Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has ordered the return of the 15-year-old girl, Uzoamaka Chukwu,who was stripped and tortured early this month by some people in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area.

Umahi, who gave the order on Sunday when he visited the family of the teenager at Umunaga Uburu, said her return would enable state government take full responsibility of her rehabilitation & training.

Although Uzoamaka was last week reportedly taken custody of by an Ebonyi State-born Port-Harcourt-based businesswoman, Ms Rita Nnenna Anoh, Umahi said she must return within seven days or be declared wanted because she remained a property of state.

Umahi, in a statement on Sunday night by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, said, "Government is asking that wherever she is, she should come back so that we can take over her training from secondary school to university level. We will also be able to rehabilitate her.

“ We are giving seven days for her to come back. We don’t know where she is but we ask that she must return because she is the property of the state.”

The governor, who also promised to improve the welfare of the girls family, reiterated his administration’s willingness to see that justice was done. He added,

"The matter is before a competent court; ,so we may not say much but on what we saw,we felt very bad as a people,as government and as brothers and sisters of Uzoamaka. "We feel that is a gross violation of her right and man’s inhumanity to man. "So we are very sad about it and that is why I directed that all of us should come to take over the responsibility of the girl.”

Umahi said what government was doing was in no way going to stop the case in court, stressing that the case in court will continue to run its course.

“The government’s intervention would not disrupt justice in the case, as we would ensure that such incident does not repeat itself while thanking the family for its belief in the government’s ability to handle the issue. The case in court will continue to run its course and justice must also be done in that direction," he emphasised.

Responding, Elder Francis Odabe, who responded on behalf of the family, appreciated Governor Umahi as a passionate leader. He said,

"We know you are a charitable son of the soil and we know that even if you had not been a governor, you would have still come to sympathise with us. You would have still shown concern because we know you for that. "

Odabe promised on behalf of the family to do everything possible to ensure that Uzoamaka was brought back home within the seven days given by the governor. The governor made the visit in company with some members of the state Executive Council and political stakeholders from old Ohaozara LGA.

Source: lindaikejiblog

23 prison sacked officers and 11 suspended over the recent prison break

In a statement released by spokesperson of the Nigeria Prisons Service, Francis Enobore, the federal government has sacked 23 prison officers and suspended 11 others after the recent ‎jailbreak at Koton Kafe prison in Kogi, Kuje prison in Abuja and Nsukka Prison in Enugu state.The statement reads.

 "Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) considered the allegation of serious misconduct arising from your negligence of duty as leveled against you. 

The Board thereafter approved your immediate dismissal from the Nigerian Prisons Service.. in line with the provision of the Public Service Rule 030402 (O) being an action prejudicial to the security of the State. 

“Similarly the Controller-General of Prisons in his capacity has approved the dismissal of 7 junior staff serving in Kuje Medium Security prison and 10 other junior staff serving in Koton Karfe prison also implicated in the escape saga. The affected officers are to hand over all government properties in their possession to their immediate superior and proceed accordingly. “Meanwhile the officer in charge of Nsukka Prison DCP Okonkwo Lawrence and 10 others have been suspended over the recent prisoners’ escape from the prison. 

The suspension is to allow for detailed and uninterrupted investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident in order to facilitate appropriate action by the authority. 

“It would be recalled that in the wake of incessant escape of prisoners from some prisons in the country the CGP, Ja’afaru Ahmed on the 2nd of August, 2016 convened an emergency meeting of Command Officers and 241 officers in charge prisons across the country to reassess security measures for safe keeping of prisoners. 

Although a number of escapees have been recaptured, efforts are still being made to ensure that all the fugitives are apprehended and returned to prison custody. 

“The Controller General wishes to assure all officers and men of the Nigerian Prisons Service of his readiness to support and encourage hard work and dedication to duty but frowns at acts of negligence capable of embarrassing the Service and the nation at large. While appreciating the collaboration of security agencies, vigilante groups and members of the public for their support, the Controller General further assures that all necessary measures are being put in place to guarantee maximum security of persons in Prison custody.”

I handed over Nigeria that had grown to become the largest economy in Africa and the 24th largest economy in the World - Jonathan

Ex-President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has responded to his critics who accused him of handed over a nation at the verge of collapse to Presi­dent Muhammadu Buhari.


