Abacha family loses bid to recover $800m loot from FG

The family and 19 close associates of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, have lost their bid to recover $800 million seized by the Federal Government. Abba Abacha, son of late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha The fund, allegedly looted by Abacha’s family, was recovered by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar – led government. The family and 19 companies owned by the family had gone to the appellate court seeking to upturn the decision of the Federal High Court Abuja, which dismissed their suit, challenging the constitutionality of the letters written by the Federal Government to governments of some foreign countries. Justice Suleiman Galadima, who delivered the lead judgment recently at the Supreme Court, threw out...

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PHOTOS: Arsenal players take lessons on Azonto dance

Three of the Arsenal First team Players currently in Nigeria, Per Mertasacker, Bacary Sagna and new signing Lukas Podolski were put through their paces by Nigerian Dance Queen, Kaffy on Sunday in a fantastic show sponsored by Malta Guinness. The energetic Kaffy gave the Arsenal players lessons on several Nigerian and African dance steps, including the popular “Azonto dance” and other routines. Images: Courtesy of arsenalfc.com ...

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Suicide bomb, explosion hit north Nigeria police

  Two explosions have struck two police stations in a major northwestern Nigerian city in the latest attack to target authorities, witnesses said Monday. Smoke rose over a compound containing a police station and regional police offices in the city of Sokoto Monday morning. The head of the regional office, Assistant Inspector General of Police Mukhtar Ibrahim said two people had died in the attack, including "the suicide bomber." An injured man at Specialist Hospital Sokoto who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter said he saw a car race into the main gate of the compound. He was on a bicycle when the blast went off. He said the impact of the blast threw him off his bicycle and that he hurt his hand in the fall. An Associated Press reporter...

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Queen opens London Games

Seven promising young British athletes lit the Olympic cauldron early Saturday, capping the Games' festive opening ceremony in east London. The torch, which minutes earlier had been on a boat driven by football star David Beckham down the River Thames, had been carried into the stadium by five-time Olympic gold medalist Steve Redgrave. The retired rower then passed it to the young athletes, who lit part of the outer rim of the torch, setting off a domino effect as fire methodically engulfed the cauldron. The small flames eventually rose and converged into the sky at the stadium. A short time earlier, Queen Elizabeth II formally pronounced the Olympics open for business, saying, "I declare open the Games of London, celebrating the 30th...

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Patient vomits live lizards on hospital bed

A strange incident is scaring the residents of  a community near the Federal Capital Territory, writes FRIDAY OLOKOR  The residents of Kubwa, a community on the outskirts of Abuja, got the shock of their lives when an unusual incident involving a businessman occurred about two weeks ago. The businessman, Edward Asuelimen, had woken up in the morning of July 16 with severe pain in his stomach. “I woke up a few minutes after 5 am. In less than two hours, I had visited the toilet four times. Then I felt excruciating pain in my stomach. It got to a point where I could hardly prepare my children for school,” Asuelimen recounts. Even his wife was very worried. But he managed to pull himself together and left their home with...

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Pirates attack Agip workers, kill three in Bayelsa

Tragedy has befallen the Nigerian Agip Oil Company as pirates attacked and killed three of its workers around the Clough Creek waterways, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. Our correspondent gathered that one of the deceased, Mr. Hector Abbey, drowned after jumping into the water in a bid to escape from the bandits. The boat of the workers, identified as MV Terra, was said to have been ambushed by the gunmen when it was heading for the firm’s Clough Creek flow station. It was gathered that the boat was not being escorted by security operatives when it was attacked. The remains of Abbey have been deposited at a private mortuary in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while the driver of the boat was said to be receiving medical treatment in an undisclosed hospital. The assailants...

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Oil marketers continue strike despite FG’s promises

Oil marketers in the country are still on strike despite the promises by the Federal Government on Thursday that verified subsidy arrears would soon be paid to them. The marketers, who spoke to our correspondent on Friday, confirmed that the government had yet to contact them for deliberations. The FG on Thursday, through the Ministry of Finance, directed the Debt Management Office to pay marketers all subsidy claims that had been verified. The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had said the claims would be paid as soon as the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency provided the supporting Sovereign Debt Notes. But she did not disclose the total amount to be paid to the marketers. The minister, in a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Communication, Mr. Paul...

