Gov.Amaechi Wins Governors' Forum Election

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of
Rivers State has won re-election
as the chairman of the Nigerian
Governors' Forum defeating his
opponent Governor Jonah Jang
of Plateau State by 3 votes.
Mr. Amaechi won 19 votes from
the 35 governors present, while
Mr. Jang, a late entrant to the
competition garnered 16 votes.
The governor of gombe state
was absent.

1,497 Illegal Routes Into Nigeria – Interior Minister

There are no fewer than 1,497
illegal routes that lead into
Nigeria. The startling disclosure
was made earlier today by
Nigeria’s Interior Minister, Abba
Moro.
Mr. Moro spoke in Abuja while
briefing the National Working
Committee (NWC) of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) at the
party's national headquarters. In
order to curb the security crisis
associated with porous borders,
the minister said Nigeria needed
more than $244 million. The fund
would go into installation of
electronic surveillance round the
nation's borders. The minister
added that the crisis of insecurity
in the country was being
compounded by the operation of
30 illegal guard companies in the
country. He announced that only
the operator of one of them had
been arrested. Mr. Moro also
revealed that some scam artists
“opened a website in the name
of the ministry which they have
been using to dupe
unsuspecting members of the
public.

Nigerian Troops Rescue Women and Children Kidnapped By Boko Haram-SAHARA REPORTERS

The Nigerian Army today said it
has rescued several women, and
children held hostage by Islamist
militant sect, Boko Haram.
Brigadier Chris Olukolade stated
that on May 22, 2013, during
operations to rid the Bama area
of terrorists, the Nigerian military
raided Boko Haram camps where
they rescued nine women and
children being held hostage.
Following the Bama attack on
May 7, 2013, Boko Haram leader
Abubakar Shekau released that
showed women and children
that they had captured.
Brigadier Olukolade confirmed
that the children and women
rescued were the same people
displayed by Boko Haram in the
video.

Edo will not subsidise pilgrimage –Gov. Oshiomhole- DAILY TRUST

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of
Edo State said yesterday that
government would not use tax
payers money to subsidize
pilgrimage.
Oshiomhole was speaking
yesterday while receiving zonal
federal commissioners and
officials of the Nigerian Christian
Pilgrims Commission.
“For those who want to travel for
pilgrimage, we cannot
discourage them. But what I am
not ready to do is to take tax
payers money to subsidize
someone who wishes to go and
pray. I have issues with that
because people who pay taxes
work so hard to pay,” he said.
Oshiomhole added, “If you look
at the totality of the challenges
that we face, many are homeless;
so many communities without
water, many schools we have
rebuilt and still many more to be
done; so many people are
unemployed; many are hungry;
quite a number are in hospital
who are not able to pay their
bills. When you look at all these
and several other problems, I am
of the conclusion that pilgrimage
is not a priority. I have a deeper
insight into the challenges that
confront the Nigerian nation and
even Edo State and I have come
to the conclusion that pilgrimage
is a luxury. Even from the point
of view of the poor, a man who
has no roof over his head cannot
be spiritually uplifted if he goes
to Israel and returns to a state of
homeless. It happens to be an
issue that I feel very strongly
about. I would rather subsidize
production, education, and
health care because these are
central to the survival of our
people”.

Gunmen abduct ASUU chair-THE NATION

The Chairman of the Academic
Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)
in the Federal University of
Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA),
Dr Abdulfatai Jimoh was on
Friday abducted by gunmen in
Ibadan while he was going to an
international conference being
held in honour of Dr Oladipo
Fashina, a lecturer in the
department of Philosophy,
Obafemi Awolowo University
(OAU).
He was kidnapped alongside the
union’s Financial Secretary, Mr
Ganiyu Olanrewaju, at Macmillian
bus-stop in Ibadan at about
6:45pm. The duo was dumped in
a forest near Ogun State, where
the police later found them.
The gunmen made away with
Jimoh’s official car, a Sienna 2005
model, which contained several
documents including his laptop.
The items were yet to be
recovered at press time.
Jimoh explained that he left
Minna on Friday morning for the
conference en route Ibadan as it
was a shorter way to get to Ile-
Ife.
“I don’t believe I won’t be dead
by now because we were
attacked by four hefty armed
men. If it is not the assigned time
for a man to die, he would not
die,” a bemused Jimoh
submitted.

