The embattled Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who was boxed into a corner last week by the governors on the party’s platform, has decided to flex his muscles with the elevation of the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Solomon Onwe, to the office of National Secretary.

The Federal Government has slammed a fine of $1 million on owners of the ship, M.V Marevia, that brought in two containers of toxic materials.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, has written to the State Security Service, SSS, informing the Service of the need to take action against importers of the offensive cargo, (names with held).

…As 3 more bodies recovered *Pipeline vandalisation, a big business—DPR
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Sunday, accused officials of National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, of conniving with vandals to wreak havoc on the country’s economy through pipeline vandalism.

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has identified corruption, insecurity and infrastructure decay as major problems confronting the African continent.

Obasanjo said this at the inauguration of newly-established Africa Institute, Valparaiso University, Indiana, USA.

The former president spoke as the convener of the Save Nigeria group, even as SNG, Pastor Tunde Bakare, yesterday accused him of allegedly returning the country to the path of corruption.

Another breakthrough came the way of security agents in their confrontation with members of the dreaded Jamaatu Ahlil Sunna Lidawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, with the arrest of one of the sect’s suspected leaders, Hassan Pagi BUKAR, in the residence of a 2003-2007 member of the House of Representatives (names withheld).

Note: Story contains graphic photo some may find offensive.
Over 50 suspected vandals were, yesterday, feared dead in an explosion that rocked the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,NNPC, pipeline at Arepo village, Owode, Ogun State.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the explosion came following a fire which was sparked off by some vandals who stormed the creeks by boat to siphon fuel from the NNPC pipeline.

Apostle Johnson Suleman is the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministry, one of the leading new generation churches in the country today. The church located along the Auchi-Abuja road in Auchi, Edo state is another Mecca in Nigeria as people from all over the world throng the giant edifice to see him. As a result, it was not easy for Saturday Vanguard to track down the man of God for this interview due to his very busy schedule.

…I was not arrested by EFCC— Soludo
After many hours of interrogation by its operatives, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, admitted the former Central Bank Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, to administrative bail Thursday night.

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, Friday, sacked the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, from office.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and the Police were, yesterday, locked in a battle of words over the alleged shabby investigation into the murder of his private secretary, Olaitan Oyerinde.

The Federal Government, yesterday, vowed to place heavy sanctions on the e-waste ship that was arrested on Wednesday. It also ordered that the toxic wastes laden containers on board the ship, MV Marivia Monrovia, be shipped back to the port of origin in the U.K.

This came after security operatives at the Tin-Can Island Port concluded examination on the two offensive containers bearing the e-wastes.

Chief Mike Ozekhome is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a constitutional Lawyer. He was among prominent Nigerians who participated actively in the just concluded national summit on security jointly organized by Vanguard Newspapers and the Nigeria Police Force. In this interview, he described the National Assembly as drain pipe arguing that the country does not need bicameral legislature. Excerpts:

Security and environmental officials, yesterday, quarantined a ship laden with e-waste which they said is toxic and posed major threat to humans. The ship, M.V Marevia brought in two containers considered very dangerous and sent port officials into a panic mode.

Professor Omo Omoruyi, a political scientist, former Director – General of the defunct Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS) and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin in this interview with Vanguard Politics in Benin, spoke on a host of national issues including why fears that Nigeria may disintegrate persist.

Nigeria Captain Joseph Yobo will play in his sixth Africa Cup of Nations finals after making the final list of 23 released on Wednesday night by Coach Stephen Keshi.