Speaking with Friends of Africa Coalition at the Mayor’s office in New Jersey, USA, Jonathan re­counted the achievements of his government to include handing over a country that produced the richest man in Africa.

He said: “I am proud to say that while I was the president of Nigeria, the second largest econo­my in Africa with a GDP of $270.5 billion in 2009, I handed over a Nigeria that had grown to become the largest economy in Africa and the 24th largest economy in the World with a GDP of $574 billion.

“I inherited a Nigeria in which the trains were not working, and handed over a Nigeria in which citizens can safely travel by trains again. I inherited a Nigeria that was a net importer of cement, and handed over a Nigeria that is a net exporter of cement. In 2009 the richest Nigerian was the 5th rich­est man in Africa, but I handed over a Nigeria that produced the richest man in Africa.”

The former President stated that democracy will continue to grow in the African continent if leaders value the process of elec­tions more than the product of the process.

He give reasons for handing over to his successor after losing the 2015 Presidential election, stressing that he love his people and respect­ the will of the people. This is the spirit of true leadership!

President Muhammadu Buhari Has Sacked EFCC Chairman

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the head of the country’s anti-corruption agency.

No reason was given for the removal of Ibrahim Lamorde, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In August, Mr Lamorde denied allegations that $5bn (£3.3bn) had gone missing at the commission.

Mr Buhari won Nigeria’s presidential elections in March, promising to fight corruption in the country.

In August, a Senate committee said it was investigating charges that assets and cash recovered by the EFCC had been diverted.

At the time, Mr Lamorde told the BBC the charges were a smear campaign.

He led the EFCC for four years until his dismissal on Monday.

President Buhari’s spokesman Garba Shehu said later on Monday that assistant Police Commissioner Ibrahim Mustafa Magu had been appointed as the EFCC acting commissioner.

President Buhari – the former army general known for his authoritarian style – was elected in March on a platform of cleaning up Nigerian politics, the BBC’s Martin Patience in Lagos reports.

More than five months after he came to power his new cabinet is finally expected to be sworn in later this week. The reason for the extraordinary delay is that President Buhari wants to try to ensure that new ministers will not use their offices for personal gain, our correspondent says.

He adds that this has won Mr Buhari widespread support in Nigeria where many are tired of the corruption, which they believe is preventing the country from realizing its full economic potential.

Source: jumpfon

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Nigerian Woman Arrested In Ghana For Attempting To Transport Indian Hemp

Grace Ada and Jolayemi Joseph

The SWAT Unit of the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has apprehended a 58-year-old Nigerian woman for attempting to transport about 630 slabs of compressed dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp (wee) to Nigeria.

The suspect, identified as Grace Ada, was apprehended yesterday at Tudu, near the Makola market in Accra, together with her storekeeper, Jolayemi Joseph, 36 – also a Nigerian.

The items were concealed in about 14 bales of used clothing packed in their warehouse ready to be transported to Nigeria.
The two are currently at the police headquarters to assist in investigations.

Confirming the arrest to DAILY GUIDE, DSP Bismarck Achaab, commander in-charge of the SWAT Unit, said the two suspects were apprehended yesterday afternoon in a store called Gracepoju at Tudu upon a tip-off.

Grace Ada, owner of the store, claimed she is a trader and had been running her business from Ghana to Nigeria for the past 20 years.

DSP Bismarck Achaab said when the police got to the store where the said items were being kept yesterday afternoon, Grace was not available but her storekeeper, one Joseph, was there keeping watch over them (items).

He was immediately arrested and with his assistance, Grace was also grabbed.

When all the 14 bales of the used clothing were transported to the police headquarters and finally opened in the presence of the suspects, the police detected that each bale contained more than 50 slabs of the compressed dry leaves, claimed DSP Achaab.

The suspects will be handed over to the narcotic unit of the CID for investigations.

By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey

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Leader Of Hausa State's Call On Buhari To Repair Federal Roads In East

Chairman, Hausa Community Alhaji Adamu Sokoto, in the South-East, has called on the Federal Government to urgently look into road in eastern part of the country and repair federal roads across the zone.

Alhaji Adamu who told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri on Sunday, said that commuters in the zone were experiencing hard times as a result of the deplorable state of roads in the zone.

He said “The condition of roads transportation in the South-Eastern states of Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra and Ebonyi is deplorable and it needs urgent attention.

“Traders from other parts of the country who transport cattle, goats, tomatoes, yam and other produce to the zone are lamenting the losses they incur due to the bad roads,’’ he said.

According to him, the deplorable condition of the roads has thrown some people out of business, adding that doing business in the region had become increasingly risky

“But we have the confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari has the good intention to be fair to every section of the country because the Nigerian state is one entity,” he said.

Source: gossipmill

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We’re Ready To Work For Free – Buhari’s Ministers

Following Friday’s pronouncement by President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigeria is broke and he might not be able to pay ministers, some minister-designates have said they are ready to work for free.

Some of the ministers who said this include Mr. Adebayo Shittu and Professor Isaac Adewole.

The ministers, who along with their colleagues are expected to be sworn in and given portfolios any moment from now, described their appointment as a call to service.

Shittu, representing Oyo State at the yet-to-be-constituted Federal Executive Council, said he was ready to give his services free to Nigeria if that was what the situation demanded.
Shittu, a legal practitioner and human rights activist told Sunday Punch that what matters is the intention to serve and not the financial benefits.

He said, “It is an issue of national service. There is nothing too much to sacrifice. If that is what our situation in Nigeria demands, then we must put ourselves up selflessly. We cannot say because of selfishness, we cannot work selflessly.

“With my background as somebody from a very humble family, I know what poverty is and I have been experiencing it. I have been dogged in conforming to the dictates of politics and poverty. There is nothing too much to sacrifice for the service of our people.”

Adewole, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan spoke on Saturday through his media aide, Mr. Sunday Saanu.

According to Saanu, Adewole who is to represent Osun State, is ready to serve the nation without pay.

Saanu said, “It is a great honour to serve one’s fatherland and I can tell you Prof. Adewole is ready to serve Nigeria without collecting salaries.

“Everything is not about money. It is a privilege and a great honour to serve. This is what he was doing at his former school. He was paying some teachers employed to complement government’s efforts.

“ He is not driven by money but passion to make positive impact in the nation in whatever capacity.”

The past governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, also said he did not accept to be a minister for personal and pecuniary gains.

Amaechi, who spoke through his former aide, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, explained that he was interested in the development of Nigeria

He said, “If he (President Buhari) has not said that he would not pay ministers, the question of whether he (Amaechi) will work for free should not be necessary. We know that we are currently dealing with hard times. For us as a country, we will manage our cost.

“He (Amaechi) has never run for anything because he is looking for money. His interest is in the development of Nigeria.”

Another minister-designate, Mr. James Ocholi, said he will not run away from challenges.

He said, “I will not run away from challenges. If the first challenge in the new assignment is to solve the financial crisis of the federation, I will be willing to devote time and attention to solving it before any other national issue.”


Source: Punchng

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Africa’s Biggest Mobile Operator MTN Seeks To Reduce $5.2bn Nigerian Fine

Share trading in MTN, Africa’s biggest mobile operator, has restarted after earlier being suspended following a huge fine imposed by Nigerian authorities.

Trading in MTN Group was halted in Johannesburg after the stock fell 8%.

Dealings later started again after the company said it was in talks with Nigerian authorities about reducing the record $5.2bn (£2.7bn) fine.

The sum amounts to double MTN’s annual profits last year.

The Nigerian Communications Commission imposed the penalty for failing to cut off unregistered mobile users, giving MTN just two weeks to pay.


The company said on Monday it was in talks with the Nigerian presidency, internal security agency and the communications regulator about the fine.

Chief executive Sifiso Dabengwa, who used to run the company’s Nigerian operations, is understood to have flown to Abuja in a bid to negotiate a lower penalty.

Nigeria is MTN’s biggest market, with 28.5 million subscribers, followed by Iran and South Africa.

The company’s shares had fallen by about 25% since the fine was announced on Monday last week, wiping about 60bn rand (£2.7bn) off its market value, with the company now worth about £13bn.

The stock was down 5.5% after trading recommenced.

There’s more to this story than meets the eye. It’s not simply a case of a company failing foul of regulatory authorities and getting a slap on the wrist – some analysts say this $5.2bn slap is enough to break or seriously bruise MTN’s wrist.

The fine was imposed because MTN failed to cut off unregistered SIM cards, which was regarded as crucial to limiting the communications of Nigeria’s various armed criminal and terrorist groups.

It is thought that the kidnapping of a former finance minister, Chief Olu Falae, was the thin end of the wedge for the Nigerian authorities.

He was taken by armed men at the end of the September. It transpired that the phone the kidnappers were using to communicate their ransom demands had an unregistered SIM card from MTN.

That is when the Nigerian government is thought to have finally run out of patience with the mobile operator.

Admired and valued

MTN has 231 million subscribers in 22 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

In September, the company was named as most admired brand in Africa in the Brand Africa 100 awards, beating Samsung, while it was also awarded the continent’s most valuable brand – worth $4.6bn (£3bn).

MTN was South Africa’s second mobile operator when it was set up in 1994 after the fall of apartheid.

It began its expansion across Africa four years later with operations in Rwanda, Uganda and Swaziland.


Source: jumpfon

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Black Americans Are Angry: Donald Trump Loses Top Position To Black Man, Ben Carson

Sen. Gershom Bassey (PDP Cross River South) on Friday, said the condemnation of Africans and African-Americans by a US presidential aspirant, Donald Trump, was a crude form of racism.
Bassey, who was reacting to media reports credited to the Republican Party man, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that racism should never be mixed with politics, adding that politicians should not be bigots.
“What I can say generally it that it is bigotry, racism and all that, in all forms must be condemned and we shouldn’t use that in politics.

“If we have issues with people we should stick to the issues and leave all these sweeping statements about different races and all that.

“It is the crudest form of racism and I think if Donald Trump did actually say that, he should find a way to retract that statement, otherwise, he will find that at the end of the day, it will come back to haunt him,” he said.

The media reports said that Trump referred to Africans as lazy fools, only good for lovemaking and thuggery.

The report also credited him as saying that if he became U.S president, he would deport all African-Americans to their countries in Africa.

Those Agitating For Biafra Nation Are Miscreants & Should Be Ignored – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described those agitating for the creation of Biafra state as miscreants. Obasanjo said this in aninterview with Sahara reporters

This is a fake agitation. You people make a mountain out of a molehill. These are boys who want to take people unaware and get money out of them in the name of Biafra. These are the people you should ignore, I don’t talk about Biafra. (Philip) Effiong came and said Biafra ceased to exist and since that day, Biafra has ceased to exist.
We absorbed those we should absorb both into the civil service and into the military.

Even those we didn’t absorb, who we initially regarded as being retired without benefits, later on we even gave them their benefits. Abandoned houses were returned. Within 10 years of the end of our Civil War, an Igbo man became the vice-president of our country. It took the Americans 100 years before they got to that point. So, what are you talking about? They have held all the ministerial positions existing in this country.

We have Igbo as the Governor of Central Bank, Igbo has headed many parastatals in this country. That’s why these miscreants should be ignored. They want to get money and they go round and say, ‘We are still being victimised. We are still being treated badly in Nigeria,’ so that they can take money from people.”he said


Source: gossipmill

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S/Africa Has Launches Trading Probe Over Fine On MTN’s Nigeria

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange launched Friday an investigation into mobile giant MTN for “possible insider trading” before the South African company announced it had been hit by a $5.2 billion fine in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) fined Africa’s largest telecoms firm for missing a deadline to deactivate 5.1 million unregistered SIM cards.

News of the fine broke Monday morning in Nigeria, sparking a sell-off of MTN shares before the company formally notified shareholders later in the day.

“The market regulation team is looking into trades that took place before the announcement in order to determine if there is any evidence of possible insider trading,” Peter Redman, Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) market regulation advisor, said in a statement.
South African law dictates that companies immediately warn shareholders about price-sensitive information.

“The investigation will follow due process to establish whether there have been any breaches of the listings requirements and can be lengthy process,” said Andre Visser, JSE regulation manager.

MTN issued a statement saying “senior management of the company and its advisors are currently engaging with the JSE Limited on the timing of the… announcement.”

The probe could result in South Africa’s bourse operator slapping MTN with another hefty fine or result in criminal charges.

“It just puts the company under additional pressure,” said Amy Cameron, telecoms analyst at BMI Research, a market research firm based in London. “It will be another really big challenge.”

