UK Offers To Assist Nigeria Tackle Boko Haram

The United Kingdom has offered to further assist Nigeria in its quest to end the violent activities of the Boko Haram sect by December.  The British Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Nicholas Houghton, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Thursday shortly after a closed-door meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Houghton said he was sent by his government because the United Kingdom shares an interesting security situation with Nigeria.

Blatter Says FIFA Ethics Committee Did Not Follow Code On Suspension

FIFA President Joseph Blatter on Thursday said he was not given an opportunity to be heard by the organisation’s Ethics Committee before it provisionally suspended him for 90 days.
“Blatter is disappointed the Ethics Committee did not follow the Code of Ethics and Disciplinary Code, both of which provide for an opportunity to be heard,’’ Blatter’s lawyers, Lorenz Erni and Richard Cullen, said in a written statement.

You Leave As A Hero – Enyeama’s Wife Back His Decision To Quit Super Eagles

Wife of former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Promise Enyeama, has taken to Instagram to support her husband, after he announced his decision to quit international football on Thursday.
Vincent had a bust-up with coach Sunday Oliseh this week, after he arrived at the Eagles camp in Belgium.

The Lille shot-stopper was permitted to report late, following the burial of his late mother in Akwa Ibom. When he tried to explain during dinner, Oliseh reportedly ordered him to sit down.
There was an exchange of words and Oliseh called security officials to throw him out.
Although the NFF intervened in the situation and Enyeama stayed back, he has now decided to quit international football.

Supreme Court Favours Kagame’s 3rd Term Bid

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Rwanda’s Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favour of President Paul Kagame third term bid, dismissing the suit of the main opposition party, which sought to prevent changes in the constitution.
Following the report of a nationwide consultation which started on July 20, 2015, 24 senators unanimously voted for an amendment of the nation’s constitution to allow Kagame run a third term.
The report, which was presented in August, said only 10 Rwandans opposed the removal of the constitutional term limit.

Buhari Chose Quality Hands As Ministers – Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent nomination of ministers, whom he described as “quality hands” needed by the country to achieve its desires.

Oshiomhole, who spoke at an event to launch an autobiography, ‘This is My Life: The Journey So Far,’ written by a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Emmanuel Emovon, said, “People may have political issues but in terms of the quality of those people, I have not seen any of them that anybody can dismiss as not worthy of his nomination.

Fasehun Asks Yoruba To Confront Fulani Herdsmen

Founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Frederick Fasehun, has described the destruction of Chief Olu Falae’s farm in Akure by cattle belonging to Fulani herdsmen as an embarrassment to the Yoruba race, while also calling on the people of Yorubaland to defend their territories.
The farm of Falae, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was destroyed barely two weeks after the herdsmen kidnapped him and detained him in the bush until a ransom was paid, releasing after four days.

Breaking: Lionel Messi To Stand Trial For Tax Fraud In Spain

Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi and his father Jorge are to stand trial on three counts of tax fraud that could carry prison sentences, a Spanish court confirmed on Thursday. In a court filing, the judge in charge of the case rejected a request by the public prosecutor to try only the footballer’s father.

EXCLUSIVE: Dogara-Led House Ranks “Juicy” Committees As Reps Scramble For Them

Members of the House of Representatives are intensifying their lobby for what they consider lucrative House committee positions, ahead of an announcement of committee membership by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
Barring any last minute change, Mr. Dogara will announce 95 House committees, and will appoint same number of chairpersons and deputies — the highest number yet in the history of the National Assembly — in what is seen as an attempt to ensure the committees go round the House’s 360 members.

Switzerland gets Britain’s request to probe Diezani’s ally Kola Aluko, he also faces extradition to UK

According to Punch there were strong indications on Wednesday that Switzerland might extradite Nigerian oil baron, Kola Aluko, to the United Kingdom.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, in an email to one of its correspondents, confirmed that the UK had sought for mutual legal assistance from its country.

In an e-mail sent to it, the office of the AGF of Switzerland was asked if it had received extradition request from the UK on the businessman.
It was also asked to specify the time the extradition process would begin and when he would be extradited.

Public office holders from 1999 should be probed-Osoba

At the exhibition of books written by Nigeria’s Poet, and public commentator, Odia Ofeimun, tagged, Special 40-Plus Book Exhibition that took place yesterday at the Agip Recital Hall of The Muson Centre, Lagos, former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, said that past public office holders since the transfer of power to civilian government in 1999 should all be probed.
He said:

“Those who have held public offices in the civilian era should all come back and account for their stewardship, if you really want everybody to be accountable, I’m suggesting that the president should make all of us come back and account for whatever we did when we were in offices since 1999, since the return of civilian government. There should be thorough examinations of our actions, 2003 was not under Jonathan, so the probe must begin from 1999 because once you pull the root, the root will pull all the grass around.

Woman shoots at thief as he runs from store

A woman in suburban Detroit opened fire on a shoplifter after seeing a security guard chase him out of a Home Depot store, police said.
The shoplifter in Tuesday's Home Depot incident was not injured, the Detroit Free Press said.
It was not clear if the woman, who has a license to carry a concealed weapon, would face any charges for taking the law into her own hands.

Buhari in closed door meeting with Saraki, Dogara

A meeting between President Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and principal officers of the National Assembly is currently holding at the state house. Among the issues expected to be discussed is the confirmation of the ministerial list sent to the senate as well as the 2015 supplementary budget. The lawmakers in attendance include Senate Leader Ali Ndume, Senate Deputy Leader Bala Ibn Na'Allah, Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio, Senate Minority Whip Philip Aduda, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun, House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, among others. Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu is absent.

Tension in Bayelsa over Alamieyesiegha's planned extradition to UK

Fresh moves to extradite ex- governor, Diepreye Alamieyesiegha to the UK is generating serious tension in Bayelsa State. Already, many socio-political organisations have described the plan as a wrong step in the wrong direction.

 Chairman of the Bayelsa State caucus in the National Assembly, Foster Ogola, condemned the plan in Yenagoa during a function where Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, was endorsed for a second term by several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the civil society organisations.

President Buhari meets with Saraki, Nass Leadership (photos)

President Buhari yesterday met with Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Honorable Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of both chambers of the National Assembly. VP Yemi Osinbajo was also present in the closed door meeting which held in the presidential villa and lasted for about two hours. Saraki is his reaction on his social media page said the meeting signifies a good working relationship between executive and legislative arms of Nigeria's Federal Government which is a necessity for National development. Additionally, the meeting demonstrates that the nation is working

Vigilante shoots self dead while trying to scare thieves

Ogundare Ekundayo who was a member of a neighbourhood watch, was one of a three-man team guarding Osholanke Street, Ebute Meta. Ogundare accidentally shot himself dead while attempting to scare away thieves from the Ebute-Meta area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that around 4am, when they were expected to round off guarding the area,, Ekundayo reportedly shot into the air to scare away any thief that might be in the area as was the vigilante's’ custom.

Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha compulsorily retired from the Army

Former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha, has been compulsorily retired from the Army.
His compulsory retirement, according to a military source, was due to his absence in the Army for a period of over 14 years, while he was away to face the trial over the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, a wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

On Wednesday, Punch sighted a copy of the retirement letter sent to Al-Mustapha from the Army Headquarters which stated that the Army Council took the decision to force him out of service at its meeting held on August 5, 2013, more than a year after the Court of Appeal acquitted him.

We have received more petitions against Anmaechi's ministerial nomination - Dino

Spokesperson of the senate, Dino Melaye, says the senate has received more petitions against Rotimi Amaechi's ministerial nomination asides the petition from Senators from Rivers state which was presented to the senate by Senator George Sekibo yesterday October 7th.
"The petitions from the senators from Rivers state is not the only one that we have received. We will continue to receive petitions after the screening exercise"he said
Asked what the senate will do with the petitions presented, he said
"The senate especially the 8th senate is a responsible senate and all the petitions will receive the attention of the senate. The senate president in his wisdom has refer this particular petition to the committee on Ethics and public petitions and I am sure it will be treated. All petitions will be looked into, will be investigated. The authenticity of the petitions will be investigated and and at the end of the day the conclusion will be drawn"

Lawmakers Hardly Represent The People – Ugwuanyi

Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Wednesday chastised members of the National Assembly, saying they “hardly” operate as representatives of the people, which they are supposed to be.
Ugwuanyi was a member of the House of Representatives until he was elected governor in the 2015 elections.
He spoke while delivering a paper titled ‘Legislation as an instrument for social justice in a growing democracy’ at the 55th Founders’ Day Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Highlighting what he described as “key pitfalls in the present system of governance,” Ugwuanyi said it was unfortunate that federal lawmakers were not accessible to their constituents, who they are supposed to be representing.

Buhari Should Prosecute And Jail Corrupt Persons – Edwin Clark

Elder statesman and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has declared his support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption and terror. Clark, who was a minister of information made the declaration while receiving members of the Think Nigeria First Initiative (TNFI) in Abuja.

While condemning the activities of the insurgent group, he said that “Boko Haram is a problem for all of us Nigerians and we must all fight it together.”

FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, Provisionally Suspended For 3 Months

Sepp Blatter has been told he is facing a 90-day provisional suspension from FIFA's ethics committee -- a move which would finally spell the end of his time as FIFA president.
FIFA's ethics committee has been meeting this week to discuss whether Blatter and Michel Platini should be provisionally suspended. It is understood the investigatory arm has recommended a 90-day suspension for Blatter but that the German adjudicatory judge, Joachim Eckert, has yet to make a final decision.

Jonathan Lacked Will Power To Fight Corruption – Clark

… Hails Buhari’s anti-graft crusade
… Quits partisan politics
The Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on Wednesday said former president Goodluck Jonathan lacked the political will to fight corruption while in office.
He hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s ongoing anti-corruption crusade.
The former federal commissioner for Information also announced his retirement from partisan politics.
Clark said he has quit the Peoples Democratic Party and will not join the ruling All Progressive Congress.

WOW Photos!! Top 50 Colourful Photos Celebrating The River Goddess Osun Festival 2015

Photographs by Ife Martins

Held each year in a sacrosanct woodland on the edges of the southern Nigerian city of Osogbo, the Osun-Osogbo, Osun Festival is a two-week-long festival of the Yoruba river goddess Oshun. The celebration, which starts with a customary purifying of the town (Iwopopo) and closures in an individuals’ parade to the Osun-Osogbo holy grove, draws in participants from everywhere throughout the globe.

#OsunFestival