Saturday, 30 September 2017

Ex-Big Brother Naija Star, Debie-Rise celebrates Nigeria @ 57 at the Confluence City of Lokoja, Kogi State




The celebration started off with an endurance trek from Mount Patti gate to Mount Patti on the arrival of the speaker, Honorable Mathew Kolawole.

The SSAs to the Governor were also present such as :
SSA on Security and Intelligence, Abdulraheem Baba Aliyu.
SSA on Political Matters, Hon. Abdullahi Bello.
SSA on Women and Children Development.
SSA on Education - Jibril Unman Courage
SSA on Sports, Segun Olobatoke.
SSA on Water Resources, Mayowa Alaiyemola.
SSA on Agricultural Matters, Ismaila Idris.
SSA on Health Matters, Dr Attah Ahmed.

Commissioners were also present such as Commissioner for Information and Tourism, Mohammed Awal
Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Honorable Arome Gabriel Adoji

              Commissioner for Youth and Sports
               During the Endurance trek.

Ex-Big Brother Naija Star, Debie-Rise with other dignitaries also graced the occasion.




Corpers were also there to celebrate Nigeria with the good people of Kogi State.




Videos of the event








Reporting
Peace Okonkwo



UK Seeks Clarification About Nnamdi Kanu’s Status, Whereabouts From FG




The United Kingdom has asked the Federal Government to clarify the status and whereabouts of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The British government said it had asked the government if the British national was alive or dead. However, it could not be immediately ascertained if the Federal Government had responded to the inquiries or not.

The Press Officer, UK high commission in Nigeria, Joe Abuku, stated that the inquiry followed reports that Kanu had been missing since September 14, 2017 when armed soldiers stormed his residence in Abia State.


Abuku said this in response to questions from Saturday PUNCH seeking to know UK’s concern on the missing IPOB leader.

“We are seeking urgent clarification from the Nigerian authorities about the status and whereabouts of Mr. Kanu, a British-Nigerian man, who has been reported missing since September 14,” Abuku stated in an email on Thursday.


Asked if the UK would strip Kanu of citizenship on account of the declaration by Nigeria that he was leading a terrorist organisation, the mission said it does not comment on individual cases.

“One of the conditions that can make the United Kingdom strip its citizen of nationality is if the person engages in a terrorist activity at home or abroad. And Kanu has dual citizenship and therefore a citizen of Nigeria and the UK,” the mission stated.

When asked if the UK supported the Nigerian government’s proscription of the IPOB, Abuku stated that the group was not a proscribed organisation under the British law.

“The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a proscribed organisation in the UK,” the mission spokesperson stressed.

However, when asked if the group was free to raise funds or hold rallies in Britain, Abuku said he would need to get an official response on that, but subsequently declined to respond to the question.


He also declined comment on whether the IPOB might be designated as a terrorist group or proscribed by the British authorities.

Abuku said, “We do not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not under consideration for proscription. A decision to proscribe an organisation must be based on a belief that it is concerned in terrorism as defined in the Terrorism Act 2000, and it must be proportionate.”

The United States had earlier said it did not consider IPOB a terrorist group and urged Nigerians to de-escalate tension and embrace peaceful resolution of grievances.

Spokesperson for the American Embassy in Nigeria, Russell Brooks, had said, “Within the context of unity, we encourage all Nigerians to support a de-escalation of tension and peaceful resolution of grievances. The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a terrorist organisation under US law.”



Igbo groups mobilise SANs to defend IPOB suspects

Meanwhile, a pro-Igbo Group, Igbo National Council, says it is reaching out to lawyers, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria from the South-East, to defend arrested members of the IPOB.


INC explained that the move was based on its members’ conviction that it was legally and morally wrong for the Federal Government to proscribe IPOB as a terrorist organisation.

The president of the group, Chilos Godsent, told Saturday PUNCH in Owerri, the Imo State capital that the pro-Biafra agitators had not violated any section of the constitution, and that INC would give the arrested IPOB members maximum support.

Godsent said, “The Igbo National Council at its last National Executive Council meeting held in Owerri on Friday, September 22, 2017, among other issues, resolved to reach out to progressive lawyers of Igbo extraction, including SANs, to discuss with them on the issue of volunteering to defend members of IPOB who were arrested during the Operation python Dance II in the South-East region.

“INC was dismayed that the Federal Government, through the Attorney General of the Federation, has concluded plans to charge the alleged IPOB members for terrorism. INC notes that IPOB is not a terrorist organisation and members of IPOB have not willfully violated any section of the 1999 Constitution that guarantee the rights to peaceful assembly and the rights to form and belong to any association.

“In view of the above, INC leadership and its contact committee have started reaching out to lawyers in that respect.”

The group said it was aware that the top members of IPOB were also reaching out to many other lawyers for the same purpose and that on its own, the lawyers it had met with so far had indicated interest in defending the IPOB members arrested in the course of the struggle.

Similarly, Concerned Igbo Unity Forum said that some of its members who are lawyers have volunteered to appear in court for the arrested IPOB members on pro bono basis.

The chairman of the forum, Sixtus Nwoke, said, “There are lawyers who have volunteered to take up the case considering the general view that they are not a terrorist organisation. Our stand is to ensure the unity of the Igbo among themselves in any state or country of residence.

“We equally ensure the safety of their lives and property during precarious times such as we are experiencing now.”

Military won’t declare Kanu wanted -DHQ

The Defence Headquarters on Friday in Abuja said that it had no business declaring the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, wanted.

At a briefing with journalists, the DHQ stated that Kanu was not in military custody and so they couldn’t be held accountable for him.

The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, who made the statement, also claimed that the military did not raid Kanu’s residence.

He said, “Kanu is not in the custody of the military. It is not the responsibility of the DHQ to declare him wanted.

“If the court says that if he does not show up for hearing, it will hold the military responsible, (then) let us wait till that time.

“The military never raided Kanu’s house. I watched the whole operation live on that day. Even I don’t have any right to stop you while passing on a public route. I saw that the Biafran Security Service and the Biafran National Guards mounted roadblocks, and the soldiers came out peacefully and said, ‘Boys, let us pass’. But the Biafrans attempted to collect their guns. Nobody went to Kanu’s house or raided him or took him away.”

On the proscription of IPOB, the defence spokesperson said that the military was not involved in the process.

He said, “The statement of the DHQ on IPOB’s activities is not opposed to what the army chief came out to say. Did we say IPOB was proscribed? No. But some people had a mindset and were in a hurry to attack the military.

“The military did not proscribe IPOB; due process was followed before the proscription. What the military did was to diagnose the security elements and warn of consequences. The military also knows the law.”

Enenche said that the military deployment in states all over the country was to complement the efforts of other security agencies.

He said, “The armed forces of Nigeria are not alarmed by the fear which some expressed that troops are deployed all over the country. The military see and analyse differently, while people see and analyse differently.

“It is the military that can tell you the signs and symptoms of a security element. Other countries passed through what we are passing through before they got to their present developed state.

“For days before Operation Python Dance II started, there were fears, not caused by the military, but by the propaganda of some persons.”



Punch.

NCC Orders MTN, Glo & Airtel & Others To Extend 30-day Data Expiry Period



NCC Directs Telecoms Providers to Grant 14 Days Grace Period on Data Usage

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed all Telecoms Operators to give 14 -days grace for subscribers to exhaust their remaining data after the 30 days expiration period.

Ms. Hellen Obi, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman NCC, Professor Umar Danbata, stated this yesterday, in Minna, the Niger State capital ,at the Consumers Conversation Forum organised by the NCC to sensitise consumers on the need to follow the right channel in resolving issues with their service providers.



The NCC also advised the consumers that if their complaints are not solved by their network provider they can call NCC and lay their complaints, assuring them that the commission will take up the matter and resolve it, including asking the service provider to compensate the subscriber.

“NCC has mandated all network providers to give their subscribers 14 days of grace after the 30 days expiration of their data if they still have data left and cannot recharge to get their data rolled over,” she stated.

Obi declared 2017 as NCC Telecom Consumer year as a result of the consumer’s importance to the growth and development of the telecom industry.

She added: “The commission which is the independent regulatory authority for the telecommunications industry in Nigeria declared Year 2017 as NCC year of the telecom consumer in recognition of the importance of the consumer to the phenomenal growth and development in the telecoms sector.

“The year of telecom consumer, which was formally launched by NCC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Danbata, is in tandem with the 8-point Agenda of the commission aimed to protect, educate, and empower consumers towards ensuring sustainable growth and further development in the Telecom sector.’’

Obi explained that the consumer conversation is designed to educate and inform consumers about their rights and privileges with their service providers.

The commission also articulated four strategic initiatives as key drivers of the Consumer Conversation including “Do-Not-Disturb” (DND) Service across all telecom networks, a service, which enables the consumer to stop receiving unwanted and unsolicited messages from telecom operators.

Others include, the NCC toll free Line 622, which enables consumers to report complaints pertaining to unresolved issues with their service providers, and improving quality of service.

She further said that the NCC has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which mandates the CBN to advise the banks on enlightenment of their customers on fake messages that request them to send their Bank Verification Number (BVN) or account details.







Daylive

Friday, 29 September 2017

Senate’s proceedings for September 28th, 2017.




Welcome to a new Legislative day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Senate President Bukola Saraki took the official prayer and led the chamber into today’s proceedings.

Senator Monsurat Sunmonu moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Wednesday, 27th September, 2017. Senator
Jeremiah Useni seconded.

ANNOUNCEMENT
Senate President Bukola Saraki made announcements and
welcomed People who were in the gallery to observe Plenary.
Senate President Bukola Saraki listed the members of the Committe
on Local Content.
1. Senator Tayo Alasoadura
2. Senator Francis Alimikhena
3. Senator Kabir Marafa
4. Senator Aliyu Sabi
5. Senator Obinna Ogba
6. Senator Biodun Olujimi
7. Senator Baba Kaka.


PETITION
Senator Atai Aidoko laid a petition regarding non-payment of Kogi
state lawmaker’s salary.

Senate President referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back in 2 weeks.

POINT OF ORDER
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu cited orders 42 and 52 and reminded the Chamber that Nigeria would be 57years on
Sunday, 1st October 2017.

Senator Shehu Sani said through our tough time, we have learnt lessons that will help our journey ahead. He stated our country
faces challenges that undermines our unity.
Senator Joshua Lidani congratulated the Leaders and Citizens of Nigeria.

Senator Olujimi said our unity has been tested severally in this nation, this nation is an indivisible entity, the leaders of Nigeria must sit down and talk about our problems like unemployment, putting food on the table.

Senator Sam Anyanwu said it’s important we come together as one.
Nigeria🇳🇬 is one and we should remain one.

Senator Na’ Allah said I feel this is a time to celebrate our leaders especially the 8th Senate.

Senator Atai Aidoko said Nigeria has come a long way after Independence and as leaders we have to redirect our focus and
ensure further improvement.

‘It hasn’t been an easy Journey, we must remember our heroes who died in the process of keeping our country Nigeria’- Senator Akpabio.
Senate resolved to:
Congratulate all Nigerians in the celebration.

‘We wish all Nigerians a happy Independence, we are proud of our
country, the future must continue to seek peace and unity’.-Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan cited orders 52 and 53 and said the invitation of the Minster of Finance and Budget and National planing regarding Implementation of the appropriation of the 2017 Budget
should be referred to the Joint Committee on Finance and Appropriation so they can report back to the Senate.

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS
1. Report of the Committee on Trade and Investment.
Counterfeit Goods Bill, 2017 (SB. 117) by Senator Fatimat Raji-Rasaki.

-That the Senate do consider the report of the Committee on Tradeand Investment. Counterfeit Goods Bill, 2017 (SB. 117).

Senator Aliyu Sabi seconded that the Senate do consider the report of the Committee on Trade and Investment. Counterfeit Goods Bill, 2017 (SB. 117).

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Senate now dissolved into the committee of the whole for clause by clause consideration of the Counterfeit Goods Bill, 2017 (SB.117).

Senate reverted back to Plenary and reported progress.Senate President Bukola Saraki referred the Counterfeit Goods Bill
to the Legal directorate for proper drafting of the bill and to come on another Legislative day.

Senate President Bukola Saraki said going forward bills should go to the legal department before coming to the Chambers.

Report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters by Senator Chukwuka Utazi.
-That the Senate do consider the reports of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on:

1. Abduction, Wrongful Restraints and Wrongful confinement for Ransom Bill, 2017 (SB. 118), and
2. Prohibition and Protection of Persons from Lynching, Mob
Action and Extra Judicial Executions Bill, 2017 (SB. 109).
Senator Jibrin Barau seconded that the Senate do consider the
report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal
Matters on:
1. Abduction, Wrongful Restraints and Wrongful confinement
for Ransom Bill, 2017 (SB. 118).

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Senate dissolved into the Committee of the whole for clause by clause consideration of the report of the Committee on Judiciary on
the Abduction, Wrongful Restraints and Wrongful confinement for Ransom Bill, 2017 (SB. 118).

Senate reverted back to Plenary and reported progress. The Bill for Abduction, Wrongful Restraints and Wrongful
Confinement for Random Bill, 2017(SB. 118) was read the third time and passed.

Senator Ibrahim Gobir seconded that the Senate do consider the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on:
1. Prohibition and Protection of Persons from Lynching, Mob
Action and Extra Judicial Executions Bill, 2017 (SB. 109).

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Senate dissolved into the Committee of the whole for clause by
clause consideration of the report of the Committee on Judiciary on
the Prohibition and Protection of Persons from Lynching, Mob
Action and Extra Judicial Executions Bill, 2017 (SB. 109).
Senate reverted back to Plenary and reported progress.
The Bill for Prohibition&Protection of Persons from Lynching, Mob
Action&Extra Judicial Executions Bill, 2017 (SB. 109) was read the
third time and passed.

ADJOURNMENT
Senate Leader moved that plenary be adjourned to another Legislative Day. Minority Leader seconded.
Plenary is adjourned to Tuesday, 3rd October 2017.


Vanguard.

Kaduna gets bench warrant to arrest northern youths




The Kaduna State Government on Thursday said it had obtained a bench warrant from the court to arrest members of the Coalition of Northern Youths who  gave October 1, 2017 as deadline for Ndigbo in the North to quit or be forced out of the region.

This was despite the withdrawal of the quit notice by the group.

A coalition of northern groups, including the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum led Shettima Yerima, had in July  gaven all the Igbo resident in the 19 states of the North a three-month ultimatum to quit  or be forced out after the expiration of the October 1, 2017 deadline.

They also asked  all northerners resident in the South-East to get prepared and return to the North.

The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai had earlier ordered the arrest of the principal actors who signed the ‘Kaduna declaration.’

The declaration  was signed by Nastura Ashir Sharif (Arewa Citizens Action for Change); Ambassador ShettimaYerima (Arewa  Youth Consultative Forum); Aminu Adam (Arewa Youth  Development Foundation); Alfred Solomon (Arewa Students Forum); and Abdul-Azeez Suleiman (Northern Emancipation  Network) as well as JoshuaViashman (Northern Youth Vanguard).

However, on Thursday, the state government obtained a bench warrant from the court to arrest those that issued the quit notice ultimatum.

Addressing a press conference at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna, the state capital, el-Rufai’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, however, assured residents  including the Igbo, that they had nothing to fear.

He said the assurance was given by the Kaduna State Government which commended all residents and communities in the state for their contributions to peace and harmony.

The government, he added, informed residents that law enforcement and security agencies were taking necessary actions to prevent any threat to peace.

Aruwan said the state government was steadfast about enforcing the law and in keeping the peace, disclosing that the government had taken further actions in relation to those persons that were threatening the liberty of other citizens.

“The government has obtained a bench warrant for their arrest, after filing a formal criminal complaint,” he said.

Aruwan added, “The Kaduna State Government notes, with commendation, the efforts of the residents of our diverse state to uphold peace in their communities. The government and the security agencies are working to prevent any threat to this cherished harmony. Vigorous security patrols will continue as part of concrete actions to reassure residents and demonstrate that bad behaviour is unwelcome and will not be tolerated.

“When some elements barged into our state capital to deliver an illegal ultimatum to a section of our community, the government condemned it and ordered the arrest of those concerned. The Kaduna State Government followed up with a formal criminal complaint to the police, and has obtained a bench warrant against them. Therefore, anybody that sights them or is aware of their location should proudly discharge the civic duty of informing the police.

“The criminal complaint specifies the sections of the recently updated Penal Code Law of Kaduna State, 2017 that were violated by those that issued the illegal ultimatum. These include inciting disturbance:​​Section 78; disturbing public peace: ​​Section 77; injurious falsehood: ​​Section 373; unlawful assembly: ​​Section 66; and criminal conspiracy: ​​Section 59

“The formal criminal complaint and the bench warrant secured on the 8th August, 2017 provide a basis to investigate, apprehend and ultimately prosecute the suspects.”




Punch.

Saraki reshuffles Senate c’ttees, gives Marafa, Tinubu “juicy” posts



Senate President Bukola Saraki on Thursday, reshuffled the leaderships of the Senate’s committees, in what has been
described as one of the moves to return peace to the troubled Red Chamber, since June 9, 2015.

Senator Kabiru Marafa, former Chairman of the Committee on National Population was appointed Chairman of the Petroleum
(downstream) Committee.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, former Chairman, Committee on Women Affairs was named Chairperson of the Committee on Environment.

Senator Suleiman Hukunyi is now Chairman of the Committee on National Identity.

These lawmakers were all outspoken critics of the Saraki-led Senate.

Saraki made the announcement shortly before the senate adjourned
on Thursday.

ISIS leader seemingly breaks 11-month silence in audio recording




The leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, seems to have broken his 11-month silence with a long audio message in which he mocks the United States, calls on jihadis to rally against the Syrian regime and insists that ISIS 'remains' despite its rapid loss of territory.

A spokesman with the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence told CNN: "We are aware of the audio tape purported to be of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and are taking steps to examine it. While we have no reason to doubt its authenticity, we do not have verification at this point."



The speech seems to have been recorded relatively recently, as it references North Korean nuclear threats against Japan and the United States, as well as Syrian peace talks -- in which Russia, Turkey and Iran are trying to extend the seize fire.

The release appears to lay to rest claims by the Russian military that they had almost certainly killed Baghdadi in an airstrike near Raqqa on May 28. US officials say ISIS has largely been forced out of Raqqa as well as Mosul, and Baghdadi may be somewhere in the middle Euphrates River Valley.

That is an area that straddles Syria's border with Iraq, to which much of the group's leadership is thought to have relocated earlier this year.

A spokesman for the US-led coalition fighting ISIS said they were not aware of the audio recording. "This is the first I've heard about it," US Army Col. Ryan Dillon, a spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, told reporters Thursday at the Pentagon by teleconference from Baghdad.

Dillon later added "without verifiable evidence of his death we have continued to assume he's alive." Dillon said he was "sure our people" are looking at the recording, and if there is any information in the recording as to his location "we may have folks moving in right now."
In his 46-minute message, Baghdadi urged fighters ("the mujahideen") to persevere, and to show that the bloodshed in Mosul, Raqqa and elsewhere was not in vain "by clashing the shining swords and shedding filthy blood."

He appealed for jihadi attacks worldwide, claiming that "America, Europe and Russia are living in a state of terror," according to a translation provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadi groups. Baghdadi also rallied Sunni Muslims against the Shia, saying that they would never accept "half-solutions" -- especially after all the destruction and the gains they've made. This appears to be a reference to Iran's growing reach across the region.

Scholar Hassan Hassan, who has written a book about the rise of ISIS, said in a tweet that a key theme of Baghdadi's speech was that he sees ISIS's fight as a "ceaseless war of attrition to deplete enemies." In that regard, Baghdadi claims the US decision not to send ground troops to Syria as vindication of ISIS's strategy. (In fact, the United States has several hundred combat troops in Syria.)

Baghdadi says the US suffers from fatigue and Russia has taken control of the Syria situation. Baghdadi also echoes the message of another ISIS leader, Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, who declared that holding territory mattered less than the will to fight. Adnani was killed in 2016.

In his speech, Baghdadi says that the prophet had not told his companions when or how Islam would be victorious, "so that they don't make victory or defeat dependent upon losing territory or some of the believers being killed."

Both US and Russian air power, as well as a variety of ground forces, are active in the area, but ISIS still holds some towns on the Euphrates.




Cnn

Thursday, 28 September 2017

Life is sweet, live healthy


                          Project initiator





A 2- Day Health Sensitization organized by Corper Oyebimpe olofin,which happens to be her second personal Community Development Service Project under National Youth Service Corps (Kogi State).

The programme had in attendance:

- Dr. Attah Ahmed ( Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters ) Chief host.

