No fresh case of Lassa fever in Lagos’

The Lagos State Government, yesterday, disclosed that there is no new case of Lassa fever recorded in the state.

It also said that the index case, a 25-year-old male undergraduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, is presently responding to treatment in the hospital.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris while briefing newsmen at the weekend, urged residents to remain calm over the outbreak of Lassa fever, saying everything possible was being done to curtail the spread of the virus in the state.

Edo 2016: I will not stand aloof over the choice of my successor – Oshiomhole

Tension is heightening in Edo ahead of the 2016 governorship election in the state, as leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) engage in war of words over the alleged endorsement of the Chairman of the Economic Team of the state government, Mr Godwin Obaseki, as the likely candidate of the APC, by Governor Adams Oshiomhole. The situation has pitted leaders against their political sons and Oshiomhole against some leaders in the state just as other governorship aspirants intensify their campaigns in the battle for the over 3,500 expected delegates for the primary..

The governor had informed some of the party leaders that he preferred Obaseki due to his expertise in the financial sector to ensure the state continues to enjoy development amid the current economic hardship even after he must have left office. Other aspirants in the race include the incumbent deputy governor, Dr Pius Odubu; a former governor of the state,

Gas Pipeline bombing: We are closing in on perpetrators – JTF Commander

WARRI — The military, yesterday, invaded some Ijaw communities in Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, with gunboats in search of militants, who carried out a three-day bombing of crude oil and gas pipelines in the state, from last Thursday.

This came as ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, wrote President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that top members of his party, All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa and Delta states were responsible for the ongoing vandalization of crude oil and gas pipelines in the creeks of Delta state.

Meanwhile, Joint Task Force Commander of Operation Pulo Shield in the Niger Delta, Major General Alani Okunola, said, yesterday, that the task force was closing in on those blowing up oil pipelines belonging the Nigeria Gas Company, Chevron Nigeria Limited and Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC. He vowed that JTF would fish them out.

Iraqi security hunt for missing Americans

January 18, 2016

Iraq police confirm 3 US citizens missing

AAP

Iraqi security hunt for missing Americans

Iraqi security forces have set up checkpoints in southeast Baghdad and sent out helicopter search parties after confirming three US citizens had gone missing.

Media reported three US contractors or trainers had been kidnapped with their translator in the Dora neighbourhood on Friday. But a senior police officer said authorities were still not certain what had caused their disappearance.

Iran says new US sanctions illegitimate

Iran on Monday says new US curbs on the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile program were illegitimate, vowing to continue developing its conventional military deterrent.

The United States imposed sanctions on 11 companies and individuals on Sunday for supplying Iran's ballistic missile program in a move delayed by over two weeks so as not to endanger this weekend's release of US prisoners.

The new measures also came after the lifting of far more comprehensive nuclear sanctions.

"The Islamic Republic will respond to these aggravating and propagandistic measures by pursuing its legal missile program stronger than before and developing its defensive capabilities," a foreign ministry statement said.

Sex dungeon where ‘Swedish Fritzl’ doc imprisoned, drugged and ‘raped woman he planned to keep as a slave for years’

THE Swedish doctor accused of drugging and imprisoning a woman in a Josef Fritzl-style underground bunker has been described by a friend as “super intelligent” and secretive, according to Swedish media reports.

A man who has known the 38-year-old for three years and travelled on holiday with him said he is an intellectual and “socially awkward” character who claimed he was dating a woman from Hassleholm.

Tim Peake Prepares For Historic Spacewalk

Major Peake is set to become the first Briton to walk in space on a six-and-a-half-hour mission to repair a broken power unit.

10:22, UK, Friday 15 January 2016

Tim Peake will become the first Briton to walk in space later when he ventures outside the International Space Station (ISS) to fix a broken power unit.

The spacewalk - known as Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) - will last almost six-and-a-half hours and is scheduled to begin at 12.55pm UK time.

Major Peake will carry out the mission with NASA colleague Colonel Tim Kopra, who will be taking part in his third spacewalk.

The pair will work in 45-minute blocks of daylight, then complete darkness, as the ISS orbits Earth every 90 minutes.

Trump Tells Rival: 'You're Not Fit To Run'

Donald Trump raises the issue of his main rival's birthplace in a fractious TV debate between the Republican White House hopefuls.

08:42, UK, Friday 15 January 2016

Trump and Cruz trade blows

Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has questioned whether his main rival Ted Cruz should be allowed to stand for President.

Saudi Warning Over End Of Iran Sanctions

The Saudi Arabian foreign minister says that the release of billions of dollars of Iran's wealth should "worry everybody".

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has used a trip to London to robustly defend his country's more assertive role in the world, despite concerns it could escalate tensions with Iran.

After meeting US Secretary of State John Kerry, Adel al Jubeir insisted his country was right to intervene more aggressively in parts of the Middle East in an interview with Sky News.

Shi’ite Leader, El-Zakzaky not in Army’s custody – Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said on Thursday that the arrested Shi’ite sect leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zak-Zaky, is no longer in the custody of the Army.

Shiite Leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zak-Zaky

Buratai said this when he met with a delegation from the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.

I received N100m from PDP not Dasuki or Yuguda – Odili

Former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, has denied reports that a former Minister of State for Finance, Mr Bashir Yuguda, gave him N100 million out of the money collected from the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

In a statement yesterday, Dr Odili said he never had any dealings with the former National Security Adviser or Mr Yuguda, so the issue of collecting N100 million does not arise.

21 things you don’t know about Don Jazzy

MAVINS Records big boss, Don Jazzy, born Michael Collins Ajereh is an enigma, whom very little is known about. He once boasted that he hates talking onstage and rarely ever grants press interviews. Apart from his activities on social media very little is known about the multi-award winning music maker.

Don Jazzy

But recently Don Jazzy let down his guard and granted some interviews, from which we were able to unmask the real man behind the Dorobucci brand. Here are some facts you probably don’t know about the Nigeria’s foremost music maker.

Jose Mourinho’s future as Chelsea manager is in suspense over his failure to lift the team out of their alarming slump, according to British press reports on Wednesday.

Image result for Chelsea may sack Mourinho – reports

Jose Mourinho

The Daily Mail said that the Chelsea board was due to meet to discuss Mourinho’s position on Wednesday, while the Daily Telegraph claimed the club’s hierarchy was drawing up a list of potential replacements.

X-men: Apocalypse trailer

Goodluck Jonathan was an exceptional president

I WALKED into the east wing of The Palms shopping mall in Lekki, Lagos (popularly referred to as Shoprite); only to be buttoned-holed by a man trying to sell me a Honda Civic parked inside the hall. His sales pitch was that it was the first totally assembled Honda in Nigeria; built completely to Nigerian specifications. For example, unlike the classical Honda, the Nigeria model has a high clearance, being mindful of the potholes in Nigerian roads.

President Goodluck Jonathan speaks during his visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos, on March 12, 2015. President Jonathan visited the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on March 12, and launched a new online mobile platform, X-Gen, designed to increase local investment. The platform is targetted at increasing the number of local investors in the country and to enable about 30 millions domestic investors have access to the market.

I had no intention of buying a new car, least of all a Honda Accord. Nevertheless, I could not fail to recognise that what he was touting is one of the many achievements of the Jonathan administration. In spite of the Buhari administration’s daily vilification of Jonathan, the achievements of his government continue to speak for themselves.

ARMS PROBE: Dasuki faces 47-count charges in 3 courts

As matters stand, embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), is now facing 47-count charges before three different courts and judges in Abuja.

He had previously been docked before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering and alleged illegal possession of firearms.

On Monday, the former NSA was arraigned before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of the FCT High Court on a fresh 19-count charge. The charge bordered on alleged illegal diversion of about N32billion from accounts the office of the NSA operated with both the Central Bank of Nigeria and other banks, while yesterday, he was arraigned before an FCT high court on a new 22-count criminal charge bordering on alleged diversion of public funds to the tune of about N13. 6billion.

Former National Security Adviser, NSA, to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki

Army/Shiite clash: I escaped by the will of God — Buratai

ABUJA—CHIEF of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said yesterday it was by divine intervention that he escaped being assassinated on Saturday, by members of the Shiites Muslim sect.

The sect on its part claimed that at least one thousand of its members had been killed and that soldiers had evacuated their bodies following the weekend clash between its members and the military.

Shiite Leaders

The Nigerian Army also said “the leader of the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife are in the custody of the Nigerian Army, “safe and sound” in a secured and protective custody.”

The army boss said contrary to claim that members of the Shiites group were not armed, they were not only heavily armed but also violently confronted him and his convoy on his way to Zaria.

Wenger ‘no regrets’ as Sanchez gamble backfires

Arsene Wenger insisted he had no regrets over risking Alexis Sanchez in the 1-1 draw at Norwich despite the influential Chilean forward being forced off the pitch with a thigh injury.

Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Laurent Koscielny were all added to a lengthy list of long-term casualties on Sunday after a match that left Arsenal in fourth place in the Premier League table.

Wenger was already without almost an entire team of stars as Mikel Arteta, Francis Coquelin, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky are currently sidelined.

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Monday, arrested a former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswan, over alleged corruption during his tenure as Governor. Former Benue Gov. Gabriel and his wife Yemisi Suswam

Mr. Suswam governed Benue State between 2007 and May 2015.

He was being quizzed at the EFCC office in Abuja over alleged graft in his State, at the time of this report.

“He was invited by the EFCC in connection with ongoing corruption investigation in Benue State,” Wilson Uwajuren, EFCC spokesperson, told Don Joseph's blog