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Wife of President Muhammadu Buhari said on Tuesday that she had no hand in the arrest and detention of her Aide De Camp, Sani Baban-Inna. In a statement issued on her behalf by her Director of Information,  Suleiman Haruna, the wife of the President said Baban-Inna, Chief Superintendent of Police, was arrested by the police for using his position as her ADC to dupe people. Mrs. Buhari, who is currently on a trip with her husband to the United States, said Baba-Inna had been her ADC sine 2016, but was surprised that he had defrauded unsuspecting associates and officials “as initial investigations have shown”. She denied ever sending any of her staff members “to collect any favours on her behalf or on behalf of her children and will never do so” and urged whoever had been allegedly defrauded by  Baban-Inna to get across to him to retrieve whatever he took from them. The statement read, “The attention of wife of the President, Dr. Mrs...

An All Progressives Congress (APC) agent in Esa-Odo of Osun state, Adebiyi Ajibade, was hacked to death by some thugs after the elections on Saturday 22 Sept. 2018. The ugly incident started from Polling Booth Unit 05 Ward 09, United Primary School, Esa Odo around 12:00 noon on Saturday 22nd September 2018. Some Esa Odo party members who are said to be cult members, reportedly requested for money from the APC party agent at the polling booth claiming they voted for APC. The party agent told them categorically that no money was given to him or any other member to buy votes and that the party was not sharing money. The thugs threatened and harassed the party agent and told him not to leave the polling unit or get out of town that night. On his way home later in the evening at about 8:30 pm, the deceased (late Adebiyi Ajibade) and his friend Mr. Femi Egundabi waited for one Mr. Asubiaro Olasunkanmi at Abosad filling Station Esa Odo. They sighted these same guys that demanded for mone...

Fifty seven Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas Chairmen may have to sacrificed their seats for going against Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on his second term ambition, should the governor succeeded with a his leaked sacking plan of the council’s chairmen, which he had planned to carried out by Friday. The governor has been suspected of sinister move immediately his second term plan was rejected and became public discussion, particularly after decision makers of his party, All Progress Congress (APC), cut down his hope on 2019 governorship election that may have had him return to office. From The Guild finding, there was strong indication that the governor’s hope had all been exhausted, and that that could be the reason for his alleged plan to go down with set people believed to had caused his misfortune, making interventions from top members of the society not to prevail over the matter. Should Ambode carry out the leaked sack plan of the...

Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, says the party will not field candidates he described as opportunists seeking the platform of the party to achieve selfish interests. Referring to the defection of Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Oshiomhole said the party has learnt from the mistake of the past where “bread and butter” politicians were given tickets of the party. According to a statement by his chief press secretary, Simon Ebegbulem, the chairman stated this while addressing members of the screening committee of the party. He also lamented that his National Working Committee (NWC) since assuming office has been tackling issues arising from the last congresses of the party. “In many of the states, we had challenges arising from the way congresses were conducted. Many of them were quite fraud...

A female kidnap suspect, Fatima Muhammed, says she has no regrets kidnapping the four-year-old son of Bukar Dalori, the Borno Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC). Fatima made this known when she was paraded before newsmen shortly after her arrest in Maiduguri on Monday “I committed the crime because I am in love with money. “I have no regrets over the crime I committed and even if it is my own child I will kidnap him for money. “I know he is the son of the APC chairman; I took him because I want money to go and enjoy myself somewhere. “Why should I regret anything,’’ Fatima said. Earlier, Mr Damian Chukwu, the Commissioner of Police in Borno, said Fatima, was delivered of a baby boy when she was arrested at Albarka Hotel in Maiduguri on Sept 21. Fatima allegedly abducted the boy and two others from a school and demanded for N20 million ransom. Chukwu said the woman and the child were in good condition at the time she was arrested by me...

