The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • BREAKING: Buhari, Gbajabiamila meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Gbajabiamila’s car drove to the forecourt of the Presidential Villa around 11.22am

    The meeting started at the President’s office around 11.30am.

    Discussion at the meeting may not be unconnected with the killings of Nigerians in South Africa and other national issues.

    Read Also: Buhari mourns Robert Mugabe

    Some members of the House of Representatives had urged Gbajabiamila to cut short the recess for the lawmakers over xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

    They want the lower chamber of the National Assembly to give legislative backing to the executive arm of government toward protecting Nigerians in South Africa.

    The meeting with the President was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

     

     

  • Court sentences teenager to 8 weeks in prison for traffic violation

    A Magistrates’ Court in Minna on Friday sentenced an 18-year-old, Yusuf Mohammed, to eight weeks in prison for violating traffic rules.

    The police charged Mohammed with four counts of dangerous driving, failing to obey traffic rules, driving without plate number and driving without side mirror.

    In her ruling, Magistrate Mariam Kings, sentenced Muhammed after he pleaded guilty to the crime and begged the court for leniency.

    Read Also; Man arraigned for stealing N157,000

    Kings, however gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N8,000.

    Ealier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Aliyu Yakubu, told the court that the convict rode on an unregistered motorcycle and beat the traffic lights.

    The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 35, 18, 36 and 54 of the road traffic regulations.

  • Mixed reactions as Nicki Minaj quits music

    Fans of American rapper and singer, Nicki Minaj have reacted with shocks to announcement of her retirement from music.

    The versatile singer took to twitter on Thursday, September 5, 2019 to announce her retirement from the music scene.

    “I’ve decided to retire & have my family. I know u guys are happy now. To my fans, keep reppin me, do it til da death of me. In de box, – cuz ain’t nobody checkin me. Love you for Life”, she tweeted.

    However, the singer’s sudden decision to quit music is not welcomed by her fanbase worldwide.

    Fans reactions were:

    @domcorona tweeted, “Nicki stop this. This ain’t funny, I’m not prepared for this”.

    @bbonquiqui wrote, ” Dear God, if you hear God, make this tweet disappear when you see it. Take away this thought from her when it interferes. We love her too much, to retire”.

    Read Also: Nicki Minaj set to marry childhood friend Kenneth Petty

    @violetisgreen tweeted, “I really hope Nicki can do both tho. I am so happy for her starting a family”.

    The ‘MEGATRON’ Rapstress had reportedly gotten a marriage license with boyfriend, Michael Petty last month, and gone ahead to change her Twitter handle to “Mrs Petty’. The both had since shared photos of each other across social media.

    At the Queen Radio show last month, Nicki had revealed her excitement in anticipation to her marriage. “We filed for a marriage license, and I had to travel, so when I came back it had expired, we were given 90 days, so we had to renew it again”.

    “Before the 90 days is over, yes, I’ll be married. I’m very happy about that, because my baby makes me happy. I have to work on my album, so I don’t want to do the big wedding now. I’ll be married before my album comes out, but will have my big wedding after my album comes out”.

  • Man, 51, jailed for using expired ATM card to buy drinks, fried meat

    A 51-year old man, Ikidi Innocent, has been jailed by an Oredo Magistrate Court for using expired Union Bank ATM card to buy drinks and fried meat.

    Ikidi was said to have committed the offence on June 27, 2019.

    He was said to have tricked one Blessing John and Dorothy Amaka to buy meat and beer for his consumption.

    Ikidi was arraigned on three count charges of cheating and obtaining by false pretence.

    He pleaded guilty to the charges.

    Read Also; Police parade 72 suspects in Imo

    Police Prosecutor, ASP Patrick Agbonifo, informed the court that the convict bought fried meat worth N1500, stout beer worth N9000, origin bitters worth N300, and other alcoholic drinks worth N3,430.

    ASP Agbonifo said the offences were punishable under sections 516, 421 and 419 of the Criminal Code cap 48 Vol ii laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria now applicable in Edo State.

    Presiding Magistrate, Ivie Akhere, sentenced the accused to three months imprisonment without an option of fine.

  • Tribunal affirms Oduah’s election

    The Anambra State election petition tribunal has affirmed the election of Senator Stella Oduah (Anambra North).

    The Independent National Electoral Commisison (INEC) declared Senator Oduah winner of the February 23 election. She contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    But candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chinedu Emeka challenged Oduah’s victory. He sad Oduah was not qualified to contest the election because she did not possess the required academic qualifications.

    According to him, Oduah was still a member of APGA by the time of the election. The former deputy governor also alleged that the election did not comply with the Electoral Act.

    But Justice Esther Haruna. said the petitioner failed to prove his allegations beyond reasonable doubt and therefore said Oduah was validly elected

    The tribunal also affirmed the election of Valentine Ayika of the PDP, representing Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia Federal Constituencies.

    Read Also: PDP sweeps NASS tribunal victory in A’Ibom

    Ayika’s election was challenged by APGA candidate, Dozie Nwankwo.

    The election petition tribunal in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Capital, has dismissed a petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency, Uchenna Nshi, against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Sylvester Ogbaga.

    Nshi approached the tribunal to declare Ogbaga’s election as invalid because, according to him, it was fraught with corrupt practices, voter intimidation, violence, non-compliance to the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and unlawful alteration of results in favour of Ogbaga.

    He urged the court to set aside the results of polling units, wards and local governments as declared by the first respondent (INEC).

    Tribunal chairman Justice Sika Aprioku held that the petition lacked merit as the petitioner failed to bring preponderance of evidence to prove his case.

    The tribunal also held that the allegations of corrupt practices, non-compliance with Electoral Act 2010 as amended, and guidelines for the election was not substantiated by the petitioner, even as he did not prove to the court how they affected the outcome of the election.

    Justice Aprioku said the testimonies of the petitioner’s witnesses amounted to hearsay as they confirmed during cross examination that they were not present at the polling units where the infractions happened and accordingly, are unreliable and cannot be attached any probative value.

    The tribunal awarded N150,000 cost each in favour of the first and second respondents while N20,000 cost was awarded in favour of the third respondent.

    Ogbaga described the judgment as the reaffirmation of INEC’s verdict.

  • BREAKING: Robert Mugabe is dead

    Former President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe is dead.

    He died in Singapore aged 95, as confirmed on twitter by current President Emmerson Mnangagwa

    According to Mnangagwa: “It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe’s founding father and former President, Cde Robert Mugabe.

    “Cde Mugabe was an icon of liberation, a pan-Africanist who dedicated his life to the emancipation and empowerment of his people. His contribution to the history of our nation and continent will never be forgotten. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

    Mugabe had led Zimbabwe in 1980 and again in 2017, before ultimately being booted after a military coup. His early years in power was praised for broadening access to health and education for the black majority – but his later years were marked by rights abuses and corruption.

    ZimLive first reported the death of the dictator who led the country during the two spells.

  • AbdulRazaq to spend N14b to improve facilities in primary schools

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said on Thursday his administration will spend N14 billion on infrastructural deficits in primary schools

    He added that the state would access N7 billion from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the state’s counterpart fund will also be N7 billion.

    AbdulRazaq said no fewer than 1000 traders, market men and women and artisans will benefit from N1 billion soft loans to run their businesses under the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) under consideration by the House of Assembly.

    AbdulRazaq, who spoke to reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, at a breakfast meeting, added that the focus of his administration centres around human capital and infrastructural development, which would attract investments, combat poverty and take Kwara to the top of the table of revenue generation and competitiveness.

    Read Also: 100 days of hope, prudence and restoration in Kwara

    AbdulRazaq lamented that his administration inherited from his predecessor a culture of government officials selling off public properties to themselves at ridiculous prices, insisting the administration is disappointed at mindless mismanagement of public resources and would take steps to redress the excesses.

    He listed his major landmarks as include fixing the perennial water crisis within Ilorin metropolis, taking Kwara out of its pariah status as the least performing state in UBEC ranking, getting contractors back to work to complete abandoned or uncompleted projects, paying counterpart funds that have changed the story of the state in health and education sector, paying years of arrears owed Colleges of education, and reaccreditation of the state’s tertiary institutions, among others.

    AbdulRazaq said his administration has done these without touching the N4.8 billion it inherited from the previous government, saying the fund is reserved to kick-start the state’s social security programme and putting basic infrastructure in place.

    Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; Secretary to the Government Prof. Mamman Sabah Jibril; Chief of Staff to the Governor Aminu Adisa Logun; Head of Service Mrs. Susan Modupe Oluwole; and All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Bashiru Bolarinwa.

    AbdulRazaq also said Kwarans should expect something concrete on cabinet formation from next week, saying the delay had been due to wide consultations with all stakeholders within the ruling party and dismissing claims of rancour within its ranks.

  • Dream Team VII lose 0-1 in Omdurman

    THE U-23 Eagles on Thursday night, lost 0-1 to hosts Sudan in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics football event qualifier at the Al Merriekh Stadium in Omdurman.

    The winner over two legs will qualify for the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

    The Nigeria U-23 Eagles had a couple of chances to score in the first half but the duo of Taiwo Awoniyi and Stephen Odey were guilty of missing them.

    Awoniyi was fouled in the Sudan penalty area in the 38th minute but the referee refused to award a spot-kick to the Nigerians.

    The hosts scored through Walaa El-Din just before the half time break.

    Nigeria’s goalkeeper Adamu Abubakar saved superbly from a counter-attack by the Sudanese two minutes into the second half.

    The Nigerians made three second-half substitutions to find an equaliser, with the weak link Awoniyi, one of the key players making way and replaced by Sunday Adetunji.

    The Nigeria U-23 Eagles never restored parity as the match ended 1-0 advantage Sudan.

    The second leg holds next Tuesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

    THE U-23 Eagles on Thursday night, lost 0-1 to hosts Sudan in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics football event qualifier at the Al Merriekh Stadium in Omdurman.

    The winner over two legs will qualify for the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

    The Nigeria U-23 Eagles had a couple of chances to score in the first half but the duo of Taiwo Awoniyi and Stephen Odey were guilty of missing them.

     

    Read Also: AFCON under 23 Qualifiers: Libya beat Dream Team 2-0 in Tunisia

    Awoniyi was fouled in the Sudan penalty area in the 38th minute but the referee refused to award a spot-kick to the Nigerians.

    The hosts scored through Walaa El-Din just before the half time break.

    Nigeria’s goalkeeper Adamu Abubakar saved superbly from a counter-attack by the Sudanese two minutes into the second half.

    The Nigerians made three second-half substitutions to find an equaliser, with the weak link Awoniyi, one of the key players making way and replaced by Sunday Adetunji.

    The Nigeria U-23 Eagles never restored parity as the match ended 1-0 advantage Sudan.

    The second leg holds next Tuesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

  • Osun to celebrate Oyetola, Aregbesola tomorrow

    All roads will tomorrow lead to the Osun State Government House in Osogbo, where a celebratory banquet will hold in honour of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

    The banquet, according to the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ismail Omipidan, is meant to celebrate Oyetola’s triumph at the Supreme Court and to celebrate the appointment of Aregbesola by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Minister of Interior.

    Read Also: Oyetola and the policy of all-inclusive governance

    It is the first time such a deserving celebration will be organised by the state to honour the duo since Oyetola’s victory of July 5 and Aregbesola’s appointment.

    The occasion is expected to be attended by eminent personalities and stakeholders from across the country, all of whom have been invited to honour the two great political icons.

    Aregbesola had on July 6, a day after the Supreme Court’s judgment while addressing Osun citizens, revealed that a day would be set aside to celebrate Oyetola’s victory.

  • Road repairs: MFM relocates monthly PMCH programme

    The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) has temporarily relocated its monthly “Power Must Change Hands” programme from the Prayer City on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to its international headquarters at Onike, Yaba, Lagos, with effect from the September edition.

    The programme is held in the morning of the first Saturday of every month.

    According to the Assistant General Overseer in charge of Administration, Pastor Gbesan Adebambo, the relocation, approved by the General Overseer of MFM Worldwide, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, is an interim arrangement.

    Read Also: MFM lifts 314 first class graduates with N500,000

    Adebambo said it was informed by the current road reconstruction and the partial closure of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    “Consequently, all MFM Lagos regional headquarters are directed to hook up to international headquarters for live streaming of the programme by 7a.m prompt.

    “Accordingly, you are required to disseminate this information adequately at the regional headquarters, zones and branches in the region under your supervision,” the statement said.