Saturday, 23 April 2016
Nigerians advise man on Facebook to commit suicide
Friday, 22 April 2016
see what Clarion Chukwurah wore to her wedding. Nice or trash?
Use of Pidgin English on stage has limited our comedians – Basketmouth
A comedian, Bright Okpocha, popularly known as Basketmouth, on Friday said that adoption of Pidgin English on stage by Nigerian comedians had limited their reach and popularity.
Basketmouth told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that many comedians would have gotten international fame and recognition if they were entertaining in English.
He said that Nigerian comedians also needed to step up their game in order to be globally competitive.
“One of the problems we have right now in the industry and which makes it difficult to break out of our cultural background and society is the language barrier.
“Ninety per cent of our Nigerian comedians entertain their audience in Pidgin English and which limits their reach.
“You can only break even in Liberia, Ghana and Sierra-Leone, all English speaking West African countries, but can’t go beyond that in Francophone countries.
“So, if you continue being lazy as a comedian and not striving to be universal with your materials, you are going nowhere.
“Joke is a joke, as long as you don’t make it too cultural because nobody in America, with the right audience, knows about the Warri people or the Yoruba people or Hausa.
“So create your jokes and even more universal which is the major problem we have right now.
“This is the reason why South Africans can break into the Western world because of the fact that they deliver their jokes in English and their structure is better than ours.
“In Nigeria, the entertainment is massive, but with no structure,” he said.
Fashola, Amaechi, funded Buhari’s campaign, says Fani-Kayode
The spokesperson for the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation during the last election, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, says former governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and his River State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi, funded President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign.
Fani-Kayode, who is a former Minister of Aviation, said this in an article titled, ‘The Money Transfers and the Truth about the Presidential Campaign Funds’ which he wrote in reaction to allegations levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Fani-Kayode had confessed to receiving N840m as the director of publicity during the electioneering last year but noted that he did not know that the funds emanated from the account of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He, however, described the investigations as a witch-hunt and urged the EFCC to beam its searchlight on Fashola and Amaechi who have since been appointed ministers in Buhari’s.
Fani-Kayode said, “Instead of using the EFCC to try to rubbish me and my colleagues and smear our good names, those that are in power today should tell us where they got their campaign funds from and how much of it came from the governments of Lagos and Rivers state.
“The two people that headed those two state governments then are now both federal ministers today. One of them, who was the Director-General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, was specifically indicted by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry for using millions of dollars of state government funds to run the Buhari campaign yet nothing happened and his reward was to be appointed as a minister.”
Fani-Kayode alleged that even in the March 19, 2015 rerun election in Rivers State, Amaechi transported N5bn to the state but the EFCC had done nothing about it.
He added, “Again what about the 5bn cash that was flown down to Port Harcourt in Rivers state from Abuja in chartered plane a couple of days before the re-run election that took place on March 19, 2016? Where did they get that amount of cash from and what was its purpose and source?
“What has the EFCC said or leaked about that? It appears that there is one law for those that are in power today and another for those that are not. Why persecute the innocent and leave the guilty? Was it a crime to fight and lose an election?”
The former minister said Buhari spent 10 times more than Jonathan during the last election. He said Buhari as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, hired the same campaign managers that headed United States President, Barack Obama’s campaign.
Fani-Kayode alleged that the campaign managers were paid $10m.
He claimed that the Jonathan campaign team were underfunded as they were not even given vehicles with which to move around during the electioneering.
He added, “I might add that we spent far less money than the APC and the Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation because they had access to massive amounts of state government funds and they used those funds effectively. For every million naira we spent, they spent 10.
“They even contracted the services of a famous American media consultant (the same one that President Obama used in 2008) and paid him $10m for his counsel and advice. They had fleets of cars and buses whilst my directorate was not even given one vehicle to get our people around.
“The official jeep that was meant to have been given to us for our operations during the campaign was high jacked and it never arrived.
“We were forced to use our own personal vehicles and we were glad to do so. Yet the other side had everything that money could buy. They even chartered numerous private jets throughout the campaign to get around the country. Where did they get all their funding from? Why is the EFCC not leaking stories or talking about that?
However, the APC Publicity Secretary in Lagos State, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, described Fani-Kayode’s allegation as a ‘bedtime story for kids’.
Igbokwe urged the former minister to quickly return the N840m he admitted to receiving instead of giving excuses.
Igbokwe wondered how an opposition state could have access to more funds than a party that had been in control of Federal Government resources for 16years.
He said, “Fani-Kayode is afraid of his shadow. Fani-Kayode's PDP ruled Nigeria for 16 years and also looted Nigeria for 16 years with nothing to show for it except decayed infrastructure and empty treasury.
“In his confused state of mind Fani-Kayode thinks APC spent huge sums of money including Lagos and Rivers States money to defeat Jonathan and PDP. This is a bedtime story for kids. What the APC did was to apply common sense where PDP was spending billions.
“Fani-Kayode is one of the PDP shameless leaders that destroyed the PDP. Fani-Kayode left the PDP and for almost a year, he rained abuses on President Jonathan and the PDP. He left no stone unturned in exposing Jonathan as clueless and rudderless, and in fact he brought to the public knowledge the inner workings of PDP and its many woes. Fani-Kayode later returned to the party he had labelled as a monumental and colossal failure to serve as the spokesman for the campaign organisation. What a confused man!”
Thursday, 21 April 2016
US musician, Prince, is dead
Police has reportedly been found dead at his recording studios in Minneapolis, according to US reports. Gossip site TMZ claim police were called to the property on Thursday morning.
A reporter from local TV station KSTP, Farrah Fazal, tweeted this afternoon: "BREAKING: Deputies say they are now doing "death investigation" at Prince's PaisleyPark recording studios near Minneapolis. @ KSTP."
According to TMZ, authorities responded to a medical emergency at his property on Thursday at about 9.43am.
The Carver County Sheriff's department in Chanhassen, Minnesota has confirmed there has been a fatality, and they're notifying next of kin. The news comes days after the 57-year-old singer was released from hospital after a bout of flu.
After his sold-out performance in Atlanta on Thursday, April 14 his private jet made an unscheduled landing at Quad City International Airport in Illinois.
From there the Purple Rain star was taken to hospital.
According to TMZ, he was released three hours later, returned to his plane and was taken home.
Just days later he was pictured cycling around Paisley Park and held a party for fans at Paisley Park.
10 things you didn’t know about Queen of England as she turns 90 today
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| The Queen, her husband and children in the 1960s |
· She has four children, three of which are divorced
· Apart from being the Head of the Common Wealth, she is also the Head of the Church of England
· She does not own an international passport or a driver’s licence because both documents are issued in her name
· As a princess in 1945, Princess Elizabeth joined the army and worked as a mechanic.
· Philip was born into the Greek and Danish royal families. He was born in Greece but his family was exiled from the country when he was still an infant which means that her children are originally from Greece. He however renounced his Greek heritage before marrying Elizabeth
· She was one of the first human beings to send an email. She sent her first electronic correspondence from an army base in 1976.
· Apart from being the longest reigning monarch in British history and oldest female monarch in the world, her marriage to Phillip for 69 years is the longest in history
· She was delivered by Caesarean section at her maternal grandfather's London house
· She is the godmother to Princess Diana’s younger brother, Charles Spencer
Nigerian Senate promoting corruption- EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday alleged that corrupt people were using the Senate, the judiciary and a section of the media to thwart the commission’s anti-corruption war..
The anti-graft agency said this in a statement by its spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, while reacting to the decoration of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, as an ‘Anti-corruption Ambassador’ by one of its officers.
The EFCC said the dubious title given to Ekweremadu at a time when the Senate was trying to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal Act was a clear act of corruption fighting back.
The statement read in part, “The picture of organised corruption marshalling its evil forces to launch a sustained fight-back becomes clearer if cognisance is taken of the bewildering insistence of the Senate to carry on with the ill-advised amendment of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal Act as well as the inexplicable provisions proposed for amendment of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.”
The anti-graft agency further alleged that some courts as well as sections of the media were being used by corrupt forces.
“For instance, all through last week, some courts issued a string of anti-EFCC rulings looking like calculated attempts to derail the anti-corruption war, even as there were indications of the capture of a prominent section of the media by dark forces,” the EFCC said.
Man mistakenly crushes daughter to death while reversing truck
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A 36-year-old man, Amos Chaitezvi last week in Zimbabwe accidentally ran over and killed his three-year old daughter while reversing a truck at his homestead.
Marondera East police spokesperson, Inspector Norbert Muzondo, confirmed the accident.
Muzondo said the man who hails from Chaitezvi Village was reversing a Nissan diesel truck without realizing that his daughter was playing behind the vehicle resulting in him running over her.
The daughter died instantly and police from Traffic Section attended the incident before they ferried her body to Marondera Hospital for a post mortem. Muzondo was unaware of the results of the post mortem. The police appealed to all drivers to always exercise extreme caution by adhering to the basic rules of driving.
Why my children didn’t vote for me- Donald Trump
Donald Trump won the Republican primaries in his home state of New York but he didn’t the votes of two of his biggest advocates there: His kids.
Trump conceded Monday that two of his children — Eric and Ivanka Trump — failed to register as Republicans in the state in time to be eligible to vote for him in New York's April 19 primary.
"They were unaware of the rules and they didn't register in time," Trump said on Fox News. "So they feel very, very guilty. They feel very guilty but it's fine."
The deadline for new voters to register to vote in New York's closed primary was March 25, and the deadline to change party affiliation was back in October.
"Eric and Ivanka, I guess, won't be voting," Trump said.
NBC 4 New York reports that, according to New York's public Voter Registration Database, both Eric and Ivanka Trump are registered to vote but not enrolled in a political party.
Trump's campaign has been plagued in recent weeks by poor organization in local and state-level Republican conventions, where delegates to the Republican National Convention are selected.
In several states over the weekend, the delegates chosen at the party gatherings were Ted Cruz's loyalists, who could support the Texas senator on the convention floor if the nomination race goes to a second ballot.
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
Ekweremadu Not our Anti-Corruption Ambassador- EFCC
The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to some reports in the print and online media, on April 20, 2016 claiming that the anti-graft agency has decorated the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, as “Anti-Corruption Ambassador”.
According to a statement issued to the Press by the Special Adviser to the Deputy Senate President, Uche Anichukwu, the purported decoration, was carried out by the EFCC National Assembly Liaison Officer, Suleiman Bakari who was quoted to have said: “ On behalf of my acting chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu and the entire management and staff of the EFCC, decorate you as an Anti- Corruption Ambassador and formally present this frame, as a token of our appreciation to your person and office, and as a symbol of the institutional partnership between the EFCC and the National Assembly”.
The EFCC totally dissociates itself from the purported action of Sulaiman Bakari as he acted entirely on his own. He clearly acted outside his brief as a liaison officer as the management of the Commission at no time mandated him to decorate Ekweremadu or any officer of the National Assembly as Anti- Corruption Ambassador.
The statutory mandate of the EFCC is the investigation and prosecution of all economic and financial crimes cases, which does not include the decoration of individuals as anti- corruption ambassadors. The Commission is not in the habit of awarding titles to individuals. And those enamoured of titles, knows the quarters to approach for such honours, not the EFCC
Members of the public and stakeholders in the fight against corruption are enjoined to disregard the so-called decoration.
(video) Meet the genius dog that can solve maths
This is one of the best spectacular videos I have ever seen. This dog knows addition, subtraction and may be even how to solve quadratic and simultaneous equations. LOL
I have had over 17 surgeries on my womb – Ex-beauty queen, Nike Oshinowo
Former Miss Nigeria, Nike Oshinowo has revealed that she’s been battling endometriosis (a condition resulting from the appearance of endometrial tissue outside the uterus and causing pelvic pain) since she was 13. The 50-year-old beauty, who became the mother of twins via surrogacy in America 3 years ago, made this disclosure recently at the Gala Night of Fun and Fund Raising For Endometriosis, organized by Endometriosis Support Group of Nigeria in Lagos.
Narrating her ordeal with the ailment that has plagued her since her boarding school days in England, the mother of two said, ‘I have lived with endometriosis since the age of 13. I was sent to boarding school in England when I was seven years old. It was during the first few days in secondary school that I began my (menstrual) periods.
‘They called the ambulance and I was hospitalized for 10 days because the pain started and wouldn’t stop. I thought I was going to die, the first two days I was in the infirmary with the matron and she kept saying, ‘O Adenike, we understand that you miss your home, we understand that it is difficult for you, we understand that every girl must go through it but just bear it.’
‘I’m telling the story because it happened in England and, supposedly, the white people, who knew best, yet had no idea what was wrong with me. Every female student they had dealt with, had a normal period and coped with it, so they could not understand why I was dramatizing. They thought I just wanted attention. The pain was so intense I passed out. They called the ambulance and I was hospitalized. The challenge was now to get me to stop bleeding.
‘Living with endometriosis is a challenge. When you see your doctor, your doctor just tries to treat the symptoms and assumes the pain resolves around your menstrual cycle. But this is not so. The pain affects every single aspect of your life.
‘I, as Nike Oshinowo, have never had an examination without my period, I have never travelled without my period. There are so many things I have never done without my period. When I’m very happy, my period comes, When I’m depressed, my period is there. I learned just to cope with it. I love the quote that women wear their pain like stilettos. That’s what I have been doing.
‘Until I turned 40, Nigerians didn’t know I suffered from endometriosis. When I turned 40, I granted an interview and Nigerians understood why I never drank alcohol. You cannot be on medication and take alcohol. It was finally understood why I was so clean cut and into healthy living.
‘The first time I experienced the pain of endometriosis was very traumatic. I thought I was going to die. Really, I have lost count of the number of surgeries that I have had but I sure know that it’s more that 17 times.’
Facebook suspends Sahara Reporters' page
Facebook yesterday blocked the official Facebook page of Nigerian online medium, Sahara Reporters. The founder of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, revealed this in a Facebook post a few hours ago. The page has however been restored after 24 hours. Sahara Reporters had posted a picture of Niger Delta militants wielding weapons and Facebook insisted that it was at variance with its 'community friendly' rules.
In his response, Sowore wrote, " Folks, I have been off FB for 24 hours due to a ridiculous ban placed on my posting privileges by Facebook operators concerning a photo of Niger Delta militants we posted in support of a report we did on the latest threats by a group to blow up pipelines in the area.
"Facebook took away my privileges to communicate as a result. Facebook has its tyrannical streaks and trust that they are totally inimical to the social consciousness of people in the global south and elsewhere.
"FB community regulators at times are no better than uninformed and intolerant African dictators. I say so because the same photo used by us had frequently been deployed by AP, CNN, AFP, Reuters and others. No penalties imposed.
I am not trying to be sentimental, but I doubt that Facebook understands our struggles or that they even try to pretend to do so. For instance, FB is not concerned about the social upheaval in the Gambia!
"Well, I am just ranting! Facebook doesn't care anyway!"
Tuesday, 19 April 2016
EFCC arrests suspended PTAD DG, others for N2.5bn
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the suspended Director-General, of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, Nelly Mayshak, and three others – Yoab Youssoufou, Patricia Iyogun, and Ruth Imonikhe – for a N2.5bn fraud.
PTAD is an independent pension agency established in August 2013 to oversee management of pensions under the Defined Benefit Scheme for pensioners not transiting to the defined contributory scheme.
It will be recalled that Mayshak was last month placed on an indefinite suspension and investigated after it was discovered that she allegedly received N50m monthly in salary and allowances.
According to sources at the EFCC, investigations into the alleged fraud revealed that Mayshak allegedly misappropriated about N2bn that was left in the pensions account of the Head of the Civil Service, Nigeria Immigrations Service, Nigeria Customs Service, and Nigeria Prisons Service. She also allegedly embezzled about N500m meant as the take-off grant for PTAD.
The alleged scam, which borders on procurement fraud, was committed during her three-year tenure.
A detective at the anti-graft agency said Mayshak allegedly awarded several fictitious contracts to her cronies at PTAD, one of whom was her sister-in-law.
A source at the EFCC said, “In one instance, Mayshak allegedly approved N25,410,000 for the supply of 121,000,000 litres of fuel in one day when in fact there was no corresponding storage capacity, as PTAD only has storage capacity of about 11,000 litres, which lasts for about a month.
“Mayshak is alleged to have awarded several phony contracts to cronies and staff of PTAD, means through which she used to enrich herself as they only served as fronts for her.
“Between December 8 and 30, 2014 she awarded multiple contracts to one company – Interactive Wide Nigeria Limited - to the tune of N29,377,993.26. Contracts for the supply of office materials, air conditioners, and conference materials to the tune of N375, 704,287 were awarded to Belzacode, Hosley Nigeria Limited, and Pabak Nigeria Limited.”
PDP shuts down its official Twitter account
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shut down @PdpNigeria, its official and verified Twitter handle. Chinwe Nnorom, the party’s head of publicity division, confirmed this in a statement, saying the public will soon be informed of a new Twitter account.
Nnorom said all tweets and communication from @PDPNigeria no longer represent the position of the party.
“The general public may wish to recall that the official twitter handle of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) @PDPNigeria was compromised sometime last year and a statement was issued to that regard to alert unsuspecting members of the public,” the statement read.
“However, in view of the recent activities on the handle, I have been directed again to emphasise the shutdown of this twitter account. All tweets and any communication from the handle @PDPNigeria does not represent the views of the Party forthwith.
“We will inform the general public of a new twitter account soon. Thanks for your understanding.”
The account has been known for taking a hard stance on the current administration, and making controversial statements in recent times.
The account alleged that President Buhari’s wife, Aisha; and his media aide, Garba Shehu, received dollars from the Central Bank of Nigeria at the official rate for the purpose of reselling it on the black market.
The account also alleged on Tuesday that Buhari’s daughter flies first class while his ministers fly Business class.
Budget: People with HIV threaten to protest at National Assembly
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The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria has threatened to stage a protest at the National Assembly over the slashing of the budget provided for HIV people.
The National Coordinator of NEPWHAN, Mr. Victor Omoshehin, said this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.
The association also called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to sign the recently passed budget until the National Assembly replaces items it tempered with in the budget.
The N14bn budget proposed by the executive for HIV/AIDS treatment in 2016 was pruned down to N800m by the legislators.
The group queried the rationale behind the reduction in the budget to provide drugs for the about 3.5 million HIV/AIDS living with the virus while it could conveniently approve over N3bn to buy cars for itself.
Omoshehin said it was appalling that the legislators could so afford to toy with the lives of the Nigerian people, especially the young ones living with HIV/AIDS.
He said, “The President should not assent to the bill because the peoples’ concerns have not been addressed. President Muhammadu Buhari should not sign this budget that the national assembly has made provision of N3.6 billion to buy exotic cars while they just allocate N1.5 billion to care for people living with HIV.
"We cannot continue to depend on from partners. We are Nigerians and not Americans. We pay our taxes to the Federal and state government of Nigeria. So, Nigerian government should take responsibility of the people living with HIV in the country."
Ibrahim Babangida Seriously Sick, can’t walk
Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), is reportedly seriously ill, a source close to his hilltop mansion in Minna, the Niger State capital, informed THISDAY yesterday. According to the source, the former military president has been ill for a while, resulting in his inability to attend most public functions.
THISDAY could not ascertain the real cause of his illness, but the source apart from saying that it was age-related, added that the former military president might be suffering from a relapse of the radiculopathy disease (a spinal cord disorder) which has troubled the former Nigerian leader since he was head of state.
According to the source, Babangida most times is unable to walk unaided without a walking stick or the assistance of his security personnel.
The illness of the former military president became public last week when he attended the valedictory dinner for the former Niger State Chief Judge, Justice Fati Lami Abubakar and was aided out of the venue before the end of the event.
It was said that Babangida now travels to Abuja frequently where he receives medical attention and has cut down on receiving visitors at his home.
The source also said he has emaciated a lot and also looks pale.
Babangida was Nigeria’s military president for eight years, but was forced to stepped down after he annulled the 1993 presidential election believed to have been won by the late Chief MKO Abiola.
Monday, 18 April 2016
Wild turkeys terrorise American community, destroy properties
Why won't they attack Americans when they keep shouting 'animal rights' up and down? Anyway, in Teaneck, New Jersey, a mob of badly-behaved birds are roaming the streets and wreaking havoc on hapless residents.
Courtney Lopchinsky told CBS 2 that one of the pugnacious poultry tore through her kitchen window as she was eating dinner with her young children. “I grabbed the kids and we literally ran for our lives out of the house because we were so scared,” she said. “All of a sudden it went straight through the window and we were covered in glass.”
The turkey caused an estimated $6,000 worth of property damage before being chased away. He is believed to be part of a pack of five foul-tempered fowl that have been stirring up trouble throughout the neighbourhood.
“They’re like gangster turkeys,” said Courtney. “They terrorize kids at bus stops and chase people to their cars!”
