₦airaland Forum

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has challenged banks in Nigeria to create wealth instead of degenerating into only issues of depositing money in the banks.
Umahi made his feelings known during an interactive meeting he had with CBN Financial inclusion strategy Implementation team at the Government House, Abakaliki on Thursday.

The governor, who was visibly unhappy over the bottlenecks and attitudes of some banks towards granting loans to farmers, called on the CBN to assist Ebonyi State attain its agricultural potential.“We will not welcome you again unless you take positive steps to help our state. This state is not wealthy in spite of the fact that we were the first to give palm and cement to the country. But now, how many Federal projects are ongoing in this state? So, you have to help us,” he said in a statement on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya.
He added, “Banks generally have degenerated to the issue of depositing money. Banks are not creating wealth in Nigeria. Can’t banks come out with programmes that create wealth amongst the people? Let me give you an example. A bank can say, ‘give me 13 people from Ebonyi State that we can take to China to learn how to make shoes and clothes.’ When such people return, you can then give them N5m each to buy equipment and start production. Such people can start paying back with time, but regrettably, banks are not doing so. They are just chasing deposits.”

Umahi said now was the time for banks to start investing in people and help governments to tap their natural resources.“We must invest in our people. Look at solid minerals scattered everywhere in Ebonyi State. We are sitting on money and banks have to come and help us exploit our God-given resources.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/nigerian-banks-are-not-creating-wealth.html?m=1

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State’s, Mr John Mayaki, on Thursday in Port-Harcourt, received the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG)–Engine Lubricant Dealers ‘Prestigious’ award.
According to the body, Mayaki was awarded in recognition of his role as ‘Best Mass Communicator and Respected Stakeholder in the Economic Development and Progress of Edo State’.
The union said it had observed Mayaki’s sense of humility and his contributions to the society as well as his demonstrations through his media relations with the people of Edo State and Nigeria in general.
Mayaki, who once worked as a reporter at The Hope Newspaper in Akure, as well as The Comet and The Nation Newspapers, appreciated the body for deeming him worthy of receiving the award.
Represented by Mr. Nathaniel James, Mayaki noted that information had become a key factor of production with the increase in media for dispelling such information and the improved ease of access to information.
He said: “Since the advent of the 21st century there is a growing consensus that information has become the most valuable factor of production in the context of the development of any economy.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/obasekis-cps-bags-nupeng-award.html?m=1

A woman was burnt to death in a tanker accident in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday.

Three vehicles and three buildings were also razed by the inferno.

The accident occurred around 11:30 a.m. at Eleyele area of the city when the tanker, filled with 33,000 litres of diesel detached from the vehicle while ascending a hill.

An eyewitness, Lekan Durosaro, said the tanker rolled over a Nissan Almera car which was coming behind it and caught fire immediately.
The intensity of the fire made it difficult for rescue team deployed to the scene of the accident, to save the woman who was trapped in the car.
The rescue team including policemen, men of the Department of State Security Services (DSS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) and personnel from the state fire service tried to identify the woman or any other thing that could reveal her identity.
Sympathizers wailed as her body was pulled out from the wreckage by rescuers.
The driver of the truck who was said to be a very young man and the motor boy fled the scene for fear of being lynched by angry mob.
Before fire fighters arrived the scene, three buildings including a church, Save and Serve Ministries, were affected.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/woman-burnt-to-death-in-oyo-tanker.html

Mercy Aigbe’s estranged husband Lanre Gentry has been freed from prison.

Gentry, was released late Tuesday evening after one week in prison custody and meeting the bail conditions.

He was detained by the Police on two-count charge of Assault and Battery.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/lanre-gentry-released-from-prison.html

A total of 335 foreign nationals were on Tuesday in Abuja granted citizenship by the federal government after statutory clearance and due diligence by the relevant security agencies.

Mrs. Lara Oshiomhole, wife of former Governor of Edo, Adams Oshiomole, who is from Cape Verde, is one of the recipients.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he explained that 245 of the foreigners approved were granted Citizenship by Naturalisation while 90 were by registration, mainly foreign women married to Nigerians.
“Let me say that application for the Citizenship of Nigeria which can be by Naturalisation or Registration is provided for in Chapter 3, Sections 26 and 27 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ the minister explained.
The minister said that the approval was part of government’s effort on the “Ease of doing business in Nigeria” and boosting Nigeria’s image in line with international best practice.
He tasked the “new Nigerian citizens” to be of good conduct, respect the rights and customs of their communities and contribute to the development of Nigeria.
Damabazau said the last time such ceremony was conducted was in December, 2013 and pledged to ensure its sustenance on an annual basis for proper scrutiny.
Dr Lamabert Shumbusho, from Rwanda, who responded on behalf of the recipients, thanked the federal government and pledged their loyalty and commitment to the development of Nigeria.
Other recipients include nationals from Lebanon, Syria, Pakistan, China and some African countries, most of whom are business moguls who have been operating in Nigeria for years.
The Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) are charged with the responsibility of processing applications for naturalisation from foreign nationals who have stayed/lived in Nigeria for a minimum of 15 years and those by Registration who are mainly married to Nigerians.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/oshiomholes-wife-334-foreign-nationals.html

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday asked Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) to stay permanently off all roads across the state and challenged them to come up with technology to monitor and track vehicle registration and Ministry of Transportation (MOT) certifications.


He unveiled the strategic projects alongside the state’s Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Mr. Adebowale Akinsanya, and Permanent Secretary, Works & Infrastructure, Mr. Temidayo Erinle, among others.
Before unveiling the projects that will redefine the flow of traffic at Ojodu Berger, the governor said that the VIOs “have been asked to stay off our roads permanently”.
He also asked the FRSC “to stay on the fringes and highways and not on the main streets of Lagos”.
Ambode lamented that both VIOs and FRSC contribute “to the traffic challenges on our roads”.
“We will employ technology to track and monitor vehicle registration and MOT certifications,” he said.
On the projects, Ambode noted that he would always ensure that promises made are promises kept.
“We will continue to rely on the support of all segments of the population for regular tax payments.”
He explained that obeying the rule of law and protection of public infrastructure was the only way the state could progress and achieve its goal of being one of the world’s top centres for business, entertainment and leisure.
“As we celebrate the golden jubilee anniversary of our state, I am confident that the future prospects are very promising and that the journey of the next fifty years is commencing on a very sound and solid footing.
“Our state has lived up to its reputation as a land of possibilities, a centre of excellence and we are on our way to becoming a truly global city-state. As we celebrate the delivery of this facility, I wish you all happy golden jubilee anniversary celebration,” he said.
At the inauguration, Akinsanya explained that the projects were conceived by the Ambode administration in response “to the yearnings of the people of this community for an improved, efficient and gridlock-free road network and the need to preserve the sanctity of life of Lagosians”.
He said the bridge was a major life-saving device designed to stop avoidable loss of lives at the Berger end of Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
“It is also meant to decongest traffic in the area, which informed the provision of laybys and the slip roads that take passenger buses off the road.”
Ambode also directed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to stay off the inner-city roads and the main streets of Lagos, saying the operation of the federal agency should henceforth be restricted to the fringes and highways over which the federal government has jurisdiction.
He gave the directives on Tuesday at the inauguration of pedestrian bridges, laybys and slip roads at Ojodu Berger, stating that the three-in-one project was conceived and executed by his administration to end the intractable gridlock and avoidable loss of lives in the area.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/ambode-bans-vios-from-lagos-roads_17.html

An Auckland woman was "mentally and financially drained" after losing more than $300,000 to several overseas accounts in a social media romance scam.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous and asked to be called Linda, shared her story with the Herald with the hope of warning others of similar traps.

