Buhari Finally Gives Interview On Cabals Controlling The Nigerian Government

President Muhammadu Buhari has rubbished all claims of a cabal existing in his administration.



He made this statement in an interview with the latest edition of The Interview magazine.

When asked if a cabal exists and controls the seat of power, President Buhari said he had earlier addressed the issue, he insisted that there isn't such thing as a cabal, laying emphasis that he was the one who went around Nigeria to campaign for the 2015 and 2019 general elections.

According to President Buhari;

“I addressed this matter before. I was the one who went round the country on campaigns, and I was the one voted into office as president twice. “No one else did, and no one else took the oath of office, and can exercise the powers of a president.”

When asked about the stated of his relationship with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on a scale of one to ten, President Buhari replied "perfect"

He said: “Perfect. Or has he complained to you? (Laughs) Thank you very much.” 

BREAKING!!! Aso Rock Official Murdered In Abuja

An assistant director of administration at the state House, Laetitia Dagan, has been murdered at her Abuja residence.

This was made known by the presidency via a statement on Tuesday.

Attah Esa, a deputy director of information at the state house, said the deceased was killed around 11pm on Monday.

The statement quoted Jalal Arabi, state house permanent secretary, as describing Dagan’s death as “a painful loss, not only to her immediate family, but also the entire State House.”

“She was a dedicated, hard-working officer, and we all feel pained by her dastardly and untimely death,” Arabi reportedly told her family during a condolence visit.

“We all share in your grief and pains, but be consoled by the fact that she lived a good life and contributed her best to the services of her nation.”

The permanent secretary also expressed confidence that the police will fish out Dagan’s killers and that “the law will take its course.”

The official’s death is the latest of the numerous killings being recorded in various parts of the country, including the federal capital territory.


More details soon...

Gov. Umahi Continues Inspection Of Various Gigantic Projects At Night(Photos)

Governor David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi State, on Monday, continued inspection of many gigantic projects being constructed in the state even at night.

Umahi who is known to always inspect projects both in the day and at night commenced yesterday's inspection from the College of Medicine to the Dualization of Abakaliki-Afikpo Road to the Construction of Prince Arthur Eze Flyover to The International Airport to the New Government House to the International Market and ended the inspection at Shopping Mall.

Speaking to our correspondent after the inspection of the gigantic projects, Umahi's Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Francis Nwaze described the Governor as field marshal, a relentless and tireless Governor who treats governance like a CEO who wants the prosperity of his company.

He said : "No one would believe that Ebonyi will rise from nothingness to a tiptop when states that have moved beyond backwardness are enumerated."

" No one that has not visited Ebonyi within the past five years will be able to recognize his way if he visits now. Very prominent personalities on their visit to the New Ebonyi have asked several question of surprise - wondering how the new Ebonyi has come to be, if Ebonyi receives different allocation from what everyone else knows, if the Governor has planted money trees in his house and lots more."

"Knowing that Ebonyi receives about the very least allocation in across the nation and her Internally Generated Revenue is very meager, one would wonder how Umahi could achieve the much in just a few years."

"Umahi has one unique strategy which is probably practiced by him alone - He is a field marshal, a relentless and tireless Governor, he treats governance like a CEO who wants the prosperity of his company. Umahi gives less to sleep, rest, pleasure but gives more to quality delivery of projects under his watch."

" He loves transformations, quality transformation and completing the largest, most beautiful projects across the globe. He loves the word 'best' and always deliver same."

"Every day, including weekends, Governor Umahi inspects projects across the state - he gives nothing to chance, quality must be achieved, the job must be done."

"For 4 Hours, Governor Umahi was at different construction sites in Ebonyi State, he practically does the job to show others the way."

"He commenced today inspection from the College of Medicine to the Dualization of Abakaliki-Afikpo Road to the Construction of Prince Arthur Eze Flyover to The International Airport to the New Government House to the International Market and ended the inspection at Shopping Mall by 8.00pm."

"Governor David Nweze Umahi is a Pro Governor and Ebonyians love him",he added.

First coronavirus death occurs in Europe, after more than 67,000 cases recorded worldwide

The first person to die in Europe has been a Chinese tourist who tested positive for the lethal coronavirus since the outbreak of Wuhan in mainland China.



According to a statement by French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn on Saturday the woman, who was 80 years of age, had been receiving treatment in the Bichat Hospital in Paris since 25 January.

The woman arrived in France on 16 January and was quarantined in a hospital in France on 25 January. More than 1,500 people have been killed in mainland China due to coronavirus, with a population of 67,000 people.

With this new development, the death of this patient is officially the 4th outside China, but first in Europe. The Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan reported one death each.

Angry crowd sets truck ablaze after causing accident which killed 7 in Ogun (photos)

An angry mob who were at the scene when a truck was involved in an accident with two other cars, set the truck on fire at Old Toll Gate axis of the Lagos – Abeokuta Expressway.

The accident caused 7 deaths and 10 injuries. Injured accident victims were taken to the hospital while the dead bodies were evacuated by Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials to the morgue.

It was reported that some men of the Ogun State Fire Service later came to the scene to put out the fire.

Here are photos from the scene of the accident below; 

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Man jumps into Lagos lagoon

Daibo Toju Davies (22-years-old) in Saturday 15th February, jumped into the lagoon at the 3rd Mainland bridge inward Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos State at about 9.30 am.



The victim who lives at 17 Sosanya, Gbagada Soluyi, Lagos, was reported to have ordered Uber Taxi, Toyota Corolla with plate number KSF 426 GB, at Mercy Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos. While they were driving over the 3rd mainland bridge, he told the driver to stop because he had a stomach upset, when the driver stopped he came down from the car and jumped into the lagoon.

In cooperation with the Lagos Fire Service, the Lagos State Waterways (LASWA) and the Marine Police, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) have activated the men's search and rescue activities.

Two baggages containing his personal effects and an affidavit with Lagos High Court were the identity documents found in the vehicle.

LASEMA Director-General, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed the incident.

Facebook cancels global marketing conference due to the corona-virus outbreak

Out of caution for coronavirus outbreak, Facebook has cancelled its upcoming global marketing event. The event was scheduled for March at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, attended by a workforce of 4,000 people.



In a statement to the Verge, a Facebook spokesperson said';

“Our priority is the health and safety of our teams, so out of an abundance of caution, we cancelled our Global Marketing Summit due to evolving public health risks related to coronavirus,”

The cancellation of its global marketing congress comes shortly after this week's Mobile World Congress cancellation, also because of concerns about coronavirus. 

Several suppliers, including the LG, Ericsson, Nvidia, Intel, Vivo, Sony, Amazon, NTT Docomo, Cisco, Nokia, BT and HMD, who were supposed to have all taken part in the show all cancelled because of concerns about people attending.

To date, more than 49,000 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 1.383 people have died of this disease.

For now, the virus seems not to spread very much elsewhere than China, and there is no suggestion from the World Health Organization to postpone meetings outside China. It has had wide-ranging impacts on the tech industry, including store closures, supply shortages, and manufacturing delays.

Unknown gunmen abduct Perm. Sec. in Nasarawa

The permanent secretary, Alhaji Jibrin Giza, Ministry of Works, in the Nasarawa state was kidnapped by gunmen in the early hours of Sunday.



The incident was confirmed to Nigeria news agency (NAN) in Lafia by State Police Commissioner Bola Longe.

Longe told NAN that gunmen abducted the permanent secretary from his residence in Shabu, Lafia suburb, at approximately 12:40. He was taken to an unknown location and investigations have started.

According to the CP, the Divisional Police Officer and some men of the Police Force have been mobilised and dispatched to the area and they are currently tracking the kidnappers who are on the run.

Longe continued that he had directed the DCP Operations, Officer in Charge (OC) of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), OC Counter-Terrorism, and Commander Police Mobile Force 58, to search the area to ensure the safe release of the victim and capture of his abductors.

He also vowed to keep the command on its oars until the victim recovers his freedom. In addition, Longe said kidnappers have not made contact the family of the victim.

BREAKING!!! Bandits Kill 33 In Katsina State

At least 33 persons have been killed by armed bandits who invaded not less than seven villages in Katsina State.

According to report, the bandits carried out the killings in a commando-like style, leaving the villagers completely helpless.

More details soon.....

Gov. Ikpeazu Commiserates With Nnamdi Kanu, Family Over The Death Of Parents

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, on Friday, commiserated with the entire family of Late HRH Eze Sir Isreal O. Kanu and the Afaraukwu Community of Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State on the demise of their Traditional ruler and his wife: HRH Eze Sir Isreal O. Kanu and Ugoeze Sally Kanu.

In a statement sent to Sephorahnews by Dr A.C.B Agbazuere, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Ikpeazu directed that everyone attending the burial of HRH Eze Sir Isreal O.  Kanu and his wife in Afaraukwu Umuahia on Friday, 14th February, 2020 should, as a matter of necessity, conduct himself or herself in an orderly manner, as a show of respect to the late revered Traditional Ruler and to maintain the prevailing peace in Abia State.

According to the statement, "This, indeed,  is a sober moment and must be seen by all as such."

"We pray that the souls of the departed shall rest in the bosom of the Lord."

Sephorahnews will bring you more details of the burial event.

Supreme Court Sacks David Lyon, Orders Diri Duoye To Be Sworn In

Barely 24 hours to his inuaguration the Supreme Court has sacked Mr David Lyon as Governor Elect of Bayelsa State.

A five man panel of the apex court presided by Justice Mary Peter-Odili nullified the election of Lyon on the grounds that his deputy, Senator biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo presented false information to INEC in aid of his qualification for the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

The apex court in the judgment delivered by Justice Ejembi Eko consequently ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to withdraw the certificate of Return issued to Lyon and Degi-Eremienyo.

Justice Eko also ordered that INEC immediately declare the party with the highest number of lawful votes and geographical spread.

With the judgment of the apex court, candidate of the PDP, Diri Duoye will now be inuagurated as governor of Bayelsa State.

Details later.

Obasanjo House Burned By Fire (video)

The fire which started in late yesterday February 12th has destroyed the former president Olusegun Obasanjo's house in Ogun State.



An electricity spike is believed to have triggered the fire that began at around 9.30 p.m. in a section of the house located at Ita-Eko in the Ogun state. Properties that have been damaged by the fire are not known, but it has been reported that neighbourhood residents have assisted domestic workers to put out the fire.

Fatai Adefala, Ogun State Fire Service Director, confirmed this incident. He said that the fire was only affected at the building's store. He also reported that fire officers were able to extinguish the fire at around 10:00 after responding to distress calls.

Here is a video from the scene of the incident below; 

Man beats wife to death over N5,000 in Benue

The Command of Benue State Police has arrested a man identified as Patrick Ejiro in the Tyomu community of Makurdi, the state capital, who was alleged to have killed his wife during a violent argument.

An eye-witness claimed that his neighbour begged the man to stop while he was beating his wife but he refused. He said;

"Neighbours tried in vain to pacify the man from beating his wife, it was when all efforts failed that one of the neighbours went and brought the police.
“Unfortunately, by the time police arrived at the scene, the woman’s lifeless body was on the ground.
“It was the police and some neighbours that rushed the woman to the teaching hospital where she was confirmed dead and from there police whisked the husband away."

Catherine Anene, the state police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and also revealed the perpetrator was Delta State while his late wife was Benue.

Anene said; 

“A victim was rushed to Benue State University Teaching Hospital but was confirmed dead. The victim was also seen bleeding from the nostrils.
“The man is 42 years old, a fisherman, the suspect is from Delta while the wife is from Benue.
“The reason for the violence that ended up at the riverside was that the wife sold some items for the family and did not remit 5000 naira.
“Suspect is in police custody as the investigation is still in progress."

Youths reportedly burn down home of Nigerian man who killed his relative in South Africa

In Orlu-West Local Government Area of Imo State, angry youths of Amorie village reportedly burnt down the house of the man who killed his relative Nsofor, Ife Odenigbo, a couple of days ago in the South Africa struggle.



On Tuesday, 11 February, a video of the two engaging in a fight surfaced online. The video showed Nwazugbo's holding of a brick which he struck on Ife's head and he slumbered immediately. After a few hours of hospital admission, the victim died.

Angry at the incident, the family of the deceased, from the village of Amorie, in Ubulu community, mobilized to Nsofor's Etiti village and set his house on fire.

The state police spokesman, Orlando Ikeokwu, stated that the incident is being investigated.

Woman Stabs Husband In Port Harcourt [Disturbing Video]

A tragic incident was reported to have occurred in Port Harcourt (Rivers State Capital) at 2:26 am on Thursday 13 February, as a Nigerian man simply identified as Daniel was stabbed dead by his wife.

Iykechukwu Ikechukwu, Facebook user, who posted videos from the incident scene, reported that the man was never unfaithful to his wife and had only talked to her about 'repentance '. '' The suspect has been arrested according to him since then.

He wrote; 

My neighbor was stabbed by his wife, Rest in peace, best man...we do crack jokes everyday if we come back from work....chioo I will see you no more..

Nobody should say anything about best man cheating, he is not a cheating type, yesterday he was preaching to his wife to repent but rather than repenting she killed him in the middle of the night...

Watch videos from the scene of the incident below; 

NFF appoints Yobo as Super Eagles’ assistant coach

Former Super Eagles defender and captain, JosephYobo, has been named as an assistant coach for the team by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).  Yobo will come in as a substitute for Imama Amapakabo as an assistant coach of the three African champions.



Yobo earned his first cap for Senior Team in the qualifying Africa Cup of the Nations game Zambia in Chingola in April 2001, and played in three FIFA World Cup finals in 2000, 2010 and 2014, during the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championships he played for the Flying Eagles.

The powerful defender played in six finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2013, bringing the Super Eagles into their 3rd African glory in 2013.

Strange Sickness Hits Benue State, Many Dead

Like the unwelcome guest, death knocked on the shape of a mysterious disease that wreaked havoc on the rural community of Oye-Obi in Benue State.



The mysterious disease that took several lives and left many other people hospitalized has symptoms such as headache, internal heat, diarrhoea, body weakness, vomiting, stomach ache, and a swollen stomach.

Swiftly, the Igede National Youth Council drew government attention at all levels to an odd disease ravaging Oye-Obi, which is a border settlement between the state municipalities of Obi and Oju.

Council President-elect, Mr  Andyson Iji Egbodo told reporters in a statement made available on 29 January 2020 that the unknown illness has killed up to four people so far within two weeks.

There is confusion today as to the precise number of deaths arising from the mysterious disease, as multiple fatalities and those hospitalized as a result of the disease have continued to change.

When Comrade Abba Moro told Senate floor that 15 people have been killed by the strange illness, the state Health and Human Services Commissioner, Dr Sunday Ongbabo, who spoke with a journalist over the telephone on Friday said that only 4 people were confirmed dead due to the strange illness.

News correspondents can not get the exact numbers of people who have been hospitalized because all the people have been placed in different hospitals around Obi, Oju and Makurdi are different, ranging from 2, 4, 15, 104 and 150 who have been infected and hospitalised in different hospitals.

The Igede National Youth Council, however, revealed that the health authorities were being briefed in the local government, urged the federal and state authorities to do everything possible to halt this situation.

He said;

“We are not resting on our part in the area of mass mobilization and awareness campaign on how to prevent it’s spread.”

BREAKING!!! Boko Haram Strikes Maiduguri Again After Buhari’s Visit, Residents On The Run

There is currently tension in Jiddari Polo in Maiduguri, Borno state capital.

According to report, residents of the area are currently running for cover following an attack launched by Boko Haram terrorists.

The attack happened hours after President Muhammadu Buhari paid a condolence visit to the people of the state over the killing of 30 persons on Sunday.


Sephorahnews recalls that On Sunday, about 30 people were killed in an attack at Auno, near Maiduguri.

BREAKING!!! Buhari Returns To Nigeria, Lands In Maiduguri Over Boko Haram Attack

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Nigeria and is currently in Maiduguri, Borno State capital over the recent killing of 30 travellers by Boko Haram insurgents.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, announced the president’s arrival in the country on Wednesday via Twitter.

“12:45pm. President Buhari, aboard the BBJ from Addis Ababa just landed in Maiduguri.

“He is paying a sympathy visit to the government and people of Borno following the recent horrific incident in which BH terrorists killed several travellers,” he said.

President Buhari was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the 33rd Ordinary Session of Presidents and Governments of the African Union.

Regional Security: South East Governors Meet With IGP In Enugu(Photos)

South East Governors and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu Abubakar NPM,mni, in a closed-door meeting at the Government House, Enugu, ahead of today's South East Geo-political Zone Security Summit, holding at The Base Event Centre, Independence Layout, Enugu.

Theme of the summit is "Strategic Partnership for Effective Community Policing in the South East Geo-political Zone".

Host Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and Chairman of the South East Governors' Forum, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku, are in attendance.

Terrorists Recruit Followers, Coordinate Attacks Via Social Media — FG

Terrorists now use social media to recruit new members and coordinate attacks, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, has said.

Pantami stated this yesterday in Abuja while delivering a lecture on leadership in counter-terrorism and counter violent extremism in Abuja.

He said the rapidly evolving phenomenon requires the use of innovative approaches to both “counter” and “prevent” it.

“It’s evident that terrorists are exploiting social media, encrypted communications, and the dark web to spread propaganda, recruit new followers and coordinate attacks’’, the minister said.
He urged the security agencies to tap into the resources availed by technology and use them as potent tools for ousting the insurgents from the country.

He said the development of new and emerging technologies such as, “Big Data Analytics, Internet of Things, Robotics, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence,” would help counter and prevent the terrorists’ latest ploys. He said the military and intelligence agencies could use big data to fight the war against terrorism. “Data can be analysed to understand background, motives, modus operandi and methods of communication of persons or groups of interest”.

Pantami cited an example of a project by the Qatar Computing Research Institute, in which big data was used to scrutinise and analyse social media such as Facebook and Twitter in order to locate the origins of supporters of the terrorist organization, ISIS.

Explosion hits Edo APC secretary’s residence

Only 24 hours after the presidency had declared the restoration of the All Progressive Congress Reconciliation Committee, APC headed by Chief Bisi Akande, the private residence of party factional Edo Secretary of State Lawrence Okah rocked with an explosion.

The reported explosion occurred at about 12:30 a.m. and the police anti-bomb squad retrieved a bomb that didn't explode, while the other that exploded destroyed part of the roof of the house and left a crater on the scene where the explosion happened.

Okah who said gunmen on Tuesday night targeted his home with gunshots last week, accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of the assaults. He said APC members who opposed Obaseki's second term bid were targeted at attacks.

Yet Obaseki said recourse to the violence was the stock in trade of Adams Oshiomhole and his counterparts in the People's Movement, EPM, and Osagie Ize-Iyamu, national leader of APC.

Okah, while speaking on the attack,  said, 

“On Tuesday last week, I heard gunshots. They shot at my bedroom. The police came and picked 52 bullets from my house “And again on Tuesday at 12:30a.m. (yesterday), I heard a sound, a boom. I called my securitymen and they said it sounded like a bomb. The one they threw into my bedroom did not detonate. If that one had detonated, you would not have seen me to talk to. “That was targeted at my room. If it had exploded, it would have been a different story. I just want to advise Mr Governor. He has threatened me before and he has carried out the threat. “By the grace of God, we are alive to speak to our people to let them know what is going on. We pray to God for those we helped not to turn around against us. By the grace of God I am one of those that helped this government to be but the governor has turned around now and wants to kill us.”

The APC State Chapter was peaceful until the EPM and its enabler started their harsh activities across the City. Obaseki made this statement through his Special Counselor of Media and Communication Strategy Mr Crusoe Osagie.

He said;

“We are quite flustered that Oshiomhole has not been able to rein in his people in the face of the reconstitution of the APC National Reconciliation Committee, tasked to restore lasting peace in the party both in the state and across the country. We are committed to peace and will do things right thing for the people of Edo State by continually supporting all credible means to arrive at lasting peace in the state.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu and former Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Odubu, Idahagbon Henry, Obahiagbon and other men, who were present in Okah's residence yesterday said that, in order to achieve the second term, Obaseki and his Deputy Shaibu shouldn't have to kill.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu said:

“They went to Chief Inegbeki’s house and threw bomb there. Who will go and throw a bomb in his own house because he want to do mischief? Chief Inegbeneki offence was that he was coordinating a rally in his hometown in Irrua. Lawrence Okah has been the subject of a lot of attack and attention. “Some days ago, he reported that gunmen shot at his house. If not for the grace of God, the people living here would have been killed. If they had been killed, would Godwin Obaseki and Philip Shaibu had told us everybody should go and mind their casualties. Enough is enough. “We have been talking peace to our people but if they begin to think that immunity is a license to kill, they will be mistaken. They need to be very careful. This thing must stop.“People like us have tried to engage them and all we got was insult. Our desire for peace is not a sign for weakness. This rubbish must stop. They must call their people to order. This is not the work of robbers. Armed robbers cannot throw bomb and walk away. This was politically motivated. Lawrence Okah is Secretary of this party. You cannot force him to do your bidding. If you want him to work for you, you must submit yourself to the party. “We will continue to call our people to maintain peace. If we want to retaliate, this city will be turned into a war zone. It is time the security agencies start to make arrests. “We appeal to the police not to wait for people to die before they realised the matter is serious. They have used guns, now they are using bombs. We don’t know what next they will use.”

Dangote remains Africa’s wealthiest person for 9th consecutive year [see list]

For the ninth consecutive Year, Aliko Dangote of Nigeria, with an estimated net value of $10.1 billion, was named the richest man in Africa.



Forbes, the American global media firm, concentrating on the industry, finance, tech, entrepreneurship and leadership, has recently ranked the world's billionaires and Dangote's present value drops from his $10,3 billion valuations of last year attributed to his flagship company Dangote Cement Plc, which may have slightly lower stock prices.

According to Forbes, Africa has 54 nations but only eight have billionaires; South Africa and Egypt not only hold the top ten wealthiest people in Africa but also in the five billionaires group. With four billionaires, Nigeria is second.

The new number two richest Nassef Sawiris from Egypt is 8 billion dollars, up from 6.3 billion last year. The most valuable asset of Sawiris is $4 billion worth stake in sportswear makers Adidas. After January 2019, the rise in Adidas ' share price alone has contributed almost $1.5 billion to his assets. He also has a major stake in OCI N.V. fertilizer.

Nigeria's Mike Adenuga, worth $7.7 billion, is number three on the list. He has a mobile network, GloMobile, and oil producers, Conoil and a large retail stock. Globacom, Nigeria's third most important mobile telephone network with 43 million subscribers, while Conoil is running six oil blocks in Niger Delta.

Rabiu Abdulsamad is eight of the top 20 African billionaires, he is from Nigeria. Rabiu is the founder of the BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate involved in cement, sugar and real estate.

Only two out of 20 billionaires are females: Jose Eduardo dos Santos, former President of Angola's eldest child, and Folorunsho Alakija from Nigeria. The income of Dos Santos decreased by $2.2 billion, about a year earlier this decreased to $100 million.

I’m Not Against Diaspora Voting If NASS Supports It - President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari  on Tuesday that he was not against Nigerians in diaspora voting during elections .
However , he noted that the National Assembly was required to pass relevant laws to give legal backing to Diaspora voting.


The President spoke in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during a meeting with the Executive Committee members of the Nigerian Community in Ethiopia.
The NICE members were led by David Omozuafoh to the meeting , which was organised by the Chairman /Chief Executive Officer, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission , Abike Dabiri- Erewa.

Buhari said , ” I have said it severally that I am not against it ( Diaspora voting) . However , you will need to convince the National Assembly to amend the relevant laws to make Diaspora voting a reality. ”


The Electoral Act has no provision for Diaspora voting, though the Independent National Electoral Commission claimed it has the capacity to conduct elections simultaneously in Nigeria and in the Diaspora .


The State House said in a statement by Buhari’ s media aide, Garba Shehu, that the President also declared at the meeting that his regime was “ fully determined to combat and defeat all acts of criminality, banditry and terrorism in the country ” .


He added that his primary duty remained to secure the lives and property of Nigerians, whether they lived at home or outside the country .

Over 5000 Candles Burned Worldwide For Assassinated Nigerian Seminarian

A seminarian, Michael Nnamdi, who was killed by kidnappers in Kaduna, got not less than 5,741 candles in from Southern Africa to Afghanistan and from the United States of America to Colombia to signify mourning.



Speaking at the funeral mass for Michael, Bishop Monsignor Matthew Hassan Kukah, said at the Good Shepherd Seminary in Kaduna on Tuesday the dates of the funeral were confirmed and people from around the world were burning candles in solidarity with the dead seminarian, this act made his ask “what message does God have for this country?”

He said Germany solely reported 3,305 burning candles.

According to the Catholic Bishop, “the national and international reactions to the death of this young man have made me step back and ask what message God has for our country. Michael is the first Seminarian to carry the mark of this brutality and wickedness. “Priests have died in the hands of these wicked human beings. Michael was only a Seminarian in his first year of training. I had seen him in his cassock which he wore in my presence, not with pride but with dignity. “Why would the tragic death of a young man such as him elicit such an unprecedented level of emotions here and around the world? “Maria Lozano, a staff of the Aid to the Church In Need, an organisation dedicated to the cause of the persecution of Christians around the world, called me frantically immediately after the news of the kidnapping of the Seminarians went out. “The next day, she sent me an emotional voice message to say that she heard that Michael was an orphan and that since the kidnappers will be looking for money might his life be in danger if they realise that he is an orphan? Could she mobilise especially mothers to become parents for him, to keep him and others in their hearts and to continue to pray for him? Maria remained with us emotionally and requested information about the burial. “When the Archbishop approved the date of the burial, I passed the information to her immediately. By the next day, February 5th, she sent me a message to say that when she asked people around the world to light a candle for Michael on the date of his burial, 2,436 persons from Afghanistan, Pakistan, United States of America, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Madagascar, South Africa, Congo, Mali, Spain, Turkey, Saudi Arabia responded. “Germany alone had a total of 3,305 persons in a matter of hours. In light of this, I wondered, who are we to mourn? Who are we to refuse this crown of honour and glory? We ceased to mourn for the seminarian thereon.”

6 States Where Free Condoms Will Be Distributed On Valentine’s Day

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), AIDs Health Care Foundation (AHF), will distribute 250,000 condoms in six states of the federation along with the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in commemoration of the 2020 International Condom Day (ICD).

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Steve Aborisade, the marketing manager of AHF Nigeria, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

He stated that the 2020 ICD, with “Safer is Fun” as its theme, will be celebrated on Feb. 13, to commemorate Saint Valentine’s Day which is celebrated on February 14 annually.

He said that AHF would mark the day with a road walk, free distribution of condoms and HIV testing and counselling exercise across six AHF-Nigeria programme states of Benue, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Nasarawa, Anambra and Abuja.

Other activities include entertainment and educational “Safer is Fun” activities alongside advocacy messages.

The marketing manager noted that Dr Echey Ijezie, the Country Programme Director of the foundation in Nigeria had reiterated commitment toward ensuring increased access to condom as the world celebrates ICD.

He said the use of condom would assist in preventing unwanted pregnancy, HIV and Sexually-Transmitted Infections (STIs), as well as promote healthy lifestyles.

