Today's National Newspaper Headlines/News - 14/5/2015

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PUNCH

***Why I Challenged Past Presidential Elections – Buhari

President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday explained why he went to court to challenge the results of the presidential elections, he lost in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

Buhari, who stated this when Delta State All Progressives Congress members visited him in Abuja, said that he took the decision because he believed Nigeria must be free.

Buhari, who contested and lost 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections, said, “Going through the court is not easy, both materially and physically, and I maintained that consistency because my view about my country is that Nigeria should be truly free.”

He condoled with the delegates over the killing of some people during the last general elections.

The president-elect stated, “I understand why many of you, who were denied the opportunity to choose those you want to represent and lead you are taking the line I took in the last 12 years – in line with our constitution.

“Whether you get it or not, the most important thing is that you believe in the system and you should continue to try until the system is perfect.

“I express my condolence to you for the people murdered and I assure you that my objective of remaining consistently in partisan politics is to make sure that Nigerians are given their inherent right to choose whoever they want to lead them,” he said.

The president-elect said that he would never support anybody who undermined that right of Nigerians.

He added that arming unemployed youths and sending them to kill their own people was the worst thing anybody aspiring to leadership could do.

***Why We Killed Policemen During Lekki Robbery ─ Suspect

Four suspected members of a robbery gang that unleashed terror on the Lekki area of Lagos on Thursday, March 12, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command.

Punch correspondent learnt that the suspected robbers ─ Duke Odogbo, 38, said to be the gang leader; Lawrence Kingsley, 31; Ebi Tosan, 20; and 30-year-old Ekelemo Kuete ─ were arrested in Delta, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos states.

Punch Metro had reported on Friday, March 13, that three policemen and a fish seller were killed by the gang which stormed the First City Monument Bank Limited on Admiralty Way in the Lekki area.

Speaking on Wednesday, Odogbo, from Warri, Delta State, said they killed the policemen because the gang was prepared to deal with every resistance.

He added that they came with seven AK-47 rifles and carted away over N15m in the operation.

He said, “I am an Ijaw man living in Delta State. I was invited to Lagos to take part in the operation. I am not the gang leader, but only an expert. We were initially at a hideout around the Langbasa River till about 4pm.

“What happened was that the policemen were in a van, and were passing by. We thought they came for us and we could not take chances so we shot them and took their guns.

“I was arrested in Warri. I got N500,000 for my part in the operation

***8 Women Drag Patience Jonathan To Court Over First Ladies Meeting

AN Abuja High Court will on Thursday commence hearing of an application brought before it by eight women seeking to restrain the First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, from holding an emergency meeting of African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) in Abuja on Friday.

The plaintiffs, who include Nana Module Onwodi, Ekemma Ugborough Arisa, Louisa Ono Eikhomun and Deborah Oboh, claimed that the said emergency meeting called by Mrs. Jonathan was called in 'bad faith' as it is aimed at scuttling any chance of the incoming First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, becoming the President of AFLPM.

Joined as defendants in the matter were Juliet Mene, Juliet Pearce, Sonia Adolf and Kate Duru.

The matter, which was supposed to come on Wednesday for hearing, could not go on because the procedure for proof of service was not completed.

The trial judge, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, adjourned the matter till Thursdayto enable a lawyer, Mr Mohammed Ahmed, file an affidavit of service and attach the Proof of Service to the said affidavit averring that the service had been effected on the defendant, Mrs. Jonathan.

‎

The plaintiffs had filed a writ of summons for themselves and and on behalf of concerned Women for Peace and Development, seeking to stop the emergency meeting called by Mrs. Jonathan, which they said was aimed at picking a new president of AFLPM from among the other African first ladies to succeed her.

They explained that the defendant stepped into the shoes of president of AFLPM‎ after Turai Yar'adua stepped down following the death of her husband and then president, Umaru Yar'adua.

The plaintiffs averred that the tenure of office of president of the mission is three years, which is expected to end in July 2015 and therefore any attempt for the defendant to convene a meeting to elect a new president would amount to shortchanging ‎ Mrs Buhari who ought to get a chance by May 29, 2015 to participate and even contest the office of president in July, 2015.

They averred that "the defendant/respondent's ‎intention to hold an election on May 2015 is inimical to the progress and development of the country" as "not only shall we be affected as individuals, but the entire nation will also be affected as our position in the committee of African nations will be relegated."-(Tribune).

***There Is Tremendous Support For You Internationally, Blair Tells Buhari

Visiting former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, yesterday assured President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) of the support of the major democracies of the world, especially Britain to enable him succeed.

Blair gave the assurance during his congratulatory visit to Buhari in Abuja.

Speaking to journalists after a closed door meeting, the former PM hailed the credibility and the tranquillity that defined the last general elections, saying Nigeria and her people had earned the respect of the international community.

He expressed confidence in the incoming government of Buhari, saying it was determined to achieve its set objectives.

He said: “In the last few weeks, Nigeria has earned respect through out the whole world. There is enormous support for Nigeria now in the international community. The support takes into consideration the challenges that lie ahead and there is great confidence in the country.

“I just want to say to the President-elect that there is tremendous support for you and the country at this moment and all of us. In what ever way we can stand ready to support you and help you. It is a moment of great challenges which bother on the life of the people as well as their security and so on.

***Dangote’s Refinery To Run On UOP Technology

UOP LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Incorporated,on Wednesday said its process technology, catalysts and proprietary equipment would form the basis for Dangote’s refinery, the largest refinery in Africa that is targeted at reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuels and petrochemicals.

Africa’s richest man and President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had in March announced that his oil refinery would process 650,000 barrels per day of crude, up from the 450,000bpd initially planned.

The completion of the plant, expected to come on stream in 2017, will see Nigeria having the largest refinery in Africa.

Dangote Oil Refining Company selected UOP technology for a world-scale integrated refinery and petrochemical plant to be built in Lekki, Lagos, said Honeywell in a statement on its website.

Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer with the second largest amount of proven oil reserves on the continent, currently imports most of its refined product requirements due to lack of domestic refining capacity.

The Senior Vice President and General Manager, UOP’s Process, Technology and Equipment business, Pete Piotrowski, was quoted as saying, “UOP has been designing state-of-the-art refineries and petrochemical plants for more than a century; so, we are well-equipped to help Nigeria develop a massive new installation to meet its domestic needs.

“This project will enable Dangote to improve Nigeria’s oil refining capabilities, reduce the country’s dependence on imports, and work to revive and transform the Nigerian economy.”

*Boko Haram launches fresh attack on Maiduguri

*Senate Presidency: Akpabio, Orji, Uba, Egwu attend pro-Saraki meeting

*Constitution amendment: Senate makes a U-turn on Jonathan’s veto

*Workers, pensioners besiege Rivers secretariat over unpaid salaries

*Blair assures Nigeria of international support

*GDP growth declined by 2.08% in Q1 – NBS

Tribunal orders service of election petition papers on Wike

*Lead poisoning kills 27 children in Niger State

PIB: Tambuwal, Gbajabiamila, others disagree over ownership provision

*Court orders Nwobodo to vacate Abuja rented home

*Senate presidency: I’ve no preferred candidate, says Buhari

*Jonathan intervenes in PDP crisis

*FG awards N31bn Niger-Delta road contract

*Buhari should probe Jonathan –Balarabe Musa

*Obanikoro sponsored Lagos PDP chair’s removal – Group

*There is hope for Nigerian refineries – PENGASSAN

*Sports - Ancelotti Banned

VANGUARD

*We planned Lekki bank robbery in 24 hours – SUSPECT

*Herbalist landlord kills tenant over wife’s treatment

*Buhari’s inauguration: Expect low key ceremony —APC Transition C’ttee chair

*Oshodi-Apapa Expressway gridlock: Lagos gives tanker, truck drivers 48 hrs to relocate

*There is tremendous support for you internationally, Blair tells Buhari

*Lead poisioning kills 28 in Niger, says FG

*$330.000 fraud: Accused failed EFCC’s lie detector test – Witness

*Roots of coup attempt against Burundi president

*Burundi’s Nkurunziza; ex-rebel, born-again Christian who divided a nation

*Black Miss Japan fights racial prejudice

TRIBUNE

*Senate backs down on threat to veto Jonathan over constitution amendment

*$330,000 fraud: Accused court registrar visited Bamaiyi in prison —EFCC

official

*Always learn to say the truth, PDP tells Lai Muhammed

*British Navy rescues 400 migrants from their sinking, overloaded ships in

the Mediterranean

*Tony Blair visits Buhari, praises Nigeria over polls

*Military repels fresh Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri

*Senate Presidency: Akpabio, Wamakko, Egwu, PDP senators back Saraki

*NASS leadership: I’m not supporting anybody —Buhari

*Don't relocate Mile 12 Market, traders appeal to Lagos govt

*Kidnappers send reminder text to Ekiti doctors

*UI students to undergo annual health screening

*Technicalities halt consideration of PIB

THISDAY

*LASG Directs Tankers to Quit Lagos in 48 Hours

*Soldiers Repel Boko Haram Attack in Maiduguri

*Rivers Killings: We’ll Not Forgive Nor Forget, Says Buhari

*Bayelsa Senator, Six Others Defect to APC

*Buhari’s Administration will Remain Investor-friendly, Says Adefuye

*Olam Raises Investment on Rice Backward Integration

*Indigenous Firm Raise the Alarm over Directive to Relocate Facilities

*Learn to Tell the Truth, PDP Tells APC Spokesman

*PDP Crisis: Jonathan Meets Party’s National Working Committee

*Rivers Governorship Tribunal Promises Fairness to All Parties

*Speakership: Monguno Consults North-east Members

*New National Assembly Members: No Room for Ethnicity, Tribalism During

Debates

*Meet Us at Tribunal if You Have Facts, Abia PDP Tells APGA

*Nigeria’s GDP Growth Rate Declines Further to 3.86% in First Quarter

*Inflation Rate Predicted to Inch Up

*ICAN Members Seek Stay of Action on Council Election

*Cashless Economy: Stakeholders Decry Lack of PoS at Key Institutions

THE NATION

*Buhari - I have no candidate for Senate President

*North Korea defence minister executed

*Sanusi: $12.5bn oil money diverted under Jonathan

*Man 'stabs' neighbour in the head

*Don't stigmatise expectant Boko Haram mothers

*AFCON 2017: Keshi to name 26 for Chad

*FIFA Women's World Cup NFF to splash N59.4m on Falcons