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How PDP chieftain’s sons allegedly defrauded subsidy treasury – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned two sons of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains before the Lagos High Court over Lagos for alleged fuel subsidy fraud. The duo was Mahmud Tukur, son of PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur, Nasamu Ali, son of the party’s former National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Ali and others, including Christian Taylor, a foreigner. But, Abdullahi Arisekola, son of Ibadan frontline businessman Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao, arraigned for two sets of charges before two judges, was remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) till Wednesday when his bail application will be heard. These PDP leaders’ sons were among the 20 supects  who allegedly defraud the treasury of N13...

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FG orders payment of subsidy arrears to marketers

The Federal Government on Thursday moved to avert a nationwide fuel scarcity as it directed the Debt Management Office to pay marketers all subsidy claims that had been verified. The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the claims would be paid as soon as the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency provided the supporting Sovereign Debt Notes. She, however, did not disclose the total amount to be paid to the marketers. The oil marketers, operating under the aegis of Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association, had threatened to go on strike if their claims were not paid by Thursday. Specifically, they vowed to suspend fuel loading at the depots in Lagos and other parts of the country. But the minister,...

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Olympics: Games start today

IOC president Jacques Rogge| credits: bbc.co.uk The eyes of the world will be on London for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games today with Nigeria taking part in the event. The ceremony will provide an opportunity for the world to view the culture of the host city and the UK and that of all participating countries including Nigeria. Certain elements must feature in every Olympic opening ceremony, as outlined in the International Olympic Committee charter and today in London, there is expectation that the hosts will go beyond what the world witnessed in Beijing. For the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, Her Majesty the Queen will be greeted by Jacques Rogge, President of IOC. A procession of the participating...

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Enyimba suspend Eguavoen

The management of former African champions, Enyimba of Aba has suspended the club’s technical adviser, Augustine Eguavoen, indefinitely for poor performance and anti-club activities. Chairman of the club, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, in a statement said the former Super Eagles coach has displayed unprofessional attitude since the team was eliminated from the Federation Cup in Ibadan by Prime of Osogbo. According to Anyansi-Agwu, since the team returned to Aba after the Federation Cup elimination, Eguavoen has refused to return to work and his action negates the contract agreement he signed with the club. “I am confirming that Eguavoen has been placed on an indefinite suspension with immediate effect. He has flouted our contractual agreement by...

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Google unveils ultrafast Internet-TV

Google Inc made its foray into the market for bundled Internet and television services on Thursday, promising access speeds more than 100 times faster than those of traditional U.S. cable and telecommunications companies. The Web search leader unveiled its ultra-high speed Google Fiber service in Kansas City, Missouri, and could start installations in September, executives said. Google hopes to roll out the service to other cities later. “Access is the next frontier that needs to be opened,” Google Chief Financial Officer Patrick Pichette said. “We’re going to do it profitably. That is our plan.” “We are at a crossroad,” he added, noting that Internet speeds had leveled out for broadband since around 2000. “We at Google we believe there...

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Army donates anti-bomb equipment to churches, mosques

Nigerian Army on Thursday donated vehicle stoppers to churches and mosques as part of measures to protect places of worship against terrorist attacks, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. Army Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Maj.-Gen.Bitus Kwaji, while handing over the equipment to some churches and mosques leaders in Abuja, said the gesture was part of Army’s corporate social responsibility. Kwaji said the equipment could stop vehicles that come in contact with it from any direction, saying, “the innovation is simple and effective’’. He said the Army produced 18 of the equipment to be distributed to places of worship within the Federal Capital Territory. He said, “It has been discovered that most attacks by suicide bombers are...

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D'Banj, Tuface, MI, Others Thrill at Star Re-Launch Party

Marketing Director Mr. Walter Drenth, Managing Director Mr. Nicolas Vervelde, Sales Director Mr. Hubert Eze and HR Director Mr. Victor Famuyibo, all of Nigerian Breweries Plc during the re-launch of STAR Lager beer in Lagos. It has not happened for a long time where you will see some of the best artistes Nigeria parades at a single event to honour a brand, but that was exactly what happened when Star lager beer paraded Tuface Idibia, D’banj, MI, Wizkid and Tiwa Savage at the Star re-launch party. The Expo Centre of Eko Hotel and Suites where the event held was filled to capacity with more than 6,000 consumers’ of Star.The first performance of the evening was from MI. He thrilled the audience with his hit songs, ‘African...

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