Jonathan says I am strong, makes surprise appearance at London Conference

President Jonathan made a surprised appearance at the Hilton Hotel Parklane London, venue of the conference on investment being coordinated by the Honorary International Investors Conference where his ill health Thursday forced him to stay away.
President Jonathan who arrived at the second floor venue of the event at exactly 9:30, London time was in company of the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Senator Dalhatu Tafida and the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Nurudeen apologized to members of the council for his inability to attend the conference on Thursday, blaming it on his ill health but added that he was strong enough to be in attendance at fridays’s session.
Dressed in a black stripped traditional South-South attire and bowler hat to match, president Jonathan did not display any sign of weakness as he shook hands with members of the council and he Coordinator, Baroness Lynda Chalker before he took his seat after the national anthem.

VANGUARD

Brazil 2014: No foreign coach for Eagles —NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ruled out hiring a foreign technical adviser to superintend the current Super Eagles bench led by coach Stephen Keshi, saying it is a distraction that should be avoided outright for now.
Speaking to sportwriters at the Glasshouse on Thursday, the first vice-president of the NFF, Chief Mike Umeh  said the results being chalked up by the current technical crew of the Eagles are enough for any forthright person to look away from such issue. “Why would anybody be thinking of such for now, especially now that Keshi and his team are giving us result? To us at the board level it is a distraction that we will not allow anybody, no matter how highly placed, to impose on us.”

Aero Contractor reportedly changes name to Nigerian Eagle

According to new reports, Aero Contractors, partly owned by the Ibru family has changed its name to Nigerian Eagle, and will most likely be the official national carrier.

Thisday reports that the airline will be unveiled this Sunday as the nation's national carrier by President Goodluck Jonathan on his return from the UK.

"There will not be Aero Contractors anymore. It is now Nigerian Eagle and it will be launched on Sunday by Mr. President. You will not see Aero anymore after the launch of this airline”. Sources told Thisday on Wednesday,

The Federal Government owns 60% stake in the airline.

Selection, my major challenge –Keshi

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has admitted that cutting his huge Super Eagles squad to the final 23-man list for the 2014 World Cup would pose a major challenge to him. The former Nigeria captain believes that the problem will not lie in getting truly talented players for Brazil 2014 but being able to get the best of the talents available to the country.

He said of his ambition, “What is upper most in my mind now is to assemble a very strong side and go beyond the second round we have failed to cross. That would be very great. We sincerely want to make a huge mark in Brazil.

“But there’s surely a big challenge achieving that goal. The major headache now is how to select the very best 23 from the long list available to us. We have worked with a lot of players and very many of them are very good. But we will surely achieve that and take our best for every position. We would have loved to take everybody but the maximum list is 23 and there’s nothing we can do about that.”

Osun monarch strangled before inferno –Residents

Some chiefs and residents of Ilashe Ijesa in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State on Thursday narrated how the monach of the town, Oba Adesina Anibijuwon, was killed by suspected members of Odua People’s Congress, who allegedly strangled him and left his corpse inside his residence which they set ablaze.

Those who recovered his corpse from the building said the charred remains of Anibijuwon were taken to the mortuary at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital in Osogbo by Osun Ambulance Service at around 10.30pm on Wednesday.

The ambulance that conveyed the remains of the monarch was said to have been escorted to the mortuary by armed policemen and some residents. The residents feared that those who killed him might want to seize his corpse.

Some residents who also spoke with our correspondent said the officials of the state fire service, who came to put out the inferno, ran out of water.

President Jonathan falls ill in London

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday became indisposed in far away London where he was scheduled to preside over the meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investors’ Council.

His Special Adviser   on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati,   made this known  in a statement he made available to journalists in Abuja.

Abati said the President, who turned 56 on Wednesday,  had since been examined by competent medical practitioners.

He  added that  Jonathan  was  advised by his doctors to rest for a few days.

Abati neither disclosed the nature of the ailment nor  the duration of the  resting period.   He    assured Nigerians that Jonathan’s medical condition was “nothing serious,”  adding that the medical attention he sought was only “precautionary.”

His  statement reads, “In the course of his ongoing visit to London for a meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investors’ Council, President Goodluck Jonathan became indisposed and could not be present at the opening of the meeting today (on Thursday).

“President Jonathan has since been examined by competent medical practitioners. He has been advised to rest for a few days.

