₦airaland Forum

You mean our dilector will still be eating half done beans...


Chai... our Dilector, sorry ooo

Nice article

It is either I do not understand economics and how exchange rates work or a vast majority of us Nigerians still don’t get how we have wrecked our country with our own curious choices. Just this morning I was listening to the radio and the lady on air went on and on about how she thought CBN governor Godwin Emefiele was incompetent and should be sacked because the naira was now exchanging at 309 or so to the USD. That view pretty much echoes the sentiments expressed by many people I know and it amazes me that there are Nigerians who actually think there is some magic POLICY that can make the Naira strong in the near term. If my economics and my understanding of the way the world works are right, then that is as far from the truth as Jesus Christ is black.

The simple fact of the matter is that apart from oil that accounts for over 90% of our revenues, we really don’t have much of an economy. We hardly produce anything, we import even toothpicks, so exactly what policy is going to be implemented that will turn Nigeria into a top exporting economy in the near term? Where are our Apples, IBMs, Disneys, GMs, General Electrics, Coca Colas, Empire State buildings, Statues of Liberties, Lockheeds, Citibanks, JP Morgans, ExxonMobils, NBAs, Super Bowls etc? Let me bring that closer home. There was a time long ago when Nigeria had a truly strong economy and the naira was one to the dollar – even exchanged for higher than the USD, but that Nigeria is not this Nigeria. Sadly that Nigeria was laid by the British, and this Nigeria (if you don’t believe in the nonsensical imperialist conspiracies like me) – fueled by the DAMAGING Indigenisation Decree, has been the creation of us Nigerians.Back then we had a booming economy.

We were either the top, or among the top exporters, of timbre, cocoa, groundnuts, rubber, palm oil, etc, in the world. Nigerians not only holidayed at home in their villages, at Yankari Games Reserve, at Obudu Cattle Ranch, at Oguta Lake, at Ikogosi springs, at Gurara Falls, at Mambilla Platueau, etc, we attracted international tourists who brought in loads of foreign exchange. Even Nigerian schools were foreign exchange earners because they attracted foreign students. We had different car assembly plants – Peugeot, Volkswagen, Anamco etc. Nigerian government officials only bought vehicles assembled in Nigeria for official cars. We had a thriving sports industry.

We were not Man United or Chelsea fans, we were Rangers or IICC fans. We had the Nduka Odizors, people made money from sports. We also had companies like Lennards and Bata producing school shoes in their thousands, we had the thriving Nigerian Airways and the Aviation School in the north that produced some of the best pilots in the world. In those days if you were brilliant you were respected much more than the crass money-miss-road contractors of today. Most of the Aje Butters I knew had fathers who were university dons. Back then it meant something to ‘know book’. Our textile industry was alive and well. Just recently I watched a news report on the textile industry in Nigeria on CCTV News. Though the main focus was on the comatose status of the industry, I was stunned by the gigantic Kaduna Textile Mill built in 1957. I could go on and on.
Today however, no thanks to our parents (and we must call them out the way Wole Soyinka did his generation) and many of us (and we should be remembered for failing our children if we continue like this), we have destroyed everything. Today for instance Nigerian football (which comes easy to me obviously) doesn’t appeal to us, we have to fly across thousands of miles to watch ‘our’ clubs play. Every year we collectively burn billions of Naira being fans of clubs that give us nothing back, but some ‘entertainment value’ – simple pleasures for which we are ready to destroy the future of our children. Well people, payback time is here. Even with our ta-she-re money we all want to wear designer clothes and carry designer bags, Armani, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton etc.

We all want to drive jeeps with American specs, our children must now school overseas and acquire the necessary accents to come back home and bamboozle their ‘bush and crass’ contemporaries that they left behind. Who holidays in Nigeria anymore, is there Disneyland here? No one buys made-in-Nigeria school bags for their children, after all no Superman or Incredible Hulk or Cinderella on them. We are no longer top exporters of anything and the demise of oil means we have zilch… zero. A country of 170m fashion-conscious people has no textile industry. We take delight in showing how our made-in-Switzerland Aso Ebi is different class to everyone else’s. When we help our musicians grow and pay them millions, they repay us by immediately shipping the monies overseas to produce their “i-don-dey-different-level”music videos. It makes no difference that distinctly Zulu dancers are dancing to a Nigerian highlife song. As stars concerned they also wed and holiday overseas to impress us all. All the musicians who acknowledge their Ajegunle roots now speak in a cocktail of strange accents to symbolise how much they have blown their monies overseas.
Were we a more serious people, the highly popular Kingsway Stores of the past would probably have a thousand outlets pan Nigeria today supporting a massive agriculture industry among others, but today we have the likes of SPAR, Shoprite, dominating the retail industry while Kingsway is dead. And we Nigerians make it a special point to shop from the Oyinbos who have ‘cleaner shops’, ‘better this and better that’. For our personal pleasure we don’t mind them dominating us in our own backyard and shipping proceeds overseas.

I could go on and on, but I don tire. Even as you are reading this, stop for a moment and look around you. What you see will probably explain why we are lucky it is not N1000 to the USD yet. And don’t think for a moment that it cannot get there. Just continue to wear your Armani gear and Swiss-made lace, continue to spend your money on Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Barca and encourage your children to do same. (My article tomorrow in my Saturday column in This Day is on the Nigerian champions Enyimba FC – Nigeria’s most successful club – not having a sponsor, yet Nigerian brands pay over N600m to Man United and Arsenal for sponsorship to impress us.) Ehhh, no problem, continue to tell me the NPFL is rubbish or the clubs should clean up their act if they want sponsorship, mo gbo. Don’t curtail your interest in choice wines ( we were the number one champagne consumers in the world in 2015), continue to love your American specs, cheer the education ministry for letting schools sink to pitiable levels, don’t fight them to improve our schools, don’t chide them for letting schools drop Nigerian history and embrace British, America and whatever else curricula.

Carry on with your love of French wines and Chinese silk, don’t bother about Jamiu Alli when there is Roger Federer. Stock up on your Italian, American, British products which you cannot live without, including the ‘baby soft’ toilet rolls produced only in that small unique village in England – the days are long gone since you were a broke student who used wet newspapers to wipe your butt. Don’t even consider holidaying in Nigeria, it’s too dangerous – you have to fulfill your dream of being Nigeria’s Henry Ford. Don’t listen to people like me who have a wardrobe full of only cheap adire that is actually cheaper than just one of your Tom Ford blazers. Please keep dressing in fine silk made in some exotic place so you can be addressed accordingly. Finally keep letting corrupt leaders who have looted your commonwealth and shipped all the monies overseas get away because to attack them does not fit your political narrative. Let us continue with the fine life, let us all continue to work for Oyinbo. But don’t forget that there is payback time and Emefiele is not your problem. Time for us all to look in the mirror and take responsibility.


Source: https://www.facebook.com/forum9ja/posts/1056437897751343

Boko Haram insurgents yesterday attacked the 120 Task Force Battalion of the Army at Goniri in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe state.

The insurgents appeared to have come from Shettimari in the Borno axis of the town and engaged the soldiers in a fierce fight that lasted for almost four hours.

A military source said the attack was effectively repelled.

“But we lost one soldier in the fight,” the source said .

Spokesperson for the 27 Task Force Brigade in Damaturu Lt. George Okupe who confirmed the attack told our correspondent that no soldier lost his life in the attack except one soldier that was wounded.

He said that the terrorists came by foot to the 120 Task Force Battalion in Goniri at about 5.50am on Friday and immediately launched an attack.

They were over-powered and the rest fled,he said.

Lt. Okupe said about 14 Boko Haram terrorists were killed in Tashan Fulani Village around Chorokusko in Babangida Local Government Area of Yobe State while weapons including 6AK 47 riffles, 3 IEDs, four 36 handheld grenades 1GPMG, 4 magazines, 382 Rams of 7.62 MM Nato were recovered from the terrorists.

Goniri is one of the communities in Yobe state recently recovered from Boko Haram by soldiers and it is currently being cleared of deadly mines laid by the terrorists.

Yesterday’s attack came less than 24 hours after the Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau visited Yobe in company of all the service chiefs including Police Inspector General SolomonArase, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Martins Kure Abashe, Comptroller General of Prison Service, Dr. Peter Ekpendu ,and the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp, Abdullahi Gana to assess the extent of destruction to police and other security formations.

Source: http://saharareporters.com/2016/01/16/army-kills-14-boko-haram-members-sect-attacks-military-base-yobe

Who is your best male Nairalander for the year 2015?

Tragedy was averted on Friday morning in Biliri local government area of Gombe State, when a suspected male suicide bomber dressed in female attire with suicide vest strapped over his waist was apprehended before carrying out the nefarious act.

The suspected bomber was according to reports, attempting to blow up a Catholic church where Christmas service was ongoing, but was arrested by some vigilante Muslim youth who were guarding the church.

Daily Correspondents had exclusively obtained photograph of the would-be-suicide bomber; a male in his late twenties, dressed like a woman, with neatly plaited hair made to look as though ‘’she’’ was attending the Christmas church service.

Our sources revealed that but for the vigilance of some youths around the church who noticed the strange movement of the bomber, it would have been a black Christmas today in Gombe as the church was filled to capacity as at the time of the incident.


Source: http://www.ndibe.org/2015/12/suspected-male-suicide-bomber-dressed.html

Victim of robbery
No doubt about that, today is an opportunity for bad guys to make money to spend on Xmas day..

Thousands of Muslims celebrating Maulud, which is the birthday of holy Prophet Muhammad, on Thursday escaped what would have possibly been an all-time record calamity, had some eagled-eyed vigilante operatives not intercepted five food flasks filled with bombs outside a popular Maiduguri mosque.

Five suspects believed to be members of Boko Haram loaded five big food flasks (otherwise known as coolers) on a hand-pushed cart and headed for Medinatu Mosques in the heart of Maiduguri, Borno state, where adherents of the Tijjaniya Islamic sect were marking the Maulud Nabiyi.
Fortunately, they were arrested before they got to their destination.

The arrested bombers, according to witnesses, earlier claimed the giant food flasks contained hot rice cooked to be delivered to the celebrating Muslims as gifts.

Normally, during such occasions, which normally attracts thousands of Muslims from different parts of the country, and even from outside it, to the popular Sheikh Abdulfathi mosque located in Medinatu neighbourhood of Old Maiduguri, individuals usually make charity donations in form foods and other consumables to help make visitors comfortable.

“When we saw them coming with handpush-cart filled with food flasks, we thought they were normal people that usually come here,” said Aminu Abdullahi, an operative of the Civillan-JTF.

“We almost passed them on when one of our members instinctively asked what the content of the large food flasks were, and they said ‘hot rice to be delivered to the Sheik’s guests’. All of us were almost deceived but when we insisted on seeing the flasks opened for proper inspection, the conveyors became jittery, and by the time we forced them to open the flask we were shocked to find coupled bombs in all the flasks”.

Witnesses said the arrested culprits were all surrounded before they could escape and handed over to the soldiers in the neighbourhood.

The spokesman of the Borno State branch of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Muhammed Abba Gava, who confirmed the development said, “it was an act of God that those bombs were Intercepted on time: we have over 5000 people converging in Abdulfathi’s mosque and who knows what could have become of them had those bombs detonated”.

Security has been beefed up in most parts of Maiduguri ahead Christmas on Friday.


Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/195700-thousands-escape-death-in-maiduguri-as-civilian-jtf-intercept-bombs-concealed-in-food-flasks.html

G​hanaian government on Tuesday announced ban on public officials from first class air travel.
The government said that the measure was part of renewed efforts to cut wasteful spending as the country began the implementation of an International Monetary Fund aid deal.

Communications Minister Edward Boamah, who announced this in Accra, said the presidency issued the directive, asking all ministers and other top officials to avoid unwarranted foreign trips on the public purse.

According to Mr. Boamah, inappropriate spending would likely be a top campaign issue as Ghana is preparing to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in 2016.

The opposition in the country had accused government officials of inflating contract sums.
Ghana, a major producer of cocoa, gold and oil, began a three-year program with the IMF in April to fix its economy, which has been dogged by high deficits, a widening public debt and unstable local currency.

Mr. Boamah also said the cabinet was discussing a financial accountability bill which would impose penalties such as dismissal or jail term for public officials who were found to violate it.

“It is expected to be clear enough to enable the general public to see malfeasance if there is any and hold the agency involved accountable,” he said.


Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/195593-ghana-bans-first-class-travel-for-public-officials.html

* Despite cash crunch, Nigerian Senate illegally buying N4.7billion exotic cars for Saraki, other senators


The Nigerian Senate is currently on the verge of illegally buying various brands of exotic vehicles for use by its President, Bukola Saraki, and the 108 other senators, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today.

The cars will cost taxpayers an estimated N4.7billion that could be spent on vaccinating newborns and safe them from dying or on providing electricity for remote communities so kids stop doing school assignments using paraffin lamps.

The upper legislative chamber is buying the vehicles at a time millions of Nigerians are facing severe economic hardship, including nonpayment of salaries.

The procurement is also happening at a time millions of Nigerians are enduring long and humiliating fuel queues across the country because the federal government is too broke to pay importers of petrol several billions in subsidy claims.

Already, the management of the National Assembly has invited bids from contractors interested in supplying the vehicles.
In an advertisement published in some newspapers, including Blueprint of November 20, 2015, the authorities asked the companies to tender for “Lot 1S, Supply of Utility Vehicles”.
The advert, in what appears a deliberate ploy to conceal details, failed to indicate the number, type and specification of vehicles being bought.

However, PREMIUM TIMES has now obtained detailed copies of tender documents being discreetly issued to prospective contractors.
In one of the documents, the Senate indicated it was buying 120 units of Toyota Land Cruiser, 2016 model.
Other details of the vehicles included that they must be “American Brand, V8, VXR, 5.7, Auto Engine WITH INTELLIGENCE”.

The senators also want the vehicles to come with integrated navigator cruise control, QI-Compatible wireless charging and Kinetic dynamic suspension system, as well as being “full option”.
On November 21, the Senate also put up another advert it labelled “addendum”.

The latest advert under Lot 2S, which was couched to look like an oversight in the first advert, was for the purchase of vehicles for the use of the senate president’s convoy.
Under Lot 2S and based on the tender document, which we have also obtained, the national assembly is seeking to purchase a 2016 model Mercedes Benz S550 for Mr. Saraki.
Other vehicles being procured for Mr. Saraki include four 2016 Toyota Prado jeeps, four 2016 Toyota Hilux SS (Auto) as well as a 2016 model Toyota Hiace Bus.

The spokesperson for the Senate, Aliyu Sabi, could not be reached Saturday to comment on these new procurement as his telephone was switched off the several times our reporter called.
The Director of Information of the National Assembly, Ishaku Dibal, declined to comment on the matter. He said he was driving and couldn’t comment after our reporter put his question to him.
Subsequent calls to his telephone failed to connect.

PREMIUM TIMES carried out a market survey on all the vehicles being bought by the senate and we can confirm that the upper chamber would spend over four billion naira of taxpayers money to enhance their taste for luxury.
Specifically, give or take, vehicles are valued at N4.739,515,625.
Although there are 109 senators, the lawmakers are buying 120 Toyota Land-cruisers. It is not clear where the balance of 11 vehicles would go.

We arrived at our figure of N4.7 billion after computing the cost of the vehicles, 35 per cent duties to be paid, and another 35 per cent levy.
There is also the expected 35 per cent profit margin to be made by each supplier based on the requirements of Nigeria’s procurement act.

Our checks revealed that a Toyota Land Cruiser, 2016 model, goes for $84,000, and at the current exchange rate of N250 to the dollar, it amounts to N21,000,000.
If 75 per cent of cost is added, being duty, levy and profit margin (translating to N15, 750,000) each vehicle would cost Nigerian tax payers N36,750,000.

Given that the senators propose to buy 120 units of the vehicles, the total figure is expected to be N4.41billion.
As for the convoy of the Senate president, we found that Mercedes Benz S550 2016 model goes for $95,650, which translates to N23, 912,500 and addition of 75 percent (duty, levy and profit margin) takes the total cost of the car to N49,020,625.00.

For the Toyota Prado SUVs, we were able to determine that each unit costs $73,000, which equals N18,250,000, while a 75 per cent addition of levy, duty and profit would put the cost of each at N37,412,500.
The total cost of the four (4) Prado Jeeps being acquired for Mr. Saraki is N149, 650,000.00.

Equally proposed for the Senate President’s convoy are four Toyota Hilux SS, Auto vehicles each costing $50,150.
At N250 to the dollar, each Hilux Van would cost N12,537,500 and an additional 75 percent would skyrocket the price of each unit to N25,601, 875.00.
The total figure for the four being proposed amounts to N102,407,500.00

The last vehicle under consideration is a Toyota Hiace Bus 2016 model, which by our findings, goes for $65,000 or N16,250,000 in naira value.

An addition of 75 percent, being duty, levy and profit, put the cost of the bus at N28,437,500.00
Below is the number of vehicles and estimated cost in summary.
120NOS Toyota Land Cruiser — N4,410,000,000:00
1Nos.Mercedes Benz S550 — N49,020,625:00
4nos. Toyota Prado — N149,650,000:00
4nos Toyota Hilux SS — N102,407,500:00
1Nos. Toyota Hiace Bus — N28,437,500:00

Grand total: N4.739,515,625.00

A cocktail of illegalities

PREMIUM TIMES can report that the acquisition of cars for senators is a violation of the monetisation policy of the federal government.
Under the policy, no new vehicles should be purchased by any agency of government for use by officials.
Rather, public officers and political office holders are to receive 250 per cent of their annual basic salary as motor vehicle loan, which translates to N5.07 million for each senator.
Our sources at the National Assembly said the Senators got these loans before also proceeding to acquire these new Toyota Land Cruisers.

Also, the President of the Senate is said to have inherited the vehicles used by his predecessor, and Senate insiders say “he really does not need new cars as the one he uses are in top condition”.

But even if he needs new cars, the number being acquired for him is in excess of what the law provides.
According to the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the Senate President is entitled to a maximum of six vehicles, and not 10 as being bought for him.
He is entitled to two official cars, one pilot car, one protocol/press car, one ambulance and one security car.
Members of the two chambers of the national assembly are renown for their taste for exotic vehicles even after receiving monetary pay in lieu of official vehicles based on the provisions of the law.

The Senate had in the last legislative session bought Toyota Prado Jeeps for each Senator at the cost of over N1.3 billion, coming after both chambers had also bought Toyota Camry, for Senators and Peugeot vehicles for members of the House of Representatives.
The allegedly shady deal involved in the purchase of the Peugeot vehicles formed part of the charges against then Speaker Dimeji Bankole when he was taken to court after completing his term.
What N4.7billion can do

If deployed towards enhancing healthcare delivery, N4.7 billion can be used in building 235 primary health care centres across Nigeria (enough for at least 6 health care centres in each state) at the cost of N20 million each.
The money, N4.7 billion, can also provide over 470,000 children with insecticide-treated mosquito nets at N10,000 each, saving them from the scourge of malaria which today kills more than 300,000 Nigerian children under the age of five annually and responsible for 11 per cent of maternal mortality cases yearly, according to experts at the Malaria Action Programme for States (MAPS).

Still on healthcare, over 10 million Nigerian kids could get complete malaria treatment dosage, at N460 if the N4.7 billion was directed to this life-saving purpose.
If that money is spent on boosting yield of farm produce, the amount can cover the cost of procurement of about 626,667 bags of fertilizers for Nigerian farmers at N7,500 each.
The money –N4.7 billion – can also offset a six-month wage bill of 40,000 minimum wage workers presently owed salary payment by some state governments seeking bailout from the federal government.

In order to provide conducive learning environment in schools, 470,000 sets of school furniture, comprising table and chair at N10,000 each, can be procured at the cost of N4.7 billion. Yet kids sit on bare floors to study in many schools across the country while the parliamentarians gets N4.7 billion to buy cars.
In the housing sector, at N7million per piece, the country can provide 671 additional cheap housing for citizens; and provide 51 thousand households with potable water at N92,000 per household connection.


Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/195022-exclusive-despite-cash-crunch-nigerian-senate-illegally-buying-n4-7billion-exotic-cars-for-saraki-other-senators.html

Do we now have Shiites in Nigeria?

Following his failure to pay back a debt of N924,788,754.56, a Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered that all accounts belonging to former Super Eagles captain, Kanu Nwankwo in all commercial banks in the country should be frozen.
Apart from Kanu, others affected by the order given by Justice Okon Abang are is company, The Hardley Apartments and a Director of the company, Ayoola Gam-Ikon.

Their account are to remain frozen pending the hearing of a debt recovery suit filed against them by the Asset Management Corporation Of Nigeria (AMCON).

In an affidavit filed in support of the suit and sworn to by a Credit officer in the Directorate of AMCON, Victor Igabor, the deponent averred that…
sometime between May, 2008 and 10 January, 2011 Skye Bank offered The Hardley Apartments, which is engaged in business of hospitality and located at Plot 46, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos, a loan of N520,457,000.
The loan was secured by a mortgage on the company’s three blocks of forty accommodation units with estimated open market value of N395 million as well as unconditional personal, joint and several guarantee of Ayoola Gam-Ikon and NwankwoKanu.
The defendants failed to repay the loan with the accrued interest despite repeated demands, consequent upon which Skye Bank Plc assigned the defendants indebtedness in the sum of N558,313,905.37 as at 1 April, 2011 to AMCON as a toxic bank asset in line with the establishment objective of AMCON.


