The Big 5: Obasanjo releases report of $16b power probe, Real Madrid wins 13th UEFA Champions League and other stories

Here are the major stories you should be monitoring today:

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his administration’s commitment to the protection of children, in a message to mark the Children’s Day, celebrated on May 27.

“In our efforts to protect our children from abuse, exploitation and trafficking as well as provide safe, non-violent inclusive and effective learning environment in our schools, this administration has directed the management of all federal government colleges and advised all state owned schools across the country to provide adequate measures of safety and security of their students.”

The President also called on families, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, human rights activists, and the society at large to rise up and take urgent and decisive actions to stem the unacceptable rising cases of violence against children.


Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has made public the report of the investigation conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2007, on various allegations against his administration between 1999-2007,  including that of the alleged  $16b power project.

The 20-page report was the outcome of investigations based on petitions written by former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu and the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) and signed by its Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran in 2005 and 2007 respectively.

The report noted that, “while the former governor failed to meet with the investigation panel after several spirited efforts to reach him to supply evidence to substantiate the allegations he raised, the second petitioner, the Chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran appeared before the Commission in Lagos and threw more lights on his write-up.”


The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced on Saturday that all intending travellers can now buy forex over the counter with the presentation of passports and air tickets.

This was contained in a statement issued by its Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor. “All Deposit Money Banks are mandated to buy and sell foreign currency to travelers ( both customers and non customers) upon presentation of relevant valid travel documents such as visa and tickets OVER THE COUNTER. All travelers shall be attended to immediately at the bank’s counters. Any contravention will be sanctioned by the CBN.

“Any BDC that fails to access the FX window at least three times weekly shall have their license reviewed by the CBN. Compliance is Compulsory,” it added.


The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon has earmarked N720m to support outbreaks of cholera in Bauchi, Adamawa and Yobe States that affected thousands of people.

In a statement released yesterday, Kallon said: “The reported cases of cholera represented 3.7 per cent of fatality rate in the North-Eastern region,” adding that additional resources are needed to contain the outbreak.

He warned that as the rainy season was about to commence, there is high risk of cholera outbreaks with increased water-borne diseases as well as “raising awareness of how to identify, prevent and treat cholera is also a key part of the response to the outbreak.” 


The Bayelsa State Government has again called on the National Assembly and other relevant Federal Government agencies to prevail on multi-national oil companies to relocate their headquarters to oil-bearing states.

The State Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Elder Markson Fefegha, who made the call during an on-the-spot assessment of some impacted host communities in the state by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) said the relocation will go a long way in assuaging the fears and complaints of those states and the communities.

Fefegha, said moving the headquarters will also improve human capacity and equity participation of oil producing communities, by way of employment generation, as well as enhance rapid development of affected communities and the economy of those states.


And stories from around the world:

Spanish Football Club, Real Madrid have become the first team in history to win the UEFA Champions League for three consecutive times after defeating English side, Liverpool FC 3-1 in Kiev on Saturday.

A goal from Karim Benzema and a brace from substitute Gareth Bale, gave them the stunning victory over the English side who got their only goal through Sadio Mane after club’s top striker, Mohamed Sallah was forced off the pitch by a shoulder injury early in the match.

The win sealed Real’s record 13th win in this competition, and their fourth in five seasons to give coach Zinedine Zidane this third triumph in three years.


South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Sunday that the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his commitment to “complete” denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and to a planned meeting with United States President, Donald Trump.

 “Chairman Kim and I have agreed that the June 12 summit should be held successfully, and that our quest for the Korean peninsula’s denuclearization and a perpetual peace regime should not be halted,” Moon said.

Moon and Kim agreed at a surprise meeting on Saturday that the possible North Korea-U.S. summit must be held, Moon told a news conference in Seoul.


United States Vice President, Mike Pence says sanctions will remain on Venezuela despite the release of a U.S prisoner and his wife on Saturday.

Joshua Holt and his Venezuelan wife Thamy, who had been imprisoned in Venezuela for two years on charges of concealing weapons arrived in the US accompanied by Senator Bob Corker, who helped negotiate their release.

“Very glad that Josh Holt is now back home with his family – where he has always belonged,” Mr Pence wrote in a tweet. “Sanctions continue until democracy returns to Venezuela.”


Cyclone Mekunu has hit southern Oman killing two people, including a 12-year-old girl, and leaving at least three others injured, officials say.

The girl died after strong winds swept her against a wall, police say. Another person was washed away in a car.

State TV showed large areas of flooding in Dhofar and al-Wusta provinces. (BBC)


Colombians will vote on Sunday in a deeply divisive presidential ballot that has stirred fears the winner could upset a fragile peace accord with Marxist FARC rebels or derail the nation’s business-friendly economic model.

It is the first election since the peace deal was signed in 2016 with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and voters will decide on a replacement for President Juan Manuel Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for ending the five-decade-old conflict.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail