Socioscope News Agency

Telcomm Satellite, operator of TStv Africa, the newly inaugurated indiginous pay satellite TV in Nigeria, has commenced distribution and installation of decoders free of charge nationwide. A Statement by Mr Ugo Madu, Head, Corporate Communications, TStv, on Tuesday in Abuja, said the action was in line with its promise to commence full commercial sales and operations on November 1 nationwide. Madu said the exercise was to ensure the proper monitoring and evaluation of the signal strength and quality of their channels and programmes nationwide. He said the accreditation of selected dealers was ongoing in addition to the full branding of the dealers’ outlets across the country in order to achieve uniformity and evenness in the sales of its decoders. According to him, the above stated ongoing activities upon confirmation shall constitute a prelude to the commencement of the commercial sale of TStv Africa decoders nationwide. “We wish to reassure Nigerians that we remain co...

The Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Hon. Danladi Umar, has approved Nov. 7 for arraignment of two directors and 31 senior federal civil servants for alleged breach of Code of Conduct laws. Mr Ibrahim Al-Hassan, the Public Relations Officer of the tribunal said this via a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. Al-Hassan stated that the approval followed request from Code of Conduct Bureau for the court to commence trial of the persons. He noted that the defendants were civil servants from Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria Geological Survey and National Orientation Agency (NOA). He added that the alleged charges against the officers were of different degrees, noting, however, that they all bordered on breach of asset declaration. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the charges were filed by Code of Conduct Bureau through the office of Attorney-General of the Federation.

The Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Hon. Danladi Umar, has approved Nov. 7 for arraignment of two directors and 31 senior federal civil servants for alleged breach of Code of Conduct laws. Mr Ibrahim Al-Hassan, the Public Relations Officer of the tribunal said this via a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. Al-Hassan stated that the approval followed request from Code of Conduct Bureau for the court to commence trial of the persons. He noted that the defendants were civil servants from Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria Geological Survey and National Orientation Agency (NOA). He added that the alleged charges against the officers were of different degrees, noting, however, that they all bordered on breach of asset declaration. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the charges were filed by Code of Conduct Bureau through the office of Attorney-General of the Federation.

Dr Sani Aliyu, Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) says an estimated 200,000 people are living with HIV in Oyo State. He made the disclosure on Tuesday in Ibadan during a courtesy call on Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State at the executive council chamber of the governor’s office. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation led by Aliyu, included representatives of relevant international donor and funding agencies like WHO. Aliyu stated that only 16,000 out of the estimated 200, 000 persons living with HIV in the state are currently on treatment. “We have a gap between the number of infected persons and those on treatment. We have a gap between infected pregnant women and those receiving treatment. “We also have issues with the number of new infections recorded,’’ he said. The NACA boss stated that 10, 000 pregnant women in Oyo State are living with HIV, adding that about 50 people contact HIV in the state o...

The Federal Neuro Psychiatric Centre, Maiduguri, on Tuesday said it recorded 67,000 mental health cases in the past 18 years. The Medical Director of the centre, Dr Ibrahim Audu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that the cases were recorded since the hospital started clinical operations in 1999. He said most of the cases were drug-related, adding that some patients were also presented with psychological trauma due to the Boko Haram insurgency. Audu explained that the centre recorded 30 per cent increase of cases in the past three years due to improved security situation, as against drastic drop in the number of cases witnessed between 2011 and 2013. The medical director attributed the decline to the insurgency which prevented patients from accessing mental health services. He said “the centre is a 150-bed capacity facility established with a mandate to provide mental health and research in mental services in the North-East. “Prior to the insurgency, w...

Adejoke Adeleye,Abeokuta The newly-appointed sixth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Felix Kolawole Salako has received his instruments of office at a formal handing-over ceremony held at the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room. He gave assurance that he would be fair to all in office. Prof. Salako said this shortly after his predecessor, Professor Ololade Enikuomehin handed-over to him in the presence of Principal Officers and other top members of staff. Speaking after the ceremony, the incoming Vice-Chancellor, Professor Felix Salako said that God has been with the University in spite of the recent crisis, noting that the Governing Council should be commended for mustering courage to appoint three Principal Officers in a flawless process within same period. Professor Salako who is a Soil Physicist, said that his approach to administration would revolve around his core values which are justice and fairplay, adding ...

Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform Team (PTPT), has broken his silence on the allegations levelled against him. Maina, whose whereabouts have been unknown since President Muhammadu Buhari ordered his dismissal from the civil service, said he is being haunted for his stance against corruption. He was reinstated under controversial circumstances and promoted to the level of a director in the ministry of interior. Speaking in Kaduna on Tuesday, Maina said the investigation ordered by Buhari would expose those involved in pension fraud. He spoke through Olajide Fashikun, his media aide. “After the biometric exercise, there were 71,000 genuine workers in the police pension office who needed N826million to pay them unlike N5.3billion appropriated for them annually,” he said. “They were pocketing N4.2billion yearly. They devised several ingenious ways to pull these cash out. They pulled out an average of N300million dail...

The World Bank has rated Nigeria among the top 10 most improved economies in 2016/17 in its latest Doing Business report. Nigeria moved 24 places from its 2015/16 rank of 169. Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Malawi, Kosovo, India, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Nigeria, Djibouti and El Salvador were the most improved economies. Doing Business measures regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business. Ten of these areas are included in this year’s ranking on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency. Reacting to the development, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo congratulated all stakeholders who worked with the government to achieve the “significant result”. He said Nigeria exceeded the “ambitious targets” of President Muhammadu Buhari. “I welco...

EThe Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has set up a 12-man committee to look into the issue of unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards. Tony Ojobo, NCC spokesman, who disclosed this in a statement, said Umar Danbatta, vice chairman of NCC, inaugurated the committee at a meeting with telecommunications companies (telcos) operating in the country. TheCable had reported that the commission summoned telco CEOs to its headquarters in Abuja. NCC took this step as a result of several complaints about pre-registered and fraudulently registered SIM cards being used for acts amounting to breach of security, criminality and fraud. In the statement by the commission, Ojobo said NCC had organised several meetings in the last two years, with a view to finding solutions to the recurrent dangers of improperly registered SIM cards. He reportedly told telecom operators that the dangers of unregistered SIM cards were real. “We must safeguard lives and properties of Nigerians wh...

Revenue from value added tax (VAT) grossed N797.51 billion into the federation account between January and October 2017. Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, disclosed this on Tuesday. The non-oil revenue represents 46.15 percent of the 2017 VAT budget of N1.728 trillion. It is, however, an increase of 19.78 percent over the corresponding period in 2016. Adeosun released the details of the 2017 VAT collection on Tuesday in Abuja. She said the highest VAT collection of N86.71 billion was achieved in September 2017, while N84.67 billion and N83.315 billion were recorded in May and October, respectively. The lowest VAT earning of N69.20 billion was in March 2017. The federal government gets 15 percent of VAT revenue, while the states and local governments receive 50 percent and 35 percent, respectively. “Revenue mobilisation is key to national growth and critical to the success of Nigeria’s economic reform agenda. We have an unacceptably low level of non-oil revenue and muc...

Pictures of the malnourished OAU's lions as at August, 2017  photo credit Ismaheel B

Pictures of the malnourished OAU's lions as at of August, 2017                    photo credit : Ismaheel B.

Picture of the malnourished OAU's lions as at of August, 2017.               Photo credit : Ismaheel B.

Mount Nyiragongo is world's biggest lava lake. It is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo

President Muhammadu Buhari says he expects the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offence Commission (ICPC) to “proceed with investigation” involving the two top government officials he sacked some hours ago. Buhari had ordered the dismissal of Babachir Lawal, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) and Ayo Oke, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), who were accused of corruption. In a statement late Monday, Buhari said he would not shield anyone found guilty or frustrating the anti-corruption war. Buhari spoke through Garba Shehu, his senior special assistant on media and publicity. “Those who ask the question of what next? The president has taken the administrative action; all other actions will be taken by relevant government agencies,” the statement read. “When and where they (the agencies) have reasonable grounds to charge former or serving offic...

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — Confederation of African Football executive committee member Isha Johansen was charged with 10 counts of corruption and abuse of office in her home country of Sierra Leone on Monday. Johansen, the president of the Sierra Leone Football Association, pleaded not guilty to the charges, which relate to her work at the association. She appeared in court alongside the secretary general of the association, Christopher Kamara. Kamara faces three counts of corruption and abuse of office, with two of them joint charges against him and Johansen. He also pleaded not guilty to all charges. Johansen is one of the few women in leadership roles in international football. She sits on FIFA’s member associations committee and is a popular figure at the world body. She and Kamara were suspended from their positions at the SLFA last week. Prosecutors revealed details of the charges against the pair at Freetown High Court. Prosecutors also increased the total nu...

