JUSTICE Sidi Bello Rufai of the Upper Area Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gudu, Abuja, has given Maryam Sherif the custody of the three children she had for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Abubakar is the son of Nigeria’s former Vice-President with the same name.

Maryam Sherif and Abubakar are divorced.

Sherif filed the suit for custody of their three sons who are currently with their father.

Justice Bello Rufai said the right place for the children to be is with their mother.

When the matter resumed last week after some adjournments, the judge reminded the litigants about the provisions of the Shari’ah on the matter.

Abubakar and Sherif were in court.

The judge said the father should not use his position to forcibly take away the children from their mother.

According to him, the children should be handed over to their mother, and if the father has any cause to, should challenge their custody in court.

He said under Sharia, Allah has given the mother the right to take care of their children.

Justice Bello Rufai said the children are innocent and should not be made to suffer over the disagreements between their parents.

Abubakar said the children were in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, where he could provide shelter and education for them.

The distraught father appeared outraged by the judge’s verdict as he argued against the judgment.

His lawyer reminded him that he was in court, adding that he needed to take it easy.

As the arguments continued, the judge ended the session abruptly and left.

It was gathered the matter had been transferred to the Upper Area Court, Kubwa, FCT, and a date is yet to be fixed for the hearing.

The Christian Elders Forum of Northern States, NOSCEF, after its executive meeting in Kaduna, weekend, expressed sadness that killings had continued in the north when almost all the security chiefs were from the region.

Rising from its executive meeting, NOSCEF expressed deep concern over the increasing activities of bandits and terrorists occasioned by widespread killings across the nation.

The group in a statement by Elder Ejoga Inalegwu, Chairman, NOSCEF, said: ‘’The most recent of these killings took place in Garkida, Adamawa State, Igabi and Giwa in Kaduna State and Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, among others.

“NOSCEF joins other patriotic Nigerians in condemning the unending insecurity, which has resulted in so much loss of lives and destruction of property. ‘’The failure of security apparatus in place calls for a complete overhaul of the security architecture, reflecting the diversity of the nation, that will win the confidence of the people.

“Ironically, almost all the security chiefs are from a section of the country which is worst hit by the criminals who are unleashing mayhem on the people. ‘’The spate of killings and insecurity has continued to worsen, thereby destroying economic and social activity of the people.

“NOSCEF is also disappointed about the seeming inability of the Federal Government to remedy the situation by taking far-reaching steps to address it.

‘’NOSCEF also wishes to state that it has not seen any attempt by the Federal Government to remedy the skewed appointments that have failed to reflect the religious and ethnic diversity of the nation. Rather, we continue to witness the replacement of even the few appointees outside the nepotistic enclave by those already dominating.

Nigerian singer, Ejiro Emokinovo, has died in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, after performing at the 90th birthday celebration of the mother of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Ejiro, who was the lead vocalist of a popular singing group, Veentage Band, died after an unsuccessful surgery.

She and her husband, Desmond Emokinovo, were in Dubai together for the birthday show.

She was said to have gone for a surgery after the party, where she passed away.

The sad news was shared on Instagram by her husband, Desmond, who shared photo of a burning candle and a video of one of her performances.

“Of a truth, there’s no justice in this world…. The worst day of my entire existence…”

“Dear Lord …You always answer any time we call. Why you chose not to answer yesterday remains a mystery..”

An unmarked tanker, fully loaded with unrefined crude oil on Saturday evening, ran into New Bethel Primary School in Onitsha, destroying three classrooms.

According to DAILY POST, report gathered from the spokesperson for Anambra State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Edwin Okadigbo, that the accident was caused by brake failure.

He stated that no loss of live or injury was registered in the accident, except the destruction of three classrooms in the school.

Okadigbo said, “The accident happened on 07/02/20 at about 18:00hrs.

“A Mack truck with no number plate registration and fully loaded with unrefined Crude oil lost control and crashed into New Bethel Primary School along Court Road adjacent to Central Police Station Onitsha.

“Following a distress call, NSCDC Onitsha North Divisional Officers led by the DO, SC Ike Ejike rushed to the scene and immediately contacted Anambra State Fire Service who responded promptly.

“Meanwhile, the area was cordoned off. Preliminary investigation indicates break failure and loss of control. No loss of life was recorded but three classrooms of new Bethel Primary School was damaged and the crude oil spilled into the classrooms and surroundings.”

A resident of the area who spoke to journalists expressed concern over the incident, saying that if it had happened on a weekday, it would have affected lots of school children.

A man has gone bar-hopping in order to spread the coronavirus after discovering he was infected, reports suggest.

Despite being asymptomatic, he tested positive at a hospital in the Japanese city of Gamagori on Wednesday after both of his parents contracted the virus, and was told to wait at home until space at a suitable medical facility could be found for him the following day.

Instead, Fuji News Network (FNN) reports he decided to visit two bars in the small coastal city after telling a family member: “I am going to spread the virus.”

The man, in his 50s, allegedly took a took a taxi to an izakaya bar – informal establishments akin to pubs – before walking on foot to a Filipino bar, according to the Tokyo Reporter.

After eating and finishing several drinks, the man reportedly told fellow customers he had tested positive for coronavirus, at which point a concerned member of staff called local health authorities.

Police clad in protective suits appeared at the second bar, however the man had already taken a taxi home.

He was reportedly sent to a treatment facility the next day.

The two bars were being disinfected and sterilised, a city official told FNN, while staff members and customers were reportedly being tested for the virus.

“I can’t get this straight in my head. I cannot express it in words since I only have anger,” local media reported a staff member as saying.

Officials held a press conference and apologised for the incident, with the city’s mayor, Toshiaki Suzuki, saying: “It is highly regrettable that he did not remain home as instructed.”

Japan has seen more than 1,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, although the majority of these were passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise liner, which for some time was home to the largest outbreak outside of mainland China and was moored off the coast near Yokohama.

Nigerian multi-platinum selling recording artist, Asa is set to bring the Lucid Album Tour home to Nigeria with “Asa Live In Lagos.”

The event is scheduled to take place on April 11th, 2020, at the Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Since its release in October 2019, the Lucid album which chronicles the 12-year journey from Asa’s critically acclaimed debut eponymous album to now, has enjoyed massive reception from her staunch fans and supporters.

Kicking off late November 2019, the Lucid Album Tour has visited major cities in France, Germany and Switzerland, and is now coming home to serve the Nigerian fan base a taste of quality live indie pop, jazz, and soft-soul music.

Nigerian singer and Grammy Award-nominee, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known as Burna Boy, on Sunday shared good news to his dedicated fans over the Gold plaque received in France.

The Gold plaque was given to him for garnering 15 million streams in France via his 2019 hit single titled ‘On The Low’.

According to Burna Boy, the song went Gold in France without any promotion by his team.

He said: “On the low” went Gold in France without any radio push or promo. Love every single one of you that streamed it over 15m times.”

View this post on Instagram

“On the low” went Gold in France 🇫🇷 without any radio push or promo. Love every single one of you that streamed it over 15m times, it’s still #FOOTONNECK2020 - - 📸 @sanaabstrakt_art

A post shared by Burna Boy (@burnaboygram) on Mar 8, 2020 at 2:07pm PDT

In another post via his verified Instagram page, Burna Boy also thanked everyone for his new achievement, he wrote: “Thankful.”

Meanwhile, 4 days ago, Burna Boy shut down his ‘African Giant Returns’ tour in Marseille, France.

In a post shared on his Instagram page, Burna thanked his amazing French fans who pulled up for him.

The Marseille tour came two days after he released his first official single, “Odogwu” this year, 2020.

Saudi Arabia rattled the already depressed oil market to its foundation early Monday after unilaterally slashing prices and promising to increase output, after deal with Russia collapsed.

The moves sent the prices of oil futures southwards, suffering their biggest daily loss since the Gulf War in 1991. The Saudis also triggered a price war with all players offering discounts.

Saudi Arabia cut its OSP(official selling price) for April for all crude grades to all destinations by anywhere from $6 to $8 a barrel, sending oil into a tailspin.

Brent futures fell $9.95, or 22.0%, to $35.32 a barrel by 6:34 p.m. EDT (2234 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $8.99, or 21.8%, to $32.29.

Those moves came after Russia on Friday balked at OPEC’s proposed steep production cuts to stabilise prices hit by economic fallout from the coronavirus.

Saudi Arabia said it plans to boost crude output above 10 million barrels per day (bpd) in April after the current deal to curb production between OPEC and Russia – known as OPEC+ – expires at the end of March, two sources told Reuters on Sunday.

Earlier in the session, both contracts fell to their lowest since February 2016, with Brent down to $31.02 per barrel and WTI at $30.

That puts Brent and WTI on track for their second biggest daily percentage drops in history behind declines for both in January 1991 over 30%.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced earlier on Sunday that present oil prices were sustainable for the Russian economy. He said Russia has the tools to react to any adverse results of the spread of the coronavirus on the global financial climate.

“I want to stress that for the Russian budget, for our economy, the current oil prices level is acceptable,” Putin explained in a meeting with Russian energy officials.

According to some oil analysts, barrel prices as low as $20 are possible within the year.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has hailed Nigeria’s ex-Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on her new appointment.

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, named the former Managing Director, Operations, World Bank, as a member of the country’s Economic Advisory Council.

Cyril Ramaphosa heads the council which comprises local and international gurus.

“I congratulate Dr.@NOIweala who served as the co-ordinating minister for the economy/finance minister in my cabinet, on her appointment as a member of South Africa’s Presidential Economic Advisory Council,” Jonathan wrote on Twitter.

