AhYouA.Learner?!

A former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav has said those against the presidential bid of the former Head of State, Maj.-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), are agents of corruption who do not mean well for the country. Tsav in an interview with The PUNCH on Friday in Makurdi, noted that such people were either agents of corruption or were themselves corrupt and dishonest. According to him, Buhari has been tested four times and at each of the times, he proved to be honest and incorruptible. He said, “He was military governor but never stole. He was minister of petroleum and never stole. He was Head of State and never stole, rather he introduced discipline and orderly behavior in the society. He was head of Petroleum Trust Fund and he never stole money in the state treasury.” The retired police boss maintained that people accused Buhari of being a religious extremist but forget the fact that his driver is a Christian. Tsav noted that Buhari had no landed

The insurgents stormed Mubi on Wednesday. Gunfire has been heard in the town ever since, witnesses told Reuters. A security source on Thursday confirmed the town had fallen to the insurgents. Witnesses said they hoisted their black flag over the palace of the traditional ruler. Witnesses said the insurgents robbed banks, burned down the main market and sacked the palace. One saw them kill a university lecturer and his entire family -- Boko Haram, whose name means Western education is sinful, abhors secular learning. Violence in Nigeria's northeast has been on the rise since the government announced a ceasefire with the rebels nearly two weeks ago to pursue talks in neighbouring Chad aimed at freeing more than 200 girls kidnapped in April. The government has blamed criminal networks for the violence, which has undermined public confidence in both the ceasefire and the talks. It has had no immediate comment on the situation in Mubi. Boko Haram's five-year-old campaign for

Former Deputy National Chairman (South West)) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George has said  former Lagos State governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has apologised to him over the ignoble roles he (Tinubu) played in his unjust incarceration. He added that both of them are now friends and he no longer harbours any ill-feelings towards Tinubu and others who masterminded his imprisonment at Kiri-kiri over allegations of contract splitting. It will be recalled that George alongside some principal officers of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) were sentenced in 2009 to 30 months imprisonment by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of a Lagos High Court in Ikeja. The Supreme Court later gave him a clean bill of health. In several interviews he granted upon his release, George had always accused Tinubu of being the arrowhead of those who plotted his downfall. Both men always avoided each other at public functions.  But George told

14-year-old Nigerian girl accused of murdering her 35-year-old husband by putting rat poison in his food could face the death penalty, Nigerian prosecutors said Thursday. The trial of Wasila Tasi’u, from a poor northern Nigeria family, has sparked a heated debate on the role of underage marriage in the conservative Muslim region, especially whether an adolescent girl can consent to be a bride. Prosecutors at the High Court in Gezawa, outside Nigeria’s second city of Kano, filed an amended complaint that charged Tasi’u with one count of murder over the killing of Umar Sani two weeks after their April wedding in the village of Unguwar Yansoro. Lead prosecutor Lamido Abba Soron-Dinki said that if convicted, the charge is “punishable with death” and indicated the state would seek the maximum penalty. Nigeria is not known to have executed a juvenile offender since 1997, when the country was ruled by military dictator Sani Abacha, according to Human Rights Watch. Tasi’u entered

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has conceded that the club is not in good health heading into the derby with Manchester United. “We are in a bad moment,” said Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, when reflecting on the club’s recent form as the Etihad Stadium side were powerless against a Newcastle United selection made up of a fringe selection of Magpies. City has posted miserable form now for three games on the spin, as since its 4-1 annihilation of Tottenham Hotspur, City has drawn CSKA Moscow in Russia, lost to West Ham United in the Premier League and lost to Newcastle. There is no time to dwell on its woeful run, though, as City is now thrust into one of its most hotly contested fixtures of the season – the local derby at home, to rivals Manchester United. “We have a luck of trust in all the work we do,” continued Pellegrini, as quoted by talkSPORT. “Last year we were the team that continued in four competitions, but this year having one competition l

Comeback Nigeria Coach, Stephen Keshi has released a 24-man squad for the November 7 international friendly against the Black Stars of Ghana to commission the Akwa Ibom International Stadium. The 30, 000 capacity edifice will play host to a home based Super Eagles team that will be lead by Gombe United’s Chigozie Agbim and Super Eagles regular Azubuike Egwuekwe. The list also has Christian Pyagbara who has been in impressive form in the Glo Nigeria Professional Football League as well as Dolphin’s Emem Uduok who recently bagged a double hattrick and has a goal tally of 20 in the league. Enyimba’s trio of Mfon Udoh, Kingsley Sokari and Bright Esieme also made the list that includes the impressive Chinedu Udeagha who has been the main man in Enugu Rangers midfield this season. El-Kanemi’s Warriors left back Idris Aloma, Chima Akas of Sharks of Port-Harcourt and Kano Pillars midfield maestro Rabiu Ali are also part of the party to face Ghana on November 7. Full list for Ghana

A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress,  Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, in Kaduna on Friday said the withdrawal of the security details of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, was a plot by the Federal Government to eliminate him(Speaker). The former Minister, who accused President Goodluck Jonathan of masterminding the withdrawal of Tambuwal security aides, alleged that the Speaker was one of the targets of snipers being purportedly groomed by agents of the government. Ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo had in his open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan last year alleged that agents of the Federal Government was grooming snipers that would target some prominent Nigerians. Speaking to newsmen after picking his expression of interest and nomination forms as an All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Kaduna on Friday, the former minister claimed that  the Speaker was  one of the targets

A former Liberian international footballer, Moses Andre, is among a five-man armed robbery gang arrested in Lagos for allegedly snatching exotic cars from their owners at gun point. Also arrested is a Ghanaian, Israel Nana, 25, who is allegedly responsible for selling stolen vehicles to unsuspecting members of the public in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Benin City. The Liberian said he featured for his country at the 2010 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match between Liberia and Angola. The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State police command led by SP Abba Kyari. Other members of the gang include Mahmud Abdulakeem Taiwo, 48, Musa Yusuf, 27 and Abayomi Okanlawon Adebayo, 53. The police recovered 16 exotic cars from the gang.

It was gathered yesterday that the presidency may have directed the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha to formally write the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal to reconvene plenary sessions within one week or face impeachment. A source close to the presidency who spoke to Vanguard under the condition of anonymity said if after one week Tambuwal fails to carry out the instruction, 120 signatures would be gathered to frustrate him out of office. Those present in the meeting held at the Villa on Wednesday night include the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio, Gabriel Suswan of Benue, the Attorney General to the Federation, Adokie Muhammed, Leader of the House, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, the Deputy Leader Leo Ogor and the Deputy Speaker.

The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, on Tuesday said about 30 policemen were still missing following the recent attack carried out by Boko Haram sect on the Nigeria Police Mobile Force, Gwoza Training Camp, Borno State. Abba spoke with State House correspondents shortly after a meeting President Goodluck Jonathan had with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. It will be recalled that Abba had, in September, told journalists that 20 policemen were still missing after the attack. He, however, said on Tuesday that one of the missing policemen had since been discovered to have reported back at his base. He said, “Even last week, we were able to identify that one of the missing officers in Gwoza had gone back to his base. So there can still be some that are in their homes, perhaps refusing anyone to report that they are around because of the trauma they went through or they could still be among families in some of the villages there. “It still r

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Twenty-four-year-old Chinedu Ubachukwu has emerged winner of the 11th season of Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS), which ended last night. Ubachukwu and 13 others were in the Aguleri jungle in Anambra State for 26 days, for the adventure reality show which aired on digital and terrestrial television channels. A graduate of Petroleum and Gas Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt, Ubachukwu, who hails from Anambra State, edged out co-finalists, Emmanuel Afolabi and Nne Cosy Joe, to discover the mythical General’s Helmet, a symbol of this year’s search aptly tagged The Mission. As promised by Nigerian Breweries Plc., organisers of the show, Ubachukwu, by his feat, automatically qualified for the grand prize of N10 million and a brand new Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). No doubt, it was a grueling 26 days for all the contestants, who will each get a prize according to how they were evicted from the show. Perhaps the winner’s familiarity with the topogra

