President Jonathan Signs 2013 Budget

President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday assented to the 2013 Appropriation Bill, ending the long-drawn disagreement between the executive and the legislature over the bill.

The president signed the N4.987 trillion budget passed by the National Assembly on December 20, 2012, into law at a quiet ceremony witnessed by a few top government officials

Army Denies Killing Students

The Nigerian Army Headquarters yesterday denied killing four Nasarawa State University students during Tuesday’s protest, suggesting that the police may have been responsible for the live bullets used to kill the students. At its routine monthly press briefing in Abuja, the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR)

NANS Threaten Showdown Over KIlled Student

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to organise a nationwide protest over the alleged killing of some students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) by soldiers. NANS condemned the murder of the innocent students over mere peaceful protest and declared the Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura a persona non-grata

Man Kills Father Over Fish

One Opukeme George, a native of Tuomo in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State is to spend the next 20 years in jail for killing his father over a piece of fish,

Pope Benedict XVI Ends His Papacy

Pope Benedict XVI spent the last day of his papacy Wednesday bidding farewell to the public and his aides as well as finalising plans for a life in retirement that will be spent in seclusion and devoted to prayers.

The pope shocked the world on February 11,

Nigeria Completes Troop Deployment To Mali

Nigeria has completed the deployment of troops to the international military coalition raised under the auspices of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) to dislodge Islamist sectarians from Mali.

According to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), with the latest deployment of another 162 personnel, the total number of members of the

FG Promises Uninterupted Power Supply

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, at the weekend reiterated the Federal Government’s determination to improve power supply across the country.

Maku, who gave the assurance in Rivers State during the tour of government projects in the state by the National Good Governance Team, said the Federal

Liverpool Makes Move For Emenike

Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike has said he is thrilled to be linked with a move to the English Premier League.

Liverpool are reportedly considering a summer swoop for the 2013 AFCON hotshot as they are not sure of holding on to Luiz Suarez who

Keshi Tips Eagles Over Mali

shortly after snatching victory from Ivory Coast in the on going African Cup of Nations, super eagles head coach Stephen Keshi has Tipped his side as the favorite in the semi-final clash against Mali.

Chime Surfaces As Governors Visit Him

Following months of absence and speculation over his health, the Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, made his first public appearance, albeit in a photograph, that showed him with his colleagues,

Obasanjo: Lets Put The Past Behind Us

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital reflected on the civil war in Nigeria and urged Nigerians to put it behind them. Speaking during a grand reception organised in his honour by the

We wish you all our valuable and highly esteemed readers a happy and prosperous new year.

Believers Ready For 'Apocalpse'

Hundreds of people across the world have been preparing for what they believe will be the end of the world on December 21.

The date is the apparent end of the "long count" calendar of the ancient Mayan civilisation.

Believers have gathered in Mexico near

Nollywood Actress Nkiru Sylvanus Regains Freedom

Nollywood actress Nkiru Sylvanus who was kidnapped last Sunday by Unknown gunmen was released yesterday Thursday. The actress was kidnapped when she was returning from a movie location.

while in captivity, the kidnappers demanded for a ransom of 100 million naira. however it is not certain if any amount was paid for her release.
 Slyvanus is also the Special Assistant to Imo State Government on Public Affairs

Principal Suspended For Conducting Virginity Test On Students

The plague of moral decadence troubling the society is compelling some untoward actions aimed at redeeming the young folks from self-destruction. It is probably in a bid to ensure a high moral standard among her pupils that the Principal of Ajuwon High School, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunke Aladeojebi, took an unusual action earned her an indefinite suspension from the state government.

Aladeojebi, who is widely regarded as a strict disciplinarian, subjected some female students in her school to a virginity test, drawing the ire of their parents who reported the matter to the police for carrying out such a test without consulting them.

According to some of the affected students, the principal was said to have called in a nurse who, together with the principal, dipped their fingers into the students’ organs to ascertain whether they are still virgins or not.

One of the students explained that of the about 300 female students in SSS1, 38 of them who are still virgins were marched into the principal’s office for the test.

She said: “They subsequently divided us into three groups of 10, 15 and 13 and I was in the second group. The principal later addressed us and threatened that any student who fails the test would have her name written in the school’s black book and would be suspended.

“When my class captain emerged from the room, I asked her why was everyone that came out of the office looking depressed? I was held spellbound when she told me that the principal and the nurse dipped their fingers, in turns, into their private parts, adding that she had started bleeding as a result of the penetration.

“Two of my friends who had similar experiences burst into tears as they narrated what happened.”

The state government yesterday announced her suspension over the incident, after a panel set up to investigate the matter turned in a preliminary report and verdict that the principal had no right to conduct such a test on her students.

The state Commissioner for Education, Mr. Segun Odubela, said the ministry had interrogated the principal to give her fair hearing, adding that a five-man panel consisting of officials of both the ministry and Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) has been set up to further investigate the case and make appropriate recommendations on how to deal with the matter.

Commenting on what further action that could be taken against the principal, Odubela said the panel has 14 days to submit its report, noting that "the government is always concerned about the welfare and interest of the students and therefore will not tolerate any act that will compromise their fundamental rights or jeopardise their future”.

He added: “We equally believe in the need to maintain discipline in our schools and to follow due process in the handling of this particular case. We appeal to the parents of the students involved to be patient and allow us to handle the case as dictated by the law of the land and service rules.”

His counterpart in the Ministry of Information, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the government would follow due process in handling the matter.

A sexual abuse expert, Mrs. Princess Olufemi-Kayode, condemned the principal’s action, saying: “It’s inappropriate to subject pupils to a virginity test. It’s a barbaric act that should not be tolerated or accepted. A broken hymen is no longer medically proven as evidence of sexual activities.

“I don’t know what law exists in Ogun State in this regard, but if it happens in Lagos State, she would be sued. She actually overstepped her bounds. The pupils were molested. It is simply an abuse.”

Olufemi-Kayode said: “Virginity test is a growing phenomenon in sexual abuse. Statistics from the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) shows that over 25 per cent of adolescents in Nigeria have had their first sexual intercourse by age 15.”

Another NGO, Child Protection Network (CPN), in Abeokuta, described the issue of conducting virginity test on students as wrong.

Its state Coordinator, Mrs. Olapeju Osoba, said: "I don't see a situation whereby a principal will check whether a child is a virgin or not. I do not think any principal has a professional capacity to do that kind of test.

“I don't think I will ever give my consent for anybody in that capacity to conduct a test on my child because that person is invading the privacy of that child, it is not acceptable, I won’t accept it."

Speaking on the implication of such a test, she said there were emotional implications, adding: "children are psychologically traumatised".

She further explained that such children would need to undergo some therapy to overcome the trauma.

On the possible effect of the test on the students, a psychologist, Mr. Olawale Meduoye, said: “Pupils subjected to violation in this manner find it hard to cope in life. They live with the experience for the rest of their lives''

Obasanjo: I'm Still Alive

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday dispelled rumours about his death, saying, "am still alive anyway”.
He made the denial when he met with the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo expressed worry why people should spread death rumour about him.
He said that keeping quiet on issues of national importance was not the best option for him because of his love for Nigeria.
“Because, if there is no Nigeria, there will not be a party and if there is no party, there will be nothing to govern on the platform of the party.
“If there is anything that requires my own comment, position or views I will say it.
"It is my passion, patriotism and love that will continue to make me say my own. If I see something that is inimical to the growth of the party, I will talk,” he said.
Obasanjo expressed his delight over Tukur's visit, describing the PDP chieftain a respected leader.
“It is always a delight to have our oga visit us to see what we are doing and what we are not doing.
“To know our anxiety, aspirations and concerns. And also to disabuse the minds of the rumour mongers. The President is my President. Those who want me and the chair to quarrel; this visit will keep them quiet.

"Without Nigeria there will be no party even when I was in prison I was not quiet," he said.

