Super Eagles, Odion Ighalo lands major endorsement deal

Super Eagles and Watford striker Odion Ighalo has been announced as the brand ambassador for one of MultiChoice Nigeria.

Ighalo will feature in a soon to be launched DStv campaign which includes TV, Out-of-home, digital, radio and press adverts and makes special guest appearances at major DStv events amongst other activities.

A statement by Multichoice says the endorsement deal was signed recently at the MultiChoice head office in Victoria Island.

Unbelievable! 4,000 ghost workers discover in Enugu State

The Enugu state government recently set up a local government audit panel to look into worker payrolls for the state. 

According to Today, the audit panel has discovered nearly 4,000 ghost workers in the 17 local government councils of the state. 

The panel revealed that 3,916 workers whose names were in the payment vouchers could not be traced. They submitted their report to the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, adding that this would save the state about N161, 494, 570 monthly or N1.938 billion annually. 

Breaking: Popular Nollywood Actor and Former Chairman of PMAN is dead

What a year! 2016 is one year that has seen lots of lives lost from our entertainment industry and we are just in July, God helps us.

Nollywood actor, Master of Ceremony (MC) and former chairman of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Abuja chapter, Mr Collins Adeyemi has died. It was learnt that Adeyemi who celebrated his 19th wedding anniversary three weeks ago died on Wednesday, July 13, in Abuja.

Tony Attah takes over from Babs Omotowa as NLNG Boss

The Board of Directors of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has approved Tony Attah as successor to Babs Omotowa, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, who after nearly five years at the helms of affairs of NLNG will be returning to Shell International in the Hague, ‎Netherlands.

A statement by Kudo Eresia-Eke, General Manager, External Relations, stated that Omotowa leaves Nigeria LNG Limited in a stronger position and well positioned for the next chapter of the company’s growth.

“He will take great pride and satisfaction in his numerous achievements including consolidating the company’s position as a reliable supplier of LNG and a major player in the global LNG market, restarting the Train 7 expansion program and with NLNG becoming ranked as the number one home-grown company in Nigeria.”

Acting Police IG orders audit of police investments, subsidiaries

The Acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G) , Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has engaged the services of two audit firms, Messers Nsebot William & Co. and Gbenga Abimbola & Co. to undertake the audit of Police Investments and subsidiaries.

The order is contained in a statement issued by the Force spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Don Awunah in Abuja on Thursday.

Idris gave the order while addressing the Board and Management of Police Investments Bodies and subsidiaries at the Police Force Headquarters.

China plans $30m weather modification programme

China has allocated 199 million yuan ($29.76 million) to spend on its weather modification programme as part of efforts to combat drought and reduce the impact of natural disasters.

The finance ministry said on Thursday in Shanghai that the additional funding had been made available in order to help China’s regions respond to the large number of “extreme weather events” this year.

It said it would also include heavy flooding in south and central regions as well as drought in the northwest.

Ayo Oritsejafor launches South Africa Chapter of CAN

The President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has called on the South African chapter, CANSAF, to work for the unity of the church.

Oritsejafor made the call at the inauguration of the chapter on Wednesday night in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He said as Christians, members should love one another and obey God`s commandments.

The president also urged them to avoid evil in all endeavours.

Just In: Senator Dino Melaye holds Press Conference over allegation on threat to beat Tinubu

Senator Dino Melaye held a press conference over the allegation that he said he will beat up Senator Oluremi Tinubu, a fellow Senator at the upper chambers. 

During the press conference, Melaye dismissed the allegation of using “insolent, abusive, degrading & unmannerless language against any Senator.”

Pastor Seeks To Divorce Wife Of 22 years For Always Embarrassing Him in Public

Christ Apostolic Church’s Pastor Segun Adeyinka has begged a Customary Court in Alimosho Lagos to end his marriage of 22 years to his wife, Mrs Folake Adeyinka because she is always disgracing him in front of his church members.

