EXCLUSIVE: Navy Arrests Fake Commander

Chief of naval staff, vice admiral dele Ezeoba 

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft under the command of the Commanding Officer, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, weekend paraded a fake naval commander, Alfred Onyine, who was caught in Lagos wearing the full regalia of the navy.

The fake officer was said to have been parading himself as the Commanding Officer, NNS Pathfinder in Port Harcourt, when he was paid full compliments befitting his rank by naval ratings at Liverpool, Apapa area of the state.

Okagbare Sets New African Sprint Record

Blessing Okagbare triumphed in London

Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare destroyed a stellar 100m field to set a new African record of 10.79 secs at Saturday's IAAF Diamond League in London. An hour before that new persona best time, Okagbare had earlier in the semi final dismissed the 10.90secs African record held by Glory Alozie since 1998, clocking 10.84secs.

The University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP) graduate had similarly won the London leg of the IAAF Samsung Diamond League last year. In the second heat, Jamaica's reigning Olympic champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce ran a world leading 10.77 seconds to win thereby setting the stage for a titanic battle in the final.                              

However, Okagbare was in her elements in the final, storming out of the blocks in bullet-like fashion to win the race and the maximum IAAF Diamond League points to take her tally to 10, two behind Fraser-Pryce who could only manage a fourth place (10.94).     

SIMON KOLAWOLE: Look Very Well before You Leap

Simon Kolawole Live!: By Simon Kolawole, Email: simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com

Can you believe it? Some readers actually thought I was taking exaggeration to a new dimension when I painted the scenario in the event of a debilitating crash in crude oil prices. But they didn’t need to look too far ­– it has happened before, and nothing says it can’t happen again. If you recall, the government of President Shehu Shagari ran into a serious fiscal crisis in 1982-83 following a dip in oil prices. Our foreign reserves were thrown at solving the problem, all no to avail. Civil servants were owed salaries for months. Projects were abandoned. Retrenchment began to take a prominent position in our vocabulary. Importation was stifled. Prices of food and essential commodities went haywire.

CANTICLES BY EDDY ODIVWRI: Senators’ Love for Baby Wives

Sani Yerima

Canticles.............

So it is true that our Distinguished Senators have such soft spot for “young bloods”

What young blood?

You ask too many questions—Young babes!

How?

Ex-militant, 4 Others Arrested for Arms Supply to Boko Haram

Police Headquarters

An ex-Niger Delta militant, Anietie Etim and four others who allegedly specialise in buying arms in Bakassi Peninsula for supply to the Boko Haram insurgents in the north have been arrested by the Police.

Other accomplices in the gun running business include Lawal Bako, Abdullahi Isa, Umaru Haruna and Alhaji Ahmadu all from Taraba State. They carefully constructed a special tank at the booth of an Audi salon car where they conceal arms for shipment to the north.

Rivers Crisis: Torture Allegations as Police Fail to Arraign Lloyd

Chidi Lloyd

The embattled Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, was allegedly blindfolded and tortured by the police on his return to Port Harcourt Friday from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, before being taken to the Rivers State Police Command for interrogation.

Also yesterday, the Divisional Police Officer attached to Port Harcourt Airport was queried for allowing Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s aide de camp, Debeware Semeikumo, to travel abroad through the airport.

FG: ASUU May Call Off strike Next Week

Governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswam

The ongoing labour strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may likely be called off as a result of the recent breakthrough in negotiation with the Federal Government on some outstanding issues.

This is coming as the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim Friday in Abuja inaugurated  the Universities Needs Implementation Committee with Governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswam as its Chairman.

US, Nigerian Navy Collaborate on Gulf of Guinea Security

Nigerian Navy 

Following the recent arrest of over 40 vessels involved in illegal activities at the Gulf of Guinea, the Nigeria Navy is now collaborating with the United States and other member-states of the region for a holistic policing. Based on this, it is organising Maritime Awareness Capability conference in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Rear Admiral Joseph Aikhomu, stated this yesterday in Calabar, while addressing journalists on the July 29 to 31 Gulf of Guinea Regional Maritime Awareness Capability conference.

2,000 Nigerian Fishermen Flee Cameroun

Olugbenga Ashiru, Foreign Affairs Minister

About 2,000 Nigerian fishermen have fled Cameroun Republic because of violence and extortion by soldiers and the local tribes in the country. Mr. James Audi, who identifies himself as the leader of the fleeing fishermen in Cameroun, narrated their ordeal Thursday to journalists in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

He said despite being in possession of resident’s permits, they were being subjected to constant harassment, incarceration and extortion by gendarmes who seem not to accord recognition to the residency permits in their possession.

“We are always been inundated with constant harassment, unjustifiable incarceration, intimidation and extortion in the hands of gendarmes.

“Our women are worst affected by this onslaught because of the manner their fundamental rights are being abused with impunity. They are constantly being harassed, especially on market days whenever they take their wares to the market,” he said.

Audi further said apart from the constant harassment they face from security operatives, the local Banana and Musku tribes with whom they have cohabited for decades are threatening them with violence.

SEGUN ADENIYI: Cradle-Snatching and the Senate

The Verdict By Olusegun Adeniyi. Email, olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

“It is sad that ignorant people are allowed to be speaking on behalf of Islam. Sometimes they even speak on behalf of God Himself”—Dr Usman Bugaje

When it comes to choosing wives, especially in a serial manner, the philosophy of Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima has always been to “catch them young”--first with the 15-year old girl he divorced two years later at 17 and not long after, the 14-year old daughter of his Egyptian driver he had to import all the way from Cairo. But the proclivity for cradle-snatching by the former Governor of Zamfara State has now put the Senate in the eye of the storm and with emotions running high, there seems to be no line between fact and fiction as many commentators sell their prejudices in a manner that can only further divide us as a nation.