsustainable because of the massive disparity between LHA (local housing allowance) rates and market rent, one council in the Midlands said in the report.

Sleeping on the streets or rough sleeping has risen in England for seven consecutive years, according to government figures, with more than 1,000 homeless in London and more than 4,100 nationally, a 134 percent jump since 2010.

Britains parliament last year passed the Homelessness Reduction Act, which was designed to ensure that local councils increased obligations towards homeless people.

The government has set an ambitious target of building 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s.

*Reported by Thomson Reuters Foundation

Source: NAN

The Court of Appeal in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday overturned the one year imprisonment imposed on 75-year-old Azeez Apempe.

Apempe had challenged his conviction by a magistrates court, which was affirmed by an Ekiti High Court, for allegedly giving false information to the police.

The magistrates court and the high court convicted Apempe of the charge preferred against him by the police.

Apempe reported about a case of theft on his farm.

Justice Ahmad Belgore, who delivered the judgment on behalf of the three-member appeal panel, set aside the verdicts of the two lower courts.

Belgore resolved all issues in favour of Apempe and discharged and acquitted the septuagenarian.

He described the trial and conviction of Apempe by the lower courts as a nullity.

Apempe, a popular printer and politician, had reported one Sunday Akoe and his family members to the police for alleged theft of his yams and destroying the farm in the process.

He had in his statement of claim, averred that the police turned him from being the complainant to an accused, and charged him to court for giving false information.

The magistrates court in arriving at its judgment, held that the appellants statement at the police station could not be found.

Apempe was subsequently sentenced to a one-year imprisonment or N5,000 option of fine, which he paid.

He appealed to the high court which also affirmed the one-year imprisonment by the magistrates court.

At the Court of Appeal, his counsel, Mr Magnus Ejelonu, argued that the two lower courts erred in law by entering judgment against the septuagenarian.

Ejelonu contended that: His statement at the police station that was missing should be resolved in his favour.

Source: NAN

President Donald Trump is now blowing cold over his missiles threat against Syria, as he became evasive Thursday over when the United States might fire missiles at Syria in retaliation for an alleged chemical weapons attack.

He now said the missiles could come at any time.

One day after warning regime-backer Russia that missiles will be coming to Syria, Trump in another early morning tweet storm wrote: Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!

Tension was mounting among top world powers over the alleged chemical attack against civilians in the Syrian town of Douma.

Frances Emmanuel Macron said Thursday he had proof that the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons, and would respond to it at a time of our choosing.

British Prime Minister Theresa May was due to hold an emergency cabinet meeting amid speculation she will support US action against the Syrian regime.

Germanys Angela Merkel said it was obvious that Syria hadnt eradicated its chemical arsenal as it had earlier claimed.

Meanwhile opponents of unilateral US action called an emergency closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council for Thursday.

The White House has said that Trump holds Assads regime and its military backers Russia responsible for an alleged attack on Douma on Saturday, which rescue workers said killed more than 40 people.

Trump on Wednesday slammed Russia for its military alliance with Assad, saying it should not be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it.

US officials have refused to rule out direct military engagement with Russia, with the White House saying that all options are on the table.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Wednesday the Pentagon was ready to provide options for a Syria strike but that the US and its allies were still assessing the intelligence on the suspected chemical attack.

A special hotline for the US and Russian militaries to communicate about operations in Syria is active and being used by both sides, Moscow said Thursday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that it was crucial to avoid any steps that could lead to heightened tensions in Syria, saying this would have an extremely destructive influence on attempts to resolve the conflict.

Assad warned on Thursday that threats of Western military action will only contribute to further destabilisation in the region.

Russia has warned the United States against carrying out a military intervention on fabricated pretexts, and has accused the White Helmets civil defense organization in Syria of staging a fake chemical weapons attack in Douma.

The Russian army declared early Thursday that the Syrian state flag was flying in Douma, where the alleged chemical attack took place.

Moscow said this a significant event in the history of Syria, meaning that the whole of Eastern Ghouta had come under government forces control.

Rebels in Syrias Eastern Ghouta surrendered their heavy weapons and their leader left the enclave, while the Syrian flag was raised over the central mosque, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

However Douma residents told AFP that a dispute subsequently erupted with shots fired and the flag was taken down from the mosque.

Source: NAN

Germanys biggest music awards have become mired in controversy over a rap song which refers to the concentration camp Auschwitz.

Rappers Kollegah and Farid Bang remained in contention for the Echo awards on Thursday evening in two categories despite hefty criticism of their lyrics and accusations of anti-Semitism.

The criticism focuses on a line in one of their songs that translates as my muscles are more defined than an Auschwitz inmates (in the German original: Mein Koerper definierter als von Auschwitzinsassen).

The International Auschwitz Committee has described the rappers participation in the awards as a slap in the face for concentration camp survivors and shameful for Germany.

Bang has apologized for hurting anyones feelings and stressed that he and Kollegah distanced themselves from any and all form of anti-Semitism and hate against minorities.

Organizers of the prize ceremony see an absolute borderline case at play.

The controversy comes after a band called Frei.Wild was stricken from the list of Echo prize nominees amid allegations that it stood close to Germanys right-wing scene.

The 27th Echo awards take place in Berlin and are shown live on German TV, with such stars as Kylie Minogue, Rita Ora and Helene Fischer scheduled to perform this year.

The prizes cover 22 categories, with nominations based on sales figures in Germany.

A lifetime achievement award will be handed to graphic artist and musician Klaus Voormann. A friend of the Beatles, he designed, among others, the British pop groups famous album cover for Revolver.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

Roma staged a stunning comeback from 1-4 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions quarter final pairing with Barcelona to beat the former champions and the Spanish leaders 3-0 and qualify for the semi-finals on goals aggregate and away goals.

The last time the Italians qualified for this stage of the competition was in 1983/84.

Bosnias Edin Dzeko started Roma revival in the 6th minute, when he beat the offside trap and latched onto a perfected weighted through ball from Daniele de Rossi.

In the second half, Captain De Rossi scored via a penalty and Manolas completed the coup de grace with a stunning header in the 82nd minute.

Romas Kostas Manolas headed the decisive third goal in the 82nd minute, putting the Italians in the last four for the first time since they reached the European Cup final in 1984.

The early goal lifted the hopes of the boisterous home fans in the Olympic Stadium. And the unexpected victory turned the fans into wild jubilation.

Liverpool at Etihad Stadium completed their demolition of Manchester City, cruising to the semi-finals on 5-1 goal aggregate, after surviving a nightmarish first half, in which City scored their only goal in two minutes.

The victory marked the first time since 2008 that Liverpool would qualify for the semi-final of the competition.

Source: NAN