News

Friday, 17 March 2017 02:48

7.8m PVCs remain uncollected - INEC

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday said it had 7.8 million uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the 2015 general elections. Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, told a meeting of Civil Society Organisations Situation Room in Abuja that out of the uncollected PVCs, Lagos had the highest with 1.4 million, followed by Oyo with 700,000 and Edo, 540,000. Yakubu said: “In terms of the least collection by percentage, Ogun has the least while Bauchi and Zamfara have the highest rate in collection by percentage and number.” “There are some we have not printed from the last general…

Friday, 17 March 2017 02:47

UTME: JAMB reverses self, says awaiting-result candidates can apply

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reversed its earlier position on awaiting results, saying affected candidates are also eligible to register and sit for the Universities Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). A statement by Head of Media and Public Relations, JAMB, Mr. Fabian Benjamin, who announced this in a statement yesterday, also clarified that any candidate who fails to upload their result between May and August, would not be confirmed to gain admission into any tertiary institution. Benjamin explained that the timeframe would enable the body to grant admission to only qualified candidates who are ready to advance their educational…

Thursday, 16 March 2017 16:49

Buhari marks return with rare economic council meeting

President Muhammadu Buhari marked his return last week from medical leave in London with a rare appearance at a meeting on Thursday of members of the economic body that advises the government. Buhari attended a meeting of the National Economic Council, which is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and whose members include state governors, central bank governor and finance minister. He does not usually attend NEC meetings. During Buhari's seven-week absence, when Osinbajo was acting president, central bank devalued the naira for retail customers after the NEC called for an urgent review of the bank's foreign exchange policy. Buhari…

Thursday, 16 March 2017 16:47

Senate drives away Hameed Ali, asks him to come back in Customs uniform

The Senate has driven away Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali, after he appeared before the lawmakers in mufti. Mr. Ali’s appearance without uniform, on Thursday after his failure to appear on Wednesday, was contrary to the resolution of the Senate which asked that he must wear “appropriate” uniform to brief them over the now suspended policy on duty payment. The Senate unanimously resolved to drive away Mr. Ali, following George Sekibo’s motion. The Senate further resolved that he should appear again next Wednesday in uniform, after the lawmakers took turns to chide the Customs boss. “Coming was just…

Thursday, 16 March 2017 16:40

Letter bomb at IMF's Paris office injures employee

A female employee of the International Monetary Fund was injured in the face and arms on Thursday when a letter bomb posted to the world lender's Paris office blew up as she opened it, police said. The explosion was caused by a homemade device, said the head of the French capital's police force. "It was something that was fairly homemade," police chief Michel Cadot told reporters. Cadot said there had been some recent telephone threats but it was not clear if these were linked to the incident at the IMF's offices. A police source said the woman who opened the…

Thursday, 16 March 2017 02:37

Senate’s rejection of Magu: Lawyers react, blame Presidency

Some lawyers have reacted to the rejection by the Senate for the second time of the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The Senate hinged its decision on Wednesday on a letter by the State Security Service, SSS, which reaffirmed its earlier position that Mr. Magu lacks the integrity to lead the anti-corruption agency. Lawyers accuse the presidency of having a hand in the impasse. They said although President Muhammadu Buhari has the prerogative to re-nominate the same person again, he has a duty to first put his house in order. Last…

Thursday, 16 March 2017 02:37

Trump travel ban: US judge blocks new executive order

A Federal judge in Hawaii has blocked President Donald Trump's new travel ban, hours before it was due to begin at midnight on Thursday. US District Judge Derrick Watson cited "questionable evidence" in the government's argument that the ban was a matter of national security. President Trump described the ruling as "unprecedented judicial overreach". The order would have placed a 90-day ban on people from six mainly Muslim nations and a 120-day ban on refugees. Mr Trump insists the move is to stop terrorists from entering the US but critics say it is discriminatory. An earlier version of the order,…

