Spokesman
President Buhari approves 22 3-bedroom bungalows to 1994 Super Eagles squad
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the allocation of 22 3-bedroom houses to the Super Eagles Squad that won the African Cup of Nations in Tunis, Tunisia, in 1994, in fulfilment of an earlier promise by the Federal Government. This was sequel to a memo by Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, leading to the President approving the allocations in their states of preference. A release on Thursday by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, noted that six players and three technical crews had already received their houses. The benefitting players are: Peter Rufai, Alloy Agu, Ike Shorounmu, Uche Okechukwu, Samson Siasia, Efan Ekoku, Sunday Oliseh, Benedict Iroha, Isaac Semitoje, Mutiu Adepoju, Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba, Austin Eguavoen and Wilfred Agbonavbare (Deceased)....
‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero never joined rebels – co-accused
Paul Rusesabagina, the ex-hotelier immortalised in the film “Hotel Rwanda”, never belonged to a rebel group that sought to overthrow President Paul Kagame, one of the former rebels accused with him of terrorism told a court on Wednesday. “Rusesabagina was never a member of the National Liberation Front (FLN), he was a civilian … He is not a soldier,” former FLN spokesman Callixte Sankara told the court in Kigali. He said the prosecution had presented no evidence to substantiate its claim that Rusesabagina had given orders to the FLN, which has claimed responsibility for attacks in past years that it said were aimed at ousting the president. Sankara is one of 20 Rwandans being tried alongside Rusesabagina, who is 67. Prosecutors describe them as fighters for the FLN. Most were captured in s...
Police: Jigawa man foils kidnap attempt by fake NDLEA operatives
The Police Command in Jigawa has arrested three kidnap suspects in Hadejia Local Government Area of the state, the command spokesperson, ASP Lawan Shiisu, has said. Shiisu, in a statement in Dutse on Wednesday, said the suspects were arrested after they allegedly attempted to kidnap one Cyprian Okechukwu on May 31. He explained that the suspects allegedly disguised as personnel of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and attempted to forcefully take the victim to their office. “On May 32, 2021 at about 1000hrs, one Cyprian Okechuku of Quarters reported at Hadejia ‘A’ division that on the same date at about 0800hrs, some hoodlums numbering about three in Volkswagen Golf car, light green in colour, came to his house, disguised as NDLEA personnel and forcefully tried to take him to th...
Gunmen kill APC chieftain in Ondo
File Photo A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Hon Bamidele Isibor, has been killed by gunmen. The APC leader was shit dead along Ifon-Imoru road in Ose Local Government Area of the state while returning to Imoru after a political function. The state publicity secretary of the party, Mr Alex Kalejaiye confirmed the incident in a statement issued yesterday. He said the late APC leader who was a member of the State Executive Committee of the party was atacked in company of others, on his way from Imoru to Ifon. According to the spokesman of the party, the deceased died of gunshot wounds on Monday. “The party condemns the violent attack on its stalwart which led to his painful exit at the time the party is warming up for its congress,” he said. Kaleyaiye n...
Canada leads call on China to allow Xinjiang access – statement
More than 40 countries urged China on Tuesday to allow the U.N. human rights chief immediate access to Xinjiang region to look into reports that more than a million people have been unlawfully detained there, some subjected to torture or forced labour. The joint statement on China was read out by Canadian Ambassador Leslie Norton on behalf of countries including Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and the United States to the U.N. Human Rights Council. Beijing denies all allegations of abuse of Uyghurs and describes the camps as vocational training facilities to combat religious extremism. “Credible reports indicate that over a million people have been arbitrarily detained in Xinjiang and that there is widespread surveillance disproportionately targeting Uyghurs and members of other...
House speaker: APC must be committed to its manifesto to succeed
The speaker of the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) must be committed to its manifesto for it to succeed in governance. Gbajabiamila said members of the party must also not forget that they will answer for “what we have done with our time in government”. A statement from Lanre Lasisi, the speaker’s spokesman, quoted him as saying this at the progressives youth conference organised by the APC in Abuja on Monday. He described manifestoes as “statements of vision and vision is the foundation of all achievements.” “For a nation such as ours to succeed, we must first define a common vision that will inspire us, bring us together, and provide the focus that allows us to persevere through the inevitable difficult times,” the speaker said. “As i...
