A number of Man Utd players took time out to greet supporters ahead of the Burnley fixture at Old Trafford.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan could make his Manchester United return against Burnley after he was spotted with the squad ahead of the fixture.

The first-team avoided the usual waiting photographers at their city centre hotel the day before the match but a number of supporters met the players as they made their way to the meeting point.

Among the stars spotted were Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata , Ashley Young, Marcos Rojo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jesse Lingard.

Supporters were delighted that the players took the time to pose for photographs with them and sign autographs, with a number taking to Instagram to record the encounter.

Mkhitaryan has not played for United since the Manchester derby on September 10. He suffered an injury but has been back training for a month and is fully fit.

Jose Mourinho was asked about his absence in his press conference on Friday and insisted he would be a hit at Old Trafford.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/henrikh-mkhitaryan-manchester-united-squad-ahead-burnley-fixture/

The Independent National Electoral Commission has named businessman Jimoh Ibrahim as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the November 26 governorship election.

Mr. Ibrahim’s name was posted on an INEC notice board in Akure as well as on the commission’s website.

This implies that until a superior court gives a contrary judgment, Eyitayo Jegede, the candidate of the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the PDP will not be accepted as the party’s candidate.

A court order from an the Ondo State High Court on Wednesday restrained INEC from recognizing Mr. Ibrahim as the candidate of the PDP pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.

The Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje, however, told reporters on Thursday night that Mr. Ibrahim was approved as candidate based on an order from the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Okon Abang.

Mr. Abang had on October 14 declared Mr. Ibrahim the true candidate of the PDP. On Thursday, Mr. Abang rejected a plea by Mr. Jegede seeking to be allowed to appeal the October 14 court judgement.

It is based on these two court rulings that INEC approved Mr. Ibrahim as the PDP candidate.

“We received a court order from the High Court in Akure and that was yesterday(Wednesday), but there was a subsisting one by Justice Abang today(Thursday), that is what happened,” Mr. Agbaje said.

Asked if another court order can upturn the situation, Mr. Agbaje said INEC would have no choice but to drop Mr. Ibrahim if another superior order comes in favour of Mr. Jegede.

“That is why we put in front of the name ‘court order,’ to show that the name was picked as a result of an order of the court,” he said.

“The situation will continue that way until the matter is decided by the Supreme Court if the parties choose to proceed to the apex court.”

The commissioner said the politicians had brought themselves into a tight corner, noting that instead of going to the Court of Appeal, they were jumping from one high court to the other.

“Now they have to go on appeal at a higher court,” he said. “They are the ones undoing themselves and like I said, we do not have any candidate. We will only abide by the laws guiding the process.”

Continue reading at http://www.bookspen.com/ondo-elections-inec-explains-declared-jimoh-ibrahim-pdp-candidate/

According to Victor Ibeh who shared the report, ex-beauty queen, Chidinma Okeke whose lesbian sex tape has gone viral and even caused her dethronement has been granted asylum in an undisclosed country.

According to the reports, the video was made before she became a beauty queen, and she had already spent about 1.8 million Naira just so the video won't be released by her blackmailers.

The videos are reportedly more than ten and the blackmailers were bent on milking her dry. Chidinma Okeke is also not the only one they have been blackmailing with the video, there are other girls, according to reports.

There are different sides to this story. So much so that one doesn't know which one to believe anymore.
reportedly granted asylum in another country, paid N1.8m to her blackmailers

More on this story at http://www.bookspen.com/anambra-sex-scandal-miss-anambra-reportedly-granted-asylum-another-country-paid-n1-8m-blackmailers/

A discreet investigation conducted by the Nigerian Army led to the arrest of a major and a captain who are allegedly leaking information to Boko Haram.

It was gathered that the investigation followed the October 22 attack on troops' location in Gashigar town in Borno State.

Media reports had claimed that 83 soldiers went missing in the attack while some were killed by the Boko Haram terrorists, but the army denied the reports.

A statement by the army spokesman, Sani Usman, had said 13 soldiers were wounded during the surprise attack and admitted that some soldiers were missing without giving any figure.

Sources says President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, were alarmed by the attack, which involved an entire unit.

"The President was furious and discussed the matter with the COAS when some of the heads of that units were ambushed by the Boko Haram," a military source told reporters.

Continue reading the statement at http://www.bookspen.com/top-ranking-military-officers-leaked-information-boko-haram/

Democrat Hillary Clinton hits the campaign trail Thursday with Michelle Obama, surprise star of the 2016 White House race, as the former and current first ladies fight to lock in battleground states ahead of November’s election.

Obama has emerged as a compelling force in the hard-fought campaign, delivering powerful arguments against Republican Donald Trump and in support of Clinton’s bid to become the first female president in US history.

But Michelle and Hillary will join forces on the trail for the first time when they headline a rally at a university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a key swing state where early voting is underway.

The 52-year-old wife of President Barack Obama has energized the Democratic camp with a series of speeches taking Trump to task for his strident rhetoric and for what she brands his “frightening” attitude towards women.

And in the closing two weeks of the unprecedented race, Clinton is capitalizing on one of the most popular Democrats in America to help make her case.

Clinton holds the momentum as the clock ticks down to November 8, the polls crediting her with a compelling lead over Trump, but her Republican rival has pledged to pour millions more of his own dollars into his teetering White House bid.

The latest rolling poll average compiled by tracker RealClearPolitics showed Clinton with a 5.4 point lead in a national race against Trump and two outsiders — pointing to a likely electoral college victory.

“I feel really good, energized, working hard,” the former secretary of state told reporters aboard her plane Wednesday, her 69th birthday.

“We built this campaign over a year and a half, now we see the results of all that hard work.”

Trump’s standing has been hit hard, particularly among female voters, since this month’s release of a 2005 video in which he boasts that his celebrity allows him to grope women with impunity.

But the 70-year-old Manhattan real estate mogul took heart from a new survey that shows him with a two-point lead in early-voting Florida, a state where presidential races are often won and lost.

“We are going to have, I think, a tremendous victory,” he told CNN.

Pressed on whether he’ll open his own wallet to match an onslaught of Clinton ads, Trump said he will have spent $100 million of his own money by Election Day, a sum which would imply him digging much deeper than he has so far.

– Polls narrow –

On Friday President Obama will campaign for Clinton in Florida — a state he won, albeit narrowly, in both 2008 and 2012.

A Bloomberg poll out Wednesday put Trump up 45 to 43 percent among likely voters in the Sunshine State, where Clinton has been campaigning, a close margin in what is a must-win state for him.

The RealClearPolitics poll average still puts Clinton ahead in the state by 1.6 percentage points.

But Bloomberg’s survey shows Trump doing somewhat better than Clinton with independents, who may hold the key to victory in a state that was famously deadlocked in 2000, when the Supreme Court decided the outcome, giving the win to George W. Bush.

Trump also appears to have clawed back ground in Nevada, where a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll has the western state in a dead heat.

And the provocative billionaire may have found a useful card to play in the final hand: Obamacare.

Republicans have attacked the outgoing president’s signature health care reform since it was passed, but they have found new traction after officials confirmed this week that voters’ premiums will jump an average of 25 percent next year.

“Real change begins with immediately repealing and replacing the disaster known as Obamacare, and Hillary wants to double up and triple up. What a disgusting situation,” Trump said.

“Job-killing Obamacare is just one more way the system is rigged. System is rigged, folks,” he told cheering supporters in North Carolina.

North Carolina voted for Republican nominee Mitt Romney in 2012, but the southern state has been leaning Democratic in the current White House race.

Clinton is relying on strong turnout from the state’s substantial African-American population, and a rally featuring Michelle Obama could inspire them to head to polling stations.

Clinton holds a two-percent lead there and the state’s Republican leaders worry that Trump’s slow collapse will hurt them in congressional races.

Source: www.bookspen.com

A group supposedly advocating for the rights of women known as the Adamawa League of Women Empowerment has said that Aisha Buhari’s recent BBC Hausa Service interview “breached the norms and values of a decent housewife of a serving president.”

They also described it as “ill-timed and counter-productive,” saying it was critical of President Muhammadu Buhari’s approach to governance.

At a press briefing in Yola on Thursday, the women through their spokesperson, Ms. Maryam Ibrahim, said that Aisha, who is a Fulani woman from Yola, did not exhibit the character expected of a Fulani woman who should respect the traditional “Pula’aku.”

Pula’aku is a traditional value of Fulani. Based on Islam and on the prudence of the FulBe people, Pula’aku is taught by the parents to the children and by the clan leaders.

Expressed by a polite and introverted behaviour, Pula’aku is characterised by patience, self-control, discipline, modesty, respect, wisdom and forethought.

The women said Aisha’s statement had created a negative impression of her status as the wife of the President and exposed both her husband and the entire family to mockery and disrespect before Nigerians and the world at large.

They added that her action was capable of encouraging Buhari’s enemies to “assault’ him.

The statement read in part: “It is also necessary to point out that Aisha Buhari’s media outburst has breached the norms and values of a decent house wife of a serving president.

“In fact, she has set a bad precedent, as no president’s wife in Nigeria has ever exposed her husband to this state of shame and ridicule.

Continue reading at http://www.bookspen.com/women-group-says-aisha-buharis-conduct-values-decent-wife/

Outrage meets United Nations' plan to make 'Wonder Woman' UN Ambassador

Wonder was not the feeling that struck many women upon hearing that comic character Wonder Woman was being made an honorary UN ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls – rage was more like it.

The appointment of the scantily-clad superhero, which came about following an original proposal by the owners of the Wonder Woman franchise, coupled with what many saw as the recent snubbing of women candidates for the top position of the UN, caused uproar among international women’s advocates and UN staffers.

“I initially thought it was a joke,” said Shazia Rafi, a former secretary general of Parliamentarians for Global Action, a global association of elected legislators from more than 100 countries.

“It almost felt like, no, you cannot have the top position in the organization, but here, you can have a cartoon.”

The UN General Assembly elected former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Guterres as next UN secretary general just last week to replace current UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

Guterres will be the ninth man in the UN’s 71-year history to hold the position, while no woman has ever served in the UN’s top job.

During Wonder Woman’s designation ceremony at UN headquarters on Friday, about fifty people, including UN staffers and diplomats, stood with their backs turned and fists raised in the air to protest the UN’s decision.

“We don’t feel represented by Wonder Woman,” Maria Rubiales de Chamorro, Nicaragua’s ambassador to the UN, told dpa after walking out of the ceremony. “We decided to come and protest.”

“We don’t think that a fictitious comic book character, wearing basically what looks like a Playboy bunny outfit is really the right message we need to send to girls or even boys – we think that is a toxic message,” said Cass DuRant, a UN staffer.

Rafi, who was a core member of the Woman SG campaign, which called for the election of a woman to lead the UN, said that women around the world were “baffled” by the designation of Wonder Woman.

“We’ve gotten beyond the point where we needed a muscled version of a Barbie in a bustier top and short-cut shorts to represent equality,” she told dpa. “Why should a cartoon represent any of us?”

Rafi sent a letter to Ban’s office requesting that the UN rescind the designation of Wonder Woman. The Woman SG campaign also called for the cancellation of the appointment and urged a public inquiry into the process that led to the appointment of Wonder Woman.

An online petition by UN staff, which has been signed by almost 1,000 supporters by Friday, also called on Ban to reconsider the appointment and select a real-life woman instead of a “mascot.”

“The bottom line appears to be that the United Nations was unable to find a real life woman that would be able to champion the rights of ALL women on the issue of gender equality and the fight for their empowerment,” the petition said.

The UN has used fictional characters in the past to target wider audiences: the organization has joined forces with Angry Birds characters to promote climate action, while Winnie the Pooh has been named UN ambassador for friendship.

The current honorary designation marks the 75th anniversary of the creation of the Wonder Woman comics and comes ahead of the release of a new Wonder Woman movie in 2017 featuring actress Gal Gadot.

Gadot and actress Lynda Carter, who portrayed the character in a 1970s TV show, were present during the UN ceremony.

“All the doubters that don’t think it’s a good idea, stand up and be counted,” Carter said.

The UN has defended the campaign, whose theme is “Think of all the wonders we can do,” saying that Wonder Woman – “one of the most iconic female superheroes” – was meant to empower women and girls by uniting everyone through pop culture to fight for gender equality.

True, when Wonder Woman, an Amazon princess, appeared in 1941 as one of the first female superheroes, she was regarded as a feminist icon fighting for justice, peace and equality.

However, the character has come under criticism for being a hyper-sexualized representation of women mixed with frequent bondage imagery.

Cristina Gallach, the UN’s communications and public information chief, said she was “very much” aware of the backlash following the announcement of Wonder Woman’s designation adding that she has conducted international discussions with UN staff.

She also noted that the UN has worked with high profile women, including actresses Emma Watson and Charlize Theron, to spread messages of empowerment to women.

“Yes… we are going to designate a character, but we have many women – real women, real defenders of empowerment – that have been with us for years,” Gallach said.

Gallach said that DC Entertainment, the owner of the Wonder Woman franchise, pitched the idea of designating the character as an honorary UN ambassador, and the UN decided to go with the idea without considering alternatives for the appointment.

“The character appealed to us and definitely was a good idea that came from those that own the character and we didn’t say, ‘Okay, let’s look at ten more and see which one wins’,” Gallach said. “It was much more of a natural discussion process.”

More at http://www.bookspen.com/outrage-meets-united-nations-plan-make-wonder-woman-un-ambassador/

The 15-year-od girl, known only as Derya B, went into labour in a village in the Mukti district of Turkey last week.

However, after she had given birth to the baby she was rushed to hospital in the southeastern region of Batman, complaining of nausea and headaches.

Doctors kept her in intensive care after diagnosing her as having had a brain haemorrhage. However, she sadly passed away on Thursday.

It’s believed the haemorrhage was a direct result of her giving birth so young.

Prosecutors in Turkey have now reportedly launched an investigation into her death.

She married her husband when she was just 14. It is not known how old her widower is.

Gynaecology expert Prof MD Aydan Biri told Hurriyet Daily News that the girl’s death was likely to have been caused by her going through childbirth at such a young age.

A third of girls in developing countries, excluding China, are forced to marry before they turn 18.

One in seven is married before the age of 15.

More at www.bookspen.com

Nigerians have launched a campaign against drugs and prostitution South Africa, a measure aimed at maintaining the good image of Nigeria.

The campaign was launched in Kimberly, Northern Cape Province of South Africa by the members of Nigeria Union in that country.

The President of the union, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, said that it was disheartening that drug abuse and prostitution were no longer challenges involving only adults.

“ It is pathetic to watch children in school uniforms smoking, sniffing and selling narcotics and then indulging in prostitution,” he said.

Anyene said that the union would raise awareness on the dangers of drug abuse, prostitution and human trafficking through rallies in all chapters in South Africa.

He stated that the union would work with various rehabilitation centres in the country to assist victims.

Nigeria`s Consul General in South Africa, Amb. Uche Ajuku-Okeke, who was the guest of honour at the launch commended members of the Nigeria Union for the campaign.

Ajulu-Okeke, who was represented by Mr Ibrahim Nayaya, the Counsellor in charge of Information and Culture, said many Nigerians were doing well in South Africa while a few were on the streets struggling to survive.

Ajulu-Okeke said that the consulate has a responsibility to cater for the welfare of Nigerians in South Africa.

“ I am most delighted that the union has taken action by launching this campaign against prostitution and drugs which will help eliminate social vices among our citizens,” she said.

The Northern Cape Commissioner of Police, Lt.-Gen Shivuri Risimati, said the campaign would assist in minimising drug abuse and prostitution in the country.

He said the police were happy with the move made by the union and gave an assurance that the force would support the campaign.

Mrs Cherlyn Tshabangu, the Director of Asilweni Cleaning Streets, a non-governmental organisation, said South Africa has the highest number of people trafficked as slaves from other African countries.

She also said that there was need to stop young people from abusing drugs and engaging in prostitution.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/nigerians-lead-fight-drugs-south-africa/

A group, The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has accused the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) of exhibiting Boko Haram tendencies.

CESJET in a statement issued by its director, Joyce Adamu on Wednesday, 12, 2016 alleged that the IMN might be affiliated with terrorist groups such as ISIS and Hezbollah.

The group advised all state governments to immediately place a ban on the Shiite minority sect.

Read the group's statement at http://www.bookspen.com/group-accuses-islamic-movement-nigeria-affiliation-isis-hezbollah/

Moderator Chris Wallace announced Wednesday the topics for next week's final presidential debate, and he was a bit more specific than were hosts for the previous two forums.

