Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, yesterday, led the Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, to a meeting with Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Since the defection by Senator Nelson Effiong representing Akwa Ibom South in the National Assembly from PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, last week, there have been mixed feelings in some quarters. While some condemned the decision, others said the lawmaker had taken the right move that will spell doom for the PDP in the state in 2019.
Among those speaking in favour of the defection is a former Commissioner for Science and Technology and National Coordinator, ONE for Change, Mr. Samuel Efanga. Excerpts:

A Federal High Court in Ibadan, yesterday, ordered the remand of one Shemilore Egbedayo, accused of defrauding three American women of $3,437 in the guise of marrying them.

SENATOR Theodore Orji representing Abia Central in the Senate has called on the Inspector-General of Police to do everything possible to apprehend the killers of his former media aide, Mr. Ben Onyechere, who was killed last Sunday, by unknown gunmen in Owerri, Imo State.

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has revealed that about N44.1 billion (US$147 million) is required to prevent severe malnutrition in 450,000 children in North-East part of the country this year, even as it seeks $3.3 billion to cater for 48 million children living in the worst conflict areas globally.

IMMEDIATE past Secretary to the Anambra State Government and a former diplomat, Mr Osaloka Obaze recently indicated his intention to contest for the governorship of the state expected to take place later this year. Indeed, Obaze was a frontrunner in the race for Mr. Peter Obi’s successor, but he was later shoved aside by the leadership of APGA. He later continued as the SSG under Governor Obiano, until a cabinet reshuffle. He is presently running a consultancy firm in Awka.

THE Federal Government, International Oil Corporations, IOCs, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and other stakeholders, yesterday, agreed to develop a common template to fast-track the development of the Niger Delta region.

AWKA- THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, zonal laboratory at Agulu, Anambra State, has received the International Organization for Standardization, ISO, accreditation certificate from the United States Pharmacopeia Convention, USP, making it the first laboratory of its type in the country to obtain the certificate.

IT was drama yesterday at the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Benin City, where witnesses who testified on behalf of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, confessed that they signed false signatures and gave fake addresses in the depositions they made before the court for security reasons.

UMUAHIA—IN bid to ensure that youths and women living in Army Barracks across the country are usefully engaged, the Nigerian Army has introduced some business initiatives to keep them busy and also enable them to earn little income.