No Uefa hammer for gay supporting German skipper
The German FA has said it will not be punished by UEFA for the rainbow-coloured captain’s armband Germany skipper Manuel Neuer has worn during Euro 2020 in solidarity with gay pride this month. The German Football Association (DFB) said it has received a letter from European football’s governing body stating that a review of the matter has been stopped. “The armband has been assessed as a team symbol for diversity and thus for a ‘good cause’”, the DFB said on Twitter. Normally, the captains of each team at the European Championship are obliged to wear a standard armband issued by UEFA. Former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, who came out as gay after retiring in 2013 and is now head of sport at VfB Stuttgart, was unimpressed that UEFA were even looking into the armband matter. “Come...
Remittance: It is impunity for NNPC to ignore extant laws – PDP governors
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, has said it is impunity for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) not to remit money to the federation account as stipulated by the constitution. The Forum, in a statement by its Director General, CID Maduabum, stated this in response to criticism by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu over issues raised in a communique, issued after its recent meeting in Uyo. The opposition governors accused Shehu of cerebrating the non remittance of funds by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the Federation Account because they should not “break the bank” for PDP Governors. They noted that it is the responsibility of the NNPC to remit revenues into the Federation Account, as stipulated in the constitution. “It is a demonstrat...
President Buhari pays tribute to late Kenneth Kaunda
President Muhammadu Buhari has described Zambia’s first President and liberation hero, Kenneth Kaunda, as one of the greatest African and world leaders of all time who loved his country and people profoundly. The President’s Spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement, quoted Buhari as stating this in his reaction to Kaunda’s death. Newsmen report that Kaunda, who died at the age of 97, ruled Zambia from 1964, when the Southern African country won its independence from Britain, to 1991. Thereafter, the late nationalist became one of the most committed activists against HIV/AIDS in Africa. The President said: “I have received his (Kaunda’s) passing with great shock because I knew his contributions to the development of not only Zambia but also, Africa at large. “We can’t forget in a hurry ...
Police begs Rivers governor not to lift curfew yet
The Rivers State Police Command has appealed to Governor Nyesom Wike not to lift the night time curfew imposed in the wake of attacks on security formations and operatives in the state. Spokesman of the State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, made the appeal during a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, the state capital. Omoni said the curfew has helped the police and other security agencies respond timely to distress calls, adding that security threats have reduced in the state since the curfew was imposed over a fortnight ago. “The curfew was imposed essentially to arrest the trend of attacks on police. Since it was imposed, that attack has seized abruptly and we are leveraging on it. I think the governor should still delay it (curfew) for some time because it has been assisting us. “We are ...
Police begs Rivers governor not to lift curfew yet
The Rivers State Police Command has appealed to Governor Nyesom Wike not to lift the night time curfew imposed in the wake of attacks on security formations and operatives in the state. Spokesman of the State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, made the appeal during a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, the state capital. Omoni said the curfew has helped the police and other security agencies respond timely to distress calls, adding that security threats have reduced in the state since the curfew was imposed over a fortnight ago. “The curfew was imposed essentially to arrest the trend of attacks on police. Since it was imposed, that attack has seized abruptly and we are leveraging on it. I think the governor should still delay it (curfew) for some time because it has been assisting us. “We are ...
Police: No invasion of miscreants into Ekiti
The Ekiti State Police Command has described as untrue the reports that miscreants have invaded Ado Ekiti, the state capital. The state’s Commissioner of Police, Tunde Mobayo, who disclosed that the information was false, said it was intended to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the town. A video had circulated online on Friday that some Fulani-Hausa men were found around Agric Olope Housing Estate, in Ado Ekiti, in possession of dangerous weapons including AK-47 rifles with the intention to unleash terror on the community. Mobayo, in a statement signed by the command’s spokesman, ASP Sunday Abutu, and made available to reporters on Saturday, explained that the news was fake as the men were in the town to execute a building project, warned peddlers against spreading false information. He ...
