Muslims in Nigeria, on Monday, joined their counterparts across the globe to commence the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Leader of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, made the announcement on Sunday following the sighting of the crescent moon in various places in the country.

He congratulated the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and urged them to use the holy period as a time of prayer to God for the peace and progress of the nation.

The Sultan also called on Muslims to live in harmony with people of other faiths, as well as offer supplications for the success of the country’s leadership.

Also, in a message to Muslims, President Muhammadu Buhari advised Muslims to use the holy month of Ramadan as a great opportunity for seeking forgiveness and getting closer to Allah.

Speaking through his Special Media Assistant, Garba Shehu, the President said the month of Ramadan was a time of spiritual reawakening which demands not only abstaining from food and drinks, but also avoiding all negative styles of living.

The President also advised all Muslim faithful not to see the month of Ramadan as a time for making excessive personal gains at the expense of others.

Meanwhile, the Sokoto state government has promised to provide free feeding and other assistance to the less privileged persons during the fasting period.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal made the pledge through a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesman, Imam Imam.

The governor said the gesture was in view of the prevailing economic situation in the country and urged members of the public to increase almsgiving and assistance to those in need.

Eni, the parent company of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, says its oil production has been reduced by 65,000 barrels per day after an attack on one of its pipelines in Bayelsa on Friday.

In May this year, the company’s oil output was shutdown by 5,200 barrels following attacks on its oil field.

A spokesman for Eni confirmed the development in a short email sent to journalists on Sunday, June 5, 2016.

Statistics from the company shows that Nigeria loses more than $3 million each day NAOC facility remains out of production.

In a related development, spokesman of Aiteo, the company that operates the Nembe Creek Trunk Line, Shola Omole, said Aiteo has shut its line which conveyed crude to Bonny export terminal due to an attack on the line on May 28, and about 75,000 barrels daily production was deferred.

Nigeria’s minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, on Thursday, said that Nigeria was producing 1.6 million barrels of oil per day, excluding production outages due to attacks on Agip, Shell and Chevron.

The Kano State Police Command has arrested two key suspects in connection with the murder of one Bridget Abahime who was extra-judicially murdered in the State for alleged blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed.

According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, those arrested were Dauda Ahmed and Subeiru Abubakar.

The statement added that the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has called for calm while reassuring the family of the deceased and the general public that justice shall be done in the case.

The IGP has also directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in- charge of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, FCII, to deploy the Homicide Section of the Department to immediately take over the investigation of the case and ensure speedy prosecution of the arrested suspects.

“IGP Arase has directed the Commissioner of Police of Kano State to sustain the various engagements with all stakeholders and community leaders in the State in order to douse already rising tensions.

“In addition, enough police personnel has been deployed to the state to protect citizens and prevent the incident from degenerating into a major security threat and as well as to continue with the search for the other suspects who are at large.”

The police chief assured that the members of the public will be updated on progress of investigation into the case, and also called on all citizens to imbibe the culture of tolerance and peaceful co-existence and to cooperate with the police in the discharge of its constitutional responsibility.

President Muhammadu Buhari and the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, have joined other Nigerians in condemning the murder of Bridget Agbahime in Kano for allegedly blaspheming the Prophet Mohammed.

The President spoke even as the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, yesterday sued for peace and said the police would ensure justice was done.

Governor Ganduje condemned the killing as unislamic and urged residents to maintain peace as government would ensure the culprits were brought to book.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, June 3, 2016, arraigned a former Commander of Guards Brigade and erstwhile Commander of the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, “OPERATION PULO SHIELD,” Major General Emmanuel Atewe, before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos State, on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering.

This was made know by the Head of Media and Publicity in the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, in a press release on Friday.

The senior army officer who is currently serving with the army’s Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger state was charged alongside former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and two others.

They were accused of diverting over N8 billion which was paid into the account of the Joint Military Task Force by NIMASA when Akpobolokemi was NIMASA DG.

According to the EFCC, payments to the tune of N8, 537,586,798.58 were allegedly made by NIMASA to the JTF’s account with a new generation bank. A substantial part of the money, about N6, 038,350,741 was converted into US Dollars through various Bureau De Change operators, and later shared by the defendants

Part of the money was allegedly used in the acquisition of choice properties in Port Harcourt and Abuja, as well as shares in blue chip companies.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, pleaded for accelerated hearing of the case and said he was ready with his witnesses.

