October 2019

We Will Not Reach 80% Revenue Performance For 2019 – Ahmed

October 14, 2019 2:45 pm

Mrs Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, says the nation will not be able to reach 80 percent revenue performance for 2019.

She said this on Monday in Abuja at the public presentation of the 2020 budget proposals.

Ahmed said that as at half-year, the actual aggregate revenue for 2019 was ₦2.04 trillion, which was 58 percent of the prorate target.

She said of the figure; oil revenue accounted for ₦900 billion, Company Income Tax (CIT) ₦349.11 billion, Value Added Tax (VAT) ₦81.36 billion and Customs Collections ₦184.10 billion.

“As to whether we will reach …

Court Remands Man In Prison For Assaulting A Policeman

Abuja High Court Disposes Of 13,961 Cases In 2018/2019

October 14, 2019 2:34 pm

The Chief Judge (CJ) of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja , Justice Ishaq Bello, on Monday, disclosed that a total of 13,961 cases were disposed of by the court in the 2018/2019 legal year which ended last August.

Bello said out of the 30,582 caseload in the preceding year, 16,396 were fresh cases, while 14,186 were carried over from the 2017/2018 legal year.

He made the disclosure at a special court session held in commemoration of the new 2019/2020 legal year.

“In total, 13,961 were disposed; this is an indication of our ever-increasing caseload.

“From …

Oil, Iran Top Agenda As Putin Visits Saudi Arabia

October 14, 2019 2:19 pm

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, where he was set to seal oil agreements and try to use his influence to defuse tensions boiling in the Gulf.

King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, welcomed Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at Al-Yamama Palace in Riyadh with full military honours.

Putin’s visit follows attacks on Saudi oil installations that Riyadh and Washington have blamed on Moscow ally Tehran.

Oil will be “the main topic of discussion”, Russian political analyst Fydor Lukyanov said, as a deal between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting …

Controversial United States Pastor Deported From Rwanda

October 14, 2019 1:43 pm

A controversial US pastor has been deported from Rwanda amid a battle with authorities over the closure of his religious radio station.

A spokesman for Rwanda’s Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration told CNN that Gregg Schoof was deported back to the United States due to “failure to comply with Rwandan laws.”

Schoof emailed Rwandan journalists on Sunday inviting them to a news conference where he said he would discuss the closure of his radio station and court cases, the Reuters news agency reported.

On Monday, police in Rwanda arrested Schoof at the venue where he was preparing to host

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Customs Bans All Import, Export Through Land Borders

October 14, 2019 1:28 pm

The Nigeria Customs Service on Monday said it has placed a ban on import and export of all kinds of goods through Nigeria’s land borders.

“For now, all goods, whether illicit or non-illicit, are banned from going and coming into Nigeria,” Hameed Ali, NCS chief, said at a press conference in Abuja.

“Let me add that for the avoidance of doubt that we included all goods because all goods can equally come through our seaports,” the customs boss said.

“For that reason, we have deemed it necessary for now that importers of such goods should go through our controlled …

Turkey-Syria: Syrian Army Heads North After Kurdish Deal

October 14, 2019 12:54 pm

Syria’s army has started to reach the north of the country, hours after the government agreed to help Kurdish forces facing Turkey.

State media said government forces, which are backed by Russia, had entered the strategic town of Tal Tamer, 30km (19 miles) south of the Turkish border.

The deal came after the US, the Kurds’ main ally, said it would withdraw its remaining troops from northern Syria.

Turkey’s offensive aims to push Kurdish forces from the border region.

Areas under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) came under heavy bombardment over the weekend, with Turkey making …

Protesters Take To Streets As Spain Jails Catalan Leaders

October 14, 2019 12:30 pm

Within minutes of the ruling, protesters had poured onto the streets of the Catalan capital, waving flags and blocking traffic over the conviction of the separatist leaders who organised a 2017 referendum banned by Madrid.

“I feel fury and a sense of powerlessness,” said Joan Guich, a 19-year-old student protesting in Barcelona after Spain’s Supreme Court jailed nine Catalan leaders jailed over a failed independence bid.

“They have been convicted for an ideology which I agree with.”

“We have to mobilise and stick up for them … in a way that has an impact, closing airports, stations, but always avoiding …

Anambra 2021: Soludo Dissociates Self From Guber Posters

October 14, 2019 12:08 pm

A former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has dissociated himself from governorship campaign posters published on social media indicating that he is in the race for the 2021 governorship contest in Anambra State.

A press release by Joe C Anatune of B3 Communications, which serves as Soludo’s publicist, stated that the former CBN chief has no hand in the posters, and has not made up his mind on whether he will contest the election coming up in November 2021 or not.

According to the release, “We have noticed the flooding of some social media …

Kogi Guber: INEC Presents Voters Register To Parties

October 14, 2019 11:55 am

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented register of voters to 23 political parties ahead of the Nov. 16, Kogi governorship poll.

Alhaji Mohammed Haruna, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Kogi, Kwara and Nasarawa States, presented the register to the parties at a brief ceremony in Lokoja on Monday.

Haruna urged them to cooperate with INEC in its bid to ensure free, fair, credible, conclusive and acceptable election.

He also urged them to ensure issue-based campaigns and refrain from violence and hate speech.

The state INEC Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Prof. James Apam, reminded the parties of …

Vatican City: Pope’s Bodyguard Resigns Over Leak Scandal

October 14, 2019 11:42 am

Pope Francis’ main bodyguard Domenico Giani, the security chief of the Vatican, resigned Monday over a leak to the media of details of a financial wrongdoing probe.

Francis accepted Giani’s resignation while noting he “bears no personal responsibility” for the leak, the Vatican said.

The Argentine pontiff was furious over the publication of an internal police notice which featured the photographs of five Vatican employees – including two senior figures – targeted in a probe report into a real estate deal.

The notice addressed to the Swiss guards and Vatican policemen who guard the gates of the tiny city-state, said …

British Pound Resumes Drop At Start Of Key Brexit Week

October 14, 2019 11:32 am

The British pound slid against the euro and dollar Monday, the start of a pivotal week for Britain and the European Union to strike a Brexit deal.

European stock markets also retreated as weak Chinese data offset a partial trade deal between China and the United States, analysts said.

Asian investors had earlier Monday saluted the trade deal, sending regional equity markets rallying, though observers were skeptical about the overall significance of the agreement.

Official data meanwhile showed Chinese imports and exports fell more than forecast in September, as US tariffs and cooling demand at home and abroad hit trade …

BBNaija: Do2dtun Gets Death Threat Over Tacha’s Interview

October 14, 2019 11:23 am

Nigerian media personality Do2dtun has cancelled a proposed interview with former Big Brother Naija 2019 housemate, Tacha over alleged threats to his life.

The CoolFM presenter had earlier taken to his twitter page to announce the upcoming interview with Tacha, unarguably the most controversial housemate in the house. The interview was scheduled to hold on Wednesday 16th.

“How about if I flipped an almost impossible script & make it into a “BLOCKBUSTER” How abt if “TACHA” finally grants her 1st radio interview. It is happening Wednesday 16th 2019 12 noon on the Midday Oasis #SuperstarWednesdsy word of advice..work smart ”

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