2016 NATIONAL CENSUS MAY NOT HOLD - NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION.

The National Population Commission has hinted that the conduct of the population census and head count for all Nigerians scheduled for 2016 would depend on the willingness of Nigerians and the Federal Government because of poor budgetary allocation.

The commission also called for a review of The National Policy on Population to accommodate current realities “in view of recent changes in the demographic profile of the country.”

NPC said, “The review is to assess the performance of the programmes outlined in the policy and also to respond to emerging national and international issues in population and development. We are currently leading the review process”.

FORMER GOV OF IMO IKEDI OHAKIM GRANTED BAIL TO THE TUNE OF N27OM.

Former Governor of Imo State, Mr. Ikedi Ohakim, who was on Wednesday, remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after he was arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over money laundering charge, yesterday, regained his freedom.

Trial Justice Ademola Adeniyi granted Ohakim bail to the tune of N270million.

Ohakim who was Imo state governor between May 2007 and May 2011 is answering to a three-count criminal charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.

EX-GOV SULE LAMIDO & HIS SONS SENT TO KANO PRISON.

There was a mild drama Thursday in Kano between former Governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido and the Deputy Chief Registrar of Federal High court, Barrister Solomon Akpedah when the former was excused to move to a waiting van for a journey to Kano central prison.

The Peoples Democratic Party stalwart was docked over a 28-count charge alongside his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, and one Wada Abubakar in connection with alleged corruption and money laundering of over N1.34 billion.

The former governor shortly after he lost his freedom, following the refusal of the court to grant his bail application exclaimed, ‘you mean I’m now a prisoner.’

WHY DOGARA CONCEEDED LEADERSHIP POSITION TO GBAJABIAMILA'S CAMP.

Members of the Consolidation Group loyal to Speaker Yakubu Dogara have explained that they were conceding the contentious position of House Majority Leader to the opposing Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila group in order for peace to reign in the lower chamber given the workload before the House.

Spokesman of the group, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, told journalists in Abuja yesterday that the concession was a fallout of ongoing peace efforts of the party through the immediate past speaker of the House and current Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who held separate meetings with the warring groups on Tuesday and yesterday.

Jibrin added that he was mandated as the spokesman of the group to brief the press on the conclusions reached so far after a lengthy and tough meeting with Tambuwal, who rein in members of the group on the need for concessions and compromise on the matter.

GOVERNOR ADAMS OSHIOMOLE WANTS STIFFER PUNISHMENT FOR RAPISTS.

The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has called for stiffer penalties for persons convicted of rape, defilement and other forms of child abuse to serve as a deterrent to others.

He also urged the people of the state to stop giving alms to child beggars to discourage the rising trend of child beggars in the state.

Oshiomhole, who spoke when he received members of the state chapter of International Federation of Women Lawyers who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, decried the rising cases of the menace in the state and the country which he described as “heinous crimes” that must be prosecuted diligently.

NFF CONFIRMS SUNDAY OLISEH AS NEW SUPER EAGLES COACH.

The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that former Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh will coach the Super Eagles with a team that will include a Dutch as an assistant.

A manager close to Oliseh in Europe, who has full knowledge of the talks between the NFF and Oliseh in London, confirmed on Wednesday that the former Eagles captain had accepted the job offer and would work with an assistant from Europe.

He said, “I can confirm that Sunny (Oliseh) has accepted the offer and he will be working with an assistant coming down from Europe as well.”

APC EXPELS SENATOR DANJUMA GOJE.

The Gombe State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Monday expelled the senator representing Gombe-Central senatorial district, Danjuma Goje, from the party.

State chairman of the party, Magaji Doho, disclosed this at the party’s secretariat in Gombe.

He said the former Gombe governor was expelled with effect from July 1, 2015 for his engagement in anti-party activities.

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN RANKED BEST UNIVERSITY IN NIGERIA.

University of Ibadan has been rated the best university in Nigeria and the 8th in Africa, according to a new ranking of 1,447 African universities and higher institutions, using research publications, citations from 2010 to 2014, as well as visibility on the Internet

University of Cape Town is number one in Africa, followed by Cairo University, then the University of Pretoria comes third in the Top 10 Universities in Africa. The rest are 3 more from South Africa, two from Egypt, one from Kenya and one from Nigeria (university of Lagos).

FLOYD MAYWEATHER LOSES WBO TITLE AFTER FAILING TO PAY $200,000 FINE.

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. has lost his welterweight world title after failing to meet a deadline to pay a US$200,000 "sanctioning" fee to the World Boxing Organization (WBO) for his "fight of the century" against Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather, who won the belt with a unanimous points victory against the Filipino fighter in Las Vegas in May, earned at least $180 million for the fight.

The 38-year old American also failed to vacate his World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) titles at junior middleweight -- an issue as WBO rules state a boxer can only hold titles in one weight division.

WHY WE INVITED SEN. IKE EKWEREMANDU & OTHERS FOR QUESTIONING - NIGERIA POLICE FORCE.

The Nigerian Police Force has given reasons for inviting the deputy president of the senate, Ike Ekweremadu, to its headquarters for questioning.

The police explained on its Facebook page that it received a petition from a senator who alleged unauthorized substitution of senate document.

It said in line with the policy of the police leadership on evidence gathering, the matter was referred to the Force CID in Abuja for investigation.

FOUR SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH IKORODU BANK ROBBERY.

Four suspected members of the gang, led by a lady, that robbed banks at Ikorodu, Lagos, a fortnight ago have been arrested by police in Lagos.

Information revealed that three of the suspects were arrested around Ikorodu,while the fourth was arrested in Ondo State.

Police sources revealed that the suspects at Ikorodu were arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Friday, following a confessional statement by one of them.

STEPHEN KESHI SACKED AS NIGERIA'S NATIONAL TEAM COACH, SHAIBU AMODU APPOINTED .

Stephen Keshi has been sacked as coach of Nigeria and replaced by Shaibu Amodu, the country's Football Federation (NFF) has announced.

The move comes barely two weeks after the NFF opened an investigation into reports that Keshi applied to manage Ivory Coast while under a valid contract with Nigeria.

Keshi recently claimed an un-named agent had submitted his name without his knowledge for the Ivory Coast position.

THE PARTY IS SUPERIOR TO YOU - BUHARI TELLS LAWMAKERS.

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has told the All Progressives Congress’ lawmakers in the National Assembly to accept the party’s superiority in the interest of democracy.

In his opening speech at the ongoing meeting of National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, the nation’s capital, Buhari urged the party members to put whatever interest they have in their “pocket” and accept the supremacy of the party.

He said: “The election has come and gone and the APC has won the battle and lost the war.

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POLICE (@POLICENG) REDEPLOYS COMMISSIONERS TO CHECKMATE INCREASING CRIME WAVE.

The press statement from the Force HQ below...

In line with the determination of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon E. Arase NPM, fdc, to inject fresh ideas in the security architecture in #Lagos, #Rivers and #Ogun States, and some other Force Headquarters Formations. The IGP has ordered postings of new Commissioners of Police as stated below.................

POLICE ARRAIGN THREE FARMERS FOR RAPING 10 YR OLD GIRL. #SAYNOTORAPE.

The police yesterday arraigned three farmers in a senior magistrates’ court in Katsina for raping a 10-year-old girl. The accused are Yahuza Musa, 20; Tasiu Abubakar, 20; and Sadiq Isyaku, 20.

The trio, who reside at Dakiya village in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, appeared before Senior Magistrate Nafisa Bagiwa on one-count charge of rape.

The prosecutor, Insp. Hashimu Musa, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 11 at about 11.30 a.m.

APC SET FOR TOUGH NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING.

Efforts to resolve the leadership tussle in the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, failed on Wednesday as a late-hour meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa did not come out with a clear position on the issue.

The PUNCH learnt that though the President had an audience with a group led by a former House Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, the meeting only resolved to push the issue to the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress for resolution.

The APC NEC is scheduled to meet on Friday (today). Analysts said on Thursday that the outcome of the meeting of today would either launch the ruling party on the path of recovery or mar it.

BOKO HARAM KILLS 145 PEOPLE IN BORNO.

The fighters of the dreaded Boko Haram sect laid a siege to some Borno communities between Tuesday and Wednesday night and killed 145 persons and injured several others.

Some of the deceased were killed in some mosques where the villagers had gone to pray after breaking Wednesday’s fast.

The attacks occurred in some villages in Monguno and Kukawa local government areas of the state.

PRESIDENT BUHARI SACKS DG OF SSS "ITA EKPENYONG", APPOINTS "MR. LAWAL DAURA" AS NEW DG.

President Muhamadu Buhari has sacked Ita Ekpenyong as the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) replacing him with Mr. Lawal Musa Daura.

The appointment was conveyed Thursday in a letter by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Barrister Danladi Kifasi.

Daura was born in Daura in Katsina State on the 5th of August, 1953.  He attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1977 – 1980.

FRANCE SUSPENDS 2 SOLDIERS OVER ALLEGATION OF SEXUALLY ABUSING 5 YR OLD GIRL IN BURKINA FASO.

France has suspended two of its soldiers over allegations they sexually abused children in Burkina Faso.

One of the alleged victims was a five-year-old girl whose father found a camera containing images of his daughter being sexually abused, report AFP news agency. It comes after another abuse scandal involving French soldiers.

A leaked UN report claimed 16 French peacekeepers abused children in the Central African Republic.