The Nigeria Police have confirmed the arrest of three suspects for vote buying in Saturdays Osun governorship election.

The suspects are Muriat Olalekan, Hamzat Muniru, and Adeagbo Wasiu.

The force spokesman, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, said on Saturday in Abuja that the suspects were allegedly arrested in the act of vote buying.

Moshood said the arrest followed the deployment of operatives of IGP Monitoring Unit and the Intelligence Response Team of the Force.

The spokesman said that the sum of N720, 000 was recovered from the suspects.

He said investigation into the cases was ongoing and the suspects would be arraigned on completion of investigation. ( NAN)

Source: NAN

The Independent National Electoral (INEC) has warned against announcing or publishing false election results as the collation of the Osun governorship election results is underway.

The Commission gave the warning on Saturday through its twitter handle @inecnigeria.

It said that the official results would be available as announced by the election Returning Officer.

Announcing or publishing a false election result is an offence.

It is a criminal offence punishable by a term of imprisonment.

The official #OsunDecides2018 results will be uploaded on our platforms as declared by the Returning Officer, the commission said.

Source: NAN

Youths on the platform of Coalition of Ebonyi Youths Organisation on Saturday embarked on a solidarity walk to mobilise the people for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The youths, 2019 Buhari /Ogbuoji Youth Support Network, declared their support to the re-election of President Buhari in 2019 and the election Sen. Sonni Ogbuoji as the next governor of Ebonyi in 2019.

The group said its commitment to the projects were due to Buharis outstanding performance and credible representation of Ogbuoji.

The spokesman of the coalition, Mr Eseni Ukoh, in an interview with journalists after the road walk, said that Buhari has demonstrated his ability to take Nigeria to the next level.

What Nigerians want is good and transparent governance that will stimulate economic growth and development to improve the standard of living of the people, Ukoh said.

The president promised to tackle insecurity, corruption, power, unemployment; improve infrastructure and agriculture and his achievements in these areas can be seen everywhere.

Ogbuoji is the only aspirant among other aspirants from the various political parties that possesses the experience, capacity and capability to wrest power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

He is a sitting senator, a former Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Job Creation and one time chairman of the old Afikpo Local Government Area.

His entry into the All Progressives Congress (APC) has helped to restructure and reposition the party and the evidence is what we are witnessing today.

We are appealing to both the national and state leadership of APC to give him the partys ticket and to let them know that no other aspirant that can deliver Ebonyi people from bad governance than Ogbuoji, he added.

The coordinator who also spoke on the alleged recall of Ogbuoji by some group allegedly sponsored by politicians in the state, described the exercise as a show of shame and an exercise in futility.

They are only being afraid of the senator because they know that he is the only person that has all it takes to oust the sitting governor.

These people are very jittery and that is why they have employed all sorts of devious, laughable and anti democratic means to distract the senator.

There are processes to follow in recalling a serving lawmaker by his or her constituents and not at a political rally.

Ogbuoji is the only credible, experienced and competent person to lead the state and take Ebonyi people from the shackles of heavy taxation, political stagnation and general maladministration, Ukoh said.

The spokesman stressed that the coalition with membership drawn from across the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi would not rest on its oars until Buhari is re-elected in 2019 and Ogbuoji emerged the next Ebonyi governor.

The Legislative Assistant to Ogbuoji, Mr Ifeanyi Ogba who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), commended the youths for the solidarity march and urged youths to support the re-election of Buhari and Ogbuoji s gubernatorial aspiration.

This is not a political rally, it is a road walk organised by a coalition of about five youths organisations to support the re-election of Buhari and the election of Ogbuoji as governor.

The road walk commenced from Ishieke park at Water Works Road through Vanco and moved down to Ogbuoji s campaign office along the Abakaliki-Enugu highway.

I commend the youths for the orderly conduct and the display of their zeal for a change in the governance of Ebonyi in 2019. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Victor Adeoti/Ogbagba

Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Osun election, says voting-buying has negatively affected the exercise.

Akinbade spoke to newsmen in Ogbagba after the accreditation and voting exercise.

Vote-buying has cast shadows on the governorship election. Vote-buying had taken the shine off the election,he said/

However, he commended voters for ensuring a peaceful electoral process.

The former Secretary to the State Government, who voted at his Obas Compound, Ward 3, Polling Unit 1 at 10.35am, also said that the nations democracy was improving on all fronts.

By and large, we are inching gradually to a convenient point in our polity.

Everybody involved in this election should be commended; the INEC officials, security agents, electorate, politicians and others.

At least, reported cases of electoral violence are limited, apart from the incidence of vote buying that dotted everywhere while the exercise lasted.

We just hope something will be done to it in organised electoral engagements in the future, Akinbade said.

The ADC standard bearer appealed to the people of the state to remain peaceful and not promote violence after the release of the result.

Source: NAN

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has resolved to be an aspirant on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to compete with Adamawa governor Muhammadu Bindow for the 2019 election.

Ribadu said he decided to challenge Bindow because the governor had not provided concrete service to the people.

He told party official at the state secretariat on Saturday in Yola, that Bindow performed below expectation, as such the APC needs a new face to make a difference.

Give me the chance and opportunity to make the difference. Our dear state is facing a number of developmental challenges that require urgent, holistic and strategic handling.

We do not need cosmetics, which do not address fundamental issues that are cornerstone to our development as a people. It takes visionary leadership with capacity and modern thinking to provide that needed redirection, beyond deceptive makeup.

