Chibok girls: Nigerians in Diaspora laud Buhari, hail military shake-up

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group, UK Chapter, has saluted the federal government over the release of 82 Chibok Girls from captivity.

According to NDMG, the release of the girls was a confirmation that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is sincere to Nigerians in keeping its promises.

A statement issued on Thursday by its general secretary, Depreson Okereke also commended the recent shake-up in the military, saying that it would further reposition the Nigerian Army with its mandate to tackle terrorism with a renewed vigour.

The statement said, “We therefore laud the Nigerian Military and the Buhari administration for the rescue of the Chibok Girls and many other abductees whose release did not make media headlines.

“Across the oceans, Nigerians in Diaspora are happy to read about the numerous encomiums being showered on the Nigerian Military by respected nations of the world like the USA, the U.K., France, Germany and Russia.

“Such accolades coming to a nation that was once regarded as a terrorists’ hotbed has shown that there are things other countries fighting terrorism can learn from Nigeria.”

It also described the recent shake-up in the army as a welcome development.

“It is noteworthy that efforts of the administration in curtailing terrorism have earned Nigeria global recognition. We are confident that the global rating of the Nigerian military will rise even further with the recent restructuring of the Nigerian Army formation, which we understand is another facet of improvements being made towards accelerating the war against terrorism.

“We appeal to officers to be up and doing in their new assignments and to never let the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces down.

“This is even as we remind them not to lose sight of the centrality of adhering to the rules of engagement. The slightest lapse in its observance would create an inroad for those seeking to undermine the counter-terrorism war.

“The exploits of the Nigerian Army have served to erase the negative image that people like Abdu Mutalab and several world terrorists had given the nation.

“The poor perception of the country has been totally wiped out by the singular actions of the Nigerian military which helped to effect the release of the abducted Chibok Girls and other captives back to the country.”

The group further appealed to the Federal Government not to relent on its efforts until the last of the abducted girls have been released or accounted for.

“In this regard, we urge the Nigerian Army to intensify its operations against the terrorists to make them more amenable to releasing the remaining girls,” the statement added.

“Before now, Nigeria has been regarded as a volatie nation but the army has fought hard to bring back the nation’s lost glory.

“What the Army has done so far is like taking a team from a division 3 to winning the European championship. We gladly salute the troops for achieving this feat in tandem.

“We were not surprised because the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai had recently declared that terrorism will soon be a thing of the past.”

The group further appealed to Nigerians of all shades of opinion, religion, ethnic and political leanings to desist from politicizing the release of the girls as this could greatly compromise their rehabilitation and reintegration.

Photos: Giant mysterious creature washes up dead on Indonesian beach

The rotting remains of a mystery sea creature have washed up on a remote Indonesian beach.

The  was discovered by local resident Asrul Tuanakota on the northern shore of Seram Island in Maluku province, the Jakarta Globe reports.

Mr Tuanakota, 37, initially thought the huge sea creature was a stranded boat when he found it on Tuesday night.

Since then, residents have flocked to Hulung Beach to see the bloated mass for themselves.

Baffled locals have speculated that the creature may be a giant squid or the remains of a whale.

Residents have asked authorities to help remove the decaying remains.

Defoe relegation release clause ‘hard to take’ – Moyes

Sunderland boss David Moyes says it is “hard to take” that Jermain Defoe has a relegation release clause in his contract that will allow the England striker to leave for free this summer.

Bottom side Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League last month.

Defoe, 34, joined Sunderland in January 2015 and signed a contract extension in June under former boss Sam Allardyce.

“I wouldn’t have allowed a clause to be in there but it is and we have to honour the contract,” said Moyes.

“We hope he stays, the supporters hope he says, but it has to be Jermain’s decision.”

Defoe has scored 15 goals in 35 Premier League appearances this season for the Black Cats.

His excellent form earned him a recall to the England squad in March, after a four-year absence from the national side.

“He has got himself back in the England team, and will want to push to get into the World Cup squad,” Moyes added.

“I would imagine he will be thinking that would be hard to do as a Championship player.”

Chelsea defender Aina could face Bafana Bafana

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has reportedly assured that Ola Aina will be cleared by FIFA before the Super Eagles and South Africa.

The Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana are scheduled to lock horns in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Nigeria on the 10th of June 2017.

Chelsea defender Aina Aina represented England at various youth level, but switched allegiance to Nigeria last month after talks with head coach Gernot Rohr.

But his international switch is yet to be approved by FIFA, but an unnamed member of the NFF has hinted that it will be sorted out before the clash with Bafana.

”Aina won’t play against Corsica due to club duties, but he will join the team after the game,” the NFF official said.

“All things been equal he should play in the friendly game we are trying to arrange after the game against Corsica.

”For the game against South Africa, you know his switch requires clearance from FIFA,” the official added.

“We (NFF) have started the process and hopefully it will be sorted out before the South Africa game. As a matter of fact it should work.”

The 20-year-old promising player has featured in two English Premier League (EPL) matches for Chelsea thus far this season.

Oil prices back in the $50s as markets expect fresh OPEC deal

Oil prices rose on Friday as traders expected OPEC-led production cuts to extend beyond the middle of this year.

In the same vein, US crude inventories fell to their lowest levels since February.

International Brent crude futures were at $50.96 per barrel  on Friday, up 19 cents, Or 0.37 percent, from their last close.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at 48.01 dollars per barrel, up 18 cents, or 0.38 percent.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers including Russia have pledged to cut output by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) during the first Half of the year.

The negotiations, which were led by Nigeria’s Mohammed Barkindo, the OPEC secretary-general is regarded as one of the most historic deal in the oil cartel’s history.

With crude prices in the $50 territory, Nigeria’s 2017 budget, which was passed on Thursday,  is expected to have a smooth sail.

In fact, oil at $50 is expected to reduce the budget deficit by an appreciable lot.-NAN

30 Private Jets Land in Minna for IBB's Daughter's Wedding

Twenty six private jets and four police and air force aircrafts landed in Minna on Friday for the wedding of former President Ibrahim Babangida’s daughter. The aircraft brought the various dignitaries that attended the event. The police also provided air surveillance and security.

 

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife Patience, Senate President Bukola Saraki and former vice president Namadi Sambo were at the wedding.

 

Others included Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, Ahmed Abdulfatah of Kwara and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano.

 

APC National Leader Ahmed Tinubu, Sen Aliyu Wamakko, Gov of Kaduna state, Mrs Aikhomu, Mrs Josephine Anenih, ex-governor Babangida Aliyu, were among the many personalities who witnessed the short ceremony at the Hilltop home of the retired military General in Minna, the Niger State capital.

 

Others in attendance were Sen. Pius Anyim Pius, former Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Justice Idris Kutigi, former Chief Justice of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Yayale, also a former SGF, Gen. Magoro, Senator Ben Obi, Senator Ben Bruce, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Haruna, Chairman IBB Golf Club, Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura.

 

Gen. Aliyu Gusau, who served several times as National Security Adviser, Dr Okwezili Nwodo, former PDP National Secretary, Alhaji Modibo, former FCT Minister, Oba Hamid Adekunle, Oluwo Kuta, also came.

 

Business moguls Aliko Dangote and Tony Elemulu, as well as members of the Federal Executive Councils including Ministers of Interior Abdulrahman Danbazzau and Defence Mansur Dan-Ali as well as Minister of state for Solid Mineral Development Abubakar Bwari.

 

The daughter of IBB, Halima is the last child of the family and she is marrying a Gombe businessman, Alhaji Auwal Abdullahi.

 

Abdullahi gave 10 cows and N500,000 as dowry for his bride.

 

The groom is the Sarkin Sudan of Gombe, in Gombe state.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gen. Garba Wushishi performed the symbolic ceremony of handing over Halimat at 2.45 pm in marriage to Abdullahi.

 

Gov. Ibrahim Dankwanbo of Gombe state received the bride on behalf of the groom, who hails from the state.

 

NAN reports that a special prayer by Sheik Kabiru Gombe was offered for the couple, who stressed the significance of marriage in Islam and called on the bride to submissive and loyal to her husband.

 

Also prominent among the guests at the ceremony were businessman, Aliko Dangote and Mr Mark Snoxell, Managing Director, Dornier Aircraft.

 

Others were Air Marshall Hamza Abdullahi, Gen Garba Duba, Sen Aliyu Wamakko ,Sen Yarima Abdullahi, Sen Rabiu Kwankwaso, Sen Nuhu Aliyu, who was also a former police DIG.

 

The wedding ceremony scheduled for 11.30 a.m was held after 2.45pm. -NAN

 

Pep Guardiola sharpens knife for Man City clear out

Pep Guardiola says he has made his mind up on the futures of Manchester City’s seven out-of-contract players, but added that they will have to wait until the end of the season to find out.

Yaya Toure, Gael Clichy, Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Willy Caballero, Jesus Navas and Tosin Adarabioyo have yet to discover if Guardiola will keep them on for next season.

However, City’s manager has made clear that he only wants focus on the final three matches of the season, starting with Saturday’s home game against Leicester, as his side try to secure Champions League qualification.

Asked if he had spoken to any of the seven players about their futures, Guardiola said: “No.”

He did, however, make clear that their fates have been sealed, adding: “It does not depend if they play the last three games.

“The decision is already made. We are going to communicate after the season. I know in my mind.”

Toure, who has been impressive since regaining his place in November after an early-season fall-out with Guardiola, celebrates his 34th birthday on Saturday.

The midfielder memorably got involved in a public controversy three years ago when his agent Dimitri Seluk accused the club’s owners of not showing him enough respect on his birthday.

Guardiola joked that there would be no such problem this time, saying: “We’ll get him as big a cake as possible. We are going to do that. But after the game.”

Sergio Aguero and John Stones could both play a part against Leicester, having returned to training after recovering from injury.

– seven points –

Top scorer Aguero missed last Saturday’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace with a groin injury, while centre-back Stones has not played for more than a month because of a muscle problem.

Guardiola admitted that City have not done as well as he expected this season, but believes the club are making progress – and is confident that they can get the seven points from three games needed to make certain of a place in next season’s Champions League.

He said: “I enjoyed it. I expected us to fight until the end in the table, especially in the Premier League, because in the Champions League we were not ready to compete with the best teams in Europe.

“But I was expecting to compete until the end, the last three, four, five games, to fight for the Premier League title.

“We were not able to do that because again I think in the boxes we were not good enough to be able to fight until the end.

“But I’m so optimistic. Of course, over the last three games, we are able to qualify for the Champions League. I think we will be stronger next season.”

Finishing third would ensure City a place in the Champions League group stages, while fourth place will require them to go through a play-off in August, as they did this season.

Three wins would guarantee third place, but Guardiola said he would be ready for a play-off if necessary.

He said: “If we finish fourth, we’ll go into the Champions League play-off like this season and my first at Barcelona.

“The pre-season will already be done. We’re going to the United States to play tough friendly games. You go there, you have to make a good performance there.

“Of course, if we have already qualified for the group stages, we are going to prepare and arrive at the first game in the Premier League ready.

“If it doesn’t happen, we’re going to prepare for the play-off. When you play that, it becomes the most important game of the season.

“If we’re not able to do third or fourth we’re going to prepare for the first game of the Europa League.”

Italy sanctions WhatsApp over Facebook data sharing

U.S.-based mobile messaging service, WhatsApp, was fined 3 million Euros (3.3 million dollars) on Friday in Italy for insufficient transparency on data sharing with its parent company, Facebook.

WhatsApp was taken over by Facebook in 2014 and two years later, it introduced new terms of service and privacy policies that gave Facebook access to WhatsApp users’ data.

Italy’s Antitrust Regulator — AGCM — said in a statement that “the opportunity for WhatsApp users to refuse the handover of data to Facebook was available `but it was inadequately flagged.”

The regulator also criticised WhatsApp for introducing “unfair clauses” to its term of service, such as giving the company the right to cut off services or start charging customers without warning.

In December, the European Commission, which regulates antitrust matters in the EU, launched an investigation into Facebook’s conduct prior to the WhatsApp buyout.

The EU executive accused Facebook of misleadingly telling the commission that it could not smoothly integrate its own users’ data with that of WhatsApp.

However, Facebook denied any wrongdoing and promised to explain its actions.

The commission said it could slap a fine of up to 1 per cent of annual turnover, around 280 million dollars, if it is not satisfied by the internet giant’s answers.

Photo News :Guests at Babangida's Daughter's Wedding

Thailand warns Facebook to take down anti-monarchy pages

Thai authorities gave Facebook until Tuesday to take down contents it said were threatening national security or face legal action.

Thailand’s military government has ramped up online censorship, particularly perceived insults to monarchy, since seizing power in a 2014 coup.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) said on Friday that Facebook had failed to remove 131 of 309 web addresses on its platform which threatened security or violated the lese majeste law.

NBTC said that it is a crime to defame, insult or threaten the king, queen, heir to the throne or regent.

It said that the Facebook formed part of some 6,900 web addresses which Thai courts have ordered to be removed or shut down since 2015.

Takorn Tantasith, Secretary-General of NBTC said that he had given Facebook until Tuesday to remove the 131 addresses.

“If Facebook still shows content declared illegal by court orders in Thailand, action must be taken against Facebook Thailand.

“They could argue that they are not involved (in removing content), but Facebook Thailand is still operating here,” Takorn said.

He said that the Ministry of Digital Economy would file a complaint with police next week to press charges against Facebook Thailand under the Computer Crime Act and commerce ministry regulations.

He said that obtaining a search warrant for Facebook Thailand would be a possible step.

Facebook has not responded to Reuters’ request for comment about the threat of legal action against it as at the time of this report.

Facebook Thailand focuses on marketing and business developments in Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy.

Facebook has said its general guideline when it receives requests from governments to remove content is to first determine whether the content violates local laws before it proceeds to restrict access in the relevant country.

Facebook said it blocked 50 pieces of content which were found to have violated the lese majeste law in 2016, following government requests.

Thailand’s telecoms regulator has taken a tough stance against perceived criticism of the monarchy since Thailand’s revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej died in October.

It has pressured internet service providers to monitor content and block anything inappropriate.

Thailand considers the monarchy to be one of the guiding pillars of Thai society and above criticism or comment.

We will reply Tinubu at the polls – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the belief of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Bola Tinubu, that it will win nothing in the forthcoming council polls in Lagos is unfortunate.

Mr Taofik Gani, Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Lagos State, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday that the party, despite some internal problems, would put up a good show in the elections.

He said that the electorate, and not the APC chieftain, would decide the outcome of the elections, and the PDP still had its following in the state.

Gani said that the PDP would continue to insist on free and fair elections.

“PDP is a party to reckon with in the state, we are watching them and we will not allow them (APC) to have their way,“ he said.

Gani said that the Moshood-Salvador camp of the party was working for the unity of the party and would do everything within its powers to ensure members stayed as one.

NAN reports that Tinubu had on Wednesday while addressing a crowd of APC supporters at a stakeholders meeting said that the PDP would win nothing in the July 22 election, as APC would sweep the polls.

He said that though the party lost some state and national legislative seats to the PDP in some constituencies in the 2015 elections, the APC was working to win back support in the affected councils.

“We have asked our leaders in those local governments to examine what went wrong and work together to chart a new course to ensure APC win back those councils,” he had said.

Meanwhile, the two factions of the PDP in Lagos are accusing each other of stalling efforts being made to present a united front ahead of the July 22 local government elections.

The Chairman of a faction of the party in the State, Mr Segun Adewale (Aeroland), alleged that the Moshood Salvador faction of the party was not working for the success of the party in the forthcoming election.

Adewale told NAN on Friday in Lagos that the Salvador faction, aligned to the Ahmed Makarfi-led national PDP Caretaker Committee, had frustrated all reconciliatory efforts to present a strong showing of PDP at the polls.

“I am the authentic chairman of the PDP in the state because the court has pronounced the Ali Modu Sheriff faction to which I belong as the authentic national leadership.

“That is the status quo and I remain the state’s chairman except the apex court gives a contrary judgement.

“Even with that, the council polls are coming and I have made reconciliatory efforts to the Salvador’s faction so that the council can do well at the poll,’’ he said.

According to him, the Salvador faction has, however, kept on frustrating the efforts.

Adewale, who contested the Alimosho Federal Constituency seat in 2011 and Lagos West Senatorial seat in 2015, losing to Sen. Olamilekan Solomon on both occasions, said his faction was, nonetheless, doing all its best for the PDP to do well at the polls.

He urged the party’s supporters to remain steadfast, urging them to work relentless for the success of the party at the polls.

Reacting, Gani described the allegations by Adewale as falsehood.

Gani said the Salvador group was the first to initiate a peace process ahead of the polls but that the Adewale group shunned all efforts and boycotted meetings arranged by Salvador.

“If there is any faction frustrating the peace process, it is the Adewale group. We were the first faction to initiate a peace process and we arranged meetings at Protea Hotel to ensure we do well at the polls but the other group boycotted.

“While we were doing that, the Appeal Court pronounced the Sherrif Group to which Adewale belongs as the national leadership of the party, and this made the issue more problematic.

“The other group started seeing themselves as the faction with legitimacy and leverage at the party in the state; they started dictating to everybody even when the matter is at the Supreme Court.

“They invaded the secretariat with some people and forced people out. They did not have respect for us and the elders of the party and are scuttling efforts for the party to be one,’’ he said,

He, however, said the only way forward for the party to come together and put up a strong showing at the council polls was for both parties to recognize and respect each other to achieve a common goal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has fixed July 22 for the poll and July 29 for runoff.

Jonathan leads former PDP governors to IBB daughter’s wedding

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, including his wife, Patience on Friday led a large delegation of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders, governors, past and serving senators to attend the wedding of Halima Babangida , daughter of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida in Minna.

The groom is Auwal Lawal Abdullai, Sarkin Sudan of Gombe.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports in Minna that among the delegation were Alhaji Namadi Sambo, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, PDP factional Chairman, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, former Governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Shinkafi Mamudu, former governor of Zamafara.

Others were Isa Yuguda, former governor of Bauchi state, Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa, Ibrahim Shema, former Gov. of Kastina, Alhaji Abubakar Dakingari, former Gov. of Kebbi and Abubakar Musa, former Gov. of Kebbi.

Others in attendance were Sen. Pius Anyim Pius, former Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Justice Idris Kutigi, former Chief Justice of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Yayale, former SGF, Gen. Magoro, Senator Ben Obi, Senator Ben Bruce, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Haruna, Chairman IBB Golf Club, Alhaji Sani Zango Daura,

Also prominent among the guests at the wedding ceremony were businessman, Aliko Dangote and Mr Mark Snoxell, Managing Director, Dornier Aircraft.

Gen. Aliyu Gusau, who served several times as National Security Adviser, Dr Okwezili Nwodo, former PDP National Secretary, Alhaji Modibo, former FCT Minister, Oba Hamid Adekunle, Oluwo Kuta, were also in attendance.

Others were Air Marshall Hamza Abdullahi, Gen Garba Duba, Sen Aliyu Wamakko ,Sen Yarima Abdullahi, Sen Rabiu Kwankwaso, Sen Nuhu Aliyu, who was also a former police  DIG. - NAN

Badoo Gang Killing Families In Lagos Arrested & Brutalized (Photos & Video)

At last, members of the heartless Baddo Gang terrorising the Ikorodu area of Lagos were nabbed on Friday after they executed another family of 4 at Oke Igbodo area of Ikorodu. Angry residents of the area pounced on them and battered them seriously. More photos and video...

Fresh Ebola Break Out In DR Congo, 3 Dead

A new Ebola outbreak has been declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo after the deaths of three people have been linked to the virus. At least one of the deceased has tested positive for the virus, the country’s health ministry has confirmed.


This confirmation came from tests on nine people who came down with a hemorrhagic fever in Bas-Uele province on or after April 22, the statement said.

Ebola was first identified in 1976 and it ravaged West Africa between December 2013 and January 2016, during which time it killed more than 11,000 people. In 2014, a three-month outbreak in DR Congo killed 49 people.

Malabu Oil Fraud Scam: Nigeria, UK Stunned By Italy's Claim To Frozen Funds

A reliable source from Nigeria's Ministry of Justice has briefed our correspondent about a simmering dispute between the United Kingdom, Italy and Nigeria over the Malabu funds that were frozen in the UK and Switzerland at the request of the Public Prosecutor of Milan (PPM). 

The dispute has arisen because, after initially securing the support of the UK and Nigeria on the basis that the money belongs to Nigeria, the Italians have now done a complete about-turn and are attempting to claim that the money belongs to Italy. 

The Italian volte face is considered astonishing since the Milan prosecutor, in requesting initially that the funds be frozen, had clearly stated that the money belonged to Nigeria. The prosecutor had also asserted that the funds had been unlawfully diverted by Italian oil corporation Eni, its executives, their associates and some high level Nigerian government officials. 

When the UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) acted on the Milan request to freeze the funds in the UK, it similarly stated in legal filings in the UK that the money belonged to Nigeria and had been unlawfully diverted to Malabu. 

When Malabu subsequently challenged the freezing order, the judge in rejecting the firm's request wondered why the Nigerian government had not intervened to claim the funds. 

The Ministry of Justice under President Muhammadu Buhari subsequently intervened successfully in the UK court by claiming Nigeria's ownership of the funds. The Italians were then asked to lift the freezing order so that the money could be claimed by Nigeria. To the shock of the multinational parties involved in the Malabu scandal, the Italians declined to cooperate with Nigeria's bid to reclaim the funds. Instead, Italian officials made the spurious claims that the funds, which had been paid to Malabu out of the Federal Government of Nigeria's (FGN) account at JP Morgan, belonged to Italy.  

Nigeria's Ministry of Justice officials say the Italian betrayal was a matter of extreme concern, noting that the Ministry had cooperated extensively with the Italians to ensure the success of the investigations and subsequent prosecutions in Nigeria and Italy and the return of the funds to Nigeria. 

"Throughout the period of our collaboration the Italians indicated that they would return the funds to Nigeria, but would require a nominal fee to cover the cost of their prosecution," a Nigerian official involved in the long-running legal drama told SaharaReporters. 

However, at a meeting last month in Milan between Italian, UK and Nigerian officials to discuss the lifting of the freezing order so that the funds could be returned to Nigeria, the Italians shocked the Nigerians and the British by outrageously arguing that the money belonged to Italy. 

The Italian officials' argument was that Eni, which paid the money into the FGN account, was a state-owned company. 

A source at Nigeria's Ministry of Justice said he was shocked and disappointed by the Italians' volte face. He said Nigeria promptly informed the Italians that future cooperation on the Italian prosecution could not proceed while the Italians were disputing Nigeria’s ownership of the funds. 

Our correspondent learned that officials of the UK Crown Prosecution Service were also miffed by the Italian position. "The British, who had been openly critical of the Italians' handling of the initial request to freeze the funds, have also been highly critical of the Italian claim to the funds," our source disclosed. 

The British reportedly cautioned the Italians about the image damage that could arise if it became public that the Italians were disputing Nigeria’s ownership of the funds.

SaharaReporters will closely monitor developments in the Malabu scandal. - SaharaReporters