2015: OBJ working for Sambo – US-BLUEPRINT

The United States government
yesterday linked former
President Olusegun Obasanjo to
a proposed presidential bid of
Vice President Mohammed
Namadi Sambo in 2015 in order
to dislodge the incumbent
President Goodluck Jonathan.
It also claimed that the
Presidency is watching the
political activities of Sambo.
This was stated in a report put
out by the United States Institute
of Peace (USIP), a research body
established and funded by the US
Congress, in its May 2013 report
titled “Midterm Challenges in
Nigeria: Elections, Parties and
Regional Conflicts”.
The report, authored by
Professor John Paden, a foremost
political scientist and an
authority on the first Premier of
Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu
Bello, also asserted that only
Jonathan’s decision on 2015 will
determine the correct political
position of northern Nigeria in
2014.
He also listed possible candidates
from the North that may contest
the presidential election.
Part of the report reads:
“Obasanjo also appeared to be
working with Vice President
Mohammed Namadi Sambo
(former governor of Kaduna
dtate) for ‘scuttling Jonathan’s
second term ambition in 2015.’ A
spokesman for the presidency
responded: ‘The Vice-President is
under strict security watch by the
Presidency.’ The spokesman
added that the vice president
might not be considered in the
2015 election should Jonathan
succeed in winning the primary.

We don’t know how to meet Boko Haram leadership – Minister-VANGUARD

The Presidential
Committee on Dialogue and
Peaceful Resolution of
Security Challenges in
Northern Nigeria had no clue
on how to meet the
leadership of the Boko
Haram insurgents, the
Chairman of the Committee
and Minister of Special
Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu
Turaki, SAN, said yesterday.
Turaki pleaded for help in
this regards from willing
members of the public or
anyone with links to the
terrorists to initiate the
dialogue process.
He spoke when he led
members of his committee
on a courtesy visit to
Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar
Yero of Kaduna State at
Government House,
yesterday.
According to him: “We want
anybody that may have link
with some of these people to
direct us to ease the process
of dialogue in such a way
that will ensure transparency
and honesty which are the
hall mark of this committee.
We on our own have no clue
on how to meet any of their
leaders.

Reuben Abati loses mum-VANGUARD

The mother of Special
Adviser (Media & Publicity) to
President Goodluck Jonathan,
Dr. Reuben Abati, Madam
Maria Taiwo Abati is dead.
She died at the age of 81.
Mama Adunni or Mama
Sunday as she was fondly
called was born on 7th
August 1931. she was
described by the family as a
devout Christian, very kind
and loving person.

Suicide Bombers Kill 20 Soldiers In Niger Republic, Nigeria Mounts Troops Across Borders With Niger-SAHARA REPORTERS

Movement for Oneness and Jihad
in West Africa (MUJAO), an
Islamic group which claims to be
committed to the enforcement of
Shariah law in West Africa, has
claimed responsibility for a twin
suicide bombing attack this
morning at the Nigerian/Niger
border in which over 20 Nigerien
soldiers were killed.
A journalist in transit in the area
told SaharaReporters that the
terrorists also injured about 15
other soldiers, while four of their
own were killed.
The terrorists struck in a military
barracks in Agades, one of the
major cities in Niger Republic,
while another group belonging
to the same group struck in a
uranium plant in Arlit.
According to the journalists, the
suicide bombers arrived in a
bomb-laden car and forced their
way into the military facility.
The journalist also said that more
Nigerian troops have been
deployed to the Niger-Nigerian
border since yesterday, and that
today’s bombings may also alert
the Nigerian authorities to
further strengthen the security
situation

Suicide Bombers Kill 20 Soldiers In Niger Republic, Nigeria Mounts Troops Across Borders With Niger-SAHARA REPORTERS

Movement for Oneness and Jihad
in West Africa (MUJAO), an
Islamic group which claims to be
committed to the enforcement of
Shariah law in West Africa, has
claimed responsibility for a twin
suicide bombing attack this
morning at the Nigerian/Niger
border in which over 20 Nigerien
soldiers were killed.
A journalist in transit in the area
told SaharaReporters that the
terrorists also injured about 15
other soldiers, while four of their
own were killed.
The terrorists struck in a military
barracks in Agades, one of the
major cities in Niger Republic,
while another group belonging
to the same group struck in a
uranium plant in Arlit.
According to the journalists, the
suicide bombers arrived in a
bomb-laden car and forced their
way into the military facility.
The journalist also said that more
Nigerian troops have been
deployed to the Niger-Nigerian
border since yesterday, and that
today’s bombings may also alert
the Nigerian authorities to
further strengthen the security
situation

Nigerian Government To Shut Down Unauthorized Museums-CHANNELS TV

The Director General of the
National Commission for
Museums and Monuments
(NCMM), Yusuf Abdallah Usman
has warned some individuals,
organizations/institutions and
State Governments who have
been setting up private Museums
without the necessary and
statutory supervision, regulation
and approval by the Commission.
Mr Usman made this call in Ilorin
during the celebration of this
year’s International Museum Day
(IMD) with the theme: Museums
(Memory + Creativity) = Social
Change.
He said, “I call on all concerned to
regularize these anomalies by
immediately getting in touch
with us or have such illegal
museums shutdown.”
He said that the Commission has
been able to repatriate over 600
stolen Nigerian cultural objects
from France, Canada, South
Africa, United State of America
and Switzerland.

Gov.Al-Makura ordered for my head, says Ombatse chief priest- BLUEPRINT

Startling revelations emerged
yesterday over the killings of
security operatives in Lakyo, in
Lafia North of Nasarawa state as
the spiritual head of Eggon, Mr
Ala Agu, accused Governor Tanko
Al-Makura of ordering thugs in
police uniform to murder him.
Agu, who is popularly called
“Baba Lakyo,” told a team of
journalists that there was no
time he ignored any invitation by
the security operatives for
questioning.
Speaking in Eggon language
through an interpreter during a
tour by Senator Solomon Ewuga,
who represents Nasarawa North
in the National Assembly, to
Lakyo community, Agu alleged
that the governor had sent
armed policemen to come and
kill him and bring his head.
On the allegation that his boys
killed the policemen, he
categorically stated that he was
not in the village during the
attack but was informed that
they were sent to kill him.
The spiritual head also denied
the allegation that he forced
people from churches and
mosques to become members of
the Ombatse cultural group.
According to him, “I am grateful
for your coming, Senator. I am
very, very grateful for your
coming. Even if the Senator did
not come here, I had intended to
go and see him in his house, but
since he is here I am very
grateful.
“It is the governor that asked the
people (thugs in police uniform)
to come here and kill me, cut my
head and take my head to him.
“When they came, because they
were themselves drunk, my god
did not allow them to come to
me even though I was not
around and they died on the
way.
“The question I ask is, has the
governor ever invited me and I
refused to go? But he sent
people to come and kill me and
to destroy Lakyo as a whole. That
is just what it is.”
On the allegation that Ombaste is
politically motivated, he said, “If
you are talking about politics, it
does not bother me. I don’t even
understand Hausa language.
Politics is not for me because I
am not a politician. Politics is for
politicians but I hear that the
time for politicking has not even
come”.
Senator Ewuga said the visit was
to afford him the opportunity to
see what actually happened as a
matter of national relevance.

