APPEAL COURT CANCELS VICTORY HANDED TO MAMA TARABA BY ELECTION TRIBUNAL.

The Court of Appeal In Abuja has cancelled the purported victory handed Aisha Alhassan, by an election tribunal, as the governor of Taraba State.

Mrs. Alhassan, the candidate of the All Peoples Congress, was declared winner on November 7.

In doing so, the Taraba State Governorship Election Tribunal nullified the election of Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party.

But in its ruling Thursday, the Court of Appeal which reviewed Mr. Ishaku’s appeal, described as “unattainable” a petition by the APC seeking to disqualify Mr. Ishaku as the PDP candidate in the gubernatorial election of April 11.

WARRANT OF ARREST ISSUED FOR BILL COSBY FOR 2004 RAPE OF ANDREA CONSTAND.

An arrest warrant has been issued for entertainer Bill Cosby for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple employee Andrea Constand at his Elkins Park, Pennsylvania mansion in January 2004, Montgomery County District Attorney-Elect Kevin Steele said at a Wednesday press conference. 

Cosby is expected to be arraigned later this afternoon in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. 

"A prosecutor's job is to follow the evidence wherever it leads and whenever it comes to light," Steele said. "Upon examination of all the evidence, today we are able to seek justice on behalf of the victim." 

NNAMDI KANU APOLOGIZES TO PRESIDENT BUHARI AND IGBO LEADERS.

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed regret for referring to President Muhammadu Buhari as a terrorist, evil and a paedophile in his radio broadcasts.

Kanu, who has been charged along with two others by the Federal Government before a Federal High Court in Abuja on six counts of treason and other ancillary offences, said he intended to write a private letter to Buhari to express his apology to the President.

He also apologised to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Igbo elders for “some uncomplimentary things” he said about them.

MAN RAPES 24-YR-OLD FACEBOOK LOVER AT FIRST MEETING.

A 26-year-old man, Taiwo Oluwatobi, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, for allegedly luring his Facebook lover to his house, and raping her.

Oluwatobi had met the 24-year-old victim, identified only as Temitope, on Facebook. He had allegedly lured her to his house in the Alagomeji, Yaba area of the state to collect N15,000, during which he raped her.

It was gathered that the incident happened at the suspect’s friend’s rented apartment on Queens Street, Alagomeji, on Monday, November 30, and the visit was Oluwatobi and Temitope’s first meeting.

COURT GRANTS EMBATTLED SAMBO DASUKI AND OTHERS BAIL.

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, has granted former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; a former director of finance at the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu; a former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir, and two firms Dalhatu Investment Limited and Jabbam Ada Global Services, bail in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, accusing them of criminal breach of trust and of obtaining stolen property.

Justice Peter Affect, who delivered the ruling in Monday, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N250 million each with a surety in like sum.

He also said the surety must be a civil servant, serving or retired and not less than the rank of a director.

ARSENAL MOVES FOR U-17 GOLDEN BOY VICTOR OSIMHEN

Arsenal are reportedly set to battle it out with bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the services of Chile 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup Golden Boot winner Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen guided Nigeria to their fifth Under-17 World Cup title after beating Mali 2-0 on November 8 in Estadio Sausalito in Vina Del Mar, Chile’s fourth largest city. He scored 10 goals in the tournament to emerge as Chile 2015 highest goal scorer, making him one of the hottest young properties in world football.

The 16-year-old was linked with a move to German Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg last week. But reports on Sunday claimed Spurs, who went cold after jumping to the front of the queue in the race to sign to sign the player after his fantastic performance in Chile, have resurrected their interest in the Golden Eaglets striker.

JOSE MOURINHO SACKED BY CHELSEA, SET TO GET £40MILLION PAY.

Jose Mourinho has been sensationally sacked as Chelsea manager after a 2-1 defeat by Leicester compounded his side’s miserable start to the season.

The Portuguese boss guided his side to the Premier League title in May, but Monday's loss was their ninth of the campaign, leaving them in 16th place, just a point above the relegation places.

Mourinho, who was ready to open talks over a financial settlement to seal his exit after the defeat at West Ham at the end of October, has now seen his second spell at Stamford Bridge come to an end. 

