Benchmark Naija

There was palpable panic yesterday  at the Lagos international airport when a Nigerian, who had been cured of  the   Ebola virus disease in Sierra Leone arrived    the country. Theophilus Onnakhinon, arrived at Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in company of his younger brother onboard Royal Air Maroc at 6:00 a.m. He  was said to have been treated of Ebola virus in Sierra Leone and cured of the disease by the health authorities of that country and released after few weeks in their custody. The victim, according to information gathered, was accompanied into the country by the Nigeria’s consular official, Mrs T. Mohammed. According to the source, the consular officer accompanied the victim into the country in order to avoid stigmatisation by the Nigerian health officials and other authorities at the airport. On arrival in Nigeria, the victim was immediately handed over to the Port Health officials at the Lagos ai...

True to widely held belief, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan's Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the Delta South Senatorial district were submitted at the Peoples Democratic Party State Headquarters Asaba, Thursday. Governor Uduaghan, whose forms were bought on October 17 by some of his political associates in G3 at the National Secretariat of the P DP, Wadata House, Abuja, has expressed his deep appreciation to all PDP faithful and Deltans for their outpouring of love and support and promised quality representation at the Red Chambers. In his words, “History is in the making and I have to heed the calls of my people who have severally urged me to go to the Senate after my tenure as Governor of Delta State. I will not disappoint them. I will, by the grace of God  give my senatorial zone quality representation. I also want to appreciate President Goodluck Jonathan and assure him that I will put all my National and International reach at his disposa...

A 28-year-old mechanic, Abdulkadir Salihu, has been remanded in a prison custody by a Lokoja senior magistrate’s court for reportedly abducting and raping a 13-year-old girl. The court’s senior magistrate, Mrs Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order, Wednesday, in her verdict on arraignment of the accused in Lokoja, Kogi State Salihu was arraigned on a two-count charge of kidnapping and rape, being offences contrary to Sections 273 and 283 of the Penal Code Law. Prosecuting police officer, Corporal Ubi Ubana, told the court that one Adama Ibrahim of Galilee Street, Lokoja reported the matter at the ‘A’ Division Police headquarters and Department of Criminal Investigation Ibrahim had alleged that on October 16, at about 1:25 pm, his niece (names withheld), aged 13, was sent to buy Okro from Adankolo New Layout Market, when the accused “enticed her into his house on Agbai Street.” “During the period, he had sex with his captive for several times before releasing her on October 20,” he ...

It was a gory sight this morning, when residents of Second East Circular road in Benin city, Edo state woke up to the shocking discovery of dead bodies of three children abandoned at two points along the 2nd East Circular Road by unknown individuals. Two were wrapped in clothes and kept inside a carton under a palm-tree, while the other, a baby girl of few months was dumped along the road by Uwa street junction. The two babies, believed to be twins, were already decomposing when they were found.Policemen were seen taking photographs of the bodies. Thereafter, some officials of the state Ministry of Environment arrived at the scene to take the bodies off the street.

Sources claim that Jonathan held a meeting with the Amaji Pinnick-led board on Wednesday night in Abuja and expressed his embarrassment over the crisis that has engulfed the NFF. He ordered Pinnick to reach a compromise with the Giwa faction and look for solutions. Giwa reportedly gave two conditions for him to withdraw the case. First, he asked for the NFF Committee to be dissolved and reconstituted to accomodate him. Both parties are understood to have reached some form of agreement and Giwa submitted 10 names to be put on all Boards of the NFF. The second condition was for Stephen Keshi to be reinstated as Super Eagles coach. Although this suggestion was met wit resistance, the Pinnick-led board eventually conceded. Meanwhile the court case instituted by the Giwa led board has been withdrawn, Nigeria has finally avoided Fifa Hammer

President Goodluck Jonathan has formally accepted his endorsement as the sole presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as he picked his expression of interest and nomination forms this afternoon at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja. The president was accompanied to the Wadata Housel, headquarters of the PDP by Vice President, Namadi Sambo, PDP governors and members of the National Assembly. This has laid to rest months of speculation about the willingness of the President to seek a second term in office.Speaking to newsmen, the president says he is ready for re-election,.

Multitalented gospel artiste and     Glo ambassador Sammie Okposo has been nominated in this year’s Best of Africa category at the biggest South-Africa gospel music awards, SABC Crown Music Awards. Okposo is the only Nigerian artiste nominated for the awards and in same category with four other revered African gospel artistes, Frank Chimpazi, Shongwe & Khuphuka, Saved Group and Seapour N. The awards  which is in its seventh year will be held at ICC Arena, Durban on 23 November 2014. Speaking concerning his nomination, Sammie said the nomination came as shock because he was not expecting it. “Firstly, all thanks to God for his grace and excellent spirit. He is the only one that blesses a man and lifts him up. I’m grateful for the nomination but for me it means more hard work. Many y ears after I won the Kora Awards Best Gospel Artiste in Africa, my works are still much in demand and here is another nomination as the Best of Africa Gospel Artiste. It’s an honour”. ...