Luiz Fires Chelsea To Europa Cup Final

Chelsea on Thursday stormed into another European final as they beat the Swiss champions of Basle 3-1 after going behind to a goal by Mohamed Salah at the end of first half.
The Blues came out with renewed intensity and scored three goals in nine minutes to secure a place in the Europa League final in Amsterdam on May 15.
Fernando Torres pounced for the first, Victor Moses made the tie safer and David Luiz scored a brilliant third with a curling left foot shot, teed up by Frank Lampard.
Jose Mourinho’s name rang around Stamford Bridge but here was a rare night of satisfaction for Rafa Benitez.
‘We’re just not that interim’ a banner once said at the Bridge, but he will take them to a final after losing in the semis of the Capital One Cup and the FA Cup.
This was game 64 of the season for Chelsea and Benitez stuck with roughly the team which had performed so well in the first leg.
Benitez felt comfortable enough with his two away goals to put Juan Mata on the bench which meant more time for Eden Hazard in his preferred No 10 role. And there was a third successive game in midfield for Luiz alongside Lampard.
An early goal was vital, according to Basle manager Murat Yakin and they almost delivered it within a minute when Marco Streller drifted into space vacated by Cesar Azpilicueta but snatched at the chance and dragged the ball wide form the edge of the penalty area.
Benitez had warned against complacency on the eve of the game and here was another warning from the Swiss champions, who were spirited and fluent in attack.
Fernando Torres clipped a pass into the path of Lampard as he ran from midfield and the England man guided a volley beyond goalkeeper Yann Sommer with his right foot. It was well-controlled and the Bridge froze, thinking this could be the record-equalling 202nd goal of his Chelsea career. Alas, the ball struck the foot of the far post and bounced to safety.
Torres made a lively start. His mobility was good, peeling away from the centre-halves and inviting the midfield runners to pierce the back four. He also forced Sommer into a sprawling save after he cut in from the left, linked up with Hazard and drove a shot low with his right foot.
As it was, Ramires wasted the best chance of the first half, served up neatly by Moses after another terrific dribble and back-heel by Hazard, who is finishing his first campaign in England in wonderful form. It whets the appetite for next season.
Central defender Fabian Schar then found space between Chelsea’s central defenders to forge forward but hooked his effort wide from 20 yards.
The goal was coming and Benitez must have been willing his side to hold out until the interval. They had almost clung on when Salah struck in stoppage time. Stocker, darting inside from the left, pulled defenders out of position, picked up the ball and threaded a pass through to Salah, who supplied a composed left-foot finish to curl it inside the post.
In the semi-final of the Champions League last year, Chelsea were holding on against Lionel Messi and Barcelona.

Amaechi’s Plane Was Flying With Forged Documents: Ministry Of Aviation

The Ministry of Aviation has revealed that facts available to the ministry suggests that the operators of the bombardier aircraft allegedly belonging to the Rivers state government obtained several flight clearances from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities (NCAA) using forged documentation.
A statement by the Special Assistant on media to the Minister of Aviation on Thursday says that “the said aircraft attempted to and did operate within the Nigerian airspace on the 26^th of April 2013 without any flight clearance whatsoever in total violation of all extant civil aviation laws and regulations.”
The statement adds that “there is also the matter of the coat of arms and identity of the government of Rivers state being emblazoned and displayed on the aircraft in question, when there is no record or evidence of the state government’s ownership, lease, or other recognized legal or beneficial interest in the aircraft presented to or filed before the civil regulatory authorities.”
The statement further adds that “available records indicate that the aircraft is currently registered to Bank of Utah trustee until 30^th of September 2015”, and such registration is not transferable.
The ministry has therefore directed a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the actual ownership of the aircraft in question.
It stated that upon conclusion of these internal investigations, it will take all necessary steps required by law.

