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No fewer than three Boko Haram members were yesterday, sentenced to 75 years jail term with hard labour by a Federal High Court in Lagos.The convicts were pronounced guilty of offence bordering on conspiracy to commit terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and being members of a proscribed organisation. Justice Ibrahim Buba delivered the judgment in camera. Justice Buba had earlier granted an application that the trial should be conducted in secret following an application brought by the prosecution to protect the witnesses. It was gathered that the convicts were found guilty on three of the 18-count charge brought against them. Initially, 17 suspects were charged to court but were later reduced to four following the withdrawal of the case against the suspects, leaving only four. In the charge, the prosecution alleged that the accused persons committed the offences on March 21, at Plot 5, Road 69, Lekki Phase I Housing Estate, and No. 24, Oyegbeni St., Ijora-Oloye, Apapa-I

•As Nigeria marks  54th independence Soldiers from the Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army, have taken over the entire security of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as Nigeria celebrates her 54th independence anniversary today. The security beef-up, according to sources, was necessitated  by  intelligence reports regarding plans by the Boko Haram terrorists to cause mayhem in the federal capital, today. To this end, soldiers have mounted several check-points on all the entire entry and exit points into Abuja, and even created new check-points after reports of criminals and the terrorists group using alternative routes to get into Abuja, reached the security agencies. Soldiers have also mounted check-points in some strategic areas within the city to monitor strange movements of vehicles and persons in the city. Similarly, the Guards Brigade has mounted security scanning cameras in some strategic and vulnerable points in the FCT to scan and detect explosives planted on vehicles, p

•As African coaches brainstorm in Cairo   Two months after the Brazil 2014 mundial, world soccer governing body, FIFA has given a pass mark to the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Desert Foxes of Algeria, declaring that their performance in the competition was commendable. The high rating was made yesterday in Cairo, Egypt, where African coaches are meeting to x-ray the performance of the five African represen- tatives in Brazil. FIFA’s Director of Member Associations and Development, Thier- ry Regenass, who spoke at the gathering lauded the performance of the African representatives, especially Algeria and Nigeria, who progressed out of the group stage be- fore bowing at the round of 16. “Africa had two teams at the second stage in Algeria, who were a sur- prise and Nigeria. Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana were also very close. The gen- eral level of the African teams was extraordinarily high,” said Regenass. Nigeria’s coach to the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Stephen Keshi  and

A huge debt overhang of about N132 billion is threatening the smooth operations of the second domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, with stakeholders fearing the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and Bi-Courtney Limited face-of over the asset could pose severe security and safety risks to travellers and airlines if not properly handled. AMCON, through its lawyer, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, last week obtained a court order taking over the assets of Bi-Courtney including the MMA2 in lieu of the controversial debt. But on Monday Bi-Courtney also approached a Federal High Court in Lagos to vacate the earlier order granted AMCON. The request was granted by Justice M. I. Buba of the Federal High Court who discharged and struck out the order obtained by AMCON on the ground that it was an abuse of process and further declared that the order was a nullity. At a media briefing in Lagos, Bi-Courtney Limited denied allegations that it is indebted to the F

•Registers as MA, PhD student at NOUN Seven years after he registered as a student of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday returned to the same institution to enrol as MA/PhD student.Obasanjo, who received his admission letter at about 10.31a.m from the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Prof Israel Adu, urged NOUN management, his supervisors and lecturers to treat him as a mature student. He was taken through the admission formalities by Prof. Adu and registered to study MA/PhD in Christian Theology under the School of Arts and Social Sciences. Two of his supervisors were also introduced to him. They are Prof Isaac Ayegboyin, Head of Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan, and Dr. Philip Tachin, lecturer in Systemic Theology Department at NOUN. In 2007, immediately after he handed power to President Umaru Yar’Adua, Obasanjo enrolled as a postgraduate student at NOUN and in 2009, he bagged a postgraduate

…As govs, others sue for peace  As the nation marks its 54th Independence Day today, United States President, Barack Obama, has acknowledged the invaluable role of Nigeria on the African continent and the world at large.In a message addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan and made available to Daily Sun in Abuja by the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, Public Affairs Session, Obama noted that Nigeria continued to play a key leadership role in Africa and at the United Nations in promoting regional peace and stability. Mimiko pardons 15 prisoners Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has pardoned 15 prisoners serving different jail terms in the state to mark the nation’s 54th Independence Anniversary. According to a statement issued by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, the governor’s gesture was in line with the power conferred on him by section 212 (1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). They were all gran

A young California mother made the ultimate sacrifice for her newborn daughter when she refused lifesaving treatment for bone cancer. (To help: https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/wl34/save-smash-ashley-s-recovery-fund). Ashley Bridges was 10 weeks pregnant when she learned of her diagnosis. Although doctors recommended she start chemotherapy immediately, it would have required her to terminate her pregnancy. “There’s no way I could kill a healthy baby because I’m sick,” Bridges told CBS2’s Kristine Lazar. During her third trimester, at eight months, Bridges was told that delaying treatment had allowed the cancer to spread. “That’s basically when they told me that it was terminal,” she said. Bridges was told she needed to deliver Paisley immediately so she could start treatment. Even with multiple rounds of chemotherapy, she was given less than a year to live. “I felt like I tried so hard to keep Paisley safe and do the minimum [treatment] to keep her healthy. The thought that I’m

 By Kyoko Hasegawa Tokyo (AFP) - Seven more bodies have been found by rescuers combing the peak of a Japanese volcano that erupted at the weekend, officials said Wednesday, taking the death toll to at least 43. The seven are in addition to the 36 already known to have died when Mount Ontake burst angrily to life during the busy hiking season, but may not be the last, with reports of more bodies lying near the peak. "Rescuers found seven more people in cardiac arrest near the mountain top, and are now carrying them down," an official in Otaki village, where one mountain trail begins, told AFP. Only doctors can declare someone officially dead, so first responders typically report that someone's heart has stopped and they are not breathing. The find comes after media reports suggested as many as 20 people remain unaccounted for, with an area of the volcano still out of bounds to rescuers as it continues to billow toxic gas and steam. Some of the around 1,000 tro

 By ALICIA A. CALDWELL WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama rode an elevator this month with an armed security contractor who had three criminal convictions, a violation of Secret Service security protocols, according to published reports. The latest embarrassment for the Secret Service comes after agency Director Julia Pierson on Tuesday took full responsibility for a Sept. 19 breach of security when a man carrying a knife got into the White House. The Washington Examiner and The Washington Post reported that the elevator incident took place during Obama's Sept. 16 visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The Post said agents questioned the contractor and discovered his criminal history after he refused to stop video recording the president with a phone camera. Agents didn't know he was armed until a supervisor fired the contractor on the spot and the man turned over his gun, the newspapers said. A Secret Service spokesman confirmed t

 By DAVE SKRETTA KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Back in the playoffs after 29 years, the Kansas City Royals ran wild and outlasted Oakland in a thrilling opener to baseball's postseason. Related Stories A's Lester, Royals' Shields in AL wild-card focus Associated Press Royals beat Indians 2-0, gain on Tigers Associated Press A's, Tigers, Cards win playoff races on final day Associated Press Sox frustrate Royals, Mariners hang on AFP Salvador Perez singled home the winning run with two outs in the 12th inning, capping two late comebacks that gave Kansas City a 9-8 victory Tuesday night in the AL wild-card game. Quite a start to October baseball — even if this one appeared to be over with plenty of time to spare in September. But in a back-and-forth epic that lasted 4 hours, 45 minutes, the A's lost their seventh straight winner-take-all playoff game since 2000. It was the final collapse in a season that looked so promising this summer. "This will go dow

 By Jason Sickles, Yahoo DALLAS — A man who recently arrived in Texas from Liberia has been confirmed as having the first case of Ebola to be diagnosed in the U.S. Authorities with the Centers for Disease Control revealed the finding late on Tuesday, two days after the unidentified patient was admitted to a Dallas hospital with suspicious symptoms. Officials at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas put the man into “strict isolation” and sent a blood specimen to state and federal labs for testing. Both came back positive for the deadly disease, which has killed more than 3,000 people in Africa this year. According to the World Health Organization, there have been more than 6,500 Ebola cases confirmed in Africa, with Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone among the hardest hit. “He is ill, he is under intensive care, he's being seen by highly trained, competent specialists, and the health department is helping us in tracing any family members that might have been exposed,&q

By Shawna Ohm UPS announced earlier this fall that in order to meet growing holiday demand the company would operate on all cylinders the Friday after Thanksgiving. In the past, only UPS air operations ran that day; this year, the company’s trucks will be on the road as well. One thing you won’t see those trucks doing while they’re out delivering packages? Make left turns. “I have nothing against left turns, it’s just amazing how our methods over the years continue to show it’s always better to have right turn[s],” said Mark Wallace, Vice President of U.S. Industrial Engineering at the company. How does UPS know that right turns are better? The company built a proprietary GPS system called Orion. It stands for On-Road Integrated Optimization and Navigation. Think of it as Apple or Google maps on steroids. Instead of showing you different ways to get from point A to point B, taking into account traffic and tolls, ORION shows you the best way to get from point A to Z and all the

