₦airaland Forum

Singer Timaya showers love on his daughter ‘Emma’ as she turns 6 today.

Emma looking all grown is Timaya’s daughter he got from his babymama Barbara including Grace, Emma’s younger sister.

The singer took to his Instagram to show his love to Emma after sharing several photos of her.

He wrote;

“EMMA is 6 today. Happy birthday sunshine. Stay happy 4ever.”

“Happy birthday my lovely Daughter. I love love love you”

“Hb day my queen”

See photos below;

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/timaya-shares-beautiful-photos-of-his.html

The bodies of the catholic priests and others who were killed by the dreaded Boko Haram sect have arrived for burial.

It has been reported that the catholic priests who were killed in Benue are about to be buried.

It will be recalled that the two Rev Fathers identified as Gor Joseph and Felix were killed after suspected herdsmen attacked the Ayar Mbalom village in Gwer East local Government Area of Benue State. 19 persons including the Priests were killed and over 35 houses burnt.

The development brought tears to many eyes, causing outrage around Nigeria.

Now corpses of the slain people have been brought to Sesugh Maria pilgrimage centre, Ayati, in Benue State where they would be buried.

See more photos below:

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/catholic-priests-others-killed-by-boko.html

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Monday said N8.1 trillion that 15 revenue generating agencies of the federal government failed to remit to the Federation Account between 2010 and 2015 is equal to Nigeria’s yearly national budget.

According to a statement by his spokesperson, Segun Adeyemi, the minister stated this in Osogbo, Osun State, while commissioning phases one and two of the channelization, de-silting, flood control and development of Okoko and Ogbagba rivers, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Recall that the Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, had first made the disclosure Thursday last week while addressing State House correspondents at the end of the National Economic Council in Abuja. He said the discovery was made by the auditing firm, KPMG.

According to the minister in Osogbo, the discovery is many times worse than the N1.34 trillion allegedly stolen by 55 public officials between 2006 and 2013.

“Recently, the Federal Government ordered an audit (between 2010 and 2015) of 15 government revenue generating agencies. The result was the discovery that the agencies had not remitted over 8.1 trillion Naira to the Federation Account. This amount is about six times the N1.34 trillion stolen between 2006 and 2015.

”It is also the equivalent, on the average, of the country’s yearly national budget! Imagine, for a moment, how many kilometres of roads could have been constructed, how many kilometres of rail tracks that could have been laid, and how many modern hospitals and schools that could have been built if that money had been properly accounted for,” Mohammed was quoted as saying.

The minister who was speaking before a crowd at the event, said the Buhari administration’s fight against corruption remained very critical because it will free much-needed resources for national development.

Mohammed said the projects being executed by the present administration, including the one that was commissioned in Osogbo, one of 53 being commissioned across the country, could have long been completed but for the mind-boggling looting of the treasury by previous administrations, which deprived the nation of infrastructural growth.

He said every kobo that is not looted is a plus for development, adding: ”This is why we will not stop talking about those who have looted the public treasury, despite the pushback from their apologists. If we do not stop the looting of the treasury, there will be no money for the kind of projects we are commissioning here in
Osogbo today.”

Corroborating the minister’s statement on the unremitted funds, Governor Rauf Aregbesola said the share of Osun State from the said amount is N75 billion, which, he said, would have been more than enough to pay all civil servants their salaries and complete all infrastructural projects of his government.

Speaking on the commissioned project, the minister said it was the first time the Ecological Fund Office was commissioning any project and handing it over to the host community.

He said the triple project, which was one of the 12 4th Quarter, 2016 ecological intervention projects across the six geo-political zones approved by the President in October 2016, was due to the perennial flooding which had claimed lives and destroyed property in Osogbo Township.

”I have no doubt in my mind that the successful completion of these projects would enhance the holistic solutions to soil erosion and flood menace in Osogbo town. This would at the same time reduce the danger to lives and property associated with erosion and persistent flooding that has been experienced here in the recent time,” Mohammed said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/15-revenue-generating-agencies.html

Nollywood actress Juliet Ibrahim who is in a romantic Relationship with Nigerian rapper Iceberg Slim had sparked breakup rumors after she decided to delete all of his photos on her social media.

Although even before now their perceived relationship was going slow as it was not as hot as what it was when it all started, they were seen everywhere together all loved up.

With this rumors going on although Juliet has said she has not broken up with Iceberg, could she be dating Teddy A now?

They two were pictured in a striking post together and they looked more like a couple.

It can be perceived that during the BBNaija show, Jukliet was a regular campaigner of Teddy A as she did that on several occasions soliciting for votes.

Now, the two have hooked up.

In this new photo which was shared by Juliet Ibrahim herself, the lady explained that she is just having a “quick link up with Teddy A”.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/is-juliet-ibrahim-and-teddy-dating.html

As tension eased on his travails with the President Buhari-led government, embattled Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi) who was bedridden while his trial lasted, has bounced back with an emotional “Thank you’ message” he penned to Nigerians .

In the message tagged, ” THANK YOU NIGERIANS” and made available to TheNewsGuru.com via whatsapp, Melaye praised the leadership of the Nigerian Senate, eminent lawyers among other Nigerians for their support.
The letter in full:
Someone once said, that, rock bottom is good solid ground and a dead-end street is just a place to turn around. In the last few weeks, I have been taken to the good solid ground at the rock bottom and they couldn’t go further. I have been brought to the dead-end street but with you standing by my side, I have turned around and bounced back to the chagrin of those who sought to seal my lips from speaking out against tyranny, politics of oppression and blackmail. They, unleashed an endless barrage of physical, psychological, metaphysical and emotional torture and assault on me, but, through the power of the Most High, and you the good people of Nigeria, we have once again, seen the triumph of truth over lies and good over evil.
2. It was Edmund Burke who was quoted as saying that when bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, … in a contemptible struggle. I am of all men, a blessed man, to have courageous and dependable people like you as my fellow soldiers in the struggle to free us from the shackles of political strongholds and tyranny. It is to you and my most wonderful and ever knowledgeable people of Kogi State, especially Kogi West, that I owe my deepest gratitude. You stood by me against the state and your own ‘best political self-interest’.
3. The state unleashed its raw power on me and released a 200 man-strong fully armed policemen – on a man without a knife nor a bullet. It did this because I called injustice by its name and called for accountability. For this they sought to break my spirit and destroy me permanently. In their moment of reign, I was fully shackled. With my hands tied to my back, and hurled into a dark solitary confinement waiting for the butchers knife, you, my people stood by me. You came against a raging fire and stood up against tyranny, lies, filthy lucre, injustice, persecution and greed. While in the dark and unable to fight for myself, they sought to take my mandate, which you had freely given to me. But you answered back and quenched deceit in its wake. You stood resolute and unflinching and defended your mandate to me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. In their attempt to break me, they have made me stronger.
4. To you my indefatigable leaders; my irremovable President of the Senate, a man of immeasurable vision for Nigeria and true fighter for the enthronement of true democracy and the rule of law, Sen. (Dr.) Abubakar Bukola Saraki. The fearless Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, I thank you both for your steadfastness in the defence of the Nigerian Constitution and the enthronement of the Rule of Law, justice and equity and the emasculation of anti-democratic forces and tyranny everywhere in Nigeria. I am eternally grateful to you.
5. To the entire National Assembly Membership, especially my colleagues in the Senate, I am eternally indebted to you for not playing politics but standing courageously against oppression and terror. You have shown yourself leaders on whom Nigeria’s hope for tomorrow can be assured.
6. To you our governors, ministers, my dear Okun people and leaders, the National Chairman and Kogi State Executive of the PDP, leaders of the Diplomatic Corps, opinion leaders, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, Chief Ricky Tarfa SAN, human rights lawyers and activists, and all my well-wishers and lovers of democracy in Nigeria; the Christian and Muslim Community, all of you that visited me in the National Hospital, after I was injured and subsequently detained at the hospital. I thank you all for your steadfastness in the defence of due process and the rule of law. I also thank you for your courage and solidarity.
7. Our ever foresighted and courageous civil society leadership, the media, leaders of thought across the country, our hard-working youth for whom I will give my last blood, our loving mothers and sisters, I lack words to express to you my profound gratitude for the unbreakable chord of love that binds me to you through thick and thin. You have strengthened my resolve and hardened my flesh against those who seek to devour and make meat of me. You have once again proven to me the axiom in the saying that “in prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends.” I am very grateful. For your sake, I remain unbowed.
8. I know many of you worry about my safety and life in this new dispensation where life is no longer sacred in Nigeria. But do not be troubled. My bond of love for you, my good people, makes it impossible for me to consider my self-risk, safety, comfort or opportunity in my unflinching commitment to stand up for you, to stand up for truth and if necessary die for the truth and the emancipation of our people from the chains of poverty and oppression. Though they raise spurious allegations against me, bear false witness against me, though they seek to frighten me and lure me into their bounty of evil, I will fear no foe.
9. Yes, my traducers and torturers wish that I keep quiet; though they seek to seal my lips, to silence my voice forever, I remain ever more resolute and committed. I am committed to this cause for which I am a politician; the cause of the down trodden, to speak truth to power and stand against oppression and injustice. On these issues there will be no compromise. I owe no apologies and I tender none.
10. Like I have always said, you speak the truth, you die, you don’t speak the truth, you die. I have chosen to speak the truth, dead or alive. Rev. Martin Luther King Jnr., once said, “Cowardice asks the question – is it safe? Expediency asks the question – is it politics? Vanity asks the question – is it popular? But conscience asks the question – is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right.”
11. To my people, I promise you this and this only. I have taken my position, I will not hold back, I will not hold my peace, I will not be shut down, neither will I shut-up, not as long as injustice and falsehood continues to reign, as long as I will live, I will not bow to Baal.
12. May the Almighty continue to keep you all and be your bulwark until victory is assured. Once again, I thank you all so much.
13. God bless you.
14. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Sen. Dino Melaye (SDM)
Kogi West
Chairman Senate Committee on FCT