It is this much-needed leadership that I promise to offer to our people. I come with genuine intention and I have a burning passion to change the fortunes of our people for good.

With all sense of humility, I believe I possess the requisite credentials, both academic and character, required to move this state forward. I will run an all-inclusive government where all stakeholders like you truly have stakes, Ribadu said.

He urged party officials to ensure level playing ground for all aspirants.

As we move into the primaries, what we require from you, our party leaders, is utmost level of responsibility by allowing free and fair contest.

We cannot afford to manipulate our party into failure. Injustice can never stand. Even if it does, it would be on shaky foundations which can collapse at any time.

Therefore, skewing a process like the primaries to favour one person, even though unpopular, may only lead our great party to failure, something no genuine party member would desire.

Responding, the Adamawa APC chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Bilal, lauded Ribadu for his commitment to the party and assured him and other aspirants of level playing field.

I want to assure you of free and fair primaries and the commitment of the party executives to fully support any candidate that emerge, Bilal said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that apart from Ribadu and Bindow, another aspirant, Dr Halilu Ahmed is also seeking the partys endorsement to fly its flag for the governorship race. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Saturday commissioned new power transformers at Okpella substation to boost electricity supply to Edo north, especially in major towns of Auchi, Okpella and Igarra.

The 1x60MVA ,132,33kv power transformer would also service some major towns in Estako, and Akoko Edo local governments.

TCN had also successfully installed 40MVA at Auchi 132, 33kv substation.

The new installation at Okpella was to improve on the old 1x15MVA,132/33Kv substation which had limited capacity to adequately supply electricity to Okpella, BUA cement company, Aghenebode town and environs.

Because of the limitation, TCN awarded the contract for the reinforcement of the substation in 2012 to Messers Power Control and Appliances (PCA) to add 160 MVA,13/33kv transformer to increase the quality of supply in the area.

The Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), Prof. James Momoh, commissioned the transformer in company of Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo.

He said communities in Edo north had been experiencing poor electricity supply over the years.

He said that this had impacted negatively on the industrial development of the zone and the state in general.

The villages around here witness low voltage, meaning there is no impact in development, it cannot touch industrialisation that we want because the quality of supply is very low.

Because we are unable to harness power, industries cannot spring up in Edo, where we have all the vegetation, we have all the minerals.

The lop-sidedness in supply made it very impossible for distribution to get to our villages.

He explained that the provision of the new additional power transformer in the substation was for the interest of the Edo people, adding that the Okpella community must maintain and protect the facility.

It will serve Okpella cement factory, it will serve other people, but we want to make sure we create jobs, we create industries. It will bring relief to our people; it will transform the economy of the state.

Momoh, who promised to ensure improved power supply in Edo also commended TCN management and its in-house engineers for installing the power transformer.

TCN engineers have done many installations in the country, they are saving money for Nigeria.

Responding, Obaseki said that the initiative of TCN had just ignited the starting of industrial revolution in the state.

We thanked TCN and NERC for what they are doing in the electricity industry.
The issue of electricity supply was at the front burner during my campaign and you have help up spark up electricity supply via this initiative by increasing the capacity of the substation with over 300 per cent.

He said that the state government would continue to support TCN in the discharge of its duties, especially on resolving the onerous challenge of right of way on transmission lines.

He appealed to NERC to prevail on Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to improve its supply to customers, saying that BEDC was underperforming in the state.

The Managing Director of TCN, Mr Usman Mohammed said that the installation of the 60MVA 132,33kv in Okpella was consistent with the industrial policy of Edo government.

He attributed it to the existence of huge mineral deposits like limestone in the area.

He said that the installation would improve power supply to BUA cement company, Aghenebode town, Igara and many other communities in the state.
According to Mohammed, the installation of the 1x60MVA at Okpella substation will also increase the total wheeling capacity of TCN to 7,124MW.

He said that TCN would soon complete the installation of another 30MVA on the station and re-conduct the Benin, Irua Auchi, Okpella, and Okene 132 substations.

He said that this would enable the optimum use of the capacity being installed on the Okpella station.

We are adding 100MVA at Irua, 150MVA at Benin, and another 100MVA at Benin transmission station, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Presidency has said the political career of Sen. Bukola Saraki, has shown that he is a very dangerous person who can go any length to promote his personal interests.

The language of the campaign of the PDP’s presidential aspirant is such that could not be used against a domestic help.

“Is he just knowing that the President lacked vision?’’

Presidency said that Buhari was someone that the Saraki had worked with very closely for more than three years. “Amazingly, he never said all that he is now saying against him.’’

“Rather, his word for and on the President were always respectful and reassuring. That’s the man he called “My Father,” about him “there is no cause for alarm…a President who is healthy, witty and himself.” What then changed, all of a sudden?

“Is he saying these blatantly false and crude things against the President because he is gunning for the same office?

“Could it be that he is targeting President Buhari because the party he has just joined does not have any real issues to highlight?

“Be that as it may, our appeal to our supporters is to ignore Saraki and any such politicians bent on lowering the quality of political discourse. Let them drown in their own waters.’’

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, condemned Saraki’s remarks in Abuja and enjoined all groups and supporters of President Buhari’s candidature in 2019 presidential election to always ignore the offensive speeches by the PDP aspirant.

He advised support groups to ignore the “crude and extremely derogatory’’ speeches by Saraki and other PDP presidential aspirants against President Buhari.

