The police said  today that the arrested kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme George Onwuamadike alias Evans is still in their custody and has not vanished.

The spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force Jimoh Moshood, a chief superintendent of police, in an e-mailed statement to The Trent on Saturday, July 8, 2017, said Evans  was safe and still under police watch.

Moshood was denying a sensational story published today by a Saturday Sun that Evans had vanished in police cell and is incommunicado.

In a statement, Moshood said: “Evans is intact in Police Custody. Investigation into all the crimes he has committed which include several kidnappings; armed robbery and murder are ongoing. The Police have made significant progress in the investigations of these crimes.

“The public should disregard and discountenance all media reports in the social and print media that he has vanished or released and all criminal charges against him dropped as UNTRUE and ABSOLUTE FALSEHOOD.

“Evans is in Police custody and would be arraigned in court along with other members of his gang on completion of investigation.

Earlier in an interview with TheNation, Moshood  urged Nigerians to not fret over the reported “vanishing” of suspected kidnap kingpin.

Moshood said investigation was still ongoing, adding that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as all ends were tied.

“The media need to avoid stories that could create fear, tension or misrepresentation among the masses. Where did Evans vanish to? That headline was misleading. The suspect and his accomplices are very much in our custody.

“We are working hard to ensure that justice is served at the end of the day. There are certain information that are not for public consumption to avoid jeopardising investigation or even national security.

“Evans is with the police. His whereabouts is known but cannot be made public. We are appealing to Nigerians to remain calm and support the police to conclude its investigation.”

Nigeria is awash in nervous speculation over the health of President Muhammadu Buhari, who hasn’t appeared in public since he returned to the U.K. for medical treatment for an undisclosed ailment on May 7. Buhari, 74 and a Muslim, has formally designated his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, acting president as he did when he was away on medical leave for 49 days from Jan. 20. The prospect of Osinbajo, a 60-year-old Christian, serving out the remaining two years of Buhari’s term raises the specter of sectarian tension in a country that has seen plenty of it in the past. Succession jitters also heighten concern about government paralysis at a time when the economy is in recession.

1. Why does the vice president’s religion matter?

Because Nigeria is divided between a mostly Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south, there’s been an unwritten agreement among the political elite since the end of military rule in 1999 that the presidency is rotated every two elections. So if Buhari dies or steps down and is succeeded by Osinbajo – as the constitution dictates – many in the north would probably feel shortchanged. They might insist that Osinbajo promise to step aside at the next elections in 2019 and allow his deputy – who would probably be a Muslim from the north — to run instead.

2. Could someone other than the VP succeed Buhari?

Osinbajo has denied rumors that he’s under pressure from northern politicians to quit rather than be elevated to president. In such a scenario, Senate President Bukola Saraki, a Muslim, would take over, but only as a caretaker president until fresh elections are organised within three months. That would give the north a shot at winning the presidency.

3. Why is this north-south split so pronounced?

Northern Nigeria has a mainly agrarian economy and has long been poorer than the south, which contains the country’s oil wealth and the main commercial hub of Lagos. There are also linguistic and cultural differences. Sectarian tensions are usually worst in so-called middle-belt cities such as Jos and Kaduna, where more than 800 people were killed during riots that followed the 2011 election. In the northeast, Boko Haram’s campaign to impose its version of Islamic rule has killed ten of thousands since 2009. More recently, secessionists in the southeast have tried to revive the state of Biafra. Amnesty International said security forces have killed at least 150 of them in clashes.

4. How sick is Buhari?

It’s unclear. He was making short medical trips to the U.K. even before he took office. Only once did his office reveal a specific purpose: treatment of an ear infection in mid-2016. Otherwise, his spokesmen said that his trips were for tests and that he’s “hale and hearty.” While Buhari appeared in photographs with visitors during his stay in London earlier in the year, and spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on the phone on Feb. 13, there have been no images of him this time around. His aides released an audio message said to be from him during the Muslim Eid holiday, the only time people heard directly from him so far. The lack of full disclosure about his status has spawned speculation in Nigeria that he’s dying.

5. How long can Buhari be away?

The president is entitled to 60 days of annual leave, according to the constitution. By law he can be removed for medical reasons if his Cabinet concludes that he’s become incapacitated, an unlikely act from loyalists, according to Clement Nwankwo, an Abuja-based constitutional lawyer. Only the national legislature has the power to unseat Buhari. For that to happen, two-thirds of lawmakers and the ruling party must support the move.

6. What challenges would a successor face?

His successor would face the tough task of reviving an economy that shrank for the first time in a quarter century last year and diversifying it from oil, which accounts for almost all exports, as well dealing with resurgent ethnic tensions in the wake of demands for secession as Biafra in the southeast. They would also need to win back the trust of foreign investors, who fled in the past two years as Buhari and the central bank opted to peg the naira instead of letting it drop along with crude prices, as other producers such as Russia and Kazakhstan did with their currencies. Other problems include corruption, which is still rife, and bureaucracy, both of which businesses say stifle their operations.

Read full report at Bloomberg.

The Department of State Services, DSS, on Friday, July 7, 2017 announced that it has recorded more feats in degrading the capacities of terrorists, kidnap kingpins and bandits in different parts of the country. DSS spokesman Tony Opuiyo disclosed as follows in a statement issued in Abuja:

2. On June 18, 2017, the Service, with the support of the Police, raided the residence of Chidera NJOKU at Umuagwu village in Ngor-Opkala LGA of Imo State. During the operation, the team recovered one (1) locally-made revolver pistol, one (1) locally made single barrel shot gun, eighty two (82) rounds of 5.56 live ammunition and one (1) human skull.

3. As the Service carries out investigation on this, it also on July 5, 2017, arrested 27-year-old Rabiu SANI and 30-year-old Abubakar SANI along Zaria-Funtua road, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State for kidnapping and gun running. The following items were recovered from the suspects namely:

i. One (1) Barreta Pistol with Registration No 0736 and one empty magazine;

ii. One thousand (1,000) rounds of 7.62 calibre live ammunition;

iii. One (1) round of 9mm caliber live ammunition

iv. Four (4) empty AK 47 rifle magazines;

v. Five (5) empty F.N rifle magazines;

vi. One (1) Sky blue Volkswagen Vento Car, with Plateau State registration number MGU 106 EA;

vii. N507,000, 140 (N457,140) only;

viii. One Temporary National Identity Card belonging to Rabiu SANI;

ix. One (1) golden colored wrist watch;

x. One (1) pair of Eye glasses;

xi. One empty brown bag;

xii. One pair of brocade kaftan;

xiii. One Tecno mobile phone;

xiv. One Gionee mobile phone; and

xv. One bunch of keys.

4. On the same July 5, 2017, one Loveday OGBONNA, a native of Owoahiafor in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State was arrested at Crunchies Fast Food, Aba for his involvement in the kidnap of one Mrs Viola ORJI. The Service recorded a similar feat on the same day at Ikara Junction, Tudun Wada LGA, Kano State where the duo of Rabiu DAHIRU (a.k.a KACHALLA) and Umar YA’U were arrested while in possession of Twenty-six (26) cartridges, amulets and vests bearing charms. Also at Yarkusa area of Bungudu LGA of Zamfara State, Shehu MAINASARA (a.k.a. GIZGA) was arrested for his activities in illicit drugs. He has been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the State for further investigation and possible prosecution.

5. Earlier on July 3, 2017, at Kakuri, Kaduna State, Hamisu HASSAN, a suspected kidnap kingpin was arrested by a joint team of the Service and the Military for his notoriety on the Abuja-Kaduna highway. HASSAN was apprehended alongside six (6) of his associates namely; Yusuf SAIDU, Rashida USMAN (f), Abubakar SHUAIBU, Abubakar SULEIMAN, Huzairu BAWA and Sani ABUBAKAR.

6. Between June 29 and 30, 2017 at United Bank for Africa (UBA), Azikiwe Road, Port Harcourt and Mariri, along Kano-Wudil road, Kumbotso LGA, Kano State, Jolly David DIDI and the trio of Iliya Alhaji MUHKTAR, Usha’u HASSAN and Muazu USMAN were arrested respectively for their involvement in kidnaping activities. DIDI, who hails from Ikot-Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State, was arrested for his complicity in the kidnap of a female staff of UBA, Ugonwa Okoroafor NWOSI on May 1, 2017 around Garrison Bus stop. Similarly, on June 29, 2017 Sunday ENE was arrested at Igbo-Etche Road, Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State for his complicity in the kidnap and murder of John MBANUGU on June 21, 2017 in the area

7. In Nasarawa State, the Service in collaboration with the local vigilante arrested one 50 year old Dahiru Umaru IRO for his support and patronage of a notorious cattle rustling and kidnap gang headed by Yusuf Mohammed SANI in the State. IRO was discovered to be the major buyer of rustled cattle from the gang. While a joint Service/Military team arrested the duo of Abubakar MOHAMMED and Hamidu MUSA at Mararaba Garba Chide in Gassol LGA, Taraba State for their involvement in Boko Haram activities, the Service earlier on June 20, 2017 at Ungwar Barnawa, Shekar Madaki, Kumbotso LGA, Kano State arrested Bashir MOHAMMED and recovered from him: twenty (20) magazines; one thousand rounds of live ammunition, a Gas cylinder; twenty-eight (28) Hand Held Grenades; a printer and three (3) Laptop Computers; and one Honda Civic Car

8. The public must note that the Service remains unrelenting in its efforts to deal with any group or band of criminals/unscrupulous elements who may threaten public safety or engage in activities that can undermine the ability of law abiding citizens and residents to pursue their legitimate businesses. To this effect, the Service will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders to ensure that law and order are maintained.

The Nasarawa State Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has set up a committee to intensify prayers for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari currently on medical vacation in London.

The state’s CAN Chairman, Bishop Joseph Masin , made this known  in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia on Thursday.

