A building under construction in the University of Lagos is currently on fire.
The building is located near the Faculty of Education.
This is coming three days after a section of Creative Art Department of the Faculty of Arts caught fire.
The building, located near the Faculty of Education, is being constructed as a hostel for students of the institution. It erupted in flames moments ago.
The source of the fire is unknown as fire fighters are currently battling to put out the fire.



http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/happening-now-another-unilag-building.html

Dino Melaye to lead the delegation of international observers to monitor kano re-run
March 22, 2019
International Human Rights Commission- IHRC has nominated Senator Dino Melaye to lead the delegation of observers to monitor supplementary Elections coming up tomorrow in Kano.

The Senator took to his Instagram page to share some photos of himself as an International Observer ahead of the rerun elections taking place in some states in Nigeria.



http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/dino-melaye-to-lead-delegation-of.html

The Election Tribunal set up on Osun 2018 governorship poll is currently delivering its judgement in Abuja.

The second preliminary ruling of #OsunTribunal is against Adeleke/PDP. The tribunal dismissed their applications asking the tribunal to strike out the facts and figures contained in tables used in the replies of Oyetola and APC.

Earlier, while delivering one of its reserved rulings, the #OsunTribunal struck out the separate objections filed by APCz Oyetola and INEC against the petition by Adeleke/PDP #AdelekePDPvsOyetolaAPC.

The tribunal is yet to deliver ruling on the substantive matter.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, had challenged the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Gov. Gboyega Oyetola, at the Osun 2018 Governorship Election at the election tribunal.

The Osun Election Tribunal, which was moved to Abuja in November 2018, after it was initially inaugurated in Osogbo, has now fixed Friday, March 22, for its judgment on the suit filed by the PDP and its candidate.

ined in tables used in the replies of Oyetola and APC.

Earlier, while delivering one of its reserved rulings, the #OsunTribunal struck out the separate objections filed by APCz Oyetola and INEC against the petition by Adeleke/PDP #AdelekePDPvsOyetolaAPC.

The tribunal is yet to deliver ruling on the substantive matter.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, had challenged the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Gov. Gboyega Oyetola, at the Osun 2018 Governorship Election at the election tribunal.

The Osun Election Tribunal, which was moved to Abuja in November 2018, after it was initially inaugurated in Osogbo, has now fixed Friday, March 22, for its judgment on the suit filed by the PDP and its candidate.


http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/osun-tribunal-dismisses-pdps-adeleke.html

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, says Osun State is dying as it is paying so much on workers’ salaries without generating revenue.
Addressing newsmen in Iwo yesterday at the Engr Ademola Adedapo’s annual secondary schools’ quiz competition, Oluwo said unless the Osun civil service was overhauled, the state might find it difficult to pay salaries.

The monarch urged the state government to increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to improve the fortune of the state.,

He said: “We’ve a problem in Osun and we’ve to shout and tell the world that we’re sick in Osun. It’s just the truth I’m telling you. We need to upgrade and update our civil service to be IT-compliant and we’ve to create a way to find other jobs for them in the civil service.

“With what’s going on in Osun, we don’t have the money. I’m in this government and it doesn’t matter because I’m a traditional ruler. I’ve to be concerned on how government can succeed.

“We’ve so many workers for some jobs. I’m not telling them to retrench, but government should find some ways out of this situation. How much is the allocation of Osun State in a month? Can it pay the wage bill or salary? Civil servants themselves should be more creative. Civil service is the largest employer of labour in this state and the IGR is nothing. We need to create more IGR.

“Osun is dying. The state is paying so much money and not making money. People have to pay tax and there should be more ways of ensuring the payment of informal taxes. There are many incomes being generated through informal sector and is not coming to the government.”

Responding, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Festus Olajide, said the Oluwo had “not minced words in telling the truth.”

He said the quiz competition had brought out test and measurement in terms of performance of students in public schools.



http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/osun-is-dying-oluwo-cries-out.html?m=1

The All Progressive Congress(APC) has successfully strike a deal with the North East APC Governors on how to rig Kano re-run election.

TheNgTimes reliably gathered that Governor Ganduje, Tinubu and vice president Osinbajo meet with the North East Governors on thursday. TheNgTimes can confirm that governor ganduje also met with the Kano state returning officer today at the state government house. The reason behind the closed door meeting is still not knowned, but it has been alleged that kano state returning officer was asked to work for Apc in the re-run .

According to source close to the governor, the north east apc governors will arrive kano on friday. S ecurity agencies will be stationed at pdp strongholds to cause unnecessary panic, intimidation and low voters turnout.TheNgTimes also learnt that re-run results has already been written at the state government house last week which they plan to substitute and use as the original result.

TheNgTimes has been reliably informed that hotels in Kano have been booked by the Northwest governors ahead of the kano election .Though TheNgTimes cannot confirm about this latest development of north east governors plans to lodge thugs at different hotels in Kano



http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/apc-strikes-deal-with-apc-north-east.html?m=1

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, have reportedly abducted the Enogie (Duke) of Ukhiri community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.



The gunmen were said to have stormed his Ukhiri palace along Benin-Abraka road, shot sporadically in the air before whisking him away.

It was learnt that the gunmen came in an unregistered car which they reportedly set ablaze and made away with a Nissan sunny car belonging to the Enogie who is said to be a retired Chief Superintendent of Police.

He took over the dukedom after the death of his father some years ago.

Spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, could not be reached for comments but a dependable police source said a crack team has been raised to rescue the Enogie.

http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/gunmen-abduct-bini-royal-father-in-edo.html?m=1

The All Progressive Congress(APC) has successfully strike a deal with the North East APC Governors on how to rig Kano re-run election.

TheNgTimes reliably gathered that Governor Ganduje, Tinubu and vice president Osinbajo meet with the North East Governors on thursday. TheNgTimes can confirm that governor ganduje also met with the Kano state returning officer today at the state government house. The reason behind the closed door meeting is still not knowned, but it has been alleged that kano state returning officer was asked to work for Apc in the re-run .

According to source close to the governor, the north east apc governors will arrive kano on friday. S ecurity agencies will be stationed at pdp strongholds to cause unnecessary panic, intimidation and low voters turnout.TheNgTimes also learnt that re-run results has already been written at the state government house last week which they plan to substitute and use as the original result.

TheNgTimes has been reliably informed that hotels in Kano have been booked by the Northwest governors ahead of the kano election rerun..Though TheNgTimes cannot confirm about this latest development of north east governors plans to lodge thugs at different hotels in Kano


http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/apc-strikes-deal-with-apc-north-east.html?m=1

THREE members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC serving at Ethiope East local government area of Delta State, are currently in critical condition after armed gunmen attacked them while returning to their lodge at Isiokolo during a robbery operation.

The incident occurred last Friday.
Giving details of the incident Sunday, a security source at the Isiokolo police division while confirming the incident, said the victims were rushed to a private hospital by members of the Isiokolo local vigilante outfit after they were shot by the hoodlums who disposed them of phones and other cash items.

“The corps members sustained gunshot wound from a locally cut to size gun used by the hoodlums and they were later referred to the Eku-Baptist hospital for further treatment,” the source who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated.

Meanwhile, the Ethiope East council chairman, Chief Faith Majemite, has vowed to bring the perpetrators to book with a charge on security agencies in the area to swing into action and apprehending the culprits.

The council boss gave the charge at the Eku-Baptisit hospital after she had a condolence visit on the victims.

She said: “I have asked the medical doctors on duty to ensure that the corps member get the best medical attention as the council will be handling all their medical bills incurred and I want to also assure residents of the council that the security agencies have been placed on their toes towards ensuring that the culprits are arrested and brought to book.”


http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/armed-robbers-invade-nysc-lodge-in.html?m=1

Fulani leaders have alleged the killing of 81 cows and rustling of 32 by suspected local militia on Thursday, near the Collage of Accountancy in Kwall, Bassa local government area of Plateau State.

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and the Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association of Nigeria, at the weekend, described the attack as unprovoked.

MACBAN Chairman in Plateau State, Muhammad Nura Abdullahi mailed pictures of the dead cows and told journalists that 81 cows had been shot dead with others matcheted, 32 rustled while 48 were injured but eventually taken to the slaughter house to avoid further loss.




Abdullahi said both Operation Safe Haven and the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmoyede had been notified of the incident and had sent representatives to take records of the carcass of the cows.

“OPSH sector 6 is aware and I personally reported to the Commissioner of Police, who advised that I take the matter to the DPO for documentation which has been done. The Area Commander and the DPO have visited the scene and seen the evidence,” he said.

On his part, the National President of Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association of Nigeria, Saeedu Maikano said the attack was deliberately done to spite the cattle owners and wondered why the state government was yet to issue condemnation.

According to Maikano, “is the government saying it cannot protect us and our property? Do they know how long and how much it cost to rear one cow to the level of maturity? This attack is deliberate and unprovoked and I don’t think the state government is serious about protecting us.”

The Police Public Relations Officer DSP Tyopev Terna continued to avoid comment despite promising to call back or send a statement in the last two days but Operation Safe Have Media and Information Officer, Major Adam Umar confirmed the killing of the cows, saying the incident had occurred around the dam, opposite the College of Accountancy in Kwall while the cattle were grazing.

Major Umar said the attackers had chased the cows to a forest area and shot dead several as well as rustled others.

He said though, he could not give the exact number of cows killed and those rustled, the task force was doing everything possible to trail the assailants



http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/just-in-militants-kill-81-cows-rustle.html?m=1

Nobody knew what she wanted to do with the Sniper. But a few minutes later, we saw the bottle beside her where she was sleeping and we found out that she was already dead.
The collapsed building in Lagos Island on Wednesday resulted in a mother, who lost her two children in the incident, to commit suicide after she received news of the death of the children.

It was learnt that she gave birth to the two children, who were between the ages of six and four, through Caesarean Section (CS).

The woman and her husband live in Gambari area of the Island.

Some residents of the area who narrated the incident said she bought a bottle of insecticide called ‘Sniper’.

“Nobody knew what she wanted to do with the Sniper. But a few minutes later, we saw the bottle beside her where she was sleeping and we found out that she was already dead," a neighbour, who preferred not to be named, said.

Sympathisers, however, thronged their house to condole with the husband and family members.

Meanwhile, a mother, Yetunde, whose son was injured, has been too traumatised by the sight of the boy lying critically on the hospital bed, that she has not sat down for over nine hours.

She had been moving from one corner of the Lagos Island General Hospital to the other in search of the prescribed drugs and other needs demanded by the doctors.

The boy survived the injuries and his two legs are in Plaster of Paris (POP).

Recollecting the event of the past 24 hours, Yetunde said she was the person that dressed the boy for school. She had already left the house, when she received a call that the school, which her son attends, had caved in, leaving many children trapped. She called on well-meaning Nigerians to pray for the speedy recovery of her son.


http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/woman-commits-suicide-after-losing-two.html?m=1

To underscore the seriousness it attaches to the governorship rerun election in Benue State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has announced a star studded list polling agents and returning officers.



The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is expected to conduct supplementary election on March 23 in Benue and five other states.

The list of the party’s polling agents and returning officers forwarded to INEC, has a former Senate President, David Mark, immediate past governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, erstwhile Minister of Interior, Abba Moro and Governor Samuel Ortom at the top of the list.

Others are a former Director General of the National Agency for Foods and Drug Administration and Control, Dr Paul Orhii, Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Titus Uba and the Secretary to the State Government, Tony Ijohor (SAN).
Others on the list are the state chairman of the PDP, John Ngbede, the state Attorney-General, Michael Gusa, the National Auditor of the party, Agbo Emmanuel, Mike Mku, Frank Utoo, Dr Elijah Ikpaor, Prof. Tor Iorapuu, Steven Iyorchir, Mark Gbillah, Dave Iorhemba, Tyorkyan Cletus, Orker Jev, Bemgba Iortyom, Matthew Nyinta, David Tsevedo, Cyril Gajir and Tersegu Tsegba.

Read full gist via : http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/benue-rerun-pdp-picks-mark-suswam.html?m=1

The people of Tiga, Kano state slaughter a cow as sacrifice after conducting a special prayer session seeking for GOD's intervention in the upcoming

Read full gist : http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/tiga-residents-in-kano-slaughter-cow.html?m=1

According to sources close to Governor El rufai, the governor is hail and heathy and wasn't involved in any accident at any point in time.Thengtimes gathered that the rumour is allegly driven by the main opposition party supporters.
Few minutes the governor debunks the rumour. Below is his tweet in quotes.

"I woke up after a rare 8-hour bout of deep sleep to learn that some bigotry-driven, PDP-affiliated fake news platform has declared my driver dead and my humble self in coma. Both claims are false. I thank them for reducing the days in their lives and adding them to mine. I remain their permanent nightmare and not about to disappear from their wretched and corrupt lives any time soon by the Grace of Almighty Allah, until they are permanently retired and buried."


http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/governor-el-rufai-debunks-accident.html?m=1

Justice Abdulaziz Waziri of State High Court 4 gave the order following a motion ex parte filed by Movement of Restoration for Defence of Democracy (MRPD), claiming that it's party logo was excluded from the ballot paper for the March 9 governorship election conducted in the state.



A state High Court sitting in Yola has issued an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting supplementary governorship election in Adamawa State.

Justice Abdulaziz Waziri of State High Court 4 gave the order following a motion ex parte filed by Movement of Restoration for Defence of Democracy (MRPD), claiming that it's party logo was excluded from the ballot paper for the March 9 governorship election conducted in the state.

However, a seasoned constitutional lawyer, Sunday Wugiri, told SaharaReporters that "though the order is valid for now, the court lacks jurisdiction to grant it”.

“Only a Federal High Court can entertain any matter that concerns federal institutions like INEC,” he added.

At a press briefing in Yola on Wednesday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had accused Governor Jibrilla Bindow of planning to use the MRPD to scuttle the supplementary election through unnecessary legal bottlenecks.

"It has come to our attention the desperate moves by the leadership of Adamawa state government to upturn the mandate of the people,” it said.

“One of the alleged moves is to lobby the presidency to cause the State High Court to slam INEC with an order of injunction restraining the electoral body from conducting the supplementary election and cancel the entire elections.

"They intend to use a governorship Candidate who allegedly claimed that the logo of his party was omitted on the ballot in the last governorship election to file a case before the state High Court.”

However, Kashim Gaidam, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC reacted thus: “For your information court orders cannot stop elections.

“Having said that, only INEC at the national office, can respond to any matter involving court orders.”

Professor Andrew Haruna declared the Adamawa State governorship election inconclusive, citing the slim margin of 32,476 votes between while cancelled ballots amounted to 40,988.

Ahmed Umar Fintiri, candidate of the PDP had polled 367,471 votes, while the incumbent governor, Jibrilla Bindow of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 334,995 votes.

INEC has scheduled the supplementary election for March 23.




http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/03/breaking-court-restrains-inec-from.html?m=1

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt Monday issued a restraining order on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to recognise candidates of both factions of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for this year’s general elections.

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt Monday issued a restraining order on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to recognise candidates of both factions of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for this year’s general elections.

Justice J.K Omotosho ruled that following the nullification of the congresses of the APC in Rivers state, the direct and indirect primaries conducted by both factions of the party were built on nothing.

Justice Omotosho therefore declined the request of Senator Magnus Abe and forty-three others asking to be declared as authentic candidates of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt Monday issued a restraining order on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to recognise candidates of both factions of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for this year’s general elections.

Justice J.K Omotosho ruled that following the nullification of the congresses of the APC in Rivers state, the direct and indirect primaries conducted by both factions of the party were built on nothing.

Justice Omotosho therefore declined the request of Senator Magnus Abe and forty-three others asking to be declared as authentic candidates of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.

The judge said the restraining order on INEC is binding until a higher court sets aside the ruling of Justice Chiwendu Nworgu nullifying the congress and primaries conducted by the APC in the state.



http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/01/court-restrains-inec-from-recognizing.html

you not we.. dont generalise ur y.. ATIKU ALL D WAY

Al Qalam University Katsina and many people in Katsina State are filled with anxiety and suspense as no fewer than nine students of the varsity have been abducted by suspected gunmen at the weekend.
LEADERSHIP gathered that four of the students who were kidnapped some kilometres after Kankara town along Kankara – Dutsinma Road, had been slain by the gunmen said to be demanding N 100 m ransom for the five still alive .
The spokesman of Al Qalam University , Abubakar Atiku , told LEADERSHIP yesterday that he could neither confirm nor deny the abduction rumour as majority of the Al Qalam ’ s students who travelled for Christmas and New Year break were yet to return as at last week.
Atiku said the varsity is considering alerting security agencies over the speculation , although the institution is yet to be contacted by any parent of the allegedly kidnapped students .
He assured that the Al Qalam could ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the said tragedy early this week as all its students were expected to resume today .
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Isah Gambo , said none of the four police divisions from Kankara to Katsina suburb of Batagarawa where Al Qalam is located received report of any abduction at the weekend contrary to the speculations.
Recall that Governor Aminu Bello Masari of the state cried out last Wednesday that the state was under kidnappers ’ and bandits ’ siege following their heightened activities in no fewer than eight local government areas, including Kankara , sharing borders with Zamfara State.


http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/01/gunmen-kill-4-abduct-9-in-katsina.html?m=1

Nigeria Army has clarified reasons behind its invasion of a Nigerian newspaper, Daily Trust offices and arrest of some members of staff.

Personnel of the army had on Saturday invaded Daily Trust offices in Maiduguri, Abuja and Lagos.

The troops arrested the regional editor, Uthman Abubakar and a reporter, Ibrahim Sawab and shut the gate of the office.

A source at the Daily Trust said the arrest of the journalist may be connected to the newspaper lead story on Sunday.

The report was written by Hamza Idris and Uthman Abubakar.

Daily Trust earlier reported that the Nigerian military has assembled thousands of troops and equipment in preparation for a massive operation to retake Baga and five other towns in the northern part of Borno State from Boko Haram.

The media outfit said it learnt that all the three arms of the nation’s armed forces, the army, navy and the air force, would be involved in the major offensive to flush out the insurgents from the areas they have captured.

“More troops including ground troops, airmen and naval personnel are being deployed from different formations. They would join those on ground in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states for the operations,” the newspaper said citing a military source.

A similar report was published by AFP on December 31.

However, the army said Daily Trust was culpable of strengthening the Boko Haram insurgency group with its Sunday Trust lead story, where it disclosed information of the military as regards fight against the terrorists.

“We would like to state that soldiers of the Nigerian Army along with elements of Nigeria Police Force and other Security Agencies were indeed at Abuja and Maiduguri offices of the publishing company to invite the staff of the company over its lead story on Sunday Trust publication, which divulged classified military information, thus undermining national security,” spokesman of Nigeria Army Sani Usman said in a statement.

The army said, “The disclosure of classified security information amounts to a breach of national security and run contrary to Sections 1 and 2 of the Official Secrets Act.”

He explained that the information published by Daily Trust “afforded the Boko Haram terrorists prior notice of our plans and giving them an early warning to prepare against the Nigerian military, thus sabotaging the planned operations and putting the lives of troops in imminent and clear danger.”

Usman noted that the army “would not tolerate a situation where a publication would consistently side with terrorists and undermine our National institutions.”

While urging other journalists and media houses to discharge their duties without fear, Usman said the treatment meted out to Daily Trust was in no way to deprive the country of press freedom.

He, however, appealed to the media society to support the military in its fight against terrorism and avoid reportage capable of jeopardizing national security.



http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/01/why-we-invaded-daily-trust-offices.html

Labour & Employment Minister Chris Ngige has pleaded with striking varsity teachers to show mercy on students by calling off their strike.
The teachers, under auspices of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), began a nationwide strike since November, last year, over some disagreement between the union and the Federal Government.
Ngige also declared that Federal Government would pay a minimum wage, adding that things were being worked out by the Committee saddled with that responsibility.
Ngige spoke yesterday in Awka, Anambra State capital, in a chat with reporters at the premises of a local radio station, belonging to the state.
The Federal Government and Labour representatives adjourned their meeting till today after a five-hour deliberation last Friday. At the end of the meeting, the minister said substantial progress was made and that all that is left is a final resolution. Ngige said the problems of ASUU were not caused by President Muhammadu Buhari, but were bequeathed to the present administration by the previous governments based on agreements reached in 2009.
He said: “FG will comfortably pay minimum wage, we want to pay it, but there must be balancing because figures were bandied and we are asking Labour to exercise patience.
“I appeal to ASUU and Labour to have mercy on students and be patient. As far as I’m concerned, we have treated Labour well. And they should also know I’m a comrade and that is why I always intervened on matters that concern them.”
Ngige, who narrated how he became Anambra governor in 2003, said some of the things being faced in governance today were same problems that he confronted, yet, he paid salaries and piled pensions without borrowing.


READ FULL STORY: http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/01/ASUU-strike-ngige-begs-varsity-teacher.html?m=1