It urged supporters to always put their points in more decent language and display maturity instead of joining issue with Saraki and other PDP’s aspirants.

Saraki, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is one of the PDP presidential aspirants.

“The Presidency wishes to react to the crude speeches hitting the news from Senator Bukola Saraki who recently joined the Peoples Democratic Party with the sole ambition of running as the president of Nigeria.

“In response to the condemnable and extremely derogatory speeches by the PDP aspirant, we urge all Buhari supporters to display restraint in language and conduct and to always put across their points of view in a decent language.

Food security is not a thing to be undermined by anyone practicing Agriculture especially as it relates to crop production. Virtually every one of us will fret when asked to consume a poisonous substance – such (substance) is definitely not something to munch or swallow – but sometimes these toxic substances find their way into the things we eat. It could be in the process of production, processing, packaging or handling, and they seem to exist in trace amount in food items and could cause the human body system one degree of harm or the other upon ingestion.

In this article however, I will like to briefly talk about fertilizers while focusing on companies that are known to produce organic fertilizers. Fertilizers are, of course, used for boosting the quantity and quality of plants and there are basically two types – the organic and inorganic fertilizers. The organic fertilizer is often adjudged to be safer than the inorganic type [which could contain considerable amount of toxic substances] hence farmers are now embracing the use of the former in the production of crops.

The eco-friendly property of organic fertilizers also make them to be of great appeal to farmers. And as organic is now being vastly promoted and widely practiced, I felt it’s high time we provided the list of companies manufacturing organic fertilizers along with their contact address. These companies are spread across the nation, and some of them are listed below:

• Agoc Unique Nigeria Limited
  Plot 256, Etta Agbor Layout, IBB Way, Calabar Municipal, Cross River State.

• Basumn Consults Limited
  1, Oluwatobilola Street, Alimosho, Lagos.

• Batisal Nigeria Limited
  9, Kadiri Street, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos State.

• Bauchi Fertilizer Company Limited
  2, Railway Road, Industrial Area, Bauchi, Bauchi State.

• Biostadt Group
  387, Agege Motor Road, Cappa Bus-Stop, Ademosun, Mushin, Lagos State.

• Black Earth Nigeria Enterprises
  8, Ajepobo Street, Ijebu North, Ogun State.

• EarthCare Nigeria Limited
  Flower Bus-Stop, Ikorodu-Shagamu Road, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
  www.earthcarecompostplus.com

• Golden Fertilizer Company Limited
  2, Old Dockyard Road, Apapa, Lagos State.

• Hybrid Green Agro Services
  D7, Vegetable Section, Building Material Market, Bukuru, Jos South, Plateau State.

• Latest Agro Care Limited
  6/8, Amilegbe Road, Ilorin South, Kwara State.

• Livinda Nigeria Limited
  29, Umuelekeuba Road, Amalato, Ideato South, Imo State.

• MiddleBrook Farms Limited
  7, Adeyeri Crescent, Ikeja, Lagos State.

• Nitromobil International Nigeria Limited
  40, B.U.K Road, opposite B.U.K Old Site Main Gate, Kano State.

• Nnasaf Agro Company Limited
  Plot 9753, David Mark Road, opposite Foundation Mira, Tunga, Minna, Niger State.
  www.nnasafagro.com

• Olsmacen Organic Global Limited
  43, Gibbs Street, Afaha Offot, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.

• Opek Resources Limited
  7, Oba Ademola Road, Enugada, Abeokuta South, Ogun State.

• Rajans-Global Ventures
  40, Ganaja-Ajaokuta Road, Adankolo, Lokoja, Kogi State.

• Sludar Agro Enterprise
  22, Rutu Road, Doma Town, Doma, Nasarawa State.

• list itemVictory Global and Allied Systems Limited
  4, Suite E5, Michiko Street, Garki II, Abuja.

• Verreaux Farm Limited
  42, Kenneth Dike Way, Bodija, Ibadan North, Oyo State.

Polaris Bank has taken over the assets and liabilities of Skye Bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria said today.

Consequently, the CBN has revoked the operating licence of Skye Bank Plc with immediate effect.

Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos on Friday. Emefiele said the decision was reached following the inability of the owners of the bank to shore up the capital of the distressed bank which had earlier received a N350 billion intervention in July 2016.

Polaris is a bridge bank set up in concert with NDIC and AMCON and the unveiling was a guarded secret until Emefieles announcement in Lagos today. According to Emefiele, the bridge bank, Polaris Bank will be getting a single digit interest long term facility of N786 billion from the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The winding up of the bank came five months after the CBN renewed the mandate of the board of the for an additional two years. Emefiele passed a confidence vote on the board and said it shall continue to run the bank.

The banks board comprises Mr Muhammad Ahmad and Mr Tokunbo Abiru, Chairman and Group Managing Director respectively.

The CBN back in April also said the board was given a new two-year term to turn around the operations of the bank.

In the two years of the boards mandate, the team has stabilised the institution, entrenched sound corporate governance and risk management practices, and restored depositors confidence.

In recognition of the stellar performance of the board, the CBN has renewed the Boards mandate for an additional two-year term till 30th June, 2020.

We wish to assure the Banks shareholders and stakeholders of the commitment of its board and Management, working with the CBN, to conclude various initiatives to achieve a positive turn around for the bank and deliver value to its stakeholders.

Also, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim said the option of a bridge bank was to ensure that the depositors of the bank are taken care of and deposits are not lost.

