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Mrs. Hasana Lawal could not have made any meaningful impact before her retirement comes. She only had to smell the office of the Head of service in Kogi State before she was retired. She had only 72 hours to make her mark. The retired Head of Service was appointed as the Acting Head of Service on March 15, 2016, but was confirmed 3 days before her retirement. A statement issued on Friday in Lokoja by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Ayoade, confirmed the retirement of Lawal. No reason was given for her retirement from the civil service. Ayoade said that her retirement was with immediate effect. Both Lawal and Governor Yahaya Bello hail from Okene Local Government Area of the state. “The State Government thanks her for her services and wishes her well in her future endeavors,” Ayoade said. She also announced Mrs. Deborah Ogunmola, as the new Head of Service with effect from Monday.

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,  Chief Nnia Nwodo , while responding to the report on Saturday said the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,  Abubakar Malami , SAN was biased. Nwodo  said Arewa Youth who issued a quit notice to Igbos in the north have not been arrested. Parts of the statement read, “It has just been brought to my notice that the Attorney General of the Federation has approached the courts to incarcerate Nnamdi Kalu for flouting his bail conditions. “I am amazed that the distinguished attorney is prepared to contest the superiority of the provisions of the constitution on fundamental human rights of freedom of movement and freedom of association over an erroneous judicial proclamation violating those rights. “I am equally miffed by the audacity with which the Attorney General displays his bias without regard to his oath of office. “A few hours ago under the watchful eyes of the Chairman of the Northern Governors ...

An Abuja based pharmacist, Mr. Patrick Obute has recommended the consumption of bitter kola, saying it helps in the treatment of numerous ailments. Obute told newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja that bitter kola contained chemicals that helped in the breakdown of glycogen in the liver. He explained glycogen as a multi-branched polysaccharide of glucose that serves as a form of energy storage in humans, adding that polysaccharide also represents the main storage form of glucose in the body. According to Obute, bitter kola has antioxidant properties used as a toxic for lungs and gallbladder, which helps detoxify the body system. He added that it had other medicinal uses, apart from being a natural hunger suppressant which increases the urge to drink more water. “It improves lungs function by expanding the alveolar ducts and sac in the lungs, thereby improving and strengthening the fibers in the lung tissue. “It clears the voice by stimulating the production of mucus along the li...

Eight people, including German, Austrian and Swiss citizens, are missing following a landslide that forced the evacuation of several small villages in southeastern Switzerland on Wednesday, police said Thursday. “In the region of Val Bondasca, eight people who were there at the time of the landslide have not been found,” the Graubunden cantonal police said in a statement.

For weeks, the United States’ solar eclipse fever permeated everywhere as if it was Christmas already. Weeks before the eclipse, people took vacations to cities that were in the path of totality. On the day itself, counties organised science fairs for schoolchildren; scientists were on different media channels educating the public on the phenomenon they were about to witness. Amidst that festive spirit, the Nigerian in me quietly wondered what would happen if science turned out to be wrong. With the level of their fascination with the eclipse and the cultural economy they had built around the eclipse, I was curious to know what would happen if things turned out otherwise. Of course, I knew it would not be otherwise. Scientists have built a comprehensive knowledge about eclipses over centuries, and every time, they had been right to the hilt. Once again, they have predicted that in 2024, another eclipse would occur and given how much they have mastered complex celestial happenings, t...

