Curence: The Fastest News Update

BREAKING NEWS: CBN cuts interest rates

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Tuesday cut policy interest rate for the first time in almost four years.
At the end of its two-day rate setting meeting, the CBN Chief, Godwin Emefiele announced a 200 points cut to 11% in headline interest rate from 13% previously

Nigeria’s central bank reduced its benchmark interest rate for the first time in six years, diverging from its counterparts in most of Africa that have tightened monetary policy in the face of weakening currencies.

The key rate was cut to 11 percent from a record high of 13 percent, Governor Godwin Emefiele told reporters on Tuesday in Abuja, the capital. Seven of the 20 economists surveyed by Bloomberg predicted a lower rate, while the rest forecast it would stay unchanged.

President Muhammadu Buhari killed four birds with one haul of stone when he visited Yola, the Adamawa State capital, last weekend. Former vice president Atiku Abubakar killed four or five and the American University of Nigeria Yola, which Atiku founded ten years ago, killed no less than two. It was a handful for them all. In an airport ceremony in the town the President lifted the spirit of soldiers doing battle with insurgents in the North-eastern parts and decorated some wounded ones with badges of courage. He visited the Emir Yola, Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, camps of internally displaced persons and capped his events-packed trip with presence at the home of Atiku Abubakar where he served the significant role of father to give out Atiku’s three daughters in marriage on a day one of their brothers was bringing in his wife. Governor Bindow Jibrilla of Adamawa received the new wife from her Ghanaian people for the Atiku family.

Fresh from one leg of his campaign tours of communities in Bayelsa State where he recorded rapturous receptions, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson fielded questions from the media on the forthcoming governorship election. According to him, owing to his widely acknowledged record of performance, he would win the December 5, 2015 governorship election. He had urged journalist to ask his main opponent how many “monkey bridges” he built.
Excerpts:

By Akeeb Alarape

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, has pledged the support of the state to the authorities of the Nigerian Prison Services in a bid to decongest the prisons.
Kazeem made the pledge yesterday during a visit to the Controller of Prisons, Lagos State, Vincent Ubi, at Alagbon, saying the state was committed to decongesting the prisons using the instrumentality of the law.
According to him, the prison ‘is very critical in the administration of justice in the state’ regardless of the fact it is a federal agency.
“As a federal agency, the Prison Services is a partner with Lagos State. It plays an important role in the administration of justice. It is so critical when there is so much crime and people are brought to prison for rehabilitation. I want to pledge the full cooperation of my administration and Ministry of Justice to support prison services. I will be there for you during my tenure,” Kazeem stated.
He disclosed that his ministry now has community service desk for the utilization of the public while stressing the importance of capturing the database of prisoners in order to monitor them.
In his response, the Prison Controller disclosed that prisons within the state have the highest number of inmates totaling 6,258 while 90 per cent of them are from the South West region.
“No other state has such number. When police arrest criminals, they take them to court and the court remands them in prison. So the bus-stop of national security is the prison,” Ubi said.
He urged the Lagos State Security Council to always involve officers of the Nigeria Prison Service in any decision concerning security in the state.
At the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), the Attorney-General promised to see to the welfare of the staff of the agency through provisions of working materials and personnel.
Earlier, OPD’s director, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, lamented the challenges facing the agency which included; funding, lack of enough laptops, manpower, delay in trials especially with domestic violence cases and shoddy investigation by police.
She added that the agency has handled and successfully completed 4, 008 cases within the year while 364 cases are still pending in court.

Analysis: Downing of Russian jet hardly a surprise

The shooting down of a Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 jet by Turkish F-16 fighters after it reportedly violated Turkish airspace is a dangerous escalation in the context of Russia's continuing confrontation with NATO in Eastern Europe and Syria.

However, it should not come as much of a surprise.

Turkish authorities claim that the Su-24 fighter bomber ignored repeated warnings over the course of five minutes on Tuesday and was then shot down after violating Turkish airspace near Yayladagi, Hatay.

Russia claims that the Su-24 did not cross the Syria-Turkey border and was, therefore, illegally attacked.

