₦airaland Forum

MTN and the Audacity of Impunity
The Verdict By Olusegun Adeniyi: olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com
When on October 22 this year the National Communications Commission (NCC) imposed an unprecedented fine of $5.2 billion (N1.04trn) on the Mobile Telecommunication of Nigeria (MTN), I was one of the people who felt that it was too severe a punishment even when I agreed that what the company did was indefensible. My position was premised on two factors: One, such a sanction should not be seen as a way to generate revenues because it would demean our country; and two, there are many Nigerians working in MTN and we should not endanger their jobs.
However, nobody can dispute the fact that MTN committed a serious infraction. The sanction was imposed because the company serially violated the NCC directive on the 5.2 million subscribers with unregistered SIMs and incomplete registration details on its network that were supposed to have been cleaned out, thereby infringing on aregulation validly made four years ago and, more importantly, endangering our national security.
Notwithstanding, I felt that there would be negotiations at some point to reduce the fine since the essence of it was not to cripple the company. As a first step in that direction, the then Group CEO, Mr. Sifiso Dabengwa, led a powerful team from South Africa, to engage with the Federal Government. Dabengwa, who had served as CEO of MTN Nigeria between 2004 and 2006, met with the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Umaru Garba Danbatta, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal, Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, Director General of the State Security Service, Mr Lawal Musa Daura, National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.
I also have it on good authority that aside making verbal pleas for leniency, MTN wrote letters to admit the charges against the company with promise of good behaviour going forward. At some point, a 25 percent reduction in the fine was agreed. Even at that, I felt that the fine was still too high and my expectation was that the company would pay some amount to show good faith and then begin further negotiations with the federal government. What the developments suggested was that MTN, as a responsible corporate citizen, understood the implications of what it did and was ready to cooperate with Nigerian authorities with a view to finding a common ground. But the next thing we heard was that MTN has gone to court on some spurious technical grounds.
Baffled as to why MTN would choose to fight when it was clearly in the wrong and had admitted as much officially in writing, a senior official at the presidency said the company was misadvised into believing that it is cheaper to hire many senior Nigerian lawyers who would use the court process to frustrate the government and wear out the administration than pay the fine. But from what I understand, it may be counter-productive on the part of the company to imagine it could use our courts to circumvent justice after breaking our law. I also believe MTN is misreading the mood of the Buhari administration on an issue in which a national consensus seems to be emerging.
After a recent meeting in Abuja, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) in a communique signed by their Chairman, Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara State, said “MTN has accepted that they committed the offence and has apologised, and they are looking for leniency”. The governors, however, added that “we, the governors forum, decided to support the NCC…and the laws of our land do not give leniency to deliberate offence to our nation.”
Even for people like me who are sympathetic to MTN and still believe the fine should be further reduced, the sequence of events reveals very clearly that MTN has scant regards not only for our laws but for our country, a very supercilious and irresponsible attitude they would dare not exhibit in South Africa. It all dates back to the 1st of May 2010, when the NSA office, in collaboration with other security agencies and the NCC, mandated telecoms operators to start collecting biometric personal information.
While this should be a simple matter, MTN perhaps took a cue from the NCC management at the time that turned the exercise into another racket. That was after collecting, in March 2011, a needless sum of N6.1 billion from the federal government before flagging-off the process and giving a period of six months within which operators were expected to comply.
At that period, NCC had recruited seven consultants and tasked them with the responsibility of carrying out the SIM card registration exercise within the timeframe. Eventually, the consultants (SW Global, PNN, Chams, JKK, DatagroupIT, Eagle/CBC and E-Kenneth/SageMetrics) were withdrawn because they did not have a synchronised software solution that could detect double registration. With that, we wasted a whopping sum of N6.1 billion.
A year later on 7th November 2011, the SIM Registration Regulations came into force. Section 19 of the regulation stipulates a fine of N200, 000 to a telecoms company for failure to deactivate any SIM Card without proper registration details. And following the expiration of an initial grace period, the NCC mandated all operators to deactivate all unregistered existing SIM cards on their networks by the 30th of June 2013. By November of the same year, telecoms operators were directed to fully bar any newly registered SIM card which failed to perform a voice or data communication within 48 hours after its registration.
In September 2014, the NCC shared with the operators details of registrations records that the commission judged as invalid on its system, directing them to clean up their records through deactivation within a 30-day period. Again, on 8th July 2015, NCC directed operators to deactivate all the SIM cards registered but without a record of activity within a period of 21 days.
On 4th August, 2015, the operators, representatives of the security agencies and the NCC held a meeting to discuss issues around SIM registration and how it had become a serious threat to national security. At the end of the meeting, a final directive was issued to the telecoms operators to deactivate all SIM cards with improper/invalid registration details by 11th August 2015.
A week after the deadline, the NCC and the security agencies conducted a compliance audit where it was discovered that MTN had made little or no effort to deactivate its unregistered lines while other operators had largely complied. That development necessitated another meeting, this time at the Villa. Chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, it was attended by heads of security agencies and CEOs of the telecoms companies who were warned that continued non-compliance would lead to the imposition of penalties of N200, 000 per each improperly registered SIM card in line with the extant law.
Again, while all the other operators ensured that the directive was carried out, MTN made some feeble attempts to bar unregistered subscribers in selected areas and only over a few days in September 2015 before it discarded the exercise, apparently believing, like it was in the past, that nothing would happen. The rest, as they say, is history.
Now that the company has decided to go to court after admitting its guilt in writing to the presidency, I hope the MTN is aware that the company is dealing with an administration it cannot easily compromise or bamboozle. And the blackmail of “chasing away foreign investors” would just not work, considering the issues involved. Besides, it may well be that what MTN did on SIM registration was perfectly in character.
I have it on good authority that so many other things have come up about MTN operations in Nigeria and the manner in which the company might actually have been breaking our laws, especially on remittances and taxation. These are issues that the relevant authorities are now looking into since the company wants to fight. But far more significant is that the South African authorities may need to wade in before MTN commits suicide in Nigeria because such eventuality would have serious repercussions for them.
A story published on 21st September, 2013 by ‘The Economist’ is quite revealing about how South Africa has taken advantage of both our generousity and our shamelessness to make so much money from our system. Although the story, titled “The grocer’s great trek” was actually about Zambia and the South African grocery chain, Shoprite, which grew from its first of eight stores acquired from a failing Zambian-government owned chain, there was also a Nigerian angle. And here is the catch, according to the story: “…the growing demand is drawing investment from South Africa, whose big chains are keen to escape a sluggish domestic market. Sales in Shoprite’s supermarkets in the rest of Africa grew by 28 percent in the year to June, compared with only 9.8 percent at home. The chain has 47 new African stores in the pipeline, mostly in Nigeria and Angola, two of Africa’s largest economies. The firm’s boss, Whitey Basson, has said there could eventually be room for up to 800 Shoprites in Nigeria. The seven it already has there sold more Moët & Chandon champagne in the past year than its South African stores combined.”
The moral of that champagne anecdote is simple: Notwithstanding how hostile they are to Nigerian businesses and the intolerance they exhibit towards our people, we have been very accommodating of South African businesses in Nigeria from which they make so much money. Therefore, the MTN management is on the wrong track to imagine it can browbeat the Nigerian authorities on this vexatious issue. It is also lack of business wisdom for the MTN Group to think it can treat the regulator and the authorities of a country where it generates more than 30 percent of its total global revenues with such open contempt.
In case they still don’t get it, the implication of having unregistered SIM cards, like MTN did, was that if any of such lines was used to commit crime, there is no way the perpetrator could be traced and tracked by the security agencies. How can we condone such an affront on our law and something which also imperils our national security? In fact, available reports indicate that many of the kidnappers, including the ones involved in the Chief Olu Falae saga, were using MTN SIM cards that could not be tracked because they were unregistered.
I hope the authorities at MTN, especially the top Nigerian shareholders, are aware of the implications of what they are doing. While they have a right to go to court to seek whatever redress, conventional wisdom teaches that when you are in a glass house, you do not walk naked!http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/mtn-and-the-audacity-of-impunity/228760/

