Federal Government blasts Amnesty International over report

The federal government has dubbed the 2015/2016 report of Amnesty International (AI) as lacking conformity to standards.

This is particularly so on evidence gathering, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement by its spokesperson, Mr Clement Aduku.

Femi Falana says parade of Peace Corps boss, 49 others illegal

Lagos lawyer Femi Falana SAN yesterday described the arrest, detention and parade of National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) Ambassador Dickson Akoh and 49 of his members as illegal.

Akoh and 49 others were at about 11:30pm last Tuesday arrested by some police operatives after commissioning its new headquarters in Abuja.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki denies stealing Governor's’ Forum’s N3.5 Billion

Senate President Bukola Saraki has rubbished a report that he once stole N3.5billion belonging to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

He described the report as fiction.

Abuja Airport Closure: Arik Air releases new Kaduna Airport schedule

Ahead of the closure of Abuja Airport, Arik Air has released a new schedule for its Kaduna operations.

The new schedule will be operated for six weeks when the Abuja Airport is closed to traffic.

From March 8, 2017, flights into Abuja will be diverted into Kaduna Airport. The airline disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Lagos.

Federal Government extends free HIV/AIDS treatment

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said the treatment of HIV will no longer favour a selected few. Meaning, HIV positive persons across the country will access free treatment.

He spoke at the official flag off of the Central Dissemination of the 2016 National Guidelines for HIV Prevention Treatment and Care in Abuja.

According to him, anyone who tests positive to HIV is automatically eligible for free treatment.

‘Simi disappointed us on Red Carpet’ – AMVCA 2017 photographer

Singer Simi walked the official red carpet so fast to escape cameramen and paparazzi from taking her pictures.

See what one photographer said and also Simi's respond:

Photos: See The Creepy Human Shaped Figure That Appeared In The Sky In Zambia

Zambian locals ran away in terror when they saw a strange human-like figure appear in the clouds above a shopping center. The alleged apparition was spotted above the Mukuba Mall in Kitwe. Photographs show a large humanoid head and torso, tailing into the sky and it is thought to have measured more than 100 metres long.

Obama denies Trump claim of wiretap order

A spokesman for ex-President Barack Obama on Saturday denied President Donald Trump's allegation that the former president ordered a wiretap of him last October.

Goodluck Jonathan; Nigeria’s ‘Worst’ President Turned Best Ex-President

Few men in the history of any nation are as privileged and fortunate, as former President Goodluck Jonathan, to have held every important position of authority and power, consecutively for 16 unbroken years. First elected in 1999 as deputy governor, then governor in 2005, later as vice president in 2007 and finally in 2010 as president and commander in chief of the armed forces of the Nigerian federation. Reputed to be amiable, simple and meek; his steady rise to power has been attributed more to divine providence and sheer luck, as his first name implies than any track record of proven competence and capacity at statecraft. Born on 20th Nov, 1957 in the riverine community of Otuoke in Bayelsa State, to Ijaw parents, Goodluck Jonathan is no doubt Nigeria’s greatest personal beneficiary of the 4th republic.

MEND says Henry Okah and others are dying in South Africa

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, on Saturday, revealed that one of its leaders, Henry Emomotimi Okah, currently serving jail term, was dying at Korkstad Prison in the Kwa-Zulu Natai Province of South Africa. MEND is alleging that he is locked up in solitary confinement based on xenophobia and jungle justice.

African Union chairman calls Buhari, wishes him quick recovery

The Chairman of the African Union, President Alpha Conde, on Friday, called President Muhammadu Buhari on the telephone to wish him speedy recovery from his ailment.

A statement issued by the presidential media aide, Femi Adesina, said Conde called Buhari on the telephone on “to wish him good health and speedy recovery.”

Bishop Kukah: We’ve not been able to figure out what is wrong with Nigeria

Mathew Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto diocese, says no one has been able to ascertain why Nigeria is in a constant state of commotion.

He said that despite the impression that Christians and Muslims cannot coexist harmoniously, Nigerians of both religions “have no problem” with one another.

Speaking on ARISE TV Network on Saturday, he said the Southern Kaduna crisis has not been properly handled by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

US Government awards Nigeria’s Andela best SME in the World

The US government has named Andela, a company and community of software developers, based in Nigeria and Kenya, as the world’s best small and medium-sized business.

The award, which is tagged the US secretary of state Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE), was established in 1999, to recognise companies that are best representing American values in their business practices worldwide.

Group gives President Buhari 15-days ultimatum to return to Nigeria

A group known as Concerned Nigerians says it will embark on a protest if President Muhammadu Buhari does not return to the country on or before March 19.

On January 19, Buhari left the country on a 10-day medical vacation to the United Kingdom and handed over power to vice-president Yemi Osinbajo.

How Goodluck Jonathan blocked British govt from rescuing Chibok Girls - GUARDIAN UK

In 2014, Former President Goodluck Jonathan blocked the British armed forces from rescuing nearly 300 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram.

GUARDIAN UK reports that in a mission named Operation Turus, the RAF conducted air reconnaissance over northern Nigeria for several months, following the kidnapping of 276 girls from the town of Chibok in April 2014.

N18,000 minimum wage makes NO sense, peg it at N50,000 - Ekweremadu tells FG

Nigeria's Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has called on the Muhammadu Buhari government to approve the increment of workers' minimum wage to N50,000.

He made the plea while delivering the 4th National Public Service Lecture of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association.

Nigerian Blogger Omojuwa Arrested By South African Border Police, Then Later Release (See Details)

Nigerian Blogger Japheth Omojuwa has taken to Twitter to narrate his ordeal at the hands of the South African border police.

According to the blogger, he was unfairly treated by an official who reportedly asked why he came to the southern African country, her tone accusatory. When he explained he came on invitation by the United States Government, the woman demanded that he returned to Lagos.

PDP Crisis: Makarfi faction denies forming new party

The Ahmed Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has denied being behind moves to establish a new party called Advanced Peoples Democratic Party, APDP.

Some media reports have suggested that the faction has applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for registration.

Sources were quoted as saying the faction took the decision because it has become apparent that the court-recognised national chairman, Ali Sheriff, is not genuinely ready for reconciliation.

Leave us alone, mind your business - PDP fire back at Obasanjo

The BoT Chairman of the PDP, Senator Walid Jibrin, has hit back at ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo over his recent criticism of the party.

Obasanjo had earlier proclaimed that the PDP is dead, following his exit from the party.

EFCC invades home of Former President Jonathan’s godson, George Turnah

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), at the weekend invaded the home of George Turnah, former coordinator of the Goodluck Jonathan/Namadi Sambo campaign organization.

The mansion, with a gold-plated fence, is located in Kolo community in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State.

Disclose donations made to your presidential library - SERAP tells Obasanjo

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged former president Olusegun Obasanjo to disclose donations made to his presidential library.

The group called on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to propose a bill seeking to regulate fundraising to presidential libraries.

In a statement on Sunday, Timothy Adewale, SERAP’s senior staff attorney, said the bill when signed into law would ensure transparency in such donations.

Reports | 3.67 million Nigerians lost their jobs in one year

The harsh economic situation currently facing the country may have forced about 3.67 million Nigerians into the unemployment market within a one-year period covering October 2015 to September 2016, figures obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics have revealed.

According to an analysis of the unemployment report for the period, which was obtained by our correspondent in Abuja, the number of unemployed Nigerians rose from 7.51 million in the beginning of the October 2015 to 11.19 million at the end of September 2016.

Federal university to offer automatic employment to 16 First Class graduates

The Federal University Wukari in Taraba has promised to offer automatic employment to all the 16 graduating students of the institution that came out with first class degrees.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Abubakar Kundiri, who disclosed this during the maiden convocation of the institution on Saturday in Wukari, also said that those who were willing to pick up the appointment, would similarly be trained up to their third level degrees.

Photos: Troops kill fighters, captures gun trucks Boko Haram stole from Niger Army

Troops of 8 Task Force Division, Nigerian Army, on clearance operations under the auspices of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in the North East, Saturday had an encounter with Boko Haram terrorists at Chikun Gudu, northern part of Borno State.

Army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, in a statement said during the encounter, the gallant troops neutralized quite a number of the terrorists, while others escaped with gun shot wounds.

Junaid Mohammed: Mamman Daura has been running Nigeria not Buhari

Second Republic lawmaker, Junaid Mohammed has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari’s uncle, Mamman Daura, has been running the country from the background since the All Progressives’ Congress took over power in 2015.

Mohammed, who disclosed this in an interview with Nigerian Tribune, also said that it is tragic that Buhari is only comfortable with relating with people from Northern Nigeria.

Photos of 11-year-old boy allegedly brutalized and thrown out onto the streets by stepmother in Lagos

A woman has been arrested by the police for the brutal assault on her 11-year-old stepson. She reportedly threw him out of the house into the street where he was found wandering four days later.

Aww! Trending photos of a proud father and his five daughters

Check out these adorable photos of Mr Macaulay and his five pretty daughters which are currently trending online and have got lots of guys drooling.

According to Mr Macaulay:

#AMVCA2017: Stunning Photos of Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva that will melt your heart

Actors Olu Jacobs and his gorgeous wife, Ajoke Silva, moments on the red carpet were couples to behold at the 2017 AMVCA yesterday ... These two lovebirds aren't just veterans in acting but their love is just so amazing.

#AMVCA2017: Best Dress Female Celebrity

Singer and photographer Toni Tones outfit to 2017 Africa Magic Viewer's Choice Awards has been the talk on social media. She looks ethereal in that purple color dress.

According to her team, it took 4 months to make the dress by Yemi Shoyemi and it's completely handmade.

More photos after the cut:

#AMVCA2017: Celebrities As They Arrive At The Event

Check out stunning celebrities at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards which was held yesterday in Lagos. Here are photos of some celebrities on the red carpet: