By Ikechukwu Iweajunwa

The Commissioner of Police in Imo, Mr Dasuki Galadanchi, said on Thursday in Owerri that the command had arrested two suspects involved in the killing of a Rev. Fr, Jude Egbom.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that until his death, Egbom was the parish priest of St Patrick Catholic Church, Amucha in Njaba Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

It will be recalled that the hoodlums barged into a salon in Nkwere Local Government Council where the priest was barbing his hair and killed him on Sept. 10.

The commissioner, who paraded the suspects on Thursday, gave their names as Chigozie Uzoukwu and Peter Boniface.

Also, Galadanchi paraded two other suspects who stole a corpse from O-Jesus Mortuary, Akabo and demanded for N5 million ransom.

He explained that the criminals were arrested in a forest in Mbaitoli LGA on Sept. 12, after keeping the corpse for many days.

The names of the suspects were given as Chukwudi Chukwu and Bethel Ibe.

In their separate reactions, Bethel Ibe, a commercial bus driver, said he was lured into kidnapping by his friends.

He said they decided to steal the corpse to raise money for what he called a mega business.

His co-suspect, Chukwudi Chukwu, said he was an ex-mortuary attendant and was sacked by management of O-Jesus mortuary.

He said that based on his experience in mortuary business, he was able to steal the corpse.

Source: NAN

The Ekiti House of Assembly has approved the N10 billion supplementary budget sent to it by Gov. Ayo Fayose, despite concerns by the governor-elect Kayode Fayemi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the budget was passed at plenary on Thursday by a unanimous decision of the 14 members who were in attendance.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Information , Dr Samuel Omotosho, said the budget was to capture unforeseen expenses of government.

He said the bill went through first and second readings as well as committee review before its passage.

Omotosho denied speculations that the budget was to defraud the state, alleging that the governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, also did the same a month before he left office during his first term.

But the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the assembly has rejected the passage of the supplementary budget.

The APC lawmakers led by the Minority Leader, Gboyega Aribisogan, described the action as a ploy by the governor to legitimise fraud.

The APC lawmakers and some members are not in support of the bill because it has been discovered that the outgoing governor wanted to use the House to legitimise fraud.

The proposed Appropriation Bill is the handiwork of Gov. Fayose and his cronies to cover up massive fraud in some Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

The Appropriation Bill is not meant to improve the lives of our people in the state but to cover up some unapproved spending of the governor.

The Appropriation Committee did not sit on the bill. The bill was backdated to Aug. 30 to give an impression that the Appropriation Committee had since been deliberating on the bill, he said.

Governor-elect Kayode Fayemi expressed concern over the hush-hush budget on Wednesday.

He urged the Fayose regime to refrain from actions capable of plunging the state into further financial crisis through irregular and unconstitutional means.

The governor-elect, in a statement issued by the Media Director of his campaign organisation, Mr Wole Olujujobi, said the consequences of illegal appropriation of public funds would be very grave for individuals who participated in any illegal act to defraud the state.

Fayemi counselled ministry officials and Assembly members against being used for illegal appropriation of public funds.

He warned that participants in such illegal acts would be called upon to account for their actions when the new administration takes effect on Oct. 16.

Fayemi queried the rationale for the N10 billion supplementary budget barely a month to the handover date.

The media report alleging that Fayose coerced the Ministry of Budget officials to make a demand backdated to Aug. 23, 2018 for a supplementary budget of N10billion a few days to the end of his administration is fraudulent and not in the interest of the state

The governors covering note also backdated to Aug. 30, 2018 for the legitimacy of such request was equally done with fraudulent intention

It is worrisome that the alleged supplementary budget was presented to the Assembly Clerk for immediate approval without presenting it to Assembly members at the plenary to go through all parliamentary procedures in budget processing.

The latest development today, after the plot leaked on this fraudulent conduct, is that the budget is now before the House for a hush-hush debate for immediate approval, he said.

Source: NAN

Comrade Murtala Garba, the immediate past President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN,) has joined the race for the House of Representatives seat for Tatun Donga, Ussa and Yangtu Federal Constituency in Taraba State.

Garba spoke with newsmen shortly after purchasing the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at the All Progressives Congress(APC)s Secretariat in Abuja.

He said that, as a matter of priority, he would sensitise youths in his constituency on the importance of self-reliance, peace and unity.

`We have lost some youths and brothers to crisis and it cannot be allowed to continue; peace is paramount.

We will industrialise the constituency and encourage our youths to go into agriculture, farming; fishing, education, entrepreneurship that is our first line of projects.

We have to move from poverty to self-reliance; it is time to engage our youth and impact on them all that we have learnt in many seminars locally and internationally.

We must teach them the importance of entrepreneurship.

We have to change the mentality of our people; above all, we need peace and unity due to the complex nature of Tarabadifferent ethnic groups and religionsour diversity should be our strength, he said.

He said he was motivated by his desire to give the youths a voice; hence the Not too Young to Run movement which was started in 2016.

Garba said that since the president had signed the Bill into law, it was high time the proponents of Bill came out and practiced what they preached.

He said that a lot of Nigerian youths have purchased forms.

The former NYCN leader said that going by the relationship he had with his constituents, he was upbeat on winning the seat.

Due to the experience I gathered as a youth leader, I will attract projects that will bring development to my constituency.

We are talking about integrity and I know I will make it.

Due to the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari, APC will conquer Taraba State and I am hopeful of emerging victorious.

Taraba people will like to join the moving train and will vote for APC because of what APCs achievement, he said.

Source: NAN

The presidential ambition of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko appeared dead on arrival on Thursday as the Nigeria Labour Congress, the registered owner of the Labour Party denounced the declaration.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President and Mrs Ebere Ifendu, the National Publicity Secretary, Labour Party, rejected the declaration and the hijack of the Labour Party platform at a joint news conference on Thursday in Abuja.

It is not possible for Mimiko to run under the Labour Party and we want to say no to that as Mimiko has no business as a member of Labour Party.

The party is registered by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, Market Women Association, students. We register the party and the certificate of the party is with the NLC General Secretary.

Therefore, bringing money to buy the party or the structure will not work, we do not share in the same ideology with him. It is a party with a difference.

Therefore, I want to call on Minimko once again to make sure he off-his hands off the party.

Therefore, A.A Salam cannot continue to function as the chairperson of the party, he said.

He added the Labour Party is not a place for any candidate to join when the condition is favourable and when you arrive at your destination, you abandon it.

Also, Mrs Ebere Ifendu, National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party also warned Nigerians and political aspirants to disregard the purported party convention slated for 13 September in Abuja.

It has become necessary for the leadership of the Labour Party to draw the attention of the general public to the fraudulent collection of Expression of Interest and Nomination Form fees from innocent and unsuspecting political aspirants.

That is for those who desire to contest various elective positions under the Labour Party through Alhaji A. A. Salam, the former national chairman of the party.

It would be recalled that A. A. Salam was removed at the special national convention of the party held on 3rd October, 2017.

Mimiko made known on Thursday his intention to run for president of Nigeria on the platform of the Labour party (LP) in 2019.

Mimiko, 63 years old, made the declaration at an event held at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.

He expressed concern over the killings in the Middle Belt and some other parts of the country.

The aspirant said that the excruciating economic pains and the unprecedented level of division, and distrust at individual and communal levels, were of great concern.

Mimiko said that the ability to envision great ideas, and demonstrable track record, rather than place and circumstances of birth, should be the most compelling basis for investing candidates with power.

This is, therefore, not the time to cheapen the dialogue by engaging in argument on whose turn it is to run the country.

Rather, it is time to insist that only the best is good for Nigeria; it is time to all march out and recall our past, take charge of the present, and launch out into greatness, as one inclusive, cohesive family,

There comes a moment in the life of a nation when every patriot must stand up to be counted.

At such a moment, no person worthy of a place in history can afford to remain ensconced in their comfort zone.

When the totality of our being and the very essence of our humanity are in violation, patriots must advance to recapture the present; and commit to re-defining the future.

I have found it compelling to declare my intention to run for President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, who claimed to be the Chairman of Labour Party received Mimiko during the declaration.

Abdusalam has now been declared an impostor by the NLC.

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress appears not to be losing sleep over the reported defection of Speaker Yakubu Dogara from its fold to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, where he came from.

On the contrary, the APC, which dismissed Dogara, as a political paperweight said a crushing and humiliating defeat, awaits him in next February election in his Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa constituency.

APC acting publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena made the partys position known in a statement Thursday, saying the party was not surprised about Dogaras ill-advised move.

It was only a matter of time judging by Dogaras anti-party antics in the National Assembly where in connivance with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, he exploited all available avenues to sabotage and undermine the APC-led executive. Dogaras anti-party activities which enabled one of the opposition Partys sole victory in Bogoro Local Government Area (Dogaras council) during the recent Bauchi South Senatorial bye-election won by the APC is another pointer, among several others.

Here is the APC statement;

We have received several media requests for a reaction to the purported defection of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to one of the opposition political parties, as reported in the media.

In reacting, a recent comment by President Muhammadu Buhari, aptly sums Dogaras reported defection:

Dogaras reported defection has not come to us as a surprise. It was only a matter of time judging by Dogaras anti-party antics in the National Assembly where in connivance with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, he exploited all available avenues to sabotage and undermine the APC-led executive. Dogaras anti-party activities which enabled one of the opposition Partys sole victory in Bogoro Local Government Area (Dogaras council) during the recent Bauchi South Senatorial bye-election won by the APC is another pointer, among several others.

Indeed, all politics is local. As a Party, we empathise with Dogara on his confusion and despair over his bleak political future given the fact that he is not on ground and a political paperweight in his home Bauchi state. In his emergence as Speaker, Dogara was merely used by his political master to achieve their selfish political ends at the time. They have since moved on to pursue their individual political aspirations and left Dogara in the cold.

We would advise Dogara against his ill-advised decision to recontest his House of Representatives seat under the opposition Party he is linked with because a crushing and humiliating defeat surely awaits him.

As a Party, we remain united and committed to our Progressives ideologies. We urge Party faithful to consolidate on our strengths and collectively go into the 2019 general elections as a united and strong political fighting force to sustain the Change Agenda we are implementing for the benefit of Nigerians.

Source: NAN

Apple Inc is expected to blast further past the $1,000 price barrier when it launches new iPhones on Wednesday, but Wall Street is most intrigued by how deep into its larger-than-ever lineup prices hikes may go.

Apple’s market capitalization has passed $1 trillion and the company needs to sustain revenue growth from its signature product even as global demand for smart phones plateaus. One way to do that is to get people to buy more expensive phones.

“There’s no real game changer on the table,” said Hal Eddins, chief economist at Apple shareholder Capital Investment Counsel. “It’s a matter of getting people to keep moving up.”

The new top model is expected to have a 6.5-inch (16.5-cm) screen with an edge-to-edge display and be called the iPhone X Plus or Max. It would have an OLED display with richer colors, and Wall Street is targeting a price of $1,049 or $1,099 versus the current $999 base price for the iPhone X.

A second phone with a 5.8-inch OLED display, likely called the iPhone Xs, would be similar to the iPhone X but with an improved processor.

But it is a third expected model with 6.1-inch display, potentially called the iPhone 9, that has intrigued analysts most. The big display is expected to use lower-cost LCD technology but look more like last year’s iPhone X than the iPhone 8, which itself looked similar to phones going back to 2014’s iPhone 6.

Apple declined to comment.

That fresher profile could help lure price-conscious Apple customers with three- and four-year-old phones into an upgrade, said Eddins. Expectations for Apple’s lineup have been fueled by reports from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is based in Taiwan, where many of the contract manufactures that also make Apple products are based.

