We ‘ll help you fight corruption, NPAN tells FG

The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Thursday, reiterated its commitment to the fight against corruption in the country ,insisting that it had always been in the vanguard of the fight and that it was not ready to stop now. 

The assurance was given by the President of the Association, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena , while receiving the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji. Lai Mohammed , on a courtesy call on the Association at its Secretariat in Maryland , Lagos

 ” We will help you fight corruption because it is antithetical to development” he stressed.

On hand to receive the minister among others , were the Publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka, Mal. Ismaila Isa, both Life Patrons of the Association, former governor of Ogun State,Chief Segun Osoba, Mr. Ray Ekpu (both past Presidents of the Association) as well as Executive Council members and other members of the Association. 

Mr. Obaigbena who is also the Publisher of Thisday newspapers, in welcoming the new vista with which the goverment is pursuing its anti- corruption drive, noted that more mileage would be garnered and the campaign more enduring, if government fights corruption by building strong institutions.

To achieve greater result, he said it was imperative to first find the root cause of corruption, avoid arbitrariness and follow the rule of law . Also, there was a need to respect the doctrine of innocence under which an accuse is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

It would be unjust and unfair to lump people together, and label everybody thieves, without separating the wheat from the chaff,he added. 

In his address, the minister sought the support and cooperation of the media owners, adding that it was not the intention of the government to intimidate anyone or group of persons. 

Goverment’s current drive he argued, was motivated by the higher ideal of bringing happiness to the greater number of the citizenry. This he said would remain an illusion without curing the corruption cancer that had eaten deep into the nation. 

Mohammed drew a nexus between corruption and development, explaining that it would be difficult to develop infrastructure like roads, railway, schools, etc if government revenues are stolen. 

Taking on the economy without first fighting corruption, he argued, would be an exercise in futility. 

He recalled his earlier pronouncement how the nation could be transformed into an eldorado, providing roads, schools, hospitals etc , if the funds stolen had been judiciously applied. 

For instance, he said the total amount Nigeria was seeking to borrow from the World Bank or the African Development Bank or others is $3.5 billion, adding that if only a few who had stolen from the nation’s revenues had returned a fraction or that the issue of the $20 billion had been resolved, the nation would not need to borrow. 

Mohammed said in the next few weeks government would be launching a National Re – orientation Campaign tagged ” Change begins with me”. The campaign is to compliment other campaigns already launched such as National Security Awareness Campaign and the National Sensitization Campaign Against Corruption He pleaded for the support of the media for the new campaign. 

Others on hand to receive the minister included Deputy President and Chairman, Media Trust, Mal. Kabiru A. Yusuf, the General Secretary and Publisher of the Source Magazine, Comfort Obi, President of Leadership Group and former Presidential aspirant, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Assistant Secretary and Publisher of Blue Print newspapers, Alh. Mohammed Idris,Group Managing Director of Champion Newspapers, Mrs Nwadiuto Iheakanwa and President of Tell communications, Mr. Nosa Igiebor. 

Also present were Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Editor-in-Chief, The News, Gbenga Adefaye, Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard ; Publisher of Daily Times, Mr. Fidelis Anosike, Mr.Ted Iwere, Managing Director of Daily Independent, Mannging Director of New Telegraph, Mrs Funke Egbemode and Deputy Managing Director of The Sun, Mr. Steve Nwosu.


With Vanguard

Task Force arrests suspects over oil pipe blasts, Niger Delta

The Joint Military Task Force a.k.a. Operation Pulo Shield, protecting oil facilities in Niger Delta, says it has arrested suspected vandals behind recent bombing of line pipes in the region.

Spokesman for Operation Pulo Shield, Col. Isa Ado, said in a statement that the arrest followed a charge by the Commander of the Joint Force, Maj.-Gen. Alani Okunlola to apprehend those behind the acts.

Ado said in the statement that the suspects, who are in custody, were being interrogated to ascertain their degree of involvement and to help in arresting others.

The statement said patrols in the region had been intensified to ensure that all the suspected militants behind the line pipes sabotage were brought to book.

“Operation Pulo Shield remains determined to track and arrest perpetrators of the recent multiple attacks and bombing of some oil pipes and installations across Niger Delta Region.

“Some suspects were arrested and currently undergoing thorough preliminary investigation to ascertain their degree of involvement before handing them over to prosecuting agencies, while effort is on to track and arrest fleeing vandals.

“The arrest was due to highly intensified Patrols and Cordon and Search of the waterways, creeks and communities by the Joint Force.

“It is in line with the directives of the Commander, Operation Pulo Shield, Major General Alani Gafar Okunlola to apprehend those behind the criminal act”, said the statement.

The statement quoted the commander of the Joint force as assuring the people of Niger Delta of Operation Pulo Shield’s determination to wipe out all acts of illegalities in the region.

It called on the people to give useful information that will aid the joint force in its operations in line with its mandate in the Niger Delta.

It warned the perpetrators of the crime to desist from further destruction of oil facilities or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that a blast on a crude and gas line pipes at Escravos, Delta, resulted in the shut down of Warri and Port Harcourt refineries and cut in gas supply to some power plants.

Another blast on Agip’s facility on Jan. 28 resulted in a drop by 16,000 barrels out of Agip’s 40,000 barrels daily export from Brass Oil Export Terminal of Bayelsa coastline.

Air Force bombs Boko Haram base

The military averted another suicide attack on Maiduguri when troops intercepted two bombers who attempted to enter the city.

Residents said two suicide bombers made desperate efforts to enter the city through the outskirts but were gunned down in the process.

Regardless, Media Coordinator of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Mustapha Ankas confirmed that the bombers were intercepted by military troops at Muna Dalti after fruitless attempts to infiltrate the city. “The suicide bombers were halted but refused to stop. In the process, they blew themselves up,” Ankas explained at a media briefing yesterday.

He, however, said there was no casualty other than the two bombers.

Elsewhere, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), said its Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UAV), destroyed a logistics base used by Boko Haram.

The base, NAF said, is located at Garin Moloma, about one kilometre north of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State.  This is just as the military and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources will collaborate in the war against crude oil theft.

A statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, said the UAV was on an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) mission in the area when it detected the gathering of the terrorists.

He said Garin Moloma that had been under surveillance, houses terrorists’ operational vehicles which were destroyed.

The military officer also said the multiple explosions and huge fireball from the location, as recorded from the enclosed video of the UAV strike, “strongly suggests that it may be either an ammunition/fuel storage or weapons/technical workshop.”

According to him, the operation was a major setback for Boko Haram, and a big gain for the military in its fight against insurgency.

Meanwhile, the ministry and the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) are perfecting the synergy between the two organisations towards curbing crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu was at the DHQ where he was briefed by the committee set up to evolve the modality for protection of oil and gas pipelines across the country.

The issue of oil theft and pipeline vandalism was extensively discussed few months ago when Dr Kachikwu, then the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, visited the DHQ. 

The aftermath of that visit was the setting up of the committee to provide guidelines for the protection of oil and gas pipelines by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin.

With AIT

Buhari assures EU of commitment to human rights protection

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the European union that his administration is doing its utmost to protect the fundamental human rights of persons in the theatre of operations against boko haram.

Addressing a special session of the parliament on in Strasbourg,France, president buhari said that his government shared the European union's commitment to peace and security, respect for Human rights, democracy and good governance, equality and tolerance, as ways of developing prosperous and strong Societies.  

The president also spoke of Nigeria's concerns about the Economic partnership agreement between the European union,

African, Caribbean and pacific group have states (acp), collectively Endorsed by the economic community of west African states.

He said that Nigeria was yet to sign the agreement because pertinent technical issues raised by the federal government have not been satisfactorily addressed.

The president also sought greater support from eu curb the theft of Nigeria crude oil as well as corruption in its oil and gas sector.

President buhari assured the parliament that Nigeria would collaborate with the European union to address illegal migration to Europe.

With AIT

Senate begins investigation into fresh allegation to extradite senator Buruji Kashamu

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition has begun investigation into fresh allegations of moves by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to extradite Sen. Buruji Kashamu to the U.S.

The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu while meeting with the senator and his solicitor on the allegation in Abuja, said the committee would carry out its mandate.

He directed that all parties involved in the allegation, including former Chairman of (NDLEA), Ahmed Giade and the Director-General of NDLEA, should maintain status quo pending the committee’s investigation.

`` Having heard from you the Solicitor to Senator Kashamu, you may now leave and be rest assured that we will hear from the other correspondents and we will come up with a position on this issue.

``Meanwhile I think it is obvious that when we make our investigation we will put down our report to the entire Senate.

``We have to invite the parties involved and not in representative capacity to answer to the allegations.

``This matter is before the senate and we think status quo should remain until we look at the issues in the petition and come up with a position,’’ he said.

Anyanwu said that the committee would investigate to know if the case was before any court before proceeding, given that it received varying correspondents from the parties involved.

He added that while Mr Giade and the Attorney General had agreed to appear before the committee on the matter, the NDLEA boss wrote to be excused because the case was before the Court of Appeal.

`NDLEA DG wrote that the matter is in the Appeal Court and she should be excused from the matter.

``Meanwhile the Attorney General asked to be given between 9th and 12th of February to appear before the committee and Alhaji Ahmed Giade asked for more time to prepare and submit 12 copies of the written presentation before the committee,’’ he said.

The Solicitor to Sen. Kashamu, Mr Ajibola Oluyede, alleged that there were plans to extradite the lawmaker to the United States to be tried afresh.

``Recently it came to our attention that there was a move again, not to extradite him.

``This is what is being planned currently against Sen. Kashamu and we have it on very good authority and you will see we have quoted from an agent of the NDLEA, a sympathetic agent.

``The reason we are here is that you should be able to look into this matter. Yes, there are certain aspects of this matter pending in court but there are aspects of it that the court can never look at.

``The court is not going to look into the internal workings of a government institution and find out whether those who have been appointed to hold office in that institution have carried out their duties in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

`` It is only this chamber that has the supervisory power to look into what the executive is doing and find out whether the executive is actually complying with the statutes that emanate from this chamber.

He appealed to the Senate to use its powers to ensure that appropriate action was taken on the matter to protect the life of his client.

With NAN

Reps uncover 169 ghost companies on N1trn rail contracts

The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Failed Rail Contracts, yesterday, unearthed 169 ghost companies that registered as contractors with the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, for projects valued at N1 trillion.

The ad hoc committee raised the alarm during the investigative hearing at the National Assembly, that none of the 169 companies invited by the committee had shown up.

Chairman of the committee, Johnson Agbonnayinman, (Ikpoba/Okha federal constituency), said the need to invite the contractors was important, but lamented that efforts to reach them had so far proven fruitless.

He added that so far, only the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, responded to the committee’s letter.

He said: “You are duty bound to produce the contractors. They are nowhere to be found; they are not faceless but yet they cannot be reached.

“You gave them the job, so you should produce them; we are holding you responsible.”

The committee also asked the corporation’s MD, Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, to make available the agency’s record of Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, between 2010 and 2014, and was also asked to tell the committee what the IGR was used for.

In response, the MD said the IGR was used to augment the agency’s overhead budget.

Drama, however, started when the committee, acting on documents before it, asked the MD to explain all he knew and reason behind his request to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for a return of N2 billion or 20 percent of the corporation’s pension fund to the corporation in December 2014.

Responding, Sijuwade, who was reminded of being on oath, denied making such request to either the Accountant-General or Minister of Finance.

“I never at any time made any request to the AGF to return N2 billion pension fund to the corporation,” he said.

Insistent on getting to the root of the matter, the committee asked the Director of Finance, Felix Njoku, to take an oath in order to take questions regarding the issue.

Njoku did and insisted that there was never any correspondence from his office to the Accountant-General’s on return of the said money.

Not satisfied, the committee veered into what the organisation did with N2 billion that was in the corporation’s coffers around the period under review.

The Finance Director explained that the money was not related to pension and was used to fund ongoing contracts at the time.

He was asked to list the contracts. He promised to make available the records.

The committee also faulted the award of rail contract to Costain Construction Company, claiming that it had no competence in railway projects.

Sijuwade replied that Costain went through due process and was found competent by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, adding that it successfully completed its project.

Chairman of the committee adjourned the hearing and stressed justice and fairness, stating that the probe was not a witch-hunt.

With Vanguard

Obama says what Muslims 'don’t hear often'

US President Barack Obama has made his first visit to a mosque to denounce the anti-Islam rhetoric promoted by GOPers in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, telling Muslims outside Baltimore that Christians "have to understand: An attack on one faith is an attack on all our faiths."

Obama attended Wednesday at the Islamic Society of Baltimore in Windsor Mill, Maryland, where he spoke against "hugely distorted impression" of Muslims in the country.

Anti-Muslim discourse was intensified by the Republican candidates, with billionaire Donald Trump in the vanguard, after terrorist bombings by Takfiri affiliates of Daesh in Paris and San Bernardo, California.

“You’ve seen, too often, people conflating the horrific acts of terrorism with the beliefs of an entire faith,” Obama said tacitly touching on the discourse, calling the rhetoric an “inexcusable” one with “no place” in the country.

“We have to reject a politics that seeks to manipulate prejudice or bias and targets people because of religion. We’ve got to make sure that hate crimes are punished and that the civil rights of all Americans are upheld.”

The US president, who had taken off his shoes as Muslims do to respect the place of worship, said he was “grateful” for the efforts that the Muslim community has made “to keep us as one American family.”

With PressTV

Minister says Artists' Village here to stay, promises to encourage Artists

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Monday paid an unscheduled visit to the Artists' Village at the National Theatre in Lagos, and promised that everything will be done to provide a conducive environment for Artists to thrive.

''The Artists' Village is here to stay,'' the Minister told the hordes of Artists who welcomed him to the village, which has been in the news in recent times after it was affected by the demolition of shanties within the National Theatre complex.

''We'll do everything to encourage the Arts. Within our little resources, we'll make sure that arts thrive,'' he said, while assuring that this will be a new era of better rapport between Artists and the Ministry of Information and Culture, as well as with the management of the National Theatre.

Alhaji Mohammed, who toured the village to see the damage done to the work of some of the Artists during the demolition exercise, promised to assist those affected as soon as he received their report detailing the losses they incurred during the demolition, and after studying the report he personally commissioned into the incident.

He said the village, which houses Arts and Dance Studios, among others, was under-developed and that the government will do more to develop and promote the village.

''We will build more on what we met here. Out of the ruins of this village will emerge a befitting Artists Village that will comprise standard studios, dance theatres and stands where artists can exhibit and even sell their works.

''Arts and Culture have placed Nigeria on the world map, perhaps second only to sports. Nigeria's work of arts are being celebrated globally. It is the responsibility of the government to promote them,'' the Minister said.

He urged the Artists to take advantage of the 500-billion-Naira Intervention Fund which the government has set aside in the 2016 budget, with a view to accessing the funds they need to expand the scope of their work.

Alhaji Mohammed also met with Mr. Smart Owie, the artist who was allegedly shot in the leg during the demolition exercise, and secured the assurances of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to ensure that he is provided with the necessary police report to facilitate his treatment.

The Minister urged the artists to eschew bitterness and refrain from aggravating the situation, while the government awaits their report on the situation.

It was the second time since the incident occurred that the Minister had visited the Artists' Village.

British woman dies after developing blood clot caused by taking contraceptive pill

A British woman was killed by brain damage caused by a blood clot she developed after taking a contraceptive pill.

Charlotte Foster, 23, is thought to have died after suffering from a blood clot in her chest, a rare side effect of the medication.

The business executive died in the hospital in Telford, Shropshire, on Jan. 25,reported Mirror Online.

Her heartbroken parents Stephen and Cecilia described their daughter as extremely popular and said that she would be sorely missed.

“We are devastated at the sudden and unexpected loss of a very much-loved daughter, sister and granddaughter,” they said in a statement.

“Charlotte was a lively, intelligent, beautiful and caring young lady who will be deeply missed by her family, friends and work colleagues.”

Staff at Shrewsbury High School, where Foster studied, also paid tribute.

“Charlotte was always a very bubbly, happy and immensely caring girl who proudly went on to study at Liverpool University,” said headmaster Michael Getty.

“Charlotte still retained many friendships with her former high school classmates, who were also devastated to hear of her death.”

A preliminary inquest heard she had been prescribed the birth control pill Dianette by her doctor and her cause of death was recorded as “hypoxic brain damage as a result of a pulmonary embolism,” caused by the oral contraceptive pill.

British vicar installs locked gates to stop couples having sex on church steps

He’s praying for them to cool off a little.

A British vicar has installed iron gates at the steps of his church to prevent amorous couples from having sex on holy ground.

Rev. Tom Honey has been forced to put locked gates at the entrance to St. David’s Church in Exeter, Devon, after couples were caught on camera getting intimate at a side entrance.

Honey said local authorities were doing little to prevent the rowdy behavior being repeated, according to Mirror Online.

“Installing the gates is a positive step for the church, it will protect the property, its staff, volunteers and visitors from the anti-social behavior which the opening was being used for,” he said.

The cash for the gates came as part of a restoration project at the church.

Obasanjo tolerated me for three-and-half years — Buhari

Speaking in  the Ogun State capital, Buhari, who was the special guest at the 40th anniversary of the state, said Obasanjo appointed him Minister of Petroleum and tolerated him for three and half years.

He said:  “I express my thanks to General Obasanjo, who, as Head of State, made me Minister of Petroleum and tolerated me for three-and-half-years.

He tolerated me because God knows and he knows that I am not used to working as hard as he used to, but he allowed me to last that long and allowed me to work.

“If you go into records, that government made so much investment and infrastructural development in the petroleum industry.

“Two refineries were built, Warri and Kaduna. More than 20 depots were built; more than 3,500 pipelines were laid; and we were exporting refined products of 100,000 barrels per day. But what do we have today?”

Buhari said Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State had people-oriented programmes and prayed that the people of the state would continue “being lucky to have a governor that would look after them.”

The President said the transformation in the state capital was so obvious that although he was posted to Abeokuta when he was newly-commissioned in the army, he would not be able to trace his way around the town again.

He said: “I have previously, on commissioning of some projects, expressed my gratitude to the governor of Ogun State for inviting me and identifying me with his success.

“On my commissioning in January 1963, my first posting was to Abeokuta, where 2nd Infantry Battalion, Nigerian Army used to be. We were living in wooden flats, which were built in the last war and I was here for some time before I was posted to Lagos.

“But today if you drive me around Abeokuta and you ask me where the barracks is, I assure you that I will get missing. I won’t be able to remember Lisabi Club where we used to sit, those of us who used to drink Fanta and listen to music.

“Your programmes are certainly people-oriented. We have commissioned roads, schools and legal complex headquarters, where I met justices and I made an observation to the governor that women were more than men. I am just wondering that gentlemen, the ladies are taking over in very important profession.”

With Vanguard

Barcelona on rampage as Gary Neville's Valencia Coach was humiliated

Gary Neville's Valencia suffered a humiliating defeat as they were crushed by Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg at the Nou Camp.

Luis Suarez scored four goals, while Lionel Messi also helped himself to a hat-trick and Neymar missed a penalty.

Valencia's cause was not helped when defender Shkodran Mustafi was sent off for fouling Messi in the first half.

Neville is also without a league win in eight attempts since taking over the club in December.

Former England and Manchester United full-back Neville was returning to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs.

As a 24-year-old he was part of the United team who won the Champions League with a spectacular late comeback against Bayern Munich in the 1999 final at the Nou Camp.

This time there was to be no miraculous turnaround.

These are testing times for the 40-year-old who was already under pressure before the game against the European champions.

The Copa del Rey had hitherto offered eight-time Premier League winner Neville some solace after five draws and three defeats in La Liga.

All four of his wins from 14 games in charge in Spain have come in this competition - yet this was nothing short of embarrassing.

Valencia were shocking from start to finish and there was only going to be one outcome once Barca went 2-0 up in 12 minutes.

Suarez broke the deadlock after racing on to Neymar's pass before the former Liverpool player doubled the lead, curling home from 10 yards after a breathless move.

Messi completed a delightful move to make it 3-0 before a frantic end to the half.

The Argentina star was denied by the bar and Neymar hit the post from the penalty spot - after being fouled by Mustafi, who was sent off.

It went from bad to worse in the second half, Suarez's back-heel allowing Messi to pick his spot inside the area and take his career tally to 500 goals.

Terrible defending by Valencia allowed Messi to complete his hat-trick and make it 5-0 after winning the ball back before firing past the keeper, who should have saved.

Suarez's hat-trick goal was a close-range header and there was still time for the Uruguay international to get his fourth - and Barca's seventh - as he found the net via the near post.

The return leg takes place at the Mestalla next Wednesday.

We will fulfil all our promises despite economic crunch - Osinbajo

The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo yesterday assured Nigerians that despite the economic downturn as a result of fall in oil price, the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration would fulfil all its campaign promises.

Osinbajo insisted that the government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that standard of living of Nigerians are improved tremendously.

The Vice President who spoke in Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State where he commissioned some “legacy” projects to mark the State’s 40th anniversary pledged that as soon as the National Assembly passes the 2016 budget, government would start full implementation of its programmes.

“Let me say this, all what we promised to do at the federal government level will be fulfilled. Our administration’s priority is employment for our teeming youths, especially, the graduates.

“What we promised as little incentive for our youths will be fulfilled but not as a free gift. We will recruit 500,000 youths and train them as volunteer teachers”, Osinbajo affirmed.

He added, “Also, we have programmes for the women and our market people, even, the down trodden. No one will suffer in this government, all what we promised, by God’s grace, we will fulfill them”.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun who later addressed the people of Ota and its environs, thanked them for their “unalloyed support for his government in the last five and half years”.

He appealed to the people to remain calm and resilient, promising that, all uncompleted projects will be completed “and more will still be done”.

The Governor assured that all on-going project would be completed as soon as possible.All those who spoke at the ceremony, including the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Roqeeb Adeniji, Senator Gbolahan Dada, representing Ogun West Senatorial District and other top politicians commended Governor Amosun’s achievements in the last five years.

The Vice President later commissioned the Iganmode-Ilo- Awela road amid jubilation from residents of the area and later left for Sagamu in Sagamu local council area to commission some projects.

With The Guardian

BREAKING: Supreme Court upholds Akwa Ibom, Abia govs’ elections

                                                            Ikpeazu and Emmanuel

The Supreme Court late on Wednesday upheld the election of Udom Emmanuel as the governor of Akwa Ibom State.

In upholding the election, the court reversed the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which annulled the election.

Emmanuel had approached the apex court expressing dissatisfaction with the judgement of the appellate court.

In another judgement, the election of Victor Okezie Ikpeazu as the governor of Abia State has been upheld by the Supreme Court on Wednesday night.

Ikpeazu had approached the apex because he was dissatisfied with the judgment of the Court of Appeal which had declared his main opponent, Alex Otti of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner of the April 11, 2015 governorship election..

Court of Appeal in its ruling on December 31, 2105, cancelled the entire results of Obingwa, Osisioma and Isiala Ngwa North local government areas, which had over 300,000 registered voters, out of which 228,932 had collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). With the cancellation, the five-member Court of Appeal panel ruled that Mr. Otti won with 164,444 valid votes as against 114,444 valid votes for Governor Ikpeazu.

India mob strips Tanzanian student in Bangalore

A Tanzanian student was assaulted and partially stripped by a mob in the southern Indian city of Bangalore after a Sudanese student's car ran over and killed a local woman.

The mob attacked the 21-year-old woman and her three friends - all Tanzanians - as they were passing by the accident site a little later.

The crowd chased the young woman and "removed her top", police said.

Tanzanian embassy officials have sought a report into the incident.

The incident took place on Sunday night, but was first reported only on Tuesday.

Police told BBC Hindi's Imran Qureshi in Bangalore that a mob gathered in Hessarghatta area after an allegedly drunk student from Sudan ran his car over a woman sleeping on the roadside.

The mob beat up the man and set fire to his car, but he managed to escape.

"About 30 minutes later, the four [Tanzanian] students, including the woman, were passing by when they stopped to inquire what had happened. That was when they were attacked," Bernandoo Kafumu, president of the Tanzanian students' association at the local college, said.

"The woman did not even know the [Sudanese] man who was involved in the accident," said a member of the association who did not want to be named.

"After they were attacked, the Tanzanians ran back to their car and tried to drive away, but there was an obstacle on the road. So they got down and ran. She ran for her life. The local people chased her and removed her clothes," he added.

The mob also set the women's car on fire.

A senior police official confirmed that "her top was torn and removed, but there was no sexual assault".

"After the news appeared in a section of the local media on Wednesday, we asked her to lodge a complaint. We are now following all procedures, we are getting her medically examined," TR Suresh, deputy commissioner of police for north Bangalore, told BBC Hindi.

Bangalore, often called India's Silicon Valley for being the hub of global software firms, is home to hundreds of foreign students, including 150 from Tanzania.

But, there have been clashes between them and locals.

"We are living in fear. The government and the police must do something about it," an African woman studying in the city said.

"There have been small incidents. It largely relates to some students playing loud music at night," Mr Kafumu said.

PHOTOS: Buhari leaves France for London

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived London after departing France where he addressed the Plenary Session of the European Parliament and attended Bilateral Meeting with the President of the European Commission in Strasbourg.

In London the President is expected to participate in the Supporting Syria Conference 2016, which is aimed at raising the money needed to help millions of people whose lives have been torn apart by the devastating civil war.

With The Punch

Somalia probes 'plane explosion' after emergency landing

Somalia has launched an investigation after a commercial plane made an emergency landing with a gaping hole in its fuselage in the capital, Mogadishu.

There were fears that the hole in the Daalo Airlines flight, bound for Djibouti, was caused by a bomb.

Reports said a person fell out of the hole, which appeared shortly after the plane took off from Mogadishu airport on Tuesday.

But Daalo Airlines says all 60 people on board have been accounted for.

Security officials say two passengers were hurt in the incident.

Some reports say a fire broke out shortly after take-off.

Serbian captain Vlatko Vodopivec said he and others were told the explosion was caused by a bomb, though civil aviation authority officials said they had found no evidence so far of a criminal act.

"It was my first bomb; I hope it will be the last,'' Mr Vodopivec said. He said the blast happened when the plane was at around 11,000ft (3,350m).

"It would have been much worse if we were higher," he added.

Darren Howe, who had a colleague on the plane, told the BBC that "it was not an explosion but a fuselage failure at 10,000ft".

Mohamed Hassan, a police officer in Balad, an agricultural town 30km (18 miles) north of Mogadishu, said residents had found the body of a man who might have fallen from the plane.

Abdiwahid Omar, the director of Somalia's civil aviation authority, told state-run Radio Mogadishu that authorities were not sure if the body was that of a passenger.

Daallo Airlines flies regularly from its base in Dubai to Somalia and Djibouti.

Somalia is battling militant Islamist group al-Shabab that has been carrying out deadly attacks in its quest to establish an Islamic state.

The apparent explosion happened before the Daallo Airlines plane had gained high altitude and before the cabin had been pressurised.

This allowed the pilot to bring it back down for an emergency landing. If the plane had been much higher up, its fuselage could have been ripped apart and the passengers sucked out.

Photographs of the plane show the seats next to the hole still intact, meaning any explosion probably came from the overhead compartments.

This should raise questions about the security procedures for passengers flying from Mogadishu's Aden Adde Airport, in light of the security issues in the country.

Local media reported that Turkish Airlines, one of the few flying to Somalia, suspended its flights from Mogadishu in December following a failed al-Shabab attack on the airport.

The airline soon resumed operating the route, although a flight expected on Tuesday did not show up, raising questions about whether the Turks had intelligence about a security breach.

With BBC