Army needs N526b to function effectively, Buratai tells Reps

                            General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff

The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, yesterday described the N160 billion in the 2016 budgetary allocation to his outfit for procurement of ammunition as very negligible for the force to carry out its function effectively.

The Army chief spoke just as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, disclosed that his outfit will require the sum of N10 billion to conduct 80 re-run elections this year.

Buratai, who appeared before members of the House of Representatives Committee on Army to defend his budget, stated that his outfit was allocated the sum of N160 billion out of the N526 billion needed in the 2016 fiscal year, saying the amount allocated was grossly inadequate.

He said: “The ministry went below what we actually need minimally. This honourable House should assist to ensure that what we proposed is given to us. The significant drop is not from us but the budget office, but we will appreciate your efforts to make it up so that we can function well.

“If we can get N520 billion today, Nigerian army will not be the same again. We will make sure that our barracks are rehabilitated and troops and their family members are taken care of.”

The INEC chief, who also spoke yesterday during the budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja, said the amount would be used for the various logistics and other activities connected with the re-run elections to be held between now and March 19 this year.

Stating that the commission has limited time to conduct the re-run polls based on the provisions of the law and the court orders nullifying such elections, he added that after the re-run polls, the commission would wait for the outcome of the various election tribunals and court rulings before deciding on the next line of action.

A breakdown given by the former acting chairman of the commission Mrs. Amina Zakari, indicates that the commission was allocated N62.537 in 2015 out of which N18.99 billion was for personnel, N8 billion for capital projects, N2.5 billion for overhead and N28 billion was to support the 2015 elections and other bye-elections.

As for 2016, said the commission’s proposal was N45 billion from which N20.955 billion was for personnel, N19 billion for electoral recurrent, N2.260 billion for capital projects and N2.507 billion for overheads.

Chairperson of the committee, Dukku, demanded for the schedule of the various purchases to be made by the commission, saying they would visit all the state offices of the commission for members to see for themselves what are on ground.

Dukku said the committee would give the commission the needed support for it to start preparation for the 2019 elections well ahead of time.

With The Guardian 

Police accuse 17 ABUAD students of attempted bank robbery

Police on Wednesday accused 17 students of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, of an attempt to rob a branch of Wema Bank in the institution.

At the hearing on Wednesday, the police prosecutor, Mr. Samuel Osobu, informed the court of the intention to file a probable cause of action against the students, other than the six-count earlier slammed on them on Tuesday, The PUNCH reported.

This was after the court had earlier admitted the students to N300,000 bail each and one surety in like sum, who must be either a civil or public servant on the previous charge.

The prosecutor said he had forwarded the case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

Osobu alleged that the students on February 7 unlawfully committed the offence of arson by burning houses belonging to ABUAD University security staff and burglary of a boutique belonging to the wife of the ABUAD founder.

He added that the students also attempted to rob the branch of Wema Bank situated on the campus.

According to him, the alleged offences contravene Section 443(a), 411(2) and 403 of the criminal code, Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2016.

The plea of the accused were not taken as their counsel, Mr Peter Ogunkile, Chris Omokhafe and eight others sought for a date of adjournment pending the advice of the DPP office.

Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye consequently ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody pending the outcome of the DPP advice.

Mastermind Of Agip Pipeline Bombing Arrested, Nigerian Military Says

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The Nigerian military announced the arrest of Prince Alvin Cockman Oyegun (AKA Commander Abula) for masterminding the bombing of the Agip pipeline in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The arrest was the work of the Joint Military Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield.

The arrest was made public by the spokesman for Operation Pulo Shield, Colonel Isa Ado, on Wednesday.  According to Colonel Ado, Mr. Oyegun was captured on January 29, 2016, in the Idema community a region located in Ogbia Local Government Area (LGA).

Mr. Oyegun allegedly masterminded the bombing of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) manifold on January 28, 2016.  The attack caused oil spillage into the region.

Colonel Ado concluded his statement with a warning to any other criminals planning to destroy oil installations. He also called upon the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious persons to Operation Pulo Shield.

With SaharaReporter

Famous WWE Wrestlers That Have Allgedly Committed Murder

Photo Credit: Moses Robinson/ Getty Images Entertainment/ Getty Images

The WWE is no stranger to scandal. Since its inception over five decades ago, the company has had a number of highs and lows, and seen its fair share of tragedy. And while some wrestlers, like John Cena, have made headlines for their charitable works, others have ended up in the public spotlight for more grisly reasons. The following are the five most famous professional wrestlers who have been been involved in the death of another person.

Jimmy Snuka

Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka in 2013. Photo Credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka was a huge wrestling star in the '80s.  Known for his innovative high-flying style, Jimmy was a part of the main event of the first WrestleMania as he looked for revenge on Roddy Piper for smashing his head with a coconut a year earlier.

In 2015, Jimmy was arrested and charged with third-degree murder for the death of his girlfriend Nancy Argentino back in 1983.  In his autobiography that was released in 2012, he claimed that she hit her head when she went to relieve herself on the side of the road.

The following day he found her lying in bed hardly able to breathe.  This version of events is reportedly different than what he told authorities and led them to reopen the cold case.  In 1985, her family won a $500,000 default judgment against him that he has yet to pay.

Scott Hall

Scott Hall at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Photo Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Scott Hall became famous wrestling under both his real name and under the moniker of Razor Ramon.  As Razor Ramon he was a fixture in the Intercontinental Championship scene and when he jumped ship to World Championship Wrestling in 1985 he became a founding member of the new World order, a faction that helped kick start the wrestling boom of the '90s.

In 2011, Scott Hall discussed with ESPN 360 an incident where he shot and killed a man.

  In 1983, he was charged with second degree murder but the charges were dropped as he claimed self-defense.  Scott Hall claimed that the gun belonged to the victim and that he wrestled it away from him.

Chris Benoit

Chris Benoit celebrates at WrestleMania XX. Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images

In 2004, Chris Benoit won the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XX in a Triple Threat Match against Shawn Michaels and Triple H.  A little over three years later, Chris killed himself after murdering his wife Nancy Benoit (aka Woman) and their son, Daniel.

Great Khali

The Great Khali (l) battles Kane (r) in 2008. Photo Credit: Gaye Gerard/Getty Images

While wrestling may appear to be fun and games, it is actually a very dangerous sport where one wrong move can kill your opponent.  While training to become a professional wrestler, The Great Khali was involved in a fatal accident at wrestling school.  His training partner, Brian Ong, died after receiving a move from the 7'4" giant.  Brian had suffered a concussion in his prior training session and the second one he received from Great Khali ultimately proved fatal.

  The family sued the wrestling school and was awarded over $1 million.

Verne Gagne

             Verne Gagne. Photo Credit: Public Domain

It would be impossible to overstate just how important Verne Gagne was to the wrestling business as either a wrestler, promoter, or trainer.  The former NCAA wrestling champion was the founder of the American Wrestling Association and went onto become that company's biggest star for decades.  As a trainer, he is responsible for training some of wrestling's biggest stars including Ric Flair.  Despite never wrestling full-time for WWE, he was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2006.

By 2009, Verne was living in a facility to help his deal with Alzheimer's disease.  While there, he got into a physical altercation with a 97-year old resident of the place.  The man died a few days later.  While the death was ruled a homicide, Verne was not charged with a crime because of his deteriorating mental state.  In 2015, Verne passed away at the age of 89. 

FG orders tight security around IDP camps

                                                Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo

The Federal Government on Wednesday ordered tight security around all Internally Displaced Camps across the country.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo gave the directive in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande.

The directive was made sequel to the suicide bombing of an IDP camp in Dikwa, Borno State on Tuesday, The PUNCH reported.

Osinbajo directed that measures should be put in place to guide against a repeat of the incident.

The statement read, “On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, expresses his profound condolences to the families of the victims of yesterday’s suicide bombing of an IDP camp in Dikwa, Borno State, and also the entire people and government of the state.

“His prayers are that the Almighty God will comfort them and grant the injured persons quick recovery.

“The Vice President stated that it is indeed regrettable that the heartless terrorists chose to unleash their wickedness on people who were taking refuge from previous acts of destruction in their homes.

“He reassured the nation that the full weight of the Federal Government’s force will be deployed to hunt down the perpetrators of this evil act and also to confront terrorists continuously in the protection of life, liberty and property of all Nigerians: there will be no hiding place for terrorists.

“Prof. Osinbajo has given directives that formidable security in and around the IDP Camps in the country be beefed up and renewed measures put in place to guard against future occurrences.

“Finally, the Vice President called on the people of Borno State and all Nigerians that the commitment of the Federal Government to safety of lives and property continues to be of paramount concern to the Buhari administration.”