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A member of the Nigerian Senate, representing Osun West Senatorial district, Isiaka Adeleke, has died at 62. A family source who spoke to Channels Television under the condition of anonymity, said Adeleke died at Biket hospital in Osogbo at 6:00am on Sunday. When his corpse was brought to his home in Ede town, the atmosphere became tense with friends and family members weeping uncontrollably. As at the time of filling the report, the body had been taken to the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo for autopsy. Mr Adeleke, who was the first governor of the state in 1992, under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was elected into the Senate in 2015 as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The new Operation Harbin Kunama (II) jointly set up by the Army and the Kaduna state government, has begun yielding fruits as the group recovered large cache of arms in Southern Kaduna. The discovery was made when troops of the 1 Division Nigerian Army, embarked on a cordon and search of Gwaska, Dangoma, Angwan Far and Bakin Kogi general area of Southern Kaduna state. Recovered during the operation were: 73 Dane guns, 4 locally made rifles, one locally made machine gun and one locally made pistol. Others include 260 cartridges, 14 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 63 rounds of 9mm ammunition, one locally made small machine gun magazine, a pair of worn out military boot and some quantities of assorted improvised ammunition and pyrotechnics hidden in dug out pits. The recently launched operation will also cover some forests in Bauchi, Kano and Plateau states. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman. Usma...

The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has mourned the death of two-term serving Senator, Isiaka Adeleke, an incident he described as a sad personal loss. In a statement from his spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President described Adeleke, the first elected Governor of Osun State, as an important figure in the Eighth Senate. Also Read: Senator Isiaka Adeleke Dies At 62 “My heart goes out to the family of Senator Adeleke, and the people of the great State of Osun. “Adeleke was a leader in every right, a formidable colleague, patriotic statesman, good family man and complete gentleman whose contributions to the development of Osun State in particular, and the nation in general will never be forgotten,” Saraki said. Dr. Saraki further eulogised the late Senator who served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market as a consummate reformer, courageous public servant and grassroots politician whose love for his people and commitmen...

The Federal Government says it will soon embark on a nationwide demolition of structures built under high tension cables in order to forestall deaths resulting from electrocution, with Cross River as a pivot state. The Minister of Works Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, disclosed this to journalists in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, while on a visit to victims of Thursday’s tragedy at a football viewing Centre. The Minister, who was represented by the Managing Director, Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA), Peter Ewesor, was also accompanied to the state by the MD Power Consortium LTD, Matthew Eberbie. The purpose of the visit was to carry out a thorough investigation to ascertain what could have led to the disaster and profer safety measures to avoid a recurrence. The group also proceeded to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital where most of the victims are presently undergoing treatment.

Manchester United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic suffered significant knee ligament damage in the Europa League clash between the Red Devils and Anderlecht, the club confirmed in a statement on Saturday. “Detailed investigations on the injuries sustained by Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic during Thursday’s Europa League match have confirmed significant knee ligament damage in both players that requires specialist opinions over the coming days,” United said. Reports in the British press suggest the Swede could be out for as long as nine months, but the club did not provide details of how long he and defender Rojo would be sidelined. “Estimations of time to full recovery will only be possible once definitive treatment plans have been decided after these consultations,” the statement noted. Ibrahimovic, United’s top scorer for the season with 28 goals, had landed badly during the game and is expected to miss the rest of the season and the chance to add to his legend at age 35. T...

Premier League leaders, Chelsea on Saturday humbled Tottenham Hotspurs 4-2 to book a place in the FA Cup final. Brazilian star Willian set the Blues ahead of their opponent with a stunning free kick in the fifth minute of a much-anticipated game played at the Wembley. Determined Spurs levelled the score 13 minutes later, when Harry Kane made good use of Christian Eriksen’s beautiful cross. Willian, however, regained the lead for Chelsea after a penalty was awarded against Tottenham. After the restart, Dele Ali converted a brilliant pass from Eriksen to another equaliser to revive Spurs’ hopes of victory. Goals from Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matic consequently fired the Premier League leaders into the next round of the competition. Chelsea will face the winner of the second semi-final between Manchester City and Arsenal in the finals.

A group of women under the aegis of Mothers of Efik Kingdom have promised to rebuild the viewing centre in Calabar where disaster struck on Thursday. Many football fans were electrocuted when a high-tension wire fell on the viewing centre while they watching the Europa League clash between Manchester United and Anderlecht. Many Football Fans Electrocuted At Calabar Viewing Centre The tragedy led to tributes from all over the world with Premier League giants Manchester United sending condolences to families of the victims. On Saturday, the group led by Senator Florence Ita-Giwa visited the viewing centre in Nyasang Community to commiserate with the families of the deceased. The women who laid a wreath at the viewing centre in memory of those that died, demanded a piece of land from the community for the construction of a new viewing centre. President Buhari Shocked, Saddened By Death Of Football Fans Ita-Giwa told members of the community that the inte...

After struggling in the Premier League in the last two weeks, Chelsea’s dream of winning the double is back on track after they beat title rivals Tottenham to reach the FA Cup finals. Chelsea had lost two out of four their last four games in the Premier League in April with last Sunday’s loss to Manchester United cutting their lead at the summit of the league to four points. Willian Stars As Chelsea Trash Tottenham In FA Cup The 4-2 victory over Mauricio Pochettino’s side on Saturday, however, showed a team that was capable of fighting on several fronts. And manager Antonio Conte is excited – for himself, the fans, players and England. “To reach in my first season the final of this competition is a great achievement but not only for me, above all for my players and for the club and for the staff and the fans,” Conte said after the game. “We deserved this after a very tough game against a really strong team. To see this type of game, I think England must be proud. To hav...

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dakuku Peterside, on his election as Chairman of the Association of African Maritime Administrators. Peterside was elected as the AMAA chairman at the end of the Third Annual Conference of the association in Abuja on Friday. According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari believes the election is positive for Nigeria. “The President notes that Peterside’s unanimous election is not only a personal honour and affirmation of confidence in his ability to lead AAMA, but also places Nigeria in a pivotal position to rally other maritime administrations in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation towards safer global maritime activities,” the statement read in part. It added that the President was confident that the new position offered Peterside the opportunity to make th...

Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello says the six billion Naira found in the account of a former commissioner in the state by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), belongs to the state government. The EFCC had weeks ago announced the discovery of two bank accounts containing two billion Naira each with the funds suspected to be the proceeds of crime. The governor told journalists in Abuja that an additional two billion Naira had been traced to the ex-commissioner, bringing the total amount discovered to six billion Naira. According to the governor, the funds are believed to have been siphoned through inflated Hajj subsidies offered by the state government to pilgrims. The governor, who commended the EFCC for its efforts in recovering stolen funds, promised that the funds would be deployed to developmental projects. The EFCC has since declared the ex-commissioner wanted.

The Presidential Committee set up to probe some allegations against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr Ayodele Oke, has vowed to conduct its work with utmost diligence and without fear or favour. Also Read: President Muhammadu Buhari Suspends SGF, NIA DG President Buhari on Wednesday established the three-man panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Munguno (rtd) as members. Also Read: EFCC Discovers Huge Sums Of Money In Ikoyi Apartment They are to probe the alleged involvement of the suspended SGF and the NIA Director-General in the grass-cutting contract in North-East Nigeria, and the alleged stashing of large amounts of foreign and local currencies in a residential apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos. A...

The Federal Government has insisted that terrorist group, Boko Haram, is not occupying any part of the Nigerian territory having been decimated by the military. The Minister of Defence, Mr Dan Ali, made the clarification against the backdrop of the recent brazen attacks by the group on two army locations in Borno state, which claimed the lives of some soldiers. Mr Ali who was speaking in Makurdi, the Benue state capital during the induction of newly acquired helicopter gunships by the Nigerian Airforce, added that the terrorists have now resorted to guerrilla warfare as their only strategy. Boko Haram Attacks Repelled He spoke less than a day after troops of the Nigerian Army successfully repelled Boko Haram attacks on Madagali and Liman Kara towns in Adamawa and Borno states, North-East Nigeria. Army Public Relations Officer of the 28 Task Force Brigade Mubi, Major Akintoye Badare, confirmed that there was no record of casualty and that everything was calm.

