Month: May 2018

Journalism can beat human traffickers

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After the Boko Haram insurgency began in northeast Nigeria in 2009, thousands of people started fleeing the region to other parts of the country, including to my home city of Calabar in southern Nigeria. Many of these survivors were children who had lost their parents during the war. Rather than continuing their education, they were transported to Calabar by modern-day slave owners who found work for them as housekeepers and gatemen, and received pay on their behalf. I had never been to the northeast of my country, but I was…

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Fayemi resigns as minister

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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has resigned his appointment as a cabinet minister. Fayami made the announcement on Wednesday at a valedictory briefing in Abuja where he explained that he resigned in order to pursue his governorship ambition in Ekiti State. He had given a hint about his resignation earlier in May before he emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Ekiti State in the party’s that held on May 22. He faulted the allegation that he was desperate to become the governor…

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Poland set to extradite Nigerian to US for $7m cybercrime

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A yet-to-be identified 27 year-old Nigerian is awaiting extradition by Poland to the United States over an estimated $7m cybercrime. The Nigerian was arrested by Poland’s police  in the southwestern city of Wroclaw in connection with alleged cyberfraud and extortion done over the internet. The Police Central Bureau of Investigation said in a communique Wednesday that the Nigerian was nabbed as a result of cooperation with the FBI and Interpol, which had circulated a warrant for him. The police raid took him by surprise, the communique said. The man is…

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South South governors meet

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Governors of South-South states have met in Port Harcourt, where they restated their demands for 13 per cent derivation and restructuring of Nigeria. The governors are Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, and Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State. Edo State governor Godwin Obaseki was represented at the meeting by the deputy governor, Mr. Phillip Shuaibu. Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River was absent. The governors were received on Wednesday evening by Governor Nyesom Wike at the Government House in Port Harcourt. Governor Wike led his…

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Yero, others detained by EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained a former Governor of Kaduna State, Mr. Ramalan Yero and former Kaduna Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Mr. Haruna Gaiya. Yero was detained on Wednesday also alongside a former Minister of State for Power, Mr. Nuhu Way; and former Secretary to Kaduna State government, Mr. Hamza Ishaq. They have been under investigation by EFCC since 2016, for the role they played in the disbursement of the N750 million PDP campaign fund before the 2015 general election. Although the four accused persons…

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People’s Progressive Parliament Attends Tebite House of Assembly Flag Off

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By Gradeone Henry The People’s Progressive Parliament (PPP) were at the flag off ceremony of Hon. Taleb Tebite for the Delta State House of Assembly, Ughelli South Constituency come 2019. The former House of Assembly member made the declaration in response to the call from his constituency people to vie for the position for proper representation to bring the dividend of democracy to them. During the declaration Hon. Taleb Tebite noted that “I am answering the call by the people of my constituency to contest for the position as member…

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Coca-Cola launches first alcoholic drink

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Coca-Cola has launched its first alcoholic drink, a lemon flavoured alcopop, in Japan in a bid to tap new markets and consumers. In a global first for the US drinks giant, three fizzy lemon drinks went on sale on Monday. The product aims at a growing market of young drinkers – especially women. Described by Coca-Cola as “unique” in the company’s 125-year history, the three drinks range from three to eight  per cent alcohol. In keeping with the company’s tradition, the recipe is closely guarded but the drinks are modelled…

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Mariah Carey sells $10m diamond ring from ex-boyfriend

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Music goddess Mariah Carey has sold the ­35-carat diamond engagement ring her former boyfriend James Packer gave her two years ago. The huge sparkler, widely reported to be worth $10 million, was part of the financial settlement the diva made in 2017 after her split from the Australian media baron. “Mariah has been very vocal recently about her choice to move forward in her life surrounded by positivity,” her publicist told me. “That requires leaving emotional and material baggage behind, including an old engagement ring from an ex-boyfriend.” A source said Carey had one of her business…

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President Buhari: Federal government disburses N42 billion UBE matching grant to 26 states, FC

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The Federal Government has disbursed N42.2 billion Universal Basic Education (UBE) Matching Grant to 26 States and the FCT to ensure proper funding at the country’s basic education level. President Muhammadu Buhari made this known in a nationwide broadcast to mark the 19th anniversary of Nigeria’s nascent democracy and the 3rd anniversary of his administration in Abuja on Tuesday. He announced that N851.5 million Special Education Grant was also disbursed to 23 states and private providers of Special Education, and N2.2 billion Teachers Professional Development Fund to 33 States and…

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Again, NATO blames Russia for MH17 downing

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NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg has again blamed Russia for the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine. Stoltenberg during a visit to Poland on Monday repeated his call for Moscow to accept responsibility for the 2014 downing. “I agree with the Dutch Government, which calls on Russia to take responsibility for the crash,’’ Stoltenberg said, describing the incident, which killed all 298 passengers, as a ‘direct consequence’ of Russian aggression towards Ukraine. The Netherlands and Australia accused Russia of downing flight MH17 after a team of international investigators…

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