₦airaland Forum

The immediate past governor of Ebonyi state, Chief Martin Elechi has revealed why he backed a former Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu to succeed him rather than Governor Dave Umahi, who was then serving as his deputy.

The former governor, who disclosed this to select journalists at his country home, Echialike Ikwo, noted that the Governor lacked the spirit of accommodation and other qualities necessary for a person occupying such position. The press conference came ahead of a thanksgiving church service being organized by former members of his state executive council and former council chairmen and friends.

According to him, “I have no apologies to anybody or to any group of people for what happened. I still stick to my conscience and to my belief that what I did in that circumstance is what I should do.
http://gistportal.com.ng/elechi-finally-reveals-why-he-didnt-back-umahi-to-be-governor/

THE Nigeria Football Federation is to get the blessing of the minister of Youth and Sports in its quest to engage the services of a foreign manager for the Super Eagles.

It was gathered that the NFF under the leadership of Pinnick Amaju had been toying with the idea of hiring a foreign manager that would lead the Eagles in the run up to the World Cup qualification for Russia 2018.

However, the NFF, being an agency under the ministry will take the matter before the minister for ratification.A senior member of the NFF told journalists that it is a procedure that the NFF needed to go through given the sensitive nature of such appointments.

“There will be a retreat on Tuesday where the minister will be given a brief on the foreign coach as well as other issues regarding the world cup qualification race.”
http://medianaija.com.ng/nff-now-wants-a-foreign-coach/

The United States Secretary of State, John Kerry has said that his country will invest more than $600 million in Nigeria this year. He disclosed this during the opening session of the U.S.A – Nigeria Bi-National Commission meeting.

The delegation from Nigeria was headed by Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyema, flanked by other officials including Nigerian Charge d’Affaires Hakeem Balogun.Kerry was accompanied by leaders from the State Department, USAID, the Defence Department, Commerce Department, and other key agencies and U.S. Ambassador James Entwistle.
http://medianaija.com.ng/secretary-kerry-says-us-will-invest-600m-in-nigeria-2016/

The government of Cameroon has handed over two suspected female bombers who claimed to be among the 219 missing Chibok girls abducted in 2014 to Nigeria for proper identification.

Maryam Alhaji Wakeel, 12, and Aishatu Usman, a 35-year-oldmother of two, were arrested with explosives in Limani, Cameroon, but claimed to be among the abducted girls fromChibok.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, in a statement, three authorised representatives ofthe parents of the 219 missing Chibok girls have identified the suspects and confirmed that the girl and the woman do not fit the description of any of the missing daughters from Chibok.

The trio of Mr. Yakubu Nkeki, chairman; Mr. Lawan Zana, secretary and Mrs. Yana Galang, women leader of the Chibok Girls Movement identified the pictures of the suspects but disowned them as being part of the missing girls.

The statement reads: “Nigerian government officials have informed the MMF that both Maryam Alhaji Wakeel and Aishatu Usman have been handed over to the Nigerian military this evening (Wednesday) and are currently on their way back to Nigeria.
http://gistportal.com.ng/cameroon-govt-hands-two-female-suicide-bombers-nigerian-govt‎/

Bayelsa State Police Command, on Wednesday, foiled an attempt to rob a commercial bank along the busy Mbiama/Yenagoa Road in Yenagoa.

Incessant cases of robbery have become worrisome in the past few months, even as life has become difficult for Bayelsa people owed three months salaries by the state government, while those at the local government are being owed nine months salaries.

It was gathered that the five unknown gunmen had scaled the fence of the commercial bank  at Kpansia suburb in Yenagoa and engaged the policemen on duty in a gun battle with a view to overpowering them and carting away money.

However, their plan failed as they fell and gave in to the superior fire power of the policemen on duty at the bank premises.

While the gun duel lasted, the police shot dead one of the robbers, while others fled with bullet wounds.

The police, it was learnt, recovered a single barrel cut to size locally made gun from the slain member of the gang and deposited his corpse at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC)Yenagoa.
http://medianaija.com.ng/police-stops-bank-robbery-bayelsa/

THE traditional ruler of Igbodo Kingdom in Ika North-East Local Government Area, Delta State, Obi Ikechukwu Osedume I, has commended the state government for building sustainable infrastructure across the state.

Osedume, who made the commendation during the 2016 annual conference of Igbodo Development Union, IDU, praised the efforts of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa towards fulfilling his electioneering promises to Deltans. The Igbodo monarch was represented by the Iyase of the kingdom, Dr Ifeanyi Unomah.

