Benchmark Naija

OWERRI— The schism, which has been trailing the appointment and consecration of the new Bishop of Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Peter Okpalaeke, by the Papacy, took a more dangerous dimension weekend, as priests allegedly got entangled in what people described as a dirty battle. Vanguard   investigations revealed that Rev. Fr. Januarius Chima Ahaneku went to St. Brigid’s Catholic Church, Nnarambia, at about 7.15p.m., following his posting to the parish by the Vicar General of the embattled Diocese, Rev. Fr. Clement Ebii. While Fr. Ahaneku was accused of storming the parish with thugs and assaulting the resident priest, Rev. Fr. Marcellinus Nweke, Ahaneku, however, said he was there on legitimate posting. Nweke confirmed that he had to alert the police and the people when his brother priest allegedly exhibited an act unbecoming of an ordained Catholic priest. He said: “They started harassing us, using hammer and some iron bars to break the doors and gained entr...

Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Monday attended the All Progressive Congress (APC) stakeholders meeting in Sokoto, a move seen as a precursor to his formal defection to the party from the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). Associates of the speaker said his presence at the meeting, Monday, may herald his official defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. At the meeting, the APC zoned its governorship ticket to the Sokoto-South senatorial zone where Tambuwal hails from. This move is seen as paving the way for the speaker to contest for the state’s governorship seat or the presidential election under the party. The party in Sokoto said majority of its members voted in support of zoning the ticket to the zone in view of the fact that both the Sokoto-East and Central have ruled the state for eight consecutive terms each. One source at Monday’s meeting said Mr. Tambuwal told the gathering to accept him as “one of you startin...

The All Progressive Congress has written to the Inspector General of Police concerning the violent behaviour of Asari Dokubor against APC Publcity Secretary, Mr. Lai Mohahmmed. The APC has a running verbal battle with Mujahid Dokubor. Source: AIT

Fayose, in a statement by his Special Assistant Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the new government house was an act of insensitivity to the plight of Ekiti State people, many of whom cannot afford to feed once in a day. The Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has described the newly built Government House in the state as a show of wickedness to the people of the state by the immediate past Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Fayose, in a statement by his Special Assistant Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the new government house was an act of insensitivity to the plight of Ekiti State people, many of whom cannot afford to feed once in a day. Speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, Olayinka said no progressive minded Ekiti State person would see the out-of-this-world luxury provided with over N3.3 billion borrowed fund for Fayemi, his wife and children and will not weep for the state and its people. Olayinka, who said Fayose was al...

eji' A 33yr old cultist, Alawunmi Oluwafemi claims to have killed over 60 people as the immortal assassin of the Aye Fraternity. The most wanted man in Ogun state, who evaded police for years, was finally captured last week in the ancient city of Ijebu Ode. He was arrested by operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, Ogun State police command after a gun battle. Now in police custody, Oluwafemi told   The Sun   the story of his life as an axe man in the underworld and how he killed more than 60 men and women. You won't believe his story. Read after the cut... Story by Chioma Igbokwe for   Saturday Sun The hunt   Saturday Sun   gathered that the inability to arrest the sus­pect led to the transfer of several police area commanders out of Ijebu Ode. Disturbed by his exploits, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye directed the SARS team to relocate to Ijebu-Ode and fish Oluwafemi out at all costs. As a result, the team led by SP ...

·           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...