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Here are some selected headlines in today's newspaper, October 27, 2017. Headlines from Punch FG, Dangote, others sign $1.1bn pact for 540MW plant FG to introduce solar-powered tricycles this year Saraki, Dogara, others turn back from Villa, Buhari apologises Saraki/SaharaReporters’ suit holds amidst tight security Declare state of emergency on roads, Reps tell FG I reformed Nigeria’s democratic process – Jonathan INTERPOL, court issue fresh warrants for Maina’s arrest Maina: I’m ready to appear before Senate, says AGF I released cars for Aisha Buhari’s security, IG replies Misau NNPC begins oil exploration in Nasarawa Navy begins Operation Octopusgrip Shagari’s govt stopped Nigeria from being rice exporter – Obasanjo Judiciary abandoned me, I don’t want anti-corruption panel job –Justice Salami Stop lying against Ojukwu, IPOB warns Gowon Herdsmen attacks: '75 killed, 13,726 displaced in Plateau' Rivers, Bayelsa commands trade blame as policemen steal bags of garri Ondo ma...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ripped into President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, for blaming the Goodluck Jonathan administration for the return of ex-pension reform boss, Abdulrasheed Maina. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dayo Adeyeye, the PDP said “the idea of blaming every misdemeanor on previous administration is symptomatic of failure to deliver on promises and its time Garba Shehu and his likes resigns if they have nothing more to contribute in government.” “We are not surprised on the postulation by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Garba Shehu in which he blamed the former Administration of Goodluck Jonathan as being responsible for the return of fugitive Abdulrasheed Maina. This is to say the least the height of absurdity. “The shenanigans surrounding the return of Maina who was under investigation and sacked by the previous administration of PDP is an issue Nigerians ...

The Nigeria police force has defended Inspector General Ibrahim Idris over the two cars delivered to Aisha Buhari, as claimed by Senator Isa Misau.  The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said the allegation was “baseless and outright falsehood”. The police denied claims that Ibrahim donated two Sports Utility Vehicles, SUVs, to the first lady, Aisha Buhari. The police said the vehicles, which it insisted were not SUVs, were given to police officers serving as aides to the wife of the President. “It is pertinent to state that at no time did the Wife of the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Aishat Buhari, requested (sic) directly or indirectly for vehicles for her use from the Inspector General of Police and no vehicle whether Jeep or SUV has ever been given for her personal use,” the statement said. It said the police boss gave out two buses to the police aides of Mrs. Buhari for their official use and not as a donation to the fir...

Here are the fixtures for the quarter finals of the Carabao cup: Bristol City v Manchester United Arsenal vs West Ham Leicester City vs Manchester City Chelsea v Bournemouth. The games will be played on Tuesday, 19th of December 2017. Attached Files:

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a recent attack on a military location in Yobe state in which 8 soldiers lost their lives.  Boko Haram was earlier believed to have perpetrated the attack but Reuters reports that ISIS has claimed responsibility for it. This is according to a statement by the group on Thursday. "The fighters took three four-wheel-drive vehicles and others mounted with rifles and heavy weaponry and various ammunition," the statement said. The group did not provide evidence for its claim. Attached Files:

Nigeria's Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, in an interview on Channels say state governments can't pay salaries because they have a bloated wage bill. She added that their failure to drive their own revenue is another major reason they can't pay. She said it is shocking but promised that government will adjust. Attached Files:

The outspoken governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, was taciturn on Thursday when he was asked to speak about the recent accident in which he nearly lost his life. Fayose's vehicle on recently caught fire in Lagos, prompting him to jump into another vehicle in his convoy to continue his journey to the airport. According to Nigeria's former aviation minister Femi Fani Kayode, it was a 'spiritual bomb'. When he came in contact with newsmen on Thursday, Fayose, who is usually loquacious, kept mum about the incident. “I don’t want to comment on that," he said tersely, cutting off the reporter who was in the process of asking him the question. Maybe in the future we'll know who sent the "spiritual bomb," but for now, Fayose isn't talking. Why isn't Fayose talking? Why is he silent?   Attached Files:

The Lagos State Government has revealed that 24.2 percent of women in the state have their first sexual intercourse before the age of 18 years. This is according to Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who spoke on “Reproductive Health: Beyond Cultural Limitations and Concerns. He said the National Demographic and Health Survey and the Multi-Indicator Cluster Survey reported that 24.2 percent of women in Lagos had their first sexual intercourse before attaining the age of 18 years. “Nationally, the figures are about 51 percent. This implies that in Lagos, one out of every four women would have been exposed to sex before 18 and the national average for Nigeria is one of two women. The difference in these figures might be attributed to several factors, such as female education, urbanization, childhood marriages and so more. “With an average age at first birth at 20 years, about 22.5 percent of pregnancies are by teenagers in Nigeria. More worrying, however, is that reports show that ...

The Auditor-General of Kogi State and chairman, technical committee, state pension reform, Alhaji Yakubu Okala on Thursday revealed that N4 billion belonging to the state's pensioners was diverted into private pockets between 2010 and 2015. The money was stolen by few individuals saddled with the responsibility of handling the pension funds, he said, adding that all those that were involved in the pension fraud will be apprehended and brought to justice. He commended Governor Yahaya Bello for his courage in actualising the new contributory pension scheme for civil servants in the state. Attached Files:

The General overseer, Mount Zion Faith Global Liberation Ministries (aka By Fire By Fire), Nnewi in Anambra State, Bishop Abraham Chris Udeh, said his congregation have embarked on a 40-day fasting and prayer session over the quest for the restoration of Biafra by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He said the exercise which kicked off three weeks ago, was to invoke the power of God to assist in the Biafra restoration, just like God allowed Israelites to leave Egypt. "The fight for the liberation of Biafra from the 1914 amalgamation of northern and southern Nigeria which expired since 2014, has gone beyond physical combat and now at the spiritual warfare stage. "It was the will of God that Biafra must stand as an independent nation. The spiritual exercise had become necessary since it would go beyond the control of the military, individuals or group working against the actualization of the sovereign State of Biafra," he stated.

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has proscribed activities of trade unions operating in all the state-owned tertiary institutions of learning forthwith. Bello who made the proclamation on Wednesday said the decision to proscribe activities of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Trade Unions in Kogi State-owned tertiary institutions was due to ‘unjustifiable strikes’ by the unions. The tertiary institutions affected by the proscription order are Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja; Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa; Kogi State College of Education Technical, Kabba; College of Nursing and Midwifery, Obangede; College of Health Sciences and Technology, Idah and Kogi State University Teaching Hospital, Anyigba. The governor had earlier proscribed the activities of the Kogi State University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Walter Onnoghen, has confirmed that retired Justice Ayo Salami turned down offer as Chairperson of the Corruption and Financial Crimes Cases Trial Monitoring Committee. Mr. Onnoghen’s spokesperson, Awassam Bassey, while confirming the development to Premium Times said “His Lordship the Hon Chief Justice of Nigeria awaits Hon Salami’s letter of resignation. That’s all I can say at this moment. A more detailed response will be communicated to you when we receive Hon. Mr. Justice Salami’s letter. Mr. Salami was appointed chairperson of the committee by the NJC in September, years after he left office as president of the Appeal Court under controversial circumstances. Attached Files:

President Muhammadu Buhari will, on Tuesday, next week, present the 2018 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly on Tuesday, an authoritative presidency source told THISDAY. The bill, which is expected to be approved soon by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), according to the source, is heading to the legislature early to give legislators ample time to deliberate on and pass in good time for its implementation to begin on January 1, 2018. “Arrangements have been made for President Buhari to lay the budget on Tuesday,” he said, adding: “It is our hope that the National Assembly would expedite action on it and get it ready for presidential assent by December 2017.”

Unity Bank Plc on Thursday announced the appointment of Alhaji Aminu Babangida as its new chairman‍. This followed the approval of the board for the retirement of Thomas A. Etuh as chairman‍, according to a REUTERS report. Nigerian Bulletin recall that in 2015, Mr Thomas A. Etuh was appointed as Chairman and while Alhaji Aminu Babangida as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Unity Bank Plc following the resignation of the former Chairman, Alhaji Lamis Shehu Dikko in December 2014 to pursue his political aspirations. Alhaji Aminu Babangida is the son of former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, Attached Files:

An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court, ‎on Thursday, dissolved the 16 years marriage between Mr Emmanuel Jegede and his wife, Olubunmi, both clergymen. The marriage was dissolved on the grounds of threat to life, provocation, stubbornness, lies and adultery. The petitioner, Mr Emmanuel Jegede, 41, a clergyman, a resident at Irewumi quarters, opposite Bawa Estate, Ado-Ekiti, told the court that the respondent was arrogant, lazy, stubborn and unsupportive. The respondent, Mrs Olubunmi Jegede, 39, a prophetess, trader and resident at No 31, Ifesowapo quarters, off Nova Road, Ado-Ekiti, denied all the allegations levelled against her. She alleged that the petitioner was an adulterous man and that in 2008 alone, he committed adultery with five women in their church. The respondent added that she even caught more women with the petitioner in their parish. The mother of three children told the court that for two years, the petitioner abandoned her and the children. She said the petitioner preferred t...

National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno was captured having tête-à-tête with President Muhammadu Buhari at the start of the FEC Meeting, on Thursday, October 26, 2017. The FEC meeting bordered on the 2018 budget and the implementation of the 217 budget. The meeting is coming as a time the government of Buhari is rubbish with the reinstatement of an alleged fugitive, Abdulrasheed Maina by his kitchen cabinet. See photos:

Ogun State Government, in conjunction with the Federal Government, has revealed plans to convert the family house of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti in Abeokuta, the state capital, into a museum. The was disclosed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the house of the late maestro located at NEPA Road, Isabo, Abeokuta, in company of Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Lai Mohammed disclosed that the initiative will be known as the Heritage Museum, adding that it will be an inspiration to the youth. In his part, Governor Ibikunle Amosun promised to deliver the project soon, stating that Fela’s family was one of the giants that laid the foundation of a greater Ogun State. The governor also promised to construct museums for other illustrious sons and daughters of the state in order to preserve their heritage.

Aisha, wife of Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari has faulted claims by Senator Hamman Misau that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris bought 2 SUVs for her. Senator Misau made the claim when he appeared before the senate committee probing the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. According to him, the First Lady had requested, through her Aide de Camp, ADC, for a Sienna and Hiace, but he (IGP) bought two Prado SUVs, which were not in the budget, for the First Lady. “The Inspector- General of Police gave the First Lady, wife of the President, two SUVs and this came through a letter from the ADC to the First Lady who requested on her behalf that she needed a Sienna and Hiace for personal use, but she was given the two SUVs for her private use.” But Aisha Buhari in a twitter post on Thursday said she is still using his personal cars. “I am still using my personal cars”, she tweeted.

Sahara Reporters has revealed that the cabal in President Muhammadu Buhari's government has conducted interview for Ambassador Haruna Masur Umar to take over as Director-gemeral of the NIA. The online medium also reported that Ambassador Umar was asked to deposit N48m monthly. The platform did not state what the deposit is meant for. The Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke is currently on suspension following the recovery of $43million from a Lagos apartment, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Attached Files: