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US President Donald Trump's one-time campaign chairman secretly worked for a Russian billionaire to assist President Vladimir Putin, the Associated Press (AP) news agency reports. Paul Manafort is said to have proposed a strategy to nullify anti-Russian opposition across former Soviet republics a decade ago. AP says documents and interviews support its claims about Mr Manafort. Mr Manafort has insisted that he never worked for Russian interests. He worked as Mr Trump's unpaid campaign chairman from March until August last year, including the period during which the flamboyant New York billionaire clinched the Republican nomination. He resigned after AP revealed that he had co-ordinated a secret Washington lobbying operation on behalf of Ukraine's ruling pro-Russian political party until 2014. Newly obtained business records link Mr Manafort more directly to Mr Putin's interests in the region, AP says. Donald Trump unpaid Campaign Chairman It ...

Tola Akinmutimi The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has decried the slow pace of implementation of the Federal Government’s Short and Medium Term Priorities to grow Nigeria’s Oil & Gas Industry 2015–2019, labelled the “7 Big Wins”. In a statement issued on Monday by the CSO's Executive Director,Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) the group recalled that in October 2016, the document was released by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and launched by the President with much fanfare and media hype. Musa stated the civil society group had then commended the government while also cautioning it on the need to ensure that it does not become another beautiful document that would not be implemented. He pointed out that CISLAC had observed now that already there were indications of a lag in implementation. Specifically, the group stated that for instance, under the first Big Win, Policy and Regulation, the section on Fiscal Reform Policy proposes to collab...

An aircraft cabin ban on large electronic devices was prompted by intelligence suggesting a terror threat to US-bound flights, say US media. The US and UK have announced new carry-on restrictions banning laptops on certain passenger flights. The so-called Islamic State group (IS) has been working on ways to smuggle explosives on to planes by hiding them in electronics, US sources tell ABC. The tip-off was judged by the US to be "substantiated" and "credible". Inbound flights on nine airlines operating out of 10 airports in eight countries are subject to the US Department of Homeland Security ban. Phones and medical devices are not affected. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is hosting a two-day meeting of ministers and senior officials from 68 nations to discuss the threat from IS. The Washington talks will be the first full meeting of the coalition since December 2014. What is the meeting about? By Barbara Plett-Usher, US State D...

The International Monetary Fund board is expected to meet shortly to discuss the implications of the guilty verdict against IMF chief Christine Lagarde in a French court, a spokesman for the organisation said Monday. “The Executive Board has met on previous occasions to consider developments related to the legal proceedings in France. It is expected that the Board will meet again shortly to consider the most recent developments,” fund spokesman Gerry Rice said in a statement. A source confirmed to AFP the board meeting will take place on Monday, after a French court found Lagarde guilty of negligence over a massive payout to a tycoon while she was finance minister, but she will not be fined or face prison. Lagarde was put on trial over her 2007 decision to allow a dispute over sale of the Adidas sports brand to the state-owned Credit Lyonnais bank to be resolved by a private arbitration panel, and then failing to challenge the result. The court cleared her of negligence over her d...

Two female suicide bombers died in a failed attempt to invade Maiduguri. According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Borno Police Command, Victor Isuku, the suicide bombers were halted at the outskirt of Maiduguri. Isuku, in a text message, stated that: “At About 2030hrs yesterday (Sunday), two female suicide bombers were halted to stop for routine check at Geleri village which is about 5km to Muna Garage, an outskirt of Maiduguri. “One of the suicide bombers detonated the IED strapped to her body killing her and her accomplice whose IED vest did not explode. Three residents of the area were however injured. “The command’s EOD unit rushed to the scene to render the unexploded IED safe. The area has been secured and normalcy restored.”

The acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has said appointing more judges or increasing the number of courtrooms are not the solutions to the problem of delayed justice dispensation in the country. The acting CJN said the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court would  remain congested so long as the number of appeals proceeding there from the high courts was not regulated. Justice Onnoghen also argued that it was erroneous to believe that delay at the Supreme Court was as a result of not having up to 21 Justices prescribed by the constitution. He noted hat even the United States of America, with a higher population, had only nine Supreme Court Justices. He argued that the current 17 Justices on the Supreme Court bench were just enough for the country, if the number of appeals proceeding to the appellate and apex courts was regulated. Justice Onnoghen made this argument on Monday in Lagos while inaugurating the newly refurbished building of the Lagos Division o...

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, has said the congress would do all things to preserve the unity of the Labour movement in the country. He also said the NLC was sticking to a proposal of N56,000 minimum wage it made to the Federal Government. NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba made the comment while reacting to the formation of a new Labour centre known as the United Labour Congress by some top Labour leaders in Lagos on Saturday. Those behind the formation of the new centre unanimously elected the General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, Mr. Joe Ajaero and the President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Achese Igwe as President and Deputy President respectively. Listed among the breakaway affiliates of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress are NUPENG, NUEE, Nigeria Union of Mine Workers, National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Employees, Nigeria Union of Rail Workers, National Union of Lottery Agents...

The debut of the Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox (MMM) in Kenya and Ghana, approximately 48 hours after its activities in Nigeria were suspended for a month, has caused increased panic among Nigerian MMM participants. Sergey Mavrodi Chiamaka Ugorji, the wife of Chuddy Ugorji, a leading MMM Nigeria promoter, attempted to calm nerves by writing an open letter to participants, but this failed to reassure Nigerians that their investments were safe. Some individuals, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, shared their thoughts on the issue. A civil servant, Charity Okafor, said “I participated in the scheme twice by investing N500,000 and one million naira respectively and I got my money back with the large interest. “However, I felt I should not participate in the scheme any longer and I am lucky I had people around me who convinced me not to reinvest. “I know I would have turned into a crazy woman if I had money there during this suspension,” Okafor said. Ebube O...

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday hosted hundreds of his guests, including President of Guinea Conakry, Alpha Conde, to a warm reception after giving out his daughter, Zahra, in marriage to Ahmed Indimi. The reception, which took place at the Presidential Banquet hall, was also attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate,  Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and many State Governors. Others at the reception included Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, Alhaji Bola Tinubu, Aliko Dangote, Femi Otadola, Chief Arthur Eze, Chief Bisi Akande and many others from across the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo delivered a vote of thanks at the event. In an interview with newsmen after the reception, Tinubu, an APC chieftain, congratulated President Buhari for organising a successful wedding for his daughter, and wished the couple a happy ...

The Nigeria Security and Civil  Defence Corps ( NSCDC)  has deployed  no fewer  than 2,000 personnel to provide security during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year festivities in Niger. Mr Philip Ayuba, the commandant of the corps in the state, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna, capital of Niger on Monday. He said that plain-cloth security personnel had been deployed in all motor parks, public buildings and recreational centres to gather intelligence reports that would strengthen security situation in the state. The commandant assured the residents of the state that the security measures already in place would guarantee peaceful atmosphere during the celebrations. “We have adopted various forms of security strategies that will guarantee peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the celebrations, “ he said. Ayuba said that specialised units involved in crime management had been deployed in identified areas inside and outside the sta...

Against the backdrop of incessant killings in the southern part of Kaduna state, youths in the area have staged a peaceful protest to draw attention to their plight. The protest was staged on Monday morning in Kafanchan towards having a speedy and lasting solution to the killings. The spokesman of the youths, Mr Nathan Chaweson, said the killing continued even with the presence of security operatives at flashpoints of the state. Chaweson called on the government to ensure the security of the people and bring perpetrators to book to serve as deterrent. “We are pushed to the wall to question the government in what has been happening,” he said. The youths who turned out in their numbers carried leaves and placards with varying inscriptions, chanting “we no go gree” slogan. The Kaduna State House of Assembly had in October constituted a fact-finding committee to immediately ascertain and report back to the House the incessant attacks on the people of Southern Kaduna by suspected Fulani h...

The World Health Organisation for the Western Pacific launched on Monday a new tool to protect children from unhealthy food and drink that cause obesity and other serious health problems. The tool, called the regional profile model, would help governments and policy-makers to more easily identify food and non-alcoholic beverages that should not be marketed to children. “Nutrient profiles rank foods by their nutritional composition. “As such, they are critical tools for the implementation of restrictions on the marketing of food and beverages to children,’’ the WHO said in a statement.” Across the Western Pacific Region, the WHO said marketers of unhealthy food and beverages targeted children. These food and beverages are high in calories, saturated and Tran’s fats, salt and sugar, the consumption of which are driving exploding rates for obesity and other health problems in many countries across the region. “Children are constantly bombarded with clever marketing campaigns that use ...

A 101-year-old paedophile has been jailed for 13 years for committing a string of sex offences against young children in the 1970s and 1980s. Retired haulier Ralph Clarke is believed to be the oldest person ever convicted by a jury in Britain. He was convicted of 17 offences of indecent assault, 11 of indecency with a child and two attempted serious sexual assaults. Clarke pleaded guilty to nine offences relating to a male victim part-way through a two-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court. Judge: "You have no remorse whatsoever" Judge Richard Bond QC told the pensioner his offending against three vulnerable children, one as young as four, had been "repeated and sustained" over many years. He also said the victims had been "powerless" to stop the former RAF serviceman, who would threaten and beat those who defied him. "One of your victims remembers you as a nasty man, free with your fists, and he would get belted by you," Mr Bond said.     You p...

England have been fined 45,000 Swiss francs for several breaches of Fifa's rules about displaying political symbols, the sport's governing body have confirmed. The national team wore poppies on black armbands during their match with Scotland, despite being warned not to by Fifa, costing the Football Association just over £35,000. Prior to kick-off, both teams participated in a minute's silence and members of the armed forces lay wreaths. The Scottish Football Association and the Football Association of Wales have each been fined 20,000 Swiss francs (£15,692) and the Irish Football Association 15,000 Swiss francs (£11,769) for similar offences All of the associations were warned by to the World Cup qualifiers that they would be punished if they chose to ignore Fifa's regulations on the matter.     England has been fined CHF 45,000 for several incidents in the framework of the England v Scotland match, including the display by the host association, the English team and s...

Dozens of children who were trapped in an orphanage in the rebel-held enclave of east Aleppo have been evacuated, UNICEF said. Geert Cappelaere, regional director for the United Nation’s Children’s Fund, said: “This morning, all 47 children trapped in an orphanage in east Aleppo were evacuated to safety, with some in critical condition from injuries and dehydration.” He said UNICEF and other agencies were assisting in reuniting other evacuated children with their families, and giving them winter clothes and medical care. The evacuation of eastern Aleppo is “back on”, a UN official has told Reuters. A convoy of busses carrying evacuees from eastern Aleppo arrived at the town of al-Rashideen on Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Among the latest to be evacuated was seven-year-old Bana al-Abed, who gained more than 300,000 followers after tweeting about her ordeal in Aleppo. Tens of thousands of civilians desperate to leave east Aleppo were left stranded for 48 hours ...

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has appealed to the media to support the campaign on essential family practices initiated by the agency in partnership with UNICEF. Mr. Zubairu Galadima, NOA Director in Kaduna State, made the appeal in Zaria at the opening of a four-day review meeting on the programme, organised for media executives on Monday. He said that the campaign was to encourage families access vital healthcare services and adopt best sanitation habits to enhance their wellbeing. Galadima noted that the media had so far, contributed immensely in sensitising the public on vital health issues including access to antenatal services, HIV/AIDS care and safe sanitation practices. He however said that the efforts must be strengthened through the development of essential media content to reach more people at the grassroots. The director stressed that as the building blocks of the society, the media must make it a apart of their social responsibility to enlighten the public and ...

Bureau De Change Operators in Sokoto State have appealed to the federal government to provide special intervention funds to manufacturers. The Chairman of the Operators, Alhaji Aliyu Sahabi, said the funds would greatly help in reviving the collapsed local industries. ‘’The revival of local industries is key to finding plausible solutions to the current recession hitting Nigeria hard.’’ Sahabi said the revival of the industries would reduce poverty, unemployment and the high demand for the scarce foreign exchange. The chairman further called for a special provision of foreign exchange to large scale importers to reduce pressure on the parallel market. Sahabi described the recent move by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to cleanse activities of the foreign exchange market operators as a well development. “ We really welcome any action that will rid the market of bad eggs to ensure that all the operators are law-abiding. “Such action is crucial, more so that President Muhammadu Buhar...

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Pankshin Unit Command says all are set to massively deploy its officers to man accident prone areas in Plateau Central Zone. Mr Nnamdi Ikeh-Akabogu, Pankshin FRSC Unit Command, made the disclosure on Monday while briefing newsmen in Pankshin on the plans of the corps for the Christmas celebration. “Our personnel will be massively deployed to some identified black spots along Mangu/ Pankshin, Pankshin/Chip, Pankshin/ Kanke, Pankshin/ Kanam, and Pankshin/ Langtan, during the Christmas period. “The more dangerous spots are the Bwonpe-Chip snake road and the Pankshin-Amper snake and narrow roads. “What we are trying to avoid is a situation whereby innocent lives will be subjected to untimely death due to recklessness of drivers on the highways. “We are saddened by the preventable road crashes recorded in Plateau Central in recent times and desire to do our best at avoid such during this yuletide,’’ he said. He said that the command and all Special ...

No fewer than 90 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have threatened to occupy the National Assembly if the Senate fails to reverse its decision demanding the resignation of Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF). The CSOs under the auspices of Forum of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, an umbrella body of civil society groups, nongovernmental organisations, ethics pressure groups and others concerned with good governance said they were given the senate 48 hours to drop the move and apologise to the SGF. President of the group Ishiaku Nok noted that the CSOs would mobilise over 10,000 of their members against the senate if it fails to meet the group’s demand. “We will like to critically look at some of the oppositional mechanism that could hinder the much expected development in our country and suggest ways to carefully avoid them as we proceed to year 2017. “The President Muhammadu Buhari led administration has been able to achieve giant stride in several ...

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has urged motorists to maintain safe speed limits while plying the roads during the yuletide period. The Ogun FRSC Sector Commander, Mr Clement Oladele, gave the advice while flagging-off the “Ember Months’’ road safety campaign on Monday in Ijebu-Ode. FRSC Boss Oladele, who was represented by the FRSC Head of Operations, Mr Davies Ogiamien, said it was imperative for motorists to curtail their speeding and other traffic violations, to minimise crashes. The FRSC boss further said the campaign would maintain strict adherence to enforcing traffic rules and regulations, especially those against over-speeding, overloading, driving-under-influence and dangerous driving. “The Sagamu-Ore expressway is notorious for route violations, over-speeding and overloading offences. This shall not be tolerated during this special patrol. “We shall ensure that more personnel and patrol vehicles are deployed to arrest traffic offenders and maintain complianc...