President Muhammadu Buhari has withheld assent to the bill seeking to establish the Peace Corps. The President informed the lawmakers of his decision in a letter reading during plenary on Tuesday by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. President Buhari cited security concerns and financial burden of funding the organisation by the government as his reasons for rejecting the Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill. According to the President, given “scarce government resources”, funding the organisation will be a financial burden on the federal government. Buhari said further in the letter that the organisation is a duplication of existing security agencies. He said the bill seeks to empower the Peace Corps to undertake activities currently being performed by extant security and law enforcement agencies. The National Assembly passed the Peace Corps Bill in 2017, after a prolonged battle involving the organisation and the nation’s security agencies

While Nigerians are puzzled by the tale of a snake swallowing N36 million in Benue JAMB office, it has been alleged that monkeys have taken N70 million belonging to the Northern Senators Caucus. The caucus had sacked Sen. Abdullahi Adamu as its chairman on Wednesday, following allegations of misappropriating N70m belonging to the group. Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu who presided over Wednesday’s plenary, announced the leadership change with Sen. Aliyu Wamakko as the new chairman. Briefing newsmen after plenary, Senator Shehu Sani said that since the money could not be accounted for, maybe this time monkeys have made away with the money. Sen. Sani who was in the news recently for storming the headquarters of the JAMB office with snake charmers to catch the money swallowing snake, said that N70 million was handed over to the caucus from the 7th Senate adding that the money which was in the custody of the sacked chairman could not be accounted for.

Before tip-off at the 2018 All-Star Game, LeBron James took the courtside mic and thanked the fans and the city for showing out. Two hours later, when he accepted the Kia All-Star MVP trophy, he was barely audible, his throat too scratchy to explain what just happened. Well, to quote an ex-All-Star and noted philosopher Rasheed Wallace: both teams played hard. Those words were never used to describe recent All-Star Games, especially the last two, when defense (196 and 192 points for the winning teams) and the competitive spirit took an extended break, embarrassingly so. The league’s midseason showcase absorbed a rather well-deserved thrashing from fans and even players themselves. Nobody was fooled. Something had to change and someone had to volunteer to be the game changer. And so, on Sunday, the NBA season took on an 83rd game, as in a real game, thanks to commissioner Adam Silver’s willingness to fix what was broken and LeBron’s desire to set the tone for the most meaningful Al

The more I watch the NBA the more I see myself, at least 20 years back. The best basketball league in the world has always been inclusive, highlighted more after the 1992 Barcelona Olympics where the likes of Toni Kukoc came to global prominence. Fast-forward to 2018 and this kid from the continent still can’t believe that I’m seeing my fellow compatriots sweat it out on the hardwoods of the association. Surreal as it is, there’s no denying that the continent always possessed the talent to take over the world and maybe it’s perfect timing or serendipity that I’m writing this piece just before the opening of the movie Black Panther . Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo paved the way and now we are setting the world on fire. The crop of young players taking over the league is amazing but should also not be taken for granted. NBA players, just like any athlete in any professional sport, are perishable. They are here for a short while, so we better appreciate their talents

When the Indiana Pacers traded All-Star small forward Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Nigerian-American guard Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, it initially seemed like a one-sided deal. However, the first half of this season has shown that the Pacers got as much out of the deal as the franchise from Oklahoma did, and one of the reasons for this is Oladipo, who also happens to be our top African player this week. The 4-foot-4 guard from Indianapolis leads his franchise in points (24.4), steals (two) and minutes per game (34.5). He is also second in assists and blocks per game. Oladipo is shooting 48.7 percent from the field, 38.3 from 3-point range, and 80.6 from the free-throw line. Over the last seven days he played in two of Indiana’s three games and had double-digit scores in both matchups. On Friday, he notched a 35-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Boston Celtics and Sunday night had a game-leading 30 points against the New

There’s a certain flair and pageantry that gets added to any sporting event when Los Angeles is the host city. When it came to the 2018 NBA All-Star festivities, Hollywood did not disappoint in living up to its standards. From the arrival of a handful of players late last week to the throng of celebrities, NBA legends and, of course, actual All-Stars on-court for Sunday night’s All-Star Game, big and bold moments marked this All-Star weekend that was. This is by no means the be-all-end-all list for the weekend. But, if you somehow missed them, these 10 moments and events—listed in no particular order—will stand out in NBA All-Star lore for years to come: AN ALL-STAR (GAME) COMEBACK The format change for the 67th All-Star Game, with captains LeBron James and Stephen Curry choosing their rosters, proved to be a rousing success. And the game itself, with its final frantic minutes, were worth all of the hand-wringing. The defense-wins-when-it-matters final

Super Eagles and Chelsea star, Victor Moses, has been named Player of the Year for Men while Asisat Oshoala won Player of the Year for Women in the maiden edition of the 2018 Aiteo/Nigeria Football Federation awards, Completesportsnigeria.com reports. The award was held inside the Grand Ballroom of the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday. Present at the award included NFF President Amaju Pinnick, First Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, CAF President Ahmad Ahmad and Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Former Nigeria internationals Segun Odegbami, Austin Okocha, Friday Ekpo, Christian Chukwu, Mutiu Adepoju, Daniel Amokachi, Garba Lawal, Emmanuel Okala, Felix Owolabi, Wilson Oruma, Femi Opabunmi, Ann Chiejine, Rita Nwadike were present at the awards, with some of them presenting awards. The award for the Young Player of the Year for Men went to 2018 CHAN defender Ikouwem

A 55-year-old fashion designer, Stephen Enebeli, told an Igando Customary Court in Lagos on Thursday that he would die if he gives money to his wife. Enebeli said this when he responded to a divorce petition by his wife, Eunice, alleging lack of care for his children. “I stopped giving her money for feeding and school fees of our children when she started living with another man. “In my tradition, if a woman marries another husband legally or illegally and the former husband still gives her money for the welfare of the children, he will die and I am not ready to die now,” he said. The respondent said that his wife sent him packing from their matrimonial home and he presently squats with friends. “Eunice forced me out of her house because I always fight her for leaving the children at home and go to sleep with men,” he said. According to him, Eunice lacks respect for him just because she has more money. He begged the court to grant him the custody of the children 

Tragedy struck in Obadolovbiyeyi community in the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State when a vigilante, Efe Igbnovia, was shot dead by some soldiers. It was gathered that a local vigilance group had in the early hours of Wednesday arrested some suspected herdsmen for alleged armed robbery on the Benin-Abraka Expressway. Igbinovia was said to have been asked to watch over the suspects while his colleagues conducted a search for the fleeing members of the gang. It was learnt that a group of soldiers stormed the area and fired continuously. WEXERES learnt that the military men, who were said to have arrived in the community in a Honda with the number plate, AP 641 KTN, shot Igbinovia dead and freed the suspects. Some angry youths reportedly blocked the path of a commercial bus conveying two of the herdsmen earlier arrested to the Benin Central Hospital for medical treatment before the intervention of personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defenc

Following the new United Kingdom’s regulation on ‘Unexplained Wealth Orders,’ Nigerians, who own property in the country have approached the Federal Ministry of Finance’s Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme for help. Sources said the property owners on Friday crashed VAIDS’ hotlines with calls. The Federal Inland Revenue Service and Ministry of Finance’s sources said on Sunday that the unprecedented level of calls was not unconnected with the new UK regulation on UWOs. The sources disclosed that the confidential hotlines that were provided to enable the booking of appointments had received massive calls and frantic requests from taxpayers in the last 72 hours, asking for extension of time to complete their VAIDS declaration forms. VAIDS allows Nigerian taxpayers to restate their income and assets without limit and thus could potentially allow those who own property that cannot be explained by their previously declared income to regularise by declaring

A group, Concerned Indigenes of Kaduna Central Senatorial District, has launched a move to recall Mr. Shehu Sani, the senator representing the district at the Senate. The plan to recall the senator was announced in a statement signed on behalf of the group by Mr. Aliyu Saidu Rigachikun, who claimed to have been the Deputy Director-General of Mr. Sani’s senatorial campaign in 2015. A group, Concerned Indigenes of Kaduna Central Senatorial District, has launched a move to recall Mr. Shehu Sani, the senator representing the district at the Senate. The plan to recall the senator was announced in a statement signed on behalf of the group by Mr. Aliyu Saidu Rigachikun, who claimed to have been the Deputy Director-General of Mr. Sani’s senatorial campaign in 2015. According to the group, Mr. Sani was previously a politician with no significance and had failed twice to become a senator until he rode on the popularity of President Muhammadu Buhari, then a candidate of t

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board said on Sunday that it had suspended its employee, Philomina Chieshe, on account of N36m which was reported to have been swallowed by a snake in the board’s office in Makurdi, Benue State. The JAMB Head of Information, Fabian Benjamin, told our correspondent on Sunday that the board was taking her through other disciplinary measures while security agencies were investigating the matter. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board said on Sunday that it had suspended its employee, Philomina Chieshe, on account of N36m which was reported to have been swallowed by a snake in the board’s office in Makurdi, Benue State. The JAMB Head of Information, Fabian Benjamin, told our correspondent on Sunday that the board was taking her through other disciplinary measures while security agencies were investigating the matter. Benjamin said, “She has been suspended and she is going through all other disciplinary procedures wh

The Federal Government  on Wednesday  said the reinstatement of the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf, will not stop the investigation being carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on him. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this during an interview with State House correspondents at the end of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.  Mohammed however claimed he was not aware that the EFCC was investigating Yusuf. “I am not aware that the EFCC is investigating the recently reinstated Executive Secretary of NHIS but if that is the case, I don’t think his reinstatement is a bar to any investigation,” he said. The minister added, “I didn’t say I’m not aware of his investigation, I said EFCC. “I was precise. I said I am not aware that the EFCC is investigating him and that if it is true, that the fact that he has been reinstated does

Kylie Jenner has beat out Beyonce and Christiano Ronaldo to have the most liked Instagram photo ever. Kylie's Instagram photo showing a glimpse of her baby's face and revealing that the baby's name is Stormi Webster has already received 12.3 million likes only 13 hours after it was shared.  The second most liked photo is Christiano Ronaldo's post announcing the birth of his fourth child. The third on the list is Beyonce's twin pregnancy announcement, followed by Selena Gomez' kidney transplant post. See the list below.

potential threat to prisons security in particular and national security in general. He explained that considering their fate, the condemned inmates have the potential of instigating security breaches of whatever form, knowing that no punishment could be worse than what stares them in the face. “After enquiry, I can tell you that the current population of inmates on death row is 2,277.  “There is an increase of over 800 between December 2016 and now, and this calls for worry. “I say this because intelligence had revealed in the past, that they (condemned inmates) may have masterminded some past jailbreaks and other breaches,” the source said. Asked to disclose the total inmate population, he said: “The total population of inmates in prisons across the country is 71, 443, out of which 48,702 are awaiting trial.”   In Ogun State, no fewer than 254 inmates are on death row. As at last year, 90 inmates in Kaduna Prisons had been condemned to death for offences ranging from murde