$2.1 bn Arms Deal: I Didn’t Receive A Dime From Dasuki, Says Ex-Gov. Bafarawa

ABUJA -The ongoing investigation into the $2.1 billion arms deal involving a former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki and some of his associates took another twist Thursday, with the former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa exonerating himself of any wrongdoing.
There has been a chain of revelations as to how the money was dispensed, with the ex-governor’s name featuring prominently as collecting about N4.6 billion for “spiritual purposes”.

I Will Not Reduce Minimum Wage, Other Governors Must Pay – Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the state government will not be a party to the reduction of the minimum wage for workers.
Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday when he granted audience to the National Chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, Wike said that his overnment will continue to pay salaries of workers regularly because the multiple effect was critical to social stability.
He said: “Rivers State will not be a party to the reduction of the minimum wage. Rivers State will not reduce the minimum wage.
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PDP Begs Nigerians To Join Party, Holds National Convention March 2016

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced that it would hold its national convention on March 19, 2016. According to a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, zonal congresses of the party were billed to hold on March 16, while state congresses would be conducted on March 12.

Jega To Receive Wole Soyinka’s ‘Anti-Corruption Defender’ Award.

Attahiru Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and veteran broadcaster, Bimbo Oloyede, will be honoured at the 10th Wole Soyinka award for investigative reporting. Jega and Oloyede will receive the anti-corruption defender award and the lifetime award for journalistic excellence, respectively.

The decade anniversary of the Wole Soyinka award for investigative reporting is scheduled for Wednesday 9 December, 2015, by 5pm at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
In his acceptance note to Motunrayo Alaka, coordinator of the Wole Soyinka centre for investigative journalism, Jega appreciated the organisation for finding him worthy of the award.
“Such an honour from a centre named after the great and revered Wole Soyinka is of considerable significance,” he said.

Biafra Separatists: Northern Traders Flee South-East

As the protest by pro-Biafra separatists continue unabated, Nigerians from the northern part of the country are fleeing from the South-East in droves for fear of being caught in the centre of the crisis.
Most of them residing in Onitsha, Nnewi and other South-Eastern cities doing business have hurriedly relocated to Asaba, Delta State capital seeking refuge.
Pro-Biafra protesters led by member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had last Monday intensified the protest in demand for the release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu by locking down the South-East.

'Allah Decided to Punish Turkey Leaders By Making Them Lose Their Minds' - Putin

Russia's President said that Allah, apparently, decided to punish Turkey's leadership by making them lose their minds.

Russia's president said: "We were ready to cooperate with Turkey on any sensitive issue and were ready to go much further than [Turkey's other] allies were willing to. "

Earlier, on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia had received additional evidence that oil from fields controlled by Daesh, which is prohibited in Russia, were being transported to Turkey on an industrial scale.

Strange Bedfellows: Does US' Coalition Intentionally Feed Daesh in Syria?

Russia's increased activity along the Syrian-Turkish border indicates clearly that the Syrian conflict has entered its final phase, geopolitical researcher Tony Cartalucci stresses, adding that the true sponsors behind this conflict are now stepping in overtly.

It should be clear now to those, who criticized Russia's air campaign as ineffective, that their prognosis has proved wrong, Bangkok-based geopolitical researcher and writer Tony Cartalucci underscores.

Three Mistakes Turkey Made That Dragged It Into Conflict With Russia

Turkey seems to have fallen into its own trap: its covert support of Daesh has led to indirect confrontation with Russia, but the shootdown of a Russian bomber and a further escalation of relations with Moscow have led to direct confrontation between the two, greatly annoying Ankara’s western partners, according to an article in Le Huffington Post.

Turkey has made a number of “very bad decisions”: by taking up an ambiguous position in Syria, it has started a brawl with Russia and in so doing annoying its western partners, journalist Romain Herreros wrote in his article for the newspaper.

Western Media Calls Russia 'Hostile' for Outing Turkey's Dirty Oil Secret

On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry held a briefing detailing the Turkish government's involvement in the trade of Daesh (ISIL) oil. However, instead of starting their own investigations, many Western media outlets have instead attacked Russia for presenting the evidence, suggesting the revelations were 'hostile' and 'confrontational'.

At Wednesday's Defense Ministry briefing in Moscow, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov presented Russian intelligence materials, including photographs, satellite imagery, and detailed maps outlining exactly how "industrial quantities" of oil from Daesh-controlled territories in Syria and Iraq find their way into Turkey, and then on to third countries.

57 year old man dies onboard an Arik Air flight

According to multiple reports, a 57 year old man identified as Albert Nnadi died on-board an Arik Air Flight that was heading to Lagos from Owerri yesterday December 2nd. The man was on his way to Lagos for medical attention when he was found dead as the passengers were disembarking from the plane after landing in Lagos. Arik Air confirmed the incident happened and said the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Mortuary.

Photos: 6 Dangote trucks burnt during Pro-Biafran protest in Onitsha yesterday

Between 4 to 6 trucks belonging to Dangote group were burnt during the Biafra protest that took place in Onitsha, Anambra state yesterday December 2nd. The Central Mosque in Onitsha was also torched. Continue to see more photos...

DAAR communication releases statement on Dokpesi's arrest

DAAR Communication owners of AIT and Raypower have released a statement over the arrest of their Chairman, Raymond Dokpesi. Find the statement below

On Monday Nov 30, 2015 whilst attending the 70th birthday celebration of former Minister and PDP stalwart, Professor Jerry Gana, the Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc. received a telephone call from the Ag. Chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Magu inviting him to the visit the EFCC Headquarters to provide some clarifications and documentation regarding some transactions involving the Office of the erstwhile NSA during the 2015 Presidential election campaigns.

Dasuki lists ex-governors, PDP chiefs, in $2.1bn deals

According to a report by The Nation, former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki has started opening up about the controversial $2.1 billion arms deal. A source at EFCC who spoke with the newspaper stated that Dasuki decided to open up after a former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Shaibu Salisu who was recently arrested in connection with the probe, made some statements implicating him, Dasuki, in the deal.

Cameroon Frees 900 Boko Haram Hostages In Military Operation.

Cameroon's army, with backing from a regional anti-Boko Haram task force, have killed at least 100 militants from the militant group and freed 900 people it had held hostage, the army and defence ministry said on Wednesday.
"In the course of this operation, at least 100 members of Boko Haram were killed. Nine hundred hostages detained by Boko Haram were freed," said army spokesman Colonel Didier Badjeck.
The defence ministry also cited the same figures in a brief statement on state television.

War Against Insurgency On Course – COAS

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has assured that the war against insurgency is on course in spite of recent attacks by insurgents on remote communities in Adamawa and Borno.
Buratai gave the assurance on Wednesday when he visited a military location at Gajigana in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno, which was recently attacked by Boko Haram insurgents.
He said the recent attacks would not have much effects on the operation geared toward destroying all terrorists’ enclaves on Nigerian territory, describing them as a minor setback that was being addressed.

Transparency International Rates South Africa As Africa’s Most Corrupt.

In a report released by Transparency International (TI), a watchdog group, on Tuesday, South Africa came first among countries where corruption is on the increase.
Citizens of Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia and Ghana were also said to have witnessed the highest levels of corruption.

SSS Disobeys Court Order, Ejects Ex-DG, Kayode Are, From Lagos Home

Operatives of the State Security Service on Wednesday stormed the Lagos residence of one of its former Director Generals, Kayode Are, ejecting his family and throwing out his properties.
“They are right here in my house,” a distraught Mr. Are told PREMIUM TIMES on telephone. “They have pulled down the doors, chased my family away and are throwing out our properties. They are not even giving us time to remove our things.”
The secret police took the action despite a court injunction served on it Tuesday barring it from ejecting Mr. Are from his Ikoyi home.

Kachikwu Replaces Diezani As OPEC President.

Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, has replaced Diezani Alison-Madueke as conference president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Speculations were that Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources, President Muhammadu Buhari, would take the top seat at OPEC, but the body in a recent update named Kachikwu as the head of the OPEC conference.

We Can Confidently Announce That Fuel Scarcity Will End In A Few Days – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured that the current fuel scarcity in the country will be over in a matter of days, following the approval of the subsidy payment by the National Assembly.
”We can confidently announce here today that the scarcity will end in a few days. Subsidy payment till the end of the year has been approved by the National Assembly. As you know we can’t spend money without approval,” the Minister said during a visit to the headquarters of the Daily Trust newspaper in Abuja on Wednesday.Lai-Mohammed

U.S Ready To Help Nigeria Overcome Electricity Shortfall

The United States, U.S, Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle has advised the Federal Government to create an enabling environment that will make big private companies invest in the nation’s power sector, insisting that such remained the solution to the challenges crippling the nation’s energy industry.
The envoy stressed that his country identified the private power players as the solution to the several challenges facing the country as regards electricity.

Okonjo-Iweala Tells Buhari To Call Oshiomhole To Order

Former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has requested the Federal Government to call Edo State Governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole to order over the Governor’s recent efforts to link her name to the alleged $2.1 billion arms issue.

The Minister stressed that she had absolutely nothing to do with the issue.
She stated that it was an abuse of public office, the judicial process and her human rights for Governor Oshiomhole, whom she stopped from taking a highly suspicious N15 billion loan, to make false allegations against her while hiding behind the constitutional immunity granted state governors.

Biafra: MASSOB,IPOB Deny Setting Onitsha Central Mosque Ablaze

ENUGU – Following ground swell protests at Ontisha,Anambra State and other states of the south-east geopolitical zone staged by members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Indigenous People of Biafra,IBOP,last Tuesday,calling on the Federal Government to release their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the two pro-Biafra groups, Wednesday, disassociated selves from acts of arson and violence that culminated in the razing down of Onitsha Central Mosque and burning of some vehicles.

South Africa: Buhari, Xi Jinping To Discuss Railway, Power Projects

President Muhammadu Buhari will be in South Africa , Thursday to participate in the Forum on China/Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) taking place in Johannesburg, December 4-5, 2015. At this forum President Buhari will follow up his meeting with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping which took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in November in New York.
President Buhari had indicated to Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader at the bilateral meeting in New York that he wanted China to re-commence stalled rail projects under new terms that would see China providing nearly all the financing required.

PDP: We’re Battle-Ready For APC In Bayelsa.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is ready to combat any attempt of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa state.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Olisa Metuh, spokesman of the PDP, said members had been instructed to defend their votes and counter any attempt to rig the election by the ruling party.
He also alleged that the APC had concluded plans to rig the Bayelsa governorship election “just as it did in the November 21 Kogi governorship election”.

Fuel Scarcity Will Not Happen Again, Says FG.

Federal government has assured Nigerians that the current fuel scarcity in the country will be over in a matter of days, vowing that the situation will not happen again.

“We can confidently announce here today that the scarcity will end in a few days. Subsidy payment till the end of the year has been approved by the national assembly. As you know we can’t spend money without approval,” Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, said in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Segun Adeyemi, special adviser to the minister, Mohammed explained that the N521bn that had been approved by the national assembly, as part of the passed supplementary budget of N574.4bn, would be enough to cover the fuel subsidy till the end of the year.