Thursday, 16 March 2017 02:27

Apostle Suleman being persecuted by 'APC cabal' - Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has risen in defence of founder of Omega Fire Ministry, Johnson Suleman, saying the allegations of adultery against him by a Canada-based Nigerian, Stephanie Otobo, was a product of a “high level conspiracy". Apostle Suleman as he his fondly called, has been embroiled in a sex scandal, following Ms. Otobo’s allegations that she had sexual relationship with the married, outspoken cleric. Ms. Otobo has since called for police investigation accusing the cleric of deceptively making her lose a pregnancy she had for him. Suleman has consistently denied the allegations, saying it was a witch hunt…

Thursday, 16 March 2017 02:25

Northern Christians back Suleman, allege plot to silence him

Northern Christian Youth Network (NCYN) has alerted Nigerians to the surreptitious and dangerous moves to silence General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman as part of a well orchestrated campaign to intimidate opposition elements ahead of 2019 elections. The NCYN in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its Secretary, Mr. Yunana Jacob, the group said “the two-pronged plan being hatched by Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, involves using the Department of State Services (DSS) to intimidate and put away Apostle Suleman – the undisputed champion of Southern Kaduna Christians, as well as trying to…

Thursday, 16 March 2017 02:24

FG reverses self on helicopter ban in Abuja airport

Aviation minister Hadi Sirika says helicopters can now fly in and out of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja (NAIA). He made this known while fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday. The minister said that the office of the National Security Advisers would soon issue a statement reversing its earlier directive banning the helicopters from the NAIA. ‘’On the helicopter issue, National Security Adviser (NSA) has the constitutional responsibility vested on him by Mr President to advise the President on National security matters. "In his wisdom he had sent out letters banning the helicopters’ operation from…

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Wednesday, 15 March 2017 16:33

How Senate rejected Magu as EFCC chair

The Senate today rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as substantive chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The rejection followed a letter by the Department of the Security Service (DSS), which re-affirmed the agency's earlier position on several allegations against Magu. At the confirmation hearing this afternoon, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi) referred to the DSS letter, which was submitted to the Senate late yesterday. "Mr acting chairman EFCC, I love you. I appreciate your sagacity. Mr Chairman, I have before me, two reports from the SSS: one addressed to the Senate in October last year and another…

Wednesday, 15 March 2017 16:30

Non-confirmation won't stop me from fighting corruption - Magu

Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu whose confirmation was again rejected by the Senate on Wednesday has said that neither the Senate rejection nor report from Department of State Services (DSS) would stop him from continuing the fight against corruption until his last day in office. Magu also said he doubted the authenticity of the report from DSS indicting him and accusing him of lacking integrity to head the anti corruption agency. Magu who addressed a coalition of civil society groups at the entrance to the National Assembly after his screening said he would not…

Wednesday, 15 March 2017 16:27

Hameed Ali fails to appear before Senate as lawmakers threaten arrest

Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali, did not appear before the Senate on Wednesday to brief the lawmakers on planned action on vehicles without duty payment. But in accordance with Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution, the Senate resolved to “compel” Mr. Ali to appear on Thursday “to state his case”. The Customs’ planned policy to impound vehicles without duty payment has been suspended, the service announced Wednesday morning, in obedience to a Senate resolution. But the Senators were not satisfied. They insisted on Mr. Ali’s appearance, regardless of the announcement to suspend the policy which set him…

Wednesday, 15 March 2017 09:49

Nigeria Customs bows to pressure, suspends controversial vehicle duty policy

Nigeria Customs Service has announced suspension of its new policy on payment of import duties on vehicles. Customs gave car owners one month to pay duties for their vehicles - for those who had not done so - vowing to prosecute defaulters. The plan sparked controversy as many Nigerians complained about paying for cars that had already found their ways into the country. Customs Service initially defied a Senate demand the policy be put on hold, resulting in a standoff between both sides. But a statement released Wednesday by Customs spokesperson, Joseph Attach, said the plan has been “put on…

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