The Nigeria Football Federation says it has avoided a long-term ban by FIFA after in-fighting over the leadership of the football body was ended through intervention by the country's president. The NFF says Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has ensured "a truce" and a faction challenging new NFF President Amaju Pinnick's election last month has "discontinued" legal action against him. The world body gave Nigeria until midday Friday local time (1100 GMT) to withdraw a court order nullifying the Sept. 30 football elections. FIFA endorsed Pinnick's election and viewed the order as interference in football matters against its rules. If Nigeria does not meet the deadline, FIFA said it would be banned until at least May, disqualifying the defending champion from next year's African Cup of Nations. Culled from ctvnews.ca

ABUJA, Oct 31 (Reuters) - A car bomb exploded in the northeast Nigerian city of Gombe on Friday, killing five people and wounding 15 others, a source in the emergency services on the scene told Reuters. "It just happened, and our men and the security agencies are on the scene dealing with the fallout," the official said. (Reporting by Isaac Abrak, editing by John Stonestreet; Writing by Tim Cocks, editing by John Stonestreet) Culled from Reuters

About 30 were reported dead after there explosions rocked the popular Gombe Line Transport Services Limited in Gombe State. According to the police and an eye witnesses the explosions were reported to have occurred around 9:30 am Friday leaving many dead. The Three bombs which were said to be concealed in bags went off during Friday morning rush hour, the latest in a series of attacks targeting commuters blamed on Boko Haram, police and witnesses said. “We had explosions at the Gombe line motor park…As for the death toll, we are still working on that,” said area police chief Abdullahi Kudu. An employee of the state-run bus park, Lawanti Aliyu, and other witnesses said three men left bags packed with explosives among the buses which went off at 9:00 am (0800 GMT). Fuller account of the story will be brought to you soon

Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - Three bombs concealed in bags rocked a bus station in north Nigeria's Gombe state during Friday morning rush hour, the latest in a series of attacks targeting commuters blamed on Boko Haram, police and witnesses said. "We had explosions at the Gombe line motor park...As for the death toll, we are still working on that," said area police chief Abdullahi Kudu. An employee of the state-run bus park, Lawanti Aliyu, and other witnesses said three men left bags packed with explosives among the buses which went off at 9:00 am (0800 GMT).

Well I am not really bothered about fielding same faith or not, all I'm after is for credible people be fielded to put in place the structure call Nigeria back to its glorious state. Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the Yoruba Youths Congress, has advised the All Progressives’ Congress against adopting same faith presidential candidates. Mr Olalekan Hammed, National Leader of the group, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan on Friday. Hammed cautioned that fielding a Christian/Christian or Muslim/Muslim ticket for the presidential election could make the party less popular. He also warned that fielding same faith flag bearers could make the party lose millions of its supporters nationwide. “Presently, the party is gaining the overwhelming support of Nigerians, but if this pact (same faith) stays, those who had previously concluded to vote for the party may have a change of mind. “The party should also not give room for those try

Amidst the crisis rocking the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Eugene Odo, on Thursday dumped the consensus arrangement of the party for the governorship race. The consensus arrangement initiated by Governor Sullivan Chime produced a member of House of Representatives, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the governorship candidate of Enugu PDP for the 2015 general elections in the State. But Odo who spoke with journalists shortly after receiving the Nsukka United Front (NUF) at the House of Assembly complex, said he has picked PDP expression of interest and nomination form for governorship. The speaker said he had not stepped down for anybody, even as he described the process of endorsing a consensus candidate in the ruling PDP as undemocratic. “I have picked the PDP expression and nomination forms and I am fully prepared for the governorship race. You all know our story. Before now, we have embarked on consultations in t

