EFCC seals multi-billion naira Enugu Mall

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday sealed the multi-billion naira Enugu Mall occupied by SPAR, a multinational retail outlet. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that EFCC officers stormed the building in the early hours of the day and dispersed all the workers. Mr Chris Oluka, the Head of Public Affairs of EFCC, confirmed the incident, saying that the managers of the building flouted the directive of EFCC on the construction of the building. Oluka said that the officers from Abuja raided the mall and dispersed…

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Imo has 385,654 uncollected PVCs – REC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo says it has 385, 654 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) yet to be collected by residents in the state. Prof. Francis Ezeonu, the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), disclosed this at a one-day Stakeholders Forum held in Owerri on Wednesday. He said that only 1,435 PVCs, which is about 0.004 per cent of the total 397,089 PVCs, had been collected so far. Ezeonu expressed worry that registered voters were not desirous to collect their PVCs. According to him, people could only exercise…

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Ancelotti tells Inter to forget about signing Vidal

Carlo Ancelotti has told Inter to end their pursuit of Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal ahead of their friendly meeting in the International Champions Cup. The Chile international, who joined Bayern from Juventus for €37million in 2015, has been linked with a move away amid reports Schalke’s Leon Goretzka could be heading to the Allianz Arena. At a pre-match press conference in Singapore, Ancelotti – who had already ruled out an exit for Vidal – said he has made it clear to Inter coach Luciano Spalletti and director of football…

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I’ll vote with my conscience in no-confidence motion, says Gordhan

He said no one should be allowed to steal the country. Whether it’s a secret or open ballot, former finance minister Pravin Gordhan is preparing to vote against President Jacob Zuma in the upcoming motion of no confidence. Gordhan stressed he would vote with his conscience, whether National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete decided on a secret ballot or not, as she is required in terms of the recent Constitutional Court judgment. “Let’s wait for the speaker to decide but my stand is clear on this matter,” he said. Gordhan’s vote…

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HIV Prevention: Vaginal ring safe, acceptable- Experts

Researchers say monthly vaginal ring and daily oral tablet, both containing anti-HIV drugs, are safe and acceptable in adolescent girls. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the results of the study were presented on Wednesday at the 9th IAS Conference on HIV Science in Paris, France. The study reveals that the use of dapivirine vaginal ring by adolescent girls, most or all of the time, reduces the risk of HIV infection in women by no less than 56 per cent. Dr Sharon Hillier, the Principal Investigator, NIH-funded Microbicide…

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Qatar says new Saudi bloc blacklist ‘disappointing’

Qatar said on Wednesday that a new blacklist released by Saudi Arabia and its allies came as a “disappointing surprise” in a diplomatic crisis that has split the Gulf. The four Arab governments named 18 organisations and individuals on Tuesday that they accused of links with Islamist extremism and Qatar. The move by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain came despite mounting international pressure to compromise in their weeks-old boycott of their fellow US ally. Qatari government communications director Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed Al-Thani official said the…

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Photos: Smiling Buhari receives Yari, 6 other governors

President Muhammadu Buhari, beaming with smiles and life,  has received in audience seven Nigerian governors who left Nigeria Tuesday night to visit him in London, where he has been recuperating since 8 May. The governors were led by Governor Abdulaziz Yari, chairman of the Governors Forum. The six other governors are: Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state, Udom Emmanuel, (Akwa Ibom), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Abdullahi Ganduja(Kano) and Samuel Ortom, Benue State and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state. Buhari welcomes Ajimobi It was the second goodwill visit by Nigerian political leaders. President…

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Army loses 9 soldiers to rescue kidnapped NNPC staff

The Army said it had rescued all the 10 NNPC staff kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Borno on Tuesday. But the effort came with a huge price for the Nigerian military. Nine soldiers  and a civilian died in the confrontation with the abductors. The Director Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, who made this known in a statement on Wednesday, also said that the bodies of an officer, eight soldiers and a civilian, who died in the incident had been recovered. Usman said the bodies had been evacuated to 7 Division…

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Angelina Jolie: My hardest time was divorcing Pitt

Angelina Jolie has made a confession about her divorce from Brad Pitt. The beautiful actress told Vogue she’s had “the hardest time” since filing for divorce. The 42-year- actress said she and her children are doing their best to heal following her highly-publicized split from the 53-year-old actor in the fall. “It’s just been the hardest time, and we’re just kind of coming up for air,” she told the magazine from her new home in Los Feliz. “[This house] is a big jump forward for us, and we’re all trying…

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Swedish opposition urges three ministers to resign over scandal

Sweden’s minority government faced a crisis on Wednesday as the opposition urged three ministers to resign over a scandal involving a state agency that outsourced IT services to foreign employees with no security clearance. “Several ministers have neglected their duties. This must have repercussions,’’ Annie Loof, Centre Party leader, told newsmen. The controversial centres on the National Transport Agency, which in 2015 outsourced its IT services to information giant IBMm used employees in several countries, including the Czech Republic without Swedish security clearances. The foreign IT specialists had access to…

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