- Dr. E. U Odia (Senior Registrar, Department of Family Medicine Kogi State Specialist Hospital Lokoja).


Today's topic -  Health Education on MALARIA, DIABETES AND SCREENING

Dr. Attah emphasized on Health Education and preventive measures while Dr. Odia gave a long talk on Malaria , causes and preventive measures....

And the program is also in commemoration for the Independence celebration of Nigeria.

Volunteers

                    Female volunteers with Dr. Odia



Below is the video for today's event.











Reporting
Peace Okonkwo.

Nigeria exits 90 int’l bodies to save image






THE Fed-eral Government, yesterday, announced the withdrawal of the country from 90 of the 310 international organisations whose membership it holds.

Government also identified countries in which the nation’s looted funds were stashed, saying it was making efforts to ensure that the monies were returned.

It also alleged that the United States was eavesdropping on some telephone conversations of members of the previous government and private sector people about investments made in the United States. Briefing State House Correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said exiting some of the international bodies would help the country meet its obligations and save it from the embarrassment it was currently subjected.

Adeosun said it was discovered that previous administrations had not been meeting the country’s obligations to some of the international bodies, adding that FEC decided that Nigeria should prioritise its obligations to save face.

 She said already, the report of the committee reviewing the country’s indebtedness to the international bodies showed that it was owing about $120 million, with an obligation of $70 million to be paid annually to the organisations.

Asked to mention the names of the international bodies Nigeria was pulling out of, Adeosun said that would be known in two weeks, after the committee set up on the matter would have completed its assignment.

She said a memo to that effect was extensively discussed during the FEC meeting, based on recommendations of an inter-ministerial working committee on the status of Nigeria’s membership of international organisations and associated financial obligations.

The minister said: “Basically, Nigeria is a member of 310 international organisations and a committee was set up to review the rationale of our continued membership of such a large number of organisations, particularly in the light of the fact that in many cases, we are not actually paying our financial obligations and subscriptions which is causing some embarrassment to Nigeria and our image abroad, in particular.

“It was discussed that there are some commitments made to international organisations by former Presidents which were not cash-backed.

So, when our delegations turn up at those organisations, we become very embarrassed. So, that was what drove the committee.

“The committee made some recommendations that of the 310 organisations, 220 should be retained, while we withdraw our membership from the rest. But council directed that more work needed to be done.

 ‘Particularly, there was a dispute as to the figure of how much is owed. The committee had a figure of about $120 million but we are clear from Ministry of Finance and other ministries that it is far more than that. Our subscriptions are in arrears in a number of major organisations. “So, the directive of the council was that we should go and reconcile those figures and come back to council and have a payment plan for those figures to avoid Nigeria being embarrassed internationally.

 “Also, circulars needed to be issued on who can commit Nigeria because it was discovered it would be a director or an ambassador who attended the meeting who committed subscription on behalf of Nigeria.

 The international organisations begin to chase us for their money. “We need to tighten up the procedures of committing Nigeria to any form of subscription or donations to international organisations.  The committee is due to come back in the next two weeks with the final figures.

“Ministers were then asked to look at the recommendations of those international organisations which we want to withdraw from and ensure that they are in support of those decisions before we will finalize the work on this issue.

 “So, basically, this is just prudence and value for money. Nigeria doesn’t need to be a member of every organisation but those whose member we are, we have made a decision as FEC that we must prioritize and pay our obligations because that is part of the nation’s image.

“That is what gives Nigeria as a country the right to sit up very straight at international meetings. When you haven’t paid up your subscriptions, you can’t necessarily do so. The subscriptions is $70 million per annum and there are lots and lots of arrears.”

‘Switzerland, Panama, UK, UAE, Leichenstern, Germany safe haven for looted funds Also briefing journalists, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the presence of President Buhari at the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, brought a lot of respect to the country and projected the President as an international figure.

He faulted critics who said the President failed to highlight the country’s matters, unlike other Presidents that focused most on their countries, stressing that Buhari brought to the fore, programmes of the government and at the same time, international matters.

He said further that President Buhari spoke at the UNGA  on stolen funds stashed away in foreign countries and the frustrations the country was faced with in recovering the funds as well as the issues of good governance.

Asked how much was stolen from the country, he said it was an on-going thing and that new discoveries were being made. He said:  “The sophistication that there is today in hiding money around the world is amazing.

Even Western countries themselves have a lot of problems and it takes them a long time in discovering all the time.

“The Panama people, for instance. Nobody knew about all those funds illegally stashed until you suddenly have the revelations under the Panama people (papers).

So, it is really an on-going thing and a new thing coming up all the time. ‘’You saw recently we never knew, for instance, that the US was eavesdropping on some telephone conversations of members of the previous government and private sector people about investments that were made in United States.

It just suddenly came out like that. So, it is an on-going thing.” On the strategies the country was using to ensure that looted funds were recovered, Onyeama said President Buhari has made frantic efforts to that effect.

He said:  “On the strategies we are putting in place, that is a good question. The strategies are precisely what Mr. President has been doing. “Number one, he cooperated with David Cameron when he was the Prime Minister of the UK to organise a global conference on anti-corruption.

For a very long period of time, it was not a priority for a lot of industrialised countries to worry about money flowing from developing countries into their banks because as far as they were concerned, they had the image of rulers of Third World countries. “So, Mr. President’s strategy was to put it on the international agenda for it to be something that Western leaders buy into.

But I think Mr. President has succeeded in doing that. ‘’When he met former US President, now talking specifically in terms of strategy, President Obama told him at that time we were spending a lot of monies hiring lawyers to help trace or to help us go to court.

“Remember that in US, for instance, some lawyers were claiming that they should get a percentage of the amount that was to be returned to Nigeria, he (Barrack Obama) said no, let’s arrange it, where you will be dealing directly with the Justice department.

“So, a strategy is to get that permission from these heads of states to deal directly with the justice agencies in not only identifying but the legal process of restitution of recovering those funds.

“So, we are engaged with a number of countries in that process, including Switzerland, the UK, Jersey Island of the UK, the United States government as well and the United Arab Emirates, where we have identified funds.

 “Also, Germany in the past has restituted some funds and Leichenstern is another country that we are working with in this context.” On the gains of the President’s visit to other countries, the minister said:  “The good will is the tremendous gain. The good will that will come from that visit will really be a major, not always immediately quantifiable, gain. “Of course, we have a road map with Jordan, but I think that the most important gain, the one that really affects this country is the perception of Nigeria as a place for doing business and as a place for investing because the world sees now that this is a country that has a leader, it is championing anti-corruption as a crusader across the continent and here is a leader that speaks about democratic institutions, about good governance, about humanitarian issues.

“So, it is a new brand for Nigeria and we can leverage on that in so many different areas. Of course, economics (trade) is one of them but also cultural and social. “He talked about Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, and when you have at the highest level that commitment and buying to a UN programme, Sustainable Development Goals, it also means that the UN itself is going to come and invest in the country and partner with Nigeria in achieving those goals and it will be for the benefit of the whole country.”

