Author: Editor

The Chief Operating Officer, Refineries & Petrochemicals, NNPC, Mr Mustapha Yakubu says there is no fraudulent dealing in NNPC’s planned equity participation in Dangote Oil Refining Company (DORC). Yakubu made the declaration on Monday in Abuja while briefing newsmen. “Our attention has been drawn to media reports ascribing to me alleged fraudulent dealing around the plan by the NNPC to acquire equity participation in DORC. “The publication is very embarrassing, disgusting and above all, horrifying and damaging to my character and personality as a dutiful officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and more importantly as a top management staff…

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The International Non-Governmental Organization, iNGO, ACTED, which activities were suspended by Borno state government on Friday, has issued a statement clarifying its position on the issue of shooting training. ASHENEWS recalls that officials of ACTED were conducting shooting training in a hotel located in Maiduguri, which action led to the suspension, by Borno state government, of the activities of the organization in the state. However, ACTED in a press statement, titled: “Clarification on the humanitarian workshop on safety on the workplace”, issued on Saturday, said it had maintained high level of cooperation with the Nigerian authorities as well as highest…

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The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad has warned the new justices of the appellate court to resist temptations in whatever form they may come and focus on judicious discharge of their duties. Muhammad gave the warning when he administered the oath of office on 18 judges whose elevation to the Court of Appeal was approved. The ceremony which took place at the Supreme Court Complex in Abuja had 15 male and three female justices. “Juicy, irresistible temptations will come; you must flee from such disguised danger as your reputation matters much. “In life, gifts and wealth that…

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Ogoni Liberation Initiative on Monday called on the federal government to build a contaminated soil management centre of excellence in Ogoni land in Rivers. It said in a 24-point communiqué issued at the end of a summit held last weekend that the decayed and polluted Ogoni environment should be comprehensively cleaned up, restored and continually managed to stem further degradation. “Decades of spills and pollutions caused by oil exploration and exploitation have impacted negatively on our people and there should, therefore, be a health audit in Ogoni land and consequent establishment of medical research institute there. “Ogoni people are ready…

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A 45-year-old husband has beaten his wife to death for reportedly refusing to give a N2,000 loan. An indigene of Delta state simply identified as Christopher, is described by his 13-year eldest child as a chain smoker and drunk. According to the son, Christopher (his father), who works for a waste disposal company in Benin, wanted to escape from the apartment after killing his mother but was apprehended and handed over to the police. “My father was always beating me mother, a fashion items’ dealer, at the slightest provocation. My father called our mother on phone to demand N2,000 loan…

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted an appeal panel on its just concluded primary for Anambra governorship election. The gubernatorial appeal panel, according to a statement by PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), in Abuja on Sunday, is chaired by the party National Chairman, Mr Uche Secondus. Akobundu said that the Panel would consider appeals arising from the conduct of the Anambra State gubernatorial primary election. He said that the PDP National Working Committee also approved the nomination of Sen. Umaru Tsauri as Member/Secretary of the panel. Other members of the panel are Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, Sen.…

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The Presidency has frowned at threats by a group, Niger Delta Avengers, to bomb nation’s oil installations unless their demands including restructuring of the federation were met by the federal government within 90 days. Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, condemned the threats in a statement in Abuja on Sunday. He noted that the media was on Sunday awash with reports on the threats and demands by the group to embark on economic sabotage through bombing of critical oil and gas installations unless certain demands, including development of the Niger Delta, and restructuring…

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The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is neither planning to go on strike nor planning to shut fuel stations nationwide, the National President, Sanusi Fari said on Monday. He said in a statement issued in Awka and signed by the association’s National Secretary, Mr Chidi Nnubia, that the public should dismiss any information regarding the planned strike. The association’s National Public Relation Officer, Yakubu Suleiman, had threatened in Abuja on Monday that IPMAN would go on strike and shut fuel stations nationwide beginning from Tuesday because the police laid siege on its secretariat. Suleiman alleged that some police officers…

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Mrs Patricia Ugwu, a lawyer and rights activist on Monday advocated the establishment of special courts to try rape, sexual harassment and obnoxious widowhood practices cases. She said in Nsukka, Enugu state that this had become necessary because of increasing number of gender based violence cases in regular courts. “As result of daily increase in gender-based violence cases in courts, it has become necessary to establish special courts in all states to prosecute suspects,’’ she said. She stressed that the special courts would ensure quick dispensation of justice. “Some rape, sexual harassment, defilement of minors and obnoxious widowhood practices cases have…

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Eighteen All Progressives Congress (APC) governors are expected to receive governor Bello Muhammad of Zamfara on Tuesday. The Chairman, Publicity Sub-Committee of the organising ceremony and Zamfara Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, disclosed in an interview in Gusau on Monday. “The Progressive governors will be led by the APC Chairman Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and governor Mai Mala-Buni. “We are also expecting all our national assembly members as well as state legislators to declare their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC during the occasion. “Similarly, all the 14 local government caretaker committee chairmen who just…

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