Presidency denies replacing Olonisakin, Ibas as service chiefs

The Presidency on Monday denied media report (not THE PUNCH) that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the replacement of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as Service Chiefs.

The denial was contained in a statement made available to journalists by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.

Oil prices soar to $58 on global output cut deal

Oil prices shot up over four per cent to their highest level since 2015 early on Monday after OPEC and other producers over the weekend in Vienna reached first output cut deal since 2001 .

They jointly reduced output in order to rein in oversupply and prop up the market.

Brent sweet crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, soared to 57.89 dollars per barrel in overnight trading between Sunday and Monday, its highest level since July 2015.

Three worshippers die in Synagogue church stampede

No fewer than three worshippers at the Synagogue Church of all Nations, Ikotun, Lagos State, have been confirmed dead after a stampede on the church’s premises on Saturday.

It was learnt that the victims were part of a crowd that struggled to see the church’s General Overseer, Prophet Temitope Joshua, during a special healing service.

Our correspondent gathered that while two of the victims were identified as Emeka Okonkwo and Emmanuel Oherin, the third victim had yet to be identified.

Nurse sacked for preaching to patients

A nurse at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Kent, who gave a patient a bible she did not want and spoke about religion with patients has been dismissed by the hospital.

Sarah Kuteh received repeated warnings over the ‘unwanted discussions’ but continued to talk about religion with people.

JAMB meets CBT centre owners over 2017 exams

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board says arrangements have been concluded to have an interaction with owners of Computer Based Test centres in the country ahead of the 2017 UTME.

The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the disclosure in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lagos.

Uyo church collapse: We were dancing when building collapsed – Survivor

Some survivors of the Reigners Bible Church International Inc, Uyo building collapse have given a first-hand account of how the building collapsed on Saturday.

One of the survivors, Eno Etim, who spoke with our correspondent, on Sunday, said the building collapsed shortly after a lady was called to lead the praise worship.

Etim, who hails from Mbo Local Government Area of the state, said there was no foreboding of the monumental disaster that was waiting to happen.

If MMM collapses, Nigerians will suffer, says Founder, Mavrodi

MMM Founder, Sergey Mavrodi has said the scheme has done a lot to improve the welfare of Nigerians and reduce poverty despite the fear expressed by the federal government that it is a ponzi scheme.

In an open letter, MMM founder urged the government to look at the benefits of the scheme to over three million Nigerians in one year of its existence in the country, especially, where the scheme is the only source of livelihood for some Nigerians.

Osinbajo assures Nigerians of protection in worship places

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday gave an assurance that government would protect Nigerians in their places of worship and ensure that they practised their chosen faith in freedom.

Osinbajo gave the assurance at the Christian Centre during the Service of Nine Lessons Christmas Carol tagged `Celebrating Jesus, The Light’ taken from the book of John Chapter 1 Verses 1 to 5.

He said that the Federal Government would continue to work hard to restore what the country had lost over the years.

Man arrested for issuing fake NYSC call-up letters

A suspect, Richard Olayinka, who paraded himself as a staff member of the Osun State University, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command.

He was arrested for allegedly issuing fake National Youth Service Corps call-up letters to four students.

Olayinka was also accused of appending forged signature of the school’s Vice-Chancellor on statements of result purportedly issued to students, identified as Olubunmi Idowu, Lafihan Dare,

King Sunny Ade’s guitar auctioned at N52m

A vintage fender guitar owned by legendary Nigerian musician, King Sunny Ade, was on Sunday auctioned at N52.1 million in Lagos.

The guitar which was auctiond by Dr. Jogun Onabanjo, Certified Auctioneer and Chief Executive of Onabanjo and Onabanjo & Co, is known to have been designed by Nigerian artist Victor Ehikamenor.