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — The Serbian soccer association fired national team coach Slavoljub Muslin on Monday despite his team's qualification for the World Cup. The FSS said Muslin will leave by "mutual agreement." It thanked him for "good cooperation and results" and named former Shalke defender Mladen Krstajic as interim coach. After eight years of failing to make it to a major championship, Serbia qualified for next year's World Cup for the second time since becoming an independent nation in 2006. Serbian soccer officials have criticized Muslim for his team selection, defensive tactics and for failing to bring in young players, especially talented Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. "We parted ways because we don't think alike on how the team should look for the World Cup in Russia," Muslin was quoted as saying by Serbian media. The 64-year-old Muslin took over the national team in 2016 after coaching mostly French, Belgian and Rus...

The Bauchi State Government has  commenced  work on the pitch at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa(ATB) Stadium, for the  next football season. It is the first time in eighteen years that the  pitch will be  relayed- since it was used for the hosting of the FIFA U17 World Cup, Nigeria ’99. Meanwhile, the  contractor handling the pitch, Reform Sports West Africa, stated that the  pitch  will be upgraded to meet international standard. In a chat on behalf of the company, Arnold Williams  said:  “It is  an ongoing project and we are ready to provide one of the best pitches in the country at ATBS. Due to time constraint I can’t be specific when the job will be completed but I know they will play the league there next season. The league ended few months ago and I know it will resume soon. What is important is to do a good job that will last longer,”  Williams said. It is understood that the same contractor han...

Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has asked club fans to support striker Romelu Lukaku, saying the Belgium international has been subjected to unfair criticism. After scoring seven goals in as many league games, Lukaku has not scored in the following three matches and his fading goal scoring exploits, along with his underwhelming record in big games has been criticised. Mourinho reckoned Lukaku deserved more support after an assist in each of his last two league games, the most recent of which led to the winning goal in last Saturday’s 1-0 victory over third-placed Tottenham. “I would like the supporters to explain to me why they don’t support him so much. “Because he gives everything and I think it is not fair when scoring the goal or not scoring the goal (he) makes the whole difference,” Mourinho told the club’s website. “I don’t think it is fair at all. So, I‘m a bit disappointed – but not with him. With him (I a...

“War is fundamentally unpredictable,” Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis told a Senate hearing about a potential new authorization for the use of military force, or AUMF, Congress’ most significant step in years toward taking back control of its constitutional right to authorize war. Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson both said existing authorizations should not be repealed until new ones are in place, and stressed that they believe current AUMFs provide sufficient legal authority for ongoing military action. “The 2001 AUMF provides statutory authority for ongoing U.S. military operations against al-Qaeda; the Taliban; and associated forces, including against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS,” Tillerson said in his opening statement. Republican and Democratic members of Congress have been arguing for years that Congress ceded too much authority over the deployment of U.S. forces to the White House after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. They...

DUBAI: A Bahraini court on Monday sentenced 19 people to lengthy jail terms on charges of spying for Iran and plotting to overthrow the regime, judicial sources said. Eight people were sentenced to life in prison, nine to 15 years in prison and two to 10 years in jail for espionage and inciting public dissent, according to a statement released by the counter-terrorism prosecutor’s office. Fifteen of those convicted were also stripped of Bahraini citizenship, the statement said. The court found the group guilty of leaking information to Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards and Lebanon’s Iranian-backed Hezbollah and of receiving “material support” from the two forces. They were also convicted of forming a cell to “incite the public against the government and call for regime change by force.” The prosecutor’s office said the 19 belonged to Al-Wafaa movement, a little-known group which Bahraini authorities say is linked to the Revolutionary...

WHITE HOUSE — The White House went on the defensive Monday, distancing President Donald Trump from charges filed against two former campaign aides by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in connection with the probe into Russia's attempt to influence last year's presidential election. The pair, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and longtime business associate Rick Gates, were named in a 12-count indictment Monday charging money laundering, tax evasion and other violations. They pleaded not guilty Monday in a federal court in Washington. At Monday's White House briefing, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders emphasized that the indictment made no mention of Trump or of any collusion between his presidential campaign and Russia. Rick Gates, a former campaign official for U.S. President Donald Trump, departs U.S. District Court in Washington, Oct. 30, 2017. "Today's announcement has nothing to do with the president, has nothing to do with the president's camp...

NEW YORK — Michael Jackson died eight years ago, but he's still generating millions of dollars. Jackson is atop the Forbes list of top-earning dead celebrities for the fifth straight year, with $75 million. Forbes says Jackson's earnings are boosted by a new greatest hits album, a Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil show and a stake in the EMI music publishing catalog. Two other singers join Jackson in the top five. Elvis Presley comes in fourth with $35 million and Bob Marley ranks fifth with $23 million. Golf legend Arnold Palmer is the second-highest earner. He brought in $40 million in part through sales of Arizona lemonade and ice tea beverage made in his name. Palmer is followed by Charles Schulz. The creator of the "Peanuts" franchise made $38 million.

MONROVIA — Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's spokesman on Monday denied allegations from her own party that she meddled in this month's presidential election. The dispute has cemented a falling out between Johnson Sirleaf, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and her party's leadership after 12 years in power that saw the country consolidate a post-war peace but draw sharp criticism over alleged corruption and underdevelopment. At a news conference on Sunday, leaders from Johnson Sirleaf's Unity Party accused the president of holding inappropriate private meetings with election magistrates before the Oct. 10 vote. They accused her of showing greed "in its most callous form" with the "intent of disrupting the fragile peace of Liberia," and backed a challenge to the first-round results brought by other parties before the country's election commission. Unity Party's candidate, Vice President Joseph Boakai, placed runner-up in the first r...

DOUALA, CAMEROON — A military court in Cameroon sentenced an opposition leader on Monday to 25 years in prison, his lawyer and Amnesty International said and denounced the trial as politically motivated. The court convicted Aboubakar Siddiki, the president of northern Cameroon's main opposition party, of hostility against the homeland as well as revolution and contempt of the president over accusations he plotted to destabilize the country. “We are going to appeal this decision, which does not seem to us to be at all just,” Siddiki’s lawyer, Emmanuel Simh, told Reuters. In a statement, Amnesty said the prosecution was part of a government campaign to stifle its critics. The government denies the charges are political. Dozens of people have been killed and hundreds arrested in a crackdown in recent months on protests in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions. Residents there say they suffer social and economic marginalization in the predominantly Francoph...

SeeNAN French President Emmanuel Macron has signed a controversial security law that the government says is needed to combat terrorism once “a state of emergency’’ expires on Wednesday. The law signed on Monday would enshrine some modified emergency powers into ordinary law. France has been under a state of emergency extended several times, since terrorist attacks claimed by the Islamic State extremist group killed 130 people in Paris on Nov. 13, 2015. The new law has been criticised by France’s rights ombudsman as well as rights groups but the government says it is necessary to allow the state of emergency to lapse. Speaking after Macron signed the law into effect, government spokesman Christophe Castaner noted that the state of emergency had been in place for almost two years. “The threat is still there. “The new law allows authorities to restrict the movements of persons suspected of terrorist links and to search properties. “It also ...

An Oshogbo Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded a 27-year-old black Axe member, Adewunmi Adeyinka, in Ilesa prison for alleged murder. The Magistrate, Mrs Aishat Olayade, ordered the remand of the accused in prison because of the magnitude of the alleged offence. The Prosecutor, Insp. Fagboyinbo Abiodun, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on Aug.5 at about 6:50 p.m at Old Garage Area in Osogbo. Abiodun said that the accused, with others now at large, conspired together to kill one Bintu Anifiwose by shooting him with a gun without any just cause. He said that the accused also belonged to an unlawful society called Black Axe confraternity. The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 324, 516, 64(a)(b) and 316 punishable under section 319(9) of the Criminal Code cap 34 vol.11 laws of Osun, 2003. The accused is facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, belonging to unlawful society and murder. The plea of the accused was not taken and the Magis...

