Nigeria central bank devalues naira to halt losses to forex reserves

Nigeria’s central bank devalued the naira and raised interest rates by 100 basis points on Tuesday, as it sought to stem losses to its foreign reserves from defending the currency hit by weaker oil prices.
The bank moved the target band of the currency to 160-176 naira to the US dollar, compared with 150-160 naira previously, owing to prolonged currency weakness and high dollar demand.
The last time it devalued was in November 2011, when it lowered the band from 145-150 naira to the dollar.
The bank also raised interest rates to 13% on Tuesday, from 12%.
The naira has taken a beating over the past few months, as falling oil prices have shaken confidence in the assets of Africa’s leading energy producer and biggest economy.
Defending the move, central bank governor Godwin Emefiele said efforts to defend the naira had led to "dwindling foreign reserves" and that a "more flexible exchange rate is the most viable option".
"Falling oil prices have consistently reduced the accretion to external reserves, thus constraining the ability of the bank to continually defend the naira and sustain the stability of the naira exchange rate," Emefiele said.
Nigeria’s foreign reserves fell to a five-month low of $37.17bn by November 21, down 5.1% from the previous month as the central bank stepped up its defence of the ailing currency, figures on the bank’s website showed on Tuesday. Despite billions of dollars spent on supporting it, the naira has fallen 10% this year versus the dollar on concerns that a continuous slide in global oil prices could undermine the central bank’s efforts to keep defending the currency.
It opened at a record low on Monday of 178.25.
According to its website, the central bank has spent an average of $27.9m a day this year defending the naira, which has tracked falls in other emerging market currencies, especially those in economies that are more sensitive to changes in the oil price, such as the Russian rouble.
In a further tightening move on Tuesday, the central bank hiked banks’ cash reserve ratio for private sector bank deposits to 20%, from 15% previously.

Two female suicide bombers kill dozens in Nigeria attack

More than 45 people were killed when two female suicide bombers blew themselves up in a crowded market in northeast Nigeria on Tuesday, the latest in a wave of such attacks blamed on Boko Haram.

The explosions in the Borno state capital targeted the same Monday Market area where at least 15 people died on July 1 in a blast also thought to have been carried out by the Islamist militants.

Tuesday`s attacks came after the militants seized control of another town in Nigeria`s restive northeast, adding to their increasing haul of territory captured in recent months.

Health worker Dogara Shehu said he counted more than "45 people killed, some of them completely decapitated" in the Maiduguri blasts in an account supported by another witness.

An official with Nigeria`s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that "many people have been killed" but did not have an official death toll.

"What we have is a case of suicide bombings involving two females," said a senior security source in the city, who requested anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

The source told AFP that the first bomber stood by a motorised rickshaw packed with goods in the bustling market and took a call on her mobile phone.

"She then dropped it (the mobile phone) and at that moment she blew herself up, so people thought the bomb was concealed in the rickshaw," he added.

"About 10 minutes later, another woman who looked about 19 and carrying what looked like a baby on her back under hijab arrived at the scene that was crowded by rescuers and locals.

"She then detonated the bomb on her back."Northern Nigeria has been hit by a wave of suicide bomb attacks by women in recent months, including earlier this month in the northeastern state of Bauchi and Niger state in the northwest.

In July, there were four such attacks within a week in Kano city.

The previous month, a woman was said to have blown herself up in a twin bombing in the southwestern city of Lagos, although her involvement was never confirmed.

Weeks earlier, Nigeria saw its first female suicide bombing, when a middle-aged woman detonated her explosives at a military barracks in the northern state of Gombe.

Analysts have said that Boko Haram is using either willing volunteers or coercing young women and girls into becoming human bombs as part of its strategy to create a hardline Islamic state.

Three women said to be "female recruiters" for Boko Haram were reportedly arrested in July while an alleged trainer of women bombers was detained in Kano in August with up to 16 "trainees".

Boko Haram has attacked Maiduguri dozens of times during its five-year insurgency, using a range of tactics from suicide attacks and bombings to full-scale assaults on military barracks.

The Islamist group was founded in Maiduguri more than a decade ago and the city was once the epicentre of the conflict until its fighters were pushed out into more rural parts of the northeast.Boko Haram had earlier taken over the town of Damasak, in the far north of Borno near the border with neighbouring Niger, starting their assault with an attack on the market there early Monday.

