Tuesday 6 February 2018

15 ‘Yahoo Boys’ Arrested By Security Operatives, Coffins And Charms Recovered

EFCC Arrests 15 Suspected Internet Fraudsters …Recovers Coffins, Calabash

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, has arrested 15 suspected Internet fraudsters for offences bordering on obtaining by false pretence, lottery scam and love scam. The suspects are: Adeyemi Tiwatope, 20; Odeyemi Olawale, 20; Nike Afolabi Olaiya, 20; Awe Abimbola Ireti, 23; Yusuf Aliu Oluwafemi, 20; Osidipe Olatunbosun, 24; Tosin Adesanya, 19 and Adeyinka Bello, 17.

Denmark moves to ban burqa, masks


Denmark on Tuesday proposed a ban on the use of full-face veils as well as face-covering ski masks in public spaces, commonly called a “burqa ban.”

“It is incompatible with the values of Danish society or respect for the community to keep the face hidden when meeting others in public spaces,’’ Justice Minister, Soren Pape Poulsen, said.

2019: Babangida’s spokesman sues police, media houses for N1 billion


Kassim Afegbua, the media adviser to ex-Nigerian leader, Ibrahim Babangida, who was declared wanted by the police, has sued for fundamental rights enforcement.

Mr. Afegbua is also requesting N1 billion in damages from the police, its spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, and two media houses, according to court filings seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

Ivory Coast’s Emmanuel Eboue wants to return to playing


Former Ivory Coast and Arsenal star Emmanuel Eboue has revealed that he is desperate to return to professional football.

The 34-year-old has endured a difficult time in his personal life, losing his hard-earned fortune through financial mismanagement, while an acrimonious divorce has seen him estranged from his three children for months.

Neymar will not go to Real Madrid – Luis Fernandez


Neymar is still being heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, but Paris Saint-Germain academy director Luis Fernandez has boldly predicted that the Brazilian “will not go”.

Having left La Liga for Ligue 1 in the summer of 2017, speculation suggests that a return journey could be made some 12 months on from a record-breaking €222 million transfer.

Stella Oduah: Allegation of evading EFCC mischievous


The Senator representing Anambra North in the National Assembly, Sen. Stella Oduah, has described as mischievous, recent reports that she was evading invitations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Oduah said that the report was the handiwork of political detractors whose aim is to pitch the anti-graft agency against her.

Tragedy As Pastor Dies While Conducting Baptism At Blood River Village

Seshego pastor drowns during baptism in South Africa

A pastor died yesterday after he drowned while baptising his church members in the river at Blood River village in Seshego outside Polokwane in South Africa.. According to reports, the pastor entered the flooded river and was swept away.

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai ‘shocked’ over critically ill reports


Zimbabwe’s main opposition party says its leader is in a hospital in neighbouring South Africa as concerns rise over the health of Morgan Tsvangirai, who has dominated the opposition for close to two decades.

Spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka says the former prime minister is in Johannesburg for cancer treatment. Tsvangirai in 2016 announced he had colon cancer and has come for treatment in the past.

‘N650m fraud’: Akinjide, ex-minister, opts for out-of-court settlement


Jumoke Akinjide, a former minister of federal capital territory (FCT), who is standing trial over alleged N650 million money laundering charge, has opted for out-of-court settlement.
Bolaji Ayorinde, Akinjide’s lawyer, told a federal high court that they were “in the process of engaging in out-of-court settlement” with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Assange loses bid to cancel UK arrest warrant


WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has lost a bid to have his British arrest warrant cancelled in a move that could have paved the way for him to leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London where he has spent the last five years.

Thugs attack APC chieftain in Ebonyi, two others during meeting


A chieftain of  the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi, Dr. Paul Okorie, was on Monday attacked by suspected political thugs at Ugwulangwu area of Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi.

The thugs also attacked Mr. Nnachi Okoro, Ohaozara APC Chairman and John Ogbonnaya, another member of the party.

Court to rule on application to stop public hearing on hijab wearing Feb. 28


The Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed Feb. 28 to rule on a motion seeking to stop a public hearing of the House of Representatives on why a law student was not called to bar.

A law student, Ms Firdaus Abdulsalam, was not called to the Nigerian Bar on Dec. 13 last year for allegedly breaking the dress code.

Fire guts Accounts Dept., other parts of DPR office in Minna


Three office rooms at the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Minna were gutted by fire on Tuesday, the Niger Coordinator of the department, Alhaji Abdullahi Isa, said.

Isa disclosed this while conducting newsmen round the affected offices on Tuesday.

He said the fire affected the Internet, Accounts Department, Head of Gas and Down Stream offices.

Chelsea players will not get me sacked – Conte


Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, has insisted that player power will not get him sacked at Stamford Bridge.

Conte endured a second successive defeat in six days, after the Blues lost 4-1 at Watford on Monday night.

US arms sanctions ‘unhealthy and irresponsible’ – South Sudan


South Sudan’s Defense Minister has described as ‘unfriendly and irresponsible,’ the decision by the United States to impose arms sanctions on the government.

According to Kuol Manyang Juuk, the move of February 2, 2018 will only thaw the revitalization of talks between the government and rebels.

Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam refuses to attend trial


Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam is refusing to attend the resumption of his trial on Thursday, a court official says.

The Belgian-born French national – the only surviving suspect of the 2015 atrocity – has cut a defiant figure in previous hearings, refusing to stand for the judge or answer questions about the bloody gun battle that led to his arrest.

Woman wins $42m jackpot, told it’s machine error


A woman who thought she has won a $42.9m jackpot got the shock of her life when she was told that the machine displaying the prize had only malfunctioned.

An elated Katrina Bookman, 44, thought she hit a $42.9m jackpot at Resorts World Casino in Queens, New York in 2016, and even posed next to the winning machine as it displayed what she thought she had won.

Be wary of easy sex, drugs, money – Pope Francis


Catholics should be wary of easy sex, drugs and money offered by “false prophets,” Pope Francis warned on Tuesday, in a message for Lent.

Lent is a period of penance observed in the six weeks leading up to Easter, the most important feast in the Christian calendar, which celebrates the resurrection of Christ.

SpaceX poised to launch ‘world’s most powerful rocket’


SpaceX is poised for the first test launch Tuesday of its Falcon Heavy, which aims to become the world’s most powerful rocket in operation, capable of reaching the Moon or Mars some day.
The launch, scheduled for 1:30 pm (1830 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, is the most ambitious yet for SpaceX, and has been hailed by industry experts as a game-changer because of its potential to propel the California-based company to the very forefront of the modern day space race.

Man defiles 3-yr-old daughter, attempts to sodomise sons


A seven-year-old boy yesterday accused his father of sexually abusing his three-year-old sister and attempting to sodomize him and his five-year-old brother. 

The boy said his father not only abused his sister five times but also attempted to sodomise him and his five-year-old brother, but they refused because the pain was too much. 

Bukola Saraki describes CCT trial as ‘House of Cards’


Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has described his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) as ‘House of Cards’ saying that ‘as much as many Nigerians want to continue to believe that this my case is merely about asset declaration irregularities, the maneuvers, manipulation, intrigues, schemes, and “House of Cards” nature of this whole case proves otherwise’.

English Premier League considers winter break

Image result for English Premier League considers winter break

The Premier League has revealed it is looking at ways of introducing a winter break into the English game.

Talks have been ongoing between the Football Association and the English Football League regarding the proposal.

U.S. tells Nigeria, Cameroon to obey international law


The United States (U.S.) has condemned the attitude of Nigerian and Cameroonian authorities towards the 47 Anglophone detainees who were repatriated to Cameroon from Nigeria.

A statement by the U.S. Department of State, signed by Ms Heather Nauert, the Department Spokesperson noted that Nigeria and Cameroon have violated the rights of the detainees by forcibly repatriating them back to their countries of origin.

IBB spokesman, Afegbua would present himself to police on Wednesday – Lawyer


The media aide to former military president, Ibrahim Babangida,  Kassim Afegbua, would present himself to the police on Wednesday, his lawyer, Kayode Ajulo has said.

The lawyer in a statement on Tuesday morning explained that his client was not invited by the police before he was declared wanted by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Monday.

How a staff of PHCN was arrested by juju in Osun state


It was about midday in the heart of Osogbo, when some officials of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria were on a mass disconnection at the Ayetoro area of the city capital.
Their vehicle inched towards Ifayemi Elebuibon Street, stopping at the very pole in front of the expansive residence of the Ifa priest. Four PHCN officials alighted from the vehicle.

Father, daughter arrested after allegedly having baby together


A North Carolina father and his biological daughter were charged with incest after they allegedly had a baby together.

Steven Pladl, 42, of Knightdale, and his daughter Katie Pladl, 20, were arrested January 27 after Pladl’s estranged wife reportedly told police about the pair’s baby.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah can score 100 Premier League goals – Mido


Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Mido has told the BBC he is “proud” of Mohamed Salah after the Liverpool forward became the highest-scoring Egyptian in Premier League history.

Salah’s double against Spurs at Anfield on Sunday took his Premier League tally to 23 goals, surpassing the 22 that Mido got during his spells with Tottenham, Middlesbrough and Wigan.

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai critically ill in South Africa – source


Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, is critically ill in a South African hospital and his supporters should “brace for the worst”, a party source with knowledge of his condition said on Tuesday.

Tsvangirai, 65, has been in and out of hospital since disclosing in June 2016 that he had colon cancer.

He returned to Johannesburg in neighbouring South Africa for his latest round of treatment in early January.

“From the medical report that I received yesterday the situation is not looking good. He is critically ill and we should brace for the worst,” the source said.

Tsvangirai’s illness has divided his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, with officials publicly jockeying to succeed the former trade union leader.

In January, Tsvangirai said it was time for the older generation to step back and make way for “new hands”, raising prospects of leadership change.

Without its founder at the helm, the MDC is likely to face immediate instability and could even split, handing a gift to new President Emmerson Mnangagwa in an election expected within the next six months.

Mnangagwa came to power in November after a de facto military coup against 93-year-old Robert Mugabe, the former guerrilla leader who had run Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980.

Tsvangirai spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka said the MDC leader was “stable but the nation should keep on praying.”

Ekiti guber: Governor Fayose’s chief of staff resigns


Dipo Anisulowo, the chief of staff to Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, has resigned with immediate effect.

NAN reports that Anisulowo made his resignation known in a letter addressed to Fayose.

One dies as Christian and Muslim students of Modibbo Adama University clash over election (photos)

One dies as Christian and Muslim students of Modibbo Adama University clash over election(photos)

A student of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa state, has reportedly been killed while many others were seriously injured during a clash between Christian and Muslim students of the school. The clash started on Sunday night and lingered into Monday February 5th.

''Please re-elect President Buhari in 2019, it is in our best interest'' Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, appeals to Nigerians


Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, has appealed to Nigerians to re-elected President Buhari in 2019. In a statement released by his director  General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, Governor Bello said the re-election of President Buhari in 2019 is in “the best interest of Nigerians”.

Buhari asks Tinubu to reconcile aggrieved APC members


President Muhammadu Buhari has saddled a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, with the responsibility of reconciling all aggrieved party members across the country.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a two-paragraph statement made available to journalists on Tuesday.

Buhari for Nasarawa, Taraba, Zamfara, Benue


President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to visit Nasarawa State today as part of efforts to ensure peace in some trouble spots.
After Nasarawa, Buhari is slated to visit Taraba, Zamfara and Benue states but the dates of the visits are yet to be decided, a Presidency source said last night.

IG deploys 15 police units, special forces in Benue


The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, has deployed 15 more police units, special forces, and technical and intelligence teams to contain further attacks in Benue State.

Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni spoke yesterday.

He said: “The Inspector-General is seriously committed to ending the killings in the state and the country. It is that commitment that informed the reinforcement of our command to nip crime and killings in the bud.

Egmont Group expulsion plan may ground businesses in Nigeria


Egmont Group, a global network of 152 Financial Intelligence Units (FIU), is poised to expel the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) from its fold.
If this happens, financial transactions emanating from Nigeria or having the country as its destination could be blacklisted by top economic players.

We’ve lost confidence in federal govt over killer herdsmen – Benue govt


The Benue State government has declared that it had lost confidence in the ability of the country’s security agencies to bring to justice herdsmen accused of killings in the state.

It also warned the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and other Fulani socio-cultural organisations to stop calls for a repeal of the anti-open grazing law, vowing the legislation would remain.

Israel begins deportation of African migrants in 60 days


Israel has started handing out notices to 20,000 male African migrants giving them two months to leave the country or risk being thrown in jail.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is offering the migrants, 3,500 dollars and a plane ticket to what it says is a safe destination in another country in sub-Saharan Africa.

Presidency Never Approved Replacement Of Defence Chief - Femi Adeshina


The spokesperson for the office of the President Femi Adesina rebuffed the report that the position of Chief of Defence and Chief of Naval staff which was vacant has been filled by replacements approved by the president Muhammadu Buhari.
Though he admitted the  Chief of Defence Staff General Gabriel Olonisakin was resigning his position, he, however, described the report as not being thoroughly accurate. 

Four arrested for NURTW chairman’s aide’s (Ganiyu Ayinla) murder


Detectives attached to the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos, have arrested four persons in connection with the murder of Mr. Ganiyu Ayinla, alias Peiro. Peiro was murdered at Idumota, Lagos Island area and was an aide to the Chairman of the National Union of Transport Workers (NURTW) Branch C, Idumota, popularly called Kunle Poly.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, named the four suspects as Bashiru Bashorun (49) aka Abija, Sunday Balogun (43) aka Folori, John Oladokun (43) aka John Ibafo and Gbolahan Olowokere (34) aka Motherless Junior.

Nigeria Pays US Govt $496m for Acquisition of 12 Tucano Fighter Jets


The Nigerian government has paid the United States government $496 million for the acquisition of 12 Super Tucano fighter jets to be used by the Nigerian Air Force in the ongoing military operations against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east.
The Minister of Defence, Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd.), made the revelation Monday at the special town hall meeting held for the military and security agencies in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Baby factory: Couple keeps pregnant women, sell babies


Police in Lagos have arrested a man, Mr. Adeola Adebayo, 50, and his 40-year-old wife, Binta, for allegedly harboring pregnant women and selling their babies without their consent. The state Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, who paraded the suspects yesterday, said they were running a baby factory at Igando area.

The commissioner added that they were arrested based on information. He said: “Following information given by members of the press on the operation of a baby factory at No. 1, Treasure Palace Road, Ikotun/Igando, the police swung into action and arrested the couple. Three pregnant victims were also rescued. The couple harbored young pregnant girls till they give birth and later take their babies away.

Nigerian Mother Detained over £500,000 Bill Loses Two of Her Quadruplets


A Nigerian mother delivered of quadruplets prematurely in Britain and who has racked up a bill of £500,000 in one of the largest hospitals has lost two of the children.
The 43-year-old, named only as Priscilla, went into labour three months early shortly after landing at Heathrow airport in November.

Alexis Sanchez Flies His Family To Paris In A Private Jet After Becoming EPL’s Highest Paid Player


Alexis Sanchez has flown his family to Paris, France in a private jet after his hectic start to the new year. The Manchester United player put pen to paper on a £350,000-a-week deal at Old Trafford last month.
Sanchez netted his first goal for his new club in their 2-0 win over Huddersfield on Saturday and toasted the milestone with a trip to Paris.

Court orders firm to forfeit £578,080 to federal govt


The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ordered a firm, ZAL Marine Limited, to forfeit the sum of £578,080 found in its Diamond Bank account to the Federal Government.
The order was made by Justice Saliu Saidu at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which told the court that the funds were diverted from the coffers of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.

Woman, boyfriend attack husband at Imo brothel

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There was a mild drama in Owerri, Imo State, on Monday when a man reportedly sighted his wife coming out of a brothel with an alleged boyfriend, identified simply as Okey.

A witness told newsmen that a fight broke out between the couple when the man alighted from the car and queried the wife.

Google pulls out 1.7 billion bad ads from sites


Google pulled out 1.7 billion bad ads from sites with machine learning technology in 2016, an official, Ms Jenn Kaiser, has said.
Kaiser, the Head of Ads PR, Europe, Middle East and Africa for Google and YouTube, gave the figure on Monday in Johannesburg, South Africa.
She spoke on “Good Advertising, Our Products and Policies’’ at a Google Online Advertising Conference for Media Personnel.

Late serial killer, Don Waney’s followers surrender


Hundreds of Don Wanney’s fighters, who had earlier rejected all government’s overtures to them to surrender their arms have finally done so.
They surrendered their arms including explosives, rocket launchers and high-calibre rifles such as AK-47, at Heroes Square yesterday.

Buhari signs executive order to promote Nigerian expertise


President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja signed Executive Order 5 to improve local content in public procurement with science, engineering and technology components.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists.

Lassa fever death toll hits 31 in 15 states


The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has said the current outbreak of Lassa fever has affected 15 states with 105 laboratory confirmed cases, three probable cases and 31 deaths.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Adewole said this at the emergency National Council of Health meeting in Abuja on Monday.

Ogun government probes killings by herdsmen


The Ogun State Government says it has commenced investigations into the alleged killings of people and attacks on schools in Ketu Local Council Development Area of the state.

Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa disclosed this to newsmen when asked the state government’s reaction to the spate of killings by herdsmen in some parts of the state.