SENATE PRESIDENT BUKOLA SARAKI CONFIRMS RECEIVING MINISTERIAL LIST. #THELIST.

The Senate has received the ministerial list.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola SarAki, who disclosed this on his Twitter handle, said the list was received at 5pm on Wednesday (today).

Saraki said, “I can confirm to you that I have just received the list.”

HEADIES 2015 NOMINEES LIST.

1. BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

A non-voting category for the best single recording by an artiste or group in the year under review.

1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid

2. Eyo – Asa

3. Wish Me Well – Timi Dakolo

4. Bez – There’s A Fire

5. Cobhams – Do the right Thing

TIMI ALAIBE WITHDRAWS FROM APC BAYELSA GUBER PRIMARIES.

Former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission NDCC, Timi Alaibe has withdrawn from the primary of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State.

Alaibe in a statement issued in the early hours of Wednesday said the decision to withdraw from the contest was in the interest of the party especially as it face the task of the common challenge of unseating the PDP in the state come December 5

He said, “It is with all nostalgia that I recall the zeal, enthusiasm and hope with which thousands of Bayelsans made a statement in the direction of change in August, 2015. I can also vividly recall a mental replay of the occasion wherein a qualitative representation of the leadership of our great party, the All Progressives Congress ( APC) ushered in respected leaders and members from their then party, Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) .

(HIGHLIGHTS) Bayern Munich 5 Dinamo Zagreb 0.

BAYERN MUNICH 5 DINAMO ZAGREB 0

(HIGHLIGHTS) FC Porto 2 Chelsea 1.

PORTO 2 CHELSEA 1

(HIGHLIGHTS) Arsenal 2 Olympiakos 3.

ARSENAL 2 OLYMPIAKOS 3

(HIGHLIGHTS) Barcelona 2 Bayer Leverkusen 1.

BARCELONA 2 BAYERN LEVERKUSEN 1

PRESIDENT BUHARI APPOINTS HIMSELF AS PETROLEUM MINISTER. #THELIST.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is to take personal charge of the country’s crucial oil portfolio, his spokesman said on Tuesday, as a deadline loomed for him to finally nominate his cabinet.

Reports from New York, where Buhari has been attending the UN General Assembly, quoted the president as saying he would be minister of petroleum resources, with a junior minister taking charge of day-to-day affairs in the sector.

“Confirmed. He said so,” his spokesman Femi Adesina told AFP in a text message, without giving further details.

WHY I MARRIED 18-YR-OLD ADAMAWA PRINCESS - EMIR OF KANO "SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI". #BRIDENOTCHILD.

Here is a response by the Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II to the criticism that followed his marriage to 18 year old Sa'adatu Barkindo-Musdafa last week. In a private email sent to select people which has leaked to many social media platforms, he explained why he decided to marry Sa'adatu. Read below

"I am sure NC members all have their views and have kept quiet out of (appropriate) deference to our right to make our individual choice. Obviously I do not need to explain anything to anyone in a purely personal matter but a few points are worthy of note:

FULL TEXT OF SENATE PRESIDENT BUKOLA SARAKI'S RESUMPTION TEXT AFTER 4TH RECESS.

WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI (CON) TO SENATORS OF THE 8TH SENATE ON RESUMPTION FROM THE SENATE RECESS ON TUESDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2015.

Protocol:

Distinguished colleagues, I heartily welcome you back from our annual recess. I hope you had a very rewarding time with your families and your constituencies. I also hope that the period of recess has afforded you opportunities to reflect on the enormous task before this Senate in the months ahead.

ELDER STATESMAN GAMALIEL ONOSODE PASSES ON AT 82.

Foremost technocrat and boardroom Czar, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, 82, is dead.

Mr. Onosode died Tuesday morning at Gold Cross Hospital, Ikoyi Lagos at about 8:15am after a protracted illness.

Onosode was flown home yesterday from London.

HOW I WAS ABDUCTED,TORTURED AND RELEASED PLUS DETAILS OF RANSOM PAID - CHIEF OLU FALAE.

A former finance minister, Olu Falae, who was kidnapped and released last week, has provided shocking details of his ordeal at the hands of his abductors, narrating how he was deprived of food and made to trek several kilometres to freedom.

Mr. Falae said he was kidnapped by six Fulani herdsmen last Monday at his Ilado farm in Akure.

The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who spoke to journalists in his home in Akure, said the armed hoodlums threatened to kill him every 30 minutes until they received information that money had been given to them as demanded.

CAUSE OF MINA STAMPEDE WHICH KILLED OVER 700 PILGRIMS REVEALED.

A British Hajj tour operator advisor claimed on Friday a stampede that killed hundreds outside Mecca was caused by the Saudi king’s decision to close already overcrowded roads.

Mohammed Jafari, an adviser to a British Hajj tour operator, said the deaths of 717 people were “the fault of the Saudi government” because “every time a Prince comes along” they closed the roads and fail to consider “the disaster waiting to happen.”

The Hajj stampede, believed to have originated at a crossroads between Streets 202 and 223 in the Mecca neighbourhood of Mina, is the deadliest in 25 years. 

SARAKI - SENATE SET FOR STORMY SESSION AS THEY RESUME TOMORROW.

There are indications that Senators that are opposed to Dr. Bukola Saraki’s leadership of the Senate are poised to ask for his resignation when the upper federal legislative chamber re-opens on Tuesday (tomorrow).

The anti-Saraki Senators are citing the trial of the Senate president by the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged false asset declaration as a reason for Saraki to go while his supporters are saying the man should not be proclaimed guilty before he goes through the judicial process.

The Senate will resume plenary on Tuesday. The lawmakers have been on break since August 13.

MINISTERIAL LIST - APC CHAIRMAN SUMMONS EMERGENCY MEETING.

Strong indications emerged, yesterday, that the Senate will receive the ministerial list from President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow or Wednesday.

Ahead of the submission of the Ministerial list by President Buhari, National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has summoned an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, for today.

According to a source, besides discussing the proposed ministerial list, the party leadership will brainstorm on the multiple crises rocking it.

55 NIGERIANS CONFIRMED DEAD IN MINA STAMPEDE.

Fifty-four Nigerians have been confirmed to have died during Thursday’s stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia NAN reports. The confirmation was given by Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Monday at a news conference in Makkah.

No fewer than 717 pilgrims died and 805 others injured in the stampede when the pilgrims trooped to perform the ritual of the symbolic stoning of the devil. Mukhtar said 61 other Nigerian pilgrims were injured during the incident. He said 42 of the deceased pilgrims were transported to Saudi Arabia by state Pilgrims’ Welfare Agencies, while 12 came through Private Tour Operators

EMIR OF KANO SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI SECRETLY MARRIES 18-YR-OLD ADAMAWA PRINCESS.

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has finally tied the knot with his rumoured heartthrob, Sa’adatu Barkindo-Musdafa, the daughter of the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo-Musdafa.

The 18-year old becomes the emir’s fourth wife. She recently completed secondary school and is been enrolled for advanced level studies.

In addition to his first wife, Sadiya, who is the daughter of the late emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, Mr. Sanusi has two other wives — Maryam and Rakiya.

46-YR-OLD MAN RAPES 11-YR-OLD DAUGHTER, IMPREGNATES NEIGHBOUR'S DAUGHTER. #SAYNOTORAPE.

A 46-year-old man, Morris Ndidwe, has allegedly raped his 11-year-old daughter and impregnated a neighbour’s daughter in Delta State.

The man has been arrested by the Delta State Police Command.

Ndidwe, according to his wife, had made several attempts of having carnal knowledge of his 11-year-old daughter in the past before the last one that landed him in police net.

BOKO HARAM ATTACKS DSS OFFICE IN KOGI, FREES 30 PRISONERS.

No fewer than 30 people detained at the Kogi State office of the Directorate of State Service were freed on Friday night when it was attacked by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

This was as four people, including an anti-riot policeman, were reportedly killed in the attack by the invading insurgents.

The attackers were said to have immediately made for the cell of the DSS office located along Hassan Katsina Road, Lokoja, and released all suspects kept there after gaining entrance.

(HIGHLIGHTS) Newcastle 2 Chelsea 2.

NEW 2 CHE 2

(HIGHLIGHTS) Leicester City 2 Arsenal 5.

LEI 2 ARS 5

(HIGHLIGHTS) Tottenham 4 Manchester City 1.

TOT 4 MAN C 1

HOW WE RESOLVED THE BURKINA FASO COUP - PROF OSINBAJO.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday recalled how he joined other leaders of the Economic Community of West African States to facilitate quick restoration of civilian rule in Burkina Faso, a day after President Muhammadu Buhari hosted an Extraordinary session of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Governments in Abuja.

A decision was taken at the summit to ensure the termination of last week’s military coup in the West African nation.

According to a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, the Vice President, who represented Buhari in Ouagadougou, said the leaders were in the country’s capital to convey the recommendations agreed by ECOWAS leaders in Abuja.

HOW OVER 717 PILGRIMS DIED IN MECCA. #HAJJSTAMPEDE.

No fewer than 717 pilgrims were killed on Thursday, while 863 were injured during a stampede which occurred at an Islamic event held in the city of Mina, about two miles from Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The event was one of the last rituals of theHajj season, an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, which is known as “stoning the devil.”

The Thursday tragedy is the deadliest in the city since 1990 when 1,426 people died in a similar stampede. In 2006, the stampede killed 363 people, Al Jazeera reports.

(HIGHLIGHTS) Tottenham 1 Arsenal 2.....Flamini's brace.

TOT 1 ARS 2

Arsenal's midfielder Flamini scored 2 goals to help his team knock Tottenham Hotspur out of the Capital One cup.

READ GQ'S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NICKI MINAJ & MEEK MILL.

Here's a ten second recap of the Drake Vs Meek Mill beef saga. Meek Mill claims Drake doesn't write his own raps, Drake writes raps—plural—that embarrass Meek Mill, the internet follows with a trillion terabytes worth of memes to provide some institutional memory of the lyrical ass whooping. The photos you're looking at now happened to be shot the day Drake released Meek's first diss record, "Charged Up." On set at the shoot, between photos, Meek tweeted: "Baby lotion soft." The world disagreed.

In retrospect, it didn't really matter that Meek lost a rap battle. Because he still has the girl. Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj are the power couple hip-hop's always wanted. Though they're constantly compared to Jay Z and Beyonce, Jay and Bey are more like United Nations ambassadors at this point. Where as, every day with the Meek and Nicki is the Solange elevator ride—fiery, spontaneous, unpredictable, publicist heart-attack inducing.

With tweets and money flying everywhere, we sat down with 2015's Bonnie and Clyde to silence their relationship haters once and for all.

EKITI PEOPLE DEFY IMAMS, TROOP OUT IN MASS TO COLLECT GOVERNOR FAYOSE'S RAM & RICE.

Muslims in Ekiti State on Tuesday defied the purported directives by some of their leaders not to accept Sallah Rams, bags of rice and other types of food items from Governor Ayo Fayose, as they trooped in their numbers to the government house, Ado Ekiti, to collect the rams distributed by the governor for Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The League of Imams and Alfas, Ekiti State had last week urged Muslims to reject the gifts on the allegation that their members were not adequately represented in Fayose’s appointments.

Though, another group had countered the League of Imams and Alfas for that action, describing those behind the directive as impostors.

READ THE DETAILS OF SENATE PRESIDENT @BUKOLASARAKI'S TRIAL. #SARAKIONTRIAL.

The third citizen, Senator Bukola Saraki eventually appeared in court on Tuesday, 22nd September 2015 to face charges levelled against him by the Code of conduct tribunal.

Here is a report of what transpired at the tribunal

INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE ORDERS INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED DEFILEMENT OF 6-YR-OLD GIRL BY 6 NURSING STUDENTS. #SAYNOTORAPE.

Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has directed Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. James Ezike, to investigate the alleged defilement of a 6-year-old girl (names withheld), by three students of School of Nursing, Benin-City.

The suspects include Kennedy, Paul Aghama and Jeffery.

The IG in the directive signed by his Principal Staff Officer, Idowu Owohunwa, ACP, also directed the Commissioner of Police to revert the earlier decision of the office of the AIG Zone 5 which in its report said the 6-year-old girl defiled herself by using instruments to penetrate her private part.

VIOLENCE MARS APC GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARIES IN BAYELSA STATE.

The Governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Bayelsa State was, yesterday, characterised by confusion,controversy and alleged hijack of the electoral process from the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole-led Electoral Committee.

Former Governor of the state Chief Timipre Sylva won a parallel exercise organised by the state executive of the APC without Oshiomhole and some members of his committee with 726 of the 807 votes cast.

He was retunred as winner by Mr. Nelson Alakgba, a member of the primary committee. Timi Alaibe, who was not present scored four votes.

Robert Lewandowski 5 Goals | Bayern Munich vs Wolfsburg 5 -1 2015

BAYERN MUNICH 5 WOLFSBURG 1

SENATE PRESIDENT BUKOLA SARAKI DOCKED, PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO ALL 13 COUNTS.

The trial of the Senate President, Dr. Olubukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja,commenced on a dramatic note this morning, with the accused person, refusing to mount the dock.

The trial tribunal, headed by Justice Danladi Umar, called up Saraki’s case at exactly 10:32am.

However Saraki’s has been docked and pleaded not guilty to the 13 corruption charges.

A GOVERNOR'S INSENSITIVITY - NIGER STATE GOVERNOR UNDER FIRE OVER CHELSEA VS ARSENAL MATCH.

Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani has come under criticism following his trip to London to watch Saturday’s Premier League game between Chelsea and Arsenal.

Residents of the state on Monday described the governor’s visit to Stamford Bridge as “frivolous” considering the financial problems of the state.

However, the governor explained on his Twitter page that he was at Stamford Bridge to watch the match at the instance of Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi, who plans to set up a football academy in the state.

TAXI DRIVER RAPED & MURDERED 14-MONTH-OLD BABY AFTER HER MOTHER REFUSED TO HAVE SEX WITH HIM. #SAYNOTIRAPE.

Acording to Daily Sun SA, the deal between the young mother and the man, a taxi driver was that they would go drinking and then have sex afterwards but when she changed her mind the man kidnapped, raped and murdered her baby.

On Friday night Sept. 18th, 20 year old Asithandile Mazomba allegedly went drinking with a taxi driver in Kanana Section, Tembisa in Ekurhuleni, South Africa but took her 14-month-old daughter, Elam, with her to the tavern.

A friend of the young mother told Daily Sun, that Asithandile and the driver agreed at the tavern they would go to her place later and he would sleep over.

GOV AMBODE SUBMITS LIST OF 36 WOULD-BE COMMISSIONERS & SPECIAL ADVISERS TO ASSEMBLY FOR SCREENING.

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday presented the list of would-be executive council members to the House of Assembly for screening.

The governor’s list, made up of top technocrats, politicians and strategists, was read at plenary yesterday by the Clerk of the House, Ganiyu Abiru.

There were 36 names, made up of 23 commissioners and 13 special advisers. Six ex-exco members, three ex-lawmakers made the list.

SENATE PRESIDENT BUKOLA SARAKI SET TO FACE CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL TODAY.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday said he would appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday (today) to face a 13-count charge of false asset declaration levelled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Saraki’s promise to appear before the CCT as a “law-abiding citizen” followed failed judicial battle on Monday to stop his arrest and trial by the tribunal.

“I will be there, I have nothing to hide. One was exercising his own right both at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. So, I will appear before the tribunal. The most important thing is that I believe in the process and I will ensure that I am there tomorrow morning,” he told journalists covering the Senate in Abuja.

READ HOW 20 NIGERIANS DIED IN MECCA.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, yesterday, confirmed the death of 20 Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during this year’s Hajj.

Chairman of the commission, Abdullahi Mukhtar, disclosed this at a pre-Arafat meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

He said 14 pilgrims died from cardiac arrest and other ailments, while six lost their lives in the September 11 crane crash incident.

#UNILAGRAPE - UNILAG LECTURER DOCKED FOR RAPE LAMENTS NEGATIVE MEDIA COMMENTS. #SAYNOTORAPE.

The courtroom of a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja was filled to capacity on Monday as a University of Lagos lecturer, Dr. Afeez Baruwa, who is standing trial for allegedly raping an 18-year-old admission seeker, showed up in court for trial.

This was just as the counsel for the defendant, Kunle Abimbola, lamented the negative press coverage given to his client’s case, adding that such publications already presumed the defendant to be guilty.

It was reported on September 10 that Baruwa, a lecturer from the univeristy’s Distance Learning Institute, who had been in remand at the Krikiri Prison since August 7, failed to show up in court.

COMMISSIONER NOMINEES IN CROSS RIVER TO TAKE APTITUDE TEST.

Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, on Monday, said that nominees for appointments as commissioners in the state will undergo a mandatory integrity and aptitude test.

The governor, in statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita, said the nominees would have to undergo the aptitude test before their names would be forwarded to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.

Ayade also on Monday terminated the contract of firms handling the evacuation of refuse in Calabar metropolis for not living up to their responsibilities.

FG DECLARES THURSDAY & FRIDAY AS PUBLIC HOLIDAYS FOR SALLAH CELEBRATION..

The Federal Government has declared Thursday September 24th and Friday September 25th as public holidays to mark this year's Id-El-Kabir celebration.

The public holiday declaration was contained in a statement released today by the Director of Press, Ministry of Interior, Yusuf Isiaka Alhaji on behalf of the Ministry's Permanent Secretary Abubakar Magaji.

HOW FULANI HERDSMAN ABDUCTED OLU FALAE.

Former Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae has been kidnapped.  He was reportedly snatched from his residence on Oba-Ile Road. Akute,  Ondo state.

The 77-yr-old politician who was also a former Minister of Finance has been living in Akure since retirement.

Born on September 21, 1938, the former Finance minister was kidnapped by over 20 Fulani herdsmen who invaded his farm and attacked his over 200 workers.

CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL ORDERS IGP TO PRODUCE BUKOLA SARAKI IN 24HRS. CC: @POLICENG.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to arrest and bring the Senate President, Bukola Saraki before the Tribunal on Tuesday, by 10am.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, gave the ruling on Monday, after Saraki for the second time, failed to show up before the Tribunal.

HOW HID AWOLOWO DIED.

The oxymoron, peaceful death, has probably never been more appropriate to describe the passing on of a person than the death of the matriarch of the Awolowo clan, Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, who died on Saturday, two months short of her 100th birthday.

According to the account of her last moments, published by the Tribune newspaper, Chief HID Awolowo, as she was fondly called in the media, woke up at about 8 a.m. and got ready to host a meeting of the committee set up to plan her centenary birthday. The meeting was billed to hold at10 a.m. in a living room of her residence at Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.

In her usual style, she responded cheerfully to the greeting of Managing Director, African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Publishers of the Tribune newspaper, Edward Dickson, and those of her children, grand children and great grand children that arrived for the meeting.

(PHOTOS) SIX MONTHS PREGNANT KIM KARDASHIAN WEST STUNS IN SUPER TIGHT SPANDEX DRESS.

She has three more months to go until her son is born.

But on Sunday, Kim Kardashian showed off her growing baby bump as she headed to Cafe Habana in Malibu with husband Kanye West.

The 34-year-old reality star wore a super tight mauve tank dress that left little to the imagination.

Kim took a quick break from her role as cheerleader-in-chief for the Yeezy designer to host a live web-stream Q&A on Friday.

34-YR-OLD DRUG ADDICT MURDERED HIS FATHER & ESCAPED WITH HIS HEART AT ABESAN ESTATE, IPAJA, LAGOS.

Residents of Abesan Estate in the Ipaja area of Lagos State have been thrown into confusion after a man, Nelson Oamen, stabbed his father, Ehiremen Oamen, to death during an altercation.

It was gathered that Nelson, who reportedly fled his father’s apartment in Block 272, after the incident on Friday, removed the septuagenarian’s heart and left with it.

It was learnt that the Oamens, who hailed from Edo State, had been living in the estate for over 15 years.

HID AWOLOWO - ECHOES OF A LIFE WELL LIVED.

The late Hannah Dideolu Awolowo lived well. She was not just standing while her husband, the late Obafemi Awolowo, dominated the political space of the defunct Western Region and tried to get power at the centre. Her role in the political career of her husband is the stuff legends are made of, writes Leke Salaudeen

The late Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu, popularly known as HID, was born in 1915 to a modest family in Makun, Sagamu, Ogun State.

A successful tycoon, she became the first Nigerian distributor for the Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC) in 1957 and she was the first to import lace materials and other textiles into the country. Until Saturday afternoon, she was Chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, Publishers of the Tribune titles, Dideolu Specialist Hospital and Dideolu Stores Limited, among others as well as the Matron of the National Association of Nigerian Women in Business, Ogun State Chapter.

I WISH MY RAPIST DEATH SAYS 14-YR-OLD GIRL WHOSE VIRGINITY WAS BRUTALLY TAKEN BY AN OKADA MAN IN LAGOS. #SAYNOTORAPE.

It’s been several days since she was violently raped by an okada rider who took her home from her aunty’s shop, but 14-year-old Esther (not real names) was still writhing in pain and sobbing when a reporter visited her on Tuesday.

With little signs of attaining puberty, she looked very young and innocent. Even though she tried as much as she could to hide her pains, a mix of anger and regret was still written boldly on her face, and she occasionally appeared lost in some painful thoughts.

She sat quietly on a wooden stool in her aunty’s shop and looked round to make sure no one was listening or watching as she made to share the saddest story of her life.

MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS ROCK MAIDUGURI.

Fresh multiple explosions have rocked Ajilari Railway cross of Gomari Airport ward of Maiduguri  living scores of people dead and critically injured. Sources living around the affected areas have said.

Ajilari cross is an outskirt of Maiduguri which has witnessed series of Boko Haram attacks including bombings in recent past.

The explosions which was suspected to have been masterminded by suicide bombers occurred simultaneously at about 7:38pm, while the last one took place at about 8pm which has forced many residents to flee into main city for safety. Details later please.

Vanguard.

BUKOLA SARAKI DISTANCES SELF FROM APC, REMOVES THE PARTY'S NAME FROM TWITTER BIO.

Nigerian users on Twitter, on Saturday, expressed surprise at the removal of the All Progressives Congress’ name from the official profile page of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

According to some users, the Senate President’s verified Twitter biography previously read, in part, “Member of the APC.”

However, when our correspondent visited the page, it simply read, “Senate President and Chairman of the 8th National Assembly. Committed to Transparency and Accountability.”

HID AWOLOWO'S DEATH - OBASANJO & OTHERS REACT.

A former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged the Awolowo family to celebrate their late matriarch’s death.

Obasanjo, who arrived the Ikenne residence of the Awolowos at exactly 7.30pm on Saturday, said HID lived an enviable life and should be celebrated in death.

He said, “It is a passage of an icon. Normally for all of us it should be a mixed feeling because Mama had lived a life that most of us, will envy, but it doesn’t matter how long our loved ones had lived, we will still want them to remain with us.

SARAKI VS CCT - HOW SENATE PRESIDENT GOOFED.

As the face-off between the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) continue to generate interest across the country, some legal practitioners who spoke to The Nation yesterday said the third citizen goofed when he failed to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal but preferred to file an application before the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to stop the scheduled trial at the tribunal.

Explaining the development and the position of the law on this matter, Idahosa Anthony, a lawyer, said, “The ex-parte application is the most frustrating avenue through which justice is frustrated and judicial process abused in our country’s courts of ‘justice’.  The fact that the number three man in our political hierarchy chose this route to circumvent justice is profoundly disappointing.

“Perhaps due to ignorance of what really transpired in court, a section of the media reported that the application was granted. That would have been in manifest error of trite law.

KOGI 2015 ELECTIONS - THE BATTLE BETWEEN WADA & AUDU.

Barring any legal upset, Kogi State will be electing its next governor in November. The choice is between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Idris Wada, who is the current governor, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abubakar Audu, who was twice governor on the platforms of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) between 1990 and 2003 and the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) between 1992 and 1993 under the Gen Ibrahim Babangida transition programme. Mr Wada is a retired pilot, and Prince Audu a banker and accountant. Both will lock horns brutally and fiercely in about two months from now to determine who will run the affairs of the largely silent and bucolic state for the next four years.

EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS - ASP DETAINED FOR KILLING SENATOR'S SON.

The Force Criminal  Investigations Department (FCID) of the Nigerian Police force has arrested and detained an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, and six other Police officers over allegations of extra-judicial killings in separate incidents that occurred in Abuja and Benin, the Edo State capital.

The first case resulting in the arrest of the ASP (Mohammed Yusuf) and two officers (Corporal Agada Lawrence and Corporal Agada Kenneth, involved the extra judicial killing of the son of the former Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Fidelis Okoro, in Abuja last year.

According to Police sources, Mr. John Chukwuemeka Okoro (son of Senator Okoro) and a friend of his (Sunday Markus alias Sunday Black) were at the Durumi district of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, on the 11th  of August 2014, when a Police Patrol team received a distress call from Mabuchi District that that some suspected robbers snatched a Toyota car from the owner.

AREPO: WHERE VANDALS RULE OVER A NIGERIAN TERRITORY. - (CC: @MBUHARI @PROFOSINBAJO @GOVSIA @AKINWUNMIAMBODE @POLICENG}.

Nigerians woke up Wednesday, with  news of the gruesome murder of nine operatives of the Department of  State Security,DSS in Konu area of Ikorodu Lagos, Tuesday night,  by vandals who were returning from  Arepo creeks  in trucks loaded with siphoned petroleum products  belonging to the Nigerian .National Petroleum Corporation.

The operatives whose identities are yet to be ascertained owing to the silence of the DSS over the incident, had gone to effect the arrest of the  vandals.

As they embarked on that operation, apparently hoping to  actualise their aim, little did they realise that would be their last assignment as operatives of the revered security agency. As barely had they reached Konu than they were taken unawares by an  unwelcome  sporadic shots from their  enemies- the vandals, who laid ambush for them.

(HIGHLIGHTS) Manchester City 1 West Ham 2

MAN CITY 1 WEST HAM 2

(HIGHLIGHTS) Newcastle 1 vs Watford 2 . ODION IGHALO SCORED 2 GOALS.

NEW 1 WAT 2

(HIGHLIGHTS) Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0.

CHE 2 ARS 0

HID AWOLOWO IS DEAD.

Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, wife of the legendary politician, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is dead.

She was aged 99, just a few weeks to her marking a century in this world. She was born on 25 November 1915.

The woman, who was once described by Awo, as a jewel of inestimable value, has now gone to join her husband, who died in 1987.

DIAMOND BANK STAFF DOCKED FOR N111.2M FRAUD.

A staff of Diamond Bank Obioha Okengwu was yesterday arraigned before Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court, Lagos over a nine count charge of fraud. He is accused of allegedly defrauding the bank of N111.2 million.

According to prosecuting counsel, Obioha, a graduate of Abia State University, committed the offence between April and August 2014 while working at the e-Business unit of the bank, handling daily settlement entries of transactions done on Point of Sales (POS) and Automated Teller Machine 

Obioha unlawfully credited huge sums of money into his family’s account instead of the bank’s accounts.

COURT ORDERS INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE TO ARREST BUKOLA SARAKI.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja has ordered the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase and other relevant security agencies in ‎the country to arrest the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

In a ruling this afternoon, the tribunal headed by Justice Danladi Umar issued a bench warrant against Saraki following his refusal to appear in court to face a 13-count criminal charge that was preferred against him by the Federal Ministry of Justice.

FG had through a deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. M.S. Hassan, asked the tribunal to order Saraki’s arrest.

THE FIVE WIVES OF LATE OONI SIJUWADE TO MOURN FOR ONE YEAR.

The five wives (oloris) of the departed Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, would mourn for one year as a mark of respect for the monarch who passed away on July 28, 2015, a family member has said.

Speaking in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday, the family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said all the wives of the departed monarch were barred by Ife tradition not to speak to journalists for one year after the death of the king.

“The wives cannot talk to the press within one year of the monarch’s death. They cannot even attend flamboyant parties or events. There’s nothing the wives can do about that.

AGE CATCHES UP WITH 91-YR-OLD MUGABE AS HE READ WRONG SPEECH.

Zimbabweans generally don't laugh or get excited about President Robert Mugabe's speeches, given the level of poverty and reported human rights abuses in the southern African country.

But an unprecedented slip-up in a speech by the 91-year-old leader on Tuesday has changed the mix.

Instead of a speech officially opening Parliament, Mugabe read his State of the Nation Address, which he had already delivered on August 25.

After the incident, his spokesman George Charamba issued a statement saying: "There has been a mix-up of speeches resulting in a situation where His Excellency the President delivered the wrong speech.

"The mix-up happened in his secretarial office therefore the delivery in Parliament should be set aside. The error is sincerely regretted and corrective measures are being considered."

But commenters on social media would not let it go that easily.

"What if Mugabe had been given a speech about his resignation? We could be far by now," reads a message from Tomaz Madhuku he says he got from a WhatsApp group he belongs to.

Jonathan Moyo, former minister of information, struggled to defend his boss. He said U.S. President Barack Obama had had the same thing happen to him.

But critics of Mugabe weren't buying it.

"It doesn't help being defensive, this is a sign that he is too old and must resign!" wrote one person identified only as Mr X, responding to that tweet.

Mugabe, who turns 92 in February, rarely made this kind of mistake until recently.

Last December, he shouted, "Down with Zanu PF!" -- but Zanu PF, the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front, is his own party.

His critics say age is working against him. And with the Tuesday incident, the calls for his resignation got louder.

"He has seen better days. I think it is now clear that he is no longer fit for purpose. In fact if Zimbabwe was a democracy, Parliament was supposed to go and invoke Section 96 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe," said Obert Gutu, spokesman for the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Harare.

"He should actually be impeached. He is now clearly unable to discharge his duties as head of state."

CNN

#CCBvsSARAKI - COURT SUMMONS SARAKI, CCB & OTHERS OVER FALSE ASSETS DECLARATION.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, summoned the Federal Ministry of Justice, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Mr. Sam Saba and that of the  Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Justice Danladi Umar, to appear before the court on September 21, to show cause why Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki should be prosecuted.

Saraki is facing 13-count charge bordering on alleged corruption and false declaration of assets, levelled against him by the CCB.

Equally summoned to appear before the court was the deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. M.S. Hassan, who signed the charge against Saraki. The court order was sequel to an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/775/15, which was filed and moved in chamber, yesterday, by Saraki’s lawyer, Mr. Mahmud Magaji, SAN.