Nigeria: Two Nigerians Diagnosed With Ebola in Sierra Leone

Abuja — Two Nigerians resident in Freetown, Sierra Leone have been diagnosed to have been infected with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The two Nigerians included a 27-year-old indigene of Abia stated and a 22-year old indigene of Edo state.

Supervisory minister for health, Khaliru Alhassan, disclosed on Thursday while declaring open the National Council for Health, (NCH), meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

Arsenal Monitoring £12m Rated French Defender Ahead Of Possible January Move

The incessant injury troubles of Kieran Gibbs and the inconsistency of his deputy, Nacho Monreal may have forced Arsene Wenger to look in the direction of a younger and more consistent defender as this reports claim. According to Daily Star, 21-year-old Paris Saint Germain left back, Lucas Digne, is being monitored by scouts from Arsenal. The player, though very highly rated, is a back-up left back, deputizing the Brazilian, Maxwell for PSG. The player is reportedly struggling to make it into Laurent Blanc’s first team and that could pose tall task as he would have to displace the vastly experienced Brazilian, to do so. The former Lille player was said to have ignored advances from Manchester United and Liverpool to JOIN the French Champions, PSG, for a fee of around £12m in 2013. Digne though a left back, is said to also able to play as a left sided midfielder.

Burkina Faso President Resigns

Blaise Compaore

Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore announced his resignation in a statement on Friday and called for a 90-day transition to "free and transparent" elections in the West African country, local radio and television said.

"I declare a vacancy of power with a view to allowing a transition that should finish with free and transparent elections in a maximum period of 90 days," said the statement, read on local radio and television by presenters.

Lieutenant-Colonel Issaac Zida of the presidential guard had earlier announced Compaore's departure in the central Place de la Nation in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou to cheering from tens of thousands of protesters.

Huge crowds had gathered to demand the president's resignation after a day of violent protests on Thursday.

A heavily armed convoy believed to be carrying Compaore was seen traveling on Friday towards the southern town of Po, near the border with Ghana, two diplomatic sources and local media said.

See full story: ThisDay

PDP and capacity to confront incumbency

THE power of incumbency is a pervading force in NIGERIA’s political/electoral system. Its effect is most felt at the executive stratum of government where the President, governor and, at the much lower level, the local government chairman, use their big sticks to achieve their political/electoral ends.

At the state level the chief executive exercises enormous powers which he weilds to his advantage – he is the Chief Security Officer and is in absolute control of the resources of the state. Most of the time, the allocations meant for the local councils are not remitted to them in full and that is why the issue of state and local government joint allocation committee has been in the front burner of public discourse almost recurrently.

Court halts execution of condemned soldiers

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Nigerian Army to stay the execution of the 12 soldiers condemned to death by Army General Court-Martial following their alleged involvement in mutiny.

The order was given on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in a fundamental rights case filed by Olisa Agbakoba against the Chief of Army Staff, the Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro Abuja, and the Attorney General of the Federation.

It would be recalled that Brigadier-General B. T. Ndiomu, Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment, convened a nine-man General Court-Martial to try 18 soldiers for mutiny, insubordination and other military offences.

The mutiny took place at Maimalari Military Barracks on May 14, 2014. The Court-Martial convicted and sentenced 12 soldiers to death by firing squad.

As a result, Agbakoba had approached the Federal High Court to set aside the death sentence, on grounds of violation of fundamental rights of the soldiers and inconsistency with the Constitution. The Case is No. FHC/ABJ/Cs/708/14

The Chief of Army Staff and the Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment are both represented by a counsel. The case was called in court on October 28, 2014.

Meanwhile, counsel to the army requested adjournment. The Federal High Court adjourned the case to December 8, 2014 but ordered stay of execution of the death sentence, pending the determination of the Case. The implication is that the army has been stopped from carrying out the death sentenced, pending the determination,

See more story: Daily Independent

Tambuwal Goes to Court

Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

Muhammad Bello in Abuja

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has headed to court to seek legal intervention on the issue of the removal of his security aides by the Inspector General Police (IGP) at dawn on Thursday.

The suit, which details THISDAY is working to GET, was filed at an Abuja High Court on Friday morning.

When contacted on the suit his spokesperson, Imam Imam confirmed it has been filed but refused to make any comment, saying it will be prejudicial for him to say anything since the matter is before the judiciary.

See more story: ThisDay

Two Malaysian boys sue govt over missing MH370 flight  

Two Malaysian teenage boys on Friday filed a negligence case against the state-owned Malaysia Airlines and the government over the disappearance of flight MH370, their lawyers said.

The case, which the minors filed through their mother, was the first legal action by relatives in relation to the incident.

It was brought before the Kuala Lumpur High Court by the two sons, aged 14 and 11, of businessman Jee Hang, one of the 239 people on board the airline that went missing on March 8 an hour after it took off from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport for China.

Pinnick praises Jonathan for fatherly role in NFF crisis

NFF president, Mr. Amaju Pinnick has heaped praises on the President Goodluck Jonathan, for his fatherly role in the promotion of peace within the Nigeria football family.

Sports –loving President Jonathan’s latest glorious move was to call a truce meeting involving leading figures in Nigeria football on Wednesday, which effectively led to the resolution of a leadership crisis that threatened the very soul of the Nigerian game.

Parties Scramble for Votes in America’s Midterm Elections

 President Barack Obama

Adeola Akinremi in Kentucky, United States

Ahead of Tuesday’s mid-term elections in which the ruling party is expected to lose the control of American Senate according to several Gallup polls, the two major parties in the election, the Democratic Party (Democrats) and the Republican Party commonly refers to as GOP are making their final pleas to voters in states that could spring surprises on November 4.

The 10 competitive states where Senate races are too close among the contenders include: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and New Hampshire.

Except for Iowa’s open seat, each race features a Democratic incumbent running for re-election.

Democrats, with a very narrow path to hold their majority, are fighting to hold the line, working to pick off Republican seats in Georgia and Kentucky.

See full story: ThisDay

Fayose, Arise on warpath over Ekiti PDP ward congress

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Ayo Arise, has called on both the state and national leadership of the party to check the alleged excesses of Governor Ayo Fayose before he leads the party into another round of needless crisis in the state.

Arise, who represented Ekiti North Senatorial District between 2007and 2011, alleged that Fayose, in less than a month into his administration, has shown tendencies capable of leading the party in Ekiti into perdition.

Addressing journalists on Thursday at his Oye-Ekiti country home, the former federal legislator accused the governor of appropriating all powers to his office by hand-picking candidates into state and National Assembly positions without recourse to party guidelines.

Arise disclosed that he was surprised that a governor, who enjoyed an overwhelming support of PDP members and special favour from God could forget God so quickly.

Aregbesola grants amnesty to seven prison inmates

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has granted amnesty to seven prison inmates serving different jail terms in both Ilesa and Ile-Ife prisons in the state.

Aregbesola granted the amnesty following the recommendation of the State Advisory Council for Prerogative of Mercy, headed by the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Wale Afolabi.

The amnesty, according to a statement issued and signed by the Information Officer of the Ministry of Justice, Opeyemi Bello, was in commemoration of the four years anniversary of Governor Aregbesola in the state.

Nigeria president Jonathan intervenes to help FA avoid lengthy FIFA ban

Sapa-AP | 31 October, 2014 15:01

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has ensured "a truce" and a faction challenging new NFF President Amaju Pinnick's election last month has "discontinued" legal action against him.

Image by: Kevin Coombs / REUTERS

The Nigeria Football Federation says it has avoided a long-term ban by FIFA after in-fighting over the leadership of the football body was ended through intervention by the country's president.

The NFF says Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has ensured "a truce" and a faction challenging new NFF President Amaju Pinnick's election last month has "discontinued" legal action against him.

Council boss pledges priority to people’s welfare

CHAIRMAN of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, Chuks Oseme, has promised to accord priority attention to the wellbeing of the people of the area.

He gave the assurance during his victory reception held in Asaba, promising that in the next THREE years, he would improve the urbanisation of the local council. Oseme urged the people of the council area to bring their wealth of experience in assisting his administration.

Battle for Delta South Senatorial seat hots up, as Uduaghan picks forms

BATTLE for Delta South Senatorial seat in the 2015 election between the State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and the incumbent, Senator James Manager has begun.

While Governor Uduaghan has picked the expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the seat and were submitted at the Peoples Democratic Party State Headquarters Asaba, Thursday, Manager has vowed to reoccupy the seat NEXT year.

SIEMENS: Jonathan’s declaration committee boss denies bribery allegation

The Chairman, Presidential Declaration Committee, Dr. Haliru Bello, on Friday described as false, reports making the rounds that he was indicted for allegedly receiving monetary gifts from a German telecommunication company, SIEMENS, when he was Minister of Communications.

He also faulted reports which advised President Goodluck Jonathan on the “irrelevance” of Vice President Namadi Sambo to the presidential re-election campaign because of his alleged lack of electoral value.

Bello’s position was contained in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Mr. Emeka Nwankpa.

Nkwankpa insisted that Bello had nothing to do with the SIEMENS alleged bribery scandal either in person or by proxy.

Arsenal Suffer New Injury Blows Ahead Of Burnley Clash

Ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League match against Burnley at the Emirates on Saturday, Arsene Wenger gave his traditional update on the team when the spoke to the media on Friday.

The manager said: “It is very short term. Wilshere got a kick on his knee. I don’t know if Tuesday will be too early but certainly fit for Swansea.”According to the manager all the players that featured against Sunderland are expected to be fit to face Burnley, although, the club is still sweating over the hip injury Kieran Gibbs picked up at the Stadium of Light last weekend. The 25 year old is expected to face a late fitness test to ascertain his state of readiness, if he ends up not being able to play, Nacho Monreal is expected to play is his natural left back position. While suspended Jack Wilshere was expected to return to the side after serving his one match ban as a result of picking five cautions, but Arsene Wenger has confirmed he would miss the visit of the Clarets after he was kicked on the knee in training.

PDP chief alleges plot to rig Abia delegate poll

One of the Peoples Democratic Party  aspirants for Isiala Ngwa North / Isiala Ngwa South federal constituency, in the 2015 elections, Chief Anthony Agbazuere , has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by some forces to rig the Abia  state ad- hoc delegate congress election slated for Saturday.

Agbazuere in a press conference Thursday night  in Umuahia, alleged that the result of the delegates election had already been written in Abuja to clear the way for the emergence  of some preferred  candidates.

He particularly accused PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh of ” arm-twisting the powers that be in Abia to impose somebody who lacks the capacity to express himself on the Isala Ngwa North/ Isiala Ngwa South federal constituency”.

Jang suspends Plateau varsity vice chanchellor

Plateai State Giverbor, Mr. Jonah Jang, has suspended the Vice Chancellor of the Plateau State University, Bokkos, recently rechristened Solomon Lar University, Prof. Danjuma Sheni

Our correspondent gathered that Sheni was suspended because of what the governor described  as an “inappropriate behaviour.”

A statement from the office of the Secretary to the State Government on Thursday, did not however elaborate on what  was termed an “inappropriate behaviour.

Our correspondent gathered that the action might be CONNECTED to the reappointment of the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Dadi Davou.

Abia retirees demand five years teachers’ pension arrears

Pensioners in Abia State have called on the Federal Government to pay the arrears of over five years’ pension due to retired primary school teachers in the state, without further delay.

The call formed part of a four-point communiqué issued at the end of the meeting of the state council of the NIGERIA Union of Pensioners, held on Thursday in Umuahia.

Time To Amend Our Lives

PROPOSED amendments to the Constitution are the latest efforts to creating a “WORKING” Nigeria, a country where the burdensomeness of politics is replaced with practical lawful steps to enhance the efficiency in governance.

Our assumption is that politicians are capable of such goodness for the common good. However, the proposed 71 amendments have ringing familiarity with the affinity of politicians to help themselves. Is the challenge with local government ADMINISTRATION, for instance, autonomy, or the non-punishment of those who devour local government resources? Will autonomy of local governments mean more accountability? Did autonomy make States accountable?

How would creation of more States make governments more answerable to the people? Why are concerns for the people never items in constitutional amendments? When would our common lives be subject of importance to politicians?

I won’t let Nigerians down, Jonathan pledges

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday picked the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the 2015 presidential election at the National Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The president said he could not hide his excitement over the decision of the party to adopt him as the sole candidate for the election and promised not to let the party and Nigerians down if and when he emerges as president at the 2015 presidential election.

He was presented with the forms by the National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Abubakar Mustapha, at exactly 2:19 p.m. at the National Executive Committee (NEC) Hall of the party where the event was held.

Jonathan immediately requested for the issuance of official receipt to confirm the payment of the mandatory N22.5 million for the forms.

President Goodluck Jonathan

Speaking before handling over the forms to the President, Mustapha remarked that the party decided to reserve the form for the president because the party members believed that he (Jonathan) possessed all it takes to take the nation to the next level.

Asornists set Rivers PDP secretariat on fire

PORT HARCOURT – A part of the Rivers state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was gutted by fire in the early hours of Friday.

Vanguard gathered that the timely intervention of those around saved the building from being consumed by the fire. A source said the fire was even put out before arrival of fire fighters from the state. It could not be confirmed if documents were destroyed.

Over 30 feared dead as three bombs rock bus station in 

Gombe

About 30 were REPORTED dead after there explosions rocked the popular Gombe Line Transport Services Limited in Gombe State.

According to the police and an eye witnesses the explosions were REPORTED to have occurred around 9:30 am Friday leaving many dead.

The Three bombs which were said to be concealed in bags went off during Friday morning rush hour, the latest in a series of attacks targeting commuters blamed on Boko Haram, police and witnesses said.

“We had explosions at the Gombe line motor park…As for the death toll, we are still WORKING ON that,” said area police chief Abdullahi Kudu.

An EMPLOYEE of the state-run bus park, Lawanti Aliyu, and other witnesses said three men left bags packed with explosives among the buses which went off at 9:00 am (0800 GMT).

Fuller account of the story will be brought to you soon

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/30-feared-dead-gombe-blast/?#sthash.bvtBqHgr.dpuf

Nigeria’s GDP on steady rise in spite of insurgency – Perm

Sec

Abuja – Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, outgoing Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday that Nigeria’s economic growth rate had been steady despite the insurgency in some parts of the country.

Uhomoibhi said this in an interview on the sideline of an event organised in his honour by the African Diplomatic Corps in Abuja.

The Permanent Scretary, who will retire from the civil service on Nov. 3, commended the efforts of the military to curb the spread of terrorism in the country.

“Terrorism is a challenge, it’s not a Nigerian problem, it’s a global challenge but Nigeria is attacking it from a uniquely Nigerian perspective.

Are Igbos really foolish?

Dr Junaid Mohammed,a member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic and currently coordinates the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen. He treats other zones of Nigeria with little respect, and obviously cannot hide his hatred and disregard for Ndigbo of the South East Nigeria.

In the Punch Newspaper of September 12, 2014, he described the just concluded National Confab as a waste of time, and that it achieved nothing, and argued that the agenda of the different regions of the South failed.

Presidential aide moves to reposition NEPAD

The Special Adviser to the President on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Fidelia Akuabata Njeze, has promised to reposition the agency for better performance and actualisation of its objectives.

During her visit to one of the six Interactive Learning NETWORK (ILN) centres in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Njeze stated that government projects should not be left fallow but be maintained and productively used.

Waste managers solicit cooperation of Lagos residents

Lagos State Chairman, Association of Waste MANAGERS (AWAM), Mr. Bode Coker, on Thursday urged Lagos residents to exercise patience on the delay in picking their refuse.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that rainfall in parts of Lagos has been affecting the operation of waste disposal at designated dumpsites.

Nigeria: NTM Launches Online Publication On Aviation, Others

NIGERIATRAVELSTART.COM (NTM), a new online publication has been launched to serve the aviation and travel industry in Nigeria, as well as the hospitality and tourism sectors.

The publication would fill the gap in the industry for real-time online magazine to cater for stakeholders and key decision makers.

According to MTN, the mission of the company would be to transfuse responsible journalism, with the aim of shaping a strong virile Nigerian travel industry for the pride of all stakeholders.

It would educate readers about the travel industry and the standard expected of stakeholders, especially service providers and policy makers.

Nigeria: Improving Airport Information Technology for Travellers' Experience

AS passengers traffic continues to increase at airports across the world, there have been need to improve on the INFORMATIONtechnology such as mobile apps, social media and other intelligent services to make passenger travel experience better.

Consequently, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged aviation stakeholders to develop and use INFORMATIONtechnology (IT) to drive improvements in the passenger experience.

Court remands three for murder during Amosun’s tour

Three persons were on Wednesday arraigned before an Ilaro Chief Magistrate Court and remanded in prison custody over the death of 21-year-old, Olufemi Amosun, during Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s assessment tour of Ilaro, the headquarters of Yewa South local government area of the state.

The suspects according to the charge sheet obtained by journalists are Fatai Lamidi, Muyideen Salaudeen and Oyeyemi Semiu.

NIGERIAN EMANAYO TO LEAD SC VILLA AGAINST KCCA

Former Baza Holdings FC player Victor Emenayo is expected to play a key role for SC Villa when they host defending champions KCCA FC in a 2014/2015 Uganda Premier League (UPL) tie in Mityana on Friday.

Emenayo who joined SC Villa during the second round of last season from the lower Division Baza Holdings ios expected to have his first start under new coach Sam Ssimbwa.

Pension assets hit N4.5tr

The National Pension COMMISSION (PenCom) on Thursday disclosed that a large pool of investible fund of pension assets has hit over N4.5 trillion as at June 2014.

Director General of PenCom, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, disclosed this in Lagos at a conference on Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 to sensitise stakeholders in the South West geopolitical zone on the new provisions and developments ushered in by the PRA 2014.