The Nigerian Army on Friday said soldiers would be on standby to forestall possible violence in Saturdays council elections in Rivers.

Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Spokesman of the Nigerian Army 6 Division, Port Harcourt, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that soldiers would be deployed at strategic points several kilometres away from polling centres.

He explained that the army was adopting that position because we are not directly involved in the election and no soldier is going to be deployed for any election duty.

According to Iliyasu, it is only the Police and Department of State Security that have the constitutional responsibility to provide security in the election.

However, we are always on alert whenever there is election. We will only be on standby at the periphery in case our services are needed, he said.

Iliyasu said that soldiers were banned from going into polling centres and escort polling materials to the centres.

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) will conduct the elections in the 23 local government areas of the state.

(NAN)

Donald Trumps former campaign chief, Paul Manafort was sent to jail Friday pending trial on a series of federal charges.

Manafort, who is facing money laundering and tax evasion charges among others, was the first former Trump campaign aide to be jailed in the sprawling probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller since May 2017.

The revocation of Manaforts bail was a fresh sign of the looming collision course between Mueller and Trump, with the White House increasingly worried that the president could face obstruction of justice charges and an impeachment effort in Congress.

Manafort, 69, had been under house arrest while awaiting trial in both the US capital and Virginia. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, which also include obstruction of justice.

Trump condemned the treatment of Manafort, a veteran Washington political consultant, as he sought to paint Muellers team as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation which Mueller once ran as deeply biased and illegitimate.

Wow, what a tough sentence for Paul Manafort, who has represented Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other top political people and campaigns, Trump wrote on Twitter.

Didnt know Manafort was the head of the Mob, he said. Very unfair!

Earlier, Trump lashed out at the entire investigation, labelling it a ridiculous witch hunt after a Justice Department watchdog report revealed that several FBI investigators had sent anti-Trump text messages during the 2016 campaign.

There was no collusion, there was no obstruction, and if you read the report what youll really see is bias against me, Trump said.

Manafort, who is facing trial later this year on money laundering charges involving his work for Ukraine that predated the 2016 presidential election, saw his bail revoked by Judge Amy Berman Jackson over claims he was trying to influence witnesses in his case.

He is one of 20 people and three companies already indicted by Mueller, who is investigating whether members of the campaign colluded with Russia during and after the election.

Muellers team has been seeking to interview Trump as well, and questions they have submitted to the White House indicate that they are also investigating whether Trump has illegally interfered with the probe.

On Friday, Trump sought to make use of the Justice Department inspector generals report on the 2016 investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state to erode confidence in Muellers operation.

While the IG report made almost no mention of Mueller or any alleged wrongdoing by Trump, the president claimed it exonerates him, while his lawyer Rudy Giuliani said Mueller and his team themselves should be investigated.

The report yesterday may be more important than anything. It totally exonerates me, Trump told journalists in front of the White House.

The report faulted the FBI and its former director James Comey, whom Trump fired in May 2017, over the handling of the Clinton email probe.

It said Comey, who cleared Clinton of allegations of mishandling classified materials, was insubordinate and guilty of bad judgment.

It also showed several agents involved in both that investigation and the subsequent Russia meddling probe repeatedly expressing anti-Trump bias in private text messages.

That is probably the tip of the iceberg, Trump said. There was total bias, I mean total bias.

He referred to Comey and other senior FBI officials as the scum at the top of the bureau and as total thieves.

*AFP

Source: NAN

Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker announced Friday he is claiming diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings in Britain as an ambassador for the Central African Republic.

Lawyers for the 50-year-old tennis player, a former world number one, lodged a claim Thursday in the High Court asserting immunity after he was appointed a sports attache for the Central African Republic in April.

Becker who won six Grand Slams in the 1980s and 90s was declared bankrupt by a London court in June 2017 for failing to pay a long-standing debt.

But his position as attache to the European Union on sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs could be covered by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

This means the consent of Britains Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his counterpart in Bangui would be needed before Becker is subjected to any legal proceedings, his lawyers said.