Cameron said that MTN should brace itself for a rocky few months.

“It could look into some sort of international arbitration, because a 5.2 billion dollar fine is absolutely crippling,” she said.

Early in August the NCC issued a directive to mobile telecoms companies operating in Nigeria to deactivate all unregistered SIM cards within seven days or face sanctions.

The penalty saw the company’s shares crash on the JSE and raised questions about the renewal of its licence in Nigeria next year if the fine goes unpaid.

The NCC has set a November 16 deadline for MTN to pay the fine.

MTN had more than 62.8 million subscribers in Nigeria — its biggest market — in the second quarter of this year.

Ghana - 57 Cocaine Pushers Were Arrested In Accra

Three hundred police officers, drawn from the Formed Police Unit (FPU), Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), Accra, Tema and National Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) have swooped on 57 suspected criminals and marijuana users.

The operation, organised by the Police Headquarters Operation and the Tema Regional Police Command, was a simultaneous one and it lasted for five hours.

The joint operation took place on the dawn of October 23 and the team was led by the Commissioner of Police (COP) John Kudalor.
The police intelligence-led operation targeted hideouts of criminals, drug pushers and traders in locations in Tema Newtown, Ashaiman and Tema Community One.

The dawn operation was aimed at ridding Tema and Ashaiman of criminals. Among the 57 were three women and the suspects have consequently been charged for various offences, ranging from unlawful possession of narcotics and using of narcotic.

Among the suspects were those who had been on the police wanted list for other criminal offences. After thorough screening, the police charged eight suspects for possessing narcotic drugs without authority and use of narcotics.

Exhibits found on the eight included parcels and wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp, one compressed brown parcel and a white polyethene bag, both containing whitish powdered substance, suspected to be cocaine, 553 wrappers of powdered substance suspected to be heroin and an amount of GHC4,379.10 suspected to be proceeds from the sale of the narcotics.

Besides, harmful implements such as pair of scissors, jack knives, razor blades, packets of matches, hacksaw blades, chisels and crowbars were found on some of the suspects.

The exhibits have been forwarded to the Police Forensic Laboratory for examination while investigations continue to arm the police to arraign the 57 before court.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Beatrice Vib-Sanziri Zakpaa, Tema Regional Police Commander, explained that the operation was to usher in the Christmas, adding that the swoop will be sustained to ensure that the Tema Police Region is safe for law-abiding citizens who will go about their daily activities before, during and after the Yuletide.

3She appealed to the public to provide police with tips on hideouts and activities of criminals so they can be arrested and dealt with according to the law.

The next day October 24, a Ghanaian, Hamidu Amadu, 30, and a 45-year-old Nigerian, Adamu Gariba, were arrested the by Tema Regional Police Command for possession of 30 slabs of narcotic drugs suspected to be Indian hemp, without lawful authority.

The two were arrested at Gariba’s house at Community ‘9’, Tema, after two policemen on a motorbike and patrolling, smelt Indian hem within the area of their operation.

The patrol biking policemen traced the smoke that led them to a wooden structure which was inhabited by Gariba.

A search the police conducted in his room revealed 30 slabs of the dried leaves which police suspected to be Indian hemp. Police subsequently arrested him and seized the dried leaves.

Gariba claimed ownership of exhibits but declined to give further information about its source.

2When police decided to send him to the police station, Gariba called his accomplice, Hamidu Amadu, a trader, who investigations later revealed that he is a resident of Jericho, a suburb of Ashaiman.

He hurried to Gariba’s house where he offered GHC500 with Gariba topping up with CFA 50,000 as bribe to the policemen.

The policemen took the bribe and arrested Hamidu Amadu and Gariba Hamidu and handed them, together with the money and dried leaves to the Tema Regional Police Command.

The suspects have been charged with possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority and giving bribe to influence public officer. They are due for court later.

Source: ghanaweb

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SHOCKING!!! Head Teacher Accused Of Defiling An 11- Year- Old Girl In Ghana

Emmanuel Ndom has pleaded not guilty before the court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku.

 

The court has remanded him into lawful custody to reappear on November 9.

The case of prosecuting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Moses Atibillah is that the complainant is the proprietress of the school (name withheld) at Abeka Lapaz.

 

While the victim is a class six pupil of the school, the accused person was a former head teacher of the school.

