₦airaland Forum

A 48-year-old business man, Okanlawon Oloyede, on Friday told an Abeokuta Customary Court Grade 2, that his wife, Lateefat, was a thief and a prostitute.Okanlawon alleged that he had caught Lateefat with two different men on two occasions in their matrimonial home.

He added that she does not stop at infidelity, but also stole from him and their neighbours.

“My wife is a thief and a prostitute; she cannot deny the fact that I have caught her twice with another man in my own house,” he alleged.

The plantiff said that he had ordered her out of his house since September 2010 due to her behaviour.

He, thereafter, appealed to the court to dissolve the union, and promised to take good care of the children.

Reacting to the allegations, Lateefat, a 32-year-old trader, denied Okanlawon’s claims, and said that they were all fabricated and unfounded.

She said that if truly she brought men home as alleged, Okanlawon should have reported to her parents, relatives or to the police.

“The truth is that, this man is a liar, he wants me to go so that he can take another wife, no problem, but why resort to telling lies against me?” she asked.

Lateefat, who consented to the dissolution, however, appealed that the court should give an order to Okanlawon to take care of the children and to permit her to see them whenever she wished.

Delivering judgment, the President of the court, Chief Ishola Fajebe, regretted that all the peace moves made by the court to reconcile the estranged couple had failed.

He said that the court was left with no option, but to dissolve the union to avoid bloodshed.

He, thereafter, dissolved the marriage accordingly.
http://www.nigerianewstoday.com.ng/nigeria-news-my-wife-is-a-thief-prostitute/

The Senate on Thursday heeded the pleas of President Goodluck Jonathan and passed the Anti-terrorism Bill 2010, retaining the clause to put to death terrorists, whose acts resulted in loss of life.It took three reminders from President Jonathan to the National Assembly for the legislators to accede to his request.

The bill stipulates a maximum sentence of twenty years imprisonment or death penalty if there is a loss of life in any terrorist act.

The bill outlaws actions of individuals or groups that can be likened to terrorism, including kidnapping, oil bunkering and piracy and plane hijacks.

The bill also describes terrorism acts as attacks on persons, which may cause bodily harm, destruction of government or public facilities, including information system that is likely to endanger human life or result in major economic loss to the government.

It also covers possession or use of explosives as well as research into the development of explosives – including biological and chemical without lawful authority.

Offenders risk a maximum of 10 years imprisonment if they are found guilty of involvement in training potential terrorists, passing or withholding terrorist information, aiding or harbouring terrorist and funding terrorist activities.
http://www.nigerianewstoday.com.ng/nigeria-senate-passes-anti-terrorism-bill/

After a very long absence, Who wants to be a millionaire? the popular TV quiz programme that lost its entire studio facilities and office complex to an inferno over six months ago, is back on the airwaves. The producers of one of the biggest television shows in this part of the divide, Ultima Limited, are now shooting the programme at a new set and it will start airing fresh episodes today (Friday). ‘’The new set is an upgrade of the old one,” said Mr. Richard Rietveld, the International Executive Producer of 2 Waytraffic, the show’s format owners.
What is being done in Nigeria is to create a set that may not be as expensive as the UK set, but remarkably similar to it,’’ he explained.?Mr. Innocent Oboh, the Master Brand Manager of MTN, sponsors of the show, said the telecoms company was committed to the programme and would constantly seek to improve it. “The show has come back with a big bang. As custodians of the show, we work to ensure that it reflects the brand we are building at MTN,” he maintained.

Spontaneous presenter of the show, Mr. Frank Edoho, stated that the programme promises to be better with a lot to offer viewers and other stakeholders. “The new technological enhancements in terms of lights, sounds, graphics, keypads and other features are clear testimonies. The new set is gleaming and the errors have become very minimal. The standards advised by the franchise owners have been met,” he said happily.
http://www.nigerianewstoday.com.ng/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-now-back-on-air/

THE Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt on Wednesday reinstated Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi as Bayelsa State Deputy Governor.Ebebi was impeached by some members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly in June 2010.

A High Court in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State had declined to hear the matter after the lawyer to Ebebi, Chief Alex Iziyon (SAN), had sought redress on the circumstances under which he (Ebebi) was impeached by the State House of Assembly.

But the appellate court had in its judgment, delivered by the presiding judge, Justice Datijo Muhammed, said due process was not followed in the impeachment of Ebebi.

Datijo directed the parties involved in the matter to maintain the status quo pending when a lower court, which was to hear the matter initially, carried out its responsibility of hearing the case.

He described Ebebi’s impeachment as the deputy governor while a suit was pending on as contempt of court and warned that indiscipline must be discouraged.
http://www.nigerianewstoday.com.ng/appeal-court-reinstates-peremobowei-ebebi-as-bayelsa-state-deputy-governor/

Ebonyi State University (EBSU) 2010/2011 First batch Predegree List Released

Ebonyi state University (EBSU) has released her 2010/2011 first batch list for would-be predegree students. Candidates whose names appeared on the list are hence required to hurry down to the school for Registration(payment of fees).

