₦airaland Forum

Two partner in crime
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Governor Willie Obiano tomorrow 12/12/2016 proclaim open the 2016 Press Week of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Awka.

The current year's Press Week which will end on the eighteenth of this current month has its Theme as "The Media in National Development".

A Special Church administration to introduce the occasion is occurring today at Saint subside's Anglican Church Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area, starting at nine o'clock in the morning, while a thanks offering administration to stamp the end of the press week, will happen at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Awka, on the eighteenth of this current month.A discharge marked by the Secretary of the Council, Mr Emmanuel Udeagha, welcomes honing writers, heads of Media foundations, Media Executives, and the general population to the occasion.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/12/2016-press-week-begins-tomorrow-in-awka.html#more

A 60-year-old man was on Tuesday killed at a brothel in Maiduguri, Borno State, after a quarrel with some personnel of the Nigeria Air Force.
The fight occurred at a popular brothel located in Simari area of Maiduguri.
Witnesses said the victim, Ibrahim Bulama, was shot dead by soldiers after they clashed over a woman at the brothel.
Air Force authorities confirmed the killing, but did not clearly admit its personnel were involved in a struggle for a prostitute.
The Commander of the 105 Composite Group, Charles Ohwo, an Air Commodore, told journalists at a press briefing on Thursday that the deceased was not shot.
He said the man died when soldiers were trying to retrieve a rifle allegedly snatched from their colleague.
According to the Nigeria Air Force account, the soldier, Kamal Usman, a Lance Corporal, was on his way home from his duty post when he ran into people having an argument.
He said the armed personnel was trying to find out what happened, when his rifle was snatchedinvestigation revealed that, on Wednesday 7th December 2016, an airman, Lance Corporal Kamal Usman, left his duty post at about 10pm, and on his way home, when he came across some gathering near a hotel in Simari area; and in an attempt to find out what was wrong, the crowd got scared and took to their heels,” Mr. Ohwo said.
“When the airman decided to check the surroundings to find out what scared the crowd, he entered one room in the hotel and found a woman laying on a bed.
“Unfortunately, the deceased old man, Bulama mobilized some people and came back to the hotel and attacked him from the back with matchets, inflicting serious injuries on his head and snatched his rifle.
“On sensing danger, the lance corporal left and mobilized his fellow colleagues for assistance. Upon arrival at the scene, they descended on the old man, and beat him to death in the process of recovering their rifle.
“The airman is now recuperating at the air force medical facility in Maiduguri, while his colleagues who were involved in the incident have been detained pending further investigation,” Mr. Ohwo said.
Witnesses questioned the Air Force’s narratives, saying it did not explain what exactly took the armed airman to a brothel, or how exactly he got to see the woman on the bed, or what he was doing with her at the time the mob mobilised to attack him.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/12/nigeria-air-force-kill-60-year-old-man.html#more

They are really ready for xmas


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Embattled Justice of the Federal High Court, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, got the shock of her life yesterday morning, as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invaded her home at about 5.00 a.m. to conduct a search.
That the men of the anti-graft agency, who arrived in their numbers, surrounded the Park View Estate, Lagos residence of the judge.According to the Head, Public Affairs of the Lagos zone of the commission, Samin Amaddin, the operatives went to the house in search of Ofili-Ajumogobia’s daughter, Aridim Tochukwu and son, Goziem.
He said that during the course of investigation, they discovered that the United Kingdom account in which she was lodging monies was opened by her daughter.
“We sent a letter to her house, inviting the daughter and she did not appear or respond. When she was arraigned at the Lagos High Court, the lady surprisingly appeared. Before we could approach her, she sneaked away. We reminded her mother of the invitation and she promised she would honour it but never did.
“So, on Tuesday, we got intelligence report that the lady is in town and decided to go and get her. But we did not see her. We only saw her mother, who promised to bring her to our office later in the day. She fulfilled her promise and brought two of them to our office. So they are presently in our office undergoing interrogation,” Amaddin said.
Wondering why EFCC would conduct such a surprise raid on the home of a person who has already been arraigned in court, one of Ofili-Ajumogobia’s lawyers said the action was unlawful and an abuse of human right.
The EFCC had arraigned Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia alongside Mr. Godwin Obla, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on November 28 this year before Justice O.H. Oshodi of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja on a 30-count charge ranging from conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, offering gratification to a public official and unlawful enrichment by public official among others.
Ajumogobia and Obla were in EFCC detention since early November before their arraignment.The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Thereafter, counsel to Ofili-Ajumogobia, Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN) and counsel to Obla, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) moved applications for them to be granted bail.
They were granted bail in the sum of N20 million and on self-recognition.Meanwhile, Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja division, has granted Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court six weeks to prepare his defence for the16-count charge of corruption levelled against him by the Federal Government.
The trial was scheduled to begin yesterday with the first prosecution witness testifying but at the resumed hearing, counsel to Justice Ngwuta, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the court that even though they were anxious to defend themselves, they still have a number of documents to study to allow for efficient defence.In opposing the application, the prosecution counsel, Charles Adeogun-Philips told d the court that it would be unfortunate for the defence counsel to ask for an adjournment since the trial was fixed for yesterday with the consent of all the parties in the matter.
He also urged the court to consider the fact that it was a high-profile case that required efficient administration of the Criminal Justice Act.According to him: “Section 396(4) of ACJA provides for a day to day trial upon arraignment until conclusion of the trial.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/12/efcc-raids-ofili-ajumogobias-lagos-home.html#more

Youths under the aegis of the Peoples Democratic Party National Youth Frontier, PDPNYF, has slammed the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government over the ongoing inflation in the prices of goods and services in the country.
The youth group, while lamenting the rate at which prices of goods and services have skyrocketed in the country, recalled that during the last administrations led by the Peoples Democratic Party, things were very affordable.
PDPNYF in a series of tweets on its twitter handle @PDPNYF Tuesday gave a clear analysis of how things have gone from bad to worst under the current government.It bemoaned that the prices of goods and services had increased steeply under the APC government as compared to the immediate past administration of the PDP.According to PDPNYF, “a bag of rice which sold for N8,500 in the PDP administration now sells for N22,000; Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol which sold for N97per litre has now been hiked to N145 per litre.
“A bag of cement which used to cost N1,400 is now N2,300.
“The Pounds and Dollar rates have increased steeply, leaving the Dollar to N420 from N187 and the Pounds from N280 to N560.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/12/pdp-youths-slam-buhari-over-hardship-in.html#more

Buraimoh Kikiope, a 200l Law student, University of Lagos , UNILAG has said that the current economic situation drove him into making corporate ties with Ankara fabrics for clients both home and abroad.Buraimoh Kikiope, a 200l Law student, University of Lagos , UNILAG has said that the current economic situation drove him into making corporate ties with Ankara fabrics for clients both home and abroad.His words, “I am known as EkAfricanclassic. What inspired me into creating ties with Ankara is the present situation of joblessness among the youths of Nigeria. I feel it is time we the youths become creative and come up with ideas. “Okikiope said the success story of business mogul, Aliko Dangote made him to task himself with business ideas. In the process, he found love in the use of fabrics to make fancy ties. “ I had started reading of Dangote and this spurned me to believe that I can make a difference with my ideas; “I could make 50 ties in the middle of the night. I am aiming to be the number one distributor of Ankara ties in the continent,” The young undergraduate said since October he started showcasing his products, he has garnered patronage inside and outside the shores of Nigeria through his use of the social media platform such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram etc.
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/12/unilag-studentrecession-forced-me-into.html#more

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The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, has said despite the insurgency in the state, Maiduguri, the state capital, is safer than Lagos, Abuja and most state capitals in the country.


He stated this in Bauchi on Tuesday while addressing the Batch B National Youth Service Corps members deployed in Borno State, who are undergoing their orientation in Bauchi State.

The 1,387 corps members, deployed in Borno State, were sworn in on November 28 at their camp in Bauchi.Shettima, while assuring them that Borno State was now peaceful, said, “With all sense of responsibility and honesty, am saying that the worst in Maiduguri is over. Borno is now on the path to sustainable peace.

“Maiduguri is now safe even more than Lagos, Abuja and many other state capitals in Nigeria.”

He added that the Federal Government and the state government were working to maintain the peace in the state as the fight against insurgency was getting to an end.

The governor stated that despite some differences among Nigerians, they shared and were tied to a common destiny of making Nigeria great.

He noted that despite the seeming ideological, political and religious diversity of Nigerians, they should strive to ensure unity among themselves, which, he said, was the only way to put the country on the path of development.

Shettima informed the corps members that he was happy with their determination to serve their country by leaving their comfort zones and serving in the state.

He said the NYSC scheme would open their eyes to the reality of national coexistence, adding that the future of Nigeria rests on the shoulder of the youth.

The governor promised to provide necessary assistance to the corps members, including an increase in their allowances and the provision of decent accommodation.

He commended the Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, for accommodating Borno State corps members and the assistance rendered to them.

The Borno State NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Lawal Turawa, said the prompt intervention of the Bauchi State governor, which led to the relocation of the corps members to the new camp, saved what would have been an ugly situation.

http://www.akelicious.com/2016/12/gov-shettimamaiduguri-now-safer-than.html#more

Peugeot 301, assembled in Kaduna by PAN Nigeria Limited, has emerged Car of the Year in a keen contest with Toyota Corolla and Nissan Almera. The Peugeot 301 polled the majority vote in both the on-line contest and the voting by Auto journalists, for the award that was organised by Nigeria Auto Journalists Association.

Comments from Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State, Prince Anofiu Elegushi commended the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association for putting the event together, even as he tasked auto industry players to invest in the local industry.

According to him, “as we celebrate and bestow honour we will like to state that it is pertinent for us to begin to invest in the Nigerian “car”. We are long overdue for such. There are a few of such in Nigeria. While we import most cars as CKDS or such other forms we bring them in, we must now commence a process of investing in building local content into it. The Nigeria Auto Journalists are eminently placed to champion this cause.

“A second concern that we must also deal with is safety issues. I will recall your positive contribution when Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) commenced the campaign to introduce speed limiting devices in vehicles used for public transportation. I therefore salute your sagacity and candour.

“There are several other major issues wherein your voice must be heard and your insistence will provide that key insight into the direction that Government’s policies will take. As you highlight them and put them in the public domain, utilizing the essential ethics of journalism, it is sure that gradually a tradition of excellence will be created.

In his remarks, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, who was represented by the Zonal Commanding Officer for Lagos/Ogun state, Assistant Corps Marshal Shehu Zaki, expressed the willingness of the Corps to continue to collaborate with the press in ensuring that road traffic crashes are reduced.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of NAJA, Mr. Frank Kintum stated that “journalists, being watchdogs of the society, have a responsibility of reviewing activities as they unfold. In the automotive/automobile sector, it is the responsibility of Auto Journalists to watch closely what is happening in terms of launch of new models, entry of new brands, government policies as they affect the industry etc.

“In discharging one of its responsibilities as watchdog, we organise the annual NAJA which recognises products and persons that have stood out during the year”.

In other categories, the Mercedes Benz S-class emerged Luxury Car of the Year, beating the BMW Seven Series and Jaguar XJ. Sports Utility Vehicle of the year went to Toyota Prado, while the Pick up of the year was won by Ford Ranger.

Toyota Hiace went home with the Mini Bus of the year award, while the Heavy Truck of the Year was won by Mercedes Actros. Globe Hyundai and Jet Van Mercedes were joint winners in the Outstanding new entrant of the year category, just as God is Good Motors walked away with the Most Safety Conscious Transport Company of the Year.
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/12/peugeot-301-wins-car-of-year.html?m=1

Tragedy struck the Ogwashi-Uku community of Delta State on Tuesday as a final year female student of the Delta State Polytechnic, simply identified as Julia, was allegedly murdered by her cultist lover.
The deceased, who was in the department of Mathematics and Statistics, was murdered in her room in a private hostel off Polytechnic Road in Ogwashi-Uku.
According to one of her co-students in the hostel who spoke with SaharaReporters, the man, whose name has yet to be ascertained, had spent the previous night in the room of the deceased, and had stolen her ATM card.
"After her cultist lover had left the following day she received an alert of a N100,000 deduction from her bank account where she discovered her ATM card was missing. Not comfortable with the development, she went straight to her bathroom to take her bath. Immediately after that, she received another alert of N45,000 making it N145,000 that was [withdrawn] from her account by the unknown person.
"Before leaving for the bank, she complained to us [about] the strange development. Again, on her return from the bank where she went to complain, she told us the bank assured her that the culprit could only be known and arrested after going through their CCDC camera. She was told to go home and report back the following [day] before meeting her untimely death," the co-student said.
The source speculated that unknown to anyone in the hostel, the suspect sneaked into Julia's room and murdered her with a battle axe, locked the corpse inside the room and ran away with her keys.
"Not until the next morning when everybody became apprehensive of her whereabouts and we [had] to break her door where we saw her lifeless body with blood stains everywhere in the room. Immediately we raised the alarm and everybody in the area rushed down and the matter was reported to the Ogwashi-Uku Police Station," the source narrated
Repeated calls to the new Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Andrew Aniameka, were not answered. However, a source at the Ogwashi-Uku station who didn’t want to be identified confirmed the story, adding that the police and the bank are currently working around the clock to arrest the suspect, who is on the run.
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/cultist-lover-kills-final-year-delta.html

ROMAN Catholic priest and spiritual director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has called for the arrest of more judges, saying that God was revolutionalising Nigeria with the arrest of judges who were hitherto untouchable. Mbaka, who commended the federal government for the arrest of alleged corrupt judges, said that it would be nice to even arrest more judges as well as those who influence them to pervert justice. The fiery priest, who stated this at a thanksgiving mass to mark the Enugu State 2016/2017 Legal Year at the Adoration ground, Emene, Enugu, said that though some of the arrested judges might not be corrupt as alleged, it was good that they be investigated and
if found culpable, imprisoned to serve as deterrent to others, describing the arrest of the judges as supernatural. “The arrest of the judges is a supernatural brand new revolution that is going on in all dimensions in all three arms of government. When revolution starts you cannot imagine where it would reach. “I urge judges to remain incorruptible or be arrested and who ever that will arrest them should be praised,” Mbaka posited. The spiritual director of Adoration Ministry also lauded the performance of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, describing it as an exemplary display of visionary leadership. He also noted that it was instructive that Ugwuanyi’s administration had enthroned
peace across the state and united diverse political interests, urging the people to continue to support his administration because it had been anointed by God. He further averred that the governor’s leadership style had fostered development, especially in this period of recession, praying God to grant him the grace to expand infrastructural growth to suburban communities to link up such areas with the urban centres. Describing the new legal year as “a year of favour,” Mbaka advised legal practitioners to have the fear of God and eschew corruption in the discharge of their responsibilities, also enjoining the younger legal practitioners to imbibe the ethics of hard work and discipline that would enable them to rise to the zenith of their career. Commenting on the nation’s economy, the priest stated that there were multiple solutions to the economic recession, urging the federal government to be more creative and look inward towards finding ways of diversifying the economy to create jobs and empower the youths. Delivering an address to mark the legal year, acting Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Priscilla Emehelu commending Gov. Ugwuanyi for helping the judiciary in the dispensation of justice in Enugu State. Emehelu said that cordial relationship existed between the bench and the executive under Gov. Ugwuanyi, whom she said
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/mbaka-again-asks-fg-to-arrest-more.html?m=1

