Pres. Jonathan approves change in military high command!

President Goodluck Jonathan has relieved the country’s service chiefs of their appointments and named their replacements.

The move was made effective today and announced by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati.

The State House has also issued an official press release to announce the change in the country’s military high command.

Full statement below:

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria approved the following changes in the nation’s Military High Command:

Air Marshal Alex Badeh takes over from Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim as Chief of Defence Staff;

Major-General Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah takes over from Lt.-General Azubike O. Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff;

Rear Admiral Usman O. Jibrin takes over from Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu takes over from Air Marshal Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.

All the changes are with immediate effect.

The new Chief of Defence Staff and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Badeh was born on January 10, 1957 and joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 21 Regular Course while the new Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Minimah was born on July 27, 1959 and joined the Army as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 25 Regular Course. Until his new appointment, Major-General Minimah was the Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps, Jaji.

The new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin was born on September 16, 1959 and joined the Navy as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 24 Regular Course. Until his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, he was Director of Training at Defence Headquarters.

The new Chief of Air Staff and immediate past Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Air Vice Marshal Amosu was born on August 1, 1958 and joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 25 Regular Course. Until his new appointment, Air Vice Marshal Amosu was the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi.

President Jonathan has briefed the leadership of the National Assembly on the appointment of the new service chiefs and will, in keeping with the provisions of the law, request the National Assembly to formally confirm the appointments when it reconvenes.

Resignation of Bamanga Tukur: “We have been vindicated!” – Senator Bukola Saraki!

Following the recent resignation of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Turkur, a prominent PDP member, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki who represents the Kwara Central senatorial  district reacted to the development.

The statement below: 

"Earlier today, I received the news that Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has officially resigned as chairman after damaging PDP beyond repair. This has vindicated me and other progressives’ that had to leave the party at a point when some of the issues we clamoured for are now coming to light.

Over the last seven months, we were blackmailed and called names ranging from rebels, dissidents, ingrates and that we were self centered.

Unfortunately, it has become obvious today that PDP under the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was a failure and a big tumor that was allowed to become a cancerous one.

PDP as a party was built by the founding fathers on a solid foundation but this has since derailed from the in coming of Bamanga Tukur who came to damage the party beyond repair. After doing the damage, he’s now leaving the party in tartars with no respite at sight.

History will continue to judge all of us as we tried our best to put PDP on the right track before now. For us, we shall continue to defend the injustice done to us and protect the interest of Nigeria, wherever we find ourselves now and in the future.

We strongly believe this country needs change and change must come. For me and other progressives’ we shall not relent in our efforts and believes that Nigeria is bigger than any one of us and so, we must nuture it, defend it and protect it.

This is the essence of democracy, the foundation for which most developed countries are known for. Any attempt to undermine it in our father’s land will not be accepted. Nigeria must move forward". 

Signed,

Senator Abubakar Bukola Sarak".

Reporter Goes Missing in New Jersey!

This WSJ reporter, identified as 55 year old David Bird was reported missing since he left his New Jersey home Saturday afternoon, saying he was stepping out for a short walk.

Search teams involving hundreds of people is under way for a Wall Street Journal reporter.

 Authorities said they don't know what happened to David, last seen leaving his home in the Millington section of Long Hill Township.

Besides scores of volunteers, the search has employed helicopters, horses, ATVs and divers in the Passaic River.

Mr. Bird, who covers energy markets for the Journal, has worked for Dow Jones for more than 20 years. He did a stint in London for Dow Jones in the 1980s and also has worked for the Associated Press and the Trenton Times, his wife said.

Magnus Abe- Nigeria Police Chief orders investigation into shooting!

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, on Wednesday ordered the Crime Investigation Department of the Nigerian Police to investigate the alleged shooting of Magnus Abe by the Rivers police.

Mr. Abe, a serving senator, was allegedly hit by a rubber bullet fired from the gun of a Rivers police officer during a rally convened by the Save Rivers Movement at Rivers State College of Arts and Science.

The police has, however, denied using any kind of ammunition to disperse the protesting crowd on Sunday.

The Spokesperson of the Rivers Police command, Ahmad Muhammad, said that for anyone to say Mr. Abe was hit by a bullet is a ‘blatant lie’.

He said the police only used minimum force to disperse the crowd.

The team of investigators, headed by a Commissioner of Police, Idris Farouk, is expected to do a full investigation into last Sunday’s incident.

Mr. Farouk and his team are also to visit the scene of the incident, interview relevant parties, organisers of the event as well as witnesses.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, in a statement said the investigation is expected to be done fast.

“In a bid to ensure a speedy probe of the incident, a special team of investigators from the Force CID, headed by CP Idris Umar Farouk, is to visit the scene of the incident and also interview all relevant parties to the said incident, including the organizers of the said event, police officers and other key witnesses, so as to obtain a full and unbiased account of the incident that will aid the ongoing investigation,” Mr. Mba said.

The IGP called on the citizens of the state to cooperate with the investigative team, maintain calm and shun all inflammatory statements.

Gay man sentenced to 20 lashes by Islamic court in Bauchi!

A Nigerian muslim man has received 20 lashes after an Islamic court in Bauchi State convicted him of homosexual offences.



The convict was among 11 muslims arrested last month for allegedly being homosexuals. The Islamic court also ordered the convict to pay a fine of about $30 (£18). The trial of two other men was adjourned to 23 January, while the fate of the eight other Muslim men arrested on the same charge remains unclear.

Source: British Broadcasting Corporation.

A’Court reserves judgment on Ladoja’s N4.7bn fraud case!

The Court of Appeal in Lagos has reserved judgment on the appeal filed by former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, asking the court to quash the allegation of money laundering involving about N4.7bn instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Ladoja had filed the appeal against the decision of a Federal High Court, Lagos which refused to quash the 10 counts of money laundering preferred against him 2008.

The appellate court said on Wednesday, after hearing opposing arguments canvassed by Ladoja and the EFCC, that the date for the judgment would be communicated to the parties.

Ladoja had argued that the proof of evidence accompanying the charges instituted before the trial court failed to link him with the alleged crime, adding that it did not establish any prima facie case against him.

The former governor  prayed the appellate court to reverse the ruling of the Federal High Court and quash the charges.

EFCC had in November 2008, arraigned Ladoja along with his former aide, Chief Waheed Akanbi, on an amended 10 counts of money laundering involving about N4.7bn.

They were arraigned before Justice Ramat Mohammed, who was then serving at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.

President Jonathan's official photographer shot!

Mr Callistus Ewelike, an official photographer to president Goodluck Jonathan and a staff of the News Agency of Nigeria was reportedly shot by unknown gunmen. 



The shooting took place between 10p.m and 11p.m Monday night, in front of his residence at in Nyanya, Abuja. 

According to report, two men alighted from motorcycle as Ewelike  came out of his car. One of the assailants reportedly confronted him and shot him in the neck at close range. 

Nothing was reportedly stolen from him. 

The gunmen ran away when the gunshot alerted residents of the area. Neighbors immediately rushed Ewelike to the National Hospital, Abuja where medical doctors stabilized him and prepared him for surgery. 

DSP Altine Daniel, Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, confirmed the incident and added that investigation into the matter has began.