IN efforts to sustain the ongoing reforms in Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, the Federal Government has turned down the application for extension of service by the current head of the agency, Abdullahi Dikko. . It was gathered that the Comptroller General, CG, of Customs had been making frantic efforts to keep his job, but the Presidency resisted the move. . After months of speculations, it had now been confirmed that government is now in search of a replacement for the Customs Comptroller General. . Sources at the Ministry of Finance told Vanguard last week that the minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo…
Author: David F.
FEDERAL government has set up a technical committee to review the quality of cement produced in the country. This is with a view to redefining the appropriate standard of cement to be produced in the country. . Reacting to criticism that Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON has relaxed its earlier standard of 42.5 as minimum grade for cement used in the country to 32.5, Director General of SON Mr Joseph Odumodu said that a committee was already at work to review the current standard and weigh the implication and impact of the removal of the 32.5 on the economy and…
Tragedy struck in Lagos, yesterday, when a passenger hanging on a train coach had his hand chopped off by the moving train. . According to eye witnesses, the incident occurred at Oshodi around 9 a.m. when the victim, who was simply identified as Ernest, allegedly fell from the moving train which had a hitch in movement. . An eye witness, Mr Olu Atoyebi, said Ernest fell from the moving train while his hand was stuck in between the coaches resulting to the hand being chopped off. . His shout for help was said to have attracted sympathisers who rushed to…
An Osogbo magistrate’s court has ordered a 27-year-old man, Akeeb Ibrahim, to be remanded in Ilesa prison for allegedly raping a two- year-old girl. . Ibrahim was alleged to have raped the girl (name withheld) in his room at his house located at Isale‑Afo area of Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun state. . According to the charge sheet read in court, the accused person lured the girl into his room at about 1.00 p.m. when her parents had left for their shops. . The Police prosecutor, Abiodun Fagboyinbo, an inspector, told the court that the accused…
Leader of the fledging Northern Elders Council, NEC, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, has dismissed insinuations that the group is being bankrolled by the Presidency to be able to curry the support of the north ahead of the 2015 elections. . Yakassai, who spoke exclusively to Vanguard in Abuja, claimed that the NEC were working for the interest of Nigeria and not that of any individual or group. . The former National Assembly Adviser to President Shegu Shagari made it clear that he was too big to be used by anybody to advance their selfish political interest and described those making the…
A Fulani leader, Alhaju Abdulkadir Salihu, has appealed to the Federal Government to create more grazing reserves across the country to curb the incessant clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen. . Salihu made this known on Monday when he received members of the 2014 Press Week Committee of the Kwara State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). . The Fulani leader, who is also the National President, Jamu Nati Fulbe Association of Nigeria, said the perceived neglect of Fulani pastoralists had widened the gap between them. . Salihu said that the appeal was necessitated by the need to reduce…
A 32-year-old woman, Bilikisu Okanlawon, was yesterday arraigned at a Tinubu magistrate’s court, Lagos, for allegedly biting off the ear of her neighbour. . Okanlawon, who resides at Ajegunle St., Lakowe, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, was alleged to have bitten off the left ear of one Christy Edo during a brawl between them. . The police prosecutor, Austin Orji, told the court that the accused committed the offence at about 4 pm on February 7, 2013, at their Ajegunle St., Ibeju-Lekki residence. . Orji said the fight between both women was sequel to a disagreement over N500, adding that Edo was rushed…
That former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has gone back to grin alongside some of the same politicians who roundly chastised him into leaving the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria with his tail between his legs is amusing to say the least. It is even more amusing how he has been trying to convince Nigerians that his new adventure with the All Progressives Congress (APC) is about achieving “change” and not about him taking another shot at winning the presidency for himself. At this juncture, it is only natural to wonder what sort of “change” Atiku—a founding member of the Peoples…
The 11 senators who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are today set for a showdown with the Senate leadership with their resolve to cross carpet irrespective of the refusal of the Senate President to read their letter of defection. . In practical demonstration of their rejection of the PDP, the 11 senators, Vanguard learnt yesterday would take their ‘Plan B’ by vacating their allocated seats among PDP senators and cross the carpet to sit with All Progressives Congress, APC senators on the other side of the Senate chamber. . Meanwhile, it was learnt yesterday that the President of…
The police on Monday in Abuja arraigned a 22-year- old student, Ibrahim Salisu, in a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court for beating up a policeman. . Salisu, who lives at 4, Olumo Rock, Amasco Plantation Estate, Galadimawa in Abuja, is charged with joint criminal force and assaulting a public servant. . The prosecutor, Cpl. Anigbo Paul, told the court that Cpl. Chijioke Jacob of the Lugbe Police Station had lodged a report against the accused at the station. . He said the report was lodged on Feb. 9 at about 9 p.m. . Paul told the court that, on…