NATO has called on Turkey and Russia to show restraint as tensions rise in the wake of the downing of a Russian jet near the Turkey-Syria border.

The Russian warplane was shot down for violating Turkish airspace on Tuesday morning, Turkish officials said, angering Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who likened the incident to being "stabbed in the back".

Angelina Jolie appreciate this new stage of his life.

The Oscar-winning actress 40 years reveals his thoughts on growing old, including how he entered the menopause has not had the desired effect.

"Actually, I love being menopausal," she admits with the Daily Telegraph.

The mother of six had undergone a double mastectomy in 2013 and had undergone removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes in March, to avoid breast cancer which she was genetically predisposed. These interventions sparked menopause, a period from which a woman can no longer procreate.

"I have not had any adverse reaction, I am very lucky," added the actress. "I feel more mature and comfortable in this maturity."

APC To Conduct Fresh Primary In Kogi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that a fresh primary election will be conducted in Kogi state to pick a replacement for Abubakar Audu.

Audu, who passed away on Sunday, was the party’s candidate in the November 21 governorship election.

Speaking with reporters at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Tuesday, John Oyegun, chairman of the party, said the decision to hold a fresh primary was taken after the APC received a letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) asking it to replace Audu.

Who Amongst These APC Candidates Should Replace Audu In The Dec 5 Supp Polls?

The result of the All Progressives Congress Governorship primaries as announced by the Returning officer, Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State.

Ocholi James – 90

Obadofin – 15

Zakari Jiya – 0

Olumoroti – 56

Meyanga – 2

Idrissima – 5

Baba Ali – 28

Turkey says it has shot down a Russian-made warplane on the Syrian border for violating Turkish airspace.
Two Turkish officials told Al Jazeera the plane was shot down on Tuesday by the Turkish military according to the rules of engagement.
Reports said the plane crashed in Syrian territory in Latakia's Yamadi village.

Brussels lockdown extended as US issues travel alert

Brussels will remain under the highest level of alert for another week due to an ongoing "terrorism" threat, but schools and the underground train system could reopen from Wednesday, according to Charles Michel, Belgium's prime minister.
The army and police will continue to be deployed in force, and the country will reduce the number of events with large crowds for fear of a repeat of the deadly Paris attacks on November 13, Michel said on Monday.
The announcement came as the US state department issued a global alert for Americans planning to travel following the deadly attacks in Paris and Bamako in Mali.

Human Rights Watch says Syrian refugees who have been attempting to enter Turkey are being pushed back as they try to cross.

Syrian refugees bear brunt of war against ISIL

In a report released on Monday, the New York-based rights group said Turkey has now closed all its borders to Syrian refugees and is pushing them back to Syria...

KING of kwaito Arthur Mafokate and his partnership with the SABC has proven to be fruitful.
The 999 record label boss’ collaboration with the broadcaster has seen him launch a new track titled Summer Ya DiSummer.
The song was officially launched last Thursday at the broadcaster’s offices in Limpopo.
Arthur took the opportunity to introduce other artist that his company recently signed.
He told SunBuzz: “As 999 music, we are grateful for the partnership with the SABC as it dates back to more than 20 years ago when our record label was unknown.
“They gave us a chance to perform by flighting our videos and also giving me a chance to perform on their music programmes.”

By Blaise Udunze
AS the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) concludes the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting for 2015 today, financial industry experts are already predicting it would leave rates unchanged, especially with the expansion in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and marginal ease in inflation figures.

By JOE APU
AHEAD of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games football event, head coach of the Dream Team VI, Samson Siasia on Monday named a final 21-man squad for the 2015 U-23 Champion- ship commencing Saturday in Dakar, Senegal.
According to sources close to the camp, Coach Siasia listed four overseas-based professionals with the rest of the squad drawn from the Nigeria league.
The pros are strikers Taiwo Awoniyi from German second division side FSV Frankfurt, Junior Ajayi of Tunisian club CS Sfaxien, Isaac success from La Liga side Granada as well as midfielder Azubuike Oke- chukwu, who is based in Turkey.
There are no players from seven- time champions Enyimba after the coach dropped Kingsley Sokari and Etor Daniel for insisting on leaving training camp to play a final league game with their club in Lagos.

