9JABREEZELAND

N igeria  have been drawn in Group A to play Ghana, Egypt and Cote d’Ivoire in the 2016 CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations holding between December 13-18 at the Eko Atlantic City, Lagos State. Disclosing this weekend, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the tournament, Seyi Akinwunmi assured that the competition will set a mark for other major beach soccer competitions glob-ally.

A wka— FOLLOWING great successes recorded by Anambra State in rice production, the Federal Government and the World Bank have approved additional value chain for cassava production in the state, expected to gulp hundreds of millions of naira. The World Bank-assisted project under FADAMA III, is being implemented in six states of Anambra, Enugu, Niger, Kogi, Kano and Lagos, while the Federal Government has just admitted 21 other states as production centres.

Y ENAGOA— POLICE in Bayelsa State have arrested a woman for allegedly battering a 13-year-old girl over her refusal to care for her 84-year-old grandmother. The teenage girl, Hope Chime, who reportedly lost her mother in August, was accused of neglecting her grandmother and playing with her peers. It was gathered that the incident, which occurred on Sunday at the Azikoro suburb of Yenagoa, caused pandemonium as neighbours battled to prevent the victim from bleeding to death.

Ibadan— FOUR students of the Federal Government Girls’ College, Oyo, who were returning from a mid-term break died in an auto crash, yesterday evening, when a gari-laden articulated truck fell on a bus conveying them to school. The incident, in which the bus driver also died, left five other girls with severe injuries. An impeccable source, who is a senior staff in the school, told  us  that the accident occurred at Sabo Market and that the four students died on the spot.

The General Officer Commanding, 82 Division of Nigerian Army Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru has called on security agencies in the country to cooperate with each other to effectively combat the myriads of security challenges facing Nigeria. Maj.-Gen Attahiru said this in his opening speech during a training organized by the Army Headquarters for 44 Division Engineers Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers held at 302 Artillary Regiment, (General Support) Onitsha, Anambra State.

A video footage shows sympathizers trying to lift a fallen bus that got the passengers trapped during an accident. A woman, One of the passengers rescued, is seen sited on the road, at the back of another bus nursing her injuries while equally weeping. Others too could be seen placing their hands on their heads to show dismay and helplessness.

There may be more trouble coming for dethroned Miss Anambra 2015, Chidinma Okeke, if the word of a source from Awka, Anambra State, holds water. The source who pledged anonymity said that the current trending video online is mild and alleged that Chidinma also engaged in An*l sex, the video of which lasted over one hour.

Abuja – Ms Ebele Okobi, the Public Policy Director, Facebook, Africa, says Nigerians are free to upload the country’s 1999 constitution on its platform. Okobi said this on the sideline of the second “Media, Citizens and Good Governance Conference’’ in Abuja.

Glo ambassador M.I pledging his spur-of-the-moment affection for a female student during his performance Students of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus penultimate Friday hosted the Glo Campus Storm, a flagship entertainment show of Globacom during which they enjoyed sizzling excitement like never before.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday adjourned till Nov. 10 hearing in the case filed by Olusegun Abraham, one of the aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ondo governorship election. The hearing was adjourned due to failure of Abraham to serve the orders of the court on one of the defendants Mr Rotimi Akeredolu. The court had asked Akeredolu to come and show cause why an interim order restraining INEC from recognising him as the candidate of APC in the fourth coming election should not be granted.

The police on Friday arraigned a middle-aged man, Dominic Abutu, in a Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abuja for unlawfully detaining a 20-year-old girl for sexual purpose. Abutu of Karimo, Abuja, was arraigned on a two-count charge of unlawful detention and rape, which he pleaded not guilty. The Prosecutor, John Simon, said that the matter was reported by Jennifer Buba at the Wuse Police Station on Oct. 20.

Prof. Edwin Ijeoma, a Nigerian don based in South Africa, on Friday called for synergy between the three arms of government in order to boost economic development. Ijeoma, a professor of Public Policy and Public Sector Economics, University of Forte Hare, Eastern Cape, South Africa, made the call in a chat with newsmen in Cape Town, South Africa. He said economic development thrives with articulated leadership and sound institutions of democracy.

The Akwa Ibom Government has renewed its appeal to the Federal Government to refund the N140 billion it had spent on repair of federal roads in the state. The State Governor, renewed the appeal on Friday while speaking to Government House Correspondents at Ibom International Airport on arrival from official assignment in Abuja. Emmanuel said that the refund was necessary to help the state government to add value to its infrastructure consolidation programme now that the dry

A Katsina State High Court in Malumfashi on Friday sentenced a 28-year-old farmer, Yusuf Umar, to 10 years imprisonment for raping 13-year-old hawker. The trial judge, Justice Abbas Bawale, convicted Umar after he was found guilty of unlawfully having carnal knowledge of one Salima Nuhu of the same address on April 13, 2014. Umar is from Ketare village in Kankara Loca Government Area of Katsina State.

A 30-year- old, commercial motorcyclist, Tukur Paul on Friday beat his wife, Mrs Jennifer Paul to stupor over her accusation of snoring. It was the intervention by neighbours and passers-by that saved her from further attack. One of the neigbhours Lawrence Oluwanishola, who witnessed the fight, told NAN that the couple  who resides at Masaka, Nasarawa State, were fond of constituting nuisance to the environment through constant query.

The ancient city of Daura in Katsina state, witnessed tight security on Friday as President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Fatima, weds. There was heavy deployment of security personnel in and around the residence of the president on Mai’adua road in Daura town.

An electrician, Ibrahim Ekeolu, has said that his wife, Taiwo, is a first class prostitute. Ekeolu of Iyemetu-Igosun Areas of Ibadan made the assertion on Friday when he testified in a divorce petition institute by his wife at Mapo Customary Court, Ibadan against him. The respondent, who denied the allegations in the petition, accepted the divorce request from his wife.

Worried by the State of the country’s economy, President of National Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, yesterday, urged President Munammadu Buhari not to jettison increment in minimum wages from N18, 000, saying “this is the logic used by United State to address recession.” Wabba, who made the appeal in an interview with newsmen after presenting N400, 000 Cheque to wife of late Vanguard deputy photo-editor, Mr. Tunji Oyeleru at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, argued that the economy cannot return to its former state unless the citizens have purchasing power.

Grammy Award winning rapper, Leon Ivey, also known as Coolio, was on Wednesday sentenced to three years of probation after he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearm.

PRAYER is the key that unlocks and unleashes the powers of heaven to back up all human endeavours, on this earth. Christians pray, Muslims pray, and even idol and demon worshipers also pray for success in their desires and goals on earth. We all pray, because the spiritual controls the physical, and both realms operate under strict  laws and principles. We have spiritual and natural laws, and it takes prayers, to superimpose the spiritual over or on top the natural to give us super- natural experiences on

THIS weekend, former senator representing one of Nigeria’s most significant senatorial zones, Orlu Imo State Chief Osita Izunaso will be celebrating his 50th birthday. More importantly, the occasion will be used to mark the eleventh year anniversary of Kpakpando Foundation, a non-governmental organization he founded eleven years ago to render assistance to the less privileged in our society. Since then, he has used the foundation to touch lives, as many indigent students have been offered scholarships; poor traders have been provided with funds and equipment to improve their business, widows and orphans

Lagos—There was pandemonium in Igando yesterday as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW and okada riders clashed leaving several persons injured. Several motorcycles were also destroyed in the crisis that brought business activities in the area to an abrupt halt. We gathered that the fight was caused by a hike in levy paid to the NURTW, by the okada riders, from N400 to N1,100.

Normalcy has returned to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, as members of the Association of Resident Doctors, UBTH-ARD and the management of the hospital have resolved the lingering crisis that denied patients access to care for months. Announcing this yesterday at a briefing in Edo State, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors in the hospital, Dr Owen Omoregbe, said there was now industrial harmony in the hospital.

K ADUNA— A critic of Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Dr. John Danfulani, was, yesterday, arraigned before a Kaduna High Court presided over by Justice Bilkisu Mohammed for ‘inciting comments’ on Facebook. When the issue of bail was raised by his lawyer, Mr. James Kanyip, Justice Bilkisu said she was too busy to entertain the application, saying she had a seminar to attend and would only be back on November 7.

