The 11-year-old marriage of a pastor at Rhema Pentecostal Church International in Sango-Ota area of Ogun state has hit the rocks as an Agege Customary Court in Lagos on Monday severed the union.

The marriage between the pastor, Ijeoma Okoli, and her husband, Ifeanyi Okoli, was dissolved over domestic violence.

The President of the court, Mrs. Ibironke Elabor said she observed that the estranged couple was tired of the marriage as all efforts aimed at reconciling them had failed.

“Since both parties consented to the dissolution of the marriage; this court has no choice but to dissolve the marriage.

“The court hereby pronounce the marriage between Mrs Ijeoma Okoli and Mr Ifeanyi Okoli dissolved today, both parties henceforth cease
to be husband and wife,” she ruled.

The court president gave the custody of the two children of the marriage to the petitioner and instructed the respondent to pay N20,000 monthly for their upkeep, education and other bills.

“Both parties are free to go their separate ways without any hindrance or molestation.”

Earlier, Ijeoma, 36, a mother of two, who lives at Salako St., Ogba, Lagos told the court that she was fed up with her husband’s bad character.

“My husband is aggressive, untrustworthy and troublesome.

“He failed to tell me that he is addicted to drugs which l later discovered after our traditional marriage in 2007,” she said.

The petitioner told the court that her husband no longer love and care for her, and was nonchalant about the welfare of their children.

“I want peace, l do not want any problem in my life, the court should end our marriage as I do not love him again.”

The petitioner, an indigene of Delta, described her husband as a drug addict, saying he has become aggressive towards her and the
children.

“As a result of the drugs, he has become very violent and he abuses me and the children by pouncing on us when he is angry; he may
kill us one day if I do not end the marriage.

“I joined him in India in 2009 after I had our first child, when I got to India I realized that my husband is a drug addict.

“The marriage is toxic full of domestic violence, verbal abuses and threats to life.”

Ijeoma also said she had been separated from her husband since 2013, when she and her children returned to Nigeria from India.

She added: “I have been responsible for our children’s upkeep and I am the one who pays their school fees.

“My husband is violent and l can no longer bear the pains; l do not want to lose my life.

“I pray the court to separate us so that I can live comfortably with my children.”

She pleaded with the court to grant her custody of their children and to help facilitate the return of the bride price Ifeanyi paid in accordance to their tradition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petitioner’s husband, Ifeanyi, did not appear in court but had given his consent for the dissolution of the marriage.

Source: Daily Post NG, NAN

Hundreds of youths in the sleeping town of Omi-Adio, Ibadan in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo state on Monday took to the streets to protest against killing of a 12-year-old boy by the state mass transit, Ajumose bus.

It was learnt that the driver of the bus who was coming from Apata lost control and rammed into the ditch crushing the little boy to death.

Angered with the death of the boy, youths seized the driver and the bus.

According to DAILY POST NG, the lifeless body of the boy was said to have been deposited at the Adeoyo state Hospital.

The bus with registration number OY 148860 Y was damaged beyond recognition.

It was gathered that the driver of the ill-fated bus, who escaped death by the whiskers was rescued by policemen from the Omi-Adio Police station, located few meters to the scene of the accident.

The aggrieved youths stormed major streets and the ever busy Ibadan-Abeokuta Expressway on Monday with clubs and iron, preventing motorists from plying the road for many hours.

Several traders and shop owners were said to have abandoned their wares and hurriedly locked their shops in fear of attacks and looting.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday disclosed that his administration has spent $9bn (N2 .745trn at the official exchange rate of N 305 to $1) on power, roads and railways in the country in the last two years.

He said the expenditure was part of the ongoing plans by his government to diversify the economy through the development of tourism, agriculture and solid minerals, noting that the Federal Government was investing heavily in infrastructure.

The President made this known at the 61st meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and Commission for Africa in Abuja.

Buhai also said that as part of his administration’s social investment programmes, the government was giving N 5, 000 monthly to some 297, 973 poor homes in the country.

The theme of the weeklong conference, attended by delegates from over 53 countries, was, ‘Tourism Statistics – A Catalyst for Development.’

Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, read Buhari’s speech.

The President said Nigeria was expected to benefit from tourism through increase in foreign exchange earnings, revenue generation , employment creation and cultural integration.

Buhari stated, “We are making steady efforts to diversify the economy through agriculture , solid minerals development and tourism . We are also
investing heavily in infrastructure to promote tourism . This administration has injected about $ 9 bn to strengthen its investment in power , roads and railway in the past two years.

“The government is also investing in the social investment programme to promote human capital development , which has benefitted over nine million people. These programmes include our home – grown school feeding programme that is providing one meal a day to 7 . 4 million pupils in 22 states of the federation.

“There is also the Conditional Cash Transfer under which some 297, 973 poor homes are receiving N 5 , 000 monthly . The government is also providing public safety and security to all Nigerians , investors and tourists . Government is also investing a lot of resources in building the inventory of equipment and capacity of security agencies to keep the country safe .

“Nigeria is a country with a population of over 180 million people and over 250 ethnic groups , each with a unique story , and these stories are finding expression in our movies , music and many other creative ideas. The importance of tourism and its potential to national economies cannot be over emphasized.”

Source: Daily Post NG

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo says it is yet to take any position on 2019 presidential election.

NEWS2019: Why we’re yet to endorse any presidential aspirant – OhanaezePublished on June 5, 2018 By Ameh Comrade Godwin

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo says it is yet to take any position on 2019 presidential election.

A statement issued yesterday by Chuks Ibegbu, a spokesman for Ohanaeze, said the group “will consult widely among Igbo stakeholders before taking a decision on 2019″.

It reads, “Anybody who is parading himself, claiming that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is supporting him is wasting his time.

“However, Ohanaeze Ndigbo will support candidates that believe in restructuring Nigeria and ready to carry all sections of the country along.”

Ohanaeze lamented that having the least number of states and local governments has consistently made the South-East to have the least quota in recruitments, jobs in civil service, representation in the National Assembly, allocations among others.

It continued, “This is adversely affecting our people and is largely responsible for the agitations in the South-East and major parts of South-South. This shortfall in states and local governments in the South-East is no longer tolerable and must be addressed.”

Ohanaeze also commiserated with the middle-belt over the death of the president of the Middle-Belt Forum, Dr. Bala Takaya, saying his death is a big minus to the struggle for a better Nigeria.

“Ohanaeze leadership will also attend the middle belt summit on restructuring, which holds at Makurdi on June 21,” the statement added.

Source: Daily Post NG

The Singapore Mint on Tuesday unveiled three types of commemorative coins ahead of the June 12 meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and the top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Jong Un.

Unveiling the three commemorative gold, silver and base-metal pieces, the company said it is excited to document the history through minted coins and medallions.

The medallions will commemorate the meeting as a “momentous step to world peace” and mark Singapore as “an economic and security gateway between the East and the West,” according to a statement published on the company’s website.

One side of the coin features a handshake between the two leaders with the respective flags of both countries as the background, while the reverse side shows a dove with the slogan “World Peace” emblazoned above it.

Only a few thousand pieces of Singapore’s commemorative coins have been made and were open for pre-order from the mint on Tuesday.

Trump and Kim are scheduled to meet at 9:00 a.m. Singapore time on June 12, the White House said on Monday.

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is troubled over threat by Lagos chapter to sue the National Working Committee (NWC) for overruling the states congress conducted in the 57 council areas instead of 20.

Mr Abiodun Salami, the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the party, issued the threat during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Lagos.

He was reacting to the National Working Committees overruling of the main congress of APC held at ACME on May 19.

Another congress was convened at the same day by a chieftain, Mr Fouad Oki on the grounds that the ACME congress lacked legal basis as it was conducted based on wards in 57 council areas instead of 20 approved by INEC.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullah, had said that the party had begun work on Friday on the reports from the various appeal panels on the conduct of state congresses.

He said a meeting to resolve the issues had been held and that the Lagos APC faction loyal to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu which conducted its wards and local government congresses in 57 local council development areas had been overruled by the national leadership.

He said the state structure was, however, not handed over to Oki, who he said conducted his congress in accordance with the party laws.

He added that a five-man panel had been set up to dissect the constitutionality of the two congresses and that the panel, headed by the partys Deputy National Chairman, would begin sitting on Sunday.

Yes, we set up a panel to look at the issues in the Lagos chapter. Of course, we overruled those who conducted their congresses in 57councils because the Constitution only recognises 20 councils.

We could not have discountenanced those who conducted in 20 councils because that is constitutional .The issue in Lagos is about legality and constitutionality, he said.

Reacting, Salami described the NWCs decision on the main congress as mischievous, saying it was meant to scuttle things at the states chapter.

The spokesman said the chapter would challenge the decision in the court of law.

