Senate to probe N2 trillion pension fund

THE Senate is set to probe the sum of N2 trillion paid to an unspecified number of pensioners, just as it implored states that have not joined the contributory pension fund of the Federal Government to join in time, in order to avoid delay during payment. 

Slain banker’s trial: Court admits weapon as exhibit

JUSTICE Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, admitted the alleged weapon (a kitchen knife) that was used to murder former Skye Bank staff, Omozoje Titilayo Arowolo, by her husband, Akolade Arowolo, in addition to some other exhibits tendered by the prosecution in the trial.

Nigeria: Again, NURTW Clash Claims 15 in Lagos

A clash between rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos brought business and normal activities to a standstill in the Lagos Island axis of the state , leaving 15 people dead and several others severely injured.

Corruption trial: Alao-Akala, others fight back

FORMER governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, his former Commissioner for Local Government, Senator Hosea Agboola and an Ibadan-based contractor, Mr Femi Babalola, currently on trial for corrupt practices at an Ibadan High Court, have asked the court to strike out the 11-count charge preferred against them because the charge did not disclose any offence known to law.

Nigeria: Court Stops Cross River Governorship Election

An Abuja Federal High Court yesterday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from going ahead with Saturday's governorship election in Cross River State.

Stop 2015 campaigns, Jonathan tells PDP members, ministers

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday warned members of the Peoples Democratic Party and his cabinet to stop campaigning ahead of the 2015 elections.

Nigeria steps up security in restive Maiduguri

Nigeria on Tuesday stepped up security in the restive northeastern city of Maiduguri with the military launching patrolling, a day after radical sect Boko Haram launched a revenge attack killing 30 people.

Iran sets conditions for oil to European nations

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran has laid out conditions for future oil exports to other European countries after halting sales to Britain and France earlier this week, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

19-year-old mother strangles daughter to death in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command yesterday paraded a 19-year-old mother, Nsidibe Effiong, who allegedly strangled her three-week-old baby girl to death. 

Onitsha killer policeman dismissed, remanded in prison

The Nigeria Police Force yesterday dismissed the police corporal, Samuel Ojana, who shot and killed a bus driver in the commercial city of Onitsha, for allegedly refusing to give him N20, which resulted in the violent protest in the city.

How Boko Haram escapee Kabiru Sokoto was re-arrested How Boko Haram escapee Kabiru Sokoto was re-arrested

Kabiru Sokoto,the Boko Haram strategist who cost the immediate past Inspector General of Police and six of his lieutenants their jobs and put the nation on edge, was re-arrested yesterday hiding behind a rack of drying clothes.

Four bombers dead as blasts rock Nigerian flashpoint city

Two explosions went off Friday outside a customs building in Nigeria's flashpoint city of Maiduguri, killing four bombers and wounding two soldiers, the military and residents said.

Ajayi Crowther Varsity shut indefinitely

Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, has been shut indefinitely by the authorities following a protest by the students.

Six ex-militants arrested over hotel blast

There were fresh security concerns in Delta State yesterday following the bombing of the popular Lawfab Hotel, located barely one kilometre from the Shell Petroleum Development Company-operated Osubi Airport, near Warri, Delta State.

SSS man killed in Yobe attack

State Security Service (SSS) officer was on Sunday night killed by some gunmen in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. He was identified as Mamman Shettima.

5 suspects escape from NDLEA custody

FIVE high-profile drug suspects have escaped from the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Abuja.

FirstBank ranked no 1 in Nigeria

FIRSTBANK of Nigeria has been ranked as the number one bank brand in Nigeria by Brand Finance, London, United Kingdom in its current Top 500 World Bank Brands Ranking as published in the February edition of The Banker Magazine of the Financial Times Group, London, United Kingdom.

Ekiti PDP, ACN trade words over LG administration

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has alleged that the state government was planning to appoint the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidates as caretaker chairmen in the 16 council areas in the state.

Atuche’s trial : Court admits cheques, others as exhibits

LAGOS — A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, weekend, admitted as exhibits, bank cheques, and other vital documents at the on-going trial of the former Managing Director of Keystone Bank (formerly Bank PHB), Mr. Francis Atuche, his wife and the former Chief Operating Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, over financial impropriety.

Conductor’s death: LASTMA, Police differ on hand-over of suspects

LAGOS —THE Lagos State Government said it handed over to the police, three officers of the state Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, suspected to be involved in last Thursday’s tragic death of a commercial bus conductor to serve as deterrent to others.

Ministry checks on rebel threats on MTN, SacOil

The Ministry of International Relations and Co-operation will investigate threats against South African companies with investments in Nigeria by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend).

The Complete iPhone 4S review

This isn't the iPhone 5. No matter how badly you wanted something slim, sleek and wedge-shaped, this isn't it. If you went ahead and got your hopes up ahead of Apple's "Let's Talk iPhone" event, hopefully you've gotten over the pangs of discontent by now, because this device pictured front and center is the iPhone 4S. It's a new spin on an old phone that will shock none, but give it half a chance, and it will still impress.

Jonathan lied, says Sylva

The ousted governor of Bayelsa State,Chief Timipre Sylva,says President Goodluck Jonathan and not himself (Sylva), is the real disappointment to the electorate by failing to meet their yearnings and aspirations.

Oginni donates Police post to Odogbo-Ijesa community

The newly-crowned first Olodogbo of Odogbo-Ijesa, Olatunde Oginni, has built a Police post which he donated to Odogbo-Ijesa community.

Windows Phone 8 detailed: dual cores, Skype Integration and NFC are a go

If you thought Mango was the bee's knees, just wait till you get a hold of Apollo. No, seriously, keep waiting 'cause we have no idea when that will happen. While we still can't say when Windows Phone 8 will be making its way to a handset near you, we do have quite a few new details about the mobile OS courtesy of the folks over at PocketNow.

All PlayBooks go to heaven: Telus leak points to end-of-life status

This is the end, dear PlayBook-admiring friends. That is to say, it's the end-of-life for RIM's first unsuccessful stab at tablet computing. Unsurprisingly, the marketing blitzkrieg that saw J.Lo and theFlash Gordon theme awkwardly peddle the flailing tab hasn't done much to elevate sales or consumer interest, forcing its Canadian overlords to issue Telus an EOL notice.

Uncontrolled influx of foreigners, Almajiri syndrome, causes of insecurity in Kano -Committee report

THE chairman of the Consultative Committee set up by the government of Kano State in the wake of 20 January, 2012 bomb blast, Alhaji Magaji Danmata, has said the uncontrolled influx of foreigners, huge rural–urban migration, the Almajiri syndrome and grinding poverty have combined to cause insecurity in the state.

Niger police arrest 3 suspects over sale of 2-week-old baby

An 18-year old girl, Miss Blessing John, was on Friday, arrested by the Police in Minna, Niger state capital, for selling her two weeks old baby girl to a 50-year-old woman, Mrs. Chikodili Jude for the sum of N20,000 to feed and clothe herself.

Akpabio to rebuild Madalla church •Donates N50m to victims

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio has pledged to rebuild the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla in Niger State which was bombed by the militant Islamic sect, the Boko Haram, last Christmas Day.

Dead conductor: LASTMA hands over suspected officers to police

IN order to ensure that justice prevails, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has handed over three of its officers, whose action allegedly caused the accident that led to the death of a 24-year-old commercial bus conductor, Rasheed Alabi, in Lagos last Thursday, to the Nigeria Police for further investigations.

Robbers raid Ajaokuta Steel Complex, Kill 1

A gang of heavily armed robbers yesterday raided two banks inside the Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi state, in the process killing one person and injuring several others.

Nigeria: Boko Haram rubbishes claim of leader's arrest

Nigeria's radical Islamist sect Boko Haram, which has been involved in a wave of attacks in the country, on Friday rubbished claims that its spokesman has been arrested by the security forces.

Nigeria: Robber Strike at Airport, Cart Away N96 Million

Dare-devil robbers yesterday struck at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport hit the Bureau de Change situated at the car park and carted away the sum of US$600,000 (N95, 969,998.17).

Arrest of Kaduna businessman divides two communities

Release him and see serious crisis from our side – warn Christians
Release him and apologise for the sake of Peace – Muslims ummnah

Air Hostess Jailed For Cocaine Smuggling

THE Arik Air hostess, Chinwendu Uwakaonyenma Ogbonnaya, who was arrested by the United Kingdom security agents on December 18, 2011 for smuggling hard drugs, has been sentenced to five and half years imprisonment by the U.K judiciary.

Why I moved against Sylva – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday broke his silence on the disqualification of former Governor Timipre Sylva from contesting the November 19 governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Bayelsa State by the leadership of the party, describing his five years of reign as monumental disgrace.

”East-West road alone can gulp N-Delta allocation”

Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator James Manager, has bemoaned the budgetary allocation of N59,723,482,821 to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in the 2012 federal budget, describing it as insufficient to tackle the infrastructural deficit in the oil rich region.

Adamawa elects new governor today

It is D-Day in Adamawa as voters will today decide the fate of ousted Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd) of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd.) of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Engr. Marcus Gundiri of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). They are the frontrunners in the gubernatorial race in the state.

Arrested kingpin is Boko Haram’s spokesman, SSS insists

The State Security Service yesterday insisted that the suspect in its custody is the spokesman of Boko Haram, Abu Qaqa, contrary to the claim of the sect.

PDP postpones BoT, NEC meetings

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed its Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings earlier slated for Wednesday and today indefinitely. The leadership of the party has also suspended its recheduled congresses and national convention.

Following the resolution of members and the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU) to accept the Federal Government’s position on the union’s strike, its President, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, yesterday announced the end of the strike from today.

Customs officer faces probe for beating up teacher

The Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) has set up a probe panel to investigate the alleged beating of a secondary school teacher, Mr Gbenga Ogunleye, by official of the service attached to Osun/Oyo command. 

INEC timetable: Jonathan, PDP govs meet in Abuja

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and state governors elected on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met in State House, on Wednesday, following the cancellation of the meetings of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) scheduled for Wednesday and today respectively.

Boko Haram spokesman, Abul Qaqa, arrested

Authorities have arrested a man believed to be a spokesman for Islamist group Boko Haram, but were still seeking to determine his identity, security sources said on Wednesday.