ADIEU, PROFESSOR DORA AKUNYILI, THE AMAZON!!!!

The whole of this weekend will witness the funeral obsequies of a great Nigerian, an amazon and uncommon public servant, whose exploits in the past fourteen years were unlike any other ever witnessed in our shores. 

Professor Dorothy Nkem Akunyili, within this span of time, became a household name not only in Nigeria but also in the wider world where her war against fake food and drugs was acclaimed, with many awards and honours.

Even before she was appointed as the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Akunyili, a pharmacist and academic, made the news when she returned unspent funds to the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), where she served as the South East Zonal Secretary. On assumption of office at NAFDAC, Akunyili confronted the entrenched mafia of fake drug importers and miraculously escaped assassination on two occasions. Her eight-year tenure in the Agency made Nigeria a reference point in the global war against fake drugs, for which she missed being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize very narrowly in 2007.

ASSASSINS KILLS A MAN, HIS WIFE, HIS CHILD AND THEIR MAID IN LAGOS...

Gunmen, in the early hours of yesterday, stormed an apartment in a block of flats in Unity Estate, Akowonjo area of Egbeda, killing a man, his wife, his child and their maid. Details of the tragic incident that sent cold shivers down the spines of residents of the area were sketchy at press time. 

However, gathered that the gunmen suspected to be hired assassins, stormed the building at about 2am and fired shots, apparently to wade off intruders. 

A resident of another flat in the block, who pleaded anonymity, said there was an argument between the gunmen and owner of the flat whose identity could not be immediately ascertained. According to the neighbour, “the gunmen scaled through the fence of the building and held the gateman hostage.

RIBADU IS WORTHLESS POLITICALLY, CLARK ADVISES PDP....

A First Republic Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, has told the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party not to grant waiver to a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to contest the party’s primary for Adamawa governorship election.

Clark, who spoke at a press conference at his residence in Abuja on Thursday, said Ribadu had no political value and that the enemies of President Goodluck Jonathan were the sponsors of the ex-boss of EFCC.

Ribadu recently defected from the All Progressives Congress to the PDP and he has collected the party’s Expression of Interest form to participate in the October 11 bye-election in Adamawa.

EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE CREEPS INTO PORT-HARCOURT, KILLS A DOCTOR.

Nigeria’s efforts to contain the deadly Ebola virus have suffered a major setback with the news that another medical doctor has been killed by the disease in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The news was announced by the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.

The doctor’s passage on Friday, the first outside Lagos, caused panic in Rivers State and worry among health personnel and other stakeholders battling to stamp out the disease in the country. Although Chukwu did not give the identity of the doctor, the Rivers State Government   said he is   Iyke Enemuo.

Enemuo was said to have contracted the virus from an Economic Community of West African States diplomat while allegedly treating him of Ebola symptoms in a hotel in Port Harcourt. It was gathered that Enemuo, before he took ill on Tuesday “operated on a woman on Monday presumably after treating the diplomat.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014/2015 DRAW.

Holders Real Madrid CF face a reunion with Liverpool FC following the UEFA Champions League group stage draw in Monaco today.

Madrid claimed a tenth European title in Lisbon in May and added the UEFA Super Cup earlier this month. Their bid to become the first team to retain the UEFA Champions League begins in Group B, where FC Basel 1893, PFC Ludogorets Razgrad and Liverpool who beat the Merengues in the 1981 European Cup final in Paris – form the opposition.

See more after the cut......

CRISTIANO RONALDO WINS THE UEFA BEST PLAYER AWARD.

Cristiano Ronaldo's contribution to Real Madrid CF's UEFA Champions League triumph last season has been recognised with the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.

The Portugal captain received the 2013/14 accolade at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco from UEFA President Michel Platini. Ronaldo, among the final nominees for the fourth successive year, finished ahead of FC Bayern München's Arjen Robben and Manuel Neuer in a live vote by a panel of 54 journalists who had to select, via an electronic system, their favourite from a three-man shortlist announced a fortnight ago.

Ronaldo, speaking during a ceremony that followed the UEFA Champions League group stage draw, said: "I'm really happy so I must say thanks to my team-mates because without the team, individual awards would not be possible. I don't have this trophy in my museum, so my brother is going to put it there."

(VIDEO) MK DONS HUMILIATES MANCHESTER UNITED 4 - 0 IN THE LEAGUE CUP.

