UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN HOLDS MATRICULATION TODAY The premier university, University of Ibadan today holds her matriculation for the 2012/2013 new students. A release by the Directorate of Public Communication, Office of the Vice Chancellor puts the venue at the International Conference Centre of the university. Time is 11:00 am. The matriculation is for both new undergraduates and postgraduates, they are expected to sign the university's matriculation register at the ceremony.

BOKO HARAM FACTION DECLARES CEASEFIRE A faction of the deadly Boko Haram sect today in Maidugiri the Borno state capital declared ceasefire after a meeting with top officials of the state government. The deal was announced around 3:00 pm. Boko Haram has caused death of persons and properties.

COURT SENTENCES EX-PENSION BOARD BOSS TO 2 YRS INPRISONMENT FOR STEALING N23.3 BILLION A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja Monday sentenced former Chairman of Pensions Board Yakubu Yusuf to 2 yrs inprisonment for stealing N23.3 billion. He is also to forfeit properties worth more than N346 million naira.

FULANI HERDSMEN TAKE OVER UNIABUJA AS VARSITY REMAINS SHUT The University of Abuja which was shut down in November 2012 as a result of students' protest is now home to some Fulani herdsmen and other refugees, according to a report by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. The school was shut following protests by affected students from the faculties of Engineering, Agriculture whose programmes were denied accreditation. It was learnt that some Fulani herdsmen are leaving with their families in tents especially near the Administrative building. Also, some refugees as a result of Gwari clash are taking refuge in the campus. It remains unclear when the varsity will be re-opened for academic engagements as virtually all those concerned are doing little or nothing towards raising hopes high.

WHY CATHOLIC CHURCH PULLED OUT FROM CAN- BISHOPS The Catholic church temporarily exited the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) saying recent activities and comments of the Oritsejafor-led executive negate the foundations of the church and the teachings of Jesus christ. In a letter by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria to the President of CAN, the bishops said the church is temporarily exiting the association untill CAN returns to the original vision. The letter which was written in September 2012 but was made public Wednesday was signed by the president of the bishops Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama. CAN has been recently described as an arm of the PDP. The President of the association has in recent times being accused of making comments in support of the PDP. It's been alleged that CAN has fallen into partisan politics. CAN was formed in 1976 with the catholic as one of the five founding bodies.

13 POLICE RECRUITS BURNT TO DEATH IN AUTO CRASH 13 Police recruits on Sunday were burnt beyond recognition in a deadly auto crash at Omu-Aran in Kwara state. They were said to be travelling to Nassarawa State were they were posted to. They were mostly Kwara indigenes. The accident involved a Mercedes Benz car and an 18-seater bus. The corpses have been deposited at at nearby morgue. The number of women involved in the crash is not yet unknown.

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.

FG APPROVES 3 NEW VARSITIES The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the establishment of 3 new universities. The universities will be located in Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara states. The universities are expected to commence activities in the 2014/2015 academic session.

PDP FAILS TO ELECT BOT CHAIRMAN, TO RECONVENE FEBRUARY The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed to elect a new Board of Trustees Chairman after its meeting Tuesday. The party set up a special committee to screen all the 12 contestants for the position. Nigeria's Canadian ambassador Ojo Madueke briefed correspondents early Wednesday morning after the meeting. The party is expected to get the new BOT chairman in february. The position became vacant last year after former president Olusegun Obasanjo quit the position.

NIGERIA'S UNIVERSITY OF BENIN DISCOVERS 'CURE' FOR HIV/AIDS A major breakthrough may have come in the search for the cure of the killer disease HIV/AIDS that have defiled all solutions. A professor at the University of Benin (Uniben) Isaiah Ibeh says the herbal drug Deconcotion X (DX) or Bioclean II can 'cure' the deadly virus. According to Ibeh who is also the Dean of School of Basic Medical Sciences, the drug has undergone various bacteriological and toxicological tests. The drug was administered on five HIV/AIDS patients and after six months, it was found out that 3 of the patients tested siro negative while 2 tested faintly positive. The drug has been tested both in Nigeria and The US. The don called for support from the government and the private sector to continue in the search. Credit: NAN

DELE GIWA'S MUM DIES AT 87 The mother of late Ogoni Rights activist and journalist Dele Giwa died Tuesday at Ikorodu Lagos. Elekia Giwa died at about 5:am. Dele Giwa was killed through a parcel bomb in 1987 supposedly by the military junta then.

34,000 STUDENTS BATTLE FOR 3000 BED SPACES About 34000 undergraduates of the University of Ilorin are battling for bed spaces meant only for 3000 students. Punch gathered that the balloting exercise for the hostel accommodation kicked off in earnest. Unilorin has been rated many times as Nigeria's best university in Webometric World University Rankings.

15 DIE AS TANKER RAMS INTO BUS 15 persons were feared dead Sunday in Ogbomosho as a fuel tanker rammed into a commercial bus. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), three persons escaped at the incident. It was not clear immediately where the bus was going to. It was learnt that both the tanker and the bus caught fire after the collision.

JONATHAN'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN POSTERS FLOOD ABUJA Less than two years after the 2011 General election, campaign posters for the 2015 elections bearing President Goodluck Jonathan's picture has flooded major areas in Abuja. Jonathan is seen clad in his traditional Ijaw attire with such inscriptions as 'There is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2015', 'One good turn deserves another'. Dr. Jonathan has since kept his 2015 action pending as he has refused from commenting on whether or not he will run for the post of presidency or not. His administration has received lots of criticisms on the general performance.