tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2294845469654306632024-02-21T01:07:55.445-08:00Daily Motion News of Nigerian - Latest Best News And GossipOmodejkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13445569779238442655noreply@blogger.comBlogger22886125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-64019569921615945482020-01-31T05:35:00.001-08:002020-01-31T05:35:08.047-08:00NECO invites DSS to join fight against examination malpracticeThe National Examinations Council (NECO) has sought for collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) to check malpractice in the conduct of the Council’s examination.<br />
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Chairman, Governing Board of NECO, Dr. Abubakar Saddique who led the Acting Registrar and other management teams on a visit to the Director-General of DSS in Abuja, said such collaboration would ensure the credibility of the Council’s examination.<br />
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Dr. Saddique explained that the Council has put in place measures aimed at checking examination malpractice, but noted that without an adequate security architecture, such measures would not yield the desired results.<br />
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He stated that among the measures introduced is the biometric capturing of candidates to check impersonation at examination centres.<br />
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The chairman, therefore, appealed to the personnel of DSS to strengthen their collaboration with NECO to prevent any form of malpractice before, during and after the conduct of the Council examination.<br />
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According to a statement sent to DAILY POST, the Acting Registrar/Chief Executive, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed Gana, recounted some reforms introduced by the commission for effective testing of students.<br />
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He said the council developed an intractable, robust, secure and user-friendly corporate website, a full-scale biometric capturing of candidates at examination centres, procurement of additional 20 pick-up Hilux Vans for examination logistics and full payment of Duty Tour Allowance to staff among others.<br />
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Gana noted that NECO has enjoyed the full support and co-operation of DSS through the provision of covert operations which had helped in reducing incidence of examination malpractice.<br />
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He opined that “the world is experiencing rapid changes resulting from rapid development; these changes revolve around two major phenomena of emerging Technology and Globalization”. According to him, while these two phenomena have their advantages, they also come with disadvantages, especially when abused resulting in the scourge of examination malpractice assuming a global dimension.<br />
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The Acting Registrar also sought for the collaboration of DSS in building an intractable open and secure filing system for the Council to prevent possible incidence of tempering with staff records, especially in the face of the on-going Staff Certificate verification exercise.<br />
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Gana appealed to the Director-General to ensure that fraudsters who attempt to compromise NECO examinations are not only arrested and investigated, but prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-43566848478825179032020-01-31T05:05:00.001-08:002020-01-31T05:05:22.347-08:00Drama as US denies Bishop Oyedepo visaThe United States has reportedly denied a visa to Founder and General Overseer of the Living Faith Church, a.k.a Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo<br />
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According to This Day, the embassy on Thursday said it denied Oyedepo visa because the Bishop did not qualify for visa renewal in its assessment.<br />
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The Bishop while querying the grounds for his refusal, however, reportedly created a scene<br />
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According to the Newspaper, Oyedepo was said to have told the embassy that he had been traveling to the states as far back as the 1980s and had not violated any rules or committed any crime to have warranted being denied a renewal of his visa.<br />
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This DAY quoted a source as saying that the Cleric immediately sent for his bodyguards to get his phones so he could make some calls, but the embassy allegedly told him he could not make calls within the precincts of the visa-issuing section of the embassy.<br />
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Recall that reports emerged last week, indicating that the President Donald Trump’s administration had plans to add seven countries across the world to the US travel ban list.<br />
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For the new restrictions, countries on the list include Belarus, Myanmar (also known as Burma), Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania.<br />
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White House spokesman, Hogan Gidley had said, “The travel ban has been profoundly successful in protecting our country and raising the security baseline around the world.<br />
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“While there are no new announcements at this time, common sense and national security both dictate that if a country wants to fully participate in U.S. immigration programs, they should also comply with all security and counter-terrorism measures — because we do not want to import terrorism or any other national security threat into the United States.”<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-13173768461261575282020-01-30T22:35:00.005-08:002020-01-30T22:35:21.509-08:00China: Nigerian Embassy has Jonathan on website as president stillThe Nigerian Embassy in China, under the leadership of Ambassador Baba Ahmad Jidda, still has former President Goodluck Jonathan on its website as Nigerian President.<br />
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This is in spite of President Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence as the nation’s leader since May 29, 2015.<br />
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Curiously, the website contains no information or advisory for Nigerians on Coronavirus, which is currently ravaging Wuhan in China.<br />
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The deadly virus, which has hit over 10 counties, has claimed dozens of lives and hundreds affected.<br />
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Jonathan’s picture can be found on the website under “About Us” (section https://beijing.ngembassy.org/?lang=en&&page=aboutus).<br />
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Beside his image is the following message: “Officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is located in West Africa as the most populous country in Africa. Nigeria shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, Niger in the north, and borders the Gulf of Guinea in the south. On October 1st, 1960, Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom after decades of colonial rule, and now consists of 36 states and the federal capital territory.”<br />
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Also, Aminu Wali, is on the site homepage (https://beijing.ngembassy.org/) as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, ‘dethroning’ the incumbent Geoffrey Onyeama, who has been in office for over 4 years.<br />
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Beside his image is the following message: “Sino-Nigeria relations have been built on shared values, sound principles of mutually beneficial partnership, which have been reinforced by our commitments to strengthen cooperation and promote the cause of universal prosperity.<br />
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On Thursday, Buhari and Jonathan met behind closed doors with former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.<br />
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Details of the meeting, which last about 15 minutes, has not been made public.<br />
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Meanwhile, Jonathan has disclosed what he was still traumatized over the Christmas Eve attack by gunmen on his country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.<br />
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Jonathan revealed that the death of a soldier during the attack saddens him.<br />
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The gunmen were said to have come through the river on five speedboats and opened fire on the soldiers.<br />
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Jonathan while hosting members of the executive of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, in his office in Abuja expressed worry over the level of insecurity Nigerians face.<br />
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He said: “I thank you for coming to sympathise with me and my family. The fact that a soldier lost his life in that attack traumatizes me. That young man wouldn’t have died, the way he did, if he was not protecting me.<br />
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“Whenever people come to me, just as you people have come, to talk about that attack, I feel worried about the general society.<br />
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“Whenever I consider that people could do that to a former President who has reasonable security guarding him, my mind reaches out to the rest of Nigerians who do not have that level of protection.<br />
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“I am worried that so many people are becoming victims of sporadic shootings, kidnappings and so on. I believe that the country will get over the kind of insecurity it currently faces.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-61249643172186633772020-01-30T22:35:00.003-08:002020-01-30T22:35:20.514-08:00Femi Adesina: Buhari is aware and in charge of everything happening in the countryFemi Adesina, presidential spokesman, says the statement by President Muhammadu Buhari on insecurity in the country was misconstrued.<br />
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While playing host to some citizens of Niger state on Monday, the president had said he was taken aback by the new manifestations of insecurity in the north-west.<br />
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“I was taken aback by what is happening in the north-west and other parts of the country. During our campaigns, we knew about the Boko Haram. What is coming now is surprising,” Buhari had said.<br />
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His comment had sparked a controversy, with Enyinnaya Abaribe, senate minority leader, asking him to resign.<br />
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But in a statement on Thursday, Adesina said the president did not say he is unaware of the security challenges in the country.<br />
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According to him, what Buhari meant was that he was surprised about the emergence of banditry in the north-west, a region “almost homogeneous, made up of Hausa-Fulani and largely Muslim”.<br />
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He added that the president is “fully aware” and “in charge” of the situation.<br />
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“The reportage of the statement above was slanted to mean that President Buhari said he was unaware of the security challenges in some parts of the country. Far from it, except to the mischievous mind. The President is fully aware and fully in charge of all that is going on,” Adesina said.<br />
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“The statement by the President was clear enough, and these are the salient points:<br />
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“In 2015, we knew there was Boko Haram insurgency, particularly in the North-east, and we mentioned it in our campaigns. There are clear economic and cultural factors behind the clashes that sadly rocked many of our communities, be they the Fulani-Tiv or Fulani-Berom conflict, the Tiv versus Jukun and so on. By now, these conflicts are fairly under control.<br />
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“By 2019, banditry had surfaced in the North-West. It was surprising, as the area is almost homogeneous, made up of Hausa-Fulanis. The combatants are largely Muslim. This is what the President said he was surprised about.”<br />
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Adesina further said that the president’s point was that insecurity in the country is birthed by “evil plan”, not ethnicity or religion.<br />
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He warned that deliberate misrepresentation of the president’s words would hurt the country.<br />
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“The point he made was that what is happening in the country is not about ethnicity or religion, it is plainly an evil plan against the nation,” he said.<br />
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“It is disingenuous that the earlier and latter parts of the statement were downplayed, and the middle part misinterpreted to mean that President Buhari was unaware or surprised by the security situation in the country.<br />
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“It is all about our country, and deliberately misrepresenting the President hurts not just the country, but the mischief makers themselves, ultimately.”<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-48206201920412311042020-01-30T22:35:00.001-08:002020-01-30T22:35:19.623-08:00Weapons used in Nigeria killings also used by Al Qaeda in Mali — ReportA study by a London-based research group has revealed that arms used in the farmers/herders conflict in North-west Nigeria come from the same source as those used by the terror group, Al Qaeda, in Mali and other Sahel countries.<br />
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The report, Nigeria’s Herder-Farmer Conflict, conducted by Conflict Armament Research (CAR), focuses its primary findings on Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna States in Nigeria.<br />
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Mike Lewis, author of the report and head of investigative arms research for CAR, told Radio France International (RFI) on Wednesday that researchers found the weapons amongst herders to be the same as those used in an attack by an Al Qaeda-aligned group in Mopti, central Mali.<br />
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The report also said sophisticated arms are also being smuggled from Turkey into Nigeria.<br />
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Mr Lewis said the study tracked weapons such as manufactured shotguns made in 2014 and smuggled by sea through the port of Lagos as well.<br />
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“Attackers in different countries are actually using weapons, not just of the same type, but almost certainly from the same batch and that is passed through the same people.<br />
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“And what that tells you is that there are very specific sources of illicit weapons that are providing the tools of violence for armed groups and also terrorist groups right across the Sahel,” Mr Lewis said.<br />
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“There were assault rifles, for example, that had had their markings scraped off in exactly the same way, and probably with the same tool, and yet we’re finding them literally hundreds or even thousands of kilometres apart,” he added.<br />
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<b>More Sources of Weapons</b><br />
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According to the report, CAR researchers traced the origins of the weapons across borders in the Sahel, including from military weapons stockpiles in Côte d’Ivoire and from Libya.<br />
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The report also revealed a large number of hand-made firearms in the region, where there was a 35:1 ratio between artisanal weapons and factory-made ones.<br />
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”State governments in northern and central Nigeria are trying to capture the illicit small weapons, but the issue of the region awash in small arms remains.<br />
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“We also need to get serious about securing the region’s borders, and targeting these kinds of trafficking networks that are moving weapons into the conflict,” Mr Lewis said.<br />
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Scores and Cause<br />
“Dry seasons present a harsh spinoff: the scarcity of resources required for farming and cattle husbandry. The impacts of the scarcity are most severe in the country’s semi-arid North<br />
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“A situation that pushes Fulani herdsmen towards the Middle Belt and further south, where farmers already confront the challenge of reduction in the land available for cultivation due to housing and industrial expansion.<br />
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“It has also resulted in intense competition between farmers and herdsmen, which is increasingly causing bloody clashes in rural communities.<br />
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“But the rising wave of banditry, amid high-profile farmers herdsmen communal clash, has steadily become a major issue of Nigeria’s worsening security crisis in the region. The death count is alarming,” the report said.<br />
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According to a 2018 report by the International Crisis Group (ICG), an estimated 300,000 people fled their homes in large-scale displacement and insecurity in parts of Adamawa, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states, a development the group said may hinder farming as well as herding and drive up food prices.<br />
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The Inter-communal violence in the region killed more people in 2018 than Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa combined, according to the ICG report.<br />
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PREMIUM TIMES last year reported the United Nations saying over 40,000 refugees who were targeted by armed groups in Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina states migrated to the neighbouring Niger Republic to seek safety.<br />
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While a 2019 report by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said an estimated 7,000 Nigerians died between 2015 and 2019 in the persistent violence between farmers and pastoralists in the middle belt states of Benue and Nasarawa.<br />
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To address the violence, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) launched operation “Tsaftan Daji” (Clean Forest), to flush out the armed bandits in the North-West. The army also has an ongoing operation in the region.<br />
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Various state governments in the North-west, including those of Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina, are also negotiating with the armed bandits and have done prisoner swaps with them. The swaps have involved the release of arrested armed bandits in exchange for tens of persons kidnapped by the bandits.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-45267484043918014602020-01-30T21:35:00.001-08:002020-01-30T21:35:06.925-08:00Drama as man chains, tortures wives for 10 months in Katsina StateThe police in Katsina State have arrested a middle-aged man, identified simply as Samaila, for allegedly chaining and torturing his two wives, Fatima Salisu and Hadiza Musa, in his home for 10 months.<br />
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Fatima hails from the Markemagaji Gari village, while Hadiza is from the Kalyarubandaba village, both in Katsina State.<br />
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The two women, aged 20 years each, have no children with the suspect.<br />
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Samaila was picked up by police detectives from the home he shares with the victims at the Yannadabaiyye village in the Rimi Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.<br />
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He was arrested by policemen from the Rimi Divisional Police Headquarters before he was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department of the command on Monday.<br />
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The spokesman for the command, SP Gambo Isah, confirmed Samaila’s arrest.<br />
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He, however, did not give details of the case, stressing that it was still under investigation.<br />
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Our correspondent gathered that the two women were saved by providence when Hadiza’s mother decided to pay her a surprise visit.<br />
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It was learnt that the old woman pleaded with Samaila to allow her take away a sewing machine she bought for her daughter since it was not being used.<br />
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Samaila reportedly refused to release the sewing machine and assaulted his mother-in-law in the process.<br />
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The woman reported the incident at the Rimi Divisional Police Headquarters, prompting the police to invite the suspect for questioning.<br />
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Not satisfied with Samaila’s responses to basic questions, detectives were sent to search his house.<br />
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The search led to the discovery of the two women in very terrible conditions.<br />
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Items recovered from the house include large chains used by the suspect to restrain the women, assorted charms and weapons.<br />
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In an interview at the police station, Fatima and Hadiza painted a horrific picture of their ordeal.<br />
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They alleged that their husband locked them up in a room after which he shaved their pubic hair and cut their fingernails with which he prepared a concoction, which he forced them to consume.<br />
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Hadiza said, “Samaila never allowed us to leave the room. We did everything in the room; we bathe and answered the call of nature there.<br />
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“He always chained us and only removed the chains whenever he wanted to have sex with any of us; he would have sex with any of us that he fancied, while the other watched.”<br />
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Hadiza also removed her veil to show her back, which was full of sores allegedly from the beating Samaila subjected her to. She further alleged that the suspect used to flog her and Fatima with electric wires.<br />
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Fatima told the police that she was subjected to the inhuman treatment for 10 months before Samaila married Hadiza, who joined her in captivity 10 weeks ago.<br />
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She explained that it was a taboo for any of them to let their husband know when they were observing their monthly period, because he threatened to kill them if he discovered that they were menstruating.<br />
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The two women could not say what Samaila’s source of livelihood was but stated that he regularly returned home with several wads of N500 notes.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-65549928096530849182020-01-30T14:35:00.011-08:002020-01-30T14:35:22.660-08:00Four killed, seven injured in Katsina road accidentFour persons were killed in a ghastly accident on Kurfi-Dutsinma road, Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OC7iXa_rYdw/W1DKwDUkk6I/AAAAAAABoK8/egwFw6v1YmkjHkvw7XrcFxf4U7gT-cZnACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Nigeria-Police-613x450-613x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="613" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OC7iXa_rYdw/W1DKwDUkk6I/AAAAAAABoK8/egwFw6v1YmkjHkvw7XrcFxf4U7gT-cZnACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Nigeria-Police-613x450-613x400.jpg" /></a></div>
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The Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Kurfi, Mr Abba Aminu, who confirmed the incident on Thursday, said the accident involved a tipper with registration number DKD 615 XA and a trailer with registration number MSW 75 XA.<br />
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He said the incident occurred in Yargamji village at 5 a.m., explaining that one of the vehicles had no headlight and was moving in darkness, thereby caused a head-on collision with the other vehicle.<br />
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Aminu said that 11 persons were involved in the accident, in which four persons died, while seven others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to General Hospital, Katsina for medical treatment.<br />
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Aminu urged motorists to always to abide by traffic rules and regulations as part of measures to reduce road accidents in the country.<br />
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(NAN)<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-26035105950952853112020-01-30T14:35:00.009-08:002020-01-30T14:35:21.842-08:00WHO declares global emergency as Coronavirus’ death toll rises to 170 in ChinaThe World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a global emergency on Coronavirus as the death toll from the disease has risen to 170 in China.<br />
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WHO made the declaration on Thursday, saying the disease now represents a risk beyond China, where it emerged last month.<br />
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In a series of tweets, Tedros Ghebreyesus, director general of WHO, said more damage could be done to countries with weaker health systems.<br />
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“We don’t know what sort of damage this #2019nCoV virus could do if it were to spread in a country with a weaker health system. We must act now to help countries prepare for that possibility,” one of the tweets read.<br />
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“For all of these reasons, I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern over the global outbreak of #2019nCoV.<br />
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“The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is happening in #China, but because of what is happening in other countries.<br />
<br />
“Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it.”<br />
<br />
<div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">WHO urged member countries of the United Nations to take steps in fighting or preventing the disease.</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Since the spread of the disease, 7,834 people have been quarantined in China while 68 cases have been reported around the world, according to WHO.</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">The United States has also recorded its first case of human transmission of Coronavirus.</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">The patient is reportedly the husband of a woman who first contracted the virus in Chicago.</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">A group of scientists spearheading efforts towards finding a <a href="https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/scientists-race-to-develop-coronavirus-vaccine/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #264c84; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><strong style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">vaccine for Coronavirus </strong></a>had said they were “moving at unprecedented speed” to begin clinical trials before June.</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">In Nigeria, the federal government asked its citizens to <a href="https://www.thecable.ng/coronavirus-fg-asks-nigerians-to-avoid-travelling-to-china/amp" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #264c84; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><strong style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">avoid travelling to China</strong></a> over the outbreak.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-12629409792662257672020-01-30T14:35:00.007-08:002020-01-30T14:35:21.063-08:00BREAKING: EFCC releases Sen. Shehu Sani<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iYg3PWc_G4M/Xhgid3-wGAI/AAAAAAABu00/VEXti4QxGcYICGw32APJDxDcm0IOnvVkACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/1b026f12-shehu-sani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iYg3PWc_G4M/Xhgid3-wGAI/AAAAAAABu00/VEXti4QxGcYICGw32APJDxDcm0IOnvVkACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/1b026f12-shehu-sani.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
A former lawmaker who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani, has been released from custody, Sani was released on Thursday evening, after reaching his bail conditions.<br />
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An aide to the former lawmaker, Suleiman Ahmed, said his boss was released around 6pm.<br />
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Details Shortly…<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-74386173593732546592020-01-30T14:35:00.005-08:002020-01-30T14:35:20.442-08:00Court set to rule on Buhari’s refusal to handover to OsinbajoThe Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Hon. Justice A. O. Faji will, on Friday, deliver judgment in the suit against President Muhammadu Buhari on the legality of his refusal to handover power to the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during a trip to the United Kingdom in 2019.<br />
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Buhari had, on April 24 2019, left the country for what the president described as a “private visit”.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j-zy-Hit-iw/W3Wx1DO_-dI/AAAAAAABpyk/-gdi2nWLwNsQCXLKYpHEK2-Hq-cpr562wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/NEC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="681" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j-zy-Hit-iw/W3Wx1DO_-dI/AAAAAAABpyk/-gdi2nWLwNsQCXLKYpHEK2-Hq-cpr562wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/NEC.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Last May, a Nigerian lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, dragged Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami to court over the matter.<br />
<br />
In the suit with number FHC/L/CS/763/2019, Effiong demanded that the Court to determine four issues.<br />
<br />
These are: “Whether in view of the extant provisions of Section 145 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the 1st Defendant can validly proceed on vacation for any length of time without transmitting a written declaration to the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to that effect, which will empower the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to perform the functions of the President in an acting capacity.<br />
<br />
“Whether the 1st Defendant’s action in proceeding on vacation to the United Kingdom from the 25th day of April, 2019 to the 5th day of May, 2019 without transmitting the written declaration envisaged in Section 145 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not in conflict with the provisions of Section 145 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).<br />
<br />
“Whether the 1st Defendant in refusing to adhere to the clear and unambiguous provisions of Section 145 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) has not by that singular action violated his oath of office and the Provisions of the Constitution which he swore to uphold.<br />
<br />
“Whether the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) or any other law for that matter, permits the 1st Defendant to exercise presidential authority over the affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from any country outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, save when he is out of the country on official diplomatic engagements.”<br />
<br />
In his response to the suit, Buhari stated that the Nigerian Constitution does not make it mandatory for him to transmit a written declaration except when his vacation would exceed 21 days.<br />
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Buhari’s counter-affidavit, deposed to on his behalf by Mr. Friday Atu of the Federal Ministry of Justice, read in part, “It is a fact that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) regulates the performance of the duties of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in situations where the President is proceeding on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of office.<br />
<br />
“That it is a fact that where the President embarks on a vacation or otherwise is unable to discharge the functions of his office and fails to transmit a written declaration to that effect, he will be considered not to have complied with the constitution (as amended).<br />
<br />
“That the time within which the President has to transmit a written letter to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is 21 days.<br />
<br />
“That the President’s foreign trip lasted for nine days from April 25, 2019 to May 5, 2019. The President did not exceed the 21-day period required by the constitution. It is in the interest of justice to dismiss the claims of the plaintiff.”<br />
<br />
Buhari asked the court to strike out the suit because the lawyer lacks the locus standi to institute the case.<br />
<br />
Commenting ahead of the judgment, the applicant, Effiong said: “I do not know what the court will decide. But I am confident that tomorrow’s judgment will have far reaching implications for Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and the rule of law.<br />
<br />
“I believe that the sacred role of the judiciary as the Guardian of the Constitution will be reshaped, one way or the other by this case.”<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-30978081092411815722020-01-30T14:35:00.003-08:002020-01-30T14:35:19.737-08:00Lionel Messi reaches 500 wins for Barcelona in Copa del Rey victoryLionel Messi made yet more history on Thursday night as he became the first player in the history of Spanish football to reach 500 club victories.<br />
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The GOAT secured the landmark during Barca’s 5-0 win over Leganes in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey at the Camp Nou.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_feGtvxDcdA/XjNPAnDcwDI/AAAAAAABu8A/p9nLQy11vsUiSSyReMbLrIQwU9mvteXEACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/merlin_153612873_5bb119b9-8972-4087-b4fd-371cab8c5ba2-articleLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_feGtvxDcdA/XjNPAnDcwDI/AAAAAAABu8A/p9nLQy11vsUiSSyReMbLrIQwU9mvteXEACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/merlin_153612873_5bb119b9-8972-4087-b4fd-371cab8c5ba2-articleLarge.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
And Messi being Messi he did it with a bit of style too, scoring two goals and grabbing an assist as Quique Setien’s men bounced back from the weekend’s defeat to Valencia.<br />
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It has taken Mesi 710 games to register his 500th victory, and he has scored 622 goals and picked up 241 assists along the way. Not bad.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">... And chalk up another <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a> milestone! Congratulations, Leo! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 <a href="https://t.co/5y7tfk6Keo">pic.twitter.com/5y7tfk6Keo</a></div>
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/1222972420564361216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async="async" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-90439065415007670652020-01-30T14:35:00.001-08:002020-01-30T14:35:18.800-08:00‘There are positive signals from Amotekun’ — MURIC makes U-turn after backlashThe Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) says it is now seeing positive signals in the Western Nigeria Security Network code-named Amotekun.<br />
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The group had accused governors of the south-west of recruiting only Christians into Amotekun which it had described as a militia.<br />
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MURIC also demanded rebranding of the initiative, saying Amotekun has its origin in the Bible.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KLMODCfcXkE/XCth2sNiPOI/AAAAAAABs2w/BMYrswMckFEbvlM47RHONBO3jzpNeOq2ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Prof%2BIshaq%2BAkintola.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KLMODCfcXkE/XCth2sNiPOI/AAAAAAABs2w/BMYrswMckFEbvlM47RHONBO3jzpNeOq2ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Prof%2BIshaq%2BAkintola.png" /></a></div>
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The comment had sparked criticism, with a group known as Coalition of Progressive Yoruba Islamic Groups (COPYIG) describing Ishaq Akintola, MURIC director, as a big threat to southern Nigeria.<br />
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But in a statement on Thursday, Akintola said Muslims can now seek recruitment into Amotekun as the group had found out that Muslims are among the management team.<br />
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“There are positive signals emerging from the Amotekun camp. We have seen that the initial haste to form a regional security unit has been reduced. They are sitting down to map out strategies,” the statement read.<br />
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“At the same time, they are putting together a legal framework to legalise the initiative. These are good steps and they were part of the areas of our initial concern.<br />
<br />
“Among the positive signals reaching us from the Amotekun camp is the unofficial but reliable information that there are Muslims among the 7-man management team in one of the south-west states. The government of the state of Osun has also declared that the operation is not designed to sideline Muslims. These revelations have informed our current stand on the issue.<br />
<br />
“What we need to stress is the need for the exercise to be fair, transparent and devoid of religious bias and ethnic witch-hunting. Muslims will join the security network once there is assurance of fairness and transparency. We therefore call on Muslim youths in the region to start warming up for the recruitment exercise. They should collect forms, fill, submit and wait for further instructions. However, we demand transparency in the recruitment exercise. This can best be done by publishing lists of all fresh recruitment from time to time.<br />
<br />
“Besides, joining the outfit will enhance economic empowerment. We therefore urge Muslims in the region not to boycott the security outfit. Muslims should not allow other groups to monopolise it.”<br />
<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-72438540208764193972020-01-30T10:35:00.005-08:002020-01-30T10:35:21.952-08:00BREAKING: Court orders arrest of ex-Minister and two others over Malabu Oil dealA High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gwagwalada, Abuja has ordered the arrest of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dauzia Loya (Dan) Etete and two others.<br />
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Also to be arrested are Munamuna Seidougha and Amaran Joseph.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DgGIF29CT3w/XC4n1FPkGhI/AAAAAAABs3U/6V-Up5QrEbwxuAg3LlVaKbDAXhZNF4oewCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/breaking%2Bgraphic%2Bdeamstime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="775" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DgGIF29CT3w/XC4n1FPkGhI/AAAAAAABs3U/6V-Up5QrEbwxuAg3LlVaKbDAXhZNF4oewCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/breaking%2Bgraphic%2Bdeamstime.jpg" /></a></div>
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Justice Abubakar Kutigi gave the orders on Thursday in a ruling on an ex-parte motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).<br />
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Justice Kutigi said: “I have carefully gone through the application…The application has merit and is granted as prayed.”<br />
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The EFCC said the three are being wanted in relation to a pending charge linking them with the $1.09billion Malabu Oil Block (OPL 245) Settlement Agreement.<br />
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Earlier while moving the motion, EFCC’s lawyer, Bala Sanga, told the court that the exparte application was filed on January 28 and supported by an 8-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Ibrahim Ahmed and attached with one exhibit.<br />
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Sanga explained:“The kernel of the ex-parte application is that names of the respondents in the criminal charge CR/151/2020 were mentioned in count 14-42 of the charge and where indicated to be at large.”<br />
<br />
He added that in order for the respondents to be brought before the court to enter their pleas, we will be requesting for an order of warrant for their arrest.<br />
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“Intelligence suggests they reside in France and occasionally at some African countries and to be able to get the support of the international police, the warrant of arrest would be needed,” Sanga said.<br />
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Details shortly….<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-74160446661222758312020-01-30T10:35:00.003-08:002020-01-30T10:35:21.127-08:00Federer’s Melbourne Magic Ends as Djokovic Makes Australian Open FinalNovak Djokovic once again defeated his great rival Roger Federer at a Grand Slam on Thursday in a three straight sets of 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the Australian Open final and remain on course for a record-extending eighth title at Melbourne Park.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p63riLLsluA/XjMcWdU8ZbI/AAAAAAABu74/sNvXXMzp4W4ngsqFFa8agrJB03n33ti-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Federer-Djokovic-AO-2020-780x470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="780" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p63riLLsluA/XjMcWdU8ZbI/AAAAAAABu74/sNvXXMzp4W4ngsqFFa8agrJB03n33ti-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Federer-Djokovic-AO-2020-780x470.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
It was the 50th act of one of the greatest rivalries of the sport and the odds were heavily stacked against Federer as the Swiss had not beaten the Serb at a major since 2012 on the grass courts of Wimbledon.<br />
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Federer’s journey on the blue courts of Melbourne Park had been far from smooth as he was two points from losing against John Millman in the third round and then saved seven match points to get past American Tennys Sandgren in Tuesday’s quarter-final.<br />
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The 20-time Grand Slam winner, however, got out of the blocks briskly on a hot evening to wrest early initiative as Djokovic struggled with his service games.<br />
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Federer was up 4-1 and 40-0 on Djokovic’s serve, but the Serb managed to save all three breakpoints to win his first service game as his opponent made an array of unforced errors.<br />
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The Swiss, who had to take a lengthy medical timeout against Sandgren for a groin problem, was not keen on engaging Djokovic in rallies and hit an incredible 26 winners in the first set.<br />
<br />
But the count of his errors also started creeping up as Djokovic regained control to get the set back on serve and then played and took the set with an imperious display in tiebreak.<br />
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Both players received medical attention at the end of the first set and it was once again Djokovic who raised his game up a notch to convert his fourth breakpoint chance with a forehand winner at the net to grab the second set.<br />
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Djokovic kept up the pressure on the 38-year-old Swiss in the third set and the crucial break came for him in the sixth game with a forehand groundstroke winner for a 4-2 lead.<br />
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The 32-year-old, winner of 16 Grand Slam titles, sealed his 27th win over Federer with his first match point when the Swiss found the net with a backhand for his 35th unforced error of the night.<br />
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In Sunday’s final, Djokovic will meet the winner of the other semi-final between Alexander Zverev of Germany and Austrian Dominic Thiem, who beat world number one Rafa Nadal in the quarter-finals.<br />
<br />
(NAN)<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-5888045745941271772020-01-30T10:35:00.001-08:002020-01-30T10:35:20.495-08:00Buhari meets with service chiefs — 24 hours after senators demanded their sackPresident Muhammadu Buhari is meeting with the service chiefs at the presidential villa, Abuja — about 24 hours after senators demanded their sack.<br />
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The service chiefs are Gabriel Olonisakin, chief of defence staff; Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff; Sadique Abubakar, chief of air staff; and Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, chief of naval staff.<br />
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Also present at the meeting are Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police; Ahmed Rafa’i Abubakar, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency, and Yusuf Bichi, the director-general, Department of State Services (DSS_.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5M2UW1-MlYM/WxzSuoXklQI/AAAAAAABl2w/3ADFLEmpFIw2iTW8-pHmk0HH6hnBzYtvwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Buhari-1023x748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1023" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5M2UW1-MlYM/WxzSuoXklQI/AAAAAAABl2w/3ADFLEmpFIw2iTW8-pHmk0HH6hnBzYtvwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Buhari-1023x748.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
Some senators had called for the sack of the service chiefs over the frightening spate of insecurity in the country.<br />
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TheCable previously reported that the service chiefs are all due for retirement, having spent 35 years in service.<br />
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Speaking at the senate on Wednesday, Elisha Abbo, senator representing Adamawa north, said funding for the military is not the problem but its leadership.<br />
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“Going by this budget document from 2012 to 2019, the army has received over N4 trillion, funding is not the problem,” Abbo said.<br />
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“The military will tell you their vehicle is spoilt and they cannot move. Mr President should look inwards. Security chiefs have done their best, they should go.”<br />
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Also, Binos Yaroe, senator representing Adamawa south, said it appeared the service chiefs were more preoccupied with other tasks than combating insurgency.<br />
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“The chief of army staff set up a university in his hometown, the chief of air staff too. Why all these universities? There is a need to effect a change in the leadership of service chiefs,” Yaroe said.<br />
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Enyinnaya Abaribe, senate minority leader and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had asked the president to resign over the rising insecurity in the country.<br />
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The PDP also supported the call for Buhari’s resignation, saying the president lacks a solution to the challenge of insecurity in the country.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-64155128661875925452020-01-30T10:05:00.003-08:002020-01-30T10:05:30.378-08:00BREAKING: Fire guts building in Ketu, Lagos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bBK9sTIxOZE/XjMZs7HGjYI/AAAAAAABu7s/8roeKACJ8jYfv8YBN72BKIp1vY3L486MwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Fire-7-750x375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="750" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bBK9sTIxOZE/XjMZs7HGjYI/AAAAAAABu7s/8roeKACJ8jYfv8YBN72BKIp1vY3L486MwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Fire-7-750x375.jpg" /></a></div>
A building at Ile-Ile Bus Stop, Ketu, Lagos State is currently on fire.<br />
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Two children were said to be trapped in the building.<br />
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But they have been rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment.<br />
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It was also gathered that fire service men have just arrived the scene to put put the raging inferno.<br />
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Details shortly….<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-69831561446793001452020-01-30T10:05:00.001-08:002020-01-30T10:05:29.286-08:00Another nine ladies denied boarding in LagosThe Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Wednesday denied another batch of nine females boarding at the airport over suspicion of alleged human trafficking.<br />
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The nine females were heading for Dubai and Lebanon in the Middle East.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0nkkHd95itI/XjMZEtMdM8I/AAAAAAABu7k/zkkfT1v1PAsfbfQrrHbREayKgbfQlCR6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Murtala-Mohammed-Airport-Lagos-1-676x375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="676" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0nkkHd95itI/XjMZEtMdM8I/AAAAAAABu7k/zkkfT1v1PAsfbfQrrHbREayKgbfQlCR6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Murtala-Mohammed-Airport-Lagos-1-676x375.jpg" /></a></div>
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Lagos Airport Comptroller of NIS, Usman Abdullahi, who disclosed this, said the denied boarding took place between last Sunday and Tuesday.<br />
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He said the NIS took the decision to deny the nine females boarding following interrogation , which revealed that the girls were of aware of the details of the mission and destination.<br />
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They claimed they were travelling to Dubia and Lebanon for employment.<br />
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He noted that despite the daily departure refusal, the persons who are between the ages of 21 and 32, are adamant as they still trooped to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport , Lagos to travel for greener pasture.<br />
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Abdullahi stressed that the NIS is doing all within its powers to curb the menace of human trafficking.<br />
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Meanwhile, over 4, 000 persons have entered Nigeria from different countries utilizing the window of Visa on Arrival, one of the fall outs of the government policy on Ease of Doing Business.<br />
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Abdullahi said the over 4, 000 persons arrived Nigeria between January 1, 2020 till date.<br />
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Last week, over 30 female Nigerians voluntarily returned to the country after spending many years in the Francophone country.<br />
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Their return, The Nation learnt was facilitated by the assistance programme put together by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) after a harrowing experience in Mali.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-4870454250363740272020-01-30T01:54:00.005-08:002020-01-30T01:54:27.775-08:00I have 27 children — and counting, says Kano repOne, two, three, four, up to 27. That is the number of children Alhassan Ado Daguwa, majority leader of the house of representatives, currently has.<br />
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Can you beat that?<br />
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That is not all; the lawmaker who represents Doguwa/Tudun Wada federal constituency of Kano state, says he hopes to have more.<br />
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During the house plenary session on Wednesday, he showed off his four wives whom he said had come with him for the day’s business.<br />
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He was being sworn in as the majority leader, and said he would like to present the four wives to the lawmakers.<br />
<br />
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to let you know that with me today here, are my four respected wives,” he said, before requesting all four to stand up to the cheering of his colleagues.<br />
<br />
“Mr Speaker, these four wives you have seen have produced 27 kids for me, and I am still counting. I am still counting.”<br />
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Responding, Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker, jokingly asked him to “continue”, saying “the more, the merrier”.<br />
<br />
The speaker said: “I must bring to the knowledge of this house a little anecdote, what you told me, sometime ago. You told me, don’t beg me, you told me it was getting late around 7 o’clock, and there were many children playing in front of your house in Kano.<br />
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“You got worried and you went out, you told the children, “common, what are you still doing outside by this time of the day. You people should go to your homes.<br />
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“And one of them said to you, “haba, baba, this is my house.” So he was one of those 27 children. But I guess, the more, the merrier. You get my point; continue.”<br />
