NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT PRESS TEN ADDITIONAL CHARGES AGAINST LEBANESE BUSINESSMEN

Nigerian government has filed ten additional charges against the Lebanese businessmen accused of terrorism and illegal arms possession. The new charges, bother on illegal arms importation, possession and storage of arms and money laundering.

The three accused persons, Abdallah Thahini, Talal Ahmad Roda and Mustapha Fawaz, pleaded not guilty to the sixteen count charge.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, the Director of Public Prosecution, Simeon Igede, presented three witnesses, to buttress allegations that the Lebanese are members of Hezbollah militia.

The second witness, who was masked and code named DSS Two, denied any knowledge of the Amigo supermarket and Wonderland amusement park belonging to the first defendant, Mustapha Fawaz, he however admitted under cross examination, that he conducted a search in the two premises and discovered arms and ammunition.

Another witness who at first claimed that the weapons did not have any license however recanted, saying that the license was expired.

Presiding Judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola later adjourned the trial to Tuesday, August 6th

BREAKING NEWS: EXPLOSION KILLS MANY AT A BEER PALOUR IN SABON GARI KANO

At least twenty people have been confirmed dead in Kano State, following an explosion at a beer parlour in Sabongari area of the state. Confirming the incident to our correspondent this evening,  JTF Spokesman, Captain Ikedichi Iwehia said details of the attack and casualty figures were still sketchy as at the time of this report.

He however added that the JTF immediately condoned off the affected area along New Road, Sabon Gari, Kano.  However, withnesses say the casulty figure may exceed twenty.

French Police search for missing forty million Euros jewels.

French Police says an armed man has stolen forty million Euros worth of jewels in the French Riviera resort of Cannes.

The hold-up took place on Sunday morning at a jewellery exhibition at the Carlton Hotel, located on the Croisette promenade, one of the most prestigious locations in the town.

The theft is the largest in a series of high-profile robberies in Cannes, which is famous for its annual film festival. The Carlton Hotel is where Alfred Hitchcock filmed To Catch A Thief - his 1955 film about a jewel thief operating in the French Riviera.

During the latest theft, an exhibition of diamonds by the jeweller Leviev was being held in the lobby of the hotel. Local media said the robber made off with the jewels in a briefcase. If the value of the jewels is confirmed, it would reportedly be the second-largest heist in France.

SENATE TO CONSIDER POSSIBLE LIFE INSURANCE FOR NIGERIAN JOURNALISTS

President of the Senate, David Mark, says the National Assembly will examine the possibility of granting Nigerian journalists a comprehensive insurance policy to lessen the hazards of the profession.  Senator Mark, said this on Saturday at the opening of the two-day 2013 Senate Press Corps Retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

SENATOR DAVID MARK

The Senate president, who reasoned that the nature of job carried out by journalists require insurance coverage due to the risks involved, especially in volatile states in the North, commended journalists for always performing their duties effectively despite glaring challenges.

Senator Mark charged the Senate Press Corps to be factual in their reportage of the legislature, and to uphold issues of national interest.
Host Governor, Godswill Akpabio who described Senator Mark as an epitome of simplicity, said he is making history as the longest serving Senate president in Nigeria. He later took journalists on a guided tour of government projects in Akwa Ibom State.
The third Senate Press Corps Retreat was tagged: Understanding the Dynamics of the Legislature and the Role of the Media.

ACN DISPELLS REPORT THAT INEC WILL NOT REGISTER APC

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) says the All Progressives Congress, (APC) has fulfilled the mandatory requirements for registration as a mega political party.

APC is a fusion of four political parties, ACN, ANPP, CPC and a faction of APGA championed by Rochas Okoroacha.

ALHAJI LAI MOHAMMED

Reacting to rumours that INEC might not register the party, National Publicity Secretary of ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said in spite of recent media reports, the emerging party's leadership has no doubt that in the end, INEC will do what is right in accordance with the law. Lai Mohammed dismissed as a mere speculation the report that INEC was planning to write a letter to the proponents of APC to find another name because of a court case instituted by a political association over the APC acronym.

The party expressed satisfaction with the statement credited to Kayode Idowu, spokesman for the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, that there is no court injunction compelling the Commission to stop the merger. The ACN appealed to supporters of the emerging APC to remain calm over the registration issue.