Welcome To Benjamin Umuteme's Reports: July 2014

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

Vitesse 1-3 Chelsea: Fabregas scores as Blues stroll to convincing win

Mohamed Salah and Nemanja Matic also found the net in the comfortable victory, though the Eredivisie side found time to pull a goal back in the dying minutes

Another female suicide bomber targeting Polytechnic students has struck again in Kano, the spokesperson of the Police in the state, Magaji Majiya, has told PREMIUM TIMES. Two persons were killed in the incident and at least seven others were injured, the police said. “

A female tenager blew herself up at about 2:30 p.m. and she was targeting the students of Kano State Polytechnic,”

LAFIA — Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, yesterday, said he would appear before the impeachment panel set up by the state House of Assembly, even as he described the panel as illegal.

The embattled governor had earlier condemned the House for embarking on what he described as “unconstitutional and grossly illegal” impeachment process aimed at ousting him from office.

He said he would appear before the panel to clear himself of the allegations levelled against him.

The Arewa Consultative Forum on Wednesday warned the Niger Delta Youth and other supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan against holding any rally for the President in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday.

A planned, Niger Delta Youth solidarity rally is scheduled for Thursday, aimed at drumming support for Jonathan’s bid to contest the 2015 presidential election.

NAICOM APPROVES ACCOUNT OF 22 INSURANCE FIRMS

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) says it only received and approved the financial accounts of 22 Insurance firms.

NAICOM added that 16 others have submitted their accounts but are yet to get approval, insisting that it would not hesitate to take regulatory action against firms that had yet to submit their accounts.

One of Liberia's most high-profile doctors has died of Ebola, officials said Sunday, and an American physician was being treated for the deadly virus, highlighting the risks facing health workers trying to combat an outbreak that has killed more than 670 people in West Africa — the largest ever recorded.

A second American, a missionary working in the Liberian capital, was also taken ill and was being treated in isolation there, said the pastor of a North Carolina church that sponsored her work.

A female suicide bomber targeting women lining up to buy kerosene killed several people on Monday in northern Nigeria’s Kano city, the second attack in the area in as many days, witnesses said.

“A suicide bomber who was milling in the crowd set off explosives concealed under her dress,” said Habibu Ali, a fuel vendor in the targeted Hotoro neighbourhood. “Several people, mostly woman, were killed.”

Over 50 people, including four soldiers, have died in two separate attacks in Adamawa State.

The soldiers and over 40 civilians died in a raid by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect in three local government areas in the state.

AGN President, Ibinabo Fiberesima Celebrates Actress, Clarion Chukwurah @50

Nollywood actress, Clarion Chukwurah, will always remember year 2014 which has actually been favourable for her especially in the make-believe industry.

The veteran actress was full of praises for her fans that have supported her all through the years has she celebrates her Golden Jubilee on earth.

In his aptly titled autobiography, ‘I think therefore I play’, Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo reveals how Franco Baldini tried to sign him for Roma back in the summer of 2011 when his contract with AC Milan had run dry. The midfielder, however, wasn’t exactly sure of the project that was taking shape at the Stadio Olimpico under the new American regime that had just taken over and eventually opted for Turin over the Italian capital.

To be fair, the ‘Roma project’ did take time to take shape - but had Pirlo been in a similar situation today, he wouldn’t have had his doubts. That’s how much things have changed over the past three years at the Olimpico.

The Department of State Services, alias SSS, has released two secondary school teachers who were taken into custody on July 7 after soldiers raided the Aba Central Mosque and the residences of some Muslims in the town.

The soldiers also arrested the Chief Imam of the mosque, Idris Bashir; his deputy, Mohammed Hassan; and eleven others over allegation that they were stockpiling guns and planning to manufacture bombs in their mosque and residences.

Nigerian soldiers have made three futile attempts without being able to retake the town of Damboa in Borno State that was captured recently by members of the Islamist insurgent group, Boko Haram, two military sources have told SaharaReporters.

Over the last few days, Nigerian military officials had proclaimed that a contingent of Nigerian troops was heading to Damboa to wrest Damboa township from Islamist militants who seized it and planted their flags in different locations.