Maina Ma`aji Lawan, who represents northern Borno state in Nigeria`s Senate, said soldiers and hundreds of residents fled when the heavily armed militants opened fire on traders.

"There is not a single male in Damasak. Boko Haram is in control because all males and soldiers have fled. No one expects women to fight them," Lawan told AFP by telephone from Abuja.

The security source in Maiduguri and a senior local government official both corroborated Lawan`s account, although it was unclear how many were killed in the attack.

Boko Haram`s territorial gains are a change in strategy from its previous trademark of deadly hit-and-run raids or high-profile strikes against government, police or military targets.

The group`s seizure of towns has raised fears about a potential loss of government control in the region.

Many in recent weeks have warned that violence would return to Maiduguri and some have voiced concern that the Islamists might try to capture the key city.

Losing Maiduguri would be a huge blow for Nigeria`s territorial integrity, but the military dismissed the warnings as alarmist

Remembering November 17, 1993 in history: The day Abacha seized government

by Adedayo Ademuwagun

November 17, 1993 is one of the most notable dates in Nigerian history. That day, General Sani Abacha seized the government and became Nigeria’s seventh military dictator.

The incident happened at a time when Nigeria was in free fall. Ibrahim Babangida had just left government having ruled for eight years. The economy was bleeding. Institutions were collapsing. Corruption and fraud had become the backbone of the society.

Mustapha is one of the people who lived through the era. He says, “All the 419, fraud, corruption you see today have their roots in the Babangida era. Those things were not only acceptable, they were the norm. You could defraud anyone as long as you were smart enough. All kinds of wrong things began to happen — smuggling, bunkering, drugs — and Babangida encouraged it. Fraud and corruption became the prevalent ways to really make money. The society descended into utter depravity.”

That year, after Babangida cancelled results of the June presidential election that Abiola won, there were riots in some parts of the country especially the south-west. A lot of Nigerians had looked forward to 1993 as the year they’d be free from dictatorship, and they put their hope in Abiola and the 1993 election. They called it Hope ’93. So they were both furious and gutted when Babangida nullified the election and held on to power.

As the country boiled and support for Babangida faded, he set up an interim government in August and appointed Ernest Shonekan to head it, with Abacha as the vice. Then he left Aso Rock. Some people believe he stepped aside as part of a calculation to tacitly work his way back into Aso Rock.

Anyway, people rejected the interim government, rioting continued and a federal court declared the government illegal. The situation grew more chaotic. In the middle of this, Abiola and his supporters continued to heap pressure on the government in order to force a change in his favour.

Three months later, it happened. That day, Abacha and his soldiers marched into Aso Rock and coerced Shonekan to resign. Then he took over the government.

Timothy says, “Many of us were very happy when Abacha took over. We just wanted Shonekan to go away. His government didn’t get any respect. We didn’t vote for him. Someone just picked him and installed him there. Nobody wanted him. In fact I think if the interim government had lasted some more time, there would been catastrophe, because Shonekan didn’t have the mandate of the people and he couldn’t control the army since he wasn’t the constitutional head of state. So when Abacha kicked him out, I was relieved and hopeful again that we would soon have our man, MKO, in the place.”

But Abacha obviously wasn’t interested in that direction. Soon after he became head of state, he began a bloody tyranny that Nigerians who lived under his rule would never forget.

Mustapha says, “If there’s anything that Abacha would be remembered for, it is that his regime was a regime when blood flowed freely. They imprisoned. They killed. Abacha had people killed either because they were opposition or because he needed them for human sacrifice as his witches wanted. You’ll just see a brand new car park, people would step out and shoot someone and drive away. That was the end. He was merciless.”

“By then, life was tortuous for the common Nigerian,” says Bose. “That time, things were not as costly as now. If you had N100, you could cook a potful of soup with a lot of meat and all that. But how would you get thatN100? You couldn’t even get kerosene. It got to a time, because of the hardship, people invented a stove called Abacha stove (everyone remembers it till today). That stove, you get an empty tin and stuff it with saw dust. Then you add a little kerosene and light it. You’re ready to cook. Such was the poverty that we suffered.”