Ibrahim said that the bridge bank would also ensure that there would be no job losses as Polaris Bank would retain all staff of the distressed bank under a new contract.

Meanwhile, the share price of Skye bank on Friday gained 4.05 percent at 77 kobo.

The stock is expected to be placed on suspension from Monday in accordance with bridge bank procedures.

You will recall that on 4th July 2016, we took a regulatory action on Skye bank Nigeria PLC. Specifically, this action led to the resignation of the Chairman, all Non-Executive Directors on the Board as well as the Managing Director, Deputy Managing Director, and the two longest- serving Executive Directors on the Management Team

At that time the proactive action was informed by unacceptable corporate governance lapses as well as the persistent failure of Skye Bank PLC to meet minimum thresholds in critical prudential and adequacy ratios, which culminated in the banks permanent presence at the CBN Lending Window.

The focus of the action then was to save depositors funds and to ensure that the bank continued as a going concern, being a systemically important bank. Part of our intention was also to stem the imminent job losses to staff if a liquidation option had been adopted. These objectives have been fully achieved and the bank has been able to meet customer obligations, having curtailed the liquidity haemorrhage and restored depositor confidence.

Indeed, the banks performance has improved considerably compared to the pre-July 2016 era.

The result of our examinations and forensic audit of the bank has, however, revealed that Skye bank requires urgent recapitalisation as it can no longer continue to live on borrowed times with indefinite liquidity support from the CBN. The shareholders of the bank have been unable to recapitalise it.

We wish to assure all depositors that under this arrangement, their deposits shall remain safe and that normal banking services shall continue in the new bank on Monday, 24th September, 2018, to enable customers to transact their businesses seamlessly.

Thus, all customers of Skye Bank shall be automatic customers of the new bank and their accounts and records duly purchased by Polaris Bank.

Given the good performance of the board and management, the CBN shall retain them. In addition, all employees of Skye Bank shall be absorbed by Polaris Bank under a new contract unless any employee decides to opt out.

We wish to assure the general public that the Nigerian banking industry remains safe and resilient and that the CBN will continue to live up to its responsibilities of promoting stability in the banking and financial system.

Skye Bank Plc which has metamorphosed into Polaris Bank was a product of the merger of five legacy banks as a result of the banking industry consolidation and recapitalisation exercise of 2005. The legacy banks were Prudent Bank Plc, EIB International Plc, Bond Bank Limited, Reliance Bank Limited and Co-operative Bank Plc.

Following the merger, the bank opened three West African subsidiaries in Sierra Leone, Gambia and Guinea.

In 2014, the bank won the bid to acquire the 100 per cent ownership stake of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in Mainstreet Bank Limited, a deal which made Skye Bank one of the top four banks in Nigeria. But the move, may also have undermined its books as the bank was taken over by the CBN in 2016.

The defunct bank is quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) with over 450,000 shareholders..

Source: NAN

The European Union (EU) Election Observers say they will monitor Saturdays governorship election in Osun with an eye on vote-buyers.

Mr Ketil Karlsen, the EU ambassador to Nigeria, said this at a news conference on Friday in Osogbo.

Karlsen said that the EU was hopeful that the modalities put in place by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to check vote-buying during the election would yield positive results.

While commending INEC on its preparation, Karlsen said the global community would be watching the conduct of the election, being the last before the 2019 general elections.

Karlsen, who noted that more than 28 diplomatic observers from different countries were in the state for the election, said EU was committed to the continued consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.

We are neutral in this election. We are not here to promote any candidate or political party.

But we are here to promote the process that would lead to credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria and we hope to see credible election on Saturday.

We are also here to see stability and continuity in Nigeria, Karlsen said.

Also speaking, Mr Dominic Williams, the Political Councillor, British High Commission, said the Osun election would be a signal to the 2019 general elections.

Williams said the EU would be watching to see how the election would be conducted and its impact on the 2019 general elections.

We want free, fair and credible elections and we want candidates to show respect for the rule of the game and shun violence.

We also appeal to the more the 1.2 million people that have collected their Permanent Voter Cards to come out en mass to vote, Williams said.

In his remarks, Mr David Young, Deputy Chief of Mission, United States embassy, said the US was committed to transparent and credible elections in Nigeria.

Young said the EU would continue to support the process that would promote peaceful elections.

While commending INEC for what it had done so far, Young urged the security agencies to be neutral in the election.

Source: NAN

Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Friday ordered the arrest of the management of MV Nyerere, the ferry that capsized in Lake Victoria, as the death toll climbed to 131 and rescue workers pressed on with the search to find scores more people feared drowned.

The MV Nyerere may have been carrying as many as 200 passengers double the ferrys capacity when it capsized close to the pier on Ukara Island on Thursday, according to reports on state media.

Witnesses reached by AFP said the ferry sank when passengers rushed to one side to disembark as it approached the dock.

In a speech broadcast on TBC One public television, Magufuli said It appears clear that the ferry was overloaded, adding that negligence has cost us so many lives children, mothers, students, old people.

I ordered the arrest of all those involved in the management of the ferry. The arrests have already begun, he added.

The president declared four days of national mourning while saying at least 131 people had died, updating an earlier death toll of 126.

Magufuli also announced the government would cover the funeral expenses of the victims.

Mwanza governor John Mongella had earlier said the number of survivors was 40, but it was unclear whether any new survivors had been found since rescue operations resumed with police and army divers on Friday morning.

Operations are continuing, he said, but hopes are fading that more survivors might still be found.

State television cited witnesses reporting that more than 200 people had boarded the ferry at Bugolora, a town on the larger Ukerewe Island, where it was market day when locals said the vessel was usually packed with people and goods.

I have not heard from either my father or my younger brother who were on the ferry. They had gone to the market in Bugolora to buy a school uniform and other supplies for the new school term, said Domina Maua, who was among those seeking information about loved ones.

Davita Ngenda, an elderly woman in Ukara, had already received bad news.

My son is among the bodies recovered, she said, weeping. He had gone with his wife but she has not been found yet. My God, what did I do to deserve this?

Sebastian John, a teacher, said such tragedies had become part of life for those living on the lake.

Since my birth, people have gone to their deaths on this lake, but what are we to do? We did not choose to be born here, we have nowhere to go, he said.

It remains unclear how many people are still missing.

Tanzanias Electrical, Mechanical and Services Agency, which is responsible for ferry services, said it was unknown how many passengers were aboard the MV Nyerere.

The ageing ferry, whose hull and propellers were all that remained visible after it overturned, was also carrying cargo, including sacks of maize, bananas and cement, when it capsized around 50 metres (55 yards) from Ukara dock.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, but overloading is frequently to blame for such incidents.

The countrys opposition has accused the government of negligence.

Source: NAN

Bianca Jagger once defended the Sandinista revolution of Daniel Ortega. But today, the Nicaraguan rights campaigner wants to see the controversial leader leave office in her homeland.

Jagger, the ex-wife of the legendary Rolling Stones frontman, also wants the United States, Canada and the European Union to sanction key members of Ortegas government and cut off all aid to Managua.

Daniel Ortega is maybe even worse than Somoza, the 73-year-old Jagger told AFP in an interview, referring to the onetime dictator of the troubled Central American country who was ousted in 1979 by Ortegas guerrillas.

Jagger says she feels betrayed by Ortega, who has faced months of upheaval sparked in April when his government, backed by armed paramilitaries, cracked down on relatively small protests against now-scrapped social security reforms.

More than 320 people have been killed in the subsequent unrest, according to rights groups. At least 500 opponents of Ortegas regime have been arrested in connection with the protests, rights watchdog CENIDH says.

Ortega is killing children who are unarmed, Jagger said in the interview, held on Thursday before she delivered a speech at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas in New York.

The dual British-Nicaraguan citizen, president of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, decried the terror brought on by Ortega and the merciless persecution of all those who raise their voices against his government.

Ortega is due in New York next week for the annual United Nations General Assembly debate.

Jagger says the international community needs to think of ways to support the Nicaraguan people and put pressure on Ortega to release all political prisoners.

Before her speech in New York, Jagger was in Washington for talks with senior government officials and lawmakers, lobbying them to pass legislation that would cut off economic aid to Ortega and sanction members of his government.

That draft could come before the US Senate for a vote next week, she says. A similar bill is before the House of Representatives.

For Jagger, the administration of US President Donald Trump is doing a decent job in its handling of the crisis.

There are people (in the US government) who are doing important work in defence of human rights in Nicaragua, she said, singling out Washingtons ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, for praise.

She also met with the State Departments highest-ranking official for Latin America, Francisco Palmieri, the acting deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.

Jagger says she does not think a national dialogue of reconciliation will work in Nicaragua but acknowledges that all avenues must be explored.

As to whether Ortega should be tried, or simply pushed to leave office, Jagger replied, It would be very difficult for me to say, Lets ignore the crimes against humanity committed by Daniel Ortega.'

We must find an effective way for Daniel Ortega to leave power and for new elections to be held but not under his direction, Jagger said.

Daniel Ortega is a war criminal.

Source: NAN

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) operatives raided a Lagos warehouse and seized controlled drugs, such as Tramadol, valued at N105.6 million.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

She explained that NAFDAC carried out substantivesurveillance on nefarious activities of a gang involved in illegalimportation of banned and controlled pharmaceutical products.

She said that the operatives at about 1.04 am raideda transit warehouse at Ijora Ororo, Lagos State and discovered 187cartons of assorted Tramadol, with a range of 120mg, 200mg and 225mg doses.

More than 49 cartons of Diazepam (another controlled drug) concealed amongst household items including but not limited to bicycle, used tyres and printers were also seized.

The seized products, valued at N105.65 million have beenevacuated from the transit warehouse for necessary action and furtherinvestigation, she said.

We are advising the general public to be watchful and should not hesitate toreport any suspicious activities within their environment to thenearest NAFDAC office she added.

Source: NAN

The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, has said that he did not violate the Constitution by not participating in the compulsory one year National Youth Services Corps (NYSC) Scheme.

The minister stated this while speaking with newsmen on Friday in Abuja, arguing that his case could not be compared to that of the former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun.

The minister who is one of the All Progressives Congress(APC) governorship aspirants in Oyo State, spoke after being interviewed by the APC screening committee.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the media had been awash with reports that the minister did not participate in the mandatory one year NYSC program after his graduation from the University in 1978. The compulsory NYSC programme began in 1973.

Former minister of finance, Adeosun resigned last week Friday following allegations that she forged the NYSC exemption certificate.

Shittu stressed that whereas the former Minister of Finance submitted a fake NYSC exemption certificate, he didnt obtain any certificate.

He added that he considered his service at the Oyo State Assembly as, a higher service. He said that he had not infringed on any law in the countrys Constitution by skipping NYSC.

