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Haramain Salaah Recordings:

Four members of a family have been killed by unknown persons at Oke Ota, Ibeshe, Ikorodu area of the state. Spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, OLARINDE FAMOUS-COLE who confirmed this in a statement said police detectives discovered bodies of three of them in their isolated one room and parlour house in a thick forest in the area. He said the fourth one died while receiving treatment at the hospital and the last member of the family is alive and responding to treatment. The state police spokesman said there was no visible trace of violence or clues linked to any cultist group was found, adding that a case of murder is being investigated by the police. He called on traditional rulers, community leaders and other members of the public to alert the police on the cases of those who are living in isolated and unsecured areas across the state.

Seven state governors selected to visit ailing President Muhammadu Buhari in London will leave Nigeria on Tuesday evening and meet the Nigerian leader by 3pm on Wednesday. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in an interview with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday. He said the team will be led by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and the Governor Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari. Other members of the delegation to include Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Umar Ganduje (Kano),  Kashim Shettima (Borno), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).

The Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Justice Alloy Nwankwo released a total of 38 inmates of Abakaliki and Afikpo prisons in different categories. The release was done on Tuesday during the goal delivery carried out by the Chief Judge for the purpose of decongesting the prisons.  The Controller of Prison, Ebonyi State Command, Adobi Emelia Oputa in her speech advised all the discharged inmates to be of good behavior and avoid all acts that may lead to their coming back to the prison.

A forty year-old father, Muhammadu Damina and his fifteen year-old son, Isah Muhammadu from Talala in Borno State have been arrested alongside two other fleeing Boko Haram terrorists at Kurnari village and Nayinawa, outskirts of Damaturu, Yobe State. The other two suspects, Bukar Waziri and Mammade Lawan who were from Buk, Borno were arrested by the troops of 233 Battalion, 27 Task Force Brigade of Operation Lafiya Dole in conjunction with vigilantes on routine patrol. Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman said in a statement that during preliminary investigation, they claimed that they were fleeing from the terrorists’ hideout at Talala and Buk in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State because of the unbearable military’s onslaughts and bombardments on their various locations. In a related development, troops of 33 Brigade Nigerian Army, on Operation FOREST KUNAMA II, on Sunday, following a tip off, at about 10.20pm, arrested one Salisu I...

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has approved the special promotion of 6,199 soldiers serving in Operation Lafiya Dole to various ranks between Lance Corporals to Warrant Officers in the Nigerian Army. Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman who gave the breakdown of the beneficiaries of the special promotion in a statement said 329 soldiers were elevated from Staff Sergeants to Warrant Officers, while 371 others were promoted from Sergeants to Staff Sergeants. Other beneficiaries are 707 officers who were promoted from Corporals to Sergeants, 1,290 Lance Corporals became Corporals and 3,502 Privates were promoted to Lance Corporals. Lieutenant General Buratai congratulates the beneficiaries and urged them to increase the tempo of the ongoing clearance operations of the Boko Haram terrorists in the North East.

President Muhammadu Buhari has written to thank the President of Guinea, Alpha Conde, for the nationwide prayers held last week by Guineans for his recovery and good health. In a letter dated July 24, 2017, President Buhari, who had earlier made a phone call to Conde, who is the current Chairman of the Assemblies of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, stated: "I thank you for your kind and thoughtful action in organizing nationwide prayers for my good health. It is a gesture that I will forever cherish and treasure. "Your Excellency will be pleased to hear that I am making good progress, and as soon as doctors advise, I shall return to my duties and continue serving the Nigerian people who elected me and are daily praying for my recovery." In an earlier letter, President Buhari had also accepted his nomination as leader of the "2018 AU Theme on the Fight Against Corruption", which came from African leaders at the 29th Sess...

Some youths from Oriade Local Council Development Area, LCDA, have protested against the call for the removal of the council’s Sole Administrator, Habeeb Aileru by the Lagos State House of Assembly. The Assembly had on Monday called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to suspend Aileru over alleged misappropriation of council funds. The lawmakers frowned at his disobedience to local council laws and flagrant disregard of the governor’s directives. The decision of the House followed a complaint and motion by the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (Local), Bisi Yusuff. He said that the sole administrator’s recklessness was discovered in the state Auditor-General report the committee was currently working on. But the protesting youths, led by the President of Progressive Youth Initiative, Dayo Soyoye, said the sole administrator was not given fair hearing and kicked against the call for his removal. They chanted solidarity songs and carried placards wit...

The Federal Executive Council has approved the issuance of promissory notes for the settlement of debts owed local contractors worth N740 billion. The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, gave the hint at a briefing after the FEC meeting adding that debts to GENCOS, DISCOS and state government was N193.69billion. She said the Memorandum that the Council approved was for the issuance of a promissory note programme to settle inherited debts to local contractors and state governments on the part of federal government The Minister noted that the obligations were a drag on the economy because many of the contractors owed the banks which in turn had non-performing loans. She said that the promissory notes had liquidity status meaning that the banks could accept them from the contractors and trade them to improve the banks’ non-performing loans. She said that because of the government debts there was illiquidity in such places as the power sector, which had reversal o...

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has ordered the immediate release of N1.6billion for disbursement to victims of flood in 16 states of the federation. The states are Ekiti, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Lagos, Plateau, Sokoto, Edo and Bayelsa. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this when he briefed State House correspondents after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council which was presided over by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo. He said that the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, had already been directed to release the amount directly to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, for onward disbursement to the victims in the affected states. Adesina said the acting president also gave approval for the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to give additional support to the victims in the affected states. It will be recalled that the balance of the...

The Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the People Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said the committee was opened to reconciliation that is based on equity, equality and values. Senator Makarfi made the pledge when addressing members and stakeholders of the party after the Supreme Court judgement on the party’s leadership crisis delivered in favour of the committee. He described the judgment as “no victor, no vanquished’’. The former governor of Kaduna State urged Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his camp to come and join hands with his leadership to move PDP forward. He also urged members of the party not to throw insults at other party men and women who lost at the court. He commended PDP members and the judiciary for the fair judgement, saying PDP never lost faith in the judiciary. He promised that the committee within the next few days would begin consultation and come up with a programme of meetings between with expanded ...

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo presides over FEC meeting at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa in Abuja, shortly after the press briefing on his visit to President Muhammad Buhari.

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo says President Muhammadu Buhari is in good spirit and recuperating very fast, saying he will soon return to Nigeria. The Acting President made this known to newsmen before the start of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja. Prof. Osinbajo, who left Nigeria on Tuesday to meet with President Buhari in the United Kingdom, returned to the country on Wednesday morning. President Buhari left Nigeria since May 7th to meet up with follow up consultation with his doctors.

The House of Representatives urged the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to enforce the use of pedestrian bridges in the country. A member of the House, Johnson Oghuma in a sponsored motion which was unanimously adopted said it was necessitated by failure of many Nigerians to use pedestrian bridges, resulting to loss of lives on highways. Oghuma said in spite of the fact that pedestrian bridges were constructed to stop people from crossing busy highways, many Nigerians still endanger their lives by refusing to use them. He said that if drastic measures were not taken to enforce adherence, the trend would likely continue with loss of more lives. The House, therefore, urged the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to protect the areas around pedestrian bridges by creating strong barricades. The House also urged the ministry to provide street lights and shades on the bridges to encourage usage and to safe guard pedestrians ...

Troops of 93 Battalion Takum have arrested a mercenary and 12 other suspected criminals in different parts of Taraba State. The 82 Division has therefore directed the handover of all the suspects to the State Police Command. Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 82 Division, Colonel SAGIR MUSA said in a statement that the Battalion has therefore successfully transferred and handed over the suspects and the exhibits of one Ak 47 Riffle with 10 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition to the state Commissioner of Police for further necessary action. He said the suspects and the evidences were handed over between May 19 and 22, 2017. The suspects are Babatunde Oladiji – 48 years – a mercenary caught with AK 47 Rifles with 10 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition (Handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, Takum Local Government, Taraba State). Others are Igba Shiaondo – 26 years, Mngo Asui – 38years, Dengi Usman -28 years, Sani Ali – 20 years, Suleiman Yahaiya...

The Federal High Court, Abuja has granted a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,  Andrew Yakubu,   permission to travel abroad for medical treatment. Yakubu was arraigned by the EFCC on a six-count charge of money laundering and false declaration of asset. At the resumed hearing of the case, the defendant, through his counsel, Ahmed Raji, begged the court to allow him travel to the UK to complete his medical treatment. Raji informed the court that the defendant was undergoing medical treatment before he was summoned by the EFCC to return to the country. He also pleaded with the court to order the release of the defendant’s international passport which was deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court as part of his bail conditions. In his response, counsel to EFCC, Ben Ikani, said he would not object to the application since it was based on health ground. While leaving the request to the discreti...

The Nigerian Air Force has commenced investigations into the alleged invasion of the University of Osun State at Ipetu Ijesha by some of its personnel. Director of Public Relations and Information of the Air Force, OLATOKUNBO ADESANYA said in a statement that the NAF highly regretted the entire incidence. ADESANYA said the reported incidence is not a reflection of what the NAF stands for. He said the NAF is a highly professional force that does not condone or encourage the violation of anyone's human rights. The spokesman assured Nigerians that any NAF personnel found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate laws.

