MAYEGBA'S BLOG ™ ̷̐ ̈́ ̈́ ̈́ ͂ ̷̐ ̈́ ̈́̈́ ͂ ̐

Xenophobia: Senate withdraws from South Africa trip MARCH 8TH 2017, The Senate has cancelled its planned trip to South Africa over recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in that country.Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at Wednesday’s plenary, announced the cancellation of the trip ‎after about 30 minutes closed-door session of the upper chamber. He said that the lawmakers reached the decision to withdraw from the trip following the insistence of the House of Representatives to send a separate delegation to South Africa. Ekweremadu disclosed that attempts by the Senate to prevail on the lower chamber to allow a single National Assembly delegation for the trip were rejected by the green chamber. “On our trip to South Africa to engage our colleagues in their parliament regarding xenophobia, we noted that the House Representatives insisted on going to South Africa independently. “We thought we could send a single delegation of the National As

Aregbesola declares curfew in Ife after deadly clash MARCH 8TH 2017, The Osun State government has declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Ile-Ife after clashes in the city claimed lives and led to the destruction of properties, a media to the state governor said on Thursday. The curfew “has been compelled by the breach of the peace in the area which has led to an avoidable destruction of lives and properties,” said the State’s director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon. A News Agency of Nigeria report claims five persons were killed in the clash. The curfew, which comes into effect on Wednesday will be from 6 pm to 7 am and in force until Friday. Okanlawon assured of the readiness of the security forces to quell the faceoff which has led to the destruction of properties in affected area of the ancient city. “This is to assure all and sundry that the breach of the peace in Ile-Ife is not beyond the control of our highly mobilised security forces. “To t

How Dasuki’s aide, others used 5 firms to divert N36.8bn —EFCC MARCH 8th 2017,       ABUJA—The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday narrated before the Federal High Court in Abuja,how Colonel Nicholas Ashinze,who was special assistant to the detained National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), used five companies to divert public funds to the tune of N36.8 billion. The anti-graft agency told the court that Ashinze perpetrated the fraud in connivance with an Austrian,Wolfgang Reinl, as well as two other defendants, Edidiong Idiong and Sagir D. Mohammed.      It gave names of the five companies that allegedly served as conduit pipes for the illegal diversion of funds from office of the NSA under Dasuki, as Geonel Integrated Services Limited, Unity Continental Nigeria Limited, Helpline Organization, Vibrant Resource Limited and Sologic Integrated Services Limited. Former National Security Adviser,Col. Sambo Dasuki,rtd According to the agency, the

Saudi police shoot dead IS suspect MARCH 8TH 2017,          Police in Saudi Arabia said Wednesday they shot dead a member of the Islamic State group in the capital, the latest suspected jihadist to be killed by security forces. Officers were called at 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) on Tuesday to an apartment in Riyadh’s Al-Rayan district where the suspect was “flaunting his support” for the extremist group, the interior ministry said in a statement.         “He started to resist and waved a gun which he was carrying,” forcing police to eliminate “the threat he posed,” the ministry added. Another suspect was arrested.IS has claimed a series of deadly shootings and bombings since late 2014 in Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia.            Most attacks have targeted the Shiite minority and security forces, killing dozens of people. IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has called for attacks against Saudi Arabia, a member of the US-led coalition battling the group in Syria and Iraq. On January 7, Saudi

Xenophobic attacks:Senate delegation to South Africa unnecessary —Reps March 8th 2017,      ABUJA — THE House of Representatives said, yesterday, that Senate ought not to talk about going to South Africa, in view of the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in that country, saying such a move amounted to a duplication of efforts. It also told the South African government that the recent attacks should be the last, warning that Nigeria had the capacity to retaliate any form of ill-treatment meted out on its citizens.      The House equally reminded the South African government and its people to be mindful of the consequences should Nigeria decide to retaliate the incessant attacks on its citizens in South Africa. House of Representatives Addressing journalists in Abuja, Majority Leader of the House and leader of the delegation, Femi Gbajabiamila, said:  “This is bicameral legislature, both houses are independent but for the ease of governance and diplomacy,it would have been proper or

Italy deports 37 Male Nigerians March 8th 2017,        The Italian government has deported another batch of Nigerians for committing immigration-related offences in the country, just two weeks after it deported 33 Nigerians. The fresh 37 deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMlA) Lagos, on Tuesday night.      Nigerians who voluntarily returned from Libya disembarking from the aircraft on their arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport,Ikeja in Lagos on Tuesday.The deportees,who are all males,were brought back in a chartered aircraft with registration number OM-IEX.      DSP Joseph Alabi, the spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command, confirmed the development. The deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) , the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police.Also on ground to receive them were officials the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).      N

