Author: Chief Editor

• Reps give Akpabio 48hrs to name corrupt lawmakers • Source insists legislators had contracts • Groups call for national enquiry, scrapping of NDDC The probe into alleged financial impropriety in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) advanced yesterday, throwing up new twists. It started with the House of Representatives issuing the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, 48-hour ultimatum to publish names of lawmakers he accused of taking up contracts at the NDDC. The Speaker of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabimila, who gave the ultimatum to the minister at plenary on Tuesday, asked Akpabio to publish names of…

•Senators decry worsening security situation, demand Olonisakin, Buratai, others’ resignations The presidency yesterday disagreed with the Senate over its call on the service chiefs to either step aside or be sacked over the worsening security situation in the country. A statement by presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said going by the constitution, the appointment or removal of service chiefs, like other appointees is the prerogative of President Muhammadu Buhari and he would be guided by national interest on whether to fire or to continue to retain them. The statement was a riposte to an earlier resolution yesterday by the Senate…

Cristiano Ronaldo put Juventus on the brink of a ninth consecutive Italian league title on Monday after he scored twice in a 2-1 win over Lazio to become the first player to hit 50 goals in Serie A, La Liga and the Premier League. Juventus ended a three-match winless run thanks to Ronaldo’s second-half brace that moves them eight points clear of second-placed Inter Milan with four games remaining. Maurizio Sarri’s side could win the title on Thursday against lowly Udinese, or on Sunday at home against Sampdoria, depending on their rivals’ results this week. “We are missing four points,…

House of Representatives on Tuesday has given the minister of Niger Delta Affairs Godswill Akpabio 48-hours to name the National Assembly members involved in the contracts awarded by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The House of Reps committee probing the financial dealings and contracts in the NDDC also asked Akpabio to publish names, contracts, dates and amount of contracts awarded to members of the 9th National Assembly. [GuardianNG]

US President Donald Trump promised Monday to resume televised coronavirus briefings and finally spoke out in favour of mask-wearing — a marked change of tune as polls show him headed for election disaster. With only just over 100 days until the election against Democrat Joe Biden, Trump is scrambling to respond to public anger over his troubled months-long handling of the pandemic. Since the virus first hit the United States, Trump has insisted that it will just “disappear.” But that sunny claim is now badly strained even among loyal supporters, as they watch COVID-19 cases surge through populous Republican-led states…

Ehi Braimah A great mind such as Tony Elumelu, founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF); Chairman of UBA, Africa’s Global Bank, and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, an African investment conglomerate, amongst several other interests, needs little or no introduction. He is God’s gift to Nigeria, and then Africa. But Elumelu’s larger than life image obviously transcends the boundaries of Africa, making him a global citizen. The focus of this essay will be more about his amazing philanthropy and burning desire to create enduring prosperity and social wealth in Africa by empowering entrepreneurs and enhancing competitiveness of the private sector.…

In its first major official statement since the arrest, detention and suspension of its acting Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday declared that it is still committed to President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption drive. It said in spite of recent developments at the agency, operations at the headquarters and its zonal offices nationwide were running smoothly and seamlessly. The presidency had barred visitors from the headquarters and the zonal offices across the country since last week while some security agents were deployed to keep a tab on activities of the establishment. Magu was picked up…

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, met yesterday with President Muhammadu Buhari to brief him on efforts by the military to tame the wave of banditry and terrorism, especially in the North. Buratai, told State House reporters after the meeting that the nation’s security situation was now better than what it was last month when the president gave the military marching orders to tame insecurity. Buratai attributed the containment of insecurity to the success of different operations in the North-west and North-east. He added that 99 per cent of terrorists and 100 per cent of kidnappers terrorising the…

•Senate challenges minister to name contract beneficiaries •Acting managing director faints during questioning, claims N1.3bn spent as COVID-19 palliatives for staff In a self-indicting testimony yesterday, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, told the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC probing allegations of mismanagement and illegal spending by the commission that the agency under his watch parceled several contracts for members of the National Assembly, contrary to the provisions of Code of Conduct for Public Officers. Under the code enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended, it is an offence for public officers to put themselves in…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he will stick with error-prone Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea but with a Champions League place at stake many are urging him to drop the Spaniard. The 29-year-old’s blunders at Wembley on Sunday were a hammer blow for in-form United, who went down 3-1 to Frank Lampard’s Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final. De Gea allowed Olivier Giroud’s shot to trickle over the line in the dying seconds of the first half and moments after the interval Mason Mount’s shot evaded his weak attempted save. The Times described his performance as a “horror show”. Solskjaer…