Thierry Henry is still waiting for his first win since taking charge at Monaco after his team fell to a seventh league defeat of the season in a 1-0 loss at Reims.

A cool finish on 24 minutes from Mathieu Cafaro gave Reims all three points and left Henry without a victory in four matches following his appointment as Monaco coach.

Both sides finished with 10 men as Alaixys Romao was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Youssef Ait Bennasser, before Monaco saw Guinea-Bissau international Pele sent off for two bookings.

It wasnt about the tactics tonight. The desire wasnt there, said Henry. Reims won the battles on the pitch and when you dont win them, you cant win whatever the level or league.

Monaco, who won the French title in 2017, remain second from bottom after an alarming run that has yielded just one win in all competitions this season.

They will drop to the foot of the table if Guingamp, unbeaten in their past five league outings, avoid defeat at Nantes on Sunday.

Its more worrying than the defeat at Strasbourg, added Henry, referring to the 2-1 loss he suffered in his first game at the helm last month.

Little of the play, not many chances and lots of duels lost. We were 11 against 10 but then we punish ourselves with the red card. Were not managing these types of things well at the moment.

Henry will now briefly switch his focus to Monacos flagging Champions League campaign, with one final chance to revive their hopes of reaching the knockout phase when they host Club Brugge on Tuesday.

Source: NAN

Santiago Solari tasted victory in his first La Liga match in charge of Real Madrid but he had 18-year-old Vinicius Junior to thank for their 2-0 win over Real Valladolid on Saturday.

Solari threw Vinicius on with the score goalless and tension building at the Santiago Bernabeu but the striker delivered, before Sergio Ramos late penalty gave the scoreline a deceptively comfortable look.

Madrids day might have been even better had Rayo Vallecano seen out the 2-1 lead they enjoyed over Barcelona with four minutes left at Vallecas.

Instead, Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez scored for Barca in the 87th and 89th minutes to pull off a remarkable comeback, in the absence of Lionel Messi.

It means Ernesto Valverdes side sit four points clear at the top of La Liga, seven ahead of Real and now four up on Atletico Madrid, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Leganes.

For Real and Solari, victory was all-important. Their opener in the 83rd minute was an own-goal, deflected off Kiko Olivas, but prompted by Vinicius weaving run and shot, the kind of exuberance Madrids toothless attack has been so bereft of in recent weeks.

Vinicius celebrated by running over to the bench and hugging Solari. He knows the youngster better than anyone at the club, having managed him with Castilla this season.

Previous coach Julen Lopetegui had, understandably, decided Madrids B team was the best place for Vinicius to settle but with every chance missed, the youngsters reputation has swelled.

Lopetegui had repeatedly bemoaned a lack of luck too during his bad run and even that appeared to turn in Solaris favour. Vinicius shot cannoned in off Olivas between Valladolid twice hitting the crossbar and Karim Benzema winning a dubious late penalty.

When the ball wont go in you have to keep calm, Ramos said. You have to ignore the uncertainty that is created. Finally, we have a positive result for our confidence.

There were whistles at half-time from the home crowd, and during the second half as well, but cheers, perhaps of relief, at the end.

Gareth Bale was not on the pitch to hear them after he had been replaced in the 71st minute with the team still searching for a goal.

Madrid, however, head into Wednesdays Champions League game against Viktoria Plzen with their first win in six league games, as well as their own confidence boosted and their coachs momentum enhanced.

This is an experienced group, not a bunch of kids, Solari said. They have found themselves too.

Source: NAN

American TV host, Ellen DeGeneres has donated $100,000 to Emeka Nnaka, a paralysed Nigerian-American footballer.

Nnaka, 30, born of Nigerian descent, but raised in Macon, Georgia had a footballer accident nine years ago at 21 and his friends had been trying to raise the amount with a GoFundMe account.

The TV host said during her show that she wanted to surprise him for his good deeds and dedication towards helping others, in which over 50 persons had written letters to her describing how incredible he was.

Nnaka, since his accident nine years ago had been engaged in helping others, especially at-risk youth in his community.

The footballer had an accident, while playing for a semi-pro football team and tackled an opponent during a game in Arkansas.

He was said to have undergone a nine-hour neck surgery and spent 10 days in intensive care before returning to Tulsa, partially paralyzed

Meanwhile, his apartment building, along with his belongings was said to have been engulfed by fire on Sept 19 and the van that allows him to drive himself was totaled and needed to be replaced.

The footballer is said to be an asset to the Tulsa community by being an advocate for the physically challenged and countless other community projects.

Nnaka, who is a board member for Tulsa Transit has been heavily involved in raising money for the Tulsa United Way, as part of Tulsa Beyond Initiative to redesign and reimagine Tulsa high schools.

He serves as a councilor for displaced and troubled youth and Emeka inspires, encourages, and educates students and fellow citizens as a motivational speaker.

Emeka was injured in an Oklahoma Thunder football game 9 years ago and uses his experience to motivate people to not let their circumstances define them but use them to propel them to do and be better.

Source: NAN

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has ordered the organised labour, comprising the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress not to embark on its indefinite strike scheduled to commence on November 6.

Justice Sanusi Kado, on Friday, gave the order in a ruling on an ex parte application moved on behalf of the Federal Government by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata.

Agreeing with Apata, Justice Kado ruled that if the strike is allowed it would lead to huge economic loss to both public and private institutions and could jeopardise the health of many Nigerians who would not be able to access health facilities during the period.

The organised labour had threatened to commence an indefinite strike action to press for the increase in the national minimum wage from the current N18,000.

The last meeting of the tripartite negotiation committee on the minimum wage had ended in deadlock after the Federal Government insisted that it could only afford to pay N25,000, while the governors under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum had held on to N22,500 and the labour N30,000.

Apart from the NLC and the TUC, the NGF is also joined as a defendant in the suit.

Justice Kado adjourned the matter till November 8 for the hearing of the motion on notice seeking the interlocutory injunction to stop the strike.

The judge ordered that the court order and other papers be filed on all the defendants.

Coined from Punch

Source: NAN

Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has picked a woman, Hajiya Hadiza Balarabe as running mate for the 2019 elections.

El-Rufai announced his choice on his Twitter handle today.

His present deputy, Architect Barnabas Bala Bantex has opted to contest the Kaduna South senatorial seat.

Hadiza Balarabe, a medical doctor from Sanga council in Kaduna south, is the executive secretary of Kaduna Primary Health Care Development Agency.

She will be the first elected female Deputy Governor in Kaduna State, El-Rufai tweeted.

According to Daily Trust, Hadiza is a Numana by tribe and hails from Gwantu was attending a conference in Kenya when she was summoned home by El-Rufai.

If elected, She will be the second female deputy governor of the state after Mrs Pamela Sadauki.

Shes a trained medical consultant on public health and primary health care.

She obtained her MBBS from the University of Maiduguri in 1988. She had worked as a public health consultant, public health physician, Federal Capital Territory Primary Health Care Board, and director public health, Federal Capital Territory Administration.

Source: NAN

Oil prices fell on Friday as surging output by the worlds three largest producers, United States, Russia and Saudi Arabia, outweighed supply concerns from the start of U.S. sanctions next week against Irans petroleum exports.

Front-month Brent crude futures were at $72.60 per barrel at 0441 GMT on Friday, down 29 cents, or 0.4 percent, from their last close.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 24 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $63.45 a barrel.

Brent has fallen by over 12 percent since the beginning of October, while WTI has lost more than 13 percent in value.

More troubling is the shift in structure towards contango, U.S. investment bank Jefferies said on Friday.

Contango implies oversupply as it means prices for future delivery are higher than for immediate dispatch.

This makes it attractive for traders to store oil for later sale, although Jefferies said spreads are still insufficient to encourage physical storage.

Prices for April 2019 delivery are around 20 cents above January.

Downward pressure on oil is also visible in the physical market, where Saudi Arabia is expected to cut December crude prices amid higher supply and a glut in refined products that has eroded refinery profits.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) boosted oil production in October to 33.31 million barrels per day (bpd), a Reuters survey found this week, up 390,000 bpd from September and the highest by OPEC since December 2016.

In the United States, crude production has established itself well over 11 million bpd, and the U.S. is now running neck and neck with Russia for the title of top producer.

Russian production has risen to record high of 11.41 million bpd in October, up from 11.36 million bpd in September.

With Saudi Arabia pumping 10.65 million bpd in October, combined output from the top-three oil producers is at a record 33.41 million bpd, meaning that Russia, the United States and Saudi Arabia meet more than a third of the worlds almost 100 million bpd of consumption.

This surge has driven the market into oversupply, Jefferies said.

Despite surging output, concerns lingered ahead of the start of U.S. sanctions against Irans petroleum exports from next week.

Irans biggest oil customers, all in Asia, are seeking sanction waivers.

Potential waivers appear targeted at India and South Korea, and they require some reductions over current import volumes while still allowing oil to flow, said Clayton Allen of Height Securities.

We think Trump will agree to China importing some volumes, similar to the treatment that India and South Korea receive, he said.

Japan is seeking a similar deal.

Despite these efforts, analysts said any potential Iranian oil sanction waivers would likely only be temporary.

The U.S. may use waivers to slow-walk implementation, but these will not apply indefinitely, he added.

Goldman Sachs said it expects Irans crude oil exports to fall to 1.15 million bpd by the end of the year, down from around 2.5 million bpd in mid-2018.

We still expect that the global oil market will be in deficit in 4Q18, the U.S. bank said.

By the end of 2019, however, Goldman expects Brent to fall to $65 a barrel, largely due to the unleashing of Permian (U.S. shale) supply growth once new pipelines come online.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has got an attestation certificate and confirmation of school certificate result from the West African Examination Council, Special Adviser Mr. Femi Adesina disclosed today.

Adesina, who is special adviser on media and publicity disclosed this on Twitter Friday afternoon and taunted the Presidents critics, who have been wailing over his certificate.

WAEC presents attestation certificate and confirmation of school cert result to President Buhari. What will the naysayers say next?

Femi Adesina (@FemAdesina)

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Registrar of the Council, Dr Iyi Uwadiae, made the presentation at the presidents mini conference hall at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.

Uwadiae,who was accompanied by senior staff of the council, performed the ceremony during a courtesy visit to the State House.

The presentation was witnessed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu and other presidential aides.

Like in 2014, there was a renewed controversy over the school certificate of President Buhari in recent weeks, following the publication of his credentials for the February 2019 election.

According to INEC, the president said his school certificate result and other academic credentials were with the Nigerian military, which he served from 1961-1985, retiring as head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Oct. 26 challenged Buhari to show proof of his integrity by presenting his academic credentials if he has any, to the INEC.

One critic even went to court to challenge him to produce the certificate, a move that was needless, considering that the president since 1961 after he finished his secondary education, had attained further education, leading to a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies at US War College.

Buhari was born on 17 December 1942 in Daura and began attending Central Primary School in the town at the age of six.

He spent three years in the primary school, from where he went to to Katsina Middle School. Following the abolition of the middle school system, he became one of the first students to be admitted to Kankia Primary School in 1954; he graduated in 1955.

In 1956 he proceeded to the Katsina Provincial Secondary School. There he became a School Monitor in Class II; a school prefect; a House Captain; and ultimately Head Boy of the school.

He was also at different times, a long distance runner (800 metres); a debater for his house; a player in the schools hockey team, and the head of his unit in the schools military cadet. He graduated in 1961 and joined the army immediately. In those days, the military recruited from the secondary schools and he and his peers were so attracted to the army.

In the army, the president also had further education. He attended the Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC) in 1962.

From 1962 to 1963, Buhari underwent officer cadet training at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot in England.

In January 1963, at age 20, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and appointed Platoon Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

From November 1963 to January 1964, Buhari attended the Platoon Commanders Course at the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna.

In 1964, he attended the Mechanical Transport Officers Course at the Army Mechanical Transport School in Borden, United Kingdom.

He also attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India, in 1973 and capped it with a masters degree at the US Army War College.

This was between 1979 to 1980, when he was a colonel. At the war college, he gained a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies.

Source: NAN

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

A staff of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Lagos has Committed suicide. The staff whose name is withheld, jumped off the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos into the lagoon.

However, contrary to reports in various media saying that the victim was a journalist, an FRCN staff confirmed to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity that the late victim was a driver.

Our correspondent reports that the deceased was a driver who recently retired but was re-absorbed on a contract basis pending when he gets his retirement benefits.

He was said to be attached to the Director of IT, Lagos operations of the FRCN.

He late driver had pretended that he wanted to ease himself, but after alighting from the commercial bus which he was riding in along with some of his colleagues, he immediately dived into the lagoon.

Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command responded immediately to the incident, but could not rescue the reporter.

After a joint effort by Marine Police and local divers, his corpse was eventually recovered and has been taken to the Ebute Ero Police division.

Kehinde Adebayo, spokesman LASEMA, confirmed that efforts were being made to transfer the deceaseds corpse to the mortuary.

Source: NAN

By Kate Obande-Okewu

Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, on Friday inaugurated a fact-finding committee on National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and advised it to eschew bias in its assignment.

This is coming few days after

At the ceremony in Abuja, Mustapha told members of the Independent Fact-Finding Panel that NHIS had been involved in various crises, which had led to the suspension of its Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf.

He said that the crises had also called for the scrapping of the Health Management Organisations (HMO) operating in the scheme.

President Muhammadu Buhari is passionate about the health of the citizens; so, as part of the crises, it had become necessary to set up a panel that will investigate the infractions in the scheme.

The panel has two weeks to complete the assignment and all hands must be on deck to ensure that you deliver to the satisfaction of the president, Mustapha said.

In her remarks, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Iya, assured the panel of her support and guidance in carrying out its assignment.

Oyo-Ita, who was represented by the Director, IPPIS, OHCSF, Mrs Anne Attah, said that all civil servants were enrolled on the NHIS and that its success was important for the progress of the civil service.

She expressed confidence in the Chairman of the panel, Dr Hassan Bukar, stating that as a former permanent secretary, he knew the rules and regulations of the civil service.

On his part, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, commended the SGF for his prompt intervention in the NHIS issue.

Adewole promised to help the panel in speeding up the discharge of the assignment to enable it to deliver on time, adding that the problem of NHIS was deeply rooted.

I promise to help speed up the process of the panel and once the report is turned in, it will be implemented immediately, he said.

Accepting the responsibility, Chairman of the panel, Bukar, said that it was a rare privilege to be bestowed with such confidence and responsibility by the government.

He noted that the task was onerous, but assured that the panel would ensure that it delivered on time.

Bukar added that the panel would work assiduously to restore NHIS to its glory.

The panel will investigate alleged infractions listed by the NHIS Governing Council in its letter of Oct. 18, 2018 and determine the extent of culpability or otherwise of the Executive Secretary.