Sports;Omeruo,Efugh And Others Donate To Help Ailing Emeteole MARCH 8TH 2107, KELECHI EMETEOLE           Former Heartland and Enugu Rangers captain and defender, Chinedu Efugh has donated the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) to ailing coach kelechi Emeteole. The former Heartland and Enugu Rangers coach was diagnosed with a throat cancer. Heartland’s Public Relations Officer, Solomon Onuh who is championing the Save Our Soul (SOS) campaign for the former El Kanemi Warriors tactician confirmed receipt of the kind donation from the Abia Warriors strongman, Efugh.      “Yes, Efugh donated N50,000 to assist coach Kelechi Emeteole in his urgent medical treatment. “In fact, I’m heading to his (Emeteole) house to hand the cheque to the wife. “Aside, the Chief of Staff to the Imo state governor, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu has equally donated the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000) while the deputy speaker, Rt Hon Ugonna Ozuruigbo donated Two Hundred Thousand Naira (200,000).

INT’L WOMEN’S DAY: Cleric advocates for more gender inclusive world MARCH 8TH 2017,            A catholic cleric, Rev. Fr. John Damian Adizie has identified mothers as the joy of every home, saying that they deserve our love, respect and should be given more opportunities in the workplace as mothers all over the world are being celebrated.            In a statement made available to Vanguard, in commemoration of the International Women’s Day celebration, Rev. Fr. Adizie, the Spiritual Director of a catholic healing ministry, The Catholic Adoration of Holy Spirit, Egoro, Amede, Ekpoma in Edo State charged people, especially men to celebrate their wives, mothers and women in general for who they are and what they represent in the life of every family. “Mothers are the joy of every home. A home without a mother is like a generator without fuel. Mothers are the most caring and most loving figures in the world. Mothers deserve our love, our respect and even our gifts.”          Re

America;At least four die in US train, charter bus crash MARCH 8TH 2017, PHOTO ILLUSTRATION(NOT ACTUAL)MARC     At least four people died and dozens were injured when a train crashed Tuesday into a charter bus in the southern US state of Mississippi, authorities said.        The crash occurred shortly after 2 pm (2000 GMT) at a railroad crossing in the Gulf Coast city of Biloxi, police chief John Miller said. “It’s a terrible, chaotic scene right now but we have it under control,” Miller said at a news conference. He said the charter bus had traveled from Austin, Texas, and was probably headed to a casino in Biloxi. Three people died at the scene and a fourth person died later, fire chief Joe Boney told the local Sun Herald newspaper.       Of the 43 people on the bus, 35 were injured, according to the newspaper. Craig Robinson, who said he witnessed the crash, told the Sun Herald that the bus appeared to be stuck on the train tracks for about five minutes before the train

Reps summon Education Ministers over illegal transfers of FGC principals/directors MARCH 8TH 2017, Trouble is brewing at the Federal Ministry of Education, following illegal and surreptitious transfer of qualified principals and directors of Education from many Federal Government Colleges and their replacement with junior officers close to top government officials in the ministry.         Most of the principals are qualified directors on Level 17, who were persuaded by the Federal Civil Service to accept to serve as principals of grade A federal government colleges as a result of inadequate vacancies in the ministry to serve as directors. However, while the directors were deployed to many states of the federation, with some having less than a year to retire from service, the Ministry of Education has moved in some junior officers with no requisite qualifications to head such schools, thereby causing a rift in the process.        Vanguard learned that the aggrieved principals

5 Killed In Ondo Bank Robbery MARCH 8TH 2017,           Akure—NO fewer than five persons, including a policeman,were feared killed during a bank robbery in Ogbagi Akoko, Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, yesterday.               Those killed include two security guards attached to a bank located at Uko quarters in the agrarian town. An eyewitness account said the robbers blew open the main entrance of the bank and an Automated Teller Machine, ATM, with dynamite, where monies were carted away.                              Reports had it that the hoodlums, numbering about 15, got to the bank on five motorbikes in a commando-like manner, shooting sporadically into the air to scare people away. A police source said that the robbers disguised as commercial (Okada) motorcycle operators,to deceive security operatives attached to the bank who unknowingly allowed their passengers to alight in front of the bank.              On arrival at the bank around noon yeste