The court-recognised All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Hon. Ishola Balogun-Fulani in Kwara State, yesterday, inaugurated a 45-man Campaign Council.
Speaking at the inauguration in Ilorin, Balogun-Fulani called on the electorate to give massive support to APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Kayode Abdulwahab, as well as President Muhammad Buhari.
He said that the inauguration of the campaign council was in line with the recent decision of the Ilorin High Court.
According to him, “The court granted the 13 reliefs sought by the applicants in the matter and the sixth relief allowed his leadership to undertake activities and processes related to election at all levels of government in the state.”
He noted the objective of the party was that all its candidates must win, hence the call on members of the campaign council to work assiduously for successful outing in the elections.
The APC chairman, however, extended hands of fellowship to the aggrieved members of the party, asking them to return to the party’s mainstream.
While acknowledging the need for the party’s members and stalwarts to work together as a team, Balogun-Fulani said the leadership of the party was open to dialogue.
Responding on behalf of other members of the council, the Director General, Alhaji Jimoh Balogun expressed their readiness to work for the success of the party under the leadership of Balogun-Fulani.
He reiterated the fact that the same leadership won the 2015 elections for the party hence there was every assurance that it would do the same again.
In his remarks, the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Hon. Kayode AbdulWahab, a former editorial staff of THISDAY Newspapers, promised that if elected, his government would ensure the progress of the state across board and charged members to go back and mobilise residents to come and vote for the party.
Also yesterday, the Hon.Bashr Bolarinwa-led APC state executive council paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Ilorin with a pledge to accord traditional rulers in the state their due recognition.
Bolarinwa stated this in Ilorin when he led the state executive committee of his faction of the party to the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari on courtesy visit.
He said that the party had nothing against the Emir as being raised in certain quarters, adding that the Emir was a father to all of the politicians in the state.


http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/01/balogun-fulani-apc-in-kwara-inaugurates.html?m=1

The Friday meeting between the federal government and labour unions ended without an agreement.
The meeting was organised to prevent the planned January 8 protest by labour unions.
The planned protest by the labour unions is to demand that President Muhammadu Buhari submit a bill to the parliament for the implementation of N30,000 minimum wage for workers.
While addressing journalists at the end of the Friday meeting, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, said the meeting has been adjourned till 5 p.m. on Monday.
”We are still discussing and will continue on Monday. We need to make further consultations before the issues are concluded,” he said.
In his reaction, the labour minister, Chris Ngige, who led the government delegation, said the government has made progress with the workers.
The meeting, which started at 12:50 p.m., went on recess at 3:20 p.m. and reconvened 4:28 p.m.
The meeting went on break because President Buhari summoned Mr Ngige, the finance minister, Zainab Ahmed, and the budget minister, Udoma Udoma, for an emergency meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has been at loggerheads with the federal government over a new minimum wage.
The NLC and other labour unions demand that the national minimum wage be increased to N30,000 from the current N18,000.
President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to commit to the new proposal. Instead, the president said last year that he would set up a technical committee to review the N30,000 proposed by a tripartite committee earlier set up by the federal government.
State governments have also said they would not be able to pay the N30,000 minimum wage.


http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/01/minimum-wage-fg-meeting-with-labour.html?m=1

The Nigerian Police Force has confirmed that Dino Melaye is in its custody.
According to the Force, Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West district in the National Assembly, has been taken to the Police Hospital in Abuja for medical treatment.
A statement by Acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, Force Public Relations Officer on Friday, stressed that Melaye will face charges for his alleged culpability in the shooting of a policeman in July 2018.
Melaye had surrendered himself to the Police earlier on Friday, eight days after the Police invaded his Abuja residence to arrest him.


http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/01/melaye-taken-to-police-hospital-in.html?m=1

Kwara State Gov, Dr AbdulfataAhmed, Kwara PDP gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Atu nwa , Kwara South senatorial candidate, Rafiu ibrahim storm Oloffa of Offa palace amidst cheers from massive crowd of party members and residents, who thronged the palace to welcome them

http://www.thengtimes.com/2019/01/kwara-state-gov-dr-abdulfataahmed-kwara.html?m=1

Kwara youths under the aegis of Kwara Youths Strategic Movement, have berated the minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed over his alleged persistent attempts to blame the Senate President for the April 5, 2018 armed robbery incident in Offa.
The youths said Mohammed’s wrong assumptions on the Offa robbery incident were capable of overheating the polity and causing political instability.
The youths, in a press statement signed by the Coordinator of Kwara Youths Strategic Movement, Mr Gegele Ahmed Ibrahim and made available to newsmen in Ilorin said the minister has “demonstrated proclivity for propagating outright falsehood and peddling misinformation.”




http://www.thengtimes.com/2018/12/offa-robbery-kwara-youths-berate-lai.html?m=1

Following series of attacks by terrorists across Borno state in Nigeria’s northeast, over one hundred thousand people are said to have crossed over to Chad republic, claiming that they have no hope remaining in that part of the country.
Malam Shuibu Isa, one of the people who are part of the movement, told newsmen on phone that there was no sincerity in the Nigeria military’s claims regarding the fight against insurgents in the northeast.
“We are tired of reporting issues to the military because they are not doing anything about it. Before the attack in Baga, we have reported on the impending attacks but nothing was done even when we see the Boko Haram fighters gathering,” he said.
Already hundreds of residents from the northern part of Borno state have fled their homes and return to Maiduguri with already new registration of 2,400 IDPs at the teachers’ village IDPs camp along Pompomari ward in Maiduguri.
It was also reported that over 63,000 people from Abadam local government area are
already settled in Niger republic at the height of the crises.
DAILY POST also gathered that more and more people are leaving their home in the northern part of Borno on daily basis owing to recent attacks in the area with International non government organisations and other NGOs also evacuating their staff and workers


http://www.thengtimes.com/2018/12/boko-haram-100000-people-purportedly.html?m=1

Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has insisted that as far as he is concerned, the All Progressives Congress, APC, does not have a governorship candidate in the state ahead of next year’s general election.

He reiterated this yesterday in a statement to by the Imo Commissioner of Information, Patrick Chidiebere, in Owerri, the state capital.

He said: “The governor is in APC, and he had an agreement with AA, to support President Muhammadu Buhari for 2019.

“The governor will be in APC, he will support Buhari. APC in Imo state does not have a candidate as far as we are concerned.

“There was no primary that could choose Hope Uzodimma, as the candidate of the party. If there should be a candidate of APC, it should be Uche Nwosu. Hope Uzodimma, is riding on a stolen mandate.

“Okorocha can never support a man that emerged through a fraudulent process.

“Let me tell you, Hope Uzodimma, is the candidate of Adams Oshiomole, he is not the candidate of Imo APC.

“We in APC, we don’t see him as our candidate. Uzodimma is Oshiomole’s personal candidate.

“Governor Rochas Okorocha is contesting for Senatorial election and he does not have enough time to campaign for any kind of APC, guber candidate in the state.”




http://www.thengtimes.com/2018/12/2019-apc-has-no-governorship-candidate.html?m=1

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo state over recently-conducted primaries took a different twist on Friday when the party’s state House of Assembly candidate for Okitipupa II Constituency, Mr Ololade James Gbegudu dragged the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before the State High Court sitting in Akure for allegedly refusing to publish his name for the 2019 general election after winning the party’s primary.
A suit filed by Gbegudu’s counsel, Femi Emodamori, also joined APC State Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, the party’s State Secretary, Sina Alaye, and an Assembly Aspirant, Sina Akinwunmi Emmanuel as defendants.
Ololade-Gbegudu, in the suit, said he instituted the case after APC and its officers refused to send his name to INEC in line with the 2010 Electoral Act having won the primary which was conducted by APC on 5th October, 2018 and duly monitored by the officials of INEC led by Etukumo U. Andrew, policemen and the Department of State Services, DSS, personnel.
Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe granted an application brought by the counsel to enable the claimant to serve INEC and the APC headquarters in Abuja and vowed to give the case an accelerated hearing in view of its nature.
The lawyer had urged the Court to declare as illegal the substitution of the claimant’s name with Akinwunmi’s name and compel INEC to recognise and publish Gbegudu’s name as the APC candidate for the Okitipupa Constituency II in the 2019 State House of Assembly election.
The Claimant averred that he won the direct primary for the Okitipupa Constituency II for the Ondo State House of Assembly with 4,000 votes to beat five other aspirants including Akinwunmi Emmanuel, whose name he claimed was wrongly submitted to INEC, by the party’s officials.
The Plaintiff’s lead Counsel, Mr Femi Emodamore, said, “the Claimant further avers that the total number of accredited voters at the said direct primary election as recorded by the representatives of the 1st Defendant (APC) were 7,000 while the total valid votes were 6,500, out of which he scored the 4,000 due to his overwhelming popularity at the constituency and was declared winner of the primary.”
Emodamore claimed that, “the 4th Defendant (Akinwunmi) in this case scored zero (0) as attested to by the APC Ondo State Legislative Primaries Election Committee. The Claimant shall in this regard rely on the original (counter-part) of the Summary Result Sheet for State House of Assembly duly signed by Abuh Andrew Abuh and Ahmed Musa Momoh as the Chairman and Secretary of the APC Ondo State Legislative Primaries Election Committee respectively and given to each of the candidates, including the Claimant”.
The Lawyer alleged that, “the falsified result, the name of the Claimant (Gbegudu Ololade James) is still visible in the certification column at the bottom of the Result Sheet as the winner. The Claimant’s name was however simply crossed out with a biro/pen (not even completely wiped or blurred out with paint) and on top of it was written in ink the words: WINNER-SINA AKINWUMI EMMANUEL, as against the proper certification column already printed in the Result Sheet”.
Emodamore said, “an order of mandatory injunction directing the 5th Defendant (INEC) to recognize, publish and/or treat the name of the Claimant as the candidate of the 1st Defendant (APC) for the Okitipupa Constituency II of the Ondo State House of Assembly for the general election for the said constituency seat scheduled to hold on 2/3/2019 or such other date(s) as the 5th Defendant may fix for the election.”


http://www.thengtimes.com/2018/12/2019-inec-apc-sued-for-alleged.html?m=1

An 18 year-old secondary school boy Favour Mathew was reportedly stabbed to death by his school mate in Ado Ekiti.
Favour, an SS 2 student of Ado Grammar school, Ado Ekiti, was said to be a native of Kogi State.
The deceased, was reportedly stabbed in the chest by his colleague during fisticuffs outside the school premises on Friday.
However, sources claimed that it was due to voodoo contest between the two young boys.
The suspected murderer whose name could not be ascertained as at the time of this report was also seen with a scar on his head at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where he received treatment before he was whisked away by the Police.


Read Full Story: http://www.thengtimes.com/2018/12/breaking-18-year-old-boy-stabbed-to.html?m=1

A newborn baby and four others, including mother of the child, Monday morning, died in a fatal accident along the NPA Expressway, near the Nigerian Army Barracks in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.



DAILY POST can reports that the deceased defied the Delta State Government’s ban on commercial tricycle plying the expressway.

An eyewitness, who craved anonymity told DAILY POST that a commercial tricycle conveying the victims from Roundabout axis, enroute Shaguolo/Ugbuwangue was on a very high speed.

“However, in a bid to overtake a car, it developed brake failure, veered off the road and rammed into a trailer parked along the Expressway.

“The incident claimed the lives of the newborn baby and the mother with two girls (passengers) and that of the tricycle operator instantly,” the source said.

The tricycle was seriously compressed while the victims whose identities are yet to be ascertained, sustained high degree injuries.

As of the time of filing this report, the police are yet to arrive the scene.




http://www.thengtimes.com/2018/08/newborn-baby-4-others-die-in-delta.html?m=1

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the reformed All Progressives Congress (rAPC) yesterday said they had uncovered a fresh plot to remove Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, from office by force on Wednesday.



The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said the presidency planned to use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to invite, arrest and detain Saraki and Ekweremadu ahead of the Wednesday session of the National Assembly, with the sole aim of preventing them from attending the session so that All Progressives Congress (APC) senators could have ample opportunity to remove them from office.

The rAPC’s spoke in similar vein just as the APC declared that the speculated intention of Saraki to declare vacant seats of former Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and his colleagues, who defected from the PDP, would be unlawful, and would be resisted.

And in a related development, the EFCC, also sunday, denied claims by the Special Adviser (Political Matters) to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, in an article entitled: ‘Fifth Columnists in Our Recent History,’ which suggested that the anti-graft commission was a conscript in an alleged devious plot by Saraki to undermine the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The PDP in its claim said the pressure by the presidency for the reconvening of the Senate was out of a sinister motive and not for any emergency for the approval of the supplementary budget for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2019 election.

It said that there was a fresh plot to detain the two presiding officers as part of renewed design to keep them out of circulation, ahead of Senate resumption, so as to enable APC senators, who it said were now in the minority, to throw up two of their members as Senate president and deputy Senate president respectively on the excuse that Saraki and Ekweremadu failed to show up for proceedings in the Senate.

It said that apart from plots to arrest and detain Saraki and Ekweremadu, it is also aware of plans to use the EFCC and security forces to clamp down on their family members, including their wives and siblings as well as close associate, all in the effort to weaken their resolve.

PDP said that contrary to claims by the APC and the presidency, INEC actually submitted the budget to the presidency since February 2018, only for the presidency to submit it to the National Assembly in July when the legislature was already going on recess; with a view to enmesh it in a needless controversy.

It said, “The PDP counsels Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to stop acting saint, as Nigerians are aware that he is part and parcel of the actors behind the sordid developments playing out in the National Assembly.

“The PDP invites Nigerians and the international community to note the activities of the APC and the Buhari presidency, which have continued to put the unity and stability of our nation as well as our hard-earned democracy under serious stress.”

In an earlier statement, the PDP asked Oshiomhole to halt his obsession to change the leadership of the Senate, saying it was completely out of his reach.

The party also advised the APC national chairman to have a better understanding of the Senate structure, explaining that the positions of the Senate president and deputy Senate president do not belong to political parties but to Nigerians, who elect persons into the seats through their elected representatives in the Senate.

It said, “Oshiomhole should stop exposing his ignorance in thinking that the Senate leadership can be changed by his inconsequential orders as a factional chairman of a political party, when the law is settled that such power is vested only on the two-third votes, representing 73 of the 109 senators.

“We know that Oshiomhole is under intense pressure from the presidency to overheat the polity, distract the National Assembly members and make as much effort to cause a constitutional crisis in the country, having realized that they cannot win the 2019 general elections.”

PDP warned those it called the desperate power grabbers to note that their actions had unlimited capacity to destroy democracy in the country.

The PDP urged Nigerians and the international community to note the activities of Oshiomhole, as being allegedly directed by the presidency, saying it believed the APC was fighting a lost battle that could not cow Nigerians into changing their resolve to end Buhari’s reign in 2019.

APC in Fresh Plot to Unseat Saraki, Says rAPC

In a press statement in Abuja sunday by rAPC’s spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, the aggrieved group within the ruling party, said that this time, the Oshiomhole-led APC was hell-bent in giving nebulous interpretation to the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), by using the numbers of senators present to provoke the removal of Saraki and Ekweremadu.

‘’To this end, they have called on all APC senators to make it a point of duty to participate at the plenary on Wednesday to pass a vote of no confidence on the Senate President. This will be followed by orchestrated rancorous plenary session from where impeachment (removal) motion would be raised and their illegality perpetrated,’’ rAPC alleged.

It added, ‘’There have been two meetings of the leaders and the senators in the last 48 hours to perfect this approach. The security agencies have also been briefed according to information reaching us. The APC factional chairman has been boasting and insisting that the Senate president would be impeached (removed) by whatever means because he no longer deserves to wear the crown.’’

According to R-APC, the National Assembly is neither a kingdom of princes and princesses, nor is it a sanctuary for traditional doctrinaire where crowns and beads are used to impose monarchical authority.

“We are also using this medium to condemn the blatant use of cash-for-votes, which the APC has introduced into our electoral process,” it said, adding, “The just concluded by-elections in Katsina, Bauchi and Kogi States are testimonies to this fact. This is a sad commentary for a government that preaches anti-corruption as its cardinal philosophy of governance. The desperation to win at all cost and the killings associated with the elections are bad signals towards 2019 general election.’’

Calling on the Acting President to sack the current Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, who the group said had shown ‘’manifest incompetence’’ in the discharge of his responsibilities, rAPC wondered how an interim report of the police to the acting president on the ex-Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Lawan Daura, made its way into pages of socialmedia platforms when the investigation was inconclusive.

It asked, ‘’How can the police exonerate itself from the act when it was reported that a Deputy Inspector General of Police, Habila, was seen in a meeting with senators at the Aso Drive private office of the factional chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole?

“What was he doing there as early as 10a.m. on that fateful morning of Tuesday, 7th August, 2018?’’

The group called for an independent judicial investigation panel, made of eminent jurists to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the siege to the National Assembly.

Calling on the Senate president to invoke the provisions of section 68 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in declaring the seat of Senator Godswill Akpabio vacant, the group further stated that it was not on record that there was division in the opposition PDP, hence this declaration would be a step in the right direction.

‘’As the National Assembly plans to resume on Tuesday (Wednesday), we are calling on all Nigerians and lovers of democracy to be extra-vigilant before and during the plenary. The latest plans by the APC may yet again leave unsavoury taste in our mouths,’’ rAPC said.

APC: Akpabio, Others’ Can’t Be Declared Vacant

But the APC sunday dismissed the threat to declare Akpabio and other PDP defectors’ seat vacant as wishful thinking.

A senator from the North-west, believed to be a Saraki’s ally, had said last weekend that the Senate president would declare Akpabio’s seat vacant because according to him, there was no division in PDP to warrant such action.

However, the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabene, said that the Saraki would be risking his seat if he tried to move against defectors to the APC.

He said those that left APC to PDP, including Saraki could not justify such action since there was no faction whatsoever in the APC.

The APC Spokesman who spoke to THISDAY on telephone on Sunday said that such a threat was a misplaced one.

He said, “Was there a faction in the APC before and others left to join the PDP? What this means is that since there was legally no faction in APC. It can’t be possible. If they say that, it means the Senate president has automatically removed himself from office.

“This is because there is no faction in APC and this was attested to by the fact that even the Senate President attended the APC national convention and witnessed that there was no parallel congress on that day.”

He said notwithstanding the move by the rAPC to create a semblance of faction, the group could not lay claim to organising a congress to elect parallel leadership of the party.

There has been spate of defections cutting across party lines but with the main opposition party, PDP getting a seeming advantage. In the wake of the defections, PDP had secured about 14 senators from the APC, who defected in one fell swoop. Additional three governors also defected to the PDP along with their numerous allies and followers.

On its part, the APC made a daring move to woo Akpabio with a few others to its side.

Both APC and PDP have since engaged each other in a battle of wits over who now controls majority seat in National Assembly, with each employing all arsenals at its disposal to score political advantage.

EFCC Denies Colluding to Undermine Buhari

Meanwhile, the EFCC has denied a suggestion by the presidential Adviser Ojudu that the anti-graft commission was a conscript in an alleged plot by Saraki to undermine Buhari.

The commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement yesterday, said the commission took exception to the attempt to impute false motive to its investigative activities

EFCC quoted Ojudu as saying, “From the shenanigans at the Benue House of Assembly, to the siege on National Assembly, the attack on judges’ home in the night, the so called barricade of the Senate President’s house, the laughable kidnap of Boy Dino and his eleven hours on a tree, the freezing of Benue and Akwa Ibom accounts all are scripted, produced and acted by Oloye Productions.’’

However, EFCC said that the recent placement of a ‘Post No Debit Order’ on some accounts in Benue and Akwa Ibom states were the culmination of many months of painstaking investigation activities, adding that to reduce such activities to the level of a stunt in a real or imaginary script by any politician was outrageous.

“It is important to state that the EFCC is NOT a party to the so called script by Saraki. Members of the public should disregard the innuendo in Ojudu’s article as it is unfounded,” the commission stated.

EFCC called for circumspection on the part of political leaders, while urging them to seek clarification before making comments on matters they do not know about.


http://www.thengtimes.com/2018/08/again-pdp-allege-fresh-plot-to-arrest.html?m=1

Four policemen attached to the Inspector-General of Police (IG) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) were killed on Saturday by suspected kidnappers during an ambush at Rigasa Forest in Kaduna State.

The deceased are: Inspectors Benard Odibo, Mamman Abubakar, Haruna Ibrahim and Sergeant Emmanuel Istifanus.

They were reportedly killed during a mission to arrest suspected abductors of an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Adam Algarkawy.

It was gathered that the cleric was abducted on August 2 at Rigasa in Kaduna and was released on August 6 after his family reportedly paid N10 million ransom.

To bring the abductors to justice, 13 IRT operatives were reportedly deployed in the forest early on Saturday.

It was gathered that they successfully apprehended two of the suspected abductors.

The operatives were said to be on their way out of the forest when other members of the gang ambushed and attacked them.

During an exchange of fire, two suspected kidnappers and four policemen were killed.

Operatives gunned down six of the criminals.

The Nation gathered that another IRT operative sustained gunshot injuries and is recuperating at an undisclosed hospital.

A source, who was privy to the incident but pleaded anonymity, said: “As the team was coming out of the bush with the arrested kidnappers, other gang members hiding inside the bush ambushed the IRT team and opened fire, which resulted in the death of four IRT operatives.”

According to Head of IRT, Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), the bodies of the slain policemen have been deposited at Saint Gerald Hospital’s mortuary in Kaduna for autopsy.

He said: “It is a painful loss for us. But it will not stop the efforts to bring members of the gang to justice. We shall hunt them and ensure they feel the law.”

Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesman Sabo Yakubu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “At 0630hrs (6.30 a.m) on August 11, a team of detectives attached to IGP Intelligent Response Team (IRT) on operation in Jankasa village of Rigasa in Igabi Local Government Area in Kaduna State was ambushed by bandits.

“After a fierce gun battle, four of our policemen paid the supreme sacrifice.”

The spokesman said no arrest had been made, but assured the residents that the culprits would be arrested and prosecuted.

He added that a reinforcement team had been mobilised to the area to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Yakubu said: “We appeal to the public to assist the police with useful information towards ensuring that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are arrested and prosecuted.”




http://www.thengtimes.com/2018/08/four-policemen-killed-in-kidnappers.html?m=1