President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Discussions at the meeting dwelled on the killings in Taraba State and general security situation in the country.

On the 6th of August 2019, troops of 93 Battalion Nigerian Army Takum had pursued and exchanged fire with some suspected kidnappers, who turned out to be an Intelligence Response Team from the Police Force Headquarters Abuja on a covert assignment from Abuja resulting in the death and injury of some members of the Team.

Those at the meeting with the President included Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin, Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete IIbas, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

Also at the meeting were the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai and the representative of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said that the council evaluated the current strategy of managing internal security operations all over the country.

Stressing that the meeting was satisfied with the current efforts being taken, he said that substantial progress are being made in all the areas of conflicts.

On the Taraba incident, he said “The council also decided that the unfortunate incidents in Taraba State in Ibi, a committee will be setup under the defence headquarters, set up by defence headquarters to critically look into the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.

“Finally, we also want to assure Nigerians that the armed forces of Nigeria and other security agencies would continue to work to ensure the security of Nigerian and to also ensure that no individual or group of individuals undermine the territorial integrity of Nigeria. That, in a nutshell, is the outcome of this meeting. “

Asked if the council discussed the issue of using technology and drones to fight crimes as earlier pledged to the south-west leaders, he said, ”Technology will continue to play a very critical role in resolving security challenges in Nigeria.

“All the services are using one technology or the other in order to ensure that our country is secured.

“So security will continue to play a role and we are also looking at other areas of technology that are not currently in use to ensure that we put together all that is required to ensure the security of Nigerian and Nigerians. He said

Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) says it has trained over 16,000 entrepreneurs in its Youth Empowered Nigeria programme as 500 unemployed youths are trained in business and life’s skills in Calabar.

Public Affairs and Communications Director of NBC, Ekuma Eze who was speaking at a three-day training workshop in Calabar said the company is embarking on this programme because government alone cannot solve the problem of unemployment.

“The issue of unemployment is not what you can’t leave in the hands of the government alone. It is virtually not possible anywhere in the world for the government to employ every youth.

The duty of government is to create enabling environment for private sector to thrive and when the private sector thrives, they can contribute in many ways than one in addressing some of the societal challenges.” “We have reached over 16,000 young people with the skills I have mentioned. We are in Calabar in furtherance of that purpose and to support the government to address the issue of unemployment and of course underemployment.

“This is our own modest way of contributing to the Nigerian youths because we believe in them. If the Nigerian youths were given the space and the opportunity their peers outside this country enjoy, they could also be globally competitive.

The idea behind this is bridge the gap in terms of the skills they did not acquire while in school,” he said.

“What we are doing here is called Youth Empowered Nigeria. It is part of our global initiative to empower youths between the ages of 18 and 30. The training started in October, 2017.

Speaking further, he said our educational system has not been fine tuned to take care of current realities in the workplace. “Unfortunately our educational system has not been fine-tuned to address the current realities in the workplace. You have a situation where you have vacancies and you bring in a whole number of these young graduates and the skills that are required in the workplace they don’t have it.”

According to him, any group that produces the best bankable business idea would be assisted to incorporate a company and provided with the initial funding they will require to actualise the business idea.

Lagos – The police on Thursday arraigned a 17-year-old student in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl.

The Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Christopher John, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on July 23, at Yaba area of Lagos State.

John alleged that the defendant lured the girl to his house where he raped her. He said the girl’s parents reported the case to the police and the defendant was apprehended. The offence, he added, contravened the provisions of Section 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge. Magistrate P.E Nwaka admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N50,000 bail with two sureties in like sum. He adjourned the case until Sept. 9. (NAN)

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde claimed on Wednesday that Philippe Coutinho is set to stay at Camp Nou despite strong interest in the unsettled Brazilian from the Premier League. Coutinho Coutinho The latest status update came after Croatian Ivan Rakitic score a 79th-minute winner to see off Napoli 2-1 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Former Liverpool forward Coutinho has distanced himself from a move to Tottenham — he was also linked with Arsenal — and with the transfer window in England closing Thursday, the chances of the 27-year-old returning to England appear slim. Former Barca forward Neymar, currently at Paris St. Germain, has also been touted to make a sensational return to the La Liga champions, although it has now been suggested that arch-rivals Real Madrid are also weighing up a move. “The plan is to count on Coutinho,” Valverde stressed. “The transfer windows are open but we expect him to stay of course. “And as for Neymar, the last time I came to this stadium I had to answer a load of questions about him. Two years later and it’s the same again. It’s like it’s following me. I don’t know what is going to happen.” Croatian midfielder Rakitic struck with a crisply driven effort after an own-goal from Samuel Umtiti had cancelled out Sergio Busquet’s opener for the Spaniards. This was the first leg of two matches between these European giants with the second encounter taking place in Michigan on Saturday. “It was a pretty open game and we were able to give many of the squad some minutes so it was a positive outcome for us,” added Valverde, who is without the injured Lionel Messi for this US mini-tour. Antoine Griezmann, Barcelona’s $134 million signing from Atletico Madrid, was lively from the start, linking up well with strike partner Luis Suarez.

After walking out of her marriage to popular fitness expert, Maje Ayida, over infidelity issues, media personality, Toke Makinwa became an advocate for female independence among other feminism related issues.

However, the daring radio personality who recently revealed plans to remarry if she finds a man after her heart has stated that she would not hesitate to opt out again if she doesn’t find happiness in the union.

According to her, though tolerance is important in marriage, there should be a limit to which a woman should accommodate a man’s excesses, which is why she would dump her next marriage if she is unhappy in it. “If tolerating bull shit is what you guys call happy marriage, please count me out. I am not afraid of being alone. If I give it another chance and I am unhappy I will leave again. Call me crazy or whatever but I am not your average and I will always choose me first. Yes! Tolerance is prime shouldn’t mean there should be no limit to the bull shit one should take. If you men really love the tolerance of our mothers,I suggest that you all go marry them and God forbid our daughters end up like us or our mothers.

A woman unafraid of walking alone is a dangerous one, her level of freedom will intimidate many but will also inspire the right energy, she is clothed in strength and dignity”, she said.

The Niger state Police Commissioner, Usman Adamu has disclosed that over six million naira have been recovered from kidnappers between June and August this year.

The police also disclosed that 85 suspects have been arrested and recovered over three hundred animals in the past three months.

Speaking in Minna during a commendation ceremony for fifteen officers for their gallantry at the Police officers mess in Minna, the Police Commissioner said two of the suspects arrested were linked to the abduction of Magajin Garin Daura (District head of Daura), Alhaji Musa Umar who was kidnapped in May this year.

“Two out of the eight suspects arrested by our men were linked to the kidnapping of Magajin Daura in Katsina state and at the time he was still in captivity. A development that led to the transfer of the case to Force Headquarters and the victim was eventually rescued unhurt.”

He said that operatives of the Operation Puff-Adder also arrested suspected kidnappers of the son of a Monarch in Ibadan, Oyo state and recovered the sum of N6million which was suspected to be one of the suspect’s share on proceeds linked to the kidnapped.

Adamu explained that the suspects were not paraded at the time of their arrest because of security reasons.

The Police Boss assured of a hitch free Salah celebration adding that there would be adequate security in place to ensure that the celebration goes on peacefully.

Two brothers, Olanrewaju and Kolawole Afuwape, who allegedly stole the N1.3 million a pastor realised as rent for his property, Thursday appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Olanrewaju, 44, and Kolawole, 35, were arraigned by the police on a four-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and theft.

Prosecuting Sergeant Tope Adegbie alleged that the defendants committed the offence between 2018 and July 2019 at Alimosho area of Lagos.

Adegbie alleged that the defendants forged a document dated August 18, 2000, through which they stole the N1.3m realised as rent for the 24-rooms and two shops, belonging to the complainant, Pastor Lawrence Idowu.

He said the offence contravened sections 287, 365, 366 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendants pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Y.O. Aro-Lambo granted each brother N50,000 bail with one surety in the like sum, among other conditions.

He adjourned till October 17.

Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered parties to a suit challenging the alleged plans by the National Assembly to interfere in the affairs of the Edo State House of Assembly not to take any further steps on the issue pending the determination of the substantive case.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who is sitting as the court’s vacation judge, gave the order for parties to maintain status quo ante bellum, while adjourning the hearing of the substantive suit until August 22, 2019.

Justice Taiwo said the order was intended to prevent parties, particularly the respondents from foisting on the court a fait accompli.

The judge said: “The defendants have been served with court processes. As law makers, they ought to respect the laws made by them, and one of which, flowing from the law, is that when a matter is in court and parties are seized of the matter, all must ensure that the authority of the court is not is not trampled upon.

“Parties should allow the court to reach a decision one way or the other, with respect to the main issue before it. To this end, I shall make an order that the defendants’ counsel file their response to the originating summons within seven days from now, terminating on the 15th of August 2019.

“The plaintiffs shall respond within five days of the service on them of the response of the defendants.

Meanwhile the court will adjourn the hearing of the main mater and all pending applications to the 22nd of August 2019.

“Flowing from my starting point, the defendants and in fact, all parties must maintain status quo ante bellum in order not to foist a fait accompli on the court, pursuant to the accelerated hearing granted by this court in this suit.”

Before the court’s ruling, lawyer to the plaintiffs, Ola Olanipekun (SAN) had expressed fear and noted that there were threats by the respondents to tamper with the subject of the case.

The judge refused to hear the plaintiffs’ motion for interlocutory injunctions, but elected to hear the substantive suit and granted accelerated hearing.

The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/815/2019 was filed on July 17 by the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Francis Okiye and some others, with which they seek to, among others, to stop the National Assembly from taking over the functions of the state Assembly.

The National Assembly and its Clerk were listed as plaintiffs.

It is the plaintiff’s contention that the National Assembly lacks the powers to assume the functions of a state Assembly that has been validly inaugurated.

The Edo State’s Seventh Assembly was inaugurated on June 17.

The inauguration became controversial as only nine out of the 24 members-elect were in the chamber during inauguration.

The Senate and the House of Representatives separately threatened to take over the Assembly should Governor, Godwin Obaseki failed to issue a fresh proclamation for the assembly’s inauguration.

The Senate proceeded to pass a resolution, giving the governor a week to issue the proclamation letter or risk the takeover of the Assembly by the federal legislators.

When the case earlier came up on July 31, Olanipekun noted that despite being served with court papers in relation to the case, the defendants, the Senate passed a resolution the previous day (July 30, 2019) for the takeover of the assembly if the governor fails to comply with its resolution.

He said the defendants’ lawyers had also, on the previous day, served the plaintiffs a counter affidavit to their motion for interlocutory injunction and written address and also filed a memorandum of conditional appearance.

Olanipekun expressed disappointment that even when the governor had already issued a proclamation, which was duly gazette, members of the Assembly duly  inaugurated, with principal officers elected, while  the house has since been functioning, the National Assembly was threatening to take it over if the governor failed to issue a fresh proclamation.

But the House of Representatives has faulted the ruling restraining the National Assembly and its agents from taking over the Edo Assembly.

Students of the Ekiti State University(EKSU), Ado-Ekiti yesterday took to the street to protest the  alleged harassment and unlawful arrest of their colleagues by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives.

The students barricaded the institution’s entrance gate, thereby affecting academic activities as most of the lecturers and other staff could not access the campus.

They appealed to EFCC Acting Chairman Mr. Ibrahim Magu to order his men to stop harassing innocent students under the guise of being involved  in cybercrime.

The protest, which began at about 8:15a.m. and lasted till 2:30p.m., affected free flow of traffic on the Ado-Ifaki dual carriage way, where the aggrieved students gathered to express their displeasure.

Those travelling outside the state capital and those coming in through the route were affected by the gridlock created by the students. The travelers had to take alternative routes to their respective destinations.

Addressing the students, the Director of Welfare, the institution Students’ Union Government, Temitope Aladejare, described the alleged arrest as illegal and unconstitutional.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned a former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

He pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge.

Justice Chuka Obiozor ordered his remand in EFCC custody until Friday when his bail application will be heard.