US Offers To Equip Nigeria’s National Assembly Library

The United States embassy in Nigeria, on Wednesday, offered to equip the library of the Nigeria’s National Assembly.

This was disclosed by the political affairs officer, Robert Kerr, during a discussion with legislative aides at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.

The session was organized by the US Embassy and Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement, YIAGA, as part of Young Legislators Accountability Project, YLAPNG. It was organised for aides of young Nigerian legislators who are not more than 40 years of age.

Reps uncover scam of 169 ghost companies on N1trn railway contracts

The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Failed Rail Contracts, yesterday, discovered 169 ghost companies registered as contractors with the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, for projects valued at N1 trillion.

Chairman of the committee, Johnson Agbonnayinman, (Ikpoba/Okha federal constituency) discovered the scam when they invite contractors to a meeting and no one showed up stating that efforts  to reach them have so far proven abortive.

US President Obama tells Muslims: We are ‘One American family’

US President Barack Obama visited a Maryland mosque on Wednesday to deliver a simple message at a complex time. “We are one American family,” President Obama told the gathered crowd at the Islamic Society of Baltimore. “We will rise and fall together.”

Obama sought to reassure Muslim Americans that the country considers their community essential to the makeup of society, condemn the claim that all Muslims are terrorists, call on the Muslim community to also condemn terrorism, affirm religious freedom, and explain to the whole of America what Islam is and isn’t.

And with the rise of ISIS and in the wake of the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, the president had a lot of ground to cover in the 45 minutes he had to speak.

12 year old Indian girl has giant ants removed from her ears

Shreya Darji, from Deesa, in Gujarat, western India, has around ten live ants crawl out of her ears daily, her parents say. Shreya's problem first started as an irritation in her ear in August last year, and when she visited her local hospital, doctors found the ants inside her ear canal.

So far, doctors have removed hundreds of ants, but despite trying 'everything' the problem persists and the ants continue to breed.

James Ibori Released From Prison, Re-Arrested

Former governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori has completed his prison terms in the United Kingdom. But he is yet to be a free man, as he was immediately re-arrested.

TheNEWS learnt that Ibori jailed 13 years in April 2012 by a Southwark Crown court in London was released by prison authorities on 22 January and then re-arrested again.

He was released from Her Majesty’s Prison in Bedford, outside of London, where he finished his prison term. “He is out of here”, a prison source at Bedford confirmed on Tuesday night.

Senator Enoh advocates for increase in federal universities’ school fees

Senator John Owan Enoh representing Cross River Central Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance has urged all Federal Universities in the nation to increase their school fees to enable them provide qualitative education instead of waiting for government to cater for everything they need.

He gave this charge on Wednesday at a joint budget Defence by the Senate Committee on TERTFUND and Tertiary Institutions which he is a member.

He submitted that it was high time Nigeria Universities braced up with the reality of inadequacy of funds to education.

Ex-FIFA Vice President Placed Under House Arrest

Former FIFA vice president Alfredo Hawit, charged in the corruption scandal gripping world football, has been placed under house arrest after posting $1 million bail.

The 64-year-old was extradited to the United States from Switzerland last month following his arrest on December 3. He denies the 12 charges against him, which include racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.

Pope Francis to appear in a Hollywood movie 'Beyond the sun' ,the Vatican confirms

Pope Francis is set to feature in a movie 'Beyond the Sun' which will make him officially the first Roman Catholic pope to play himself in a big screen production. The movie will be a family adventure story where children from different cultures emulate the apostles while searching for Christ in the world around them,according to AMBI Pictures,the makers of the film.

The idea for the film came from the Holy Father, who approached the filmmakers at AMBI Pictures, asking them to produce a movie that could effectively portray Gospel passages & parables to children

All proceeds from “Beyond the Sun” will go to El Almendro and Los Hogares de Cristo, charities in Argentina that provide support for at-risk children and young adults in need. AMBI pictures co-founder Andrea Iervolino said in a statement that working with the Holy Father will be a highlight of his career. “Our excitement and gratitude toward His Holiness, Pope Francis participating in this film is beyond words.

NIMASA paid me N905million for contracts I did not execute- witness

A witness in the ongoing trial of former NIMASA DG, Patrick Akpobolokemi and six others in a N2.3 billion fraud, yesterday told the court of how he received N905, 800, 000 from NIMASA for a contract he did not execute.

The witness according to Tribune, Uche Obilor who is the Managing Director of three companies, Ace Prosthesis Limited, Seabulk Offshore Limited and Southern Offshore Limited told the court that the money was paid into his companies’ two bank accounts even though he did not tender any proposal or carry out any contract for NIMASA.

The former NIMASA boss and six others namely Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited are standing trial before Justice Ibrahim Buba for N2.6 billion fraud. Obilor revealed that the sum of N437million was paid to Ace Prosthesis Limited, while N402 million was paid to Seabulk Offshore Limited and N66.8 million was paid to Southern Offshore Limited respectively.

INEC releases time table for rerun elections in 15 states

The Independent National Electoral Commission Tuesday released the time table for the rerun elections.

The elections which cut across 15 states of the federation, according to the electoral body will only involve political parties that participated in the last election with their respective candidates.

The elections are for the electoral issues that terminated at the Appeal Court.

Cameroon to use witchcraft in fight against Boko Haram

The president of Cameroon, Paul Biya has demanded that an aspect of witchcraft be integrated into the fight against Boko Haram sect.

Local chiefs in that country who were worried by the spate of attacks of the sect on the country had asked their president, Paul Biya, to give them the permission to use their witches and wizards to fight and destroy the bloodthirsty sect.