Read the full story here

Paralympic champion, Kadeena Cox has said the Para-athletics classification review is "not nice" but is "fair".

The 26-year-old, whose classification changed from T37 to T38 ahead of the Rio Games, has defended the system after accusations of manipulation.

Cox, who won golds in cycling and athletics in Rio, will have her T38 athletics category reviewed in 2018.

"It's not a nice process - it's exhausting and a very draining thing to go through," she told BBC Sport.

"But they want to make it as fair as possible."

Cox, who was named on the England Commonwealth Games Para-athletics team on Monday, has multiple sclerosis, which affects the nervous system.

After initially being assessed as a T37 athlete, she was re-classified to the T38 category for less-impaired athletes in the build-up to the Rio Paralympics.

In October, the International Paralympic Committee announced a revision of the Para-athletics classification system following consultation, meaning all athletes in the T31-38 categories will be assessed again next year.

The T31-38 categories include conditions that cause increased muscle tone, involuntary muscle contractions or affect muscle co-ordination, such as cerebral palsy, brain injuries, stroke or multiple sclerosis,

It means Cox and fellow Paralympic champions Sophie Hahn, Georgie Hermitage, Paul Blake and Hannah Cockroft will be among those who will have to go through the process again.

Silvio Berlusconi finally managed to sell his soccer team AC Milan, Italy’s most successful club at the international level.

After an eight-month delay, Berlusconi’s investment company Fininvest SpA concluded a 740 million-euro ($788 million) deal with Chinese investors, according to a statement Thursday.

Billionaire Paul Singer’s hedge fund manager Elliott Advisors UK Ltd agreed to provide 303 million euros of financing, according to people familiar with the matter.

Read more about how the deal went down... http://independent.ng/ac-milan-sold-to-chinese-consortium-as-silvio-berlusconis-reign-ends/

She got admitted to Harvard, Yale, Columbia, UPenn, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton and Stanford.

Ifeoma who attends Morris Hills High School in Denville, is now dealing with a happier problem—figuring out which of the prestigious schools she’d like to go to in order to further her education, which she thinks will be focused on global health.

Read all about here - http://independent.ng/nigerian-teenager-gets-acceptance-from-8-ivy-league-universities/

PDP matters - ‘We never asked Makarfi to step down’ – Dickson

Peoples Democratic Party Reconciliation Committee Chairman, Governor Seriake Dickson, has clarified that his committee never asked the factional Chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, to step down.

Dickson, in a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Francis Agbo, denied the claim, saying he was misconstrued by a media organisation.

Read the full story here - http://independent.ng/pdp-we-never-asked-makarfi-to-step-down-dickson/

Man Dies In Sex Romp With Lover In Lagos Hotel

Ebere Nwachukwu, a Lagos-based woman has been arrested and detained by the police in Ejigbo, Lagos over the death of her married lover, who died during a sex romp in a hotel in the area.

More details here... http://independent.ng/man-dies-in-sex-romp-with-lover-in-lagos-hotel/

Breaking: Senate To Investigate Saraki and Melaye Over Alleged Fake Car Documents and Certificate Scandal.

The senate committee on Ethics and Privileges is to investigate allegations level against the Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye of Kogi West.

The allegations of irregularities of car importation with fake duty level against Saraki and to also probe Dino Melaye over alleged certificate scandal.

Read more here... http://independent.ng/breaking-senate-to-investigate-saraki-and-melaye-over-alleged-fake-car-documents-and-certificate-scandal/

Exoticstan:
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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that inactive telephone numbers in the country have increased from 67,331,498 in June to 76,164,149 in July.

In its “Monthly Subscriber Data’’ report released in Lagos recently, the commission said that there were 8,832,651 unused numbers during the period, making up the total inactive lines.

It showed that of the 226,426,215 connected lines, only 150,262,066 numbers were active.

The report stated that of the 76,164,149 inactive numbers, the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks had a share of 72,732,130.

The Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA mobile) operators had a share of 3,240,313 while the Fixed Wired/Wireless networks had a total of 184,819 unused lines.

Similarly, of the 150,262,066 active lines, the GSM networks had 149,708,077 numbers, adding a total of 528,994 lines to their June number of 149,179,083 active lines.

It said that the CDMA operators had 371,613 active lines, as their active numbers reduced by 82,479 lines from the June figure of 454,092 active numbers. The fixed/wireless networks had a share of 164,114 of the active lines, reducing their June record of 170,539 by 6,425 lines in July.

In addition, the report said that the teledensity of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry also climbed to 107.33 per cent in July, compared to 107.01 per cent in June.

It said that the teledensity measured the percentage of a country’s population with access to telecommunications services as determined by the subscriber base.

The tele-density is currently calculated on a population of 140 million people. The data showed that some subscribers purchased SIM cards but dumped them after using them for some time.

see more @ http://independentnig.com/[color=#990000][/color]

Turkish top flight club Antalyaspor said on Wednesday that their star striker Samuel Eto’o would be left out of the squad until further notice in a bitter row over comments on social media.

Former Cameroon international Eto’o, who in a glittering career has turned out for Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea, had written on his Instagram account he was not being given respect for his achievements as he is black.

Eto’o had moved to Antalyaspor in June 2015 as the keystone of the club’s bid in the southern Mediterranean resort city to find national and even European success.

But his stint has turned sour in the past weeks amid intense rumours in the close season Eto’o would join Istanbul arch rivals Besiktas.

Tensions have been compounded by a dreadful start to the new season which has seen Antalyaspor reap just one point from four matches.

Eto’o had written on his Instagram account in Turkish: “Reminder — perhaps some people do not feel respect for me because I am black.”

“But I am not going to come down from the level I have reached. I have been in this game for 18 years,” he added, posting a screenshot from Wikipedia of all the cups he has won.

Eto’o did not specify to whom he was targeting his criticism but later posted another message insisting it was not directed at Antalyaspor chairman Ali Safak Ozturk.

But Antalyaspor said in a terse statement on its website that a meeting of its board had decided to leave Eto’o out of the squad until further notice.

Turkish commentators had interpreted the remarks of Eto’o as a response to apparent criticism by Ali Safak Ozturk of his performance in the early season.

“No player is above the interests of Antalyaspor. Everyone must know their place,” the chairman was quoted as saying.

Turkey is the latest stop in Eto’o’s eclectic career which has taken him to high-profile and lesser known football hotspots around the world.

He played between 2011-2013 for Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala in the Caucasus region of Dagestan before the owner pulled the plug on its ambitions.

SEE MORE @ http://independentnig.com/

Boomboost:
Hehehe, Hollywood power couple! Na so Beyonce and Jay Z marriage go finally crash. It's inevitable.

Robert Offer, Angelina Jolie's lawyer said the actress filed for dissolution of marriage on Monday. He added that the decision was made for the health of the family.
"She will not be commenting, and asks that the family be given its privacy at this time," Offer added in the statement.
The couple have been together since 2004 but only married in August 2014.
The couple have six children together - Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.

READ MORE INTERESTING NEWS @ http://independentnig..com.ng/

sarrki:
Fulani no attack u people again


You guys are attacking each other


Africans still have a long way to go

Well said!

A communal clash between New Netim and Odukpani Qua communities in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State has so far claimed one life and property razed.

Odukpani Qua natives, according to eyewitnesses, launched the attack on the New Netim community killing an unnamed 35-year old man, setting ablaze many houses, including the palace of New Netim and several cars.
Chairman of Odukpani local government council, Bassey Eyo, blamed the fracas on a land dispute and chieftaincy tussle, noting that the attack may have been pre-planned because specific houses and people were targeted.
Causes of the attack, he stressed, could be both “inter and intra,” as ?”some people right in New Netim are fighting the present village head, they prefer their former Secretary as Village head.”
The Dead body

In an interview the village head of New Netim Village, Ntufam Raphael Okpa Ita explained that “Odukpani Qua Town took us to court over the land in question and judgment was given in our favour. But, this morning they invaded my community and killed my subject in cold blood.”

The village head who survived the attack by the whiskers had his palace torched, accusing his opponents of conniving with some people in Odukpani Qua Town to wreck havoc on the community who have been contesting the chieftaincy stool with him.

His words, “I got a report that my community would be invaded. On the 24th of August this year, I wrote to security chiefs alerting them of credible information that we will be attacked. The two communities were summoned by the Police but the Odukpani Qua people denied that there was such a plan. But look at what has happened now.”
Aftermath of the Cross River Communal Clash

Reacting, the State Security Adviser, Jude Ngaji, explained: “The fracas started at about 1am to 1.30am and immediately we got the call, we deployed security men there, but before the men got there, the havoc had already been committed. The Army and Operation Skolombo, responded immediately, led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, operations, himself.

“For now the area is calm as security agents have been deployed to the area. We are asking everybody to go about their normal duties, as the police and army have taken over the place in terms of security. The culprit will be arrested as investigation continues.

SEE MORE NEWS AT http://independentnig.com/

dmgr:
i can't see any picture

stay cool..

Sowie, dunno what's wrong.

able20:
Yesterday 200 today 1,000 tomorrow maybe 1000,000 militants

I wonder where they are coming from.

A suspected kidnapper, identified as one Charles Ibeleme yesterday confessed that hardship forced him to attempt to kidnap a 9-year old boy in exchange for a bag of rice as reward around Olowu Street in Mushin Lagos.

Checks by Independent revealed that residents of Mushin foiled attempt by the kidnaper to abduct the boy and were about to apply jungle justice on him when police officers from Olosan police station saved him.

Eyewitness accounts have it that the boy, whose name is being kept secret, was sent to buy sachet water, popularly called pure water when the suspect appeared from nowhere and allegedly hypnotized him.

According to a source in the area, the boy in question is our tenant, who was sent to buy pure water and while on his way hypnotized by Ibeleme, where the boy was following the kidnapper like a zombie.

“Meanwhile, the person who sent him on an errand sighted him when the stranger accosted him. He became curious when the boy passed where he was supposed to buy the water and ran after the suspect.

“When he asked the stranger what he was doing with the boy, he claimed he was his brother.

“At that moment, the boy came back to his senses and said he did not know him. A mob descended on him, during which he admitted to be a kidnapper.

SEE MORE NEWS AT http://independentnig.com/

HtwoOw:
I dont think a state governor has the power to grant amnesty to anyone


But I may be wrong


If I am right then I suspect Rochas for being complicit in making the militants


Or maybe GEJ who was named as sponsor has paid Rochas to clean this mess up


Rochas own don dey too plenty abeg it's becoming really suspicious

I think they have the right to grant amnesty within their jurisdictions.

Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to stop blaming former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration for the current economy recession.
Bishop Kukah said President Buhari should rather work on resolving Nigeria’s economic woes.
The Cleric spoke with reporters at the Catholic Bishops Conference Dinner Night held at the International Event Centre (DOME) in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The Bishop said, “The previous government did not only do bad things; he did a lot of good things.
“And I think the business of government is not our business; our business is if the previous government did bad, that is why we voted a new government.
“We did not vote a government to complain about yesterday. If we wanted yesterday, the new government would not be there. It is really about taking responsibility.
“No matter how much you praise or abuse Jonathan, he is not the President of Nigeria. I think that people must understand that you take power to solve problems not to agonize.

“As the head of a family, no matter how bad things are – no food in the house; you as a father cannot enter the house crying.
“It is the question of developing the mechanism, else you can’t solve the problem.
“Even my best friends in APC now realize that nobody can sing the song about Jonathan being responsible for the problems we are in.
“We are not asking you to change the whole world, but Jonathan created problems: we are now riding a train between Abuja and Kaduna now; the train was not there before.

“Things that Jonathan did that can help Nigeria, let us continue with them.
“The bad things that Jonathan did and those who deserve to go to prison should go to prison.
“But sending people to prison will only be useful if it puts bread on the table of people”.
Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who was at the event in his remarks stressed on the need for the government and the people to diversify the economy.
He, however, said that the only solution to the crisis rocking the country is restructuring.

SEE MORE NEWS UPDATE AT http://independentnig.com/

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has granted amnesty to 1000 militants from the oil producing area of Ohaji Egbema and Oguta local government areas of the state.

This follows the decision of the militants to drop their arms and embrace peace, which is crucial to finding a lasting solution to the underdevelopment and infrastructural decay in the state.

Independent recalled that militants in the area have allegedly joined their colleagues in other Niger Delta states to blow up over seven oil installations and pipelines in the area.
Rattled by the action, Okorocha organized a programme to grant pardon to all militants, cultists and agitators in the area.
The militants were said to have handed over some of their arms which comprise: Ak-47 riffles, rocket launchers, pistols, charms, machetes, knives and axes, among others.
Present at the event are the state police commissioner, state army commander, Director of SSS in Imo state as well as other security agencies.

SEE MORE NEWS UPDATE @ http://independentnig.com

Alphabet Inc’s Google is acquiring software developer Apigee Corp in a deal valued at about $625 million, as it strengthens its cloud business.

San Jose-based Apigee’s software helps a company’s backend services interact with mobile and web-based apps used by customers and partners.

“Companies are moving beyond the traditional ways of communicating like phone calls and visits and instead are communicating programmatically through APIs (Application Programming Interface),” said Dianne Greene, who runs Google’s cloud computing division.

Google will pay Apigee shareholders $17.40 for each share held, a 6.5 percent premium to the stock’s Wednesday close.

Apigee’s shares were trading above the offer price at $17.45 on Thursday morning.

The company, whose customers include AT&T, Burberry Group Plc, Vodafone Group Plc and the World Bank, went public in April last year at $17 per share.

This is the latest from the highly regarded enterprise computing executive Greene, who is pushing to make Google a central player in corporate computing.

The Apigee deal comes a day after Google and online storage company Box Inc said they would partner to enable Box’s corporate customers to integrate Google’s suite of word processing, spreadsheets and other productivity tools, known as Google Docs.

Companies including Google, Amazon.com Inc, Microsoft Corp, IBM Corp are competing for a share of the fast-growing corporate cloud computing business.

SEE MORE BUSINESS NEWS @ http://independentnig.com/category/business/

The BBOG group had scheduled to take its protest to the Presidential Villa, where the protesters hoped to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari to re-echo their demand for the rescue of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

They later marched down to the Federal Secretariat Complex, precisely, to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, located around the Three Arms Zone, opposite the National Assembly complex.

After noticing the presence of heavily armed security personnel around...

Read it here http://independentnig.com/bbog-security-operatives-stall-ezekwezili-led-protest-to-aso-rock/

Recently, the Ebonyi State Police Command paraded Mr. Ogbonnaya Ene Odi, a serving Coordinator of Ohazara Development Centre in Ebonyi State, and 5 other suspects for allegedly abducting, torturing and indecently assaulting 14 -year- old Uzoamaka Chukwu, an orphan who is presently a JS 2 student, resident in Uburu community, Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi state.

For refusing the amorous overtures of one Enekwachi, reportedly the younger brother of Odi, she was stripped naked, flogged, dragged on the ground and bathe with alcoholic drink. The culprits allegedly went further to video their heinous actions and gleefully put them on the internet. Odi was said to have allowed 5 camera men to do the recording. Everything was allegedly done with the active connivance of 2 policemen. After the filming, she was said to have been taken to a clinic in Ohazara for HIV test and given N100 to pay for treatment.

We sympathise with Uzoamaka for the beastly, dehumanising and traumatising act she was subjected to, especially at such a tender age of 14. We also call for justice as a deterrent to others who feel that they could get away with cruelty to their fellow human beings with impunity.

It is a pity that Odi, a politician who grovelled and begged for people’s votes either for himself or his party before the election could allegedly turn around to maltreat the same people who deserve gratitude and care for making his aspirations materialise.

The most painful aspect of the whole saga is that the policemen who represent the institution that should have granted Uzoamaka protection were found to have sucked up to Ogbonnaya’s money, sold their conscience and become compromised because of their lack of self confidence and self worth.

This development obviously brings into focus the devastating role of sycophancy in Nigerian politics. Certainly those around the co-ordinator of Ohazara Development Centre cannot say they were oblivious of the implications but would rather indulge him because of the measly crumbs that fall off his table.

They most likely consider themselves amongst the privileged few who are allowed in the company of Odi. Rather than create an environment that would assist misinformed and mal-adjusted Odi to be re-orientated, so he could alter or replace his domineering masculinity through a more acceptable and orderly socialisation, this set of policemen prefer to benefit from the tainted largesse given to them to cover his tracks.

Now that the culprits are in police custody,it is our expectation that justice will prevail so that if found guilty, appropriate penalty will be meted out to teach them and their ilk that money and power, if used positively would also yield the awe and reverence that is accorded influential people because of their position.

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/uzoamaka/

Arsene Wenger has urged Arsenal fans to be patient with their club’s relative lack of transfer market activity and has reassured supporters that they are keen to recruit before the end of the month.

Title rivals Manchester United and Manchester City have moved decisively and ambitiously in the market over the close season, spending over 320 million pounds ($421.25 million).
Arsenal have made one significant signing, adding Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka from Borussia Moenchengladbach for 30 million pounds ($39.49 million).
Their defence was found wanting in Sunday’s 4-3 Premier League defeat by Liverpool as a backline including youngsters Rob Holding and Calum Chambers was exposed, prompting grumbles of discontent among Arsenal fans with the club again looking ill prepared for a title challenge.
“We’re not scared to spend money, but to buy in itself is not a quality, to buy good players is,” Wenger told journalists on Thursday. “This club has been built on that.
“The transfer policy we have had here has helped build the club. I know we haven’t done as much as many people but we are out there,” he added. “I have made 400 transfers in my life and I know every one has a rhythm that you are not the only one to decide on.”
Arsenal are interested by Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi, according to reports in the British media, but Wenger refused to reveal any specific transfer targets.
“I would like to reassure you that we are not afraid to spend the money we have and we are working very hard,” he continued.
“You can pay huge amounts of money for average players, there are plenty of those, but to find the ones who will strengthen your squad is more difficult.
“Buying calms the fans of course but we have to make sure we spend it the right way.”
Arsenal continue their Premier League campaign away at champions Leicester City on Saturday. (Reuters)

SEE MORE @ http://independentnig.com/375228-2/

The League Management Company (LMC) has fined Ikorodu United N3.5 million and banished the team to MKO Stadium, Abeokuta for their next three league fixtures.
This followed Ikorodu United’s failure to restrict unauthorized persons from restricted areas during their NPFL week 30 game against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan.
The club also got charged for disturbances caused by its supporters during and after the game was discontinued.
As a result, Ikorodu Utd were fined ?750,000 for failing to restrict unauthorized persons from restricted areas during the 3SC game. The Oga Boys were also fined ?750,000 for failing to provide adequate crowd control during and after thegame.
The LMC also said that Ikorodu Utd were in breach of NPFL framework and rules for failing to provide adequate crowd control during Shooting Stars game.
The Lagos based club further breached NPFL rules with its supporters throwing objects onto the pitch leading to the discontinuing of the match.
For objects thrown onto the pitch by its supporters and causing the discontinuance of the said NPFL game, Ikorodu Utd got a ?2 million fine.
As part of the sanctions, Ikorodu Utd will play its next three NPFL home games at the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta starting with weekend’s week 32 fixture against Niger Tornadoes on August 21.
The Ikorodu Utd versus 3SC game was disrupted in the 89th minute with scores at 1-1 and the LMC has ruled that the result shall count as a completed fixture.
Ikorodu Utd has no later than 5pm on Friday, August 19 to appeal or accept the sanctions imposed on them.
However, failure by the club to comply with this requirement within the time limit will be a breach of the NPFL Framework & Rules the statement concluded.

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/lmc-fines-ikorodu-utd-3-5m-banished-to-abeokuta/

Former Chief Judge of Delta State, James Omo-Agege is dead.
The deceased, who was the state Chief Judge between October 3rd 1993 and 4th November 1998 died yesterday evening after a brief illness at the age of 83-years.

Omo-Agege, is the father to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, senator representing Delta Central at the National Assembly.

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/375502-2/

North Korea on Wednesday labelled South Korean President Park Geun-Hye a “psychopath” after she made a speech slamming Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions and defending the deployment of a US anti-missile system.

In her televised address on Monday, Park had stressed that deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system was an act of “self-defence” in response to the North’s expanding nuclear weapons programme.

A spokesman for the North’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country said Park’s argument was “preposterous” and unfounded.

“This is just a lame excuse and she should know that no one will be taken in by such sophism of a puppet that can do nothing without an approval of her US master,” the spokesman said.

“This is no more than nonsense talked by a psychopath,” he added in a statement carried by the North’s official KCNA news agency.

North Korea has threatened to take “physical action” against the THAAD deployment, saying any South Korean ports and airfields hosting US military hardware would become a target.

Beijing is also opposed to the move, seeing it as a US bid to flex its military muscle in the region and undermine China’s own missile capabilities.

US Army Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley, addressed those concerns during talks on Tuesday with his Chinese counterpart, General Li Zuocheng in Beijing.

THAAD is “not a threat in any way to China,” Milley told Li according to a US Army statement.

Deploying the system “is a defensive measure to protect South Koreans and Americans from the North Korean ballistic missile threat,” he added.

Milley was due to hold talks with top South Korean military officials in Seoul on Wednesday.

The THAAD issue has also been a target of domestic criticism, particularly from those living in the rural South Korean county of Seongju where the first battery will be installed.

Several hundred protestors turned out in Seongju for a visit Wednesday by Defence Minister Han Min-Koo, who sought to ease concerns that the system’s powerful radar will pose health and environmental hazards and make the district a military target...

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/374893-2/

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has extended the tenure of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee by one year.

The decision was reached after police sealed off the venue of the National Convention of the party scheduled to hold today in Port Harcourt.

Rad more here http://independentnig.com/pdp-cancels-convention-extends-tenure-of-caretaker-committee/#

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Odesanya, has said today that he did not seal the convention venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but rather he was only providing security.

The police commissioner explained that he was only complying with a court order, and he was in no position to interpret court verdicts.

Read more here http://independentnig.com/i-didnt-seal-pdp-convention-venue-rivers-cp/

Suspended President Dilma Rousseff made a last-ditch effort Tuesday to avoid impeachment, telling Brazilian lawmakers she would let voters decide if they want an early presidential election if she is restored to power.

Rousseff had been publicly mulling the idea of a plebiscite for weeks as the Senate moves closer to an impeachment vote on charges her administration violated fiscal rules to hide a gaping budget deficit. The vote is scheduled for Aug. 25, four days after the end of the Olympics being held in Rio de Janeiro.
She made the proposal official in a long letter “to the federal senate and Brazilian people” in which she mixed expressions of regret for failing to listen to her compatriots with stern admonishments for critics she accused of plotting to carry out a “coup.”
“The full restoration of democracy requires that the population be the one to decide what is the best way to expand governability and perfect the Brazilian political and electoral system,” she said in the letter, which she also read in a message. “It’s the only way out of the crisis.”
Rousseff’s current term ends in 2018. If she is permanently removed by the Senate, interim President Michel Temer would serve out the term.
Under her proposal, Rousseff once back in power would call a nationwide plebiscite asking Brazilians whether they supported an early election and a sweeping political and economic reform.
The idea has some popular appeal. A poll taken last month by Datafolha said 62 percent of Brazilians favored a new election as a way out of the country’s debilitating political crisis. But the same poll found almost as many Brazilians did not want Rousseff back in power.
Holding an early election would require a constitutional amendment that would not likely be supported by Rousseff’s opponents in congress, who voted overwhelmingly to suspend her pending the Senate trial. Many in her Workers’ Party loyal to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have also balked at the idea.
“This is nothing more than a desperate, last-minute political maneuver,” said Elival da Silva Ramos, a law professor at the University of Sao Paulo. “Nobody is taking it seriously.”
Rousseff was suspended in May on charges of fiddling with the federal budget to hide a gaping deficit. Although lawmakers have rolled back some of their accusations, she remains widely despised for rampant corruption inside the Workers’ Party and for Latin America’s largest economy falling into its deepest recession since the 1930s.
However...

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/374917-2/

The Egalitarian Mission, Africa, a civil society organization, has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and anti-graft agencies alleging that the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has misappropriated state resources and laundered money to the tune of N11 billion.

Presenting the petition dated August 16, 2016, and signed by Mr. Olatunde Ojeomo on behalf of the group, which was submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday in Abuja, the Egalitarian Mission told journalists that, in seven months in charge of Kogi State, Bello has committed wanton looting of through bogus contracts to various companies, without following due process.

Mr. Kayode Ajulo, convener of the group, said copies of the document have also been sent to the President, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Alhaji Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to the President, alerting them of how funds meant for the wellbeing of the government and people of Kogi State were being systematically embezzled and laundered.

Ajulo, an Abuja-based lawyer, said, “The move became necessary given that the Buhari-led administration has said it has zero tolerance for corruption and we have seen that what is going on in kogi is a sheer wanton looting and embezzlement.

“For those who know me well, I’m not from Kogi but we have interest in issues of good governance anywhere in the country. The governor of Kogi State cannot deny having anything to do with the President. But that’s not the case. What’s important now is to ensure that the President knows what is going on and takes action in line with the zero tolerance stance of his administration.”

Ajulo, who expressed optimism in the resolve and ability of Buhari to give due consideration to the petition, added that the issue as it concerns Kogi State would serve as a litmus test for this government’s stance on corruption.

“I will not join anybody to accuse the President of shielding those close to him from corruption trial, but in order to prove those accusers wrong, he must use this Kogi issue as a test case to demonstrate to the world that he really means what he says when it comes to fighting corruption,” he said.

Explaining further why Kogi is being singled out by his NGO for investigation, he said the systemic looting of the state by a man who is supposed to be the youngest governor and a pride of Nigerian youth calls for a special attention because both the local and international communities are keenly watching to see how the President will confront this.

Apart from the allegation of bogus contracts and money laundering amounting to over N3 billion, the petition further alleged that the Bello administration has siphoned another N3 billion through the Government House administration account under the cover of overheads, between March 10 and April 5, 2016.

Furthermore, the petitioners accused the state governor of misappropriating and looting the N20 billion bailout from the federal government and N10 billion Infrastructure Fund; the rights group urged the anti-graft agencies to commence investigation of the allegations as well as probe various bank accounts operated by the state government with Zenith, Access and Skye banks.

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/group-accuses-governor-bello-of-n11bn-fraud/