By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has dismissed rumours that he and Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo are behind the alleged detention and grilling of All Progressives Congress(APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole.

Oshiomhole was reportedly detained and questioned on Nov. 4 by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the fallout of the APC primaries.

Speaking with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Amosun said he did not have such capacity.

I think you are giving me an oversight role.

I am not a security person; so, clearly, that question will probably not be for me.

I dont hide under a finger and fight; if there is need for me to put my views across, you know by now, I will do it.

The governor, who sounded evasive, said that all that needed to be said about the APC crisis had been said; hence no need to sound like `a broken gammaphone.

He said it was not true that he was having problem with the leadership of the party.

It would be realled that three APC governors Okorocha, Amosun and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara have been at loggerheads with Oshiomhole over the outcome of the partys primaries.

Source: NAN

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley has accused North Korea of cancelling Thursdays talks between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a senior North Korean official because they were not ready.

Haley, however, said on Thursday that a meeting between the two nations leaders is still on for after Jan. 1.

I dont think there was some major issue for the postponement.

I have talked with the administration and basically what were looking at is they postponed it because they werent ready, she said.

Pompeo was supposed to meet with Kim Yong Chol in New York on Thursday to discuss the Norths commitment to eliminating its nuclear weapons and arrangements for a second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

I do think the talks are going to be rescheduled.

And it doesnt change the fact that that summit is still scheduled for the president and Kim to meet after the first of the year, Haley said of the Pompeo-Kim Yong Chol meeting.

Haley spoke to reporters ahead of U.N. Security Council closed consultations called by Russia to discuss exemptions from U.N. sanctions on North Korea.

We have given a lot of carrots up until now, she said, pointing to the Kim-Trump summit in Singapore and follow-up meetings as well as stopping military exercises.

While there havent been any nuclear or ballistic missile tests by North Korea, Haley said its government hasnt allowed inspectors into its nuclear and missile facilities.

Were not going to get rid of the stick because they havent done anything to warrant getting rid of the sanctions yet, she said.

Haley accused Russia of trying to earn brownie points with North Korea and I think they are also just trying to go ahead and talk about lifting sanctions because theyre already cheating.

She accused Russia of bringing in North Korean laborers and providing Pyongyang with refined petroleum, in violation of U.N. sanctions. And she added: We know theyve been doing some things with the financial aspect of it.

As she left the closed council meeting, Haley said humanitarian exemptions were discussed.

She said earlier that the U.S. goal is to make sure aid goes to people in need, not the regime, so it is investigating technical aspects of a number of requests to make sure aid is not re-routed.

So were going to take our time to do that, she said.

But Haley said Russias real aim came out at the end of the council consultations.

What theyre looking for is to lift banking restrictions, which are exactly some of the things we know theyre not following through on appropriately.

So now we know what their agenda is. We know exactly why theyre trying to do it. Were not going to let it happen, Haley said.

Source: NAN

A fire that likely blocked a crucial exit at a low-cost dormitory-style housing facility in central Seoul killed at least seven people and injured 11 others on Friday.

According to Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters, the death toll could rise despite the blaze been extinguished.

The fire authorities are investigating possible safety lapses in the building.

It was dawn and the exit door was likely blocked, so it would have been difficult (for the residents) to escape, .

Another official from the Jongno station said the facility, which was built in 1983, did not have sprinklers because current safety regulations cant be retroactively applied to older structures.

The official, who didnt want to be named, citing office rules, said it was unclear whether the buildings smoke detector worked.

The facility, called goshiwon in Korean, is where poor workers relying on construction jobs or student preparing for bar exams or civil service exams stay in individual rooms with tiny sleep and study spaces.

Budget travelers also often stay in such facilities.

South Korean media reported that most of the victims were manual laborers in their 40s to 60s.

The fire agency couldnt immediately confirm the reports. It wasnt known whether any young students or travelers were staying there.

The facility was located on the second and third floors of a three-story building. Its first floor has restaurants.

The fire agency said all the victims were on the second and third floors.

Source: NAN

Police in Thailand have arrested an HIV-infected soldier Sgt. Maj. Jakkrit Khomsing who allegedly blackmailed and raped more than 70 teenage boys.

Police said in a statement that they received a complaint that Khomsing was using fake social media profiles on Facebook and the gay dating app Blued to win the trust of his victims.

Police Lt. Col. Nacharot Kaewpetch said the victims would send their nude photos to Khomsing before agreeing to meet him.

When they found out he was not who he pretended to be online, he would threaten to make their nude photos public if they refused to have sex with him.

Kaewpetch said police discovered medicine for treating HIV when they arrested the 43-year-old Khomsing at his home Wednesday in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen.

They said tests confirmed he was infected with HIV.

So far police have determined that Khomsing had more than 70 victims between the ages of 13 and 18.

Even though the suspect is a soldier, this behavior and Ive consulted with army commanders is a personal issue, not an organisational one, police Maj. Gen. Surachate Hakparn said.

Police said they are widening their investigation and attempting to contact other victims who have not yet filed charges.

Police have so far charged Khomsing with six offenses, including sex with a minor under 15 with or without their consent, punishable by 4-20 years in prison.

Other charges are indecent assault of a minor under 15 using threats, punishable by up to 10 years in prison; separating a minor under 15 from their parents without reason, punishable by 3-15 years in prison; blackmail, punishable by up to 3 years in prison; and coercing minors to conduct inappropriate acts, punishable by up to three months in prison.

Source: NAN

President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in has sacked his Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon and Presidential Chief of Staff for Policy Jang Ha-sung, as the country struggles with slowing growth, rising unemployment and persistent income gaps.

The two top economy officialshave already been replaced, top Blue House spokesman Yoon Young-chan said in a televised statement.

The pair had reportedly been at odds with each otherover how to address the situation in South Korea which is the worlds 11th-largest economy.

Moons global profile has been dominated by his role in the rapid diplomatic rapprochement with nuclear-armed North Korea but at home his handling of the economy has become increasingly controversial, contributing to falling poll ratings.

His administration has steeply raised South Koreas minimum wages, cut working hours and converted temporary staff to permanent in a series of redistributive moves it says will lead to what it calls income-led growth.

It is a marked change from the growth model of the past, driven by exports and investments by the Souths major companies, that has seen the South rise to become Asias fourth-biggest economy.

And critics say the moves have had the opposite effect to what was intended, worsening the situation of many low-income earners and seeing small businesses cut staff, while big firms hold back investment in the face of tougher regulation.

Last month, the central Bank of Korea cut its growth forecast for this year to 2.7 per cent, down from the 3.1 per cent achieved in 2017.

And unemployment jumped 0.4 percentage points to 3.8 per cent in the third quarter, with youth joblessness at its highest since 1999 at 9.4 per cent.

Finance minister Kim had called for redistributive policies to be rowed back, including minimum wage hikes, while Jang wanted to stick with pursuing equality.

Kim was replaced by Hong Nam-ki, a veteran bureaucrat, while Jang was succeeded by Kim Soo-hyun, currently Moons top social affairs adviser.

Source: NAN

Former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has directed the implementation of N33,000 minimum wage to all employees in his companies.

The directive was issued to heads of business units of companies owned by the former vice president and was to take immediate effect.

Muhammad El-Yakub, the Managing Director Gotel Communications, a company promoted by the former vice president in his home state in Adamawa, said the implementation of the payment would commence after a meeting with union officials.

He said the directive affected Gotel Communications and other companies owned by the former vice president.

He said, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Wazirin Adamawa,has ordered the implementation of N33,000 new minimum wage to workers in all of the businesses owned by him.

The directive is with immediate effect and will be implemented across all the businesses owned by the former vice president.

Source: NAN

Manchester United produced a stunning late comeback to beat Juventus 2-1 on Wednesday in what could be a turning point in their Champions League campaign, while a Gabriel Jesus hat-trick helped Manchester City all but secure a last-16 berth.

Pep Guardiolas City crushed Shakhtar Donetsk 6-0 on a night which saw Real Madrid also win big, as Bayern Munich closed in on a place in the knockout stage.

Juventus were within seconds of confirming their spot in the last 16 after Cristiano Ronaldo put them ahead in Turin with a superb volley in the 65th minute.

The hosts had already hit the woodwork twice before that and should have been out of sight before Juan Mata equalised from an 86th-minute free-kick.

The turnaround was completed in the 90th minute when Leonardo Bonucci scored an own-goal, and United boss Jose Mourinho delighted in taking to the field at the end, cupping an ear towards the home support.

The former Inter coach said it was a response to insults from Juve supporters, and United are now two points behind the Italians in Group H.

In a beautiful Italian city, they insulted me for 90 minutes. I didnt insult them. I just made a little thing, Mourinho told BT Sport.

It is a big victory for us, not just because we needed the points but because it was away from home against an amazing team.

The result was a blow for Valencia, who are still two points behind in third after beating Young Boys 3-1 at Mestalla.

Santi Mina scored twice either side of a Roger Assale goal, before Carlos Soler sealed the win. Young Boys, who had Sekou Sanogo sent off, cannot now qualify.

There was less drama at the Etihad Stadium, where City whose financial dealings have come under scrutiny in a series of Football Leaks allegations eased to their biggest win in the competition.

Goals from David Silva and Riyad Mahrez bookended the victory. In between there was a stunner from Raheem Sterling, who was also awarded a penalty for kicking his own foot into the turf in the box.

Jesus scored the spot-kick, the first of two penalties in his hat-trick. City will head to Lyon later this month requiring a draw to secure a last-16 place.

Unfortunately we havent qualified, but we are so close and will try to maintain this level, said Guardiola, whose team play United on Sunday.

City would have been through already had Lyon not squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to 10-man Hoffenheim.

Nabil Fekir and Tanguy Ndombele had the French club 2-0 up at the break, and the Germans had Kasim Nuhu sent off early in the second half.

But Andrej Kramaric pulled one back and Lyon missed chances to secure the victory before Pavel Kaderabeks stoppage-time equaliser.

Reigning European champions Madrid had no trouble against Viktoria Plzen in the Czech Republic, with Karim Benzema scoring twice in a 5-0 win.

Real were four ahead at the break, Benzemas goals taking him to 200 for the club. Casemiro and Gareth Bale also netted in the first half, and Toni Kroos completed the scoring with a delicious chip.

Santiago Solari has now overseen three victories, all with clean sheets, since being put in charge of Madrid, and the Spaniards are level atop Group G with Roma.

The Italians won 2-1 away to CSKA Moscow, Kostas Manolas and Lorenzo Pellegrini scoring their goals either side of Arnor Sigurdssons equaliser.

CSKA, who had Hordur Magnusson sent off, still have a slim chance of qualifying, but Plzen are out.

Meanwhile, Bayern require just one more point to advance in Group E after Robert Lewandowski netted twice the first a penalty on his 100th European appearance in a 2-0 home win over AEK Athens, who are eliminated.

Ajax remain well placed to progress too. They are second, four points clear of third-placed Benfica, after a 1-1 draw in Portugal. Jonas put Benfica ahead before Dusan Tadic equalised.

Source: NAN

By Joseph Edeh

The Police said it had arrested four of its personnel on duty at the residence of Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, when the alleged assassination attempt on him took place.

Also arrested, according to the Force Public Relations Officer, Acting DCP Jimoh Mohood, is one personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also on duty at Ekweremadus home at the time.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ekweremadu, his wife and son, allegedly escaped assassination attempt at their Apo residence of Abuja early hours of Tuesday.

NAN also recalls that Ekweremadu narrowly escaped an alleged attempt on his life in Abuja on Nov. 17, 2015.

Moshood, who addressed newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the arrested officers were being investigated.

He said that there was no cover-up by the police in the investigation of the crime.

The four policemen and one personnel of the NSCDC on duty at the residence of the deputy senate president at the time of the incident have been arrested and detained, he said.

The Force spokesman said that it was not correct that the police responded after seven hours when the incident occurred.

He said that further investigation had showed that the incident was not an assassination attempt on the life of Ekweremadu.

Update on further investigation did not reveal assassination attempt but a burglary attempt, he said.

He added that the investigation so far revealed that the suspects in the case did not have idea thatthe residence belonged to the deputy president of the senate.

Moshood said that efforts are being intensified to arrest the second suspect, Dan Ali, who escaped from the scene of the crime.

He said that the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had directed the upgrade of Apo legislative quarters outpost to a divisional police headquarters.

Others to be upgraded, according to him, are Supreme Court, Kabusa and Trademore estate.

He explained that the upgrade was to reduce crime and criminal acts in the affected areas and improve police visibility in the FCT.

Speaking to newsmen, the principal suspect, Mohammed Yusuf, 25, said that they only went there to steal and not to assassinate him.

We did not go to the residence of Ekweremadu to assassinate him or any body in the house, he said.

He said that he had been into the act of stealing for five years without using gun, adding that his colleague (Dan Ali) escaped while he was caught.

Source: NAN

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Gov David Umahi of Ebonyi on Wednesday in Abakaliki, declared that 95 per cent of states in the country cannot pay the proposed N30, 000 minimum wage to workers.

Umahi, who is the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, said this while inaugurating a 36-member fact-finding committee to ascertain the mode of workers promotion arrears payment in states across the six geo-political zones of the states.

According to Umahi, the payment of the N30, 000 can only be realised if the federation account allocation formula is reviewed to offer more earnings to states.

The federal government collects 52 per cent of the revenue from the federation account and when I tried to put the N30,000 figure to Local Government Areas (LGA) it means they will borrow N1billion to add to their allocation, in paying salaries.