While some expect a $699 price for the iPhone 9, Goldman Sachs analyst Rod Hall sees as much as $849, a significant bump for a mid-range device.

“Given the better-than-expected iPhone X demand this summer we doubt Apple is inclined to go for lower price points,” Hall wrote in a note to clients.

Rival Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has a few models that cost nearly as much as Apple models, but the bulk of its lineup, like that of other phone makers, consists of cheaper models.

“Apple has never competed on price,” said Josh Blechman, director of capital markets at Exponential ETFs, which holds Apple shares in its exchange traded fund.

In addition to new models, Apple is also expected to unveil a gold-color option for the two new OLED-screened phones, a new version of its wireless Airpods earbuds with wireless charging and a new version of its Apple Watch with a bigger display. It also is expected to release a wireless charging mat that will be able to charge several devices at once.

With less than 35 days to vacate the government house, Ekiti governor Ayodele Fayose, has prepared to submit self to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

Fearing he could be arrested for financial mismanagement, Fayose who has been facing allegations of financial crime, is reported to have written a letter to the anti-graft agency notifying it that he would make himself available to it on Tuesday, October 16, 2018.

The letter was personally signed by Fayose with the title: “Notification of my decision to make myself available in your office to clarify issue(s) or answer questions on issues within my knowledge”.

According to the Tribune, Fayose’s letter was addressed to the chairman of the EFCC.

The newspaper quoted the governor as saying that his desire to submit the letter to the commission was hinged on several and serial actions of the commission.

“…. for some time now, including but not limited to freezing of my accounts and attempts to secure temporary forfeiture of my properties.”

He said these were “indicative of the commission’s desire to have me clarify some issues or answer some questions but for the immunity I enjoy under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution as the sitting governor of Ekiti State.”

Fayose stated in the letter: “I wish to inform you that my term of office pursuant to which I enjoy immunity against investigation and prosecution under the above provision shall lapse by effluxion of time on Monday, 15th October, 2018.

“As a responsible citizen of our great country, who believes in the rule of law, I wish to inform you of my decision to make myself available in your office on Tuesday, 16th October 2018 at 1pm to clarify issues or answer questions within my knowledge.

“Kindly confirm the suitability of the above date or indicate by return, the commission’s convenient date.”
Tribune reported that a stamp on a copy of the letter indicated that it was received in the office of the EFCC chairman on Tuesday, September 11, 2018.

By Racheal Ishaya

The Federal Government said states must clear backlog of salaries and other related staff arrears before they would be able to access the remaining 2.69 billion dollar Paris Club Refund.

The Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr Hassan Dodo, on Tuesday, said the Federal Government would commence phased payments of the refund to the states once the condition and several others were met.

The DMO led the reconciliation process under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Finance. The final approval of 2.69 billion dollars is subject to some conditions.

Salary and staff related arrears must be paid as a priority. Also commitment to the commencement of the repayment of Budget Support Loans granted in 2016 must be made by all States.

Furthermore, they must clear amounts due to the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative and make commitment to clear matching grants from UBEC.

This is in cases where some states have available funds which could be used to improve primary education and learning outcomes, Dodo said in a statement.

It will be recalled that the issue of Paris Club loan over-deduction had been a long standing dispute between the Federal Government and the state governments, dating back to 1995.

In response to the dispute, President Muhammadu Buhari directed that the claims of over-deduction should be formally and individually reconciled by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

This reconciliation commenced in November 2016.

As an interim measure to alleviate the financial challenges of the states during the 2016 recession, the President had approved that 50 per cent of the amounts claimed by States be paid to enable them clear salary and pension arrears.

This approved sum was released to the states between Dec. 1, 2016 and Sept. 29, 2017.

Source: NAN

Dr Doyin Okupe has been appointed the chairman of the media council of the Bukola Saraki campaign organisation.

Okupe until now was the South West leader of the Accord Party and chairs the partys committee to discuss with the Coalition of United Political Parties.

The Director General of the campaign, Mohammed Wakil, said Dr Okupe will work with other professionals on the team to effectively communicate the campaign messages of the Senate President to Nigerians and the international community.

Okupe who is a medical doctor and politician served as the National Publicity Secretary of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in the aborted Third Republic.

He has also worked as the Director of Communications during the presidential campaigns of two former presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.

He later served as a Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to both Presidents.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday received Expression of Interest and Nomination forms and reiterated his administrations determination to continue on the path of building a strong, virile and corrupt-free Nigeria.

The president spoke after receiving the forms bought for him by the Nigeria Consolidation Ambassador Network (NCAN), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja,

He observed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would now be stronger as the weakest politicians had left the party.

President Buhari, who was referring to the defections that engulfed the party in recent times, said those who left the party could not place national interest above their selfish interest in line with the objectives of the administration.

The president who highlighted the achievements of his administration in the past three years, said corruption has been fighting back from both within and outside the administration.

These achievements over the past three years had not been easy. Corruption has been fighting back from both within and outside but we held our ground.

Today, Im pleased to say the weakest amongst us those whose selfish expectations did not align with our patriotic zeal had exited our party.

We are now a party of strong and patriotic individuals who are ready, willing and able to continue on this journey of building, secured, self- sufficient and corruption-free Nigeria.

I am honoured today to receive this nomination form which your members from all over the country contributed to buy.

It is a gesture from an association of patriotic Nigerians which I was made to believe comprises of over three million members which believed in our principle of bringing positive things to Nigeria, he said.

President Buhari who expressed gratitude for being honoured by the NCAN said that his vision to rescue the nation began in 2002.

The President, who narrated his political history, said his decision to contest for the presidential seat in 2007, was informed by the sorry and hopeless state the nation had found itself in 2006.

He added that his decision was predicated on the state of hopelessness in the country where selfish interest of elected leaders superseded national interest.

President Buhari, however, condemned the way and manner the 2007 general election was handled, saying the result of the election was a disgrace to the nation.

He thanked the leadership and members of NCAN who contributed part of their meagre resources to buy the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.

The Deputy Chairman, Board of Trustees of the NCAN, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said the association is a network of young Nigerians in various fields of endeavour who had been keeping tab of the policies, programmes and projects of the Buhari administration.

He said the association was doing this with a view to making an informed contribution towards the growth of a virile and stable country.

According to him, in spite all the challenges, the Buhari administration has delivered and continues to deliver on its promises, and other matters arising in the course of governance.

From the massive re-establishment of security of life and property by reclaiming the territorial integrity of our country even in the face of threat from within, to the redirection and strengthening of our economy, by increased productive capacity in agriculture and financial prudence even in the face of an almost negative balance sheet in 2015.

The massive infrastructural development whilst growing our reserves.

He has also reined in systemic corruption by firmly enforcing even erstwhile policies, which no one had the courage or the strength of character to enforce, be it the TSA, the IPPSA, the EGP, the operating freedom of law enforcement, in dutiful compliance with the laws of our land. The list is endless.

Nigerians for the first time in many years could see a leader who painstakingly took decisions solely on the bases of national interest, above his or anyone elses.

A leader who belongs to all and behooving to our country and to God only, who in HIS infinite mercy brought our president back from the brink of death and restored him to strength and vigour.

He said the association, whose network seeks to consolidate these gains, has decided to contribute its intellect, and little earnings towards ensuring that the president was encouraged to continue with his good works to Nigeria.

It is on account of the resolve of these ambassadors that they proceeded to obtain the nomination form for the president from the All Progressives Congress, to encourage Mr President to seek to be re-elected for another term to help consolidate the work he is doing, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highpoint of the event was the handing over of the APC Presidential Nomination Form by the National Coordinator, Members of the Board of Trustees of the Consolidation Ambassadors Network of Nigeria to the president.

Source: NAN