Troops of Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe have raided camps of sea robbers/pirates and kidnappers at Oluwasiri and Agbidama creeks in Brass and Ekeremor Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State. Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Apochi Sulaiman told a news briefing in Yenagoa that during the operations in Oluwasiri particularly, the troops rescued two kidnapped victims. He said one of the victims who sustained gunshot injury during the crossfire is currently receiving medical attention in one of their facilities in Port Harcourt. The commander said items recovered during the raids include: one HK 21E rifle, one rocket propelled gun launcher, 4 AK 47 rifles, 3 pistols, 61 pieces of 12.7/108mm ammo, 5 empty rifles magazine, one empty pistol magazines, 36 pieces of 7.62mm ammo, 15 pieces of 9mm ammo among others items. He said the Joint Task Force is resolved to ensure peaceful socio-economic environment for business to thrive.

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has confirmed that another Chibok schoolgirl had been found, barely 12 days after the release of the 82 abducted girls by the Boko Haram terrorists. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, told newsmen in Abuja, that the recovery of the girl was announced by the acting president during the Federal Executive Council meeting. He said the affected girl has been brought to Abuja to join her colleagues who were rescued from captivity. Adesina also dismissed the assertion that members of Boko Haram had started regrouping in the Sambisa forest, saying that the Federal Government had the capacity to confront any security challenge arising from any part of the country.

A former Deputy Speaker and current member representing Jos-North state constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Baba Hassan, has been docked before Justice J.U.A Musale of High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Jabi, for allegedly submitting a forged academic qualification to the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the 2015 State Assembly elections. The lawmaker, who is presently a 3-time member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, was said to have forged a Diploma in Business Administration of the University of Jos, dated November 1996, and falsely inserted his name as one of the graduating students in the “Order of Proceedings of the 19th Combined Convocation Ceremony” of the said university held on 26th and 27th April 2002 which he presented to ICPC investigators. Hassan, who contested the 2015 Plateau State House of Assembly election again and won, was arraigned on a 5-count charge of offences bordering on f...

Chief Executive Officer, General Duties and Procurement Officer Kaduna State Polytechnic, Ahmed Umar, has been docked before Justice M.T.M Tukur of Kaduna State High Court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for alleged contract inflation and award of contracts to a company which he owned. The accused was arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on holding a private interest in the award of contracts, fraudulent acquisition of property, conferring corrupt advantage upon himself and inflation of goods and services to the tune of N39,361,027.50. Umar was said to have inflated the cost of an executive conference table from N350,000 to N1,250,000 and the cost of a Chinese carpet from N567,600 to N2,017,600. The defendant was also accused of using his office for gratification by awarding the contract for the rehabilitation of a road and parking lot worth N12,662,590 and the procurement of 1,277 two-seater classroom chairs worth ...

A member of the House of Representatives EDWARD PWAJOK from Plateau State has defected to the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party. PWAJOK in his defection letter read by the Speaker of the house, Yakubu Dogara, during plenary said he left the PDP due to the crisis in the party. He said there were many divisions in the PDP, from national level to Plateau. But the Minority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, raised a point of order to fault Pwajok’s claim that the PDP was factionalised. He said that going by the Appeal Court’s judgment, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is the National Chairman of the PDP and urged Pwajok to vacate his seat. The Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, however, urged more PDP legislators to capitalise on the crisis within the party to cross over to the ruling party. Dogara said that the legality of Pwajok’s defection would be left for the court to decide. Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, who was at the chamb...

The lead pathologist who carried out the autopsy on the body of the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Doctor Taiwo Sholaja, has told a coroner inquest that no trace of poison was found in the body system of the deceased when it was examined. Doctor Sholaja,  while giving evidence before the coroner, Chief  Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, said the autopsy carried out by him and two other pathologists from Ladoke Akintola University Hospital, Osogbo, revealed that the late senator died of “aspiration of gastric content due to multiple drug overdose.’’ He said the autopsy was performed in the presence of the Divisional Police Officer of Dugbe Police Station, Osogbo, Ogunkanmi Gbemileke and the two other pathologists from LAUTECH. Sholaja also said that before the autopsy, he gathered from a family member, Modupe Adeleke-Sani, that the late politician had complained of pains in the knees, and inability to sleep. He added that some drugs were said to have been admi...

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has been engaged in phone discussions with the Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara as well as the ECOWAS Chairperson and President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in a bid to finding peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis in Cote d’Ivoire. In a series of conversations with both Presidents since Monday, Prof. Osinbajo expressed Nigeria’s support for the government and people of Cote d’Ivoire, and also for the sustenance of peace, security and democracy in the country. The Acting President noted the readiness of the Federal Government to work with ECOWAS and West African leaders to pursue a quick resolution of the situation.