El-Zakzaky: Fayose hails Federal High Court, Says; "Judiciary must save Nigerians from tyranny"

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjng47ByFahIpecr1760min2YDQkyJg805h8U7aLaEvGXVqGVJ_siFuHvbPUBA_FGE8VUX-jAjxeRcNZZmyacwbgyueczsnhXet01k-AibvX6iZyrt7Np-nzy7SXe4C99N2GRD8PPLa9gqH/s1600/Ayodele-Fayose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjng47ByFahIpecr1760min2YDQkyJg805h8U7aLaEvGXVqGVJ_siFuHvbPUBA_FGE8VUX-jAjxeRcNZZmyacwbgyueczsnhXet01k-AibvX6iZyrt7Np-nzy7SXe4C99N2GRD8PPLa9gqH/s640/Ayodele-Fayose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has hailed the Federal High Court, Abuja judgement, ordering the release of the leader of the Shi’ite Muslim sect, Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife, as well as payment of payment of N50 million damages awarded against the Department of State Service (DSS).<br /> The governor, who had called for the release of El-Zakzaky two weeks ago, however said he won't be surprised if the federal government does not obey the judgment, adding that;<br /> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> "The judgement will be for posterity even if in their usual style of impunity, those holding power in Abuja ignore the judgment."</blockquote> He called on men of the judiciary to save democracy in Nigeria as well as Nigerians from tyranny b being courageous and firm even in the face of intimidation, harassment, blackmail and character<br /> assassination by those whose desire is to muscle opposition and turn Nigeria to as one party state.<br /><br /> In a statement issued on Friday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose reiterated his earlier call on the International Criminal Court (ICC),<br /> Amnesty International and other world bodies to investigate extra judicial killings in the country in the last 15 months, especially the murder of over 300 Shi'ite Muslims in Zaria and killing of over 150 Biafra activists.<br /><br /> He said under international human rights law governing the use of firearms during policing operations, the intentional use of lethal force is only permitted when strictly unavoidable, to protect life.<br /><br /> Governor Fayose noted that the detention since last year December, of El-Sakzaky, after the murder of over 300 of his followers was inhuman and wicked, saying; "the DSS claim that  El-Sakzaky was being detained to protect him is not only laughable but barbaric. How can you keep someone in detention for 12 months and claim that you are protecting him? Against what?"<br /><br /> The governor, who described the APC led federal government as law breaker, noted that "the kind of impunity against the law of Nigeria being witnessed now has never happened before. Even the military still obeyed court judgements but here we are with a democratically elected government that holds our constitution with contempt."<br /> <br /><br />"I congratulate Justice Gabriel Kolawole and the entire judiciary for once against giving Nigerians hope that democracy can still survive and rule of law can still be sustained.<br /><br /> "The judiciary must remain steadfast in its uphold of the rule of law, so as to save Nigerians who are now being held by the jugular by those who do not want anyone that is not in the same political camp with them to exist," he said.

El-Zakzaky: Fayose hails Federal High Court, Says; "Judiciary must save Nigerians from tyranny"

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has hailed the Federal High Court, Abuja judgement, ordering the release of the leader of the Sh...

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Pendulum: As Ghana heads to General Elections by Dele Momodu

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSnUbTagN7gbDZJuMGIx1WeG7GYH0ZQKWB0oWy7uwfnvr7uzPNOH-5WLPh24XsX1cCjbY4ZJQZIEuXyEIInjfLh5DsR1UlHtEDwADOs7CKk2V6eDKAgWK7_5VY21WG2owOguJdiVGAQVY/s1600/IMG_20160716_080928.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSnUbTagN7gbDZJuMGIx1WeG7GYH0ZQKWB0oWy7uwfnvr7uzPNOH-5WLPh24XsX1cCjbY4ZJQZIEuXyEIInjfLh5DsR1UlHtEDwADOs7CKk2V6eDKAgWK7_5VY21WG2owOguJdiVGAQVY/s640/IMG_20160716_080928.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div dir="ltr"> <br /></div> <div dir="ltr"> By Dele Momodu </div> <div dir="ltr"> <br /></div> <div dir="ltr"> Nigerians, this seems to be the season of elections in different parts of the world. We can start from Nigeria, our dear beloved country. Two critical elections have come and gone in recent months. The first was in my home State of Edo where the APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki, trounced his arch-rival, Pastor Ize-Iyamu of PDP. Godwin Obaseki has since been sworn in as the Governor while the PDP stalwarts and teir gubernatorial candidate continue to lament like the Biblical Jeremiah. It is not clear if their lamentations and grumblings would be limited to their homes and party offices or if they would pursue the matter to the Supreme Court, starting with a Petition to the Election Tribunal.<br /> Elections are seemingly forever contentious everywhere including, even now, America where some Hillary Clinton supporters are already seeking a recount of some swing States. It is apparently in the nature of human beings to reject defeat even where there has previously been concession. We all love to win. But the truth is that only one contestant can win in an election that requires just one victor.<br /> In Ondo State, another APC candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu has just overwhelmed the PDP candidate Eyitayo Jegede and the AD candidate, Olusola Oke. It was bound to happen as a result of the war of attrition rocking PDP, a party that once boasted to be Africa’s largest political congregation. Theirs was a classic case of a house divided against itself cannot stand. The division within PDP has been so deep that it would seem someone somewhere has hypnotised them so much that they can no longer see that they are miserably on the road to eternal perdition. Again, whilst all the other candidates and even the outgoing Governor, Dr Rahman Mimiko, have congratulated the victorious Aketi, the PDP candidate by Supreme Court fiat, Mr Eyitayo Jegede still seems to be in a state of shock and stupor and has been ominously silent.<br /> What looks obvious to all discerning minds is that APC is determined to stamp its full authority on Nigeria. The party is working, some people are saying by hook and crook, while others believe that the change mantra is working even if many Nigerians are grunting aloud. Those opposed to the Buhari government are convinced in their opinion that the ruling administration is merely manipulating the system in its own favour to create the impression that it is loved by the generality of Nigerians. On the other hand the pro-Buhari supporters are boasting that these elections have demonstrated clearly how much Nigerians love and adore our no-nonsense President and that this is clear manifestation of their endorsement of Buhari’s policies, no matter how draconian it may appear to the so-called wailing-wailers. So far, so good, the winning streak of APC is confirming the latter view. screenshot_2016-12-02-21-58-29-2-1-1<br /> From Nigeria, let’s make a brief stop-over in Banjul, The Gambia, one of my favourite tourist destinations, where reports oozed out yesterday that the strongman, President Yayah Jameh, has finally lost his grip on power, after over two decades of iron-fisted rule. He lost resoundingly to a political tyro, Adama Barrow, after most of the opposition parties formed themselves into a strong coalition to focre what observers are calling a real political paradigm shift in Africa because nobody believed it was a possible feat. Even international observers stayed away after the country was plunged into international information darkness by the banning of international calls and internet activity. The outcome of the elections in The Gambia should however not be surprising to any student of history because whatever has a beginning must have an end. A good actor should always know when to quit the stage. I strongly believe that no President or Prime Minister should ever spend more than a total of two terms spanning a maximum of eight to ten years in power. After that, the law of diminishing returns would naturally set in. Whatever a leader can’t achieve in those eight to ten years may never be actualised in an entire lifetime. A serious leader must set a powerful template in his first tenure and consolidate decisively if lucky to get a second term. The tendency to become an autocrat or dictator after eight or ten years is simply too strong and can only be managed by constitutional means which limits terms to two and no more.<br /> This is what has happened before our very eyes in Ghana, where President John Dramani Mahama would face the battle of his life next Wednesday, December 7, 2016, when he seeks a re-election. It promises to be a battle royale between President Mahama and his strongest challenger Nana Akufo-Addo. Ghana is currently on edge as both the President’s NDC party and the opposition NPP are taking this election like the Mohammed Ali/Joe Fraizer rumble in the jungle fight. Neither of them is willing to yield any ground or quarter.<br /> President Mahama comes with very powerful commendations from party faithfuls and non-partisans. He is largely believed to have changed and transformed Ghana like no other leader since the time of the great Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah. In fact, his aggressive investments in infrastructure development has earned him the sobriquet of Kwame Nkrumah II. The manner he has been commissioning new projects daily has also attracted his latest nickname of The Commissioner-in-Chief, a positive change from the Commander-in-Chief that is the favoured moniker of most African leaders. It is doubtful if any President has surpassed Mahama currently in the area of infrastructure within the past four years in Africa. If infrastructure alone could win an election, this election would have been a no-contest and President Mahama would have won with automatic alacrity.<br /> His most vociferous critics are saying people need jobs and food in their stomachs and not infrastructure. His humble response is that he appreciates the hardship Ghanaians are facing and pleads that they should endure a little as he is not engaging in quick fixes but enduring legacies. President Mahama insists that the best way to solve the excruciating problems of unemployment is through deliberate and total commitment to investing heavily in infrastructure development. The schools he is building will afford more students the opportunity to get enrolled, educated and finish with skills hitherto denied them. The schools would employ many more teachers. He is skilfully shifting attention away from humanities to technical studies. He says this would make it easier for Ghanaian youths to be more readily employable. He wants Ghana to train her young ones to become the best artisans in West Africa. As a matter of fact, he has converted and upgraded Polytechnics and Technical Colleges to universities. This has generated a lot of excitement.<br /> President Mahama has built some incredible hospitals of international standards. The aesthetic and clean hospitals have even been likened to hotels. He says these hospitals would employ more Doctors and nurses and other medical personnel.<br /> He has virtually contained the erratic power outage that ravaged Ghana not too long ago and this is probably his greatest achievement, even if many of his fellow citizens may not appreciate such miracle. As a Nigerian, I know what we have suffered because of electricity failure. Any leader who is able to tackle and bring an end to the intractable issue of power in Nigeria would be worshipped forever. The gains are only too evident because no nation can seek to be an industrial power with electricity and other alternate forms of power supply in which President Mahama is also investing..<br /> On his part, the main opposition leader, Nana Akufo-Addo is an accomplished lawyer and was a Minister of Foreign Affairs under President John Agyekum Kufuor. He is widely respected at home and abroad. This would be his third attempt after losing to the late John Evans Atta-Mills in 2008 and to John Dramani Mahama in 2012. It remains to be seen if he would be third time lucky now that he is facing an extremely popular leader and incumbent President whose slogan TOASO (a Twi word for Continue) has resonated massively across the nation.<br /> Nana Akufo-Addo prides himself as an anti-corruption agent and has promised to sweep corruption out of the Ghanaian system. The present Government asks for evidence of such corruption but Nana and the opposition have not been able to point to any corruption or scandal to substantiate the label of an anti-corruption crusader like President Buhari was able to do in Nigeria. His slogan of Change is however popular among his dedicated followers who love him to bits. The issue is what kind of change? His cerebral composure has been taken for ivory tower arrogance by his critics. His supporters have been labelled as being too volatile and querulous and ready to pick a fight at the slightest provocation. They are generally disparaged as intolerant of any other view or candidates but theirs. Nana has come a long way since his first attempt. This looks like his last chance at 72 years old. If he fails this time, it may be difficult for him to come back at 76 to run another race. President Mahama on the other hand was born in 1958 and turned 58 only a few days ago.<br /> There is therefore so much at stake in this election. Will Ghanaians abandon a youthful President who has laid a good foundation on which to build a superstructure next term or reject a much older but very idealistic candidate who has promised them a radical change very similar to what we promised Nigerians last year? It is a big dilemma for many Ghanaians. Change has become a very complex slogan in Ghana. Mahama says he has already brought change to Ghana by transforming the country from an analogue infrastructure era to a digital age level. Nana dismisses Mahama as incompetent and mediocre. He and his party have not seen much to trumpet about Mahama’s much-advertised achievements. The most astonishing aspect of this electioneering campaign has been the way the opposition has pooh poohed and dismissed Mahama’s monumental achievement, the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, easily the longest flyover in West Africa, as a non-event, and ordered its bigwigs to avoid driving on it so as not to validate its importance of what Ghanaians now call their own Dubai.<br /> As always with Ghanaian elections, it will be a very close race, and whosoever wins can only do so by the whiskers. Most recent polls have predicted a win for President Mahama by a slim margin but no one can be absolutely certain until the results are finally announced hopefully on December 8. The tension in Ghana is so thick and palpable right now that you can literarily cut it with a blade. My prayer is for peace to reign in Ghana and for the victor to be magnanimous and the loser to be graceful in defeat.<br /> May almighty God help the Republic of Ghana.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSnUbTagN7gbDZJuMGIx1WeG7GYH0ZQKWB0oWy7uwfnvr7uzPNOH-5WLPh24XsX1cCjbY4ZJQZIEuXyEIInjfLh5DsR1UlHtEDwADOs7CKk2V6eDKAgWK7_5VY21WG2owOguJdiVGAQVY/s1600/IMG_20160716_080928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <br /> </a> </div>

Pendulum: As Ghana heads to General Elections by Dele Momodu

By Dele Momodu  Nigerians, this seems to be the season of elections in different parts of the world. We can start from Nigeria, our...

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FG approves another N522.74bn conditional bailout for states

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5CNsJ7lqYVT28Xk-NQmKnGM8d-UyoIbeYK-k8TDTWIK0_aIAkOW4zgtC1OgByYW2teacTpIdYuWZvLZHZ6Fig6nOl_ZWXCVzxhn4HAG0wstXQ5Fw8A92qCAtpect_UoZ6SOEXGv6Ihcq/s1600/Kemi-Adeosun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5CNsJ7lqYVT28Xk-NQmKnGM8d-UyoIbeYK-k8TDTWIK0_aIAkOW4zgtC1OgByYW2teacTpIdYuWZvLZHZ6Fig6nOl_ZWXCVzxhn4HAG0wstXQ5Fw8A92qCAtpect_UoZ6SOEXGv6Ihcq/s640/Kemi-Adeosun.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Following a protest by states against overdeductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Muhammed Buhari has approved the release of N522.74 billion to states as refunds pending reconciliation of records. <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> About 14 states in the first batch will get reprieve of  N153.01billion.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Each state is entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion being 25% of the amounts claimed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But the government has raised a team to scrutinise claims by states and reconcile with available records.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> These developments are contained in a statement in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Festus Akanbi.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The statement said the payment of the claims will enable states to offset outstanding salaries and pensions which had been “causing considerable hardship.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The statement said the states have been directed to devote a minimum of 50% of any amount disbursed to address the challenges associated with salaries and pensions.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It said all the funds disbursed will be credited to an auditable account from which payments to individual creditors would be made.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The statement said:  “State governments have submitted to the Federal Government (FG)  claims of over-deductions for external debt service arising between 1995 and 2002 as a result of First Line Charge deductions from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “These debt service deductions are in respect of the Paris Club, London Club and Multilateral debts of the FG and states. While Nigeria reached a final agreement for debt relief with the Paris Club in October 2005, some states had already been overcharged.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “On the request by state governments for a refund of amounts owed by the Federal Government, Mr. President directed that claims be subject to verification by the Debt Management Office and a team was established and given the mandate to scrutinise claims and reconcile with available records. The brief for the team was also extended to include a review of interim payments made under previous administrations.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Work has commenced to resolve each state government’s claim and the exercise is expected to take approximately 12 months. The exercise will be thorough, including a complete reconstruction of records dating back to the period in question.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In the interim, however, state governors have continued to appeal for release of payment on the grounds of fairness because some states had already received refunds under previous administrations.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The statement gave insights into the conditions attached to the refunds to the states.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It added: “The Federal Government has reached a conditional agreement to pay 25% of the amounts claimed subject to a cap of N14.5 billion to any given state.  Balances due thereafter will be revisited when fiscal conditions improve.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Mr. President’s overriding concern is for the welfare of the Nigerian people, considering the fact that many states are owing salaries and pensions, causing considerable hardship.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Therefore, to ensure compliance with the directive that a minimum of 50% of any amount disbursed is dedicated to this, funds will be credited to an auditable account from which payments to individual creditors would be made. Where possible, such payments would be made to BVN linked accounts and verified.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But any state paid refunds in excess of its outstanding claims might suffer deduction from its monthly allocations from the Federation Account.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It said: “Due to the fact that reconciliation is still ongoing and the final outcome might show an under or overstatement of claims, an undertaking has been signed by state governors, declaring that in the event the amount already paid exceeds the verified claim, the surplus would be deducted directly from the state’s monthly FAAC allocations.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The total amount approved by the President is N522.74 billion and is to be paid in batches. The first batch of N153.01billion is currently being processed for release to 14 state governments.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The release of these funds is intended to support the fiscal stimulus programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to provide direct stimulus through government spending. It is particularly aimed at boosting demand at consumer level and reversing the slowdown in economic activity.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

FG approves another N522.74bn conditional bailout for states

Following a protest by states against overdeductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Muhammed Buhari has appr...

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Buhari rejects Obasanjo’s counsel on $29.96bn loan

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk7UJ3MorxZsW23f23FsxKITMjuBGkFgBKR48rFsfpKCyJA97EW3P9VRpicUUHLebPnwuNxxLlYqomqeB-4Yd4ouG1I9DfWryiqdHqeEvK2yo1OAfuqltOueP_0CIYNHuwJqdWsUcLq2v/s1600/buhaei.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk7UJ3MorxZsW23f23FsxKITMjuBGkFgBKR48rFsfpKCyJA97EW3P9VRpicUUHLebPnwuNxxLlYqomqeB-4Yd4ouG1I9DfWryiqdHqeEvK2yo1OAfuqltOueP_0CIYNHuwJqdWsUcLq2v/s640/buhaei.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Federal Government is pushing ahead with plans to secure $29.9billion loans in spite of scathing criticisms from ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It was learnt that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, to engage the ex-President on the facts-behind-the-figures in respect of the loans.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Finance Minister, who is said to be a “goddaughter” of the ex-President, may also get a feedback from Obasanjo to the government.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to investigation conducted by our correspondent, the Buhari administration has discovered that Obasanjo does not have sufficient information on the loans.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Findings made by our correspondent indicated that the Federal Government has decided to ignore calls that it should shelve the loans and had resolved to engage Obasanjo and convince him on the need for the loans.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It was gathered that the government would also make all the details available to the ex-President to prove that the loans would not amount to fresh “debt traps.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A top source said: “We are going ahead with the loans, but we will allay the fears of ex-President Obasanjo with necessary documents on the sources and plans.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “I think the ex-President needs some details. We are certainly going to engage Obasanjo. We will not take issues with him in the media.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “It is to the credit of Obasanjo that he secured debt reliefs for the nation. We want him to realize that we are not out to pile up fresh debts for the nation.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “These loans are coming from some liberal creditors including the World Bank, Africa Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and China EximBank.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “What Nigerians do not know is that we had many offers but were careful in selecting our loan facilitators.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “For instance, the Buhari administration rejected loan offers from the International Monetary Funds (IMF) because of Nigerians’ attitude to the international agency for such a bail out in 1990.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Yet out of the $29.9 billion loans, the Federal Government’s share is $25.8 billion while the states will enjoy $4.1 billion facility.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The source gave insights into the loans as follows:</div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li>The external borrowing plan is a three-year plan covering proposed projects for 2016 – 2018. As such, the borrowings will be phased over the three-year period.</li> <li>The borrowings are highly concessional (non-commercial) with low interest rates and long tenors.</li> <li>The funding is being sought from multilateral institutions including the World Bank, Africa Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and China EximBank.</li> <li>The planned Eurobond issuance in the international capital markets is the only commercial source of funding.</li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The source said: “There is no way we can even implement 2017 budget without the loans. We are in dire straits. We need some breather to revive the economy.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “It is not physical cash as being assumed. All the institutions will be involved in the management of the loans to ensure judicious use.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “And for a prudent government like that of Buhari, there is 100 per cent assurance that the loans will not be mismanaged unlike the case in the past.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Responding to a question, the highly-placed source added: “The government has mandated the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, to engage the ex-President on the indices behind obtaining the loans. Our hands are tied because of lack of funds to implement laudable projects.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The Minister will then return with a feedback from the ex-President on how we can manage the loans better. Fortunately for Buhari, the Minister is more or less a “goddaughter” of Obasanjo.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Whatever is the communication gap, we will use the engagement with Obasanjo to clear the air.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The ex-President had asked Buhari to stay off the loans, saying that it would mortgage the nation’s future.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said: “I believe that going for a huge loan under any guise is inadvisable and it will amount to going the line of soft option, which will come to haunt us in future.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We immediately need loans to stabilise our foreign reserve and embark on some infrastructure development, but surely not $30 billion over a period of less than three years.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “That was about the magnitude of cumulative debt of Nigeria which we worked and wiped out 10 years ago. Before that debt relief, we were spending almost $3 billion to service our debt annually, and the quantum of the debt was not going down.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Rather, if we defaulted, we paid penalty, which was added on.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said some of the projects to be financed by the $30 billion loans were not self-sustaining.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He added: “The projects listed for borrowing are all necessary in the medium and long run for our economy, but we have to prioritise.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Railway is a necessary service, but it is not profit-making anywhere in the world today. We need steady and continuous but manageable funding on the railway project.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Mambilla hydro is the same; necessary but it cannot pay itself, especially with the global energy sector of shale revolution, hydrogen fuel and increasingly cheap renewable energy such as solar.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “OPEC itself has projected that the price of oil will be hovering in the region of $50 per barrel for the next 15 years or so.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The argument of concessional mixed with commercial does not hold water. When the concessional and the non-concessional borrowings are put together, interests alone will be in the region of 3% to 4%.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The bunching of debt service will be a problem to confront other administrations in future. Soft option alone is not the answer; a mixture of soft and hard options is the way to go.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Telling us that those projects will pay themselves cannot be the whole truth. We were told there was rainy day when we lavished our reserve and excess crude on frivolities. When we now have the rains beating us, there is no umbrella over our heads.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Again, now we are being told the projects will pay themselves when we know damn well they will not.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “If we borrow some thirty billion dollars in less than three years, we would have mortgaged the future of Nigeria for well over thirty years to come.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “There may also be the problem of absorptive capacity which will surely lead to waste.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

Buhari rejects Obasanjo’s counsel on $29.96bn loan

The Federal Government is pushing ahead with plans to secure $29.9billion loans in spite of scathing criticisms from ex-President Oluse...

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EFCC arrests Police Commissioner for alleged N1.9bn fraud

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCOF5_YAWjz3W4x44ngsTruARDP7SVvnlaHem-qyt7EyYSX6JY5HphN6knLAipYfcFA8ZIfzVxxSgfhGn7uWUAvsTcN0L9AmVsiJej0pGtuTdD47ga4Di-3EPHt5CqTmSw2ze0NMWxz6p/s1600/EFCC-e1444332814147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCOF5_YAWjz3W4x44ngsTruARDP7SVvnlaHem-qyt7EyYSX6JY5HphN6knLAipYfcFA8ZIfzVxxSgfhGn7uWUAvsTcN0L9AmVsiJej0pGtuTdD47ga4Di-3EPHt5CqTmSw2ze0NMWxz6p/s640/EFCC-e1444332814147.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested and detained a Commissioner of Police, Victor Onofiok, over alleged N1.9 billion fraud.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The suspect, who was being detained at press time, was alleged to have favoured companies close to him in the award of contracts.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A top source in the anti-graft agency said: “A serving Commissioner of Police, Victor Onofiok, is being grilled by operatives of the EFCC over a N1.9 billion fraud.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Onofiok, who is the CP Works at the Force Headquarters, was detained on November 30 after he was released for interrogation by the police.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The officer, who has been CP Works since 2014, is alleged to have awarded contracts worth more than N1.9 billion to ‘companies’ in which he has interest.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The companies include Dutse Allah Construction Ventures; Nne-Edak Technical Ventures; Puristic Adherent Company; Quality Watch Construction Company and Faksene International.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “These entities were found to be mere business names and not limited companies.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> As at press time, it was gathered that the EFCC was still trailing some likely accomplices of the suspect.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The source added: “So far, the CP is still in detention, but we cannot rule out likely accomplices. We are considering all clues.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “I can assure you that all those connected with the fraud will be brought to book.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We have however intensified investigation.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A police source said: “Based on a request to the IGP, Onofiok, who was elevated to the post of CP on January 23, 2014, was released to EFCC.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We are awaiting the outcome of the police preliminary investigation before we can talk of the next disciplinary action against him.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The uncovering of the N1.9bn fraud at the Force Headquarters came about 11 years after a former Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, was arrested and tried for N5.7 billion fraud.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Meanwhile, the Chairman Senate Committee on Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption, Senator Chukwuma Utazi, has assured the EFCC of the Senate’s support to ensure release of appropriated funds by the Federal Ministry of Finance toward the completion of the Commission’s head office complex.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Utazi, who made the pledge while inspecting the project, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work so far done.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The quality of work done by Julius Berger is impressive,” he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, quoted Utazi as saying: “From the information we have got, N5 billion has been released, and we will ask the ministry of finance and budget office to ensure that the outstanding N2 billion that they are holding is released to the contractors so that they can push this job.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We want that money released so that before we start looking at 2017 budget, we will have been done with the 2016 budget.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “It is very important that we are not just seen as saying we want to fight corruption. Even though we know we are tight on finances, this is of primary importance to us.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Utazi expressed concern about the current location of the EFCC, stating that the place has a lot of distractions, which may compromise the integrity of investigations.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He expressed the 8th Senate’s commitment to seeing that the project is completed on time.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Utazi was accompanied on the visit by other members of the Committee, including Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu and Senator Jide Omoworare</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

EFCC arrests Police Commissioner for alleged N1.9bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested and detained a Commissioner of Police, Victor Onofiok, over alleged N1...

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EFCC Arrests Illegal Oil Vessel At The Point Of Fuel Discharge.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQN-aUWTMWCv8xBo7InofiarLM0Z2KQh3zdL2UHgNQ-toLRWXfa8YHBlDr_0k-1GMjEIbtBUwyC_UJyitCsTPdkWd9S_HEVFC7gC9wzid2Uu323U8H6tkK0d1Z2MI_7spoHIYBXdnHeuJD/s1600/vessel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQN-aUWTMWCv8xBo7InofiarLM0Z2KQh3zdL2UHgNQ-toLRWXfa8YHBlDr_0k-1GMjEIbtBUwyC_UJyitCsTPdkWd9S_HEVFC7gC9wzid2Uu323U8H6tkK0d1Z2MI_7spoHIYBXdnHeuJD/s640/vessel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested an oil vessel off-loading products suspected to be Automated Gas Oil, AGO, along Eagle Island in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. <br /> The arrest, made on Thursday December 1, was made possible by high-level intelligence and surveillance by the EFCC. Men and officers of the NNS Pathfinder, Naval Base, Port Harcourt also offered professional s<span class="text_exposed_show">upport and facilitation of the operation. The vessel: H.W. BECHMAN, an oil tanker, with Registration Number: 4014030, was caught off-loading products into a Tank Farm housed in the premises of NEPAS Limited in the Iwofe area of Port Harcourt. It was the first- ever oil vessel interception made by the EFCC since its reception.</span><br /> <div class="text_exposed_show"> Preliminary investigations by the EFCC showed that the oil vessel carried products loaded in twelve( 12) compartments. Seven of the compartments had already been offloaded into the Tank Farm at the point of arrest. Products were still found in five other compartments. The products were suspected to have been sourced from the proceeds of pipeline vandalisation in the creeks of the Niger Delta. Operators of the vessel escaped on sighting the EFCC operatives, escaped in a speed boat but a quick response and support by men of the NNS Pathfinder ensured that the oil vessel was not moved. <br /> Several documents were recovered from the vessel and further investigations In the case, are on- going.</div>

EFCC Arrests Illegal Oil Vessel At The Point Of Fuel Discharge.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested an oil vessel off-loading products suspected to be Autom...

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Telecoms operators kick against suspension of data tariff hike

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQWkAXkY0PkM5MQogPHP7rAQ6wyVlqxli_hjok-fXVPn6nRGwvNrVvMc4kcIdn845_iEqUuKIQFEARKqCsdRP7MKiSPfeAuyCLL62lb0B34Q30XZ3s672Nmy85dzAhwmMx2v-CkA3tPTK/s1600/telecom-mast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQWkAXkY0PkM5MQogPHP7rAQ6wyVlqxli_hjok-fXVPn6nRGwvNrVvMc4kcIdn845_iEqUuKIQFEARKqCsdRP7MKiSPfeAuyCLL62lb0B34Q30XZ3s672Nmy85dzAhwmMx2v-CkA3tPTK/s640/telecom-mast.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Telecommunications operators in the country, have kicked against the suspension of the new data tariff floor , which the Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC) approved recently.<br /> The NCC had announced suspension of the initial directive it gave to operators, after public outrage from consumers and stakeholders. The Senate also asked the regulating body to stop the planned increase.<br /> In a reaction to the new development, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), expressed its dissatisfaction in a statement released by its chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayor.<br /> According to the statement: “ALTON notes that price changes for data services across all networks following any intervention by the NCC were not expected to have a detrimental effect on broadband penetration, contrary to some sentiments being expressed in the media.<br /> “ALTON wishes to emphasise that while it is imperative that telecommunications operators continue to explore opportunities to provide their subscribers with more value for their money, it is important that prices are set at realistic levels which ensure that subscribers are not only able to afford services but operators are also in a position to provide first rate services to their subscribers.<br /> “While we fully understand the public sentiments that would appear to have greeted the announcement of the new minimum data tariff introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), ALTON wishes to state that NCC intervened to set the data tariff floor in exercise of its statutory responsibility to promote healthy competition by periodically reviewing voice and data tariffs in the industry and ensuring the sustainability of the Nigerian telecommunications industry.<br /> “It is noteworthy to mention that the NCC commenced extensive consultation with the industry prior to the finalisation of the data tariff floor, but the commission has since Wednesday suspended the implementation of its determination on the data tariff floor.<br /> “In this regard, our members await the conclusion of NCC’s market study when the commission will be in a position to determine its requisite intervention.” <br />

Telecoms operators kick against suspension of data tariff hike

Telecommunications operators in the country, have kicked against the suspension of the new data tariff floor , which the Nigerian Teleco...

