‪The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has slammed a three-year-ban on Ghanaian second division club, Nania FC, for their last minute withdrawal from the 2012 Confederation cup.‬
‪
‬The Ghanaian FA Cup holders were due to host FC Sequenec of Guinea in the opening round but pulled out two days before the encounter, citing a shortage of funds due to the withdrawal of major sponsors.‬

Read More >> [url]http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/caf-bans-abedi-pele%E2%80%99s-club%E2%80%AC[/url]

Some customers of Primary Mortgage Institutions and Microfinance Banks (MFBs) can breathe sighs of relief as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has waived the daily cash withdrawal limit of N1 million.‬

‪The cash withdrawal limit policy was started in Lagos on January 1. Under the directive, individuals are not allowed to withdraw more than N150, 000 per day while withdrawals by corporate organisations should not exceed N1 million.‬

‪However, in a circular issued by Giaus Emokpae, CBN’s Assistant Director (Banking and Payment System), the apex bank said waivers have been given to certain customers of PMIs and MFBs due to the nature of their businesses.‬

Read More >> [url]http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/cbn-waives-withdrawal-limit-pmis-mfbs%E2%80%AC[/url]

The South African Government, in a statement on Thursday, apologised to Nigeria for not allowing its citizens entry into their country.

Ibrahim Ibrahim, South Africa’s Deputy Foreign Minister, in the statement released to journalists in Pretoria, said: “We apologise for this unfortunate incident and we hope this matter will not in any way affect our bilateral relations.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/south-africa-apologises-nigeria

Naomi Chidiebere 24, was the happiest woman in the world when she married Dick Chidiebere, 34, at the Jehovah's Witness church at Ijegun in November 2011.

Sadly, Naomi who was the envy of the single ladies at the wedding is lying in the morgue because her husband allegedly set her ablaze following a quarrel.

The incident happened on February 10, 2012 at the couple’s four bedroom residence in Ijegun barely three months after the couple exchanged their wedding vows.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/man-who-set-his-wife-ablaze

The militant group boasts about the number of Nigeria Army personnel killed and claims that none of its men was killed in a March 2 clash with the JTF

The Movement of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), on Tuesday, said it killed more than 10 soldiers in a gun battle with members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) rather than the four claimed by the security operatives.

MEND and the JTF clashed in the creeks of Bayelsa State on March 2nd. In the operation, codenamed, Operation Pulo Shield, the JTF claimed it killed Shedrack Itokofuwei, an alleged sea pirate who led the attack and killing of Lt Col Malik and three naval ratings.

Read More >> [url]http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/%E2%80%98we-killed-more-10-soldiers%E2%80%99-mend[/url]

Nigeria continued it inglorious decline on the International Federation of Association Football's (FIFA) monthly ranking released on Wednesday, falling one step downwards to 57.

The Super Eagles are currently ranked 9th in Africa, behind Ivory Coast, which retained the top spot; Ghana; Algeria; Zambia; Mali, Gabon; Libya and Tunisia.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/again-nigeria-falls-fifa-ranking

The Nigerian Navy has begun a probe into the alleged kidnap and killing of a three-week-old baby by Moses Joseph, a rating attached to the Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos.

Joseph fathered a baby by Glory Yusuf, a lady he was dating. Displeased with the birth, the naval rating stormed Miss Yusuf's apartment with some friends and colleagues, beat up the lady and her aged mother, before forcefully taking possession of the baby.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/navy-probes-killing-3-week-old-baby

A 15-year-old Junior Secondary School Student of Educational Legacy College, Ibadan, has been raped by a teacher because she had poor grades.

Isiaka Salimonu, 43, who teaches Arabic, allegedly promised to give Yetunde holy oil for prayers to improve her academic performance, and raped her when she came for the oil. Salimonu is also an Imam and regularly conducts Friday Jumat prayers in the local mosque.

The suspect, who is being quizzed at the State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID) Iyaganku Ibadan, has reportedly owned up to the crime.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/imam-rapes-his-student

British boxer, Ola Afolabi defeated Russian Valery Brudov by a technical knockout in the fifth round of their bout held in the Espirit Arena, Germany to become the interim WBO World Cruiserweight champion.

Coming into the bout with 18 wins, two loses and three draws, Afolabi took his Russian opponent to the cleaners. In round three, the titlist hammered Brudov to his knees with two powerful blows.

