Gunmen shoot commissioner dead, “kidnap” council chairman

Suspected armed robbers have shot dead Sargwak Wazhi, a former commissioner who served in the administration of Jonah Jang in Plateau State.

The armed persons also injured the victim’s driver and whisked away a serving transition council chairman of Langtang South Local Government Area, Nicholas Vongsing.

A witness told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that the incident occurred Thursday night along Mangu Barkinladi road.

FG may collapse, Atiku warns

Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar said the current recession in the country has exposed the weaknesses of a federal system of government.

Atiku, an advocate of restructuring, who spoke through his Twitter

account, Atiku Abubakar (@atiku), yesterday, said the federal government could no longer meet its obligations.

Questioning the rationale behind having a central government that can no longer meet its obligation, the former number two citizen asked rhetorically, “does it still make sense to have centrist federal?”

Atiku said responsibilities of the federal government must be reduced to avoid it collapsing “under the weight of too many responsibilities it burdens itself with.”

Tinubu, Aregbesola won’t leave APC for anybody –Rep

An All Progressives Congress member of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Ayo Omidiran, on Thursday, dismissed insinuations that the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, would leave the APC for another political party.

She also said Tinubu’s strong allies like the Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, and other associates, would not leave the APC which they sacrificed so much to build for anybody.

Omidiran, who represents Ayedaade, Irewole, Isokan Federal Constituency of Osun State, told The PUNCH that other politicians could choose to leave the APC, but not Tinubu and his associates.

2017: Buhari, Osinbajo to spend N1.05bn on foreign trips

The foreign trips of President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the State House headquarters will gulp about N1.05bn in the 2017 fiscal year.

Their local trips will cost the nation N353.115m.

These are some of the details of the 2017 Appropriation Bill currently before the National Assembly as obtained by our correspondent on Thursday in Abuja.

According to the breakdown of the proposed budget, Buhari’s international travels and transport will gulp N739.487m; Osinbajo’s will cost N218.296m; while the State House Headquarters will spend N97.208m on the same item.

Army alerts on escapee Boko Haram members

The Nigerian Army announced, yesterday, that some Boko Haram members have escaped from their hideouts in Sambisa, Borno State and urged the public to be on the alert.

The army specifically urged residents of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states to be extra-vigilant and be suspicious of strange people in their communities and strange movements.

In a statement by Acting Director of Army/Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, the army said “due to the ongoing final clearance and occupation of Boko Haram hideouts in Sambisa forest, quite a number of them are escaping the theatre of operation in the North East, to various parts of the country and elsewhere.

Policeman kills driver for refusing to give bribe

A trigger-happy policeman, Mr. Pius Senu, has shot and killed a driver, Michael Ishola, at Awo in the Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State.

Our correspondent gathered that Ishola’s wife was just delivered of a baby about two weeks ago.

The driver was allegedly shot dead following his refusal to pay a sum of money as a bribe which the policeman allegedly demanded from him.

Jonathan disowns comments on 2019 polls

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has debunked an online report which claimed that he spoke about 2019 elections in a meeting with his kinsmen in his hometown, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

A statement issued by Jonathan’s media aide, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, dismissed the claim as lies and added that the former president was neither in his home state on the stated date nor met with his “kinsmen, who paid him an end of year visit,” as claimed in the false report.

“Our attention has just been drawn to a fabricated online publication alleging that former president Goodluck Jonathan made comments on the 2019 elections, while hosting his kinsmen in Otuoke last Tuesday.

“Those reports are false and bear no truth whatsoever. The former president was not in Otuoke on Tuesday, neither did he make the comments attributed to him. In fact, he has only just returned to his community to spend Christmas having been away for two weeks, so he could not have been hosting anyone there last Tuesday.

Court refuses to order EFCC to unseal Fayose’s properties

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday refused to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to unseal and vacate some properties linked to the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba had on July 20, 2016 had granted the EFCC an order of interim forfeiture of the properties for a period of 45 days which lapsed on September 4.

The judge had granted the order of interim forfeiture on the strength of the EFCC’s argument that it was carrying out a criminal investigation into the proceeds used to acquire the properties.

On Monday, Justice Dimgba, in a bench ruling in an application filed by Fayose seeking the release of the said properties, held that the EFCC could not continue to seal the houses on the account of the lapsed order made on July 20, 2016.

Electoral College confirms White House win for Trump

America’s Electoral College has on Monday made Donald Trump‘s victory official, despite a last-ditch campaign by Democrats hoping against the odds its members could revolt and keep the Republican billionaire out of the White House.

Normally, this step in a US presidential election is a rubber stamp formality that tends to go unnoticed. Not this time.

The country is bitterly divided following Trump‘s shock win over Hillary Clinton, with the Democrat finishing nearly three million votes ahead in the popular tally.

Trump attacks Bill Clinton

President-elect Donald Trump took on Bill Clinton Tuesday in a new tweet attack, after the former president questioned his intelligence.

In an impromptu discussion at a book store in upstate New York earlier this month, Clinton said this when asked if he thought Trump was smart: “He doesn’t know much. One thing he does know is how to get angry, white men to vote for him.”

Clinton made the remarks December 10, and they were reported by a local newspaper editor who happened to be present. The comments were published Monday by Politico.

Senators Ndume, Kaka Garbai responsible for SGF’s Woes – Senate Spokesman, Aliu Sabi

Senate spokesman, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has attributed Secretary to the government of the Federation’s woes to Senator Ali Ndume and Baba Kaka Garbai.

At a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, Sabi disclosed that the duo of Ndume and Garbai first sponsored a motion that the condition of internally displaced persons (IDPs) were worsening despite FG’s moves in providing relief materials, which made the Senate to commence investigations..

“Senators Ali Ndume and Baba Kaka Garbai are the genesis of SGF’s problems. They sponsored a motion that contracts awarded by FG, through presidential initiative were not executed and we went into action”, he said.

Rivers: INEC launches investigation into leaked audio tape

The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced investigation into a leaked audio tape allegedly involving the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and some officials of the commission.

Investigation revealed that the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has set up a high-powered four-man committee to carry a comprehensive investigation on the conduct of the commission’s officials in the December 10, 2016 rerun elections in Rivers State.

It was gathered that the leadership of the commission took the decision after a marathon meeting on Tuesday

Undergraduate impersonates US female artist, dupes 33 lovers

A 100-level part-time student of a journalism institute, Falope Oluwole, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly duping no fewer than 33 men.

Oluwole, a 22-year-old undergraduate, was alleged to have posted the photo of a United States female makeup artist, Shayla, on his Instagram page, through which he duped the unsuspecting men who asked for a relationship.

It was gathered that the suspect’s movement had been monitored by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad for some weeks.

Presidency Alerts Senate of Cabinet Shake up Next Month

The presidency has reached out to the Senate informing it of its intention to carry out a cabinet shake up that may affect no fewer than 10 ministers in the federal cabinet early next year, THISDAY learnt last night. 

An impeccable source told THISDAY that the presidency had decided to give the Senate the heads up on the imminent sack of some ministers

and their replacement with new nominees in the spirit of the recent rapprochement reached between the Senate leadership and the presidency.

Subscribers suffer as telecoms service quality dips By Paris - 1 day ago

The quality of telecommunication services in the country has continued to take a serious beating from the vandalism and theft of operators’ equipment as well as slowness in new investments, OZIOMA UBABUKOH writes

The country is currently witnessing a fresh wave of poor service delivery from telecommunications service providers due to unending vandalism and theft of equipment as well as vital installations, The PUNCH has learnt.

Such vandalism and theft, according to findings, include ongoing and silent destruction of base stations across the country, governments’ shutdown of base stations across the states, diesel and battery theft at sites, and fibre optic cable cuts during road construction.

Marketers accuse CBN of frustrating aviation fuel imports

The failure of the Central Bank of Nigeria to make foreign exchange available despite promises has further worsened the scarcity of aviation fuel, leading to multiple problems for airline operators, OKECHUKWU NNODIM writes

The chronic scarcity of aviation fuel, popularly known as Jet A1, which has dragged on for several months, has grown worse in the past three weeks mainly as a result of the inability of the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide foreign exchange to importers despite many promises to do so.

People advised me to abandon my sick husband, remarry – Wife of actor, Leo Mezie

Wife of Nollywood actor, Leo Mezie – Maureen, has recounted how she almost abandoned her ailing husband due to pressure.

Recall that the actor was diagnosed wrongly with malaria, typhoid and pneumonia for over a year and the medications collapsed his kidneys.

He was hospitalized for several months at a London hospital until his return to Nigeria last month after recovery.

While he was critically ill and away, Maureen said she went through a lot.

In a chat with Vanguard, she said, “I had mixed- feelings, and I told God I did not want to become a widow at this age.

“I asked God to give me an assurance that he will keep my husband and sometimes fear, uncertain, so many feelings that I still can’t explain passed through my mind.

Police declares Chinese wanted over alleged attempted murder in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has declared a Chinese national, Mr Yang Zhong, wanted over alleged attempted murder of another Chinese.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Magaji Majiya, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday.

Majiya said that Zhong was declared wanted in connection with attempted murder of a Kano-based Chinese businessman, Mr Wu Haiwang, on July 17.

“Mr Yang Zhong, also a businessman, is suspected to be behind the murder attempt made on Mr Wu Haiwang,’’ he said.

The police spokesman said that Haiwang sustained much injuries.

How to be disciplined with your bank accounts

Saving money is not the most fun thing in the world. It is so much easier to spend your money and to satisfy your whims. But the truth is, saving money is an important part of insuring your financial future. If you struggle with saving money, here are five simple tips to become a more disciplined saver, according to http://www.manhelper.com:

Put your money into a separate savings account: The first way to become a more disciplined saver is to put your savings into a separate account. If you save your money in a current account, you may want to consider putting it into a separate savings account instead. Putting your money in a separate savings account will help grow your savings with interest and make it harder for you to spend it. These two advantages can help you become a more disciplined saver and help boost your savings in a big way.

Confirmation crisis: Magu blocked from seeing Buhari

The embattled acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has been unable to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari since the beginning of the crisis that engulfed the confirmation of his appointment.

Reliable sources told Sunday PUNCH on Saturday that Magu had made spirited efforts to see President Buhari in the aftermath of the Senate’s refusal to confirm his appointment. The Senate, on Thursday, had based its decision on a security report by the Department of State Service which accused Magu  of abuse of office and corruption.

The report by the DSS says Magu’s antecedents and his conduct after his appointment as the anti-corruption czar, made him ineligible to hold the office in full capacity.

Abati, Obanikoro, FFK, others pose for photo in EFCC custody

A photograph has emerged showing a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed; former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Media, Reuben Abati; ex-Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro; former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode; and a Peoples Democratic Party leader in Kano, Bashir Ishaq Bashir, when they were in detention at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The photograph, exclusively obtained by SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, showed the five men accused of money laundering and other financial crimes looking happy.

2019: PDP BoT lists conditions for presidential aspirants

Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes, refers to a group of metabolic diseases where the body does not adequately produce insulin or use insulin properly. Insulin plays a crucial role in delivering glucose, or sugar, into the cells. This glucose is then used for energy.

People with untreated or poorly managed diabetes have abnormally high levels of glucose in their blood. This can lead to organ damage and other complications.
Too much glucose in the blood is called hyperglycemia. Symptoms include fatigue, blurry vision, hunger, increased thirst, and frequent urination.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for about 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases. In type 2 diabetes, the body develops a resistance to insulin.
This means the body cannot use insulin to absorb blood sugar into the cells so that it can be used for energy. Some people with type 2 diabetes may stop producing enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels within normal ranges.
Type 2 diabetes usually affects people who are older. It emerges more slowly than type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes may not have noticeable symptoms. A person may have type 2 diabetes without knowing it.

Ponzi palaver: Nigerians count losses, blame economic recession for MMM woes

TOLUWANI ENIOLA writes on how economic recession drove three million Nigerians to embrace the controversial Mavrodi Mundial Moneybox, which has left them in the lurch after a freeze last week

With a 30 per cent return on investment within 30 days and other perks such as bonuses from referrals, the idea was too promising for Oladejo Ojo, an almost broke small-scale business owner, to turn down.

“Even if you don’t have the money, I will lend you. Trust me, try it and see the results,” Ojo’s friend, Olayemi kept prodding him when he complained of his difficulty in getting capital to start the scheme.

The idea sounded too good to be true but the bank statement his friend showed him assuaged his suspicion and fears.

I did not abandon my home – Muma Gee responds to husband’s allegation

Wife of popular Nollywood actor, Prince Eke – Muma Gee, has refuted claims by her husband that she abandoned her family.

She said she was in Abuja on an an official assignment and not as the husband claimed.

Recall that the actor had on Thursday called out his musician wife on Instagram, saying she left for Abuja, abandoning him alone to cater for their three children and all she does is hang out at night clubs with different men.

But in a terse response, Muma Gee told the Punch, “Are you saying I shouldn’t do my work again because I am married?

Buhari at 74: I’m always wishing you the best – Goodluck Jonathan

Erstwhile President, Goodluck Jonathan has sent birthday wishes to President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he is always wishing him well.

Buhari turned 74 today (Saturday).

In a message via a statement by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan said, “On the occasion of your 74th birthday, I write to congratulate and felicitate with you. I pray that this day meets you well and that there shall be many happy returns.

“I also use this opportunity to congratulate you once more as your daughter, Zahra is given away in marriage to Ahmed Indimi.

“May God bless this union and may it bring joy to the couple and their families.

“Always wishing you the best, he added.”

Buhari at 74: I’m always wishing you the best – Goodluck Jonathan

Erstwhile President, Goodluck Jonathan has sent birthday wishes to President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he is always wishing him well.

Buhari turned 74 today (Saturday).

In a message via a statement by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan said, “On the occasion of your 74th birthday, I write to congratulate and felicitate with you. I pray that this day meets you well and that there shall be many happy returns.

“I also use this opportunity to congratulate you once more as your daughter, Zahra is given away in marriage to Ahmed Indimi.

“May God bless this union and may it bring joy to the couple and their families.

“Always wishing you the best, he added.”

We have uncovered the characters behind Wike’s leaked audio clips – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has claimed it has unmasked the characters behind the alleged concocted audio believe to be that of the state governor, Nyesom Wike.

A telephone conversation allegedly made between the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), recently hit the media.

The audio claims Wike was trying to rig the recently concluded legislative rerun in the state.

He was heard threatening to collect his money back from an INEC official, who was backing out of the plan and allegedly vowed to kill him.

However, a statement by the State Chairman of the PDP, Bro. Felix Obuah claimed the major character behind the audio was Magnus Abe.

This government is fascist, anti-people –Balarabe Musa

Former Governor of the Old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa is reputed for his frankness. He speaks from his heart and says it the way it is. In this interview with NOAH EBIJE in Kaduna, he insists that the very political weaknesses that flushed out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections would do the same to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. 

Alhaji Balarabe Musa, who is the National Chairman of People’s Redemption Party (PRP), admitted that though the PDP leadership was incompetent, Nigerians are now confronted with something worse in the APC. He said the party was not only lacking political leadership, but it also manifests traits of fascism in its general outlook. Excerpts:

It came to the open the other day that former Heads of State and Presidents had not been paid their allowances for the past 10 months. How does that sound to you?

Well, it is very unfortunate. It actually shows a strain of incompetency on the part of government of the day. However, I must add that it is not a fundamental issue because these heads of state are comfortable people. It is their right even though they are comfortable people; they should be given their right. Their salaries and allowances are their rights. If they don’t get their rights, it means something is wrong; there is incompetency somewhere.

Unlike MMM, Ultimate Cycler returns, participants demand refund of money

Weeks after one of the most popular money doubling schemes worldwide, Ultimate Cycler, allegedly crashed, it has been relaunched.

Checks by DAILY POST show that the site, which denied participants login access, was active on Friday, up till the time of filing this report.

Participants, December 1 were thrown into panic as report surfaced that the site had crashed

Members were shut out and could not gain access into their account.

The founder, Peter Wolfing confirmed ‘the return’ on Saturday on his Facebook page.

How Toyin Aimakhu allegedly covered Seun Egbegbe up after committing $3000 fraud in Ibadan – MultiChoice dealer

As the dust raised by Toyin Aimakhu’s ex-boyfriend, Seun Egbegbe’s iPhone theft saga is yet to settle, fresh reports have emerged that the filmmaker also committed another $3,000 fraud at a MultiChoice outlet in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

A dealer, Semiu, explained how he met Egbegbe briefly on December 9 at a MultiChoice outlet opened by the latter two days earlier at Uncle Joe Bus Stop, Mokola area of the state capital.

Speaking with Sahara Reporters, Semiu said Egbegbe walked into his outlet requesting to buy two GOtv decoders, noting that he was expecting a friend of his to bring money with which he would pay for the decoders.

“Another man arrived wearing jellabiya, (the long robe favored by Muslim men) and gave Egbegbe some money. After handing over the cash, the man in jellabiya left.

Abakaliki prisons inmates demand to cook in their cells, smoke indian helm

Inmates of the Abakaliki Federal Prisons in Ebonyi state are demanding to be allowed to cook food in their cells, choose their Provost, take indian helm and move about unrestricted in the facility.

This was disclosed to newsmen yesterday by the State Comptroller of Prisons, Adaobi Oputa, who described the activities of the inmates as an act of agitation.

She stated that the prison environment was condoned off by the prisons officials to forestall any likely break down of law and order.

I attracted kids with sweets, fried yam – Kidnap suspect

A child traffic suspect identified as Roland Egbe, who was paraded by the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Mr. Adeleye Oyebade, at the police officers mess in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, has confessed that he bought fried yam to attract the two kids he allegedly stole from their parents.

 The suspect added that he handed the children over to his friend identified only as Uche, who in turn sold them to one Chioma Ohajimadu and Mrs. Comfort Ogbonnaya who reside at No. 69, Ososu road, Aba.

79-year-old terminally ill man marries girlfriend after 59 years together

George Kay, a terminally ill man has married Ann Millin his girlfriend from his hospital bed after 59 years together.

They explained they never got round to getting married, despite being a couple since 1957.

Doctors said the 79-year-old George who is suffering from heart failure may be nearing the end of his life.