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Doguwa’s comments comes a few days after Muhammad Sanusi II, emir of Kano, said the predominant culture of marrying more than one wife by Nigerians in the north is the major cause of poverty in the region.<br />
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“There are people who cannot afford to feed one wife but are ready to marry three wives and have more children than they can feed, talk less of paying for their school fees,” he had said.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-23869901564649123212020-01-30T01:54:00.003-08:002020-01-30T01:54:26.908-08:00Buhari reacts to calls for his resignationPresident Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to demand for his resignation by Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe and others.<br />
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His position was contained in a statement Wednesday night by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu.<br />
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It said just because some characters think that President Buhari should resign, then they expect him to quit.<br />
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“That call does not represent the opinion of the country. This is the opinion of an arm chair critic, known for making stray comments.<br />
<br />
“If a leader like President Buhari needs to resign, there are millions of other Nigerians who need to resign, including Senator Abaribe who unlocked the door to enable the escape of traitorous and treasonable suspects.<br />
<br />
“He signed the bond for the court to release Nnamdi Kanu on bail, from which moment the suspect disappeared into the thin air.<br />
<br />
“Senator Abaribe has failed repeated deadlines to return Kanu to the court for trial, yet he has the effrontery with which to accuse someone of failing to the bidding of the law.<br />
<br />
“This is a man who should have replaced the suspects he failed to produce in the correctional facility.<br />
<br />
“Abaribe’s party raped the nation and left it collapsing in 2015 and President Buhari is fixing things up all the years he is in office.<br />
<br />
“President Buhari is working hard to keep Nigeria and Nigerians out of the harm terrorists have unleashed in the entire Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa with the support of Nigerians and our foreign friends, he is going to finish off these terrorists. He alone can do it,” he said.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-2399728363931592132020-01-30T01:54:00.001-08:002020-01-30T01:54:25.666-08:00Vanessa, Kobe Bryant wife finally breaks silence on death of NBA legend and daughterWife of late Basketball legend, Vanessa Bryant has broken silence on the death of her daughter, Gigi, and husband.<br />
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Bryant, Gianna and seven others died when his helicopter crashed into a hillside in southern California at about 9.45am on Sunday.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s01dkCEUsaI/XjKjDq5lDNI/AAAAAAABu7M/iGhGTjJu0AsWGhyJ3_qBml_dkehkgL2xgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/EPf7MSlX0AEKjKZ.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="315" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s01dkCEUsaI/XjKjDq5lDNI/AAAAAAABu7M/iGhGTjJu0AsWGhyJ3_qBml_dkehkgL2xgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/EPf7MSlX0AEKjKZ.jpeg" /></a></div>
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All other persons on board were killed and the cause of the crash is still under investigation.<br />
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Vanessa on her Instagram page thanked everyone for their support and prayers towards her family since Kobe’s death.<br />
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She, however, asked to be given privacy as she and her family go through their new reality.<br />
<br />
According to her, “I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them.There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved.<br />
<br />
“My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time. Thank you for all the prayers.<br />
<br />
“We definitely need them. We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.<br />
<br />
“We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately..<br />
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“We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon.<br />
<br />
I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them. But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way. Our love for them is endless — and that’s to say, immeasurable.<br />
<br />
I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever.<br />
<br />
Thank you for sharing your joy, your grief and your support with us. We ask that you grant us the respect and privacy we will need to navigate this new reality.<br />
<br />
“To honor our Team Mamba family, the Mamba Sports Foundation has set up the MambaOnThree Fund to help support the other families affected by this tragedy. To donate, please go to MambaOnThree.org.<br />
<br />
“To further Kobe and Gianna’s legacy in youth sports, please visit MambaSportsFoundation.org.<br />
<br />
“Thank you so much for lifting us up in your prayers, and for loving Kobe, Gigi, Natalia, Bianka, Capri and me.”<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-15405069529261913882020-01-29T11:54:00.007-08:002020-01-29T11:54:24.533-08:00BREAKING: FG set to repatriate fresh $321m Abacha lootThe Federal Government is set to repatriate another $321million Abacha loot in a tripartite understanding between the Island of Jersey, the United States of America and Nigeria.<br />
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The agreement on the repatriation will be signed next week.<br />
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This decision was taken at Wednesday's Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).<br />
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The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, spoke on the outcome of the meeting on the Abacha loot.<br />
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He said based on the Memorandum of Understanding reached by the three parties, the money would be spent on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the 2nd Niger Bridge and the Kaduna-Kano Expressway.<br />
<br />
Malami added that a separate Euro 6.8m in connection with a former Governor of Delta State, Mr James Ibori, would also be repatriated, but said negotiations had yet to start on the Ibori loot.<br />
<br />
He also said discussions would soon start on looted assets linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Dezieni Alison-Madueke.<br />
<br />
However, the AGF explained that no figure had been placed on the Alison-Madueke asset.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-33369444438066956222020-01-29T11:54:00.005-08:002020-01-29T11:54:23.912-08:00Amotekun: Ebonyi State Governor, Umahi concluded to kick start south east regional security outfitThe Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, on Wednesday, said that the governors and stakeholders of the zone have concluded arrangements to kick- start regional security out fit in the south east zone.<br />
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Umahi made this known while addressing the General Officer commanding 82 Army Division Enugu, GOC, Lasisi Adegboye, during in a familiarization courtesy visit that took place at the government house Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State.<br />
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According to him: “One of our major challenges here in Ebonyi State is our problem with Cross River people, but we bless God so highly for the initiatives of the youths. The Deputy Governor and the Speaker of the State Assembly have to arrange so that they joint youth committee on Cross River and Ebonyi people will go and pay a courtesy call on the GOC.<br />
<br />
“Probably, who knows if you are the one that will make both state to sign lasting agreement for lasting peace. Here in Ebonyi, I thank the police, the army, the SSS. It has been a union of brotherhood and working together with our Neighbourhood Watch.<br />
<br />
“Every region has their own peculiarities and we had formed our own joint security taskforce and we have written to federal government and we are putting things together because we had a joint meeting with all the service chiefs and the then GOC. So, we discussed and agreed on what we need to do to continue to give safety to our people in South East.<br />
<br />
“No one will say that he will not be part of joint security because when people are kidnapped for example in Anambra State, they could be found in Ebonyi. So, we need that synergy to work together to give protection to everybody and here in Ebonyi, we are among the first in the federation to start our law on internal security and that is the Neighbouhood Watch and they have fantastically done very well.<br />
<br />
“I am happy that the police, the army, the SSS, they are not ashamed to proclaim that our Neighbouhood Security Watch have done very well. And so, we can say that we are the safest state in the country and there is no joke about that,” he stated.<br />
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Earlier in a remark, the GOC Adegboye vowed to provide adequate security to the citizens of the south east, adding that there would be no more records of kidnapping and armed robbery cases in the zone.<br />
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“We are ready to work round the clock to ensure adequate peace and security in the south east zone,” he noted.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-38225859387885733922020-01-29T11:54:00.003-08:002020-01-29T11:54:23.195-08:00RCCG Pastor, Adeboye set twitter on ‘fire’ over fidelityPastor Enoch Adeboye of Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, has revealed why he asked his son to sack his secretary.<br />
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Adeboye who was advising married couples on how to preserve their marriage on Twitter said it was sad that many married people are still having crushes with persons apart from their spouses<br />
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According to him, he advised his son to sack his secretary because he became too fond of her and was always excited to see her at work.<br />
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Adeboye said, ”One of my sons once told me that he was always excited to resume in the office every Monday because he would get to see his secretary again.<br />
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”I told him to fire her immediately. Nothing and no one is worth your marriage.”<br />
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”Oh, you may say “I am not doing anything with the fellow; we are just friends.” That is exactly where it starts from. The devil knows you are a Christian and would not fall for someone just like that.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">One of my sons once told me that he was always excited to resume in the office every Monday because he would get to see his secretary again. I told him to fire her immediately. Nothing and no one is worth your marriage.</div>
— PastorEAAdeboye (@PastorEAAdeboye) <a href="https://twitter.com/PastorEAAdeboye/status/1222438077660049411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async="async" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
”So, he makes you become good friends with the fellow and before you know it, you would have fallen. May you not fall for any strategy of the devil in the mighty name of Jesus. If you have any friends that you talk to more than your spouse, break that friendship now.<br />
<br />
”Spend more time with your spouse and make him/her your confidant. Exchange compliments. The reason many people have crushes outside their marriage is mostly due to a distance between the couple.<br />
<br />
”They no longer communicate as they used to. When they talk, it is only on serious issues about the children or other family needs, instead of talking/gisting about just anything as they used to in the early days of their marriage.<br />
<br />
”They no longer go out to fun places or take walks together except they are going for family functions. If there is no distance between yourself and your spouse, no crush can come between you.<br />
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CRUSH THAT CRUSH the man of God advised<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-22045578624585761942020-01-29T11:54:00.001-08:002020-01-29T11:54:22.058-08:00Thiem's time finally arrives as he knock out Rafael Nadal of Australian OpenTop seed Rafael Nadal was denied a place in the Australian Open semi-finals as Austria's Dominic Thiem rattled the Spaniard with a powerful display to win a four-set thriller.<br />
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Fifth seed Thiem won 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-6 (8-6) at Melbourne Park.<br />
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The 26-year-old, beaten by Nadal in the past two French Open finals, missed two match points before taking a third to win in four hours and 10 minutes.<br />
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He will now face Germany's Alexander Zverev in Friday's last-four match.<br />
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It will be a first semi-final in Melbourne for both men and the winner will face either Serbia's defending champion Novak Djokovic or Swiss third seed Roger Federer in Sunday's final.<br />
<br />
Thiem missed the chance to serve out the match at 5-4 in the fourth, becoming jittery with three unforced errors and a double fault as Nadal levelled despite doing little to earn it.<br />
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But Thiem regrouped to win the third tie-break of a thrilling contest against the 19-time Grand Slam champion.<br />
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"I was holding my serve great and then it came to 5-4," Thiem said.<br />
<br />
"That was a special situation for me, serving against Rafa for a place in the Australian Open semi-finals for the first time.<br />
<br />
"It was a mentally tough situation but I turned it around again in the tie-breaker."<br />
<br />
Thiem raised both arms in the air when Nadal hit a forehand into the net on the third match point, clutching and shaking his head in what was likely to be a mixture of relief and disbelief.e<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229484546965430663.post-58015806489934728002020-01-29T02:54:00.009-08:002020-01-29T02:54:27.144-08:00Despite the growing concerns on the spread of coronavirus, Nigerian govt makes no plan for citizens in ChinaDespite the growing concerns on the spread of coronavirus, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no plan in place for Nigerians residing in China.<br />
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A spokesperson for the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, when contacted by a PREMIUM TIMES reporter on Tuesday, said that “for now, no plans are being made to evacuate Nigerians in China”.<br />
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He referred further enquiries to the health ministry who said they were focused on ensuring the disease does not spread to Nigeria.<br />
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Since the increase in the outbreak of the virus, countries around the world are planning to repatriate their citizens. So far, Wuhan, a province in China has recorded over 100 deaths, while more than 4,500 persons have been confirmed infected.<br />
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An unnamed student in Cote d’Ivoire has also reportedly contacted the virus. She arrived from Beijing on Saturday and has since been quarantined by the Ivorian government.<br />
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Flurry of interventions<br />
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Countries such as the U.S., South Korea, Germany, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Canada, Russia, and the Netherlands have kickstarted arrangements to repatriate their citizens from China.<br />
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The United States through its State Department announced that it will “evacuate personnel from its Wuhan consulate and offer a limited number of seats to private U.S. citizens on a flight. Some private citizens will be able to board the “single flight” leaving Wuhan today for San Francisco.”<br />
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According to Reuters’ report, France’s first plane will begin to repatriate nationals on Wednesday and will return the next day. The first plane is said to convey people with no symptoms.<br />
<br />
A spokesperson to Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said talks are being held with international partners to “find solutions to help British and other foreign nations leave Wuhan.”<br />
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PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Japan is sending a chartered flight to repatriate 200 of its citizens.<br />
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As of 2014, about 10,000 Nigerians reside in China, predominantly in Guangzhou, a city located in the Guangdong province in the Southern part of China. It is reported to have a large population of Africans.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ministry of Health when contacted shared the measures it is taking to strengthen local preparedness against the virus.<br />
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The spokesperson for the ministry, Enefaa Bob-Manuel, said meetings are being held with some ministries towards setting up a committee responsible for scaling up “surveillance and vigilance to detect suspicious cases and ensure containment at all points.”<br />
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Critical stakeholders in the aviation, health, security and transport will make up the committee.<br />
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She also added that, “attention will focus largely on Nigeria’s five international airports,” because “air travelers are more likely to be carriers of the virus rather than land border crossers.”<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0