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday attacked the judiciary, saying its reputation and integrity have been negatively affected due to delays in the administration of justice.
The President made his assessment of the third arm of government in his keynote address at the opening of the ongoing All Nigeria Judges’ conference, organised the National Judicial Institute (NJI) Abuja.

•Northern delegation to meet S’East leaders, mourn Audu, Tor Tiv
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, yesterday expressed worry over the increasing agitation for Biafra by some Igbo groups. He said the northern traditional council would soon send a delegation to Igbo leaders in the South East on the issue.
The Sultan spoke yesterday at the second General Assembly of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council in Kaduna.

Photos of Senators at the Nigerian Senate plenary today, November 24th. See more after the cut..

Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomole says he is not afraid of the billionaire father of his predecessor, Lucky Igbinedion, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion whom he has accused of conniving with his son to loot the state of its resources and exploiting residents of the state while his son was governor.

Oshiomhole said this while speaking with some Edo women who staged a protest in support of his administration yesterday November 23rd.

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, a PDP senator representing Abia South in the senate today asked that the House summon President Buhari who doubles as the Minister of Petroleum resources to come and explain why there's fuel scarcity in the country right now.

Turkey Shoots Down Russian Jet Near Syrian Border - Foreign Affairs

Turkish fighter jets shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian border on Tuesday after repeated warnings over air space violations, but Moscow said it could prove the jet had not left Syrian air space.

It was the first time a NATO member's armed forces have downed a Russian or Soviet military aircraft since the 1950s and Russian and Turkish assets fell on fears of an escalation between the former Cold War enemies.

Stop running around, APC tells C’River gov

The All Progressives Congress has cautioned the Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, to settle down to work “rather than travelling around the world.”

The National Vice Chairman of APC, South-South, Mr. Hilliard Eta, who spoke with our correspondent in Calabar, the state capital, on Monday, said the governor had not settled down to govern the people since he assumed office on May 29, 2015.

Eta said, “He (Ayade) has on his own created a state of confusion and right now, Cross River is in a state of flux. There is motion, but no movement; so much talk, but no action; so much display of exuberance, but no real governance.

Fire guts 17 houses, bank

Samson Folarin

No fewer than 17 structures were razed by fire on Monday in the Ikota, Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos State, after a resident left a lighted candle in his room.

This is just as a section of a branch of Access Bank in the Ojo area of the state was severely damaged by fire after a power surge.

Our correspondent learnt that the Ajah fire began around 12.34am, while some of the residents were asleep.

The Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, said the agency deployed firefighters from the Lekki Fire Station in the scene.

Niyi Odebode, John Alechenu and Olusola Fabiyi

The Independent National Electoral Commission says the All Progressives Congress has yet to inform it about the death of its Kogi State governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu.

It however promised to apply available legal provisions to the last Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State.

Femi Makinde

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Monday frowned on the situation where pupils wear uniforms depicting their religious affiliations to schools across the country.

Soyinka spoke during the inauguration of a N750m school built by the Osun State Government in Ejigbo. The school was named after him.

Though Soyinka expressed happiness at the honour done him by Governor Rauf Aregesola, he warned against diving the pupils along religious lines by allowing them to wear uniforms that typified their religious affiliations.

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on Monday remanded a 27-year-old musician, Friday Freedom, in prison for allegedly raping a 15- year-old girl.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Chief Magistrate, Mr. Tajudeen Elias, remanded the accused in the Kirikiri Prison and adjourned the case till November 28, 2015, for ruling on bail application.

Olaleye Aluko

A 43-year-old trader, Enemmuo Amaechi, and a driver, Benson Odefila, have been arrested by the police in Lagos for allegedly diverting a truckload of musical instruments valued at N19m in the Wharf, Apapa area of the state.

Amaechi, who has his store in the Oyingbo area, told PUNCH Metro that he knew that the goods were diverted, adding that he paid N600,000 for them.

The Nigerian Communications Commission on Monday said it would sanction MTN, Airtel and Globacom for defying its directive on automatic migration to Pay-As-You-Go data bundle.

