THE ECONOMIST CALLS FORMER PRESIDENT JONATHAN AN INEFFECTUAL BUFFOON IN LATEST ARTICLE TITLED CRUDE TACTICS.

More than 30 years ago, a young general swept to power in the fifth of Nigeria’s military coups since independence in 1960. The country he inherited was a mess: bled dry by pilfering politicians within and hammered by falling oil prices without. Last year that general, Muhammadu Buhari, became president again—this time in a democratic vote. The problems he has inherited are almost identical. So are many of his responses.

In the eight months since Mr Buhari arrived at Aso Rock, the presidential digs, the homicidal jihadists of Boko Haram have been pushed back into the bush along Nigeria’s borders. The government has cracked down on corruption, which had flourished under the previous president, Goodluck Jonathan, an ineffectual buffoon who let politicians and their cronies fill their pockets with impunity. Lai Mohammed, a minister, reckons that just 55 people stole $6.8 billion from the public purse over seven recent years.

SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS ELECTION OF GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE OF RIVERS STATE.

The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Nyesom Wike as the Governor of Rivers State.

The reason for the judgement is to be listed on February 12.

Giving the ruling on Wednesday, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, set aside the judgement of the Appeal Court which nullified the election of Governor Wike.

50 MOST VIOLENT CITIES IN THE WORLD, WITH 21 OF THEM IN BRAZIL WHILE 4 ARE IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The 50 most dangerous cities in the world have been named and shamed, and an astonishing 21 of them are in Brazil.

Latin America features highly in the ranking, released by Mexico’s Citizens’ Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice, as it is home to some 41 of the cities listed.

Drug trafficking, gang wars, political instability, corruption and poverty are to blame for the high homicide rates across the region, which has just 8 per cent of the world’s population, according to UN data.

ROB KARDASHIAN MOVES IN WITH BLAC CHYNA.

Rob Kardashian packed a suitcase and moved in with Blac Chyna ... at least temporarily ... TMZ has learned.

Rob, who was living at Khloe's house, has been at B.C.'s digs for 5 days and counting. As for how it happened ... we're told Rob made the first move by DM'ing Chyna 2 weeks ago.

We're told Rob genuinely likes Chyna and is not hooking up to upset his family ... but we're told it has definitely upset the Kardashian brood. Kylie has been at war with Tyga's baby mama for more than a year.

RAMIRES JOINS CHINESE SIDE JIANGSU SUNING.

The Chelsea midfielder Ramires has joined China’s Jiangsu Suning for an initial fee of £20m which could eventually rise to £25m.

Ramires, an £18m signing from Benfica in 2010, has not started a Premier League match under the interim stewardship of Guus Hiddink and was not included among the substitutes for the draw with Everton and Sunday’s win at Arsenal.

The Brazilian signed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge in October but has slipped down the pecking order.

THE WORLD OF NIGERIA'S SEX TRAFFICKING AIR LORDS.

Last year, the BBC's Sam Piranty was given access by the Catalan police, Mossos D'Esquadra, to an investigation into a Nigerian sex-trafficking gang. He spoke to traffickers and women rescued from sexual slavery before filming an early morning raid in November, which led to 23 arrests. He also discovered that the gang is now using London as a gateway into Europe.

It's 08:00 in the Catalan Police Headquarters on the outskirts of Barcelona and Xavi Cortes, head of the anti-trafficking unit, waits patiently for his 22 teams to confirm they are in position. Finally, he gives the order.

Two-hundred-and-fifty officers quietly climb out of their police vans. Single file, each team approaches a residential building watched by a few surprised neighbours.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SET TO RECOVER $750M ABACHA LOOT.

The Federal Government of Nigeria, Tuesday disclosed that it would soon recover additional $750 million said to be part of “Abacha loot.”

The Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami made this disclosure during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Justice in Abuja.

Malami also said his ministry was aiming at recovering on behalf of the Federal Government £6.9 million said to have been misappropriated by a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori.

FAMILY ABANDONS CORPSE OF LASSA FEVER VICTIM AT THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL, ABUJA.

