Defender Joe Gomez has signed a new contract with Liverpool that will keep him at Anfield until 2024, the club announced on Monday.

The England international, currently out for up to six weeks with a fractured leg, has been impressive this season both alongside Virgil van Dijk in the centre of defence and also at right-back, where he has alternated with Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Gomez, 21, joined Liverpool from Charlton in 2015 for a fee of £3.5 million ($4.5 million).


An ankle problem sustained playing for England in March meant he missed the Champions League final but he has bounced back from that to establish himself as Klopp’s preferred partner for Van Dijk.

“Signing this new deal means the world to me,” Gomez told Liverpool’s website.

“I’ve been at the club a few years now and have had the pleasure to play for Liverpool and experience what that means, so I am delighted to get the chance to extend my contract here.”

The Nigerian Army has restated its commitment to defend human dignity and advance the cause of freedom of Nigerians throughout the country.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai made the pledge on Monday in a message to mark the 2018 “International Human Rights Day.”

NAN reports that the day is observed every year on December 1o.

Buratai emphasised that the army firmly believe that the promotion and protection of human rights are “essential component of military operations.”


He, however, noted with regret the situation in some areas in the North Eastern States of the country, “where heinous acts of terrorism continue to be perpetuated by Boko Haram terrorists.”

“We firmly embrace the idea and the message behind the International Human Rights Day and we are committed to doing our part to spread awareness and support for human rights every day.”

“On this day, I recommit the Nigerian Army to supporting the brave officers, men and women who are working daily to defend human dignity and advance the cause of freedom of Nigerians across the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.”

While he paid tribute to the officers and men, who had paid the supreme sacrifice in the pursuit of human rights for people in the North East, he said the “resurgent acts of terrorism challenges the rights that we celebrate today.”

The army chief appreciated the support and partnerships from local and International Non-Government Organisations in the effort to defend human dignity.

“I specifically note the support of the National Human Rights Commission.

“Its human rights training programme for military personnel and its Nigerian Military Human Rights Dialogue initiative have largely enhanced the human rights awareness and education of our personnel.

“I am also thankful for our partnerships with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Red Cross and Crescent as well as the Nigerian Bar Association,” he said.

Wey Dey do like say we no Dey know person
Wey Dey buy views for YouTube, to’n fi ra won se sin
Won tan yin, eyin na tan abela, e fe shana wole, e fe buga Shina Peller

I suggest the federal and state governments should privatize the universities that they own. This will bring in genuine investors and bring an end to the continuous ASUU strikes.

Thieves are vandalising cars and stealing their batteries on the premises of the National Assembly, SUNDAY PUNCH can authoritatively report.

Several cars have been vandalised in recent times, including that of our correspondent.

Our correspondent had parked his Honda CR-V car at a park close to the Annex building at about 11.30am but discovered at about 6pm that its battery had been stolen, with the bonnet left half opened.

The incident was reported at the Crime Office of the National Assembly Division of the Nigeria Police on Thursday morning, where our correspondent was told that several similar cases of vandalism and theft had been reported at the unit.

In spite of lodging the complaint, none of the officers on duty requested our correspondent to lead them to the vehicle for inspection.

Several National Assembly workers and journalists, who spoke on the issue, lamented the security lapses in and around the complex.

A victim, Mr Okechukwu Jombo, who is a reporter with the Nigerian Pilot, said his car’s battery was stolen on the premises earlier in the year.

“They did it to me too early this year, around March. I parked at the main park behind the building. There is a cameraman at the House of Representatives, they took his own too. We were many during that period. It was a very rampant thing,” he said.

Another victim, Mr Mudashiru Atanda, a photojournalist with The SUN, narrating his ordeal, said, “It was a Friday; I had parked inside at the car park behind the main building. When it was time to go to the mosque for the Juma’at prayer, I entered into the car, thinking I would have a smooth ride to the mosque. As I got close to the car, I saw that the bonnet was not firmly locked. I thought I did not lock it well. I lifted it with the intention of locking it only to discover that the battery had been stolen.”

Atanda lamented that no arrests had been made since the incident occurred in 2016.

Another photojournalist with THISDAY, Mr Julius Atoi, said his Honda Accord car was broken into at the first car park close to the second security gate while the National Assembly was on an annual recess between July and October.


with our correspondent on Friday, Mr Ezekiel
He said, “I reported (the theft). I went to the police station on the premises. They asked if I suspected anybody. I said I could not have suspected anybody when I was covering the plenary at the chamber. They did not follow the matter up. Each time I went there, they did not give me attention. So, I let go.

“We were about three whose car batteries were stolen that same day. There was a man (victim) who came for a public hearing; he came in a Ford SUV.”


Our correspondent observed that security men at the gates did not inspect cars going into the complex but only demanded personal identities, especially of persons not known to them.

It was further observed that no checks were conducted on cars leaving the premises.

At the general car park outside the second gate, it was observed that while a pass was issued to every car going in, the security men closed much early, allowing some car owners to go away with the pass as there was no one to take it from them.


Several users of the park, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH, warned that any pass not retrieved could be used to steal cars from the park.

A security operative blamed the lapses on the malfunctioning Closed Circuit Television cameras around the parks, adding that several cases had been reported but nobody had been arrested.

The security man, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We have been receiving such complaints.


“If the CCTVs are functioning, it is just to play back the tape and see the thief. That is one major problem that we have. The CCTVs are not working.”

A senior police officer, deployed in the National Assembly, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented that efforts to get the National Assembly leadership to fix the CCTVs in and around the complex had failed.


The Sergeant-at-Arms of the National Assembly, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Sani (retd.), could not be reached as several calls made to his telephone line on Friday were not returned.

Sani had yet to reply a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report on Saturday.

When contacted on the incidents, the Divisional Police Officer, National Assembly Complex, Mr Abdullahi Sambo, a Superintendent of Police, referred our correspondent to the Police Public Relations Officer, Federal Capital Territory Command.


The PPRO, Mr Anjuguri Manzah, who was asked what was being done to address the ugly development, said, “I can’t answer you now…you have to give me time to speak with him (Sambo) first.”

Nigerians were shocked on April 18, 2018, when unknown men in a convoy of cars and pick-up vans stormed the Senate chamber while plenary was ongoing, snatched the mace and made away with it.


The legislature’s symbol of authority was only recovered several kilometres away, according to the police, where the invaders dumped it.

Fellow Nigerians, this is usually a festive period when most people look forward to the New Year, with high hopes and great expectations. But not anymore. I don’t know if you have noticed, wherever two or three Nigerians are gathered these days, the subject of discussion is Nigeria’s elections, especially the Presidential election, coming up next February.



And many analysts talk with trepidation, out of the fear that the APC government appears desperate and may not wish to relinquish power, voluntarily, without putting up a fight. “Buhari was a military dictator, unlike Jonathan, and it would be difficult for you guys to chase him away like you did to Jonathan,” a prominent Nigerian told me recently. I then asked, “do you mean Buhari will refuse to hand over power even if he glaringly loses the election?” His response was chillingly cold-blooded “mark my word, Buhari’s people are ready for war…” he quipped.



Though the tell-tale signs are there, considering the unusual electoral malpractices in Ekiti, Osun, Kwara and other places where voters have allegedly been brazenly intimidated, disenfranchised and disillusioned. It is generally believed that the security forces, especially the Police have been largely compromised and that they are unashamedly doing the Government’s bidding, even if it means that the very tenets of democracy are being eroded with the attendant calamitous consequences that may befall our beloved country as a result.

The Government has not helped matters much on this issue because people wonder why such use of humongous force can be strategically organised and positioned for elections, which should otherwise be peaceful events, when such force cannot be used against our insurgents who appear to be back with a bang and slowly, steadily and surely eroding our territory and our sovereignty. The Government’s claim that its aim in dealing with elections in this way is to protect democracy and ensure the fairness of those elections seems false given the allegations of intimidation and violence made against the security forces.



That is not all. It is being widely debated as to whether or not the government is busy throwing money around as a way of suborning the electorates under the guise of empowering the masses through its Trader Moni and Npower schemes.



The Trader Moni scheme aims to start of petty traders with small interest free loans starting from N10,000 and rising incrementally on repayment to N100,000. The Government says that the Bank of Industry co-ordinated scheme hopes to assist petty traders who would not otherwise have access to affordable bank loans to grow their businesses. Detractors question the timing of the scheme and the amount of money that beneficiaries of the scheme are being paid.

It is almost as if they are being paid this initial N10,000 in order to buy their votes and this was magnified by the unfounded rumours that was circulated that PVC’s were a requirement to obtain the loan. As the Government stresses in promoting the scheme, this is an empowerment programme which is not associated with any vote-buying scheme. One thing is clear though, the petty traders who are recipients of this interest free loan are smiling all the way to the bank and appreciate the Government’s gesture.

The turnout and visible smiles on the face of market women where ever the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has visited in promotion of this scheme speaks volumes about its acceptance amongst those it intends to benefit. Whether there is an ulterior motive will soon be revealed especially when the period for the incremental increase dawns and the elections are over.



The other scheme which traducers of the Government claim is merely a vote-buying gimmick is Npower. The scheme aims at eventually providing everyday skills which can be usefully deployed by the millions of unemployed youths in the Country. Those lucky to benefit from the scheme get paid a stipend which the opposition considers is a mere bribe to secure the votes and support of the jobless, frustrated youths.



It is a mark of the times that we are in, and the impoverishment of the people, that these two schemes with the miserly amounts involved can catch the attention of the populace. Their intendment and effect have been likened to the welfare system which operates in most welfare countries, with Government protagonists calling it a form of the “dole” which operates in the United Kingdom. Those who oppose both schemes say that these are corrupted versions of the benefit system being propagated to suit a corrupt purpose by a government which corrupts everything including its so-called seminal fight against corruption.



What is also scary for neutral observers of the polity is the fact cyberbullying has been on the rise in dramatic fashion. Everywhere you turn on social media, there are rabid Buhari supporters, in particular, who treat their idol like God, such that any form of criticism attracts instant vitriolic and acerbic attack.

On a WhatsApp group I was till yesterday, a querulous and garrulous young man who seems to defend every action of APC and Buhari went completely berserk saying anyone who supports Atiku Abubakar must be mentally deranged and requires urgent psychiatric attention, perhaps. Another one of them said Omoyele Sowore must be sick because of certain utterances he made recently. I couldn’t take the intolerance again and told the attacker to change his attitude “in the name of God.”



As far as these people are concerned, everyone who has any form of sympathy for PDP or its Presidential candidate is automatically a rogue and looter. Yet the same so-called “looters and rogues” are welcomed with open arms whenever a member of PDP saunters across to APC so that his sins can be forgiven instantly, and he can become a ‘saint’ in the eyes of these unreasonable and illogical fanatics.

It is true that the PDP has created a long list of looters and perceived looters, but the same has always been true of APC. That is why the corruption fight has never really gotten off the ground and it is why the Government may eventually lose the war because of its concentration on this one issue while failing to realise that the people want economic and social emancipation first and foremost. For them, corruption is ultimately only at best a distraction which will be relegated to the background when the reality of the pervading hunger biting at them strikes home.



Many are wondering how some could be so brainwashed into seeing the sins of one Party and its members but are completely blind to the sins of others who are members of the ruling party. Blaming the problems of Nigeria on the 16 years of PDP is no longer ingenious now that APC is busy attracting and accepting the same demons into their fold, indiscriminately. I do not understand the audacity that makes APC feel it can continue to use those lines of calling others thieves when there have been too many instances of similar recklessness within its circle.