Tukur said that the main purpose of his visit was to appreciate the former PDP Board of Trustees chairman for his persistent and consistent role not only for the party but for the country and the international community.

"Your support has never been relenting and I have come to say" thank you sir,” he said.

Tukur, however, affirmed the leadership of the Dipo Odujirin-led executive in the state, declaring that the party only

recognised the elected executive.

“Whoever the people have elected as far as I am concerned, is the chairman of our party in Ogun,” he said..
But Odujinrin’s chairmanship was opposed by a faction of the party who claimed a court ruling was in their favour.

"I have come here because of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the leader of our party and I'm now the chairman.

Okonjo-Iweala's Mother kidnapped

The 83-year-old mother of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was kidnapped Sunday afternoon by unknown gunmen from the palace of the traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area, Delta State, Obi Chukwuka Okonjo, who is also her husband.

The 83-year-old Kamene Okonjo, who is also the queen mother of Ogwashi-Uku and a retired Professor of Sociology, was abducted at about 1.47 pm by a gang of armed men who seized her at the gate of the palace at Ogbe-ofu, Ogwashi-Uku, and took her away, when her husband was out of town.

Confirming the kidnapping, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, condemned the incident, saying it is most unfortunate that a woman as old as Professor Kamene Okonjo, could be traumatised.

He said he had directed the Delta State Police Command and the Special Task Force to rescue the minister’s mother immediately, as her kidnapping was a major embarrassment to the state.

He said no demand had been made by the kidnappers for ransom, but that Delta State Government was focused on recovering the minister’s mother alive and unharmed as quickly as possible.

Also, speaking to on her mother’s abduction, the minister, who arrived the country last night from the United States of America, said she was informed of the incident the minute she switched on her phone at the airport.

She said she was distraught when she got the news, but had to remain calm for her father’s sake.

The minister said the sketchy information made available to her showed that the police orderlies who normally guard the palace were not present at the time her mother was abducted.

She confirmed that her father was in Nasarawa State Sunday or a meeting and one of her priorities last night was to reach him to inform him of his wife’s abduction.

In a statement by the minister's spokesman, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, he said: "It is difficult to say whether those behind this action are the same people who have made threats against the Co-ordinating Minister in the recent past or other elements with hostile motives. No possibility can be ruled out."

He said this was a very difficult time for the entire Okonjo family, "but the family is hopeful of a positive outcome as it fervently prays for the quick and safe return of the matriach."

However, the police in Delta State were said to have arrested a man who allegedly left the compound a few minutes before the incident took place.
The man was said to have informed the housemaid that he was in the palace to take the minister’s mother somewhere in town.

It was gathered that the kidnappers numbering about 10 were lurking around the palace until the woman and her maid had come down to serve soft drinks to some construction workers who were fixing interlocking tiles at the gate.

Eyewitnesses said as soon as the woman came down from the main building towards the gate, the criminals moved quickly, grabbed and pushed her into a waiting Golf Volkswagen car.

“The abductors when they walked into the compound were heavily armed. They were about 10 in number.

“They bundled up the men fixing the interlocking tiles and asked them to lie face down. Immediately they saw her, they bundled her into a waiting Golf Volkswagen while another car was parked outside,” they said.

One of the assailants, said eyewitnesses, braced the odds and went upstairs to collect the woman’s handbag. Another eyewitness said another maid, who sighted the kidnapper upstairs, hid herself in the kitchen

Why Northern Governors Stayed Away From Meni Jonathan's Burial

Contrary to earlier insinuations that governors of the 19 Northern states boycotted the burial of President Goodluck Jonathan’s brother, Meni, at the weekend in Bayelsa State, over unresolved political issues, Daily Sun gathered that the governors may have acted based on the body language of the President’s family

. Initial speculations had it that while the Northern governors stayed away from Otuoke as a result of strained relationship with the President over a number of issues, including revenue sharing, the security challenge in the region, and his rumoured re-election plans for 2015, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governors also stayed away to protest what they might have considered the President’s “bad faith” after the 2011 elections they helped him to win.

