Former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha says despite everything his brother ex-president Goodluck Jonathan did for the North, they were not satisfied because what they truly wanted was power. “During President Jonathan’s administration, all the appointments, all the security architecture and all the revenue-generating sectors and almost everything went to the North West. A deity asked for blood and you give him oil, it is blood he wants and not oil. So my brother was giving them oil but the North was interested in taking power,” said Alamieyeseigha in an interview with Vanguard. “Jonathan did everything for the…
Author: Wale Adebayo
The Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is currently testing a new drone fitted with an infrared camera which was designed to document evidence of vandalism in the nation’s pipeline networks. “We must find new ways to fight vandalism ,” the NSCDC Commandant General Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu told newsmen in his office at National Headquarters Abuja. According to him, NSCDC took the bold step to be in line with the change crusade of Mr. President. The new drone will utilise GPS to document the times and places where vandals are observed, making it easier to prosecute offenders. Flying at an altitude of…
The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) of the Nigerian Navy on Friday confirmed it had arrested 30 ships in the last nine months. Rear Adm. Henry Babalola, out-gone Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the ENC, disclosed this in Calabar during a handing over ceremony to his successor, Rear Adm. Atiku Abdulkadir. “In the last nine months, we have arrested a total of 30 ships which include tug boats, Cotonou boats, and we have as well arrested a good number of oil thieves”, he said. Babalola said that the ships were arrested under his leadership of the Command, adding that they were arrested for…
Operation Pulo Shield Commander, Major-Gen. Alani Okunlola, has warned the sectors and Unit Commanders under him to shun acts that may sabotage the ongoing efforts to tackle oil theft. This is contained in a statement signed by Lt.-Col. Isa Ado, Spokesman of Operation Pulo Shield and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Friday. The statement noted that Okunlola gave the warning during his familiarisation tour of formations under his command. Operation Pulo Shield, formerly known as Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta is composed of representatives of different services of the armed forces and…
Bauchi State Government on Friday announced that it had leased its acclaimed “missing aircraft” to Overland Airlines. The state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Nuhu Gidado, informed newsmen in Bauchi that the aircraft was leased to the company to generate revenue for the state. Gidado said that the plane, which was bought by the government about nine years ago, had not generated any reasonable revenue. According to him, the plane was first leased to IRS Airlines, Hamsel Air, Associated Aviation and now Overland. These three leases did not yield any money to the government, he noted. “The aircraft was first leased to IRS and…
Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has warned that the Federal Government (FG) must be careful in its resolve to negotiate with the dreaded Boko Haram sect. Ganduje, who was fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday, expressed the fears that government might end up not talking with the genuine faction of the sect. “I hope when we negotiate with them, we are negotiating with the correct people. “Experience has shown that they have so many factions and if we are not lucky, we may be dealing with the wrong faction”, he said. The governor called on the…
The Force Headquarters on Friday conveyed the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase’s readiness to enforce the bench warrant issued for the arrest of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, without delay. The Force Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Olabisi Kolawole, stated the police stance on the matter in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Friday. “We are going to promptly arrest the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and produce him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday. “Since it is a bench warrant issued by a competent court, the order will be carried out without delay. We…
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has placed a ban on congratulatory messages and media advertorials for legal practitioners newly admitted to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The directive was contained in a letter by the NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), dated September 7, 2015 and addressed to the 21 lawyers selected for the conferment of the prestigious award this year. According to Alegeh, the decision to ban congratulatory advertorials for new SANs was a resolution of the NBA National Executive Committee. He added that the practice, which had gone on for years, contravened the provisions of…
On Thursday, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Owoseni paraded a 42-year old woman named Mrs Nimotu Raheem for allegedly kidnapping three children at an Arabic School in Itire-Ikate, Surulere, Lagos. The children are a set of four-year-old twins, Taiye and Kehinde, and a 16-month old boy, Fatai Adeola. Owoseni said police rescued the suspected kidnapper from being lynched by an irate mob on Wednesday night. According to the Lagos police boss, the suspect had demanded for the boy from his mother, who obliged her without questioning her motive. “It was another woman who saw the manner the suspect…
A former Senator, Ahmed Aruwa, has urged Nigerians not to write-off the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in spite of the massive loss it suffered in the last general election. Aruwa, who also lost in his bid for the Senate during the election, said the PDP still has the muscle to retake power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. “That APC defeated our party in the 2015 elections in the state and federal levels is not enough grounds to write-off the party”. The senator told newsmen after a meeting of the party’s stakeholders in Kaduna State that the…
Brendan Rodgers has hinted that Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson could return for Liverpool in no distant time. Midfielder Henderson has missed the Reds last four games due to a heel injury while striker Sturridge has not played since May. Sturridge underwent hip surgery during the summer in the United States and Henderson was also in the States this week to have injections. Liverpool hosts Norwich City on Sunday and manager Rodgers had some positive news during his press conference that the pair have both been in training heading into the game at Anfield. “Jordan will train today, Daniel has…
According to manager Louis van Gaal, Wayne Rooney is fit to return to Manchester United’s match day squad for Sunday’s trip to Southampton. The England and club skipper has missed the Red Devils’s last two matches with an undisclosed injury problem. The Dutch boss also disclosed that Phil Jones has returned to training after recovering from mild thrombosis. “It was a minor injury you don’t want to take any risks,” Van Gaal said on Wayne Rooney. “Now he has had his treatment. I think he can start.” The coach described Luke Shaw’s broken leg as a “big loss’ for United,…
The Code of Conduct Tribunal has granted a request by the Federal Ministry of Justice on Friday to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Senate President Bukola Saraki. Senator Saraki was scheduled to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in respect of a 13-count corruption charge leveled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau for failing to properly declare his assets as required by law. He, however, shunned the tribunal. M.S Hassan, a deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, applied for the warrant of arrest. Justice Danladi Umar, who adjourned…
Akwa Ibom State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has demanded full forensic audit of the state’s finances to determine its total indebtedness to banks. The party said it was afraid that the immediate past administration under Obong Godswill Akpabio may have mortgaged the future of Akwa Ibom people to financial institutions. The Akwa Ibom APC spokesman, Ita Awak, in an interview in Uyo, the state capital Thursday, said the request followed Governor Udom Emmanuel’s plan to seek debt conversion and restructuring by the Debt Management Office (DMO). The APC spokesman argued that Udom’s silence over the actual indebtedness of…
EPL champion, Chelsea FC will take on their north London rival, Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 19th September 2015. This match for Chelsea fans is one they would be hoping their team wins giving the need to restore their team’s pride following the defeat to Arsenal in the Community shield; Arsenal’s first win over Chelsea manager, Mourinho in 14 matches. As much as Mourinho would want to win the match for the sake of his good record against Arsene Wenger, he would also want a win to boost the morale of his team that is currently lounging in the relegation zone.…
FIFA Scribe Jerome Valcke is said to have unsuccessfully sought to receive a pay-off of a preposterous amount from FIFA, a week prior to his suspension. The FIFA secretary general was, on Thursday, put on leave and released from his duty until further notice after series of allegations implicated him in a scheme to sell World Cup tickets above face value. It is understood the Frenchman, 54, who has denied any wrongdoing, wanted to be paid out to the tune of several million pounds for the remainder three years of his contract at world football’s governing body. The former sports…
Former BBA winner, Uti, also went on social media to wish 2face Idibia happy birthday. 2face Idibia turned 40 today and Uti sent him a personal message on Instagram. Read what Uti wrote below. THIS IS a man that Has always shown me love and support. Even when I was a beginner and a nobody and HE was already a mega super star. He has been there from day 1! An inspiration to many! A real bad sharp Guy with a rare and true heart Of Gold. HAPPY BIRTHDAY @2faceidibia1 MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND CONTINUOUSLY INCREASE YOU AND UR FAMILY…
Nigeria’s Under-17 coach Manu Garba has refuted claims that he has joined Giwa FC. The Glo Premier League side severed ties with their former handler Aminu Musa earlier this week, before a tweet from a supposed club Twitter account alleged that Manu has signed for the Jos Elephants and, was even introduced to the squad on Wednesday. Former U20 head coach Many Garba is now coach of Giwa FC. The gaffer was introduced to the team Wednesday… http://t.co/WUwCGFgt51 — Giwa Football Club (@GiwaFCJOS) September 17, 2015 In an exclusive chat with veteran football journalist, Colin Udoh, the coach, who, last…
Nigeria Super Eagles head coach, Sunday Oliseh, has recalled midfielder John Mikel Obi, goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, forwards Victor Moses and Odion Ighalo for next month’s international friendly match against the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon in Belgium. Wolverhampton Wanderers shot stopper, Carl Ikeme, joins the Super Eagles skipper, who missed out on international assignment last month due to personal reasons, after his impressive debut against Tanzania and the Niger Republic. Oliseh has included the likes of Chima Akas, Austin Oboroakpo, Paul Onobi and Prince Aggreh among the invited stars from the domestic league, as former Under-17 international Abdullahi Shehu gets…
Nigerian dance-hall singer, Timaya was involved in a car accident yesterday. The ‘Bow Down‘ singer bashed his White Bentley but fortunately for him, he was unhurt. Timaya shared a photo of his bashed Bentley on Instagram today (September 18). “Had an accident yesterday but I thank GOD nobody got hurt… blessssssss” he wrote in the caption of the picture. He recently featured on KCee’s latest single ‘Alkayida‘ which came out this month.