Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah dies aged 90

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has passed away, aged 90. The monarch died late last night January 22nd 2015 in his home. His death was announced in a statement broadcast on Saudi state TV. 

"His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1am this morning (Friday - Saudi time)," the statement said. 

Abdullah became king in 2005 after the death of his half-brother King Fahd. The late king's brother, Salman, 79, has been announced as the new ruler of the kingdom.

Nigerian Government to withdraw Soldiers involved in Peace keeping missions abroad

Nigerian Defence website hacked

The Nigeria Defence website was hacked today. Spokesperson of Defence HQ, Chris Olukolade confirmed it, and later revealed that the website has been taken back from the hackers.

Meanwhile, someone on twitter with user name @imamsadiq123 has been boasting about being responsible for the defacing.

Fct Minister, Others stone at Pres. Jonathan’s Campaign in Bauchi

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, was pelted with bottled and sachet water while he was making his speech and pleading with the people of the state to vote for and support Jonathan and the PDP during next month’s general elections.

There was pandemonium on Thursday at the Ibrahim Babangida Square, Venue of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential campaign rally in Bauchi as angry youths pelted dignitaries at the event with dangerous objects like hammer, sto

nes and slippers among other things.
The youths, whose source of grievances could not be immediately ascertained, destroyed some of the canopies and plastic chairs.

The ‘supporters’, who had, before the arrival of President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage, chanted solidarity songs for the President and the PDP and marched round the venue with their drums and placards with the President’s picture, became unruly during the programme and began pelting dignitaries on the stand.

Security operatives had a tough time dispersing the restless supporters, who had stormed the square in large in large number.

National Security Adviser tells INEC to postpone next month's elections

National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone next month's general election so that the commission can completely distribute the millions of biometric ID (Also known as permeant voters cards) to prospective voters.

Dasuki gave this advice while speaking at London think-tank Chatham House today January 22^nd January 2015. He said a postponement within the next three months allowed by the law would be a good idea so that all issues bordering on the distribution of permanent voters card as well as elections holding in some part of North eastern Nigeria would be adequately addressed.

The main opposition coalition said it would oppose any postponement, and the electoral commission said it had not received any such official communication from Dasuki.
The elections, currently scheduled for Feb. 14, will be the first where Nigeria's 68.8 million voters must have a biometric cards -- a measure introduced to guard against fraud that has plagued past polls.

But there have been technical glitches in data collection and officials have not explained how they will hold the election in parts of the northeast gripped by a violent uprising by Islamist Boko Haram rebels.

Paul of P Square and Anita Okoye's court wedding photos

GTBank wins ‘Best Corporate Governance, Africa’ for 2015

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, has been awarded ‘Best Corporate Governance, Africa’, for the Financial services category by the Ethical Boardroom Magazine UK. The ‘Corporate Governance Award’ organized by Ethical Boardroom magazine recognizes outstanding companies who have exhibited exceptional leadership in the area of governance and professional ethics to ensure protection and long-term value for all their stakeholders.
 

The award is an acknowledgement of the Bank’s strong corporate governance practices, commitment to high standards of ethical leadership and compliance with regulatory standards.

According to Segun Agbaje, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, “GTBank has built a reputable institution which consistently adopts, implements and applies international best practices in corporate governance, service delivery and value creation for all its stakeholders”.

“We are delighted to receive this award which affirms GTBank's position as a one of the leading Banks in Africa whilst also reiterating and confirming our commitment to ethics, professionalism, integrity, quality service delivery, innovation and internationally accepted corporate governance standards”, added Mr Agbaje.

GTBank was the first Nigerian Bank to be awarded an ISO 9001: 2000 certification by the International Standards Organization and the first to adopt the IFRS reporting format. The Bank has the best risk category  rating assigned to any Nigerian Bank by both local and international rating agencies (BB- by Standard & Poor’s and B+ by Fitch Rating), which is extremely compliant with International best practice and standards.

Pregnant daughter of Nassarawa State Governor campaign manager killed

Seven month pregnant daughter of Nassarawa state governor's campaign manager, Musa Illu, Amina Suleiman was on Monday 19^th January 2015 killed by unknown assailants at her husband's home in Katsina state.

According to reports, Amina, whose husband was away to Zaria for his doctorate degree programme was found in the pool of her blood with her throat slit and a knife in her stomach. Younger brother to the campaign manager, Namairo Babai, while confirming the incident said her husband had tried to reach her on phone on the day of the attack but when he couldn't, he sent somebody to check on his wife only to be told she'd been killed.