4 Bayelsa Legislators’ Seats Declared Vacant After Defection To APC

The Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon Kombowei Benson, has declared the seats of four members, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), vacant.

The decision was taken by the speaker on Friday, after the four lawmakers declared their decision to join the APC.

After the declaration by the speaker, the State’s Governor, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, described the decision as a step in the right direction.

Female Suicide Bomber Kills 7 In Damaturu, Injures Several

Seven people have been confirmed dead after a female suicide bomber detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the entrance of the Damaturu Central Motor Park in Yobe State Capital, north-east Nigeria.

A witnesses, who spoke off-camera, told Channels Television that the female suicide bomber came to the gate of the park at about 11:45am and detonated the IED close to the security checks, injuring several people at the scene.

Several residents besieged the Damaturu Specialists’ Hospital to sympathise and also find out the whereabouts of loved ones who might have been affected by the blast.

The Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Garba Fika, told reporters that 37 injured persons were brought in from the scene of the blast for treatment.

He confirmed that out of the 37 persons brought to the hospital, seven have been confirmed dead while 27 were being treated.

Dr. Fika also said seven persons out of the of the 27 being treated were critically injured and may be referred to either the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru or Azare in neighbouring Bauchi State.

The State’s Governor, Mr Ibrahim Gaidam, who also visited the hospital, sympathised with victims. He said those injured would be treated with the free drug procured by the state government.

Governor Gaidam condemned the act and stressed that his administration would foot the medical bills of all the victims.

He also directed the authorities in the hospital to speed up the treatments and work out modalities for the referral cases for urgent medical attention

The Governor condoled the families of those killed in the blast and called on residents to be more vigilant in assisting security agents in the fight against terrorism.

Jonathan, Hero Of 2015 Election – Olisa Agbakoba

Former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, believes that President Goodluck Jonathan should be commended for the peaceful conduct of the election.

In a session with the media in Lagos, Agbakoba commended President Jonathan for giving room for free and fair elections and for conceding defeat to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate and new President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

Another Nigerian Sentenced To Death In Indonesia For Drug Trafficking

The media in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia is reporting that another Nigerian, a certain Mr. Simon Ezeaputa, has been sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking.

The district court in Tangerang, near Jakarta on Wednesday found Mr. Ezeaputa guilty of controlling a drug transaction from his prison cell, where he was serving a 20-year jail term for drug offences.

The report says the transaction involved 350 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

PDP Congratulates General Muhammadu Buhari

Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the winner of the Presidential Election, General Muhammadu Buhari, saying it will respect the outcome of the election, “if it truly reflects the wishes and aspirations of our citizens”.

In a statement, the chairman of the party, Mr Adamu Mu’azu, congratulated the President-elect, flag-bearer of the APC for his resilience and victory and wished him success in the onerous task of leading Nigeria once again.

Heroic Act
He also commended the PDP flag bearer, President Goodluck Jonathan, for his heroic act in conceding to the voice of the people, an action that stands him out as a true democrat and a statesman.

“On the same note, we wish to also commend the electorate for the peaceful manner with which they conducted themselves in the course of this election,” the PDP chairman said.

I An Not On Twitter - Asari

Foreign Journalist James Schneider who is in Nigeria to cover the election rung Niger Delta Militant Asari Dokubo yesterday and this is how their conversation went:

"Yesterday evening I spoke with Asari Dokubo on the phone. He said that "the elections were rigged by INEC" & the "card readers were a fraud"

I asked Asari Dokubo what he thought of GEJ's concession & call for his supporters to accept,

Asari Dokubo "Jonathan cannot speak for our people"

Man Kills Daughter’s Lover, Connives With DPO To Bury Corpse At Night

A man named, Elewana Godwin of River Basin Authority, 8 Miles Calabar has been accused of shooting a 22 year old boy, Douglas Ojugbo on March 10, 2015, for allegedly dating  his daughter.

Some neigbours who were physically terrified and only managed to talk to CrossRiverWatch about the incident, after begging not to be named said, Mr. Elewana is a very dangerous man and that they have seen Douglas on a few occasions coming to check on his daughter and that they have seen the daughter accompanying Douglas when he is leaving.