  

MK DONS 4 MANU 0

Manchester United sank to new depths on Tuesday when they crashed out of the League Cup in the second round following a 4-0 defeat at third-division Milton Keynes Dons.

United had announced the signing of Angel di Maria from Real Madrid in a British-record £59.7 million ($98 million, 75 million euros) deal shortly before kick-off, but they were brought down to earth with a painful bump as a second-string team fell apart at Stadium MK.

Will Grigg scored either side of half-time for the League One side before Benik Afobe added a brace of his own to leave a shell-shocked Louis van Gaal still searching for his first competitive win as United manager.

MILITARY UNCOVERS NEW TRICKS BY TERRORISTS.

Fresh indication has emerged that terrorists are currently employing new tricks to beat security checks. Among such moves is the recruitment of physically-challenged people to carry out their dastardly acts in some parts of the country.

The recruitment of these set of persons, as gathered, was to allow easy access into states like Lagos.

This came as the Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obaniko, yesterday in Lagos, described Boko Haram sect’s declaration of Gwoza town in Borno state as an Islamic caliphate, as a ‘temporary madness’ that would soon disappear, saying there would never be another republic within Nigeria.

TOM IKIMI DUMPS APC, BLASTS BOLA TINUBU FOR DOMINEERING INFLUENCE.

Citing his inability to coexist with those he described as petty-minded people or condone what he claimed to be the domineering influence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Tom Ikimi, yesterday, withdrew his membership of the All Progressives Congress, APC. 

While expressing pain in pulling away from a party he played a crucial role in forming, Ikimi said the “reckless self-aggrandisement demonstrated” by Tinubu who he claimed gave himself the national leader of the party and forced a weak leadership on the party made his exit from the party inevitable.

Ikimi who was national chairman of the National Republican Convention, NRC in the Third Republic, alleged a conspiracy against fellow conservatives that has led to the exit of several party leaders. Among those he claimed to have been hounded out of the party were former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, and former military governor of Lagos and Borno States, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.).

DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF ENUGU STATE "MR. SUNDAY ONYEBUCHI" HAS BEEN IMPEACHED FOR REARING CHICKEN AMONGST OTHER OFFENCES..

Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly on Tuesday impeached the deputy governor of the state, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi.

Onyebuchi’s impeachment followed his indictment by a seven-man panel of enquiry, which investigated allegations levelled against him by members of the Enugu State House of Assembly. The panel, in its report, held that Onyebuchi was guilty of the allegations brought against him.

“The allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, by the Enugu State House of Assembly have been proved,” the panel, headed by Mr. Franklin Oraekeyi, stated in the report.

#BREAKINGNEWS: GUNMEN SHOT AT CHRIS BROWN, INJURES SUGE KNIGHT AND THREE OTHERS AT LOS ANGELES CLUB.

CHRIS BROWN

Music producer Suge Knight has been injured during a shooting at an awards show party at a Los Angeles nightclub hosted by singer Chris Brown, it has been reported.

Witnesses said 25-year-old singer, who is still on parole following his recent release from jail, had been the target of shots fired at the 1oak club in West Hollywood.

Brown was thought to be unhurt, but three other victims - among them Death Row Records founder Knight, 49, were taken to the city's Cedars Sinai hospital where one of them was said to be in a critical condition.

Model and actor Tyson Beckford, and Black Eyed Peas member Apple de Ap were inside the pre-VMA party hosted by Brown and told TMZ they had heard four shots being fired. 

FALCONETS ARE ON THE VERGE OF GLORY AS THEY TAKE ON GERMANY AT 12 MIDNIGHT.

Nigeria’s Super Falconets will on Sunday (today) battle their German counterparts in the final of the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium in Canada.

The final comes up 12am Nigerian time. If the Falconets emerge victorious, they will become the first African side to win a FIFA-organised tournament for women. The team left Moncton on Thursday for Montreal.

It’s a replay of the 2010 edition of the competition, when the Germans defeated Nigeria 2-0 on home soil.

Asisat Oshoala netted four goals and made two at the Moncton Stadium on Wednesday, as the Falconets ran riot against Korea DPR, winning 6-2, in the highest scoring semi-final ever seen at the U-20 Women’s World Cup to reach their second final of the competition. Courtney Dike and substitute Uchechi Sunday were the other scorers.

10 WAYS TO RECOVER FROM HEARTBREAK...

Most times when people mention heartbreak, the gender that comes to mind is the female but the truth is that even males suffer heartbreak as well.

Recovering from heartbreak is not a sudden action, it is a process. Sometimes a difficult process.

What to do when your partner suddenly gives you the boot? Please read after the cut.

THE GAINS AND LOSSES OF APC (ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS) AFTER 1 YEAR.

Political enthusiast were thrilled when major political opposition parties in the country came under one umbrella, APC, to set the tone for an interesting election in 2015. Gladiators who many thought couldn't work together embraced unity in an attempt to give the ruling PDP a stiff run in the coming elections.

This post sourced from Punch details the gains, losses and travails of the All Progressive Congress one year after its formation. Read more after the cut.......

DSS WARNS OF POSSIBLE SUICIDE ATTACK BY TERRORIST IN CATHOLIC REVEREND SISTER'S REGALIA.

The Department of State of State Service (DSS) has warned that terrorists may be planning to attack in a different way after 13 pieces of Catholic Reverend Sisters’ regalia were stolen from a shop in Kano state purportedly for suicide bombing.

In a statement released by Marilyn Ogar, spokesperson for the DSS, Nigerians are advised to look out for persons, especially female suicide bombers who may disguise in this regalia. The DSS believes that it might a new tactic adopted by suicide bombers following the awareness of Nigerians to the use of hijab.

“On 20 August 2014, about 4:00 a.m., some yet to be identified persons broke into a tailoring shop located at No. 55 Odutola Street, Sabon Gari, Kano, and stole about thirteen (13) pieces of Reverend Sisters’ regalia of the Catholic Church. With the recent trend in female suicide bombings in the country, the removal of these regalia may be the handiwork of terrorists’ elements that may want to perpetrate acts of terror using such garments.

CAMEROUNIAN STRIKER DIES IN ALGERIA.

Camerounian football player Albert Ebosse died Saturday after he was hit by a projectile thrown from the stands following his team’s loss in the Algerian football championship, APS news agency reported.

Ebosse, who was 24, was declared dead after he was rushed to a hospital at Tizi Ouzou, east of the capital Algiers, where the match took place.He scored the lone goal for his club JS Kabylie in the home match in what turned out to be a 2-1 defeat against USM Alger, on the second day of the tournament.

EBOLA INFECTED US DOCTOR RECOVERS AND HAS BEEN DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL.

One of the United States aid workers who recovered from an Ebola infection is “thrilled to be alive” as he and another patient are discharged from hospital.

Dr Kent Brantly, 33, thanked supporters for their prayers at a news conference in Atlanta. Nancy Writebol, 59, was discharged on Tuesday.

The two were brought to the US for treatment three weeks ago. The outbreak has killed more than 1,300 people in West Africa, with many of the deaths occurring in Liberia.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS 2 NEW CASES OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE.

The Federal Government has confirmed two new cases of Ebola Virus Disease in the country, thereby bringing to four the number of patients under isolation.

Confirming the fresh case on Friday, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said they were among secondary contact to the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer who imported the virus into the country.

Lagos State  government had during the week announced the fresh cases which the Federal Government denied.

The fresh cases has now brought the number of cases in the country to 14, with five deaths recorded and five other patients discharged after recovering from the virus.

Source: Nation

POLICE NAB 4 RAPE SUSPECTS IN EBONYI STATE.

Four suspected rapists were arrested from Ohaozara and Onicha  Local Government in Ebonyi state by the state Police Command for assault, attempted rape, robbery, malicious damage and other related offences.

While addressing the press at the Command Headquarters in Abakaliki, the state police public relations officer, ASP Chris Anyanwu, who showed great displeasure at  the alarming rate of rape related cases in the state advised parents, guardians and community leaders to work together to ensure the safety of their people and make sure that perpetrators of such inhumane acts are brought to book.

Mr Anyanwu updated the press on the recent rape cases carried out by the four arrested suspects  in the state, he said:

#CURRENTISSUES - SACK OF STRIKING DOCTORS

The decision by the federal government to terminate the appointment of striking doctors in its employ following their obduracy not to end the strike they started since July 1, 2014, is as condemnable as the strike itself.

The government, in a surprise move, had through a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, Hon N. Awute, informed the striking doctors of President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to terminate the Residency Training Appointment, which affected some 16,000 doctors in federal government hospitals nationwide. It immediately brought the striking doctors to the streets in protest. It thus worsened a situation that required an urgent solution in the face of the threat posed by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak.