Woman sacked 30 minutes into new job after she revealed intricate hand tattoo

A woman has told how she was sacked from her job after only 30 minutes after employers realised she had an intricate hand tattoo.

Claire Shepherd, 27, had been offered the role as a retail merchandiser with shopping company Dee Set after passing a phone interview. 

But after receiving an email about the company's dress policy, Claire realised they included a note which said tattoos should be covered up. 

Claire, from Swansea, replied explaining she had an intricate tattoo covering her hand in the hope the company would understand. 

Central African Republic: 21 dead after killing of Muslim taxi driver

BANGUI, Central African Republic, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Fighting in the capital of the Central African Republic over the weekend has killed at least 21 people and wounded another 100 after a Muslim taxi driver was killed and found dumped in the street.

Officials and witnesses told reporters angry Muslims from Bangui's 3rd district, armed with automatic weapons, attacked the mainly-Christian 5th district.

United Nations peacekeepers have taken positions inside the city as fleeing residents seek refuge in displacement camps.

U.N. helicopters have been reported flying over Bangui as attackers set cars and buildings alight.

Bank worker arraigned for fraud

The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned one Hammed Mosuro, an employee of Access Bank Plc, for allegedly stealing the sum of N1.8m belonging to two customers of the bank.

The 29-year-old, who had been outsourced to Access Bank Plc by another firm, XL Management Ltd., was alleged to have collected the money from two costumers and failed to credit the customers’ accounts.

The suspect, who worked at the Apongbon branch of Access Bank, Lagos, was alleged to have made fake tellers to the customers without paying the money into their bank accounts.

It was learnt that the bank was made aware of the fraud when the two customers complained about non-receipt of the lodgments into their accounts.

Apprentice abducts boss’ son 4 days after resumption

LAGOS—A 25-year-old apprentice, identified simply as Ayomide, has allegedly kidnapped his boss’s two-year-old son in the densely populated Ajegunle area of Lagos barely four days after resumption.

The abducted boy, David Sunday Ushie, was reportedly kept in the apprentice’s care by his mother, Mrs Ushie, in her fashion designing shop located on Saludi street, along Boundary road on September 17, 2015.

But apprehension set in when on arrival, her son and the apprentice were no where to be found. Concerted efforts made to reach Ayomide on the phone proved abortive .

Six die in Sokoto boat accident

Six persons have been confirmed dead in a boat accident that occurred on Saturday in a river in Bengaji District of the Yabo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Confirming the deaths in a statement on Sunday, Alhaji Mika’ilu Sabo-Yabo, the Assistant Information Officer of the local government area, said the six persons died after the boat they were travelling in capsized, theNews Agency of Nigeria reports.

According to the statement, four other passengers of the ill-fated boat survived with minor injuries.

The statement explained that the boat broke into two while in motion before it capsized, killing six of the passengers, who were from Kissa, Gadara and Kalangu villages.

Sierra Leone starts another 42-day Ebola countdown

Sierra Leone on Sunday began another 42-day Ebola countdown after the last two Ebola patients were discharged from the Mathene Treatment Centre in the northern city of Makeni, local officials said.

According to the local district Ebola response officials who declined to be named, "all people that were in quarantine homes in the Kambia and Bombali Districts have ended their 21 day incubation period and have been released".

Sierra Leone's first countdown was interrupted about a month ago when a 67 year-old woman died from Ebola in the Kambia District on August 28 and followed by the death of a 16-year-old school girl in the Bombali District.

10 dead in Cape fishing trawler disaster

Cape Town - Ten fishermen have died and three remain missing after they abandoned a fishing trawler which was taking on water in rough seas on Sunday night.

Eight men were plucked from the frigid water by other vessels that had rushed to their aid.

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the volunteer rescue service was alerted to the vessel in distress by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).

“The 42-metre Cape Town fishing trawler [reported] to be taking on water in heavy sea swells 20 nautical miles south of Hangklip with their 21 crew on board abandoning ship.”

Bad governments cannot meet UN goals – Obama

 
US President Barack Obama has warned world leaders that they will not meet new UN anti-poverty targets without tackling corruption and ending discrimination against women, gays and other marginalised groups.

Obama spoke at the launch of the UN’s new sustainable development goals (SDGs) on Sunday in a diplomatic meet that has been overshadowed by conflicting Western and Russian approaches to Syria’s civil war.

“Development is threatened by bad governance,” Obama said in a 28-minute speech in which he criticised unequal societies and discrimination against women, gays, disabled people, ethnic minorities and other groups.

‘Capsized Lagos boat developed fault twice’

One of the survivors of the Ikorodu boat accident, Seun Adebanjo, 26, says the ill-fated ferry which killed five of the passengers, developed fault two different times on water before it eventually capsized.

Adebanjo, who spoke with our correspondent on Sunday, said she would not have boarded the boat if she had heeded the advice of a friend who warned her not to board it.

Our correspondent had reported on Sunday that five people died, while many others were hospitalised after a commercial boat capsized in the Bayeku, Igbogbo, Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Waterways Authority, with the support of local divers, were said to have rescued the victims from the waters.

Staff of Lagos State Govt' arrested for stealing cables

The police in Lagos have arrested an official of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, Ibrahim Alli, for allegedly vandalising and stealing the cables that supplied power to street lights in the Opebi, Ikeja area of the state.

Our correspondent learnt that 29-year-old Alli, said to be a member of a two-man syndicate, was arrested on Friday, September 25, in the area.

The police said the suspect works with LAWMA in the Onipanu area, while his accomplice, identified only as Yunusa, evaded arrest. They said a manhunt had been launched for him.

Hajj Stampede: Nigerian death toll rises to 20

THE number of Nigerian pilgrims that lost their lives in the stampede at Mina, Saudi Arabia, last Thursday, has risen to 20 from the initial six.

There were fears, yesterday, that the death toll may rise further as more states are still searching for their ‘missing’ pilgrims. Taraba, Sokoto and Gombe states have announced the loss of some pilgrims from their states.

Already, two justices of the Court of Appeal, Justice Abubakar Abdulkadir Jega, brother of former INEC Chairman, Profesor Attahiru Jega, and Justice Musa Hassan Alkali, and front line journalist and columnist, Hajiya Bilikisu Yusuf, among others have been confirmed dead.

Buhari stops special allowance for Villa guards

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the stoppage of special allowance for security personnel in the Presidential Villa, investigations by The Punch have revealed.

Before now, all security personnel posted to the Villa were being paid what is known as Risk and Hazard Allowance.

However, since his assumption of office, President Buhari was said to have refused to pay the money to them.

During the last regime, our correspondents gathered that senior security officers covering the Villa were said to have been collecting between N75,000 and N50,000 while their junior ones received between N30,000 and N25,000 on a monthly basis.

I’m divorcing my husband soon — Ella Martins

Beninese singer, actress and virtual artist became very popular in Nigeria when a story broke that she and Nollywood superstar, Genevieve Nnaji, were love partners as lesbians. The story made such a great fuss even Potpourri couldn’t ignore it and sought after the Beninese to get an interview which we got.

The Chocolat Baby crooner is back in the news again, not about any homosexuality saga but as a distress wife about to call it quits with her husband of many years.

In a private chat with Potpourri days ago, the singer opened up on a lot of things. First, she said she is tired of her marriage and wanted out. Want out? We never even knew she was married or not.

Let’s honour our heroes while alive, Fayose advises politicians

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has cautioned politicians against playing politics with the death of Nationalists and great Nigerian leaders to score cheap political points.

Speaking in Ikenne on Friday while paying a condolence visit to the family of the late Mama Hannah Dideolu Idowu Awolowo, Fayose said it is better that such great leaders are recognised and given their dues respect while alive.

This, he said informed his decision to honour some prominent Ekiti indigenes such as Prof Sam Aluko and Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye before they died.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor said the deceased, wife of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, lived a life worthy of celebrating even though she departed to the great beyond last Saturday.

Ministerial appointments: No going back on September 30 – Presidency

Presidency has assured that the September 30 promise by President Mohammadu Buhari as deadline for the appointment of Ministers would be met.

The presidency spoke against the backdro of a growing apprehension in the polity on the fact that it is only 5 days to the end of the month.

Of concern also was the current travails of the senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, which many Nigerians feared may make the deadline not feasible.

At the moment, the senate whose function it is to receive and screen the Minister nominees from the presidency is on vacation to resume on September 29, barley a day September 30.

Roads, power to benefit from N4.9tn pension funds

The Contributory Pension Scheme operators are considering investing part of the growing pension funds in long-term projects because most of the contributors are young workers who may not need their money very soon, investigation has revealed.

The total pension funds being managed under the CPS stood at N4.9tn at the end of May this year.

Statistics on the Retirement Savings Account registration by age and sector obtained from the National Pension Commission revealed that most contributors to the CPS were less than 40 years old.

According to the Pension Reform Act, 2014, only workers who have retired and are up to the age of 50 years can access the retirement funds under the pension scheme.

DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE’S NEIGHBOURS RELIEVED

As Minister of Petroleum, Ms. Diezani Alison-Madueke was not only powerful, but influential. She was highly revered and had the ears of former President Goodluck Jonathan. It was no surprise, therefore, that her exquisite detached house in Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island, Lagos, was heavily guarded by mobile policemen and naval ratings. Right in front of the property is a well-manicured waterfront garden with a small jetty, where speedboats and small yachts of various types were anchored.

But as the popular saying goes, the only thing constant in life is change. Today, the number and size of boats anchored near the garden have dwindled to just three boats that lack the splendour of the former large vessels that used to grace the entrance to the property.

Also, unlike in the past when the security around the building was so tough that residents had to keep moving until they got past it, there are currently only one or two unarmed naval ratings carrying out sentry duties at the site.

Pope electrifies Philadelphia with advice on family, immigration

Pope Francis addressed a festival of families attended by tens of thousands of Catholics, offering a frank assessment of the difficulties of life and a prescription for love on the penultimate day of his US tour.

The 78-year-old Argentine pontiff rode through downtown Philadelphia waving to ecstatic crowds, after endearing himself to American Catholics with speeches about the importance of women and immigrants.

He ended the night on stage at the Festival of Families, a Catholic event held once every three years, for a star-studded night of music and prayer.

Gospel superstar Aretha Franklin and Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli were among those who performed.

Cecilia Ibru Smiles Again

Former Managing Director of Oceanic Bank, Chief (Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru, is in happy mood at the moment.

Reason: Her family’s newly approved private university, Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Delta State, which was among the few private institutions recently approved by the Nigerian University Commission (NUC), made a formal presentation to the Delta State government.

It will be recalled that she was one of the most respected bankers in Nigeria. But she suffered a reversal of fate when she was hit by the Sanusi Lamido Sanusi-led Central Bank of Nigeria Tsunami, following allegation of financial recklessness. 

 Consequently, the influential banker was forced to crawl back into her shell, therefore becoming a rarity on the social scenes.

Father rapes daughter, impregnates neighbour

A 46-year-old man, Morris Ndidwe, has allegedly raped his 11-year-old daughter and impregnated a neighbour’s daughter in Delta State.

The man has been arrested by the Delta State Police Command.

Ndidwe, according to his wife, had made several attempts of having carnal knowledge of his 11-year-old daughter in the past before the last one that landed him in police net.

His wife claimed that her husband’s behaviour had made her quit the marriage initially and that she only returned after several appeals and an assurance that he had repented from his ways.

She said she had initially moved out of her matrimonal home after her husband impregnated their neighbour’s daughter.

Jega’s brother, Taraba emir, others die in Mecca stampede

A brother of the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Justice Abdulkadir Jega; another Justice of the Ilorin Division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Musa Hassan Alkali; the Emir of Zing and Ameerul-hajj of Taraba State to 2015’s hajj exercise, Abbas Ibrahim and two of his wives have been identified as being among those that died in Thursday’s stampede in Mecca.

Abdulkadir Jega was a judge of the Court of Appeal and also a brother to the Editor-In-Chief of Daily Trust Newspaper, Mahmud Jega.

A family source told one of our correspondents that the body of the judge, who was a member of the Kebbi State Government delegation to the 2015 Hajj, was found in a mortuary in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

This is as the death toll from the stampede has risen to 769.

Resign now, labour unions tell Saraki

Nigerian workers, under the umbrellas of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, have asked the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, to vacate his office pending the determination of his case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The workers, who spoke across the country, said although Saraki is still on trial and has not been found guilty of the allegations against him, it is morally right for him to vacate his office as Senate President to defend himself.

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation is prosecuting Saraki for alleged false declaration of his assets at the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Beyonce shows off her assets in plunging swimsuit and shares adorable holiday snaps

Beyonce looks to be having some serious fun in the sun in the latest snaps of her family holiday to Europe.

The superstar singer and husband Jay Z took their adorable three-year-old daughter all over the continent but it wasn't just the little one who had a great time by the looks of it.

In one of Beyonce's latest Instagram photos of her family break she took the opportunity to soak up the sun and show off her assets.

WATCH: Insane Chinese Girl Rollerblades Under 18 Cars

If you have been reading the business section, you may have the impression that China has lost its swagger. Economic growth is lagging, equity bubbles loom, and the yuan faces further devaluation. But watch this video of a young Chinese girl rollerblading under 18 cars at lightning speed, and try to convince me that the Chinese won't become our new overlords.

In what seems to be an insane Chinese variety show, this dauntless youngster rollerblades towards a motorcade of 18 cars before an oohing and aahing crowd. Just as you think she’s about to slam into the first car’s exterior, this wheeled warrior abruptly descends into an in-motion split. After contorting her body into a human skateboard, she proceeds, with a straight face, to glide underneath the vehicles faster than a goddamn peregrine falcon. This girl DGAF.

Watch the video below...

Ciara smolders in her peek-a-boo top [Photos]

She's been leading the fashion pack after hanging out last week at London Fashion Week.

And Ciara stepped out in style in Italy at the Roberto Cavalli SS2016 show in Milan on Saturday.

The singer, 29, demonstrated her ubiquitous fashion chops in a stylish outfit that flaunted her fabulous figure. And she was happy to be at the show as she wrote on Instagram that being a spokesperson for Cavalli, 'Feels pretty darn cool!'

Her bra-free skin was clearly visible underneath her grey chamois leather long-sleeved peekaboo cut-out top.

Why Buhari missed UN’s Boko Haram meeting – Presidency

The Presidency has maintained President Muhammadu Buhari is fully committed to improve national security and succour for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.

This was contained in a statement by Garba Shehu, SSA to the President (Media & Publicity) in reaction to the earlier report that Buhari and his delegation to the United Nations missed the meeting to discuss and proffer solution to the problems of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Read full statement below:

Contrary to the erroneous impression that may have been created by reports that the Nigerian delegation to the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly missed a meeting on help for displaced persons, President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration remain fully committed to the rehabilitation and well-being of all persons who have been displaced or adversely affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Most politicians guilty of false declaration of assets – Okunrounmu

Sen. Femi Okunrounmu, Chairman of the 2014 National Conference Convocation Committee, said on Saturday said that more than 90 per cent of politicians in the country were guilty of false declaration of assets.

Okunrounmu stated this while interacting with newsmen on the sidelines of 80th birthday celebration of O’dua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, in Ikeja, Lagos.

He said that if anybody had done anything that was against the law or Constitution, the person should be called to account.

According to him, it is good and part of the fight against Corruption, but that fight should be holistic.
“It should cover all the people who are guilty, not just target a few individuals.

Hajj ends as stampede death toll rises to 769

Saudi Arabia deployed large numbers of special forces Saturday as pilgrims performed the final rituals of a hajj marred by double tragedy, with the death toll from a stampede rising to 769.

Health Minister Khaled al-Falih announced the new figure, an increase from the previous toll of 717.

The number hurt rose to 934 from 863 recorded just after the deadliest incident in a quarter-century to strike the annual Muslim pilgrimage.

Dozens of special emergency force personnel were seen on one level of Jamarat Bridge, a five-storey structure in Mina where pilgrims ritually stone the devil, and on which hundreds of thousands were converging when Thursday’s stampede occurred nearby.

I don’t have breast implants –Angela Okorie

Popular actress, Angela Okorie, has refuted claims that she has breast implants. In a chat with Saturday Beats, she said that the rumours were fuelled because of a picture she posted on her instagram account.

She said, “Don’t mind rumour mongers. What breast implants? I was the one that posted a picture on my social media page one day while I was playing on set. 

I play a lot and one day while we were on set, someone brought some balloons to the set. I blew the balloon and put it in my shirt and posted the picture on instagram. In the caption, I wrote that I just had a breast implant and I asked what my fans felt about it. 

Senators move to impeach Senate President , Bukola Saraki

There were indications on Friday that members of the Senate Unity Forum had started wooing senators loyal to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.

Our correspondent gathered from a reliable source that the move was part of fresh efforts to change the leadership of the Senate.

The group comprises senators, who were opposed to the emergence of Saraki as senate president.

It was learnt that the SUF members, who contacted the pro-Saraki senators, hinged their argument on the ongoing trial of the Senate President at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Omotola’s dressing unfit for a mother – Funke Adesiyan

Actress Funke Adesiyan has said she has no regret criticising fellow actress, Omotola Jalade, for wearing a cropped top to a public event recently.

Funke, who was angry at those who criticised her buddy and colleague, Bimbo Thomas, who posted a picture where she wore a swimsuit on the social media, said it was irrational of the people who made nasty comments concerning what Bimbo wore.

“I stand by what I said. People should stop being hypocritical. I don’t see anything wrong with anybody wearing a swimsuit at a beach; do you expect the person to wear agbada? Omotola is my senior colleague whom I respect a lot. She is pretty and very strong. But this is my opinion. 

Security Agencies Foil Attempt to Free Boko Haram Detainees in Lokoja

A combined effort of security agencies saved the day on Friday as suspected Boko Haram terrorists stormed a Directorate of Security Services (DSS) facility in Lokoja and tried to free their members detained there.

This is as the Nigerian military said that over 200 members of Boko Haram terrorists group on Friday surrendered to their troops in newly liberated Banki Town of Borno State, North-eastern part of the country.

The effort of the police, DSS operatives and soldiers that were later called in successfully beat back the terrorists who allegedly stormed the facility with explosives to blow their way through so as to free their detained members.

Reports of pandemonium due to confusion on whether the shootings and explosions heard in the vicinity were from armed robbery attacks which are rife in the area prevailed till it was confirmed that it was a Boko Haram invasion.

60,000 Nigerian Youths Trafficked Annually to Europe through Desert, Group Reveals

Government at all levels have been urged to as a matter of priority, halt he irregular migrations of youths from Nigeria to Europe and other western nations in search of the proverbial greener pastures as over 60,000 Nigerians were trafficked through African countries like Libya and Morocco across the Mediterranean sea to Europe, a group revealed friday.

Besides, the group said over 100,000 Nigerian youths get stranded in the above mentioned countries, while about 700 of them die annually journeying through deserts. They noted that if the trend was not stopped, the country would continue to lose its able bodied youth, either through death or migration to countries in Europe

Coordinator, Human Support Services and Patriotic Citizen Intiative, Mr. Osita Osemene, stated this in an interactive session with newsmen in Benin City on Friday.

Gunmen Kidnap Clergy, 70, in Ondo

As the dust is gradually settling down on the abduction of an Afenifere Chieftain, Chief Olu Falae, the pastor of Apostolic Faith church, Ilepa, in Ikare Akoko, Reverend Japhet Obafemi, has been reportedly kidnapped by gunmen.

The 70 year-old clergy was said to have been abducted along Auga-Akunnu road near Ondo-Kogi states border in Akoko North-East Local Government area of the state.

It was gathered that Obafemi who had earlier been declared missing by his family and church members few days ago was kidnapped and that his kidnappers had made contact to demand a ransom of N16 million.

A church member, who preferred anonymity, said both the victim's family and church could not raise such ransom and appealed the Ondo State government and security operatives to help secure his release. The church member said the family had been able to raise only N300, 000.

Ministerial List: Buhari, Obasanjo Hold Crucial Meeting at UN plaza, New York

As preparations for the submission of the ministerial list by President Muhammadu Buhari heats up, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Buhari met on Friday at the United Nations (UN) Plaza in downtown Manhattan, New York City, United States.
The meeting which took place at the 37th floor of the plaza was behind closed doors.

The former president first came in waiting for the president, when President Buhari came, they both moved in with Dr. Kayode Fayemi and other top dignitaries who accompanied the President to the 70th UN General Assembly.

When journalists ambushed the two leaders, they were shielded by their security aides who said it would amount to 'security breach' to get to them.

The meeting came on the heels of speculations that the ministerial nominees would be out any time soon.

US House Speaker John Boehner resigns

US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, who has struggled with repeated rebellions from the conservative wing of his Republican Party, plans to resign from the House at the end of October.

The Ohio lawmaker, 65, stunned Republican House members at a morning meeting with the announcement he will step down from the speakership, the top job in the 435-seat chamber, and resign his seat in Congress effective on Oct. 30.

10 die in Ondo crash, truck driver flees

No fewer than 10 persons lost their lives in a fatal auto crash on Akure-Owo Expressway in Uso town, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The crash, which was said to have occurred on Thursday afternoon, involved a trailer with number plate LSD 438 XE; a Nissan Sunny taxi cab, marked AL 750 WWW, and a Mistibushi bus with number plate LQG 122 JD.

According to an eyewitness, the trailer, which was heading towards Abuja, rammed into the two vehicles, coming from the opposite side, while trying to avoid potholes on the road, killing 10 of the occupants of the vehicles.

I slept on bare floor for four days – Olu Falae

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, says he slept on bare floor for the four days that he was held in kidnappers’ den.

Falae, who was released on Thursday after being kidnapped allegedly by some Fulani herdsmen on Monday, on his farm in Ilado village, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, described his experience as “hell.”

In his discussion with the state Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who paid him a visit at his Oba Ile residence, Falae said his abductors were unreasonable in their demand.

He said, “When I told the kidnappers that my family could raise N2m for ransom against the N100m they demanded, they rejected it and told me, ‘Is it Boko Haram you are giving N2m to?’”

Industrial Court orders reinstatement of staff unlawfully sacked by FIRS

The National Industrial Court [NIC], sitting in Abuja, has rejected a motion filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service for stay of execution of a judgement it delivered on April 30, ordering the immediate reinstatement of a Clerical Assistant, Franca Osondu, and payment of all her salaries entitlements from 2009 till date.

The court had in the earlier judgment found that the termination of Mrs. Osondu’s appointment by the management of the FIRS was in flagrant violation of her right to fair hearing as protected by Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the extant provisions of the Public Service Rules, 2008.

The court had declared the letter of termination of her appointment on August 3, 2009, as null and void and consequently ordered her immediate reinstatement and payment of all her salaries entitlements from 2009 till date.

How I died, resurrected and returned from the land of the dead — ex-Governor Akpabio

Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has spoken publicly about the trauma he went through after the road crash in Abuja involving his car and a vehicle belonging to the United States Embassy in Nigeria.

Mr. Akpabio, while addressing a large crowd of Akwa Ibom people, who gathered Wednesday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, to mark the 28th anniversary of Akwa Ibom State, said he had just returned “from the land of the death”.

Mr. Akpabio, minority leader of the Nigerian Senate, said he lost consciousness for about an hour because of the impact of the crash.

“When that accident happened, I was rushing in the morning to join my daughter who was ill in her school abroad and when it happened I lost consciousness and all I shouted was God take care of my children and my people,” said the former governor, who now represents Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District in the Senate.

Policeman kills self, two others in Yobe

The incident which took place at the Nangere Police Division in the state was reported to have occurred in the early hours of Friday.

Eyewitness said the Police Constable shot two other Inspectors at close range following a disagreement on a homicide case that was brought to the station.

“He shot himself after killing the two other inspectors at the station,” the eyewitness said.

The Police commissioner in the state Zanna Ibrahim told our correspondent on phone that he was on his way to Nangere to get details of the incident.

200 suspected Boko Haram terrorists surrender – Army

The Nigerian Army said on Friday that 200 suspected Boko Haram terrorists had surrendered after the military overran their territories along Bama-Banki axis of Borno in the ongoing anti-terrorism war. Maj.-Gen. Yushau Abubakar, the Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, stated this while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri.

Abubakar said that the action was a fallout of the recapturing of Banki border town from the insurgents. “We have over 200 Boko Haram terrorists that have surrendered; the information came about 30 minutes ago.

“This is largely due to the gallant efforts of our troops. “ I am happy to inform you that last Thursday by 5 p.m. Banki fell to our troops. “As am talking to you now, they are right inside the Banki town”. He said that the military had also apprehended a suspected terrorist trying to plant an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at a mosque in Maiduguri.

He prays before raping me – Victim

It was an ordeal that nightmares are made of. A 20-year-old Yazidi woman, who says she was held as a sex slave by ISIS, told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in an exclusive interview that her captor was a fighter who told her he was from the United States.

The victim, who asked to be called “Bazi” (not her real name) is now in the U.S. to testify to Congress about her allegations against the American – and to push the FBI to press charges against the man she said went by the name of Abu Abdullah Al Amriki (Abu Abdullah the American).

The woman’s story could not be independently verified. The human rights group Hardwired assisted her in going to the U.S.

Her captor “was very white,” Bazi told Amanpour in Washington. “He was a little bit taller than me, with a black beard, black hair. I also saw his own family. He had a wife and two children, a son and a daughter.”

Indian village women bathe police officer to appease rain gods

Women in northern India gave a bath to a police officer in an unusual attempt to appease the rain gods, officials and news reports said on Friday.

Groups of women reached a police station in a village in Uttar Pradesh state earlier this week with buckets of water and mugs asking the police chief to come out for a bath.

Villagers believe that if the ruler or king of the region is bathed publicly by women, the area receives rains and tides over a drought-like situation.

“Since there are no kings now, we asked the station house officer of the police station to participate in the ritual,” a local resident was quoted as saying by the Asian Age newspaper.

Siblings burnt to death at Osogbo fuel station

There was pandemonium in Osogbo, Osun State, on Wednesday, as two kids of the same mother were burnt to death when Bovas Filling Station in front of Osogbo Grammar School, went up in flames.

It was gathered that the victims were children of the owner of the filling station.

The mother of the kids was also said to have suffered burns in the process of trying to rescue them.

Although she was said to have succeeded in rescuing one, she lost the two kids to the mysterious fire.

The remains of the kids were said to have been deposited at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Mortuary, while their mum was taken to the same hospital for treatment.

Doctor sells week-old baby to couple for N300,000

The police in Lagos have arrested a trado-medical doctor ─ Olawale Onalaja ─ for allegedly selling a week-old baby to a couple for N300,000 in the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos.

Our correspondent learnt that the couple, Dele and Oluwakemi Ayangbile, who had also been arrested by the police, allegedly paid the sum to the native doctor before taking the baby to their apartment in the Mile 12 area.

Our correspondent learnt that the mother of the baby, 29-year-old Idiat Babatunde, was a student of a polytechnic in Osun State, and was preparing for her convocation when she was delivered of the baby on Saturday, September 5.

It was gathered that after the delivery, Idiat, who had a quarrel with her husband, Akinola Babatunde, had taken the baby to Onalaja, said to be a family friend, on September 13, and requested that he kept the child for her, while she travelled to school.

Sallah: Don’t exploit travellers, FG tells airlines

The Federal Government on Wednesday ordered airline operators not to take advantage of the Sallah rush by travellers to exploit the passengers.

It also assured Nigerians at home and those on pilgrimage to Mecca of smooth flight operations during and after the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Mrs. Binta Bello, gave the assurance in a statement issued by the ministry in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to Bello, all agencies of the ministry had been directed to ensure safe and uninterrupted flight operations at all Nigerian airports, with particular emphasis on promptness of flights, safety and security of air passengers.

Cameroonian troops kill 17 Boko Haram militants

At least 17 fighters from the Nigerian Islamic extremist group Boko Haram have died in clashes with Cameroon troops in the border town of Amchide, informed sources said Tuesday.

In the nearby village of Gouzoudou meanwhile two women carried out a botched suicide attack, injuring two farmers.

“Fifteen Boko Haram (fighters) were killed Tuesday and several others injured,” a source close to regional authorities said.

Two further members of the group, which is affiliated to Islamic State, died in a Monday night confrontation with soldiers, the source added, saying the army did not incur any casualties.

Saraki: El-Rufai, Four Others To Testify In CCT Trial

The Federal Government has lined-up five key witnesses including Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to testify against Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on allegations of false declaration of assets, corruption leveled by the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Saraki appeared before the Code of Conduct Tribunal yesterday for the first time, following his non-appearance on Friday.

The Senate President is standing a 13-count charge on false statements in his 2003 assets declaration as Kwara State governor.

Nigeria has entered era of uncompromising anti-corruption war with Saraki’s trial – BNC

A socio-cultural organization in Edo State which identified itself as the Benin National Congress, BNC, has observed that the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, is an indication that Nigeria has entered an era of uncompromising war against corruption.

The group in a statement issued by its President, Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo, on Wednesday, argued that “ if an APC stalwart of the senate President’s standing can be charged to court on offences allegedly committed since 2003, it clearly shows that public office holders should be careful and it is no longer business as usual”.

While disabusing the minds of Nigerians from the perception that the travail of the Senate President was politically motivated, the group tasked citizens to look at the facts behind the charges leveled against the Senate President. It lamented that “when we continue to insinuate that it was politically motivated it will be difficult to fix the problem of corruption which was over the years perpetrated by the so called big men who have held this nation to ransom over the years.