The 54-year-old businesswoman said she was introduced through Facebook by a "mutual friend" to a man "presenting himself as a caring, religious and spiritual person".

Identifying himself as "Jim David Morrison", the British-American man began exchanging messages with Linda on WeChat, a social media chat site, in August last year.Linda, who has been in relationships but never married, was charmed by the man, unaware he was a fraudster.

"We talked about family background, pets, religious beliefs, business and life experience, where we had travelled to, and arrangements for future life including buying property in New Zealand," Linda said in a police statement, obtained by the Herald.Jim claimed he was a 40-year-old who owned a Scotland-based company called Morrison Construction, and had won a United Nations construction project to help rebuild Lebanon.

"Towards late September he was still talking about buying a home in New Zealand. It was then he introduced the topic of making me as an authorised signee to his bank account."

Linda said she "felt very uneasy" when her admirer first broached the idea of his financial arrangements."It was his way of showing me that he had faith in my abilities to look after his business and personal interests. I felt honoured."

Jim told Linda he was worried about his safety in Lebanon, where there was a "risk foreign workers can be kidnapped", and asked her to be his next of kin.

Linda later said these were all tactics Jim used to "lure me into his web of deception".

"I was led to believe that this person, who I had met through an acquaintance, was genuine and had good moral standards."

She was given Jim's account details at what was described as a Scottish investment bank.

After contacting the "bank" and proceeding through security checks, Linda was named as a co-signer of Jim's account.

The bank asked her to make an initial deposit of US$15,000 ($21,780), before a second payment of US$45,000 ($65,350) was required for a Bank of America account in San Diego.

Growing increasingly brazen, the scammer(s), via the investment bank, further asked Linda to pay an fee of US$85,000 ($123,430) to receive an "anti-terrorist clearance certificate" and cover wire transfers of more than US$5 million ($7.25m).

Linda didn't pay the fee, but a few days later Jim raised the issue of helping him with a personal loan of $US10,000 ($14,500) for a Kuala Lumpur-based building supplier.

She loaned the money, after which Jim said he'd made a mistake and required a further US$40,000 ($58,000), which Linda paid.Jim claimed his Beirut construction project had developed problems, and he had to pay income tax to the Lebanese Government.

He asked and received for a further US$50,000.

"Of course I was very reluctant to make further loan payments. Then he told me about the kidnapping of a foreign worker from a construction site next to his," she said.

In total, Linda forked out more than $300,000.

"By this time I was stressed out emotionally, mentally and financially drained [and] hoping to get my loans back as soon as possible."

Linda made her final US$50,000 payment for the Lebanese tax.But Jim continued to ask for more money, and as Linda began to question him, he became more aggressive with in his messages.

"Why did you not mortgage or borrow from your own house, or borrow from your friend," he wrote.

Linda said the messages continued for several more weeks into this year.

"By this time I had become very ill, relied on sleeping pills and stomach ulcers [had developed] due to the stress from the debt and emotional turmoil," she said.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/auckland-woman-loses-more-than-300k-in.html

Academic activities were yesterday halted as workers of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) began an indefinite strike.

The workers protested against alleged victimisation, intimidation and non-payment of their hazard allowances.

They blocked the gate leading to the university and other major roads, causing a traffic gridlock in the area.
Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), participated in the strike.

The workers threatened not to call off the strike until their demands were met.
The NAAT Chairman, Ekundayo Ajibaye, called for the immediate withdrawal of the queries issued to the union leaders, as well as the dissolution of the panel raised to intimidate the workers.
“We are fighting impunity and corruption at the university and we want the Federal Government to beam its searchlight here,” he said.
The workers also called for the establishment of a budget monitoring committee to look into the allegation of financial impropriety against the management.
The university’s management had suspended the union leaders for allegedly disrupting the meeting of the university’s governing council held in the school last week.
It took the intervention of the Oye Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sadiku Afolabi, to pacify the workers to remove the blockages.
Also, NASU Chairman, Dada Adebayo and SSANU Chairman, Babafunso Awe, also justified the strike.
Reacting, the university’s spokesman, Godfrey Bakji, said there was no reason for the unions to go on strike, especially as their leaders had been suspended.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/ekiti-varsity-workers-begin-indefinite.html

For the financial year ended December 31, 2016, Wema Bank Plc has posted gross earnings of N54.25 billion and Profit After Tax (PAT) of N2.59 billion.

Addressing shareholders during the bank’s yearly general meeting held in Lagos, on Wednesday, the Managing Director of the bank, Segun Oloketuyi, told shareholders that the bank recorded a double-digit growth in gross earnings of 18.48 per cent from N45.79 billion to N54.25 billion, driven by an 18.61 per cent and 13.61 per cent increase in Interest and Non-Interest Income respectively.

Similarly, PAT, according to him stood at N2.59 billion, representing 14.10 per cent rise over the N2.27 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2015.

He explained that as a well-focused financial institution dedicated to continuously provide convenient banking opportunities for its loyal customers, the bank recently launched ALAT, Nigeria’s first fully Digital Bank.
Oloketuyi explained that despite the challenging operating environment in 2016, particularly in the banking industry, the bank benefited from its improved brand acceptance and market penetration.
“Sound risk management practices remain at the core of our business model. The bank was not immune to the impact of the economic slowdown, but a more prudent approach was taken, in providing for some loans. We closed with a Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio of 5.07 per cent from 2.67 per cent in the prior year. In addition, our coverage ratio remains robust at 100 per cent with Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) at 11.07 per cent, which is above the regulatory minimum of 10 per cent.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/wema-bank-posts-n5425b-gross-earnings.html

Gunmen suspected to be assassins have killed a Benin-based lawyer, Barrister Agbontean Eghosa Odiase and a policeman, Sergeant Sunday Agbonmwenma at Avbiama community in Ikpoba-Okha local government area.

Odiase was killed at his residence in the presence of his wife and children while Sergeant Sunday was killed while on his way home.

Witnesses said the gunmen killed the policeman after they had killed the lawyer.

Wife of the late lawyer said the gunmen invaded their residence at about 10pm last week.
She said the killers only took her late husband’s phone.
According to her, “We heard a bang inside the compound. My husband jumped up from the bed, we peeped through the window, we saw a boy half naked with a scar on his head. My husband started making calls.
“Before we knew it, they shot and broke through the window and were inside with us. They told my husband to shout or call anybody he wanted to call as they were ready for him that night. I quickly took my three children to the other room while the eldest child ran back to meet his father with the three gunmen.
“Then, I heard two gun shots and everywhere was silent. Thereafter, they said to themselves, let us go the man is dead”.
Owner of the firm where late Odiase worked, Barrister Chris Agbonwanegbe urged security agencies to be discreet in their investigation into the killings.
Wife of the late policeman, Rosemary, said she was expecting her husband at home but he never came home.
Her words, “My husband called me in the afternoon to inform me that he would not travel again and he was preparing to return to the house.“About 8pm I called my husband because he does not come home late. He said the mechanic was still working on his car and that he has bought a torch for him to work with.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/gunmen-kill-lawyer-policeman-in-edo.html

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has met with a musician, who was recently arrested and later released by the Department of State Services, DSS, William Chibuzo Mbah Prince for his alleged support for Biafra.

Prince, who was once declared by the DSS as “most wanted artiste” met with the IPOB leader in his hometown in Isiama Afara in Umuahia, Abia over the weekend.The Spain-based musician was arrested and prosecuted for treasonable felony for his music which promotes the struggle for Biafra.

DSS had arrested Prince in the presence of his daughter and her two visiting foreign friends, when they arrived Nigeria from Spain at the car park of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja on 30th of January, 2017 and subsequently charged him for felony.

However, a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja discharged and acquitted Prince of the charge levelled against him.The Magistrate, Balami M, who threw out the case, also warned the DSS against bringing such “meaningless charges” that only constitute a waste of the court time in the future against the accused.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/nnamdi-kanu-prays-for-pro-biafra.html

The 2017 budget was yesterday passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly—147 days after it was laid before them.

President Muhammadu Buhari presented a N7.298 trillion estimate before the joint session on Deember 14, last year.

But the lawmakers passed an estimate of N7.441 trillion, raisng the expected expenditure by N143 billion.
The appropriation committees of both chambers presented the reports of the budget for consideration and the bill was passed with little complaints.Oil price benchmark was raised from $42.50 proposed by the President to $44.50. The lawmakers however retained 2.2 million barrels per day for crude oil production and an exchange rate regime of N305/ USD.
The lawmakwers raised their expenditure plan from N115 billion to N125 billion.
For the first time, the lawmakers released an outlay of their budget.
At the House of Representatives, Chairman, Committee on Appropriation Mustapha Dawaki (APC, Kano) presented the report which was considered and passed.
The Green Chamber suspended the business of the day and dissolved into the Committee of Supply for the consideration and passage of budget with its 12 attached clauses.
There was only one complaint as the Speaker took members through a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill. Members protested against the N84.7 billion Recurrent and Capital budget of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.There were shouts of ‘no, no’, as the Speaker got to the item with the SGF’s budget. Nonetheless, it was passed.
Dawaki said while the Executive proposed a crude oil benchmark of $42.50, the lawmakers approved $44.50. The lawmakers retained 2.2 million barrels per day for Crude Oil production and the Exchange rate regime of N305/ USD.
Explaining the N 143 billion increase in the estimate, Dawaki said: “With the additional expected revenue from the increase in the benchmark price of crude oil, provision has been made from the under listed budgetary needs, among others. This has increased the aggregate figure to N7,441, 175, 486,758.”
The additional expenses are: Judgment debts (Justice) N10 billion; backlog of Corps members allowances ( Youth) N13. 06 billion; repairs of Abuja Airport runway ( Transport) N5.8 billion; increase in personnel cost ( 18 MDAs) N5.1 billion; UNESCO assessed contribution (Education) N1.2 billion; subscription to Shelter Afrique (Power, Works & Housing) N3.6 billion.
Others are: Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) ( Service Wide) N2.5 billion; Amnesty Programme ( Service Wide) N10 billion; National Identity Management Commission (SGF) N5 billion, and Roads Nationwide ( Power, Works and Housing ) N25 billion.
Dawaki added: “ Adequate provision has been made for the improvement of our inland water ways, for the second Abuja runway, and funding of the long- abandoned Itakpe- Warri rail line and the Abeokuta Airstrip.”
SpeakerYakubu Dogara said after the budget consideration: “The House considered and passed the report of the Committee on Appropriations on a Bill authorising the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation the total sum of N7,441, 175, 486,758 (Seven trillion, four hundred and forty- one billion, one hundred and seventy-five million, four hundred and eighty- six thousand, seven hundred and fifty- eight naira only).”
In the budget passed N434. 413 billion is for statutory transfers, N1. 841 trillion is for Debt Service and N177.460 billion is for Sinking Fund from maturing bonds. Also, N 2. 987, 560, 033,436 is for Recurrent Expenditure and 2,177,866,775,867 is for Capital Expenditure .
Fiscal Deficit is N2.356,773,720,940. Deficit to GDP is 2.18 per cent.
The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing received the highest fund of N586,535,786,168, followed by the Federal Ministry of Transport with N256,519,103,581 and the Federal Ministry of Education N455,407,788,565. The Federal Ministry of Health received N308,464,276,248.
For debt servicing, N1,663,885, 430, 449 is allocated and N177,460,296,707 is for sinking fund to retire maturing loans, making a total of N1,841,345,727,206 for debt management.
Ministry of Information and Culture got N9, 546, 245, 041.
Under the Service Wide Vote and Pensions N2, 599,702,192 is allocated for the benefits of retired Heads of the Civil Service of the Federation; N4 billion for Treasury Single Account operations; N2.5 billion is for the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
Allocation for the contentious zonal intervention projects, better known as constituency projects, remained unchanged from 2016 at N100 billion. The North-East intervention fund stays at 45 billion.
The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing got N32, 821, 929, 005 recurrent and N553, 71, 857, 113 for capital expenditure; Ministry of Health receives N252, 854, 396, 662 for recurrent and N10, 291, 783, 534 for capital.
Ministry of Interior is to receive N472, 597, 817, 561 for recurrent and N63, 760, 562, 487 for capital; Ministry of Transportation to receive N14, 810, 103, 581 for recurrent and N241, 709, 000, 000 for capital.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) to get N100, 000, 000, 000 billion; while the Universal Basic Education Scheme is to receive N95, 189, 395, 538 billion.
For the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, it’s N63, 222, 101, 051 billion and N6, 793, 128, 647 for recurrent and capital expenditures respectively.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/national-assembly-passes-n7441-trillion.html

The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) was shut down

Thursday afternoon as students from the University of Benin (UNIBEN)

blocked entrance to the hospital.
The aggrieved students were protesting the death of a
student who was said to have died shortly after being brought to the
hospital.

The students, who protested from the University of Benin main
gate to the UBTH gate alleged that their colleague identified as
Chibuike Jerald, a 300 level student of the Department of Philosophy
and Religion gave up as result of negligence.
The students said his death was avoidable and besieged the hospital in
anger, forcing the UBTH security officials to lock the gates to the
hospital.
Speaking to newsmen, the leader of the group of protesters who gave
his name Agbolahor Manassehon said their colleague died because of
negligience on the part of the hospital management.

“When he was brought in after complaining of fever, we took him to the
Accident and Emergency Department around 8pm last night and met some
doctors at work.
“They told us that they could barely help because they
did not have Adrenaline and intravenous. We were given prescriptions
to go and get the medications.‎
“We searched for the drugs but because it was night we could not get
them on time. By the time we could get the recommended materials, we
were informed he had passed on.

“It is worrying that his death which
was very avoidable was caused by issues as embarassing as a hospital
like UBTH not having syringes and needles.
“It has become a common practice in the UBTH for doctors to demand from
the patients before obliging them medical services due to non
availability of basic medical facilities,” he said.
He also alleged that the continued industrial disharmony in the
institution had affected the quality of health care delivery as
doctors, nurses and other health workers always exhibited nonchalant
attitude due to poor welfare.‎
They called on the management of the hospital to improve on the
relationship with the workers in the hospital so as improve the
quality of health care services given to the public.
The protest came after several warnings from doctors at the
hospital over conditions in the hospital which has made it impossible for doctors to function well.
They listed some of the problems as lack of materials, decaying
infrastructure and what they termed management irresponsibilty.
In March, the Association of Resident Doctors, (ARD) UBTH chapter,
declared a State of Emergency at the hospital due to the acute decay
of administration procedures and state of equipment in the hospital.
But responding to enquiries by the media on the alleged death, the
hospital management neither confirmed nor denied the death of any
student.
The Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the University of
Benin Teaching Hospital, Dr. Casmir Omuemi said UBTH had always been
up and doing in the discharge of service to the public.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/death-of-uniben-student-sparks-students.html

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Abiodun Owonikoko has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) haS no evidence linking his client Mr Rickey Tarfa (SAN) to alleged bribery of two judges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tarfa is being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency of two charges of offering gratification to a public official and perverting the course of justice.

According to the EFCC, Tarfa allegedly bribed Justice Mohammed Yinusa and Justice H.A Ngajiwa to pervert the course of justice.

Tarfa claims to be innocent of the charges.
Owonikoko, made the assertion on Thursday, while cross-examining Mr Danladi Daniel, a detective with the EFCC.
“The EFCC has no evidence directly linking Rickey Tarfa’s chambers to the bank accounts of the judges.
“Our findings revealed that the alleged UBA bank account which belonged to Justice Mohammed Yinusa, belonged to someone who bears the same name, one Mr Mohammed Auwal Yinusa,” he said.
Owonikoko presented to the court an affidavit sworn by Justice Yinusa’s namesake claiming ownership of the said account.
Explaining the alleged illegal communication that the SAN had with the judges, Owonikoko noted that the Tarfa, had prior personal relationships with Justice Ngajiwa and Justice Yinusa.
“Justice Yinusa was one year junior to Rickey Tarfa when he was studying law at the university of Maiduguri from 1982-1986 and they are friends.
“Justice Ngajiwa worked at the chambers of Rickey Tarfa for over 17 years.
“Ever since Ngajiwa became a judge, Rickey Tarfa has never had a case before him.
“Before Ngajiwa became a judge, he had over 300 cases he was handling at the Rickey Tarfa chambers some of which are still pending in court,” he said.
Owonikoko also accused the EFCC of not concluding their investigations before charging the SAN to court
“Justice Yinusa’s statement to the EFCC was given on Oct. 17, 2016 which is seven months after he was charged in February 2016.
“The call logs from MTN which allegedly showed the communications between the defendant and the judges were obtained on Feb. 11, which is six days after the defendant was charged.
“The defendants phones were retrieved by deceit by the operatives of the EFCC, they told Tarfa’s driver that his boss was requesting for his phones and when he brought the phones, they were seized.
“The phones did not become an exhibit of the EFCC until Feb. 9, after the defendant was charged,” Owonikoko claimed.
Owonikoko noted that the EFCC did not profile Tarfa during the course of their investigation.
“You did not try during the course of your investigation to profile Rickey Tarfa and his lawfirm.
“His lawfirm is the biggest lawfirm in Nigeria, employing over 100 lawyers with branches in Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Yola.
“He currently has two retired judges working as consultants for his chambers,” he said.
Responding to Owonikoko’s accusations, Daniel said “The defendant signed a consent of analysis form for his phone, it is not true that the phones became exhibits after Feb. 9, 2017.
“We have documents linking one Esther Agu, a staff of Rickey Tarfa’s chambers to Justice Yinusa, though, we don’t have documents showing that the defendant directly made any payment to the judge.
“I am not aware that ever since Justice Ngajiwa became a judge, the defendant has not had a case before him,” Daniel said.
Earlier, during proceedings, Daniel during his evidence-in-chief, revealed details of text message as well as voice communications between Tarfa and the judges.
“On Jan.2, 2014, there were three text messages between the defendant and a member of his staff stating that they were in court for a case to be assigned before Justice Yinusa.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/efcc-has-no-evidence-linking-tarfa-to.html

All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has predicted an abysmal showing for the Peoples Democratic Party in the 22 July council polls in Lagos state.

He said the PDP will win nothing.

In contrast, he said his party is assured of sweeping the entire 57 local council because Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had lived up to expectation.

He added that the people at the grassroots were anticipating the reenactment of the superlative performance across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas.
He said if performance and purposeful leadership were the criteria for voting, the electorate would vote for the APC chairmanship and councillorship candidates as they voted for Ambode two years ago.
Tinubu pleaded with members to accept the decision of the party to give automatic tickets to 18 former chairmen in recognition of their loyalty, commitment and efforts and the decision that the sole administrators who took over from the Executive Secretaries (ES) should not contest election.
The former Lagos State governor spoke on preparations for the elections at the enlarged meeting of APC stakeholders held at the party secretariat. Acme Road, Ogba. It was attended by Governor Ambode, party elders, apex leaders, party officers, legislators, members of the State Executive Council, grassroots leaders, aspirants and their supporters.

Lagos APC Chairman Oladele Ajomale inaugurated a seven-man Lagos APC Local Government Appeal Committee headed by former Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro.
Other members of the committee are the APC Assistant legal Adviser, Mrs. Toke Benson (secretary), former Secretary to Government Princess Adenrele Ogunsanya, Prof. Aderibigbe, Idris Thany, a lawyer, Mr. Femi Laoye and Dr. Solomon Aina, a former council chairman.
Also, a five-man State Electoral Committee headed by Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi was set up to conduct a credible primary. Other members of the committee are Senior Special Assistant to Ambode on Political Affairs Adekunle Olayinka (secretary), Otunba Alabi Macfoy, Hon. Hakeem Sulaimon Oris, Alhaja Sade Abiola-Agbalajobi and Mr. Tayo Alabi.
Ajomale urged the members of the two committees to be above board in the discharge of their assignments, adding that eyes would be on them before and during the exercise.

Ambode enjoined party faithful to work round the clock to ensure victory at the poll, adding that the state can only make steady progress, if the party controls the local governments.
He attributed his victory in the 2015 poll to the dedication of party members and leaders, especially Tinubu, urging the party faithful not to relent in their quest for electoral victory.
Ambode said: “Almost exactly two years after, we have cause to thank God. I am able to look back that the confidence you give me two years ago and all of you working together to make sure I defeated the PDP candidate was no small feat.
“I have come here, not only to attend this meeting, but to say a big thank you to all of you. I want to thank you for being the first set of people that believed in me and thereafter, God has been so gracious. He has not allowed me to disappoint you. I want to say a big thank you to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the state APC chairman and Exco members for supporting that cause.

“If there is any party remaining in Nigeria today, that party is manifested in all the good things coming out of Lagos State. Why are we here; we are here to count our blessings and renew the cause of unity to move forward as one great party.
“I want to implore all of us, whatever it is that would have transpired, it is very clear that this coming council election is all in your hands; just the same way we have done in the last two years, my call to all members of our great party is that all 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas must be won by APC without exception.”
Tinubu revisited the 2015 general election, lamenting that the APC lost some national and state legislative seats to the PDP in controversial circumstances.
Describing the election as very challenging, he recalled how former President Goodluck Jonathan invaded Lagos with huge money to woo voters and create confusion.
He lauded the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, noting that his exemplary leadership led to the defection of six PDP legislators to the APC.
MORE AT http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/tinubu-pdp-will-win-nothing-in-lagos.html

On Wednesday, Facebook announced plans to start cracking down on links to "low-quality" web pages as part of the company's plan to show people "fewer misleading posts, and more informative posts." Facebook is starting with the ratio of ads to actual content; a page with too many ads and not enough original text or images is considered spam.
If a site's ads are "disruptive, shocking, or malicious," Facebook will make sure fewer people can see and click on it. The company continues to explain that the links aren't being banned; if you post one it will still appear on your wall but their news feed ranking will drop and they will be seen by far fewer people if anyone at all.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/facebook-begins-crack-down-on-spam.html

Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, on Sunday expressed optimism that more Chibok girls would soon be released.
He spoke in Ibadan at the 3rd General Assembly of the Muslim Ummah of South West (MUSWEN).
No fewer than 82 Chibok girls were released by the islamist terror militia, Boko Haram, on Saturday.
The minister said more of the girls held hostage by the insurgents would be set free as the Nigerian government was adopting the same method used in brokering the earlier releases.
Dignitaries at the occasion included Justice Tijani Babalakin and Abdul-Jabar Ajibola, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MUSWEN.

