NIGERIAN NEWS BLOGGERS

ASUU task EFCC to investigat IPPIS operators  The Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), Akure Zone, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to undertake a covert investigation on the operation of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government. It would be recalled that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) recently issued a press statement on the outcome of the interactions between the union, ASUU, and others on the government intent of compulsory migration of members of ASUU to the IPPIS. ASUU while giving reasons why it rejected the plan by the federal government to enroll university workers into the IPPIS, said the policy was unacceptable to the union. Speaking with journalists at the weekend at the Federal University of Technology Akure, the ASUU coordinator, Akure zone, Professor Olufayo Olu-Olu, described the OAGF publicatio...

IMMIGRATION: Nigeria to introduce three new Visa types. The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) says it will soon introduce various categories of visas for the country as part of its visa reform. The Comptroller General of Immigration (CGI), Mohammad Babandede , disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin. Mr Babandede said that the visa categories being considered were visa for tourists, visa for retirees outside the country who wish to retire in Nigeria and visa for incentive/investors. According to him, “If you have money, genuine money, we are encouraging visitors who have intellectual capacity to assist in building capacity in Nigeria. “If the visa is not going to break national security, good economy, we would encourage it to be delivered in a transparent way to cut corruption. “We will ensure that Nigerians realise that there is reform based on the anti-corruption strategy of Mr President.” The official told NAN that the 2019 Comptr...

EFCC arrests two Britons for $9 billion "fraudulent deal" Two Britons have been charged in Nigeria for their part in the infamous P&ID $9 billion "scam deal." The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged two Britons for alleged money laundering in connection with an ill-fated gas deal. The federal government will have to forfeit assets worth more than $9 billion to P&ID if the suit goes the company’s way. Reuters reports that this week, James Richard Nolan and Adam Quinn pleaded not guilty in an Abuja court to 16 counts of money laundering as put forward by the EFCC. The judge remanded Nolan in prison until his application for bail is considered. Quinn remains at large and Nolan’s defense lawyer entered a plea on his behalf. The case against the Britons The EFCC said in a statement that both men were directors of two companies that the agency alleged failed to report to the anti-graft agency a single deposit of $125,000 i...

EFCC Arraigns ECOWAS Secretariat Staff for N587.7m Fraud The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, October 18, 2019, arraigned one Muhammad Dangana before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal diversion of funds, misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of over N587.700million. Dangana, an executive assistant to the Financial Controller, ECOWAS Commission Secretariat, Abuja is facing prosecution alongside Aliu Sesay, Saleh Dangana and others, all of whom are at large. Count 14 of the charges reads: “That you Muhammad Dangana, male adult, being the executive assistant to the Financial Controller, ECOWAS Commission Secretariat, Abuja, sometime in 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did launder the sum of N200,000,000 you dishonestly diverted from ECOWAS Commission funds, entrusted in your care and management by using same to purchase a plot of land, being ...

Breastfeeding prevents cancer, not men_Experts A medical expert, Mrs Abigael Shona, says breastfeeding a baby and not man could prevent breast cancer in women. Shona told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ilorin that contrary to popular belief that men sucking their wife’s breast could prevent breast cancer, it could only help detect it. She said mothers who breastfeed lower their risk of pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer. “Most women who breastfeed experience hormonal changes during lactation that delay their menstrual periods. “This reduces a woman’s lifetime exposure to hormones like estrogen, which can promote breast cancer cell growth. And what sucking the breast by a man can only do is to detect breast cancer by feeling the lumps early enough so as to seek medical help,” Shona said. She however said it was encouraged that women allow their spouses to massage and fondle their breast to detect cancer early. “We are encouraging women not to deprive...

#The Wedding- Hundreds of faithful join Buhari to perform Juma'at Prayer  President Muhammadu Buhari and hundreds of Muslim faithful on Friday observed the weekly two raka’at prayer at the Aso Rock Mosque, Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that presidential aides, some cabinet ministers and former governor of Zamfara, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, were among the personalities at the mosque. NAN also observed that today’s Friday prayer witnessed seemingly unprecedented number of faithful in what appeared to be an attempt by some “curious worshipers’’ to confirm social media story on a purported marriage saga involving the President. NAN reports that on Oct. 10, a social media story on President Buhari getting set to marry the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, as the second wife, went viral. The media post, which stated Oct. 11 as the wedding date, was also widely circulated on the social media ...

I dont own a single share in KAEDCO- Namadi Sambo Former Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo has described as false, reports linking him to the ownership of Kaduna Electric Power Distribution Company of Nigeria (KAEDCO). The former Vice President in a statement he personally signed said he does not own a single share in the company. He said, “my attention has been drawn to an online story published by Daily Post on a query issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to the Power Distribution Companies.  The story alleged that l own Kaduna Electric Power Distribution Company of Nigeria (KAEDCO) through a proxy. "I wish to state unequivocally that the story is totally untrue, malicious and unfounded. The story is aimed at bringing my reputation to disrepute. For the records, I do not own a single share in the company or any of the public privatised companies under my watch either directly or through a proxy.”  Sambo said as chairman of...

Three injured as a 3-storey building collapsed at Lekki Expressway The Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said that a three-storey building on Lekki Expressway collapsed at about 7.14 p.m. on Thursday in Lagos. Oke-Osanyintolu told the News men in Lagos that the collapsed building is situated at Sharks Squad, LASEMA, enroute Kingdom Hall street, Abijo, along Lekki-Epe expressway. He said that the collapsed three-storey building was under construction, while three people had been rescued. The three people sustained various degrees of injuries and they have been treated and discharged,” Oke-Osanyintolu said. He said that no death was recorded while officials are still working and monitoring the situation at the site. He, however, said that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), as well as the Ministry of Solid Material Testing Agency And Physical Planning, had been informed for further investigation. ...

Gunmen Adopts 10 residence of Pegi Community in Abuja. Nine persons, including a 12-year-old boy have been abducted in Pegi community, a resettlement area in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The victims were kidnapped last night around 8:00pm by gunmen who dressed in military camouflage. The gunmen shot at two vehicles, including one NISSAN Frontier and Toyota Solara which the bullet deflated the tyres and created deep holes on the vehicle. One of the victims was said to be in critical condition. A victim who was released on health ground said the attackers could not be less than 20. Report reaching from the community is that the kidnappers had called this morning demanding N10 million ransom from a relative of the abductees. This is the second time kidnapping incident would happen in the community. Last year, four people were kidnapped along the same makeshift path to the community that housed naval quarters.  A naval officer and one ...

FG To Bring Back Toll Gates On Nigerian Roads The Federal Government is set to bring back toll gates on Nigerian roads years after they were pulled down. The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola gave the hint at an interaction with correspondents at the State House after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja. At the FEC meeting which was chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, the minister argued that there is no reason why the nation cannot toll. Fashola stated that no law prohibits tolling in Nigeria today even though it was a policy of the government to abolish tolls.

JOSF, ZFTF Commemorates International Day of Older Persons; seeks inclusion for elderly.  The Just Older Support Foundation (JOSF) in collaboration with Zoe’s Flower The Foundation (ZFTF) has called for a greater inclusion of the elderly in the society. This was made as the both Foundation commemorates the international Day of Older Persons, focusing on promoting the rights and inclusion for the Elderly, held at the Glory Hall, Kingdom Centre, Abuja. Speaking at the event, Mrs. Olateju Olubanke, President of JOSF, said that it is very important for every individuals to respect the elders as they have achieved everything they enjoy currently without much comfort, and still remained amazing. “Elders have a lot to share with you, their life experiences, their first job, their first love, their mistakes, their discoveries, their success and much more, which if taken into consideration will help our society as well as individual growth” Olateju said. She added that, “Elders ...