171 fresh deportees from Libya arrive Lagos airport MARCH 8TH 2017,           Lagos—The third batch of Nigerians numbering 171 deported from Libya yesterday arrived the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos aboard an aircraft operated by Buraq Air with registration no TNSIB UZ/89/190. This is just as the deportees made up of 76 males and 95 females called on federal government to provide jobs for the youths to prevent the dangerous attempt to cross the dreaded Mediterranean sea to Europe The deportees who had three  medical cases, brought in an ambulance arrived the Haji camp of the airport, where the deportees were profiled. They looked joyous for being able to make it back to Nigeria after the harrowing experience they had in Libya.                           The 171 Nigerians returnees from Libya on touch-down at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele. Addressing newsmen after the profiling of the deportees, National Commission for Refugee Co

Operation Delta Safe Destroys 80 Illegal Refineries MARCH 8TH 2017, Troops of the joint operation Delta Safe, have intensified operations against crude oil theft and clamped down on 80 illegal refineries across Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states recently. This was revealed in a statement signed by the Co-ordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Major Abubakar Abdullahi. In Bayelsa state, the troops, who patrolled around Obhoyohan and Ngiri Creeks in Nembe Local Government Area discovered and destroyed seven illegal refineries containing 150,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil. Meanwhile, in Delta state, a network of six illegal refineries made up of four storage tanks, two dug out pits filled with products suspected to be stolen crude oil, were discovered around Sara Abileye Swamp in Warri south west LGA. Additionally, another patrol at the Ajoloso Creek axis in Elume community destroyed a camp, housing eight illegal refineries. Similarly, troops destroyed nine ille

SERAP Urges Osinbajo To Warn Trump Against Harassment Of Nigerians MARCH 8TH 2017, The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to “tell the U.S President, Donald Trump, in no uncertain terms that Nigeria would not tolerate any harassment and unfair treatment of her citizens with valid multiple-entry U.S visas at U.S airports.” This was revealed in a statement released on Tuesday and signed by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni. It follows a disclosure by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, that in the last few weeks, the office has received a few cases of Nigerians with valid multiple-entry U.S visas being denied entry and sent back to Nigeria. According to Mrs Dabiri -Erewa, such affected persons were sent back immediately on the next available flight and their visas were cancelled. SERAP further said: “The Nigerian government must stand

Alleged Fraud: Trial Of Kalu, Two Others Stalled MARCH 8TH 2017, The trial of a former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, and two others on allegations of fraud was stalled at the Federal High Court in Lagos amid a heavy downpour. The failure of the prosecution to serve the statement of one of its witnesses on the defence team halted the proceedings before Justice Mohammed Idris. When the case came up on Monday, the court directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to call its first witness in the case. The witness, Onovah Ovenevoh, was about to begin his testimony when lawyer to the second and third defendants, Solo Akuma, drew the court’s attention to the fact that his statement was not part of the proof of evidence given to him by the prosecution. He said service of witness statement on the defence was a constitutional right and a facility that should be provided for an accused person as enshrined in Section 36(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitutio

Abductors demand N100m ransom for DPO kidnapped in Delta MARCH 8TH 2017, Abductors of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of C Division Police  Station in Asaba, Delta State, Mr. Valentine Mbalu, have opened negotiation with his family members and are demanding N100 million ransom to secure the cop’s release. Mbalu was reportedly kidnapped by six heavily armed gunmen, who ambushed him while in Agbor town for an official assignment on Monday. But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr. Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed the DPO’s kidnap yesterday in Asaba, refused to speak on the N100 million ransom demanded by the gunmen. He rather said the police were on top of the situation as they were working tirelessly to ensure his release unhurt. It was gathered that the abductors in the early hours of yesterday made the demand for ransom, which according to a family member simply identified as Eunice, is an outrageous amount. She said: “My brother is a p

3 feared dead as Customs, smugglers clash in Lagos MARCH 8TH 2017, Three people were feared killed yesterday in a clash between the men of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) and suspected smugglers at the Alakuko area of Lagos. The AUTHORITY gathered that some customs officials from Federal Operation Unit who were pursuing suspected smugglers conveying rice and other contraband materials allegedly shot at their vehicle, killing three persons instantly. The alleged shooting and death of the victims attracted the attention of policemen from Alakuko Division who also fired sporadically in a bid to apprehend the Customs officials An eye witness who pleaded for anonymity said the Customs officials allegedly shot back in the air apparently to pave way for their escape which caused panic in the area. The eye witness who is a senior police officer at the division said the incident caused pandemonium as motorists, passengers as well as passers-by ran for safety. Shops and