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  • Court of Appeal suspends bench warrant on INEC boss

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday gave an order barring the arrest of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu.

    Delivering the ruling, Justice Abdul Aboki leading a three-man panel suspended the enforcement of the arrest warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Aug.1.

    Aboki held that the injunction was aimed at compelling the police from activating the order of the lower court pending the hearing of the appeal fixed for Sept. 17.

    “It will be prejudicial for the trial court to proceed with hearing of the matter scheduled for August 14.

    “Consequently, the panel unanimously orders the stay of proceeding pending the hearing of Mahmood’s appeals,” he said.

    The INEC boss had filed an appeal challenging the arrest warrant issued against him by the trial court.

    In the appeal, Yakubu is challenging the validity of the arrest warrant that was issued against him by the court.

    The appellate had maintained that he could not be arrested on the basis of a bench warrant that was legally defective.

    He urged the Court of Appeal to invoke its powers and void the arrest order made by Justice Stephen Pam.

    Pam had in a bench ruling ordered the Police to arrest and produce Yakubu in court on Aug. 8 to face contempt charges.

    The order followed Yakubu’s failure to honour a summons the court issued for him to appear in respect of a suit involving the Anambra Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The INEC chairman had between July 5 and July 10 allegedly failed to honour the court’s summons to defend contempt proceeding.

    Yakubu, however, denied disobeying any order of court, adding that he was denied fair hearing by the trial court.

    The INEC boss said there was no evidence that any court summons was enrolled and served on him. (NAN)

  • Blood test technique could lead to kidney cancer detection 5 years earlier

    Blood test technique could lead to kidney cancer detection 5 years earlier

    A marker in the blood could help predict the risk that a person has of developing kidney cancer, according to a study released on Monday by Cancer Research UK.

    The research team found that measuring levels of a protein molecule in the blood, called KIM-1, could indicate whether a person was more likely to develop kidney cancer in the following five years.

    The greater the concentration of KIM-1, the higher their risk of developing kidney cancer, according to the study, which has been published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.

    Meanwhile, in people with kidney cancer, KIM-1 levels were also found to be linked with poor survival, as those with the highest levels in their blood were less likely to survive the illness, the researchers said.

    “The next steps are to look more closely at whether KIM-1 levels can help detect tumours that have a good prognosis, so those at an early stage, and to find out if it could be used as a tool to track whether a patient’s treatment is working,” said David Muller, one of the authors of the study.

    Kidney cancer is the seventh most common cancer in the UK and cases are on the rise.

    When diagnosed at its earliest stage, more than eight in 10 people will survive the disease for five years or more, according to the Cancer Research UK. (Xinhua/NAN)

  • MURIC hails ban on Falz anti-Muslim video

    TUNJI OLANIYI
    An Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) , has commended the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) for banning the ‘Shaku Shaku’ dance video which was released by Folarin Falana (Falz the Bad Guy) in May this year. (more…)

  • 2019/Ekiti murder: Some big names in Nigeria’ll die politically, says CAC Prophet …Says APC chieftain’s murder not ordinary

    A prophet with the Christ Apostolic Church (Adamimogo International) , Olu Alo, has predicted that some politicians currently reigning and calling the shots in the nation’ s polity today would soon lose their political status and become irrelevant.
    Alo also said the Lord revealed to him that the killing of Bunmi Ojo, former Personal Assistant to Ekiti State ex-governor, Segun On I is not ordinary or carried out by rampaging cultists.
    He said Ojo, who was among others shot by yet-to-be identified gunmen at a viewing centre in Adebayo area of Ado Ekiti on Friday night, was killed by enemies who know he has something with him, and lamented that such is happening among politicians because they do not love one another.
    His words: “We appreciate God that He hasn’t turned His back on Nigeria in spite of our unfaithfulness. Elders in the Lord had called me over the recent spate of killings and what God has revealed to me is that there is lack of love among politicians and this made them to be killing themselves.
    “The killing of Bunmi Oji is not ordinary. The spirit of God is telling me that his killing isn’t ordinary and that he has something over which he was killed. Some enemies are behind it. But I do not think it was as a result of an attack by cultists. Elderly men of God said the late Ojo has been very instrumental to helping the youths and I do not think the cultists can attack such a person”.
    Commenting on recent defections between APC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he said: ” The problem of this nation can only be solved from the house of God, Christians and Moslems and those of other religion have to ensure that we change things for the better from the church.
    “Men of God should stop being partisan and taking sides with political parties or politicians for their own selfish interests. Men of God should say the truth and always the truth. They must also not have religious bias in dealing with our leaders and politicians and in addressing issues of national interest.
    “To me, even as a youth, I do not see the youths doing it better if they win the next presidential poll. President Buhari is having challenges in government because he is an introvert. He trusts people easily. He is also being cautious and doesn’t want to be putting people in prison like many have said that his aim is to clamp everyone in prison.
    “Elderly men are usually not boastful or blow their own trumpet. To me, it is elderly people who understand Nigeria’s challenges that can solve it by putting the right people in position.
    “As for defections, I foresee a situation where some big names in politics today will become irrelevant tomorrow. God has instructed us to carry out crusade in seven states, in Abuja and all the South West states. We are still preparing for this but we don’t want to get sponsorship from people who would not allow us to say the truth and mind of God to the public,” Prophet Alo said.

  • Pakistan president pays tribute to victims of anti-terror war in Independence Day speech

    Pakistan president pays tribute to victims of anti-terror war in Independence Day speech

    President Mamnoon Hussain of Pakistan on Tuesday paid tribute
    to security personnel who have scarified lives in the war against terrorism, saying that their
    sacrifices have eliminated the scourge of terrorism in the country.

    Hussain was addressing the national flag hoisting ceremony in the capital Islamabad as part of the
    Independence Day celebrations of Pakistan.

    Pakistan got independence from the British colonial rule on Aug. 14, 1947 after a heroic struggle
    under the leadership of Muhammad Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

    The day dawned with a 31 gun salute in the Federal Capital and 21 gun salute in the provincial
    headquarters.

    The main feature of the celebrations was the national flag hoisting ceremony in Islamabad.

    Hussain and caretaker Prime Minister Nasir ul-Mulk joined hands to hoist the flag at a ceremony
    attended by diplomats, lawmakers, military and civil officials and important personalities.

    President Hussain mentioned the parliamentary elections held on July 25 and said that in spite of
    terrorist attacks, the elections were held with the full participation of the people.

    Deadly terrorist attacks in southwestern Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces
    killed nearly 200 people, including three candidates in July.

    The Taliban and Islamic State group had claimed the attacks.

    The president noted that this year the general elections coincided with the Independence Day.

    “This also envisages a message that the decisions in the country which was achieved through a
    democratic struggle will also be taken through the power of vote.

    “I want to remember and pay homage to all those who sacrificed lives for the country and the system.

    “Terrorists could not break the will of the people,” the president said.

    He also called for peaceful solution to the Kashmir dispute with India in accordance with the UN
    resolutions. (Xinhua/NAN)

  • APC says anyone who breaks law must face justice

    All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that any Nigerian who violates the law, no matter how highly placed, must be brought to justice.

    The APC Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    He was reacting to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) recent allegation that the APC-led Federal Government planned to arrest Saraki and his Deputy, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu.

    “We had thought that by now the PDP would be tired of its lame opposition strategy of false alarms, baseless and frivolous accusations.’’

    It maintained that the Buhari administration had repeatedly demonstrated its strict adherence to the rule of law.

    The party, therefore, said the alleged plan to arrest or harass the mentioned leaders as claimed by the PDP was “hogwash and baseless”, adding “a clear conscience fears no accusation.”

    He wondered why PDP leaders were afraid of arrest if their conscience was clear.

    He gave an assurance that all law-abiding citizens or residents of the country had nothing to fear about arrest.

    “However, nobody no matter how highly placed, will escape the full wrath of the law. if he or she runs fowl of our laws.

    “If the Senate President and the tree-climbing Senator are facing criminal charges in our law courts and his Deputy have explanations to make to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for acquisition of numerous properties in Nigeria and abroad through questionable sources, the Buhari-led APC administration has nothing to do with them.

    “The laws of the country are only being applied and they should answer for their alleged acts of infamy,’’ Nabena said. (NAN)

  • No date fixed for NASS to reconvene on INEC budget- Saraki, Dogara

    No date fixed for NASS to reconvene on INEC budget- Saraki, Dogara

    The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, said on Tuesday that no date had been fixed for the two chambers to reconvene to consider the INEC 2019 elections budget request forwarded by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    This was contained in a statement by Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Senate President and Mr Turaki Hassan, Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Speaker, House of Representatives in Abuja.

    The Senate president and the speaker said that no meeting between the two chambers took place to consider any report before the National Assembly.

    “Until the committees has a ready report for the consideration of the two chambers, it will be most irresponsible to recall members from recess, especially those that may have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj,” they said.

    Buhari forwarded the INEC 2019 elections budget request on July 17.

    The Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters and officials of the INEC ought to have met on or before Monday Aug. 13.

    The joint committees were also expected to meet with the joint Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Loans and Debts on the Eurobond loan request after which two reports would have been ready for presentation in the two chambers. (NAN)

  • APC uncovers PDP plot to harm APC senators

    APC spokesman Yekini Nabena: accuses PDP of plot to harm APC senators

    The All Progressives Congress said it has uncovered a sinister plot hatched by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to attack APC Senators as part of a desperate bid to ensure that Dr. Bukola Saraki clings to the position of Senate President.

    APC publicity secretary Yekini Nabeena made the claim in a Statement Tuesday in the wake of the indefinite postponement of resumption by Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara. The two houses were scheduled to reconvene today for consideration of urgent national matters.