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/read-melayes-emotional-thank-you.html

The National Legal Adviser of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Muiz Banire, has reacted to reports claiming he is plotting to displace the National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as the defacto leader in Lagos.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Banire insisted he could never be in a rivalry with Tinubu.

He described the story as mischievous and the handiwork of those who were intimidated by the cordial relationship that exists between him and Tinubu.

The statement reads: “Ordinarily I would not have reacted to the mischievous write up being circulated, but for the restlessness of some well meaning Nigerians that are worried.

“This is in view of the fact that I now know that every headache of the political system in Lagos state as well the government must certainly have been caused by Muiz Banire in their perspective.

“My immediate reaction has always therefore to ignore. It is against the fact alluded to above that I now respond as follows.

“The mischievous write ups in respect of contest for leadership between myself and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, obviously manufactured by some members of the Lagos State cabinet.

“Let me thank them for the continuous publicity given to me. However, it is important to state in the first instance that I am not in the same business with Asiwaju so as to have any form of contest.

“I have said it severally and I still repeat it that I am not a professional politician but a professional in politics for the purpose of good governance.

“Consequently, there certainly cannot be any rivalry between us, nor am I interested in any political leadership at any level.

“The writers have their motives which is understandable because they fear my relationship with Asiwaju which to the best of my knowledge remains cordial. He is undoubtedly my leader.

“It is not in my character to be disrespectful to any elder and neither am I interested in displacing anybody. I have faith in the words of God that He appoints leaders and empowers them.

“I am not in the struggle for any leadership position. However, I remain committed to my ideals and principles, particularly on internal democracy and good governance.


“I encourage the goons to continue in their strides as I know is that in so far as God remains on the throne, I shall remain unhurt.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/banire-speaks-on-overthrowing-tinubu-in.html

Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna central, has reacted to foiled suicide attack on Yobe mosque.

MC EBISCO reports that a vigilant member of Gashua village in Gujba local government area of Yobe state on Sunday averted a devastating suicide bomb attack on a mosque.

This was confirmed by Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, Deputy Director Public Relations Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole in a statement.

Reacting, Sani commended the civilians that captured the female suicide bomber.

According to him, they deserve commendation by the federal government.

The Kaduna lawmaker on his Twitter page wrote: “Today’s good news that some courageous civilians in Gashua, Yobe state foiled a female suicide bomb attack on a mosque deserves commendation and appreciation.


“Not just whistle blowing, but a big reward for such act of bravery should be given by the FG to show appreciation.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/shehu-sani-reacts-to-foiled-suicide.html

Kenny Ogungbe, popularly known as Baba Keke, has explained why Kennis Music has not been active in the Nigerian music industry recently.

Speaking with Sunday Scoop, Baba Keke said there was nothing wrong with Kennis Music, insisting that he deliberately didn’t sign any artiste in the last six years. He said,

“Kennis Music has decided to look at another aspect of the entertainment business. We do not want to promote more than one artiste anymore. We had artistes that didn’t want us to renew their contracts and we were also not interested in working with them any longer. Jaywon is a good example.

“We wanted to stop music promotion so that we can focus on our radio station. If we sign an artiste, we have to do promotions, take care of his welfare, do good videos and other things. We are still relevant with Joe El and we are happy with him. But this does not mean music production has ended for Kennis Music.”

Baba Keke, who recently celebrated the first year anniversary of his radio station, Kennis FM, also stated that he intentionally didn’t want to speak on the allegations that Kennis Music was cheating artistes. He said,

“The management fees we were collecting on 2Baba was 15 per cent and they said we had eaten all his money. I heard all the things people said about us .Once you are a progressive person, they will say ugly things about you.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/kennis-music-not-dead-kenny-ogungbe.html

Talismanic goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon bid a tearful farewell to Juventus after 17 seasons at the club.

The Italian played his last match for them in a 2-1 win over relegated Verona on Saturday.

The Turin side, who clinched their seventh consecutive Serie A title a week ago, were leading 2-0 when Buffon was substituted.

It was just after the hour in his 656th appearance for the club in all competitions.

The 2006 World Cup winner handed his captain’s armband to midfielder Claudio Marchisio then hugged several team mates and rival players as he left the field in tears to a standing ovation.

He then walked around the perimeter, shaking hands with supporters in the front row.

Buffon was replaced by third-choice goalkeeper Carlo Pinsoglio, who made his first appearance for the club.

He won nine Serie A and four Coppa Italia titles with Juventus and had kept 300 clean sheets heading into Saturday’s match.
Buffon, who announced on Thursday that he would leave Juventus at the end of the season, had one save to make when he blocked a shot by Mohamed Fares in the first half.

Daniele Rugani put Juventus ahead four minutes after halftime from a rebound when Douglas Costa’s shot was parried by Verona goalkeeper Nicolas.

Miralem Pjanic added a second from a free kick three minutes later.

Alessio Cerci scored a consolation for Verona in the 76th minute.

Full back Stephan Lichtsteiner had a penalty saved by Nicolas in the 85th minute.

He, like Buffon, was also playing his final match for Juventus after seven seasons at the club.
Juventus completed the 38-match campaign with 95 points from 30 wins, five draws and three defeats.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/buffon-bids-tearful-farewell-to-juve.html

Late Nollywood actress Aishat Abimbola who has now been buried in Canada, was said to have kept her medical condition from all and never revealed why she lost weight at a point in time.

None of her colleagues knew what she went through as she battled breast cancer.


But she felt and knew what it meant suffering from cancer. This, she depicted when she acted alongside Kenny George in the movie, ‘KOTO’. Known for her great skill at interpreting roles, none suspected Aisha cried due to her condition.
Aisha weeping with Kenny George in the movie, KOTO


A grieving Kenny revealed in an Instagram post: “A while ago when we were shooting this particular scene in KOTO a movie written and produced by me. Aishat had to shave my hair, she broke down in tears and was crying uncontrollably we all thought she was probably touched by the story or scene. KOTO is a story about a cancer patient… fast forward to now when we all heard she has been battling and died of cancer. AISHA ABIMBOLA was an amazing person and a monumental talent. Goodnight Sis. May ur gentle soul rest in peace…we luv u but God luvs you more.�������”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/the-moment-when-aishat-abimbola-cried.html

Another three killed in Benue during Osinbajo’s visit

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja, John Shiklam in Kaduna, Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri and George Okoh in Makurdi

The death toll continued to mount without let in parts of the country on Tuesday when 10 persons were brutally murdered in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, following an attack on five villages in the area.

The attack on Birnin Gwari preceded yet another invasion on villages in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected herdsmen on Wednesday morning, leading to the deaths of three persons.

The herdsmen attack on the Benue communities took place when Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was on a two-day visit to the state to assess the damage caused by the farmers-herdsmen crisis.

In the case of Birnin Gwari, the attack occurred on the same day the Chief of Army State, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, visited the area, which has recorded dozens of attacks in recent months.

During his visit, Buratai had ordered troops to be deployed in Birnin Gwari and had given them an ultimatum to flush out the bandits within three weeks.

The bandits were said to have invaded the communities again in Birnin Gwari on Tuesday at about 5:00 p.m.

A vigilante group in the area, Birnin Gwari Vanguard for Security, said in a statement that the attack lasted for over three hours.

“The bandits attacked the villages around 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday and it lasted for three and a half hours.

“The villages are Mashigi, Dakwaro, Sabon Gida and another village adjacent to Dakwaro,” the statement said.

The statement quoted a member of the vigilante group, Mallam Umar, as saying 10 dead bodies were recovered, while many were unaccounted for.

The bandits were said to have burnt houses and foodstuff of the affected villages.

According to the vigilante group, volunteers from the southern axis of Birnin-Gwari and security personnel were mobilised to ascertain the number of casualties.

The group added that the affected villages were in need of aid after the raid.

The group, while commending the federal government and security personnel for the steps taken to address the security challenges in the area, called for additional deployment of troops and special forces from the police to contain the attacks.

Efforts to reach the spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command Aliyu Mukhtar were unsuccessful as he did not respond to phone calls and a text message sent to him.

Following the latest attack, Buratai said Thursday in Abuja that the Nigerian Army was prepared to partner other security agencies in the country to flush out bandits operating in the Birnin Gwari axis along the Kaduna expressway.

Answering questions from journalists after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in the State House, Buratai said an army battalion had been deployed in the area to address security concerns.

“We will continue to cooperate along with other security agencies that are charged with the responsibility of securing our country and the deployment of a unit there is quite strategic. It is in line with the Nigerian Army order of battle that was approved in 2016.

“We have to implement all of them to achieve the strategic objective of the government. This is essentially why we have to put the battalion there and to work with other security agencies,” Buratai said.

On the counter-terrorism operation in the North-east, the Army chief said the ongoing “Operation Last Hold” by troops would strengthen military operations in the area and equally pave the way for the return of internally displaced persons to their various communities.

“It has gone very successfully. It’s progressing very well and be rest assured that Operation Last Hold will further consolidate on our achievements so far but we hope the internally displaced persons will go back to their communities and pick up their lives again.

“I think that is the aim of this our Operation Last Hold. It is a consolidation of the overall successes that we have achieved in the North-east,” Buratai said.

In Benue, rampaging herdsmen on Wednesday morning attacked and killed three persons while several others were said to be missing in Logo Local Government Area.

The attack took place when the vice-president was at the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Anyiin to sympathise with the people over the invasion of herdsmen in the area.

A resident said the herdsmen stormed the affected communities which included Tse-Mue, Torkaa, Mgbakpa, Torjem and Ifer villages between 6:30 and 9:00 a.m., killing three persons whose names he gave as Bem Torjem, Apedzan Chia and Akpuku Koya,

He said the herdsmen launched the deadly attack when the people were heading to their farms, adding that there was palpable fear as many people had fled the area.

He said the death toll from the attack could be higher but this could only be ascertained when those who ran away had returned.

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom confirmed the latest killing during a courtesy visit made by Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Suleiman Hassan Zarma.

Ortom said the herdsmen attacked and killed some people in Logo.

All attempts to get confirmation from the police command in Benue were unsuccessful, as the police spokesman could not be reached.

Suicide Bombing Kills Four in Borno

Meanwhile, residents of Borno State were woken up to another terrorist attack by Boko Haram Thursday when a suicide bomber detonated his bomb at Dikwa during early morning Muslim prayers.

The attack targeted at Muslims on the first day of Ramadan, the Holy month set aside for fasting and prayer to God (Allah), led to the deaths of four persons while eight others sustained injuries.

A post on the Facebook page of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), North East office by the agency’s information officer, AbdulKadir Ibrahim, said: “Incident of suicide bomb blast occurred at Dikwa town, Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State during early morning prayers.

“Four persons were reported dead while eight others were injured.

“Security has been beefed up. The area is now calm with extra vigilance enjoined by residents.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/bandits-kill-10-in-birnin-gwari.html

Ex-president’s aide calls for Magu’s sack
Obinna Chima
Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has denied any interference in the failure of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to properly govern Osun State.
The spokesman of the former president, Ikechukwu Eze, in a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, said the governor should take full responsibility of the failure of his administration, considering the fact that the state, like the other states in federation, is a semi-autonomy entity fully in charge of its finance and management.

Aregbesola had recently attributed the failure of his administration to the underperformance in office of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal government of then president, Jonathan, between 2010 to 2015.
But the former president in his reaction, said: “I see this as the governor’s attempt to rewrite history by disingenuously seeking an accomplice for his dreadful failure in office. This should be prevented from entering public records, as he wished.

“Ordinarily, it is considered a courageous act in governance to admit utter failure, as the governor attempted doing. Unfortunately, in this instance, Aregbesola’s confession bordered on treachery, since he was neither sincere nor commonsensical. Rather than be the hero he sought to be, Aregbosola ended up as an anti-hero whose admittance of failure became mired in cowardice and deception, once he ventured lamely to seek an accomplice or a fall guy in the past PDP administration. His attempt to pass the buck failed woefully, as the public has seen it for what it is: a spineless act of dishonesty and contrived rectitude wearing a mask of false alibi and specious altruism.”
Jonathan noted that Osun, as a state is a semi-autonomous sub-national entity that controls own revenues, so it cannot reasonably yoke its fortunes or misfortunes with that of the federal government.

“Aregbesola should ask himself why his performance is far below the standards set by his counterparts in such states as Gombe, Ekiti, Ebonyi and Enugu. Like Aregbesola’s Osun, they are neither oil-producing nor high revenue earning states,” Jonathan said.
The former president remarked that it would have been more honourable, and perhaps worthy of exculpation, if the governor had been man enough to take absolute responsibility for his monumental failure, without the futile effort to clutch at straws.

Meanwhile, a former Special Assistant on New Media to former President Jonathan, Mr. Reno Omokri, yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to “immediately” replace the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.
Omokri’s call for Magu’s removal was because the EFCC boss appeared on Channels Television, with a lapel pin “promoting the re-election of President Buhari,” while granting an interview on ‘Sunrise Daily,’ the TV breakfast show.

According to Omokri, the incidence was completely against the ethics and principles of the Nigerian civil service.
He explained in a statement that: “Not since the dark days of General Sani Abacha have Nigerians seen this type of disturbing behaviour.
“The action of Magu went against the ethics and principles of the Nigerian civil service as well as the service rules for military and police personnel.”

According to the former presidential aide, Nigerian civil servants are mandated by law to be politically neutral so that all civil servants can render unbiased and loyal service to any government that comes to power legitimately, irrespective of the political party that produced such a government.