The bankruptcy application was made by private bankers Arbuthnot Latham

This is not the best of times for Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo who has reached a deal with the Spanish tax authorities to serve two years in prison in a tax evasion case.

The El Mundo Newspaper reported on Friday that the player would also pay 18.8 million euro (16.41 million pounds) fine.

According to the publication, Ronaldo accepted four fiscal offences before the tax authorities, each of which carries a punishment of six months in prison.

But, Ronaldo is unlikely to serve any time in jail under the deal because Spanish law states that a sentence of under two years for a first offence can be served on probation.

The 33-year-old Portuguese footballer, who is accused of evading 14.7 million euros in taxes, has denied all the allegations through his agents.

The news dropped just hours before Portugal’s opening match of the World Cup against Spain.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan thrice rebuffed suggestions he bestow the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic honour onChief MKO Abiola.

Mr. Kola Abiola, the eldest son of the winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola made the revelation in a Channels TV interview broadcast on Thursday night.

He said Jonathan rejected the suggestion for political reasons.

According to MKOs son, he first approached the then Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), to honour his father during the Centenary celebration in January 2014 but a gold award was given to the deceased, which was rejected by the family.

Kola said during his second attempt, he wrote a letter to Jonathan through the Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, during the build-up to the 2015 elections but nothing was done.

He said even after Jonathan had lost and was preparing to leave office, he made another attempt to get him to honour MKO but it failed again.

Kola Abiola said, Towards the election, I approached them again, this time in writing, and solicited the help of Pastor Bakare and told them that even if it was for selfish political reasons, this was something you could do to help your chances of winning elections.

I really didnt mind how he got it done. But we couldnt get President Jonathan to get it done so we left that.

After he lost the election, I approached him a second time also through the same Pastor Bakare to try to get him to do this as a legacy of his Presidency, something that Nigerians would never forget about him. Last minute, we couldnt get it to happen.

Abiolas son said after President Muhammadu Buhari took office, he sent a letter through Pastor Bakare again to take to the President who was in Kaduna at the time.

He said Buhari bought into the idea and exceeded the expectations of the Abiola family as he did not only honour the deceased with the highest title in the land but also issued an apology to his family on behalf of the Federal Government.

Kola noted that he did not approach former President Olusegun Obasanjo to honour his father because he felt there was no point doing so as the answer would have been obvious.

He, however, said he approached the late President Umaru YarAdua, who promised to address the issue but died in office.

When asked his view on Jonathans naming of the University of Lagos as Moshood Abiola University, Lagos, Kola said, That was a mistake. They were trying to regionalise MKO. He was beyond that. This man was voted across Nigeria irrespective of religion.

I went back to them and told them if they had consulted me, I would have told them what to do.

Read more in

Source: NAN

Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State said he had dropped his responsibility as Chief Security Officer of the state as he had no control over security machinery in the state.

Speaking to newsmen in Talata-Mafara on Friday, Yari said that his decision stemmed from the seeming helplessness of the state government and the people over recurring killings in the state.

He deplored the prevailing situation where as the chief security officer of the state, he could not take decisions on strategies for protecting the state and its people, and had it implemented.

We have been facing serious security challenges over the years, but in spite of being governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, I cannot direct security officers on what to do nor sanction them when they err.

As Chief Security Officer, the nomenclature in just a name, he said.

The governor lamented that it was disheartening that killings in the state had continued in spite of the President Muhammadu Buharis order to security agencies to end the incessant blood-letting across the country.

According to him, since the presidents order, the killings have not stopped. In a week there were attacks in this state which claimed over 30 lives.

He said that the state government was spending huge amount of its resources on security but to no avail.

Yari, therefore, urged people of the state to be more faithful to God and embark on special prayers over the challenges facing the state.

He also appealed to them to be patient and continue to cooperate with the government and security agencies as steps were being taken to address the challenges.

We cannot keep quiet while our people are being killed daily. We are going to cooperate with all stakeholders to bring the situation to an end, he added.

Source: NAN

Vice president Yemi Osinbajo says Edo in the last one decade has retained its status as a reference point with regards to good governance in the country.