Int’l bodies Nigeria belong to Some of the international organisations Nigeria is a member, include African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, ACP; African Development Bank(ADB); African  Union (AU); Commonwealth of Nations; Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Group of 15; G-19; Group of 24 and Group of 77. Others are International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD); International Chamber of Commerce, (ICC); International Civil Aviation Organisation, (ICAO); International Criminal Court (ICC); International Development Association (IDA); International Finance Corporation (IFC); International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO); International Labor Organisation (ILO); International Monetary Fund (IMF); and International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Also, International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO); International Olympic Committee, (IOC); International Organisation for Standardization (IOS); International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (IRCRCM); International Telecommunications Union (ITU); Interpol; Non-Aligned Movement; Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW); Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); Permanent Court of Arbitration; United Nations Organisation (UNO); United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO); United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR); United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO); United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM); United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITR) and United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNIAMK). Others are United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (UNMRWS); United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMBH); United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT).


Vanguard.

Saudi Women Celebrate News They Will Finally Be Allowed To Drive - Car




Women in Saudi Arabia have been celebrating the news that they will finally be able to drive, a landmark step that brings the conservative kingdom in line with the rest of the world and will allow many more women to work.

The Saudi Foreign ministry announced Tuesday that a royal decree has been issued that will allow women to drive by next June.
"This is a historic big day in our kingdom," Prince Khaled bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, said Tuesday in a briefing with reporters.
The move follows years of activism and appeals both from within and outside the Gulf nation.

A Saudi woman walks near car down a street in the Saudi capital Riyadh on September 27, 2017.

Kholoud Attar, a 32-year-old Saudi designer and magazine owner who has been running her business for 10 years, told CNN the change would make a "huge difference" both to her and to her female employees.
"Being able to drive really facilitates a lot of logistics and helps with shaving off the time to get things done," she said. "It's so thrilling to be able to do this."

For her female workers, the biggest gain will be in not having to pay for a driver or other transportation out of their salaries, Attar said. Employing a driver currently eats up a third of the average monthly salary for her staff members, who may also have to find the money for their children's care or education, she said.

As for those who remain opposed to women driving, Attar said, their voices "just became much quieter" thanks to the government saying it would be allowed.




Naijanews.

Conditional discharge for cop who sicced K9 dog on compliant suspect






TORONTO -- An Ontario police officer who pleaded guilty to assault after siccing his K9 unit dog on a compliant suspect was granted conditional discharge on Wednesday, as the judge blamed the incident on an"impulsive error in judgment.

"Justice Harvey Brownstone said the officer had taken responsibility for his excessive use of force and had expressed remorse for his actions.

"It is abundantly clear that this offence was an isolated incident that arose from an impulsive error in judgment and not by a premeditated act or loss of temper or a
personality disorder," Brownstone said as he delivered the sentence in a Toronto courtroom.

Earlier this month, York regional police Const. Michael Partridge admitted his role in the assault on March 30,2016, that left a man with minor injuries.

Partridge was originally charged with assault and assault with a weapon -- the weapon being the dog -- but he pleaded guilty to one count of assault on the day
his trial was scheduled to begin.

The Crown had been seeking a conditional three-month sentence with house arrest, while the defence sought a conditional discharge.

A surveillance video that captured the incident became a key piece of evidence in the case. The video shows Partridge kicking and punching the suspect while the
dog he had released bit and clamped down on theman's arm.

Crown lawyer Peter Scrutton told court the assault lasted for 30 seconds.
"It's just due to luck that this dog bite didn't cause real injury," he said.
York police had been investigating break-and-enters in the Toronto area and wanted to arrest three men following one alleged break-in at a home in Brampton,Ont.

They followed the men to downtown Toronto and were met by city police.
Around 3:30 p.m., one of the suspects was arrested after he walked out of a condominium and a subsequent search revealed a baggy with loose
ammunition.

Partridge was there with his police dog, Lex, to help if needed. Officers spotted two other suspects, who bolted with police following, court heard.

One officer ran after one of the suspects who
eventually stopped running and lay face down in an
alley. Partridge and his dog were well behind in the
chase.

The suspect, Median Jackson, is seen in surveillance video lying on the ground for about two minutes as an officer stands nearby waiting for someone to arrive with
handcuffs, court heard.

Partridge did not know the suspect was on the ground obeying the officer's orders when he yelled out "Police,
K9, you're under arrest, come out," court heard.

Almost immediately, Partridge released the dog before he knew Jackson's whereabouts. The dog bit down on Jackson's arm and began thrashing its head back and
forth, video evidence showed.

"He was too hasty in siccing the dog on the suspect," the judge said.
Court heard Wednesday that it was the first time Partridge had released his dog during his nine months
in the K9 unit.

"Clearly this incident indicates a need for more thorough and intensive training in the use of police dogs in such circumstances as well as in the procedures that officers
should resort to when pursuing and apprehending suspects resisting arrest," Brownstone said.

"It is hoped all police officers can learn from this incident in order to prevent recurrence."

York police did not agree with the judge.
"In our respectful opinion, Const. Partridge engaged in a course of conduct that was contrary to the training he received as a member of York Regional Police," said
Const. Laura Nicolle, a spokeswoman for the force.

Toronto police opened an investigation into the arrest and eventually laid the charges late last year.

Police charged Jackson with one count of break and enter and breach of probation, but both were later dropped due to Partridge's actions.

Partridge still faces three allegations of misconduct under the Police Services Act and remains suspended with pay until the case is heard.

The judge ordered Partridge 12 months probation and to participate in training programs. He will not have a
criminal record.

Outside court, Partridge's lawyer, William MacKenzie, said his client feels bad about the incident, but wants to return to the force and continue his career.

"With the benefit of hindsight, it was unnecessary, but certainly in the circumstances it was, from my
perspective, understandable," he said.



Liam Casey, The Canadian Press

Unpaid Salaries: Kogi Workers Begs Federal Government




The Organised labour in Kogi State has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to direct humanitarian agencies of the government to send relief materials to the dying workers of the state.
The secretaries of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Olakunle Faniyi; Trade Union Congress (TUC); Comrade Kolawole James and their Joint Public Services Negotiating Council (JPSNC) counterpart, Comrade Isah Abubakar, made the appeal in a statement in Lokoja.
The Labour leaders said the agony the workers of Kogi state are passing through are not in any way less than the experiences of victims of natural disasters.
They noted that a situation where workers cannot afford even one meal a day and pay school fees of their children is already a humanitarian issue.
“As it stands today in Kogi State, over thirty percent (>30%) of the workforce are being owed Twenty One months salaries, twenty percent (20%) have unpaid salaries between eleven and eighteen months while about forty percent (40%) took their salaries up till June this year. These are the categories of workers Kogi State Government is forcing to embrace the ‘clock-in, clock-out policy’ of the government.
“The Organized Labour therefore call on the Government to treat Kogi workers with dignity because even in the era of slave trade, slaves were not forced to work on empty stomach,” the statement reads.
They noted that it is most unfortunate that the State Government, instead of apologizing to the workers and their families over the untold hardship that they had been subjected to, the Government takes delight in buying pages of newspapers to roll out falsehood on how workers have been paid their salaries up till July.
They advised the State Government to accept the reality on ground and stop the current intimidation and coercion tactics they usually employ when it comes to workers’ demands for their rights.
They also called on well meaning Kogites and other Nigerians not to sit on the fence on the issues affecting the lives of millions of indigenes of the state.


Kogi reports. 

Buhari congratulates Merkel for winning 4th term







President Muhammadu Buhari has joined world leaders  in congratulating German Chancellor Angela Merkel on her victory at
the polls.

President Buhari felicitated with the German Chancellor’s party for producing leadership for the country for over 12 years, and winning another opportunity to sustain the legacy of good work.

According to Femi Adesina, President Buhari recalled his interactions with Chancellor Merkel over the years, especially at the G8 meeting in 2015 and during his visit to Germany in 2016.

President Buhari came “away with a strong impression of her commitment to building stronger ties across the world”, Adesina
said.

Merkel limped to a fourth term on Sunday and must now cobble together an unwieldy coalition with two other parties — the
business friendly Free Democrats (FDP) and environmentalist Greens — that have diametrically opposed views on many of the big issues.

The result suggested that pollsters may have underestimated the lingering impact of the refugee crisis in the election and the
outsized influence it would have in the east, where voters continue to behave very differently than their brethren in the west 28 years after the fall of the Wall.



Vanguard.

Wednesday, 27 September 2017

Riot in Kogi Poly as Dangote truck kills one student, two others










Hell was let loose today as Dangote truck with failed break ran into bystanders, killing one student of the institution and three others.

This led to chaos among the students who went on rampage barricading the ever busy Abuja/Okene road.
The rampaging students took over the road burning the vehicle and barricading the road.

The traffic light at the junction was destroyed by the angry youths.

The students said that the school authority should have suspended the ongoing examination in honour of the slain female student.

Eye witness account told our DailyPost that the break of the Dangote truck heading northwards failed right in front of the state owned institution and headed towards bystanders, killing one student.

Our source also disclosed that two Keke were also ran over, but could not confirm if their occupants were killed.

Some of the injured victims according to our source have been taken to the State Special Hospital Lokoja and the Federal Medical Centre.

The timely intervention of the Police  saved what otherwise could have become a disaster Another battalion of combination of Nigerian police,  Special Anti robbery Squad, and vigilante  are heading towards the accident scene as at the time filling this report.

When Contacted, the sector commander Kogi state Federal Road Safety confirmed that the accident occurred due to break failure leading the truck to ram into the crowd killing one student and two others.

According to him, the reactions and the attendant chaos has forced him to withdraw his men to allow the restoration of law and other before they can do a proper assessment.



Reporting
Odimayo

Gracefm. 

EFCC chair: Court flooded with 17 suits over Magu





No fewer than 17 suits on the propriety or otherwise of Mr. Ibrahim Magu remaining as the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have been filed before various divisions of the Federal High Court, The PUNCH learnt on Tuesday.

Lawyers, who appeared before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja when one of the cases came up on Tuesday, said a related case was filed in the Yola Division of the court in Adamawa State, while another case on the same subject is before the Kano Division of the FHC.

Tuesday, two lawyers, representing two different law firms, presented separate letters of engagement to them to represent the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the Senate.

While Mr. S. O. Alhassan presented a letter, which engaged his law firm in June, Mr. Peter Abang presented a letter briefing his law firm in August.

The judge directed the two lawyers to sort out the conflicting briefs they got from the Senate before the next hearing date for the particular suit.

The particular suit was instituted by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Jibrin Okutepa, who was represented on Tuesday by Mr. Ocholi Okutepa.

President Muhammadu Buhari, the AGF, the National Assembly, the Senate and Saraki are the respondents to the suit.

But before the case was adjourned on Tuesday, Mr. Musa Abdul, who represented the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), sued as the second defendant, told the judge that the AGF had written to the former Chief Judge of the court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, seeking the consolidation of the cases.

He explained that the AGF’s office was aware of 10 cases in respect of Magu’s chairmanship of the EFCC and was therefore necessary to have the cases heard by one judge in order to avoid a situation where judges of the FHC would give conflicting decisions on the same subject matter.

Abdul stated that the former Chief Judge had also replied the AGF’s letter.

But one of the two lawyers, seeking to represent the Senate and Saraki in the case, Abang, said he was aware of 17 cases.

“There are, in fact, 17 cases on this subject matter. In fact, I will be appearing before Justice A. R. Mohammed in another case concerning the subject matter immediately I leave this court.

“We also have a similar suit in the Kano Division of the court,” he added.

He said his law firm had also formally requested the Chief Judge to consolidate the cases.

The other counsel, Alhassan, also intimated the judge about the case pending before the Yola Division.

After listening to the parties, Justice Kolawole directed them to bring to the attention of the Acting Chief Judge of the FHC, Justice Abdu Kafarati, efforts that had been made to get the cases heard by one judge.

He agreed that there was the need for the cases, including those filed in Kano and Yola, to be consolidated to avert “conflicting decisions” by the Federal High Court on the same subject matter.

He adjourned for about four weeks to await the directive of the Acting Chief Judge.

Justice Kolawole also noted that Alhassan and Abang, who were both seeking to represent the Senate and Saraki, “cannot be heard as currently constituted.”

The judge urged the two lawyers to “put heads together” and sort out their representation for the Senate and Saraki before the next hearing date.

The judge adjourned until November 1.

A lawyer, Mr. Oluwatosin Ojaomo, had earlier filed a suit seeking a declaratory order deeming that the Senate had confirmed Magu as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC.

In his originating summons, with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/59/17, the plaintiff asked Justice John Tsoho to hold that the Senate lacked the statutory powers to reject the appointment of Magu having been validly nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari in consonance with the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.

The suit joined Saraki and the AGF.

In the 17-paragraph affidavit of urgency deposed to by the plaintiff, he wanted the court to hold that Magu’s appointment by Buhari was based on his sterling performance at the EFCC.

He added that Magu had courageously fought corruption in Nigeria according to his mandates and had successfully “recovered humongous sums of money” from the looters of the Nigerian treasury.

The plaintiff noted that Saraki and his wife were part of the persons currently being investigated by Magu.

He stated that the development implied that Magu would never get fair hearing before a Senate presided over by Saraki.

Also, two groups, Save Nigeria Group and Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, on July 7, withdrew their suit filed in December 2016, seeking orders compelling Buhari to declare the chairmanship position of the EFCC vacant.

The plaintiffs had, also in the same suit, urged the court to compel Buhari to sack the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal.

But upon an oral application by the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Mr. Kindgdom Okere, on Friday, seeking the withdrawal of the suit, Justice Tsoho struck out the case.

Speaking with our correspondent after the July 7 proceedings, Okere had told our correspondent that the boards of the plaintiffs had reviewed the activities of Magu as acting Chairman of the EFCC and had decided to support him.



Punch.

British Airways sacks stewardess behind racist Snapchat rant against Nigerian passengers




British Airways has sacked a stewardess who posted a racist Snapchat rant attacking Nigerian passengers, after she was called in for a two-hour meeting with bosses.

Joanne Wickenden sparked outrage after recording the racist clip in her BA uniform before flying from London Heathrow to Abuja on Friday night.

In a statement on Tuesday, the airline said “she no longer works for British Airways,” adding: “We expect the utmost professionalism from our staff when they are representing British Airways.”

The 23-year-old, who wants to be an actress, told friends, “I am not a racist” and claimed the sickening video was just a joke.

She said: “I have been framed by another BA employee. They were encouraging me, egging me on to say things. They were recording me and sent it around to our friends.”

She added: “I don’t want to fly anymore.”

A friend said that the other colleague wanted her to impersonate what goes on on the flight.

A source said the video — which was captioned “I can’t cope with this flight” — was circulated among ‘horrified’ BA cabin crew who are ‘very concerned.’





Punch.

Melaye refuses to abandon plenary, frustrates INEC’s to serve him notice





CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), yesterday, frustrated efforts by legal officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to serve him with a notice of recall.

Officials of INEC,  yesterday,  stormed the National Assembly complex with four “Ghana must go” bags to serve Senator Melaye with recall processes, but his office was locked despite his presence at the plenary. The bags were thereafter, dropped at the door step of his office while the INEC officials moved to the lobby of the White House where the Chambers of the Senate is located, with a view to cornering him to serve him the notice. But their wait ended in frustration as the senator refused to abandon the plenary to receive the letters from the INEC officials. It will be recalled that Senator Melaye had  on Monday, during a press conference, claimed that the 90 days period within which to recall him had lapsed, saying that he was not prepared to make himself available to INEC since the process, according to him, was unconstitutional. But, officials of INEC, in defiance to Melaye’s  objection, came with four “Ghana must go” bags to serve Melaye with the recall notice. The INEC officials arrived the complex about 11a.m., just as the lawmakers resumed from their two months holiday. The INEC officials went straight to the office of Melaye but met the door locked, but they had  specific instructions to deliver the notice directly to the lawmaker. Other officials of INEC laid siege to Senator Melaye at the corridor of Senate wing of the National Assembly to serve him with the recall notice which was unsuccessful. They then spread themselves in different  locations in and out of the upper legislative chamber in “ambush” for Melaye. But Senator Melaye stormed out of the Chamber at 1.48p.m., and went straight to his waiting car in front of the entrance to the lobby of the Senate,  alongside his other vehicles and drove off immediately without talking to the INEC officials and Journalists.






Vanguard

Tuesday, 26 September 2017

North Korea accuses US of declaring war







North Korea's foreign minister has accused US President Donald Trump of declaring war on his country and said Pyongyang had the right to shoot down US bombers.

Ri Yong-ho said this could apply even if the warplanes were not in North Korea's airspace.

The White House dismissed the statement as "absurd". The Pentagon warned Pyongyang to stop provocations.

A UN spokesman said fiery talk could lead to fatal misunderstandings.

Mr Ri's comments were a response to Mr Trump's tweet that the North Korean leadership would not "be around much longer" if they continued their rhetoric.

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country," Mr Ri told reporters as he was leaving New York, where he had addressed the UN General Assembly on Saturday.

North Korea-US tension: Should you worry?North Korea crisis in 300 wordsBBC launches Korean news service

"Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make counter-measures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country."

Mr Trump's tweet followed Mr Ri's fiery speechto the UN on Saturday, when he described the US president as a "mentally deranged person full of megalomania" on a "suicide mission".

Referring to Mr Trump's post, North Korea's minister said "the question of who won't be around much longer" would be answered by his country.

Mr Ri's remarks - not the first time that North Korea has used the phrase "a declaration of war" in relation to the US - are the latest in an increasingly angry war of words between the two countries.

His statement came two days after US warplanes flew close to North Korea's coast in a show of force.

Pentagon spokesman Col Robert Manning reacted by saying: "If North Korea does not stop their provocative actions, you know, we will make sure that we provide options to the president to deal with North Korea."

"We want things to calm down," China's ambassador to the UN, Liu Jieyi, told Reuters. "It's getting too dangerous and it's in nobody's interest."

Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for UN Secretary General António Guterres, said: "Fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings."

"The only solution for this is a political solution," he added.

Despite weeks of tension, experts have played down the risk of direct conflict between the two.

North Korea has continued to carry out nuclear and ballistic missile tests in recent weeks, in defiance of successive rounds of UN sanctions.

The country's leaders say nuclear capabilities are its only deterrent against an outside world seeking to destroy it.

After the North's latest and most powerful nuclear test earlier this month, the UN Security Council approved new sanctions on the country.

What weapons does North Korea have?How a Pacific nuclear test might happenKim's 'dotard' insult explained

Actions not words

By Jonathan Marcus, BBC News diplomatic correspondent

The rhetoric on both sides may have got out of hand already but the real question is what practical consequences might ensue from the war of words between Washington and Pyongyang?

It should be remembered that the Korean peninsula is not at peace - the Korean conflict of the 1950s was only brought to a halt by an armistice, not a peace treaty.

But it is actions that are likely to provoke renewed fighting, not just words.

The latest North Korean threat to shoot down US warplanes comes in the wake of a recent US patrol that took its B1-B Lancer bombers and their accompanying F-15 fighter escorts over waters to the east of North Korea - the furthest north US warplanes have flown for several months, albeit still outside Pyongyang's airspace.

The US believes it has every right to do this but if one day Pyongyang judges that these aircraft are on an offensive mission - what then?

BBC.Com

Igbos Rebuilt Their Region After The War But North Still Has Mud Houses







Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says despite fighting a civil war the Igbo have been able to rebuild their region, but that the north still has mud houses.

He spoke on the background of the need for Nigeria to be restructured.

Addressing a coalition of youth groups under the aegis of Play Forum in Abuja, Abubakar said those afraid of restructuring were lazy.

He said every region in the country should be allowed to control its resources.

“Left for me, I will ask every part of this country to take charge of its resources while the federal government should handle defence, foreign affairs and immigration among others in the exclusive list,” he said.

“It should not be complicated to start with all the recurrent items in the constitution. The president can dialogue with the governors or the national assembly for states to take charge of the roads, hospitals, schools and such other items in the concurrent List while the federal government will continue with items on the exclusive list.

“I would not have gone to school if I were born today. My parents were so poor they couldn’t afford to send me to school. I was born during the era education was free, food was free for me, I was sponsored from primary school to the university. There was even a job waiting for me before I graduated. Yet, there was no oil boom then. I am certainly not a product of oil boom Nigeria.

“So, I don’t know what those who are against restructuring are afraid of. Those afraid must be lazy. We fought the civil war with the Igbo. Today, the Igbo have been completely rebuilt, but we still find mud houses in the north. Is it the fault of the easterners that the north is like that?

“I think that what is most important is the devolution of powers and resources with the various governments whether states or regions. How do the people hold those in power accountable for the resources handed over to them?”



Thecableng.

Buhari, Osinbajo, Others Set To Storm Abia




President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, John Odigie Oyegun and other big wigs of the party are expected to participate in the party’s mega rally in Abia State.

The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Benedict Godson told newsmen on Monday in Umuahia, the state capital after the inauguration of the party’s Contact, Mobilization/Rally Committee that the event would hold in the state capital in October.

Godson explain that planned mega rally was to present new members of the party including former Governor of the state, Dr. Orji Kalu, Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu, immediate past President Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Dr. Sampson Uche Ogah, CEO Masters Energy and former Abia PDP governorship aspirant in 2015 election, Chief David Ogba Onuoha, MD of defunct Bourdex telecommunication and Abia North Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, MD of defunct Hallmark Bank and brother to former senate president (Adolphus Wabara), Mark Wabara among other Abia political big weights who will be presented to the public at the event scheduled to hold at the state capital.

According to Godson, the rally was preparatory to the party’s efforts to woo more supporters ahead of the 2019 general election.

He restated that the party would not zone the governorship position in the state to any zone, stressing that the party through an open and credible primaries would present candidates who are willing to serve Abians and deliver dividend of democracy to all parts of the state.

“A governor is like a father with many children. He loves the children equally and shares his wealth to them without favouring anyone. APC will produce a governor and leaders that have the interest of their subjects at heart.

“We are not going to promote godfatherism, but to present candidates based on their acceptability by the people who will elect them through a credible primary,” he said.

Chairman of the committee and deputy chairman of the party, Chief Ogumka Adiele promised that they were going to do the work entrusted in their care with their best.

Other members of the committee including Hon Acho Obioma, former House of Rep member and chairman Akoka Federal College of Education Governing Board Council, Chief Oxford Wabara and others pledged their commitment in ensuring that they work cooperatively with the committee’s chairman to produce a positive result.





Daily Post.

Monday, 25 September 2017

How To Protect Yourself Against Online Scam




There is the saying that “whatever has an advantage must have a disadvantage as well” and this is the case of the concept that I will be intimating you on “Internet Scam”. The world is a global village with an evolving trend in technology. All these efforts have actually been geared to make life better for the ever-increasing population. There is no doubt that the advantages of the internet cannot be overemphasized but it is also pertinent to point out that the disadvantages are also overwhelming as well.

Most people are quite familiar with some of these advantages and that’s ok. The purpose of this post is actually to educate you on the demerit that accompanies the use of the internet. Believe me when I say that the disadvantages are quite enormous and the fact that the world is gradually advancing into a stage where we can actually not do without the internet is the reason why you should take your time to read this because you know that you will definitely use the internet. So the big question is what is internet scam or fraud?

“Internet” and “scam” or “fraud” whichever way it is used means the same thing. The internet here provides the access while scam in this context is the activity which I will be telling you about. Internet fraud is basically the use of the internet or any tool (it might be an application) that requires an internet connection to deceive people. If you have read my previous post on how to make money online as a freelancer, you would have a little insight on how the internet provides access to the world even from the comfort of your living room. The same goes for internet scams. There are various ways people get scammed and this is very important for us to know as you do not have to wait until it actually happens to you.
Common online scams

Phishing scams

Internet scams do not just happen when you are using your computer or mobile phone, you get exposed once you get connected to the world. Imagine actually being connected to the world! Literally, that’s several billions of people with various backgrounds and intentions and this is the real problem. You get connected to the internet to check your email and you receive an email from your bank or Credit Card Company or delivery company and it looks so real. Notice that I said “your credit card company” for example, now that’s because that’s the idea behind phishing email. The scammers send you an email that looks like the real one you have been getting from your credit card company or bank as the case may be. Now, these guys are pro and they already have generic proposals they send out to the millions of people on their mailing list which means if one does not get to you then another just might work. Let’s look at a typical example, you receive an email saying that you are required to do some data verification with your bank following an upgrade in their systems. Now, this will definitely get your attention at first and then the next step is actually a life-determining one. Now let’s say you choose to ignore the message completely, it could actually be legitimate and your bank account gets blocked (but that’s not what we are looking at). Let’s say you actually respond to the email saying that you have actually verified your account or you haven’t, most likely, you will be asked to provide your bank details, credit card number and all the necessary information. Now once they have this information, they have access to your fund school and you know what that means. What then do you need to do or how can you identify a phishing email? Here are some useful tips for you.      
1. Open your eyes: Well, it’s not just enough for you to open your eyes but for you to actually see what is expected of you. Like I did mention, most phishing emails or websites are identical to the original ones. However, there are always errors or ways to identify them.

Somehow, I receive several of these kinds of emails daily and I just decided to use one of them as an example. To start with, the moment I saw this I already knew it was a scam and you know why? I do not have an account with the said bank in the first place. Now, the same is applicable to anyone reading this post. The message might come from eBay or Amazon or a lottery company asking you to take part in a survey or that you have won a lottery. It could also be from a credit card company saying that there was an unauthorized access in your account among others. Irrespective of how genuine the email or website might look, you already know you have no account on eBay or Amazon or the said credit card company so that should give you heads up. How can you win a lottery when you did not even participate in any lottery competition in the first place? These are possible questions that you should ask yourself and by the time you pause and answer these questions, you are actually closer to avoiding a phishing scam. Looking further at this particular email takes us to another way of identifying a phishing scam.
2. Check the web address: Checking the web address in this context is not for you to actually click on the link. Clicking on the link is, in reality, one of the overall essence of sending you the phishing email in the first place and once you click on it, you are one step closer to being trapped in the hornets’ nest. The first thing you should do is to move your mouse over to the link. This is actually something I would want all readers of this post to actually practice and see for themselves. Pick one of your emails from a verified source, move your mouse over to the attached link and you would notice that the web address is corresponding with that of the company’s at the bottom left of your screen. On the other hand, moving my mouse over to the attached link in this example, I noticed that the link appearing is actually looking weird and it’s likely going to take me to an entirely different website, so in such cases, all you have to do is look but don’t click.
3. Be analytical: Most phishing emails as I have already mentioned are generic. Obviously, the scammers do not have all the information about you and as such, the message is always vague. As a matter of fact, go through all the emails you have received from your bank or credit card company or any company you actually have an account with, you will notice that they actually address you by your name for example, “Dear Wesley Jones” and not something like “Dear Valued Customer”. Take a look at the example below!

In this section, I am imploring all readers to be analytical, to open their eyes before they as you might just be one click away from doom. To start with, I remember that I did send Payoneer an email and I actually do have a Payoneer account which actually arouses my interest the moment I received the email. Then take a look at the email address, it is legit, unlike the first example where the email is just gibberish. Furthermore, the customer was addressed personally “Dear Chijioke Nwuga” and not vaguely as “Dear Valued Customer”. Also, always look out for spelling errors as this is very common among all phishing .

Other forms of scams?

Malware/Scareware

File Sharing programs and networks

Warez

Advance fee fraud

IMPERSONATION

Spamming

Empty Victim’s Bank

Make Online Purchase



Tabbaz.