In addition to the $322 million recovered from Switzerland, Nigeria will soon repatriate another $500 million which late Sani Abacha looted and locked up in other countries.

The monies are expected to be repatriated from the UK, US, France and other countries, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, said on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

Nigeria has engaged other countries, including the UK, US, France and others, in further negotiations relating to repatriation.

I am happy to report that we are almost concluding the processes relating to the repatriation of additional $500 million,Malami said.

According to the , Malami said this is in addition to the $322 million released by Switzerkand after negotiations.

You will recall that in December 2017, the federal government participated in a global forum on asset recovery in Washington DC during which Nigeria and Switzerland signed an agreement that paved the way for the repatriation of $322 million.

What transpired was only reported back to the council today. The report today was not only about the signing of the agreement but the report of the eventual repatriation of the amount of money that was signed and agreed to be repatriated during the forum.

FEC presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, approved N185.2billion for the rehabilitation, repairs and reconstruction of 14 roads across the country.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, also said alongside Ministers of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole and his Industry, Trade and Investment counterpart Mr Okechukwu Enelamah.

He said the road projects were located in Yobe, Adamawa, Benue, Kwara, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Enugu, Borno, Anambra and Sokoto states.

He listed the road projects to include Gwoza Damboa Goniri Ngamdu Road in Yobe/Borno States at the cost of N34.608 billion; Mayo Belwa Jada Ganye Torngo Road in Adamawa at the rate of N22.699billion and Ado Ifaki Otun Kwara State border in Ekiti State at the rate of N6 billion.

He said that Makurdi bridge in Benue would be repaired at the cost of N4.617 billion; Ihugi Korinya -Wuse -Ankor in Benue at N15.641 billion and Gbagi Apa Owode in Badagry Lagos State at N4.366 billion.

Others are the construction of Ijebu Igbo Ita Egba Owonowen in Ogun and Oyo States which would cost N9.833 billion while N7.506billion would be spent on dualisation of Jattu Fugar Agenebode in Edo Phase II by Mothercat.

He said the Makurdi Gboko Wannune Yander Section 1 in Benue would be reconstructed at the cost of N18.669 billion; Old Enugu Port Harcourt Road at Agbogugu Abia border Spur would cost N13.933 billion.

Adesina said that N6.249billion would be spent on rehabilitation of Umulungbe Umoka road; Amokwu Ikedimkpe Egede Opeyi Awhum Road in Enugu State at N21.729 billion and rehabilitation of Nkwu Inyi Akpugoeze in Anambra at N2.595 billion.

He revealed that N4.354billion would be expended on reconstruction of Sabon Birnin Tsululu Kuya Maradi Junction road in Sokoto state.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Adewole, on h is part disclosed that the Council approved the Draft on Food Safety and Quality Bill as well as the Food Safety Institutional Reform Working Document.

Source: with additional Agency

Source: NAN

A Dutchman Peter Nielson, alleged to have murdered his wife and daughter was today docked before a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere. But his trial proper will begin 8 October.

Nielson is facing a two count charge of murder.

The Lagos State Prosecutor who is also the Attorney General and commissioner for Justice , Lagos State Mr Adeniji Kazeem, told the Court that the defendant committed the offence on April 5, 2018.

The defendant was alleged to have killed his wife Zainab Nielson and his daughter Petra Nielson, at their resident in Banana Island in Eti -Osa local Government of Lagos State, at about 3:45 am, at Flat 17 at Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island Ikoyi.

The offence alleged to have been committed by the accused Dutch is Punishable Under Section 223, Cap C17, Vol 3, Criminal law of Lagos State 2015.

However the 53 year old defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.

The Prosecutor then , asked for a trial date.

The defendants counsel Mr Olasupo Shasore SAN, said he was not opposing the charge but that the defence would like to carry out their own test.

We are interested in taking the blood sample of the defendant , I thought it will be better to inform this court that his blood sample would be taken for DNA, analysis , He said.

Consequently Justice Bola Okikiol-Ighile, asked the defendant if he would like to give his consent so that his blood sample can be taken for DNA test.

Nielson concurred.

Shasore who was the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, also told the Court that the result of the autopsy report is out but that they are ready to proceed.

We are interested in the autopsy report and the prosecution has assured us that we would get it in four weeks, we need to consult some of our experts for analysis, of the test as we would need it during trial He added.

However The prosecutor told Court that there is an interim autopsy report and that It will be made available to the defence.

Mr Kazeem said: The blood sample of the defendant will be collected by the State Government forensic lab.

The prosecutor had earlier told the court that the matter for the day was an arraignment of the defendant, and the defence counsel confirmed that they received the proof of evidence on April 30.

Meanwhile the presiding Judge a Justice Okikiol-Ighile, ordered that the defendant should be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till October 8 for trial to commence

On May 8, a Yaba Chief Magistrates was informed that the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution DPP, indicated that the Dutchman has a case to answer.

