FRESH 4RM GIM

Diezani Alison-Madueke appears in court – The former minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, appeared before London’s Westminster Magistrate Court on Monday, October 5, at about 10 am over charges of corruption and money laundering.

As plans for the 2019 general election thicken, a chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Campbell Umeh-Nzekwe has said that it is time for the South-East to produce the next president. Umeh-Nzekwe who is the deputy national organising secretary of APGA said that 2019 is the best time for Ndigbo to work in unison to produce the next number one citizen, The Punch reports. He added that his party has a better chance of winning the presidential election as votes from the North will be divided following the zoning of presidency to the north by the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party.

Arsenal will undoubtedly be welcoming the news that Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema appears to be getting frustrated at the Bernabeu under new boss Rafael Benitez. According to Agustin Martin of AS, when asked if he was "fed up of being substituted" after Real's 1-1 draw with Atletico in the Madrid derby on Sunday, he said: "Yes, it’s true. I’m a relaxed person and will keeping work hard so I’m not the player who gets taken off. I was subbed to make the team more defensive given the result."

Popular Yoruba musician, Yinka Ayefele, over the weekend, was attacked at the Ijare area of Ondo State alongside his band boys, by hoodlums who went on rampage and vandalized his vehicles and musical instruments for refusing to settle some ‘area boys’ after being paid his performance fee. According to reports, about 15 persons were wounded as the hoodlums attacked those invited to a burial ceremony of an 85-year-old woman, one Madam Ebunoluwa Lydia Odumakinde, held at Odo Oja Street in the town,

There were indications yesterday that the governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike; the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and loyalists of the governor have perfected plans to protest against the ministerial nomination of ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi by President Muhammadu Buhari. However, the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has vowed to resist any move to scuttle Amaechi’s clearance by the Senate.

 Four people were still missing on Monday after flash floods on the French Riviera killed at least 17 people over the weekend, prompting the government to declare a natural disaster in the southeastern tourist region. Some 5,000 homes were still without electricity on Monday morning after as many as 70,000 suffered blackouts the previous evening.

Oscar Pistorius could hear a decision on his parole Reeva Steenkamp was killed on 14 February 2013 A South African parole board is due to meet today to determine whether Oscar Pistorius should be released early from a prison sentence for killing his girlfriend. The 28-year-old double-amputee sprinter was sentenced last year to five years in prison for killing model and law graduate Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013.

Immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has denied claims by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State that his administration spent N64 billion to organize Nigeria’s independence celebrations for three years. El-Rufai and Jonathan According to the governor, Jonathan spent N13 billion in 2011, N15 billion in 2012 and N14 billion in 2013 and N22 billion in 2011, bringing the total to N64 billion.

The United States government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has approved $2.3billion assistance aimed at fighting extreme poverty in Nigeria. The agreement will provide a solid foundation for both countries to partner together to reduce inequalities across the country. In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP it said, “The $2.3 billion agreement comes on the heels of President Muhammadu Buhari’s July visit to Washington, DC.

*Investigation still on-going, says security source As anxiety mounts over the identities of suspects arrested alongside former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, indications emerged last night that she and other suspects might not be charged to court in Nigeria soon.