Some Nigerian Soldiers Help Boko Haram - Lt. General Ihejirika-SAHARA REPORTERS

Chief of Army Staff (COAS),
Lieutenant General Azubuike
Ihejirika, today revealed that
some soldiers have
been interacting with Boko
Haram insurgents and divulging
vital secrets of the army’s
military operations.
General Ihejirika made
the startling revelation in Abuja
at a seminar on personnel
management and
development organized by the
Army Transformation and
Innovation Center.
The COAS, who was deeply
distressed by the development,
stressed that soldiers who
collaborated with Boko Haram
militants had hampered military
operations, even causing the
death of soldiers.
A few months ago, some soldiers
traveling from Akure to
Kachia in Kaduna State to
train prior to deployment in
neighboring Mali
were ambushed and killed in
Okene, Kogi State.
The COAS disclosed that a
soldier had supplied
information about the
troops’ movement to the
insurgents, enabling Boko Haram
insurgents to mount a surprise
and successful attack.
A military source told
SaharaReporters that the Army
had arrested one of the major
culprits who provided
critical information that led to
Boko Haram’s attack in Okene.
“We have not released details of
the soldier caught in the act, but
I assure you he has been
apprehended and will be court-
marshaled,” said our source.
Our source added
that some soldiers had also been
identified posting negative
comments on the Internet even
as other rogue soldiers were
communicating with insurgents
and giving them information on
the movements of troops.
General Ihejirika warned soldiers
to desist from disloyal acts,
vowing to deal decisively with
those found culpable. He added
that,with Nigeria’s present security challenges, it
was not acceptable for the Army
to lose operatives to dismissals.
He therefore urged soldiers to be
forthright and professional in
their activities.
The COAS said that he
had advised commanders to take
it easy in dismissing soldiers, but
insisted that if a soldier’s
misconduct was disloyal, then
the Army would have no choice
than to dismiss and jail him.

Why Jonathan Ordered Release Of Boko Haram Suspects – Okupe-CHANNELS TV

The Senior Special Adviser on
Public Affairs to the President,
Doyin Okupe, said in a statement
on Wednesday that the release is
part of the recommendation of
the Presidential Committee on
dialogue and peace in Northern
Nigeria.
Many Nigerians including the
opposition Action Congress of
Nigeria had questioned the
continued sustenance of the
amnesty committee despite the
declaration of a State of
Emergency in three troubled
states of Borno, Yobe, and
Adamawa. The emergency
declaration, which was approved
by the National Assembly on
Tuesday, has led to an increased
deployment of soldiers to the
areas with a view to crushing the
insurgents and criminals.
Mr. Okupe, however, explained
that the emergency declaration
does not foreclose the dialogue
option to resolve the insurgency.
“This directive by Mr President
further proves that the Federal
Government has not foreclosed
dialogue as a viable option in its
bid to put an end to insurgency
and terrorist activities in the
Northern part of the country,” Mr
Okupe said.
He said the release of the
detainees is expected to
encourage some of the
insurgents to give up their arms.
“It is expected that this phased
release of detainees will
encourage those who wish to
embrace the peace option to
come out and take advantage of
the dialogue and peace option
provided by the Committee put in
place by government,” he said.
Mr Okupe explained that the
president’s directive is for the
Boko Haram detainees to be
released in phases, the first batch
being women and children.
“The emphasis is on women and
children who have been in
detention on suspicion of
involvement and/or connection
with insurgency in some parts of
the country,” Mr. Okupe said in
what seems to be the first
confession that underage
persons have been detained by
the military forces.

Oshiomhole orders students to pay for vandalised school property- VANGUARD

EDO State governor,
Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, has
directed that protesting
students of Idogbo
Secondary School, in Ikpoba
Okha Local Government Area
of the state, who destroyed
the school’s property while
protesting the death in an
accident, of one their
colleagues, to pay for the
vandalised property.
He also directed the Ministry
of Lands to demolish,
without notice, all illegal
structures on the land of
public schools in the state.
Speaking during a visit to the
school to assess the level of
damage to the facilities,
Oshiomhole noted that the
students had no reason to
resort to the destruction of
the school’s facilities, no
matter the level of
provocation, adding that if
teachers could be sanctioned
for flouting directives,
students were not an
exeption.
He said: “Let me advise you
strongly that on no account
should you vandalise
government property and in
particular, on no account
should you vandalise your
school. If you are annoyed
over something and you tear
your shirt, will that make
sense?
“Unfortunately, someone
was knocked down by a car
and he died. We are still
trying to find out the role of
the teacher who was
responsible, to determine
whether the death was
preventable. I assure you
that once the facts are clear,
government will take the
right decision because as a
government, the life of every
person living in Edo State is
important to us and it is even
more so when we are talking
of children.”