Wallace, who will host the Oct. 19 debate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, chose these subject areas for the third debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, according to a release from the Commission on Presidential Debates:

• Debt and entitlements

• Immigration

• Economy

See the rest at http://www.bookspen.com/topics-announced-clinton-vs-trump-final-debate/

Taraji P. Henson left no topic untouched in her deeply personal memoir.

The Empire star just published her first tell-all, Around the Way Girl, and in it she reflects on the ups and downs of living in the epicenter of Hollywood's limelight.

Throughout the 240-page read, released Oct. 11, Henson offers candid insight into a myriad of topics—including how much she earned (or didn't earn) while acting alongside Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which coveted role she lost to Naomi Wattsand how she convinced Idris Elba to star in No Good Deed.

Check out the seven most shocking revelations from Taraji's take on the entertainment industry below:

1. Henson was preparing to sell her belongings at a garage sale before landing an audition for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Then a relatively up-and-coming star on the scene, Taraji writes she was ready to give up on pursuing her dreams in 2006. "When my manager, Vince, called to tell me the director, David Fincher, wanted to meet, I wasn't really excited by the prospects of sitting in a cattle call of actresses scrapping for the job. Plus, the meeting fell on the day that I was hosting a garage sale at my place, and I was way more hustling to sell my gently worn dresses, stilettos and other personal goodies..." she recalls. As fate would have it, Henson landed her first major breakout role on the spot.

2. She earned a fraction of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett's Benjamin Button paychecks: When cast as the adoptive mother of Pitt's character in the 2008 drama, the actress writes that despite being "listed as the third principal actor in the cast," Henson was paid "the equivalent of sofa change compared with what my co-stars received." In it Henson explains she expected to receive a salary "worthy of a solid up-and-coming actress with a decent amount of critical acclaim for her work," but instead was offered a number in the "lowest" of six-figures and had to front her own hotel expenses while filming.

3. Naomi Watts was offered a part initially written "specifically" for Taraji: In a chapter titled "On Being a Black Woman in Hollywood," Henson discloses a career-stalling incident in which she was forced to forgo her part as a pregnant stripper in 2014's St. Vincent to Watts. "Time and again, I've lost roles because someone with the ability to green-light a film couldn't see black women beyond a very limited purview he or she thought ‘fit' audience expectations," Henson writes. She continues, "It was a meaty gig. I would have loved it. Alas, I couldn't get served at that particular restaurant."

See the rest at http://www.bookspen.com/taraji-cookie-lyon-p-henson-drops-bombshell-latest-memoir/

While playing host to a Nigerian Defence Academy delegation, Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha said Nigerians were dramatizing the country's economic situation.

“I think what we call recession has been over dramatised. I say so because agriculture had remained the nation’s main pivot upon which all the sectors of our economy revolve. Because this vital sector has been neglected, it has given rise to poverty today, including the rise in the Dollar and the fall of the Naira”.

Most times in Nigeria, we treat the symptoms rather than the disease. Let us discuss more about the disease, which is the total neglect of the agricultural sector of the nation’s economy by our past leaders”.

The governor recalled that agriculture sustained the nation before the discovery of oil.

“At that time, we were a rich nation. Oil made us lazy. This led us into this recession. Imo State is keying into the revitalization of the agric sector. We have gone deep in our palm plantation and we are moving speedily into rice farming” he said.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/nigerians-hyping-recession-rochas-okorocha/

500 Ghanaian army recruits who were dismissed from the military last year for alleged insubordination at a parade have issued a threat that they will join terrorists groups if they are not recalled. They said they have received offers from extremist groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram and will be forced to join if the government does not look into their case.

Their spokesperson Frank Antwi said:

"We have been contacted by Militant groups ISIS and Boko Haram through voice note that they heard our story online and are ready to assist us. But we are hoping that authorities re-visit our issue and find the real culprits of the incident that led to our dismissal".

More at http://www.bookspen.com/500-dismissed-ghanaian-army-personnel-threaten-join-isis-boko-haram-dismissal-not-reversed/

Dubai is again reaching for the sky with the groundbreaking of The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour, which is set to be the World's tallest in 2020.

Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on Monday "broke ground" on the world’s tallest tower – a structure that will define Expo 2020 as the Eiffel Tower defined Paris for its 1889 World Fair.

"The new tower sets another challenge in the history of human architecture – a race the UAE deserves to lead," said Sheikh Mohammed, after the ceremony. We strive for new achievements. A new heart for our city and global landmark. Humankind has no ceiling or border but our imagination."

The Tower is described as the centrepiece of Dubai Creek Harbour, a commercial and cultural area being developed by Emaar Properties. It will have a hotel, rotating balconies and observation decks, with dynamic lighting.

The futuristic design, chosen by Sheikh Mohammed, was by Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava Valls, whose works include the World Trade Centre Transport Hub in New York, the Calgary Peace Bridge and the Turning Torso Tower in Denmark.

The Tower’s design is inspired by the lily and evokes the image of a minaret. Its observation decks were modelled on an elongated, oval-shaped bud, with the rest of the structure its slender stem.

The Tower will be linked to the ground with sturdy cables that replicate the delicate ribbing of lily leaves anchoring the bud securely to the ground.

The design includes a Pinnacle Room with views of the city, and VIP Observation Garden Decks recreating the splendour of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

See pictures at http://www.bookspen.com/dubai-reaches-sky-construction-worlds-tallest-tower/

The Federal Government on Monday declared that the price of rice would start to fall from November this year.

It stated that more Nigerians had returned to their various farms, adding that at the next harvesting season next month, the price of rice would start to crash.

This came as the government said that the delay in the approval of the 2016 budget had made it impossible to implement the capital expenditure in the agricultural sector.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said this while addressing members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development at the headquarters of the ministry in Abuja.

Ogbeh, who stated that the government could not be involved in the importation of rice as speculated in some quarters, stressed that his ministry would not encourage rice importation because it would be detrimental to local production.

He said the Federal Government was against rice smuggling and noted that the Seme border had become a notorious route for the smuggling of contraband products into the country.

“We will not encourage rice importation and there is no way our ministry or government can be involved in importing rice when we are working hard to be self-sufficient in local production. By November when the full-scale harvest starts, rice prices will fall,” the minister said.

Early last month, the government had warned that the price of rice might hit N40,000 a bag. It is currently being sold around N20,000.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said that the $22bn annual food import bill had led to the astronomical rise in the price of rice and other commodities.

He stressed that if Nigerians failed to produce some of the items being imported before December, the price of rice could skyrocket to N40,000 a bag.

On why the ministry had yet to start implementing its capital budget, Ogbeh said, “It is about now that the capital expenditure is beginning. One of the reasons why money is not circulating is that we need to follow the due process on issues of procurement, advertisement and others.”

According to him, his ministry has spent just N882.58m, representing four per cent of the N21bn budgeted for it in the 2016 Appropriation Act.

He also said, “You may be surprised to know that only six to seven states in Nigeria are showing enthusiasm in agriculture. Some by nature don’t seem interested, while others just can’t connect with whatever we are doing at the federal level.”

Ogbeh further stated that his ministry inherited N67bn debt when the present administration came on board, but added that N20bn had been paid to agro-dealers and distributed 900 million oil palm seedlings to farmers across the country.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/price-rice-fall-november-agric-minister/

According to reports by SaharaReporters, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, slumped over last Wednesday at the government house in Asaba.

The impeccable government house source, who pleaded for anonymity, Mr. Okowa who was billed to attend the World Teachers Day celebration at the cenotaph last Wednesday. However, after all preparations were put in place, Mr. Okowa reportedly slumped over at his office preventing his attendance.

Further details at http://www.bookspen.com/delta-state-governor-reportedly-slumps-government-house/

A landlord in Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Sule, has ejected his tenant, Prophet Udeme Bassey, for predicting that Godwin Obaseki would win the Edo State governorship election.

According to The Nation, Bassey said that he predicted that Obaseki would defeat Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on the social media.

He said when the result was announced in favour of Obaseki, Sule evicted him and his family.

Bassey said: “I had a prophesy after prayers that Obaseki would win the election. I posted it on the social media because God instructed me to do so.

“The prophesy came to pass. Obaseki won the election because he obeyed God’s instruction. While I was struggling to raise money to return to Rivers State after my stay at Obaseki’s campaign office, my younger brother called me that my landlord had thrown out my belongings.

“I don’t owe him. He said I should leave his house because I prophesied that Obaseki would win, on the social media. My landlord swore that he would not allow somebody who prayed for his downfall to live in his house.”

Sule, who confirmed that he ejected Bassey, said: “I cannot keep somebody who wants my downfall in my house.

"Yes, I asked him to leave my house. He should go and live in Obaseki’s house. Bassey cannot live in my house and be plotting my fall. Obaseki should give him accommodation.”

More at http://www.bookspen.com/landlord-ejects-tenant-predicting-obasekis-victory/

Officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) have continued their onslaught on the judiciary with the invasion of the houses of four Supreme Court Judges, Justices Walter Onnoghen, Sylvester Ngwuta, Adeniyi Ademola and Nnamdi Dimgba.

Recall that we earlier reported that some DSS operatives manhandled Governor Nyesom Wike while trying to arrest a Federal High Court judge in River state.

Also, On Friday, October 7, 2016, security operatives in Gombe state, arrested Justice Muazu Pindiga, who served briefly as the Chairman of the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal.

According to Punch, the security agents had surrounded the houses of the judicial officers before breaking in around 1:00 am on Saturday, October 8, 2016.

They also took Justice Ademola away after searching the houses around 5:00 am, reports say.

Justices Onnoghen has been touted to be the likely successor to the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed.

According to reports, the DSS officials came with search warrants which could not be authenticated, and bore wrongs names.

Justice Dimgba’s brother was also reportedly molested by the over-zealous officers during the raid.

Justice Onnoghen lives close to Justice Ngwuta at the Judicial Officers’ Quarters in Abuja, while Justice Ademola and Justice Dimgba are neighbours at the Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja.

Meanwhile, the DSS and the Nigerian Police, have jointly issued a security advisory to top government officials, following the kidnap and subsequent release of the wife of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/dss-continues-onslaught-judiciary-invade-houses-4-supreme-court-judges/

Emmaleigh Barringer, a 10-month-old baby girl has died following a sexual assault by her mother's boyfriend, Benjamin Taylor, 32.

The baby's mother, Amanda Adkins found it bleeding on the floor of a dark room, according to a police report.

Upon discovering her in the condition, Adkins immediately rushed the baby to a hospital where it was placed under intensive care.

Taylor was soon arrested by the police and charged with first degree sexual assault following the incident.

That was before the baby died, as he is now expected to have the charge upgraded to murder.

The assault happened over a short period dating the accused who is being held in jail on a $2million bond, Mirror UK reports.

See pictures at http://www.bookspen.com/womans-boyfriend-s3xually-assaults-10-month-old-daughter/

Nigeria's aviation minister and spokesperson of the Goodluck Jonathan campaign organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode has accused Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola of betraying All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Bola Tinubu.

According to Fani-Kayode, Fashola sold Tinubu “down the river in return for being made a "super-Minister".

Fashola is called a super-minister because of the importance of the ministries he handles.

Fani-Kayode made these comments in an article titled “The coming realignment in Yorubaland”.

Read the full article at http://www.bookspen.com/betrayed-tinubu-fani-kayode-tells-fashola/

President Muhammadu Buhari, today, October 7, held a secret meeting with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Buhari and Wike met behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, according to Leadership.

The meeting is said to have lasted about 15 minutes but it’s not yet clear what the duo discussed.

Meanwhile, Wike has warned that any attempt to rig the upcoming rerun elections in the state would be resisted.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/president-buhari-holds-secret-meeting-gov-wike/

The National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has decried allegations its operatives tortured Baba Suwe while in custody.

Mitchell Ofoyeju, Head, Public Affairs of the NDLEA, in an interview with PUNCH on Thursday, October 6, 2016, said their operatives did not subject Babatunde Omidina (Baba Suwe), to physical torture during the period he was incarcerated by the agency for allegedly being in possession of hard drugs.

Dismissing Yomi Fabiyi’s claims, Ofoyeju said,

"The NDLEA did not torture Baba Suwe. If he was tortured, he would have said it himself. This is just an unfounded rumour on the social media and it should be disregarded.

As a matter of fact, Baba Suwe was given the best treatment. We treated him with due regard to the requirement of fundamental human rights globally. He was talking to his relatives and lawyer. He was never kept in a prison for the period that he stayed here because he was virtually under our observation."

Ofoyeju also revealed that the NDLEA cannot pay Baba Suwe the N25m damages the court had ordered it to pay because the Appeal Court had directed it not to.

He told Punch, “If Baba Suwe had gone to the Supreme Court, perhaps his case would have been upheld. But he did not do so.”

Baba Suwe was arrested back in 2011 by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed Airport on the suspicion of ingesting cocaine in his stomach.

He was detained for three weeks by NDLEA. A Lagos High Court ordered NDLEA to pay the sum of N25 million for unlawfully detaining him and also tender a public apology to him.

Continue reading at http://www.bookspen.com/ndlea-denies-torturing-baba-suwe-custody/

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has invited some serving ministers and recently engaged public official over “issues” about the asset declaration requirements.

It threatened to drag defaulters and those, who ignore its invitation for clearance to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for prosecution.

The CCB, in a statement by its Chairman, Sam Saba, said he has invited some serving Federal Ministers among others.

They include Kemi Adeosun (Finance), Kayode Fayemi (Mine and Solid Minerals), Adebayo Shittu (Min. of Communication); Babatunde Fashola (Minister of Power, Works and Housing); Ibe Ikachukwu (Minister of State Petroleum); Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (Minister of Science and Technology)

Others are Mike Okiro (Chairman, Police Service Commission), Godwin Emefiele (CBN Governor), Abubakar Bawa Bwari (Minister of State Solid Minerals) and Rotimi Amaechi (Minister of Transport).

Also invited are Sen. Aisha Alhassan (Minister Women Affairs and Social Development); Solomon Dalung (Minister of Youths & Sports Development); Udo Udoma (Minister Budget and National Planning); Gen. Dan Ali Mansur (Minister of Defence); Ibrahim Usman Jibril (Minister of State, Environment); Suleiman Adamu (Minister of Water Resources and Rural Development), Lai Muhammed (Minister of Information) and Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Minister of State Power).

The CCB said it has also invited Prof. Claudius O, Daramola (Minister of State Niger Delta Affairs); Mrs. Hadiza Usman (MD. Nigeria Ports Authority); Ahmed Kuru (MD/CEO AMCON); Prof. Isaac F. Adewole (Minister of Health); Okechukwu Enelamah 9Minister of Trade Investment and Industry) and Geoffrey Onyema (Minister of Foreign Affairs).

Part of the statement reads: “Pursuant to paragraph 11 of Part 1 of the 5th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), every public officer is required to submit to the CCB a written declaration of all his properties, assets and liabilities and those of his/her spouse (if not a public officer) and his unmarried children under the age of eighteen years.

“Any statement in such declaration that is found to be false by any authority or person authorized in that behalf to verify it shall be deemed to be a breach of this Code.

“To this end, the Bureau has commenced its 2016 4th Quarter cycle of conference and Field verifications of assets of top public officers.

“Accordingly, letters of invitation have been dispatched to Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Service Chiefs and other top Public Officers.

“Those invited are: Ntom Chukwu (DIG NPF),Folunsho A. Adebanjo (DIG NPF), Abdul Bube (AIG NPF), Solomon Arase (IGP-Former), Rear Admiral Joseph Osa .O. (Commandant Operation Delta Safe); Major General M.A. Koleoso (GOC Tradoc); Mr. Joshak Habila (DIG NPF) and Emmanuel T. Inyang (DIG NPF).”

Also invited are “Abubakar Malami (Min. of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation); Barr. Adebayo Shittu (Min. of Communication); Maigari Abbati Dikko (DIG NPF); Hyacinth M. Dagala (DIG NPF); Dr. Chimaobi Odunze (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission); Dr. Hamnadu Babanka M. (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commision); Amb. Toye Olofintuyi (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission) And Prof. Aminu Diyo Sheidu (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission).”

Others are Dr. Jonah Madugu (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission); Alh. Rafiu Babatunde Tanibu (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission); Alh.Alhassan Usman Sokodabo (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission); Engr. Anebi Joselh Garba ( C.G Federal Fire Service); Gen Abayomi G. Olanishakin ( Chief of Defence Staff); Shuaibu Gambo (DIG NPF); AVM Abubakar Baba Sadique ( Chief of Air Staff) and Muhammad Gana Abdullahi ( C.G MSCDS).

The CCB’s invitation is also extended to Babatunde Muhammed ( C.G Immigration); Vice Admiral Ibas Ekwe Ibok ( Chief of Naval Staff); Audu Ogbeh ( Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development); Prof. Anthony Anwukah ( Minister of State, Education); Brig. Gen. Sale Kazaure (D.G NYSC); Kashim Tumash ( Ex. Sec, Nig Sao-Tome & Principle Joint Dev. Authority); Maikanti Baru ( G.M.D NNPC) and Chief Joseph Olorunfemi Akande ( Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission).

Others include Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Agatta (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission), Alh. Yahaya Yusuf (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission), Alh. Ibrahim Mohammed (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission), Mr. Ben Akabueze ( D.G, Budget and National Planning), Ibrahim Umaru ( M.D NDIC), Prof. Abubakar Adamu ( Ex. Secretary NUC), Mr. Simon James Etim (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission); Adio Onibiyo Waziri (Ex. Sec NEITI); Mrs. Chinelo Anohu Amazu (D.G. PENCOM); Osagie Ehanire (Minister of State, Health) and Pastor Usani Uguru Usani (Minister of Niger Delta Affairs).

Also included in the list are Mrs. Oyo Ita Ekanem (Head of Civil Service of The Federation), Anibor Kragha (GED. NNPC Refineries), Saidu Mohammed (GED, NNPC Gas and Power), Muhammadu Bello (Minister FCT), Sen. Hadi Sirika (Minister of State Aviation), Hajiya Khadija Bukar (Minister of State Foreign Affairs), Olusegun Awolowo (ED/CEO Export Promotion Council NEPC), Bello Rabiu (GED NNPC Downstream), Sen. Chris Ngige Minister of Labour and Employment) and Heineiken Lokpobiri (Minister of State Agriculture and Rural Development).

More details here http://www.bookspen.com/ccb-invites-fashola-lai-mohammed-fayemi-cbn-governor-others-assets-declaration/

Embattled House of Representatives member and former chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has taken to social media to dismiss his suspension on Wednesday as ridiculous, unfounded, ‘which cannot stand anywhere’.

The member representing Bebeji/Kiru Federal Constituency of Kano state, in series of tweets Wednesday night, the internet savvy Rep member said he would challenge the suspension in court.

Jibrin said he has already briefed Femi Falana, the popular human rights lawyer and senior advocate to file a case of contempt against the Yakubu Dogara led House.

The former ally of Dogara said he did not commit any offence when he blew the whistle over budget padding by the leaders of the House, adding that he owes no one any apology for his action.

“Let me state very clearly that I will never ever apologise to anybody in the House of Reps. There is no reason what so ever to apologiseI did not commit any offence. I did not abuse my office. For the five years I have served, I have never corruptedly enriched myself,” he wrote.

“In contrast, these are the allegations that I raised against Mr Speaker and others which they have not responded till date.

“The bad news for Speaker and his cabal is despite doing their worst and exhausted their bullets by “suspending” me, it has not in any way

“Despite the “suspension” the fact has not changed that the Speaker conspired with others to commit monumental budget fraud and corruption

“I stand by all the allegations I raised. I wish to state categorically that there is chronic individual&systemic corruption in the House

“It is on strength of such weak institution that the Speaker continues to flaunt a fake popularity in the House since many members are culprits.”

More at http://www.bookspen.com/jibrin-engages-services-falana-house-reps/

The House of Representatives on Thursday sealed the office of the suspended former Chairman of Appropriations Committee, Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC-Kano).

The Sergeant-at-Arms team and police supervised the sealing of the office, Room 1.05 located at the new building wing of the complex.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some legislative staff working with Jibrin evacuated some of their personal belongings and documents before the office was closed

The ejection exercise was sequel to the resolution passed by the House during Wednesday plenary session on the recommendations of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, chaired by Rep. Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta).

In adopting the report and recommendations of the Committee, the House resolved to suspend Jibrin for 180 legislative days.

The sanction also barred Jibrin from holding any position in the House during the period till the end of the 8th Assembly.

Briefing newsmen shortly after, the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas (APC-Adamawa) said that the House had not received any court papers regarding the suspension.

Namdas said: “While the suspended lawmaker has a right to go to court, there is a clear separation of powers between the three arms of government’’.

“The House is empowered by the constitution to have its own rules.

“Jibrin breached the collective privileges of members with his blanket statements that the House is corrupt in its public hearings, investigations and oversight functions.

“The House has rules and if anyone errs, there are certain sanctions which are applied. What we have done is within our rules.

“There is no petition from Jibrin against any member before the Ethics Committee and we cannot investigate based on newspaper publications.

“He made allegations which he could not substantiate.’’

More with pictures at http://www.bookspen.com/national-assembly-seals-off-jibrins-office/

Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike also known as Nnemkadi Ogwumike has been awarded the Women's NBA Most Valuable player of the year award for her fine displays in the USA women's basketball league this season.

Ogwumike, 26 ranks third in the WNBA in scoring (19.7) and rebounding (9.1) while leading the league with 66.5% shooting, the second-best percentage in WNBA history.

See pictures at http://www.bookspen.com/nigerian-announced-nba-female-mvp/

Lawyers representing the four companies linked to ex-First Lady, Patience Jonathan's fund of over $15million, have filed an application seeking the court to reverse their pleas.

At a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, September 27, 2016, during the trial of Waripamo-owei Dudafa, a former Special Assistant to Goodluck Jonathan, the lawyers asked the court to reverse their pleas on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction to take the pleas of the purported directors of the companies.

The companies; Pluto Property and Investment Development Company Limited, Seagate Property and Investment Development Company Limited, Transoceanic Property and Investment Development Company Limited, and Avalon Property and Investment Development Company Limited have through Amajuoyi Azubike Briggs, informed the trial judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi of various applications seeking to change the companies' guilt pleas.

Dudafa's lawyer, Gboyega Oyewole informed the court that his client's application is seeking the set aside of the companies directors guilty plea, on the ground that they had denied having any link with the said companies.

He said taking the guilty plea of the companies will amount to misguided, misleading and mischievous and consequently urged the court to enter non guilty plea for the companies.

In the same vein, lawyer to the second accused person, Onyiuke informed the court that his client's application is predicated on the court's jurisdiction to take the plea of the purported directors of the companies, hence, urging the court to set aside the guilty plea of the purported directors of the companies.

However, EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, described the two applications as 'strange and serious violent abuse of court process'.

Oyedepo stated that the applications were aimed at stalling the review of the matter against the four companies, which was the business of the court.

Consequently, the presiding judge, Justice Kuewumi adjourned the case till October 7, 2016 to rule on the two newly instituted applications by the defendants.

Earlier in the month, directors of the companies, Taiwo Ebenezer for Avalon Property and Investment Development Company Limited; Kola Fredrick for Transoceanic Property and Investment Development Company Limited; Friday Davis ; and Agbo Baro for Seagate Property and Investment Development Company Limited, have pleaded guilty to the money laundering charges raised against them by the EFCC.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/patience-jonathan-4-companies-seek-reverse-guilty-pleas/

Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo state has alleged that the image of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian who was jailed in the United States in 2012 for terrorism offences is on a fake voters’ register that may be used during the state governorship election holding today.

He made the allegation when the US Consul General in Lagos, F John Bray paid him a visit in the state government house yesterday ahead of today's governorship election in the state.

According to Oshiomole, he was shocked to see the portrait of the “underwear bomber” in the fake register, but with a Benin name.

Abdulmutallab was convicted of attempting on December 25, 2009 to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear on board an airline from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan.

“Right now, we have evidence of two versions of voter’s register, the one they have officially distributed and the one that some elements within the ICT in INEC have also produced in Abuja.If INEC has two versions of voters register and they display one officially, then we have a problem. And the reason why this is extremely worrisome for me is that in my election in 2012, INEC tried to use this method to disenfranchise many of our supporters. For example, I was shocked to find the portrait of Mr Abdulmutalab, and that will interest your Excellency, the young man who has been jailed in the US for a terrorist act. His portrait is in the fake voter’s register with a Benin name under it. I am sure if you look at the face, if we don’t know the face, you the US officials know the face. And you find the name under it, that it is a Benin name in Ovia South West" he said

More at http://www.bookspen.com/abdulmutallabs-face-appears-edo-voters-register/

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has said that he is in support of the government’s plan to sell national assets in order to solve the economic crisis in the country.

Obasanjo also blamed the crisis caused by the economic recession on the Goodluck Jonathan administration saying that the former president ignored his advice on curbing the country’s expenditure.

He made the comments on Tuesday, September 27, at the opening ceremony of the National Council on Finance and Economic Development Conference (NACOFED) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

“We must begin to do away with things that we can do without and if we must import them, let them attract very high duties,” Obasanjo said according to Punch.

“I do not see why 49 per cent of NNPC cannot be privatized. I think the problem is in the coinage “selling of asset” as if we want to throw out our inheritance. “What we are actually doing by that is simply re-organizing.

“It should however be done transparently and let it actually go public and not to cabals, relations and friends. This is always the fear of Nigerians when issues like this arise,” he added.

Many Nigerians have criticized the planned sale and the Senate, also on Tuesday, rejected the government’s proposal.

However, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma has said that the government isn’t planning to sell the assets yet.

India plans to buy more crude oil from Nigeria, Nigeria's presidency on Tuesday quoted India's vice president as saying during a visit to Abuja.

"His country, which is the leading buyer of Nigeria's crude oil, will increase its purchase of the commodity in addition to natural gas," India's Vice President Hamid Ansari told Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, according to the presidency.

Separately, the upper house, the Senate, rejected a call by its president to sell oil assets to help plug a budget deficit and boost the country's foreign reserves hammered by a fall in oil revenues.

Last week, Senate President Bukola Saraki said Nigeria should sell stakes in oil and gas joint ventures with oil majors and other state assets to raise funds in hard currency and help fund the 2016 budget.

"The Senate should reject the sale of our national assets," said a motion filed by one senator, which was accepted by the upper house.

The Senate also urged the government to launch a stimulus to drag the country out of recession.

Nigeria's 2016 budget was the largest in the nation's history, but an oil price drop and militant attacks on oil pipelines in the Niger Delta have left the government scrambling for funds.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/india-purchase-crude-nigeria/

A 40-year-old fake female street beggar, Mrs Chinagoro Uwenke has been arrested by operatives of Lagos State Environmental and Special Offenses Unit (Task Force) at Oshodi.

Speaking to newsmen after her arrest, the Chairman of the Task Force, Olayinka Egbeyemi, said Chinagoro bandaged her son’s leg with two rolls of white bandage and poured GV blue ink on the leg every day in order to deceive members of the public to give alms to him.

Continue reading with pictures at http://www.bookspen.com/see-fake-female-beggar-son-arrested-tricking-public/