Sabinews Evening News Update for June 19, 2015

Buhari vows to fulfill his promises to the people.

President Muhammadu Buhari said on Friday that Nigerians should be patient and accept democracy not as a system of government but as a lifestyle in order to ensure development of the country and that he would fulfill his promises to the people.

The president said this when he paid homage to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, after attending the Juma’at prayer at the Lowcost Mosque, in Daura, Katsina State. Read more

APC working to resolve crisis – Odigie-Oyegun

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has assured that the party is working round the clock to resolve the crisis that has rocked it in recent times, in order to pave the way for the party to fulfill its campaign promises to Nigerians.

”The party has reached out to all interested parties, and when the National Assembly resumes next week, Nigerians will see one harmonious, happy APC family,” Odigie-Oyegun said in a statement he issued in Abuja on Friday. Read more

LGs must meet obligations to workers, says Oshiomhole

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says Local Government Councils must meet their obligations as specified in the constitution even as he said the state government would assist the Local Governments in re-engineering their finances in order to meet their obligations to their workers.

Speaking at the 17th Synod of the Anglican Communion, held at the St. John’s Anglican Church in Benin City, Friday, the Governor who attended the Synod in company of his wife Iara, and several top government functionaries said “Every day you read newspapers, watch television, there is no doubt that this is the most difficult period in Nigeria’s history, perhaps since 1999, probably even before then. Read more

N8bn Currency Scam: 5 Bankers Get Bail, 10 Others Denied as Trial Begins June 26

Reprieve ‎ on Friday came the way of five bankers currently standing trial alongside 17 others in the on-going celebrated N8 billion mutilated currency scam.

In an almost two hours ruling over applications for bail by the counsel‎ to the accused bankers and counter-applications by the counsel to the prosecutor, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), presiding judge, Justice Olayinka Faji of the Federal High Court Two sitting in Ibadan held that the cases against the accused were weighty. Read more

Ugwuanyi promises prompt payment of workers’ salaries

Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Friday vowed that civil servants in the state will continue to receive their salaries as at when due during his administration.

Several state governments have not been able to pay their workers since the country’s revenue dipped with the decline in the price of crude oil. However, Enugu State, during the tenure of the immediate past governor, Sullivan Chime, was among a few states where workers received their salaries regularly. The state is currently not owing its workers. Read more

US shooting: Suspect confesses, says he seeks race war

Dylann Roof admits he did it, two law enforcement officials said — shooting and killing nine people he’d sat with for Bible study at a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, US.

But why? To start a race war, Roof told investigators, according to one of the officials.

Others have given a glimpse into the twisted motivations of Roof, who is white, to shoot up the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Sylvia Johnson told CNN that a survivor told her he’d answered pleas to stop by saying, “No, you’ve raped our women, and you are taking over the country … I have to do what I have to do.” Read more

Gunmen abduct CAN secretary in Ondo

Gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, have abducted the Executive Secretary of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Mr. Michael Adewunmi, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Thursday night.

After the abduction, which reportedly took place at Akinjo Junction, Oshokoti area of the state capital, his black Toyota Lexus SUV was found abandoned with four doors opened. They were also said to have taken his Ipad and mobile phones along. Read more

NASS: S’West APC won’t discredit Tinubu, says ex-Senatorial aspirant

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and ex-Senatorial aspirant, Mr. Segun Osinkolu, has vowed that the South-West caucus of the party would resist any attempt to discredit the party’s National Leader, Aiswaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

Osinkolu also advised the party to immediately address the leadership tussle in the National Assembly which, he said, could polarise the party. Read more

Abducted Tunisian consular staff freed in Libya

The remaining Tunisian consulate staff who were taken hostage by armed men in Libya’s capital Tripoli last week have been released, according to Tunisian state media.

The Tunisian News Agency reported on Friday that seven staff members were released late on Thursday night. Three others had been released earlier. The freed employees reportedly called their families upon their release to assure them they were “doing well”. Read more

Diaspora groups hail Oye’s victory as new APGA chairman

While commending the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano for the peaceful conduct of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) national convention held recently in Awka, Anambra State, members of the party living in the United Kingdom and South Africa respectively have congratulated the National chairman elect, Dr. Victor K. Oye and the General Secretary Labaran Maku for their victories.

In a statement jointly signed by the diaspora group representatives, Engr. Henry Onyekumnaru.Chairman, APGA South Africa chapter and Ezenwa Anazodo , Publicity Secretary, APGA United Kingdom respectively said that the peaceful conduction of the convention and transition of office witnessed by Nigerians and across the boarder have brokered the prospect that lies ahead of the party in political field of Nigeria. Read more

EU provides N4.7bn in aid for Boko Haram victims

The European Commission said on Thursday that it is providing N4.7 billion in aid to affected by the activities of Boko Haram insurgents. This is contained in a statement issued by the European Union (EU) Secretariat in Abuja.

“The new EU funding will provide immediate support, including clean water, food, shelter, healthcare and protection to the displaced and the host communities in the north-east of Nigeria. Read more

Children raped, castrated, thrown into fires in South Sudan – UN

Warring forces in South Sudan have carried out horrific crimes against children, including castration, rape and tying them together before slitting their throats, the UN has said.

“Survivors report that boys have been castrated and left to bleed to death… girls as young as eight have been gang raped and murdered,” UN children’s agency chief Anthony Lake said in a statement released earlier this week. Read more

Imprisonment saved my life, says discharged inmate

A 39-year-old, Osita Nwadiobi, who breathed an air of freedom on Thursday in Lagos after five years in prison custody, said his incarceration had saved his life.

“Imprisonment saved my life, I am happy that I have been in prison custody since 2011. “If not for the prison I would have died because I was moving with `wrong people’. Read more

NNPC Restates Commitment To Global Safety Practices

The Managing Director of NNPC Retail Ltd, Mr Chris Osarumwense, on Friday implored all its retail outlets and owners of affiliate stations nationwide to maintain a high safety culture, in line with international best practices.

Osarumwense gave the plea at the commissioning of the NNPC Standard Service Station at Auchi, headquarters of the Etsako-West Local Government Area of Edo. Read more

China Offers Food To North Korea As Drought Worsens

China on Friday said it would offer food aid to North Korea which has declared one of its worst droughts in a century.

Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, was quoted as saying in Beijing that the Chinese side was willing to provide assistance at the request of North Korea. Read more

33 Die In India After Consuming Spurious Liquor

No fewer than 33 people have died after consuming spurious liquor in Mumbai, India, a senior police official said on Friday.

Police spokesman, Dhananjay Kulkarni, said residents of slums in the Malvani areas fell ill after drinking the alcohol on Wednesday and first deaths were reported Thursday afternoon. Read more

PTA Urges Kaduna Govt To Register School For SSCE

The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Government Secondary School Makera in Kaduna, has urged the Kaduna State Government to register the school as examination centre for Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations.

Alhaji Mohammadu Musa, the PTA Chairman, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Kaduna. Read more

Nasarawa State Inaugurates Committee To Enforce Environmental Laws

Nasarawa State Urban Development Board (NUDB), has inaugurated a 13-man task force, that would enforce environmental and sanitation laws across the state.

Mr Adamu Sule, NUDB Managing Director, who inaugurated the task force on Friday in Lafia, said it was part of government’s commitment towards promoting healthy habits among the citizens of the state. Read more

Boko Haram, IS, others increased global terror in 2014 – U.S

Boko Haram and extremists in Iraq and Afghanistan unleashed a savage rise in violence between 2013 and 2014, according to new statistics released by the State Department on Friday.

Attacks largely at the hands of the Islamic State and Boko Haram raised the number of terror acts by more than a third, nearly doubled the number of deaths and nearly tripled the number of kidnappings. The figures contained in the department’s annual global terrorism report said that nearly 33,000 people were killed in almost 13,500 terrorist attacks around the world last year. Read more

U.S donates insecticide-treated nets to Cross River, Ebonyi

The Director United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Michael T. Harvey, Friday announced the donation of nearly four million insecticide-treated bednets to Cross River and Ebonyi States.

The donation was part of the U.S government’s commitment to malaria prevention in Nigeria.

According to a statement issued by the U.S embassy in Abuja, the cost of the bednets, including transportation from the factory to eventual households, is valued at 2.8 billion naira ($14.6 million). Read more

Nigerian military says to investigate Amnesty killing allegations

Nigeria’s military said on Friday it was investigating allegations by Amnesty International that more than 8,000 people had died in detention during a crackdown on Islamist militant group Boko Haram, weeks after dismissing the report.

The army initially rejected the allegations of prisoners being executed and mistreated, published earlier this month, as “biased and concocted”.

But international pressure has been mounting on Nigeria to examine its tactics, and soon after the report’s release, recently-elected President Muhammadu Buhari promised his office would study it and “act accordingly”. Read more

Power: FG to get AFD grant

The Federal Government on Friday in Abuja said it was working with the Agence Française de Dévelopement to secure a grant of 170 million Euros for the building of transmission networks in Abuja area.

AFD is the French Development Agency which participates in promoting and financing development throughout the world. Read more

Joda Committee Wants 19 Ministers For Buhari

The Ahmed Joda-led Transition Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, to keep the number of federal ministries at 19, nine less than the proposed 28.

TheCable also reported that the advisory committee recommended that Buhari should have only 19 senior ministers and 17 ministers of state, bringing the total to 36 in fulfillment of the constitutional requirement of one minister per state. Previous governments, starting from 1999, appointed 42 ministers — picking one from each of the six geo-political zones in addition to one from each of the 36 states of the federation. Read more

Nigeria’s refineries to resume production next month – NNPC official

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that the four refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna will resume production next month, raising hope of an end to perennial petrol shortages in the country, The Guardian reports.

The General Manager, Public Affairs, of the NNPC, Mr Ohi Alegbe said that “the refineries at Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna will resume next month after a successful turn-around-maintenance (overhaul) of their facilities. The turn-around-maintenance has been on for some time. We did not just want to make any noise about it. The refineries will start production as soon as they have delivery of crude oil for refining,” Read more

Employment: Arase Enjoins Industrialists to Increase Investment

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase has called on industrialists to increase their investment drive in the country where more youths will be gainfully employed as a way of reducing crime.

The IGP made the call when the Chairman/CEO, Lee Engineering & Construction Ltd, Dr. Leemon Ikpea visited him in his office to intimate him of the company’s intention to support crime fighting initiatives of NPF. Read more

Buhari Orders Disposal of Nine Presidential Aircraft to Cut Cost

As part of the federal government’s cost measures, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that nine of the VIP transport aircraft under the presidential fleet should be sold. Industry sources informed THISDAY that the presidential fleet, which are registered as Nigerian Air Force aircraft, is one of the largest in Africa and the third largest in Nigeria after Arik Air and Aerocontractors.
According to an aviation source, who is aware of the directive to sell the aircraft, the presidency has a number of serviceable and unserviceable aircraft that need to be disposed of in order to reduce the amount spent by the federal government for aircraft maintenance annually. Read more

Buhari Felicitates With Williams at 100

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday felicitated with Mama Eunice Ibilola Williams as she celebrates her 100th birthday on Saturday).

The president equally joined Mama Williams’ family and friends in rejoicing with her on the happy occasion of her attainment of the very rare age of 100 years. Buhari’s felicitation was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina. Read more

Husband stabs wife to death for cheating

A 31-year-old man, Michael David, who allegedly stabbed his wife, Onyinyechi Dennis, to death on Friday appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

The accused, who resides in Ojoku around Olodi-Apapa, is facing a charge of murder.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Ajayi, told the court that the offence was committed on April 7, at No. 24, Ojoku Street, Olodi Apapa in Lagos. Read more

Plateau Begins Payment of Backlog of Workers’ Salaries

In partial fulfilment of its promises, Plateau State government has commenced the payment of the backlog of salary arrears to its civil servants, assuring the workforce that the payment of arrears on monthly basis alongside the subsisting salaries will continue until the backlog is cleared up.

In a statement signed by Governor Simon Lalong’s Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA), Mr Emmanuel Nanle, the government said it will intensify negotiations on all other aspects of the workers’ demands while commending the workers for their patience, resilience and rare understanding. Read more

Chad to round up beggars, foreigners after Boko Haram attack

Chad said on Friday it planned to round up beggars and some foreigners as part of a security clamp-down, days after two suicide attacks on its capital blamed on Boko Haram Islamist militants from neighbouring Nigeria.

The apparently coordinated blasts in two police offices on Monday killed 34 people and injured dozens in the largest attack of its kind in the Central African nation. Read more

Jobseeker pleads guilty to theft of N150,000 cash

A 21-year-old applicant, Daniel Nnah, who appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, on Friday pleaded guilty to the theft of N150,000 cash.

Nnah, who resides at No. 135, Baale compound, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos, is facing a charge of stealing.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Ajayi, had earlier told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 10, at No. 13, Coker Road, Orile-Iganmu. Read more

Female Marketer Arraigned In Lagos Over N3.1m Diapers’ Theft

A marketer, Amaka Umeakaeze, who stole diapers and sanitary pads valued at N3.1 million, was on Friday dragged before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), is aged 32 and resides at Block 9c, Flat 1, Iponri Housing Estate, Surulere. She appeared on a two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy. The Prosecutor, Insp. Feddy Asu, told the court that the offences were committed between 2011 and 2015 at Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere. Read more

China produces first electric passenger aircraft

The world’s first electric passenger aircraft to gain an airworthiness certificate has been produced by China, a news report said.

It said that the BX1E has a 14.5 meter wingspan has a maximum payload of 230 kilogram. Read more