Billionaire kidnapper, Evans sues IGP, three others over his continuous detention

Billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans, has filed a lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and three others at the Federal High Court in Lagos over his continuous detention.

Also joined in the lawsuit as respondents are Nigeria Police Force, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command.

Evans who was arrested at his Magodo mansion in Lagos on June 10th, says his detention without trial is illegal and wants the police to release him.

Osinbajo appoves appointment of 14 heads of tertiary health institutions

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has approved the appointment of 14 Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors in Federal Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centres and Specialty Hospitals in Nigeria.

This appointments was disclosed in an approval letter signed by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Acting President and addressed to the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole.

According to a press statement by the ministry, the appointments take immediate effect for a four-year tenure and are in two categories.

Tonto Dikeh's family refunds bride price to Olakunle Churchill

The family of Tonto Dikeh yesterday officially dissolved the traditional marriage between Tonto Dikeh and Olakunle Churchill and Tonto’s dad, Chief Sunny Dikeh handed the bride price back to Churchill’s uncle, Bishop Dare paid in fulfillment all traditional requirements.
The two families met in Port Harcourt on Tuesday where the bride price was returned in accordance with the tradition of the Rumuehio-Okania family in Obiakpor Local Government Area of Rivers state.

Over 50 percent registered Kogi West voters approve Dino Melaye's recall

About 52.3 percent of registered voters, representing 188, 588 persons in Kogi West senatorial district have reportedly approved the recall of Dino Melaye from the senate.

Special Adviser to the governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, Pius Kolawole announced this on Monday in Lokoja while addressing party members from the district.

He said the collation of signatures of voters was carried out successfully on June 17.

We will fund part of 2017 budget with recovered loots – FG

The Federal Government on Monday said it will use part of the looted funds recovered to partly finance the 2017 budget.

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, said this at the 2017 budget breakdown in Abuja.

Udoma said the total revenue projected was N5.08 trillion, with 11 per cent coming from the recoveries made.

We found 7 fake crdit cards in Dammy Krane’s pocket – Police

The Miami Dade police has said seven fake credit cards were found in the pockets of Dammy Krane when he was arrested at the airport.

According to the Miami Times, the police report stated that when the police searched him, they found seven false credit cards in his wallet and they have slammed a nine count felony charge at Miami Dade’s criminal court for credit card forgery and grand theft against the singer.

NASA finds 10 earth-size exoplanets, 209 others

The NASA Kepler mission has discovered 219 more exoplanets, including 10 Earth-size planets.

Program scientist Mario Perez disclosed this on Monday at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California.

Perez explained that ten of the planets are potentially rocky, close to the size of Earth and could support liquid water on their surface.

Northern youth group writes Osinbajo, ask him to make Biafra a reality

The coalition of northern youth groups led by the Arewa Youth Council, who gave a three-month quit notice to Igbos who reside in northern Nigeria in an open letter to Osinbajo has urged him facilitate the process that will lead to the creation of a Biafran state. 

The letter, which was signed by five leaders of the group commended Osinbajo for meeting with stakeholders from the North and Southeast but insisted it would not yield any fruit.

They said the principle of self-determination has, since World War II become a part of the United Nations Charter which states in Article 1(2), that one of the purposes of the UN is “to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples”.

Read the letter below:

BBNaija’s Tboss and Kemen finally reconcile

Big Brother Naija housemates Tboss and Kemen have made up, almost two months after their friendship ended in shambles in South Africa.

The housemates had not talked to each other after the returned home from the reality show, after the ugly incidence between Kemen and TBoss that led to his disqualification.

DSS vows to go after hate speech campaigners

The Department of State Security DSS says it will soon go after those propagating hate speech and spreading seeds of disunity in Nigeria.

In a statement released yesterday, spokesperson of the agency, Tony Opuiyo, said the agency has watched with keen interest recent events where groups from the North, South East and Niger Delta have made condemnable statements about the unity of Nigeria and that it would soon arrest those behind such speeches as well as their sponsors.

Nigeria needs an energetic leader - Pastor Tunde Bakare

Pastor Tunde Bakare, leader of the Latter Rain Assembly and former vice-presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change has blamed the political terrain of Nigeria for the choice of an elderly president in person pf Muhammadu Buhari.

Bakare spoke at a conference yesterday shortly after his Sunday morning sermon titled, ‘The birth pangs of a new Nigeria’.

No mosquito net, no wedding, new Sokoto state government law proposes

The Sokoto state Ministry of Health says it plans to send a bill to the state House of Assembly where suitors would be compelled to add a well treated mosquito net as part of their bride price they would pay before they get their brides as part of efforts to curb the spread of diseases in the state.

