IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU: Jonathan’s Bare-Knuckle Slugfest

BEHIND THE FIGURES by Ijeoma Nwogwugwu

ijeoma.nwogwugwu@thisdaylive.com

In the not-to-distant future, Nigerians will be heading back to the polls to elect or re-elect a president, state governors and legislators for the state and national assemblies. Yet President Goodluck Jonathan’s common refrain on the 2015 general election is that it is still too far off for him to declare his candidacy; he would rather not be distracted by 2015, and would prefer to concentrate on governance.

But it is glaring to anyone but the blind that the president has firmly set his sights on 2015. Accordingly, it will be advisable for Nigerians at this juncture to stop reading Jonathan’s lips and focus on his body language. Whist a year ago his approach towards 2015 was subtle and partly concealed, in recent weeks he has bared his fangs like a wounded hound.

US: HIV Baby 'Cured' by Treatment

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which attacks the immune system

A baby girl in the US born with HIV appears to have been cured after very early treatment with standard drug therapy, researchers say. The Mississippi child is now two-and-a-half years old and has been off medication for about a year with no signs of infection.

More testing needs to be done to see if the treatment would have the same effect on other children. But the results could possibly lead to a cure for children with HIV, reports the BBC. If the girl stays healthy it would be only the world's second reported cure.

Power Outages Paralyse Lagos Airport

Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos

Checking in and other facilitation activities were yesterday night paralysed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos as a result of intermittent power cuts, which forced international airlines travelling to different parts in the world to suspend activities.

The power outages also hampered the safety of passengers and security measures at the airport, in addition to causing delays in the departure time of flights. Eyewitnesses told THISDAY that the power cuts were experienced three times, with the last outage lasting for about an hour.

Aliko Dangote is World’s 43rd Richest Man

Aliko Dangote

Cement mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, moved up 33 places from the 76th position, which he occupied on the list of richest men and women in the world compiled by US-based Forbes Magazine last year, to emerge the 43rd richest man on earth in 2013. According to the magazine, Dangote was valued at $16.1 billion in 2013 and retained his position as Africa’s richest man for the third year in a row.

The second Nigerian on the list is Michael Adenuga Jnr, with a net worth of $4.7 billion. Adenuga occupied the 267th position on the Forbes list and is the fifth richest man in Africa. Speaking exclusively to THISDAY last night, Dangote said his target is to enter the exclusive league of top five richest men in the world in the next four years.

Finally! The Queen Leaves Hospital after Stomach Bug

Queen heads home after hospital stay

The Queen has left hospital in central London after being assessed for gastroenteritis symptoms. She had been at London's King Edward VII's Hospital since Sunday - her first hospital stay in 10 years, reports the BBC. All official engagements for this week, including a visit to Rome, were either cancelled or postponed. She also missed St David's Day celebrations in Swansea.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen, 86, was admitted as a precaution and was otherwise in "good health". A Bentley arrived to take the Queen to Buckingham Palace on Monday afternoon. Dressed in a red coat and smiling, she shook hands with hospital staff on the steps outside.

Developer, Two Others Defraud 72 Tenants of N16m

By ChiemelieEzeobi

An estate developer, one Alhaji Lateef Akinjumi and two others;  simply identified as Ife and Tokunbo,  are currently cooling their heels off in detention for defrauding over 72 potentials tenants of about N16million, being payment for a five-storey building at the Ikotun area of Lagos. 

Some of the victims were identified as Blessing Alphonsus, Okolo Uju, Otung Francis, Patrick Imonitie, Chukwudi Olike, Wilson Udegbunam, Emeka Nzeako, Edwin Agu, Tunde Hassan, Sarafa Yusuf, Ikenna Nwachukwu, Mrs. Tina Akinjimi and Bose Egan, who were duped of N180,000, N100,000, N270,000, N255,000, N245,000, N120,000, N160,000, N150,000, N160,000, N550,000, N100,00, N170,000 and N57,000 respectively.

LASU Murder: Suspected Cultists Gun Down Another Student

...As Police begin screening of arrested suspects
By Chiemelie Ezeobi

Barely five days after  a 400-level Banking and Finance Student of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, one Damilola Damoche, was gunned down by suspected cultists, another student simply identified as Kabiru, was weekend, shot dead by gunmen suspected to be members of the Buccaneers Confraternity.

This is just as THISDAY authoritatively gathered that the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) of the  state Police Command under the leadership of the Officer-in-Charge, SP Abba Kyari, has begun screening of the over 50 suspects arrested in connection with Damoche's murder.

LASU Murder: Police Comb Hideouts, Arrest 50 Suspects

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

No fewer than 50 suspects has been arrested by the Area E Command of the Lagos State Police Command, under the command of the Area Commander, Dan Okoro, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, in connection with the death of late Damilola Damoche, a 400 level student of the Lagos State University (LASU).

The deceased who was nurturing his singing career was shot dead last Thursday by suspected cultists in front of the school gate, arousing fear of a reprisal attack from the opposing faction.

Convicted Pension Director Slumps in Court

John Yahaya Yusufu

Convicted pension thief, John Yahaya Yusufu, who is standing trial for alleged false declaration of assets, Monday  slumped in the dock while his trial was in progress before a Federal High Court in Abuja. Soon as the court resumed, Yusufu's lawyer, Mr. Theodore Maiyaki, moved an application seeking bail for the recently convicted pension thief.

The lawyer had  told the court that the offence for which his client was standing trial was ordinarily bailable and that the court was empowered by the law to exercise discretion in granting bail to an accused person and urged that the discretion be exercised in his client's favour.

Eight Houses Sink into Holes in Bayelsa

Eight houses suddenly got swallowed up in holes that caved  in at the weekend in Okoloba community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Although no casualty was recorded, the entire properties of the people were lost.

Expectedly, the people have started leaving the community in droves.  people woke up to see that two of the houses have disappeared into sinkholes. And while they were yet wondering and pondering on what happened, within a few hours, six other houses including the home of a 69-year old ex-service man sank into holes.