According Kenyans, the guard identified as Peter Langat Kipkirui has been terrorising the bread supplier by stealing his supplies for two years now.
It was after the years of turmoil that he decided to lay a trap which nabbed Mr Langat red-handed.Reports indicate that the Kiosk owner placed some crates of bread at a strategic place then waited at a distance to see who the notorious suspect had been.
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/security-officer-arrested-for-stealing.html#more

Neymar was reportedly on his way to the training ground, where the Barcelona team was scheduled to meet before flying to San Sebastian for their La Liga match against Real Sociedad. The 24-year-old Brazilian is still expected to feature for the Spanish giants.
A club source said “He had a car accident but was not injured and was able to continue his trip,
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/breaking-news-neymar-involved-in-car.html?m=1

The operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested four suspects for allegedly swindling unsuspecting members of the public of various sums of money.
The four suspects were picked up separately by the operatives in three incidents of fraud in Maryland, Ojodu Berger and Ajegunle between Tuesday and Thursday last week.
The suspects, Kenneth Umukoro, 36; Uba Utokcha, 41; Joseph Onuoha, 40 and Ikechukwu Okeke, 25, individually owned up to the crime when interrogated at RRS headquarters.

According to one of the victims, Ibeh Chiwenu, she was going to Ojodu Berger from Ojota when Kenneth Umukoro, driving a metallic colour Toyota Camry, 1997 model with the registration number SMK 886 DK, stopped at the bus stop to pick her.
"As he drove along, he picked another passenger on Kudirat Abiola Way. We were still on Kudirat Abiola Way when the new passenger started a conversation on something like French language with the driver… The driver now pleaded that he wanted to take the new passenger to Customs’ Office on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, where his goods were seized. It was here that their story changed and I became the subject of their manipulation in connivance with a custom agent and a pastor," she added.She further explained:

"Under the pretext that the four of us assist the man whose goods were trapped with the custom over export duties, they brainwashed me into releasing my ATM card, led me to withdraw the last N9,000 from my account…. After this, the pastor prayed for me and told me to go home and get more money that my family kept at home."

"All these happened last week. Today, Thursday, my husband and I were standing at the Maryland Bus Stop. I saw the same Toyota Camry with same number plate and a new driver, but beside him was the former driver that lured me into fraud, pretending to be a passenger. I alerted RRS officers stationed in Maryland and they arrested them."The two other suspects, Joseph Onuoha and Ikechukwu Okeke were arrested separately but in a similar circumstance on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. Onuoha, confessed to interrogators that he belonged to a fraud syndicate led by one man simply identified as Toronto, adding that their leader, who is now at large, trained over 40 of them to go out daily in search of would-be victims.

"When we hit jackpot, we share it into five parts. Toronto takes two parts. Two of us in a team share two and we would share the remaining part to others…. Presently, our office in Ajegunle has been busted by the police. Toronto as I was told has relocated to somewhere in Surulere. Whenever we have issues with the police, he comes around to secure our bail,"
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/rrs-nabs-four-fraud-suspects-in-lagos.html#more

Moses is really Good now
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They raided Okundi market yesterday which was a market day and scared everyone away with gunshots and display of different weapons” says an eyewitness, who spoke to CrossRiverWatch.
“They killed two people, one in Babsin and the other one at Okundi and we are at loss which group is actually killing which” he added.

It was gathered that cash and properties were carted away at the Okundi market which is reputed to be the largest in Boki with a trader complaining of losing over 250 thousand Naira in cash to the gangsters. The Boki division of the Nigeria Police Force has since evacuated the area.
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/two-killed-as-thugs-raid-market-in.html?m=1

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, on Saturday stressed the need for Nigeria to develop its own plan capable of effectively addressing the current economic downturn.


This is just as the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, said that the right monetary, fiscal and structural policies would address the biting recession.

Fashola, who spoke while delivering a lecture on “Freedom from Fear, Choices before the New Generation” to mark the 42nd convocation of the University of Benin, Edo State, said that Nigerians must overcome their fears and use their natural resources to create solutions and improve their lives.