Osedume at the conference which saw the election of new members of the Central Executive Committee of IDU, Worldwide, appealed for quality government presence in Igbodo and charged his subjects to remain committed to the peace and development of the community. Deacon Matthew Okwaje, emerged as President-General of IDU, worldwide, while Mr Martins Okocha and Azuka Monye were elected first and second Vice President-Generals, respectively.
http://medianaija.com.ng/monarch-in-delta-state-commends-gov-okowa-on-infrastructure/

A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Joseph Edionwele, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was ready to chase the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led All Progressives Congress, APC, out of the state’s Government House in the coming governorship election.

Edionwele, who represents Esan West/Esan Central/Igueben federal constituency of Edo State, claimed that the non-performance of the APC government in the state had contributed in making the governorship election in the state an easy task for the PDP.

Speaking with Vanguard in Abuja, the lawmaker said: “It is not an issue of how prepared we (PDP) are. In Edo State, we are ready for change. We have passed through a lot of pains and troubles. PDP will certainly take over in September.”

http://medianaija.com.ng/edo-state-2016-election-pdp-says-ready-kick-oshiomhole/

Nigerian Army has jacked up the amount of financial reward promised to give anyone with genuine information that could lead to the rescue or release of abducted Colonel Samaila Inusa from initial N500,000 million to N1 million.

This was disclosed to newsmen yesterday in Kaduna by Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Mechanised Army Division, Kaduna, Colonel Usman Abdul.

This is just as he assured that whoever is ready to offer such information will be treated with utmost confidentiality and maximum security.

Colonel Inusa was abducted on Saturday in Kaduna and there has been no news from his abductors yet. The abducted senior officer of the Nigerian Army is a lecturer in the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, Kaduna.

He was abducted at about 7:30pm around Kamazo, near NNPC Junction in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement on Sunday , Abdul said “the abductors dropped off Colonel Inusa’s wife and left with him in his car. The car headed towards Abuja.”

This is just one of several kidnap stories in Kaduna metropolis in recent time.
http://gistportal.com.ng/kidnapped-colonel-samaila-army-promises-n1-million-for-any-informant/

Gunmen suspected to be members of a cult group have reportedly shot one person dead in Ilorin, on Sunday.
The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the victim of the attack, who was identified simply as Wasiu was killed around Ikokoro/Sakamo area of Ilorin around 3:10 p.m.

Wasiu, who allegedly belonged to a rival cult group, and said to be in his 30s, according to sources, had hitherto fled the area to avoid being killed but returned recently.

The gunmen numbering about four, were said to have arrived the area in a commando style and shot the victim at a close range.
An eyewitness said the armed men shot the deceased in the face.
There was anxiety at the scene of the incident as residents and passersby scampered for safety.

It was learnt that the sporadic shooting rented the air forcing motorists and motorcycles plying the area to detour for take escape route.
“It was like a theatre scene when the gunmen arrived. They started shooting that everybody around had to runaway. We didn’t know what happened, we only discovered that the style of operation of the gunmen appeared like they are cultists.

“Before now, we have been observing Wasiu (the victim) because his action too was suspicious. He might be a cult member that is why he was away for sometime now before yesterday’s incident,” a source said.
It was learnt that the remains of the victim were evacuated from the scene by a relative, before the arrival of a detachment from the state police command.
http://gistportal.com.ng/cult-clash-in-ilorin-one-person-killed/

Crisis is brewing at Obodogba in Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, following the purported removal of the Iyase (Prime Minister) of the kingdom, Dr. Sylvanus Ebigwei. While a section of the community had, in a publication, claimed that Ebigwei had allegedly been removed from office, due to unresolved communal issues, the community elders in a statement passed a vote of confidence in him (Ebigwei) as the Iyase of the kingdom.

The eldest man and secretary of the community, Mr Nwaokolie Nwuzu and Mr. Michael Asoya respectively, in a statement, insisted that the community never stripped Ebigwei of the title.
http://medianaija.com.ng/iyase-title-in-obodogba-community-in-delta-state-causes-crisis/

Five armed robbery cum cult suspects and one kidnap suspect have been arrested by men of the Nigerian Police in Delta.

Names of the robbery-cult suspects were given as Okolie Nkem, aged 21yrs; Oshoiokpu Emmanuel, Okuku Azuka, aged 22yrs; David Danboyi, aged 32yrs; Edio Lucky, 30yrs; Monody Odeni, 30yrs and Ifeachukwudeni Chidi, 21yrs.

The suspects were arrested, it was gathered, when the police at Obiaruku division were said to have received a tip-off that hoodlums were on the prowl at various locations of Obiaruku axis, terrorizing innocent citizens.

It was gathered that detectives from the division were swiftly dispatched to the black spots where a gun duel eventually ensued between the police and the robbery suspects leading to the arrest of five of them.

It was gathered that preliminary inquiry has revealed that the suspects were responsible for various robbery incidents and cult-related murders in the area in recent times.
http://medianaija.com.ng/six-robbers-arrested-in-delta-state/

TROOPS of 153 Task Force Brigade, 5 Brigade, on Monday, killed 58 terrorists, in an encounter with them at Musari Village in Borno State.

In the ensuing gun duel, one soldier was killed as the troops recovered 52 motorcycles, two hand grenades and other items.

According to a statement issued by the acting director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, “during the clearance operations, a soldier paid the supreme price, while the troops killed 58 terrorist and recovered 2 hand grenades, 52 motorcycles, several bags of foodstuffs such as beans, onions, sweet potatoes and guinea corn, as well as cartons of fish.”

In a related development, troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade also cleared additional nine areas where Boko Haram terrorists were hibernating.

The areas were Abukarti, Baradili, Borgozo, Gaijaribul Abukar, kolomi, Marguba, Umarumi, as well as Yasori one and two.
http://gistportal.com.ng/a-soldier-killed-as-troops-kill-58-boko-haram-destroyed-9-hideouts-in-borno/

Kidnappers have released Chief Nitabai Inegite, an uncle of Nigeria's ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, who had been held hostage for over six weeks.
Inegite, a 72-year-old retired lecturer at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and a foster father of former President, was, on February 17, abducted from his Otuoke home alongside his younger cousin, Samuel Okies.

Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr Peter Ogunyanwo, earlier on Tuesday, while parading 37 armed robbery and suspected kidnappers at the command headquarters, had told reporters that ex-President Jonathan said he was not ready to pay ransom demanded by the kidnappers to release his uncle.

Ogunyanwo, who lauded Jonathan's decision not to pay ransom, said that would discourage kidnapping in the country.

“On the kidnap of the foster father of former President Gooluck Jonathan, Chief Inegite, I have met several times with the former President on the matter and he has insisted that he is not going to pay ransom.
http://medianaija.com.ng/former-president-jonathans-uncle-released-by-kidnappers-with-no-ransom-paid/

indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised the alarm over alleged plans by Boko Harm to exterminate Biafrans through maiming and killing of women under the guise of being Fulani herdsmen.

The group, however, called on the people of Biafra to stop eating cows, stop patronising them and called on the Hausa Fulani herdsmen to leave Biafra land in order to avert further crisis.

A statement by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful said the group had discovered that the Fulani herdsmen and the northerners were determined to exterminate the lives of Biafrans through cattle rearers.

“We are calling on all Biafrans to stop eating Fulani cows and stop patronising them.

“They should stop raping our women, girls and stop killing our men. They should leave our land.

“Our intelligence report discovered that those cattle rearers were not ordinary people but Boko Haram who were well equipped. We are calling on Biafrans to begin to eat goat meat, chicken and fish. Again, all Biafrans should start rearing our local cows, we have it at Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, Nsukka in Enugu State and Obudu ranch in Calabar Cross River State in abundance,” Powerful stated.
http://medianaija.com.ng/ipob-says-boko-haram-plans-to-kill-us/

The Nigeria army says its troops have killed 19 Boko Haram insurgents, including a kingpin, Ameer of Dalore at a camp in Borno state. Daloree Sani Usman, Army spokesman, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, added that troops rescued 67 captives from the sect.

“Elements of 22 Brigade Garrison carried out clearing operation at Dalore camp on Sunday in which they killed 19 Boko Haram terrorists among whom was Ameer of Dalore. The troops also captured 2 AK-47 Rifles, 1 Small Machine Gun and 1 Hand Grenade and recovered 4 pickup vehicles”.

“The troops also rescued 67 hostages from the terrorists. The freed hostages are undergoing screening at Internally Displaced Persons in Dikwa”.

“Unfortunately, during the operation the troops Mine Resistant Anti-Personnel (MRAP) vehicle ran into an Improvised Explosive Device and had a damaged tyre”.
http://gistportal.com.ng/boko-haram-chief-killed-by-nigerian-troops-67-hostages-rescued/

Operatives of the Gender Department of Lagos State Police Command are currently investigating a 26-year-old man for allegedly kidnapping a seven months old baby.

