Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s office has revealed details of mind-boggling corruption during the Jonathan era and even called them a tip of the iceberg.

The details were published last night in a reaction to the accusations by spin doctors of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who claimed Osinbajo made unsubstantiated allegations about grand corruption during the Jonathan era.

The statement by senior special assistant on media, Laolu Akande, said the Vice President did not at anytime accuse Jonathan in person, but only said the blatant corruption cases were committed during his presidency.

The full statement:

WE have read reports attributed to “a media office of former President Goodluck Jonathan”. It is clear from the foul language of the authors that the statement could not have come from the former President, but from the motley group of loud and rude characters whose brief seems to be to deny all and anything said against the former PDP government and to do so in the crassest possible language.

The alleged spokespersons of the former President say that facts long in the public domain, some even being used to prosecute several corruption cases are lies and that those of us in government restating these well known facts are liars.

They accuse Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, of lying against the former President or his government citing their involvement in the stealing of three billion dollars, while speaking recently at The Platform event on the 1st of May.

Just for clarity, I quote the Vice President “Grand corruption remains the most enduring threat to our economy. Three Billion US dollars was stolen in what was called the strategic alliance contacts in 2013, three Nigerians were responsible, today three billion dollars is one trillion Naira and our budget is 7trillion! ….”

Two issues emerge. First, no mention is made of the former President.

Second, the story is not only true, it has been in the public domain for almost three years and it is the subject of criminal investigation and trials both here and in the UK.

The spokespersons also say that the allegations of corruption against the PDP government are mere lies. For clarity, the facts are laid out as follows:

As the Vice President said, $3B was stolen in the so- called NNPC Strategic Alliance Contracts. The three persons involved are Jide Omokore, Kola Aluko and the former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison- Maduekwe. The companies of both Jide Omokore and Kola Aluko lifted Nigerian crude oil and kept the proceeds. The total sums converted is in excess of three billion dollars including royalties, taxes and fees unpaid for the asset from which the crude was taken. The case is the subject of a trial in Nigeria, and criminal investigation in the US and UK, and the assets of all three individuals have been forfeited in Nigeria, the US and the UK.

The criminal diversion and theft of sums in excess of $2.5 billion meant for purchase of arms to prosecute the war against Boko Haram: The first phase of the investigations revealed several sordid details, many of the assets of culprits have been seized from them and they are facing trial.

The release of the sum of $289m in cash on February 25, 2015: Documents including cash vouchers indicate that the the sum of $289,202,382 was taken from the Joint Venture (JV) Cash Call Account No. 000-0000-11658-366 of the NNPC/NAPIMS with JP Morgan Chase Bank, New York, USA.

N70 billion was released in parts from the national treasury between January 8 and February 25, 2015.

In another illegal disbursement, 25th August 2014, N60B in cash in tranches of N40billion and N20billion: The sum was not tied to any project or procurement and was then shared between two security agencies under the supervision of the then NSA. Most of these sums ended up in the hands of senior PDP members some of whom have returned parts of the loot. Some are standing trial for these offenses. These facts are in the public domain.

There was yet another set of illegal fund withdrawals under one week between January 8and 16, 2015, where the sum of N1.5 billion was released in three tranches of N300m, N400m and N800m respectively. This money was released from the MEA Research Library Account

Another document showed that N10 billion was released to the Office of the National Security Adviser by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on September 15, 2014. The money was released in tranches of foreign exchange of $47 million, $5 million, 4 million Euros and 1.6 million Euros. A letter from the Office of the NSA in November 2014 further showed that the monies were released as ‘funds for special services’. This particular release of N10B was sourced in November 2014 from a N40 Billion CBN released funds meant for Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR. Investigators showed that this money was released for the PDP Presidential Primaries.

Lamido Sanusi, then CBN Governor was sacked for speaking up about the over $20billion missing from oil proceeds.

These cases of grand corruption and open looting of public resources pauperized Nigeria and left us with little or no savings in the years when oil was selling at 100 to 114 dollars a barrel and we were producing 2.1 million barrels a day. When in 2015 oil prices went even as low as between 28 and 35 dollars a barrel and oil production fell to less than one million barrels a day we had no buffer, no savings, to tide us through.

The amount released from CBN in cash on a single day, ie the US$289M ( N88.1Bn) is enough to fund 244,000 N-Power graduates for a year, or pay for 1.2Billion school meals or complete half of Lagos -Ibadan or half of Abuja -Kaduna -Kano roads.

The Vice President also made the point that in 2014 with oil prices as high as 120 dollars per barrel, the total capital released for Power, Works, Housing, Defence, Transport, Agriculture and Defence were just N152Billion for the whole year.

By contrast, the Buhari administration committed N578Bn to the same Ministries in 2016 with oil prices as low as US$28 per barrel as part of the strategy to end the recession. The government was able to do more with less by stopping grand corruption and impunity.

Recently, the Minister Coordinating the economy in that administration has written a revealing book : Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines. Who knows, perhaps her stories too are all lies!

Source: NAN

Indian movie star Salman Khan was due back in court on Monday over a five-year jail sentence he received for killing rare antelopes.

The Bollywood icon arrived in Jodhpur, in the western state of Rajasthan, Sunday after flying from Mumbai for the hearing, India media reported.

Khan, one of the worlds highest-paid actors, was convicted last month of shooting dead two antelopes known as black bucks on a hunting trip while filming a movie in October 1998.

He was sentenced to five years in prison and is currently out on bail.

At Mondays hearing Khans lawyer is expected to call for the sentence to be suspended pending an appeal.

On April 6 a court found him guilty in the 20-year-old case while acquitting four other actors.

He spent two nights in Jodhpur Central Jail before being released on bail by a judge and returning to Mumbai the home of Indias multi-billion-dollar Hindi film industry.

Khan has repeatedly denied killing the endangered animals and accuses Rajasthans forest department of trying to frame him.

His lawyers claim the black bucks died of natural causes such as overeating, insisting there was no evidence they were shot.

Throughout the multiple cases, eyewitnesses have stated they saw Khan firing a gun.

The 52-year-old enjoys a cult-like status in star-obsessed India and is one of Bollywoods biggest draws, despite a host of controversies.

Khan was in a vehicle in Mumbai in 2002 when it mounted the curb and killed a homeless man sleeping on the pavement.

He was found guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced to five years in prison, but the verdict was overturned in a higher court in 2015. His acquittal is being challenged in the Supreme Court.

Source: NAN

Four years after, Cardiff City returned to the Premier League on Sunday when a goalless draw at home to Reading was enough to give veteran manager Neil Warnock a record eighth promotion.

Only the top two at the end of the regular season were guaranteed a place in English footballs lucrative top flight and second-tier title-winners Wolves had already secured one of those spots heading into Sundays final round of regular-season Championship matches.

A draw left Cardiff waiting on Fulhams result at Birmingham, but the Cottagers 3-1 loss left the London club facing the lottery of the play-offs, where the teams finishing third-sixth compete for the lone remaining promotion place.

The draw saw Cardiff return to the Premier League after a single season in the competition in 2013/14. We are going up, the club celebrated on their website.

When Warnock took over some 18 months ago, Cardiff were at the other end of the table but Malaysian owner Vincent Tans decision to bring the experienced manager to the Welsh capital paid dividends.

Birmingham were still facing relegation when they kicked off but first-half goals from Lukas Jutkiewicz (15) and Harlee Dean (43) settled their nerves.

Tom Cairney scored for Fulham with six minutes left but Che Adamss 89th-minute goal put the result beyond doubt.

Barnsleys 4-1 loss at Derby ended their brief stay in the Championship, with Burton managed by Nigel Clough also relegated after a 2-1 loss at Preston.

Meanwhile Bolton beat the drop in remarkable fashion after beating Nottingham Forest 3-2.

Bolton were going down with three minutes left when Forest led 2-1 after goals from Ben Osborn (70) and Jack Colback (79) overturning Adam Le Fondres early volley.

But David Wheater (87) and Aaron Wilbraham (88) scored to keep northwest side Bolton in the division to the delight of their delirious home crowd.

Elsewhere, bottom club Sunderland stunned champions Wolves 3-0, in front of prospective new owner Stewart Donald.

On-loan pair Ovie Ejaria (19) and Ashley Fletcher (45) put the hosts 2-0 up before Paddy McNair scored Sunderlands third midway through the second half.

Atdhe Nuhiu (14, 60 and 90) hit a hat-trick in Sheffield Wednesdays 5-1 thrashing of Norwich at Hillsborough, with Wednesdays city rivals United winning 3-2 at Bristol City.

Leeds beat QPR 2-0 with goals from Kemar Roofe (30) and Kalvin Phillips (47), while Brentford and Hull drew 1-1 at Griffin Park.

Source: NAN

Nigerias Enyimba International FC of Aba brightened their CAF Confederation Cup Group C campaign on Sunday at the U.J. Esuene stadium with an emphatic 2-0 defeat of Malis Djoliba in Calabar.

Isiaka Oladuntoye scored in the 48th minute while Stanley Dimgba converted a penalty in the 81st minute for the homers second in a Match Day 1 fixture at the Group Stage of 2018 CAF Confederation Cup competition.

The Bamako-based team controlled the midfield in the first half and had a few efforts on goal although poor shooting was their undoing.

Enyimba struggled to find their rhythm in the first half which ended goalless before taking control in the second half.

The Peoples Elephant will be in action in Group C of the CAF Confederations Cup on May 16 away to CARA Brazzaville while Djoliba will host Willamsville of Abidjan, Cote dIvoire, same day.

Source: NAN

Departing manager of Arsenal, Arsene Wenger was given a fitting send-off in his final home game at the Emirates on Sunday as Arsenal produced a devastating performance to thrash Burnley 5-0.

After 22 years in charge of Arsenal as manager, Wenger said he is looking forward to a fresh start for the club, despite his sadness at bidding farewell.

On a day dominated by tributes to the Frenchman, Wenger was greeted with a guard of honour before kick-off and presented with a special gold trophy originally given to the club for winning the Premier League without losing a game in 2003/04 under his guidance.

This stadium I have worked on every single part from your press conference to the technical areas, so it is part of myself, said Wenger, who was given a heros reception on a final lap of honour at full-time.

I can say guys who managed 22 years in a club of that stature, there are not many.

I have been lucky to have the comfort to work for such a long time in a club of that stature.

On the other hand, I have to think, I will cherish every minute I had here, but as well it is a new start for me.

Wenger, 68, hasnt hidden his desire to continue working in some capacity next season, having also hinted his departure wasnt entirely his own decision.

Despite winning three Premier League titles in his first decade in charge, many fans had become frustrated with the Gunners inability to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League in recent years.

Arsenal will finish this season in sixth, as low as they ever have in Wengers reign, and defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-finals means for a second straight season Wenger has failed to qualify Arsenal for the Champions League.

Nevertheless, there was rightly an atmosphere steeped in nostalgia for the great days Wenger has given the club on Sunday in a 60,000-capacity stadium he helped to deliver and design when the club moved from Highbury in 2006.

It means that even if they are not always happy, they still respected me and wanted to show at least I gave my total commitment to do well, said Wenger of his ovation from the supporters.

Thats how I see it. They know my commitment was genuine, total, with complete integrity, it is of course a big compliment.

Source: NAN

Taro Daniel secured his first career ATP title with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 defeat of Tunisias Malek Jaziri in Istanbul on Sunday.In Portugal, Joao Sousa became the first home player to win the Estoril Open with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of American Frances Tiafoe.

The 25-year-old Daniel hit the tennis headlines when toppling 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells in March.

The thrill of taking that heavyweight scalp his first win over a top 20 player in the ATP rankings soon dissipated as he lost four of his next five matches.

But the world number 114 regained his form in Turkey this week, advancing for the first time to the semi-finals and maintaining his composure to take the title.

I was feeling pretty nervous before the match, Daniel, who was born in New York and trained in Spain said.

I was nervous, but I told myself, Im sure hes more nervous than me. So that helped. When I started not badly I started to calm down a bit more.

Im obviously pretty surprised that I suddenly won an ATP (title). But I guess things like this happen.

His moment of glory was not without its anxious moments.

He let slip two match points at 5-3 on the Tunisians serve, then double faulted on his third match point but sealed the landmark success with a backhand winner down the line at the fourth opportunity to earn the title.

The win is expected to lift him up to number 82 in the latest ATP rankings published Monday.

In Estoril, Portugal, Joao Sousa had to battle at the end before becoming the first home player to win the Estoril Open with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of American Frances Tiafoe on Sunday.

The 29-year-old Sousa, ranked 68th in the world, needed to call upon his reserves to claim the opening set by saving three break points in the final game.

Serving for victory at 5-2 in the second, the Portuguese was broken as Tiafoe briefly delayed the festivities.

But the local hero came good two games later as he clinched a third career title, a feat which quickly got the mainly Portuguese crowd into the mood for a mass sing-along chorus of celebration.

This is fantastic, its such a special win, especially coming at home, Sousa said. Im so proud to win here.

There are no words to describe this emotion, the fans were fantastic all week. It was incredible, it was a dream come true.

I always wanted to win here in Portugal.

The previous Portuguese high point at the event came in 2010 when Frederico Gil played the final, losing to Albert Montanes of Spain.

Tiafoe, realising how much the victory meant to his opponent, crossed the net to speak with Sousa and congratulate him.

Sousa, playing in his 10th final, also won Valencia in 2015 and at Kuala Lumpur five years ago.

Tiafoe, 20, was thwarted in his bid to collect a second career title after making his trophy breakthrough in February at Delray Beach, Florida.

The world number 64 fell short in the end as he failed to generate the momentum which had kept him in clay contention all week.

Source: NAN

Cristiano Ronaldo suffered an ankle sprain in the ill-tempered El Clasico match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Camp Nou Sunday night.

He suffered the sprain, following a challenge by Barcelonas Gerard Pique, while tapping in the equaliser for Madrid in the first half. He still endured 31 minutes of play, before Reals coach Zinedine Zidane substituted him at half-time.

Now Real will be hoping their star striker, who scored his 450th goal for Madrid on Sunday, can recover in time for the Champions League final against Liverpool on May 26.

Zidane meanwhile said the injury may not be a major one, quoting Ronaldo: I dont know how long hell be out. He said it wasnt much, but well see tomorrow, well do some tests to see the extent of the damage done to his ankle. He was a little worried because it was a bit swollen, but he said that its nothing serious.

The match with eight yellow cards and one red card, had Luis Suarez volleying the first goal for Barcelona in the 10th minute.

But Ronaldo tapped in for Madrids equaliser in the 14th minute.A turning point came in the extra-time of the first half when Sergi Roberto was sent off for appearing to slap Real defender Marcelo.

With Barcelona reduced to 10 men, in the second half, Lionel Messi weaved his magic to keep Barcelona ahead seven minutes on resumption.

The goal was a brilliant solo effort by Messi. But he did not have the last word as Gareth Bale, replied with a sublime, sweetly struck equaliser in the 72nd minute.

The draw meant the Catalans are now three matches away from becoming the first team ever to finish a 38-game La Liga season unbeaten.

Andres Iniesta overcame, or perhaps ignored, a niggling calf problem to play his 38th and final Clasico while Philippe Coutinho was picked to start his first. Iniesta went off to a standing ovation in the second half.

Barca exploded out of the blocks and they were ahead within 10 minutes. Suarez swept the ball out to the right where Sergi drove forward, ignored Messis run to the near post, and returned the cross deep to Suarez. He finished into the bottom corner.

The lead, however, lasted four minutes. Just as Suarez initiated his goal, so did Ronaldo, a neat backheel freeing Toni Kroos, who found Karim Benzema at the back post. The Frenchman was cool enough to head back into the six-yard box, where Ronaldo bundled home.

Piques last-ditch attempt had been robust enough to hurt the Portugese, who stayed down as Barca attempted to kick off. Ronaldo took treatment but was able temporarily to continue.

Real dictated the rest of the half and Ronaldo could twice have given them the lead. His first shot was saved by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, the second fired wide of the far post.

In between, Messi had played in Jordi Alba with a sumptuous ball over the top but even he lost his cool during five mad minutes at the end of the first period.

Suarez felt he had been elbowed by Sergio Ramos, prompting the first round of scuffles, before Messi was booked for flying into the defender on the touchline.

Bale was then lucky not to be sent off for stabbing his studs into Samuel Umtitis calf and moments later Sergi did see red, as he threw an arm into the face of Marcelo.

The home fans were raging as the half-time whistle blew but, with Marco Asensio on for Ronaldo, they were celebrating eight minutes after the restart.

Suarezs blatant kick on Raphael Varane went unpunished and from there it was all about Messi. He skipped away first from Ramos, and then Casemiro, before firing into the bottom corner.

Even Zidane was smiling on the touchline.

Iniesta went off just before the hour and Messi could have put Barca out of sight soon after. He sped away from Varane but his shot was parried away by Keylor Navas.

Real tried to make the most of their one-man advantage but in truth, they had been far more assertive 11 against 11.

Instead, their goal in the 72nd minute came out of the blue as Bale raced onto Asensios pass and whipped the ball first-time into the top corner. It was the Welshmans 15th goal in 24 matches this year.

Real should have had a late penalty when Alba cleared out Marcelo but referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez somehow decided the challenge was clean. It was the final controversy of a surprisingly heated derby.

Source: NAN

In a bid to return handball to winning ways, the President, Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Samuel Ocheho, on Sunday in Abuja announced the disbandment of the senior male national team.

Ocheho made the announcement at the end of the first phase of the Prudent Energy Handball League played at the Abuja National Stadium.

He said the team was disbanded to enable it start afresh.

What we did after the outing in Gabon is to x-ray ourselves and tell ourselves the bitter truth.

From what we have seen in the national team we need to start using younger players, we need to go back and start using fresh legs.

This game is very physical and if we need to regain the top stop in Africa, we must go back to the youths.

This is not to say that some players that went to Gabon will not make the new team, he added.

Ocheho said that the disbandment of the team would also help the federation to instill discipline in the team.

Speaking on the Prudent Energy League, Ocheho said it is a sign of better days to come for handball.

What we have seen here at the first phase of Prudent Energy Handball League is the fact that we are moving forward. Greater things are about to happen.

Exciting times are there again for handball and from what I have seen with the players, referees and coaches, I think the future can only be bright.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the league featured 22 teams, comprising 12 male and 10 female.

The first phase of the league which began on April 27 ended on Sunday with Niger United topping the standings with 19 points and a 111 goals difference.

Kada Stars of Kaduna came second, while Safety Shooters were third on the standings.

In the female category, Safety Babes topped the standings with 16 points and a 93 goals difference.

Seasiders Babes and Imo Grasshoppers were in second and third positions respectively with 14 points each and 94 goals difference.

NAN reports that the second phase of the league will hold in Lagos in October.

Source: NAN

Sen. Ighoyota Amori, the Political Adviser to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, says that the party has enough credible candidates for the contest of 2019 presidential election.

Amori, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, said that PDP had credible people that could defeat President Muhammadu Buhari.

PDP is national party. There is no ward, village or unit in this country you will not find PDP, meaning that it is a Nigerian party.

Unless you say you cannot find a credible candidate from across the entire country.

I can tell you that we have more than enough credible candidates or aspirants in PDP for the presidential race.

Amori said it was already known that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had only one candidate which would be President Muhammadu Buhari.

PDP has so many aspirants and the best of the aspirants will defeat Buhari in 2019.

He, however, alleged that the APC-led government was now doing media trial of PDP aspirants while protecting its (APC) members who were fingered as corrupt.

APC is a party where only a person who has something to hide goes there and become a saint immediately.

If you look at all the people that left PDP because they were being hunted, the moment they join the ruling party they become saints. Once you join APC nobody can prosecute you.

Amori, who spoke on the acceptability of PDP after its 2017 national convention said, rebranded PDP still remain an acceptable and embraced party to the citizens.

There is no convention without it challenges. The good thing is that PDP was able to surmount all the challenges before, during and even after the convention.

The senator said though few candidates in the convention were aggrieved, the Reconciliation Committee chaired by Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa was able to resolve the issues.

Apart from Prof. Tunde Adeniran almost every other person that contested with Prince Uche Secondus for chairmanship are back to the PDP. Chief Bode George, Gbenga Daniel, all of them are back to the party.

PDP is getting stronger. This is the beauty of democracy. People disagree and agree again.

Amori expressed optimism that Prof. Jerry Gana and Adeniran who left the party would soon return.

I believe they should be allowed to exercise their right of association, right to enter and to leave. But I believe with time they will come back because they are foundation and senior members of PDP.

He said that both Adeniran and Gana were senior members, who had benefited from the PDP.

Amori said it was not good that the duo left just because they could not realise their ambition this time out of so many opportunities they had enjoined in the PDP.

It is not enough for you to say you will go and start something fresh. It is not easy to start a new party, unless you just put the party for the fun of it.

Source: NAN

Sen. Ighoyota Amori, the Political Adviser to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, has said that the party has enough credible members for the contest of 2019 presidential election.

Amori, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, said that PDP had credible people that could defeat President Muhammadu Buhari.

PDP is national party. There is no ward, village or unit in this country you will not find PDP, meaning that it is a Nigerian party.

Unless you say you cannot find a credible candidate from across the entire country.

I can tell you that we have more than enough credible candidates or aspirants in PDP for the presidential race.

Amori said it was already known that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had only one candidate which would be President Muhammadu Buhari.

PDP has so many aspirants and the best of the aspirants will defeat Buhari in 2019.

He, however, alleged that the APC-led government was now doing media trial of PDP aspirants while protecting its (APC) members who were fingered as corrupt.

APC is a party where only a person who has something to hide goes there and become a saint immediately.

If you look at all the people that left PDP because they were being hunted, the moment they join the ruling party they become saints. Once you join APC nobody can prosecute you.

Amori, who spoke on the acceptability of PDP after its 2017 national convention said, rebranded PDP still remain an acceptable and embraced party to the citizens.

There is no convention without it challenges. The good thing is that PDP was able to surmount all the challenges before, during and even after the convention.

The senator said though few candidates in the convention were aggrieved, the Reconciliation Committee chaired by Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa was able to resolve the issues.

Apart from Prof. Tunde Adeniran almost every other person that contested with Prince Uche Secondus for chairmanship are back to the PDP. Chief Bode George, Gbenga Daniel, all of them are back to the party.

PDP is getting stronger. This is the beauty of democracy. People disagree and agree again.

Amori expressed optimism that Prof. Jerry Gana and Adeniran who left the party would soon return.

I believe they should be allowed to exercise their right of association, right to enter and to leave. But I believe with time they will come back because they are foundation and senior members of PDP.

He said that both Adeniran and Gana were senior members, who had benefited from the PDP.

Amori said it was not good that the duo left just because they could not realise their ambition this time out of so many opportunities they had enjoined in the PDP.

It is not enough for you to say you will go and start something fresh. It is not easy to start a new party, unless you just put the party for the fun of it.

Source: NAN

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue, has denied any plan to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The denial is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Terver Akase issued to newsmen in Makurdi.

It said that the media report on the governors purported plan to leave the APC was false, misleading andhandiwork of detractors playing politics with the blood of the people.

We read a report in a national daily of today which named Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom as one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders planning to defect to another political party.

The report which is obviously sponsored is not only false but also misleading. Governor Ortom has no intention to leave APC for another party and has not consulted anyone on the matter.

The statement stressed that Ortomenjoys cordial working relationship with other leaders of the party both at the local, state and national levels.

It said that the main focus of the governor was to deliver greater benefits of democracy to his people including tackling the security challenges confronting them.

There is no cause to warrant his defection to another party, the statement stated.

It explained that Ortoms stance of seeking justice over the invasion, killing and wanton destruction of property by suspected herdsmen was what any good leader ought to do.

The statement said the governor was appreciative of the efforts being made by President Muhammadu Buhari in ending the conflicts in the state.

According to the statement, the governor is fully aware that the killings in Benue began during the past PDP-led administrations in the state.

It must be noted that the killings predate the APC as a party and the present administration. The governors focus is on solving the problem in collaboration with other stakeholders.

It added: Fortunately, President Buhari has responded positively by sending troops and other security operatives to chase away the armed militia from Benue communities.

The statement further dismissed insinuations that Ortom had fallen out of favour with other leaders of APC in Benue, including Sen. George Akume.

The report is aimed at creating acrimony between the Governor and the Senator.

Governor Ortom was popularly elected to lead Benue State and he has demonstrated uncommon commitment and selflessness in justifying the confidence reposed in him.

He, will therefore, not be distracted by baseless reports and rumour of defection.

What is of greater concern to the governor now, is how to stop the killings in the state and also tackle the humanitarian crisis that displaced nearly 500,000 people.

It stated the government was collaborating with the Federal Government on the rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced persons.

Source: NAN

Chinese telecom giant ZTE, on bended knees, has asked the US government to lift a ban on sales to the company, which threatens its survival and has added to trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The telecom equipment and handset maker said in a filing Sunday that it has submitted a request to the US commerce department for a stay of the export ban, along with supplemental information.

The ban prohibits US companies from selling crucial hardware and software components to the company, with one Chinese investment bank estimating ZTE had only one or two months supply of those items on hand.

Trading in ZTE shares in Hong Kong and Shenzhen has been halted since the US announcement last month.

The tough sanctions come as the battle over technology takes centre stage in a US spat with China over trade and industrial policy.

Washingtons control of the companys fate has stirred ire and angst in China and reinforced for Beijing the need to control all parts of the technological supply chain.

Chinese officials asked a high-level US delegation to reconsider the ban during trade talks in Beijing last week.

China made solemn representations with the US an official diplomatic protest during the negotiations and secured a pledge from the trade team to relay the concerns to US President Donald Trump, Chinas commerce ministry said in a statement Friday.

Source: NAN

Kenya has ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement and was making arrangements to submit to Africa Union Commission.

The countrys parliament ratified the Agreement and the government is to submit the signed document to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu expressed optimism that the continental trade pact will lead to an accelerated pathway to integration.

He expressed the hope that Africa is better off increasing trade with itself.

As you know, it was the Presidents absolute delight to be in Kigali not too long ago, joining fellow heads of state in signing the AfCFTA.

The AfCFTA will create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of people, goods and services, Esipisu said.

Rwanda and Ghana have both already ratified the agreement, and now the race is on which country is first to officially submit that ratification.

The instruments are expected to be lodged with the AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki as a sign of Kenyas commitment to the economic integration of all the 54 African states.

At the moment, Esipisu noted, intra-Africa trade is estimated to be around 12 per cent which is relatively low compared to other regions of the world.

Intra-European trade is estimated to be around 60 per cent while that of Asia is around 40 per cent.

The establishment of the AfCFTA is expected to boost intra Africa trade to 22 per cent by 2022. All this will provide substantial economic and social gains to Kenya, he said.

The AfCFTA will lead to the creation of a wider and expanded African market, with a combined population of over 1.2 billion people and a growing middle class, as well as a combined gross domestic product of more than US$ 3.4 trillion.

The African continental population is expected to reach 2 billion by 2050.

Esipisu pointed out that Kenya attaches significant importance to the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) and the AfCFTA because of the huge market and investment opportunities that they will present to Kenya.

The TFTA brings together member states of COMESA, EAC and SADC. At the moment, Kenya exports to Africa constitute 40 per cent of total exports the bulk of which are value-added products.

Nigeria has yet to ratify the agreement.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in Daura, Katsina state met behind closed doors with Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo and Abdul aziz Yari of Zamfara.

The Presidents Personal Assistant on New Media, Alhaji Bashir Ahmad confirmed this development on his Twitter handle on Sunday.

He posted: President Muhammadu Buhari this evening received chairman of the Progressives GovernorsForum (PGF), Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo.

Okorocha, who spoke to newsmen after the meeting, said that he updated the president on the outcome of the ward congresses conducted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) across the country.

He frowned at the way some members of the party in some states conducted themselves during the exercise, saying the party would check such incidents in future.

Okorocha said; We expect internal democracy and internal democracy is the way to go. Those kind of funny politics that were played must stop, where people want to carry ballot boxes, steal results looks so primitive.

I intimated Mr President and we will make sure that such things must stop.

On the presidents response, the governor said; He spoke like the President and he will take the necessary steps to correct this in our party, APC, not just in Imo but across the whole nation, to make sure that there is respect for internal democracy.

However, Gov.Yari, who spoke on the outcome of the ward congresses, said the exercise went well in the North West region.

He said; You know in a democracy you cannot expect everything to work 100 per cent.

But in our region from the information available to us, everything went well in Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kano, where people expected that there may be a problem, the exercise was successful.

But anybody that has complain, there is a committee set up by the national executive of the party, they should take their complains there so that they will be attended to.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed that mixed reactions characterized the outcome of the APC ward congresses across the country.

In Delta, the exercise was bloody as the Police Command in the state confirmed that a chairmanship candidate died in the APC ward congresses in Ughelli South Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The commands spokesman, Mr Andrew Aniamaka, said Mr Jeremiah Oghoveta, was stabbed to death during the exercise at Jeremi Ward 3, Okwagbe.

The ward congresses in Adamawa and Oyo states were conducted on May 6 as against May 5 following political misunderstandings among top APC members and stakeholders in the states.

In Adamawa, mixed reactions characterized the conduct of the ward congresses on Sunday.

While the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustafa, said the exercise was smooth and hitch free, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu said the exercise was not conducted in his Ward of Bako in Yola.

Mustafa participated in the exercise in his Ward at Gwadabawa in Jimeta area of Yola.

NAN also reported that a faction of the APC in Kebbi State had staged a peaceful protest to the party Secretariat in Birnin Kebbi against consensus arrangement during the Saturday Congress held across 225 wards in the State.

The protesters were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions like: Kebbi APC Congress no consensus;We need true party Congress not consensus;`We say no to injustice

The Leader of the aggrieved members, Adamu Gulma, told journalists at the APC Secretariat that what happened in Kebbi state is not congress but government and major APC stakeholders hijacked the event to their advantage.

However, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State Chapter had commended the peaceful conduct of ward congress, held across 203 wards of the state on Saturday.

Mr Abayomi Adesanya, the spokesman of the party in the state, told NAN that the reports he got from various wards were good.

NAN also observed that the ward congresses were successfully conducted in many states of the federation including Lagos, Kaduna, Gombe, Ogun, Oyo, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, Borno, Yobe and others.

Meanwhile, the party had on Sunday called on its members that may have been aggrieved following the conduct of its Saturday Ward Congress across the country to seek redress in its Appeal Panel.

Malam Bolaji Abudulahi, the partys National Publicity Secretary made the call in a statement in Abuja.

He, however, congratulated all members of the party, saying that the conduct of the congress was generally peaceful.

Source: NAN

US President Donald Trumps choice to be the next head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has sought to withdraw her nomination, it was reported late Sunday.

Gina Haspel told the White House onFriday that she was interested in stepping aside from the nomination if it would damage her and the agencys reputations, according to the Washington Post.

Haspel was due to be confirmed to the role of director by the Senate on Wednesday but was called to the White House before the weekend over questions about her involvement in the CIAs controversial interrogation programme, anonymous administration sources told the Post.

The 61-year-old played a role in the alleged torture of suspected terrorist detainees as a clandestine CIA officer following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Fridays meeting was followed by another with Haspel at CIA headquarters where she reportedly met for several hours with senior White House staff, including legislative affairs boss Marc Short and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Trump then phoned the staffers to push for Haspel to remain as nominee, the Posts sources said. By Saturday she had reportedly agreed to continue with the nomination.

In 2002 Haspel ran a so-called CIA black site, or secret detention centre which allegedly tortured two suspected al-Qaeda terrorists.

Haspel became deputy director of the agency in 2017 and was named last Tuesday as the replacement for Mike Pompeo, who was made secretary of state.

Her nomination has come in for criticism even from Republicans, with Senator John McCain having said she needed to explain her involvement in one of the darkest chapters in American history.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

Prof Umar Katsayel of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has developed two anti-malaria drugs that can compete with other relevant drugs in the treatment of malaria. parasites.

Katsayel disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeri (NAN) in Sandmu, near Daura, on Monday.

He said that the drugs were developed from the roots of Cissampelous mucronat plant and the stem-bark of Plumeria rubra plant, adding they are common herbs found around the vicinity.

He said the drugs were subjected to various laboratory examinations to determine their efficacy and toxicity before consumption.

We would soon make the drugs public after satisfying the obvious certification process with the relevant regulatory bodies, the Don said.

He said that the development of the drugs was a product of years of hard academic researches and investigations.

We would redouble our efforts to develop as many drugs as possible, he said.

Katsayel commended the management of the university for giving him the enabling environment to achieve the feat.

He urged fellow academics to intensify efforts on research so as to fast track the socio-economic development of the nation. .

He said gone were the days when the nation would solely dependent on foreign countries, especially for disease discovery and development of drugs.

He lauded the efforts of the Federal Government at promoting academic research and investigations.

Katsayel is also a former member of the Federal House of Representatives who represented the Sandamu, Maiadua and Daura federal constituency.

Source: NAN

It is too early to start impeaching Presidents in Nigeria, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd), has warned those plotting President Muhamamadu Buharis impeachment.

The plot to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari would not augur well for Nigerias democracy, he said.

He told members of the Northern Leaders and Stakeholders Assembly, NLSA, who paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday that disagreements are vital components of democracy.

There is no President that will not get impeached because of interest groups.

Cautioning against the plot, Gowon explained that disagreements remained hallmarks of democracy and such be settled amicably.

Impeachment is not necessary the option to disagreement .

Gowon spoke against the backdrop of the submission of a report on motion for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari over the purchase of $496 million Tucano Aircrafts without legislators approval.

He called on the different groups in the North to come together to project a common front, adding that too many groups could send wrong signals to other parts of the country.

We need to come together as a people.

The Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum and the Northern Leaders and Stakeholders Assembly should come together or we would end up polarising the North.

Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, the Chairman of the Forum and former Presidential adviser, in his remarks, said the group was committed to sustainable peace and harmonious co-existence of all ethnic nationalities,

Gowon is the former head of state of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975. He took power after one military coup dtat and was overthrown in another coup.

He prosecuted the civil war from 1967 to 1970 and reunited Nigeria.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday in Abuja said its voter register was not substantially used for the Feb. 10 Kano State local government election, where underaged voting allegedly occurred.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the Commissions Investigation Committee report on the alleged participation of underage persons in the election.

INEC on Feb. 21 set up an investigation committee chaired by a National Commissioner, Mr Abubakar Nahuche.

The committee was to look into the allegations that underage persons voting in the election, using the register of voters given to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) by INEC, as prescribed by law.

Yakubu said though the commission did not receive any formal complaint on the matter, the committee was set up to address concerns that could create doubt about voter register in preparations for 2019 general elections.

The chairman said that the committee had since submitted its report, while INEC carefully considered and accepted its finding and recommendations.

Base on its terms and reference, there are four key points in the findings and recommendations of the committee, which may be summarised as follows:

KANSIEC requested for and received from INEC the Kano state register of voters for the elections.

The register was produced for use for the elections. However, the register was only sighted in a few polling units. In other words, the register was not used in most of the polling units.

In fact, accreditation using the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) largely did not take place.

Given that the register was substantially not used to accredit voter before voting.

It is logical to conclude that if underage voting occurred in the election, it was not due to any presence of underage registrants on the register of voters.

However, after examining some of the images in circulation, the committee found that they have been available long before the Kano Local Government elections.

The few images and video clips from Kano show no accreditation of voters or any relationship with the register of voters.

Yakubu added that the committee also recommended that there was need and ample room for collaboration between INEC and all stakeholders to continue to update and improve the national register of voters.

This according to him, was important to eliminate all ineligible registrants from it, including dead persons, aliens and underage registrants.

It also recommended that INEC should work with the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to ensure continuous improvements in the quality of all elections conducted in Nigeria.

He said since 2011 general elections, the Commission had been updating the register in accordance with the law, saying the current commission believed that it inherited a register that met a high standard of biometric registration.

Let me reiterate that this commission is convinced that we now have a dependable register, even if it is not perfect.

We believe that it is a huge national asset, easily the largest database of Nigerians in existence today containing over 70 million entries of names, addresses, photographs, ten fingerprints, telephone numbers etc.

Yakubu implored all Nigerians to see the register as national asset and work with the commission to continue to improve it, considering that there were few if any perfect voters roll anywhere.

Yakubu also listed some of the efforts by INEC to continue to update the register and remove ineligible entries from it including presentation of the copies of the register to political parties.

Only recently, on Feb. 28, we gave each of the 68 political parties a copy of the register containing names of the 3.9 million new voters registered in 2017.

We urged them to use the register not only to reach out to voters, but also to check whether there are ineligible persons on the list and draw the attention of the commission to them.

Unfortunately, since this commission was inaugurated in 2015, there has not been a single report from any political party of ineligible voters on the register.

Yakubu noted that INEC had also been working with the Nigerian Immigration Service to eliminate aliens from the register by confiscating PVCs from aliens who were not entitled to vote.

He pledged that INEC would continue to collaborate with the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FORSIECON) toward establishing robust pathways to improving the quality of all elections conducted in Nigeria.

As we have consistently promised Nigerians, as a commission, we shall continue to be open to criticisms, accept shortcomings and take bold corrective steps whenever necessary.

Fielding questions from newsmen; Yakubu said that the commission spent little over N100 million for the failed recall of Sen. Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District.

The substantial part of it went to the payment of ad-hoc staff and logistics. He also disclosed that the commission was not creating new polling units ahead of the 2019 general elections, as there was no time to do so.

The logistics and arrangements for doing so cannot be accommodated before the 2019 general elections.

Source: NAN

A Kogi State High Court, Lokoja, has given an interim order that Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, be moved to the National Hospital Abuja, for further treatment.

Justice Nasir Ajanah, gave the order on Friday after the senators lawyer, Mike Ezekhome (SAN) sought for his bail.

On Thursday, police stretchered Melaye before a Senior Magistrates Court, and charged him with supplying illegal arms to two suspects,to commit various crimes in the state.

In Abuja on Wednesday, the embattled Senator was charged with causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody.

His lawyer argued by virtue of Section 97 of the Penal Code, the offence is bailable.But Chief Magistrate Suleiman Abdulahi denied the bail application and ruled that Melaye would remain in police custody for the next 39 days.

The case was then adjourned until June 11, 2018.

Police Melaye had taken possession of Melaye since he was recovered from a private hospital in Abuja after he jumped out of a moving police vehicle on April 24 while being conveyed to Lokoja Kogi State, for trial.

The police then moved him to the National Hospital, from where the police said he was discharged on Wednesday, for the first trial in Abuja.

Source: NAN

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

In a bid to curb the transmission of preventable diseases, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa is to partner the World Health Organisation (WHO) to take hand washing campaigns across Nigeria and Africa.

Mrs Toyin Saraki, Founder-President of the Foundation disclosed this when she led a team on a courtesy visit the Abuja office of the WHO mission in Nigeria.

Saraki, the Devex Global Health Champion, was received by Dr Wondi Alemu, WHOs Representative and Head of Mission in Nigeria,

The launch of WBFAs campaign follows the UN Secretary Generals call to action on WASH in healthcare facilities in March and coincides with the WHOs Save Lives: Clean your Hands campaign day, which takes place on 5th May each year.

The 5th of May is also International Day of the Midwife, with the theme this year being Midwives leading the way with quality care.

Speaking at the event, she said that her foundation had recognized that many diseases could be prevented if people take to hand washing.

She insisted that the amount of time and resources spent on curing diseases could rather be used for advocacy for hand washing so that the diseases are prevented before they occur.

She disclosed that her foundation is gong to commission a team of young hand washing advocates that will take the campaign to schools across Nigeria.

We will be inaugurating a team of young Nigerians as hand washing advocates so that they can go to schools to sensitise many on the importance of hand washing.

Our midwives will also take the same campaign to hospitals and primary health centres to educate mother on the importance of hand washing.

In the next one year we can measure the impact of the campaign. Washing your hand with clean water prevents diseases.

Here in Nigeria, the WHO found that 29 per cent of healthcare facilities do not have access to safe water and toilets, whilst a WaterAid survey revealed that half of primary health facilities do not have hand washing facilities in delivery rooms.

Pregnant women and newborns are thereby placed in huge danger and at risk of sepsis, which is a leading cause of death in hospitals.

As the Founder-President of the WBFA, I work with our midwives to ensure that mother and baby are safe from birth through to age.

Without adequate WASH facilities, however, midwives all over the world are unable to safely carry out their crucial work and to lead the way with quality care.

Our target is for the 198 million Nigerians to be saying wash, she said.

Is his remark, the WHO Country Representative, Wondi Alemu said that the WHO was really impressed by the many interventions by the Wellbeing Foundation.

He said that the activities if the foundation going beyond just health care and hygiene to general wellbeing, adding that he is particularly impressed by the foundation.

He commended the foundation for the new campaign, saying that with good strategies, the impact of hand washing could be tremendous.

This is a very impressive foundation, I am impressed the way you have expressed it and also eager to implement it.

The choice of the target is good and we believe that if we manage to reduce the infection transmission, we will definitely bring down the way infections are acquired.

I will like to assure you that WHO, not only the country office but the whole WHO is supporting this mission.

Personally I have interacted with Director of WHO whom you are one of her advisers, and I can assure you that the WHO will be supporting your foundation.

We have all reasons to back you up, personally I commit myself to this foundation to make sure that I and my colleagues support you in the areas where you want us to engage, he said.

Source: NAN