Osinbajo gave the commendation at a state dinner held in his honour at the Edo Government house in Benin on Thursday following the vice presidents two-day official visit to the state.

He expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the Gov. Godwin Obaseki-led administration in Edo to re-enact the developmental strides recorded during the administration of late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia.

The vice president gave an assurance of the preparedness of the Federal Government to give the state all the necessary support.

He said the various projects which informed his visit to Edo would no doubt help boost the economy of the state, especially the Federal Government South-South Innovation Hub.

In his remarks, Obaseki expressed gratitude to the vice president for the continued support to Edo.

He said several initiatives of the Office of the Vice President had provided employment and source of income for youths in the state.

The N-Power and N-build programmes have remained major sources of encouragement for the state in its drive for greatness, he said.

The Deputy Governor of Edo, Phillip Shaibu, in his address of welcome solicited for more support from the Federal Government to enable the entrenchment of its developmental programmes in the state.

An highlight of the occasion was the announcement by Obaseki of full scholarship to Miss Obakpolor Esosa, a Senior Secondary School student of Idia College, following her presentation on the menace of human trafficking. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has discovered high level of survival sex in Cameroonian refugees camps in Cross Rivers state.

UNFPA stated that the women involved in the communities were not protected with condoms.

It has, therefore, set up non-traditional condom outlets in the refugees settlements.

The intervention is to increase access to condoms in communities hosting refugees, who fled from crisis hit Anglophone Southern Cameroon.

UNFPA said that after carrying out a joint needs assessment, it was discovered that there was high level of transactional sex without access to condoms in the communities.

We have done this before but we are improving on it; it is like a stop gap response.

We discovered there was high level survival sex in these communities and the women are not protected, it said on Friday.

The condom outlets target Ikom, Obanliku, Boki, Akamkpa and Etung Local Government Areas of the Cross River.

The Project Coordinator for UNFPA, Dr Idowu Araoyinbo, said on Friday that the global body did a mapping to identify the health care providers close to the benefiting communities.

Araoyinbo said that volunteers, including refugees, were engaged as focal persons to distribute and enlighten people in their wards on the benefits and proper usage of condoms.

We organised town hall meetings which served as information dissemination points to the communities on the availability of condoms in strategic locations and how they could utilise them effectively, he said.

Araoyinbo said the body also carried out capacity building which served as a platform to link the volunteers to the patent medicine vendors, the hot spots and the health care facilities where the condoms would be picked up.

He said a similar project had been carried out in the past which was not sustainable.

He said the volunteers picked up the condoms from the health care centres, took them to the communities where they were given to the patent medicine vendors that already had dispensers available.

The dispensers, he said, were for control and were placed conspicuously in patent medicine stores so that the condoms were made available free of charge to communities.

The major challenge now is how the patent medicine dealers would be able to allow access because they dont work 24 hours, but we hope to check this through the hot spots, he said.

Araoyinbo stated that he foresaw a future where patent medicine dealers would imbibe the culture of providing free condoms to their communities.

We told them that this would make them popular as there was nowhere in the world where people dont love business men who go beyond business to provide free humanitarian services, he said.

He, however, said that though the project was aimed at sensitising people on condom usage, the best form of prevention still remains abstinence.

Araonyinbo also noted that statistics had shown that the sexual debut of Nigerian youths had dropped to about 17 years for girls and 21 for the boys, adding that efforts must be made to protect them

Our youths initiate sex early these days most of which are done without protection increasing the rate of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in our society.

Because most new HIV cases are found among the youths, the need to preach the use of condoms could not be over emphasised, he said.

The project is being carried out in partnership with the Nigeria Red Cross, Cross River Primary Health Care Agency, State Ministry of Health as well as patent medicine dealers in Benue and Cross River.

Source: NAN

The Methodist priest and two others abducted in Iwo-Ibadan road on Sunday, by suspected bandits, have been released.

They were released on Thursday, according to report from the Methodist Church, Osogbo.

According to the report from the church, the kidnapped persons, who are members of the church, were released on Thursday night, around 8.20p.m.

Confirming the release to newsmen, the Bishop of the Methodist Church, Osogbo Diocese, Most Rev. Amos Ogunrinde, said the priest, Very Rev. Kayode Akande, and the two other leaders of the church that were kidnapped had been released and reunited with their families.

Ogunrinde, however, did not disclosed if any ransom was paid before the kidnapped men were released by the bandits.

When the state Police Public Relations Officers, Mrs Folashade Odoro was contacted about the report, she said the police would release a statement about the whole incident later.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the a Priest and two elders of the Methodist Church, Osogbo were kidnapped on Sunday while returning from a mens fellowship from Ile-Ogbo, near Iwo, Osun.

The police were reported to have deployed men and officers to rescue the kidnapped persons while the bandits were never reported to have contacted the family of the men to demand for ransom (NAN)

Source: NAN

No fewer than 10 riders fell off their horses during Sallah Durbar at Dutse Emirs Palace on Friday,News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The incident happened during the mini durbar traditionally organised every year where the governor receives cheers and greetings from members of the emirate council from top of the Emirs palace.

The riders fell while racing to greet Gov. Muhammad Badaru of the state,after observing the Eid-el-Fitr prayer at the central prayer ground at about 8.30 a.m.

However, none of the riders sustain injury.

At the emirs palace, district heads take turns to greet the governor as they raced on their decorated horses, while the emir came last and exchanged greetings with his council members.

Source: NAN

A HIV-positive man who might have consciously passed on the deadly virus to more than 200 sexual partners has been arrested in Italy.

A spokesman for police in Ancona, a city on Italy’s eastern Adriatic coast, told dpa on Thursday that 35-year-old Claudio Pinti had been arrested two days earlier.

Despite having been diagnosed “for at least 11 years,’’ he did not take precautions nor warn his partners about his condition, Ancona police said in a written statement.

When officers apprehended him, Pinti declared himself a “negationist’’ on the existence of HIV, police said.

The virus is known to cause AIDS.

In a press conference on Wednesday, police said Pinti was a regular user of dating websites and might have infected more than 200 people.

He was caught after one of his most recent partners checked herself into hospital after feeling ill and discovered she had contracted the virus.

The woman who made him end up behind bars, in Montacuto prison, has more or less the same age. They met and met again last December, after the disappearance of his partner. It's cute and nice as I remembered, she immediately thinks.

The fact that he became a "widower" so young, with an 8-year-old girl to grow up, also touches her. They start dating, she often reaches him at her house, in Montecarotto, where he moved after the mourning.

The relationship is born naturally, between cuddles and caresses. In March, however, accuses the first illness (fever and frequent sore throat) and a common friend warns her: "You know that Claudio has HIV?".

The world collapses on him. He takes the test and starts the nightmare: she is HIV-positive too. May 5 find the courage to go to the police and tell everything. Thus begins the investigation that has allowed us to unveil the story of Claudio Pinti, 35 years, as a good boy but in fact "serial untor".

Over two hundred unprotected sex in eleven years since he became HIV positive. Yesterday afternoon, agents of the Central Operations and Mobile Service of Ancona, on the order of the investigating judge, arrested him.

Profession trafficker, a profession that for some time was hardly more boastful (even on Facebook, where yesterday was the subject of various attacks) professional experiences as "trader", as if investing money online, Pinti actually used the network to look for women and men with whom to have sex without precautions.

His ex who denounced him burst into tears if you think about how, candidly, it was justified when you put it on hold: "Yes, once I was HIV-positive but then I redid the exams and nothing happened. Hiv does not exist, it's a bale, it's drugs that kill you. "

A way to deny the evidence too. «To believe that HIV does not determine AIDS is one of the most dangerous fake news, which has already claimed many victims», underlines Marcello Tavio, director of the infectious diseases division of the Torrette di Ancona hospital and vice-president of the Italian Infectious Diseases Society and tropical.

It was he who made the first test of Pinti's girlfriend and submitted it to the «therapy that, today, can practically freeze the virus». Being HIV-positive is much more dangerous if you do not care. While the risk of infection is almost zeroed by drugs.

Authorities urged potential victims to contact police, and in a breach of usual practice, released a picture of the suspect so people who could recognise him.

The police spokesman said several calls have come in and are being verified.

“People are very reluctant to come forward because of the shame,’’ he said.

Thanks to medical advances, life expectancy for HIV and AIDS patients has greatly increased in recent years, but the disease still killed one million people in 2016, according to the World Health Organisation.

In a similar case in 2017, a Rome court sentenced a man to 24 years’ imprisonment for infecting more than 30 people with HIV, including a pregnant woman who passed on the disease to her son.

The psychic pig Mystic Marcus that predicted President Donald Trump’s victory has picked Nigeria, Argentina as semi-finalists for the 2018 World Cup.

The psychic pig which has a history of sniffing out a winner – and is hoping to continue his unbroken record for this summer’s World Cup, thesportsbay reports.

Mystic Marcus has a 100 per cent track record of predicting sports results according to his owner Juliette Stevens.

The black micro pig has previously guessed the winner of the 2014 World Cup and the Wimbledon tennis finals by picking apples.

With bad news for England fans, Mystic Marcus expects Belgium, Argentina, Nigeria and Uruguay to make it through.

Farmer and micro pig breeder Juliette from Heage, Derbyshire, said: ‘Marcus is the seventh child of a seventh child and apparently they’re gifted with special powers so maybe that’s where it comes from.

‘A few years ago I was invited on a radio show because of Paul the octopus predicting results and they wanted to see if I had any animals that had the ability.

‘I hadn’t tried the seventh child theory out so thought I’d give it a go.’

(NAN)

Former governor of Ondo state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has officially resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) .

Mimiko, in a letter addressed to the Secretariat of the PDP and a copy made available to LEADERSHIP, said he took the decision because of some well thought-out personal reasons.

In the three paragraphs letter, the former governor noted that it was an honour working with many prominent Nigerians on the PDP platform for the entire period he joined the party.

Mimiko, who was governor between 2009 and 2017 will be returning with his teeming supporters to the party he left in 2014 ahead of the 2015 general elections. Prior to this latest development, there have been speculations on his defection in the last couple of months.

Mimiko had allegedly boycotted PDP activities both at the state and the national level immediately after the party lost the last governorship election in Ondo State.

The statement reads, “I hereby with utmost humility inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the PDP with effect from today, June 13, 2018 for some well thought-out personal reasons. “It was an honour working with the many prominent Nigerians with whom I shared the PDP platform for the entire period I was in there as a member . “Accept please the assurance of my very high regards.”

However, it was also learnt that members of the cabinet of the former governor, many of his former appointees and at least a federal lawmaker and three members of the State House of Assembly will be joining the move to the LP.

Those cabinet members are to be led by former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo and former Commissioner for Works, Engr. Gboye Adegbenro, as well as others who are looking for a fresh platform to contest the 2019 general elections in the state.

(Leadership NG)

Arsenal will host English Premier League Champions Manchester City on the weekend of 11-12 August for their opening match of the 2018-19 Premier League season.

The fixture will be Unai Emery’s first competitive match as Gunners manager.

Elsewhere on the opening weekend, Manchester United host Leicester City, Liverpool entertain West Ham, and Championship winners Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome Everton to Molineux.

Promoted Fulham host Crystal Palace, while Cardiff visit Bournemouth.

Tottenham begin the season with a trip to Newcastle’s St James’ Park – one of three away games in their opening four league matches.

It is unclear if Spurs’ new £850m stadium will be available in time for the start of the new campaign, and they must confirm by Friday if they need to use Wembley for any home fixtures.

The three other fixtures on the opening weekend see Chelsea travel to Huddersfield, Southampton host Burnley, and Watford take on Brighton at Vicarage Road.

Arsenal will play Manchester City and Chelsea in their opening two matches of the 2018/19 Premier League season.

New Gunners boss Unai Emery will host defending champions City first up.

The season kicks off on Saturday 11 August. Here are the opening day fixtures:

A.F.C. Bournemouth v Cardiff City

Arsenal v Manchester City

Fulham v Crystal Palace

Huddersfield Town v Chelsea

Liverpool v West Ham United

Manchester United v Leicester City

Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur

Southampton v Burnley

Watford v Brighton

Wolverhampton v Everton

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the payment of N500 million legal fees to lawyers for the recovery of N330 billion fine from the Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN).

MTN was fined by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in 2017 for breaching directives on SIM registration.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Malam Abubakar Malami, said this while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting.

According to the minister, FEC’s action is part of the approvals for four memoranda submitted by the Justice Ministry to FEC for consideration.

“The third memo was for approval for the payment of professional fees to the lawyers that were engaged by the federal government relating to the case that was instituted sometime back by the MTN against the federal government in pursuance of penalty of over N1 trillion imposed by government against MTN.

“MTN as you could rightly remember instituted an action seeking to constrain the federal government from making recovery of the over N1 trillion penalty that was imposed on it.

“So arising from that the federal government engaged the services of certain solicitors, lawyers to now put up a defense on its behalf.

“Arising from the defence that was put in place by the lawyers the case was eventually settled by the parties amicably.

“And arising from that settlement the lawyers were entitled to their fees.

“The federal government has now approved the payment of N500 million for the N330 billion agreed upon.’’

Malami said that the fine was arrived at after a compromise whereby the communication giant agreed to pay N330 billion instead of N1 trillion imposed on it by the NCC for breaches in its communication activities.

He said that the said legal fee was professional fees to the lawyers who stood for the federal government in the matter.

The minister said that lawyers from NCC and Ministry of Justice were involved in the case but based on the sensitivity of the case and in line with international best practices additional support was sought from outside.

“It is about operating on the side of caution to ensure that diverse skills, professionalism and expertise are brought in the defence of the federal government.

“And that has paid off taking into consideration that the lawyers by way of cross-fertilisation of ideas, support worked together in the spirit of ensuring the success of the case.

“They have worked together by way of cooperation and collaboration and succeeded in recovering N330 billion in favour of the federal government.

“It is not about vote of no confidence (in NCC Lawyers) but about collaboration and enhancing the capacity and ensuring that at the end of the day the desired result is achieved and I think the result justifies the means,’’ he stated.

The minister explained that in assessing the quantum of amount being paid to the lawyers the volume of the amount recovered and the requirement that about five per cent of the amount was to be paid in line with international practices.

He said that the N500 million was justified as it was less than one per cent of the recovered amount.

(NAN)

British High Commissioner to Nigeria,Paul Arkwright has said that the United Kingdom, UK, will continue to support the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria as being spearheaded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

We are pleased to see how the EFCC operates, and we are assuring you of the endless support of the British government in the fight against corruption, he said.

Arkwright, who was accompanied by Daniel Murphy, on a visit to the FFCC Headquarters, Abuja, commended the Commissions efforts in ridding the country of corruption.

The UK and Nigeria have evolved and made progress in the fight against corruption, and the EFCCs achievements have been impressive, he added.

He urged the EFCC to work hand in hand with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in ensuring a free and fair political process, in the buildup to the 2019 elections.

He said: INEC and EFCC should be there to preserve the integrity of the political process, including taking forward investigations without any prejudice on one side or the other, following the evidence and taking action where it is justified.

He further gave assurances of the British governments support both in technical assistance, in investigation and of course broadening support of this great independent institution of the EFCC.

Ibrahim Magu, the acting EFCC Chairman, appreciated the British government for its support, and assured him of the independence of the EFCC in the discharge of its mandate.

He said: I assure you that there is no political interference in what we do. We will continue to work with stakeholders like INEC who we have an agreement with to ensure that there is no interference to ensure free and fair election in Nigeria and we will stop people using money to buy votes.

According to him, the EFCC operates international best practices, and does diligent preliminary investigation.

We do not invite anybody here if he is not found to be involved in one offence or crime and that is why when you come here, it takes a lot of effort to be off the chain. Whatever case that comes to EFCC is investigated to the logical conclusion. We take the case to court who gives the final decision, he added.

Source: NAN

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