“The Presidency wishes to assure all Nigerians that President Jonathan’s condition is nothing serious and that the medical attention he has sought is only precautionary.”

FG assures Keshi of World Cup support

SUPER Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi will get the required support from the Federal Government to ensure the team’s successful outing at the 2014 World Cup scheduled to take place in Brazil.
 Minister of Sports and chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Bolaji Abdullahi, who gave this assurance at the State House, Abuja after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, told correspondents that while the coach had proved capable, he would be provided technical assistance should he desire it.
Responding to a question, Abdullahi recalled Keshi’s achievements starting with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory through  the World Cup qualification ticket, noting that the coach has proved his mettle.
 He added: “But of course we will be open to reviewing all options and if Keshi, who we believe has done very good job to put this team together from AFCON up to this time, feels he needs additional technical support, we are going to give it to him.
 “But we believe we are confident he is capable of doing the job and if there are issues, we can always talk about them. But we have confidence in his ability to lead the team to the World Cup.”
 Abdullahi had earlier briefed the Council presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, on the  recent victory of the Nation’s team in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, as well as Eagles’ qualification for the World Cup at the expense of their Ethiopian counterparts, last weekend.

Anambra Election: 16 Parties Oppose Call for Cancellation

SIXTEEN political parties in the Anambra State have accepted the results collated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the governorship election held in the state on Saturday.
Speaking with journalists after a meeting in Awka, on Wednesday, chairmen of the parties said they abided by the final outcome of the exercise.
Presenting the stand of the political parties, their spokesman, who is also the chaiman of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Chuba Ikeagwu, said they would also back INEC in its proposed supplementary election for the conclusion of the governorship election, to enable it to declare the result without further delay.

Eaglets to get Super Eagles call ups

In what may sound like a retraction of his earlier declaration that he would only extend invitations to U-17 players after they would have graduated through the ranks, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has said that he intends to call up a few of the U17 World Cup winning players to the Super Eagles in preparation for next year’s CHAN tournament.
There have been widespread calls within Nigeria that members of the U-17world cup winning team be drafted into the Super Eagles ahead of the world cup.

In an exclusive interview with supersport.com at the Hilton Cobham hotel where the Nigerian team based following the friendly with Italy, coach Stephen Keshi has been speaking on a variety of issues including the availability of the Eaglets.

Jonathan meets rebel govs on Sunday

In an effort aimed at finding a lasting solution to the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, President Goodluck Jonathan is to meet with the seven aggrieved governors from the party on Sunday.

Already, sources close to the governors said a letter had been sent to them concerning the meeting.

The letter was said to have been signed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Mike Oghiadomhe, who indicated in the letter that the meeting would  hold by 9 p.m. at the First Lady’s Conference Room, the State House, Presidential Villa.

The governors are Rabiu Kwankwanso(Kano); Aliyu Wamakko(Sokoto), Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Babangida (Niger); Abdulfatai Ahmed(Kwara); and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).

A source close to one of the governors, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent on Wednesday night, said the governors would attend the meeting.

He said, “Yes, we have been invited to the meeting, which will hold on Sunday. We will be there and we hope that this time around, we would be able to resolve our differences.”

Before now, the President had met with the group twice, but they were not able to arrive at an agreeable conclusion.

PUNCH NG

Special Forces raid B’Haram hideout, kill 20

Soldiers of the Special Forces have raided a hideout of members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, at Yaurakura, in the Bagudu Island of Lake Chad area of Borno State and killed 20 insurgents.

A highly placed military source, who disclosed this to one of our correspondents on Wednesday in Abuja, described the raid as a major victory against the insurgents.

It was learnt that the raid, which began on Saturday, consisted of both attack by land troops and aerial bombardment by the air force.

The raid was said to have been made possible as a result of intelligence reports and air reconnaissance operations in the area.

The source described Yaurakura as a major stronghold of the insurgents and that the area also served as an escape route on water.

The source said that the troops also seized several arms and ammunition from the Boko Haram fighters.

EFCC grills Gbenga Daniel again

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday interrogated a former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, at the commission’s office in Lagos.

EFCC sources told our correspondent on Wednesday that the former governor was interrogated in relation to the pending charges instituted against him at an Ogun State High Court, in Abeokuta.

EFCC spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the development but declined to give details about the interrogation.

“He was in Lagos office on Tuesday for a brief interrogation. But I don’t have details of what transpired,” Uwujaren said.

Reps move to allow public officers operate foreign accounts

A controversial bill seeking to allow public officers operate foreign bank accounts passed the second reading at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Under the extant Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 2004, it is criminal for a public officer to operate a bank account outside Nigeria.

The bill that passed the second reading on Wednesday sought to amend this law “so as to make the leave of the Bureau necessary for a public officer to maintain or operate a bank account outside Nigeria.”

One of the supporters of the bill, Mr. Bamidele Faporosi, argued that the current law was “weak and ineffective,” as no public officer had been successfully prosecuted for flouting it.

He explained that the amendment proposed included a proviso that the public officer must get the approval of the bureau before opening such an account.

Killer convoy: Victim’s family tackles Kwara gov’s wife

The family of late Mrs. Victoria Adeoye, one of the victims of last Wednesday’s accident at U-turn Bus Stop on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, has said the convoy which caused the accident, belonged to the wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed.

Victoria aged 63, died shortly after she was hit by a truck which was trying to avoid crashing into the convoy, said to be returning from a visit to Hamkad Hospital.

Eyewitnesses had said the convoy drove recklessly into the expressway from a side road without stopping to check for oncoming vehicles.

A second victim, who has been identified as Mr. Adebambo Olumuyiwa, an employee of Lagos Cheshire Homes and Services, was said to have died about an hour after the accident at the Ile Epo General Hospital.

Victoria’s eldest son, Dr. Olusegun told PUNCH Metro that the family had learned that Ahmed had gone to Hamkad Hospital to visit a popular Fuji musician, Kollington Ayinla.

He said, “We were informed by some persons within our community that the convoy, which caused the accident, belonged to the wife of Kwara State Governor.

Anambra governorship election tears PDP apart

THERE was a sharp disagreement in the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday over the  November 16 governorship election  in Anambra State  as the party’s candidate, Tony Nwoye, openly  flayed the  national headquarters and state chapter of the party  for  praising the conduct of the poll.

The National Publicity Secretary  of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh,  had on Sunday described the election as ‘free and fair’ even when Nwoye joined his All Progressives Congress  and Labour Party  counterparts, Chris Ngige and Ifeanyi Ubah,  respectively in calling for its cancellation.

On Wednesday in Awka, the  Chairman of the state  chapter, Mr. Ken Emeakayi, did the same as Metuh by  describing the poll as  credible.

Emeakayi  had told a news  conference that   the  PDP would participate in the supplementary election, which Nwoye is against.

It’s a shame Eagles scored – Rossi

Giuseppe Rossi was happy with his first Italy goal in over two years and the partnership with Mario Balotelli. But he insisted that it was a shame that the Italians allowed the Super Eagles to score twice in their friendly at Craven Cotttage.

“Of course I’m happy with the goal and the team’s overall performance,” he told Rai Sport after a 2-2 friendly draw with the Super Eagles.
“It’s a shame we conceded those goals when we appeared to be in control. We can go home happy with this game.
“More than the goal, it’s the performance that counts. We all worked very hard to honour this jersey and I think that’s what we did.”
This was Rossi’s first Azzurri goal since June 2011, as he was out for two years with a series of knee injuries and missed the 1-1 draw with Germany due to tonsillitis on Friday.

Peace-keeping: Police deploy 400 personnel in Sudan, Liberia

The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday deployed three contingents of the Formed Police Unit made up of 400 personnel to Sudan and Liberia in support of the United Nations mission in Liberia and the African Union – United Nations’ Hybrid operation in Dafur.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, who addressed the men at the Force Headquarters parade ground in Abuja, tasked them to be good ambassadors of the police and the nation.

He said that Nigeria police contingents were currently on international peacekeeping assignments in nine countries, including Cote D’voire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Liberia, Sierra-Leone, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.

The IG assured the contingents that the police authorities had made ample provision for their welfare, material and logistics support and charged them to be focused and to “avoid cutting corners.”

Jonathan under attack for budget presentation delay

Members of the Senate and House of Representatives  on Tuesday flayed President Goodluck Jonathan for calling off his scheduled presentation of the estimates of the 2014 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly.

They faulted the reason adduced by Jonathan, saying his action was capable of  delaying early passage of the budget.

