IMO DEPUTY GOVERNOR IMPEACHED AS OKOROCHA NOMINATES CHIEF OF STAFF AS REPLACEMENT Following the impeachment of the deputy governor of Imo State Sir. Jude Agbaso thursday, the state governor Rochas Okorocha has nominated his Chief of Staff Eze Madumere as his replacement. This was contained in a letter from the governor to the house of assembly read by the speaker Mr. Ben Uwajumogu. Agbaso was found culpable by an adhoc committee set up to investigate a bribery scandal of over N480 million. The motion was moved by Adaeze Ihuoma and seconded by Pat Ekeji. 23 members of the house voted for the impeachment.

HENRY OKAH BAGS 24 YEARS INPRISONMENT OVER ABUJA BOMBING A South African court today sentenced Henry Okah, the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to 24 years inprisonment for the October 1, 2010 bombing. He was found guilty of the charges brought against him. The family says they will appeal the judgment.

PROF. CHINUA ACHEBE IS DEAD Nigeria's foremost literary icon and publisher Professor Chinua Achebe is dead. Reports say the author of many novels died last night in an undisclosed hospital in Boston United States of America. Until his death, he was a professor at David and Marianna University in the US. He wrote 'Things fall apart' that has sold over 12 million copies and has been translated in more than 50 different languages. Other influential works of his include Arrow of God, A man of the people and his last work 'There was a country' which drew wide criticisms. A family source said the news of his death will be officially made known today. Chinua Achebe was 82 years. He was a pioneer student of the then University College, Ibadan and was initially admitted to study medicine but he changed to English after his first year and came out with a second-class degree. He has been a critic of the government right from the era of the military. He was married to Christy and they were blessed with four children. Additional report from PREMIUMTIMES

JONATHAN APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF SERVICE President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed Bukar Goji Aji the new head of service of the federation. He succeeds Isa BeloGoji is from Yobe state. He was born in 1959. He has served as permanent secretary in defence, works, police affairs.

POPE FRANCIS INAUGURATED AS 267TH PONTIFF Pope Francis was today inaugurated as the 267th pontiff following the resignation last month of Pope Benedith XVI. He was elected last Wednesday. At the inaugural mass a St Peter's Basilica Rome, hundreds of devotees thronged the venue. Before the mass, Pope Francis venerated at the tomb of St. Peter. He was handed the Pallium(a wooden cloak), the fisherman's ring(the symbol of St. Peter) and the book of the Gospels. The pope's homily was delivered in italian, it dwelt on man's need to help the poor and peace in the world. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, U.S Vice President Joe Biden including other dignitaries across the world attended the mass. Nigeria sent a 5-man delegation led by Senate President David Mark.

25 DEAD AS BOMB EXPLODES IN KANO According to Reuters, a bonm exploded at the Saboganri area of Kano state killing at least 25 persons. The blast occured Monday evening at a very busy luxury bus terminal where travellers especially those going to the southern parts of the country board buses. The police has confirmed the incident but hasn't given casualty figures. A Reuters reporter said he counted 25 bodies. The area has been cordoned off by security men.

FACTS ABOUT THE NEW POPE His name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio He is 76 years old He hails from Argentina He is the first Latin American to be elected Pope He is to be addressed as Pope Francis the first He is living with one lung He is a strong advocate of good governance He is opposed to the legalisation of homosexualism He is not in support of the use of condoms He has special interest in the poor He goes to work with public bus thus abandoning his limousine He was the first runner-up during the last conclave that produced the Pope Emeritus.

ARGENTINE EMERGES NEW POPE A new Pope has been elected for the world's 1.2 billion catholics. He is Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina. He is the first latin American to lead the church. He has chosen to be called Pope Francis de Ist. White smoke emerged from the sistine chapel signifying the emergence of a new Pope. About 115 cardinals have been having elections since Tuesday. Details about the new Pope will be published.

GUNMEN KILL PRISONERS, OFFICIALS Gunmen opened about 7 prisoners and officials in Warri, Delta state. The gunmen opened fire on the van conveying the prisoners to the court. The incident happened at Okere junction in Warri. The police confirmed the incident. It was learnt that some of the injured prison officials were taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNOR AKPABIO ACQUIRES MILLION-DOLLAR BULLET-PROOF SUV Profligate governor of Akwa Ibom state Godswill Akpabio has acquired a customised amoured SUV. The mercedes benz top-of-the range car is said to be worth over a million dollar. Impeccable sources told Saharareporters that the bullet-proof car is specifically designed in tantem with the governor's taste. Akpabio is famous for spending state's resources on stupendous and sometimes irrational expenditures. Just last week, the governor donated 2 SUVs to musician Tuface and the wife. He promised to sponsor 29 people from Akwa Ibom state for the couple's wedding later on this month in Dubai. Akpabio in the name of the state government acquired a state-of-the art jet last 2 years.

NCAA BOSS DEMUREN SACKED The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Harold Demuren has been sacked by the Federal Government. A statement by the Secretary to the Government of the federation endorsed by Sam Nwobasi says the sack is effective from Tuesday 12th March 2013. The sack according to the government is because of Demuren's unsatisfactory replies from various issues arising from stakeholders in the sector.

NEW ISLAMIST SECT ANSARU KILLS 7 FOREIGN HOSTAGES The new islamic sect Ansaru said it has executed the 7 foreign hostages it kidnapped in Bauchi on February 7. 7 foreign workers of Setraco were abducted at a construction site. The hostages include a briton and a french national. The sect in a screen message posted on an islamic website announced on Saturday that they had to execute the men following Nigeria's and Britain's effort at locating their hideout, they said they noticed helicopters hovering in Bauchi. They said they kidnapped the foreign nationals because of France's deployment of soldiers to fight against islamic rebels in Mali.

APC MAY ADOPT ACN'S 'BROOM' SYMBOL Barring any last minute change, the newly formed party All Peoples Congress (APC) may adopt the broom symbol of Action Congress of Nigeria's (ACN) symbol- the broom. According to PREMIUM TIMES, the committee headed by former PDP chair Audu Ogbeh has settled for the logo after debates. They settled for the broom since according to them, the symbol is more popular than CPC's pen and ANPP's corn. APGA symbol was excluded because of factionalisation in the party.

POLICE COMMISSIONER KILLED IN ENUGU The Kwara State Commissioner of Police Chinwike Asadu was killed by assasins Saturday in Nike area of Enugu state. His orderly and driver were battered by bullets and are critically down at National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu. The Cp was said to have paid a private visit to his place. He went to see off a visitor while assasins trailed him while coming back. He was shot 100 metres away from his house. Source-Vanguard

ABIA VARSITY STRIPS EX-GOVERNOR ORJI KALU OF HIS DEGREE The Abia State University Uturu has stripped former Abia State governor and Visitor to the university of his degree certificate. A statement from the university's Registrar O.E Onuoha said the action followed the consideration of an investigating panel of the institution which was adopted at a special Senate session of the school held on March 1, 2013. According to the Registrar, kalu did not meet the extant rules of the university. According to him, Kalu did not stay up to 8 semesters for the award of the certificate. Orji Uzor Kalu was said to have tranferred from the University of Maidugiri to ABSU.

4 YEAR OLD GIRL RAPED TO DEATH IN IMO A 4 year old pupil Charity has been raped to death by one man Onyebuchi in Imo state. The 30 year old man who committed the heinous act is from Omuma Umuezeala in Oru East of Imo state. The man who was paraded Friday by the new Imo State Police Commissioner Muhammed Katsina was said to have abducted the girl on her way to school and took her to a farm where he raped her leading to her death. He was arrested by Police detectives while trying to bury the corpse of the girl in a pit.

JONATHAN CAN CONTEST IN 2015, COURT RULES An Abuja High Court Friday ruled that President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest for the presidency in 2015. Cyriacus Njoku has asked the court to declare that Jonathan cannot contest again in 2015 arguing that he is presently serving the constitutional 2-terms. But the Judge dismissed the claims and said that Jonathan is eligible to contest in 2015 since the constitution allowed for 2 terms. By the judgement Jonathan was said to have completed the first term of late Umaru Musa Yaradua.