Yesterday, at the Alimosho Customary court, he said:

“My wife usually disgraces me in public and in my church. She has made many church members to leave the church. She doesn’t want to see people around me. She is making people run away from me.

7 year old boy reunite with his mom after been detained for over a month for accidentally killing

Finally, Chibuike Miracle Oramalu has been released to his mother in Enugu State. The primary two pupil has been detained since May 30, after accidentally firing a gun, which killed a 12-year-old boy, Oluebube Boniface, in the Independence Layout area of Enugu.

The gun belonged to Edwin Oforma, who employed Chibuike’s mother as a cleaner and housekeeper in his house. He accidentally fired the shot after discovering the gun in Oforma’s room while making the bed, as he was instructed by Chukwunanu, Oforma’s son.

Murdered RCCG Preacher: Burial rites Postponed, Family Seeks To Carry Out Independent Autopsy

Today, July 14th was supposed to be the Burial Ceremony of murdered RCCG Evangelist, Eunice Olawale, but it has been postponed as the Family of the deceased wants to carry out a post-mortem examination on the body of the deceased. They also want the police to carry out thorough investigation into the murder.

A pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Biola Egebeyemi, who disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja yesterday July 13th, said the decision was taken by the family of the deceased so that the police can carry out a thorough investigation into the murder.

Federal Government gives guidelines on prosecution of corruption, criminal cases

In a bid to ensure prompt and successful prosecution of ongoing corruption and other criminal cases in courts, the Federal Government on Wednesday issued a set of directives and guidelines to aid prosecutors handling such cases.

The directives and guidelines are contained in a document – National Policy on Prosecution, which also includes Code of Conduct and National Guidelines for Prosecutors – just released by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The National Policy on Prosecution (NPP) prescribes statements of good values, best practices and a guide towards rendering efficient, effective, accountable and professional prosecutorial services in the country.

Theresa May's first speech as Britain's new Prime Minister (READ HERE)

Theresa May just gave her first speech as the British Prime Minister at around 6:00PM (Nigerian time)

She said, “In David Cameron, I follow in the footsteps of a great modern Prime Minister”.

His true legacy, she says, “is not about the economy but about social justice” - including the Lib Dem policy of taking the poorest out of income tax.

Ali Modu Sheriff: INEC can’t disqualify my candidate for Edo election

Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission cannot reject the candidate of his faction for the Edo governorship election.

He therefore described as rumour the adoption of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu by the commission as the party’s candidate for the September 10 governorship election in the state.

Sheriff’s faction of the party had presented Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen who emerged winner at his faction’s primary, as the party’s candidate for the election.

Nigerian set to be executed in Indonesia

Indonesia plans to execute this year at least two foreign convicts, one from Nigeria and another from Zimbabwe, the attorney general said on Wednesday.

President Joko Widodo has pledged to increase the number of executions this year and next as part of his crackdown on drugs.

Asked if there were any foreigners on the list of convicts to be executed, Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo told reporters: “We have foreigners, among them from Nigeria and Zimbabwe.”

Leicester boss, Ranieri compares Ahmed Musa Speed to that of an aeroplane

Ahmed Musa, Nigerian international who joined English premiership champions has been described by the club’s coach, Claudio Ranieri as an ‘airplane’.

Leicester signed Musa from CSKA Moscow for a fee of £18million last week, and Ranieri believes the Nigerian will be an important part of his squad ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Ranieri, speaking at the Foxes’ pre-season training base in Austria, said Musa will bring lots of speed to an already rapid strike-force and called his team ‘the RAF’, due to their abundance of pace and style of play.

President Obama deploys US troops to South Sudan

President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced the deployment of 47 troops to crisis-ridden South Sudan to protect the US embassy and its staff.

“Although equipped for combat, this additional personnel are deployed for the purpose of protecting US citizens and property,” Obama wrote in a letter to Congress released by the White House.

Obama also said that 130 more personnel were propositioned in Djibouti and ready to deploy if necessary. While US troops will not have a combat role, their presence will not go unnoticed by rival factions.

Top Commander of IS killed in Iraq (PHOTO)

A top Islamic State group commander, Omar al-Shishani, has been killed in Iraq, the jihadist-linked Amaq agency said on Wednesday.

The Pentagon announced in March that Shishani was believed to have died of injuries received in an air strike targeting his convoy in northeastern Syria — details at odds with Amaq’s account. Citing a “military source,” Amaq said Shishani was killed “in the town of Sharqat as he took part in repelling the military campaign on the city of Mosul”, referring to the last IS-held city in Iraq. 

Iraqi forces are conducting operations to set the stage for a final push to Mosul, the country’s second city that fell to IS in June 2014. Sharqat lies on the road north to Mosul, but Iraqi forces recently bypassed the area to recapture a key military base in the Qayyarah area farther north that the Pentagon said will be a “springboard” for the push toward the city. Amaq did not specify when Shishani was killed, but the loss of the commander is a blow to the jihadist group, which has suffered a string of setbacks in Iraq this year. 

Buhari: Easy and Free Money Making Era in Nigeria is gone for good

President Muahmmadu Buhari on Wednesday said that the era of free and easy money in the country had gone for good.

Buhari made this known when he inaugurated road and drainage projects in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara. He inaugurated the 20km township road and 40km drainages in Tsafe Local Government amounting to N2.1 billion.

The president also inaugurated the 75-kilometre Wanke- Danjigba-Kucheri-Kigama-Bilbis Road with seven bridges valued eight billion naira.

He vowed that his administration would enthrone good governance through vigorous prosecution of the ongoing war against corruption in the country.

Fayose to Aisha Buhari: 'Wait till 2018 to sue me for 'character assassination'

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has advised wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, to wait till end of his tenure on October 16, 2018, to sue him for defamation on her alleged link with the Halliburton scandal.

Fayose, in a letter by his counsel, Mike Ozekhome, a copy of which was made available to reporters in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said he enjoys constitutional immunity from civil and criminal proceedings as governor.

The governor said the statement he made regarding the alleged involvement of Mrs. Buhari in the Halliburton scandal was “correct and justified in law, having regards to a court judgment convicting Mr. William Jefferson of bribery in the case”.

The counsel to Mrs. Buhari, Mary Ekpere & Co, had written to Fayose on June 22, demanding a retraction of the governor’s statement that her client (Mrs. Buhari) was involved in the Halliburton scandal.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation explain why FG can’t implement 2016 budget

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, on Wednesday declared the Federal Government cannot fully implement the N6.06 trillion 2016 budget as passed by the National Assembly.

Lawal told a joint Senate committee on Appropriations, Finance and Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions that the revenues of the government had dropped by 50 to 60 per cent contrary to projections.

The SGF was invited by the Senate to explain his comment that the 2016 constituency projects as captured in the budget would not be implemented.

Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders announces two-week ceasefire

A militant group, Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders, NDRC, based in Bayelsa State, yesterday, declared a two-week ceasefire within which it urged President Muhammadu Buhari to review his hard-line stance to dialogue with militants and first-rate leaders of Niger Delta to prevent total devastation of crude oil export facilities in the region.

This came as the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, accused ExxonMobil of telling lies about the bombing of its Qua Iboe 48-inch crude export pipeline on Monday.

Spokesperson of Avengers, self-appointed Brig-Gen Murdoch Agbinibo, stated: “ExxonMobil can deny or fool the general public about their export pipeline blown up on Monday. How long can they lie to their investors? Just in matter of days, the whole world will see the truth.

Rivers States APC opposes N9Billion loan for Wike

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has condemned the approval of N9bn loan for Governor Nyesom Wike by the state House of Assembly.

The party, which described the loan as unconscionable and wicked, alleged that the state government planned to use it for the July 30, 2016, rerun election in the state.

The state APC Chairman, Chief Davies Ikanya, made this known in a statement, on Tuesday.

According to Ikanya, the action is a sign of desperation by the governor ahead of the forthcoming election.

Group slams Melaye for allegedly threatening to beat Tinubu's wife

The Lagos chapter of the #BringBackOurGirls group has lambasted Dino Melaye for his threat to “beat up” his colleague, Oluremi Tinubu, during a disagreement in a closed-door session held by the senators.

In a statement issued Wednesday and jointly signed by Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, Aisha Oyebode, Ayo Obe, and Habiba Balogun, the group described Mr. Melaye’s actions as “disgusting”.

“While the issues of the senate and their disagreements remain strictly their issue, it is pertinent to put an end to this recurring act of threat of violence against women,” the group said in the statement also signed by Yemi Adamolekun, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Ngozi Iwere, Olalere Babasola, and Adwoa Edun.

Pandemonium as DSS allegedly kills innocent female traveller in Kaduna

There was an uproar in Kaduna state on Wednesday following the killing of a woman by an operative of the Department of State Services (‎DSS).

A witness told newsmen that the incident occurred around 2pm close to Jere, a town in the state.

The security official was said to have killed her in error, as his main target reportedly escaped.

$200 Billion scam: EFCC seals First Group office in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday sealed a Dubai real estate firm, The First Group, over a phoney $200 billion deals.

Several documents, including a list of high profile patrons, were recovered from the premises.

The anti-graft agency is screening the list. A prominent Nigerian may have lost about $402,000 (N136.6 million).

This is the second in some of the deals, it was learnt time since May the EFCC has raided the firm, which is allegedly involved in assisting politicians to launder money in the United Arab Emirates(UAE).

Militants debut first South-west Pipeline Bombing under Buhari Regime

Weeks after killing and maiming innocent residents while raiding communities in Ogun state, suspected Niger Delta militants have blown up a gas pipeline in PZ Estate in the Ogijo area of the state.

Members of the community told Channels Television that the incident, which is the first known attack on a pipeline in the south-west under President Muhammadu Buhari, occurred late Tuesday.

Apart from Imo state in the south-east, where a Shell pipeline was blown last month, all other attacks in recent times have happened in the south-south, mainly Delta state.

The suspects in Ogun were said to have attacked the facility while pretending to be officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on maintenance patrol.

Buhari's Impeachment: Ohanaeze, Afenifere, others condemn threat

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has kicked against the purported plot by a section of the Senate to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Secretary-General of Afenifere, Pa Sehinde Arogbofa, said the solution to the problem facing the country was not the impeachment of the President. He called on the National Assembly to settle whatever the problem it had with the President for the country to move forward.

Arogbofa added, “What have they done to correct the situation of the country? It is their government, it is an APC government. What have they done within their party internally to make things better? We have been hearing of corruption everywhere even among them. I don’t think they (members) are sincere with the move of saying they want to impeach the President.

Emir Sanusi: Why Fashola is a mere figure Head as Minister of Power

The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has reiterated his stand that the position of power minister in Nigeria has no weight.

According to him, virtually all arms of the electricity value chain had been taken away from the control of the minister, leaving the occupant of the office with nothing to control.

The Emir stated this during a stakeholders’ workshop on Road Transport Management and Mass Transit Operations in Nigeria, organised by the Federal Ministry of Transportation in Abuja yesterday.

Herdsmen can't do without carrying daggers or machetes - Leader says

Ardo Basso, leader of the Fulani community in Enugu state, says it is not possible to prevent herdsmen from carrying “machetes and daggers”.

He said so long herdsmen do not harass residents, they can go about armed in residential areas and market places.

Basso was however opposed to the carrying of guns, calling on security agencies to arrest those caught with firearms without licence.

Basso said this on Wednesday while testifying at the commission of inquiry into the Nimbo killings in the Uzo Uwani local government area of Enugu.