The Presidential Committee on the North-east Initiative (PCNI) is challenging state governments and people of the region to play active roles in the rebuilding of the area. The Vice Chairman of the Committee, Tijjani Tumsah, gave the charge in Bauchi during a visit on the State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar. He said even though the committee seeks assistance from foreign donors, the people must have a common goal in the rebuilding process of the zone. “The purpose of the visit to Bauchi state today was to interact with the government and the people, to understand their priorities in terms of reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs that are in the north-east region as whole. That is why we came here to Bauchi to also acquaint them with the intention of the President Mohammadu Buhari and also the chairman of the committee to synergise for development in the north-east.”

An accident that occurred on the Third Mainland bridge in Lagos has left many people severely injured. The accident happened on Saturday morning and involved a Toyota Hiace commercial bus and a Camry car. Witnesses said both vehicles were headed from Lagos Island towards the mainland. Emergency workers from the Lagos State Fire Service and the Federal Road Safety Commission were at the scene of the accident to rescue the victims. The injured were later rushed to the Accident and Emergency Centre at the old Lagos Toll Gate.

A legal practitioner, Mr George Etomi, has asked the Federal Government to train the anti-graft agencies to be strategic and coordinated, so as to ensure success of the whistle-blower policy in Nigeria. Mr Etomi told Channels Television that the recent recoveries made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have proven that a lot of cash has been moving around in the country. He observed that most politicians fund their activities by means of cash, stressing the need to strengthen the whistle-blower policy. Also read: Presidency Seeks To Strengthen Whistle-blower Policy “One thing that is not in doubt is that so much cash has been moving around, especially in a political atmosphere in Nigeria. The means by which politicians fund their activities is largely done in cash. “So it is quite clear that there is plenty of cash sitting in various forms in different places that can be traced to the doorsteps of politicians. But if it’s going to be a whistle-blow...

A special board of inquiry set up by the Nigerian Army has asked the National Human Right Commission to partner with it in investigating allegations of human rights abuses, brought against army personnel. The President of the special board of inquiry, Major General Abubakar Jubrin (rtd), said the move is to ensure that all allegations are thoroughly, impartially and objectively investigated. According to him, this would enable relevant authorities to take appropriate actions. He therefore asked the commission to furnish the committee with any case of violation that has been reported to it. Speaking on behalf of the National Human Rights Commission, the Director of the Monitoring Unit, Mr Tony Ojukwu, told the board that the two agencies are already in cooperation on many levels that have yielded results and that the commission would not fail to make any input it can to help the board carry out its assignments.

Internet services in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions have been restored three months after they were cut off, following protests. Before the ban, authorities had warned mobile phone users that they faced jail term for spreading false information. Communications and the economy were badly affected by the shutdown. Anglophone Cameroonians in the north-west and south-west regions had also been protesting over the imposition of French in their schools and courts. They make up about 20 percent of the country’s 23 million people.

The Nigeria Police has declared militia leader, Terwase Akwaza, also known as Ghana wanted. The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, made the disclosure on Friday while parading 19 members of Akwaza’s gang at the Police Headquarters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. The Police also announced that the Benue State Government is offering 10 million Naira to anyone who provides information leading to his arrest. Terwase is accused of killing 17 people and destroying property running into millions of Naira in Zaki Biam, Benue State. So far, 50 people have been killed in several attacks allegedly masterminded by the militia leader.

One person has been reported dead while seven others are said to be receiving treatment after suspected members of the Boko Haram terrorists group ambushed a vigilante group in Yobe state, northeast Nigeria. Witnesses told Channels Television that the vigilante group were on their way to conduct a ‘search operation’ in Wulle Village of Gujba Local Government Area of the state, when an Explosive Device allegedly planted by the insurgents went off, killing the driver of the Hilux vehicle conveying the group. One of the vigilante members involved in the attack, Mr Baitu narrating the incident said: “We got a tip off that the terrorists group had a day earlier, snatched a vehicle in Wulle village, after which we then mobilized to carry out a search operation in the town. “We were approaching a bridge very close to Wulle when an explosive buried by the insurgents went off and halted us from reaching the terrorists hideouts.” Baitu, who is among the other six receiving treatment at ...

South Africa’s branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for due course to be followed in the case of a Nigerian pastor who was arrested on Thursday in the country. Pastor Timothy Omotoso, who appeared in a Port Elizabeth Court on Friday over alleged assault and human trafficking, was denied bail. He is to remain behind bars until the case resumes on May 3, 2017. The CAN representatives who spoke to Channels Television correspondent in South Africa expressed worry that the development may trigger more anti-Nigerian sentiments in the country, if not properly handled. The 58-year-old televangelist of the Jesus Dominion International Ministries was arrested by operatives of the Priority Crimes Unit of the South African Police Service (The Hawks). He was picked up over allegations of sex crimes and human trafficking involving about 30 female congregants, after some young members of his congregation alleged that the clergyman had sexually molested them fo...

The Yobe State Government is partnering with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to tackle the menace of insurgency in North-East Nigeria. Speaking at a meeting in the state, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam noted that securing the lives and property of the people was everyone’s business and called for effective collaboration in waging the war against terrorism. He appealed to the Federal Government to step up efforts to fully rid the region of the Boko Haram terrorists, promising that his administration would continue to accord security issues the desired attention. “I wish to make an appeal to the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser, to intensify the mopping up ofthe remnant of Boko Haram terrorists in all nooks and crannies of the North-East, in conjunction with the vigilante group and with the aid of the organised community policing and surveillance training,” the Governor said. He stressed that the meeting would enable partic...

The Nigeria police have released the former Head of New Media for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Convener of pro-democracy and good governance group, Concerned Nigerians, Prince Deji Adeyanju and his co-detainee, Brian Jonah Dennis who were picked by the security operatives earlier this morning for staging a peaceful protest against the federal government’s insistence that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu be tried secretly. Adeyanju who, shortly after his release, spoke with Vanguard, said he was arrested by the police and threatened again but he told them that he was not going to stop the peaceful protests against injustice and breaking of the constitution. “Released. I have told them that the protests will continue. We will not STOP and we will not be cowed.” “We will announce a new date for the #SayNoToSecretTrial. On Monday we will do #FreeAustinOkai and #FreeKemiOlunloyo.”  Adeyanju however thanked all those who voiced out f...

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and sadness over the tragic event that took the lives of several Nigerians at a football viewing centre in Calabar, Cross River State, on Thursday night. In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu. the President commiserated with the government and people of Cross River State, and football fans nationwide over the unfortunate incident. He also commended the state government for the prompt action in setting up a commission of inquiry into the incident, and its offer of assistance to the victims and their families. The President offered his deepest condolences to the family and friends of the mostly young victims, whose sudden demise is a big blow not only to their families, but also to the football-loving nation. He prayed that God Almighty, grants the souls of the departed eternal rest and comfort all who mourn their irreparable loss.

As part of efforts in tackling the security challenges in Nigeria’s northeast region, international humanitarian organisation, Oxfam, is calling on the global community for urgent support. The organisation has also asked the Federal Government to do more to give every region a sense of belonging. The Executive Director of Oxfam International, Mrs Winnie Byanyima, said this in an exclusive interview with Channels Television’s correspondent, at the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington D.C. “The military is making progress in claiming back some towns but the situation is that people are only safe in the towns the military is controlling. They are restricted, they can’t even move several kilometres outside to farm, so the hunger is severe. “They are depending on food aid and I was calling on the international community to deliver more food aid because the people in the areas that are still inaccessible, are probably starving because we don’t even know ...