Nigerian, Ghanaian Edge Closer to 2018 Rhodes Scholarship

As the 2018 Scholar Selection Process of the newly reinstated Rhodes Scholarships for West Africa reaches advanced stages, the dream of post-graduate studies at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, will soon become reality for one remarkably brilliant student from Nigeria, Ghana or any other country in the sub-region.  The selected candidate will join other scholars from around the world to commence studies at the prestigious university in the October 2018 academic session.

Rhodes National Secretary for West Africa, Ike Chioke, reaffirmed this while providing update to the media on the progress of the scheme. According to him: “Following the formal re-launch of the West Africa Scholarships in May this year, and the call for applications which opened on 1st June, the scholarship application portal officially closed on September 30, 2017 while the timeline for submission of references elapsed on October 15, 2017.”

“A total of 2,948 applications were received from intending scholars across West Africa. However, only 505 completed the Scholarship information requirements. Of this number, a total of 244 candidates who graduated with a First Class degree or its equivalent made it to the next round, and we subsequently scaled down to 65 candidates based on other selection criteria including moral force of character, commitment to service and instinct to lead. Further screening and in-person interviews were conducted between November 17 and 19 in Lagos and Accra while the final round of interviews for a shortlist of 15 persons is scheduled for December 1 and 2.  This is where the 2018 ‘Scholar-Elect’ for West Africa will be decided.”

Chioke also revealed that the scholarship would cover all university and college fees, a personal stipend for room and board, health insurance and travel, as well as the costs of the Rhodes Leadership Development Programme at Rhodes House. “Depending on the course of study, the total value of the scholarship could range from £50,000 to £60,000 per annum, with the average tenure for a Rhodes Scholar being 3 years. Over time, up to three scholars in residence will be supported under each scholarship at a total of approximately £170,000 each year per Scholarship”, he noted.

The Rhodes Trust – the preeminent international scholarship programme established at Oxford University in 1903 – selects creative young leaders with a commitment to serving others. In the century since the establishment of the Rhodes Scholarships, the Trust has convened a community of extraordinary people who share a history of enriching their communities, pioneering in their chosen fields, and applying the knowledge and experience acquired as Scholars to the betterment of society. 

The new West Africa scholarships are part of a wider geographic expansion of the Rhodes Scholarships. The total number of Scholarships awarded each year will increase from 83 to 95, including new Scholarships in China, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Palestine, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and West Africa. This increases the number of Rhodes Scholars studying at the University of Oxford at any one time to approximately 250. The expansion into these regions marks a historic moment for the Rhodes Trust, and further strengthens the international Rhodes community.  

Diamond Bank Set to Rock the Tech Stage

…And This Time the Stage is For Its Customers

Diamond Bank has gone ‘Beyond Banking’ again.  Marking Independence Day, the group announced that it is holding a full-day experience called “Tech Fest” to bring together the best talent in Nigerian technology - one of the country’s fastest growing sectors.

Tech Fest was announced by the group’s CEO, Uzoma Dozie.  Giving insight into the event, Uzoma stated “Diamond Bank’s philosophy has always been about connecting people and connecting markets.  Technology is now driving these connections at a faster rate than ever before and this is improving the landscape for new businesses to start out, to be seen, to scale and most importantly to offer great customer experiences”.

Manchester United Legend Rio Ferdinand turns to Boxing

Former England star Rio Ferdinand is due to announce on Tuesday he is going to try and become a professional boxer just two months away from his 39th birthday, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Ferdinand, who won 81 caps and made over 300 appearances for Manchester United, is an avid boxing fan and has admitted spending time boxing in the gym has helped clear his head a bit after losing his wife and the mother of his three children Rebecca Ellison to breast cancer in 2015.

The Best Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo is a beauty product that many people rely on every day to maintain a clean, fresh look despite a hectic life. A new article from CNN found that dry shampoo is a great way to protect salon-styled hair and maintain it for days on end.

After 6 weeks of research, the Reviews.com research team recently released their findings after analyzing 54 top contenders.

Customs Seizes Another Container Load of Arms from Turkey

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced that it intercepted a container load of arms and ammunition imported from Turkey.

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) enforcement team had in January intercepted a container load of arms along the Apapa-Oshodi expressway. In the same vein, the Tin-Can Island Command of the NCS intercepted another container load of arms on May 23.

On the latest seizure, the Customs Service said the Tin-Can Island Command intercepted 1,100 pump action rifles imported from Turkey on September 6.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) frowned at the importation of arms into the country through Turkey.

Gulder Ultimate Serach Season 3 Winner killed as police arrest three suspects

The winner of the Gulder Ultimate Search Season 3, Oluwaseun Jobarteh, has been killed by some gunmen at his house  on Olufowora Close, New Oko Oba, Agege, Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim, 38, was trailed to his house around 8am on Saturday by the assailants, shortly after picking up a sibling from the local wing of the Muritala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

The men were said to have shot him.

He was rushed to a hospital in the area where he was confirmed dead.

Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen had initially lost track of the victim immediately he entered his apartment.

Diamond Bank, Women's World Banking host Global discussion on Digital Financial Services for Women

L – R : Ann Gincherman, Chief Product Dev. Officer, Women World Banking; Caroline Anyanwu, Deputy Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc; Hassan Mahbuh, Manager, Mobile Wallets, JazzCash; Usoro Usoro, General Manager, MTN Financial Services, MTN; Puay Lim Yeo, Regional Manager Southeast Asia, BIMA and Uzoma Dozie, CEO, Diamond Bank Plc at the “Making Digital Financial Services Work for Women” Workshop held in Lagos recently.

Diamond Bank today joins Women's World Banking to host a global discussion on the role of digital financial services in empowering low-income women who do not have access to formal financial products. During a three-day workshop, participants from the Central Bank of Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, Diamond Bank Plc, Jazz of Pakistan, BIMA of Cambodia and Women's World Banking will examine the best practices in developing, enhancing and delivering world-class digital financial services to women. The outcome of the discussion will help in developing and aligning financial products and services that can be adopted in markets around the world. 

Nigeria Immigration Service Bans Cash Payments At Passport Offices

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has banned cash payments for passport processing as part of efforts to eliminate corruption at all passport offices nationwide.‎ Sunday James, NIS spokesperson, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Muhammad Babandede, the Comptroller General of the NIS, had directed that henceforth all passport processing payments must be done online and through designated banks‎.‎ He said the NIS boss had, in a circular, directed‎ all passport control officers not to allow cash payments in any of the passport premises.

“All payments in respect to passport processing are to be done by applicants through banks to generate application ID and reference number on the NIS portal and not through an individual or touts,” Mr. James said.

President Buhari Meets APC, PDP Leaders

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the leaderships of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting, which started around 11.10a.m., was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

It is being attended by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, chairman of the APC, Mr John Odigie-Oyegun and the caretaker chairman of the PDP, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi.

Bayelsa State Ranks among Best Six for the Second Time in 2017 WASC Exams

Bayelsa State again maintained it’s sixth position in the annual West African Examinations Council (WAEC) remaining consistent in the last four years at the leading best six states in country.

Making this know in Yenagoa, the state capital, through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obuebite, the state government said the state had consistently remained among the six best states in the country, since 2013.

The state government therefore reaffirmed its commitment to the education sub sector by initiating policies and programmes to sustain and improve on the massive gains already made in the sector

DBanj Drops "El Chapo" Video Ft. Wande Coal, and Rapper Gucci Mane

DBanj just released the music video for “El Chapo” in which he featured Nigerian musician Wande Coal and rapper Gucci Mane. The video was directed by American production company, Eif Rivera.

This song is off his recently released studio album “King Don Come” and features the entertainer in a mafia setting. He is seen living large with expensive things and the finest girls. It is a common feature in The Entertainers videos.

Watch the video after the cut...

Mystikal Arrested for Alleged Rape

Mystikal is wanted by Shreveport Police in connection to an alleged sexual assault.

Police say a woman was raped on October 22, 2016 in downtown Shreveport, according to a report by KSLA. An investigation matched evidence to Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Tyler, and 26-year-old Averweone Holman. Warrants were issued for both men, who were each charged with one count of first-degree rape.

Rodents forced the President to work from home – Aide

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will work from home after rodents damaged his official office during a more than 100-day overseas medical absence, a presidential spokesman told AFP Tuesday.

The animals damaged furniture and air conditioning fittings in the president’s official Abuja office while he was in London receiving treatment, his media adviser Garba Shehu confirmed.

“These are also general works and it is not uncommon for Nigerian presidents to also work from the presidential villa. He has used the residential office for many years,” said Shehu.

Factory Worker Followers moved from 200 to 500,000 after Kim K replied him on Twitter

25-year-old  factory worker Jerome Billingham, who packs laundry for a living is now earning £5,000 from social media work, after Kim Kardashian replied to his tweet.

His 2013 tweet reads: “Do you notice your fans? I love you loads! #hotlove.” “Love you too,” Kim replied and Jerome’s followers skyrocketed from 200 to 20,000 in a week. Now with over half a million followers on his two Twitter accounts, with his main account getting six million views a month, Clothing companies now send him free clothes at his family home in Louth, Lincolnshire, and dozens of other businesses send him free samples while begging him to promote their goods.

ExtraOrdinary Draws: Diamond Bank Creates 13 Millionaires in 2 Weeks

L - R: Osita Ede, Head, Mass market; Aishah Ahmad, Head, Consumer Banking, all of Diamond Bank Plc; Mamiska Kanayochukwu, N1million Winner, Diamond Xtraordinary  Wins; and Chioma Omeruah aka Chigul, DiamondXtra Season 9 Ambassador, at the cheque presentation ceremony for Winners of  the Diamond Xtraordinary Wins Reward Scheme held in Lagos recently.

Diamond Bank Plc, Nigeria’s leading retail bank, has created additional 13 millionaires in its daily extraordinary draws across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria’s economy.

With these newly created millionaires, the Bank has fulfilled the promise made by the management to make one customer a millionaire every working day in the month of August.

According to the Bank, 18 more Nigerians will become millionaires before the end of September, adding that the daily xtraordinary draws are not just only meant to reward its loyal customers and potential customers but also to show appreciation to Nigerians for the trust and confidence in its array of financial products and services.

See chigul interview with winners after the cut....

Chelsea fine Costa Two Weeks wages for not returning to Training

EPL title defending champions, Chelsea football club  fined Diego Costa two weeks’ wages for failing to return to training as the dispute over his future rumbles on, according to reports.

Costa, who remains in his home town of Lagarto in Brazil, claimed in an interview with the Daily Mail on Sunday that Chelsea are treating him “like a criminal” and that he has lost all personal respect for head coach Antonio Conte over the Italian’s handling of the situation.

Nigeria squandered $201.2bn in 10 years – NEITI

In 10 years, Nigeria accumulated a total of $201.2bn in Excess Crude Account, which it squandered within the same period.

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative stated this in its Occasional Paper (Issue 2) made available to our correspondent in Abuja on Monday.

The publication, which focused on ‘The case for a robust oil savings fund for Nigeria’, said despite current efforts to pull Nigeria out of recession, the economy remained vulnerable to one of the conditions that created the problem in the first place – lack of adequate and prudently managed savings in a period of plenty.

Another Ritualists Den Uncovered in Lagos Manhole, 5 Arrested

Another suspected ritualists’ den was uncovered, yesterday, at Ile Zik Bus Stop, along Lagos/Abeokuta expressway, barely 24 hours after a similar discovery was made along same axis, during which two persons suspected to be operating in the den were set ablaze.

But for the swift arrival of policemen, led by the Commander, Rapid Response Squad, RRS, Assistant Commissioner Olatunji Disu, and his Operations counterpart from Lagos State Police Command, and other security agents, five persons suspected to be operating in the den would have been lynched.

Like the first discovery, yesterday’s den was said to be located in a manhole.

Nokia Returns to Nigeria with Android Phones

With the exit of Microsoft from Nokia and the acquisition of the brand by HMD Global, the globally acknowledged mobile phone brand has made a return to Nigeria with its first Nokia smartphone range – comprising of the Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 –all three available for purchase from selected operator and retail stores.

For Nigerian phone users who have relished their old strong reliable and strong Nokia, the new devices combine superior craftsmanship, distinctive design and powerful entertainment features with a pure Android experience, giving you the ability to use your phone, your way. For those who don’t know, it was in Nigeria that Nokia sold its one billionth handset a little over a decade ago after shipping millions of phones worldwide over a period of decades.

Super Cup: Real Madrid, Man United Set For Supremacy Battle

Real Madrid and Manchester United will duel for European supremacy in tonight’s UEFA Super Cup clash at the Philip II Arena in Skopje, Macedonia, on the back of two contrasting pre-season campaigns.

While UEFA Champions League winners Real have failed to seal a pre-season victory in 90 minutes, UEFA Europa League victors United have won all but one of their friendlies—a 1-0 loss to Barcelona at FedEx Field in Maryland.

The Red Devils also have an advantage in morale over Los Blancos after they defeated the Spanish titans on penalties at Levi’s Stadium in California last month, having drawn 1-1 in normal time.

LAGOS State to fix more than 43 Roads by Dec

The Lagos State Government has confirmed that it would rehabilitate 43 link roads and other major highways, as well as carry out comprehensive maintenance on drainage channels between August and December 2017.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Works and Drainages, Temidayo Erinle, who stated this at a press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, said the government was aware of the poor state of some roads in the state, adding that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had repositioned the Lagos State Public Works Corporation to address issues relating to potholes and drains in the state.

Air Peace to begin Akure flight Operations on August 11

Top local Nigerian carrier, Air Peace will on Aug. 11 begin scheduled commercial flight operations to the Akure Airport in Ondo.

The airline made the announcement in a statement issued by its Corporate Communications Manager, Mr Chris Iwarah in Lagos on Monday.

AKONUCHE BLOG gathered that the carrier was collaborating with the Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu administration to guarantee easy access to Ondo State by investors, tourists and other categories of air travellers.

Arsenal Defeats Chelsea to win Community Shield

Chelsea head coach, Antonio Conte was frustrated after yesterday’s Community Shield loss to Arsenal at Wembley, reports belfasttelegraph.co.uk.

Arsenal won the season-opener 4-1 on penalties as the match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, substitute Sead Kolasinac cancelling out Victor Moses’ opener for Chelsea.

Conte was denied a double in his first season as Chelsea boss as Arsene Wenger’s Gunners won May’s FA Cup final in controversial fashion. An offside dispute and Moses’ dismissal for diving was the reason for his angst on that occasion and on yesterday Conte felt aggrieved once again.

Anambra: Government Officials Condemn Gunmen attack on St. Philips Catholic Church Members

President Muhammadu Buhari, the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; the All Progressives Congress; the Peoples Democratic Party; and the South-East Governors’ Forum have  condemn the Sunday attack by some gunmen on St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu, in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, during which no fewer than 11 worshippers were killed. The top governmant officials said the act was sacrilegious, calling for prompt action to bring the culprits to book.

The gunmen attacked St. Philips Catholic Church at about 6am.

No fewer than 11 persons were said to have been killed, while over 18 people were reportedly injured.

AKONUCHE BLOG gathered that two sons of the community, who were based in South Africa, had a business transaction that went sour.

I will Win Trophies for PSG - Neymar

Brazilian superstar Neymar has pledged to spark a trophy glut at Paris Saint Germain after agreeing a five-year deal on a world record 222 million euro ($264 million) transfer from Barcelona.

