This Cleric must be crazy

Muslim clerics speak on return of Jesus?

“Jesus is coming to have children”

Shiek Abdul Fatai Muhammed Buhari Inakoju is a Director, Religion and Operation, Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board. He speaks on the coming again of Jesus.

Islam as a religion believes in the second coming of Jesus Christ.  I believe in Jesus Christ as the messenger of Allah and as the son of Mary. (may the blessings of God be upon him).

The teachings of Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w) explains that Jesus Christ is coming this time to propagate the word of God and importantly to do things he was unable to do during his life time on earth due to the direction and assignment given to him by his Master, Allah.

But his second coming will give him the chance to marry and give birth to children.  The second coming of Jesus Christ signifies the end of time and there will be a great fight between him and Dajjai (anti Christ) and Christ will overcome.

Jesus will be buried in Medina

Alhaji Lateef Laguda is the Chairman, Ansar-ud-een Society of Nigeria, Festac Branch. He bares his mind on the issue of Jesus return.

“Christianity and Islam both hold to the firm conviction that Jesus Christ, who lived in the land of Israel nearly twenty centuries ago, was raised alive to heaven and will return to earth in the fulness of time.”

“It is universally accepted in the world of Islam that Jesus Christ will eventually return to earth. Jesus  will descend in the Middle East where he will destroy the Dajjal (Antichrist), that he will lead the whole world to embrace Islam, that he will marry and have children, and that he will die after forty years and be buried in Medina alongside the tombs of Muhammad, Abu Bakr and Umar.

The Qur’anic text invariably referred to in support of the doctrine that Jesus will return to earth towards the end of human history.”

“And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): Therefore have no doubt about the (Hour) but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way. Surah 43.61”

“There are obviously key differences between Christian and Muslim beliefs regarding the return of Jesus from heaven but the fact is universally agreed on. Christians do not accept that he will come to live again as an ordinary human being on earth, least of all that he will die and be buried. Nevertheless, Jesus is coming the second time to make the ungodly believe in Allah.”

Jesus was not crusified— Alh Jamiu Adeyanju

“All Muslim believes in the coming back of Jesus before the Day of Resurrection. He will return to become a leader of the Muslim nation as has been revealed in the Quarn and Hadith of the Holy Prophet.”

“First, Allah made it clear in the Qran that every single soul shall died (according to Q62:8, 63:11 etc) and fully understood our Holy Book that surely Jesus as a living soul will die too but until he returns to this earth. While we (Muslim) believe that Jesus did not die; we strongly believe according to our Holy Book that he was raised up by Allah and would descend in time to come for other special assignment from Allah before he died.”

“Allah almighty says in the Quran:”And their saying (in boast): We killed the Messiah Jesus, the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah; but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the semblance of Jesus was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts with no (certainty of) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjectures”  Q4:157.”

“For a surely; they killed him not (i.e Jesus) but Allah raised him up (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heaven), And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All Wise”  Q4:158″

“I so much love a verse in the Bible that testified a word from Jesus about his coming back as well but was misconceived and misinterpreted by the claimed followers of Jesus.”

“Jesus said: “A little while and ye shall not see me; and again a little while, ye shall see me, because I go to God”  John 16:16

“Lastly, Our Holy prophet also told us about his coming back an Hadith Narrated by Abu Huraira (Ra): Allahs Messenger (s.a.w) said: “By Him (Allah) in whose Hands my soul is; Surely Jesus will shortly descend amongst you (Muslims) and will judge mankind justly by the law of the Quarn and will break the cross and kill the pigs and abolish the Jizya (Tax levied upon non-Muslims who are under the protection of a Muslim government), then there will be abundance of money and nobody will accept charitable gifts” (Sahih Al-Bukhari).”

Sanusi/Soludo: Where to find the unaccounted billions

Sanusi/Soludo: Where to find the unaccounted billions

When in late 2013, Lamido Sanusi, then Central Bank governor wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan  asserting that about $20 billion was not accounted for by NNPC, many Nigerians dismissed the claim with a wave of the hand. The Federal Government, incensed by the claim, appointed an audit firm to carry out a forensic audit of NNPC account.

Lamido Sanusi

The report has passed a verdict that no money was actually missing. In fact, an audit report will always come out with the fact that no money is missing. Many still do not understand the basis on which Sanusi and in more recent time, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Sanusi’s predecessor, accused the NNPC of billions of dollars leakage from the federation account.

In real terms, these figures are not found in any books nor can they be found lodged in any account. They are equally not imaginary figures. They are broad estimates of what the nation has lost as a result of the use of discretionary powers by the powers that have held the nation hostage for years.

For years now, stealing of oil from pipelines has been rampant and quantifying the amount surely is in the region of billions of dollars. But each time, the government pleads helplessness. How can a nation’s major source of revenue be allowed to be under the control of known thieves? Yet, a country that has a viable navy came out to tell the world that rogues are stealing oil. Are these thieves ghosts, and the vessels they use both invisible and invincible?

A look at the revenue profile of Nigeria reveals mounting waste, mismanagement and cash ‘leakages’ in Nigeria’s oil industry. Those who are conversant with developments in the Nigerian oil and gas industry will agree that there exists billions of proceeds of unaccounted for  oil contracts, confidential government letters, top private government correspondence and legal opinions.

Nigeria has been suffering from financial hemorrhage and the high rate of cash leakage has resulted in the dire straits the economy has found itself today. There are three key observable mechanisms in Nigeria through which some privileged few allow middlemen to channel oil funds away from the country. Among those involved in this act are government officials and high-flying society figures. The three mechanisms are  contracts awarded non-competitively to companies that did not supply services but sub-contracted the work; a kerosene subsidy that doesn’t help the people it is meant to help; and a  series of complex, unclear ‘swap deals’ that has short-changed Nigerians.

It is common knowledge in the industry that the 2011 sale by Royal Dutch Shell of its interests in five oil fields were fraught with under-the- table deals. The blocks were majority-owned by NNPC.

*Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo

According to Reuters reports, Shell sold its interests in the fields to companies in Poland and Britain. But the new owners did not get the same rights Shell had. To promote local control, the NNPC gave the rights to operate the fields to its own subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC). Without soliciting bids, the NPDC signed “strategic partnership agreements” worth around $6.6 billion with two other local firms to manage them. In this deal, Seven Energy signed for three fields; and Atlantic Energy, for two.

Seven Energy was co-founded in 2004 by Kola Aluko, an oil trader. Aluko also co-owned Atlantic with Jide Omokore. Atlantic was incorporated the day before it signed the deals. Geneva-based Aluko is a high-profile member of Nigeria’s elite.

Omokore has also become rich from oil and gas. Forbes has estimated annual revenue at another of his companies, Energy Resources Group, at $400 million.

A review of the contracts  the firms signed with NPDC showed that NNPC gave Seven Energy 10 per cent of profits in the three oil blocks it operates, while Atlantic gets 30 per cent of profits in its two blocks. The contracts also show that unlike Shell, neither firm pays royalties, profit tax or duties to the Federatio Account. Here is another of the leakages.

The third cash leakage is a decades-old subsidy regime provided to retailers of kerosene. Nigeria lacks the refining capacity to make kerosene, so it imports instead. The government then sells the kerosene to retailers at a cheaper price than the import price. This subsidy is meant to make kerosene affordable to the poor. In June 2009, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua ordered a halt to the scheme on the grounds that it was not working. But the subsidies continued regardless. The kerosene subsidy is a “racket” that lines the pockets of private kerosene retailers and NNPC staff. The cost of the subsidy is estimated at  $100 million a month.

The fourth leakage involves other types of refined petroleum products such as gasoline. Like kerosene, this is also imported. To pay for the imported products, Nigeria barters its crude oil. These barter exchanges are known as ‘swap deals.’ The idea is that importers who bring in refined fuel worth a given amount,  receive an “equivalent value” in crude oil. How that equivalent value is determined is unclear. It is estimated that between 2010 and 2011,  traders involved in swap deals  effectively bartered 200,000 barrels of crude a day — worth nearly $20 million at average crude prices over the period — for a loosely determined equivalent value in refined products.

These traders only account for petrol. The others such as diesel and kerosene are not accounted for, but subsidy is paid. It is the aggregation of these leakages that in the mind of an economist, amounted to the estimated billions of dollars that are not accounted for.

Nigeria is a farm for the privileged few; ask me again if any money is unaccounted for

$2.9bn arms deal: My story, by Dasuki

$2.9bn arms deal: My story, by Dasuki

ABUJA — FORMER National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd, whose arrest was ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday over allegations of fictitious award of arms supply contracts, yesterday, countered the Federal Government. He alleged a deliberate campaign to rubbish him by the present administration.

Former national security adviser of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki

President Buhari ordered Dasuki’s arrest after receiving an interim report of the panel set up on August 31 to probe arms procurement between 2007 and 2015, which allegedly indicted him and others.

Asserting that he is neither a thief nor treasury looter, Dasuki alleged that a number of prominent actors of the present administration were key participants in the purchase of arms, even as he stated his readiness for trial to prove his innocence.

The response from Dasuki was his second in as many days and followed the first rebuttal late Tuesday to the presidency’s statement ordering his arrest.

Meanwhile, to enforce the presidential directive, operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, have stepped up their presence in the residence of the embattled former National Security Adviser.

My story, by Dasuki

Dasuki in his statement denying the allegations against him said: “In a theatrical manner, the Presidency fed the public with many allegations against my person and yet-to-be-named former public officers.

“To draw sympathy, the presidency quoted some absurd findings including extra-budgetary interventions; award of fictitious contracts; 53 failed contracts; payment for jobs without contractual agreements; non-execution of contracts for the purchase of four (4) Alpha jets, bombs and ammunition.

“For undiscerning Nigerians, they may tend to assume that the allegations were true and pronounce the former National Security Adviser guilty as charged.

“The statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity (to the President), Mr. Femi Adesina, who should know better as a former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and a witness to history, was nothing short of propaganda to cast aspersions on Dasuki.

“To set the records straight, Nigerians should appreciate that the AVM John Ode-led panel did not invite the ex-NSA under any guise before arriving at its ambiguous findings. At least, fairness demands that the panel ought to hear from Dasuki instead of its recourse to hasty conclusions. If the panel had been more patient and painstaking, it would have been availed of all relevant documents on some of the jaundiced findings.

“As if acting a script, the Presidency alleged that the panel accused Dasuki of awarding fictitious contracts between March 2012 and March 2015. Contrary to this claim, Dasuki was not the NSA in March 2012 and he could not have awarded any contract in whatever name. The ex-NSA was appointed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on June 22, 2012.

“All contracts and accruing payments were with the approval of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces. Once the ex-President approved, the former NSA paid.  So, there was due process for every purchase in line with regulations guiding arms procurement for the Armed Forces.

“And Nigerians should note that all the services generated the types of equipment needed, sourced for suppliers most times and after consideration by the Office of the NSA, the President will approve application for payment. For sensitive sectors (military/security), there was no room for awarding fictitious contracts. The conclusions of the panel were presumptive, baseless and lacked diligence.

“There were no fictitious contracts; contract sums were not diverted and the relevant services in writing acknowledged delivery of equipment. For all procurements, the Nigerian Army, the Air Force and the Nigerian Navy have their contractors.

“While awaiting judicial process on these allegations, it is proper to make some references to show that the presidency was just desperate to hang some former public and military officers who served this nation at the risk of their lives.

Delivery of purchased aircraft, arms, ammunition

“It is laughable for the panel to assume that 4 Alpha jets and 12 helicopters were undelivered. In a memo to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), referenced NAF/905/D/CAS of November 28, 2014, the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal  Adesola Amosu acknowledged the receipt of the 4x Alpha jets attack aircraft and the helicopters.

“On October 21, 2014, the Chief of Air Staff also confirmed the receipt of F-7 N1 aircraft combination of 250kg bombs and accessories at $2,894,000 with the cost of freight at $1,200,000. The same Air Force confirmed getting 2xTri Shield 36DG Tactical radars.

“In another letter of December 1, 2014 signed by L.S. Alao (on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff), the Air Force said it received five containerized fuel storage and dispensing units with equipment.

“The Nigerian Army wrote the ONSA to acknowledge the delivery of 14 armoured tanks. In a December 13, 2014 memo, the Brigade of Guards thanked ONSA for releasing N30m for RCA, Operation allowance for Troops on Op Urban Sweep II for third and fourth quarters of 2014. This is apart from the installation of CCT Cameras at the Brigade Headquarters, 2 backscatter bomb detection vans and other equipment.

“On November 26, 2014, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh sought for approval of the award of one pair of uniform(in the interim) for the Armed Forces at N165, 375 to El-Jahab Mubarak Nigeria and N330,750,000 for two pairs.

“These are some of the acknowledgement letters submitted to me by the end-users (the services). It is not for me to go and find out whether the equipment were delivered or not. I am not the one keeping the inventories.

“To show that I have nothing to hide, I submitted a comprehensive list of all requests for procurements by the services, the items bought and those equipment being awaited to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari long before I left office. If there were issues, I should have been questioned. I was just the clearing house; I did not award contracts to my company or proxies. There was no contract awarded or equipment bought without approval from the then President and Commander-In-Chief. I am not a thief or treasury looter as being portrayed.

“In order not to endanger the nation’s security, there are many salient issues and contracts which I cannot put in public domain. I am ready for trial on all these allegations in order to prove to Nigerians that I did nothing untoward in office. We will certainly meet in court.

“I have a lot to tell Nigerians but in the interim, they should not believe some of the allegations as the gospel truths. The good thing is that some of the key actors in the present administration were parts of the past process being viciously challenged.

“As for my tenure as the nation’s NSA, I acted in the interest of the nation and with utmost fear of God. I did not use the office for any self-serving agenda. I occupied the Office of the National Security Adviser at a difficult moment in Nigerian history when terrorism was at its peak and I am leaving posterity to judge me accordingly”.

DSS closes in on Dasuki, increases presence in his home

Meanwhile, a visit to the ex-NSA’s house on 13 John Khadiya Street in the high scale Abuja neighbourhood last night, showed that the DSS had reinforced its presence since Tuesday evening.

Vanguard correspondent found out that no fewer than six DSS men had taken various positions around the neighborhood. But only an operational truck of the service was left by the side of the entrance to the massive compound while two service men sat there discussing.

A few metres away, another service truck with armed operatives parked by, observing movements in and around the area but they did not speak to anyone.

Three other vehicles with unknown persons inside, were also parked nearby but the occupants merely discussed among themselves.

It was not clear if Dasuki was in the expansive compound, sandwiched between the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge and the home of late ex-Bayelsa governor, DSP Alamieyeseigha.

Dasuki’s neighbours have been subjected to the sustained presence of the DSS officials in the past four weeks following the attempt by the service to arrest and prevent him from traveling abroad for medical attention.

The siege to his home has prevailed despite a subsisting court order directing that he be allowed to travel outside the country to get medical help.

The DSS claims that the matter for which he is being wanted has nothing to do with the court order and that he must appear and answer to allegations of mismanaging huge defence budget running into over N600 billion.

The panel, which probed the contracts said to have been awarded by Dasuki, turned in its findings on Tuesday, indicting him and others yet to be unveiled.

Dasukigate: EFCC traces N400m to Army Officer’s account

Dasukigate: EFCC traces N400m to Army Officer’s account

The ongoing probe of the disbursement of the $2.1 billion arms cash by the Office of the former National Security Adviser, ONSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (ret’d), has led to more startling revelations.

*EFCC Operatives

Investigators from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have stumbled on an account said to belong to an army officer with N400 million traced to the slush funds.

This comes as the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, continued to face more grilling from his interrogators

A top source in the Commission confirmed last night that thetop operatives probing the disbursement of the arms cash, which is now the subject of prosecution in a High Court.

The account, domiciled in a third generation commercial bank, had been frozen by the EFCC and efforts made to track the suspect and others yet to be summoned.

Vanguard learned that beyond the army officer, whose name was still being kept secret to avoid raising eyebrows, the EFCC had identified other military personnel, who had at one time or the other drawn money from the ONSA and was keen on getting them to account for it.

A source said that it was as a result of the discovery of the names of the military personnel that the EFCC formally wrote to the Defence Headquarters to release the identified officers and men to the Commission for questioning.

An officer with the rank of a colonel from Delta State, said to have served as a PA to the embattled ex-NSA, had already been arrested and detained by the EFCC for over three weeks over the discovery that he took huge sums meant for arms procurement.

He is said to have been saddled with procurement under the former NSA and had used his position to acquire stupendous wealth, including the acquisition of imposing buildings in choice areas of the FCT.

Attempts to speak with the spokesman for the EFCC on the new findings proved abortive, as he did not respond to calls by one of our correspondents.

Meanwhile, there were indications that the operatives of the EFCC were not in a hurry to free the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Metuh, arrested and detained,Tuesday, by its operatives.

More influential Nigerians on EFCC radar

Meanwhile, the acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu has said that more influential people will be arrested soon.

According to him: “More influential Nigerians are on the radar of the EFCC and, in the coming weeks, they would have their days in court and Nigerians will be kept fully abreast of the results of the Commission’s investigations.”

Buhari shouldn’t push Dasuki to say all – Abdulsalam, LP chair

Buhari shouldn’t push Dasuki to say all – Abdulsalam, LP chair

The National chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, in this interview with Vanguard criticised the 2016 Budget proposal presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the N6.08 trillion proposal as unrealisable. Alhaji Abdulsalam also bares his mind on recent happenings in the country. 

What is your reaction to the budget, of N6.08 trillion presented by the President before the National Assembly?  
The budget presented by President Buhari to the National Assembly does not make sufficient meaning to people like us. On what basis did the budget of N6.08trillion come about? Buhari told us that he met an empty treasury, so from what is he basing the budget of N6.08 trillion?
Why is Lai Mohammed crying everyday that Jonathan did this, Jonathan did that? We were aware that Jonathan did this, Jonathan did that and that was why when they called for a change. Nigerians voted for change. But today they keep on hammering on Jonathan and PDP. I think if they don’t have anything to do, if their agenda is not strong enough, we need to address certain issues with regards to Buhari and the APC.
I do not see to which extent this budget will not create additional problem, additional suffering to Nigerian people.

Additional problem

But I want to tell you the fact, it is clear that General Buhari who knows nothing about the economy, has no economic team that can address fundamentally the issue of the enormous economic situation in Nigeria.

He has no economic team?

He has no economic team. First he has no knowledge of economy at all and secondly he has no sound economic team that can fundamentally address the economic situation of Nigeria, else they will take us backward and it will be dangerous and it will terrible.

What is your stance on the fight against corruption?

And the corruption, the fighting of corruption by Buhari and the APC is discriminatory, it is sectional, it is selective and it is unguided because what is the difference between the ways Obasanjo fought corruption, Jonathan fought corruption and Buhari is fighting corruption. In Buhari’s own, the situation is worse because he is fighting them either you didn’t support him or you jailed him when he was in the military or you intercepted him when he was in the military.

*Abdulkadir Abdulsalam

So the corruption team by Buhari is not guided by any principle, it is just guided by selfishness, by self aggrandizement; they just want to punish people for the sake for punishing them. Did you ever hear anywhere in the world, where you subject security into this kind of disgracing insult. Buhari has no, if he has, he has no advisers or he doesn’t listen to advice.

What do you say about the evidence so far of the money paid through the office of the NSA, the Arms scandal?
The paid money to the NSA man, also the NSA man said he gave Buhari car, so what are they telling us. And you know the man said if he opens up, he will open up canker worms. So leave that aspect of NSA because it is not good for our image, it is not good for our security; no nation ever subjects its security to this kind of thing. And it is not done with sincerity of purpose, it is for selfishness, you want to create something out of the man.

But is that how security fund in other parts of the world is utilised?
We are hearing from one side, we have not heard from the man. Let the judgment commence openly. Let us hear from the other side, that is just the practicality of the situation.

Was security fund in the past used for campaign?
You see, security vote was never subjected to questioning. You can use security vote for media, you can use security vote for whatever but it has never happened in the history of Nigeria that people are questioned on how security votes are spent.

Let me ask you, is it only security votes that is the problem? What is the situation in NNPC? What is the situation with the state governors who carted our money away?

There is a difference between the security vote and money earmarked for arms to fight insurgency.

That is what I said, that is what you heard from the APC people or PDP people, we want to hear from the man both the former president and Dasuki.

Let’s hear from Dasuki himself in court openly. Did they give you $2.1billion dollars? What did you do with it? Who and who touched it?

Oshiomhole carpets PDP on ‘rice and garri’ politics

Oshiomhole carpets PDP on ‘rice and garri’ politics

AS controversy rages over alleged diversion of Goodluck Jonathan campaign rice meant for distribution to the people of Edo State in the last general election by a gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Friday, took a swipe at the said aspirant and the PDP, saying the people of Edo State will no longer be swayed by rice and garri politics.

Oshiomhole

A chieftain of the PDP, Mr Okharedia Ihimekpen had alleged that bags of rice released by former President Goodluck Jonathan to sway votes in favour of the PDP in the last general election were not distributed.

Speaking at the 2016 Auchi Day celebration, on Friday, Governor Oshiomhole said politics of rice and garri was out of fashion as the people now prefer politics of development which his administration has introduced to the state in the last seven years.

Giving his scorecard to the mammoth crowd of natives of the town who thronged the palace of the Otaru, Alhaji Haliru Momoh, Ikelebe 111 and some invited guests at the Auchi Day celebration, Oshiomhole said: “the PDP Federal Government awarded the Auchi erosion contract to one of their own; in the name of Auchi erosion, they enriched themselves and abandoned even the tractor in the erosion site, compounding the erosion problem. You wrote petitions and those letters were read and ignored but we thank God for using me.

“We thank God that today, in the Auchi Erosion site, we can now locate two, three football pitches of Olympic standards in those areas that erosion had claimed.
“We have shown that government needs not lament, that government can listen and when contracts are awarded, they are meant to be done, not to provide avenue for them to deepen their pockets and use out of it to buy rice once in two years.

“I am glad that, Otaru, it will go down in the records that it was under your reign that God used us to dualise the Auchi road which your highness has kindly named Oshiomhole way and I am humbled. At night, we now can have street light in spite of the challenges of power arising from PDP mismanagement of billions of naira that was voted for power.

“As you drive here, you see red roofs of schools that Auchi children can now attend and this year before the end of my tenure your Highness, the remaining schools in Auchi will wear red roofs. We will do that because your highness, you deserve it and I will try to discharge only part of my debt obligations to you.

“Every commitment that I have made, I will do, including the ones we are already doing. We will sustain them, we will complete them before the end of my tenure. My government will never lament. When others are not paying salaries, we paid before Christmas because my task is to make things happen, not to cry.”

How I handle my male fans — Judy Austin

How I handle my male fans — Judy Austin

Elegant and beautiful, Judy Austin is one of the rising actresses that is tipped to rule the big screen in future. In fact since she debuted in the nation’s movie industry few years ago, the Umuoji, Idemilli North Anambra State-born actress has not looked back in quest to stay on top of the game. In this engaging interview, she talks about what the future holds for her as a rising actress and why she delved into acting….

Judy-Austin

Why did you choose to pursue a career in acting?
Show business is one thing I have always wanted to be part of. And I have an undying passion for acting. That was why when I had the opportunity to make my dream come true, I grabbed it. In fact, I’m so happy to be part of this big industry.

Can you tell us how it all started?
I actually started as a model at the age of 16, from where I delved into acting. Though acting is taking much of my time now, once in a while I find time for it.

How long have you sojourned in the movie industry and what were the challenges you ‘ve faced?
The challenges weren’t much, except that of finding your voice in the industry. You know as a rising actress, I tried to create my own kind of style. I even went as far as making it a unique one. It’s actually a challenge. At first, one had the feeling that she wasn’t good enough, mostly when you are paired with big actors on set.

How about the sex for role syndrome: didn’t you experience it?
I haven’t experienced it.

Which movie would you say brought out the best in you?
I guess it would be one of my recent jobs entitled “Slaves and Free Born.” It’s not the kind of an everyday movie we watch. It’s completely different.

What motivates you?
Nothing but the love and passion I have for acting.

How do you manage your male fans?
I manage them by showing them the love of God.

What can’t you let go in your everyday life?
I will say prayer, because it’s my major strength. And music; I really don’t joke with it.

You have regrets?
None at all; I’m still young to have regrets.

If you have an opportunity to change something, what would it be?
I would change the fact that the government is not assisting the industry as it should. Nollywood is one independent industry that has been moving from strength to strength. I think it is time the government should come in with strong policies to support its already established effort.

What attracts you to the opposite sex?
First, the fear of God, and a caring man with a hard working spirit.

What are your career plans for the next two years?
I plan to be one of the best acts that would be coming out of Africa. I’m hoping to hit the international scene in future.

Do you have words of advice for the up and coming actresses?
They should believe in themselves and remain focused. Let them believe that they can do better no matter the obstacles by putting in their best in whatever they do. Also, they should also draw inspiration from their older colleagues, and by God’s grace, the sky will be their limit.

Davido, baby-mama drama: Who takes custody of the baby?

Davido, baby-mama drama: Who takes custody of the baby?

* Entertainers and stakeholders react

BY ADERONKE ADEYERI and KEHINDE AJOSE

Nigerian pop star, Davido and his baby-mama, Sophie are presently involved in a feud over the custody of their child, Imade.

The story has taken various shapes, starting from the airport incident to the petition written against Davido by Sophie to Davido’s lengthy open letter.

The issue is on everyone’s lips and we sought out entertainers and stakeholders on who should take custody of the child.

Davido and Sophia

Davido’s family took custody of the baby following allegation that Imade had been infected by marijuana which was said to have been passed to the seven month old baby through breast-feeding. Sophie is claiming that Davido’s family abducted the baby and planned taking her abroad but Immigration officials helped her stop the trip.

They shouldn’t have dragged this into public glare – Seun Omojola, actress and filmmaker

They shouldn’t have dragged that child into public glare. I believe whatever issue they are having should be sorted out in closed doors. The child will definitely grow up and read about it some day. It’s not good . You cannot take a child away from her mother. They both have the right to her custody. It shouldn’t be full custody for one person. It’s their child.

She made a mistake from the onset – Yetunde Bakare, actress and movie producer
According to reports, she left her child when she was just two months old. It doesn’t show any trait of her being a responsible mother. Davido should take the custody of the child because he has been catering for her from infant-hood. I know all these will not matter if her monthly allowance was not stopped. It will not have become a public discourse. It isn’t for the fact that she loves the child. It’s like Sophie Momodu has an ulterior motive. The child was taken away from her when she was two months old. If she had expressed her grouse then, she would have probably gotten justice. She made a mistake from the onset.

Joint custody will be the best for both sides – Annette Cookey, singer
I really don’t like to get into other people’s personal issues but I believe joint custody will be best for both sides, especially for the child. The child’s well-being should come first. The baby needs the dad, mum and an emotionally healthy environment to grow and of course to become great.
No one has the right to separate a mother from her child– Esther Ijewere Kalejaiye, Coordinator, Walk Against Rape
No one has the right to separate a mother from her child. If she has issues as alleged, then her family can step in and take care of the child, while she sorts herself. Above all, I believe both parties should manage the situation maturely and find a common ground because of the child. Sophie’s family should take the custody of the child. Davido can’t take the child away from her.

No child should be denied motherly love – Moji Olaiya, actress and movie producer
Our Constitution supports Sophie having the custody of the child because the child is under aged. But due to the hazards her company may have on the child, I think she has forfeited that right. However, under no circumstance should a child be denied motherly love, care and affection. Therefore, Sophie should have the child but should be supervised by a close relative, preferably her mother.

Davido will give his child more attention – Senator (comedian)
Sophie is not medically fit to have the child in her custody. Davido will give his child more attention. If Davido had not “abducted” the child from his baby-mama as purported by Sophie, Imade will be dead by now. And there won’t be need for this conversation. I think Sophie needs to learn how to manage her health before entrusting the welfare of a child to her.

Don’t deny Sophie access to her child – Awele Odita, actress and movie producer
I am of the opinion that Davido should not deny his baby-mama access to their child even if he has the child in his custody. No woman from the place I come from would leave her child for a man. The African custom frowns at that. She should
keep the child.

Let the court decide – Hannah Ogundare, actress
Davido’s story is more convincing, but let the court decide.

Davido should fight for the custody of the child —Imelda J

People that know me too well will agree with me that I don’t joke with any issue that has to do with women in the society. In fact, I am a feminist to a fault. But looking at the whole scenario, I am tempted to throw my weight behind Davido provided all the evidences he has tended are true. I am not saying this because I am an artiste, but simply because I am actually baffled by some of the revelations and exhibits provided by the Adelekes. The Momodus claimed that baby Imade was abducted about five months ago. Why didn’t Sophia raise the alarm or better still establish a case in the court against Davido then?

Why did she in the first place accept to collect money from the Adelekes’ overtime? Is it that she was enjoying the money and forgot that her child was not with her? Why would any reasonable woman succumb to pressure no matter the situation, and accept money in place of the happiness of her new born baby? If indeed she was forced to give away her child, why did she accept the N300,000 that was allocated to her? After pondering over these questions, I feel that Sophia over- stepped her boundaries. I have read a lot of comments and realized that most people, especially men were just insulting Davido because he is one brother they will never have. Yes, he is from a wealthy background. And he’s a successful musician. So, many people failed to realize that Davido is also human. He has feelings and has worked hard to earn his place in the music industry. Many Nigerian artistes know too well that it is not easy to get to where Davido is today. I want to advice those who have been raining insults on Davido to have a rethink.

I have personally witnessed a situation whereby men will impregnate a lady without taking responsibility. Some ladies have been disowned by their parents’ houses, as a result of giving birth out of wedlock. But in this case, Davido decided to act responsible regardless of his age. I think that action alone should have honoured the Momodus. They (Momodus) are asking for too much. But what is important here is the welfare of the poor child. I advice the Momodus and the Adelekes to resolve their differences amicably. Davido should please use the legal means to protect the life of that child. And to his fans out there. He was 21years as at then and could have been manipulated by his estranged lover. Remember everybody makes mistake. That you are a baby mama does not make your baby Daddy.
Davido should make his baby-mama happy—GT Da Guitarman
The beautiful thing is that Davido has already owned up to his responsibilities as the father of the child. He loves the child but also needs to accommodate the mother. It is not good enough to take away the mother from her child. Davido should do all in his power to make Sophie happy. The deed has been done and it can’t be changed. He needs to inculcate her into the family for the sake of the child.

Stop the ongoing media war —Adokiye

If both families have an existing squabble, they can resolve it through proper dialogue and in turn encourage Davido to legally marry his baby mama because by so doing, they will save themselves a lot of future problems which include addressing and treating the innocent child as illegitimate. It is also my opinion that both families should settle any existing squabble amicably and put a stop to the ongoing media war.

It’s a personal problem—Ego, singer
I don’t know the full story but personally, I don’t like talking about my colleagues. This is because I see that as their personal problems. I don’t like involving myself in their problems.

I won’t say anything—Faze, singer
I don’t like talking about people’s private lives. Moreover, they are my colleagues, so I won’t say anything as long as they are still my colleagues.

They should allow the mother to take custody—David Karnji, Infinity group artiste
My advice is that since the baby is still young, Davido’s family should allow the mother to take care of her baby. Actually, a child needs the mother more than the father and looking at the lifestyle of musicians, it’s best to allow the baby to grow before they fight over who takes custody of the baby. But if the mother is living a lifestyle that is not suitable for the growth of the child, it is better to allow the father the custody of the child.

Nigeria losing N80bn daily to petroleum products smuggling — NISA boss

Nigeria losing N80bn daily to petroleum products smuggling — NISA boss

Chairman of the Nigeria Shipowners Association, NISA, Capt. Niyi Labinjo,  has said that the country is losing N80 billion daily to petroleum products smuggled into the country.

Petroleum Tankers

In an exclusive interview with Vanguard, Labinjo explained that half the 1.8 million litres daily national need of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, is smuggled into the country.

The NISA boss noted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said the daily PMS need of the country is 1.8 million litres and that it (NNPC) only supplies half the quantity while the other half is smuggled into the country.

He pointed out that this is done through the off-shore Lome and off-shore-Benin. Giving a breakdown of the loss, Labinjo pointed out that a 5,000 ton vessel laden with Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, costs N600 million.

He said half of the 1.8 million litres comes to down to 900,000 and if divided by 5,000 equal 108 (5,000). Should this be multiplied by N600 million, it comes down to N108 billion and a large chunk of this amount is lost daily through smuggling of the product, he said.

He advised that the smuggling of petroleum products through the off-shore Lome and off-shore-Benin must be stopped because of the effect on the nation’s economy.

This is outside the revenue that should have been collected by the various government agencies like the NPA, NIMASA, NCS etc should these ships have berthed at the nation’s ports.

He said that the sector is more than capable of providing the N2 trillion needed to fund the budget.

He said the economic crime against the nation is being committed by foreign vessels that ship in these product informing their countries that they are headed for Nigeria, only for them to stop on the high seas where these products are discharged into smaller vessels and moved into Nigeria.

He noted that 68 percent of these products get into the country unaccounted for and this costs the nation huge revenue losses in terms of capital flight, since the transaction is done in cash, (not captured in the economy), creation of employment for foreign countries, crew of each of the ships and negative effects of balance of trade.

He said that Nigeria presently has no control over about 200 vessels involved in this illegal trade outside the nation’s territorial waterways and that alone poses a security risk to the nation, especially with the security situation in the country presently.

The retired Navy officer, stressed that government must as a matter of urgency stop the smuggling of petroleum products into the country, as well as ensure that the Cabotage Law is enforced fully.

Unstable govt policies destroy entrepreneurial process —Coscharis boss

Unstable govt policies destroy entrepreneurial process —Coscharis boss

Dr. Cosmas Maduka is the chairman/CEO of Coscharis Group of Companies and sole distributor for BMW in Nigeria. He is an achieving entrepreneur that has made remarkable impact in the auto industry.

In this interview with Saturday Vanguard, he spoke on the company’s partnership with Ford, at same time appeals to government and other stakeholders to support manufacturing outfits for Nigeria to develop its economy. Excerpts:

Dr Cosmas Maduka

What informed your decision of partnering with Ford?
It’s about business opportunity. Every business person is looking for opportunity to expand his business and gain a market share. We have worked with Ford for about 17 years, so we didn’t just start today. So when the auto policy came on board we spoke to them, as you know Ford is a big organisation, moving them is like moving a big vessel. The good thing is that eventually they got their head office to accept to partner with us to start production of Ford in Nigeria. Ford has been in South Africa since 1923 and in the last 50 years they have not had any other manufacturing outfit in Africa except what they have just done now. So, Nigeria is like the second manufacturing outfit for its setting, and is something both Ford family has understood and are very excited about it because a lot of companies got it wrong with China when Volkswagen moved in there and they hesitated, and there is always a first time opportunity benefit. Company like Ford doesn’t want you to repeat again. So, if you truly know whom we consider our competitors, Toyota, they are yet to start production even though they have built a factory. That is why when we said we are ahead, those are things we are saying without breaking it down. There are very many we don’t consider competitors even though they are in manufacturing. Those are people who have similar products like us and we think we all drag and share market, if you look at our Pick Ups and theirs. Whatever they have, Ford have something similar in that range.

Ford once had the challenge of pushing enough volume into the market, what is the assurance it will not repeat now that a plant is built here?
I would be surprised to say that we run out of stock because as I speak to you now, we have over 1,400 units of Ford Ranger in addition to what we started producing. We never ran out of stock. We have enough capacity and capability to make product available. Unlike our competitors who have been in the market, people were testing our capability but today we have working customers who have driven our products in the last three years and they have come back to repurchase again and again. Take for instance I always asked people go to UK, Europe, Volkswagen is number one, Ford is number two. So where are the Toyotas and the Japanese in that place. Just because they walked away from you, many of us forget about them and interception became more than real. No matter what, Ford is a strong brand that is respected around the world, an American icon.

Looking at the investment climate in Nigeria, and with the recent auto policy, where would you want government to help out?
It is important there should not be a policy somersault in the auto industry. If it ever happens in this modern age, the international communities are watching and they are very observant. There has always been this African kind of thing, ‘be careful they are not sure, whether they meant what they are saying’, and these are not good signals to investors who want to come into a country to invest. I listened to Olamade, former governor of Central Bank when they held an event recently. He said, we should not be looking at investors as criminals, people who are bringing in their money to create job in your country and take a benefit. Of course that is what a capitalist is all about; to bridge the gap of service, offer you service and get benefit out of it, but ultimately you are the one benefiting most. That was how China opened their market for the rest of the world. All great brands of auto mobile today is available in China, partnering with Chinese local partners. In fact, no factory in China is hundred percent owned by foreigners – maximum is 50%. Looking at what Ford has done in South Africa, South Africa started auto policy 20 years ago, they shut their door to other markets. This is what we talk about, are you willing to pay the price? No woman gave birth to a child that never cried. Women go through pains, that is how children are born. But when that child is born, the joy of a new born covers labour pains. You can say you are going to be auto manufacturer without going through some pain in the process. So if we are willing to industrialise, every other country in the world including South Africa started building vehicles the way we have started to build them now.

How could you still drive volume when importation of second hand (Tokunbo) vehicles are not restricted by government?
For us, it is left for government to make up their mind. Again, it is bad leadership when you lead with indecision. You must decide, whether you made a wrong decision, make a decision. Don’t keep people in rainbow, that is the worse way to handle things. If government is willing to go with auto policy, they should make a clear statement and do the needful for it to be a success because there is no way the manufacturers can make this a success until the market is created. And how do you create the market, you need to support local manufacturers by driving volume, then you can see upper component spring up to support those manufacturers, because manufacturing is the key to economic growth. It supplies work to all categories of people, unlike buying and selling and others. Any country that wants to grow its economy must support manufacturing and that is the way to go

Old news! Why I am dumping Spain to play for Nigeria — Real Madrid star

Why I am dumping Spain to play for Nigeria — Real Madrid star

Spain youth international defender Derik Osede Prieto has revealed that he is dumping the opportunity of playing for the Spanish senior team for his fatherland, Nigeria.

Derik, who has played at all youth levels for Spain including two appearances for the Under-21 team, in an interview with BBC Sport stated that he is ready to represent Nigeria.

The 22-year-old centre-back, who is known simply as Derik, a regular for European giants Real Madrid’s B side, is eligible to play for the Super Eagles because his father is Nigerian.

Derik Osede Prieto

Derik Osede Prieto

And under Fifa rules he is free to switch because he has not yet played for a country’s senior national team.
Despite possessing the talent to potentially make the step up to Spain’s senior side, Derik has issued what appears to be effectively a come-and-get-me plea to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“I have lived in Spain all my life and I am not sure the people in Nigeria are aware that I have Nigerian blood,” Derik told BBC Sport.
Continue reading the main story

“But I crave for something special with Nigeria because it will give me a chance to properly connect with the ancestral home of my father.
“My father is from Benin City [southern Nigeria] and even though I have never been there I always follow events in Nigeria.

“I celebrated when the country won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and I was cheering the team at the last World Cup in Brazil.”

“Playing for Spain was the foundation to where I am today and I can never take that for granted,” he said.
“You can’t throw away your education or outgrow it, Spain gave me what I have now and my hard work got me to where I am.
“But somehow I feel one half of my life has always been left untouched and I need to fix that.”

Derik has rejected suggestions he could be using Nigeria as a bargaining chip in his push for a call-up from the Spanish U-23 or senior selectors.
He insists: “Even if it’s difficult for some people to understand, I have made my decision [to represent Nigeria] and am going to stick to it.
“My father has not influenced my decision in any way. I respect him and adore his outlook on life but it’s my personal desire to play for Nigeria.

“When you look around Europe there are several Nigerian players playing at the top level and the future looks bright for the team.
“With that in mind I want to be a part of that group. I do not need favours from anyone, I only need an opportunity.
“I eat Nigeria’s wheat meal, listen to Nigerian music and play as Taribo West [former Nigeria central defender] on video games online.

“If I get a chance with Nigeria, I believe my versatility as a player will make me stand out.”

He also want to play for the senior team of Real Madrid

“I would like to play in the Real Madrid first team someday, knowing if I did that maybe the chance would be there to play for Nigeria,” he explained.
“But if I am not playing at the top level week in, week out, I wouldn’t expect to receive a call from anyone because that would be daydreaming.

“The immediate plan now is to go out on loan elsewhere, because at this age I need stability and regular football to fulfil my dream.
“Training alongside big players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Modric, Sergio Ramos and Pepe gives you a taste of what you can be as a footballer.
“The hard truth is that there is no available shortcut to reaching that level and staying there. I need to work extremely hard wherever I go and play first team football regularly. “

BIAFRA: Igbo youths flay Sagay over attacks on Igbo

BIAFRA: Igbo youths flay Sagay over attacks on Igbo

IGBO youths on the banner of Igbo Youths Movement, IYM and South East Democratic Coalition, SEDC, have flayed legal icon, Professor Itse Sagay, SAN over his comments that those clamouring for Biafra are doing so in order to intimidate President Muhammadu Buhari into giving the Igbo positions they don’t deserve having rigged themselves out of contention in the present administration.

Sagay, SAN

According to media reports, Sagay said the Igbo occupied 50 per cent of Federal positions under former President Goodluck Jonathan, and did everything to get him re-elected to no avail including rigging and as such were not deserving of the positions they are seeking from President Buhari.

Describing the comments as ‘’Blanket Abuse of the Igbo Nation’’, the Igbo youths said they were shocked by ‘’the unprovoked vituperations from Itse Sagay. The horrible vitriolic based on lies and ethnic prejudice is probably designed to endear Sagay to Aso Villa, and also deepen ethnic hatred in the land.’’

In a statement by Evangelist Elliot Uko, IYM founder, they said it was not true Igbo leaders were sponsoring the Biafra agitation rather, ‘’the Biafra agitators are more angry with Igbo leaders than with any one else. The younger generation of the oppressed people of Eastern Nigeria are merely reacting to decades of oppression. The Biafra agitation came about as a result of the continued refusal of a powerful group in Nigeria to enthrone true federalism which has been agreed by Nigerians at all the national conferences ever held in Nigeria.

“That Sagay claims ignorance about the choking and suffocating effects of the current unworkable unitary structure is shocking. That he manufactures a reason (accommodation into Buhari’s dinner table) for the Biafra agitation without bothering to hear from IPOB, MASSOB and other youth groups behind the agitation is idiotic.’’

Uko, also dismissed as false Sagay’s claim that Igbo occupied 50 per cent of Federal positions under Jonathan, arguing, ‘’the Igbo have never occupied up to 20 per cent of Federal position of any government in Nigeria.’’

Uko continued: ‘’He is giving the public the impression he belongs to the group of Nigerians who believe they will shine only when Ndigbo are shoved out of the way (i.e. 1966-1970). He accused Ndigbo of ‘rigging and opportunism and lack of principles’. Such blanket abuse and the unguided generalization is not a character trait the highly respected Itsekiri Nation are known for, that leaves everybody wondering what could really be the motive behind the general insults on the Igbo race by Sagay.

‘’Everybody is at pains, to really comprehend why it is so important to Sagay that Ndigbo are placed in his own words “out of contention in the present administration”. Is he intimidated, mushroomed and out-classed by Igbo intellectuals to the extent he believes, he will only get noticed when Ndigbo are sidelined completely?

“His blanket insult on the mighty Igbo race, laced with outright falsehood and insinuation is unwarranted and unfortunate. He probably believes that the government he adores have struck so much fear and terror into the hearts of Nigerians, that nobody would point out his folly to him, in that case he only succeeded in disappointing Nigerians and diminishing himself.

“We would like to use this opportunity to remind General Buhari that Nigerians and the international community are closely monitoring the goings on in the indefinite detention culture that has made a comeback to our polity after three decades. Of special interest is the Nnamdi Kanu and Sheik Zakzaky imbroglio.

‘’As the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Sultan led JIN and other Muslim groups put pressure for the release of Sheik Zakzaky, Nigerians are closely watching between Kanu, whose unconditional release has been ordered by two courts in the land and the Sheik, and who will be first released by General Buhari.

‘’His decision on the two cases will go a long way in confirming whether he is the unbiased messiah his supporters claim he is or the sectional warrior, his opponents claim he is. The weeks and months ahead will confirm his place in history.’’

Filename: Biafra 8-1-16

Who pirated October 1?

Who pirated October 1?

This review was first published by Oboh’s lens.

But that is what happens when an otherwise good venture is hijacked by a people dedicated to feeding fat on ignorance and vulnerability. So, when Prince Aderopo eagerly goes for the whiteman’s education, the freedom knowledge gives is tainted by the sexual exploitation a Reverend Father subjects him to. If he must become human again, he must be cleansed. So, just as his forefathers would have done, a girl must die for each of the number of years he was abused; in a land where all young girls must remain virgin till wedding night, they must die at the point of deflowering.

That is how the multiplier effect of exploitation ruins generation after generation. Ask the Almajiris, victims of a feudal system that keeps many poor so the few rich can feed and manipulate them. Don’t ask them, because they do not even know. But the Ogoni people know, the many youths whose money-making time coincides with electioneering know and like it or not, Boko Haram insurgents now know. Just listen very well to their speeches. The real tragedy is not that many virginal Nigerians die daily, it is the fact that survivors wake up each morning to the possibility of dying, while the few Inspector Waziris and Sergeant Afonjas run aground.

Meanwhile, by the time Inspector Waziri solves the riddle, he has experienced what it means to be a black man working for the whites: they keep calling him “Danny boy.” He is also an Hausa man working in Yorubaland, and sees what the seething tension between the ethnic groups can cause if left unattended to. For instance, an Nyamiri kills an Aboki, who must have killed his daughter, in the land of Ofemandu. Therefore, when the Union Jack comes down on October 1 and the Green-White-Green rises to kiss the sky with pride, Waziri’s emotion is inscrutable. But we know he cannot, dares not, be optimistic. Today’s Nigeria justifies that priceless look on his face. For before the colonial master left, he had taught us to favour the privileged few and trample on the rest: anyway, whatever arrangement suits their purpose is just fine.

Afolayan keeps raising the bar in quality production. He overreached himself in recreating the temporal and physical setting of this feature film. Millions must have gone into getting those vintage cars and household items: that gramophone! His cinematographic abilities and creativity we have come to take for granted.

However, synchronisation is an issues that cropped up in, at least, two instances. First is when the Prince dances to music from the gramophone. At a point, his steps are in dissonance with the music beat. Again, when his last ritual sacrifice is interrupted by the law closing in, the beauty of his jump and roll out of the “shrine” is tainted by a split second hesitation. Then again, there is the slip in line 5 of the old National Anthem: it is “Nigerians all and proud to serve” and not “Nigeria all am proud to serve.” Reference to tribes carries no‘s’ even in the plural sense. So you cannot have ‘Igbos.” It is Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Esan, Itsekiri, and so on. I stand to be corrected, anyway.

These “mistakes” could easily have been corrected. But you can never know with creative artists. Each of these flaws is striking. So Afolayan might have deliberately created them. If he did, then he knew his work would be pirated just as October 1 was pirated by a people only interested in link roads and strategic economic moves.

And, although Afolayan is a great actor, I wish he could resist the temptation of acting in his movies. You cannot be the best in interpreting certain roles. Getting what you want out of your cast is part of what makes you good. If it is a case of cost cutting, then no wahala.

By the way, for a first-timer, at least on the big screen, Demola Adedoyin gave a good account of himself. His freshness was delectable. Let us wait and see how he turns out after money bags make him do seven movies in a week (some of our actors and actresses proudly claim such feat, thank you.) But my star is Sergeant Afonja. His delivering (in words and action) is priceless. His look, when Prince Aderopo says “Kudos,” is worth a million Dollars. Each time he says“Epeto,” his sincerity of purpose dares you to laugh. He is a successful foil to Inspector Danladi.

They are both officers of the law in service of a country they love. But where Afonja is earthy and culture-conscious, Danladi is the quintessential professional, who expects every thing to go by the books. However, between them is a devotion that helps them transcend mutual suspicion largely inevitable between people of different tongues. It is this link that helps them rescue the situation.

The beauty of the arts is that it lend itself to multi layered interpretations and different meanings. So, until we come to terms with who pirated October 1 and ask the person why, we are still very far from righting all the wrongs. A people as loving, industrious and blessed with natural and human resources as Nigerians deserve a better life. For only a society alien to African communal tradition will allow pirating of a good thing, while the rightful owner has no house in Asokoro or Lekki; does not ride a Jagaban or marry models. That is what happens in a pirated independence.

Let us continue to bear our cross, lamely agree with the Prince when he says Nigeria’s “independence arrived 10 years too early,” and pretend we have not heard of a people saying enough is enough and matching words with action. It is “Our suffering motherland” anyway, in spite of all 40 basic natural resources that can make any country a superpower.

This review was first published by Oboh’s lens.

ayose to Buhari: Charge Metuh to court if you have evidence of fraud against him

Fayose to Buhari: Charge Metuh to court if you have evidence of fraud against him

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, on Friday, challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to charge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh to court if the commission was sure of evidences of fraud against him, saying “the EFCC appears to be operating a system in which an accused person is first arrested, detained endlessly while the anti-corruption agency goes about looking for evidence.”

Fayose and Buhari

Governor Fayose, who maintained his support for a genuine fight against corruption, challenged the EFCC to also act on petitions submitted to it against All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains and President Buhari’s election sponsors.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose cautioned that nothing untoward must happen to Metuh, adding that the APC’s desperation to decimate and silence the opposition has dragged the Buhari-led government in the mud of lawlessness.

Fayose said: “In saner climes, you don’t arrest people for alleged fraud and start to look for evidence to prosecute them. Rather, before you arrest anyone for fraud, anti-corruption agencies must have established a prima facie case and arresting the suspect will only be to enable for his or her arraignment in court.

“However, what we are witnessing in Nigeria today is a situation whereby the EFCC will arrest PDP leaders, humiliate them by subjecting them to media trial, detain them for weeks in the process of trying to force them to make  statements during which the commission will be looking for evidence.

“For instance, in the case of Metuh, we are being told that the EFCC is insisting that he must write statements and one begins to wonder if it has now become mandatory for an accused to write statements in law enforcement agent’s custody. Shouldn’t the EFCC have simply charged Metuh to court based on its own evidence? Or is Metuh’s statement the evidence the EFCC requires to prosecute him?

“The international community, especially the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), European Union (EU) and others are put on notice on this condemnable act of arresting and detaining opposition leaders by agents of the Buhari-led government before fishing for evidence.”

While challenging President Buhari to extend his anti-corruption crusade to those who sponsored his election, Governor Fayose said any anti-corruption effort that targets only members of the opposition and those with axe to grind with the government of the day can never succeed.

“If President Buhari did not wait for any petition to move against PDP chieftains, asking people to come forward with allegations of corruption against APC chieftains, especially those who sponsored President Buhari’s election is clearly hypocritical.”

The governor added: “Most importantly, that the EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu even said the commission do not have any petition against APC chieftains when indeed there are loads of petitions against ministers serving in Buhari’s government and other notable APC chieftains goes to show the hypocrisy of the fight against corruption.

“It is even more hypocritical and anti-democratic for the President to have turned himself to the accuser, prosecutor and judge, carrying on as if those he accused of corruption have already been convicted.”

REVEALED: Afenifere Leader, Olu Falae Also Got N100m

REVEALED: Afenifere Leader, Olu Falae Also Got N100m

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, has admitted that he collected N100million from the former BOT chairman of the PDP, Tony Anenih. New Telegraph had reported that a former SGF and erstwhile governor in the South-West got N100m each from the N260 m given to Anenih by the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

But defending his action of collection the money, Falae told New Telegraph that it was purely an interparty affair between the PDP and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which he is the National Chairman.

The former presidential candidate said the money
was given to the SDP to effectively campaign for the PDP in the 2015 presidential election. According to him, in the build up to the 2015 general elections, the PDP and SDP entered into working agreement.

His words: “In the build up to the presidential election, the PDP approached the SDP which I chaired. The then ruling party solicited for our support in order for President Goodluck Jonathan to win the March 28 presidential election. “Anenih related with me as the chairman of the PDP BoT and I did same as the SDP National Chairman. He wrote to me as PDP BoT chairman and I wrote back as SDP National Chairman stating conditions/terms for the alliance.

I have the record. “It is true that N100 million was given to my party to endorse and work for the Jonathan’s candidature in the 2015 election. We used the money for that purpose and we effectively campaigned for the PDP since we did not have presidential candidate in the election. The money was not for me.

“Thank God I’m a retired civil servant. I have all the documents to prove all that transpired between the two parties.” 

The former Finance Minister stated that there was no way he could know that the money was from arms fund. “With all the money PDP has and having spent 16 years in power, how would I know that the money was from the arms deal? No reference was made to the arms deal. So, they should not bring me into the arms issue."

Popular Prophet Bushiri Buys 3rd Private Jet In 2 Years

Popular Prophet Bushiri Buys 3rd Private Jet In 2 Years

He is said to be one of the richest pastors in Africa, Leader & founder of the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church, Prophet Sheperd Bushiri has acquired a third private jet in a space of two years.

The new jet ZS-VIP was unveiled by the biggest Company of Aviation NAC in South Africa on Wednesday. Prophet Bushiri received a certificate from Flynn for becoming the youngest buyer of Gulf Stream jet.  The pastor who is popularly referred to as "Major 1" of 'Papa in Christian cycles dedicated the new jet to all the people who follow him and understand his vision. See more photos...

Prophet Bushiri shared the photos on his Facebook page. A follower criticised the pastor for spending money that could have been used to help the poor, Bushiri replied: "When are you going to sell your phone which you have used to type here and give the money to the poor?"

Photos-The 24 Mine-Resistant Vehicles donated by the US to the Nigerian Army

Photos-The 24 Mine-Resistant Vehicles donated by the US to the Nigerian Army

Yesterday,January 7th, the US donated 24 mine resistant and Armor-Protected vehicles worth $11m to Nigerian army to aid in the fight against Boko Haram..

A Catholic priest slammed with N5bn lawsuit over alleged fake prophesy

A Catholic priest slammed with N5bn lawsuit over alleged fake prophesy

A Catholic reverend has been slammed with a N5billion lawsuit over an alleged fake prophesy .Prince Orji Orizu, second son of the 1st Republic Senate President, late Abyssinia Orizu is infuriated over a prophesy by Catholic Reverend Fr. Chidozie Chilaka, aka ‘Jesus Network,’. The reverend allegedly said that he (Orji), was responsible for the misfortunes of his uncle’s wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Orizu and those of her children.

Rev. Fr. Chilaka, an evangelist based in Isiala Mbano, Imo State, had allegedly called out one Mrs. Orizu, Prince Orji Orizu’s uncle’s wife, during his week-long crusade at Nigeria Science and Technical College, Nnewi and told her that she had been under a spell from Prince Orji Orizu.

The priest allegedly told the woman that all her daughters’ broken marriages were caused by the legal luminary, promising that he would nullify curses inflicted on them by the former first Republic Senate President’s son.
But reacting to the allegation while addressing newsmen in his house in Nnewi, Prince Orji allegedly challenged the Reverend, saying,

 ”any Nigerian, native doctor, any child or agent of a native doctor and anybody connected to any native doctor in or outside Nigeria who can say he had ever visited or patronized them, should come out and speak.”

The infuriated Prince also urged the ‘likes of such people who claim to have seen him in the house of any native doctor anywhere in or outside Nigeria, to speak out.

Vanguard

A Girl nearly dies after her superstitious dad let a cobra bite her wrist to cure her ailments

A Girl nearly dies after her superstitious dad let a cobra bite her wrist to cure her ailments

A Chinese man has deliberately let a venomous snake bite his ill daughter in a desperate bid to treat her blood disorder.

Wang Mengyao, eight, was forced to take the lethal bites while being pinned down by her father at her home in Wuqiang County, Hebei Province, reported the People's Daily Online . She almost lost her life and had to be rushed to the hospital for anti-venom serum.Mengyao's father, 33-year-old Wang Jingshuai, said he followed a folk remedy, which claims a cobra's venom could cure anemia, after he could no longer afford his daughter's medical bills.

According to him, Mengyao had a two-week fever in January 2011. 

She was later diagnosed with aplastic anemia by the No. 2 Provincial Hospital in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province.Wang Jingshuai said the family had spent all its savings trying to save the girl in the past five years

Although Jingshuai said he had hesitation at the beginning, he later decided to take the risk and asked a friend to send him a venomous reptile from south China.

The man stated that his daughter refused to be bitten after seeing the snake.Jingshuai allegedly pinned down Mengyao's by her arm while holding the cobra to her wrist.

The daughter immediately fell ill after the 'treatment', said a regretful Jingshuai.The father rushed his daughter to the hospital, where she was saved by anti-venom serum

Two UK based Nigerian fraudsters who duped a woman out of £1.6m sentenced to prison in London

Two UK based Nigerian fraudsters who duped a woman out of £1.6m sentenced to prison in London

Two Nigerian men who duped a woman out of £1.6 million in a sophisticated romance scam were today, Friday, January 8, jailed for a total of 5-and-a-half years at Basildon Crown Court.

Ife Ojo, 31, (left) of Hammonds Drive, Peterborough in Cambridgeshire was jailed for 34 months for conspiracy to defraud. His accomplice Olusegun Agbaje (right), 43, of Kershaw Close, Hornchurch in Essex was jailed for 32 months for conspiracy to defraud.

 

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Miles, of FALCON - the Met’s specialist Cyber Crime and Fraud Unit, said:

"Today’s sentencing recognises the devastating impact this kind of fraud has on its victims. I would like to pay tribute to the victim in this case who provided evidence which was crucial in securing two guilty pleas in this case.

"The financial and emotional impact to the victim has been huge. Many victims borrow money from friends and family to pay the suspects. Victims typically feel embarrassed and ashamed when they realise they have been duped, so they often don't report what has happened to them or even confide in a friend."

In January 2015, a woman in her 40s, from Hillingdon, reported to Action Fraud that she had been a victim of fraud. The case was referred the Met's cyber crime and fraud team, FALCON.

The victim told police that in February 2014 she met a man calling himself Christian Anderson on a dating site. After a few weeks, they met in person. He told her that he was an engineer working in the oil industry, that he was divorced and had a daughter, and that his father and sister died of cancer.

After a few weeks, he told her that he loved her. He said he was having a difficult time working on a project in Benin, Africa. He said that he wanted to come home to be with her but first he needed some specialist machinery so he could finish the project. He asked her for a loan to pay import duty for the machinery.

She paid over £30,000 into the business account of his supposed personal assistant, a man allegedly called Brandon Platt, but Anderson then requested more cash, ranging from £25,000 for a police fine, to thousands of pounds to free up inheritance money left by his mother, who lived in Cape Town.

He told her that he wanted to use the inheritance money to set up a life with the victim. Fees for freeing up the inheritance money included costs for holding it in a vault in Amsterdam and $170,000 to pay for a non-existent "anti-terrorist certificate" so that the money could be deposited at a bank.

The victim had been convinced that they would live together, and had been looking for a home for them to buy. She met with someone claiming to be Anderson's lawyer, and even travelled to an office in Amsterdam to meet a man calling himself Dr Spencer, who was supposedly responsible for holding the money in a vault.

Between March and December 2014, the victim paid £1.6million into numerous bank accounts.

The money was subsequently transferred into various personal accounts, including £35,000 to the bank accounts of Ife Ojo and Olusegun Agbaje. The victim doubted the authenticity of Anderson's stories on numerous occasions but every time she asked for proof he sent false documentation or made up excuses for why he could not send her evidence.

FALCON carried out a financial investigation. They identified Agbaje as one of the recipients of the victim's money and went to his home address where they found him with Ojo. Both were arrested and their homes searched. At Ojo's home, they found a laptop containing records of the victim's conversation with Anderson, a memento book seemingly sent to Anderson by another victim and a copy of the book 'The Game'.

FALCON established that they had received £35,000 of the victim's cash and charged them. In September 2015, Ojo, a student from Peterborough and Agbaje, an administrative assistant of Hornchurch both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud at Basildon Crown Court.

Detectives are continuing their enquiries as they seek other members of the gang and try to identify any other victims.

Source: Metropolitan Police