Metro Nigeriana

Children discover weapons at school  0 Fears yesterday gripped Yola, Adamawa State residents following the discovery of  102 live ammunition and two guns tucked in the perimeter fence of Damare Secondary School in Damere Ward of Yola, South Local Government Area. The residents were worried even as cases of roberies are on the increase in the area. Eyewitness said the ammunition were discovered by children who were playing around the area. “Some children who are playing around the area spotted the ammunition tucked deeply inside the block holes and quickly alerted the public. “When residents observed that they were live ammunition, they called the police who came and demolished the fence, leading to the discovery of large number of live ammunition and guns,” the source said. Police spokesman, Mohammed Ibrahim, a superintendent, confirmed the development, saying “some children playing around the Damare Secondary School found the weapons. “When they sighted the weapons,they ale

NJC suspends Rivers CJ  2 From GODWIN TSA, Abuja There seems to be no end in in sight in the lingering controversy over the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge for Rivers State as the National Judicial Council (NJC) has declared that the appointment, confirmation and swearing-in of Justice P.N Agumagu as a Chief Judge of the State was a breach of the 1999 constitution and accordingly  ordered his suspension from office. The Council which took the decision after an emergency meeting on Wednesday said his suspension from office as a judicial officer was based on his failure to abide by his Oath of Office to uphold the Constitution and Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The meeting which was presided by the Chief Justice of Nigeria [CJN], Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who doubles as the Chairman of the NJC further directed that a query be issued to Hon. Justice P. N. C. Agumagu to explain in writing within four (4) days, why he should not be removed from office as

The Federal High Court judgment on the new number plates introduced by the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, did not label it unconstitutional, the agency has said. According to it, the Commission still has statutory powers on the plates. It would be recalled that on Wednesday, Justice James Tsoho said that it was unlawful for the commission to impose the new number plates on Nigerians, where no existing law permitted it.  “The issue of redesigning new number plates by the respondent, is not covered under the provisions of any law in Nigeria,” he said. “The respondent (FRSC) cannot force Nigerians to acquire new plate numbers by impounding cars, without the backing of any legislation to that effect. “I hold that the act of the respondent amounts to an arbitrary use of power, and is therefore illegal and unconstitutional. “Judgment is therefore entered in favour of the plaintiff, and all the reliefs sought is hereby granted,” the judge added. But in a statement by

Lagos State government, yesterday, announced that the state is expecting 263 days of rainfall this year, warning residents to be prepared. It said the rainfall may be accompanied with strong winds, lightning and thunderstorms, which would be common over the coastal cities areas with occasional flash flood and ocean surges that would affect persons living along the flood plains. Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, spoke in Alausa, Ikeja at the presentation of year 2014 annual seasonal rainfall prediction and socio-economic implication for the state as earlier predicted by Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET.  “The Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, SRP, rainfall onset date for this year began in the first week of March in the southernmost part of the country and late June in the far northern parts, he said. “However, rainfall onset in Lagos State has since commenced from 14 March, 2014 in Ikeja. “The strong winds, lighting and thunderstorms which are regular p

Nigeria’s Flamingoes looked clueless and tardy as they were dismantled 3-0 by Spain in the quarterfinal of the Fifa Under-17 World Cup. The result ended a seven-match unbeaten run for Nigeria at the tournament dating back to 2012, and fell one match short of the record sequence established by Japan between 2010 and 2012. Nigeria were favourites coming into the game, but saw their wings clipped by a Spanish side which looked like they had spent more than enough time studying their opponents. Uchenna Kanu and Aminat Yakubu, Nigeria’s biggest threats from wide, were smothered and the Spanish side’s intense pressing exploited Nigeria’s technical deficiencies. Guijarron converted from the penalty spot just before the quarter-hour mark after Nigeria’s Ugochi Emenayo tripped Andrea Falcon who was running into the penalty area at speed. Nahikari Garcia could easily have doubled the margin but she fired over from near the penalty spot after latching onto a ball fired into the pen

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi The Nigeria Football Federation has asked Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, to explain several incidents bordering on his attitude to work. The memo signed by the federation’s Technical Director, Emmanuel Ikpeme, on behalf of the General Secretary asks the coach to explain why he proceeded on leave without permission and thus missing a reception hosted by President Jonathan Goodluck in February among other issues. Keshi has been asked to respond to the query dated March 26 within 24 hours. A member of the NFF Technical Committee told  The PUNCH  that his attitude to his employers especially in the last few months has been quite disrespectful. He said, “For a coach that preaches discipline, he has not performed according to what he says. Tuesday’s (March 25) behaviour was the height of it.” On the said date, Keshi did not attend Tuesday’s technical committee session with the NFF in Abuja as he was in Lagos to take part in a round table

  Mallam Lamido Sanusi The Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria on Thursday alleged that the Central Bank of Nigeria under the leadership of the suspended governor, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, spent N500bn as intervention fund in various sectors without obtaining the approval of its Board or the Federal Executive Council. It also alleged at a sitting in Lagos in which the suspended governor was scheduled to appear that the bank under his watch spent N10bn to renovate five palaces of traditional rulers in the country under its education intervention projects. Sanusi, however, refused to appear before the panel, which is currently investigating the activities of the CBN under his watch. Sanusi, who said the invitation was in bad faith, has also sued the FRC, according to sources close him. The FRC had invited Sanusi along with the deputy governors of the CBN to appear before it as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of the CBN. The deputy governors are Mr.

  The arrested Boko Haram members as well as weapons and motocycles seized from them in Taraba and Adamawa States... on Thursday. | credits: DHQ The Special Forces have arrested 31 fighters of the Boko Haram Sect who were attempting to flee the country through Taraba State and Gumti in Adamawa State into Cameroon. The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in an electronic mail on Thursday that one of those arrested was a mercenary claiming to be a citizen of Chad and Burkinafaso. Olukolade also said that 11 insurgents were also killed during shootouts with troops in the  border communities. He said that the terrorists who were involved in the encounter with the Special Forces were trapped and were forced out of their hideout by hunger. According for the Defence spokesman, the Special Forces arrested some of the insurgents who left one of the camps in the forest took the security men to similar camps in the area. He said that the Special F

  A scene of a gas explosion at Shagari Plaza, opposite Area One shopping complex, Garki, Abuja...on Thursday. | credits: Sam Adeko Residents scampered for safety on Thursday as explosion rocks Shagari Plaza on Moshood Abiola Way, Garki-Area One, Abuja. The quick succession in which the explosion occurred made customers and neighbours to scamper into safety. Many expressed fears that it was a bomb explosion. But an eyewitness account said the first explosion occurred at about 5:17pm when a gas cylinder exploded. A jeep parked close to the gas dispenser went up in flames. The gas retailer, who tried to recover his money kept under one of the cylinders, was also caught in the explosion while trying to save his earnings for the day. “He kept it under one of the cylinders. As he was trying to take the money, another cylinder exploded,” another eyewitness said. Another witness said the retailer took delivery of the gas supply on Wednesday.

IBADAN — THE Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has vowed to do a thorough investigation into the crimes committed by suspected kidnappers at Soka in Ibadan, where hundreds of victims had been tortured or killed. The kidnappers’ den was discovered last Saturday by a group of commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders, while they were searching for two of their colleagues who were missing. Also, eight suspects have been arrested so far over the incident. Since the incident happened, the den has become a tourist centre for thousands of people who either wanted to witness the horror or look for their missing relatives. The police boss made the promise while on an assessment visit to the den, yesterday. The IG, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 11, Mr. Femi Omolaja, said anybody involved in the heinous crime would be apprehended in due course. Omojola, who is in charge of Oyo, Osun and Ondo, said he came on

ABEOKUTA — PANDEMONIUM broke out in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital yesterday, when  a police corporal, Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi, went berserk, shot dead his wife, a  landlady,  two year-old girl and three others before killing himself. After killing his estranged wife who was also a policewoman, Corporal Oluwatosin Faremi, attached to the Obantoko Police Division, the rampaging police corporal reportedly shot dead a commercial  motorcycle rider, and five members of a family, before shooting himself dead immediately. The tragic incident which occurred at Akingbala area of Eleweran, Abeokuta, at 7:02 am  reportedly forced some policemen to abscond  from their duty posts. Also, residents of the area fled the place to avoid being caught in the mayhem. It was gathered that in the process, three other persons sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba for treatment. Vanguard  gathered that the killer policeman had in the past issued seve

Premier League: Chelsea destroy 10-man Arsenal 6-0 as referee blunders Joy for Chelsea as Arsenal are humbled at Stamford Bridge 1/5 Previous Next Chelsea blew away Premier League title rivals Arsenal inside 17 madcap minutes at Stamford Bridge as Arsene Wenger's 1,000th game in charge turned horribly sour and ended in a humiliating 6-0 defeat. Jose Mourinho, who now boasts an 11-game unbeaten record against his bitter rival, saw his leaders roar into a 2-0 lead after just seven minutes courtesy of goals from Samuel Eto'o and the outstanding Andre Schurrle. That was dramatic enough, but the main talking point arrived soon after as Chelsea were awarded a penalty when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain dived to push an Eden Hazard shot, which looked to be heading wide anyway, past the post. Referee Andre Marriner took his time before awarding a spot-kick and then brandished an inevitable red card, only to show it in the face of a bemused Kieran Gibb

Immigration tragedy: ‘I found my wife in the mortuary, cold dead, after parting at test venue’ If they had known, maybe they would have asked government to forget  its  job so they could   live together. This is part of the lamentation of Mr Austin Amu, the widower of    Mrs Sandra  Amun, who lost her life, Saturday, March 15, 2014, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City, where the recruitment exercise of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) took place. Incidentally, Amun, from Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Council of Edo State, participated in the recruitment exercise with the deceased but  survived the stampede. It was a pitiable sight when Sunday Vanguard visited the family’s  residence in Benin City watching the husband of the deceased  trying to administer medication on their last born, Favour, who was crying due to cough and catarrh. Amun  recalled that  he and Sandra  had woken up on the ill-fated  day and had their bath together as they had always done in

Immigration: National Hospital releases 5 more bodies
  0 L The Management of National Hospital, Abuja, has released five more bodies of those who died during Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment to their family members. Only one out of the seven bodies deposited at the National Hospital mortuary on March 14 was earlier claimed after proper identification. The hospital’s spokesman, Dr Tayo Haastrup, said on Saturday that: “we had earlier released only one body but in the last two days, we have released five more bodies to family members of the deceased. “We are left with one body and it will be released to the family members after proper identification,’’ Haastrup said. He said two women were still on admission in the hospital and hoped that they would be discharged soon. An eyewitness in the hospital told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that shortly after a directive of President Goodluck Jonathan to compensate the families of the deceased and the injured, more p

My mother collapsed over my brother’s death –Stampede victim’s brother Saturday is usually not a busy day because workers and students are off the road. But that wasn’t the case on March 15, 2014; a Saturday, which many Nigerians will not forget in a hurry. It was a date the Nigeria Immigration Service fixed for the conduct of examination for over three million Nigerian job seekers. To those who had the unenviable task of being at any of the stadia where the exercise was to be held or even passing through the roads leading to the various venues of the NIS job exams, it was an experience none of them would pray to encounter again. In Rivers State, job seekers numbering up to 35,000 streamed to the Liberation Stadium in Elekahia. It would be difficult for anybody to contemplate that all was well after sighting the huge crowd at the stadium. At a time, applicants outside the mainbowl outnumbered their counterparts inside the stadium. The scene was only an accident waiting t