New Jersey Fish and Wildlife are on the case, working to trap and relocate the bad-ass birds, but Health Officer Ken Katter encouraged residents to avoid the turkeys in the meantime, as they are particularly aggressive during mating season.
“Start by not confronting turkeys to start with; you can chase them away making noises, water hoses, or even your leashed dog,” he said.
Cultists stone ex-convict to death in Osun
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There was panic in Tinumola Estate in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Monday following the killing of a 25-year-old ex-convict identified simply as Deji.
According to PUNCH, Deji was killed in front of a residential building on Sunday by some cult members, who trailed him to where he had gone to relax. Some residents of the area said the victim’s head was smashed with stones. He was said to have died on the spot.
A police source told our correspondent that the killing might be as a result of an argument between the deceased and those who murdered him.
His corpse was said to have been removed by a team of policemen on patrol and deposited in a mortuary in Osogbo.
Our correspondent observed some bloodstains at the scene. Also, some big stones were seen around the bloodstains.
A source close to Deji later told our correspondent that Deji, who came out of prison about three years ago, was expelled from the Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke.
The source added, “He finished serving his prison term about three years ago and impregnated a lady. He moved out of his parents’ house to start living on his own after he impregnated the lady. They were living together with their child when he was killed.
“His father and mother were civil servants and they only heard about the death of their son when they called his number around 11.40pm on Sunday.”
The source added that Deji was the only son of his parents and his father was no longer working because one of his legs was recently amputated as a result of diabetics.
Joke of the day
A teacher in Ogbomosho asked his students, 1+1= ?. A student stood up and said 4. An Ijebuman passing by overheard the response , he shook his head and said: "This APC government will kill us in this country, everything has increased: dollar, transport fare, fuel prices, foodstuff,...everything, even 1+1 that used to be 2 has now gone up to 4. Everything in Nigeria has increased, even the voice that usually say "to copy this tune press one" is now saying "to copy this tune press eleven".
Pictures: Lagos govt arrests pedestrians crossing the expressway
Saraki’s trial: Senators summon tribunal Judge
It seems this current Senate will stop at nothing to thwart the case against Senate President Bukola Saraki. Last week, they started making moves to amend the Act establishing the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
According to a fresh report by the Nation newspapers, senators may have set the stage for a major confrontation between them and the CCT over Saraki’s trial for alleged falsification of assets.
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions yesterday summoned CCT Chairman Justice Danladi Umar over allegations of corruption against him.
In a letter signed yesterday by the Clerk of the Committee, Freedom Odolo, the Senate asked Justice Umar to appear unfailingly by 2pm on Thursday. But Justice Umar replied the committee that he has a court sitting on Thursday and throughout the week.
He said he would not be available until after the court sittings, which is on Saraki’s trial. The invitation letter was delivered to the CCT chairman shortly after he ruled that the tribunal will be sitting daily from 9am to 6pm.
The committee said: “Your letter with reference number CCT/HQ/ 126/S/ 111/ 515 dated 1st April, 2016 in which you requested for more time to enable you attend the hearing was received.
“After due consideration of your request, the Committee rescheduled the hearing to give you at least two weeks from the 4th of April when you should have appeared.
“Accordingly, you are now required to appear unfailingly as follows: Thursday, 21st April, 2016, Meeting Room 120 New Senate Building, National Assembly Complex. Time: 2pm
“Please, remember to come personally along with 12 copies of any written submission you may wish to present.”
A source said: “The battle line is drawn between the Senate and the CCT chairman. Some Senators are angry over his decision to allow the tribunal to sit from 9am to 6pm.
“They saw the CCT Chairman’s decision as a plot to deny Saraki any opportunity to preside over the Senate plenary throughout his trial. Now, these Senators have also launched a counter-attack against the CCT chairman by revisiting the outstanding petition against the judge.
“Shortly after the CCT chairman decided to be sitting daily till 6pm, a letter came from the Senate Committee inviting Justice Umar on the outstanding petition against him.”
But a source in CCT said: “The judge has asked the Registrar of the tribunal to write the Senate committee that he has a court sitting on Thursday and throughout the week and won’t be able to honour the summons.
“The CCT Chairman’s letter was sent last night to the committee.”
(Pictures) Linda Ikeji and Wizkid at Police Commissioner's office
Twitter boils over Wizkid, Linda Ikeji beef and it’s hilarious
The beef between musician, Wizkid, and blogger, Linda Ikeji, was quashed at the office of the Lagos State Police Commissioner this afternoon with Wizkid tendering an apology to the blogger. However, the picture Wizkid took with the police commissioner became a talking point on Twitter and the hashtag, ‘Aunty Linda’ was created. And people again dragged Linda Ikeji again.
EFCC arraigns American for $2.3m visa scam
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an American businessman, Marco Ramirez, alongside his companies -- Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now LLC -- on eight counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretences to the tune of $2.3m.
Ramirez was arraigned before Justice Peter Affen of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Maitama on Monday, according to a statement by the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren.
According to the complainants, Prince Ejikeme Mgbemena and Frank Egbon, the suspect allegedly promised them that he would invest the money under the Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Based Fifth Preference (EB-5).
The complainants further alleged that the suspect promised to provide American Green Card for members of their families below 18 years.
The charges read in part, “That you Marco Anthonio Ramirez, being the Manager of Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA NOW LLC and you EAGLE Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now LLC on or about May 21, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud obtained through an account titled Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP domiciled at Wells Fargo Bank USA the sum of $55,000 from one Ejikeme Mgbemena under the pretext of investing for him under the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) Regional Center Program with pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.’’
The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Samuel A. Ugwuegbulam, asked the court for a date for trial.
Consequently, Justice Affen adjourned the case till May 21, 2016 for hearing of bail application and ordered the accused to be remanded in the EFCC custody.
Wizkid mocks Linda Ikeji again, poses with Lagos police commissioner
The never-ending feud between Wizkid and Linda Ikeji continued again today with Wizkid indirectly daring the blogger to do her worst. I’m sure you’re aware that Linda Ikeji wrote a petition against Wizkid and submitted it to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai owoseni.
However, Wizkid responded this afternoon by posting a picture he took with the police boss on his Instagram and he wrote, “With the Hon Commissioner of Lagos Police!!! Police is ur friend! 🌊🌊 #youngPablo!!
Controversial Uganda Professor Strips Naked After Being Locked Out Of Her Office
Dr. Stella Nyanzi ,a firm anti-Museveni activist has become an instant online sensation after she stripped naked to protest the locking of her office by an executive director at the Makerere University, a University in Uganda.
She claimed her boss was forcing her to teach at the university while she was only contracted to do research work and not teaching. She later went on Facebook to post the video and captioned it: .
“I have thrown my clothes outside Prof. Mamdani’s office. I am naked as I cry out for my office." She also chained herself before the university gave in to her demands and let her back to the office. She was initially removed from her office after she refused to teach in the MPhil/PhD program..
Drama ensued when one of her bosses,Prof Mahmood Mamdani asked her to vacate her office because she had refused to partake in a PhD programme at the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR).
The scholar,known for her controversial remarks on Uganda’s leadership shared photos of her locked office on her social media accounts and termed the action as ‘’Oppression’’ before threatening to undress and finally getting down to real action and stripped naked.
Ethics Minister Rev Fr Lokodo orders for her arrest
Meanwhile, Uganda's State minister for Ethics Simon Lokodo has called for the arrest of Dr Nyanzi for stripping in public.
China develops home-grown human-like robot
Can you spot who is the human and who is the real human bring in this picture? I’m sure it’s very difficult. China’s University of Science and Technology released a human-like robot that is comparable to Japanese models seen in the past on Friday. Not only does it have the face of a beautiful woman, it also capable of interacting with people next to “her.”
Named “Jia Jia,” the face of the life-sized robot is drawn from five attractive female students from the university. Equipped with basic functions, such as making conversation, facial expressions, as well as gestures, it’s apparently more than Siri with a pretty face.
Before Jia Jia, Japanese engineer Hiroshi Ishiguro made his name in the field of making life-like robotics. A notable development from him is the Actroid, a humanoid robot with a lifelike appearance and visible behavior, such as facial movements.
Ex-wife of 9ice, Toni Payne, and other 'victims' blast Linda Ikeji over Wizkid
I’m sure by now you’re all aware that popular blogger, Linda Ikeji, has reported Wizkid to the Lagos State Police Command over his threat to attack her. Wizkid had come hard on Linda two weeks ago for writing a story about a purported quit notice given to him by his landlord. Wizkid then alleged that Linda was a wayward lady who had slept with his director.
Linda then took to her blog yesterday to explain that she was taking up a case against Wizkid in defence of women’s rights.
However, the ex-wife of 9ice, Toni Payne, and a few other Nigerians who claimed to have been victims of Linda Ikeji’s style of reporting, came hard on her including fans of Wizkid.
See more tweets after the cut
Policemen extort money from poor widow to investigate her daughter’s murder
Mercy Nnah, from Iton Ikono, in the Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has been a widow since 2003 and has been single-handedly raising her five children. However, she recently lost her 18-year-old daughter, Miss Gift Nnah, after the young girl was killed by hoodlums. Unfortunately policemen attached to the Akwa Ibom State Police Command still went ahead to extort N10,000 from the poor woman.
She has therefore called on Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mrs. Martha Emmanuel, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Gloria Edet, and other relevant agencies to come to her aid.
According to the widow, every attempt to get justice through the police has proved abortive, despite the fact that the police have extort money from her.
She told PUNCH on Sunday in her one-room rented apartment that she parted with N10,000 before she was taken to Ikpatex mortuary at Ibesikpo, where her daughter was deposited and the spot where she was thrown out of a tricycle.
She added that her late daughter had on the day of her death gone out without informing her to get her mobile phone from a male friend who had earlier taken the phone for repairs.
“Late in the evening, around 9pm, we received a call. The caller introduced himself as a police officer and asked us to come to Owot Uta Village in Ibesikpo LGA, that my daughter had an accident.
“Early in the morning the next day, we succeeded in calling the number again and we were asked to come to the police station.
“There, we met a tricycle rider whose name was given simply as Ntiense. He claimed that he was hired by three passengers along Aka Road, Uyo, to Ibesikpo, the two male passengers, according to him were unknown, but the female passenger was my daughter.
“The tricycle man further told me that he heard someone fell out of the vehicle as they were going and when he turned to check, he was ordered at gun point to keep moving. He claimed to have taken refuge in someone’s house after being threatened to park his tricycle and run away.
“On his return to pick up his tricycle, the landlady of the compound suspected him and raised the alarm, which alerted community members, who invited and handed him over to the police,” she said.
The bereaved mother explained that her daughter’s friend, Mr. Simeon Friday, who she allegedly went to see, claimed they parted ways earlier in the evening after handing over the phone to her.
Friday, according to her, had been remanded in prison custody alongside Ntiense.
The woman, who expressed lack of confidence in the police noted that the police, who earlier advised her to seek an out-of-court settlement, later charged the case to court.
According to her, she does not understanding what was going on, and does not have the finances to fund further issues as may be demanded by the police or court.
“I live in one room with the children; as I speak with you now, the landlord has asked us to pack out. I lost my husband since 2003 and I have no one to speak for me. I have no money to settle the mortuary bills or buy coffin to bury my daughter,” she said.
She stated that the doctor, who had explained the autopsy result to her at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, said the daughter, as revealed by the report was badly hit, with her tongue out, before being thrown out of the tricycle.
When contacted, the IPO in charge of the case, who pleaded anonymity, said he was not in position to speak on the matter, but merely mentioned that the murder case had been charged to court and the case file forwarded to the DPP.
25 Born-Again Christians who cheated during WAEC exams return their certificates
NO fewer than 25 former candidates who sat for either the school or privates examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and are born again Christians have returned their certificate claiming it was acquired through fraudulent means.
Some of those who returned their certificates sat for the exams as far back as 1980 (36 years ago).
According to The Sun newspapers, the affected born again former candidates in obeying the Christian doctrine of seeking for restitution, approached WAEC, through letters and personal visits to the council, seeking for restitution after they had confessed how they acquired their certificates when they wrote the examinations at various periods.
A senior staff of WAEC disclosed that the council wrote to the candidates explaining what they were expected to do which is to return the certificates in accordance with the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of the examinations.
Investigations revealed that those who complied with the directive returned their certificates to various WAEC offices nationwide, and the council took their cases to the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC), which met recently in Lagos and cancelled the returned 25 certificates.
The one-page WAEC document revealed that the returned certificates by the born again Christians are for both the May/June (school exam) and November/December (private candidates) West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Breakdown of the year
the examinations were taken revealed that the oldest certificates dates back to June 1980 with certificates dated 1986 for Nov/Dec with certificates nos NGPO497232 and NGO 442267 and three obtained in 1989, all for school examinations with certificates nos NGPO 1004584, NGPO 823128 and NGO 1002145.
In the1993 Nov/Dec exam, two candidates sought restitution and returned their certificates, while 1994, 1997,1999, 2000, 2006, 2008,and 2009, one person each returned their certificates. In 2001, three did so, in 2003 (two), 2004 (three) and in the May/June school examinations, two candidates returned their certificates
Seventeen of former WAEC candidates that returned their certificates wrote the May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) and eight sat for the Nov/Dec WASSCE.
A former principal and now proprietor of Royal Academy International, Oshodi, Mr. Olatunji Ogunmode, commended the candidates for seeking restitution after many years of acquiring the certificates, and urged several others to obey the Biblical command. Ogunmode warned other candidates in future
WAEC exams to stay clear of examination malpractices, noting that if they were not caught in the classroom for exam fraud, nemesis would certainly catch up with them, no matter how long it takes.
Pastor Miracle Wisdom said the 25 former WAEC candidates by returning the certificates they acquired wrongly are obeying the Christian doctrine by seeking for restitution, and that no matter how long it took them to come forward, their past sins are forgiven.
Wisdom was however silent on what happens to higher certificates the 25 candidates used the WAEC certificates to acquire, nothing “the most important thing is that they came forward to admit how they passed their exams. It is a welcome development, it would make others not to engage in exam fraud.’’
The pastor said there are several verses in the Bible to support restitution which conform to what the 25 born
again Christians did by confessing their sins and seeking for restitution from WAEC. John 1:9 says ‘’If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’’.
While Number 5:6-7 says ’’When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the Lord, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed.[a] And he shall make full restitution for his wrong.’’
Sad: Young female lawyer dies seven days to her wedding
A young Nigerian lawyer in her 20s, Akpowene Emakpo, had gone to her Facebook page on March 29 to invite her friends to her wedding that would take place on April 9 and April 16. However, two days after, her Facebook page was filed with RIP messages.
Her traditional wedding was scheduled to hold in Cross River state on Saturday (April 9).
The ceremonies did not hold as the young Nigerian lawyer died before the scheduled date , reports say.
We don’t know the cause of Emakpo’s death.
Her husband-to-be, Elvis Etta Enagu and his family are mourning the loss of what will never be.
Emakpo’s family also mourns.
The church wedding was planned to hold at CKC Catholic Church in Calabar, Cross River.
This is really sad.
May God grant both families the fortitude to bear this great loss.
Rest in peace Akpowene Emakpo.
Who knew Obanikoro had such a beautiful granddaughter?
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro’s daughter, Ashanti Rose Moroophat Omolola, turned 13 on Saturday. And her father, Babajide, took to his Facebook page to wish her a happy birthday.
He wrote, “Watching you grow has been a delightful and joyous series, as you grow older, I ask God that you grow fabulously in age, and that your path should end in good health, happiness and fulfilment.”
Sunday, 17 April 2016
Lagos policeman nearly kills 2 children and six others over false alarm
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| The victims on the left and the accuser (right) |
If not for the wealth of experience of Police Inspector, Christian Onawona, attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command, six innocent people including two children, would have been shot and mistaken for robbers by operatives at Ogudu Ori-Oke, Ogudu, Lagos.
A woman, Lauretta Ehon, had suddenly run to inform RRS operatives patrolling the axis at about 5.30pm over the weekend, that some armed robbers just snatched her Toyota Camry car 2012. Immediately, the police officer followed her to give the supposed fleeing robbers a chase.
On the trail of the robbers, there was a hectic traffic but in order to catch up with the thieves, the officer alighted from his official vehicle and mounted a motor bike to chase the acclaimed reported robbers.
However, the occupants of the car, which was being chased never had an inkling that they were on the verge of being mistaken for robbery and that the police were trailing them.
In order to prevent the robbers from taking the vehicle with registration number, EP 932 KRD away, the officer shot into the air. Upon hearing the gunshot fired by the officer, the driver of the vehicle applied the brakes instantly.
Then, the police officer cautiously approached the supposedly stolen vehicle only to discover that the occupants were three women, one male and two children. At this point, the police officer got to know that the complainant raised a false alarm.
The occupants of the vehicle were, Sekinat Sanni, Wasiu Balogun, Bisola Balogun and Rukayat Joseph. The little children were, Sameer Balogun and Motunrayo Joseph of one and two year old respectively; a family going on social outing.
The story later turned out to be far from the truth. What really transpired between the woman that raised false alarm and the owner of the 2012 Camry car was a mere business transaction which occurred about six years ago.
The husband to the woman who raised false alarm and the owner of the car transacted a business which had to do with clearing of a Tokunbo car . Unfortunately, the vehicle went into demurrage after the client (Mr Ehon) paid the clearing agent, (Mr Balogun). And the two had settled the matter amicably as they both worked in the same company in Apapa.
But to his paranoid wife, she had promised that she will collect the money from the clearing agent whenever she sets eyes on him.
On the day of the incident, the woman saw him and started threatening to snuff life out of him. But unknowingly to the woman, the man was not inside the car when she raised the false alarm but his family members were the occupants of the car.
In her reaction, one of the lucky occupants of the car, Bisola Balogun, who was visibly elated, said that she was full of praises to the officer who pursued them for not have misused his firearm.
"In fact, I am still at shock. If it were to be another police officer, it is possible that he might have shot our car and anything could have happened. We thank God and appreciate the officer for applying uncommon wisdom in handling the matter", she added.
According to the Police PPRO, Dolapo Badmos, the police officer showed experience and bravery in handling the issue, if not for him, the entire event could have turned against the police.
The woman has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for prosecution.
Friday, 15 April 2016
UNICAL expels 33 students for exam malpractice; sacks professor for plagiarism
The Management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), has expelled 33 students and retired a Professor for alleged examination malpractices and plagiarism respectively.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Zana Akpagu, disclosed this during a briefing in Calabar. He stressed that UNICAL was the only institution offering an anti-corruption course introduced in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practice and other Allied Matters Commission (ICPC) to inculcate good values in students.
Prof Akpagu said the expulsions and retirement were in tandem with his mission to rid the school of indiscipline and restore its academic glory. He reiterated management’s stance against corruption, saying: “The affected students and staff are shown the way out to restore discipline and integrity.”
The Pro-chancellor, Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who is also the chairman of the Governing Council, said the council is in support of the anti-corruption crusade of the VC, noting that it was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s anti-graft policy.
Iwuanyanwu said: “There is corruption everywhere. Our professors and intellectuals should sit down and formulate strategies to curb academic corruption. We must create a platform to stop abuse of students by lecturers. We have to discourage sorting and bribery by academic staff. We don’t want corruption to be mentioned with the name of this University.”
Iwuanyanwu challenged the University staff and students to report corrupt practices wherever they notice any. He said such would help the management to drive its policy of making the school the best in Africa.
DPO demoted and transferred for beating up female officer
The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Ikenne Division area of Ogun State, Patrick Onwu, who beat up a female traffic warden for flagging down his private car at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC filling station, IBB Boulevard, Abeokuta, last week has been demoted.
According to PM News, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, on Thursday ordered his demotion and immediate transfer of the DPO.
Patrick Onwu, last Wednesday went wild and beat a female traffic officer, Inspector Anifat Bello to coma for allegedly stopping his private vehicle.
According to reports, the DPO was on mufti and had allegedly disobeyed the traffic law.
He allegedly pounced on the traffic warden, Inspector Anifat Bello, who was discharging her official duty.
According to eyewitnesses, he beat her to coma. He then drove his car into a nearby filling station, FATGBEMS, also along the road, parked his vehicle and changed into his uniform.
It was learnt that Anifat Bello been severally honored for her dedication to duty.
AMCON to freeze Ifeanyi Ubah’s accounts
The Federal High Court, Lagos Division, on Wednesday granted the application of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria for an interim injunction freezing the accounts Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited owned by Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah.
Justice M. B. Idris, while granting the exparte order on the application of Mr. A. B. Mahmoud SAN, counsel for AMCON, restrained Capital Oil and Gas and Ubah from dealing with any assets or funds of the company within the jurisdiction of the court.
The court also made an order freezing all the bank accounts of the company until the matter is finally determined.
AMCON purchased nearly N100bn debt of Capital Oil and Gas from several banks and has been in protracted negotiation and court battles with Ubah, who is a major player in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.
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