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National Judicial Council, NJC, has cleared Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court of any wrong doing in the judgments he delivered sacking governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. NJC also cleared the judge in the judgement he delivered in favour of the factional leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff, saying no proof of misconduct was found against the judgement. This was contained in letters obtained by National Mirror to Chief Oyedele M. Ibini with Ref no. NJC/F.3/FHC.44/V/131; Charles Esonu with Ref. No. NJC/F.3/FHC.44/v/129 and Emeka Eze with Ref.no.NJC/F.3/FHC.44/V/125 and finally to Chief Henry Balogun with Ref. No. NJC/F.3/FHC.44/v/127 all dated 18 October 2016. The documents revealed that Chief Henry Balogun of Henry Balogun and company had petitioned NJC that Justice Abang abused judicial powers and meted injustice to the PDP and Dr. Ikpeazu in the judgment he delivered in suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/71/2016 between Dr. Samson Okec...

High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in Jabi, Abuja, yesterday granted a request by the Federal government to arraign the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Ahmed Saleh, and two others on a nine-counts bordering on gratification and diversion of N2.2bn belonging to the apex court. Government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation had on November 3, 2016 charged Saleh alongside Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal, with the offences of receiving gratifications totalling N74.4m from private contractors providing services to the Supreme Court between 2009 and 2016. Although the arraignment of the defendants was scheduled for yesterday before Justice A.B Mohammed, however, neither the accused persons nor their lawyers were present in court. It was learnt that the defendants had yet to be served with the charges as of yesterday. The development forced the prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Hajara Yusuf to ask for an adjournment to enable the pr...

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged members of his cabinet to rededicate themselves to work in order earn the trust of Nigerians as the cabinet marks one year tomorrow (Friday). The cabinet was inaugurated by Buhari on Thursday, November 11 last year at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa where the ministers were also assigned portfolios. The President spoke at a session to mark one year of the inauguration of the cabinet. It would be recalled that Buhari inaugurated his cabinet six months after he took over power from former President Goodluck Jonathan on May 29 last year. The session held yesterday against backdrop of calls on Buhari to reshuffle or dissolve his cabinet over poor performance, particularly over the economic recession. Briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting of the council which lasted an hour, Minister of Mines and Steel Development Kayode Fayemi said FEC reviewed the progress level and performance of the ministers one year after inaugura...

The election of Donald Trump as President of the United States shocked the world yesterday, even though it portended a huge potential to reshape it. Leaders offered congratulations to either Trump or to the United States, but the distinctions in their messages were momentous. President Muhammadu Buhari and other world leaders have reacted to the surprise election of Donald Trump as the 45th U.S. President. President Buhari in a statement congratulated Trump, saying he looked forward to strengthening the already established friendly relations between both countries, including cooperation on many shared foreign policy priorities, such as the fight against terrorism, peace and security, economic growth, democracy and good governance. In his statement, President Jacob Zuma conveyed his best wishes on behalf of the government and the people of South Africa. Zuma also said he looked forward to working with Trump to build on the strong relations that existed between the two countries. Rus...

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will walk onto the pitch of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday on superior ground against the Desert Foxes of Algeria. There have been 17 clashes between both teams (all at competitive level), with Nigeria winning eight times, drawing three and losing six. And Nigeria captain, Mikel Obi, was less than three years old the last time Algeria defeated Nigeria, in the final of the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Algiers. Super Eagles’ current goalkeepers’ trainer, Aloysius Agu, was the Eagles’ goalkeeper and captain that day, March 16, 1990. It was a tough game at the July 5 Stadium in Algiers, but the Desert Foxes won their first (and still only) Africa title when Sherif Oudjani’s long range effort beat Agu for the only goal of the match. At that same competition, Algeria had beaten the Eagles 5-1 in the opening match. But the Eagles would remember that and pay back the Algerians when lashing their hosts 5-2 in Oran in a 2006 World Cup qua...

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is losing $5,400,000USD (about N2.16billion) Confederation of African Football (CAF) prize monies for Nigeria’s non-participation in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Gabon and the continental cadet championships. New prize monies for its elite tournaments released by CAF yesterday, show that winners of the 2017 AFCON in Gabon, will apart from lifting the trophy, pocket $4millionUSD as against the previous $1.5m prize money. Super Eagles were stopped by the Pharaohs of Egypt from landing in Gabon, after also failing to be at the AFCON finals in Equatorial Guinea in 2015, to defend Nigeria’s title won in 2013 in South Africa under late Coach Stephen Keshi. Similarly, an otherwise genial Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winning coach, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke, was carried away by his success and allowed his team to revolt on the eve of a crucial qualifier, thus Nigeria failed to qualify for the Africa U-20 Championship holding in Z...

Ilhan Omar became the US’ first Somali-American legislator, with victory in a House race in Minnesota. Omar came to the US while still a child, escaping Somalia’s civil war with her family and spending four years in a Kenyan refugee camp. The 34-year-old has made history by becoming the first Somali legislator in the United States. A former refugee, the Somaliborn activist has been elected to serve as an MP in the US state of Minnesota. The Muslim woman becomes the highest-ranking Somali elected to office in the US. Her election comes just days after US President-elect Donald Trump accused Somali immigrants in Minnesota of “spreading their extremist views”. Minnesota has the nation’s largest Somali communityabout 50, 000 according to the US census. Omar said she would be the “voice for the marginalised” in the state parliament. “I think I bring the voice of young people. I think I bring the voice of women in the East African community. I bring the voice of Muslims. I bring the voice ...

Reports last weekend said a  Kano Magistrate’s Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Jibrin Muhammad set free five suspected killers of a 74-year-old female Igbo trader, Mrs. Bridget Agbahime, at Kofar Wambai market in Kano for alleged blasphemy early in June this year. The magistrate’s decision was said to be based on the directive of the Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. The suspects – Dauda Ahmed, Abdulmumeen Mustafa, Zubairu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi – were arraigned on a four-count charge of allegedly inciting disturbance, culpable homicide, joint act and mischief. State counsel, Mr. Rabiu Yusuf, who represented the Kano Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, was quoted as saying: “We received the case diary from the police on June 8 and having gone through the case diary, the Attorney-General of the state evaluated the facts in accordance with sections 130 and 150 of the Criminal Procedure Code… The legal advice prese...

Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, on Wednesday appealed to Nigerians to support the anti-graft agency to move the country forward. Magu made the appeal when he unveiled 21 operational vehicles at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Magu said the vehicles, which included pick-up vans and buses, were provided by the Federal Government to enhance the schemecommission’s operations in the war against corruption. “They are operational vehicles supplied to us by the government to further aid our concerted efforts to rid Nigeria of economic and financial crimes.’’ He said 17 more vehicles would be received by the commission soon and expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the support. Magu said the vehicles would be distributed to the commission’s zonal offices nationwide.

House of Representatives has warned Nigerians to desist from investing in the Mavrodi Monrodi Moneybox scheme popularly known as MMM or risk loss of their funds. The call was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Saheed Akinade-Fajabi (Oyo-APC) at plenary on Wednesday in Abuja. Akinade-Fajabi, in the motion earlier, said the scheme was set up by three Russian nationals in 1989 and that clients were made to invest monies with the hope to make 30 per cent interest in 30 days. He said the structure and operations of the scheme indicated otherwise as clients could have multi-level structures under them and earn bonus. He said the scheme prided itself as a mutual fund through which recruited clients contributed money in form of assistance without any intent to engage in banking business. According to the lawmaker, the scheme entered Nigeria in 2016, capitalising on the high-level unemployment and poverty in the country to deceive and make Nigerians fall prey of their antics. ...

An official of European Union (EU), Mr John Clarke, has projected Nigeria to be an agricultural powerhouse within 10 years given the entrepreneurial spirit of the people and abundant land. Clarke, who is the director, International and Bilateral Relations of EU, made the prediction at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) International Investment Conference in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the conference was part of the activities marking the 30th Lagos International Trade Fair organised by the chamber slated for Nov. 4 to 13. Clarke said, “Positive policies geared toward attracting investment into the agricultural sector will make the projection a reality.” He said local and foreign investments in the sector would create a stable alternative to the pattern of economic migration. “Sadly, we see so many young people leaving the country; with the investment, Nigeria can produce foods for its own budding population, earn export through regional and global t...

Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO Plc, said it is cooperating fully with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, concerning the recently drug issues of some of its staff at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja. This is as the ground-handling agency insisted that it is not losing clients to a rival company as claimed in some quarters. Speaking with aviation correspondents yesterday at the company’s headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos, Managing Director of NAHCO, Mr. Norbert Bielderman, said the company has zero tolerance for all vices and criminal tendencies. It would be recalled that NDLEA had last week disclosed the arrest of four NAHCO staff over their involvement in an attempt to smuggle 144kgof ephedrine to Maputo, Mozambique. The NDLEA also said that the fifth suspect, Victor Ahenje, a Load Controller who was also linked with the crime was on the run. Bielderman explained that its recruitment process and background checks on ...