The capital city of Ondo State, Akure is near boiling point this morning as residents took to the street to protest the removal of the name of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Eyitayo Jegede SAN from the final list of INEC. As at the time of filing this report major highways in the capital city and other parts of the state have been blocked by protesters burning tires.

Kano – The Nigeria Custom Service says it will begin to export farm produce to Europe from some Northern States. The Comptroller in charge of Kano and Jigawa States, Mr Abutu Mathias made this known on Thursday during the quarterly stakeholders’ forum in Kano. Mathias said that the aim was to complement the efforts of the Federal Government towards boosting the non-oil sector to revive the nation’s economy.

T he  Bosch Group,  parent company of Robert Bosch Security Systems West Africa has disclosed its plan to open security shop in Nigeria before the end of the year. Chief Executive Officer of the company, Ghislain Noumbessy at the unveiling of its security equipments in Lagos, also said the company raked in 70.6 billion euros last year, through its operations in Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology.

ABUJA-SIX months after it was introduced on the floor of the Senate , the bill seeking to stop sexual abuse of female students in the nation’s tertiary institutions was passed Thursday, by the Red Chamber. The bill, christened: ” Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Education Institution Prohibition Bill, 2016, sponsored by Senator Ovie Omo -Agege, APC, Delta Central, prescribed a 5-year jail term for lecturers and educators convicted of sexual harassment of their male or female students.

Abuja – A Federal High Court in Enugu on Thursday convicted and sentenced one Mrs Chika Charles to 90 years in prison for a N5.6 million university admission scam. The jail term comprises three years on each of the 30-count charge

Lagos – A minor power hitch on Thursday occurred at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, which left the areas affected in darkness for almost an hour. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the spark happened at the Finger Main Distribution Board at the E-Finger of the airport at about 11.30 a.m. The incident was confirmed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria

ABUJA: The list of Ondo governorship election according to Independent National Electoral Commission INEC which declared Jimoh Ibrahim the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDY in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo state. S/N STATE NAME OF CANDIDATE SEX PARTY AGE QUALIFICATION REMARKS ONDO 1 GOVERNOR AMUDA OLADARE M A 55 MBA DEPUTY AMBODE ALEXANDER ABIODUN M A 51 PHD 2 GOVERNOR YINKA OLOYEDE OROKOTO M AA 54 LLB, BL. DEPUTY ABIOLA OJO M AA 46 B. TECH

A BA —In a bid to harness indigenous skills and promote ingenuity in the area of technological innovations, Abia state government has commenced plans to establish a university of Industry, Science and Technology in Aba. Inaugurating the committee which will fine-tune the framework for the new university, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Dr. Chuku Wachukwu, said the inauguration of the committee marked a formal commencement of series of deliberations and development of the necessary frameworks and linkages for the establishment of the University.

The Chairman of Enugu State Football Association (ENSFA), Chidi Offor-Okenwa, has said that the much awaited Enugu State Sports Festival, tagged “042’’ will commence on Nov. 2. Offor-Okenwa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Thursday that the festival would feature 12 sports, including football, tennis, volleyball, basketball and traditional wrestling.

London police said on Thursday they were holding seven men arrested following violence at the English League Cup clash between West Ham United and Chelsea. Skirmishes broke out towards the end of the Hammers’ 2-1 win on Wednesday, with police and stewards battling to keep supporters apart as coins, bottles and plastic seats were thrown.

ABUJA- Contrary to reports in some quarters that he had rejected his recent appointment as Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Professor Akintunde Ibitayo Akinwande has said he is game for the top job. Akinwande who is currently an employee of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States said he would still honour the invitation for screening by the Nigerian Senate the moment he secured permission from his employers.

Gov. Nysome Wike of the Rivers State on Thursday said the State was created to liberate the people from the forces of deprivation, oppression and domination. Wike said this while inaugurating the Golden Jubilee Celebrations Committee at the Government House in Port Harcourt “Many of us who are now enjoying the fruits of liberty may not truly appreciate what it meant to be dominated, dispossessed, deprived, exploited and oppressed in your own land.

A medical practitioner, Dr Godwin Uwaoma, said on Monday that girls in Aba, Abia engage in active sexual activities from the age of 10, raising higher chances of contracting HIV. Uwaoma, the Chairman of the Thematic Working Group at the Nigerian Faith Based Advisory Council for AIDS (NFACA), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba that a 2014 research revealed the development. He said that the study was conducted to find out the awareness of preventive measures among youths in the secondary schools for the Department of Public Health at the Imo State University.

Awka – The Commissioner for Agriculture in Anambra, Mr Afam Mbanefo, said on Monday that the state has reached its target of achieving self-sufficiency in rice production.

……says allegations are mere fabrications The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said he would not be distracted by the childish and ridiculous allegations of fraud levelled against his administration in Ekiti State by the State House of Assembly. Dr Fayemi who reacted to the petition submitted by the state assembly to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging N40billion under his watch as governor of the state, said the lawmakers’ claims are not only baseless, but a calculated attempt to distract him.

Abuja -Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris yesterday called on the federal government to make the recruitment of 10, 000 police personnel which is currently going on nationwide, a yearly exercise to enable the country meet the minimum United Nations stipulation of one policeman to 400 persons. The IGP made the disclosure in Kaduna just as Governor Nasir El-Rufai condoled with the IGP on the loss of some Police officers in the recent crisis in Godogodo, Jama’a LGA of the State.

Abuja – The ongoing anti-corruption agenda of the Federal Government is yielding positive results, the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Torben Gettermann, has said. Gettermann said in Abuja that the anti-corruption crusade was vital to attracting foreign investment into the country. “The government has started out on a very high profile anti-corruption drive and it seems to be yielding results. It is something Nigerians needed for a long time.

Port Harcourt – Some commercial drivers in Port Harcourt on Thursday expressed happiness over Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s (NNPC) statement allaying fears of possible increase in petrol price. Some of the drivers, who spoke in Port Harcourt, said the NNPC’s statement was very timely. The NNPC had recently announced that there was no plan to increase the price of petrol as was being rumoured in some quarters.

PORT HARCOURT – Protesting women Thursday in Port Harcourt enjoined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to unfreeze the accounts of Mrs Patience Jonathan, saying she needed the money to attend to her failing health.

Jose Mourinho lauded Manchester United’s supporters after his team put the disappointment of their 4-0 humiliation at Chelsea behind them to sink Manchester City in England’s League Cup. Sunday’s defeat at Chelsea, Mourinho’s former club, was United’s worst in the league for five years, but they bounced back to beat holders City 1-0 on Wednesday courtesy of Juan Mata’s 54th-minute goal.

LAGOS – ON the heels of the Federal Government’s plan to borrow US$29.9 billion over the next two years, the Debt Management Office (DMO) has said that there was an urgent need for the Federal Government to formulate an economic blueprint or road-map for the medium term. DMO made the observation in its 2016 Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) report released yesterday in Abuja.

Hundreds of people awoke in emergency shelters in Italy on Thursday after fleeing their homes following a series of strong quakes in the same region struck by a devastating tremor two months ago. After a night of heavy rain, rescuers workers were trying to assess the full extent of the latest disaster in central Italy, which toppled buildings and injured dozens. A series of aftershocks rattled the area through the night after two quakes

When we in the South say that the Hausa people of Northern Nigeria are our enemies, we really ought to be aware that we are just playing into the divide and rule strategy of the oligarchs who have been the powers behind the throne in Nigeria for decades and who want the North and the South to be suspicious of each so they can play one side against the other and continue to dominate us to our detriment. Now if you are a Southerner, ask yourself, who are these so called Hausa people that are dominating us?

Doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association, Wednesday, sent a powerful message to President Muhammadu Buhari to pay them their entitlements or face their wrath. The doctors maintained that their entitlements, which are captured under the National Health Act of 2014, were non-negotiable and must be paid without any further delay as it was backed by law. The doctors were on a protest march to the Presidential Village to serve the message on the Presidency when they were halted by armed security

Nigeria’s currency scarcity remains a nightmare that won’t go away, with even Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote feeling the pain. The West African country’s economy has been hammered by the global crash in oil prices — worth 70 per cent of its revenue and the bulk of its dollars — and ongoing rebel attacks on oil infrastructure in the southern swamplands.

