NPA FAILS TO REMIT N713BN TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

With Nigerians yet to come to grips with the absurdity of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company not remitting billions of dollars of oil income to the national treasury, another public corporation has been fingered for engaging in the dubious act. Last week, the National Conference Committee on Finance told a shocked plenary that the Nigerian Ports Authority had failed to remit N713 billion to the Federation Account over six years.

This is impunity at its worst. It is a reckless regime of sleaze that has weighed down Nigeria’s maritime industry from playing a leading role in West Africa. 

A combination of pervasive corruption and mismanagement has relegated our maritime industry to an also-ran in the sub-region, when, with its trade volume, it should be the hub of the shipping industry.

BOKO HARAM ABDUCTS 20 WOMEN NEAR CHIBOK.

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram have reportedly abducted about 20 women near Chibok, the Borno State community where more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped on April 14.

The women, according to Bloomberg, a United States-based news agency, and The Guardian of London, were taken after the gunmen attacked a nomadic settlement known as Garkin Fulani at the weekend.

Bloomberg and The Guardian of London both quoted a member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Alhaji Tar, as having said the women were herded into vehicles at gunpoint and driven off to an unknown location.

Read more report below from Punch.

19-YR-OLD CHARGED FOR RAPING 80-YR-OLD BLIND WOMAN IN LAGOS.

A Yaba chief magistrate’s court in Lagos, yesterday, held that a teenager, Avoseh Satingo, has a case to answer in the alleged rape of an 80-year-old blind woman.

It, therefore, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

Magistrate Yewande Aje-Afunwa made this known following advice by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

DARE DEVIL ROBBERS KIDNAP 2 SISTERS IN ABUJA, DEMAND N150M RANSOM.

Suspected robbers on Sunday evening stormed the residence of an engineer, Mr. Samson Opaluwa, in Karmo, Abuja, kidnapping two ladies in the family after robbing them.

It was learnt that while the elder lady, Ejura Opaluwa, is 23 years, her sister, Unekwu is four years younger.

It was learnt that the gunmen, who drove a blue Honda Accord car with number plate, HR 152 ABC, stormed the family’s residence on Impresit Camp, Associated Estate at about 5pm.

NATIVE DOCTOR CHARGED WITH N21.1M FRAUD AND ATTEMPTED MURDER.

A 45-year-old native doctor, Jamiu Alao, was on Monday charged with defrauding two men of N21.1 million and attempted murder at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos. 

Mr. Alao, who lives at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun, is facing charges of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences and attempted murder. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

But the prosecutor, Innocent Odugbo, told the court that Mr. Alao committed the offences with others still at large sometime in April at Mayfair Estate, Ajah in Lekki.

PDP WARNS NEW EMIR OF KANO "SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI" AGAINST PARTISAN POLITICS.

The governing ruling Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] has congratulated the new emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, and admonished him to emulate his predecessor by not leaning towards any political party.

The party said it expects the new Emir to remain non-partisan deserving of the exalted and revered office.

The party’s congratulatory message is contained in a statement issued Monday night by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh.

It came more than 24 hours after the party committed a huge blunder by rushing to congratulate Mr. Sanusi’s rival, Sanusi Ado Bayero, even when official announcement of the chosen candidate had not been made.

8-YEAR-OLD BRIDE DIES AT THE HANDS OF 40-YEAR -OLD HUSBAND ON WEDDING NIGHT IN YEMEN

An eight year-old child bride died in Yemen on her wedding night after suffering internal injuries due to sexual trauma. Human rights organizations are calling for the arrest of her husband, who was five times her age.

Al Nahar, Lebanon, reported that the death occurred in the tribal area of Hardh in northwestern Yemen, which borders Saudi Arabia. This brings even more attention to the already existing issue of forced child marriages in the Middle East.

“According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), between 2011 and 2020, more than 140 million girls will become child brides. Furthermore, of the 140 million girls who will marry before the age of 18, 50 million will be under the age of 15.”

HOW THE EMIR OF KANO ESCAPED ARREST.

The new Emir of Kano Lamido Sanusi on Sunday narrowly escaped being arrested by security operatives at his personal residence in Kano hours after he was appointed to the coveted throne.

A source who declined to be named for security reasons said the Kano state Government hurriedly sneaked Mr. Sanusi out of his personal residence after receiving intelligence that the Federal Government was plotting to arrest him to stop him from being turbaned.

“It is true his royal highness did not sleep in his house after information came that there are moves to arrest him for reasons we don’t know,” the source said. “The governor had to arrange for him to be smuggled into the Government House where he passed the night.”

Read more report from Premium Times below.

(NEW MUSIC VIDEO) EMABE TEBAWU - SLIMME (@lepaboy_slimee)

EMABE TEBAWU - SLIMEE

Unsigned Rap artist Slimme presents music video of his track titled "Emabe Tebawu". Rap lovers will like this one.

Though the dude is a Ghanaian but has lived most of his life in Nigeria (Lagos) which influenced his song title which literally means haters will blow up if they keep hating.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO.

APPOINTMENT OF SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI AS EMIR OF KANO AND THE APC CONNECTION.

Suggestions to that effect were rife yesterday because of the heavy presence of chieftains of the party in Kano, following the death of Emir Ado Bayero.

Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano State, who joined the party last November, came under serious pressure from the APC chieftains who stayed over after the burial of the late emir.

Yesterday, senior party officials were jubilant over the emergence of a renowned critic of President Goodluck Jonathan as the traditional ruler of the city with the highest number of votes in Northern Nigeria.

APOLOGIES TO LATE ANDREW AZAZI

As the security question in the country is gradually, if not completely, turning to a complete puzzle, which will take a lot more than the normal requirements to unravel, it is further aggravated by a myriad of confusing unfolding of events, criss-crossing of opinions and viewpoints from supposed experts and consultants on security, avalanche of media festering, and of course spinning and counter-spinning of moves. 

Behind all these drama and activities, more and more lives are being savagely and avoidably cut short, more lands are being crippled and turned in to wastelands of blood and despair, and the cycle continues with no foreseeable end in sight. No one is talking here of the economies of such places which will take only God knows how long to resuscitate.

POLICE KILLS APC SUPPORTER AND ATTACKS GOVERNOR FAYEMI IN EKITI.

Two weeks to the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, violence again erupted on Sunday in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, resulting in the death of one, with many people injured.

It was gathered that the Police attacked the convoy of the Ekiti Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, following the disruption of a peaceful rally embarked upon by members of the All Progressives Congress.

The members, who were returning from Oluyemi Kayode Stadium ‘after sweeping the place’, were ambushed by the police, who allegedly fired tear-gas and live bullets, to disperse them.

See more reports and picture after the cut. (Viewer's discretion is strongly advised).

HOW ARMY FOILED SUICIDE BOMBING IN GOMBE.

Troops mounting a security check point at a Barrack entrance in Gombe this morning intercepted a lady suicide bomber while she was attempting to gain entry into the barracks. 

The lady suicide bomber who had primed herself with improvised explosive devices concealed under her Hijjab was intercepted when troops acting on intelligence report indicating that a terrorist  group was plotting to attack Barracks around Gombe using female suicide bombers, halted her and as she was being searched the bomb detonated killing the lady.

Unfortunately one of the troops conducting the search also died while another was wounded in the explosion.

Normal activities have since resumed in the barracks.

CHRIS OLUKOLADE

Major General

Director Defence Information

SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI (FORMER CBN GOV) IS THE NEW EMIR OF KANO.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has emerged as the new Emir of Kano after the throne became vacant on Friday following the monarch’s death.

The Secretary to the Kano State Government, Rabiu Zakariya, announced the name of the new Emir on Sunday.

Kwankwaso had said yesterday at the Government House in the state capital, that the announcement will made today (Sunday), after the kingmakers of the Kano Emirate Council paid him a condolence visit.

HOW MISDIAGNOSIS KILLED DORA AKUNYILI.

