Marginalisation: S/West PDP leaders to meet Jonathan next week

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As ACN accuses PDP of playing ethnic card…

ABUJA—Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the South West Zone of the country have resolved to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan next week over perceived gross marginalisation of the zone in appointments and political recognitions.

This came as Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is exposing its own folly by blaming the glaring marginalisation of the Yoruba by the Jonathan Administration on ACN, saying, “PDP has nothing but total contempt for the Yoruba in particular and Nigerians in general.”

Murder of 10 health workers: 3 Wazobia FM broadcasters resign

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KANO—Head of  station, Wazobia FM station, Kano, Malam Sanusi Kankarofi alongside two staff of the station have resigned their appointments following the controversy generated by the gruesome murder of 10 health workers penultimate week in the wake of a programme aired by the station which was believed to have triggered the murder

Muhammed Suleiman Gama, the head of the station’s local content has given the station one month resignation notice, while Yakubu Musa the presenter of a popular vernacular programme ‘Sandar Girma’ has equally resigned.

Lagos House Wife Petitions IG

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LAGOS — WHAT could have motivated a former commissioner in Ogun State to threaten the life of a Lagos house wife, Mrs. Aderonke Odupitan?

Why would the same ex-commissioner lead a four-man armed gang to keep vigil on the residence of the affected house-wife at Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos?

These are some of the burning issues which operatives in the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), at Kam Salem House, Obalende, Lagos, as well as other security agencies in the state are trying to unravel.

Neither APC Nor Panadol Can Stop Jonathan - Alhaji Ahmed Gulak

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"If the President decides to run, no individual or group can attempt to deny him his constitutional entitlement. It is not going to happen.  Neither APC nor Panadol can stop him" - Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, Political Adviser to the President.vol NB: Picture is Moment after African Nation's Cup final whistle.

Man on trial for Cutting Off The Head Of A British woman

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The trial is beginning in Spain of a man accused of murdering and beheading a British grandmother in a supermarket on the holiday island of Tenerife. Jennifer Mills-Westley, 60, was killed in the resort of Los Cristianos in the Canary Islands on 13 May 2011. 

 Bulgarian man Deyan Deyanov, 29, is charged with her murder and will stand trial before a jury at the provincial court in Santa Cruz de Tenerife starting on Monday. Prosecutors are expected to ask for a sentence of 20 years in a mental asylum because he has chronic paranoid schizophrenia.

Nigerian Leaders Stole N3tn Between 2000 And 2010 — Report

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A Washington-based research and advocacy organisation – Global Financial Integrity in its newly published report, has said out of the 20 biggest exporters of illicit financial flows for decades, Nigeria sits in the 7th position with $19.66bn (N3.047tn).

Not unsurprising to say the least, the report said Nigeria, termed the 7th biggest money launderingcountry in the world, exported N3tn by leaders who had access to the nation’s money between 2000 and 2010.

Co-authored by GFI’s Lead Economist, Dev Kar, and GFI’s Economist, Sarah Freitas, the report is the first by the organisation in incorporating a new, more conservative estimate of illicit financial flows.

"Same-S*x Marriage Meaningless, Abortion Wrong" - Cardinal Onaiyekan

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The Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Arch-Diocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Sunday urged the National Assembly to reconfirm the definition of marriage and not to waste energy deliberating on same-sèx marriage.

Onaiyekan made the call in Abuja, at the opening mass of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), titled 'Faith and Dignity for Human life'.

He said marriage, a concept of union between man and woman, was being compromised in so many places today, adding that it was brutal to try to change God’s order.

The cleric said: "I will like to advise our legislators not to waste their energy legislating on what is meaningless: same-sèx marriage.

Gangsters storm Surulere community on ‘revenge mission’

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Residents  of Obasun link in Aguda, Surulere, Lagos woke up early morning,  yesterday, to count their losses following the invasion of their area by a group of street urchins popularly referred to as  “Star boys” from Ijesha.

