By Adenike Ayodele

Michael Udom, a 52-year-old pastor at Pinnacle of Praise Church, Lagos, on Tuesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates Court for allegedly defrauding his church members of N1.5 million on the pretext of coordinating a monthly contribution.

Udom, whose lives on No. 76 Ikorodu Rd., Fadeyi, Lagos, is charged with three counts of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

The prosecution alleged the accused obtained a sum of N1.5 million from one Sylvia Nnamdi and Alfred Olugbenga, under the pretences of being a pastor and coordinator of one Ajor Thrift Association, a representation he knew to be false.

Police Sgt. Michael Unah told the court that the accused committed the offences with other two still at large sometimes in May at Fadeyi in Lagos.

He said the accused, who portrayed himself as a pastor and the coordinator of the Ajor Thrift Association to the complainants, convinced them to join the contribution but converted the sum of N1.5 million to his own personal use.

Unah said that the accused refused to give the complainants the money when it was their turn to collect.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Fashola ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed with an evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified by the court.

He also ordered that the sureties must be blood relations of the accused and also reside within the courts jurisdiction.

The offences contravened Sections 287, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, (Revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 314 prescribes a 15-year jail term for false pretenses while section 287 provides seven years for stealing.

The Magistrate adjourned the case until Jan. 22 for mention.

Source: NAN

By Polycarp Auta

No fewer than 200 professional golfers have stormed Jos, the capital of Plateau State, for the 2018 governors cup.

Mr Tang Dapoet, the Captain of Lamingo Golf Glub, said this at the opening of the tournament in Jos on Tuesday.

According to him, participants are drawn from all over the country and beyond.

In the last years edition, we had 96 professional golfers that participated, but in this years tournament, over 200 from all over the country and beyond are participating, he said.

Dapoet said Gov. Simon Lalong had made significant strides in promoting golf in the country, hence the rationale behind the tournament.

Declaring the competition open, Gov. Lalong said the tournament had since its inception in 2016 shown that Plateau was peaceful.

When we started this competition in 2016, people forget there is crisis in the state and this goes to show that Plateau is peaceful, he said.

The governor said that Plateau would soon become the home of golf in Nigeria, adding that the serene weather had placed the state in a vantage position

Lalong disabused the minds of Nigerians that golf is a game for the elite, saying that it is not reserved for the rich.

Golf is not a game for the elite; anybody can be participate because it helps you keep fit and healthy, Lalong said.

Source: NAN

By Glory Abuh-Adejoh

The National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Tuesday dismissed a suit seeking a declaration of wrongful termination and relief of N20 million as damages, by a driver, Henry Onyiwealehi.

Justice Rakiya Haastrup in a judgment dismissed the case for inability of the claimant to prove that there was breach of his contract of employment.

The judge said the totality of evidence shown by the claimant from the conditions of service, which is the fundamental document in relation to the claimants employment, did not show breach in the contract of agreement by the defendant.

She held that it was the same document that was used by the court to determine the wrongfulness or otherwise of dismissal.

Haastrup also held that the issue of general damages of N20 million, because the claimant failed in his main relief on wrongful termination of employment, cannot succeed in his relief for general damages.

She also dismissed the counter claim of N21 million by the defendant.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the claimant, a driver with an Abuja-basedwas sent to the bank on June 6, 2016 to make a cash withdrawal of N1 million by the defendants accountant.

The claimant however alleged that an unknown person snatched the cash from him on his way back to the office in a public vehicle.

Innocent Nnabuihe, the defence counsel in his submission, alleged that the claimant failed to carry out instructions given to him by the companys accountant, to call him to pick him up from the bank.

Nnanuihe said the claimants negligence in discharging his official duty was the ground for his dismissal and the counter claim sought by the defendant.

Source: NAN

A seven-year-old boy, Ryan, who is a toy reviewer is the biggest earner on You Tube, grossing 17.3 million or $22million in a year, Forbes has revealed.

Ryan of Ryan ToysReview beat famous YouTubers including Jake and Logan Paul and Swedish gamer PewDiePie to top the list compiled by Forbes.

His channel, which involves him opening toys and then playing with them, has more than 17 million subscribers.

The unboxing trend, where YouTubers open, describe and review new toys, tech products and games, has become increasingly popular on the video site.

Ryan and his family, including younger twin sisters who first appeared on the channel when they were a few weeks old, also make educational videos on topics including tornadoes and astronauts.

His videos have a total of almost 26 billion views over three years, with the most popular video on his channel seen 1.6 billion times, and the less-watched videos attracting at least 30 million views each.

Ryan, who started making the videos at the age of three, makes money from advertising revenue and also recently launched his own Walmart line of branded merchandise.

His parents do not disclose his last name or the city they live in, and say they will stop making the videos when their son no longer enjoys it. Fifteen per cent of his earnings are put into a bank account to access when he becomes an adult.

The Forbes list includes several users who record themselves playing video games and commentating, another popular format.

The most famous of these, PewDiePie, also known as Felix Kjellberg, earned $15.5m (12.2m) in the year to June. This is despite controversy over anti-Semitic videos posted to his channel, which led to him losing a deal with Disney last February, where he previously had his own network.

*Reported by

Source: NAN

By Afusat Agunbiade-Oladipo

A 62 year-old driver, Ibrahim Sanni, who police accused ofintimidating a passenger with witchcraft, on Tuesday, appeared in an Ilorin Magistrates Court.

The Prosecutor, Insp James Odaudu told the court that the complainant,Ayobola Suleman, boarded a cab from the post office to Geri-Alimi and an argument ensued between them over change.

Odaudu alleged that the accused during heated argument, brought out a snail shell and robbed it where the passenger was seated and also recited an incantation.

He said the complainant, got scared and raised an alarm.

He said the accused appeared before the court on a one-count charge of criminal intimidation which contravened section 397of the Penal Code Law.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Aluko Muhammed, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

He adjourned the case untill Dec. 20 for further mention.

Source: NAN

Rice importation into Nigeria would end by 2020, the Policy Adviser of the John Kufuor Foundation (JKF), Hon. Abraham Dwuma, has said.

He also said that Africa Rice Advocacy Platform (ARAP) under the JKF was also focused to achieve zero importation of rice on the continent.

Dwuma told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin that the Africa Rice Advocacy Platform (ARAP) had created a rice value chain to achieve this.

Two years from now, Nigeria should have no business importing rice because I have travelled the length and breadth of the country and I know the potentials.

Kebbi State alone can produce all the rice Nigeria needS; talk more of Sokoto and even Kwara.

For, example, in Akwa Ibom, they have one of the best lands for rice production.

When we came to Nigeria, farmers were doing 1.5 tonnes per hectare, now they are doing six tonnes per hectare two times in a year.

We believe that with this platform, we will get there, Dwuma said.

He said the foundation was borne out of the desire of former Ghanaian President, John Kufuor, to ensure that African farmers earn a living from rice production.

When Kufuor won the World Food Prize, he said he realised that African farmers need a voice, then, if they need a voice, we have to bring them together.

So, there was a need to do what we call the advocacy platform in four chosen countries; Ghana, Burkina Faso, Tanzania and Nigeria.

Through this platform, we are not only talking to the government but to the farmers to improve their quality, their quantity and their work, Dwuma said.

He, however, noted that for the value chain to be sustainable, it should be supported by business modules.

What we are doing now is that we are creating the rice value chain and for this value chain to be sustainable, we need to be supported by business modules at all levels of the cabin.

We are creating what we call business modules. For instance, if someone is an input dealer, he will be able to bring the right input to farmers and the farmers are being educated to do it well, he said.

Also speaking, Secretary General of ARAP, Alhaji Abdulrauf Lawal, said the platform had made rice production easy in order to halt importation.

It is a pity that we spend over a billion naira per day to import rice, that is N365 billion per year which can be used to venture into other things like youth employment and improvement of social amenities.

We are using this much to import when we can plant rice in Nigeria; we have various types of rice; swamp rice and irrigated rice that will start growing with good water and climate.

With the value chain that we are creating now from production, processing to marketing and consumption, it will get better, he said.

Lawal, who doubles as the Deputy National Vice President of Nigeria Rice Advocacy Platform, however, noted that the platform was collaborating with the state chapters of the platform to support them.

The platform was established in 2013 and it comprises of the seed producers, the mechanisation providers, the financial institutions, the processors and the farmers.

We give the state chapters technology, seedlings and inputs for them to produce well because if the input isnt good, the products wont be good.

We are also making their job easier by mechanising them to remove drudgery in rice farming, Lawal said.

He, however, appealed for sponsorship for the platform to achieve its aim.

Our major source of funding is Kufuor, but it is not enough, we need more people like him, most especially within Nigeria.

If Nigeria develops, the West Africa sub-region will develop; we will be a net exporter of rice, Lawal said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Police Force has deepened its role in the anti-terrorism war in the north east, with the deployment of 2000 men to join Operation Lafiya Dole.

The men are made up of Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Counter Terrorism Units (CTU) Personnel of the Force and the Sniffer Dog Sections.

The men, who are already on ground for the past few days, will be engaged in military duties, said the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

The Nigeria Police Force is fully committed to the fight against insurgency and will do all it takes in collaboration with the Military to bring a quick end to Boko Haram insurgency and crisis in the North East, according to a statement by Jimoh Moshood, police spokesman.

This new deployment is consistent with Section 4 of the Police Act and Regulations which specifies the general duties of the Nigeria Police Force, he said.

The deployment is also to support the strength of the Military to defeat the Boko Haram Insurgency, Moshood said.

Until the fresh deployment of additional men, the Nigeria Police Force had in Borno State, 2961 policemen. There is also a Mobile Squadron also based in the state.

In neighboring Yobe, the police stationed 1638 men under 26 mobile force units and there is another mobile Force squadron.

There are 18 mobile Force units in Adamawa, comprising 1134 men Units, in addition to the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron.

The Counter Terrorism Units of the Force has deployments of over One Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty (1,250) specially trained Counter Terrorism Police personnel. The Police Anti-Bomb Squad has about Three Hundred (300) personnel while over Hundred Sniffer Dogs are working with the Military in the fight against Insurgency in the North East.

It is of significant note that the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Personnel, Counter Terrorism Units (CTU), Anti-Bomb Squad (EOD), Sniffer Dog Sections, the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and conventional Police personnel have been fighting along with the Military in the front line against Boko Haram insurgency and also providing security for restoration of law and order in the North East, security for all the liberated towns and villages in the North-East, escort of Foreign and Local Humanitarian workers and relief materials, protection of IDP camps and security of public and private infrastructures.

The Police Air-wing Surveillance Helicopters and crews are also deployed to support most of the operations of Operation Lafiya Dole throughout the North East in the fight against insurgency in the North East.

Source: NAN

Turkish Foreign Ministry has issued aadvisory for citizens traveling to Francethem against ongoing violent protests in Paris and across the country.

Thepublished Dec. 2 on the official website advised citizens who live in France and willto the European country to avoid areas of demonstrations, and not to be in places which could endanger their safety.

It also asked Turkish citizens to exercise caution while traveling through highways and intercity roads, citing recent closure of roads, barricades, and blockades.

The ministry also advised citizens living and traveling to France to follow local media, to follow further warnings of our French authorities, our ministry, our embassy in Paris.

Thousands of vest protesters have gathered in Paris and several other cities for the last two weeks to protest French President Emmanuel Macrons controversial fuel tax.

Demonstrators, who generally live in rural areas due to high rents in the city center, have demanded from Macron a reduction in fuel taxes and to make economic arrangements that will ease their lives.

The French police on Saturday cracked down on protesters around the famous Champs-Elysees Street in capital Paris with tear gas and water cannons.

Demonstrators set a large number of vehicles and trash cans ablaze and pelted stones and bottles at the police.

They called for Macrons resignation and sprayed slogans against him on the walls.

Some tried to cross the security barriers to the Elysee Palace but police blocked them using tear gas.

Streets in several cities were closed for traffic.

According to French authorities, around 5,500 protesters marched onto streets in Paris.

So far, at least two people have been killed and 890 people injured, while 158 of them are security officials, as well as 1,081 people have been detained and 9 protestors were sentenced to four months in prison during over two weeks of demonstrations.

Source: NAN

Oil prices soared more than five percent on Monday after Russia and Saudi Arabia renewed a pact to cap output, while the US agreed to halt raising tariffs on Chinese imports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday he and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have agreed to extend our agreement to limit production as prices slump on global markets.

An existing deal committing OPEC and non-members to cuts expires this year.

While there was no announcement on how much would be cut and for how long, the pact between the worlds two biggest crude exporters was cheered by oil traders, with Brent jumping $2.82 to $53.75 and West Texas Intermediate up $2.98 at $62.44 on Monday.

While we still need to know by how much OPEC will curb its production, Putins comment does clear a barrier for OPEC in stabilising prices as Russia has been ambiguous about its stance, Ahn Yea Ha, a commodities analyst at Kiwoom Securities told Bloomberg News.

Both main contracts have plunged by about a third since hitting four-year highs at the start of October, hit by a number of factors including easing demand, high production, softer-than-expected US sanctions on Iran and a global growth slowdown.

Another major reason for the sell-off has been the ongoing trade row between China and the US, which has seen the worlds top economies swap tariffs on imports worth hundreds of billions of dollars fuelling fears about the impact globally.

However, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping on Saturday announced a deal that will see the US hold off raising levies on Chinese goods on January 1 and China promise to buy more from the US, while entering a 90-day period of talks to bring an end to the dispute.

Traders are now looking ahead to a weekend meeting of OPEC and key non-OPEC members in Vienna, where they will make an announcement on their cuts plans.

Most analysts expect a cut of around one million barrels per day, but some say this may not be enough to arrest the decline in prices.

Its a huge week not only for oil markets but capital markets in general, said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA.

Post-G20 sentiment is a bit more positive than expected but still very much work in progress, so perhaps the most crucial event in December next to (Britains) Brexit vote could very well be the OPEC summit.

Source: NAN

Qatar is quitting the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) from January 2019, Saad al-Kaabi, the countrys energy minister said on Monday.

The decision to withdraw from OPEC came after Qatar reviewed ways to enhance its role internationally and plan its long-term strategy, al-Kaabi told a news conference in Doha.

Qatar, one of OPECs smallest producers but the worlds largest liquefied natural gas exporter.

Qatar has decided to withdraw its membership from OPEC effective January 2019 and this decision was communicated to OPEC this morning, al-Kaabi told a news conference, adding that Qatar would still attend an OPEC meeting in Vienna this week.

The announcement comes ahead of the meeting by OPEC and its allies including Russia on Dec. 6-7 to discuss cutting supply.

The minister said the decision was not easy as Qatar has been in OPEC for 57 years, but that the countrys impact on OPEC production decisions was small.

He stressed that Doha would continue to abide by all its commitments like any other non-OPEC oil producer.

The withdrawal decision reflects Qatars intent to focus its efforts on developing its natural gas industry, the minister said, as the Gulf Arab state moves to increase LNG production from 77 million to 110 million tonnes annually.

He said the decision was not linked to a political and economic boycott of Qatar imposed since June 2017 by OPECs de facto leader Saudi Arabia and three other Arab states.

Qatar, which joined the OPEC in 1961, has frosty relations with two Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

The small Arab country, touted to be the richest, will not be the first to quit the organisation that has been losing its influence as an oil cartel, since it was founded in September 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq.

Ecuador, which joined in 1973, had suspended its membership twice.

Indonesia suspended its membership in January 2009, reactivated it again in January 2016, but decided to suspend its membership once more at the 171st Meeting of the OPEC Conference on 30 November 2016.

Gabon terminated its membership in January 1995. However, it rejoined the Organization in July 2016.

The five founding countries of the organisation were Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

These countries were later joined by Qatar (1961), Indonesia (1962), Libya (1962), the United Arab Emirates (1967), Algeria (1969), Nigeria (1971), Ecuador (1973), Gabon (1975), Angola (2007), Equatorial Guinea (2017) and Congo (2018).

This means that, currently, the Organisation has a total of 15 Member Countries.

Source: NAN

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Algeria on Sunday from Mauritania, resuming a tour of Arab countries after attending the G20 summit in Argentina.

Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia received the prince in the capital Algiers, the state news agency APS said.

Before the summit, the heir to the throne of the worlds top oil exporter had visited the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Tunisia.

On his way to Algeria he had stopped over in Mauritania, where Saudi Arabia pledged to build a large hospital in the capital Nouakchott, state media said.

The crown prince is on his first trip abroad since the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, which has strained Saudi Arabias ties with the West and battered the princes image abroad.

Saudi Arabia has said the prince had no prior knowledge of the murder. After offering numerous contradictory explanations, Riyadh said last month that Khashoggi had been killed and his body dismembered when negotiations to persuade him to return to Saudi Arabia failed.

Algerian-Saudi investments and trade relations, especially in the oil and petrochemical sectors, will be discussed during the two-day visit, APS said on Saturday.

Algeria is one of the few Arab countries that has good relations with Saudi Arabia and its arch-rival Iran, both fellow OPEC members.

Algiers also has strong ties with Qatar, with which Saudi Arabia and three other Arab states severed trade and transport ties in June 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorism and Iran. Qatar denies the allegations.

Algeria is also on good terms with Turkey, whose relations with Saudi Arabia have been strained by the Khashoggi killing.

Iran launches stealth warship as U.S. tensions rise
The Saudi prince is unlikely to face protests over the murder as he did in Tunisia, as demonstrations are banned in Algiers.

But a group of prominent journalists and intellectuals has written an open letter opposing his visit, saying it is unethical and politically inappropriate.

Source: NAN

Local government workers in Zamfara state are the worst paid in Nigeria as they are still earning N6,000 (less than $20) a month as minimum wage, a far cry from the N18,000 set nationally.

Ibrahim Khaleel, National President Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) made the sensational revelation in Abuja, ahead of the 40th anniversary of the union.

Khaleel said Governor Abdulaziz Yaris non-compliance with the N18,000 minimum wage, was the real reason he is obstructing the actualisation of the proposed N30,000 minimum wage.

Khaleel, who is also the National Treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), insisted that the low-earning power of Zamfara residents was responsible for the rising insecurity in the state.

The labour leader noted that as long as the workers were not well paid, there would be no peace in the state.

Khaleel also accused Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state of not fully compliant with the N18,000 wage. He said council workers in the state only get a fraction of the N18,000.

He regretted that the nations local government workers were the most vulnerable in the world.

Khaleel also said the local government system in the country was discriminated against.

According to him, the welfare of workers in the system can only be enhanced if the local government areas are allowed to function well.

On local government autonomy, the union leader said only 12 states had taken their stand on the issue, with nine of them supporting autonomy for the local government and three others voting against it.

Source: NAN

By George Odok

The Police Command in Cross River, has killed five suspected armed robbery gang who engaged the police in a gun duel shortly after robbing a filling station at Atu Street in Calabar on Sunday.

Mr Hafiz Inuwa, the Commissioner of Police in the state, who briefed newsmen on the incident at the Atakpa Police Station, said the robbers invaded the filling station on Sunday morning.

Some of these armed robbers are giving us problems in Calabar municipality.

These set of robbers were caught up in a gun battle with the police shortly after they robbed a filling station in Atu area of Calabar South.

They had a shoot-out with the police and our men were able to gun down five of them. These were the same gang that we already have their profile.

We have been on the watch out for them because they were the same people that snatched two AK47 rifles from our men.

This is a pointer to the fact that the police and other security agencies will not rest until the state is free from all forms if criminalities, he said.

Inuwa said that people who decides to take up arms against law abiding citizens in the state would have themselves to blame because the police was out for fire-for-fire.

Election is coming, the Calabar carnival is around the corner; we are not going to spare any criminal in the state.

I am calling on parents to be on the watch out on their wards because taking arms against anybody will not be tolerated, he warned.

Also speaking, the State Security Adviser to Gov. Ben Ayade of the state, Mr Ani Esin, who was also at the police station, told NAN that his office was working in collaboration with security agencies in order to reduce crime rate.

Esin said that the Ayade-led administration places premium on the security of residents and visitors in the state, adding that the state government in collaboration with security agencies would not relent in arresting anyone caught in illegality.

He added that all necessary infrastructure had been put in place to ensure that the Christmas period is celebrated peacefully in the state.

We are trying to revamp all the security units across the state and to also empower the security agencies because we want to feel their presence at every corner especially now that we are having thousands of visitors in the state.

I have visited majority of the security outfits and I can assure you that Christmas will be peaceful and beyond that, we hope that the entire state will be calm during the carnival and election period.

NAN reports that the police also recovered some cash and three locally made pistols from the suspected armed robbers.

Source: NAN

Arsenal are in Cloud Nine right now after defeating North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 4-2, on a day Chelsea also beat Fulham 2-0.

A Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang double inspired Arsenal to the thrilling 4-2 north London derby triumph.

Jan Vertonghen conceded a penalty with a handball to enable Aubameyang to slot in the opener on 10 minutes.

But Spurs struck twice in four minutes to lead at half-time. Eric Dier glanced in Christian Eriksens free-kick before Harry Kane scored a penalty after Rob Holdings foul on Son Heung-min.

After the break, Aubameyang brilliantly swept in a long-range equaliser, taking his tally to 10 PL goals this season.

Substitute Alexandre Lacazette put Arsenal ahead with a deflected effort on 74 minutes, and that was swiftly followed by Lucas Torreiras drive from an acute angle to make it 4-2, his first goal for the club.

Vertonghen was sent off late on as Unai Emerys side move above Spurs on goal difference to fourth on 30 points.

Arsenal will next play Jose Mourinhos struggling Manchester United on 5 December at Old Trafford, while Spurs will host Southampton same day.

• With reports by premier league.com

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in Poland told Nigerians that he was not cloned that the ignorant rumours was not surprising.

One of the questions that came up today in my meeting with Nigerians in Poland was on the issue of whether Ive been cloned or not.

The ignorant rumours are not surprising when I was away on medical vacation last year a lot of people hoped I was dead, he tweeted.

One of the questions that came up today in my meeting with Nigerians in Poland was on the issue of whether Ive been cloned or not. The ignorant rumours are not surprising when I was away on medical vacation last year a lot of people hoped I was dead.

Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari)

Poor @ProfOsinbajo, even he had to deal with the rumours Some people reached out to him to consider them to be his Vice President because they assumed I was dead. That embarrassed him a lot; we discussed it when he visited me while I was convalescing.

Buhari who would be 76-year-old on December 15, 2018 said: I can assure you all that this is the real me. Later this month I will celebrate my 76th birthday. And Im still going strong!

I can assure you all that this is the real me. Later this month I will celebrate my 76th birthday. And Im still going strong!

Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari)

President Muhammadu promised he would celebrate his birthday.

I will soon celebrate my 76th birthday, President Buhari stated on Sunday in a tweet.

Earlier, Buhari commended the Super Falcon for the defeat of their South Africas counterpart Banyana Banyana.

I commend the coaching crew, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Supporters Club and all football-loving Nigerians for the hard work and the support given to our heroic Super Falcons. I have never doubted the capacity of Nigerians to excel when given the right support.

Mischief makers in the opposition have been peddling rumour that President Buhari had died and that he had been cloned.

They said President Buhari was actually Jubril from Sudan who is now acting as Nigerian president.

He reacted to the rumour for the first time on Sunday in Poland where he is attending Climate Change conference.

President Buhari is currently in, to attend the 24th session of the Climate Change Conference known as the Parties (COP24).

The COP24 Summit, taking place at the International Conference Centre (MCK) and the adjacent Spodek Arena in Katowice, is convened under the Presidency of Poland.

According to the organisers, the conference is expected to finalise the rules for implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change under the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP) the rule book for implementation.

President Buhari will deliver a national statement highlighting Nigerias commitment to addressing climate change by implementing the goals set out in its National Determined Contributions, Adesina said.

The president would also use the occasion to accentuate Nigerias willingness to work with international partners to reverse the negative effects of climate change in Africa and the world over.

He said President Buhari would be expecting that developed nations scale up their emission reduction activities in order to limit the increase in average global temperatures to well below 2 degrees centigrade between now and 2020.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari reacted for the first time on Sunday to rumours that he is not the real Person elected by Nigerians but a look-alike double from Sudan, known as Jubril.

He declared: Its real me, I assure you. I will soon celebrate my 76th birthday and I will still go strong.

President Muhammadu Buhari was speaking in Krakow, Poland, when he met Nigerians living in the country.

For sometime, the fake news industry claimed that the Nigerian President is an impostor.

The issue was raised by one of the Nigerians. But an unruffled Buhari reaffirmed his authentic identity.

He described the authors of the confusion about him as ignorant and irreligious.

A lot of people hoped that I died during my ill health. Some even reached out to the Vice President to consider them to be his deputy because they assumed I was dead. That embarrassed him a lot and of course, he visited me when I was in London convalescing Its real me; I assure you, he declared.

VIDEO: “ President @MBuhari’s response to the rumors [by ignorant and irreligious people] of him being cloned.

“...Somebody just thought I am cloned, ...it is real me I sure you.” pic.twitter.com/TCU6Bzziw4

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) December 2, 2018

The Nigerian leader said he was looking forward to celebrating his 76th birthday on December 17 and jocularly added: If I am getting harassed by anyone, it is my grandchildren, who are getting too many.

The President used the occasion to reiterate that his government will continue to maintain focus and deliver on the three focal points of his campaign in 2015: security, economy and the fight against corruption.

Those in the North East will tell you that in spite of the recent setbacks, there is a difference between the time we came and before.

We are not doing badly on security, economy and agriculture. We have virtually stopped the importation of food especially rice and we are saving a lot of money.

We now have food security and that has come with fiscal security because a lot of young educated people have not regretted going back to the farms and earning a respectable living.

I am afraid, this is not receiving good publicity but a lot of people in the rural areas are enjoying the benefits of our interventions in agriculture, he said.

President Buhari, who is in Poland to attend the UN Climate Change Conference, COP24 reaffirmed that no territory of Nigeria is under the control of Boko Haram terrorists, calling on Nigerians to remain vigilant and supportive of Federal Governments efforts to ensure the security of lives and property in the country.

While acknowledging that it has not been easy financing the security sector in the country, the President said the Nigerian Armed Forces were equal to the task.

The President noted that it was regrettable that herdsmen and farmers clashes in the country have been politicised, assuring that the Nigerian government will continue to prioritise security because that is what many investors consider first before investing in the country.

On the fight against corruption, he said all recovered stolen assets will be sold and the proceeds returned to the treasury for the benefit of Nigerians.

On women representation in his government, the President told the meeting: I have plans for all Nigerians. I am not a male chauvinist. If Im a chauvinist will I give the Finance Ministry to women?

In his remarks, the Ambassador of Nigeria to Poland, Mr Eric Adagogo Bell-Gam praised Nigerians living in the country for being worthy ambassadors of the country.

Among those who met President Buhari were Mr Larry Ugwu, an Artist and Curator, who has lived in Poland for 40 years and has contributed immensely to promoting Nigerian cultural heritage in the Polish society; Anthony Egwuatu, a Gynaecologist, who has lived in the country for 30 years and Mr Olomofe Larry, a human rights activist, who has fought for justice for fellow Nigerians in the host country, among several others.

The event was put together and anchored by Hon. Abike Dabiri, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Diaspora.

Source: NAN

A new study says both snoring and obstructive sleep apnea could lead to earlier impairment of cardiac function in women.

Snoring refers to a sleeping pattern in which a person breathes while emitting a snorting or grunting sound.

Although, the National Sleep Foundation suggests that 90 million people in the United States snore, snoring might become more dangerous as people age, and it can also lead to heart disease, especially for women.

There are different types of sleep apnea, but the most common is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). At least 18 million U.S. adults have sleep apnea.

This condition affects breathing patterns while sleeping, causing a person to stop breathing and start again repeatedly. About half of people who snore loudly have OSA.

When OSA occurs, the muscles in the throat that are responsible for keeping the airway open actually prevent the flow of air.

According to a new study presented recently at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America held in Chicago, IL snoring and OSA may lead to earlier impairment of cardiac function in women than in men.

It is unclear whether or not sleep apnea directly causes heart disease, but some specialists believe that people with sleep apnea are at risk of developing hypertension, or high blood pressure.

Many people who have sleep apnea also have co-existing diseases. This is one of the reasons why it is harder to establish a direct link between sleep apnea and heart disease.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), some people living with sleep apnea and high blood pressure who received treatment for sleep apnea also saw their blood pressure drop. Such findings show a possible link between hypertension and sleep apnea.

OSA is also associated with obesity, which is a risk factor for heart disease.

Obesity contributes to sleep apnea, and the sleep deprivation that sleep apnea causes can give rise to further obesity, in the long-term. As a person gains more weight, the throat muscles that keep the airway open relax, and sleep apnea becomes more serious.

The researchers analyzed data associated with cardiac parameters in relation to diagnosed OSA and self-reported snoring using data from the UK Biobank.

The UK Biobank is an international health resource, open to researchers, that aims to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.

The data were of 4,877 participants who had received a cardiac MRI scan. The scientists divided them into three groups: those with OSA, those with self-reported snoring, and those with neither.

When the researchers compared the snoring group with the group without sleep disorders, they found a striking difference in the left ventricular mass in women compared with men.

Increased left ventricular mass means that the heart needs to work harder to fulfil the bodys needs.

These patterns in people who self-reportedly snore may be an indication of undiagnosed OSA.

We found that the cardiac parameters in women appear to be more easily affected by the disease and that women who snore or have OSA might be at greater risk for cardiac involvement.

The researchers also found that the number of diagnosed OSA cases in the study was extremely low, suggesting that OSA may be underdiagnosed across the board.

Dr. Curta, a radiology resident at Munich University Hospital in Germany, urges people who snore to get screened for OSA and those with OSA to seek treatment.

I would encourage people who snore to ask their partner to observe them and look for phases during sleep when they stop breathing for a short while and then gasp for air, says Dr. Curta.

If unsure, they can spend the night at a sleep lab where breathing is constantly monitored during sleep and even slight alterations can be recorded.

The team now hopes to conduct more research to fully understand the sex differences linked to snoring and OSA.

Source: NAN

Beyonce was leading an all-star line-up including Ed Sheeran, Jay-Z and Usher in Johannesburg at a concert to honour the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela.

The concert was the climax of a year of events celebrating the centennial of Mandelas birth in 1918, and part of a campaign to tackle poverty, child malnutrition and boost gender equality.

This years Global Citizen Festival is being held at Johannesburgs 94,736-capacity FNB stadium and began at 1200 GMT.

Thousands of music fans, many of whom had received free tickets to reward their activism and campaigning work, flocked to the stadium hours before the gig began.

Its really important to be here because we all support what Global Citizen is doing, its helping out a lot of people, said Lesedi Mosita, a banker.

I do follow the cause, I have done my share, I have tried to support as much as I can but I am mostly excited to see Beyonce.

As well as a constellation of global stars that also included Pharrell Williams and Coldplays Chris Martin, President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted fellow heads of state from Ghana, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.

Williams received a rapturous reception for his rendition of Get Lucky, with many cheering fans holding phones aloft and dancing exuberantly.

South African stars Trevor Noah and Bonang Matheba also made appearances, as the largely local crowd braved heavy downpours to attend.

Ahead of the concert co-host Oprah Winfrey hailed Mandelas goodness and integrity, describing him as her favourite mentor.

Mandela was jailed under South Africas apartheid regime. After being released in 1990, he led the countrys transformation into a multi-racial democracy. He died on December 5, 2013 aged 95.

Earlier Sunday, Mandelas widow Graca Machel, draped in a bright yellow and blue dress, took to the stage to honour her late husband in front of the near-capacity crowd.

And Mandelas grandson Ndaba Mandela told festival-goers: Today it is a privilege and choice for us to take action on behalf of the hundreds of millions of people trapped in the cycle of poverty.

So I plead with you, dont think of this as just a music festival, this is a call to the hearts and minds of humanity all across the world.

The Global Citizen initiative aims to help eradicate extreme poverty by 2030 and has staged events in other global cities including London, Brussels, and New York.

Event organisers earlier paid tribute to a rigger who died following a fall while helping to prepare the stage on Saturday.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated, Global Citizen said in a statement.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Army said its troops have dislodged Boko Haram fightersfrom their hideout and in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area of Borno, causing them to flee abandoning their weapons.

The army said on its Twitter handle that on Nov. 29 that the troops launched offensive on two fronts against the insurgents and successfully dislodged them from their hideout in the area.

It disclosed that the insurgents who were preparing for attack, fled on sighting the troops leaving behind their ammunitions, food items and other consumables.

In compliance with the directives of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; that commanders in Operation LAFIYA DOLE, to carry out massive attack and offensive mission to the Boko Haram terrorists suspected locations, hideouts and enclaves, troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade, embarked on an exploration mission on November 29, 2018.

The gallant troops carried out offensive patrols on two fronts: Ngala Bridge and Gamboru town along Wurge village, northern Borno. On sighting the troops, the terrorists who were massing up for a possible attack abandoned their logistic stores, equipment and fled.

The equipment captured includes one AK-47 Rifle with registration number 819044; two AK-47 magazines, 443 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 94 rounds of PKT ammunition, 16 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and 4 RPG Bombs.

The troops also recovered one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) charge; one Anti-Aircraft telescopic sight, one Anti-Aircraft top cover, clearing rod, one Hilux GT van, two motorcycles, one flag, two blankets, one praying mat, one mosquito net and 10 motorcycle spare tubes.

Other items include one tools box , one towing cable, one camel bag, three water melon, three cans of milk, two bottles of Maltina , two sachets of sugar, three jerry cans, one MP3 player, groundnut and a First Aid kit. (NAN)

Source: NAN

An Egyptian film star Rania Youssef will face trial next January for promoting immorality.

Her offence was that she attended the Cairo Film Festival in a see-through dress, state-owned online newspaper Al-Ahram reported on Saturday.

Rania Youssef will face a trial in January in Cairo after receiving a number of complaints about her attire, accusing her of inciting immorality and promoting vice.

The actress turned heads at the closing ceremony of the festival on Thursday when she appeared in a black dress that exposed what some commentators described as a swimsuit beneath it.

The pictures of the 44-year-old star left social media users divided, with some calling her names and other defending her right to wear what she wants.

This dress and design is called I forgot my trousers while going to be honoured, wrote one Twitter user.

Another user said Ranias appearance will help her get more work.

This entry has at least 15 films, two television series and 13 television and radio show appearances, wrote Karim Ahmed on Twitter. Congratulations.

Another Twitter user writing under the name Zakaria MJ frowned at the criticism.

Rania Youssef is looking gorgeous, he wrote in a message in English. I dont get why everybody is mad at her.

Source: NAN