WHY WE RELEASED JAFARU ISA BUT HELD ON TO OLISA METUH - EFCC.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has denied claims it was on a witchhunt of leaders of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party after its continued detention of Olisa Metuh and release of Jafaru Isa, an All Progressives Congress chieftain.

Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, told journalists Monday that while Mr. Isa had begun the process of refunding the money in his possession, Mr. Metuh had refused to do same.

‎”From the records, Metuh got over N400 million, he has not said anything because we need the public money to be returned so that it’s going to be used for public good,” Mr. Magu said during a meeting with online media publishers in Lagos.

DG OF NBC EMEKA MBA DETAINED BY EFCC OVER N15B FRAUD.

The Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Emeka Mba, was yesterday detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after honouring the commission’s invitation.

NBC’s Head of Public Affairs, Awwalu Saliu, who confirmed the development yesterday, said Mba actually honoured the EFCC’s invitation and was not arrested contrary to news making rounds yesterday.

Earlier, a source, close to the commission, informed The Guardian yesterday that the anti-graft agency had been investigating the NBC in the past one month.

ARMY RECOMMENDS RETIREMENT OF TWO OFFICERS OVER 2015 EKITI AND OSUN ELECTIONS.

The board of inquiry set up by the Nigerian Army to investigate allegations of professional misconduct by some officers in the 2015 elections that pitched President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, against former President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has recommended the compulsory retirement of two senior officers of the Nigerian Army.

General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Kaduna, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, who chaired the board of inquiry, while submitting the report to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Abuja, also recommended that three officers were to lose their command and one officer was recommended for prosecution for collecting financial gratification.

A statement signed by Col. Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, said: “Other recommendations include placing 15 officers on watch list, nine officers were to be further investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over allegations levelled against them.

FG RECOVERS $100M ABACHA LOOT, SET TO RECEIVE ANOTHER $300M.

 

The Federal Government disclosed, yesterday, it has recovered $100 million looted funds from Switzerland.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Oyeama stated this at the inaugural ceremony of the 22nd regular course of Foreign Service Academy in Abuja.

Oyeama said:  “Nigeria recently recovered a huge amount of money from the government of Switzerland. I met with Switzerland representatives last week to work out the modalities for the recovering of these funds. So far Nigeria has recovered over $700 million, and there are ongoing negotiations on how that money would be applied. Discussion is also ongoing to recover another $300 million.”

OLISA METUH SUES FG OVER CONTINUOUS DETENTION BY EFCC.

The detained National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Monday filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit before a Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking his immediate release from custody.

Metuh had since January 5, 2016 been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for questioning for allegedly benefiting from the $2.1bn arms funds allegedly diverted by a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

The EFCC believed that Metuh received N400m of the allegedly diverted arms funds, but the PDP spokesperson had reportedly claimed that the sum was for an undisclosed service he rendered to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

YAYA TOURE ANGRY HE DIDN'T WIN CAF AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR AWARD.

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has reacted angrily after failing to win the Confederation of African Football's player of the year award.

Toure captained Ivory Coast to 2015 Africa Cup of Nations victory but came second to Gabon and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

"I think that's what makes the shame of Africa," he told Radio France International. 

MEXICAN DRUG LORD "EL CHAPO" RECAPTURED AND SENT BACK TO MAXIMUM PRISON.

Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has been recaptured and sent back to the maximum-security prison he escaped from six months ago.

He was paraded before cameras before being bundled into a helicopter to Altiplano prison in central Mexico.

He escaped from there in July through a tunnel dug in the showers.

THE LASSA FEVER OUTBREAK.

It is lamentable that despite the warning and alert of the Federal Government over the Lassa (haemorrhagic) fever outbreak, two other states have become afflicted, raising the death toll to six. States in the neighborhood of Taraba State should take with all seriousness, the government’s warning, while the authorities concerned should consider the matter as a national emergency. This is particularly so as the outbreak reportedly raises the risk of another Ebola epidemic, which the country can ill afford. Report shows that the fever had claimed three lives in Taraba, out of five reported cases, signifying a high fatality. Two others have been confirmed dead in Rivers State while Nasarawa State is equally affected.

DAVIDO, BABYMAMA & OTHER STORIES BY REUBEN ABATI.

“What a relief, my friend!”

“What are you relieved about?”

“It is this David Adeleke and Sophia Momodu soap opera”.

“I tell you. It is a perfect subject for a good home video. But what is your own?”

“No. Nothing. I am just relieved that the parties involved have agreed to let peace reign”

“This will be about the third time I would hear of that matter being resolved.”

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wins 2015 CAF Footballer of the year plus full list of other winners.

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang narrowly beat Ivory Coast's Yaya Toure to win the Confederation of African Football's player of the year award.

In a vote of coaches and technical directors of Caf member nations, Aubameyang earned 143 points, with Manchester City midfielder Toure, 32, the runner-up with 136 points.

Aubameyang, 26, is the first player from his country to win the award. Ghana and Swansea midfielder Andre Ayew, 26, was third with 112 points.

WHY WE DEMOLISHED OSHODI MARKET - LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT.

The Lagos State Government says the demolition of Owonifari Market in Oshodi area of the state was done to further ensure security and bring sanity to the area.

The state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, gave the explanation at a news conference on Thursday while clarifying issues involved in the demolition exercise.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Government on Tuesday shut the market and ordered relocation of affected traders and shop owners to the newly built Isopakodowo market stalls at Bolade in the area.

LIST OF 30 MOST VALUABLE FOOTBALLERS ACROSS EUROPE'S TOP FIVE LEAGUES.

The criteria taken into account refers to both the performance and personal characteristics of a player, such as their age, position and contract duration, as well as the standing of their club and or international team based on their competition level and results.

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - £185million
2. Neymar (Barcelona) - £113m
3. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) - £96m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) - £84m
5. Harry Kane (Tottenham) - £67m

MANCHESTER UNITED RECALLS JANUZAJ FROM SEASON LONG LOAN DEAL.

United have requested the 20-year-old Belgium international forward's return because of a lack of games.

Januzaj has made 12 appearances for the Bundesliga club, which has included only three starts.

His six league outings have all been as a substitute and he has not featured since a Europa League defeat by PAOK Salonika on 10 December.

EFCC ARREST APC CHIEFTAIN JAFARU ISA IN CONNECTION WITH $2.1BN ARMS SCANDAL.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday night, arrested a former military Governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Brig-Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isa (reted).

Isa is the first APC chieftain to be arrested by the EFCC since the commencement of investigation into alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase by officials of the immediate-past administration.

The erstwhile Military Administrator of Kaduna State from December 1993 to August 1996, during the military regime of General Sani Abacha and one-time governorship candidate of the defunct CPC in Kano State, is a close friend of the embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (reted).

POLICE IN LAGOS ARREST 25-YR-OLD MAN WHO RAPED A 5-YR-OLD BOY. #SAYNOTORAPE.

Doctors at a private hospital in Alakuko area of Lagos State are currently battling to save the life of a five-year-old boy, who was allegedly raped by a 25-year-old man.

This is just as a robbery suspect was yesterday shot dead during a gun duel with a team of policemen in Ebute-Meta area of the state.

Report said the boy (names withheld) was playing with other children at Hanson Street when the suspect (names withheld) reportedly lured him with a packet of biscuit, took the boy into his apartment, where he allegedly sodomised him.

NEW ELECTRICITY TARIFF TO TAKE EFFECT FROM 1ST FEBRUARY 2016.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said that the new electricity tariff (MYTO 2015) will take effect from Feb.1, 2016.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Dr. Usman Abba-Arabi, the Head, Public Affairs, NERC.

According to the statement, NERC has directed all the distribution companies to abide by this directive and should not connect new customers without first providing them with meters.

COURT GRANTS N600M BAIL TO FORMER PDP CHAIRMAN HALIRU BELLO & HIS SON.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Haliru Bello and his son, Abba, to the tune of N600m.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered the duo to pay N300million each, as well as produce two sureties each, in like sum.

Whereas the court maintained that one of the persons to stand surety for Bello must be a Director under the employment of the federal government or any of its agencies, the son was asked to produce someone not below grade level 12 to stand surety for him.

32-YR-OLD MAN ARRESTED IN LAGOS FOR BURGLARY AND RAPING HIS NEIGHBOUR. #SAYNOTORAPE.

A 32-year-old man, Musa Ismail, was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly raping his neigbour, and robbing her of her property worth N91,500

It was learnt that Ismail lived on Kadiri Street, in the Agege area, while his gang members ─ Saheed Lawal, Wasiu Ajanaku, and Tayo Inawole ─ resided with the victim on Okunola Street.

It was gathered that the robbers gained access to Joy’s apartment around 2am on December 26 after breaking a window, and stole three phones valued at N43,500 and a cash sum of N48,000,

After the robbery, Ismail reportedly took out a knife and ordered Joy, said to be in her mid 20s, to lie down and then raped her before he fled the building with his gang.

Fortunately, Joy was able to identify Ismail during the robbery and reported the incident at the Dopemu Police Division, which lead to the suspects’ arrest.

Joy was directed to the Mirabel Centre, which attends to rape victims, where a medical test conducted on her confirmed that she was raped.

“The suspects are neighbours of the woman. They had an altercation after she warned them to stop smoking cannabis at the back of her apartment. It was in the night of that day that they burgled her room and one of them raped her,” the source added.

Meanwhile, the suspects were arraigned before an Ogba Magistrates’ Court on three counts bordering on burglary and stealing. Ismail, in addition to the counts, was charged with rape.

The case was adjourned till January 25, 2016.

PROFESSOR OLANREWAJU FAGBOHUN HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS THE 8TH VICE CHANCELLOR OF LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY (LASU).

The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has approved the appointment of Prof. Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun as the 8th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU).

The announcement was contained in a release issued on Wednesday by Steve Ayorinde, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy.

A Professor of Environmental Law, Mr. Fagbohun was until his appointment the director of research at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of Lagos.

OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY(OAU) RECALLS STUDENTS AS LECTURES RESUMES ON MONDAY 11TH JANUARY 2015.

The Management of the Obafemi Awolowo University has recalled students to resume on Sunday the January 10, saying lectures would commence on Monday the 11th.

Students were sent home some weeks ago when they attempted to resist a management policy through their union.

The students union government was also suspended as a result of the face-off.