Christmas Day Bombing: Court Adjourns Kabiru Sokoto’s Trial To May 6

The trial of Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Umar, also known as Kabiru Sokoto, was stalled in the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday due to the failure of his counsel to file a counter affidavit.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola had on April 19, given the defendance counsel, Adamu Ibrahim, seven days to respond to all the processes filed by the prosecution.
At the resumed hearing, Mr Ibrahim said the prison authority did not grant him access to his client.
“My Lord, I did not file the counter affidavit because the accused has not sufficiently briefed me on the matter.
“The prison authority prevented me from meeting with him even when the court in the last sitting granted me unhindered access to him.
“In fact, it appears the State Security Service (SSS) are more humane with the management of inmates in terms of their coordination of access to suspects,’’ he said.
However, Chioma Oniegbu, the prosecutor, urged the court to go on with the trial as according to her, the defendant’s counsel had met several times with the accused.
Ms Oniegbu said the inability of the counsel to meet the accused at the moment could be connected with the ongoing renovation of the Kuje Prison.
She explained that the prison authority was conscious of the safety of inmates, adding that “the rowdiness at the prison due to ongoing work on the building had necessitated the tight security.’’
The court has ordered the transfer of the accused back to the SSS custody.
Mr. Umar was on April 19 arraigned in connection with the Christmas Day bombing of the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger, in 2011. He is alleged to have had information about the bombing but failed to inform law enforcement agents.
The accused is also charged with being a member of extremist group, Boko Haram between 2007 and 2012 at Mabira in Sokoto, Sokoto State. He was also allegedly found to have facilitated the execution of a terrorist act within the period.
According to the charge, the suspect committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2004.
The two-count charge attracts life sentence, but the accused has pleaded not guilty.

Felony Charges: FG Withdraws Lawsuit Against Leadership Newspapers

The federal government has withdrawn the six count charge filed against Leadership Newspapers and two of their reporters, Tony Amokeodo and Chibuzor Ukaibe.

Leadership Newspaper Journalists charged with felony

In a notice of withdrawal and discontinuance of charges dated thirtieth of April and filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the federal government through the office of the attorney general of the federation applied for the withdrawal and discontinuance of criminal proceedings consisting of six count charge against the accused persons.
The federal government had filed amended charges against leadership newspaper and two of its journalists, accused of forging a presidential directive, to a six-count of felony.
The journalists were initially detained by the police for refusing to name their sources for a story alleging a presidential attempt to botch the merger of some opposition parties in Nigeria.
The journalists, Tony Amokeoda, Chibuzor Ukaibe, and Taiwo Omilani, who is now at large, were charged before a Federal High Court Abuja by the federal government for allegedly forging a document titled ‘Presidential Directive’ which had the seal of the Office the President of Nigeria.

House To Probe Minister of Petroleum Over “Suspicious Oil Deals”

The House of Representatives is set to investigate the Minister of Petroleum Resources,  Diezani Alison-Madueke over allegation of suspicious oil deals worth N59 trillion.
Speaking on a matter of public importance, member Representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State, Representative Victor Ogene accused the minister of impropriety and abuse of due process in the transaction leading to the sale of seven oil mining leases.
The matter was brought to the house following a petition by group from oil producing communities in Delta, who alleged that there was a deliberate exclusion of indigenious operators from the exercise.
Last week, members of oil producing communities in Delta state stormed the National Assembly to demand better control of the resources in their community.
They also protested what they described as the fraudulent allocation of oil mining leases.
During the protest last week, federal lawmakers from the senate addressed them and promised to take necessary action.
However, the matter was brought before the House of Representatives and they plan to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the allegation.
The House has asked members of the public to submit necessary documents to the committee, which has four weeks to conclude the investigations

Group Condemns Mend's Threat to Attack Mosques

An Islamic organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), on Tuesday said the threat by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, to attack mosques and some Islamic institutions was unjustified.

MURIC's Director, Professor Is-haq Akintola, said in a statement issued in Ibadan that the timing of MEND's threat was wrong, uncoordinated and illogical.
Mr. Akintola said the organisation's position was based on the fact that the Federal Government had been working vigorously to stem the Boko Haram menace.
The statement said: "The fact that MEND's threat is coming just when light starts to appear at the end of the dark tunnel is quite interesting; it raises more questions than answers.
"The Federal Government has been working round the clock to find a solution to the Boko Haram menace. Why not allow the FG to conclude its plans? "
It urged Muslims and Christians to disown the threat as a mere cover up of MEND's agenda; which was not in the interest of brokering peace as portrayed.
"Christian and Muslim groups in the country have been consistent in our condemnation of the attacks carried out by the Boko Haram group.
"We have long disowned Boko Haram and washed our hands off their atrocities.
"It is therefore ironical that MEND still associates Boko Haram with Islam and threatens to avenge the attacks carried out by the group on innocent Muslims," it said.
The statement further added that the task of nation-building could not succeed in an atmosphere of fear and distrust.
MEND recently threatened to attack mosques and other Islamic institutions from May 31.