About two weeks after his death, the corpse of the patient that died of Lassa fever is still at the National Hospital in Abuja and yet to be buried.

Although the details of the delay for the burial were still sketchy, a source in the hospital said that the family might have abandoned the corpse “because of the manner of the death.”

The 33-year-old newly-married man lived in Jos, Plateau State, but came to see a relative in Kubwa because of his illness.

OLISA METUH'S FIRM AND OTHERS RECEIVED N1.4BN FROM DASUKI'S OFFICE FOR DOING NOTHING.

The Office of the National Security Adviser told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday that it had in November 2015 petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate about 78 firms and individuals, including a firm owned by the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, that were allegedly paid about N1.4bn by the ONSA for non-existing contracts.

This was revealed in the electronic mandate issued by a former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), to the Abuja branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, authorising N1.4bn to 78 beneficiaries.

The document was tendered and admitted as exhibits by the court presided over by Justice Okon Abang on Tuesday, during the resumed trial of Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, who were charged with seven counts of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400m meant for procurement of arms from the NSA office on November 22, 2014.

JOSHUA DARIYE IS WANTED IN LONDON FOR MONEY LAUNDERING - EFCC TELLS COURT.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission told a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gudu, Abuja, on Tuesday, that a former Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Joshua Dariye, was still wanted in the United Kingdom for alleged money laundering.

The commission said the former governor escaped to Nigeria after jumping bail that was granted him in London in 2004.

Dariye, who was later elected Senator, representing Plateau Central in the 2015 general elections, is being prosecuted on 23 counts of money laundering and diversion of Plateau State’s N1.126bn ecological funds while he was the state governor.

FAYOSE VISITS AREGBESOLA IN OSUN.

The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has said he will never leave the Peoples Democratic Party for any other party despite the crisis within the PDP.

Fayose said this in Osogbo on Tuesday when he visited Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the Government House, Osogbo in company with about 50 dignitaries including the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Kola Oluwawole.

The governor said he read on the Internet that he was coming to Osogbo to beg Aregbesola to plead with President Muhammadu Buhari not to probe him.

NIGERIAN ARMY REACTS TO CALLS FOR COAS BURATAI TO BE INVESTIGATED CONCERNING THE $2.1BN ARMS DEAL.

The Nigerian Army has noted with dismay the attempt to rubbish the hard earned name and reputation of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai and the Nigerian Army by a faceless group that called itself “Save the Nation Movement” (STNM) through orchestrated campaign of calumny in the media. In a release signed by Steven Chilaka, its “National Secretary” on Sunday, they wanted the Chief of Army Staff to be included among those indicted in the ongoing probe of abuse of funds meant for the procurement of arms simply because he was the Director of Procurement at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ). The public will recall our earlier warning of this type of campaign of calumny against the Nigerian Army and the Chief of Army Staff.

WATCH NIGERIANS STEALING FUEL FROM A CRASHED TANKER ON LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY.

FUEL CRAZE

People sometimes disregard safety for cheap gains. All that was needed for many to die was a little source of fire yet the Nigerians captured in this video kept stealing fuel from the crashed tanker. This happened last Friday.

READ HOW TEENAGER WAS GANG RAPED BY FOUR BOYS IN BARIGA, LAGOS. #SAYNOTORAPE.

The scenario at the Gender Office of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, Wednesday, where a teenager who alleged that she was gang raped was brought face-to-face with the suspects, left everyone, except the policemen, in the dark over the true position of things. While the teenager, a primary five pupil alleged that the suspects, Femi Olatunji, John Alade, Oyekanmi Rasheed and Habeeb Oladele, took turns to rape her, following her refusal to go out with the prime suspect, Femi, the suspects on thier parts, vehemently denied the allegation, describing it as mere blackmail.

CUSTOMS SET TO DE-RANK 4000 OFFICERS OVER SELF PROMOTION.

Crisis is brewing at the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, following management’s decision to clampdown on officers from the ranks of Assistant Comptroller of Customs to the lowest cadre, over their alleged indiscriminate allotment of ranks to themselves.

