THE controversy over the alleged N10 billion loan taken by the House Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, took another twist yesterday as immediate past House Minority Leader and Senator-elect, Muhammed Ali Ndume, declared that Bankole was misled by a senior government official in the National Assembly.

The Joint Task Force on the Niger Delta, JTF, code-named Operation Restore Hope, may conduct a DNA test to ascertain whether the corpse recently exhumed by its men was that of renegade militant leader, John Togo.

I HAVE not hitherto bothered to comment publicly on the apparent anguish in the South East or among South Easterners over the recent sharing of principal political offices or positions in the country. In the last few weeks, I have heard some of my fellow South Easterners utter all manner of vain, self-serving and even unprintable retorts on the subject-matter.

As the nation waits anxiously the names of ministers President Goodluck Jonathan intends to work with in his new administration, the list of nominees from the Federal Capital Territory is threatening to tear the PDP chapter of the party apart.

FRESH details emerged yesterday on how former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, 50, who wanted to be Peoples Democratic Party, PDP National Chairman, became the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

SUPER Eagles coach, Samson Siasia confessed Tuesday that the absence of mercurial Lionel Messi is a relief to him and his players as they face the South Americans today in a historic friendly match at the Abuja national stadium. “Who wont be relieved that Messi who has mesmerized clubs and countries won’t be here to torment my team?”, Siasia said in a Press Conference at the Hilton hotel in Abuja.

AN Ibadan-based businessman, Mr. Abayomi Badmus, yesterday, filed a suit against the Director of State Security Services, Osun State, Mr. Olusegun Adegboye, his wife and the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Baba Adisa Bolanta, demanding N116m for alleged misuse of office and violation of his fundamental human rights.

THE tension that gripped residents of Ayakoromor, Ogodobiri and other riverine communities in Burutu and Bomadi Local Government Areas of Delta State during the man-hunt for renegade John Togo, has subsided, following the exhuming of his corpse by men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger Delta.

GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, sent the list of eight commissioner- nominees and three transition committee chairmen for Akoko- Edo,Igueben and Esan Central, to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.

NIGER Delta representatives yesterday on the floor of the House demanded that all agencies involved in the oil industry should as a matter of urgency instal sensors to monitor pipelines in a bid to checkmate vandalisation and burst pipes from recurring.