Nedu Echianu's Blog

Following a directive Monday afternoon by the Inspector General of Police to the Commissioner of Police, Kano State, Mohammed Katsina to liase with the State’s Emirate Council and relevant persons, the 14-year-old Ese Oruru was last night rescued from her abductor. Confirming the rescue in a telephone chat Monday, Force Public relations Officer, ACP Olabisi Kolawole disclosed that the Inspector General of Police has directed that Ese Oruru be giving protection adding that she will be flown to Abuja tomorrow (Tuesday to be re-united with her family. Already, it was gathered that the IGP has made arrangements to move the family to Abuja to re-unite with their daughter.

Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio finally snagged Oscars gold on Sunday, 22 years after his first Academy Award nomination – proving he really is not just a pretty face. Though one of the world’s biggest and most bankable stars – “Titanic” rocketed him to the A-list in 1997 – the 41-year-old had been unable until now to take home the golden statuette despite four previous acting nominations.

How could this be?

Just because this is not my usual style and I know a good number of people will say several things to discredit this piece, I feel the need to state some facts.

In what appears to be a major U-turn from his campaign promises before the 2015 presidential election, president Mohammadu Buhari has said he would not pay the N5000 stipend he promised to unemployed youth in the country. The president made the remarks at the weekend while on a visit in Middle East.

Guess who?

If you are using a mobile phone to view this photo, flip it upside down and see a remarkable appearance.

Uzordima Chukwudi, 29, was a lotto operator before he took to kidnapping, a trade he was into before he was arrested by the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, led by CSP Abba Kyari. Chukwudi was arrested alongside some other members of the group, including Joseph Chiaotu, aka Ejima, 21, Anozie Chinonso, 25 and 27-year-old Chukwuma Agim, who is a prison official, in connection with the kidnap of a woman in Imo State.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, told an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, that the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, destroyed his “confessional statement” upon realizing that it directly linked former President Goodluck Jonathan to the alleged illegal diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms.

The Federal Government has confirmed the payment of N50 billion by MTN as part payment of the N1.04 trillion fine by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. Confirming this to newsmen on Friday, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Communications, Mr. Victor Oluwadamilare, said the payment by telecom company was made with a precursor for an out of court settlement over the matter.

Samson Siasia and Emmanuel Amunike have both been named interim handlers of the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation on the recommendation of the Technical Committee and will go ahead to prepare the team for the Afcon 2017 qualifiers against Egypt.

The Supreme Court has okayed the convicted General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Rev. King to die by hanging. In a unanimous judgment Friday afternoon, a seven-man panel of Justices ‎of the apex court led by Justice Walter Onnoghen, upheld the death sentence that was earlier handed to Ezeugo by the Lagos State High Court. Consequently, the court in its lead verdict that was delivered by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, dismissed the appeal the convicted clergy lodged before it.

Gianni Infantino has succeeded fellow Swiss Sepp Blatter as president of world football's governing body Fifa. The Uefa secretary general polled 115 votes, 27 more than closest rival Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa. Prince Ali bin al-Hussein (four votes) and Jerome Champagne (0) were third and fourth respectively.

Lol

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, Rivers United will no longer embark on road trips for domestic matches. This follows the successful talks between sponsors of the club, the Rivers State Goverment and an Airline operator. Explaining the rationale behind the move, Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Honourable Boma Iyaye said it is in line with the blueprint of making the club the foremost Nigerian side in the country.

After several weeks of controversy between the Chief Coach of Nigeria's national team, Sunday Oliseh and his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Oliseh, in the wee hours of Friday, announced his resignation as Chief Coach of the Super Eagles.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday felicitated with ex-President of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari, as he marks his 91st anniversary. Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described the nonagenarian as one of the last men standing among the nationalists who fought for the independence of Nigeria.

These are some never seen before photos of US President Barack Obama and his wife Michele, more after the cut...

Feeling outraged, tickled or touched by something you spotted on Facebook? Now you can say so, after the social media giant added five new reactions to its basic “like” button. “Like, love, haha, wow, sad or angry” — the expanded “reactions” feature rolled out globally on Wednesday is designed to let users express a range of emotions. Facebook had been testing ways to add to the “like” button faced with complaints that it was sometimes inappropriate, especially in cases of tragic events.

The supreme court has declined to interpret a judgment it gave on January 29 involving the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra state. The court held that the judgment had nothing to do with the status of Stella Oduah, Andy Uba and other lawmakers elected on the platform of the PDP in Anambra state as federal lawmakers.

A FIFA appeals committee has reduced the bans against Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini from eight to six years, but agreed with a previous ruling that both had committed ethics violations. “The FIFA Appeal Committee…has partially confirmed the decisions taken by the adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee,” regarding Blatter, FIFA’s fallen president, and Platini, the head of European football, a FIFA statement said.

According to reports by the Trent, the Danish Foreign Minister who visited Nigeria’s Vice President at the Presidential Villa could have died as a result of an accidental discharge by a careless SSS operative. The Trent reports as follows: What could have been a serious diplomatic row between Denmark and Nigeria was averted Tuesday when an operative of Nigeria’s Secret Police, the Department of State Security Services (also called DSS or SSS) accidentally discharged his weapon in the presence of the visiting Danish Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Kristian Jensen.

Governor Rochas Okorocha has demanded for a comprehensive list of Imo sons and daughters serving various jail terms in US prisons, with the offences for which they were accused of, tried and convicted also stated. Governor Okorocha made the demand when the United States of America consulate General in Lagos, Mr. John Bray paid him a courtesy call at the Government House Owerri, Wednesday, February 24, 2016, stating that, the state has her sons and daughters in U.S prisons, with some of them guilty as charged, while some of them were victims of social circumstances.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has finalized plans to arraign the former minister of interior Abba Moro on 11 count charges. According to EFCC sources Moro may be docked bordering on obtaining by false pretence, procurement fraud and money laundering.

In a development that has openly shown his anger and dissatisfaction with the controversy trailing the 2016 budget proposal currently being debated at the National Assembly, President Mohammadu Buhari has vowed to deal decisively with those said to be the masterminds of the "budget padding".

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has raised the alarm over the rising cases of vandalism of various electricity equipment in its Distribution Network, especially in Wuse and other parts of the Abuja City Centre. A statement issued by the Company revealed that no fewer than 10 different power system equipment were vandalized and in most cases carted away by unknown persons in less than one week in Wuse area under its FCT Central Region.

Bitter Kola, Garcinia kola, used extensively in West Africa as a social beverage and offered to guests as ‘Kola’ in many of Nigeria’s cultural settings, is valued also for its medicinal properties. It is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of Laryngitis, general inflammation, bronchitis, viral infections and diabetes as well as a rejuvenating agent, adaptogen and general antidote. Scientists at our laboratories have performed extensive research and written many books on this wonder plant called ‘Garcinia’. Researchers have identified bitter kola as a potential antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and a potential detoxifying agent.

It was a herculean task for security agencies on Tuesday as hundreds of protesters on the aegis of Society Coalition stormed the National Assembly (NASS) calling for the immediate resignation of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki to enable him face his perjury case before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, refused an application by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, seeking to stay further proceedings in the suit challenging the hike in electricity tariff by Distribution Companies, DISCOs. The suit was instituted by a lawyer and rights activist, Toluwani Adebiyi, following which the court had restrained parties to maintain status-quo.

Press Release February 22, 2016 Marafa Vs Senate : Enough is Enough! We have watched with dismay from the inauguration of the Eighth Senate how Senator Kabiru Marafa has constituted himself as a cog in the wheel of progress, unity and harmony of the institution. Since his preferred candidates did not win elections into the leadership of the Senate, he has carried on as if the peace, order, good health and progress of the institution does not matter.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday arrested a former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, over the Nigerian Immigration recruitment scam in which no fewer than 20 job seekers died. Also arrested by the anti-graft agency were former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Anaesthesia Nwaobia, and a deputy director who allegedly facilitated the scam.

I totally agree... Lol

A University of Lagos student who was among the group of Mass Communication students invited to Senator Ben Bruce’s 60th Birthday Celebration narrates his ordeal at the star-studded party Senator Ben Murray Bruce turned 60 yesterday, he took the opportunity to launch his book “The Common Sense Revolution” but it’s sad to see that the event in its totality portrays the average Nigerian Politician.

The attention of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to some false online publications reporting that the party has congratulated David Mark, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Saturday's Benue South Senatorial rerun election.

Spokesperson for the Senate Unity Forum, Senator Kabir Marafa, on Sunday, demanded the immediate suspension of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for allegedly creating controversies around the 2016 budget in order to blackmail President Muhammadu Buhari. Marafa, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population, told newsmen in Abuja that, Saraki and his loyalists in the red chamber, were condemning the budget to protest his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. He added that the budget controversies in very logical ways, could be linked to the pending trial of Saraki at the CCT.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, said it compelled Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to refund N6.2 billion to customers they over charged as cost of transactions in 2015. This is contained in a statement made available by the Director, Corporate Communications, of the CBN, Ibrahim Mu’azu, in Abuja on Saturday.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated the immediate past President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, on his  victory in the rerun election for the Benue South Senatorial seat. 

The All Progressives Congress APC has congratulated a former President of the Senate, David Mark, for his victory in the Benue South Senatorial rerun election held Saturday. Mr. Mark was declared winner early Sunday morning amid protest by his main challenger, Daniel Onjeh, who demanded that the election be declared inconclusive. The former senate president scored 84,192 votes, leaving a margin of 12,571 votes between him and Mr. Onjeh, who garnered 71,621 votes.

The Independent National Election Commission, INEC, has declared former Senate President, David Mark, as the winner of the February 20 Benue South Senatorial District Re-run election. Mark polled a total of 84, 192 while his main challenger, Daniel Onjeh had 71, 621 votes. Vanguard reports that Mark won in five local government areas while Onjeh won in four. The result was declared by Prof. Ishaku Enigi.

A village in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat has banned single women from using mobile phones, with elders deeming the technology a “nuisance to society”. Members of the Suraj village council in Mehsana, the premier’s home district, passed a resolution in early February outlawing the use of mobile phones for teenage girls and young women.

Ogenyi Onazi, Super Eagles of Nigeria and Lazio of Italy midfielder, says he got married early to resist temptations and grow with his children. Onazi, who has one goal in 36 international games, told TheCable in a recent interview that his settling down early would boost his career and make him focused. “Thank God for His grace. All thanks to God even if the process is not yet complete because we just went to the registry for now,” he said.

Former Senate President, David Mark, has won his polling unit at the ongoing Benue South Senatorial District Re-run. Vanguard reports that Mark polled 150 votes against 37 votes of Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the VIP 1, Otukpo Club, Township ward. In the nearby polling unit, VIP II, Mark also won by 97 to 19 votes.

Fruity King Gambling Company has caused twitter storm after it shared a picture of Manchester City player Yaya Toure and his wife, Gineba with the caption: ‘Sure she’s bubbly but someone needs to remind Yaya Toure he’s on £220,000-a-week. Start abusing this privilege.’ Twitter users who were disgusted by the tweet called it embarrassing and an insult to Gineba.

INEC Boss The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has postponed the rerun election for Imo North senatorial district, which was scheduled to hold today. Reports say the electoral body postponed the election after the Police said they couldn’t guaranty the life of electoral official and security of materials following youth unrest. The People's Democratic Party PDP's candidate, Senator Athan Achonu's election was nullified by the appeal court following a petition by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu.