By Ikenna Osuoha

International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in West Africa (ICWWA) has advocated for rights of women living with the virus in the region.

President of the community, Astou Diop, made the groups position known in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Diop stated that a meaningful engagement of women and adolescent girls living with HIV in planning, implementation and monitoring of programmes toward checking the spread of the scourgewould guarantee womens right to health.

She urged governments at all levels in West Africa to fulfill the highest attainable standard of health for all citizens, especially women living with HIV.

She noted that governments should ensure that women were consulted to make informed decisions and choice of preference with respect to Anti Retroviral (ARV) regimen.

She added that governments should also ensure that all HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health services are free, accessible and respect the rights and dignity of people living with the virus, especially and key population.

The community leader also called for domestic funding of HIV/AIDS treatment and services to accelerate the implementation of West and Central Africas 90-90-90 target.

Diop noted that political leadership, dwindling funding for HIV and AIDS, the lack of patient centred care, respect for human rights were responsible for the regions backwardness in the fight against AIDS.

She called for strengthened partnership of Joint UN Programmes on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), World Health Organisation (WHO) and Nigerias Ministry of Health to support the leadership capacity of Community board members.

Source: NAN

Senator Dino Melaye said on Friday that he will appeal the judgment of the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal which nullified his election as senator representing Kogi West in the Nigerian Senate.

It would be recalled that Melaye was declared the winner of the Kogi West Senatorial election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in February but the tribunal nullified it on Aug. 23 (Friday) and ordered for fresh election.

A three-man panel led by Justice A. O. Chijioke in a unanimous judgment ruled in favour of Adeyemis petitions and ordered for reelection into the Kogi West senatorial district.

However, Melaye in a tweet shortly after the annulment by the tribunal vowed to appeal the judgment noting that his challenger would have also challenged the ruling if he was in his shoesr.

On Tribunal judgment: No cause 4 alarm at all. Even if it went my way they will still go to the Appeal Court. Our mandate cannot be taken.

We will get judgment at the Appeal Court. There will be fresh election in Kogi West bc I will be Governor. For my Senate mandate no shaking.

On Tribunal judgement. No cause 4 alarm at all. Even if it went my way they will still go to the Appeal Court. Our mandate can not be taken. We will get judgment at the Appeal Court. There will be fresh election in Kogi West bc I will be Governor. For my Senate mandate no shaking

Senator Dino Melaye. (SDM) (@dino_melaye)

He also tweeted a picture with a caption He who laugh last, laugh bestKOGI Governor loading

He who laugh last, laugh bestKOGI Governor loading

Senator Dino Melaye. (SDM) (@dino_melaye)

Source: NAN

North Korea fired two suspected short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Saturday morning, South Koreas military says.

The launch is the seventh carried out since North Korea ended a 17-month hiatus on testing at the end of July.

Pyongyang has repeatedly expressed anger at US-South Korean military exercises that have been taking place.

On Saturday South Korea said the latest missiles, launched after the drills ended, cause grave concern.

Military officials said the projectiles were launched at 06:45 and 07:02 local time (21:45 and 22:02 GMT Friday) from the eastern town of Sondok in South Hamgyong Province.

Source: NAN

The Body of Nasir Ahmad

The locals are calling this a miracle and said that the deceased, Nasir Ahmad, was a good soul who had Allahs blessings.

The incident took place on Wednesday in the Baberu graveyard where one grave had sunk in owing to incessant rainfall.

The graveyard committee members were informed and they cleared the mud to find a body wrapped in white shroud. A huge crowd collected at the place as the news spread and the body was taken out.

It was identified as that of Nasir Ahmad, who had died 22 years ago. One of the relatives of Ahmad identified the body and said that he was present when the burial had taken place 22 years ago.

In consultation with local clerics, the body was later buried in another nearby grave on Wednesday night.

Source: NAN

Governor Udom Emmanuel has commiserated with Senator Chris Ekpeyong over the demise of his wife Dr. Grace Ekpeyong.

The State Governor who was accompanied on the condolence visit by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo expressed sadness over the death.

Other who accampanied the governor were: Director General Divine mandate Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, National Legal officer of the PDP, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, Senator Anietie Okon, SSG Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, former SSG, Obonganwan Grace Ekong, Dr. Udoma Ekarika Dr Etido Ibekwe,Elder Aniekan Umana, some members of the state executive council and political stalwarts.

Emmanuel said the news of the demise of Late Mrs Grace Ekpenyong came as a shock and urged the family especially, the bereaved husband to be consoled by the fact that God who created her knew that a moment like this would come.

The governor said there is no better moment to loose a loved one.

He prayed God to comfort the family and to grant her eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord.

Responding Senator Chris Ekpeyong thanked the Governor and his entourage for identifying with him in his grief described the wife as a daughter of Zion and committed Servant of God as well his pillar of strength.

He thanked the Governor for the support given her during her travails to receive medical attention both at home and abroad.

Senator Chris Ekpeyong said that his late wife was an ardent supporter of the Governor and the PDP, adding that when he aspired for the Senatorial seat she gave him her blessings.

He recalled fond memories and said that he will greatly miss the companionship and her wise counsel.

He appealed to the state government to stand by him and the family to give his departed wife a befitting burial.

Prayers were offered for the family and for God to grant her Soul eternal rest.

Source: NAN

Three environmental scientists have warned people living in coastal cities, such as Lagos, to beat a retreat now or face the prospect of a disorderly, chaotic withdrawal in about three decades, as climate change worsens.

The scientists, A.R. Siders, Miyuki Hino and Katharine J. Mach, in a new policy paper, published 23 August in the journal, advised that the only way to avoid a chaotic withdrawal is to start planning now for the inevitable retreat from coastal cities.

Faced with global warming, rising sea levels, and the climate-related extremes they intensify, the question is no longer whether some communities will retreat moving people and assets out of harms way but why, where, when, and how they will retreat, the authors of the paper wrote.

As many as 1 billion people are expected to be forced out of their homes by the droughts, floods, fires and famines associated with runaway climate change over the next 30 years and they all have to go somewhere. This massive global exodus can go one of two ways: either it will be a chaotic mess that punishes the worlds poor, or it can be a path to a fairer, more sustainable world.

Rather than dealing with these forced migrations on a reactive, disaster-by-disaster basis (as many emergency evacuations do now), the researchers propose taking a managed and strategic approach to the problem, setting up policies and infrastructure now to help climate refugees transition into new homes and out of harms way as soon as possible.

The steps to accomplish this task range from the common sense for example, limiting property development in at-risk areas (like coastal cities) and instead investing in creating affordable housing in safer inland communities to the incredibly complex. For instance, the authors want to build infrastructure that maintains the cultural heritage of marginalised communities that wind up having to leave ancestral homes.

Retreat may exacerbate historic wrongs if it relocates or destroys historically marginalised communities, the researchers wrote. Conversations around who should pay for retreat will almost certainly need to address reasons why certain communities find themselves at risk.

Indeed, the researchers wrote, retreat could be an opportunity to revitalise communities and redistribute wealth in a more sustainable way. For example, it could be a chance to end real estate practices that incentivise living in at-risk areas. Retreat could also be a chance to subsidise new schools, hospitals and affordable housing in safer inland regions instead of making belated improvements to at-risk areas, like building expensive new sea walls to shield communities that have already been battered by severe storms and abandoned before.

One proposal for Bangladesh suggests investing in a dozen cities to provide infrastructure along with educational and employment opportunities to draw successive generations of people away from low-lying coasts, the authors wrote. Retreat is not a goal in and of itself, but a means of contributing to societal goals.

While widespread evacuation of climate-prone communities may not occur for a decade or more, the only way to prepare for this unprecedented global challenge is to start planning now. Leaving home is never easy however, with enough research, investment and strategic thinking, it doesnt need to be a disaster.

Source: NAN

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Police Command in Enugu State has described as false the kidnap alarm raised by a father, Mr Frank Anioma, over his daughter, Miss Kosisochukwu Anioma.

The Commands Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement on Saturday in Enugu.

He said that Anioma took to the social media to announce his daughters kidnap as well as reported to the police.

Amaraizu said that the fake kidnap alarm was raised on Aug. 22 and the police operatives of the Anti-Kidnap Unit immediately swung into action.

He said that contrary to the fake social media hype, fresh facts had emerged on the purported fake kidnapping incident.

According to him, Kosisochukwu was never abducted by anyone and that she willingly left their home.

He said that Aniomas daughter went to the park at Holy Ghost without telling anyone and headed to Owerri where she met her boyfriend.

According to her, both of them have been secondary school friends at Abakiliki but she needed to go see him following the prolonged school holiday.

Kosisochukwu, 14, is going to SSS 1 if school reopens same with her boyfriend who hails from Owerri in Imo State, the police spokesman said.

Amaraizu said that Kosisochukwu confessed that she was not abducted nor kidnapped as stated by her father.

Source: NAN

Text: Romans 14 v 14 – 19; Isa. 32 v 17

Introduction: - The Kingdom of God in the life of every believer should be fully rooted and established on these 3 pillars; Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost, for if in these things we serve Christ the Lord, v18 says; we’ll be acceptable of God and approved of Men. May God accept us as we grow in Him and study tonight in Jesus Christ Mighty Name; Amen.

Righteousness And Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost

• Righteousness: - Isa. 61 v 10. Rev. 3 v 18. To enjoy fellowship with God, we must not only know that we have been forgiven of every sin but we must also know that we are clothed with a righteousness that is acceptable to God. Rom. 1 v 17; Jer. 23 v 6; Heb. 7 v 2; Isa. 54 v 14; How does God make us Righteous? He does this by placing us in His Son. 1 Cor. 1 v 30; 2 Cor. 5 v 21. We ourselves are not righteous, but God has put us IN CHRIST. When God looks at us, He does not see us as we are; He sees only Christ. Because we are IN CHRIST, we have a perfect righteousness before God. Christ is our righteousness. What happens when God looks at us and sees us as we are?

• Peace: - Eph. 2 v 14; Isa. 9 v 6; Heb. 7 v 2; Phil. 4 v 7; Rom. 3 v 17; Heb. 12 v 14; Beloved, Jehovah Shalom, our God is Peace; Judges 6 v 24; and the peace of God is incomprehensible but capable of keeping our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. The Lord in His sovereignty gives peace to His people. To have effectual fellowship with God, we must be at peace and also follow peace with all men. Ex. 14 v 14. When you fight and quarrel with others, you have taken upon the battle yourself, and you cannot hold onto your peace anymore. If God is indeed your peace, can anything pluck you out of God’s hands? No. John 10 v 28-30. To enjoy God’s divine peace, we must shun Unfaithfulness, envy, evil-plots, lies, flatteries, bitterness, iniquities, etc. Psalm 37: 12; Psalm 52:3; Psalm 64:3; Proverbs 14:6; Isaiah 1:4 for there is no peace for the wicked.

• Joy in the Holy Ghost: - Rom. 5 v 1 – 5; Math. 2 v 10; Psalm 16 v 11; Neh. 8 v 10; Heb. 12 v 1-2; When we have peace like a river, we enter in the Joy of the Lord by the Wonderful Holy Ghost. “When the enemy comes rushing like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall raise a standard” - Isa. 59 v 19. When we have His Spirit, we’re sure going to live according to his standard without even knowing it. The Holy Ghost ensures our that our Joy in God through Christ Jesus our Lord is preserved and maintained. The Holy Ghost opens the channel of God’s Love abundantly into your heart, so nothing should make you fear. Joy is the natural reaction to the work of God, whether promised or fulfilled. Joy expresses God’s kingdom and we have joy because of God’s grace. The Spirit’s production of joy can manifest (i) The joy of deliverance (1Samuel 2:1; Acts 12:14). (ii) The joy of salvation (Luke 15:7; Acts 8:8; 15:3) (iii) The joy of spiritual maturity (2Corinthians 1:24; 1Thessalonians 2:19-20)

Conclusion
The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost. The work of Righteousness is Peace (Isa. 32 v 17), the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9 v 6) makes us one with the Father in whose presence there’s Joy everlasting, and this Joy is shed into our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Shalom!!!

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

Sen. Babajide Omoworare has been appointed as the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matter (Senate).

Omoworare is to replace Sen. Ita Enang who held the position for the last four years.

In a statement made available to our correspondent and personally signed by Omoworare, the Senator said that the news of his appointment had been communicated to him.

Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has just announced my appointment as an Aide to Mr. President for the National Assembly (Senate).

I am grateful to God Almighty and to His Excellency, President Mohammadu Buhari for the opportunity to serve his government as his primary liaison with the Senate.

I gladly accept this rare and coveted privilege to advance the administrations legislative agenda, promote its policy priorities in the Senate and foster Mr. Presidents constitutional responsibilities in the National Assembly.

As I resume the helms of President Buharis Legislative Office team, I am aware of the importance of ensuring a more productive working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature.

I have spent the past two decades working passionately as a parliamentarian, policy strategist, legislative strengthening advocate and lobbyist.

Therefore, it is my sincere but humble hope that that my knowledge, expertise and network of contacts in the National Assembly will be positive and outstanding resources to my new Office, this adminstration and the Nigerian nation.

In pursuit of building further blocks in the Executive/Legislature relationship, I shall lead a team that will rely on the robust experience of the National Assembly leadership as well as the cooperation and cohesion of all the Distinguished Senators and our Honourable Representatives.

I also look forward to a mutually satisfying relationship between the National Assembly on one part and Ministries, Departments and Agencies on the other part, as we toil towards accomplishing unparalleled achievements for the Federal Government, as well as guaranteeing good governance for the People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Omoworare wrote.

Source: NAN

Equatorial orbit shorter to space

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) on Tuesday said that Nigeria should harness the benefit of launching satellites from the Equatorial orbit which is shorter to space and saves cost.

Dr Spencer Onuh, the Director, Centre for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD), one of NASRDAs activity centres, said this during the centres week and 9th Annual Space Conference and Exhibition in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the two days conference focuses on the theme Exploration of Equatorial Orbit for Space Optimisation.

Onuh said that Nigeria located in Africa as a continent is advantaged being close to the equatorial orbit, adding that the positioning gives African countries an edge over other countries who could be located across the polar orbit.

NAN reports that Nigeria in 2003, 2007 and 2011 launched its satellites from China, Italy and Russia respectively which are outside the equatorial orbit.

Onuh explained that equatorial orbit is an orbit roughly in line with the equator of the being planet orbited while polar orbit is one in which a satellite passes above or nearly above poles of the body being orbited on each revolution.

There is a natural endowment of advantages the equatorial region bestows on us.

For a country like Nigeria, we do a lot of revisiting of satellites for information gathering in disaster management, security, agricultural issues.

We need to make use of equatorial orbit to reap the benefits of space science and technology, he said.

According to Onuh, Nigeria is lacking in the area of infrastructure for developing space science technology but has human capacity to advance the sector.

He said that private-public partnership, space entrepreneurs can be encouraged to build the infrastructure needed to develop space science technology and harness its benefits.

Private partnership can be Nigeria having international collaborations that should be done in our interest, on our terms.

We have the capacity to challenge European space industry, our challenge is the infrastructure, we need to fix our ground station, our Assembly, Integration and Testing lab.

Private-public-partnership can be encouraged to develop space science technology because satellite business is not just about government, Onuh said.

The director said, though, the government had taken the responsibility of developing the space industry because Nigeria is a third world country but it is not sustainable.

Prof. Babatunde Rabiu, Director, Centre for Atmospheric Research, said that satellites from equatorial orbit deviate from the equitorial plane of a planet by less than 45 degrees.

According to Rabiu, equatorial region is characterised with the highest values of the peak electron density with the most pronounced amplitude.

He said that Near Equitorial Orbit (NEqO) satellite of countries have the potential to provide immediate disaster relief information and repetitive monitoring from multi-mission satellites.

NEqO satellites have possible programming and selection of areas to be observed with acceptable cloud cover before and during satellite data acquisition, he said.

He noted that NEqO country satellites have less market potential for data coverage because it is limited to targeted zone in equitorial zone.

I observed that most of the nations in the equatorial belt are actually underdeveloped and considered as nations with poor management of resources, he said

The director recommended that there should be continuous deployment of ground-based equipment for monitoring space environment in the equatorial region.

He called for urgent review of the space agencys present budget and procurement laws to favour space science and technology among other recommendations.

Dr Matthew Adepoju, President, Geo-information Society of Nigeria (GSN) said African countries lagged behind in the first, second and third industrial revolution.

Adepoju noted that the continent must not continue to take the back stage in the fourth industrial revolution.

The most advanced countries have taken advantage of the polar orbit, we are located in the equatorial orbit which we need to take advantage of.

Most African countries are leveraging on this and Nigeria need to also key in and take our leadership in the continent to space. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved replacements for heads of Federal Government agencies that were recently appointed as ministers.

A statement by the presidents spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday, said Sen. Basheer Garba Mohammed was appointed Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.

Mohammed replaces Sadiya Umar Farouk, a minister-designate from Zamfara.

According to the statement, Dr Chioma Ejikeme has been appointed Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, replacing Sharon O. Ikeazor, while Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi is now Director General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency.

For Executive Commissioner (Stakeholder Management), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), President Buhari has forwarded Adeleke Moronfolu Adewolus name to the Senate for confirmation as replacement for Sunday Akin Dare.

The appointments take immediate effect, the statement added.(NAN)

Source: NAN

By Isaac Ukpoju

Suspected armed robbers on Tuesday attacked the convoy of Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, killing three policemen and a civilian.

Akabe was on his way to Abuja on an official engagement when the convoy ran into the robbers who were operating few kilometres away from Akwanga at about 6pm.

ASP Usman Samaila, Police Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia.

Samaila however did not give details, saying the commissioner of Police, Bola Longe had led a team of officers to the scene to assess the situation.

As I speak with you now, the Commissioner of Police, the Deputy Commissioner Operations and other high ranking officers of the command have gone to the scene of the incident, Samaila said.

Meanwhile, one of those in the convoy, said the armed robbers opened fire on the convoy before fleeing.

According to him, three policemen and a driver were shot and killed by the armed robbers and their corpses have been deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia.

The deputy governor who was unhurt but looking shaky, was at the hospital but did not speak to journalists on the incident.

Source: NAN

By Abdullahi Ishaq

Flooding which ravaged some local government areas in Jigawa, has also rendered residents of three wards in Dutse metropolis homeless and destroyed property worth millions of naira.

The wards are Danmasara, Kachi and Zai, where affected persons are currently taking refuge in primary schools within the metropolis.

Malam Umar Namadi, Deputy Governor of Jigawa, who visited the areas on Wednesday to assess the situation, described the disaster as an act of God.

Namadi pledged that the state government would assist the victims.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that though no life was lost following the disaster, however, houses, food items and farm lands were destroyed.

Ward Head of Kachi, Alh. Haruna Nababa, who spoke on behalf of the victims, appealed to the state and Federal Government to come to their aid.

Nababa told NAN in an exclusive interview that it would take residents of Kachi a while to recover from their losses.

We really thank the Deputy Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, who visited us in our camps to see our situation with a view to assisting us.

We are therefore appealing to the state and federal governments, through the relevant agencies and NGOs, to come to our aid, Nababa said.

NAN recalls that Flood recently ravaged four local government areas of Jigawa namely; Miga, Auyo, Guri and Kirikasamma, where many lives and properties worth millions of naira, were lost.

Source: NAN

By Obinna Unaeze

Police in Niger, on Wednesday confirmed the death of a couple in Maitunbi area of Minna from generator fumes.

