Pope prays for victims of Russian plane crash, Istanbul bombing

Pope Francis prays at General Audience Sept. 25, 2013. Credit: Elise Harris/CNA.

Pope Francis offered prayers over the weekend for victims of both a plane crash in Russia and a suicide bombing in Istanbul.

“His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the tragic air accident in Rostov-on-Don and he sends his sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of the victims,” said a telegram from Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

“His Holiness commends the souls of the dead to the mercy of Almighty God and implores the divine gifts of consolation, strength and hope upon all who mourn their loss.”

Early Saturday, a flight from the United Arab Emirates crashed while attempting to land in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. All 62 passengers will killed. The plane had been circling for more than two hours without being able to land due to strong winds and poor visibility.

Also on Saturday, a suicide bomber attacked a busy shopping street in Istanbul, killing four. Authorities have identified the bomber as a Turkish citizen with links to ISIS.

The Pope “grieves to learn of the casualties caused by the bombing in Istanbul yesterday morning, and he expresses his prayerful solidarity with all touched by this tragedy,” said a separate telegram from Cardinal Parolin on Sunday.

“His Holiness asks you to convey his spiritual closeness to them, as well as to the personnel assisting the injured. Commending the souls of those who have died to the mercy of the Almighty, Pope Francis invokes divine strength and peace upon those who mourn, and upon the entire nation.”

MUSIC: J. Martins ft. Phyno & Ycee – Ten Ten

Talented Singer, Songwriter and Producer, J. Martins, is here with his fourth studio album titled ‘Authentic. (African Edition)’ The album Features top African acts like Phyno, Vector, Waje, Dj Arafat, Ycee, Zoro, Jose Chameleone , Ferre Gola, Koffi Olomidé and veteran highlife artiste, Bright Chimezie.
Here’s the joint that caught my attention off this studio project, “Ten Ten” featuring Phyno & Ycee. Check it out below.

 DOWNLOAD AUDIO: J. Martins ft. Phyno & Ycee – Ten Ten

BREAKING NEWS: Veteran Musician “NoMoreLoss” Reportedly Dead

Multi-talented Nigerian entertainer Muyiwa ‘Nomoreloss‘ Osinuga has passed on after a brief illness.
Sources close to the veteran singer confirmed the news this afternoon, nonetheless the actual cause of death remains unknown.
This is a big blow to the entertainment industry. Nomoreloss’ music career spawned evergreen hits like “Iyawo Asiko” and “Ololufe”.
Most recently he collaborated with Yemi Alade on “Oro Re”.

VIDEO: Olamide – “Abule Sowo”

Just a week after dropping the single to mark his adding another year to his age, king of the street, Olamide, drops the official visual to the hit “Abule Sowo”.
Taking it back to the roots with costume, location and not forgetting to mention the song in itself, this is just another dope creation from Olamide.
Directed by Adasa Cookey.
Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD VIDEO: Olamide – “Abule Sowo”

NYSC confirms killing of corps member

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has  confirmed the killing of a corps member, Okonta Samuel, during the Rivers State re-run elections held on Saturday, March 19, 2016.

The NYSC Director of Press, Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, March 21

According to the statement, the deceased, an orphan, was shot dead by gunmen in Ahoada West Local Government area of the state.

It described the act as primitive, barbaric and ungodly, urging all well-meaning Nigerians to condemn it.

The statement said NYSC will work with relevant agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of the act are caught and made to face the full wrath of the law.

Samuel’s death is a great loss not only to his immediate family but also the NYSC family and the nation, the statement said.

It also said two other corps members who were with the deceased at the time of the incident had escaped through the help of security agents.

It said another corps member, Anana Udoetor, who was earlier reported missing has been found and well.

'We'll fix power supply problems in 3 years,' President says

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his administration's commitment to providing a lasting solution to the age-long power supply problems in in the country within the next three years, Guardian reports.

Speaking at the National Economic Council retreat on the economy held at the State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Monday, March 21, 2016, the President admitted that the privatisation of the power sector has not changed anything in terms of performance.

“Nigerians’ favourite talking point and butt of jokes is the power situation in our country. But, ladies and gentlemen, it is no longer a laughing matter. We must and by the grace of God we will put things right,” Buhari said

He said his government would end power shortages which has become a monster of sort, as previous administrations have been unable to successfully surmount it.

As listed by the President, some of the problems of the sector includes, constant power cuts destroying economic activity and affecting quality of life; high electricity bills despite power cuts and low supply of gas to power plants due to vandalization by terrorists.

Others are obsolete power distribution equipment such as transformers; power fluctuations, which damage manufacturing equipment and household appliances and low voltage which cannot run an industrial machine.

Buhari also highlighted solutions to the problems - he said the government will fast-track completion of pipelines from gas points to power stations and provide more security to protect gas and oil pipelines; adding that the power companies will be encouraged to replace obsolete equipment and improve the quality of service and technicians.

He however charged the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ensure consumers get value for money and overall public interest is safeguarded.

The National Economic Council Retreat. which ends on Tuesday, March 22, is aimed at generating immediate, medium and long-term viable policy solutions to the economic challenges facing the country.

Peter Okoye apologises to fans, brothers in new Instagram post

In what seems like a sudden change of heart, Peter Okoye has taken to Instagram to apologise to his fans and more importantly, his bothers, Paul and Jude Okoye.

The singer who has been bent on going solo in the last few weeks has taken to his instagram page to apologise to his brothers as well as their fans.

Although, the apology did not any information that points to a general reconciliation, we can all agree that this is a step in the right direction.

Peter shared a photo of himself, signing autographs with a few fans at his last solo performance in Abuja, commenting:

"Happy people."

In an explicit apology, the singer shared a photo of a dove being released to fly freely, while noting that it had taken their "stupidity" to realise that family came first.

He shared the photo with the caption:

"That it took our stupidity to realize that FAMILY comes first, We are VERY SORRY. @rudeboypsquare @judeengees #dembeonenobetwo #PSquareForever."

At this point, we do not know what to expect from the somewhat erratic reactions Peter has been displaying, especially after his epic interview with online publication, 'Nigerian Entertainment Today'.

 

Meanwhile, Paul has made it abundantly clear that their family united, is far beyond P Square and their achievements, as he publicly apologised to his brother.

Nurses Shut Down Ondo Hospital In Protest Over Unpaid Salaries

Nurses at the State Specialists Hospital in Ikare, Ondo State have shut down medical operations at the facility in protest over their unpaid salaries and entitlements.

The protesting nurses, members of the Ondo State chapter of the National Association of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, were expressing their grievances towards the leadership of the hospital over its insensitivity towards their plight in the facility. Specifically, they accused the leadership of refusing to pay their salaries and bonuses since November 2015 till date.


The protesting nurses, who chanted solidarity songs for many hours at the entrance of the hospital, also barred vehicular movement and prevented individuals from entering the hospital.

Sources told a SaharaReporters correspondent that the leaders of the hospital were maltreating medical workers, especially nurses.

Many of the protesting nurses who spoke also picketed the Accountant General of the government hospital, Dr. Aminu Kamila, and alleged him of absconding with their salaries and bonuses.

They jointly called for Dr.  Kamila to be sanctioned and removed from his position by the State government.

"The Accountant General is a big thief. He is on the run with our salaries and could no longer come to the office because he knew all of us are ready for a showdown with him," one protestor said.

"Since November of last year, they have refused to pay us our salaries and bonuses. Every day, it's promise upon promise, but we are tired of their attitude and being cheated," one of the protestors, Iyabo Adefemi, told SaharaReporters.

Kolawole Ezekiel, chairman of the nurses in the hospital, also confirmed to our correspondent that the Accountant General had absconded with the protesting nurses' salaries.

"We have reported him several times to the Director of Nursing Services in the Ministry of Health, but it seems like he is above their control.  We decided to shut down operations and services today at the hospital facility to show our displeasure towards the leadership," Mr. Ezekiel said.

SaharaReporters contacted Dr. Kamila over the accusations levelled against him, but he declined to comment and immediately switched off his mobile line.

Earlier, an aide to the Accountant General had told our correspondent that his boss would not be willing to speak about the protest and directed further inquiry to the State Commissioner of Health.

Patrice Talon Wins Presidential Election In Benin

Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou conceded defeat to businessman Patrice Talon on Monday after preliminary results from the second round of the presidential election were announced.

 
Prime Minister Zinsou and President-elect Patrice Talon AFP 
 
“The provisional results point to a decisive victory for Patrice Talon. I have called him this evening to congratulate him on his victory, wish him good luck and put myself at his disposal to prepare for the handover,” the prime minister said.

Mr. Talon and Mr. Zinsou competed to replace incumbent President Thomas Boni Yayi, who is stepping down after serving two terms.

The 61-year-old prime minister had defeated Mr. Talon in the first round on March 6 with 27.1 percent of the vote to Mr. Talon’s 23.5 percent. However, according to the results that are being reported, Mr. Talon won 65 percent of the vote in the final round, leaving Mr. Zinsou with 35 percent.

"I feel like a soldier packing for the front. This is not a day of glory - congratulations will have to wait," Mr. Talon said on Monday. "The task will not be easy, but we are happy and excited that our country has turned the page.”