It is mandated to make appropriate recommendations, including on issues that led to the unhealthy relationship between the board and the chief executive officer of the scheme.

It will also investigate and make recommendations on the extent of involvement of staff unions within the organisation to the impasse between the board and executive secretary.

Mrs Jummai Idakwo, OSGF, is Secretary of the panel, which has Dr Emmanuel Meribole , Director, Federal Ministry of Health and Mr Adewale Owolo , Director, Audit, Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (OAGF), as members.

Other are Mr Shamsuddeen Bello, Deputy Director, Expenditure, OSGF; Mr Ishaq Yahaya , Director, Certification and Compliance, Bureau of Public Procurement and Dr Ekanem Udoh, Director, Science, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.

Source: NAN

Police said they have bust a gang which specialises in baby selling for as much as N700,000 each to willing buyers, even across the border in Benin Republic.

Chief Superintendent of police, Aremu Adeniran, who is the deputy force public relations officer unveiled the three-person gang in Abuja today.

The gangs kingpin is a 52 year-old woman, Chief Lilian Nma Achumba, who runs a charity home in Aba, Abia state.

A Police investigating team was stunned when it found 35 pregnant girls and six children and a day old baby at the Nma Charity and Rehabilitation Centre,Umunkpeyi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government in Abia.

The team was led there by two of the suspects, initially arrested at the Idi-Iroko border in Ogun state on 20 July. They were caught with two newly-born babies, meant for smuggling for sale in Benin Republic.

Upon interrogation, the two suspects, 44 year old Emmanuel Chigozie Elesuwa and 33 year-old Chioma David, a woman confessed they bought the babies at N350,000 each at Nma Charity home and they were taking them to Benin to sell at N700,000 each.

According to Adeniran, investigation into the case by the Anti-Human Trafficking and Women/Children Protection Unit of the Force revealed that the suspects arrested are notorious criminals that deal in buying and selling of babies and children within and outside Nigeria.

Consequently, the suspects, Emmanuel Chigozie Elesuwa and Chioma David, admitted and confessed to the Police investigation team that they are members of a criminal gang that specialize in buying and selling of new born babies and children within and outside Nigeria and have been in operation for over ten years.

During interrogation and further investigation into the roles played by Chief Lilian Nma Achumba , the owner of Nma Charity Home in Aba, Abia State indicted in the confession of the two suspects, it was discovered that the purpose of establishing the Orphanage Home is to harvest babies for sale and she also operate other branches of the orphanage home in Port-harcourt and some other parts of the Country.

The police spokesman said 28 of the 36 pregnant girls or women and three children found at the Nma charity home, have been handed over to the Ministry of Strategy and Social Development, Umuahia, Abia State and all have since been re-united with their families after receiving medical attention.

The Principal suspect Chief Lilian Nma Achumba has admitted and confessed to her criminal roles in the case, Adeniran said.

Achumba also revealed she has other branches of the orphanage in Port-harcourt and some other parts of the country.

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on assumption of Office on the 22nd June, 2016 expanded the Anti-Human Trafficking and Women/Children Protection Unit of the Force under the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID).

The Anti-Human Trafficking and Women/Children Protection Unit of the Force in compliance with the directives and their expanded mandate have been working in synergy with relevant agencies of Government in the fight against the trafficking of persons and abuse of rights and privileges of women and children.

Police said investigation is being intensified to uncover other illegal orphanage branches being operated by Achumba , to rescue victims and arrest other members of the syndicate still at large.

Source: NAN

The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, Friday, said the controversy concerning President Muhammadu Buharis school certificate is embarrassing and felt a sense of duty to produce and deliver to him a confirmation and attestation of his results, in form of a duplicate certificate.

This is a god-sent, with WAEC being a non-political entity. This should put to rest the absurd allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, brought up again and again, that he did not attend a secondary school.

The unreasonable position of the PDP had been sustained all along in spite of testimony by classmates who read with him in school and graduated together, and that fact that a court of law had given a ruling on the matter.

In 2014-2015 when they raked up the issue, I remember that it took the courage of the then college Principal to issue a statement of results from available records. In doing so, he defied the ruling PDP government in the state which asked him not to.

At the time we got the results sheet, reports said that the government had determined to send arsonists to burn the school to ashes so that the existing records will be obliterated.

This was against the backdrop of the shocking claim by the Army Records office in Lokoja, that they didnt keep any records of General Buhari as a military officer.

Curiously, the Army Records office had once come under Muhammadu Buhari, as Military Secretary who, during his tenure streamlined the records of the entire officer corps, and could not, by any stretch of imagination, have left his own records in a mess. General Alani Akinrinade (Rtd) reportedly dismissed this mischief as an insult to the military.

After doing his consciences duty by daringly releasing those results, the then government of Katsina State punished the Principal by stripping him of his seniority and posting.

As we said in a number of past statements, the matter of the Presidents qualification to run for office is a non-issue, nonetheless feasted upon by the PDP which has stopped thinking and have nothing to offer to Nigerians.

Based on arguments that education gives a human being the power to discriminate between right and wrong, the 1999 Constitution stipulates a minimum educational qualification for citizens who intend to contest for elections at all levels, which requires that they must possess a secondary school education or its equivalent.

The provision above has itself come under serious re-examination by scholars who argue that the possession of a secondary school certification does not necessarily mean that a person is intelligent. It is equally argued that it is a mistake to assume that a person with a certificate has higher knowledge or intelligence than the one who doesnt have.

In an article published by the Daily Trust a day or so ago, Professor Shehu Zuru quoted Wendy Sherman, the author of the book Not For The Faint Heart, that courage and integrity are critical attributes that you cannot acquire from a classroom because they are the inert fabrics of human conscience that dictates the power of the negative and the power of the positive.

As far as his educational career is concerned, President Buhari attended the Katsina Provincial Secondary School, before enrolling in the Nigerian Military Training College, NMTC Kaduna (1962), renamed Nigerian Defence Academy, in 1964.

As narrated by Major-General Sani Saleh (Rtd), I worked at the Nigerian Defence Academy so I know the processes. You cannot get in with a forged certificate, it is impossible.

At the time (Muhammadu Buhari enrolled), the army was still controlled by the BritishNigerian Army was a select and (an) elite organisation, we had very few Army Officers at that time. I dont think the whole Nigerian Army Officers were up to 50. You can imagine what it takes for you as a Nigerian to be one of thoseand today, somebody will be accusing you that you dont have a certificate.

From NMTC, Muhammadu Buhari went to the Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, United Kingdom (1962-63), the Defence Services Staff College, India (1973) and thereafter, United States Army War College, which upon completion, awarded its graduates a Masters degree in strategic studies.

In the belief that the nation has the right to know the educational details of their president, Candidate Muhammadu Buhari laid bare everything and tendered an affidavit in respect of the WAEC certificate.

The masquerades wielding the real power behind the PDP, some of whom played an active part in his overthrow as military Head of State in the mid-eighties are deliberate in keeping this issue alive. As a thoroughbred, toughened general, he wont cry out that his home and office were vandalised by scoopers when they threw him out of power.

In meeting the eligibility for the contest in 2015, President Buhari presented the WAEC results and the other degree and non-degree related results. He went through the verification process in the party, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the court. He ran and won against the PDP.

With these, the unnecessary controversy should have ended. It is equally hard to fathom how such a dead issue should get the type of attention given it by the media, considering the many matters of serious concern to the citizens internal security that was given a short shrift for 16 years by the PDP; the diversification of the economy by focusing on key sectors (apart from oil) that can create jobs and generate revenue such as Agriculture, Solid Minerals and Manufacturing which the Buhari administration is keenly doing; the ongoing pursuit of more reforms and better governance; bolstered efforts towards poverty alleviation; ending corruption and insurgency and ploughing the savings therefrom to put in place needed infrastructure and so forth.

Do they know that Nigeria Airways, NITEL and other pensioners they left in the cold, unpaid when they sold public assets to cronies or to themselves are getting their dues under this dispensation? If these things had been done when the oil price was as high as US$140 per barrel, Nigeria would not be in the current predicament. We would not have suffered when we had no cash reserves but we had regular supply of power, a good rail system, good roads and good housing. These are the issues dear to the hearts of our people.

In its political fight for 2019, the PDP is not relying on the big issues of the day -security, corruption and jobs but on small, distractive matters that take little or no account of national interest. But what do you expect of a group that has stopped thinking, just blowing hot, toxic air, indulging in divisive politics and is raking up sectional issues so that the people will forget the real issues of corruption, infrastructure, security and economy for which they have no plans?

Source: NAN

Mr Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), says the party will approach the court on its ban by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from fielding candidates for elective positions in Zamfara in the 2019 general elections.

Oshiomhole stated this on Friday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the state of affairs of the party.

He said that INEC cannot disenfranchise the people of Zamfara from participating in any of the elections in 2019.

With all due respect, INEC cannot award a state to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or any other political party.

It has to be the decision of the people of Zamfara or any other people in any other state that is going to participate in any of the elections.

I believe the court will look at the law and the rules, and as far as the legal advice we have gotten is concerned, we believe we are on good grounds.

We want to see INEC as an impartial arbiter, and I trust that they will do their very best to maintain their name as an impartial arbiter, Oshiomhole said.

He added that for now, the APC has confidence in INEC, even though according to him, the commission is being pressured by the PDP to do internal reorganisation.

The APC national chairman expressed optimism that the rule of law would prevail at the end of the day, adding that the party has confidence in the judiciary and would always abide by court rulings.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that INEC had on Oct. 10, said that APC was not eligible to field candidates for Governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly positions in Zamfara in the 2019 elections.

The commission in a letter signed by Okechukwu Ndeche, the acting Secretary, said APC was not qualified to field candidates because it failed to conduct primaries in Zamfara within the stipulated time-frame.

Oshiomhole while reacting to the development, had insisted that the party held primaries in Zamfara contrary to INEC position.

Source: NAN

Al Ahly have won the first leg of the lucrative CAF Champions League final, beating Esperance of Tunisia 3-1 at the Borg El Arab Army stadium in Alexandria, Egypt.