DSP Mohammed Abubakar, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident occurred on Monday night.

The incident occurred on Monday night, but was reported to the police on Tuesday by neighbours at 8: 00 a.m., Abubakar said.

He explained that the deceased couple, Malam Adamu Mohammed, 30 and Sumaiya Adamu, 20, got married in December 2018.

He said that Malam Dahiru Mohammed, a brother to the late Adamu, visited the couple on Tuesday.

The PPRO said that when Dahiru knocked on their door and there was no response, he left without seeing them.

When nobody attended to Dahiru he left the house of the deceased couple, he said.

He explained that neighbours who did not see them coming out from their apartment raised concerns and had to break in.

When the neighbors discovered what had happened they reported the issue to the police, he said.

Abubakar explained that on the fateful night, the deceased couple had put on the generator, which they recently purchased, in one of their rooms that had no ventilation and slept in the next room.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the couple died as a result of the generator fumes.

They died due to lack of ventilation from the generator fumes, the police spokesman said.

NAN gathered from family sources that the couple has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The United Kingdom chapter of the All progressives Congress (APC) has advised the ministers to put the country and the people first in the discharge of their duties.

Mr Ade Omole, leader of the chapter, gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that probity and accountability remained the sure way through which the ministers could help the APC-led administration to achieve the promises of the Next Level.

Omole congratulated the ministers and expressed satisfaction over the composition of the cabinet, saying that they were round pegs in round holes.

President Muhammadu buhari has assembled men and women of integrity who are all capable of delivering the promises of the Next Level, he said.

He thanked Nigerians for renewing the mandate of the APC in the last presidential election by re-electing Buhari, saying that their trust in the party was not misplaced.

According to him, the APC-led government will surprise Nigerians as they journey ahead by implementing people-oriented policies and delivering good democracy dividends.

He stressed that the APC-led government was aware that what Nigerians needed at this point in time was good governance, probity, accountability and selfless leaders.

Omole, therefore, advised the ministers to see their appointments as a call to service over other endeavours, adding that they should ensure accountability and openness in their dealings.

He expressed the optimism that going by the calibre of people who were sworn in by the president, it was certain that Nigeria had stepped on the pedestal of growth.

In my view, the new ministers have the capacity to look at the cards ahead and deal with situations as they arise in the interest of the country and the people.

He urged the new ministers to consolidate on the achievements recorded in various sectors of the economy in the first term of the Buhari-led administration.

Similarly, Mr Jacob Ogunseye, spokesperson of the chapter, called on opposition political parties to join hands with the APC and the Buhari-led Federal Government in building the country.

NAN reports that out of the 43 newly inaugurated ministers, 13 former ministers in Buharis first term in office made the list while 18 former ministers were not re-appointed.

Source: NAN

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The newly inaugurated Minister of State, Petroleum, Mr Timipre Silva, has pledged his readiness to work with all to ensure a viable oil and gas sector.

Silva made this known when he was received by the Permanent Secretary, Directors and heads of all the Parastatal agencies under the ministry, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Thank you for the warm welcome, I will definitely put in my best and work hard to help in repositioning of the ministry.

I know that the president will give me some mandate and with the competent managers of all the offices, we will work together to achieve greater heights, he said.

Earlier, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, the permanent Secretary assured the minister that they would work as a team noting that the ministry had no choice than to work hard.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Silva from Bayelsa State was born July 7, 1964.

He holds a Bachelors degree in English Language and Linguistics from the University of Port Harcourt in 1986.

He began his working career with National Minority Business Council as Executive Secretary before his foray into politics and subsequent election into Rivers State House of Assembly in 1991.

He was elected Governor of Bayelsa in 2007.

Before his nomination as Minister he was Chairman, Governing Board of Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Afonne

Coalition of Public Interests Lawyers and Advocates (COPA) has urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Adamu, to initiate a reform process in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to ensure its men work according to the rules of engagement.

