SABINEWS EVENING NEWS UPDATE FOR JUNE 23, 2016

EFCC Arraigns NNPC Sales Reps For Diversion Of PMS

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the duo of Munzali Ahmed, a Sales Representative of NNPC in Dutse, Jigawa State, and Alex Bala, a Sales Representative of NNPC in Hotoro, Kano State, before Justice Idrissa Kolo of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano, Kano State on one-count charge bordering on diversion of Premium Motor Sprit, PMS. Read more

We have no plans to overthrow Buhari – Army

The Nigerian Army has denied allegations that it was planning a coup d’état with a group, Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, to overthrow the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. The army said the allegation was aimed at distracting the military in its efforts at putting an end to insurgency in the north-east of Nigeria. Read more

PDP crisis: Sheriff inaugurates panel for Edo primary

The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party deepened on Thursday with the inauguration of five committees for the conduct of another primary for the 2016 Edo State governorship election by Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff. This is coming barely four days after a similar primary by the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee produced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the party’s flag bearer for the same election. Read more

Rivers CP threatens to remove lazy DPOs

The new Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, has threatened to remove any Divisional Police Officer in control of area where cultists, armed robbers and other hoodlums embark on a robbery or killing spree. Read more

Nigeria central bank sells dollars for fourth day to boost FX liquidity

Nigeria’s central bank is selling dollars on the interbank market for the fourth day to ease dollar shortages after it floated the currency, traders said. The naira traded at 283 to the dollar at 1249 GMT, on volumes of $76.8 million, which traders attributed to the central bank intervention. The interbank market opened at 0800 GMT with no activity for more than three hours. Read more

Refugees Who Fled Boko Haram Die Of Starvation In Nigeria Camp

More than 1,200 people have died from starvation and illness at an aid camp in northeastern Nigeria that houses people fleeing the militant group Boko Haram, medical charity Medecins Sans Frontières said on Thursday.

MSF said its team found 24,000 people, including 15,000 children, sheltering in the camp located on a hospital compound during a visit to Bama last month — its first trip to the city since it was wrested from Boko Haram’s control in March 2015. Read more

Family demand news of Nigerian schoolgirl who escaped Boko Haram

Nigeria’s Bring Back Our Girls movement and family members are demanding that the government provide news of the only schoolgirl among 219 kidnapped to escape the clutches of Boko Haram Islamic extremists. “Even this morning people came to my house asking if I had been able to find out her whereabouts. It’s outrageous. Some people are crying. We don’t understand why the government wants to keep her family away,” said Yakubu Nkeki, an uncle of Amina Ali Nkeki. Read more

Nigeria’s naira to steady on oil-sector dollar flows after peg ditched

Nigeria’s naira could stabilise next week on increased dollar liquidity from month-end greenback sales by oil companies, while Ghana’s cedi is expected to slip on rising dollar buying. Nigeria’s naira was quoted within the range of 282-284 to the dollar at the interbank market on Thursday, a range it has been trading at since the re introduction of two-way quote after the central bank unpegged the naira. Read more

Buhari asks public officers to be diligent

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday called on all public officers to justify the confidence reposed in them by carrying out their duties satisfactorily. He said this was the only way Nigeria could get out of the current hardships facing the nation. Read more

Nigeria intensifies search for 7 kidnapped; 5 are foreigners

Nigerian police and navy patrol boats intensified efforts Thursday to find a group of construction workers including three Australians, two Nigerians, a New Zealander and a South African kidnapped in an ambush that killed their driver, police said. Read more

EFCC legally right to freeze Fayose’s account – Falana

Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana(SAN), has said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is legally right to freeze the account of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose. Falana made the declaration in a statement titled: “Fayose’s Shallow Defence” issued in Lagos ‎on Thursday while reacting to the governor’s claim that the agency acted illegally because he enjoyed immunity as a governor. Read more

Lawmaker to FG: Don’t negotiate with ‘Avengers’

The member representing Brass Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli, has advised against the current attempts by the Federal Government to negotiate with the Niger Delta Avengers. Sunny-Goli said in a statement Thursday in Yenagoa that Niger Delta Avengers represented neither the views nor the aspirations of the Niger Delta people. He said negotiating the fate of the people with such a fringe group was a terrible misnomer “capable of plunging the region in the rat race for destructive influence.” Read more

Tough times don’t last, Silverbird’ll be back – Murray-Bruce

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has said the situation, which led the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria to take possession of Silverbird Galleria today, is being resolved. AMCON took possession of the Silverbird Galleria in Abuja and Lagos, which houses the Senator’s companies on Thursday morning, denying workers entry into the premises. Read more

Violence in the Delta has cut oil output by a third. It may get even worse

In the Niger Delta, a gun is an investment that yields excellent returns. Jamnogo Blessing, a gang member, recently turned up in Yenagoa, a turbulent city in the oil-pumping Niger Delta, to buy a stash of weapons from militants who hung up their boots seven years ago. “The only language the government listens to is violence,” he says. Once rearmed, his gang will attack oil companies operating around his home town of Idheze, he adds. Read more

Bianca Ojukwu’s mother dies aged 81

Wife of former Governor of old Anambra State, late Chief Christian Onoh, and mother of former Ambassador to Spain, Bianca Ojukwu, Mrs Caroline Onoh, yesterday, died in Enugu, aged 81. The second son of the former governor, Dr Ken Onoh, while speaking with reporters confirmed his mother’s death, Onoh, who is also a Special Adviser to the Enugu State Governor, said that his mother died on Tuesday at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Park Lane, Enugu after a brief illness. Read more

President appoints new chief security officer

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja charged public officers entrusted with certain responsibilities to live up to their duties and justify the confidence reposed in them as this was the only way Nigeria can get out of the current hardships facing the nation. President Buhari said this while decorating two of the newly promoted officers of the Nigerian Police Force deployed to his office with their new ranks. Read more

Council chief restricts operation of motorcycles

The Caretaker Chairman of Khana (Ogoni) Local Government Council of Rivers State, Gbara Erelo, has restricted the operation of commercial motorcycles, popularly called okadas, in the area from 7 p.m. To 6 a.m., in view of the rising insecurity. He stated yesterday in Port Harcourt that the restriction in the operation of okadas would be until there is improvement in security in the LGA. Read more

Stakeholders Urge Brand Owners To Embrace Digital Media

Olamide Bakare who attended a marketing summit recently writes that stakeholders in the marketing industry appear to be in agreement on the need for brand owners to embrace the digital space. The marketing summit put together by Marketing Edge may have come and gone but it leaves memories of great learnings as stakeholders in the industry gather to brainstorm on developments in the marketing communication industry. Apart from the fact that the summit highlights the present state of brands in Nigeria, it was an avenue to look at the future especially in the face of revolutionary trends in the digital space. Tagged Brand Positioning in a Digital Age: Challenges in a Developing Market, speakers from different generations offer diverse perspectives as it relates to how digital media could be used to optimise performance for clients Read more

South Africa’s MTN bets on mobile banking with new CEO

June 23 MTN’s new chief executive Rob Shuter has been brought in to boost profits at Africa’s biggest mobile phone group after a $1.7 billion fine in Nigeria, by persuading its 200 million clients to use their handsets to store money and pay bills. But the hunt for returns by the outsider, the current European head of Vodafone and a former banker, will throw MTN into an unfamiliar world of finance with increasing regulatory risks as authorities step up efforts to combat illicit money transfers. Read more

Nigeria index nears 9-month high as banks, consumer stocks gain

Nigeria’s main share index approached a 9-month high on Thursday, after rising for a third straight day as investors poured cash into banking and consumer goods stocks. The stock market, which has the second-biggest weighting after Kuwait on the MSCI frontier market index, climbed 2.9 percent to 30,999 points by 1234 GMT, a level last seen on Oct. 2. Read more

Fitch Downgrades Nigeria to ‘B+’; Outlook Stable

(Fitch) Fitch Ratings has downgraded Nigeria’s Long-term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘B+’ from ‘BB-‘ and Long-term local currency IDR to ‘BB-‘ from ‘BB’. The Outlooks are Stable. The issue ratings on Nigeria’s senior unsecured foreign-currency bonds have also been downgraded to ‘B+’ from ‘BB-‘. B Read more

Gunmen Kidnap Lafarge Contractors

Two contract staff of the United Cement Company of Nigeria (UNICEM), an associate of Lafarge Holcim, were on Wednesday morning kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on their way to work in Mafamosing, while their official driver was shot dead. The UNICEM facility is situated in Mfamosing, Akampka local government area of Cross River State. Read more

3 Die, 14 Injured In Early Morning Lagos Accident

Three persons, including a woman, on Thursday morning lost their lives, while 14 others sustained injuries in an accident that occurred at the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Mr Michael Akindele, General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), confirmed the accident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Read more

Reps To Investigate Proposed Auctioning Of 2.6ghz Spectrum By NCC

The House of Representatives on Thursday, mandated its Committee on Telecommunications to investigate the proposed auctioning of 2.6GHz spectrum by the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC). The investigation is also geared towards averting the large job losses that might occur in the telecommunication sector if the 2.6GHz spectrum is auctioned. Read more

Police Promote 1,201 Officers In Jigawa

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Jigawa, Mr Mohammed Mustapha, on Thursday said 1,201 officers and men of the command had been promoted to various ranks. Mustapha disclosed this while decorating the newly promoted officers in Dutse. Read more

Delta Polytechnics In Fear Over Frequent Robbery Attacks, Cultism

Palpable fear of the unknown has heightened around two Delta State-owned polytechnics in Oghara and Ogwashi-Uku following frequent robbery attacks as well as increase in cult-related activities. In the last one month, reports said there were reported cases of robbery attacks on the hostels of the polytechnic in Oghara, while suspected cultists invaded residence of the female students of Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic, leaving three of the female students (names withheld) allegedly raped. Read more

Police Arrest 8 Suspected Kidnappers In Delta

The police in Oleh, Isoko South local government area of Delta State has arrested eight suspected kidnappers who recently abducted the wife of a businessman, Chief Smith Evive. It was gathered that Mrs Hope Evive, in her 60s, was abducted at her shop close to Union Bank along Emore road last Wednesday. Read more

Gunmen Kidnap 90-year-old Man In Kogi

There was pandemonium in Ogane-nigu, a sleepy community in Dekina local government area of Kogi State, following the kidnap of a community leader, Pa Enegbani Daniel Ocheje. Four men armed to the teeth and fully kitted in police uniform stormed the foothill residence of the 90-year -old man in the early hours of Tuesday morning and whisked him away. Read more

OAU shutdown indefinitely

Management of the Obafemi Awolowo University {OAU} has shutdown academic activities indefinitely. According to a circular from the Division of student Affairs (DSA), the management has ordered all students to vacate their hostels with immediate effect from 12 noon on Thursday. Read more

I have no case with EFCC – APC candidate, Obaseki

The candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress in forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has denied having a case to answer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Obaseki, who spoke with journalists in Benin on Thursday, was reacting to reports that the EFCC was set to invite him in connection with the misappropriation of over N5.5bn belonging to a German company. Read more

Ngillari: I Didn’t See N450m PDP Campaign Fund, But I Acted after Money was Verified

A former governor of Adamawa state, Bala Ngillari, has denied claims that he ordered the collection and distribution of N450m’ Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential campaign fund for Adamawa State. Read more

APC Has Failed Nigerians, Says CDHR

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, (CDHR) has asserted that the All Progressives Congress, APC, government has failed Nigerians who voted for them. Read more

Soldiers, policemen in gun battle over IDPs rice

There was chaos at the Borno State Government House in Maiduguri on Thursday as soldiers and policemen engaged in gun battle over rice meant for internally displaced persons. The Government House is besieged daily by thousands of internally displaced persons within Maiduguri metropolis, who choose to stay outside of the designated camps. Read more

Saraki, Ekweremadu may face tough bail conditions

Ahead of Monday’s planned arraignment of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu over alleged Senate Rules forgery and Conspiracy, there are strong indications that the duo may be handed stringent bail conditions. Read more

House C’ttee Probes Edo Gubernatorial Candidate’s Firm for $16m Fraud

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions on Wednesday opened investigations against a firm co-owned by the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for alleged criminal appropriation of $16 million. The firm, KCA-DEUTAG (Nigeria), has as Directors, Obaseki Godwin of Government House, Edo state, Ostermeier Hans Joachim, with address listed as KM 16, Aba expressway, Port Harcourt, and Vadakkara Manoj Raghavan of Villa No.52, Meadows, Dubai. Read more

Military pensioners set for nationwide protest

Military pensioners have concluded a showdown with the Federal Government for the latter’s failure to meet its pension obligation to them. The military pensioners are come with a nationwide protest that would climax on Wednesday July 13, 2016, at Aso Rock gate, Abuja, by 0900 hrs. Read more

Buhari Asks Newly Promoted Police Officers to Justify Their Promotion

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged public officers entrusted with certain responsibilities to live up to their duties and justify the confidence reposed in them.

Armed man storms German cinema, several hurt

A masked and armed man stormed a German multiplex cinema Thursday and several people were hurt, according to unconfirmed media reports. The daily Bild said at least 25 people were injured, possibly by tear gas in a police operation, at the cinema in the western town of Viernheim. Read more

Scholes signs up for Indian futsal league

Manchester United and England great Paul Scholes has signed a three-year deal to play in India’s new futsal league which starts next month, according to a statement released on Thursday. The inaugural edition of Premier Futsal, an indoor variant of football where players use a smaller and less bouncier ball than in the traditional game, will run from July 15-26. Read more

Whitney Houston Belongings In Auction Of Lost Stars

Music award trophies other items belonging to Whitney Houston are to be auctioned on Friday and Saturday in Beverly Hills, Giles Moon, Consignment Director for sale host Heritage Auctions, said on Thursday. Among the belongs of the late singer to be auction are her personal souvenirs, glamorous clothes, even a wedding dress, Beaded designer dresses, personal effects including address books and passports. Read more