Source: NAN

A total of 320 military personnel will retire from the armed forces next week, says Air Vice Marshal Austine Jekenu, Commandant, Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC).

Jekenu told newsmen at the centre in Oshodi, Lagos on Wednesday that the retiring military men were drawn from the Army, the Air Force and the Navy.

A total of 320 servicemen comprising of 262 from the Nigerian Army, 44 from the Nigerian Navy and 14 from the Nigerian Air Force would be graduating from the NAFRC, he said.

Jekenu said that the retiring servicemen went through months of intensive training on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship at NAFRC.

He said the training was to prepare the retirees for life after military service.

According to him, the centre has the mandate to provide necessary training geared towards preparing retiring servicemen for reintegration into civil life.

He said that the initiative was to enable the beneficiaries adjust and appropriately blend with the peculiarities of retirement and contribute actively to national economy as worthy civilians.

Jekenu urged all the retiring servicemen to positively contribute to boost national economy in whatever business they engaged in.

The centre graduates 2 courses annually and it is on record that we have trained over 41, 000 ex-servicemen of the Nigerian Armed Forces since its inception, he said.

The commandant, who said that the passing out ceremony for the course participants would hold on June 22, added that the Minister for Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, would grace the occasion.

Source: NAN

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has intensified its debt recovery operation targeting seven billion naira payment evaded by importers of drugs, food and cosmetics.

The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, made this disclosure while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Adeyeye said that the payment invasion happened years before she took over the leadership of NAFDAC in November, 2017.

According to her, N260 million has so far been realised from the time she assumed duty to the end of March 2018.

She explained that her target was to realise not less than one billion naira before the end of 2018, adding that Adeyeye that the agency was determined to achieve that.

My staff are working tirelessly; we have our teams in investigation and enforcement departments, working hard to achieve the set up goals of the agency.

We have also decentralised the registration processes to states, especially on our Small and Medium Enterprises programme to save time.

It is also to facilitate the policy of the Federal Government on the ease of doing business, she said.

The director general said the quality management system put in place by her administration, had helped to turn around the activities of the regulatory agency in terms of efficiency.

Adeyeye reiterated the commitment of NAFDAC to fight illicit and fake drugs as well as unregistered food products to ensure safety of citizenry.

Source: NAN

Two Norwegian lawmakers have nominated President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize after the Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Christian Tybring-Gjedde and Per-Willy Amundsen, lawmakers with the populist Progress Party, told Norwegian news agency NTB on Wednesday that Trump “had taken a huge and important step in the direction of the disarmament, peace and reconciliation between North and South Korea.”

A group of U.S. lawmakers also are backing Trump’s nomination for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.

The process of considering candidates and awarding the Nobel Peace Prize is done in Norway.

Nominations must be sent to the Norwegian Nobel Committee before Feb. 1.

The committee doesn’t publicly comment on who was nominated, information which is required to be kept secret for 50 years.

Source: NAN

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 3,665 senior police officers.

The commission’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that approval for the promotion was one of the high points of the commission’s 28th Plenary Meeting which was held in Abuja on June 8.

He said that two commissioners of police, Igbodo David, who is in charge of Legal department at the Force Headquarters and Olalekan Abdulfatai, were promoted to substantive Assistant Inspectors-General of Police.

Ani said 16 Deputy Commissioners of Police were also promoted to commissioners of police.

He said that the commission also approved the promotion of 13 Assistant Commissioners of Police to Deputy Commissioners, 60 Chief Superintendents of Police to Assistant Commissioners and 631 Superintendents of Police to Chief Superintendents.

The spokesman said that 820 Deputy Superintendents of Police were promoted to substantive Superintendents, while 1,922 Assistant Superintendents of Police, ASPs, promoted to Deputy Superintendents.

Others promoted include 201 Inspectors who were promoted to Assistant Superintendents of police.

“The commission also approved confirmation of appointments of 42 officers of different ranks, approved acting appointment for another 73 and converted 1,060 Specialists to General Duty,” he said.

He said that the approvals have been forwarded by the commission to the I-G for implementation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was the last official function of the chairman of the commission, Mr Mike Okiro whose tenure came to an end on Monday, June 11.

Source: NAN

The Super Eagles on Tuesday had their first training session in Russia after arriving their Sanatorium Istochnik Hotel, Essentuki team base at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The training started from 5 p.m. Russian time.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team, in its sixth appearance at the World Cup in Russia, is in Group D alongside Croatia, Iceland and Argentina.

The Eagles will play their first match on Saturday, June 16, 2018.

A statement by the Director of Communication, Ademola Olajire, revealed that the players and the technical crew departed Vienna to Russia on Monday.

“A delegation of 23 players and technical and administrative staff flew by executive jet from Vienna to Essentuki Airport in South West Russia on Monday, arriving at a few minutes after 10 p.m.

“Large gatherings of people showed excitement at seeing the three–time African champions arrive in very Nigerian buba-and-sokoto uniform sown in Nigerian colours, complemented with white bowler hats and footwear.

“Essentuki is located in the Stavropol region of southern Russia.

“There was a brief airport reception coordinated by staff of the Local Organising Committee and the world football governing body, FIFA,” said Olajire.

He said a reception was organised for the team by the Governor of Essentuki.

“At the hotel, a welcome reception organised by the Governor of Essentuki, the Minister of Sports in the Stavropol region and the Manager of Sanatorium Istochnik also held.

“On Tuesday morning, FIFA and LOC conducted the team arrival meeting, ahead of the training session in the evening.

“The Super Eagles will train again on Wednesday evening, before flying to Kaliningrad on Thursday for their first match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup against Croatia on Saturday at the 35,000 –capacity Kaliningrad Arena.

“Departure from Kaliningrad is set for 4 p.m. Russia time,” Olajire said in the statement.

(NAN)

Full text of the stirring speech by Hafsat Abiola-Costello, daughter of MKO Abiola at the posthumous award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic to her father on June 12 in Abuja

“It is difficult to try to stand in the shoes of a giant, one of the greatest humans that the world ever had, but that is the responsibility of why we are here today.

And indeed, even for MKO Abiola it was difficult for him to imagine how he would speak to Nigerians on his inauguration.

My mum told me how he would stand in the mirror while he was preparing his speech as the results were coming in. He thought he was going to deliver it.

And you know he stammered, so he would start… “Dear fellow Nigerians”, but he never really got past ‘fellow Nigerians’.

He would say a few words, and then start again. He kept struggling to say what he wanted to say to Nigerians.

Because, what MKO wanted to say to the Nigerian people, and all that MKO did say to the people of Nigeria is, “I love you the people of Nigeria. I believe in you the people of Nigeria.”

He was born Yoruba but he loved Hausa people, he loved Kanuri people, he loved Efik people, he loved Igbo people, he loved all. You just needed to be a Nigerian and MKO was your man. If he could help, he would do.

There are so many things he already did to show that, and that was why the people of Nigeria rewarded him with the mandate of June 12, 1993.

But we know that he was never able to deliver that speech, but in many ways, the event that transpired later, revealed to Nigerians the eloquence in his heart, the fidelity of his commitment, and even his own deep abiding wish that if there was any way his own actions would in any way comprise the people of Nigeria, MKO preferred to die.

He preferred to leave the earth rather than compromise about you, about your integrity as a people, and your sovereignty as a nation.

Which was why the day before he died, when he was still being pressurised, he asked the question, “How do you shave the people’s heads in their absence?”

He knew he was being put under pressure, but he also knew that so long as he refused to allow his own head to be shaved, it would be a symbolic message to you the people of Nigeria, that Nigeria will be saved.

And when he died, we accepted his body. We have watched as year after year, till now the 25th year, you the people have suffered and he was not recognised at all.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Nelson Mandela it was who said, “It always seems impossible until it is done.”

Who would have ever believed, given the relationship that you had with Chief MKO Abiola, that you would be the instrument God would use to honour this man, and to bring recognition and healing to the country.

You apologised to my family and it touched my heart. You know that I also lost my mother in this struggle, so your apology meant so much to me.

Let me use this opportunity, on behalf of Chief MKO Abiola – because I know what he would have done – I use this opportunity to apologise to you, to apologise to your family, for anything that he might have done to harm you and to harm your family.

Let me also say at this juncture that Chief MKO Abiola was committed to us saying farewell to poverty in Nigeria, but today we have more people in poverty in Nigeria than we had in 1993.

I read the statement that you made, where you said we should prepare now to wage a battle for the defence of the people of Nigeria against those who think of themselves as the landlords of Nigeria.

Let me say to you that by recognising June 12, you have awakened so many heroes and heroines of Nigeria’s struggle, who have shown because they stood firm on June 12, that money cannot buy them.

If there is any march that we need to march, if there is any protest that we need to be present at to protest, you have called up your own new Army for the defence of this country.

And President Muhammadu Buhari, this fight will not take you, God willing, as it has taken MKO, but let us fight and bring about the conclusion of MKO’s struggle that the Nigerian people should be the ones in full control of this country.

It is not for a few landlords whoever they maybe, it is for the 200 million people of Nigeria.”

~ Hafsat Abiola-Costello

(NAN)

The Centre for Basic Space Science of the National Space Research and Development Agency (CBSS-NASRDA) had predicted that the Astronomical Lunar Crescent would be sighted on June 14.

