ONE WORD

Ibrahim El-Zakzaky: leader of the Shiites A spokesman of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, whose members are known as Shiites, has reacted to the labelling of the movement as a ‘terrorist group’ by a Federal High Court in Abuja. The spokesman who was not identified by Reuters, said although the group has not received any formal notice from the court, protests calling for the release of the leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky would continue. He said plans to ban the movement had been considered since 2015 and it was not surprised by the move. A Nigerian court on Friday granted the government permission to label the group a terrorist organisation and also ban it. Justice Nkeonye Maha issued the order in a ruling on an exparte motion brought by the “Attorney-General of the Federation” before the court on Thursday. The matter was argued on behalf of the government by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Dayo Apata. ...

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje on Saturday said the best way to improve the living standard of Fulani people was by banning their seasonal migration to the central and southern parts of Nigeria. “No better way to improve their lives if you don’t prevent their migration from the north to the central and southern parts of Nigeria. “Fulani migration should be banned, otherwise they would continue to suffer and the security challenges in the country would continue to exist,” he said. Ganduje also said states where Fulani were not indigenes would not be required to implement the RUGA settlement initiative. Ganduje made the clarification shortly after attending the wedding ceremony of the son of Sen. Kabiru Gaya, Ibrahim Khalil in Sokoto on Saturday. The governor told newsmen that the RUGA settlement initiative was for states who could cater for the Fulanis, and was targeted at making herdsmanship a socio-economic investment not a socio-cultural issue. “So States where...

President .Buhari: President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sorrow at the passage of veteran sports journalist, Akinloye Oyebanji, aged 62. According to a statement by the President’s spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina in Abuja on Saturday, the President condoled with Oyebanji’s family, friends and colleagues, particularly at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). The president noted that the late Oyebanji had worked for 35 years at the NTA, making his mark as a sportscaster. President Buhari also recalled that the deceased was very good at his art, and would be sorely missed by the sporting community. He prayed that Oyebanji’s soul finds eternal rest, and that God would comfort all those that mourned him. Oyebanji, who had been ill for some months, passed on at National Hospital, Abuja, on Saturday morning after protracted battle with heart failure.

The management of BUA International Limited located at Church Gate Street, Victoria Island, Lagos has dragged its Chief driver, Austin Okwe before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing four vehicle valued at N4, 500, 000. The vehicles are: Toyota Corolla with Reg. Number EPE 659 BO, valued at N1m; Kia Cerato with number SMK 77 BS valued at N700, 000 and Nissan Urvan with number EPE 455 AS valued at N450, 000. The accused, a resident of Olokodano Street, Okokomaiko from Cross River State was charged before the Igbosere Magistrate Court on a three-count of stealing by conversion. Police counsel, Reuben Solomon told the court that the accused committed the offence in 2017 at BUA International Limited at Victoria Island, Lagos. Solomon inform the court that the accused used his position as the chief driver to steal four vehicles entrusted in his care by his employer. He said that during investigation, the accused allegedly denied stealing the vehicles but that he gave...

Controversial former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has condemned the proscription of the Shiites Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), saying it is the evil agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Nigerian Government had secured a court’s order declaring the movement terrorist group on the heel of several protests which had led to loss of lives and properties. Fani-Kayode, on his Facebook page said he would stand by the Shiites in this difficult period. He wrote on his Facebook Wall: “You killed 7 of his 8 children leaving him with only one. You shot his wife in the stomach four times and have kept her in illegal detention ever since. “You shot and blinded him in one eye,put him in a wheel barrow,arrested him and have kept him in illegal detention ever since. You killed thousands of his followers including women and children over the last four years. “Now you have proscribed his IMN organisation simply because they insisted on his release and demonstrated on the stree...

A drama almost played out on Friday in the Senate over the recitation of Nigeria’s national anthem. While the lawmakers were holding a special session to screen ministerial nominees presented by President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi) stood up to asked a couple of questions. The lawmaker directed his questions to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Festus Keyamo, who stood on the floor of the Senate as one of the nominees Senator Melaye’s inquiries bordered on Mr Keyamo’s qualification to hold the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. He said, “I start by congratulating my ‘paddy’ and friend, Festus Keyamo, and our relationship actually dates some years back, not recent. I just want to start by saluting your intellectual. “I want to quote Section 174 of the Constitution and then ask my question in that regard, section 150 talks about who is qualified to be Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.” ...

