Confab: Withdraw draft constitution, Northern delegates tell Kutigi

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Northern delegates have further expressed their anger over the national conference’s proposed ‘draft constitution’ by petitioning the Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi.

They have asked him to withdraw the document from circulation, stressing that its content should not be debated at the plenary.  This was contained in an open letter the northern delegates sent to Kutigi in Abuja on Wednesday.
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15 suspected cultists arrested in Edo

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The Edo State Police Command has arrested two 13-year-old boys and 13 others for allegedly belonging to secret cult groups and engaging in suspected cult activities. PUNCH Metro gathered that the 15 male suspects were apprehended on separate occasions and locations in the state. According to the Command, eight of the suspects, all of whom were teenagers, were nabbed in Unewa, Uromi, in Esan North East local government area of the state on August 8 for belonging to a secret cult group known as ‘Hallah of the Night’, while a battle axe was recovered, after “they confessed to be members of the cult group.”
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Ebola Update: FG says 198 Nigerians quarantined

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The Federal Government on Wednesday said a total of 198 persons are currently being quarantined for the Ebola Virus Disease. It said while 177 are being quarantined in Lagos where the index case was reported, 21 persons are being attended to in Enugu. Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents of the outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Brazil presidential candidate’s plane crashes

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An airplane reportedly carrying the Brazilian presidential candidate Eduardo Campos has crashed in a residential part of the port city of Santos, in Brazil's Sao Paulo state. The plane was frequently utilized by Campos who's running for president for the Brazilian Socialist Party. Party members said he was on board  during the time of the crash. Firefighters said there have been 10 “victims” but didn't clarify if the 10 were injured or dead. 

 A police spokeswoman told the AFP news agency that there were “fatalities but we still do not have a number confirmed”. Locals said the sky was cloudy and it was raining at the time of the crash. Police and emergency workers are at the scene in Santos, which is located 70km (43 miles) south-east of Sao Paulo. The Cessna 560XL plane had taken off from Rio de Janeiro’s domestic airport and was heading to the city of Guaruja, near Santos, the Brazilian Air Force said. According to Air Force officials, air traffic control lost contact with the plane after it could not land in Guaruja due to bad weather.

Gov.Oshiomhole pledges support for local, foreign investments

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Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday said their state government would continue to supply the needed incentives to attract and support both local and foreign investments into state. Oshiomhole made this known at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Edo Trade Fair in Benin. He explained though land was a fundamental challenge facing potential investors, his administration had reformed the procedure of land acquisition and documentation for economic purposes, thus, attracting investors thinking about exploring the state's resources. 

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I did not order killings, says ex- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Mubarak

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Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has told a court he didn't order the killing of protesters in 2011. Mubarak, 86, was speaking for the first time in court, at a reading in his retrial on charges of conspiracy to kill a huge selection of demonstrators. Mubarak admitted he had made mistakes, but he explained he did his better to fulfil his duties as president. He was overthrown in an uprising in February 2011 after nearly 30 years in office. 

 Mubarak resigned after 18 days of public protests, where at the least 365 people died. The proceedings have now been adjourned to September 27, when a verdict in case is expected. During Wednesday's court statement, which lasted nearly 25 minutes, Mubarak sat in the dock in a wheelchair. 

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Nigerian Navy hands over 20 suspected oil thieves to EFCC

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The Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy with headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has handed over 20 suspected crude oil thieves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The handing over of the suspects took put on Wednesday at the command's Forward Operating Base, Formoso, Brass, Bayelsa State. Commanding Officer, FOB Formoso, Capt. Noel Madugu, said the suspects were arrested at Sangana river in Brass Local Government Section of the state.

Beware of monkeys, bats, Jonathan’s doki warns Villa workers

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As the nation grapples to contain the spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease in the country, workers in the Presidential Villa, Abuja have been warned to be wary of the presence of bats and monkeys. The two animals with large presence in the Villa have been linked to the virus therefore causing panic among workers. The warning to members of staff was contained in an internal circular dated August 12 and issued by the Chief Physician to the President, Dr. Fortune Fiberesima. In the circular, Fiberesima cautioned State House personnel against contact with the two animals, either dead or alive. He warned them to avoid using hands to clear animal faeces on parked cars. He further warned car owners to water-hose vehicles parked under trees (with or without animal droppings on them) properly before washing them. He also urged them to sanitise or wash their hands with soap and water as often as possible.

Landslide derails Swiss train

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A train has derailed after a landslide near the Swiss ski resort of St Moritz, in what police describe as a “serious” accident. Swiss national radio reported that one carriage had plunged into a ravine and another was hanging from the rails. The extent of casualties is unclear but officials say the injured have been taken to hospital by helicopter and ambulance.
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Nigeria approves use of experimental drug, Zmapp, on Ebola patients

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The National Health Research Ethics Committee, Nigeria, has approved the use of an experimental Ebola drug, Zmapp, for treatment of patients infected with the virus. The committee, which composed research scientists, is a national body under the Federal Ministry of Health.

The endorsement is contained in a statement issued to newsmen by Prof. Clement Adebamowo,Chairman of the committee on Wednesday in Abuja. Continue...

The decision by the committee is coming on the heels of Tuesday’s approval by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the use of Zmapp for treatment of Ebola patients.

Day I Signed Autograph On Married Woman’s Chest — Orits Wiliki

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Veteran reggae singer and music producer, Orits Wiliki, who recently celebrated 30 active years on stage, has disclosed that one of his shocking moments of his career was when a lady unbuttoned her dress for him to sign an autograph.

