Anti-corruption Chief says Africa remains poor because of Nigeria

The African continent has lagged behind in most facets of human development because its largest country, Nigeria, has remained in poverty due to fraudulent activities in public service, a leading anti-corruption campaigner said on Tuesday.

Patrick Lumumba, a former Director of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, said Nigerian leaders must do everything within their capacity to address endemic graft. This, he said, would refocus Africa on the path towards prosperity.

Minister says Nigeria needs N1 trillion to turn around aviation sector

The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on Tuesday in Abuja said the Federal Government needed N1 trillion to turn around the country’s aviation sector.

Mr. Sirika said this at a four-day public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation.

The hearing is focussed on “The Need to Rescue the Ailing Aviation Industry from Imminent Collapse.’’

Mr. Sirika stressed that the government had no plans to sell the country’s airports, but frowned at the poor state of infrastructure in the aviation sector.

See the SHOCKING amount EFCC has recovered from Northwest States in just 10 months

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, said in the last 10 months, it recovered over N54 billion from fraudsters and corrupt politically exposed persons in Nigeria’s northwest.

This is separate from another N54 billion recovered from dubious petroleum marketers.

The commission said it also recovered over $622,000 and other property including eight houses, nine plots of land, three trucks and a car, all from January to date.

Irate youths set police station ablaze

Angry youth have set ablaze the Magazu Police Station in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara, following a misunderstanding between the police and the people of the village.

A witness told the News Agency of Nigeria that the misunderstanding followed an alleged death of a suspect from the area, Ibrahim Muhammad, in police custody.

Minister says Nigeria’s broadcast industry to generate $1 billion annually

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says with digitisation, Nigeria’s broadcast industry will have the capacity to raise over $1 billion dollars per annum.

The minister stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while declaring open the 11th Biennial Conference of Africa Broadcasters (Africast).

Africast is a platform for stakeholders in Africa’s broadcasting scene to converge and exchange ideas on content creation and explore the possibilities offered by the new and emerging technology.

Socio-political Group says Corrupt Judges’ are under attack, not Judiciary

A socio-political group, National Support Groups for Good Governance (NASUGG) says contrary to opinions in some quarters, the judiciary is not under attack.

National Coordinator of the group, Dr Chidia Maduekwe, made this assertion at a news briefing on Monday in Abuja.

Speaking at the backdrop of the recent arrest of some judges in the country by the Department of State Service on an allegation of corruption, Maduekwe said it was corrupt judges that were under attack.

Kenya Airways, Emirates suspend flights to Abuja

Emirates, one of the biggest foreign airlines operating in Nigeria, has said it is stopping flight operations to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with effect from October 22, 2016.

In another development, East African carrier Kenya Airways, has also announced that it will suspend flights to Abuja with effect from November 15, 2016 as part of its restructuring and loss saving efforts.

Daily Trust quoted sources as saying that Emirates had since formally written the Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika over its intention to stop flight operations into Abuja following the airline’s inability to buy forex and remit its sales.

Nigeria Air Force destroy more illegal barges in Niger Delta

The Nigerian Air Force has destroyed another set of illegal barges in the Niger Delta Region

A statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Capt. Ayodele Famuyiwa made this known to newsmen in Abuja Tuesday.

“NAF has destroyed two additional illegal barges laden with stolen petroleum products in the Niger Delta. The barges were set ablased by NAF helicopter around Opu-Bille, Yellow Island and Bille Area of Rivers.

Top Niger Delta militant leader arrested by Troops

A top commander of the Urhobo/Isoko militant group, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM), has been arrested by the operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

The militant leader was apprehended on Sunday after days of surveillance by JTF operatives.

The acting JTF spokesman, Lieutenant Commander Thomas Otuji, confirmed the development to Thisday.

Justice Ademola backout from Dasuki’s trial

One of the judges recently arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, of the Federal High court Abuja, has withdrawn from the trial of former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki(rtd).

The judge announced his withdrawal from the former NSA’s trial on Tuesday before the court.

OMG! Retired Ambassador cries out to FG over N2,400 monthly pension

A former Nigerian ambassador to Egypt and Iran in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ambassador Umar Bashir Wali, has cried out to the federal authorities over his N2, 400 monthly pension.

The retired diplomat stated that he served Nigeria all his life till 1st January 1990 when he retired from civil service on grade level 16 as a Nigerian ambassador and when his pension was about N50,000.

Oba's Coronation: Edaiken N’uselu Chooses Name Today

The choosing of the suitable name is in line with the norms of the Benin Tradition and custom as it relates to Obaship in the kingdom.

The Edaiken N’Uselu would proceed on foot procession from Usama Palace en route Siluko road where he is expected to perform some traditional rites which are a prelude to choosing a name to answer as the Oba of Benin.

Etim Esin tips Mahrez to win African Player of the Year

Former Nigeria international, Etim Esin, has said Riyad Mahrez is likely to be named 2016 CAF African Player of the Year, ahead of the Super Eagles’ trio of John Mikel Obi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa.

Some of the players that made the cut include: Andre Ayew, Islam Slimani, Mohamed Elneny, Victor Wanyama, Yannick Bolasie, Sadio Mane and Wahbi Khazri

Women groups criticize Buhari's Kitchen comment says it is derogatory

A coalition of women groups under the aegis of Nigerian Feminist Forum, NFF, yesterday stated that the comment made by President Muhammadu Buhari on his wife, Aisha, is demeaning, derogatory, and subjugation of Nigerian women, stressing that the statement has denied them a level-playing ground to compete equally with their male counterparts both in public and personal spaces.

Reacting to this, Buhari stated that his wife belongs in his kitchen.

How IBB, Abdulsalami help restore peace between Makarfi, Sheriff factions – Jang

The immediate past governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, has disclosed that the reconciliation between the Ali Modu Sheriff and the Ahmed Makarfi factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, came as a result of the intervention by former military presidents, Generals Ibrahim Babangida, IBB, and Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).

Making this disclosure while addressing PDP supporters on the efforts to reconcile aggrieved factional leaders of the party, Jang, now a senator, expressed optimism that the reconciliation of both factions “has sealed the party’s victory in 2019.”

Ogun State | Reverend father chained, robbed

Two unknown gunmen, weekend, attacked the residence of a Catholic priest, Italo Spagnolo, in Ogun State, carting away valuables.

The incident happened on Sunday morning in the Federal Housing Estate, Ikoto, in the Ijebu Ode area of the state.

Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the robbers, Spagnolo told newsmen on Monday that he had gone for morning Mass and returned to his residence to meet the robbers ransacking the rooms

SHOCKING! Ohaneze reveals they will banish some Governors, Senators from Igboland by December

The youth arm of the Igbo Socio-political group, Ohaneze Ndigbo, the Ohaneze Youth Council, OYC, has threatened to banish some Igbo politicians and leaders over failure to improve the lives of people of South East region.

Chairman of OYC, Alex Okemiri, in a statement declared that the youths would team up with Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, to punish Igbo politicians who have not done anything to improve the lives of people of the region.

It noted that some Igbo political actors who have failed to put the interest of Ndigbo first in their actions need to be called to order.

Cross River mortician deny sleeping with or selling of dead bodies

The owner of Emeka Mortuary, Okunmi Community in Cross River State, Mr. Kalu Ben Chima, has denied claims he sells body parts of dead people.

He described the claim as creepy and hearsay, stating that it was deadly to indulge in such.

Chima, who owns the morgue located along Ikom-Calabar highway, Ikom, Central senatorial district of the state, while speaking with Vanguard, said “The claim is false. I do not sell parts of dead people.

Senator Dariye faces court on Thursday over N1.16bn fraud

The trial of a former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, will continue on Thursday 20 October before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Gudu, Abuja.

Dariye, now a senator, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly siphoning the state’s ecological fund to the tune of N1.16 billion.

On Monday, a defence witness, Paul Datugum, a staff in the Office of the Accountant-General, Plateau State Ministry of Finance, failed to substantiate an alleged raid by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on the Ministry in 2005.

Love Story! 8 years ago they met inside a commercial bus, this weekend they will be getting married (PHOTOS)

Bello Oboh and fiancee Misspoza who met in a commercial bus in Lagos in 2008, will be getting married this weekend.

According to MissPoza, she was on her way back from the General Certificate Examination (GCE) in Lagos when she unknowingly joined the same bus with her future husband. Then Bello was on IT.

Wow! Nigerian couple welcomes set of twins twice in two years (photos)

This Nigerian couple (Femi and Tomi Adisa) are blessed with not just one, but two sets of twins!

They had the first set of twins (Boys) in October, 2014 and welcomed the second set of twins (a boy and a girl) a few days ago, we say congratulations to them!

Model wow in “Ghana-must-go” Outfit (Photos)

This is the model that has taken over the internet by storm obviously over her dress. The young woman identified as a Lagos-based model, Aduke Shitta-Bey, is seen dressed in an outfit made out of the ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag.

The ‘Ghana Must Go’ is one of the most popular bag designs in Nigeria with many people finding it the most accessible and most convenient in the country. It is therefore quite surprising to see the model clad in a dress made out of it.

RECAP: HENNESSY VS CLASS 2016

Following the crowing of Holy Field as the champion of the Hennessy VS Class – Class of 2016, Hennessy Artistry has put in action, plans for the Hennessy VS Class album slotted for release in 2017 in collaboration with Sonar Studios/Artistokrat Records. Edo born lyricist Holy Field joins members of the Class of 2014 and 2015; Vemor, Obadice, Eclipse, Fatboi, Phlow, Blaqbone, Dris, Maximum & Mr MarkN as they all prepare for the next step in their music careers.

Watch and relive moments from the Hennessy VS Class 2016 season, from the gruelling knockout stages to the grand finale which featured appearances from Vector, Ill Bliss, Ycee, Ozone, Phlow and many more Hip Hop vets at the Beat 99.9 FM studio. 

Conjoined Twin Sisters Mark Their 14th Birthday In Indian Hospital (Photos)

Conjoined twin sisters Veena and Vani who are joined at the head have celebrated their fourteenth birthday. The parents of the tragic pair are unable to afford to cater for their special needs at home, and so they are being cared for and kept at Hyderabad's Niloufer Hospital, in the South of India, which has been their home for 11 years.

Medics say it is unlikely that a planned operation to separate them will now ever take place, as the risk that surgery would involve has increased as they grew older.

National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria gutted by Fire (PHOTOs)

There was a fire incident in one of the buildings at the National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria, Lagos. The situation was brought under control by officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and state fire service.

After 17 Years, 15-Year-Old Girl Who Was Kidnapped & Forced To Marry Reunites With Family (PHOTOS)

A teenager who was kidnapped and forced to marry a man twice her age has been rescued 17 years later when an SOS letter finally reached her family. The woman, who has only been identified as "A Hua", disappeared suddenly in 1999 when she was just 15.

At the time there was no evidence she had been abducted and her family believed she may have run away. Now aged 32, the woman, from the city of Jinjiang, in East China's Fujian Province, has finally been reunited with relatives after a letter she wrote five years ago was finally delivered.

Man impersonating Assistant Comptroller of Customs nab in Ogun State

A 55-year-old man who claims to be an Assistant Comptroller of the Nigerian Customs Service has been arrested by the police. The man arrested in Ogun State, police say, has duped unsuspecting Nigerians.

Mr Ariyo Wasiu, a resident of Lagos island was said to have been dismissed six years ago from the mechanic department of the customs for an act of indiscipline.

SHOCKING! Thai Woman forces to bow before the Portrait of Late King because of this ...

A Thai woman accused of insulting the monarchy was forced to kneel before a portrait of the late king in front of a baying crowd of royalists. Two police officers led 43-year-old Umaporn Sarasat to a picture of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and told her to get down on her knees and bow towards the picture. 

A 500-strong crowd, some holding images of the revered monarch, jeered when she left the police station, and had to be held back by police officers linking arms.

Aww! Check out these Pre-wedding Photos between a Boss and Coworker who fell in Love

Gbemisola and her charming fiance, Abayomi Coker are set to tie the knots come 5th November, 2016. From the look of their pre-wedding photos, you can tell that there’s no limit to their love!

According to the inscription on their t-shirts it looks like the couple hit things off after they met at their workplace.

So sweet, how many likes for them, fam?

Police tells Married 14-year-old Katsina Girl To Return Home

The Katsina State Police Command has asked Habiba Isa, the 14-year-old girl who was allegedly coverted to Islam and forced into marriage, to return to her parents’ house.

The command maintained that at her age, she was too young to take any decision on marriage and religion.

The state police commissioner, Usman Abdullahi, gave the advice at a press conference in Katsina on Monday, while explaining the police’s position on the development.