According to Kakale, the proposed bill if passed will compel intending couples in the state to undergo HIV/AIDS, genotype and Hepatitis B tests.

Beyonce and Jay Z welcomes twins

Music power couples Beyonce and Jay Z have welcomed their twins.

Although the couple are yet to make any statement confirming the birth of their new children but multiple sources including Beyonce’s dad, Matthew Knowles have revealed that the babies are here.

NNPC reduces diesel price to N175 nationwide

The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said it has reduced the price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as Diesel to N175.

This was disclosed in a statement by signed by Ndu Ughamadu, Group General Manager, group public affairs division of the corporation on Sunday.

NNPC said the reduction saw prices fall to N175-N200 from N300.

The statement said; “It would be recalled that in the first quarter 2017, retail prices of AGO, which is one of the deregulated products, shot to an all-time high of N300/litre in major demand centres across the country.

We don't see Nnamdi Kanu as a South-East leader of thought – Presidency

The Presidency has said the government does not see leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) as a leader of thought in the south-east region.

Special Adviser to the President on Political matters, Babafemi Ojodu said this while explaining the reason Kanu was left out of the meeting Acting President Yemi Osinbajo held with leaders of the south-east.

It could be recalled that the IPOB had described the meeting with south-east leaders as a waste because its leader was not invited.

Expose the thieves in your churches | Osinbajo charges christian leaders

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has urged churches and christian leaders to reject illegally earned money offered to them.

Osinbajo also charged them to start exposing those whose wealth are questionable.

The National Assembly sees the Nigerian national budget as its personal budget - Sagay

Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), on Sunday said Acting President Yemi Osinbajo was right on his stance that the National Assembly has no powers to introduce any project into the budget.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and Senate President Bukola Saraki had earlier argued that the National Assembly can add projects to the budget.

Speaking in Abuja at a programme organised by the National Association of Seadogs (the Pyrates Confraternity), Sagay said the legislature was trying to become the executive too.

Viral video of two children in a boxing match

This is a viral video of two kids engaged in a street boxing bout in Abeokuta, Ogun State with older kids and adults cheering them on.

According to the Facebook user who shared the video, the kid in the blue vest is nicknamed Floyd Mayweather Jr. while the kid in the Bright Turquoise vest is  Manny Pacquiao.

Diddy tops Forbes 100 highest paid celebrity list 2017

Rapper and business mogul, Sean Combs aka Diddy, tops Forbes 100 highest paid celebrity in 2017 by clocking a career-best of $130 million.

The magazine says Diddy raked in $130million in a 12-month scoring period all accumulated from “selling a large chunk of his Sean John clothing equity for an estimated $70 million combined with a lucrative Diageo Ciroc vodka partnership and his Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour”.

Budget padding: EFCC invites suspended lawmaker, Abdulmumin Jibrin

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on Monday sent a letter of invitation to suspended House of Reps member, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

The invitation is in continuation of investigations into allegations of budget padding Jibrin leveled against the speaker of the House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara, and other principals of the house.

Jibrin was suspended by the house on July 20th 2016 for making these allegations against Dogara and other principal officers.

Power supply can be boosted by 3,056 megawatts – NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on Monday said it supplied 689 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, mmscfd, to power plants in March 2017, an equivalent of 3,056 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

In a statement in Abuja, the NNPC, on the release of its March 2017 edition of the Monthly Financial and Operations Report, also stated that the average national daily gas production for the month of March stood at 226.918 billion cubic feet, bcf, which translates to over 7.319 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, mmscfd, Vanguard reports.

8 agencies allowed to operate at the ports

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has clarified that eight agencies of the Federal Government are allowed to operate and be representated at the ports in the country by virtue of a 2011 presidential directive, The Nation reports.A statement signed by Ibrahim Nasiru, a Principal Manager, Public Affairs at the Authority listed the eight agencies as Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Nigeria Police; Department of State Security (DSS); Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Port Health.

MASSOB visit Arewa, sue for peace

The leader of MASSOB, Ralph Uwazurike, has called for peace as he meets with Northern groups in Kaduna on Monday, Punch reports.

Uwazurike, who led a delegation of Igbo leaders from the South East, told some youth groups in Kaduna on Monday that MASSOB had pursued the path of peace since its creation in 1999.

He said; “MASSOB had existed for 18 years without violence, but 2009, I went to London and opened Radio Biafra and handed it over to Nnamdi Kanu as the director.

“Soon afterwards, politicians hijacked him, and he started working for them.

Stop causing mayhew to help your dying career – Bello tells Melaye

The governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, has told Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West that the use of violence won't revive his drowning political career.

Melaye had claimed on Monday that he escaped death after unknown gunmen attacked him as he was rounding off his speech at a rally in front of Kogi State Polytechnic. The gunmen also had cutlasses.

Psychiatric tests will be conducted for traffic law offenders - FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said psychiatric tests will be conducted for traffic law offenders in the country starting July, 1st.

The Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, made this known on Monday at the opening of a five-day training programme for FRSC officials on traffic safety for non-motorised transportation in Abuja, The Cable reports.

Fayose condemns Northern Youths ultimatum to Igbos to leave north

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has condemned the ultimatum given by some Northern youths to the Igbos living in the North to leave the region.

He said such reckless pronouncement could only come from a group of irresponsible and jobless youths.

The governor chided the Northern youths for making such pronouncement at a time Nigerians needed to join hands together for the development of the nation and condemned the Northern elders who openly endorsed the action of the youths.

Late Senator Adeleke's brother emerges APC Candidate for Osun West

The younger brother to the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Ademola Adeleke has emerged as the candidate to represent All Progressive Congress( APC), in Osun West Senatorial District in the July 8th by-election.

Ademola was declared unopposed for the party’s ticket, following the disqualification of Senator Mudashir Husein, who is a serving commissioner in the state.

Northern youth calling for secession should be arrested – Ohanaeze

The apex socio-political organisation of the Igbo, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called for the arrest of northern youth asking the Igbo to leave the north.

In an interview with Punch on Sunday, the deputy national publicity secretary of the Ohanaeze, Chuks Ibegbu, said the only way the government can convince Nigerians that there is justice, equity and fair play in the country is to arrest the northern youths who gave the order and charged them with treason.

He said; “The authorities know that these northern youths are calling for secession,”.

We have not sponsored any new party, says Makarfi-faction of PDP

The Ahmed Makarfi faction of PDP has denied media reports that it is part of the new political party floated, Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA).

Some section in the media had earlier reported that Makarfi was part of the new party.

PDP says the party is neither an offshoot of its party.

Read the press statement released from the party...

Aisha Buhari returns from London, says President Buhari is recuperating

Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari on Tuesday morning returned from London where she had visited ailing President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mrs. Buhari had on May 30 traveled to the UK to spend some time with the President.

Buhari left Nigeria in May 7 for medical treatment for the second time in recent months.

INEC fixes date for Adeleke’s replacement

The Independent National​ Electorial Commission (INEC) has fixed July 8 for Osun-West Senatorial District by-election to elect a new senator for the constituency after the death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke.

INEC, Osun in a notice by it's Administrative Secretary, Mr E.A Ademusire, in Osogbo on Monday, said conduct of parties’ primaries would commence on Tuesday through June 14 while the election would hold on July 8.

AIT founder, Dokpesi unveils new political party

THE Founder of DAAR Communications, owner of African Independent Television (AIT) and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Raymond Dokpesi, has unveiled a new political party.

Named the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), Dokpesi and Dan Anyanwu, former chairman of the Labour Party, unveiled the new party on Monday.

The slogan of the new party is ‘Stronger Toget‎her’, and one Shitu Kabiru is its interim national chairman.

The national executive committee of the party is yet to be constituted.

Osotimehin, former minister of health, is dead

Babatunde Osotimehin, Nigeria’s minister of health from December 2008 to March 2010, is dead. He was aged 68.

Until his death, Osotimehin was the executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

According to sources at the UNFPA, his death was announced at the Nigerian office of the UN body on Monday morning.

Leaked tape: Adeyemi wants Melaye, Judge probed

The immediate past senator, who represented Kogi West Senatorial District, Smart Adeyemi, has asked the National Judicial Council, NJC, and Department of State Service, DSS, to probe the judgment of Kogi State Election Tribunal, which dismissed his petition, and declared Dino Melaye as duly elected senator for the district.

Speaking with journalists, on Sunday, in Abuja, while reacting to a leaked telephone conversation alleged to have involved Senator Melaye and the chairperson of the tribunal, Justice Akon Ikpeme, Adeyemi called on all anti-graft agencies to wade into the matter.

Buhari will return before June 11th - Orji Kalu

Former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu on Sunday said President Buhari’s was in good health when he visited him in London last week.

He also said that the President would return to Nigeria before June 11th and urged Nigerians to desist from spreading messages of hate and division about the health of the President.

I am confident presidency will sign 2017 budget soon – Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki in an interview with journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Sunday, Saraki said he was confident the Presidency will sign the budget very soon.

He said, “There was a comment I read online where the Presidency had said it did not have an intention not to sign. I do not think that (not signing the budget) will happen; I doubt very much.

“Nigerians should not be concerned about that; I am pretty sure that the Executive will sign the bill and we will begin to implement the budget. I am confident that the Executive will sign it very soon. There should be no anxiety there.”

Why we won't intervene in Lagos chaplain sack – CAN

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr Supo Ayorinde has said the association will not intervene in the sacking of the chaplain of Lagos State chapel, Reverend Femi Taiwo for allegedly disrespecting the wife of Lagos State governor, Bolanle Ambode.

Ayokunle speaking in an interview with journalists said that CAN cannot intervene in a matter it was not informed about.

He said; “None of them has briefed me on the matter up till now and you don’t continue to look for trouble here and there. If they feel they can manage the trouble themselves, well, I won’t be looking for trouble”.

Senate panel wants fuel price increased to N150

The Senate Committee on Works has recommended an increase in the pump price of petrol from N145 to N150 for the implementation of the proposed National Roads Fund (NRF).

The recommendation came a year after President Muhammadu Buhari raised the pump price of fuel from N87 to N145 per litre.

The increase was part of the recommendations made by the Senate Committee on Works, chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano) on the National Roads Fund (Est. Etc) Bill (SB.218).

Fergie is no longer with the Black Eyed Peas

Black Eyed Peas lead vocalist, Fergie has departed to focus on her solo project. Will.i.am made this known in an interview with Ahlan! Magazine.

He said; "Fergie Ferg is working on her solo project at the moment, we’re on this brand-new experience, celebrating 20 years of Black Eyed Peas putting out music.

Ahmed Musa, Iheanacho lead Nigeria to victory against Togo

The Super Eagles of Nigeria, yesterday defeated the The Sparrow Hawks of Togo 3-0 in the spirit of friendliness.

Two goals from Musa and another from Iheanacho gave the Super Eagles a commanding 3-0 half time lead on Thursday night in Paris, at Stade Municipal de Saint Leu La Foret.

It is the first time the Super Eagles will win in three matches.

Air passenger traffic drops by 31.3% – NBS

The Air Transportation Data Q1 2017 released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)on Thursday, revealed that the total number of passengers who passed through Nigerian airports in the first quarter of 2017 was 2,505,612 representing a 31.3% drop.

The report indicated that passengers numbers and aircraft movement declined, indicating a 34.5 percent drop when compared to the same quarter of 2016.

Reps reject bill seeking to create South-East commission

The House of representatives on Thursday, after a rowdy session rejected a bill that seeks to create a South East Development Commission due to the absence of the sponsor of the bill, The Cable reports.

The house rejected the bill after it was put to a voice vote by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

FG bans sale of cigarettes to anyone below 18, list places where smoking is prohibited

The Federal government has announced the ban on the sale of cigarettes to persons below the age of 18.

Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, made the announcement during a press briefing in Abuja as part of activities to mark the World No Tobacco Day, yesterday.

Revoke Kanu's bail now, Southeast group urges FG

Disturbed by the activities of IPOB, a group from the South East under the auspices South East Peoples Assembly,  SEPA have called for the revocation of the bail granted to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, Nnadi Kanu, by a Federal High court in Abuja, NAN reports.

IPOB, MASSOB and other pro-biafra groups, on Tuesday, May 30 had organised a sit-at-home in South East, an action SEPA regards as a breach of the bail conditions granted Kanu.

Nnamdi Kanu was arrested on October 15, 2015 in Lagos and eventually granted bail on health grounds, in May this year with some conditions, amongst which he was told not to hold any rallies, grant any interviews or be in a crowd of more than 10 people.

UTME 2017: JAMB releases 1,606,901 results, supplementary exam to take place

The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede on Wednesday said that 1,606,901 results, out of the 1,718, 425 that registered has been released.

Oloyede said the results were released within 24 hours of the examination, adding that the remaining 80,889 candidates’ results would be released soon, while 76,925 results will be withheld.

Lagos gets FG’s approval to reconstruct airport road

The federal government has given approval to the Lagos State government to commence a reconstruction of the road connecting the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos to Oshodi.

A statement by Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello, said that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode announced this on Wednesday.

Ambode in the statement said; “We are very appreciative of the good gesture of the Acting President for acceding to our request, which is not only very timely but a very heartwarming one. Posterity will never forget this genuine developmental action,”.

Abducted reps member released

A member of the house of representatives, Garba Umar Durbunde (Takai/Sumaila federal constituency, Kano state) who was abducted along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, has been released, TheCable reports.

Aide to the lawmaker, Tunde Adela confirmed the release of his principal. 

It was reported that the legislator paid a ransom before his release.