NEWS: NIGERIA - BUDGET 2016 ERRORS; President Buhari fires Budget Director General and 26 others

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, in a move to douse the tension over the 2016 budget controversy, fired the Director-General for Budget, Mr Yaya Gusau, and announced a replacement in the person of Mr. Tijjani Abdullahi.

Also, Mr. Ben Akabueze was appointed Special Adviser to the President on National Planning. The two appointments take immediate effect.

President Buhari also appointed former House of Representatives member, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa as his Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora.
Again, yesterday, the President sacked heads of 26 federal parastatals, agencies and commissions.

NEWS: NIGERIA - 2016 BUDGET CONTROVERSY AND SOME DETAILS

It will be recalled that 2016 budget had sparked off controversy, with the legislature accusing the Executive of padding and doctoring provisions made by ministries departments and agencies of government.

The controversy deepened when the Federal Ministry of Health disowned the budget proposal submitted on its behalf by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Omeri hands over at National Orientation Agency, Ekeoba becomes Acting DG

Mr. Mike Agbo Omeri, immediate past Director General of NOA, has handed over the leadership of the agency to Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoba who is the most senior director and in charge of Political, Civics, Ethics and Values at the agency.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Oh boy!!! Naira slides significantly to N345/$ in parallel market

The Forefront has authoritatively learnt that the Naira yesterday suffered its biggest daily depreciation against the dollar as the exchange rate rose to N345 per dollar in the parallel market.

This represents N20 depreciation when compared with the closing exchange rate of N325 per dollar in the market on Friday.

WORLD NEWS: SYRIA - Missile strikes on hospitals and schools kill 'up to 50' in Northern Syria

Up to 50 people have been killed in missile attacks on schools and hospitals in northern Syria, according to the United Nations.

"Such attacks are a blatant violation of international laws," the UN said.

One of the raids was on a Medecins Sans Frontieres clinic in Maarat al-Numan, which the group called a "deliberate attack".

TOUCHING STORY (HEALTH): UK - Social media boosts cell donor search (#Match4Zara)

The family of a 13-year-old girl urgently seeking a blood stem cell donor are "amazed" by the response they have received on social media.

Zara Al Shaikh, who has acute myeloid leukaemia, opened a Twitter account with her father to appeal for help.

Her second tweet has been shared more than 8,000 times.

FOOTBALL: FIFA SCANDAL - Michel Platini says he is ready to 'fight against injustice'

Suspended Uefa president Michel Platini arrived at his appeal hearing on Monday saying that he is fighting not for his future but "against injustice".

Platini, 60, was banned for eight years by the world governing body's ethics committee in December, as was president Sepp Blatter.

FOOTBALL: Juventuse Chief Marotta says Pogba and Dybala are not leaving the club

Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has made it clear the club have no intention of selling Paulo Dybala or Paul Pogba.

Dybala has developed into one of the Serie A champions' undisputed stars since joining from Palermo at the start of the season and has recently been linked with a move to Barcelona.

WORLD ENTERTAINMENT - Kanye West appeals to Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg over $53m debt

Kanye West has appealed to Silicon Valley billionaires to help bail him out after claiming to be $53m in debt.

He revealed on Twitter on Sunday that he is $53m in debt, writing: "Please pray we overcome. This is my true heart."

He followed up by appealing directly to one of the world's richest technology entrepreneurs - Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

WEIRD NEWS: England - Digger Crashes Into Bank In Attempted Raid

A digger was left embedded in a bank branch after at least four people attempted to steal a cash machine.

Raiders used the vehicle to smash into the front of the Santander branch in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, on Monday.

WORLD NEWS: US - Obama to nominate new Supreme Court judge in replacement of Scalia after Senate resumption.

A new US Supreme Court judge to replace justice Antonin Scalia will be nominated by the president after next week, the White House has said.

There will be no announcement before the Senate returns on 22 February, said deputy press secretary Eric Schultz.

Republicans have demanded President Barack Obama - a Democrat - leave the nomination to his successor next year.

NEWS: NIGERIA - FG fails to defend Dasuki's N500m suit at ECOWAS court

The Federal Government has failed to put in a defence in the N500 million suit former National Security Adviser, Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd), filed at the ECOWAS court in Abuja.

The Federal government did not file a reply to the originating application, more than 30 days after it was served.

Instead, government, through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), said it would respond to the issues raised by Dasuki “at the appropriate time.”

Breaking News: Nigeria - Wow!!! DGs of NOA, NBC, VON, FRCN, NAN and NTA sacked by the federal Government .

The Federal Government on today sacked the Directors General of Nigeria Television Authority(NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria(FRCN) Voice of Nigeria(VON), News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), Nigerian Broadcasting Commission(NBC) and the National Orientation Agency(NOA).

WORLD NEWS: AUSTRALIA - Meth Worth £620m Hidden In Bra Pads And Glue Bottles Seized

More than 720 litres of liquid methamphetamine have been seized in Australia - believed to be one of largest drug finds in the country's history.

The £620m (A$1.26bn) stash was smuggled from China and had been hidden in bottles of glue and inside gel bra inserts.

WORLD NEWS: Virgin Atlantic flight back in UK after 'laser incident'

A flight heading to New York turned back to London Heathrow Airport after a "laser beam incident", Virgin Atlantic has confirmed.

A crew member is recorded saying to Irish air traffic control that they had a "medical issue with one of the pilots after a laser incident after take-off".

It happened at 20:13 GMT, shortly after take-off, the company said, before flight VS025 returned as a precaution.

WORLD NEWS GIST: John Paul letters reveal 'intense' friendship with woman as shown to the BBC

Hundreds of letters and photographs that tell the story of Pope John Paul II's close relationship with a married woman, which lasted more than 30 years, have been revealed to the BBC. 

The letters to Polish-born American philosopher Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka had been kept away from public view in the National Library of Poland for years.

FOOTBALL: Moyes to Van Gaal; missing out from champions league would ruin you at Manchester United

Former Manchester United manager David Moyes says Louis van Gaal will need to get the team into the Premier League's top four if he wants to keep his job.

Moyes lasted just eight months in charge of United after he replaced Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm, falling to seventh-place in the league before he was replaced by Ryan Giggs.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Prof Sagay says soft landing is likely for those returning loot from Arms deal.

Presidential Anti-corruption Advisory Committee Chairman Prof. Itse Sagay has hinted of a possible soft landing for treasury looters and corrupt politicians, who return their shares of the $2.1 billion arms procurement and other loot traced to them.

He said this in an interview in Warri with The Nation, The Forefront has learnt.

He would, however, not disclose names of those making the refunds or how much has been recovered, saying: “If I knew (how much), I can’t tell you.”

NEWS: NIGERIA - ABACHA LOOT; Top lawyer to be quizzed by EFCC over #6.18bn

There is the £22.5m (N6.18billion) loot which the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, allegedly stashed away on the Island of Jersey?

This is the puzzle the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is trying to resolve.

Besides, there is uncertainty over the whereabouts of over $400million Abacha loot on the Island.

The anti-graft agency may quiz a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Damian Dodo, over the cash “any moment from now”.

FOOTBALL: Jose Mourinho could replace Luis Van Gaal before the turn of February.

Luis Van Gaal's tone after Manchester United's 2-1 loss to Sunderland was that of pessimism and the club's board is unhappy with such a tone.