Pension Thief Remanded In Kuje Prison For Seven More Days Pending Bail Application

Click banner for more info

Embattled Pension thief, Mr. John Yusuf, will remain in prison custody for the next seven days before an Abuja Federal High Court decides whether to grant him bail or not in a fresh four-count charge proferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Yusuf had been remanded in Kuje Prison, Abuja, since he was arraigned for the new charge on January 30.

The court, presided by Justice Adamu Bello, on Tuesday, fixed February 12, 2013, for the hearing of his application for bail.Information Nigeria recalls that Yusuf was re-arrested over the new charge after a Federal Capital Territory High Court handed-down a two year jail term or fine of N750,000 for conniving with others to defraud the Police Pension Office of N27.2bn – a judgment considered a slap on the wrist by majority of Nigerians.

Jonathan, wife celebrate victory mid-air

Click banner for more info

President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, on Wednesday celebrated Super Eagles’ semi-final victory over Mali aboard a presidential aircraft. Jonathan and members of his delegation were aboard presidential jet, NAF 1, on his way from Cairo, Egypt to London when the Eagles beat their Malian counterparts 4-1 to proceed to the final of the tournament.

In a message on Twitter, presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, said the NAF 1 relayed the details of the match when the President was airborne.He quoted Jonathan as asking the Super Eagles to work hard to ensure they bring the trophy to Nigeria.

No regret dropping Osaze, others – Keshi •Says 1994 squad better

Click banner for more info

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has said that he does not need all the good players in Nigeria to build a strong team and as such does not regret leaving out any player for the African cup. Keshi dropped West Bromwich striker Osaze Odemwingie and Levante top scorer Obafemi Martins and kept faith in many players who had not appeared in any major international tournament at the senior level – some of them were picked from the Nigerian league.

The coach said most Nigerians did not understand why he dropped the players, noting that the present team has performed excellently without the players he rejected.

Teens Using 'Vodka Tampons' to Get Drunk

Click banner for more info

It's no secret teenagers sometimes experiment with alcohol, even drugs, but new ways they're finding to get drunk had jaws dropping in our newsroom.

"Quicker high, they think it's going to last longer, it's more intense," said Dr. Dan Quan from Maricopa Medical Center. "This is not isolated to any school, any city, any financial area," Officer Chris Thomas, a school resource officer, said. "This is everywhere."

The Most Important thing to do After an Affair

Click banner for more info

By Marina Pearson

"I feel so guilty I had the affair. I don't even know why I did it. What was I thinking?"

This is a very typical line from women who are living with the guilt of an affair. If you are a woman who has cheated on her husband or boyfriend and you are now dealing with the destructive aftermath and feeling extremely guilty, I empathize. I, like you, have been where you are and it's a difficult place to escape -- if you don't know how.

They Can’t Beat Us, Says PDP Chair Tukur

Click banner for more info

A merger of opposition parties cannot defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections, PDP national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur said yesterday. Reacting to the merging of four opposition parties yesterday, Tukur said the merger does not constitute any threat to the ruling party in future elections. With palpably feigned enthusiasm, the PDP chairman described the merger as “beautiful”, adding “the more the merrier”.

Apparently trying to make light of the threat, the chairman said the PDP remained unfazed by the merger, inferring that the ruling party would always have its way. Tukur said: “We are the only party. That shows the acceptance. It is the party in government now that is in the majority. It does not mean that we want to be one party without opposition. In fact, opposition is a charge to action.

NDLEA arrests barber with N50m cocaine

Click banner for more info

A Nigerian based in South Africa, Ozoh Chukwuemeka, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for trafficking N50m worth of cocaine. The 45-year-old barber was apprehended at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos with 6.100kg of the substance. The drug was detected during the outward clearance of Arik Air passengers to South Africa. NDLEA Airport commander, Mr Hamza Umar, said the discovery was made at the baggage checking desk at the departure hall.

2015: Opposition Coalition Floats New Party, All Progressive Congress (APC)

Click banner for more info

The Four major opposition political parties, ACN, CPC, ANPP and APGA after a meeting in Abuja some few hours ago, announced the emergence of a new political party -  the All Progressive Congress (APC).The  chairman of ACN merger committee and the spokesman of the coalition told journalists that with the formation of the new party, the opposition parties would commence the processes of registering it with INEC.

Tragedy Averted: NNPC Aircraft Overshoots Runway

Click banner for more info

An air tragedy was earlier today averted when an aircraft belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), 5NNOC operated by Aero contractors overshot the runway on landing at the Osubi airstrip, in Warri, Delta state. In a statement, the Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Tumini Green, while confirming the incident, said the aircraft was on a routine operation to Warri when it overshot the runway of the airport.

The statement said there were no casualties or injuries and that the appropriate aviation agencies have been contacted and investigations have commenced.

Son Sends Mother To Prison In Lagos

Click banner for more info

A 68-year old woman, Madam Silifat Abeni, broke down and wept at Ijeshatedo Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, as she was being taken to Kirikiri prison because she could not meet her N10,000 bail condition.

The elderly woman was arrested and charged before Ijeshatedo Magistrate’s Court after she went to Ijesha police division and stood as surety for her son, Kunle. It was gathered that after Kunle was released from the station, he escaped and since then his mother has not seen him.