The 25-year-old will earn a mind-boggling 30 million euros ($35.5 million) a year in Paris but insists he will prove value for money for the ambitious but under-performing Qatari-owned French side.

“I am extremely happy to join Paris Saint-Germain,” said Neymar.

“Since I arrived in Europe, the club has always been one of the most competitive and most ambitious. And the biggest challenge, what most motivated me to join my new teammates is to help the club to conquer the titles that their fans want.

Prodigy Died from a Choking Accident

The Clark County Medical Examiner has reportedly that Prodigy didn’t die from sickle cell anemia, a condition the Queensbridge native had battled since he was a kid. After completing the investigation into the Mobb Deep MC’s June 20 death, the coroner ruled he died from an accidental choking.

Prodigy was in a Las Vegas hospital when he reportedly choked on an egg. He was being treated for a sickle cell flare-up after performing in the sweltering Nevada heat during the Art Of Rap music festival alongside acts such as KRS-One and EPMD.

Banks to Stabilise Business of 9Mobile before Sale

Nigerian banks have agreed to stabilise the business of 9mobile until they can find new investors, Managing Director of FirstBank Plc, Mr. Adesola Adeduntan, has said.

According to Adeduntan, there was no need to impair loans made to the company because of its cash flows. Adeduntan said: “On the part of lenders, we are trying to reposition the company till we find new investors. With the level of cash flow, we believe there will be no need for impairment.” 

Barclays Bank asks Expatriates with Less than £100,000 to Close their Accounts

Barclays Bank has asked expatriates, including Nigerians, with less than £100,000 deposit to close their accounts.

In a letter dated June 12, 2017, the bank informed the customers that would be affected by the policy of its decision to raise the minimum client balance requirement for international banking service.

“The new minimum level will now be £100,000. Top up your savings and investments to £100,000 or more before 1 August 2017, to continue with the service, or close your account and transfer your monies to another provider without charge,” the letter read.

Breaking : La Liga Rejects Payment of Neymar buyout Clause

Spain’s La Liga refused to accept the payment of Neymar’s 222 million euro ($260 million) buyout clause, a league spokesperson confirmed on Thursday, potentially delaying the Brazilian’s world record move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain. “We can confirm that the legal representatives of the player attended La Liga to pay the clause and this has been rejected,” the spokesperson told AFP. 

Neymar World record PSG move Imminent

Neymar could be presented as a Paris Saint-Germain player as early as this weekend for a world record fee as Barcelona admitted defeat in convincing the Brazilian to stay at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.

Wagner Ribeiro, an advisor to the player, claimed PSG would pay his 222 million euro ($260 million) buyout clause in the “coming hours” to more than double the current transfer record set by Paul Pogba’s £89.3 million ($111 million, 105.2 million euros) move to Manchester United last year.

Earlier, Barcelona ended weeks of speculation by publicly confirming for the first time the 25-year-old’s wish to leave after four years at the Camp Nou.

“Neymar Jr, accompanied by his father and representative, communicated to FC Barcelona this morning his decision to leave the club,” Barca said in a statement.

No ID number, No Passport from Year 2018 — NIS

The Nigeria Immigration Service says from January 1, 2018, anybody without the National Identification Number, issued by the National Identity Management Commission, will not be able to procure Nigerian passport.

It added that the condition applied to both first-time applicants and those renewing their expired document.

 The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mr. Mohammed Babandede, disclosed this to State House correspondents after a meeting of database harmonisation committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo Protests his innocence, denies Tax Fraud

Real Madrid soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo protested his innocence after testifying in court on Monday against charges of evading €14.7m in taxes, Reuters reports.

The 32-year-old Portuguese, who was in the Pozuelo de Alarcon court for about 90 minutes, declined to speak to reporters afterwards, but he released a statement through his agency Gestifute.

Olufemi Olukayode, EFCC Twitter Handler Resigns...Commission Issues a Statement

According to a statement released on the EFCC Facebook page  yesterday, the former Twitter handler of the organization, Olufemi Olukayode Adeyemi, left because he had to go and pursue his personal dreams.

Aluu Four - Court Sentences Ex-police Sergeant, 2 Others to Death

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced three persons to death for the murder of four undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt on October 5, 2012.

The court also discharged and acquitted four other persons, whose cases were not proved “beyond all reasonable doubt” by the prosecution.

The four students, popularly referred to as the UNIPORT or Aluu Four — Lloyd Toku Mike, Ugonna Obuzor, Tekena Elkanah and Chiadaka Biringa — were murdered by a mob, said to be a vigilante group in Omuokiri Village in Aluu, a neighbouring community to the university on Friday, October 5, 2012.

Neymar May Head to Paris Today for PSG Medical ahead of £196 Million Move

Brazil star Neymar will not head to Doha for a medical before completing a £196 million transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, but is instead likely to arrive in the French capital today, according to reports in France, writes dailymail.co.uk.

Le Parisien reported yesterday that ‘everything suggests’ Neymar will return to France from China, where he is visiting for promotional events, instead of heading to the middle east where PSG’s owners, Qatar Sports Investments, are based.

Julius Berger Suspends Further Work on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing said on Sunday that Julius Berger Nigeria Plc had finally suspended work on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as a result of delays in the payment of agreed contract fees for work already done.

PUNCH had reported that the contractor handling the reconstruction and expansion works on the Section II from the Sagamu interchange to Ibadan, Reynolds Construction Company Nigeria Limited, with Contract No. 6205, had suspended further work on the project due to an outstanding debt of N8.94bn.

The RCC had in a letter addressed to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and dated June 2, 2017, called his attention to the worsening financial situation of the project and pleaded for his intervention in order to ensure the continuation of work on the site.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Appointed UK Bank Director....To Earn £130,000 Per Year

Nigeria’s former Coordinating Minister of the Economy/Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been appointed an independent non-executive director at Standard Chartered Plc in the United Kingdom where she would be earning £130,000 per annum for her expertise in financial and development financing.

Diageo, maker of Guinness Stout and other Alchoholic Drinks says Profit after Tax Soars to £2.7bn

Diageo, the British maker of alcoholic drinks including Guinness stout, said Thursday that annual profits soared more than a fifth, aided partly by the pound weakening on Brexit uncertainty.

Profit after tax climbed 21 percent to £2.7 billion ($3.5 billion, 3.0 billion euros) in the group’s financial year to the end of June, compared with 2015/2016, Diageo announced in a results statement.

Sales rose 15 percent to £12.1 billion, helped by favourable exchange rate moves.

262 Nigerians Voluntarily Return from Libya

Two hundred and sixty-two more Nigerians voluntarily returned home from Libya on Wednesday with the help of the International Organisation for Migration and the Nigerian Embassy in Libya.

The returnees arrived aboard a chartered Libyan Airlines aircraft with registration number 5A-LAR, which landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at 10 p.m.

The returnees, who had been stranded in Libya, were made up of 108 males, 135 females, eight children and 11 infants.

They were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and the Police.

Also on ground to receive them were officials of the National Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

South African police arrests Woman, 24, for Rhino Horn Smuggling

South African police officials today Wednesday arrested a 24-year-old woman with 20 kilogrammes of rhino horn before boarding a flight bound for Hong Kong, a spokesman said.

The woman whose nationality has not been revealed, was detained at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport while in transit from the Zambian capital Lusaka.

Police said a luggage scanner revealed her suitcase “contained 11 pieces of rhino horn weighing approximately 20 kilogrammes.”

[PHOTOS] FLASH: PDP Governors, Others meet Buhari in London

Sequel to the news regarding some governors to visit  president Buhari in London, seven state governors on Wednesday met with ailing President Muhammadu Buhari in London.

AKONUCHE gathered that the team was led by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and the Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari.

Alvaro Morata Passes Chelsea Medical

Spanish striker Alvaro Morata has passed his Chelsea medical ahead of his move to the Premier League champions from Real Madrid, according to Sky Sports on Friday.

The 24-year-old is now expected to fly to Singapore to link up with his new team-mates, who are preparing to play Arsenal in a friendly in Beijing.

Morata, who is expected to join in a deal worth up to £70 million ($91 million, 78 million euros) with the Blues paying £58 million up front, could make his unofficial debut against Bayern Munich in Singapore next Tuesday.

Kidnappers shot Dead During Ransom Negotiation

The Police have smashed a four-man armed kidnap syndicate terrorizing Aba and its environs.

Police detectives attached to Omoba Division got the upper hand on the syndicate on Wednesday at Ovungwu, Isiala-Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State.

Doctor Transfuses HIV-infected Blood into boy in Nasarawa

Securities officials and Civil Defense Corps in Nasarawa State have arrested an alleged fake medical doctor, Jonathan Sidi-Ibrahim, for allegedly infecting a six-year-old boy with HIV.

The incident reportedly took place in Iwashi, Dogo of Sarkin Dawaki ward in the Doma Local Government Area of the state.

The commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Lawal Bashir-Kano, who confirmed the incident to Northern City News on Thursday, said the suspect had been operating an illegal clinic since 2015.

He said, “The suspect was arrested for operating an unregistered, illegal clinic known as Abrason Destiny Clinic.

Diamond Bank Confirms Apapa Fire Incident...Assures Customers of Safety.

The Management of Diamond Bank Plc on Wednesday confirmed that there was a fire incident as a result of Mob action at its Creek Road, Apapa branch in Lagos State.

In a press release made available to correspondents, Head, Corporate Communications, Chioma Afe, said the bank was set ablaze by an angry mob after a policeman allegedly shot dead a trailer driver outside the bank premises.

“We had a fire incident at our branch office on Creek Road, Apapa which severely damaged branch infrastructure as a result of mob action. While the situation is under control, we are working with the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to investigate actions leading to the fire incident. While these investigations are ongoing, the branch will be closed to customers for their safety and to allow for completion of all repairs”.

Police Rescue Director, others from Kidnappers’ Den in Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of four victims kidnapped by unidentified armed men last Saturday in the Kokona/Keffi Local Government Area of the state.

 DSP Kennedy Idrisu, the state Police Public Relations Officer, told Northern City News in Lafia, that the rescued victims included a director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Sam Anzaku.

Others were Obinna Maduagwu of the Bank of Agriculture, Enugu branch, a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police, David Mathew from Lafia, and a lady, Hauwa Dahiru.

R.Kelly Denies Abusive Cult Allegations

R. Kelly has found himself at the center of damning allegations once again.

In an explosive story published by Buzzfeed on Monday (July 17), there are claims that the R&B crooner is running a sex-fueled “cult” consisting of several young women.

The jaw-dropping allegations made in the story were primarily made by the parents of the women who are allegedly being held against their will by Kelly.

One parent, who is simply referred to as “J.” in the story, recalled meeting Kelly with her daughter, an aspiring singer, backstage at a concert in Indio, California in 2015. Kelly flew J. and her teen daughter out to the concert after meeting the 19-year-old at a show in Atlanta.

JAY-Z's "4:44" Nabs The Billboard 200 Throne

JAY-Z’s critically acclaimed 13th studio album, 4:44, has hit #1 on the Billboard 200 for the week ending July 13. According to Nielsen Music, the project sold 262,296 equivalent album units and is the fourth-largest week for any album of 2017, behind the debuts of Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. (603,000 units), Drake’s More Life (505,000) and Ed Sheeran’s Divide (451,000). 

Alexis Sanchez is going Nowhere - Arsene Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Tuesday he wants to make more new signings before the season begins next month and batted away fresh doubts about the future of Alexis Sanchez.

Wenger is under pressure after the Premier League side failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, and he is also dealing with persistent doubts about several of his star players.

Chief among them is the future of attacker Sanchez, who has a year left on his Arsenal contract but is stalling over an extension.