FRESH 4RM GIM

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim, has owned up that the Eagles of Mali were their toughest opponents at the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan). Agbim explained  that the Malians combined good technique and physical strength which helped them defeat Nigeria 2-1 in their opening game of the Chan.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that he did not join the All Progressive Congress (APC) so as to run for the Presidency in 2015,  but to nurture the party and ensure that good governance is entrenched in Nigeria  come 2015. Atiku who spoke in an interview with the BBC Hausa service, monitored in Kaduna on Monday,  maintained that if it were because of a  presidential ambition, he had clear chances of occupying the number one seat when he was in office with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, or even recently when he was in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN ). He  said   he let that go in the interest of the nation. Atiku   vowed that he would never return to the PDP, saying that from all indications, the party would no longer be what it used to be.

Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha’s posters indicating his interest to run for the presidency in the 2015 general elections have flooded Owerri and other major cities in the state. Our correspondent, who moved round Owerri, yesterday, noticed the posters at strategic points, including Government House. At the time of going to press, no campaign organisation or agency of the state government claimed responsibility for the  posters in the state.

Some Nigerians serving various jail terms in the UK have kicked against the recently signed Prisoner Transfer Agreement between Nigeria and British governments. Dr Dalhatu Tafida, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, on Tuesday in London confirmed this in an interview with the Europe Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The Imo state Police Command yesterday paraded five students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), suspected to be members of the Black Axe confraternity. The suspected student cultists, who were arrested by the Anti-cult Squad of the Imo State Police Command, include Echekwu (24), Desmond(23), Emmanuel (23), Gerald (24) and Camillus (20)

As Igbo mourn the death of renowned industrialist and philanthropist, Chief John Richard Anyaehie, his family has slated his burial for next month, with the head of the Anglican communion worldwide expected to grace the event. The foremost industrialist died two weeks ago, in London, at the age of 90.

A 27-year-old lady, Miss Ijeoma Nwachukwu, has been murdered by her boyfriend in a hotel at the Satellite Town area of Lagos. Her body was dumped in a bush in the area. Daily Sun investigation revealed that Miss Nwachukwu, who assisted her foster mother in operating a restaurant in Festac Town, resided at Number 1, Comweb Street, Ijegun, Imore area of Satellite in Lagos and had been in a four-year relationship with a young man, one Christian, who resides at Teddy town, Mowo in Satellite town.

Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu | credits: File copy The Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police on Tuesday arrested a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu. The 67-year-old, who was declared wanted by the SFU on June 19, 2013, for allegedly obtaining N130m from one Cajethan Okekearu, under the guise of selling a plot of land at Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos, was arrested at her Lagos Island residence. In a statement by the SFU Commissioner of Police, Mr.Tunde Ogunsakin, Ojikutu was said to have allegedly connived with her son, Samson Ojikutu Jnr, currently in the United States, to commit the fraud.  The statement reads in part, “The suspect and her son were parties to the sale of the land and both signed the agreement given to Okekerau and obtained the sum of N130m from him.

CBN Governor, Mr. Lamido Sanusi The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, on Tuesday said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had yet to remit to the Federation Account $20bn out of the $67bn it realised from crude oil sale on behalf of the Federal Government. Sanusi, who stated this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance currently investigating the alleged non-remittance,  also explained that he had submitted a 20-page document backed up with another 30-page appendix to prove his point. The CBN boss told the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led committee that certain level of reconciliation had been achieved from the meetings the bank had with the NNPC and other relevant agencies since the allegation of the unremitted funds became a public issue. He said, “The NNPC did a presentation. We had all agreed that $14bn out of the $67bn they shipped came in to the dollar account of the federation.

Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal Members of the All Progressives Congress  in  the House of Representatives on Tuesday stalled  debate on the 2014 Appropriation Bill.  The development appeared to be the first phase of the lawmakers’ compliance with the directive of  the national leadership of their party to “block” all Executive  bills, particularly  the budget. The PUNCH  had exclusively reported on Tuesday that the lawmakers were set for  a stormy debate on the budget. The leadership of the APC had, at a meeting with the members of the party in Abuja on Tuesday, restated its directive to them to ensure that the Appropriation bill was not passed.  The  row in the House was however prevented from degenerating by the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, who continuously advised the  angry lawmakers to exercise decorum.  Tuesday’s plenary  progressed normally until  Tambuwal asked the Majority Leader, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, to lead the debate on the general principles of  the N4

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, were absent from Tuesday’s  National Council of State meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Although Amaechi, through his Chief Press Secretary, David Iyofor, said he could not attend the meeting because he  was out of the country, Obasanjo and Buhari  gave no reason for their action. Obasanjo and Buhari had for long stayed away from the NCS meetings which last held almost 11 months ago. The council, which has President Goodluck Jonathan as chairman, and his deputy, Namadi Sambo, as deputy chairman, is made up of all former Presidents and Heads of Government, all former Chief Justices of Nigeria,  the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,  all the 36 state governors,  and    the Attorney-General of the Federation.

If there is any word to describe this bombshell; ‘masterstroke corporate fraud’ will be the name, as it reveals what the governor of Ondo State had breath a huge sigh of relief that all loopholes of it coming to the public has been blocked. On March 2001 under late governor Adebayo Adefarati of Ondo State, a world class business deal was reached between Ondo State and Integrated Mineral Development Company (IMDC), headed by Mr. Simon Kolajo. The agreement was for IMDC to prospect and drill oil in Ondo State, haven found out that there was crude oil in the state.

Pupils of Baptist High School, Iwo on the assembly ground... on Tuesday. There was confusion at Baptist High School, Iwo, Osun State on Tuesday as some pupils shunned their uniforms and wore choir gowns, white garments, Islamic apparel   and other unconventional dresses to the school. Although no group or individual could be identified as the mastermind of the bizarre dress code by the pupils, there were, however, conflicting reasons for the behaviour. While some people said the unconventional dresses were a way of registering dislike for the same uniform introduced by the government for all schools in the state,  others said some Christians who were opposed to wearing of hijab in schools founded by Christian missionaries orchestrated the drama. The suit instituted on the issue of hijab wearing to school is still pending before an Osun State High Court. But Tuesday confusion reportedly became more pronounced at the assembly ground as the pupils could not listen to their

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as reckless, irresponsible and totally condemnable the alleged threat by Mujahedeen Asari-Dokubo to levy war against Nigeria even if President Goodluck Jonathan is defeated even in a free and fair election in 2015. It said the SSS must act immediately or be damned.

For the first time  in history, Nigeria will be hit with the biggest platform dedicated to African inspired  fashion , African FashionWeek Nigeria (AFWN). The two-day spectacular show which will be held between Saturday, 17th and Sunday, 18th May 2014 at Intercontinental Hotel , Victoria Island, Lagos will showcase everything that defines fashion from an African point of view.

Thanks to Superior Court Judge James R. Brandlin,  Chris Brown  will be able to remain in rehab and not be sent to jail.  Billboard  reports Los Angeles Deputy District   Attorney  Mary Murray filed a motion with the court to have Brown placed in jail and face a  probation violation  hearing for his assault case in Washington, DC.