God, My Godfather Will Make Me A Senator in 2015 Akpabio

Belling the cat amongst all elected political officers, the Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio has disclosed his intention to run for a seat in the Senate in the 2015 general elections.
The Governor stated that “the same Godfather who helped him become governor will help him again.”
While speaking on Channels TV’s breakfast programme; Sunrise Daily in an exclusive interview in Uyo, Mr Akpabio said, “I am definitely going to take up the challenged given by my people.”
“They are saying that I should not retire. Initially I was thinking of retiring after the stress of being a working governor for 8 years and then they called that I should go for the Senate so I have accepted to run for the Senate in 2015.”

Published On: Fri, Apr 12th, 2013

Current / Local / Sunrise Daily | By Channels Television

God, My Godfather Will Make Me A Senator in 2015 Akpabio

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Belling the cat amongst all elected political officers, the Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio has disclosed his intention to run for a seat in the Senate in the 2015 general elections.
The Governor stated that “the same Godfather who helped him become governor will help him again.”
While speaking on Channels TV’s breakfast programme; Sunrise Daily in an exclusive interview in Uyo, Mr Akpabio said, “I am definitely going to take up the challenged given by my people.”
“They are saying that I should not retire. Initially I was thinking of retiring after the stress of being a working governor for 8 years and then they called that I should go for the Senate so I have accepted to run for the Senate in 2015.”

“I believe that the will of God for us is development, the will of God for us is progress” he added.
He said that the same Godfather, God Almighty, who helped him in 2006/2007 will help him again in 2015 when it is time for the Senate elections.

Aregbesola Urges FG To Revive Emergency Call Lines

The Governor of Osun state, Mr Rauf Aregbesola has appealed to the federal government to activate the emergency code 112 for the use of the state to allow for timely response to security, medical and disaster calls.
He made the appeal while commissioning additional 100 patrol vans purchased by the state government for the use of security agencies in the southwestern state.
The governor disclosed that more armoured carriers and motorcycles will also be purchased for adequate policing of the state against crime.
Security operatives at the event said the gesture will go a long way in reducing crime to the barest minimum.
This is the second time in the administration of Governor Aregbesola that patrol vans are distributed to security agencies for effective maintenance peace and order in the state.

1 Soldier, 6 Susupected Terrorists Killed In Kano

At least six suspected terrorists have been confirmed dead while few others arrested following an early morning raid by the Joint Security Force in Sheka area of Kumbotso local government area of Kano state.
Confirming the operation to Channels Television, the JTF spokesperson captain Ikedichi Iweha said one soldier was also killed during the operation while five women and three children were rescued from the house suspected to be occupied by the terrorists.
“This operation was carried out following a tip off from our military intelligence; initially we wanted to search the house but suddenly we were engaged with several gunshots and we responded in self-defense.”
Iweha also explain that three ak47 riffle, several magazines and many improvised explosives devices were recovered during the raid.
Although during the JTF last operation at Yan’ Awaki, the officers were accused of intimidating innocent civilians and even killed some, but Iweha stressed that there operation was professionally carried out and that there are no civilian casualty from the raid.
Residents who spoke to Channels TV said they were traumatized with the sudden arrival of the JTF around 1am, the raging gun shots.
Meanwhile, Sheka has been completely surrounded by JTF officers with snap check points around the area.
Residents are still indoor as at 12 noon on Friday, with virtually all the business activities around the area closed down.

9 Killed As Suspected Islamists Strike In Yobe

Nine persons have been confirmed dead in a renewed clash between security forces and suspected extremist group, Boko Haram in Babbangida town of Yobe state.
Babbangida is the capital of Tarmuwa Local Government Area and is 50 kilometres north of Damaturu the state capital.
Witnesses said the gunmen stormed the Divisional Police Station of the area at the early hours of Thursday and opened fire at the policemen on duty in an encounter that lasted for almost an hour.
The State Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Rufai, who confirmed the incident to Channels Television in Damaturu, said the suspected Islamic terrorists attacked the Divisional Police Station around 1:00am in a shoot out that lasted for an hour.
Though the police repelled the attack, Mr Rufai confirmed that the commands lost four of its personnel in the encounter while two sustained injuries and are receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
He said the police however killed five of the insurgents and injured many but the hoodlums who were in high number went away with their casualties as the authentic number could not be ascertained.
He recalled that this week has being a challenging one for security men in the state; they will not rest on their oars in the search for a sustained peace in the state.
“We will continue to discharge our responsibility as security men by ensuring that law abiding citizen have a condusive atmosphere to go on with their legitimate business.”
The commissioner called for support from the public towards lasting peace in the state.
The attack is coming four days after the insurgents had attacked men of the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in Tumbulgi Village of Geidam local Government Area of the state.
It would also be recalled that the insurgents had in December 2001 attacked Babbangida town setting the local Government Secretariat and the Divisional Police Station ablaze.

FG Vows To Take “Appropriate Action” Over Attacks On Nigerians In Bakassi

The federal government has vowed that an “appropriate action” will be taken against the recent escalation of attacks by Cameroonian gendarmes against Bakassi indigenes in the oil rich pennisula.
The Cameroonian gendarmes are accused of killing at least a dozen Nigerians in Bakassi during a forceful eviction of Bakassi indigenes that have chosen to settle in the peninsula.
About 20 people are reported to have been killed and more than a thousand displaced in multiple attacks by the gendarmes in the area within the last two weeks. A number of locals are also missing.
The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, said on Thursday in Abuja, that the report on the attack was being studied by the federal government.
Mr. Moro spoke after a meeting of the presidential committee on the plight of the Displaced Bakassi People.
“As it is now, as a good player on the international scene, Nigeria has subscribed to the Green Tree Agreement (GTA) and on our own part as a country we will continue to abide by the provisions of the agreement,” Mr. Moro said.
“For one reason or the other, resulting from little skirmishes here and there, the Cameroonian gendarme has attacked some innocent Nigerians. That report is being presented to government and the Nigerian government will take appropriate action to redress the situation” he added.
The most recent attack occurred over a week ago when Cameroonian soldiers allegedly opened fire on Bakassi indigenes at Efut Obot Ikot, a settlement in the peninsula where they preferred to stay, the Chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area, Ekpo Bassey, said.
He said a camp provided by the Cross River state government for the displaced persons had swollen to 1,800.
The Minister appealed to the people of Bakassi to remain calm as the federal government was determined to ensure their safety in the face of the ruling of the International Court of Justice at The Hague and the federal government’s acceptance of the ruling.
Mr. Moro said the presidential committee on the Displaced Bakassi People had presented a progress report to Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Thursday with a promise that the final report would be ready soon.
He assured that the displaced Bakassi people would find succour in the recommendations of the committee, which would be implemented by the Federal Government.
“I think at this moment we should not be attempting to segment solutions. The present crisis that we find in Bakassi is a Nigerian crisis and the Nigerian government is taking every step in conjunction with the state government to address the situation,” he said.
“And so, the right thing to do is to look up to the decision of government as to what to do with the Bakassi people, because the Bakassi people are Nigerians.’’

Sambo Demands Resettlement Of Displaced Bakassi Indigenes By August

Vice President; Namadi Sambo has urged the presidential committee on Bakassi and right of the displaced people, to expedite work on their assignment of relocating the displaced people and this  must be concluded before August 2013.
Mr Sambo gave the charge in a meeting with the presidential committee on Bakassi in his office on Thursday where he told the members that the time to conclude the issue of Bakassi has become important and everything must be concluded as soon as possible.
He stated that by the end of this month there must be a final report, taking into consideration the interest of the people of Bakassi.
The Vice President further adds that the recommendations that will be submitted should also include time frame, to guide the federal government on what to do within the very short time frame.
He warned that there is only four months left to conclude everything concerning the plight of the Bakassi people.
He also informed the committee that funds would be made available for them to discharge their duty accordingly.
Earlier, the Deputy Governor of Cross River state and chairman of the presidential committee, Effiok Cobham, stressed the need for the committee members to visit Bakassi to ascertain the area where the people want to be resettled.
Speaking with state house correspondent the deputy governor lamented that about a week ago the Cameroonian gendarmes evicted about 2,000 Nigerian citizens and the state is now harbouring another set of displaced people who are living in an open area with their families.