The development, it was gathered, has made some of the affected officers to start running helter skelter with a view to scuttling the exercise.

Some affected officers have resorted to using their godfathers to stop the management from implementing the decision.

ZARIA SHIITE KILLINGS - EL ZAKZAKY FLOWN OUT FOR TREATMENT IN FRANCE, BACK IN NIGERIA.

The embattled leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky, was flown out of Nigeria for treatment of gun shot injuries he suffered during the encounter between his supporters and members of the Nigerian Army last year, multiple security sources said yesterday.

It will be recalled that during the bloody encounter between the Shiites and the Nigerian Army, several members of the sect were killed, while many others sustained various degrees of injuries with some still on admission at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika near Zaria.

The fracas occurred when members of the sect allegedly blocked the Zaria-Sokoto road and prevented the convoy of the Chief of Army staff from passing through, despite several entreaties.

WHERE ARE THE INTELLECTUALS??? - REUBEN ABATI.

Something sad has happened and is happening, and is getting worse in our society: the decline of public intellectualism.  And so I ask, where are the public intellectuals? Once upon a time in this country, the public arena was dominated by a ferment of ideas, ideas that pushed boundaries, destroyed illusions, questioned orthodoxies and enabled societal progress.

Those were the days when intellectuals exerted great influence on public policy, and their input into the governance process could not be ignored. Ideas are strong elements of nation building, and even where interests are at play, you know the quality of a country by the manner in which a taste for good thinking propels the leadership process.

NIMASA N22.7BN FRAUD - EFCC LINES 25 WITNESSES AGAINST TOMPOLO AND OTHERS.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed fresh 22 charges against an ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and 12 others.

The charges, which were filed on Friday at a Federal High Court in Lagos, bordered on stealing, advanced fee fraud and money laundering to the tune of N22,765,900,000.

The fresh charges were filed eight days after Justice Ibrahim Buba ordered the arrest of Tompolo for his failure to appear on January 14, 2016 to take his plea on a separate 40 counts of alleged N34bn fraud earlier filed against him and nine others by the EFCC.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REMOVES KEROSENE SUBSIDY COMPLETELY.

The Federal Government has officially ended the payment of subsidy on kerosene. Instead of the regulated pump price of N50 per litre, the product will now sell for N83, according to the latest pricing template for House Hold Kerosene released by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency.

The PPPRA is the agency of the Federal Government that fixes and regulates the prices of white products, kerosene and petrol, across the country.

In its latest template released on Saturday, the agency stated that the retail price of kerosene or HHK by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was N83 per litre.

HIGHLIGHTS - ARSENAL 0 CHELSEA 1.

ARS 0 CHE 1

PICTURES - CELINE DION MOURNS HER HUSBAND AT OPEN CASKET VISITATION AT NOTRE-DAME BASILLICA, MONTREAL.

Celine Dion joined fans of René Angélil's as they paid their final respects during a visitation on Thursday at Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Montreal.

The 47-year-old performer hid her face behind a black veil but it was clear she was distraught and had tears in her eyes in a video shared by Global News.

Angélil died of throat cancer at the age of 73 on January 14. His funeral will be held on Friday at the same basilica.

CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF ORDERS OFFICERS TO DECLARE THEIR ASSETS FOLLOWING THE ARMS SCANDAL.

Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has asked all officers of the Nigerian Army who have not declared their assets to do so immediately. 

A statement released today by military spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, revealed that General Buratai "gave the directive today during a conference with Principal Staff Officers and Directors serving at the Army Headquarters."

The Nigerian Armed Forces have been in the spotlight after an audit ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari found that numerous retired and serving military officers may have colluded in billions of dollars worth of weapons procurement deals. Mr. Buhari asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence an investigation of the officers.  

OGUN STATE PDP CONGRESS - KASHAMU AND BANKOLE FIGHT TO TAKE OVER PARTY STRUCTURE.

As the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State goes to the  polls to elect its new leaders from the wards  to local government and state levels,  there seems to be unease within the camps of some power blocs in the party.

The PDP has about three power blocs struggling for either   continuous  control  or total  take over of the party  in the state.

The power blocs are being led by the  representing Ogun East Senatorial district and a chieftain of the party,  Buruji Kashamu,  former Speaker of House of Representatives,  Dimeji Bankole and the former governor of the state,  Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Now,  the PDP is being controlled by Kashamu who successfully installed the outgoing executive of the party from the wards to the local government and state levels.

Barring a last minute change of mind,  the PDP may hold  its congresses  February to usher in new leaders to paddle the canoe of the party for the next four  years

According to the PDP constitution,  all National, Zonal, State, Local Government Area and Ward Officers of the Party shall hold office for a term of four years and shall be eligible for re-election for another term and no more.

“The election of National Officers shall be at the National Convention, while that of those at the lower levels shall be at the respective congresses”.

Chapter seven of the party constitution which dealth with mode of election of officers of the party stipulated that “the National Convention, the Zonal, State, Local Government Area and Ward Congresses shall meet to elect the officers of the party at the various levels of the party structure as specified in this constitution except in the Federal Capital Territory where officers of the party shall be elected based on geo-political zones.

“ Every registered member of the party who has satisfied the requirements for nomination and election under this Constitution, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any other law, rules or regulations in force shall be eligible to contest for any of the offices of the party.

“The guidelines for elections to any office of the party shall be approved by the National Executive Committee of the party in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”.

Meanwhile with the situation of things,  only Kashamu and Bankole seem to be warming up for the forthcoming congresses as the Daniel camp  seems to be indifferent  to the congresses .

However, in his bid to take over the structure,  Bankole has begun hosting  party members across the state.

Bankole who organised a new year party under the aegis of Dimeji Bankole Movement  for  his  loyalists in the party,  warned that he may quit the party if the coming congresses are manipulated.

According to the former Speaker,  I am  still in PDP, if they repeat the same manipulation they did at the last congresses,  we will react. “The event in the next few months will determine our actions”.

But, in a bid to sustain his control of the party,  Kashamu has inaugurated coordinators across the state.

Kashamu who played host to hundreds of party leaders and members  at Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, during an empowerment programme for PDP members in the state under his Omo Ilu Foundation, announced  his plans to donate cars to  all  the coordinators numbering about 100 in  the 20 local  governments.

According to Kashamu,   five  coordinators  in each local government would be given cars while about 4000 people would be given various empowerment packs.

He however, denied any plan to manipulate the forthcoming congresses,  saying,  “the era of sitting in your room and writing the names of the delegates and executive members of the party has gone.”

Kashamu  also  ruled out the idea of harmonisation and reconciliation of different emerging power blocs in the party.

He noted that each group should embark on massive mobilisation and sensitisation of their members ahead of the congresses.

Kashamu said he would not be a party to any form of manipulation during the congresses, which would hold at ward, local government and state level.

He urged the leaders of the different power blocs to play by the  rules of the party.

He said: “There is no need for any harmonisation of groups, let us not make that mistake. We can only come together after congresses. Let each group bring its candidates and allow voting to be done transparently.

“But the only thing I cannot do is to sit in my room and start writing names of the delegates and the executives from ward to the state level. It is not possible.”

Vanguard

FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL WILL SAVE THE FG N985BN - VP OSINBAJO.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the Federal Government, which relies on crude oil for about two-thirds of its revenue, is seeing a silver lining to the plunge in crude prices because it will no longer have to subsidize fuel.

“Lower oil prices also mean there is some advantage,” Osinbajo said in a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.

The decline “means that we are not paying any subsidies, which frees up something in the order of about $5bn (about N985bn),” Bloomberg quoted the vice president as saying.

LOS ANGELES TO PAY $24MILLION TO 2 MEN WHO SPENT OVER 30YRS IN JAIL FOR CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT.

Los Angeles will pay more than $24 million to two men who spent decades in prison after they were wrongfully convicted of murder, officials said.  

Kash Delano Register won his freedom in 2013 after lawyers and students from Loyola Law School doubted a key prosecution witness’s testimony.

