NDLEA Busts Major Methamphetamine Lab In Delta State, Arrests Four Mexicans, Four Nigerians

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a huge methamphetamine-making laboratory in Asaba, the capital of Delta State. Officials of the agency’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) also busted the masterminds of the major drug trafficking organization when they arrested eight suspects, four of them Mexican nationals, four Nigerians. The NDLEA stated that the suspects behind the syndicate were arrested in simultaneous operations in Lagos, Obosi, a town near Onitsha in Anambra State, and at the location of the lab in Asaba.

A statement by the agency, signed by Ofoyeju Mitchell, disclosed that the methamphetamine laboratory resembled those found in Mexico. It was the first lab of its kind to be discovered in Nigeria, the agency said.

Lai Mohammed – I Never Said Nigeria’s Economy Was Beyond Control

The Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that he never said that Nigeria’s economy was beyond the control of the president.

Lai in a statement by Segun Adeyemi his Speacial Assistant said he views while speaking on a radio show on Saturday was misrepresented and twisted and that he never said that the Nigerian economy had gone out of the control of the current administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister further enjoined Nigerians to disregard such distortion and continue to support President Buhari as his administration is on the move to take Nigeria out of the woods. The statement read thus On Saturday morning, I appeared on a Radio show here in Abuja at which I spoke extensively on the issues affecting our country, especially the economy To my surprise, my views were twisted and I was reported to have said that the economy of our country is beyond the control of the President. 

Ocholi’s Driver Does Not Have Driving Licence, FRSC Insists

The Federal Road Safety Commission is insisting that the late Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Mr. James Ocholi’s driver had no driving licence record with the commission.

Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr Bisi Kazeem, said this on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, in Abuja.

According to him, the news making the rounds in the social media that Mr Taiwo Elegbede, driver of the ill-fated vehicle that claimed the lives of Ocholi and his family members has a driving licence is not true.

Buhari Mourns Felix Ibru

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said he received with sadness, news of the death of the first civilian governor of Delta State, Chief Felix Ibru.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President, on behalf of the Federal Government, extended condolences to the bereaved family, the Urhobos who the deceased led for several years as President-General of the Urhobo Progressive Union, the people of Delta State and Ibru’s friends and associates across Nigeria.

Rerun Elections: IGP Orders AIG, 3 CPs to Relocate to Rivers State

In furtherance of strategies designed to prevent electoral violence and ensure a smooth conduct of the Rivers State Supplementary elections slated for Saturday, 19th March, 2016, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon E. Arase, has directed the AIG in charge of Zone 6 Calabar, AIG Adisa Baba Bolanta to relocate to Port Harcourt on Monday for pre-elections preparations with a view to ensure conducive environment for free, fair and credible election.

The IGP, while disclosing that three Commissioners of Police have been deployed to supervise security arrangements within the three Senatorial Districts – Rivers East, Rivers West and Rivers South East, respectively, stated that 6000 conventional Policemen and 14 Units of Police Mobile Force personnel (MOPOL), would be deployed to compliment the personnel of Rivers State Command during the election.

Police Arrest Five Suspected Cultists, Two Armed Robbers in Kwara

Kwara state police command at the weekend arrested five suspected cultists and two people alleged to be armed robbers that had been terrorising the residents of the state.

Parading the suspected cultists and armed robbers before journalists in Ilorin, the state police commissioner, Mr. Sam Okuala, said that the affected suspects were arrested at their hideout at Oyun area of Ilorin, the state capital, following a tip-off.

DPR Seals NNPC Filling Station in Akwa Ibom For Hoarding Fuel

The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, in Akwa Ibom, said it sealed the NNPC mega filling station in Uyo, for allegedly hoarding petrol.

The Controller (Operations) in charge of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, Bassey Nkanga, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Eket on Sunday that the mega station had amassed the product in its storage tanks, but refused to sell it to members of the public.

Mr. Nkanga, however, said that although the state was experiencing shortage of the product, the situation was not peculiar to the area.

Nigerian Workers Call Off Protests Over National Oil Firm Split

Unions of oil workers in Nigeria on Thursday called off nationwide protests, which stalled operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) after government announced to restructure the state-run oil firm Tuesday.

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which led the protests, decided to end the industrial action after a nightlong meeting with Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Minister for Petroleum Resources and NNPC Group Managing Director, on Wednesday.

Odudu Benjamin Udofia, a union leader in Abuja, confirmed the development to Xinhua.

Markets to Be Shut as 41st Olubadan Gets Staff of Office Today

Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, will today at Mapo Hall arcade in Ibadan, present instruments of office to the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Olasupo Adetunji. Balogun of Ibadanland, who was born on August 26, 1928, is by the order of ranking to the royal stool, the highest ranked high chief to succeed the late Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, Odugade I, who died on January 19 this year. Meanwhile, Oyo State Market Leaders Advisory Council has directed that all markets in the 11 local government areas of Ibadanland be shut on Friday, in honour of the coronation ceremony of Adetunji.

NIS Scam: Court Grants Abba Moro Bail on Self-Recognition

Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday admitted bail to former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, on self recognition.

Moro was arraigned on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside a former Director in the ministry, F.O. Alayebami, and former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, on an 11-count charge bordering on complicity in a N676 million immigration recruitment scam.

Oscar Pistorius Faces at Least 15 Years in Jail After Murder Appeal Denied

Oscar Pistorius, convicted of killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been denied leave to appeal.

South Africa’s Constitutional Court on Thursday rejected Olympian Oscar Pisitorius the right to appeal against his conviction for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, television news channel ENCA reported.

The news station said that the highest court in the country ruled that Pistorius had no reasonable grounds of success on his appeal.

His lawyer confirmed the highest court had dismissed his appeal of murder conviction.

Pistorius now faces a possible minimum 15-year jail sentence for the murder of his girlfriend.

Boyfriend Secretly Married Another Woman While His Girlfriend Was in Labour

A new father committed the worst betrayal – as he married another woman while his girlfriend gave birth.

Heather McGillion, aged 24, was in hospital going through complications with her pregnancy, thousands of miles from boyfriend Adonis Rodriguez.

The two met as entertainers for tourists in the Dominican Republic and were excitedly planning their future together after spending more than a year as a couple.

Umahi’s Brother Crowned King

Chief Larz Umahi Nweze, eldest brother of Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, has been crowned king of Uburu, a community in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

Many dignitaries, including those from outside the state, attended his coronation which took place at the village square. The celebrities who turned up for the event included traditional rulers from other autonomous communities in the state, state and federal lawmakers, commissioners, council chiefs, business executives, among others. Chief Umahi is now called Eze Adu III.

FG to Split NNPC into 30 Firms Next Week

The Federal Government will next week announce a major overhaul of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as well as the firm’s unbundling into 30 different companies, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said.

According to him, the government has started resolving the governance issues in the oil and gas sector, adding that an overhaul had not happened at the corporation in the past 20 years.

CBN – $20bn Idle in Nigerians’ Domiciliary Accounts

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Thursday raised the alarm that about $20bn (N3.94tn) was lying idle in different domiciliary accounts of the citizens.

The Deputy Governor, Financial System Surveillance, CBN, Dr. Joseph Nnana, stated this during a meeting of the Joint Appropriation Committees of the National Assembly with government officials on the 2016 budget.

Nnana said, “Distinguished chairman sir, we have $20bn lying idle in various domiciliary accounts of many customers at the various banks across the country.

Bloody Clashes in Lagos, Ambode Declares Curfew

Bloody clashes in the Mile 12, Ketu area of Lagos State on Thursday left no fewer than 10 persons dead and about 100 others injured.

Among the dead were two schoolchildren, traders, artisans and residents.

A two-year-old boy, Andrew Daniel, was abducted by some hoodlums and taken away after his father, Igba, was attacked with machetes and left for the dead.

VIDEO: Mile 12 Market Clash

No fewer than four persons were feared dead and on Thursday  after violence erupted at Agiliti area, near popular Mile 12 market in Lagos.

Bello Seeks Court’s Permission for Medical Treatment Abroad

A former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees,  Haliru Mohammed Bello, has applied to the Federal High Court in Abuja for permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

However, he did not disclose the nature of his ailment in the application filed by his lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN.

The ex-minister, his son, Abbah and their company, BAM Projects Limited are arraigned on a four-count charge of money laundering.

Fulani Community – LeaderAgatu People Triggered Crisis by Killing 10,000 of Our Cattle

The Fulani community in Benue State, accused of killing hundreds in Agatu in Benue State, said Thursday that the crisis started after 10,000 of cattle belonging to its members were killed by Agatu natives.

Ado Boderi, who spoke on behalf of the Fulani community on Thursday, during a meeting between Agatu community, Fulani community and Police Inspector General Solomon Arase, said criminal elements from both sides escalated the crisis despite the quick intervention of the governor.

He said that Fulani herdsmen were a peace-loving people, whose main concern was the problem of cattle rustling.

DSS Arrests Victor Umeh For Sponsoring MASSOB, IPOB

The Department of State Services, DSS, has arrested Sir Victor Umeh.

Daily Post reports that Umeh was picked up at his Enugu residence Thursday afternoon.

Umeh, a former chairman of APGA is the party’s candidate for the postponed Anambra Central Senatorial District re-run election.

Diezani Alison-Madueke Shuns Committee Investigating Crude Oil Swap

The immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Wednesday failed to appear before the ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives investigating the crude oil swap contracts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

The former minister neither appeared in person nor sent a representative to the hearing of the committee, which is chaired by an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Kwara State, Mr. Zakari Mohammed.

Albino Hunters on The Prowl in Malawi

Criminal gangs nicknamed "albino hunters" and armed with machetes, knives and axes are striking fear into people living with albinism in Malawi, abducting and often killing their victims in broad daylight and in the dead of night, prompting police to announce a shoot-to-kill policy.

The latest victim of the brutal attacks is a nine-year old boy with albinism from Malawi's eastern district of Machinga. His mother Edna Cedrick tried to rescue her son when two attackers abducted him last Friday.

UK Promises to Ensure Peaceful Polls in Ghana

The United Kingdom is putting in efforts to ensure peaceful polls in Ghana though it remains “entirely and completely neutral”, the British High Commissioner has said.

According to Jon Benjamin, his country will be happy to offer any contribution that will ensure violence-free elections.

Mr Benjamin made this known on Tuesday, March 1 when he met leadership of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) at the national headquarters in Accra.

Demuren Faults Nigeria, Qatar Air Services Pact

A former Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, has faulted the recent Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed by the Federal Government with the State of Qatar.

NAN reports that Demuren made the remark on Wednesday, while speaking at the Quarter One 2016 Breakfast Meeting of the Aviation Round Table (ART) in Lagos.

NAN reports that the BASA was signed by the Minister of State for Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, on the sidelines of President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent state visit to Qatar.

Dangote/Black Rhino Group to Construct Power Plants in Kano

Blackstone and Dangote Industries, Wednesday in Kano announced a commitment by Black Rhino, a portfolio company of Blackstone Energy Partners to jointly invest up to $10 billion in energy infrastructure projects in the state and across East-South Nigeria, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy, transmission and pipeline projects.

The chairman of Black Rhino Group and Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, explained that his group and Dangote Industries would contribute $5 billion each for the construction of a coal power plant and a solar energy project in Kano, as well as gas pipeline project from Akwa Ibon to South west Nigeria, where Dangote Industries are concentrated.

MTN Profit Plunges 51% Amid Nigeria Fine

Africa’s biggest mobile network MTN Group  has recorded a 51% drop in full year profit as the company has set aside R9.29bn for its record multi-billion Nigerian fine.

MTN, in its annual financial 2015 results announcement on Thursday morning, said that its reported basic headline earnings per share (HEPS) declined by 51.4% to 746 cents.

The company said this drop was “largely a result of the Nigerian regulatory fine provision (R9.29bn), which had a 402 cents negative impact on HEPS”.

APC – Fayose Lied, He’s not Spending N210m Monthly on Streetlights

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has slammed Governor Ayodele Fayose over his streetlight fuel supply cost claim.

It said the governor was deliberately inflating the figure while spending less on public light supply to short-change the state.

APC’s said its alarm came on the heels of increasing wave of criminal activities under the cover of the night in the state capital, adding that the governor’s claim of spending N210m a month to power streetlights was a ploy to allegedly defraud the state.

Shiites Deny Planning to Launch Mass Attack Across Nigeria

Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, has reacted to reports that it plans to wreak havoc nationwide.

A statement signed by Ibrahim Musa, President, Media Forum of the Islamic Movement, said the stories alleged that Shiites under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky were planning a revenge mission for the killings done to them by the army in Zaria.

“The story was predicated on an extracted part of a speech by a member of the Islamic Movement in Kano, which was taken out of context,” it said.

Detained ex-Defence Chief Alex Badeh Cries out, Says he’s Being “Persecuted”

Nigeria’s former defence chief, Alex Badeh, has denied allegations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, that he was involved in stealing money meant for purchase of arms, describing his current detention by the EFCC as “persecution”.

 

Mr. Badeh, a former Air Chief Marshal, who has been detained by the EFCC for more than three weeks, said in a statement Thursday that he was being subjected to “media trial” for no just cause.

Mr. Badeh said despite his repeated assurances to the EFCC that he would fully cooperate with any investigations, he was being treated unfairly and his rights were violated by a country he fought so hard to defend against Boko Haram.

Country's Electricity Output in Sharp Fall to 2,800MW - Regulator

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said that power supply through the national grid which peaked to 5000mw in past two weeks had dropped below 2,800mw due to vandalism.

Anthony Akah, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the commission disclosed this while signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Consumer Protection Council (CPC).