Furthermore, he pointed out that in a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly regarding the International Code of Conduct for Public Officials, for which Nigeria was a signatory and bound by, the UN stated in the 11th principle that: “the political or other activity of public officials outside the scope of their office shall, in accordance with laws and administrative policies, not be such as to impair public confidence in the impartial performance of their functions and duties.”

Continuing, Omokri said: “That being the case, how can President Buhari, who swore on the Quran to abide by the Constitution of Nigeria which produced our civil service, stand idly by while his political appointee brazenly and with impunity goes against domestic and international law as well as the principles of natural justice?

“The EFCC is meant to be a neutral enforcer of Nigeria’s laws on economic and Financial Crimes, but when the head of the body brazenly shows his partiality, how can those laws be applied impartially? How can an open sympathizer of the All Progressives Congress be expected to conduct a fair and balance war on corruption?

“Recently, the Buhari-led administration released a so- called ‘looters’ list’ that exclusively contained names of prominent opposition members. Not one APC member was included on that list despite glaring cases of corruption against them.”
“On March 24, 2018, a former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd) said the security services “are not neutral”.
“The next day, the Buhari administration attacked him in a most disrespectful manner. But with Magu’s action of wearing President Buhari’s re-election lapel pin, has Danjuma not been vindicated?

“Do Nigerians and the international community now believe me when I say that the EFCC under Buhari is nothing more than the armed wing of the APC? It is the Gestapo of the presidency.
“It is for this same reason why the Egmont Group suspended Nigeria because the EFCC under Magu had been using financial intelligence received from the group to blackmail opposition elements.

“Egmont said it suspend Nigeria “following repeated failures on the part of the FIU, (Nigeria) to address concerns regarding the protection of confidential information.”
“No wonder Nigeria has made its worse retrogression in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, moving 12 places backward from where the Jonathan administration left us, from 136, to 148. Nigeria is now more corrupt today under Buhari than it was under the previous Jonathan administration.”

“And if President Buhari fails to discipline Ibrahim Magu, as is expected, I call on the National Assembly, in keeping with the doctrine of checks and balances, not to confirm Mr. Magu as substantive Chairman of the EFCC and refuse to provide budgetary provision for the agency while he remains as acting chairman.
“Finally, I call on the international community to take note of the recession of democracy in Nigeria because of the actions and inactions of the Buhari administration,” he said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/hold-yourself-responsible-for-your.html

The death toll of Nigerians killed in South Africa has continued to climb with two young Nigerians being the latest victims.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the latest killing brings the number of Nigerians killed in the former apartheid enclave since February, 2016 to 118.

Up to 800,000 Nigerians, mostly young people, reside in South Africa, according to unofficial estimates.

The Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Union in South Africa, Mr Habib Miller, told NAN in a telephone interview that two additional Nigerians were killed in South Africa in the past eight days.

Miller, who spoke to NAN from Pretoria, South Africa, identified the latest victims as Francis Ochuba, a native of Ngodo community in the Umnneochi Local Government Area of Abia.

He named the other victim as Chidi Ibebuike, native of Uturu in the Isikwuato Local Government Area also in Abia.

“Ochuba, a property owner, was shot dead alongside his estate agent, a female South African on May 5. They were shot dead as they visited the tenant occupying Ochuba’s house to collect rent.

“The incident occurred in Central Johannesburg, while Ibebuike was shot dead at the entrance to his house at Hazyview in Mpumalanga on May 13.

“Ibebuike’s car was subsequently, snatched by yet to be identified gunmen.

“The chairman of the Nigeria Union in Mpumalanga Province, Mr Amadi in company of other compatriots, have reported the incident to the South African police authorities and investigation is underway.”

Miller said the latest killings came on the heels of the cold blooded murder of ThankGod Okoro, a native of Ogbaku in the Agwu Local Government Area of Enugu State on April 9 and that of Clement Nwaogu, a native of Njikoka in Anambra on April 22.

He recalled that Okoro was reportedly shot dead by a member of the South African Police Flying Squad at Florida in Johannesburg while Nwaogu was burnt alive by a mob in Rustenburg in the North West Province.

The spokesman said that a violent group in Rustenburg had earlier given Nigerians notice to vacate the area or get killed.

He said that since the order was issued, there had been numerous cases of Nigerians being kidnapped with ransom paid to their abductors.

“The incessant looting and killings in the area, prompted 14 Nigerians to protest the injustice and the lack of police protection from the South African Police.

“The 14 Nigerians were attested and had been detained since Jan. 21 in Rustenburg.

“The extra-judicial killing of Nigerians in South Africa is however, a stark contrast to the general goodwill and protection South Africans and their businesses enjoy in Nigeria.

“There have been no record of looting of South African businesses in Nigeria.

“While South African companies transfer billions of dollars in profit made from doing business in Nigeria, Nigerians in South Africa are sending body bags of murdered bread winners back home to Nigeria to dejected families,” Miller said. (NAN)

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/2-nigerians-again-killed-in-south.html

The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion has condemned the way the President Muhammadu Buhari–led Federal Government is handling the menace of herdsmen in the country

Rising from its 2018 synod at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Amawbia, the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Dr. Alex Ibezim in his charge wondered why the Fulani herdsmen were being handled with kid’s glove.

In the Bishop’s charge with the theme, ‘Mission, the heart of God,” the church urged Buhari to stop treating the killers with levity.

The synod noted that a group that had killed thousands of Nigerians should not be treated as kinsmen.

The church regretted that the return of democracy in 1999 that ought to be a kind of political liberation had been allowed to divide Nigerians into religious and ethnic cleavages.

The charge added, “Nigeria, a major oil producer and Africa’s most populous nation and second-largest economy, is facing challenges. Most political parties are much more concerned about upcoming elections rather than the burning issues of the country.

“Political liberalisation ushered in by the return to civilian rule in 1999 has allowed militants from religious and ethnic groups to pursue their demands through violence.

“Separatist aspirations have also been growing, prompting reminders of the bitter civil war over the breakaway Biafran republic in the late 1960s.

It added that Nigeria while still reeling from the Boko Haram insurgency and its numerous atrocities, another terrorist group, which he referred to as Fulani herdsmen, sprouted.

The church said, “The group has done enough havoc to be acknowledged by the global community as the fourth deadliest terror group in the world.

The church noted that between 2014 and 2018, herdsmen had killed over 1,229 people across the country with Benue, Taraba, Nassarawa, Plateau, Kaduna and Katsina as the worst hit states.

The church added,” They are armed with sophisticated weapons and usually attack their target communities at a time they are most vulnerable such as at midnight or on Sundays when they are in church, killing people indiscriminately and burning houses and looting properties.

“Most worrisome is the brutality and impunity with which the assailants operate without regard for the law and the sanctity of human life. The Nigerian police and even the military seem powerless to defend the victims from being mercilessly slaughtered in their homes.

“It is unfortunate that this level of criminal impunity is happening in a sovereign nation with a constitution which declares that the security and welfare of the citizens shall be a major responsibility of the state.

“Perhaps we need to ask why the police and the military are incapable of protecting the farmers from violent attacks by Fulani herdsmen. Is it true that the Fulani militias are better armed and sometimes outnumber the police?

“Why is it difficult for the Federal Government to contain the terror of the Fulani militia? Who are those arming the Fulani herdsmen to unleash mayhem on innocent and defenceless Nigerians?”

The synod wondered what President Muhammadu Buhari silence on the issue could mean, stressing that “Nigerians are tired of speeches and condolence messages to victims.

They added, “If this country will continue to remain as one, then those who perpetrate crime must be dealt with accordingly without minding whose ox is gored.”

On the 2019 general elections, the synod urged politicians not to pursue it “with senseless desperado and indiscretion.”

It described Buhari’s anti-corruption fight as lopsided and ineffectual.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/stop-treating-herdsmen-as-kinsmen.html

Latest trending gist as A lady celebrating her 19th birthday shared these sultry photos on her Twitter page. More photos below;

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/so-shameful-lady-exposes-her-body-and.html

Following the successes recorded in executing major infrastructure and social development projects in the state, especially the Edo-Azura Power Project, the World Bank has said that Edo State has become a model for development financing at the sub-national level in developing countries.

World Bank Executive Director, Angola, Nigeria and South Africa sub-group, Ms. Bongi Kunene, gave the verdict during a lunch organised for 10 visiting World Bank Executive Directors, at the Government House, Benin City, the Edo State capital.

She said that the Bretton Woods institution is impressed with the level of work done through its various projects as well as the partnership that birthed the Edo-Azura Power Project.

Noting that the state is among the two sub-national governments that accessed its budget support instruments, she said the projects executed in the state are not just impressive but meet the expectations of the visiting delegation.

She added that the World Bank is willing to “partner with the state on future projects, as long as the projects are in line with the Bank’s focus.”

On the Edo-Azura Power Project, she said, “The project is transformational. It gives us a scope of what we can do together. We are delighted to see solutions. We would want to commit ourselves to projects that make sense and are in line with our focus.”

She said more of such projects can be executed if governments are willing to cooperate with the bank in granting necessary approvals, allowing for thorough impact assessment and are open to multilateral financing arrangements.

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on his part said that with the 450MW Edo-Azura Power Project now on stream, the state wants more investors for the Benin Industrial Park and technology innovation hubs.

He said the enabling environment to host diverse investors is now available, especially with the provision of power by companies like Edo-Azura Power.

According to the governor, “Power is the key to industrialisation and development. We need to extend the benefits of this investment. Now that we have power, what are we going to do with it? The next set of projects are those that have to rely on this key infrastructure we have just created. So, we would be looking at the Benin Industrial Park, building infrastructure to encourage and support manufacturers to come in. We are looking at innovation hubs; we want to use the factor and advantage of 24/7 electricity to encourage technology groups and companies to be located in Edo State.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/edo-becomes-model-for-devt-funding-in.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State has won 17 of the 23 local government chairmanship and councillor elections which were held last Saturday while the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in four local government areas.

The results were announced yesterday by the returning officers at the various local government area headquarters.

However, elections were suspended in Kaura and Jaba council areas following an attack on the electoral office in the area last Friday night.

In Kagarko Local Government Area, the APC polled 65,226 to defeat the PDP which got 14,658 votes, as announced by the returning officer, Chinedu Richard.

Also, in Kaduna North, Umar Hayatu was declared the APC winner having polled APC 168,572 while the PDP polled 12,467.

In Zaria Local Government Area, the APC won with 42,859 votes against PDP 16,033 votes

The results from Kubau also showed that APC got 46,535 votes to defeat the PDP which polled 13,898.

Similarly, the APC won in Makarfi Local Government Area, the hometown of the former National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Other councils won by the APC included Jama’a, Soba, Kudan Lere, Ikara, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kudan, Igabi, Sabon Gari and Kajuru.

The PDP won Zangon Kataf, Kauru, Kachia and Sanga Local Government Areas.

The results of Chikun and Kaduna South Local Government Areas were yet to be released at the time of this report.

Meanwhile, the PDP has kicked against the results, alleging that the process was compromised.

The state Chairman of the party, Hassan Hyat, told THISDAY in a telephone interview yesterday that the returning officers were abducted and results were not declared in many polling units.

He said: “I am aware of the results, but as far as we are concerned, the process was completely compromised.

“Yesterday (Saturday) we alerted the world that both wards and local government returning officers were kidnapped. We declared them missing.

“By the electoral law of the state, they are the people who are supposed to announce results at their respective collation centres, and they were nowhere to be seen.”

Hyat also alleged that a senior government official was sighted in Kajuru Local Government Area accompanied by soldiers.

He alleged that government official had a meeting with the returning officers at the local government secretariat.

Hyat asked: “What brought soldiers in a democratic dispensation? Where did the returning officers resurface to announce results that the government is announcing?

“We are aware by the results from our polling units’ agents, the APC did not win Lere, Sabon Gari, Kaduna North, Kaduna South and Kajuru.

“So for them to start listing the local government areas that they never won, then it is the most unfortunate thing that has ever happened.”

PDP state chairmen further noted that “all the returning officers who absconded have not returned to declare results.”

But in a reaction, the state acting Secretary of the APC, Yahaya Baba Pate, dismissed the allegations, insisting that “the election was the freest, fairest and most credible election ever conducted by a state electoral body.”

He said election observers and voters confirmed the credibility of the elections.

Pate maintained that “no returning officer was kidnapped,” adding that all results were announced at polling units.

“Results were announced at the ward level in the presence of all party agents. The APC has won in many of the local government areas.

“Collation is still going on, we are still waiting for the remaining results and we are hopeful that the APC will have a good number at the end of the day,” he said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/apc-wins-17-pdp-four-in-kaduna-council.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated former governor of Ekiti State and Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, for winning the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to contest the July 14, 2018 governorship election.

Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, commended all the participants in the keenly-contested position.

He urged them to keep upholding the values and philosophy of the party by supporting the APC candidate in the forthcoming election.

According to the statement, “President Buhari believes that Fayemi’s track record in the state as a reformist, with a penchant for building educational infrastructure and promoting the welfare of the ordinary people, will bolster his chances at the forthcoming polls.

“The President notes that the successful primaries in the state, with more than 30 aspirants, further validate the credentials of the APC on internal democracy, and its preparedness to take the country to another level of development.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/ekiti-apc-primaries-what-buhari-said.html

Colossians 2: 14 – 15 “Having CANCELLED and BLOTTED OUT and WIPED AWAY the HANDWRITING of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us), this note with its regulation, decrees and demands.

HE SET ASIDE AND CLEARED COMPLETELY out of our way by NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS; God DISARMED THE principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, IN TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN Him and in it (the Cross)” (AMP). 1 Corinthians 7: 8 “But we speak the Wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory; Which NONE OF THE PRINCES OF THIS WORLD KNEW: for had they known it, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY.”

Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, no event has been so potent, consequential and efficacious as the Sacrifice of JESUS on the Cross.

The Cross of Calvary is the transforming catalyst, the game changer and the antidote to all human syndrome of sin, poverty, disease, wretchedness, sickness and death. The Cross is the GREAT DIVIDE between the Old and New Testaments.

It sets the partition for the Old and New Wine Covenants. The Cross puts the New Testament believer in a different class of being the POST CROSS Saint.

All the Old Testament believers were the PRE-CROSS but today, the believer is the POST CROSS Covenant Royal Priesthood.

At the cross, the most powerful Lamb of God was sacrificed for the emancipation of mankind. All that God has and owns were hidden in CHRIST JESUS, the Lamb of God.

Colossians 2:3 “In Him all the treasures of Divine wisdom, comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God and all the riches of spiritual knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidde.” (AMP). So when God sacrificed JESUS, He sacrificed all His Treasures, Riches and Resources to PAY for the redemption of mankind.

The life of every living is in the blood and when God sacrificed JESUS, He sacrificed all His Riches, Treasures and Life for the Redemption of the fallen man. The Treasure of Heaven has been crucified.

The sacrifice of JESUS on the Cross was GREATER than the sin committed by Adam in the Garden of Eden. The Supreme Price paid by JESUS has nullified all the demonic claims and activities in the life of the fallen Adam.

The Holy life and Blood shed on the Cross of Calvary has outlawed all the legal and illegal claims of the Devil against the believer. 1 John 3: 8a “For this purpose the SON OF GOD WAS MANIFESTED, that He might destroy the WORKS OF THE DEVIL”.

Poverty, Sickness, Disease, Wretchedness, failure and Death are now illegal and should not operate in the life of the POST CROSS believer.