Nigerian Tribune even reported that I left University in 1979, but in actual sense , I left in 1978 and left Law School in 1979.

And the Constitution says anyone who qualifies to contest an election or who has gone through an election and wins, he is obligated to move through the House of Assembly which I did for four years.

So it is a form of higher service as far as Im concerned, and even now, I am still in service.

I dont think I have violated the law except someone has a superior argument and can prove it,the minister said.

He stressed that his case was not like that of Adeosun, because according to him, there are differences.

Unfortunately, Kemi had a fake certificate, I didnt present any, I didnt have one.

I simply followed the constitutional requirement that if you are qualified to contest an election, it is compulsory for you to serve the nation in the capacity that you won an election,he said

Source: NAN

Five Governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State on Friday passed a vote of no confidence on the partys State Chairman, Hassan Hyat, for allegedly favouring a particular aspirant ahead of the partys primaries.

The aspirants who addressed a press conference in Kaduna under the aegis of the Forum of PDP Governorship Aspirants, kicked against the alleged imposition of one of the aspirants by some members of the State Working Committee (SWC).

The disgruntled aspirants include Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Sidi, Ramalan Yero, Muhammed Sani-Bello and Dr Shuaibu Idris-Mikati.

Ahmed Maiyaki, head of Media team for Sani-Sidi, who spoke on their behalf said the aspirants have appealed to the partys national leadership to take charge of affairs in the state to avoid crisis during the primary election.

The forum deems it a duty to intimate the national leadership of our great party, teeming party members, supporters and the general public on the following concerns:

Prior to and after losing the 2015 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had never been a more cherished bride with the prospects of winning almost all the elective posts in Kaduna State than now with more people willing to join and participate actively in rescuing our state and the nation at large.

As democrats, the Forum insists that power must truly return to the people through open and transparent process anchored on internal democratic process in our great party.

The forum also observes with dismay the deliberate attempt to subvert the democratic process ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial primaries slated for the 28th of September, 2018.

The Forum condemns strongly the activities of the Kaduna State Chairman of our Party, Hon Felix Hassan Hyet, who has openly attached himself to one of the gubernatorial aspirants, which is against the norm and the principle of fair play.

The forum accused the state chairman of openly working against the aspirations of the other gubernatorial aspirants in favour of his anointed candidate.

The aspirants claimed that the chairman had been promised the position of a running mate to the favoured aspirant.

After the recent congresses in which ad-hoc delegates were elected, the State Chairman threw caution to the wind by tampering with delegate lists of several Local Governments areas sent to the State Party Secretariat to the advantage of his anointed one.

There is great tension in the State as a result of the partiality of the Party Chairman; whereby the bright prospects of bringing back Kaduna State to the PDP is in jeopardy.

Forum further notes, the attempt by the Party Chairman to surreptitiously foist the preferred candidate using a certain group called Southern Kaduna Stakeholders Chairmen Forum.

This act is capable of destabilising the party and its prospect in the 2019 polls and undermining the efforts of the aspirants to find consensus among themselves.

In view of the above, the Forum humbly requests the National leadership of our great party to take full charge of the Partys activities in Kaduna State, in order to rescue the situation and restore the confidence of majority of Party members and loyalists in the state once more.

The Forum also calls on teeming party members, delegates and supporters to resist all attempts to subvert democratic process and vote for aspirants of their choice.

The Forum wishes to reassure all that discussions are ongoing to reach a consensus among the aspirants. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Former US rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight has pleaded no contest to a voluntary manslaughter charge over a hit-and-run incident in 2015.

The Death Row Records founder made the plea to avoid charges of murdering one man and attempting to murder a second with his pick-up truck in Los Angeles.

Knight will be formally sentenced to 28 years in prison in October.

His record label helped launch the careers of artists including Dr Dre, Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg.

As part of the agreement, the murder charges against Knight, 53, will be dismissed by prosecutors, along with separate criminal cases charging him with robbery and making criminal threats.

The deal, in which Knight admitted using a "deadly and dangerous weapon" when he ran down two men with his vehicle, calls for him to serve 22 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter with a further six years added because of the US "three-strikes" law relating to repeated violations.

Had Knight been found guilty of murder as originally charged, he would have faced life in prison, prosecutors said.

The 2015 incident happened after an argument over the making of Straight Outta Compton, a biopic about rap group NWA.

Under Californian state law, a no contest plea is the legal equivalent of a guilty plea.

Who is Suge Knight?
Knight co-founded Death Row Records with the pioneering producer Dr Dre in the 1990s, but later declared bankruptcy and the company was sold at auction for $24m (£16.7m).

Knight has a history of legal problems. He spent time in jail in 1997 and 2003 for parole violations arising from assault charges. He later pleaded guilty to hitting his girlfriend in an incident in 2008.

While his label was initially very successful, his fortunes began to slide in 1996 when rapper Tupac Shakur was shot and killed in the passenger seat of Knight's car.

In 1997, rival rapper Biggie Smalls was shot and Knight was sued for wrongful death. Smalls' estate claimed that Knight had ordered the killing in revenge for Shakur's death. Knight denied it and the suit was dismissed.

What happened in the hit-and-run?
The charge relates to an incident in January 2015 in Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles.

Knight was accused of deliberately running over two men with his pick-up truck outside a hamburger restaurant following an argument on the set of a commercial for Straight Outta Compton.

One of the victims, Terry Carter, died of his injuries while the other, Cle "Bone" Sloan, suffered serious injuries to his feet and head.

Footage of the incident captured by security cameras show Knight's vehicle pulling up to the drive-in shop, with one of the victims approaching the driver's side window. Following what appears to be a brief discussion, a struggle then ensues.

Knight's truck is seen going into reverse, throwing the man to the ground. It then moves forward, driving over his legs and slams into the other victim, who was killed.

Knight turned himself in to authorities a day after the incident. His attorneys had said he was acting in self-defence and was fleeing armed attackers when he ran over Mr Carter and Mr Sloan.

Mr Sloan has denied claims he was carrying a gun during the confrontation.

Amaju Pinnick, the re-elected President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) , on Thursday promised to focus more on youth programmes, adding that football was the winner at the end of the polls in Katsina.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the polls was conducted by the NFF Electoral Committee put in place by the NFF Congress at last years General Assembly in Jos, Plateau on Oct. 19, 2017.

Pinnick swept aside three other contestants, polling 34 votes to second placed Aminu Maigaris 8, with former international Taiwo Ogunjobi getting only 2 votes, while there was none for club owner Chinedu Okoye.

A statement by Ademola Olajire, the NFFs Director of Communication, said Pinnick pledged to focus even harder on youth development programmes in his second tenure.

Pinnick, who is also the 1st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football, was also quoted as saying that there was no victor and no vanquished in the race as football remained the ultimate winner.

In his acceptance speech, Pinnick specifically thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.

Pinnick also thanked the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Chief of Staff to the President, the Director- General, Department of State Services and the Inspector General of Police for their tremendous support for the board.

We respectfully ask for more support as we start a new tenure, during which we aim to consolidate on our vision of building a sustainable football culture for our dear country, and continue the great march toward ensuring financial independence for the NFF.

We owe this country a lot, and we are committed to working hard to give back so much to it.

We intend to set up a reconciliation team in a few days to reach out to aggrieved members of the football family with a view to bringing everyone under one umbrella for the purpose of a united front in the pursuit of the greater good for Nigerian Football, he said.

The NFF supremo also thanked the Governors of Delta and Edo States for their understanding and support, as well as players and officials of the various National Teams for their efforts at doing Nigeria proud at all times.

A festive atmosphere reigned in the Home of Hospitality as the full machinery of government was in motion to watch over the big occasion of the NFF 2018 Elective Congress, alongside the presence of observers from world football governing body, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football.

At the opening ceremony, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State poured encomiums on the NFF administration led by Pinnick for its major strides over the past four years,

He noted trophies won in the FIFA Under 17 World Cup, Women Africa Cup of Nations, the U23 and U20 Africa Cup of Nations, Olympic football bronze and the recent WAFU U17 Cup triumph in Niger Republic.

He praised the aggressive marketing drive of the administration that had galvanized a steady move toward financial independence, while pledging that the Government of Katsina State would continue to invest in football development because of the games virtues of youth empowerment and meaningful engagement.

Governor Masari was accompanied to the event by top officials of the Katsina State Government, including the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ahmed El-Marzuq, the Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Abubakar, the Commissioner for Sports, Abu Dankun and the Grand Khadi of the state, Hafiz Bakori.

NAN also reports that Pinnick became the first man since Father Dennis Slattery (of blessed memory) in 1957 to be elected back-to-back to one of the hottest seats in world football.

Second-placed Maigari, the immediate past occupier of the office, warmly embraced Pinnick after the vote, saying: The vote has come and gone, and football is the winner. The focus is football development.

I bear no grudge and I must say that I am indeed delighted by the strides that Amaju Pinnick has taken since taking over from me four years ago. He is like a son and I am proud of him.

Incumbent Seyi Akinwunmi was even more emphatic in retaining his seat, bagging 41 of the votes to challenger Sunday Dele-Ajayis 2, while one vote was deemed invalid.

In other votes, incumbent Ibrahim Musa Gusau retained his seat as Chairman of Chairmen on the Board, polling 42 of 44 votes, following the withdrawal of Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah on the floor of the election.

Ahmed Yusuf Fresh and Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande retained their seats on the board, after a nerve jangling contest that went to three rounds.

Chairman of Kwara State Football Association, Busari Ishola was eliminated in the first round after polling only 10 votes, leaving Yusuf and Fresh to vie in the second.

Fresh edged it 22-21, and Ishola was then re-instated to challenge Yahaya-Kwande for the remaining slot from North Central. In the event, Yahaya-Kwande won by 28 votes to 14.

Emmanuel Ibah defeated Oswald Atuake 28 votes to 15 to win the remaining slot from the South South (following Pinnicks re-election), while Ganiyu Majekodunmi and Sharif Rabiu Inuwa were unopposed for the South -West and North -West slots.

Three candidates slugged it out in the South-East, with Enyimba FC chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu winning the lone slot available (as Chidi Ofo Okenwa still has a seat as Chairman of the Nigeria National League).

Anyansi-Agwu polled 32 votes, to nearest challenger Emmanuel Ochiaghas eight.

Jude Obikwelu and Pastor Emeka Inyama, who withdrew from the contest on the floor of the election, still got two votes and one vote respectfully.

FIFA observers Luca Piazza and Solomon Mudege, and CAF observer Sita Sangare witnessed both the opening ceremony and the entire Elective Congress proper.

Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Barrister Muhammed Sani Katu, afterward swore in the new Board.

Next up for Pinnick is his formal inauguration as the 1st Vice President of CAF, at the bodys Extraordinary General Assembly in Egypt on Sept. 30.

