A yet to be identified Nigerian shot dead a fellow Nigerian, Tony Elochukwu on 24 April in broad day at a restaurant in South Africa.

Elochukwu was from Nnobi Anambra State.

The tragic news was conveyed by the Nigerians Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) in a letter sent by its president, Prince Ben Okoli to the Consular General, Nigerian Consulate in Johanesburg.

Elochukwus death was the latest to befall the Nigerian community. Three Nigerians were killed between April 6 and April 9 at different locations in the country.

In the letter, obtained by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday, Okoli decried the death and continued killings of Nigerians in South Africa.

We received yet again the sad news of the death of another Nigerian in Witbank Mpumalanga province.

Mr Tony Elochukwu from Nnobi Anambra State was shot twice in the head by an unidentified Nigerian gunman on April 24 at around 2:45pm, he said.`

Okoli said that a lone Nigerian man walked to some Nigerians at a restaurant and inquired from them where to get some weed to smoke

He said those standing, however, told him that they did not know where since they do not smoke.

Okoli said the man then pulled out his gun and shot Elochukwu on the head and sped off in a car parked down the street.

He added that a case of murder had been opened at the police station by NICASA Chairman in Mpumalanga, Mr Obeji Chukwuma.

This look like another case of Nigeria killing themselves. This ugly trend of Nigerians killed by fellow Nigerians is on the increase and is disturbing to our community.

NICASA is deeply worried over the death and continued killings of our citizens in South Africa.

People are worried and scared, since none of the perpetrators had been arrested or charged over it, he said.

He appealed to the consulate to pressure the South African police to pursue the case of death of any Nigerian with seriousness.

The South African police must stop attempting to encourage this killings by lack of investigation and prosecution with aim of bringing to justice every criminal involved in these heinous crimes, he said.

The Consul General, Nigerian Consulate Johannesburg, Mr Godwin Adama, had condemned the killing of Nigerians at different locations in the country.

It is clear that as much as any form of criminality and xenophobic attacks against foreigners, including Nigerians in South Africa is condemnable, the killings do not fit into xenophobic attacks.

The cases are the stabbing of a Nigerian, Mr Bonny Iwuola, in Turfontain in Johanesburg on April 6 at about 23:30 hours in front of his house, by unknown assailants, and more of crime related murder.

Another Nigerian, Gozien Christian, from Agbor in Delta State, was stabbed to death by three unknown assailants. No arrest has been made but cases were opened and police are investigating the murders, he said.

The third case of murder which happened on the night of April 8 at Sunnyside in Pretoria happened at the usual place of cult-related murders by Nigerian cult groups.

This particular case had more connection with business-related disagreement that turned sour.

Investigations are on but eye witness accounts indicated that he was killed and his new Mercedes car-2019 model was snatched and driven away. All these cases do not appear to be xenophobic.

They are part of the usual crime-related killings in South Africa. Police statistics in South Africa indicate that over 18,000 murders take place in South Africa in a year, he said.

Source: NAN

By Yashim Katurak

New report released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on state of measles outbreak globally from 2016 to 2018, indicates an alarming increase in number of reported cases in all regions of the world.

WHO released the data on its website on Saturday in commemoration of the 2019 World Immunisation Week observed on the last week of April every year.

According to the report, the number of reported cases of measles outbreak in the Americas increased from 12 cases in 2016 to 775 in 2017 and 16,689 in 2018.

It said that in Africa, reported cases of measles stood at 36,269 in 2016, 72,603 in 2017 and 55,445 in 2018.

The report said that although the African region saw a decline in number of cases in 2018, it remained the region with the highest burden of the disease.

The report said that this was because Africa still suffered greatly from poverty and conflict increasing the challenge of access to vaccine services.

It also said that although cases of measles have been increasing globally in recent years jeopardising decades of efforts, the number of deaths have however drastically reduced from the 1960s to date.

Based on the latest data, measles case reports doubled globally from 2017 to 2018 with all regions of the world experiencing large and often protracted outbreaks of the disease.

The Americas experienced a sharp increase from 12 cases in 2016 to 775 in 2017 and 16,689 in 2018 while Europe had 4,363 cases in 2016, 24,356 cases in 2017 and 83,540 in 2018.

Africa had 36,269 cases in 2016, 72,603 reported cases in 2017 and a decline to 55,445 cases in 2018. For Eastern Mediterranean, cases of measles increased from 6,275 in 2016 to 36,427 in 2017 and 57,054 cases in 2018.

In South-East Asia cases of measles increased from 27,530 in 2016 to 28,474 in 2017 and 82,929 in 2018. The Western Pacific had a total number of 57,879 cases in 2016, 10,695 cases in 2017 and 30,388 cases in 2018.

According to preliminary WHO data, measles increased by around 300 per cent globally in the first three months of 2019, compared to the same time last year, with sizeable rises in all regions of the world.

In 1963, measles alone caused approximately 2.6 million deaths every year but today, it has been reduced to 110,000 which indicate a 95 per cent reduction.

The reasons for children not getting their vaccines are diverse. The majority are the consequence of a fundamental lack of access to vaccination services with Sub-Saharan Africa having the lowest coverage and accounting for the largest part of the increase and the greatest burden of cases, the report said.

The report said that globally, some countries were particularly peculiar with fewer than half of the children in these countries getting immunized thereby accounting for 60 per cent of global figures.

It listed the countries to include: Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa.

The world health body said that most of the un-vaccinated in these countries were living in areas where there was serious poverty and conflict.

It said that this caused them to constantly be on the move making it a challenge to receive access to immunization services.

WHO said that in regions with historically high rates of immunization however, complacency from parents, health providers, government and politicians played a role in the increase of outbreak.

Measles is in itself very serious. Even in high income countries, the disease results in hospitalization in up to a quarter of cases but experts warn it can also be a litmus test of things to come.

85 per cent of the worlds children which increased from around 20 per cent back in 1980 now receive essential lifesaving vaccines protecting them and their communities against not only measles but also diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B and polio.

This level of protection comes through a strong global push to increase vaccine access and affordability with support in recent decades from new partnerships like GAVI, the vaccine alliance which is focusing on expanding vaccine availability in the poorest countries and the Measles

Legislative Aides of the 8th National Assembly have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the non-payment of their allowances over the months.

In an open letter to the President, the Aides under the aegis of Concerned Legislative Aides of the 8th National Assembly, begged Buhari to direct a probe into the non payment of their allowance.

According to a statement jointly signed by Barr. Chinedu Nwokeukwu and Mr Sunday Chuba the aides particularly urged that SunTrust Bank, the micro-finance institution used in their payment be thoroughly probed.

They also sought that the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani Omolori be made to proceed on his pre-retirement leave which he was already due for.

The aides in a petition earlier sent to the Presidency, security agencies and the anti-graft agencies, alleged among other things that the leadership of the 8th National Assembly had connived to divert funds meant for their payment.

In its new open letter to the President, the group pleaded that the Buhari should direct the anti-graft agencies to look into the allegations of financial misappropriation contained in the petition.

According to the statement, the petition was duly copied to the Office of the President, and also to the Vice President, Inspector General of Police, Director General of State Security Service and Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

The statement said it is their utmost belief that there should be no sacred cows in the act of ridding the country of the evil tentacles of corruption in its ramification.

We are reliably informed, Your Excellency that the Presiding Officers of the 8th National Assembly are using the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani Omolori to cover the alleged diversion of our entitlements and allowances.

The said clerk should have proceeded on pre-retirement leave on November, 2018 having attained the mandatory 60 years and 35 years of service.

He was allegedly served a letter to that effect by the Office of Head of Service of the Federation.

There is scheme to add an additional five years to the tenure of the clerk by adding a provision to the Report of the Conference Committee on the Reviewed Conditions of Service in the National Assembly Service before both chambers of the 8th National Assembly, the group alleged.

It said such scheme if successful will extend the retirement age of staff of National Assembly to either 65 years of age or 40 years of service.

The statement further alleged that the scheming is geared towards covering the diversion of their entitlements.

The aides therefore called on President Buhari as the father of the nation to look into complaints dispassionately and ensure that the EFCC conduct an excellent investigation.

It may also interest Your Excellency to note the use of SunTrust Bank a bank with only two branches in Nigeria and the unbridled employment of Special Assistants by Presiding Officers as tools used in siphoning our legitimate allowances and entitlements.

The shareholding of SunTrust Bank should be thoroughly investigated while the exact numbers of special advisers, special assistants and legislative aides of the presiding officers of the 8th National Assembly examined for possibility of fake and ghost names, the statement said.

Source: NAN

Facts have emerged how the suspected leader of the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, Mohamed Zahran died.

Authorities said Zahran died in the Shangri-La hotel, one of six hotels bombed in an attack which ISIS had claimed responsibility.

Three churches were targeted in the attacks that killed over 300 people.

Police said Zahran, leader of the National Towheed Jamaat militant group, had been killed in one of the bombings, while the group’s second in command was also arrested.

Zahran amassed an online following for his hate-filled sermons. Some were delivered before a banner depicting the Twin Towers.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday that the attackers responsible for the bombings were supported by the Islamic State group.

Around 140 people in Sri Lanka had connections to ISIS, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said.

“We will completely control this and create a free and peaceful environment for people to live,” he said.

Investigators determined the attackers received military training from someone called “Army Mohideen.”

They also received weapons training overseas and at some locations in Sri Lanka, according to authorities.

A copper factory operator arrested in connection with the bombings helped Mohideen make improvised explosive devices, police said.

The bombings have led to increased security throughout the island nation as authorities warned of another attack.

Nestl Nigeria has launched a new powder seasoning range designed, especially for Nigerian cuisine, Maggi Signature.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nestles latest Maggi brand, was launched simultaneously in different locations in the country on Thursday.

It comes in three flavour variants Jollof, Miya and Pottages to intensify and enhance the Nigerian cooking experience.

Maggi Signature is a unique blend of natural ingredients such as bay leaves, onions, tomatoes, chilli pepper and thyme commonly used in household kitchens across Nigeria.

Signature flavours are designed, especially for Nigerian cuisine. They come in three variants Jollof, Miya and Pottages. The powders serve as finishers, which encourage mixity, intensify and enhance the Nigerian cooking experience.

Maggi Signature Jollof, Miya and Pottages were introduced simultaneously in 17 locations pan Nigeria, including Kano, Jos, Enugu and Port-Harcourt.

The launch included retailer engagements organised to raise awareness about healthy lifestyles, cooking and diets.

Mauricio Alarcon, The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestle Nigeria said: The addition of the Maggi Signature range to the companys product portfolio is in line with MAGGI Simply Good commitments.

This includes a commitment to use familiar and common ingredients, which is another step towards fulfilling our ambitions to help individuals and families live healthier, happier lives.

At Nestle, we continue to support families to make healthier food choices every day by consistently delivering high quality nutritious products and providing nutrition education.

Our aim is to encourage and support families to choose healthier lifestyles. This is in line with our purpose which is enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future.

Presenting Maggi Signature range at the retailers launch event in Onitsha, Nwando Ajene, Nestle Nigeria Category Manager, Culinary shared that: MAGGI Signature Jollof, Miya and Pottage have been designed to help take every day Nigerian dishes to the next level.

The range has been tailored to suit the local tastes and cooking habits of the different regions countrywide.

Signature Jollof seasoning helps the authentic party Jollof, Signature Miya accentuates the Dzoin taste of your favourite northern soups, while Signature Pottage seasoning brings to life that correct pottage taste.

MAGGI continues to promote healthy lifestyles through product fortification and provision of practical nutrition education that reaches millions of women across the country every year.

Nestl Nigeria Plc began simple trading operations in Nigeria in 1961 and has grown into a leading food manufacturing and marketing company.

It is the biggest food company in West Africa and Nestl Nigeria employs around 2,300 people and has three world-class factories.

Nestl Nigeria manufactures and markets a range of high quality brands, including NESTL PURE LIFE, GOLDEN MORN, MILO, MAGGI and NESCAF.

Source: NAN

(Reuters/NAN) Bolton Wanderers players have decided to boycott their remaining Championship fixtures over unpaid wages at the second-tier English club, the media in Britain reported on Friday.

The squad went on strike earlier this month and refused to report for training until players, coaches and the clubs non-football staff were paid Marchs wages.

Bolton, 23rd in the Championship and already relegated, have two games left this season against Brentford on Saturday and at Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season.

Both fixtures are now in doubt.

The long-running financial crisis at our club has been well documented. As has the fact that we, the playing staff have yet to receive our March salaries, a players statement read.

We have endeavoured to continue our training and playing commitments during this extremely difficult time, with seemingly no resolution in sight.

This situation is creating mounting mental, emotional and financial burdens for people through no fault of their own.

These are unprecedented circumstances and are affecting every aspect of our lives, placing great strain on ourselves and our families.

During this time we have remained patient in hope of some explanation but information from the club has been extremely limited and very confusing. What we have been told changes constantly.

With deep regret we have decided not to fulfil our remaining fixtures unless we are paid. We understand that this will disappoint our fans and for this we sincerely apologise.

Bolton did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.

Source: NAN

By Yemi Itodo

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, dismissed a suit challenging the nomination of Hon. Lawal Mohammed Idrisu as member representing Ajaokuta federal constituency of Kogi state.

Hon. Okino Aloysius Adeiza of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had on 31st October, 2018, filed a pre-election matter, challenging the qualification of Hon. Idris who contested under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The petitioner alleged that he forged his National Diploma (ND) certificate which was obtained from Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

In a writ of summons filed by counsel to the Plaintif, Reuben Egwuaba (Esq.), the court was prayed to nullify Hon. Idris nomination on the ground that his ND certificate was forged.

In a preliminary objection raised by the counsels to Hon. Idris, AA Ibrahim (SAN) and Tawada Adams (Esq.), the court was urged to dismiss the suit as it was in a clear abuse of court process and it was statured barred.

In his ruling, Justice Taiwo Taiwo upheld the submissions of the counsel to the Defendants.

The court held that, since the issue of certificate forgery had been settled by the Tribunal and court of appeal in 2015 for lack of proofs, the action is an abuse of court process and also statured barred.

Justice Taiwo dwelled on 4th alteration number 21 of 2017 amendment to section 285 of 1999 constitution as amended and thereby dismissed the entire suit.

Source: NAN

The police in Lagos have arrested a woman, in whose freezer a six-year old boy, Treasure Akinsohun, was found dead, hours after he was declared missing.

The freezer was normally used to sell water and soft drinks.

The commands spokesman, DSP Bala Elkana confirmed the arrest on Friday to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), saying that the corpse had been deposited at the mortuary, while investigation was ongoing.

According to Elkana, on April 23, at about 8.30pm, one Eunice Akinsohun of Oyedele Street, Alapere ketu, reported her six-year old son, Treasure missing from about 9am.

He said the corpse of the boy, a day later, was found in a freezer, inside the shop owned by Eunices neighbour, one Patience Odowo. Patiences shop was at 12 Orisigun Street also in Alapere.

Odowo was promptly arrested.

Sources had earlier told NAN that Treasure and his mother lived in Ikorodu and had gone to Ketu to celebrate the Easter holidays with his mothers younger sister.

NAN gathered that Treasure and some children in his aunts compound were playing when he suddenly disappeared, but his body was later found inside the freezer at Orisigun Street, about five streets from where his mothers younger sister resides.

The bereaved mother, Mrs Eunice Akinsohun told journalists that she noticed her son was not among the other children playing in the compound.

She said when she asked for his whereabouts, the other children could not give an answer, forcing her to raise an alarm.

After a frenetic search for the boy was fruitless, she reported the boy missing to police at Alapare Police Station.

I also called my husband on the phone to inform him of the development. Before I got back home, a crowd had gathered at my sisters house at Alapere to help in the search for my son.

Throughout that day we couldnt locate the exact place where he was. When my husband eventually arrived, he also tried his best with my sisters husband and some elders in the community.

He was still not found. That was how we went back to Ikorodu that night in anguish, she said.

The woman said she and her husband were on their way back to Alapere from Ikorodu when they received a phone call that her son had been found in a womans freezer at Orisigun Street.

Immediately I saw the corpse of my son, I fainted. I was later revived at the hospital. What surprised me was how my son got into a freezer at another street.

I still dont understand how he got into the freezer as I speak with you. But it is left for the police to investigate, she said.

The father of the boy, Mr Ojo Akinsohun, said he was preparing to go out when he received a phone call from his wife that their son was missing.

I heard that the night my son was missing, the daughter of the freezers owner was sent to bring sachet water from the freezer, but she didnt find the boy inside. I was surprised how the boy got into the freezer.

I want police to investigate it and get to the root of the matter. I cant allow my son to die in vain, he said.

Source: NAN

Naby Keita scored Liverpools fastest ever Premier League goal and Mohamed Salah also marked a personal milestone in goal record as the Reds routed Huddersfield Town on Friday, to regain pole position of the league, from Manchester City.

Salah hit a milestone of scoring more than 20 goals in successive seasons, in the dying minutes of the first half.

Keita made history just 15 seconds on the watch, when he slotted in off the post after robbing Jon Gorenc Stankovic of possession and exchanging passes with Salah.

It was Keitas second league goal for the campaign,

After Keitas goal, Jurgen Klopps side soon had another when Sadio Mane headed home Andrew Robertsons cross, the forward notching his 10th in his last nine games at Anfield.

Liverpools first-half rout was not finished there, though, as Salah celebrated his 100th game for the club with a deft chip over Jonas Lossl, putting the rampant hosts 3-0 up at the interval.

Daniel Sturridge was denied Liverpools fourth when his effort was ruled out for offside before Mane met Jordan Hendersons cross to head in his second on 66 minutes.

Salah sealed Liverpools seventh consecutive league win by adding a fifth from close range with seven minutes to go

Liverpool are now two points clear of Manchester City, who have the chance to respond on Sunday. Huddersfield remain bottom on 14 points.

Salah in the night of Anfield became only the third Liverpool player to score 20 or more Premier League goals in consecutive seasons for the club, following in the footsteps of Robbie Fowler and Luis Suarez.

Liverpool will next meet Newcastle on 4 May after a Champions League semi-final clash with Barcelona on May 1.

Source: NAN

Maria Butina, the only Russian arrested and convicted in the three-year investigation of Moscows interference in US politics, was sentenced on Friday to 18 months in prison.

The leader of a small Russian gun rights group, the 30-year-old Siberian native used her ties to the National Rifle Association to build a network of powerful Republican contacts.

She had admitted one count of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government without registering a so-called espionage-lite charge the US has used before against alleged Russian spies.

Prosecutors said that although she worked openly and was not tied to any Russian intelligence agency, she was sending back reports to a high-level Russian government official and posed a threat to the United States.

I humbly request forgiveness. Im not this evil person depicted in the media, she told the court in Washington before her sentence was announced.

Dressed in a dark blue pajama-like prison uniform, her long red hair pulled behind her shoulders, Butinas voice broke as she addressed the court in fluent, Russian-accented English.

She told the court she had only wanted to work towards better US-Russian relations and would have registered as a foreign agent if she had known it was required by law.

Moscow expressed outrage over the treatment of Butina, who was given credit for nine months already served and will be deported when she is released.

The accusations brought against her, intended to influence the internal political process in the United States, are totally invented and fabricated, Russias foreign ministry said in a statement.

Our compatriot was condemned just because she is a Russian citizen, it added.

Butinas case played out against a backdrop of tension between Moscow and Washington over what US intelligence says was a concerted effort by Russian spies to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, using hacking and social media manipulation to help President Donald Trump to victory.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller charged 25 Russians with conspiracy for those activities, but, with all of them believed to be in Russia, none have been arrested.

US prosecutors acknowledged that Butina had nothing to do with those cases but alleged that she was part of a spot-and-assess operation to identify potential recruits.

A gun rights campaigner who attended NRA events and invited top gun lobby officials to Russia, she lived as a graduate student in Washington with her boyfriend, a Republican and NRA activist.

Her activities brought her in contact with top Republicans, including Trump at a rally in 2015, where she was chosen to ask the then-candidate about US-Russian relations.

Butina sent regular updates to her handler Alexander Torshin, at the time a senior Kremlin politician and central bank deputy governor who had accompanied her to NRA conventions.

There is no doubt that she was not simply a graduate student, Assistant US Attorney Erik Kenerson told the court.

She was simultaneously trying to make contacts for the benefit of the Russian Federation.

Source: NAN