Buhari names Mahmood as INEC chairman •Appoints woman Head of Service

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday named Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The appointment was consequently approved at the first meeting of the Council of State presided over by Buhari.

Five new national commissioners were also named for the commission.

The national commissioners are Mrs. Amina Zakari (North-West); Dr. Anthonia Okoosi-Simbine (North-Central); Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo (North-East); Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Lecky (South-South); and Mr. Soyebi Adedeji Solomon (South-West).

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The South-East is said to still have a sitting national commissioner.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

Tambuwal said by the appointments, Buhari acted in conformity with the provisions of Sections 154 (1 and 3) and 156 (3) that conferred on him the powers to appoint a chairman and national commissioners of INEC, in consultation with the council.

He said the emergency meeting was called to approve the nominations because of the peculiar situation currently in the commission.

“The situation in INEC as of today is such that requires this emergency meeting to approve the nominations by Mr. President, because the law requires that a minimum of four commissioners should form a quorum in INEC.

“This is not the case today, because the tenure of 11 national commissioners of INEC had expired,” he said.

Tambuwal added that the council had agreed to henceforth stagger the confirmation of appointment of INEC commissioners in view of the situation the nation found itself, whereby the tenure of individual commissioners expired almost at the same time.

To avert future occurrence of such a situation, the governor said the council had agreed that the names of the next six commissioners should be submitted to the council for approval.

He said the names of those already approved by the council would be transmitted to the National Assembly for confirmation according to the law.

He said the issue of whether the INEC management that fixed the dates of the governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states was not properly constituted and the decision illegal did not come up during the meeting.

“That is not a matter for the council to go into; it is a matter that is strictly under the purview of the commission itself. So, it didn’t come up at the council meeting,” he said.

Tambuwal however said the new chairman would preside over the forthcoming elections.

“Obviously, the new chairman and members of the commission (will preside over the forthcoming elections.)

“I have said earlier on that we need a quorum for the commission to function and that is why Mr. President, in his wisdom, summoned this emergency meeting for us to approve these names. So, I’m sure it is the new chairman that will now supervise and conduct the elections in Kogi and Bayelsa,” he said.

The council, which is chaired by the President, has Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; all living former Presidents and Heads of State; President of the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives; all living former Chief Justices of Nigeria and all state governors, among others, as members.

The meeting which started at about 11.10am lasted for about an hour.

Former Nigerian leaders in attendance were Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar and Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Former Presidents Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan were absent.

Also absent at the meeting was the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.

State governors, deputy governors and some top presidential aides also attended.

Meanwhile, the Council of State, presided over by President Buhari, on Wednesday commended a former National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on his exemplary performance while in office.

The commendation was given at a meeting of the council held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, disclosed this to journalists at the end of the meeting.

Shehu said the council was full of praise for Jega for presiding over elections that were generally accepted as free and fair worldwide.

He said the President directed the council secretariat to note the commendations.

“A letter of commendation may later be sent to the former INEC boss,” he added.

Also, on Wednesday Buhari approved the appointment of Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, as the acting Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

A statement by the Director (Press and Public Relations) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, said the appointment took effect from Wednesday (yesterday).

Oyo-Ita was, until her appointment, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.

She hails from Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The statement said the appointment “is a testimony of Mr. President’s implicit confidence and trust” in her ability to discharge the responsibilities of the office of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The Presidency had on Tuesday confirmed the exit of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, describing it as “retirement.”

Ministerial Appointment: Why Senate shifted Amaechi, Shittu’s screening

THE Senate has, for the second time this week, deferred the screening of former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi. Also deffered is that of the nominee from Oyo state, Mr. Adebayo Shittu. They will be screened next Tuesday alongside seven other nominees. The remaining nine nominees will be screened next Wednesday and thereafter, the 18 of them are expected to be approved and confirmed for appointment.
On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed 18 of the 36 nominees, for which Senate President Bukola Saraki wrote President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, to officially inform him of the outcome of the exercise.
Meanwhile, the Senate received a petition against a nominee from Sokoto State, Aisha Abubakar.
Senator Ibrahim Gobir, APC, Sokoto East, who presented the petition, demanded replacement with a more competent person, saying the people of Sokoto State were yearning for a more competent person.
Saraki writes Buhari
Formally communicating President Buhari on the confirmation of 18 nominees for ministerial appointments, Senator Saraki, according to a statement by Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), sent an official letter through Senator Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative Matters (Senate).
He informed the President that the Senate had found the 18 nominees, who have gone through its confirmation hearing, suitable to occupy the office of ministers as provided for in Section 147 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Cleared
The nominees, whose appointment by the President have been confirmed are Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Lt. Gen. Bello Danbazau (retd), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Hajiya Amina Mohammed, Engr. Suleiman Adamu and Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibril.
Others are Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Dr. Chris Ngige, Senator Aishat Al-Hassan, Mr. Solomon Dalong, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and Senator Hadi Sirika.
… on Amaechi
Amaechi, who was among the first batch of 21 ministerial nominees President Buhari sent to the Red Chamber could not face the exercise on Tuesday and Wednesday due largely to non-submission of the report on petitions against him by the Senate Committee on Ethics and Petitions.
Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Dino Melaye, told newsmen, yesterday that the former Director-General of Buhari Presidential Campaign Organization, would be screened with eight other nominees on Tuesday, when the Senate reconvenes.
He said:”Further screening and confirmation of the remaining ministerial nominees has been slated for Tuesday, next week.
“We are going to screen nine of them on Tuesday and the remaining nine would be taken on Wednesday. The confirmation of all the nominees would be taken on Wednesday.”
Speaking on Amaechi’s case, Senator Melaye said: “The committee has a one-line report that the matter is in court and that in compliance with our laid down rules and regulations, any case that is undergoing judicial remedy cannot be discussed.
“We have distanced ourselves from it and the report will be presented on Tuesday by the grace of God. I assure Nigerians that former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, by the grace of God, will be screened on Tuesday.”
The Order Paper of yesterday, which ought to have contained the names of Amaechi, Shittu and the remaining ministerial nominees, did not have them.
At the close of plenary on Wednesday, it was announced that Mr. Amaechi and Mr. Shittu would be screened yesterday but on resumption yesterday, the Senate postponed further screening of ministerial nominees to next week.
It would be recalled that the petition against Amaechi, bordering on corruption was not attended to by the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges because the case was still in court.

Falae identifies kidnappers, 5 docked

AKURE — Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, who was kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen on his 77th birthday and released after paying N5m ransom four days after, has identified his abductors who were paraded before him by the police.  Falae on Tuesday, identified three of the suspects as those who kidnapped him and threatened to kill him if he failed to pay the ransom. Chief Falae, according to a police source, also identified one of the kidnappers who was kind to him.
This came as the Police, Wednesday evening, recovered N137m from robbers who raided a new generation bank on Trans-Amadi Road in Port Harcourt.

Suspected kidnappers of Chief Falae with their leader Abubakar Auta holding N823,900 of the ransom in Akure

Falae’s abductors
Five of Falae’s kidnappers were arraigned, yesterday, before an Akure High Court, Ondo and Chief Falae will be a star witness when the trial commences November 10.
The suspects, who were docked for kidnapping, conspiracy and armed robbery 24 days after abduction were Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibrahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal.
Three of the kidnappers admitted that their share from the N5m ransom collected was N100,000 each. The accused persons could not speak English and were ordered to be remanded in prison custody by the high court judge, Justice Rotimi Olamide till November 10 when the case would be heard.
The service of an interpreter, Bassey Victor who is a security operative was sought by the court.
Another leader of the gang, Abubakar Auta was also arrested in Niger State with N823,900 cash, part  of the ransom money by Police Special Intelligence Response team put up by the Inspector-General of Police.
The cash with the wrappers of a commercial bank in Akure, the Ondo State capital paid as ransom for the release of the former Finance Minister was discovered in the booth of the vehicle being driven by the suspect before his arrest.
The accused person, who spoke with newsmen before his arraignment, confessed that they kidnapped the septuagenarian politician.
They were arraigned on a five-count charge of procuring or counseling another for the purpose of kidnapping and abducting, aiding and abetting, contrary to Section 2 of Anti-kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law of Ondo State, 2010.

Ex-Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, arrested in London

The immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was on Friday arrested in London, PREMIUM TIMES can exclusively and authoritatively report.
The former minister, who was one of the most powerful officials of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, was arrested Friday morning alongside four other people by the UK National Crime Agency.
The identities of the four other people arrested along with her could not be immediately ascertained.
PREMIUM TIMES learnt she was arrested for offences related to bribery and corruption being investigated by the UK National Crime Agency.
Two top British officials in London have confirmed the development to this newspaper. They requested not to be named because they had no permission to speak on the issue.
When contacted, the British High Commission in Nigeria confirmed that some arrests were made Friday but declined to disclose the identities of those involved.
Joseph Abuku, Press and Public Affairs Officer, said, “This morning, five people between the ages of 21 and 60 were arrested on suspicion of bribery and corruption offences. The crimes are being investigated by the National Crime Agency.

BREAKING: Fashola, Amaechi, Ngige, Onu, Lai, Kachikwu make Buhari’s ministerial list

President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list contains a number of familiar All Progressives Congress (APC) names such as Babatunde Fashola, former governor of Lagos state, and Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state, TheCable can report. Also nominated to be minister is Lai Mohammed, national publicity secretary of the ruling party, and Kayode Fayemi, who lost his Ekiti governorship re-election bid in 2014 to Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). From the south-east are the likes of Chris Ngige, former governor of Anambra state and former senator of the federal republic; and Ogbonnaya Onu, first executive governor of Abia state and former national chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), on whose ticket Buhari contested and lost the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections. Udoma Udo Udoma, a former senator who represented Akwa Ibom south senatorial constituency at the national assembly, made it as well. Buhari also nominated for ministerial appointment, Aisha Alhassan, who was on the brink of becoming the first elected female governor before eventually losing the Taraba state governorship election to Darius Ishiaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). From his days at the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buhari picked Malami Abubakar, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former legal adviser of the defunct party; Hadi Sirika, a former pilot and former CPC senator who represented Katsina north senatorial district; as well as Adebayo Shittu, former governorship candidate of the legacy party in Oyo state. Ibe Kachikwu, group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum (NNPC), is a surprise appearance on the list. But with Buhari already declaring himself minister of petroleum resources, it is likely that Kachikwu will combine his current portfolio with that of the minister of state for petroleum resources. Amina Mohammed, former special adviser to the Nigerian president on millennium development goals (MDGs) and current special adviser to United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on post-2015 development planning, is also a nominee. Kemi Adeosun, former commissioner for finance in Ogun state, was nominated as well.

I will be petroleum minister, says Buhari

As the nation awaits President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list, the President on Tuesday said he would head the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. Buhari dropped the hint in one of the interviews he granted one of the foreign media in his hotel shortly before departing New York. The President was in New York to participate in the 70th United Nations General Assembly. “I will serve as the Minister of Petroleum Resources myself,” Buhari told his interviewer. The nation’s petroleum sector has been said to be enmeshed in corruption with millions of dollars said to be missing in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. ADVERTISEMENT Shortly after assuming office, Buhari sacked and replaced the management of the company. The new management had started a general reorganisation of the firm. Buhari had on Monday said the trial of those who looted the NNPC would commence soon.

Judge withdraws from Saraki’s case

Justice R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja has remitted Senate President Bukola Saraki’s case to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed, for reassigning to another judge. The judge, in returning the case file to the CJN on Wednesday, cited “negative reports” on the case as informing his decision

[UPDATED] Tribunal grants Saraki bail on self recognition

Bukola-Saraki The tribunal has adjourned hearing on Saraki’s case till October 21, 2015. The Senate president was granted bail on self recognition. Senate President Bukola Saraki has just arrived at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja. Saraki, in company with his deputy, Ike Ekeweremadu, former governor of Sokoto State, Wamako, and several senators. The tribunal awaits the arrival of the chairman, Justice Umar, for Saraki’s trial to begin.

Saraki loses bid to stop trial, faces tribunal today

THE Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday said he would appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday (today) to face a 13-count charge of false asset declaration levelled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau. Saraki’s promise to appear before the CCT as a “law-abiding citizen” followed failed judicial battle on Monday to stop his arrest and trial by the tribunal. “I will be there, I have nothing to hide. One was exercising his own right both at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. So, I will appear before the tribunal. The most important thing is that I believe in the process and I will ensure that I am there tomorrow morning,” he told journalists covering the Senate in Abuja. ADVERTISEMENT Moments later, a statement by the Senate president’s spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, reinforced the promise by Saraki to finally appear before the CCT. Olaniyonu’s statement partly read, “Following the adjournment for the determination of the motion on notice and the substantive suit before the Federal High Court to 30th of September and the appeal pending before the Court of Appeal adjourned to the 29th of September 2015, the Senate President has decided, as a law abiding citizen, to appear before the Tribunal in the interim. “Dr. Saraki has taken the decision to attend the Tribunal sitting to demonstrate his respect for the rule of law in spite of his personal reservation on the process of his trial and the purpose it may be intended to serve. “Dr. Saraki wishes to assure Nigerians of his absolute belief in the judicial process and is therefore confident that the course of justice would be served at the end of this matter.” Courts refuse to stop trial Earlier in the day, both the Court of Appeal and a Federal High Court in Abuja had refused the Senate President’s ex-parte applications to halt his arrest and trial respectively. Saraki had asked the FHC to stop the CCB and the CCT from prosecuting him while demanding from the Appeal Court an order to stay the execution of the order of arrest made by the Justice Danladi Umar of the CCT as well as the proceedings of the tribunal. At the FHC, Saraki’s lawyer, Adebayo Adelodu (SAN), had asked the court to make his prayers that the tribunal be stopped from proceeding with the trial in the ex-parte application absolute. But Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who presided, refused the application and ordered that the respondents be put on notice. He held that in view of the fact that the respondents had joined issues with the plaintiffs, coupled with fundamental, constitutional and radical nature of the preliminary objection, which borders on the jurisdiction of the court and supervisory powers of the tribunal, the court would not dissipate energy and time on interlocutory matters. The court therefore dismissed the application and ordered that the applicant to put the respondents on notice. The judge later adjourned the case till September 30 for hearing of the substantive suit. At the Court of Appeal where Saraki’scounsel prayed the court to set aside the order of arrest on Saraki and also stay the proceedings at the tribunal, Justice Morri Adumein, in his ruling, held that the respondents should also be put on notice. According to him, Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act 2004 (as amended) gives the court the general power to make interim orders. He further stressed that for the court to exercise such powers, the application for the interim order should be in writing. “It is for this reason that the court will refuse this application for interim injunction. It would better serve the interest of justice for the respondents to be put on notice. Consequently, the motion is hereby refused and struck out,” the judge stated. He however adjourned the case till September 29 for hearing of the motion on notice. After the ruling, Adelodun prayed the court to make a preservative order to preserve the RES of the case so as to maintain status quo. In his response, Justice Adumein, said that it was not in the interest of the court to interfere in the affairs of lower courts. “To appear before the tribunal is not a death sentence, we can come in at any point,” he stated. CCT renews arrest order The CCT on Monday renewed its order of arrest on Saraki by the Inspector-General of Police. The tribunal’s Justice Danladi Umar again ordered the IG, Solomon Arase, to arrest and produce the Senate president at the tribunal on Tuesday (today) to take his plea in the 13-count charge slammed on him. The CCT had earlier on Friday ordered Saraki’s arrest by the IG with a mandate to produce him on Monday (yesterday). The lead counsel to Saraki and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), had on Friday given an undertaking to produce the Senate president in court on Monday. However at the resumed trial on Monday, Daudu informed the CCT that the accused had filed an appeal before the appellate court to challenge the tribunal’s earlier ruling. He prayed the tribunal to stay proceedings, pending the determination the appeal. The prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), opposed the application, arguing that Section 305 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (2015), did not allow a stay of proceeding in any criminal matter any longer. Jacobs further informed the CCT that because of the undertaking made by Daudu on Friday that he would produce Saraki in court, he (Jacobs) had advised the Federal Government not to execute the arrest as a mark of honour to the senior lawyer. He said that he was surprised that despite the undertaking by Daudu, the accused person was still not in court. Jacobs therefore prayed the tribunal to make an order that will produce the accused person in court. Delivering his ruling on the absence of Saraki in court, Justice Umar said, “We have taken note of the observations made by counsel for the accused on the pending matter at the FHC, but it is worthy of note that the order of the FHC did not suspend the sitting of the tribunal. “We also disagree on the argument of the accused that applicability of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act did not affect this tribunal; this tribunal is duty bound to apply the new law because it affects the tribunal. This tribunal has to take a position that in the interest of justice, the position of the tribunal is that the accused must be compelled to appear before this tribunal tomorrow (today). “In this wise, we re-affirm that the bench warrant of last Friday must be executed for the Inspector-General of Police or other security agencies to arrest and produce the accused before this tribunal tomorrow (today) by 10:00 am.”

Gunmen demand N100m ransom to release Olu Falae

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, has been kidnapped by gunmen on Monday on his farm at Ilado village in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. The incident occurred on the day the former presidential candidate of the All Peoples Party clocked 77. It was gathered that the gunmen, numbering 20, invaded the farm at about 12.30pm, beat up Falae, who is also a former Minister of Finance, and his workers before whisking him away in their vehicle and heading towards the state forest reserve. ADVERTISEMENT Efforts to meet Chief Falae’s wife, Rachael, or any member of his family, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. But the spokesman for the state Social Democratic Party, Mr. Remi Olayowola, said the abductors had contacted the family and demanded N100m as ransom. He said, “The kidnappers have called baba’s wife and they demanded N100m, which they said must be paid between today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday) before he could be released. They said baba is in their custody hale and hearty, but the money has to be paid before they would free him.” The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wole Ogodo, said it had not been established whether the septuagenarian was kidnapped or not. He, however, confirmed that some Fulani herdsmen invaded the farm and attacked Falae and his workers. He said, “We cannot say it is a case of kidnapping yet because the information I have said some Fulani herdsmen invaded the farm, beat up everybody on the farm, including Chief Falae. Some of the workers were injured by the attackers.” Ogodo added that the command had deployed over 50 policemen, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operation, Mr. Ishola Adbullahi, in the farm to secure the release of the National Chairman of the SDP, adding that the injured workers had been taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment. “This is not the first time the Fulani herdsmen would attack the farm; they had come before and some of them were arrested. So, they came today (Monday) again. I don’t think it is a case of kidnapping until the team that went there comes back before we can establish whether it is a kidnapping case or not,” he said. The state government, while reacting to the incident, said it was sad that an eminent elder statesman like Chief Falae could be abducted. The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, had convened an emergency security meeting to secure the release of the Afenifere chieftain. Akinmade lamented that the act showed the level of decadence in the country and “clearly indicates that nobody is safe.” He promised that the government would do everything possible to ensure the safety of the man. The Secretary-General of the Pan-Yoruba Socio-Cultural Group, Afenifere, Chief Sehinde Arogbofa, when contacted on the telephone, described the incident as embarrassing. “In fact, I don’t know what to say; but this is embarrassing,” Arogbofa said. Meanwhile, Afenifere, in a statement by the group’s spokesperson, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, condemned the abduction of Falae, saying security agencies should “track his abductors swiftly.” The group said the kidnap of Falae, the traditional ruler of Ilu Abo in Ondo State, “has added a frightening dimension to the state of insecurity in Nigeria.” The statement read in part, “The kidnap of Chief Falae is coming on the heels of recent abductions of Vanguard columnist, Ms. Donu Kogbara, and Toyin, wife of Deputy Managing Director of The Sun Newspapers, Mr. Steve Nwosu. “As kidnappers are invading the south, Boko Haram continues the festival of bloodshed in the north. These are clearly intolerable and the security forces must rise to the occasion by taking concrete steps to combat the mindless lawlessness going on across the country. “The first responsibility of every responsible government is to secure the lives and property of citizens. We demand the immediate release of Chief Falae and call on the security agencies to track his abductors.”

Niger gov under fire over Chelsea, Arsenal

NIGER State Governor Abubakar Sani has come under criticism following his trip to London to watch Saturday’s Premier League game between Chelsea and Arsenal. Residents of the state on Monday described the governor’s visit to Stamford Bridge as “frivolous” considering the financial problems of the state. However, the governor explained on his Twitter page that he was at Stamford Bridge to watch the match at the instance of Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi, who plans to set up a football academy in the state. “I was at Stamford Bridge to watch the derby between Chelsea and Arsenal at the invitation of John Obi Mikel,” he wrote. According to him, Mikel approached the state government to partner with the state in developing its sports, stressing that it will be wrong to turn down an investor who is willing to invest in the state. ADVERTISEMENT The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ibraheem Dooba, said Bello was in Europe and his visit to Stamford Bridge was part of his itinerary since he was to meet other international development partners, adding that he was invited by Mikel. But a trader, Moses Akwu said, “Things are hard for us in Niger while our governor is travelling to watch matches. I heard they said he was invited but is it not government resources that he used to go on the trip? “We did not vote him in to watch football, we voted him because we want him to work and bring back the lost glory of the state. Watching matches is not governance, it is absolute recklessness.” Another resident, Gambo Mohammed, said the governor needed to focus on governance. “Sports development is not what Niger State needs now. We need jobs for our unemployed youths, boost for our economy and agriculture, and good roads.” Bello had on August 31 warned sports officials not to use his name to organise sports competitions. He made this known when board members of the Nigeria Chess Federation and the state hockey team that won the National Super League visited him. The President of Nigeria Chess Federation Suleman Gora had requested to organise a national championship in his honour which he objected saying, “I am not a billboard.”

Chief Olu Falae Has Been Kidnapped

Chief Olu Falae, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was kidnapped during the early hours of the morning by unknown gunmen. The former Secretary is 76 year, he was said to have been abducted from his farm in Ondo state. Mr. Falae, was also Nigeria’s former minister of finance. Since his retirement from service, the former minister had lived in Akure, the Ondo state capital. Mr. Falae was last seen during the remembrance of ‎the late Gani Fawehinme held at Adegbemile Cultural Centre in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Violence breaks out ahead of Guinea election

Several people were wounded as supporters of rival political factions clashed in northern Guinea, witnesses said Monday, as tension mounts in the race to elect a new president. Activists backing opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo and supporters of President Alpha Conde threw stones at each other in the town of Koundara on Sunday, a local police officer said, in the first violence of the campaign. “The tension had been noticeable since Saturday, when the opposition activists announced an electoral campaign carnival through the city, which the government supporters didn’t want,” said the source, putting the wounded at 17. The officer said public and private property was ransacked, including shops owned by traders from the Fulani ethnic group, traditional Diallo loyalists. All local opposition leaders were arrested and detained in a military camp by the police on the advice of the majority activists”, Hadja Fatoumata Binta Diallo, a lawmaker from Diallo’s Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea party, told AFP. Koundara prefect Sana Sanoussi said police had made around 15 arrests, although the opposition estimated the figure at nearer 30. In Kankan — a town in Conde’s eastern support base — government supporters threw stones to prevent a meeting arranged by Sidya Toure, another candidate and former premier, he said. “This is the last time I’m going to let them stop me holding a campaign meeting in a public place,” Toure told a private radio station. “Kankan is the town of my in-laws. I do not want to create problems here. If this continues, we will prevent government meetings everywhere in Basse Guinee (Lower Guinea), my stronghold,” Toure told a private radio station. Eight contenders including Conde, Diallo and Toure have been approved as candidates for Guinea’s second democratic presidential election on October 11. The ruling party and opposition last month sealed a deal on the organisation of the vote, raising hopes for a peaceful election, but the opposition parties say Conde has reneged on the deal. Diallo accused Conde last week of making decisions “unilaterally” with election commission chief Bakary Fofana, in “flagrant violation” of the law. We are so concerned that we are questioning whether we should even continue to participate in this process,” he said. An observation mission of the European Union began the deployment last week of its first 20 of an eventual 70 observers whole will oversee the elections throughout the country.

Unpaid salaries: Students hold Osun dep gov hostage

Students of tertiary institutions owned by Osun State Government on Monday staged a massive protest in Osogbo against the prolonged strike by their lecturers. The lecturers in four state-owened institutions embarked on an indefinite strike over three months ago as a result of unpaid salaries, inadequate staff and non remittance of their pension deduction made by the state government to the retirement savings accounts. The students, mostly from Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke; Colleges of Education in Ila and Ilesa, started the protest from Olaiya and trekked to Abere, the State Secretariat singing anti-government songs. The students had laid siege to the main gate of the state secretariat after they arrived there at around 11am. At around 12:50pm, the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, was driven to the secretariat but the students prevented her convoy from gaining entry. Some of the students laid on the ground in front of her car and some laid at the back making it difficult for the deputy to go inside or to turn back. All efforts made by Laoye-Tomori to pacify the irate students failed as they held her hostage in their midst. Some of the students had earlier manhandled the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran, by poking his stomach and making jest of him. The Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Students, Osun State, Mr. Lukman Adekitan, said the students were tired of staying at home due to the strike in the four institutions. He called on Governor Rauf Aregbesola to addressed the issues raised by the lecturers, saying students of the affected schools have wasted a lot of time due to incessant strikes.

Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum dies of heart attack

Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, son of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, died of a heart attack on Saturday morning. The burial of late Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will take place at Umm Hurair cemetery in Bur Dubai this evening, following the funeral prayers at the Zabeel Mosque. "May Almighty Allah rest his soul in paradise." Al Dewan, Dubai Ruler’s Court, has declared three days mourning in Dubai, beginning today. Flags will fly half-mast at all government institutions in the emirate. Dubai Ruler's Court announces timings for funeral prayers The Dubai Ruler's Court has announced that funeral prayers for late Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will be offered today after Maghrib (sunset) prayers at Zabeel Mosque. Later on, burial will take place at Umm Hurair cemetery at Al Fahidi in Bur Dubai. Work in government departments and institutions to continue as normal Dubai Ruler’s Court has announced that work in government departments and institutions in the emirate of Dubai will continue as normal during the three-day mourning period.