The Police Command in Katsina State said on Saturday that it had recovered 500 animals from bandits in Safana Local Government Area of the state. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), SP Gambo Isah, and made available to newsmen on Saturday in Katsina. “A group of bandits numbering 200 on motorcycles with dangerous weapons invaded and attacked residents of both Sabon-Garin-Baure and Baure communities simultaneously two days ago. “The DPO Safana immediately led teams of Operations Puff Adder to the scene and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel that lasted for about four hours. “The police succeeded in dislodging the hoodlums and chased them out of the villages,” Isah said. He further said that the police were able to recover 200 cows, 300 sheep and goats that were rustled by the hoodlums, as well as three motorcycles from them He said the police were now pursuing the hoodlums in Rugu forest who escaped with gunshot wo...

A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili has suggested that the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government has decided to punish Nigerians with forex restriction on milk and diary products for rejecting his administration’s RUGA project. It will be recalled that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele had that the apex bank will place a ban on the importation of milk and other dairy products into the country. Emefiele stated this at the end of the bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday. Reacting on Friday through her Twitter handle, Ezekwesili described the CBN’s decision as a policy borne out of vindictiveness. She said: “Nothing more perverse of Political Leaders and Policy Makers as Policies borne out of Vindictiveness. ”It appears from what the CBN said on the MilkBanPolicy that it is a case of “You folks rejected RUGA, here is your punishment.” What a BIG SHAME that would be. “Often I read or hear Ni...

CAN urges Buhari to ensure the release of Leah Sharibu and others Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the release of Leah Sharibu, Grace Taku and others in captivity of Boko Haram terrorists. The President of CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, made the call in a statement signed by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the Special Assistant, Media and Communications to the CAN President, in Abuja on Friday. Ayokunle said the primary duty of any government was the security of lives and property of the citizens, adding that any government that failed to guarantee the responsibility might lose the confidence of the people. He said CAN members had watched a video from Boko Haram terrorists’ camp where Grace Taku, an aide worker of Action for Hunger appealed to the Federal Government, CAN, and other well-meaning people to secure her freedom and five other victims. ”Boko Haram sect sometimes in April this year reportedly kidnapped a National ...

Cleaner environment is among the yardstick for ranking cities and for attracting multinational companies as well as investors. Ranking of cities is helpful in terms of employment and development opportunities. Multinational companies are attracted to set up their offices in the cities with good rankings. Avoidance of degradation is another benefit of a clean city. It is, therefore, with a view to promoting environmental regeneration in Lagos State that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made Health and the Environment a major pillar of his administration’s THEMES Agenda. Indeed, one of the earliest actions of the governor was the signing of his first Executive Order to address sanitation as well as cleaning of drainages in the State. Since it came on board, the Sanwo-Olu administration has demonstrated the zeal and willingness to enhance improvement in the state’s waste management system. The administration is resolved to rid the state of waste, necessitating the introduction of “Lago...

Dr Anthonia Ekpa Director, Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration, Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMoT), Dr Anthonia Ekpa, says road is the most viable instrument and enabler of economic development. She said this at the ongoing 3rd annual stakeholders conference on road transport and mass transit operations in Nigeria, themed: “Road Mobility Safety in Nigeria” Ekpa said it was discovered during a focus lab last year that transportation offered the greatest number of investors, saying the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) prioritises transportation alongside agriculture. She, therefore, emphasised the need for all stakeholders to join hands and ensure the growth of the sector. Ekpa said the recent spate of crime in the country and kidnappings in unregistered private vehicles can be avoided if the system of Mass Transit is reintroduced and functional. While speaking on the issue of green transportation using solar power and electric v...

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday handed President Donald Trump a victory by letting his administration redirect $2.5 billion in money approved by Congress for the Pentagon to help build his promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border even though lawmakers refused to provide funding. The conservative-majority court on a 5-4 vote with the court’s liberals in dissent blocked in full a ruling by a federal judge in California barring the Republican president from spending the money on the basis that Congress did not specifically authorize the funds to be spent on the wall project fiercely opposed by Democrats and Mexico’s government. “Wow! Big VICTORY on the Wall. The United States Supreme Court overturns lower court injunction, allows Southern Border Wall to proceed. Big WIN for Border Security and the Rule of Law!” Trump tweeted just minutes after the court acted. A brief order explaining the court’s decision said the government “made a sufficient showing” that the groups challe...

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has identified Midfielder Phil Foden as the most talented player he has ever seen in his entire career. He also said that the 19-year-old England youngster has everything to become one of the best players in the world. Guardiola stated this ahead of Man City’s pre-season friendly clash against Yokohama FM on Saturday. “Foden is the most talented player I have ever seen as a football player or manager,” Guardiola was quoted by Manchester Evening News as telling reporters at a pre-match press conference in Japan. “He has everything to become one of the best players, not just in England. “His only problem is that sometimes his manager doesn’t put him in the starting XI. “Hopefully in the future he can improve. He deserves all the minutes but he knows what team he plays for and with his competitors it isn’t easy. “But he is open-minded and he works incredibly hard in every training session. He knows I appreciate him. I’m here to help him...