While addressing the graduating students, he said, “We will not pray our way out of recession; we will plan and produce our way back to prosperity and out of recession and you are the freshest, youngest and most energetic workforce we will have to work with.You are the new batteries to power the engine of growth of our country. Your choices must be clear, free from fear, not reckless but driven by analytical thought, questioning and probing and ultimately determined by convictions.”

According to him, young Nigerians must, like their counterparts in developed countries, free their minds from fear, rather than depend solely on spiritual answers to the problems facing the nation.

In his remark, Sanusi urged Nigerians not to use God as an excuse for failure, adding that one “must not attribute to God that which God has left for us.”

The emir, who is the chancellor of the university, said, “If you want to deal with a recession, there are things you have to do, which are set out in economics. You (should) go and do them.
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/we-must-work-to-overcome-recession-say.html?m=1

The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo says the present administration at the center is committed to ensuring that the Country bounces back from the present economic recession stronger and better.

Vice President Osinbajo stated this during a town hall meeting to mark a one-day working visit he made to the state at Prof Dora Akunyili Women Development Center, Awka.
Government House Correspondent Kenechukwu Ofomah says the town hall meeting attracted key stakeholders in the state including Members of the National and State Assemblies, government functionaries, traditional rulers, women, youths and civil society organizations in the State among others.
Addressing the forum, Prof Osinbajo who attributed the recession to the activities of militants in the Niger Delta which resulted in a drastic fall in revenues from oil, the country major foreign exchange earner, said through its sustained war on militancy and the economy diversification policy, the nation will soon come out of the recession.
The Vice President said the Federal Government in its bid to tackle unemployment, is currently concluding processes to employ two hundred thousand graduates across the country while vocational training on ICT has been introduced for sixty five thousand non graduates in the first phase.
He said the Buhari administration is leveraging on ICT to train youths in the country to keep them at par with their contemporaries the World over.
The Vice President who observed that the leading manufacturers and entrepreneurs in the country are from Anambra, said what they are doing in the state is a clear example of people with passion for the growth and development of their state.
Expressing satisfaction with what he saw in the state, Prof Osinbajo said he will take the information back and assured that the Federal Government will surely take decisive action towards supporting the business community.
In his remarks, Governor Willie Obiano noted that when he announced his stimulus package for Ndi Anambra, he held a meeting with traders in the State to identify their challenges and said the visit is as a result of his continued plea to the government at the center to intervene on behalf of the traders.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/osinbajofg-committed-to-nations.html#more

An Australian surgeon kidnapped by jihadists nearly two years ago whose whereabouts remain unknown has been declared a citizen of the west African nation, an official decree announced on Wednesday.

“Arthur Kenneth Elliott, born 11 November 1934 in Perth, in Australia…. a surgeon” has been naturalised Burkinabe, according to the decree with a list of 84 people who obtained the nationality.

Elliott along with his wife Jocelyn, 76, an Australian humanitarian worker, were abducted in January 2015 by al-Qaeda-linked jihadists from Djibo, a dusty town near the border with Mali and Niger. The couple had run the sole medical clinic there since 1972.

Jocelyn Elliott was released by her captors in February thanks to negotiations by Niger’s government, but her husband has not been seen and is believed to be being held outside Burkina.The kidnapping of the Australian couple was claimed by the Islamist group Ansar Dine, a Malian mainly Tuareg group.

Their abduction coincided with a jihadist assault on an upmarket hotel in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou that left at least 30 people dead, including many foreigners.

The kidnapping prompted an outpouring of support, with the people of Djibo who turned to Facebook to plead for the couple’s release and hundreds of students with placards reading “Free Elliott” taking to the streets of the town with their teachers.

Jocelyn Elliott has refused to leave Burkina Faso vowing to wait for her husband’s return to continue their medical work.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/kidnapped-australian-doctor-becomes.html#more

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A socio cultural group, Ndigbo in Lagos is set to hold Igbo Unity Day And Cultural Festival at National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos on Saturday November 26,2016.

Speaking with the newsmen yesterday, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos, Chief Fabian Onwughalu said that the cultural festival is to promote unity among Igbos and non-Igbo in the country.He said, that the concept of the programme is to bring all the Igbo,s together as one, in order to promote and add value to the economy of the host state, Lagos.

Onwughalu added that, the programme is aimed at unfolding new charter of engagement, driven by a deep sense of urgency and need for Igbos everywhere to unite and remain challenged by a resolve never to allow disunity deny us the fruits of oneness again, especially in Lagos.

According to him the governor of Lagos State Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is expected to host the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Igbo Unity Day and Cultural Festival in Lagos, and the governors from South East states, including former governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Tinubu are some of the top dignitaries expected at the event.

