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*Breaking News:*   Taraba Truth and Fact report Four agents of the All Progressive Congress, APC, were shot dead during votes coalitions in Karim Lamido Local Government area of Taraba State early Sunday morning. ‎ A statement from Taraba APC Situation Room  identified Isah Muhammed Kambari, an assistant to the APC governorship candidate in the state and two others identified as Mugu and Umar a bike rider as victims.‎ ‎ "‎The party agents were escorting results to the Amar Ward coalition center  from Kambari polling unit where vote counting ended late in the night ‎on Saturday before meeting their untimely death.‎ ‎ "They were waylaid on the road around Gwamu village by their killers suspected to be Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, thugs who shot them at close range," our source disclosed. ‎ The Taraba APC situation room said the APC had won all polling units in Kambiri ward with a wide margin before coalition was disrupted by some PDP chieftains i

Even while in the grave, the dead in Kaduna rarely find the luxury of resting in peace. Years ago, after over 300 Shiite Muslims, including women and children were extra-judicially murdered by the Nigerian Military in Zaria, Kaduna State, the fury and storm of death still followed them to the grave. Unsettled in the shallow, unmarked mass grave, the victims were to later be exhumed from the indignity of their burial under a flurry of international controversies and contention.  Nasir El-Rufai, the governor of the North Western state of Kaduna, a stormy petrel in the political space and remarkably imbued with corrosive energy was in the midst of the ignoble, premeditated campaign against the Shiites. Working hands-in-gloves with the Military authorities, he excoriated the Shiites, advocated a false equivalence in which the battle-armed battalion of soldiers was framed as victims of the verbal adversarial impulse of faithful worshippers massed in the sacred temple. It needs re-emphasizi

. By Aliyu Nuhu In Nigeria our problem is not the laws,already there are existing laws that if used could deal with all crimes including violent crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping and terrorism. But we all know the corruption in our judiciary,the court system is so embedded in corruption and ineptitude that since  military left power there had been no execution of criminals,an irony in a society as dangerous and violent as Nigeria. The laws required governors to sign death warrants of which only Adams Oshiomhole as governor ever signed a death warrant. The governors said they don't want blood in their hands. But they see nothing wrong signing dubious contracts to steal funds meant for hospitals and schools thereby sending people to their graves. In Iraq the law also required assent of a governor of a province on death warrants but the laws also provide that after 30 days execution must be carried with or without the signature of the governor. Prerogative of mercy or oth

A ballot box snatcher will usually need to hold arm to be able to snatch a ballot box. That crime will no longer attract two years prison term as stipulated in the constitution. An unarmed ballot snatcher should be arrested and taken to court. But most ballot box snatchers will need arms to be able to snatch a ballot box. That makes the crime different. Bearing arms takes the crime to another level unforseen by the electoral act and can be interpreted to be armed confrontation with security agencies or armed robbery. Under such circumstance, the person will get shot and his crime will be captured under robbery, election violence, treason or arson. The law will be applied approximately. If you are an intending ballot box snatcher, know that it can land you in grave,not jail. No politician will bail you out and no amount of money is worth your life as long as you will not live to enjoy it.

I am deeply disappointed that despite the long notice given and our preparations both locally and internationally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections within hours of its commencement. Many Nigerians have traveled to various locations to exercise their right to vote, and international observers are gathered. INEC themselves have given assurances, day after day and almost hour after hour that they are in complete readiness for the elections.  We and all our citizens believed them. This administration has ensured that we do not interfere in any way with the work of INEC except to ensure that all funds were released to the commission. We now urge INEC to ensure not only that materials already distributed are safe and do not get into wrong hands, but that everything is done to avoid the lapses that resulted in this unfortunate postponement, and ensure a free and fair election on the rescheduled dates. While I

. Four persons were lying dead at the main gate of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt after the presidential campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State on Tuesday. It was learnt that the victims were trampled upon following a stampede at the stadium. Those that appeared to be breathing were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention by available ambulances.

There is traffic gridlock on major roads in Ilorin, capital of Kwara state, ahead of the arrival of  President Muhammadu Buhari, for the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign. The  News Agency of Nigeri a, reports that the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate and his team would storm Ilorin to seek support for Saturday’s  Presidential and National Assembly elections. NAN  correspondent who went round the city observed heavy traffic jams on major roads. NAN  also reports that the streets and major roads such  Asa Dam road, Offa Garage Road, Taiwo and Unity roads were filled up with people awaiting the arrival of President Buhari .

Algeria’s 81-year-old President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will seek a fifth term in April’s elections, he announced in a message published by state media. Mr Bouteflika has been in office for 20 years but has rarely been seen in public since he had a stroke in 2013. He insisted his “unwavering desire” to serve Algeria allowed him to “transcend the constraints of health concerns”. Critics say this makes it difficult for him to carry out his duties. He is confined to a wheelchair and has cancelled recent official meetings. Mr Bouteflika’s last meeting with a senior foreign official was during a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in September. An earlier meeting with her had been cancelled. However, Mr Bouteflika is widely expected to win the April election, says BBC Arabic’s Ahmed Rouaba.

The Nigerian Army has appointed Col. Sagir Musa as the new Acting Director Army Public Relations. According to a statement by Col. Aliyu Yusuf, Col. Musa’s appointment was contained in  the new postings and appointments of some senior officers by the Army Headquarters on Sunday. Col. Musa’s appointment followed the retirement of the former army spokespereon, Brig. Gen. Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd), last week Thursday after reaching his retirement age of 35 years in service. Others affected by the new posting  in the Directorate of Army Public Relations are: Col. Onyema Nwachukwu  who was moved from Headquarters Theatre  Command Operation Lafiya Dole to Defence Headquarters as Acting Director Defence Information; Col. Aliyu Yusuf, former Chief of Staff in the Directorate of Army Public Relations,  has been appointed Deputy  Director Public Relations 82 Division Nigerian  Army; and Col. AD Isa has been posted to Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole as Deputy Director Army  Public R

Taraba State SSG Anthony Jellason  this afternoon broken down in tears over leaked audio where he a hot argument with a local artist, Sadiya Gombe. The SSG was summon to a secret meeting to the residence of the Deputy Governor to explained his statement in the leaked audio. ‎ Sources said the SSG was soaked in tears as he tried to explain the situation surrounding the leak audio. The meeting had in attendance the Speaker Abel Peter Diah and his Deputy The state government is in  dilemma  over the incidence  and did not issue any statement to debunk the leaked audio, which has proved several allegation that the state government is running an anti-muslim government. The audio clip which go viral and trending online on social media amany enthuasist  are calling for the sack of Jellason from his current office.‎ Report culled from martins andekin

PRESIDENT BUHARI MOURNS VICTIMS OF OVERCROWDING AT APC RALLY IN JALINGO President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed profound sadness over of loss of lives at the All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential Campaign Rally in Jalingo, Taraba State on Thursday. Reacting to reports of the tragic death of some APC supporters due to the overwhelming crowd at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, the President said: “I always feel very sad and distressed when ordinary Nigerians who love me and our party because of what we stand for and have done, make personal sacrifices by taking the pains to show their support, end their lives tragically.” While appreciating the massive support he is receiving all over the country, President Buhari calls for restraint on the part of his supporters to avoid such tragic incidences, and improved crowd management at rally grounds. “I want them to stay alive and witness the dividends of purposeful governance that the APC administration will unfold when they renew our manda

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has condoled with the families and friends of those died in the tragic incident at the presidential rally of the ruling party, APC, in Jalingo, Taraba State. The Thursday accident happened due to a stampede at the venue of the APC presidential rally. PREMIUM TIMES reported how President Muhammadu Buhari earlier condoled with the families of the victims. A statement signed by Mr Abubakar’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, quoted the PDP presidential candidate to have expressed sadness over the loss of lives. “All Nigerian lives matter whether they are of the APC, PDP or any other party,” he quoted Mr Abubakar as saying from Katsina where he was holding a rally himself. Mr Abubakar also expressed his deepest condolences to the APC and its presidential candidate and the government and people of Taraba State over the tragedy. The PDP presidential candidate prays for strength and comfort for the affected families and

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, while presenting her three-year scorecard at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, said the review of the policy covers only the entry point for all cadres. According to her, Nigerians have grossly misunderstood the pronouncement made by the Federal Executive Council on the controversial HND and BSc dichotomy. She said the government have not completely resolved the dichotomy, as workers who holds HND in the civil service may have to get additional degree or certificate before they can be moved to level 17 like their University degrees counterparts. “I think the issue of this HND and BSC Dichotomy came up at the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. It is something a lot of people are still confused about and it should not be so. “What was approved at FEC is that henceforth HND graduate who entered at the same level as degree holders will be on the same level at entry point in the civil serv

The Director of Army public relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman has voluntary retried from active service in the military. Usman in a statement he issued on Thursday said, he will be proceeding on a terminal leave with effect from 8 of February 2019, which will end his “fulfilling career” in the army after contributing his best to national development and service to the nation. Part of the statement reads, “With utmost gratitude to God, I wish to inform you, the wonderful Officers, Soldiers and Civilian Staff of the Directorate of Army Public Relations, that with effect from Friday 8 February 2019, I will be proceeding on Terminal Leave, thus marking the end of my exciting and fulfilling career in the Nigerian Army. I am therefore bidding you all goodbye in my capacity as Director, Army Public Relations. “I would like to seize this opportunity to thank you all for your friendship, love, support, loyalty and encouragement over the years that tremendously assisted me pe

  Canada has announced plans to welcome at least 750 ex-slaves from Libya as refugees, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said on Wednesday.  "In 2017, the world was shocked to see the harrowing images of people being sold into slavery in Libya. Canada was one of the few countries to step up to work with the UNHCR to resettle these refugees directly from Libya and offer them a new home in Canada," the minister said in a statement. Hussen, himself a former refugee from Somalia added that, 'Canada is also taking action to resettle 100 refugees from Niger, rescued from Libyan migrant detention centers, including victims of human smuggling".   According to the United Nations, the number of migrants traveling through Libya to reach Europe has increased tenfold since the fall of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011 and their fate was highlighted dramatically in 2017 - by multiple shipwrecks in the Mediterranean and the broadcast of a CNN report shong a Libyan slave market.

The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has said premium motor spirit (PMS) or petrol that will be refined from Dangote Refinery will not be sold at Federal Government’s regulated price. This ends the speculation about how much the pump price petrol from the first private refinery will attract when it begins operation next year. Dangote spoke on the sidelines of the visit of Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele to the refinery in Lagos. Dangote said though the plan is not to concentrate on export entirely, he noted that petroleum products from the refinery will be sold at export rate. He said it is the duty of the Federal Government to determine the price of fuel, adding that he doubts whether fuel subsidy will continue but if it does, the government can engage the company to find a mid-ground on how to tackle the issue of subsidy. He said: “We are not here to concentrate on export but pricing of products depends entirely on the government. If there will be subsidy

As President Muhammadu Buhari takes his 2019 re-election campaign to Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom wishes him and his entourage a hitch-free visit. He urges the people of the state to accord the President all the necessary courtesy and respect which his office deserves. Governor Ortom appeals to the people of the state to be law abiding and to refrain from acts of provocation such as offensive songs, posters and other messages that may heat up the polity. He says Benue people are known to be very hospitable and friendly, and urges them to live up to this reputation when the President visits the state. Governor Ortom, on behalf of the Government and people of Benue State, wishes President Buhari a peaceful outing in the state.

Operatives of Taraba State police command attached to Bali division on Monday killed three suspected kidnappers in a shootout while they were attempting to kidnap some residents of Garwa village in Bali Local Government Area of the state.  The Commissioner of Police, Taraba State, David Akinremi, who disclosed this on Monday said that his men engaged members of the kidnap syndicate who have been terrorising Bali and Suntai axis for a while in the course of attempting to kidnap some residents and after a bloody encounter, three of the suspected kidnappers were gunned down. This is coming days after the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Darius Ishaku, Alh Hassan Mijinyawa, and two others were abducted in the same area and later released after four days in the hands of their abductors. “Three bandits were fatally wounded when the operatives of this command engaged them in a gun battle while attempting to kidnap some residents of a house in Garwa village, having held the entire family h

February 4, 2019 Awomolo, CCT Chair engages in hot exchanges Proceedings at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), in the case against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen has been brought to an abrupt end to allow temper to seamer in view of the hot exchanges between tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar and lead counsel for the defence, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN). Trouble started when the tribunal Charman insisted that proceedings must continue despite agreement, by lawyer to the prosecution, Aluyu Umar (SAN) and Awomolo, that the case be adjourned to a later date in view of some recent developments in the case. Rather than rule on the joint position presented by lawyers to the parties, the tribunal Chairman insisted on proceeding to hearing pending applications. While Awomolo stood up to appeal to tribunal Chairman to consider the position presented by lawyers to the prosecution and defence, for an adjournment, Umar ordered Awomolo to sit down. He accus

The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo declares A.A Mubarak as the substansive candidate and a bonafide APC flag bearer Bali/Gassol Federal consituency. The court has ordered the immediate removal of Hon Garba Chede's name and replace with A.A Mubarak name.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the federal government is planning to establish an Entrepreneur Bank to provide flexibility in the provision of facilities to businesses across the country. Osinbajo disclosed this while answering questions from a cross-section of women in business at a programme tagged `Next Level Conversation’ in Abuja.  The women, who were mostly entrepreneurs, were drawn from the education, environment, agriculture, real estate, hospitality among other sectors. The vice president said that the issue of giving cheap loans to small businesses had featured prominently in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. Nigeria, he said, has been able to deal to some extent with small and micro businesses; we have TraderMoni, MarketMoni, FarmerMoni; which are basically very small credit schemes. “We are also looking at an Enterprise Bank or an Entrepreneur Bank which is one of the types of establishment we are looking at. We think there is a need for a bank t

The chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar, has no criminal charges for fraud pending against him in the course of discharging his duties, the PRNigeria can reveal authoritatively. Dependable sources confirmed to PRNigeria that the purported charge filed against Umar by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through Festus Keyamo had been withdrawn on the order of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice since last year. The charge was subsequently struck out by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja after it was withdrawn by the EFCC. The charge filed by Keyamo was done without the approval of Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who immediately ordered that the charge be withdrawn because it was lacking in merit. The PRNigeria has obtained copies of separate letters of query from the Ministry of Justice to Messrs Magu and Keyamo and another previous letter from the EFCC that exonerated CCT B

By Kadaria Ahmed "Often when people ask me where I am from and I say Zamfara State, the first reaction is astonishment. The jaws drop, the mouth opens wide and the eye brows lift. This is quickly followed by disbelief.  I can almost predict to about five seconds, the time, it will take; that instance when the head begins to shake from side to side, before the word NO manages to escape the lips sometimes vehemently to go with the vigorously shaking head other times slipping out almost noiseless, a whisper, in rhythm with the slow shaking head on a body almost paralysed by shock. But it is true. I am from the state with highest illiteracy rate in the whole of Nigeria. Which pretty much makes it one of the areas with the highest illiteracy rates in the world. Last year, only 28 pupils in a state with a population that is almost 4 million registered for the common entrance exam. In the same year, for the Senior School Certificate Exam NECO written in November/December only 186 stud

"Fulani people have lost more dignity under the Buhari administration than any other in history. Today, our people are branded as killers, branded as kidnappers or robbers, just because some people are misrepresenting us. Before now, the relationship between herders and farmers was not this bad; we can all attest to this. Our people, for instance, could pass the night in the house of say, a Bachama man in Numan, but now all that has been eroded,” Mohammed Ango, a chieftain of the group, said. by SaharaReporters, New York Feb 03, 2019 Mafindi Umaru Danburam, leader of the Miyetti Allah group in the North-East, has dissociated his colleagues from the endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari credited to the national body. The group also endorsed the candidature of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Danburam recently resigned his position as the North-East chairman of the group following the group’s endorsement of Buhari. Speaking in Y

The governorship candidate of United Democratic partyUDP in Taraba state Hajiya Aisha Alhassan has call on leaders at all levels to serve the people with justice and fear of God to reduce insecurity in the country.                   Hajiya Alhassan who was also the immediate minister of women affairs and a former senator made the called shortly after returning to Taraba state since the christmass and new year braak in Jalingo.             According to her,if only leaders can serve the people with justice and fear of God the high levels of kinapping, farmers and herders conflicts and even the Boko Haram crisis will be put to rest.    Senator Aisha who stressed that she had not withdrawn from  the governorship race as speculated in some quarters also pledged to unite the people of Taraba state irrespective of their ethnic and religious diffrences to bring abaut lasting peace in the state.                   Hajiya Aisha lso promised to harness the abundant mineral and natural resources