Quoting Ijezie, he said “on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14, we will show Nigerians how Safer is Fun and why we urgently need to take advocacy for condom access to a higher level.

“This is critical as people cannot take charge of their health if widespread stock outs, shortages and unaffordable prices for condoms continue.
“There are 1.7 million new HIV infections annually and more than one million new cases of curable STIs every day, according to UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation (WHO), respectively.

“That is unacceptable when these conditions are 100 per cent preventable, thus, governments and global health organisations must do more to ensure that people have easy access to free or affordable condoms.”

PDP Criticises Lai Mohammed Over $500 Million Loan For NTA

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to perish the thoughts of further mortgaging the future of our country by securing $500 million dollars (N182 billion) loan, purportedly for upgrading of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

The party also urged the National Assembly to save the nation by refusing the request by President Muhammadu Buhari to plunge our nation into more debt through his request for additional $29.9 billion dollars loan, in which the said $500 million and other unexplained subheads are embedded.

The PDP implores the National Assembly to reject the clear attempt by the cabal in the Buhari Presidency to worsen the economic situation in our country via the use of phony projects as guise to draw foreign funds to service their selfish economic and political interests.

The party notes that under the Buhari Presidency, our foreign debt has accumulated to $83 billion dollars with nothing to show other than excruciating unemployment rate, decayed infrastructure, a worsening governance system, escalated insecurity and unprecedented poverty.

The PDP alerts that the request for the approval of $500 million is aimed at setting the stage for further fleecing of our nation’s economy as the Federal Government under the Buhari administration has shown no commitment towards nation building, transparency and accountability in governance.

Moreover, the Federal Government has failed to present details of the requested $29.9 billion dollars loan in which the $500 million being requested by the Minister of Information and Culture is embedded; a development that points to nothing but the corruption in the Buhari administration.

While counselling the Minister to perish the thoughts of $500 million, the PDP charges him to use his appearance at the National Assembly to give account of the funds so far released to the Ministry of Information and Culture which has been plagued by cases and allegations of corruption under his watch.

The party also charges Lai Mohammed to immediately provide answers to circumstances surrounding the reported National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) N2.5 billion fraud.

The PDP urges the National Assembly to shelve all requests for foreign loans until the Buhari Presidency heed to the demand by Nigerians to open its books and publish details of all financial transactions on foreign loans as well as spending from the federation account so as to secure our economy from the bazaar of the corrupt cabal in the Buhari Presidency.

Burkina Faso president leads ECOWAS committee to probe Nigeria’s border closure

The Heads of State and Government of the Authority for a Western African Economic Community (ECOWAS) has set up a committee to research and report on closure on the Nigerian ground border with its neighbours, led by President Roc Marc Christian Kabore of Burkina Faso.



The decision was taken in the margins of the 33rd Summit of the AU on the topic and the other pressing regional affairs this was made known in a statement from Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Garba Shehu on media and social publicity.

Nigeria's foreign minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, told journalists after the closed-door three-hour meeting to discuss West Africa's new single currency, Eco, and the situation in Guinea Bissau, which were also discussed at a meeting attended by President Buhari and President of the ECOWAS President, Mahamadou Issoufou, from Niger.

On border closure, Onyeama said:

“The President of Burkina Faso is charged with undertaking a full study of the situation, make a report and then we take it from there.”Asked when the report will be presented to ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, he replied: “As soon as possible, there are no timelines. But he is supposed to start very quickly, study the situation from all the affected countries and present his report.”On the Eco currency, Onyeama said: “Nothing has changed in respect of Nigeria’s position.”

Nigeria's position, he explained, is that most of the countries have not met the convergence requirements so the start of the single currency has to be extended.

Nigerian, Sudanese and other Indian nationals arrested for dupping more than 200 people by offering to sell them kidneys (photo)

Banasawadi Bengaluru police arrested a six-man group, including two Sudanese nationals and a Nigerian gang, which reportedly cheated more than 200 people by promising them to purchase or sell kidney online.



The group claimed to be being approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and had misappropriated the name of a hospital for super-specialists and reputed doctors to attract uninformed people looking for kidneys.

The arrested gang members have been identified as; Jatin Kumar (25) and Kami Ranjan (21) both from Bommanahalli in Bengaluru, Esene Lovely (29) from Edo State, Nigeria, Herendra Tripura (25) from Tripura, Marwan Faisal (27) from Sannr, and Mohamed Ahmed Ismail (24) from Khartoum in Sudan.

Since Dr Shafiq M M, Director of the private hospital, lodged a complaint, a senior police officer said the police has been tracking the telephone number registered on their scam website.


Recently, the scam surfaced when some individuals arrived at the hospital to seek clarification and Dr Shafiq informed the police.

During a search, police recovered, ATM cards, bank details mobile telephones and SIM cards. The gang posed as kidney seller to desperate people and also claim to buy from people who want to sell their kidneys.

The criminals often used the names of trustworthy doctors to convince victims. They reportedly received money from about 200 people ranging from 255,141.38 thousand Naira to 306,169.65 thousand naira for insurance and registration purposes.

The accused Esene Lovely, Ismail and Marwan exceed their visas. The other three used to buy SIM cards used in the scam said the police.

Fishermen traps, kill Hippotamus in Kebbi community (photos)

The local fishermen of Samanyi town Koko Besse LGA, Kebbi State, caught and killed a hippopotamus, which was said to be destroying the Farmlands in that region.

The aquatic mammal was killed by a group of fishermen who have been tracking its trail for a while now.

Samanaji town is situated on the banks of River Niger.

Senate President mourns Senator Ignatius Longjan

On Monday, Senator Ahmad Lawan, Senate President, said the Senate would miss Senator Ignatius Datong Longjan, All Progressive Congress, Senator West, and Plateau South who died in a Turkish hospital in Abuja on Sunday.


Not more than two months after the death of the chairman Senate committee on jobs, labour and productivity, Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu of the All Progressive Congress, APC, representing Imo South, who died on December 18, 2019, Senator Longjan, who was also Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on culture and tourism has been confirmed dead. Senator Longjan was elected in 2019 on the platform of the ruling APC.

Longjan, who was also a committee member of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Senate Committee for the Infrastructure and the Public Service, succeeded Jeremiah Useni who did not return for Plateau State because of his desire to run for Plateau state governorship election.

Ola Awoniyi, special adviser on media to the Senate President, shared a statement from Senator Ahmed Kawan, he consoled the family of Senator Ignatius Longjan.

The statement reads;
“The President of the Senate acknowledged the contributions of Senator Longjan both at the state and national levels as former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies(NIPSS), Kuru; former Chief of Staff at the Government House in Jos and Plateau State Deputy Governor between 2011 and 2019.

“Lawan said the Senate will miss Longjan who was Vice Chairman of the committee on Culture and Tourism as well as the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“The Senate President prayed to God to grant those he left behind the fortitude to bear the great loss.”

Police to recruit 1, 250 Special Constables in Delta State [Full Details]

The Delta State Police Command, announced Monday that a total of 1,250 Special Constables will be employed to collaborate with the police to tackle crime. 

Ughelli Divisional Police Officer, CSP CSP Kevin Zuokumor, addressed the inauguration of the Community Police Management Committee of ' A ' Division, each council area of the State will produce fifty special constables each.

The Committee included members from Journalists National Union, the Nigerian Bar Association, the local Government Council, religious leaders, vigilante, the Community Relations Action Committee, the National Union of Road Workers, the Market Association and the craftsmen, the team consists of at least six and at most eight members.

According to the DPO, he said:

“The management committee which will be chaired by a traditional ruler and co-chaired by the DPO, will be saddled with the responsibility of screening the intended constables whom will be between 21-49 years of age, responsible in character and gainfully employed.
“The committee will also serve as an interface between the Force and the community and appraise the performance of the Force in general.
“No qualification will be used in the screening of the applicants who are expected to work ten hours weekly without pay.
“They will be uniformed and work with the regular police on crime prevention intelligence gathering and all things that will bring about law and order after receiving local training from the police.”

Malabu Oil Scam: EFCC Arrests Adoke On Fresh Charges

The job of Mohammed Adoke (SA), who was the immediate past Attorney-Général of the Federation (AGF), continued on Monday as he was sued by the Economic and Financial Crimen Commission (EFCC) for a fresh seven-count indictment on money-laundering crimes.



Adoke is also charged with Aliyu Abubakar who had paid dollars equal to N300 million to Adoke's account in September 2013 which is in violation of the Money Laundering Act.

In relation to the Malabu Oil scam case, Adoke and Abubakar stand alongside other suspects at the High Court in Gwagwalada, in Abuja.

After a court official read the charges to them, they all pleaded not guilty before Judge Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court's Abuja Division.

In the meantime, prosecutor Bala Sanga called for both accused to be held in EFCC detention pending their bail requests. Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) and Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) who represented Adoke and Abubakar respectively, told the court about their clients filing individual requests for bail.

In the meantime, Adoke said that the court would have preferred to be held by at the Kuje correctional centre than the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's detention.

His lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), who was defending his bail application which was being blocked by EFCC told the court that;

“The first defendant voluntarily returned to the country. There is his statement attached to show that he returned to the country voluntarily,” Ozekhome said.“He did not run away. We have attached an exhibit to show that he went for his Masters’ study abroad.“We have deposed to the affidavit about his health conditions. The prosecution themselves brought him to court from the Federal Medical Centre near Jabib in Abuja, this morning.“We also plead that he be taken to the Kuje Correction Centre, a euphemism for Kuje prison pending when he meets his bail conditions to avoid the mental psychological strictures he goes through in the custody of the EFCC.“My lord, we pray that he be granted bail in liberal and affordable terms and conditions so that he can take care of himself.“The law says, ‘come and stand trial’, it did not say ‘come and sit trial or come and prostate trial’.“My lord, as you can see, the first defendant, who is less than 60, is already bent with age.”

Mistaken identity: Igbo Man Burried In A Muslim Grave In Kano State

On 26 December of last year, when Chief Basil Chukwumeze Obiefule Ejesi died in Kano state, his family and kinsmen had hoped to return to Amucha, Imo State Local Government Area for burial.

But his final journey home took a wrong path as his identity was mistaken for another dead man, he was buried in Kano in a grave meant for someone else. His identity was mistaken for Abdullahi Obinwa who is also an Igbo man from Anambra State but changed his religion when he got to Kano.

The late Ejesi was born 60 years ago in Kano state, he was survived by his wife and children. Before his death, he lived at his residence at no.18 Aitken Road in Sabon-Garri Area of the state capital.

A family friend, Mr Felix Ezeala told the story of a fatal error of Egesi's, who was finally buried on the 30th of January 2020 at Amucha. He said the deceased had fallen ill unexpectedly and had been rushed to the Kano Teaching Hospital on 24th December, but eventually died on the 26th last year.

