President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday led dignitaries to attend a special Juma’at service in commemoration of the nation’s 57th Independence Anniversary.
The service was held inside a mosque near the President’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Buhari was joined at the prayer session by the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and former Vice-President Namadi Sambo among others.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar Sadique; Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; and Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, also attended the service.
Others in attendance were the Minister of the Interior, Abdurahman Danbazzau; Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu; Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu and some other senior presidency officials
Saraki later told State House correspondents that the nation had achieved a lot in the 57 years of its independence.
He urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the country.
“A lot of people would say what are we congratulating ourselves about, we have achieved a lot. We have been able to maintain our peace despite our diversity.”
The Federal Government yesterday, disclosed that it has collected Deoxyribonucleic Acid, DNA, profile of arrested Boko Haram insurgents in an attempt to deal with the dissidents.
Meanwhile, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has commissioned first DNA Forensic Centre in West Africa, stressing that the centre would help resolve crimes, paternity and other issues through modern technology.
Equipment in the new Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre at Lagos Island.
Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Abayomi Olonishakin, while addressing congregation at the commissioning ceremony yesterday, which was also attended by Consul General of United States Embassy in Lagos, Mr. John Bray, hinted that the Abuja started a DNA project 2008.
Olonishakin, who was represented by Rear Admiral Lawan Adams, assured that the military would partner Lagos state government to ensure that the facility continuously provides the required service.
He said: “The centre is a major milestone for Nigeria because centres like this are used globally to fight insurgency and other crimes.
“The Defence Headquarters started its DNA centre since 2008. And incidentally, the agency that completed Lagos centre is the one we are partnering,” he added.
In order to ensure that the centre, when completed would have materials to work on, Olonishakin said: “Presently, we have collected samples of all military personnel and high profile insurgents for analysis.”
Earlier, Ambode said that completion and handing over of the centre was a significant milestone and a symbolic manifestation of his administration’s policies in reforming the justice sector and in line with his vision to make the State safe for residents and investors.
The governor added that the DNA Centre was another move by the government to stay ahead of criminals through scientific investigations.
Giving details of the DNA Centre, he noted that the facility has capacity to provide the Police, Prosecutors, Defence Attorneys and Private citizens with crime scene processing; serological screening for blood and semen; DNA analysis of bone, teeth and hair; maternal and paternal relationship DNA analysis; expert witness and case handling services; paternal and maternal ancestry DNA analysis; cold case file review and mass disaster human identification.
Ambode disclosed that the plans have been concluded to embark on second stage of building, that is, development of Toxicology; Trace Evidence and Controlled Substance Analysis; Fingerprint and Latent prints; Firearms, Ballistics and Tool Marks; Digital Forensics; and Questioned Documents Examination.
According to him, development of these other forensic sections at the facility would complement the DNA forensic section and enhance the level of services offered in the country.
He lamented that before development of the centre, most DNA analysis were performed outside Nigeria, a situation that caused longer turn-around times and an overall higher cost of bringing closure to a case.
“I am therefore convinced that the establishment of the Lagos DNA & Forensic Centre will improve the speed and quality of evidence collected to assist our Courts in the quick dispensation of justice. This centre is a definite boost for our administration’s Justice Sector reform programme. It shows that our covenant with Lagosians to create a safe and secure State is being kept,” Ambode added.
In his welcome address, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem said the centre would assist the State to have a reliable DNA database that would enable investigators and law enforcement officers identify crime patterns and suspects, and also help exonerate or convict suspects.
On his part, the Consul General of United States Embassy in Lagos, John Bray, commended the state government for successfully completing the building that would enhance justice and progress.
Congo-Brazzaville's President's daughter, Claudia Sassou Nguesso was recently involved in a blackmail scandal and when she refused to oblige her blackmailer, he released her sex tape.
Claudia, 50, is married to a lawyer but she kept a side-dude. Her boyfriend recorded a video of them having sex, but he made sure his face did not show, then he threatened to release it if she does not give him the sum of $50,000 US dollars. When Claudia refused, the boyfriend went on to share the sex tape online and as expected, it has gone viral
.Claudia Sassou Nguesso is the Communications adviser to her father, Denis Sassou Nguesso. In June this year, she was indicted on corruption charges in France over the purchase of a mansion valued at $ 3.4million in the swanky Paris Suburb of Neuilly Sur Seine just North of the Ritzy 16th arrondissement, according to a judicial source.
The sex tape is the latest scandal trailing Claudia and it's extremely graphic. The clip released online lasted 58 seconds and shows the man fondling her boobs before he finally discharged in her.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the arrest of two key officials of the Ekiti State Government for alleged misuse of bailout funds.
In a statement on Thursday evening, spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, identified the officials as the Commissioner for Finance and the Accountant General of the state.
Uwujaren said they were picked up by EFCC operatives “following their refusal to honour previous invitations for interrogation in relation to pending investigation on the misuse of bailout funds by the Gov. Ayodele Fayose administration”.
The arrest came on the day that Gov. Fayose formally declared his intention to run for the President in 2019 election.
Theo Walcott scored twice as a much-changed Arsenal beat Bate Borisov in the Europa League to make it two wins from two in Group H.
Jack Wilshere was excellent and set up a Walcott chance which hit the post before assisting the forward’s close-range opener.
Bate keeper Denis Scherbitski then inexplicably passed the ball straight to Walcott to slot home a second.
Rob Holding scored his first Arsenal goal, turning home Per Mertesacker’s flick-on from Walcott’s corner to seemingly put the game past Bate after 25 minutes.
But Mirko Ivanic pulled one back for the Belarusians after one of their few real attacks in the first half with an excellent 10-yard header from Aleksey Rios’ cross.
Arsenal restored their three-goal advantage after the break as Olivier Giroud scored his 100th Arsenal goal from the spot after a soft penalty award against Vitali Gayduchik, who did not appear to make much contact with Shkodran Mustafi.
Bate did pull another back when Mikhail Gordeychuk slammed home from close range after David Ospina parried Ivanic’s header.
And Arsenal – who had looked comfortable up to that point – were hanging on at times in the end. Aleksandr Volodko could have set up an anxious finale but he fired a shot wide from inside the box.
The Gunners are top of Group H on six points with Red Star Belgrade second on four points after they beat Cologne, who have lost both matches, 1-0 thanks to Richmond Boakye’s goal.
