Nicki Minaj clashes down with Teen Mum Farrah Abraham on Twitter
On Sunday, Nicki Minaj and Farrah Abraham got into an unexpected Twitter feud after Minaj called out the "Teen Mom" star for being disrespectful to her mother.
The heated exchange went down while Minaj was watching the MTV show.
Police force-feed thief dozens of bananas to pass out a stolen chain he swallowed
Indian police s successfully deployed an unusual technique to retrieve a gold chain that a thief had swallowed while officers were in hot pursuit — they force-fed him more than 40 bananas.
The man denied snatching the chain from a woman in the street in Mumbai and swallowed it in a desperate bid to conceal his crime last week, but hospital X-rays suggested otherwise.
Police in the western Indian city administered an enema which failed to yield the desired result.
Doctors said an operation would be the best way forward, but police officers decided it would be too expensive and opted instead for the bananas.
“He was fed more than 40 bananas throughout the day,” Mumbai police Senior Inspector Shankar Dhanavade told AFP.
“Eventually the chain was found. We made him wash and disinfect it,” the policeman added.
The 25-year-old man appeared in court on Friday and is in police custody, said Dhanavade.
According to reports, it was not the first time Mumbai police had turned to the fruit in order to recover a stolen item.
In July last year a chain was retrieved after a thief was made to eat two dozen bananas and drink several litres of milk laced with laxatives, the Hindustan Times reported.
Months earlier in April, a thief was fed five dozen bananas after swallowing a gold chain with a large pendant.
The thief successfully excreted the loot. But the disgusted victim refused to touch it and instead took it to a jeweller in a plastic bag, the newspaper said.
The Vanguard
Go, bring balance of N70m, EFCC tells Jafaru Isah
*Refund doesn’t prevent prosecution, Magu says
By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission confirmed on Monday that it had retrieved N100 million out of the N170 million traced to the account of the former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, Mr. Jafaru Isah.
Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, confirmed the retrieval of the cash from Isah, adding that it was the partial refund that informed his administrative bail to enable him to go and source for the balance.
Magu, who made the disclosure in response to criticism that he quickly released the APC chieftain and close associate of President Buhari while holding onto Olisa Metuh of the opposition PDP, said that the refund was not a guaranty that the suspect would not be prosecuted for receiving public funds illegally.
Jafaru-Isa
There has been a furore over the ‘sudden’ release of Isah from EFCC custody while other suspects duly granted bail by the courts, are still being held by the anti-graft agency.
The opposition PDP believes its key figures, who received huge cash from the office of the National Security Adviser and are being detained by the EFCC, are being persecuted notwithstanding their admission that they indeed, received the said cash for election purposes.
But in the case of Jafaru Isah, the amount of N170 million traced to him is said to have been paid by the embattled ex-NSA, Sambo Dasuki, to enable him to acquire a property in Kano State for him.
The deal, it was gathered did not go through, as a member of the Jonathan cabinet paid a higher amount of money for the same building which Isah was billed to buy for Dasuki.
Isah, who was arrested by the EFCC last week, is said to be a close friend of Dasuki and a political associate of President Buhari, although Buhari did not know about the N170 million deal with Dasuki.
The Presidency immediately distanced itself from Isah upon his arrest, making it clear that it would not interfere in his prosecution by the EFCC.
Why we’ve not arrested Jonathan — EFCC boss
By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor, Henry Umoru, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke
ABUJA—The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC explained, yesterday, why it has not arrested former President Goodluck Jonathan following startling revelations on how the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd) allegedly disbursed over $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase to various individuals.
Alarmed by the revelations, the National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has, however, asked Dr Jonathan to speak out.
This came as the anti-graft commission disclosed that one of the beneficiaries, the former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, Mr. Jafaru Isah had returned N100m out of the N170m he collected and was given administrative bail to source for the balance of N70m.
Another beneficiary, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and leader of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Chief Olu Falae however insisted that he would not refund the N100 million he collected from Chief Tony Anenih, which was said to have come from Dasuki.
Facts have also emerged how former Chairman of Board of Trustees, BoT of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih and Chief Olu Falae entered into a working relationship prior to the 2015 presidential election.
Explaining why the former president has not been arrested while speaking with online news publishers yesterday, in Lagos, the EFCC boss, Mr Ibrahim Magu said that no document has been traced to Jonathan giving any approval for the disbursement of the money for any purpose other than arms purchase.
He said that all those questioned so far in connection with the money were people who disbursed or collected it for reasons other than the purchase of arms and ammunition.
“All approvals by former president Jonathan did not mention that it was for political purposes.
All the memos approved by him were for the purchase of arms,” he said.
Speaking about Olisa Metuh, the EFCC boss revealed that the national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party said he would rather go on hunger strike than refund the N400 million he allegedly collected from Dasuki.
Maga also said that Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former boss of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, was recently re-arrested after new evidences of alleged embezzlement of N34.5 billion and another N600 million were linked to him.
The EFCC chairman stressed that the war against graft was not selective and assured Nigerians that his agency was not teleguided in the ongoing anti-corruption fight.
According to PDP, since former President Jonathan was still alive, he should come out and explain to Nigerians whether he authorized his former National Security Adviser to distribute money meant to fight Boko Haram into his campaign.
Addressing Journalists yesterday in Abuja, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Abdullahi Jalo said, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is alive, he should clarify whether he asked the National Security Adviser to distribute money meant to fight Boko Haram into his campaign.
According to Jalo, “Jonathan is alive, he should clarify whether he asked the National Security Adviser to distribute money meant to fight Boko Haram into his campaign. What is important for one to know is that former President Goodluck Jonathan is alive. Has he ever said go and take the money for arms meant for Boko Haram to campaign for me? Is there anytime that Jonathan asked for anything from either Dasuki to go and distribute this money meant for fighting Boko Haram for his campaign?
“As you all know, no single kobo will be spent by the federal government or former President Goodluck Jonathan without the Act of the National Assembly. Some people however decided to divert this money to something else.
“Darkness has now come to light, we have now discovered that it is not only PDP members who collected the money but those in APGA collected, Falae collected, Tanko Yakasai collected. They all collected the money under the guise that they are campaigning for Goodluck Jonathan.
“It is known to us that money meant for campaign are given to the national chairmen of various political parties. We had a dinner in the banquet hall where some billions were collected meant for campaign for Jonathan. That money was meant for campaign. Dangote, Otedola and others donated. So why would somebody tell us that you are taking money meant to fight Boko Haram, which is from an Act of the National Assembly. Any money appropriated is coming from consolidated account of the federal government and its usage must be meant for that”.
The PDP which also disowned the embattled National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh who has remained detained by the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said that as a party, it will not fight for his bail and others who have been alleged to be involved in the arms deal scam because they did that on personal levels and not on the platform of the party.
According to Jalo, “the issue of bail does not have anything to do with PDP. Let them tell us how much they have brought to PDP, to the national chairman and the money used for campaign, we want to know from them.
“PDP has nothing to do with individuals that used their companies to get money. PDP has no company, it is a political platform. There is PDP account and they did not even inform the PDP that they had received this money, they just went and slept with their families eating eggs and rice.”
Jalo who noted that public should not misconstrue the unfolding issues with that of the PDP, said that individuals that were presently involved, accessed public funds through their various private companies and not the PDP even though they were members of the party. He added that the Arms fund were an appropriation of the National Assembly to which the former President and Dasuki Sambo were aware of and were aware of the limit of using the funds other than what it was meant for.
The PDP deputy National Publicity Secretary said, “There are a lot of outcries against our members that have been taken to court because they received money from what we called Dasukigate or arms deal.
“The former acting National Chairman, Dr. Bello Haliru, who was taken to court is now on bail, he has a company Pam Proper and Property limited, he was given N600 million under a registered company of Corporate Affairs Commission, you can find out what the contract was meant for. Has he done what he was asked to do with the N600 million?
“Olisa Metuh’s company is Destral investment limited, he was given a job of N400 million. What has that got to do with PDP, you can bear me witness, when Olisa was accusing Lai Mohammed that he collected a contract from one of the states in the West, even Lai Mohammed took him to court, so now the hunter is now the hunted. Lai’s case has not been proved, Olisa is under investigation.
“Let us put the record straight. We want anyone of these people that have been accused whether in PDP, APGA or APC to come out and tell us that the money they collected, was given to PDP or their party. When he was given this money was he given the money to go and campaign for Jonathan, if yes let him show us the paper, let him present an evidence, but whoever was given this money should know that this money was not meant for that, it was meant for arms purchase.
“Thank God the party has kept quiet deliberately, maybe, because some have benefited. If we cannot clean the party now, the future is going to be bleak.
“If the Legal Adviser of PDP, rushes to go and bail out Olisa Metuh now he is doing the wrong thing, because he has to separate the party and Olisa as an individual.
Go, bring balance of N170m cash traced to you, EFCC tells Jafaru Isah
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission confirmed on Monday that it had retrieved N100 million out of the N170 million traced to the account of the former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, Mr. Jafaru Isah.
The Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, confirmed the retrieval of the cash from Isah, adding that it was the partial refund that informed his administrative bail to enable him to go and source for the balance.
Magu, who made the disclosure in response to criticism that he quickly released the APC chieftain and close associate of President Buhari while holding onto Olisa Metuh of the opposition PDP, said that the refund was not a guaranty that the suspect would not be prosecuted for receiving public funds illegally.
Jafaru Isah
There has been a furore over the ‘sudden’ release of Isah from EFCC custody while other suspects duly granted bail by the courts, are still being held by the anti-graft agency.
The opposition PDP believes its key figures, who received huge cash from the office of the National Security Adviser and are being detained by the EFCC, are being persecuted notwithstanding their admission that they indeed, received the said cash for election purposes.
But in the case of Jafaru Isah, the amount of N170 million traced to him is said to have been paid by the embattled ex-NSA, Sambo Dasuki, to enable him to acquire a property in Kano State for him.
The deal, it was gathered did not go through, as a member of the Jonathan cabinet paid a higher amount of money for the same building which Isah was billed to buy for Dasuki.
Isah, who was arrested by the EFCC last week, is said to be a close friend of Dasuki and a political associate of President Buhari, although Buhari did not know about the N170 million deal with Dasuki.
The Presidency immediately distanced itself from Isah upon his arrest, making it clear that it would not interfere in his prosecution by the EFCC.
An aide of the President told Vanguard in confidence that although Jafaru Isah was a close political ally of President Buhari, the first citizen would nonetheless remain neutral in the matter in line with his avowed position to deal decisively with corruption.
While describing Isah as a political ally, who had been with Buhari from the days of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party to the Congress for Progressive Change, the aide made it clear that the long relationship did not in any way suggest that Buhari was associated with the collection of N170 million from the Office of the National Adviser by the embattled politician.
The aide said: “It is true that Isah has been with Buhari from the days of the ANPP and CPC and was equally a member of the Transition Committee and actually headed the Defence Committee but that does not mean that Buhari knows anything about the N100 million said to have been collected by the man from the ONSA.”
Jafaru, who was a military administrator of Kaduna State from December 1993 to August 1996 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha and one-time governorship candidate of the defunct CPC in Kano State, is also described as a close friend of the embattled ex-NSA, Dasuki, who is facing multiple charges over money laundering and breach of public trust in three courts.
Arms deal :I won’t return N100 million, says Chief Falae
National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Olu Falae, yesterday, said he would not refund the N100 million he collected from Chief Tony Anenih, which has been alleged to have come from the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.
Chief Falae, explained that the amount was given to him for onward delivery to his party, to assist sell ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid, saying it was not paid through the office of the former NSA.
To this end, he has asked the government to hold Anenih, former Board of Trustees of the PDP, the source of the money rather than either himself or his party.
Speaking at a press conference, in Abuja, through the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abdul Ahmed Isaiq, Falae insisted that his party would not return any money to the government coffers, since the money it got was neither from Col. Dasuki nor Office of the National Security Adviser.
He explained that the money was as a result of electoral alliance his party entered with the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, to deliver the then President Goodluck Jonathan in his re-election quest.
He said those who were returning money to the government were those who got money directly from the Office of the former NSA, saying he cannot be part, since he did not get the money from Dasuki or the office he was occupying.
*Chief Olu Falae
“In terms of refund of money, I want to say here that those people who are refunding money are those who got their money directly from the arms deal fund.
“Our fund did not come from the arms deal, our fund came from an electoral alliance with the PDP and we knew that the PDP had a fund raising committee that gathered billions of naira and PDP had been in government for 16 years.
“ So, with that, we knew that the PDP had the capacity to fund the alliance that was formed with them by the SDP, he explained.
“You don’t postulate what you don’t have on the ground, you can’t build on a non foundation.
“We, as a political party knew that the PDP was a capable hand in the electoral alliance which we entered with them. And we equally knew that the PDP had a fund raising, where it generated over N20 billion down.
“So, whether the money came from Col. Sambo Dasuki or his office, is what we don’t know and it is left for them to ask Chief Tony Anenih to explain, “he added.
He emphasized:” “We knew that the PDP had been ruling Nigeria for 16 years. So, this was the basis of our electoral alliance with them.
“We can’t refund any money to anybody because the money we got as a party came because of the alliance we had with the PDP and we have the agreement note from this alliance.
“If it is possible that the money Chief Anenih gave us was from the arms deal, it is left for them to ask Chief Anenih to clarify. As far as we knew, we did not have any dealing with Dasuki.
“ Our office did not ever have anything to do with the office or person of the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki. “
Dr Abdul explained that prior to the 2015 presidential election, the SDP was approached by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP through its BOT chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, for electoral alliance for the re-election bid of the former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
He said Chief Olu Falae, being the national chairman of SDP, summoned the National Executive Committee, NEC of SDP to a well-attended meeting to consider the PDP’s proposal of electoral alliance for the re-election bid of the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, since SDP did not field a presidential candidate of its own, saying the money that the SDP was given, which he noted, was being alleged to have come from the arms deal fund, was as a result of the alliance.
He, however, said, his party was in full support of the ongoing fight against corruption, saying anyone found wanting should be prosecuted according to the laws of the land.
“If you look at the cardinal principles of the Social Democratic Party, one of the basic ones is that of zero tolerance to corruption. So, anywhere there is fight against corruption, SDP is in support, once it is done according to the ambit of the law.
“ In terms of the misappropriation of arms deal fund, as a party, I want to say that anybody who violates the law should face the consequences, “he added.
2015 presidential poll: How Anenih, Falae sealed PDP/SDP working cooperation
Fresh facts are beginning to emerge on how former Chairman of Board of Trustees, BoT of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and leader of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Chief Olu Falae entered into a working relationship prior to the 2015 presidential election.
A letter which was accessed by Vanguard yesterday buttressed the political marriage entered into by PDP with Chief Anenih on one hand and the National Chairman of the SDP, Chief Olu Falae on the other hand against the backdrop that the SDP had no presidential candidate for the 2015 Presidential election as there was the need for PDP’s candidate, former President Goodluck Jonathan to be supported.
The letter by Chief Tony Anenih, the then Chairman of PDP BoT was dated January 26, 2015 and it confirmed the claim by Chief Olu Falae that there was inter-party cooperation between the PDP and the SDP to support Jonathan’s presidential ambition.
The PDP through Chief Anenih had agreed to the six issues raised by the SDP before it could support the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in last year’s presidential election.
Falae, who admitted that he received on behalf of the SDP the sum of N100 million from the PDP through Anenih, following the agreement to work together, told an online newspaper-Premium Times-that the money was distributed to all the state branches of the SDP.
Chief Falae had also stated elsewhere that his party, which did not have a candidate for the presidential election, decided to work for the actualization of Jonathan’s re-election after the PDP agreed to the six issues it placed on the negotiation table.
Anenih’s letter had clearly responded to the six issues, thus paving the way for the PDP-SDP working cooperation.
The letter, entitled: “Inter-Party Co-operation” and signed by Anenih in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP reads: “I write to sincerely thank you for your letter dated January 23,2015, on the above subject matter.
“After due consultations with relevant stakeholders of our party, I am pleased to convey to you our decisions on the issues and to further inform you that the President and the leadership of our party have expressed delight and strong optimism to fully cooperate and work with the SDP in the circumstance.
“On the implementation of the report of the 2014 National Conference” that “Please be assured that the report of the National Conference will be implemented to the letter. We believe that having regards to the fact that the National Conference was a baby of the President, he is in a better position to implement it. And this is what he is doing.”
On “zero tolerance to corruption”, Anenih had responded thus : “There is no doubt that our party, the PDP and your party, the SDP, are on the same page on this issue. Apart from the fact that this administration has done more arrests, investigations, prosecutions and convictions of corrupt cases, the President has continuously laid emphasis on the need to develop an appropriate technology to comprehensively combat corruption and its vices.
“The approach, for example, has produced immense results in eliminating corruption that was associated with the distribution of fertilizers in Nigeria in the past.”
On “intensification of efforts to defeat insurgency”, he said: “it is the primary duty of Government to protect the lives and property of its citizens and secure the territorial integrity of the nation. This Government has consistently made efforts to deal with the challenges of Boko Haram who have established their operational base somewhere between some States in the North-East of the country and the boundary with some of our neighbouring African countries.
“Terrorism has become a global phenomenon and fighting it requires the co-operation of not just the entire citizens but the support of the international community. The President is working on this. In his recent visit to Borno and in a rally in Maiduguri few days ago, he assured the people that every inch of Nigerian soil currently under the control of insurgents will be recovered in no distant time.”
The Vanguard
‘I was hypnotized by pastor to steal company’s car’
LAGOS—Plans by a 25-year-old company driver to divert the company’s vehicle from Lagos State to Ogun State has been foiled by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, following his arrest alongside an alleged accomplice.
On interrogation, the suspect, Daniel Oguntade, alleged that he was hypnotized by his pastor (names withheld), to divert the company’s vehicle, a Toyota Hiace, 2014 model, with number plates EKY 463 DM.
Vanguard gathered that Oguntade was directed to pick up a client at the airport and, thereafter, drop N150,000 with other people on December 24, 2015.
Apprehension, however, set in when he did not return at 8p.m. as expected, with the visiting client stranded at the airport. Efforts to reach him proved abortive as he reportedly ignored several calls to his phone.
When the information reached Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, he reportedly directed the Commander, RRS, Olatunji Disu, to unearth the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the driver and the company’s vehicle.
With the collaboration of policemen at the Sango Area Command, Ogun State, the car was said to have been traced to Ifo in Sango, where the driver and a man, later discovered to be an electrician, were allegedly trying to disconnect the tracking device in the car.
Suspect’s story
Oguntade told Vanguard: “I had no intention of diverting the vehicle. My pastor talked me into doing it.
“I have been working for the company for three years without any soiled record. My salary is N60,000.
“I suspect I was hypnotized by my pastor (names withheld) because while I was on the Third Mainland Bridge at 11.30a.m., heading for the airport, I received two calls; one from my dad, informing that my mother was sick and the other from my Pastor, ordering me to report immediately at the church located at Adiyan, Ogun State.
“As if propelled by forces beyond me, I proceeded to the church in the company’s vehicle.
“On arrival, my pastor told me to drop the hampers in the church, even when I told him that my boss directed me to give them to some clients.
“He reminded me that that day was Imoke day, a special service day and asked me to join the service.
“A church member, Oyetade Ade, accompanied me to the fuel station to fill the tank. But to my surprise, the car refused to start while at the fuel station. Time was 7.30p.m.
Tracked down
“When I called my pastor to inform him about the development, he said I should tell my boss that the vehicle had been snatched by robbers, including the hampers and cash. I could not pick my calls when my boss called and when I eventually picked it, I could not talk.
“I never knew the vehicle had a tracking device. I thought it had an electrical fault that was why I called an electrician to repair it. To my surprise, RRS men swoop on us.”
Police sources told Vanguard that when invited, that the Pastor denied Oguntade’s claim.
The suspects were, yesterday, transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
The Vanguard
Nigeria: APC Chieftain , Jafaru Isa Returns N100 Million Collected From Dasuki
By Ismail Mudashir
Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Brigadier General Lawal Jafaru Isa (rtd) has returned N100m out of the N160m he received from the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, his aide has said.
Isa who is the political associate of President Muhammadu Buhari was arrested last Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over stolen funds traced to his account.
It was gathered that Isa who is the first member of the ruling APC to be fingered in Dasuki saga returned N100m on Friday via a UBA account.
One of his aides said the former military administrator of Kaduna state raised the draft and tendered it to the EFCC officials in Abuja.
He said the former Governor who was the Kano State flag bearer of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change(CPC) in 2011 elections pledged to return the balance of N60m as soon as possible.
"General raised a draft of N100m of UBA as part of the N160m he collected from Dasuki, his long time friend. He would soon return the balance of N60m.
" He returned the money when he was told that that money given to him by Dasuki to buy a house for him in Kano was a stolen money, " he said insisting that his boss did not know that the money was not Dasuki's personal fund.
He said General Isa couldn't have thought that the money was stolen since it was given to him in piecemeal.
"It was when Dasuki was planning to take a new wife that he asked his friend, General Isa to get him a befitting house in Kano. He had planned to keep the wife in Kano. The N160m was sent to Oga's account in piecemeal spanning 15 months.
" It was because of the way Dasuki was sending the money that the House onwers felt he was not serious and they sold it to somebody else. Also, he didn't marry the lady again " he said.
He said no condition was attached to the release of his boss as he cooperated with the anti corruption agency.
Boom Alert: Switzerland Sending another $300m Abacha Loot back to Nigeria
We need all our money stashed away in foreign countries by corrupt leaders. Switzerland government is now ready to transfer another $300million recovered from the family of former maximum ruler, late General Sani Abacha, to the Nigerian government.
This was revealed by foreign affairs minister, Geoffrey Onyeama. The money is part of an estimated $5bn that was stolen and stashed in foreign accounts by the late dictator.
Nigeria has in the last 10 years received over $1 billion from the Swiss and American governments, but there are growing concerns past administrations misused the huge sum.
Finance minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, with approval of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, had authorised the diversion of at least N61.4billion ($300million and £5.5 million) from funds recovered from late Abacha, to the Office of the National Security Adviser, headed then by Sambo Dasuki.
These suspicious transfers took place just few weeks before the 2015 presidential election.
The former minister said the money, which was not approved by the National Assembly, was meant for that purchase of military equipment for the fight against Boko Haram.
SSS Rescue Super Eagles Player's Abducted Wife
Wife of Super Eagles midfielder, Fegor Ogude, who was kidnapped since last Monday night by gunmen in Warri, Delta state has been rescued by men of the State Security Service from her captors.
The development was confirmed by the Media Officer of the National Under-23 Team, Timi Ebikagboro, who disclosed it on his Twitter handle @ebikagboro.
Ebikagboro said: “To God be the glory, the wife of SE player Fegor Ogude, Memunat has been released, she was released minutes ago, and is now with her family.”
Sources allege that a ransom of N30m was demanded by the kidnappers but were unsure if any ransom was paid before her rescue.
Kogi state born Memunat was kidnapped at her residence at Okuorkorkor, near Warri in Okpe area of the state. Ogude, a member of the Super Eagles team that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, plays in Russia with FK Amker Perm.
He has been granted compassionate leave to join his wife and family.
Comic look but real look of Toke Makinwa's create a division between her fans
Some peeps are not happy with Toke Makinwa's most recent facebeat and they are presently arguing over it on instagra, Some of her fans say she went too far after she showed off this look yesterday ...
See reaction below:
A Photograph emerges to prove that Dangote reconciled Don Jazzy and Olamide bulalah
Barely 48 hours after their Headies spat, the music duo were reconciled and rumors were rife that it was made possible by Africa's richest man, Dangote. Many doubted it since there was to picture to prove it. A picture from the meeting called by Dangote, at his house, has now surfaced online.....
Musician Flavour suits up in new photos
The award winning musician all suited up in a new photoshoot..But we all know it won't be complete without a shirtless photos..
More below
PDP Spokesman Olisa Metuh sues FG over his prolonged detention
Embattled National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, has dragged the Federal government before a Federal High Court in Abuja over his continued detention. Metuh is being detained for allegedly receiving N400 million from former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki.
In a suit filed by his counsel, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Metuh claimed that his arrest by the antigraft agency was part of a plan by the ruling party APC, to silence the PDP.
Metuh said that since Buhari came into office in May 2015, he has organized the EFCC to serve as a tool to go after PDP members. He argued that his detention tramples on his fundamental human rights and also breached the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“I verily believe that the applicant has not committed any offence other than his principled opposition to the ruling government and his arrest and detention are meant to silence the opposition and create a one-party state by the respondents to allow the APC to dominate Nigeria. Nobody knows the present whereabouts of the applicant, as to his exact place of detention, his condition in the custody and how he is faring. Recently, detainees in the custody of the 1st respondent have been dying due to lack of proper care and adequate medical facilities, as the 1strespondent is not normally well-funded to function effectively, except to be used by the ruling government to hound the opposition,”
No judge has been assigned to the case.
Lionel Messi wins World Footballer of the Year 2015 for the 5th time
The Argentine beat rivals Neymar (Barcelona/Brazil) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal) to clinch a record 5th Ballon D'or award.The award was voted by all National team coaches and approved Journalists. Well deserved. Congrats to him!
He truly deserved it. Congratulations Lione Messi
Photos and Full List of Winners at The Golden Globes Awards
The 73rd Golden Globes went down with a lot of surprises. The 2016 Golden Globes doled out the awards to winners in 25 categories - 14 in film and 11 in television.
Three-time host Ricky Gervais once again, acted as emcee at the event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
See the full list of winners below...
BEST MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
The Revenant
BEST MOTION PICTURE, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
The Martian
BEST DIRECTOR
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, The Revenant
BEST ACTOR, DRAMA
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA
Brie Larson, Room
BEST ACTOR, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Matt Damon, The Martian
BEST ACTRESS, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Sylvester Stallone, Creed
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
BEST SCREENPLAY
Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Inside Out
BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE PICTURE
Son of Saul
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Ennio Morricone, The Hateful Eight
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Sam Smith and Jimmy Napes, “Writing’s on the Wall”
TV
BEST TV SERIES, DRAMA
Mr. Robot
BEST TV SERIES, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Mozart in the Jungle
BEST ACTOR, TV DRAMA
John Hamm, Mad Men
BEST ACTRESS, TV DRAMA
Taraji P. Henson, Empire
BEST ACTOR, TV MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Gael Garcia Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
BEST ACTRESS, TV MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
BEST LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Wolf Hall
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Lady Gaga, American Horror Story: Hotel
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Maura Tierney, The Affair
17 ways a Guys ought to treat their ladies.
When you found the woman you believe is the right one to spend the rest of your life with, there are ways you should treat and relate with her to make her feel loved. As written by actor John Dumelo:
1.Don't compare your wife to other women. You don't know what their husbands are going through.
2. Never expose your wife's weakness to your family or friends or run to them whenever you have issues. Problems are best solved between you and your woman.
3. Don't think you are man so you can use
intimidation, shout or violence to communicate your moods. Agreesive men don't make a happy home.
4. Speak gently and calmly to your wife. Never raise your voice at her, it demeans her and shows you think she is stupid.
5. Do your responsibilities as man...don't leave every to your woman.
6. Never blame your wife if she doesn't take care of the home everyday. She is swamped with house work and helping you raise the kids.
7. Don't be wasteful spending money on drinks, friends and extended family.The wife and children are your first responsibility.
8. Sex is also important to women. Her pleasure should be considered before your own.
9. Never compare your wife to your ex-girlfriends. If you loved them so much why didn't you marry them instead of your wife.
10. Never shout down your wife or challenge her in front of the children. The children are watching. They won't listen and obey her too.
11. Tell your wife she's beautiful even if you know she's looking normal. Women love compliment.
12. Don't forget that women also want attention and someone to share their thougts with. Never be too busy for your wife.
13. A prayerful man is a better equipped husband. Pray always for your wife and family. Don't leave the prayers to your wife.
14.Treat your wife like a queen. Buy her gifts, take her shopping and once in a while, cook for her.
15.Please don't forget your these anniversary dates. Wedding ,engagement,the first time you kissed. I beg you. These dates mean a lot to women. (Don't ask me why). I also don't know.
16. Your mother should not have the final say in your marriage. You married your wife, not you and your mother. Let her talk in her own husband's house.
17.There are 5 days each month that you have to say "I'm sorry", "yes baby" and "I love you" more than 7 times a day. That's when she's menstruating.
I just hope John Dumelo is practicing what he's preaching..and we won't hear a long story about him soon.
A painful experience, See How Catfish Stick This Lady's Stomach While Swimming
This female tourist had a near death encounter with a catfish off the coast of Brazil, while swimming. You can't know how painful this is unless it happened to you. Ambulance workers took the bizarre pic of the fish stuck to the lady's stomach as she was rushed to hospital to take out the offending object.
Man shoots an estate agent over ex-wife’s property
The police in Lagos have arrested a man, Ifeanyi Okpoko, for allegedly shooting an estate agent, Kazeem Opagun, who came to work on his ex-wife’s property in the Ajao Estate area of the state.
Punch learnt that Okpoko allegedly shot the agent, when the latter and another colleague, identified as Lanre Aromasodu, asked Ifeanyi to produce the landed property documents when he met them on the site.It was learnt that the agent was hospitalised for three days.
Ifeanyi and his former wife had had issues on the parcel of land since they divorced, and there had been threats from both parties.It was learnt that two estate agents had gone to the site last Tuesday, at about 12pm, to work on the land.
The estate agents were said to have been accompanied by two policemen from the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, who were not in uniform because of the threats on the land.
PUNCH Metro gathered that while the agents were on the property located on Alhaji Lukman Atobajeun Street in Ajao Estate, Okpoko drove to the scene and allegedly demanded to know the mission of the men.
The agents were said to have asked Okpoko to produce the documents of the land, after which he allegedly went to his car, brought out a gun and shot at the estate agents, injuring Opagun in the leg.
It was learnt that the policemen arrested Okpoko and took him to the Ajao Estate Police Division, before taking him to Zone 2.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Aromasodu said Okpoko allegedly shot his colleague, saying they did not have the authority to work on his ex-wife’s property.
He said, “We went to the site at about 12pm. We were contracted by Mr. Ifeanyi’s ex-wife. He met us on the site and was enraged. We asked him to produce the documents if he was the owner. Instead, he brought out a rifle.
“I was his target. I was the one who told him to produce his documents. The policemen with us also showed him their identity cards. He said we did not have the authority to work on his ex-wife’s property; he shot my partner in the leg.”
Another witness, who declined identification, said Okpoko had gone to the Ajao Estate Police Division to make a report, when the policemen from Zone 2 arrested him.
He said,
“The suspect thought somebody was trespassing on a property that belonged to his wife. He brought out a gun instead of land documents and shot the estate agent in the legs.
“Mr. Okpoko ran inside his car and headed for the police station, where the police from Zone 2, who witnessed the shooting, arrested him.
“A threat to life had already been reported to Zone 2. That was why the policemen came with the estate agents.”
Our correspondent learnt that the police had yet to recover the gun allegedly used by Okpoko.
The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adebowale Lawal, said on Sunday that he would verify and get back to our correspondent on Monday (today).
After a battle of 18 months Cancer, David Bowie Dies at 69
The legendary rock singer, David Bowie has passed on after a long battle with cancer.The 69 year old died peacefully in his sleep.According to a statement on his facebook page
"David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family's privacy during their time of grief."
Bowie is survived by two children, as well as his wife Supermodel Iman, whom he had been married to since April 24, 1992.
An unfortunate dog picks up a fight with a porcupine
A young man in Colorado found a dog named Canello curled up on his porch one fine morning, turned out the poor mutt had picked the wrong fight. It had porcupine quills sticking out of its body and looked in bad shape.He called the police who took the dog in and posted an update on its FB account.
"Many of them were inside his mouth, in his tongue, nose, his neck and his leg. Some of the quills had gone in one of his eyelids but had, fortunately, missed the eyeball itself." they wrote. One thing's for sure, he'll learn to leave porcupines alone.
Buhari should listen more to Nigerians than the IMF — Prof. Ekpo
2016 Budget: We need realistic forecast of revenue
By Udeme Clement
Akpan Ekpo, a professor of Economics, is the Director General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM). He speaks on issues in 2016 budget, the need for the Federal Government to prevent currency crisis in Nigeria, the decline in Nigeria’s foreign trade by N2.5trillion and depreciation of the naira.
What is your comment on issues in the N6trillion 2016 budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly?
In the 2016 budget, the deficit GDP ratio is within acceptable range. Normally, it should be around 4 or 5 percent, but in the current budget, it is over 2 percent. The problem is not the ratio. The point is, what component is for capital expenditure? You can increase your deficit GDP ratio, but if the money is used for capital projects like infrastructure, there is no problem. We have evidence of China and other countries that exceeded the bench mark for deficit GDP ratio, but have viable economies, because they used it for capital projects. So, people should not worry about the deficit, if it is utilised for viable projects. To me, if they increase it slightly to 4 or 5 percent and use it for infrastructure, it will help our economy.
In the budget 2016, government wants to borrow more money. How long are we going to accumulate debts?
If government has to borrow, it should be to finance capital projects and not recurrent expenditure. The budget itself is about N6trillion and they will borrow about N900billion from external and domestic sources to fill that deficit. The issue is not about borrowing, but borrowing wisely, and whether we can pay the debts. Over the years, we have been borrowing. For instance, the last government used a lot of borrowed funds to finance recurrent expenditure in the budget, which was totally wrong. We hope this government will not follow the same path. We must not say because debt – GDP ratio is about 14 percent, within acceptable benchmark, that we have space, so we continue to borrow.
The fact is that GDP does not pay debts. What pays debts is revenue. So, the interest should be, what is the debt – revenue ratio and not debt – GDP ratio. This is where the problem comes. Revenue pays debts and your revenue is estimated; if for some reasons your revenue declines sharply, you can’t pay the debts. In 2016 budget, N1.47trillion is allocated for debt servicing, which is quite high. You can’t blame this government for that, because governance is continuous; whatever the previous government committed itself into, the current government must fulfil that obligation. Going forward, allocation for debt servicing should reduce, and we must look at revenue before we borrow, and not GDP.
You said if the revenue is estimated, and once it declines sharply, government cannot pay debt. Do you see that happening to Nigeria, especially with the declining oil price?
Ekpo
Well, nobody knows, but it can happen because our economy depends on oil and oil revenue has declined sharply. That is why we are facing this problem. What if by tomorrow the oil price is close to zero, what do we do? Therefore, we must have a more realistic forecast of revenue to drive the economy. We must not keep on borrowing because we have space.
Let me give this government credit, because since 1972, this is the first time the projected oil revenue in the budget is less than non-oil revenue, meaning, revenue from other sources aside from oil. We have been depending on oil revenue for years, but for the first time, oil revenue is taking a second position. They are expecting about N800billion from oil and over N1trillion from non-oil, which is the best way to go. These non-oil sources include company tax, surpluses from government agencies like Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Customs, and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) among others. Previously, it was oil revenue that dominated the budget, but the negative shock in the decline of oil revenue makes government to start thinking differently, and they should continue in this path, even if in future oil price goes up. It is common sense that oil is non-renewable resource because it will finish one day. It is called a wasting asset. How can you plan entire economy with a revenue source you have no control over the price or the out put? This is a good step that government is taking, and I believe in future, they will demystify the oil sector.
Considering the fluctuating oil price, is the oil bench mark of $38 per barrel realistic in 2016 budget?
It is not a matter of being realistic, but government has taken a position and they are being pessimistic, which to me is good, because they cannot go zero. I hope that $38 they arrived at was based on good forecasting, on consistent macro-economic framework and macro-econometric model. I am only impressed because for the first time as I said earlier, oil revenue projection has taken a second position in our budget, which is a good development.
The exchange rate now is over N270 per dollar, even as depreciation of naira is having a telling effect on the economy. What can government do to address the situation?
Let us get it clear, because what we have now is depreciation and not deliberate intervention by the CBN, which is devaluation, but the impact is the same. The naira is depreciating because we are not producing anything for export. What we export is crude oil and not manufactured goods and services. Nigeria is still import dependent. So, the scarce forex is being used to import goods and services. The way we can turn it around, is to change the structure of our economy and produce goods for export. Government must put infrastructure in place and give people incentives to produce, if not, our currency will continue to depreciate. Our source of forex is crude oil, and the oil is not doing well. So, the demand for forex now outstrips supply, which is the problem we are facing. CBN is trying to manage it, but as they are managing it, the only source they can get to increase the forex is oil, and the price is declining. Let us pray that we don’t get into currency crisis.
What CBN is doing now is called a ‘Managed Float’ with more weight on the float aspect. Whenever the naira gyrates, it is the float that is playing the trick. That is why you see the naira today N240 and tomorrow N250, it is reacting to the float component of the market. The dollar belongs to US and they way they react is not the same way Nigeria reacts. So, it is not as easy as people are saying. Also, another managed component, which is outside pure economics means your currency must reflect your sovereignty as a nation, and you have to defend it.
Can you give us more insight into what currency crisis means?
Currency crisis is a situation where the CBN can no longer honour its commitments, such as letters of credit, debt instruments, when Treasury bill is due and they can’t pay.
What is the economic implication of currency crisis?
It means the economy is bankrupt. The CBN’s part is the monetary aspect while the budget is the fiscal policy. At a point, there should be coordination between monetary and fiscal policies. The way the economy is now, the Minister of Finance and the Governor of CBN must meet regularly to coordinate and work on the same page, because the economy is not on a normal growth path.
Unemployment is part of the problems and the way government is tackling it has challenges also. When unemployment is a crisis like what we have now, at 28 percent when combined with under-employment, the private sector cannot solve the problem. Only public sector can provide short-run solution. The President in presenting the budget practically alluded to that phenomenon without extension. For example, he said, the federal would collaborate with states and local governments to employ 500.000 teachers, which is a large number they want to take out of unemployment. Imagine the same government employing large number of people in Police, Customs, Immigration, Federal Road Safety, Army and Navy. Imagine government stimulating the residential housing market for federal and sub-national governments to build estates for low and high income earners, because residential housing construction is the most potent component of investment.
No matter the incentives given to private sector, they cannot employ people on a massive scale in the short-run, because their fundamental motive is profit. Not just profit, but targeted rate of profit. When the economy has recovered and is on its normal trajectory, then private sector comes in. After all, private sector is the cause of most economic recessions. How can they come to rescue it? It is always government that can rescue it.
How can private sector be the cause of economic recession?
This is because when there is decline in economic activities they retrench. For instance, banks are sacking workers but they are declaring profits. They are making profits and at the same time sacking, because they are watching their rate of profits. Many workers in the banking sector are on contracts because they do not want to pay allowances. Also, foreign companies owned by Nigerians, Indians and Lebanese treat Nigerian workers like slaves and they are making huge profits. So, the private sector in any economic system has its objective of profit making. The public sector may not be efficient but it has objective of social welfare. Recent researches from International Monetary Fund (IMF) have shown that public sector investments can enhance growth and be efficient.
The CBN said they want to allocate forex only to end users, what is your position on this?
CBN wants to give forex to those who will really use it for manufacturing and not to people who will use it to import sardine from China. They will give forex to those who will import capital goods for production, so that in the long-run, those capital goods can be manufactured in Nigeria, because our economy is not producing anything. We are a consuming economy, even the caps our chiefs wear in Nigeria are imported from China. The CBN wants to give the scarce forex to those who can produce goods for export, not necessarily finished goods, but some items within the value chain. The forex is scarce because it is not our currency. So, it must be allocated to those who will utilise it properly for production.
Nigeria’s foreign trade dropped by N2.5trillion, what are the economic implications?
It means we have a trade deficit because we import more than we export. What we should worry about is to look at the current account in GDP ratio. This also brings deficit. Meaning, the current account in GDP ratio is in deficit and our primary balance is also in deficit. It implies that, we have what is called twin deficits, and it is not healthy for the economy. This means the external sector is in crisis and the domestic economy is also in crisis. The fact that trade enhances growth is imperial, because if for instance, Nigeria is trading with US, the trade is not on equal terms, as the two countries are not the same. America used to buy our oil and they stopped. Is our tax system the same with US? Will US accept Nigerian goods, or will they say such goods are substandard?
The Managing Director of IMF, Christine Lagarde, advised government to ensure fiscal discipline and the need to restructure the tax system for more revenue generation. What is your take on this?
President Muhammadu Buhari receiving IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde in Abuja.
I think it is time we tell IMF and World Bank what we want as a country. Before now IMF said Nigeria’s economy was doing badly, but Nigerian experts said the same thing and we have the data. Let government use Nigerian experts who have been trained to drive the economy because they live here and they understand the country well. Not only in economic matters, but in security issues, even in building roads. For instance, let local engineers be used in road construction, but let government tell them the quality of roads we need. Let us practice what is called Economic Nationalism where government allows certain parts of the economy to be controlled by Nigerians and Africans. For example, why should a Lebanese own a barber’s shop? Our Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sub-sector can create jobs, but the inputs they need to produce are imported, but in US, SME operator can get his inputs from another SME. The early Nigerian leaders were very strategic in thinking. They built refineries, machine tool industry in Osogbo, Ajaokuta steel company, Paper mill industry and others. Now we import everything.
What is your expectation for 2016?
I want to see adequate implementation of the budget.
In talking about non-oil, how about manufacturing and the industrial sectors that are in comatose?
These sectors are not doing well for several reasons. They do not have access to loans, and interest rate is very high, no infrastructure to enhance their growth and the inputs they need are imported. Even, when there was forex, they did not import machines, instead they imported finished goods from America, Europe and China. So, as government said the budget will finance infrastructure, I hope they will do that. But to be honest, they cannot do everything in just one year. If they start, it will be good, and there will be a roll over. May be within three years they would have built infrastructure and put in place certain things to enable us produce manufactured goods for export.
When we say export, not that they will export the finished goods, but they can export some items in that chain. Agriculture is a renewable resource that government can also target. We also have solid minerals, though not renewable, but we have not harnessed them, so it looks like this government is ready for that. When the budget is approved, in six months we should begin to see result, and there should be quarterly or half year report to monitor progress on how the budget is being implemented. This implies that the National Planning must have a very strong monitoring and evaluation department.
How will you assess Buhari now?
He came in, in May 2015 and it is still early to assess him on some economic issues, because there is no data for assessment now. I need data to analyse the economy in concrete terms before assessment. On the economy, he is putting things in place, and I need a year to assess him, because this is his first budget. He promised to fight corruption and he is doing that. He is tackling insecurity, and the rate of bombings and attacks have reduced, even as government has reclaimed territories taken over by Boko Haram. So, government has made progress in tackling insecurity and we must be honest about that. Now, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)are working, arrests have been made, but we want to see convictions.
Top Abuja preacher predicts death of top Nollywoood actress, others in 2016
He also said a former Governor’s wife in the South-South should pray against bereavement and detection of terminal illness. The Prophet also declared that he sees many billionaires crying as many of them would fall in the year.
According to him, many of those who made their money through dubious means would end up in jail while new and younger billionaires would rise up to replace them. On Boko Haram, he said the power of the group has been greatly reduced, but a top military boss may die in combat.
In fact he has advised Nigerians to take President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption seriously. This is as he warned that two newly appointed ministers be careful about getting involved in a financial scandal that will see them being sacked and jailed.
The young seer who correctly predicted the emergence of Bala Ngilari as Adamawa State governor, among other accurate predictions also said two serving Senators should pray against scandalous revelations which could lead to heart attack. Omale equally said that he saw billions of naira embezzled from the past government being returned openly and that there will be 17 months of prosperity for Nigeria as oil price improves.
He therefore admonished Nigerians to support the government of President Muhammadu Buhari as “the current hardship would soon be over”. According to him, by the middle of 2016, there would be money in circulation and “all the present hardship would gradually ease off”.
The Prophet gave his 2016 prophesies to a jam-packed service at his Area 1 Garki church penultimate week. “President Buhari will be the best President the country ever had and he would lay super structure foundation that would lead to economic growth and development for Nigeria” He further said that by 2020, Nigeria will become the envy of nations, adding that Nigeria would not divide despite the pro-Biafra agitation, as the whole issue will be resolved amicably and the country will wax strong even as Buhari implements some parts of the National Confab reports.
The orders for bail of Dasuki, Kanu should be obeyed – Falana
For 16 years that the Peoples Democratic Party was in power, the federal government exhibited total contempt for the Rule of Law.
The Constitution and other laws were breached with impunity while court orders were disobeyed on a regular basis.
In the famous case of Attorney-General of Lagos State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2005) 2 WRN 1 at 150, the Supreme Court held that “In our democracy all the Governments of this country, as well as organizations and individuals must kowtow to the due process and this they can vindicate by resorting to the courts for redress in the event of any grievance.”
One of the reasons why Nigerians voted for the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) during the last general election was his promise to fight corruption and end impunity in the country. Upon winning the election, President Buhari further pledged to abide by the Rule of Law.
To that extent, he has a duty to ensure that all organs and officials of the Government operate within the ambit of the law. In particular, he should not allow overzealous security personnel to engage in any form of impunity and thereby expose the Government to unwarranted embarrassment.
In July last year, the State Security Service (SSS) searched the private residence of former NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) at Abuja.
When Col Dasuki alleged that his house was illegally searched, I pointed out that the action of the SSS was justified as there was a search warrant validly issued by a magistrate court in the federal capital territory that authorised the search. He was eventually charged with money laundering and criminal diversion of huge sums of public fund before the Federal High Court and the Federal Capital Territory High Court at Abuja.
Notwithstanding the gravity of the offences, both courts have admitted him to bail. But after he had met the bail conditions the SSS decided to rearrest him at the gate of Kuje prisons on the ground that investigations have not been concluded in respect of other criminal allegations.
The decision of the SSS to ignore the order admitting Col Dasuki to bail coupled with the failure to re-arraign him on fresh charges is tantamount to impunity in every material respect. If the federal government were aggrieved by the order admitting Col. Dasuki to bail it should have challenged it in the Court of Appeal.
Much as the Nigerian people are fully behind the Buhari Administration in the patriotic move to recover the looted wealth of the nation, the federal government should be advised to ensure that the procedure for the loot recovery meets the tenets of the rule of law.
The SSS and other security agencies should therefore refrain from allowing corruption to fight back by playing into the hands of the criminal suspects who have committed crimes against humanity by diverting money earmarked for the procurement of arms and armament to fight the terrorists.
In the same vein, the order admitting the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, to bail should also be complied with.
If the federal government has other charges against both suspects it should file them in the court. There is no provision for keeping criminal suspects at the pleasure of security officials. Meanwhile, all valid and subsisting orders made by courts in favour of criminal suspects should be obeyed without further delay.
To ensure that suspects are no longer held in custody in any part of Nigeria without any legal justification, section 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act has imposed a duty on each Chief Judges to designate a Chief Magistrate and a Judge of the High Court to visit all police stations and other detention centers within their jurisdiction, at least once a month.
During such visits, appropriate directives shall be given while any officer who detains any person illegally will be sanctioned.
Femi Falana SAN.
Buhari to lead ex-leaders to mark Sardauna’s 50 yrs’ demise
KADUNA—President Muhammadu Buhari will lead former and present political leaders to commemorate the 50 years of the death of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna Sokoto and late Premier of the North.
Briefing newsmen in Kaduna on activities to mark the golden jubilee of the killing of Sarduna in 1966, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, SABMF, Shettima Aji Ali, said that Buhari will launch a special edition of the New Nigeria Newspaper, NNN, in which some of Sarduna’s past speeches and achievements would be highlighted.
File: The Sardauna of Sokoto and premier of Northern Nigeria Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Emir of Katsina and members of the High court of Justice of the Northern Region
Sardauna founded the NNN on January 1, 1966 and was killed two weeks later in a bloody coup that later lead to a 30-month civil war.
Said Ali: “You are aware, January 25, 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of our illustrious leader, Sir Bello. The immense contributions of Sir Bello to the development of Northern Nigeria and Nigeria at large cannot be overemphasised. Sir Bello worked assiduously to make northern Nigeria economically competitive, politically and religiously stable, peaceful and united.
“He had indeed succeeded in laying a solid foundation for the development of the region. The NNN which was established by the late Premier on January 1, 1966, is also 50 years old. It, therefore, decided to produce a special edition that will be launched at the opening ceremony of the commutation event.
“The edition will contain among others, special interviews with some prominent leaders of the North and close associates of the late Premier and flashback of historic publications by the newspaper from inception to date.
“According to the programmes of events, President Buhari will be special guest of honour and will launch the special edition of the NNN and a photo exhibition on the opening day, January 14.
“Ambassador Yusuf Sule will deliver a keynote address on the topic, “North: 50 years after Sir Ahmadu Bello”, while Justice Mamman Nasir, will chair the occasion.
Queen Elizabeth Death Rumor Spreads After BBC Reporter's Tweet
by ALASTAIR JAMIESON
Oops! BBC journalist accidentally tweets death of queen 1:20
LONDON — A behind-the-scenes rehearsal of how the BBC will handle the death of Queen Elizabeth II ended with an apology Wednesday after one of its reporters mistakenly tweeted that the British monarch had passed away.
Ahmen Khawaja, a reporter working for the BBC's Urdu-language service, posted on Twitter that the 89-year-old had been taken to hospital. A second tweet announced: "Queen Elizabrth [sick] has died."
This incorrect tweet was "swiftly" deleted, the BBC said.
The initial report was picked up by media outlets including CNN Newsource and German newspaper Bild.
However, when NBC News alerted Buckingham Palace to the tweets, a spokesman said that the queen was not only alive but carrying out public engagements.
It is not clear exactly how the mistake happened but the U.K.'s publicly-funded broadcaster was staging an internal drill on Wednesday to examine its readiness for the queen's death, a routine event staged by many news organizations.
The tweets were quickly corrected.
Khawaja later said that she had left her cellphone at home unattended. She tweeted: "Silly prank, Apologies for upsetting anyone!"
A BBC spokesperson said: "During a technical rehearsal for an obituary, tweets were mistakenly sent from the account of a BBC journalist ... The tweets were swiftly deleted and we apologize for any offence."
The confusion was deepened by a coincidence: the queen had earlier attended her annual medical checkup.
"This was a routine pre-scheduled appointment, the queen has now left hospital and carries on with her engagements," a Buckingham Palace statement said.
Fayose condemns Faleke, Audu’s arrest by DSS, says “Nigeria now under full-blown dictatorship”
Read the press statement below...
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described the yesterday’sarrest and detention of the Kogi State Deputy Governor-Elect, HonJames Abiodun Faleke and Mr Mohammed Audu, son of the late formerGovernor of Kogi State and All Progressives Congress (APC)governorship candidate, Abubakar Audu, as a confirmation of hisprediction that penchant for dictatorship will rise this year withrampant disobedience human rights abuses by the APC government ofPresident Mohammadu Buhari.
The governor said even though Faleke and Audu were released very lateon Saturday by men of the Department of State Security (DSS),Nigerians should by the arrest brace up for a full-blown dictatorship.In a statement issued on Sunday, by his Special Assistant on PublicCommunications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said “itis now clear that Nigerians can no longer hold opinion different fromthat of President Buhari and his faction of the APC and this shouldworry lovers of democracy in the country.”
He said arresting and humiliating Faleke and Audu by the DSS, justbecause they choose to pursue their rights within the ambit of the lawwas a dangerous trend that all Nigerians, irrespective of politicalparty affiliation must condemn.
Governor Fayose said; “They started with Senate President, BukolaSaraki; later, the DSS invaded the Akwa-Ibom State Government Houseand those who should speak out kept silent because of politics.“The DSS moved against the former National Security Adviser (NSA), ColSambo Dasuki, invading his residences in a commando liked manner andwhen he got order from the court for the DSS to vacate his house, theorder was ignored.
Up till today, Dasuki is still in detention despitethat he was granted bail by the court and he met the bail conditions.“When all these happened to Dasuki, many of those who should talk,especially our so-called human rights activists kept silent because ofpolitics.“Now that it happened to Faleke and Audu, members of PresidentBuhari’s party who are not on the same page with him on the Kogi Stateelection, should we also keep silent because it is APC affairs?Definitely no!
“We are not going to keep silent because we are not in this to protectthe interest of any political interest. Rather, our concern is thesurvival of democracy, which is obviously being threatened by theforces that have turned the DSS to their agent of politicalvictimisation.“Most importantly, Nigerians should know that tyranny does not knowpolitical boundary.
The moment tyranny becomes full-blown, it does noteven know its own family members. The only concern is its selfishinterests and anyone that is against those interests must be pull downor whip to line.”
But to my view, Fayose is only making a hell of noise cause I see he is sounding like a man who finds it hard to read a book or learn how to decode things
