Court Jails Boko Haram Members 75 Years For Terrorism

Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced three members of the deadly Islamic sect, Boko Haram to seventy-five years imprisonment with hard labour.

Justice Buba sentenced the convicts: Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi and Ibrahim Usman to twenty-five years imprisonment each for participating in acts of terrorism.

It would be recalled that Justice Buba, had earlier granted an application moved by the Lagos State government seeking that the trial be conducted in secret to protect the witnesses.

Seventeen suspects were charged to court by the state, but were later reduced to four following the withdrawal of the case against 13 suspects.

They were all initially charged were arraigned before Justice Buba on 18 counts of conspiracy to commit terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and being members of a proscribed organisation.

The suspects were: Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman, Bala Haruna, Idris Ali, Mohammed Murtala and Kadiri Mohammed.

Others eere: Mustapha Daura, Abba Duguri, Sanni Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya and Musa Audu and Mati Daura, Farouk Haruna, Abdullahi Azeez, Ibrahim Bukar and Zula Diani.

The four that went through trial are: Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman and Bala Haruna.

However, Haruna was discharged by the court on the ground that the government failed to prove the allegation of funding of terrorism activities levelled against him.

Haruna, according to the case of the government, was alleged to have agreed to provide funds to facilitate the escape of the first convict, Ali Mohammed, from detention.

In the charge, the prosecution alleged that the accused persons committed the offences on March 21, at Plot 5, Road 69, Lekki Phase I Housing Estate, and No. 24, Oyegbeni St., Ijora-Oloye, Apapa-Iganmu, Lagos.

They were alleged to have been caught in possession of three packets of explosive construction pipes, 15 detonators, and 11 AK47 rifles with 30 rounds of live ammunitions.

The other items allegedly found in the possession of the accused include 200 rounds of 7.6 milimetres live ammunition, two suitcases containing explosives, and a water container filled with explosives.

According to the prosecution, the offences contravened provisions of Sections 13(2) and 17(b) of the Terrorism Act 2013.

It also contravenes Sections 1, 8, 27 (1) (a) and (b) of the Firearms (special provisions) Act, Cap F28, Laws of the Federation, 2004, and punishable under Section 8 of the same act.

Before the judgement was delivered since the court had barred them from covering the proceeding, journalists had approached the Deputy Chief Registrar and Administrative Head of the Lagos division of the court, Bello Okandeji, who promptly intervened by leading press men to the court.

However, the Deputy Chief Registrar and the journalists were prevented from gaining access to the courtroom by battle-ready members of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

Synagogue: We had approval to build 12 floors — Joshua’s aid

Barely two weeks after the collapse of the guest house at Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos, a fresh indication emerged yesterday that the church was given an approval for a 12-storey building by the Lagos State government.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, yesterday, Mr. Ken Emeakayi, an aide to Prophet T.B Joshua, refuted reports that the building had no approval.

He said: “It is not true and I stand to be corrected. I want to also point out that whosoever said that was not saying the correct thing, because I also listened to a commissioner of Lagos State, when he came to your studio. He said that when he got there, he discovered that there was no approval for the building, meaning that he has not been there before and there was nothing of such. Yes, the church had approval.”

Asked if the church had shown the approval to the Lagos State Government authorities, he said: “Yes, ofcourse. Officials of Lagos State Government have been there severally. They have even come to look at other buildings in the church premises. So, there is no additional sturcture to the building. We are talking of a building that is on its own. We have the pictures. It’s a new structure.

“The building is still under construction, but it is not as if it is an attachment to the church auditorium. It is a building standing on its own and in a different compound. It is a guest house. It is a building that has its own design and approval. This particular structure in question, has an approval for 12-storey building and they have even come to examine the foundation and its casting after this incident. They have therefore seen that it was done with the specification of a 12-storey building.”
When contacted, Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, declined comment on the matter saying, “there will be no further comment on the collapsed Synagogue building until investigations into the matter are concluded and the report made public.”

Police arrest 19 for Ekiti NURTW ex-boss murder

The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 19 persons for the murder of a former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Ekiti State, Omolafe Aderiye.

The 19 persons, including one female, were arrested in an operation over the weekend, the police said.

The Ekiti Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi, who confirmed the arrest to journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, however, did not reveal the identity of the arrested suspects.

He said the suspects remained innocent until investigation proved otherwise.

“The 19 are being questioned in respect of the killing. This is to determine their level of culpability; it is not that they have been indicted. They are helping us in the investigation,” Babayemi said.

Aderiye, a staunch supporter of the Governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose, was killed on Thursday in Ijigbo area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

His death sparked violence across the state on Friday leading to the burning of the house and cars of a former state chairman of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria, Rotimi Olabiwoninu.

On Sunday, there was a threat of reprisal by RTEAN members in the state.

Meanwhile, the police on Monday held a peace-deal meeting with leading traditional rulers in Ekiti State.

They also held a separate meeting with leaders of the RTEAN, NURTW, market men and women, religious leaders, okada riders and other interest groups.

Babayemi, who confirmed the meetings, said the essence was to find a lasting solution to the recurring violence in the state.

Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, appealed to the traditional rulers, led by their chairman, the Onitaji of Itaji, Obama Adamo Babalola, to appeal to their subjects to give peace a chance.

He reminded the traditional rulers’ council that Ekiti was greater than anybody.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 8, Christopher Dega, assured that the police would be unbiased to all parties.

He expressed concerns over the recurring violence, which, according to him, is destroying the image of the state.

Other traditional rulers at the meeting were the Ajero of Ijero, Adebayo Adewole; Oose of Efan-Ekiti, James Popoola; Owaoye of Okemesi, M.G. Adedeji; Alara of Aramoko, Olu Adegoke Adeyemi; Olooye of Oye Kingdom, Oluwole Ademolaju; and Onisan of Isan, Sunday Ajiboye.

A source at the meeting said the traditional rulers agreed to work with the police to achieve peace in the state.

The council also asked that the mandate of the people should be respected and not be subverted by manipulation, the source added.

The source also said the traditional rulers appealed to aggrieved parties in court to follow the natural cause of justice without any rancour. They asked that parties at the tribunal should conduct themselves in a manner that will not create an impression that they want to subvert the will of the people by manipulating the judiciary and cause crisis in the state.

Strong man of Kano, Galadiman Kano dies

A prominent member of the Kano Emirate Council, the Galadiman Kano, Tijjani Hashim, is dead. Hashim died at the age of 79.

Premium Times reports that, the Galadima died in the early hours of today (Monday) in Abuja.
The report says the source who disclosed the news pleaded not to be mentioned since the emirate council is yet to make an official pronouncement on the development,. He disclosed further that arrangements were already in progress to fly Mr. Hashim’s remains from Abuja for burial at about 2 p.m. in Kano.

The source also disclosed that the emirate council is yet to get the official cause of the death of the deceased because all they knew prior to his death was that he travelled to Abuja.

Dan Maje Kano, Munir Sanusi has equally confirmed Mr. Hashim’s death.

He said, “Yes, it is true,” he said. “I’m at the Kano airport expecting his remains because his burial has been scheduled for 2. p.m.”

As the Galadima, Mr. Hashim was the most senior prince in Kano Emirate and was by birth, like the current emir, Sanusi II, an heir to the throne of the Emir of Kano when the late emir Ado Bayero died recently,
Although the Galadima’s father was never an emir, his grand father, Abbas, ruled Kano from 1903 to 1919.
The late Hashim was a a very close ally of the late Premier of the north and Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello. He served as a regional minister under the Sardauna.
Mr. Hashim was arguably the most powerful member of the Kano emirate council and was close to virtually all presidents and head of state of northern extraction.
He is also reported to be very close to current Vice President, Namadi Sambo.

10 Nigerian pilgrims die in Mecca – Hajj Commission

Ten Nigerians in Saudi Arabia to perform the Islamic hajj rites have been confirmed dead, the Coordinator of the National Hajj Commission in Mecca, Aliyu Tanko, said on Monday.

Mr. Tanko said at least 50,000 Nigerian pilgrims have so far arrived Mecca with virtually all them having performed the Umrah rites.

In a telephone chat in Mecca on Monday, Mr. Tanko said that the commission’s three clinics in Mecca and those set up by the various state pilgrims boards provide effective medical services to Nigerian pilgrims in Mecca.

He urged pilgrims to always seek medical advice before embarking on pilgrimage and warned them against exposing themselves to the harsh weather in the Holy Land.

Ebola checkpoints

In a related development, two lounges were provided at Jeddah airport to check African pilgrims for Ebola, with King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) having the two lounges to receive pilgrims coming from Nigeria and some other African countries as a preventive measure against the Ebola virus.

“So far 118,000 pilgrims have arrived by air from Nigeria. There was not a single suspected case of the deadly virus among anyone of them,” said Abdul Ghani Al-Malki, the supervisor of Haj affairs at the terminal.

He said that aircrafts coming from Nigeria are thoroughly checked to prevent the deadly virus.
According to him, an integrated plan was implemented at the airport to prevent the spread of Ebola. ‘’Emergency doctors and consultants in infectious diseases are participating in the execution of the plan in addition to qualified teams who are capable of checking the virus,’’ Mr. Al-Malki said.

He said pilgrims arriving from all parts of the world are being checked against contagious diseases. “We are particularly checking pilgrims coming from countries with reported cases of Ebola including Nigeria, Kenya and Congo,” he said.

The Saudi Kingdom has prevented entry of pilgrims from the Ebola-infected countries in West Africa namely Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. While any suspected case will be transported immediately to King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah for quarantining and treatment.

Our correspondent observed that special forms were distributed among all airline companies containing questions for the pilgrims to answer.

“The pilgrims are asked about their whereabouts for the last 21 days which is the incubation period of the virus,” Abdur Razaq Halliru Gozaki, a Nigerian Port Health official now performing pilgrimage said.

Nigeria’s flag designer,Taiwo Akinkunmi becomes Jonathan’s adviser, gets lifetime salary

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday placed Mr Taiwo Akinkunmi, designer of the National Flag, on lifetime salary as Special Assistant to the President.

Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi would be remembered as a national icon who designed Nigerian flag in 1959 when he was barely 23.

Early years and education

He was born in May 1936 in Ibadan, Oyo State in the then Western Region to the family of the late Pa Akinkunmi.

Akinkunmi began his early education in the North. After his father’s retirement, he came down to the West and was re-enrolled at Baptist Day School, IdI-Ikan in Ibadan.

After he finished from Baptist Day School Idi-kan in 1949, he proceeded to Ibadan Grammar School (IGS) in 1950. IGS

He later left IGS in 1955 to chart a career path for himself. He took appointment as an agriculturist at the Western Region Secretariat in Ibadan as a civil servant.

Akinkunmi later travelled abroad and attended Norwood Technical College in London where he studied electrical engineering.

There was opportunity to stay back in England after his studies, but there was this spirit of patriotism to come back home. After his training at Norwood Technical College, London, he returned to Nigeria in 1963 and went back to the agricultural department at the secretariat in Ibadan to continue where he stopped.
Designing Nigeria’s Flag

Pa Akinkunmi was in England when he got involved in what stands him out today as ‘Mr. Flag Man’.

He was in the Library when he saw an advertisement in Daily Times (Nigerian Newspaper) in the late 50s. He saw this advertisement looking for somebody to design National Flag which would be used for independence celebration in Nigeria in October 1960.

He took part in the competition and sent it to Nigeria. His entry was dropped at the then legislative chambers, the Tafawa Balewa now Race Course. Fortunately, his design was picked among 2000 participants from all over.

Few weeks later, a letter was sent to me him in England that his design won.

One couldn’t have expected a science student to be able to come up with such design that has become a national symbol for 54 years.

He felt elated and on top of the world that he had done something significant for his country.

He also regarded God as the greatest inspirator.

Joke Silva elated as she receives National Award on her birthday

Legengary actress Joke Silva flanked by her legendary husband Olu Jacobs and their son after she received her National Award today in Abuja. It's also her birthday today, so double celebrations and double congrats.

Over 40 Boko Haram Terrorists Killed In Counter Attacks - Military

The Nigerian military on Saturday said it has further subdued the extremist Boko Haram sect by killing over 40 of its fighters in three different locations in the North-east zone.