JESUS was manifested on earth to destroy the works of the enemy on behalf of the believer. Galatians 3:13 “CHRIST hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree”.

Bible scholars have established the FIVE POWERFUL VICTORIES THAT HAPPENED at the Cross, which they call the five Ds.

• FIRST – At the Cross – Satan was DISARMED. Jesus spoiled the Principalities and Powers of their subsisting Powers. JESUS the Anointed One broke the power of the enemies and stripped them of their armour. Colossians 2:15 “And having spoiled Principalities and Powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

• SECOND – At the Cross – Satan was totally DEFEATED. He was defeated in his own wickedness. The Holy Blood of JESUS, which was shed on the Cross, kept the devil and his cohorts completely DEFEATED.

• THIRD – At the Cross, Satan and his cohorts were DETHRONED. By shedding His Innocent, Spotless, Sinless Blood, JESUS DETHRONED the wicked demonic spirits of Satan and evil. The Price for man’s emancipation and redemption has been paid through death and shed Blood of JESUS on the Cross. Satan has no claim anymore on earth.

• FOUR – At the Cross – JESUS DISPOSSESSED the Devil of all the stolen goods of the believer. Luke 11:22 “But WHEN ONE STRONGER THAN he shall come upon him, and OVERCOME him, HE TAKETH FROM HIM all his armour wherein he trusted, and DIVIDETH HIS SPOILS”. All Power in Heaven and on Earth resides permanently in the LORD JESUS.

• FIVE – At the Cross – JESUS DESTROYED Satan who (Hebrews 2:14) “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that THROUGH DEATH He might DESTROY HIM that had the power of death, THAT IS, THE DEVIL”. Through the Sacrifice of JESUS on the Cross – Satan has been DISARMED, DEFEATED, DETHRONED, DISPOSSESSED and DESTROYED in your life. You are victorious through the BLOOD from the Cross of JESUS CHRIST.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/the-power-and-victory-of-cross.html

A pastor’s wife, Mrs. Uzoamaka Ibeneme, on Friday, lost her 21-year-old marriage, when an Igando Customary Court in Lagos, dissolved the union on grounds of adultery.

Mr. Akin Akinniyi, the court president, who delivered the judgment, said the petitioner, Pastor Joshua Ibeneme was adamant in spite of the mediation by the court and family intervention.

“Since the petitioner insisted on divorce after several interventions, the court is, therefore, left with no option but to grant him his wish and pronounce the union dissolved.

“The court hereby pronounces the marriage between Pastor Joshua Ibeneme and Mrs. Uzoamaka Ibeneme dissolved today.

“Both of you will henceforth cease to be husband and wife, each of you should go on his or her separate ways unmolested.

“The court wishes both of you well in your future endeavour.

“Any squabble between both you from now on shall be treated as criminal and any violation of this judgment will be regarded as contempt of court and will attract imprisonment without an option of fine,” Akinniyi ruled.

Earlier, the petitioner, a 53-year-old pastor, Joshua Ibeneme, had approached the court to end his 21-year marriage to his wife, Uzoamaka, who he said, was messing around with his church members.

“My wife had sexual affair with two of my church members, a deacon and a bishop. Both of them were telling my other members that they slept with my wife because she enticed them.

“Whenever I return from a trip, my last born always tells me that men came to pick and drop my wife. Even God told me to divorce her else she will destroy my ministry,” he claimed.

The petitioner said that his wife denied him sex for five years.

“My wife starved me of sex for more than five years; whenever I want to sleep with her, she would give one excuse or the other and in fact, she has moved out of my room to a separate room.

“But she gives it to my members freely,” the pastor said.

The pastor said that his wife was always mocking and embarrassing him in public places, telling people about his sexual performance.

He said that Uzoamaka always accused him of having affairs with any female member, who came to the house for counselling.

“She accused them of dating me and also went to their houses to fight them. Her behaviour has chased many members away from my church,” he said.

He begged the court to divorce the loveless union, claiming he was no longer in love with his wife.

However, the respondent, Uzoamaka, denied having sex with their church members but accused her husband of infidelity.

“It is women that cause our frequent fighting, they are the problem in our home and my husband’s lust for them is very high.

“I never slept with the two men, who claimed that they slept with me, they just wanted to tarnish my image, my husband is dating the wife of the deacon.”

According to her, the pastor calls her derogatory names in the public such as “prostitute”.

The 45-year-old teacher said that she starved her husband of sex because she hated sex, adding that she married him because she wanted children.

The mother of three, however, begged the court not to grant her husband’s wish for dissolution of the marriage as she was still in love with him.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/my-wife-slept-with-deacon-bishop-of-my.html

Nigerian male barbie and self acclaimed publicist, Bobrisky has reacted to Nina’s apology over her betrayal to the celebrity who rooted for her. According to Nina she does not like making enemies and had no intention of betraying Bobrisky as she acted based on ignorance

In a heart felt apology note, Nina had explained that she was unaware of the rift between the former BFFs turn sworn enemies and would not intentionally betray Bobrisky who has shown an immeasurable amount of support to her in cash and kind


Bobrisky then replied her while indirectly dragging Toyin Lawani as she told Nina to be careful of those who smile at her but might not be her friends.

Check out Bobrisky’s reply below;

Nina, I wish u success in life trust me. I’m not fighting u or angry with u. I just wanna excuse myself from unwanted drama. I can still remember the very day I saw u on my screen.

I was like omg I like dis girl she is free and nice with everybody in the house. I decided within myself to love u and campaign for u throughout your stay in the house.

I fought a lot of people who cal u names such as LovePeddler, dumb etc. No one is perfect. We all learn everyday so let nobody judge anyone.

Because of u I dm @realmercyaigbe to pls put u on her page. I can remember when I dm her she was in USA immediately she posted ur picture, I was so surprise she posted so fast because I and mercy have never talk or seen before. It was because of u mercy and I talk today.

Even @toyin_abraham also posted u after I went to her house to cry to her that I don’t want u home home now. Toyin is tobi fan but she posted it for me because she love me.

The way I disturb @tontolet has no part 2 lol. I cal her every minutes to make sure she love u too. All dis is pure love I have for everyone who need help. At some point my dad called me and ask me y do i love Nina dis much ?

Because he saw how i came out to make tshirt for u to campaign. It all good nina I have nothing against u my dear enjoy ur new fame �. Lastly Nina not everybody who smile at u love u pls be careful.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/bobrisky-reacts-to-ninas-apology.html

Seventeen Nigerian migrants who survived a deadly sea crossing last year have filed a lawsuit against Italy for violating their rights by supporting Libya’s efforts to return them to North Africa, their lawyers said on Tuesday.

The plaintiffs, two of whom have returned to Nigeria, petitioned the European Court of Human Rights last week, Violeta Moreno-Lax, a legal advisor for the Global Legal Action Network, told reporters. She was among four lawyers and several humanitarian groups involved in the case.

The migrants, who were not identified, said Italy violated multiple articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, including that people not be subjected to torture, held in slavery, or have their lives put in danger.

The United Nations, rights groups and news organizations say migrants face these conditions in Libya.

According to Global Action Network, on 6 November 2017, the Libyan Coast Guard interfered with the efforts of the NGO vessel Sea-Watch 3 to rescue 130 migrants from a sinking dinghy. At least twenty of them died.

The Libyan vessel was donated by Italy a few months before. The intervention was partly coordinated from Rome by the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre (MRCC), an Italian Government agency. An Italian navy ship was nearby, part of the Mare Sicuro operation which has operated in Libyan territorial waters facilitating interceptions by the Coast Guard.

The Libyan Coast Guard ‘pulled back’ the survivors to Libya, where they endured detention in inhumane conditions, beatings, extortion, starvation, and rape. Two of the survivors were subsequently ‘sold’ and tortured with electrocution.

The two Nigerians said they were starved of even basic food and healthcare, before returning to Nigeria with the International Organization for Migration.