It was learned that the suspect, identified as Happiness Umaru, was intercepted at Eric Moore in Surulere by policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, at about 10p.m. on March 16.

It was gathered that during interrogation Umaru initially claimed to be the biological father of the baby. He later confessed that he found the baby around Ijora Railway, when he went into a bush to answer the call of nature.

After the case was transferred to the Gender Department for further investigation, officers from the unit visited the scene of the incident, where they located the biological mother of the baby.
http://medianaija.com.ng/a-man-arrested-for-stealing-a-seven-month-old-baby/

Samson Folarin

A 300-level microbiology student of the University of Lagos, Jacob Eniola, has died after allegedly consuming a poisonous substance known as sniper.

The victim was said to have been rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, where he gave up the ghost on Sunday.

It is, however, unclear why the victim took the poison.

It was gathered that the management of the school had already launched an investigation into the case.

A source said the victim took the poison on Saturday evening.

The source said, “He stays in Biobaku Hall. It was on Saturday that he took the poison and he was rushed to the hospital. This morning, we got the news that he’s dead. I honestly cannot tell why he did that.”
http://gistportal.com.ng/an-undergraduate-of-unilag-committed-suicide-in-hostel/

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has said President Mohammadu Buhari must be held accountable for the violence and loss of lives in Rivers State rerun elections, saying; “Members of Buhari’s party, APC, are emboldened to unleash violence on the people of Rivers State and other States in Nigeria because they know that the president won’t lift a finger provided his party members are the ones perpetrating evil.”

The governor said “those who called the Ekiti State governorship election in which soldiers and other security agents made sure that that there was no violence, no live was lost during and after the election and no ballot was snatched EkitiGate should be asked what the Rivers election in which eight people were killed and several others injured will be called.”

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said President Buhari’s way was to protect his party people, and his Hausa/Fulani tribe, hence their boldness to perpetrate evil.
http://medianaija.com.ng/rivers-state-election-ended-in-violence-buhari-is-accountable-says-gov-fayose/

DESPITE heavy deployment of security personnel, the Rivers State rerun election into the National Assembly and the state House of Assembly, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Saturday, was marred by violence as six people were feared dead.

This was as the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Aneidi Ikoiwak, cancelled the election in six local government areas namely, Khana, Gokana, Andoni, Eleme, Tai and Bonny, due to non-availability of voting materials.

Governor Nyesom Wike declared that INEC was not prepared for the election, just as the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that INEC supplied fake result materials.

A man whose identity could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report was allegedly shot by soldiers at Rumueprikom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

Indications that the rerun exercise would run into a hitch emerged early in the morning when voting materials arrived late in many polling units, delaying accreditation and voting in many of the polling units till about 1:30 p.m.

While there were complaints of inadequate security provisions in many units, more than 2,000 policemen were reportedly seen, as of 8:15 a.m., waiting at the state police command.
http://medianaija.com.ng/violence-in-rivers-state-rerun-election-six-persons-killed/

Academic activities in Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, were on Friday, grounded following protests by academic and non academic staff unions in the institution over alleged deductions in their salaries and emoluments by the immediate past rector of the institution, Dr. (Mrs). Phillipa Idogho.

Students of the polytechnic were asked to vacate the campus and return home as the strike embarked upon by the lecturers and the non-academic staff was not likely to end soon.


The situation left the Polytechnic literarily shutdown, as the protesting workers insisted that they will not return to work until the injustice meted out to them is corrected.

The union members barricaded the entrances to the polytechnic for several hours and shut many offices including the administrative building of the polytechnic.
http://gistportal.com.ng/federal-polytechnic-auchi-shut-down/

Looks like the actress and mother of three will really spend years in prison over a car accident in 2005 that took a man's life. Her bail application suffered a setback yesterday Thursday March 17th at the court of Appeal in Lagos after the judges ruled that her application was incompetent.

The three man-panel led by Justice U.I Ndukwe-Anyanwu, said that the application was not properly filed as her counsel failed to attach copies of the judgment that was delivered by the court which affirmed the five years jail sentence imposed on her.

The court adjourned hearing for her bail application to April 7th when copies of the March 11th‎ judgement would have been included. She was afterward sent back to prison.

Ibinabo has approached the Supreme Court to set aside the March 11th verdict of the Lagos State Court of Appeal which validated the 5 year jail term handed down to her by the state's High court over the 2005 accident in which her car killed one Dr Giwa.
http://medianaija.com.ng/former-agn-president-ibinabo-fiberesima-bail-denied/