 ACP Atibillah said on June 16, this year, the victim approached her class teacher name withheld that she had something secret to tell him and was given the opportunity to tell her story

 

According to the prosecutor, the victim revealed to her class teacher that somewhere in April 2014, the accused person lured her into his office on several occasions and had sexual intercourse with her.

 

Victim said after the act, the accused person warned her not tell anyone else she would die.

 

Prosecution said the victim’s class teacher informed the complainant who reported the matter to the Police and medical form was issued to the victim whose mother was then informed.

 

The Police at Sakumono picked up the accused person and he admitted the offence and confessed to Chief Inspector Margaret Addo but he later denied same in his caution statement.

 

Source:Graphic

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Police Command Impounded 800 Vehicles In Ordder Ban The Misuse Of Unregistered Vehicles In Ghana

The drivers of the vehicles were granted bail shortly after their caution statements had been taken at the various police stations in whose jurisdictions they were arrested.

In a special operation organised simultaneously by divisional commands under the Accra Regional Police Command last Monday, policemen impounded vehicles with defective vehicle (DV) and drive-from-port (DP) number plates after inspecting the documents covering them.

Since the exercise, the compounds of all the divisional police headquarters have been taken over by the impounded vehicles.
Misuse of number plates
According to the Road Traffic Act 2004, DV and DP number plates, also referred to as trade licence, can be used when a motor vehicle has been unloaded from a ship and is being driven to the garage.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) issues DV and DP number plates to garage owners and car dealers to assist in transporting vehicles from the ports to homes, garages or mechanic shops.

The DV and DP plates are also used for transporting vehicles to the offices of the DVLA for registration and for test-driving or trial by a prospective buyer.
It is unlawful to use vehicles with DV and DP number plates beyond 7 p.m.

Security concern
Speaking to journalists, the Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr Tetteh Yohuno, said unregistered vehicles posed security threat concerns to the police and the public.

That, he said, was because the police were unable to trace such vehicles when they were involved in criminal offences.
Intelligence picked up by the police, he said, was that some persons did not paste the DV and DP plates on the cars “but hung them with a piece of rope and quickly removed them after committing crimes with the cars”.

“When such cars are involved in accidents, the drivers leave the victims and run away and it is difficult to trace them,” he said.

During the operation, Mr Yohuno said, it was observed that most of the drivers of the DV and DP plate-carrying vehicles either did not have log books, as required by law, or failed to make entries of their movement.

“Failing to make entries in the log book, making incorrect entries in the log book or failing to make the log book available for inspection by a police officer is an offence,” he said.

Operation
Mr Yohuno explained that the special operation, which was the second since January this year, was carried out because it had been observed that people bought cars at this time of the year and deliberately kept them until the early part of the following year to acquire fresh number plates.

He explained that the objective for embarking on the unannounced operation was to help reduce the misuse of DV and DP number plates in the region.

Source:Graphic

Alassane Ouattara Wins Second Term In Ivory Coast Election

Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara has won a second five-year term with nearly 84% of the vote, electoral commission officials say.

Mr Ouattara won a total of 2,118,229 votes, or 83.66% of votes cast, the commission said. Turnout was 54.63%.

Several opposition candidates pulled out of the campaign, complaining that it was not free and fair.

The last vote in 2010 was bitterly contested and resulted in a civil war in which 3,000 people lost their lives.

Mr Ouattara required more than 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off. His closest opposition rival, Pascal Affi N’Guessan, got just 9%.
In the 2010 vote Mr Ouattara defeated then-President Laurent Gbagbo, whose refusal to step down triggered months of violence in which thousands of people were killed.

Mr Ouattara’s campaign this year centred around his economic programme. Critics accused him of failing to foster reconciliation or reduce poverty.

The 54% turnout was down from the 2010 first-round turnout of about 80%.

Source: jumpfon

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SHOCKING!!! Man, 53, Gangs Himself In Kumasi Ghana

A 53-year-old shopkeeper Kwame Tweneboah-Kodua has committed suicide at Atasemanso close to the Atasemanso Emmanuel Guest House a suburb of the Kumasi Metropolis.

It is not immediately known why he committed the act leaving behind a wife and four children who are currently grief-stricken over his sudden demise.

The incident is believed to have happened at the dead of night in order for the deceased not to attract the attention of both relations and neighbors in the area who are yet to come to terms with the reality.
According to wife of the deceased Madam Georgina Boateng who has been married for 24 years, both retired to bed last night only for the family to spot the lifeless body of his husband hanging on a tree with a protruding tongue which left her spellbound.

“I got up to urinate and prepare for market at about 4 am and realized my husband was not lying by my side. His footwear was however in the room suggesting he was around the neighborhood.

"I became scared and inquired from my eldest son where his dad had gone to. He assured me he was around but as time trickled pass he was not coming till we decided to comb round the area to look for him only to be greeted with his dead body”. The wife revealed.

The deceased left no suicide note for relations to know exactly what could have caused his decision to end his life prematurely.

The Asokwa police have since been notified and have taken the body to the Komfo Anokye Hospital morgue for autopsy.


Source: Ultimate FM

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Ghana: Kwabena Agyepong Attacked By At NPP Headquarters

The general secretary of the New Patriotic Party Kwabena Agyepong has been attacked by the party’s Invisible Forces at the NPP headquarters.

Agyepong, who is an ally of suspended national chairman Paul Afoko, had the back screen of his four-wheel drive damaged.

His aide Davies Opoku confirmed the incident to Starr News on Tuesday.

“There were some exchanges between him and the first vice Freddie Blay at a meeting… a mobbed attacked him after. But he’s fine,” he told Starr News.

Starr News also understands a bodyguard of Agyepong sustained injuries during the melee. However, it is unclear what triggered the attack.

The party is yet to officially comment on the issue.


Source: Starrfmonline

Nigerian State Conferred Honorary Chieftaincy President John Mahama (Photos)

The Offa Kingdom of the Kwara State of Nigeria has conferred an honorary chieftaincy title on President John Dramani Mahama at a ceremony at the palace of the Olofa of Offa.

The title, AARE ATOLASE OF OFFA KINGDOM, according to HRM Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II means, “HE John Mahama is the President of all others that are ensuring the nobility of this Kingdom is maintained.”


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I Never Slept With Prostitute – Bede Cries

A former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has claimed that he is not the former minister who allegedly solicited the services of a lady believed to be a prostitute and ended up losing his Ford 4×4 vehicle in Accra.

Even though DAILY GUIDE’s publication of Thursday, October 15, 2015 did not disclose the name of the said Minister, Bede Ziedeng, who is currently a deputy director of elections for the NDC and former Northern Regional Minister, has written a rejoinder seeking to set the records straight.
Mr. Ziedeng, who is reportedly lacing his boots to contest the Lawra seat on the ticket of the NDC, wrote and signed the rejoinder dated October 17.

“I wish to state that I am not the said former Northern Regional Minister,” he insisted, adding, “Indeed, I have never owned or even used a Ford 4×4 vehicle, neither have I ever slept in a hotel at Pig Farm, Accra, in which the incident took place.

“My attention has been drawn to a publication in your esteemed newspaper of October 15, 2015 edition with the caption: ‘Prostitute robs minister in hotel.”In the said publication, it was alleged that a former Northern Regional Minister solicited the services of a lady believed to be a prostitute, and ended up losing his Ford 4×4 vehicle in Accra.

I hope you will give this rejoinder the same prominence you gave your earlier publication.”

Initial Publication

In the initial publication, DAILY GUIDE had stated that the former minister (name withheld) allegedly took the lady to a hotel at Pig Farm, an Accra suburb, where she identified herself as Abigail Asiedu and stole the vehicle with the help of her boyfriend, identified as Bashiru Ishmael, who is currently at large.

Police reports indicated that Abigail, who targets high-profile personalities, had used this modus operandi to steal more than eight vehicles from her clients.

Purportedly operating together with Bashiru Ishmael and Nuhu Adams – also at large – Abigail reportedly changes the vehicles’ number plates before selling them.

All the stolen vehicles had since been retrieved by the police, with the exception of one.

Information gathered at the hotel indicated that the former minister checked in with Abigail that fateful day and after some rounds of sexual affairs, the two decided to relax for some time before leaving the place.

Upon realising that her client was tired and deeply asleep, Abigail allegedly sneaked out of the room with the keys of the vehicle and together with Bashiru Ishmael, she allegedly drove the vehicle from the compound.

The former minister, who later discovered that the lady was not in the room, became suspicious and immediately went out to look for her only to realise that his vehicle was not parked at where it was.

A report was lodged with the police immediately.

DCOP Christian Tetteh Yohunu, the Accra Regional Police Commander, who briefed the media, said Abigail met the client on social media and on August 30, 2015 they met at Pig Farm, where they decided to go to a nearby hotel to relax.

Abigail and Bashiru Ishmael, DCOP Yohunu asserted, had earlier been arrested by the Baatsona, Sakumono and Dahwenya police this year for using the same method to snatch a Honda Civic CRV, Toyota Corolla and a Toyota Camry from some people.

All the vehicles had been retrieved except the Toyota Camry with registration number GT-694-10.

Police report also indicated that Abigail, whose real name is Habiba Abubakar, uses multiple names to swindle her targets.

The regional commander narrated that Abigail sometimes uses Abigail Fatimatu Adamu to operate.

During police interrogation, Abigail reportedly confessed that she conspired with her boyfriend, Ishmael Bashiru, to steal the vehicle but when Ishmael got wind of her arrest, he went into hiding.

Abigail again mentioned Nuhu Adams as the receiver of the stolen vehicles, and led the police to his house at Ashaiman but he was absent. When contacted on phone, he abandoned the stolen vehicle on the Tema Motorway and fled, according to the police officer.

Efforts are underway to arrest them.

Source: Daily Guide

South African Airways Returns To Nigeria, Ghana

Following the success of its recently introduced (Ghana) Accra to Washington route, South Africa’s formerly cash-strapped national carrier, South African Airways (SAA), is set to resume flights to (Nigeria) Abuja.

With an existing gateway to Lagos, an Abuja route will further strengthen the airline’s position in West Africa as it continues to promote trade and cultural relations with Africa’s largest economy. This development will also serve as an additional business travel option in the West African region.
SAA stated that the addition of this route comes on the heels of the introduction of the Accra, Ghana to Washington Dulles, USA route, as a West African platform in August 2015.

In collaboration with Africa World Airways the carrier also launched flights between Accra, Ghana and Washington DC in North America. A route which has particularly recorded a significant growth in the number of passengers; thereby providing SAA with the confidence to further expand its operations in West Africa.

In collaboration with Africa World Airways the carrier also launched flights between Accra, Ghana and Washington DC in North America.

According to the Chief Commercial Officer, SAA, Sylvain Bosc, Nigeria is one of the fastest growing air travel markets in Sub-Saharan Africa and will be well served with additional services to Abuja. Therefore the introduction of a second entry point in Nigeria forms part of the carrier’s Long-Term Turnaround Strategy, which identified growth on the African continent as one of its key objectives.

In an effort to turn around the company, Nico Bezuidenhout, SAA’s acting CEO had promised to save the airline R600 million a year by closing down the loss-making direct flights to Beijing and Mumbai. At a point South Africa was considering assets sale to bail out ailing firms. Etihad Airways PJSC was given the option of buying a stake in the loss-making national carrier.

In March, SAA said it was not clear how many employees would lose their jobs as they were attempting to turn the company around. Tlali Tlali, SAA spokesperson, said the reduction of staff numbers at the carrier, which employs 11,462 people, would be a “consultative process.” “In order to return the company to relative stability in the context of the 90 Day Action Plan, SAA has had to re-examine every aspect of the business,” Tlali said.

“This has already resulted in substantial savings and stronger governance. The reality, however, is that SAA’s staff headcount grew over the past few years beyond sustainable levels as losses continued to impair business stability,” he added.

However before the end of the ’90 Day Action Plan’, it emerged at the annual general meeting that the carrier’s annual loss had doubled to R2.6 billion ($213.5 million).

With this latest addition to its operations, SAA will be serving eleven destinations in Central and West Africa, with flights from its Johannesburg hub to Lagos (Nigeria); Dakar (Senegal), Libreville (Gabon), Kinshasa (DRC), Pointe Noire, Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo),Abidjan (Ivory Coast); Cotonou (Benin); Accra (Ghana) and Douala (Cameroon).

The non-stop flights between Johannesburg and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja will operate three times a week, with the first flight taking off from O.R Tambo International Airport on 26 January 2016.


Source: venturesafrica.com