Mother Theresa to be named Roman Catholic Saint, says Vatican

Nobel laureate, late Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who dedicated her life to helping the poor, will be made a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in September 2016 after the Catholic Pope recognized her for her intercessory role in the cure of a man with multiple brain tumours.

Mother Teresa, who died in 1997 at the age of 87 and was known as the "saint of the gutters", is expected to be canonised in early September 2016.

It's not clear if the ceremony would take place in Rome or India. Teresa, who was born to Albanian parents in Skopje in Macedonia, and known across the world for her charity work, was beatified the first step towards sainthood in 2003.

10 Politicians Who Survived Assassination In 2015

It is a common and abnormal trend in Nigeria’s democracy to see politicians threaten themselves over who controls the political space. This is one of the reasons killings and maiming were recorded before, during and after all the elections conducted in 2015.

Some politicians who survived assassination attempts on their lives have so much to say about this ugly trend.

1. Dr Goodluck Jonathan

Dr Jonathan is the former president of the nation. An attempt was made on Jonathan’s life in relation to his support for the re-election of the governor of Bayelsa state. NewNigeriaWorld of Monday, November 30 had the caption as: “President Goodluck Jonathan Survives Assassination Attempt.”

Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s immediate former president

2. Hon Seriake Dickson

Dickson is the current governor of Bayelsa state and also the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate in the governorship election. He is leading in 5 local government areas in the inconclusive governorship election that first held on Saturday, December 5.
The supplementary election will be concluded come January 2016, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He was threatened by gunmen during the campaign period.

Hon Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa state executive governor

3. Samuel Ortom

Mr Ortom is the present governor of Benue state. He served as minister under the Jonathan administration. He decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the PDP where he clinched the governorship ticket and went on to win the governorship election of Saturday, April 11.
He was one of those targeted by masked men during the electioneering process.

Samuel Ortom, executive governor of Benue state

4. Dr Alex Otti

The former Managing Director of one of Nigeria’s commercial banks was fortunate he escaped the bullets of hired assassins during the governorship campaign. He contested under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia governorship election. He lost to the PDP’s candidate and present governor, Dr Ikezie Okpeazu.

Dr Alex Otti

5. Ike Ekweremadu

Senator Ike Ekweremadu is one of the 3 senators representing Enugu state at the National Assembly. He is the present Deputy Senate president. He has been challenged often regarding his choice as the Senate’s number two man. An alarm was raised several weeks ago on threat to his life.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu

6. Senator Bassey Otu

Senator Otu is from Cross river state. He is a PDP senator. He received threats to his life allegedly from one of the opposition parties in his state.

Senator Bassey Otu

7. Senator Julius Ucha

The Igbo-born senator is from Ebonyi state. He also vied for the governorship seat of his state under the All Progressives Congress but failed.

Senator Julius Ucha

8. Mr Polycarp Danladi Gankon

Gankon is from Kaduna state. He contested under the All Progressives Grand Alliance but lost to the APC candidate and eventual winner, Mallam Nasir El Rufai. He claimed that he escaped by a hair’s breadth when hired assassins came looking for him in his hotel before the Saturday, April 11 governorship election.
Gankon is one of the politicians who survived assassination attempts. His case was also unusual because he escaped twice.

Polycarp Danladi Gankon

9. Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya

Inuwa Yahaya is a top-notch politician in Gombe state. He was the APC candidate who contested against Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo. He lost to the PDP candidate.

Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya

10. Umar Muhammad Nasko

The young politician was the PDP’s candidate at the governorship election in Niger state. There were so much reactions against his choice by former governor Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu. Nasko did not get any sympathy from Niger citizens despite the attempted assassination on his life as he lost to the APC candidate.

Umar Muhammad Nasko

Okonjo-Iweala, CBN Officials Face Interrogation Over Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) plans to interrogate the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy in the last administration, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, according to a high-level source.
The source, speaking anonymously in Abuja on Wednesday, said that the commission would also look into the activities of three officials who presided over the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in relation to the ongoing arms purchases probe, Sahara Reportes informs.
They are the former governor of the CBN and current Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II; former Acting Governor of the CBN Sarah Alade, and the current governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Minister Ngozi Okonjo Iweala

The source, however, did not say when the top figures involved in the release of funds would be spoken to.
“I will find out and get back to you. These cases are very many; several of them are ongoing but I will get back to you on this issue,” the source said.
The source also said the EFCC was preparing to reopen the investigation into alleged fraud cases that have been put on hold due to permanent injunctions secured by the accused against such cases.
The top management staff of the EFCC said the commission would no longer be deterred in its mission to investigate allegations of corruption by such injunctions.

Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II

According to the source, the EFCC is empowered by the constitution to investigate allegations of corruption without hindrance.
The operative said the commission would rely on Section 15 of the new Administration of Criminal Justice Act to investigate all such corruption-related cases in the interest of the people.
Refusing to disclose the cases to be reopened, the source did however hint that some celebrated fraud cases against former governors and ministers would be reopened for fresh investigation and prosecution.

The source also said that the commission would intensify legal efforts towards lifting the apparent judicial embargo on some high-profile corruption-related cases.

Sarah Alade

“Let it be clear that the EFCC will go after all cases that are deserving of investigation. There is nothing like a permanent injunction now.
“We have a duty to investigate all cases; we are empowered by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to investigate all such corruption-related cases and that is what we are asked to do,” the source said. “We are empowered by Section 15 of the new ACJA to investigate all cases irrespective of injunctions. We cannot be stopped.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the EFCC Ibrahim Magu, has disclosed plans to establish a Procurement Fraud Unit (PFU) in the commission to strengthen the fight against corruption in the country.

Godwin Emefiele

The head of media and publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, quoted the EFCC acting chairman as having made the comment while hosting a coalition of civil society organisations on Wednesday.
Uwujaren said Magu expressed concern over the increasing rate of procurement fraud and told his guests that the PFU would contribute immensely to the anti-corruption battle when it became operational.
“I am so concerned about procurement fraud. I am thinking of establishing a unit, purely on procurement fraud. When put in place, it will go a long way towards checking corruption,” Magu said.

Poll: Should EFCC Arrest Jonathan and Iweala?

Will Nigeria ever come to a point where past and present leaders who have abused their office are made to face trial and jailed? In other countries, leaders are made accountable for their stewardship while in office. For example, Ehud Olmert, a former Israeli president was jailed for corruption.
In Nigeria, many of our leaders who have been directly linked to corruption were never questioned. Will this ever happen? Should Jonathan and Iweala be questioned for abuse of office and if found guilty jailed? Should leaders like former president Ibrahim Babangida and Olusegun Obasanjo not have been made to answer for their time in office? Let’s know what you think.

Both former president Goodluck Jonathan and Okonjo Iweala have been directly linked to the arms deal

Nigeria’s former president, Goodluck Jonathan, and his former finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, are currently in the eye of the storm. In the last few weeks, allegations of massive corruption is said to have been perpetrated in his six-year reign as the president.

Nigerians are still bewildered how billions of dollars meant to procure arms in the fight against Boko Haram disappeared.
In August, an investigation into how money meant to buy arms for the Nigerian army uncovered billions of dollars stolen by the office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
Dasuki himself has been at the center of investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He has been granted bail.
At the last count, the sum of $2.1 billion and $322 million Abacha loot has been re-looted under Jonathan. While the former president had said he did not approve any money, Nigerians have said he cannot continue to play the ostrich.
Reports have also hinted at the possibility of the former president being invited to explain what he knows about the stolen money.
If the EFCC decides to invite Jonathan, it will certainly raise as his supporters and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, will kick at any attempt to make come face to face with investigators.
Inviting Jonathan may be very unlikely. But can the EFCC take the bull by the horn? Inviting a president to answer questions about his or stewardship is nothing new.

In other climes this is done regularly but in Nigeria no president has ever been directly made to answer questions about their time in office.
From Ibrahim Babangida to Olusegun Obasanjo and other Nigerian leaders that have been alleged to have corruptly enriched themselves while in office.
When are we going to ever have a president who abuse privilege jailed in Nigeria?
Should the EFCC arrest Jonathan? Let’s know what’s your mind by voting below:

Photos: Children at ACE Charity IDP camp makes some birthday cards for Zahra Buhari

The children at ACE Charity made some birthday cards for their Brand Ambassador, Zahra Buhari. She shared the photos on her official twitter account. "Of all the birthday cards I 've received in my life this has been the most touching. Kids from the IDP wished me a HBD" she wrote

Meek Mill might be going back to jail...and Chris Brown lashes out!

Yesterday, a judge found rapper Meek Mill guilty of violating the terms of his probation for his 2008 gun charge and was ordered to remain in Philadelphia and not to work or perform any shows until his next hearing which is February 5th. He faces up to one year in jail.

Chris Brown, who has also been dealt by the system, defended Meek Mill yesterday in an angry rant against the system...see his tweets after the cut...

More photos from President Buhari's 73rd birthday dinner

President Buhari turned 73 years old yesterday and his family friends and associates gathered at the state house for a birthday dinner. Continue to see more photos...