PRNigeria, an agency that distributes press releases for Nigeria’s security agencies, quoted military officials as saying a multi barrel T55 tank, 9 rifles, two machine guns, two rocket-propelled grenade tubes, five boxes of ammunition and other weapons were covered from the terrorists.

Eleven soldiers however died in the attack while 15 others are receiving treatment for various degrees of injury while three others are missing.

The military also claimed it has repelled attacks from splinter cells of the sect in other locations.
The military has in the past two weeks launched an all-out onslaught on the terrorists, killing many while some of them reportedly surrendered to troops.

This week, the military claimed it had killed the group’s leader, popularly known as Abubakar Shekau.

PRNigeria also said that the terrorists have been beaten back in most communities in Borno State.

Source:PRNigeria

Prof dies after presenting manifesto in UNICAL

A don in the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Prof. Martins Isika, has died after presenting his manifesto for the position of the dean of the post graduate school.

The professor was said to have died at the Senate Chambers of the institution on Friday at about 2pm shortly after reading his manifesto to nearly 300 delegates that were to have voted.

Isika, who is in his 50s, only became a professor some six months ago.

A source, who is a medical consultant at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, told our correspondent on Sunday that the professor might have died of cardiac related ailment.

He said, "Isika had just finished his electioneering campaign and in less than five minutes after addressing the senate regarding the votes, he slumped and died in his seat. The medical doctors among the senate members tried to do some resuscitation on him while rushing him to the hospital but before they got there he was already dead.

"Part of the indication was that he was hypertensive and was probably not regular in clinic. The point is that people should always check their health more than their wealth. He must have campaigned rigorously for not less than two weeks. This was an unfortunate situation.

"This man reached all the members of senate for his election. He customised the address of each member in the brochure for his programme.

"He was very meticulous. He went round addressing each person. So, the stress and the strain might have caught up with him.

"There were unconfirmed reports that he practically did not sleep before the next day and that may have taken a toll on his heart. When you have cases of sudden death like that it may be due to cardiac ailment but the only thing that can show what killed him would be an autopsy.

"Again, unconfirmed report had it that he was due for medical checks but he deferred it. Although nobody can speak for him now but it is imperative that we do not joke with our health. The lesson is that whatever we are pursuing we must be sure that we are alive to continue the pursuit."

When contacted, Public Relations Officer of UNICAL, Mr. Eyo Effiong, confirmed the incident.
He said, "It was a tragedy that the man should die that way after attaining such height in his educational pursuit and was giving his best to the development of young people in the university."

Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, re-opened

The management of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ogun State has ordered the reopening of the school which was shut following protests by students.

The school was shut in August based on the orders of Governor Ibikunle Amosun after students demanded a further reduction in school fees and demanded its immediate implementation.

On Sunday, the Head, Corporate Affairs Division, Vice-Chancellor’s Office of the University, Niyi Oduwole, said the reopening was based on the approval of the university’s governing council.

He said lectures are to start on September, 29, in continuation of the suspended 2013/2014 academic session.
According to the statement, the Students Union Government had in 2008 signed an agreement with the then state government to increase school fees by 20 per cent annually.

Mr. Oduwole said in response to recent students demand for a 40 per cent downward review of the current fees, the state government reduced the fees by about 40 per cent and, in some cases, down to 60 per cent; as well as abolished the dichotomy between indigenes and non-indigenes.
He said the new arrangement was to start in the 2014/2015 session since there was no budgetary provision for the short fall in the current year’s financial appropriation, a stance the students protested.

According to him, the students’ union government has now agreed with the university management on the fees and the commencement date of 2014/2015 session.

The official said all returning students are expected to sign an undertaken to be of good behaviour while an investigating panel would be set up to look at the immediate and remote causes of the disturbances and suggest ways of preventing such in the future.

“It may also recommend appropriate sanctions for anyone that might have violated his matriculation oath. All returning students are to check the university website for details of fees payment guidelines for the session,” Mr. Oduwole said.

Ekiti crisis worsens as police make mass arrests

The political crisis and turmoil in Ekiti state worsened at the weekend, as the Police made mass arrests of those suspected to be behind the orgy of violence in the state. Those arrested will be arraigned today.

Advising troublemakers and their sponsors to have a rethink, the Police high command said in Abuja yesterday that they had appraised the situation of things in Ekiti and given the Commissioner of Police necessary directives to ensure peace.

Force Public Relations Officer, Ag. CP Emmanuel Ojukwu assured that all measures have been put in place to ensure safety and security in the state. According to him, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Zone 11 has taken charge and more mobile policemen have been drafted to the state.

“We have obviously made some arrests but I cannot give you more details on that. They will be taken to court tomorrow (Today),” he added.

Security men prevent reprisal attack

Indeed, following the mass protests that greeted the killing of former state chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Chief Omolafe Aderiye, security operatives made up of policemen and soldiers, yesterday, in Ado Ekiti prevented a move by members of a rival union to carry out reprisal attacks.

Aderiye was killed by gunmen suspected to be hired assassins in his office at Ijigbo, Ado Ekiti last Thursday.

As early as 8.30 a.m. yesterday, members of the rival Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, loyal to Chief Rotimi Olabiwonnu whose properties were razed in the wake of the protest had taken over the Ajilosun area in Ado Ekiti with an intention to retaliate the attack on their leader.

But in a pre-emptive move, about 10 pick up vans carrying heavily armed anti-riot policemen and soldiers, were on standby to quell the crisis, which a police source said was successful and timely.
The reprisal attempt, which spread across the state capital forced residents to stay indoors, while those who were on their way to worship centres had to take a detour back home.
Police warns

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Police Command has warned those without any legitimate business in Ekiti State to steer clear or face the full weight of the law if apprehended.

In a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Victor Babayemi, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Taiwo Lakanu warned those planning to cause crisis in the state to have a rethink, adding that the command had intelligence report that some hoodlums were planning further attacks.
“The State Police Command is in receipt of an intelligence report that some hooligans within the state and their accomplices outside the state are planning to wreak more havoc and disrupt further, the existing fragile peace in the state. Consequently, the Command has placed its men on red alert to prevent these bandits from carrying out their nefarious activities anywhere in the state.
“The Command has equally been empowered to enforce the dusk-to-dawn curfew; hence, residents are also warned to abide, very strictly, with this order”, the CP advised.