The call followed reactions and condemnation of policemen seen in a viral video, shooting arrested suspects allegedly belonging to a notorious armed robbery gang terrorising Iba community in Lagos.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Ifeoluwa Adeyeye, of Human Rights Desk, COPA, stated that time had come for the IGP to reform the Nigeria Police to help instill sanity in the society.

Why we all show our collective discontent for continued brutality, we also call on the Police Force to conduct a thorough and unadulterated investigation so that these merchants of death in legal uniforms can be brought to book.

This will in the long run serve as a strong template of deterrent to other aberrant officers in our entire security architecture.

It is totally worrisome and mind-boggling considering what circumstance may warrant security operatives to shoot at mere suspects and even when they dont pose danger and after they have already succumbed.

Our patience and calm for such notorious brutality and culture of torture on the part of those whose duties are primarily and fundamentally to protect lives and property of all Nigerians, have worn out, Adeyeye said.

He said the constitution prohibits acts savagery, while the country is also a signatory to international conventions and treaties that outlaw torture and ill-treatment.

Adeyeye explained that there is no doubt that SARS has over the years earned a notorious reputation of a brutal agency, following alleged cases of extrajudicial killings, torture or ill-treatment of detainees as well as extortion of suspects.

Meanwhile, the police command in Lagos has arrested the four policemen involved in the extrajudicial killing of the two robbery suspected in their custody.

The command said the policemen, identified as Insp. Fabiyi Omomayara, Sergeant Olaniyi Solomon, Sergeant Solomon Sunday and Corporal Aliyu Mukaila, would be charged with murder.

The command said this is because the affected policemen breached the code of professional conduct and use of fire arms.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the policemen had responded to a distress call around 3p.m. on Aug. 19, from one Valentine Anugu.

Anugu had alleged that he was robbed of his mobile phone worth N450,000 by four armed robbers on two motorcycles.

While two of the robbery suspects fled, the other two were held, disarmed of the two locally-made pistols, six life and five expended cartridges they had before shooting them inside the commercial bus they (police) used for the operation.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, Zubairu Muazu has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.

Spokesman of Lagos Police Command, DSP Bala Elkana, confirmed the development.

According to the Spokesman, the policemen are currently facing internal disciplinary proceedings, known as Orderly Room Trial.

If found culpable, they will be dismissed from the Force and handed over to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Yaba for prosecution in the conventional court, Elkana said.

Watch the trending video below:

: Apparently some internet armed robbers who pose as buyers on Jiji

Source: NAN

News went viral on social media yesterday that pop music legend, Innocent Idibia, a.k.a 2Baba, was rushed to the hospital after suffering relapse from an undisclosed ailment he had been treating.

According to the report which claimed that the ‘African Queen’ singer had been admitted in the hospital for sometime now, he defied medical advise to fulfil a ‘contractual agreement’, else he would have remained on bed rest.

“2Face was in the hospital, but had to surface to meet up with a contractual agreement. Naturally, he would have remained in the hospital, but because of the fact that he is a brand, he had to attend the meeting. It was while there that he relapsed again and had to be rushed back to the hospital”, the report had claimed.

However, when E-Daily reached out to the singer’s management, a member of his team who pleaded anonymity confirmed that 2Baba actually attended an event organised by the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, but was never rushed to the hospital or hospitalized at any point in time as claimed in the online reports.

“I’m not aware of 2Baba being sick, rushed to the hospital or hospitalized in recent times. Yes, he attended an event at the Nigerian Stock Exchange but he did not at any time suffer a relapse nor was he rushed to the hospital. He is hale and hearty”, the source affirmed.

Source: Vanguard NG

Ado Ekiti-Students of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, are protesting arrests of their colleagues by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged involvement in yahoo and other internet scamming crimes.

They have grounded academic and commercial activities on the campus and surrounding towns by mounting roadblocks on the highway and blocking commercial and private vehicles from moving.

They have also prevented academic activities from holding in the school and have gone on rampage disturbing the peace of the campus and surrounding communities. Their protest has led to a huge gridlock on the Ado-Ifaki Road for hours now.

Source: Vanguard