Those with discernment recall that it is not all of the 16 PDP years that can be described as a period of profligacy and reckless plundering. In any event apart from possibly some of the antics of the Petroleum Ministry and the NNPC, few knew about the pillaging that was occurring under the Jonathan Government until the Government fell. Some argue that the same fate awaits the present administration and that people will be amazed at the level of brigandage and damage done to our collective commonwealth by a cabal within this government and a few other senior Ministers.

The claim is that Dasukigate is child’s play, but that we shall only know the truth whenever the government is dethroned. I cannot personally vouch for the authenticity of these claims, but I hear the strident pleas of the First Lady, Aisha Buhari about the need to expose a cabal which is making the Presidency unable to fulfil the Change that it promised.



Also, whenever they call the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a corrupt man, I often wonder if Atiku was ever more than a Vice President and if he wielded more influence than the President. Moreover, the only basis for this continues to be the fact that his Boss, President Obasanjo, said so in the past, and an American Congressional investigation seemingly indicted him on some transactions as a result of which his visa application was turned down.

What I fail to understand is why these two matters would continue to be an issue when the Boss, President Obasanjo has wholeheartedly embraced the candidature of Atiku, warts and all, and the American law enforcement agencies have never indicted him, and the Government of that country now appears prepared to issue him a visa. In my view, those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

A lot of respect has been accorded the President whose dignity and integrity has generally been protected by the military and political class and the fourth estate of the realm. This is understandably so, because we must not denigrate our leaders or soil their reputations if this can be avoided. Nevertheless, I think it is about time that the Administration starts trumpeting its successes in the economic and social infrastructure sector as well as security.

The government does have laudable and stellar achievements it can point to. The Government should also focus on its plans for the future. If the President allows his team to trawl the gutter in the allegations they are making against the former Vice-President of the country, a time may come when all the gloves go off and fisticuffs or roforofo fight becomes the order of the day with everybody besmeared and besmirched.



It is the unrelenting smear campaign against the PDP Presidential candidate Atiku, without any real regard to the issues which are paramount for the masses that is ultimately the biggest fear factor. If the APC has nothing good to tell us about what it proposes to do for the country if it wins, beyond saying that Nigerians must not vote for a looter, then the presumption is that they will take all steps to ensure that their rhetoric succeeds by hook and by crook.

The logic is that the APC is so desperate to cling on to power even though it does not know what to do with it and accordingly, out of that desperation it will subvert the will of the electorate by foisting itself on the people with the might of the security forces at its behest and disposal. We may not need to get to this stage if APC realises that it can campaign on the issues, and change its ways, so that winning the elections is no longer in doubt. I fear however, that the ship has long since sailed in that regard and the major protagonists on the APC are hawkish warmongers who do not want to go back into the political wilderness that they had been consigned to before the all-conquering APC was birthed.



It is the hope of the generality of Nigerians that the Nigerian security forces will in the end shun partisanship and live to the true spirit of their oath to defend Nigeria and not any individual or Party. Soldier come, Soldier go! The will of the people must always be allowed to prevail and if this means another Party gaining power so be it. This has happened in the recent past and it will happen again. That is the beauty of democracy which our security forces have sworn to protect

The Africa Civil Rights Congress has thrown its weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to assent to the amended Electoral Act saying there should be a limit to which selfish personal interests should be allowed to push the country to the brink.


President Buhari declined assent to the bill citing among other reasons the confusion that could arise as to what extant legislation are guiding the 2019 General Elections and the impropriety of introducing an amended law when the electioneering process is well underway. His refusal to sign off the bill has been generating reactions.

A statement by the Africa Civil Rights Congress on Saturday said President Buhari did the right think even at the risk of political backlash against his person, which further confirmed him as a leader that places national interest above his personal advantage.


The statement by the group’s Director of Public Communication, Mrs. Augusta Okolo noted that withholding assent to the bill has eradicated the accusations that would have come from activists that would claim that the President is shifting the goal post when the game is already underway.

It said “From the points raised by Mr. President, it is obvious that the document is replete with grey areas that would have plagued the outcomes of the General Elections with a barrage of legal challenges that could potentially derail the nation’s democracy since anyone elected under the amendment would face the task of proving before the tribunals what the position of the law is.

“The natural thing would have been for President Buhari to hastily assent to the amended Electoral Act that would have scored him political points while also offering him the added advantage of winning by a larger margin than he is projected to. But he gave up all these advantages to do the right thing in the interest of the country.


“The African continent had in the past agreed that leaders should not be beneficiaries of the changes they make while in office, while this is applicable to constitutional changes that extend the tenure of an incumbent leader, signing an amendment bill to the Electoral Act would have amounted to straying into similar territory, which would be injurious to Nigeria’s democracy,” the statement argued.

The Congress further stressed that the National Assembly members should jettison any idea of vetoing the President to push the bill into law since assent was only withheld to enable them make changes to the areas that Mr. President has concerns about as opposed to an outright rejection of the legislation, which would have made it possible for the issue of veto to come up.
According to the group, “Some Senators and House of Representatives members are resolute on making President Buhari sign the bill into law so that they can turn around to accuse him of rushing to approve a legislation that puts him at advantage. A behaviour like this is politics taken too far at the expense of national cohesion, stability and sustenance of democracy.

“There should be a limit to which personal interests are used to undermine the country to the point of pushing it to the brink. Instead of ventilating in the public space the lawmakers should organize themselves, take a few days break from the election trail and effect the changes that Mr. President has identified in the letter communicating why he declined assent to the bill.

“That is the one way they can re-assure Nigerians that their insistence on having the bill signed into law is not a coup against Nigeria on their part,” the statement said

“I have never been asked to withdraw a statement in the past but today they are saying it is hate speech.

“That is no hate speech, it is self esteem speech; someone is stepping on toes and you say it is hate speech?

“Why will I withdraw my statement? God sent me and not you. You fear the one God sent and not any other because I have dominion.”

The Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday secured an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos to destroy 14 containers loaded with Tramadol, which were seized from smugglers.

The order followed an ex parte application taken before Justice Saliu Saidu by the agency.

The counsel for the Customs, Mr Bisi Ogunlowo, explained to the court that the banned drug consignments were intercepted between February and September this year by the NCS operatives on duty at the Apapa Wharf, Lagos.

He said the 14 containers of the banned drug were abandoned by the smugglers, who fled upon being accosted for checks.

He added that since the confiscation of the consignments, no one had come forward to lay claim to the containers.

Ogunlowo said a search by officials at the court’s registry revealed that there were no pending lawsuits against the NCS in respect of any of the consignments.

He, therefore, urged Justice Saidu to authorise the Customs to destroy the banned drug consignments pursuant to sections 167 and 169 (1), Schedule 3 of the Nigeria Customs Services Management Act Cap. C. 45 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

In granting the prayer, the judge held, “I have listened to the submission of the counsel as well as gone through the affidavit in support of the application and the written address and the attached exhibits.

“The application is hereby granted as prayed.”

“Listen, so that we won’t be deceiving God. As you are standing in the presence of these children of God, tell God what you will do for Him… It means you don’t want to do anything for God. Let me believe in fear, but this is a political statement. God hates stinginess. What I am saying is not for your pleasure. I am saying what will save your life, otherwise, you and Atiku will fail. The way you and Atiku are moving will end in shame.” he said

Reacting to the controversy that the video has generated, the Director of Communications, Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Rev. Fr. Benjamin Achi, in an interview with The PUNCH, said the diocese was not in support of Mbaka's comments and that it was wrong for any priest to make political statements.

“The diocese is not in support of any priest making political statements. The church is supposed to be apolitical and the Bishops’ conference has said that repeatedly. We are not supposed to make any political statements from the pulpit within the context of Mass, that is, church service. So, it would be wrong to stand at the pulpit to make any political statements.

There is a document issued by the Bishops’ conference to that effect. So, he just spoke on his own, not representing the diocese. We are not expected to come out openly to support a particular candidate for any reason. The church law does not accept such a thing. So, it would be wrong for anybody (priest) to come out and give an endorsement to a particular candidate.” he said

Speaking further, Achi said that disciplinary action against Mbaka would be carried out by the priest’s administrative head if the need arises.

A new epidemic is gradually rising and ravaging the youthfulness of our ideal youths , it is not CODEIN, TRAMADOL, MONKEY TAIL or any of those drugs that’s some Nigerian pop stars exalt in their music. This new epidemic stealthily ravaging our youths is something that growing up as a lad in Assemblies of God Church in Olodi-Apapa, Pastors preached against gambling and POOL playing. This was actually frowned upon as it was seen as promoting LAZINESS and GREED . But today the same POOL that was a past time of OLD-Retired Men has become a mainstay for majority of able bodied Nigerian male youth population.
Come to Admiralty in Lekki 1 and see how any space with a BETTING sign is packed with people standing outside waiting for their turn to PLAY.
The irony in all of this is that the POOR /Simple-minded remain the victim as with little as #100, they say a little prayer and BETs with the HOPE of a miraculous breakthrough.
.
The Govt may not know the monster it is breeding as their interest may just be the TAX collected from these BETting houses, but I believe the “Religious bodies “ have a role to play in curtailing this cancerous trend eating deep into the core fabric of our youths. I have already encouraged few of my pastor friends to start speaking up against this because it is unfair to preach against “Runs” girls and not address the “BET “ /Gambling Boys because one thing drives both...GREED.
Anyway let me close my mouth before they will say asides FASHION & STYLE what else does he know sef .

Showbiz maverick and activist, Mr Charles Oputa, a.k.a “Charlyboy”, has disclosed that he considered becoming a priest as a lad due to the strong moral and spiritual parenting he received from his late father.

Charlyboy stated this on Tuesday at the 2018 Justice Oputa Annual Conference (JOAC), an annual lecture series on leadership, in Abuja.

He said: “I was an altar boy trying to live up to our father’s expectations, and I was fed with so much religiosity that I romanced the idea of becoming a priest as a teenager.

“Almost every morning, we attended morning mass which was compulsory, and confession meetings and Bible studies was regular.

“My dear father ‘terrorised’ us with the burden of bearing the name, Oputa, and almost every day was a sermon and lecture in our household on why we must protect the Oputa name.

“It was pounded into our skulls that a good name is worth more than all the billions in the bank; values that have become extinct in today’s Nigeria,” he added.

Charlyboy, who is the National Coordinator of the “Ourmumudondo” Movement, in an emotion-filled atmosphere, eulogized the late Supreme Court Judge, popularly known as “Socrates of the Nigerian Judiciary”.

He recounted the rigorous discipline he received under his father’s watch, which however shaped him into a better adult.

“As a teenager I saw my father as overbearing, bullish, brash, cantankerous and outdated.

“His overdose of discipline, strong moral value and spirituality was suffocating, and I wondered why I was the most punished amongst my siblings.

“Discipline was enforced in our house as if we were in the army and any time we did something wrong my father never speared the rod,” he said.

The “Areafada”, as he is fondly called by fans, explained that the annual Justice Oputa Conference was a platform to share leadership values and selfless service to humanity, which defined the life of the late legal icon.

He however lamented that some of the societal ills, especially in leadership, which the late Oputa addressed were still very much plaguing the society today.

“For 14yrs before he passed on, my father lived in my house, and most evenings we talked about the apparent injustices and inequalities that abound in Nigeria.

“He kept pointing out the direction, the practice and way of life that leads to true happiness.

“One of his popular teachings was that wealth does not guarantee happiness and that wealth is impermanent.

“That in every country people suffer, whether rich or poor, but only those who seek to understand the true meaning of life can find true happiness,” Charlyboy said.

He therefore urged parents to be more committed to the moral and spiritual upbringing of their children for them to become better and useful to society in future.

NAN reports that the Justice Oputa Annual Conference (JOACH) is a flagship initiative of the Justice Oputa Foundation (JOF), a body christened after the Supreme Court Judge, Chukwudifu Oputa.

The conference seeks to promote dialogue on good governance, rule of law and sustainable development agenda among policy makers and development partners

The 2018 edition with the theme: “Governance, Law and Development”, has in attendance human rights activists, heads of organisations, government functionaries and civil society groups.

Proudlyngwa:

You be solar

Residents of Lekki Phase 1 woke up to the sight of a dead man in his car in the area and it is believed that he was killed by ritualists who then took his vital organs.

The man was found bleeding at the back of a silver Toyota Camry “Big daddy” at about 6 am this morning. The car plate number cannot be revealed now as his family have not been notified. He was cut open from his chest down to his navel. It is believed that his vital organs were taken.



The car with the dead man in it was found on Dele Adedeji Street, Lekki Phase 1. Residents gathered to view the sight of the man covered in blood. The seats and floor of the car were also covered in blood and drops of blood can be seen on the road near where the car was parked.





According to people at the scene of the accident, the man is suspected to be a driver for one of the popular taxi booking companies, though this has not been confirmed. He is believed to have carried passengers who ended up cutting him open to take his vital organs.

Police later arrived and dispersed the crowd after which they took the body away. The car remains at the scene at the time of filing this report.

When press spoke with the DPO of Maroko, SP Isah Abdumajid, who was present with his men at the scene, he revealed that no information can be supplied at the moment. He added that a statement will be released in due time.

Festus Keyamo, Spokesperson of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, said on Sunday that leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were crying foul and embittered because it had become difficult for them to rig elections since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power.
He was speaking on the call by the PDP that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) should resign for allegedly working hand-in-hand with the APC.
Keyamo said the PDP had been rigging every election conducted since 1999 and that each time the PDP lost an election, it became frustrated over their inability to rig its way to power.
Speaking further, Keyamo said the PDP was also embittered and angry because of its inability to have access to government funds which it had been using to rig elections.
He said: “What is going on is not a cry about rigging. The opposition is really not crying about rigging each time this election holds and they lose. They are crying about being prevented from rigging. That is what they are crying about.
“I want to put it on tape now that since 1999, the PDP had no other means to win elections than to write results. So, they found themselves in a new territory and they are uncomfortable with it. They don’t know how to canvass voters.
“The second problem they have is that they don’t know how to run elections without massive money. Apart from the popularity of President Buhari, these are the two handicaps they have now and which they will face going into 2019 elections.”
Keyamo also expressed optimism that the 2019 presidential election would be easier for President Buhari than his contest with former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, saying Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential flag bearer could never divide Buhari’s votes in the North.
“In 2011, we had four presidential candidates from the North. Nuhu Ribadu, Ibrahim Shekarau, Mahmud Waziri, and Muhammadu Buhari.
“Did they divide Buhari’s votes? In fact, that was when he got 12 million votes from the North. Nobody can divide Buhari’s votes in the North,” he said.
On the chances of the APC in 2019, Keyamo said though the party might not be the best political party for Nigerians, it was still far better when compared to what the PDP offered during its 16 years in power.
Keyamo, who once asked Nigerians to form a third bloc that would take over from the APC and PDP, said while he was not denying the statement, he believed Nigerians could decide to look for an alternative to the APC in the future if they believed the party was not offering them what they desired.
He said: “I agree and I am saying it for the umpteenth time, and nobody should misquote me. APC is not the best political party we can have. Is it the best? No, but it is better than what we have before, which is the PDP. Will I be foolish enough to say that it is the best? Is it a perfect party?”
“The APC is a work in progress and that is why you can see internal struggles for positions and all that. You can see complaints of marginalisation by some members
“So, it is not the best but it is far better than what we had before. The only problem is that when people like you play this recording now, you will stop at where I said APC is not the best but you will not mention the second part of the statement where I said it is far better than PDP.
“I am not a sycophant to say that God is working in Nigeria. We are all human beings. It is an imperfect system that we are trying to perfect.
“I said that after some time, if this system does not improve or become perfect, people should think of going further and forming a third bloc. It is a work in progress and I am not talking about 2019 or 2023, it may be in the future.
“Our parties are not based on ideologies and that is why you see people jumping from one party or the other overnight.
“Imagine a conservative turning to a progressive overnight or a progressive turning to a conservative overnight. Is that possible?
“They are only looking for tickets. So, I will not sit down here and be a fool to say our parties are based on ideologies. Why did I say that both APC and PDP are not the best?
“It is because there is really no ideology behind them. The APC is still the party that still presents something better in the sense that all the leaders of APC, apart from those joining behind, you can associate them with progressive politics over the years.
“I am talking of President Buhari, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“These ones have never been in the ruling party. Never! That is what makes the difference. Apart from these few ones, every other person is just water flowing from one stream to another.
“So, you can still see that there is some semblance of progressive politics in the ruling party. That is all I said and if you ask me again, I will repeat the same thing on tape. APC is not the best but it is still a far cry from where we are coming from.”
However, responding to Keyamo’s claims, the PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said all it was asking for was that INEC and security agents be impartial in carrying out their duties in the 2019 elections.
Describing the ruling party as master riggers, the PDP said it had been using INEC and security agents to rig elections and engaging in brazen vote buying which as witnessed in the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls, as well as the Kwara bye-elections.
“Keyamo likes conjuring words. That is his stock in trade, and so we are not surprised.
“We are not crying foul over anything. We are only warning INEC to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in 2019.”

The Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has decried reports that he was supporting the 2019 presidential bids of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Obiano disclosed this in a statement by his Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba in Akwa , Anambra state.
He reiterated that he was supporting the ambition of the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Gen. John Gbor, in the race.
He described stories that he was either supporting the PDP or the APC in the race as “wishful thinking.”
The statement said it was incumbent upon Obiano as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of APGA to support the presidential bid of his party’s candidate in the 2019 polls.
The statement read in part,”As the 2019 general election approaches, it is interesting how various politicians and political parties have been swooping on Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State in the belief that his role will be critical in deciding who wins the presidential vote.
“For instance, operatives of two of the leading political parties in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, have taken to the media to create the impression that the governor had endorsed their candidates in the forthcoming election.
“Some have even gone as far as reproducing a video of an event which took place in 2014 in a bid to give the impression that the event had just occurred.
“Governor Obiano is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressive Grand Alliance. He is also the APGA National Leader. These positions place heavy responsibilities on his shoulders. Therefore, any talk about him endorsing the presidential candidate of another party, let alone joining another party, is wishful thinking.”
The statement noted that unlike in two previous elections in the country, when APGA had no presidential candidates and was constrained to form an alliance with a ruling party, APGA has a credible presidential candidate for the 2019 general election.
The statement said APGA presidential candidate, Gbor had impressive qualifications including a doctorate and would formally inaugurate his presidential campaign on December 6 in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
It said in addition, APGA had remained the only development-oriented party in the country that cut across religious and tribal divides, noting that Gbor’s vision would make Nigeria a role model to developing countries across the globe.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to fresh fabrications being sponsored in a section of the media, against its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, saying Muhammadu Buhari Presidency, has abandoned its statutory duties and turned itself into a lying, “monitoring spirit” on Atiku Abubakar and his movements.
PDP, which noted that presidency has not been able to produce any documentary evidence to substantiate its claims, pointed out that the sponsored fabrications, only goes to show that Buhari is intimidated by “our candidate’s resume, his overwhelming popularity and policy direction, which have since amplified his (President Buhari’s) incompetence and lack of direction, as a result of which he is being rejected by the majority of Nigerians.”
PDP, in a statement by its Director, Media & Publicity of its Presidential Campaign Council,
Kola Ologbondiyan, said, “It is indeed despicable that President Buhari will continue to endorse the spinning of lies by his handlers against another Presidential candidate, including its false claims that Atiku Abubakar cannot travel to the United States, which Nigerians have since seen to be mere fabrications.
“Is it not ludicrous that the Buhari Presidency has abandoned its statutory duties and turned itself into a lying, “monitoring spirit” on Atiku Abubakar and his movements, yet it has not been able to produce any documentary evidence to substantiate its claims?”
The party noted that Atiku is a global figure and is not inhibited, in any way whatsoever, from traveling to any part of the world, adding that he’s not prepared to make the sky his office, unlike President Buhari, who unleashed a widely condemned taste for very expensive and wasteful gallivanting with “our national fleet, while Nigerians wallow in abject poverty for neglect and abuse of resources.”
PDP said that it refuses to lose sight of the fact that “our campaign is on the rescue mission and that Nigerians are looking up to our candidate for direction.
“As such, we will not allow the rejected Buhari Presidency to distract us from our focus of repositioning and redirecting our nation to the path of a united, peaceful, secure and prosperous nation where all citizens are happy and free.”
The PDP counseled President Buhari to note that Nigerians have moved ahead with Atiku Abubakar as their next President, adding that he should use the remaining days of his fading administration to prepare answers for his misrule.
“President Buhari should, by now, be providing answers for the over N11 trillion stolen under his watch, particularly in the petroleum sector where he sits as minister; the alleged diversion of funds meant for the purchase of weapons and welfare of our soldiers to finance his re-election campaign as well as the neglect and insensitivity that led to the escalation of killings and bloodletting in various parts of the country under his rule.
“President Buhari should provide answers for his incompetence and harsh economic policies that plunged our economy into recession, leading to high cost of living, loss of over 30 million jobs, acute poverty, hunger, collapse of infrastructure in our country in the last three and half years.
“On our own part, the PDP will continue to focus on issue-based campaign and run with practical answers to the myriad of challenges facing our nation in line with the manifesto of our repositioned party and the policy direction of our Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar,” the party said.

The Lagos state police command have rescued the two children of Mr and Mrs Aneru Mutana of Gbagada Phase 2, Lagos, who were kidnapped by their househelp simply identified as Busayo, on November 26th.



A statement from the state police command spokesperson, CSP Chike Oti, says the children were found in the early hours of today December 2nd at a location close to Nigeria Seme border, in Benin Republic.

On November 26th, Busola was instructed by Mrs Mutana to go and pick the children from school and take them home as she (Mrs Mutana) wasn't able to do so due to the nature of her job.



Unfortunately for Madam, the househelp had carefully planned how to kidnap her children, a 6-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl and executed her wicked plan effortlessly because she is known to the school authorities and familiar with the children.

Investigation so far revealed that Busayo is a member of a Kidnap syndicate who gives her out as househelp to unsuspecting parents.



When she finally lands the job, she warms her way into the children's heart and wins the trust of her employers. Once she gets to this stage, she bares her fangs.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi has warned households interested in engaging the services of domestic servants to beware of whom they are dealing with. Imohimi reiterates his earlier warning that employers ought to carry out a background check of persons they are bringing to homes; and profile them in order to make investigation easy for the police should the need arise.