The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old girl, Gambo Suleiman, who allegedly dumped a day-old baby boy near a house in Yauri, Kebbi. An eye witness, Malam Musa Yauri, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yauri that the new born baby was found dumped behind a building at about 5 p.m. on Sunday evening. “They have handed over the baby to the Yauri Local Government Authority, who in turn, handed over the baby to the Kebbi Orphanage Home, for proper care,” he said. The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Mustapha Suleiman, on Monday confirmed the incident, saying the baby’s mother had been arrested. Yauri added that that the police have commenced investigation on the incident. “Investigation by the police revealed that the suspect has not married,” he said. He said that further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s action had begun. Suleiman said that the suspect would be prosecuted...

The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has challenged financial institutions across the world to design products that will appeal to the millions of the world’s unbanked population to boost liquidity in the banks and safeguard the future of savings account holders. Obaseki made the call on Monday, in commemoration of the World Savings Day, marked on October 31, every year. He also assured that the long-term goal of Alaghodaro as  envisioned by his administration will address the several challenges of urbanisation in the state’s urban centers. The governor’s assurance is on the commemoration of the World Cities Day, which is also marked on October 31, each year. According to the governor, “the complex processes involved in opening savings account, the cold reception given to the fairly literate and non-literate customers, and the lack of adequate incentives for savings culture among other factors  discourage many people from taking their mone...

EFCC Hope Democratic party (HDP), one of the registered political parties that participated in the 2015 general election has dragged the President Muhammad Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami SAN before a Federal High Court in Abuja, praying for dissolution of the management of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC. The suit with number FHC/ABJ/CS/1028/2017, is praying for an Order of Mandamus compelling the President and AGF to dissolve without delay the structure of the EFCC and to probe the gross abuse of power and office by some operatives of the anti-graft agency. Also joined as defendants in the fresh court action are the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, and two of his operatives, A.I. Arogha and Ukpeni Ewoh said to be at the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the anti-graft agency. The grouse of the HDP among others, were that the EFCC as presently constituted is engaging in abuse of power by tur...

Jethro Ibileke/Benin A middle-aged man who’s name is given as Matthew Johnson, has landed in police net over alleged illegal ‎sale of ammunition. The suspect who was arrested at Ogwa, Esan West local government area of Edo state, was said to have been arrested after a tip-off to the police that he was selling ammunition to robbers in the area. He, however, told journalists at the Edo Police Command Headquarters where he was paraded that he only sold ammunition to hunters association in the locality and not armed robbers, adding that he didn’t know that he had to register and obtain a license before embarking on the business. “I sell cartridges to hunters in Ogwa. Police arrested me because I don’t have the registration to start selling cartridges. “Nobody told me about the registration. I have been in the business for 11 months. I bought them from Onitsha. The people selling it to us know how they used to transport it. Our own is to pay,”...

The automotive policy is biting harder on the economy and must be urgently reviewed, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said on Monday in Lagos. The Director-General of LCCI, Mr Muda Yusuf, who made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the review was necessary for facilitated economic growth. Yusuf said that the policy, which raised tariff on imported cars from 20 per cent to 70 per cent, had put the cost of vehicles beyond the reach of many individuals and corporate bodies “There is the need to act quickly to reverse the unsavory situation,” he said. NAN reports that the automotive policy was introduced in 2013 as a strategy to reduce importation of vehicles and boost the capacity of domestic vehicle assembly plants. “The automobile sector was hit by the double shock of currency depreciation and a hike in tariff from 20 per cent to 70 per cent (in the case of new cars). “Whereas, there is very litt...

By Akin Kuponiyi A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos south west Nigeria today adjourned till Wednesday 1st of November, 2017 to rule on an application filed and argued on behalf of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke seeking to be joined as a defendant in the ongoing money laundering trial in Nigeria. The former minister is seeking to be joined as a defendant in the N500 million fraud charge slammed on a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dele Belgore who was Peoples’ Democratic Party Gubernatorial candidate in Kwara state during the last general election and a former Minister of Planning, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In particular, she wants the court to compel the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF)and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) to bring her back to Nigeria from the United Kingdom, where she has been since 2015 to put up her defence in the case. Arguing the applicati...

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for sacking Babachir Lawal, secretary to the government of the federation, and Ayo Oke, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). On Monday, Buhari sacked the duo, who have been on suspension for over three months. Oke’s agency had claimed ownership of the monies discovered in an Ikoyi apartment while Lawal was indicted for corruption by the senate committee on the humanitarian crisis in the north-east. Reacting to the news of the sack, SERAP urged the president to “go a step further” by ensuring that they are thoroughly investigated. In a statement, Timothy Adewale, SERAP deputy director, said though the sack is coming rather late, it is a positive development in the fight against “grand corruption.” He urged Buhari to urgently handover Lawal and Oke to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt ...

The male equivalent to feminism is masculism, which fights for issues of concern to males such as child custody, alimony etc

UNIUYO STUDENTS MADE FIRST CLASS AT LAW SCHOOL : John Inyene and Kuseme Iseh have bagged a First Class at the Nigerian Law School, becoming  first graduates of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) to achieve the feat. The two graduates were among the 29 law graduates who finished with a First Class at the 2017 Call-to-Bar ceremony held last Saturday. John, who was the Faculty of Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN) president, graduated with highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). A total number of 5,891 students participated in the Bar Part II examination, with 4,285 graduated successfully. A breakdown of the results showed that 211candidates graduated with a Second Class (Upper Division), while 1,046 students made Second Class (Lower Division)

Modern elite male British football is still waiting for its first openly gay player. Maybe Football Manager can help. In this year's edition of the computer game, players come out. "Part of the reason we decided to do this is because there are gay footballers," Miles Jacobson, the game's director, told BBC Sport. "We know from the amount of professionals that there has to be players who are gay but feel they don't want to come out. "I find it weird that it's still a problem in football so we decided to try and show people that coming out isn't a big deal and can be a positive thing. "I just think it's crazy that in 2017 we are in a world where people can't be themselves."

BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — Police say a soccer fan died after he was hit by a rock thrown by rival supporters at a game in Malawi. Police spokesman George Mulewa identified the fan as 25-year-old Boaz Mwesumo. Mulewa says an autopsy found that Mwesumo died of head injuries sustained in the violence Wednesday at a cup game between two third-tier teams, Kakoma FC and Chicago FC, in northern Malawi. Mulewa says Chicago fans became “overexcited” when their team took a 2-0 lead. The rival supporters started fighting and Mwesumo was hit by a rock thrown from the Chicago supporters section. Police are investigating. The death comes three months after eight people died in a stampede at a game in the Malawian capital Lilongwe marking the country’s independence from Britain. There is an increase in football-related violence in the southern African country with poor crowd control.

SYDNEY (AP) — Dimitri Petratos scored in the 68th minute to give Newcastle a 1-1 draw with the Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League on Sunday, keeping the Jets unbeaten on the season and within four points of first-place Melbourne City. Mark Bridge gave the Wanderers a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute. The Jets have two wins and two draws. In the other Sunday match, the Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory also played to a 1-1 draw. On Saturday, Melbourne City maintained its perfect start to the season — four consecutive wins — with a 2-0 win over Adelaide United, led by Ross McCormack’s two goals in the first half. Sydney FC, in second place and two points behind Melbourne City, beat Perth 2-0 with Bobo and substitute Adrian Mierzejewski scoring goals from the spot in a game in which the Sky Blues were awarded three penalties. Massimo Maccarone scored his second goal of the match, on a penalty in the 82nd minute, to enable the Brisbane Roar to draw 3...

JEDDAH: Women’s empowerment will take another step forward at the beginning of 2018 when families are permitted inside stadiums and other sports facilities. It was one of a raft of decisions announced on Sunday by Turki Al-Asheikh, chairman of the General Sports Authority, aimed at supporting and stimulating the sports sector. The authority “will start rehabilitating the main stadiums in Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah to be ready to receive families starting in 2018,” Al-Asheikh said. The move is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to engage women in society as an integral part of the development process. This month Al-Asheikh, who is also president of the Saudi Olympic Committee, appointed Princess Reema bint Bandar president of the Saudi Federation for Community Sports. Princess Reema has also opened the new Studio 5 gym in Jeddah.  She seeks to encourage women to take exercise in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Last month, women were invited with their...

NEW YORK: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to modernize Saudi Arabia by returning to “moderate Islam” has been welcomed by the UN official charged with promoting traditional rights around the world. Karima Bennoune, the UN’s special rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, praised the crown prince’s reforms as “very welcome steps” while also highlighting some areas in Saudi policy where she felt there was room for improvement. The crown prince last week unveiled plans to return the Kingdom to a more moderate form of Islam that is more open to other religions and to “eradicate the remnants of extremism very soon.” Bennoune, an Algerian-American and professor at the University of California Davis School of Law, welcomed the statement and praised last month’s decision to allow women to drive cars for the first time, which is due to come into effect next year. “Certainly the suggestion of what was termed in t...

Protesters in Irbil stormed the parliament building Sunday after Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani announced he is stepping down as president of the self-ruled northern Kurdish region. Angry Kurds attacked members of parliament and journalists inside the building, while a crowd outside waved Kurdish flags in support of Barzani. In a televised speech, Barzani announced his resignation as of November 1. He asked parliament to dissolve the position of the president and distribute its duties among the Kurdish prime minister, parliament and the judiciary. Barzani said the Iraqi government used the September Kurdish independence referendum as "an excuse" to retake much of the territory the Kurds had controlled for years after peshmerga and coalition forces ousted the Islamic State militants who captured vast swaths of northern Iraq in 2014. The referendum resulted in more than 92 percent of Iraqi Kurds choosing independence. A still image taken from a video shows Kurdish Pre...

Hundreds of women took to the streets of Paris and 10 other French cities to protest against sexual harassment in the wake of the scandal surrounding Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. In Paris, women gathered in Republic Square, waving signs bearing the #metoo hashtag used by tens of thousands of women to share personal stories of harassment and assault. Similar gatherings were also held in Marseille, Bordeaux and Lille, among other cities. As the #metoo campaign erupted across the United States, a similar campaign unfolded across France under the hashtag #balancetonporc or #squealonyourpig. As in America, French women have begun naming and shaming their attackers. Since it started, several prominent figures have been targeted in French assault claims, including a lawmaker in President Emmanuel Macron's party, a judge on France's equivalent of reality show "America's Got Talent" and Oxford professor Tariq Ramadan, a leading lecturer in Islamic studies. French...

A woman reacts as she hugs one of the hostages who escaped from their Islamic State captors in Qaryatayn town in Homs province,  They were among at least 70 people abducted and taken by fleeing Islamic State militants to a secret location in the desert east of the town of al-Qaryatayn on Oct. 21 when the Syrian army and pro-government militias regained control of the town. The others are still missing, according to local officials, who have not disclosed the identities of any of the hostages. Al-Qaryatayn lies nearly 300 kilometers (190 miles) west of Deir al-Zor city, the current focus of the Syrian government’s offensive, with Russian jets and Iran-backed militias, against Islamic State. About 200 people turned out in al-Qaryatayn on Sunday to welcome home the returning hostages, according to Reuters reporters who visited the war-scarred town during a trip organized by the Syrian authorities. Parents wept as they embraced returning sons while other relatives and local r...

E Thnic tension in Kenya over Thursday’s election that was largely boycotted Last Thursday’s repeat election in Kenya which was boycotted by millions of Kenyans has reignited tension between ethnic communities in some areas. Inhabitants of a small village in the West of Kenya picked up traditional arms on Saturday as the tension grew worse. Reuters reports that in the bright green sugarcane fields where the western Nyanza region rolls toward the Nandi hills, two tribes — the Luo and the Kalenjin — have lived in relative peace for years. But in the village of Koguta, down the road from the town of Mugoroni in Kisumu County, Thursday’s polarizing vote reignited old grievances. The stand-off, is a reminder of how Kenya’s political crisis could easily spark ethnic violence. In 2007, an election induced ethic unrest led to the death of over 1,200 people. On one side of Koguta are Kalenjins, here ardent supporters of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his K...

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it will commence investigation into illegal human organ harvesting in the country. Organ harvesting is the illegal removal of human organ or tissue without a person’s consent; generally to be sold on the black market for organ transplants. The Director General of NAPTIP, Ms Julie Okah-Donli disclosed this on Saturday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Okah-Donli said that cases of organ harvesting was complicated but NAPTIP would carry out full investigation in order to bring perpetrators to book. She decried the rising cases organ harvesting in the guise of ritual killings in some parts of the country. “NAPTIP has decided to begin full investigation because most of the times, other law enforcement agencies go out, they will come to tell us that the suspected organ harvesting is a ritual murder. “And we have resolved to carry out our independent investigati...

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) in conjunction with Military Pensions Board (MPB) has scheduled a general verification exercise for all existing military pensioners on the pay roll of rhe Board from 26 November – 9 December 2017. The exercise is basically to ascertain the existing pensioners on the current pension pay roll and to also update their biometric records. During the exercise, MPB Combo identification cards will be issued to pensioners who are yet to collect. Please note that detailed brief for the conduct of the exercise will be communicated at a later date by the Ministry of Defence. Consequently, all pensioners are requested to make themselves available for the verification exercise with all the relevant documents. The exercise will be only for military retirees who are currently being paid pensions by MPB. Fraudsters are warned to stay away from the verification centres as culprits will be prosecuted in line with extant laws.

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has renamed the Abakaliki Township Stadium after the late Ngele Oruta, the oldest man in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 112-year-old Oruta was buried on Friday at Amagu-Izzi, in the Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state. The deceased was a father to Sylvester Ngele, a former representative of Ebonyi North Zone in the Senate. Umahi was quoted in a statement by Emmanuel Uzor, his Chief Press Secretary, as eulogising Oruta’s immense contribution to the state’s development. The governor also played glowing tribute to the father of Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Benard Odoh, who was buried on Saturday at Onunweke, Isiofia in Ezza North. He also pledged to construct new classrooms at the community primary school at Onunweke and name them after late Odoh, for his immeasurable contribution to the development of his area and the state. “I commend the people of Izzi and Ezza clans of the state ...

Jethro Ibileke/Benin Some members of the defunct Congress For Progressive Change (CPC) from the 17 southern states of Nigeria, weekend said fielding President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 Presidential poll will incur them the wrath of Nigerians and cost the ruling APC the election. The group, which spoke under the auspices of Southern Mandate of Nigeria (SMN), said Nigerians may stone APC members at campaign grounds, if Buhari is presented as their candidate. National Coordinator of the the group, Comrade Francis Ikonomwan, in a statement made available to journalists in Benin, Edo state, described the call by members of Buhari Support Group on President Mohammadu Buhari to contest the 2019 election as “political sycophancy.” He described members of the Buhari Support Group as a “bunch of people who do not mean well for APC and Nigerians at large, but rather, their selfish interests.” Ikonomwan who noted that President Buhari has failed to deliver on his campaig...

Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan The Oyo State Government on Sunday said that the Multi-door Court Law of 2017 targeted at easing the process of  dispute resolution and promote access to justice for residents has been passed by the House of Assembly. The government stated that barring any unforeseen circumstances, as soon as the clean copy of this law is produced by the House of Assembly, the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi would sign it into to law to make it effective. The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwaseun Abimbola explained that with the law, mediation, arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution options would become readily available pathways to resolving disputes by disputing parties before the Oyo State High Court. Abimbola stated that the Oyo State Judiciary has already earmarked a facility within the High Court complex for the smooth take-off of the new Multi-door Courthouse which is expected to take off in earnest and inaugurated by Go...

The National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress, Otunba Gani Adams will be formally installed as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba Land on 13 January, 2018 in Oyo town, Oyo State. Femi Adepoju, Director of Media And Communication, Femi Adepoju, Otunba Adams who announced this in a statement on Sunday added that programmes for the installation program would be announced at a later date. “The palace of the Alaafin Of Oyo, Iku Babayeye Ikeji Orisa, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has scheduled the installation ceremony of the Aare Ona Kakanfo-designate, Otunba Gani Adams as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo for January 13 2018,” Adepoju said in the statement.

The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Alleged Fraudulent Activities in Collection, Accounting, Remittance and Expenditure by Revenue Generating Agencies has invited the Inspector-General of Police (IG-P), Mr Ibrahim Idris, to appear before it. The committee’s Chairman, Sen. Solomon Adeola, said in statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr Kayode Odunaro, on Sunday in Abuja. According to him, the invitation followed findings on a N6.5 billion unpaid revenue accruing from the Lagos Trade Fair Complex. He said, others invited to appear before the committee are the Director Generals of Directorate of State Security (DSS), Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and National Council on Privatisation (NCP). Adeola said the essence of the invitation was to get the Police and DSS to assist the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) in recovering the money, which had accrued for over nine years. He said that the invitation was to also assist in ejecting...