Mexican Professional Wrestler Drops Dead In Ring

Mexican professional wrestler Pedro Aguayo Ramirez, who wrestled under the ring name Perro Aguayo Jr, died on Saturday after an in-ring maneuver went wrong in Tijuana, Mexico.

He was 35 years old,Aguayo, who wrestled for the Mexico based Asistencia Asesoríay Administración, was in a tag team match with Manik against former World Wrestling Entertainment star Rey Mysterio Jr and Xtreme Tiger.

FULL TEXT: Rivers Deputy Governor, Ikuru’s Defection Speech

A CALL ON THE CONSCIENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF RIVERS STATE AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY ENGR TELE IKURU. DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF RIVERS STATE IN RESPECT OF 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS.

My dear People of Rivers State, I bring you honest and sincere greetings.Today, I address you out of the fullness of my heart. Recall that in December 2013, out of extreme loyalty to my Boss and friend, I joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) along with other then disillusioned Rivers People.

Ever since, as the true nature and motives of APC are unveiled, I have continued to twist and turn in extreme mental and emotional agony.

Ogun State Police Command Discovers Kidnappers Den In Ijebu-Igbo

The Ogun State Police Command has discovered a den belonging to kidnappers in a neighborhood in Ijebu Igbo Area of the State

Five suspects including a serving councillor in the State have been arrested by the police in connection with the discovery.

From a distance, the uncompleted building in 7, Egbe Road, Ijebu Igbo Area of Ogun East Senatorial District would pass for any other building where people live and earn their legitimate income.

Gunmen kill 8 in Port Harcourt

No fewer than eight persons were killed and many in­jured last Friday night, at different locations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when gunmen went on the rampage in the city.

Five persons were shot dead and scores wounded, when armed men stormed a popular bar before Ama­di-Ama roundabout, in the Rivers State capital, and shot sporadically at the cus­tomers. The incident occurred at 11:30pm. Among those killed were a lady and mili­tary personnel. The clear identities of the victims could not be ascertained at press time.

A source, who lives in the area, said residents were awakened by heavy shoot­ing at the drinking spot, which opens day and night. She said three corpses, which were not identified that night, were kept out­side the bar till morning, and expended bullets lit­tered the place.

Nigerian student sentenced to death in Malaysia

A Nigerian studying at a private college in Malaysia was sentenced to death by hanging after the High Court Shah Alam on Friday found him guilty of trafficking 725.4 gm of methamphetamine three years ago. Luke Nnaemeka Ugwu, 29, was said to have committed the offence at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport arrival hall in Sepang at 9.45 pm on May 15, 2012.

Traditional Rulers Strip Dr. Alex Otti Of Royal Blessings, Honour

In an apparent twist of fate, the traditional rulers of Isiala Ngwa South Abia State have withdrawn their royal blessings, honour and support which they gave to the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) guber candidate in the state, Dr. Alex Otti, mid last year. They said that the royal blessings and support were made "out of deceit or in error". 

I WAS OFFERED N30K TO CARRY KIDNAPPERS

A 24-year-old commercial motorcyclist who confessed to being a member of a kidnap syndicate that specialised in abducting their victims from Ogun and Lagos states, has been arrested by men of the Ogun State Special Anti Robbery Squad. The suspect, Taiwo Akilo, was arrested at the weekend while on the verge of taking the syndicate’s female victim to their hide out inside a bush around Imodi- Ijasi, along Ijebu-ode/Ikorodu road. The captive, one Mrs Abosede Adenuga, was reportedly abducted at about 10.50pm, around Ikorodu area of Lagos, last Sunday.