Two Nigerians resident in Freetown, Sierra Leone have been diagnosed to have been infected with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The two Nigerians included a 27-year-old indigene of Abia stated and a 22-year old indigene of Edo state. Supervisory minister for health, Khaliru Alhassan, disclosed on Thursday while declaring open the  National Council for Health, (NCH), meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. According to him: “Official information reaching the Ministry from Sierra Leone Health Officials confirmed that two Nigerians resident in Free Town, were recently diagnosed with Ebola Virus Disease . They include a 27 year old indigene of Abia State, while the other is a 22 year old indigene of Edo State. “Details of these two cases shall be made available when a detailed  investigation of their status is concluded. “Both Nigerians received treatment in isolation centres in Free Town, Sierra Leone and one of them has indeed been successfully treated and is technically cured and has re

The Ogun State Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, on Thursday punctured the claim of the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress that they were not aware of the way he was being maltreated by Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Adesegun, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone, was reacting to the newspaper reports which quoted both the state and national publicity secretaries of the party, Mr. Sola Lawal and Chief Lai Mohammed respectively, that they were not aware that Amosun was maltreating him. The deputy governor, who said the national leadership might not know the depth of the deprivation he was being subjected to, argued that it was not true that they were totally ignorant about it. He said, “Lai Mohammed is my friend. Whatever he says, I will accept. If he says I didn’t send the letter to the national leadership of the party, I will accept. They may not know the depth, but they cannot claim ignorance of the way I am being treated by the governor.” Adese

Stephen Keshi could be set for a surprise return as coach of African champions Nigeria after the apparent intervention of the country's President Goodluck Jonathan. Keshi, who steered the Super Eagles to Africa Cup of Nations glory in 2013 and the knock-out stage of this year's World Cup finals, was sacked on October 16 after a string of poor performances. But several senior officials at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have revealed that Jonathan had ordered Keshi be reinstated and given a contract. Should that happen, he would be on the bench for Nigeria's next Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo and South Africa in November. Keshi, who was in talks on Thursday with sports minister Tammy Danagogo, said he was unaware of any presidential intervention. But he added: "If the president of my country asked me to return, who am I to refuse?" The 52-year-old coach had earlier refused to comment on speculation that he could be reinstated, w

Enterprise Bank says it has introduced a new scheme to cater for young graduates who are brimming with ideas but do not have the financial capacity to bring their dreams into reality. The Enterprise Graduate Empowerment Scheme, the bank said, was inspired by a personal experience the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. Ahmed Kuru, had in an encounter with a bright but unemployed young graduate. The scheme was designed to bridge the gap between the innovative entrepreneurial ideas of young school leavers and access to the right financial support to transform the ideas into concrete money making enterprises, the statement said. The bank said university or polytechnic graduates of not more than three years prior to the time of application can apply through the bank’s website for a pre-qualification exercise. According to the bank, candidates who meet the criteria will now be invited, taken through an intensive business appreciation programme, where they wi

In this write-up, JOHN ALECHENU takes a cursory look at the desirability of having candidates eyeing public offices to undergo medical examination before assuming offices The election season is here again. As it is often the case, those aspiring for political offices have begun to regale the voting public with tales about what they can do to improve the society. However, none appears to have the courage to let the public know if they have any health issue capable of preventing them from delivering on their promises if elected. The constitutional crises generated by the unofficial medical leave of absence of elected public officers were a source of concern in the outgoing political dispensation. In the recent past, Nigerians have helplessly watched a situation where a president and some governors were absent from their duty posts on account of ill health. The late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was known to be battling a serious kidney disease long before he was foisted on Nige

A group of young professionals and artisans in Ekiti State, Ekiti Youth Vanguard, has tasked Governor Ayo Fayose to declare his assets in order to demonstrate openness, transparency and accountability. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Charles Fakunle, on Wednesday, the group challenged Fayose to emulate his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, by making a public declaration of his assets within his first month in office. The EYV recalled that Fayemi deposed to the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers at the registry of the State High Court, Ado-Ekiti, barely a month after assuming power. “Fayemi is the first chief executive of the state to have made public his worth in cash and assets. “It is high time we started holding our leaders accountable in this country that is ridden with corruption. So, if our governor could come out boldly to say ‘these are my assets and when I leave office, I will declare again and you will see that I have lived a straightforward life,’

The recent dip in power supply in the country, rather than show signs of improvement, has gone worse with the loss of over 1,476 megawatts due to shrinking water level, shortage in gas supply and high frequency. The country is said to be losing over 1,181MW to gas supply constraints, with six gas-fired power plants said to be affected. Currently, the AES barges 202-205 and 207-211 are losing 288MW; Geregu Gas GT11 and 12, 146MW; Egbin ST1-5, 492MW; Olorunsogo Gas GT1-4, 7 and 8, 66.4MW; Afam IV-V GT17 and 18, 69MW; and Alaoji GT3, 120MW. The national power generation statistics obtained by our correspondent indicates that collectively, the power plants have the capacity to generate 2,142MW. Due to water management issues, the Shiroro 411G2 power plant is said to be losing 150MW, while the Geregu NIPP GT23 is also losing 145MW to high frequency. Off-peak power generation for the country was 2,931MW on Sunday. Last week, the government explained that the current epileptic s

As President Goodluck Jonathan prepares to make formal declaration of his re-election bid on November 11, some All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the House of Representatives said they would challenge the president’s eligibility in court. The lawmakers said President Jonathan would be making his third stint in office, which is against the provision of the constitution that stipulates only two terms of four years to any elected president. This is coming few days after Jonathan had made known his decision to stand for the 2015 presidential election, with former defence minister, Bello Haliru heading his declaration committee. An APC member from Kano State, Rep Nasiru Sule Garo, said at the weekend that they would wait for Jonathan to declare first before heading to court. “People are ready to go (to court). We are just waiting for him to declare. For now, he is not a candidate; he is just being endorsed just like during Abacha’s regime, when selfish individuals were just c

Over 500 women and children have been abducted by the Boko Haram sect from 2009 till date, the Human Rights Watch said in a report yesterday. The report said those abducted by the sect were forced to marry, convert and endure physical and psychological abuse, forced labour and rape in captivity, despite the imposition of a state of emergency by the Nigerian government since May 2013. The report said the sect has intensified abduction of women and young girls in the past 17 months that the emergency rule has been in place. Tagged: “Those Terrible Weeks in Their Camp: Boko Haram Violence against Women and Girls in Northeast Nigeria,” the rights group said the 63-page report was based on interviews with more than 46 witnesses and victims of Boko Haram abductions in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states, including girls who escaped the April 2014 abduction from Chibok. The report said accounts from witnesses and the escaped girls suggested that the Nigerian government has failed to adequa

...to remain as speaker, adjourn House till Dec The long-awaited defection by the House of Representatives speaker to the All Progressives Congress is going to happen today, his associates told Daily Trust last night. Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal will announce to colleagues during today’s House plenary session that he is leaving the ruling People’s Democratic Party to the main opposition APC, following months of consultation, one of the sources said. Daily Trust learnt that Tambuwal is going to stay put as speaker, despite him joining a minority party. If this comes to pass, he will be the first speaker from a minority party and the first non-PDP politician to hold that position since the inception of this dispensation in 1999. Tambuwal will also emerge as the highest-ranking public officer in APC, based on the National Order of Precedence. “(The) speaker will formally defect to the APC during the plenary session,” an aide told Daily Trust, asking not to be named because he was not