Babangida Declines To Comment On Amnesty For Boko Haram

Before the rejection of the offer of amnesty, by the Islamism sect, former military Head of State and General Ibrahim Babangida told journalists in Minna that pardon for the group, as proposed by the federal government is part of measures at ensuring that peace returns to the northern region.
General Babangida, however declared further comments on the proposal, but, promised to talk more on it, when the President inaugurates the committee.
Mr. Babangida, who hosted journalists at his residence in Minna, Niger State, on Thursday, said setting up such a committee “is part of measures at ensuring that peace stability was returned to the Northern region.”
According to him ‘’I do not know the terms of reference of the committee, therefore I cannot speak about the plan until the terms of reference are released.’’
“Every Nigerian has a role to play in tackling the security challenges facing us as a nation,” because “the government could not possibly tackle such problem alone.”
“If we all come together, the elite, the media, the ordinary people and the government by taking a common stand just as the people of Azare in Bauchi did to tackle their security challenges,” he said.
As much as he declined to speak on the Boko Haram issue, General Babangida urged the nation to trace the root of the problem.
“The problem did not start in one day … it was gradual thing before it came to this level … owing to our negligence by the government, the elite and the people; but I cannot blame anyone.”
“Some 20 years ago, we did not have this problem, what was the state of things then, what have we forgotten …that we have not done that led to the present challenges, this we have look at.”
“It is something that everyone has a hand in solving …to ensure peace stability in the country, therefore we should not leave this to government alone,” Babangida said.
The former Head of State also asked all Nigerians to join hands with the President and governments at all levels to tackle the problem of insecurity in the country.

Channels TV Lanre Lasisi Selected For Exchange Fellowship In US

Channels Television’s National Assembly correspondent; Lanre Lasisi has been selected along with two other Nigeria journalists in the maiden edition of the International Center for Journalists’ (ICFJ) exchange program between Nigerian and United States.
The three Nigerian journalists, selected to participate in the exchange program between Nigerian and United States Journalists are Lasisi Olanrewaju of Channels Television, Kabir Alabi Garba of Guardian newspapers and Hamza Idris of Daily Trust newspapers.
The three journalists have arrived in the US for the exercise with seven other African journalists from Ghana, Kenya and Uganda.
Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said in a statement on Thursday, stated that the exchange program commenced with a three-day professional Fellows Congress in Washington DC from April 8 to 10 with the three Nigerian journalists as participants.
According to Mr. Arogundade, the 10 African journalists will spend a total of four weeks ‘working’ with media organizations in the United States during which they will share practical experience with their American colleagues.
Mr. Arogundade said prior to their departure last week, the Public Affairs Section of the US Consulate in Lagos held a debriefing session with the representative of the three Nigerian Fellows, Mr. Kabir Garba.
Present at the debriefing were the Public Affairs Officer, Mrs. Dehab Ghebreab; the Cultural Affairs Specialist, Ms. Bene Uche and the Information Specialist, Mrs. Joke Omotunde.
“The Public Affairs Officer and her colleagues told Mr. Garba and his colleagues to see themselves as Nigerian ambassadors during the program and to that extent conduct themselves with the highest social and professional standards”, Mr. Arogundade said.
There will be regular updates on the activities of the Nigerian fellows on the IPC website – www.ipcng.org – as well as that of the ICFJ -www.icfj.org.

