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"I would rather be played than to deprive the needy"- Ogunmodede tells Parishioners as he clock 45 in Priesthood The Parish Priest of SS. Philip & James Catholic Church, Very Rev. Fr. (Prof) Francis Ogunmodede has reaffirmed his commitment to the well-being of the needy and less privileged. Ogunmodede while addressing his Parishioners as he clock forty five years as a Roman Catholic Priest said he has devoted his years of Priesthood to the well-being of others. He said, " I am a happy man, I am happy because those around me are happy, and nothing supersedes them. " My drive as  a Priest has been to touch touch lives both spiritually and physically, " So many times I have been played along the line, some have come to me with faked conditions, just to collect money from me, but I will never stop touching lives". Continuing he said, " I will never give up the good work of helping the needy because of the few who choose to block the way

I am APC Leader in Edo, Oshiomhole remains suspended- Obaseki  Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has insisted that suspension of the party’s national chairman Adams Oshiomhole from the state chapter of the party remains and it is in the best interest. Obaseki disclosed this on Friday during a caucus meeting involving leaders of the APC in Edo North Senatorial District. He lamented that Oshiomhole, who is his predecessor, has been a negative influence in the affairs of the state in spite of efforts by the party to bring economic development to the people. “I am the APC leader in Edo and it is the person that is causing anti-party who has created his own faction of APC that will leave. “If you can’t be a disciplined member of our party, then you leave, whether you claim to be a national chairman or not. “My position is clear; Comrade Oshiomhole stands suspended from APC in Edo,” Obaseki said. The governor added that he never complained about the previous administ

Why we didn't release El-Zakzaky- AGF The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), said on Friday that the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria,  Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat, were not released because they were being prosecuted by a state government. He said this in a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Umar Gwandu, who quoted him as speaking to the BBC Hausa and the Hausa Service of the Voice of America. Explaining why El-Zakzaky and his wife were not released like Dasuki and Sowore, Malami said, “The Federal Government does not interfere with the cases that are being prosecuted by a state government. "El-Zakzaky and his wife are being prosecuted by the Kaduna State government on charges of murder.” He, however, said that the release of the Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, and a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, from detention by the Federal Government was base

FG order release of  Dasuki, Sowore The Nigerian Government has ordered the release of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), and the convener of #RevolutionNow protests, Mr Omoyele Sowore. The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, announced this in a statement on Tuesday. Malami said the decision to release them was in compliance with the bail granted the two by the court. The statement reads: “The office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation has reviewed the pending criminal charges against the duo of Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) and Omoyele Sowore. “Whilst the Federal High Court has exercised its discretion in granting bail to the defendants in respect of the charges against them, I am also not unmindful of the right of the complainant/prosecution to appeal or further challenge the grant of bail by the court having regards to extant legal provisions, particularly Sec

Just In: Gunmen attack Goodluck Jonathan hometown, kill one soldier Unknown gunmen stormed the hometown of former President, Goodluck Jonathan in Bayelsa State early Tuesday morning in a bid to steal a gunboat belonging to the military stationed at the creek. Sources in Otuoke, Bayelsa State told media that the gunmen, who struck at about 3am, killed one soldier, injured one while another one was taken away to unknown destination. Consequently, all roads in Otuoke/Otuaba is currently blocked by military personnel, with movement of residents restricted.

JAMB announces date for 2020 UTME The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has said that it will conduct the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination between March 14 and April 4, 2020.  Before then, it added, the candidates would sit for an optional mock examination on February 18. Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Monday in Abuja, the JAMB Registrar, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, said the registration for the UTME and Direct Entry would start simultaneously on January 13 and end on February 17, 2020. Oloyede added that the names used by candidates for the National Identity Number registration would be strictly used for the UTME, adding that those with biometric failure issues nationwide should report to the JAMB Headquarters, Abuja, to be attended to. The registrar said, “Each candidate must have obtained the NIN as earlier directed JAMB. The mobile number used for NIN enrollment can be used by one candidate only. The cell phone number used for sending NI

BREAKING: Gunmen kidnap Ondo monarch’s wife, daughters, seek N 100m ransom vanguard G unmen have abducted the wife, children and driver of the traditional ruler of Odigbo town, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade. It was gathered that the victims were kidnapped on Ikare-Owo Expressway in Oba Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state. According to Punch Online, the traditional ruler, who confirmed the incident said the abductors had contacted the family and had demanded a sum of N100m as ransom.

CBN slashes electronic transfer, ATM withdrawal charges to 35 naira Dailypost The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reviewed downward electronic transfer and ATM fees as well as card maintenance fees. The new charges were contained in the latest Guide to Charges by Banks and Other Financial Institutions just released by the CBN According to the CBN, bank customers will now pay N10 for electronic transfers below N5,000, and N25 for electronic transfer between N5,000 and N50,000. Only electronic transfer above N50,000 will attract N50 charge. Previously, bank customers pay N50 charge for electronic transfers below N500,000. Further, the CBN in the new Guide to Bank Charges slashed charges for cash withdrawal via Other bank’s ATM to “maximum of N35 after the third withdrawal within the same month” from “N65 after the third withdrawal within the same month”. The CBN also removed Card Maintenance Fee (CAMF) on all cards linked to current accounts, a maximum of

Missing child: Three killed, Ondo Church Set Ablaze Dailypost Nigeria Three persons lost their lives on Wednesday, while several others sustained varying degrees of injury when some youths set ablaze a popular church, Sotitobire Praising Chapel, at the Oshinle Quarter in Akure, Ondo State. The incident followed the rumoured discovery of the corpse of one-year-old Gold Kolawole, who went missing from the children’s department of the church on November 10. For several hours on Wednesday, social and economic activities were paralysed in the area following the violence. Some houses and vehicles purportedly belonging to the church were also set on fire by the irate youths, while a police patrol vehicle was also vandalised. One of the deceased victims was a policeman, whose identity had not been ascertained. An eyewitness said, “Since the day the boy went missing, people had observed that the police were not doing any serious investigation on the matter. But when t

DPR seals off 4 illegal gas plant in Lagos The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Wednesday sealed off four Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plants, over non-compliance and illegal operations in Lagos. Officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which collaborated with the DPR in the exercise, also arrested three employees of the sealed LPG — also known as cooking gas — plants. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gas stations sealed off include Geogas Gas Filling Plant, Oduduwa Road, Oworonsoki and Classic Gas, MKO Abiola Market, Agege, Lagos. Also shut down by the petroleum regulatory agency were Al-Morruf Gas Plant and Vertex Gas, both located in the Agege axis of the state. Mr Abel Igheghe, Head, Gas, DPR, Lagos Zonal Office, said over 54 gas plants had been sealed off in 2019 for not complying with international standards. He said the LPG plants were sealed for being illegal and operating within densely populated

Jubilation as Court grants Rivers ownership of Soku Oil Wells www.masscommunicationtalk.com There was jubilation in Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers State on Monday following a Federal High Court Abuja ruling on the disputed Soku Oil Wells/Fields located in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state. The oil wells ownership had led to rising tension between the states, with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike accusing his Bayelsa State counterpart, Seriake Dickson of plotting a takeover of Rivers oil wells. In a judgment in Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/984/19, the Attorney-General of Rivers State versus National Boundary Commission, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court declared that after examining all the documents from relevant Government agencies and facts before the court, the Soku Oil Wells/fields belong to Rivers State. The Federal High Court made an order compelling the National Boundary Commission to rectify forthwith in the 12th Edition of t

Gunman shoots FRSC official to escape arrest in Ogun source:dailypost.org An unidentified gunman has shot at the Operative of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attached to the Ogun State Sector Command, wounding him severely on the leg before speeding away. The incident happened on Sunday at the Ibafo corridor of the Lagos -Ibadan Expressway when the FRSC operatives were controlling traffic. The Operatives had stopped his vehicle marked WED264YE for route violation and driving against traffic but the driver; an unidentified man who claimed to be a policeman pulled a pistol and shot at one of the legs of the arresting Marshal that stopped him and zoomed off. The Sector Commander, FRSC, Ogun State Sector Command, Vincent Oladele said the Marshal is in a stable condition at the hospital while the incident has been reported to the Police. According to Oladele in a release on Monday by the Route Commander and Public Education Officer, a manhunt has been mounted for

ECOWAS Parliament pushes for immediate solutions to region's humanitarian crisis Lawmakers of the ECOWAS Parliament says its seeking to invoke its parliamentary powers to resolve the humanitarian crisis across region. This is following the report presentation by the Parliamentary Joint committee on Political Affairs, Peace and Security and APRM/Legal and Judicial Affairs, Human Rights, Protection of the Child and Vulnerable Groups on the security of the Region. As contained in the report, the political situation in the Republic of Guinea as well as the political and security situation in Mali among others, calls for serious attention most especially as it regards to pre and post-election situations, and which also arises from the preparedness level for the presidential elections that are planned in 2020.  Honourable Snowe Jnr of Liberia responding to the report said that there is an urgent need for the ECOWAS Parliament to utilize its power

Wole Soyinka Centre postpones honour for Osinbajo over Sowore The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism has postponed the presentation of the award to Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. According to a statement signed by Motunrayo Alaka, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre, the decision was reached following the rearrest of Omoleye Sowore, Publisher of  SaharaReporters , on Friday, by operatives of the Department of State Services. Alaka said, “The postponement was decided on, to align with protests against the repression of freedom of speech in recent times especially the incident between the Department of State Security (DSS) and Omoleye Sowore, Publisher of Sahara Reporters, on Friday 6 December. The Vice President himself shares this awareness and the inappropriateness of the award at this point.” The WSCIJ holds the award presentation event on December 9, the World Anti-Corruption Day and eve of the World Human Rights Day to highlight the importance of investi

Omo-Agege, Wase’s aides groan, plan protest as NASS reduces salaries Aides to the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege; and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase, are groaning over the alleged refusal by the National Assembly to pay their full entitlements. It was, however, learnt that those in the offices of the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, were not affected. The workers, who are aides to the presiding officers, alleged that though their appointments were made between June and July 2019, they have only been paid two months; October and November. It was learnt on Friday that some of the aides had written their bosses to protest against the alleged instruction by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, that further payments to the workers be stopped. Some of the affected workers, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity for fear

BREAKING:  DSS operatives re-arrest Sowore, Bakare Sahara Reporters  Operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS), on Friday, re-arrested Omoyele Sowore, Convener, #RevolutionNow Protest, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sowore and Bakare had resisted being rearrested by the officers of the security outfit shortly after Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu adjourned the day’s proceeding till Feb. 11, Feb. 12 and Feb. 13, 2020 for definite hearing. NAN reports that Justice Ojukwu had, on Thursday, ordered the DSS to release Sowore and Bakare within 24 hours after meeting his bail conditions. Ojukwu, who gave the order, also awarded an N100, 000 fine against the DSS over its delay to serve the defence counsel with the additional proof of evidence in the ongoing trial despite the court’s order to the effect. The DSS had, on Thursday, complied with the court order by releasing the defendants and also paid the fine. At Friday’s s