 By Holly Bailey On Aug. 25, a New York City woman caught up in a messy child custody battle with her ex-boyfriend got into a fight on the phone with her former flame’s new girlfriend. According to the police, heated words were exchanged, and the girlfriend, who also has a child with the man, was subsequently arrested and charged with harassment after she allegedly threatened the other woman’s life. It was an altercation that likely would have been buried in the reams of other ugly domestic disputes in New York. Except the accused was Ailina Tsarnaeva, the 24-year-old sister of alleged Boston Marathon bombers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. And, according to police, she allegedly threatened the other woman by telling her, “I have people. I know people that can put a bomb where you live.” Tsarnaeva appeared in New York Criminal Court on Tuesday. She entered a not guilty plea to two charges of aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor, for allegedly threatening her boyfriend’s 23-year-o

Amaju Pinnick has emerged as the new President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after winning the general elections held in Warri, Delta State. Pinnick, who is the Executive Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, won the election by 32 votes after it went into a re-run and will replace Aminu Maigari as the new President of the NFF for the next four years. Two rounds of voting were needed to determine the clear winner of the election after Pinnick got 29 votes out of the 44 accredited delegates, but it was not enough to secure a two-third victory. However, in the run-off between former General Secretary of the NFF, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Dominic Iorfa and Pinnick, it was the latter who got the votes again that saw him emerge triumphant. This time, Pinnick got 32 votes while Iorfa got 8 and Ogunjobi got just four votes. Channels TV

(CNN) -- Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps was arrested early Tuesday morning in Maryland on a DUI charge, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority. Phelps was arrested about 1:40 a.m. and charged with driving under the influence, excessive speed and crossing double lane lines within the Fort McHenry Tunnel on I-95 in Baltimore. He was later released. A Maryland Transportation Authority police officer was operating a stationary radar on southbound I-395 leaving Baltimore when a white 2014 Land Rover passed, traveling at 84 mph in a 45-mph zone, police said. The officer followed the vehicle onto northbound I-95, through the tunnel and stopped the Land Rover just beyond the tunnel's toll plaza. Phelps was identified as the driver by his driver's license and appeared to be under the influence. "He was unable to perform satisfactorily a series of standard field sobriety tests," a Maryland Transportation Authority statement said. "Mr. Phelps was cooperative th

TWO football players and their driver died in a gun attack against their bus in Mexico's troubled Guerrero state, authorities reported Saturday. The vehicle, which was carrying the Chilpancingo Hornets team, was circling for a parking spot in the city of Iguala Friday, when an unknown group fired on it, the city's secretary of public safety said. Officials earlier had said three players were killed, but corrected that fig The attack also injured the coach and nine teammates, all of whom were said to be recovering and out of danger. Authorities said several people were killed in violent incidents across the state overnight, in addition to about a dozen wounded. Guerrero is one of Mexico's poorest and most violent states, where a lucrative drug trade has flourished, especially in the regional capital Acapulco. THE GUARDIAN

MANCHESTER United manager, Louis van Gaal, yesterday admitted that the struggle to turn the Old Trafford club around is his toughest challenge of a 23-year managerial career.   United with only five points from five Premier League games, have still won only once, conceded four goals in the space of 21 second half minutes at Leicester City last Sunday and now face the aerial threat of West Ham with only one fit centre half.   “At this moment it is maybe yes [my toughest job],” Van Gaal said. “But we have to see us in a year and not in a week where we have nine injuries and a [tenth player suspended.] I don’t think you can judge that effect, no. As a manager you know already in advance that it’s a big challenge. This club is in a transition. What you don’t know in advance are what the difficult moments will be. You have to see. When we started we won everything in very difficult circumstances. Now we are again in difficult circumstances and we can win.”   Van Gaal did not conceal

Students of Environmental Health, Akwa Ibom State College of Health Technology, have protested the alleged embezzlement of their examination fees by a lecturer. The lecturer has been re-deployed to the Ministry of Health. The students marched on the House of Assembly with placards. Some of the placards by the students read: “Return our money”;”You are more dangerous than Ebola”. The lecturer was said to have allegedly collected over N1million from the students but he was yet to be register them for their examination. The protesters also went to the State Broadcasting Corporation where they interacted with reporters. It was gathered that the lecturer on sighting the students fled in a friend’s car. The Permanent Secretary, Elder Esang Bassey, urged the students not take law into their hands. THE NATION

As calm returns to Ado-Ekiti By Gbenga Ariyibi ADO EKITI—Ekiti State Police Command yesterday said it has arrested  19 suspects including a woman over the gruesome murder of the former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Chief Omolafe Aderiye last Thursday. This is coming just as the  Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 8, Mr. Christopher Dega and the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, have met with traditional rulers in the state as well as other stakeholders in their bid to fully restore peace in the state, following days of violence. The Police source hinted that the level of culpability of each of those arrested was being determined. The Police said those arrested were picked up between Saturday and yesterday. According to the Public Relations Officer of Ekiti State Police Command, Mr. Victor Babayemi; “All the 19 are still with us as we are investigating their levels of culpability.” Babayemi said the p

Ajegunle link road (before repair) BY IKENNA ASOMBA After several campaigns by Vanguard to draw the attention of the Lagos State Government to the deplorable state of the road which links the popular ghetto community, Ajegunle to the ever-busy Oshodi/Apapa expressway, residents, Sunday, heaved sigh of relief as construction giant, Julius Berger, JB, Plc commenced repairs on the road. The road was abandoned for at least 14 years. Vanguard gathered that the ongoing palliative measures which commenced Saturday, had forced residents entering and leaving the community through the Ottor-Wharf Bus-stop, to trek long distances for two days running. Residents, who spoke to Vanguard, described the road as horrible and difficult to access during rainy period, lamenting that it has been neglected  by successive administrations in the  state, even as several appeals for major repairs  have fallen on deaf ears. Vanguard had reported the horrible state of the road to draw the state governmen

By Umar Yusuf No fewer   than 500 houses were destroyed in the Kubi and Watu villages in Michika Local Government Areas of Adamawa State as the suspected Boko Haram insurgents operated unchallenged in one of its recent attacks. BOKO-WOMEN Members of the community, who spoke on the telephone from their hideouts told Vanguard that the absence of military personnel in Michika and its environs was responsible for the heavy damage inflicted on them. “Since the complete take-over of Michika and Madagali by the insurgents on September 7, 2014, no single soldier has been noticed in the area. The only thing we see are jet fighters which come from Yola, the state capital to drop bombs and go back. Our people are helpless as the insurgents control everything in our local government,” they lamented. According to them, the insurgents were having a field day maiming and killing people and leaving their dead bodies at the mercy of vultures and pigs. They further alleged that only Vimtim, the h

By Simon Ebegbulem BENIN—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, yesterday, reacted to the boast by President Goodluck Jonathan that his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will recapture Edo State come 2015 and 2016, saying that it was a tall dream to think that “Chief Tom Ikimi, who recently joined the PDP will win Edo State for him.” The President had at weekend’s unity rally of the PDP in Benin City, said that the party would win Rivers and Edo states back in 2015 and 2016, adding that in Rivers State, “We know that the party in charge is PDP, the APC only exists on bill boards.” Reacting, the APC, through the Special Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Political Matters and a member of the state APC caucus, Mr. Charles Idahosa, reminded the President that the Binis who constitute over 50 per cent of the population of Edo State have been marginalised in his government, adding that it will, therefore, be a “tall dream” to think that the Esan god- fathers will win Edo f

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo LAGOS—Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, expressed readiness of his administration to fund Prof. Maurice Iwu’s abandoned research work on infectious diseases, such as the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, if he so desired to benefit from the state’s N142,239,000 million research grant. Prof Maurice IwuThe governor, also tasked scientists in Africa and Nigeria in particular to get involved in ground breaking work that will contribute to the development of Africans. Fashola made the remarks at the presentation of research grants, drawn in cheques to seven tertiary institutions, both Federal and states, including a neighbouring state at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. The governor had constituted a 10-man Lagos State Research and Development Council which was inaugurated on November 21, 2012, towards identifying and funding research and development ideas to address the developmental challenges of Lagos State as well as to

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that it is possible to be poor and live a  life of honour and dignity. The president made this statement on Monday while speaking at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, venue of the 2014 National Honours Award Investiture ceremony being performed by him. Read Full speach below His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR On the Occasion of the Conferment of the 2014 National Honours State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja Monday, 29th September, 2014 PROTOCOLS 1.  It gives me great pleasure to once again perform the function of honouring our deserving citizens with National Honours for 2013 and 2014. The conferment of these honours is a yearly undertaking in conformity with our laws. The National Honours ceremony is an annual ritual of renewal in which our society constantly connects with its higher values. 2.  A nation is void and soulless if she does not have those sacred values it holds dear and individuals who proj

By Ben Agande Abuja—years ofneglect of the designer of the Nigerian Flag, Mr Taiwo Akinkunmi came to a dramatic end yesterday as President Goodluck Jonathan, while conferring him with a national honour award, also announced his appointment as a Special Assistant, with a salary for life. This was the highlight of the ceremony which saw the conferrment of national honours on more than three hundred Nigerians from all walks of life. Akinkunmi, who is 77 years old also received the National Honours Award of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). President Goodluck Jonathan Presenting Pa Micheal Taiwo Akinkunmi, the designer of National Flag with OFR National Award Today in Abuja. President Goodluck Jonathan Presenting Pa Micheal Taiwo Akinkunmi, the designer of National Flag with OFR National Award Today in Abuja. President Jonathan also directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator. Bala Mohammed to give a flat each to a taxi driver, Umeh Usuah