Rape Suspect Escapes Through Court Window Before Arraignment

 A rape suspect known as Okpara Miracle, in Awka, Anambra has reportedly escaped through a window while he was being prepared for an arraignment in court.

According to the reporters, the suspect managed to escape after his handcuffs were removed, offering him an opportunity to break the louvres of the room where he was being held.

Update On Hurricane Matthew

Hundreds of thousands of people on the part way of Hurricane Matthew have fled while officials have cautioned residents of Florida, South Carolina and Georgia not to wait to make your mind up whether they should stay or go.

In Palm Beach, residents have already cleared many grocery store shelves ahead of the storm.

Nnamdi Kanu Case, ECOWAS court fixes Nov 8 For Hearing

Nnamdi Kanu

 Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Court of Justice has fixed November 8 to commence hearing in the suit filed before it by the embattled self acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

Presiding judge, Micah Wright, fixed the date after a letter from the Federal Government was presented before it explaining its inability to be in court for the trial.

In the letter which was addressed to the court, the Federal Government explained that it was before another court for a different matter and prayed the court to adjourn the trial.

What If MMM Is A Fraud?

Joseph Osuji


Nigeria, one of the biggest countries in the globe with a population of over 188 million people living in it, is seen as the giant of Africa and in terms of its economy and human capacity.

With the fall in global oil price, the country which depends majorly on its crude exportation as a means of revenue generation has been hit with what economic analyst would liken to the economic recession that hit Greece few years back. 

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, another 1.5 million Nigerians became unemployed in the first quarter of 2016, and with unemployed rate tripling in the last few months and youth unemployment also rising to 42.24 percent, the country has witnessed a surge of about 15.2 million youth unemployment with a slow in productivity as recorded by in the GDP.

Fidelity Bank, NEPC Inaugurate Zero2Export Project

 As part of its unwavering commitment towards the advancement of the economy, Fidelity Bank Plc, in partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has formally inaugurated the Zero2Export project.

Specifically designed to provide valuable insights into all processes and structures required to engage in non-oil export business, Zero2Export is a novel capacity-building programme targeted at would-be exporters using a practical handholding approach.

Nigeria Rated Among Top 10 Emerging Markets Of Future

BMI Research, a Fitch Group company and financial market analysis firm, has recently identified 10 emerging markets from the Asian and African region that are set to become new drivers of economic growth over the next ten years, with Nigeria making the top ten listed countries which also includes Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, and Vietnam.

The report says that construction and manufacturing will play an important role in driving the economies of these countries.

Mining and Gas industry will play a far smaller role than it has in the past years. While the commodity-driven model is not expected to make a comeback.

$14 Billion Dangote Refinery: Togo President Arrives Nigeria For A Visit

Togo’s President, Faure Gnassingbe, is expected to be in Lagos, Nigeria for a visit to the $14 billion Dangote Refinery. The President, accompanied by Togo’s top government officials, will be received by Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and other delegates and is expected to be taken round the refinery by founder and multi-billionaire, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, with a view of possible partnership and investment with the West African country.

The Dangote Refinery is projected to refine about 65,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is tipped to be among the biggest refineries in the world.

Good performance, Lafarge Africa optimistic of Growth Amid Tough Economy

The Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Africa Plc, Michel Puchercos, has said that in spite of the macro-economic challenges and market uncertainties, his company will continue to deliver good performance.

  

He said this while commenting on the company’s half-year result, which showed that Lafarge Africa Plc, a cement and building solutions provider, recorded sales of N107 billion in the first half of 2016.

Interpol Arrests Ringleader of Global Scamming Network

A man accused of scamming $60 million from companies around the world through fraudulent emails has been arrested after months of investigation.

The ringleader of a global scamming network, identified only as 40-year-old Mike, was arrested along with a 38-year-old accomplice in Nigeria's oil capital, Port Harcourt, in June, the statement said. He is on administrative bail, which implies that officers do not yet have enough evidence to charge him.

The man is accused of leading a network that compromised email accounts of small and medium-sized businesses around the world including in the United States, Australia, India, South Africa and Thailand. The statement didn't name any targets.

Former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi Dies At 54

Former coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, is dead, his family has announced.

The deceased announced his death stating that he died of Cardiac arrest in the early hours of Wednesday June 8 2016.

Police Prevent Demonstrators Of BBOG Matching To Aso Rock Villa

Riot police on Thursday prevented more than 500 demonstrators, who were demanding that the government do more to find 200 girls abducted from a school in Chibok two years ago, from marching to the presidential villa in Abuja, Nigeria.

The demonstrators, who had intended to deliver a message to the government, held a press conference at the entrance to the road to the presidential villa.

Nigerian: Missing Schoolgirls Identified In New Video 2 Years After Capture By Boko Haram Sect

 A group of Nigerian schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram Islamist sect exactly two years ago have been identified in a new video.

A video obtained by U.S. network CNN was shown to three mothers of girls abducted two years ago from Chibok in northeast Nigeria in the first possible sighting of the girls since a video of them in captivity was released in May 2014.

UK Based Nigerian Invents Keyboard For Nigerian Languages

As part of effort to ensure that we bring back the glory associated with communications in local dialects in Nigeria, a UK based Nigerian, Adebunmi Adeniran, has developed a keyboard to support and enable writing at least 12 Nigerian languages correctly and applying correct signs and tones to give instant meaning to the reader.

The Keyboard, known as NAILANGS, according to her, was conceived as a result of her zeal to ensure that Nigerian local languages are learned with ease so as to prevent the languages from going into extinction.


“With NAILANGS keyboard, there is no need to switch from one computer to another because once it is downloaded, one is able to type in English and it can be made a bilingual due to the nature of Nigerians who mostly speak more than a language. With the key, one is able to type the three official languages, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba and other six recognised languages which are Effic, Idoma, Hausa/Fulani, Tiv etc.”

N900bn Debts: AMCON To Publish Names Of Recalcitrant Debtors

Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) will on Wednesday, publish in some national newspapers, the names of about 200 firms and their directors, whose total outstanding bad debts have been put at N900 billion.

According to the corporation, companies to be affected are those that have defaulted on their debt payment obligations to AMCON and failed to respond to its repeated calls for discussions on their repayment plans.

#Dasukigate: Blueprint Newspaper Returns N9m

The Board and Directors of Blueprint Newspaper has returned the N9million it received as compensation from the past administration in 2014 for the seizure of its publications by security agents.

The newspaper announced this in a statement by its Executive Director, Operations, Salisu Umar, on Tuesday.

South Africa Tops ‘Most Promising' Logistics Market In Sub-Saharan Africa

South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya will top the chart amongst the "most promising countries" in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for the development of logistics in emerging markets over the next five years, according to a new survey of 1,100 global logistics and supply chain executives.

Zika Virus: Center for Disease Control Advisory Expanded To 28 Countries

The wide-spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus has become a global concern, with the World Health Organization declaring it global health emergency on Monday. This is the first time the agency has used that classification since the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

The Organization, has declared a global health emergency for the fourth time in the agency's history due to the ongoing Zika outbreak. The organization is now releasing recommendations for countries facing a Zika outbreak, including new travel measures.

The recommendations include improving communications so that an affected community is reporting possible cases, increasing surveillance of Zika virus infections and taking measures to control the mosquito population.

Pop Star Adele Tells Donald Trump To Stop Using Her Tunes For His Campaign

Pop star, Adele has become the latest to tell Trump to stop pinching her tunes for his campaign.

Donald Trump who is a fan of Adele, has been using the pop star tunes for his campaign and she (Adele) is no fan of the Republican presidential front runner, and has lashed out on him about using her tunes.

African Leaders To Withdraw Its Membership From ICC

Heads of States at the African Union Summit, have backed a Kenyan proposal pushing for a pullout from the International Criminal Court, leaders said Sunday, repeating claims it unfairly targets the continent. Chad’s President Idriss Deby, elected African Union chairman at the two-day summit, criticised the court for focusing its efforts on African leaders, stating that “Elsewhere in the world, many things happen — many flagrant violations of human rights — but nobody cares.”

Coca-Cola Buys Stake In Nigerian Juice And Dairy Company CHI To Accelerate Push Into Africa

Coca-Cola has acquired a minority stake in Nigerian juice and dairy company, CHI, as it looks to accelerate its push in Africa while expanding its collection with healthier alternatives to carbonated drinks.

The company paid around $240m for a 40 per cent stake in the CHI, which is owned by TGI Group, with plans to purchase the remaining 60 per cent within three years. The deal will help the drinks giant strengthen its modest 3.5 per cent share of the Middle East and Africa’s fragmented $8.03bn juice market.

Catholic Church Clears Air Over Rev. Father Mbaka's Transfer

The Catholic Church on Monday clarified the recent transfer of Father Ejike Mbaka, saying the controversial priest was merely being sent to where he would be more useful to the church.

In its first reaction since the controversy over the transfer broke, the church said the posting was not meant to be punitive.

Pep Guardiola CONFIRMED As The Next Manchester City Manager

Pep Guardiola, Head coach of Bayern Munich FC has been confirmed by Manchester City football club as the next manager to take over from Manuel Pellegrini. In a statement by the club official site which reads "Out of respect for Manuel Pellegrini and the players, the Club wishes to make its decision public to remove the unnecessary burden of speculation.

Manuel, who is fully supportive of the decision to make this communication, is entirely focused on achieving his targets for the season ahead and retains the respect and commitment of all involved with the leadership of the Club". 

josephstrauss.blogspot.com.ngPep Guardiola CONFIRMED As The Next Manchester City Manager

African Union Summit: Donors Pledge $250 Million To Fight Boko Haram

Donors at the African Union summit pledged on Monday $250 million (229 million euros) for the fight against Boko Haram insurgents, AU Peace and Security Council Chief Smail Chergui said. Boko Haram, facing the heat of a military onslaught in Nigeria, has in the past year stepped up cross-border attacks in Niger, Chad and Cameroon, while continuing shooting and suicide assaults on markets, mosques and other mostly civilian targets within Nigeria itself.

Chergui said $110 million came from Nigeria, with the European Union offering 50 million euros, as well as donations from Britain and Switzerland. Chad’s President Idris Deby, the African Union chairman, said it was crucial the money pledged was actually paid to show “our firm commitment in the fight against terrorism.”

Shell, Eni in Fresh Trouble As Nigeria Begins Moves to Withdraw Opl 245 From Malabu

The Nigerian government is set to retrieve one of Africa's richest oil blocs from oil giants, Shell and Eni.

Not only will the two oil giants lose OPL 245, should President Muhammadu Buhari approve the recommendations, they will also be fined billions of dollars for illegal activities, including paying money to fraudulent public officials and private citizens in order to secure the bloc.

The retrieval of the controversial oil bloc, estimated to contain about 9 billion barrels of crude, as well as placing heavy fines on the oil giants, is contained in a far-reaching recommendation by the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mohammed Diri.

Fox Host: President Obama Put A ‘Raw Onion’ In His Podium So He Could Cry Fake Tears

Fox News host Andrea Tantaros suggested on Tuesday President Barack Obama had used a “raw onion” to produce fake tears for shooting victims during his press conference on gun violence.

Following Obama’s announcement that he was taking executive action to expand background checks and gun safety measures, the hosts of Outnumbered argued that the president was violating the separation of powers doctrine in the U.S. Constitution.

But it was the president’s emotional reaction while speaking about gun violence in Chicago that irked host Melissa Francis.

President Obama In Tears As He Announces Gun Measures

An emotional President Barack Obama wiped away tears while delivering a statement on steps his administration is taking to reducing the series of gun violence the country has witnessed in recent years.

Mr. Obama wiped tears from his cheeks as he spoke emotionally about those killed by firearms in the US.

Mr. Obama, who has made intensification of gun laws a central focus heading into his final year in office, accused the gun lobby of holding Congress hostage, but said "they cannot hold America hostage."