All the plaintiffs were rescued at sea, but at least 20 migrants drowned when a part of their rubber boat deflated.

German humanitarian ship Sea Watch 3 rescued 59 people that day and collected the body of a small child, all of whom were brought to Italy.

The Libyan naval vessel, which had been donated by Italy and was operated mainly by a crew trained by the EU, returned 47 to Libya. In a video shot by Sea Watch, the Libyans are seen beating the migrants they intercepted with a rope, and the vessel then speeds off with a man clinging to the side.

This is the first lawsuit to be filed against Italy for its decision to back the Libyan Coast Guard. The country lost a case in the same court in 2012 for directly handing over migrants intercepted at sea to Libyan authorities.

The legal process can take up to three years but should the migrants win they can be awarded damages, and Italy would be forced to abandon its policy of equipping, training and coordinating the Libyan Coast Guard, Moreno-Lax said.

“Using the Libyan Coast Guard as a proxy to turn back migrant boats is just a new way of camouflaging (Italy’s) strategy of fighting irregular migration in the Mediterranean by trapping them in what the Italian Foreign Ministry itself has qualified as ‘the hell’ of Libya,” Moreno-Lax said.

The lawsuit highlights a stand-off between humanitarian groups seeking to save lives on the open seas and Italian authorities backed by the European Union who are trying to stop people from making the dangerous crossing in the first place.

A spokesman for Italy’s Interior Ministry, which has spearheaded the policy, had no immediate comment.

Libyan naval spokesman Ayoub Qassem said the coast guard does its job within the terms agreed with Italy.

“Regarding the abuse and violations against the migrants, these are all considered as individual acts … We can’t say Libyan state institutions commit these acts,” Qassem said.

Italy has supplied Libya with seven refurbished vessels so far, and three more have been promised, while the EU has trained about 190 Libyan coastguards.

Italy is also coordinating communications with the Libyan Coast Guard about possible boats in distress, according to court documents filed recently in Sicily.

Between 2014 and 2017, more than 600,000 migrants arrived on Italian shores, but crossings have fallen dramatically since Italy and Libya signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at stemming the migration flow in February of last year.

During the first five months of this year, arrivals from Libya fell more than 80 percent versus last year to 6,700 during, official data show. Over the same period, the Libyan Coast Guard intercepted almost 6,000 migrants and refugees. In 2017, the Libyans turned back almost 19,000

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/return-to-libya-17-nigerian-migrants.html

No fewer than three persons were reportedly killed by unknown gunmen and 13 houses razed down in a fresh attack in the Azara and Kadarko areas of Keana Local Government of Benue State.

Kadarko is dominated by Tiv-speaking people of Benue.

It was learnt that the attackers, who were armed with sophisticated weapons, unleashed terror on the Tiv communities in the southern senatorial district of the state, killing three persons on board.

Confirming the incident on Tuesday, the President, Tiv Youth Organization in Nasarawa State, Benjamin Ngitamen, said the peace meeting held between the Fulani herders and Tiv farmers did not yield any success as the killings of his kinsmen were still being carried out in the remote areas of the state.

According to him, in the Kadarko area, Fulani herders attacked a Tiv man with a cutlass on Friday and razed three houses belonging to a Tiv farmer. He added that the victim had been taken to an undisclosed hospital in the state for treatment.

He said, “We are appealing to the state government to deploy military personnel, the police and other security operatives in the state to enable our people to go their farms. Rainy season has commenced and farming activities have also started.”

“Some of the Internally Displaced Persons at the various camps in the affected communities could no longer bear the frustration in the camp as their farmland had been hijacked by the Fulani herders in the state,” he lamented.

He called on the leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria to caution their kinsmen.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Idirisu Kennedy, said only one person was killed, adding that others sustained varying degrees of injury during the attack on Tiv communities.

He said, “Only one casualty was recorded during the Thursday and Friday attack on Tiv communities.”


http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/herdsmen-attack-tiv-communities-kill.html

The Leadership of the Joint Health Sector Union of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, has debunked the allegation that their members disconnected gadgets in the Special Care Baby Unit and thereby caused the untimely deaths of 20 babies in intensive care.

The union in a statement issued on Monday, signed by its Chairman, Secretary and Public Relations Officer, Clifford Ezeugwu, Iheanyi Okoronta and Solomon Nwafuru, respectively, described the reports as malicious, adding that the capacity of the SCBU of the hospital was not up to 20.

The union stated that its members could not have resulted into picketing following the union’s nationwide strike.

The statement partly read, “If not, one would have expected the writers to contact the Union officers on the veracity of the story before going to press.

“The PRO and Medical Director’s Secretary that were alleged to be on danger list in an undisclosed hospital are quite hale and hearty. Even the PRO was at the hospital on Thursday April 26, 2018. We therefore challenged the writers to name the hospital where they are admitted.

“For the umpteenth time, we want to state that medical doctors are not on strike. Besides, they are not members of any of our unions, hence we do not interfere with their duties. It is only our members, we are preserving to keep away from the hospital. Of course, we do not expect that any medical doctor to meddle in our affairs, because we do not interfere anytime they embark on strike for the welfare of their members”.

“The publication on death of 20 babies at FMC Owerri was intended to discredit the union and its members.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/johesu-speaks-on-death-of-20-babies-at.html

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, on Monday called for the cancellation of the result of the ward congress of the All Progressives Congress, APC, held last Saturday in Enugu state, stressing that the exercise was highly flawed.

Onyeama made the call even as the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, VON, Mr. Osita Okechukwu described the exercise as “peaceful and transparent”.

Briefing newsmen at the Golden Royal Hotel in company of the Special Adviser to the President on Judicial Reform, Juliet Ibekaku, and other chieftains of the party, the Minister alleged that the election materials and party officials sent to conduct the congress absconded with the materials.

He said up till the time of the briefing he, as the leader of the party in Enugu State, had neither seen officials sent from Abuja nor had he seen the election materials.

In Onyeama’s words, “As I speak, I have not seen material for this congress neither have I seen the officials from Abuja who supposed to monitor the congress.

“I am supposed to be the leader of this party in Enugu State but, I can tell you that I didn’t see officials who supposed to conduct the congress or even know them.

“The congress was very heart-worming, you can see the enthusiasm of the people who came out here and every transparent process of voting. I am very happy and satisfied with what we have seen.

“I have come here to preach peace and transparency. We don’t believe in grabbing power at all cost. Mr. President has said it a million and one times that we don’t believe in having a non-transparency process.

“So I have come here to witness the process by myself, to be part of the process and make sure it is an inclusive and transparent. That is what we have come here to do.”

Meanwhile, the VON DG, in his reaction, described the congress as peaceful and rancor free.

His words, “To the best of my knowledge neither was anybody marginalized nor any material hijacked. Please ask anybody who complains of marginalization to show you the Bank Slip he used to buy forms and was denied buying forms?

“For the forms can also be bought from either the national or state secretariat. Mrs Juliet Ibekaku Nwagu, and his hatchet man, Ejike Njeze, for instance deliberately alienated the grassroots party structures and hoped to reap where they didn’t sew.

“Is it possible to win from Abuja? Njeze kept deceiving my brother the Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs; His Excellency, Geofrey Onyeama telling him all manner of lies. He made him to come late to the Ward Congress, 1pm after the Congress has ended.

“We recover our brother from them Methinks lessons had been learnt for those who lived on assumption, for assumption is mother of all mistakes.
“All the major stakeholders, from our elder statesmen, His Excellencies – Jim Nwobodo, Ken Nnamani, Emma Eneukwu, Emperor Baywood Ibe to Group Capt Orji, are all commending the peaceful and successful Ward Congress.

“And only a handful are complaining. As they say the majority will surely have their way and minority will have their say”, Okechukwu said.

MC EBISCO had reported that the APC congress ended dramatically in Eke ward, Enugu State on Saturday as the entrance of the Minister to the venue led to a faceoff between a few of his supporters and the majority who refused to be cowed by the presence of armed security operatives.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/buharis-appointees-onyema-okechukwu.html

In compliance with the rules guiding the conduct of primaries in the party, the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has barred Governor Ayodele Fayose’s political appointees from voting in the governorship primary of the party holding on May 8.

The information to this effect was contained in the list of delegates released by the party’s national leadership which was signed by the National Organising Secretary, Col. Chris Akobundu (rtd), where names of the governor’s appointees have been expunged.

But the only serving and former elected officials still in the camp of Fayose would have the right to vote at the shadow election scheduled for Tuesday.

Members of the Kolapo Olusola Campaign Organisation led by the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Bisi Kolawole, has declared that they were not rattled by the decision.

They said Olusola, who has been anointed by Fayose, has majority of delegates behind him and has no reason to fidget over that.

However, some party members are hailing the decision which they said would ensure fairness, transparency and credibility of the primary election.

In another development, the Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM) has warned local government chairmen against sewing uniforms to be worn by delegates to the primary.

Speaking with journalists yesterday, PAAM Director of Publicity, Niyi Ojo, said information at the group’s disposal showed that the council chairmen had been ordered to produce and sew “aso ebi” in favour of an aspirant to the primary.

Ojo said the action contravenes the provision of the Electoral Act, urging the Electoral Panel to disqualify any aspirant whose delegates wear clothes that run foul of the law to the primary.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/fayoses-appointees-barred-from-voting.html

There’s palpable tension in Delta State as gunmen allegedly shot dead Efe, a step son of former Unuevworo of Ekpan community, Chief Newton Agbofodo, MC EBISCO reports.

This is coming two months after a Delta State High Court sentenced Chief Newton Agbofodo to death by hanging over alleged murder and other cases.

MC EBISCO learnt that in the heat of the ongoing Ekpan community crisis, gunmen alleged to be loyal to two different factions (names withheld) allegedly shot him dead near the residence of Chief Agbofodo.

With the ugly incident, the crisis in Ekpan community has been aggravated as gunmen have continued to shoot sporadically in the town.

At the the time of filing this report, residents are scampering for safety for fear of not being hit by stray bullets.

A community leader who craved anonymity confirmed the report in a chat with Our correspondent.

The community leader noted that the matter has.been reported at the Ekpan Police Station just as he condemned the act.

The community leader also called on relevant security agents to fish out the perpetrators of the dastard act and bring them to justice.

Contacted, the Delta State Acting Police Public Relations Officer,DSP Andrew Aniamaka did not respond to calls put across to his mobile phone line.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/just-in-tension-in-delta-as-gunmen-kill.html

This is very unfortunate! A Facebook user, shared this video and the caption below;

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2016/09/wacth-very-sad-moment-policemen-flee.html

The governor of Imo state Rochas Okorocha who is the chairman APC governors forum has treated the BBNaija housemates to a special treat has he host them in the government house.

The Governor hosted the winner of the show Miracle who was in the company of his mother, Miracle hails from Umuoba Uratta in Owerri North LGA, of Imo State.

According to reports, Miracle was given a plot of land and scholarship for his Commercial Pilot License CPL by the governor.

The governor also gave Nina, Teddy and Bambam N2 million each. He has also promised to support Nina in the completion of her course.

The housemates were given a warm welcome by the good people of Imo state and Miracle was conferred as Imo State Education Ambassador award by the Governor.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/bambam-shaku-shaku-governor-rochas.html

The Chairman of DAAR Communications, Raymond Dokpesi, has said that the United States Government has revoked his visa after he was accused of looting Nigeria’s treasury.

Dokpesi disclosed this in a suit he filed through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome.

In the suit, he told the FCT High Court that the US embassy in Nigeria notified him of the withdrawal of his visa on March 16.

He said the embassy told him it was withdrawn because the federal government included his name on a ‘looters’ list’ it purportedly submitted to it

Dokpesi was among the first list of looters released by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Dokpesi is also standing trial for allegedly receiving N2.1 billion from the office of the national security adviser, ONSA.

Dokpesi dragged Mohammed to court on Monday over the publication, seeking payment of N5billion damages for “defamation of character.”

He said in the suit, “The defendants’ defamatory publications are malicious and calculated to overreach and prejudice my fair trial and for purposes of stampeding and cowing the court to convict me at all cost by agreeing with the defendants’ skewed position.”

Dokpesi further asked the court to compel Mohammed to publish a retraction and an apology to him in various media platforms.

He also prayed for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants — including Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation — or their agents from further making “any defamatory publication” against him, requesting N50million as penalty for such.

No date has been fixed for hearing on the suit.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/looters-list-dokpesi-in-more-trouble-as.html

Elder statesman and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has called on the Federal government of Nigeria to restructure the country ahead of the 2019 general elections.

He said this would enable the country move forward.

According to the elder statesman, restructuring the country before next year’s general elections should be a priority of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.

Iwuanyanwu made these observations in Awka on Thursday at the maiden public lecture of the Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, where he spoke on the theme: ‘Restructuring Education in Nigeria to meet the Economic and Social Challenges’.

The business mogul said the restructuring of the country was more important at this point than the 2019 general elections.

Speaking on the rot in the education sector, Iwuanyanwu lamented that failure of the education sector in the country had given him cause for concern.

According to him,” Our educational system as conceived in the past was white collar job oriented, our current educational curriculum does not balance theoretical training with requisite skill acquisition to make graduates self reliant.

“It is clear that there is immediate and urgent need to restructure our education system, if it must fulfill the basic goal and objectives of a good educational system in modern world.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/2019-why-nigeria-must-be-restructured.html

A senior magistrate court sitting in Lokoja, Thursday ordered that Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West senatorial district be remanded along with two others in the police custody till June 11, 2018.

Melaye who came in a hospital stretcher was brought to the court on a six count charge that bordered on illegal possession of firearm, criminal conspiracy and illegal transfer of firearms, among others.

When the charge sheet was read, the prosecution counsel, Alex Izinyon, while citing relevant laws said the allegations levelled against the accused persons were too weighty and not ordinarily bailable.

He, therefore, prayed the court to remand senator Dino Melaye at the prison custody while the two accused persons who implicated Melaye, namely Kabiru Seidu aka Osama and Nuhu Salisu aka small be remanded at the police custody.

But Melaye’s Counsel, Mike Ozoikeme while objecting to the prayer of the prosecution, swiftly moved for Melaye’s bail, citing Section 97 of the penal code and Section 56 of the Kogi state administration of criminal justice law which say the offences were bailable.

He also presented two medical reports from the national hospital which showed that Melaye is bedridden owing to a spinal chord injury he sustained and said he cannot jump bail, stressing that as a vocal senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he could not have jumped bail.

The defence counsel also pleaded with the trial judge to consider the bail application, saying his client has been with the police since April 24 and was released on bail on Wednesday by an Abuja magistrate court only to be rearrested by the police, adding that his client case should be for prosecution and not persecution.

But the prosecution counsel, Alex Izinyon swiftly objected the bail application, saying Melaye had earlier escaped from a lawful police custody and that for the counsel to say he was a vocal senator “means he is influential and can move and unmoved anything.”

At the middle of the trial, Melaye suddenly woke up from the stretcher and looked around the court, and minutes later, the doctor that led a medical team to the court rushed to him and supplied him an inhaler.

The trial judge while giving his ruling said the court had listened carefully to the submissions of both counsels and concluded that the case was not bailable.

He, therefore, ordered that all the three accused persons be remanded at the police custody while Melaye should be allowed access to his medication, and adjourned the case till June 11 for mention.

Controversy, however arose as to under which police custody should the senator be kept, even as his counsel was heard expressing fears that his client “will be killed”, if remanded anywhere in Kogi State.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/how-dino-melaye-was-remanded-in-police.html