Also present was Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere, the President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/remaining-chibok-girls-will-be-freed.html

Despite warning by security agencies against public procession or protest, the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) have finalised plans to celebrate their anniversary on May 22.

A statement by the Deputy Director of Information, Jimmy Ukaegbu and Emma Akabekwe at the weekend said the leader of BIM, Chief Ralph Uwazurike and other principal officials have approved May 22 to celebrate the event.

The statement disclosed that members of the groups in the South East and South South had been informed to mark the anniversary in their locations without violence.

According to the statement, activities lined up for the occasion include peaceful procession by members from the regions, cultural display, football matches and thanksgiving service.
Speaking on the event, an official of the movement, Ahamefula Onyenuma, said: “The change of date for the anniversary was symbolic. Uwazurike hoisted the Biafra flag on May 22 while Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu declared the state of Biafra, demanding its independence on May 30, 1967.”
Meanwhile, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has pledged that his administration would provide a platform for indigenes and residents of the state to express themselves without hindrance.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/bim-massob-defy-warning-release.html

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) section of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) has denied the allegation that the detained Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, incited it to embark on strike and cause economic sabotage.

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday arrested Ubah for alleged economic sabotage, including stealing, diversion and illegal sale of petroleum products, belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).


The agency has also accused Ubah of undermining the country by inciting tanker drivers to stop the lifting of petroleum products with the ulterior motive of arm-twisting the NNPC to abandon the cause of recovering the stolen products.
But PTD’s Media Officer, Mohammed Abdulkadir, said in a statement last night that it was not true that Ubah or any other individual was inciting tanker drivers to cause any economic sabotage.
“The allegation is baseless, unfounded and totally untrue. Our responsibility as a trade union is solely to promote, project and protect the job security and welfare of workers most especially the petroleum tanker drivers in Nigeria. We have no further relationship with any capitalist/employer beyond the precinct of promoting, projecting and protecting the security of jobs and welfare of our members,” said Abdulkadir.
The drivers said they supported the ongoing war against corruption by the current government, adding that “any capitalist/employer found culpable of stealing, diversion or embezzlement of government funds should be appropriately dealt with in accordance with the law.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/tanker-drivers-deny-being-incited-by.html

The Lagos State government’s Task Force on Environment has dismantled more than 120 shops and illegal structures in Itedo area of Lekki Phase 1. The task force boss, Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police, led the exercise.

Spokesman of the agency, Taofiq Adebayo, noted that the 120 ‘illegal’ shops, including other structures were constructed under electric high-tension cables. The occupiers were said to have received a six-month ‘Demolition Notice’.

Egbeyemi disclosed that owners and occupiers of the structures were served a reminder of ‘Demolition Notice’ four weeks ago by the state government.

“Radiation from the high tension cables pose serious danger to human health, no responsible government would put any of her citizens’ lives at risks. Furthermore, the illegal shops were a sorry sight with miscreants freely smoking marijuana there.”
He urged affected owners to take advantage of the newly introduced ‘Rent-To-Own’ housing scheme of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, which has more than 4,355 fully-equipped housing unit spread across the state.
“The housing policy is meant to alleviate the housing problem of both low and middle-income earners, and to equally discourage people from living at any restricted areas.”
Egbeyemi also urged traders and middle income earners to apply and benefit from the N25 billion Lagos State Empowerment Trust Fund (LSETF) scheme, which tend to help residents grow and scale-up their micro small/medium enterprises with N500,000 to N5 million soft loan.
He advised Lagos residents to stop trading at any restricted area, including under high-tension cables, warning that the demolition would be extended to other areas.
One of the residents, Dr. Femi Ololade, commended the government for saving the lives of both traders and residents living under the high-tension cables.
He made reference to a recent incident, where many people died when a high-tension cable fell on a viewing centre in Calabar, Cross River State, during a football match, and urged citizens to co-operate with the government and stop endangering their lives.
In a related development, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Malam Muhammed Bello, has given a 30-man ministerial committee two weeks to begin the demolition and evacuation of all illegal structures and refuse dump along the Abuja-Nyanya-Karu-Karshi dual carriageway.
The minister, who frowned at the criminal activities going on in the area coupled with the long stretch of refuse dump, said government would no longer condone such practices. He made this known at the weekend in Abuja when he inaugurated a ministerial task force headed by Major-Gen. Emmanuel Neinge.
The road, which connects the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with Nassarawa, Plateau, as well as Benue states, is heavily congested with traffic and refuse dumps, which has become an eyesore to visitors coming into the city centre.

Meanwhile, prior to the proposed expansion of Agbonyi-Ketu road, which will ease traffic along Alapere, Ketu axis, the Lagos State government has promised that there will be minimal demolition during the road rehabilitation, while appealing to residents to support the administration’s effort towards bringing development to the area.
The project, which would witness development of Oluwakemi Street and some adjoining streets developed into a four-lane road from Alapere to Agboyi, is billed to carry traffic from Alapere through Agboyi towards Ikorodu.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/task-force-pulls-down-120-shops-others.html

The 2017 French presidential election came to a head yesterday with 39-year old Emmanuel Macron emerging the winner by a decisive margin. The independent centrist Macron garnered 60.3 percent of the votes while his rival; Marine Le Pen got 39.7 percent.

The far-right La Pen who had since congratulated the president elect, expressed appreciation to her supporters and promised to “lead the fight” in the France’s parliamentary elections next month.

Le Pen also pledged a “profound reform” of her Front National party to create ‘a new political force’.


Although it was not clear what she meant by this, rumours are rife that the defeated presidential candidate may be planning to disband the party and build a new movement, aiming to organise “a major political reorganisation around the divide between patriots and globalists”:
With his victory, Macron becomes France’s youngest president and has pulled off a remarkable feat. He has never held elected office, and just over a year ago his political movement En Marche did not even exist.
His rival, the far right leader Le Pen, has brought her France-first, anti-EU Front National party a long way. According to information from French state TV and radio monitored by The Guardian, the turnout projection of 74 percent is the lowest in the second round of a French presidential election since 1969.
“This is not unexpected in a contest as unique as that between the independent centrist Macron and far-right Le Pen, neither of whom have the formal backing of a mainstream political group, say analysts.
The outcome matters not just because France is the world’s sixth biggest economy and a key member of the EU, Nato and the UN Security Council, but also because the two candidates’ worldviews could not be more different.
Pollsters have predicted since the first round on April 23 that Emmanuel Macron, a centrist, former banker and economy minister, would win comfortably, possibly by more than 20 percentage points, and at 39 become France’s youngest ever leader.
He is economically liberal, socially progressive, globally minded and – on the whole – optimistic. Le Pen, of the far-right Front National, is a nation-first protectionist who wants to close France’s borders and abandon the euro and EU.

Macron wants to ease labour laws, boost education in deprived areas, extend welfare protection to the self-employed and re-energise the EU while Le Pen announced plans to cut immigration to 10,000 a year, punish outsourcing by multinationals, and eradicate Islamism.
The campaign has been extraordinary in many ways: for the first time, a sitting first-term president has not sought re-election, and the two mainstream centre right and centre left parties that have run France since the 1950s are not represented in the runoff.
It has been marked by the crashing out of pre-race favourites, a terror attack on the eve of the first round, and – less than 48 hours before the elction, a massive online data dump of documents hacked from Macron’s En Marche! Movement.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/macron-39-wins-french-presidential.html

Irate youths in Mgboshimini Community in Rivers State, yesterday razed down buildings and damaged property worth millions of naira following the murder of a chief, Charles Minikwu.

The Guardian gathered that unknown gunmen, Friday night, invaded Orokpor Village in Mgboshimini, Rumueme Community, Obio/Akpor Local Council of the state, where titled chiefs were meeting and shot Minikwu dead.
Even though the motive for the murder is not known, the angry youths believed to be the slain chief’s supporters, went on rampage burning down houses. The violence that erupted forced many to abandon their homes as they feared the violence could escalate.

Prior to his assassination, Minikwu’s was the secretary of a faction of the community leadership. The community has been entangled in a protracted chieftaincy tussle.
Sources revealed that an attempt on the deceased life, which was blamed on the other of the divide failed last year. Houses torched by the irate youths were said to belong to those on the opposing side of the chieftaincy tussle.
Rivers State Police spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incident, said policemen have been deployed to the community to restore peace.
He explained that the police is investigating the matter and would ensure that all those behind the dastardly act are brought to book.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/irate-youths-raze-down-houses-in-rivers.html

National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), has disclosed that the Federal Government earned over N6b from lottery proceeds in the last five years, adding that the money is with the Lottery Trust Funds under the supervision of the Presidency.

NLRC Director-General, Lanre Gbajabiamila, made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja, during a Public Presentation to Mr. Anthony Akoma, winner of the biggest Nigerian Jackpot of Plenty million National Lottery.

Represented by Mr. Yagba Tsav, an Assistant-Director, Regulatory and Monitoring Department of the commission, the DG said government has already spent over N1b out of the total revenue to procure sports equipment for four primary schools in each of the 774 Local government areas of the country.


Gbajabiamila explained: ”In every license in the lottery scheme, the proceeds are shared, government takes 20 percent, and put into the development of infrastructure like schools, sports, hospitals and road construction.
“This goes along to improve the economy of the country. So far, out of the over N6b earned, as much as, N1 billion was approved by the last administration for the purchase of sport equipment to four primary schools each in the 774 Local government across the country, the process is ongoing, we have finished with 28 states and we are going over to others.”
Earlier, the Head, AG&H integrated concepts (Plenty million) licensed lottery operators and promoters of the winner, Thompson Eja, described the event as the biggest jackpot winning in Nigeria.
In his response, the award winner, Anthony Akomah, who hails from Enugu State, thanked God and commended the Lottery agency for the exercise.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/lottery-fg-generated-n6b-in-5-years.html

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu would embark on a condolence visit to the families of members of IPOB that were killed by Nigerian security operatives since 2014.

He would also visit sites where the killings of the IPOB members took place including Nkpor in Anambra State, National High School Aba in Abia State, Ugwuocha (Port Harcourt) in Rivers State, Mbiama in Baylesa State, and Okwei Primary School Asaba. in Delta State.
According to a statement by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, Kanu who on Friday visited his parents at their Afaraukwu Ibeku country home in Abia state, following his recent release from Kuje prison, would pay the visits to the homes and communities of the slain members to commiserate with them and assured them that their children had not died in vain.
The statement said, “our supreme leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu plans to visit all the families of IPOB members killed by Nigerian security operatives during the IPOB peaceful rallies and protests in Biafra land.
“The supreme leader of IPOB, the director, Radio and Biafra Television, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu with his entourage will embark on this visit to show solidarity and condolence to the families and communities of those who died on the cause of Biafra restoration since 2014.
More so, our leader will visit the parents and homes of those IPOB protesters who were killed for Biafra to be restored. Also, he will visit all the places where our people were killed to pray privately in order to appease the spirits of those who died for our people to live.”
The statement reminded the people of Biafra to remember the May 30, 2017 50th anniversary of the declaration of the Independent State of Biafra and to observe the sit-at-home order.
It said, “As 30th of May, 2017 is drawing nearer, we wish to remind Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of Biafra freedom to stay at home in honour and remembrance of those Biafran soldiers that died for us to live and Biafran children who were starved to death through the policy of British and Nigerian Governments during the genocidal war against the people of Biafra between 1967 and 1970.
“It will be a landmark achievement and remarkable event for Biafrans to honour and remember a 20-year-old Jewish American, Late Bruce Mayrock who set himself ablaze before the United Nations office, New York City in protest and condemnation of the killings and starvation of our people during the war of genocide between 1967 and 1970. A non Biafran set himself ablaze against the actions of Britain, Nigeria, USSR and Egypt for our people to live then, therefore, it is our duty to remember and honour them on 30th May, 2017 by staying at home, no business and movement, both human and vehicular on that particular day.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/kanu-to-visit-families-of-slain-ipob.html

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated the need for the Indian community in Nigeria to contribute to the growth and development of the country towards economic self-reliance.

He said this during an interactive session with Indian Professional’s Forum at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.He added that he always admired steps taken by India to make the country’s economy self-reliant.

Recalling his days at the Indian Military Academy, he said Indians and Nigerians have a deep bond and similarities in culture and family values. He expressed concern why Nigeria was not able to match the country in developmental pace.
Obasanjo, however stressed that by learning from the Indian model, this can be achieved in a short time. The former president commended the steps taken by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tackle corruption in the country.
He noted the contributions of Indian nationals doing business in Nigeria, who he said are the second largest employer after the government and contribute to the growth and development of the economy in almost every sector.
According to him, some sectors where India can further assist Nigeria are education, health, automobile industry, agriculture and others. He welcomed all members of the Indian Professional’s Forum led by its president, Mr. Dinesh Rathi and hope that such forum would be held regularly.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/obasanjo-charges-indian-community-on.html

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a deaf and dumb, who operates a car wash bay, for allegedly stealing a Toyota Sienna car belonging to one of his customers.

The suspect, Godspower Eriemo, aged 31, was allegedly given the car to wash by its owner, one Mrs. Blessing Bassey. To the chagrin of Bassey, Godspower had duplicated the key of the car and fled with it.

Akelicious gathered that detectives in Area ‘D’ police command, led by Olasoji Akinbayo, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), swung into action and traced the car to Ikorodu, where it was recovered.
Officers who went on the operation also arrested Godspower. According to a police source, “on April 4, one Mrs. Blessing Bassey of No. 55, Oduselu Street, Odo Eran, Itire, gave her brown Toyota Sienna car with registration number KJA 351CJ to one Godspower Eriemo, a deaf and dumb, of No. 17, Oluwashina Street, Odo Eran, Itire, for washing. The said Godspower duplicated the car keys and made away with it to his Ikorodu residence.”The suspect, according to the source, would soon be charged to court.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/police-arrest-deaf-and-dumb-suspect-for.html

The People Democratic Party (PDP) has told President Muhammadu to live by example, heed his advice to the late former president, the late Musa Yar’Adua and step aside to save the nation the embarrassment of working from home.


