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.

Aso Rock to spend N18.4bn on fuel, lubricants, telephone this year

THE Presidential Villa, otherwise known as Aso Rock, will spend about N18.36 billion this year for fuel and lubricants. Also, N237,370,200 will be spent by the State House headquarters. Of this figure, the office of the President will spend N168.722 million for fuel and lubricants, while N68,647,329 will be spent on lubricants by the Vice President. 

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Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin takes over as AU new chairman

African Union leaders chose Benin’s President Thomas Boni Yayi Sunday as the 54-member bloc’s new chairman, at a two-day summit hoped to help resolve multiple crises facing the continent.

Boko Haram rejects talks, threatens fresh attacks

Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists have ruled out talks with the government and threatened new attacks in Africa's most populous country, rocked by an insurgency that has killed more than 200 already this year. Residents in the northern city of Kaduna said the group, which has frequently targeted the police, may have struck again late Saturday when gunmen on motorcycles shot dead a policeman. 

Nigeria army claims retaliation as 11 Boko Haram members killed

The Nigerian army's Joint Task Force, responsible for combating one of the biggest national security threats of the last decade, said the incident took place in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri. Boko Haram was born in this remote area, near the frontier with Chad, where Islamist sentiment has steadily been gaining ground.

Toddler chews off head of snake in northern Israel

A sleepy snake came to a rather untimely end after having its head half chewed off by a fearless toddler in an Arab town in northern Israel, the child’s family told AFP on Friday. Thirteen-month-old Imad Aleeyan, who has six teeth, was found chewing on the head of the 30-centimetre snake by his mother, who alerted the neighbourhood with her screams.

EFCC to probe sacked governors

FOR allegedly mismanaging the finances of their states, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will go after some of the five former governors who were sacked by the Supreme Court on Friday.

Court Gives Sanusi Go-ahead to Sell Union Bank

The Court of Appeal in Lagos Thursday gave the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the go-ahead to sell Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. The court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, dismissed the appeal filed by some aggrieved shareholders of the bank praying the court to stop Sanusi from going ahead with his plan to sell the shareholdings. 

Daniel has no case to answer — Defence counsel

The trial of former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State resumed at a state High Court in Abeokuta, on Thursday, as his lead counsel, Professor Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), argued that his client had no case to answer. Addressing the court, he said that the Attorney General of the Federation had no power to prosecute the accused since the alleged offences were committed in Ogun State. He argued further that Ogun State had not in any way demonstrated or made any complaint against the accused saying “this is not even a case of crying more than the bereaved, but a case of crying when there is no bereavement.

NBA Drags Jonathan to Court

The Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) Lagos Branch has instituted a suit before a Lagos High Court, Igbosere against President Goodluck Jonathan over the deployment of armed soldiers in Lagos State. The suit brought under the fundamental rights (enforcement procedure) rules, 2009 and under inherent jurisdiction of the court was jointly filed by NBA Chairman, Mr. Taiwo Taiwo, its Secretary, Mr. Alex Muoka and Bar leader and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.

Defence HQ refutes claim of deployment of troops in Lagos

THE Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, debunked claims being that the Federal Government ordered the deployment of troops in Lagos to halt protests against the fuel subsidy removal. Director of Defence Information, Colonel Mohammed Yerima, briefing newsmen in Abuja in reaction to calls for removal of soldiers from the streets of Lagos, said there was no iota of truth in the allegation.

Nigerian Police Offer Bounty for Escaped Suspect of Church Bombing

Nigerian police are offering a reward of over $300,000 for information leading to the recapture of the alleged mastermind of a deadly Christmas Day church bombing. Officials say Kabiru Sokoto escaped custody on Wednesday when gang members attacked a police vehicle while he was being escorted to another police station.

Bayelsa guber race: INEC includes Dickson’s name

The name of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the forth-coming governorship race in Bayelsa State, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, has been included in the list of candidates contesting the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Protest: Police stop Nwabueze, Braithwaite, Kalu others in Lagos

PROTEST against the deployment of soldiers to Lagos State kicked off yesterday in Lagos in the form of a demonstration by some of the country’s elderly political class. The peaceful protest was, however, met with a violent interruption by teargas-wielding security men.