Friendly match: Nigeria drew their match

The Super Eagles began the preparations for the
2014 World Cup with a 2-2 draw against Scotland
on Wednesday at the Craven Cottage in London.
The African champions rested key players like
Mikel Obi, Vincent Enyeama, Emmanuel Emenike
and Ahmed Musa for the match against the Tartan
Army who were unbeaten in their last five outings.
Captain Joseph Yobo was given his 96th cap. He
played alongside Austin Ejide, Elderson Echejile,
Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kunle Odunlami, Gabriel
Reuben, Joel Obi, Michael Babatunde, Michael
Uchebo, Ejike Uzoenyi and Shola Ameobi.
The match began slowly with Shola Ameobi and
Michael Uchebo troubling Allan McGregor in goal
for Scotland. The Scots grew into the game as the
match progressed with Nigerian-born Ikechi Anya
bursting down the flanks to trouble the Nigerian
defence.
Substitute Uche Nwofor rescued Nigeria from
defeat with a late goal after the Scots held on to a
2-1 lead with few minutes left in the match.
Charles Mulgrew gave Scotland the lead after just
10 minutes when he deflected James Morrison’s
effort beyond Ejide in goal for Nigeria. Eagles
levelled in the 40th minute when Uchebo’s shot
from distance was also deflected and goalkeeper
McGregor was wrong footed.
Scotland regained their lead in the 52nd minute
when Egwuekwe scored an own goal but Nwofor
snatched a late equaliser to save Nigeria the
embarrassment.
Coach Stephen Keshi made six changes in the
second half as the African Champions struggled
to get a hold in the match. Michael Babatunde
was replaced by Nnamdi Oduamadi, goal scorer
Uchebo left for Osaze Odemwingie, Nosa Igiebor
also replaced Joel Obi. Shola Ameobi went out for
Uche Nwofor, Ejike Uzoenyi was also replaced by
Victor Moses while Efe Ambrose replaced injured
Kunle Odunlami.
Scotland coach, Gordon Strachan, told BBC Radio
after the match that the game was an even and
fair one.
He said, “We’ve had three days hard work and we
were one pass away from another three or four
goals. Some of these guys haven’t played in
weeks and I think you could see that in a few of
the final balls.
“I’ve got a squad in there where every one of
them wants the others to do well.”

40 killed in fresh attack

Forty people were killed on Wednesday in a fresh
attack by gunmen on a border community in
Borno State.
The gunmen were said to have arrived at
Gurmushi, Marte Local Government Area and
opened fire on the residents in their houses and
those on their way to the mosque for Subhi, an
early morning Muslim prayer.
Sources in Maiduguri told journalists that the
gunmen believed to be Boko Haram insurgents,
also razed down houses in the village before
fleeing.
One of the sources said, “I counted over 40
corpses littered on the ground, while the village
was razed down completely, most of us ran into
the bush for our safety.”
The source also told the British Broadcasting
Corporation on the telephone that 12 persons
were injured in the siege.
She said that many other residents of the
village fled to a Cameroon settlement for fear of
a repeat attack by the insurgents.
This claim could not however be verified from the
military or police authorities in the state at the
time of filing this report.
A military source told journalists that the incident
had not been reported to the security and military
people in Maiduguri.
However, a United States security expert,
Ambassador Daniel Benjamin, on Wednesday
described Boko Haram as the world’s deadliest
terror group.
Benjamin,who delivered a lecture at the 2nd
International Conference for Democracy and Good
Governance in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said
the sect attained the status after it was observed
that it kills a minimum of seven persons in
each attack.
The former Head, Counter-Terrorism Bureau, US
State Department, delivered a lecture on ‘‘The
Nigeria security challenge and its implication for
internal, Africa, and Trans-Atlantic relations.’’
He stated that despite the Boko Haram status,
Nigeria could not be described as a war-torn
country like Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Benjamin said, “By 2012, Boko Haram was the
second most deadly terrorist group in the world
after Afghanistan’s Taliban. Taliban killed more
people than Boko Haram then.
“Currently, Boko Haram is the deadliest terrorist
group, killing at least seven persons per attack.
Boko Haram has already become a major menace
to countries like Cameroon, Niger and Chad.”
Also, the founder of the Centre for Value and
Leadership, Prof. Pat Utomi, cautioned that no
administration could accomplish anything without
legitimacy.
Utomi, who delivered a lecture titled ‘‘Nigeria’s
Democracy: Issues and Challenges,’’ maintained
that only democracy could sustain legitimacy.
In his remark, the Rivers State Governor and
Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Rotimi
Amaechi, pleaded with Nigerians to vote out the
Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.
Explaining that Nigeria was in need of change,
Amaechi said, “Let me ask you this question: Do
you like the way Nigeria is being governed now?
“We have one answer. Vote those people who
have kept us in this condition out. Vote them out;
whether they are from the Niger Delta, or
Southern Delta, whatever Delta.”

Maya Angelou passed on

Celebrated American author, poet, actress and
civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, is dead. She
died on Wednesday in her residence in North
Carolina, United States, at the age of 86.
According to a report monitored online, Angelou’s
death occurred shortly after she cancelled a
scheduled appearance at an award event, where
she was to be honoured with the Beacon of Life
Award, due to health problems.
Angelou was one of America’s most celebrated
writers. Before her death, she had received over
50 awards, including the Presidential Medal of
Freedom, for her works of poetry, fiction and
nonfiction.
In addition, she was honoured with honorary
degrees in more than 50 educational institutions
in the US.
The poet’s phenomenal memoir, I Know Why the
Caged Bird Sings – her first book which tells the
story of her life up to late adolescence – has
been described as one of the earliest best-selling
works of non-fiction by an African-American
woman.
The book was nominated for a National Book
Award.
Encouraged by the positive reception for the book
– published in 1969 – among critics and the
American public, as well as the attendant impact
on literary production at the time, Angelou went
on to publish five additional autobiographies and
more books of poetry.
The poet wrote children’s literature and acted in a
few movies, including Alex Haley’s ‘Roots’ – in
which she played Kunta Kinte’s grandma and
afterwards, earned a nomination for an award.
Angelou’s poetry assumed a different dimension
when she read one of her major poems, titled ‘On
the Pulse of Morning’ during the swearing-in
ceremony of former President Bill Clinton in 1993.
Also, she wrote a number of essays and once
directed a movie titled, Down in the Delta .