Also, the Coordinator, Coalition of Traders and Market Association, Chief Nnamdi Nwigwe, added that Ndigbo would be economically bonded and intensively networked to drive the new imperative of AKU LUO UNO as a comprehensive and compulsory shift in our development paradigm.
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/ohanaeze-ndigbo-holds-unity-day-in-lagos.html?m=1

More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/flavour-is-always-proud-of-igbo-culture.html?m=1

A Trip to Jamaica, a movie by top comedian and producer, Ayo Makun has beaten the box office revenues of all the big budget Hollywood and Nollywood titles released in 2016 here in Nigeria.Recently, AY spoke to the media that he is quite assured that the situation of the Nigerian economy will have nothing on his 2016 movie ‘A Trip To Jamaica’
Ay’s ‘A Trip To Jamaica’ which premiered on September 30, 2016, has grossed over 137million Naira, and counting to smash the Guinness world record of “30 Days in Atlanta”, a previous movie produced by him.
An excited AY broke the news of his new record, on Monday, via his social media page saying: “Comedian Ay Breaks His Own ‘30 Days In Atlanta’ Guinness World Record With ‘A Trip To Jamaica’. “The movie has beaten the box office revenues of all the big budget Hollywood titles released in 2016 here in Nigeria. These include; Batman Vs. Superman, Captain America, Suicide Squad, London Has Fallen, Gods Of Egypt, Transporter, Doctor Strange, Tarzan, Magnificent 7 And Central Intelligence. “Thank you all for going to the cinemas to see Nollywood movies.”
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/ay-breaks-his-own-30-days-in-atlanta.html

UNABLE to refine for domestic consumption despite being a top crude oil producer, Nigeria is unabashedly courting China for redemption. Confirming this, Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, said that Nigeria had entered into an agreement with investors from China to fund repairs of the country’s moribund refineries next year. Last week again, the Minister added that the four government refineries may end up as scrap when Dangote refinery comes on stream. While achieving self-sufficiency in refining is a desirable goal, there is everything wrong in returning to a strategy that has failed woefully in the past.

The bitter reality is that we have travelled this road before without any tangible result to show for it. The story of the four refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna is one of waste, corruption and inefficiency. After each repair, they only work briefly and at low capacity before packing up again. It is surprising, therefore, that President Muhammadu Buhari – who doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources – and Kachikwu are bent on executing the memorandum of understanding Nigeria signed with Chinese firms last June to invest a fresh $1.1 billion loan on another turn-around maintenance. At another forum, Kachikwu raised the amount required to $1.8 billion a few days later.

Successive governments have similarly committed billions of dollars to TAM. In 2012, the Goodluck Jonathan administration said it was taking a loan of $1.6 billion to carry out TAM on them. Plagued by corruption and controversy, the TAM failed badly, but nothing fresh was heard about the money. To show that such a project is a conduit for corruption, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation said however in July 2012 that the refineries were barely producing at 25 per cent of their installed capacity.Similarly, in December 2012, the NNPC, in a document it submitted to the National Assembly Joint Committee on Petroleum, requested that N152 billion be given to it to fix three of the refineries. Not much changed the following year, with Nigeria still heavily dependent on subsidised imported petroleum products. This seriously undermines the economy as it gulps scarce foreign exchange at a time global oil prices have crashed by more than half. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics show that Nigeria spent N431.6 billion on the importation of petrol between January and April this year. The figure for diesel was N118.6 billion and N20 billion for kerosene in the same period.

Yet, this did not stop the charade. In March 2015, the NNPC had reiterated that the refineries would refine their 445,000 barrels per day crude allocation by 2016 after demanding $550 million for fresh refineries repairs. It claimed its in-house engineers would execute the work on the cheap compared to foreign contractors who demanded $1.6 billion for the same job. This is late 2016, and the situation remains hopelessly the same.

The figures from the NNPC corroborate this: in July, the refineries produced at a combined 6.74 per cent, down from the 12.40 per cent a month earlier. As a result, the NNPC said it made a loss of N4.69 billion on its refining operations in June. Since assuming duty, first as NNPC Group Managing Director in 2015, and later as junior oil minister, Kachikwu has been torn between privatising the refineries and government holding on to the loss-making behemoths.

Initially, he broached the sales option, but reversed himself, promising in April to secure a loan of $700 million for their repairs to be able “to produce at optimum capacity.” His confusion was apparent again at the launch of the road map to grow the oil industry entitled, the “Seven Big Wins” when he said that Nigeria would rehabilitate the refineries first before privatising them. Is it the plan that has necessitated the idea of Chinese investors ploughing $1.1 billion into the refineries?

