Paul Okah

The Nigeria Police Force said it has killed 104 armed bandits during an attack on Mahanga forest in Birnin Mogaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State. A statement by the force spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, in Abuja on Friday, said 50 hideouts in three camps belonging to the bandits were also destroyed. Moshood said that over 500 cattle and 79 Sheep were recovered from the bandits, adding that a policeman was killed during the operation. He said that following the incessant attacks in the state, the Inspector- General of Police on Nov. 9, deployed a Police Joint Intervention Team of about 1,000 personnel comprising the seven Units of Police Mobile Force (PMF). Other units are : Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Police Anti-Bomb (EOD) Squad and conventional policemen. The spokesman said that the team which was headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police has been mandated to arrest and prosecute bandits, Kidnap for ransom and c...

Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, has floated a football talent fishing programme, that he styles Africa’s Next Football Superstar.   The programme, which is for kids across Africa is the initiative of the football star’s Mikel Obi Foundation. African kids aged between 12 and 16 will participate.   The event will take place in Nigeria, South Africa and Algeria, with each country holding three different trials in three cities.   In Nigeria, the trials will take place in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt. Each country will have five winners, with the 15 reduced to nine players, who will be given an opportunity to have trials with a top English club.   Mikel, the former Chelsea midfielder, who now plays in the Chinese Super League, said having tasted life on the streets, he wanted to use the project to take kids off the streets and help them realise their dreams as world-class footballers.   “I’m so grateful to be the captain of the Nigerian f...

There was lamentation in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at the weekend following the gruesome killing of a 20-year-old 300-level student of the Niger Delta University (NDU) by a trigger-happy policeman. Tariela Nikade, the last in the family of Nikade Anderson, a popular broadcaster, was reportedly shot dead close to their house at Tinacious Road, Edepie, Yenagoa. The latest murder came a few weeks after a 100-level student of the university, Seifa Fred, was shot dead by a gang of cultists, who snatched her smartphone. It was gathered that following the strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Tariela, an engineering student, decided to learn haircut at a barber shop close to their house. Narrating how his brother was killed, Anderson said: “My brother, the last in our family, who came home following the ASUU strike, was at a barber’s shop where he was learning haircut. “Suddenly, at about 7pm, a team of policemen stormed the area. They en...

A 27-year-old suspected kidnapper, Emmanuel Okemayin, has confessed that he formed a kidnapping gang in a bid to raise money to travel abroad  and further his education, following the death of his father. Okemayin was arrested by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery (SARS), Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, Lagos, following a botched kidnap attempt. “I was arrested for planning the kidnap of my employer’s wife which failed. I had good grades in West Africa School Certificate- Government, A1; Economics A1; Biology, A1; Geography, P7; Literature in English, P7 and Chemistry, P7. I can’t remember what I got in English language and Mathematics. I am qualified to go to university,’’ Okemayin said. ‘’My financial problem started when I went to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, and they told me to pay N120,000 for registration, but I  had no kobo on me. ‘’They even told me to pay in bits by paying only a sum of N50,000 in subsequent payment, yet I knew t...

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) said yesterday that it had intercepted 40 by 40 feet containers laden with Tramadol and other dangerous pharmaceutical products worth over N7.3billion. A large number of the dangerous drugs, NCS said, were imported into the country by some scrupulous importers from India to endanger the health of the nation. Attempt by the importers to bribe Customs officers with over $400,000 (about N150million), to effect the release of just one container out of the 40 seized, it was gathered, was rebuffed by the officers. Addressing reporters at the Apapa command of the Service while displaying the dollars yesterday, its Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ali (retd), said NCS has also impounded two helicopters that can be used for nefarious activities. One of the helicopters with registration number SN-BLI, the Customs helmsman said, was intended for export, and was concealed in container number PONU7789246, while the second helicopter, a Cessna 182...

Nigeria’s Super Falcons beat the Shepolopolo of Zambia 4-0 on Wednesday at Cape Coast in Ghana to return to contention at the 11th African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON). The defending champions, who lost their opening match on Sunday, bounced back into contention with an emphatic win which sent them to the top of the group’s table, at least temporarily. Desire Oparanozie scored the opening goal for a 1-0 half-time lead, while Francesca Ordega added the second goal minutes into the second half. Oparanozie soon added another goal to make it 3-0, while substitute Amarachi Okoronkwo put the icing on the cake with her goal to make it 4-0. The win helped Nigeria to dislodge Zambia at the head of Group B table, ahead of the South Africa versus Equatorial Guinea match which comes up later in the day. The Falcons will now take on Equatorial Guinea in their final group phase match on Saturday, while the Shepolopolo face South Africa on the same day. The group’s top two ...

Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, has told the immediate past President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, that his best years are not behind him, but that he has a great future ahead of him. Buhari, who made the declaration Tuesday in Abuja, during the 61st birthday celebration and  unveiling of Jonathan’s book titled ‘My Transition Hours’ held today at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, said that Jonathan has a great political future ahead of him  Represented on the occasion by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Buhari, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, said that Jonathan will rise again politically and revealed that Jonathan saved the lives of millions of Nigerians just by a single phone call conceding defeat to him in 2015, even when results of the elections were still being collated. He said: “This book by my predecessor will serve as a document of reference to lawyers, historians, presidents and every Nig...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians to use this year’s Eid-el Maulud celebration t o pray for the nation and rekindle a sense of national unity, fear of God and love for one another as compatriots while shunning all divisive and disruptive tendencies. The party also urged the people to pray for a new direction and God’s guidance, particularly as the nation gears up for the 2019 general elections to select new sets of leaders at various levels across the country. “Eid-el Maulud, the celebration of the birth of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (S A W), presents to us as a nation with ample lessons in the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, truth over falsehood, peace over strife, love over hatred, piety over depravity, mutual respect over intimidation and harassment, justice over impunity and discrimination and faith over despair. “The PDP urges Nigerians to use the opportunity of Eid-el Maulud to reach out and support the needy, the sick, and the deprive...

Outgoing Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday said that he did not earn salaries throughout the eight years of his administration. Speaking during an interactive programme tagged ‘Ogbeni Till Day Break’, the governor who is handing over to his successor Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola on November 27, said since it was the state that was feeding him, fuelling his cars and provided him with accommodation, there was no need for him to be paid. Aregbesola also said that he did not have bank accounts where money was kept in any part of the world. He said, “I have not collected salaries since I became the governor of the state. The state feeds me, fuels my car and provided me accommodation. With all these, I don’t need money. I have no money and bank account anywhere. “I have no house except the one I built before I became the governor. Anyone can go out there to investigate if I have bank accounts.” He said he would vacate the government house tomorrow add...

A 19-year-old man, Sunday Owo, was, yesterday, apprehended with fresh human parts at a healing home in Awka, Anambra  State. According to Vanguard, Owo was caught with the genitals, fingers and blood-filled bottle of a child suspected to have been killed by him. The suspect, who was apprehended at the instance of the customer of the healing home, Mrs Ifeanyichukwu Ilonzo, told newsmen that he hailed from Ohaukwu in Ebonyi. He said he was asked by one Blessing to get the human parts and bring them to a natural healing home in Awka for money ritual. He said that he paid Blessing N50,000 for connecting him to the healing home. Owo confessed that the victim whose parts he had was about four years old and that he killed him in a stream in his town and threw the head and other parts into the stream. His words: “She brought me here two days ago and said that madam instructed her to tell me to bring these body parts that I will have money. “Her name is Blessing; ...

Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has dragged the Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of Daily Nigerian, Malam Jafar Jafar to court, claiming N3billion damage. Also party in the suit is the Daily Nigerian, an online newspaper that released a video clips allegedly showing Governor Ganduje receiving kickbacks in dollars from an unidentified contractor.   Ganduje filed a case before a Kano High court over alleged defamation of character, slander, libel. According to a Writ of Summons dated November 13, 2018, the defendants are expected to appear before the High Court 13, sitting in Kano within 14 days.   Ganduje through his Counsel, Nuradeen Ajagi, prayed the Court to declare that,  “the act of publishing and circulating libellous statements, false and doctored video clips attacking the character and integrity of the plaintiff amounts to defamation of character of the plaintiff by the defendants and thus wrongful. “Outright and unqualified impu...

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has asked Senate President Bukola Saraki to name any member of the APC who offered him bribe either in foreign or local currency to influence him and members of the National Working Committee to take decision in their favour before, during and after the party primaries or face legal action. Oshiomhole also said that it is pathetic and irresponsible for the resort to what he described as petty politics by the Senate Preaident whom he described as a usurper of and pretender to the position of senate president. In a statement signed by this Chief Press Secretary, Simon Egbebulem, the APC Chairman said Saraki  who has been in the eyes of  investigation by the EFCC AND ICPC has no moral ground to call for the resignation of the national chairman. The statement said further: “it is sad that Saraki, who just woke up from slumber occasioned by his crushing defeat at the Port Harcourt pres...

President Muhammadu Buhari today returned to Abuja after a 5 day official visit to Paris .

  Indications have emerged that Alhaji Ahmed Sokoto the deputy governor of Sokoto State and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has resigned from his position. Sources said he resigned on Tuesday night, Sun reported. The resignation is long expected as he had fallen out politically since governor Aminu Tambuwal dumped APC for opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Tambuwal who was sure of clinching the presidential ticket of PDP failed in his bid and also could not secure the ticket for re-election in the state. The deputy governor, is reported to have submitted a copy of his resignation letter to the state’s House of Assembly. The House decided to make it secret as it was not read on the floor during Tuesday’s plenary session. The source said the sudden resignation might not be unconnected with unforeseen circumstances that might crop up in the build-up of the forthcoming governorship election in the state. The ...

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, in Paris, France, told Nigerians outside the shores of the country that they will not participate in the 2019 general elections. The President also heaped the dwindling fortune of the education sector at the doorpost of Nigerian elites, accusing them of tolerating the fall in standards and structures of education institutions, despite oil windfalls in the past that would have made all the difference. Speaking during an interactive session with the Nigerian community in Paris, on the sideline of the Paris Peace Forum, President Buhari said about five percent allocation to the education sector was inadequate to propel the desired growth for the economy, pointing that United Nations target of 26 percent remained ideal. On the participation of Nigerians in Diaspora in the forthcoming elections, the President said the population of Nigerian citizens in various countries across the world already necessitate their inclusion to elect leade...

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the search and alleged harassment of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by security agencies earlier today at the Abuja International Airport on his return from Dubai. In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said security agents invaded Atiku’s aircraft with dangerous weapons to conduct a violent search. It further stated that the security officials tampered with his personal documents and gadgets. The statement read in part, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns in the strongest terms the unleashing of a special security squad of army, police and paramilitary agencies by the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency to physically harass our Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at the Abuja airport, upon his return from Dubai. “It was shocking when the deadly squad, in a Gestapo style attack, and acting on ‘orders from above’ rushed our candidate immediately he landed and attempted to...

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole, says that he was not arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) and that only the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) should have the mandate of investigating corruption allegation He stated this during an interactive session with journalists on Saturday in Lagos. Oshiomhole was reacting to a report by online news platform TheCable which said the APC chairman was detained by the security agency earlier this week. He said he “saw DSS only once and it was a conversation, not an arrest or detention”. Giving an insight into what he discussed with the agency, the APC chairman revealed that the conversation centred around APC primaries. He, however, said, “The question now is whether or not it is the DSS job to interfere in a political party’s issues. And if there’s an allegation of corruption, it is the ...

At last, the power tussle between the Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha,  All Progressives Congress ( APC) Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Hope Uzodinma and Uche Nwosu,  has been ended by  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).   Senator Hope Uzodinma’s name has been pasted as the governorship candidate of the Imo state APC in Imo state, by the INEC.  The name of Uzodinma, was pasted at the INEC, office along portharcourt road in Owerri, with Akaolisa Cyprain Okechukwu, as his running mate.  Vanguard visited the INEC, office at about 18:45pm and kept vigil for the list to be pasted and at about 07:52pm Uzodinma’s name was displayed as the authentic governorship flag-bearer of APC, in Imo state.  This is coming about after 10 hours, INEC, pasted other governorship names of various political parties, excluding that of APC.  A source told Vanguard that, “Immediately, the court struck out the or...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the names of governorship candidates for various political parties ahead of the general elections in 2019. Here are some of the names, as compiled by Paul Okah Blog   Niger State ABUBAKAR BELLO – APC UMAR NASKO – PDP JOSHUA BAWA – APGA MAHMOOD SANI – SDP USMAN MUHAMMED – KOWA KAWU BABANNA – ADP MOHAMMED AUDU – WTPN MUSTAPHA WUSHISHI – LPN SHARIEF YAKUB – AGA MANI AHMAD – ADC AUWAL UMAR – ZLP ABDULAZEEZ SALAUDEEN – NCP YAHAYA SHUAIBU – APP ISAH BELLO – GPN YAHAYA DAUDU – PRP MUSTAPHA ABDURRAHMAN – BNPP LAWAL TSOHO – APA BELLO BAWA BWARI – ACD MUSA ABDULLAHI BABAKATUN – NCMP YUSUF AYUBA – UDP UMARU NASIRU ALBANI – PPC SEN. IBRAHIM MUSA – PPN IBRAHIM MUSA – ACPN BAWA SALEH – DA SHITTU SAHEED – MPN DANTANI ABDULLAHI – NNPP AISHAT MAHMUD – C.A HUSSAINI MANUGA – TMPP MRS PHOEBE EDWIN YARIMA –...

President Muhammadu Buhari will  depart Abuja today for Paris, France, to participate in the first edition of the Paris Peace Forum which opens on Sunday and ends on Tuesday. Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday. The Peace Forum is organised by the French Government and a number of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The Forum is based on the “simple idea that international cooperation is key to tackling global challenges and ensuring durable peace.” Adesina disclosed that the Nigerian President would join the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and other world leaders in discussing contributions towards global peace while underscoring the imperative of collective action. While in Paris, President Buhari will also join other world leaders to commemorate the centenary anniversary of the Armistice signed on Nov. 11, 1918 between the Allied Forces and Germany in the fo...

The Ondo State House of Assembly has impeached Hon. David Oleyeloogun as its speaker, as well as his deputy, Iroju Ogundeji. They were impeached on Friday after 18 out of the 26-member House, signed the notice. Shortly after, Honourable Olamide George was elected as the new Speaker while Abimbola Fajolu was elected as the deputy. Addressing newsmen at the assembly complex the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Fatai Olotu, said the former leadership was removed as a result of financial impropriety, incompetence and high handedness.

The Presidency, yesterday, chided those accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of reneging on the N30,000 agreed on by the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee. According to the Presidency, President Buhari never mentioned any figure since he received the report, noting that the controversy over the minimum wage was unnecessary as the President, being a stickler to due process, would allow the report to pass through the gamut of lawmaking.  A statement by the Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, in Abuja said: “These reports are contrary to what transpired on Tuesday, when the committee presented its report to the President.  “President Buhari, while acknowledging the concerns raised by government on affordability and labour’s focus on meaningful increase, stated clearly in a speech that ‘in a way, both arguments are valid.  “I want to assure you all that we will immediately put in place the necessary machin...

Angered by the rate at which Nigerians suffer from water borne diseases, President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday declared a state of emergency on Water, Sanitation and Hygienic sector, (WASH), just as he noted that the nation has been ranked number two in open defecation globally.   ”Our country now ranks No 2 in the global rating on Open Defecation as about 25% of our population are practicing open defecation”, he said.  Speaking during the inauguration of the National Action Plan for Revitalization of Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector at State House Conference Centre, the special adviser to Mr President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted Buhari as saying, ”Access to piped water services which was 32% in 1990 has declined to 7% in 2015; access to improved sanitation has also decreased from 38% in 1990 to 29% in 2015.  ”Our country now ranks No 2 in the global rating on Open Defecation as about 25% of our population are practici...

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, yesterday, assured Ekiti people that his administration would not abandon projects inherited from previous administrations in the State.  Speaking in Afao Ekiti during his tour of The Gifted Academy built by the Ayo Fayose-led government, Dr Fayemi stated that though he may not agree with his predecessor on the rationale behind the establishment of some projects, abandoning those projects would amount to wasting the resources of Ekiti State.  The governor who re-echoed his administration’s perception of governance in “the continuum frame” recalled that he completed virtually all projects left behind by the Segun Oni-led government in 2010 because they were executed with public funds.  His words: “When I came as governor, I completed to the best of my ability virtually all the projects left behind by the Oni administration. It was my government that completed some of the roads started by Oni. "It was my government t...