De - Bliss

There was a sharp argument among senators yesterday, November 24, on the removal of petrol subsidy. The senators were divided as some were in support of fuel subsidy removal and others were against it. Daily Trust reports that the argument started during the debate on the motion on fuel scarcity sponsored by Senator Barau I. Jibrin (APC, Kano North). Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi central) said the only solution to the scarcity was the removal of the petrol subsidy. He added that the current pump price of petrol was not realistic. “It is high time we support the executive in removing the petrol subsidy. It is shrouded in corruption as few people are milking the country,” he said. However, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) opposed the removal of fuel subsidy. According to him, it would negatively affect the masses. Meanwhile, members of the House of Representatives were also divided yesterday, over a motion that sought to urge the federal government to control Nigeria’s...

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, November 24, has begun the investigation into the failure of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to prosecute the chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar over allegation of corruption. Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami The Upper Chamber received the petition alleging corrupt practices against Umar on November 5 and was submitted to the Ethics committee for consideration, Daily Post reports. The petition was presented by Ant-Corruption Network against the office of AGF faulting the office of AGF for failing to prosecute Umar. The group petition reads in part: “We have become aware that the office of the Attorney-General has failed in this sacrosanct duty to Nigeria in one particular case and would like the office to explain why on June 24, 2014, the chairman of the Economic and Financial ‎Crimes Commission wrote an “investigation Report” to the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation (Ref No:...

A bus carrying presidential guards in Tunisia was rocked by an explosion on Tuesday, November 24, killing 12 people and leaving 20 others injured. Officials say there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack against the presidential guard. Walid Louguini, spokesman for the Tunisian interior ministry, told the Associated Press that at least 12 people were killed Louguini also affirmed that no fewer than 20 others were wounded in the attack. READ ALSO: Biafra: Protesters Prepare For Massive Lagos Showdown A witness, Bassem Trifi, said the explosion hit the driver’s side of the bus. He described the scene as “catastrophic”. He said: “I saw at least five corpses on the ground,” adding: “This was not an ordinary explosion.” A few days earlier, the authorities had increased the security level in the capital and deployed security forces in large numbers. Mark Toner, the US state department spokesman speaking in Washington, said the US government was still seeking detai...

The sudden death of Prince Audu Abubakar, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in last Saturday’s governorship in Kogi state, has left many unanswered questions. One such question is who will succeed him? The APC candidate who died shortly after the election was leading the polls with 240,827 votes, against the 199, 514 votes polled by Governor Idris Wada, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election inconclusive. Audu is likely to be replaced by James Abiodun Faleke, his running mate in the gubernatorial elections but it may not be an easy ride for him. Late Abubakar Audu’s running mate, Abiodun Faleke, broke down in tears during the burial. The APC might have to conduct another round of primaries and Faleke may be put forward as one of the candidates. If he wins the primaries, he would get to contest for the Kogi governorship. The APC may also replace the late Audu with Faleke and pic...

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday requested a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court in Abuja to discontinue trial of Nnamdi Kanu, Director of Radio Biafra, charged with criminal conspiracy. Kanu is standing trial on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, intimidation and belonging to unlawful society, to which he pleaded not guilty. “The complainant is, therefore, applying to discontinue the matter under section 108(1) of administration of criminal justice act 2015.’’ Idakwo said that the DSS had also obtained an order from the Federal High Court, Abuja, dated Nov.10, to detain the accused in its custody for 90 days. Objecting, Kanu’s counsel, Vincent Obetta, prayed the court not to discontinue the case because the prosecution did not present any information from the Attorney-General of Federation who had the authority to approve such. Obetta told the court that the DSS violated the order of the court which granted bail that was perfected but not granted, adding...

A warning has been made by Ona Ekhomu, a security expert, concerning a terror attack that is about to happen in Nigeria. The Punch reports that Ekhomu implored the federal government to take issues of tackling insurgency in the country very serious. Instead of waiting for the attack to occur just like it recently did in Paris and France, Ekhomu implored the federal government to call on Nigerians who can help forestall it. Ekhomu, who is the President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria, in a statement on Monday, November 23, said recent intelligence intercepts indicated that an ISIS attack on Nigeria was imminent. He said:“ISIS could use its Nigerian affiliate, Boko Haram, to wreak havoc here in order to signal its capability to carry out worldwide terrorist attacks and add to its stocks of fear. Having millions of Nigerians on the lookout for terrorists, reporting suspicious activities to the authorities, is better than 400,000 police and mili...

L-R: National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former governor of Kogi State, Audu Abubakar, an unidentified member of the APC and Chief Bisi Akande one of the leaders of the APC during a meeting with President Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari before the May 29 inauguration A group by the name, Kogi United Forum has called on the Inspector General of Police to commence immediate investigation into what it described as the suspected assassination of Prince Abubakar Audu a former governor of Kogi State and gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 21, gubernatorial election in Kogi State. The group in a statement signed by its National President, Tunde Aina is accusing the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of allegedly masterminding the assassination of the late Audu. Audu, it was gathered started vomiting blood shortly after casting his vote on Saturday and sharing a meal with the APC National Le...

Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former petroleum minister, who is undergoing treatment for cancer in London, has said that Nigeria has a well-recorded history of maligning its oil ministers. The former minister in the interview granted to the Dele Momodu’s The Boss newspaper, stated that even President Muhammadu Buhari as an oil minister (1976-1978) under the then head of state Olusegun Obasanjo was blamed for a N2.8 billion scam when the amount disappeared from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corpration’s (NNPC) Midlands Bank account in the UK. Diezani said: “Everyone agrees that Muhammadu Buhari is a man of unquestionable character and impeccable pedigree yet it was alleged that N2.8billion vanished under his nose. Fela even sang about this humongous disappearance. Till this day no one has been able to prove that the then Major General Buhari stole a kobo.” She also listed other ex-ministers who have been belittled including Prof. Tam David West. The ex-oil minister claimed that the...

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently on the working visit to Iran to participate in the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit on November 23, Monday. The president was accompanied by the Nigerian representative in Iran, Dr Ali Magashi, and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola for breakfast this morning. According to the presidency, Buhari and the leaders of other member-countries of the GECF are expected to review the current market outlook on gas and discuss strategies for promoting gas production. President Buhari is scheduled to be back in Abuja on November 24, Tuesday. Iran – Nigeria mutual and very friendly relations have a background of more than 40 years now. See more photos below:

A lady on twitter, @sugabelly, has tagged the deceased Kogi state governor and APC guber candidate, Audu Abubakar, and his children, monsters. In a series of tweets which she made available to a lawyer on Twitter, @echecrates, she narrated how she was allegedly raped by the family of the late APC gubernatorial candidate in Kogi state. @sugabelly had taken to her twitter page to reveal how happy she was when the news of Audu’s death broke. However, her followers took up the tweet, chastising her for rejoicing over the death of another human being. She decided to burst the bubble by telling the allege rape story. Read her narration below: The lawyer, @echecrates, however said that he was contacted by their lawyers. They threatened him to retract the tweets and apologize. Read the tweets below: The 68-year-old former governor at the time of his death was the governorship flag bearer of the APC in Kogi. He is survived by wives and children. Prayers preceding his burial are ongoing pr...

Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of the APC, is wanted in the United States of America, over his involvement in the looting of over $600million during the reign of late General Sani Abacha, pointblanknews.com investigation has revealed. Bagudu, according to documents obtained by pointblanknews.com from the U.S Department of Justice, masterminded the stealing of millions of U.S Dollars from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, wired same to several foreign accounts through phony companies he set up for himself and the Abacha family. U.S government sources told pointblanknews.com that the U.S had under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiatives, mentioned Bagudu’s involvement in Abacha’s money laundering scandal to President Buhari, and sought for his support to bring the Kebbi Governor to justice. This is even as Bagudu and his family are currently fighting civil forfeiture claims to an additional approximately $148 million, part of the money he stole, kept in four inves...

Contrary to earlier reports that Abubakar Audu, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last week’s election is alive, Premium Times has confirmed that he has been buried. This all but quells reports that the former governor had been resurrected by a prophet who came in from Lagos to pray for him. The social media had been awash with the report about the possible resurrection of the late politician, but Premium Times have confirmed that he has since been buried and sympathisers have left the grave side but there are still tears in the compound. “Abubakar Audu buried. Now laid in grave as Imams offer prayers. Sands poured into grave amidst tears and sorrow. Final prayers as Audu goes home. “People are departing from grave site but a lot of sympathisers are still weeping profusely. Suratul Fatiha, the first chapter of the Quoran has been rendered. Sympathisers dispersing,” the report on the site read. Below is Naij.com’s earlier report on his rumoured re...

A faction of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has claimed that the detained Radio Biafra director Nnamdi Kanu may have been killed. This was contained in a statement released in Abakaliki by MASSOB’s factional director of information, Uchenna Madu, Vanguard reports. The group leader said the information had been disclosed by some security operatives sympathetic to the Biafran issue. The statement reads: “Factional MASSOB has discovered that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu detained by Nigeria has been murdered in Abuja. “Information to Biafra Intelligence Agency (BIA), through operatives sympathetic to the Biafran cause revealed it to us. Pro-Biafran groups may not believe it until Monday, Nov 23, when Nnamdi will be arraign in court. “The cause information we are receiving from Abuja is not healthy, we’re still waiting till Monday. Nnamdi Kanu is the arrowhead of the Biafra agitation. Nigeria should be extremely careful on Nnamdi Kanu. “If governmen...

Hajia Aisha Buhari on Saturday, November 21, 2015, paid Asiwaju Bola Tinubu a courtesy visit in his residence at Bourdillon in Ikoyi area of Lagos state. According to Cable.ng, Mrs Buhari was in Lagos to commiserate with the former governor over the demise of Haliru Dantoro, the late Emir of Borgu kingdom in Niger state. The All Progressives Congress (APC) leader’s spokesman, Sunday Dare, informed that the Tinubu hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, who was accompanied by the wives of different governors, “on her Style and commitment to Nigeria.” Tinubu’s closeness to the late monarch is believed to have been responsible for the famous traditional title, ‘Jagaban Borgu’ in 2006. The late monarch had said: “It was in the days of the ill-fated third republic, in the fateful year of 1992 that my path first crossed that of His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode; Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari and Senator Oluremi Tinubu...

Road To Yesterday is actress Genevieve Nnaji’s first self-produced movie and the buzz it has garnered of late has been great. Naij.com met up with the screen star for an exclusive chat and she described the production experience as challenging. It is a few hours to the screening of Genevieve Nnaji’s movie, Road to Yesterday, at the Genesis Deluxe Cinema on Friday, November 13 when Naij.com met the award-winning actress for an exclusive chat on the movie. We wondered why despite being in Nollywood for over 15 years and unlike her other colleagues – Rita Dominic, Iyabo Ojo, Funke Akindele etc. – it has only taken just now for the award-winning actress who hails from Imo state to produce her own movie. “It took this long because I didn’t come here to make movies of my own; I came here to act,” she explained. “I want to be an actor, that’s what it is. It took a while to realize that I needed to show people where I’m at, the growth that I have had to pass through over the years. I neede...

History will be made in Kogi state today when residents of the state decide who takes charge of the state’s affairs for the next four years. The election process, which has gathered so much momentum in the past few days, has clearly pitched two major candidates against each other; Governor Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the former governor, Audu Abubakar, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate. While there have been reports of a heavy security presence in the state, there have also been reports of people running to the market and banks to stock pile their houses with food and money as there will be no movement in the state from 6am to 6pm, when the election is expected to have been concluded. While Wada may fancy his chances as the incumbent, the ouster of former president Goodluck Jonathan by a fresh candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, may yet prove to him (Wada) that incumbency may not be enough to secure victory for him at the polls. As at...

