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Saturday 25 June 2016

Charles Okah Is still in Prison Custody- NPS



The Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) has confirmed that the suspected mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bombings, Charles Okah is still in Prison Custody at the Kuje Prison, Abuja.

The spokesperson of the NPS, Mr. Francis Enobore stated this in a response to a speculation about jailbreak from the Prison.

While denying the escape of the mastermind of Independence Day Bombing, Mr Enobore promised to provide an update on an incident that occurred on Friday night in the prison which did not involve the suspect.

PERSONAL PROFILE OF Ag. IGP IBRAHIM KPOTUN IDRIS, mni


Ag. Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, mni was born in Bida, Niger State on 15th January 1959. 
He attended St. Paul Primary School Sokoto and Government Secondary School Farfaru Sokoto. 
He bagged two University Degrees: Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and an LLB (Honours) in Law from University of Maiduguri.
Enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as ASP Cadet in 1984. 
He served subsequently as 
- Divisional Crime Officer and Traffic Officer in Gusau Division in the present Zamfara State from January, 1986 to March, 1987,
- Police Mobile Force in April 1987. He later served in the Police Mobile Force (PMF) for Seventeen years, from April 1987 to 31st January 2004.
Ag. IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, mni led a contingent of Nigerian Police Officers to United Nation Mission in Liberia on 1st February 2004 and was later seconded by the Nigerian Government to the United Nations in March 2005, where he served as Mission Police Operation Coordinator from February 2004 to October 2008, and was later deployed from there as the Deputy Police Commissioner in-charge of Operations in United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT), from October 2008 to March 2011. 
He was the Director, International Peace Keeping Office at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters from 11th April 2011 to 6th July 2011, and served as Commissioner of Police Kano State Command from 7th July 2011 to 16th February 2013. After his course in NIPSS, Mr. Ibrahim was posted to Nasarawa State as the Commissioner of Police from February 2014 to September 2014. From there he was posted to Nigeria Police Force Headquarters as the Commissioner of Police, Police Mobile Force in September 2014. The UN Secretary General appointed Mr. Ibrahim as a Police Commissioner in UNAMID, in Darfur. This is the 1st time a Nigerian Police officer is clinching a B2 position for any UN mission in the world. However, the offer was declined to enable him contribute his quarter in ensuring peace and stability immediately during and after the 2015 general elections. He was later transferred to Kano State command in 2015 where he conducted the National elections held in 2015. Presently he is the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, at FHQ, Abuja. 
Ag. IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, mni attended many professional courses in Nigeria which included: PMF Conversion course 1987, PMF Operation Management Course, PMF Armored Personnel Carrier Operation Course all in Gwoza, between 1987 and 1989. He also attended Advanced Detective Course in 1987, Police Intermediate Course in 1997 and Senior Command course in 2003, all in Police Staff College Jos. He also attended Joint Police and Military courses, including Disaster Management Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji in 2003. In September 2012, he attended the Leadership and Strategic Studies Course at the Centre for Management Studies (CMD), Lagos and Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Jos in February 2013.
Under the United Nations, Ibrahim attended a seminar on re-organization and reforms of Formed Police Units (FPU) under the United Nations, at the Centre for excellence for Stability Police Forces (COESPU) in Vicenza, Italy in 2004.He also attended the UN Senior Leadership Induction Course and UN Leadership Course at the UN Headquarters in New York in February and September 2009 respectively. He further attended Civil-Military Coordination in Disaster Management Course organized by the United States Military Pacific Command and United Nations in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2010. He has severally served as visiting lecturer on “roles of Police on United Nations peace Keeping Operations” in Nigerian Defense College in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He was a Mentor to African Union/United Nations  Senior Leadership Seminar in Douala, Cameroun 2010 and African Union/Ecowas Senior Leadership Course held in Nigerian Defense College Abuja in 2012.
The AIG have received many Commendations and Awards in the course of his career, including the Nigerian Inspector General of Police Commendation Award for my his performance as Commandant PMF Training College, Gwoza in 2004, the Special Representative of the Secretary General Commendation Award for planning, execution and coordination of security for the Liberian National Elections in 2005, and the Special Representative of the Secretary General’s Award for coordinating major operations in Timor Leste in 2011. He also bagged two Outstanding Leadership Awards by two United Nations Missions, namely United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT) in 2006 and 2009 respectively for his outstanding performance as Operations Coordinator in UNMIL and Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of Operations in UNMIT respectively. In March 2011, the President of Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, Dr Jose Ramos Horta (Nobel Lauret) awarded Ibrahim the Country’s highest National Medal, the “Medal of Merit”, for his contribution to the security and stability of Timor Leste. He served for over seven years in the United Nations. 
The Officer is married to Barrister Asmau Ndayako Ibrahim and he is blessed with many Children. His hobbies include watching movies, reading books and indoor exercises.