KANO—An unidentified woman was killed, while eight other persons sustained severe injuries, when a high calibre improvised explosive device, concealed in a refrigerator went off at the New Road motor park in Sabon Gari area of Kano metropolis.

A security officer examines abandoned items at the scene of a blast in the northern Nigerian city of Kano, on July 24, 2014. At least one person was killed and eight other people injured when a blast ripped through a crowded bus station in Kano, northern Nigeria, police and witnesses said today. The explosion happened at about 3:00pm (1400 GMT) at the New Motor Park in the predominantly Christian Sabon Gari neighbourhood, which has previously been targeted by Boko Haram militants. AFP PHOTO

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday met behind closed-doors with six members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.

The meeting was believed to be the President’s way of intervening in the impeachment process that the lawmakers had instituted against the state Governor, Tanko Al-Makura.

I Never Slept With 2 Sisters—Desmond Elliot Cries Out

After being accused of sleeping with two sisters in a news report that went viral in 2013, Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot kept silent on the matter until recently, when he reacted to the issue. He stated in an interview that nothing of such happened, stating that the girls in question were just wards under his care.

According to the actor, it's not a must that to be related to someone by blood, adding that the girls were just family friends who he took care of because their parents travelled abroad.

The 23-year-old says he idolised the Frenchman, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos during their respective playing days at the Santiago Bernabeu

James Rodriguez has revealed his lifelong dream to follow in the footsteps of Zinedine Zidane after being unveiled as a Real Madrid player.

Fire service officials averted what could have been a tragedy at the Aminu Kano International Airport last night as they scrambled a response to a sudden fire that caught a fuel tanker feeding a Turkish airlines aircraft, a witness has said.

The tanker was however burnt to ashes while the aircraft, an Airbus 340, which was to airlift passengers from Kano to Istanbul, was partly damaged.

ABUJA—The Governor of Central bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said, yesterday, that the apex bank was closely monitoring government spending and those of individuals as the nation moves nearer the 2015 elections with a view to taking proactive measures towards checking their negative effects on the economy.

Mr Godwin Emefiele answering questions during his screening by the Senate for Central Bank Governorship in Abuja on Wednesday

The National Chairman, Chibok community, Pogu Bitrus, has said that four more parents of the abducted girls of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State have died thus raising the number to 11.

An online newspaper, The Cable quoted Bitrus as saying that seven of the parents of the girls abducted by members of the Boko Haram sect on April 14 from their hostel at Government Secondary School, Chibok, died of heart attack and frustration.

EXCLUSIVE:Late Kefee's Management Debunks Claims Of Releasing New Song

News making rounds now is that a single from late singer, Kefee has been released, according to reports, the song was released on the day she was buried

When Nigeriafilms.com contacted a source close to Kefee, she revealed that the song been said was released wasn't released by kefee's management and that they do not know how the song leaked out.

Fifa has lifted the suspension that was imposed on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on 9 July 2014 on account of interference.

A release sent to Goal on Friday stated that: “FIFA has noted that the court proceedings and order preventing the president of the NFF, the NFF Executive Committee members and the NFF Congress from running the affairs of Nigerian football that prompted the suspension have been withdrawn.

Damboa has been reportedly deserted by soldiers since the Boko Haram attack on security formations there about two weeks ago.

Several people are feared killed as gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram attacked Damboa in Borno State on Friday morning.

LAFIA— Hell was literally let loose, yesterday, in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital as supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, engaged in a free-for-all, using dangerous weapons over attempts to impeach the state governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura by the state House of Assembly.

Reacting to the impeachment move last Wednesday, some youths demonstrated at the Orange Market at Mararaba, Keffi, Akwanga and other parts of the state capital, prompting the deployment of hundreds of anti-riot policemen and other security operatives who quelled the protests.

The House of Representatives on Thursday blamed the Minister of Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu, for the failure to resolve the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Medical Association.

Chukwu failed to turn up for an intervention meeting called by the House Committee on Health in Abuja on Thursday.

Malaysian jet 'shot down' over Ukraine

A Malaysia Airlines passenger jet which crashed as it flew over eastern Ukraine with 295 people on board was reportedly shot down.

The aircraft, which was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was travelling at an altitude of 10,000 metres when it was shot down on Thursday, Russia's Interfax reported.

Arsenal have completed the signing of Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle.

As revealed by Goal, the French full-back agreed his move to the Emirates Stadium earlier this month but completion of the deal was held up while Newcastle sought a replacement.

However, United have now finalised formalities in the signing of Netherlands international Daryl Janmaat on a six-year deal, allowing Debuchy to sign on the dotted line with the Gunners.

Some Celebrities now see it wise to celebrate their birthdays with the less privileged. In recent times we recall that celebrities who marked their birthdays use the opportunity to give out to those who don't have the privilege to be in their shoes.

“It’s to SUCH HATE? That our Presidency deployed our public resources to hire US firm…”
A former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, on Thursday, condemned the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s attempt to smear the image of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign through a foreign Public Relations firm, Levick.

Ms. Ezekwesili in a tweet through her Twitter handle, @obyezeks, said it was hateful for the presidency to hire the PR firm to help government tag Nigerian citizens as terrorists.

Gunmen riding on motorcycles, Wednesday morning, abducted a German in Gombi town of Adamawa State.

The incident occurred at about 7 a.m. at Anguwan Faransa area of the town, residents told PREMIUM TIMES.

ABUJA — Former Defence Minister, Lt General Theophilus Danjuma (Rtd.), yesterday, lamented that insurgents appear to be having an upper hand in the country at the moment and tasked President Goodluck Jonathan to bring the insurgency to an end.

President Jonathan, on his part, is seeking approval of the National Assembly for a $1billion loan to enable him fight terrorism, saying that the days of terrorists are numbered.

THE opposition All Progressives Congress has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of masterminding the removal of ex-Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State.

The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, called a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, where he accused the President of clamping down on opposition in his desire for re-election in 2015.

Great Debate: Should Peter Odemwingie call time on his Nigeria career?

Peter Odemwingie may have scored Nigeria's crucial World Cup goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Brazil, but the truth is that his return to the side has been fairly muted.

The histrionics were (mercifully) kept to a minimum, but Odemwingie often struggled to liven up an uninspired attack.

Nigerian midfielder, John Mikel Obi has explained the relationship he shares with Nollywood superstar, Genevieve Nnaji.
The Chelsea footballer and the acclaimed ‘queen of African movie’ were recently signed by Amstel Malta as brand ambassadors.

Kenyan author Okwiri Oduor has won the 2014 Caine Prize for African Writing for her short story ‘My Father’s Head.’

‘My Father’s Head,’ explores the narrator’s struggle to remember what her father’s head looked like as she tries to deal with his death. She has no problem remembering his face because as her colleague from the nursing home she works at says, “Although everyone has a head behind their face, some show theirs easily; they turn their back on you and their head is all you can see. [Your] father was a good man and good men never show [you] their heads; they show you their faces.”

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has sought the National Assembly, NASS, approval to borrow $1 billion (N168 billion) to fight Boko Haram.

In a letter sent on Tuesday and addressed to the Senate President, David Mark, Mr. Jonathan spoke about the need for external borrowing to enable the upgrade of security equipment in order to fight the insurgency that is currently bedevilling Nigeria, particularly the North East.

ABUJA— THE solidarity visit of the Bring-back-our-girls campaign, led by the former Minister of Education and Solid Minerals, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, to the Senate President, Senator David Mark, yesterday turned to altercation and hot exchange of words as the group declared that Mark was not telling them anything tangible about the rescue of the girls.

BB

The Chairman of the Victims Support Fund, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), on Wednesday said members of the committee would not visit Sambisa Forest believed to be one of the strongholds of the Boko Haram sect except President Goodluck Jonathan was ready to take the lead.

He spoke just as Jonathan vowed that the days of the sect were numbered.

Nesta: Messi can still win the World Cup

Alessandro Nesta has joined the chorus of experts who believe Lionel Messi was not the right man to win the Golden Ball for the best player at the World Cup following Argentina’s 1-0 extra-time defeat by Germany. But the former Italy international still thinks Messi could match his hero Diego Maradona and win the game’s biggest prize.

Germany v Argentina: 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final

Speaking in our World Cup Special web chat, Sony Team Ambassador Nesta said: “He’s the best player in the world, but in this World Cup there were many other players who deserved the award more.

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Monday reached a resolution to serve the state governor, Tanko Al-Makura, with an impeachment notice.

The resolution followed a motion of public interest raised by the deputy majority leader of the house, Yahaya Usman (PDP-Umaisha/Ugya).

LEADER of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has claimed responsibility for two explosions on June 25 at a fuel depot in Apapa, Lagos.

Shekau, according to Agence-France Presse reports, made the claim in a new video sent to the French news agency.

There was tension in Ejigbo, Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State in the early hours of Wednesday when one of the newly constructed buildings in a mega school located in the ancient town suddenly collapsed, leaving two people critically injured.

Nigerian Tribune authoritatively gathered that the incident, which occurred at Ajoda area around 6.05 a.m., threw the community into confusion following a loud bang when the building, which is the main hall of the newly completed school, caved in.

ABUJA— Miss Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl who was almost killed by the Taliban in her country’s Swat Valley District for her girl education campaigns, yesterday, in Abuja, tasked the Federal Government to expedite action towards the rescue of the abducted Chibok girls.

She met the BringBackOurGirls campaigners and five of the girls who had earlier escaped from their captors in the Sambisa forest in Borno State. Malala also spoke with their parents.

Finally! Official Photos: Kefee Given A Queen’s Burial In Sapele, Delta State

The body of the late Pop-Gospel artist, Kefee (Irikefe Don-Momoh, nee Obareki) was given a queen’s burial on Friday in her hometown, Okpara Inland, Ethiope-East Local Government Area, Sapele, Delta State.

The whole town ground to a standstill as the body of their late daughter arrived Akpevwoghene Educational Centre, Okpara Inland, around noon in a white SUV with ‘Omega 1’ as the plate number.

The Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, who turns 80 today, has garnered a great deal of honour in his active life as a man of letters and a statesman. Since the early 1960s when he stepped into the world of action, writing plays, poems and essays on the order of genius and declaring his forcefully impressive gestures in a politics of human assertion, he has attracted controversy and validation in equal measures. Not one to do things by half-measures, Soyinka has remained active on all levels. He is a man about whom it is difficult not to speak in superlatives.

PT: Are you a member of the family of the famous Bukar Mandara in Borno State?

Yadoma: I’m his last born.

PT: How old are you?

Yadoma: I’m 24.

PT: What do you do?

The Nigeria Police on Saturday said it had intelligence reports that terrorists had perfected plan to attack the Federal Capital Territory’s transport sector, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

According to the report, the police claim is contained in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba.

VIOLENCE linked to Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, known by its Hausa name, Boko Har?m, and with foothold in north eastern Nigeria, north Cameroon and Niger Republic, has left at least 12,000 people dead, 8,000 people crippled while several thousands have been displaced.

Founded by a former Borno State native, Alhaji Mohammed Yusuf, in 2002, the organization seeks to establish a “pure” Islamic state ruled, thus an end to what it deems as the westernization of Nigeria.
Nigerian Muslim leaders have condemned the group and its ideology.

Reasons Nigeria Failed in Brazil

While Nigeria received much praise for some of their showings in Brazil, and for their battling performances against France in the second round, they still fell short of living up to their ‘Super’ Eagles moniker.

The team’s uninspiring outing at the World Cup could perhaps be attributed to different reasons, ranging from the players initial strike before the crucial France encounter, the dismal display of key players, a lack of squad depth or the amateurish decisions made by the coach.

There are indications that the lawmakers and Mr. Nyako have reconciled.

Governor Murtala Nyako and his Deputy, Bala Ngilari, Friday, failed to appear before the seven-member panel investigating allegations of gross mis-conduct levelled against them by the state House of Assembly.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has questioned reports in some national newspapers concerning the arrest of one of its members for robbery, asking why the suspect, Itunu Odeyemi, was the only one so identified.

Saying it was not the intention of the party to deny the political affiliation of Odeyemi, who hails from Efon-Alaaye Ekiti, APC said in a statement that Odeyemi is neither a chieftain, nor a leader in the party as he was portrayed.

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

Monday, 28 July 2014

Friday, 25 July 2014

Wednesday, 23 July 2014

Friday, 18 July 2014

Thursday, 17 July 2014

Wednesday, 16 July 2014

Monday, 14 July 2014

Sunday, 13 July 2014

Saturday, 12 July 2014