At Last, Nigeria Gets Sydney 2000 Gold Medal

Late Sunday Bada was a member of the relay quartet

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has sent the gold medal won by Nigeria’s 4x400 metres relay quartet at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games following the disqualification for doping violation of the U.S. squad, the original winners. The IOC letter covering the dispatch of the medal and signed by Dr Jacques Rogge, the IOC President, was addressed to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

It reads: ``I am pleased to send you this Olympic Gold for Mr Enefiok Udo-Obong, who was part of your men’s 4x400m now placed first in the athletics men’s 4x400 metres relay event  at the Games of the XXV11 Olympiad, Sydney 2000.

SEGUN ADENIYI: The Politics of a Certificate

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

Sometime in 2002, I was in my office as editor of the Sunday edition of THISDAY when some officials of the Abia State Government walked in with a photograph they said was exclusive to my paper. It was then Governor Orji Uzor Kalu in a classroom among other students of Abia State University (ABSU). He was said to be sitting for an examination at the university. Even without the solicitation, I knew it was a remarkable photograph fit only for the front page because of its news value.

However, after my guests had left, I spent considerable time examining the photograph and ruminating over its real essence. After a while, I concluded that I would be doing the readers a disservice if I just put the photograph on the front page without a few lines. Then I began to write what turned out to be one of my most memorable back-page columns. 

Edo Police Rescue Kidnapped Spaniard

Police Headquarters

A Spaniard, Jose Anthronio Murili Turrillo, who was kidnapped and held captive in a hotel room in Benin City, the Edo State capital last Saturday, was yesterday recued by Policemen of the state police command. The victim was said to have been lured from Spain by his lover, Okafor Ada Joy, aged 28, where alongside one Kenny Oyemwina, aged 25, allegedly took Turrillo hostage and dispossessed him all the money he had.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Folusho Adebanjo, who briefed journalists on the successes recorded by his command in the fight against crime, said: “Investigation revealed that the female suspect is the Spanish lover who lured him from his country to Nigeria and made him to withdraw all the money he had in his domiciliary account.

Navy: Interim Report on Bayelsa Chopper Crash Inconclusive

The wreckage of the helicopter crash

The Accident Investigation Board (AIB) constituted by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) at the instance of the Nigerian Navy to ascertain the cause of the ill-fated Augusta Helicopter NN07 crash of December 15, 2012 that killed all six people on board, including the late Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa and former National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Andrew Azazi; has submitted an interim report to the Naval Headquarters, which will be subjected to further investigation.

According to the statement signed Thursday by the Naval Director of Information, Navy Commodore Kabiru Aliyu, the real cause of the crash could not be ascertained but is suspected to have been from human error or material failure or a combination of both

Aliyu however said that in order to be certain of the immediate and remote cause of the tragic air mishap, the air craft engines have to be subjected to a detailed forensic analysis.

Exclusive: Another Student Killed in LASU Gang War

Barely one week after Damino Damoche, the final student of the Lagos State University was killed by suspected cultist in front of the institution's gate, another student was yesterday, murdered by suspected cultists on reprisal attack.

Although the deceased identified as Karim Abiodun ,was reportedly not a student of LASU, but he was alleged to be a member of Buccaneer confraternity, whose members were said to be at war with members of the Eiye confraternity.