Lagos, a key ACN state, is still smarting from the President’s recent stoppage of a $600 million World Bank loan. Penultimate week, Governor Raji Fashola (SAN) dragged the President to the House of Representatives, appealing to the lawmakers to resolve the loan impasse. Similarly, they were said to have cited the issue of timing of the burial, coming at a time when many of them had made commitments and given their words to attend the wedding of Vice President Namadi Sambo’s daughters slated for the same day.

However, a close aide of the President who does not want to be named, told Daily Sun that nothing can be further from the truth. According to him, the family never intended a big ‘celebration’ for the demise of a man who died 45 years of age. “Remember, his mother is still alive. He has an elder brother. If anything, I think his death was untimely and that is not the type of burial you would want to celebrate and invite all the dignitaries,” the source said.

Rather than celebrate, he said, the Jonathan family simply wanted to mourn their loss quietly. “If you also notice that the late Meni left behind two wives, nine very young children and a grand child, the wisest thing for now would be to soberly reflect on what to do to assist the very young family he left behind and not to be insinuating political undertones to the event.” He said it was in keeping with the desire to mourn quietly that the family did not event print any formal invitation cards for the burial.” They only took paid advertorial to announce the funeral program.”

Even at that, the source said, it would be wrong to say that the governors abandoned Jonathan. He noted: “Virtually all the governors had visited the President at Aso Rock to commiserate with him. It was there that they got the “message” that the burial would not be a carnival. In fact, the little “noise” that was made about the burial was probably because the President’s family was involved. “However, many of them, including the governors of Kogi and Benue states actually sent their deputies to the burial in Otuoke at the weekend, while the governors from the neighbouring states in the South-East and South-South attended.” According to him, “many journalists do not even know deputy governors, so they could not differentiate them from the crowd.

That was why they hurriedly concluded that their states boycotted the burial.” He said it was most “inhuman” and “insensitive” to attach any political meanings to the pattern of attendance at the rural, noting that but for the fact that President Jonathan was directly involved, he probably would have attended the Kaduna wedding himself. Interestingly, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who allegedly was one of the ACN governors who boycotted the President’s function, made it to Sambo’s daughters’ wedding, in Kaduna.

The burial of the President’s brother, coincided with the wedding of Sambo’s two daughters – Huwaila and Aishat – in Kaduna. Besides former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari and ex-military president, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, Governors of Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Katsina and Gombe States were by Sambo’s side. Also at the Vice President’s event were governors of Bauchi, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara and Taraba states. Wife of the Benue State Governor, Mrs Yemisi Suswam represented her husband. At Otuoke, however, were Senate President David Mark, Speaker, House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal, his deputy Emeka Ihedioha, as well as governors of Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Rivers, Delta and Abia states

The Sun

Army Closes In On Boko Haram's Political Leaders

The General Officer Commanding 1 Division,
Nigerian Army, Maj- Gen. Garba Wahab, yesterday
said that the military was closing in on politicians,
who sponsor terrorism in the country.
He also said the Police alone cannot handle the
security challenges facing the country.
"If we are told by the political leadership of Nigeria
to leave the streets today, it will take me just a few
minutes to order my soldiers back to the barracks.
But the police cannot handle the situation alone;
that is why we were called in the first place.
"My fear is that if we dismantled the roadblocks
and leave the scenes, the situation might take a
turn for the worst. We are enjoying peace and
safety in Kaduna State because of the coordinated
effort of Intelligence and the Nigeria Army," he
said.
Wahab spoke when he received the executive
members of the Correspondents Chapel of the
Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna led by
its chairman, Mr. Luka Binniyat, at the 1 Div
Headquarters. Kaduna. He said the Army would
leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Nigerians
live in peace and are well secured.
"Terrorism is based on fear; the Army would do
whatever it takes to make Nigerians sleep with
their two eyes closed. The Army has a mandate to
do whatever is within the ambit of the law to
provide security for the people and ensure that the
country remains united," he added
Wahab explained that every operation, which had
been carried out by the Army was based on
information provided by the State Security Services
(SSS).
"We are dealing with terrorists, who operate a
complex command chain and understand their turf
very well. Some of them who we have arrested are
just the foot-soldiers, who do not even know one
another. We believe that they have spiritual and
political leaders and we have started getting at
them.
"These people have well -stocked arms but we do
not want to create panic in the public with
revelation of arms we have recovered from them.
In Zaria alone, in the house of the an influential
man, we engaged these terrorists on several hours
of gun battle before we subdued them. We
discovered a pile-up of explosives, maybe about a
tonne. We had to evacuate the entire area before
removing the explosives."

Medical Expert Warns About Self Medication During Pregnancy

medicating during pregnancy could cause serious
complications to the expected baby.
Self-medication is the practice of consuming drugs
not prescribed by a qualified medical expert. It is a
common practice in the Nigerian society.
The experts told NAN in separate interviews that
self-medication by pregnant women could cause
serious side-effects, such as malformation in
children or hindrance in normal growth of the baby.
Dr Akinyemi Olaleye, a consultant obstetrician and
gynaecologist, said that pregnant women should
always choose to see a doctor instead of arbitrarily
purchasing drugs over the counter.
"Pregnant women should never indiscriminately
purchase drugs. Although, ordinarily, self-
medication should be about Over The Counter
drugs (OTC). However, for a pregnant woman there
may be more to just a headache.
"Some drugs which a pregnant woman has been
taking prior to being pregnant can negatively have
an effect on the health of mother and child if taken
this time around.
"Simply put, multivitamin that is taken at this stage
without prescription can be disastrous. We all know
that no pregnant woman completes her gestation
without a cold, cough, fever or any other minor
ailments.
"But, whatever is the case, it is better for the
pregnant woman to consult her doctor before
proceeding to take any medications," Olaleye said.
Dr Olusola Togunde, a medical officer at the
Ikorodu General Hospital, disclosed that so many
pregnant women were involved in self-medication
which has been resulting in many complications.
"It's a common belief that pregnant women can be
helped with home-made remedies. But are we really
sure about its composition, especially with regards
to the peculiar nature of each pregnant woman?" he
asked, while stressing that drinking 'grandma's
concoctions is definitely not safe for a pregnant
woman.
Dr Motunde Ajayi, another obstetrician and
gynaecologist, said by self-medicating, a pregnant
woman puts the foetus at risk.
"Defects in the development of the reproductive
organs are common side-effects of self-medication
by pregnant women ," he said.
Ajayi said genital diseases are also associated with
self-medication in pregnancy. "Cases of urinary
retention and other problems with the urethra have
been linked with self-medicating in pregnancy," he
said.
Another Lagos-based consultant paediatrician, Dr
Sylvaline Nwizu, also said mothers should resist the
urge to indiscriminately self-medicate for their
children.
"Many mothers assume that a child has malaria,
simply because of a fever. But a child can run a
fever as a result of various conditions, such as
bacterial or viral infection, even pneumonia," she
said.
Nwizu advised mothers to maintain the standard of
seeking an expert's advice regarding the health of
their children.
NAN

Jonathan Felicitates With Gowon At 90

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has praised
former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon,
for what he observed was his "unflagging
dedication to peace, national unity, good
governance and the well-being of all Nigerians."
He noted in a congratulatory letter to General
Gowon on the occasion of his 78th birthday, that
the former head of state had continued to
"engender bridges of love and harmony across
the country" after leaving office many decades
ago.
A presidency statement issued by Dr Reuben
Abati, Special Adviser to the President (Media &
Publicity) in Abuja, on Thursday, quoted the
president as saying in the letter that: "on behalf
of my family, the government and people of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish to express
warm felicitations to you on your 78th birthday
which comes up on Friday, the 19th of October
2012.
"It is gratifying to note that after decades of
worthy service to our fatherland, you continue
to use your exalted position to engender bridges
of love and harmony across the country;
unwaveringly pursue the cause of good
governance, and work dedicatedly to promote
the welfare and well being of all Nigerians.
"As you celebrate another year of distinguished
service and personal fulfillment, I join your
family and friends to wish you a richly deserved
happy birthday."

NYSC Batch C Members Pass Out Today

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
passes out its Batch C 2011/2012 corps
members today across the country. The day is
usually marked by a passing out parade and
issuance of certificates but the flooding and
security challenges in some parts of the country
will however make P.O.P impossible.
Overall, it has been a tough year but thank
goodness for some, they have successfully
completed the mandatory 1-year of national
service and join the already over-bloated labor
market.
Therefore, as Batch C corps members pass out
today, we want to say a big thank you to them
for service to their fatherland and wish them
success in their future endeavors.

Cameroon Takes Bakassi Peninsula With Heavy Security

BARELY 24 hours to the expiration
of the window of opportunity to appeal against
the International court of Justice, ICJ, ruling that
ceded the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to
Cameroon in October 10, 2002, there are influx
of stern looking men believed to be security
operatives from Cameroon
The increased presence of security operatives
from Cameroon according to Nigerian Sources
at the island was to ensure that the country
takes absolute control of the area following
Nigeria's failure to appeal against the judgment
or call for a review.
The Sources also claimed that in the past few
weeks, Nigerian indigenes resident at the
disputed island have not been able to reach at
their relations in Nigeria through phone calls,
while the Cameroon government had infiltrated
families of Nigerians at the area causing
division among them.
A highly placed Bakassi Local Government
Council official who spoke with Vanguard on
condition of anonymity alleged that some
Nigerians doing business at the Peninsula had
complained of harassment by the Cameroon
security agents.
The official also said that there had been many
strange faces suspected to be security
personnel coming in groups in preparation of
taking complete control of the place.
Meanwhile, President of Academic Staff Union
of Universities, Dr. Nasir Isa has said that
Nigeria made a mistake in handling the matter
and that the federal government also made a
great mistake by committing herself to hand
over Bakassi to Cameroon, adding that children
in Bakassi have the right to decide where to
belong.
Also commenting over the federal government
refusal to appeal against the ICJ ruling, the
governorship candidate on the platform of Hope
Democratic Party, HDP, in the February 25,
2012 elections in Cross River State, Dr. Theo
Onyuku said that the tragedy, the pains and the
subterfuge of the loss of Bakassi Peninsula to
Cameroon following an unenforceable ICJ ruling
will forever hunt the Nigeria nation.
Onyuku who is a medical consultant turned
politician alleged that, "The ignoble,
irresponsible, deceitful and self-serving roles of
former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the
former Cross River State governor, Mr. Donald
Duke and all the elected and appointed leaders
of Cross River extraction will hunt them to their
graves.
"In 2006, before the first phase of hand over of
Bakassi to Cameroon, we warned against the
dire consequences of ceding the territory to
Cameroon without recourse to the national
assembly, the dire security and socio-economic
implications, but the PDP leaders in the state
branded us as faceless opposition group.
"Today they are now shouting. Have we
forgotten that the self-acclaimed Mama Bakassi
was the special adviser President Obasanjo on
national assembly, what did she do for the, she
suddenly became blind, deaf and dumb.
"She was active in the seat of power, she did
nothing and betrayed the Bakassi people to
secure her job and today she is protesting, what
an apostate.
"Ex Governor Duke traded off the island for a
selfish presidential ambition. Why, Obasanjo
ceded Bakassi unconstitutionally in obedience to
a useless Green Tree Agreement because he
wanted international support for his third term
gambit and noble prize for peace," he alleged.

Source vanguard

JTF Kills Boko Haram's Second In Command

Nigerian military has killed 30 suspected members
of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, including
its second-in-command, arrested 10 others in
northern Yobe state.
One of those killed was Boko Haram's second-in-
command Bakaka, military spokesman Lt Eli
Lazarus said today.
Nigerian military working as Joint Task Force had
raided a hideout of the Islamic group and killed
Bakaka at the Hotoro while arresting several
others, he said.
Boko Haram wants to establish an Islamic emirate
in northern Nigeria and practice Sharia
government.