The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Mr Pally Iriase, has been expelled from the All Progressives Congress (APC) for alleged anti-party activities. There are reports that the lawmaker who represents Owan Federal Constituency, was expelled by his ward and ratified by the Local Government. The expulsion letter was signed by Zuberu Shabah and Theophilus Aigboje, Chairman and Secretary respectively, of Owan East Local Government and made available to newsmen in Benin on Monday. Allegations leveled against Iriase included defection of Ward eight and nine APC executives to the PDP on the orders of Iriase, presenting his Personal Assistant, Hilary Ozogo, to contest under the PDP platform and refusal to attend APC meetings. In the letter addressed to the National Chairman of the APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole through the Edo Chairman of the party, Mr Anselm Ojezua, the Owan East APC said it ratified the decision of APC members of Ward nine to expel Iriase. The letter said all...

Nigeria’s National Assembly has postponed it’s resumption. The parliament will now resume on October 9 instead of September 25 earlier slated. The postponement was contained in a statement by the National Assembly clerk, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, addressed to the lawmakers. “This is to inform all Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members that resumption of plenary session earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 25th September has been postponed to Tuesday 9th October due to the activities of the primaries of the political parties. “All Distinguished Senators and Honourable members are expected to resume plenary session by 10 am on the 9th of October, please,” the statement reads.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed September 27 th for Osun State governorship election rerun . The election umpire had on Sunday declared the election inconclusive based on an INEC technicality. INEC Returning Officer and Vice - Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology , Akure , Prof Joseph Fowape , while announcing the results said the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party , Ademola Adeleke, polled 254 , 698 votes to defeat that of the All Progressives Congress , Gboyega Oyetola , who polled 254 , 698 votes . However , due to irregularities which marred the election at some polling units in Ife North , Ife South and Orolu local government areas, including cases of card reader malfunctioning, ballot box snatching , among others, this led to the cancellation of 3, 498 votes recorded in the affected polling units. Quoting INEC ’ s Standing Rules at the commission ’ s headquarters in Osogbo , the state capital , Fowape, said since the mar...

was sent to tear off the result pasted at the INEC office in Gbongan has just been apprehended. He claimed to have been directed by the Electoral officer and Collation officer. He is being taken to the police station NOW. We need to noise this heavily!! #osunariseagainstfraud

A People’s Democratic Party agent has been arrested by security operatives for allegedly attempting to buy votes in the ongoing Osun State governorship election. According to our correspondent, the agent had attempted to distribute money to voters at the Obada area of Ede in Ede Local Government Area. The news reports that the PDP candidate, Ademola Adeleke, is from Ede town. Adeleke is contesting the seat currently occupied by Governor Rauf Aregbesola alongside the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Isiaka Oyetola; Iyiola Omisore of the Social Democratic Party, Fatai Akinbade of the African Democratic Congress, and Adeoti Moshood of Action Democratic Party. In an interview after he voted, the 58-year-old said he was optimistic of victory in the poll. In another report by The Nation, Police have arrested four suspected thugs in Ile-Ife. They were found with wraps of IndIan Hemp in their pockets. The four rode on a bike and the Police said they were suspected to be ...

As Osun goes to the poll.  Let's vote wisely.  Say no to vote buying! 

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of flying many helicopters full of cash into Osun State ahead of the Saturday’s election. The party said the APC was planning to buy votes with billions of Naira in order to manipulate the people to vote for the ruling party’s candidate, Gboyega Oyetola. The PDP also denied that its candidate in the election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, was collecting bank details of the electorate through a WhatsApp number in order to buy their votes. Speaking with journalists at the party’s secretariat on Friday, the PDP Chairman in Osun State, Soji Adagunodo, noted that the party had detected several means through which the APC wanted to rig the election. Adagunodo said, “We wish to alert the general public to the planned monetisation of the Osun State governorship election, especially the voting process, by the APC. “Towards this ignoble end, several helicopters loaded with cash ...

The death toll has surpassed a hundred, after a passenger ferry capsized on Lake Victoria, a Tanzanian official says, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue efforts continue through the day. Thirty-seven people were rescued after the ferry sank on Thursday afternoon, according to Mwanza Regional Commissioner, John Mongella, when he spoke to The Associated Press. Mongella said he couldn’t speculate how many people had been on board. “Right now our focus is on rescue,” he said. Such passenger ferries often carry hundreds of people and are overcrowded. The Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical and Electronics Services Agency, in charge of servicing the vessels, urged patience as rescue efforts began. The ferry had been travelling between the islands of Ukara and Bugolora and capsised near the area of Mwanza, the agency said. Accidents are often reported on the large freshwater lake, which is surrounded by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Some of the deadliest have occurred in Tanzan...

Not less than 30 houses and shops have been burnt down in Maje Community in Suleja Local Government of Niger State after a petrol-laden tanker exploded. The incident occurred on Thursday evening after the brake of the tanker failed. The tanker was said to have collided with three vehicles before it rammed into the shops and exploded. Reports have that no life was lost.

The  Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)  has withdrawn the operating license of  Skye Bank . CBN Governor, Godwin Emefile announced the decision of Friday evening in Lagos. Polaris Bank has been established to assume ownership of the assets and liabilities of Skye Bank. The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation has injected N786bn in the new bank. The management of the defunct bank was however retained for its good performance. The defunct Skye Bank has been on CBN’s lifeline since July 2016 and the apex bank says it can no longer continue to intervene to keep the balance liquid.

All is not well among the members of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party over their support for the party’s presidential aspirants. The Board had, at its meeting last week, directed its members to be neutral and not declare any private or public support for any of the party’s 13 presidential aspirants. The Chairman of the Board, Senator Walid Jibrin, who spoke after the meeting, said members of the BoT should remain as the conscience of the party. He said they would be the one to adjudicate on matters brought before the board by any of the aspirants in case there were any grievances before or after the presidential primary slated for October 5 and 6 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. However, at the inauguration of one of the presidential aspirants, who is also a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, in Abuja on Thursday, three members of the BoT were in attendance. They were John Nwodo, Vincent Ogbulafor, who was both former National Chairman of the par...

Barely three weeks to its national convention and presidential primary, the main opposition political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has foreclosed the option of picking its presidential candidate for the 2019 election through consensus arrangement. This is coming at a time PDP leaders are making moves to prune down the number of presidential aspirants to six, who will battle for the presidential ticket through balloting at the national convention schedule from October 5-6. Daily Sun gathered that the PDP leadership and stakeholders, looking for a way to ensure non-contentious presidential primary, have settled for the emergence of its candidate through a process which would see all contestants going through an election, wherein delegates would vote. Sources revealed that the PDP is opting for a democratic process to pick its presidential candidate in order to avoid an implosion, which may arise if a particular aspirant is pre-picked ahead of the party’s national co...

Boko Haram insurgents on Wednesday night burnt down three villages in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno, in an attack that left at least seven people dead. News Agency gathered that the insurgents attacked and set Wanori, Kaleri and Amarwa villages on fire in a two hour operation that began at about 9:00 p.m. Villagers said the insurgents shot indiscriminately, looted food items before setting the villages on fire. Security sources told news that the insurgents were sighted on motorcycles along the Alau General Area. “We suddenly started seeing fire from Dalori, Kaleri and Amarwa followed by continuous gunshots from these general area. “The Alfa jet was quickly deployed to the scene but the insurgents had taken over the villages as at that time,” one of the security sources said. A resident of Amarwa, Goni Kachalla, who fled the attack amidst the onslaught by the insurgents, said they were shooting everybody and people fled in different directions. ...

Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet has been found to have skipped the mandatory national youth service scheme, an offence that may see him lose his position and earn him jail term. The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, failed to participate in the NYSC scheme despite graduating from the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) at age 25, news can authoritatively report. The revelation about Mr. Shittu, who is currently angling to become Oyo State governor, is coming to light about a week after Kemi Adeosun was compelled to step down from her post as Nigeria’s finance minister after this medium reported that she skipped national service and then procured a fake exemption certificate to cover her tracks. Months of discreet checks at the NYSC headquarters showed that the communications minister did not present himself for service after graduation and is yet to do so till date. Contacted Tuesday, Mr. Shittu admitted that he did not serve but claimed he thoug...