The general overseer and founder of The Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet Temitope Joshua, who prophesied that Hillary Clinton would win the US presidential election has removed the prediction from his Facebook account. TB Joshua had told his congregation on Sunday that he “saw” a woman winning. A section of that ‘prediction’ which was posted on his Facebook page is no longer available. It said, “Ten days ago, I saw the president of America with a narrow win… What I frankly saw was a woman.”

The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria to immediately go after the promoters Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox, otherwise known as ‘MMM’ in Nigeria. Lawmakers strongly opposed the investment scheme, which lately gained popularity among Nigerians in the wake of the current economic recession in the country. MMM promises 30 per cent return on investment for any money put into the scheme within 30 days. The investment scheme has a Russian origin and “involves directing clients to make money available for an anonymous person with a promise of 30 per cent return within one month.” But, members described the scheme as a “scam” and warned Nigerians not to be carried away by the “mouth-watering” returns on investments. Lawmakers warned that the “trick” used by the operators was to attract as many Nigerians as possible to invest substantial amounts of money before the bubble would burst. The House directed the EFCC...

Actor, Lawyer, Father and writer, Richard Mofe-Damijo releases a swag photo with few words of disappointment on Hilary Clinton not winning the election. Nevertheless the veteran actor still feels optimistic as he said to look forward. He wrote this on his page: "On a day I want to hang my head down in despair, I am reminded tomorrow is 10: 11: 16 and I smile, grateful that even though I will not be sending my daughters the letter I had drafted in anticipation of Mrs Clinton's victory at the polls, I have something to look forward to. I'm still entertaining guesses and No, it's not my birthday or wedding anniversary so be more creative with your guesses. #RMDIsReady  #101116  #10Oclock  #GetReady #TenElevenSixteen"

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the President-Elect of the United States of America, Mr. Donald Trump on his victory at the polls. The president also congratulated US citizens on the outcome of the election. In a statement by the presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, president Buhari stated that he looked forward to working with Trump in many areas which included cooperation on many shared foreign policy priorities, such as the fight against terrorism, peace and security, economic growth, democracy and good governance. “On behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates President-elect Donald Trump on his victory in the United States presidential election. “President Buhari also congratulates American citizens on the outcome of the election, which was keenly observed by all true lovers of democracy and those who believe in the will of the people. “The President looks forward to working together with Pre...

Sergio Aguero admits Lionel Messi was “furious” after Barcelona were beaten by Manchester City, but denied that Fernandinho was involved in any tunnel bust-up. It was claimed in the hours after City’s 3-1 Champions League victory last week that an unnamed player provoked Messi as he made his way off the pitch, which led to the Argentine storming towards the home dressing room. It was later suggested by Brazilian media that Fernandinho was the player in question, while Spanish reports pointed the finger at City coach Mikel Arteta. Pep Guardiola later said it was “impossible” that either Arteta or Fernandinho could have been the guilty parties, while Fernandinho himself denied the claims on Twitter. Aguero, one of Messi’s closest friends, admits that something had flustered the Barcelona No.10, but did not say who, if anybody, was responsible. Nothing happened. It was one of those things between players, but with nobody in particular" he told ESPN Radio FC. "Leo, obviously ...

Unlike the female counterpart, it is easier to cool an angry husband, you don't need to go on 50days dry fasting because the weapon to cool them lies within you the wife. Men are just one funny being created to make life easier for women. If you want to cool him just do one or all of these: 1. Prepare to tell him how much he means to you: Women love sweet words, so as men. No matter how angry a man can be a woman can make him come back to who he used to be through making him know how important his happiness means to her and his home. You must be ready to treat him like a child especially if you are the cause of the anger. You need to allow him be alone for a while before you go to him with mindset to restore life into him, of course, if you cannot make him happy, who will? 2. Prepare the table with his best meal: To win a man you must be ready to make his stomach yarn for the produce of your hands from the kitchen. Even if he doesn't like heavy food, once you known the best o...

British Prime Minister Theresa May congratulated Donald Trump Wednesday on his US presidential election victory, pledging to build on the two countries’ “special relationship” in the years to come. “Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. We are, and will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defence,” she said in a statement.

Hillary Clinton vowed Wednesday to work with American President-elect Donald Trump, and urged fellow Democrats to allow him the chance to lead the deeply divided country. “Last night, I congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of our country,” the defeated candidate told supporters, holding back tears in her first public remarks since the Republican’s upset victory. “I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans.” “We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought,” she said. “We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead.”

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has restated its determination to resist any increase in the price of petroleum products in the country. The President of NUPENG, Mr. Achese Igwe, said that the union was partnering with the Indepedent Petroleum Marketers Association and other stakeholders in the sector to prevent scarcity and increase in the price of the products Igwe made the comment while speaking with journalists shortly after the opening ceremony of the of the 2016 NUPENG National Education Seminar in Abuja on Wednesday. He said, “I would say there is no increment for now, N145 is the price. We have said clearly that any increment would be resisted by us. “It is a rumor for now, that is why we are also working very hard to partner with IMPAN and all necessary stakeholders in the depot environment and depot community to see that scarcity of petroleum products is abated, and also the issue of fuel price increase is also abated.” Igwe who also commented on the ...

President Muhammadu Buhari got a unique gift of a goat during his just-concluded two-day official visit to Edo State. The goat was said to have been presented to Buhari by an elderly lady, Egbon Grace, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress in Ward 7, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. A government official told journalists on the condition of anonymity on Wednesday that the lady said she had longed to meet the President to show her admiration for “his selfless lifestyle and passion to liberate the masses.” The official said opportunity came for the lady on Monday when Buhari inaugurated the ultra-modern Samuel Ogbemudia College in Benin City. “Lady Grace braced the odds and came all the way with her surprise gift to Mr. President which she had kept in waiting for the special occasion. “She tore through the thick crowd, making her way straight to the President who at the time had finished the official engagement and was heading for his waiting car. “Many in the cro...

President Barrack Obama has said on Wednesday that he will ensure a smooth transition of power to President-elect, Donald Trump. Earlier, Obama had called Trump to congratulate him on his victory and invited him to meet at the White House on Thursday. During his speech at the White House, the United States President said the differences between Trump and him will not affect the transfer of power. “It is no secret that the president-elect and I have some pretty significant differences. But remember that eight years ago, President Bush and I had some pretty significant differences.. “The presidency and vice presidency are bigger than any of us. “We are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading this country. The peaceful transfer of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.” Obama also described Hillary Clinton’s candidacy as historic. “I could not be prouder of her… I am proud of her. A lot of Americans look up to her… Her candidacy and nomination were historic.. “Ev...

French President Francois Hollande, who once said Donald Trump made him want to retch, warned Wednesday that the Republican billionaire’s stunning victory in the US election “opens a period of uncertainty.” In a televised address, Hollande underlined that the United States was a key partner for business, for solving wars in the Middle East and tackling global warming — something Trump has dismissed as a hoax. “This American election opens a period of uncertainty,” he said in a statement that offered only brief congratulations to the Republican billionaire. As well as France keeping up its global role, “this context calls for a united Europe, capable of making itself heard and of promoting policies wherever its interests or its values are challenged,” he said. Hollande, who has disastrous approval ratings ahead of France’s presidential election next year, has been an outspoken critic of Trump and in October had predicted a victory for Hillary Clinton. In the wake of a feud between the...

A top London-based newspaper, African Voice, has honoured a member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, with African Voice Leadership in Legislative Governance Awards 2016 for his commitment to legislative duties and fight against corruption in Nigeria.      

A top London-based newspaper, African Voice, has honoured a member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, with African Voice Leadership in Legislative Governance Awards 2016 for his commitment to legislative duties and fight against corruption in Nigeria. Mr. Jibrin was recently suspended by the House of Representatives for accusing Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun, Chief Whip Alhassan Doguwa, Minority Leader Leo Ogor and a few other members of monumental fraud in the 2016 budget. In a letter signed by the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Mike Abiola, the paper described Mr. Jibrin as a deserving recipient of the award. "The African Voice Leadership in Governance Awards recognises African leaders who have shown dedication to developing their State/countries, by demonstrating exemplary leadership." "The attention of the international community has been drawn to your commitment to the people of Nigeria and Kano State in particul...