(CNN)— Imagine going to the bathroom and
finding a huge python curled up inside the toilet
bowl. That happened not just once but twice in
the Australian city of Townsville this month.
Elliot Budd, who works as a snake catcher in
the northeastern city in Queensland, received
two calls in the past two weeks to remove
snakes that had snuck their way into people's
toilets.
"The first snake was 3 meters long (9.8 feet)
and the second one was 2.4 meters (7.8 feet),"
he told CNN over the phone.
"The first one I got, the house was being
renovated so it was a few tradesmen working
there that came across it. I was definitely a bit
surprised when it was in the toilet," Budd said.
It was a particularly tricky case to remove as
the snake had a firm grip on the toilet's S-bend,
he said. Budd finally got it out after unbolting
the toilet.
When he was called in a second time for a
'snake-in-a-toilet' situation, he thought
somebody was pranking him.
"It was on the 12th. That one the lady told me
on the phone that it was in the toilet. At first, I
thought maybe somebody was just having a joke
after the first one. I didn't think I'd see two of
them in the toilet. The lady very much wanted
to get it out," he said.
Budd believes the snakes, both non-venomous
carpet pythons, are getting through open doors
and windows.
"I'm not a plumber but it's very unlikely for them
to come up through the pipes," he said.
"I wouldn't say it's common but it does happen,"
Budd said. "All the other snake catchers have
been doing it for 15 to 20 years and some of
them haven't had one in the toilet themselves."
Looking for water
As for why? Budd believe it's the dry spell the
region is experiencing right now that's driving
the animals to hide out in people's toilets.
"It just comes down to the fact that it's really
dry right now and they're looking for water and
it is mating season right now," he said.
"They are using a lot more energy than they
normally would so they need more water.
They're non-venomous these snakes. They
aren't considered dangerous. They're not
something to fear but it's best if you come
across them to leave them alone."

[quote author=C. whyte]which area are u located, I can franchise mine at ikorodu.[/quote]Please I am interested in the franchise. My e-mail is soneeque2000@yahoo.com

If the services offered at the hospital is poor as you imply, why are people trooping there in large numbers? I believe you also crave the excellent services being rendered at the hospital so I don't see any reason why you can't wait for Ĵüڪ† three weeks. The hospital will put you on the priority list if its an emergency. Lagos state govt is a responsive govt and things are really working out compared to other states of the federation. Please come up with the good aspects and proffer solutions where they are wanting.

Whether the oil production ends in 41 years or not, I think its high time Nigeria diversifies. For how long do we remain a largely based mono economy and subjected to the vagaries of the unstable world oil market. It only shows our leaders are Ĵüڪ† lazy and easily resort to the easy way out Ĵüڪ† to maintain the status quo and largely enrich their pockets with much pecuniary gain.

Nigeria’s oil reserve will be depleted in 41 years, according to a World Bank Group’s twice-yearly analysis of the issues shaping Africa’s economic prospects called Africa’s pulse.

The report which was presented by the World Bank’s chief economist for Africa, Shantayanan Devarajan, on Thursday said Nigeria’s and Angola’s oil reserves will be depleted in 41 and 21 years respectively.

“Nigeria, the largest regional producer, can keep supplying at 2011 levels for another 41 years, while Angola, the second largest producer in the region, has about 21 years remaining at current production levels before its known reserves are depleted.

“Given the size of these reserves, it is likely that the dependence on oil resources in these countries are likely to continue in the near to medium term. Production in newly oil-rich countries such as Ghana and Uganda could also last for several years.”

According to the World bank’s chief economist, Mineral wealth in African countries including Nigeria don’t translate to prosperity because the money accruing from it doesn’t pass through the citizens, and the citizens don’t see the wealth as theirs.

Posted by Channels Television on October 5, 2012.
http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/10/05/nigerias-oil-production-ends-in-41-years-world-bank/

MANCHESTER City’s striker Mario Balotelli may soon have more to worry about than recovering from recent eye surgery.

According to The Sun, Jenny Thompson, the prostitute with whom the Italian international had an affair while in a relationship with Italian model, Raffaella Fico, is six months pregnant.

Balotelli’s 27-year old girlfriend, Fico, (she forgave him his transgressions) is also pregnant. Thompson, who was also linked with Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, said she was unsure who the father was but has narrowed it down to one of five men.

The 23-year old escort is reportedly taking DNA tests to identify the father. The good news for Rooney is it cannot really be him, since his affair with Thompson was in 2010. The news for Balotelli and television personality, Josh Bennett, may not be so good, according to Thompson herself.

“If they work it out they’ll know. Mario and Josh might be worried – they will have to do the maths,” she explained, adding that the thought of so many men worrying if they were responsible made her laugh.

Meanwhile, Thompson is in the process of writing a book – a memoir of sorts. And she wants to get on with her life. A Metro report quoted her as saying: “I’m focusing on building my relationship with my family, and what I want to do with my life as a career.

“I’m doing a book at the moment, so hopefully that’ll be good, its not a tell-all book, its not a naming book. There are no others that are going to get named."
http://www.theguardianmobile.com/readNewsItem1.php?nid=7294

I can't help but laugh when I saw this headline. Nigerian politicians are high level comedians.

Nigeria, the butt of international derision for successive poor national elections, until the 2011 polls, has offered to assist Zimbabwe, to conduct free and fair election.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Tuesday made the offer when the Zimbabwean Deputy Prime Minister, Mrs Thokozani Kitupe, visited him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said Nigeria was ready to support Zimbabwe through training of its electoral officers by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

According to him, Nigeria will continue to support sister African countries in entrenching democratic values for the general progress of the continent.
Read more here:
http://.mobi/output.php?link=http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PmNewsNigeria/~3/yAr5JqzN1JQ/

My grudge is: why are this people too greedy. Some of them ђά̲̣̣vέ already been bestowed with national honours. Why do you ђά̲̣̣vέ to upgrade? Why are we so obsessed with titles and prefixes? What really is the difference between OON and GCON? We cannot continue dishing out titles in the name of awards and the economy is comatose. How has the award translated to general improvement in the standard of life of Nigerians. Why is it that the award is only meant for those who ђά̲̣̣vέ been there? The govt really needs to get down to brass tacks and fix the looming problems plaguing the country and stop this charade that's geared towards placating a particular group.

Detained human rights activitist, Rev. David Ugolor, was on Tuesday evening released from the Oko minimum prison.
Ugolor was released at about 4:30pm after he was granted bail by a criminal high court presided over by Justice Phillip Imodemhe.
He was dressed in brown jacket and dark green t-shirt on blue jean when he walked out of the prison gate.
The activist was received by members of civil society organisation who carried him shoulder high and chanted solidarity songs.
White powder was used to decorate his face.
In a brief chat, Ugolor said he was grateful to God for saving him.
He said, "Good will always triumph over evil. This has shown that when you are good to humanity, humanity will be good to you."
His wife, Ngozi, who was at the court said her husband is a life giver and not a life destroyer.
She said justice will prevail. 
http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/news-update/61106-ugolor-regains-freedom.html

This might be a good litmus test for dating Kanye West in the first place: If a man tells you that he used to use a sex tape of yours to get him going during sex before actually hooking up with you IRL, is that creepy or romantic? Hopefully (and probably) it’s the latter for Kim Kardashian, whose current rapper BF apparently used to do just that in the years before dating his Perfect Bitch for real.

According to TMZ, “Multiple sources with first-hand knowledge of the situation” (Exes? Annoyed neighbors? Videographers?) say that Kanye “used the Kim K sex tape in the bedroom to get him in the mood…and it always worked.” (Phew.) Well, it had been previously rumored that Kanye had been obsessed with Kim for a long time before they got together, so perhaps this was just the manifestation of ‘Yeezy wanting what he couldn’t yet have.

The past is past, however, and now there’s a happy ending for Kanye, as TMZ additionally reports: “Kanye doesn’t need the sex tape anymore…he has the real thing.” Awwwww! Just like in the movies.
http://popdust.com/2012/09/10/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-sex-tape/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sailthru&utm_campaign=popdustdaily

Story!story!! This are the simple things you need to do. Fix the power sector, fix the refineries and construct new ones and retain the former price of N65, fix the education sector and maintain and provide more infrastructures especially roads and make sure attention is paid to the agric sector. Empower those who deserve it. You do not need to pay anything. This advice is free. You can not finish all projects during your tenure but do your utmost best and leave the rest. Leave too much talk, no action.

This is deliberate on the part of the officials entrusted with the general maintenance of the stadium. As usual they will wait until it gets very bad and at the very point that the place needs to be used, contract sum almost equivalent to the original cost of constructing the stadium will be paid for reconstruction. How can a beautiful stadium like this be allowed to lain fallow? Well, the govt does not give a hoot about its citizens welfare so I would not be surprised about their insensitivity to any public facility or infrastructure.

149 Nigerians have been shortlisted to be conferred with National Honours on September 17, 2012.

A statement on Sunday by the Permanent Secretary (Special Duties Office) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Henry Akpan said.

The statement said, “The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office, have concluded preparations for the conferment of National Honours Award on 149 Nigerians and others.

“President Goodluck Jonathan will conduct the 2012 National Honours Award Investiture of deserving Nigerians and friends of Nigeria.”

Among the recipients are six Supreme Court Justices (CFR); the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar (CFR); Gabriel Igbinedion (CFR), former Managing Director of UBA Plc, Tony Elumelu (CON); and former Acting Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Kawu Baraje (CON).

Also on the list are two retired Supreme Court Justices, Kayode Eso and Andrew Obaseki, will be conferred with CFR.

Others are governors Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Danbaba Suntai (Taraba), who will be conferred with CON.

Seven serving senators, including Victor Ndoma-Egba, Abdul Ahmed Ningi and Ayogu Eze will also be conferred with CON.

Others are Wole Olanipekun (OFR), former Military Governor of Lagos State, Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson (Rtd.) (CFR); Cletus Ibeto (CON), Benin-based lawyer, Omoruyi Omonuwa (OFR), Alex Izinyon (OFR), Labour Party Chairman, Dan Nwuanyanwu (OFR) and an artiste, Teco Benson (MFR).

The recipients also include the General Overseer of TREM, Bishop Mike Okonkwo (MFR), Osemawe of Ondo, Obama Victor Kiladejo (MFR) and film director, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe (MFR).

Globacom Limited Chairman, Mike Adenuga, will join President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, among personalities conferred with the award of Grand Commander of the Niger.

GCON is usually bestowed on the country’s Vice-President.

Dangote however made history when he was conferred with the award.

The table below shows the complete list of those to be conferred with national honours by President Jonathan:

1)DR. MIKE ADENUGA, CON-CHAIRMAN/CEO, GLOBACOM NIG LTD)(GCON)

2)HON. JUSTICE MAHMUD MOHAMMED-SUPREME COURT JUDGE(CFR)

(3)HON. JUSTICE WALTER S. NKANU ONNOGHEN-SUPREME COURT JUDGE(CFR)

4)HON. JUSTICE SULEIMAN GALADIMA-SUPREME COURT JUDGE(CFR)

5)
HON. JUSTICE BODE RHODES-VIVOUR-SUPREME COURT JUDGE(CFR)

6)HON. JUSTICE NWALI SYLVESTER NGWUTA-SUPREME COURT JUDGE(CFR)

7)HON. JUSTICE MARY UKAEGO ODILI-SUPREME COURT JUDGE(CFR)

HON. JUSTICE ANDREWS OTUTU OBASEKI (RTD)-RETIRED SUPREME COURT JUDGE(CFR)

9)HON. JUSTICE KAYODE ESO (RTD) RETIRED SUPREME COURT JUDGE(CFR)

10)M. D. ABUBAKAR INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE-(CFR)

11)BRIG. GENERAL MOBOLAJI JOHNSON-FIRST GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE(CFR)

12)CHIEF GABRIEL OSAWARU IGBINEDION, CON-BUSINESS MAN/PHILANTROPHIST(CFR)

13)RT. HON. GABRIEL SUSWAM -GOVERNOR OF BENUE STATE(CON)

14)DR. EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN-GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE (CON)

15)CHIEF MARTIN ELECHI GOVERNOR OF EBONYI STATE(CON)

16)ALH. DANBABA DANFULANI SUNTAI GOVERNOR OF TARABA STATE(CON)

17)ALH. AHMED MUAZU FORMER GOVERNOR OF BAUCHI STATE(CON)

18)SEN. VICTOR NDOMA-EGBA, OFR, SAN-SENATOR(CON)

19)SEN. ABDUL AHMED NINGI, OON-SENATOR(CON)

20) SEN. AYOGU EZE-SENATOR(CON)

21)SEN. ZAINAB ABDULKADIR KURE SENATOR(CON)

22)SEN. AHMAD IBRAHIM LAWAN-SENATOR(CON)

23)SEN. UMARU IBRAHIM TSAURI-SENATOR(CON)

24)SEN. EMMANUEL BWACHA-SENATOR(CON)

25)SENATOR BALA MOHAMMED-MINISTER OF FCT(CON)

26)SEN. HAMISU MUSA FORMER SENATOR/MINISTER(CON)

27)SEN. BELLO JIBRIN GADA-FORMER MINISTER(CON)

28)AMB. (SEN.) ADAMU AJUJI WAZIRI-FORMER SENATOR/AMB.(CON)

29)SEN. EMMANUEL AZU AGBOTI POLITICIAN(CON)

30)SEN.MIKE AJAEGBO EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN MINAJ GROUP(CON)

31)DR. AKIN ADESINA-MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (CON)

32)HAJIYA INA CIROMA-FORMER MINISTER OF WOMEN AFFAIRS(CON)

33)ALH. KAWU BARAJE-FORMER ACTING NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF PDP(CON)

34)PROF. STEPHEN DEBO ADEYEMI BUSINESS MAN/FORMER MINISTER OF HEALTH(CON)

35)MR. TONY ELUMELU, MFR-ACCOMPLISHED BANKER(CON)

36)DR. COSMAS MADUABUCHUKWU MADUKA-BUSINESS MAN(CON)

37)MR CLETUS IBETO-BUSINESS MAN(CON)

38)HON. MULIKAT AKANDE MEMBER HOUSE OF REP.(OFR)

39)HON. SULAIMAN KAWU MEMBER HOUSE OF REP.(OFR)

40)HON. HALIMS AGADA MEMBER HOUSE OF REP.(OFR)

41)HON. BASHIR ADAMU MEMBER HOUSE OF REP.(OFR)

42)CHIEF ANTONY ANI FORMER MINISTER OF FINANCE(OFR)

43)JUSTICE N. O. ADEKOLA (RTD) FORMER C. J. OF OYO STATE(OFR)

44)MRS. SARAH ADEBISI SOSAN FORMER DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE(OFR)

45)ENGR. EMEKA EZE DIRECTOR GENERAL BUREAU FOR PUBLIC PROCUREMENT(OFR)

46)OLUWOLE OLANIPEKUN, SAN LEGAL PRACTITIONER(OFR)

47)ALEX A. IZINYON, SAN LEGAL PRACTITIONER(OFR)

48)GODWIN JEDDY AGBA PUBLIC SERVANT(OFR)

49)O. OMONUWA, SAN LEGAL PRACTITIONER(OFR)

50)DR. PATRICK DELE COLE FORMER AMBASSADOR (DIPLOMAT)(OFR)

51)H.E. ALHAJI SANI ABUBAKAR DANLADI DEPUTY GOVERNOR TARABA STATE(OFR)

52)DR. IFEANYI OKOYE ERIC, mni CHAIRMAN/CEO OFJUHEL COMPANY(OFR)

53)BARR. DAN NWANYANWU, mni NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, LABOUR PARTY(OFR)

54)JOHN GOZEN GOBAK FORMER SSG, PLATEAU STATE(OFR)

55)DR. AMBROSIE BRYANT CHUKWUELOKA ORJIAKO EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD(OFR)

56)ALH. MOH’D SANI ALIYU AUGIE COMMUNITY LEADER(OFR)

57)ALHAJI IBRAHIM K. ALIYU mni COMMUNITY LEADER/POLITICIAN(OFR)

58)ALH. MUHAMMADU INDIMI BUSINESS MAN (OFR)

59)DR. EMMANUEL SAMSON MIRI COUNTRY REP. CARTER CENTRE(OFR)

60)ALHAJI BASHARI AMINU DIRECTOR, G. CAPPA PLC(OFR)

61)ALH. ADAMU ALIYU DIPLOMAT(OFR)

62)ENGR. (MRS.) ESTHER GONDA PERMANENT SECRETARY(OON)

63)DR. EMMANUEL OKEREKE CHAIRMAN, AFRICAN LIBERATION PARTY (ALP)(OON)

64)ENGR. BALA NA’ADE ADAMU CONSULTANCY SERVICES(OON)

65)LT. COL. SHEHU IBRAHIM (RTD) SECRETARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES(I CARE WOMEN AND YOUTH)(OON)

66)HABIB BABA HABU CONSUL GENERAL OF NIGERIA TO NEW YORK(OON)

67)HAJIA MUHEEBA DANKAKA CEO, FARIDA BUSINESS VENTURE LIMITED(OON)

68)UCHECHUKWU S. OGAH BUSINESS MAN (OON)

69)ALHAJI SALISU MAIKASUWA CLERK TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (OON)

70)OTHMAN BABAYOLA MOHAMMED ADAMAWA STATE HOS (OON)

71)ALH. YAKUBU MUHAMMED RETIRED CIVIL SERVANT (OON)

72)DR ADESEGUN AKIN-OLUGBADE CONSULTANT (BANKING & FINANCE) (OON)

73)CHIEF ALEXANDER CHIKA OKAFOR BUSINESS MAN (OON)

74)PROF. CYPRIAN OKECHUKWU OKONKWO (SAN) COMMISSIONER NIGERIA LAW REFORM COMMISSION(OON)

75)DR. NIMOTA NIHINLOLA AKANBI DIPLOMAT (OON)

76)DR. TAHIR MAMMAN DG. COUNCIL OF LEGAL EDU.(OON)

77)MAJ. GEN. A. A. OLANIYI NIG. ARMY (MAJ. GENERAL)(OON)

78)AVM. TOMBOIYI DICK IRUENABERE NIG. AIR FORCE (AIR VICE MARSHAL) (OON)

79)REAR ADMIRAL EMERAKU IJIOMA NIG NAVY (REAR ADMIRAL) (OON)

80)PROF. CHARITY ASHIMEM ANGYA ACADEMICIAN (OON)

81)PROF. OLUFUNMILAYO FALUSI OLOPADE-ACADEMICIAN(OON)

82)ALHAJI MOHAMMED KABIR AHMED DG PENCOM(OON)

83)HON. MUSA IBRAHIM AHMADU-FORMER MEMBER, HOUSE OF REP.(OON)

84)ALHAJI MAHMOUD LAI ALABI-ACCOMPLISHED BANKER (OON)

85)MRS. MARY GALADIMA EDUCATIONIST(OON)

86)PROF. (MRS.) ADENIKE ABIOSE ACADEMICIAN(OON)

87)MR. PIUS J. MAJOR FORMER PERMANENT SECRETARY(OON)

88)AMB.S. O. WILLOUGHBY FORMER PERMANENT SECRETARY(OON)

89)DR. PAUL BOTWEV ORHII DG. NAFDAC (OON)

90)MABEL ALABA AMONI-OKWUONU PUBLIC SERVANT(OON)

91)INYANG, SAMUEL EDWARD (MR) FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SHELL, BP & NDDC(OON)

92)BRIG. GEN. ANTHONY DANIEL ETUKUDO (RTD) FORMER CEO STANDARD ORGANISATION OF NIGERIA(OON)

93)MR. TIJANI YUSUF STATE HOUSE OFFICER (OON)

94)MR. MATTHEW OSAYABA AIKHIONBARE SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT(ADMIN)(OON)

95) ENGR. CHIEF JAMES BUKOHWO ERHUERO FORMER HOS/SSG OF DELTA STATE (OON)

96)MRS. SARAH ALADE DEPUTY GOVERNOR (CBN)(OON)

97)SULEIMAN BARAU DEPUTY GOVERNOR (CBN) (OON)

98)DR. KINGSLEY BOSAH CHIEDU MOGHALU DEPUTY GOVERNOR (CBN) (OON)

99)MR. ABU KAROFI RENOWNED GEOLOGIST(OON)

100)TECO BENSON ARTIST (MFR)

101)PROF.ABUBAKAR ADAMU RASHEED ACADEMICIAN(MFR)

102)RCH. (CHIEF) DANIEL NWABUEZE DENNE NWANKWO ARCHITECT(MFR)

103)HRH. IGWE PETER CHUKWUMA EZENWA-TRADITIONAL RULER(MFR)

104)HIS LORDSHIP, BISHOP MICHAEL CHUKWUNWEIKE OKONKWO RELIGIOUS LEADER (MFR)

105)RT.REV. GODFREY ANAYO CHUKWU AGUPUSI-RELIGIOUS LEADER(MFR)

106)HRH. EDUN AKENZUA TRADITIONAL RULER(MFR)

107)HIS LORDSHIP, BISHOP PETER IMASUEN RELIGIOUS LEADER(MFR)

108)HRH. EZEUDO ABEL NWOBODO TRADITIONAL RULER(MFR)

109)PRINCE EZE MADUMERE PUBLIC SERVANT(MFR)

110)HAJIA DIJE BALA JIBRIN EDUCATIONIST (MFR)

111)HRM. OBA DR. VICTOR ADEMEFUN ADESIMBO KILADEJO TRADITIONAL RULER (MFR)

112)DR. ADEGOKE OLAOYE JACOB PUBLIC SERVANT(MFR)

113)HRM. OBA RAUF OLAYIWOLA OLAWALE-TRADITIONAL RULER(MFR)

114)BITRUS PAM KIM PUBLIC SERVANT(MFR)

115)HON. (CHIEF) GODSPOWER UMEJURU AKE POLITICIAN(MFR)

116)DIG. AUDU ABUBAKAR, NPM (RTD) DIG (RTD)(MFR)

117)HRH. ALHAJI ADAMU ABARA GUMMI-TRADITIONAL RULER(MFR)

118)ALHAJI UMAR AHMAD USMAN DAN ALI B/MAGAJI TRADITIONAL RULER (MFR)

119)PEACE ANYIAM OSIGWE ARTIST(MFR)

120)HRM ANSELM ODALOIGHE EDENOJIE II, JP (THE OJUROMI OF UROMI) TRADITIONAL RULER(MFR)

121)CHIEF DAVID NNOCHIRONYE ONYENWEAKU RENOWNED FARMER (MFR)

122)ARCH HARCOURT ADUKEH ARCHITECT-(MFR)

123)CHIEF JOSHUA FUMUDOH INDUSTRIALIST (MFR)

124)OKECHUKWU NWADIUTO EMUCHAY CONSUL-GENERAL, SOUTH AFRICA (MFR)

125)CHIEF (DR) MICHAEL OLAWALE COLE, FNIM PRESIDENT NIM(MFR)

126)MUHAMMAD TAHIR ZAKARI-CIVIL SERVANT(MFR)

127)BASORUN DOJA ADEWOLU-SEASONED ADMINISTRATOR(MFR)

128)AUTA MAMMAN BUSA COMMUNITY LEADER/POLITICIAN(MFR)

129)HRM OBA KEHINDE GBADEWOLE OLUGBENLE TRANDITIONAL RULER (MFR)

130) ALHAJI ALHASSAN SULE GWAGWA-POLITICIAN(MFR)

131)HON. ZEPHANIA B. JISALO COMMUNITY LEADER/POLITICIAN (MFR)

132)ALHAJI MOHAMMED ADAM POLITICIAN(MFR)

133) ALHAJI MUHAMMED BABA ABOKI COMMUNITY LEADER/ PHILANTROPHIST (MFR)

134)MOST REV. BISHOP CALLISTUS V.C. ONAGA RELIGIOUS LEADER/ PHILANTROPHIST (MFR)

135) ARCH. FERDINARD NWABUEZE AGU- ARCHITECT(MFR)

136)MR. JELANI ALIYU-DESIGNER WORLD FIRST ELECTRICAL(MFR)

137)LT. COL. M. A. SULEIMAN NIGERIAN ARMY(MFR)

138)ALH. YAKUBU HARUNA POLITICIAN (MON)

139)DR. USMAN ABDULKADIR MAIDUGU TRADITIONAL RULER(MON)

140)HAJIA MUSLIMAH KAMALDEEN RETIRED CIVIL SERVANT(MON)

141)ELDER EVANG SAMUEL MADUKA ONYISHI CHAIRMAN/CEO, PEACE MASS TRANSIT NIGERIA LTD/PHILANTROPHIST
(MON)


142)ALHAJI IBRAHIM BUBA VOKNA FORMER ACCOUNTANT GENERAL ADAMAWA STATE (MON)


143)ELDER CYRIL CHUKWUDI NGEMEGWAI EDUCATIONIST (MON)


(144)ADO HUSSAINI PUBLIC SERVANT (MON)


145) ABDULKADIR JIBRILU COMMUNITY LEADER(MON)


146) IGWE CHRIS OGAKWU TRADITIONAL RULER(MON)

147)AHMED ABDULLAHI PUBLIC SERVANT (MON)

148) LAWRENCE AYINDE OSAYEMI MAN (MON)


149)CHIEF (MRS.) OBALEYE OLAYINKA BUSINESS WOMAN (MON)


http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/09/10/full-list-of-nigerians-shortlisted-for-national-honours/

IN Enugu State, more than 92,000 persons are officially living with the Human Immune-Deficiency Virus (HIV), the state Action Committee on HIV/AIDS (ENSACA) has said.

At a seminar to sensitize members of the Allied Business Community in Nsukka on how to avoid being infected with the disease at the weekend, ENSACA Private Sector Officer, Mrs. Patricia Ugwu, stated that the disease had become rampant due to failure of residents to be cautious.

Although she declined to give a detailed breakdown of the figure, she advised the participants to be faithful to their sex partners to avoid contracting HIV.

“Remember HIV does not show in one’s face; about 92,000 people are already infected in Enugu State. If you cannot stick to one partner, ensure that you use condom when having sexual intercourse with another person,” she said.

Ugwu urged those who have the virus not to panic but should join the support group where they would access HIV/AIDS drugs easily.

“If you are already positive, do not kill yourself as government has procured enough drugs to designated hospitals to cater for those living with the virus.

“Through medical attention and counseling, infected mothers will be able to deliver babies that are negative. Do not stigmatize anybody living with the virus as that is an offence punishable by law,” she said.

While giving the participants safety tips, she said: “It is better to prevent HIV than managing it. Do not share any sharp object with anybody.”

http://www.theguardianmobile.com/readNewsItem1.php?nid=7110

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, on Thursday summoned the management of VFS Global, an Indian-owned visa service company, over the poor treatment meted on applicants.

According to a statement by the spokesperson of the ministry of foreign affairs, Ogbole Ode, in Abuja, the minister expressed concern over the poor conditions, which applicants were subjected to during the visa submission and collection process.

“Reports indicate that those who have ₦10,000 receive VIP treatment, while the rest are left to wallow in the sun.

“It is unacceptable to have our citizens, queue in rain and be subjected to inconveniences,’’ the statement reads.

It urged the company to provide suitable accommodation for applicants in view of its role as consultant to various embassies.

Responding, the Senior Manager of VFS Global in Abuja, Natasha Bhargava, expressed the firm’s commitment to provide improved services to clients, noting, however, that the VIP facility was optional.

Ms Bhargava, who led a team of five officials to the ministry, said that suggestion boxes were available at the company’s Abuja and Lagos offices for applicants to register their complaints.
http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/09/06/minister-summons-uk-visa-agent-over-poor-treatment-of-applicants/
 Why is it that Indians do not ђά̲̣̣vέ respect for Nigerians? Why do we keep receiving this shabby treatment from them? This is totally unacceptable.

Yinkay: Let them bring back their loot and invest here, when the coys are up running well they wil be forced to sell it and covert to PLC.

. On point.

pro01: This is totally unconvincing. I guess you bought the SUV in your company name, but for Sharon's use - and the choice of car shows that it has little to do with 'official' use. Her pussy too sweet for you that's why your brain come enter reverse.

1. If ordinary you, a shadowy, dime-a-dozen 'comedian', can buy 'a whole' Range Rover Evogue merely for "official purpose", then what should far more prosperous businessmen buy for 'official purpose'? Rolls Royces and Bugattis?
2. I hope your so-called beautiful wife owns a bigger and more expensive car than the Evogue? Otherwise you'd be telling us that Sharon is more important to you than your wife is, since only Sharon enjoys 'more access' to the Evogue.
3. I've never trusted naija girls that bear names such as 'Sharon'. . .all the Sharons I know get as dem be. Besides, is that her real name - as in, the name wey her mama give am?

I guess if the reverse were the case and you were in I GO DIE's shoes you would ђά̲̣̣vέ bought more expensive luxurious vehicles and if I GO DIE were in your shoes, he would ђά̲̣̣vέ said unpalatable things that would make you shudder. Nigerians make a lot of noise if they are not there yet but once the opportunity comes begging they change their skin colours overnight. I share your sentiments but that's how I GO DIE was throwing tantrums at those who were there. I hope he gets an astute investment manager who willl take him through the ropes.

Nice post but could still be adjusted or modified for the Naija sector. After battling through the Lagos traffic to work, every other thing on that list becomes an after thought.

[/color][b][/b][color=#000099] GEJ should learn from the Yar Adua saga but unfortunately GEJ's advisers seem to take it a notch higher. GEJ's action and inaction relegate the Yar Adua's episode to the background and make it seem like a childs play. The utterance of the first lady's media officer shows that most of this so-called aides and advisers are timid and do not tell their boss the true situation of things as it affects Nigeria and Nigerians. I believe they give them a wrong impression Ĵüڪ† so they can pander to their boss's whims and caprices. Hope and pray the first lady comes back hale and hearty in one piece. Its no good hurling missiles on someone who is already down.

Ruptured appendicitis? Food poisoning in Aso Rock? Or in Dubai? Confusion! I am having serious headache but unfortunately I Ĵüڪ† ђά̲̣̣vέ to do with some pain reliever. How I wish I could be flown abroad in a jet for emergency treatment.

