I’ve not returned to PDP — Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday denied the news making the rounds that he had returned to the Peoples Democratic Party. Obasanjo in a press statement issued on his behalf at Abeokuta, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, said the misconception that he had returned to the PDP, was fuelled by his photograph taken at the Shehu Yar’adua Centre, Abuja on Friday.

The Centre, he explained, was incidentally,  the venue of the inauguration of the PDP national convention committee. Clearing the air on his presence at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Obasanjo said he had gone there to attend an event ‘Zero Hunger Nigeria’ organised by the Commodities Association Stakeholders.

The statement added that a few minutes into the session, the attention of Obasanjo was drawn to the presence of some politicians, who later walked up to him and exchanged pleasantries. It explained that among those who came to pay homage to Obasanjo, included Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Senator Ben Obi and a former Deputy President the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu.

The statement added that  whoever took the picture of the former president when he was leaving the  venue of the event, planned to annoy and embarrass him. Obasanjo in the statement, said some hours after he arrived Lagos on the same day, he began to receive calls, concerning the photograph.

The former President re-affirmed that he had quit partisan politics for good, and that anybody hoping to drag him back would fail.

He said whoever believed the story of his going back to the PDP, would also believe a charade that his or her mother was not a woman. It will be recalled that Obasanjo had on February 16, 2015 ordered that his PDP membership card be torn, indicating that he had left the party.

The statement read, “The attention of the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has been brought to the photonews story, which has gone viral on the social media on Friday, August 5, 2016 of his purported being ‘spotted’ at a Peoples Democratic Party event at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre, Abuja.

“While ordinarily his first reaction to the news was that those behind it targeted to get him annoyed and embarrassed him, his conclusion was that he had told the world that he has quit partisan politics and that is final.

“Anybody hoping to drag him back will fail like any man feeding mice to a dead cat.”

Confusion as Obasanjo is sighted at PDP event venue

There was a mild drama on Friday at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, the venue of the inauguration of the Peoples Democratic Party national convention committee, as former President Olusegun Obasanjo was sighted on the premises.

The former President was at centre to attend a programme on Agriculture while the PDP leaders were also at the same premises to attend their party’s event. Obasanjo had on February 16, 2015, torn his PDP membership card, saying he was leaving the party for good.

Interestingly, leaders of the PDP rushed to pay homage to the former President when he was sighted at the venue.

The PDP convention holds in Port Harcourt on August 17.

Our correspondent gathered that one of the administrators of the building had alerted the PDP leaders of the presence of Obasanjo in the building.

It was gathered that as soon as the party leaders were informed about Obasanjo’s presence, they rushed out to greet him.

Among those that were said to have rushed out to pay homage to the leader of the party included its National Chairman in charge of the National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi; the Secretary of the committee, Sen. Ben Obi and a former Deputy President of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu. The former President greeted them briefly and proceeded to attend the programme he had come for. Leaders of the party had been visiting its aggrieved members with the aim of reconciling them with the now factionalised party but they had yet to visit the former President.

Members of the Board of Trustees of the party visited former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja two days ago.

They had earlier visited the home of a former Minister of Finance, Adamu Ciroma.

Senate to investigate Dream Team VI’s travel delay

Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said that they will investigate the circumstances behind the delayed departure of the U-23 team to the 2016 Olympic Games. 

Samson Siasia and his boys were initially scheduled to leave their training camp in Atlanta, USA for Brazil on Monday, but only left few hours before their opening Group B game against Japan.

“Congratulations to the #Dream Team for the 5-4 win against Japan#Rio 2016. #Thank you Delta for making it possible for them to make the match,” Saraki wrote on his Twitter handle.

“Senate Committee on sports chaired by Senator Obinnna Ogba will look into the embarrassing situation that happened to the Dream Team V1.

“When minister of finance appeared in the senate three weeks ago, we raised the issue and she assured funds were released.”

Nigeria beat Japan 5-4 and will take on Sweden in their next game on Sunday.

Woman gives birth to quadruplets at Redemption Camp

A woman has delivered a set of quadruplets at the ongoing 64th annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God holding at the Redemption Camp, kilometre 46, Lagos – Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.

It was gathered that a total of 67 children have so far been delivered as at 7:00 p.m, Thursday.

Announcing the cheering news on the fourth day of the convention, the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, said the delivery of the quadruplets at the convention was unique. “For the first time in the history of our conventions and our maternity centre, a woman gave birth to four babies,” he declared.

The four babies are three boys, one girl, Tribune reports.

He further announced that of the total of 67 children born on Thursday, according to the man of God, 40 are boys while 27 are girls.

EFCC arrests three FAAN officials for N100m fraud

The EFCC has arrested a level six accounts officer at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Christy Olabode, for an alleged fraud of N100 million. According to a statement from Mr Wilson Uwujaren, the commission`s Head of Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Friday, the arrest was made on Aug. 2.

The statement said that also arrested were her younger brother, Abdul-Shehu Obaze, of the commercial department of FAAN in Ilorin and Dominic Ojo, an IT officer at the headquarters in Lagos. It said the arrest followed an anonymous petition, which indicated that she allegedly diverted the said sum by inserting names of non-FAAN staff into its payroll.

The statement said she allegedly conspired with Obaze, who was found to have maintained not less than eight accounts in seven new generation banks to perpetrate the fraud.

The statement added that the banks were used to receive the funds for onward distribution to some high ranking officers in FAAN. “The funds were being paid into his various bank accounts with the narrative, Furniture Allowance.

“However, while the allowance for FAAN’s furniture is usually paid once in three years, Obaze received the allowance several times in a year,’’ the statement said. It added that investigations by the EFCC revealed that the fraud had gone on since 2013.

It further added that the investigations unearthed a payroll with names of many dead, retired and disengaged staff of FAAN listed against Obaze’s different bank accounts. “Upon interrogation, Obaze, a level nine officer, confessed that other FAAN officials were involved in the fraud, including Olabode’s husband, who works in the human resources department of FAAN.

