Customs did not seize NFF’s consignment, says Controller

The Apapa Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service says it did not seize any consignment belonging to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The Command’s Area Controller, Mr Eporwei EdikeEdike, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Lagos on Friday. He spoke against the backdrop of news reports which alleged that the service seized the Federation’s consignment for the football teams. Edike said that the Federation was free to approach the customs if they had any challenge. Cue in Audio 1 “Nobody is aware of such consignment and if NFF, a government organisation, has such consignment and after a day or two, it is not cleared, will they just sit down like that? “They should make enquiry or call their agent, ask the agent what is happening. “Where another day goes by, then, they should, with their agent, come or call the PRO (Public Relations Officer) to ask the PRO what is happening, If they cannot reach the PRO, the DC Terminal. “If they cannot reach the DC (Deputy Comptroller) Terminal, their is the APM, if they cannot reach the APM, the Area Controller is here. “None of them has contacted any of us and we are not aware of such consignment in the port. “And of course, here, part of our mark here is that no officer delays anybody’s papers on his table for more than 10, 15 minutes, after then it (the officer) must let his supervisor know. “After about 10, 15 minutes, the next senior person must also hear until it comes to the Area Controller’s desk, but nobody has brought such to me. And NFF too has not brought such report to me. “We are not aware, we are not aware if NFF has any consignment, not to talk of being here since September. “If they have, let them come and meet us, but then. If they are also having other difficulties that they cannot approach us, let them summon courage and come. “We all appreciate what they are doing and if they have any difficulty, once they meet us, we can see how we can assist them, to make things easier for them, so that Nigerians can be happy, because football is something that makes everybody happy. ‘’ Cue out Audio 1 Speaking on the clearance period for cargo, Edike said that it would only take a day to clear consignment in the port if the importer of any product had his or her papers properly filed for processing. Cue in Audio 2 “If your papers are straight, you can start the same day and go the same day. That means that you can obtain customs release the same day. “Now, once your papers are all in your hand and you go to the DTI café, and you lodge, you pay. “All of that is still what we call Trader’s Zone, because there are two zones; there is a trader’s zone and there isalso a Customs Zone. “At the time you go to DTI café, you make your lodgment, and after that, you go and pay. “It is at the time you pay at the bank that this payment hits customs server. “That is when your declaration now comes to Customs zone. You will then go to the terminal operator, position the container for physical examination.’’ Cue out Audio 2 The controller, however, warned that in cases where people had queries to answer over value, quantity declaration, the command would take it seriously to ensure that government did not lose revenue.

Explosions hit rally in Turkey's Ankara

Two explosions have rocked a road junction in the centre of the Turkish capital Ankara, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens of others, local media reported. The explosions took place several minutes apart, with the first going off at around 10:00am (0700 GMT), according to local Dogan news agency. Ankara'da patlama! Patlamalara çöp kutular? içine olan bombalar neden oldu. Çok say?da a??r yaral? var. pic.twitter.com/etEQ73Ubs6 — 'Hayal Tamircileri' (@HayalTamir) October 10, 2015 The explosions occurred near a train station where people were gathering for a peace march to protest against the conflict between the state and Kurdish fighters in southeast Turkey. Eyewitnesses told the AFP news agency several bodies were seen lying on the ground. The anti-government peace rally was being organised by leftist groups. Source: Al Jazeera And Agencied

Ministerial nominees not pushover, but digital – says Ngige

A onetime governor of Anambra, Sen. Chris Ngige, on Friday said there was no pushover in the first batch of ministerial nominees forwarded to the Senate for screening by President Muhammadu Buhari. Ngige stated this while reacting to questions from State House Correspondents, after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He expressed optimism that the nominees would assist the President to deliver on his campaign promises to Nigerians. “If you look at the list very critically, you will observe Mr President want to go his voyage with people who have cognate experience in governance. “When I mean cognate experience, we are talking of people who have been tested, tried and trusted by their various people. “So, I don’t think Nigerians should expect anything less than what Mr President is already doing from that team. “The team will help Mr President to deliver on most of the promises he made to Nigerian people, in fact much more quickly than is even envisaged because I don’t think there is anybody on that list that you can call a pushover in terms of government business,’’ he said. Ngige, who is one of the ministerial nominees, frowned at those criticising the President for not attaching portfolio to the names of the nominees. According to him, the Constitution does not say that the President must attach portfolio.He stated that the constitution only prescribed that those to be appointed as ministers must have qualifications that would enable them to be members of the House of Representatives. “That is the minimum and you know that the age of the House of Representatives is lower than that of the Senate and the educational qualifications as enshrined in the Constitution. There is nothing there about not attaching portfolios. “The President is taking it slowly according to his words. When people say he his Baba go slow, he said; yes, yes that he will go slow and steadily and steadily we shall get there. “In other climes like America and other developed world, they attach portfolios and that is what their constitution says.’’ Ngige dismissed the insinuation that some of the ministerial nominees were “analogue and old school’’. “Am I analogue? Don’t let Anambra people hear that you called me analogue. I am digital and I don’t know who is analogue on that list,’’ he concluded.

New Jerusalem stabbing attack wounds two Israelis: police, medics

A new stabbing in Jerusalem wounded two Israelis on Saturday in the latest in a wave of such attacks that have spread fear among residents, police and medics said. Police said the attacker had been “neutralised” without providing further details on whether the suspect had been captured of killed. They referred to the attacker as a “terrorist

Screening: Don’t be distracted by petitions against nominees – Group tells lawmakers

A Lagos-based advocacy group, the Law and Good Governance Group, has called on the national and states’ Houses of Assembly not to be distracted by the petitions filled before them against certain nominated persons. The group said it was particularly concerned about certain petitions that were purportedly written in respect of certain retired civil servants being considered for cabinet positions in Lagos State. The Executive Director, LGGG, Dr. Festus Odunlami, said the lawmakers should not forget that the law ought to guide them “in determining the effect of a private petition on the eligibility of a nominee for the office of either a minister or commissioner.” Cited one of the provisions for disqualification, Odunlami said a nominee could be disqualified if he “is under a sentence of death imposed on him by a competent court of law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or fine for an offence involving dishonesty by fraud (by whatever name called) or any other offences imposed on him by such court or tribunal substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on him by such a court or tribunal.” Also, it said a nominee could only be disqualified if “he has been indicted for embezzlement of fraud by a judicial commission of inquiry or Administrative Panel of Inquiry or an or a tribunal set up under the tribunal of Inquiry Act, a tribunal of Inquiry law or any other law by the Federal and State Government which indictment has been accepted by the Federal or State Government, respectively.” The group recalled that although the 1999 constitution envisaged a situation where a nominee could be disqualified, it was evident that the Constitution “is very clear in stating that a person can only be disqualified if he has been indicted or convicted by any of the following: a court, a tribunal, a judicial commission of inquiry, an administrative panel of inquiry set up by Law or the Code of Conduct Tribunal.” The statement added, “We wish to state, therefore, that the framers of these constitutional provisions placed these strict conditions to prevent third parties from placing non-judicial decisions of questionable validity as hurdles to the election of a nominee. “They (the lawmakers) should not be seen to be departing from the same constitution that created the laws

EFCC goes after former Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswam

Immediate past Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam is expected to appear before the EFCC for interrogation on Monday, October 12. According to Premium Times, the anti-graft agency had also invited Mr Omadachi Oklobia, a former Commissioner of finance, who served under Suswam to defend the allegations of diversion of public funds, abuse of office, embezzlement and fraud. Mr. Oklobia arrived the EFFC office in Abuja at about 10.00am, where his statement was obtained under caution based on his alleged complicity in the allegations. Suswam has been highly criticized and accused by the current government of throwing the state into huge debt before leaving office. Meanwhile, the ex-governor had approached a federal high court sitting in Makurdi to stop his predecessor, Samuel Ortom from probing his government.

Revealed at last: Salary and allowances of NASS members

The controversy over the monthly salary of a Nigerian lawmaker has finally been laid to rest with a formal disclosure of what the legislators earn. The National Institute of Legislative Studies, NILS, apparently worried by growing public outcry against the Nigerian lawmakers, on Friday released a set of documents, showing what constitutes the earnings of the 109 Senators and 360 members of the Nigerian House of Representatives. The documents, which were made available to Vanguard in Abuja on Friday, indicated that the Nigerian lawmakers earn perhaps one of the least salaries among legislators in the world, as against the notion that their pay was outrageous. Apart from releasing global comparative figures drawn from nine countries, the NILS also gave a breakdown of what constitutes the monthly take- home pay of each Nigerian lawmaker. The figure shows that while a Nigerian Senator gets an annual basic salary of N2,026,400,00 a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives goes home with N1,985,212, 50 per year. But beyond that a Senator takes home a bouquet of allowances which hike their salary to N12, 902, 360.00 while their House of Representatives counterpart goes home with N9,525,985.50 annually. Thus, for the four-year tenure which the lawmaker stay in the NASS, the Nigerian government spends a total of N1, 406,357,240.00 as basic salary on the 109 Senators and N3,428,994,780.00 on the 360 members of the House of Representatives. The breakdown of the allowances are on: Vehicle fuelling/maintenance, Constituency, Domestic Staff, Personal Assistant, Entertainment, Recess, Utilities, Newspaper/Periodicals, Houses Maintenance, Wardrobe, Estacode, Duty Tour, which attract more money available to the lawmakers than their basic salaries. Beyond that, the lawmakers earn special amount in every four-year period on Accommodation, vehicle loan, furniture, and severance allowance, which make every Senator to pocket N24,090,000.00 and a House of Representatives member to go home with N23,822,00.00 within the same period. Thus for every four year which a lawmaker stays in the NASS, the Federal Government spends N2,625, 810,000.00 on accommodation, vehicle loans, furniture and severance gratuity on the 109 senators and N8,575,920,000.00 on the 360 House of Representatives members. This payment brings the total expenditure of the government to N33, 992, 360 for the senators and N33,347, 985, 50 on the members of the HoR. The figures are lower when compared to what their counterparts in eight other countries earn. But the monies Nigerian lawmakers earn from their oversight functions and other sources make them big earners. A global comparison released by the NILS shows that lawmakers in the Philippines earn the highest annual basic salary of $4, 497,957, followed by their counterparts in the United States of America where a Senator goes home with $3,409,422 while a member of the US House of Representatives takes $1,429,909 home annually. This is followed by lawmakers in Kenya who earn $968,013 per annum followed by their counterparts in Australia who take home $646,230 while those in the United Kingdom go home with £494,285.43. The list is followed by lawmakers from India, who earn $474,484, Singapore with $253,469, and Tanzania with $230,961. It will be recalled that the Nigerian government has been spending a total of N150 billion per year on the NASS but has been forced to step it down to N120 billion this year following rising outcry that the lawmakers are taking too much from the Federation Account leaving little for other sectors.

Spain, Switzerland storm into Euro 2016 finals

- Spain and Switzerland racked up 11 goals between them to qualify for Euro 2016 on Friday as England maintained their 100 percent record. Champions in 2008 and 2012, Spain beat Luxembourg 4-0 in Group C thanks to a brace each from Arsenal playmaker Santi Cazorla and Valencia striker Paco Alcacer. The result saw Spain win the group outright after rivals Slovakia, who had been breathing down their necks, went down 1-0 at home to Belarus and drop to third. Vicente del Bosque's men are five points clear of Slovakia and Ukraine, who won 2-0 at Macedonia. Ukraine host Spain in their final qualifier in Kiev on Monday. On the down side, Spain suffered a double injury blow losing David Silva to a twisted ankle before Alvaro Morata was stretchered off with a calf injury. Cazorla opened the scoring five minutes before half-time as he swept home a rebound after Jonathan Joubert had made a smart save from Pedro Rodriguez. Also Read: Bale ready to fire Wales into Euro 2016 finals Alcacer slotted home a neat through ball from Cesc Fabregas on his 99th international appearance 23 minutes from time. Jordi Alba's cut-back was then tapped into an empty net by Alcacer for his sixth international goal in nine appearances. And Cazorla rounded off the scoring with the best goal of the night when he thundered in a shot from the edge of the box to seal Spain's ticket to France in style. "We've managed to qualify at last. We knew we couldn't be complacent, we played very well and managed to get the win," Cazorla told Television Espanola. "The coach showed his faith in me and it went well with the two goals." The Swiss stormed to a 7-0 win over San Marino converting three spot-kicks on the way to join England as the two direct qualifiers from Group E. Having co-hosted the 2008 Euros with Austria, Switzerland missed the 2012 edition. On Friday, seven different players got the goals to ensure they did not miss out this time. Defender Michael Lang got the opener on 17 minutes with Gokhan Inler, Admir Mehmedi, Johan Djourou, Pajtim Kasami, Breel Embolo and Eren Derdiyok completing the rout after the break. Roy Hodgson's England maintained their 100 percent record in the qualifiers with a ninth straight win, 2-0 over Estonia at Wembley, with Theo Walcott and Raheem Sterling delivering the goals late in each half. With record goal-scorer Wayne Rooney injured, Harry Kane led the line for England, but it was Walcott who opened the scoring in a drab game before Sterling struck a second goal late on. "We had to work hard, we attacked a lot, we had a lot of the ball and had a lot of chances. I thought we were good value for our 2-0 win," said Hodgson. In Group G, Russia, Sweden and Montenegro had been locked in a desperate battle for qualification behind runaway leaders Austria. Austria won again, coming from behind to win 3-2 in Montenegro and have 25 points from nine games. But Russia's 2-1 win in Moldova leaves them needing only a win at home over Montenegro on Monday to qualify in second place after full back Sergei Ignashevich and forward Arten Dzyuba got Friday's goals. Russia coach Leonid Slutsky, who took over from the sacked Fabio Capello in August, has won three games since taking the hot seat for the 2018 World Cup hosts. Sweden can still overhaul Russia after Zlatan Ibrahimovic made up for missing a penalty by scoring the second goal in his side's 2-0 win in Liechtenstein. The Paris Saint Germain striker thereby stretched his national goalscoring record to 58. Spain and Switzerland join already qualified Austria, Czech Republic, England, France (as hosts), Iceland, Northern Ireland, and Portugal in the 24-team finals next year. - AFP

Tribunal upholds Gbajabiamila’s election

- The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ikeja on Friday upheld the victory of the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. The tribunal held that Gbajabiamila of the All Progressives Congress (APC) validly won the March 28 election for Surulere Federal Constituency I in Lagos State. The three-man tribunal led by Justice C.U. Anwuka resolved all issues raised in favour of the respondent. The tribunal consequently dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Tony Ashikodi, for failing to prove the allegations of electoral fraud. Also read: Plot to endorse Gbajabiamila as Speaker foiled Ashikodi had petitioned the tribunal challenging the outcome of the election. Ashikodi had alleged that he observed some irregularities during the election which contravened the provisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s approved guidelines. He urged the court to void the election and order a fresh election to be conducted by INEC. The petitioner had alleged that “the final figures in Form EC 8 C (i) were cancelled and altered with a view to declaring Gbajabiamila the winner of the election.” He claimed that the 14 351 received by the APC candidate was “whimsically changed’’ to 21 715 while 16 079 earlier recorded for petitioner was changed to 14 550. However in the judgment, the tribunal said Ashikodi failed to substantiate his allegations that ballot boxes were snatched and result sheets falsified by INEC. The judges noted that the petitioner failed to call a single witness to substantiate his claims. They said Ashikodi, in his evidence-in-chief, admitted that he was not present at the collation centre and did not tender any document to back his allegations of multiple irregularities. The tribunal also faulted the claim of the petitioner’s counsel, Kalu Onuah, that the election did not comply with Section 139 of the Electoral Act and therefore dismissed the petition. - NAN - NAN

Accountant General to prioritise armed forces on TSA

Abuja - The Accountant General, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, has pledged his organisation will give special attention to security institutions during the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA). He said such assistance to institutions like the Police and the Armed Forces would ensure they continued to successfully deliver on their mandates. Idris gave this assurance today in Abuja whilst receiving in audience the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase. He said that his office is aware of the enormous responsibility facing the Security Agencies in contending with armed robbery, insurgency, kidnapping and other vices and will ensure that the release of monies required for the execution of all special operations aimed at overcoming these evils are not in any way affected by the implementation of the TSA. Also Read: Australian mosque leader tells violent Muslims to leave country According to the Accountant General of the Federation, the Treasury Single Account is not meant to hamper to activities of MDAs, but to entrench a more transparent, efficient and robust management of public funds that will ensure the speedy realization of Government plans and programmes. The Accountant General commended the Police for complying with the directive on the TSA and urged them to embrace more scientific and electronic means for transacting their businesses. He explained that the era of carrying money in Ghana- Must – go bags to payment points are gone, adding that the TSA will compliment the already existing electronic platforms. Earlier, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase commended the Office of the Accountant General for their support to the MDAs particularly the Nigerian Police in the implementation of the Treasury Single Account. He solicited the support of the Accountant General of the Federation in the sustaining their special operations on counter-terrorism and other crimes as well as early settlement of staff salaries. - CAJ News

Nigerian court voids election of politician wanted in US

Lagos - A Nigerian court Friday nullified the election of a prominent politician wanted in the United States on drug trafficking charges. An election tribunal in the southwestern city of Abeokuta declared the victory of Senator Buruji Kashamu void because of apparent irregularities in more than 100 polling units. "The election is nullified in line with Section 140 (2) and 140 (3) (of the electoral act)... We hereby order fresh elections in the affected polling units," tribunal judge Tobi Ebimowei ruled. Kashamu, elected in March to represent Ogun state in the upper chamber of parliament, was placed under house arrest in May before a planned extradition hearing. But the Federal High Court in Lagos later ordered agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to leave the property and suspended extradition hearings. Also read: Two Nigerians get 55 years jail time for drug trafficking Kashamu was indicted in an Illinois court in 1998 over conspiracy to distribute heroin. He was arrested in Britain that December but ultimately convinced British authorities that the drug trafficking evidence in fact related to his brother and that US investigators had confused the two men. A British court approved his release in 2003 and Kashamu returned to Nigeria, where he became a major funder of the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The United States has sought Kashamu's extradition for two decades and it was not clear if Nigeria's decision to act was linked to political shifts. The PDP under president Goodluck Jonathan was defeated nationally by Muhammadu Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC). Buhari has since embarked on a drive against corruption. Kashamu has repeatedly denied any involvement in drug smuggling, consistently throwing blame on his deceased brother, whom he reportedly resembles. - AFP

Osinbanjo to inaugurate Nigeria's Consular building in South Africa

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) on Friday left Abuja for Pretoria, South Africa, to inaugurate the Consular building of Nigeria High Commission among other engagements. A press statement from his spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, said Osinbajo would attend programmes at the House of Revival Church in Brakpan and pay courtesy visit to his South African counterpart, Mr Cyril Rhamaphosa. Also read: Russia denies visas for sex workers claims The statement said that the Vice President would also hold an interactive session with the Nigerian community in South Africa before returning to Abuja on Sunday. - NAN

NDLEA arrests Brazil-bound passenger with $34,000 in underwear

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a passenger for attempting to smuggle out 23 wraps containing $34,000 to Brazil. This was contained in a statement by the Head, Public Affairs of NDLEA, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, on Friday in Lagos. The statement said the passenger, Ozoh Ikenna, was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, during the screening of passengers boarding Etihad Airways flight to Abu Dhabi. It said the money was packed in wraps and concealed in Ikenna’s boxer shorts. According to the statement, the NDLEA airport commander, Mr Ahmadu Garba, said the arrest was facilitated with the aid of a scanning machine. “The wraps of dollars found on Ikenna were detected with the aid of scanning machine. “We also conducted a follow-up operation where one Ogbo Emmanuel, who gave Ozoh the $34,000 was arrested,” the commander is quoted as saying. The statement said investigation conducted by the NDLEA’s Assets and Financial Investigation Directorate revealed that the suspects were involved in the laundering of substantial amount of illicit drug proceeds. “We were able to trace over N226m to one bank account belonging to the second suspect, Ogbo Emmanuel. “The account name is Eternal God International Limited,” the head of the directorate, Mrs Victoria Egbase, is quoted as saying. According to the statement, it was also discovered that suspected drug proceeds were regularly deposited in the said bank account by members of an international drug cell that smuggles cocaine from South America to West Africa. The statement quoted NDLEA’s Chairman, Mr Ahmadu Giade, as saying that the Agency was strategically targeting criminal wealth.

Babcock University Performs First Heart Surgery

BABCOCK University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State recorded another milestone last Thursday, as the first heart surgery was performed in the institution’s Teaching Hospital, by its doctors. The operation lasted six hours. The first beneficiary of this feat in the history of the university is a 34-year-old woman, who brimmed with exceptional spirit as she calmly walked through the door with gaiety into the theatre for a life saving venture in the human hands of cardio thoracic surgeons, Professor Kamar Adeleke, Dr. Michael Sanusi, Dr. Mudashiru Lawal and Dr. Edward Anderson, all resident doctors. According to the institution, there are other 15 critical care personnel in the operating theatre to provide specific required services. They included perfussionists, cardiac operations nurses, internists and anesthesiologists. Friday’s surgery was a milk valve replacement. Yesterday, another set of patients’ hearts received care from the surgeons’ hearts that care. Dozens of other patients are on the roll call and will have their turn as scheduled from now at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital. The senior vice president of the university, Professor Iheanyichukwu Okoro, who is also a surgeon said, “So, what is going on now at the Tristate Heart and Vascular Centre of the University is not the last of such operations until all afflicted hearts are rid of that which prevents their effective functioning.” Okoro and the institution’s Vice president, development and strategy, Mr. Olukunle Iyanda, said the medical feat couldn’t have happened at a better time than this. “This is inspirational and praiseworthy; another achievement by God through mortal men.”

Nigeria's former oil minister will fight graft claims - lawyer

Lagos - Nigeria's former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke will strongly contest corruption allegations against her once she has recovered from breast cancer treatment, her family's lawyer told AFP on Friday. Oscar Onwudiwe said the 54-year-old's immediate priority was her health. She had gone through chemotherapy and had been preparing for surgery when she was caught up in the corruption probe, he said. "Once she is feeling better she will come out and say, 'bring the questions, bring them on'. She's that confident," he added. Onwudiwe, who said he has known Alison- Madueke and her husband's families for more than 30 years, earlier issued a statement on their behalf, slamming what he called "media hysteria" over the case. "For the avoidance of doubt, the family would like to state categorically that it has no issues with any persons from the family being invited anywhere in the world to answer questions about their private or official conduct," the statement said. International corruption "The Madueke family believes in law and order, honour and due process. However, it is clear that here is a deliberate and vicious campaign to demonise members of the Madueke family with all manner of frivolous allegations." Onwudiwe added: "It is worth emphasising that Mrs Alison-Madueke was never arrested or detained and her passport was never seized. She was merely invited and she honoured it promptly." Britain's National Crime Agency announced last Friday it had arrested five people in London on suspicion of international corruption, without naming those detained. The suspects were released on conditional bail. The Nigerian government confirmed Alison- Madueke's arrest on Monday and said law enforcement agencies in Abuja were collaborating with the British counterparts on the matter. Wider crackdown of corruption A court official at Westminster Magistrates Court in central London earlier said police had been granted permission to retain 27 000 ($41 000) in cash seized during her arrest. Alison-Madueke - the first woman to be oil minister in Nigeria and the first female president of the global oil cartel OPEC - has been dogged by allegations of corruption during her tenure. In February 2014, the former governor of Nigeria's central bank claimed the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had failed to remit $20bn in revenue. Then-president Goodluck Jonathan removed the governor, Lamido Sanusi, in a move many saw as politically motivated. Alison-Madueke, whose husband is a former chief of naval staff in Nigeria, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari has begun a purge of the NNPC as part of a wider crackdown on corruption, ordering a review of its finances and sacking the entire board. AFP

Campaigning For The Early Detection Of Cancer

THIS year is the seventh International Cancer Week in Nigeria. It is a platform for people who are in the area of cancer control to further spread the message on how to detect cancer early. According to Professor Ifeoma Okoye, founder of a non- governmental organization (NGO) called Breast Without Spot (BWS), these people include medical people, health care providers and non-governmental organisations working in the area of cancer control. “We have survivors, relations of survivors, just about anybody who has a passion to see how to fight cancer and control it. And reduce the devastation on our population. Over the past couple of years, a lot of people who are working in the area of cancer control have raised awareness in many ways on cancer, organising pink dinner and congresses. But what we have noticed is that it appears that it is all done for focus groups. The nation has never really received a big bang impact on one particular effort. “Whoever says no to late detection of cancer is a titan. We have decided that we are going to call on all Nigerians to be titans against cancer and to come out and be in pink on the October 5. This event is not meant to be an event in itself. It actually ought to be a mass movement. There is no need for you to leave your work place,” Okoye said. She urged as many centres as possible across the nation which have the ability to offer any form of screening, or give discounted screening prices or even offer free screening, to do so to mark the event. “We know that we have 80,000 people that die of cancer in Nigeria annually, and 10 people die every day of the disease. About eight people died of Ebola and the whole country was in panic.” Okoye said cancer is one of the non-communicable diseases that share risk factors with other non- communicable diseases. “We want to see how we can get people to detect cancer early so that they don’t have to die from cancer, especially when it is the non- aggressive form. Detect cancer early, you can have cure for some of the cancer and extended life, quality life.” Okoye revealed that there are people with breast cancer that are alive even 40 or 50 years after. “In Nigeria, why cancer appears to be synonymous with death is because people are coming late to present in the hospitals. We are asking people that are well to make it a habit to go for screening. We are using the opportunity of this awareness to tell them why they have to go for screening. At what age should they go for prostate cancer check? By the time we finish with this mass campaign, we hope that we would be able to fully optimally sensitize the entire country in this movement. “People can mobilise as many of their families, colleagues in work place, friends and persons within their sphere of influence to put on pink ties, scarves and decorate their surroundings with pink décor, including pink balloons and ribbons. “Whatever you have, whether it is an old clothing that is pink, just utilize it. We don’t want people to go spend any money. You are driving your car to work, you have a pink balloon tied to it or you decorate it your with pink ribbon. We want everybody going gaga with pink. Even you can use pink flowers. “You can also visit our website www.international cancerweek.org. We would have information for you on where it is possible for you to get screened. We are also doing advocacy with those different places where you can get screened or vaccinated for HPV vaccine for young girls between the ages of nine and 14. We are trying to advocate for them to either give this services free or discounted.” Finally, she urged people to join in the three-day programme they are organising for the International Cancer Week congress which is taking place at the Sheraton in Abuja from Oct. 6 to 8 from 9am to 5pm daily. “The opening ceremony is on the 7th in order to accommodate some of our VIPs that will be coming for the programme,” Okoye said. She added that the International Cancer Week is being organised in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Health. “You can register for the programme on-line or get the details on our website. You don’t need to be a medical person to attend and benefit.”

Adeola calls for activation of National Assembly Budget and Research Office

The senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Adeola has called on the 8th National Assembly to immediately seek the activation and operation of the National Assembly Budget and Research Office, NABRO to ensure that the legislature fulfil its mandate for effective legislation and representation. Contributing to the debate on the Legislative Agenda for the 8th Senate, the senator said beyond making laws and oversight, a major function of the legislature is the “power of the purse” which is the power to appropriate funds through budget adding that the executive will always want the yearly budget to be passed without scrutiny of the legislature, a situation he foresees will end with the operation of NABRO, which is the equivalent of USA Congressional Budget Office. “The operation of NABRO would greatly assist in providing data for effective scrutiny of budget as presented by the executive as relevant research would have been done and provided for the legislature to query assumptions of government agencies. We need to ensure that NABRO which has been passed into law since the 6th National Assembly become fully operational to ensure we do the job we were elected to do” he stated in his contribution. He said the Legislative arm of government cannot afford to lose the power of the purse and NABRO will assist in critical scrutiny of Appropriation Bills as well as Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF as they cannot be taken as sacrosanct without questioning adding that each committee of the Senate should be supported in the interim by qualified consultants in relevant fields. Senator Adeola said the Legislative Agenda of the 8th Senate is a policy document to guide the Senate and should serve as a roadmap for its activities adding that its articulation shows the sincerity and seriousness of the current National Assembly. The Senate president, Senator Bukola Saraki adjourned the debate till next week after contributions from Senator Remi Tinubu and others on various sections of the agenda.

Israeli forces kill Palestinian youth in Jerusalem

Hundreds of Palestinians have been injured by live ammunition and rubber-coated bullets since the start of October [EPA] Sign up for weekly stories behind the headlines Subscribe Email Address * RELATED Write a comment fogel Every palestinian throwing rocks or molotov c@cktails should get a bullet in the head. Jim Lawrence Well key board warrior, why don't you do it.. cowardly wimp Be4rJew @Jim You are as much as a keyboard warrior as him, and you have spoken x 1000000 hell_isra Intifada Kill a Jewish terrorist a day and make the evils of Judaism torah hate go away. Delusional Hebrews stole a land based on a mythical manmade scripture Lectori Salutem what are the muzzzies excuse for all the lands they stole? Jim Lawrence What land ? Tell us ole great one bjosephmex Too many issues to address in one blog. As the snowball rolls downhill it presses down and gains weight picking up more snow until there is an avalanche. ¨Footage appeared to show undercover Israeli soldiers dressed as protesters attacking men.¨ So much for freedom of the press. They will just tax us and use the proceeds to produce misinformation! Thank God for the Red Cross/Crescent. [I can feel myself giving the Jewish supremacists ideas. Oh oh, Rubita is correct. We have to pay off or obliterate these do gooders and impose our disinformation on the world.] Jim Lawrence Could be an Israel false flag operation in order to blame the Palestinians Miche Norman Be truthful - they did not attack Palestinians they arrested stone- throwers - some of the stones that they were throwing weighed about 7 Kilos - heavier than the ones the Iranians use for stoning people to death Jim Lawrence Hahaha-- What a fool-- 7 kilos---- You cannot throw a 7 kilo stone one meter.. Abu Kaysun Yeah the Palestinian olympic shot put team were demonstrating. The Gladiator I heard Elvis was in the crowd... 2Truthreal Heck anyone could say that I want his job and salary! Probably some money going under the table also. Jim Lawrence I'd rather have a good looking girl under the table if you get my drift :-) Guerrillera Like a cancer that needs to be removed and treated so the body can live, zion will be removed and wiped clean so we can all live in peace. FREE PALESTINE!!! Christop Gorilla: noun. A very large typically black-colored anthropoi ape with stock body and broad shoulders Guerrillera: 1. noun. Domestic servant, usually Cuban 2. Pro'stitute, usually Cuban bjosephmex If Guerillera is a Cuban pros T tute, I´m interested. Cuban = good. Woman = good. Sects = good. Cuban + woman + sects = really good. Every day I have to listen to Guerrillera ... as if it is something bad. What do you know that I don´t know? How can I get in on this action? What is your problem? Racist? Prefer blondes? G´ay? You nick? Throw them my way when you reject them. We need to be friends. Christopher @joseph. Problem? None that I can see. Prefer brunettes, Straight, not racist, open-minded to all races. But I do not like this Gorilla person, but that should be obvious. Bad idea to extrapolate to the whole from a sample of one. Hope this helps. Cheers. Christop Oh, forgot to mention,. FREE CUBA,!!! Anton The UN chief should shave a d!ck in his mouth. Glory to the Palestinian Goy and down with the synaguoge of Satan. Hang in there, Palestine, the crusaders of the east are coming back to liberate the holy land from the nazis. Plz note: the term nazi in the above paragraph refers to the Nazis in the west and their colonies in the middle east. Max Barry How hilarious from a Russian troll. The Russians are going to liberate the Palestinians. You mean like they did in Chechnya, liberate the Muslims? Jim Lawrence Hey Maxipad--- Where do you live? Jim Lawrence Max, I caught your friend matanb in a blatant lie he told you.. I addressed him proving him to be lying and he disappeared... Now you have been caught in some blatant lies by Mike only yesterday and you also disappeared for a good while-- What is going on? bjosephmex Well, yes. Russia returned the Chechnyans to their natural state of a society with little crime. FEATURED Related Palestinians targeted by 'surge' in settler violence Analysis: Netanyahu 'better not disturb the status quo' Stabbing linked to Israel's systematic violence Analysis: Why Israel wants a religious war over al-Aqsa The controversial killing of Fadi Alloun Hebron in turmoil as unrest engulfs West Bank A Palestinian youth has been shot dead by Israeli forces during a protest in Jerusalem, Palestinian medical sources said. Ahmad Bitawi, the director of Ramallah hospital in the West Bank, said Wissam Jamal arrived at the hospital with a bullet wound to the chest after Thursday's clashes at Shuafat refugee camp in Jerusalem. Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri says Israeli troops had gone to search the home of a Palestinian involved in an earlier attack. She said they were confronted by thousands of rioters who hurled stones and firebombs at them. Wissam Faraj (20Y/O)was shot in the heart with Expanding bullet by #Israeli occupation forces in Shufat #Jerusalem pic.twitter.com/5Sdlk25oC4 — Voice from Jerusalem (@Pales601) October 8, 2015 UN calls for calm Jamal's death came as the UN human rights chief, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, called for calm in the West Bank after a week of violence in the occupied territory, as well as occupied-East Jerusalem, and inside Israel. Hussein warned that "more bloodshed will only lead to more hatred on both sides," and that he is deeply concerned about the increasing number of attacks by both settlers and Palestinians. The UN official voiced concern about the number of Palestinians injured by live ammunition, which stands at 134, and the hundreds more injured by rubber bullets and tear gas. "The high number of casualties, in particular those resulting from the use of live ammunition by Israeli security forces, raise concerns of excessive use of force," Hussein said, according to the Associated Press news agency. IN PICTURES: Unrest spreads in occupied West Bank Earlier, two Israelis were injured in separate attacks in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. In Jersualem, a Yeshiva student was stabbed and critically wounded, while the Palestinian attacker was detained by police. In the Tel Aviv attack, a Palestinian stabbed a female Israeli soldier with a screwdriver before being shot dead. Four Israelis have died in stabbing attacks, and several others have been injured. 1600 Palestinians wounded According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, at least 1,600 Palestinians have been injured since October 3. Eighty-seven have been injured with live ammunition, and 290 with rubber-coated steel bullets. On Monday, Abdel Rahman Abdullah, a 13-year-old from the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, was shot and killed by Israeli forces, prompting further protests and unrest. On Wednesday, two Palestinian protesters were shot and critically wounded by Israeli soldiers during a protest near the settlement of Beit El. Footage appeared to show undercover Israeli soldiers dressed as protesters attacking men. Al-Aqsa tensions The incidents are the latest in a series of attacks, sparked by tensions over what Palestinians believe is Israeli encroachment of their holiest site in Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa mosque. On Wednesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an order banning his ministers from visiting the sacred site. READ MORE: Israel's right defies rabbinate over Al- Aqsa Jews are prohibited from visiting the site, they call the Temple Mount, by Israel's rabbinate, but hardliners have challenged the restriction. Their visits to the Al-Aqsa compound happen under heavy police protection, and are seen as provocative by Palestinians. Palestinian worshippers fear the visits are the first stage in an eventual plan to partition the site.

TUC wants ministerial nominees to publicly declare assets

Lagos - The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Thursday urged the National Assembly to ensure that all ministerial nominees declare their assets publicly before confirmation. In a statement jointly signed by its President, Boboi Kaigama and General Secretary, Musa Lawal, the TUC said that the declaration would be in the public interest. The labour union said that the public declaration of assests was necessary following "worrisome'' allegations of fraud against some ex-ministers and officials. "There is need to verify the financial and material status of each nominee before they are allowed to assume such high offices.'' It said that time had come to allow only people with proven integrity to head government ministries. Also read: Don't divert bailout fund, TUC warns Ondo govt The TUC therefore urged the Senate to screen the nominees based on their integrity and past records irrespective of their status. The congress noted that many youths in the country have gotten into crime due to unemployment caused by corrupt leaders in the past. "It is sad how much shame politicians have brought upon this country. "There is rarely any month we do not hear news of Nigerian youths being executed in other parts of the world due to involvement in one crime or the other. "We will not be in this backward situation if the economy is doing well, if we had steady power and adequate infrastructure and if successive governments were interested in creating jobs for the army of unemployed youths,’’ it said. - NAN

Terrorism: Army warns against cluster bombs

The Defence Authorities have alerted Nigerians of the deployment of cluster bombs by the members of the Boko Haram sect in the country. The Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, said in a statement on Thursday that some catches of the cluster bombs were discovered by the troops in Adamawa State. Wikipedia defines a cluster bomb as ” a form of air- dropped or ground-launched explosive weapon that releases or ejects smaller submunitions.” It was stated that the cluster bombs which ejects smaller explosives are designed to kill and destroy properties. Abubakar said the Boko Haram insurgents had been found to be using cluster bombs in pursuit of their agenda in the North East. He said the small bombs were used against large areas like markets, places of worship, large contraction of troops and others. “The Defence Headquarters wishes to inform Nigerians living in the North East and any other part of the country to lookout for Cluster Bombs sometimes called scatter bombs, as the Nigerian Army Engineers serving in Adamawa State have recovered some catches of these bombs in the contested areas in recent time. “The military high command has discovered that the Boko Haram terrorists in these areas have used such lethal instruments over time to push their callous terrorist cause. For easy identification, it is important to note that cluster bombs are bombs that house submunitions, that is, smaller explosives contained in individual cases. “These bombs are used against large areas containing many targets, such as columns of vehicles, marketplaces, places of worship or large troop concentration as the case may be. “Some cluster bombs carry several hundred of very small explosives wrapped in a metal container like a pot while others carry larger submunitions that can find specific targets such as tanks. Some of these submunitions do not blow up immediately, but remain behind and act as landmines. “This can be an acceptable explanation for the recovery of catches of these bombs by Nigerian Army Engineers in the area.” He urged the members of the public to be conscious of such equipment that could be concealed in places by the terrorists to destroy lives and property in the society. He advised the members of the public to report such deadly materials if sighted to security agencies for immediate action. He said that the terrorists who had become frustrated and desperate could use anything in the pursuit of their mission He appealed to the members of the public to cooperate with the security agencies by volunteering timely information. “The general publics is hereby requested to be wary of such concealed dangerous equipment now being used by the terrorist elements to cause havoc to both innocent lives and property. “The public is also advised to report such objects/ materials if seen to security agencies for prompt action. The terrorists are desperate and frustrated and could use any cruel instrument to actualise their evil intention. “Members of the public are hereby urged to continue to cooperate with the security agencies by giving timely information to secure our great country.”