The Command reasonably believes that Busayo may not be her real name. However it wishes that Nigerians should take cognizance of her face and alert the nearest police formation of her location and if possible arrest and hand her over to the police.

We hear doctors collapsing because the workload is too much because their colleagues have left to find a greener gesture. We have internal and international brain drain; Nigeria now has one doctor catering for 5,000 patients instead of one doctor to 600 patients.
Brain drain is now becoming pandemic and sad news because government did not and still is not doing enough; there is no serious commitment to stemming this syndrome. Nigeria which was one of the richest 50 countries in the early 70s has metro greased to become one of the 25 poorest countries in the World today,’’ he said.

A suspected officer of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has allegedly shot official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) dead.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at Iyana-Ipaja round about around 6pm.

The LASTMA official was said to have flagged him down for traffic issue.
The officer, it was learnt, got down and warned the traffic official never to stop him again, adding that he didn’t have right to do so.
In the course of exchanging hot words, the angry officer returned to his car, brought out a gun and shot the traffic official.
Many ran for safety after hearing the sound of the gun.
The officer, who’s identity is yet to be ascertained, was said to have been arrested.
We
Eyewitnesses said the officer drove a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).
The alleged killer was first taken Moshalashi Police Station along Ipaja Road before being transfered to State Command in Ikeja GRA.
The traffic official was rushed to Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, where he was confirm dead.
His remains have been deposited in a mortuary in Yaba, Lagos Mainland.
LASTMA Public Relations Officer Mahmud Hassan confirmed the incident.
Hassan said investigation is ongoing and will get on the identity of both the dead traffic official and the officer that shot him.

The Lagos State Police Command's unrelentless war against sex offenders yielded results with the arrest of two sex predators.

A statement from the state police command spokesperson, Chike Oti, says the first case involving one Mukaila Aliu, 40, of No.17 Peluola Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, who took advantage of a 16-year-old physically challenged girl child (deaf and dumb), more than a year ago, precisely on November 10, 2017 and had been on the run ever since.



The said Mukaila Aliu had on the aforementioned date, at Oshodi, allegedly lured the survivor by pretending he was going to buy Indomie noodles for her hence she unsuspectingly followed him to an abandoned shop along Oshodi road where he defiled her.

Although he was caught in the act, he managed to escape and remained in the hiding until on the 19/11/2018 when he came out of hiding to challenge a property developer at a site in Oshodi demanding some fees with menaces from the property owner, claiming to be an 'Omoonile'.

He was however identified by one of the workers at the site as a suspect on the wanted list of the police. The worker sneaked out and alerted the Divisional Police Officer, Makinde Police Station, who promptly arrested him and handed him over to the Gender Section of the Command for further investigation.

The second case involves one Chika Okafor, 39, of No. 3/16 Oketa Street, Mende-Maryland who on 17/10/18, lured a 15-year-old girl who ran away from home because her mum threatened to beat her up for losing an important item. He got her into his car and took her to a beer parlour where he convinced her to take some liquor.

Being her first time to indulge in such habit, the little girl was completely knocked out after guzzling several bottles of alcoholic drinks.

The suspect, seeing the state of of the survivor, took her to a hotel at Oshodi.

At this point, the little girl whom he had completely undressed told him to let her be because she is a virgin but he still went ahead and shaved her pubic hair, deflowered her and went away with the shaved hair.

The following morning being 18/10/2018, the suspect took her to his friend's place in Maryland and had his way with her the second time. He thereafter took the survivor in his car and dropped her at the nearest location to her parents' house.

The girl narrated her ordeal to her mum and she immediately petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal who ordered a manhunt against the perpetrator.

The suspect was however arrested on Saturday, November 24, 2018 by detectives attached to the Gender Unit of the Command.

Today in Maiduguri I visited our wounded troops. Across the Northeast we have officers and men fighting bravely and tirelessly to keep our country safe from terrorism and violence. I salute their sacrifice on our behalf. And may the souls of the fallen rest in peace.

A former Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Onadeko Onamusi, has been charged to court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over his alleged involvement in the award and execution of a N68.7 million contract.
Onamusi who was arraigned before Justice C. N. Oji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Apo, Abuja, on an 18-count charge, was accused by the Commission of using his private company, Haines and Baines, to execute several contracts for the National Assembly while working as a Senior Legislative Aide in the same place.
ICPC told the court that several contracts for buying ambulance vehicles, supply of hospital equipment and drugs for Primary Health Centres, as well as construction of classrooms for some selected schools in six communities of Ogun East Senatorial District, were awarded to Haines and Baines, where the Senior Legislative Aide doubles as a Managing Director, an action that violates Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The charge sheet revealed that Onamusi received contracts in November, 2016, from the National Assembly for the construction of blocks of three classrooms at Odogbulu Grammar School, Ogun East; Ijebu Imushin Comprehensive High School, Ijebu East; United Anglican Primary School, Iworo, Ijebu North-East; and St. Barnabas Anglican Primary School, Ilishan/Ikenna, Ogun East, at the total cost of N43.6 million.
His company further got contracts for the supply of hospital equipment, drugs and ambulance vehicles for Community Health Centre, Itele, Ijebu East; Obada Health Centre, Oke-Sopin, Ijebu North; and Obada Health Centre, Ogijo, Sagamu, all in Ogun East Senatorial District, valued at N20.2 million.
The counts read in part, “Hon. Onamusi Onadeko, on or about 4th November, 2016, being employed in the public service as a Senior Legislative Aide in the National Assembly and being the Managing Director of Haines and Baines, Ltd., did knowingly directly acquire a private interest in a contract for the construction of a block of three classrooms at Ijebu Imushin Comprehensive High School, Ijebu East, Ogun East Senatorial District, Ogun State to the tune of N11, 863, 444.16 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Onamusi did not admit guilt when the counts were read to him. His counsel, Wahab Olatoye pleaded with the court to grant him bail to enable him attend to his health having just returned from England where he had gone to seek medical attention.
However, ICPC counsel, Ephraim Otti, objected to the bail application, citing instances where the accused had earlier jumped administrative bail granted to him by the Commission. He told the court that it took ICPC more than one year to track down the accused.
Justice Oji after listening to the arguments adjourned the matter to 10thDecember, 2018 for ruling on the bail application but ruled that the accused remain in the custody of his counsel pending the bail ruling.

Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has alleged that members of his party are being killed, kidnapped and intimidated across states controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The national chairman made the allegation when speaking to journalists at the APC secretariat on Monday night, November 19, Premium Times reports.
Oshiomhole accused PDP governors of using state institutions to undermine the basic democratic rights of APC members in states they govern, a situation he described as disturbing.

He made the claim after the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly sacked four more lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC.

“(There is) a very disturbing development in a couple of states where the PDP is misusing the state instrument – using the police to undermine the basic democratic rights of APC members – in those states where they have governors,”Oshiomhole said.

“A typical example is what has happened today in Akwa Ibom State where the commissioner of police, colluded with the governor to forcefully (remove) APC members out of the state house of assembly.

“The commissioner went beyond (his line) of duty to aid and abate what is clearly wrong. It is not the business of the police to assist political authorities to effect their own biases with regards to the composure of the house."

He said the alleged attack, assassination and intimidation being experienced by APC members in some states across the country are not normal
“The state chairman of APC in Enugu State narrowly escaped assassination. In Rivers State, two members of the house of assembly were abducted and one of those APC leaders kidnapped. His dead body had just been found,” the APC national chairman stated.

“We do not believe these are normal crimes, although no crime can be said to be normal. We are beginning to wonder, the way (in) which our party leaders, particularly in states (where) we do not have governors – the way they come under sustained attacks, violence, bullying and assassination – for me, these are very dangerous signals."

The chairman urged all those involved in the political process to respect the right of every Nigerian to belong to a party of his choice.

Meanwhile, the ongoings in the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly have brewed a lot of reactions and comments from political circles in the country.
In a statement published by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, November 19, and made available to Legit.ng, the opposition entirely condemned the recent invasion of the House by some unknown hoodlums.

To some extent, the party in its statement blamed the police command for the development and referred to the incident as a near breakdown of order in the state legislature.

On Monday, the Federal Government said presidential pardons would be granted to drug peddlers, persons convicted of obtaining money under false pretences and certain categories of prisoners who have shown remorse while in confinement, to decongest prisons in the country.



Speaking during his visit to prisons in the North-East and North-Central zones, vice-chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, William Alo, who is also the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties in the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said President Buhari was empowered by his statutory responsibilities and backed by Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to accept, reject and grant pardons to inmates of Nigerian prisons.



He said, “Presidential pardons will be granted to inmates who committed federal offences such as drug peddling, vandalisation of public property, obtaining by tricks, otherwise known as 419, and other related offences, if proved that they are remorseful of their actions and meet the committee criteria.”



Also speaking while hosting Alo and his team, the Chief Judge of Plateau State, Pius Damulak, called on the committee to review the cases of prison inmates with compassion as many of them are serving terms as a result of poverty and their inability to pay fines imposed as options.

It is my view that where either the proposed name of the company or its aims and objectives are caught by the provisions of Section 30 (1) (c) of CAMA, the respondent is duly empowered to reject such an application for reservation of name or registration as it has done in this case.

“Section 30 (1) (c) of CAMA reads: “No company shall be registered under this Act by a name which- (c) in the opinion of the Commission is capable of being misleading as to the nature or extent of its activities or is undesirable, offensive or otherwise contrary to public policy.” the judge said

The Atiku/Obi Presidential Movement, a group for the actualization of the Presidential ambition of Alh. Atiku Abubakar has promised to deliver 10 million votes for the former Vice President.

Amb. Niyi Omoyele, Director General of the movement disclosed this when he led National and state executives on a courtesy visit to the wife of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

The group which also vowed to resist all forms of rigging in the Presidential election, said that the movement had structures at the grassroots and across the 774 local government of Nigeria.

Omoyele said that the movement has been in existence since the return of democracy in 1999 and had campaigned for Obasanjo-Atiku, Yar,adua-Goodluck, Goodluck-Sambo and was now going to campaign for Atiku-Obi.

He said that any attempt to rig the 2019 election would be resisted by members of the group as the electoral law now provides for the instant announcement and transmission of the result from the polling unit and wards level in the presence of all stakeholders.

“Members of the Atiku/Obi Presidential movement are optimistic that 2019 election is the divine time for Atiku’s Presidency because of the overwhelming acceptance of his candidacy across the country.
“Nigerians are desirous of change, the type of change that only Atiku Abubakar can provide,” he said.

He reiterated that the group is targeting to mobilise at least 10 million voters in synergy with other like minds toward the successful outing of Atiku/Obi at the poll.
A member of the national executive of the group Prince Joshua Idowu described Atiku as a good product that was easy to sell to the electorate.

The National women leader of the group Mrs Amaka Ofor also said that their women across the 774 local government in Nigeria have concluded arrangement to stage a one million solidarity walk for Atiku in Abuja.
Responding to the group, Atiku’s wife, Hajia Titi Abubakar thanked them for the visit and appreciated them for their continued support and solidarity to her husband.

She assured them that Atiku Abubakar was a man of integrity and that he would keep his promises to Nigerians and would never forget them when he emerged.

Other members of the group who also featured at the visit include: Gomez Okpala, Director for National Mobilisation and Mrs. Jumai Gowon, Director for Special Duties.