“We pray that may Almighty God grant the President speedy recovery in order for him to come back and continue his responsibilities in office.

“He is our President, so he needs our prayers and we all need to pray for him, irrespective of our differences,” he said.

According to him, the committee is also charged with the responsibility of praying for the peaceful coexistence among the different ethnic and religious groups in the state.

The chairman, who said the association was also not in support of the disintegration of the country, advised those agitating for the breakup of Nigeria to be conscious of the consequences of their utterances.

Masin also said the association had concluded plans to tour the 13 Local Government Areas of the state, to sensitise Christians on the need to live in peace and harmony.

“CAN will soon organise crusade in all the three senatorial zones of the state for the spiritual revival of the Christians.” Masin.

He advised Christians to unite and accommodate adherents of other religions for peace to reign in the state and the country at large.

The religious leader also appealed to the state government to settle workers’ salary arrears and other entitlements to end the ongoing industrial action.

At least one student has been confirmed dead at the Federal Government Girls’ College, Lantang in Plateau State, following the fresh outbreak of Lassa fever in the institution.

According to Punch, out of the four students that were tested for the disease, the results of three were positive, while the victim was said to have been buried on Friday.

 To check the spread of the disease and possible deaths, the state government said it would despatch a team of doctors to Lantang community and place those who came in contact with them, including doctors and Nurses who attended to them at Jos University Teaching Hospital on 21 days surveillance.

The Plateau State health commissioner, Dr. Kamshak Kudeng, confirmed the outbreak of Lassa fever in an interview with the newspaper’s correspondent on Friday, July 7, 2017.

As at mid-February, 2016, the Nigeria Centre for Disease (NCDC) statistics show that reported cases of the haemorrhagic disease — both confirmed and suspected — stood at 175 with a total of 101 deaths since August.

“As at today, 19 (including Abuja) states are currently following up contacts, or have suspected cases with laboratory results pending or laboratory confirmed cases,” the NCDC said in a statement at the time.

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and former President Olusegun Obasanjo were among the dignitaries at the society wedding of Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s daughter and son of an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abike Dabiri’s son.

On Saturday, July 8, 2017, Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State stood still as the couple tied the knot.

The wedding reception held at Muhammadu Buhari Estate in Abeokuta was also graced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

See below photos from the reception. Click on any image to enlarge.

Modern brands began emerging in the 1950s when companies like Procter and Gamble, General Foods and Unilever developed the disciple of brand management and modern marketing, according to the Atlantic. Brand managers started focusing on innovating popular products to make them stand out from their competitors. And they started putting into motion the idea of modern-day market research and targeting markets to bring awareness to their brands.

Today’s brands have continued to evolve and refine their product differentiation to the point that you might wonder how they can possibly stand out from their competitors at all. But winning brands that really have it together focus on more than just product innovation. They also tap into the pain points and emotional triggers of their customers to provide a memorable experience. Get inspired by these three brands that really have it together.

Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works tapped into a winning business model where scents trigger emotions and memories. But they go beyond selling a few dozen fragrances and infusing them into multiple product lines. They release new fragrances every three to four weeks, for a staggering 200 new scents a year.

Bath and Body Works also retires some smells, then re-releases the ones in the highest demand to create a frenzy with their customers and on social media. They regularly post sales and discounts directly on their Facebook page to help stay connected with customers while reinforcing social engagement.

T-Mobile

In an interview with Jim Cramer, T-Mobile CEO John Legere said millennials are drawn to their product, but all customers want to solve the pain points of a broken and arrogant mobile phone industry. Those are bold words coming from the company eating into the profits of Verizon and AT&T, but they’re clearly on the right path. T-Mobile posted its Q4 earnings in February 2014 and proved it has the best customer growth and revenue growth in the industry.

T-Mobile focuses on quality products, simpler phone bills and affordable price points and plans. Their Samsung Galaxy S8 plus is water-resistant, repelling spills, splashes and dunks without a protective case. The S8 plus is also sleek, slim and features wireless charging.

Disney

Disney practically invented the model for quality brands that have it together. Their popular theme parks are open 365 days a year and are frequently open for festivities like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Fest late at night. But perhaps more impressive than their festivities and whimsical rides is how immaculate the parks are. Disneyland alone has 1,500 workers on the night shift assigned to scrubbing and cleaning specific areas. It’s truly a city that never sleeps.

Meanwhile, their Magic Kingdom property in Orlando has 392,040 square feet of underground tunnels, complete with custom areas for Mickey, cast member cafeterias and a sophisticated garbage system. The Magic Kingdom relies on compressed air to propel garbage at 60 miles per hour to a central collection point where it’s processed or recycled. All of these things go relatively undetected by their patrons, but all add up to a seamless and flawless experience where attention to detail is everything.

Austin Tam-George, a former Rivers State commissioner for information and communication, has taken legal action against the publishers of ThisDay Newspapers for attributing a statement to him, which he said he never made.