POLICE BOSS SPEAKS 

Explaining how the suspect met his Waterloo, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Val Ntomchukwu, said: “The Ogun State Police Command has intensified efforts to tackle challenges of kidnapping in the State, particularly, in Ijebu axis as the Special Anti Robbery Squad of the command ambushed and arrested a member of a kidnap gang that abducted one Mrs Abosede Adenuga, from Lagos State on 16th March 2015 at 1050pm. ‘’The SARS operatives of the command deployed to police the Ibefun/Ikorodu road where some suspected kidnappers operate and hide their captors, were informed of the kidnap case by some informants. They said the gang was heading to Ijebu axis to hide their captor. 

The kidnappers met their waterloo when they were ambushed by the police at Imodi -Ijasi along Ijebu Ode/Ikorodu road ‘’On noticing the presence of policemen, the kidnappers jumped on a motorcycle to escape. They were given a hot chase by the operatives who used another motorcycle to pursue them. During the process, one of them, Tunde Akilo, was arrested while the woman was rescued. The following items were recovered from the gang: one locally- made, cut-to-size double barrell gun loaded with one live cartridge, four live cartridges, a Volkswagen car with Reg No MUS 471 AU used by the kidnappers and assorted charms.” 

Gunmen Abduct Emir Of Bukuyum In Zamfara

Unknown gunmen have kidnapped the Emir of Bukuyum, Mohammed Usman, from his palace in Zamfara State, north-west Nigeria.

The commissioner for information in the state, Ibrahim Magaji, confirmed the Emir’s abduction on Saturday.
Mr Magaji said the incident took place on Friday.

Court Suspends Proceedings Of Suit Challenging Use OF Card Reader

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an order of stay of proceedings in a suit challenging the plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the electronic card reader machine in Nigeria’s forthcoming general elections.

The trail judge, Justice A‎deniyi Ademola, said the order of stay of proceedings is to subsist pending the determination of an appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some other defendants challenging a March 13 ruling of the court.

The APC had appealed against the decision of Justice Ademola abridging the time within which parties are to respond to the suit.
‎
Apart from the APC, other respondents in the suit are the Civil Empowerment and Rule of Law Support Initiative and the Fiscal and Civil Rights Enlightenment Foundation.

Justice Ademola held that it was appropriate to grant the order of stay of proceedings since the APC, through its counsel, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, had shown proof that it had filed its appeal and application for stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

Court Reserves March 23 To Rule On Buhari’s Eligibility Suit

A Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved ruling till  March 23 to decide whether it has jurisdiction to hear the suit filed by one Chukwuwike Okafor and Donald Daunamigba challenging the eligibility of retired General Muhammadu Buhari to contest the 2015 general elections.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola would also rule on a request by the plaintiff to consolidate all the applications in the law suit.

the resumed hearing of two suits filed by Chukwunweike Okafor and Donald Daunamigba, their lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN) told the court that he had received a number of preliminary objections and applications for joinder in the suit.

He, however, asked the court for accelerated hearing in view of the fact that the general elections are barely a week away.

Ekiti Vigilante Group Arrests 3 Suspected APC Thugs

The Ekiti State Vigilante Group has arrested three suspected All Progressives Congress (APC) thugs with gun and axe, on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

One of the suspected thugs was identified as Soji Onigbinde while three ladies were arrested with them.
The suspected thugs, who were riding in a Mazda 323 bus branded APC House of Assembly candidate for Ado Local Government Constituency 1, Sola Olofin, were arrested at Omisanjana Junction, Ado Ekiti at about 11:30 pm local time.

Man kills friend over N100 debt in Enugu

Tragedy struck on Thursday at Orba, Udenu Local Govern­ment Area of Enugu State, when a middle-aged vulcaniser, Stephen Eze, al­legedly hacked his friend and business neighbour, Mr. Ikenna Anayo Omeje, to death over N100 debt.

The suspect, Mr. Eze who hails from Edem Ani in Nsuk­ka Local Government Area and the deceased, Mr Omeje from Umuafia Orba in Udenu council, had been the best of friends for close to three years before the ugly incident.

According to the source, trouble started, when the de­ceased was said to have decid­ed to build his own shop few metres away from his friend’s workshop.

Traffickers caught smuggling nursing mother, children into Nigeria

Four notorious suspected human traffickers have been caught by the Immigrations Service, Oyo State Command, while allegedly attempting to smuggle a nursing mother along with her two-year-old son, nine girls, and a boy.

The suspects and their victims were apprehended at the Saki border, in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State. The four men were accused of involvement in a trafficking ring which was responsible for bringing in several foreigners, notably Beninois and Togolese, into the country without travelling documents.

I know Where Chibok Girls Are Kept - Female Boko Haram Escapee

67-year-old Boko Haram escapee has revealed that her escape has given her an idea of where the kidnapped Chibok girls are being kept, as she recalls the horrors in the camps and how people were forced to convert to Islam.

The 67-year-old woman, Maryamu Bala, of Madagali, Adamawa state, who is now in a refugee camp in the state, says she could still locate one of the camps where she was taken near Sambisa forest because she used to fetch firewood in the area in her younger days.

Police parades notorious baby factory owner in Abia

The Abia state police command has paraded a notorious baby factory owner based at Umunkpeyi in Isiala Ngwa South council area of the state who has been evading arrest by various security outfits in the state.

The baby factory owner who is known as Mma Achumba has been under surveillance from the police, SSS, army and Civil Defence was arrested in Akwa Ibom state and brought to the state capital.

Early last year, Mma who has been in the business for years with the name Mma maternity home relocated her operational base from Umunkpeyi down to a remote area in Olokoro, where the police raided and demolished the operational base.

The relocation of her former operational base from Umunkpeyi to Olokoro was as a result of constant raids on her maternity home where it was believed that teenage pregnant girls were housed until they are delivered.

Car jacker caught in Abuja

This man was caught trying to steal a car around 10.25am today March 20th in front of Lozumba commercial complex area 10, Garki, Abuja, behind the popular UTC complex. The plaza security said he acted like he was answering a call while using a master key to unlock the car. They chased and caught him and beat him up. Police from UTC came and took him away. Photo of the car he tried to steal after the cut...

Buhari Seeks FCT Igbo Leaders’ Support For Change

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, has appealed to the Igbo community in the north and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to support his efforts to rescue Nigeria from economic collapse.

Addressing leaders of the Igbo community in Abuja on Friday, General Buhari said the rescue mission of the APC would be a success “if Nigeria experiences free, fair and credible elections at all levels”.
General Buhari criticised the dwindling purchasing power of many Nigerians saying the continuous impoverishment of many Nigerians does not augur well for the nation.

Shun Desperation, Jonathan Tells Nigerian Politicians

Nigeria will be a better place if those who want to hold public offices from Councilors to Governors or President can shun desperation in a bid to get to such positions, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Friday.

President Goodluck Jonathan was speaking at the lunch of a book ‘The People’s Choice’ – the story of President Goodluck Jonathan written by Reverend Father Imokhai.

President Jonathan said he had never been unruffled by the desire to hold public office even when he was ready to serve. He urged all Nigerian politicians to do same.

Fayose’s Wife To Pay Indigent Patients’ Medical Bills

The wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose, will on March 24 pay medical bills of some indigent patients who could not afford their medical bills in all the specialists and teaching hospitals in the State.

According to the statement from the office of the First Lady, patients to benefit from Mrs Fayose’s gesture are drawn from the State Specialist Hospitals in Ijero,Ikole and Ikere Ekiti.

FIFA Announce December 18 As Final Of Qatar 2022

FIFA has confirmed that the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar will take place on 18 December. A FIFA task force last month recommended that the tournament should be switched from summer to winter.

The decision to hold the final on 18 December means Britain’s traditional Boxing Day club matches on 26 December can still take place.

In another key decision, FIFA has chosen France to host the 2019 women’s World Cup, ahead of South Korea. France will also stage the Under-20 women’s tournament in 2018.

Walter De Gregorio, FIFA’s director of communications, confirmed that the 2022 World Cup would begin in November and finish on 18 December.

How DSS Forced Me To Sign Document Recanting ‘N7bn Bribe’ Allegation Against CAN – Borno Pastor

The Borno State-born pastor, Kallamu Musa-Dikwa, who affirmed the allegation that President Goodluck Jonathan gave the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, N7 billion to support his re-election bid, has cried out over threats to his life by operatives of the Directorate of State Service (DSS).

While insisting that the Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor-led CAN collected the said amount, Dikwa said the DSS had forced him to sign a document which they would use against him to prove to the entire world that “the President (Jonathan) did not bribe CAN to work against the presidential candidate of APC”, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)

Dikwa said the DSS planned to use the ‘document’, which he was made to sign under duress in some national dailies to portray him as telling lies against the body of Christ.

“They forced me to sign and promise to link me up with the CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, for us to ‘settle’,” he said

The pastor claimed that all these were in addition to pleas from other Christian leaders, especially the Abuja CAN Chairman, to deny that the Christian body collected the said amount (N7bn).

Speaking in Kaduna Thursday, Dikwa told journalists that after the DSS Operatives had treated him like a “common criminal”, they forced him to sign a document to deny what he had said.

According to him, since he broke the news to Nigerians of how the CAN collected N7bn to work against Buhari, his life had been under threat.

Don’t mislead Christians, APC cautions Deeper Life

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned the Deeper Life Bible Church and its General Superintendant, Pastor William Kumuyi, not to mislead Nigerians

Kumuyi, who was represented by the Delta State overseer of the church, Senior Pastor Obinna Nkemjika, at a media briefing in Asaba, had posited that a cleric, who involved himself in political activities, had engaged in mundane things and lack the vision for his pastoral calling.

Buhari became Head of State through coup, stole $2.8m – Clark

Ahead of the Presidential and general elections slated for March 28 and April 11, Former Federal Commissioner for Information and South South leader, Chief Edwin Clark claimed yesterday that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its Presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan have already won the election.

EFCC Arrests Reps Candidate For N142m Scam

The house of Representatives candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Miss Oluwametomi Adetokunbo Adisa, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly obtaining the sum of N142, 029,000( One Hundred and Forty- Two Million, Twenty- Nine Thousand Naira only) from one businessman, Alhaji Isa Bello, by false pretence.

AGN crisis latest: I am giving you 24 hours to leave, Emeka Ike tells Ibinabo

Nollywood Star, Emeka Ike has reacted to the reaction of Ibinabo Fiberesima, president of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) that she would appeal the court judgment that sacked her as the Guild’s president on Monday. According to Nigeriafilms.com the actor disclosed that he gives Ibinabo 24 hours to apologise to the guild and vacate her seat or face being dragged to court again for contempt. Speaking on the threat of appeal made by the seating president Emeka posits that she has no case and points out what it entails to effect an appeal.“She has not appealed. Do you know what an appeal of a judgment means? The judgment was given on Monday and I ask, ‘has she received a copy of the judgment she wants to appeal at the moment? Don’t insult my integrity. Before you make any appeal, you have to write papers and take the papers to the right places and you make an appeal with that.

I’m President-in-waiting – NCP candidate

Presidential candidate of the NCP, Martin Onovo, says he is “the President in waiting if the 2015 presidential election is free, fair and credible”.Mr. Onovo made the assertion in Lagos on Thursday while speaking with a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).“We are the oldest party in Nigeria and we are the party of the Nigerian people.“There is no party that can defeat NCP in a free and fair election.“If you compare us with other parties in Nigeria, NCP cannot be defeated, if the election is contested according to the law and votes counted, I am the president-in-waiting.

Younger brother of Petroleum Minister, Alison-Madueke kidnapped

5 months after her sister Osiyo Agama was kidnapped, the younger brother of Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Alison-Madueke, Joseph Agama has also been kidnapped. He was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Bayelsa state today. Confirming his kidnap, the spokesperson to the Bayelsa state Police command, Asinim Butswat said the incident happened at about 12.30am yesterday.

The kidnappers rode in a speedboat and stormed Yenaka Community, a coastal settlement in Yenagoa LGA at about 12.30am and forcefully abducted Mr Agama. The family is yet to hear from the kidnappers.