“As a two-time minister in Nigeria you left indelible marks as an astute manager of the nation’s economy and resources. I am delighted that you have continued to place your substantial wealth of experience as a development economist at the service of many nations and international organisations to aid global growth and progress.

“I have no doubt in my mind that you will excel in the new assignment,” he added.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the Vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last election, had earlier hailed the Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala, on her new appointment.

One of the big promises made by President Muhammadu in his campaign for Nigeria’s presidency is the Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project.

The project entails the “engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning” of 614-kilometers gas pipeline and stations, traversing the states of Kogi, Niger, FCT, Kaduna and Kano. It is to transport dry gas from the nation’s rich gas fields in the Niger Delta to the Northern parts of Nigeria.

This pipeline project is itself a section of an ambitious pipeline project to supply gas to Europe through the proposed Trans Sahara Gas Pipeline (TSGO) and Nigeria Morocco Gas Pipelines.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) under President Buhari last week took the important and decisive step to fast track the closure of all outstanding issues relating to the financing and the issuance of a Sovereign Guarantee (SG) to support debt service and China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation, SINOSURE’s policy to underwrite up to a maximum of 85 per cent of the project cost, which is now reduced to USD 2,591,849,049.19. The earlier contract, approved by this administration for the AKK was USD2,890,522,548.37 based on 100 per cent “Contractor Financing Model.”

This changed when SINOSURE offered to underwrite 85 per cent only of the entire contract sum and the basis of the relationship changed to “EPC Lump Sum Contract Award.”

It arose from a rethinking on the part of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which came up with a new project financing design with the balance of 15 percent of financing taken up by them. The Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) a subsidiary of the NNPC quickly intervened to provide the required 15 per cent, the equivalent of US 434 million equity contributions from internal sources and accumulated revenues.

To quicken the speed of the project takeoff, this 15 per cent equity funding has been paid and will be used to proceed with the project to mitigate further delays and ensure that the project is back on track.

The “gas penetration” to these areas of the country will significantly reduce energy cost for industries along the pipeline corridor in addition to the massive generation of employment during and after the construction.

In addition to the creation of employment and serving as a boost to industrialization through gas based industries and power generation sectors as beneficiaries of this project, the AKK will increase government revenues, encourage exports and enhance the nation’s foreign reserves by reducing dependence on imports. It is equally hoped that the project, upon its completion, will ensure that economic challenges being witnessed in the northern region due to shortage of gas supply are addressed.

It will also give the nation energy security and act as a catalyst to propel industrial development and boost agriculture in the country.

This project is among the cardinal policy objectives of the Buhari administration and its realization will be a major accomplishment of the government’s efforts in the delivery of democracy dividends.

The project is environmentally friendly as it will contribute to the elimination of gas flaring, improve the health of communities in the oil producing areas, reduce the nation’s carbon footprints and comply with climate control treaties to which the nation is signatory.

The resolution of the outstanding issues around the AKK project at this time should send an important message that the journey to its realization is for real.

The President is determined to accomplish the project in the 24-month period of the signed agreement. The period falls within the balance of period covered by his Second Four Year Term.

We are a country notorious for truncating government projects on account of changes in administrations. Except for the Buhari experiment, marking a break with the past, Presidents, governors and council chairmen don’t come to office with the mind of completing projects they met.

They alone want their signature on the projects they execute. So they stop work on those projects they met and start new ones. In the end, they leave office without finishing what they started, adding thereby to the nation’s mountain of uncompleted projects.

The difference President Buhari makes is that he insists on completion, rather than the commencement of new projects except where it is extremely necessary.

If you take away the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, all the major projects under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund with dedicated funding from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, and lately the recovered loot from Abacha are all inherited from past administrations: the Second Niger Bridge, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Mambila Power Project.

All the major spendings in the Ministry of Transportation, specifically the standard gauge railways linking the south to the north and the west to the east are geared towards project completion.

Under the Ministry of Water Resources, no new projects have been budgeted in the last five years. All money allocated to the ministry is towards the completion of projects started and abandoned, some of them going back to the President’s years in the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).

Thankfully, we are seeing a harvest of so many of these projects, due to the President’s insistence and the focus and dedication of the ministers in his cabinet.

The AKK project which will now leave the drawing board towards its execution and completion was agreed to in June, 2009 between Gazprom, the Russian gas monopoly, in a signed deal to invest at least $2.5bn in a new joint venture with Nigeria’s state-owned oil company NNPC to explore and develop the country’s vast gas reserves.

The formation of the 50:50 joint venture, between Gazprom and the NNPC named Nigaz, followed a prolonged courtship by Russia which began under Vladimir Putin by the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. If floundered with his death.

This time around, there is no going back on the AKK project because there is a market already waiting. It has off-takers, when completed, with Abuja on cue to having a 1,350MW power plant, Kaduna, 900MW and Kano, 1,350MW.

President Buhari is determined to take it forward. It’s another signature project on which the name “Buhari” will be written in gold, to be remembered long after he leaves Aso Rock.

By Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity)