Justin Gatlin Beats Usain Bolt in 100m at Diamond League

Bolt

Justin Gatlin beat Olympic champion Usain Bolt by one-hundredth of a second to record a surprise 100m win in Rome. Bolt, 26, was fastest out of the blocks at the Diamond League meeting but American Gatlin, 31, powered past the Jamaican to win in 9.94 seconds.

"I need two months to get ready so I am not worried," Bolt told BBC Sport. In his first major meet since his early exit from the London 2012 Olympics, Phillips Idowu finished seventh in the triple jump in a season best of 16.44m.

ALLEN ONYEMA On Boko Haram: Buhari Must Apologise to Nigerians

General Muhammadu Buhari

The Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN), Mr. Allen Onyema, Wednesday said former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, should apologise to Nigerians over his recent comments that the ongoing war against Boko Haram was an anti-north agenda, saying all northern leaders should be circumspect in their utterances in order not to jeopardise the country’s unity.

Reacting to Buhari’s comments, which he claimed was capable of stoking sectarian passions, Onyema described the statement as unfortunate, even as he urged the former Head of State to apologise to the nation, including all those who had stuck out their necks to defend him in the past.

EXCLUSIVE: RECOVERED VEHICLES IN LAGOS (5)

NAMES OF VEHICLE                        REG. NO                COLOUR                 LOCATION

AUDI 80                                                 CU 952 GGE             ASH                           ONIKAN

B.M.W S/CAR                                        BQ 305 BDG             D/GREY                     DENTON

HONDA ACCORD                                 CF 356 AKD             N/BLUE                      ASWANI

ACCURA JEEP                                        DV 414 EKY             ASH                          ASWANI

TOYOTA CAMRY                                   UC 591 KJA             GOLD                     IPAKODO

TOYOTA  SIENNA                                 EKY 565 AJ               BLUE                   ILASAMAJA

TOYOTA CAMRY                                DK 522 GGE                 ASH                      IKORODU

NDLEA To Storm Hotels More Suspected Drug Spots in Lagos

CHAIRMAN NDLEA, AHMADU GIADE

Even as the combined team of officers with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Army raided Akala Street area of Mushin in Lagos last weekend, more of such surprise soak-up at suspected notorious criminal hideouts in Lagos, south west Nigeria should be expected, says the anti-narcotic agency.

The Chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, who told our correspondent this in a chat, added that such attack was necessary, "if we want to secure the future of our youths and redeem the image of the country in the international arena."

Finally New Constitution by Senate

Deputy Senate President and chairman of the committee, Senator Ike Ekweremadu

After weeks of expectations, the Senate Committee for the Review of the 1999 Constitution submitted its report Wednesday with a recommendation, among others, barring a vice-president or deputy governor who succeeds a president or governor on account of death from contesting for such offices during a general election.

If this recommendation as contained in Sections 136 (2) and 181 (2) of the draft amendment bill, read for the first time on the floor of the Senate Wednesday, sails through, President Goodluck Jonathan would be the first and last vice-president to ascend the office of the president following the death of his principal, to contest a subsequent presidential election.

Court Halts Bid to Remove Governor Danbaba Suntai

Suntai

The crisis occasioned by the continued absence of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State from office deepened Wednesday as the state High Court sitting in Jalingo presided over by Justice Nuhu S. Adi restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Senator Hope Uzodimma-led committee from acting on the terms of reference given to it by the party.

Besides, Justice Adi further restrained the committee and the party from submitting or receiving any report in respect of anything pertaining to the Office of the Governor of Taraba State as it relates to the temporary absence from office as the substantive governor of the state.

Hezbollah Arms Cache: More Weapons Uncovered in Bunker

Some of the arms recovered in the first operation

The Nigerian Army and State Security Service (SSS) Wednesday disclosed that they had uncovered another cache of arms and ammunition at a bunker in a master bedroom at No 3 Gaya Road, Bompai in Kano, which is the residence of a Lebanese national who is out of the country.

The weapons were discovered on Tuesday night following a tip-off. In a statement by the army spokesman in Kano, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, he revealed that a large quantity of assorted weapons, which were properly wrapped, was recovered.

UNICEF: Reduction in Open Defecation Saves Children’s Lives

UNICEF logo

As the world commemorates the World Environment Day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said there has been an improvement in the number of children saved as a result of reduction in open defecation.

“Testimonies to improved public health and a clean environment are common in the Open Defecation Free (ODF) communities,” it said in a statement. Linking sanitation to child health and protecting the environment, UNICEF noted that 90 per cent of diarrhoea cases in children under five were related to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene and that reduction in open defecation could significantly reduce the incidences of diarrhoea.

Lola Omotayo Engages in Twitter WAR over Baby Mama Status

It was definitely twitter war at its best as Lola Omotayo took on one Totofo today. Obviously the bone of contention was Lola's status as a baby mama for Peter of PSquare. See for yourself jor after the cut

Porous Border is Our Weakest Link- Immigration Boss

Acting Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Rilwanu Bala Musa  

The Acting Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Rilwanu Bala Musa has admitted that porous border has presented a huge challenge to the agency, especially at the North Eastern part of the country through which Boko Haram insurgents infiltrate to wreck havoc in the country.

Musa stated this Thursday during the sensitisation briefing on the activities mapped out to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the NIS.

NGF: Babangida Aliyu Sold Us Out, Says Yuguda

Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda

For the first time since he opted out of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda has indicated that the controversy still trailing the leadership crisis in the Nigerian Governors Forum was as a result of the betrayal of the NSGF chairman, Gov. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State.

Yuguda, who was the State House, Abuja to see President Goodluck Jonathan on an undisclosed issue Wednesday told correspondents as he was leaving that prior to the highly debated election of the NGF, all of the 19 governors, who are members of the NSGF agreed in principle that Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau was their consensus candidate for the post of the NGF leadership.

Only Five Out of 19 Northern Govs' Attend Meeting

Chairman of the Northern Governors' Forum, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu

Only 5 of the 19 governors of the Northern states are attending their meeting under their  Northern Governors Forum currently going  on in Kaduna. The other governors  are either being represented by their deputies or their Secretaries to the State Governments (SSGs).

The five governor in attending the meeting at the time of this report include the chairman of the Northern Governors' Forum, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu  as well as  governors of Jigawa Kaduna, Nasarawa and Gombe States.

Senate Rejects N4bn Appropriation for First Lady’s Peace Mission Project

Senator Smart Adeyemi

The Senate Wednesday declined to approve the  N4 billion proposal for the construction of the African Peace Mission Building in the 2013 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) budget as it passed the N259 billion FCT Statutory Appropriation Bill into law.

While presenting the report on the budget  for approval, Senate Committee Chairman on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi, said appropriating for the  building project would be unnecessary in view of ongoing litigation on the proposed site for the project, which he said would make access to the money impossible.

EXCLUSIVE: Trailer Crushes Six to Death in Lagos

Lagos PRO, Braide 

No fewer than six persons were yesterday crushed to death and several others left with varying degrees of injury in a fatal vehicular accident at Ajayi Farm Bus stop, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Although the identities of the deceased persons were yet to be identified as at press time, it was however gathered that one of the victims was identified as Samuel, a member of staff of Slot, a telecommunications company.

Mob Set Two Ablaze For Alleged Phone Theft in Lagos

Lagos Police PRO, Braide

Two yet-to-be identified persons were on Wednesday at about 5.30pm set 
ablaze by an angry mob for allegedly stealing a purse containing two handsets 
and other valuables at the Alaba-Rago area of Lagos. The incident which 
occurred during rush hour was said to have caused a heavy vehicular traffic 
along the Mile2-Badagry Expressway axis, spilling over to the Volks-
Okokomaiko environs.

According to eyewitness account, one of the deceased suspects had marked, 
then moved in on their victim and snatched her purse which contained her phones 
and other valuables before fleeing.

Chiagozie Nwonwu On Buhari: The fallen hero and his Islamist army

GENERAL BUHARI

A few weeks ago, while trying to sooth the anger of a colleague who took umbrage at the fact that I and another colleague playfully mocked his praise of a presently embattled governor of a seaside state, I declared that I used to be a Buhari groupie.

A friend, who also ascribes to the pen-to-paper—now finger-to-keyboard—profession, called me to inquire when I gave up on the man we both used to swear by. He was not shocked when I told him the man stopped inspiring me after rioters took to the streets to cool their anger at the fact that their votes was not enough to get him elected with a large douse of arson and bloodletting.

Though my friend insisted that Buhari is in no way responsible for the bloody events that followed the elections of 2011, and I agree, I insisted that the man should have done more to control rioters after it started—I have also said this in previous articles.

Police Arrest ‘EFCC Boys’ Leader For Murder, Vandalism

A youth accused of perpetrating a series of crimes, such as murder and vandalism in Somolu, Bariga and Akoka areas of Lagos state has been arrested by the State Police Command.

The suspect, Olumide Adebayo, A.K.A. Ogbor, is the head of a gang known as EFCC Boys which is affiliated with the Eiye Confraternity, according to the police.

Ogbor was declared wanted after an April 9, 2013 incident where about 100 vehicles were vandalised, with many people sustaining injuries when urchins, otherwise known as Area boys on reprisal, invaded four streets in Akoka and Pedro in Somolu Local Government Area.

NACA: Nigeria is Second Largest Carrier of HIV/AIDS in the World

NACA DG, Professor John Idoko

The Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Professor John Idoko, Tuesday disclosed that with 3.4 million Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS, Nigeria has become the second largest country where the disease has afflicted so many people.

Idoko, who made this disclosure during a public hearing on a bill seeking an end to discrimination against HIV victims, said the ailment was more prevalent in 13 states.

Terrorist Recruitment Specialist Nabbed

troops

Troops deployed to enforce the state of Emergency in the north have apprehended in Maiduguri  a key terrorist who specialises in recruiting young men into the fold of Boko Haram. He was arrested following a tip-off to the military command.

The  troops  in Yobe State, one of the three states under emergency rule, have also arrested 49 suspected Boko Haram terrorists in various locations in  the state following a tip-off by residents.

PDP Suspends Sokoto Governor, Wamakko

Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko

In line with the warning by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, that the party will take further disciplinary action against its erring members, the party Wednesday announced the suspension of the Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko, for anti-party activities.

Following a petition from the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, the party, last week, had suspended the state Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Chibuike Amaechi.

SEGUN ADENIYI: The Message from Akwa Ibom

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

About eight years ago, a maternal uncle of mine died and, not long after the burial ceremony, his widow, a civil servant, returned home from work one day to meet her late husband’s younger sibling, himself married and living in the same town. Initially she didn’t think much of the unexpected visit until bedtime when the man moved into the bedroom and called the woman inside. Shedding his clothes, he explained his mission: he had come to “take over” all bedroom affairs from where his late brother left. I want to spare readers the unpleasant drama that followed but that incident opened my eyes to some of the indignities widows are still subjected to in our country. While the practices may differ from culture to culture, the fact remains that in many of our societies, widows are still considered no more than mere chattel that could be appropriated by families of their deceased husbands.

EXCLUSIVE: Police ​SFU Has Made Our Job Easier-US

IG MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the Department of Homeland Security, United States of America, yesterday said the consummate efforts to combat fraud by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), of the Nigeria Police has made their job easier.

The leader of the team, Special Agent Attach Matt Baechtle, made this disclosure during the courtesy call paid to the Commissioner of Police, SFU, Tunde Ogunsakin, in his office in Milverton, Ikoyi area of Lagos.