INEC to conclude suspended Rivers election in October

Mrs Amina Zakari, INEC National Commissioner in charge of election operations, has assured of the commission’s readiness to conclude suspended elections in Rivers in October.

Zakari gave the assurance on Thursday in Port Harcourt at a stakeholders meeting with political parties, candidates and security agencies.

She said that the commission convened the meeting to resolve factors which led to inconclusive elections in the past, and to conclude the process.

Police parade kidnappers of National Assembly lawmaker

The Nigeria police have paraded three suspected kidnappers who allegedly kidnap a member of the National Assembly, Sani Bello early this month.

The kidnappers were paraded at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, North-Central Nigeria on Thursday.

The suspects are Haruna Adamu, 25, who is the gang leader; Shaibu Adamu, 18, and Abubakar Saidu, 30.

Niger Delta Avengers vows to declare Niger Delta Republic October 1

The Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, has vowed to declare Niger Delta republic on October 1.

Avengers’ spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo in a statement on its website said if President Muhammadu Buhari failed to restructure the country before October 1, the group would declare a republic.

Agbinibo said the Buhari’s led government had failed Nigerians as policies executed by his government had been misdirected.

Ekiti State | Court rejects Governor Fayose’s bid to stop probe

An Ekiti state High Court on Thursday rejected an ex parte order sought by the Ayo Fayose administration to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating the finances of the state.

The motion to stop the anti-graft agency from investigating the accounts of the state government was filed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi.

“We do not deserve to be in final”- Coach Siasia

Head Coach of Dream Team VI, Samson Siasia, has admitted that the National team did not deserve to play in the finals of the ongoing Rio de Janeiro Olympic soccer games.

“I am disappointed; Even though we had glaring chances, we couldn’t score; we failed to utilise them. The German team did better. It is a shame.

“We did not have the right spirit for the game. Maybe most of them stayed up late and did not observe rest when they should.

What I Discussed With Buhari - Gen. Abdulsalami

Following the visit of former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) to President Buhari, the former has disclosed the issues they discussed it the closed door session.

Abubakar said this in an interview with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting which was held inside the President’s office.

The former military ruler, however, refused to disclose the specific issues he discussed with the President when reporters asked him to do so.

Just In: President Buhari Meets Abdusalami In Aso Rock

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with a former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar (retd.), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Abubakar arrived for the meeting at about 12.35pm in a black Mercedes Benz car.

Jose Mourinho Confirms Pogba Will Play Against Southampton

The France international was unavailable for the Red Devils’ first Premier League fixture because of a suspension carried over from Juventus but could feature against the Saints.

Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Paul Pogba is ready to play ‘some minutes’ in Manchester United’s clash with Southampton on Friday.

Arsene Wenger to gamble on Key Player’s fitness

Arsene Wenger says he may have to “take a gamble” by playing Laurent Koscielny against Leicester on Saturday but is still hesitant to rush Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud back into action.

The three players were rested in the Gunners’ 4-3 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday after returning to training late following Euro 2016, and Koscielny’s absence was keenly felt as Wenger was forced to start two inexperienced centre-backs in Calum Chambers and Rob Holding.

Liverpool’s Henderson says Coutinho can reach Messi, Suarez, Ronaldo level

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson feels Philippe Coutinho can make the leap up to the elite level of football’s Ballon d’Or contenders.

Coutinho, 24, has shown regular flashes of brilliance for the Reds since his move from Inter Milan in January 2013 and is now an integral member of the side.

Signing new Man Utd contract the worst moment of his life - Luis Nani

Former Manchester United winger Nani has claimed signing a new five-year deal at Old Trafford turned out to be the worst moment of his life.

Nani – now of La Liga side Valencia – joined United from Sporting Lisbon in 2007 and was rewarded with a new long-term contract in 2013 following the appointment of David Moyes as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor.

But the Portugal international struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular under Moyes and featured only 13 times during the 2013/14 season, as United slumped to a seventh place finish in the Premier League – their lowest in the top-flight since 1990.

Joseph Yobo and Wife Expecting Another Baby ...

The beauty queen and her footballer husband who are both Chief and Chief Mrs, are already parents to 2 sons and may be trying for a little girl this time around.

According to LIB, the former beauty queen and fashionista who has been sharing fun pictures from her Dubai vacation is also planning a visit to the doctor’s office to confirm the baby’s sex.

#Rio2016: British Olympian Robbed Says UK Olympic Association

A member of Great Britain's Olympic team in Rio de Janeiro was a victim of a theft on their way back to their lodgings, the British Olympic Association has confirmed.

Osun State | 29 Police Officers Faces Trial For Misconduct

At least 29 police officers from the Osun State Police Command are presently on trial at the provost for various offences contradicting the Police Code and Conduct.

The Osun State Commissioner of Police Mr Femi Oyeleye, gave the figure while briefing reporters on Wednesday in his office in Osogbo, the capital of Osun state in south-west Nigeria.

Mr Oyeleye said that the officers’ offences range from extortion to dereliction of duty and inadequate supervision from superior offices amongst others.

Suspected Cameroonian Child Traffickers Arrested In Cross River

Cameroonian couple with a two-week-old baby boy suspected to have been stolen have been arrested by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Cross River.

The Cross River State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) cautioned couples or singles planning on smuggling or trafficking babies to have a rethink.

It says monitoring had been stepped up to ensure further arrests.

Amnesty Says 18,000 Die In Syria State Jails

A report by Amnesty International says nearly 18,000 people have died in government custody in Syria between 2011 and 2015.

The rights group says its document includes interviews with 65 “torture survivors”, who have described appalling abuse such as beatings and rapes in jails and detention centres.

According to some detainees, these forms of abuse served as welcome parties into the jail. New detainees especially women were subjected to security checks, which usually involved women being sexually assaulted by male guards.

Turkey | Car Bomb Kills Three, Wounds 170

Three police officers were killed and 170 people wounded by a car bomb at a police station in Turkey’s eastern city of Elazig on Thursday, the local governor’s office said, hours after a similar attack killed three people elsewhere in the region.

Footage on the CNN Turk channel showed offices inside the police station in ruins and filled with smoke after the bomb exploded just outside the complex at 9:20 a.m. (0620 GMT), when officers had already begun arriving for work.

Rapper The Game and beautiful daughter share a kiss in a lovely photos

Rapper The Game pictured being kissed by his daughter Cali Dream Taylor by his ex, Tiffney Cambridge

See touching video of injured little boy sitting alone after Syrian airstrike

The heartbreaking video was shared online from the aftermath of a deadly airstrike in war-torn Syria. The clip shows a wounded 5-year-old boy named Omran, sitting alone on a chair inside an ambulance after the airstrike hit his home in the rebel-held eastern suburbs of Aleppo. Covered in dust from the rubble, one side of Omran Daqneesh's face is drenched in blood.

#Rio2016: How much do you think athletes get for winning medals? (See Here)

Rio Olympics 2016 are underway with all its glory and controversies. Athletes from around 200 countries will be fighting it out for medals in 26 sports. Have you ever wondered what is at stake for medal winners ? “DO Olympic medalists receive cash prizes along with the medals ?” Well, in most of the cases yes but the athletes don’t receive any prize money from Olympics committee but its their national Olympic federation who award prizes which are disclosed before the tournament. Lets take a look at cash prizes awarded by different federations.

Arsenal FC Alex Iwobi out for up to a month after sustaining injury

Arsenal's 20-year-old attacker Alex Iwobi is set to remain on the sidelines after picking up a thigh injury in last weekend's match against Liverpool. The Nigeria international was replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain after 59 minutes at the Emirates on Sunday.

Kebbi State | 12 abandoned babies recovered in one year by Hisbah Committee

The Director of Kebbi State Hisbah Committee, Alhaji Abubakar Augie said they recovered 12 abandoned babies in the last one year. Augie disclosed this on Tuesday August 16, in Birnin Kebbi while giving a breakdown of the activities carried out by the group during the period.

"We found the 12 dumped babies alive and took them to orphanage for care and upbringing while 31 women with unlawful pregnancies were counselled and assisted to undergo safe delivery." 

Lagos State | Government to remove three roundabouts on Lekki-Epe Expressway

The Lagos state government has announced plans to remove the 4th Roundabout (Elegushi); 5th Roundabout (Jakande) and the 8th Roundabout (VGC) as part of measures to decongest traffic in that area of the state.

OMG! See What they did to a Suspected Nigerian thief in Liberia

The brutalized man in the photos above is believed to be a Nigerian man accused of being part of a robbery gang that terrorized citizens in Monrovia, the Liberian capital. He was caught after an alleged botched robbery on Monday August 15th. A Liberian, Arrington Ballah, who put up the pics wrote;

#Rio2016: Nigeria's Divine Oduduru crashes out after coming 7th in semi-final heat (PHOTO)

Ejowvokoghene Divine Oduduru, Nigeria's fastest man missed out on a spot at the 200m finals after coming 7th at the semi-finals heat early this morning at Rio 2016.

In his semi-final heat, Usain Bolt, Andre Gasse and Adam Gemili finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively with a time of 19.78secs, 19.80secs and 20.08 secs respectively while Oduduru, Nigeria's only hope at this event finished 7th with a time of 20.59 seconds.

#Rio2016: Three Nigerian Women Wrestlers crashes Out

Nigeria's poor outing at the on-going Rio 2016 Olympics continued as three of the country's women wrestlers all crashed out in round one of the freestyle event in their different weight categories on Wednesday.

Fighting in the 48kg class, Mercy Genesis lost 4-0 to Poland's Nina Matkowska.

Drugs Scarcity Hits Official Aso Rock Clinic

Despite the N3.87bn allocated to it in the 2016 Appropriation Act, lack of drugs and other essential medical items have crippled operations at the State House Medical Centre, The PUNCH has learnt.

The centre provides medical services to the President, Vice-President and their families, aides, members of staff of the State House and other entitled public servants.

It is also a training facility for house officers and other medical personnel.

The True Story Of My Arrest By Efcc – Blogger Abubakar ‘abusidiq’ Usman

Shortly after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) released me from detention last week Tuesday, I said I was going to tell the story of my arrest especially against the backdrop of the claim by the anti-graft agency that I was arrested on ‘’offences bordering on cyber stalking.’’ Today, I am keeping to that pledge and stating details of all that transpired from my arrest, detention, eventual release and what lies ahead.

IPOB says Nnamdi Kanu won’t renounce Biafra

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned the stories credited to Mr Gbomo Jomo and the members of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) that the IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu is willing to renounce Biafra agitation in exchange for his freedom.

Buhari don't get military pension, gratuities unlike others - Presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said he has not been receiving military pensions and salaries as former head of state since he assumed office in May last year.

According to him, he did not receive pensions due to him, being a retired military officer, unlike many of his contemporaries.

The President was reacting to a report circulating on social media which alleged he has been receiving double payments from the federal coffers.