He was awarded $16.7 million by the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday. It is the largest settlement in an individual civil rights case in the city’s history, according to reports.

ARMS SCANDAL - I DID NOT RECEIVE A DIME FROM DASUKI - CHIEF OLU FALAE,

National Chairman of  Social Democratic Party, SDP, Chief Olu Falae, yesterday, said he has fixed next week to adequately address his alleged involvement in the ongoing arms deal scandal involving the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

This came as he insisted that the alleged N100 million linking with with the former NSA was given him by former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, saying he had never communicated with the former security chief since 1987,when he was Secretary to the Federal Government while the latter held sway as the Aide-de-Camp, ADC to then military president, General Ibrahim Babangida.

POLICE ARREST 37-YR-OLD MAN FOR RAPING MENTALLY CHALLENGED GIRL IN LAGOS. #SAYNOTORAPE.

The police in Lagos State have arrested a 37-year-old man for allegedly raping a mentally-challenged girl (names withheld).

It was learned that the suspect, Adesola Moses, who resides at Osenatuilo Street, Alagbado by AIT Road, reportedly raped the victim in her mother’s shop.

It was learnt that the suspect took advantage of the victim’s mental health and had anal sex with her.

ZAHRA BUHARI DENIES DATING GOV YARI OF ZAMFARA STATE.

Zamfara State Governor, Abdulazeez Yari has denied reports that he is romantically involved with Zarah, one of the daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also faulted media reports that he gave the president’s daughter $200 million as gift and that he divorced one of his wives, Hadiza Umaru Shinkafi, to accommodate Zarah.

DAVIDO SIGNS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR RECORD DEAL WITH SONY.

Talented Nigerian superstar Davido has signed a Record deal with Sony Music at their headquarters in New York,  This exclusive deal which will Davido create, distribute and market his music at a world class level.

Congratulations to him.

22 YEAR OLD NIGERIAN SERIAL RAPIST JAILED FOR 24 YEARS IN UK.

22-year-old Oluwadamilare Baiyewu pictured above has been sentenced to 24 years imprisonment by a Woolwich Crown Court in the UK for raping a 17 year old girl while trying to attack another on December 2nd last year. Described as a ‘dangerous, calculating and predatory rapist’ who created the image he was the ‘pillar of the community’ by helping out at the church.

Baiyewu who resides in Fairlawn in Greenwich, first grabbed a 17-year-old girl at knife point on December 2nd, but she managed to break free and escaped.

ICPC ARRAIGNS FORMER ZAMFARA STATE GOVERNOR SANI YERIMA FOR STEALING OVER N1BN AND OTHER OFFENCES.

The former governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani Yerima, will be arraigned today by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other offenses Commission, ICPC, today for allegedly scamming former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the federal government, promising to supply 50,000 metric tones of grains without delivering the goods after receiving payment for same.

Similarly, the anti-graft agency also accused the former governor, who amputated the wrist of a thief for stealing a goat, of diverting over N1 billion meant for the repair of collapsed Gusau Dam and the compensation of those to be displaced by the project for other purposes.

In a charge sheet prepared by the commission, which is to be executed in the High Court of Zamfara State today, the former governor, who is also a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, representing Zamfara State in the the senate, was also alleged to have proposed to sell some grains to the federal government without providing same after he had been paid.

FEW DAYS AFTER THE DEATH OF OLUBADAN, TWO HIGH CHIEFS LAY CLAIM TO THE THRONE.

The age-long smooth ascension to the throne of the Olubadan of Ibadanland appears to be under threat as a two top Ibadan chiefs have laid claim to the coveted throne.

While the Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, as the next in rank to the late Olubadan, anticipates his installation as the next Olubadan, the Otun Seriki of Ibadan, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, says he is the ‘‘next Olubadan’’.

Oyediji warned the kingmakers, the Olubadan-in-Council, not to flout what he called a 1989 ruling of the Supreme Court by installing Adetunji as successor to the late Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, who died on Tuesday at the age of 101 years.

WOLFSBURG TABLE 3.5 MILLION EUROS FOR HIGHLY RATED VICTOR OSIMHEN.

German Bundesliga club Wolfsburg have tabled a four and a half year deal worth about 3.5 million Euros for Victor Osimhen, it can be exclusively revealed.

Osimhen, 17, was top scorer at last year’s FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile and the Wolfsburg deal is expected to kick in when he turns 18 in December.

KILLERS OF EX-FUTA VC SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING.

An Akure High Court, yesterday, sentenced two domestic staff of former Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, Professor Albert Ilemobade, to death by hanging.

The convicts, Daniel Itah Effiong and Bamitale Olayemi, were the security/gate man of the 79-year-old former Professor of Veterinary Medicine, and driver, respectively.

Delivering judgement, Justice Williams Olamide found them guilty of the three-count charge of conspiracy to murder, murder and robbery.

DASUKI IN FRESH TROUBLE AS COURT ORDERS FG TO PRODUCE HIM ON FEB 16 FOR MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the Federal Government to produce the immediate-past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), in court on February 16.

The judge made the order with respect to the charges of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms preferred against Dasuki by the Federal Government.

The four counts preferred against the former NSA before Justice Ademola were unrelated to two other separate charges bordering on alleged diversion of arms funds pending against him and others before two judges of the Federal Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

FAKE LUTH DOCTOR WHO PERFORMED MANY ABORTIONS AND BOUGHT 7 CERTIFICATES FOR N100K ARRESTED IN LAGOS.

A 43-year-old man, Opeyemi Adesina, who allegedly paraded himself as a consultant gynaecologist with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, says he paid N100,000 to buy the seven forged certificates he used.

Reporters learnt that Adesina, who hails from Ekiti State, was arrested on Tuesday by the Alakara Police Division on Alowolodu Street in the Alapere, Ketu area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that Adesina was arrested after his landlord, identified only as Akorede, wrote a “save-my-soul” petition to the management of LUTH some weeks ago alleging that Adesina brought home female patients to treat in his house and did abortions for them, among other unwholesome practices which could implicate him (the landlord).

(VIDEO) MAN BEATS EX-GIRLFRIEND IN TRAFFIC FOR REFUSING TO HANDOVER CAR HE BOUGHT FOR HER.

BRUTAL BEATING

Reports says a man dragged his ex-girlfriend out of her car in Los Angeles traffic and brutally beat her while people watched. 

It seems he bought the car for the lady and had been asking for it back after they broke up but she refused to give it back until this confrontation.

COURT ORDERS NNAMDI KANU TO BE TRANSFERRED TO PRISON.

A Federal High Court judge has ordered that the custody of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, be relinquished by the Department of State Services. Nnamdi Kanu was arraigned before the court on Wednesday, January 20 on trial for charges bordering on treason and his agitations for the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria. Recall that Mr Kanu was supposed to appear before the Federal High Court Abuja, on Monday, but the much awaited case was adjourned due to the absence of the judge.

This is equally following the killing of eight  members of the the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB in Aba by the military during their  peaceful protest over the continued detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu on Monday,

NIGERIA SIGNS MOU WITH DUBAI TO RECOVER LOOTED FUNDS.

Determined  to recover Nigeria’s stolen funds stashed in foreign banks, the Federal Government, yesterday, signed different bilateral agreements with the United Arab Emirates, UAE.

The agreements were essentially on trade, finance and judicial matters.

While the agreement on trade was to promote investments and business dealings amongst the two countries, the judicial bilateral agreement will enable the country to extradite, or transfer persons serving jail terms.

VISAFONE'S ACQUISITION BY MTN, END OF CDMA????

It  became official, January 5, 2016, that the last Nigerian Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA operator standing, Visafone, has finally succumbed to the terrible distress in that genre of telecommunications operation and allowed itself to be swallowed by a GSM counterpart, MTN Nigeria.

However, when Vanguard carried the news eight months earlier that the CDMA operator may soon melt into another, it was quickly and unofficially, dismissed as a rumour by both players. But today, MTN has admitted that  the acquisition falls in line with the company’s determination to improve the quality of broadband services for its subscribers.