In the fifth round, a couple of left and right hand jabs forced Brudov down on the canvas for a second time but the Russian would not give-up just yet and Afolabi continued punishing the 35-year-old till Referee Gino Rodriguez stopped the fight in the round.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/afolabi-interim-wbo-world-cruiserweight-champion

Mo’Hits pair D’Banj and Don Jazzy are on the brink of splitting up due to creative and personal differences. A source close to both parties has revealed that the relationship between the two is now so fractured that Don Jazzy has since moved out of the mansion they once shared in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

Don Jazzy, according to the source, has become so frustrated with D’banj’s lifestyle, tantrums and unmanageable ego that he refuses to work with him. D’Banj, for his part, feels Don Jazzy is spending more time honing the careers of the Mo Hits fledglings such as D’Prince and Dr. Sid. He has also accused Don Jazzy of delaying his album release by giving “excuse after excuse.”

Read more >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/dbanj-don-jazzy-split

Nigerian players moved the most within Africa in 2011, a report released by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) said on Thursday.

The report, titled “Global Market Transfer in 2011”, also showed that 13 percent of all transfers globally involved Brazilians, with Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia also featured in the top 10.

French players were the most transferred in Europe.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/nigerian-players-are-most-transferred-africa-fifa

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The Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, model market, in Suleja, Niger State, was shut for a few hours due to the bomb scare that gripped residents of the area, especially market men and women.

The traders were thrown into confusion when a school bag was found lying in the middle of the market. They feared that the abandoned school bag might contain explosives.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/suleja-market-shut-down-over-bomb-scare

Unknown gunmen on Wednesday shot and butchered a teacher to death in Kaduna State.

The teacher, one Benjamin Frances, was shot on his motorcycle while on his way back from Government Secondary School Rigasa where he teaches.

His corpse has been been deposited at the Barau Dikko Specialists Hospital in the state.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/gunmen-kill-teacher

Data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday showed that Nigeria's foreign exchange reserves fell from $35.03 billion to $34.74 billion as of February 27, 2012.

The decline in the reserves has been attributed, by analyst, to withdrawals by the federal government to cover up for the revenue shortfall in January’s budgetary distributions to the three tiers of government.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/foreign-reserves-fall-3474

A federal government delegation to China, led by Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, presented a report to the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday indicating a “deep interest” by Chinese companies to invest in various sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Labaran Maku, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said the discussions initiated by the delegation with the Chinese government sparked an interest to directly invest in building new trains which will be commercialised as a partnership between Chinese investors and Nigeria.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/china-interested-nigerian-railway

[b]Rwanda created more chances and should have got a result against their more illustrious foes save for poor finishing[/b]

Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu has blamed the bad pitch of the Stade Regional de Kigali for the goalless draw the Super Eagles got in yesterday’s 2013 Africa Nations Cup first leg qualifier against the Amavubi’s of Rwanda in Kigali.

The Eagles were expected to win this match, but the home team created more chances and should have got a result against their more illustrious foes save for poor finishing and some resolute defending by skipper Joseph Yobo, who was winning a record 87th international cap.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/etuhu-blames-bad-pitch-eagles-draw

Federal lawmakers say the FRSC is too money conscious

The Senate, on Wednesday, ordered the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to stop issuing new vehicle number plates and driver’s license.

The order followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Dahiru Kuta and 19 others in which they condemned the indiscriminate fees charged by the FRSC on the new number plates and driver’s license.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/senate-stops-sale-new-vehicle-plates

With six months remaining before the Olympics Games kick-start in London, Nigeria have signed training agreements with the management of the pre-Olympics preparation camp.

The camp, which is located in Surrey will serve as venue for 28 sports. The Nigerian team will train in eight sporting events that includes athletics, kayaking, weightlifting, basketball, boxing, badminton, table tennis, taekwondo and wrestling.

Read More >> [url]http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/nigeria-signs-olympics%E2%80%99-training-agreement[/url]

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The Chelsea striker has demanded a £6million annual salary from any club that wants his services in the summer

Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba, has started bidding for his services at a net salary of £6million (about N1.5 billion).

The Ivory Coast international, who has five months left on his contract, has exhausted negotiation talks with his employers and has entered discussions with foreign clubs over a potential move next season.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/drogba-goes-money

Students and staff of the institution panicked and fled the campus

Students of the Ebonyi State University, on Wednesday, panicked and fled the institution following a fire that erupted from the underground wires connecting the power transformer to the campus.

No lives were lost; however, some of the students sustained minor injuries.

Read More http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/fire-ebonyi-state-university

The Super Eagles were earlier today held to a goalless draw by a much-improved Rwandan side in a 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) first round qualifier held at the Stade de Kigali.

The hosts were all over the Nigerians during the closing stages of the game but the Stephen Keshi-tutored boys held on to share the spoils at the blast of the final whistle.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/rwanda-holds-nigeria

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The Anzisha Prize is the premier award for Africa’s young entrepreneurial leaders ages 15-20. Starting in March we will be holding summits to promote the prize and get youth in Africa excited about entrepreneurship. The Partnership was agreed to in a Memorandum of Understanding executed on February 24, 2012.

According to the Program Director of the Wennovation Hub: Idris Bello, the Wennovation Hub “plan to hold two information summits in Lagos at the Wennovation Hub on March 17. The goal is to have a diverse audience of about 100 representatives of secondary schools, universities, and youth organizations (in the target age range) attend, and be enlightened about the process, and who can then act as ambassadors for the competition and get their friends and colleagues to register.”


Read More >> http://otekbits.com/nigeria-wennovation-partners-with-africa-leadership-academy-for-anzisha-prize/

Over 20,000 residents of Ebonyi State turned up at the Abakaliki Township Stadium on Tuesday to bid their final farewell to former Biafran leader, late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Governor Martin Elechi led other top government officers, politicians, students to pay their last tribute to the man many have described as a hero of the Igbo race.

Read More >> http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/ebonyi-pays-tribute-ojukwu

Nuhu Ribadu, the Chairman Petroleum Revenue Task Force, on Tuesday promised to ensure accountability and transparency in the petroleum sector in line with the mandate of the task force.

“We shall work diligently to meet the expectations of Nigerians; we seek to renew efforts by promoting values that support a new dawn of business conduct in the sector," he said in Abuja after the inauguration of the 20- member special task force by the Minister of Petroluem Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, “We shall ensure that those who play by the rules enjoy all the best support and the unscrupulous players get a red card."

Read More http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/ribadu-pledges-transparency-petroleum-sector

Gomari Costain Primary School in Maiduguri, Borno State was rocked by a blast in the early hours of Tuesday, with the resulting fire razing several classrooms and the headmaster's office.

Boko Haram has claimed the bombing of three schools in other areas of the city, which it said is in retaliation to the arrest of teachers in Islamiyya schools by security operatives in the state.

Abul Qaqa, the spokesperson of the Islamist sect, in a teleconference with journalists on Sunday, said: "We attacked the schools because security operatives are going to Islamiyya schools and picking teachers. We are attacking the public schools at night because we don’t want to kill innocent pupils. Unless (Islamic schools) teachers are allowed to be, we would be compelled to continue attacking schools."

Read More: http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/maiduguri-parents-keep-children-school

The Ogun State Government has denied reports that it confiscated a hotel allegedly owned by former Governor Gbenga Daniel.
The state’s Attorney-General, Oluwemimo Ogunde, on Wednesday, said the allegation was unfounded because the Gulf Hotel Resort, whose Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) was cancelled, does not belong to Daniel; neither those its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) nor the Article of Association indicate that the former governor was the owner or the promoter of the hotel.
“The Judicial Commission of Enquiry set up by Governor Ibikunle Amosun looked into allegations made by some petitioners concerning the land upon which the hotel was built and recommended that the Certificate of Occupancy be cancelled,” he said.

Read more: [url]http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/ogun-denies-seizing-daniel%E2%80%99s-property[/url]

A 30 man gang, on Wednesday, raided a first generation bank at Ijebu-Igbo, while another six-man gang raided a micro-finance bank at Ijebu-Mushin, both in Ogun State.

The 30-man gang arrived at the bank at about 11am in three vehicles - a coaster bus, a space bus and a Toyota Sienna.

They destroyed the bank’s security doors with explosives and shot sporadically into the air before the bank manager led them to the vault, while the workers and customers were held hostage.

The robbers looted the vault and the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and carted away an undisclosed amount of money.

Read More: http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/robbery-gangs-raid-two-banks

The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operation, Tunde Sobulo, on Monday said armed robbers had been using Lagos and Edo states as their operation-base in the south-west.

He, however, explained that the police had curtailed their activities, since noticing it, by ensuring a comprehensive check on movement through border towns.

Sobulo disclosed this while speaking to journalists on the activities of criminals in Lagos State in recent times.

Read More: http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/police-curtail-robbery-activities-lagos

A court ruling had earlier declared Airtel's ownership as "null and void"

Econet wireless has filed a suit requesting for damages from Bharti Airtel to the tune of $3.1 billion. Econet has been challenging Bharti's Airtel ownership of Airtel Nigeria claiming that its 5 per cent stake, as a co-founder, was unfairly cancelled when Zain took control, so any decision made since then without it, including the transfer to Bharti, is void. This claim has been upheld by a court ruling on January 30 which declared Bharti Airtel's ownership of its subsidiary Airtel Nigeria as "null and void".

Read More: http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/econet-requests-31-billion-damages-airtel

The preparatory meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) is to take place at the ECOWAS Commission’s Headquarters, Abuja today.

The session will prepare a comprehensive brief for a full CCDS meeting to be held soon in accordance with the directive of the just-concluded 40th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

Read more: http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/ecowas-defence-chiefs-meet-regional-security