Source: http://www.informationng.com/?p=337363

*Tribune, Telegraph, Daily Independent, Peoples Daily Disown Obaigbena, Over Ex-NSA Dasuki Payment Claim

The managements of four newspapers on Friday dissociated themselves from the 12 media houses said to have collected N10 million each from the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, in March this year.

The four newspapers are African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles; Peoples Media Limited, publishers of Peoples Daily; Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, publishers of New Telegraph, Saturday Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, and Independent Newspapers Limited, publishers of Daily Independent newspapers,.

The publisher of ThisDay Newspapers, Nduka Obaigbena, had claimed in his response to a letter of invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, that he received N120 million in March 2015 on behalf of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria and the 12 newspapers.

The newspapers had demanded compensation for the “unlawful seizure and stoppage of circulation of their newspapers by armed soldiers in Abuja and several cities” during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

But in a statement Friday, the management of Tribune said at no time was any money received by the company from Mr. Obaigbena as compensation for attacks on its operations and personnel by soldiers in June 2014.

The Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the media organization, Edward Dickson, explained that although it had filed claims like all other newspapers as requested by the NPAN, no payment was received, contrary to claims by Mr. Obaigbena.

“Our attention has been drawn to claims by the Publisher of Thisday newspapers, who is also the President of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, that a sum of N10 million was paid to our company through NPAN by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as compensation for the disruption of our circulation operations, seizure of our newspapers and damage to our property by soldiers in June 2014,” Mr Dickson said.

“Although, like other NPAN members, we filed claims as requested for by NPAN, the fact of the matter is that up till this moment, 11th December, 2015, our company is yet to receive a kobo as compensation through NPAN for the 2014 disruptive activities of the military to our operations.”

The management of New Telegraph newspapers also denied receiving any money from Mr. Obaigbena, despite repeated demands for same from NPAN.

“It is on record that following the decision of NPAN to seek compensation from the Federal Government in the aftermath of the seizure of editions of newspapers by the military, New Telegraph computed its losses, which were passed to the association.

However, since then, the company has heard nothing from the association on the matter,” the Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Funke Egbemode, said in a statement.

Mrs. Egbemode, who claimed the amount reportedly being disbursed by NPAN was N9 million and not N10 million, said the management of Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited had written three letters to NPAN demanding its share of the compensation.

She expressed regrets that not even a kobo has so far been received from NPAN by the company.

“The first letter was written on May 22, 2015, followed by another on July 16, 2015, with a reminder written on November 19, 2015,” Mrs. Egbemode explained.

She described as “nothing, but sheer falsehood” claims by Mr. Obaigbena that he received N120 million from the former NSA on behalf of the NPAN on behalf of 12 newspapers, including New Telegraph Newspapers.

The Chief Operating Officer of the Peoples Daily newspaper, Ali Ali, also said the newspaper never received any such money under whatever guise.
“One of the revelations on the current inquisition of the tenure of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) is that this newspaper, among several other national dailies, received the sum of N10million from the office of the former NSA through Nduka Obaigbena, the President of Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN.

“This is news to us. At no time was such money made available to us in whatever guise. We wish to state clearly that it is false and therefore, wish to completely distance this medium from this revelation.

“We don’t know of others, therefore, we can’t speak for them,” said the newspaper.

The Chief Executive Officer, Independent Newspapers Limited, publishers of Daily Independent newspapers, Ted Iwere, also denied receiving payment.
Although Mr. Iwere could not be reached late last night for comments, a source close to the company told PREMIUM TIMES he (Mr. Iwere) had earlier contacted Mr. Obaigbena on reading reports that his company was paid the money.

Mr. Obaigbena was said to have responded by saying inform the cheque for Daily Independent was available for collection at the NPAN Secretariat in Lagos.

The ThisDay publisher did not answer or return calls made to him last night by a PREMIUM TIMES reporter seeking comments for this story.


Source: http://saharareporters.com/2015/12/12/tribune-telegraph-daily-independent-peoples-daily-disown-obaigbena-over-ex-nsa-dasuki

joseph1832:
Honestly, I wonder whether you are actually this stewpid offline?

My brother I wonder ooo

On the 5th of dec, 2015, Bayelsa guber polls election in Oporoma, southern-ijaw headquaters held on a bloody note with four persons gunned down and others sustaining various degrees of injuries from stray bullets and machetes, meted out on them by APC led militants on the order of Donald Egberien, Gideon Ekewei.

Investigation revealed that, two buildings located in Oporoma belonging to Donald Egberibien and Mr Omiehi aka ‘Oma tein kpo tein’ were used as hide-out for militants,hoodlums imported into the town by APC chieftains, Donald Egberibien and Gideon Ekewei with the sole aim of disrupting the distribution of election materials and inflicting fear on potential voters.

Acting on a tip off, Police men aided by concerned citizens raided the hideout of these thugs and uncovered over 35 pieces of AK 47’s and two bazookas being loaded with ammunition by the militants, to wreck more havoc on unsuspecting residents, but fortunately, the security operatives swooped-in, over powering the militants leading to their arrest.

The JTF was called by the police to assist in the transfer of arrested APC hoodlums,but on getting to the location, the military men released the militants, ordering their doctor to commence treatment on Gideon Ekewei’s younger brother, Foncha Ekewei and other injured militants.

At the time of filling-in this report, Several attempts to get clarification on the where abouts of Egberibien, Gideon Ekewei, Mr Omiehi aka ‘Oma tein kpo tein and the arrested militants from the JTF command in bayelsa has been rebuffed.


