Lord, if it’s your will to break up Nigeria, break it now – Oyedepo

The founder and presiding Bishop of the megachurch, Living Faith Church Worldwide International, AKA  Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo has invoked God’s curses on those fueling Southern Kaduna killings, saying God should break up Nigeria now if it is His will.
The Bishop who, during a ministration and while raining down curses on those promoting the wanton killings, equally said that God sent him to this continent as His apostle of liberation to stop it from decadence. “God sent me as His apostle of liberation to this continent to stop it from decadence.” “I heard from God and He has proved it beyond measure. Therefore, every occultic root, every political root of this uprising is cursed today!” The congregation shouted “Amen!”

Apostle Suleman asks FG to ask El-Rufai to produce Fulani herdsmen he paid money to

The General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman, yesterday, asked the Federal Government to compel Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to produce Fulani herdsmen to whom money was paid so as to disabuse the minds of Nigerians that Christians are not the target of President Muhammadu’s administration. 

The cleric in a statement by his Communications Adviser in Abuja, said failure to compel El-Rufai to produce the herdsmen who purportedly collected money from the Kaduna State Government is an indication of the insincerity of the Buhari administration. “The Governor of Kaduna State confessed that he paid money to some Fulani herdsmen as compensation to stop the killings in Southern Kaduna. That means he knows those who have committed atrocities against Christians. He must be made to produce them to answer to charges of murder and other crimes”, he declared.

South Carolina tech worker visiting Iran can't return to US

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Unable to enjoy what was supposed to be a three-week vacation with her family in Iran, Nazanin Zinouri now worries about when and if she will be able to go home to South Carolina.

Because Zinouri, 29, who has lived in the United States since August 2010 and works in Clemson, South Carolina, for a technology firm, calls the U.S. her home.

"I was planning on enjoying time with family and taking care of family business," Zinouri said Sunday in a phone interview with The Associated Press from Tehran. "But I've not been able to do any of them. I'm mostly just listening to the news ... I can't really focus or enjoy anything as much as I want. I can't even have a normal conversation."

In the interview, she chooses her words carefully, perhaps fearful of angering the governments in Iran or the United States. She misses her rescue dog, Dexter, and she wonders what will happen to her car, parked in an economy parking lot at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.

"What's going to happen to my dog? My dog is sick. Is anyone going to adopt him? ... Am I going to lose my job forever?" she asked.

Zinouri is among those caught up in the chaos surrounding an executive order issued last week by President Donald Trump that temporarily bans the entry of citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen. The administration says it is necessary to keep out potential terrorists while stricter vetting procedures are put in place.

A U.S. chef just won the Olympics of cooking. Did you know there’s such a thing?

America is all about WINNING these days, according to our new president. And while he may not have been talking about our culinary talent, the United States earned a major accolade yesterday, for the first time ever: American chefs took the gold in the Bocuse d’Or, a top French culinary competition named for legendary French chef Paul Bocuse. It’s basically the Olympics of cooking. The competition is so steep, it makes the cheftestants on “Top Chef” and “Chopped” look like burger flippers at McDonald’s.

Reps set to investigate sale of PHCN assets

The House of Representatives Committee mandated to investigate the status of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), non-core assets transferred to Nigeria Electricity Management Company (NELMCO) on Thursday commenced its activities.

The ad-hoc committee, inaugurated on Oct. 20, 2016, was also mandated to investigate the liquidation of PHCN under the Electricity Power sector reform Act, under the supervision of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

Rep. Wole Oke (PDP-Osun) who made the statement on Thursday in Abuja at the inaugural meeting of the ad-hoc committee said members had put necessary measures in place to conduct hitch-free investigation.

Wenger to accept FA charge over touchline row

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he will accept a Football Association misconduct charge after being sent off in Sunday’s explosive win over Burnley.

Wenger was sent to the stands by referee Jon Moss after allegedly using abusive or insulting language towards fourth official Anthony Taylor after Burnley were given a stoppage-time penalty at the Emirates Stadium.

UK court blocks Nigeria spill claims against Shell

A British court on Thursday blocked pollution claims against Anglo-Dutch energy giant Shell by more than 40,000 Niger Delta residents demanding action over decades of oil spills in the region.

Members of the Ogale and Bille communities had applied for the case to be heard in Britain, arguing they could not get justice in Nigeria.

But the High Court in London said it did not have jurisdiction in the case.

Benin monarch’s chiefs storm Isekhure’s palace to secure Erimwi-Idu Shrine

BENIN—OMO N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II (Ogidigan), yesterday, went after the suspended Isekhure of Benin, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure, as his chiefs stormed the palace of Chief Isekhure, to secure the Erimwi-Idu Shrine belonging to the Oba and in the process brought down part of the palace after which the entire building was sealed off.

Nigeria’s third-most powerful man denies plot to take over the presidency

The head of Nigeria’s Senate has quashed rumors that he is plotting to take over the presidency while Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is out of the country.

Bukola Saraki, the president of the upper house of the Nigerian National Assembly, holds the third-highest political office in the West African country, behind Buhari and his Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Buhari, 74, left Nigeria on January 19 for a vacation in the U.K, where he would undergo "routine medical checkups," according to his spokesman Femi Adesina. Osinbajo has been the acting president while Buhari is on vacation.

Saraki issued a statement Wednesday on his website addressing social media speculation that he had held a meeting with Osinbajo and other Nigerian governors in a bid to force Osinbajo to vacate the role of acting president.

Breaking News: Nigeria’s sports legend Enahoro dies at 80

One of Nigeria’s all-round sports legend, Chris Enahoro, 80 early this morning passed on, in Lagos after a brief illness.

Enahoro, a former captain of the Nigerian Cricket team and All-time school athletics record holder as well as former Chairman, Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), spoke with the NationSport early on Wednesday.

The late sports legend was supposed to have a meeting with NationSport on Wednesday but had to cancel the scheduled meeting following a brief illness.

According to his PA, Razak Adedigba, the deceased died  around 6:30am today (Wednesday).

“When the doctor came on Wednesday, he attended to him and told him to rest. He later woke up in the evening to have his dinner and told me he was getting better. Early today (Wednesday), he woke up at 5am to visit the toilet on his own. but he told me to lay him on the floor and I had to on the fan for him where he laid and breathed his last breath around 6:30am.

Gambia's Jammeh offered last chance for peaceful exit before troops advance

BANJUL (Reuters) - West African leaders on Friday extended a deadline for Gambia's longtime leader Yahya Jammeh to leave office or face action by a regional military force to install President Adama Barrow, the winner of an election in December.

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and Guinean President Alpha Conde flew to the capital Banjul on Friday to try to persuade Jammeh to cede power peacefully.

Gambia crisis: Jammeh given last chance to resign as troops close in

West African leaders have given Yahya Jammeh a final opportunity to relinquish power after Senegalese troops entered The Gambia.

Mr Jammeh has been given until noon on Friday to leave office or be forced out by UN-backed regional forces.

Troops have been told to halt their advance until the deadline passes.

The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) is acting in support of Adama Barrow, who was sworn in as the new Gambian president on Thursday.

His legitimacy as president, after winning last month's election, has been recognised internationally.

1,000 Britons on holiday evacuated from Gambia

Thomas Cook evacuates 1,000 British holiday makers from Gambia amid fears the country is on the brink of civil war after president refuses to step down despite losing election 

• Nearly 1,000 Britons on holiday will be flown back to the UK from Gambia

• Thousands more travelling independently also offered places on rescue planes 

• The Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel to the country.  

Trump Concedes Russia Was Behind Hacking, Says Putin 'Shouldn't Have Done It'

President-elect Donald Trump said today he accepts the intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia was behind the massive alleged hacking of political organizations and individuals during the U.S. presidential race — the first time he has conceded that Russia was behind the cyberattacks.

Health Benefits of Bitter Kola

Bitter Kola is a tree that grows in the rain forests of West Africa. The fruit, seeds, nuts and bark of the plant have been used for centuries in folk medicine to treat ailments from coughs to fever.

Basically, the nut is about 3-5 cm in length. It is ellipsoid in shape and covered with a deep brown peel which is removed before it is eaten. It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth when eaten and this is the reason for its name.

The scientific name for bitter kola is Garcinia kola. It is called Orogbo in Yoruba. The Hausas call it Miji-goro, while it is called Akiilu by the Igbos. It has some major health benefits:

1. It Improves Lung Functions:   

Bitter kola (Garcinia kola) has been used for centuries to treat chest colds in traditional medicine, but research has taken a look and found out why it is effective. A study in the 2009 issue of The Internet Journal of Pulmonary Medicine, performed on mice, reports that Garcinia kola improved respiratory function after 28 days of use of a Garcinia extract. Written by Simon Adekunle of the Ekiti State University in Nigeria, the study shows that Garcinia kola works by dilating the alveolar ducts and sacs in the lungs by improving the strength of the fibres in the lung tissue. Bitter kola’s beneficial lung properties are attributed to its high antioxidant content.

English FA Cup fourth round ties

Holders Manchester United will host 2013 winners Wigan Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Premier League champions Leicester City will travel to Derby County in an East Midlands derby.

Buhari sacks official whose actions led to Adeboye’s exit as RCCG leader

The head of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRC, Jim Obazee, has been sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr. Obazee’s sack comes about 48 hours after implementation of his agency’s law led to the exit of Nigeria’s most influential Christian cleric, Enoch Adeboye.

The Best FIFA Football Awards Ceremony

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid accepts The Best FIFA Men's Player Award from FIFA President Gianni Infantino during The Best FIFA Football Awards.

MMM introduces bitcoin in comback plan

MMM Nigeria, popular Ponzi scheme, has introduced bitcoin, the world’s best performing currency, as part of its mode of payment in its comeback plans.
The Ponzi scheme, which froze accounts of participants on December 13, 2016, is preparing to return, and it is throwing up a number of plans to get its community active again.
Bitcoin, the increasingly popular cryptocurrency or digital currency, was the best performing currency in 2016, appreciating by more than 100 percent in 2016, from about $400 per bitcoin to over $1,000 per bitcoin.

Adeboye’s stepping aside: Outrage over GOs’ tenure

Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye’s new position in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has continued to elicit a potpourri of reactions from the Christian community and beyond.
Many pastors have expressed outrage over the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria’s law that restricts the tenure of church and mosque leaders to a 20-year term or 70 years of age.
The clergy, as well as members of the RCCG, have been expressing diverse views after last weekend’s announcement that Adeboye, who turns 75 on March 2, 2017, will be standing down. He is being replaced by Pastor Joshua O. Obayemi, who will henceforth act as the National Overseer of the church in Nigeria.

Pastors reject new religion law on tenure

Following the appointment of a new National Overseer for the Redeemed Christian Church of God, in compliance with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) law, which specifically limited the tenure of general overseers of churches to 20 years or 70 years of age, more pastors are kicking against the new directive on tenure of church’s leaders.
Apostle Psalm Okpe, general overseer, Fresh Oil Ministry, Lagos said: “If it is true that there is a law restricting the tenure of church leaders to 20 years, then, it is one of the most childish laws I’ve ever seen since I was born. The reason is, what if the general overseer started ministry at 70? The call of God and the law of the land are not the same. The call of God is a personal experience and encounter.”

Nana Akufo-Addo sworn in as Ghana's new president

Nana Akufo-Addo was sworn in as Ghana's new president on Saturday, in a ceremony attended by dozens of African leaders.

The 72-year-old former human rights lawyer defeated incumbent John Dramani Mahama in elections last month.

5 Dead, At Least 8 Injured in Shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, Suspect in Custody

Five people have been killed and at least 8 people were injured in a shooting at the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Friday, authorities confirm.

Premier League: Arsenal CAN dream of title - Wenger

Arsene Wenger has admitted Chelsea's defeat at the hands of Tottenham has boosted Arsenal's hopes of getting back in the race for the Premier League title.

Arsenal's title ambitions were dealt a blow when they had to settle for a 3-3 draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday, but Chelsea's 2-0 setback at White Hart Lane 24 hours later - their first defeat after 13 consecutive wins - keeps Wenger's men within eight points of the leaders.

Riyad Mahrez is crown African Footballer of the Year 2016

Algeria forward Riyad Mahrez is crown African Footballer of the Year for 2016 on the back of his contribution to Leicester City’s shock English Premier League title win.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) title would make it a hat-trick of wins for the 25-year-old, who has already been named PFA players’ player of the year and BBC African player of the year.

The CAF award ceremony — Africa’s most prestigious and now in its 25th year — takes place in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, on Thursday.

Mystery radio bursts traced to distant galaxy

Paris (AFP) - A mysterious type of radio wave from deep space, discovered only a decade ago, has been traced to a precise source for the first time, astronomers said Wednesday.

So-called fast radio bursts (FRBs) picked up in 2016 by a telescope in New Mexico likely emanated from a dwarf galaxy some three billion light years from Earth, the scientists reported in the journal Nature.

FRBs flash only for an micro-instant, and can emit as much energy in a millisecond as the Sun does in 10,000 years.

Exactly what causes these high-energy surges of long waves at the far end of the electromagnetic spectrum remains the subject of intense debate.

Army chief declares support for Yahya Jammeh

The Gambia's army chief has reaffirmed his loyalty to President Yahya Jammeh, who has spent more than two decades in power and refuses to step down.

Jammeh lost a December 1 election to Adama Barrow, a former real-estate agent.

Lieutenant General Ousman Badjie used a New Year message published in the pro-government Daily Observer newspaper on Wednesday to "renew to Your Excellency [Jammeh] the assurance of the unflinching loyalty and support of The Gambia Armed Forces".

End to malaria infection in sight as vaccine passes trial test

A malaria vaccine that uses a weakened form of the parasite has passed a “critical milestone” in human safety trials, say researchers.

Doctors used a genetically modified form of malaria that was unable to cause a full infection in people.

Trials, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, suggested it was safe and generated a good immune response.

Tropical disease experts described the findings as “promising”.

Police raid Patience Jonathan’s home in Abuja

Abuja—The Police in Abuja, yesterday, raided a Maitama property believed to be owned by former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan. Eye witness accounts said policemen numbering about 20, stormed the house located on Igbeti Rock Street and forcibly gained entry into the house after overpowering the single security man keeping guard over the house. Mrs. Jonathan was not in the house at the time and it could not be confirmed, as at press time, yesterday, if she lives in the house.

The policemen on arrival were said to have made enquiries concerning a certain Justice Ahmed, but were informed that no such person lived in the house.

FG slashes import duties on 115 items

The Federal Government, in a bid to promote development in critical sectors of the economy, has approved a reduction in the import duties of 115 items in various sectors of the economy.

The approval was given by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of the fiscal policy measures of the Federal Government for the country.

Obasanjo, Awujale at Each Other’s Throats over Adenuga;s Globacom

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, have gone at each other’s throats over the travails of the Chairman of Globacom, Chief Mike Adenuga, when the latter was investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2006 over allegations that Obasajo’s deputy, Atiku Abubakar, had used funds of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) to acquire shares in Globacom.

Also, Mohammed Babangida, son of Nigeria’s former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, was arrested by the EFCC at the time, over allegations that he was fronting for his father in the telecoms firm established by Adenuga.

FG Resumes Payments to Former Niger Delta Militants

Nigeria has resumed payments of cash stipends to former militants agreed under a 2009 amnesty in the country’s Niger Delta oil hub, a government official said on Thursday. According to Reuters, the government has been holding talks with militants to end attacks on crude pipelines which reduced Nigeria’s output by 700,000 barrels a day for several months last year.

Court remands Edo APC chiefs over alleged murder attempt

An Oredo Magistrates court in Benin on Thursday ordered the remand in prison custody of two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, Osakpamwan Eriyo and Sunday Osagbona, for alleged attempted murder.

Chief Magistrate Mrs M. C. Ojobo, who said she lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case, directed that both accused persons be remanded in Oko Medium Security prison.

She said the prison has proper health facilities and directed that the case file be sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecution for legal advice

The accused persons were charged with the attempted murder of Chief Osaro Idah, Secretary of the state’s APC.

Israel soldier Elor Azaria faces verdict over Hebron death

An Israeli military court is due to give its verdict in the case of a soldier charged with manslaughter for killing a wounded Palestinian who had stabbed another soldier.

Sgt Elor Azaria, now 20, shot Abdul Fatah al-Sharif, 21, in the head while he was apparently incapacitated in Hebron, in the West Bank, last March.

The case has divided opinion in Israel.

No North Korea missile will be capable of reaching US, says Trump

President-elect Donald Trump took to Twitter again on Monday evening to promise North Korea would not develop a nuclear missile capable of reaching US territory.

His comments come a day after the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, appeared to try to put pressure on Trump by announcing his country is in the “final stages” of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

“North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the US,” Trump tweeted. “It won’t happen!”

Although Washington has repeatedly vowed that it would never accept North Korea as a nuclear state, Trump has not previously clearly stated his policy on the isolated Stalinist state.