SABINEWS EVENING NEWS UPDATE
Pipeline bombings: Militant group announces 2-wk ceasefire
A militant group, Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders, NDRC, based in Bayelsa State, Wednesday, declared a two-week armistice within which it urged President Muhammadu Buhari to review his hard-line stance to consequential dialogue with militants and first-rate leaders of Niger Delta to prevent total devastation of crude oil export facilities.
This came as the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, accused ExxonMobil of telling lies about the bombing of its Qua Iboe 48-inch crude export pipeline on Monday evening. Read more
Wike: Nigerians yearning for the return of PDP
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has stated that Nigerians are yearning for the return of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following the failure of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to deliver democracy dividends.
Governor Wike further declared that APC will lose the rerun elections of July 30, 2016 in Rivers State, even if Chief John Odighie -Oyegun conducts the elections as returning officer. Read more
AGF conducts forensic audit of revenue generating agencies
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris has said that his office was carrying out a forensic audit of federal government’s agencies to access true state of their revenue generation.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja by the Director of Press, office of the AGF, Mrs Kenechukwu Offie. Read more
Boko Haram Kills 2 Soldiers as Fighter Jets, Ground Troops Repel Attack at Kangarwa
Fighter jets of the Chadian and Nigerian Air Force (NAF) backed the ground troops of 119 Task Force Battalion stationed in Kangarwa, northern Borno State, to successfully repel an attack by Boko Haram terrorists against their positions on Tuesday evening.
The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, stated on Wednesday that the attack which started at about 6.30pm on Tuesday, was successfully repelled. Read more
Buhari sends task force to Zamfara
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a special military task force to combat cattle rustlers in the north-western state of Zamfara. The armed gangs are based in a forest, from where they raid nearby villages.
Defence Minister Mansur Dan Ali told the BBC that about 1,000 troops would be deployed immediately, with more would joining later. Read more
Melaye a disgrace to the senate, says Tinubu
Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos state, has described Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi west senatorial district at the national assembly, as a “disgrace to the senate”.
Reacting to the alleged threat that Melaye issued to Remi, his wife who represents Lagos central senatorial district, Tinubu through Sunday Dare, his spokesman, dared the lawmaker to carry out the act and see if “nothing will happen”. Read more
Ooni Signs MoU with American Firm to Build $1.4bn Tech Hub in Ife
The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a US-based company, SpringPort Technological Group, to build a technology, media city and agriculture incubation hub in the town.
This huge investment came barely two weeks to the return of the Ooni from the USA where he had earlier visited to seek involvement of Africans in the Diaspora in his peace and unity agenda, and solicit their support for the continent on developmental projects in agriculture, tourism, infrastructure and youth development. Read more
Pro-Biafra agitators are selected by God, they are not frustrated people – IPOB replies Oye
The indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB, has dismissed a statement credited to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Oye, saying the agitation for Biafra was born out of frustration.
Recall that Oye had yesterday said the agitation of groups like IPOB and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, was born out of frustration. Read more
Make Buratai’s assets declaration public, CACOL tells CCB
The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders has called on the Code of Conduct Bureau to make public the assets declared by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.
The call from CACOL followed reports in the media that the army chief purchased two mansions worth $1.5m in Dubai. Read more
Shiroro power plant to operate at full capacity after N2.4bn repairs
The Shiroro Hydro Power Station has expended about N2.4 billion for the repairs of its four turbine generators to bring the plant to full capacity of 600 megawatts.
Dr Olubunmi Peters, SHPS Executive Vice Chairman, disclosed this on Wednesday to newsmen in Shiroro, Niger. Read more
Fulani militia kill school principal, four others in Benue
Suspected Fulani militia killed five persons including a school principal, Mr. Sam Wayo, in the ancestral home of the immediate past governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, on Tuesday.
Wayo’s brother, Mr. Msugh Lim, was also among the people killed. The victims were killed around 5.30pm. Read more
Lawyer Asks Court to Stop Abia State’s Monthly Revenue Allocation
An Abuja-based legal practitioner has asked the Federal High Court to stop the release of the monthly revenue allocation accruable to Abia State from the federation account pending the resolution of the governorship crisis in the state.
In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/483/2016, the plaintiff listed the Minister of Finance, Accountant –General of the Federation, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation as the defendants. Read more
Army arrests fake officer in Ondo
Men of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Akure, the Ondo State capital have arrested a 37-year-old man for parading himself as an army officer serving in the state.
The suspect identified as Sunday Uwanle from Kogi State was said to have been arrested
in army uniform while fighting with some men. Read more
Ogun festival turns bloody as man stabs worshipper to death
The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday said it has launched a manhunt for a suspected murderer, Kehinde Lawal, who allegedly killed his friend, one Mutiu Edunjobi, in the Isheri area of the state during an Ogun festival in the area.
The festival organized by one Friday, aka Ipodo, a popular youth leader in the community, reportedly went bloody after Lawal allegedly stabbed Edunjob, a technician in the neck with a sharp object during a heated argument. Read more
Man, 40, bags 18 months in prison for stealing stabilizer
An Evboriaria Magistrates’ Court in Benin on Wednesday sentenced one Blessing Obazuwa, 40, to 18 months imprisonment for stealing a 500 KVA stabilizer.
The Magistrate, Mrs Esther Aimofumhe, who frowned at the accused person’s previous conviction record (she had served a two-year jail terms previously), without repentance, said it was obvious that the convict was not ready to change his lifestyle. Read more
No agreement with NNPC on payment of Eagles’ Coach – NFF
The Nigeria Football Federation has denied that it has secured $1.5 million from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation as funds for salaries of the incoming Super Eagles’ Head Coach.
Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, said: “The story is the figment of the imagination of the writers. Nobody in the NFF or NNPC discussed the matter of salary of Eagles’ Coach and there is no iota of truth in it. Read more
Giwa-led NFF faction appoints Yusuf as Super Eagles coach
The Chris Giwa faction of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has appointed Salisu Yusuf, as the new coach of the Super Eagles.
Yusuf, who is currently the interim coach of the national team, will be assisted by Imama Amakapabo, while Ike Shorunmu will be the goalkeeper trainer. Read more
World Bank loan for Port Harcourt
The World Bank’s private sector arm, the IFC, has granted $73.5 million for the build of a new port terminal in southern Nigeria, says Reuters.
The aim behind the new terminal currently being constructed at Port Harcourt in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, will be to help increase the country’s non-oil exports. Read more
Cameron bows out, urges close post-Brexit ties to EU
Outgoing British prime minister David Cameron urged his successor Theresa May on Wednesday to maintain close ties with the EU even while negotiating to leave it, as he paid a fond farewell to MPs hours before leaving office. Read more
Rio Olympics: NOC to present Team Nigeria to Buhari July 19
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, yesterday disclosed that Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) would formally present Team Nigeria to President Muhammadu Buahri on July 19th at Presidential Villa.
The team requires additional sum of N2 billion and NOC believes the President will use his good office to solicit for support during the fund raising dinner inside the Aso villa. Read more
Pastor charged with attempting to overthrow government
The pastor who has emerged as leader of Zimbabwe’s new protest movement was charged Wednesday with attempting to overthrow the government for his role in a recent surge of demonstrations.
Evan Mawarire, 39, stood accused of setting up a campaign with the aim of “overthrowing or attempting to overthrown the government by unconstitutional means,” according to the charge sheet as he appeared in court Wednesday. Read more
Man leaves prison, rapes woman, gets rearrested
An undocumented Algerian national was arrested Wednesday on charges of raping a Nigerian prostitute just hours after he was let out of prison yesterday.
The suspect, aged 32, had been released and ordered expelled from the country. He then allegedly attacked the 19-year-old victim on the street, where police picked him up after a fellow Nigerian national reported the suspected rape. Read more
Life in Dubai jail for female marijuana dealer
Nigerian singer was sentenced to life in jail for possessing and dealing 1.98 grams of marijuana. The 30-year old Nigerian woman sold that amount of marijuana to undercover policeman in a sting operation and will be deported after serving her 25-year jail sentence.
Prosecutors at Dubai Court of First Instance said that Anti-Narcotic Department at Dubai Police were tipped off about the female resident who was selling drugs in the Abu Hail area. Read more
Indonesia to execute convicts from Nigeria and Zimbabwe this year – attorney general
Indonesia plans to execute this year at least two foreign convicts, one from Nigeria and another from Zimbabwe, the attorney general said on Wednesday.
President Joko Widodo has pledged to increase the number of executions this year and next as part of his crackdown on drugs. Read more
Man dies while trying to take selfie with wild elephant
A man was killed in southern Nepal as he tried to take a selfie with a wild elephant, Parsa Wildlife Reserve authorities said on Wednesday. “The man had been driving a water tanker when he stopped to take a photograph with the animal.
“The wild elephant attacked the man and killed him,’’ the officials said. The wild elephant was part of a herd moving from the western to the eastern part of the reserve, an annual movement during the monsoon. Read more