Four girls escaped from boko haram net

Four more girls out of the over 200 girls
kidnapped from the Government Secondary
School, Chibok in Borno State, have escaped from
Boko Haram insurgents, the Chairman of Chibok
Local Government Area, Mr. Bana Lawan, has
said.
Lawan, at a one-day stakeholders meeting for
validation of draft humanitarian response plan for
the abducted girls in Abuja on Wednesday, said
that with the four, the number of those that had
regained their freedom had risen to 57.
He was represented by the Director for Personnel
and Management, Mr. Musa Elijah, during the
meeting organised by the National Emergency
Management Agency.
The LGA chairman said, “The people of Chibok are
anxiously waiting for the safe return of their
children. Except for the unfortunate situation
where two of the parents have passed on. The
deceased were known to have high blood
pressure.
“Latest report reaching us is that instead of 53,
those that have escaped are now 57 and those
remaining are 164 and not 168.
Our correspondent in Borno however gathered
that the state Commissioner for Education, Inuwa
Kubo, told the Presidential Fact-Finding
Committee on the Chibok attack on Friday that
219 girls were still missing.
Lawan explained that it was not all those who
registered for the Senior School Certificate
Examination in the school that stayed back in the
school on April 14 when the insurgents struck.
“Those that registered for the SSCE are not all
that sat for the examination. Over 500 registered
and those who had relatives around decided to
move to various places like Kaduna and Maiduguri
to take the exams. Those that were left with no
relations decided to stay back and among them,
221 were abducted,” he claimed.
The chairman said the morale of girls in the
North-East was low as most of them were now
discouraged from going to school because of the
abduction saga.
“The school in particular has been existing for
long and the quality of education in it has been
diminishing. So I want to appeal to the Federal
Government, through NEMA and the presidential
committee, to intervene in rebuilding the school,”
he added.
Lawan commended Nigerians for showing
support for Chibok people, saying their action had
restored the hope and aspiration of the people for
the return of peace to their community.
He also lauded the Federal Government’s prompt
intervention through the provision of relief items
for the people.
Lawan, who also decried the poor health facilities
in the area, however appealed for the deployment
of medical personnel and teachers in the area.
He said the deployment of National Youth Service
Corps members would boost the educational and
health needs of the people of Chibok.
Elijah later told journalists on the sidelines of the
meeting that the insurgents might have noticed
that the four girls had become a liability to them
and therefore decided to ‘discard’ of them.
“You know we just generalise it as escape. But
when they (Boko Haram) notice that you are sick
or very weak or a liability to them, they will
discard of you,” he said.
He also dismissed the claim that the Sambisa
Forest where the girls are believed to be held is
bigger than Lagos.
Elijah said, “The reserve (Sambisa Forest) is about
17 by 24 kilometres. As students of the
University of Maiduguri, we used to go there. It is
not as big as people are saying and when they
(Boko Haram) discard of you, you can actually trek
it. So the girls can actually trek from the forest
to a nearby village where somebody could spot
and assist them.”
But he said that security operatives might find it
difficult to penetrate the forest because of the
mines allegedly planted there by the sect.
Asked if the remaining girls were still being held
in the forest, Elijah replied, “Of course, they are
there. The first time when vigilante groups went
there, they saw them. The girls even talked with
them. But nobody can go there to rescue them.
But I believe the girls will be reunited with their
families.”
Elijah also refuted claims that the abduction saga
was pre-arranged.
“You mean the whole villagers will gather
themselves and connive and say let us lie. These
people (sect) have over 40 Toyota Hilux vans and
they can beat checkpoints because they have
heavy weapons,’’ he said.
Earlier, NEMA Director-General, Alhaji Mohammad
Sani-Sidi, had said the meeting was aimed at
strengthening the coordination mechanism for
humanitarian response in Chibok.
“While the Federal Government is working
towards the safe release of the abducted girls, it is
important that a sectoral response plan is
prepared for their rehabilitation and reintegration
back to normal life,” the News Agency of Nigeria
quoted him as saying.
“The objective of the meeting is to integrate all
sectoral response plans into one holistic multi-
sectoral response plan to avoid duplication of
efforts,’’ he added.
Also, the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Dr
Dauda Toure, said the organisation had mapped
out a $75m intervention plan for states affected
by the state of emergency in the North-East.
According to him, the UN system in Nigeria has
developed an integrated response package to
address the humanitarian needs in Chibok.
It was gathered in Maiduguri on Wednesday that
the state Commissioner for Education told the
presidential fact-finding committee that
government officials found out during the data
capturing and visits to parents that the four
more girls who escaped from the insurgents had
reunited with their parents.
The commissioner was said to have been furious
with the parents for keeping the government in
dark.
Meanwhile, the President of the Civil Rghts
Congress of Nigeria, Mallam Shehu Sani, has said
that the meeting between ex-President Olusegun
Obasanjo and some family members of Boko
Haram insurgents in Abeokuta, Ogun State was
to open a new channel of dialogue for the
release of the abducted schoolgirls.
Sani, in a statement on Wednesday, said that the
meeting was also meant to fashion out a fresh
understanding to resolve the insurgency in the
North-East.
He said, “My statement is in response to the
reports and the enquiries on the Abeokuta meeting
with the former president and some family
members of the Boko Haram insurgents.
“This is to confirm that the meeting actually took
place and I was part of it. The meeting was solely
aimed at exploring the possibility of opening a
new channel for dialogue or negotiation with the
sect members towards securing the release of the
abducted Chibok girls held in captivity for over a
month.”
He said at the meeting, there was an appraisal of
the ‘back door’ deal that was later cancelled by
the government.
Sani added, “I wish to also confirm that the
report of the intervention of Mallam Ahmed
Salkida in negotiating the release of the Chibok
girls is credible.
“I personally introduced Salkida to the
government and spoke about him in many of my
previous interviews. He has tried his best in the
past and of recent to help in resolving the
insurgency through dialogue but was on all
occasions frustrated by the government.
“Mallam Salkida should not be vilified but should
be appreciated. Salkida’s attempt could have
actually seen to the release of the abducted girls.
The meeting in Abeokuta was aimed at
repackaging and salvaging the dialogue option.”
He warned that the use of force would not bring
back the schoolgirls, saying that it was agreed at
the meeting that negotiation remained the best
option in rescuing them.
Sani said, “The consequences of the use of force
to rescue the girls are clear. The indecision
whether to swap or to storm is also not helpful.
“Our children are our precious seeds for
tomorrow’s harvest. We cannot celebrate
Democracy Day with our children in chains.The
ongoing insurgency is now part of our history and
the challenge before us is not to allow it to be our
fate.With national solidarity and resilient spirit we
shall overcome.
“It was generally agreed that the initiative cannot
take off without the consent of the Federal
Government. It’s significant for Nigerians to note
that negotiation is the only safer option to get the
girls back home.”
Also on Wednesday, a British newspaper, Daily
Mail, reported that the United Kingdom planned to
send hundreds of soldiers to Nigeria to assist
the military in rescuing the girls.
The newspaper, however, said that the UK
ministers and military chiefs had yet to sanction
the plan put forward by senior officers attached
to the specialist UK team sent to Abuja following
the kidnap of the girls.
It added that the troops would not be involved
directly in the hunt for the girls or take an active
role in any military action against the
insurgents.
The newspaper said Downing Street was anxious
to assist the Nigerian government in providing
security against the terrorists without committing
any UK troops to ‘high risk’ deployments.
It added that the role of the British force would
be to help restore morale and train Nigerian
soldiers on how to track and fight Boko Haram.
Britain, France and the United States already have
Special Forces, anti-terror experts and specialists
in hostage negotiation helping the Nigerian
military to pinpoint where the girls are being held.
Britain, the US and France have been using aerial
surveillance, satellite intercepts and evesdropping
on telephone calls made between suspected
representatives of the kidnappers and their
supporters to track the movements of the Boko
Haram gunmen.
Until recently Britain had a training facility in
Ghana where its military instructors trained West
African countries in readiness for their
deployments with the African Union in a project
called Exercise African Winds.

Real Madrid won uefa championship

Gareth Bale scored the winner to lead Real
Madrid to a 4-1 win in extra time and their
fabled “decima” on Saturday night, stunning
Atletico in extra-time of the UEFA Champions
League final with a fierce header that ended a
dozen years of frustration. The $130 million
man earned every penny of that transfer fee,
tucking home the goal off a kick save from
Atleti keeper Thibaut Courtois in the 111
minute.
Marcelo would add the insurance with three
minutes to play to seal the victory, sending
the Real players coursing off the bench and
onto the field; Diego Godin would concede a
penalty at the death that Cristiano Ronaldo
calmly stroked home. Sadly, that sent the
game into farce as an ugly dustup had
Atletico manager Diego Simeone on the field
and sent off by referee Bjorn Kuipers.
The result meant that Carlo Ancelotti became
just the second man after Liverpool ’s Bob
Paisley to lift three European Cups. And this
win had eerie shades other history as well,
namely the 1973-1974 European Cup final:
back then, Bayern stunned Atletico deep in
extra-time to take the European Cup to a
replay, which Bayern handily won. There are
no replays any more, and on Saturday, in
extra-time no less, Atleti simply ran out of
gas.
As then, so here did Real Madrid need
stoppage-time just to get back into the match
after Atletico seized the lead behind a header
from Diego Godin in the 36 minute. But
Sergio Ramos played hero, heading home in
the fourth minute of stoppage time off a
corner from Luka Modric to keep Real’s
dream alive -- and dash Atleti’s hopes.
Carlo Ancelotti, had warned this Champions
League coup would not be won by individuals
at a press conference on Friday. He was
wrong: his galacticos swarmed Atletico late
and changed the tone here, with Bale
supplying a magnificent capper.
The opening half saw Atleti in control, ably
choking off Real’s line of supply and a
hobbled Cristiano Ronaldo staying too far
back to influence much of the play. With
Juanfran, Diego Godin, Filipe Luis harrying
Angel di Maria and Bale into irrelevance, Luka
Modric was left to chase the play, which he
was only able to do in fits and starts.
Bale actually looked like a bust for a time,
muffing the best chance of the first half for
Real in epic fashion. Pouncing on a loose ball
at midfield coughed up by Tiago, the
Welshman had keeper Thibaut Courtois fully
committed and all the net to shoot at. He
didn’t come close, missing wide to the left,
and was left with his head in his hands on the
turf.
But if the vaunted “BBC” combination couldn’t
catch fire, it was Atletico who seemed to
suffer the more grievous blow early on.
Simeone gambled that Diego Costa could
make a miracle recovery from a hamstring
tear -- a gamble that backfired spectacularly
when the striker had to be yanked for Adrian
after only nine minutes.
Yet Atletico, if anything, seemed to grow
stronger despite Costa’s loss, especially as
the half ground on, and the play became
chippier. Real Madrid had few answers in
midfield for Gabi and Koke, and when Adrian
and David Villa started to get on the ball, they
left Sergio Ramos and Sami Khedira very
frustrated indeed. And Adrian? He started to
look like the $100 million man, relentless and
predatory.
When Godin, Atletico’s La Liga hero last
weekend, scored the opener on a truly bizarre
play, Ancelotti must have been wondering why
he kept faith with Iker Casillas for the match.
Casillas has not been the league starter for
Real all season and he showed why with a
bad gaffe.
Off a corner lofted in by Gabi, the ball was
slapped back out by Sergio Ramos, with
Casillas chasing the play. That was a
mistake; Juanfran simply lofted the ball over
forcing the keeper to backheel in desperation,
and Godin outjumped the defender to head it
home. Casillas got a mitt to it as it just nicked
the line, but he could only palm it onto the
boots of the onrushing Godin. In any case, the
goal had been given. It was a dreadful error
from the veteran -- and more proof that his
time at the top may be up.
If the first half had been tough on Real, the
back half of the game became explosive
Ateltico became increasingly ragged. First,
Ronaldo had a free kick that seemed to take a
slight nick off the top of the wall brilliantly
stopped by Courtois, only to see the ensuing
corner kick set up for a header. It went wide.
Marcelo and Isco were thrown on as Ancelotti
tried to replicate the last league match
contested between the two teams -- a 2-2
draw made possible by that same double-
sub. It proved to be a game-changer as Isco
took the match by the scruff. Atletico were
pressed back, back, back, but Real continued
to squander chances. Bale was in twice, and
twice he snapped his shots wide. Godin, able
at both ends, denied Isco with a brilliant steal
with ten to play to preserve the lead.
When the goal came, it was hardly
unexpected. Courtois had been heroic, but he
simply could not handle Ramos’s header.
Modric popped in a perfect cross that was
well-met and Courtois was a fraction behind
the play as the back powered the ball into the
net. It was a harbinger of things to come, and
a hurdle that the previously unbeaten Atletico
could not overcome.
--
The game saw a strange preamble as ten
protestors holding Greenpeace banners made
their way to the stadium roof, staging what
was apparently an protest against Champions
League sponsor Gazprom. Greenpeace later
issued a prepared statement saying the
protest was over the company’s plans to drill
in the Artic Circle. The protestors were
arrested.

VP inaugurated a committee to merge NIMET,NCAA and the rest

Vice President Namadi Sambo on Tuesday
inaugurated a special committee saddled with the
responsibility of implementing the White Paper on
the Steve Oronsaye-led Presidential Committee on
Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal
Government Parastatals, Commissions and
Agencies.
Prominent among the provisions of the White
Paper is the merger of the Nigerian Airspace
Management Agency, the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
The committee chaired by the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, Senator Pius
Anyim, is expected to exercise overall
responsibility for the implementation of the White
Paper and design guidelines, ensure effective
coordination and monitoring of the
implementation process.
The committee is also to supervise, consider and
decide on the recommendations of the four sub-
committees on the implementation of the White
Paper; and advise government on any other
matter(s) that would further facilitate the
achievement of the key objectives for the
restructuring.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Muhammed Adoke is the Vice
Chairman while the Director-General of the Bureau
of Public Service Reforms is the secretary of the
committee that has the Ministers of Aviation;
Education; Health; Industry, Trade and Investment,
Science and Technology; Tourism, Culture and
National Orientation, as well as the Chairman of
the Federal Civil Service Commission as
members.
Sambo, in his remarks, regretted that in recent
years, many parastatals have failed to live up to
expectations while many others have no clear
mandate.

An explosion rock a market in jos

At least 46 people were killed when two car bombs
ripped through a busy market in the central
Nigerian city of Jos, police said on Tuesday.
Plateau state police commissioner Chris Olakpe
told reporters that 45 others were injured in the
blasts, which happened in the New Abuja Market
area of the city.
Also the Plateau State Government says it is “not
in a hurry’’ to release the casualty figures from
Tuesday afternoon’s two bomb blasts which hit the
Terminus Market in Jos.
“The casualty figures have not been ascertained
because the figures are still being collated from
various hospitals,’’ the state’s Information
Commissioner, Olivia Dazyam, told newsmen in
Jos on Tuesday.
She however said the figures would be made
available “as soon as possible’’.
The commissioner said security agents had been
drafted to the scene of the blasts, and advised
hospitals to accept the victims and begin treatment
immediately.
“Full investigation has begun on the incident. But
we want people to be calm and pray, especially for
the victims.
“We also want everyone to support the authorities
in these trying times,’’ she said

GEJ condemned the bomb blast in jos

President Goodluck Jonathan has strongly
condemned the bomb blasts in Jos, Plateau state,
which led to the loss of many lives.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the
President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati
Tuesday said the president described the
perpetrators of “this tragic assault on human
freedom as cruel and evil”.
According to Dr Abati, the president has directed
all relevant agencies to mobilise support and relief
efforts in aid of the victims.
The presidential Spokesmand said President
Jonathan has also assured all Nigerians that
government remain fully committed to winning the
war against terror, and this administration will not
be cowed by the atrocities of enemies of human
progress and civilization.
The Statement reads: : “President Jonathan has
also expressed Nigeria’s deepest appreciation to
the international community on the success of the
recent Summit in Paris on the security situation in
Nigeria hosted by the President of France, H.E.
Francois Hollande.

NCAA has advised passengers to show understanding when flights are cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has advised passengers to show understanding when flights are cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

A statement by the NCAA on Sunday noted that such cancellations were to be expected at the start of the rainy season, which is usually accompanied by hazards such as thunderstorms, lightning and turbulence.

It explained that the most severe of these hazards was the wind-shear, occurring along the flight path, adding that it could cause abrupt and substantial displacement of the aircraft from its intended path and could become extremely hazardous for aircraft taking off and landing.

President Goodluck Jonathan is currently under pressure from some prominent Nigerians

President Goodluck Jonathan is currently   under pressure from some prominent Nigerians and some of his influential aides to accept the prisoner swap offer made by Boko Haram to release the over 200 schoolgirls it abducted from their school in Chibok on April 14, The PUNCH’s investigation has revealed.

The leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, had in a recent video asked for the release of Boko Haram members detained by security agencies across the country in exchange for the abducted girls.

Although the Presidency had ruled out what it called “trade by barter” in securing the release of the schoolgirls, some top government officials, including the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, had at different times said the government would go to any length to ensure that the girls were brought back to safety.

AT least, seven persons were feared dead on Sunday when an explosion rocked the Port Harcourt Refinery Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

 

AT least, seven persons were feared dead on Sunday when an explosion rocked the Port Harcourt Refinery Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered that several persons were seriously injured as a result of the explosion, which was allegedly triggered by the activities of pipeline vandals and oil thieves.

The PUNCH learnt that suspected oil thieves had tampered with one of the pipelines close to the refinery with the intention of stealing petroleum products.

A source explained that the action of the oil thieves had ignited a deafening noise and a huge fire around the jetty, leaving not less than seven persons dead.

blast hit Kano on Sunday, in a street with many bars and night spots.

A blast hit Kano on Sunday, in a street with many bars and night spots.

Scores were feared dead in the explosion which eyewitnesses quoted by the AFP news agency said was caused by a suspected car bomb.

The blast took place in an area mostly inhabited by Christians from southern Nigeria, the Reuters news agency reports.

The militant Islamist group Boko Haram has carried out attacks in Kano State.

Buhari adopted son for N20m scam

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested Mr. Mohammed Buhari, an adopted son of a former Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, for an alleged N20m scam.

A source at the EFCC said that the young Buhari obtained the said N20m from one Mrs. Nwokocha Florence to invest in an oil and gas business with a promise to make mouthwatering returns to the lady.

It was gathered that the adopted son of the former Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change in the 2011 elections also promised to pay the lady 30 per cent annual interest on the N20m.

Barcelona's Carles Puyol will miss Saturday's title showdown with Atletico Madrid, meaning he has played the last game of his 15-year career at his club

Barcelona's Carles Puyol will miss Saturday's title showdown with Atletico Madrid, meaning he has played the last game of his 15-year career at his club.

The 36-year-old, who made his debut in October 1999, has suffered with a persistent knee injury this season.
"I have spoken with the coaches and we are playing for a title so those that are 100% have to play," Puyol said.

Manchester United: Missing out on Europe to cost club £30m

Failure to secure European football will cost Manchester United more than £30m, the club's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has revealed.

United's seventh-placed finish was their worst since the 1989-90 season.
Speaking to investors, Woodward also touched on United's managerial vacancy, saying: "We are focused on bringing in a manager. An announcement will be made in due course."
He added the club was in "a healthy position to invest in the squad."
United's poor season cost David Moyes his job as manager.

Secrets of the new World Cup ball

It's one of the stars of the World Cup - the paintbrush with which the world's greatest footballing maestros must create their art.

But is it up to the task? The Brazuca, the official ball of Brazil 2014, is the 12th ball created by Adidas for the World Cup.
The company came under fire four years ago for the Jabulani, the official ball at the 2010 competition in South Africa, which was heavily criticised.
"It's trajectory is unpredictable," claimed Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, while Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano branded it "supernatural".
Adidas claims the Brazuca has improved touch and accuracy.

Use QuickClick to add extra 'buttons' to your Android device

One of the more interesting projects to hit Indiegogo of late is Dimple, an adhesive strip that adds two or four programmable physical buttons to your Android device.
However, as a clever reader named Lukasz pointed out, there's already an app that accomplishes much the same thing. It's called QuickClick, and it allows you to program your Android device's volume buttons for various other tasks, much in the way that the Dimple app will do with those add-on buttons.
It's free, fairly easy to use, and surprisingly effective. Here's how to get started. (Note that my testing was done on a Motorola Moto X. Your mileage -- and compatibility -- may vary.)

The jig is up for the woman who accused Justin beiber attempt robbery

The jig is up for the woman who accused Justin
Bieber of attempted robbery this week -- an
employee at the L.A. batting cage where the
incident occurred tells TMZ, Bieber NEVER tried to
rob anyone ... he never even touched the
woman.The Sherman Oaks Castle Park employee
called in to "TMZ Live" moments ago, claiming

Boko haram member were killed by vigilante group

A vigilante group made up of residents of
Kalabalge, a town in the north of Borno State, on
Wednesday mounted a fierce resistance to a siege
by members of Boko Haram, inflicting severe
casualties on militants from the fringe Islamist
sect.
“We killed many of them (Boko Haram members)
today (Wednesday),” one of the residents of the
town who took part in the battle told a
correspondent of SaharaReporters.

First living thing with ‘alien’ DNA created in the lab: We are now officially playing God

Scientists have succeeded in creating the first organism with “alien” DNA. In normal DNA, which can be found within the genes of every organism , the twin strands of the double helix are bonded together with four bases, known as T, G, A, and C. In this new organism, the researchers added two new bases, X and Y, creating a new form of DNA that (as far as we know) has never occurred after billions of years of evolution on Earth or elsewhere in the universe. Remarkably, the semi-synthetic alien organism continued to reproduce normally, preserving the new alien DNA during reproduction. In the future, this breakthrough should allow for the creation of highly customized organisms — bacteria, animals, humans — that behave in weird and wonderful ways that mundane four-base DNA would never allow.

Google’s chance to dominate the robot car market is quickly slipping away

Self driving car software has made a lot of progress in the last year, none more so than Google’s own offering. The Google car has learned about railroad crossings and cyclist hand signals, highway shoulder etiquette and the government hell-mazes we call construction zones. Though some companies have been working on self-driving technology for longer than Google, feature announcements from rivals like Audi, Tesla, and Volvo imply that their software still lags in that kind of detailed, everyday versatility. Perhaps more importantly, Google has cemented a nigh-Kleenex level of brand association with the concept of the self-driving car. You’d think that Google, a company built on convincing third parties to use its software solutions, would have no trouble parlaying such a powerful lead into a market stranglehold to make Android look like Google+. Yet, the more progress it makes, the more anxious the search giant seems to become.

some reliable harddrives.

Backup to digital storage is like insurance to driving, you need it even though you hope that you'll never have to resort to it. Unfortunately, backing up is not required by law and I've seen a lot of accidents when folks lose their precious data. You can buy a new car but you just can't buy back your lost memories, no matter how much money you have.
In short, I just can't stress enough how important backing up is. The good news is it's very easy, and cheap, to have a backup drive for your computer. Following is the top five external hard drive that I've reviewed recently that will make excellent home backup solutions. They are all affordable, easily to use, and works with both Windows and Macs. They also comes with helpful backup software for home users.
Note that these drives are listed based on review order with the latest review on top. They are equally great backup drives so pick one that fit your need - generally you want to get a drive that has the same or larger capacity than that of your computer. . And do that today! from cnet.com

How to move your OneDrive local storage to another drive

 from cnet.......With Microsoft's recent release of Windows 8.1, the cloud-storage service formerly known as SkyDrive officially became OneDrive. And it remains tightly integrated with the OS.
So integrated, in fact, that it syncs your cloud files to your hard drive, and vice-versa. That's a handy feature, to be sure, but what happens if you're running out of space on that local drive?
This can definitely be a problem for anyone with, say, a Surface or similar tablet, or a laptop with a small solid-state drive. Fortunately, it's a simple matter to relocate OneDrive's local storage to another storage device, thereby freeing up critical space.
What kind of device? Because it's something you'll want to keep plugged in full-time, I recommend a tiny flash drive like the PKparis K'1 or much more affordable Team C12G (currently $15.99 at Newegg for the 32GB version).

How to add more storage to an iOS device

Apple's iDevices famously -- make that infamously -- rely on fixed storage. If you need more space, well, too bad.
Granted, you can try a utility like PhoneClean, which can reclaim some space , but that gets you only so far. For any kind of significant storage boost, you have little choice but to upgrade to a more capacious iPhone, iPod, or iPad.

​How to make folders private on a Windows 8.1 family PC

Choosing File Explorer's "Stop sharing" option doesn't prevent other administrator accounts from accessing your default folders for pictures, documents, videos, and music. Here's how to privatize your personal folders on a multiuser PC.

Windows 8.1's "stop sharing" option for folders can be overridden simply by choosing Continue, which grants permanent access.

how to podcast..................

It takes an idea, a mic, and some know how to put together a podcast. Eric Franklin/CNET

If you've seen CNET's shows or other online programs, you might have the itch to create your own podcast. So what happens if you have no idea where to start? Don't worry -- we've got you covered. This series will explain what it takes to start a podcast from inception to publication. Let's get to it. from cnet.com

How to use Google Maps offline mode on iOS, Android

Google Maps has been updated, bringing a true offline maps mode. Here’s what you need to know.

 

When Google revamped the look of Google Maps for iOS and Android, users were upset about the lack of traditional features. Some users were so upset, the option of reverting to a much older version of the app was the answer.

IFTTT on android

Popular automation service If This Then That, which goes by IFTTT, helps you set up automatic cause-and-effect commands using online tools, social networks, and more. The app landed on Android last week, and I'm here to show how to use it to automate simple tasks
The IFTTT Android app includes six new Android-specific channels: Device, Location, Notifications, Phone Call, Photos, and SMS. Each channel has its own sets of triggers and actions that interact with your phone. For instance, the Device channel can change settings on your phone or tablet, such as turning down your ringtone volume, or carrying out an action when you connect or disconnect from a Wi-Fi network.

Nigerian banks reject foreign ATM cards

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s cash-less policy drive is facing threats as majority of the Automated Teller Machines in the country are rejecting ATM cards issued by foreign lenders for fear of possible invasion by hackers.

Sources revealed that Nigerian banks were refusing to grant access on their terminals to ATM cards issued by foreign banks.

The development, it was learnt, had made foreigners coming into the country and Nigerians, who have ATM cards issued abroad, to take their complaints to the central bank.

Top banking officials revealed that the CBN had written to all the financial institutions in the country and some payment technology firms in a bid to address the problem.

According to the sources, the development has made some of the banks to grant access to some foreign ATM cards.

A top banker familiar with the situation, who spoke under the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said, “Banks are not making it possible for ATM cards not issued in Nigeria to be used on ATM terminals in the country. The reason is that the banks want to curtail the activities of hackers because some hackers bring foreign ATM cards to hack into the ATMs.

“This is why the banks made it impossible for ATM cards not issued in Nigeria to be used in the country. But since the CBN intervened, some banks have started to allow foreign ATM cards to be used on their machines. Not all the banks have agreed to this yet and we can’t blame them because some of the foreign ATM cards can be used to hack into the ATM terminals.”

city win epl

Manchester City wrapped up a second Premier League title in three seasons after beating West Ham United, and Liverpool’s come-from-behind win over Newcastle United proved to be in vain.

Norwich City’s relegation from the top flight was confirmed after a home defeat by fourth-placed Arsenal, while Tottenham Hotspur booked Europa League football for next season by beating Aston Villa.

Ryan Giggs’ likely last game as Manchester United manager ended in a draw at Southampton, as FA Cup finalists Hull City were beaten at home by Everton.

I have information on abducted girls – Shettima

The governor of Nigeria’s Borno state says he has information on the whereabouts of about 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamist group Boko Haram.

Governor Kashim Shettima said he had passed reports of the sightings of the girls to the military for verification.

Mr Shettima added that he did not think the girls had been taken across the border to Chad or Cameroon.

Earlier, France’s president offered to host a summit on Boko Haram.

“I suggested, with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, a meeting of Nigeria’s neighbouring countries” Francois Hollande said.

There were indications yesterday that the 230
female students abducted by Boko Haram terrorists
from the Government Girls’ Secondary School,
GGSS, Chibok, Borno State, have been sited at the
Sambisa Forest in Borno State, by the Special
Forces of the United States Marines.
The girls who were abducted on April 14, were part
of the 250 students boarded at the school for the
West African School Certificate, WASC/ Senior
Secondary School Certificate, SSSC, examinations,
triggering world-wide condemnations.
This was even as more US military officials arrived
Nigeria yesterday to join local officials in the
search for nearly 300 school girls taken captives
by the Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram, the
US Secretary of State John Kerry, and the defence
department, Pentagon, said.
The UK team had earlier arrived in Abuja to support
Nigerian government in its response to the
abduction of over 200 school girls.
The arrival of the foreign troops is coming on the
heels of the appeal yesterday by the former Vice
President, Atiku Abubakar for Nigerians to unite
and fight the insurgents to achieve success.
According to Kerry, “Our inter-agency team is
hitting the ground in Nigeria now and they are
going to be working with President Goodluck
Jonathan’s government to do everything that we
possibly can to return these girls.”
The CNN also quoted the U.S. Navy Rear Admiral,
John Kirby, who serves as Pentagon press
secretary, as saying that the small team of seven
would join advisers supporting local efforts to find
the girls abducted over three weeks ago.
Kerry said the US team, working with the Nigerian
government, would do everything possible to free
the girls and everything possible to stop the
atrocities of Boko Haram.
“We are also going to do everything possible to
counter the menace of Boko Haram. The entire
world should not only be condemning this outrage
but should be doing everything possible to help
Nigeria in the days ahead,” he added.
But there are no plans to send American combat
troops into Nigeria, Mr. Kirby said.
The abduction of the school girls on April 14 in a
remote community in Borno State, one of the most
shocking terrorist acts by Boko Haram yet, has
drawn widespread anger around the world with
calls for a swift action.
President Goodluck Jonathan said Thursday that
the kidnapping will be “the beginning of end” of
Boko Haram.
US President Obama has said he hopes the
abduction by Boko Haram will galvanize the
international community to act against the brutal
group that has directed much of its cruelty on
civilians and the innocent.
This week, more than 100 people were killed in a
busy market by militants suspected to be from the
group. The attack occurred in Gamboru Ngala,
Borno State, near the Nigerian border with
Cameroun.
Besides the United States, Britain, France and
China have also offered to help rescue the stolen
girls.Obama said the team sent to Nigeria
comprised personnel from military, law
enforcement and other agencies.
France said it will station 3,000 troops in Nigeria’s
neighbouring countries to help fight militants in the
Sahel region.
British satellites and advanced tracking capabilities
also will be used, and China has promised to
provide any intelligence gathered by its satellite
network.
Meanwhile in a statement yesterday, the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said, “a
team of UK experts who will advise and support the
Nigerian authorities in its response to the
abduction of over 200 school girls touched down
in Abuja, Nigeria this morning”.
The team is drawn from across government,
including DfID, FCO and the MoD, and will work
with the Nigerian authorities leading on the
abductions and terrorism in Nigeria. The team will
be considering not just the recent incidents but
also longer-term counter-terrorism solutions to
prevent such attacks in the future and defeat Boko
Haram.
The team will be working closely with their US
counterparts and others to coordinate efforts.
Us Marines find abducted girls, arrest Boko Haram
leader
However, military sources said that apart from
abducting the girls, the insurgents also carted
away food items and vehicles as well as killing
undisclosed number of people in Chibok on the
fateful night.
The sources told Saturday Vanguard in Abuja that
members of the United States Marines who are
already in Maiduguri following the promise by
President Barak Obama to assist Nigeria in
rescuing the abducted girls, located the girls inside
the forest, using some Satellite equipment which
combed the forest, located an assembly of the
young girls and sent the images back to the
Marines on ground in Maiduguri.
Aside locating the whereabouts of the girls in the
dense forest, it was also, further gathered that one
of the leaders of terrorist group who participated in
the abduction of the girls was arrested by a
combined team of the US Marines and Nigerian
forces.
Sources said that the Boko Haram leader was
arrested, through an advanced interceptor
equipment which was used to track the terrorist
while exchanging information with his colleagues
in Sambisa Forest about the movements of
American and Nigerian soldiers in Maiduguri.
His phone was subsequently traced to a location in
Maiduguri where he was arrested and handed over
to the Nigerian military.
The location of the girls in the forest is contrary to
widespread reports that the girls had been
distributed and ferried to the Nigerian border towns
in Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic.
Senator Ahmed Zanna, representing Borno Central
District in whose Maiduguri home, an alleged Boko
Haram top commander was once arrested told the
Senate last week that he gave the Military an up-
to-date information on how the girls could be
rescued, but lamented that his information was
largely ignored.
He spoke against the backdrop of the claim by the
Boko Haram leader, Sheik Abubakar Shekau, last
week that the girls were booties of war, who would
be sold into slavery.
However, Atiku said in his blog, “While I have had
and continue to have major policy differences with
the government in Abuja and its leadership, as a
nation we must remain united.
”We have come to a turning point in our war
against terrorism in Nigeria. It is a critical moment
for us; the war will not be won without us winning
this battle. In short, if one is not part of the
solution, they become part of the problem.
”And at a moment like this, we can no longer
afford anything but a united commitment to
stamping out a great evil that threatens the very
existence of the only place we call home.
”On social media, I have been amazed by the
outpouring of solidarity from within and outside
Nigeria. While on the one hand it is sad to see
Nigeria in the news for its inability to protect its
most vulnerable citizens, it is also clear that in the
age of social media no concerns or problems are
local.
”It is in light of this that I welcome the offer of
military support from the United States, United
Kingdom, France and others, and the acceptance
by the Nigerian government. While I believe that
we waited too long to get to this point of admitting
our need for external help, I will also insist that
it’s better late than never.
”We must make it clear that under no
circumstances should any person, group of
persons, or organization ever be permitted to prey
on the children of Nigeria, or any other country.
We must make it easy for everyone who has
information about this crime against humanity to
contact the authorities at once.
”We must make it easy for the innocent population
of the affected areas to see the Nigerian military
and authorities as friends, not enemies. We must
make it easy for our soldiers to be loyal and
committed to this great and difficult task ahead of
them.
”We must make it easy for the world to see Nigeria
as a country that cares for all its citizens,
regardless of their age, gender, religion, ethnic
group or economic class. We must remember the
people most affected, trapped on the frontlines of
the battle.
They need support, relief and rehabilitation. ”We
must remember they will need help when they are
returned home to their families and their loved
ones. And we must make it difficult for anyone to
play politics with this crisis.
’’Nothing, absolutely nothing, is worth the
bloodshed and the destruction we have come to
associate with this campaign of terror. Not party
affiliations, not the 2015 elections. We are in a race
against time. For every day we delay our response,
or allow ourselves to be caught up in needless
bickering, we hand victory over to the forces of
darkness and despair, like Boko Haram.”
Atiku appeals for unity to defeat Boko Haram
However, the arrival of the foreign military officials
is coming on the heels of the appeal yesterday by
the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on
Nigerians to unite and fight the insurgents.
Atiku said the Nigeria had reached a turning point
in the war against terrorism, asking the people
irrespective of class, status, religion or party
affiliation to unite to ensure victory over evil.
Atiku posted his opinion on his blog on the
website lamenting the high level of insurgency
resulting in the abduction of female students by
Boko Haram Islamist sect, pointing out Nigerians
can no longer afford any other thing, but a united
commitment to stamp out what he termed ‘’a great
evil that threatens the very existence of the only
place we can call our home.’’
No Boko Haram activities in Lagos —Police
In a related development, the Lagos State Police
Command said yesterday that the rumour about
activities of Boko Haram members in some parts of
the state was false.
The Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the state
Police Command, DSP Ngozi Braide, made this
known at a news conference yesterday, at Premier
College Group of Schools, Palm Avenue, Mushin,
where the sect members allegedly invaded.
“It is not true that there is any act of terrorism
anywhere in Lagos State. It is a lie that the
terrorists invaded Premier College to abduct
students.
“Somebody just sat down somewhere and cooked
up the lies to cause panic in the state.
“Premier College and other schools in the state are
safe and secure; let the public discountenance the
rumour,“ she said.
The Executive Director of the college, Mr Abraham
Martins, spoke in the same vein, describing the
rumour as ”false and baseless.”
There are indications that with the confirmation
that the girls are still within Nigerian territory,
contrary to widespread reports that the girls have
been distributed and ferried out, the original plan
to storm Sambisa forest which was put on hold,
would now be activated.It is however not clear if
and when the the rescue operation would begin.
Nigerian Girl Guides Association expresses worry
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Girl Guides
Association,NGGA, has joined millions of Nigerians
to express worry over the continued abduction of
234 female students and called on the Federal
Government to ensure that the girls are rescued
unhurt to re-unite with their families.
The association, in a statement signed by its Chief
Commissioner, Dame (Dr) Christie Toby also
challenged Nigerians to be security conscious and
assist law enforcement agencies in fighting the
enemies of the nation.
“The NGGA joins all well-meaning people all over
the world to express shock over the abduction of
234 innocent school girls in Borno State.
“We are sad that up till this moment, these girls
are still missing. The NGGA, being a female
organisation, is specially concerned, and
condemns such a heinous act.
“We declare our support for these girls and their
families and pray God to strengthen them in these
trying times. We appreciate the fact that
government is fighting terrorism in Nigeria, but we
are appealing to President Jonathan to ensure that
these girls are returned safely to their families so
that they can continue with their education.
“We also appeal to all security agencies and
people of goodwill to support President Jonathan
as they work to bring back our dear girls,” the
statement added.

Osaze & yobo make keshi list

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi, has released
his 30-man World Cup list, which includes Osaze
Odemwingie, Joseph Yobo and Joel Obi.
A member of the Technical Committee of the
Nigeria Football Federation, Paul Bassey, made the
list public on Tuesday.
All invited players are expected to report in camp
on May 26, before Keshi compiles his final list of
23 players that will represent Nigeria in Brazil this
summer.
Attackers – Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor
Moses, Emanuel Emenike, Victor Nsofor, Osaze
Odemwingie, Michael Babatunde, Nnamdi
Oduamadi, Nwofor Uche.
Midfielders – John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi,
Ramon Azeez, Ejike Uzoenyi (Rangers Int’l),
Sunday Mba, Gabriel Rueben, Nosa Igiebor, Joel
Obi, Michael Uchebo.
Defenders – Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa,
Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike
Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo,
Joseph Yobo, Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars).
Goal Keepers – Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide,
Chigozie Agbim (Gombe Utd), Daniel Akpeyi (Warri
Wolves).

Deziani to appear before the legislator

FEDERAL lawmakers in the House of
Representatives on Monday described as
unfortunate President Goodluck Jonathan’s
comment on the credibility of the probes being
conducted by the House during his Sunday’s
media chat.
Stopping short of saying they were disappointed
in the President, the legislators said Jonathan had
been the “highest beneficiary” of the House
resolutions, hence the least they expected from
him was to encourage his ministers to respond to
parliamentary inquiries.
The President had said during his Presidential
Media Chat that the House was conducting
politicised probes and that his petroleum
resources minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, had
appeared before the lawmakers up to 200 times.
The Chairman, House Committee on Media and
Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, reacting to
the President on Monday, said the comment was
“unfortunate, particularly coming from Mr.
President.”
Mohammed said Jonathan did not consider the
House intervention as politicised when he wanted
to succeed his late boss, former President Umaru
Yar’Adua.
He said, “We recall the Doctrine of Necessity; this
House contributed to his (Jonathan’s) stability in
office.
“We hold the office of Mr. President in high
esteem, but it is unfortunate that he said we
conduct politicised probes. The House is about
accountability; Diezani has to appear before us
because we cannot ask questions in her absence.
“She has to come; she has to be accountable to
the Nigerian people.
“As legislators, we are also accountable to our
electorate.”
He said the House could summon any member of
the President’s cabinet, including Alison-
Madueke, “1000 times” if the legislators needed to
do so in the course of their investigation.
Mohammed said, “There is no limit to the number
of times a minister can appear before the House
for the purpose of accountability. There are many
investigations or issues being considered by the
House.
“That a minister had appeared before over a
particular issue does not mean that when
summoned over a different subject, the minister
cannot appear again.
“Besides, on this issue of expenditure on jets, she
(Diezani) has yet to appear before the House; she
has not appeared on the matter before.
“Therefore, Mr. President should not use her
previous appearances over entirely different
subjects, as an excuse for her refusal to answer
questions in respect of the expenditure on jets.”
Alison-Madueke has refused to appear before the
House Committee on Public Accounts probing the
N10bn she reportedly spent in two years to
charter a private jet, Challenger 850, for her trips.
Meanwhile, some Nigerians on Monday reacted
angrily to the President’s alleged attempt to cover
up Alison-Madueke and her counterpart in the
interior ministry, Abba Moro, during his
Presidential Media Chat on Sunday night.
Jonathan, who was asked to comment on the
allegations of corrupt practices levelled against
some of his ministers, had said that nobody was
above mistakes and that if he were to be acting
based on reports on each of them, “no one will
stay for more than six months in office.”
Also asked to comment on the attempt by Allison
– Madueke to use the court to stop her proposed
probe by the parliament, the President had said
he was not aware that the woman was in court.
Specifically Jonathan had said, “I don’t think that
the Minister of Petroleum Resources had gone to
court. I am not aware that she has gone to court
to stop any investigation”
But an Abuja-based lawyer, Mr. Segun Williams,
in an interview on Monday, expressed
disappointment at the reaction of the President
when the judge that allegedly gave the ex parte
injunction, said the order was not intended to stop
the proposed probe of the minister by the House.
He said, “How can the President said that he was
not aware that the petroleum minister had gone to
court when the judge that allegedly gave the ex
parte motion claimed that he was misquoted. The
judge said his order was not to stop the probe
and it was reported in all the newspapers.”
He also noted that the declaration by the
President that he had contacted the Attorney –
General and Minister of Justice to look into the
frequent invitations of ministers by the National
Assembly, was an attempt to shield his cabinet
members.
Williams noted that a declaration by Jonathan that
“the Minister of Petroleum Resources had
appeared before the parliament more than 200
times” was a clear indication that he was having
a special interest in the minister’s continued stay
in his cabinet.
A resident of the FCT, Alhaji Mohammed Ladan,
expressed disappointment at the failure of the
President to mention the glaring case of
corruption against his Minister of Interior, Mr.
Abba Moro.
Ladan said, “The President should have sacked
the Interior minister or asked him to resign
instead of being given a fresh mandate to
determine foreigners who are illegally living in the
country.”

former Governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael Otedola, is dead

former Governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael
Otedola, is dead.
The former governor’s widow, Lady Doja Otedola,
in a statement said Otedola died on Tuesday
morning at the age of 88 years, .
The statement, read, “Sir Michael Agbolade
Otedola passed away this morning at 88. Funeral
arrangements will be announced later by the
family.”
It was leant that the former governor died of a
stroke related ailment that has kept him from
public glare for the past five years.
Otedola was born on July 16, 1926 at
Odoragunsin in the Epe Local Government Area of
Lagos State.
He won a scholarship to study Journalism at the
Regent Street Polytechnic, London and graduated
in 1958.
When he returned to Nigeria in 1959 he became
an information officer in the Western Nigeria
Government and was later appointed the Editor of
the Western Nigeria Illustrated.
In 1961, he moved to the Western Nigeria
Television/Western Broadcasting Service and in
1964, he joined Mobil Oil Group of Companies.
Otedola continued as a consultant to Mobil after
leaving the company in 1977 before joining
politics.
He was elected governor of Lagos State from
1992 to 1993 on the platform of the National
Republican Convention.
The late statesman is the father of billionaire
owner of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, Femi
Otedola.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor Babatunde
Fashola has condoled with the Otedola family.
Fashola said he had known the deceased before
he (Otedola) became governor of the state, just as
he extolled his time as the number one citizen of
Lagos.
“And in the period that I have been governor, he
has suffered some difficult health arising from
age. His indelible record of service is still there.
“The Centre of Excellence that we proudly
proclaim today was his choice when he was
invited among other governors to chose a
sobriquet for Lagos and that will remain evergreen
in our memory.
“The housing estates he started – some of which
he completed and others completed by his
predecessor – the contributions he made to the
development of the state are appropriately
documented,” the governor added.
Fashola also prayed for the peaceful repose of the
deceased, just as he expressed the sympathy of
the state government to members of the Otedola
family, especially his wife, and his children, who
he said are his childhood friends.
Fashola also directed that all flags of the state
government and public institutions, be flown at
half mast for seven days in honour of the service
Otedola rendered to the state.
The Speaker of the Kwara State House of
Assembly, Mr. Razak Atunwa, described Otedola’s
death as a great loss to Nigeria.
Atunwa, in a statement by his media aide, Alhaji
Abdul-Rahman Sanni, stated that Otedola was a
foremost nationalist and a democrat per
excellence who contributed significantly to the
socio-economic and political emancipation of not
only Lagos State but Nigeria as a whole.
According to the speaker, the deceased would be
remembered for being a bridge builder.
Also, the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on
Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Senator
Gbenga Ashafa, expressed shock over Otedola’s
demise.
Ashafa, in a statement, said the former governor
was an elder statesman who served the state with
commitment while in office.
He said Otedola was a true legend whose impact
would be felt greatly by his immediate family, Epe
people and Lagos in general

Boko haram to sell abducted girl's

The terrorist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, on
Monday claimed responsibility for the April 14
abduction of over 267 pupils of Government Girls’
Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State.
The Agence France-Presse quoted the leader of
the sect, Abubakar Shekau, as making the claim in
a video the agency said it obtained.
Shekau, in the video, also threatened to sell off
the abducted girls in defiance of international
outrage that greeted the kidnapping of the girls
from their hostel.
Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the seizure
of the girls barely 24hours after President
Goodluck Jonathan told the nation that no group
had claimed responsibility for the abduction.
Also, the President’s wife, Patience, has
expressed doubt about the authenticity of the
kidnapping.
“We the Nigerian women are saying that no child
is missing in Borno State. If any child is missing,
let the governor go and look for them. There is
nothing we can do again,”Mrs Jonathan told the
women who met with her in the Presidential Villa
on Monday.
But, Shekau was quoted to have said, “I abducted
your girls. I will sell them in the market, by
Allah.”
He spoke just as the Daily Telegraph of London
reported that a former British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown, who is now a UN special envoy on
education, led calls for Western governments to
assist with the rescue of the girls.
According to the report, a Foreign Office
spokesman said the government was in talks with
the Nigerian government and ‘security services’
but declined to say if that might include Special
Forces, such as the SAS.
The United States Secretary of State, John Kerry,
over the weekend also promised America’s help.
He said, “The kidnapping of hundreds of children
by Boko Haram is an unconscionable crime and
we will do everything possible to support the
Nigerian government to return these young
women to their homes and to hold the
perpetrators to justice.”
When one of our correspondents contacted the
Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen Chris
Olukolade, he said that the military authorities had
not seen the said video.
He said that even if there was such a video, the
claim would have to be verified.
Olukolade added that the military had been
treating all claims and pieces of information
relating to the abduction of the schoolgirls with
the deserved seriousness.
The Defence spokesman added,“On the so-
called video or message from the terrorists, let
me reiterate the fact that the military is taking
every information or claims on this abduction with
due seriousness.
“This claim will also be studied although it will
not distract the ongoing search.”
It was however learnt that the Nigerian military
had been working on an intelligence report that
efforts were being made to get all the students
that registered for the Senior Secondary
Examination in Chibok, out of Borno State.
A source said that the move was part of a
conspiracy to frustrate government investigation
into the incident.
The BBC, also citing the video obtained by the
AFP, also quoted Shekau as saying the girls
should not have been in school in the first place,
but rather should get married.
“God instructed me to sell them, they are his
properties and I will carry out his instructions,” he
said.
Assurances from President Goodluck Jonathan
have done little to convince Nigerians of the
government’s commitment to freeing the girls.
Boko Haram, which means “Western education is
forbidden”, has attacked numerous places of
worship and educational institutions in northern
Nigeria.
The Associated Press said it was unclear whether
the video was made before or after reports last
week that some of the girls had been forced to
marry their abductors, who paid a nominal bride
price of N200.
Others are reported to have been taken across
borders into Cameroon and Chad.
The girls were in their final year of school, most of
them aged 16 to 18.
Shekau in the 57-minute video also insisted that
the girls were no better than the “booty of war.”
The terrorist, who is currently on the most wanted
list of both Nigerian and the US governments, said
the abducted schoolgirls were no more than
slaves that he could choose whatever he wanted
to do with them.
He admitted that the girls had sent over 20 days
in his custody and that he had not treated them
any better than the “booty of war.”
Shekau who did not display the girls throughout
the recording, said, “We would also give their
hands in marriage because they are our slaves.
We would marry them out at the age of nine. We
would marry them out at the age of 12,” it
depends on “our choice”.
The terrorist leader, who spoke in Hausa and
Arabic languages interchangeably, noted that the
girls were captured because they were seeking
Western education.
“Western education is sin, it is forbidden, and
women must go and marry,” he said.
The video, which had been sent to local
journalists via electronic mail, could not however
be independently verified.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Jonathan said on Monday that no
girl was missing.
She said this while speaking on the arrest on
Sunday of Naomi Murlah, one of the women who
participated in a recent protest on the abduction
of the schoolgirls.
Murlah was picked up by the police on Sunday
after a meeting she had with the President’s wife
alongside other campaigners. Police confirmed on
Monday that she was quizzed and released.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer,
Frank Mba, on Monday said Murlah was invited
for an “interactive and fact-finding interview.”
The statement added that the woman was allowed
to go home immediately after the interview.
The woman was alleged to have gained access
into the Presidential Villa, disguising as a mother
of one of the girls.
But a group, Bring Back Our Girls Movement,
which is championing the release of the 234
abducted girls, alleged that Murlah was arrested
by the police on the orders of the President’s
wife.
Murlah, who is a Deputy Director with the
National Directorate of Employment in Abuja, was
said to have been cleared by security agents to
attend the meeting after presenting herself as
Grace.
Grace was on the list of those expected at the
meeting.
Mrs. Jonathan told the gathering of women that
Murlah had earlier approached her that she was
the mother of one of the girls.
“So my sisters, you can all see that within them
they know what they are doing. With what is
happening now, will you believe that any children
got missing?” she asked the women in attendance
at the meeting, and the women chorused “no.”
She then said, “So, we the Nigerian women are
saying that no child is missing in Borno State. If
any child is missing, let the governor go and look
for them. There is nothing we can do again.
“We will now go spiritual. What we women should
pray for now is for the killings in Borno to stop.
God will reveal them one by one. The blood of the
innocent victims will come out and speak.”

Aviation workers set for two days strike

Aviation unions have served a two-day national warning strike notice over the recent merger of some agencies of the ministry by the Federal Government.

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, National Union of Air Transport Employees and National Association of Aircraft Pilot and Engineers have put their members onalert in preparation for the warning strike.

A statement jointly signed by the unions on Sunday indicated the intention to shut down activities at all the airports for two days across the country.

It, however, did not give the exact date of the warning strike.

The unions said in the statement, “Accordingly, the unions have written to the National Assembly, the Presidency and the National Security Adviser over the planned strike, stating reasons why the government must not go ahead with such (merger) plans.

“ATSSSAN has concluded plans to get the endorsement of the strike from all its organs at its National Administrative Council meeting and National Executive Council meeting scheduled for this month.”

The three unions had at a recent meeting condemned the recommendation for the merger by the Steve Oransanya-led committee.

“All aviation stakeholders and professionals have condemned the proposed merger; it is retrogressive,” they said.

The President, ATSSSAN, Mr. Benjamin Okewu, said the unions were currently meeting to take a stand and confirmed that a NEC meeting would be held soon in that regard.

The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius is set to resume

The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius is set to resume after a two-week break, with his defence team continuing its case.

 

More expert witnesses will be called as the athlete’s lawyer seeks to challenge the state’s claim that Mr Pistorius deliberately killed his girlfriend.
Mr Pistorius denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last year.
He says he shot through a toilet door after mistaking her for an intruder.
The trial was adjourned on 17 April for an Easter break after Mr Pistorius and two expert witnesses had given evidence for the defence.
The athlete faced several days of cross-examination from the state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who accused him of using emotional outbursts “as an escape”.
The BBC’s Andrew Harding in Pretoria says the athlete’s defence team is likely to call on his neighbours and a ballistics expert next.
A psychologist is also expected to be called to speak about Mr Pistorius’ disability and his acute sense of vulnerability, our correspondent adds.
The prosecution has sought to show a pattern of reckless behaviour by the athlete and has argued that a reasonable man would have checked before firing four bullets through a locked door.
If found guilty, the 27-year-old – a national sporting hero and double amputee dubbed the “blade runner” because of the prosthetic limbs he wears to race – could face life imprisonment.
If Mr Pistorius is acquitted of murder, the court must consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison.
He also faces charges of illegally firing a gun in public and of illegally possessing ammunition, both of which he denies.
There are no juries at trials in South Africa, and his fate will ultimately be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.

C.A.N release the name of the abducted girls

Read the statement of the cleric below:
ABOMINATION! ABOMINATION!!
CHRISTIAN GIRLS ABDUCTED IN CHIBOK, BORNO
STATE.
Daughters of Zion taken captive, to be treated as
slaves and sold into marriage to unclean
people. Abomination has been committed.
Raise lamentation to High Heavens. What a
shame on the Church of the Living God.
FACTS:
Chibok Local Government is 90% Christians.
Majority of the girls abducted are Christian! Why
did Boko Haram visit Chibok Local Government?
Why didn’t they visit so many other Local
Government Girls Secondary Schools in Borno
State?
The Church in Nigeria is hereby called to A
Lamentation Prayer.
Time:
Every Christian home must raise a lamentation
to heaven daily. Let God arise and defend his
Name, Honour and Majesty.
Let a 15 minutes cry to heaven be done in every
Church every time they gather. Oh God, Rend
the Heavens and come down!
Why should the people say where is our God?
Here are the names of our daughters.
S/No. Name Religion
These are the Christian Girls:
1 Deborah Abge Chrstian
2. Awa Abge ”
3. Hauwa Yirma ”
4. Asabe Manu ”
5. Mwa Malam pogu ”
6. Patiant Dzakwa ”
7. Saraya Mal. Stover ”
8. Mary Dauda ”
9. Gloria Mainta ”
10.Hanatu Ishaku ”
11. Gloria Dama ”
12. Tabitha Pogu ”
13. Maifa Dama ”
14. Ruth kollo ”
15. Esther Usman ”
16 Awa James
17 Anthonia Yahonna
18 Kume Mutah
19 Aisha Ezekial ”
20 Nguba Buba ”
21 Kwanta Simon.
22 Kummai Aboku.
23 Esther Markus
24 Hana Stephen.
25. Rifkatu Amos
26 Rebecca Mallum
27.Blessing Abana.
28. Ladi Wadai
29. Tabitha Hyelampa.
30 Ruth Ngladar .
31 Safiya Abdu .
32 Na’omi Yahonna.
33 Solomi Titus .
34Rhoda John
35 Rebecca Kabu
36. Christy Yahi.
37. Rebecca Luka.
38. Laraba John
39 Saratu Markus.
40. Mary Usman.
41 Debora Yahonna.
42.Naomi Zakaria
43 Hanatu Musa
44. Hauwa Tella
45.Juliana Yakubu.
46. Suzana Yakubu
47.Saraya Paul.
48. Jummai Paul
49. Mary Sule
50. Jummai John.
51.Yanke Shittima.
52. Muli Waligam .
53. Fatima Tabji.
54. Eli Joseph.
55.Saratu Emmanuel.
56. Deborah Peter.
57.Rahila Bitrus.
58. Luggwa Sanda.
59. Kauna Lalai.
60. Lydia Emmar.
61.Laraba Maman.
62.Hauwa Isuwa.
63. Confort Habila.
64. Hauwa Abdu.
65. Hauwa Balti.
66.Yana Joshua.
67.Laraba Paul.
68.Saraya Amos.
69. Glory Yaga.
70. Na’omi Bitrus.
71. Godiya Bitrus.
72. Awa Bitrus.
73. Na’omi Luka.
74. Maryamu Lawan.
75. Tabitha Silas.
76. Mary Yahona.
77. Ladi Joel.
78. Rejoice Sanki.
79. Luggwa Samuel.
80.Comfort Amos.
81. Saraya Samuel.
82. Sicker Abdul.
83.Talata Daniel.
84. Rejoice Musa.
85Deborah Abari.
86. Salomi Pogu.
87.Mary Amor.
88. Ruth Joshua.
89Esther John.
90. Esther Ayuba.
91. Maryamu Yakubu.
91. Zara Ishaku.
93. Maryamu Wavi
94. Lydia Habila.
95. Laraba Yahonna.
96. Na’omi Bitrus.
97.Rahila Yahanna.
98. Ruth Lawan.
99. Ladi Paul.
100 Mary Paul.
101. Esther Joshua.
102. Helen Musa.
103. Margret Watsai.
104. Deborah Jafaru.
105. Filo Dauda.
106. Febi Haruna.
107.Ruth Ishaku.
108.Racheal Nkeki.
109. Rifkatu Soloman.
110.Mairama yahaya.
111.Saratu Dauda.
112.Jinkai Yama.
113.Margret Shettima.
114.Yana yidau.
115. Grace Paul.
116. Amina Ali.
117. Palmata Musa
118. Awagana Musa
119. Pindar Nuhu
120.Yana Pogu.
121. Saraya Musa
122. Hauwa Joseph.
123. Hauwa kwakwi.
125. Hauwa Musa.
126. Maryamu Musa.
127. Maimuna Usman.
128. Rebeca Joseph.
129.Liyatu Habitu.
130. Rifkatu Yakubu.
131. Naomi Philimon.
132.Deborah Abbas.
133. Ladi Ibrahim.
134. Asabe Ali
135. Maryamu Bulama.
136.Ruth Amos.
137.Mary Ali
138. Abigail Bukar
139 Deborah Amos
140. Saraya Yanga
141. Kauna Luka
142. Christiana Bitrus
143.Yana Bukar
144. Hauwa peter
145.Hadiza Yakubu.
146.Lydia Simon
147. Ruth Bitrus .
148.Mary Yakubu
149.Lugwa Mutah.
150 Muwa Daniel.
151 Hanatu Nuhu
152. Monica Enoch.
153. Margret Yama.
154.Docas yakubu.
155. Rhoda peter
156. Rifkatu Galang
157. Saratu Ayuba.
158. Naomi Adamu.
159. Hauwa Ishaya
160. Rahap Ibrahim
162. Deborah Soloman.
163Hauwa Mutah
164. Hauwa Takai.
165. Serah Samuel.
Below are the Muslim Girls.
166. Aishatu Musa.
167. Aishatu Grema.
168. Hauwa Nkeki
169. Hamsatu Abubakar
170.Mairama Abubakar.
171 Hauwa Wule
172. Ihyi Abdu
173. Hasana Adamu.
174. Rakiya Kwamtah
175 Halima Gamba.
176. Aisha Lawan .
177. Kabu Malla
178. Yayi Abana.
179. Falta Lawan.
180. Kwadugu Manu
The Military may not be able to solve the
problem but prayer will. Ordinary Military force
may not get them out! Intensive Agonizing
Prayer will.
WHAT NEXT AFTER RECOVERY?
We make the following demands of the Federal
Government whose duty it was to protect the
innocent girls.
1. A N50million damage as trauma
compensation to each girl.
2. A preparation to take each girl to an
overseas University on Government scholarship
by September 2014. Preparation for that must
start now!
3. SS1 and SS2 girls in that school must be
transferred to schools of their choice from
Government coffer. How can any girl feel safe in
this kind of school? Living in perpetual fear of
attack?
LET GOD ARISE, LET ALL HIS ENEMIES BE
SCATTERED.
Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye
Old Time Revival Hour
Kaduna.