https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3TI99Hps_I

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was established in 2003 by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. According to information gleaned from its website, the EFCC Act mandates the commission to combat financial and economic crimes and also to prevent, investigate, prosecute and penalise economic and financial crimes. The commission is as well charged with the responsibility of enforcing the provisions of other laws and regulations relating to economic and financial crimes, including: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act (2004), The Money Laundering Act 1995, The Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004, The Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 1995, The Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act 1994, The Banks and other Financial Institutions Act 1991; and Miscellaneous Offences Act.

The commission has a board comprising of the following: The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; a representative each of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Justice; Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; Director General, National Intelligence Agency; Director General, Department of State Services; Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission; Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission; Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation; Commissioner for Insurance; Postmaster General of the Nigerian Postal Services; Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission; Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Services; Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Services; Inspector General of Police; four eminent Nigerians with cognate experience in any of the following areas of human endeavours, finance, banking or accounting; and the Secretary to the Commission.

Since the Commission was established, it has had four chairpersons, namely, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (2003 – 2007); Mrs. Farida Waziri (May 2008 – November 23, 2011); Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde (November 23, 2011 – November 9, 2015) and the incumbent, Ibrahim Magu, who, until his suspension on Tuesday, was appointed on November 9, 2015. It is instructive that one thing common to all of them is that controversies trailed either their appointments or performances in office. Curiously, they were all alleged to have abused their office with some doses of corrupt practices.

Ribadu was not only removed from office but demoted from the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police to Commissioner of Police. He reportedly survived two assassination attempts. He was alleged to have been involved in abuse of human rights of suspects among other things. Instances were cited of the agency under him using a few members of the state Houses of Assembly to impeach Governors Diepreye Alamieyesiegha of Bayelsa State and Joshua Dariye of Plateau State in order to strip them of immunity and pave the way for their prosecution.

Waziri was allegedly removed from office for falling out with then Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, over the prosecution of cases that the commission brought before the court. It was also alleged that Waziri might have compromised the investigation into financial misappropriation against a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipreye Sylva, and that of former Edo State governor, Lucky Igbinedion. However, former President Goodluck Jonathan in the Vanguard newspaper of February 11, 2020 claimed that he removed Waziri from office due to “disenchantment from many Nigerians and mounting international pressure against Mrs. Waziri’s continued stay in office”. As such, she was removed in the national interest.

As regards Lamorde, The Cable of November 9, 2015 reported that “One George Uboh had petitioned the Senate, alleging that Lamorde failed to remit more than N2.05 trillion, being funds recovered from corrupt leaders. He was also accused of diverting over N1 trillion recovered from the sale of confiscated properties belonging to convicted officials including the late Alamieyesiegha, and Tafa Balogun, a former Inspector-General of Police.” But he denied all the allegations.

Of the four chairpersons of the EFCC, the most controversial is the embattled Magu who was appointed to replace Lamorde. He was twice denied confirmation by the eighth Senate on the strength of an indicted memo against him by the Department of State Services. On Monday, July 6, 2020, he was dragged before a presidential probe panel headed by former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami (retd.). This newspaper in its July 7 edition reported that, “It was learnt that 24 allegations were levelled against Magu who has been acting as chairman for almost five years. Most of the allegations, it was learnt, emanated from a report by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and a DSS report which was submitted to the Senate in 2016 and 2017. The EFCC boss was accused of living above his means, fraternising with corrupt persons, diversion of recovered funds and many others. He was also accused of insubordination.”

Other allegations levelled against him by Malami include, “Discrepancies in the figures of funds recovered by the EFCC, disposing of assets, especially buildings seized from corrupt politicians and others, without approval, or knowledge of the AGF’s office, which is the supervisory ministry of the EFCC.”

Since the story broke, I have been on several media channels to discuss it. The media outlets include, Kiss 99.9 FM Abuja, Nigeria Info 95.1 FM Abuja, Family Love 99.9 FM Umuahia and Voice of America. My take on Magu’s probe, however, is that as desirable as it is, due process should be followed. I despise the manner of his forced invitation by the interrogators akin to arrest and his detention. Why should he be invited on the day he is supposed to appear before the presidential probe panel? The DSS knows his home and office and should have sent his letter of invitation to the panel there. Why ambushing him on the street and rail-roading him to forcefully go before the probe panel? Why was the probe panel secretly empanelled and its members and terms of reference not made public? Why were the media not allowed to cover the probe?

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (reed.), must have seen what most Nigerians cannot see in Magu. Interestingly, Nigerians had high expectations that he would be dropped and replaced when the DSS indicted him in its report to the Senate in 2016 and reconfirmed that report in 2017. However, Buhari kept Magu as the EFCC chairman in perpetual acting capacity. Even at that, according to Section 3 of the EFCC Act 2004, the tenure of chairman of the EFCC is four years subject to reappointment. Until his suspension, Magu was in his fifth year as acting Chairman of the anti-graft body and I never had that he was reappointed for the second term. Is this an error of omission or commission on the part of the President?

Magu, however, has done his own bit and there are reports that his achievements in office in terms of recovered loot, and conviction of suspects far outweigh those of his predecessors. It may well be because he is the longest serving chairman of the Commission. Under our jurisprudence, a suspect is deemed innocent until proved guilty. So, it could be safe to say Magu is deemed innocent and hoping he gets a fair hearing from the presidential probe panel. It will be a great injustice if his rights are abused and he’s humiliated out of office. Many keep wondering why all chairmen of the EFCC were embroiled in controversies. Is it a case of the oft repeated corruption fighting back?

Wherever this Magu saga will end, I hope it will not dampen the spirit of staff of anti-corruption staff in general and those of EFCC in particular. Rather, I hope it will boost their morale and strengthen the fight against corruption. We should be mindful of the fact that the international community is watching and will form their opinion on whether the Buhari regime’s anti-corruption fight is a ruse or real.

Beyond Magu and its travails, I align my thoughts with those of the Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre and representative of Transparency International in Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, that Nigeria needs a legal framework on asset recovery and management. Indeed, there is a need for a central database where all government agencies involved in asset recovery such as the police, Nigerian Customs Service, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission and the likes will register the assets they have recovered from suspects. Disposal of such assets should also be transparently done.

SOURCE: https://punchng.com/magus-travails-and-efcc-controversial-chairmen/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n18VEDop3JA


Police operatives attached to the Special Tactical Squad have arrested a seven-man criminal gang that attacked and robbed three comm​ercial banks in Ondo and Ekiti between 2019 and 2020, killing innocent citizens including six policemen and carting away several millions of naira.

Investigation reveals that the armed robbers -- Tunbosun Ojo, Ismaila Ojo, Victor Oyeyemi, Dele Ariyo, Shola Oladimeji, Olubodun Folayemi and Adeniyi John – carried out the robbery of a commercial bank in Ile-oluji, Ondo State on February 7, 2020 where four policemen were killed.

Similarly, they were also involved in the robbery of a microfinance bank in Idanre, Ondo State in December 2019 and a commercial bank at Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State where two policemen lost their lives.

Efforts are being intensified to arrest other members of the gang still at large and to recover other sophisticated weapons used in the operations, Force spokesperson, Frank Mba,.said in a statement.

In a similar vein, 23 other suspects were also arrested by the police operatives for their involvement in various crimes including armed robbery, kidnapping, illegal possession of prohibited firearms, car snatching at gun point, amongst other offences.

The following were recovered from the suspects: one AK49 rifle, one AK47 rifle, two pump action guns, five locally made guns, 19 locally made short guns, 125 cartridges, 145 AK47 ammunition, locally fabricated explosives and a Toyota Corolla vehicle with Reg. No. LSR 490 GC.

The suspects will be charged to court on conclusion of investigations.

SOURCE: http://saharareporters.com/2020/07/09/seven-persons-arrested-multiple-bank-robberies-ondo-ekiti-others

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8958OUtijMo


The Senate ad-hoc committee investigating the N40 billion corruption allegation against the interim management committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was stunned on Thursday when an official accused unnamed members of the parliament of ‘hijacking’ the commission’s budgets over the years.

In his submission, at the hearing, the acting deputy director, projects, NDDC, Cairo Ojougboh, said the budgets of the commission ”have always been hijacked by the leadership of the committee on NDCC from both chambers for their personal gain”.

He asked the National Assembly ”to let the commission function in peace.”

“The budget(s) of the NNDC from 2001 till date, has (have) always been hijacked by the two chairmen of the committee; the chairman in the house and the chairman in the Senate,” the angry official said. ”Not one kobo has been misused since the coming of the IMC.

“We want to beg the National Assembly that they should allow the people of the Niger Delta to grow. Since the inauguration of the IMC, we have not known peace. It has been one false allegation after another.

“Some contracts supplied to ‘an NDDC warehouse’ along Benin-expressway. The warehouse belongs to Peter Nwabaoshi (a senator). About 2900 emergency projects were awarded and Mr Nwabaoshi collected 1000 of them saying he will distribute them among senators and House of Representatives members. But when asked, lawmakers denied receipt. We are being accused because we are working for the region and because they want to take over the commission.

“NGOs were paid N50 billion but they (chairmen, committees of both chambers) cut it to N49 billion each. They want us out to put people they can control.”

Tense session

The Senate and House of Representatives are probing an allegation the NDDC interim committee ‘squandered’ N40 billion within three months. They also seek account for other financial transactions within this period.

At the investigative hearing on Thursday, the lawmakers grilled members of the board who appeared before the committee over alleged discrepancies in the budget submitted by the commission, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The chairman of the committee, Olubunmi Adetunmbi, pointed out that while the commission said it spent N81.5 billion, the AGF submitted N82 billion and CBN submitted N92.2 billion between October 2019 and May 2020.

The committee sought explanations as to how other allocations in the budget were implemented. They include:

Condolences – N122 million, Consultancy – N83.3 million, N3.14 billion – COVID-19, N486 million – Duty Tour Allowance (out of which the current EIMC spent N305.3 million between February and May 2020).

Others are N1.9 billion – Lassa fever intervention spent by both IMCs, N900 million – Legal Services, N61 million – Logistics, N2.6 billion – medicals.

Defence

Although there was no tangible explanation for the differences in the budgets submitted by the commission, the AGF and CBN, the Acting Managing Director, Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, however, said the EIMC ”inherited so much debt that needed to be cleared upon assumption of office.”

He also said allowances like duty tours were not paid to staff for years hence the need for such allocations.


He further said the NDDC has not awarded any contract apart from the COVID-19 contract awarded by the president.

“We refused to do so, so as not to add to the confusion. The major interventions for COVID-19 were medical, palliatives, publicity,” he said.


Mr Ojougboh also denied allegations that the commission sacked some of its staff.

“Anyone who has said they have been sacked or suspended let him bring the letter. We have not sacked or suspended anyone. No one is being witch-hunted. Staff on leave are receiving full salaries,” he said.

Earlier, a representative from the Office of the Accountant General, Slyvia Okolie, said the OAGF submitted the NDDC’s audit report from 2016 to May, 2020 to the committee.

He said in 2017 – N64 billion, 2018 – N71 billion, 2019 – N71 billion, January – May 2020 – N34 billion has been released to NDDC.

Quarterly releases were suspended since June pending the outcome of the investigation, he said.

The investigative hearing will continue on Friday, the chairman said. All invitees are expected to be present – including the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, who failed to show up.

This is not the first time the lawmakers would be having a faceoff with another government official over the activities of an agency or ministry.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the minister of labour, (state), Festus Keyamo, accused lawmakers of trying to manipulate a recruitment process to their advantage.

SOURCE: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/402100-nddc-budgets-hijacked-by-nigerian-lawmakers-official.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n18VEDop3JA


Police operatives attached to the Special Tactical Squad have arrested a seven-man criminal gang that attacked and robbed three comm​ercial banks in Ondo and Ekiti between 2019 and 2020, killing innocent citizens including six policemen and carting away several millions of naira.

Investigation reveals that the armed robbers -- Tunbosun Ojo, Ismaila Ojo, Victor Oyeyemi, Dele Ariyo, Shola Oladimeji, Olubodun Folayemi and Adeniyi John – carried out the robbery of a commercial bank in Ile-oluji, Ondo State on February 7, 2020 where four policemen were killed.

Similarly, they were also involved in the robbery of a microfinance bank in Idanre, Ondo State in December 2019 and a commercial bank at Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State where two policemen lost their lives.

Efforts are being intensified to arrest other members of the gang still at large and to recover other sophisticated weapons used in the operations, Force spokesperson, Frank Mba,.said in a statement.

In a similar vein, 23 other suspects were also arrested by the police operatives for their involvement in various crimes including armed robbery, kidnapping, illegal possession of prohibited firearms, car snatching at gun point, amongst other offences.

The following were recovered from the suspects: one AK49 rifle, one AK47 rifle, two pump action guns, five locally made guns, 19 locally made short guns, 125 cartridges, 145 AK47 ammunition, locally fabricated explosives and a Toyota Corolla vehicle with Reg. No. LSR 490 GC.

The suspects will be charged to court on conclusion of investigations.

SOURCE: http://saharareporters.com/2020/07/09/seven-persons-arrested-multiple-bank-robberies-ondo-ekiti-others

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahD86bgVOCE

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has appealed to residents of the State to take personal responsibility to curb the spread of Coronavirus, as he imposed curfew on Bonny Local Government and Onne Community.

He also cautioned that with the commencement of inter-state travels and domestic travels, residents must be cautious in relating with friends and relatives coming from heavily impacted areas like Lagos and Abuja in line with the established protocol of 14 days Isolation.

Wike made the appeal in Port Harcourt today in a state-wide broadcast.

He stated that to sustain the progress made in the state, the State Security Council has imposed a night time curfew from 8p.m to 6a.m on Bonny Local Government and Onne Community in Eleme Local Government with effect from July 10, 2020 until further notice.

“As at July 8, 2020, the COVID-19 status of our State is as follows: Total samples collected: 4573, Total samples tested: 3871, Total confirmed cases: 1235, Total discharged cases: 810, Total active cases: 382, Total death: 43, New cases: 30.

“From the first days of this virus, we took serious measures and literally set the pace in our country to slow down the spread.

“We have noticed that most affected people are resorting to self medication instead of presenting themselves for treatment at the State’s Treatment Centres.

“Those who experience symptoms of fever, cough, loss of smell or taste and shortness of breath, among others should present themselves for appropriate treatment at the expense of the State Government.

“Furthermore, in the face of increasing infections and systemic risk to public health and safety, most residents have continued to disregard the mitigating protocols with reckless abandon.

“Public and private transporters, business owners and churches are refusing to adhere to the relevant protocols,” he said.

Government, he said, is also appraising the prospect of opening markets as soon as it is satisfied that it is safe with appropriate guidelines on social distancing, hand washing and wearing of face masks.

Wike announced the setting up of a Joint Taskforce made up of security and civilian personnel to enforce the wearing of face masks.

The Governor assured all health workers, including doctors and nurses that government would continue to cater for their welfare as they continue to serve the state at grave risks to their own lives.

He added that government would not fail to do whatever it takes to slow down the spread of the virus.

SOURCE: https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/07/08/covid-19-wike-imposes-curfew-on-bonny-onne/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIfIGMxSURc

Buhari seeks Senate’s replacement of 2 non-career Ambassadors-designate

The Senate on Wednesday received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari for the replacement and confirmation of two non-career ambassadors-designate.

The request was contained in a letter read during plenary by President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan.
The president sought to replace the earlier nomination of Mr Oboro Akpabio and Brig.-Gen. Bwala Bukar from Akwa Ibom and Borno.

The letter reads: “In accordance to Section 171(1)(2)(c) and subsection (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, I have the honour to forward for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Mr. John Usanga and retired Air Commodore Peter Gana from Akwa-Ibom and Niger State respectively, as non-career ambassadors-designate.

“The Senate is kindly requested to recall my earlier submission of Mr Oboro Akpabio and Brig.-Gen. Bwala Bukar from Akwa Ibom and Borno vide letter dated June 17.

“I substitute Mr Oboro Akpabio with Mr John Usanga (Akwa Ibom ). I replace Brig.-Gen. Bwala Bukar (Borno) with Air Commodore Peter Gana (Niger).”

But coming under Order 43 of the Senate Standing Rules, the lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Philip Aduda, protested the exclusion of a non-career ambassador from the FCT.

According to him, the only FCT indigene presently serving as a non-career ambassador in Sierra Leone, Hafiz Obada, was not re-appointed.

“For the ambassadorial nomination for the non-career, nothing has been said about the one for FCT.

“It has been silent and we have an ambassador who is already sitting in Sierra Leone, his name is Ambassador Hafiz Obada.

“We don’t know what becomes of his fate because other states have been told to remain in their stations or they have been re-appointed.

“My issue is that is it at this time FCT will now lose an ambassador. It is worrisome to me and the people of the FCT. Sitting here, names have been called for all other states except FCT and we have one.

“Now that particular non-career ambassadorial slot for the FCT is being taken away otherwise we are also entitled to have, and that is what I have consistently said since this list came out.

“So, Mr. President, I hope something can be done to this to help the people of the FCT. We don’t get Ministerial nomination, we don’t get so many of these things, but the small ones that we have is about to be taken away which should not be so”, Aduda said.

Lawan, in his remark, described the lawmaker’s complaint as valid, saying it was constitutional for an indigene of the FCT to be appointed as a non-career ambassador by the President.

“I sympathise with the FCT but I know there were 12 non-career ambassadors who were retained.

”I don’t know if you have an FCT indigene among those 12, probably you should check that to see if you would see any FCT indigene, but your complaint is very valid.

“What I’m going to advice is maybe we need to take more political action, so that it doesn’t always come like it is an after-thought.

“The FCT is to be treated like a state, that’s what the constitution states, so you deserve one like any other state deserves”, Lawan said.

SOURCE: https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/buhari-seeks-senates-replacement-of-2-non-career-ambassadors-designate/1sslm79

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh7ixqtVN8Q

SPECIAL REPORT: Unforgettable timelines in the battle to sack EFCC boss, Magu

The nation’s media space was agog Monday with the reported arrest of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Though the DSS has since denied arresting Magu, just as another piece of report indicated that he was only facing a presidential panel, the way and manner his invitation to the panel took place speaks volume, underscoring the various controversies that have trailed his tenure as the helmsman of the anti-corruption agency.

According to reports, operatives of the DSS had accosted Magu while he was about driving out of the Wuse II Abuja annex office of the EFCC, informing him of an invitation to the panel. Efforts made by security details to thwart what was seen by many as his arrest could not save the anti-graft czar from being whisked away.

For keen followers of the chequered tenure of Magu as the EFCC helmsman, the new turn of events may not come as a surprise as Magu’s tenure has continued to generate controversies.

From open spat with top government officials, including ministers, heads of arms of government and the refusal of the National Assembly to confirm his appointment as the substantive chairman of the EFCC, Magu has been in the face of the storm.

Ripples Nigeria presents some events that have defined his tenure and some pointers to the fact that a day like this has long been in sight.

December 15, 2016

The Senate, which is saddled with the power to confirm nominees by the President, on this day rejected the nomination of Magu as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC.

The reports reads:

The Senate, on Thursday, rejected the confirmation of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

Ripples Nigeria had earlier exclusively reported that out of anxiety, Magu had recruited Ali Ndume to intensify lobby of lawmakers who can sway the pendulum in his favour.

The report also noted that senators were in possession of a damning report from the Department of State Services (DSS).

Also earlier, before the screening exercise, Ndume, obviously in defence of Magu had engaged his colleague from Kogi State, Dino Melaye, in war of words over the confirmation hearing of Magu.

Spokesman of the Senate, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, who briefed National Assembly correspondents, confirmed Ripples Nigeria report that the rejection of Magu was based on ‎a ‘worrisome’ security report, made available to lawmakers by the Department of State Services (DSS).

March 15, 2017

After the initial rejection of Ibrahim Magu as the EFCC chairman, President Muhammadu Buhari, again, re-presented him for confirmation by the Senate. He was however again, rejected on March 15, 2017.

The report reads:

The Senate has again rejected the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Magu was first rejected on the 15th of December, 2016 based on a report submitted to the Senate by the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Lawal Daura.

This was the second time the Senate was rejecting Magu since he was appointed in an acting capacity since November 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The rejection followed a heated questions and answers session between Senators and Magu. The question and answer session was part of the confirmation process for Magu.

Magu was grilled on issues of human rights abuses, abuse of court processes and judgments, as well as loss of human lives in EFCC cells.

Magu responded to questions on a report of the Department of State Services (DSS) which claimed that he corruptly enriched himself since he joined the commission in 2004.

He also dispelled claims that he accepted to stay in a house rented for him by a former Air Force officer who is currently facing corruption trial in one of the courts in the country.

The second rejection of Magu was based on another report from the DSS which maintained the same position that he would constitute a problem to the ongoing anti-corruption fight.

Announcing the rejection after an hour 30 minutes grilling by the Senate, lawmakers claimed that another report from the DSS again indicted Magu.

In the letter signed by an operative of DSS, one F.O. Adams on behalf of the Director-General, the Service said the only difference between the old and the new report is the cover note.

In the cover note of the new report, sighted by Ripples Nigeria, the DSS boss reinstated his earlier position, saying that the Service was standing by its earlier claims.

“We want to reiterate our earlier position that we stand by our report, dated 3rd of October, 2016. Everything in the earlier document stands,” part of the cover note of the new report read.

March 25, 2017

In a move that may have been aimed at justifying the rejection of Magu, the office of the Attorney General of Federation confirmed the receipt of the damning report of the DSS on Magu.

Ripples Nigeria reported it as follows:

The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) is now in possession of the Department of State Security (DSS) report that sealed the fate of Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Magu recently failed Nigerian Senate’s screening for confirmation of his appointment, having been renominated a second time by President Muhammadu Buhari after a failed previous effort.

Buhari, rejecting the initial DSS report and relying on the advice of the AGF, Abubakar Malami, had told the Senate that Magu was without any blemish that could stop him from picking up the strategic portfolio.

However, the DSS, in a report laden with 12 documents, laid the facts of Magu’s breaches of the trust of office before the AGF.

Signed by Folashade Bello, on behalf of the Director-General of the DSS, the report noted specifically that:

“This is a copy of the confessional statement of Air Commodore Mohammed Umar (retd.), a suspect hitherto detained and currently being prosecuted by the service.

“The statement confirms his ownership of Valcour SA Nigeria Limited, a company awarded the contract of securing and furnishing an official residence for Ibrahim Magu by the FCTA. Investigations revealed that this was facilitated after Magu was earlier shown the residence by one Uche Aleka, a close business associate of Umar who was introduced to Magu by the former.”

Alleging that Magu was in the habit of sharing top secret documents with the said Umar, the report added, “This is a copy of progress report with reference number SH/COS/24/A/7277 dated 25th May, 2016 on NNPC/NLG Brass Investments Accounts in Nigeria commercial banks from Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari, to the acting Chairman of the EFCC chairman. The letter is an official/classified document of the EFCC, which was duly received by the commission as indicated by the stamp on the document. However, it was recovered at Umar’s residence.”

It concludes, “It has exposed Magu as a fraudulent officer and betrays the high confidence reposed in him by the President.”

March 25, 2017

Basking in the euphoria of denying Magu a confirmation, the Senate, through its then spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdulahi, released a statement, saying the upper chamber of the National Assembly had been justified.

Here is the report:

The Senate says it’s position on EFCC’s acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, and why it refused to confirm his appointment has been justified.

Spokesman of the Senate, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has stated that the leaked report of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) sent to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, on the integrity of Mr. Ibrahim Magu has vindicated the decision of the legislative chamber to reject his nomination as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a statement he signed Saturday in Abuja, Abdullahi stated that: “Following several calls made to me today by journalists seeking my comments on the leak report on Mr. Ibrahim Magu which was more damning than the one submitted to us, I can only say that myself and my colleagues have been vindicated.

“From that report which is now public, it is obvious the DG SSS even tried to give Magu soft landing in the report that was sent to the Senate. The recent report is messier and shows that our decision not to confirm his nomination was right.

“We therefore call on all Nigerians to continue to have full confidence and trust on the Nigerian Senate as it discharges its responsibilities according to the letter and spirit of the Nigerian constitution”, he stated.

August 24, 2017

Magu’s problems was not just with the Senate, as he has had a number of spats with the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who is supposed to be his supervising minister.

Malami on this date accused Magu of playing ignoble roles that led to the suspension of Nigeria from the Egmont Group.

Below is the report:

The feud between the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, took a new turn for the worse as the AGF on Wednesday alleged that Magu’s “ignoble role” was what led to the suspension of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) from the Egmont Group.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Malami alleged that Magu had frustrated efforts geared towards making the NFIU independent of the EFCC as required by the global body of financial intelligence units.

It will be recalled that following Nigeria’s suspension from the Egmont Group earlier in the year owing to what the group cited as lack of independence of the NFIU owing to perceived undue interference largely from the EFCC, the Senate hurriedly passed the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency bill which will grant full autonomy to the body, separating it from the EFCC.

The EFCC had criticized the move, interpreting it as a calculated effort to limit its powers, a position shared by some civil society groups but one which is opposed by the AGF’s office. The AGF had praised the move as a wise and timely intervention by the lawmakers.

This development is coming as Magu and Malami are still locked in bitter disagreement over non-release of requested corruption case files. Magu had despite repeated requests by the AGF declined to send over case files resulting in heated public exchanges, a situation which some say merely reflects a deeper issue.

Many will read these new comments by the AGF as further confirmation of his widely speculated long-held sentiments against the EFCC boss, and perhaps the clearest sign yet of a festering long-drawn fundamental disagreement.

In the statement, Malami observed that “the threat of expulsion from the Egmont Group” that might follow the suspension, “calls for a thorough review of the NFIU.”

He added that it also warranted a review of “the manner in which the EFCC leadership has manipulated and misused intelligence to the detriment of the fight against corruption and financial crimes in Nigeria.”

The AGF narrated different instances where Magu had frustrated bills sent by his office aimed at enhancing the anti-corruption fight and making the NFIU independent.

The statement which was titled, ‘EFCC ignoble role that led to Nigeria’s Egmont suspension’, stated in part as follows:
“…It is a sad tale to tell how the Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu-led EFCC has frustrated these efforts and even had to resort to blackmail in some instances oftentimes, alleging that the AGF and the ministry were all out to impede the government’s anti-corruption drive. Magu and other EFCC officials; and atimes through online publications; had at one time or the other accused the minister of trying to compromise the war.

“They have always perceived the Office of the AGF as a threat instead of addressing the issues related to the best strategy to fight corruption advocated by the AGF.

“For instance, during the House of Representatives Committee review session on 18th April, 2017, Magu vehemently rejected the new Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition Bill 2016 submitted by the President; which according to him, as reported by some national dailies; might prejudice President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption agenda. He even went on his whimsical best by surmising that passing the bill into law now will affect Nigeria’s application for the membership of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). What parody!

“In likewise, the EFCC is now in a state of paranoia, as it dreads the effort of the government to have an independent NFIU which it has stood against stoically since 2006.

“As it presently stands, the NFIU members of staff are all deployed by the EFCC to serve in the interest of whoever is its current chairman.

“This has to stop if it must conform to the new thinking and global best practices. Nigeria cannot be an island of its own.”

It noted that the EFCC “cannot fight corruption in isolation.”

February 9, 2018

Malami was not the only minister that had disagreements with Magu or queried his work at the EFCC.

A former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun had queried Magu on the figures the EFCC had been quoting in the media as monies recovered by it.

In a February 9, 2018 letter, Adeosun wrote to Magu: “This is to notify you of the records of cash asset recoveries in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from May 2015 till date based on information available to the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (attached),” the letter read.

“It has, however, come to the notice of the ministry of finance, the use of recovery figures in media reports by the EFCC that do not reconcile with the records of the ministry.

“You are, therefore, kindly requested to clarify where these cash recoveries have been deposited and provide accompanying evidence.”

June 19, 2020

In what many say may have been the final onslaught against Magu that led to the events of today, July 6, 2020, the Attorney General, Malami, in a damning report, accused Magu of several infractions, 22 in number, emphatically recommending his sack to President Muhammadu Buhari, who has solidly insisted on Magu’s stay in office.

Here is the report:

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, has written to President Muhammadu Buhari to have the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Ibrahim Magu relieved of his office.

The AGF listed 22 offences allegedly committed by Magu, for which he should be sacked.

Magu has been in acting capacity since the National Assembly twice refused to confirm his nomination to head the anti-graft agency after the president sent his name to the federal lawmakers on both ocassions.

The AGF, among other things, accused Magu of insurbordination, and discrepancies in the figures of funds reportedly recovered by the EFCC.

He was also accused of disposing of assets, especially buildings seized from corrupt politicians and others, without approval, or knowledge of the AGF’s office, which is the supervisory ministry of the EFCC.

Although the EFCC boss is said to have supporters at the presidency, who have been speaking in his defence and giving reasons why he should not be sacked, there are feelers that the president may be forced to act on Malami’s complaints, and set up a body to look into the allegations against Magu.

SOURCE: https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/icymi-special-report-unforgettable-timelines-in-the-battle-to-sack-efcc-boss-magu/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzsgJ6ZdhSg

A woman is seen in this viral video, thanking God for saving her life and that if her family,after the watermelon they bought exploded when they went to cut it open.

She claimed she bought the watermelon from an Aboki the previous day. They decided to eat it the next day.

After morning devotion the following morning, when they got to the kitchen to peel the watermelon, they found out the watermelon had exploded and its contents had spilled on the floor.

Rather than count her losses on the money spent buying the fruit, the woman thanked God that they had not eaten the fruit the previous night because they don't know what made the fruit explode in the first place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7qwilTk0Co

172 Evacuees from Uganda and Nairobi arrive Nnamdi Azikiwe Int’l Airport, Abuja at 10:20 am local time via @flyairpeace Flight B777-200 from Nairobi today, Wednesday, 1st of July, 2020.
Some of the Evacuees will disembark in Abuja while others will proceed to Murtala Muhammed Int’l Airport, Lagos.

The exercise was put together by our Mission in Nairobi, Kenya in collaboration with the Mission in Kampala, Uganda.

All Evacuees tested Negative to #COVID19 and will now proceed on 14 days SELF-ISOLATION as mandated by @NCDCgov, @Fmohnigeria and PTF on #COVID-19.

https://twitter.com/nidcom_gov/status/1278263499081334785?s=19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6u4OLvYh4E

Unfortunately, they had no face masks on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeCqnX2lPnM

''It was hell'' Peter Okoye shares his experience after himself, his wife and daughter tested positive for COVID19

Singer, Peter Okoye, this afternoon revealed himself, his wife Lola and their daughter Aliona, tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.

In a video he posted online, Peter said he was the one who first tested positive with the virus.

''For the past three weeks, I have been ill and most people didn't even know what was wrong with me. I kept it to myself. It has been three weeks of hell for me and my family.

I had COVID19 for about three weeks and it happened to me.

I was sick and I tested positive.

The reason why I came out to say it is because I am going to encourage a lot of people concerning this whole social distancing, getting used to sanitizing your hands, disinfecting your environment, wearing your face mask and all that.

It's been hell for this family in this house. Not just me. Even two of my domestic staff.

After a week, my daughter caught the virus as well. It was sad that when she caught it, the doctor insisted that she has to be self isolated in her own room but my wife did something very courageous. She said no.

I was sick and I was being self-isolated in my guest room. I couldn't even see my sick daughter and I was feeling so bad. I felt so bad because I felt that I am the one who actually brought the virus to the house. It was so bad that I had to be calling her on video, checking on her.

The next day, my wife did someting very courageous. She picked our daughter from her room, held her and took her to the master bedroom and she called me and she started crying. I asked her what happened and she said I cannot live this girl alone. I would rather be infected and be with her.

Five or six days later, my daughter was pronounced negative. When she was pronounced negative, we knew it wasn't going to end there. The next day, Lola became positive. It has been hell but we had a bad experience.

I just want to tell everybody that this COVID19 is real. Don't take it for granted.

I am happy to announce that my wife, myself, our daughter and two of our domestic staff all of us are now negative''he said

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NfxbcTh8TE


Abiola Ajimobi has tasked Muslim faithful and Nigerians, in general, to reflect on the essence of the holy month of Ramadan and its message of tolerance as well as forgiveness of sins.

He also speaks about death and heaven in this video.

Never knew he was such a spiritual man. May he rest in peace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBL8_y7rma4

No fewer than 2,178 workers of the Lagos State Management Waste Authority (LAWMA) from 66 routes of operations at the weekend protested and quit their jobs in demonstration against their two months unpaid salaries.

The peaceful protest led by the LAWMA contractor, Mrs. Ola Williams, popularly known as Iron Lady, held at the State House, Marina, Lagos, called on the new LAWMA Managing Director, Ibrahim Odumboni, to pay them their pending salaries of May and June as well as for April for some workers.

According to Williams, despite giving in their best in discharging their duties as sweepers of the state, even during the lockdown, those manning the 66 routes under her care from the 673 routes in Lagos are being maltreated.

“We are not treated well. Why would the 66 routes under my care be neglected? They are widows, single mothers and the aged, and left without money to care for themselves.

“We will go nowhere. We must get our salaries. I am ready to die for my people,” she protested.

Unanimously, she and all her workers, who sat on the ground outside the State House, chanted: “We quit. We are no longer interested in working. Pay us our salaries.”

While the officials, mostly aged women, decried being neglected and left to starve, they called on the First Lady of the state, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, to come to their aid as a fellow woman.

“Our First Lady, Mrs. Ibijoke, as a fellow woman, please come to our aid. We need your intervention,” Willians lamented before the officials and armed security men manning the State House.

While speaking to the female government official, who addressed the leader of the protesters, she said: “All we want to know is when he is paying us. We have heard this before. We are no longer working. We resign, and we want to know when he paying us.”

One of the women, Sherifat Yusuf, 60, decried profusely: “I beg you in the name of God, Mr. Governor, please pay us our salary. I have a sick husband to care for. He has stroke. Please pay us our money.”

While expressing her grievance, another woman, Mrs. Selimot Yusuf, 77, called on the state governor to have mercy on them, adding: “Have mercy on us, and pay us our money. We are hungry. Please have mercy on us.”

And in their final submission, the entire workers unanimously dumped their uniform at the State House to further express their grievances.

Speaking to journalists, one of the protesters, Mrs. Olayemi Dada, said: “This act of dumping our uniforms symbolises that we are fed up. We quit. Give us our three months salaries.

“Some of us are widows, single mothers and aged, yet we worked hard. We will continue to fight for our rights.”

Among the 66 routes of their operation are Mile 2, Ibeju-Lekki, Ile-Epo, Berger, Alimosho, Ojo among others.

SOURCE: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/22/2178-lawma-workers-resign-demand-two-months-unpaid-salaries/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaGfSuRLwOo

The governor of Imo state, Sen Hope Uzodinma, has boasted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not only field candidate for the Edo state governorship election but will also win the election.

Governor Uzodinma, who is also the chairman APC primary election committee, however blamed enemies for the current crisis rocking the ruling party, arguing that they are merely envious of the growith of the party.

Speaking while accepting the responsibility assigned his commitee, Governor Uzodinma, described the APC as a party to beat in any part of the country today.

“It is my honour on behalf of my Committee to accept this very rare confidence reposed on us by our great party to go and conduct this process that will produce our guber candidate for the forthcoming Edo governorship election.

“I want to thank the Almighty God even when I know that this is coming at a time that our party is greatly challenged by some handiworks of our enemies and those who think the party has grown into national envy. I want to assure the leadership of the party and indeed the entire membership in the country that we will go and do justice to this assignment and we will not disappoint all reasonable expectations.

“I want to remind all of us that APC is the party to beat anywhere in Nigeria. The party is growing from strength to strength on daily basis. The tendency for people to become envious and the process want to create distraction has also become very high but we must rise to the occasion to do just all that will make our party be what the people expect.

Events of the past few days have shown that some people are after us and we must buckle our seat belts. We will face the turbulence but I am confident that our aircraft will get to the destination. We must field a candidate and our party must be ran by those elected to run the party by us. And by the Grace of God, we will win the election in Edo,” he said.

Fielding questions from newsmen after the inauguration on the state of the party, the Imo state governor said: “The purpose of disagreement is to agree. As we trying to disagree in our great party, we are disagreeing to agree. It therefore goes to show that the party is growing from strength to strength.

“All the internal disagreements, the party Constitution is fashioned in a manner that it has provided for ways and means of resolving these disagreements. And this that has just happened a couple of days ago will not be an exception. I think in our usual manner, working with the party leadership, we will resolve all areas of disagreement and we will all be united together and stronger to go into the election in Edo state.

“In their wisdom I have been appointed to chair the committee to conduct the primaries, I have been given the guidelines to drive the exercise. You are aware there is also global pandemic, COVID-19 and there are some local legislation in Edo state, there is a law that does not allow more than 20 people to gather at a place, that is the beauty of direct primary.

“When we get to Edo, we will deploy the necessary manpower to the various polling unit with instruction that will not violate the local legislation that will enable our members not to gather more than 20 people at a place and by so doing, with a segmented apporach, we will conduct a free and fair primary and our party will be happy that we did,” he assured.

SOURCE: https://www.sunnewsonline.com/apc-ll-field-candidate-win-edo-election-gov-uzodinma/

EzzyCarter:
The main prayer is may we not jam agbako . No matter how careful one is, na God fit save person. Imagine bringing her over in the afternoon and something happens to her. Although OP definitely has a point. Bringing a girl to pass the night in times like these is high risk asides the whole girl dying scenario, consider your own safety as well.

Had this experience with a lady. We weren't dating but we used to hang out and feck each other's brains out. So she came to sleep over that night (her first time). We kept chatting and stuff and aunty kept asking me when I'd sleep. Lmao. As a real gee, I never sleep with my two eyes open. She later slept off and then I did too. Woke up by midnight to see her bending over me in bed checking to see if I was still sleeping. So I pretended I was still sleeping. (I even gave her fake snore) . She stood up and tip-toed to where her bag was. She took out a razor blade and a small paper and came over to the bed. She softly grabbed a few strands of my hair, trying to cut it with the blade. Twas then I held her hand and I shoved her and rose up then she started begging and all. She said she was pranking me. What kinda prank is that? The rest is history sha.
I cant imagine what would av happened if she had succeeded in stealing my hair tho... be careful out there guys. Not every lady you see is an angel . God save us all..

Guy.... Your own na still JJC compared to my experience.... Mine did not need a blade..

I was in my final year in the uni then and this babe who thought I was drunk after drinking some bottles of big stout, used their hands to pluck my public hair and threw it in her mouth when I opened my eyes . ...... Na so I grab her throat.... She dey form say she dey choke. ..... I didn't care, I told her the only way I would leave her throaty was that she spat all the contents in her mouth out.....

What exactly them dey even use person hair do?

TONYE001:
Everyone in this video should be isolated immediately.

The cameraman too.

There was no need for them to even wear face masks in the first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GxYB-Kt4PU

Four men couldn't even put him into an ambulance.... The man strength reach Samson own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQI7XWhxNbI

According to NCDC boss Chikwe Ihekweazu who was grilled by Reps members, So far, FG has released two tranches of funds to the NCDC. The first was preparedness release before the outbreak reached Nigeria of N620Million. In addition, 5 billion was released to NCDC to enable response activities.

Details of expenses

N380Million on procurement medical and laboratory supplies,

N258Million in the deployment of rapid response teams across the country

N192Million in the emergency procurement of medical equipment

N142Million in the engagement of ad-hoc staff

N101Million on surveillance and response activities

N41Million on various repairs reconstruction work

N34Million on training

N22Million on supporting the supply chain

N6Million in risk communications

N41Million on tax

In total they NCDC has spent a total of N1.2Billion in the response of Covid-19 in Nigeria. Of the remaining funds, the NCDC boss says that they have mapped out some of the funds for various activities such as increase lab capacity, among others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wt6IpAVpGk

Boko Haram/ISWAP: Nigerian military gives update on troops operation in last one week

The Nigerian army has provided the latest update on troops’ operations in the North East and other parts of the country in the last seven days.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have been on the offensive against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists mainly through the Land and Air components of Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

The statement read: “This morning, I will be briefing you on operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies across the country, in line with our routine. Categorically, the various operations have progressed successfully in all our theatres of operations in the last week.

“In the North East, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have been on the offensive against the terrorists mainly through the Land and Air components of Operation LAFIYA DOLE. The significant feats achieved in this theatre include deletion of key BHT/ISWAP commanders, destruction of their logistics bases and cutting off their supply routes. Equally, their camps have been in disarray as a result of the killing of some of their key commanders through airstrikes and artillery bombardments on their identified locations. This is additional to the aggressive mobile clearance operations and air interdictions. Thus, the terrorists now carry out attacks in depleted strength on soft targets which are being effectively countered by the gallant troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

“Following closely, in the North West and North Central parts of the Country, the gallant troops through land and air offensives successfully neutralized 392 bandits since the commencement of Operation KATSINA, which seriously degraded the bandits and other criminal elements in the two zones. Consequently, those bandits that escaped resorted to reprisal attacks on civilian targets.


The Nigerian army has provided the latest update on troops’ operations in the North East and other parts of the country in the last seven days.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have been on the offensive against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists mainly through the Land and Air components of Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.


The statement read: “This morning, I will be briefing you on operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies across the country, in line with our routine. Categorically, the various operations have progressed successfully in all our theatres of operations in the last week.

READ ALSO: Crisis in Aso Rock: Presidency backs Buhari's aide against Aisha
“In the North East, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have been on the offensive against the terrorists mainly through the Land and Air components of Operation LAFIYA DOLE. The significant feats achieved in this theatre include deletion of key BHT/ISWAP commanders, destruction of their logistics bases and cutting off their supply routes. Equally, their camps have been in disarray as a result of the killing of some of their key commanders through airstrikes and artillery bombardments on their identified locations. This is additional to the aggressive mobile clearance operations and air interdictions. Thus, the terrorists now carry out attacks in depleted strength on soft targets which are being effectively countered by the gallant troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Gov. Wike issues warning to Bonny Kingdom
“Following closely, in the North West and North Central parts of the Country, the gallant troops through land and air offensives successfully neutralized 392 bandits since the commencement of Operation KATSINA, which seriously degraded the bandits and other criminal elements in the two zones. Consequently, those bandits that escaped resorted to reprisal attacks on civilian targets.


However, Operation ACCORD was preemptively planned by the High Command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to handle this situation. In this regard, the Chief of Defence Staff ordered the commencement of Operation ACCORD from 1 June 2020.

“Let me state here that, Operation ACCORD is a joint operation involving the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies. It is a concomitant operation by all the theatres of operations in the North West and North Central regions of the Country targeted at tackling banditry and other criminal activities. In this regard, all identified hideouts and hibernations of the enemies will be decisively cleared through land and air combat actions. This can easily be achieved through the provision of credible information that can translate to actionable intelligence. Thus, the general public is hereby requested to avail the various operational outfits in their locations with this highly desirable information, to enable the Nigerian Military and other security agencies to achieve the set objective.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2020/06/04/boko-haram-iswap-nigerian-military-gives-update-on-troops-operation-in-last-one-week/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0atYQ8Gjbng

London (CNN)British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's car was involved in a minor accident as he left the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday.

As Johnson's car left Parliament to drive the short distance to Downing Street following the weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions, a group of protesters ran towards the car, prompting it to come to a sudden halt.
The collision left a large dent in the Prime Minister's car.

The collision left a large dent in the Prime Minister's car.
A security car following the Prime Minister's vehicle then ran into the back of Johnson's car, leaving a visible dent.

The story came to light after a video of the crash circulated on social media

SOURCE: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/17/uk/boris-johnson-car-crash-gbr-intl/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzoELxQKY9k

"Release our husbands for us. There's no Coronavirus" Wives of Egbin power station workers storm the company's residential estate to demand that their husbands be released

Wives of Egbin power station workers made a scene as they called for their husbands to be released to them.



Staff of Egbin power station, in Egbin-Ikorodu, have reportedly been banned from going home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are expected to remain within the company's residential estate to avoid Coronavirus.



According to a source who spoke to LIB, the staff were told that if they leave the premises of the estate, they stand to loose their jobs.



However, wives of the workers, who have not seen their husbands for weeks due to the official decree, stormed the estate where staff of Egbin power station workers are housed.



In a video making the rounds, the women threatened that they will take action if they return after 25 hours and their husbands have not been released to them.



"Release our husbands for us. There is no Coronavirus," the women called from the gate to estate.



A source who spoke to LIB said: "The wives are protesting for the management of the power holding company to let their husbands come home.



"The electricity company has been privatised now. The Asians in charge call the shots and they have given them a choice. Either stay back and work or go home and be jobless."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2bSvkFOCic

Pastor filmed harassing ladies over their dressing and threatening them with hell while doing street evangelism

A woman has shared a video showing the moment a pastor harassed her and her friend and threatened them with hellfire over the way they were dressed.



The women said they were around Ozone, while walking to Yaba, when the man walked up to them and started harassing them.



Sharing a video of the pastor, Chiderah wrote: "So I and my friend were walking to the market and this man kept harassing us in broad daylight saying he’s a preacher and our sunshades won’t help us in hell. Mountain of fire pastors hope y’all can find this person and act accordingly. Kindly tag relevant authorities please."

Chiderah's friend added: "So, it was I and @chi_derah that were walking to Yaba & somewhere around Ozone, this guy just walks to our side and says 'repent or you will go to hell, these sun shades you're wearing won't help you in hell.' At first, I didn't even grasp what he said until he said it again but this timed louder than before.



"He kept pointing at us and saying we like things the world & our dressing will take us to hell. I'm literally wearing joggers and a t-shirt with a tied scarf on my head and @chi_derah is wearing a long-sleeved."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_vvtSwCgWI

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday stated that Nigeria can turn the coronavirus pandemic into an economic victory.

Osinbajo said this at the State House in Abuja after presenting a well prepared post-COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Osinbajo led the Economic Sustainability Committee to submit the report entitled, “Bouncing Back: The Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan”.

The President is expected to approve the recommendations of the report which contains modalities and policies that would strengthen businesses in the country as well as provide jobs for the teeming masses amid the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Osinbajo said: “We are confident that if the proposals are taken as a whole and implemented conscientiously, Nigeria will avert the worst of the impending economic headwinds, and convert this crisis to a victory for the Nigerian economy.”

Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/nigeria-can-turn-covid-19-pandemic-to-economic-victory-osinbajo/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA20xjnmm2k


A man who goes about impersonating Mike Ezuruonye has been exposed after a White woman he tried to scam recorded the video call.
.
Mike Ezuruonye shared a video of the call and called on the Nigerian police, EFCC, FBI, and Interpol to go after the man.
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In the video, the Caucasian woman is seen telling the Nigerian man that she has divorced her husband and she will give him some money from her divorce settlement.
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However, she made it clear to him that she's aware that the Mike Ezuruonye profile he's using isn't his.
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She asked him to promise that he will close down the fake profiles and that he will stop going after women for money.
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She said if he does, she'll send him money from her divorce settlement and a picture of her divorce papers by Monday.
.
Mike said this is just one out of multiple impostors. He added that their actions have caused him embarrassment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If-HhBnkY0Y

The national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has urged Governor Godwin Obaseki and other aspirants who were disqualified from the Edo governorship primary to appeal the decision if they feel the need to do so. Oshiomhole made the statement on Friday, June 12, shortly after the APC screening committee announced that the incumbent governor of Edo state, Obaseki, and two other aspirants had been disqualified from contesting in the Edo governorship primary, Legit.ng reports.

The national chairman of the APC urged disqualified aspirants, who believe they have a case, to appeal. Oshiomhole said the appeal committee of the party is ready to hear appeals from the disqualified candidates. He commended the screening committee for carrying out their duties.

Meanwhile, in another report, the APC has been tipped to win the 2020 governorship election in Edo state despite a festering internal crisis bedeviling the party, a poll has shown.

Edo APC chapter has been embroiled in the eyes of a storm following a power feud between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his former godfather Adams Oshiomhole over the control of the political structure of the state.

The crisis degenerated into a big mess with two warring parties interlocking in public spat towards the build-up to the state gubernatorial election scheduled for September Some political experts and critics have predicted that the crisis will result in defeat for the party in the coming election. But a poll by Legit.ng has shown that APC may cruise to victory in the state despite the internal unrest that has seen the party enmeshed in unresolved differences.

SOURCE: https://www.legit.ng/1338333-edo-election-oshiomhole-obaseki-appeal-disqualification.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8XJ97iXSTY

Ondo state governor Rotimi Akeredelu has obtained his expression of interest and nomination form for the Governorship election in Ondo state.

Akeredolu’s supporters reportedly purchased the forms for him at the All Progressive Congress (APC) headquarters in Abuja.

Victor Olabimtan, the Special Adviser to Governor Akeredolu on Political Matters led the delegation to obtain the forms.

He said the decision to purchase the form for the governor is as result of his exemplary achievement in governance.

Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly were also present at the APC headquarters, in support of Governor Akeredelu’s second term bid.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the Ondo state election on October 10th 2020.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwbprYgKJGc

The Senate has begun a probe into all the moribund Paper Mills in Nigeria, with a view to ascertaining what went wrong with the hitherto companies that provided jobs to over 300, 000 Nigerians. The Senate said that it was worried by the recent statistics released by the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) that Nigeria lost over N800 billion naira annually to paper importation. According to the Senate, the Printers Association of Nigeria puts the figure at $1 trillion US dollars annually through the importation of over one million metric tons of paper at the cost of $1,000 US dollars per tones.

Consequently, the Upper Chamber has mandated its Senator Theodore Orji, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Abia Central led Senate Committee on Privatization to carry out a holistic investigation into the activities and operations of the Mills and report back to the Senate. The Senate has also urged the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) and Nigeria Customs Service to review duty on the importation of published books and importation of paper as raw materials into the country and make it favorable to print locally in Nigeria.

Resolutions of the Senate yesterday were sequel to a motion titled “The need to revive the Moribund Paper Mills in Nigeria. The motion was sponsored by Senator Christopher Ekpeyong, PDP, Akwa Ibom North West, and co-sponsored by 25 Others. Presenting the motion, Senator Ekpenyong said that “The Senate: Notes that Nigeria’s three Paper Mills: Nigeria Paper Mill (NPM) Kwara State, Nigeria Newsprint Manufacturing Company (NNMC) Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria National Paper Manufacturing Company (NNPMC) Ogun State were established by the Federal Government in the 1960s and 1970s to produce Corrugated Cartons, Sack Craft Paper, Kraft Paper, Linear and Chip Board as well as fluting media to meet the country`s needs in writing and printing papers; “Further notes that these Paper Mills were privatized by Government as a result of lack of adequate funds to run them and non-performance, hence the redirection of the management into private hands through privatization to ensure effective and profitable management.”

According to him, the Senate is “Aware that paper production is one of the major industrial activities regarded as a pointer to industrialization and educational development worldwide, making the sector a major booster to our economy and national development; “Observed that the sector has gone moribund since privatization, leaving the country with another huge income deficit.

The companies who bought these mills have either abandoned them or not been able to revive them to full capacity making the country to depend on imported papers; “Recalls with nostalgia that these Mills formerly had a workforce of over 300,000 people and an investment worth over N100 billion naira before the privatization policy by the Government; “Concerned that the unhealthy state of the printing industry is adversely affecting the education sector. Statistics show that over 100 million books are required annually in the country for the 20 million students in schools and by the National Book Policy, five books are the requirement set per pupil. 75 percent of these books are printed outside the country.

This is because printers make more money printing abroad because the duty on the importation of published books is zero percent while the importation of paper, as raw materials into the country is up to 30 percent; and “Further worried that the result of the non-performance of the Paper Mills is the missed opportunity for job creation in the sector; this amounts to a loss for the Nigerian economy. If these Paper Mills are working, thousands of Nigerians would be actively employed working in these mills. Books and paper needed by students would have been cheaper since they are produced locally.”

SOURCE: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/06/senate-probes-privatization-of-moribund-paper-mills-in-nigeria/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOpk3YlmyaM

A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Ahmed Jaha (APC-Borno), has regretted the comments he made at the Thursday’s plenary, apologising to Nigerians, especially women. Jaha, at an interview with journalists on Saturday in Abuja, recalled his comments at the debate that women should cultivate a habit of proper dressing to avoid unnecessary harassment from men who could not control themselves. The lawmaker, representing Chibok, Damboa, Gwoza Federal Constituency of Borno, said he regretted making such statement as it affected the sensitivity of women.

“I have made a mistake that has offended the sensibilities of fellow Nigerians and indeed, fellow human beings, particularly women who are our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. “While I totally reaffirm my position that rapists should face death sentences, I regret the part that talks about the dressing of women. “I deeply apologise for this position, because as some have rightly argued, my comments, could imply that women who are victims, share the blame of being raped. “This clearly, could not have been the intention of someone who suggested death penalty for rapists,” Jaha said.

The lawmaker said that there were three sets of people who never made mistakes: “the dead, those incapacitated and those that are healthy, but useless to the society”. According to him, mistakes are for those who make efforts, but gets it wrong; it is then left to them to own up to their mistakes, take responsibility, tender apology and dedicate themselves to genuine repentance. Jaha said that a woman’s choice of dressing could not justify rape, saying that if women who were the weaker sex show discipline by looking away when men were not well dressed, men should even do better. “I know that it is a divine responsibility for every good man to protect and preserve the pride of a woman. “Most women are born with natural strength of endurance, that is why they are able to go through childbirth, to nurture families, take care of relations and still able to earn descent livelihoods.

“Women do things with completeness. I admire this so much because I have benefited from the sincerity and commitment of women. “I hold women with the highest respect, with great pride and with so much love that is pure and responsible,” the parliamentarian added. Jaha also apologised to his colleagues in the house and his constituents who might have been disappointed by his comments, especially female lawmakers. He called for the domestication of Violence Against Persons and Prohibition Act and other relevant laws against gender-based violence in the country.



SOURCE: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/06/nass-member-regrets-comments-on-rape-debate-apologizes-to-nigerian-women/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYsKnQlCiDk

The Federal Fire Service (FFS), yesterday commissioned ten fire fighting trucks worth one billion, eight hundred and eighty-eight million naira to enable men of the service meet the growing challenge of fire outbreak across the country.

Commissioning the fire trucks in Abuja, minister of interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said within June to October last year, the agency has responded to 2,615 fire calls and has been able to save 754 lives and property worth one billion six hundred and twenty-six trillion naira across the country.

He said the arrival of the trucks would further consolidate and boost the growing challenge of fire outbreak in the sector and meet emergencies.

“With the deployment of the newly procured fire engines across the country, it would boost emergency response time.

The FFS is now in all states of the federation and is most responsive in saving lives and preventing humanitarian and economic disasters.

The years 2019 and 2020 witnessed frightening fires ranging from market to gas and pipeline fires around the country, therefore, these trucks and their deployments to various zones would ensure a drop in incessant fire outbreaks in the country,” he said.

Comptroller General of the Federal Fire Service, Dr Liman Ibrahim said the ten fire trucks are the some of the new modern states of the art fighting trucks and are part of twenty-one trucks approved by the federal executive council in 2018.

“It may interest you to know that the cost of these ten trucks is one billion, eight hundred and eighty-eight million naira and these trucks will enable us to further reduce emergency response time,” Liman stated.

He said President Muhammad Buhari is poised to repositioning the service for improved and effective delivery and has approved fund to address outstanding debts and payments to contractors.

The ten trucks are to be deployed to seven states; Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kwara, Oyo, Edo, Bayelsa and Anambra states. More are expected to be bought as funds are made available.

Meanwhile, the FFS has established six additional zonal commands in Bauchi, Makurdi, Kubwa, Abeokuta, Kano and Enugu to reduce response time bringing the total number of commands to twelve across Nigeria with each having a communication centre.

Also, six new fire training schools have been established in Katsina, Kwara, Osun, Abia, Borno and Cross Rivers states to cater for human and capital development needs of the service locally.

SOURCE: https://guardian.ng/news/ffs-commissions-ten-fire-trucks-worth-n1-8bn/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzWLrA3nK8A

Godknows 'Yangy' Adolphus Owhor, the Babcock student accused of raping 24 girls including his cousin has denied all the accusations.



Two days ago, the student's alleged victims came forward with their story after Twitter user @caramelangiee shared screenshots of a DM she got.

Addressing the rape scandal in a video, Yangy says he almost killed himself when the rape accusations against him surfaced online. He also denied ever meeting any of the alleged victims.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW351gTGcv0

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, set up an investigation into the alleged disappearance of an eighteen-member medical team of Chinese

Nationals who were brought into the country in April by the Federal government. The Minister of Health had on the 14th of May, told journalists that the Ministry was not aware of the whereabouts of the Chinese team. The House mandated the probe of the whereabouts of the team, Tuesday, after considering a Motion brought on the floor by Rep. Dachung Bagos (PDP-Plateau).

The sponsor of the Motion recalled that on 3rd of April, 2020, the Federal Government announced that a 15-member team of medical personnel, comprising of doctors, nurses and other Medical advisers, arrived the country, along with a plane-load of additional PPE. On the 8th of April, 2020, a 15- member team of Chinese Medical Personnel arrived in the Country to share their experiences in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and were received at the Nnamdi International airport, Abuja by some Government officials, including the Minister of Health.

“Also that the decision to bring in Chinese Medical Personnel into the Country, to help the fight against COVID-19 by Federal Government, sparked a lot of controversies from some Nigerians who kicked against the decision, saying that the Country has enough doctors and nurses, who are supposed to tackle the COVID-19 Pandemic”.

He said he was further aware that in response to the controversies, the Speaker, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila convened a meeting between the leadership of the House and Minister of Health on 7th April 2020, the Rt. Hon Speaker insisted that the Medical Team must undergo the necessary checks as provided by the NCDC and also go on 14 days Isolation before any interface with Nigerians, adding that, however “on arrival 0f the supposedly 15- member Chinese team Medical Personnel on the 8th of April, 2020, the Minister of Health in a press statement while welcoming them, told Nigerians that; first of all, what the Chineses Doctors will be doing Nigeria, is capacity building to add to the body of knowledge of Nigerian Doctors and experts have, because there is no expert who thinks he knows everything, every expert will tell you that there is more to know and there is more to learn, especially if you are hearing from those who have had past experience about it”, as he quoted the Minister as saying,
” the visit of these team is going to be very helpful to us and am sure the most curious of all persons should be our own Scientist who are having many questions and even these ladies and gentle men are are already in quarantine, I have requested that they will be able to connect With our scientists and Doctors via teleconferencing, so we can start early to be able to ask questions and hear their narratives.”

The lawmaker said he learned that “before the coming of the Chinese Medical Team into the country, COVID-19 data stood at 254 confirmed cases with 44 successfully treated by the Nigerian Medical Personnel with only 6 deaths who, reportedly had other underlining ailments. Today the data stands at about 5959 cases with 182 deaths yet the nation has heard nothing as to the contribution of the supposedly Chinese Medical Team and their supposed medical expertise”.

The expressed concerns, that the Minister of Information reported in an interview with Sahara Reporters on the 4th of May, 2020, that the Chinese Doctors have started working in Isolation Centres, helping the country in capacity building, but the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Zhai Lljian, said the Medical Team was sent at the request of the Nigerian Government who had voiced welcome and gratitude to China’s help”, but added that “contrary to the statement above, the Minister of Health on the 14 of May, 2020, in a new twist reportedly told News Reporters not to bother his ministry over the whereabouts of the Chinese Medical experts who came into Nigeria to support the fight against COVID-19, while responding to questions at the daily Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the Minister of Health said the Medical Personnel are not guests of the Federal Government but CCECC, a construction Company”.

He said he brought the Motion, following the complaints and concerned of the Nigerian citizens, to duly investigate this issues as according to him, “it is our duty as Lawmakers and as representatives of our Constituents to protect the Nigerian citizens even while respecting or interacting with foreign nationals”. RThe House adopted the Motion in its entirety, mandating the Minister of Health, to give a detailed full status report of activities of the supposed Chinese Medical Team to the Speaker, as agreed during there meeting of 7th April 2020. The House also mandated its Committees on Health Services, Interior, National Security and Intelligence and Foreign Affairs, to investigate the reports of Chinese Medical Team were about and who they really are.


Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/covid-19-reps-probe-disappearance-of-chinese-medical-team/