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.