In a report titled “Wike and the Trouble Within” published by ThisDay on Sunday, July 9, 2017, Dr. Tam-George was quoted as having said: “[Governor Nyesom] Wike does not have any good dream for Rivers State. commissioners serving under Governor Wike can no longer pay the school fees of their wards, Governor Wike is running a one-man-show government and I’ve decided not to be part of such government again.”

But in a letter to ThisDay, through his lawyers, Adegboruwa and Co., a prominent law firm in Lagos,  the former commissioner said the statement was a malicious and deliberate fabrication intended to damage his reputation. Tam-George demanded an immediate retraction and apology from the newspaper.

The former commissioner, who was once an Andrew W. Mellon Research Fellow, and lecturer at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, is also demanding N500 million in damages from the newspaper.

The letter sent to ThisDay by Ebun-Olu Adebgoruwa, Dr Tam-George’s lawyer, says that “the said malicious and libelous publication, despite several clarifications availed your company, was with an already made-up agenda, deliberately published and circulated by your company with the full knowledge and awareness of its consequences and implications on the feeling, integrity, character, business, career, and reputation of our client.”

The letter seeks immediate retraction and apology to be published in 3 national dailies,  and the payment of 500 million naira in damages to the former commissioner.

On Thursday,  June 23, 2017, Dr. Tam-George, resigned from the government.

“I wish to resign my appointment as Commissioner for Information and Communication with effect from today, June 23, 2017,” his brief resignation letter to Governor Nyesom Wike, which was obtained by The Trent on Friday.

“I have handed over officially to the director of administration of the ministry.”

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve the state,” he added.

Donald Trump’s eldest son admitted Monday, July 10, 2017 to meeting a Russian lawyer to get dirt on his father’s 2016 rival Hillary Clinton, thrusting the White House deep into another Russia-related scandal.

Trump Jr confirmed reports that he was on the trail of damning information on the Democrat vying to become America’s first woman president, when he met Natalia Veselnitskaya in June 2016.

“Obviously, I’m the first person on a campaign to ever take a meeting to hear info about an opponent,” Trump’s son said in a tweet, claiming that it “went nowhere” but he “had to listen.”

The FBI and Congress are investigating whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential vote.

US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a mass effort to tilt the election in Trump’s favor, including hacking and leaking embarrassing emails from Democrats.

The New York Times reported that Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner, two of Trump’s most trusted campaign officials, were also at the meeting last year.

In a potentially even more damaging revelation for Donald Jr and the Trump team, the New York Times reported later Monday that the younger Trump had been informed via email ahead of the meeting that material from the Russian lawyer was part of an effort by Moscow to aid his father’s presidential bid and hurt Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Veselnitskaya is not well known in Russia, but represented the son of a senior Russian official who was involved in a major fraud probe that had international repercussions.

In a statement to the Times, the younger Trump said the lawyer “stated that she had information that individuals connected to Russia were funding the Democratic National Committee and supporting Mrs Clinton.”

“It quickly became clear that she had no meaningful information,” he said, adding that the lawyer then began discussing the adoption of Russian children by American couples under a program Putin had suspended.

The meeting took place at a pivotal point in the 2016 campaign, after Trump had shocked Republicans with a string of primary victories and Clinton had all-but secured the Democratic nomination.

US officials have sought to distance the president himself from the encounter.

“The president was not aware of and did not attend the meeting,” Mark Corallo, a spokesman for President Trump’s private lawyer, told AFP.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump had only learned of the meeting “in the last couple of days.”

Donald Trump junior’s meeting has already drawn the attention of Congressional investigators.

“Our intelligence committee needs to interview him and others who attended the meeting,” said Republican Senator Susan Collins.

A spokesperson for Kushner did not respond to request for comment.

The Kremlin said it “did not know who” Veselnitskaya was. “We can’t be aware of all the meetings Russian lawyers have abroad,” said spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

A spokeswoman for the Trump Organization, Amanda Miller, confirmed to AFP that Donald Trump Jr. had hired attorney Alan Futerfas to represent him in the widening Russian meddling investigation, amid calls from some senior members of the US Congress — that he provide testimony in the case. (AFP)

Etisalat has terminated its management agreement with its Nigerian arm and has given Etisalat Nigeria three weeks to phase out the brand in the country.

The decision of the Abu Dhabi owned telecommunications networks resulted after its $1.7 billion loan talks collapsed.

Chief executive of Etisalat International, Hatem Dowidar said on Monday, July 11, 2017 that the there was no need for the brand in Nigeria after the collapse of the loan talks.

Nigerian regulators intervened last week to save Etisalat Nigeria from collapse after lenders were calling for the probe and total takeover of the company.

Although Etisalat Nigeria in a statement issued three weeks ago claimed that it had repaid 42 per cent of the loan.

“As at today, we can categorically state that the outstanding loan sum to the consortium(of banks) stands at $227m and N113bn, a total of about $574m if the naira portion is converted to US Dollars. This in essence means almost half of the original loan of $1.2bn, has been repaid.

