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Showing posts from April 2, 2017

Magu in the belly of the whale

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Nothing illustrates better the disabling dysfunction that characterizes the Muhammadu Buhari presidency as a whole and its anti-corruption war in particular than the executive’s protracted face off with the senate as regards the stalled confirmation of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Twice the presidency’s request in this respect has met a brick wall at the upper legislative chamber and the senate is now pushing an even harder line of refusing to confirm President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominees to fill vacant positions of Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) for two weeks in the first instance until Magu ceases to act as the commission’s in line with the legislators’ demand. The 8th senate has confoundingly grown in confidence and arrogance despite its low esteem in the eyes of the discerning public and the questionable moral integrity of a number of its members that taints the body as a collective. Most amazingly,

My bloody exploits in Sambisa—Arrested Boko Haram Commander

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A former commander of the deadly terrorist group, Boko Haram, has said that he lost count of the number of people he killed before he was arrested by troops. In an exclusive interview with The Nation in a military detention facility in Borno State, 25-year-old Joseph David said he was worried that his hands were soiled by so much blood that he might never find forgiveness with God and the relations of his victims. He also sensationally revealed how he forcibly married two of the more than 250 girls abducted by the terror sect from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State in April 2014. The Christian turned Islamist fighter said the two Chibok girls were part of the benefits  that accrued to his office as a Boko Haram commander. David said that he himself was abducted by the sect from his native Mubi, Adamawa State as a 22-year-old man sometime in 2014. He said he was a student  of Adamawa State Polytechnic,Yola at the time he was abducted. Now 25 and in security  custod

90 % suicide cases traceable to depression – Experts

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), on Friday in Lokoja said over 90 per cent of suicide cases reported in the country were traceable to depression. The Kogi Acting Chairman of NMA, Dr Godwin Tijani, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on the sidelines of this year’s “World Health Day.” Tijani stated that this year’s theme: “Depression, let’s talk,” was chosen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to draw the world’s attention to the global burden of this common mental disorder. He commended the WHO for the initiative behind the theme, stressing that it would help to reduce incidence of suicide and attempt suicide in Nigeria and world as a whole. He, therefore, called for urgent need for the government to create more awareness on how to discourage the trend, prevent and treat those affected by the mental health condition. The chairman also urged government to reduce to the barest minimum the problem of stigma associated with

NYSC – Banks ready to give corps members loans

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has assured corps members passing out from the one year national service that loan facilities would still be available to them to start their businesses. Mr Abdulrazak Salawu, the NYSC FCT Coordinator, said this while addressing the 3,468 corps members of the 2016 Batch `A’ Stream I during their passing out in Abuja on Friday. Salawu, who noted that there were no white-collar jobs lined up, said financial institutions were still ready to grant loans to corps members who were interested in starting up and running their own businesses even after the service year. “Financial institutions are still ready to give you loans even after your service year. “The Bank of Industry, Heritage bank, even the NYSC Foundation is still ready to give you loans to start up your businesses. “Some of you do not know what it means to pass out from national service until next month when the alert will not sound again; that is when you will remember that cer

FG URGES APPEAL COURT TO REVERSE JUSTICE ADEMOLA’S ACQUITTAL

The Federal Government has asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to reverse the April 5 ruling by Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) acquitting Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court and two others. Justice Okeke, in the ruling, upheld the no-case submission made by Justice Ademola, his wife, Olabowale and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe Agi, who were charged with giving and receiving gratification, among others in an 18-count charge. The FG’s request is contained in three separate notices of appeal filed on Friday through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, at the Court of Appeal, Abuja. It argued among others, that Justice Okeke erred in law in reaching his decision to discharge and acquit the three defendants. The appellant particularly wants the appeal court to issue an order allowing the appeal and overrule the decision of the lower court and remit the case back to High Court for re-assignment and defenc