Dangerous Winger Walid Soliman scored a brace for the hosts, via penalties in the 34th and 78th minute, while Amr Al Sulaya scored Al Ahlys third goal.

Mohammed Youcef Belaili scored the visitors consolation goal in the 65th also via penalty, in the match watched by

As predicted, it was veteran winger Walid Soliman that did the damage to Esperance, banging in two penalties.

Since joining Al Ahly from domestic side ENPPI in 2011, Soliman enjoyed Champions League glory with the club in 2012 and 2013.

He scored the decisive goal in the aggregate 3-2 victory over Esperance when both sides clashed in the 2012 final. Soliman also won three more CAF titles with the club, namely 2 CAF Super Cups (2013 and 2014) and the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup.

The return match between the two teams will take place on November 9 at the Rads Stadium in Tunis.

Source: NAN

The United States will add 700 individuals and entities to its Iran blacklist and push the SWIFT global banking network to cut Tehran off when it reimposes sanctions Monday in a maximum pressure effort to cripple the countrys economy.

US officials said Friday they were determined to force Tehran to give up its nuclear activities and what the US says is broad support for terrorism in the region, reimposing severe economic penalties six months after President Donald Trumps administration quit the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

There will also be sanctions to cut off Tehrans ability to export oil, the countrys most crucial foreign exchange earner, though US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said eight importers would be given exemptions in exchange for slowing their purchases a bid to avoid upsetting the global crude market.

The reimposition of sanctions is aimed at depriving the regime of the revenues it uses to spread death and destruction around the world, Pompeo said.

Our ultimate aim is to compel Iran to permanently abandon its well-documented outlaw activities and behave as a normal country.

When Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal struck between world powers and Iran, he began reimposing sanctions that had been suspended or removed by his predecessor Barack Obama.

That process will be completed starting from midnight Sunday, US eastern time, when sanctions on the regimes banks, shippers, shipbuilders and oil sector are imposed.

The impact remains in question as other countries, particularly Washingtons European allies, are resisting joining its effort to economically strangle the Tehran regime.

Britain, France, Germany and the European Union strongly condemned the US move, as they did when Washington withdrew in May from the Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The JCPOA is a key element of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture and of multilateral diplomacy, they said.

It is crucial for the security of Europe, the region, and the entire world. The JCPOA is working and delivering on its goal.

Pompeo said the US would grant exemptions to eight countries that have pledged to or have already cut back on purchases of petroleum from Iran, which has long depended on crude exports to power its economy.

He did not name the eight countries, but they are believed to include India, Japan, South Korea, and possibly China.

Irans northern neighbor Turkey said it was one of the eight.

We know Turkey is among the countries that will be given an exemption but we do not have the details, Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said, according to state-run news agency Anadolu.

Pompeo said the countries agreed that the payments for the oil would go into escrow accounts that Iran will only be able to tap for humanitarian trade, or bilateral trade in non-sanctioned goods and services.

Maximum pressure means maximum pressure, Pompeo said.

To punish Iranian banks, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said SWIFT which enables secure bank-to-bank communications and transactions will also face sanctions if it provides services to blacklisted Iranian financial institutions.

The US blacklist includes most major Iranian banks.

That could make it extremely difficult for Iran to do business with other countries.

SWIFT is no different than any other entity, Mnuchin said.

The US wants the Shiite clerical regime to withdraw from war-ravaged Syria, where it is a critical ally of President Bashar al-Assad, and to end longstanding support to regional militant movements Hezbollah and Hamas.

It also wants Iran to stop backing Yemens Huthi rebels, who are facing a US-supported air campaign led by Saudi Arabia.

Its important to keep our eyes on the prize when it comes to Iranian revenues, whether they be derived from oil or any other sort of sanctionable transaction. The goal is to target and tie up these revenues to change Irans calculus, said Behnam Ben Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Source: NAN

Chelsea and England great Frank Lampards Derby County team staged a defensive Halloween horror show on Wednesday night at Stamford bridge, banging in two own goals for Chelsea.

The teams gallant effort to stage a come-back failed as they were dumped out of the Carabao League Cup by their hosts, with a winner by Cesc Fabregas.

All the five goals at the thrilling encounter came in a helter-skelter first half, on a night when there were also fourth-round victories for Arsenal, Tottenham and Middlesbrough.

Two astonishing early defensive errors at Stamford Bridge from Fikayo Tomori on loan from Chelsea and Richard Keogh either side of a Jack Marriott equaliser gave the home side a 2-1 lead.

Undaunted, Lampards side levelled shortly before the half-hour through Martyn Waghorn before Cesc Fabregas restored order for the Premier League high-flyers.

Lampard, one of Chelseas greatest-ever players, received a rapturous reception on his first return to Stamford Bridge as a manager, soaking up the atmosphere before kick-off.

Buoyed by his sides win at Old Trafford against his former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho in the previous round, he was dismayed to witness the errors from his side, which made their task all the harder.

Timori sliced into his own net in the fifth minute, miscuing a clearance when attempting to deal with an innocuous-looking Davide Zappacosta cross.

Midway through the half, lightning struck twice when Keogh failed to deal with another Zappacosta delivery, haplessly steering the ball into his own net.

But the visitors played a full role in a frantic first half, looking sharp as they came forward and were back on level terms before Fabregas scored what turned out to be the decisive goal.

Keogh had a late chance to make amends for his earlier howler but Willy Caballero saved at close range and David Nugent hit the post in the 89th minute, leaving Lampard holding his head in his hands in frustration.

As former Chelsea and Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri looked on from the stands, there was a minutes applause before kick-off in tribute to Leicesters late Thai owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, killed in a helicopter crash on Saturday.

Ten-man Arsenal were made to sweat by League One Blackpool before eventually emerging 2-1 winners, with goals from Stefan Lichtsteiner and Emile Smith-Rowe.

Two goals from Son Heung-min and a strike from Fernando Llorente gave Tottenham a 3-1 win against West Ham while Championship side Middlesbrough upset Premier league outfit Crystal Palace 1-0.

On Tuesday, Burton Albion and Bournemouth booked their places in the quarter-finals while Premier League leaders Manchester City play Fulham on Thursday.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has intervened in the on-going crisis in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) over the suspension of the Executive Secretary Prof. Usman Yusuf by the Governing Council of the Scheme.

The ES who had refused to go on the suspension and had forced his way into the office building a day after he was suspended, has been directed by President Buhari to proceed on administrative leave.

The ES who had been enmeshed in series of controversy included an earlier suspension by the Minister of Health Isaac Adewole, had been quoted many times saying that only President Muhammadu Buhari could suspend him or sack him.

The headquarters of the Scheme had been marred by protests by the labour unions of the scheme who insisted that the Executive Secretary must proceed on the suspension.

Earlier on Tuesday, the two labour unions on Tuesday renewed their resolve to sustain their ongoing protest over the suspension of Prof. Usman Yusuf, the Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), by the Governing Council of the organisation.

The trade unions are the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), and Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN).

Mr Abdulrazak Omomaji, the Chairman of ASCSN, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, while reacting to the statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha.

NAN recalls that Mustapha on Oct. 29 at a retreat for boards and governing councils as well as chief executives of MDAs clarified that as appointees of the President, the boards and councils have no power to suspend any chief executive without recourse to due process.

However, Omomaji said that the union was still awaiting government reaction to their demands over the allegations of maladministration by Yusuf.

He explained that the Act establishing the NHIS was unique that gives the governing council the powers to suspend the executive secretary.

I want to clarify that the Act which establishes the NHIS is different from the other government parastatals which are guided by boards and directors.

The governing council of the NHIS however acted within its jurisdiction, they are the chief security officer of the organisation and have the powers to discipline and suspend.

Let it be clear that Council has not removed Prof. Usman Yusuf, but have asked him to step aside for investigations after which findings will be forwarded to the Minister of Health.

Council is therefore in order, and we shall continue with the protest as we await governments reaction, the chairman said.

NAN recalls that the SGF had explained that no governing board of a federal agency or parastatal has the power to remove the chief executive appointed by the President.

The board may however articulate infractions, investigate wrong doing and make recommendations to government through the supervisory minister, Mustapha said.

He made the clarification at an induction programme for governing board members of federal parastatals, universities and medical centres at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The declaration came amidst controversy over the suspension of Yusuf by the NHIS governing council.

On Oct. 18, the Chairman of the NHIS board, Mrs Ifenne Enyanatu, announced the indefinite suspension of the executive secretary, eight months after a similar suspension by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, was annulled by the Presidency because due process was flawed.

Enyanatu said the governing council resolved to suspend Yusuf because it had received several petitions against the NHIS boss.

She said the board had the permission of the minister of health to suspend Yusuf, pending investigation.

However, Yusuf ignored the order and resumed normal duty.

The direction by President Muhammadu Buhari may have put to rest the issues.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Army said retired Major General Idris Alkali, whose body was found today, would be given a befitting burial.

The leader of the operation search and rescue, Brigadier General Umar Mohammed, said a parade and befitting burial would be held for the retired former Chief of Administration in the Nigerian Army.

The body of Alkali, who was declared missing since September was found in a well in Guchwet village in Shen district of Jos South.

The retired Army general was travelling to his home in Bauchi through Plateau state.

Following his reported disappearance, the Plateau State Police Command on October 25, declared the District Head of Dura Du Village in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State and seven others wanted.

The suspects were declared wanted after preliminary investigations indicating that they masterminded the abduction, assault and caused the disappearance of the retired army officer.

The Nigerian Army on September 20, 2018, began a search and rescue operation and troops from the 3 Division were deployed to Dura Du village.

Commander of the division and leader of the search mission, Brigadier-General Umar Mohammed, said that preliminary investigation showed that the missing officers vehicle was seen close to a pond in the area.

Nine days later, the army found the vehicle in the pond. When it was pulled out, some items belonging to the major general were found but he wasnt in the vehicle.

The 58-year-old Major General enlisted as Officer Cadet at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1980 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1983.

He was posted to the Infantry Corps on commission but was redeployed to the Intelligence Corps.

Idris holds two masters degrees from the US National Defense University (NDU) in Washington DC the first is Master of Science in National Security Strategy obtained from the National War College while the second is Master of Arts in Strategic Security Studies obtained from the College of International Security Affairs.

He also holds a Graduate Certificate in International Counterterrorism from NDU, a bachelors degree in War Studies from University of Baluchistan, Quetta, Pakistan; and a Postgraduate Diploma, in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Westminster, London, UK.

Source: NAN

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who lost out in the primaries to remain faithful and hold fast on integrity to the nation.

A statement issued by the Presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Wednesday, said Buhari gave the charge at a dinner with the APC Aspirants Forum at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday night.

The president said the primary motivation to contest elections should be to improve the country and not for pecuniary reasons.

We must maintain our faith in the country, he told the coalition of party members who contested the primaries.

President Buhari said he contested presidential elections three times before coming to power in 2015.

He therefore promised them that providence will always pave the way for the just, committed and patient politician who wants to truly serve the country.

He told the aspirants that those who mismanaged the resources of the country are still very much around, with incredible wealth.

He warned them to be vigilant and circumspect in making choices, saying the future would only be salvaged by those who love the country.

He said: I spoke with the APC party chairman almost every other day, at least for an hour during the primaries.

And sometimes, we met for two and half hours on ensuring internal democracy during the primaries.

He pointed out that in spite of all efforts to appease everyone and give them a chance at the polls; some aspirants were still not treated fairly.

I urge you to stay faithful if your objective is to serve the country.

I came back to power in this agbada to convince Nigerians to make sacrifices that the country needs now for a better future, he added.

In his remarks, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, said the meeting was organised to address grievances and fallout of the APC primary elections across the country.

He said it would be unfortunate to allow the grievances overshadow the challenges before the country, assuring the aspirants that government would assuage their yearnings to serve the country.

Malami said they should work collectively with the president in building the party and setting up a framework that would ensure healthier relationships and better internal democracy.

The leader of the APC Aspirants Forum, Hon. Yusuf Banki, gave assurance that the network of 7,000 members would work to ensure President Buharis victory at the polls in 2019.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Army has recovered the body of the missing Gen. Idris Alkali.

The body was found in an abandoned well in Guchwet, Jos South LG, said Brig. Gen. Umar Mohammed, the Garrison Commander 3 Division of the Nigerian Army.

Alkali was the former Chief of Administration, Army Headquarters Abuja. He was declared missing on his way to Bauchi after leaving Abuja in the morning of Sept. 3.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.Gen. Tukur Buratai, set up an operation to search for him.

The army said that after a thorough search and investigation, they narrowed their search to a mining pond in Dura-Du in Jos South local government of Plateau.

After two weeks of draining the pond, the car of the missing general and two other cars were recovered. Also a Toyota bus was fished out of the pond.

Brig. Gen. Umar Mohammed, Garrison Commander 3 Division Nigeria Army, said that they were led to the well by one of those suspects earlier arrested in connection with the crime.

He said that the operation was jointly carried out by men of the Nigeria Police and the Fire Service.

Umar said that with the recovery of the body, they were left with one task to ensure that those declared wanted in connection with the crime were brought to book.

The COAS gave us three terms of reference, to get the missing senior officer dead or alive, to recover his car and to ensure that those who committed the crime were punished.

We have today fulfilled the second condition, we will not rest until we meet the third.

We want to assure those that are on the run to know that we are on their trail and we must get them, he vowed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the body of the missing general was moved into an ambulance after military parade by his course mates.

Many arrests were made and the district head of Dura was declared wanted. He gave himself up to the police.

Source: NAN

By Ibrahim Bello

The Kebbi Government says it will procure vaccines worth N14 million to protect livestock against various animals diseases in the 21 local government areas of the state.

Mr Tanko Magaji, the Permanent Secretary for the State Ministry of Animal Husbandry disclosed on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi.

We have gotten an approval from Gov. Atiku Bagudu for the procurement of animals vaccines worth N14 million to vaccinate our animals, he said.

Magaji said the vaccines to be procured included, lung anti-biotic, anti-biotic and anti-stress among others.

He said that the state had veterinary doctors in all the area councils including border towns to check incoming and outgoing livestock and guard against outbreak of animal diseases.

He added thatThe state has five zones where we administer vaccines to animals for easy and effective coverage.

The zones are: Argungu, Birnin Kebbi, Yauri, Koko and Zuru local government areas.

The permanent secretary also said the ministry had already overcome the problem of suspected anthrax from the Benin Republic.

The fact is that we have Arewa, Bagudo and Dandi Local Government Areas where borders are close to Benin Republic, so we took necessary measures to vaccinate animals.

We vaccinated 449, 573 cattle and 421,774 sheep in the previous exercise against the suspected anthrax in Benin Republic, he noted. (NAN)

Source: NAN