Okonjo - Iweala : I'm Back On My Toes.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance, who just got two international jobs, says she is back on her toes.
Okonjo-Iweala said having spent greater part of her career in the public sector, she is excited to have an opportunity in the private sector.
She explained that her decision to accept both offers was in order to give back to the society, extending appreciation to all those who have supported her.
She was speaking in an interview with Ventures Africa.

Amaechi ; PDP Painting Me As A Common Criminal.

Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate-past governor of Rivers state, has filed a legal action against Felix Obuah, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Amaechi is asking the court to compel Obuah and the PDP to pay him N300 million as compensation for defaming his character.

The former governor said based on allegations that he defrauded and embezzled $757 million in Rivers, some people now view him as “a common criminal”.

Photos: Troops clear more Boko Haram camps

Press statement below from the Nigerian army.
Advancing troops along Banki axis today afternoon cleared more terrorist camps and captured weapons, flags and improvised explosives (IEDs) making devices at Jangolori and Bulaburma villages. The recovered items have confirmed earlier intelligence that the terrorists often used corrugated metal roofing sheets and bathroom slippers in making improvised explosive devices which affects troops advance.

Police raids brothel in Calabar, arrest 54 prostitutes

No fewer than 54 prostitutes alongside 58 men were on today arrested by police during a raid in a popular brothel called ‘Flour mill’ in the Calabar metropolis. The operation which was carried out by detectives from the Cross River State police command, was led by Governor Ben Ayade’s security adviser (SSA), Mr. Jude Ngaji.

Briefing newsmen after the operation, Ngaji said the brothel which used to be a hotel has now become a notorious place for commercial sex workers in Calabar.

'You're a jewel for Africa!' Akinwumi Adesina praises NOI

The previous Minister of Agriculture and new President of the African Development Bank (AFDB Group) took to twitter to compliment Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her twofold appointments.

Buhari leaves for New York on Thursday for discussion on terrorism and security with World leaders

Press statement from the presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Nigeria for New York on Thursday for a series of meetings and interactions with notable world leaders within and on the sidelines of the main events of the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. On the agenda of President Buhari's talks, deliberations and interactions with the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, President Barack Obama of the United States, President Francois Hollande of France, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain,

Press Release: Senate is Solidly Behind Senate President, Bukola Saraki

Press statement signed by Sen. Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba on behalf of the Eighth Senate.
After majority of us, Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, witnessed the appearance of our President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal this morning, we are happy that he appeared at the Tribunal after availing himself of the opportunity to defend his Fundamental Human Rights.

#SarakiOnTrial : See how Nigerians are reacting on twitter to Saraki's trial

Nigerians on twitter have responded to the trial of Senate president Bukola Saraki on his alleged false declaration of assets. A lot appear to approve of the trial, say war on corruption is welcome. See their tweets bellow.

#Saraki

A Step Closer to the End? Syria War Prompts Pull from Doomsday Seed Vault

A seed storage vault built into the side of an Arctic mountain to protect global food supplies in case of global cataclysm is being tapped by researchers in the Middle East who say the Syrian war has devastated their crops.

UN found a total of 290 locations inside 18 Syrian cultural heritage areas to have been directly affected during the last three years

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, built in 2008 by the Norwegian government as the world's largest secure seed storage, is intended to protect thousands of varieties of essential food crops against things like nuclear disaster, disease and climate change.

Truck owners: Traffic gridlock to ease off within 2 days -

The National President of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners, Remi Ogungbemi says the traffic gridlock at present being knowledgeable in Lagos will back off within the next 48 hours. Talking with NAN, Odugbemi said.

#Truck

Large-Scale Military Operation Against Bodo Militants Under Way in India

Indian military forces have reportedly launched their biggest operation yet against militants of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, part of which was conducted in areas close to the international border with Bhutan.

India's military forces have staged their biggest operation yet against a militant group known as the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), sometimes operating near the international border with Bhutan, Indian media reported.

Pics: President Buhari welcomes Dein of Agbor Kingdom

President Buhari yesterday received the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, HRM Benjamin Ikechuku Keagborekuzi I in Aso rock villa Abuja. More photos bellow.

#Buhari

Photos: Female Zookeeper killed by a tiger in New Zealand

Samantha Kudeweh (left) was on Sunday, September 20 attacked by one of Hamilton Zoo's Sumatran tigers in New Zealand. According to local reports, the tiger attacked the 43-year-old mother of two while the animal's enclosure was being cleaned. The Zoo will be closed until Thursday Sept. 24th.

A staff confirmed that the tiger will not be put down following the tragedy.

Lance Vervoort, Hamilton City Council’s General Manager Community, says although Samantha’s death is a tragedy for the wider zoo family and international wildlife conservation community, senior zoo staff have ruled out euthanizing Oz.

Strong Report Reveals That Jonathan Used Bullion Van To Loot N67.2Bn Cash From CBN

Strong reports have raised dust that former Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan authorized the withdrawal of a whopping N67.2 billion in cash from the Central Bank of Nigeria between November 2014 and February 2015 for “special services”.

PREMIUM TIMES authoritatively reported that the withdrawals were made in the build up to the 2015 general elections.

Information further gathered says more ‘curious’ large withdrawals were made from the bank during the period, however, PT was unable to obtain documents to back up the claims.

South Africa Police nabs man after 21 pieces of female private parts are found in his freezer

A father of 2, 58 year old Danish man was arrested in South Africa after pieces of female genitalia were found in a freezer in his home. Police spokesman, Hangwani Mulaudzi said that 21 pieces of women’s genitalia were found stored in plastic bags in a freezer. Police also discovered anaesthetic and other surgical implements in his home. Mulaudzi said: “We are not sure how many victims there are; we are in the process of tracing them’ The spokesman said police were alerted by one of the man’s victims. The man was arrested on Thursday in the city of Bloemfontein in the central Free State province. They are asking women who have been assaulted by the man to come forward. Mulaudzi couldn’t identify the man’s motive. It is not known if the body parts are from 21 different women. It is not known how the man committed the assaults or if the women are dead or alive. The Danish citizen owns a gun shop in the city of Bloemfontein in the central Free State province, reported Volksblad, a local Afrikaans language newspaper.

Multiple bomb blasts in Maiduguri signifies desperation of Boko Haram - Military

Press statement from Nigeria military on yesterday's multiple bomb attacks in Maiduguri, Borno state
 This is to inform the public that there were three improvised explosive devices explosions at Gomari and Ajilari general area in Maiduguri at about 7.21pm today evening. Although details are not clear, it is important to note the attacks signify high level of desperation on the part of the Boko Haram terrorists.

Jonathan Doesn’t Have Money — Alamieyeseigha

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

In his days as the governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, otherwise known as DSP, was fondly referred to as the Governor-General of Izon Nation, because he presided over the only state with entirely Ijaw extraction and was seen as the leader of the struggle for the proverbial Resource Control in the Niger Delta. But his popularity and political career was cut short when he was impeached towards the end of December 2005 and replaced by his then Deputy Governor, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who later became Nigeria’s President following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010.

Saraki CCB Trial.... Why The Silence By Close Associates?

Since this issue came up, I have been wondering why his supporters in the senate and PDP are not speaking up against this matter till I stumbled on this news item on New Telegraph...... "Saturday Telegraph observed that some of the Senate President’s associates, especially former governors and other leaders of the APC have refrained from making comments. “My brother, this matter is a trap o. The Senate president is a friend, no doubt,but the more you look the less you see in this matter. I think only a few can come out to say anything either for or against the move because this is like a trap,” a former governor who is likely to make the federal cabinet list said on the telephone." What is really happening?

REVEALED: How Jonathan’s Security Chiefs Bungled War Against Boko Haram

But for the deliberate sabotage and short-stemmed tactics employed by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s security aides in prosecuting the war against Boko Haram, the situation would have long been quelled, LEADERSHIP Weekend can now reveal authoritatively.

Since the assumption of office by President Muhammadu Buhari and the subsequent appointment of a new national security adviser, Mohammed Monguno, as well as the new service chiefs led by Major General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin (chief of defence staff), the war has taken its toll on the sect, with the service chiefs promising to end the war by the end of December, this year.

I’ll never forgive the Okada rider who raped me and stole my virginity – 14-year -old girl

It’s been 10 days since she was violently raped by an okada rider who took her home from her aunty’s shop, but 14-year-old Esther (not real names) was still writhing in pain and sobbing when our correspondent visited her on Tuesday.

With little signs of attaining puberty, she looked very young and innocent. Even though she tried as much as she could to hide her pains, a mix of anger and regret was still written boldly on her face, and she occasionally appeared lost in some painful thoughts.

Senate And Buhari's Body Language - Magnus Oladesu

The appointment of Senator Ita Enang as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) and the dragging of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to the Code of Conduct Tribunal are two events in quick succession that leave no one in doubt that President Mohammadu Buhari may have declared total war on the Senate and its leadership.

The Cry Of Nigeria Immigration Pensioneers

The Pensioners under the ages of paramilitary service personnel have cried out over the anomalous capture of paramilitary service personnel into the 2004 contributory service pension act, using our gratuity to pay us (pensioners) pension since we have not contributed enough because we were having less than 10 years to serve. They would have given us our full gratuity and return us to the old pension scheme,instead of using us as experimental guinea pigs. Please our able president, help us to retrieve our gratuity from PENCOM and return us to the old pension scheme. Our people are dying like chicken everyday. NB: This article is writing by my father Mr Benson Uduehi a retired immigration officer from benin city, Edo sate. Please mods help push this to the front page till it get to the appropriate quarters.

Immigration Officer Dupes Siblings Of N625,000, Escapes (Pictured)

He could easily pass for someone who was tired of everything around him, not even with the way he carried himself, but beyond his gloomy demeanour, he is truly hurting, angry and deeply frustrated, all at once, though he tried to hide it with some fake smiles.

Iduh Lucky, as he introduced himself to our correspondent when he came to share his story with Saturday PUNCH at the PUNCH headquarters recently, is not only sad about the unemployment crisis in the country, but more so because he has been duped of thousands of naira by a senior immigration officer who offered to help him secure a job and is now nowhere to be found.

Diamond Bank's Staff Jailed For Transferring Millions To Family Account.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court, Lagos, on Thursday remanded a Diamond Bank employee, Obioha Okengwu, at Ikoyi Prisons for allegedly defrauding the bank of N111.2 million.

The accused, a graduate of Abia State University, whose address was not given, is standing trial on a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud.

Prosecutor Effiong Asuquo told the court that the accused committed the offences between April and August 2014 in Lagos.

Northern Group Gives Saraki 3days Ultimatum To Resign As President Of The Senate

The Northern Ethnic Nationalities Unity Congress (NENUC) yesterday called for the resignation of the Senate President Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

The call came just as the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) secured a bench warrant for the arrest of the embattled Senate President by the CCB Tribunal over allegations of false declaration of assets dated back to 2003.

The group said the Senate President should resign before he drags the image and reputation of the office he presently occupies further in the mud.

Speaking with reporters yesterday, the National President and Convener of the group, Mr Bako Benjamin, said it is disgusting that the Senate President would rather be seeking court’s protection than going before the anti graft agency to clear his name of the charges.

“Let the Senate President come to equity with clean hands. Let him defend himself against all the charges levelled against him in the spirit of the new wind of change blowing across the country,” Benjamin said.

He said the anti-corruption war spearheaded by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration would be futile if people like the Senate President continue to seek protection from the law courts rather than presenting themselves for the acid test.

Benjamin, who noted that the recourse to the court itself is an admission of guilt, said: “Seeking protection from the law courts is sending a strong signal that he (Saraki) has something to hide.”

The group, he said, has therefore given the Senate President a three-day ultimatum to honourably resign to prevent impeachment proceedings against him for his eventual removal from the exalted office.

NENUC said Saraki’s continued stay in office is “capable of sending wrong signals to the international community and pose a huge question mark on President Buhari’s commitment to ridding the nation of corruption.

He said NENUC would not hesitate to mobilise other well-meaning Nigerians to march on the National Assembly in protest should the Senate President refuse to honourably resign from office within reasonable time.