₦airaland Forum

Prof Babalola Borishade, 71, former Nigerian minister of education is dead. He died in London on Wednesday after a brief illness. He was initially rushed to Reddington Hospital in Lagos, last week from where he was taken to London. The cause of death was lung and heart –related. Borishade was born in Usi- Ekiti on March 7, 1946 into the Ebi Ilotin family.He served as a minister for four times, between 1999-2011. The electrical engineer was also a teacher and a political strategist. Between February 2001 and May 2003, he served as the Minister of Education. In recognition of his contributions to Education in Nigeria, Africa and the World at large, Borishade was elected the Vice- Chairman of the E9 Group of the United Nations, President of the UNESCO International Conference on Education, as well as Chairman Education for All (EFA) Forum of African Ministers of Education. In 2004, Borishade was appointed as Minister of State, Power and Steel. He initiated the ‘Gas to Power Project (G2P), a World Bank sponsored project designed to ensure sustained gas development and availability for power production to meet Nigerian electricity demands. Between July 2005 and November 2006, Borishade was Minister of Aviation, during which a Civil Aviation Bill was passed to replace the 1964 Act and the direct flight between Nigeria and the United States of America was restored. His initiation of various reforms and development in the aviation sector resulted in Nigeria scoring 93 per cent in the ICAO Universal Audit which made Nigeria a benchmark to African Aviation Industry.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/breakingnews-prof-babalola-borishade-ex.html

The State government says its blueprint on health is aimed at availing Ndi Anambra quality and accessible healthcare service. Governor Willie Obiano disclosed this when he

received the National President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Consul-General, Pakistan to Nigeria who called on him at the governor's Lodge Amawbia. Receiving his guests,
Governor Obiano said the three pronged approach of his administration for the development of the state health sector which looks at the health infrastructure, welfare of patients and training and retraining of health workers and their welfare, when fully achieved, will make Anambra a model state in health care. Describing the services of pharmacists as pivotal to the entrenchment of effective health management system, Governor Obiano urged the Council to adopt best practices as is applicable in developed countries of the world so as to address the challenge of fake and counterfeit drugs ravaging the nation's drug distribution system. He frowned at the activities of some members of the Council who lend their licences to quacks for money and tasked the body to regulate such unprofessional operations. Governor Obiano said his government is willing to explore greater partnership with the Council to bring better health services to the people.
Earlier, the PSN Boss, Mr Yakassai revealed that the Council is developing a robust programme for the eradication of fake drugs in the country's drug market part of which is to commence enforcement of Drug Distribution Guidelines it developed by 1st of August, this year. He commended the developmental strides of Governor Obiano especially as it
concerns security and health, saying that the Governor has shown in visible terms that he is committed to issues that bother on the welfare of his people. The Registrar of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Mr Elija Mohammed who spoke on efforts of the Council at sanitizing the Open drugs market through the introduction of four wholesale drug centres across the country, thanked Ndi Anambra for their great support towards the initiative, appealing to the state government to sustain its partnership towards effective drug
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/gov-obiano-tasks-pharmacists-on-fake.html

Despite the high rate of insecurity in Ejigbo community, a Police station built in the area is reported to have been abandoned and rented out to a popular church.

According to a report by P.M Express, the church, Living Faith Ministry, allegedly rented the station located at Omiyale Street in Ejigbo and converted it to a worship center.

The church is said to have been operating inside the station over the last five years with the pastor in charge allegedly paying a monthly fee to subsequent DPOs who have served under the Ejigbo division.

However, a Police officer disclosed that the present DPO has asked the church to leave the station. As a result, the church has complied moving out their properties.

A recent visit by P.M express to the station also confirmed that the church has left the premises.


It was further revealed that residents of the community voiced out due to the spike in crime in the area including armed robbery, cultism and burglary.

The residents bemoaned that it was unfortunate such Police station could be built and rented out to a church at the expense of the safety of life and properties of residents .
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/police-rent-out-station-to-church-in.html

To mitigate foreign exchange challenges encountered during the 2016 financial year, Nigerian Breweries Plc, has announced plans to intensify its local sourcing of raw materials as well as seek further improvements in its sorghum value-chain.

Besides, the brewer also noted that it would be consolidating its earnings and profitability through improved market penetration with its innovative products, adding that it would carefully assess its price adjustment strategy in ensuring a balance in the management of input costs and price consumers are willing to pay for its products.

At a current sourcing level of about 50 per cent of its raw materials locally, the brewer is optimistic of achieving its 60 per cent target before 2020. Speaking to journalists ahead of the firm’s yearly general meeting, the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries, Nicolaas Vervelde, said the company is making progress with its partners – International Fertilizer development Centre (IFDC), and Psaltry International, a local processing company, on value extraction from cassava.



Vervelde said Nigerian Breweries was also making progress in the deployment of new hybrid sorghum varieties, adding that yields have increased over time in line with the firm’s growth projections.

He also expressed optimism in the company adapting to policies in the operating environment in order to deliver good return on investment to stakeholders. “It is anticipated that economic activities will improve in 2017 considering the far reaching fiscal and monetary measures being planned and implemented by the Federal Government. It is therefore hoped that with the gradual rise in the price of oil and a steady increase in the volume of oil output, the Naira will be strengthened and forex will be more available for businesses.

“The brewed product market would remain competitive and consumers are expected to continue the down-trading as they seek for more affordable brands. Cost leadership and market leadership supported by innovation remain our key strategic pillars”, he added.
On the company’s Q1 results, Vervelde explained that the cost of goods sold increased by 25 per cent as a result of higher input costs while results from operating activities and profit after tax grew by seven per cent and nine per cent respectively, impacted by lower net finance charges and a continued focus on its cost efficiencies.
Revenue for the period grew by 18 per cent due to the impact of price increases implemented in 2016, to cushion the effects of the operating environment. He further said that Nigerian Breweries has developed a set of competing portfolio to address the needs of a diverse consumer base, even as he decried the low per capita consumption of beer in the country.
He said while Nigeria has a large population of over 170 million people, it only consumes 11-litres per person, while other countries with large population have far higher consumption per capita.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/nigerian-breweries-to-intensify-local.html

The award was presented to the Governor during a holy mass at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha to mark the Annual Youth Day and Divine Mercy Sunday of the Archdiocese.

The youths cut across all the parishes under the Archdiocese including those outside the country.

Governor Obiano who spoke after receiving the award, said his government will continue to invest in agriculture as a veritable socio-economic platform to boost the economy of the state and create more employment opportunities for youths.

According to him, his major pillars are geared towards improving the standard of living of the youths and promoting activities that will make the economy robust for them to participate.

The governor urged the youths to tap into available opportunities the state has created in the Agricultural sector, its skills acquisition programme and the loan facilities it has availed through the ASBA to give expression to their positive ambitions.



Thanking the Youths for the award, Governor Obiano said it will spur him to continue to initiate programmes and policies that will guarantee better wellbeing for the Anambra youths.

Earlier in his homily, the Archbishop and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev Dr Valerian Okeke, urged youths to shun social vices and learn to deploy their youthful strength for positive ventures that will add value to the society.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/obiano-receives-best-governor-in.html

The Kano Emirate Council has refuted the allegations against the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sunusi II, stressing that contrary to the allegations, the emir has not been profligate.

A senior Councillor at the Emirate, Alhaji Bashir Wali, told journalists on Monday that Sunusi inherited N1.9 billion when emerged as emir in 2014.

Wali, who is the custodian of the Emirate Council’s treasury, said: “This media briefing is not to respond to the issues raised at the state investigating agency. We are still expecting them to continue with their investigation.


“It is just a deliberate attempt by fifth columnists to tarnish the image of the council especially in the social media platforms.”
Against the widely circulated allegation that the emir was allegedly involved in misappropriating over N4billion, Wali said: “The sum of N1,893,378,927.38k was the exact amount inherited by Muhammadu Sanusi II, against the alleged claim of N4 billion.”

On whether the emir was involved in unnecessary trips to embezzle the council’s money, Wali said: “The council chattered a plane only twice for his highness for the following trips in September 2014 to Sokoto when the emir paid a traditional homage to the Sultan of Sokoto after he was made the Emir of Kano, and the council spent N4,651,000.”

He further explained that “in January 2015, they travelled to Benin for his installation as the Chancellor of the University of Benin, and it cost the Emirate Council N9,071,000..”
Wali added: “…All the trips were made as a result of lack of schedule flights at that time to make this important and historical trips and it cost the council the sum of N13,722,000 as against the alleged N9,071,000.”

On the allegation of purchase of luxurious bulletproof vehicles, he explained that “the two bulletproof vehicles were surely purchased based on the advice and approval of the state government vide SSG’s letter No SSG/S/D/A/36/TI/109 of September 17, 2014.”

He emphasised that “this was as a result of an attack on the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, on his way back from the Murtala Muhammad Mosque to the palace. All the trips were at the total sum of N142,800,000.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/sanusi-inherited-n1-9bn-says-kano.html

Legal icon and rights activist, Femi Falana, yesterday dismissed insinuations that he wanted to contest the 2018 Ekiti gubernatorial election, saying that it was ridiculous and demeaning for anyone to link him with people eyeing the Ekiti State Government House. He said such position was too provincial for his person, considering the worth of accomplishments across the world.

The Lagos-based senior lawyer also advised the Federal government to urgently adopt new strategies in fighting corruption, saying that stolen money stashed in banks was bigger than the ones in private houses. He said that there was need to spread the anti-graft tentacles to the activities of certain agencies of government, usually regarded as “money spinning.”


Falana said government needed to adopt new strategies regarding its whistle-blowing policy, in such a manner that it would not be limited to exposing places where questionable monies belonging to the public were hidden, but also include exposing documents capable of helping in tracking non-liquid cash kept in various financial institutions in Nigeria and abroad

Falana made the call in his country home in Ilawe-Ekiti, in Ekiti South West Local Government Area of Ekiti State. He noted that government would be shocked to discover that monies in the custody of chief executives of some establishments were worth billions being as some of them were currently being unearthed in some rooms and apartments across the country.

He noted that doing so would also further give credibility to the anti-corruption drive of the present government as well as help expose those he referred to as incurably hardened than the conventional armed robbers.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/i-dont-want-to-be-ekiti-governor-falana.html

As Nigerians continue to mourn the shocking demise of the football fans who were electrocuted at a viewing centre at Nyaghassang Community, Calabar Municipality of Cross River State on Thursday night while watching the return leg match between Manchester United and Anderlecht in the UEFA Europa league, two women saturday lamented that they did everything to prevent their husbands from going to the viewing centre on the ill-fated day.


One of the women, Mrs. Elizabeth Alex Samuel, a mother of a year-old child, who is now a widow as a result of the incident said, if her late husband, Mr. Samuel, had taken to her constant advice, and warning, perhaps he wouldn’t have died at the viewing centre that fateful night.

The woman, who was in a sober mood when she narrated her ordeal, said after the incident happened, her husband was among those evacuated to the hospital, but she learnt the following day that he was among those who died.

Narrating her ordeal, Mrs. Samuel who was carrying her child said, “Every day I warned him not to watch football in that viewing centre. That night, he went to watch football. The next thing I heard shouting and they said people have died. I was waiting I did not see him. I heard they had rushed him to the hospital. I was crying throughout. It was yesterday (Friday) they came and told me that my husband was dead”.

On a similar note, another woman who gave her name as Mary Okon said her husband, Mr. Emmanuel Okon, lost his life to the incident. Mary said she tried to stop her late husband from going to the viewing centre that night because she wanted him to eat, and stay at home with the family.

She said her late husband, who was a Manchester United fan, left to watch the match despite her asking him to stay back, and eat the food she was preparing.

“I was boiling rice for him and then he decided to go and watch the match. I told him to stay back and eat but he said I should come and meet him when it was ready. When the incident happened I went there to look for him and when I found him he was not moving. There were bodies lying on the floor everywhere. I carried him with the help of his nephew, but he was not responding. His body was cold. With the help of a neighbour who is a taxi man, we carried him to the hospital where we were told he was dead,” she said, while sobbing.

Also speaking, Godswill Okon, a nephew to the late woman’s husband said: “That evening, me and my uncle were just joking about the match. He is a Man U fan and I am a Chelsea fan. So, we were playfully arguing, and I told him Man U will lose. He said no way that they would win. So, when it was time for the match, he called me to go with him and watch, but I felt somehow and decided not to go.

“Normally, I would have been there to watch the game, but I suddenly did not feel too well. People were even surprised that I did not go to watch. It was while we were at home that we heard the noise, and we went out; and I got there and saw my uncle dead. My uncle was a very loving and kind person. He was the one who was taking care of me. My school fees, accommodation, feeding, clothes, everything. I don’t know what I would do now that he is gone. Who would come to our help?”, he lamented.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara yesterday called for investigation into the unfortunate incident which led to the death of football fans in the Calabar viewing centre.

Dogara, who expressed sadness over the development, however, condoled with the families of those who lost their lives as well as those who survived the incident, and the people and government of the state.

The police had confirmed that no fewer than seven persons watching the Europa League match between Manchester United and Anderlecht football clubs died by electrocution on Thursday.

However, Dogara, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on media and publicity, Turaki Hassan, said: “My heart goes out to the families of football fans who died in the incident at the viewing centre. At this moment, my thoughts and prayers are with the affected families, survivors, and the government and good people of Cross River state following this sad incident.

“It is my ardent hope that survivors are receiving adequate care, and that the state government is taking the necessary steps to avoid a recurrence of such a sad incident”, the Speaker said, and urged the state government to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Also, former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has lamented over the tragic death of the soccer fans, who were electrocuted at the viewing centre in Calabar.

In a condolence message to the Governor of Cross River state, Senator Ben Ayade, Senator Mark said it was sad that such young people met their untimely deaths while watching a game that should ordinarily bring joy and excitement to them. He described the incident as one tragedy too many.

“The death of over 30 soccer fans in one incident is a huge loss to the nation. It is more tragic because these were promising Nigerians who looked forward to a rewarding future. They represented the future dreams of our father land. They were the ready hands on which our future lies. But we are incapable of questioning the will of the Almighty. May God grant them eternal rest”, Mark said, in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Paul Mumeh.

Mark suggested that public utility providers should take precautionary measures to avoid future re-occurrence. In spite of the tragedy, he believes that “soccer is a unifying tool between and among Nigerians that must of a necessity be promoted and encouraged in our society”.

Meanwhile, former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa yesterday promised to build a standard viewing centre at Nyaghassang Community, Calabar Municipality in memory of people who died at the viewing centre in the community.

Ita-Giwa said she was making the promise on behalf of mothers of the Efik Kingdom, whom she led to visit the victims of the viewing centre tragedy. She put the blame of the incident on those she described as the political class, saying the sad event was an indictment on them.

“We as mothers of the Efik Kingdom feel the pains of the mothers, wives and children of those who died here. We are here to sympathise and commiserate with them. We appreciate the President for showing sympathy for what has happened. We are not going to stop there and let this slide. We are going to set up a help line with designated help lines to help victims of the incident.

“We will build a viewing centre to commemorate the people that died here. We call on football lovers, football stars, Manchester United to come and help government to alleviate the problems of the victims.

“What shocked me when I got here was the state of the place where people paid N50 to come and watch football. I am here as a mother but I would not also deny the fact the fact that I am a politician. So these are the kind of things I see as a politician that make me feel very guilty that the people are not living well in this country, because under normal circumstances these are some of the things a representative should provide. These are some of the things that keep the boys off crime.

“Nigerians are great football enthusiasts. We will try to forestall future occurrences to see the state of other viewing centres to prevent further loss of lives. As mothers, we will do our best to alleviate the pains of the people. We share the pains. We urge football lovers, don’t allow this make you lose your interest in football; don’t let it wane your passion for football,” Ita-Giwa said.

Responding, the secretary of the Nyaghassang Community, Iso Bassey Edim, thanked Ita-Giwa and the Efik mothers for the gesture. Edim said the community was working towards completing the exact figure of victims of the incident.

No fewer than seven people were officially pronounced dead following the collapse of a high tension cable on the roof of a football viewing centre, where football fans were watching the Manchester United versus Anderlecht return leg match of the UEFA Europa league.

Also, the Commissioner representing Cross River on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC), Mr. Sylvester Nsa has commiserated with families of the electrocuted victims. In a press statement he issued in Calabar, Nsa described the incident as unfortunate, noting that the loss of lives under such circumstance was regrettable.

The commissioner commiserated with the bereaved families while wishing the injured speedy recovery. He, however advised the Town Planning department and other regulatory agencies in Cross River not to approve the construction of houses under high tension cable.

Nsa said houses already constructed under high tension cables should immediately be demolished by relevant authorities to forestall future occurrence of such unfortunate incidents.

Also, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) says it has taken the photographic data of the affected area of Nyagasang community where the electrocution tragedy occurred.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/calabar-tragedy-we-tried-to-stop-our.html

The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called for concerted efforts in the development of the local arts industry for a more inclusive and sustainable economy.


Obaseki, who – as “Commissioner” of the Nigerian pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale 2017 – is leading efforts towards the country’s first showing on the world’s biggest art stage, made the call during a stakeholder event in Benin City, capital of Edo state.

According to him, “Nigeria is blessed with an abundance of creative talent. By leveraging our rich human capital and cultural resources in arts and crafts, we can generate job opportunities for our youths and create a more robust and viable economy.”

Obaseki further said: “As a progressive government we recognise the immense potential that a developed art sector holds for the state, and we are already exploring avenues for collaboration with the private sector in arts and crafts training, as well as financing opportunities, that will foster increased, better quality artistic output and a thriving market for trade in art, both locally and globally.”

“Our ultimate aim is to restore Edo’s pride in the arts by developing the state’s cultural capital, including the building of a world-class museum of the arts in Benin City. Besides creating jobs for our people, and the economic gain from increased tourist activities, a vibrant art space contributes to social cohesion and nation-building through the promotion of intercultural dialogue and collaboration.”

Venice Art Biennale is a defining platform where nations of the world showcase their art stars and seek to exert some level of socio-cultural influence. The platform offers Nigeria a great opportunity to develop a positive narrative for the country and to reestablish our national pride by showcasing our unique art and rich cultural heritage to the world.

Edo-born painter, Victor Ehikhamenor, is one of three contemporary artists representing Nigeria as the country makes her debut at the 122-year old biennale. Others are sculptor Peju Alatise and choreographer Qudus Onikeku, and each artist will showcase a unique work centred on the theme ‘How About NOW?’

An earlier statement by the Nigeria in Venice team explains: “How About NOW? places a poignant emphasis on the passage of time: time long gone, time that shapes the contemporary zeitgeist, and time that the hopes and faith of a people are hinged on. The question of NOW and Now-ness asks us to reflect not only on our myths, history and heritage but more so, on how we chose to champion contemporary narratives in a fragmented, interconnected, and distributed present.”

Ehikhamenor presents a large-scale work fusing abstract shapes with traditional sculpture, informed by an investment in classical Benin art and the effect of colonialism on cultural heritage.

Alatise presents an installation of eight winged life-size girls, based on the story of a ten-year old girl who works as a housemaid in Lagos while dreaming of a realm where she is free, who belongs to no one but herself, and can fly. The installation is a concise meditation on the nature of survival, here connoting a defiant journey into the imagination.

Onikeku showcases a trilogy of dance films, presented as an investigation through dance of the workings of body memory and its connection to national consciousness.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/obaseki-seeks-viable-arts-sector-as.html

President Muhammadu Buhari saturday congratulated the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, on his election as the Chairman of the Association of African Maritime Administrators (AAMA). Dakuku was elected at the end of the Third Annual Conference of the continental organisation in Abuja on Friday.

The President, according to a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, said Peterside’s unanimous election was not only a personal honour and affirmation of confidence in his ability to lead AAMA but also placed Nigeria in a pivotal position to rally other maritime administrations in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) towards safer global maritime activities.


Buhari said given NIMASA’s encouraging performance under the leadership of Peterside especially in the fight against sea piracy through inter-agency cooperation, he had no doubt that his new position would offer him a bigger platform to forge ahead in doing the nation proud by meeting the objectives of AAMA.

While wishing the new Chairman of AAMA a successful one-year tenure, Buhari said he was confident that the federal government’s renewed focus on economic growth through increased maritime resources would be further enhanced within the period.

In another statement by Head, Corporate Affairs, NIMASA, Isichei Osamgbi, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Mr. Bashir Jamoh, addressed a media conference shortly after the event and announced that Peterside would pilot the affairs of AAMA for a period of one year while Egypt would host the next conference, while South Africa would retain the secretariat.

The statement added that Namibia and Seychelles were jostling for the 2019 hosting right which it said could not be confirmed at the time of filing this report. AAMA, a body of 34 African countries including Nigeria, unanimously elected Peterside at the conference jointly organised by NIMASA and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) which drew attendance from maritime countries within the African continent and across the globe.
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/buhari-congratulates-peterside-on.html

Amidst shrinking income of the working population arising from the nation’s current economic recession, Nigerians have been advised to prepare to pay more taxes to help the Federal Government shore up its declining revenue from the plunging oil prices.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave this as part of the conditions to support the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (EGRP), the flagship programme designed to pull Nigeria out of its current economic quagmire.
Speaking at a press briefing of the ongoing Spring Meetings of the IMF/World Bank, in Washington DC, the Director of African Department at the IMF, Mr. Abebe Aemro Selassie, described Nigeria’s economic circumstances as quite difficult and urged the federal government to find a way of mitigating the impact of the harsh situation on the poor in the country.
He stressed the need to implement a broad range of tax reform as part of strategies to raise funds to finance its Economic Recovery and Growth Programme (ERGP).
Although IMF had earlier endorsed the ERGP as a credible roadmap to lift Nigeria out of its current recession, it however noted that the 50 per cent crash in oil price from over $100 in 2014 to about $50 per barrel at present could hurt the implementation of the programme and financing unless government develops alternative revenue stream to mitigate the shortfalls.
“Nigeria has moved from a period when price of oil was $100 for over six years or more to where it is now. It’s a huge hit on the income of the country and government revenue which has a lot of goods and services to provide.
So, Nigerian government must find alternative sources of financing. But which particular tax handle to be used is up to the government. Without that, government’s objectives of addressing poverty will be difficult. Abebe said.
He therefore said it was imperative for the Buhari administration to address its long term development agenda by developing new tax handles to be able to generate enough revenue to finance its development programmes including social safety nets, without which the country may not be able to achieve the development goals and objectives it seeks to have.
Abebe said Nigeria needs a broad range of policies and reforms to address the tremendous shock its revenue has had from crash in oil prices.
He said, “What Nigeria needs is a broad set of policies and reforms to try to address the tremendous shocks that have been affecting its economy. Commodity price crash, insurgency in the North-east and from time to time militancy in the Niger Delta as well as depleting foreign reserves are some of the immediate challenges that the government needs to urgently address.
“There is therefore, a need to find and adjust domestic policies in a more robust manner, most importantly with fiscal policies.
There is a big gap arising from Nigeria’s traditional extensive reliance on oil revenue. Yes, I really want to see more exchange rate flexibility to try to absorb the shock in income but how to do that is entirely left to the government,” he said.
On exchange rate of the Naira, the IMF director said the global body is of the view that in the face of depleting reserves, the Nigerian government should allow its currency exchange rate to float and find its level in a free market environment.
Meanwhile, the Fund has lamented that 2016 could pass as the most difficult year for sub-Saharan Africa, as estimates for its economic growth attained only 1.5 percent of projection, the worst in 20years.
It noted that the economic slowdown in the continent affected about two -third of African countries, accounting for four-fifth of the continents’ GDP.
These developments, it explained, gave rise to high levels of inflation, widening macroeconomic imbalances, currency depreciation and food challenges in some cases.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/fg-may-raise-tax-rates-as-imf-insists.html

A naval patrol team has arrested a fake soldier, Mr. Abdullahi Auwal Yakubu at Kara, Atani road, Onitsha, Anambra state.
The Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Col. Sagir Musa who confirmed the arrest said that the man was arrested fully dressed in Nigerian Army camouflage and combat boots.
According to Musa, “on interview, the man could not provide correct answers to the questions put up to him, thereby exposing him as an obvious impersonator.”
“Further questioning revealed that the culprit had been in the habit of harassing and extorting members of the public under the guise of being a soldier with fake identification card as evidence.”
He stated that the patrol team had handed over the impersonator over to the troops of 302 Artillery Regiment deployed for duty at the Onitsha Head Bridge.
“He had since been questioned at the military police orderly room with the view to handing him over to the civil police. Members of the public are please requested to take note of the occasional tendency of hoodlums who disguise as military personnel with intent to defraud unsuspecting members of the public”.
“The public are also requested to report such bad elements whenever they see or suspect such person to the nearest police station or any security office close to them in order to arrest such person” Musa stated
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/fake-soldier-arrested-in-onitsha.html

Not left out were some residents who summoned courage to talk with Saturday Sun. They lamented that the state government had given up in its quest to keep Ikorodu safe from the activities of militants.

A trader, simply identified as John who has resorted to riding commercial motorcycle, Okada, lamented that his business crashed because of low patronage and theft. “I had a provision store along Isawo road. I was doing well till they broke into my shop and stole as much as they could. It was a sad experience, and I reported to the police. When they learnt that police were investigating, they wrote a warning letter to me and pasted it in front of my shop. This scared away people from my shop and because I knew that their threats were real, I decided to close down the shop. It is horrible; if I did not stop police from investigating, they would have kidnapped me and slaughtered me in the creeks. A lot of people have disappeared same way. The only good thing that happened is that the cost of accommodation has crashed. You can get three-bedroom flat for N200,000, because most of the buildings are empty. These people have visited almost every good house in Isawo area. No one is safe. Forget all those stories of security men taking over the protection of the creeks. It’s even worse now, because all they succeeded in doing was to reduce pipeline vandalism and encourage them to kidnap people.”

Yet another member of the community identified as Azeez suggested that the military should convert the creeks as their training field. “That is the only way out. If there is a major raid they will all disappear and reappear as soon as the security men are gone.

“Even journalists are tired of reporting the matter except a school is attacked. The truth is that they pick people daily and nobody is doing anything about it. People are fleeing the area, but some of us cannot run away from our land.

“It’s very important to let government know that people are disappearing in this community and no one is doing anything about it. If they know that I talked to you, they will come after my family and I. They are the ones behind the disappearance of one of the best psychiatrists that we have in the area. The man was assisting police and army with information and they came and picked him. They simply told the family to forget about him that they will kill and bury him inside the creeks. That area is a cemetery; the only difference is that people are buried anyhow. We need Governor Ambode to come to our rescue. As a civil servant, I pay my tax regularly. He should not use our tax to secure rich men who can afford to pay for the best security in the whole world,” he said.

Fresh plans uncovered

Although the military air and land raid was publicly announced as a huge success, one of the suspected militants identified as Bekewei, who witnessed the raid insists that no single militant died during the attack. He also bragged that all their weapons were moved out of the creeks long before the bombardment started.

On how they managed to escape unhurt, he said that they became aware of the intended raid when the military came for surveillance.

“They flew across the areas severally and all we did was to ask simple questions and we were told that they were planning to bomb the creeks. It was then that we started moving our weapons out of the area.

“They were merely throwing bombs on a deserted area and besides our people monitored the news to know what was happening. Let them produce the corpse of one militant that was killed during the raid. It is only fire outbreak that has really killed a lot of militants in the creeks.”

Saturday Sun gathered that Commander Ossy remains the boss in the creeks and he was advised to relocate to Ondo State and operate from there. He is said to have left four commanders in charge in Laqgos. They are Vika, America, Stone and Mighty who died some days ago in a shootout with operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

Mighty, whose real name is Endurance Ominisan, was trailed to an apartment which he rented for his girlfriend on No 20 Joel Adebolu Street, Ibeshe area of Ikorodu, . He was alleged to have participated in the recent killings of policemen and soldiers in Isawo area. He allegedly participated in the kidnap of Oniba of Iba and the Turkish schoolgirls.

Bekewei also said that the militants were planning to attack more schools and no one could stop them. He boasted that they made so much money during any school kidnap operation. Also on their list is the plan to attack the police stations within their reach to stock up their arsenal.

Police ready for battle
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/millitants-plan-fresh-attacks-in.html

Yemi Alade, has practically conquered the African continent and it seems she won’t rest until she adds the rest of the world to her empire.
Alade is known to sing in different languages including Yoruba, English, Igbo, French, and Swahili, among others. Expressing her love for African culture, she told Sunday Scoop how being from two different tribes has helped her career. “You cannot underestimate the importance and role of tribes in Nigeria as it is taken very seriously. I am very proud of my heritage as an African and I try to portray in every way that I can and everywhere I go. Being partly Yoruba and Igbo is a big plus for me as it has helped me to connect with both cultures. However, I believe that both cultures are inextricably intertwined because they share a lot of similarities,” she said.Yemi also stated that her first hit, Johnny was released by mistake. She said, “I was in the studio with Selebobo and we were just goofing around trying to come up with a nice sound.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/i-am-very-proud-of-my-heritage-as.html

Nigerian model and musician Chukie Edozien who goes by the stage name, Lynxx battles to revive his career, Showtime can authoritatively reveal that the Delta State-born sex symbol may also be battling with another major crisis at the moment.The controversial former Pepsi ambassador was in 2013 slammed with a N10 million legal suit (suit no: mcl/1389/2013) after he allegedly assaulted one Richard Bennet (Pope) an acclaimed UK-based Nigerian businessman. Lynxx alleged that Bennet sexually harassed and assaulted his manager’s cousin, Nikki at a birthday gig for singer, Praiz. The singer was said to be with his manager and some friends at the time when Bennet walked into Ntycee Night Club with his nephews to relax. In his words, Bennet claimed it was while strolling around the club that his drink spilled on a lady who allegedly slapped him and emptied the content of her glass cup on him. “Lynxx on learning what had happened, grabbed me by the lapel, and later broke bottles and threatened to kill me if I did not apologise to the lady who I later learnt was his relation,” he said. “Lynxxx and his friends remained at the gate, regrouped and later forced themselves back into the club where they “brutally assaulted me with several blows to my head and body.” Benett further claimed. Showtime was reliably informed that after all moves to reconcile the warring parties failed, the matter was eventually brought before a Lagos Magistrate court and presided over by Mrs. Joy Ogbomoiko who after examining the facts of the case, on Thursday April 6, 2017 passed a judgment awarding the claimant N2 million damages. Although council to Benett, Terfa Mark Anata of Festus Keyamo Chambers declined speaking to our correspondent in court, he walked away full of smiles and self satisfaction. More details later.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/court-awards-n2-million-damages-against.html#more

The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) has commenced a task force enforcement exercise to stop further exposure of unwholesome and unapproved advertisements in the media.

In a statement signed by its Assistant Director, Operations and Special Duties Joe Eugene Onuorah, APCON said the exercise, which commenced in Abuja has so far been carried out in Minna, Jos, Katsina Ilorin, Onitsha/Nnewi and would extend to several other cities across Nigeria.


“In the course of the exercise, advertisements exposed on outdoor structures without satisfying the regulation requiring advertisements to be submitted for vetting and approval by the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) would be blanked out.

The exercise also involves enlightening advertisers, media owners and the public on the regulatory responsibilities of APCON as well as on the purpose and procedures for compliance with advertising regulations.”

He said incidences of indiscriminate exposure of advertisements, some of which contain misleading and unwholesome messages, have caused APCON serious concern. “These unprofessional conducts have been traced mainly to persons and organizations who are not licensed to practice Advertising in Nigeria,” he said.

He said the task force enforcement exercise is one of the measures to stem incidences of misleading, deceitful, offensive and other forms of spurious messages and protect members of the public from the harmful effects of such unwholesome and unprofessional advertisements.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/apcon-moves-against-unapproved-adverts.html

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company EEDC says it will soon introduce a smart meter billing system that enables consumers to recharge via their mobile phones.

The Area Manager of EEDC Mr Satish kulmaet who hinted on this during an interactive forum by EEDC at Oraifite, said the meters would be mounted on electric poles .

According to Mr kulmaet, the new metering system called smart metering system will help them monitor consumption and will tackle the challenges of visiting EEDC office to recharge prepaid meters as consumers will be recharging their meters in the comfort of their homes using their cellphones.

On his part,the Acting Chief Services Officer EEDC Mr Paul Okeke while reacting over the recent passage of vote of no confidence on the company by the Enugu state house of Assembly said their commitment to provide quality services to their customers is assured.

Mr Okeke explained that Enugu state government house is owing them accumulated bill to the tune of over two billion naira which accumulated because they normally pay part of their monthly billings.

While calling on other consumers to pay their monthly bills as they receive them to avoid a repetition of what happened in Enugu state, wondered why Enugu which is the host state should be owing while other Eastern states pay their bills especially Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia and Imo

He regretted that staff of the company have suffered assault in the course of discharging their duties and called on their customers to desist forthwith from such act as they are out to serve them better.

On the issue of billing, the manager revenue cycle services Mr Jude Efidi, said they distribute the bill according to the amount of energy supplied to them which they share among metered and non metered customers advising consumers to look out and report those who are in the habit of connecting power illegally, as those who are connected legally are forced to pay for fraudsters indirectly.

The head of communications EEDC Mr Emeka Ezeh added that the company has ordered for meters with a huge amount of money running into billions which will would be supplied in one or two months time to enable them embark on metering of all house holds including the rural communities to also out an end to estimated billings.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/eedc-assures-of-better-services.html

Twenty-one-year-old Chidubem Obelue, will spend the rest of his days gnashing his teeth and regretting his decision to kill his father.
The deceased, Pastor Simeon Obelue, 59, was until his tragic death the parish pastor of Christ Holy Church a.k.a “Odozi Obodo” in Iwolla-oghi town, Ezeagu Local Government Area, Enugu State.
Like every good father, Simeon had advised his son to renounce his membership of the Garga confraternity, a cult group. Chidubem did not take kindly to the advice, and in anger packed out of the father’s house in the church premises on December 4, 2016 and relocated a house he rented for himself. This effectively set him free from attending the church. Apparently, he also began planning to attack his father.
The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, Mr Mohammed Danmallam told Sunday Sun that on March 11, 2017, about 1.00am, Chidubem sneaked into the family house and passed through the kitchen, where he picked up a knife and laid an ambush for the father. When the unsuspecting man came out to urinate, Chidubem pounced on him. He stabbed the father in the stomach and ran out of the house.
The loud scream of the mortally injured man drew that attention of wife, who rushed out and beheld Chidubem running away from the stricken man. She ran after him and raised the alarmed, which woke up neighbours. In the haste to escape, the suspect’s cellphone fell from his pocket.
The cellphone as well as the sounds made by his feet assisted the neighbours to track Chidubem down and arrest him. The case was immediately reported to the police station at Iwolla-Oghi town.
Meanwhile, other concerned neighbours rushed Simeon to Neke-Oghe Health Centre, where he was admitted and treated for one day before being transferred to Unity Hospital, a bigger health facility where he eventually died on March 14, 2017.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Enugu Police Command, Mr. Ishola Abdullahi disclosed that detectives from the homicide section recovered the knife allegedly used by the suspect.
At the SCID headquarters where he is being held while investigation is ongoing, Chidubem spoke with Sunday Sun.
He confessed to the crime and made a revelation: “My father told me to renounce my membership of a cult group. I accepted to do so. I joined the cult when I was in JSS 3 at CPS Secondary School in Imo State. In 2013, I went to meet our cult leader and told him that I want leave the cult. I was told to bring two cartons of beer and N5,000, which I did. I stopped attending their meetings. But they started threatening me, saying that I must not renounce my membership.
Chidubem who hails from Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State said further that he continued to be pressured by the cult until he killed his father.
“I have regretted my action by killing my father because he advised me to renounce my membership of the cult. I stopped attending my father’s church because he was preaching to me to repent.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/how-cellphone-exposed-son-who-stabbed.html

Killing in Nigeria has now become epidemic. It is getting worst every day by day.
This woman was murdered by a native doctor popularly known as Ezeam Unsu Mmadubueze in Mgbakwu village. Mgbakwu is in Awka North Local Government in Anambra State. The killer was apprehended and burnt down alive as
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/woman-gruesomely-murdered-by-native_8.html?m=1

Do you think iyanya idea is a bad one
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/fans-still-not-happy-with-iyanya-idea.html?m=1

Nigeria and France will continue to deepen the robust diplomatic, economic and military relationships between the two countries, even as they indicate their readiness to explore new ways to confront and defeat terrorism ideologies.
This was the highlight of the bilateral meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and French Prime Minister, Mr. Bernard Cazeneuve, in Paris after Osinbajo attended the just concluded global forum on Anti-Corruption and Integrity hosted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
While recalling the tremendous progress made by Nigeria in degrading Boko Haram and suppressing insurgency in the country, Osinbajo stressed that the need to break the ideological underpinnings of terrorism had become imperative.

“One thing left for us to deal with is de-radicalisation, defeating the ‘ideology’ behind the mindless killings and violence. This is what we have to deal with now,” he said.
Osinbajo observed that there was the view that some of the issues involved in the fuelling of terrorism were governance related, adding that “it goes beyond the political and economic to the ideological, and we are now focusing on the challenge, and how to deal with it.”
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande yesterday, Osinbajo stated that the Federal Government would be happy to work with France and other diplomatic partners who may have to deal with such problems as the challenge of de-radicalisation.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/nigeria-france-to-collaborate-on-fight.html

Worried by the shoddy nature of budget proposal and implementation in Imo State, citizens have decided to demand for open, inclusive, transparent and realistic budget that would impact positively in their lives.

Rising from a one-day workshop tagged “Open Budget Forum” in Owerri, the state capital, they lamented the crude way the Imo State House of Assembly passed budgets without public participation as well as the manner the state government implement same, indicating that budgets were not meant for the public good.


The forum which was put together by a non-governmental organisation, Development Dynamics (DD), in partnership with UKaid, and Actionaid, had described good budget as one that has the features of realism, transparent, flexible, accountability and inclusiveness and that it must be generated from the public.

In his presentation, the Executive Director of Development Dynamic, Dr. Jude Ohanele said that open budget meant that all of the people in a country or a state could access information on the revenues that were collected, the amount of funds allocated to different types of spending, and how international donor assistance and other public resources were used.

He pointed out that the entire budget cycle in government should be kept open from formulation to approval to execution to oversight, stating that budget is a law outlining how government is going to use public resources to meet the public needs.

“The budget is governments’ most important economic policy tool. Public budgets translate a government’s policies, political commitments, and goals into decisions on how much revenue to raise, how it plans to raise it, and how to use these funds to meet the people’s competing needs, from providing security to improving education and health care, to alleviating poverty among others”, he explained.

He added that that a budget system that functioned well was crucial to economic growth and poverty alleviation, noting that in many countries, including Nigeria and especially the states of the South East, economic problems were worsened by weak budget systems and faulty budget choices, because of its wide-ranging implications for the wellbeing of the people, the budget should be the subject of detailed scrutiny and debate by all the people.

In his contribution, Mr. Emeka Olisa of Strengthening Citizens Engagement in the Electoral Process (SCEEP) Imo State, gave an overview of a survey the organisation carried out in some communities in the state to determine the level of citizens’ involvement in the state budget process, to determine the level of community engagement/involvement in the state budget process, to determine whether citizens have access to the state budget, and to examine the role of stakeholders for effective preparation and implementation of public budgets.

He noted that a public budget was a political instrument that; weighed policy priorities against available public resources; specifies the ways and means of providing public programs and services; establishes the cost of programs and the criteria by which these programs will be evaluated for efficiency and effectiveness; ensures that the programs would be evaluated at least once each budget cycle; redistributes income; provides the government with a spending limitation; and provides transparency by which the government may be held accountable at the end of each budget cycle or political term.

Olisa enjoined government and State House of Assembly to ensure reasonable level of transparency, ensure all stakeholders are carried along in the budget process, citizens should be provided with the enabling environment that guarantees access to existing public budget such as website updates and other electronic devices.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/imo-citizens-demand-open-budget-system.html

The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) yesterday deported 23 Nigerians over immigration-related offences.
The deportees arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMlA), Lagos about 6am yesterday aboard a chartered plane.
The deportees, all males, have been resident in UK for years.
It would be recalled that 83 Nigerians were also deported in February.

Spokesperson of the Lagos Airport Police Command, Joseph Alabi, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the development.
The deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Police and officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Immigration authorities profiled the deportees before they were allowed to leave for their respective destinations.
Earlier in the week, activists in Stansted blocked the runway to stop the deportation flight to Nigeria and Ghana.
Last year, some 35 mass deportation charter flights departed the UK, forcibly removing people from their homes in Britain to countries, including Nigeria, Pakistan, Albania and Ghana, according to a local magazine.
No one wants to be forcibly removed from a place of comfort and that is the case of several deportees, who were to be sent to Ghana and Nigeria from the UK.
According to reports by UK media outlets, about 14 activists took to the tarmac at one of London’s busiest airports.
The campaigners locked on to each other and formed a pyramid structure, using tubes and chains, vowing not to leave until a flight carrying the deportees was cancelled.
The charter flight was due to fly asylum seekers and migrants to Nigeria and Ghana, but many on board argue that their lives would be in danger should their return go ahead.
“Both of my parents are in the UK; they are British,” wrote one of the deportees on a blog, Detained Voices.
“I have been here, with them, for over five years. But the Home Office wants to send me back to Nigeria,” the 21-year-old asylum seeker, who said has his brother and grandfather were killed in Nigeria, wrote.
“The Home Office say I cannot stay here with my parents anymore. My brothers are here. I am in fear to go back to Nigeria; there is fighting over land. They killed my brother. They killed my grandfather.”
“I claimed asylum, which was refused, because of my sexuality. I am a lesbian, who is not ok in Nigeria,” read another post.
A woman, with British parents, who was also on the flight, said she has no family in Nigeria and a doctor has declared her unfit to fly.
A band of activist groups, including End Deportations, Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants and Plane Stupid planned the demonstration.
“We have taken this action because many people on this flight are being placed in serious danger by being callously deported back to Nigeria and Ghana.
“There has been a lot of attention recently on (United States President Donald) Trump’s racist Muslim ban, but what is happening in the UK is equally repellant,” says Emma Hughes, a member of End Deportations, who took part in the airport protest.

He said: “People are being rounded up in the middle of the night based on their perceived nationality, forced on to planes in undisclosed locations and strapped down in their seats, with no one witnessing the violence they are facing.
“Do we really want to live in the sort of society where these violent and secretive mass deportations are being normalised?”
According to Susan James of Plane Stupid, mass deportation has been taking place in the UK since 2002.
“The act is a symptom of the UK’s hostile immigration polices,” she was quoted as saying.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/uk-deports-23-nigerians.html

Congrats sir
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/03/steve-crown-win-impact-makers-award-in.html#more

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Compliance Task Force, says it has impounded 223 vehicles 13 of which belongs to a senator in Kano state. The task force also said that it seized other items, including foodstuff worth N269.5 million in Kano and Jigawa states within eight months. The task force zonal commander, Bala Dole, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday, March 27. Dole, who declined to name the said senator, said the 13 vehicles were trailed from Maigatari in Jigawa, following an intelligence report. “Based on the intelligence report, the vehicles were 30 in number but we were able to trail 13 of them 12 of which were hidden in the senator’s compound.We sealed the house and retrieved the vehicles and they are now in our custody,” Dole said. He said the other items the task force confiscated during special operations include; 9,757 bags of rice, 2,916 of foreign spaghetti, 2,770 cartons of foreign vegetable oil and 999 cartons of macaroni. He said others were; 889 veils of second hand clothes, 50 used school bags, 110 cartons of new foreign shoes, 956 bags of mosquito coil and six fairly used cars. The total value of the seizure made by the task force since it was established in July 2016, excluding the 13 Senator’s vehicles, is N269.5 million. “We are yet to determine the cost of the 13 vehicles belonging to the Senator,” he added.Akelicious had a chat with some Nigerians on the street and according to this man, President Muhammadu Buhari is the Commander-in-Chief of corruption.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/03/customs-seals-senators-residence.html

About 1,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have signified intent to voluntarily return to Borno State.
Speaking with newsmen in Ibadan, at the weekend, during a peaceful rally at Moshood Abiola Way (Ring Road), Ibadan, the IDPs, comprising Muslims and Christians, said they are ready to return to their different homes in various local government areas of Borno State, with a view to starting a new life.
Those who staged the rally comprised middle-aged men, women and children.
They appealed to the Federal, Oyo and Borno governments, to help them with logistics for evacuation back home, as soon as possible.
The displaced persons, who spoke through their Chairman, Mr. Philemon Aga and Secretary, Mallam Amada Usman, noted that Oyo has been a good and hospitable place, but, majority of them cannot secure gainful employment in the state and added that life has increasingly become difficult for them to bear on daily basis.
The IDPs raised the alarm that they had been confronted with accommodation problem as over 10 people squat in one room, mostly in uncompleted buildings, where security operatives incessantly swoop on them and effect indiscriminate arrests.
“Consequently, we are having feeding and healthcare challenges, coupled with malnutrition, while our children cannot be enrolled in schools here in Oyo State.
“We have resolved to go back home and begin our lives anew, without further delay, as we strongly believe that home is home, whatever the circumstance,” Aga said.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/03/we-want-to-go-back-home-borno-idps.html

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), has insisted that only President Muhammadu Buhari has the utmost power to determine the fate of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

Malami said this on a Channels TV programme titled, ‘Question Time’ over the weekend.


Magu has been rejected twice by the senate for confirmation as the EFFC substantive chairman following a damming report against him by the DSS.

When the AGF was asked if it was proper for Magu to continue in acting capacity despite being rejected twice by the Senate, he said, “I cannot comment on the position of my office but one thing I can tell you clearly is that power is vested in the President constitutionally and it is the President that has the prerogative and the right to make any conclusion that arises from there.”

When probed further if Magu’s integrity challenge would not affect the anti-graft war, Malami said he wouldn’t, “like to pre-empt the position of the presidency over that.”

Malami, however, denied reports that the anti-corruption war was selective.


Meanwhile, the Senate has said that the report by the DSS sent to Malami on Magu’sintegrity, has vindicated the upper chamber.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, in a statement on Saturday, said the documentary evidence made available to the AGF by the DSS had justified the Senate.

Abdullahi said, “Following several calls made to me today by journalists seeking my comments on the leaked report on Mr. Ibrahim Magu, which was more damning than the one submitted to us, I can only say that myself and my colleagues have been vindicated.

“From that report, which is now public, it is obvious that the DG DSS even tried to give Magu soft landing in the report that was sent to the Senate. The recent report is messier and shows that our decision not to confirm his nomination was right.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/03/efcc-job-only-buhari-can-decide-magus.html

An uncompleted twin three-storey hotel at Nkwo-Eziudo market along the Ogidi-Abatete road, Ogidi near Onitsha has collapsed with no case of death or injuries reported.


Residents of the area told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that the incident occurred on Saturday at about 2.30pm when workers had left the construction site.

NAN reports that more than 20 workers are always on site during the work hours

The Ogidi Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr Hassan Musa, told NAN he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

He said that the police would visit the scene and conduct investigations to ascertain the cause of the collapse.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/03/three-storey-building-collapses-in.html

So after over 10 years of using blogger, I've finally decided to move to my own website. But I wanted to show you guys what the new site looks like so you guys tell me whether you like it or not. I also want you all to go there for sometime before I finally switch so you guys will get used to it instead of just changing what y'all are used overnight. This blog is for you so your opinions matter...:-)With this new design, you have way more to read. There are about 300 news items on the main page, including 'Older Posts' on the right and when you open a post, you will find, 'Most Read' news item beneath. The mobile version is similar. The photos on the bigger posts aren't so clear because we pulled all items from blogger. Once we start posting directly to the site, the photos will be clear.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/03/linda-have-finally-decided-to-use-her.html

Government House Correspondent, Kenechukwu Ofomah reports that the judges are Justice Ngozi Lauretta Oyeka who was a former Chief Registrar in charge of High Courts at the State Judiciary Headquarters and Justice Sylvester Nnanna Odili, a private legal practitioner at Onitsha.
The appointment brings to ten, the total number of judges appointed by the Obiano administration within 3 years and to 28, the total number of judges in the state high court.
Swearing in the newly appointed judges, Governor Obiano said the exercise is a major milestone in ongoing efforts to reposition the State Judiciary to effectively address the problem of high number of awaiting trials in the state Prisons.
He described as worrisome a development where over 75 percent of inmates of the State Prisons are on awaiting trial list, saying that his government is working out measures with the Police to expedite preparation of case documents to enable the courts promptly dispatch cases before them.
The governor commended the State Chief Judge, Justice Peter Umeadi for the cordial working relationship his administration has enjoyed with him and the entire state Judiciary in ensuring quality service delivery , adding that it shows that they are in consonance with his administration's stance that the interest of Ndi Anambra superceeds every other.
Congratulating the newly appointed judges, Governor Obiano urged them to be dedicated to their duties and to uphold the honor and integrity of the court in their practice.
Responding, one of the judges, Justice Oyeka who expressed delight over their appointment, said they have accepted it as a call to service and will discharge their duties with dedication and commitment.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/03/anambra-state-high-court-gets-2-new.html

Joel to perform tonight with his injured legs
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/03/joel-to-perform-in-calabar-with-his.html?m=1

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to act with dispatch in releasing the second tranche of the London-Paris Club refunds to the states in order to ease their financial hardships.
The president, who addressed the meeting of the National Economic Council made up of state governors and chaired by the Vice-President on Thursday in Abuja, however, made a strong case for settlement of unpaid salaries and pension liabilities of workers.
“I will not rest until I address those issues that affect our people. One of these basic things is the issue of salaries. It is most important that workers are able to feed their families, pay rent and school fees, then other things can follow,” he said, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu.
President Buhari, who went round the council chambers to greet the governors one after another, praised the unity of the Forum of State Governors. He thanked them for their display of “love and respect” to him.
The president said he was overwhelmed by his recent experience in which states, irrespective of political differences charged their citizens to pray in mosques and churches for his well-being, and apologised to governors for barring them from visits to him while he rested in London.
“I didn’t want government to move to London. I wanted it to remain here and I am glad it did,” he said.
After narrating what he went through while on that vacation, President Buhari noted the suggestion by the governors for him to add more rest, but insisted that he would remain relentless in the pursuit of the interest of the Nigerian people at all times.
This, according to him, was the only way to show his gratitude to the people who, he said, “had given so much to me. I was overwhelmed by the celebration of my return all across the country.”

The chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Abdul-Aziz Yari of Zamfara State, assured the president, on behalf of his colleagues, that they will continue to support his policies and actions which they had adjudged as being in the nation’s best interest.
The governors of Imo, Akwa-Ibom, Osun and Abia States thanked President Buhari for saving the day for states through the first tranche of the London-Paris Club refunds while calling for the immediate release of the second one.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/03/buhari-authorises-release-of-more.html