I will definitely not be a governor to govern such a state and will never preside over a state that will allocate 100 per cent of its earnings to pay salaries, he said.

The governor recommended that the issue of petroleum subsidy in the country should also be reviewed as had been noted by the state and federal governments.

We must presently have the courage to say this because a lot of money can be saved from the subsidy if properly distributed.

When 100, 000 litres of petrol is allocated to me for instance and deducted from my allocation, it is then my business to ensure that there is no leakage.

There is no governor or political office holder that signs cheques but civil servants as the countrys leaders and labour are just putting water inside a basket and praying God to hold it with this minimum wage issue, he said.

He urged the countrys leaders and labour to liaise and decide on the percentage of the federation account that should be voted for salaries and other sectors.

We should determine how much should be allocated to education, health, infrastructure among others if 100 per cent of earnings are used to pay workers salaries.

Many states are experiencing various problems and cannot pay salaries but the people condemn their governments over their inability to provide good roads and other amenities.

People dont understand the problems being experienced by these states and the governors have kept quiet for long and need to speak presently, he said.

Umahi regretted that the issue of promotion arrears for workers in the state had lingered for long and urged the committee to be sincere with their findings to find an amicable solution to it.

We have been setting up committees on this issue and getting no results with people not being sincere and resorting to all sorts of things, he said.

Dr Hyginus Nwokwu, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) noted that the issue made the governor to institute a 36-man member committee to tour states in the six geo political zones and ascertain the mode of payments.

The members are drawn from critical elements of state with the organised labour having 12 nominees, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) 12 nominees and the government-12 nominees.

The committee will tour three states in each of these zones, ascertain relevant facts, analyse and present them to enable government take disposable and final actions on the matter, he said.

Mr Leonard Nkah, the Acting Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state and Chairman of the committee pledged to ensure the actualisation of the committees aims.

We pledge to assiduously discharge our duties and make recommendations that will permanently solve the problem for a healthy government and labour relationship, he said.

Source: NAN

Ninety Cameroonian students kidnapped from Presbyterian Secondary School, Nkwen Bamenda in the countrys Anglophone region have been freed after a military operation, the defence ministry said Wednesday.

Armed separatist militants on Monday stormed the school in the capital of the Northwest Region, seizing 79 schoolboys and three adults, prompting urgent calls for their release.

When the group was freed on Wednesday, it turned out there were another 11 pupils with them, who had been abducted from the same school five days earlier.

The Presbyterian Church which runs the school said the 11 had been taken on October 31 but the news was kept secret to enable negotiations with the kidnappers.

It was the first mass kidnapping to hit Cameroon and one of the gravest incidents in 13 months of pro-independence violence.

The students and three adults were freed in a military operation which began in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, Defence Minister Joseph Beti Assomo said in a statement.

When they have been checked by the (militarys) psychological unit and have undergone a thorough medical check, the freed pupils will be soon sent back to their families, he added.

A six-minute video seen by AFP on Monday showed 11 boys aged about 15 identifying their school and saying they were abducted by the Amba Boys a name for anglophone separatists.

A source close to the establishment said Wednesday these were the 11 who had been snatched on October 31.

The attack targeted pupils and staff at the Presbyterian Secondary School in the Northwest Region one of two areas where surging anglophone separatist militancy has been met with a brutal crackdown by authorities.

The chain of events leading up to their release was not immediately clear, nor was the identity of the kidnappers.

Communications Minister Issa Bakary Tchiroma said all 79 students had been released, while the Presbyterian Church separately announced news about the other 11.

It said the school would remain closed until further notice.

On Tuesday, Reverend Foki Samuel Forba, a leading member of the church, said he had been negotiating with the kidnappers, who were not demanding a ransom but the closure of the school.

The kidnappings took place a day before Cameroons 85-year-old President Paul Biya was sworn in for a seventh term in office, and coincided with an upsurge of tension in the majority French-speaking country.

Such mass kidnappings were previously unknown in Cameroon, although they are notorious in neighbouring Nigeria where Islamist Boko Haram militants snatched more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls from Chibok in April 2014.

So far, 107 have been found or released but the jihadists abducted scores more from neighbouring Yobe state in February this year.

The students release comes a day after Cameroons 85-year-old President Paul Biya was sworn in for a seventh term in office
Cameroons Biya on Tuesday promised to address frustrations and aspirations in English-speaking regions in his first public acknowledgement of resentments in the Northwest and Southwest Regions.

In 2016, anger at perceived discrimination in education, the judiciary and the economy fanned demands for autonomy there.

Source: NAN