Mr Felix Ezeala narrated;

“His corpse was taken to the mortuary section and the deceased tally number was 22. Two of his immediate relatives were there, in the person of Felix Nwanze and Bath Ejesi, his cousin. They registered their names as the people with the tally number and who would visit the corpse and see how it was, until the time to take it to the East.
“A wake-keep was arranged to hold on the 24th January 2020. However, when the relatives of the deceased went to the hospital on that Friday – that date was billed for his wake-keep, they were shocked at their finding.
“They went there with his casket and the clothes for his dressing, but when they went there with the tally number, hoping to see the corpse in good condition, surprisingly the Chief Morticians, one Abdulwahid Buhari, told them that the corpse had been released to Hisbah.
“They asked him what had the corpse of their brother to do with Hisbah? They were told that it was an order of a Sharia Upper Court, situated opposite the Emir’s inside the city. They were totally confused. It was at this point that they called on my attention to the development.
“When they called me, I was equally uncomfortable with the development. I know the late Basil as a complete gentleman to the core. He was not a troublesome person during his lifetime. I wondered in my mind. What could have led to his corpse being taken away by Hisbah?
“We then decided to go the said Sharia Upper Court to establish what had transpired. All of us went to the Sharia Upper Court. We inquired from the registrar what had actually transpired. He said yes that it was from this court that they issued the order.
“He explained that there was a complaint that he was a Muslim and had died and that they (Hisbah) wanted to bury him according to Islamic rites, but his family had refused.
“But we told the registrar that there was a mistake because our brother’s profile did not fit into what he had described as our brother Basil who had died as a devout Christian.
“At this point, the registrar asked us to go and come back when the judge who gave the order would return. He said that the judge was not around to give us the comprehensive details of the judgment.
“At that moment I called the Director of Department of State Services to intimate him on what was going on. I also called the Commissioner of Police to also to intimidate him.
“But before the judge could come back, we went back to the hospital and met the Chief Medical Director. He called the acting HoD of the Pathology Department. He asked him about the court order that was minuted to him, including  what exactly transpired?
“He brought out the paper and what the paper read was one Abdullahi Obinwa. He then said that if the name of the intended corpse was Abdullahi Obinwa, how come they released the corpse of one Basil Ejesi to Hisbah?
The pathologist responded that he only minuted on the same memo to the Chief Mortician for appropriate action, saying that the Mortician was in the best position to answer the question about the mix-up. Then, they called the Chief Morticians and asked him to bring the record.
“In the record, we saw the exact name of our brother written, his age, 60 years was also written and his tally number. It was there that they discovered that it was a wrong corpse that they released to the Sharia police.
“Then we went back to the court, with the Chief Legal Adviser of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, one Barrister Nasidi, alongside the acting HoD of the Pathology Department and the Chief Mortician. The judge told us that they acted based on the application made by Hisbah in respect of one Abdullahi Obinwa, who had been a Moslem since 1978.
“The judge said that his order was very clear to them that when they get to the mortuary, they should ensure that the corpse they were to take was that of the late Abdullahi Obinwa and no other person’s.
“He added that his order included that they were to get three witnesses to also confirm and sign the paper that it was Abdullahi’s corpse. He showed us documented evidence that he actually gave those orders.
“The judge said that he made room for the family of the said Abdullahi Obinwa to be contacted, saying that they contacted his wife, but they returned to say that his wife was not cooperating.
“He said that he sent for the wife, but she refused to come. And even when they gave her paper to write why, she wrote something that was immediately clear.
“It was there and then that they decided to take the corpse to the Gandu Albasa Mosque and call on the Chief Imam who knew the late Obinwa well enough. Again the judge said that he ordered that the Chief Imam should also get three others to reconfirm the deceased and after their signing the papers, they should bring them back to him for the record of the court.
“The record he showed indicated that they went through all the directives of the court and returned the signed papers. It was then that they buried the man on 20th January, 2020.
“The judge then asked us what we wanted. In response, we demanded for the corpse of our late brother. At that point, he explained that he could not ask for the corpse to be exhumed immediately until he has heard from the other party. For equity and justice to prevail, all the parties should return back by 9:00a.m on Monday.
“On Monday, we set out to the Sharia court in the company of the wife of the deceased and his first son, who is also a pharmacist. On arrival, we were met by those who gave the wrong information to the judge. When the life photograph of our late brother was presented, it became clear that a mistake had occurred. The person who helped out the most was the one who went and brought an album of the late Abdullahi Obinwa.
“It was now easy to compare the two deceased persons. They showed them to the judge and the judge showed it the complainants who immediately confessed that they had made a mistake. There and then the judge rebuked them for their mistake and drew our attention to the fact that he acted on the information given to him, pointing out that he neither knew the late Obinwa or the late Basil.
“The judge, however, observed that only a superior court has the power to upturn his judgment. But I think the lawyers there, including the legal adviser of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, and our own lawyer reminded him that ab initio his order was improper as he had no jurisdiction over Aminu Kano Teaching hospital, which is a federal establishment.
“Somehow, the lawyers settled their thing and the judge reasoned with them. He thereafter wrote a letter to the DPO at Sharada, asking him to provide cover for the Hisbah officials and the staff of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital to go and exhume the corpse from the cemetery and hand it over to his family.
“He ordered that they should open the corpse, invite the family to see and certify that what they were about to be given was their brothers corpse, while saying that he would not like another complaint to arise from the present order.
“The deceased was exhumed, taken to the hospital and he was okay. Nothing was tampled with. His body was complete when we received it. The Hisbah officials gave us a paper to sign that we met his body in good condition for which I was a signatory.
“The body of the deceased was released to us and departed from  Kano on Tuesday in the morning by 8 O’clock and arrived at Orlu by Wednesday. The corpse was buried on Friday by 12:00 midday in his home"