Author: straightnewsng.com

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara said admitted that the legislature (National Assembly) was not designed to be subservient to the Executive or judicial arms of government in the discharge of its duties. Dogara rather said the three arms of government were created to work as partners to achieve democratic growth and development in Nigeria. In his remarks at the opening ceremony of the orientation programme for members-elect of the 9th Assembly in Abuja, the speaker urged the members not to be deterred by the oaths that would be administered on them but muster courage even in…

A Nigerian journalist who was arrested on Saturday by armed men suspected to be operatives of the Department of Security Service, DSS, has been released. The Bayelsa-based magazine publisher, Jones Abiri was released, Monday, from the secret police’s detention facility in Abuja, his lawyer said. “He has just been released around 2 p.m,” his lawyer, Samuel Ogala said, adding that terms of the release would be stated later. The men who arrested Abiri came in a Toyota Hilux truck. He was arrested in Yenagoa, the capital of his home Bayelsa State where he publishes his Weekly Source magazine. The DSS…

Nigeria is moving close to a major cholera outbreak if urgent sanitary measures are not put in place at the Internal Displaced Camps in the North-east, the Norwegian Refugee Council, NRC, has warned. The Non-Governmental Organisation in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES, Monday, warned that if urgent actions are not taken, the overcrowded camps, coupled with the shortage of sanitation and hygiene facilities will cause another cholera outbreak in the country. The region since 2009 has been under siege due to the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents who are seeking an independent Islamic state. The insecurity has…

Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, Monday, restated its resolve to secure the release of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, the sect’s leader who has been under detention since 2015, saying blood will triumph over bullets. Members of IMN, also known as Shi’ites, spoke during the 2019 matyrs’ day celebration by the group in Abuja. Speaking at the event, Sheikh Abdulhamid Bello, Head of IMN’s Shuhada (Martyrs) Foundation, said, “We are here to peacefully honour our brethren who have been killed over the years because of their spiritual inclinations as we have consistently done. “However, this year’s event, which in the 28th in…

The Senate, Monday, says it had uncovered N42 billion appropriation from the 2019 budget proposal for a Special Economic Zone Company under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. The Senator Sabo Mohammed (APC Jigawa North West) led Senate Committee on Trade and Investment explained that Senate has rejected N15.633 billion in the Ministry’s 2019 budget proposals tabled before the committee for approval following the discovery of the illegal company. The alleged Economic Zone company reared its head when Dr Okechukwu Enelama, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, appeared before the committee, Monday, for budget defence session, just…

The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs for the 2019 budget defence on Monday was told that the plan to revert the State House Medical Centre to a clinic was President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to make the facility functional. Speaking before the Senate committee, Mr Jalal Arabi, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Abuja, stated that “Without prejudice to what is currently obtainable at SHMC, the intention to revert to a clinic is a Presidential directive. This is to make sure that the facility is functional and serves the purpose for which it was established, ab initio.” Later, Arabi…

The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, Monday, opened his defence to the allegation that he failed to declare his assets as prescribed by the law. Onnoghen kick-started his defence to the allegation, following the decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, in Abuja that he has a case to answer with regards to the six-count charge the Federal Government preferred against him. FG had in the charge, alleged that Onnoghen’s failure to properly declare his assets was in violation of section 15(2) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. The Danladi Umar-led three-member panel…

A 17-year-old former pupil of Nigerian Airforce Secondary School, Ikeja, Lagos,  has emerged the overall best candidate in the May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in West Africa. Peter Arotiba emerged the best candidate in the sub-region with eight A1s in the May/June 2018 WASSCE beating more than 1.9 million candidates who sat for the examination. In the May/ June 2018 WASSCE, Arotiba with examination number 4251112045, obtained A1 in eight subjects namely Economics, Civic Education, Tourism, English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The second and third positions went to two Ghanaian pupils, Wilhermina Opoku and Brago…

Roger Federer lifted the 101st title of his remarkable career on Sunday, beating ATP Miami Open defending champion John Isner 6-1, 6-4 in just 63 minutes. Federer has been the form player in South Florida and his performance against big-serving Isner proved it as the 33-year-old home-nation hero was overwhelmed by the Swiss star’s incredible consistency. An opening break sapped Isner’s confidence and allowed 37-year-old Federer to gain control of a match which he never looked like losing, especially after Isner was injured near the end of the second set. “Getting a break so early was like a dream start.…

For the second time in this football season, El Kanemi Warriors, Sunday, showed disrepect by humbling the visiting Akwa United 4-1 in Maiduguri, Borno State capital. At the start of match one, El kanemi Warriors defeated Akwa United 1-0 at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo. In the first half of the match played on March 31, Balogun Kabir opened the score for the host- El Kanemi at the 32nd minute. Sani Abbani increased the tally for El Kanemi at the 69th minute of the game while Godspower Aniefiok slotted in one for Akwa United to reduce the tally to 2-1…