President MBuhari has approved the appointment of a campaign organization for his re-election in 2019 with Hon. ChibuikeAmaechi as Secretary/Director General

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will commence nationwide strike after the expiration of its 14 days ultimatum given to the Federal Government on the new minimum wage. Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC president, said this while addressing newsmen at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the congress on Wednesday in Abuja. Wabba said that the industrial action would become necessary if orgnised labour’s demand to reconvene the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage for workers was not met. It would be recalled that the organised labour had issued the Federal Government 14-day ultimatum that commenced on the Sept.12. The Organised Labour had insisted that the Tripartite Committee on the new National Minimum Wage should conclude its work within the stipulated time frame. According to him, NEC in session has expressed disappointment at the manner in which the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage unilaterally adjourned the meeting indefinitely....

Pandemonium occurred this evening in Igede Ekiti, Ekiti state after a group of armed robbers stormed a branch of Union Bank of Nigeria and killed at least one person in the process. According to reports, the robbers who were well armed and prepared - stormed the town by 5pm and held the area hostage for over 30 minutes while shooting sporadically as security agents were nowhere to be found. A security guard at the bank was killed in the gunfire and many others injured.  The shocking incident is said to have thrown the entire town into panic.

The Presidential Primaries of the All Progressives Congress earlier scheduled for Thursday, 20th September will now take place on Tuesday, 25th September, the party has said. A statement signed by the National Organizing Secretary, Emma Ibediro also announced the shift in date of all other primary elections from the earlier date, with the governorship primary now scheduled to take place four day after the presidential primary on 29th September. Similarly, the senate and House of Representatives primary will now take place on 2nd and 3rd October, while the state houses of Assembly primary will now take place on 4th October. The National Convention of the party to affirm the party’s Presidential candidate is expected to hold on 6th October as earlier scheduled. No explanation was offered for the shift in date of the primaries, but The Nation can report that screening of aspirants was yet to begin as at the time of this report as no committee has been inaugurated to handle the sc...

The Nigeria police force has filed charges against a governorship aspirant in the upcoming Osun State election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The charges against the Senator include examination malpractice, aiding and abetting, impersonation, and criminal conspiracy. Read the police press statement below;  On 21st July 2017, the Osun State Police Intelligence Bureau (SIB) received and acted on an actionable intelligence about an ongoing examination malpractice involving Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke at OJO/Aro Community Grammar School in Osun state. When the Police operative arrived at the school, only Sikiru Adeleke was found seated for the examination while Senator Ademola Adeleke seat was vacant and was suspected to have escaped before the arrival of the Police operatives. Further investigation revealed that both Senator Ademola Adeleke and his brother Sikiru Adeleke registered and were sitting for the National Examination Cou...

The Federal Government says it is enforcing the mandatory use of the National Identification Number (NIN) beginning from January 1, 2019. The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. He said the mandatory usage of the identification number was sequel to Federal Executive Council (FEC’s) approval last week of the immediate commencement of the implementation of a strategic roadmap for a new Digital Identity Ecosystem. FEC at its meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari last week approved the new identity ecosystem strategy for the enrolment of Nigerians and legal residents into the National Identity Database (NIDB), the statement said. ‘’The FEC’s approval of the new Digital Identity Ecosystem will bring into full force the implementation of the provisions of the NIMC Act 23, 2007, which include the enforcement of the mandatory use of the National Identifica...

Former Governor of Abia state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, on Tuesday said the leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is in London, where he had earlier fled. Kalu disclosed this in an interview with newsmen after meeting former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi in Minna to canvass support for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari. The former Governor and his entourage arrived at Babangida’s Uphill residence at 12:08pm in three black Toyota jeeps and two Hillux Vans. He was ushered into the guest room, where he held a closed-door meeting with his host which lasted for over two hours.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was not banning the use of Smartphone around the polling unit areas, but the moment a prospective voter entered voting cubicle to cast his or her vote. The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, made the declaration in an interview with the News men in Abuja. He stated this while reacting to the statement issued by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, condemning the decision of INEC to ban the use of smart phones at polling booths. Mr Oyekanmi said Nigerians were fully aware of the challenge of vote-buying and selling that reared its ugly head in recent elections. He said that had prompted many stakeholders to call on INEC to devise innovative ways to tackle the problem. “In consultation with other stakeholders, the Commission came up with new measures to solve the problem, one of which is to disallow the use of smart phones and other electronic devices in the...

Rep. Umar Bago (APC-Chanchaga) says he will support the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger with 100 cars. Bago, who stated this on Tuesday in an interview  in Minna, said that the two leaders remained the only credible choices in the 2019 elections. He urged the electorate to vote for continuity in order to consolidate on the ongoing changes that would set the Nation on the path of progress. “President Buhari has proved beyond reasonable doubt to be honest, sincere and committed to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians irrespective of political, tribal and religious differences. “I am supporting the re-election campaign team of President Buhari and that of Gov. Abubakar Bello with 100 cars for massive sensitisation of the people of Niger,” he said. The lawmaker said the vehicles would be distributed at a grand rally tagged, “Niger Na Buhari Da LoLo Ne” in Minna. Bago said that the vehicles would be giv...

A Russian military Il-20 aircraft with 14 service members on board went off the radars during an attack by four Israeli jets on Syria’s Latakia province, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Air traffic controllers at the Khmeimim Air Base “lost contact” with the aircraft on Monday evening, during the attack of Israeli F-16 fighters on Latakia, said the MOD. The plane was 35 kilometers off the coast of Syria when it vanished. Fourteen people were on board the plane at the time of the disappearance. A search and rescue mission is underway. The Ilyushin 20 (IL-20) surveillance turboprop plane is an Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) platform, equipped with a wide range of antennas, infrared and optical sensors. The aircraft's SLAR (Side-Looking Airborne Radar) and the plane's satellite link allows the Russian military to monitor Syrian skies in real time. An hour-long attack on Latakia began around 10 pm local time, and targeted a power station as well as two facilities...

Senate President and presidential aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Bukola Saraki, yesterday, excited members of the party in Lagos as he assured them that he will do everything within his reach to ensure PDP produced the next governor of the state. Saraki, who spoke at the PDP secretariat in Lagos State, where he was endorsed as favourite candidate, said he had the medicine of the man terrorizing Lagos State. He said: “What you have been fighting for many years, you will have it during the coming election because you now have somebody that has intention and charisma to deal with those disturbing you. Saraki “I have a medicine of the man who regards himself as godfather terrorising Lagos State. We have their formula, come next year, PDP will take over Lagos.” Saraki warned Nigerians to be mindful of presidential aspirants promising to restructure Nigeria, if elected president. He said restructuring agenda was not something a president could ...

The Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees panel set up to discuss the possibility of having a consensus presidential candidate among the aspirants will meet with them (the aspirants) and also screen them on Thursday. The 12-man panel, which is headed by Senator Walid Jibrin, is expected to first meet in the morning of Thursday before inviting the aspirants for the screening. Authoritative sources within the board told our correspondent in Abuja on Monday that all the 13 presidential aspirants had been contacted for the screening. The aspirants are a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo; a former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso; and a former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa. Others said to have been invited are President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; a former President of the Senate, David Mark; a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Tanimu Tu...

The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of projecting an Islamic agenda. The body said the President has made three key appointments in the last few days, but that none is from the South or a Christian. Buhari recently appointed Yusuf Magaji Bichi, a Muslim, from Kano State to replace Matthew Seiyefa, a Christian from Bayelsa who had been operating in an acting capacity since Lawal Daura was sacked. Mr Abbas Umar Masanawa was also named the Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, just as Hajiya Zainab Ahmed was appointed the acting Finance Minister to replace Mrs Kemi Adeosun who resigned. CAN spokesman, Bayo Oladeji, in a statement on Monday alleged that the marginalisation of the Christians is deliberate to heighten the tension in the land for whatever reasons. He said: “CAN notes with disappointments, shocks and surprises that despite our appeal to President Buhari to break the dom...