FG DECLARES JAN. 24 PUBLIC HOLIDAY The Federal Government has declared Thursday January 24, 2013 as a public holiday to allow muslims celebrate Eidel Malud.

ARRESTED GOAT DIES IN CUSTODY A goat arrested by Osun State Waste Management Agency (OWMA) has died in custody. The goat belonged to Mrs. Adetayo. The goat and others were arrested and the owners arraigned in court. They were ordered by the court to pay N2,500 each.

3 'GAY' MEN BEATEN, STRIPPED NAKED IN IMO STATE StanleyIbekuPage can report that three men were stripped naked, beaten and paraded round Ekwe, Umuaka in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State. The men were said to be having sex together. The incident happened on Monday 14th January, 2013. The village mob tied the three men together and paraded them round the community amid beatings and chants. The Nigerian National Assembly is seeking to criminalise gay marriages. The practise is seen as alien in the black world while some states in Europe and America have endorsed the relationships.

FIRST LADY PATIENCE JONATHAN AGAIN FLOWN TO GERMANY FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION The first lady Dame Patience Jonathan has been again flown to Germany for medical attention. The first lady has been having issues with her health conditions even though the presidency has consistently denied it. Saharareporters report that Patience was formally billed for Spain but the plan was changed and she was flown to Germany. Recall that Patience was flown to Germany in August 2012 and she returned in October. She denied being hospitalised. StanleyIbekuPage learnt that the first lady was sheduled to join President Goodluck Jonathan in a function Monday by 6:00pm at the Presidential banquet hall, but she was conspicously absent. Her spokesman denied having knowledge of the trip when Saharareporters contacted him.

YAKOWA'S BROTHER DIES AT 60 Barely a month after the death of former Kaduna State governor Patrick Yakowa in the doomed helicopter, his younger brother Adamu Yakowa died on Sunday, according to Saharareporters. Adamu was said to be suffering from an undisclosed illness even before the brother's death in a helicopter crash on December 15.

2 DEAD, 8 INJURED AS PETROL TANKER BURSTS INTO FLAMES IN RIVERS According to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), a fully loaded petrol tanker friday fell, spilled its contents and burst into flames at Mbiama bypass in Ahoada Rivers state. Two persons died, eight others were injured while about 6 vehicles were either burnt completely or partially destroyed. Unlike in past occurences, people did not scoop fuel at the scene.

EFCC DETAINS EX-CBN GOVERNOR SOLUDO OVER CONTRACT SCAM The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) thursday questioned former Central Bank Of Nigeria Governor Chukwuma Soludo. He was said to be quizzed over a contract scam involving some CBN officials. An Australian firm Securency was said to have paid bribes to some officials of the bank for the printing of polymer notes when Soludo was the Governor.