Nyanya – Abuja Bomb Blast claimed 80 lives

It is yet another bombing explosion in the heart of the capital Abuja. This time around, it happened at the crowded bus station early morning on Monday 14th April, 2014 at a suburb of Nigeria’s capital – Nyanya where a car bomb planted in a Volkswagen Golf car exploded amidst vehicles loaded with passengers traveling to the various -places around and outside Abuja. No claims by any terrorist group has been alleged but meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party has accused the All Progressive Congress of being behind the ugly mayhem. No fewer than 80 people lost their lives while more than a 100 people are being hospitalised at the designated hospitals in the Abuja FCT.

Pension Thieves to Bag 10 Years Imprisonment as Senate Passes Reform Bill

Culprits to pay triple value of stolen funds After almost one year of legislation, the Senate Wednesday passed the much awaited Pension Reform Act Amendment 2013 with the provision of 10 years imprisonment as penalty for any pension administrator who misappropriates or diverts pension funds. The bill also provides that anyone found guilty of embezzling pension funds would pay thrice the value of what he has stolen. It also provides for five years imprisonment or N10million fine for any pension administrator who fails to remit profits earned from an investment made with the fund of a contributor. It also provides for a fine of N500,000 daily for any agency administering pension affairs which fails to…

Bees sting 83-year-old woman to death in Imo

An 83-year-old woman, Mrs. Nwanyiaro Orji of Nchoko Amiri in the Oru East LGA of Imo State has been stung to death by bees. Information reaching our News Desk say that on that fateful day, March 30, 2014, Mrs. Orji had gone to make use of a pit  latrine which was outside her house, when  all of a sudden, there was a loud sound, people around thought that a ripe pod of the bread fruit tree nearby had dropped. , Little did they know that it was the hive on top of the big bread fruit tree that fell. The angry bees began to fly around, stinging people including the deceased step-son who was in…

FG told to make Microfinance banks official banks in LGAs

The Chairman, Board of Directors, Allworkers Microfinance Bank, Prof. Ike Basil Onukogu, has called on the governments of the federation to make microfinance banks the official banks for the local government areas where they operate and the official banks for payment of salaries of all government workers. This is a reasonable action to take, Prof. Onukogu said, since microfinance banks were created to bring banking facilities to the working class and to those who were marginalized by the banking industry. Prof. Onukogu, a University of Nigeria Nsukka retired Professor of Statistics and a former Chairman, Board of Directors, University of Nigeria Nsukka Microfinance Bank, made the call at the send-off party organized in honour of…

Public smokers to face 6-month jail in Nigeria

Those who smoke in non-smoking designated areas, will henceforth pay N50,000 fine or get six months imprisonment or both, if the new Tobacco Control Bill 2014, which is being forwarded to the National Assembly eventually sails through. Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health disclosed this Wednesday when he spoke on the Bill.  He was addressing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan. The FEC has given its approval to the Draft Tobacco Control Bill 2014, said the Minister, who also disclosed that companies that infringe on the Bill when passed into law, would pay between N1 million and N5 million fine…

National Confab: Imo position

The Imo State delegates at the ongoing National Conference have declared the position of the State. In a six-point provisional agenda made available to THE LEADER, the delegates called for a federation of six regions, consistent with the existing six zones, creation of two more states for the South-East, devolution of powers, fiscal federalism, rotation of presidency and regional/state police. In taking the position, the five-man delegation said they were guided by some principles, including consistency with the position of the South-East delegates and promotion of the interest of the people of Imo State. On Regionalism, the delegates said: “Nigeria should be a federation of six (6) regions consistent with the six (6) zones which…

ASUP Strike: Stop intimidating us – Poly lecturers tell Minister

-As FG introduces ‘no work no pay rule’ The Federal Government has been urged to show sincerity in the current efforts to resolve the 10-month-old strike of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) instead of its present attitude of insensitivity and intimidation. The national President of ASUP, Mr. Chibuzo Asomugha expressed this view in an exclusive interview with a news correspondent recently. Asomugha, who recalled that there have been several interventions especially by the Senate Committee on Education, explained that the strike which commenced on April 29, 2013 was suspended on July 17 last year on the understanding that government was going to resolve four of the issues government chose by itself within two…

Minister raises alarm over neglect of senior citizens

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, has raised an alarm over the neglect of elderly people in the country. Maina said this at the first stakeholders consultative and policy dialogue, organised by the Nigerian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology in Abuja on Tuesday. The minister, represented by Mr. Maijanma Kwassau, Director, Social Welfare, said care for the aged has declined mainly due to prevailing economic challenges. She said other reasons responsible for the problem included the breakdown of extended family system, support system for senior citizens and rural-urban migration of younger persons in search of greener pastures. Maina said that efforts were ongoing to domesticate regional and international instruments to…

Ritualists behead church warden in Imo – Family tasks police to fish out killers

Fear reigns in the entire community of Ibiasoegbe, near Mgbidi, headquarters of Oru-East Local Government Area following the gruesome murder of a 66-year-old woman, Mrs. Josephine Okorie in her farm at about 9am on Monday, March 31. The attackers apparently laid ambush and matcheted the woman at the back of the neck. They were about collecting the decapitated head when they heard the voice of another woman, who was coming along the path.  They ran away, leaving the head and body. Mr. Monday Okorie, son of the deceased, said it was the woman, who raised the alarm which attracted other farmers.  Unfortunately the suspects had escaped.  He said that his mother was a warden at…

National Conference: Look beyond Religion …Archbishop Obinna

Nigerian Christians and Muslims must look beyond religion and focus on the common good, if the country will move forward. They must concentrate on shared values and uphold that which is capable of lifting up the nation. Archbishop Anthony Obinna made this call while addressing communication directors at the Assumpta Pastoral Centre Owerri April. He emphasized  that if the practitioners of both religions should work concertedly on common good issues that would benefit the nation, without forcing Islam or Christianity into dynamics, “we might end up with a humanizing Islam and a humanizing Christianity without thereby evacuating their more spiritual – doctrinal aspects.” The Catholic Archbishop  of Owerri  explained that Muslim – Christian encounter was…

10 Stolen Children Recovered In Akwa Ibom

- As Police arrest girl for kidnapping 2 pupils in Aba Security operatives in Akwa Ibom State have recovered about 10 children earlier stolen from their parents and sold either for rituals or to childless couples. Two of the children were rescued just a few days ago in Aba, Abia State. More than 20 suspects, one a traditional ruler from Anambra State, have so far been arrested. One of the suspects, an Akwa Ibom man, is said to have sold one of his children through the Anambra chief to a buyer who paid about half a million naira for them to share. Two of the parents have been able to identify their children.  They are…

Imo State Declare state of emergency on health sector

-Medical and health workers union urges governor, calls for resumption of monthly sanitation  exercise Members of Imo state Chapter of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria have cried out against the deplorable situation in the health sector in Imo State. The debilitating factors militating against the sector and conversely, the health of Imo people were brought bare on Friday, March 28, 2014 by Comrade Nzenwata Francis, Imo State Chairman of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria. THE LEADER spoke with Comrade Nzenwata Francis at the State Headquarters of the Union during briefing on the 3rd annual Health Week which runs between 28th March to 5th April. According to him, the entire health sector…

Jubilation, tears as 83 New Royal Fathers receive Staff of office in Imo

The Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha, handed over certificates of recognition and staff of office to 83 Ndi Eze at the conference hall of Government House on Monday, March 31, 2014. Protests from some aggrieved indigenes of 20 communities who displayed placards against their Eze-elects necessitated the non-presentation of certificates and staff of office.  While some communities were jubilating the success of their candidates, others were bemoaning the non-presentation of the staff of office. It used different strokes to different folks as some danced with ecstasy, with all manner of traditional dance groups, others could not play their drums as fate would have it.  In his address at the event, the Commissioner…

Nursing mothers go into hiding in Imo – As kidnappers target babies, shoot parents of victims

Families with new born babies in Imo State now live in fear, as the incidence of abduction of such babies and shooting of parents continues to rise. The latest incident was that of five-month-old Chidiogu, daughter of Mr. Kingsley Igwegbe and Mrs. Ugochi Igwegbu of Umuzike Orlu, who was snatched at gun point from her mother, as the woman was about to enter the family house.  They had shot Mrs. Igwegbe on the thigh.  Consequently, she is now lying critically ill at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital  IMSUTH Orlu while the whereabouts of the abducted baby remains unknown. It would be recalled that a similar incident took place at Durukwu Umuebele in Okporo Orlu…

Confab divides Christian, Muslim leaders

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the umbrella body of Islamic organizations in Nigeria, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) have drawn a battle line over the composition of the delegates at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja. CAN is infuriated by the claim of JNL, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III that the process of selecting delegates to the conference was not done with fair representation, saying it would affect the credibility of its outcome. The Christian body has, therefore, threatened to boycott the 2016 population census and subsequent exercises if there is no provision for religion. General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake who issued the threat in a statement…

Police probe Ibadan ‘forest of horror’ … Where people are killed for rituals

- 20 decomposing bodies found Police have opened a murder investigation after human skeletons and body parts were discovered in an abandoned building in the Soka,  Ibadan Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State. Officers also rescued several people nearby who had been chained together and appeared severely malnourished. The alarm had been raised by commercial motorcycle riders in the city of Ibadan after some of their colleagues went missing. Several people have been arrested – a police spokeswoman said.  There include two people found in the building. When police searched the abandoned building – dubbed the “house of horror” by the media – they found skeletons, decomposing bodies, skulls and bones on bloodstained floors….

David Mark’s Convoy Attacked by Gun Men in Imo

Senate President, David Mark last Thursday escaped death as his convoy was allegedly attacked by yet to be identified gunmen in Orlu, Imo State. According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh Friday night, the attack occurred in Orlu Senatorial Zone of the state. The incident happened when the Senate Present went to Nkwere, Imo state to attend the burial ceremony of late business mogul, Sir John Richard Anyaehie. Mark lamented that the attack happened a moment when a great philanthropist like Anyaehie was being buried, adding that it was not what should be expected in a senatorial district like Orlu. He described late Anyaehie as a truthful…

National Confab: Delegates request allowance for their aides, drivers

Some delegates of the newly inaugurated National Conference which had its first session Tuesday  in Abuja have asked for financial allowances to be made available to their aides who they say would help ease the burden of the task before them. Each delegate is to collect N12million as incentive for participating in the confab which is expected to last for  three months..but that money is not enough, they also want their PAs and drivers to be paid “We need to know the number of aides we are to employ,” One of the delegates, Senator Mohammed Jibrin enquired from the leaders. I see! However the secretary of the Conference, Mrs. Valeria Azinge, said there was no…

Jonathan cancels Immigration recruitment offers Automatic jobs for injured, victims’ relations

President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered total cancellation of Saturday’s messy recruitment exercise of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). The president also gave automatic employment to injured applicants and 3 relations of each of the applicants who lost their lives. The Information Minister Labaran Maku who disclosed this to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting  Wednesday said the council devoted the meeting to express grief over the death of applicants who lost their lives to stampedes during the exercise. Maku said the council regretted the incident and expressed condolences to the families of the victims and sympathised with the injured. According to him, the president announced automatic employment for three relations of…

Willie Obiano Sworn-in As Governor of Anambra State As Obi bows out in style

Dr. Willie Obiano has been sworn in as the new Executive Governor of Anambra State. The swearing-in held at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, and was conducted by the state Chief Judge, Justice Peter Umeadi, in front of a mammoth crowd. The swearing-in brings to an end, the 8 years of Governor Peter Obi’s administration, as he bows out of office amidst chants of excitement from the people of Anambra State who commended his administration as having performed creditably well. Taking the oath of office, the new governor, who was sworn in alongside his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, emphasized security, power, and agriculture as areas of priority. Former Governor, Peter Obi, expressed pride in the…