Benchmark Naija

·           The ancient city of Benin, the capital of Edo State reportedly came under intense tension on Thursday, 16 October, 2014 following the  arrest of the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Uyi Igbe, and two other lawmakers over allegation of forgery According to Vanguard report, the three lawmakers were detained by the anti graft agency for alleged forgery of the signature of one of PDP lawmakers, Rasaq Momoh, during the impeachment of Deputy Speaker of the House, Festus Ebea. It was gathered that the trio were arrested and detained on Wednesday after they had travelled to Abuja on Monday on the invitation of the EFCC. However, the detention of the lawmakers resulted into protest in Benin yesterday led by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Kabiru Adjoto. Speaking on the situation while addressing journalists at the Legislative Quarters, Ihama Road, Benin City on Thursday, Adjoto vowed th...

Keshi Reacts To His Dismissal As Super Eagles' Coach. Less than 24 hours after he was relieved of his post as the head coach of the Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi has said it is time for him to move on. “It is about time for me to move on, my dear. This is not the end of the world for me,”  Keshi told BENCHMARK GIST moments after he was dismissed as the coach of the Eagles.‎ It would be recalled that the former Togo and Mali coach was booed by football fan when he stepped into the national stadium in Abuja during Nigeria versus Sudan 2015 Nations Cup qualifier on Wednesday. Keshi was asked to go after beating Sudan 3-1 on Wednesday in Abuja. The win came after Nigeria had lost two of its previous encounters and had a draw in the qualifying rounds, placing it in doubtful position of qualifying for the football show piece. Keshi, who took the Super Eagles job four years ago, won the 2013 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, in South Africa and led the team to...

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has sacked Stephen Keshi, coach of the country’s national team, the Super Eagles. The decision was made Wednesday night by the executive committee of the newly constituted Nigeria Football Federation, at a meeting at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. Keshi, will now be replaced by Shaibu Amodu, a former coach of the team. He will be supported by Salisu Yusuf, Gbenga Ogunbote and Aloysius Agu. Garba Lawal, a former player will serve as the team ‘s coordinator. Amodu as a caretaker coach, will take charge of the team for the last two matches in the qualifying round for the 2015 African Cup of Nations. Keshi’s three-year contract with NFF actually expired at the end of the World Cup in Brazil, where he led the team to the second round of the competition, just after winning the African Cup of Nations. The team have had a run of bad results since then, losing to Sudan and Congo in the Group A qualifiers and drawing with South Africa. T...

on  October 15, 2014    /   in  News  3:51 pm   /    Comments Sequel to Gen. Mohammadu Buhari’s formal declaration to contest the forthcoming presidential election, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, in Benue state has declared support for his aspiration. Benue state chairman of the CNPP, Mr. Baba Agan who made this known Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen in Makurdi, the state capital, said their decision was informed by the former Head of State’s antecedents. According to him, “the position of the CNPP on the matter was a collective decision and it was premised on the track record of Gen. Buhari whose exemplary leadership qualities stand him out as an incorruptible Nigerian. “In fact, at this time of our development as a nation, we need a morally strong leader like Buhari to place this country on the pedestal of faster growth and development, hence our decision to queue behind his aspi...

Nollywood Actor Clems Onyeka was killed by stray bullets in Asaba this afternoon. According to our source he ran into armed robbers and was shot dead. His body has been deposited in the mortuary this evening. Late Clems Onyeka Clems career has just beginning to pick up when he was cut down in his prime by the robbers bullet. The actor only weeks ago won an award as the Best Upcoming Actor. Ironically, after winning the award, Clems called Vanguard’s entertainment  editor to do a story on it but wasn’t so forthcoming on the details. He even joked ” when will you write something about me, is it when I am dead? Sadly, fate has a way of playing pranks and this has been a most painful one for his family and the industry that is just beginning to feel his genius. His last released film as he made bold as his display picture on his. Blackberry is Widow’s Testimony’ - Source: vanguard newspaperfacebook.com/monday.akpomiemie

Y enagoa— Onopa area of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, was thrown into confusion Monday night as a soldier attached to the 423 Battalion, Elele Barrack, in Rivers State working in Bayelsa, went berserk and shot dead his colleague. The victim, a sergeant, was simply identified as Ishiaku. The incident, which occurred at about 11pm along the Onopa end, some distance away from the Banquet Hall of Government House, jolted residents as nobody could explain what led to the dastardly act. It was learned that the soldier, a Lance Corporal, identified as Muazu Haruna, shot his colleague at close range and the victim died before help could reach him. The suspect was reportedly arrested and taken to the Area Command Division of the Police and later released to the Joint Task Force due to the alleged intervention of an unnamed Captain. Another source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the erring soldier might have acted under the influence of alcohol. Source; Van...