After surviving several rumours of her death, a  former Minister of Information and Communication and erstwhile Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili, bowed to ovarian cancer early yesterday.

Vanguard reports that her death was blamed on misdiagnosis by some doctors in the United States (US). The doctors were said to have claimed she did not have cancer after her Nigerian doctor’s diagnosis to the effect she had the sickness.

News of her death was officially announced by a  former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, on the Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS. Obi  said  Akunyili  died after a protracted battle with cancer.

BODY OF 17-YR-OLD NIGERIAN GIRL WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE BECAUSE SHE WAS ACCUSED OF CHEATING IN EXAM HAS BEEN FOUND.

Omotayo Adeoye was a brilliant student who attends one of New York City’s elite schools, the high school of Math, Science and Engineering in Manhattan. Sadly, her body was found floating in the Hudson River just a week short of a citywide police search for her.

Adeoye, 17, had committed suicide on May 29th by jumping off into the Hudson River near the George Washington Bridge Thursday afternoon. It came after the young student had been caught cheating on a difficult German Language exam by her teacher, Eva Malikova, at the elite school. Humiliated in front of her classmates, Adeoye immediately left the school building, but not before leaving behind a suicide note.

The short note, later found by school officials and police read, “I just want to go away forever on the bottom of the river.”

(VIDEO) USA 2 NIG 1... WORLD CUP FRIENDLY MATCH.

USA 2 NIGERIA 1

The much-maligned Sunderland striker hit a goal in either half as Stephen Keshi's men were punished for a tame display in Florida despite Victor Moses' late penalty

Jozy Altidore gave USA and himself a much-needed boost of confidence after scoring both goals in his side's 2-1 win over Nigeria on Saturday.

The Sunderland striker struck in either half as Jurgen Klinsmann's side secured a comfortable victory in their final World Cup warm-up, with a late penalty from Victor Moses not enough for Stephen Keshi's Super Eagles to earn a share of the spoils.

DAVIDO WINS TWO AWARDS AS TIWA, FLAVOUR AND CLARENCE PETERS ALSO MADE NIGERIA PROUD AT #MTVMAMA 2014.

Four Nigerian artistes won at the 2014 edition of MTV MUSIC AWARDS.

Davido led  with 2 awards - Best Male & Artiste of the year. Congrats to him.

See full list of winners after the cut.

PLAYERS WE WON'T GET TO SEE IN BRAZIL 2014 WORLD CUP.

The joy of making a 30-man provisional World Cup squad is nothing compared to the crushing misery of failing to make the final 23. To be so close, yet so far, from what might be considered a minor peak of footballing achievement short of actually, say, winning the thing has to break the heart.

For some, there is perhaps an early sense that they're there for experience and team bonding with the future in mind. Take Germany's fledglings called in for training camp Kevin Volland and Max Meyer were never really considered likely to fly to Brazil, yet served their purpose over a productive week in South Tyrol.

Then there are the untimely injuries that rob squads of their prize talent, some of whom were hurt after the June 2 squad deadline. (FIFA rules allow for injured players to be swapped out for replacements up to 24 hours before the team's first World Cup game.) While the likes of Diego Costa and Luis Suarez were deemed worthy of a spot despite lingering niggles and knacks, there are others about whom the physio wasn't so upbeat.

HOW TINUBU, SARAKI, ODILI AND OTHERS MILK THEIR STATES THROUGH OBNOXIOUS PENSION LAWS.

A massive public outcry forced Akwa Ibom Governor, Godswill Akpabio, to backtrack on a scandalous multibillion pension plan for himself and other former governors of the state this week.

But a review of similar pension laws in at least half a dozen states shows how Nigerians have spent a fortune maintaining their profligate former governors, and ex-deputies, with pensions for life, free health care, security, transportation, cars, accommodation and jobs- the same needs other citizens are deprived of daily.

The worst cases yet examined are in Kwara, Lagos, Gombe, Zamfara, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.

Read the report by Premium Times after the cut