Orits Wiliki explained that the incident happened at a Chinese restaurant where he went to celebrate with his friend.
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Enugu Deputy Gov, Onyebuchi who rears chicken in gov. house, slumps before Impeachment Panel

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The deputy Governor of Enugu state, Sunday Onyebuchi today August 13th slumped prior to the impeachment panel set up to investigate allegations of gross misconduct and unlawful rearing of chickens in his official  residence leveled against him by the State House of Assembly.  In accordance with Vanguard, the Deputy governor arrived the panel sitting at about 9am in company of his wife Mrs Nneka Onyebuchi, his children in addition to his legal team. He started his testimony facing the panel around 9.30am but three hours later, around 11.35am, he slumped and was immediately rushed from the premises to a healthcare facility where he's receiving treatment.

REVEALED! How Liberian Govt Cleared Patrick Sawyer To Travel To Nigeria, Though Carrying Ebola

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AVAILABLE documents indicate that Mr. Sawyer’s employers, ArcelorMittal, an iron mining company, suspended him from work and isolated him after it became aware that he had contact with his sister who died of the virus on July 8. The company also issued an internal memo to staff of the company informing them that Mr. Sawyer had been referred to the Liberian Health ministry for testing and close observation.

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Ebola: Canada offers 1000 dose of experimental vaccine to Africa

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The Canadian Public Health Agency has offered to release 1000 dose of a made-in-Canada experimental Ebola virus vaccine known as VSV-EBOV which has never been tested on humans but has shown to be effective in the treatment of the disease in animals.

In a statement released yesterday August 12th, the Canadian Health Minister Rona Ambrose said the World Health Organization's Director general, Margaret Chan, has approved of the donation. 

The Minister also revealed that Canada will be donating $185,000 to the World Health Organization for the prevention and control of the deadly virus in Africa. Canada has only 1500 of the experimental vaccine and would be sending 1000 of it to Africa. Continue...

Liberia to give two doctors trial drug

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Liberia said on Tuesday it would treat two infected doctors with the scarce experimental Ebola drug ZMapp, the first Africans to receive the treatment, while authorities in Spain said a 75-year-old priest had died of the disease, Reuters reports.

The death toll from the worst ever outbreak of the highly contagious disease has climbed to 1,013 since it was discovered in remote southeastern Guinea in March, according to the World Health Organisation.  It said ZMapp doses were very scarce, raising ethical questions of who should have priority.  Spanish authorities said a 75-year-old Spanish priest who contracted Ebola in Liberia had died. The government had announced on Sunday that Miguel Pajares, the first European infected by the strain, would also be treated with ZMapp manufactured by California-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical.

Untested Ebola drugs ethical, says WHO

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The first two doses of an experimental serum created to treat Ebola went to American missionaries.

Then the drug was sent to treat a Spanish priest.

The two Americans, Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, appear to be recovering. The priest, Miguel Pajares, died Tuesday morning.

That’s the problem with experimental drugs that have never been clinically tested in humans: No one knows whether they’ll work — and if they do, in whom.

Man kills & burns the body of his 65yr old mother over witchcraft claims

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The Anambra state police command yesterday August 11th arrested and paraded 28 year old cobbler, Ekene Ucheagwu for kiliing his 65-year-old mother, Agnes in her home at Ogbunka in Orumba South Local Government Part of Anambra State over claims that she was using her witchcraft to hinder his progress in addition to that of her three other children, Vanguard.

Addressing newsmen, Ekene said he killed her because she didn't permit the spirit of God to rain in their family

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Ebola Death toll hit 3 in Nigeria as another man dies in Nigeria

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Nigeria has recorded another death from the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus. This time it is a staff of the Lagos Liason office of the Economic Community of West African State - ECOWAS headquarters, Mr Jatto Abdulqudir. Confirming his death in a statement, ECOWAS management said the 36 year old man was among those who assisted the late Liberian Patrick Sawyerr when he came to Lagos for a regional meeting and was quarantined after Sawyerr died of the deadly disease. This brings to three the number of deaths from the deadly virus in Nigeria. The first two being Sawyerr and a Nigerian nurse.

Find the full text of the ECOWAS statement after the break...

GEJ reacts to Northern Elders ultimatum over missing Chibok girls

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President Jonathan has reacted to the October ultimatum handed to him by the Northern Elders Forum to return the missing Chibok girls to their families and end insurgency activities in the north. They made this demand at a press conference yesterday August 11th, alleging that the sect activities are politically motivated with a grand agenda to weaken the political and economical interest of the North, with a view of exploiting this weakness in the 2015 elections.

"We are convinced that most of these conflicts are being engineered to weaken the North politically and economically by interests, which intend to exploit such weaknesses for electoral benefits. In the light of our firm conviction that the insurgency and related security challenges pose threats to the 2015 elections and the survival of our nation, we strongly advise President Goodluck Jonathan to bring an end to the insurgency in all its manifestations and produce the Chibok girls before the end of October 2014. 

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2015: Tambuwal in secret meeting with Obasanjo

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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, had a secret meeting with the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, at his Hilltop home, Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State on Tuesday. Tambuwal who arrived the former president’s residence around 5.30pm left around 6.18pm. Our correspondent gathered that the visit might not be unconnected with the speaker’s ambition in 2015.
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