“I remember that it was around then I lost my bank job because the bank downsized,” Deborah says. “I was a single mother living with my two kids in Lagos. I became so poor that I had to relocate with my children to my home town. At least, my mother would take care of us there and we would live with her. We won’t have to pay rent.”

Nigerians endured all that for five years while Abacha continued his plot to remain in power for as long as he was alive. Then on June 8, 1998, he died.

Deborah says, “I remember my daughter was watching the news and I was sitting outside with neighbours. Then she came to tell us she heard in the news that Abacha was dead. You should see the joy! We danced. we sang. We wept. We had never been that joyful in a long time. Even the Hausas in the kiosk across the street were rejoicing.

“My girl was only nine and didn’t understand what was going on. So she asked me why everyone was so excited to hear that a man died. I told her, ‘Juliana, that man was a bad man who tormented us, and now that he’s dead, we have hope for the future again.”

Chime may dump PDP for APGA

THE rivalry engulfing the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new dimension yesterday following an alleged plan by Governor Sullivan Chime to join the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with his loyalists ahead of 2015 polls. 

Reliable sources from the camp of the governor said that the decision

to pitch tent with the APGA was reached when it became obvious that

the National leadership of the PDP was not disposed to allowing him control the structure of the party towards nominating candidates for the 2015 general elections.

The governor’s group had last week gone to the Enugu High court, where they secured an order against the PDP over the outcome of the congresses of the party held in the state that did not favour it .

 Meanwhile,  new campaign posters of  Chime’s ‘consensus’ governorship

candidate, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, which dotted the nooks and crannies of the state over the weekend  came  without  any party name or logo, given credence to the speculation that the group may have jettisoned the PDP.

 Chime was said to have sent a high-powerful delegates to negotiate with the leadership of APGA on their intention to cross over to the

party.

The Guardian reliably learnt that some conditions were given to the governor and his group to use the party to vie for election next year including entering an accord that would bind them from jettisoning or leaving the party after the 2015 polls.

It further revealed that Chime and his group were also reminded of the N29million allegedly granted the party (APGA) in 2011. The grant was said to have been stopped on the order of the governor immediately

he triumphed over the erstwhile National Chairman of PDP, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, on the then struggle for the PDP structure in the

State.

 Although the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh could not

be reached for comments,  an official of the party who confirmed the story on condition of  anonymity said that he (Umeh)  advised the governor during the meeting to redeem his 2011 pledge before further negotiations.

“Yes, Governor Chime sent a high powerful delegate to us in APGA.

They came for negations so that they can join us”, the source added.

But Governor Chime’s Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, said he was not aware of any such move, stressing however, that “Chime is a strong member of the PDP who has continued to deliver at every election of the party both at the state and national levels. I don’t see him leaving the PDP because he has served the party well. Those who concoct the story are being mischievous.”

Biafran separatists in court in Nigeria over 'secession' bid

Eleven members of a Biafran separatist movement were remanded in custody when they appeared in court in southeastern Nigeria accused of conspiring to declare a breakaway republic.

Prosecutor DE Kaswe told the Enugu High Court on Wednesday that the group, known as the Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM), stormed the offices of the Enugu State Broadcasting Service on June 4.

They intended to proclaim the Republic of Biafra in a live radio broadcast, he told the hearing.

A previous declaration of an independent Biafran state sparked a three-year civil war in Nigeria between 1967 and 1970 in which up to one million people are thought to have died.

The 11, who are charged with conspiring to declare a republic within the country, are also accused of plotting to hoist the outlawed Biafran flag and that of Israel at the radio station.

The group's leader, Benjamin Onwuka, also faces a charge of creating a website "with the intent to incite and solicit support from members of the public to intimidate President Goodluck Jonathan".

All 11, most of them from southeastern Anambra state, pleaded not guilty to the offences and were remanded in custody. A trial date was set for December 6 at the same court.

The Biafran or Nigerian civil war came after the Igbo people, who dominate the southeast, unilaterally declared independence following waves of killings of their kinsmen in the Muslim north.

Many of the victims of the conflict starved to death, sparking an international humanitarian relief effort.

