The embattled deputy governor of Imo State, Mr. Jude Agbaso in an interview responds to the allegation that he obtained a N458 million bribe from a road contractor in the state. He asserts that the allegation was cooked up to muddle a one term agreement reached between Governor Rochas Okorocha and his elder brother, Martins Agbaso, the influential businessman and political broker who allegedly provided the structure for Okorocha’s 2011 election victory. Excerpts:

With the just concluded International Day for Women throwing up the challenge of bridging the technology divide between men and women genders in the society, GlamTech has looked inwards to find most technologies and gadgets that are capable of luring women into active participation in ICT

I don’t know. It’s just that I’m getting less passionate with music but for some funny reason, my music is sounding a lot different and people are still appreciating it. But in all, it’s very interesting to be working on album number seven when some people stopped at album number one. The album will be out before June.

Asaba—FOLLOWING a recent judgment by a Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State, declaring the Ukwuani constituency seat in Delta State House of Assembly vacant, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, are locked in a battle of wits over who would retain the seat, eventually.

As a demonstration of modesty and obedience to Allah, Muslim girls and women wear head coverings called “hijabs,” particularly when in public. Q24:30–31. For Muslims, wearing a headscarf is not only about religious expression, it is strictly religious obligation; and if the constitution freely provides for freedom to exercise one’s faith according to section 38 (1) of the 1999 constitution, then where lies the tolerance so claimed by non-Muslims?

UYO—Academic activities at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, may be grounded, if the abductors of Dr. Ime Udotong, a senior lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry, fail to release her, members of the institution’s branch of Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU-UUB, have threatened.

MR Dayo Adeyeye, former national publicity secretary of Afenifere in this interview, explains why he is vying for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP ahead of the 2014 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State. He also bares his mind on the crisis rocking the South West chapter of the PDP, the merger plan of opposition political parties among other issues.

A civil society group, Say No Campaign, yesterday, requested the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, under Sections 1(1), 1(2) and 3 of the Freedom of Information Act, to furnish it with copies of the minutes of the National Council of State meeting of March 12, 2013 where pardon was granted to convicted former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diprieye Alamesieigha and six others.

It can be safely assumed that democracy returned to Nigeria after the death of that military dictator, General Sanni Abacha. The return of democracy started in 1999 after the often forgotten character named General Abdusallam Abubakar terminated the 16 army rule that featured General Buhari, General Babangida and General Abacha. Thus, the Nigerian democratic experiment started in 1999 under the 1999 Constitution (as now amended).

Abuja —The National Economic Council Thursday approved sharing of between $1billion and $2billion from the excess crude account amongst the federal, state and local governments.