My Dubai Properties Are Paid For 3 Years Ago- Army Chief Of Staff

SAHARA REPORTERS AND CAMPAIGN OF CALUMNY AGAIINST THE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF 

The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to another round of campaign of calumny against the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai and his family by some unscrupulous elements as contained in Sahara Reporters story titled “Revealed: Buhari's Chief Of Army Staff, General Buratai, Wives Own Dubai Property”, alleging that Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Tukur Buratai, and his two wives are joint owners of a Dubai property that was paid for in one transaction posted on the website, this evening.

It is important to know that these baseless allegations were not new.  In March this year, some groups of individuals under the aegis of “Concerned Citizens”,  tried same smear campaign to their disappoinment, it could not fly, because it is not true.

You  will recall early this week, there was similar campaign of calumny by yet another online news medium, The Cable, in which among other things, it alleged that wounded in action Nigerian Army personnel were abandoned by the Army, government and the nation which is not true.

Therefore, the latest round of smear campaign by Sahara Reporters is one of the series of campaigns of calumny by these faceless individuals to malign the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army. Yet, typical of blackmailers and mischief makers despite failures, they did not give up, hence they  now found a willing accomplice reputed for muckraking like the Sahara Reporters. The online news  medium this evening uploaded another campaign of calumny allegedly based on a petition by  obviously fake  and non-existent group it described as “Concerned Soldiers and Officers From the North East”.

The allegations contained in the Sahara Reporters write up are baseless and not correct. It is a fact that the Buratai family have two properties in Dubai that were paid for instamentally through personal savings three years ago. This, along with other personal assets have consistently been declared by General Buratai in his Assets Declaration Form as Commander Multinational Joint Task Force Commander and as Chief of Army Staff.

It is pertinent to state that the Chief of Army Staff does not have any account with Skye Bank as alleged, let alone making deposits in the imaginary bank account to the tune of the amount stated in the write up. Similarly, he has not been involved in any  form of shady or dishonest transaction, not to talk of “contract scam”.

In addition, General Buratai was never near either Defence Headquarters or Army Headquarters in 2013.  It is pertinent to also note that he was never a Director  of procurement in Army Headquarters as alleged. As a matter of fact, the Nigerian Army never had a Directorate of Procurement till when he established one last year when he became Chief of Army Staff.

In a bid to rubbish the hard earned reputation and good name of the Chief of Army Staff, these blackmailers will stop at nothing hence all these kinds of mudslinging.

It is really worrisome that some people could condescend so low to fabricate baseless allegation against the Chief of Army Staff for reasons that could best be described as mischievous. It is equally worrisome that Sahara Reporters could lend space for this obvious mischief. We really do not believe that it is because the price is right.

Consequently, the public and indeed all well meaning persons should disregard this round of campaign of calumny against the Chief of Army Staff and similar ones  because they are baseless and unfounded.

For the unscrupulous elements and their cohorts, these campaigns would prod the Nigerian Army and indeed the Chief of Army Staff to continue to serve the nation diligently and with utmost zeal.

Star Actor Fred Amata Robbed! Lexus SUV, Shoes Stolen Dropped On Lagos Bridge

I got this message from someone who claims to be Fred Amata's friend."What? God have mercy look. He was on fajalive 2.30pm on Lagos Televison (12 hours earlier)   At 2.30 am this morning Mr Fred Amata was robbed at gun point.
His car a Metallic Grey Lexus 470 SUV with registration number AGL 414 CU was taken including his phones and personal belongings.
 He was robbed at gun point in front of his gate in Surulere.
They bundled him into his car and dropped him at Fadeyi Bridge at 2.30am after taking his shoes.
We implore all of us to rebroadcast this information till it gets to the Police and Federal Road Safety Authorities".

Gov Ahmed: From China With Prosperity by Muideen Femi Akorede

A major fallout of Nigeria’s shrinking economy in view of the global oil crises has been a recognition by Governments at all levels in Nigeria to diversify the economy. A major component of this strategy is a renewed resolve to increase foreign investment in the country.

President Muhammed Buhari demonstrated this resolve with his recent trips abroad aimed at attracting new investments, the development of Nigeria’s infrastructure among others. Perhaps the most elaborate and promising of these trips was President Buhari’s recent foray into China.

Building on existing talks, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed on June 8th, 2016 also traveled to the city of Nimgbo, in East China to finalize planned investments in the state and secure fresh inflows.

It was a five-day trip that took Governor Ahmed and his team to three cities through a grueling 12-hour drive. A typical day featured at least three meetings or receptions with separate sets of businessmen and government officials. 

These high-level meetings all ended with the Chinese parties expressing interest in investing in Kwara State for Mutual Benefit. The day after the team’s arrival in Ningbo, East China, our host, Mr. Shi Zengchai of Ningbo Jinsheng Star Limited, led the team to the 18th China CEEC Trade Fair which featured exhibitions from China, other parts of Asia, Europe and America on an expansive ground that covered the size of four football fields.

During his three hour stay at the Trade Fair, Governor Ahmed was particularly interested in processing equipment, diagnostic tools, and aviation training equipment stands where he exchanged ideas with the exhibitors.

The following day, the schedule was no less hectic. It opened with Governor Ahmed meeting a group of Chinese investors who expressed a desire to establish agribusiness ventures in the state.

 Looking at these men dressed in T-Shirts, casual shirts and trousers, it was tempting to dismiss them. That was until they opened up about their investments in other African countries and their desire to come to Kwara.   

Before holding further investment talks, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his team met with Mr. Wang Jianhou, Deputy Mayor of the Municipal city of Ningbo at a major hotel in the city, accompanied by party officials and other government officials.
The Deputy Mayor commended Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and the Kwara State Government for the interest in partnering with Ningbo city for investment which he described as a flourishing city with GDP per capita of $16,000. Ningbo, he said, is a city of 3 million people whose history dates back 6000 years. In the last decade, according to him, the city has flourished significantly, with its port alone witnessing transactions of about $100m annually. The fact that the city alone is more populated and affluent than Kwara State was not lost on anyone at the meeting.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, speaking through an interpreter, said the state government was following the path of President Muhamadu Buhari to meet potential investors who can take advantage of opportunities in Kwara State for mutual benefit. He said the state was looking for investors especially in the area of manufacturing.

Kwara State, according to him, has a very youthful population which shows there is a strong workforce that can support industrialization. He described the opportunities for investment in Kwara State as huge, and commended Shi, who he described as a “brother’, for his resolve to invest in Kwara State.

Any expectation that the day was over were dashed as the team marched into the hall downstairs for another engagement.

This event, which will turn out the highlight of the trip, was the 18th China Zheiland Investment and Trade Symposium, had in attendance about 200 hundred investors, businessmen and Chinese officials. Kwara State was the only delegation from Africa and the only one from Nigeria for the ceremony which was designed to formalize agreements for government back investments within China and abroad.

Specifically, the Ningbo Major Investments Signing Ceremony was organized by Ningbo Municipal People’s Government to provide incentives for Chinese companies to invest in other parts of the country and overseas. In all, a total 31 projects worth $3.7b were consummated at the event. Of the amount, $1.42b was outbound, including the Kwara investment.

The Kwara State Government inked an agreement with the Ningbo Jinsheng Star Import and Export Company for the establishment of the $56m Kwara Chetex Textile Park in the state.  During the short segment, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed signed for the state while Zengchao signed for Ningbo Jinsheng.

Amidst congratulatory hand pumping and back thumping, an elated Governor Ahmed said he was pleased the deal had finally been signed. He particularly emphasized the fact the textile factory and park were expected to create 3000 direct jobs and transform the Irepodun/Edu LG axis of the state.

For him, the factory and other infrastructure projects planned for the area will stimulate growth and jobs in the area as part of his admiration’s effort to develop Kwara North. This is part of an overall strategy designed to ensure even development across the state. It was the culmination of a yearlong effort involving Ningbo Jinseng, Chinese Officials, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment as well as the State Public Private Partnership Office.

 

Also speaking, Yomi Ogunsola, Chief Economic Assistant to Governor, and DG, PPP Bureau, said the State will provide up to N1b as counterpart fund, 400 hectares of land as infrastructure support as its own contribution.  

The next three days will see the team undertaking a 4-hour road trip to Anhui Guangxin Agric Chemical Company, another trip to Changxing City and finally to Shanghai. At every stop, the team was treated to full Chinese hospitality including neon lights welcoming Governor Ahmed and the team from Kwara State at hotels and government offices as well as the almost statutory welcome reception.

 In the process, Governor Ahmed and his team held talks on the establishment of an agro-allied factory and a farm in Kwara State, as well as a visit to a factory to observe the kind of technology that will be deployed at the Kwara Chetex Textile Park in the state. The presence by Synosure, a Chinese Government agency which underwrites and approves Chinese investment abroad, was a major coup for team Kwara as it signaled the company had an opportunity to conduct due diligence on the state and was likely to be more disposed to approving additional investment in  Kwara state.  

Going by the $56m investment and other talks by the team, it was clear that a sleuth of investments are Kwara State-bound and will stimulate more growth, jobs and economic development in the state


NCS Arrests Notorious Cripple for Obtaining N20mn from Job Seekers


The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has arrested one of most notorious fraudsters involve in online advertising scams on non-existing vacancies in government agencies.
 
The suspected kingpin whose real name was given as Abubakar Rilwan had been declared wanted by some security agencies in the country before his arrest.
 
A top customs officer stated: "Abubakar Rilwan, who is evidently disabled is one of the principal actors and suspect in a job/auction scam syndicate. Whatever he lacks in physical ability, he makes up for in his exceptional ability to manipulate and swindle his victims. 
 
"He has duped desperate job and auction seekers to the tune of over 20 million naira, sometimes using the services of lawyers.
 
"In one of his escapades, he collected money from 7 (seven) job seekers in Taraba State, issued them fake appointment letters, and caused them to travel all the way to Bayelsa State for fake training. They got there before realizing they were duped."
 
 
While Rilwan is currently in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service undergoing further investigation, other security agencies that had declared wanted for related offences.  
 
The spokesperson of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Wale Adeniyi confirmed the arrest.
 

Thursday 23 June 2016

Beauty Mixes With Business:Juliet Ibrahim Announces Lashes, Lipstick Line



Award-winning actress Juliet Ibrahim is on to something new! Known for her head-turning red carpet looks, the gorgeous and business savvy actress/producer is set to launch her very own lashes and lipstick line.
 
While this is her first makeup line, it is not the first beauty venture for the entrepreneur who already runs a fashion house, House of Glamour.
 
She will be launching two products; the Juliet Ibrahim’s Moda Lipstick line and Shades by Juliet Ibrahim lashes line. 

The fabulous eyelash extensions feature three different versions; mink fur, 3D lashes and Horse hair lashes. It’s reusable, very comfortable even with extended wear and feels 100% natural. 

While the hotly anticipated lashes line is already selling, the lipsticks which will be in different exciting shades will hit the shelves soon and you will get to experience all the beautiful hues she loves wearing and more.

The products which are designed to bring your beauty to the fore are wallet friendly.

 Shades by Juliet Ibrahim lashes is currently available on konga.com.

Distributors in Nigeria:

Lagos: Call Omobolanle on 08027998130 to order or follow her on @mbmatic

Abuja: Suite A7 TJ 1406 Plaza , behind AP Plaza Wuse. Follow @prince4nails or call 07063572434 for directions.
 
38 Gana street, Mataima Abuja. Follow @inmyshoesng to order or call Inem on 08077299149 for directions.

Portharcourt: Call Timi Rogers on 08157729057/ to place orders or follow @rogerstimi

Distributors in Ghana:

Melanie Crane Couture - Opposite Nogahil Hotel, Dzorwulu, Call 0303965384

Rubies House of Beauty - Near American House, East Legon. Call 0204081619 

Natural Day Spa - 24 Garden Road, Near  A & C Mall, East Legon. Call 0502711655/0302521944 for directions.

2016 COWBELLPEDIA WINNERS TO GO HOME WITH N6 MILLION CASH



As the National Examination Council, NECO released the results of the 2016 Cowbellpedia Mathematics Qualifying Examination, conducted on Saturday, 19th March, 2016, the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olivier Thiry, has explained that the company has significantly increased the prize money for the finals for both students and teachers. This year, he said, the top prize student winner in each category will go home with One Million Naira in addition to other prizes, while the teacher will be awarded Four Hundred Thousand Naira.
The first and the second runners-up will go home with N750, 000 and N500, 000 respectively. There will also be plaques, mathematics textbooks and a desktop computer for the winners. 
Thiry also acknowledged the support given by the NECO, state Ministries of Education, school principals, teachers, the press and other Partner agencies for their support for the initiative over the years.
Meanwhile, the qualifying exam has produced a stunning dimension asThe State of Osun has produced four out of the eight students that got the 100 percent perfect score in both categories.
The students are Ayomide Nafisat of Reality High School, Osogbo; Osagiede Efosa of Obafemi Awolowo International School, Ile-Ife; Ajayi Ayomide and Aromolaran Adegoke, both of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesa.
Other students with perfect scores include Ukpabi Onyedikachi, Britarch Seondary School, Umuahia; Duke Favour, Deeper Life High School, Calabar; Udo Blessing and Daniel Oreofe, both of Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State.
A total of 46,698 students, comprising 24,255 (junior category) and 22,443 (senior category), sat for the qualifying exam in 235 centers across the country.
From the figure, 108 students (54 each for junior and senior categories) are to proceed to the second stage, which is the Television Quiz Show. 
The second stage, which will be in a quiz format, will be further sub-divided into preliminary, semifinals and finals. The show will be serialized into 13 episodes and air on major television stations across the country. 

AMBODE SEEKS PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIP ON GRADUATE INTERNSHIP SCHEME


…Commends Total’s Investment In Nigeria

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday called on members of the Organized Private Sector (OPS) to key into the graduate internship scheme of the State Government aimed at equipping fresh graduates with necessary skills to transform them into job creators rather than job seekers.


Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja when he received a delegation from Total Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited on a courtesy visit, said there was the need for the private sector to deploy their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards empowering youths with relevant trainings with the ultimate goal of making them to contribute to the advancement of the Nigerian society.

While appreciating Total for its giant strides on CSR, the Governor said such relationship could be scaled up to the optimal benefit of the society, especially by creating wealth for fresh graduates.

He said: “I want our relationship on CSR to be scaled up so that we can start to have some kind of synergy between your expertise and the graduates that we churn out from our tertiary institutions in Lagos here.

“We can look at a way of exploring new ways of creating wealth among our graduates or even in accessing training that you can afford us both locally and externally so that in the end, we will be able to do what we think is good for our new graduates and we will be part of the success story of Total and also make our graduates to be useful to the society on their own.”

Governor Ambode also commended Total for investing heavily in Nigeria at a time when some others are running away from the country, saying the development underscores the trust and commitment of the firm to the improvement of Nigeria’s economy.

Besides, Governor Ambode reiterated his commitment to creating conducive business climate in the State, saying that such would ultimately go a long way in creating jobs.

According to the Governor, “We believe strongly that whatever it is that we can do to make Lagos safer; to make Lagos more comfortable for investors and improve on the business climate, we would not hesitate to do it because at the end of the day, it will create more jobs for our people, we would get more taxes and also provide infrastructure for the people.

“I just want to say that this is a partnership that we will like to enhance and also try as much as possible to ensure that your corporate existence is not jeopardized and in whatever form that government can do to assist in terms of needs of specific issues that relates to your organization, we will do it,” Governor Ambode assured.

Earlier, Managing Director of the firm, Mr. Nicolas Terraz, who led the delegation, said his team was at the Lagos House to further improve on the relationship which had always existed between Total Nigeria and the Lagos State Government.

Terraz, who was accompanied by Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water District, Mr. Ahmadu-Kida Musa and other top management staff of the company, commended Governor Ambode for his administration’s strides on security, the Light Up Lagos initiative and various infrastructural projects in the State.

He said apart from the fact that work was going on in every part of the State on a daily basis, there was also a pragmatic atmosphere being made by Governor Ambode to make Lagos a home for all.

Money Laundering: How Ex-Nasarawa Gov, Akwe Doma Diverted N350m State Fund-Witness


The trial of a former governor of Nasarawa State, Aliyu Akwe Doma, and two others continued on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 before Justice Agatha A. Okeke, with a prosecution witness, Ego Maikeffi Abashe, the Clerk of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, revealing how the former governor had allegedly diverted the sum of N350m from the state funds. 

Doma alongside Timothy Anthony Anjide, a former Secretary to the State Government, and Dauda Egwa, a former Accountant-General, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering and financial crimes.

The accused persons between January, 2007 and December, 2009 allegedly conspired and fraudulently laundered state funds to the tune of  N8bn, an offence contrary to Section 14(1)(a) of the Money Laundering  (Prohibition) Act 2004 and punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act.

At the resumed hearing today, Abashe told the court there was no approval or record by the House of Assembly for the sum of N350 million allegedly disbursed under the title of ‘‘special releases’’.

 Abashe, who was led in evidence by Kemi Phinheiro, SAN, also told the court that the State House of Assembly did not initiate the disbursement of N70 million as shown to him in exhibit 23aa-cc.

He added: ‘‘I can’t  recall the disbursements of N80 million as shown in  exhibit 23ca; N150 million as shown in exhibit 23ab and N120 million as shown in exhibit 23ba,  as there was no record or memo initiated for such releases; and there was no cheque raised for special releases in the office of the House of Assembly.’’ 

Abashe, who stated that he was familiar with the records of the House of Assembly even before becoming the Clerk, added that ‘‘ for additional funding, which is not captured by the budget, the Clerk will put out a memo endorsed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly and addressed to the State Executive  (Governor). The Governor would approve the memo, which would be conveyed to the House of Assembly and then taken to the Office of the Accountant- General for a cheque to be released.’’  

According to him, funding of the House of Assembly is initiated by a memo and not by any other means. 

While being cross-examined by A. F. Yusuf regarding the disbursements, he said that he was not the Clerk as at the time the disbursements were carried out.

He, however, said the procedures for disbursement were the same and were all in the files. 

Still testifying, he said: ‘‘Monies meant for security matters are not addressed to the Clerk or channelled to the Clerk, as security matters are not discussed in the House of Assembly.’’

 Another prosecution witness, Abubakar Sadiq Ishaq, Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Cabinet Affairs and Special Services, presented two documents titled: Expenditure Needs for the Nasarawa State Public Servicesand Part of Nasarawa State Executive Council Convention, which were tendered and admitted as exhibit P30 and P31, respectively.

 He told the court that the documents were to guide government officials, ministries, departments and agencies particularly in areas of finances.

Ishaq, who was formerly a director in the same office, said: “It was proposed that the governor could not make expenditure above N50m. However, the  Governor can expend any amount and later make ratification provided that the expenditure was done in the interest of the state and in accordance with due process.’’ 

When Ishaq was presented with exhibit P20, which was an approval for N496 million initiated by the Office of the Secretary to the State government, he told the court that there was no ratification by State executive council for it.

 Also,  going through exhibit P23 (cc), which was the approval granted by  Doma for N150 million and P23 (ba) for N120 million , he told the court there was no directive to the State executive for ratification and he did not receive any ratification for it either.

The case has been adjourned to June 23, 2016 for continuation of trial

Three In EFCC Soup For N220M Fraud


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, arraigned the trio of Dayo Jimoh, Victor Ochola and Obaje Musa Mohammed before Justice A.R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on a 27-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretense to the tune of N220, 000,000 (Two Hundred and Twenty Million Naira).

The accused persons allegedly approached the complainant, Mohammed Jibrin, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Suntrust Savings and Loans Limited, with a promise that they could help him secure some government houses purportedly being sold by the Ad-hoc Committee on sale of Federal Government houses.

However, the complainant alleged that he was issued forged offer letter and payment receipts, after he had made payment vide bank drafts to various accounts belonging to the accused persons.

Count one of the charge reads:

‘‘That you, Dayo Jimoh, Victor Ochola, Obaje Musa Mohammed and others still at large sometime in January, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit an unlawful act to wit: obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) and punishable under Sections 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.”

The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Johnson A. Ojogbane, asked for a trial date.

However, the defence counsel, Ojo Olukayode, moved an application for the bail of the first accused person.

Consequently, Justice Mohammed remanded the accused persons in prison custody.

The case has been adjourned to June 30, 2016 for hearing of the bail application.

EFCC: Magu Assures Cameroon of Support In Asset Recovery


The acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has expressed the readiness of the Commission to assist the Cameroonian government in the area of asset tracking and recovery.  

Speaking on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 when he received a five-man delegation from Cameroon in his office, Magu said:‘‘The Commission will be willing to exchange ideas and experiences with your country in necessary areas as you may desire.  I wish to also thank you for your interest in the activities of the Commission.’’

 Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Aseh Joseph Malegho, stated that the success story of the Commission had travelled far and wide through different media. 

According to him, “Your actions are laudable.  We commend you and the President of Nigeria, Mohammadu Buhari, for your efforts in ridding Nigeria of corruption.

‘‘Your anti-graft war has endeared you to us; that is why we have come to identify with your Commission.’’

Malegho also appealed to the EFCC boss to share his experience in the areas of asset tracing, freezing and recovery as well as how the recovered assets were being ploughed back into the country’s economy.

OPERATION PULO SHIELD IN NIGER DELTA SCRAPPED


The OPERATION PULO SHIELD in Niger Delta has been scrapped with immediate effect and replaced with OPERATION DELTA SAFE.  This is in line with the Defence Headquarters initiative to restructure the Joint Task Force for better service delivery, efficiency and effectiveness in line with the vision and mission of the Chief of Defence Staff to contain the current security challenges in the Niger Delta especially protection of critical national assets and provision of security in the area.

Under this arrangement, the Joint Operational Areas of the new outfit have been delineated into 3 sectors and 5 Operational Bases covering the entire Niger Delta, Ondo and Akwa Ibom States.  The Headquarters of OPERATION DELTA SAFE would be in Yenagoa. 

This development, according to Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin becomes expedient in order to inject new tactics and robust operational initiative to tackle the emerging security challenges in the Niger Delta region such as piracy, bunkering, vandalism and other criminalities prevalent in the area.

Monday 20 June 2016

BUHARI HOSTS OUTGOING INSPECTOR GENERAL TO FAREWELL DINNER

Ramadan break of fast/farewell dinner
President Buhari presenting a gift to Outgoing Inspector General of Police IGP Solomon Arase




FOUR RRS MEN ESCAPE DEATH


Four RRS operatives of the Lagos State Police Command early this morning sustained serious injuries while on operation when an over speeding KIA RIO belonging to a hired car operator rammed into their vehicle near Ogudu Bus Stop.

The RRS men were on duty point patrolling along Ogudu – Alapere axis inspecting the Light Up Lagos Project facilities when the accident occurred at about 12:06am on Sunday.

Nigeria tops Shell Group spend on social investments


 Shell Companies in Nigeria spent a total of $195.5 million on social investments in the country in 2015, making Nigeria the largest concentration of social investment spending in the Shell Group. Of the amount, some $145.1 million was paid to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as required by law while another $50.4 million was directly expended in social investment projects by The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC)Limited-operated Joint Venture and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo).

FRAUD ALERT!.....CUSTOMS DENIES RECRUITMENT EXERCISE


DISCLAIMER: PURPORTED RECRUITMENT EXERCISE INTO THE NIGERIA CUSTOMS  
SERVICE IS SCAM
Nigeria Customs Service is launching on an all-out war against internet fraudsters who specialise in extorting money from innocent Nigerians under the pretext of offering them jobs, auctions or contracts.
This integrated approach on social media, is coming on the heels of  
recent upsurge of fraudsters using the name of the Nigeria Customs  
Service to solicit applications for non-existent job offers for a fee that is usually paid into personal bank accounts.

PICTURES: FASHOLA INSPECTS 2ND NIGER BRIDGE AT ASABA, ONITSHA



Suspended Tenure Policy May Not Affect Political Office Holders


The suspended tenure policy in the Federal Civil Service may not affect political office holders as gathered by PRNigeria.

A top Director in the Federal Civil Service clarified that only mainstream officers in the service are to be affected with the new development.

Sunday 19 June 2016

Pictures: When Otunba Gani Adams Became Titled Chief In Kogi State



Mass Killing In Ogun Community As Suspected Militants Strike





The Imushin community in the Ogijo area of Ogun State has been thrown into mourning after no fewer than 15 residents were reportedly killed on Friday evening by armed men suspected to be militants.


It was learnt that about 100 militants, armed with guns and cutlasses, stormed the community around 11pm on Friday and embarked on a killing spree, killing every resident in sight.


When he visited the community on Saturday, he saw a few of the corpses which their families were preparing for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.


Among the 15 killed was a technician, Waheed Buhari, aka Yah Alau, who was shot dead in front of his room.


One of his children, Mariam, sustained bullet wounds.


A travel agent, Mr. Oladele Ogundare, was said to be returning home in his car, when the rampaging militants opened fire on his car and killed him.


Another resident, Umoru, who was said to be eating noodles, was chased, hacked and shot to death, along with a friend, Danladi.


A mosque in the community, was reportedly attacked and a Muslim cleric killed.


Two hotels were said to have also been raided and their customers robbed and injured.


More than 25 shops in the community were looted by the militants.


Many of the residents, who spoke begged not to be identified as the militants had threatened to return to continue the killing.


A resident said the militants were suspected to be Ijaw youths involved in pipeline vandalism.


She explained that they were on a revenge mission as some operatives of the State Anti-Robbery Squad had killed two of the vandals earlier on Friday.


She said, “The whole thing began around 4pm on Friday. I was at the backyard of the hotel, cutting some weed when some SARS officers came in. They were shooting and ordering people to stop moving. There was confusion in the hotel.


“The SARS officials did not leave until after three hours. They killed two of the vandals and took away the owner of the hotel, a woman.


“Around 10pm, I went to urinate when I saw so many hoodlums coming from the waterside down the road. They carried sophisticated weapons and when they got here, they started shooting.


 They blew off the hotel windows and shot people dead. They killed two men here in Lapete village.”

A friend of Waheed, the electrician killed in Oke Muti, said the Ilorin, Kwara State indigene had tried to shut his door when the militants killed him.


Waheed’s corpse was still lying in a room and being prepared for burial w.


His friend said, “He was going to urinate when the militants started firing. He tried to quickly shut his door, but it did not jam. They opened fire on him at the door step and did not stop until he dropped dead.


“Not satisfied, they entered his room and sprayed everywhere with bullets. Waheed’s child, Mariam, that was in the room was hit. She is still at the hospital.”


He added that the police recovered 15 corpses in the community.


The widow of the travel agent killed in the Ereko area of the community said her husband, Oladele, who worked on Victoria Island, Lagos State, had left for work in his car on Friday morning without any foreboding.


She said, “He gave me money for foodstuffs after dropping me off in front of a bank where I wanted to do a transaction. By 6pm, we spoke and he asked me to prepare rice for him that night.


“By 10pm, I called his line; it rang and he didn’t pick. I tried it again at 12am, still no response. I called his mother by 6am that I had not been able to reach him on his two telephone lines and she promised to call as well. She also couldn’t get to him.


“It was this morning (Saturday) that I saw a crowd of people in my house. They said he was a short distance from home when he was shot dead. I can’t believe this because we have barely spent a year in this community and this has never happened before.”


Some customers at the Catcher Hotel were lucky to have escaped with their lives.


However, the hoodlums carted away all the valuables in the hotel and vandalised all the electronic gadgets.


A soldier, who was not in uniform at the time of the attack, said the vandals cut him with a cutlass and smashed bottles on his head.


He said, “I had entered the beer parlour in the hotel when the militants came in. They were about 200. At first, I thought they were having a festival until they ordered all of us to lie flat on the ground.


“They asked for my two phones and when I gave them one, they became angry. One of them cut my head with a machete and followed it with a bottle. I was drenched in blood. The militants had sophisticated weapons that I had never seen before.


“They never asked for money from me and they didn’t search my pocket. If they did, they could have found my ID card and I would have been dead. I wore just a white shirt.”


A disc jockey at the hotel said one of the militants wanted to shoot him dead, but one of them persuaded him against it.


“They were arguing among themselves whether or not to kill me. One said, ‘If you don’t want me to kill him, then let me cut off his leg.’ But his colleague asked him not to.  Before I knew it, he had smashed three bottles on my head.


“They went away with my laptop, phones, money and everything I had. They refused to carry away the beers in the hotel. They took only the hard drinks,” he said.


Women in the hotel, who claimed that the militants spent about 30 minutes, said they tortured them with cutlasses and guns.


Efforts to speak with community leaders were abortive as they declined comment.


It was gathered that a community leader had been abducted by the militants a few months ago, after reporting a case against them at a station.


A source said, “The man was in the creek for 40 days. The militants collected N10m from the community before he was released. That is why everybody is afraid to talk. People have started fleeing the community. Two Hausas were killed during this attack and the Hausa community has vowed to fight back.”


A man, who spoke for the Imushin community, pleaded with the government to intervene before the community was completely deserted.


He said, “These people are militants and even the police cannot withstand their firepower. We need help from the government. We will appreciate anything they can do for us.”


The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the attack, but said only three people were killed.


He said, “Around 11pm at Ereko Community, Ogijo, some hoodlums numbering about 100 invaded the community and started shooting sporadically. Bullets hit one Waheed Buhari and his daughter, Mariam. While Buhari died, the daughter is still at the hospital. Two other unidentified corpses were found, making a total of three deaths.


“Information from eyewitnesses showed that the hoodlums were militants and they came from the riverine area. But we have not confirmed this, as investigations are ongoing. We are particularly interested in why they came in such a large number.”


@ckn


Dead Nollywood Actor For Burial Today

Ina lillahi wa Ina ilayhi rogihun

It's so sad we lost one of our own in the movie Industry Again tonight.
Alfa Abdul-Lateef Titilope aka Itakure.

His burial arrangement will be holding at his family house Ile Gbantan, Agunpopo OYO town, Time is strictly 8:00am

Pls and Pls let's all give him the last respect he deserve by making the condolence visit to his family and to the burial prayer.

Thank u all, a o ni fi iru eleyi san funraa wa oo, amin.

Pls let's be punctual.