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday blamed the harsh economic situation currently faced by Nigerians on the mistakes the country made in the past. Buhari noted that though the country was blessed with numerous resources, it allowed herself to be confined to a mono economy by paying too much attention on petroleum to the detriment of viable cash crops like cocoa, groundnut, palm oil, palm kernel and hides and skin. The President spoke shortly after inaugurating the Edo University, Iyamho in the Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State as part of his two-day official visit to the state. He also took a tour of the facilities, including the administrative complex and the Faculty of Science building of the institution, which are named after him. He was accompanied by Governor Adams Oshiomhole; his Lagos State counterpart, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode; the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; the Governor-elect, Edo State, Godwin Obaseki; and officia...

There were strong indications on Tuesday that the Nigerian Army High Command was making arrangement to probe the death of the Commander of the 272 Special Forces Tanks Battalion, Lt. Col. Muhammad Abu-Ali, and six of his men in a Boko Haram attack at Mallam Fatori on November 4, 2016. Abu-Ali, described as exceptionally brave and efficient Army commander and labelled by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen, Tukur Buratai, as the ‘Sarkin Yakin, (the frontline general’), and the six others were buried amid tears in Abuja on Monday. The six military men were Sgt. Mu’Azu Ibrahim, Sgt. Hussain Jafaru, Sgt. Bassey Okon, Cpl. Chukwu Simon, Able Seaman Patrick Paul and Prt. Salisu Lawal. It was gathered that Buratai, who struggled with tears to read a funeral oration for the fallen warriors, had told his men that the circumstances surrounding the death of the soldiers would be probed. The Army chief was quoted as having said there was no place for saboteurs in the Army under his leadership. Burat...

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 30-year old woman, Peace Chukwuemeka, for stealing a month-old baby from her mother. It was alleged that Chukwuemeka drugged the mother of the baby before stealing the child. The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Murtala Mani, said this while speaking with journalists on the activities of the command in Uyo on Tuesday. Mani, who spoke through the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Cordelia Nwawe, stated that the suspect lived in the same compound with the mother of the baby at Mbak Itam in Itu Local Government Area. He added that the family unit of the command, acting on intelligence, rescued the baby and handed it over to the mother. “Let us say clearly that in the month of November, the Acid Section through the Family Unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Akwa Ibom was able to record a great feat by bringing back a one-month-and-some-few-days-old baby to her mother in Akwa Ibom. “The suspected woman, who has been m...

Senate has stepped down the second reading of three bills on cattle rearing in the country. They are ‘A Bill for An Act to Provide for the Establishment of Grazing Areas Management Agency and For Other Related Matters 2016’ sponsored by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano-Central) and ‘A Bill for An Act to Provide for the Establishment of National Ranches Commission for the Regulation, Management, Preservation and Control of Ranches and for Connected Purposes 2016 sponsored by Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North-East). The third is ‘A Bill for An Act to Control the Keeping and Movement of Cattle in Nigeria and for Other Related Matters Thereto 2016’ sponsored by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu-North). The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who raised a point of order when the lawmakers began to treat the bills during Wednesday’s plenary, pointed out that the Senate lacked the powers to deal with matters that are on the Concurrent List, except on the Exclusive List. Th...

Share markets plunged Wednesday and the dollar tumbled against the yen and the euro as Donald Trump was elected US president, in a stunning upset with major implications for the world economy. The Mexican peso also fell to a record low as safe-haven assets soared, with gold rising more than five percent and German government bonds rallying. Fears about the impact on financial markets led Japanese and South Korean authorities to call crisis talks. Initial confidence that market favourite Hillary Clinton would win vanished as results showed the firebrand tycoon picking up the major scalps needed to take the White House. After he won a swathe of states, Clinton called Trump to concede, handing him the keys to the White House. Markets have been plunged into turmoil as Clinton was considered by many investors to be a safer bet than Trump, who is seen as a loose cannon with policies many fear could wreck the world’s number-one economy. “It’s been a bloodbath in the markets over the last ...

Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett said Wednesday the idea of a Palestinian state was over after Donald Trump’s election as US president, calling for an end to what has been the basis of years of negotiations. “Trump’s victory is an opportunity for Israel to immediately retract the notion of a Palestinian state in the centre of the country, which would hurt our security and just cause,” Bennett, who heads the hardline Jewish Home party, said in an apparent reference to the occupied West Bank. “This is the position of the president-elect … The era of a Palestinian state is over.” Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, also of Jewish Home, called on Trump to follow through on his promise to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in a break with the consistent policy of successive administrations, Republican as well as Democrat. Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely, from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party, also called for the embassy to be moved, as...