Mr. Zinsou, a former economist and investment banker, was a candidate for the incumbent’s party, the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin, and was initially seen as the frontrunner.

Mr. Talon, who made his fortune from the cotton industry, billed himself as the authentic Beninese candidate, as opposed to Mr. Zinsou, who was educated in France. Due to his time spent in France, Mr. Zinsou gained a reputation as an outsider in Benin, and was frequently called a “yovo” or “the white man” throughout the campaign.

Poverty, unemployment, and other economic issues were at the forefront of both candidates’ campaigns.

Armed Robbers Attack Bank, Police Station In Bayelsa State

Armed robbers attacked a commercial bank and a police station in Amassoma in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Saturday.

 



According to the police, the bank was the gunmen’s primary target. The robbers were able to access the police station through the waterways.
Asinim Butswat, Police Spokesman for Bayelsa State Police Command, confirmed the incident.
“The hoodlums attacked the UBA Bank. They damaged the ATMs and attempted to enter the bank, but were repelled by a reinforced unit of policemen,” Mr. Butswat said.
According to Mr. Butswat, no money was stolen and no lives were lost. Investigation into the incident is underway.

Troops Kill 19 Boko Haram Militants, Rescue 67 Hostages

Troops from Nigeria’s 22 Brigade Garrison killed 19 Boko Haram terrorists in Dalore on Sunday.

 

Nigerian troops
They also rescued 67 hostages, who are undergoing screening at the Internally Displaced Persons camp in Dikwa.


The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said that during the operation, the troops captured 2 AK-47 Rifles, 1 Small Machine Gun and a hand grenade. They also recovered four pickup vehicles.


“Unfortunately, during the operation, the troops' Mine Resistant Anti-Personnel (MRAP) vehicle ran into an Improvised Explosive Device and [suffered] a damaged tyre,” he noted.

Billionaire Judge To Rule Tuesday On Saraki’s Application To Quash Corruption Trial

Justice Abdul Kafarati, a federal judge who owns the distinction of having issued the highest number of injunctions on a cash-and carry basis in Nigeria, will rule on Tuesday on an application by beleaguered Senate President Bukola Saraki to have the corruption charges against him quashed by the court.

Saraki approached the court after a federal judge in Lagos dismissed a similar request for lack of jurisdiction. It would also be recalled that last year, his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, approached another federal judge also in Lagos with a fundamental rights lawsuit as the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) prepared to commence trial against him for false declaration of assets. However, as public pressure mounted on the law courts for doing Saraki’s bidding, the judge ruled that he didn’t have jurisdiction to continue the case.


Last month, soon after the Supreme Court ruled that the CCT has jurisdiction to try the Senate President, Oloyede secretly filed a lawsuit with Justice Kafarati, asking him to disqualify the lead judge at the CCT and stop his trial in its entirety.


Legal observers who spoke to SaharaReporters at the weekend said the case was legally faulty because a court of similar jurisdiction had dismissed it in Lagos and that as soon the Supreme Court ruled on the matter of trial a lower court should never have entertained a lawsuit challenging any portion of the ruling of the highest court in the country.


People knowledgeable about Justice Kafarati and Saraki’s Prince Oloyede said the two have always partnered to assist the rich and powerful to abort the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other security agencies seeking to bring some highly-connected Nigerians to justice.


One source told SaharaReporters that Oloyede is the lawyer who has helped Buruji Kashamu, the United States-wanted drug baron turned Senator, to evade justice. He is equally the lawyer who assisted Ifeanyi Uba, the notorious oil subsidy scammer, to obtain a permanent injunction.  That injunction was also granted by Justice Kafarati.  Only last week, Ifeanyi Uba’s Authority newspaper tried to twist the Saraki case by claiming the government prosecutor was planning to drop some charges. 


Justice Kafarati, on his part, has several petitions against him before the EFCC and the National Judicial Council. An EFCC investigation into his financial dealings shows he was found with a vast treasure chest of N2billion in his private account.  He claimed he realized the funds from farming.


The trial of Saraki ought to have started at the CCT last week but his new lawyer, who appears to have been hired because he is a former boss of the government Prosecutor and the lead judge at the tribunal, was able to get the trial postponed in anticipation of Kafarati’s favorable ruling tomorrow.


Government investigators said the action of the lead judge has become suspicious in view of another revelation that he received a bribe from a former minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, to scuttle his case. 


On Monday, hours to the awaited ruling of Justice Kafarati on Saraki, Justice Danlami Umar [of the CCT was forced to issue a rebuttal affirming that the case of Orubebe is still “intact,” the only difference being that some charges were substituted.