We will challenge their decision at the court because there is a Supreme Court judgement in favour of Lagos State on 57 councils.

We have been operating with 20 LGs and 37 LCDAs in Lagos before the formation of APC.

The decision is not only mischievous but a deliberate way to scuttle the party in Lagos State, he said.

Salami said the real congress was the one held at ACME in the presence of INEC and party officials.

He said the other congress lacked legal basis as no monitoring officer was present.

Salami accused Oki of double standards, saying the same person who was partys Vice Chairman (Central) when the party conducted council elections in 57 , councils was now complaining of illegality

Speaking to NAN, Oki said the decision of the partys NWC to overrule the ACME congress vindicated him and his group.

I have always said you cannot build something on nothing. What is wrong us wrong.

I will continue to say that the constitutionally known local governments in Lagos is 20.

And INEC recognises 245 wards. Therefore you cannot put up any illegality and expect it to hold.

And if you look at their own congresses, you will see that they were full of contradictions and illegalities.

The reaction of the NWC cannot be clearer. That is what we are seeing.

We have a NWC that is committed to the Constitution, to the rule of law and the electoral act and that is why they are trying to put things right, he said.

Oki said he had been briefed that a committee was in the state to resolve the issues once and for all.

He, however, said he had not been invited, but hoped to be invited on Monday to defend his own congress. (NAN,)

Source: NAN

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has re-constituted its Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) Committee ahead of the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.

The committee, according to a statement issued on the commission online newspapers, was inaugurated by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday in Abuja, to also plan for a successful 2019 general elections.

Yakubu, while inaugurating the committee said for the 2019 general elections to be successful, the Commission also needed to constantly track all levels of its preparations to ensure that things go according to plan.

He implored the committee not to forget the two governorship elections holding in Ekiti State on July 14 and in Osun State on Sept. 22.

The INEC boss also reminded the committee members that the Commission still has about five bye-elections to conduct in five states, including Katsina, Taraba, Bauchi and Cross River.

He warned against complacency, saying he would be prepared to wield the big stick against any “sleeping member” of the committee.

“I will personally be tracking your activities.

“The Committee’s Terms of Reference include establishing an operational framework for EMSC Secretariat at both headquarters and state offices to be fully functional for implementation, monitoring and support mechanisms for the 2019 general elections.

“Developing an operational framework for EMSC Secretariat platform including, securing fully operational platform resources, dashboard analytics, mobile apps support as well as data collection, reporting and communication tool.

“Developing operational manuals, facilitators’ guides and other relevant training materials for the effective functioning of the EMSC.

“Organising and conducting various levels of training at headquarters and in state offices for the effective implementation of the EMSC Work Plan.

“As well as implementing the EMSC Work Plan as approved by the Commission and carry out any other activities related to 2019 General Elections as may be assigned by the Commission from time to time,” he said.

According to Yakubu, the work of the committee is vital because of the need to constantly track planning mechanisms, and activities put in place for the smooth conduct of the next general elections.

He said that good planning was key for a good election, while proper monitoring of the plans put in place “will limit the areas of difficulty” during elections.

Yakubu attributed the successes recorded by the Commission in the Ibarapa East State Constituency bye-election held in Oyo State on June 2 to proper planning and tracking.

“Oyo bye-election was good. The processes were great and things went on smoothly.”

The 16-member Committee includes: Special Adviser to the Chairman, Prof Mohammad Kuna as Chairman; Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman, Prof. Bolade Eyinla; Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi; Director, Planning and Monitoring, Mr Okechukwu Ndeche and Director, Electoral Operations, Mr Abdulrazak Yusuf.

Others include Director of ICT, Mr Chidi Nwafor; Director, Voter Registry, Engineer Iro Gambo; Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osase-Uzzi; Director, Estate, Works and Transport, Ruth Endeley; Deputy Director (Election Management) and Mr Chima Duruaku.

Source: NAN

Following the conclusion of ward, local and state congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo, Mr Osita Okechukwu, Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON) and a chieftain of the party has advised Gov. Rochas Okorocha to leave the party if he so desires.

Okechukwu spoke on the heels of Gov. Okorocha’s disagreement with the outcome of the congresses held in Imo last month.

He told newsmen at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Monday that the APC would win the 2019 elections without Okorocha.

According to him, the actions and inactions of Okorocha have caused the APC more setbacks in the last four years in Imo and the South-East in general.

He said recent development that made the governor to lose at the party´s just concluded congresses was a grand plan to reposition APC toward winning elections in the South-East.

“At least there are more than 60 political parties now. Okorocha is free to join any one of his choice, though, we are not forcing him to leave.

“What we are saying is that we have taken the leadership out of his hands because he is playing God; so, what I am saying is that he is at liberty to leave APC.

“But let nobody anywhere think that the APC will lose because we have retrieved the party from him. Mr president is going to get more votes, we are going to win more parliamentary seats, more governorship seats without him,” he said.

He noted that over 90 per cent of the leadership and membership of the APC in the South-East were against Okorocha and his style of governance.

However, Dr Toe Ekechi, Convener of APC Restoration Coalition in Imo, said they would rather prefer that Okorocha remain in the party than leave.

“Rochas Okorocha is the governor of Imo, I think there is joy in heaven when one’ s lost sheep is found.

“We will be most joyous to see our governor Rochas Owelle Okorocha come back to the fold and work with us as a family to ensure the success of APC in 2019.

“That is not taking away the fact that he has the right to make political decisions that suits him, but in terms of what we want, we wish that we work with him.

“I will not want it to degenerate to that extent, not necessarily in the interest of the party but in his own interest and I think he is a smart governor and won’t want to contemplate leaving APC,” he said.

He expressed confidence that even if the governor decided to leave the party, the coalition was prepared to sustain the APC in Imo.

Source: NAN

The Wife and children of Alhaji Abdullahi Gurbin-bore, the Zamfara state Commissioner of Youths, Sport and Skills Acquisition, who were kidnapped by some unidentified gunmen on 2 May, have regained their freedom.

The state Commissioner of Police Mr Kenneth Ebrimson disclosed this in Gusau on Monday while displaying at the police headquarters the bodies of four bandits killed by the police on Monday.

The bandits were not connected with the kidnapping of the wife and children of Gurbin-bore.

According to Ebrimson, the four suspected bandits were killed during the exchange of fire with the police, while attempting to attack Kekawa village in Tsafe local government.

He said the Divisional Police Officer of Tsafe Division early on Monday received a distress call that bandits in large number invaded the village.

The Police and vigilante groups led by the DPO of Tsafe division engaged the bandits in a gun duel where four bandits were killed and others escaped with possible wounds.

We recovered exhibits from them including two locally made guns, one pump action, five live cartridges and assorted charms, he said.

The wife, three children and three relatives of Gurbin-bore were abducted by gunmen on Tuesday, 2nd May, 2018 at his home town Gurbin-bore in Zurmi local government area of the state.

The CP said: I am happy to announce to you this evening that the kidnapped wife, children and relatives of the state commissioner for Youths Sport and Skills Acquisition, Abdullahi Gurbin-bore who were kidnapped 31 days ago have regained freedom.

No kobo was paid to bandits before they released the victims, saying that, they were released due to the pressure given to them by the police and other security agencies,

Alhaji Abdullahi Gurbin-bore also confirmed to NAN that all the kidnapped victims have been returned home.

The Police Commissioner decried the increase in informant activities in the state especially int rural communities.

He claimed the informants were the people giving the criminals information, thus increasing crimes in the state.

He said the command has succeeded in arresting three suspected kidnappers in Talata-Mafara and Zurmi local government areas.

He urged the public to continue to support the police and other security agencies with useful information to enable them take preemptive measures against kidnappers and bandits.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday evening broke the Ramadan fast with state governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his official residence at Aso Rock, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Iftar with the governors, unlike the previous ones, held with leadership of the National Assembly, Judiciary and others, was not open for full media coverage.

However, the official photographer to the President and cameraman from Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) were allowed to the venue of the event.

Traditional rulers across the country are billed to be hosted by the President for the breaking of fast this week.

Source: NAN

The gunmen attacked and set free 210 inmates of Mina Maximum Prisons on Sunday night and killed a warder and a commercial motorcycle operator.

Interior minister Abdulrahman Dambazau confirmed the escape of the inmates, but that 32 of them have been re-arrested.

During the jailbreak, he said that gunmen shot sporadically, paving way for the escape of the inmates.

The Minister, alongside Niger State Governor Abubakar Bello, visited the prison facility on Monday morning to ascertain the situation.

Dambazau lamented the inadequate manpower in the Nigerian Prisons and added that plans were on to recruit more workers to enable adequate security.

The spokesperson of the prison service in Niger State, Mr. Rabiu Shuaibu, had earlier confirmed the Sunday night attack on the prison which is located in Tunga area of Minna.

