EARTHOLEUM Networks, a firm involved in mobile banking services among others, is partnering the National Directorate of Employment, NDE to create not less than 100,000 jobs in the next 24 months. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Eartholeum Networks, which is also a transaction Business Solutions, Communication Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions, Mr. Adebola Oluwaseun Adeyinka, announced this while taking the management of NDE round its facilities in Lekki, Lagos ahead of the commencement of the mobile banking business code-named “Qik, Qik Project”

One big surprise that emerged from the presidential contest of Saturday is the way the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) crashed in the south west zone of the country, its strong hold where people support the party with a religious dogma. Penultimate week, the party swept clean the region in the national assembly elections, conceding only one Senatorial seat to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, three to the Labour Party in Ondo State and few federal constituencies in the region. Elections were not conducted in Ekiti State but the party is widely expected to win in the rescheduled national polls in that state on April 26th. The ACN

Several sympathisers have been trooping into the residence of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and Alhaji Shehu Malami over the death of their younger brother and a former deputy Vice Chancellor of Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Dr. Umar Bello. A statement signed by Alhaji Shehu Malami (Sarkin Sudan of Wurno) stated that the sympathisers, who were mostly Islamic and academics from various universities and Ulama representatives, included Sheikh Abdul Hafeez Abou (Baba Adinni of Lagos), the Executive Secretary of Muslim Ummah of S.W. Nigeria (MUSWEN), Prof. Dawood Noibi, and Dr. Abdullah Jibril Oyekan of the Islamic Education Trust Fund, Lagos. A copy of the statement which was made available to LEADERSHIP indicated that Professor Munzali and Professor Yadudu also led a delegation to the sultanate council. “Omar was a remarkable scholar, a man for whom I had huge respect. I am only sorry that we failed to get…

The Labour Party governorship running mate in Abia State, Chief Allen Wogu, has escaped death following an attack on his motorcade by gunmen on Thursday. It was learnt that two of the vehicles in the convoy, including the one carrying him, were destroyed by bullets. The vehicles that were affected included a Passat 2.0 Executive 2010 Model with registration number AE 180 KPU and a Pathfinder Jeep with registration number EH 496 PHC.

Senator-elect for Lagos Central Senatorial District, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu Saturday lost her ward 9 unit 034 to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. While PDP polled a total of 82 votes, the ACN polled 80 votes, CPC had 27, ANPP 2 and FRESH polled 1 vote respectively.

As Nigerians trooped out to participate in the presidential election Saturday, a traditional ruler, the Onijoun of Ijoun; Oba Jimoh Olubo in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State was killed by unknown assailants.

LAGOS - Detectives at the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Yaba, Lagos, yesterday, said investigation into the death of a Senior Secondary School III boy, whose lifeless body was found dangling from the roof of an uncompleted building in Badagry area of the state,  weekend, was still on to determine whether it was a case of  suicide or murder.

Port Harcourt -The Joint Military Taskforce says it has seized a barge allegedly carrying an unspecified quantity of crude oil in the Niger Delta. The Spokesman for the taskforce, Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt,yesterday that the task force confiscated the barge on March 1 at Andoni in Rivers. He said the quantity of the crude in the barge had not been determined by experts.

London -The Church of England said, Wednesday, that it would soon launch a crackdown on sham marriages within its fold across the UK. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that already, Vicars in the churches have been directed to tighten scrutiny of applications involving couples from outside most European countries. According to the Church statement in London, “clergy must also report any concerns they have that a marriage is not genuine’’.

Beirut -  Libyan government forces struck the coastal city of Misrata with dozens of Grad rockets on Thursday, killing eight people, a rebel spokesman said. Misrata, Libya’s third-biggest city is the only major rebel stronghold in the west of the country. It has been the scene of major fighting between rebels and Gaddafi’s forces for several weeks.