The incident which took place at about 2 a.m left several people seriously injured and about 17 vehicles badly damaged. According to Mr. Yomi  Arogbonlo,  chairman of New Kpako under Coker/Aguda Local Council Development Area, LCDA, the boys came on a revenge mission.

Yomi informed Vanguard that in December 2012, when the Star boys of Ijesha  had their carnival, some boys from Obasun attended the party during which a slight rift ensued between them.

He said the Star boys of Ijesha, after the incident, accused the Obasun boys of intentionally coming  to disrupt their  carnival and vowed to cut their pound of flesh whenever  Obasun boys would host their own carnival.

Pastor dies on the altar after leading prayer

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When Solomon Komolafe, a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Winners Assembly, Ibadan, Oyo State, set out for church on February 4, 2013, he was hale and hearty.

But the church was thrown into chaos when Komolafe slumped after leading the congregation in a prayer session and died right on the altar.

Komolafe died nine months after one of his daughters lost her life to an auto crash in May 2012.

One of the children of the deceased, Funsho, told PUNCH Metro that Komolafe’s death was shocking and unbelievable.

man used Christian dating site ChristianMingle.com to find his rape victim

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A California man was arrested this week after being accused of raping a woman he met through an online Christian dating website.

Sean Patrick Banks, an unemployed 37-year-old from Del Mar, allegedly used the website ChristianMingle.com to meet a woman in November police say he raped while visiting her home.

Detectives have spent the past several months looking for the perpetrator, who allegedly called himself “Rylan Butterwood” and “Rylan Harbough” on the site, false names that gave police fits in trying to find the true culprit.

Banks was charged with two counts of sexual assault and one of residential burglary. He has posted a $500,000 bail and pleaded not guilty. Banks could spend 36 years to life in prison if convicted.

Nigeria’s Inflation Slows as Effect of Subsidy Cut Falls Away

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Nigeria’s inflation rate fell to 9 percent in January as the effect of a year-earlier reduction in fuel subsidies dropped out of the calculation.

Inflation in Africa’s largest oil producer slowed from 12 percent in December, the Abuja-based National Bureau of Statistics said today in an e-mailed report. The median estimate of seven economists surveyed by Bloomberg was 9.5 percent. Prices rose 0.6 percent in the month.

The January 2012 increase in gasoline prices after President Goodluck Jonathan cut subsidies helped keep inflation above the central bank’s target of less than 10 percent throughout last year. Central bank Governor Lamido Sanusi said last month that the rate may drop close to the target, largely because of “base effects.”

No Let Up In Social Strains As Nigeria Keeps Growing

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Culled From Reuters 

Nigeria's economy is expected to grow at a speedy 6.75 percent this year, driven by progress in agriculture, banking and oil, while high inflation rates should ease slightly, data showed on Monday.

Both will add to the reputation of Africa's top oil producer as a growing investment destination with a huge consumer market of 160 million people. Demand for its sovereign debt, for example, has soared since JP Morgan added it to its emerging bond index last year.

The kidnapping by gunmen of a Briton, an Italian, a Greek and four Lebanese workers in Bauchi state on Sunday, however, underlined that there are risks to investment outlook.

N’Assembly’s report on Dana crash may threaten US-Nigeria link

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Implementation of the National Assembly’s recommendations on the Dana Air crash by the Federal Government may adversely affect Nigeria’s direct flight link with the United States of America, TUNJI ABIOYE writes

The United States of America may take a second look at its direct flight link with Nigeria if the Federal Government goes ahead to implement the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Aviation Committee’s report on the June 3, 2012 Dana Air crash, investigations by our correspondent have revealed.

The US Federal Aviation Administration’s Category One status, an approval for Nigerian-registered airplanes to operate commercial flights to America, was awarded the country in 2008 after a rigorous audit that lasted for many years.

Prior to the award, Nigeria had lost the coveted status for about 15 years, thereby making direct flights between it and US impossible.

Police arrest prophet, other for possessing human parts

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Two men, including a prophet of a white-garment church have been arrested for being in possession of human body parts.

We  learnt that the suspects were arrested on Saturday in Ikotun area of Lagos State.

It was learnt that one of the suspects, Kunle Olaide, who was carrying a polythene bag, was accosted by some policemen attached to the Ikotun Division.

The source said,  “Policemen attached to Ikotun division accosted Olaide and another man on Saturday morning with a bag. All of a sudden, one of the men ran away.

Update: Police clear Corporal of pouring stew on fiancée

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The Lagos State Police Command has described the condition of Mary Sunday, the 27-year-old lady who was allegedly assaulted with a pot of boiling( Click Here to Read The Story) stew and lighted stove, as a self-inflicted one.

From the report we had last from Sunday was allegedly assaulted by her fiancé, Corporal Isaac Gbanwuan, in August 2012 at their home at Pedro Police Barracks. She is currently at the Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital after having spent five months in another private hospital in Bariga.

Sunday had told a reliable source on February 14 that Gbanwuam assaulted her over a phone call. In a bid to escape, she had run into a neighbour’s kitchen where a pot of stew was boiling on a kerosene stove. Gbanwuam, who was in pursuit, allegedly seized the kerosene stove with its contents and threw them at Sunday.

 But the state Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Damascus Ozoani, told us that the allegations in Sunday’s petitions were false.

Burglars steal freely in police barracks

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Burglars broke into an apartment located in Alausa Police Barracks, Lagos State, carting away valuables such as jewellery, telephones and money.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the crime took place penultimate Sunday at Alhaja Toheebat Dosunmu’s residence at officers’ block, flat six. The burglers went away without being apprehended.

It was learnt that the burglary was one of many that had taken place in the barracks in recent times.

Our correspondent, who visited the house (Dosumus) on Sunday, learnt that the robbers broke into the apartment around 3am.

FG’s report on Bellview crash doctored –Airline

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Bellview Airlines on Sunday said the report of the October 2005 crash of its plane, which was released by the Federal Government through the Accident Investigation Bureau on Saturday, was doctored.

The airline also said the report contradicted the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the United Nations agency which regulates the aviation sector globally.

The Federal Government had on Saturday released the crash reports of six airlines, including Bellview and Aviation Development Company.

President made no single-term promise –Ex-Senate Whip

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Former Senate Whip, Senator Kanti Bello, has accused the Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, of telling a lie over his claim that President Goodluck Jonathan agreed to a single term in 2011.

Bello said, as a principal officer of the Senate in 2011, he attended a meeting of governors and lawmakers where the issue of Jonathan’s single term was raised.

The former Senate Whip told our one of correspondents in a telephone interview on Sunday that he personally raised the matter during the said meeting and that Jonathan did not make any promise of serving just one term.

Aliyu had in an interview aired on Liberty Radio, Kaduna, claimed that President Jonathan had agreed to serve for only one term of four years beginning from 2011.

But Bello, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party, who defected to the Congress for Progressive Change, dismissed Aliyu’s claims.

ICPC probes four govs over alleged graft

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Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on Sunday said it had started  investigating four governors over alleged misappropriation of public funds and abuse of office.

A statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Folu Olamiti, said the ICPC Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta, stated this during a programme on Splash FM in Ibadan.

The statement also said the commission had sent some of its operatives to Canada for forensic investigations training on cashless transaction.

Nta, however, declined to name the governors, saying, “It will jeopardise our investigations”.

He said, “It should be noted that those (governors) invited for questioning are still innocent until prima facie cases are made against them. So, those who have no case to answer will be allowed to go as freemen with their image intact.

Senate committee’s report on pension fictitious – Maina’s team

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The disagreement between the Senate and the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, continued on Sunday, with the taskforce dismissing the Senate committee’s report on pension as fictitious.

The team stated that  the report of the Senate Pension Probe Committees, chaired by Senator Aloysius Etok (Establishment and Public Service) and Senator Kabiru Gaya (State and Local Government Administration) was unfounded.

The PRTT, in a statement in Abuja by its spokesperson, Mr. Hassan Salihu, specifically said the committees had “grossly misinformed and misled the entire Senate with a fictitious report muddled up with a multitude of naked untrue and misleading unjustifiable conclusions”.