Buhari and Kachikwu owe it a duty to Nigerians to be cautious about
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/buhari-just-sell-refineries-as-they-are.html?m=1

PRESIDENCY has said the federal government has spent just less than one billion naira on the Social Welfare Scheme for which N500billion was budgeted. Special Adviser to the president on Social Protection Plan, Mariam Uwais, who made the disclosure to the National Assembly Joint Committees on Appropriation, stated that since the budget became law earlier this year, the sum of N25billion had been released to the scheme. She however expressed optimism that another N40billion would be released to it before the end of the year. According to her, there is still hope that some N60billion could be spent on the scheme before the end of the year. “Out of the N500billion appropriated for the social intervention programme, we have not spent up to N1billion. We have been preparing, we have the framework in place but unfortunately, we did not get the release early enough. By the end of this month, we would have spent up to N60billion,” she said. At a meeting by the Appropriation Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives to consider President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for virement of N180billion from the N6.06trillion 2016 budget, some agencies presented figures which conflicted sharply with the figures presented by the president. The joint committee expressed shock that the Social Intervention Scheme which was a key campaign point of the administration could be treated with such disdain, to the extent that only less than N1billion had been spent out of the huge N500billion. Members of the committee led by the chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Appropriation, Dajuma Goje and Mustapha Bala Dawaki respectively, raised issues about the readiness of the executive arm of government to implement the scheme. Leading the committee in expressing dismay on the slow implementation of the scheme, Goje said: “I don’t know if you are aware that this your agency is borne out of our campaign promises; and you’re here to say that you don’t need the money. You don’t need the balance of the money, you want it appropriated to other agencies. After we have promised people that we are going to provide them money and the money will be sent to them. It’s quite sad.” The conflict in the figures presented by the president and those by the agencies became noticeable in respect of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC. The embarrassing development aroused the attention of lawmakers when the director of Finance and Accounts in NYSC, Mr. AIB Adeleke informed the committee that the corps only needed N8.5billion as opposed to the N19.792billion proposed by the president. Surprised, Goje asked Adeleke to be sure of his facts and figures, but the NYSC finance director stood his ground. The Director-General of Budget, Ben Akabueze swiftly informed the committee that Adeleke surely got the figures mixed up. Akabueze said there was another sum of N11.2billion which the NYSC had requested earlier in the year, adding that the president simply wanted to take care of all the needs of the NYSC at once by asking for N19.792billion. When called upon later to declare his final position, Adeleke simply said “I agree with the submission of the DG Budget.” Other
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/nassn500bn-social-intervention-scheme.html?m=1

There are strong indications that the police have submitted to the National Prosecution Coordination Committee, another report on the investigations into the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015.The police indicted the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu.

It was gathered that the Special Investigation Panel, headed by the retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ali Amodu, explained that a former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, could not have committed the alleged offence without the connivance of the two principal officers.The SIP was set up by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to investigate high-profile cases.

The Federal Government had, on October 6, 2016, withdrawn the charges of criminal conspiracy relating to the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015, filed against the Senate President and his deputy at an Abuja High Court.

The government, it was reported, had found out that the investigation was inconclusive and the evidence was not strong enough to sustain a diligent prosecution of the accused persons.

Following this discovery, the Ministry of Justice filed an application to amend the charges.

In the new charges, only Maikasuwa and a former deputy clerk, Mr. Ben Efeturi, were listed as the accused persons.

Saraki and Ekweremadu were earlier charged alongside Maikasuwa and Efeturi for allegedly forging the Senate Standing Orders, which were used for the inauguration of the Eight Senate.

All of them pleaded not guilty to the charges before Justice Yusuf Halilu and were granted bail on June 10, 2016.Following the amendment of the charges, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), directed the police to conduct fresh investigations into the case.

Saraki, Ekweremadu may face conspiracy charge again.

A top police operative, who confided in SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, said the SIP had addressed the loopholes the AGF identified in the former report.

He said, “The police have concluded investigations into the case and submitted the report to the NPCC. This was done about a month ago.”Giving an insight into the report, a top source at the Force Headquarters said, “Conspiracy is a very wide offence and Maikasuwa couldn’t have done what he did without the connivance of Saraki and Ekweremadu.

“There is no doubt about it; they were the beneficiaries and they have to be joined in the case.”

When asked if the panel made any recommendation for the prosecution of the beneficiaries of the forgery, he stated, “There is no need to make any recommendation to prosecute them because the investigation did not exonerate them.”

On the non-interrogation of Saraki and others by the former investigators, the source stated, “It is not totally out of point. It is for Saraki, Ekweremadu and others to defend themselves in court. The fact that they were not questioned did not mean they didn’t commit the offence as alleged. The circumstances were that the investigators could not reach them just like the way the House of Representatives leadership was dodging police summons on the budget padding probe.”

He added that the evidence and corrections made on the report had been sent to the AGF by the police.

He stated, “There were certain documents and evidence they asked us to fine-tune, which we did. We got all the necessary documents, including the Hansard, where publications were made and notices were given. We looked at the Hansard. Was there any amendment during the 7th Senate? There were no amendments; nothing was adopted during the 7th Senate. We got the papers and there was nothing like that.

“So, where did Ekweremadu and Maikasuwa derive their authority from when no amendment was done on the floor of the Senate?”

Another highly-placed source, who was familiar with the police probe, informed one of our correspondents on Saturday that the SIP was able to gather the necessary evidence about how the alleged forgery at the Senate was carried out.The source said it was now up to the AGF and the NPCC to decide whether to re-arraign Saraki, Ekweremadu and others or not.

It was gathered that the detectives were able to verify the extent of amendment to the Senate Standing Orders 2011, the individuals who authorised it, and the official who ordered the printing of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015.

The source added, “The SIP, through painstaking efforts, was able to identify who distributed the printed copies of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015, to senators-elect and it also obtained the complete Hansard of June 9 and 24, 2015, which indicated what transpired on the floor of the Senate as well as other relevant evidence. These were issues the former probe did not resolve.
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/police-submit-fresh-report-indict.html?m=1

President Buhari arrived Akure, the Ondo state capital today to campaign for Rotimi Akeredolu, the APC governorship candidate in the state's guber election slated for November 26th.
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/photospres-buhari-in-ondo-for-apc.html?m=1

Sexy Nollywood actress and video vixen, Mimi Ubini must be singing Faith Evans’ song ‘ I never knew there was love like this before’ as her boyfriend has just given her a love gift of a brand new car.
Curvy Mimi, flaunted the car on Instagram with gleeful captions ‘my new toy’ with no further news on how the gift came about.But in a chat with Potpourri, the sexy video model, owned up that it was a gift from her boyfriend, adding, she would not reveal anything more.
Mimi was rocking a Golf car around town before, until the car got totalled by a truck on her way to an event inVictoria Island, Lagos, some months ago.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/mimi-ubini-flaunts-car-gift-from.html#more

The honeymoon between President Muhammadu Buhari and the United States may be coming to an end as the US yesterday called on the federal government to stop the killings of members of the Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).

In a statement issued by the State Department, the US said it was ‘deeply concerned’ by the deaths of dozens of Nigerians during clashes between individuals participating in a Shia procession and the Nigerian Police Force in Kano State on November 14.

“While the matter is still under investigation, we are troubled by the apparent disproportionate response by the police,” the statement added.

US described the Kano killings as the latest in a series of violent incidents between security forces and members of IMN, some of which it said, had resulted in deaths, destruction of property, and the arbitrary detention of IMN members.
The statement reads: “The United States calls for calm and restraint on all sides, a reduction of tensions, and greater communication between Shia citizens and government authorities.
“Members of the Shia community, like other religious communities, have the right to assemble, peacefully express their religious beliefs, and mark their celebrations. We call on the Nigerian government to protect and defend these rights.
“It is also incumbent on members of the IMN and all Nigerian citizens to respect the rule of law and cooperate with the police as they attempt to maintain public order.
“We continue to urge the government to ensure accountability for the deaths of more than 300 IMN members during December 15, 2015 clashes between the IMN and security forces in Zaria, Kaduna State.
“We also call on the Nigerian government to conduct a transparent investigation of the latest incidents and bring to account anyone responsible for violating the law.”

On Tuesday,‎ the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, said his men killed members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) during a clash in Kano State on Monday because they (IMN members) were armed to the teeth and were ready to kill police officers.

Ibrahim said his men were left with no option but to respond to the threat by the Shiites.

He said: “When you have Nigerians armed to the teeth, killing police officers, I don’t think it happens anywhere. I think as Nigerians, we have to appreciate, when you appreciate a dangerous situation, and to be sympathetic with the police that are being killed by some of these miscreants.”
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/stop-killing-shiite-followers-us-tells.html?m=1

President Muhammadu Buhari has set up an inter-agency Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery as part of the efforts to strengthen the ongoing fight against corruption. The committee is headed by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this when he received the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa, Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, in Abuja on Friday. This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Mr. Segun Adeyemi.

The minister also called for the support of the UN in fighting corruption, which he said was as dangerous and devastating as the fight against insecurity.Just as you (UN) have supported us in the fight against insecurity in the North-East, we need your institutional, technical and diplomatic support in fighting corruption,’’ Mohammed said.

He disclosed that the PCAR, which was set up on the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Council Against Corruption, would oversee the anti-corruption agenda and coordinate asset recovery process.

Mohammed said the PCAR was coordinating the collation and categorisation of recovered assets from 2015-2016; verifying the records and status of physical assets such as buildings recovered under previous administrations and setting up the Framework for Management of Recovered Stolen Asset to avoid re-looting and mismanagement of the assets as experienced in the past.

He said a register was created for recovered stolen assets and other government assets to avoid a situation where former or even serving public officers carry away government assets like vehicles, computers etc. sometimes in multiples.

The minister said the Federal Government was determined to recover all assets illicitly acquired by public officers and other politically exposed persons, hence new measures were underway to enhance recovery of illegally acquired assets and these would be announced from time to time.

To encourage whistle-blowers, he said, the government was also considering an incentive framework for those who provide useful information that lead to recovery of stolen or illegally concealed public assets, adding that the government was also soliciting the support of Nigerians in the Diaspora and international NGOs in the campaign for asset return from foreign governments.
Full details at http://www.akelicious.com/2016/11/buhari-sets-up-committee-on-recovery-of.html?m=1