Amaju Pinnick President

Seyi Akinwnumi 1st Vice President

Shehu Dikko 2nd Vice President

Ibrahim Musa Gusau Member

Ahmed Yusuf Fresh Member

Felix Anyansi-Agwu Member

Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande Member

Babagana Kalli Member

Sharif Rabiu Inuwa Member

Chidi Ofo Okenwa Member

Aisha Falode Member

Mohammed Alkali Member

Musa Duhu Member

Ganiyu Majekodunmi Member

Emmanuel Ibah Member

Mohammed Sanusi Secretary.

Source: NAN

Frontline presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar has named Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and 58 other persons as members of his presidential nomination council ahead of the PDP presidential primaries.

Members of the council drawn from several states of the country are eminent stakeholders in the PDP and are expected to mobilise support from their respective states for the emergence of Atiku as the PDP presidential candidate. (See list of members attached)

Announcing the membership of the council, the Director General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization and former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel said that, the work of this council as the name connotes is to mobilize PDP delegates from all the states of the country for Atiku to emerge as the presidential flag-bearer of our great party.

Of course, when by the grace of God our aspirant becomes the candidate of the PDP, membership into this council will be expanded and more people will be drawn into the council.

In his remarks, Atiku noted that the struggle for national renewal is usually a difficult one, but it is one that patriots must engaged in if they hope to improve the lives of their compatriots.

Assembled here today (Thursday) is a diverse group of Nigerians, including experienced political leaders representing all regions and segments of our country. You are all here because you want a better deal for Nigeria and Nigerians. You are here because you are committed to fighting for a better Nigeria, a Nigeria that works.

Nigerians are yearning for jobs, for opportunities, for unity and security. We must work with them to deliver these. We must also restore truth in politics, justice and fairness in governance, and a genuine federal system that helps us address local priorities and run a more effective and efficient government, he said.

Responding on behalf of other members of the council, Chief Iwuanyanwu remarked that we owe the Waziri (Atiku) a huge sense of gratitude for finding us worthy for this national assignment.

I have been in politics for nearly fifty years, and in all those years I have never seen our people this poor and I am sad when I see all of these things. My worry and my concern is how do we reverse this situation?

The Waziri (Atiku) is somebody I know very well. He has enormous strength and he has what it takes to bring PDP back to power and make life more abundant for our people.

Therefore, I urge us all as members of this council to see our nomination as a call to national service to rescue our people from the claws of poverty and bad governance.

*Press Statement

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja met, for the first time, with the newly appointed Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, when Bichi was ushered into the presidents office by protocol officials, he was asked by the president if they had met before.

The new DG, however, `confessed that he was seeing President Buhari face-to-face for the first time in his life.

NAN reports that the meeting of the president and the DSS boss went into a closed door session.

President Buhari on Sept. 13 appointed Bichi, as new Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS).

Bichi, who replaced Lawal Daura, the former DG of the DSS, is a core Secret Service operative, said Malam Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the president on media.

He attended Danbatta Secondary School, the Kano State College of Advanced Studies and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he graduated with a degree in Political Science.

The new Director-General began his career in the security division of the Cabinet Office in Kano, from where he joined the defunct Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO), the precursor of the present DSS.

Bichi had undergone training in intelligence processing analysis, agent handling recruitment and intelligence processing in the UK, as well as strategic training at the National Defence College.

The new DSS boss comes to the job with skills in intelligence gathering, research analysis, conflict management, general investigation, risk and vulnerability operations, counter intelligence and protective operation and human resources management.

In the course of his career, Bichi had worked as the State Director of Security in Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto and Abia States.

He was at various times the Director, National Assembly Liaison, (National War College), Director at National Headquarters in the Directorate of Security Enforcement, Directorate of Operations, Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Inspection and Directorate of Administration and Finance.

Bichi also served as Director at State Service Academy

Source: NAN

The Minister of Youths and Sports,Barr. Solomon Dalung in Abuja, inaugurated the National Executive Council of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).

Dalung inaugurated the 22 member-council elected in Gombe recently to serve as National Executives of the NYCN for a four year period.

While inaugurating the NEC, Dalung expressed delight that the council was being inaugurated especially since the youths council had been enmeshed in leadership crisis for the past seven years.

He said that the crisis in the council had denied youths of all the benefits to the council from local and international organisation, adding that the ministry had to intervene in the crisis.

He recalled that the settlement led to the formation of the National Transition Committee (NTC) with the mandate to conduct election. He noted that although they failed twice, the council was still able to come out of its crisis.

Dalung therefore charged the newly elected executive committee members to serve with humility,dedication and do justice to all.

He urges them to also carry along those who lost the election while also appealing to the losers to accept the results in the spirit of sportsmanship.

Speaking after the inauguration, the newly elected President of the NYCN, Bello Shagari expressed his appreciation to the minister and all staff of the Ministry for their support during and after the Gombe Congress.

He assured the minister that his NEC would neverdisappoint Nigerians.

He also assured the minister that every effort would be made to unite the youths irrespective of tribe,religion or region.

The Deputy President of the council Mr Innocent Nduanya added that the youths must resist the temptation of collecting money to be use for thuggery during the 2019 election.

Nduanya urged the youths to get involved in the revolution going on around the World where youths are taking over the affairs of their countries and the World.

He also urged Nigeria youths to take advantage of the not too young to run law and gradually get involved in leadership through participation.

Source: NAN