Lagos – A witness, Orji Chukwuma, on Wednesday, told a Federal High Court, Lagos, that former Director General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, paid N40 million to secure rent in Banana island Chukwuma, the 11th witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), gave the testimony at the resumed trial of Akpobolokemi, a former boss of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has kicked against the planned external borrowing of $29.960bn, and movement of N180b appropriated for special intervention to funding of ‘critical recurrent and capital items’ by the federal government. In a statement Wednesday, the spokesman of the party, Dayo Adeyeye said “We totally disagree with the APC led Federal Government on this latest move, and call on President Muhammed Buhari to first and foremost explain to Nigerians what his Administration has done with the so called ‘recovered looted funds’ and how far the 2016 Budget is fairing.

Following a report by the Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Afam Mbanefo that the state has reached self-sufficiency in rice production, Senator Ben has called on other states to follow suit.

The Federal Government has rejected the report of United States Department of Labour (USDOL),that blacklisted the nation as “engaging in Child soldiering’’ due to Boko Haram activities in the country. Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment made the country’s position known when he received representatives of the department led by Mr Marlin Hardinger in his office.

The Nigerian Army said on Wednesday that a sizeable number of the 39 soldiers declared missing after last week suspected Boko Haram insurgents’ attack in the border town of Gashigar in Borno, had returned. Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, stated this while briefing newsmen in Maiduguri. “It is true that about 39 soldiers were declared missing.

Rap artist and business mogul Jay-Z, has reportedly tried to purchase all the unreleased music of late rock icon Prince, that were discovered at Paisley Park after the singer’s death.

Ibadan – Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Wednesday adjourned till Nov. 18 the trial of some accused persons in the N8 billion currency scam following the illegibility of copies of documentary evidence produced by the EFCC. Ayo-Emmanuel said that it was necessary to give all the parties concerned in the matter equal opportunity to read what was contained in the first two sheets of the documentary evidence given by a prosecution witness, Omotayo Igbosanu.

Lagos – Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc on Wednesday announced gross earnings of N93.44 billion for nine months ended Sept. 30, 2016. This is contained in a statement issued by the bank and made available in Lagos. The bank said that this was against N83.72 billion declared in the preceding period of 2015, indicating an increase 11.6 per cent.

Lagos – Currency traders on Wednesday in Lagos became apprehensive as the Naira depreciated thrice in six hours at the parallel market The traders were meeting in clusters, painstakingly trying to unravel the rationale behind the sudden depreciation of the naira, after it had appreciated for about four weeks. The Naira exchanged at N467 to the dollar as at 4:30 p.m. after it traded for N455, and N460 in a couple of hours on Wednesday while the Pound

ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Dr Yemi Kale as the Statistician General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). First appointed in 2011 for an initial term of five years, Kale’s reappointment is for another term of five years. Media Adviser to the Minister, James Akpandem in a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja recalled that before assuming office, Kale was the

Nnewi – The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and its Directorate of States DoS, has disassociated themselves from the alleged planed All Igbo Summit scheduled to hold in Uturu Abia State next month, saying it amounts to holding and twisting the tiger by the tail to associate it with the summit. IPOB in a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful said the Biafra agitating group did not give its consent to the people who are going about dropping its name in their emails inviting people for the purported Summit are on their own, and preparing their way to visit Aso Rock for their usual gratification to destroy Biafra Land.

Anka (Zamfara) – The Vice Chairman of Anka Local Government Area in Zamfara, Alhaji Yahuza Ibrahim, has allegedly been kidnapped. The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Mustapha Muhammad, disclosed this to newsmen in Anka on Wednesday. Muhammad, who was in tears, said he received the report of the incident from the victim’s home village, Wiya, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Birnin Kebbi – A 35-member medical team from America is providing free surgery and treatment of patients suffering from cancer and diabetes in Kebbi State. The state’s Deputy Governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday that the surgical operations were part of government’s efforts to provide effective service delivery to the people.

WARRI – THE Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, NUPENG, has given the Federal Government 21 days to halt the mass sack of its members by oil majors or face mass action from the union. A communique just issued by the Central Working Committee still meeting in Warri, Delta state, noted that over 3000 workers have been sacked by oil majors and servicing companies who are closing shops on account of the current recession.

Mrs Patience Jonathan suit  against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),seeking to unfreeze her account will be heard on 7 December in a Lagos Federal High Court. Apart from the EFCC, other respondents are Skye Bank and a former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripama-Owei Dudafa. Also joined in the suit are Pluto Property and Investment company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has warned that Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy plan in Syria would trigger World War III, the BBC reports. He said the US should focus on defeating the so-called Islamic State rather than convincing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stand down. Mrs Clinton has been proposing a no-fly zone over Syria, which some say could lead to conflict with Russian jets.

Fresh information emanating from the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has shown a 113% improvement in the performance of students who wrote the May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Osun state. The analysis of 10 years WASSCE results as seen in the table below, shows the increased dividends from the massive investments in education by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

ABUJA – Scores of Protesters on Wednesday, besieged the Three Arms Zone where the Supreme Court is situated, demanding that all judges facing corruption allegations must step down pending their trial. The Protesters, under the aegis of Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations in Nigeria, FONGON, insisted that all the seven superior court judges that were arrested by the Department of State Service, DSS, between October 7 and 8, must vacate the Bench. They said the ‘step down’ protest became necessary “since the conniving National Judicial Council, NJC, is not willing to suspend them”.

Daniel Sturridge served a reminder of his worth to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp with both goals in a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in England’s League Cup on Tuesday. Sturridge has started three of Liverpool’s last four Premier League games on the bench, but he seized his chance at Anfield to send last season’s beaten finalists into the quarter-finals. Arsenal also progressed, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scoring twice in a 2-0 win over Reading, while Hull City won 2-1 at second-tier Bristol City.

ABUJA – THE House of Representatives Wednesday resolved to summon the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to explain the reason behind the extra-judicial killings of a five-year old girl, Godgift Oduku, a footballer with the 3SC Football Club, Joseph Izu, Innocent Kokorifa, 17 and a 30 year old man whose name was given as Inyan, by the Nigerian Police The House frowned that many innocent Nigerians had been killed as a result of extra-judicial killings by the same Police that were paid with the tax payers money to protect the lives and property of Nigerians and the Joint Tax Force.

Bauchi – Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, Bauchi House of Assembly, Mrs Maryam Begel, said female students in some schools in the state were being withdrawn to engage in menial jobs to generate capital for their marriage. She said in Bauchi on Wednesday that an interactive session she had with 60 girls of a particular secondary school in the state, revealed such practice.

Benin – Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, the Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo, has advocated the scraping of uniform university admission cut-off marks to promote competitiveness among the country’s universities. Osaghae spoke on Wednesday in Benin, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said each university should be allowed to have its own admission cut-off marks because all universities were not equal.

Minna – The Niger State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service said on Wednesday that 53 illegal immigrants have been repatriated to Niger Republic. Mrs Tamuno Oyedeji, Comptroller of Immigration Service in the state disclosed this in an interview in Minna. Adededji said the state government provided vehicles for the transportation of the illegal immigrants to the border post at Jibia in Katsina state.

THERE is a lingering problem over   the way and manner local governments have been created arbitrarily in this country. The problem became worse under the Military. Some call it Military Nepotism and as it is now, with the 1999 constitution very difficult to amend, it seems we have to live and endure with the problem for a long time. Before independence in 1960, there were 240 native authorities in Nigeria, the North had 144, the West had 55 and the East had 47. The states we

ONITSHA—Three persons, yesterday, lost their lives at the Trans-Nkisi Federal Housing Estate in the 33 Area of Onitsha, Anambra State, after a well they were digging caved in and buried them alive. Two of the victims, who were yet to be identified at press time, were said to be citizens of Akwa Ibom State, resident at the estate and were hired by a another resident to dig a water well.

AISHA, grand-daughter of Nigeria’s first minister of defence [Mohammadu Ribadu] was married to retired General Muhammadu Buhari at a very tender age. As the paragon of beauty clocks forty five years early this year [having being born on 17th of February, 1971 – as we were told], she has stayed glued to the husband for 27 years. Having been  married to the man at such tender age, with such level of undiluted beauty and sophisticated educational background, Aisha, no doubt, had captured the husband in totality; spirit, body and soul, over the years.

