Victorious Buhari picks Amaechi as Vice President Candidate

After several hours of horse-trading at Victoria Island in Lagos by party leaders, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly picked the current governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate for the next year presidential elections.

A source close to the campaign organisation of Buhari said Amaechi, a Christian from the South-oouth zone, was picked ahead of others as he was a major financing and logistic supporter of Buhari during the just concluded party’s primary to pick its presidential flag bearer.

Cynthia Osokogwu murder: I never requested the purchase of any drug - Defendant tells court

A defendant, Okwumo Nwabufor, on Friday told an Igbosere High Court, Lagos that he never ordered the purchase of the drug, Ryhophnol that was used to drug the late Cynthia Osokogwu

Nwabufor, 34, spoke while being cross-examined by Mr Chris Obiaka, the counsel to the third defendant in the case, Orji Osita.

``I never asked the third defendant to purchase any drug for me neither did I purchase any drug,’ ’ he said.

NDLEA seizes 1445.9kg of cocaine, other drugs in 11 months

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Sokoto State said that it seized 1445.901 kg of cocaine and other psychotropic drugs between January and November, 2014.

Its zonal Commander, Alhaji Misbahu Idris, made the disclosure when he previewed its 2014 activities in Sokoto on Friday.

FG to commercialise federal housing estates

The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi on Friday, inaugurated Interim Management Team and Technical Board of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).

Eyakenyi, at the Inauguration, gave the 18- man team 18 months to ensure the restructuring of the FHA.

The minister, who would co-chair the team with Managing Director of FHA, said it would work out modalities to ensure the delivery of affordable and quality houses to Nigerians.

She said the board would also work towards the commercialisation of FHA by putting in place an effective monitoring and feedback mechanism to meet its targets.

Lagos PDP primary: Why I went to court - Obanikoro

The crisis rocking the Lagos chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) might take a long time to linger as  Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, a contestant for the PDP Lagos governorship ticket has explained the reason he took the party to court.

Obanikoro, while addressing his supporters at his campaign office in Ikeja, said he sued the party’s leadership to compel it to expedite action on a petition he made.

Obanikoro had on Tuesday petitioned the party’s leadership over the PDP governorship primary election in the state held on Monday.

Court strikes out PDP’s suit seeking to unseat Amechi, Kwankwaso, others

An Abuja Federal High Court on Friday struck out a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urging the court to sack its five governors who defected to APC.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that the suit's originating processes were invalid because they were wrongly issued and served on the defendants.

``This suit is struck out as the originating summons has been declared invalid.

``It is preposterous, audacious and breathtaking for the plaintiff to argue that the defendants sued individually in personal capacity, could be served through the office of the party to which they defected.

Kwankwaso pledges to support Buhari’s 2015 presidential ambition

Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso of Kano has expressed his readiness to support, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to actualise his presidential ambition in 2015.

Kwankwaso made this known when he spoke with newsmen in Kano on Friday.

He said the election of Buhari as the presidential candidate of the APC was his success as he would continue to support him to ensure his victory in 2015.

``Just few days to the primary election, Buhari was asked if not him who else, he (Buhari) said it is kwankwaso. So, to me, it is as good as I won the election.

Man dies after allegedly gulping 8 cans of energy drink during a bet

Elijah Nwankwo, of Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi, have been confirmed dead after allegedly gulping energy drink from eight cans during a bet.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Ebere Amarizu, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police in Enugu State on Friday.

According to the statement, the victim had on Dec. 11 agreed to drink eight cans of energy drink for N1,600 to be paid by one Chikwado Nchionu, the challenger.

``After taking the energy drink, he became weak and went into coma. He was immediately rushed to a hospital in Enugu where he was confirmed dead by a doctor.

We’ll remain in APC; work for Ambode’s success, GOS tells supporters

Despite losing out in the All Progressive Congress gubernatorial primaries held in Lagos recently, contrary to expectation of nursing ill-feelings, Senate Minority Whip, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon has reiterated his commitment and that of his supporters to the party.

Speaking this afternoon, Tuesday 9 December, 2014, in Ikeja while addressing his supporters after the primaries, Solomon, one of the 12 governorship aspirants who participated in Thursday 4 December 2014, governorship primaries in the state, told his supporters that he has accepted the result of the primaries in good faith.

Airtel unveils Catapult-a-Startup to boost entrepreneurship

 

Segun Ogunsanya

Airtel Nigeria, has launched an entrepreneurial initiative tagged ‘Catapult-a-Startup,’ a platform which aims to inspire innovation and assist  start up mobile app developers towards actualising their business goals and dreams.

With this, Airtel is offering a platform for budding mobile app developers to receive advanced mentoring from industry veterans, funding, marketing, and also improve their skills to become successful using their creativity.

To participate in the programme, interested start-ups are to submit their ideas and presentations to the ‘Catapult-a-Startup’ website www.cas.ng, for evaluation.