The commission made this known in its ‘2015 3Q Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Report’, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.

Lawyers for a detained leader of Biafra agitation and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, on Monday opposed an application by the Department of State Services to withdraw the charges instituted against the detainee before a Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja.

The lawyers, led by Mr. Jude Aboje, told the court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Shuaibu Usman, that they wanted the orders of the court, directing the release of the accused from DSS custody, to be complied with before the withdrawal of the case.

A 30-year-old Lagos driver, Samuel Adamo, Adamo, who was married with three wives and five children, was stabbed to death in Oshodi, Lagos State. He was said to have been attacked in one of the motor parks in the Oshodi-under-bridge area, while calling passengers into his bus.

It was learnt that some motor park thugs aka agbero, had approached him for a ‘loading fee’, but the deceased allegedly declined payment, saying there was no passenger in his bus yet.

It was fun all the way last night as celebrities came out in mass for the birthday celebration of one of their own.

Last night, popular Nollywood stars like Tana Adelana, Ebube Nwagbo, Ini Edo, Rukky Sanda and many others went on the boat cruise for Oge Okoye’s lavish birthday dinner.

Ini Edo displayed her spiritual side last night as she took the opening prayer.

Enugu State University Sacks 153 Lecturers

THE authorities of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Enugu has sacked 153 lecturers from its employ.
Although no official reason was given for the exercise, but it was gathered that the sack, which also affected a Professor and a Reader cut across various departments in the university.

A statement announcing the sack dated November 23 and signed by the Registrar, Leonard Khama, and made available to Tribune Online, said: “I am directed to inform you and you are hereby informed that the university is presently not
positioned to employ you.

Former video vixen-cum-actress, Venita Akpofure Tarka is a proud mother and she seizes every opportunity to show it off.

The pretty diva is on the latest cover of the Celebrity Shoot Magazine published by fashion designer and stylist, Abbyke Domina.

The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology is a higher education institute in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Formerly known as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre, the school was established in 1964.

Two months after “clock boy” Ahmed Mohamed made international headlines, new details of his controversial arrest emerged Monday in a letter his attorney has sent to school and city officials in Irving, Texas.
As many as seven adults teamed up to interrogate the 14-year-old boy after a teacher mistook his homemade clock for a bomb and pressured him to sign a confession, according to the “letter of demand” from his lawyer warning of plans to file a $15 million suit.

Exploring diverse genre of music, Baseline Entertainment & Friends presents the most exclusive holiday concert this season tagged“ The Baseline Black Tie Christmas Concert”. The exclusive event is scheduled to hold on the 13thof December, 2015 at the well-known Lagoon Restaurant in Victoria Island Lagos.

The Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner was seen as she treated her grandchildren North and Penelope to shopping at The Grove in Los Angeles
Kris was seen carrying two-year-old North close while three-year-old Penelope was carried by the nanny. More photos after the cut...

Four suspected kidnappers of a four-year-old-boy, Steve Kanu, in Abeokuta have confessed that a ransom of N1m was paid to them before they released him.

Steve who was kidnapped at his parents’ home at Laderin Estate, Abeokuta, on Monday, November 2, 2015 was fortunately rescued alive last Friday by the men of the Ogun State Police Command in Nsukka, Enugu State.

President Buhari who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the 2015 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference in Abuja, yesterday said he is disturbed that allegations of judicial corruption have become more frequent in the country.
He accused corrupt lawyers and judges of blocking his efforts to recover stolen assets.
He said:

Americans have been issued with a global travel alert over fears of attacks from terrorists around the world.
The US State Department has warned all citizens to be vigilant citing threats from ISIS, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and "other terrorist groups”.
They have advised everyone to take caution in public places, during holidays and at large gatherings such as sporting matches or concerts.

Ogun government has directed all markets and public schools in the Remo district of the state to be closed on Wednesday November 25th as the state buries late Chief HID Awolowo, wife of late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, The state government's directive is contained in a statement signed in Abeokuta on Monday by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa. The statement said the directive would affect only schools within Ikenne, Remo North and Sagamu Local Government Areas.