The party called for the setting up of a medical council to examine and report the true state of his health to the nation so that informed comments and decisions could be made about his occupation of the seat of power.
The Akwa Ibom State publicity secretary of PDP, Mr. Ini Ememobong who gave these positions, said it was a gross abuse of office for the president to continuously absent himself from office.
“If the framers of the constitution wanted the president to work from home, they could have said so. That is why there is delineation between the office and the home. One of the conditions expected of somebody running for the Office of the President is being physically and mentally sound.
“So if the president is unfit to attend two Federal Executive Council meetings, how is the country running? He was unfit to attend a critical event like May Day celebration where the entire workers expected him to address them on issues bordering on their welfare, it is something that is disturbing.
“So PDP, as a party, has a great respect for the president and his office. We do not intend to pay them back in the same coin that they paid us. But because karma is involved and whatever a man sows, he shall reap, we are only asking the president to take the advice he gave to the Federal Executive Council over Yar’Adua. He knows what the position is. He should take his advice as he advised the Federal Executive Council to determine the health of Umar Yar’Adua. We are not saying anything new. We are only saying: prophet, heal thyself.”
The PDP said Nigerians must react if Buhari refused to take his own advice.
“The people who criticised Yar’Adua, this is an opportunity to remind them of what they said then because truth is universal and timeless. So, Nigerians should rise up… He either resigns honourably if his health can no longer carry him or he tells Nigerians the true position of his health so that we can evaluate.”
Meanwhile, activist and lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has urged the National Assembly to declare the office of the president vacant, even as the Nigerian Baptist Convention advised Buhari to immediately proceed for further medical treatment.
In a press statement issued yesterday, Adegboruwa said: “Even though the president is human, the Constitution anticipates a fit and proper chief executive to be in charge of and run the affairs of Nigeria, which General Buhari cannot presently fulfill.
The activist said in the meantime, the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo should be sworn in as acting President.
According to him, Nigeria cannot continue in fashion whereby a cabal has taken over the affairs of the country, causing great panic in the land, purely for their own selfish ends.
“We do not need to wait for the Yar’Adua scenario before we take steps to save the President from himself and his handlers. I do sympathize with the President but that sympathy is dwindling daily on account of the President’s quest to hold on to power at all costs, even when it is manifestly clear that he is not fit to do so,” he said.
But the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) cautioned against making “unnecessary remarks” on the health of the president.
A statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu said the ACF had observed with concern that some individuals were carelessly making unnecessary remarks pertaining to the health of Buhari.
“ACF advises Nigerians to please pray for the improvement of Mr. President’s health so that he can serve the Nation with more vigour,” it said.
The Nigerian Baptist Convention in a communique issued during the recent 104th annual session of the denomination presided over by Rev. Samson Ayokunle Ayokunle, who doubles as president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), expressed dismay at the lack of openness of the presidency in informing Nigerians of the true state of Buhari’s health.
“We observe with dismay, the political undercurrents that surrounds the health of the president, especially the lack of openness in telling Nigerians that he went for medical attention. We advise the president not to hesitate in going for further treatment if that would help in quickly restoring him back to sound health so as to continue performing his duties to the nation.”
Notwithstanding his health status, Buhari could still contest the 2019 presidential election, said ex-Lagos Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav and national coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Garus Gololo.
Both Tsav and Gololo spoke separately against the backdrop of calls for Buhari to resign and concentrate on his health.
Tsav, however, called on Buhari to obey his doctors’ advice that he should take some rest.
“It is necessary for him to heed their advice as he is doing presently. Buhari’s age is not a barrier at all. Afterall, President Mugabe is older than him and still ruling. If he (Buhari) is strong enough, why not? He can even contest for 2019. However, if his health will not permit him, he should take a rest.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/pdp-to-buhari-do-as-you-advised-yaradua.html

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose last Tuesday caused attention to be on him when he went to the Federal High Court, Abuja to identify with the detained leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. In this chat, he explained the rationale for identifying with Kanu, his many controversies and what APC government was not getting right.

You were with the detained IPOB leader in court, what message were you trying to pass?


Well just for us as leaders to identify with the oppressed in our society, people at our level should rise up to make sure that the ordinary citizens of this country are not oppressed by the authorities that are supposed to be protecting them.

What Americans does most often is to keep pressure on government that does the wrong thing; we will continue to keep pressure on this administration not to prevent them from becoming dictators. Since we cannot carry gun, we must be able to identify with such people and let the whole world know that this is an oppressive move against the ordinary man.

What do you make of the stringent bail condition handed to him?

As a leader, I want to respect the judgments of our courts. Time will tell because I said in August last year that most of you promoting and packaging this government especially the media, you will all end up in the stomach of this man. I have said it severally, it is not personal, I have been very consistent about it before and after the election.

I really don’t want to go into the issues about the court because my identifying with Kanu is to put up a support in his defense for fairness and fair trial. On the issue of bail, he is entitled to make his position known to decide a way forward for himself. As much as I love him, I believe that breaking up the country is not in our interest. However, it is his right and our right to agitate, people are still saying they want their own autonomy, they want to stand on their own and will set up partners to investigate to see their claim, call for referendum, call for public opinion about it, have a position about it, but not to incarcerate those agitating because you can’t stop agitation.

You are now being described as the main opposition to the Buhari government, are you comfortable with that tag?

It’s not as if I am the main opposition to Buhari, I am just a believer in fairness, wherever criminals belong, whoever they are, Muslims or Christians, it does not matter, crime is crime, wickedness is wickedness, brutality is brutality.

I will continue to say it as it is, because when we all keep quiet we will be taken one after the other and we will be destroyed by this administration. We must remember that Nigeria is greater than all of us, the power of the people is better than those of us in power.

One day we will all die whether it’s by oppression or sickness, so let me say I am not afraid of anything. If you don’t die, age will take everything away from you.

Look at our President, if you can see his heart, he wishes he was 42years old because that is the age and time one can be active. May God give him good health because it is in good health that Nigerians can benefit. When the President comes out every Friday, do we say we have a ceremonial President? Let us have a President valued for money and votes. You can’t deceive people forever because the truth hurts and the hunger in the land is ridiculous. The people are hungry and angry.

Why are you opposed to every step taken by this administration? Are you saying that there has never been anything good done by the government?

I will say I do not support the breakup of this country and at the same time, we should not be part of injustice and oppression. When court grants bail allow him to go home, that is all we are saying, so many tribes have married each other, so why should we break up but at the same time I think nobody, no matter how highly placed should take the life of a Nigerian. When you intimidate judges, asking where they got their money from, you are trying to force them to deliver judgment in a particular way. They (executive) will say they know you have some money and if you don’t do this like this, we will disgrace you and what would you expect a man who has built his career over time, to do?

Currently, the APC is doing everything to take life out of the PDP, it is a deliberate calculated attempt to promote internal rangling and destroy the party.

When Makarfi was pronounced by the lower court in Port-Harcourt as chairman of the party, they did not open the secretariat, when they gave judgment to Sheriff in the court of appeal; they went to open the secretariat. It is a hand of Jacob and the voice of Esau.

Let me say that these things are still in God’s calendar because God said he rules in the affairs of men, I am very sure we will get out of this. They should forget coming to rig in Ekiti state, I am saying it now because the road to Ekiti in 2018 will be an highway that nobody would be able to cross the road, it is the Lord’s day. We are mobilising, I want to tell APC very clearly that they have no place in Ekiti.

You have vowed that you will never accept Ali Modu Sheriff as PDP chairman, why take such an extreme position?

I have said it severally, Ali Modu Sheriff is not our chairman, he is an imposter that was why I regretted my initial support for him. And when I realized, I had to publicly come out and tell Nigerians that I am not with him anymore and till tomorrow I am not with him because there is nobody who will say he is a leader, yet does not want peace in the group he is leading, taking his party to court, fighting his own people, walking out of meetings.

I expect him to realize that destroying this party is not in his interest but that is the way he is being used before now. He was the one who killed the APP, ANPP and now he is starting again the PDP.

Why has it been so difficult to resolve the PDP crisis politically?

That is because the APC has taken over the crisis, the APC wants to kill the opposition, they want to make sure that even if they did not do well, there will be no opposition to challenge them. It is now an APC infested PDP to make sure PDP does not rise again. So it is not really an internal wrangling with PDP alone.

You have been critical of EFCC as regards some of the monies it said it recovered in recent times; why?

Let us talk holistically about the activities of the EFCC. EFCC is business for some people. EFCC is a tool to fight the opposition, largely, to suppress the voice of Nigerians, to cow the judiciary, to cow the press and all that. That is my take on it.

The CBN has announced that Nigeria will be out of recession in the next quarter, what is your take on that?

I disagree with them. What has changed? Except for their introduction of dollar to bring it down, but I don’t want to join issues with them, I have said my own.

The system is not functioning, the system is not working. We are only on a trial and error. A lot is wrong; except the president has courage to bring to justice, to put things beyond his personal relationship with some people, things will not work.

What message do you have for Nigerians?

I want to tell Nigerians that we should be of good courage, because these entire struggles for power are in God’s calendar for our Country, it will get better and God has a way of taking Nigerians through this kind of phase.

You know today Nigerians too are regretting. They are upset, people are hungry. They cannot meet their obligations anymore. The country is becoming a filling station.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/why-i-oppose-buhari-fayose.html#more

As workers marked the 2017 Workers Day yesterday, the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has advised people in paid employment to put a stop to corruption and looting by becoming active whistle blowers in their various ministries.

This, he said, would help instill more discipline in the use of public resources and ultimately guarantee a better future for them and their children.

In the goodwill message he delivered at the Eagle Square, Abuja, he said most of the corrupt activities that go on in ministries are not without the knowledge of the workers.

He noted that for Nigerian workers to be assured of better life, things must change, adding that part of the change is that the fight against corruption must be accorded more pride of place with workers themselves taking more active roles in the important campaign.
“I have always said that workers are the unsung heroes of our country. The relative comfort that we enjoy as a nation is as a result of the sweat and toil of the Nigerian worker. This occasion therefore offers us the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of workers and also look at their fortunes, which have taken a dip in this season of economic recession.
“In recent times, it is no longer news that workers are owed salaries. Workers in some states of the Federation can’t even remember the last time they collected their salaries at the end of the month. And this in spite of the bailout packages paid to some of the states by the Federal Government. The pathetic state of the Nigerian worker is a paradox in a nation that is abundantly blessed in material resources.
Without any doubt, the Nigerian worker is the greatest victim of the mismanagement of the nation’s wealth,” Magu said.
He noted that part of that mismanagement is driven by corruption. “What should have been used to bring better life to Nigerians including workers is stolen by a few people that found themselves in positions of leadership. The stealing of our common patrimony must not be allowed to continue.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/magu-tasks-workers-to-become-active.html

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has promised to spare no effort in ensuring that the state clears the four months’ salary arrears, assuring the workers that he feels their pains in the face of the biting economic situation. The governor made the promise in a congratulatory message to workers by his Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, yesterday on the occasion of this year’s workers’ day.

Ajimobi urged the workers to continue to put in their best and key into the state government’s reform agenda aimed at enhancing productivity and ultimately the internally generated revenue.

The governor said: “I congratulate the entire workforce in the state, including those in the private and informal sectors. This year’s workers’ day has provided another opportunity for you to take stock and assess your performance. “I can say without any equivocation that workers in the state are among the best you can find anywhere in the country. But, for the few yet to embrace the new order of hard work, accountability, dedication and commitment, I urge you to join the train.


“On our part as government, we are exploring many opportunities to enhance the internally generated revenue of the state. We will spare no effort to ensure that we clear the four-month salary arrears. I urge you to play your part dutifully to achieve this.

“No doubt, times are hard because of the pervading poor state of the economy. I feel your pains and I’m optimistic that we shall soon sing a new song of prosperity and abundance. May none of you be missing by that time.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/ajimobi-to-workers-i-feel-your-pains.html

Nigeria, the 9th largest gas producing nation in the world, has lost $850 million to gas flaring in just one year, 2015, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has said

Its Deputy Director and Head upstream, Mrs. Pat Maseli, gave the shocking revelation at the 10th Annual sub-Saharan Africa Oil and Gas Conference in Houston Texas at the weekend.


She explained that the development equally led to a loss of 3500 mega watts of electricity generation and about $400 million carbon credit value.

On the other hand, she stated that 55 million Barrels of Oil Equivalent (BOE) was lost and 25 million tons of carbon dioxide emitted. Although, she said the country is recording decline, but the scale of gas flaring is still worrisome.

With almost 8 billion cubic meters of gas flared annually, according to satellite data, Nigeria is the 7th largest gas flarer in the world. At the same time approximately 75 million Nigerians lack access to electricity.

In recent years, Nigeria has shown significant progress, reducing gas flaring by about 2 billion cubic meters from 2012 to 2015.

At a recent two-day seminar organized jointly by the Federal Government, the International Gas Union (IGU) and the World Bank, the focus was on reducing gas flaring at oil production sites and unlocking the country’s significant gas potential, Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, presented Nigeria’s high-level roadmap to end routine gas flaring by 2020, which is a full decade ahead of the target in the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative, a global effort to end routine flaring endorsed by Nigeria in 2016.

Kachikwu, who was represented by his Senior Technical Adviser, Mr. Gbite Adeniji, said: “This massive amount of gas flared annually in Nigeria is a waste of energy that our country just cannot afford. Now is the time to step up our efforts and what is needed are innovative and bold approaches to flare reduction”.

Meanwhile, Maseli explained that before now; there was no gas terms in place, stating that last month the Department developed policies on gas terms and utilization which was passed to operators for their input before it is sent to the National Assembly for accent.

She explained that part of the strategic theme of Nigeria’s Gas Master Plan was to deliver about 80 per cent generation of existing and ongoing power plants capacity, support 9 out of the 11GW current installed power generation fleet

On the other hand, she stated that the Gas Master Plan seeks to deliver gas to commercial subsector for use as fuel, captive power, and related end-user consolidate Nigeria’s position and market share in high value export markets.

‘‘The master plan will create regional hub for gas-based industries – fertilizer, petrochemical and methanol. Transform gas sector to value adding sector in a bid to consolidate Nigeria’s position and market share in high value export markets,’’ she said.
MORE AT http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/nigeria-loses-850m-to-gas-flaring.html

The police in Kano have arrested the immediate past governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido.

Mr. Lamido was arrested for allegedly inciting his supporters to stop the conduct of local government elections organised by the current administration of Governor Muhammad Badaru.

The council elections are fixed for July 1.

Mr. Lamido, who was arrested at his Sharada Kano home on Sunday morning, was whisked away to the Zone One Command of the Nigeria Police in Kano, Akelicious learnt.

As at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday, the former governor was still being held by the police who are yet to make any official statement on the matter.

Our reporter who was at the Zone One Command saw about six vehicles of the former governor filled with his aides who waited patiently for the release of their boss.

more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/04/breaking-police-arrest-ex-governor-sule.html