“Olabode and Ojo currently enjoy administrative bail while Obaze remains in EFCC custody,’’ the statement further said. It added that they would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded. (NAN)

Nearly half of candidates fail May/June WASSCE but WAEC says it’s cheerful

A total of 674,718 candidates representing 47.03 per cent failed to obtain five credits including mathematics and English in the 2016 May/June 2016.

Olu Adenipekun, head of the Nigeria national office of West African Examination Council (WAEC), announced the result at a press briefing in Lagos.

He described the news as “cheerful” since the result was an improvement on the last two exams which were 31.28 and 38.68 per cent respectively.

Adenipekun said ‎878, 040‎ candidates passed the West African Senior Secondary School Examination (WASSCE), representing 1,5‎52,758 candidates registered for the 2016 examinations, but only the results of 1,393,907 candidates had been fully processed.

Dogara: Budget padding not an offence… I will NOT resign

Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, says he will not resign his position although that is the ultimate desire of Abdulmumin Jibrin, former chairman of the house appropriations committee.

Speaker of the house of representatives Yakubu Dogara

Jibrin is accusing Dogara and three other leaders of the lower chamber of “padding” the 2016 budget to the tune of hundreds of billions of naira.

However, answering questions from state house correspondents after privately meeting President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, Dogara said “budget padding” is not an offence, hence he won’t resign.

Asked why he was visiting the president on a Friday, Dogara said: “I can’t come and see my president?

“Do I need any reason to come and see my president. It’s a private visit.”

Asked if he discussed the alleged budget padding with the president, he replied with a question of his own: “What is budget padding?”

Reminded that the language emanated from the lower chamber, he replied: “I don’t know; educate me.

“I am lawyer and the speaker, and I have never heard of the word padding. What does ‘padding’ mean?

He was also reminded that Jibrin was accusing him of padding the budget, but he said: “Ask him, he who alleges must prove; that’s the law in Nigeria.”

The rest of his conversation went:

Journalists: Are you not going to defend yourself?

Dogara: Am I before a court?

Journalists: There are people saying you should reconvene the house before September resumption time and step aside for thorough investigations.

Dogara: We have rules and regulations. This is not a mock institution; we operate by rules and we will follow the rules.‎

Journalists: Will you resign?

Dogara: Resign for what? For what?

Journalists: On this allegations?

Dogara: What are the allegations?

Journalists: That you and some members of the leadership padded the budget?

Dogara: What is padding? You haven’t told me. Ask Jibrin what padding is. For me, I studied law and I have been in the legislature and all this period I have never heard of the word ‘padding’ being an offence under any law. If I don’t know, you are the media; research the law and let me know.

Journalists: Are you worried?

Dogara: Worried for what? Worried over nothing. Why should I be worried? As far as I am concerned, I’m not worried over anything.

Journalists: Will there be sanctions against Jibrin?

Dogara: I am not the chairman of ethics committee of the house so I wouldn’t know and I don’t know what ‘padding’ means.

Obasanjo left prison with N20,000 but is now one of W’Africa’s wealthiest ex-presidents - Clark says

Edwin Clark, elder statesman and Ijaw national leader, says he has always been in support of the fight against corruption, recalling how he challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo for having just N20,000 when he left prison but is now one of the wealthiest ex-presidents in West Africa.

Edwin Clark

Addressing reporters at his Warri, Delta state residence on Friday, Clark said he confronted Obasanjo with this allegation in the era of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Maintaining that Nigerians know his stance against corruption, Clark spoke on the role he played in the conviction of James Ibori, former Delta state governor, who is currently serving a jail term in London. “I talked about corruption during the time of erstwhile President Obasanjo and Yar’ Adua,” he said.

“During Jonathan’s time, I accused Chief Obasanjo that he was the most corrupt ex-president Nigeria had ever produced. I said that he left prison with only N20,000, but today he is one of the wealthiest former presidents in the whole of West Africa. “I was also in the forefront of fighting our former governor, Chief James Ibori, leading to him being sentenced UK. Every Nigerian is aware of this. I led the crusade against him especially when a judge dropped the charges against him.”

Clark said people accusing him of not speaking against corruption were “unpatriotic”.

Responding to a recent critical piece against him, the Ijaw leader said: “Ordinarily, I shouldn’t have reply to it because whoever is the author is vicious, wicked and not a patriotic Nigerian. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have written I never spoke against corruption during the time of former President Goodluck Jonathan. “I said the author is being vicious because I have been talking about corruption even before the time of Jonathan.”

CBN directs banks to sell dollars to pilgrims at N197

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has directed banks and authorized forex dealers to sell the Pilgrims Travelling Allowance, PTA, to intending pilgrims at a concessionary exchange rate of N197 to $1. This directive was given ‎in a statement sent to banks yesterday August 4th.

The statement reads in part

“Each pilgrim is entitled to purchase a minimum of $750.00 and maximum of US$1,000.00 as PTA. The Federal Government has approved that intending pilgrims are to be sold the PTA at a concessionary exchange rate of N197.00 to the US dollar. No commission shall be charged by the banks for the sale of the PTA to the intending pilgrims. The Central Bank of Nigeria shall sale the PTA to the designated banks in Lagos and Abuja and the accounts of the respective banks shall be debited as soon as the funds are disbursed….”

Billionaire businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim, picks up governorship form for Ondo state

Billionaire businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim has picked the nomination form for the November governorship election in Ondo state from Senator Sheriff led-PDP. While picking the form, Jimoh Ibrahim said if elected, he will pay workers in the state their salaries within his 100 days in office;

“I will restructure the state in the area of capacity building, good innovation and by putting the right thing in the right place at the right time. I will pay the workers within the first day of my 100 days in office. Non-payment of salaries by state government is the failure of innovation of states by governors. It is when you are innovative that you will be able to pay salaries. Those (governors) who are owing are not efficient. I’m not owing any of my workers” he said

Irish boxer Michael O’Reilly becomes first athlete to test positive for drugs at the Rio Olympics

23 year old Irish Boxer Michael O'Reilly has become the first athlete to fail a drug test at Rio Olympics after he was caught by a random drug test before his team flew to Brazil yesterday for the tournament. The Irish Amateur Boxing Federation confirmed that O'Reilly is temporarily suspended pending a full investigation.

Following his positive test he has the right as an athlete to request a B-sample. Michael has a week to clear his name before being struck out of the Olympic Games as his opening bout, a second round fight as he is third seed, is scheduled for next week Friday.

Michael O'Reilly was earlier in May fined £5,000 and sent home from an Olympic qualifying tournament in Turkey for bringing Irish boxing into disrepute.

Ogoni clean-up will take 20 years – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has averred that the cleanup of Ogoniland and other oil-impacted communities in the Niger Delta region would last for 20 years. He made the disclosure on Thursday while inaugurating the Governing Council and the Board of Trustees of the Trust Fund for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project for the Implementation of the UNEP Report at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to Buhari, “The clean-up exercise is expected to go on for two decades. The first five years will address emergency response measures and remediation while the subsequent years will look to restore the ecosystems in the Delta. “The governance framework we lay today, following extensive consultations, will form the bedrock for sustainability for years to come.

“Together we will be able to transform what is today a tragic tale of desolation and destruction to one of restoration and opportunity for the coming generations. The expertise and technology exist to make this a reality.

“In the end, this project will serve as the ‘gold standard’ for the cleanup of similar pollution in other parts of the Niger Delta, and the world at large.”

8 policemen detained over killing of two Nasarawa workers

Police in Nasarawa said eight of its officers of the command had been detained in connection with alleged shooting to death of two persons in the state. Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Abubakar Bello, disclosed this on Thursday in Lafia while briefing newsmen.

Bello said the two persons were killed in Lafia during the recent visit of the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, to the state.

He said that the case had been taken over by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Police Headquarters for full investigation. He said that the doctor, who conducted autopsy on the two victims “said that one died from injuries sustained from hard object while the other died from a pallet’’.

The commissioner, however, said that the pallet extracted from the deceased did not match the gun used by policemen stationed at the Government House gate. He added that the outcome of the investigation would unravel the truth behind the incident. He disclosed that he had directed Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the state to enlighten officers on the rules guiding the use of arms.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NLC president was in Nasarawa on Friday to hold talks with the state government over the protracted industrial dispute in the state. Wabba told newsmen in Lafia that unknown policemen shot four workers at the gate of the government house, while they were awaiting the outcome of the NLC meeting with Gov. Umaru Al-Makura.

He said that one of the shot workers died instantly, while another died later at the National Hospital in Abuja where he was referred to for further treatment.

 Workers in the state had embarked on an indefinite strike following the decision of the state government to slash their salaries by 50 per cent. (NAN)

NDLEA discovers Cannabis farms in Ekiti

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ekiti State Command, on Thursday said that it would seize and destroyed any farmland used for the cultivation of Cannabis in the state. The Public Affairs Officer of the agency, Mr Peter Njoku, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti.

He said that officers of the NDLEA have set up strategies and measures to discover farmlands that were on lease or sold to unidentified persons, that were being used to cultivate cannabis. ‎Njoku said most of the farms that were being used to cultivate cannabis were mostly located in remote areas that could not be easily traced.

The spokesman noted that any farmland found with cannabis would be seized and anyone caught on such land would be arrested and prosecuted. He appealed to all traditional rulers and chiefs in Ekiti to educate and inform their sons and daughters not to lease or sell their lands to unidentified persons, who may use it for unlawful businesses.

Njoku, however, warned that anyone traditional ruler or land owner who fails to cooperate with the agency, would be arrested and be made to face the full wrath of the law.(NAN)

Crew, passengers rush out of plane after man shouted ‘bomb’

People on board an AirAsia flight bound for Indonesia on Wednesday were ordered to disembark the plane after a passenger uttered the word “bomb,” a police official said. AirAsia Flight AK423 was about to depart from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport when “one of the passengers was heard saying, ‘maybe there’s a bomb’,” Sepang district police Chief, Abdul Aziz Ali, told reporters.

Airport officials did not allow the plane to leave and ordered the passengers evacuated. The flight was bound for Bandah Aceh in Indonesia. “A bomb disposal team was sent to the aeroplane and inspected all the cargo, but there was no bomb found,” he said.

Abdul Aziz said the passenger who uttered the B-word was not allowed to leave and is being investigated by the police.

“Our initial investigation showed the passenger does not pose security threat,” he said.

AirAsia confirmed the incident, adding that the plane was allowed to leave early in the afternoon after it was declared safe by authorities. (dpa/NAN)

Woman sells her unborn child for N100,000

A 29-year-old woman from Amasiri, Ebonyi State, Miss Chidimma Okorie, yesterday, stunned people at the headquarters of the Anambra State Police Command in Awka, when she admitted that she had already sold her unborn child for N100,000.

 The mother of five, who said she had never been married, also admitted stealing two three years old boys at Umuoji in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, with the connivance of two medical doctors operating private hospitals in the area. The two medical doctors, Emmanuel Tobechukwu and Cosmos Ugorji, who the police described as accomplices in child trafficking, were also helping the police in their investigations. Chidimma said she had sold two children since she was introduced into the “business” by a woman she identified as an Evangelist. According to her: “I sold the two children for N50,000 each. I am pregnant and the madam (Evangelist) said when I deliver my baby, she would buy it for N100,000. I have five children, but I am not married. I have not sold any of my children, but I have sold two children, starting with the child of a pastor last month.” She said the two medical doctors were helping her in the trafficking because they had a ready market through a nurse, still at large. She alleged that the Evangelist brought her along with two other girls from Ebonyi State to Anambra State and took them to a shrine in Asaba where, according to her, she collected their blood samples for a ritual so that they would not reveal to anybody the type of business they were into. 

We just did blood  tests—DOCTORS

 Dr Ugorji, however, insisted that he had neither seen her before, nor done any transaction with her. He said one nurse, now at large, was coming to his hospital, located at Awada, Obosi, near Onitsha, for blood tests, adding that he was surprised police stormed his hospital and started talking about child trafficking. On his part, Dr Tobechukwu, who said his hospital was at Nkpor, near Onitsha, admitted that a woman brought Chidimma to his hospital for blood test. He said: “This woman (Chidimma) has a medical condition, which I would not want to discuss here. She was brought by one woman, who said she was a nurse. I did not document their addresses because we did not do any treatment. What we did was blood test and they left.”

 The doctor, who said he was from Enugu State, said he had nothing to do with child trafficking. Anambra Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Nkeiru Nwode, said the suspects were arrested on Wednesday, after a tip-off. She said Chidimma had come to Idoma village and stolen the boys, but luck ran out on her as people raised alarm and she was apprehended. The PPRO said before the latest incident, Chidimma had stolen a child belonging to a pastor in the area. Nwode said the doctors were accomplices, who were linking the traffickers to ready markets.

Dream team beats Japan 5-4

Nigerian Olympic male football team, popularly called the Dream Team, on Friday, beat the Japanese U-23 side 5 goals to 4, in a pulsating encounter which held at the Manaus Stadium, in Brazil. The Coach Samson Siasia tutored boys defied all the odds to defeat Japan in the thrilling Group B encounter in Manaus despite arriving in Brazil just hours before their first game in the early hours of Friday.

The dream team

 Oghenekaro Etebo was the star of the show, scoring four goals, while the impressive Umar Sadiq added the other goal to secure the win for Nigeria, reports Compelete Sports. Japan had the game’s first chance but Emmanuel Daniel made a point blank save before Sincere Seth cleared away for a corner. The game got off to a blistering start when Sadiq opened the scoring in the fifth minute after imoh Ezekiel’s initial shot was stopped by Japan keeper. A minute later Japan equalised from the penalty spot through Shinzo Koroki after Amuzie fouled inside the box. In the ninth minute, Etebo put Nigeria ahead again with a left foot strike off a cross from Shehu Abdullahi. Japan were back on level terms through Takumi Minamino on 13 minutes following a fine intricate passes which split the Nigerian defence open. Amuzie, in the 19th minute, hit a long range strike which Japan keeper palmed away for a corner. Few minutes later, Ezekiel made a timely block which went away for a corner. In the 31st minute, Ezekiel sent in a low cross which failed to connect with a Nigerian player. Etebo came close to putting Nigeria in front on 38 minutes but blazed his effort over the bar. In the 42nd minute, Etebo made it 3-2, pouncing on a poor clearance after his initial effort came off a Japanese player. On the stroke of half time, Etebo had the chance to score Nigeria’s fourth but didn’t get a clean header from Sadiq’s cross. Etebo got his hat-trick and made it 4-2 in favour for Nigeria after Sadiq was fouled inside the box. In the 61 minutes Mikel Obi hit a left foot strike which went narrowly wide. Etebo made it 5-2 for Nigeria in the 67th minute after Japan keeper made a harsh of his clearance. Substitute Asano reduced the deficit in the 70th minute. Nigeria made their first change on 71 minutes with Kingsley Madu replacing Usman Mohammed. In the 77th minute Daniel rushed out of his line to make a save. Ndifreke Udo was introduced for Ezekiel in the 79th minute. Nigeria made their last change on 86 minute with Mikel coming off for Popoola Saliu. And in the 95th minute, Musashi Suzuki made it 5-4. Nigeria now top group B and will face Sweden on Sunday while Japan will face Colombia.

US warns citizens against travelling to 20 Nigerian states

The United States of America has warned its citizens against travelling to 20 states in Nigeria due to  security concerns. According to the travel advice on the Department of State’s website, the North-Eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, where the Boko Haram terrorists were more brutal, topped the list. It read:

President of the united state of America. Barak Obama

 

“The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travelling to Nigeria and recommends that U.S. citizens avoid all travel to Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states because the security situation in northeast Nigeria remains fluid and unpredictable.The Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens in Nigeria to consider their own personal security and to keep personal safety in the forefront of their travel planning. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning for Nigeria dated February 5, 2016. “The ability of the Mission to provide assistance to U.S. citizens in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states remains severely limited. The Department recommends against all but essential travel to the following states due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks:  Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and Zamfara. “The Department also warns against travel in the Gulf of Guinea because of the threat of piracy. Based on safety and security risk assessments, the Embassy maintains restrictions for travel by U.S. officials to the states listed above; officials must receive advance clearance by the U.S. Mission for any travel to those states. “The U.S. Mission advises all U.S. citizens to be particularly vigilant around government security facilities; churches, mosques, and other places of worship; locations where large crowds may gather, such as hotels, clubs, bars, restaurants, markets, shopping malls; and other areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers.

Anybody who wants to destroy PDP will not succeed.”Goodluck Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday called on the warring members of the Peoples Democratic Party to sheath their sword and allow for the party to pick up its bits and pieces.

Former President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the State House in Abuja President Jonathan who spoke when members of the Board of Trustees of the party visited him in his Maitama residence also confirmed Vanguard’s exclusive report that he had been contacted to broker peace between the senator Ahmed Makarfi led national caretaker committee and the senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction. According to the former president,  “I have been talking to individuals (members of the party) but not in a way that is exposed to media but I believe I should do more. “Unfortunately we have been challenged, but I don’t think you should be discouraged. Challenges are part of life; even in families there are challenges. There are challenges even in the church more than what may be happening at political level. So you should not be discouraged, and I believe, collectively, we can solve it” he said. The former president revealed that  he had been receiving regular briefings on the state of affairs of the party since he left office from the BoT Chairman, Senator Jibrin Walid, and commended him and other members of the board for their role in stabilising the PDP, as ‎conscience of the party. “This should not be beyond us but I believe that collectively, we can resolve it. Any sincere PDP member should know that PDP is bigger than an individual. And many members have sacrificed their interest for the party,” he observed. Jonathan regretted the conflicting court orders that have continued to worsen the crisis and further called on party members to sheath their swords for the interest of the party. The chairman of the BoT‎, Senator Jibrin explained that the visit was in recognition of Jonathan’s position as former president, to interact with him and inform him of the state of the party. He said the PDP was undergoing a lot of difficulties and challenges, disclosing that there are about 15 court cases seeking to stop the PDP national convention. “We abide by provisions of the party, article 10 of the constitution, which provides for internal resolution of crisis. This provision is abandoned with various court cases. There is court judgement in Port Harcourt, and there are court judgements and orders in Abuja. “We have realised that we need reconciliation. So  many committees have been set up for reconciliation. ‎The BoT decided to form a special committee to pursue reconciliation. Some members of the party are concerned. “That is why we appeal to former president that he be party to the reconciliation; it is your intervention that is very important for a way forward for the party. We have great respect for you despite the fact that you have not been appearing in our activities. “We have embarked on programme of visitations to our founding fathers; we have visited the National Assembly. We are satsifed with level of cooperation between PDP and other members in the National Assembly. They have played the opposition very well and have embarked on policy of issues not on personalities,” Walid told Jonathan. ‎‎He added that despite all that is happening, PDP is alive, stating that “anybody who wants to destroy PDP will not succeed.”

Niger Delta Avengers dismiss military action, vow to bomb more pipelines

Militant group Niger Delta Avenger (NDA) has accused the military of deceiving Nigerians by publishing ‘false’ videos supposedly showing the Nigerian military bombarding targeted illegal bunkering camps in the Niger Delta region.

The NDA has described the action of the Nigerian military as unprofessional and also a ploy to intimidate them with jet bombers, adding that they will not be intimidated, even if more jet bombers are deployed to the region.

“They can deploy fourth generation jet-bombers and that will not stop us from fighting for our people. We hereby challenge the military to share with the public the militants killed in the so-called air strike. We are very sure that they won’t share the images of militants killed because non was killed except innocent women and children,” said Brig. Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, the Avengers spokesman.

“What we are saying is that the country should be restructured. The call for restructuring of Nigeria has gone beyond the NDA. The only group of persons against the restructuring is the Villa. The federal government should just listen to the voice of the citizens instead of playing the deaf ear game.

“We are officially saying that @agbiniboND is our new official twitter account handle. Twitter can block or suspend our account but they can’t stop or block our struggle, they further said in a one page statement made available to the media.

The Militants have vowed to bomb more oil pipelines in the region and have urged President  Buhari to listen to reason instead of “threatening us on the pages of newspapers.”

Boko Haram: FG indicts two fertilizers companies for sabotage

The Federal Government has indicted the two sole manufacturers of urea blend of fertilizers in Nigeria, following the discovery that terrorist sect Boko Haram used nitrate-based fertilizers to develop the Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDS)‎.‎

 

This comes on the heels of the arrest of five security operatives as well as other actors linked to incessant bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta, ‎where it was discovered commercial explosives and accessories were used for the attacks. They were found to be culpable for diverting about 9000 kilograms of high explosives and 16,420 pieces of detonators for illegal use.‎

The government has further warned that any individual or company that operates outside the confines of legitimacy or legality will have itself to blame, adding that it will not listen to any influence peddler on behalf of any company that decides to sabotage national security.

‎

The National Security Adviser, Brig. Gen. Babagana Mungono‎ (rtd), who briefed the press with officials of the two fertilizer manufacturers – Notore Petrochemical and Indorama Eleme Petrochemical in attendance – read the riot act, expressed government’s displeasure at their activities, adding that they were also contributing to food shortage in the country.

He said that despite government’s effort through relevant authorities to grant them sole license as well as to facilitate necessary importation of raw materials and secure distribution networks to the two, ‎they were discovered to have been exporting 71 per cent of the product to the detriment of the nation’s economy.

According to Mungono, ‎”At this point the good will showed by the government of this country will not be taken for granted. The fact that we are in a difficult and complicated situation in terms of our economy and security, does not mean that‎ companies and individuals with vested interests will take the good will of this country for granted…”

Governor Obiano publicly asks Ex-governor Peter Obi for forgiveness

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state has publicly apologized to his predecessor, Mr Peter Obi, asking him to forgive and forget anything he might have done to him.

The former and present Governors (Peter Obi and Willie Obiano) were old students of the Christ the King College, Onitsha. Their paths crossed at the burial mass of their School Principal Reverend Father Nicholas Tagbo, and Obiano swallowed his pride, despite the crowd, and apologised on the premises of their alma mater.

He repeatedly said how sorry he was in the presence of thousands of former schoolmates and a large number of priests who were there to honour the late renowned teacher and principal.

That move instantly gained Governor Obiano favors and love from the people of Anambra State as they hailed him for his humility and peaceful nature.

Reacting to the development, Governor Willie Obiano said that he deemed it wise to make the move in the spirit of the late Reverend Father who taught them love and forgiveness.

Former Governor Peter Obi in his reaction said that as Christians, it is important to forgive and whatever they, as leaders are doing, the interest of the children of Anambra State should be paramount.

The Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Onitsha and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger, Most Reverend Valerian Okeke, blessed the reconciliation.

1.3m teachers needed for basic education – Minister

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu has said that in order to bridge the wide gap between the number of teachers required and the current number available for basic education, about 1.3 million teachers are needed in the next six years.

Minister Of Education Mallam Adamu

He spoke at the national flag-off ceremony of the 2015 teachers’ development training held in Abuja Tuesday.

Mallam Adamu who noted that the number was the latest released on teachers, said it was in view of this that the federal government was working towards the recruitment and injection of 500, 000 teachers into basic education across the country.

“When completed, it would place more responsibilities and higher expectations on states and local governments in terms of the roles they would play in providing more teaching infrastructure and instructional materials,” he said.

The minister expressed concern on  the inability of some state governments and State universal Basic Education Boards to promptly access the matching grants from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

While appealing to state governors to promptly utilize the funds for rapid educational development, he said the federal government was doing its best to reduce or do away with the requirement of matching grants.

The Federal Government is to release N120m to each state of the federation for the 2015 Teachers’ Professional Development programme.

The former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Suleiman Dikko,

Dikko said in addition, the commission, in collaboration with international development partners, had embarked on the training of teachers to equip them with the necessary skills to function effectively in classrooms.

Nigerian Civil War: I will reveal my side of the story in 2017 – Gowon

Sen. Shehu Sani, the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, has urged former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) to author a book on the Nigerian Civil War. Sani, who led a delegation of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) on a visit to the former head of state in Abuja on Wednesday, said the book would tell Gowon’s side of the story.

Gen Yakubu Gowon

According to the lawmaker, it has become expedient for the 82 year old former head of state to tell Nigerians what actually transpired in view of the numerous versions written by many authors. He said the history of Nigeria would not be complete if Nigerians did not get his side of the story.

He added that it was important for the former head of state to author such a book having played a major role in uniting the country in the after the war. “Your silence to us is full of content. Perhaps, if you go without writing your own side of the story you will be indebted to the future generation of Nigeria.

“ I wonder what goes through your mind when you go read what people write about the civil war.

“I am here to protest your refusal to write a book on the civil war under moral gunpoint. “Perhaps there are things you are avoiding – things you think are explosive; but Nigerians deserve to be told the truth.

“Truth hurts, but it heals. “You must write a book for us to know what we passed through before getting here. “Every Nigerian – dead and alive – appreciates your role,’’ he said.

The lawmaker further said that authoring a book like that would afford Nigerians, who were not conscious during the war, the opportunity to know what actually happened.

Responding, Gowon said he was already working on his autobiography and promised to publish it in 2017. “Thank you for coming to make a request for me to tell my story – a story you have not heard from me personally. “When I read what people were saying after my overthrow, I said I would not trust any journalist. “I am working on my autobiography. “It should have come out in 1980, but within the next year, something will come,’’ he assured. (NAN)

Oshiomhole paid NTA N18m to cover APC campaign while workers are dying of hunger – Ize-Iyamu

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has slammed the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State over its refusal to pay council workers for 18 months. He said ‎civil servants in the state were dying in hunger while the state government was allegedly doling out N120 million to female supporters of Governor Oshiomhole.

Osagie Ize Iyamu and Gov Adams Oshiomhole

Ize-Iyamu was quoted in a press statement issued by his campaign organization, in reaction to a peaceful protest by local government workers over non-payment of their salaries, yesterday.

According to him, “It is only a wicked, insensitive and irresponsible governor that will deny the workers their salaries, especially when Oshiomhole just donated N120 million to some selected market women at the Dr. Osaigbovo Ogbemudia Staduim, Benin-City, thanking them for supporting his administration.

‘’How did he spend the $225 million loan he took from the World Bank, which he said would improve the investment climate and increase the internally generated revenue of the state? ‘’How can the governor justify the N18m he pays to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Channels Television at every rally for live coverage – when workers are being owned salaries?

‘’Is it right and just for Oshiomhole to be giving each local government council N18m anytime he goes for campaign, spends millions of naira hiring touts and hoodlums and yet, the welfare of government workers means nothing to him?”

Igbo traders shutdown Kano over killings of kinsmen

Igbo traders and businessmen in Kano State, yesterday staged a peaceful protest to ex­press their displeasure over the spate of cold-blooded murder of their colleagues and relatives in the state in re­cent times.

The victims included Mr. Tochukwu Augustine Ilo who was killed by the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad a week ago and Mrs. Bridget Agbaheme, who was hacked to death by Islamic extremists for alleged blasphe­my.

The protest, which held amid tight security by the police and other security agencies, com­menced with the closure of thousands of shops owned by Igbo traders in the different markets in the metropolis as early as 6 00am.

Affected were the Abubakar Rimi Market, the Iron and Steel Market in Kofar Ruwa, Kofar Wambai Market, including shops and small businesses that line the streets of Sabon-Garri metro area.

Over 5,000 traders and businessmen converged at the Rumfa Primary School, Enugu Road, Sabon Garri, Kano where the mourners assembled, Sun reports.

Chairman of the Sabon-Garri Market Igbo Traders As­sociation, who addressed the press, condemned the brutal murder of his member, saying he was a good man killed in bad taste.

Eze Ndigbo Kano, Chief Boniface Ibekwe disclosed the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi 11 had waded into the issue, assuring the traders of the determination of the monarch to ensure that justice was done.

My visit to Aso rock is expected because i've become a property of the state - GEJ

Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan has downplayed the importance of his latest visit to President Muhammadu Buhari. On Wednesday, Jonathan visited Buhari at the presidential villa, drawing the curiosity of journalists on the purpose of the meeting.

Jonathan Speaking with the press

But speaking with state house correspondents before exiting the villa, Jonathan said he had met the president many times without the notice of journalists, because such meetings were in the night.

He added that as a former president, he had become a property of the state and visits to the president should be expected.

“You asked why I came to see the president today; one key thing is that having been a head of government, a former president, you become a state property,” he said. “That’s the privilege you have but every privilege has its corresponding responsibility, and once you become a state property, most of your international engagements that have to do with public addresses and some international assignments, they become national assignments; you brief the President. “Even when I was here, the former presidents used to do that and see me. I have been coming; most times I come in the night; that’s why you don’t see me.

“I came to brief the president about some of my engagements. As you are aware, I will leading the AU elections monitoring team to Zambia, I came to brief the president about some of these external engagements. It is the tradition.”

Jonathan also spoke on resolving renewed agitation in the Niger Delta, saying all the stakeholders must be involved in efforts to find solutions.

“It’s not just about me but about all the traditional rulers, elders and opinion leaders that are of the Ijaw ethnic nationality,” he said. “We have been in touch to see that peace reigns in the country; those of you that have followed my talks when I was here, my emphasis was always that we need a united Nigeria and I always emphasise that Nigeria is great not just about the oil. So many countries produce more oil than Nigeria but nobody notices them. “We are great because of our size, the human resources we have, the diversity we have. If we fragmentise the country into small components, we will be forgotten by the world. That has been my focal position and without peace there cannot be development anywhere in the world; we are all working collectively to see that issues are resolved.”

Asked for his comments about the fight against corruption, he said: “I don’t want to talk about that one because there are too many cases that are in court.

“It will not be fair to make comments; I will talk at the appropriate time when most of these things are resolved.”

I personally did not promise better power supply -minister of power

Babatunde Fashola, minister of power, works and housing, has denied making promises of better power supply. Speaking in an interview with Channels television, Fashola said that his plans did not consider vandalization of pipelines because he was always focused on power generation.

“Let us be careful when you claim that I made promises because I am ever so conscious of the things that I say and I believe that if I recollect correctly, it was when I was unveiling my ministries, probably sometime late December last year, and it is unlike me to make promises on things I don’t control,” he said.

“If you check the words I used, I shared with you our plans if it worked and where we will be. Those promises don’t factor in vandalisation. You know when they teach you how to generate power in school, they don’t teach you how to deal with vandalisation. “When they teach you how to do banking, they don’t teach you about round-tripping so those are the assumptions that things would remain normal. There is no nation in the world that wants electricity that vandalizes the assets that produce electricity; it doesn’t make any sense.

“I can control what my team does, I can promise you what my team efforts will produce but I can’t control behaviour that is counterproductive. Those pipelines are national assets; they were built with our common wealth, the people whose territories it passes are custodians of it. “Let us assume that the people who are also custodians of Jebba, Kainji and Shiroro dams go to break them down because they are angry, then who gets power?” The former governor of Lagos state also said that the short-term objective of the ministry is to increase production to enable better power supply. “We want to get incremental power first, short-term objective. Energy anywhere, we can get it because the energy is not enough.

“Five thousand megawatts, which was our peak production in February this year, is not enough for a country of over 100 million people. We will get it from everywhere — from gas, solar, hydro from nuclear and biomass.”

Nigeria, world’s largest cassava producer, imports garri from Togo

Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and the world’s largest producer of cassava, imports many cassava products, including garri, a West African staple. This was disclosed by Mofe Omotosho, a consultant with Patra Consult, a sales and agriculture training and consulting firm in Lagos. Omotosho said Nigeria, the largest producer of cassava anywhere in the world, should not be importing any cassava product at all.

Speaking at a media training for Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), she said Nigeria does not place premium on value addition of its raw materials. She said garri made in Togo is adjudged to be better than the one made in Nigeria, hence, many Nigerians opt for Togo’s garri, despite the tonnes of cassava being produced in Nigeria.

“We should focus on value chains where Nigeria has comparative advantage. A lot of crops, in areas where we are already strong in, we should try to improve them so that we can reap more from there,” the consultant said. “We should also focus on using Agriculture to create jobs, to create wealth and ensure food security, food security is very key, because a nation that cannot feed itself is a good as…

 “With all these foods that are being smuggled or imported into Nigeria, cancer is so prevalent now, and even experts do not know the cause. “How are we not sure that it is all these food items that are being struggled or imported into Nigeria are some of the causes. In smuggling, you don’t have records, but if you we are self-sufficient in food production, all these will not be there.”

She added that a lot of spray starch being imported into the country could be produced locally if the Nigerian people and government place necessary premium on cassava value addition.

Abia enforces ban on street trading, reviews ban on tricycle operations

Abia State government, yesterday, said it would Monday, August 8, begin the enforcement of the ban on street trading in the state and advised traders to relocate to approved sites, even as it extended the operational hours of tricycle (Keke) operators in the state from  7pm to 9pm. 

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu

 Chairman of the Abia State Market Development Committee, ASMDC, Mr. Solomon Nwaigwe who stated this while addressing phone and accessories dealers at St. Michael’s Road, Aba, said the three months grace period given to the phone dealers to relocate to the Aba Mega Mall would not be extended as enforcement of the order would commence next Monday and warned that defaulters would be prosecuted. Nwaigwe who stressed the dangers of street trading, hinted that the state government had mapped out sites for all service providers in the city to have a central market as obtainable in other parts of the world. He claimed the state government had provided conducive environment with regular power supply and security at the Aba Mega Mall and ensured that traders would pay a monthly rent of N5,000 and N120,000, annually, for bigger shops.

 According to him, “Abia State government is not going back on its resolve to end street trading in the state. On this, we are appealing to the phone and accessories dealers at St.Michaels road to relocate to the Aba Mega Mall where a conducive business environment has been provided for them at affordable prices. My Committee will ensure that all dealers on phones and accessories relocate to Aba Mega Mall to ensure a centralized market in Aba.” Meanwhile, the government has extended the operational hours of tricycle (Keke) operators in the state from 7pm to 9pm. The Government had last year restricted their operation to between 6am and 7pm, accusing them of using their tricycles to commit crimes. Before the restriction, crime rates in Aba and Umuahia rose astronomically and there cases when crimes, including kidnapping and robbery were linked to operators, prompting the Government to ban their operation beyond 7pm. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who announced the extension in Aba at a solidarity rally organized in his honour by the Abia State Amalgamated Tricycle Operators Association, ASATOA,, said the initial restriction to 7pm was due to the increase in crimes linked to the operators. The Governor however tasked operators to get rid of the bad eggs among them, promising that government would stop the imposition of multiple levies on the union. 

India police bust international drug cartel, four persons including a Nigerian arrested

Delhi Police special cell has arrested four key members of an international narcotic drug cartel. The accused have been identified as a Nigerian national, Michael Chinedu Chukwudi, Surender Singh, Balwinder Singh and Catherine Leonard Mrope a Tanzanian National. About 4 kilograms of heroin worth over Rs 16 crores, several mobile handsets along with SIM cards used in drug trafficking, a car were recovered from the suspects.

The accused were under watch for last few months. Investigations revealed that the heroin was brought by the African nationals and are supplied to Punjab and Delhi-NCR.

On July 30, the police received information that two persons Balwinder Singh and Surender Singh came to Delhi and had procured a big consignment of heroin from African nationals from Dwarka. The police got information that both Bindar and Surender were to supply herion near Rohini jail. Acting on the information, the police laid a trap near the petrol pump and arrested the duo.

 The accused disclosed that they were part of a massive international narcotic syndicate. They told the police that they used to supply heroin to various persons of Punjab and Delhi-NCR.  Both disclosed that they used to get supply of heroin from persons of African origin in Pochanpur, Dwarka area. They also told that they had received consignment of 3 kg heroin from the African nationals.

They also told that these suppliers have taken two-three flats in Pochanpur and one house in Sector-38 Gurgaon, Haryana on rent, where they used to keep heroin

During interrogation Micheal Chinedu Chukwudi disclosed that he has been supplying heroin to various drugs supplier of Punjab including Balwinder and Surender for last six months. He further

disclosed that he used to get the supply of heroin from another Nigerian. He said that the fake passport of South Africa was forged by him because his Nigerian passport had expired and he had to shift to Gurgaon a week ago.

Police said that the fake passports and visa stickers were prepared with master perfection. Investigation to identify other persons indulging in preparation of these forged passport and Visa stickers is underway.

Chukwudi also revealed that his African friends had contacts in Pakistan and Afghanistan, who used to send heroin to him through couriers. He also told that secret cavities carved inside suitcases, bags, household items are being used to safely smuggle narcotics to India.

Balwinder Singh has been indulging in supply of heroin for the last 15 years. He was arrested in 2007 under the NDPS Act in Sultanpur Lodhi, Punjab. In 2015, he was arrested in two more cases of NDPS Act. Surender Singh has been working with Balwinder Singh for over a year.

Emirates flight crash lands at Dubai International Airport this morning

An Emirate airline flight travelling from Trivandrum International Airport in Thiruvananthapuram, India, to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday caught fire after landing at the Dubai International Airport, reports say. A total of 300 passengers and crew aboard the plane were safely evacuated, authorities of the airline said.

“We can confirm that there are no fatalities among our passengers and crew. All passengers and crew are accounted for and safe,” Emirates said.

All flights at the Dubai airport have been suspended, with Emirates saying it expected a four-hour flight delay across its network.

Below is a statement by Emirates Airlines:

Emirates Media Statement 4: 14:23, Wednesday 3 AUG 2016

Emirates can confirm that today, 3 August 2016, flight EK521 travelling from Trivandrum International Airport in Thiruvananthapuram, India to Dubai has been involved in an accident at Dubai International Airport. There were 282 passengers and 18 crew on board.

The Boeing 777 aircraft, departed at 10.19am from Trivandrum International Airport and was scheduled to land at 12.50pm at Dubai International Airport.

We can confirm that there are no fatalities among our passengers and crew. All passengers and crew are accounted for and safe.

We are expecting a 4-hour network wide delay, more information will be available on the Emirates website and social media channels.

The main priority remains with those involved and offering support to concerned family and friends. Dedicated telephone lines are now active for family members:

UAE – 8002111

UK – 00442034508853

US – 0018113502081

For members of the media, the Emirates Press Office in Dubai is now activated: 00971 4 708 37 13

I’ll rather die than renounce Biafra – Nnamdi Kanu

Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Nnamdi Kanu has asserted that IPOB is not in the business of betrayal and as such would rather prefer to die than to renounce Biafra and abandon the struggle for its restoration.

 In a press statement signed by its spokespersons, Emma Nmezu and Dr. Clifford Iroanya, in reaction to the recent statement credited to members of the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND to the effect that a negotiation could be reached with the federal government to release Kanu and then he would renounce Biafra, IPOB quoted Kanu as saying that Biafra’s restoration is not subject of negotiation. The statement entitled: “Biafra or death”, added that if there should be any form of negotiation at all, it must be centred on asset sharing between Nigeria and Biafra and on the payment of reparations for money stolen from Biafrans by Nigeria through the 1970 twenty pounds deal and other subsequent acts of thievery by Nigeria against Biafrans. 

According to the statement, “We want to make it categorically clear that MEND and their Ahithophel Team are strictly on their own and do not in any way, shape or form represent IPOB or the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. When we say “Biafra or Death”, we meant every syllable of that phrase”. “Again, we reiterate that Nnamdi Kanu is not Ralph Uwazuruike and IPOB is not MASSOB. Therefore, anybody thinking that our leader will renounce Biafra is certifiably mad. For both IPOB and their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, it is either we get Biafra or we die on the process of getting it. There is no middle ground”.

21-year-old man arrested for attempting to behead his friend for rituals

A 21-year-old man is currently in Police custody in Tema, Ghana for attempting to behead his friend for rituals. Charles Ashitey, also known as Zaga was arrested by some residents of Tema Newtown after his attempt to behead his 19-year-old friend, Daniel Norteye, failed.

According to the Police, on 31st July, 2016, Norteye was tired after a dance rehearsal and decided to spend the night in the room of the suspect...

However, at about 4:00am, Norteye felt a sharp pain on his neck. He woke only to see the suspect, Ayitey holding a knife and cutting his throat. He then struggled with suspect, which resulted in multiple cuts in the victim’s palm and abdomen but he was eventually able to escape with the knife and was rushed to his aunt’s house where he was taken to the Tema Newtown Police Station to lodge an official complaint. He was then taken to the Tema General Hospital where he was treated and discharged.

Further investigations in the room of the suspect revealed a stinking beheaded snake, egg shells, and powder, which were sprinkled around the room. A wooden doll was also found in the room as well. When suspect was asked on how he came by those items and why he had sprinkled powder in his room, he said the snake was for a friend who was going to eat it but suspect pleaded with his friend to give it to him.

He was however unable to tell the police what he was going to use the snake and other materials for. Zaga however claimed ownership of the knife, which was retrieved and stated that he did not know what took over him to try to kill his friend. He is currently assisting the police with investigations and will be arraigned before court soon.

Source: Adom Ghana News