Newborn baby found dead near Osun River

There was confusion in the Ibu Amon area of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Friday when residents of the area found a newborn baby which was dump close to the Osun River.

Our correspondent gathered from residents of the area that the baby was dumped on Thursday, but was found dead on Friday near the Osun River.

One of the leaders in the community, Mr. Fatai Olayiwola, said he was shocked like other members of the community to find the dead baby where it was dumped.

Fake embassy found in Lagos, tFake embassy found in Lagos, two Chinese arrestedwo Chinese arrested

The Lagos State Police Command says it has discovered a fake embassy operating in Lagos where many innocent members of the public had allegedly been defrauded.

It was gathered that policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) had swooped on the ‘embassy’ and arrested two Chinese and two Nigerians.

It was learnt that the fake embassy was located at Golden Point and Suite on Duduyemi Street in Ejigbo, Lagos.

2017 budget’ll take Nigeria out of recession –Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said the 2017 Appropriation Bill that he would present to the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday would take Nigeria out of recession.

Buhari said this in his Eid-el Maulud message to Nigerians.

In the message which he personally signed, the President said with collective dedication and hard work, Nigerians would in 2017 overcome the economic difficulties, and return the country to the path of prosperity.

I’ll cut wasteful spending – Obaseki

The  Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has vowed to cut unwarranted expenditure as part of efforts to run a transparent government and free up resources.

Obaseki also assured the people that his administration would neither involve itself in frivolity nor play to the gallery while  implementing government policies and programmes.

Gambler incurs N145,000 debt while celebrating N36,000 win

The police in Lagos have arrested a gambler, Yakubu Bashir, for alleged fraud at the Bendel Inn on Ipodo Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

Bashir was picked up for his inability to pay for drinks and food worth N145,000.

It was learnt that Bashir had gone to the hotel on Wednesday with his friends to celebrate winning a sports bet.

Cassava can generate N20tn for Nigeria yearly –NCGA

The National President, Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, Pastor Segun Adewumi, has said with the right government policy, the country can make an annual income of N20tn from cassava cultivation.

According to him, cassava, which has numerous domestic and industrial uses, is the answer to the country’s economic challenges.

Three killed, 17 injured as suicide bombers attack Borno

There was panic in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on Sunday morning as two suicide bombers, a male and female, detonated the bomb strapped on them at about 8.50am.

The explosives killed the two suicide bombers while 18 others at the scene were injured.

One of the injured persons died later at the hospital where the 18 were taken to for treatment.

Our correspondent gathered that the casualty figure could have been very high, had security operatives not denied  the bombers access to the Maiduguri Monday Market.

Travellers give bribes at airports – ICPC

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has said about 53 per cent of travellers give bribes to workers and officials at the Lagos and Abuja international airports.

The ICPC Chairman, Ekpo Nta, said this, while unveiling a report on the Corruption Risk Assessment done on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Environment minister set to leave Buhari’s govt

President Muhammadu Buhari may soon carry out a minor cabinet shake-up with the imminent exit of the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, from his administration, THE PUNCH has learnt.

Our correspondent however learnt on Sunday that the exercise might not be carried out until early next year when Mohammed is expected to leave.

‘Buhari paying lip service to democracy’

The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of paying lips service to the sustenance of democracy in the country.

The governor said, “Any President that looks the other way while the rights of his people to freely elect their leaders are being snatched at gunpoint by his own party men is not worthy of being associated with democracy.”

Ohanaeze, Ngige disagree over Buhari’s treatment of Igbo

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, has dismissed as false, claims by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, that President Muhammadu Buhari is unfair to the Igbo.

The Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-political body of the Igbo, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, had on Friday said the organisation backed former President Goodluck Jonathan against Buhari in the 2015 presidential election because Buhari had always been unfair to Igbo.