He said the incident was perpetrated after the armed criminals attacked the prison and gained access after an exchange of fire with prison officials.

In 2014, a similar jailbreak occurred at the Minna maximum prisons where hundreds of inmates were freed.

Bello on Monday refuted allegations that the attack was as a result of activities of some condemned criminals.

Bello also refuted claims that the attackers were suspected members of the Boko Haram or armed robbers who came to free some of their members in the prison.

He explained that since assumption of office in 2015, he has yet to see any paper on condemned criminals.

I have not seen anything so far on condemn criminals or anybody that was condemned. Only when I see anything on condemned criminals that is when I will do something on it.

Sometimes, people get desperate and do crazy things. Nobody is sure why the attack was carried out, saying the attackers were members of the Boko Haram is mere rumour, he said.

Bello, who described the incident as unfortunate, said that the state would work with the Federal government to address the challenges of infrastructures and shortage of manpower in the prison.

The governor appealed to the prison officers to discharge their duties diligently as investigation was ongoing to know the reason behind the attack.

At the state level here, we will look at the issue of infrastructure, operations and shortage of manpower. But, again, people should take their jobs seriously.

Even though investigation is ongoing, we need to do more in terms of taking care of our facilities especially prison.

Also, Mr Ahmed Jaafaru, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Prison Service, said that there was no suspected Boko Haram members in the prison.

He said that investigation would reveal the reason behind the attack and how the attackers gained access to the prison.

Source: NAN

Senate President Bukola Saraki said he will send a written response to the allegations made against him by the Nigerian Police, linking him with robbery in Offa on 5 April.

In a twist to the police invitation to the man who is officially the number three citizen in Nigeria, the police backpedaled and rather than asking Saraki to report at Guzape Police station in the Federal capital of Abuja, now asked him to send a written response.

Opinions were divided across Nigeria over the invitation, following police statement that some five ringleaders of the Offa robbery indicted the Senate President and the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed.

According to the police, the chief of staff to the governor and the personal assistant to the governor have been arrested in connection with the case.

Saraki had earlier tweeted that he had asked his aide-de-camp to collect the letter of invitation from the police in respect of the allegations, as he wanted to honour the alleged invitation.

But four hours later, the police changed their minds about the invitation.

Saraki broke the news on his Twitter handle:

Following my earlier tweet, I have received the letter from . They are no longer asking me to appear at any station, but to respond in writing to the allegations within 48 hours which I plan to do.

Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki)

On Sunday, the police announced they have invited Saraki over the 5 April multiple bank robberies in Offa, during which 33 persons, including nine policemen, were killed.

Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood also announced the arrest of Mr. Yusuf Abdulwahab, the chief of staff to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Alabi Olalekan, his Personal Assistant, Political, as investigations over the gruesome robbery deepened.

The police claimed five of the bandits arrested and who have made confessions during interrogations indicted the senate president.

The police therefore wanted to interrogate the senator, who is Number 3 person, in the order of protocol in the country. The police did not give a specific time they wanted Saraki to report.

The Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki is being invited by the Nigeria Police Force to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team office at Guzape, Abuja to answer to the allegations levelled against him from the confessions of the Five (5) Gang Leaders, namely; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran and some of the other Seventeen (17) suspects arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa Bank Robbery and the gruesome killing of 33 innocent persons which include some pregnant women and nine Police personnel, Moshood said.

The police in the statement appeared to have dropped hints on what they wanted to ask Saraki about, as they claimed that the five men, who were the leaders of the bandits `admitted, confessed and volunteered statements that they were political thugs of the Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Bukola Saraki and the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed.

The other hints dropped were the recovery of one Toyota Prado Jeep with Reg. No. 19KWGH belonging to the Personal Assistant, Political to the Governor of Kwara State and a Sticker plate number with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony.

According to the police, the Five gang leaders further confessed during investigation that they are political thugs under the name Youth Liberation Movement a.k.a Good Boys admitted and confessed to have been sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles by the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Police explained why the Chief of Staff and the Personal Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed were also arrested:

A Lexus jeep GX-300 (Ash Colour) with a sticker plate number with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony used by the gang leader (Ayoade Akinnibosun, during the bank robbery and the killing of the 33 innocent persons was taken to Government House, Ilorin on 16th May, 2018 where the sticker plate number with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony was removed before another plate number (Reg. No. Kwara, KMA 143 RM) registered in the name of Ayoade AKinnibosun the Overall Commander of the Offa Bank Robbery was then attached to the vehicle to cover up the identity of the said vehicle.

The exhibit vehicle was subsequently recovered from the premises of the Min. of Environmental and Forestry in Ilorin, Kwara State. While the sticker plate number with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony removed from the vehicle was recovered from one Adeola Omiyale who drove the said Lexus Jeep to Government House, Ilorin immediately after the Bank Robbery.

The Personal Assistant (Political) to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Alabi Olalekan, who is privy to information that the Police is looking for the Lexus Jeep as an exhibit used in the Offa Bank Robbery directed one Adeola Omiyale to relocate the Lexus Jeep to Government House, Ilorin. The PA (Political) is currently in Police custody and has made useful statement assisting the Police in further investigation into the case.

A revolver pistol and pump action gun were recovered by the Police Investigation Team from the Personal Assistant (Political) to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Alabi Olalekans Farm where he directed his brother to hide them after his arrest by the Police.

In order to conceal evidence, the Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Yusuf Abdulwahab who has been arrested and taken into Police custody, arranged the removal of the sticker plate number with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony from the exhibit vehicle.

Saraki responded some hours later, asking Nigerians to disregard the police allegation.

Saraki, in a statement by his media adviser,Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the allegation as baseless and another ploy by the Police to implicate him by all means.

Let it be known that there is no way I could have been associated with armed robbery against my people, Saraki said.

This plot is concocted to embarrass me and, in the mind of the IGP, it is his own response after his refusal to honour the invitation by the National Assembly, headed me, for him to come and offer explanations on the rampant killings and violence across the country.

Like the earlier one, this frame-up will also fail as I hereby state categorically that I have no link with any band of criminals.

As a person who has utmost respect for the rule of law and all constitutional institutions, when the invitation from the Police is formally extended to me, I will be ready to honour it without any delay.

It is however sad that this abuse of the criminal investigation process aimed at intimidating and over-overawing the legislature, thereby obstructing it from doing its work, is a big threat to our democracy , the Senate President stated.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with heads of security agencies and also broke Ramadan fast with governors of APC at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting with heads of security operatives which lasted for about one-and-a-half hours took place at the presidents office.

Those at the meeting included service chiefs, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai.

The Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Idris Ibrahim, who was at the presidential villa, was not part of the meeting with the president but later attended another security meeting which was presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

The Director-General of the DSS, Lawal Daura, also joined the IGP, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, at the meeting with Osinbajo.

The outcomes of the two meetings are still being awaited as at the time of filing this report.

Buhari also in evening broke the Ramadan fast with state governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his official residence at Aso Rock.

The Iftar with the governors, unlike the previous ones, held with leadership of the National Assembly, Judiciary and others, was not open for full media coverage.

Traditional rulers across the country are billed to be hosted by the President for the breaking of fast this week. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), has called on the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to enhance its technical support for the Sierra Leonean Meteorological Agency to deliver efficient service.

Mr Bernard Gomez, WMO Representative for North, Central and West Africa, made the call during a Technical Exchange Visit of Sierra Leone Mission on Weather and Climate Service to NiMet on Monday in Abuja.

Gomez said that WMO was aware of Nigerias supportive role to the cause of meteorology globally and particularly at the regional level.

He explained that the visit was to enable the delegation to talk with NiMet to see what could be done to help Sierra Leone to improve on its Meteorological services.

According to him, WMO knows that NiMet is supporting Sierra Leone in the area of weather forecast but it still needs to do more.

Those of us who fly in the sub-region know what it means for Meteorological services not functioning well or not effective.

I think it is our duty to see what can be done to help strengthen a sister country in our sub-region.

And I am confident that at the end of this mission, you would have collected a lot of information that would help boost your weather services.

It is a good thing for NiMet and Sierra Leone to work together to ensure better met service delivery in the sub region.

NiMet is very supportive to the coursework of meteorology globally and particularly at the regional level.

I am very happy that today we are here with the permanent secretary at the ministry of transport as well as the Director General of Met Agency and the African Development Bank.

We are here to talk with NiMet to see what can be done to help this country in our sub region, he said.

The Director-general of NiMet, Prof. Sani Mashi, represented by Mr Mailadi Yusuf, Director of Applied Meteorological Services, assured that the agency was ready to ensure a successful tour by the delegation.

Mashi said NiMet, being an agency mandated with the responsibility of advising government in all areas of meteorology, had always carried out its functions in a more professional and satisfactory manner.

He said that NiMet products and services had always been used by professionals and policy makers to guide their decisions and support national development.

The principal product is the Seasonal Rainfall Predictions (SRP), which advised on the onset and cessation of rainfall in every part of the country and we just issued the 2018 edition.

I believe your visit and tour of NiMet facility would help you to discover areas to improve your operations especially in hazard monitoring and early warning processes that could help mitigate effects of such occurrences.

You will therefore be guided through our facilities such as the weather forecasting studio, standard observatory and ICT and data management laboratory.

It is my belief that undertaking periodic review will help improve the operations of the agencies especially those that deliver essential public services, he said.

The Sierra Leonean delegation was led by Mr Usman Binya, Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Aviation of Sierra Leone.

On the delegation are the Director-general of Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency and Mr James Kinyangi, Chief Climate and Policy Development Fund, African Development Bank (AfDB).

Source: NAN

Members of the Kyamajaka village, Muhorro town council, Uganda, on Sunday rescued a five-month-old baby girl, Rachael Karungi, who was kidnapped by a troupe of chimpanzees.

According to the mother of the little girl, Oliver Kemigisa, who spoke to New Vision, the incident happened a few minutes after 5pm on Sunday when she was preparing dinner at their home.

Kemigisa said she had left the baby with another baby in the verandah, while she moved a few meters away to cook.

She said she heard the babies crying and when she turned around, she saw over 20 chimpanzees surrounding the babies. One had already picked Karungi and the others also aiming at the three-year-old boy as he cried.

She said that she wrestled with the chimpanzees for the boy as she raised an alarm. She managed to save the boy, but the primates ran away with Karungi.

“When I saw that they (chimpanzees) wanted to take my other child, I became firm and fought them. That is how I saved the boy,” said Kemigisa.

She said that Karungi was taken into the nearby bush, but residents turned up immediately and began chasing them. The animals had hidden the baby in the grass after removing the skirt she was wearing.

When the baby was discovered, she was unconscious and was immediately rushed to Muhorro Health centre III, where she is currently admitted.

She said that on a daily basis, these chimpanzees traverse the area in search of food and they usually chase people.

Source: Punch NG

Senate President Bukola Saraki would no longer need to appear before the police for questioning, the top lawmaker said on Monday.

In a post on Twitter, Mr Saraki said he now has a formal communication from the police, but it was not for him to appear but rather to answer questions bordering on the robbery in Offa, Kwara State, in April.

“Following my earlier tweet, I have received the letter from @PoliceNG. They are no longer asking me to appear at any station, but to respond in writing to the allegations within 48 hours — which I plan to do,” Mr Saraki said.

The announcement comes minutes after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo met behind closed-doors with Mr Saraki and police chief, Ibrahim Idris, as well as the head of State Security Service, Lawal Daura, at the State House.

It also comes about four hours after Mr Saraki announced he was yet to get a police invite. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the senate president said he dispatched his security detail to the Force Headquarters in Abuja to ask the police for an invite when none came.

The police say some of the suspects in the Offa robbery confessed to being sponsored by Mr Saraki.

Source: Premium Times

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has spoken on Nigeria’s chances at the 2018 World Cup.

He stated that if Nigeria failed to go pass the group stage, it would be that the other teams in the group performed better.

The tournament will take place in Russia from June 14, 2018 until July 15, 2018.

SPORT2018 World Cup: Rohr speaks on Super Eagles’ chancesPublished on June 4, 2018 By Wale Odunsi

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has spoken on Nigeria’s chances at the 2018 World Cup.

He stated that if Nigeria failed to go pass the group stage, it would be that the other teams in the group performed better.

The tournament will take place in Russia from June 14, 2018 until July 15, 2018.

In an interview conducted by Philipp Barth of DW, Rohr also spoke on discipline in the team.

He said: “The African style of football is all about improvisation and creativity, but also sometimes involves forgetting about discipline and defensive organization.

“I’m German and French, so I think that discipline is part of my mentality, and I can try to teach that especially to the young players: Being on time and not being too late to bed, for example. Simple things.

“We are lucky that half the team has grown up in Europe so they’ve already had an education when it comes to defending set pieces. They’ve also learned about tactical discipline and how to play for the team instead of themselves.”

Rohr also reacted to the verdict by Otto Pfister, the former coach of Cameroon, Togo and Ivory Coast, that the Super Eagles were “too hot blooded” to make it far in the World Cup.

“What does hot-blooded even mean”, he queried rhetorically.

“We have players coming to us from different countries. From Turkey, from Italy, from Spain, from England, from Germany and from Nigeria so they bring with them very different mentalities.

“We have nothing to lose. If we don’t get out of the group, it is not because we are too hot-blooded, but because the other teams are playing better football. For me it makes no sense to look for other reasons.”

Reminded of his comment that there are no stars in the Super Eagles’ squad and what he would give to have a Nigerian Mohamed Salah, Rohr responded: “I think it’s fantastic for Egypt to have such a player, just as Argentina have (Lionel) Messi or Croatia have (Luka) Modric.”

“But we have a good team spirit instead. It is not the individual quality, even if that quality is huge, that will make the difference, but the best team spirit. This is more important than having one Mohamed Salah.”

Source: Daily Post NG

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Monday said over 110 people could have died when a migrant boat sank off the Tunisian coast at the weekend.

“In addition to 48 bodies which have already been found, there are maybe more than 64 missing,’’ Flavio Di Giacomo, a spokesman for the IOM, said.

Di Giacomo added that over 70 migrants survived the accident near the Kerkennah Islands, off the coast of the city of Sfax, on Sunday.

According to the Tunisian Defence Ministry, the victims were mostly Tunisians, but there were also eight foreigners, including from neighbouring Morocco.

“Six foreigners, two from the Ivory Coast, two from Cameroon and two from Morocco, were among those rescued,’’ the ministry said.

It added that the boat likely sank because it was overloaded.

Meanwhile, rescue operations were suspended when night fell.

The Tunisian coast has turned into a launch pad for thousands of migrants seeking to reach Italy after controls were tightened in neighbouring Libya.

Many migrants crossing the Mediterranean head for the Italian island of Sicily.

Source: NAN

On Sunday, June 3, 2018, at 8:00p.m., there was a jailbreak at Minna Medium Security Prison located at Tunga area of Minna metropolis.

The unfortunate incident was perpetrated by armed criminals who attacked the prison and gained access after exchange of gunfire with armed prison men.

The incident led to the death of a prison officer and a motorcyclist, who conveyed a prison officer on night duty,’’

Shuaibu said. He said that efforts of security agencies in the state led to re-arrest of seven prisoners. According to the spokesman, the re-arrested prisoners have been returned to the prison.

He said that normalcy had returned in and around the prison, giving the assurance that security agencies were on top of the situation and working together to ensure re-capture of fleeing inmates.

Shuaibu assured members of the public of their safety, and advised them to go about their lawful businesses without fear.

We will like to urge all law-abiding citizens to support security agencies in maintaining law and order, as security is a collective responsibility.

We also advise citizens to report any suspicious persons or group,” he said.

UPDATE

The Police in Niger, said on Monday it had taken measures to ensure the arrest of the 200 prisoners that escaped from Minna Medium Security Prison on Sunday.

Mr Dibal Yakadi, the Commissioner of Police in Niger said in an interview in Minna that only 19 out of the 219 prisoners that escaped were arrested.

We are working in collaboration with other security agencies in Niger state to make sure that we re-arrest the runaway inmates.

“The police has embarked on stop and search for all vehicles and also engaged personnel on motor and foot patrol to ensure that we apprehend these inmates,’’ he said.

Yakadi also said that the command has deployed its personnel to motor parks across the state to track the escaped prisoners and appealed to the general public to assist security agencies in tracking and apprehending the escaped prisoners.

The international footballing community is in shock over the surprise omission of Manchester City winger Leroy Sane from Germany’s 2018 World Cup list.

The surprise was due to the 22-year-old’s impressive club season, having contributed 14 goals and 17 assists to City’s record-breaking campaign that yielded the English Premier League and Carabao Cup double.

However, instead of Sane, Germany Coach Joachim Löw opted for the likes of Julian Draxler, Marco Reus, Julian Brandt and Sebastian Rudy.

The reigning champions also included Manuel Neuer, who has only played one game since injuring himself in September 2017, on the train.

Also omitted are Bayer Leverkusen duo Bernd Leno and Jonathan, as well as Freiburg striker Nils Petersen. However, theirs has not generated any furore, with many on social media branding Sane’s exclusion “insane”.

FULL GERMANY WORLD CUP SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (PSG)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Hector (Koln), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin)

Midfielders: Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (PSG), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)

Forwards: Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig).

Source: Sahara Reporters