Abuja Bloggers

Abuja Bloggers: My services are still available – Boko Haram negot... : Northern-born journalist widely reported to have strong ties with the Boko Haram sect, Ahmad Salkida, has said that he is still readily ...

Northern-born journalist widely reported to have strong ties with the Boko Haram sect, Ahmad Salkida, has said that he is still readily available to render his services to bring an end to the insurgency in the country. Salkida was said to be close to the late Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, as well as many top shots of the group. He had since fled to the United Arab Emirates on account of an alleged threat to his life over what he described as his “professional closeness” to the insurgents. “My first-rate exclusive reports on the insurgency in northern Nigeria served by the Boko Haram militant group unsettled a section of the local authorities. This consequently led to threats to my life. I now live with my family and work part-time in the United Arab Emirates,” a post on his LinkedIn page read. But, writing on Twitter, Salkida stated that despite being “gagged for doing his work dutifully and lawfully,” he is still willing to make use of his “rare” working rel...

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday granted an application by the Federal Government to call two additional witnesses against Senator Aliyu Ndume, who is facing charges of sponsoring the violent Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram. The proposed witnesses, according to the Federal Government, are the MTN and a forensic expert. Three prosecution witnesses had already testified in the case. Justice Gabriel Kolawole, after dismissing Ndume’s opposition to the prosecution’s application on Tuesday, gave the Federal Government seven days to file its additional proof of evidence and serve same on the defence. Ndume had through his lawyer, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), argued that the request to call additional witnesses by the prosecution was “a ploy to bring back through the back door”, exhibits which the Court of Appeal had ruled were wrongly admitted by the trial court. But Justice Kolawole held that the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, delivered by J...

An overwhelming number of Nigerians are of the view that the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government should not release detained Boko Haram members in exchange for the 234 girls abducted from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on April 14. In a well-circulated video showing some of the abducted girls, the leader of the violent Islamist sect, Abubakar Shekau, had given the proposal as a condition for the release of the abducted pupils. Respondents, in a poll conducted by PUNCH ONLINE on the question ‘Should the FG agree to Boko Haram’s proposal to free detained terrorists before the sect releases the 234 abducted Chibok schoolgirls?’ voted overwhelmingly that it would be a wrong step for the FG to succumb to such a demand. The poll opened on May 15, 2014. At the end of the poll on May 23, 2014, one thousand and seventy seven respondents had taken part, choosing either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to the poll question. The outcome showed that 869 resp...

Boko Haram insurgents continued their rampage on Monday night, killing 49 security operatives and civilians in two communities in Yobe and Borno states. In the attack on Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, they left 20 soldiers and 20 policemen dead while in   Chinene, Gwoza LGA of Borno State, they cut the lives of nine civilians short. The Divisional Police Officer   and the Divisional Crime Officer of the Police Station in Bunu Yadi were believed to be among the victims of the attack by the insurgents who stormed the town with an Armoured Personnel Carrier and Toyota Hilux vans. Residents said the attackers dressed in camouflage and   hoisted Boko Haram’s flag on the APC and the vans. They said   the gunmen,   on arrival moved straight to the military formation in the town from where they launched the attack which lasted over two hours. The attackers were said to have set the military formati...

Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson, speaks with Abuja Bloggers on her marriage and acting career Any conversation that Nollywood star Mercy Johnson will have with you nowadays can hardly be complete without her making intermittent reference to her husband of three years, Odianosen Okogie. Mention his name and her face instantly lights up. Besides her exploits in Nollywood, she professes finding fulfilment in her marriage even though the road to the union was fraught with obstacles that made news. At a time many celebrity marriages are collapsing, the Kogi-State born thespian is eager to share what she describes as her winning formula. She says, “It is simply commitment, having a great husband and being submissive as a woman. And I must add knowing how to deal with your differences with love. Motherhood is just the best thing to have happened to me and in no way would I say it has slowed me or my career down. “I thank God I am a mother because it has given me the ...

The 2014 African Nations Championship Most Valuable Player, Ejike Uzoenyi, alongside Almeria midfielder   Ramon Azeez and Belgium-based Michael Uchebo were impressive during the Super Eagles training on Tuesday ahead of the friendly game against Scotland on Wednesday (today). Coach Stephen Keshi will certainly be in good mood as the team’s more established players also gave a good account of themselves at the Craven Cottage training pitch under chilly conditions, as the fight for the 2014 World Cup places intensified. Forward Nnamdi Oduamadi, who missed the first training session of the team, arrived in camp after lunch time yesterday after a visa mix-up but France-based Sunday Mba, remained the only player yet to join the team in London. There are doubts over the ability of the midfielder, who scored the winner to hand the Eagles a third Africa Cup of Nations title last year, to arrive in time for the match against the Scots. Meanwhile, players have ...