“Etisalat continued to service the loan up until February 2017, when discussions with the banks regarding the repayment restructuring commenced,” Ibrahim Dikko, vice-president, Regulatory & Corporate Affairs of Etisalat Nigeria said.

However, Etisalat International announced on Monday that it was pulling out after all UAE shareholders of the company have exited and left the board and management of the Nigerian brand.

Dowidar said discussions were ongoing with Etisalat Nigeria to provide technical support, adding that it can use the brand for another three-weeks before phasing it out.

Nothing has been said about how this will affect the network and its integrity as million of Nigerians are subscribed to the network.

In June, the Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC) assured that the network’s integrity would not be compromised amid the loan disagreements.

Director, Public Affairs of NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo had said that the commission’s attention had been drawn to the planned takeover by the consortium of banks.

Ojobo said that the regulatory body was aware of the indebtedness of Etisalat to the consortium.

According to him, the NCC in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has mediated by holding several meetings with the banks, Etisalat and other stakeholders to find a solution.

“Regrettably, these meetings did not yield the desired results.

“The NCC wishes to reassure about 21 million Etisalat subscribers that it will do all within its regulatory power to ensure that Etisalat subscribers continue to enjoy the services provided by the operator.

“The commission has taken proactive steps to cushion the impact of the takeover; this is without prejudice to the ongoing effort between Etisalat and the banks toward a negotiated settlement.

“NCC wishes to reassure all stakeholders in the telecommunications sector, in particular the subscribers on the Etisalat network, that it will ensure that the integrity of the network is not compromised.’’

In spite of court order, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has continued with the recall process of Senator Dino Melaye, saying that the electoral body could not be stopped from performing its constitutional duty.

According to the Nation, INEC on Monday, July 10, 2017 pasted the notice of the verification of the recall process at its Kogi state office.

Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, is facing a recall by his constituents who have filed a recall with signatures; the recall will run from July 10 to August 19.

INEC decided to continue with the process based on precedents and judicial pronouncements, especially the Appeal Court judgement of 2001.

Mallam Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner of INEC in charge of North-Central, said the Court of Appeal had since 2001 decided that a court cannot stop the recall of a lawmaker.

The INEC “Notice of Verification”, states: “In accordance with Section 69 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(As amended), notice is hereby given that the verification for the recall of the member representing Kogi West Senatorial District of Kogi State shall hold as follows:

“Date: 19th August, 2017; Time: 8am-2pm; Location: All polling units in Kogi West Senatorial District.”

A source said: “If you look at the provision of Section 87(10) of the Electoral Act, 2010(As amended), which is applicable in this instance, INEC cannot be stopped from doing its work of conducting election in any manner whatsoever.

“The provision of Section 110 of the 1999 Constitution is actually explicit on the recall. As an institution, INEC has nothing against Melaye or any lawmaker. We are expected to follow the constitution and the Electoral Act. Implementing a recall process is not a suicide mission for any lawmaker. If a lawmaker has the backing of his or her constituents, the recall process will be dead on arrival.”

Haruna said: “We have a Court of Appeal judgement on why court cannot stop the process. This judgment is dated back to 2001.

“Since there is a subsisting Court of Appeal judgment, we will abide by it.”

The notice, dated July 3rd, 2017, reads : “In exercise of the powers conferred on the Independent National Electoral Commission(“the Commission”) by Sections 69 and 110 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended); Section 116 of the Electoral Act 2010(as amended) and of all the powers enabling it in that behalf, the Commission hereby issues this timetable schedule of activities for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Kogi State.”

The details of the timetable are as follows:

Read more: Nation

A reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Benin, Lawrence Okojie, was allegedly shot dead by gunmen on Saturday night [July 8, 2017] in Benin.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Mr. Okojie was said reported to have been killed around Ogunola Junction, off Siluko Road.

The spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the report, said one person had been arrested in connection with the incident.

NAN gathered that the late Okojie, who was dropped off by NTA staff bus at Ogunola Junction around 8: 00 p.m. on Saturday, had called his wife on phone and informed her that he was on his way home.

It was, however, several hours later that the wife, after repeated calls to his phone without any response raised an alarm that her husband, who was supposed to have arrived home could not be reached.

It was gathered that some of his colleagues at NTA joined by some family members on a search mission, discovered his corpse in a morgue in Benin on Sunday night.

As at the time of filing in this report, the circumstances surrounding the death of the reporter are still sketchy.

The police have, however, promised to thoroughly investigate the matter.

NAN reports that Okojie’s death brings to five the number of journalists killed in the state in the last six years.

Two months ago, a Nigerian journalist was assassinated in his home in Bayelsa State.

Famous Giobaro, a journalist with Bayelsa Radio Corporation, Glory FM 97.1 Yenagoa, popularly known as the ‘Famous Man’ on Radio has been murdered in his home in the state’s capital.

The shocking crime was perpetrated by gunmen who stormed Giobaro’s apartment on INEC Road, Kpasia in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital.

