After 38 Days On The Road, ‘Atiku Trekkers’ Broke And Stranded In Yola

Mallam Abubakar Umar,who started trekking from Yola, Adamawa State on April 26 to Abuja in honour of General Buhari and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar arrived Abuja yesterday May 12th, 2015. He was received by the former VP and Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Atiku's house in Abuja. (Image source: flavour360blog)

Three men – including one who spent a total of 38 days on the road – who trekked to Yola, Adamawa state, in honour of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, are now stranded in the state capital.

Speaking with journalists on Saturday, Salihu Jibrin, Aliyu Adamu and Abubakar Suleiman said since their arrival, they had been unable to see their mentor, Atiku.

The culture of trekking long distances started after Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the 2015 presidential election, and Atiku recently hosted someone (pictured) who trekked from Abuja to Yola in his honour.

FOOTBALL: Rooney Patient As England's Greatest Goalscorer Record Approaches

Wayne Rooney, right, is three goals away from being England's greatest goalscorer

Wayne Rooney insists the pressure of being close to breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's record is not weighing heavy on his mind.

Rooney has another chance to equal Charlton's 49-goal record on Sunday when England face Slovenia in their final Euro 2016 qualifier of the season. The England captain had a good chance to move level with Gary Lineker on 48 goals last Sunday against the Republic of Ireland, but his touch let him down as he closed in goal. The 29-year-old also drew a blank in England's previous match in Italy, and even though he found the net in the 4-0 win over Lithuania three months ago, he wasted plenty of chances to reach the 50-mark that night too.

EBOLA OUTBREAK: US City Paid US$30K To Opayemi Family To Settle Ebola Fears Lawsuit Over Daughter, 7

The insurance carrier for a Connecticut city of Milford paid US$30,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of a third-grader who was barred from school for several days because of Ebola fears.

School officials in Milford initially told 7-year-old Ikeoluwa Opayemi to stay out of school for three weeks last October after she attended a family wedding in Nigeria.

The girl showed no symptoms of Ebola and Nigeria had no known cases of the virus. She was allowed to return to school after her father filed a federal lawsuit.

The New Haven Register sought the agreement under the Freedom of Information Act. The newspaper (http://bit.ly/1L5vBpT) reports the lawsuit was settled on Oct. 30 and the city's insurance carrier sent a check for US$30,000 to the attorney for the family.

Malaysia-Based Footballer David Faramola Oniya Dies After Collapsing On Pitch

David Faramola Oniya

Nigerian defender David Faramola Oniya died on Saturday after collapsing on the pitch during a friendly match between his Malaysian club T-Team and Kelantan. He was 30.

Local media said the T-Team skipper collapsed three minutes into the match in Kota Bharu and was taken to hospital.

Morocco Arrests 57 In Cash-For-Answers Exam Scandal

Moroccan students sit in a park on May 13, 2014 in Fes ©Fadel Senna (AFP)

Dozens of people have been arrested in Morocco for selling answers to high school leaving exams in a racket that even saw two pages of answers posted on Facebook, authorities said Saturday.

The General Directorate of National Security said 57 people were arrested in 15 towns across the kingdom in a cash-for-answers scandal that saw other test responses sent to students via SMS.

Why President Buhari Should Not Assent To New Anti-Rape Bill — Soyinka

Prof Wole Soyinka (Image source: Radioblog)

Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to withhold his assent to the Sexual Offences Bill (also known as the anti-rape bill) passed by the last National Assembly.

In a letter apologizing for his absence at an event marking the June 12 anniversary in Lagos, Mr. Soyinka said that a nation should not be founded on the sexual exploitation of the fragile and innocent.

Protesters Slam Bilderberg Big Boss Elitist Summit For Lack Of Transparency

Austrian police officers stand guard next to the entrance of Interalpen Hotel, where the Bilderberg meeting is held, in the Austrian village of Buchen, June 12, 2015. (Reuters / Leonhard Foeger)

The Bilderberg conference, which bills itself as a “forum for informal discussions” held by the world's top brass, has drawn fire from protesters gathered near the Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol in Austria, accusing the attendees of corruption and elitism.

After a rally on Friday, anti-Bilderberg activists re-emerged on Saturday afternoon to protest what many of them refer to as a gathering of criminals. Thousands of protesters are expected to assemble outside the hotel where the Bilderberg group meeting is taking place.

“What we have seen is a very tight police cordon. It has been very difficult for many people to get to this area. Some journalists have been subject to rather humiliating police tactics,” RT's Peter Oliver reported.

Gov Shettima On IDPs: Jonathan Gave Adamawa N4bn Over Borno’s N200m

Governor Kashim Shettima

The Borno state government yesterday took a swipe at former president Goodluck Jonathan, accusing him of not doing enough to alleviate the sufferings of the people of the state, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the face of attacks by insurgents.

Governor Kashim Shettima, who spoke through his deputy, Zanna Umar Mustapha, at the government house in Maiduguri yesterday said, the Jonathan administration only gave N200 million to support the state within the last four years as against N4billion which he gave to the Adamawa State government.

Sudan's Bashir To Visit South Africa For AU Summit: Radio

Omar al-Bashir (right) meets with South African President Jacob Zuma in Khartoum on January 31, 2015 ©Ashraf Shazly (AFP)

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court over war crimes charges, will travel to South Africa for an African Union summit, official radio said Saturday.

Since Bashir was indicted by the ICC in 2009 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Darfur conflict, his overseas travel has been severely restricted.

South African Lawyers Celebrate After Sisi Cancels Trip

Lawyers vow to continue to pursue case against Egyptian leader until he is tried in an international court

Members of the South African Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA) announced their victory after Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi canceled his trip to attend the 25th African Union Summit in Johannesburg.

“We are very happy to hear that el-Sisi has cancelled his trip. It is a victory for us,” attorney Yousha Tayoub, an MLA member, told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.

The MLA had filled an official legal request on Wednesday to have the Egyptian President arrested when he arrived in South Africa to attend the AU summit.

CHIEF SAM AMUKA-PEMU AT 80: President Muhammadu Buhari Hails Vanguard’s Amuka-Pemu On 80th Birthday

Chairman and Publisher of Vanguard Media Limited, Chief Sam Amuka-Pemu

President Muhammadu Buhari has extolled the virtues of the Chairman and Publisher of Vanguard Media Limited, Chief Sam Amuka-Pemu, saying he has provided worthy example of the fruits of professionalism, industry and teamwork to achieve desired goals in the country.

In a letter he personally wrote to congratulate the media mogul on his 80th birthday, the president said the milestone, holding today (Saturday) provided an opportunity for him and his family as well as millions of Nigerians to felicitate with Amuka, who he described as a talented “gentleman of the press”.

Mother Of Missing Madeleine, Kate McCann begins Cycle Challenge

Kate McCannn, mother of missing girl Madeleine McCann, sets off for the Missing People Cycle Challenge from Edinburgh

The mother of Madeleine McCann has set off on a 500-mile (805km) charity bike ride to raise funds to support families with a missing loved one.

Press Association reports Kate McCann set off from Edinburgh today with around 20 other cyclists for the five-day challenge in aid of the UK charity Missing People.

400Mn People Have No Access To Essential Health Services – WHO

Scavengers search for recyclable materials at the Dandora dumping site on the outskirts of Kenya's capital Nairobi June 5, 2015.

More than 400 million people across the world live without access to essential health services, while millions are being forced into poverty as their governments are unable to provide adequate healthcare, a new study by the World Bank and WHO found.

The authors of the 98-page report titled, ‘Tracking Universal Health Coverage,’ claims to be the first study to measure progress towards universal health by assessing health service exposure and how much countries spend on health care.

Covering 37 nations between 2002 and 2012, the report focused on people’s ability to gain access to essential health services by looking at seven components: family planning, antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, child immunization, antiretroviral therapy, tuberculosis treatment, and access to clean water and sanitation.

Researchers found that over 400 million people lacked access to at least one of these essential services.

CYCLING DOPING SCANDAL: Former England International, Thomas: Let Armstrong Move On

Lance Armstrong, pictured, is due to ride with Geoff Thomas next month to raise money for Cure Leukaemia

Geoff Thomas insists Lance Armstrong deserves his shot at redemption and believes he can help save lives.

The former England international wants the disgraced cyclist to be able to move on and start to repair his reputation. He has invited Armstrong to join him on his charity ride for Cure Leukaemia as he races the Tour de France route 24 hours ahead of the main event next month.

Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles in 2012 and confessed to doping in 2013, ending years of denials.

‘Large & Complex’ South Korea MERS Outbreak Kills 14th Patient, More Cases Expected

Workers in full protective gear disinfect the interior of a subway train at a Seoul Metro's railway vehicle base in Goyang, South Korea. (Reuters / Kim Hong-Ji)

As South Korea reported its 14th fatality from an outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), in addition to the 12 new cases, the World Health Organization warned the “large and complex” outbreak will cost more lives.

Austrian Swimmer In Coma After Bus Slams Into Athletes In Baku (GRAPHIC VIDEO)

Three 15 year-old Austrian synchronized swimmers were hit by a bus at the athletes’ village, a day before the start of the inaugural European Games in Azerbaijan. A chilling video shows the vehicle failing to stop, and plowing into the unsuspecting girls.

US Sec Of State Kerry Released From Boston Hospital After Broken-Leg Surgery

Secretary of State John Kerry waves after speaking to media as he is discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital Friday, June 12, 2015, in Boston. Kerry was released from the hospital after undergoing surgery on a broken leg sustained in a May 31 bicycle accident in France. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was discharged from a Boston hospital on Friday, 10 days after undergoing surgery on a broken leg he sustained in a bicycle accident in France, and he declared he had not missed a tick on key foreign policy issues during his recovery.

Kerry left Massachusetts General Hospital on crutches but under his own power. He told reporters he planned to go to his nearby home in the Beacon Hill neighborhood for a few days before traveling to Washington next week.

Buhari Plans Military Shake-Up, Angry With DSS

President Muhammadu Buhari

There are indications that President Muhammadu Buhari may carry out a major shake-up in the top echelons of the military.

It was learnt that service chiefs and other senior officers across the various arms of the military might be relieved of their posts to pave way for new hands.

Findings showed that Buhari would replace the service chiefs with equally experienced officers.

It was gathered that all but one of the military chiefs would be disengaged by the President, while appointing new officers who would be expected to implement the new phase of the war against the Boko Haram sect in the North-East.

Buhari To Submit List Of Ministers To NASS Next Week

President Muhammadu Buhari

From the date of his inauguration as Nigeria's president on May 29, 2015, perhaps the most feverish speculation concerning the new admnistration has been about the names and faces which would be unveiled in President Muhammadu Buhari's ministerial appointments.

Apart from the ministerial appointments, there are other critical appointments including appointments into the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation as well as the office of the National Security Adviser. 

GRAPHITTI NEWS reports on developments on the expected appointments as reported by Nigerian media:

THE PUNCH INTERVIEW: If Buhari Wants To Travel Round The Entire Globe In Order To Solve The Issue Of Boko Haram, Please Just Let Him Do So —Soyinka

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka (Image source: blogradio)

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, in this interview with Success Nwogu of The Punch newspaper addresses topical national issues. READ EXCERPTS:

A lot of Nigerians still wonder why you chose to endorse the candidature of Muhammadu Buhari. Why did you do that?

I was exercising my democratic right.

EFCC Files Fresh 50-Count Fraud Charge Against Sylva

Timipre Sylva

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has again filed fresh corruption charges against former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement that the fresh 50 counts of corruption charges were filed on Friday.

This came two days after Justice Ahmed Mohammed dismissed one of two fraud cases instituted by the anti-graft agency against Sylva.

DR Congo Opens Probe After NGO Accuses UK Firm Of Bribery

Kinshasa said it had opened an investigation after an NGO alleged a British energy company paid off an army officer accused of silencing critics of exploration in Virunga National Park ©Junior D. Kannah (AFP)

Kinshasa said it had opened an investigation after an NGO alleged a British energy company paid off an army officer accused of silencing critics of exploration in a Congolese national park.

Global Witness, a British NGO, on Wednesday published scans of four cheques totalling US$15,600 (14,000 euros) allegedly issued by a Congolese subsidiary of Soco International to an army major posted to Virunga National Park.

The park, which lies in the east of the country, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to many of the world's critically endangered mountain gorillas.

The NGO also published what it said was a receipt for the cheques signed by the officer on May 15, 2014, along with another dated April 30, 2014, confirming he had received US$26,650 (24,000 euros).

Parade Celebrates Queen Elizabeth's Birthday

Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke Of Edinburgh arrive to inspect the troops at London's Horse Guards.

The Queen celebrates her official birthday today with the Trooping the Colour parade.

The annual event will see more than 1,000 soldiers taking part in the traditional display of pomp and pageantry.

World's Biggest Wine Fair Eyes Africa's New Tipplers

Wine lovers at Soweto Wine Festival. (Image courtesy of unrestrictedliving.co.za; Image source: guateng.net)

The world's biggest wine fair opens in Bordeaux, wine capital of France, this weekend, with vintners eyeing new tipplers in Africa as global consumption rises in Asia and elsewhere.

The US and China are the world's top wine-lovers, but Africa is the industry's next "future destination", says the Vinexpo wine and spirits fair, in a market expecting 3.5 percent growth over the next three years.

Exhibitors get ready for the inauguration of the International Wine and Spirits fair Vinexpo, in Bordeaux, western France ©Jean-Pierre Muller (AFP)

In Bordeaux, 45,000 buyers from 120 nations will hop from luxury chateaux to prestige vineyards partying and guzzling as France, the world's leading wine producer, lays out its best bottles and fare for a five-day get-together starting Sunday.

Leaders At African Union Summit Expected To Avoid Migration Troubles

Migrants sit aboard a wooden boat during a rescue operation, in partnership with Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF), off the coast of Sicily in the Mediterranean sea, in May 2015 ©Jason Florio (Migrant Offshore Aid Station/AFP)

Despite growing pressure to address the tragedy of African migrants drowning in the Mediterranean, the African Union is unlikely to offer any home-grown solutions to the crisis, say analysts.

Refugees will be discussed in a closed session at the first day of the African Union summit on Sunday, in anticipation of a meeting with the European Union in the latter half of this year.

But African leaders, many of whom routinely flout human rights, are accused of lacking the will to criticize each other on refugee and immigration policies for fear of attracting criticism themselves.

The stalemate thwarts efforts to combat the continent's refugee crises.

Sisi Cancels South Africa Visit After Calls For Arrest

Sisi was supposed to arrive Friday in Johannesburg to lead his country’s delegation in African Union (AU) Summit

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi canceled a planned visit to South Africa to attend the African Union (AU) summit this week, one day after a group of lawyers filed an official legal request for his arrest.

The Egyptian president was supposed to arrive Friday in Johannesburg to lead his country’s delegation to the 25th AU summit titled “Enabling African Women,” which will start on June 14.

Jonathan Conceded Defeat To Cover Up Political Atrocities –Kinsman

Former President Goodluck Jonathan

Kinsman of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and leader of All Progressives Congress, Bayelsa State, Mr. Godwin Sidi, has revealed that Jonathan conceded defeat to President Muhammadu Buhari to cover up his atrocities in office.

Sidi, who was the Interim Secretary of the defunct New PDP, berated those commending Jonathan for conceding, saying the former President had no other choice but to do so.

Sidi, who spoke at a news conference in Yenagoa on Friday, also called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to commence the probe of Jonathan over the whereabouts of the Chibok girls.

 “Jonathan’s conceding defeat is a ploy to cover up political atrocities he committed while in office,” he stated.

He accused the former President of taking the possession of property seized from a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieseigha.

Rwanda's Kagame Eyes 3rd Term As Voters Call For Law Change

Over two-fifths of Rwanda's voters have signed a petition calling for constitutional reform to allow President Paul Kagame a third term in power ©Stephanie Aglietti (AFP)

The list of supporters is long: more than two-fifths of Rwanda's voters have signed a petition calling for constitutional reform to allow strongman Paul Kagame a third term in power.

The authorities speak of a popular mass movement, critics of a manipulation of power.

As the second and final seven-year mandate of Rwanda's president draws to a close, there are increasing indications he may join other African leaders in changing the rules to stay put in elections due in 2017.

Pink Taxis’ Promise Egyptian Women Comfy Rides

Pink taxi's in Egypt give Egyptian women the comfort they need without the abuse.

Dina, a housewife who lives in Cairo, says she often shies away from taking public transportation – or taxis driven by men – to avoid potential sexual harassment. 

But a new cab service catering exclusively to female passengers is making the mother of two young children excited. The ‘pink taxi,’ expected to hit the streets of Cairo soon, will provide transportation services for women by women. 

“This is a brilliant idea,” she said. “The pink taxis will help me go out without fear, especially since my husband isn’t always available to drive me.”

According to a UN report issued in 2013, 99.3 percent of women in Egypt say they have been subject to sexual harassment. The same report found that 91.5 percent had experienced “unwelcome physical contact.”

Chinese Restaurant Laced Meals With Opium

A Chinese restaurant laced their customers meals with opium as a way to 'keeping customers coming back for more'

Two managers of a central China restaurant have been arrested on the suspicion of adding opium to dishes.

State news agency Xinhua quoted a police investigation as saying Friday that a major motivation for the Hubei Province establishment was "keeping customers coming back for more."

In routine tests, the local food and drug administration said they had detected main ingredients of poppy seeds - including papaverine and narcotine - in the restaurant's dishes in March.

EBOLA OUTBREAK: Sierra Leone Imposes Ebola Curfew For Northern Districts

Port Loko District Council office, Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is introducing new curfews for two northern districts after a spike in new Ebola cases to the highest level in months, President Ernest Bai Koroma said on Friday.

The 18-month-long Ebola epidemic has killed more than 11,100 people in West Africa, although weekly numbers of new cases have fallen sharply from last year's peaks. One of the three worst-affected countries, Liberia, was declared Ebola-free in May.

Sierra Leone and Guinea, however, are still regularly reporting several new cases daily, prompting both to extend emergency measures.

Joda Transition Committee Submits 800-Page Report To Buhari

Alhaji Ahmed Joda speaking

After about five weeks of scrutiny, the Alhaji Ahmed Joda Transition Committee of the All Progressives Congress on Friday submitted an 800-page final report of its findings to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The event, which took place at the Defence House, Abuja, saw the committee submitting the compressed report from the over 18,000 pages it received from the Goodluck Jonathan administration to President Buhari.

Briefing State House correspondents after submitting the report, Joda said the committee got the cooperation of several groups to arrive at its recommendations.

Buhari To Attend AU Summit In South Africa

President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to depart Abuja for South Africa on Saturday, June 13, to attend the 25th African Union Summit in Johannesburg.

A statement by Femi Adesina Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, said President Buhari is scheduled to undertake his first continental assignment since taking office by chairing a meeting of the Peace and Security Committee of the African Union during the summit.

The Nation reports the President is also expected to hold bilateral talks with other African leaders on the sidelines of the summit to consolidate his ongoing drive to secure Nigeria and neighbouring countries from Boko Haram.

President Buhari is due back in Abuja on Tuesday at the conclusion of the summit which will focus mainly on continental peace and security.