Counsel to the first accused, Mathew Bukar, however prayed the court to grant his client, Akpobolokemi, bail, as he had earlier been granted bail by judges in the other cases where he is currently standing trial. Counsel to the third and fourth accused also asked for bail for his clients.

After considering the bail applications, Justice Saidu subsequently granted bail to Akpobokelemi on the terms earlier given by courts where he is currently standing trial on corruption charges.

The second, third and fourth accused were also granted bail in the sum of One hundred million naira each, two sureties and one of whom must be a senior civil servant of the rank of Deputy Director. The other must be a relative who must have a property in Victoria Island, Ikoyi, or Lekki areas of Lagos.

The defendants were to remain in prison custody until they have perfected their bail conditions.

The case was adjourned to June 24, 2016 for commencement of trial.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday fulfilled his promise to disclose details of stolen state assets so far recovered from corrupt personnel and companies.

The Federal Government  said a total of N78, 325,354,631.82 (Seventy eight billion, three hundred and twenty-five million, three hundred and fifty-four thousand, six hundred and thirty one Naira and eighty two kobo); $185,119,584.61 (One hundred and eight five million, one hundred and nineteen thousand, five hundred and eighty four US dollars, sixty one cents); 3,508,355.46 Pounds Sterling (Three million, five hundred and eight thousand, three hundred and fifty-five Pounds and 46 Pence) and 11, 250 Euros (Eleven thousand, two hundred and fifty Euros) were recovered between May 29, 2015 and May 25, 2016.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who made this disclosure in a statement in Lagos on Saturday said that Recoveries Under Interim Forfeiture (cash and assets) during the period totaled N126, 563,481,095.43 (One hundred and twenty six billion, five hundred and sixty three million, four hundred and eighty one thousand, and ninety five Naira, forty three Kobo; $9,090,243,920.15 (Nine billion, ninety million, two hundred and forty three thousand, nine hundred and twenty Dollars, fifteen cents; 2,484,447.55 Pounds Sterling (Two million, four hundred and eighty four thousand, four hundred and forty seven Pounds, fifty five Pence) and 303,399.17 Euros (Three hundred and three thousand, three hundred and ninety-nine Euros, 17 cents ).

According to the statement, which is based on the interim report on the financial and assets recoveries made by the various government agencies from 29 May 2015 to 25 May 2016, the Funds Awaiting Return From Foreign Jurisdictions total $321,316,726.1 (Three hundred and twenty one million, three hundred and sixteen thousand, seven hundred and twenty six Dollars, one cent); 6,900,000 Pounds (Six million, nine hundred thousand Pounds) and 11,826.11 Euros (Eleven thousand, eight hundred and twenty six Euros, 11 cents).

Non-Cash Recoveries (Farmlands, Plots of Land, Uncompleted Buildings, Completed Buildings, Vehicles and Maritime Vessels) during the period stood at 239.

Acting on credible tip off, Nigerian troops on Friday stormed Chukundugu, a Boko Haram camp, killing 19 terrorists, including their local commander, Abubakar Gana.

The operation was carried out by a combined team of troops from  22 Brigade Garrison,153 Task Force Battalion of  7 Division and 8 Task Force  Division as well as Nigeria Air Force Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance, ISR. The troops were assisted by some members of the Civilian JTF.

A statement issued by Sani Usman, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, said the troops were ambushed during the operation at Muskari, Gilam and Hausasi, but successfully repelled the terrorists before descending on Chukungudu.

The troops discovered and destroyed the Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, making factory, where they detonated four IEDs. The troops also  recovered two  Anti-Aircraft Guns, 1  AK-47 Rifle, a Pistol, 1 Rocket Propelled Gun, RPG, Bomb, 1 AK-47 Magazine, 267 rounds of 7.62mm,NATO, metal links ammunition and 23 rounds of 12.7mm belt ammunition.

Other recovered items include a Canter truck, 1 Gun truck, 1 Land Rover  vehicle and a Toyota Hilux vehicle.

The statement added that two were injured in the operation and were receiving treatment at the Field Ambulance.