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has alerted Nigerians on the need to raise their guard against another outbreak of Lassa fever and Ebola.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Monday, July 10, 2017, Tunde Olawepo, chairman of the association in Kwara State, warned the country not to let down its guard against the deadly viruses.

He noted that the government and people had relaxed measures that were initiated to contain the spread of Ebola at its outbreak in 2013.

According to him, surveillance of travelers entering the country had stopped just as people had relaxed with personal hygiene such as regular washing of hands and use of sanitisers.

He said: “People have stopped using hand sanitisers and frequent hand washing as before.

“We need to step up with preventive measures and this means people must keep up with hygiene at all times.”

The physician warned that if these measures were not sustained, these contagious diseases could resurface.

The NMA state Chairman also advocated psychological examination of people aspiring to hold sensitive government positions.

He explained that psychopaths abound in the society who appeared to be normal, but required psychological examination to confirm the true state of their health.

“Predicting signs of abnormality in people assigned with taking decisions that affect the country is a duty of the government,” he stated.

Olawepo also urged Nigerians to be whistle-blowers against those who abuse hard drugs before driving as to promote a healthy society.

The Forum of Concerned Nguru Citizens in Nsukka, Enugu State has petitioned the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, seeking his intervention in an alleged case of land grabbing by Rev. Fr. Paul Obayi for the purpose of building a university.

In the petition dated June 12, 2017, which copies were sent to the Cathedral Administrator, St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Nsukka and the Parish Priest, St. Anthony’s Parish, Nguru Nsukka, the Chairman of the Forum, Hon. Titus Attah and the Secretary, Sylvester Okey Onah appealed to the Bishop to use his position to settle the differences between the Priest and the community.

The Forum wrote: “We are a community of predominantly Catholic faithful and we reasonably understand the implications of complaints against people in the Priesthood. But we have no other option for peaceful settlement. We also believe that as a proud son of Nsukka, you will approach this matter with both brotherly wisdom driven by a deep understanding of the peculiarities of Nsukka, and a spiritual inspiration, from your years as a servant in the Alter and House of the Most High.”

The petitioners explained that the issue at hand was a vast expanse of land totalling over 109 hectares belonging to Nguru Community that Rev. Fr. Obayi allegedly conspired with a few selfish people in Nguru Community to appropriate for himself.

“Some time ago, we learnt that following a dispute over the ownership of Obelibe (a vast land area, owned collectively by the entire Nguru Community) and Likke (a kindred in Nguru), Fr. Obayi had presented what he made the people of the village to see as a peaceful resolution to the simmering dispute. We understand he offered to take the land and build a university on it. Information we had said he had claimed he has a partnership with a foreign university to bring the educational institution to our community,” the petitioners stated.

The group further alleged: “In full cohorts with him are a few, largely idle and jobless young people in the community that we understand have been profiting financially from our brother, the Reverend, ever since. With these people behind him, it was therefore easier to sell the idea to the Council of Elders (Akpuru Arua) who lack the capacity (for reasons of age and generation gaps) to properly interrogate the issue.

The Forum said: “The bulk of us, and of course a vast majority of Nguru indigenes, are living outside the homeland and when the news got to us on what was happening, we made contacts with those at home only to discover that consultation was narrow and did not involve all the stakeholders.

“As a brother, who grew up with some of us in this Forum, we wrote a letter to Fr. Obayi, asking for further discussions on the matter before anything could happen on that expanse of land. The said letter is hereby attached for your kind perusal.”

The group also alleged that Fr. Obayi, however, never replied nor reached out to any member of the Forum for further exploration and interrogation of the idea, not until they had an altercation through a telephone conversation with him in their bid to resolve this issue during which he was said to have labelled them “as an ‘unknown group’ probably not worthy of any consultation.”

The group further explained to the Bishop that “community issues such as this are not a democracy where the majority carries the vote. Everyone who is from Nguru has a share in that expanse of land and must be seen to have acceded to its transfer to another person. In the case of Fr. Obayi and Nguru, he neither got the buy-in of the majority nor even made any effort of any significance in that direction. Ignoring the first letter we wrote him on this, only to reply when he had perfected his plans is a major pointer.”

“While we waited patiently for Fr. Obayi to see reason to embrace dialogue, he unilaterally scripted an agreement and signed same with the elders and before one could think further, he had deployed earth-moving equipment to the site, probably for mapping and surveying,” the group alleged.

It then raised a number of questions: “What kind of university is he bringing to Nguru and placing on an expanse of land larger than the two campuses of the University of Lagos put together?

“Where is the approved (permanent or provisional) license for the establishment of that university by the National Universities Commission?

“Where is the Memorandum of Understanding between Fr. Obayi, his company, and the university he is bringing to Nguru?

“Is this university a community school or Fr. Obayi’s private enterprise?

“If it is Fr. Obayi’s private enterprise, is he expecting to make profits from school enrolment and other activities the institution involves in?

“If there is going to be profit; how right does it sound to him as a Priest of God, that he appropriates a vast expanse of land belonging to his community, grows it to make profits while penury and want ravage his people?

“If this university will belong to Fr. Obayi, what happens when (his mortal being) departs this earth? Will the university return to Nguru, the original land owners? Will it return to Fr. Obayi’s family (his brothers and other close relatives) since he is a priest and is, by his vocation, expected not to marry and bear children of his own? Or will it return to the Church he vowed to serve with and for the rest of his life?”

Read more at News Express.

Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group of Companies, has donated N50 million to victims of the communal crisis that hit Ile-Ife, Osun State, on March 8.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dangote made the donation on Monday, July 10, 2017 at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The fracas, between the Yoruba and Hausa residents of the city, claimed many lives.

A panel of inquiry set up by the Osun State Government, which began sitting on April 19, received 406 memoranda. Most memoranda contained demands for compensations.

While many claimed that their shops were looted, others claimed that their houses were burnt, and appealed to government to assist them.

Dangote, who was represented by Mrs. Suera Yusuf, Managing Director of Dangote Foundation, said that the N50 million would be shared among 220 victims.

“Each of the 220 victims will receive a cheque commensurate with the losses suffered,” Yusuf said.

She expressed the Foundation’s readiness to assist victims of violence so as to ameliorate their sufferings, but cautioned youths against being used to perpetrate such violence.

The Managing Director called for unity between the Yoruba ad Hausa residents of Ife, saying that peace and unity would attract development and posterity to the city.

Ogunwusi, in his remarks, thanked Dangote for the gesture which he described as “encouraging”.

He called for more cooperation between traditional rulers and the private sector, saying that such partnership would benefit the country.

The traditional ruler cautioned youths against resorting to violence over the slightest excuse, pointing out that development was impossible without peace.

He challenged wealthy Nigerians to give something back to the society by emulating Dangote’s humanitarian gestures.

Also speaking, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido, hailed the Ooni for his leadership role during the crisis, saying that his neutrality helped to douse tension and fear.

“From the north, we were convinced not to issue any public statement after Ooni explained the steps he had taken; he indeed deserves our praise,” he said.

Lamido cautioned Nigerians against hate speech, suggesting that dialogue be used to resolve every disagreement.

Chairman of Ife Progressive Union, Prof. Muib Opeloye, commended the monarchs for facilitating the donation, and described the incident as “unfortunate”.

Fixed deposit are pretty much like a savings account but with a higher return on the rate of interest. Fixed deposits thus help you save money and earn a profit at the same time. They are the safest form of investment. An individual can reap a decent profit on the maturity of investment. Fixed deposit helps you to save and achieve higher returns with the help from the bank.

There are various banks and non-banking financial companies which provide the service of fixed deposit. The rate of interest differs from bank to bank. Thus you must select the right one as per your need. A higher rate of interest will help you to get higher benefits on the rate of interest. When we talk about fixed deposit, there are three important things that we need to keep in mind.

• Amount deposited
• Tenure for which it is being deposited
• Rate of interested being offered

These are the three basic fundamental aspects that will determine whether your returns on investment are better or ordinary. Everybody who looks to invest in fixed deposit wishes to have the best return. There are several reasons why they don’t get the best-fixed deposit rate:

• Deposit Amount:

A deposit amount as mentioned above is one of the instrumental factors that will determine the return on investment. Thus if you deposit a higher amount, the returns will be higher while a lower amount would yield lower returns. Make sure you invest as much as you can. The bank looks forward to your investment as they want to use the funds to maximize the profit. If you assist the bank with this, they’ll do it too by providing you sizeable return when your deposit matures.

• Incorrect Tenure:

Tenure of the loan is one of the most important aspects when deciding the fixed deposit investment. A long tenure will help you yield higher benefit as the amount stays with the bank for a longer time and thus the return on the rate of interest is higher. It is essential that you select a proper tenure for yourself. And keep in mind that you must not withdraw the deposited amount prematurely; this will deprive you of the benefits. You’ll thus lose all the interest that has been accrued.

• Not an old customer:

If you think why is the other investor earning more on the rate of interest than you are? The reason is simple. You are not an old customer. Loyal customers are offered with a better rate of interest than the new ones. These old customers are the preferential customers. Thus the increased rate of interest is exclusively for these customers.

• No Fresh funds introduced:

You have done everything right thus far to secure a high rate of interest from the bank. But even after doing everything right as per the aforementioned points, you still don’t get a high rate of interest on your FD because no fresh funds have been introduced into the bank. Fresh funds don’t mean new notes or a paycheck that you received yesterday. It means the money that you have deposited in another bank. Bank often has a soft corner for people who bring businesses to them. Thus if you bring new money to the bank by withdrawing it from some other bank, it improves your chances of getting a higher rate of interest.

These are several reasons you need to focus on in order to get a higher rate of interest on fixed deposit. If you aren’t getting it right by now then probably you haven’t fulfilled any of the aforementioned conditions.

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo was in London on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 spending an hour at the Nigeria’s High Commission where President Muhammadu Buhari has spent much of the past two months on medical leave.

A Reuters reporter saw Professor Osinbajo arrive at Abuja House, the Nigerian High Commission, or embassy, in London, late on Tuesday. He left an hour later without comment.

Buhari left Abuja on May 7 and handed over power to his deputy, to allay concerns of a void at the top of Africa’s biggest economy.

“Osinbajo meeting with President Buhari in London today, and returning to Abuja immediately afterwards,” the vice president’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, said in a Twitter message posted earlier on Tuesday, July 11, 2017.

AgP Osinbajo meeting with President Buhari in London today, and returning to Abuja immediately afterwards.

— Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) July 11, 2017

No details were given.

Officials have not disclosed details of Buhari’s illness, which has caused fierce speculation in Nigerian media and on social media about his ailment and whether he will seek a second term in the 2019 election.

A thin-looking Buhari, 74, was last seen in Nigeria on state television welcoming a group of 82 girls released by Islamist militant group Boko Haram, hours before he flew to Britain.

It is the ailing president’s second break in Britain this year. The first began in January and lasted nearly two months.

On Wednesday morning, Akande provided an update which didn’t include any information on the president’s health status. He announced the return of Acting President Osinbajo and indicated that he would be presiding over the federal cabinet meeting later in the day.

AgP Osinbajo now back in Abuja from London & will be presiding over FEC this morning starting @ 11am at the Council Chambers in Aso Rock

— Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) July 12, 2017

Additional reports by Reuters.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 upheld the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the national leadership of the main opposition party in the country.

In its ruling on Wednesday, the Apex Court held that the appeal filed by Makarfi at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt was not an abuse of court process as wrongly held by the majority judgment of the Court of Appeal.

Resolving the preliminary issue, the Supreme Court has dismissed the preliminary objection by the Ali Modu Sheriff faction, holding that the appeal by the Ahmed Makarfi faction was valid.

The second issue formulated is being considered by the Supreme Court. The issue is whether the PDP’s National Convention held on May 21, 2016 where Sheriff was removed as the national chairman of the party was valid or illegal.

Yemi Osinbajo, the acting president of Nigeria, has approved the appointment of 19 Judges for the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

The approval is part of “measures to reduce the workload of the court”, which deals with labour related matters only.

The appointment was made public on Monday, July 10, 2017 in Abuja.

The acting president sanctioned the appointments based on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC), the body empowered by the constitution of the country to nominate qualified persons for appointment as judicial officers.

The new judges are Targema John Iorngee from Benue, Namtari Mahmood Abba from Adamawa State, Nweneka Gerald Ikechi from Rivers State, Kado Sanusi from Katsina State, Adeniyi Sinmisola Oluyinka from Ogun State, Abiola Adunola Adewemimo from Osun State, Opeloye Ogunbowale from Lagos State, Essien Isaac Jeremiah from Akwa Ibom State, and Elizabeth Ama Oji from Ebonyi State.

Others are Arowosegbe Olukayode Ojo from Ondo State, Ogbuanya Nelson Chukwudi from Enugu State, Bashir Zaynab Mohammed from Niger State, Galadima Ibrahim Suleiman from Nasarawa State, Bassi Paul Ahmed from Borno State and Danjidda Salisu Hamisu from Kano State.

The rest are Hamman Idi Polycarp from Taraba State, Damulak  Kiyersohot Dashe from Plateau, Alkali Bashar Attahiru from Sokoto State and Mustapha Tijjani from Jigawa State.

A statement by the director of information in the National Judicial Council (NJC), Soji Oye indicated that the new judges will be sworn-in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and chairman, National Judicial Council, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Friday, 14th July, 2017, by 3.00pm at the Supreme Court.

Popular American music maestro, Don Moen has taken to social media to assure his fans that is alive and well after internet rumours began to circulate after a fake news site published a story that he had died after a “short battle with stomach pain”.

“Celebrating four generations in Minnesota today! Here’s a photo of my dad, son John, holding Benneth and me holding Luke. Love my family,” the music icon said in a Facebook post on Wednesday, July 12, 2017. The post was that of a family photo with infant members of the Moen family.

Frank Edwards, a Nigerian gospel singer who has collaborated with Mr. Moen, was one of the first people to dispel the rumour on Twitter. He shared a screengrab of a conversation which he had with Michael, a son of the gospel music legend.

PLS IGNORE THIS FAKE NEWS!!! Don moen @donmoen is VERY ALIVE AND HEALTHY pic.twitter.com/UcIqQs2AGA

— FRANK EDWARDS (@FRANKRICHBOY) July 12, 2017

“An American singer-songwriter, pastor evangelist, Don Moen has died after short battle with stomach pain,” the fake news website published.

“His family confirmed that he died early this morning at General Acute Care (GAC) Hospital in California shortly after being rushed to the hospital.

“The cause of his death is not immediately known as the body is deposited at the morgue for autopsy.

“President Donald also has expressed his tributes, saying Don Moen was “one of the best gospel artists that the country has ever produced,” the Houston News site said.