Kunle, 38, allegedly defrauded a woman identified as Prisca of N145, 000 under a false pretence and the matter was reported to the police.

We Have Spent N70 Billion In 6 Months – SURE-P Boss Reports To President Joathan

Click banner for more info

Dr Christopher Kolade, the chairman of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), has revealed that about N70 billion was expended by the programme on projects in the last six months of 2012. Dr. Kolade made this known when speaking to State House correspondents after presenting the SURE-P 2012 annual report to President Goodluck Jonathan. He noted that the committee could not do more because its funds were not released on time.

Warri: Trapped between oil wealth and squalor

Click banner for more info

Warri’s image as an oil-rich city and commercial hub of the Niger Delta is threatened by filth and slums, reports Chux Ohai.  Mercy Filatei lives in a small island, just behind the Ogbe-Ijoh Waterside Market in Warri. She lives with her husband and their two children. The place is called Fenigbene Camp and it is inhabited mostly by Ijaw fishermen, traders and a few boat builders.

A few weeks ago, Mercy’s husband, Timi, went in search of a job in Lagos. Like most other male residents, he was tired of earning a meagre income from fishing and living in a squalid condition at the camp.

House To Pass Law That Will Send Molesters To Jail For Life

Click banner for more info

The Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, Hon. Beni Lar, has said that defilers would face life imprisonment once the current Violence Against Persons Bill becomes law.

Lar, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja, said the National Assembly had decided to expedite action on the passage of the bill, considering the increasing prevalence of r*pe in the country. She pointed out that the bill would not only protect r*pe victims but equally provide protection for victims of violence including physical, s*xual, psychological, domestic, harmful traditional practices and discrimination.

David Mark Implicated In SSS Recruitment Scandal

Click banner for more info

Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Service or State Security Services (SSS) has been hit by arecruitment scandal involving the violation of the principle of federal character.  Senate President David Mark is also implicated in the sordid affair.

Impeccable sources close to the SSS told News Express that during the last recruitment exercise embarked upon by the Service “David Mark alone sent in over 40 names of his kinsmen in clear and flagrant violation of the Federal Character principle.”

Nigeria Police Threatens Strike Over Unpaid Salaries

Click banner for more info

For delaying the payment of their January salary, junior officers in the Nigeria Police have threatened to embark on strike. Most of the junior officers from the Lagos State Police Command said they are embarking on strike anytime next week to force the authorities to pay their salaries.

“We are going to drop our guns and batons next week if the government fails to pay our salaries,” a junior officer at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID,said.

Porous Borders: Minister Identifies 1,487 Illegal Routes Into Nigeria

Click banner for more info

About 1,487 illegal routes into Nigeria and 84 regular borders have been discovered by the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro has said.

Moro who was responding to  a  question on  the  porous nature of the nation’s borders against the backdrop of  the current security challenges facing the country  as well as the current  insurgencies across the nation’s borders said, “since I assumed office we have taken deliberate steps in conjunction with National Boundaries Commission, to identify our borders and the routes that leads to Nigeria from other countries.

Pensioners To Begin Nationwide Protest Feb. 25 – NUP President

Click banner for more info

Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) said in Abuja on Tuesday that its planned nationwide protest would begin on Feb. 25. The National President of NUP, Alhaji Ali Abatcha, told newsmen that a meeting at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, ended in a deadlock.

He said the meeting was attended by representatives of the Head of Service of the Federation, the Ministry of Justice and others. Abatcha said the union is seeking the release of the one per cent check-off dues which members voluntarily contributed, “but seized by the Pension Reform Task Team.

Guys! Too Much TV Watching Can Result In Lower Spérm Counts – Study

Click banner for more info

A study has revealed that men who do little exercise and spend much of their time watching television have lower spérm counts than more active men. The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, shows falling sperm quality is linked to lower levels of physical activity.

The study found that young men who watch television for just three hours a day have half the spérm count of men rarely found in front of the box. Yet 15 hours or more of exercise a week boosts sémen quality, according to the results in nearly 200 college students.

10 opposition governors back merger to unseat PDP

Click banner for more info

10 governors from four different political parties - ACN, APGA, CPC, ANPP met in Lagos yesterday Tuesday 5th February and unanimously endorsed merger plans to unseat the PDP in 2015.

The governors who attended the meeting in Lagos are: Babatunde Fashola (ACN, Lagos), Ibikunle Amosun (ACN, Ogun), Kayode Fayemi (ACN, Ekiti), Abiola Ajumobi (ACN, Oyo), Rauf Aregbesola (ACN, Osun) Rochas Okorocha (APGA, Imo), Umaru Tanko Almakura (CPC, Nasarawa), Abdulaziz Yari (ANPP, Zamfara). Kashim Shettima of Borno and Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe were represented by Senator Dejere Alkali.

President Goodluck Jonathan's message to Nigerians

Click banner for more info

Our dear president posted this on his Facebook page this afternoon. See the full message after the cut..

Dear friends on facebook,

The determination of this administration to create wealth in Nigeria and for Nigerians has led us to focus our investment drive towards attracting Foreign Direct Investments in manufacturing and the service sector to ensure that jobs are created. And this drive is not an exercise in futility as Nigeria is becoming the preferred destination for FDI.