GISTS DIRECT

THE United Nations, on Thursday, disclosed that over $50 billion is being stolen out of Africa annually. This disclosure was made by United Nation’s Deputy Secretary General, Mr Jan Eliason, when he paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal. While decrying the spate of looting in Africa, he said “ it is more regrettable because the money will have been used to develop the continent.” On Nigeria’s contributions to global peace, the United Nations’ official said “Nigeria is also a world leader in building security, peace-keeping and economic development and is a strong ally to the United Nations.” He said Nigeria has also “embraced its multiplicity as a resource and not a problem and this is a role model for other African countries.” In his remarks, Tambuwal commended the United Nations for its support to the Nigerian economy and Africa as a critical part of...

National Economic Council (NEC), Thursday disclosed that Excess Crude Account (ECA), stood at $3.5bn after payments for fuel subsidy and SURE-P. Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio disclosed this when he briefed State House correspondents after the National Economic Council meeting. According to him, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had briefed the council on ECA. The governor noted that the council resolved that details of spending on excess crude be given to states on time, just as it urged that expeditious action be taken to sort out all the legalities surrounding the ECA. On conflicts between farmers and herdsmen, he said council received a presentation by the National Security Adviser on Incessant conflicts between farmers and pastorialists, highlighting on the challenges and solutions in Nigeria. “According to the NSA’s Presentation, Seventeen (17) States have been identified as ...

Microsoft has released an iPad version of its popular Office software suite. This breakthrough heralds a new era under new CEO Satya Nadella who promises to focus more on the devices that people are using instead of trying to protect the company’s lucrative Windows franchise. Thursday’s unveiling of the much- anticipated iPad apps for Microsoft’s bundle of word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software comes nearly four years after Apple Inc. released the tablet computer that has contributed to a steady decline in sales of desktop and laptop machines running on the Windows operating system. The Office app is free to anyone who wants to read Office’s Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on the iPad, but it will require a subscription to Microsoft’s Office 365 to create and edit on the device. The Office 365 subscription costs A$119 annually, but comes with a limited number of devices the software can be used on. The Office 3...

Referee Andre Marriner has apologised for sending off Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs by mistake during the Gunners' 6-0 defeat by league leaders Chelsea. A penalty was awarded after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tipped Eden Hazard's shot around a post with his hand but Gibbs was shown the red card. Oxlade-Chamberlain seemed to tell Marriner that he was the culprit but the original decision stood. A statement read that Marriner was "disappointed" to have made the error. Referees' body the Professional Game Match Officials Limited said in the statement: "Incidents of mistaken identity are very rare and are often the result of a number of different technical factors. "Whilst this was a difficult decision Andre is disappointed that he failed to identify the correct player. "He expressed his disappointment to Arsenal when he was made aware of the issue." Left-back Gibbs seemed confused at receiving the red card, protesting his innocence, along with...

Most of the teachers under the employment of the Edo State government Saturday shunned the controversial competency test organised for them by the state, leaving only a little over two hundred school teachers to participate. Seventy-three teachers were accredited in Edo south, while about 14 and 12 were accredited in Edo central and north respectively in the test scheduled to hold simultaneously in the three senatorial districts. The test ordered by Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s government ‎for public school teachers in the state, was meant to determine the eligibility of ‎the over 13, 000 teachers in the employment of the state government to continue as teachers in its schools. Counsel to Academic Staff Union of Secondary School (ASSUS), Bar. Olayiwola Afolabi who was at the accreditation venue, expressed displeasure over the State government’s decision to go ahead with the competency test even when a subsisting court ‎injunction ruled otherwise. He deb...

President Jonathan Visits The Vatican President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. The president and his entourage arrived Rome on Friday and were welcomed by the Pope’s representatives, and also Nigeria’s representative to the Vatican, Dr Francis Okeke. According to reports, President Jonathan and‎ Pope Francis held extensive discussion on Nigeria’s position on same-s*x marriage law recently passed in the country. The president also conferred with Pope Francis on the promotion of inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria and other parts of the world as a way of fostering greater global peace and security. The President who said that his administration was already working in close collaboration with Cardinal John Onaiyekan who was “the team leader” for the effort to strengthen inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria, assured the Pope of his administration’s continued commitment to the promotion of religi...

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has threatened to boycott the 2016 population census and subsequent exercises if religion and ethnic data are not included. Responding to the claim by an Islamic organization, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, that the process of selecting delegates to the National Conference was not done with fair representation and will affect the credibility of its outcome, CAN General Secretary, Dr. Musa Asake, said the inclusion of religion in population census will correct certain negative impressions about which religion has more adherents than the others in the country. The JNI had, through its Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar, stated: “Christians, who by all acceptable records, are not more than 40 per cent of the country’s population, ironically, constitutes 62 per cent of the total delegates at the National Conference.” Asake, in a statement, yesterday, described the ...

Two Chinese military planes have arrived in Perth in Australia to join international search operations for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet. Crews are scouring vast areas of the southern Indian Ocean for a fourth day. Satellite images of floating objects and the sighting of a wooden pallet on Saturday have raised hopes that the airliner may be in the area. China had criticised Malaysia for its handling of the search. Most of the 239 people on board were Chinese. Malaysian officials suspect the plane, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, was deliberately taken off course when it disappeared on 8 March. The two Chinese planes will join six other jets in the search team A Japanese military plane left Malaysia for Australia on Sunday Crews had another day of fruitless searching on Saturday The two Chinese aircraft have flown in from Malaysia, where they were helping with the search further north. Australian officials said the Chinese crews would set themselves up on Sunday and ...

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben says he is relishing their Champions League quarter-final draw with Manchester United as David Moyes’s side “aren’t in great shape”. The English champions were paired against the reigning European champions in Friday draw in what could be a repeat of the 1999 finals at the Camp Nou. “The best thing about Manchester is the atmosphere,” Dutch winger Arjen Robben told Bayern’s official website. “All of us are in the game for the chance of playing in an atmosphere like that. Old Trafford is very special indeed and we should enjoy it. The fans are a 12th man for Manchester United.” The ‘Red Devils’ have won just one of their six encounters with Bayern Munich in Europe since the 1999 final in Barcelona. But the last time both teams met- in the 2010 quarter-finals- Arjen Robben’s volley at Old Trafford made it 4-4 on aggregate to send the German side through on away goals. Robben add...

Boko Haram insurgents have been advised to embrace the dialogue option tabled by the Federal Government or get crushed by the might of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, said on Wednesday. Minimah gave the advice when he spoke with newsmen shortly after an unscheduled visit to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State and epicenter of the war against the insurgents. “The dialogue table is still open, or else the federal might is available to the armed forces to crush the insurgency”, he stressed. Minimah was accompanied on the visit by his counterpart in the Air force, Air vice Marshal Adesola Amosu. The army chief, who described the visit as “routine”, noted that it was aimed at assessing first hand, the condition of troops on ground as well as boosting their morale in the fight against the insurgents. “We are here on routine visit to assess the condition of our troops, to visit the injured ...

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late head of state, General Sani Abacha, has attributed the current unrests in the country to institutional decay, saying only institutional revolution would restore sanity in the system. He spoke yesterday evening during the secon Christian/Muslim interactive engagement on Peace, Unity and Justice organised by the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. On the occasion, Pastor Oritsejafor stated that with Muslims and Christians resolving to tolerate and respect each other’s faith, the ongoing national conference had great potentials of providing lasting solutions to the problems bedeviling Nigeria. Al-Mustapha, who was at the one-day conference, at the invitation of CAN, stressed that people had to understand that the country was not like it used to be when some disgruntled elements used religion to cause problem and got away with it. He said, “Nigeria is inde...

Martin Luther once said, “even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” New research gives more reasons than ever to plant apple trees and enjoy their delicious and nutritious fruit. Here are ten surprising reasons to sink your teeth into an apple today: 1. Research found that when healthy adults consumed an apple fifteen minutes before eating a meal, they ate 15 percent less at the meal. This simple habit can result in weight loss for anyone looking for an easy and healthy way to lose weight. 2. In other studies, apples have been shown to significantly alter the amounts of the bacteria Clostridiales and Bacteroides in the large intestine, conferring gastrointestinal health benefits. 3. Thanks to their phytonutrient content, apples have been show to lower the risk of asthma and lung cancer in numerous studies. 4. In a study funded by the USDA, postmenopausal women who ate dried apples daily experienced a...

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said the action of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at collecting money from job seekers amounted to fraud, which negated the spirit and letters of Section 419 of the Criminal Laws. “What the NIS did was to obtain money by false pretence, contrary to section 419 of our criminal laws. Whoever is responsible must be treated and punished as we would a 419ner. “To make matters worse, I am not aware that the revenue realised was considered as part of the revenue profile of the agency or the country when the 2014 budget was submitted. “I am saddened by this occurrence and dismayed that the Minister’s statement that those who died were to blame for their conduct, if true, showed no trace of humanity. ”It is obtaining by false pretense when you take money from 520,000 people without telling them up-front there was limited vacancy for just 4,000 people, half of which ...

The House of Representatives, yesterday, resolved to probe the circumstances surrounding the death of 21 job applicants during last Saturday aptitude test for recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS. It also resolved that families of the victims should be given automatic employment, provided they were qualified. The House also mandated its Committee on National Security and Public Safety to investigate last Saturday’s killings of over 100 residents in a Southern Kaduna village, directing the committee in plenary to carry out the assignment within two weeks and report back. Four committees, including those on Interior, Justice, Public Service Matters and Labour and Productivity, were mandated to investigate the matter and report to the House within four weeks. This development was sequel to a motion brought to the floor of the House by Sunday Karimi, PDP, Kogi State, under matters of national importance. In the motion, entitled, ‘Tragedy...

A New Jersey teenager who drew international attention when she sued her parents for financial support after leaving home in a dispute on Tuesday dropped the case against them, according to court records. Rachel Canning, 18, filed papers to dismiss the lawsuit in New Jersey family court, saying the decision was voluntary. The lawsuit’s dismissal ends a public battle between Canning and her parents that raised questions about the obligations of non- divorced parents in New Jersey to continue to financially support adult children after they leave home. Canning returned to her parents’ home in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, last week after a four-month estrangement that began when she turned 18, the legal age of adulthood. She had sued her parents, Sean and Elizabeth Canning, for her private high school tuition, living expenses and access to a college fund, arguing that though she did not reside with them, she was not legally emancipated and therefore was enti...

Thirteen northern governors of the North are currently in the United States seeking solutions to the Boko Haram insurgency that is fast threatening to grind socio-economic activities in the region to a halt. The governors met yesterday for about eight hours at the United States Peace Institute and the State Department in Washington D.C with U.S government officials and representatives of Norway and Denmark. While the meetings are expected to continue today, details of yesterday’s closed-door meeting, which was bankrolled by the U.S. government in collaboration with the governments of Norway and Denmark, could not be obtained. However, it was learnt that the issue on the front burner was how Nigeria could overcome the Boko Haram insurgency, especially through education and economic investments. Other issues discussed included re- invigorating the U.S. attention on the north, economic investment opportunities in the region, security and challenges of private ...

STORY HIGHLIGHTS The batteries the power pings from the data and voice recorders last for 30 days "The odds of finding the pinger are very slim," an ocean search specialist says Recent developments shed some light on early part of flight, but not where plane went next The total search area is roughly the size of the continental United States A ticking clock. A widening search. The box containing the flight-data and cockpit-voice recorders of missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has batteries designed to keep it sending out pings for 30 days. The search is now in its 12th day, covering a total area roughly the size of the continental United States. That leaves 18 days until the batteries are expected to run out. Investigators hope the recorders may reveal vital information about why the passenger jet carrying 239 people veered dramatically off course and disappeared from radar screens. But they have to find them first. Searchers from at least 26 countri...

It has been confirmed that the newly appointed Defence Minister, Aliyu Gusau has truly tendered his resignation to President Jonathan. However, a rattled President Jonathan immediately charged Senate President David Mark with the task of prevailing on Mr. Gusau to rescind his resignation. The president reportedly promised to see that the issue was resolved expeditiously. A source stated that Mr. Gusau remained infuriated and refused to back away from his decision to leave the cabinet. Late last night, President Jonathan paid a visit to Mr. Gusau’s home in Abuja in a last-ditch effort to persuade him to stay at his ministerial job, but Mr. Gusau refused to see the president. Mr. Gusau kept away from today’s session of the Federal Executive Council, a weekly meeting of all ministers with the president. He reportedly told aides that he could not serve in a situation where military officers would show open disdain for their civilian leaders and him an exp...

Former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki has urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to stifle opposition states. Jonathan last week, while hosting outgoing Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, warned opposition state governors to stop abusing him and the Federal Government or they would lose many things. Saraki, now an All Progressive Congress (APC) senator, told reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. The senator, who expressed doubt that the president could have made such a statement, urged leaders to respect their oath of office. He said: “The president said that? He said that? I don’t even know what to say. What I just want my own people, in Kwara and Nigerians in general, to know is that they should take sentiment out of these issues. What we are talking about in Nigeria today is not whether you are a Northerner or otherwise, Yoruba man or Ijaw, Christian or Muslim. We should not allow sentiments. “Even if a state governor ...

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday snubbed the North West Zone Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Zonal rally organized to mobilize support for President Goodluck Jonathan in Kaduna, choosing a plenary session of the House to mourn Nigerians killed by Boko Haram. Tambuwal, who hails from Sokoto State in the same zone, welcomed members back to the House with an emotional rallying cry over the ongoing massacre of innocent Nigerians and students. He pointed out that Section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that the security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government, and called on the government to rise to the occasion. “By government I do not mean only the Executive,” Tambuwal said. “We in the Legislature are also part of government. And we cannot therefore merely join in the chorus of lamentations. Our duty is to act swiftly and decisively in the protect...

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday snubbed the North West Zone Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Zonal rally organized to mobilize support for President Goodluck Jonathan in Kaduna, choosing a plenary session of the House to mourn Nigerians killed by Boko Haram. Tambuwal, who hails from Sokoto State in the same zone, welcomed members back to the House with an emotional rallying cry over the ongoing massacre of innocent Nigerians and students. He pointed out that Section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that the security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government, and called on the government to rise to the occasion. “By government I do not mean only the Executive,” Tambuwal said. “We in the Legislature are also part of government. And we cannot therefore merely join in the chorus of lamentations. Our duty is to act swiftly and decisively in the protect...

29-year-old businesswoman, Olanike Olaiya, who was allegedly defiled by popular Fuji musician, Alhaji Abass Akande, also known as Obesere, has pleaded with the police authorities not to allow the matter to be swept under the carpet so that she will not die. According to Olaiya, the singer’s insertion of a mysterious ring in her private part, which caused her to bleed for weeks, might not be unconnected with fetish activities. The graduate of Ibadan Polytechnic also expressed dissatisfaction with the way the case was being handled at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos. Specifically, she fingered the Investigating Police Officer, simply known as Jacob, of involvement in a conspiracy to frustrate the investigation in favour of Obesere. “We’re not lovers” According to a report by Vanguard, Olaiya denied the claims by Obesere that they were both lovers and that she wanted to use the saga to blackmail him into ...

A graphic detail of the way of life in Borno and the entire North- East since the Boko Haram menace begun was painted on Monday by the Bornu Elders, who described life under the stranglehold of terrorist activities, as “seeing hell”. Addressing a gathering of Northern Elders Forum in Kano, Zanna Hassan Boguma, who delivered a goodwill message on behalf of Borno Elders Forum, declared that the entire region is now engaged in full scale war from enemy within. Boguma stated that “we have been seeing hell, our people are constantly decimated, our towns and villages razed, properties destroyed, schools and places of worship burnt, even innocent travelers were not spared”. The elder statesman said that from the incessant attack that the axis had witnessed in the last few weeks was a confirmation of how vulnerable the entire region is. He further disclosed that the region has been reduced to a war zone with attendant humanitarian crisis, stressing...

The crisis of rocking the Osun PDP is getting messier. Few hours after the State Secretary's suspension, the latest information coming in has it that 27 Local Chairmen of the party have suspend the State Chairman, Alh. Ganiyu Ola-Oluwa. The chairmen directed the State Vice Chairman, Dr. BT Salam to take over as Ag State Chairman as from today.

Scotland led 14-9 at half-time, full-back Stuart Hogg touching down after a hopeful high kick and wing Tommy Seymour crossing for the hosts. France wing Yoann Huget scored an interception try after an ill-advised miss-pass by Duncan Weir, but Weir regained the lead for Scotland with a penalty. Scott Johnston's side looked to have done enough to secure a deserved victory, only for replacement scrum-half Jean-Marc Doussain to win it with a last-gasp penalty. It was a bitter outcome for Scotland, who showed great spirit and no little skill, in stark contrast to their chastening defeat by England at Murrayfield last month. France host Ireland next Saturday with the sides level on six points. The winner of the match between England and Wales on Sunday will also go into the final weekend with six points. Philippe Saint-Andre made seven changes to the France side humbled by Wales a fortnight ago, but only three of them because of injuries. With number eight Louis ...

President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to Nigerians to continue to trust the PDP in their choice for elective offices. Jonathan made the appeal at a rally organised by the party's North Central Zone in Minna on Saturday. He added that PDP remained the only party that was yet to change its slogan, logo or name since its formation in 1998. Jonathan urged Nigerians not to trust those he said had dined and wined with the party for the past 14 years, and had attained various elected positions like governors, senators and others only to turn around and dump the party. He described such people as chameleons who should not be trusted. "PDP is still the party for all Nigerians. It is the party for the Nigerian students, it is party for Nigerian youths, women, men and elders," he said. He expressed optimism that the PDP would win elections in Nasarawa and Kwara States come 2015. Jonathan stressed that the party would ensure that the two states were recove...

Radar signals show a Malaysia Airlines plane that has been missing for more than 24 hours may have turned back, Malaysian officials have said. Rescue teams looking for the plane have now widened their search area. Investigators are also checking CCTV footage of two passengers who are believed to have boarded the plane using stolen passports. Flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared south of Vietnam with 239 people on board. Air and sea rescue teams have been searching an area of the South China Sea south of Vietnam for more than 24 hours. But Malaysia's civil aviation chief, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur the search area had been expanded, to include the west coast of Malaysia. Five passengers booked on the flight did not board, he added. Their luggage was consequently removed. Twenty-two aircraft and 40 ships are now involved in the search, armed forces chief Gen Zulkefli Zin said. Air force chief Rodzali Dau...

The Los Angeles Clippers won their seventh game in a row, after beating the Atlanta Hawks 109-108, and strengthened their leading position in the Pacific Division with a 43-20 record. Jeff Teague missed one of his two free throws with a 1.2 second remaining in the final quarter that could have tied the game at 109, instead the Hawks fell to their sixth straight loss. In San Antonio, Frenchman Tony Parker inspired the San Antonio Spurs with a 30- point contribution as they past the Orlando Magic 121-112, and extended their winning streak to six games. With the win, San Antonio joined the Oklahoma City Thunder atop of the Western Conference with a 46-16 record apiece. Elsewhere, the Philadelphia 76ers dropped their 16th consecutive defeat, after a 104-92 home loss to the Utah Jazz, who snapped a five-game losing streak, and the Washington Wizards held off the Milwaukee Bucks 114-107. Gordon Hayward scored 22 points, and Alec Burks contributed 19 for the Jazz, w...

Tottenham defender, Jan Vertonghen has promised Chelsea's fans hell when both teams trade tackles tonight at Stamford Bridge, rather than enter a war of words with coach Jose Mourinho. The Belgian was labelled a 'disgrace' by the Chelsea boss after falling to the floor when clashing with Fernando Torres when the clubs last met in September at White Hart Lane. But Vertonghen believes that he can prove himself on the pitch, and is confident of a shock three points for Spurs against the Premier League leaders. 'If we want to reach the Champions League we have to win this game,' Verthonghen told The Sun, with his club currently four points adrift of Manchester City in fourth place, who have two games in hand. 'I did not respond to Mourinho at the time - and I won't do it now. 'I don't want to add fuel to the fire in the run- up to the match. I don't want to go into a war of words with Mourinho. I just want to prove myself on th...