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Tobacco Control Group Lobbies Saraki For Support

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCr4Apmu7KKUAYz6A8uaKr_Z2XooW8NcIcqe_7zv6HQqaeLHustkRPvvoCp2I8MoTXzn2fFfBsYIPJHlpIQAg8P-wXdemGhdSA9bgvypU_yMxv4cibYQWOzxH_uPB0uHFsxcaN-E2oYMy/s1600/saraky.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCr4Apmu7KKUAYz6A8uaKr_Z2XooW8NcIcqe_7zv6HQqaeLHustkRPvvoCp2I8MoTXzn2fFfBsYIPJHlpIQAg8P-wXdemGhdSA9bgvypU_yMxv4cibYQWOzxH_uPB0uHFsxcaN-E2oYMy/s640/saraky.bmp" width="640" /></a></div> As the pressure on the federal government to instill stricter measures and bans on the import and consumption of tobacco in the country, a civil society group, Tobacco Control, has taken its campaign to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.<br /> The group, who paid a courtesy call on Saraki in his office on Wednesday, November 30, 2016, reminded him that, as a leader on the continent, Nigeria would need to be at the fore-front of the fight against tobacco control, but regretted that Nigeria had remained way behind other African countries that have reviewed their laws to be compliant with the World Health Organization Frame-work Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). “The National Tobacco Control was signed into law on May 25,2015 by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Nigeria has been a major target of multinational tobacco companies like the British American Tobacco (BAT) and Philip Morris International (PMI).<br /> “BATN has a factory in Ibadan, while PMI has recently been accused of importing cigarettes illegally into Nigeria. PMI is currently planning to start cigarette manufacturing in llorin, Kwara State and the nation and her leaders are folding their hands and remaining onlookers.<br /> “We must do something or get the nation’s leaders to do something,” Bintu Camera, the speaker of the group urged.<br /> Saraki, in his response, called their cause a “valid one” and assured that something would be done about it, “as long as the issue of tobacco remained on the burner.”<br /> He also assured that the National Assembly would pass strong laws against tobacco smoking in Nigeria by liaising with the Ministry of Health to ensure the regulation comes to life and fast-track legislation on agreed global standards on tobacco consumption.<br /> “Be assured, you have a strong partner in the 8th Senate,” he promised.<br /> <br /> <div class="code-block code-block-1" style="float: right; margin: 8px 0px 8px 8px;"> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-5228780540891921" data-ad-slot="8412696094" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="display: inline-block; height: 250px; width: 300px;"><ins id="aswift_1_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; height: 250px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 300px;"><ins id="aswift_1_anchor" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 300px;"></ins></ins></ins> </div>

Tobacco Control Group Lobbies Saraki For Support

As the pressure on the federal government to instill stricter measures and bans on the import and consumption of tobacco in the country,...

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Olamide, MI, Ice Prince For Lagos Street Party

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9LO6ES8qdv0LBuCapNX0xAPsI2uIe8JOrgbi5bIZ_-Qmv8Vra-sFVt7XbJK8_Q4Xw72CiECzTxZRI0LFQt3Mw_BpsNivw9LnAU__8mZhVfRIh_XEQttrMRwOBw55IWFYd_bTaiIrZc3y/s1600/Olamide-Baddo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9LO6ES8qdv0LBuCapNX0xAPsI2uIe8JOrgbi5bIZ_-Qmv8Vra-sFVt7XbJK8_Q4Xw72CiECzTxZRI0LFQt3Mw_BpsNivw9LnAU__8mZhVfRIh_XEQttrMRwOBw55IWFYd_bTaiIrZc3y/s640/Olamide-Baddo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> The Lagos Street Party organised by the state government is set to kick off on December 3, 2016, and it will end on December 4, 2016.<br /> The event put together by the state government and White Star Entertainment will hold along Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island, right next to the iconic Bar Beach.<br /> Stars including Olamide, Phyno, MI Abaga, Ice Prince, Humblesmith, DJ Spinall, Kaffy and DJ Lambo will perform at the event.<br /> Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, said “The street party—which will witness local and foreign visitors—is not to kill other carnivals like the “One Lagos Fiesta,” but it is to complement it,”<br /> “Immediately after the Lagos Street Party, we will come out with the plans for this year’s edition of the “One Lagos Fiesta” he added.<br />

Olamide, MI, Ice Prince For Lagos Street Party

The Lagos Street Party organised by the state government is set to kick off on December 3, 2016, and it will end on December 4, 2016. T...

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KSA Becomes 1st Nigerian Musician To Join Hard Rock’s Hall Of Fame

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcoaC7T9hmw3tDPSpxfg9BDp0ZJ0xOlIbcwFtWgknAUbsIWhiPXp5rU8cA9L4bmK9SRBIR4MEZ13z1SAg7fou_EH26soalKC72qKeoHljvLUGi1gsCu85beOPxunL07QbCTGaONfqGLBG/s1600/ksa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcoaC7T9hmw3tDPSpxfg9BDp0ZJ0xOlIbcwFtWgknAUbsIWhiPXp5rU8cA9L4bmK9SRBIR4MEZ13z1SAg7fou_EH26soalKC72qKeoHljvLUGi1gsCu85beOPxunL07QbCTGaONfqGLBG/s640/ksa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Grammy Award-nominated icon, Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, popularly known as King Sunny Ade, is now officially the first Nigerian musician to donate pieces from his personal reserve to Hard Rock’s world-famous memorabilia collection. On Wednesday, November 30, 2016, the Juju maestro donated a vintage Fender Guitar and other personal items including an album cover and a pair of shoes at Hard Rock Cafe Lagos.<br /> “I’m thrilled to be the first Nigerian musician to donate personal items to Hard Rock’s world-famous collection and to be showcased alongside other legendary artists,” said King Sunny Ade. “For me, this is more than just a ceremony; it’s an opportunity to pass on a cultural legacy and inspire new generations of musicians around the globe.”<br /> King Sunny Ade’s donated personal items will join more than 81,000 pieces of music memorabilia that Hard Rock has acquired over its 45-year history. Other iconic pieces include John Lennon’s wireframe tinted glasses, Jim Morrison’s famous brown leather pants, and many more.<br /> “It’s a great honor to be able to pay homage to the rich and historic musical roots in Lagos with a memorabilia donation from King Sunny Ade,” said Sanjay Mathani, CEO of Hard Rock Cafe Lagos. “Hard Rock embraces all genres of music, and we are proud to support such a talented and influential artist.”<br /> The first-of-its-kind donation was brokered by leading talent agency and event management company, Temple Management Company, who are also putting together the highly-publicized grand concert for King Sunny Ade tagged “Sunny On Sunday” scheduled for Sunday, December 11, 2016 at Federal palace Hotel in Lagos.<br /> “Celebrating King Sunny Ade is something of a national assignment for us at Temple Management Company that must be carried out,” said Terfa Tilley-Gyado, Director of Communications, Temple Management.<br />

KSA Becomes 1st Nigerian Musician To Join Hard Rock’s Hall Of Fame

Grammy Award-nominated icon, Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, popularly known as King Sunny Ade, is now officially the first Nigerian musician to ...

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Nuhu Ribadu Reveals Names Of Nigerians Who ‘Frustrated’ Fight Against Corruption

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="1" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="333" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/1.jpg" width="500" /> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">  </div> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Years after leaving office as the pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu has named some Nigerians he said tried their best to frustrate the nation’s fight against corruption.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Ribadu spoke on Thursday when he presented the lead paper at the 2016 Annual Lecture organised by the Law Chambers of Joe Kyari Gadzama in Abuja.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Speaking under the theme “Corruption and the Nigerian Economy: Lawyers as Change Agents”, Mr. Ribadu named foremost lawyer, Ben Nwabueze, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, and his successor at the EFCC, Farida Waziri, as people who undermined the country’s efforts to fight against the cancer of corruption.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “I still recall with amazement and shock how some very senior lawyers made it a duty upon themselves to bring down the EFCC and stop the work we were doing. Many of them, like Prof. Ben Nwabueze, SAN, teamed up with politicians to wage a very serious propaganda to discredit the work we were doing,” he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He also said Mr. Nwabueze personally went to court on many occasions to challenge the powers of the EFCC to fight corruption.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “One thing that also did a serious damage to the war against corruption was the active connivance of some senior lawyers who represented the governors we charged to courts after the 2007 election,” he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “It is on record that we charged the former governors of Jigawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Plateau, Enugu, Ekiti, Delta, Abia and Edo states as the first set of ex-governors to face prosecution. However, almost 10 years after most of the cases have not gone anywhere because of deliberate action by lawyers to frustrate the trials,” he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Ribadu, a lawyer and former police officer, also said he was shocked that some lawyers who found themselves in government also worked against the fight against corruption.</div>

Nuhu Ribadu Reveals Names Of Nigerians Who ‘Frustrated’ Fight Against Corruption

    Years after leaving office as the pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Cri...

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5.1 million Nigerians Risk Starvation In 2017- UN

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzh0YHwl9DQ-s8xLB6vJHSYBeqKl6bUCASSNxVfhNWOh5KSnUmePFaRYMQ4wKwqPQOrjn24NSBzg6Qv62_lTAwFQmyTzzShQZvBgJQj2J_SNg3NrXzmqcKI-czBygyRoYdZfJZxkIAoD_B/s1600/idpsss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzh0YHwl9DQ-s8xLB6vJHSYBeqKl6bUCASSNxVfhNWOh5KSnUmePFaRYMQ4wKwqPQOrjn24NSBzg6Qv62_lTAwFQmyTzzShQZvBgJQj2J_SNg3NrXzmqcKI-czBygyRoYdZfJZxkIAoD_B/s640/idpsss.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <br /> </div> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The United Nations said on Friday that $1billion was needed in 2017 for the provision of aid to victims of Boko Haram terrorism in north-east Nigeria.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, Peter Lundberg, in a statement said the Boko Haram menace was the largest in Africa, and that hope can be brought to the victims through support from the international community.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The narrative on this humanitarian crisis can no longer be ignored and we are appealing to the international community to help us prevent the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians over the coming 12 months.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “This is the largest crisis on the African continent and I am confident that with the support of the international community and the private sector, we can begin to bring hope to the people of the northeast,” he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The UN official added that “a projected 5.1 million people will face serious food shortages as the conflict and risk of unexploded improvised devices prevented farmers planting for a third year in a row, causing a major food crisis.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Millions of people have been displaced from their homes in north-east Nigeria since the insurgency began in 2009. Over 20,000 people have also been killed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> While tens of thousands of the displaced live in camps, millions of others live in host communities where they are barely able to fend for themselves.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Boko Haram, despite losing most of their seized territory to Nigerian troops, still carry out attacks on civilians and security officials.</div>

5.1 million Nigerians Risk Starvation In 2017- UN

The United Nations said on Friday that $1billion was needed in ...

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Buhari Hosts South East Traditional Rulers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="1" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="426" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/1-8.jpg" width="640" /> </div> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> President  Buhari,  received some powerful traditional rulers from the South East in State House Abuja on Thursday .<span id="more-16058"></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This was revealed in the pictures shared on the Facebook page of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9365554144419990" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="4446211484" data-adsbygoogle-status="done"><ins id="aswift_0_expand"><ins id="aswift_0_anchor"></ins></ins></ins></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The President  played host to the Executive Secretary, South East Council of Traditional Rulers HRM Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Also, HRM Agubuzu who was accompanied on the visit by Obi of Onitsha HRM Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers HRM Eze (Dr) Eberechi N. Dick (JP) and HRM Eze Samuel Agunwa A. Ohiri had a closed door meeting with the President.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The purpose for the traditional rulers visit is yet to be ascertained.</div>

Buhari Hosts South East Traditional Rulers

President  Buhari,  received some powerful traditional rulers from...

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Man docked for allegedly raping neighbour’s 8-year-old daughter

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="rape-victim" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="387" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Rape-Victim.jpg" width="640" /> </div> <br /> <br /> A trader, Victor Edet, 32, on Friday appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos for allegedly raping an eight-year-old girl<br /> The accused, who lives in Okokomaiko area, a suburb of Lagos, is being tried for defilement.<br /> The prosecutor, Simeon Inuoha, told the court that the offence was committed at the accused residence.<br /> Mr. Inuoha said that the accused invited his victim, who happened to be his neighbour’s daughter, into his room.<br /> “The accused was caught fingering the victim’s vagina,” the inspector said.<br /> The offence contravened Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.<br /> The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.<br /> The chief magistrate, B. O. Osunsanmi, granted the accused to a bail of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.<br /> The magistrate adjourned the case to February 13 for mention.

Man docked for allegedly raping neighbour’s 8-year-old daughter

A trader, Victor Edet, 32, on Friday appeared before an Ikeja Chie...

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There is Corruption everywhere, including EFCC – Mag

<br /> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> <br /></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3H6NDIanEh8UySZxRpIxZWN7kKJvLDfHzzSV8aASMCIs8adVpiBAWdYft6tFUdBR9K6tQX42bekNfFKjZ6fycnfLAsJ5fcZozD-Hvk6m8cND-U3eC-aBn7K98XXCRsAOjF9K9I4ImmbP/s1600/EFCC-e1444332814147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3H6NDIanEh8UySZxRpIxZWN7kKJvLDfHzzSV8aASMCIs8adVpiBAWdYft6tFUdBR9K6tQX42bekNfFKjZ6fycnfLAsJ5fcZozD-Hvk6m8cND-U3eC-aBn7K98XXCRsAOjF9K9I4ImmbP/s640/EFCC-e1444332814147.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Ibrahim Magu, the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has called for inter-agency collaboration to make the fight against corruption in the country succeed.<br /> He made the call on Friday when he paid a visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur<br /> Buratai, in Abuja.<br /> Mr. Magu said “there is corruption in every institution, including the EFCC.<br /> “The reasons why we are here is that we need everybody’s support. We do not have the monopoly of knowledge to do what we are doing.<br /> “There is corruption everywhere, every institution, including the EFCC. We are battling with internal corruption. So, everybody has a stake in this fight.’’<br /> The acting EFCC chairman then used the occasion to inform the army chief that<br /> the commission had concluded arrangements to mobilise women, including women in uniform on December 7 to join the fight against corruption.<br /> He solicited the cooperation of the army in that regard.<br /> He added that “we also want to appeal to you to join us in fighting corruption. Let’s have a change. If you can discipline yourself, you do not need another person to discipline you. Self discipline is key.’’<br /> Responding, Mr. Buratai assured the EFCC of army’s support in the fight against corruption, noting that the menace was a cankerworm that had eaten deep into the society.<br /> He noted that any effort to fight corruption would be resisted from different quarters, “but once you are steadfast and focused on your responsibility, you will succeed, no matter the resistance.<br /> “We in the Nigerian army have taken it as a policy to ensure that we check ourselves and avoid any situation that will lead to mismanagement and lack of accountability or corruption.”<br /> The army boss observed that a number of Nigerians had for a long time forgotten the basic principle of being accountable to themselves and the society at large.<br /> He said “the erosion of this attribute has affected the general well-being of Nigerians.”

There is Corruption everywhere, including EFCC – Mag

Ibrahim Magu, the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has called for inter-agency collaboration t...

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14 Year Old Girl Chained By Her Parents Regains Freedom

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="1" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="640" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/1-7.jpg" width="430" /> </div> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A teenage girl, identified as Onyeka John, has regained freedom after she was allegedly chained by her mother to the burglar-proof bars for about one month.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The girl lived with her parents in a rented apartment on Serebe Street, Abaranje, in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The parents reportedly tied up John by the neck and legs for habitually running away from home, which they ascribed to mental illness.</div> <div class="td-g-rec td-g-rec-id-content_inlineright" style="text-align: justify;"> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7167863529667065" data-ad-slot="4561673892" data-adsbygoogle-status="done"><ins id="aswift_1_expand"><ins id="aswift_1_anchor">It was l</ins></ins></ins>earnt that the parents had gone out on Wednesday and locked up the girl as usual.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> On that day, the landlord, Mr. Oladapo Olubajo, was said to have gone to the backyard, where the family’s apartment is located, to check a pumping machine when he saw the girl.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The landlord was said to have alerted a resident, who reported the case to the police at the Ikotun division.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The resident, who begged not to be named, said the girl’s parents eventually showed up at the police station and made statements.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said, “The parents locked the girl up. She is about 14 years old. She was chained naked to the burglary inside the room by the neck and legs.  Policemen came to rescue the girl. Her parents later turned themselves in at the station. They said the girl had been a disgrace to the family.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The landlord, Olubajo, told our correspondent that he wanted to take up the matter with the parents, but some residents prevailed on him not to.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He explained that he met the girl naked in the apartment, adding that the condition she was could frustrate her to commit suicide.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Olubajo said, “When I saw her chained to the burglar-proof  bar, I raised the alarm. The police later got the parents to the station and interrogated them.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The girl said she had been there for almost one month. Her parents moved here a year ago. I have noticed that their behaviour was odd. but I didn’t know they could go to the extent of chaining the ir daughter.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “People begged me and the police eventually released the girl to them yesterday (Wednesday). The conclusion we reached is that I want them out of my house. They also claimed the girl is mentally ill. Even if she is mentally challenged, was that the right way to go about it? She could have killed herself.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Onyeka’s father, who spoke on the telephone on Thursday, said he and his wife meant no harm for the girl.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said, “She always runs away from home. That was why we chained her. I think she is mentally ill. We planned to take her to a hospital this month. As I speak now, she has fled home again.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the case was under investigation.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The lady is suffering from mental illness. Her parents chained her to prevent her from entering the street, and without intention to harm her,” she added.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Credit: <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://punchng.com/parents-chain-14-year-old-runaway-daughter/" style="color: red;">punchng</a></span></div>

14 Year Old Girl Chained By Her Parents Regains Freedom

A teenage girl, identified as Onyeka John, has regained freedom a...

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Petrol Tanker Explosion Kills 14 In Niger State

<br /> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> <img alt="explosion-kills" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="425" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Explosion-kills.jpg" width="640" /> </div> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A petrol tanker skidded off the road and exploded in central Nigeria, killing at least 14 people on Friday, witnesses told AFP.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> They said eight houses were razed following the accident which happened around 8:00 am (0700GMT) in the transit town of Tegina in Niger state.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We buried 14 people including a six-month-old baby who died in the tanker explosion this morning,” said Muhammad Sani who took part in the rescue operation.<br /> Eight more victims were taken to hospital with burns, two of them in “very critical condition” while eight homes were burnt in the inferno, said another resident Abdullahi Egiworo.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A spokesman for Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state confirmed the accident, but refused to give casualty figures.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We received reports of an accident involving a petrol tanker in Tegina this morning but we are still awaiting details,” Bitrus Max told AFP.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said emergency officials were heading to the scene to assist in the evacuation of victims.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Accidents involving petrol tankers happen frequently on Nigeria’s poorly maintained roads because of speeding and disregard for traffic rules.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Last month, three people were killed when a petrol tanker collided with a trailer and exploded on a road linking Nigeria’s commercial hub of Lagos with the rest of the country.</div>

Petrol Tanker Explosion Kills 14 In Niger State

A petrol tanker skidded off the road and exploded in central Nigeria...

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70 FRSC officials killed, 66 sacked in 2016.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="FRSC-300x197" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="420" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/FRSC-300x197.png" width="640" /> </div> <br /> <br /> The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, announced on Friday that 70 operatives of the commission were killed by reckless drivers this year.<br /> Mr. Oyeyemi, who made the announcement in Abuja at the FRSC end of the year management strategy session, said that the FRSC officials were killed performing their jobs.<br /> He said that although the figure was lower, compared to the 160 deaths recorded last year, the trend was disturbing and needed to be addressed.<br /> Mr. Oyeyemi said the FRSC had declared war on reckless drivers because such drivers were responsible for about 40 per cent of deaths of officials of the FRSC in active duty.<br /> “I have been raising this alarm since last year that we are experiencing increase in violence among drivers and lawlessness.<br /> “Losing 70 personnel is not a joke, may their souls rest in peace.<br /> “It is sad to note that some killing and maiming of operatives, including those from sister agencies is very worrisome.<br /> “A recent occurrence was the happening in Talata Mafara in Zamfara, where a motorist ran into the mobile court in session killing three operatives almost instantly, including a civil defence operative.<br /> “The occurrence is no doubt ironic and a sad commentary on road safety in Nigeria; but must we give up on our country and abdicate leadership to mediocrity?’’<br /> Mr. Oyeyemi said, however, that the government was working to address the problem.<br /> He said that President Muhammadu Buhari was aware of the problem and that the issue was being looked into, noting that reckless drivers would always be made to face the wrath of the law.<br /> He said also that as at the end of week 47 of this year, 4,005 deaths were recorded from 7,657 vehicle crashes nationwide.<br /> The corps marshal said that as at last September, the company had achieved 77.19 per cent crash reduction while 83.33 per cent level was attained in fatality rate reduction.<br /> The corps marshal said that 99 workers of the company had been punished for indiscipline that entailed extortion and helping motorists to evade arrest.<br /> He said further that 66 workers, comprising 10 officers and 56 marshals were sacked while 33 had their ranks reduced because of cases of indiscipline.<br /> Babachir Lawal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, who was represented by Bamgbose Olukunle, Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs in the Office of the SGF, reiterated government’s commitment to road safety.<br /> Mr. Lawal said that although there were challenges in the country in terms of road administration, plans were on to address the issues.<br /> He said that government had approved the recruitment of more than 4,000 people to meet the set goals of the FRSC in service delivery.<br /> Abubakar Yunusa, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Road Safety, said the FRSC Act was currently undergoing amendment.<br /> Mr. Yunusa said the bill on the amendment had been sent to the Nigerian Law Reforms Commission for further contributions.

70 FRSC officials killed, 66 sacked in 2016.

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Bob...

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Kaduna Refinery Offers Skills Training To 100 Unemployed Youths

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="niger-delta-oil-gas-690x450" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="417" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/niger-delta-oil-gas-690x450.jpg" width="640" /> </div> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) on Friday began the training of 100 unemployed youths in various skills’ under its Youth Empowerment and Skills’ Acquisition Programme.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The training, the eighth under the programme, was targeted at some of the unemployed youths from the company’s host communities.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Alhaji Abdullahi Idris, KRPC Executive Director, Services, said the more than 900 youths had benefited since the programme was introduced in 2008. According to him, the programme is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility and is designed to support government’s efforts in poverty eradication, containing youth restiveness and tackling unemployment.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Idris said the training covered more than 16 trades that include : Plaster of Paris (POP), welding and fabrication, plumbing, pipe-fitting, electrical installation, rewiring, carpentry, woodwork, and fashion design.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It also includes : poultry farming, auto-mechanic, auto- spray painting, handset repair, photography and visual imaging and panel beating, he said. “I want to reassure you that the general review of the programme will soon commence and all areas including consultancy fees will be given serious attention in the next edition of the programme,” he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr Aminu Daneji, Manager, Public Affairs Division of the company, said the 100 youths would be empowered with skills so that they could become engaged in useful ventures. Also, Mr A. B, Makama, who spoke on behalf of the host communities, commended the company for the initiative, stressing that the youths were the backbone of any country.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Makama said the involvement of youths in skills acquisition would make them become responsible citizens, who would contribute positively to national building. One of the participants, Tobias Aboki, pledged that the trainees would be punctual, disciplined, serve as good ambassadors of their communities during the training.</div>

Kaduna Refinery Offers Skills Training To 100 Unemployed Youths

The Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) on Friday be...

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Moroccan King leads 300-member delegation to Nigeria, meets Buhari.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="morrocan-king" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="360" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Morrocan-King.jpg" width="640" /> </div> <br /> <br /> <div dir="ltr"> President Muhammadu Buhari <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">on Friday</span></span> in Abuja met briefly with King Mohammed VI of Morocco, who arrived Abuja <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">on Thursday</span></span>, for a 3-day official visit to Nigeria.</div> <div dir="ltr"> The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the king, on arrival at the Presidential Villa at about <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">1.20p.m.</span></span> inspected a guard of honour mounted by men of the Guards Brigade.</div> <div dir="ltr"> The Guards Brigade also honoured the visiting King with 21-gun salute.</div> <div dir="ltr"> NAN reports that shortly after the inspection of the guard of honour,  Mr. Buhari and Mohammed  met behind closed doors, before leaving the Presidential Villa for National Mosque to perform the 2-raka’at  Juma’at Prayer.</div> <div dir="ltr"> NAN further reports that King Mohammed, who is leading a 300-man delegation, is visiting Nigeria for the first time since he ascended the throne in July 23, 1999.</div> <div dir="ltr"> The meeting between President Buhari and King Mohammed, which would continue  after the Juma’at prayer, would focus on bilateral trade and economic relations.</div> <div dir="ltr"> Laoye Jaiyeola, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), said that public and private sectors of both countries would collaborate to leverage on opportunities for sustainable economic growth.</div> <div dir="ltr"> Mr. Jaiyeola spoke at the Nigeria-Morocco Business Meeting , with the theme: “Business Climate and Investment Opportunities.”</div> <div dir="ltr"> According to him, improved business relations between Nigeria and Morocco will create mutual benefits, connect the continent’s markets and enhance competitiveness.</div> <div dir="ltr"> Analysts say with the visit the diplomatic row between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Morocco which erupted over a purported phone conversation between former President Goodluck Jonathan and King Mohammed VI, may have been put to rest.</div>

Moroccan King leads 300-member delegation to Nigeria, meets Buhari.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja met briefly with Ki...

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6,346 youths get N-Power jobs in Kaduna – official

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPZ26fmeWGyRXbWiSlwbSGF27KA39yNFEsksCAxdssjg-Zw2aS6nlBTRzIwD8aGsGxzocJdG0xhMXTV7_sL-xY605m5LmFgUDWC6t4Urhe6qmXhkMq8r_lXXyDqJmm01C5GAuYHPKl6M1/s1600/N-power.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPZ26fmeWGyRXbWiSlwbSGF27KA39yNFEsksCAxdssjg-Zw2aS6nlBTRzIwD8aGsGxzocJdG0xhMXTV7_sL-xY605m5LmFgUDWC6t4Urhe6qmXhkMq8r_lXXyDqJmm01C5GAuYHPKl6M1/s640/N-power.png" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image"> <br /> </div> A total of 6,346 youths have been recruited for the Federal Government’s N-Power jobs in Kaduna State.<br /> <br /> The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some of the successful applicants on Friday underwent verification in Kaduna prior to their postings.<br /> <br /> At one of the screening centres at the Kaduna Agricultural Development Project office, an official said that the successful candidates would be posted after an aptitude test to be conducted next week.<br /> <div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-6154652480104730" data-ad-slot="7042430138" data-adsbygoogle-status="done"><ins id="aswift_1_expand"><ins id="aswift_1_anchor"></ins></ins></ins></div> Mallam Yau Kassimu, Director, Agricultural Extension Services of the agency said that 1, 211 unemployed youths were recruited to serve as agricultural extension workers.<br /> <br /> According to him, 4,103 of the successful candidates would be posted to teach in primary and Junior Secondary Schools while 587 will be posted to Primary Healthcare Centres.

6,346 youths get N-Power jobs in Kaduna – official

A total of 6,346 youths have been recruited for the Federal Government’s N-Power jobs in Kaduna State...

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NCAA starts investigation on death of stowaway on Arik flight.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="arik-air" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="433" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Arik-Air-1.jpg" width="640" /> </div> <br /> <br /> The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority says it has initiated investigation to determine the identity of the dead stowaway found in South Africa on an Arik Air flight.<br /> Sam Adurogboye, the General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday that the authority would take necessary action after the investigations were concluded.<br /> Adurogboye said the investigation was with the collaboration of Arik Air and the South African Authorities.<br /> Adurogboye said: “The matter is still being investigated and decision will be taken after.<br /> “The investigation is being carried out by NCAA through the active involvement of the airline itself and with the authorities in South Africa.”<br /> Also, the Acting General Manager, Public Affairs of FAAN, Henrietta Yakubu, said the authorities were yet to establish the identity of the stowaway.<br /> Yakubu explained that information available to the authority suggested that the said body was already decomposed.<br /> According to her, it was possible that a body could decompose in a six hour flight.<br /> Yakubu said: “Whatever the case, there is an investigation going on and that is why we cannot pre-empt the outcome.<br /> “We have asked Arik to investigate to be able to determine where the stowaway boarded the flight from.<br /> “It has not been established whether the deceased is a Nigerian or not until the investigation is over and the facts are determined.”<br /> Arik’s Communication Manager, Ola Adebanji, said the airline had no further information on the dead stowaway until it concluded investigation.<br /> The lifeless body of a stowaway was discovered on Wednesday in the main wheel well of Arik’s A330-200 aircraft at the Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa.<br /> The airline had in a statement on Wednesday confirmed that the aircraft departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at 3.55pm on Tuesday and arrived at Johannesburg shortly before 11pm.<br /> It said the engineers of South African Airways Technical facility at the airport, where the aircraft was scheduled for a routine maintenance check, discovered the body of the stowaway during the inspection phase.<br /> The airline said investigations were ongoing to determine how the stowaway found his way into the aircraft main wheel well.<br /> It could be recalled that since 2013 till date, no fewer than four cases of stowaways were recorded in the nation’s airports.

NCAA starts investigation on death of stowaway on Arik flight.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority says it has initiated investi...

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Another Farmers, herdsmen Bloody clash in Abia leaves scores hospitalised.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="Fulani-Herdsmen-Nigeria-Most-Popular-News-300x180" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="384" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Fulani-Herdsmen-Nigeria-Most-Popular-News-300x180.jpg" width="640" /> </div> <br /> <br /> A clash between farmers and herdsmen in Ozuitem community in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State has left many residents hospitalised, with large amount of crops destroyed.<br /> The attack came after the Ndiokereke Abam clash of November 8 and is the third in less than one month in different parts of Abia State within Abia North senatorial zone.<br /> Security operatives in the state appear overwhelmed, as no herdsman has ever been paraded or arraigned in the state despite their increasing attacks on communities.<br /> Those that sustained machete cuts in the Ozuitem community attack are receiving medical attention at Tochi Hospital in Uzuakoli.<br /> One of the victims, Mr Sunday Oru, a 40- year old father of seven currently receiving treatment at Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, said that the rampaging herdsmen, with over 3,000 cows, have been marauding in the community, destroying farm lands and crops with impunity.<br /> “They arrogantly uprooted farmers’ cassava, okro and cut down plantains to feed their cows while the farmers pleaded that they should to leave the community.<br /> “The pleas fell on deaf ears, as the nomads vowed to rather fight to occupy our land if we attempt to evict them, boasting that they will defeat us and take over our land.<br /> “I went to my rice farm only to discover that cows were openly grazing on it and the herdsmen chased me away when I told them that the cows are causing havoc.<br /> “I ran back to the village to alert other members of the community ,and together in group we went back to the farm<br /> “On getting there, we saw one herdsman and we asked him why they allowed the cows to destroy crops and immediately he blew a whistle and other herdsmen who had been laying ambush surrounded us, hitting us with guns, assault us with rifles and machetes.<br /> “One of them cut off my fingers and started cutting my body with machete. I lost consciousness and only woke up to see myself here at the hospital,” he narrated.<br /> The spokesman for the State Police Command, Mr Ogbonnaya Nta, who confirmed the incident, said the police were on top of the situation while the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Eme Okoro, who is a resident of the community expressed sadness over the attack.<br /> Dr. Okoro said that the herdsmen had threatened to feed on his three hectares of cassava farm with various varieties of cassava.<br /> “I warned the herdsmen never to invade my farm but they told me that the farm is in a forest area and I am surprised, wondering at the nomads audacity to challenge me, a land owner,” he said.<br /> The government official said that he got wind of the possible attack on his community about three days before it occurred and that he alerted the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 9, but it was disheartening that no action was taken to prevent the attack.<br /> “We are humane and interested in the unity of this country but not to the detriment of our people,” he stated.<br /> Although the Commissioner of Police in the state is trying to tie the loose ends to unravel the reason the herdsmen were allowed to carry out their threat, the people are lamenting the nonchalant attitude of the Federal Government over the incessant attacks by herdsmen on the communities in Abia State<br /> Meanwhile, the Ozuitem women who depend mainly on okro as their mainstay had been thrown into hardship as a result of the destruction of their crops which the herdsmen uproot to feed their cows.

Another Farmers, herdsmen Bloody clash in Abia leaves scores hospitalised.

A clash between farmers and herdsmen in Ozuitem community in Bende...

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Buhari’s Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, is sick, flown abroad.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="abba-kyari" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="385" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Abba-Kyari.jpg" width="500" /> </div> <br /> <br /> Alhaji Abba Kyari Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s President Mohammadu Buhari is at present being flown out of the country on medical emergency grounds, we can authoritatively report.<br /> Impeccable Presidency sources said that Abba Kyari who has been suffering from an undisclosed ailment which has kept him away from office in the last seven days, slumped in the early evening and was rushed to an undisclosed private hospital where some specialist doctors were called in to attend to him.<br /> Sources close to the Presidency also said that the relationship between Kyari and his boss, Mr President, has worsened in the last few weeks after more revelations of allegations of graft against the Chief of Staff, a development many believe seriously dents the President’s anti-corruption stance.<br /> According to the sources who preferred not to be mentioned, President Buhari made enquiries later and the feedback was not encouraging as his (Kyari) condition was not improving. The President then directed that he be flown out immediately.<br /> We further gathered that at about 9.30pm, a long convoy was seen leaving the villa for the airport where an Air Ambulance was already on standby for the evacuation to an undisclosed destination for further medical attention.<br /> Efforts to reach Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media did not yield results as calls to his phone lines were not answered.<br /> The Chief of Staff has been in the eye of the storm of allegations of graft and insider dealings as well as abuse of office.<br /> There have also been rumours of recent that Mr President was shopping for his replacement as preliminary investigation reports may have established a <em>prima facie</em> case against him, particularly over the alleged N500m gratification he allegedly received from MTN to help facilitate reduction of the $5.2bn fine placed on them by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).<br /> Abba Kyari was appointed to the position on August 27, 2015.

Buhari’s Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, is sick, flown abroad.

Alhaji Abba Kyari Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s President Mohammadu ...

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It is time for Mugabe to step down – Malema

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="mugabe1" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="401" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/mugabe1.jpg" width="640" /> </div> <br /> <br /> Although the EFF loves Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, it’s time for the long-serving president to go, its leader Julius Malema says.<br /> “We love Robert Mugabe for who he is, although we accept it’s time for him to step down,” Malema told crowds gathered in Soweto on Wednesday.<br /> The EFF held a memorial service in honour of Cuban leader Fidel Castro who died on Friday at the age of 90.<br /> The red berets’ commander-in-chief said he would constantly raise the Cuban issue as they believed the suppression of people on the island state by outside forces was unjust.<br /> The United States imposed a financial, economic and commercial embargo on Cuba in 1962.<br /> This was due to fear that the region would become a Soviet Union base and that Cuba would try to spread communism throughout the region.<br /> The two countries last year reopened embassies in each others’ capitals. Americans can also now travel more freely to Cuba and bring back limited amounts of consumer goods such as cigars and rum.<br /> <strong>‘Friends tell each other the truth’</strong><br /> “Like [Nelson] Mandela, like [Mangaliso Robert] Sobukwe, like [Chris] Hani. Castro to us was like [Steve] Biko, like Winnie Mandela. Castro to us is like Robert Mugabe,” said Malema.<br /> When people are friends they tell each other the truth, he added.<br /> Malema said Mugabe had to step aside in order to save the Zimbabwean revolution.<br /> “Like Castro did, handing over power to his brother, President Mugabe must do the same.”<br /> Zimbabwe needs a new progressive leader who will continue the legacy of Mugabe.<br /> “We are not ashamed of Robert Mugabe’s legacy. The legacy of taking the land,” said Malema.<br /> He said the land repossessed by Mugabe’s government from white farmers in Zimbabwe belonged to the people of Zimbabwe, “in the same way the land belongs to the indigenous people of South Africa”.<br /> <strong>EFF leader to attend funeral</strong><br /> “We are inspired by Fidel Castro, we are inspired by anyone who can say to imperialism ‘go [away], this will not happen in my country’.”<br /> He saluted President Evo Morales of Bolivia who he said had banned the “Rothschild bank” and McDonald’s from the country.<br /> “How can McDonald’s be a human right? Unhealthy food like Coke?” he asked.<br /> Malema said his party commended all those who were not afraid of white people.<br /> “So if you are sitting there and you are not scared of a white man, we salute you.”<br /> The EFF leader will travel to Cuba to join the nation as it bids farewell to its “El comandante”.<br /> Castro’s funeral is set to take place on Sunday.

It is time for Mugabe to step down – Malema

Although the EFF loves Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, it’s ti...

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TASUED best graduating student gets University’s automatic employment.

<div class="image-container" itemprop="image"> <img alt="tasued-best-graduating-student" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="450" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/TASUED-Best-Graduating-Student.jpg" width="800" /> </div> The authorities of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, have offered automatic employment to the overall best graduating student of the institution.<br /> The immediate appointment for Funmilayo Ogunkomaya was announced at the 8th convocation ceremony of the university on Monday by the Vice-Chancellor, Oluyemisi Obilade.<br /> The best student, who studied Biology, ?received eight categories of awards at the well-attended ceremony.<br /> Addressing the gathering, the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Obilade, declared that, the university could not afford to lose the academic and moral qualities of the graduand, hence, the need to have her as an employee of the institution.<br /> “This one is our own, and we have to retain her. She? is a pride of our school, and I must also rejoice with her parents,” Mr. Obilade said.<br /> The VC appealed to all graduands to always ensure they maintain academic and moral qualities acquired? from the universities anywhere they find themselves.<br /> In a related development, the university honoured ?Stella Adadevoh, the heroic Nigerian female doctor who died in 2014 after contracting the Ebola virus from a patient.<br /> Mrs. Adadevoh was the first Nigerian to die of the virus, and her decision to risk her own health and intervene in the case, is believed to have saved more lives.<br /> She was honoured with a post-humous award.<br /> ?Similarly, a retired banker, Lawrence Aina, bagged an ?honorary award as Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) in Business Education at the university convocation, for his contribution to educational development.<br /> Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Mr. Aina, a former President of Chartered Institute of Bankers, called on citizens not to sit on the fence, and watch the educational system of the country going into extinction.<br /> “And you don’t have to be a politician, governor or President to help your people. There are much more opportunities to serve humanity than being a governor or President. I have private initiative that is reaching out to people. Nigerian citizens should put pressure on political class to perform, the political class have failed us,” Mr. Aina said.

TASUED best graduating student gets University’s automatic employment.

The authorities of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, have offered automatic...

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Police intercept ‘heavily armed kidnappers’ in Rivers

<div class="image-container" itemprop="image"> <img alt="rrs-police-tank" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="400" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/RRS-Police-Tank.jpg" width="630" /> </div> The police say they have intercepted a four-man gang of “heavily armed” kidnappers in Rivers State.<br /> The incident, which the police described as a major breakthrough, occurred along Azikiwe Road, Port Harcourt, on November 29, according to a police statement released on Thursday.<br /> The suspected kidnappers were allegedly on their way to carry out criminal operation when they were intercepted by the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), acting on “credible intelligence and public support”.<br /> One of the suspects was arrested, while three others were fatally wounded during a gun battle with the police, said the statement issued by the Force spokesman, Don Awunah.<br /> The police gave the name of the arrested suspect as James Peter, a 30 year-old man said to be from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He is said to be cooperating with the police in the investigation into the criminal activities of the gang.<br /> The police said the gang was notorious for terrorizing the waterways in Rivers and Bayelsa states.<br /> The police said it recovered one General Purpose Machine Gun, one AK-47 riffle, chains of GPMG ammunition and two fully loaded AK-47 magazines from the suspects.<br /> “The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, has once again enjoined Nigerians never to hesitate to provide the police with valuable information and assures them of renewed commitment on the part of the force in the fight against crime and antisocial behaviour,” the statement said.

Police intercept ‘heavily armed kidnappers’ in Rivers

The police say they have intercepted a four-man gang of “heavily armed” kidnappers in Rivers State. T...

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Two ‘corpers’ die at NYSC camps two days apart.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="ifedolapo-monday-nysc" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="370" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ifedolapo-Monday-NYSC.jpg" width="500" /> </div> <br /> <br /> Tributes to the deceased corps member, Miss Ifedolapo Amoke Oladepo, who died in Kano NYSC orientation camp on November 29, flow like rivers of water.<br /> <br /> According to one Sen Ajibolu Marcarony Yusuff, who appears to be a relation of the deceased, Ifedolapo called home five hours to her death and told her older sister, Mrs. Oyeyode Abimbola (a nurse) to start coming to her Kano orientation camp because, as alleged, the NYSC doctors were not giving enough care.<br /> <br /> Yusuff said the late 26-year-old corps member who graduated with a First Class degree in Transport Management from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, was given injection at the orientation camp’s clinic, but that she called home to say that she had reacted to the injection, as she noticed visible rashes all over her body.<br /> Later, Yusuff claimed, Ifedolapo called home to complain of tongue-twisting, and was reportedly given another injection.<br /> <br /> Yusuff continued, “When a male doctor agreed to speak with her sister (Oyeyode Abimbola), he explained that Ifedolapo was having anaphylaxis (acute allergic reaction) and that they intended to place her under observation for an hour before transferring her to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.”<br /> <br /> Yusuff claimed that it took about five hours before the camp management transferred Ifedolapo to General Hospital, Gwazo, instead of the AKTH as promised.<br /> <br /> She allegedly became incommunicado, as she could no longer be reached on phone.<br /> <br /> Thirteen hours later, the family allegedly received a call from the Kano State NYSC camp officials informing them of her death.<br /> <br /> In reaction to the issue, the Head of the NYSC Press and Public Relations in Abuja, Mrs. Bosede<br /> <br /> Aderibigbe, said that Ifedolapo was sick when she arrived the Kano orientation camp, and that she did not die of stress as her relations and friends thought.<br /> <br /> In the same vein, another First Class graduate of Petroleum Engineering from the University of Uyo, Mr. Ukeme Monday, has died in Zamfara State orientation camp.<br /> <br /> He reportedly died on Thursday, December 1, of yet-to-be-ascertained causes.<br /> <br /> A classmate of his, one Mr. Patrick Immo, noted that Monday was a committed Christian worker in his local assembly, the Power City International.<br /> <br /> Immo said the two of them had shopped together a few days to the orientation camp, and that they departed Uyo for their respective orientation camps on November 23.<br /> <br /> “It was thus a rude shock to me when, on December 1, I heard that Monday had died,” Immo narrated.<br /> <br /> In addition to his First Class certificate, friends said Monday also won four scholarships and other top academic prizes as a student.

Two ‘corpers’ die at NYSC camps two days apart.

Tributes to the deceased corps member, Miss Ifedolapo Amoke Oladep...

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Okonjo-Iweala gets award in U.S.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="entry-thumbnail" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="3" class="attachment-860x800 size-860x800 wp-post-image" height="604" src="https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2016/12/3.jpg?fit=453%2C604" width="453" /> </div> <br /> <br /> Former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was <span>on Thursday</span> honoured with the Global Fairness Award in Washington DC, United States.<br /> The award was presented to her by the Global Fairness Initiative in recognition of her contribution to sustainable development, and her focus on implementing development programs that benefit the poor and less privileged.<br /> Speaking at the event in Washington DC, the former minister expressed gratitude for the recognition and pledged to continue to fight for fairness for the less privileged.<br /> “I appreciate the Trustees of the Global Fairness Award for recognizing a lifetime devoted to development, including the privilege I have now of working for children’s immunization, through Gavi, and for managing climate risk in Africa through the African Risk Capacity,” she said.<br /> “Let 2017 be a year of continued fight for fairness for the most vulnerable among us, and those left behind in this world.”<br /> Other recipients of the award include Cristina Liamzon, a development consultant, and Randi Weingarten, an American labour leader, attorney, and educator.<br /> The Global Fairness Initiative is a not-for-profit international organisation that promotes a more equitable, sustainable approach to economic development, ensuring that benefits and prosperity are extended to all people, including the working poor.<br /> Some of the notable personalities that have been recognised and honored with the Global Fairness Award include Robert Bruce Zoellick, the 11th president of the World Bank, former managing director of Goldman Sachs and Joyce Hilda Banda, former President of Malawi.

Okonjo-Iweala gets award in U.S.

Former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was on Thursday honoured with the Global Fairness Award in Washington DC, ...

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Meet Pastor Mbanefo; MMM Nigeria CEO Who Is Based In South Africa. (Photos)

<ins id="aswift_3_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; height: 100px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 320px;"><ins id="aswift_3_anchor" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: block; height: 100px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 320px;"></ins></ins> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_cQes-ehudPZu9mGCzqUhYABTwjIRMwnvGgiuwGM3_oe-Z5g7DrvhpykGsgFqmchJ8bXdK9yrKAlM6800rxsqJanH4-bq06hUl5xYIxgJhKQ0KnGeR7CcGbeo9mAXNx8cKw9QTG9taI/s1600/Meet+Pastor+Mbanefo%253B+MMM+Nigeria+CEO+Who+Is+Based+In+South+Africa.+%2528Photos%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_cQes-ehudPZu9mGCzqUhYABTwjIRMwnvGgiuwGM3_oe-Z5g7DrvhpykGsgFqmchJ8bXdK9yrKAlM6800rxsqJanH4-bq06hUl5xYIxgJhKQ0KnGeR7CcGbeo9mAXNx8cKw9QTG9taI/s1600/Meet+Pastor+Mbanefo%253B+MMM+Nigeria+CEO+Who+Is+Based+In+South+Africa.+%2528Photos%2529.JPG" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> A Nigerian, who goes by the name Pastor Ernest Chigozie Mbanefo has been unveiled as the mastermind of the suspected Ponzi scheme known as MMM Nigeria. According to an online report, Mbanefo is based in South Africa.<br /> <br /> Nigerian Communications Week said Mbanefo registered the site MMM Nigeria.net domain on June 7, 2016 about at about 5 pm Nigerian time.<br /> <br /> NAN quoting NCW And Pageone report written as far back as September said Mbanefo made a single year domain payment. The domain will expire on June 7, 2017. It was also revealed that MMM Nigeria is not part of MMM Global – a Russian company that was responsible for one of the world’s largest Ponzi schemes in the 1990s.<br /> <br /> MMM Global was founded by Russian politician Sergei Mavrodi, his brother Vyacheslav Mavrodi and Olga Melnikova. The name of the company was taken from the first letters of the three founders’ surnames (MMM).<br /> <br /> But like MMM Global, the Nigerian scheme is also a pyramid marketing scheme where an investor gets a 30 per cent return on investment. Around the world, MMM is feared.<br /> <br /> In January 2016 the Chinese government banned MMM on the grounds that it is a pyramid scheme, (Ponzi scheme), and it is not registered in the country (and as a fraudulent scheme cannot be registered.<br /> <br /> MMM recently crashed in Zimbabwe: Thousands of ‘Mavrodians’ in Zimbabwe were left in tears when the scheme crashed, losing tens of thousands of their lifetime savings.<br /> <br /> Page One gave Mbanefo’s address as 1 ROYAL STREET, LINDBERG PARK, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA. According to Page One, on the 15th of July, Ernest was awarded a certificate of completion of an online course titled ‘MMM Guiders School’.<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="ernest-mmm1" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjhUtWB32X8Omu9D-EoNQqcsmrfFXlffHk4Q_FJxq_qU1WtSYoGeruC9vRRTp1Zm4QSCt1xk3MptY2lwCjjqjBbFqr93QF0P4I21L5TDOqDQMZl0JCojRm8s-lSs3zK3dOeL4SxNVIanywRxStDJoGYOM8rX6Rih1jzBHN7Q2GpDRx1kVzvZqq8=s0-d" width="514" /></div> <br /> The certificate was supposedly signed by Sergei Mavrodi himself. He has since given himself the nickname the ‘Super Guider of MMM’. To share news and information about MMM, Ernest also operates a subdomain. The site praises him and projects him as the leader of the Ponzi Scheme in Nigeria.<br /> <br /> <b>He is described as:</b><br /> <br /> MMM Nigeria Super Guider; Pastor Ernest Mbanefo, has been selflessly helping thousands of MMM Nigeria Participants whether or not they fall under his downline structure. The brain behind the MMM NIGERIA REVOLUTION operation has been working selflessly and tirelessly towards the education, information and proper guidance for the MMM Nigeria Community’<br /> Culled from NAN

Meet Pastor Mbanefo; MMM Nigeria CEO Who Is Based In South Africa. (Photos)

A Nigerian, who goes by the name Pastor Ernest Chigozie Mbanefo has been unveiled as the mastermind of the suspected Ponzi scheme k...

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