Dr Felix Ale, Director Media and Corporate Communications said this in a statement he signed on Tuesday in Abuja.

NASRDA through its Centre for Basic Space Science has successfully calculated and predicted that the appearance of an astronomical lunar crescent will be sighted on June 14.

The conjunction of the moon will first occur on Wednesday June 13 by 8:43pm, but will appear in Nigeria on Thursday June 14 at about 2:43pm, that is 18 hours after its conjunction.

According to him, the moon can only be sighted with the naked eyes given a clear sky without any obstruction.

He, however, said that the tiny lunar crescent could be sighted with the aid of Charged Couple Device (CCD) and astronomical telescope or any other advanced astronomical instrument.

The young lunar crescent will only be seen with an unaided eye on Thursday June 14 between 6:53 pm and 7:57 pm after sun set.

Yola will be the first to witness the young lunar crescent from about 6:53 pm to 7:21 pm, followed by Maiduguri from 6:55 pm to 7:23 pm.

Kebbi will witness the lunar crescent last by 7:32 pm and 8:00 pm and Sokoto between 7:29 pm and 7:57 pm. It will be seen in Lagos and Ogun between 7:26 pm and 7:56 pm concurrently.

The Lunar crescent will be seen in Abuja between 7:16 pm and set at about 7:45 pm.

Kano will experience the appearance of the first lunar crescent between 6:51 pm and 7:42 pm with sunset and moonset occurring at about 6:51 pm and 7:42 pm respectively, he said.

He further said that Katsina would witness the lunar crescent appearance between 7:19 pm and 7:47 pm, while Jos and Enugu will both experience the first lunar crescent between the hours of 7:08 pm and 7:37 pm.

Ale said the sunset and moonset in Jos would occur at 6:46 pm and 7:37 pm respectively, and in Enugu at 6:45 pm and 7:37 pm respectively, whileKaduna would experience the lunar crescent between 7:16 pm and 7:44 pm.

Dr Bonaventure Okere, the Acting Director of CBSS told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Astronomical Lunar Crescent is the new part of the moon that usually appeared at this time of the year.

Okere said that the sighting of the Lunar Crescent was significant to both Christians and Muslims.

He, however, said it was more significant to the Muslims because it helped calculate the beginning and the ending of Ramadan fast.

Ale added that the results of the Lunar Crescent sighting were available at NASRDA for the general public and those who required it for religious and academic purposes.

Source: NAN

A Federal High Court judge handed over a 14 year sentence to former Plateau governor Joshua Dariye on Tuesday and chastised him for being irresponsible and betraying the public trust.

Dariye now a senator was found guilty for a N1.16bn fraud and for criminal breach of trust. In addition, he was jailed two years for misappropriation of public funds. Both sentences will run concurrently.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory High court, before whom he stood trial for a 23-count amended charge, found him guilty of 15 of the counts bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds. He was discharged on eight of the counts.

After the judgment that lasted about eight hours, Justice Banjoko held that:

I cant imagine such brazen act, is it the transfer of as much as about half a billion naira from the states Ecological Fund into a personal venture account; theres a litany and trail of woes, which also affects the people of Jos the beautiful Tin City, where everybody wanted to be, and to find out that its Ecological Fund was misappropriated is the shocking aspect.

Theres a deep sense of irresponsibility; the defendant was in fact richer than his state. This is a trauma of the trial; and there should be no compromise to corruption, by whatever shade or colour, or region, rich or poor; corruption will forever be corruption.

Every case is different on its own, and I have no personal animosity, Im just doing my job the way I know how to, and not only the Ecological Funds [were misappropriated], but funds from the Plateau State government.

Indeed, Dariye, who was first arraigned before the Judge on July 13, 2007, had his application to quash the charges dismissed.

He went to the Court of Appeal, but failed. He also took his case to the Supreme Court.

On February 27, 2015, the court dismissed his application and reprimanded him, condemning his application as a disservice to the criminal process in Nigeria.

The Apex Court also ordered accelerated hearing of the fraud case against him, thus necessitating the continuation of his trial on January 25, 2016 before Justice Banjoko.

Dariye was accused by the EFCC to have diverted about N1.16 billion Ecological Fund meant for the state, to his personal use, including transferring monies to Ebenezer Retnan Ventures (an unregistered company managed by him) and Pinnacle Communications Limited.

In proving its case against Dariye, the prosecution team led by Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, called 10 witnesses, including Musa Sunday, the EFCC investigating officer, and Peter Clark, a detective constable with the UK Metropolitan Police in London, who investigated Dariye in the UK for money laundering offence.

Presenting several documents in court, including bank documents, the prosecution established that Ebenezer Retnan Ventures was not a registered company, and that its account opening process with then All States Trust Bank, was riddled with irregularity indicating dishonest intent for opening the account.

The defence team, which was initially led by G.S. Pwul, SAN, before Kanu Agabi, SAN, later stepped in at the tail end of the trial, presented 16 witnesses in its defence.

In the allocution of the defence, which was made by Paul Erokoro, SAN who stood in for Agabi, he urged the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that the Bank in question misled the governor into engaging in such practice of private banking.

He is actually a victim; mistakes were made, but my lord should temper justice with mercy; the lawyer that represented him before did not do a particular good job; this man has suffered, he argued, further noting that the prisons are congested and he is a serving Senator and he served his state.

In its counter-argument, Jacobs, called on the Court to consider the aggravating factors on the state, arguing that Dariye exploited his position as a public servant and took government money and misappropriated it.

Jacobs, further noted, that yes, the prisons are congested but they are congested with poor people, the big men are not there and thats why they are congested because those who are in power and supposed to do something about it have not done anything.

He said: The era of go and sin no more can no longer be done in the new era of the Administration of Criminal justice Act. A lesson must be told. He is not my enemy, but people should bear the consequences of their acts. If you cant bear it, then dont do it.

In addition to the sentencing, Justice Banjoko also ordered that N80 million so far recovered by the EFCC be returned to the Plateau States

Source: NAN

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has expressed optimism for the realisation of the entrenchment of fiscal federalism as the only way to achieve true nationhood.

Ambode said on Tuesday at a public lecture with the theme, Restructuring: An Antidote for Effective and Efficient Polity, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the annulled 1993 Presidential election.

Our present democratic experience may still be far from ideal but we are absolutely convinced that it is the right way to go for us to realise the optimum potential and prosperity of the federating states and the nation.

On this historic day, I am convinced more than ever before that this ideal will be realised sooner than we can imagine, Ambode said.

The governor said that the theme of the celebration was apt as it dwelt on the real topical issues bedeviling the country.

The theme of this historic edition of June 12 celebrations speaks for itself. As a state and people, our stand on a restructuring process that will lead to fiscal federalism, devolution of power is very clear, he said.

Ambode described this years commemoration as a victory for democracy with the award and conferment of the highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on the Late MKO Abiola and his running mate, Amb. Babagana Kingibe, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).

By this singular act, including the award of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on the fearless Human Rights Activist, Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, President Muhammadu Buhari has written his name in Gold in the political history of Nigeria.

We salute President Muhammadu Buhari for demonstrating exceptional courage to stand by justice and the truth, he said.

Ambode said that June 12 was a day Nigerians demonstrated unity and put aside ethnic and religious biases to speak overwhelmingly with one voice.

Sadly, the aspiration of Nigerians expressed through the ballot was truncated by the military.

Since then, the struggle for democracy has been relentless, championed by progressive Nigerians, men of character and courage, who challenged the military junta.

You can imagine our delight when the President announced the recognition of June 12 as the authentic Democracy Day in Nigeria.

This formal recognition is a crown of victory to the struggle that had taken the lives of so many nationalists and patriots, he said.

The governor saluted all those who stood for the actualisation of June 12 and also paid tributes to the memories of patriots who died in the struggle.

Today, we salute leaders of the struggle including Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Amb. Walter Carrington, Justice Dolapo Akinsanya and Chief Frank Kokori.

Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Mr Wale Oshun, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and other Nigerians and Civil Society Organisations as well as trade and labour unions.

We also pay glowing tribute to patriots such as Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Pa Michael Adekunle Ajasin, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief Michael Enahoro and Chief Alfred Rewane.

Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo and several others, including innocent ordinary Nigerians, young and old, who were murdered in cold blood on the streets of Lagos and in other major cities of Nigeria.

Today, we declare that their sacrifice has not been in vain, Ambode said.

As part of activities to mark the 25th anniversary of the annulled June 12 Presidential election in Lagos, the state government held the 25th edition of the June 12 Annual Lecture and unveiled a 37-ft statue of the late MKO Abiola at Ketu-Alapere, Lagos.

Earlier in his lecture, Dr Dele Ashiru of the Political Science Department, University of Lagos, advocated a review of the constitution and a special status for Lagos State.

According to Ashiru, there have been a number of structural deficiencies since the emergence of the Nigerian state.

He said that the structural imbalance had led to many problems including corrupt practices, armed robbery and other crimes.

How do we restructure? It has to be more fundamental than cosmetic restructuring.

It has to be at the level of politics, governance, education and so on, Ashiru said.

He also called on leaders in all political offices to learn to live and uphold the ideals that Abiola represented while he lived.

Also speaking, an Activist, Mr Linus Okorojie, commended the state government for its continued support for the June 12 struggle.

Okorojie also commended President Buhari for the declaration and for according Abiola the highest national honour.

The Federal Government must however, go further to conclude the process by asking INEC to announce the result of the I993 Presidential elections and proclaim MKO Abiola winner, posthumously, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

U.S. President Donald Trump made a stunning concession to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday about halting military exercises, pulling a surprise at a summit that baffled allies, military officials and lawmakers from his own Republican Party.

At a news conference after the historic meeting with Kim in Singapore, Trump announced he would halt what he called very provocative and expensive regular military exercises that the United States stages with South Korea.

That was sure to rattle close allies South Korea and Japan. North Korea has long sought an end to the war games.

Retired Adm. Harry Harris, the former head of U.S. Pacific Command and the Trump administrations chosen ambassador to South Korea, explained the logic behind the military exercises in congressional testimony last year. We are obliged to defend South Korea by treaty. They have a strong and capable military, as we do. But if were going to defend or if were going to fight with them on the peninsula then we have to be able to integrate with their military, Harris told the House Armed Services Committee. We have to maintain our degree of readiness, not only unilateral readiness, but also our combined and joint readiness with our brothers and sisters in the ROK [Republic of Korea] military.

Equally surprising as Trumps military announcement was the fact that he reportedly took this unilateral step without notifying South Korean and Japanese allies, or the Pentagon. The cancellation of the exercises has been a North Korean priority for decades, and in calling them war games and provocative, Trump adopted the rhetoric of Pyongyang.

Trump and Kim promised in a joint statement to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and the United States promised its Cold War foe security guarantees. But they offered few specifics.

The summit, the first between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader, was in stark contrast to a flurry of North Korean nuclear and missile tests and angry exchanges of insults between Trump and Kim last year that fueled worries about war.

Noting past North Korean promises to denuclearize, many analysts cast doubt on how effective Trump had been at obtaining Washingtons pre-summit goal of getting North Korea to undertake complete, verifiable and irreversible steps to scrap a nuclear arsenal that is advanced enough to threaten the United States.

In statements relayed by North Koreas state-run news agency, Kim called for Pyongyang and Washington to end irritating and hostile military actions against each other. But it made no mention of North Korea giving up its nuclear weapons program.

If the United States takes genuine measures to build trust with North Korea, the North will take additional goodwill measures, Kim said, according to a Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report.

Critics in the United States said Trump had given away too much at a meeting that provided international standing to Kim. The North Korean leader is isolated, his country accused by rights groups of widespread human rights abuses and under U.N. sanctions for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

If implemented, the halting of the joint military exercises would be one of the most controversial moves to come from the summit. The drills help keep U.S. forces at a state of readiness in one of the worlds most tense flashpoints.

Source: NAN

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been rated as “team with the best travelling uniform” in Russia by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), few days to the commencement of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The rating comes days after a world fashion magazine GQ rated Nigerian Super Eagles jersey as the best for the 2018 World Cup.

See the travelling uniform in pictures below:

(NAN)

President Muhammadu Buhari has brought reconciliation and healing to Nigeria by recognising June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria, Hafsat Abiola, daughter of Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, said on Tuesday in Abuja.

In an emotion-laden speech to thank the Federal Government after the conferment of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Chief Abiola, Hafsat said the award and President Buhari’ apology to the wrong done to his father and the people of Nigeria, meant so much to her.

Hafsat was invited by her senior brother, Kola to speak on behalf of the Abiola family after he received the posthumous award for his father.

‘‘It is difficult to try to stand in the shoes of a giant of one of the greatest human beings that the world ever had. But that is the responsibility that I bear today.

‘‘Even for Chief MKO Abiola, it was difficult to imagine how he would speak to Nigerians in his inauguration speech.

‘‘My mum told me how he would stand in front of the mirror, preparing the speech because the results were coming in and he taught he would surely deliver the speech.

‘‘You know he was a stammerer and he would start … fellow Nigerians and he never really got pass fellow Nigerians. He would say a few words and then reply not like that, and he would start again,’’ Hafast said

According to Abiola’s daughter, his father’s love for Nigerians was unparalleled and he preferred to die for Nigeria rather than compromise on the integrity and sovereignty of the nation.

‘‘Although he was Yoruba he loved Hausas, Kanuris, Efiks, Igbos and all, you just needed to be a Nigerian,’’ he said.

(NAN)

The annulment of June 12 1993 presidential election led to bloodshed, serious division and disunity in Nigeria, Alhaji Bola Tinubu, one of the key players for the actualisation of the mandate, declared on Tuesday.

The National leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) said in an interview at the presidential villa that the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day was a demonstration of the resolve by the people to collaborate to drive democracy.

He said that the fight against the annulment of the June 12 election was a battle of principle, philosophy, and restoration of democratic process.

He said that it was the same collaboration also in 2014 that led to the installation of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu said that the courage, commitment and fortitude of Buhari to recognise June 12 was worthy of recognition and commendation.