Gunmen shot dead fuel station manager in Borno-VANGUARD

Gunmen suspected to be
Boko Haram members ,
yesterday ,shot dead a
General Manager (name
withheld) of one of the fuel
stations in Maiduguri, the
Borno state capital.
This is coming barely few
hours after President
Goodluck Jonathan ordered
the immediate release of all
Boko Haram sect, including
their wives and children
from detention.
Our Correspondent gathered
that the gunmen laid
ambush on the deceased in
Ajilari/Railway crossing ward
of Maiduguri metropolis and
shot him dead on his way to
his house after performing
the Magrib prayers in a
nearby Mosque at about
6:30pm.
A resident of the area told
our Correspondent that the
gunmen after killing the
General Manager, fled
without being arrested.
He said, “I was about
entering my house when I
saw three people in a Keke
Napep (tricycle) riding
towards the house of the
General Manager, and before
I know it, I heard gunshots,
which led to many people
around the area running
helter scelter for their safety,
I quickly entered my house,
and because of the curfew
imposed on the state capital
as well as the emergency
rule, we had to remain
indoors, until this morning
8am that we saw his corpse
still lying without being
attended to”. He narrated.

Dangote To Create 1 Million Jobs By Investing $600million In Sugarcane Production- CHANNELS TV

The President, Dangote Group of
Company, Aliko Dangote, has
declared that the sugar arm of
his company will invest over
$600million in the production of
sugar in Kebbi, Kwara and
Sokoto states.
Dangote made this known
during a visit to the Governor of
Kwara state, Dr Abdulfatah
Ahmed, where he expressed
satisfaction with the
government’s effort at
revolutionising agricultural in the
state.
According to him, his company
intends to replicate what it did in
the cement industry by targeting
about 65million tonnes of sugar
which he said could produce
about one million jobs for the
people.

INTERPOL declares 14 Nigerians, 10 foreigners wanted-NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

AT least, 24 persons including
a 33-year-old lady,
Onyemelukwe Jennifer
Chukwudumebi, are on the
wanted list of the
International Police (INTERPOL)
for wide raging criminal
offences in Nigeria, the
Nigerian Tribune has learnt.
The list comprises 10 nationals
of countries such as India,
Syria, Niger Republic and
Benin Republic.
The names of all the suspects
were posted on the website of
the INTERPOL, while the
agency said all the suspects
were wanted for prosecution
in Nigeria on offences
including terrorism,
kidnapping, forgery, robbery,
car theft, conspiracy and
forgery, advanced fee fraud/
internet fraud and criminal
breach of trust.
The only lady among the
suspects, Jennifer, said to hail
from Delta State, was declared
wanted for prosecution in
Nigeria over alleged
kidnapping and abduction.
Among the other Nigerians on
the list was one Okeke Paul
Ejike, 38, who reportedly had a
case to answer for stealing,
issuing dud cheques and
escaping from lawful custody.
One Martins Olusegun
Abayomi, 34, was wanted over
charges of conspiracy, forgery
and stealing, while one Itumo
Anthony Chidiebere was
accused of fraud, theft,
terrorism, among other
offences.
Similarly, one Njoku Reginus
Nzeadi, 38, from Mbaino, in
Imo State, was declared
wanted over allegations of
threats to life, abduction and
grave hurt, while another
suspect, Adebowale Abiodun
was named for alleged fraud,
forgery and stealing.
The list also included Francis
Henry Ifeanyi (39), from Delta
State — stealing; Okoh
Leonard Iduwe (38) —
criminal breach of trust and
theft and Okeke Paul Ejike (38),
from Delta State — stealing,
issuing dud cheques, and
escaping from lawful custody.
Among the foreign nationals
was one Karman Fawaz
Fawaz, 46, from Areppo in
troubled Syria, who was
accused of internet fraud and
obtaining money under
deception.
Similarly, one Roy Subrata, 36,
said to be an Indian, was
declared wanted for offences
relating to internet fraud,
hacking and criminal breach
of trust, one Bitra Hemanadh
(37), another Indian, faced
charge of misappropriation of
company funds and Dokku
Sabba Rao (30), another
Indian, was declared wanted
for the twin offence of forgery
and stealing..
One 57-year-old Yanni
Mohammed Abdullahi, said to
be a Beninoise, was on the list
for alleged conspiracy and
stealing, while Ampofo Charles
(60), said to be a Ghanaian,
was accused of criminal
conspiracy, cheating, theft and
criminal breach of trust.

