Boko Haram''s Bomb Maker Captured In Potiskum

A man suspected of being behind the manufacture of explosives used in a series of Boko Haram suicide attacks has been arrested in northeast Nigeria, a senior police officer told AFP on Tuesday.

The man, identified only as Ba’na, was held in the Arikime area of Potiskum after several weeks of surveillance‎, said the officer, who was involved in the Sunday arrest.

Potiskum, the commercial capital of Yobe State, has been hit by a wave of bombings in recent months, including a suicide attack on a secondary school in November 10 in which 58 people were killed.

On January 18, at least four people died in an attack on a bus station, while the previous weekend two women wearing suicide vests killed six people at a market and two died in a car bombing outside a police station.

The police officer, who asked not to be identified because he is not authorised to speak to the media, said Ba’na was in his mid-thirties and had admitted making the bombs.

“He confessed to being responsible for the manufacture of the explosives used in at least three suicide attacks and the car explosion outside the divisional police station,” he added.

NBa’na allegedly made the explosives used in the November school attack, the January 10 car bombing and January 11 market blasts, the source said.

He was said to have moved to Potiskum from the state capital Damaturu three years ago and worked as a stonemason and water vendor before getting married.

“He was quite good at his disguise and his mason and water vending jobs gave him perfect cover,” the officer said.

U.S. blocks Israeli arms deal with Nigeria

Citing human rights abuses and widespread corruption in nixing helicopter sale, the United States has reportedly vetoed a 2014 arms sale of US-made Cobra helicopters by Israel to Nigeria.

Though the resale of decommissioned gunships was approved by Israel’s Defence Ministry, Washington stopped the deal over concerns that the Nigerian government was not doing enough to avoid civilian casualties in its ongoing fight with Boko Haram, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported yesterday.

The canceled sale has further strained Washington’s already tense ties with Nigeria over the government’s response to the five-year-long insurgency by the Islamist group.

Beyond its concern over human rights abuses, the Obama administration has significantly limited its security assistance to Nigeria in recent months, due to widespread government corruption and a possible Boko Haram infiltration into the Nigerian military, The New York Times reported in December.

Though Asia remains Israel’s biggest arms customer, military exports to African nations virtually doubled in 2013.  A total of $224 million worth of arms and military technology was sold to African countries, compared to $107 million in 2012.

According to defence sources, a second African country could be a potential buyer for the helicopters, though the Defence Ministry declined to comment on the report.

During a visit to Nigeria on Sunday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington was prepared to increase its support for the fight against Boko Haram, provided next month’s elections take place peacefully and democratically

Naira: CBN Doubles Weekly Supply of Dollar to BDCs, Gives Stringent Sale Condition

In a bid to calm the volatility in Nigeria's forex market as well as ease the pressure on the Naira, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has increased the weekly supply of dollars to bureau de change (BDC) operators from $15,000 per BDC, to $30,000 per BDC as from 28th of January 2015, Thisday reports.

The CBN made this known in a circular titled: "Review of Weekly Foreign Exchange Cash Sales to Bureau De Change Operators," signed by its Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Olakanmi Gbadamosi, dated January 23, 2015.

"This is to inform Bureau De Change (BDC) operators and the general public that as part of the ongoing review of developments in the foreign exchange market and in order to deepen the BDCs segment, the weekly forex cash sales to BDCs have been reviewed upward from $15,000 to $30,000 per BDC, with effect from Wednesday, January 28th, 2015 auction.

"While the CBN will sell to BDCs weekly at the prevailing interbank rate, the BDCs are expected to sell to the public at not more that 3.5 per cent above the CBN selling rate. Consequently, all BDCs are to ensure that the designated accounts in the CBN are duly funded with the equivalent naira proceeds not later than 48 hours before the bidding date.

"Operators are hereby advised to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the extant regulations on the disbursement of forex cash to their respective customers, as any case of infraction will be appropriately sanctioned."

SAUDI ARABIAN KING IS DEAD

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has died in hospital while undergoing treatment for pneumonia. Official statement has named Saudi Crown Prince Salman a new king. Earlier, conflicting reports suggested the Saudis dismissed the news on king's death on social media. However, Saudi television cut to Koranic verses early on Friday, which often signifies death of a senior royal, Reuters reported.

King Abdullah had been in hospital for several weeks as he was suffering from pneumonia and had temporarily needed help to breathe through a tube.

Jonathan Did Not Finish his PhD Course -Obasanjo Speaks on Buhari's Certificate Saga

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has joined millions of Nigerians to speak on the certificate scandal plaguing Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Obasanjo allegedly said, ''The truth of the matter is that Jonathan is aware that Buhari is qualified to contest for President Election but some hawks with Jonathan, do not want him to contest Because they believed that he will win and come for them.

''The issue came up in 2007, and we investigated and found out that his WASEC is with the military and that was why he was allowed to contest in 2007. Buhari cannot listen to anyone about his certificates because as a General of Nigeria Army,he will speak when he chooses, not by Femi Fani Kayode and Okupe asking him.

''Fayose and other corrupt People including Kashamu do not want Buhari because of his anti-corruption slogan. Even Jonathan did not finish his PhD course but when it was presented we stated that, it does not matter but many people do not know because it was PDP thing.

''I see Buhari as the next President and Jonathan is aware of that, and that is the reason they are hitting him everywhere to put confusion in his camp. But a General is always a General'

List of Nigerian States Affected by Bird Flu Virus

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, has assured that the Federal Government would contain the outbreak of bird flu in the country successfully.

The minister said he had directed a nationwide comprehensive surveillance, quarantine, depopulation and decontamination of all affected poultry farms and areas.

According to him, 140,390 birds had been associated with bird flu exposure, adding that 22,573 mortality had been recorded since the outbreak on Jan. 8.

He gave the affected states as Rivers, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Ogun, Lagos and Kano, which he said had the highest level of casualty with 15,963 deaths recorded.

He said development partners such as the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) had been duly informed about the outbreak.

``I wish to assure all Nigerians that Nigeria will successfully control the bird flu outbreak.

``We have successfully controlled it in the past and have activated all necessary protocols and measures to ensure successful control this time,’’ he said.

Top Nollywood Actor Muna Obiekwe Is Dead

Talented Nollywood actor, Muna Obiekwe is dead. The actor, whose demise hit the movie industry like a shock wave yesterday, was said to have died of kidney failure in an undisclosed hospital in Lagos.

According to a source close to the actor, Muna has been battling renal related ailment but has kept it secret for a long time before informing the president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima who has since been in touch with him. The source further stated that that actor’s drinking habit may not be unconnected to his death.

Until his death, the Enugu based actor was one of the controversial actors in the Nigerian movie industry dubbed Nollywood. Muna, who has a knack for acting romantic scenes, once came under attack for grabbing fellow actor, Biola Ige’s breast, in the movie, Pregnant Hawker. However, the actress later denied the story, claiming that the picture which went viral was doctored and that there was no such scene in the movie.

Muna on his own part was quoted to have said, “…I don’t remember the movie. I also don’t remember sucking Biola’s breasts. If the movie exists, that scene never took place.

“Like I told you, I don’t recall the movie. I do a lot of movies and I can’t remember what happens in all of them. The fact that I don’t recall means that the movie was shot a long time ago. Probably three or more years back. When love scene was in vogue with producers. I’m still searching for the movie to acquaint myself with the story.

“There has never been anything between myself and any actress that I’ve made a movie with. My romantic relationships have always been outside the movie industry. I don’t take my work home”