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Ubi Franklin has written an open letter to his son. He posted the letter alongside a Photo collage on Instagram. Ubi wrote : Letter to my son, witnessing your birth was not just an experience; it was a miracle (the beauty of a child being born is nothing but pure joy). You came and melted my heart, taught me to love, taught me to forgive and see things differently. My past experiences made me one who was easily provoked but God always uses something, or someone to change people, to break them, and for me; my son and some self discipline did. You have also thought me to admit my mistakes and apologize for them, even when I think I’m not wrong but may have upset someone, apologize! It takes NOTHING from you but gives you EVERYTHING!!! Son, your magical smile is what I love - Dad Loves you dearly - and will do all to make you happy for my days are better because of you. I have a whole new perspective to life and have experienced another side of life all because of you. (Thank God). Life...

The Presidency has denied reports that Ibrahim Magu has been sacked as the Acting Chairman of the EFCC by President Muhammadu Buhari. Reports emerged on Saturday morning that he had been redeployed to the Nigeria police. However, in a series of tweets on Saturday, Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu,said, ” no report has been made available to the Presidency by the Attorney General of the federation over the matter.”

Bishop Simeon Okah, the principal patriarch of the Flock of Christ Mission, Enerhen-Effurun, Delta State, has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari isn't fit to contest for the presidency a second time. In an interview with Vanguard, the Vice President, VP, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, South-South region, said Buhari has nothing else to offer Nigeria. “The man is an old man, old man is old, I am quite younger than he is. I am 64 years old, do you know that without the younger ones around me, there are some things about this generation that I cannot on my own understand because their way of thinking is very different from my way of thinking, not to talk of a man like Buhari? “First, Buhari is too old, secondly, he is not educated enough. It pains my heart that just because former President Goodluck Jonathan is from South-South, there was a general hatred against him by the north and maybe the west. “We, who travel, they were telling us that we were blessed to have a man ...

Nigerian Singer Yemi Alade has been invited to the 2017 Grammy awards. The Johnny Singer shared news of her invite on social network.

Dwayne Johnson, popularly known as The Rock got his father a car for Christmas. He shared a photo of himself, his dad and the new car alongside a story of how his grand mother chased his dad out of the house on Christmas Day in 1954. The Rock wrote: Bought my dad a Christmas gift and surprised him. He’s had a hard life. This one felt good. My dad, Rocky Johnson is a minimalist. Always has been. Never asks me for much and over the years his needs are always the barest. Crazy story, my dad’s dad died when he was 13yrs old. That Christmas, my dad’s mom had her new boyfriend over for Christmas dinner. Her boyfriend got drunk and pissed on the turkey. My dad went outside, got a shovel, drew a line in the snow and said if you cross that line I’ll kill you. The drunk crossed it and my dad laid him out cold as a block of ice. Cops were called. They told my dad’s mom that when her boyfriend regains consciousness, he’s gonna kill your son so one of them has got to go. In front of the entire fam...

Gen Sam Momah, Nigeria's former Science and Technology Minister has drawn up a list of five things President Muhammadu Buhari must do for successful governance. According to DAILY TRUST, items on the list include: 1. Monthly broadcast Momah says “There is a need for a monthly broadcast as the people will like to hear from him because people so rely on him; they believe he has the magic wand. So, whatever word he utters is like gold to Nigerians. 2. State visits “It will energise the change mantra. It is stressful, but he’s visiting outside Nigeria,” Momah explained. “The people want to see their President. The Governors alone cannot do it; some of them might not even share his ideas. But by visiting their states, he can push them to work and carry out his ideals.” 3. National conference Momah says Nigeria needs a national conference where possible restructure of the country would be on agenda. “He doesn’t have to take verbatim what [former President Goodluck] Jonathan was given, ...

The EFCC has denied reports about the sacking of its Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, by the Muhammadu Buhari administration. “It is not true,” EFCC spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said according to the News Agency of Nigeria. The rumour of Magu’s sack hit the social media and some traditional media websites in the early hours of Saturday.

Nigerian oil magnate, Femi Otedola has emerged one of the biggest African loser on the Forbes richest list in 2016. Otedola's net worth plunged to $375 million, down from $1.8 billion a year ago. This means he's lost $1.425 billion, which represents a 79% plunge. Otedola’s big drop in net worth is the result of the dwindling share price of Forte Oil, the Nigerian oil marketing company he controls. Furthermore, the naira has weakened considerably to the dollar, and this contributes in a way to his loss. Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, lost an approximate $5bn in 2016.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday received the flag retrieved from a Boko Haram camp captured by the Nigerian army and the personal Quran of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau. See photo of Buhari receiving the Quran :

The Nigerian Army on Friday night in Abuja hosted President Muhammadu Buhari to Guards Brigade Regimental Dinner. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that speaking at the event, President Buhari challenged the armed forces to continue to ensure the survival of Nigeria as a geo-political entity despite what he described as “political madness” being exhibited in some parts of the country. According to him, the army is duty-bound to ensure the sustenance of peaceful co-existence among the over 250 ethnic groups across the country. “We will do our best to build the national institutions in the country. All these political madness in the North East, the Niger Delta or in the East should not be allowed to cause division or any form of tension in the country. “There are 250 ethnic groups, so keeping Nigeria one is a task that must be done, even for your personal reason you must make sure this country remains united and stronger,’’ he said.

Nollywood actor, Prince James Uche still needs financial help to tackle his health challenges. His son, Uche Jnr Prince has again taken to Instagram begging kind Nigerians to come to his father's aid. Uche Jnr wrote : Living a happy life of contentment was our family's greatest plan until our father Prince James Uche fell sick; everything changed. Our lives and that of dad has been under the mercy of some Good Samaritans who has assisted us all these while in paying dad's hospital bills; clothing us and making sure we feed twice or thrice a day; but today we're helpless as the Samaritans says they've also ran out of resources to continue dad's treatment. Now we're homeless and helpless as the hospital where we live our small lives with dad threatens to throw us out on January the 3rd 2017 if no one harken to our cry. We are only kids and can't help the situation; even going to school is a thing of the dreams to us now but We call on the good people of Ab...

Nigerian Police is your friend. The Nigeria Police Force reportedly helped one Brown Effah propose to his girlfriend. Mr Effah shared his proposal story and photos on Facebook. He wrote: Breaking News.....!!! Good morning Facebookers This pictures have so many stories behind it, firstly I was sure of the color of clothes she wore to work, black top and blue jeans so i called some of my single friends who are still around after Christmas Kingsley Asika, Grandeur Chef Wisdom Noble, Woka Richy and my blood Brown Victor to wear same clothes including me and partake in the action movie episode 1$2 while I'll be acting episode 1 with her, they'll join in episode 2. Cast: Police man 1 Police man 2 Police man 3 Brown Affah - the proposer Effiwatt Yemi - the proposee Extras: People passing by People who came to ask what happened People stopped while driving to see if they really caught a criminal. Camera man 1 Camera man 2. Action; I went to her office and picked her up by 5:43pm, drove...

Suspended Kano lawmaker Abdulmumin Jibrin is claiming that despite his legal battles, Senate President Bukola Saraki has displaced House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara in President Muhammadu Buhari's inner circle. Jibrin made the claim via Twitter. He tweeted, ''It's seems Saraki has systematically taken over the front seat once occupied by Dogara in the PMB circle. Why????? OLOYE...You too much sha ''

In a few hours, Nigerians will be screaming ''Happy New Year'' ; ushering out the old and dragging in the new. 2017 may be a happy new year, but political disagreements from 2016 are bound to crawl in. Here are a few political events in 2016 that will shape the political landscape of 2017: 1. Budget padding scandal: The budget padding scandal that rocked the National Assembly this year, is certainly crossing into 2017. Former House Appropriation Committee Chairman Abdulmumin Jibrin is not prepared to let the matter sleep. The recent submission of the 2017 budget will likely generate it's fair share of controversy in 2017. 2. PDP National Crisis: Come 2017, there will still be serious infighting within the PDP. The battle for the soul of the part won't end anytime soon unless one of the major factions pulls out of the party. 3. DSS raid on Judges Some will argue that the DSS raid on judges wasn't a political event, however with the high political interest i...

Chelsea Football Club today beat Stokes City to secure their 13th Straight win in the Premier league. Chelsea's 4 goals in the Match were scored by Gary Cahill, da Silva Willian [2 goals] and Diego Costa. Stoke City's 2 goals were scored by Bruno Martins Indi and Peter Crouch. Speaking after the win, Chelsea's manager, Antonio Conte said, 'This game was very competitive. It was another example of the difficulty of this league. We faced a really good team.' Conte says it was very difficult to deal with the long balls Stoke played and the second balls that followed. He also said he was pleased with the way his team adapted to Stoke's style of play. 'It's important tonight to celebrate New Year, and then tomorrow we start to think about the game against Tottenham.' 'I am pleased for Willian. He played a really good game with and without the ball, he scored two goals and it's fantastic.' 'To win 16 out of 19 games is a great achievement...

US President-elect Donald Trump is petty and he doesn't mind if the whole world finds out. Trump took to his Twitter handle to send a very interesting new year wish to Americans. See tweet below:

The Nigerian Army of ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ has made a heavy breakthrough in the fight against Boko Haram. According to reports troops have arrested a Caretaker Chairman of Mafa Local Government Area of Borno state, Alhaji Shettima Lawan Maina for hiding a top Boko Haram Commander (name withheld) in his house at 1000 housing estate along Maiduguri- Damaturu- Kano road. The Boko Haram commander was dislodged from Sambisa, reports say. Both men have been detained in a military facility to enable thorough investigation as to how a wanted terrorist will sneak into the house of the Chairman, knowing fully well, that politicians of such caliber do not usually allow access to their house of abode.

After being forced to relocate from Sambisa forest, factional leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, now has a new hideout. THE WILL quoted AFP that Shekau and his men reportedly fled to areas on the edge of the forest, islets on Lake Chad as well as villages on the Cameroon border. “They were sighted in large numbers in … the Kala-Balge area,” said a vigilante helping in the fight, referring to a region near Cameroon. A source told AFP, Shekau has since been spotted in Pulka village near Gwoza on the Cameroonian border — and is currently believed to be hiding in a forest in Kala-Balge.

My dear Compatriots, I am happy to welcome you to the beginning of a New Year in our beloved country Nigeria. I felicitate with you today at a time when our nation is witnessing a new and impressive turnaround in our security and socio-economic situation. I know you will join me to, once again, congratulate the heroic and gallant efforts of our military and other security agencies on their remarkable successes to rid the nation of terrorism. Following the successful capture of Sambisa Forest, spearheaded by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, we have entered a new phase in our battle against our common enemy, Boko Haram. When we see our beloved 21 Chibok girls reuniting with their families and community for Christmas, it gives us the hope that those who are still in captivity will one day return to the loving arms of family, friends and well-wishers. I urge all Nigerians to be on the alert and watch out for strange figures settling in their communities, and report to the nearest security ...

A mild drama played out at the Abia State House of Assembly, barely a day after being sworn in as Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Kennedy Njoku, resigned. He said his resignation was on personal grounds. Following a motion by the majority leader of the Assembly on the need to immediately fill the vacuum, Honourable Chikwendu Kalu representing Isialangwa South State Constituency was nominated and has been sworn in as the new speaker. Honourable Njoku was elected on Thursday after 20 of the 24 lawmakers in the Assembly voted to impeach the former Speaker, Martins Azubuike, whom they accused of financial recklessness. A member of the Assembly, Akpulonu Solomon told Channels Television that Honourable Azubuike refused to carry his colleagues along in the business of the house, which led to his ouster.

An Oredo Magistrates’court in Benin on Thursday ordered the remand in prison custody of two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, Osakpamwan Eriyo and Sunday Osagbona, for alleged attempted murder. Chief Magistrate Mrs M. C. Ojobo, who said she lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case, directed that both accused persons be remanded in Oko Medium Security prison. She said the prison has proper health facilities and directed that the case file be sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecution for legal advice The accused persons were charged with the attempted murder of Chief Osaro Idah, Secretary of the state’s APC. Eriyo is the State Youth Leader of the APC and Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association while Sunday is the Ward 3 Chairman of the APC in Oredo Local Government Their pleas were not taken. Eriyo, however protested being handcuffed in the court room. He said, “Am I a criminal? Did I kill anybody? Why are they charging me for attempted murder? “I didn’t do...

A 72-year-old man arrested in Iwo, Osun state for removing a human skull from a cemetery says he made a mistake. Idris Ajao claimed to be a bricklayer, but said a herbalist Tajudeen Jawesola had assigned him to exhume skulls from graves in the cemetery in return for N10,000. Police, acting on a tipoff, deployed around the cemetery and arrested him with a skull. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Fimihan Adeoye said police detectives got the hint about the atrocities of Ajao and trailed him until he was caught with the skull. Ajao told Daily Trust, “Mistake has no master.” “It was Jawesola that asked me to get the human skull for him. Everybody knows Jawesola to be herbalist and he wanted to use the human skull to do his work. He said he would give me N10, 000. I should not have listened to him. It is a mistake”. Police are still on the trail for Jawesola. See photos:

Lawyers in Kuala Lumpur said on Friday that a 9-year-old Malaysian boy got his penis amputated in the second botched circumcision operation in December. The Lawyers said was due to negligence on the part of his surgeon. The doctor accidentally cut off the head of the boy’s penis during the operation on December 15. He then tried to stitch the penis head back on, but did not align it properly, lawyer P. Uthayakumar told reporters at a press conference outside the main hospital building in Kuala Lumpur. The child was referred to another hospital for immediate further surgery, but the penis head started turning black, and the whole penis later had to be amputated. “I am very stressed out I don’t know what to do,’’ the father of the child, who did not want to be named, said. The boy’s parents are seeking compensation to cover reconstructive surgery and are hoping for their son to be treated at a hospital abroad. “He asks me: Why are you sad mother? I try to control crying in front of him...

For the second time in one year, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly has resigned from office. The erstwhile incumbent, Adams Dabotorudima, resigned today (Friday, December 30, 2016). It may be recalled that Dabotorudima’s predecessor in office, Mr. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, resigned on Friday, December 18, 2015, shortly after Governor Nyesom Wike presented the N307bn Appropriation Bill for 2016 before the House. Ibani was succeeded by Dabotorudima, who represented the Okrika constituency, the same Rivers East Senatorial District as Wike. And now, Dabotorudima has toed the path of his predecessor in office.

The police says there is little they can do to effectively enforce the ban on the use of fireworks and ‘knockouts’ without public support. The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Don Awunah, said this when the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) contacted him to get an update on enforcement of the ban, in Abuja on Friday. NAN reports that the use of the explosives continues unabated nationwide, despite the prohibition, prompting insinuations that the police are not enforcing it. But Awunah insisted that the ban was being enforced, adding that it seemed ineffective because citizens were not reporting violations to the police. According to him, the effectiveness of policing generally depends on the willingness of members of the public to assist law enforcement agencies with information on activities of bad eggs in the society. Awunah, who could not immediately give statistics of arrests so far made in connection with the ban, claimed that the use of fireworks and `knockouts’ had reduced natio...

In a dramatic twist to the dance of the bizarre that politics has become in Rivers State, the former Speaker of the Rivers State of House Assembly, Mr. Ibani Ikuinyi-Owaji, who resigned from office a year ago on December 18, 2015 under controversial circumstances, have reemerged as the Speaker of the volatile Assembly. Ikuinyi-Owaji’s predecessor who had succeeded him following his (Ikuinyi-Owaji) resignation in 2015, Adams Dabotorudima, announced his own resignation during a sitting of the House on Friday (today) after the swearing-in of the 12 lawmakers who won the December 10 legislative rerun in the state. The new Speaker, Ibani Ikuinyi-Owaji, was immediately elected in an exercise that was conducted by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Marshal Uwom. It may be recalled that Ikuinyi-Owaji resigned as Speaker on December 18, 2015 after Governor Nyesom Wike had presented the 2016 budget before the House.

A 37-year-old man, Victor Ojiaku, who allegedly stabbed his wife, a student, with a broken bottle in her private part, has been granted bail in the sum of N250, 000 by the Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court. Ojiaku, who sells automobile parts and resides at 22, Arike John Close, White Sand, Isheri-Osun in Lagos State, reportedly stabbed his wife whom he suspected of having a sexual relationship with his sales representative. Magistrate Akeem Fashola, who gave the ruling, also ordered the accused to produce two sureties in like sum. He said the sureties should be working in reputable organisations and also possess three-year tax clearance as well as the Lagos State resident identity card. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the case has been taken up by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team. The Coordinator of DSVRT, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, narrated how the victim was kept indoors and punished severely by her husband. “The victim, Mrs. Faith Ojiaku, 27, a student...

The Taraba State Police Command on Friday said no All Progressives Congress chieftain was killed in the state by miscreants. The news of the killing was said to be contained in the news flash of a private television station on Friday. The police spokesman in the state, Mr David Misal, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Jalingo that the story of a purported killing of an APC chieftain in the state was false. He, however, said two people had sustained injuries from a violent attack shortly after they attended a recent campaign rally of a politician at Dampar in Ibi Local Government Area of the state. Misal said: “ It is not true. No APC chieftain was killed in the incident. “What actually happened was that two people sustained injuries from a violent attack when they returned from a campaign rally of a politician at Dampar. “I will not give you any name because when you are dealing with political cases, you have to be careful to avoid misinterpretation. “The two persons are currently r...

A magistrate court sitting in Osogbo has ordered the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, to arrest the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, and bring him to court on January 6, 2017. The magistrate, Olusola Aluko, gave the fresh order on Friday when the case involving the monarch came up for hearing again. He said he was surprised that the CP had not arrested the Oluwo since he first issued the bench warrant of arrest against the first-class monarch. Aluko expressed dismay that the CP had not effected the bench warrant of arrest he issued against the monarch, which he said he signed and handed over to an officer of the state Police Command. He said, “I am baffled that the Commissioner of Police has not done his duty. I am also surprised by his claim that he was unaware of the bench warrant. That must be a joke of the century. I, therefore, ordered him to immediately arrest the respondent. “I am not joking with my order. He (Oba Akanbi) should be arrested and b...

The presiding Bishop of Faith Hill Prophetic Assembly Worldwide Abuja Bishop Emmanuel Jatau has listed events that will take place in 2017 in his 77 prophesies. The Bishop in his new prophesy asked Nigerians and the world at large to pray against many negative occurrences including death, sickness, plane crash, loss of jobs, betrayal among others. Jatau in his new prophesy said most of the people the minister of transportation Rotimi Amaechi helped will destroy his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017. Below are some of his prophesies for 2017: 1. President Buhari’s love and positive plans for Nigeria has not changed, indeed it will increase in the year 2017. Let us therefore join hands to pray for him and the nation. Oil prices will rise in the year 2017. Government revenue will increase in the year 2017. 2. Chinese and Indian businessmen and their collaborators in the federal Inland Revenue service (FIRS) against remittances of money worth billions to federal governme...

As 2016 gradually winds to an end, many Nigerian religious leaders have been churning out prophecies that are meant to be earth-shaking. One of such prophecies state that the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, risks being poisoned by “Aso Rock forces.” According to the President of Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle John Suleman, in his 50 prophecies for 2017, Aisha must be wary for her life. As reported by Daily Post and other online media, Suleman, in a statement issued by his Public Communications Advisor, Phrank Shaibu, said some ‘forces’ in Aso Rock were planning to poison Aisha and that the same ‘forces’ will alienate vice-president Yemi Osinbajo. The prophecy states that the “Aso Villa forces” will make attempts to remove Osinbajo from office, but they won’t succeed. The Apostle also said that “God will humble Buhari in 2017;” and that Mr. President will be bereaved in 2017. He did not elaborate, however. A summary of the prophecies, with focus on Nigeria and the world at large, is as follow...

A 30-year-old man, Abalise Adimonye, has reportedly lost his life during a marathon sex with a teenager in Anambra State. Adimonye allegedly took some sex enhancement drugs to meet up with the sexual demands of his 18-year-old lover. PM News is reporting that the incident happened in the Onitsha area of the state on Thursday when the man took his girlfriend to a popular hotel located at Zik Avenue at Fegge, Onitsha, where he was set for an all-night sex romp with the girl. Luck ran out on him when in the middle of the night, the hotel management reportedly heard the screams of the young girl identified only as Ify. On getting to the room, they were said to have found Adimonye panting for breathe but before he was taken to a hospital, he gave up the ghost. The hotel manager. Reported the incident at the Fegge Police Division, which led to the arrest of the teenager. The girl reportedly told the police that Adimonye, a businessman and a native of Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area ...

Though his exit from Barcelona is not any time soon, Barcelona forward, Neymar has revealed the next club he hopes to be playing once he quits his present Catalan outfit. Traditionally, many South Americans decide to return to their home country after spending the majority of their career playing for the best clubs in Europe - and Neymar wants to do the same. “If I could I would like to play for Flamengo, it would be a great honour for me to play at the Maracana,” he said after the Game of Stars charity match to honour Chapecoense. To see Neymar star for Santos, it will sure take some time as he only recently signed a new five-year contract at the club in October, which will expire in 2021.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Thursday, disclosed that the current anti- graft war led to the recovery of 40 brand new SUVs from a former Permanent Secretary. In a statement he personally signed, the Minister who did not disclose the name of the Permanent Secretary, said the latter appropriated the vehicle to himself after leaving office. Mohammed noted that the ongoing anti-corruption war was being guided by a well-articulated strategy. According to Mohammed, “The strategy has proven so effective and that it has led to, among others, the recovery of 40 brand new SUVs and other vehicles from one former Permanent Secretary who single-handedly appropriated the vehicles to himself when he left office.” The Minister said the federal government had perfected some other measures to strengthen the anti-corruption fight. He listed the measures to include, the establishment of the Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery and the Asset Tracing Committee; the setting...

The Bloomberg LP has ranked Nigeria’s Naira as one of the world’s four worst performing currencies in 2016. The five best performing currencies of the world are 1.the Russian ruble 2.Brazilian real 3.the Palladium 4.the Iceland krona, and 5.Silver,  which appreciated by 21.31 per cent, 20.96 per cent, 20.08 per cent, 14.42 per cent and 14.41 per cent, respectively, Bloomberg report stated, “It was a particularly bad year for any currency called the ‘pound’. The Egyptian version was the worst performer in 2016 as the nation took the dramatic step of allowing it to trade freely in an attempt to stabilise an economy struggling with a dollar shortage and concerns over social unrest. Britain’s pound tumbled after the Brexit and never recovered.”

Following the alleged disappearance of more than N2 billion naira from the coffers of the University of Ilorin, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will quiz the institution's immediate vice-chancellor, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede and the incumbent, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali. It was learnt that the ‎leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), petitioned the anti-graft agency against the management of the foremost institution in Nigeria. Oloyede was recently appointment registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) but his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari has been protested against by ASUU. The petition, according to Nigerian Tribune, was submitted on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at the zonal office of the EFCC at 16, Reverend Oyedeji Crescent, Iyaganku, Ibadan. ASUU listed pension fraud, unremitted deductions, extortion from students, contract inflation and kick-backs; as well as unlawful payments to ex-principal officers of the...

The Presidency yesterday refuted media reports that President Muhammadu Buhari will make full board appointments in January 2017. Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, who was quoted to have made the statement, said he never gave such confirmation. “That President Buhari will make full board appointments in January 2017 as published did not come from us”, he declared. He explained in a statement that in the interaction between him and some State House correspondents he tried to clear a few issues that they raised. Shehu clarified: “Here is what I said: ‘You know that the reconstitution began methodically, from sector to sector.’ “‘You should expect that to resume at the beginning of the New Year. The President has given directions on what to do’.”

The federal government has appointed Mrs. Mariel Rae-Omoh as the new acting Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). She takes over from the former acting DG, Boniface Ebuka, who last month was first appointed into the position following the sack of the former DG, Mrs. Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo. The new appointment was conveyed in a letter dated December 28 and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs. Ayotunde, Adesugba. Mrs. Rae-Omoh was informed that her appointment by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was with immediate effect. Until the development, Mrs. Rae-Omoh, was the director of Hospitality and Travel Trade.

The factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff on Thursday hailed the Nigerian Military for clearing the dreaded Sambisa forest harbouring the Boko haram insurgents in Borno State. Sheriff who made the remark during his working visit to Makurdi in Benue State also expressed gratitude that the dismantling of the sect from the forest was a vindication that he does not have any link with the terrorist group as insinuated by his perceived political opponents. “The military have cleared Sambisa forest and I want to thank them. I'm the number one causality of Boko haram. I have lost very close relatives which included; my cousins, my candidate and others were all killed by Boko haram. “Those of us who are from Borno State knows what we have suffered in the hands of the sect. The irony of it all is that those who feared my political career turned around to say that I created Boko haram but God has vindicated me'" he said.

The heads of two key federal agencies, Director-General of Department of State Service, DSS, Mr Lawal Daura and Director-General of Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Col Hameed Ali (retd), who are also close allies of President Muhammadu Buhari have been sparring over allegations and counter allegations of unprofessionalism and illegality. According to Premium Times, the disagreement by the two officials appear to confirm insinuations of division among some leading lights of the Buhari administration. The turf war stems from a letter written by Daura, to Mr. Buhari on September 8. In the letter, the security chief accused the NCS, of introducing a $25,000 as new Temporary Import Permit, TIP, levy on each vessel that berths to discharge petroleum products in Nigeria. Premium Times sighted correspondences revealing wrangling between Daura, a kinsman of the President, and Col Ali, an ally of Buhari. The said levy, as Daura reported to the President, was illegal as it was not provided for o...

Russia has swiftly reacted to the actions of U.S. sanctions and expulsions of 35 of their diplomat. Soon after the administration's announcement, Russia's embassy in the UK tweeted that Obama's actions were "Cold War deja vu" and described the administration as "hapless." We will respond to any "hostile steps" that the US may take in response to allegations of hacking during the 2016 election, according to the official representative for the ministry. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said similar steps will be taken in response to the expulsions, though she did not immediately provide further details. Dmitri Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, told reporters there is "no alternative to reciprocal measures," adding that Putin is "in no rush to make a decision." Russia's first visible action came later Thursday, when Russian authorities ordered the closure of the Anglo-American S...

President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki, are currently in parley meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. Saraki arrived the Presidential Villa at 12.00 noon and headed straight for the president's office for the meeting.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said “RIP” to the outgoing US administration of Barack Obama on Twitter on Friday, after the White House decided to expel 35 Russian diplomats. “It is regrettable that the Obama administration, which started out by restoring our ties, is ending its term in an anti-Russia agony. RIP,” Medvedev said on Twitter in English. Russia has declared 35 American diplomats persona non grata, in a response to President Barack Obama’s expulsion of Russian diplomats for ‘malicious’ meddling in US election via cyber hacking. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, made the declaration on Friday, TASS reported. “We, of course, cannot leave unanswered the insults of the kind, reciprocity is the law of diplomacy and foreign relations,” Lavrov said. “Thus, the Russian Foreign Ministry and officials of other authorities have presented to the Russian president suggestions regarding announcing persona non grata 31 personnel of the US Embassy in Moscow and four diplom...

Nigerian soldiers on Friday engaged in a fierce fighting with Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State. During the encounter, at least 15 Boko Haram fighters were killed. This is coming as Nigerian military said that the Boko Haram insurgents had been crushed and Sambisa forest captured The leader of the sect Abubakar Shekau had on Thursday in a video denied that his fighters had been crushed in Sambisa forest. He boasted that his fighters would soon launch attack against the Nigerian Army. Military insiders told Premium Times that Friday’s battle ensued at 6 a.m this morning and did not end until after 9 a.m. Sources said the battle began when fighters of the terror group launched a surprise attack on troops location in Rann, in northern Borno, shooting sporadically. Troops from 3 Battalion and 112 Task Force Battalion are stationed in the area, Premium Times sources said. The soldiers responded promptly, killing an unknown number of the terrorists, and wounding several others but a sou...

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to compensate loyalists of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu with ministerial positions. A highly placed source in the APC revealed to Naija247news that Mr.Buhari is set to compensate Tinubu for the losses he incurred and suffered while supporting his associates in various positions both in the federal and state levels. The source said Buhari will use the imminent change of some cabinet members to include some of Tinubu’s ‘boys’ in his government to placate the former Lagos state governor. Tinubu’s loyalists who could make the new list of ministers are 1. Dr Olusegun Abraham (the APC candidate backed by Tinubu, who lost out in the Ondo polls) 2. Honourable James Faleke (A House of Representatives member who lost out to the power play in Kogi state) and 3. Mr Wale Edun ( a former commissioner of finance in Lagos state under Tinubu) The source said: “Dr Olusegun Abraham will replace Professor Claudius Omoyele Daramola, who is from Ondo state and have been somewhat i...

Tennis great Serena Williams has announced her engagement to the co-founder of social media website Reddit, Alexis Ohanian. The 35-year-old winner of 22 grand slam singles titles arrived in New Zealand on Friday morning ahead of a WTA tournament next week, having penned a poem that she posted — of course — on her Reddit account. She described the proposal in Rome, which is where they first met, and ended with: "Down on one knee/ He said 4 words/ And I said yes."

President Barack Obama has struck back at Russia on Thursday for its efforts to influence the 2016 election. Obama administration rejected 35 Russian intelligence operatives from the United States and imposing sanctions on Russia’s two leading intelligence services, including four top officers of the military intelligence unit the White House believes ordered the attacks on the Democratic National Committee and other political organizations. In a sweeping set of announcements, the United States was also expected to release evidence linking the cyberattacks to computer systems used by Russian intelligence. Taken together, the actions would amount to the strongest American response ever taken to a state-sponsored cyberattack aimed at the United States. The sanctions were also intended to box in President-elect Donald J. Trump. Mr. Trump has consistently cast doubt that the Russian government had anything to do with the hacking of the D.N.C. or other political institutions, saying Ameri...

Rahama Haruna, the popular ‘bowl girl’ who became a centre of attraction sometime last year after her picture became viral, is dead. Aged 20, the physically challenged Rahama Haruna’s life in a bowl ended after a brief illness. Rahama whose entire body structure was confined in a plastic bowl as she had no legs, moved many people to tears. What amazed everyone that came across Rahama was the smile that she always had despite her condition. Rahama died on Sunday, 25 December 2016 about 4:15pm at her Lahadin Makole home in Warawa local government area of Kano State. According to her father, Malam Haruna Makole, Rahama only had a cold and she was normal when he left home for the market that fateful day. “She had simple cold and she didn’t complain of any other thing. Sunday being our market day, I left as usual for the market only to receive a call around 4:15pm that Rahama was no more. It is apparent that her time had come. Rahama had been a good person to all of us and we will surely ...

The Nigerian army has released statement over claims in a video showing Abubakar Shekau dismissing claims that Boko Haram has been crushed is a “mere terrorist propaganda aimed at creating fear in the minds of people”. A video surfaced on Thursday showing Shekau boasting that Boko Haram insurgents were safe and President Muhammadu Buhari was “telling lies to the people” by saying on Saturday that the group had been crushed and their camp in Sambisa destroyed. But in a statement by the army spokesman, Col. Kukasheka Usman insisted that the army had “captured and occupied the last known stronghold of the terrorists group in the Sambisa forest”. Usman said there was no cause for alarm because the army was making efforts to get out the insurgents that had gone into hiding. “The attention of the Nigerian Army is drawn to a video clip released by Boko Haram terrorist group from an undisclosed location a while ago, showing its purported leader, making spurious claims,” the statement read. “...

There was a pandemonium at the Federal College of Education (FCE), Yola, on Thursday over a bomb scare following the sighting of a strange bag in front of the school. The development which obstructed traffic along the Jimeta-Yola Road for more than an hour, caught the attention of a team of policemen and soldiers. The policemen from the Adamawa Anti-bomb Squad, who went into action immediately, however, discovered that the bag did not contain any explosives. Addressing newsmen on the development, the Public Relations Officer of the Adamawa Police Command, SP Othman Abubakar, said that the bag contained waste materials. Abubakar, however, commended members of the public for their vigilance and urged them to always alert the police whenever they sighted any suspicious object.

Tension was high at the Garki Area of Enugu State on Wednesday following a deadly clash between the Fulani and the Igbos. Already, the police in the state confirmed that two persons were killed during the bloody clash. The deceased persons were identified as one Ali, a Fulani and Ifeanyi Ifeacho, an Igbo. According to an eyewitness, trouble started when Ali came from the New Artisan Market with a cow to slaughter in the Gariki abattoir. He disclosed that “Ali came to Gariki abattoir where Ifeanyi worked as attendant to slaughter his cow, following the closure of New Artisan Market by the state government early this week. “When Ali finished slaughtering his cow, he gave Ifeanyi N400 instead of the N500 fee for slaughtering a cow in the abattoir. “Ifeanyi asked him to give him the remaining N100 but the Fulani man remained adamant, insisting that he would not pay any other money. “The misunderstanding degenerated to a fight between the two.” It was gathered that Ali quickly pulled out ...

The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has claimed that Governor Ayodele Fayose was behind the media attacks on Pastor Enoch Adeboye. The party claimed that Fayose championed the attack and then blamed them on the APC, to set Nigerians, particularly the Christian community of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, against the party and its leaders. Recall that the party had a few days ago distanced itself from the media reports castigating Adeboye for praising Fayose during the visit by the man of God to the state. However, the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti had in a statement on Monday by its spokesperson, Jackson Adebayo, described the denial as “an afterthought.” But the state APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday noted that the online insults on the respected cleric werre orchestrated “by a criminal gang working for Fayose to always set communities against communities, individuals against individuals, and individuals against i...

The embattled former chairman of the House of Representatives appropriation committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin is making secret moves to “beg Speaker Yakubu Dogara”. Dailytrust gathered that Jibrin, who was suspended in September for one year, following his allegations of massive fraud in the House, had delegated some lawmakers close to the speaker to appeal to Dogara for forgiveness for all that he did. Jibrin had, after his sack on July 20, alleged that Dogara, his deputy, Yussuf Suleiman Lasun, Chief Whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor, made failed attempts to force him to insert projects worth about N40 billion for them in the 2016 budget, among other allegations. After his return, he reportedly visited a ranking member, a close ally of Dogara, from Borno State at the latter’s Maitama residence in Abuja and pleaded with him to also intervene. It was learnt that as part of the moves, Jibrin posted a happy birthday message to the speaker on his Twitter handle on Tuesday...

As 2016 gradually winds down, the Nigeria's Judiciary was also not spared in the many deaths that shook the entire nation. The year had prominent men of the wigs lost in it – among who, were assassinated, died in accidents, or who lost the battle to one illness or the other. They include: Olaniwun Ajayi 1. Justice Evo Chukwu: Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court died n June 9. Mr. Chukwu died after a brief illness. Until his death, Mr. Chukwu presided over the Senate forgery suit that sought to nullify the leadership of the 8th Senate. The deceased also handled the trial of former Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, over allegations of abuse of office and economic crimes by leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. 2. Former Supreme Court Justice Niki Tobi: Retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Niki Tobi passed on on June 16 at the National Hospital, Abuja. He was aged 75. Justice Tobi, who died almost a mont...