In an interview segment on TVC television on the side line of the investiture of national honours on MKO Abiola, the winner of the June 12, election, and other pro-democracy activists, some Nigerians expressed happiness over Buharis advancement of democracy.

Mr. Mike Iginni, The Electoral Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom state, accused Nigerian elite of causing the crisis in Nigeria.

The elite are the problems of Nigeria and they remain the problem.

The fingers of providence have continue to point to Nigeria as unjust nation.

In spite of court pronouncement on the illegality of Chief Earnest Shonekan, as head of Interim National government to supplant the June 12 election, Shonekan, a kinsman of Abiola, has continued to parade himself as a former Nigerian leader.

Shonekan government was declared illegal but he keeps attending Council of State meetings and collecting salary, Iginni queried.

Mr Joe Igbokwe, a politicians and social analyst, also berated the annulment of June 12 election.

He praised Buhari for the recognition and also said that the president was truly building Nigeria.

Buhari is washing Nigeria with soap, he said.

Buhari, he said was redressing injustice, saying: Some of the problems we have in Nigeria are products of injustices.

Buhari is healing the wounds, he said.

Source: NAN

Mr. Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has declared that more names will be announced later for national honours for their role in the struggle for democracy.

The SGF made the announcement in his opening remarks at the investiture of national honours on late MKO Abiola, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, and late Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

At the presentation of the awards by President Muhammadu Buhari, the senior son of MKO Abiola, Mr Kola Abiola received the award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

Hajia Ganiat Fawehinmi also received the award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) for her late husband, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe received his award of GCON)

Mustapha explained that June 12 represented common heritage of oneness and unity and a democracy not build on ethnic and religious divide.

This is time for nation building. We have to draw a road map for nation building in the interest of the future.

He said that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was internalising the democracy and putting history in perspective.

The SGF said that June 12 would be observed as public holiday with effect from 2019.

The umpire of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, had expressed happiness over the recognition of the day and said the action would rekindle the national consciousness for a better nation.

The Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) on Monday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for designating June 12 as Nigerias Democracy Day.

In a letter Nwosu wrote to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation ( SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha on Monday in Abuja, he also thanked Buhari for honouring the memory of Chief Moshood (MKO) Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 election.

Nwosu, who presided over the polls later annulled by the military junta, said the conferment of national honours on Chief Abiola and his running mate, Amb. Babagana Kingibe, will rekindle the national consciousness of all Nigerians for a better nation.

I thank His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government of Nigeria for recognizing June 12 as Democracy Day and also honouring the winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

Indeed, June 12, 1993 marked a turning point in Nigerias tortuous journey towards a democratic polity.

It is an honour to the very hard-working men and women of the defunct National Electoral Commission under my leadership at this long awaited recognition. I humbly commend this action by the President.

Undoubtedly the democratic system of governance is the best especially for the multi ethnic nation like ours. I thank you for building on the foundation which my team and I laboured strenuously to establish and actualize on June 12, 1993.

It is our hope that expanding the frontiers of democracy of which all the people of Nigeria, regardless of ethnic group, will provide economic, social and developmental benefits that will certainly make Nigeria a great nation not only in Africa but across the world.

He added that the scheduled event on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 would rekindle the national consciousness of all Nigerians for a better Nation.

He noted that he wont be able to attend the investiture ceremony, because he was not in the country presently.(NAN)

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday performed the investiture of national honours on heroes of democracy and tendered a national apology to the family of late Chief Moshood Abiola, for the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election which was adjudged to have been won by Abiola.

MKO Abiola and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe were the candidates of Social Democratic Pary (SDP) that contested the election in 1993.

Buhari also tendered national apologies to all those who struggled for the actuallisation of the election, including journalists, politicians and all other stakeholders.

The President personally presented the awards to Mr Kola Abiola, son of MKO Abiola; Mrs Ganiat Fawehinmi, wife of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi; and Ambassador Babagana Kingigbe, who was the running mate to Abiola.

Buhari said as he presented the awards that the ceremony was not to open old wounds of inexplicable annulment of the election which was clear to have been won by MKO Abiola.

We recognise that an error has been committed.

We will no longer tolerate such perversion of justice.

This honour if for the grievous injustice done to the country.

It is meant to assist at healing the wounds and building national reconciliation of the 25 years of wounds caused by the annulment.

I earnestly urge Nigerians to accept it in good faith and bury the past of June 12.

We are celebrating June 12 as a democracy sustenance, freedom, unity and national cohesion.

It will impact impact positively on the next generation.

I tender the nations apology to the family of MKO Abiola, Also to those who struggle and stood for June 12.

Buhari declared a minute silence in honour of the victims of June 12.

Mr Kola Abiola and his sister Hafsat Biola spoke on behalf of the family of MKO Abiola, saluting Buhari for the honour done to the gladiators of June 12 and for honouring their father.

Hafsat said Today is important because in presents the unity of Nigeria.