EU Condemns Attack On Peacekeepers In Darfur

EU High
Representative Catherine Ashton Thursday
expressed deep concern about the recent increase
in serious security incidents in Darfur.
She strongly condemned the attack on UNAMID
peacekeepers that left four Nigerian peacekeepers
dead and eight others injured in an ambush in El
Geneina, West Darfur, her spokeman Michael Mann
said in a statement.
Ashton called on Government of Sudan to work
closely with UNAMID to bring the perpetrators to
justice.
The High Representative is also deeply alarmed at
reports of a violent incident in Hashaba in North
Darfur, which appears to have cost the lives of
large numbers of civilians, including through aerial
bombardment, noted the statement.
She called for UNAMID to be allowed immediate
access to the area and urged all parties to end the
cycle of violence in Darfur and to pursue a
comprehensive and inclusive peace settlement.

Jega: INEC Is Broke, Can't Pay Staff Salary

Independent National Electoral Commission,
INEC, is so broke that it may not be able to pay
staff salaries from next month.
Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega,
disclosed this to bewildered members of the
House of Representatives Committee on
Electoral Matters, who visited INEC
headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.
Dr. Abdulkadir Sulaiman, who represented Prof.
Jega, said: "If we don't do anything about it on
time, we may not be able to pay salary by next
month."
Following this development, the chairman called
on the legislators to quickly intervene and save
the situation, else the commission's aspiration
of conducting the 2015 general election in line
with international best practices would be a
mirage.
He also told the visiting legislators, led by the
Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Jerry Manwe,
that the paucity of fund had drastically slowed
down the pace of work on all the capital
projects being executed by the commission.
According to him, no other release has reached
INEC as the second quarter release did not
come directly to the commission.
Jega said: "Of the N35 billion earmarked for the
commission in the 2012 budget, only N10 billion
was released to the commission in March. That
was seven months ago.
"The second quarter of the money was released
to the commission last month, September."
"However, it was not sent directly to the
commission, it was lodged in the Treasury
Savings Account under the office of the
Accountant-General of the Federation. The
commission is yet to access this fund.
"It has sent complaint to the Minister of
Finance, requesting for exemption from the TSA
scheme in view of the autonomy granted this
commission in the 1999 Constitution and the
2010 Electoral Act.
"The commission is still awaiting the Minister's
response. And in view of the fact that the N10
billion released to the commission is quite low,
the commission has to suspend most of its
projects, pending the time the remaining money
is released.
He said the projects include renovation of INEC
offices nationwide, printing of permanent voter
cards, purchase of 100 KVA power generating
sets in INEC offices nationwide, construction of
residences of INEC Resident Commissioners,
and electrification of state offices of INEC.
He commended the House of Representatives
Committee on Electoral Matters for finding time
to visit the commission to find out things for
themselves.
Jega said the commission was ready to
cooperate with relevant bodies in ensuring that
its operations were carried out as spelt out in
the constitution.
Manwe said the revelation about the state of
the commission by its leadership was
worrisome.
He said his committee condemns Federal
Government's handling of the affairs of INEC in
totality, stressing that an urgent letter would be
sent to both the Minister of Finance and
Accountant-General of the Federation to appear
before the House to explain reasons behind the
Federal Government's position.
He said the committee was totally committed to
assisting the commission conduct hitch-free
elections in 2015.

Jonathan Appoints New Service Chiefs

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday
approved the appointment of new service chiefs
for the Armed Forces.
According to a statement signed by the
president's Special Adviser on Media, Dr
Reuben Abati, the newly appointed chiefs
include the Vice Admiral O.S. Ibrahim (Kwara)
for Chief of Defence Staff; Rear Admiral D.J.
Ezeoba (Delta) as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air
Vice Marshall A.S. Badeh (Adamawa) as Chief
of Air Staff.
The incumbent Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen.
O.A. Ihejirika (Abia) retained his position.
President Jonathan thanked the outgoing
service chiefs for their meritorious and
commendable service to the nation and wishes
them well in their future endeavours.

Girl, 20, Auctions Her Virginity, Has Already Raised N24 million

First of all I am glad she is a virgin, or so she
claims. I am also elated that she wants to help
the poor but her approach is just not so
appropriate. Virginity and sex are two sacred
things that shouldn't be trivialized or monetized
for whatsoever reason. If it wasn't towards a
'noble' cause, I'd call it pornography right away
but then, it's her body, her conscience and
integrity at stake and so she can do as she
please.
In order to assist poverty stricken families by
helping them build better homes, Catarina
Migliorini, a Brazilian student, is auctioning off
her virginity to the highest bidder for cash.
The 20 year old physical education student is
set to plough the money – currently standing at
$155,000 (£95,400) – into a non-governmental
organisation which will construct modern
houses in her southern Brazilian home state of
Santa Catarina. Already been labelled a
prostitute, she rejected the toga as she said she
still believed in love but saw the opportunity to
make a positive difference to the world.

Despite her explanations, her intention has
sparked controversy because she will be
followed every step of the way by an Australian
film crew for a documentary film called "Virgins
Wanted."
Catarina, who is of Italian descent said : 'I saw
this as a business. I have the opportunity to
travel, to be part of a movie and get a bonus
with it. If you only do it once in your life then
you are not a prostitute, just like if you take one
amazing photograph it does not automatically
make you a photographer."The auction is just
business, I'm a romantic girl at heart and
believe in love. But this will make a big
difference to my area,' she told Folha
newspaper.
Catarina had signed up to the project two years
ago when she saw an advert by Thomas William
Productions looking for a virgin to film. Director
Justin Sisely will record her emotions before
and after her first sexual encounter. A male
virgin called Alexander is also being followed.
She will receive $20,000 and 90 per cent of the
final auction sale price, which ends on October
15.
The winner will be tested for sexually
transmitted diseases prior to the encounter
which will take place on an aeroplane, leaving
from Australia to the US, in a bid to circumvent
prostitution laws.A condom will be compulsory,
with Catarina saying she was prepared to prove
to any sceptics that she has not had sex before.

Security Officers Arrested Over Boko Haram Links

The JTF said it had arrested a
number of security personnel over links to Islamist
extremist group Boko Haram, whose insurgency
has killed hundreds of people.
The arrests came after soldiers from a special
military unit deployed in the northeastern city of
Maiduguri arrested an immigration officer, Grema
Mohammed, for allegedly being an active member
of Boko Haram, a military spokesman said.
Boko Haram is blamed for deadly attacks that have
killed more than 1,400 people since 2010 as part of
an insurgency in northern and central Nigeria.
The arrest "led to further arrests of some other
security personnel that had been participating in
various terrorist attacks in Borno and Yobe states,"
Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa said of the two
states in northeastern Nigeria, where Boko Haram
has been based.
He did not specify how many arrests had been
made.
"He confessed to being an active member of the
Boko Haram terrorist sect which he joined long
before the 2009 crisis," Musa said in a statement in
reference to a 2009 uprising by the group.
"He also confessed to having been trained
alongside 15 other members of the sect on weapon
handling, assassination and special operations in
Niger republic," Musa added, referring to the
neighbouring nation.
Grema was arrested over a month ago at a
checkpoint while allegedly impersonating an army
lieutenant, Musa said.
The suspect also confessed to the killings of some
senior civil servants, security personnel and
politicians who had spoken against the sect in Yobe
and Borno states.
He had also participated in attacks on police
stations, a prison and the burning of public schools,
Musa said.
There have previously been accusations of
involvement of some security personnel in the
attacks, which have grown increasingly
sophisticated.

Man Caught With N1 billion At The Airport

A 24 year old Nigerian , Abubakar Tijani Sheriff
was arrested by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) for attempting to travel
to Dubai with the sum of $7 million Dollars (About
one billion Naira).
He was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed
International airport,Lagos.
Authorities said that the money was proceeds from
illegal deals and he suspect a money laundering
courier. He has already mentioned 20 prominent
Nigerians who are the owners of the money.