Biafra was reintegrated into Nigeria in 1970 but lingering resentment has persisted, with Igbos claiming that the region still receives unfair treatment at the hands of the government.

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), of which the BZM is a breakaway faction, has long alleged that Igbos are still passed over for prominent political and military posts.

Cameroon army captures dozens of militants

The army of Cameroon detained 58 members of the Boko Haram militant group in an operation at the weekend, local media reported on Monday.

The capture came at the end of a weeks-long campaign by the army to track down the militant group that often crosses the border from Nigeria, an unnamed military source was quoted as saying.

Group members were seized along with multiple long-range arms and approximately 14 000 dollars in the Diamere area of the Far North region, Le Messager reported.

On November 12, the Cameroon army confiscated a load of arms, including rockets, rocket launchers, Kalashnikovs and munitions that were being transported into the country from Chad.

Boko Haram, a radical militant group based primarily in Nigeria, has killed thousands of people during its five-year campaign to establish an Islamic state. - Sapa-dpa

Court strikes out Tambuwal's suit over withdrawal of security details

THE Federal High Court, Abuja Division Monday struck out a suit instituted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, challenging the constitutionality of the withdrawal of his security details by the ‎Inspector-General of Police.

‎Named as co-defendants in the said suit are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the IGP.

Meanwhile, the same court also fixed November 27, 2014 for hearing of the motion for joinder and amended originating summons filed by Tambuwal in another suit.

In striking out the suit filed by Tambuwal over the withdrawal of his security aides, the court was minded by the oral application seeking to withdraw or discontinue the action moved by the speaker's counsel, Dr. Tunji Abayomi.

When the matter was called Monday for mention, Dr. Abayomi told the court he had the instruction of his client to withdraw the action.‎

Counsel to defendants in the suit, Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN) did not oppose the application but prayed the court for an order of dismissal on ground that they have filed a response to the application.

He further prayed the court to make an order as to cost.

But Abayomi objected to the defendants's caveat, saying he was not entitled to any cost benefit since he had not joined issue with him yet and the matter was slated merely for mention.

Delivering a short ruling, the trial Judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed held that the defendants have only responded to the interlocutory application and not the substantive one.

He further held that the implication was that the defendants have not yet joined issue with the plaintiff.

Accordingly, he struck out the suit with no order as to cost

Adamawa APC adopts Atiku as presidential candidate

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State has adopted former vice president Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the February 15, 2015 election, just as it said that its doors remain open to other aspirants interested in campaigning in the state.

The Chairperson of the APC in the state, Hon. Binta Garba, said at a news conference in Abuja that even though the party in the state has adopted the former vice president as its candidate, it is not closing the door to other aspirants.

She dismissed the consensus option in the selection of the party’s presidential candidate, saying it was undemocratic to do so.

Justifying their choice of Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate, she said, “the former vice president is not just a son of Adamawa State. The Turaki Adamawa is well-known and well-respected across the six geopolitical zones of our great country, Nigeria. His marriage and business ties cut across tribe and tongue, as do his philanthropy and social obligations. Sadly, in the deeply-divided Nigeria we have today, few politicians can make such a claim.

“We are proud of the outstanding leadership role Atiku Abubakar has played in this country over the past 15 years of democracy, both within and outside government. He has been a bridge-builder, stepping in during times of discord to mediate peace within and outside the APC.

“Without antagonism or malice, he has consistently lent his voice to pressing national issues, offering counsel to the Federal Government at times when those at the top were clueless about what steps to take.  He is a leader with a difference. He is also a man of the people.

“Without the least meaning to diminish his national and global stature, it is on the records that Atiku as an individual has done more to develop Adamawa State than any indigene of the state that is living or dead. His university, the American University of Nigeria has put our state and the whole country on the world’s map of quality education.

“Next to the state government, he ranks as the highest employer of labour through his many businesses and industrial establishments. We are equally thrilled by his commitment to job creation, improving the economy, education, infrastructure, transparency in government and the overall welfare of Nigerians.”

Akwa Ibom Set Up Family Court To Tackle Cases Of Child Witchcraft

Akwa Ibom State has set up a family court to tackle the increasing cases of child witchcraft in the state.

Justice Theresa Obot of the State High Court made this known on Sunday, while speaking with journalists in Abuja.

According to her, the court created after a commission of enquiry set up to investigate allegations of child witchcraft concluded its assignment, is set up to prosecute cases and allegations of child witchcraft in the state.

Obot noted that priority attention is being given to cases of child witchcraft in the state, as the stigmatisation of children in the state for alleged witchcraft had become rampant.

“We in the judiciary lay so much emphasis on the child witchcraft stigmatisation and the courts now make it a point of duty to address those issues.

“So when such cases come in, we try not to limit ourselves to only the punishment of alleged child witch, but also to provide counselling.

“Because in a family court, when a child and the parents have problems, we offer reconciliation,’’ Obot said.

She said, “anybody who says a child is a witch or wizard, he or she will be prosecuted, after which they will also receive counselling.

“So, that has helped to reduce incidences of child witchcraft in Akwa Ibom state.

“We are not saying that it is over, but so far the incidence has been reduced to the barest minimum,” the judge said.

She commended the state government for its campaign to stop the stigmatisation of children over alleged witchcraft.

Michel Kafando 72, The new interim President of Burkina Faso

72-Year-Old Kafando previously served as Burkina Faso's ambassador to the United Nations and was once the nation’s foreign minister.
Following negotiations between political and military leaders in Burkina Faso, a former diplomat, Michel Kafando has been chosen as the country's interim president.
72-Year-Old Kafando previously served as Burkina Faso's ambassador to the United Nations and was once the nation’s foreign minister.
He was appointed after the signing of a charter which specified the details of the year-long transition which would precede the conduct of democratic elections in the country.
Kafando was appointed after negotiations by a special panel which consisted of religious, military, political, civil and traditional leaders.
The interim president will not be eligible to contest in the elections which will be held next year.
Burkina Faso’s former President, Blaise Compaore was forced to step down on October 31 after an attempt to extend his 27-year tenure led to unrest and a military takeover.

I’ll Not Succumb to consensus Candidate - Atiku

Former Vice president and a presidential aspirant of All Progressive congress (APC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has ruled out the possibility of determining the party’s presidential flag bearer by consensus.
Atiku told newsmen in Bauchi on Sunday that it was ‘too late’ to select a candidate among the aspirants, by consensus.
“It is too late for the party to think of holding a consensus forum for its presidential aspirants but rather, it should conduct a delegate conference where we will fight it out,” said Abubakar.
According to him, it is one of the tenets of best practices in democracy for candidates to be allowed to test their popularity.
Commenting on his relationship with the former president of the country, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Abubakar said that they related very well.
“In spite of my disagreement with Obasanjo on political ground, there is personal cordial relationship between us; I visited him last week at his Ota Farm,” he said.

2014 Meteor Shower: Where To View Leonid Meteor Shower Peak Online On November 18

Skywatchers can observe the 2014 Leonid meteor shower either on a dark and remote location or indoors during its peak on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Weather disturbances or light pollution can hinder the meteor shower peak but the viewers can still experience the sky display through two online viewing courtesy of NASA and Slooh.

According to a Space.com report, there will be two free Webcasts starting on Monday night, Nov. 17, coming from the Slooh Community Observatory and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). The Slooh Space Camera will begin their live-stream on the 2014 Leonid meteor shower at 8 p.m. EST (0100 GMT) with feature views of the dark sky from the observatory telescopes in the Canary Islands as well as in Prescott, Arizona.

The NASA Webcast is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. EST (0030 GMT) with a telescope view of the meteor shower display coming from the space agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. The 2014 Leonid meteor shower Webcasts courtesy of NASA and Slooh can also be watched on Space.com.

However, the Leonid meteor shower peak is expected to be a weak display due to low activity this 2014. "We're predicting 10 to 15 meteors per hour," Dr. Bill Cooke of the Meteoroid Environment Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center declared in a written statement.

To best view the meteor shower display, the NASA expert suggested that sky watchers should wait until after midnight on Tuesday, Nov. 18, since the peak of the Leonid meteor shower is set to take place just before dawn. The moon will be rising at about 2:40 a.m. local time but its diminishing crescent will not hamper the meteor shower peak viewing experience.

Jim Todd, planetarium manager at Portland's OMSI,

"The good news is that, this year, the waning crescent moon won't substantially interfere on the peak, but the less good news is that the meteor shower is much weaker than around the turn of the millennium and perhaps only a dozen meteors will be seen per hour," Jim Todd, the planetarium manager at Portland's OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry), shared in a BeachConnection.net report.

For outdoor viewing of the 2014 Leonid meteor shower, sky watchers are recommended to lie down on their back, look up at the dark sky and have patience while waiting for the display to appear. The chances of observing a meteor streaking across the sky will be reduced due to local light pollution or other obstructions such as tall trees or buildings so viewers are suggested to find a location far away from bright city lights or urban areas.

OBJ is Nigeria’s problem — Bakare

Latter Rain Assembly in Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare, on Sunday, said former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, would be told some home truth in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Bakare said this was necessary before the nation collapses on him (OBJ), accusing him of being responsible for the numerous problems Nigeria is passing through now.

The cleric, who spoke about the lofty dreams of the country’s founding fathers, as well as his growing up and personal dreams for same Nigeria, but which had become unattainable due to antics of some cabals, strongly canvassed that a transition arrangement be put in place, stressing that holding election in 2015 was not feasible because of Boko Haram insurgency.

Bakare said this while speaking with newsmen, shortly after delivering a speech, entitled: “The Nigeria of My Dream” at a well attended church service to celebrate his 60th birthday.

Former governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel, was among the dignitaries that attended the service, which took place at the Latter Rain Assembly in Ogba, Lagos.

The pastor, who said he would be a keynote speaker at the 176th anniversary of International Student Day, courtesy of Ogun State government, said: “He who wants to hear, let him hear. I am going to drum what needs to be drummed. I think Obasanjo needs to hear some things before the house collapses on him, because he is responsible for the problems we face now.”

The event, holding at the Cultural Centre, is expected to be attended by dignitaries, including the former head of state, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, who is also a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Professor Pat Utomi, among others.

Speaking further, Pastor Bakare, who is also the convener of Save Nigeria Group (SNG), while expressing fears about the possibility of holding 2015 general election, contended that it was better that the country took care of 2014 before talking about 2015.

According to him, there is no wisdom holding an election without dealing with the fundamental problems of the country, suggesting that what should be of concern now should be how to put in place a transition government, with a mandate of a maximum of two years, during which it would address the problems confronting the country currently.

Bakare, who insisted that the current security challenges in the country did not support holding a nationwide poll in 2015, declared that “it appears we are putting the cart before the horse. With the situation in the country, I do not think our primary concern should be 2015 elections.

“But you cannot win with politicians. If you ask this government to please gather people around and let us have an interim arrangement, they would be shouting elongation. If we go to elections, there would be trouble. So, I think some people who are capable and have integrity and character may have to be summoned to say, let us sit down and think of the way forward

“We need a transition government and the time frame should be two years, maximum. We need it like yesterday and believe me, there would be foreign power that would help us also, because we have gone outside the shore of this country also to talk to people who know the real clear present danger that face us.

“We need it like yesterday, but you can’t force your will upon people. He who has ear to hear, let him hear and if he doesn’t hear, a constitution that would not bend will break,” he said.

On the controversy trailing the 2015 presidency, Bakare insisted that no part of the nation had the right to say it was its turn to rule the country perpetually, declaring that none was a servant to the other.

“Nothing stops us from having six Dubai in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria if we have thinkers; if we have men who know how to think through and who can pre-engineer the whole process in a short while.

“Dubai, once upon a time came, to Nigeria to borrow money. Once upon a time for three years, we paid the whole civil service fee of Trinidad and Tobago. There would be no Angola today if Nigeria did not sow a seed of $30 million.

“We have made other people rule and now I challenge the people today to rise up. Let the best, the brightest, the fittest and the most competent accept responsibility and let’s put the thinkers into power,” he counselled.

Addressing the issue of Boko Haram insurgency and the inability of the military to curtail the menace, Bakare said “we have wasted resources and everyone that have been in charge of past budgets must be held accountable.”

A female Suicide bomber kills at least 12 in a Nigerian phone market

A female suicide bomber blew herself up on Sunday, killing at least a dozen people in a cellphone market in Azare, a town in Nigeria's Bauchi State where a similar attack at a bank last week killed seven, witnesses said.

No one claimed immediate responsibility for Sunday's blast, but Boko Haram, which has waged a bloody five-year campaign to establish an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, is suspected of having carried out a wave of attacks this week.

The group has also seized two towns and occupied a third in the country's northeast region since it rejected a ceasefire announced last month by the government.

"I was near the market when I heard a loud sound inside. After a while we rushed to the scene of the blast. I saw lots of people in the ground and blood all over the place," said local resident Ibrahim Ahmed, adding that he had counted at least 12 bodies.

"The severed head of the female suicide bomber was later found, and a crowd of boys took it to the front of the Emir's palace and set it on fire," he said. An official at the town's hospital said six bodies were brought in and four other people had later died there of their injuries.

Another witness at the market, Shehu Aminu, said: "I got to the scene immediately after the blast. I saw about 20 bodies just lying in blood. Only one person I noticed that was moving."

The state's government and police officials were not immediately available to comment.

At least seven people were killed on Nov. 7 by a blast outside a branch of the First Bank of Nigeria in Azare. Police said at the time that they believed a female suicide bomber was responsible for the explosion.

Azare is about 100-km (60 miles) west of Potiskum, where a suicide bomber blew himself at a school in Monday, killing 48.

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, who is seeking a second term in a February 2015 election, has vowed to defeat the Islamist militants, who are seen as the biggest security threat to Africa's largest economy and top oil producing nation.

Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is sinful", has attacked schools, abducted hundreds of students and killed thousands in its fight for an Islamist state.

Putin says he left G20 early because of 'need to sleep'

Tony Abbott and Vladimir Putin hold koalas at the summit

US President Barack Obama has warned Russia risks deeper isolation from the global community unless it takes a different path on Ukraine.

He was speaking at the end of a tense G20 summit.

Mr Obama said if Russian President Vladimir Putin "continues down the path that he is on, violating international law, providing heavy arms to the separatists in Ukraine.... then the isolation that Russia is currently experiencing will continue".

Mr Putin left Australia early today after a difficult summit, saying he left slightly early because he needed to get some sleep.

Mr Putin left before the final communiqué from the weekend talks was issued, but attended the annual forum's wrap-up lunch and praised the "constructive" discussions.

Speaking at a news conference just before flying out of Brisbane, he thanked Tony Abbott for hosting the event.

The Australian Prime Minister had threatened to confront him over the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine in July.

Mr Putin added in comments reported by the RIA Novosti news agency that the decision to leave Brisbane early had nothing to do with tensions over Ukraine.

Instead, he wanted to catch up on some sleep ahead of a full day's work in Russia tomorrow.

"We need nine hours to fly from here to Vladivostok and another nine hours from Vladivostok to Moscow," he said.

"Then we need to get home and return to work on Monday. There's a need to sleep at least four to five hours."

Brazil 'cannibal trio' sentenced

A judge in north-eastern Brazil has sentenced three people to 20-23 years in jail after they were convicted of killing a woman and eating her.

Jorge Beltrao Negromonte da Silveira received 23 years while his wife, Isabel Cristina Pires, and his mistress, Bruna Cristina Oliveira da Silva, were sentenced to 20 years.

The trio allegedly sold pastries made from the woman's flesh to neighbours.

They also confessed to killing two more women and will be sentenced later.

The defendants' lawyers said they would appeal against Friday's sentences.

The three, arrested in the city of Garanhuns in April 2012, were convicted of murder, desecration and concealment of a body.

'Purification ritual'

Local media named the victim as Jessica Camila da Silva, who was homeless and was no relation to Bruna Cristina Oliveira da Silva.

The group allegedly lured their victims to their house by saying they were looking for a nanny.

The trio admitted in court to killing and eating their victim as part of a purification ritual. But they denied allegations that they consumed and sold the flesh in "empada" pastries.

Human remains were found in the back garden of the house the three shared.

Police also found a 50-page book written by Mr Negromonte called Revelations of a Schizophrenic. In the document he claimed he heard voices and was fixated by killing women.

At the time of their arrest, the trio claimed to be part of a group that supported "the purification of the world and the reduction of its population".