AFCON QUALIFIER: Keshi ignores Uche yet again

Interim Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has announced his squad for back to back African Nations qualifiers against Sudan next month.

There are some strange untested new faces in the squad list made public on Friday afternoon, with as many as four players earning call ups for the first time. The coach still ignored inviting Ike Uche.
Striker Sunday Emmanuel, a bench-warmer at Austrian Bundesliga strugglers SV ScholzGrodig, who has 65 minutes of playing time since the start of the season was considered good enough by Stephen Keshi.

Also in line to make his international debut is Ugonna Anyora, a central defender cum defensive midfielder currently on the payroll of Haugesund.'

The 23 – year – old has struggled to earn a starting shirt for his Norwegian team in the current season, having made 11 starts out of a possible 24.'

Reading midfielder Hope Akpan and in- form Guangzhou R & F attacker Aaron Samuel will get their chance to don the colours of the Super Eagles for the first time, after they both missed out on the provisional World Cup roster.

There are recalls for Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses and Raheem Lawal while Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche remains in the international wilderness after being ignored by Stephen Keshi.

Lagos planning to prosecute TB Joshua

The Lagos State Government has set up a coroner of inquest for the purpose of investigating the cause of the September 12 Synagogue Church of All Nation’s building collapse.

This was made known in a statement credited to the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, on Sunday.

According to the statement, Ipaye had instigated the coroner’s inquest pursuant to Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner’s System Law No. 7 of 2007.

The coroner of inquest, headed by Magistrate O. A. Komolafe, has been charged with the duty of establishing the cause of the collapse of Synagogue’s six-storey building that killed no fewer than 115 persons.

Ipaye, who spelt out the responsibility of the coroner, said its final submission might necessitate the institution of a criminal charge against the church.

The commissioner was quoted to have said, “The law requires the verdict of a coroner, as certified in writing, to be forwarded to the State Attorney General and such verdict may form the basis of criminal prosecution depending on the evidence collected.

“The coroner in this case is Magistrate O. A. Komolafe, who also sat as coroner in the Dana Air Crash case. He is expected to announce his sitting or visitation schedules and other details and to hold the inquest at the premises of the High Court of Lagos State, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja.

“In doing this, he (Komolafe) has all the powers of a magistrate to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses, including medical examiners, and require them to give evidence, produce documents or present other relevant materials.”

Gunmen kill 20, burn 70 houses in Nasarawa

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani attackers, on Friday night, killed 20 persons and burnt over 70 houses in Arikya and Anshangwa villages in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

It was learnt that many residents were displaced in the attack which occurred around 11 pm.

The incident took place barely six days after Fulani invaders, numbering over 200, raided Gidan Gambo, 30 kilometres away from Lafia, the state capital, killing 10 people, razing over 50 houses and leaving hundreds displaced.

Abdullahi Buldi, one of the insurgents captured by the youths during the attack on Gidan Gambo, had told journalists that they were hired to attack Eggon communities in the state.

A source, who did want his name in print, revealed that the attack at Arikya and Ashangwa was a reaction to the capture of Buldi by Eggon youths.

An eyewitness of the incident, Alaku Alumbugu, who escaped to Lafia, said the Fulani attackers shot sporadically in all directions.

He said, “As I speak to you I don’t know the whereabouts of my family members. The attackers were too many and they were shooting in all directions. I took to my heels.”

Our correspondent saw some of the displaced persons taking refuge at the headquarters of Eggon Local Government Area of the state with their bags and other valuables on their heads. Some had their babies strapped to their back.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Command, Ismaila Numan, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, however stated that there was no casualty and that few houses were burnt.

Numan, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, added that security personnel had been deployed in the area to restore peace and order.

Russia to supply Nigeria arms to fight Boko Haram

The Federal Government has formally reached out to Russia for assistance in its fight against terrorism in parts of the country.

Based on the government’s request, Russian authorities have offered to assist the nation’s security forces in terms of logistics and equipment to win the war against Boko Haram.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, disclosed this on Friday.

He was answering questions on whether the government will comply with Russia’s condition for military assistance to the country, which is that Nigeria should make a formal request.

Abati said the issue had been properly dealt with during the just-concluded 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly which President Goodluck Jonathan attended in New York.

He said the security challenges in the country were one of the issues discussed when the foreign ministers of the two countries met on the margins of the assembly.

He said one of the fallouts of the meeting was a pronouncement by the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister that his country was ready and prepared to provide logistics and equipment support to the Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies.

He said, “Nigeria and Russia had a strong relationship in the past. Both countries have a joint commission under the auspices of which they cooperate in various areas.

“When the President went for the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Russian minister met on the margins of that assembly.

“One of the issues they discussed was the security challenge in Nigeria. The Russian Foreign Minister told our own Minister of Foreign Affairs that Russia was ready and prepared to provide logistical and equipment support to the Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies in executing the war against terrorism in Nigeria.

“What I have told you is the latest action in that regard. The assurance was given by the Russian Foreign Minister. What I told you was the outcome of the meeting between the two top government officials of the two countries

EKITI CRISIS: Army deploys soldiers in Ado-Ekiti

The violence in Ekiti State forced the Military High Command to deploy soldiers in the state on Saturday. Our correspondent saw the soldiers moving around the state capital, Ado-Ekiti, to forestall breakdown of law and order.

In a terse response to our correspondent, the spokesperson of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Capt. Ademola Adegoke, said the troops were deployed because of the violence that erupted in the state “so as to secure lives and properties.”

Meanwhile, there were gunshots in the Okeyimi area of the state capital around 12 noon on Saturday.

While motorists made a quick detour, commuters scampered to safety.

A passenger, who identified herself as Mrs. Adewale, said the vehicle conveying her and others quickly turned and took her back to where she was picked.

No one could confirm who was responsible for the gunshots.

Meanwhile, relatives of those arrested on Friday in the raid by the Police besieged the Police Headquarters, Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, seeking the release of their loved ones.

It was however gathered that the state commissioner of police directed the area commander to screen those arrested for possible release or prosecution.

A security source said, “The police command has received directives to screen those arrested when the violence broke out on Friday. This is to ascertain their culpability or otherwise in the violence.

“Anyone with a proper identification and genuine reasons would be allowed to go home, while those who cannot explain where they were going or the mission at the spot of arrest will be detained for prosecution.”

Insurance guru and IGI CEO Remi Olowude passes away

Insurance guru and vice chairman/CEO of IGI, Remi Olowude passed away in the early hours of today Sunday September 28th in a hospital in the US. Mr Olowude had been ill for a while before he died. May his soul rest in peace, Amen.
Linda Ikeji at

Ikimi’s defection, final blow to APC — Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday described the defection of a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom IKmi, from All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party as spelling the end of the APC.

He also vowed that the Peoples Democratic Party would win Edo and Rivers states in the 2015 and 2016 general and governorship elections in the two states.

President Jonathan spoke during the PDP South-South unity rally held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, the Edo State capital.

While welcoming Tom Ikimi and other former members of the APC, including national and state assembly members, back to the party, he stated that the defection from the APC to the PDP, led by Ikimi, meant that “the last oxygen has been removed.”

The president said, “We formally welcome Chief Tom Ikimi and others that have joined the PDP today. They have come back to their original party, a standing-stable party; a party that does not change. From the name to the motto, to the logo, everything is the same.

“They left because of some internal things that were not too good. Now, we have corrected all those things. Every party member is seated equally; no discrimination, no imposition. No godfather, no godmother.

“They have come to work with us and having listened to Chief Ikimi, their leaving the APC means that the last oxygen has been removed. So, Edo State will fall to PDP.

“For Rivers State, we know that the only party there is PDP; others exist only on sign boards. So, allow their signboards to stay. But we know the party that is controlling Rivers State.”

Present at the rally were the governors of Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa and Abia states.

Others were the Senate President, David Mark; Senator Udoma Egba, ministers from the South-South and top functionaries of the party.

Jonathan said, “For South-South, at the beginning of this democracy, on May 29, 1999, when I took the oath of office, as a deputy governor, the whole South-South was PDP; from Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, we were all PDP.

“But today, two states have ‘K’ legs. But from 2015 to 2016, we will get all our states back.”

He explained that the rally was not organised as a political campaign but as an avenue to unite members of the PDP from Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Rivers states ahead of the 2015 presidential elections and beyond.

He said, “We are here in Edo State for a unity rally, as the National Chairman has told you. We are not here for campaign yet; we will come back for a campaign. We are here for a unity rally because we must bring our party together, especially as elections are coming.

“This is South-South unity rally and I am happy that the South-South, from Cross River to Edo States, we are all here.”

Also speaking, the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, commended the party in the zone for being the first to endorse President Jonathan as its sole candidate for the 2015 presidential election.

While noting that the President had facilitated development to the states, he assured that the Federal Government would do more to develop the coastal areas in the zone.

In his remarks, the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu, stated that the PDP would not reverse the endorsement of the president.

He said the party would remain united and focused towards winning next year’s election.

Mu’azu, who noted that the party was willing to accept more defectors, said that the PDP remained the destination for democracy in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, commended the zone for making sacrifices for the unity of the country and being a strong ally of the North.

He called for the support of all Nigerians in the re-election bid of President Jonathan.

Fayose didn't slap Justice Adeyeye, but he supervised his beating - Ekiti Attorney General says

The Attorney General of Ekiti state, Wale Fapohunda, was a guest on Channels TV Sunrise programme this morning where he spoke about what happened at the Ekiti state High Court on Thursday September 25th where a judge was assaulted

According to Fapohunda, Justice Adeyeye told him when they spoke on phone that he was never slapped by Ayo Fayose but that the governor-elect supervised his beating.
"When I spoke to the judge, the judge did not say that the governor-elect slapped him. He said he supervised his beating. The judge said he (Fayose) was there, and was standing while his thugs, for want of a better word, beat the judge. Not only did they beat him up, they tore his clothes." Fapohunda said.
He said Justice Adeyeye told him that immediately they arrived in court for the election tribunal sitting, Fayose's supporters began ransacking the court rooms, tearing court documents. It was when he went to meet Fayose to ask him to control his supporters that he was physically assaulted.

Proud grandparents. Bill and Hilary Clinton show off their new born granddaughter

Former US president Bill Clinton and his wife Hilary became first time grand parents on September 26th after their only child Chelsea gave birth. The baby has been named Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky

Chelsea and Marc Mezvinsky got married in 2010

Nigerian troops capture monstrous armored tank from Boko Haram

Nigerian troops captured this monstrous T-55 armored tank pictured below and a highly sophisticated Armored Personnel Carrier from Boko Haram members on Friday September 26th as they tried to invade Maiduguri, the Borno state capital through Konduga.

According to reports, the sect members approached Konduga with the tank after seeing that they were losing the gun battle with the troops. Over 100 militants were killed and a few soldiers also lost their lives in the battle that lasted several hours.

The captured armored tank and the Armored Personnel Carrier have been taken to the Malmalari barracks in the state. Soldiers have since expressed shock over the type of weaponry the sect men have. They said this particular tank has camouflage painting that made it blend with the area, making detection from air almost impossible. Some top military officers say this recent weapon capture shows that the sect is being funded by powerful people as well as having foreign links.

One killed, 200 injured as another building collapses in Anambra

At least one person was killed and about 20 others seriously injured after a three-storey building under construction collapsed at Eziora village, Adazi-Ani in Anaocha local council area of Anambra State on Friday.

It was gathered that the building, jointly owned by Mr. Uche Okeke and his five siblings, who are children of the transport magnet, Chief GU Okeke, was at the completion stage when it collapsed.

According to report, over 25 persons were working on the site when the incident occurred and at the time of filing this report, one person was still trapped under the rubble.
Okeke, who spoke to reporters yesterday said, “It is a sad thing and we are still confused over the incident because we awarded the contract over a year ago to a professional. We have spent millions of naira on the project and we were not in doubt that quality materials were used in the construction.