It is necessary to note that without payment of School fees, one is not considered a predegree student.

Candidates are to report to the EBSU with two passport photographs,Local Government Area identification,O’ Level results and every other document he/she owns as a student.

Registration for the 2010/2011 predegree session ends on March 3rd, after which late registration penalty comes up.

Read More, Click the link below
http://nigeriancurrentnews..com/2011/02/ebonyi-state-university-ebsu-20102011.html

President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria on Wednesday announced the appointment of 25 career ambassadors to replace those that have either been recalled or those whose tenure had expired.The spokesman to the President, Ima Niboro, said in Abuja that the names of ambassadorial nominees have been forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.

He explained all the appointees were staff of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs who had been on the ambassadorial waiting list.

Meanwhile, Jonathan has directed ministers to steer clear of political campaigns outside their zones.

He gave the directive at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja.

The Minister of Aviation, Mrs Fidelia Njeze,while briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, said the directive was to ensure that the business of government did not stop during the nationwide campaign.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/president-goodluck-of-nigeria-appoints-25-career-ambassadors/

About 500 Nigerians evacuated from the politically violent Egyptian capital, Cairo arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja yesterday at 5:00am.Ozo Nwobu, Director, Public Communications Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said arrangements are being made to ensure all Nigerian nationals in Egypt are brought back home.

“Coordinating bodies including National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency are working hard to ensure that the remaining 300 Nigerians stranded in Egypt are evacuated,” he said. “This is part of government’s effort to ensure welfare of its citizens and protect them. Other nation’s are moving their citizens away and Nigeria is doing the same as a responsible government. Some of them have been stranded in Egypt since Thursday last week and we have responded to their plight.”

Swift response

Mr Nwobu said the returnees were brought home in chartered flight paid for by the federal government and that the gesture will be extended to those still in Egypt.

The 500 evacuated so far were received at the airport by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Salamatu Suleiman in the company of Bala Mohammed, the Federal Capital Territory minister.

Mrs Suleiman told the returnees that government will support them and that President Goodluck Jonathan is concerned about their situation.

Speaking on behalf of the returnees, Abdulmumuni Aminu, a retired colonel commended the federal government for its quick response to the plight of the people, adding that the experience was traumatic for them, as banks were closed and they did not have access to basic amenities.

Those evacuated include students, government officials, and businessmen.

President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier in the week ordered the immediate evacuation of Nigerians from Egypt because of the political unrest in the country.

Egypt Air cancels flights

Meanwhile, Egypt’s national carrier has announced the suspension of its flight operations from Nigeria. When NEXT visited Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, ticketing and reservations officers of Egypt Air were nowhere to be found. What was prominent was a notice signed by the airlines management which reads: “Attention Egypt Air passengers. Flight MIS876 date 3 Feb 2011; Lagos to Cairo. Flight now cancelled due to current situation in Egypt. Egypt Air regrets the inconvenience.”
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/nigeria-evacuates-500-from-egypt/

Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance has said that Nigerians did not understand the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, when he (Sanusi) said members of the National Assembly alone were spending 25 per cent of the country’s annual budget.
Ahmed Makarfi, who spoke to journalists in Kaduna at an interactive forum disclosed that he received a letter from Sanusi, in which the CBN boss allegedly apologised to the National Assembly over the controversial 25 per cent and blamed Nigerians for misquoting him.

He added the letter also explained that members of the National Assembly were only spending 25 per cent of the overhead cost and not 25 per cent of the nation’s annual total budget.
The CBN governor had some time late last year stirred the hornet’s nest when he told Nigerians that members of the National Assembly were spending a total of 25 per cent out of the nation’s annual total budget. This had since generated debate across the country.
“CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, did not say that the National Assembly was consuming 25 per cent of the nation’s annual budget, He claimed.

“As a matter of fact, two or three days after his appearance before our joint committee he wrote me a letter officially to voice in that he didn’t say 25 per cent of the nation’s annual budget, he didn’t say 25 per cent of the nation’s total revenue, he didn’t say the nation’s total recurrent expenditure, but 25 per cent of overhead.
“Overhead figure treated by Sanusi, when you take it as percentage of the budget itself, will come to about eight per cent of the total budget, the entire nation’s overhead will come to about eight per cent of the nation’s budget.

“So I have to correct the statement Sanusi made, he didn’t say what exactly you said, and he himself repeated it, but whatever it may be, how much does it cost to run government, and that government is not National Assembly alone, government is all arms, and we are committed to bringing down the cost of running government.”
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/senator-ahmed-makarfi-sanusi-has-apologised-to-national-assembly/

Workers of Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba were on Wednesday asked to stay away from duty to enable the authorities of the health institution fumigate the premises following alleged invasion by snakes.It would be recalled that the ABSUTH staffers were on strike for six months over non-payment of their seven-month salaries. The strike was called off on January 19, 2011. The staffers had so far resumed work without salaries to allow for dialogue between the management and the state government to resolve the crisis.

One of the staff who spoke on the condition of anonymity told news sources that the hospital’s workers were instructed not to come to work by the management to allow for fumigation of the premises.
The invasion of the hospital by snakes was traced to overgrown weeds in the compound as a result of the prolonged industrial action. The staffer said snakes and other reptiles had been disturbing them in their offices, a situation which informed the management’s decision.
The Public Relations Officer of ABSUTH, Mr Joe Onwuka said the hospital management took the decision to fumigate the premises to avoid any ugly incident.

He said that some parts of the compound had already been cleared after the long strike by the workers.“You can see that the landscaping had been cleared and the weeds burnt, keeping the premises neat and avoiding any ugly incident,’’ he said.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/absuth-workers-stay-off-duty-due-to-snakes-invasion/

He was the Borno state candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party, a conservative party dominant in Nigeria’s Muslim north, for the upcoming April elections. The party already controls politics in Borno state.

Gubio had left Friday prayers in Maiduguri and was walking to his father’s home when the gunmen attacked, said Borno state police commissioner Ibrahim Abubakar. Gubio tried to run for a sport utility vehicle parked nearby, but was cut down before he reached the cover, the police commissioner said.

Two plainclothes police officers and four others including a 12-year-old boy also died in the attack, Abubakar said. Five others were wounded. No arrests had been made Friday afternoon, though paramilitary police patrolled the streets and shut down traffic.

Boko Haram, which means “Western education is sacrilege” in the local Hausa language, has attacked churches and engineered a massive prison break in recent months. The group was thought to be vanquished in 2009, when Nigeria’s military crushed its mosque into concrete shards, and its leader was arrested and died in police custody.

Suspected Boko Haram members have used motorcycle-riding gunmen to attack soldiers and police manning checkpoints throughout Borno state, as well as those who publicly oppose the group. But much remains murky about Boko Haram’s intentions, and whether all the killings in Maiduguri are due to the group’s reemergence.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/maiduguri-nigeria-news-gubernatorial-aspirant-shot-and-killed/

Godwin Aboye, 25 years old carpenter was sentenced to 10 days imprisonment by an Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court for releasing his semen (ejaculating) on Mrs. Simi Maikaura in a queue at Karu Village, Abuja.The police prosecutor, Corporal Francis Odofia, told the court that the man, on January 19, while in a queue at ECWA Church for voter registration, indecently brought out his private organ and pressed it against the woman’s buttocks.

“You indecently pressed your manliness against her buttocks and in the process released your sperm and stained her dress without her consent,’’ Corporal Francis said.

According to the prosecutor, the act of gross indecency committed by Godwin Aboye contravened Section 285 of the Penal Code Law. The convict pleaded guilty and begged for leniency before the court.

In his judgement, Senior Magistrate Sharon Ishaya convicted Aboye, pursuant to Section 157(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Godwin Aboye was sentenced to 10 days imprisonment with an option of N1000 fine.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/godwin-aboye-imprisoned-for-ejaculating-during-voters-registration-exercise/

In Plateau State, Nigeria, No less than seven people were killed by unidentified attackers in two villages where various attacks took place last night with others being injured from gunshots.In another attack in Dangyuruk village of Vwang district of Jos south local government area, five people were shot dead with two others sustaining injuries in the attack that occurred at about 9:00pm according to eye witness account.

The spate of attacks has become a source of worry to the affected communities and the Plateau State government as Barkin Ladi local government area Chairman, Fom Dakwat has expressed concern on the continued attacks on innocent citizens with the use of sophisticated weapons.

Meanwhile, it’s been reported that Villagers staged protests against the military on Monday, hurling stones and burning the tents of soldiers who they blamed for the recent attack.

Plateau state police commissioner, Abdulrahman Akano assured the protesters that efforts have been put in place bring the perpetuators to book.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/feed

FOUR Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines have been recovered from a thick forest suspected to be a shrine in Nteje ward one, Oyi local government area. The shrine is located15 kilometers away from the community.

The machines as at the time of recovery, had not registered up to 150 names.

Daily Champion gathered that it took 30 minutes to drive on the rough road from the nearest residential area to get to the point from where the rest of the journey was made on foot for another 500 metres.

The centres are located within the vicinity of a shrine. But the registration officers, mainly corps members sat pretty, looking at the machines, with virtually no registrants in sight.

The recovery was made possible through the combined efforts of the Nigerian Police and State Security Services (SSS) in company of the Anambra state Deputy Governor, Engr Emeka Sibeudu and the Anambra state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof Chukwuemeka Onukogu as well as community representatives.

The community and the REC later entered an agreement to re-locate three out of the four DDC machines to Ogwe village square. Onukogu said: "We saw and we were shocked but the units have been in existence since 1979. We signed a memorandum of understanding to relocate the four units to the Ogwe village square".

Addressing newsmen in his office yesterday, Prof Onukogu said he is extending the time of the registration by one to five days to enable 628 units/locations that have not got DDC machines up to yesterday to do their registration if the machines arrive by Wednesday morning.

He said he was under compulsion to so do even without waiting for the national extension of time because numerous threat text messages he was receiving from such areas were overwhelming.

He said: "I have heard of floating polling booths. Today I have seen one. I am sad that there are four machines wasting here, whereas there are no machines in Onitsha, Eke Awka, Ozubulu and Nnewi where thousands of people are waiting to be registered."

He apologized to the 628 units that have not received DDC machines but blamed Aventis Company for the woes as the company failed to supply the 805 DDC machines it was supposed to supply for the exercise.

He said of the three companies that supposed to supply the state with 4900 machines, Zinox and Haer Company supplied their shares of 3040 and 1145 respectively. He said once the machines arrive those areas would have their period extended as it would not end on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Ojoto Akanasato community in Idemmili yesterday protested what it called shortage/diversion of DDC machines for ward 12. The community leaders alongside youths stormed INEC office in Awka chanting anti-INEC songs.

They said out of 33 machines meant for the area only 14 are available. They said they are suspecting foul play from INEC to disenfranchise them.

In the petition addressed to INEC and endorsed by the President General of Ojoto, Ichie Tiko Okoye and the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Augustine Obidiwe and copied to Anambra state governor, the community demanded from INEC the remaining 19 machines and generating sets and to officially grant them extension to ensure that eligible voters were registered.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/four-ddc-machines-recovered-from-a-shrine/

Late President Umar Musa Yar'adua had a kidney transplant in 2002 when he was still governor of Katsina State, but avoided having another while he was president for fear that it causes disorders, according to diplomatic cables published by Wikileaks . Cables Nigeria’s leading power brokers suggested in his ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the current state of Yar’Adua, but still catching up to become the presidential candidate winning in 2007. Aid to the president stuffed his clothes to hide weight loss and makeup used to hide his pallor, cables claimed, but his illness has finally produced a long absence that fueled public discontent. Yar’Adua died in May 2010 , propelling the Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan at the presidency. Jonathan has recently become the presidential candidate of the ruling party for the election next April. Wikileaks published the cables into the night Saturday. spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, said officials would not comment on anything published on the site. A diplomatic cable claimed Yar’ Adua in June 2008 first began to experience kidney failure in 1999 , just after he became governor. The cable company said the German, Julius Berger, one of the leading firms of the road construction in Nigeria, established a dialysis clinic in the house of Yar’Adua. The firm later German experts fly in and out of Nigeria Yar’Adua private deal, they said. The cable said Yar ‘Adua has received the transplant in 2002 from a donor. who later was a minister in his administration.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/nigeria-news-today-wikileaks-yar’adua-had-kidney-transplant/

Any person thinking of communicating with Nwankwo Kanu (Papilo) and John Utaka Chukwudi on one of the world leaders in social networking websites online such as facebook should think twice, as the pairs Portsmouth coach Steve Cotterill has prohibited all players to chat on PCs or mobile telephones. The word Fratton Park is that Cotterill is the conversations on the Internet a distraction and that it would be better to keep his players from browsing or chatting to maintain their focus on their difficulties in finding a place in the Premier League English.
Details of the report of Queensland said Coterill had taken the lead to show his players he was serious about the ban, warning that they would be fined one thousand quid a word, if they were captured do. “I told the guys not to go on Twitter and Facebook Connect and to write something about Portsmouth Football Club or what happens here. “This is a load of junk. If they spent less time on the computer and more time football game, we would have a better set of players. “I told them that if they do, then I fine them 1000 pounds per word, ” confirmed Cotterill.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/nigeria-news-today-kanuutaka-banned-from-facebook/

Ailing Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, is still in a coma in his hospital in the United Kingdom. A family source, who confirmed the report yesterday, said that the woman is Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Bianca, is almost constantly with him to the hospital.

The Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, recently returned from a trip to the hospital in the United Kingdom where he met the wife of the leader of Igbo.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu was transported out of the country in an air ambulance after going into a coma last month.

The source revealed that the former Biafran warlord is still in the intensive care unit of the hospital in the United Kingdom.

The source said that Governor Obi met Bianca and left the hospital around 10 pm, Nigeria.

The source said: “Everyone wants Igbo Ojukwu to recover and return home because he wants Ndigbo. Ikemba was in intensive care since he was flown abroad for treatment. The governor, of course visited the hospital in the United Kingdom. We should pray for him, asking God to do His will in the life of the great man. ”

The source described as false claims by the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazuruike, he spoke with the ailing leader Igbo on the phone.

“How can someone who is on a life support talk to a phone? Although Ojukwu is not in favor of life, doctors will not allow him to talk to anyone on the phone. If anyone in the whole world should speak with Ojukwu on the phone in its current state, he his wife, Bianca, who is with him in the United Kingdom.

“Uwazuruike should explain who he met. He may have spoken with Bianca.”

