Reps Suspend NYSC 4000 Naira Registration Fee: Describe It As Insensitive & Exploitative

The House of Representatives has directed the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC to suspend forthwith its policy requiring prospective corps members to pay four thousand naira as registration fee before accessing their call-up letters.

This directive followed a motion sponsored by Hassan Saleh after which the house instituted a probe into the alleged fee.

Hassan Saleh said as laudable as the idea of sending call-up letters though the internet may be, the decision requiring fresh graduates to cough out four thousand naira to access letters appears insensitive and exploitative.

IGP Decentralizes Issuance Of Tinted Glass Permit

The Acting Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba, has decentralized the issuance of tinted glass permit.

He has now delegated the power to Commissioners of Police in Charge of State Commands so as to bring services closer to the people.

Such permits have the same authority as those previously issued by Force Headquarters and are valid throughout the federation.

However, applicants have to get their vehicle examined to ascertain the tinted glasses are factory fitted.

We Have The Constitutional Right To Detain El-Rufai - SSS

The State Security Services says it will appeal a court order directing it to apologise and pay the sum of two million naira to former FCT Minister Nasir El-Rufai.

A statement signed by its spokesperson Marlyn Ogah said Mallam El-Rufai’s detention for just two hours was not a breach of the constitution.

The SSS said it only carried out its legitimate duty for the smooth conduct of election in Anambra state.

Marlyn Ogar said the department would be operating like a ministry if it cannot intercept and investigate suspects.

Eid-El Kabri/Independence Day Celebration: Senate Adjourn Plenary To October 14th

The Senate has adjourned its plenary to Tuesday October 14 as Nigeria celebrates Fifty-Four years of Independence alongside the celebration of Eid-El Kabri.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who presided over the plenary in his goodwill message noted that Nigeria has made appreciable progress especially in the area of sustainable democracy which has offered Nigeria the opportunity to harness its abundant resources for good.

Army Postpones Court Trial Of Soldiers For Mutiny To Thursday.

Nigerian military authorities have postponed the General Court martial of some sixty soldiers charged with mutiny to Thursday.

The trial was to have been held at Mogadishu cantonment in Abuja yesterday.

Reports say lawyers representing the accused soldiers met with legal officers of the Court Martial and agreed to shift the trial.

The charge sheet filed against the sixty soldiers revealed that the soldiers, comprising two corporals, nine lance corporals and forty nine privates, are to be arraigned on two counts of conspiracy to commit mutiny and mutiny.

The accused allegedly committed the offences at the Mulai Primary School, in Maiduguri, Borno State on August four, twenty fourteen by refusing to join troops led by Colonel E.A. Aladeniyi to Maimalari Barracks in connection with an operation.

Courts Sentence Boko Haram Members To 25 Years In Jail

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced three members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect to jail.

Justice Ibrahim Buba, who gave a secret judgment in the case, sentenced each of the convicts to twenty-five years in jail, after finding them guilty of terrorism charges.

The fourth accused, who was charged for funding terrorism, was however discharged and acquitted by the court on the basis that the Federal Government was not able to satisfactorily prove the allegation against him.

The trial was conducted in secret pursuant to an application by the prosecuting authority, the Lagos State Government, that there was need to protect the witnesses in the case.

Initially, seventeen suspects were charged to court but were later reduced to four following the withdrawal of the case against them.

Governor Fayemi Imposes Dust To Dawn To Curtail Political Unrest

Ekiti State Governor, Doctor Kayode Fayemi has imposed a dust to dawn curfew on the state following violence unleashed by thugs loyal to the PDP.

The thugs who were protesting the killing of a former chairman of the State National Union of Road Transport Workers, Omolafe Aderiye, set ablaze the APC secretariat and Governor Fayemi campaign office in Ado-Ekiti.

They also burnt houses of some APC supporters.

Omolafe Aderiye was shot dead by gunmen in his office in Ijigbo area of Ado-Ekiti, after accompanying the Governor-elect Ayodele Fayose to the state Election Petition Tribunal.

Unconfirmed report said he was the one that led the attack on Justice Ayodeji Daramola of an Ado-Ekiti High Court.

All the courts in Ekiti are presently shut following attacks on some judges by political thugs.

Courts Discharges Adeyemi Ikuforiji Over Money Laundering Charges

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has discharged and acquitted the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji standing trial for allegedly laundering six hundred million naira.

Justice Ibrahim Buba also discharged the Speaker’s aide Oyebode Atoyebi.

The judge held that the prosecution failed to prove the money laundering allegations against the accused persons.

Boko Haram Sects Members Impregnate One Of The Abducted Chibok Girls

The National Chairman of Chibok Community Development Association Doctor Pogu Bitrus says the abducted girl who was released two days ago is four months pregnant.

He said tests conducted on the girl revealed that she is pregnant.

Doctor Bitrus said it was still not clear if the girl is from Chibok because her name did not match any of the girls that were captured by Boko Haram in April this year.

Senates Approves President Jonathan's Requests To Borrow 1 Billion Naira To Tackle Boko Haram

The Senate has approved the request of President Goodluck Jonathan to obtain an external loan of one billion dollars to fight insurgency amidst a rowdy session.

However, before the request was eventually approved, APC Senators including the Senate Minority Leader, George Akume, Olubunmi Adetunmbi and Babafemi Ojudu argued that President Jonathan should have requested for the loan through a supplementary appropriation bill.

Ekiti NBA Condemns Attack On Courts By PDP Supporters

The Ado-Ekiti branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, has condemned the attack on some courts by political thugs.

He described the attacks as barbaric, adding that on no account should the temple of justice be desecrated

All State High Courts In Ekiti Shut Over Political Unrest

All Ekiti State High Courts have been shut following an attack on some judges by thugs suspected to be supporters of the State Governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose.

The thugs beat up Justice John Adeyeye and tore the record books of the State Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola.

They also temporarily disrupted proceedings at the State Election Petitions Tribunal.

Trouble reportedly began when Justice Adeyeye told Ayodele Fayose to control his supporters.

The Chief Registrar of the Court, Obafemi Fasanmi said the Chief Judge ordered the closure of the courts due to persistent attacks on Judges by hoodlums.

9.3 Million Dollars Seized In South Africa Has Made Nigeria A Laughing Stock - Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, says the nine point three million dollars cash seized in South Africa has made Nigeria a laughing stock in the international community.

Governor Fashola who spoke at this year’s Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Colloquium, said the legal icon would asked questions about the nine point three million dollars and the twenty billion dollars crude oil proceeds if he were still alive.

Schools Resumes In FCT

Public and private schools in the FCT have resumed full academic activities.

A visit to some of the schools by our correspondents revealed that both students and teachers were fully back.

The schools were provided with a minimum of two temperature measuring equipment, sanitizers and buckets by the Ministry of Education.

Gunmen Attack Police Station In Kogi State

Gunmen have attacked a police station in Adogo, Kogi state using dynamites.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu said in a statement that the assailants who attempted to loot the armoury, were repelled by the policemen on duty.

The dynamites demolished and set fire to part of the station.

PDP Endorsement Of President Jonathan As Party's Sole Candidate Undemocratic - Jhalil Tafawa Balewa

The son of Nigeria’s First Republic Prime Minister, Doctor Abdul Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa says he will contest the twenty fifteen presidential election on the platform of the PDP.

Doctor Tafawa-Balewa condemned what he called plot by the leadership of the party to demoralize other presidential aspirants, adding that he was not intimidated by the decision of the PDP governors and the party to support the second term aspiration of President Jonathan.

He queried the type of democracy being practiced by the PDP and wondered what had happened to internal party democracy.

I Will Support Anyone That Wins APC Presidential Primaries Atiku

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to support anyone who emerges as the presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.

He told newsmen in Lagos that he would not dump the party even if he loses the presidential primary.

According to him, his desire to fix Nigeria is responsible for his presidential ambition.

Lawyers Seek To Stop Jonathan From Contesting 2015 Presidential Election

Two lawyers have asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo from seeking re-election in twenty fifteen.

They argued that both men were not eligible to contest again because they have already served two terms.

Mase Daphine Acho and Saeeq Umar Sarki said President Jonathan and his Vice have already taken the oath of office twice.

Sue Synagogue Church Now! Opposition Party Charges South African Government

South Africa’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has asked the South African government to sue the Synagogue Church of All Nations over the collapse of one of its building which killed at least eighty five South Africans.

The call came just as the South African Minister in charge of Pretoria’s response to the incident, Jeff Radebe said the death toll has risen to one hundred and fifteen.

The call came just as the South African Minister in charge of Pretoria’s response to the incident, Jeff Radebe said the death toll has risen to one hundred and fifteen.

He said twenty-five South Africans who survived the disaster have been flown home for medical attention.

Jeff Radebe said his country is waiting for the outcome of the investigation being carried out by the Nigerian government to determine the cause of the collapse.

Fashola Is Not Progressive - Pensioners

The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has protested the alleged non-payment of their pension arrears.

The pensioners accused Governor Babatunde Fashola of not paying attention to their plight.

Chairman of the chapter, Nojeemibrahim who led to protester to the governor’s office at Alausa said some of them have died waiting for their pensions.

Supreme Court Affirms The Election Of Willie Obiano As Governor Of Anambra State

The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of governor of Anambra state, Willy Obiano.

The apex court held that the appellants failed to prove various acts of non-compliance they alleged.

Senator Chris Ngige of the APC and Tony Nwoye of the PDP has asked the Supreme Court to nullify Governor Obiano’s election on the grounds that there were substantial non-compliance with the constitution and the Electoral Act.

Al-Makura Sacks 8 Commissioners

The Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Al-Makura, has sacked eight commissioners and some of his aides including the Director of Press.

The Secretary to the State Government, Hajiya Zainab Abdulmumin in a statement in Lafia said the Commissioners for Rural and Community Development, Education, Science and Technology, Culture and Tourism as well as Agriculture and Water Resources, were affected.

Others are the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Environment and Natural Resources, Planning and Sports and Youth Development.

Rivers State Government Orders School To Resume On October 24th

The Rivers State Government has fixed the sixth of October, twenty fourteen for the resumption of public and private schools in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Doctor Sampson Parker who announced this at a news conference in Port Harcourt said the new date is to enable the state conclude on the health status of all those still under surveillance for the Ebola Virus Disease.

He said the health ministry is working with the Ministry of Education in the state to ensure necessary measures are put in place in schools before resumption.

Ebola Aftermath: Lagos State Government Sets To Amend Public Health Law

The Governor of Lagos State, Babtunde Fashola says plans are underway to amend the state’s public health law to make more room for funding emergencies.

He announced this today when he visited the First Consultant Medical Centre, Obalende, where the Liberian man, Patrick Sawyer who brought Ebola into Nigeria died.

Governor Fashola said the hospital equipment destroyed during decontamination of the facility would be replaced.

President Jonathan And PDP Lack Political Will To End Boko Haram Insurgency - Atiku Abubakar

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says the Boko Haram can be crushed easily if politicians show the will to do so.

He told the AFP that President Jonathan and the PDP lack the political will to end the insurgency.

According to him, the Boko Haram should not have lasted more than six months.

The former Vice President and a presidential aspirant on the platform of the APC said he warned the PDP in two thousand eleven that President Jonathan did not have the experience and capacity to govern Nigeria.

• SERAP Urges Financial Action Task Force To Sanction Nigeria Over Nine Point Three Million Dollar Cash Seized In South Africa

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged the Financial Action Task Force, to investigate the admission by the Nigerian government that it hired a private jet to convey nine point three million dollar cash to procure arms in South Africa.

The Executive Director of SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni in a letter to the President of FATF, Roger Wilkins, urged him to consider applying appropriate sanctions and measures to deter the practice in future.

He said the organisation which is charged with the responsibility of checking money laundering and financing of terrorism, is best positioned to look into the matter.

Nigeria is a member of the Financial Action Task Force.

84 South African Died In Synagogue Church Building Collapse - Envoy

The South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mguni has put the number of South African that died in the Synagogue Church building collapse at eighty four.

He told AFP that the number could rise because some people organised the trip themselves without using travel agents.

The diplomat said forensic tests were being conducted to verify the identities of the dead.

South Africa had sent ten disaster management personnel, including doctors to help in the rescue operations.

I Was Never Admitted In A London Hospital - Tinubu

The National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu says he was never admitted to a London hospital.

The former Lagos state governor who stated this on arrival at the Lags airport dismissed insinuations that he was ill.

Bola Tinubu told reporters that he was solid and fit as a fiddle.

Lord Chosen Church Building Collapse In Benin City

A building belonging to Christ Chosen Church has collapsed in Benin City, the Edo state capital.

Three people were feared dead but the state Commissioner of Police, Foluso Adebanjo said only one person died in the incident.

Our correspondent gathered that the building collapsed when boys hired by the church to demolish the structure were working on it.

Angry youths in the area set fire to a building belonging to the church in protest.

Shekarau Visits FCE Kano After Suicide Bomb Attack

The Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau has visited the Federal College of Education, Kano where suicide bombers killed no fewer than thirteen people and several others wounded.

He described the incident as unfortunate.

Amaechi Dares Federal Government On School Resumption Date

The Rivers State Government says schools in the State would not resume on September twenty two as directed by the Federal Government. 

The state commissioner for health Doctor Sampson Parker who announced this today while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt said a new date will be announced soon.

Doctor Parker explained that the move is to allow the Ebola medical team to clear the over two hundred Ebola contact persons currently on observation.

He said the decision was taken in agreement with the minister of health, Professor Oyebuchi Chukwu.

APC Charges National Assembly To Investigate Circumstances Surrounding 9.3 Million Dollars Impounded In South Africa

The All Progressives Congress has called on the National Assembly to launch an urgent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the private jet carrying nine point three million dollars impounded in South Africa.

In a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed the silence of the people’s representatives on the issue is unacceptable.

The party also urged President Goodluck Jonathan to come clean on the circumstances surrounding the deal.

According to the party, there are globally accepted protocols for the procurement of arms by government to differentiate it from insurgent groups shopping for arms. 

PDP National Executive Committee & BOT Adopts President Jonathan As Sole Candidate For 2015 Election.

The National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s sole presidential candidate for the twenty fifteen election.

This decision was taken at the NEC meeting of the party at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

To support his claim that there was no dissenting voice on the decision to adopt President Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate, Governor Babangida Aliyu introduced the Jigawa state governor, Sule Lamido who in turn received a standing ovation.

A visibly exited President Jonathan in his acceptance speech described his adoption as the sole presidential candidate as an ‘atomic bomb’, adding that he was humbled and overwhelmed by the unanimous endorsement.

Similarly, The Board of Trustees of the PDP has unanimously adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s candidate for the twenty fifteen general elections.

The decision of the BOT according to the former Minister of Information and member of the Board, Professor Jerry Gana was an affirmation of the position of the PDP governors who presented same to the BOT of the party. 

Over 2000 PDP Members Defects To APC In Edo State

About two thousand PDP members have defected to the APC in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole who received the defectors said the PDP has failed to produce any meaningful development in the state.

He urged the people to ask salient questions before voting.

Eronmosele Aisabor who led the defectors said they decided to join the APC because the government has upgraded the College of Education in Igueben to a campus of the University of Education, Ekiadolor.

Tribunal Of Inquiry Into Vandalism Of Some BRT Buses Begins Sitting In Lagos

The three-man Tribunal of Inquiry into the road traffic accident, arson and vandalism of some Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, vehicles at Onipanu has begun its public sitting in Lagos.

The incident occurred on July four following an allegation that a BRT bus had hit and killed a soldier at the Palmgrove axis of Ikorodu Road.

The Chairman of the tribunal, retired Justice Ebenezer Adebajo said the tribunal’s mandate is to determine the facts surrounding the incident and to make recommendation to prevent future occurrence.

He urged witnesses to the incident to come forward with information.

NEMA Deploys Sniffer Dogs To Assist In Locating Trapped Victims In Synagogue Guest House

The National Emergency Management Agency says search and rescue teams at the site of the Synagogue Church building collapse are deploying Nigerian police sniffer dogs to assist in locating trapped victims.

The South West spokesman of the agency Ibrahim Farinloye said they are getting close to an area suspected to have more trapped people.

He said the commissioner of police has ordered the release of five dogs after a collective decision by agencies involved in the rescue operation to use them.

South Africa Police Detains 2 Nigerians & 1 Israeli Fr Smuggling 9.3 Million Naira In That Country

South African police are investigating two Nigerians and an Israeli, who allegedly brought nine point three million dollars in cash into the country illegally.

The South African Revenue Service said the funds were seized at an airport in Johannesburg.

Some reports claimed that the money packed in three suit cases was transported in a private jet from Abuja.

The three passengers reportedly claimed that the money was meant to buy arms for the Nigerian security services.

We Know Where The Location Of The Missing Fighter Jet - Chief Of Air Staff

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu says the military have an idea of where  the  Nigerian Air Force Alpha Fighter Jet that went missing after a military operation in Konduga, Borno state.

He told State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja that he was hopeful that before the end of the day or week, the force would be able to provide credible information on to the location of the aircraft and the pilots.

The Air Chief expressed the hope that the pilots, manning the missing jets might still be alive.

Governor Danbaba Suntai Returns To Nigeria After Month Of Medical Treatment In UK

The Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai has arrived in Abuja after months of medical treatment in the United Kingdom.

‪Governor Suntai told newsmen at the General Theophilus Danjuma's guest house in Asokoro, Abuja that he is getting better.

‪His piloted the crashed plane on the 25 October, 2012 in Yola, with some of his aides also on board. 

Fashola Visits Collapsed Synagogue Building

Governor Babatunde Fashola has in the meantime visited the site of the collapsed building in Ikotun.

Death Toll From Synagogue Church Building Collapse Rises To 42

The death toll in the Synagogue Church collapsed building in Lagos has risen to forty-two while one hundred and thirty people trapped under the rubble had so far been rescued. 

The South West spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye said the rescue operation is still ongoing.

Ibrahim Farinloye said eighty percent of people rescued from the collapse building were women, adding that two female children, aged four and eight years, were among the survivors.

Nigerian Airforce Jet Missing In Adamawa State

The Defence Headquarters says an Alpha Jet belonging to the Nigerian Air Force has disappeared in Adamawa State.

‪The Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, said in a statement that the aircraft, with two pilots on board, left Yola at about ten forty-five in the morning on Friday on a routine operational mission and was expected back at noon the same day.

‪According to him, all efforts to establish contact with the aircraft have not yielded any positive result.

‪Major-General Olukolade said a search and rescue effort was ongoing to establish contact with the crew. 

Security Is Our Priority In Lagos - Governor Fashola

The Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola has renewed his commitments to ensuring adequate security of lives and property of residents in the state.

Governor Fashola stated this in a message to the two-day Security workshop organized by the conference of the fifty-seven council chairmen in the state.

The Commissioner for Rural Development, Cornelius Ojelabi, who represented the governor, said the State Security Trust Fund had greatly assisted in providing necessary materials to security operatives in the state.

Additional Polling Units Will Not Confer Advantage To Any Region - Jega

The Independent national Electoral Commission says the planned creation of over thirty thousand additional polling units will not confer political advantage on any group or region in the country.

INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega made this known in Abuja while reacting to the controversy trailing the proposal. 

APC Commends President Jonathan On The Removal Of Of Offensive BringBackJonathan 2015 Campaign Banners

The All Progressives Congress has in the meantime described as a good first step the order by President Jonathan for the removal of the Bring Back Goodluck Twenty-Fifteen campaign hash tag signs.

The party said in a statement that the President made a mockery of his administration and the country by waiting for an international condemnation of the distortion of the Bring Back Our Girls hash tag before issuing the directive for it to be stopped.

APC says the President's directive must be followed by another instruction ordering the so-called Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria to immediately stop its rallies that have offended the sensibilities and intelligence of Nigerians.

President Goodluck Orders Removal Of BringBackJonathan 2015 Campaign Banners

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that the hash tag: Bring Back Goodluck Twenty-Fifteen signs and banners around Abuja be brought down immediately.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati said in a statement that President Jonathan shares the widely expressed view that the signs which were put up without his knowledge or approval are highly insensitive distortion of the Bring Back Our Girls hash tag.

President Jonathan condemned the signs which appear to play down the very serious national and global concern for the abducted Chibok girls.

The President assured Nigerians and the international community that his administration remains fully engaged with efforts to rescue the abducted girls.

Fintiri Will Not Contest Adamawa State Governorship Election In 2015 - PDP

PDP National Secretary Professor Wale Oladipo says Adamawa state Acting Governor Umar Fintiri will not re-contest in twenty fifteen if he emerged as winner in the October eleven governorship by-election.

Professor Oladipo told newsmen in Abuja that this was agreement reached with the party leadership and aspirants who contested the September six Adamawa PDP primaries.

He debunked insinuations that the party leadership was using the agreement to deny the state acting governor from contesting in 2015 saying the governor himself was the person that said made the proposal.

First Consultant Medicals Center Gets Certificate Of Decontamination From Government

The Federal Government has issued a certification of decontamination to First Consultants Medicals Centre, the hospital in Lagos which treated Nigeria’s Ebola index case Patrick Sawyer.

They have also been given the permission to re-open for business.

In two letters from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Doctor Jide Idris, both parties notified First Consultants that it had been cleared to reopen for business having undergone three rounds of state-certified decontamination processes.

The Lagos state government also commiserated with the hospital over the loss of its medical personnel who died in the line of the duty.

APC Blasts President Jonathan For Associating Publicly With Modu Sheriff

The All Progressives Congress has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of exhibiting a shocking act of indiscretion by associating publicly with an alleged Boko Haram sponsor, Ali Modu Sheriff, who is not known to have been investigated and cleared of the weighty allegation against him.

In a statement issued in London by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party wondered what message President Jonathan was sending to his compatriots and indeed to the international community when he took Ali Modu Sheriff along during his visit to Chad to confer with President Idriss Deby on cooperation against terrorism.

APC said this action by President Jonathan confirms its believed that the President either knows more than he is willing to admit on the issue of those who are behind the Boko Haram insurgency or he is willing to sacrifice the battle against terrorism on the altar of political expediency.

T.A Orji Reappoints Ugo Emezue As His Special Adviser On Electronic Media

The Abia State Governor T.A Orji has re-appointed his former Chief Press Secretary Ugochukwu Emezue as his Special Adviser On Electronic Media.

Elated Ugochukwu in a post on his Facebook account, thanked the governor for the appointment.