Author: straightnewsng.com

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has again lamented the growing impunity and lack of internal democracy within political parties, saying the Judiciary was confronted with about 809 pre-election cases stemming from disagreements regarding the conduct of party primaries. So far, INEC has withdrawn 64 Certificates of Return from winners in both Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this in Abuja Monday, while presenting Certificates of Return to the governor-elect of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Mutawalle, his deputy, three senators-elect, and seven House of Representatives members-elect, all under the platform of…

The Statistician-General of the Federation, Yemi kale, has said he receives threats from various parties when the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, releases unfavourable reports. Speaking on Public Conscience, a radio programme on Nigeria Info, Kale, who is also the Director-General of the NBS, said he received death threats after releasing the unemployment figures for the third quarter of 2018. “The job is extremely sensitive. My job description is to tell Nigerians what the situation on ground is and that situation might not sit well to the same people that appointed you or people extremely powerful that might have an influence…

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, charged the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, to keep his filled assets declaration forms safe as those facing corruption charges under his administration will come after him when he exits office in 2023. Buhari stated this when he, alongside the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, received fresh assets declaration forms from the CCB Chairman, Prof Mohammed Isa, who led a team, including Barr. Murtala Kankia, and Dr. Emmanuel Attah, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The President in his remarks said: “I am very pleased that you are here. I assure you I will quickly fill this form and…

The final day of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) saw the country’s best clubs qualifying for the season-ending Super Six play-off match. Former champions, Lobi Stars and Enyimba joined the already-qualified- Akwa United, Enugu Rangers, Kano Pillars and FC Ifeanyi Ubah in the Super Six play-off, which will decide the winner of the 2018/2019 season. Rangers won Group A, while Lobi Stars and Enyimba finished in the second and third positions respectively. Akwa United lead the qualified teams from Group B with Kano Pillars and FC Ifeanyi Ubah second and third respectively. Enyimba, who lost 1-2 to Katsina United…

At least, 30 people are feared dead after a boat sank on Lake Mai-Ndombe in western Democratic Republic of Congo, local reports say. The vessel is reported to have carried more than 400 people, of whom 170 have been saved while more than 200 are still missing. Last month, at least 167 people died in two boat accidents on Lake Kivu. The reason for this accident is unclear, but it is believed to have been overloaded with passengers. DR Congo, which is about the size of mainland Western Europe, has a poor road network and many areas are inaccessible unless…

A former Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has sneered at Femi Adesina, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, over his outbursts on Christian leaders supporting Obasanjo against the president. Adesina had described Christian leaders, who support the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and oppose Buhari as “witches, false prophets and marabouts.” In his latest article entitled, “Ain’t no stopping us now,” Adesina wrote: “The sluice gates of free funds had been slammed shut, and they were unhappy. As dolorous as King Lear at his worst. “The letter writer mobilized the international community, feeding them with misinformation and…

Though President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, signed the 2019 Appropriation Bill into law, he frowned at an increase of more than N90 billion budget by the National Assembly. Buhari had on December 18, 2018 earlier proposed a budget of N8.83 trillion to the National Assembly, but the passage was delayed due to events such as the Christmas and New Year breaks as well as the general elections. The Senate and the House of Representatives had on Tuesday, May 2 passed the 2019 Appropriation Bill into law after it had undergone a third reading with slight amendments. The N8.916 trillion budget was…

A Nigerian pastor and the founder of Champions Royal Assembly, Prophet Joshua Iginla, Sunday, announced that he has acquired a private jet, a video on social media from the church has shown. Iginla who announced this during a sermon in Abuja has joined the club of Nigerian pastors owning private jets: Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church; Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of Word of Life Bible Church; Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries and several others. The clergyman, who admitted two months ago to have cheated, especially in the…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Sunday, said it earned $490.03 million from export of crude oil and gas in February 2019. In a statement on its Monthly Financial and Operations Report for February 2019, the NNPC said earnings from crude oil and gas export in the month under review, represented a 32.45 per cent increase compared to the previous month’s sale. In the statement signed by its Group General Manager, Group Public Adviser Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, the NNPC noted that crude oil export sales contributed $350.29 million, representing 71.48 per cent, of the dollar transactions compared with $240.23…

The Boko Haram sect has reportedly killed 25 soldiers and scores of civilians in an ambush in Borno State. The insurgent group reportedly attacked the soldiers on Saturday morning while they were evacuating people from villages in the state. The fighters were said to have opened fire on the soldiers and the villagers who were reportedly occupying about 50 vehicles. However, Col. Sagir Musa, acting Director, Army Public Relations, in a reaction Sunday, said: ”There is no truth in the report or claims that 25 soldiers were killed by Boko Haram. It is fake. No report of any terrorist attack…