by Oge Okonkwo

PDP lawmakers suspend Edo Speaker

Nine lawmakers including suspended Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea this morning suspended Speaker Uyi Igbe in a gestapo style sitting.

They stormed the assembly complex in an unmarked bus and broke into the hallowed which was under lock and key.

A mobile policeman assisted in the break in.

The Sergeant at  arms took to his heels when the PDP lawmakers stormed the house. Read more….

Jonathan nominates Alison-Madueke  for OPEC top job

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has nominated Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke as secretary-general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries [OPEC], news agency Reuters is reporting.

The reports say Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s candidacy is intended to break the deadlock over the standoff among opposing candidates from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Iran over the post, according to Iraq’s oil minister, Abdul Kareem Luaibi. Read more….

Obasanjo refuses to testify in Kashamu’s N20bn libel suit 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declined an invitation to appear before Justice Valentine Ashi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory to testify in person over an N20billion libel suit that was entered against him by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West, Mr. Buruji Kashamu.

However, the ex-President, who was dragged to court over alleged ‘character-assassination’, has rather nominated the former National Auditor of the PDP, Chief Bode Mustapha, to testify for him before the high court. Read more….

Jonathan inaugurates 1,000 housing units for police 

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday, inaugurated 1,000 housing units for the police at Dakwa, Abuja and urged other security agencies and MDAs to emulate the force.

Represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the inauguration, Jonathan said that the project demonstrated the commitment of the leadership of the force to the overall welfare of the personnel. Read more….

Turkey adds Boko Haram to list of terrorists groups

Turkey has designated Nigeria’s Boko Haram as a terrorist organization, according to a report in the ANKARA-based KUNA news group in that country.

It is the latest twist of a continued international focus on the search for the still missing 270 Nigerian students, kidnapped by the Boko Haram in April. Turkey, a key member of NATO, has not announced what role they might play in the search, or what military assistance they may issue, in Nigeria’s fight against the Islamist group.

The Turkish government’s decision was widely reported by the Turkish Resmi Gazete (The Official Gazette) on June 10th. Read more….