Investigation: How Foreign Groups Fund Terrorism In Nigeria-LEADERSHIP

Some methods adopted by
foreign sponsors of Boko
Haram to launder money
to the terrorist group have
been uncovered,
LEADERSHIP can
authoritatively report. This
development is coming on
the heels of revelations by
Major-General Garba
Wahab, the general officer
commanding (GOC), 1
Mechanised Division,
Nigerian Army, that
officers of the division
have arrested an orange
seller in Kaduna who
allegedly spied for the
group: his bank account
had witnessed
transactions of over
N600million in just three
months.
Initially, foreign groups,
through agents in Nigeria,
sent money through the
normal banking channels
and these funds can come
classified as aid to support
religion, humanitarian
causes and any other
excuse not frowned at by
the laws of the land.
But with searchlights
beamed on money
transfers, and considering
that one cannot just stroll
into a foreign airport with
a large cache of money,
funds abroad where
“turned” into goods
which are sent here and
re-converted into cash
bigger than the original.
A source who sought
anonymity because of the
sensitive nature of the
matter confided in
LEADERSHIP that “because
of the risk involved with
banks where large
movements of cash can be
noticed, monitored and
reported to relevant
bodies, the foreign
sponsorship is in
handsets and accessories
and torchlights here”.
The source, who said that
the shipped goods are
mainly cheap and from
countries like Dubai and
China, explained that what
the groups are after is the
high and fast turnover
from the sales.
The source said, “Now,
look at the number of
people selling these things
…as decoys. And you will
know how much they
remit to where they are
supposed to remit to”.
Musa Abdullahi, a resident
of Potiskum in Yobe State,
told LEADERSHIP that he
knew some youths who
suddenly became rich
when they started this
business. He gave an
instance of a boy who
was killed by some
terrorists in front of his
family house.
Abdullahi said it was later
found out that the group
“opened the shop for the
boy with the
understanding that he
would be getting supplies
while he made an agreed
remittance, but the boy
later wanted to walk out
and he was killed”.
Abdullahi said the boy
became relatively rich
within three months,
“which is not normal,
considering the type of
business and its little
profit margin”.
According to
investigations, the
business, to the decoys, is
lucrative and risks
associated generally with
highly profitable
businesses are lacking.
A businessman in Kano
(name and shop number
withheld) disclosed to our
reporters how he was
recruited and how
profitable the business is:
“My shop was destroyed
in the Farm Centre attack
of 20th January, last year,
by the Boko Haram and
thus I lost everything,”
said the man.
With nobody to come to
his aid and family
demands weighing him
down, what to him was
“succour by providence”
came to him in the form of
a businessman based in
Abuja.
“Without capital,” he
continued, “the Good
Samaritan supplies me
with these GSM
accessories, rechargeable
torchlights, table lamps,
etc, which I sell.”
On how he balances the
supplier, he reveals that
the supplier does not
collect the proceeds but
that he (the seller) keeps
20 per cent of it while he
gives 80 per cent to
somebody else “who
disturbs me with calls if
on the agreed date he
does not see alert from his
bankers”.
When the Emir Kano, His
Royal Highness Alhaji Ado
Bayero, was attacked on
January 19, this year, a
wheelbarrow pusher who
ostensibly was selling
these products called
“kayan loki” barricaded
the road and detonated
an improvised explosive
device (IED) as a signal for
the gunmen to start
shooting.
In many of their attacks,
witnesses have seen how
guns and ammunition
were taken out of
wheelbarrows and placed
at strategic locations by
the gunmen. Even though
these products are sold by
wheelbarrow pushers,
some do so in kiosks.

Hawkers, Beggars Banned From Checkpoints By Yobe JTF-CHANNELS TV

The Military Joint Task Force
(JTF) in Yobe State has banned
hawking and begging around
security check points across the
state.
The JTF spokesman in the state,
Lieutenant Eli Lazarus, in
statement advised hawkers and
beggars to use approved places
for their various activities as
violators would be prosecuted.
“Hawkers are advised to use
designated markets and other
approved places for trading
activities. Henceforth any body
found hawking around security
check points will be arrested and
prosecuted. Beggars are equally
advised to stay away from the
checkpoints,” the statement
adds.

Jonathan splashes cash on Golden Eaglets- PREMIUM TIMES

President Goodluck Jonathan on
Tuesday night at the Aso Rock
Villa, Abuja, splashed cash gifts
on the Golden Eaglets team that
won the silver medals at the
recently concluded CAF U-17
championship in Algeria.
The team, which, by virtue of its
performance at the competition
also qualified for the 2013 U-17
World Cup Finals to be hosted by
United Arab Emirates in
September, were honoured by
the president for their feat as it
was the case with the
Paralympians and Super Eagles in
February after winning the
African Cup of Nations in South
Africa.
While each of the players were
given N500, 000 , the coach of
the team, Garba Manu, was
rewarded with N1 million. His
assistants, Nduka Ugbade and
Emmanuel Amuneke and
goalkeeper trainer, Emeka Amadi,
got N750,000 each.
President Jonathan also
honoured athletes that took part
in the U-18 athletics
championship.
While gold medalists went home
with N500, 000, silver and
bronze medalists were given
N400, 000 and N300, 000,
respectively. Their coaches went
home with N500, 000 each.

Boko Haram crisis Nigeria to free women-BBC AFRICA

Nigeria's President Goodluck
Jonathan has ordered the
release of all women held in
connection with "terrorist
activity", the defence ministry
says.
The decision was aimed at
enhancing peace efforts in
Nigeria, it added.

Prof. ChinuaAchebe's Body Arrives InNigeria

The body of late Nigerian author,
Chinua Achebe arrived in Nigeria
earlier today in Abuja. Prof.
Achebe's body arrived in a
Nigerian flag-draped casket
which was received at the
airport by Nigerian officials
led by the Secretary to the federal
government.
His coffin was then wheeled first
to a church service at the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International airport
before proceeding to the Federal
Capital Territory, Abuja.

My pardon was approved by Yar’Adua - Alamieyeseigha- DAILY TRUST

Former governor of Bayelsa State,
Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha,
said yesterday that the state
pardon granted to him by
President Goodluck Jonathan
was actually the completion of a
process that started during the
administration of late President
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
In a chat with journalists in
Lagos, the former Bayelsa State
governor said those who are
condemning the president were
doing so out of ignorance and
that the president’s action was in
order. He said the pardon is a
“brokered deal”, and that he has
fulfilled his own part of the deal.
“The deal started during late
President Yar’Adua’s
administration. It was a pardon
that was negotiated. People who
don’t know what happened are
the ones talking. But if I open my
mouth, those who are talking will
keep quiet. President Goodluck
Jonathan was part of the
negotiating team. There is no
one in this country that knows
issues surrounding
Alamieyeseigha better than the
president. He was my deputy
governor and all that transpired
were known to him. I am already
writing my memoir. At the
appropriate time, you will know.
Without Yar’Adua, I would have
died,” he said.