THE Special Committee on Cleanup of Ikoyi, Lagos, in a joint operation with men of Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences, have arrested eight sex workers and three miscreants around Ikoyi area of the state. They were pick up in an abandoned building on Club Road, Ikoyi, said to be owned by a deceased retired military top brass.

Airtel Smart Icon, Patoranking was amongst the big winners at the recently concluded MTV Africa music awards in South-Africa. Patoranking raked up the Song of the year award with his hit song ‘My Woman, My Everything’ which featured Wande Coal.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, has assured a Chinese investment company that the agreement between Cina and Nigeria has been presented to President Muhammadu Buhari for action. He said it had also been tabled before the Federal Executive Council (FEC). He called on the Chinese Company, NORINCO, to fast-track its investment prospects in Nigeria.

My husband and I have been going through a bad patch recently and I’ve been getting comfort in the arms of his brother. I saw him as a great friend, and nothing else. To my surprise, he tried to get fresh with me a few days ago. He said he was dying to go to bed with me and if I didn’t, he would tell my husband we’d been sleeping together anyway.

We’ve been married for quite a while and have two children. Lately, however, my husband’s been having problems maintaining an erection. Last month, on my birthday, we had a lovely romantic eventing until we got to the bedroom. My husband was really angry and embarrassed when he again lost his erection, but refused to talk about it.

My 25th birthday is round the corner and I’m thinking of having a fairly big one. My current boyfriend is getting worked up about it and hinted he had something really  special planned for the day. That gets me panicking  ecause I’ve been unhappy with the relationship and plan to dump him. As things are now, I can’t do that if  e’s making a big

Abuja: The crucial meeting called by the Presidency with leaders of the Niger Delta region, which was slated for October 29, has been moved to the November 1, 2016, a key member of the group, has said. The information moving the meeting to the new date was passed to the Edwin Clark-led Pan-Niger Delta States Consultative Forum by Petroleum Minister, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, according to one of the leaders.

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Tuesday appealed to the Federal Government to give out some of its roads to the state governments for proper and easy management to curb infrastructure decay. El-Rufai made the call while presenting a paper themed: “ Funding the Transport Infrastructure Gaps in Kaduna State’’ at the first International Transport Conference organised by the Transportation Growth Initiative (TGI) in Abuja.

BENIN – AGAINST the background of the statement credited to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mahmoud Abubakar (SAN) that judges that were arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) for alleged corruption should step aside from their judicial duties, a Benin based legal practitioner, Mr. Afolabi Olayiwola has called on the NBA President to resign from office insisting that he cannot approbate and reprobate. He also called on the Ministers of Transportation and Science and Technology, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and Ogbonnaya Onu to resign from their

Gary Caldwell has been sacked as manager of Wigan, the struggling English second-tier club announced Tuesday. The former Scotland defender took the northwest side to the League One title last season but Wigan have so far won just two league matches this term in the Championship.

Abuja – A senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Gbenga Awomolow has called on the Bar and the Bench to humble themselves. Awomolow spoke on behalf of the body of the senior advocates of Nigeria at the 2016/2017 new legal year in Abuja on Tuesday. According to him, this is not the time for blame games but a time for humble reflection. “This is the time to humble ourselves and confess our sins and turn to the Lord for forgiveness.

Carlos Alberto, captain of the great Brazil team that won the 1970 World Cup, died on Tuesday of a heart attack in Rio at the age of 72, Brazil’s Sportv, for whom he worked, announced.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has dismissed concerns surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s supposed troubles in front of goal that have led to boos from the club’s notoriously demanding fans. The Portugal superstar has scored four times in nine appearances for the Spanish league leaders since returning from the knee injury that forced him off in his country’s Euro 2016 final win over France.

Carlos Alberto Torres, captain of the great Brazil team that won the 1970 World Cup, died on Tuesday of a heart attack in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 72, Brazil’s Sportv, for whom he worked, announced. Carlos Alberto starred alongside Pele, Tostao, Jairzinho and Rivelino in the Brazil team that beat Italy 4-1 in the final in Mexico and is considered as one of the greatest sides of all time.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says he deserves the same respect he gives others and described himself as “a passionate man”, after he appeared to upset Jose Mourinho with his touchline antics. The Italian urged Chelsea fans to ramp up the volume following the fourth goal in the 4-0 win over former Blues boss Mourinho’s Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello said on Tuesday that herdsmen must move their cattle out of the Federal Capital Territory. Bello gave the warning when he met with members of the Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, in Abuja. The minister noted that there is no way, such animals can co-habit with the residents.

The Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, on Tuesday released its merit admission list for the 2016/2017 academic session. The institution’s spokesman, Mr ‎Adekoya Martins, told newsmen in Lagos that LASU received the approved list from Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday. Although Martins was silent on the number of students on the admission list, The National University Commission (NUC) admission quarter for LASU is 8000 candidates.

 Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe has called on Nigerians to make conscious efforts at eating well always. The Minister made this call in his office on Monday, when he received a delegation, led by the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital, Ibadan and the Country Manager of Harvest Plus, also based in Ibadan.

A lecturer, Mr Ugoji Nwabueze, on Tuesday in Calabar criticized senate’s approval of three years validity for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, saying that it would be counter-productive . The senate recently passed into law, the JAMB Amendment Bill, 2016, seeking extension from one to three academic years, the validity of any admission offered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to any candidate.

A self-driving truck built by Uber’s unit Otto made a pioneering delivery of beer in Colorado last week, Otto announced Tuesday. The 18-wheel semi loaded down with Budweiser made the 120 mile (200 kilometer) trip from Fort Collins through the center of crowded Denver to Colorado Springs using only its panoply of cameras, radar and sensors to read the road. The truck carried a professional driver, but he simply monitored the progress from the truck’s sleeper berth behind the driver’s seat.

ABUJA- MINISTER of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, Tuesday, told the Senate that the Federal Government would sustain its over N6trillion national budget in the 2017 appropriation bill, expected to be submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari, after the consideration and subsequent approval of the pending 2017—2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF and Fiscal Strategy Paper, FSP, by the National Assembly. Adeosun told members of the Senate Committee on Finance, led by its Chairman, John Owan Enoh, PDP, Cross River Central, who were on

Abuja – Inter Milan Director, Peter Fuscoas has heaped praise on Nigerian wonder kid, Theophilus Awua, as his performance hasn’t gone unnoticed by the upper ends at the Milan based side. Awua, who played for Football Academy Abuja, has been in fine form for the Primavera side. Awua arrived Inter from Serie B side Spezia this summer, where he had pre-season training with the main team.

WARRI- NIGER Delta Avengers, NDA, at about 3.40 am, today (Tuesday), bombed a Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, offshore Export Pipeline at Escravos, Warri South-West Local Government Area in Delta State. The militant group in a tweet by its spokesperson, self-styled Brig Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, confirming its involvement, said: “At about 3:45am, our strike team 06 took down Chevron Escravos export pipeline at Escravos

The gap between alcohol consumption habits of men and women is nearly close, a global study on drinking habits shows. Women now take more than they used to. According to the study as reported by the BBC, women have all but caught up with men at knocking back alcohol. The study analysed four million people born between 1891 and 2001 and

ABUJA-THE Federal Government, yesterday, disclosed its plan to unveil agriculture city in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory to engage youth in agribusiness. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said this while reiterating government’s resolve to give a new lease of life to young people across the country with new approach to agribusiness.

Abuja – Rotherham United has confirmed the signing of unattached former West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City striker, Peter Odemwingie on a short-term deal until Jan. 2017.

THE Edo State governorship election has come and gone and the outcome has left sweet and bitter taste in the mouths of many. For those of us in the All Progressives Congress, APC, the outcome of the election has surely consolidated the hold of the party in the state, nay the country. It has helped to reverse perceptions that your President Muhammadu Buhari’s popularity may have sunk on account of the torments that the

A s  Nigerians grapple with recession, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Monday reminded the nation that the sale of petrol at N145 per litre was no longer feasible with the current price of foreign exchange.

The Major League Soccer careers of Didier Drogba and Steven Gerrard could end without either man kicking another ball as their teams head into nerve-wracking sudden-death playoff games starting Wednesday. Two of the biggest names of the English Premier League’s golden era,