Obi told reporters in the capital, Awka Anambra State that, “I was with him and I am impressed by his response to treatment. It was much better than last time we have seen. And he will be back in Anambra, as soon as his doctors want him to do. ”

While addressing journalists in his country of origin, Okwe in Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State, Uwazuruike said: “I am pleased to inform you that we expect our great leader and very soon for over a week now, he (Ojukwu) was out of intensive care unit of the hospital. It is now a normal person live his normal life.

“I talked to him a few days ago after talking to his wife, Bianca. We are pleased that he has recovered. He is just recovering. Igboman God loves and God knows that this son of ours is very important to us . We prayed for him and God answered our prayers. Ojukwu is our hero. He is our father, we will continue to support it, “he said.

Ojukwu, after weeks of intensive care at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, was carried out of the country in an air ambulance on December 23.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/nigeria-news-today-chukwuemeka-ojukwu-on-life-support-in-uk/

DDC machine rejects Olusegun Obasanjo’s fingerprints.

It was a frustrating moment for former president Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday as his attempt to register in the ongoing voters’ registration was thwarted by the Direct Data Capture (DDC) machine.Mr. Obasanjo’s finger prints could not be captured by the Direct Data Capturing Machine (DDC) after two attempts, while Mr. Mark and his wife, Helen, could also not be registered after two attempts.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised to correct the anomalies in the days ahead.

The glitches

Mr. Obasanjo, who arrived at the Ita-Eko registration centre, in Abeokuta, alongside his wife for the registration, could not be registered for the over 30 minutes the registration officers tried to capture his finger prints. The mild drama occurred in the presence of the Ogun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Martins Okunfolami, and the administrative secretary, Mr. Fakorede.

Ironically, all those who came after Mr. Obasanjo got their fingers accepted by the machines. The former president tried the two centres located in front of his private residence, but none captured his fingerprints.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/inec-ddc-machine-rejects-olusegun-obasanjo%E2%80%99s-fingerprints/

Two people were killed and one wounded in the skirmishes which occurred over registration of voters at Tina Junction in Jos, Plateau State. Information gathered revealed that the trouble started when a group of boys were being escorted by men of the Special Task Force from Rikkos, a Hausa dominated area, to Philips Academy in Yan Trailer area to collect registration materials.

On sighting the youths at Tina area, youths residing at Tina area, a Christian dominated area, who had already got wind that they might be attacked by some Hausa youths at any time, began throwing stones at the Hausa boys and the STF men.
It was at this point the youths residing in the area got hold of one of the Hausa boys, who is adhoc INEC staff with the STF men and descended on him killing him instantly.
The STF men in trying to disperse the mob shot at the group and gunned down one of the boys living the in the area and he also died instantly.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdurraman Akano, who confirmed that two people were killed, however, told Daily Sun that an Hausa youth was killed when he wanted to register in the area and was accosted by the residents who asked him to go back to his area of residence to register.
It was at that point that trouble ensued and a boy was instantly killed. Men of the STF who came in to save the situation shot to disperse the crowd and another boy was hit and killed in the process.

The state commissioner of police therefore warned that nobody should prevent anyone from registering as a voter in any center on the basis of ethnicity or religion, saying the state command would not tolerate such obstruction.
In a statement, he said the command would use the lawful power available to it to dissuade anybody from taking for granted the will of government and people of Nigeria on the Plateau. He appealed to the people of the state to cooperate with INEC and security agencies for the success of the ongoing voters’ registration exercise while assuring all the citizens that their security was maximally guaranteed.
Adamawa
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Yola, has taken delivery of 500 Direct Data Capturing (DDC) machines, in addition to 2800 pieces earlier delivered to the state to serve 226 electoral units of the state.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/jos-nigeria-news-two-people-killed-in-jos-crisis/

4:17pm Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola says, “The battle to kick the ‘Poverty Development Party’ out of power has begun today, Victory is certain but there is work to be done.”4:11pm Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomole says, “This time it is either we make it or we will never make it again and Nigeria will become a political and economic cemetery if ACN is not voted into power.

4:00pm Deputy governor of Kano State, who recently decamped to the AC N joins other governorship candidates on Ribadu demands a standing ovation for Malami and Bafarawa whom he tells ‘ you’ll not be disappointed.’

Convention grounds gradually empties as Ribadu start his acceptance speech.

3:11pm Bafarawa promised to support whoever emerges. He, however said, he would one day like to replicate his achievement in Sokoto at the national level.

Saidu Malami also claims he listened to the advice of the party elders in withdrawing his candidacy.

Convention still proceeds though only one candidate, Nuhu Ribadu is left. The electoral act demands that his candidacy is confirmed with a voice vote.

3:43pm Nuhu Ribadu emerges ACN presidential candidate. All the delegates answered yes in a voice vote to determine their support for Ribadu. All the governorship candidates of the party and Mr Ribadu are to address the convention.

3:41pm Lagos official, Muiz Banire supports the motion that the convention supports Nuhu Ribadu as the party’s sole candidate.

3:37pm “I am the one that very little is known about but whose face is familiar in the market. A true Nigerian who has suffered in the hand of PDP’s bad leadership,” says Malami. Convention ground roars “yes” to whether a voice vote can be used to determine the sole candidature of the party.

3:14pm Attahiru Bafarawa and Saidu Malami announce their withdrawal from the contest

3:08pm Attahiru Bafarawa says he joins the party, not to desperately become the president but to build ACN to an enviable standard and that he is ready to sacrifice for the party’s ‘upliftment’.

3:06pm National Publicity Secretary, Lai mohammed says Lagos is chosen for the primary because of the convenience, claiming that many parties are staging theirs in Abuja.

2:59pm Starting with Attahiru Bafarawa , each of the aspirants is given 10 minutes to address and woo the delegate

2:55pm Two representatives of the CPC announce they are standing in for Muhammadu Buhari at the convention.

2:50pm Bisi Akande says the party is looking up to the contry’s youth to help restore good governance to the country by voting for ACN’s presidential candidate in April polls.

2:35pm The ACN South Africa says it has endorsed Nuhu Ribadu. Its spokesperson, Sesan Daini, says the group is mobilising its memebrs to participate in the voters registration exercise. Only delagtes, party leaders and members of the press are allowed into the stadium complex. Fashola arrives the stadium complex.

2:28pm The event moderator welcomes members of the Congress for Progressive Change present at the convention. Bisi Akande declares the convention open, says party is ready to rescue Nigerians from a 12-year suffering inflicted on them by the PDP’s administration.

2:15pm The Onikan stadium’s environment becomes increasingly rowdy with the arrival of each party stalwart. Team Ribadu has a camp under the bridge where onlookers are entertained with music and dancers. The air is thick with smoke from cannabis smokers. Security presence is heavy and this helps to ward of miscreants who may want to hijack such event like this.

2:12pm Former governor of Ogun and Ekiti states, Segun Osoba and Niyi Adebayo arrive.

2:10pm Massive crowd outside the convention centre, with security operatives struggling to control it. Delegates have taken their position inside the centre, although there appears to be insufficient seats for all of them. The national anthem is being taken as all delegates stand up.

2:03pm Former Anambra state governor, Chris Ngige and Oluremi Tinubu, a senatorial aspirant and wife of Bola Tinubu arrive. Outside the convention venue, posters of two of the aspirants – Nuhu Ribadu and Uba Malami are all over the wall while none of Ibrahim Shekarau could be seen. Within the convention ground, only Ribadu posters are being carried aloft by delegates while none of his challengers could be seen.

2:00pm Bisi Akande, the ACN national chairman and former Lagos state governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrive at the convention venue. Both Edo and Ekiti state governor, Adams Oshiomole and Kayode Fayemi also arrive.

1:49pm Friday Jumaat prayers for muslim delegates ends. The Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy arrive the convention ground amidst loud cheers

12:50pm It has just been announced that by 1pm, a special Jumat service will hold at the back of the convention ground for Muslims who want observe. More participants arrive. More than two hours after its advertised start. The special National convention of the Action Congress of Nigeria, organised to elect the presidential flag bearer for the party has not kicked off. However, Onikan Stadium, Lagos, venue of the convention, is heavily guarded by a joint patrol of police, military and non-uniform security officials. Also, all roads that lead to the stadium have been closed to traffic. The party’s gubernatorial candidates from the North have started arriving with their supporters. Amongst those that arrive early is Audu Ogbe, the coordinator of the Nuhu Ribadu campaign organisation.
http://www.NigeriaCurrentNews.com/nuhu-ribadu-emerges-acn-presidential-candidate/

Former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said that he is currently consulting with his supporters, associates, stakeholders and others over the presidential primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he lost in the early hours of yesterday. This is coming at a time he gave assurance that he remains irrevocably committed to democratic Nigeria based on democratic process. Speaking through a statement by the Atiku Campaign Organisation in Abuja yesterday, the former vice president said that after receiving briefing from his agents at the national convention, he would make public his next line of action.

The campaign organisation, which said that Atiku’s agents did not sign the final result of the presidential primaries of the PDP, owing to some observed lapses, said the former vice president was committed to entrenching democratic governance, rule of law and democratic process.

Atiku thanked the PDP for the platform it has provided for the contest, delegates, supporters, campaign staff and well-wishers for their support so far. The Atiku Campaign Organisation assured all of them that the former vice president still has a lot to offer and that this is not the time to write him off.
http://www.NigeriaCurrentNews.com/atiku-abubakar-fights-back-youll-hear-from-me/

This is the cover of news of the people magazine published in Lagos Nigeria this week. One of the major stories talked about the story of pregnancy rumour trailing star actress, Genevieve Nnaji. In recent times, there have been speculations that she was dating D'banj. Personally, i have heard this pregnancy tail about two months ago from a cvlose source in the Mohits camp, but did not give it much thought, but for it to surface again, and this time on tabloids, hmnnn, only time will tell, after 9months
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/genevieve-nnaji-pregnant-for-dbanj/

A statement issued by the bank on Tuesday said SKYE bank emerged the best bank in clearing based on its efficiency and excellent processing track records in clearing which have won the trophy for the bank for two consecutive years. [More, ] The bank said the CBN conferred the award on it because of its attendance at every quarterly meeting of the zone, punctuality at clearing sessions, and error free clearing sessions.

Other basis for the award include returns of coins, shortages/overage and deposit/withdrawal at treasury.The statement explained that the achievement was made possible by the collaboration and good working relationship between the bank’s clearing and cash management units in Abeokuta.The bank described the Clearing unit led by Adejare Okediji and the Cash Management unit under the leadership of Omoniyi Saliu as its worthy ambassadors for doing it proud.

Recently, Skye Bank Plc won the African Export-Import Bank’s (Afrexim) financial institutions’ award as a foremost promoter and financier of African trade for year 2010.

The Cairo, Egypt based bank, in a letter dated December 2, 2010, pronounced Skye Bank winner of the 2010 award in the Silver category of the financial institutions for its “commendable contributions towards the promotion and financing of African trade”.Skye Bank has been playing an active and frontline role in export financing, granting of credit facilities to African manufacturers as well as providing and maintaining trade information system in support of export business.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/skye-bank-wins-cbn-clearing-house-award/

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the re-run governorship election in Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, has been declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).Mr. Uduaghan won in 14 of the state’s 25 local government areas, thus meeting the criteria of recording victory in two-third of the local councils in the state.

His closest opponent and governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Great Ogboru, won 11 councils. But the margin of victory is more pronounced in the volume of votes, as Mr. Uduaghan almost won twice the number of votes won by Mr. Ogboru.

However, Mr. Ogboru’s supporters protested the preliminary results released by INEC.

The protesters, who besieged the INEC office in Asaba, alleged that the exercise was rigged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that the results being released were unacceptable to them.

The DPP supporters could not gain access into the electoral commission’s premises due to the heavy presence of policemen and soldiers, and no official of the commissioner attended to them.

At about 11.15am, shortly before the protesters arrived, Mr. Ogboru had walked into INEC’s office, conferred briefly with his agents, and hurried out.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/emmanuel-uduaghan-wins-delta-state-poll/

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed shock over the death of former international footballer Uche Okafor on Thursday in the United States.The body of the ex-Super Eagles defender was found in his Texas apartment by his wife shortly after he returned home from dropping off his daughter in school.

“This is very, very sad. Mr. Uche Okafor served this country with distinction and we are taken aback by the nature of his demise.” NFF secretary-general Musa Amadu said in a statement.

“All the same, at this time, we can only pray to God for repose of his gentle soul.

Okafor, 43, was in the Super Eagles for almost a decade, and was a key member of the squad when Nigeria won their second African Cup of Nations title, in Tunisia in 1994.

Okafor represented Nigeria at two World Cups.

He was in the Super Eagles squad at the 1994 World Cup in the United States – Nigeria’s first appearance in the global tournament.

He also played at the 1998 World Cup in France when Nigeria reached the second round.

“It came as a rude shock because Uche (Okafor) had gradually become a player some youngsters want to emulate,” Ben Iroha who played with the late Okafor told BBC Sport.

“He was an articulate, smart and gentle man on and off the field.

“We will all miss him greatly.”

Uche played for his home club ACB Lagos before moving to Belgian where he played for Mechelen and Namur.

He also played for clubs in France, Portugal and Israel before ending his career with American outfit Kansas City Wizards.

Since retiring from the game, Okafor has remained part of the game off-field.

Okafor was a representative of sport kit manufactures NIKE before creating a niche for himself as a football analyst on the international scene.

Just last month, he signed a contract with American television station ESPN as an African football expert.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/uche-okafor-death-stuns-nigeria-football-federation/

Lagos state home owners are today waking up to news of a new tax that will finally cement the state’s status as the taxation capital of the Country.

The new tax, officially known as Environmental Blight Levy, has been given the name, the Ugly Building tax, by some mischievous journalists.

The tax will be levied against existing buildings that are deemed to be exceptionally ugly. New build projects can avoid the new tax if the architectural plans submitted are not too unsightly. If however, owners of proposed new builds insist on building new monstrosities, they will have to pay the Ugly Building tax which will be calculated on a total square foot of ugliness basis. A fairly ugly building on the ugliness scale will have a score of one, while truly awesomely ugly structures will score 1000.

Reacting to the news, Alhaji Baba Eko, a property developer in Lekki, expressed his gratitude towards the state government: “At last, a tax that makes sense. I built several blocks of flats on a popular road in Ajah a few years back, and I was able to sell each one of them for about fifty million. But then, one yahoo yahoo boy came and built a gigantic eyesore right opposite my flats and the orders stopped coming. Some tenants that I rented the remaining flats to even asked for refund. Can you imagine? You should see the building, it can scare a little child.”

We asked the gentleman if he considered the tax to be nothing more than another clever trick that Lagos state has formulated to generate revenue.
His response: “I’m telling you, I don’t even care if they impose a tax of one billion Naira. In fact, they shouldn’t stop there; they should demolish all rubbish buildings. It still perplexes me that two people can spend the same amount of money and use the same amount of cement to build two houses, and would would turnout lovely while the other looks like something out of a horror movie.”

To get a balanced view, we spoke to the ‘yahoo yahoo’ boy, Mr J.J Fine Country, also known as, ‘The thing that swallowed the thing that swallowed the elephant.’

Mr J.J was adamant that his building was as beautiful as any in the country: “They say my house is not beautiful? They are mad. Who dem be sef? Wey dem? They sef don build house? Abegi, make I hear word. If na poverty dey worry dem, make dem talk to me, I go settle the baggers. This na Lagos, nothing wey settlement nor fit settle. Aso rock sef dey catch cold when im see my mansion.”

Mr J.J took us on a tour of his home, he was particularly pleased with the chandelier in his guest toilet and he wanted us to ‘test’ each armchair in his 100 foot living room, one of twelve living arrears in the edifice that according to him, makes the White House look like a boys quarters. He also insisted that we bend down and feel the softness of the Egyptian rug in his fourteen car garage.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/lagos-state-introduces-ugly-building-tax/

Following request by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use schools across the country as registration centres for the forthcoming voters’ registration exercise, the Federal Government of Nigeria (Goodluck Jonathan) yesterday directed that all primary and secondary schools in the country, remain on recess until February 4, 2011.
Both public and private schools will be affected.
Minister of State for Education, Kenneth Gbagi who spoke to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday said the decision was informed by government’s determination to ensure that INEC was supported in its effort to see that Nigerians get a credible election in 2011 general.

Gbagi explained that only Senior Secondary School class 3 pupils would be allowed to resume school because of their examination, but added however, that arrangement had been concluded with the principals of the affected schools on how to ensure proper security measures for the students. He said the decision to close the schools does not affect the universities, polytechnics and colleges of education as well as other tertiary institutions as it was the primary and secondary schools only that would be used for the exercise.

Although the minister said he did not envisage any disobedience from any school especially the private schools, he promised to monitor compliance to ensure the directive was carried out nationwide.
For the few academic weeks that would be lost to the exercise, the minister promised that the Federal Ministry of Education would work out modalities how to make up so that it does not affect normal academic calendar.

“One thing that every Nigerian is concerned about as at today is to have ag credible election that will help us elect credible leaders for the development of the country. This decision is not too much for us to give to actualize that. “We will make amend for the period we are taking out of the academic calendar. As the Federal Ministry of Education, we have supervisory role over every schools and we know that even the private schools will be willing to give this period up as support to achieve a credible election,” he said.
The INEC it was disclosed wrote the Federal Ministry of Education requesting that schools be prevented from resuming after the Christmas and New Year vacation to allow its officials use the schools nationwide as voters’ registration centres.
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/fg-nigeria-orders-closure-of-schools-till-february/

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Central Bank governor, has been named as the world Central Bank Governor of the Year by a global financial intelligence magazine, The Banker, a publication of the Financial Times of London. Mr. Sanusi is also the magazine’s African Central Bank governor of the year.

Brian Caplen, editor of the magazine, noted that few candidate names can generate an overall consensus on judging panels and yet, when it came to finding the best global Central Bank governor of the year, Mr Sanusi was chosen unanimously.

Mr Caplen stresses that Mr Sanusi embarked on a radical anti-corruption campaign aimed at saving 24 banks on the brink of collapse and pressed for the managers involved in the most blatant cases of corruption to be charged and, in the case of two senior bankers, convicted.

In a release signed by the Country Representative, Nigeria of The Banker Magazine, Kunle Ogedengbe, the magazine noted in its 2011 January Edition, which will also be distributed at the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland, that in the last 18 months that since Mr Sanusi has been in office, he has salvaged a crumbling Nigerian financial sector, including implementing reforms that have put Africa’s most promising market back on the map for investors globally.

Continue Reading
http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/lamido-sanusi-is-central-bank-governor-of-the-year/

The controversy over who flies the Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN) flags in Lagos in the April general elections was finally laid to rest yesterday as the incumbent Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) was endorsed for a second term in office in the presence of all party supporters and faithful. Speaking at the stakesholders’ meetings held at the ACME, Ogba state secretariat of the party, former governor of Lagos State and the leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the decision to give Fashola the second term ticket was borne out of his laudable performance in office. Read more http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/bola-tinubu-endorses-babatunde-raji-fashola-for-second-term/

There is apprehension among Lagosians that something tragic may happen in the city, following rumours making-the- rounds that terrorists may soon strike in the state that prides itself as the Centre of Excellence. But the Nigeria Police have reacted to the ‘ intelligence report,’ describing it as political gimmick and madness. The text message, which was circulated by some faceless persons had warned Lagosians to avoid crowded areas. It ended by advising those who received the message to “please, inform their loved ones.” Read more http://www.nigeriacurrentnews.com/bomb-scare-in-lagos-nigeria-residents-warned-to-avoid-crowded-areas/