22-year-old, PDP chieftain arrested for killing Kano lawmakers

A 22-year-old man, Ibrahim Lawal, and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Saleh Kura, have been arrested in connection with the killing of two lawmakers of the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Abba Garko and Hon. Danlami Isa Kademi.
The Commissioner, Kano State Police Command, Ibrahim Idris, said Kura and Lawal were arrested based on information.
Idris said: “We are all aware that last year we recorded cases of assassination in the town, including the killing of two members of the state House of Assembly.

80-year-old, grandson feared dead as gunmen burn Adamawa police station, LG secretariat

An 80-year-old woman, Dada Audu, and her 15-year-old grandson are feared dead in Song, Adamawa State as gunmen attacked and burnt down the police station and local government area secretariat in the town.
Information available has it that the gunmen attacked the police station in the early hours of Thursday.

Nigerian Journalists Arrested by SSS freed, but equipment still held

The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Nigeria’s State Security Service to return laptops and cell phones confiscated from two journalists who were illegally detained for more than a week without charge.
Editor Musa Muhammad Awwal and reporter Aliyu Saleh of Hausa language weekly newspaper, Al-Mizan, were released from the custody of the SSS in the capital, Abuja, early Tuesday morning, defence lawyer, Sadiq Marafa, told CPJ.
“They are in good health. They were treated very well,” Marafa said.
He, however, added that the SSS warned the journalists that they could be summoned again as investigations continue.

Why Lagos Deputy Governor rarely stays in office

Not many really know that the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, hardly stays in her Round Bowl Alausa office to discharge her official duties as the second-in-command in Lagos State.
Instead, our amiable deputy governor is always busy representing her boss, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, at one event or another.  Some said the reason that could be adduced for this role assigned to her is her low level education.

JTF Seizes 1,000 Tonnes of Crude Oil in Rivers

The Joint Task Force (JTF) operating in the Niger Delta said Wednesday  that it arrested a vessel laden with 1,000 tonnes of crude oil off the coast of Bonny Island in Rivers State.  

It paraded nine suspected crew members, all of them Nigerians, before journalists in Bonny. The Two Brigade Army spokesman, Maj. Michael Etete, said the Nigerian-registered vessel, MT Atlantic Star, was arrested while illegally tapping crude oil from a pipeline.

SEGUN ADENIYI: Nigeria, 2013 and the Lottery of Life

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

Profound wisdom can be found in the most unusual places and it is not a function of person or time. It may be a statement by a distracted bystander, a confused friend, or even a madman. The main point is for you to find that kernel of insight that takes you to new perspectives perhaps on things you thought you knew well and had always taken for granted. That is the moral of the following narrative about a bum, which was sent to me about ten years ago. As we begin a new year, I find it instructive to illustrate some points about our nation and some unconsidered variables:

SPORTS: Ikpeba Disowns Twitter Account

Former Super Eagles player, Victor Nosa Ikpeba

Former Super Eagles player, Victor Nosa Ikpeba, has disowned the Ikpeba Official account on social network site, Twitter. Ikpeba who along with Super Eagles supremo, Stephen Keshi have been under a barrage of attack from out of favour Osaze Odemwingie on Twitter, said Wednesday that he does not have a Twitter account and that the Ikpeba Official on the social network  was unknown to him.

The former Monaco of France player also denied using Ikpeba Official to reply Odemwingie. Ikpeba Official, a Twitter account opened with Ikpeba’s name and picture exchanged words with Odemwingie on the social network site.

SPORTS: I Can't Predict My Successor-FERGUSON

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says modern management is so precarious it is "impossible" to predict who could replace him at Old Trafford. The 71-year-old Scot, who has been in charge at the club for 26 years, plans on staying in the job for another "two or three" years.

And he says it is too early for United to consider a successor yet, reports the BBC. Ferguson said: "There's no-one on the agenda, I can assure you." "I'm hoping to stay on for a bit of time anyway."

SPORTS: Balotelli, Mancini in Training Ground Bust-up

City manager, Roberto Mancini (R) drags Mario Balotelli by his bib

Oh Mario Balotelli, what will you do next? The latest incident involving the mercurial Manchester City striker involved a bit of a physical spat between he and his manager, Roberto Mancini, during practice on Thursday.

Here's what went down, according to Rob Burnett of The Mirror: Mancini was incensed by a mis-timed tackle by the 22-year-old forward. Balotelli squared up to his manager who reacted by grabbing the young striker by his training bib.

Taraba Govt: Suntai Discharged from Hospital, Undergoing Therapy

Governor Danbaba Suntai

Some relief and good news came the way of Tarabans and indeed Nigerians when the Taraba State government Wedbesday announced that the state governor, Mr Danbaba Suntai, who has been receiving treatment in a German hospital as a result of the injuries sustained in a plane crash last October, has been discharged from the hospital. The announcement is coming at a time the rumour mills have continued to buzz concerning the health status of the governor.

The state government, which also refuted claims that the picture of the governor with his wife, Hauwa and their twins published in the media yesterday was doctored, added that Suntai is currently undergoing physiotherapy since he was discharged from the hospital.
The governor was flown to Germany for treatment following life-threatening injuries he sustained when the plane he was flying crashed  last October at Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

US: Nigeria Faces Formidable Challenges Consolidating Democratic Order

President Goodluck Jonathan
 
United States has said that despite the fact that Nigeria conducted successful elections in 2011; the nation faces formidable challenges in consolidating democratic order.

US perception of Nigeria's political situation was made known on Wednesday in the latest US Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets, which replaced the Background Notes series - a collection of works by the State Department highlighting facts about the land, the people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign relations of nations.

The latest Fact Sheets said these "formidable challenges" include terrorist activities, sectarian conflicts, and public mistrust of the government.

Kogi Speaker in Autocrash, Police Escort Dies

Kogi State Governor, Captain Idri Wada

Less than   one week after the convoy of the Kogi State Governor, Captain Idri Wada, was involved in an auto crash, which claimed the live of his ADC, the convoy of the state’s Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Mommoh Jimoh Lawal was also involved in an auto crash along the Okene - Lokoja Road Tuesday, leaving a police constable dead.

According to sources, the Speaker was returning from Okene when the police escort vehicle, a Toyota Hilux van , in which the Police Constable,  Akeem Lamidi and others were  travelling collided with a truck.

It was gathered that Lamidi, who hails from Erin Ile in Oyun local government area was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja for treatment, where he died the following morning.

2013 Appropriation Bill to Reach Jonathan Mid-January

President Goodluck Jonathan

Despite efforts by the executive arm of government and the National Assembly to get the 2013 Appropriation Act signed into law before December 31, 2012, the legislative arm of government will only transmit the details of the 2013 Appropriation Bill to the presidency by the end of the second week of this month, THISDAY has learnt.

Barring any last minute hitches, the process, it was further gathered, is expected to culminate in the signing of the budget by the end of January.
The Joint Committee on Appropriation and Finance of the National Assembly is currently preparing to commence the process of putting together details of the budget for onward transmission to the executive arm of government.

Bakassi People to Submit Motion on Self-determination to N’Assembly

Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke

The displaced people of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula are planning to sponsor a motion at the House of Representatives on the need for a referendum in the territory to guide them on their bid for self-determination.

A member of the House, representing Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar South Federal Constituency, Hon. Essien Ayi, said Wednesday in Calabar that the motion would be presented once the National Assembly reconvenes after the yuletide break.

Ayi, who spoke with reporters after visiting orphanages and homes for the aged to felicitate with them during the yuletide season, added that the motion would be a prelude to the sponsorship of a bill on the matter.

According to him, the motion, among other things, will be seeking the conduct of a referendum to enable the people to decide whether they want to belong to the Republic of Cameroun, Nigeria or become an independent state in line with the United Nations charter on self-determination.

Suswam: Attacks on Me Unwarranted

Governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam

The Governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, has deplored series disparaging criticisms that have trailed his recent security alarm he raised during a church service in Makurdi.

Suswam, who said he was actually misquoted by the media, expressed dismay that despite making a rebuttal other sections of the media and commentators, apparently bent on discrediting the Governor, have continued to latch on to the false reports.

In a statement issued by the Governor's Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Dr. Cletus Akwaya, Suswan said his mention of the Boko Haram sect’s threat to his life was used as another example of the risks which Nigerian leaders face.

Senate Swears in a Historic 20 Female Senators

Today the Senate will make history, swearing in a record-breaking 20 female senators -- four Republicans and 16 Democrats -- in office.

As the 113th Congress is sworn in Thursday on Capitol Hill, ABC "World News" anchor Diane Sawyer has an exclusive joint interview with the historic class of female senators, reports ABC News. Diane Sawyer's complete interview will air on "World News" and "Nightline" tonight.

"I can't tell you the joy that I feel in my heart to look at these 20 gifted and talented women from two different parties, different zip codes to fill this room," Sen. Barbara Mikulksi, D-Md., said while surrounded by the group of women senators. "In all of American history only 16 women had served. Now there are 20 of us."

Jonathan Posters: Why Security Agencies Have Not Acted, by Abati

Reuben Abati 

 
Barely  a day after the Presidency dissociated President Goodluck Jonathan from any involvement in the pasting of posters linking him with 2015 presidential campaigns, reasons have been advanced as to why security agencies will not act or refuse to do so regarding the matter.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati Thursday told journalists that security agencies do not need to be prodded to do their jobs which entails ascertaining whether or not the pasting of the posters poses threat to national security and the welfare of the citizenry.

Despite denial of the involvement of the president in the matter criticism has continued to trail the  pasting of his posters  in some strategic places in Abuja declaring the interest of President Jonathan in the 2015 election.