Source: http://scannewsnigeria.com/featured-post/bayelsa-polls-dozens-of-ak-47s-ammunition-uncovered-in-apc-chieftains-home-after-police-raid-jtf-sides-hoodlums/

"Nigeria was never on top of the map when God said, 'Let there be light'."
- Albert Einstein (1938)

"Drinking 'garri' doesn't mean you're poor, but allowing it to swell before drinking is Poverty.
- Isaac Newton (1842)

"He who runs around looking for scissors to cut Indomie seasoning sachets is not yet hungry."
- Adolf Hilter (1996)

"It is only when you see a mosquito landing on your testicles that you realise that there are ways of solving problems without violence."
- Aristotle (1762)

"Only a courageous woman can fry a bunch of plantain without tasting any."
- Queen Elizabeth (1945)

"He who unwraps a sharwama before tasting it cannot keep a secret."
- Abraham Lincoln (1864)

"Any man that uses his teeth to cut 'shaki' from pepper-soup with his eyes wide open is not afraid of anything."
- Martin Luther King Jnr (1900).

"Anyone who thinks he has many enemies has never been with a mountain of fire member."
- William Shakespeare (1788).

"Anyone who graduated without experiencing strike probably has never been to Nigeria."
- Lord Lugard (1904).

"He who refuses to classify 'agege' bread and 'akara' as a type of sandwich is a racist."
- Martin Luther king Jnr (1931).

"Any man who drinks 'alomo' bitters without squeezing his face, is capable of murder."
- Obasanjo(1999)

"Anyone who puts stew on 'jollof' rice has trust issues."
- Fela Kuti (1979)

"Anyone that reads this without laughing, that person is looking for a job."
- Akpos (2015)


Source: https://web.facebook.com/forum9ja/posts/1024958010899332

Sorry who is Victor Ikpeba?

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday declared its candidate Governor Idris Wada as the winner of the governorship election in Kogi State.

According to the party, its standard bearer at the polls on November 21 and December 5 scored 201,877 votes against All Progressives Congress (APC) Yahaya Bello’s 6,885 votes at the supplementary election. The PDP said Wada had more votes than Bello and therefore, should be returned by INEC.

The election which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared inconclusive on November 21, was deemed to have been concluded at the weekend, with voting in 91 polling units across 18 local government areas.

It was won by Bello of the APC. Bello was named the party’s candidate following the November 22 death of its former candidate Prince Abubakar Audu, who looked good to unseat Wada after polling 240, 876 votes on November 21.

But the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, described Bello’s declaration as winner of the poll by the electoral umpire as “a waste of time” that will not stand.

According to the PDP, INEC’s declaration of Bello as winner amounted to a “waste of time, a waste of scarce national resources and ridiculous shadow-chasing”. It insisted that Bello did not participate in the entire election and as such, could not be declared the winner.

To the PDP, “INEC declared Bello winner just to satisfy President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC. INEC has made a mockery of itself and the entire electoral process”.

By the PDP’s reckoning, Bello scored only 6,885 votes in the supplementary election, against Wada’s 204, 877 votes in the overall election.

The statement reads: “The action of INEC in trying to transfer the votes earlier garnered by the dead APC candidate, Prince Audu Abubakar, to another individual is completely impractical and alien to the nation’s Constitution and the Electoral Act.

“The declaration by INEC that one Yahaya Bello polled the highest number of votes is an embarrassing travesty of the nation’s democracy and electoral process.

“Not only that this individual is not in any way a valid candidate in the election, he also did not score the overall votes declared against his name by INEC and cannot be declared winner under any circumstance within the provisions of our laws.

“The provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act are clear to the effect that with the unfortunate death of Prince Abubakar Audu before the conclusion of the election, and the fact that the laws do not permit the replacement of candidates once the balloting has commenced, the APC crashed out of the race, leaving the PDP candidate, Governor Idris Wada, as the clear winner, having garnered 204,877 votes to top all other contestants since, Prince Ababakar, the hitherto leading contestant, died with his votes.

“It is, therefore, unfortunate that INEC disregarded the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, which left it with no other legitimate option than to declare Governor Idris Wada the governor-elect. Instead, it went ahead to preside over a charade, for which it is now attempting to illicitly hand over the vote cast for a dead man to another person, who did not participate in the overall election.

“We all, including INEC and the APC, know that nothing other than declaring Governor Idris Wada winner of the election fulfills the requirements of the law under the circumstance.

“The APC cannot have two candidates in one election and the bitter in-fighting within their fold shows the absurdity of INEC’s decision in that regard. Indeed, we remain shocked that INEC could elect to create such embarrassing and inciting setting just to show its ‘friendship’ with the ruling government.

“Our advice to the APC, Yahaya Bello and their co-travellers in illegality is that theirs is a mere pipe dream as Governor Wada remains validly elected within the dictates of our laws under the circumstance.”

“Finally, we charge all our members and supporters to remain calm and resist all provocation from the APC, which is now seeking the opportunity to trigger violence in the face of their misfortune, especially as the law will soon take the center stage, right the wrong created by INEC and declare Governor Wada winner.”

On the Bayelsa State governorship election, the PDP accused the APC of manipulating the process.

Speaking through Metuh, the PDP alleged plots by the APC and the military to rig election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, which was rescheduled till yesterday following the disruption of the process on Saturday.

Five persons were reported killed in the violence that ensued as the election got underway on Saturday

Metuh, in a statement, alleged that the plot was being coordinated by “the same Army Major, who supervised the killings yesterday”.

The statement accused the unnamed officer of having handed most of the sensitive electoral materials to APC agents to fill and return as authentic results.

“The Southern Ijaw Local Government Area is the largest local government in the state and the APC wants to use this scheme to inflate result figures in favour of their candidate,” the statement read.

A. Audu’s son
B. Audu's running mate
C. Gov. Wada
D. Fresh polls should be conducted

Biafra: Transfer me to prison custody, Kanu begs court

Hundreds of agitators for the creation of Biafra Republic, yesterday, besieged an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2, demanding the unconditional release of the self-declared leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

The placard carrying protesters, who wore T-shirts and caps with inscriptions like “Biafra Now or Never”, “Buhari Release Kanu For Us”, “On Biafra We Stand”, yesterday, sang and danced outside the court premises, while hearing was going on in the criminal case that was entered against Kanu by the federal government.

Meantime, following an order of the court, the Department of State Security, DSS, yesterday, produced the detained Director of Radio Biafra and Television, Kanu.

Chief Magistrate Shauibu Usman had at the last adjourned date, berated the DSS over its failure to produce Kanu in court on two consecutive times the matter came up before the court.

Magistrate Usman said he was disappointed that the security agency refused to produce Kanu despite an express order of the court.

Consequently, he directed that the accused person must be brought before the court yesterday.

Meanwhile, at the resumed hearing on the matter yesterday, Kanu, who the government accused of engaging in criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society, as well as indulging in criminal intimidation, contrary to section 97 (a)&(b) and section 397 of the Penal Code, begged to be transferred to prison custody.

His lawyer, Mr. Vincent Egechukwu Obeta, insisted that transferring his client to prison would enable him to have easy access to his legal team.

Obeta made the application shortly after the DSS, yesterday, urged the Magistrate Court to hands-off Kanu’s trial.

The DSS, through its lawyer, Mr Moses Idakwo, told the court that it has already secured an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja to further detain Kanu for another 90 days.

It said that the order which was granted by Justice Ademola Adeniyi, was to enable the government to conclude investigation into an allegation that Kanu was involved in terrorism financing.

Consequently, the DSS, yesterday, applied to withdraw the initial First Information Report, FIR, it lodged against Kanu before the Chief Magistrate Court.

The agency maintained that the government would file a fresh charge against Kanu before a higher court, once its ongoing investigation is concluded.

Idakwo therefore asked Magistrate Usman to step down from the trial on the ground that his court lacks the power and jurisdiction to prosecute terrorism charges.

The application was vehemently opposed by Kanu’s lawyer Obeta, who insisted that the bail earlier granted the accused person must firstly be complied with before any application for transfer of the case to a federal high court could be entertained.

After listening to both parties, Magistrate Usman adjourned the case till December 1 for ruling.

Kanu who was brought to court yesterday under heavy security, was on October 17, picked up in Lagos by security operatives, shortly after he arrived Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.

He had On October 19, pleaded not guilty to the FIR that was filed against him by the Nigerian government, and was subsequently granted him bail to the tune of N2million.

The court further directed the defendant to produce a civil servant of Grade Level 16, to stand as his surety.

However, following allegation that the DSS, refused to release the accused person after he had perfected the bail conditions, the Magistrate, in a ruling on October 23, ordered that he should be brought to court on November 18, an order that was not complied with.

Magistrate Usman insisted that no trial could continue in a criminal case in the absence of the accused, saying the only condition that could make a court to excuse the absence of an accused had not arisen.

He therefore ordered the DSS to ensure the presence of the defendant in court yesterday.

Specifically, Kanu, is standing trial on criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society and criminal intimidation contrary to Section 97, 97B and 397 of the penal code.

The fact of the case, according to DSS report was that the accused formed an unlawful society with the purpose of bringing into being a Republic of Biafra.

He was alleged to have proclaimed himself as the leader of the Republic of Biafra and established a radio of Biafra.

Kanu was also alleged to have appointed himself Commander of the Loyal Forces of Biafra and was broadcasting to the whole world the dire consequences of the government and people of Nigeria will surfer should they attempt hinder the actualization of the Republic of Biafra.


Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/biafra-transfer-me-to-prison-custody-kanu-begs-court/

Para leading to paranoid

As hunter (EFCC Boss) turns hunted

The Federal Government has ordered an immediate probe into an allegation that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, illegally diverted about N1trillion, being proceeds of corruption that was recovered by the agency.

‎FG, through the Federal Ministry of Justice, directed the commission to open investigation into ‎a petition dated September 18, 2015, which was forwarded to the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr. Abdullahi Yola, by ‎the Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security Systems, Mr. George Uboh.

The commission was specifically ordered to ‎probe the matter and forward the outcome of its investigation to the Federal Ministry of Justice for consideration and possible follow-up action.

‎More so, FG, through a letter with reference number, DPPA/PET/EFCC/006/2008,‎ notified the petitioner that it has okayed investigation into the allegation against Lamorde.

The said letter which was signed by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. M.S. Diri, read: “I refer to your letter dated the 28th September, 2015, in respect of the above mentioned subject matter.

“I am directed to inform you that your petition has been sent to the EFCC for their response to the allegation contained therein. The commission has been directed by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary to forward the result of its investigation as soon as it is completed.

“Accept please, the assurances of the highest regards of the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary.”

Uboh had in his petition, aside demanding that Lamorde should be investigated, also urged the Justice Ministry to divest the EFCC under Lamorde of the Fiat to prosecute criminal suspects.

He also sought an immediate issuance of “fiat for the prosecution of EFCC’s past and present leadership and their known and unknown co-conspirators via the 22-page preliminary criminal charges the undersigned has prepared.”

‎Dissatisfied with the way his petition was initially handled, Uboh, sent a reminder letter dated September 28, to the Solicitor General of the Federation wherein he threatened to drag the ministry to court should he fail to respond to his petition within seven days.


Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/alleged-diversion-of-recovered-loot-fg-okays-lamorde-for-probe/

Imagine a media page saying this to her fan..

Too bad..

Anyways, the page died long time ago

I smell PDP evil agent

Armed security men have taken over all the entrances leading to the National Assembly complex.

Finding shows that the threat of protest by some groups against certain ministerial nominees may have informed the security build up to ward off unwanted elements.

Workers and visitors are being frisked before being allowed to enter the complex.

The Senate President is expected to unveil the ministerial nominees when sitting resumes.

The Ministerial list had been sent to the Senate last Thursday by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Source: http://thenationonlineng.net/ministerial-list-tight-security-in-national-assembly/

A long time ago in China, a girl named Li-Li got married and went to live with her husband and mother-in-law.

In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn’t get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law’s habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly.

Days passed days, and weeks passed weeks. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing the poor husband great distress.

Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law’s bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it.

Li-Li went to see her father’s good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all. Mr. Huang thought for a while, and finally said, “Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.”

Li-Li said, “Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do.” Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs.

He told Li-Li, “You can’t use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. Don’t argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen.”

Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law.

Weeks went by, months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother. After six months had passed, the whole household had changed.

Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn’t had an argument in six months with her mother-in-law, who now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.

The mother-in-law’s attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter.

Li-Li’s husband was very happy to see what was happening.

One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again. She said, “Mr. Huang, please help me to stop the poison from killing my mother-in-law! She’s changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.”

Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. “Li-Li, there’s nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her.”


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Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke today in London appeared in court with her mother, Beatrice Agama, and one Melanie Spencer.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke was arrested last week by the UK National Crime Agency over allegations that she engaged in bribery and money laundering. Earlier today, SaharaReporters published a detailed report about how the former minister looted and laundered funds in the United Kingdom using a network of relatives, co-workers and shady businessmen. Mrs. Madueke’s case came to the attention of law enforcement agents in the UK when she used her mother to purchase a posh apartment in Westminster.

Although it is confirmed that Mrs. Alison-Madueke will be charged alongside her mother and possibly an aide, SaharaReporters has been unable to confirm the identity of the other two persons who were arrested with the former minister.

Source: http://saharareporters.com/2015/10/05/nigeria%E2%80%99s-ex-minister-oil-appears-mother-uk-magistrate-court

Very funny

Russia's Federation Council has given President Vladimir Putin the OK to use the Russian air force in Syria, state media reported.

"The Federation Council unanimously supported the president's request - 162 votes in favor of granting permission," Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergey Ivanov said, according to Itar-Tass.

The vote came after a request by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for military assistance in fighting ISIS, Ivanov said.

Russian airstrikes in Syria could happen at any time, a U.S. official with knowledge of the latest intelligence told CNN this week.

"They could start at any moment," the official said. "They are ready."

After several days of Russian familiarization flights, there is no reason they could not begin, the official added. And Russian drones have been collecting potential targeting information in their flights. But the U.S. doesn't know what the Russians have in mind and when they will make a decision on airstrikes.

Four Russian SU-34 Fullback fighters are now at the Latakia air base, and more than 600 Russian troops are in place.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told reporters Tuesday that Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter directed his staff to "open lines of communication with Russia on de-confliction."

The timing of these discussions is to be worked out in the coming days. The purpose of the discussions is "to ensure the safety of coalition air crews," he said.

Cook added that the two nations have common ground when it comes to fighting ISIS, also known as ISIL, with Carter making clear that "the goal should be to take the fight to ISIL and not to defend the Assad regime."


Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/30/politics/russia-syria-airstrikes-isis/index.html?sr=cnnifb

A former spokesperson to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Abati, on Monday charged journalists to hold political office holders to account, and ensure they implement viable economic policies for national development.

Mr. Abati, who was a guest lecturer at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Correspondents’ Chapel 2015 Press Week at Iwe-Iroyin, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, said most economic policies of previous governments failed due to lack of dedication and sustenance on the part of public office holders.NUJ

He spoke on the topic, “Media and Economic Renaissance: Media as a tool for economic diversification”.
The former presidential spokesperson tasked journalists to always, through their reports, make public office holders to be accountable to the people since they are holding office in trust for the people.

Mr. Abati also observed that the lack of continuity of viable economic policies has not helped Nigeria, saying that the nation began to decline economically when it hinged its fiscal budget on oil market price, at the expense of agriculture.
He advised journalists not to trade off their dignity and professional ethics.

The event was attended by Niran Malaolu, Managing Director of Rock City F.M, Yemisi Fadairo, former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, NSCDC officials, State Chairman of NUJ, Wole Sokunbi, former NUJ chairman, Niyi Ogungbola, Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, former NUJ zonal secretary, among others.


Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/190730-dont-trade-off-your-professional-ethics-abati-tells-journalists.html

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II secretly marries 18-Year old High School Graduate Sa’adatu Barkindo-Musdafa, the daughter of the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo-Musdafa. The 18-year old becomes the Emir’s fourth wife. She recently completed secondary school and is been enrolled for advanced level studies.The secret wedding was contracted in a low-keyed ceremony in the town of Yola on Friday.

What are your thoughts about this union? Explain.