CHINEDU EZE: Immigration May Close Festac, Lagos Office over Fraud

Nigerian Immigration Officials

There are indications that the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) may close its Festac office in Lagos because of sharp practices in the process of obtaining passports. It was learnt that NIS had been inundated with petitions against the fraudulent activities of its officers at the particular office by well-meaning Nigerians who were embarrassed by the unchecked corrupt practices that go on in that place every day. Also, investigations revealed that 100 per cent of Nigerians who came to obtain their passport at the Festac office were forced to give bribe before they could obtain their passports.

PDP: Wamakko Was Suspended for Insubordination

Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko

Obviously overwhelmed by inquiries as to why the Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, was suspended by the party, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)Thursday said the disciplinary action was taken due to insubordination on the part of the governor.

This is just as the Sokoto State chapter of the party, Chairman of the PDP North-west zone and Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) have expressed outrage over Wamakko’s suspension and warned that by the action, President Goodluck Jonathan might lose the sympathy of the north.

Soldiers Nab Man with 56 Bags of Indian Hemp in Jos

Governor Jonah Jang

Soldiers with the Special Task Force (STF) deployed to restore peace in Plateau have arrested a suspect in possession of 56 bags of substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

Parading the suspect before newsmen on Friday in Jos, the spokesman of the STF, Captain Salisu Mustapha said on Thursday at about 10 am information got to their men at a patrol base at Rukuba Road that some vehicles loaded with substances suspected to be Indian hemp had left Mista-Ali area of Jos North through Akass Village for Rukuba Road.

NAMA GROUNDS OAS AIRCRAFT FLYING OSHIOMHOLE

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency on Friday grounded a chartered 

helicopter conveying Edo State Government, Adams Oshiomhole, from Benin, 

the state capital, to Awka, the Anambra State capital.

Critics of the federal government see the development as a continuation of the 

onslaught against state governors who opposed President Goodluck Jonathan’s  

anointed candidate for the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. The 

 OAS Helicopter, which was flying Mr. Oshiomhole from Benin City

 to Awka for the funeral of late Colette Obi, wife of Ben Obi, a presidential 

adviser on political matters, was already airborne before authorities recalled it.

NYSC Sanctions 72 Corps Members in Ondo, Edo, Enugu, Rivers

NYSC Members

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has sanctioned 72 corps members who participated in the compulsory national scheme in Ondo, Edo, Rivers and Enugu States. Thirty two of them, out of the 2,000 posted to Ondo, were disciplined for engaging in various misdemeanours during the service year while the three others who served in Enugu State had their service year extended indefinitely. Thirty seven others also have their service year extended in Rivers and Edo States.

EXCLUSIVE: Navy Hands over 10 Suspected Oil Thieves to EFCC

Ten suspected oil thieves were on Friday May 31, 2013 handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by officers of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Yenagoa led by the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Commodore Emmanuel Okechukwu Enemor. The suspects comprising crew members of MV DALAL were arrested sometimes in March, 2013 for allegedly having onboard products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas oil (AGO).

Military Kills Boko Haram Kingpin

Brigadier General Chris Olukolade

The military Thursday  claimed  that it had killed a top commander of Boko Haram, Abubakar Adam Kambar, designated "global terrorist" by the United States along with two others on June 21, 2012.

The US Department of State  designated Kambar along with Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau  and Khalid al-Barnawi as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224. It described al-Barnawi and Kambar as having ties to Boko Haram, and close links to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a designated foreign terrorist organisation.

Northern Govs Forum in Disarray over NGF Crisis

Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda

The aftermath of the election of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) continues to reverberate and is posing a serious threat to the existence of the Northern States Governors' Forum (NSGF), an umbrella body for the governors of the 19 northern states.

In protest over what some northern governors have described as an act of betrayal by some of their colleagues who voted for the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi to retain his position as chairman of the NGF, 14 northern governors stayed away from the NSGF meeting, which took place in Kaduna thursday.

Over 40 Killed in Renewed Nasarawa Attack

Fulani herdsmen

Over 40 people have been killed in Rukubi, Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, by men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. Community leaders who conducted the Deputy Governor, Mr. Dameshi Barau Luka, round the crisis-hit area, said the people were killed when the herdsmen invaded the community on Wednesday night in a raid in which over 35 houses and four cars belonging to the Agatu people of the area were also  torched. More bodies were being recovered when the deputy governor led a delegation of members of the State Security Council on an on-the-spot assessment of the extent of the damage.