“One worker was still trapped and we immediately ordered for earth moving equipment from Onitsha to remove the rubbles to save his life.

“We reported to the Police immediately and they helped us in the rescue mission. Unfortunately, the man under the rubble died before he could be rescued”, he added.

He stated that the body of the deceased had been deposited at St. Joseph’s Hospital mortuary at Adazi-Nnukwu.

Chelsea preserve lead, Rooney off in United win

Premier League leaders Chelsea conserved their three-point advantage by beating Aston Villa 3-0 on Saturday, while Wayne Rooney was sent off as Manchester United edged West Ham United.
Having drawn 1-1 at champions Manchester City last weekend, Chelsea continued their unbeaten start to the season with a straightforward win over Villa at Stamford Bridge.
Oscar gave Chelsea the lead in the seventh minute when he steered home a cut-back from Brazilian countryman Willian, who had seen his initial shot parried by Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Diego Costa added a second goal just before the hour, glancing a header past Guzan from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross to take his tally to eight goals in his first six Premier League games.
The Brazil-born Spain striker also played a role in Chelsea’s third goal with a shot that Guzan could only push straight at Villa defender Aly Cissokho, enabling Willian to stab home from close range.
“Even during the period the game was 1-0, when it could be open, it was always closed because we controlled the game,” said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
“When we weren’t dangerous, we kept the ball. The result was a consequence of our dominance.”
Southampton remain Chelsea’s closest rivals after winning 2-1 at home to Queens Park Rangers, with Ryan Bertrand and Graziano Pelle finding the net either side of a Charlie Austin effort.
United climbed six places to seventh, eight points below Chelsea, after seeing off West Ham 2-1 at Old Trafford, but their victory was overshadowed by the red card shown to captain Rooney for violent conduct.
Injury problems forced United manager Louis van Gaal to give a debut to 19-year-old centre-back Paddy McNair.
But they took a fifth-minute lead when Rooney swept home Rafael da Silva’s cross to become the outright third-highest scorer in Premier League history with 176 goals; one more than Thierry Henry.
Radamel Falcao set up Robin van Persie to rattle in United’s second goal mid-way through the first half, but Diafra Sakho reduced the arrears for West Ham by nodding in after Enner Valencia’s header hit the bar.
Rooney was shown a straight red card in the 59th minute for kicking out at the fleeing Stewart Downing — his first club dismissal since March 2009 — but United’s 10 men held on to secure victory.

Oba of Benin gives Jonathan highest royal attire

Benin – The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa, on Saturday presented Red Egbeigbe, the highest Benin traditional attire to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Red Egbeigbe is the royal attire wore only by Benin prince and princess on rare occasion like marriages.
Erediauwa presented the royal attire to Jonathan when he paid a courtesy visit to the monarch in his palace in Benin City.
Presenting the attire, the traditional ruler said that he often see the president in dark-coloured attire.
Erediauwa congratulated the president for getting his party’s endorsement for second term.
Earlier, the president had told the monarch that he was in Benin to attend the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-South sensitisation and unity rally.
President Jonathan who thanked the traditional ruler for the gift, promised to return to the palace when the campaign for his re-election begins. (NAN)

Nigerian troops repel another Boko Haram attack in Konduga

Nigerian troops yesterday Sept. 26th repelled yet another attack by Boko Haram in Konduga, Borno.

According to reports, the sect members attempted to penetrate Konduga in the hopes of getting into the state capital, Maiduguri, but troops engaged them in a fierce gun battle, capturing many of them

The troops also repelled what would have been a major attack on Benesheik town in Borno on Thursday, September 25th. Well done to our military! We really can defeat these people, we just need to put more heart into it.

Cardinal Okogie calls out Ayo Oritsejafor, says CAN has no leader

In an explosive interview with Sahara Reporters, Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, the first President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and former Archbishop of Lagos, shared his thoughts on the current leadership of CAN. He said the Christian body has no leadership and that Pres. Jonathan and Pastor Oritsejafor deserve to be sued over the recent $9.3m South African arms deal scandal. He also said the President Jonathan doesn't deserve a second term. Excerpts from his interview below...
"We have to be praying for this kind of people, for them to have a change of heart. What are they looking for with jet? Another one said, “Jesus said go into the whole world and evangelize, so how can I go into the whole world, with what? I need a plane to be able to go to the whole world.” Even the devil can quote scripture. But did Jesus Christ say you should go and steal to go and buy plane? But now they are claiming that they were given the jets as gifts. But why can’t they spend that money on the poor? There are many Nigerians who are begging that they have nothing to eat, and yet you say you’re preaching. Preaching for what? Are there no pastors where they are going? May God not punish us according to our sins.

Do you think the government should consider negotiating with Boko Haram?
My own opinion is this: When you talk of Boko Haram, who are they? How can you say you are going to negotiate with a nebulous group? They have not declared their identity. Are you going to be talking to the air? The people you want to negotiate with, who are they? Have they even given you their own terms? You can’t know or see them because they are nebulous people. 

And if you’re bold enough they will come and kill you. And you yourself, you need to know what you are negotiating for? Did you offend them? You are just sitting down and somebody tells you to quit. Look at all the innocent people they have killed, and taken innocent people (Chibok girls) hostage, and there is supposed to be a governor in that place. What was the governor doing, if he has no hand in it? If I were the Head of State, he would be the first person I would arrest.
Where do they (Boko Haram) get their arms from? How did they enter? There are many questions to be answered. And then you are now talking of negotiation. For what? What if they say for negotiation the Head of State should quit? Will he be ready to quit? Or what if they say government should give them so and so people in exchange for the Chibok girls, what kind of negotiation is that? To me, I don’t buy it at all.
Do you think the current leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is actually acting like an arm of the federal government or an appendage of the PDP as some critics say?
My brother, I must tell you this; CAN leadership today is zero. CAN has no leader. Thank God you are talking to one of the founders of CAN, and I was there as their leader for eight years. Then, the whole country knew that CAN had a leader, not by my own might, but by God. Because what we were doing then, we had only one voice. But the problem we have now is that people are struggling for power in unrighteous way.
And because he is struggling for power, he can do little or nothing. Power doesn’t come like that. Look at David in the Scriptures. Look at Solomon. Even look at Herbert Macaulay and other early nationalists. You don’t force yourself to power. This is what is happening. Somebody is telling you that if you don’t allow him to rule, you will not rule well. So the person struggling for power is not going to do better. Now, election is coming in 2015 and some people are already saying they must be there. They will not allow the electorate to decide.

Photos: House of Reps Speaker, Tambuwal turbaned in Sokoto

The speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, was this afternoon turbaned as the Mutawallen Sokoto by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III. Congrats to him

EFCC Arraign Two for $91,000 Internet Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, September 26, 2014 arraigned Dandeson Ebosele Ibhonitie, 26, (a.k.a Dandy James, Connor Mead and Barrister Louis Harpoch and Ohiwerei Charity, 31, before Justice E. F. Ikponmwen of Edo State High Court, Benin-City on a 3- count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.
Ibhonitie and Charity allegedly belong to the group of fraudsters using the internet to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Ibhonitie allegedly defrauded one Mrs. Weidman Andrea Sabrie, a German, of the sum of $ 91,000 (Ninety-One Thousand United States Dollars) by pretending to be an American working in Nigeria for a road construction company.
To access the proceeds of the fraud, Ibhonitie allegedly opened a domiciliary account in the name of one Mr. Steven. He entered into an agreement with Charity, the account officer that opened the account for him, on how the proceeds from the crime will be shared. By the arrangement, Charity was to keep 3 percent of every inflow to herself while 7 percent will go to Ibhonitie. The remaining 90 percent, by the arrangement, went to Steven. However, investigations showed that Ibhonitie was the same as Steven.

When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.
One of the counts read:
"Dandeson Ebosele Ibhonitie (a.k.a Dandy James, Connor Mead, Barrister Louis Harpoch, Brett Francis Steven (still at large) and Ohiwerei Charity on or about the 2nd day of April, 2014 at Benin within the Benin judicial division, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of USD 45,000.00(Forty Five Thousand United State Dollars) from Mrs. Weidman Andrea Sabrie, a German national through Skye Bank of Nigeria Limited Account No: 2520346555 in the name of Dandy James by falsely pretending to her that the said sum of money represented legal fee for Barrister Louis Harpoch for your defense which pretence you knew to be false".

In view of their pleas, prosecuting counsel, Ayokunle Fayanju, prayed the court for a trial date. He also opposed the bail applications of the defendants.

Justice Ikponmwen adjourned the matter till August, 30, 2014 for hearing of bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.

"I left my marriage because it was full of lies' Uche Ogbodo opens up

Actress Uche Ogbodo's marriage ended a few months after it was contracted..while she was pregnant. Speaking to Vanguard about it, Uche said her marriage ended because it was full of lies.
"My marriage was full of lies. I cannot tell you in detail what those lies were, if that’s what you’re trying to make me do but it was based on lies. It’s a pity it didn’t work out. I didn’t go into the marriage to crash it. I wanted a family; I wanted a loving home and a loving husband. That was why I went into it in the first place but as nature would have it, I didn’t get any of those. I still thank God my head is intact."
Was it really a marriage?
It was a marriage but we didn’t do any wedding. We didn’t do any court marriage or church wedding. We did nothing. We didn’t even do traditional marriage but in my culture, there are many processes to getting married and I did a few of those, so you can say I was married. In Igbo land, there are rites you adhere to before you can say this is my wife and I did a couple of them.

Why did you do the rites in secret?
You cannot do rites openly; it’s just a family thing, family members only. It’s not a traditional wedding. If I had done traditional wedding, I would definitely invite people. If I had done a white wedding, I would have invited people. If I had done a court marriage, I would still have invited people but it was just rites. I didn’t do anything the public needed to know, so you can’t say I did any marriage in secret.

Did he cheat on you? What exactly did he do?
No, it’s not about women. Like I always say, you cannot build a home on sinking sand. You need to build a home on a rock. What I mean is that a marriage built on deceit and lies is no marriage at all. If you want a solid marriage, it must be built on honesty and trustworthiness. If not, it’s definitely going to crash. If it doesn’t crash today, it will crash tomorrow, so the lies are my reasons.

When did you discover he was lying to you?
Well, it was good while it lasted; he was a good man to me. I felt all I saw was all I was supposed to see but later when one thing led to another and things started unfolding. I started finding out that everything was not what it seemed. Every relationship, you have problems in-between, there is no relationship that just goes on smoothly. In the process of friendship and dating, we had issues that we resolved but when we took it to the next level we just couldn’t hold it together. There are things you can hide as friends but as married couple it is impossible because so many other things like families are involved. As his girlfriend some things that were hidden were revealed when I became his wife. What happened between me and my husband is between me and my husband. We caused it, both of us caused it.

For how long were you guys together?
The marriage lasted barely a month before we started having issues. We were having issues before I found out I was pregnant.

Are you planning to raise your child as a single mother?
When I don’t have a husband, I’m raising her alone. I can’t throw my child away. It’s not her fault that the marriage didn’t work out, it’s not her fault that I got pregnant, it’s not her fault that we didn’t take our marriage seriously, so I’m going to raise her no matter what happens.

What attracted you to your husband before you married him?
I saw something in him that nobody had ever seen. I saw a man that was a good man inside his heart. It’s not like when you’re looking at him everything is perfect but I saw that deep down somewhere, there’s a good man. Without the influence of society, he would have been different. I blame it on society and I blame it on him. He allowed things to influence but he was born a good man and I thought I could bring that goodness out in him. I thought that I could change something and make it better. I tried but it didn’t work out.

Was it completely his fault that your marriage crashed?
It’s our fault. We shouldn’t have allowed our marriage to crash. I wouldn’t know my mistakes; he would tell you my mistakes. Maybe I was a little too much to handle, maybe that’s why but I wouldn’t know until he tells you his own side of the story.

Some people were saying you got into the marriage because of money?
I didn’t get into the marriage because of money in the first place. I got into the marriage because I wanted to be married and because I saw something in him that I felt would work out for me later in life. I didn’t go into it because of money; there were no millions to spend so it wasn’t about money. I don’t care what people say. What matters is the truth and I try to be very straightforward when I deal with people. So, it wasn’t about money because there was none

Others are saying you left him because of his brain tumor?
He doesn’t have brain tumor. He was sick at the time, he had issues but his sickness is not the reason why our marriage crashed. Money was not the issue either. I would definitely know about his health status before I would marry a man. I knew what I was going into, so how could I just leave a man because he had a brain tumor? It’s funny You said he didn’t have a brain tumor, what was really wrong with him? I cannot tell you, he would tell you. He was sick, he was treated but it had nothing to do with the brain. He had surgery but it was not brain tumor, it was not cancer, he was just sick and I thank God that he’s alive. I don’t know why people just wake up and conclude things out of the blue; you don’t know these people from Adam, you just read about people and then you go and comment rubbish. You write rubbish to tear people’s lives apart even when you know nothing about their issues.

Is he still in hospital?
He’s not in hospital; he has never been in the hospital. I don’t know why that picture came up, that picture you saw online was taken like last year December

Was your husband with you when you were pregnant?
No, he wasn’t. We were having issues, we weren’t together. He didn’t see me pregnant for one day

Murder suspect Jeffrey Okafor finally arrested in Nigeria

Jeffrey Okafor (left), the Nigerian suspected of killing a young rapper and DJ named Carl Beatson Asiedu (pictured right),who was stabbed to death outside a nightclub in south London in 2009 has been arrested in Nigeria.

Okafor was arrested by Nigerian police on Tuesday September 23rd about a month after UK police looking for him launched a high-profile online appeal to trace him. Okafor was last seen on CCTV boarding a flight at Heathrow Airport using his brother's passport about two weeks after the murder.

A UK police source said he's in police custody in Nigeria and proceedings are now underway for his extradition to the UK so he can face charges for the killing.

Photos from today's mayhem in Ekiti sta

Here are some photos from the  mayhem that happened in Ekiti state today. Hoodlums went on a rampage destroying property in the state, including the APC Secretariat. 

No contravention notice was served on our building before it collapsed - Synagogue

The Synagogue Church this evening denied online reports that the collapsed 6-storey building was at one time sealed by the Lagos state government and a contravention notice served on the church. Below is a statement they posted on their Facebook page...

This is an official communication from The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations regarding some stories currently being reported in the media about the recent incident that happened in The SCOAN.

Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the Vanguard Newspaper of 26th September 2014 titled, ‘Synagogue: We Sealed Off Building Before Collapse – LSBCA’.

In the article, the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mrs Abimbola Animashahun Odunayo was quoted as saying that the agency had sealed off the building before it collapsed and that the church ignored the warnings of the agency to stop construction. The story was initially published by online media portal News24.

We deem it necessary to state that the above publication is not true in that:
1. No contravention notice was served on the church before the collapse because there was no reason for the issuance of such notices.
2. The building had never been sealed off for any reason whatsoever before the collapse of 12th September, 2014.
3. At no time was any stop-work notice or directive served on the church or pasted on the building prior to 12th September, 2014.

We however wish to state that the letters that were written to the church by LSBCA were written after the collapse of 12/09/14 in the following order:

1. A letter dated 16/09/2014 Ref No. LASBCA/AL/PCA/DH/01 requesting for the submission of a development permit and approval of structures within the church complex, four days after the building collapsed.
2. A contravention notice dated 17/09/2014 Ref No. AL/LASBCA/DH/PCA/CN 06 alleging certain contraventions, five days after the building collapsed.
3. A letter dated 17/09/14 Ref No. AL/LASBCA/DH/PCA/CN 06 requesting for non-destructive tests for structural stability, five days after the building collapsed.

It must be noted that no sealing or quit notice has been served as the building never called for such.

In the above circumstances, we would like to believe that LSBCA has been quoted out of context with the motive of destroying the ongoing investigation into the case as well as casting doubt on the position of the church that the collapse was due to an attack.

Our attention was also drawn to a publication in Nigeria’s Guardian Newspaper of Friday 26th September 2014 titled, ‘Early Probe Report Indicates Compromise In Synagogue Building.’

The article quoted the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State, Mr Toyin Ayinde, as saying that one of the columns or pillars of the collapsed building in the church measured 2 feet by 2 feet and that the reinforcement used for the same was 16mm.

This publication is also misleading and untrue. There is no doubt that it was calculated to give the impression that the collapse was due to structural defects as against the position of the church to the contrary.

We hereby request all the involved parties to take the necessary steps towards correcting such dangerous misinformation so as not to mislead the entire country and the international community.

We also urge the media to take necessary steps towards avoiding the publication of unconfirmed stories in future.

We should not pre-empt and interfere with the ongoing investigation.

The SCOAN

Senate approves GEJ's $1billion loan to fight Boko Haram

The Senate has approved the $1billion (N165bn) loan requested by President Jonathan in July to help in the fight against terrorism and tackle insecurity in the country. The loan would be used for the purchase of military equipment and the training of military personnel.

The loan approved will be in addition to the N968.127bn voted for Defence in the 2014 budget by the federal government

Suspected Boko Haram members burn down several churches in Borno, killing pastor and 19 others

Some suspected members of dreaded Boko Haram sect attacked Shaffa and Shindiffu villages of Hawul Local Government Area of Borno state killing pastor Eliud Gwamna Mshelizza of the Living Faith Church, a teacher (name withheld) at Government Girls Secondary School Shaffa and other 18 others mostly Christians.



The terrorists also razed down about 10 churches such as E.Y.N No:I, E.Y.N No: II and III in Shaffa and Shindiffu villages including befitting houses mostly belonging to Christians as well as destruction of a clinic and some staff quarters and structures at the Government Girls Secondary School in Shaffa.

Unfortunately when the terrorists were about to leave Shindiffu and proceed to Turaku village another Christian community to continue their deadly act, military troops from Adamawa axis and Biu Military barracks who were on their trail ambushed them and killed almost all of them.

The attackers according to fleeing residents invaded Shaffa at about 8pm on Wednesday and wrecked havoc before storming Shindiffu Village on Thursday morning at about 11am.