Our security agencies distinguish themselves on missions outside our shores. Why is it taking so long to nip this in the bud. I believe they are Ĵüڪ† scratching the surface. They need to get to the root. This terrorists definitely operate from or receive instructions from a command center. They need to discover and dislodge them even if it results in breaching the sovereignty of the countries where they operate from.

If this programme is intended for those deserving of it and sustained and nurtured irrespective of the govt in power then its a right step in the right direction. If recipients use this funds to create more wealth and provide employment, you can imagine the multiplier effect of this programme. Unfortunately, the govt comes up with fantastic initiatives but red tapism, avarice and influencing selection of undeserving candidates put a question mark on this programme.

Makes me ђά̲̣̣vέ goose pimples when you discover N40b will be expended on printing of the coins and notes. How is this expenditure recovered or is it free money? Methought individuals could be empowered with this largess than fritter away in the name of a questionable, obnoxious and regressive policy that takes us backward and painfully takes FOOD away from the common man's table.

There’s been a rumour about a new website that shows what percentage of someone’s Twitter followers are “fake,” “inactive” and “good.”

If the Fake Follower Check site is accurate, some of the biggest Twitter users, including President Obama, Lady GaGa and Justin Bieber, have thousands or even millions of “followers” who aren’t real people.

After so much research it was concluded that there is apparently, a massive lies-for-sale industry made up of services that either offer tools to help people lie, or tell lies directly on behalf of their customers.

Popularity lies

How much does it cost to fake popularity? On the cheap side, you can buy 1,000 Twitter followers for $14 on a site called InterTwitter; 5,000 followers cost $43; 100,000 cost $487.

Followers are even cheaper on FanMeNow, where you can buy 1,000 followers for $10 — or 1 million for $1,350.

Higher-end sites like Buy Active Fans promise not just followers, but engaged followers — and even American ones. But those higher quality followers will cost you: 1,000 global followers cost $10, but 1,000 Americans will set you back $50. A global 100,000 runs $460, but the same number of Yanks costs $4,650.

Some of these businesses will also sell you followers and fans on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and other sites.

The fake Twitter followers industry is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, a huge fake-popularity industry takes many forms. An application called One million Clicks, billed as a Web traffic simulator, will make it look like your site is getting mad traffic.

For $5, you can even have a fake girlfriend on Facebook. A site called GirlfriendHire lets you browse and pick a phony companion — and that person will actually provide the service of posting on your wall, etc., so your family and friends think you really are dating someone.

Telephone lies

Even Google Voice will lie for you. When you “block” a number on the service, anyone who calls from that number will get a perfectly convincing “this number is no longer in service” message.

You can install a huge number of iOS and Android apps that simulate calls to your phone. Most of these will ring your phone, spoofing a fake caller ID (“Look, it’s the president again!”) and then coach you through a conversation. The software tells you what to say so that others in the room will think you’re responding. Some of the more popular apps include Fake-a-Call for iOS, Fake Conversation for iOS and Fake Call Me for Android.

 

Similar apps will send you fake text messages. For that service, try Fake-a-Message.

If you want to pretend to be someone you’re not while making a real phone call, there’s an app for that. Fake Voice will mask your voice, making it sound like someone else’s.

A Windows application also called Fake Voice does something similar.

There’s also an interesting subcategory of smartphone apps that spoof your GPS location, making it look like you’re somewhere you’re not. These include Fake GPS Location on Android.

Identity lies

If you’re an Android user and want people to believe you’re an Apple user, you can use the Fake iPad 3 Screen app. (Make sure your Android tablet is rectangular with rounded corners.)

Some software lets you pump pre-recorded video into webcam software to make it seem like you’re someone or somewhere you’re really not. PerfectFakeWebcam and Fake Webcam are two of the more popular options.

A download called Pwn Mail spoofs the sender address for outgoing email. That means you can send email, but the recipient thinks it came from whomever you specified.

All-purpose lies

Some lying software is just plain goofy. For example, an iOS app called Fake a Fish lets you take one of your actual photos and add an image of a big fish, so it looks like you caught it.

FatBooth for iOS enables you to modify a photo of someone to make him look fatter.

A site called iFakeSiri will let you type in the dialogue of a fake conversation between you and Apple’s voice assistant, Siri. The site will produce a convincing screen-capture spoofing the conversation.

Most of these, of course, are for pranks and fun. But another site is very serious about helping you flat-out lie.

A service called the Alibi Network will actually tell just about any lie you want to tell, and it will do it by email, fax or phone. The service’s professional liars are standing by to call your spouse or boss. When they call, they’ll leave a number for callback, and the caller will get a voicemail message. They’ll even print certificates of achievement, showing that you attended a seminar or passed some test.

If you were asked to justify these computer-aided products, what would your answer be?

A lot of people who are probably users or intending users will tell you it depends on how people use them but truly any of these could be used for good or ill.

Posted by Channels Television on September 1, 2012.
http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/09/01/lieslet-these-apps-and-sites-help-you/

Lies:These apps and sites can help
There’s been a rumour about a new website that shows what percentage of someone’s Twitter followers are “fake,” “inactive” and “good.”

If the Fake Follower Check site is accurate, some of the biggest Twitter users, including President Obama, Lady GaGa and Justin Bieber, have thousands or even millions of “followers” who aren’t real people.

After so much research it was concluded that there is apparently, a massive lies-for-sale industry made up of services that either offer tools to help people lie, or tell lies directly on behalf of their customers.

Popularity lies

How much does it cost to fake popularity? On the cheap side, you can buy 1,000 Twitter followers for $14 on a site called InterTwitter; 5,000 followers cost $43; 100,000 cost $487.

Followers are even cheaper on FanMeNow, where you can buy 1,000 followers for $10 — or 1 million for $1,350.

Higher-end sites like Buy Active Fans promise not just followers, but engaged followers — and even American ones. But those higher quality followers will cost you: 1,000 global followers cost $10, but 1,000 Americans will set you back $50. A global 100,000 runs $460, but the same number of Yanks costs $4,650.

Some of these businesses will also sell you followers and fans on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and other sites.

The fake Twitter followers industry is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, a huge fake-popularity industry takes many forms. An application called One million Clicks, billed as a Web traffic simulator, will make it look like your site is getting mad traffic.

For $5, you can even have a fake girlfriend on Facebook. A site called GirlfriendHire lets you browse and pick a phony companion — and that person will actually provide the service of posting on your wall, etc., so your family and friends think you really are dating someone.

Telephone lies

Even Google Voice will lie for you. When you “block” a number on the service, anyone who calls from that number will get a perfectly convincing “this number is no longer in service” message.

You can install a huge number of iOS and Android apps that simulate calls to your phone. Most of these will ring your phone, spoofing a fake caller ID (“Look, it’s the president again!”) and then coach you through a conversation. The software tells you what to say so that others in the room will think you’re responding. Some of the more popular apps include Fake-a-Call for iOS, Fake Conversation for iOS and Fake Call Me for Android.

 

Similar apps will send you fake text messages. For that service, try Fake-a-Message.

If you want to pretend to be someone you’re not while making a real phone call, there’s an app for that. Fake Voice will mask your voice, making it sound like someone else’s.

A Windows application also called Fake Voice does something similar.

There’s also an interesting subcategory of smartphone apps that spoof your GPS location, making it look like you’re somewhere you’re not. These include Fake GPS Location on Android.

Identity lies

If you’re an Android user and want people to believe you’re an Apple user, you can use the Fake iPad 3 Screen app. (Make sure your Android tablet is rectangular with rounded corners.)

Some software lets you pump pre-recorded video into webcam software to make it seem like you’re someone or somewhere you’re really not. PerfectFakeWebcam and Fake Webcam are two of the more popular options.

A download called Pwn Mail spoofs the sender address for outgoing email. That means you can send email, but the recipient thinks it came from whomever you specified.

All-purpose lies

Some lying software is just plain goofy. For example, an iOS app called Fake a Fish lets you take one of your actual photos and add an image of a big fish, so it looks like you caught it.

FatBooth for iOS enables you to modify a photo of someone to make him look fatter.

A site called iFakeSiri will let you type in the dialogue of a fake conversation between you and Apple’s voice assistant, Siri. The site will produce a convincing screen-capture spoofing the conversation.

Most of these, of course, are for pranks and fun. But another site is very serious about helping you flat-out lie.

A service called the Alibi Network will actually tell just about any lie you want to tell, and it will do it by email, fax or phone. The service’s professional liars are standing by to call your spouse or boss. When they call, they’ll leave a number for callback, and the caller will get a voicemail message. They’ll even print certificates of achievement, showing that you attended a seminar or passed some test.

If you were asked to justifying these computer-aided products, what would your answer be?

A lot of people who are probably users or intending users will tell you it depends on how people use them but truly any of these could be used for good or ill.

Posted by Channels Television on September 1, 2012.
http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/09/01/lieslet-these-apps-and-sites-help-you/

There’s been a rumour about a new website that shows what percentage of someone’s Twitter followers are “fake,” “inactive” and “good.”

If the Fake Follower Check site is accurate, some of the biggest Twitter users, including President Obama, Lady GaGa and Justin Bieber, have thousands or even millions of “followers” who aren’t real people.

After so much research it was concluded that there is apparently, a massive lies-for-sale industry made up of services that either offer tools to help people lie, or tell lies directly on behalf of their customers.

Popularity lies

How much does it cost to fake popularity? On the cheap side, you can buy 1,000 Twitter followers for $14 on a site called InterTwitter; 5,000 followers cost $43; 100,000 cost $487.

Followers are even cheaper on FanMeNow, where you can buy 1,000 followers for $10 — or 1 million for $1,350.

Higher-end sites like Buy Active Fans promise not just followers, but engaged followers — and even American ones. But those higher quality followers will cost you: 1,000 global followers cost $10, but 1,000 Americans will set you back $50. A global 100,000 runs $460, but the same number of Yanks costs $4,650.

Some of these businesses will also sell you followers and fans on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and other sites.

The fake Twitter followers industry is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, a huge fake-popularity industry takes many forms. An application called One million Clicks, billed as a Web traffic simulator, will make it look like your site is getting mad traffic.

For $5, you can even have a fake girlfriend on Facebook. A site called GirlfriendHire lets you browse and pick a phony companion — and that person will actually provide the service of posting on your wall, etc., so your family and friends think you really are dating someone.

Telephone lies

Even Google Voice will lie for you. When you “block” a number on the service, anyone who calls from that number will get a perfectly convincing “this number is no longer in service” message.

You can install a huge number of iOS and Android apps that simulate calls to your phone. Most of these will ring your phone, spoofing a fake caller ID (“Look, it’s the president again!”) and then coach you through a conversation. The software tells you what to say so that others in the room will think you’re responding. Some of the more popular apps include Fake-a-Call for iOS, Fake Conversation for iOS and Fake Call Me for Android.

 

Similar apps will send you fake text messages. For that service, try Fake-a-Message.

If you want to pretend to be someone you’re not while making a real phone call, there’s an app for that. Fake Voice will mask your voice, making it sound like someone else’s.

A Windows application also called Fake Voice does something similar.

There’s also an interesting subcategory of smartphone apps that spoof your GPS location, making it look like you’re somewhere you’re not. These include Fake GPS Location on Android.

Identity lies

If you’re an Android user and want people to believe you’re an Apple user, you can use the Fake iPad 3 Screen app. (Make sure your Android tablet is rectangular with rounded corners.)

Some software lets you pump pre-recorded video into webcam software to make it seem like you’re someone or somewhere you’re really not. PerfectFakeWebcam and Fake Webcam are two of the more popular options.

A download called Pwn Mail spoofs the sender address for outgoing email. That means you can send email, but the recipient thinks it came from whomever you specified.

All-purpose lies

Some lying software is just plain goofy. For example, an iOS app called Fake a Fish lets you take one of your actual photos and add an image of a big fish, so it looks like you caught it.

FatBooth for iOS enables you to modify a photo of someone to make him look fatter.

A site called iFakeSiri will let you type in the dialogue of a fake conversation between you and Apple’s voice assistant, Siri. The site will produce a convincing screen-capture spoofing the conversation.

Most of these, of course, are for pranks and fun. But another site is very serious about helping you flat-out lie.

A service called the Alibi Network will actually tell just about any lie you want to tell, and it will do it by email, fax or phone. The service’s professional liars are standing by to call your spouse or boss. When they call, they’ll leave a number for callback, and the caller will get a voicemail message. They’ll even print certificates of achievement, showing that you attended a seminar or passed some test.

If you were asked to justify these computer-aided products, what would your answer be?

A lot of people who are probably users or intending users will tell you it depends on how people use them but truly any of these could be used for good or ill.

Posted by Channels Television on September 1, 2012.
http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/09/01/lieslet-these-apps-and-sites-help-you/

Thanks for the info. Its really a food for thought before you leap into the unknown.

Imagine a situation where one-third Nigerians are good people. Nigeria will look like a mini paradise. It pays to be good though you will be repaid with the opposite measure most times.