Photos: Ooni of ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi presented with the Aare crown

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi was today presented with the Aare Crown. He was presented the Crown after completing the 21 days seclusion rites before assuming the seat as the new Ooni. Continue to see more photos...

Bosses at Khan automobiles have offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to capture of a hooded vandal who broke into a car showroom and smashed the windscreen of a 2006, Bugatti Veyron supercar worth £900000. The incident which happened at Leeds was caught on CCTV and shows the man smashing the windscreen of the rare, expensive luxury vehicle after breaking a window to get in....

Gunmen believed to be kidnappers this afternoon kidnapped Krinpere Douglas, a cousin to Timipre Sylva, the APC Governorship candidate for Bayelsa governorship election. According to Nathan Egba, the Director for Media and Publicity of Sylva’s campaign who made this known to newsmen, Douglas was kidnapped along the Ogbia-Brass waterways this afternoon as he was heading to a political rally in support of his cousin, Mr. Sylva.

Ongoing rehabilitation of the popular Brown Street, Oshodi by Lagos State Government, on Monday, November 23, 2015. More photos after the cut...

Fresh off being named world's sexiest man by People magazine, David Beckham stepped out for the British Fashion Awards in company of wife, Victoria. The pair who are fashion icons spotted matching black suits. More photos after the cut...

No fewer than 9 people lost their lives after a suicide bomber attacked Dikwa Local government area in Borno state today November 23rd. Only yesterday a female suicide bomber attacked a gathering of Internally Displaced People in the same community killing 7 persons.

Commenting on today's attack, a resident of the community, Baba Kura, told Sahara reporters "We heard explosions near our area. We quickly went to the scene and we found nine people and a motor vehicle seriously damaged.''

Gumsi Abacha shares some family photos, including her mother

Maryam Abacha with her brood including her grand kids. More photos after the cut..

Inspired by the tweets of someone who went through such an experience today...more when you continue...

Iyanya Is Cross River State Ambassador(photos)

Today,Iyanya was officially announced as the official ambassador for Cross River State .The state governor ,Ben Ayade Florence Ita Giwa personally acknowledged his new position.In line with this,he will be given an official car and is also entitled to monthly remuneration..

Congrats to him!

J Lo partied with former boyfriend Sean Diddy Combs at her AMA's after party which was sponsored by Diddy's Ciroc. J Lo, 46, looked in high spirits as she danced the night away in company of boyfriend, Casper Smart after her AMA appearance where she made ten wardrobe changes.

Remy Martin threw what many have termed the biggest party in Nigeria to a crowd of over 1000 people in April, in case you missed it; the #AttheclubwithRemy Allstar Grand Finale is here to top the fun/ celebrations/ experience from the past edition.

The trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, has been suspended, following an order by the Supreme Court suspending trial pending the determination of his appeal. This according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was disclosed by the Public Relations Officer of the tribunal - Ibraheem Alhassan, in Abuja today.

Photos of Senators at the inauguration of 12 Senate Committees today

12 Standing Committees of the Nigerian Senate were inaugurated today. The committees are: Education (Basic & Secondary), Women Affairs, Privatization Committee, Upstream Petroleum, Downstream Petroleum, Culture & Tourism, Gas Resources, Employment, Labour & Productivity, States & Local Government, Special Duties Affairs, Establishment & Public Service, and the Sports & Youth Development Committee. See more photos from the inauguration ceremony after the cut.

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Kingsley Fanwo & Boluwaji Obahopo
LOKOJA—The wait for a new governor of Kogi State following last Saturday’s governorship election turned into a constitutional crisis, yesterday, after the leading candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu died after he had taken a commanding lead over the incumbent governor, Captain Idris Wada.
Audu contested the election on the banner of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and had won 240,827 votes to beat Wada who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to second place. However, because of the irregularities that trailed the election, polling was cancelled in 59 polling units, a development that led to the declaration of the election as inconclusive. Audu’s death is an unprecedented development not envisaged by the constitution and the Electoral Act.
The circumstances of Audu’s death in his country home in Ogbonicha were still cloudy, yesterday, but sources disclosed that it followed complaints of stomach ache that commenced about Thursday.

HOME