According to MTN Executive, Amina Oyagbola, the acquisition is also a reflective of MTN’s concerted efforts to deepen the growth and rollout of broadband services across the country in support of the National Broadband Plan for the benefit of Nigerians.

ZARIA SHIITE KILLINGS - THE ARMY ACTED WITHIN ITS RULES OF ENGAGEMENT - COAS BURATAI TELLS PROBE PANEL.

The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Yusuf Buratai, yesterday, appeared before a Special Investigative Panel that was constituted by the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to probe circumstances that led to the bloody clash between the Nigerian Army and the Shiite Muslim sect.

This came on a day hundreds of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shiites) stormed the commission to protest the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky, by Nigerian security services.

The clash which occurred on December 12, 2015, resulted in the instant death of many members of the sect, with others seriously wounded.

LASSA FEVER - FG CONFIRMS 212 SUSPECTED CASES IN 17 STATES, BLAMES STATE GOVERNORS FOR DISEASE SPREAD.

The Federal Government has confirmed 212 suspected cases of Lassa Fever in 64 Local government areas across 17 states in the country, even as it warned against a conspiracy of silence among the states of the federation.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Issac Adewole, who disclosed this, yesterday, in Abuja at the Emergency National Council on Health meeting with state Commissioners of Health and other stake- holders in the health sector, said the current out-break was a national embarrassment.

Adewole, who debunked rumours in some quarters that the disease was a “gimmick to get money from the government, said objective of the meeting, was to facilitate discussion on control of the ongoing disease outbreak; to develop strategies of prevention and management of all cases in Nigeria, among others.

NIMASA N2.6BN FRAUD - FASHION DESIGNER GOT N543M FOR A NON-EXISTENT CONTRACT.

The trial of an ex-Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and five others continued before a Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday with a bureau de change operator, Hussein Sabo, testifying against them.

The defendants are being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly converting to their personal use a total of N2,658,957, 666, belonging to NIMASA between December 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015.

They were on December 4, 2015 arraigned on 22 counts in relation to the offence before Justice Ibrahim Buba.

OLISA METUH GRANTED N400M BAIL, PDP LAMENTS AS HE APPEARED IN COURT IN HANDCUFFS

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, was driven off in a prison pick-up from the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja, shortly after he was granted bail in the sum of N400m by the court on Tuesday.

Metuh, who was produced in court in handcuffs for the bail hearing, is, however, to remain in Kuje Prison, Abuja, till he perfects his bail conditions.

After the court delivered its ruling on his bail application on Tuesday, prison officials led him to a waiting green pick-up and locked him up at the rear cabin of the vehicle.

OLUBADAN DIES IN HIS SLEEP.

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, is dead.

Palace sources said the monarch died at about 7.30pm on Tuesday in his palace in the Monatan area of Ibadan.

Oba Odugade, who was born on April 14, 1914, became the Olubadan in July 2007.

RAPPER "ICE PRINCE ZAMANI" HEARTBROKEN OVER ALLEGATIONS AND RECEIPTS LEVELED AGAINST HIS GIRLFRIEND MAIMA NKEWA.

Chocolate City Vp & Rapper "Ice Prince Zamani" is a troubled man at the moment as his relationship might be heading for the rocks following allegations of infidelity leveled against his pretty girlfriend Maima Nkewa.

Trouble started last week when she shared a photo of them together and professed her undying love for him..and that started the whole madness. Someone left a comment on her page accusing her of dating some married man named Akin in Abuja. And a few hours later, receipts were produced. It gets more interesting.

#CHAN2016 - CHIKATARA HITS HAT-TRICK AS SUPER EAGLES BEAT NIGER 4 - 1.

NGA 4 NIG 1

The home-based Super Eagles defeated Niger Republic 4-1 in their first game at the Championship for African Nations on Monday here in Kigali.

Goals from Osas Okoro and a Chisom Chikatara hat-trick sealed the win for the Eagles.

Prince Aggre had the Eagles first chance less than one minute into the game but his low shot was gathered by Alzouma Inoussa in goal for Niger.

55 NIGERIANS STOLE N1.34TN FROM PUBLIC TREASURY IN JUST 8YRS - LAI MOHAMMED.

The Federal Government has alleged that 55 former government functionaries and top businessmen stole N1.34tn from public treasury in eight years.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the allegation at a press conference to announce a National Sensitisation Campaign against Corruption in Abuja on Monday.

Although Mohammed did not disclose the authority for the allegation, he categorised the officials involved in the corrupt practices to include former state governors, ex-ministers, former legislators, civil servants, bankers and other businessmen.

PICTURES FROM TOOLZ AND TUNDE DEMUREN'S PRE-WEDDING SHOOT.

Pre-wedding shots of Captain Tunde Demuren and popular OAP Tolu Oniru - Toolz.

See more pictures after the cut........

SWANSEA APPOINTS FRANCESCO GUIDOLIN AS HEAD COACH.

Swansea City have confirmed the appointment of Francesco Guidolin as head coach until the end of the season.

The 60-year-old arrived in Wales on Monday afternoon to complete his short-term move, which will see him work alongside Alan Curtis, although Guidolin will have the final say on team selection. 

He will be in the crowd at the Liberty Stadium on Monday night as Swansea attempt to salvage their dire season against Watford. 

His prospects of staying at the club beyond the summer depend on whether he can save Swansea from relegation, though it is understood that other candidates, including Brendan Rodgers, will be considered if they stay up. 

25-YR-OLD MAN REMANDED FOR RAPING 3 TEENAGE GIRLS.

An Ile-Ife Chief Magistrate’s Court in Osun on Monday remanded a 25-year-old man, Seun Adeoti, in prison custody, over the alleged rape of three girls.

Adeoti was arraigned on a three-count charge of gross indecency, threat to lives and unlawful sexual intercourse with Folake Adedini (15), Arike Adegoke (14) and Imole Adewole (16).

The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Osanyintuyi, said the offences were committed on Dec. 4, 2015 around 1:00 p.m. at Akui Street, Ile-Ife. Osanyintuyi alleged that the offences contravened Section 86, 360 and 516 of the state’s Penal Code.

CORRUPTION IS FIGHTING BACK!!!!!!!!!.

With only a few real steps taken to tackle the monster, the forces of corruption are pushing back and their counter attack is gathering momentum. From the accused persons and recipients of stolen funds to politicians who suddenly found themselves in the unfamiliar opposition benches, beneficiaries of the past dispensation, clever lawyers, bent judges, religious contractors and media cheer squads, familiar weapons are being deployed. Neither the government nor the people must waver or bow to these forces of retrogression.

#DASUKIGATE, EMEFIELE, AND HOW TO APPOINT THE NEXT CBN GOVERNOR.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has come under intense scrutiny in the past six months. This is not just because of its controversial restrictions on foreign exchange transactions but also as a result of allegations that its leadership facilitated inappropriate massive cash withdrawals of foreign currencies from the Bank’s coffers by the erstwhile National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, close to the 2015 presidential elections.

These transactions are believed to have had the blessing of President Goodluck Jonathan.

PREMIUM TIMES believes these unfortunate controversies pose a serious threat to the lived reality of the independence of the Central Bank, which we believe is of vital importance to the maintenance of a sound economy.

WHY I REFUSED TO HONOUR COURT SUMMONS - TOMPOLO.

Former Niger Delta militancy leader, Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo has explained why he has refused to honor court invitations over the corruption cases leveled against him by the EFCC. In an open letter to President Buhari which he sent out through his media aide, Paul Bebenimbo, yesterday January 18th, Tompolo said;

“The truth of the matter is that I do not know anything about the N34 billion Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is talking about. First, it was N13 billion issue, now it is N34 billion. I am not a signatory to any of the companies mentioned in the said N34 billion case, so I do not know where this one is coming from. I know that God in His infinite mercy will see me through in this critical moment.”‎the letter read.