VIDEO SHOWS NIGERIAN ARMY ENGAGING SHIITES BEFORE EVENTS ESCALATED QUICKLY IN ZARIA.

DSS DROPS CASE AGAINST NNAMDI KANU AT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Magistrate of the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, Shuaibu Usman, on Wednesday discharged the Director of Radio Biafra and Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),  Nnamdi Kanu, on all counts of criminal conspiracy and ownership of an unlawful society brought against him by the federal government.

After holding that the government had dropped the charges against Kanu, the judge ruled:  “The accused person is hereby discharged and the case struck out.”

The government through its agent, the Department of State Services (DSS), had elected to withdraw the case at the lower court for a higher court, which has jurisdiction to entertain charges bordering on terrorism, to take over.

APPEAL COURT SACKS GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE OF RIVERS STATE, ORDERS FRESH ELECTIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.

The three-man Court of Appeal panel sitting in Abuja has struck out the appeal of Nyesom Wike seeking a dismissal of the judgment of the Rivers election petition tribunal which sacked him as governor of the state.

In a 110-page ruling delivered by Justice M.B. Dongban-Mensem, the Court ruled that the election of Nyesom Wike did not conform with the electoral act.

The Court has ordered a rerun in 90 days.

#DASUKIGATE - PRESIDENT BUHARI (@MBUHARI) NEVER RECEIVED $300,000 FROM DASUKI BUT GOT 2 SUVs HE WAS ENTITLED TO AS EX-PRESIDENT.

Presidency, last night, stated categorically that president Mohammadu Buhari never collected any monetary compensation from the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan or any of its officials in the aftermath of the Boko haram attack on him in Kaduna last year.

The denial followed reports making the rounds that president was settled with $300,000 and 5 Sports Utility Vehicles, SUVs after the attacks.

The reports however came on the heels of a high profile investigation into the activities of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) in the purchase of military hardwares.

THERE IS NO HONOUR LEFT FOR PDP TO INSULT BUHARI.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed has taken a swipe on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) over its criticism of the All Progressive Party’s (APC) led government for the poor state of the country’s economy and depreciation of naira, saying that the PDP lacks the temerity to insult President Buhari and the citizens for their failure in managing the economy in a transparent manner.

The Minister was reacting to the comments credited to Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, that businesses may collapse in the next six months because the Buhari Administration has mismanaged the economy, which he said was the clearest indication yet that the PDP and its leaders are still in denial about the massive body blows they inflicted on the Nigerian economy.

I NEVER COLLECTED N100M FROM YUGUDA, I WAS ONLY GIVEN $30,000. - BODE GEORGE.

Former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Demcoratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, has denied collecting N100 million from former Minister of Finance (State), Mr Bashir Yuguda, saying it is another blatant falsehood, stripped of any iota of truth.

George, who is also the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, described the claim as “mischievous and deliberately fraudulent.”

The PDP leader, in a statement said: “My attention has been drawn to another mischievous and deliberately fraudulent claim that I collected N100 million from Bashir Yuguda, the former Minister of State for Finance. This is another blatant falsehood, stripped of any iota of truth. This is yet again a depraved continuation of lynch mob journalism orchestrated by an online newspaper.”

$2.2BN ARMS SCANDAL - EFCC CONFUSED OVER EMIR SANUSI.

As investigation into the looting of funds meant for the acquisition of arms for the Nigerian armed forces continues, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, are in a dilemma over what to do with the former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Sanusi, who was removed from the bank by former President Goodluck Jonathan for accusing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, of not remitting $20 billion of oil proceeds into the national treasury, later become the Emir of Kano, an influential traditional and religious post that carried more weight in the northern part of Nigeria than the CBN.

The operatives are keen on interrogating the emir on the numerous disbursement of funds to the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), who is being tried for money laundering, breach of public trust and diversion of public funds.

NIGERIAN ARMY KILLS ZAKZAKY'S SON, WIFE AND OTHER SHIITE LEADERS IN CRACKDOWN OPERATION ON ZARIA.

No fewer than 20 members of the Shi’ite sect were killed, yesterday, as the military cracked down on the sect for blocking the highways during their public procession in Zaria, Kaduna State. The sect, however, claimed that hundreds of its members were killed by soldiers who stormed three of its locations with heavy military weapons. It was gathered that the  troops engaged members of the sect throughout the night as heavy shootings and sounds of explosions were heard in Gyallesu and Sokoto Road, where Hussainiyya – the spiritual centre of the sect – is located.

The Nigerian Army and members of the sect have accused each other of instigating attacks that led to the death of members of the movement on Saturday.

While the Army accused the Shiite followers of attempting to assassinate Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, the Islamic movement said soldiers simply decided to attack “defenceless people”.

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT APPROVES FLYOVER BRIDGES FOR AJAH ROUND-ABOUT AND ABULE EGBA JUNCTION.

The Lagos State Government has approved the construction of flyover bridges for two of the State's high-density traffic zones, Ajah round about and Abule Egba junction. The two major projects were approved by the State's Executive Council and have been duly awarded to contractors for a speedy commencement of work.

In a press release issued yesterday December 13th by the State's Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, the projects will be completed within 16 months.

DASUKI IMPLICATES FORMER PRESIDENT JONATHAN, SAYS HE HANDED OVER BILLIONS OF NAIRA ON HIS INSTRUCTIONS. #DASUKIGATE.

•N10b PDP ‘cash given to former President’s ADC, aide’ 

•‘I’ve no foreign accounts, company’

•‘N10b came from oil block accounts’

Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki has said he handed over the N10billion given to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination convention delegates to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa and the Aide-de-Camp.

ARSENAL FACES A TOUGH HURDLE AGAIN AS THEY DRAW BARCELONA IN LAST 16 OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. #UCLDRAW

Arsenal got a tough draw in the round of 16 of the 2015/2016 UEFA Champions League as usual as they will face Barcelona for a slot in the last 8.

Juventus have a tricky tie against the consistent Bayern Munich while Chelsea will battle PSG.

@BukolaSaraki led @NGRSenate set to buy exotic vehicles worth N4.7BN despite Nigeria's economic hardship.

The led Nigerian Senate is currently on the verge of illegally buying various brands of exotic vehicles for use by its Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the 108 other senators.

The cars will cost taxpayers an estimated N4.7billion that could be spent on vaccinating newborns and save them from dying or on providing electricity for remote communities so kids stop doing school assignments using paraffin lamps.

The upper legislative chamber is buying the vehicles at a time millions of Nigerians are facing severe economic hardship, including nonpayment of salaries

I GAVE N600MILLION CASH TO BODE GEORGE, PETER ODILI, JIM NWOBODO AND 3 OTHERS FOR THE 2015 ELECTIONS - BASHIR YUGUDA. #DASUKIGATE.

The embattled former Minister of State, Bashir Yuguda, has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he gave a total of N600million cash to six chairmen of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 general election.

He listed the beneficiaries as Bode George (South-West); Amb. Yerima Abdullahi (North-East); Peter Odili (South-South); Attahiru Bafarawa (North-West);  Jim Nwobodo (South -East); and Ahmadu Ali (North-Central).

He said he instructed Jabbama Limited to transfer N300million to BAM Properties whose account detail was given to him by a former National Chairman of PDP, Bello Haliru.

NIGERIA ARMY RELEASES PRESS STATEMENT ON THE ATTEMPTED ASSASINATION OF COAS IN #ZARIA.

Directorate of Army Public Relations

FROM DIRECTORATE OF ARMY PUBLIC RELATIONS

DAPR

PRESS RELEASE:SHIITE SECT ATTACKS CHIEF OF ARMY STAFFS CONVOY 12 DECEMBER 2015

The Shiite Sect on the orders of their leader, Ibrahim Alzak-zaky today afternoon in Zaria attacked the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff while on his way to pay homage on the Emir of Zazzau and attend the Passing Out Parade of 73 Regular Recruits Intake of Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria.

Who Released,Killed And Ate Our Lion? - REUBEN ABATI.

“Did they send you your own share of the bush meat?”

“Bush meat?”

“The lion in the zoo that became bush meat in Jos”

“What’s my own inside? I don’t know any zoo worker in Jos and how could a lion that was allowed out of its cage and got shot end up in my stomach. The kind of things you say sometimes.”

“That means you have not been following the story.”

HIGHLIGHTS - U-23 TEAM QUALIFIES FOR RIO OLYMPIC GAMES. Senegal 0-1 Nigeria.

SEN 0 NIG 1

Nigeria’s Dream VI on Wednesday qualified for next year’s Olympic Games soccer event after defeating hosts Senegal 1-0 in the semi final of the CAF U-23 championship in Dakar.

Etebo Oghenekharo’s 77th minute penalty separated the two West African nations in the match played at Leophold Senghor Stadium in Dakar, Senegal.

Goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel was the hero for Nigeria after he  saved a Senegalese penalty in the first half stoppage time.

Daniel was outstanding in goal and contributed hugely to his team’s success.

HIGHLIGHTS - Real Madrid 8 Malmo 0.

R.MAD 8 MALMO 0.

HIGHLIGHTS - HOW MANCHESTER UNITED WAS DEMOTED TO THE EUROPA LEAGUE. WOLFSBURG 3 MAN U 2.

WOL 3 MANU 2.

POLICE UNCOVER BABY FACTORY IN DELTA STATE.

The police in Delta State have uncovered no fewer than 23 illegal orphanages where babies are allegedly sold within the Warri and Asaba environs of the state.

The police arrested 21 persons suspected to be behind the illicit business, just as they recovered six babies in the hideout of the suspects.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs. Celestina Kalu, confirmed the development, saying that the police, following a tip-off, have rescued over 40 babies allegedly put up for sale at various illegal orphanage in Asaba, Kwale and Warri.

INEC DECLARES YAHAYA BELLO WINNER OF KOGI GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION. SEE FULL RESULT OF SUPPLEMENTARY ELECTION.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has returned Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the Kogi State governorship election.

INEC declared Bello as the winner of the election after the APC polled 6,885 votes in Saturday’s supplementary election to take its total votes to 247,754.

The figure was 42,877 votes higher than the 204.877 votes secured by incumbent governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Capt. Idris Wada. Wada got 5,363 votes in the supplementary election.

HOW LAGOS TANKER EXPLOSION RAZED BUILDINGS AND VEHICLES.

Five vehicles, three shops and one house in Ojuelegba, Lagos were burnt on Saturday after a tanker containing 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, spilled and caught fire.

The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Michael Akindele, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that though no injury or death was recorded, a couple who occupied the house were taken to the hospital for medical check-up.

He said, “At about 2:15 am, we got a distress call through our toll-free number, 767, about a fallen trailer at Ojuelegba en route to Moshalashi.

REAL MADRID KICKED OUT OF COPA DEL REY FOR FIELDING INELIGIBLE PLAYER.

Real Madrid have been disqualified from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player in their win over Cadiz.

Denis Cheryshev, who scored the opening goal of the game, was due to serve a ban having picked up three yellow cards in last term's competition. 

The Andalusian side officially complained about the Russian international's involvement and, as expected, Rafa Benitez's side have been kicked out of the competition.

FIVE DEAD AS SUICIDE BOMBERS HITS BORNO VILLAGE.

No less than five people have been killed in a twin suicide attack in the remote villages in Borno State, according to vigilante sources.

The first suicide bombing took place in Kimba village of Biu Local Government Area (LGA) at 8:30am, which reportedly killed two people.

The second suicide bombing took place at 12 noon in Sabon Gari, which is reported to have killed three people.

According to a Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) member from Biu, ''a male detonated a bomb (in Biu) killing an elderly man along with him.''

ISAACTOLU - THE LOVE STORY IN PICTURES. (@HYZIC23 & @TOLEXTRA)

The Proposal

16 PEOPLE BURNED ALIVE IN EGYPT AS ANGRY EMPLOYEE WHO WAS FIRED THREW MOLOTOV COCKTAIL INTO RESTAURANT.

A Molotov cocktail hurled into a Cairo restaurant killed 16 people and injured three others today, Egyptian security officials said.

The attacker was an employee who had been fired from the restaurant in the Agouza area in the centre of the Egyptian capital, an official revealed.

Victims of the blast were burned to death or died from smoke inhalation. The restaurant, also a nightclub, was located in a basement and offered no escape route, it has been reported.

PRESIDENT BUHARI SLASHES MTN'S FINE TO N674BN AS ITS NIGERIA CEO MICHAEL IKPOKI RESIGNS.

Communication giant MTN Nigeria got some reprieve from President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday. The President slashed the N1.04 trillion fine imposed on it by Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) over infractions on subscriber identity module (SIM) card.

The South African firm will now pay N674 billion on or before December 31. The telco got the NCC knock for keeping some 5.2 million pre-registered SIM cards running on its network, contrary to a directive from the regulator that all operators should deactivate such SIMs on their networks.

Heightening security concerns forced the regulator to issue the directive.

KOGI ELECTIONS - THUGS BURN DOWN INEC OFFICE IN DEKINA LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Barely few hours to the controversial supplementary governorship Election in Kogi State, the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was razed down by some thugs in Dekina, Dekina local government area of the state.

Out of the 91 polling units, where the election was supposed to take place, 29 units are in Dekina.

According to eyewitnesses, some thugs invaded the office at about 5:00am and set it on fire in anger in the early hours of Friday.

KOGI ELECTION - WHAT INEC SHOULD HAVE DONE.

The death of Prince Abubakar Audu, the late candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recent governorship election in Kogi State has undoubtedly stoked serious controversy.

Before his passing on Sunday, a day after the election, Audu had taken the lead in the vote count with 240,867 votes compared to the 199,514 votes scored by his main rival, Captain Idris Wada, the incumbent governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Though largely free of violence, polling was cancelled in 91 polling units on account of violence and other irregularities.

$2BN ARMS SCANDAL - EFCC UNCOVERS ANOTHER N600M SCAM.

The Economic  and Financial Crimes Commission, yesterday, continued its arrest of high profile politicians and top military officers over the $2bn arms contract allegedly disbursed by the Office of National Security Adviser, ONSA.

Suspects arrested, yesterday, included the former Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Marine Safety, Air Vice Marshal Salihu Atawodi.

Atawodi was accused of alleged diversion of N600 million meant for acquisition of military boats for the use of the Nigerian armed forces.

FG APPOINTS PRIVATE LAWYER TO PROSECUTE DASUKI.

The Federal Government may have appointed a private legal practitioner, Mr. Oladipupo Okpeseyitan as the prosecutor for the money laundering case it is pressing against the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

Okpeseyitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, made his formal appearance when the case of the enforcement of human rights by Dasuki, which is being opposed by the Federal Government came up for hearing at the Federal High Court Abuja.

After announcing his appearance as the FG’s lawyer in the case, Okpeseyitan, said that the government had formally applied for the stay of execution in the earlier judgment by the court granting Dasuki leave to travel abroad for medical treatment.

NO GOING BACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA BILL - SAYS SENATE PRESIDENT BUKOLA SARAKI.

As criticisms continue to trail the ongoing bill by the Senate to censor social media in the country, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said no amount of attacks arising from it would make the Red Chamber abandon the proposed law.

Saraki, who acknowledged the roles of the social media in the development of the country’s growing democracy, however, said the Senate would not fold its hand to allowed it abused  by some elements.

Speaking Thursday, when Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West, raised the issue under matters of urgent importance, during the day’s plenary, the Senate President berated activities of some social media platforms, which he said, had published numerous materials to undermine the integrity of the Red Chamber.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE #CALIFORNIASHOOTING.

A man and a woman opened fire at an office Christmas party in San Bernardino, California at around 11am on Wednesday killing 14 people and wounding a further 17.

Police identified the shooters as Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 27.

The pair were armed with rifles and handguns, which were purchased legally, and dressed in 'assault-style' clothing.

BODE GEORGE AND PETER ODILI GOT N100M EACH FROM DASUKI'S $2BN ARMS SCANDAL.

A source at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has linked former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State and a once convicted top member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George, with receiving N100 million each from the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (ret.).

The EFCC source said that the largess to the two PDP officials was diverted from funds meant for the purchase of arms in order to better equip the Nigerian military in its campaign against Islamist terror group, Boko Haram. 

Instead, the N200 million paid to the two PDP stalwarts was designed to ensure the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who lost the presidential election held on March 28, 2015.

OSCAR PISTORIUS FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER, FACES UP TO 15YRS IN JAIL.

Oscar Pistorius has been convicted of murder by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal, which threw out his conviction on the lesser crime of culpable homicide for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius will have to return to prison after the court found him guilty of murdering Steenkamp in 2013.

“Guilty of murder, with the accused having criminal intent,” judge Eric Leach told the court. “The matter is referred back to the trial court to consider an appropriate sentence.

$2BN ARMS DEAL - EFCC ARREST DASUKI, DOKPESI, BAFARAWA, YUGUDA AND OTHERS.

After a month’s siege to his Abuja home and legal fireworks, former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) was yesterday arrested for interrogation on the $2b phoney arms deals.

The Department of State Services (DSS) is to hand Dasuki over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC intensified its probe of the arms deals by arresting ex-Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and the Emeritus Chairman of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

LION ESCAPES FROM JOS WILD LIFE PARK..

Update: The Lions has been killed.

A lion has escaped from the Jos Wild Life Park on Wednesday, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

According to Mr. John Doy, the Acting General Manager, Plateau Toursim Corporation, the lion escaped “at about 8:00am while it was being fed.”

Doy said that the lion, which had been caged since 1972, ” slipped through the gate of the cage when it was opened for its routine feeding.”

POWER HARDSHIP BITES HARDER AS SUPPLY DROPS TO 6 HOURS DAILY.

The hardship currently witnessed by Nigerians across the country took a turn for the worse in Abuja in the last couple of days as Abuja Electricity Distribution Company  reduced power supply to the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states to an average of six hours a day.

This was in negation of recent claims by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, two weeks ago, that power supply had hit a new high of 4,488 megawatts (MW).

Vanguard observed that over a month, the power situation in Abuja took a turn for the worse, with households having to grapple with  exorbitant electricity bills despite the absence of electricity.

HIGHLIGHTS - IHEANACHO SHINES AS MANCHESTER CITY BEAT HULL CITY 2-1 IN LEAGUE CUP.

MANC 4 HULL 1

TRIO REMANDED IN PRISON FOR RAPING 17-YR-OLD GIRL THEY THREATENED WITH A TOY GUN. #SAYNOTORAPE.

An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded three accused persons- Biola Akinwande, 18, Ayoola Awodile, 25, and Sodiq Oyedele, 19, docked for allegedly raping a-17-year-old girl. The prosecutor, Cpl. Ronke Badmus, told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on Nov. 22 around 2:00 p.m. at No. 29, Oke-Atan st. Ile-Ife.

Badmus stated that the accused persons conspired to commit the offence. The prosecutor added that they unlawfully had canal knowledge of the girl by using toy gun and cutlasses to threaten her. According to Badmus, the offence was contrary to Section 357 and punishable under Sections 86 and 516 (1), (2) of the Criminal Code Cap 34, Vol. 11 Laws of Osun, 2003.

OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY CLOSED DOWN INDEFINITELY OVER STUDENT UNREST.

The authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, have closed down the school after 48 hours of students unrest.

The institution was shut down on Tuesday after an emergency meeting of Senate.

The students started the protest on Monday over epileptic power supply, unavailability of portable water supply in their halls of residence and alleged poor funding of education in Nigeria.

PRO-BIAFRA PROTESTS SHUTS DOWN ONITSHA,

Activities in the commercial city of Aba in Abia State were yesterday stalled as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) continued its protest  for the release of its leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Though the protest was peaceful, vehicular movement was grounded as the group marched on double lanes of major roads. The Aba-Owerri Road, Azikiwe Road, Faulks Road, Tonimas, Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway and other entry and exit routes were blocked.

It was gathered that the group, yesterday, went round major markets in Aba and warned traders against opening for business. The order was obeyed except for shop owners within streets who though opened, closed down upon sighting the crowd.

KOBE BRYANT BIDS FAREWELL TO NBA.

After his 20th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant will finally call it a career.

In a letter posted on the Player’s Tribune entitled “Dear Basketball,” the Lakers legend wrote of the end of his storied career.

In the heartfelt message, Bryant bared his love for the sport and acknowledged that this season is all he has left to give.

FRAUD SUSPECT DIES IN EFCC CUSTODY.

Tragedy has hit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after a suspect in its custody, suddenly developed chest pains, and died.

Arowofela Olufemi, who was being investigated by the commission following allegations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, that he fraudulently converted over N100 million dividend warrants to himself, died in a military hospital, where he was rushed to by officials of the EFCC.

A statement made available to Vanguard yesterday indicated that Olufemi had complained of chest pains early in the day and was rushed to an unnamed military hospital in Lagos, where he gave up the ghost before doctors could attend to him.

SUGABELLY SHEDS MORE LIGHT ON HER RAPE HORROR - #SurvivingMustaphaAudu #SayNoToRAPE.

The lady who alleged that the sons of late Governor of Kogi. Audu Abubakar and his friends raped, abused and molested her multiple times have opened up more on how the tragic events happened.

Sharing the details on her blog she wrote; ''Every time I see a white Nissan Altima, my palms go sweaty, and my knees get weak. It’s an involuntary reaction born of so many nights being driven around Asokoro pinned to the floor of Tunji’s white Nissan Altima, barely able to breathe, the stench of weed stinging my eyes while I choked on the penis of whomever it pleased Mustapha to force me to pleasure that day.

''I can’t have music playing while driving around in a car either. Or just sitting around at home. I can’t have music playing period. Especially not Maroon5. If I get into your car, please drive in fucking silence or you will make it hard for me to breathe.

TREASURY LOOTERS ARE RETURNING STOLEN FUNDS IN BITS VOLUNTARILY BUT WE WANT EVERYTHING - PRESIDENT BUHARI,

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday disclosed that some past government officials who stole public funds while in the saddle have started returning parts of their loots to government coffers voluntarily.

He however said he was not satisfied yet as his government would stop at nothing to ensure all stolen funds and not a fraction was recovered.

Buhari disclosed this during an interactive session he had with members of the Nigerian community in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

TURKEY SHOOTS DOWN RUSSIAN FIGHTER JET - PUTIN DESCRIBES TURKEY'S ACTION AS A STAB IN THE BACK.

Turkish fighter jets on patrol near the Syrian border on Tuesday shot down a Russian warplane that Turkey said had violated its airspace, a long-feared escalation that could further strain relations between Russia and the West.

The Turkish prime minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, ordered the Foreign Ministry to consult with NATO and the United Nations, his office said in a statement, without elaborating. NATO announced that it would hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday in Brussels to discuss the episode.

In his first remarks on the incident, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia confirmed that an F-16 Turkish fighter jet had shot down the Russian plane, a Sukhoi Su-24, with an air-to-air missile. But he insisted that the Russian jet had been in Syrian airspace at the time and had never threatened Turkey’s territory.

HOW AUDU ABUBAKAR DIED ON ELECTION DAY.

Unknown to many, Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Prince Abubakar Audu died on Saturday –  the day of the election he was set to win.

According to a highly placed source within the party, the Kogi APC standard bearer whose death came to public knowledge  Sunday evening, actually passed on few hours after casting his vote at his polling unit at Ogbonicha in Ofu Local Government Area.

The source confided in our correspondent that Audu had been feeling quite unwell a day before the election. A doctor was called in to attend to him, pending when he would have been flown out for proper medical attention, he said.

FREEDOM REMANDED IN PRISON FOR RAPING 15-YR-OLD GIRL IN LAGOS. #SAYNOTORAPE.

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on Monday remanded a 27-year-old musician, Friday Freedom, in prison for allegedly raping a 15- year-old girl.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Chief Magistrate, Mr. Tajudeen Elias, remanded the accused in the Kirikiri Prison and adjourned the case till November 28, 2015, for ruling on bail application.

The accused, who lives on Kilani Street, Papa Ashafa, Agege, a suburb of Lagos, is facing a charge of rape.