Nigeria: Terry G Welcomes Baby

Agbako master Terry G is a proud father as his UK based fiancee, Mimi Omoregbe has given birth to a baby boy in the UK.

Although Mimi and Terry G are not yet married some reports have it that the Gingah master secretly carried out a traditional wedding with Mimi. It is however a story that neither Terry G nor his management confirms or denies.

Terry G emerged in the music scene back in 2008 and released his debut 'Free Me' the following year. After a series of features and production for artistes, he rose to fame with the release of the hit single 'Free madness' off the 'Ginjah ur swaggah season 1 album.

He recently released his third album 'Terry Gzuz' under his TGP Entertainment label.

Read More

Nigeria: Security Operatives Discover Bomb Factory in Niger State

Minna — Security operatives in Niger state on Saturday night discovered a bomb factory in Maitumbi area of Minna, the state capital.

The discovery followed the information gathered from one of the suspects that was earlier arrested by the police in connection with the killing of three policemen last week in Minna.

Niger state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) refused to give details but said "we are still on the operation. Let's speak later."

Read More

Minna — Security operatives in Niger state on Saturday night discovered a bomb factory in Maitumbi area of Minna, the state capital.

The discovery followed the information gathered from one of the suspects that was earlier arrested by the police in connection with the killing of three policemen last week in Minna.

Niger state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) refused to give details but said "we are still on the operation. Let's speak later."

Read More

Nigeria: Money Laundering - PDP Raises Fresh Issues in Ajimobi Wife's Defence

Ibadan — The ripples generated by the alleged money laundering by the wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence are yet to settle as an opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state said the public is waiting to get the accurate number of times that Mrs. Ajimobi travelled since her husband, Senator Abiola Ajimobi assumed office.

The First Lady in the state had denied that she had travelled 52 times as alleged by the publication.

PDP through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lukuman Agboluaje, said in as much as it would not want to join issues with the governor's wife on the money laundering allegations, there were more salient issues which should not be glossed over.

According to the party, it is improper for the governor, who had made much noise about quality free education to now send his daughter abroad for a mere secondary education.

Agboluaje said: "As much as we are not in a position to join issues with Mrs. Ajimobi on the alleged money laundering charges as reported by a local newspaper using an online publication as its source, we are constrained to ask some fundamental questions, especially from her own defence on arrival.

"We are aware of the free education policy of the present administration in the state and our concern is the inability of the state's first couple to allow their kid daughter enjoy the free education being dished out to the populace rather than for the First Lady to incessantly visit her daughter every three weeks in a UK secondary school."

This, the party went further, was more so critical as the First Lady, though, had promised to tell the public the number of times she travelled abroad since her husband's assumption of office 17 months ago, up till now the public was still waiting.

Another thorny issue which the PDP claimed was more curious to learn through the online publication was that the State Agency for the Control of Aids, SACA, was now placed under the office of the First Lady.

Wondering why this could be, Agboluaje said it was an indication that either Mrs. Ajimobi was more qualified than officials of the supervising Ministry of Health or that the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state was suffering from dearth of qualified politicians that could be saddled with such sensitive responsibility.

The release further stated that it was a good thing that Governor Ajimobi had sued the offending medium to the law court as the public was very much interested in knowing how the case goes in court.

"This is more so important when it is realised that a major shareholder of the offending publishing house, Independent Communication Ltd, is Senator Bola Tinubu, National leader of the ACN and the godfather of Governor Ajimobi," the release added.

Read More

Nigeria: Boko Haram - FG Ready to Investigate Human Rights Abuses

Nigeria's top security adviser Sambo Dasuki has indicated federal government may pursue allegations of use of brutal force by security forces in response to Boko Haram's campaign of terror, Secretary General of Amnesty International Salil Shetty told newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

Shetty who has been meeting with top federal government officials since his arrival in Nigeria said Amnesty International has received "mixed reactions" about its reports documenting violation of human rights by the Joint Task Force, Police and State Security Service.

The report, Nigeria: Trapped in the cycle of violence released yesterday, details how hundreds of people accused of having links to Boko Haram have been arbitrarily detained by security forces, some others who did not pose any threat to life were shot, summary executions outside homes, properties burnt and other abuse of human rights.

The report said investigations have rarely been carried out into allegations of violations by the security forces and in a few cases where investigations took place, the findings have not been made public.

But while addressing newsmen yesterday Shetty said, "The most important and positive reaction came from the office of NSA and very encouragingly they have informed that they would investigate the cases we have identified and come out with a response."

He however said many government officials have also denied the existence of these abuses and "that is a bit more worrying because it is very important that early action is taken."

Shetty said the agency's experience of chronicling acts of terrorism in other countries showed that adopting the use of force to counter violence never worked and Nigeria needed to change its approach.

"Violating human rights in order to improve human condition might work in the short term but would backfire eventually. The only way to counter terrorism is with justice within the human rights framework," he said.

Asked whether Nigeria should accept the offer of the United States and other international agencies to help, Shetty said intervention has to come from the people of Nigeria as the country has the human and financial resources to deal with the problem of terrorism.

He said government officials have reiterated their commitment to international human rights laws but, "this policy commitment needs to be translated to reality."

Read More