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  • Man commits suicide after bathing wife with acid

    Man commits suicide after bathing wife with acid

    A man, identified Faruq Opere Abiola, has died after allegedly attacking his wife with an acid at their residence on Massey Street, Lagos Island.

    The Nation gathered that the incident occurred on Monday evening around 5:20pm.

    Sources said the man had been having prolonged marital issues with his wife, Kemi Bashiru, who had repeatedly told him she was no longer interested in the relationship.

    Despite her decision, the couple continued to live together in the apartment rented by the wife. Trouble, however, started when Faruq allegedly laid an ambush for her outside their home.

    It was gathered that he confronted her as she stepped out, pushed her back into the apartment and locked the door behind them.

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    He was said to have overpowered her during a scuffle and poured a chemical substance on her, also forcing some into her mouth.

    Neighbours who heard her screams forced the door open and found her unconscious and foaming in the mouth. She was rushed to the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, where doctors said she is in stable condition.

    Faruq was found lifeless at the scene. He was said to have ingested a poisonous substance suspected to be Sniper.

    Police from the Lion Building Division have visited the scene and commenced investigation into the incident.

  • We are ready for polls – Police

    …as FRSC deploys 20,000 personnel nationwide

     

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu has reiterated the determination Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to ensure a violence free and credible 2019 general election.

    He also said the Police would not be a tool for politicians or political parties during the exercise.

    Towards this end, Adamu said enough police personnel would be deployed to every part of the country to prevent violence and other electoral malpractices.

    The IGP spoke in Abuja on Thursday at a stakeholders meeting organized by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) where he said the Police is ready for the election.

    Represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Samuel Musa, the IGP said, “We are ready for the election, we are determined to make sure that no single Nigerian is prevented from voting. We have strategies in place to protect all election materials and personnel.

    “What we want Nigerians to know is that what is wrong during the election periods is diversion of election materials, ballot box snatching, vote soliciting or buying would not be allowed. what is right is queue orderly, vote and maintain peace throughout the exercise”.

    Saying that the theme of the meeting, ‘Towards a credible 2019 election, the role of stakeholders’, the IGP said the Police is ready to take its role very seriously, adding, “This is why we have been having training, retraining, seminars and workshops in-house as well as with other stakeholders”.

    He also said in order to ensure that plans put in place for the successful prosecution of the election were not thwarted, adequate personnel would be provided for all election centers from the ward level to the result announcement centers.

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    “Our men have been told what to do to make it credible, we are not for any political party but make the election credible,” he said.

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi said 20,000 personnel would be deployed nationwide to compliment the security arrangement for the elections.

    According to Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Victor Nwokolo, who represented Oyeyemi, FRSC would be involved in forward and reverse logistics for the election.

    The Corps would also certify all vehicles to be used for the exercise, train and retrain drivers, ensure their suitability for the exercise, oversee vehicular movement, in addition to denying or allowing access to certain routes during and after the exercise.

    Earlier, the acting Executive Director of the Centre, Faith Nwadishi said for a free, fair and credible elections, stakeholders must critically examine and proffer enduring solution to issues of voter apathy and non-collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by the electorates; insecurity; preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); vote buying, destruction or stealing of PVCs; desperation of the political class; and the role of security agencies.

    She, however, expressed satisfaction of the Centre over the level of preparedness by INEC for the election, saying, “There has been improved consultation with stakeholders but we call on the entire INEC staff and officers having different roles and responsibility to discharge their duties in the highest professional manner”.

  • APC clear National Secretary, 23 others for 2019 governorship poll

    The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) has affirmed the nomination of the party’s National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni and 23 others as governorship candidates of the party for the 2019 governorship election across the country.

    Also cleared to fly the party flag are Lagos state flag bearer, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Kano state Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Plateau state Governor, Simon Lalong, Bauchi state Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, Kebbi state Governor, Abubakar Bagudu and Katsina state Governor, Aminu Bello MASARI.

    Others are Jigawa stage Governor, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Niger state Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, Sokoto state deputy governor, Ahmed Aliyu, Prof. Babagana Umara-Zulum (Borno), Abubakar Sule (Nasarawa), Emmanuel JIme (Benue), Tonye Cole (Rivers), Uche Ogah (Abia), Nsima Ebere (Akwa Ibom), Adebayo Adelabu (Oyo), Fapo Abiodun (Ogun), Great Ogboru (Delta), Senator John Owan Enoh (Cross River), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Senator Sunny Ogboji (Ebonyi) and Sani Abubakar Danladi (Taraba).

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    Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena said in a statement that the clearance followed the adoption of the report of the various electoral committee sent to conduct the primaries in the various states.

    The governorship primaries for Enugu, Kwara and Adamawa states have not been conducted, while the party has cancelled the primary in Zamfara and Imo states due to irregularities.

    The NWC also approved the report of the pane, that conducted the governorship primary in Ogun State which declared Dapo Abiodun as the candidate of the party.

  • Independence day: FG lay out event for celebration

    The Federal Government has laid out events for the 58th Independence day celebration which will be taking place on Monday 1st October 2018.

    The event which will commence with the traditional media broadcast at 7am will end with a Dinner and Gala Night at the State House Banquet Hall in the Presidential Villa.

    Permanent Secretary, Political and economic affairs, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Gabriel Aduda stated that the media broadcast will be followed by Independence parade at the Eagle square at 9.00am.

    Aduda who made this revelation in a World press conference on Tuesday in Abuja added that the match past will be by the Military and Para-Military forces, Labour Union and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    He said, “On the of Independence Day, Monday the 1st October 2018, we will begin with the traditional Media Broadcast at 7_00am; followed by Independence Parade at the Eagle Square at 9,00am featuring Match past by Military and Para-Military forces, Labour Union and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC); Air Display by Air Force fighter Jets over the skies of Abuja; Paratroopers Display; and Military equipment fanfare.

    “The Day will come to a close with a Dinner and Gala Night at the State House Banquet Hall in the Presidential Villa, Abuja at 6.00pm.

    “The Central Organising Committee under the able leadership of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, is using this medium to solicit the support and co-operation of all Nigerians to ensure that we have a robust and hitch-free 58th Independence Anniversary Celebrations. In the coming days, there will be rehearsals and simulations by various agencies preparatory to D-Day

    “Some of the activities will involve the movement of military hardware as well as flight manoveurs by fast Air-Force jets and helicopters within the Federal Capital Territory airspace. The major affected airspaces include; the Eagles Square/Three Arms Zone, Keffl, Ado, Orozo, Karu, Nyanya and Guzape/Asokoro areas. The Air-Force jet simulations are planned from 14th 30tln of September 2018, between the hours of 10.00am 11.30am and 15.00pm 16.00pm daily.

    “Members of the public are kindly advised not to panic at the sight and sound of these personnel and equipment manoveurs by the military and other paramilitary agencies, but go about their normal activities as usual.

    “Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, it is our plea that you give this conference the widest publicity possible.”

  • Herdsmen kill two farmers, injure three

    Two persons have been reportedly killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Agasha, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

    Three persons were injured and are receiving treatment in hospital.

    According to the president of Tiv Barenda Association (TBA), Chief Aondona Adzuu, the herdsmen stormed the victim’s home, popularly called Asema, about 2 am.

    He said: “They surrounded his house on Tilley Gyado Farm road and shot him. They also rustled 100 cows.

    “On their way to escape they shot three persons, who are receiving treatment in hospital.”

    Police spokesperson Moses Yamu said he was yet to get the information from the Guma Divisional Police Office.

    Four members of a family were yesterday massacred in Bikka, Takum Local Government Area Taraba State, by rampaging herdsmen.

    Taku is the home of Governor Darius Ishaku and former Defence Minister Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd).

    The attack comes 11 days after Danjuma indicted the armed forces of “colluding” with the killers and asking Nigerians to arm themselves and balance the terror.

    Pictures of the dead went viral on social media.

    Police Commissioner David Akinremi, who confirmed the attack, said the culprits struck about 1am.

    Akinremi, who described the killers as “unknown gunmen”, said: “There is no confirmation as to who the killers are, and what their motive is.”

    Chairman of Takum Shiban Tikare, who also confirmed the attack, said: “The attackers invaded the village at night and slaughtered four members of a family. We heard gunshots about 1am on Takum-Ussa road. While we were trying to mobilise policemen, we heard sporadic gunshots at Mbikka Central, a community on the outskirt of the town.

    “When we got there, four people had been slaughtered like chickens – a man, his wife and two children.

    “A baby mysteriously survived. The attackers, whom we suspect to be Fulani herdsmen, also attacked Basam and burnt the entire village.”

    Shiban lamented that the killings were going on despite the extension of Exercise Ayem Akpatuma (Cat Race).

    According to him, instead of combing the villages to flush out the attackers, the soldiers were busy brutalising his people.

    He added that the people were disappointed with the exercise as it is not yielding the desired results.

    Police spokesman David Misal said the casualty figure was still not clear “but four bodies were recovered.”

    Misal added that the Divisional Police Officer in Takum and troops have been deployed in the area.

  • NBC to settle boundary disputes in states

    The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has intervened to stop the age-long boundary crisis among communities in Cross River.

    It was learnt that the people of Oku Iboku in Itu and their Ikot Offiong neighbours in Odukpani Local Government of Cross River have for decades been locked in boundary wars.

    Security operatives deployed to maintain peace have died in the fracas.

    Determined to end the killings, NBC said plans have been concluded to demarcate the coastal communities.

    Addressing reporters in Uyo yesterday, the NBC zonal representative, Mr. Archibong Okon, said the commission had advised residents to cooperate with the commission to find a solution to the problem.

    “I advise you to live in peace,” he said.

    The NBC chief urged farmers to respect ancient landmarks.

    He pledged the commission’s readiness to do justice at the end of the exercise.

    Mr. Nse Akpan, from the Office of the surveyor-general of the federation (SGF) enjoined the people to embrace peace and work with the commission to settle the dispute.

    Chief Okon Ansa, a community leader, told officials that “the people of Oku Iboku are living in fear of being attacked by their Ikot Ofiong neighbours.”

    He enjoined the commission to expedite action towards resolution of the matter.

    Ansa, a former commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, hailed the commission for intervening in the crises and appealed to relevant agencies to be part of the exercise.

    Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor Obong Moses Ekpo, who is also chairs the Boundary Committee, advised the people to cooperate with the commission, to end killings.

    “The government is interested in defending every inchof the land that belongs to the state,” he said.

  • Total, Greenville in talks with NNPC over $500 million gas investment

    Total, Greenville in talks with NNPC over $500 million gas investment

    Mr Eddy van den Broeke, Chairman of Greenville, an oil and gas company, on Tuesday in Abuja disclosed that his company would invest $500 million in the nation’s gas sector.

    He said the investment would be in collaboration with NNPC/Total Joint Venture and Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria.

    Van den Broeke made this disclosure to journalists after the signing of the Gas Sales and Aggregation Agreement, GSAA deal at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC headquarters, Abuja.

    According to him, Greenville will invest in the first three mini Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG, plants in Africa.

    He said: ”The big challenge today is that no bank is available to finance this investment because of the temporary problems that Nigeria is going through.

    ”We have taken the bold step in saying this country will come back in the next two or three years, with the revolution going on in the country and development of more agriculture.

    ”It will allow Nigeria to get back to a stronger financial position again.

    ‘’The investment is around $500 million in the first phase, and we will go up to about $850 million and completely on equity without any bank financing.

    ”We hope that in the second phase, as the minister has said today, more assistance will be given.

    ‘’Once the people see the investment and once the product comes to the market, automatically, there will be confidence and we have to build the confidence.”

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive of TOTAL, Mr Nicolas Terraz, said the signing was ”a demonstration of our support to the Nigerian government’s objectives to develop local industrial capacities.

    ”This will encourage direct foreign investment; boost GDP in line with the President’s agenda on gas-based industrialisation,” he said.

    He said the belief in the sector was that international oil companies did not like to invest in the downstream sector ”but today is a demonstration that it is not necessarily the case.

    ”We are committed. Our mission is not only to produce but also to supply gas to the people and the domestic market.

    ”Three years ago, a lot of people did not believe we will start this project and here we are, we will start in a month.

    ‘’We are where to support government expansion in its domestic gas market and we are committed to contribute to this expansion project. Investing in domestic gas market is possible.”

    Mr Morgan Okwoche, Managing Director of Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria, said NNPC would supply 74 millions of scf to Greenville from OML 58 in Rumuoji, Rivers.

    ”Greenville will transport the product with specialised LNG trucks, can travel 1,000 kilometres and will not damage the roads because it is not heavy.

    ”The agreement will boost embedded power generation in Nigeria because areas that cannot be reached by normal pipelines can be reached with the virtual pipelines.

    ”LNG fuelling stations will spring up along Nigerian highways and moribund industries will be revived,” he said.

    Mr Dada Thomas, President, Nigeria Gas Association said the project was the first of its kind and transited to a modular mini LNG project.

    ”I am looking forward to more micro LNG projects, moving products from the Niger Delta to more consumers.

    ”If this happens, we will have a way of supplying power to stranded Nigerians and ensure employment to millions of youths,” he said

  • Alleged diversion of N13b arms fund: Dasuki, Bafarawa, others re-arraigned

    Alleged diversion of N13b arms fund: Dasuki, Bafarawa, others re-arraigned

    Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, ex-Governor of Sokoto State Attahiru Bafarawa and four others were re-arraigned yesterday before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama over their alleged involvement in the diversion of N13 billion meant to buy arms for the military.
    Others are Sagir (Bafarawa’s son), a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, an ex-Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda and a firm linked to Sagir – Dalhatu Investment.
    They were earlier arraigned on the same charge before another judge of the court, Justice Peter Affen.
    Their re-arraignment before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf yesterday was informed by the transfer of the case to Justice Yusuf’s court.
    Another case on related issue involving Dasuki and some other set of people is also pending before Justice Yusuf.
    Both cases are now to be tried by the same judge.
    Yesterday, Dasuki was brought to court from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS), where he is being held since his arrest in 2015.
    Dasuki and others pleaded not guilty to the 22-count charge when it was read to them yesterday.
    The charge was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    They are charged with criminal breach of trust, receiving stolen property and misappropriation of about N13 billion.
    After the defendants pleaded to the charge, defence lawyers, including Ahmed Raji (SAN), urged the court to allow their clients to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them.
    Raji, who represented Dasuki, urged the judge to re-affirm the bail with respect to his client for the purpose of restating it to the DSS that has refused to release his client despite meeting the bail conditions.
    Lead prosecuting lawyer Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) opposed Raji’s application, arguing that it was unnecessary.
    In a ruling, Justice Yusuf noted that he had earlier ruled that the EFCC was not in disobedience of the court orders granting bail to Dasuki, as the ex-NSA was being held by another agency, which was not involved in the case.
    He granted the defence lawyers’ request that the defendants be allowed to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them.
    The judge adjourned to February 24 for the beginning of trial.

  • Senate to probe Army/Shi’ite clash

    Senate to probe Army/Shi’ite clash

    The Senate has set up a panel to investigate the bloody clash last weekend between the Shi’ite sect and soldiers in the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    Records from the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, put the number of the Shi’ite sect shot dead by soldiers at 61.

    The Senate announced its decision to conduct the investigation after a closed session yesterday. The session was said to have discussed the dangers inherent in the constant clashes between the sect and security agencies.

    The Senate has set up an ad hoc committee, with members from seven standing committees. The committee is mandated to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the latest conflict.

    Senate Committee Chairman on Defence Ahmed Lawan is to chair the ad hoc committee.

    The seven committees charged with the investigation are Intelligence and National Security; Judiciary and Human Rights; Army; Police Affairs; Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs.

    The panel is also mandated to examine allegations of legal and constitutional breaches.

    Commenting on the matter at plenary, Senate President Bukola Saraki regretted the loss of lives and destruction of property during the incident.

    He enjoined parties in the crisis to maintain peace while the investigation lasted.

    “The Senate is concerned and committed to ensuring that peace reigns in our country and will act in accordance with the constitution,” Saraki said.

  • Mecca accident: Families of Nigerian victims to get N70m each

    Families of the six Nigerian pilgrims who died in the last Friday crane collapse at the Makkah grand Mosque are to get N70 million each.
    Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud who disclosed this on Tuesday has also ordered that top officials of the Saudi Binladin Group be banned from traveling outside the kingdom after the construction company was partially blamed for Friday’s deadly crane crash in Makkah.
    Saudi authority said families of each of the 111 people who lost their lives in the accident be paid compensation of (SR1,000,000) one million Saudi Riyals.
    One Saudi Riyal is presently equivalent to 70 Nigerian Naira.
    According to Saudi local newspaper, Arab News, ‘King Salman ordered the payment of the following to the families of the victims: SR1,000,000 to the family of each person killed in this accident; SR1,000,000 to each injured whose injury resulted in permanent disability; SR500,000 to each of the other injured.”
    According to the report, such payment would not deprive the families of the deceased as well as the injured from the right to claim for private right before the competent judicial authorities.
    [ad id=”403656″]”The king also issued directives to host two family members of the deceased as the king’s guests to perform Hajj next year.
    “The injured who cannot perform Haj this year can perform Hajj next year as the king’s guests. The families of the injured who stay in hospitals for treatment shall be granted visit visas to take care of the injured during the remaining period of Hajj and return back to their country,” the royal court said.
    A royal court announcement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the king is reviewing the report of the Accident Investigation Committee, which suggested negligence on the part of the Saudi Binladin Group, but concluded that it found an “absence of criminal suspicion.”
    The report said “the main reason for the accident is the strong winds while the crane was in a wrong position.”
    Some 111 people were killed and 331 injured when the giant crane being used in the expansion project at the Grand Mosque toppled and crashed into a portion of the mataf (circumambulation area) around the holy Kaaba on Sept. 11.
    Pending completion of the investigation, all members of the Board of Directors of Binladin Group, as well as Bakr bin Mohammed bin Ladin and senior executives in the group and others connected with the project are banned from leaving the kingdom, said the royal court order.