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday failed to arraign the sacked Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayodele Oke, and his wife, Folashade. The anti-graft agency had on Wednesday filed four charges against the Okes before the Federal High Court in Lagos. On Friday, however, the EFCC failed to produce them in court.They were scheduled to be arraigned on Friday before Justice C.J. Aneke in connection with the sums of $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218,000 (totalling N13bn) removed by the EFCC from Flat 7B Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos linked to them. The EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, who came to court without the defendants, asked the court registrars to reschedule the arraignment till Wednesday, February 6. There had been online reports suggesting that Oke and his wife may have left the country. When contacted on phone, the spokesman for the EFCC, Tony Orilade, said he was on his way to the office and would get back to our correspondent on

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, has said the commission will investigate possible violation of campaign finance laws by the Federal Government through its TraderMoni scheme. He stated that the electoral body had a mechanism for tracking campaign finance violations by candidates and their parties, adding that INEC would study public comments on the scheme and investigate the Federal Government for possible violation of the campaign finance laws. Many Nigerians and corporate bodies, including a civil society organisation, Transparency International, had described the TraderMoni scheme, through which the Federal Government gives N10,000 to traders and artisans, as a form of vote-buying.Mahmood said this in response to questions from journalists on Thursday after his presentation on the forthcoming polls at a session of the Federal Road Safety Corps Zonal Commanders at the FRSC headquarters, Abuja, presided over by the Corps Marshal, Dr Bobo

Information making rounds in Abia State this morning has it that the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Donatus Nwankpa has been released. Nwankpa was said to have regained freedom Thursday night. It was yet to be confirmed whether there was ransom paid for his release. More details about the release coming…

https://www.facebook.com/354312648014400/posts/1806876429424674/

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of eighteen Commissioners of Police (CPs) to the next rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) and thirty three Deputy Commissioners of Police to the substantive rank of Commissioner of Police. A statement on Thursday from the spokesman of the Commission, Ikechukwu Ani, said, “this is one of the decisions of the 4th Plenary Meeting of the Commission held in Abuja on the 28th and 29th of January, 2019 and presided over by its Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector-General of Police.” He said, “The new AIGs are; Maurice A. Yusuf; Ibrahim A. Lamorde, former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Murtala Usman Mani, Wilson A. Inalegwu, a former CP, FCT; Dibal Paul Yakadi; Haruna Huzi, Mshelia; Mohammad A. Mustafa; Hyelashinda Kimo Musa, former CP, FCT, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom Commands; Adeleye Olusola Oyebade, a former Oyo State Command CP; Olusola Kamar Subair; Basen Dapiya

INEC full list of 2019 candidates Google+ Pinteres Link Wh Emai The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the final list of candidates contesting the 2019 Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly and the State of Assembly. INEC earlier in a statement issued yesterday said “on the whole, there are 1, 066 candidates for the governorship elections, 14, 583 for the State Assembly elections and 806 for the FCT Area Council elections broken down into 105 Chairmanship candidates and 701 councillorship candidates. “ 2019-GENERAL-ELECTIONS-FINAL-LIST-OF-PRESIDENTIAL-CANDIDATES GOVERNORSHIP-CANDIDATES 2019-GENERAL-ELECTIONS-FINAL-LIST-OF-SENATORIAL-CANDIDATE 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS: FINAL LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS: FINAL LIST OF STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES

The National Chairman of Action Alliance, Dr Tunde Anifowose-Kelani, has described the recent alleged impeachment move against Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State as self-destructive for the APC. The chairman made this assertion in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Ibadan. Anifowose-Kelani, who described the impeachment move as unwise, said it could result in APC losing Lagos in the upcoming gubernatorial election. He, therefore, advised the party to quickly resolve the crisis between the governor and the state legislature. “It is sheer callousness and abject insensitivity with selfishness for anyone to think of impeaching Governor Ambode after he was denied the second term opportunity. “Ambode, being a gentlemen, took the slight in good faith and with humility. “The fact that he was denied a second-term ticket does not mean that Lagosians are sleeping at all . “They are watching the events unfold, and for a group of people to embarrass the governor,