Eze Onyekpere, the executive director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), has said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is not ready for governance. According to him, the failure of the Buhari-led administration to present the 2016 Budget proposals to the National Assembly, less than two months to the end of the year showed how unprepared they are in matters of governance, Vanguard reports. Onyekpere said this yesterday, November 19, during a round-table meeting on Budget Transparency and Public Engagement in Budget Process, following the release of the Open Budget Survey 2015, in Abuja. He said: “Right now, we don’t have the Medium Term Economic Framework (MTEF) to underpin the budget and we don’t have the budget. The implication is that the budget is going to be presented very late and it may not be ready until the end of the first quarter of 2016, which has been the usual tradition. The implications are not funny for the administration of the Nigerian people. “T...

Popular American business magazine, Forbes, has released its list of top 50 richest Africans! Amazingly, 10 Nigerians made the list with our dear Nigerian business mogul, Aliko Dangote topping the chart with a $16.7b net worth . Telecommunication bigwig, Mike Adenuga sits on the 7th position of the list with a net worth of $3.5b. Folorunsho Alakija, Femi Otedola, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Theophilus Danjuma, Tony Elumelu, Jim Ovia, Mohammad Indimi and former governor of Abia state, Orji Uzor Kalu are all on the list, making Nigeria proud.

Contrary to earlier reports that Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man was in a five-star hotel in Mali, where 170 people are being held hostage, the rich business mogul is reported to be in Lagos. According to a report by Al Jazeera, the gunmen attacked Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali’s capital, Bamako, today, Friday, November 20 and about 170 are being held hostage. The gunmen who shouted “Allahu Akbar” opened fire outside the hotel before storming it. A business owner, Garba Konate, who spoke to Al Jazeera, said the group of attackers showed up about three hours earlier. “About 10 gunmen arrived early in the morning and shot all the guards in front of the Radisson. I started hearing gunshots coming from the hotel,” said Ibrahim, 28, who works at a cultural centre 40 metres away. Soon after I saw one of the guards running out, injured… The security guard told me the shooters were so quick that he doesn’t even know how many came in,” he told Al Jazeera. According to CNN, about three peop...

Angered northern youths have condemned promoters of a new agitation to revive Biafra and divide Nigeria. Vanguard reports that the youths under the aegis of Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) warned those people who stand behind the criminal agitation to stop it and allow Nigeria to remain peaceful and united. According to a statement signed by Alhaji Gambo Gujungu, the national president of AYF, the group is highly disappointed by the heinous move by some selfish elements to cause crisis in Nigeria. “We are worried by the situation in the South East of the country where some youths have taken to the street protesting perceived marginalisation of their zone and demanding a state of Biafra. “As the umbrella body of all northern youths we want to condemn the development in its entirety, as we do know that it is being carried out in bad faith. “We want to reiterate that we are apostles of one indivisible Nigeria and will continue to work across the length and breadth of the country to engender...

There was drama in the Senate yesterday, November 18, when one of the senators, Enyinnaya Abaraibe decided to pick on his colleague over his dressing. Abaraibe who is representing Abia South gave everyone a round of laugh when he picked on Ali Waliki, who is representing Bauchi South. Waliki got a petition from the students of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, and as he was about putting the petition before the Senate, Abaribe raised a point of order, saying that Waliki should not be allowed to lay the petition as he was not well dressed “Mr. President, my distinguished colleague is not properly dressed, as such, he should not be allowed to lay the petition. He is wearing suit without a tie,” Abaribe said. Responding, Wakili who was wearing a black suit without a tie said: “I’m properly dressed and if you look at the way Obama dresses, you will appreciate my dressing.” This got everyone rolling and laughing.Waliki later laid his petition before the house. Just yesterday, Sen...

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central and the wife to the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, November 18, raised dust in the Senate when she gracefully sat on the seat meant for deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu. Any coincidence? A day after assassination attempt on the deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, Senator Remi Tinubu takes his seat at the Senate plenary. It took the reproof of the senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party for Tinubu to relocate back to her chair to second a motion for the approval of Lagos state development policy operation loan. The rebuke came when the senator stood up to speak while still standing in the deputy Senate president corner. Some senators later told Naij.com that she insisted the seat belonged to her. The APC leader’s wife, however, returned back to Ekweremadu’s position, who was absent from plenary immediately after she seconded the motion. At the ...

The family members of the detained Radio Biafra director Nnamdi Kanu joined a protest organised by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOD) in Umuahia, the capital of Abia state. The protestors started from Port Harcourt on November 15 with IPOD activists rambling to Aba and then, Umuahia. As they trekked to Aba, the number increased. On getting to Ubakala, close to Umuahia the group was stopped by security personnel who attempted to disperse them but failed. The protesters passed the night at Ubakala, from where they were joined by Kanu’s mum, Ugo Eze Sally Nnenne Kanu and sister, Princess Chichi Kanu as early as 5.30am yesterday. Lolo Kanu, mother of the detained leader with members of the Royal family, joined the activists in Umuahia city, the home town of Nnamdi Kanu. Trekking together with the Biafra supporters, she continuously called for the release of her son who is still being arrested by the DSS. However, Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor of Abia state, cautioned the pro-Biafr...

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the recent attacks by the Biafran separatists, noting that Nigerians have remained united since independence. The president’s speech came in the wake of agitations and protests for Biafra nation across the country, especially as the separatists clamour the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the director of Radio Biafra, who has been in detention since last month. Buhari spoke on Monday, November 16, at the Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja during the launching of the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal Fund. According to Vanguard, he noted that Nigerians have since independence remained united, therefore, the people’s resolve to remain united is ever strong. “Our nation has recently celebrated 55 years of political independence and continues to remain as one indivisible entity despite several grievous challenges. “Since independence, Nigeria has witnessed a lot of internal strife, survived a civil war and has rem...

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to name his remaining 14 special advisers. Daily Post reports that the president, who recently inaugurated his cabinet with the announcement of 36 ministers, has 14 names already. On June 3 President Buhari received the Senate’s go ahead to appoint 15 special advisers for his administration. He has, however, appointed just one, Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity. Buhari on June 2 in a letter addressed to the then Senate president, Senator David Mark, said his request to appoint 15 special advisers was in accordance with the Section 151 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as amended). “I write to request for your kind consideration and approval of the distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic to appoint 15 special advisers as prescribed in Section 151(2-3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). “While trusting that this exercise will recei...

The Nigerian army has said that it has recently killed 37 Boko Haram members and captured 23 insurgents. Major-General Yusha’u Abubakar, the commander of the ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ said that troops also cleared many of their camps and recovered weapons and ammunition of various types. Abubakar said in Gubumbali and surroundings the army killed 10 insurgents and freed the town. He said: “Also in Boboshe village near Durkwa the troops successfully dislodged Boko Haram terrorists and recovered 2 Buffalo vehicles, 2 Hilux vehicles, 2 AA Guns, 3 81mm mortar tubes, assorted ammo including 3 81mm bombs,101 rounds of 6mm bombs, 20 boxes of 12.7mm ammo, 21 RPG bombs, large quantity of Shilka Rds and a large quantity of 7.62mm Special Rds.” According to the commander in Gasarwa village which is between Maiduguri and Monguno town, the army killed 18 Boko Haram members and seized 2 AK 47 rifles, 1 GPMG, 1 RPG,7 bombs, 1 box of 7.62mm special and 2 GPMG belts. “The troops in harbour at Karde...

More than five months after the inauguration President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministers are finally working! Babatunde Fashola, former Lagos state governor serves now as Minister of Power, Works and Housing. He is a man acknowledged with producing results even in the most hard situations and this mostly accounted for his nomination as minister of critical sectors that will shape the success or otherwise of the Muhammadu Buhari’s government. When some of the recently sworn-in ministers have postponed the beginning of the work till November 17, Fashola, who is aware of the big task ahead, has hit the ground running. You may see how the new minister settling down to work at his new office in Abuja.