    “By this statement, we call on security agents to protect APC Senators. If any Senator is harmed, the PDP and Saraki should be held directly responsible. We call on security agencies to also closely monitor the activities of some PDP leaders including Saraki because the plan to attack APC Senators is real and imminent.

    “We were informed that the plot was hatched in the private residence of a PDP leader in Maitama-Abuja on Sunday night. The meeting was attended by 15 pro-Saraki Senators including the Senate President himself.

    We learnt that the PDP expressed worry over the APC’s Senate majority and considered several options to stop the APC from taking over the Senate leadership among which is attacking some APC Senators to ensure their inability to attend legislative sittings.

    “The PDP have recruited thugs for this purpose, we have now learnt.

    “During Sunday’s meeting, the PDP Senators planned several types of attack, one of which is to lure some of them (APC Senators) out at night in the guise of inviting Senators to a political settlement meeting and thereafter instigate a violent confrontation during the meeting and unleash standby PDP thugs on APC Senators. Our source privy to the meeting informed us.

    “This revelation has not come to us as a surprise because the Senate President through proxies has made several failed attempts to buy over APC Senators with N100million each.

    “As a Party, we don’t believe in inducing lawmakers to achieve our legitimate goal of removing Saraki as Senate President. We will get the support of some PDP Senators to get the required 2/3 vote and impeach Saraki. We are already talking to some of PDP Senators who believe and support the direction of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to achieve our legitimate goal.

    “We reiterate our call for Saraki’s immediate resignation as Senate President. He cannot lead the APC majority Senate. But if he fails to resign honourably, we will impeach him. The PDP’s propaganda and threat of violence cannot save him,” the APC said.

    The APC also described the decision of Saraki not to reconvene the National Assembly as high treason.

    “As Chairman of the 8th National Assembly, Saraki’s decision not to reconvene the National Assembly done with the support of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara further buttresses our position the Saraki is ever ready to pursue his selfish interests over National Interest. This is another brazen display of his penchant for abuse of powers and sabotage of government, however the cost and implication.

    “While Saraki and his cohorts continue to postpone their doomsday regarding the imminent Senate leadership change, the yet-to-be considered 2019 budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is dangerously delayed.

    “Clearly, Saraki’s actions as Senate President now bother on high treason.”

  • Benue legislator says the non-payment of salaries “surprising”

    Mr Benjamin Adanyi, former Majority Leader of the Benue House of Assembly, has said that the non-payment of salaries by the state government was “surprising”.

    Adanyi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Makurdi that the state government had collected more than N300 billion from the federation account and had no reason to owe workers

    “If you look at the receipts from the federation account from June 2015, N300 billion has accrued to Benue. At the beginning, the state was receiving N3 billion monthly, while the wage bill was N5 billion.

    “We defended the governor at that time because the price of crude oil at the international market was less than 40 dollars per barrel.

    “The situation has since changed with improved oil prices; allocations to Benue from the federation account sometimes go beyond N15 billion monthly. To gather this much in the state coffers and still owe salaries is inexplicable,” he said.

    He accused Gov Samuel Ortom of illegal transfers of monies from state coffers to “other accounts”, saying that such situation forced the lawmakers to begin impeachment proceedings against him.

    “When we discovered that N20 billion was being moved from one particular account to another in a manner we considered fishy and questionable, we asked Ortom to show cause why he should not be impeached.”

    Adanyi accused Ortom of throwing Benue into massive debts by “his constant borrowing habit”, and wondered where such loans were being deployed to, since workers were being owed while projects were non-existent.

    “The State House of Assembly has graciously allowed Ortom to take loans; we granted bonds and all these monies were accessed, but there is nothing to show for it,” he lamented.

    Adanyi, who is aspiring to be Benue governor on the platform of the APC, said that his aim was to “take the people out of poverty and underdevelopment”.

    He promised to provide visionary leadership that would put Benue on the path of industrial revolution, and accused the governor of converting some state industries into private companies.

    Reacting to the allegations, the Chief Press Secretary(CPS) to Ortom, Mr Terver Akase, dismissed the claims as “mischievous”.

    “Adanyi should prove the allegations. He is desperate to paint the governor black and should not be taken seriously,” he said.

    According to him, Adanyi, as the Majority Leader of the House, had presented many executive bills and was in a good position to know how much Benue had received from the federal account and internal sources.

    “It is shocking to us that people that should know better have thrown honour to the winds and adorned the toga of falsehood.

    “We challenge Adanyi to tender evidence to prove that the Ortom administration has received and spent 300 billion in three years as he claims. He should also show proof that Ortom has acquired government companies for his private use.

    “If he is referring to the plastic industry, Ortom acquired it long before he became governor and resigned from his position as its chairman, even before he became a minister,” he explained. (NAN)