 The President, who  also cancelled the presentation last week,  had in  a letter  to the leadership of the National Assembly,  stated  that the failure of the  Senate and the House  to harmonise their differences on the crude oil benchmark for  the   budget  was responsible for his latest action.

 The  Senate  had passed $76.5 per barrel as the benchmark while  the House approved  $79. Jonathan, in the financial estimates, proposed $74.

His letter reads in part, “Considering the fact that, whereas the distinguished Senate has approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework based on a benchmark of $76.5 per barrel, the honourable House of Representatives has used a benchmark of $79 per barrel. It is infeasible for me to present the budget in the absence of a harmonised position on the MTEF.

Present your 19 governors, presidential aide dares Amaechi

Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, on Tuesday dared Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State to present the 19 governors he claimed re-elected him as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum.

In his reaction to an earlier interview Gulak granted The PUNCH in which he said the Presidency identified Governor Jonah Jang as the NGF chairman, Amaechi had on Monday said he was re-elected by 19 governors against the 16 who voted for Jang.

“It is a known fact that in the election for chairman of NGF held on May 24, Governor Amaechi got the mandate of the majority of his colleague-governors to continue to serve as their chairman when 19 governors voted for him as against 16 that voted for Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang. We know that 19 is always greater than 16,” Amaechi’s spokesman, David Iyofor, had written.

Baraje, Oyinlola, others sue PDP, INEC over suspension

Leaders of the factional Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday approached an Abuja Federal High Court to challenge their suspension from the PDP.

The leader of the group, Abubakar Baraje, and the others – court-reinstated National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former National Deputy Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja; and Alhaji Ibrahim Kazaure – filed the suit through their lawyer, Chief Awa Kalu, SAN.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to set aside their suspension on the grounds that it was done in bad faith.

They are contending that the decision is contrary to the disciplinary procedure outlined in the Constitution of the PDP.

They are also asking the court to hold that their suspension breached the principle of fair hearing stipulated in the country’s 1999 Constitution.

Jonathan under pressure to save embattled minister

PUNCH - President Goodluck Jonathan is currently under pressure to spare the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, over her role in the purchase of two bulletproof BMW cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, investigation by The PUNCH has revealed.

The people that are asking Jonathan to save the neck of Oduah were said to be telling the President not to mind the report of the administrative panel he set up to investigate the minister’s role in the controversial N255m luxury cars.

The panel headed by a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello, had submitted its report to Jonathan since last Wednesday but the President has not said anything about its content.

A source told our correspondent that a top government official from the South-East, the same geopolitical zone with the embattled minister, is currently in the forefront of the campaign to save her.

My husband does not complain about my romantic roles

Popular actress, Nse Ikpe-Etim, rose to stardom through the movie Reloaded and has since featured in many other award-winning movies.In this interview with JOAN OMIONAWELE, the actress talks about her passion, marriage and career. Excerpts.
Before you started acting professionally, were you not afraid of the Genevieves and Omotolas?
Everyone is cautious when they enter into a new world, but I wouldn’t go so far as to use the word ‘afraid’ There is the initial trepidation, but that comes more out of a worry of not succeeding as opposed to a fear of the competition. I have a deep respect for everyone who paved the way for the rest of us. You cannot take anything away from Genevieve or Omotola, they are fantastic actresses.

What stands you out among other actresses?
Well, I think my fans will be more suited to answer this particular question. I do not get a chance to watch a lot of my work, so at best, I can only guess.

What do you miss most about being not popular?
I miss being anonymous. I miss not having to be so guarded. Fame is a heavy cross, yes the perks make it pleasurable but the demands on you and the loss of privacy are sometimes difficult to live with. However, I chose this career, so I deal with the consequences; good or bad.

I’m feeling W/Cup pressure already – Keshi

With Brazil 2014 World Cup ticket in his kitty, Nigeria’s head coach Stephen Keshi says he is now feeling the pressure on the job.

“I had always said I felt no pressure on this job because I am used to football as a game of win some lose some. But now our level has changed, I want to go to the World Cup and win it. Yes, I mean it,” Keshi said in Calabar on Saturday night.

Previewing the challenges ahead, Keshi admitted he had never been in this situation before.

“I won the 2006 World Cup ticket for Togo, but with due respect, Togo do not  have many talents to choose from like Nigeria. In my head I have almost 52 players who I think are good enough to play for Nigeria in Brazil. It is painful that some of those who had started this campaign with us two years ago may not make it to Brazil, not because they are not good enough but because the space is limited for us.”

I remain authentic NGF Chairman – Amaechi

 GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, has insisted that he remains the authentic chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF.

The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr David Iyofor, yesterday, lashed at the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, for saying that President Goodluck Jonathan did not recognise him (Amaechi) as Chairman of the forum.
The governor said he was sure that Gulak did not consult with President Jonathan before his comments in an interview with a national newspaper, where he accorded recognition to Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State as Chairman of the forum.
He said: “Again, Ahmed Gulak, the Presidential Adviser on Political Matters, displayed his complete contemptuous lack of basic democratic tenets and principles and sadly painted the Jonathan Presidency as a partisan undemocratic Presidency that has no regard or respect for the peoples’ mandate expressed through the ballot box when he told reporters that the Presidency does not recognise Rivers State governor, Amaechi, as the duly elected Chairman of NGF.  Not done yet, Gulak further said that the  Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, who lost the NGF chairmanship election to Governor Amaechi, is the NGF chairman, recognised by President Jonathan.

Tunji Okunsanya Snr, MIC Boss, Buried

The remains of the late MIC Funerals boss, Tunji Okunsanya Snr has been laid to rest in Lagos.
The funeral service was held on Monday at the St. John’s Anglican Church, Aroloya, Lagos Island and was followed by internment at the Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi.
Meanwhile, a wake-keep was held on Sunday November 17 at the play ground, close D, Zone A, off Muri Folami Street, Ogudu GRA, Lagos.
However, Daily Times reported that Tunji Okunsanya Jnr, son of the late Mr. MIC Funerals boss was buried on Tuesday November 13.
Tunji Okunsanyo Snr, Tunji Okunsanya Jnr, and 18 others were involved in the Associated Airline plane crash that occurred in Lagos on October 3rdwhile conveying the remains of Mr. Olusegun Agagu to Ondo State.
The late Okusanya Snr. is survived by wives and children.

ASUU queries four professors for sabotaging strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has queried four professors of Enugu State University of Science and Technology for sabotaging its ongoing nationwide strike.

Prof. Agu Gab Agu, Chairman of ESUT-ASUU, revealed this on Monday, after a congress of the local union in Enugu.

He said with almost half the population of its members present, they made it clear that they still stand on the resolutions of the ASUU National Executive on the strike.

Prof. Agu said that they abide by whatever decision of the National Executive Council and await further directives on the strike.

Answering questions on the purported resumption of academic activities in ESUT on Monday, the academic don said they were informed that some lecturers met with the management and sold the idea that they were representing ASUU and that the strike had been called off.

We all shared $5bn ECA fund —FG

The Federal Government on Monday denied an allegation made by the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, that $5bn was missing from the Excess Crude Account.

It stated that the governor could not deny knowledge of the management of the fund, adding that Amaechi’s claim was false.

But the governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, said he would react to the Federal Government’s position on the missing $5bn after studying the FG’s statement of rebuttal.

At a retreat of the Nigerian Governors Forum in Sokoto on Saturday, Amaechi had said there was $9bn in the ECA in January this year, but regretted that the amount had been depleted to $4bn without the knowledge of the governors.

He had said, “The Excess Crude Account in January was $9bn. That account belongs to federal, states and local governments. Today, it is $4bn. We don’t know who took the $5bn.”

But in defending how the account was managed, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in a statement issued in Abuja, described the claims by the governor as “absolutely shocking and false.”

STRIKE: ASUU, FG Negotiation Null and Void – Senate C’ttee

Implementation of the agreement between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, may have to be delayed as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters, Aloysius Etok, has said that the ongoing negotiations between the duo would be null and void without the input of National Wages and Salaries Commission.
Senator Etok stated this during an oversight tour of the Commission. He said that under no guise should the Federal Government negotiate salary or wage increase without the input of the relevant commission.
He attributed most of the incessant industrial actions in the country to sentimental negotiation for salary increase in the civil service.
He said: “We have said this earlier that on no account should Federal Government negotiate salary increase or anything that has to do with wages or salaries without the input of the Commission.
“They should avoid the issue of sentimental increase or negotiation and there should be no exceptions. Four months is about a semester.”

One killed, seven injured in expressway accident

A commercial  bus and a mini-truck conveying margarine collided on the Arepo end of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday evening.

PUNCH Metro learnt that one passengers was killed, while seven others sustained burns.

Eyewitnesses alleged that the accident was caused by a truck laden with noodles.

An eyewitness, Thomas Adelakun, said, “Trucks usually park on the side of the road. Around 5.45pm, one of the trucks was attempting to negotiate into the expressway but did not observe oncoming traffic.

“A passenger bus and a mini-truck laden with margarine, both on top speed, were driving by when the truck swerved in their direction. In a bid to avoid the truck, the bus swerved and  ran into the mini truck.

“The truck sped off. The margarine truck caught fire and it spread to the passenger bus.”

INEC to Ngige, others: Only courts can cancel entire election

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday said  only the courts   could  order   total cancellation of any election conducted by it.

The commission  was  reacting  to the calls by the  All Progressives Congress, Labour Party   and their candidates   for a total cancellation of the controversial governorship election in Anambra State on Saturday.

It said  since the Chief Returning Officer, Prof. James Epoke, had announced most of  the results, INEC had no  power    to do anything contrary.

“By law, those results are now beyond the purview of INEC to invalidate. Only the courts have that power now to do so,” Mr. Kayode Idowu, the   Chief Press Secretary to  the  INEC Chairman,  Prof. Attahiru Jega,   told  The  PUNCH in Abuja.

 Idowu added that with the inclusive nature of the election as declared by Onukogu, all that “the commission can do is to conduct a supplementary election so that the CRO  can make a return.”

FIRS quizzes Jimoh Ibrahim over tax liabilities

The Chairman of Global Fleets Limited, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, was on Monday invited by the Federal Inland Revenue Service to offer explanations about the alleged huge tax liabilities involving his company.

The development was confirmed by the Director, Communications and Liaison Department of the FIRS, Mr. Emmanuel Obeta.

Obeta, who spoke with our correspondent in a telephone interview, stated that contrary to media reports, the businessman was not arrested.

“He (Ibrahim) was invited by the FIRS to come and make some clarifications regarding issues bordering on tax liabilities,” he said.

When asked if Ibrahim was detained, the FIRS director said the businessman was only quizzed and asked to go.

“When you invite someone to come and make explanations and the invitation is honoured, the logical thing to do is to allow the person to go,” he said.

Drama as driver strips naked to evade arrest

There was drama at the Palmgrove Bus Stop, Ikorodu Road, Lagos State, on Monday when a commercial bus driver stripped naked to avoid being arrested by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.

The LASTMA officials had blocked five different commercial buses for indiscriminately taking passengers by the side of the road.

Passengers in the four vehicles were asked to alight, as officials of the traffic agency took over the wheels of the impounded vehicles.

There was however drama when the old man who drove the fifth bus suddenly went inside his bus and brought out a bowl.

A fetid odour emanating from the bowl polluted the fresh morning air.

The LASTMA officers, policemen and commuters ran for cover.

But one of the officials came back and stood his ground, wielding a baton and insisting that the man must follow them.

Keshi opens World Cup door for Yobo

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has said that skipper Joseph Yobo could still feature at the 2014 World Cup.

Yobo has been overlooked by Keshi since the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in February.
But Keshi has now revealed that he plans to ensure Yobo gets his  record century of caps before the World Cup in Brazil and if he again proves his worth in those friendlies, he could still make it to Brazil 2014.
”Yobo is very much alive in this team than any other player. Yobo and I spoke before the game (vs Ethiopia) and our ambition is to make sure that he gets that 100th cap and by God’s grace he will get it,” Keshi said.
”Now the thing is will he be willing to come back? But we have been talking and he has said no problems.
So, why not, if he is here he would have his hundredth cap and if he is in shape, why not the World Cup?”
Yobo has featured at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups.
He lost his first-team in the Eagles to youngster Kenneth Omeruo at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa and even when Omeruo was sidelined by injury, he was not recalled and instead Warri Wolves defender Azubuike Egwuekwe filled in.

Why Eagles played poorly –Keshi

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has responded to views by many spectators that the World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Ethiopia was not as entertaining as expected. The Nigeria manager, who spoke after the game the Eagles won by 2-0 in Calabar on Saturday,  said that the pressure of not making any costly mistake took its toll on the players.

He said, “Yes the game may not have been as smooth and as entertaining as the spectators wanted to be. That I agree with you. But there was a whole lot of pressure on the players not to slip in this last game after having a good run all through. At this stage we thought that bad style or a  lack of finesse should not count. What we wanted was to get the result and be in Brazil. And that was exactly what we got.

“We have a lot of games to play between now and the World Cup and those matches can’t be like this one. When it gets to this stage what matters is to use the basic technique in the books to secure the result and move on. The beautiful will continue soon.”

Anambra poll: Protests as Obiano maintains lead

About  200 women from the 21 local government areas  in  Anambra State on Sunday protested the conduct of    Saturday’s  governorship election   in the state.

They said  the election was not credible and called for  its cancellation  and conduct of a fresh one.

The  women, who  carried leaves , expressed their disappointment with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

They rolled repeatedly on the road leading to the INEC office   chanting , “Jega has failed us,’ and   ‘He should resign or be removed.”

A combined team of police officers and soldiers resisted their attempts to gain entry into the INEC premises.

Infuriated ,  the women,   who gathered  at Arroma Junction and  marched through  the Alex Ekwueme,     rained abuses on the  policemen and soldiers.

Spokesperson  for  the protesters, Mrs. Angela Akukalia, said many  people   were disenfranchised as their names were not found on the  voter  registers.

INEC official arrested, 20 others escape robbery attack

The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, Mr Bala Nasarawa, on Sunday confirmed the arrest of an electoral official involved in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

 Nasarawa told the News Agency of Nigeria in Awka that the  command was interrogating the official  whose name he declined to mention.

The commissioner was reacting  to  statement credited to the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, that the official,  who bungled the election  in Obosi,   Idemili North Local Government Area, had been handed over to the police.

The police chief said,” I can confirm to you that we arrested one official; but I don’t know if that is the one you are talking about. ’’

 Jega had  said on a live television programme monitored in Abuja, that  the  electoral  officer was being detained by the police in Anambra State.

Artiste, Father U-turn, dies at 36

Several musicians, including Daddy Showkey and Alariwo of Afrika, have expressed shock at the death of dancehall musician, Olufemi Mayomi, popularly called Father U-Turn.

Although some reports suggested that the artiste died of kidney-related complications,  a statement by the Publisher of Nigerian Entertainment News Today, Ayeni Adekunle, indicated that Father U-Turn died after a brief illness.

The Kaba-Bunu, Kogi- State-born artiste, who made waves in the 1990s, was 36.

Father U-Turn shot into limelight after releasing a song titled ‘Yetunde,’ in which he featured popular fuji act, Pasuma Wonder.

He was also respected for other hit songs like ‘African Culture’ and ‘Shakara’.

Reacting to news of the death, Showkey said in a telephone interview that he never knew Father U-Turn was ill.

French hostage escapes from Ansaru’s den

THE police on Sunday in Kaduna handed over a 63-year-old French man, Francis Collomp, who escaped from terrorists’ den to officials of the French embassy. in Kaduna.

Collomp’s abductors were suspected to be members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Bilads-Sudan.

He was seized in Rimi town of Katsina State 11 months ago.

The foreigner, an engineer with a French renewable energy firm, Vergnet company of France, was on a routine official assignment when he was kidnapped.

Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Olufemi Adenaike, who presented Collomp to journalists at the police headquarters on Sunday said, “The man escaped from the kidnappers yesterday (Saturday) through the bush at Dan Magaji village in Zaria, Kaduna State.  He saw an Okada man (commercial motorcyclists) and told him to take him to the nearest police station. This is how far I can go for security reasons.”

The CP, who handed him over to French embassy officials  who came to  the command headquarters in Kaduna, said  arrangements had been concluded to fly the man  back to France on Monday (today).

He further explained that the kidnappers took the French national  to Kano where he spent nine months before taking him back to Zaria where he spent another two months  before his escape yesterday.

INEC yet to overcome previous challenges, says TMG

A preliminary report by the Transition Monitoring Group, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission is yet to overcome problems plaguing elections in the country.

The TMG is a coalition of over 400 civic organisations which has been involved in election monitoring in Nigeria since 1998.

Chairman of the Transition Monitoring Group, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, released the preliminary findings at a media briefing in Abuja, on Sunday.

He explained that based on reports from its 633 citizen observers deployed across the three senatorial districts and all 21 LGAs, the TMG found that while many elements of the Election Day process were adequate, there were serious shortcomings in the conduct of the election.