She appealed to all politicians to appreciate Nigerians,

I urge all Nigerians to support President Buhari.

Acknowledging the apology tendered by Buhari, Hafsat in her stoic philosophy, also apologised to President Buhari and members of his family.

On behalf of teh MKO Abiola family, I apologise to you and your family for anything that we would have done to hurt you and your family.

By recognising June 12, you have awoken all those victims of the oppression and also a call-up for a new beginning for the defence of the country.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja approved the conferment of National Honours on three distinguished Nigerians who contributed immensely to the enthronement of democratic governance in the country.

They are Rt. Honourable, Chief Agunwa Anekwe, former Speaker, House of Representatives in the Third Republic; Senator Iyorchia Ayu, former Senate President in the Third Republic; and Senator Ameh Ebute, Senate President in the Third Republic.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha who announced this in his welcome address at conferment of posthumous national honours on Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, said their investiture will take place at a later date.

”These awards serve as a public acknowledgement of their pivotal contribution to nationhood and a further demonstration of this Administration’s commitment to upholding the ethos of democratic governance,” the SGF said.

On the significance of the Federal Government’s proclamation of June 12 as “Democracy Day”, Boss noted that it was in recognition of the public acknowledgement of ”our heroes past whose supreme efforts laid the foundation for our nascent democracy. ”

”Today marks a new dawn in the Nation’s political and democratic advancement signalling the deepening of our belief in the democratic principles of inclusiveness in governance and hope for a greater Nigeria.

”The monumental election that took place on June 12, 1993, represented the first time in the history of our nation that Nigerians voted not for tribe or creed or region but for their convictions, affirming their common heritage and unity of purpose,” he said.

The SGF also added: ”June 12, more than any other day, symbolized the varied struggles and sacrifices made by fellow citizens of this great nation, established democracy as our political system of governance, and opened a new chapter in the political history.

”It is in commemoration of this day, the spirit of which should be internalized in the consciousness of Nigerians of all ages and taught to our children and generations of Nigerians yet unborn, that this Administration has, in placing history in the right perspective, declared June 12 of every year as Democracy Day and as a national holiday”.

NAN reports that the highpoint of the event was the conferment of posthumous national honours on Chief Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 election, as Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and Chief Gani Fawehinmi as the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).

The President also decorated Ambassador Babagana Kingibe with GCON at the ceremony.
The senior son of MKO Abiola, Mr Kola Abiola received the award of GCFR while Hajia Ganiat Fawehinmi also received the award of GCON for her late husband.

Ambassador Kingibe was present to receive his award of GCON.

Source: NAN

Some fans of the Super Eagles of Nigeria have expressed fears that the proliferation of sports betting outfits in the country might affect the expected unwavering support for the team in Russia.

Some of the fans expressed their fears while speaking on the Coupe de Mundial which begins on Thursday with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Eagles are in Group D alongside the Albiceleste of Argentina, Icelands Strkarnir Okkar (Our Boys) and Vatreni of Croatia.

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The Eagles open their account at the World Cup against the Vatreni of Croatia on Saturday at 8 p.m.

A number of the fans said the supporters were now scampering for money through football betting.

They were of the opinion that the days when fans had no options than to support the team were gone, adding that sports betting had opened a new vista with which sports enthusiasts could make money.

Sports betting dates as far back as the time of Greek City States about 2,000 years ago.

The Romans then adopted this from the Greeks and turned it into a money generating source via the arena, gladiators games.

Although efforts were made to squash sports betting in the middle ages but sports betting already had its hold on the people and those efforts were futile.

A businessman, Chima Okenwa, said the introduction of football betting in the country had exposed the business aspect of the game.

Okenwa said it was now customary for some fans to tip their teams to lose a match against probable superior opponents to increase their chances during staking.

Vitalis Momah, a civil servant, aligning with Okenwa said: It is now all about the money involved in staking a bet.

Since I got into football betting, I erased emotion and sentiment from my lexicon. I now watch games with the hope to win money from them.

According to him, the World Cup provides 30 days of hope and aspiration for fans to make money from many fronts.

However, I sincerely pray for the Super Eagles to perform well at the Coupe de Mundial, but the players need to assure me before I can tip them against their opponents while betting, he said.

Smith Oklobia, also a civil servant, said he had prepared to invest money in all the matches that would be played, adding that he could only pray for teams he would mark for victory.

This is not to say I will not pray for the Super Eagles, I am patriotic, but it is time to make some cash, he said.

On his part, Mohammed Abubakar, said the Eagles remained his number one team to support, adding, however, that football betting had changed the fans following configuration in the country.

I do bet sometimes with club football. The World Cup is like war and therefore, we must support our team, Abubakar said.

There are approximately 19 functional Online Sports Betting sites that can be accessed by people in Nigeria

Source: NAN