Flight Risk: Court Denies Akingbola Request For Medical Trip Abroad

The Lagos High Court in Ikeja has rejected an application brought by former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank, Mr Erastus Akingbola seeking permission to travel abroad for medical treatment because he might run away.
Justice Adeniyi Onigbajo in a short ruling on Thursday, held that the possibility of Mr Akingbola running from his trial is very high since he now knows the weight of evidence against him following his aborted trial before Justice Habeeb Abiru, who was elevated to the Court of Appeal before he could deliver judgment in the case.
The Judge also held that Mr Akingbola did not bring any evidence before the court to show that no medical institution in the country could treat him and there was no evidence to also show that he had made any effort to contact any of the hospital in Nigeria for his treatment.
Justice Onigbanjo however, granted the applications of Mr Akingbola and his co-defendant, Bayo Dada, the General Manager of Tropics Finance Limited for the variation of their bail conditions.
Part of the bail conditions imposed on the men was that they must report at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the first working day of every week.
But the judge said that that particular condition had outlived its usefulness since the EFCC had concluded its investigation of their alleged crime.
He agreed with the submission of the defence counsels that the men needed time to attend to their businesses and prepare for their defence.
He therefore ordered that they only report at the office of the EFCC on the first and third Fridays of every month not later than one hour before closing time in the office of the anti-graft Commission.
The case was then adjourned till the 10th of July for continuation of trial.
Mr Akingbola and Dada are standing trial for allegedly stealing N47.1 billion belonging to the defunct Intercontinental Bank. The charge was instituted against them by the EFCC in 2011.
Akingbola had in his application dated March 19, which was filed by one of his counsel; Mr. Mike Igbokwe (SAN) informed the court that he needed to keep a medical appointment fixed for April 15 at a Harley Street Hospital in London, United Kingdom.
Another of Mr Akingbola’s counsel,  Wole Olanipekun(SAN) while arguing the application on Wednesday referred the judge to some of his recent rulings including that of Abdulahi Alao, Mahmud Tukur and Wale Babalakin (SAN), whose applications on similar grounds were recently granted.
He said that there was no reason why a similar application by Akingbola should not be granted.
Justice Onigbanjo however concluded that the authorities being cited by the former bank boss were not binding since the circumstances in those cases were different from the present one.

Yobe’s Curfew Reviewed To Dusk To Dawn

Following the wave of attacks in Yobe state in recent weeks by suspected members of the Boko Haram, the state government on Thursday reviewed the prevailing curfew in the state.
A statement issued by the special adviser to the governor Abdullahi Bego, announced the restriction of movement across the state now starts from 6:00 PM to 7:00 AM daily.
The decision to adjust the curfew according to the statement was taken sequel to a meeting the state governor; Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam had with heads of law enforcement agencies in the state.
The statement expressed appreciation to the people of the state for their continuing support and cooperation with security agents who are working hard to ensure peace and security in the state.
While calling for prayers for peace among the people of the state, the statement urged the people to continue to use the telephone numbers provided by the Joint Task Force to report suspicious movement within their neighbourhoods.

Nigeria and Poland Call For Reform Of United Nations Security Council

The President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday held talks with the Prime Minister of Poland on promoting and further strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.
The talks which  lasted for over one hour in president  Goodluck Jonathan’s office is following an official visit to Nigeria by the Prime Minister of Poland Mr Donald Tusk.
The two leaders discussed political cooperation between both countries and welcomed the ongoing efforts aimed at reforming the United Nations in order to equip it better to meet the current challenges in the maintenance of international peace and security.
They called for the urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council to make it more democratic.
Briefing state house correspondents after the talks President Jonathan said that Poland is a very important European country  and that it is important to deepen trade relations with them.

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Dies At 87

Former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher has died at the age of 87, her spokesman Lord Bell said.

Lord Bell said: “It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning (Monday morning)
“A further statement will be made later.”
Thatcher, who led the British government between 1979 and 1990, suffered a stroke and died peacefully this morning, her spokesman Lord Bell said.
The former Conservative leader had lived a withdrawn life after leaving active politics. She had been suffering from dementia for some time.

IG Orders Manhunt of Perpetrators of Bayelsa Killing

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has ordered a man hunt for the killers of 13 policemen in Bayelsa state.
According to the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, DSP Frank Mba, the police will stop at nothing to ensure that the killers are not only found but brought to book as speedily as possible.
He further stated that a new standard operational procedure has been approved by the Police Management Team to reduce the vulnerability and increasing fatality rate of officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force while on duty.
Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has claimed responsibility for the weekend attack of the policemen at Azuzama, Southern Ijaw, in the creek of Bayelsa state.

NASU, ASCSN Pleads With FG Over Proposed Scrapping Of JAMB

Members of staff of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board under the aegis of the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria have appealed to the federal government to shelve the planned scrapping of the universities tertiary matriculation examination as recommended by the Steve Orosanye-led committee on the restructuring of federal government agencies.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja, Chairman of  NASU, JAMB chapter, Comrade Samuel Azaba says the union may be forced to seek legal redress over the implementation of the committee’s report advising the federal government to scrap the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Comrade Azaba added that the government would be pretending to be advocates of the principles of federal character by scrapping the UTME since the examination has proven over the years to be a veritable tool in uniting the nation.