Photo of alleged 8-year-old girl killer who escaped arrest, Ifeanyi Dike is being circulated by Rivers Police Command. let us get this wicked undergraduate of uniport

Police arrested a 22-year-old man Thursday in the Netherlands in connection with a suspected terror threat that led authorities to  cancel a concert in Rotterdam  hours earlier. The suspect, who has Dutch nationality, was detained at his home in the southern region of Brabant in the early hours, a Rotterdam police spokesman told CNN. The property was also searched. Dutch authorities called off the concert Wednesday evening following a tip-off from Spain's Guardia Civil, which passed on the information after its intelligence services came across it, a spokeswoman for the organization told CNN

The management of Fidelity Bank Plc, Lagos has dragged its former female staff, Adenike Okuneye, 31, before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly parading herself as a staff of Fidelity Bank after she had been sacked and collecting money from customers of the bank with the pretext of saving it for them in the bank, but instead converted same to her use. The accused, a resident of Mushin, Lagos was arrested on the order of the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Lion Building Division, Lagos Island, Lagos, CSP Folashade Tanaruno following a complaint by the management of Fidelity Bank Plc. After an investigation by the police, the accused was arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos on a 3-count charge of felony to wit. stealing. Prosecuting officer, Cyriacus Osuji informed the court in charge No. L/49/2017 that the accused committed the alleged offense between March and August 2017 during working hours in Lagos State.

Emeka Ojukwu (Junior), the son of the late Igbo leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, on Wednesday, affirmed that his late father told President Muhammadu Buhari that he (late Ojukwu) would want one indissoluble Nigeria.  Ojukwu, who said his father told him about his discussion with Buhari, denied claims by some pro-Biafran groups that he was in support of the agitation for Biafra. In a statement made available to newsmen in Awka, Anambra State, Ojukwu said   he never granted any media interview or posted any message on social media that Buhari was wrong about his discussion with his late father He said, “It has been brought to my attention that there is an article making the rounds on social media attributed to me refuting the remarks of Mr. President concerning his relationship and discussion with my late father. “Let me state the following categorically: firstly, that I made no such comments to anybody, and secondly that I am aware that His Excellency’s (Buhari’s) c...

If you had to name the best neighbourhood in the UK, your first thought might not be Tooting in south London. But the plucky stop near the end of the Northern Line made it into a list of the top 10 neighbourhoods in the world, as decided by  Lonely Planet . Mixing with the likes of  Copenhagen's trendy meat peaking district, Vesterbro , and the hip water-front Sunset Park neighbourhood In Brooklyn,  New York , Tooting slipped into the 10th spot thanks to its diversity and eclectic range of bars and restaurants.  “Tooting in South London has developed into an uber-cool neighbourhood in recent years and lost none of its gritty charm in the process,” says Lonely Planet’s Will Jones, “Rubbing shoulders with perfectly pleasant yet slightly square Wimbledon, Earlsfield and Balham, Tooting is a more captivating affair, revelling in multiculturalism and originality. “Its high street, which stretches between two Tube stations, is one of the best ‘curry corridors’ i...

A Nigerian-American actress has revealed that at 33, she remains a virgin and is set to keep her virginity till she gets married. The actress, Yvonne Orji, popular for her character as Molly in HBO’s Insecure while speaking on her sex scenes in the TV series noted that she is saving herself for marriage. Speaking on her dedication to the Christian faith in a new interview, Orji revealed that she is happy to talk to people on the subject of sex and virginity. While talking to People, she said: “I wasn’t going to hide it just because I’m on TV. “I’m open, because why not?. “I’m grounded in who I am.” She added, “Before any of the fame happened, I sat down with myself and with God and thought, when I make it, how do you want me to represent you while I’m here?” The HBO actress and star added as she answered her own question: “It was like, OK, I know why I’m here. It’s to make you proud.”“People ask about it because they’re curious, or they may not understand.” She con...

This incredible drone footage shows one of Portugal's most famous landmarks, the Castle of the Moors, light up for victims of the Barcelona attack. The Castle of the Moors in Sintra was lit up in yellow and red to mark the first of 15 days of mourning, one day for each victim.

Paris St-Germain forward Neymar will contest the legal action brought against him by former club Barcelona. Barcelona want a 8.5m euros (£7.8m) renewal bonus Neymar received for signing a five-year deal – just nine months before his move – returned. The Brazil international made a record 222m euro (£200m) move to PSG in August after buying out his contract. “The player’s formal defence will be filed in due course,” read a statement from the 25-year-old and his lawyers. Neymar also seemed to suggest Barcelona owe him money following his Nou Camp exit, rather than the other way round. His statement added: “Regarding the bonuses owed for the execution of the contract of 2016, it is also necessary to inform that the player has already initiated the formal procedures of collection before the competent courts.”

Some residents of Eliozu area of Port Harcourt on Wednesday protested the unfortunate escape of Mr Ifeanyi Dike, a suspected ritual killer from police custody. The Rivers Police Command had paraded Dike for raping and killing Miss Victory Chikamso, an eight- year old girl residing in the same compound with him. Mr Promise Wobo, a resident of Eliozu disclosed in Port Harcourt that the protest was to call on the Rivers Police Command to re-arrest Dike. Wobo said that it was an embarrassment to Nigeria for a suspected ritual killer to escape from police custody. “It was our local vigilance team that caught him when he was attempting to dispose of the body. “He was handed over to the police for interrogation and prosecution but it’s so unfortunate and embarrassing for him to have escaped from the custody.

The Police Command in Borno on Wednesday said two persons were killed and 11 others sustained injuries in a suicide bomb attack at Muna Garage area of Maiduguri. A statement signed by ASP Murtala Ibrahim, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer and issued in Maiduguri, said a male suicide bomber targeted an armoured vehicle of the Police Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) and detonated the explosive strapped to his body. He said that the explosive blew up the insurgent and killed one other person, while four policemen and seven other persons sustained various degrees of injury. “Today at about 13:45 a male suicide bomber with IED strapped on his body, moved toward SARS Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) patrol team at Muna Garage area. “In an attempt to shoot him down, the IED exploded killing the bomber. An unidentified person was also killed in the explosion, while seven civilians and four SARS personnel were injured.

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode has urged lawyers to evolve new ways of making more progress on gender equality, women development and child welfare, saying that no society can achieve rapid development when children and women are relegated to the background.

No fewer than 58 million Nigerians still live below the poverty line, so says National Social Safety net program (NASSP), the office of the vice president. This is in spite of Federal Government’s efforts to reposition the economy through various programs. Coordinator of NASSP, Mr. Peter Papka, stated this in Lafia, Nasarawa State, during a three-day training program on community-based targeting for identification of the poor and vulnerable people in Nasarawa organize by NASSP in partnership with Nasarawa State Government. Papka said that the distribution of the nation’s resource has not translated into the diversification of the sources of income for most families, adding that the community-based single register of the poor and vulnerable is aimed at reducing extreme poverty in the country. Represented by the head of National Social registry, Mr. Vicent Oriokpa, Papka said the single register was established on the basis of a well-thought out community-based targeting appro...

 man has been jailed for 18 years for possessing an explosive with intent to endanger life after a pipe bomb was found in his hand luggage at  Manchester Airport . Nadeem Muhammad , 43, was sentenced at  Manchester Crown Court  on Wednesday after being found guilty following a trial earlier this month. After sentencing, Judge Patrick Field QC criticised airport security for making a "wholly erroneous and potentially dangerous" conclusion that the bomb was not viable after it was seized by officers.

The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria says it is working to access the $30 billion agricultural grant contributed by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other donor agencies for rice production in Africa. The National President of the association, Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday, that the association had submitted a template that would qualify it for the grant. According to him, a team of experts from Geneva had met with the association on the grant, which Nigerian farmers can access as much as $600 million. He said the visit was fallout of the Green Revolution Forum tagged `New Push for Africa’s Agricultural Transformation,’ held in September 2016 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, where the fund was pledged by various agencies. He said the grant would cover various rice value chains including production, processing, packaging and marketing, and would assist the country attain self sufficiency in rice production.

Kim “instructed the Chemical Material Institute to produce more solid-fuel rocket engines and rocket warhead tips by further expanding engine production processes and the production capacity of rocket warhead tips and engine jets,’’ state news agency KCNA reported. The order comes despite stricter UN sanctions on Pyongyang, and an intense war of words with Seoul and Washington about the two allies’ joint military drills which began this week and about North Korea’s missile tests. Kim also learned about the manufacture of ballistic missiles during his visit to the institute, according to the KCNA report. The launch of two ballistic missiles in July was followed by the imposition of stronger UN sanctions and warnings from President Donald Trump that Pyongyang would face “fire and fury’’ if it continued to make threats against the U.S.

Some people are trying really hard to turn  Malia Obama being a regular teenager into a controversial thing, to make her seem wilder (and therefore potentially out of control!) than she is or has any designs on being.

Jessica Alba faced a lot of doubters when she wanted to go from  Hollywood star to entrepreneur . In a new interview with  Cosmopolitan , the mother of two and wife of  Cash Warren  revealed the ways actresses are often boxed into limited categories. “There’s a way that certain people characterize actresses,” said Alba. “You’re only as good as your last job or as good as how you look on the cover of a magazine….They don’t really see any more depth in you.” The Honest Company  received a whopping $1.7 billion valuation after three years as a company, selling in more than 13,000 retail locations across North America. Before building a billion-dollar empire, however, Alba had made a name for herself on the silver screen, starring in movies such as  Honey ,  Sin City , and  Fantastic Four . “There aren’t a lot of women who have multi-hyphen job descriptions, or have done many different things in their careers and have been successful in them…...

Niger state Government  on Wednesday  signed a $450 million (N166 billion) Memorandum of Understanding with Dangote Group for the setting up of an Integrated Sugar cane plantation and a Sugar Refinery plant in the state. The state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello signed for the government while the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote endorsed the agreement on behalf of Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC in Minna, Niger State capital. The multi million dollar project is billed to be sited on a 16,908 hectares of land in Lavun Local Government area to the state.

Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, has said that those groups calling for the disintegration of Nigeria are only wasting their time as “Nigeria remains one.’’ Adesina stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving a coalition of South East youths group who stormed the Aso Rock Villa gate to declare support for  President Muhammadu Buhari. The  Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)  and the  Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) have been agitating for the creation of Biafra over alleged marginalisation of the south east zone of the country. The Presidential aide described as untrue and false the insinuation by some mischief makers that the south east region was not in support of President Buhari’s administration. “The fact that a coalition from the south east region has come to mount this solidarity rally for him is very significant because some mischief makers always say that the south ea...

The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Sept. 1, 2017 as Eid-el-Kabir day. This is contained in a statement signed by Prof. Sambo Junaidu, the Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs to the Sokoto Sultanate Council.

An enforcement team, led by Mrs.  Anita Erinne , sealed off the premises of the filling station on Wednesday, August 23, for allegedly defaulting on tax payment. A representative of the oil firm identified as  Samson , however, claimed that the company had cleared its debt. The FIRS has been clamping down on companies defaulting in remission tax. The team also visited  Kaplan International College  Limited situated at 1, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island,  which was also sealed over a N50.5 million tax liability. On Tuesday, August 22, the enforcement team sealed off the premises of  Amyn Investment Limited, situated at 21/25 Broad Street, Lagos. The company is said to be owing N12.5 million in tax. Another company, Floorenzo West Africa Limited, situated at 6, Boyle Street, Lagos, which owes  N310 million, was also visited by the FIRS team. Also affected are FDHL situated at 9/11, Osborne Terrace House, Udi Street, Osborne Ikoyi, whi...

The video starts off with Kurl Songx spotting a girl he immediately gets attracted to. The great thing for him is, the girl was coming out of the house so he has some chance to wax her lyrical. Well my lady isn't the least moved with Kurl’s emotional lines. A soldier forever lives to fight another day so does Kurl Songx return to conquer 

“Whether people like him or not, [Mr Trump] has been raised up by God, because God says that He raises up and places all people in places of authority,” televangelist Paula White recently told Jim Bakker, a right-wing pastor and vocal Trump supporter. She added: “It is God that raises up a king, it is God that sets one down and so when you fight against the plan of God, you’re fighting against the hand of God.”

The 19-year-old winger is capable of operating on either flank and is said to be blessed with real pace. The deal is thought to have been negotiated by Rangers’ director of football Mark Allen, who spent several years working as Manchester City’s academy director. Born in France but raised in Manchester, the player is the Ibrox club’s tenth summer signing, though it is understood he will mainly feature in the club’s development squad. Nemane made his debut for Manchester City’s under-18 team at the age of 14 and their under-21s at the age of 16. He also featured in the Uefa Youth League last season and scored in the FA Youth Cup final in 2016. A statement posted on the Rangers website said: “Rangers can today confirm the loan signing of Aaron Nemane from Manchester City. The highly-rated 19-year-old has signed until January.”

Controversial Scots lotto winner Jane Park has enlisted her pal to help her find a man- as long as he isn't a  Rangers  fan. The Hibs supporter reportedly sent her friend an x-rated message via Snapchat with her wish list of credentials for a 'during the week and Sunday boyfriend.' Jane, who became a millionaire aged 17 back in 2013, says she is looking for a tall, tanned man who has tattoos, according to the  Scottish Sun . However, during the conversation which was eventually posted on Twitter, she also said no Rangers fans need to apply.

The self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has said that the group will never engage in any act of violence. Sequel to the agitations for restructuring and secession in some parts of the country, Kanu asked Nigerians not to be afraid of the internal operations of the group.

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy says he’s learning how to speak Pidgin English as fluently as the Nigerian players in his team.  Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Ahmed Musa are the Nigerian players in Leicester City. Vardy told news men that his only challenge with the Nigerian trio is their Pidgin English which he says is difficult to understand.

A cyclist who fatally ploughed his bike into a mother-of-two as she crossed a London street has been found guilty of causing bodily harm by wanton and furious driving, but cleared of manslaughter. Charlie Alliston, 20, was travelling at 18mph on a fixed-wheel track bicycle with no front brakes - illegal on the road - when he crashed into Kim Briggs. Alliston was travelling at 18mph when he hit the HR consultant as she crossed Old Street in east London on February 12 last year. The 44-year-old suffered "catastrophic" head injuries in the collision and died a week later in hospital.

Princes William and Harry have spoken candidly about the death of their mother, Princess Diana, in an interview marking 20 years since she was killed in a car crash in Paris, paying tribute to the actions of their father in breaking the tragic news. Excerpts of the BBC interviews released Wednesday mark something of a departure for the two princes, who have largely refrained from discussing Prince Charles' actions in other interviews describing their mother ahead of the anniversary. But in the documentary "Diana, 7 Days," they appear to offer sympathy for him, quelling speculation that he had been uncaring in the crisis. "One of the hardest things for a parent to have to do is to tell your children that your other parent has died," Harry said. "How you deal with that I don't know but, you know, he was there for us." The documentary chronicles the week after the princess' death on Aug. 31, 1997 and features then-Prime Minister To...

The  National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)  has said that it did  not release a statement concerning the ban of any song. The commission said it isn’t its job to ban songs, as the prerogative on whether or not to play songs lies with broadcast stations. Speaking to news men Idachaba Armstrong, the Director of the commission said the ban notice of “Wo” and “Wavy Level” by Olamide, “Fall” and “If: Remix” by Davido and “Living Things” by 9ice did not come from NBC. He said: "First of all, NBC is a commission, not a corporation. Nobody at NBC issued a statement to the effect. We can’t be issuing a statement on every album released in his country. The broadcaster has the responsibility to do the needful. NBC does not ban songs, we don’t have any business with the artistes. It is left for NBC to tell stations to ensure the songs and videos are fit for broadcast before putting them on air. The whole idea of offensive vulgar lyri...