₦airaland Forum

A witness in the ongoing trial of a Federal High Court judge, Adeniyi Ademola, has told the court that operatives of the State Security Service did not investigate an alleged gift of N500, 000 given to Mr. Ademola by President Muhammadu Buhari’s lawyer.
Mr. Ademola is facing trial for alleged abuse of office alongside.
His wife, Olubowale, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe Agi, are also being tried for alleged corruption.

An operative of the SSS, Babatunde Adepoju, who led investigations into the allegations, confirmed on Tuesday that he had been told, during interrogation of Mr. Agi, that a gift of N500, 000 was sent through Mr. Buhari’s lawyer, Kola Awodehin, to Mr. Ademola.
The money, reportedly sent as a gift for Mr. Ademola’s daughter’s wedding, was delivered to the judge by Kola Awodehin, a lawyer who represented the president in a case of alleged forgery of secondary school certificate before the 2015 elections.
The following exchanges ensued in court between Mr. Agi’s lawyer, Jeph Njikonye, and Mr. Adepoju:

Question: During the interview with the third defendant, he told you that the wedding gift passed by Ken Hubert and Bassey Bassey was not the only gift received by the first defendant (Justice Ademola), and that the president’s lawyer also passed a gift of N500,000 then for the wedding of the judge’s daughter.

Answer: Yes.

[At this point, a copy of the court document involving the charge against Mr. Buhari on allegations of certificate forgery; (between Chukwunwike Vs President Buhari), was shown to the witness who identified the name of the lawyer (Mr. Awodehin), as the third person representing the president in the suit.]

Question: Was Kola Awodeyin, SAN, the one who passed off the gift of N500,000?

Answer: Yes

As a follow up to the response by Mr. Adepoju, Mr. Agi’s lawyer asked whether the N500,000 given at a time when Mr. Buhari had a pending case before Mr. Ademola, amounted to a bribe, so that the judge would rule in his favour.

Mr. Adepoju answered in the negative, stressing that “such would amount to a speculation in my opinion”.
Mr. Adepoju also added that his office did not investigate further to determine the authenticity or otherwise of the claim by Mr. Agi.

At least 10 suits challenging the eligibility of Mr. Buhari to contest the 2015 presidential election came before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
The suits were later consolidated into two, since they all sought similar actions from the court of law.
In one of the suits, Chukwunweike Okafor sought an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission to remove or delete Mr. Buhari’s name and that of the All Progressives Congress from the list of persons and political parties running for the office of president.

Mr. Okafor asked the court to hold that the information supplied by the APC flag-bearer in Form C.F 001 that his West African School Certificate was with the Nigerian Army was false and should be disqualified from the race.
In another suit, Max Ozoaka asked the court to disqualify Mr. Buhari on the ground that the INEC Form Cf 001 the APC candidate submitted to INEC was incomplete.
The suits were, however, struck out days before the general election in April 2015.
Messrs. Hubert and Bassey had been identified on Monday as donating $150,000 to Justice Ademola for his daughter’s wedding. The money was later converted into N37 million.

Mr. Adepoju, who stated this in court, could however not trace the donors of the money to any case involving Mr. Ademola, or any of the defendants.
On Tuesday the prosecution closed its case against the judge, after presenting all its witnesses.
Lawyer to Mr. Ademola, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, thereafter told the court that his client would like to make a no-case-submission.
The trial judge, Jude Okeke, adjourned the matter till March 15 for hearing of the application.





http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/224202-updated-why-buharis-lawyer-sent-n500000-gift-to-judge-accused-of-corruption-court-told.html

Mynd44
Lalasticlala

Corruption, major reason why magu confirmation will be so difficult.
Lalasticlala, mynd44

EFCC tracks N388.3b London-Paris Club refunds

Consultants ‘got 2%’

Governors ‘shared 3%’

Seven governors have questions to answer in the alleged diversion of part of the N388.304billion London-Paris Club refunds into two accounts opened by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), The Nation has
learnt.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered N19billion in one of the accounts. The other is a domiciliary account, which contains a yet unspecified amount of money.
One of those invited for interrogation has admitted handing over a huge sum of money to a principal officer of the National Assembly after changing it into dollars, according to the preliminary report on the management of the refunds.

According to a source, who pleaded not to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the media, EFCC detectives discovered that while about 2% of the funds was paid to consultants who allegedly assisted in computing what was due to each state, 3% was shared by some governors under “curious circumstances”.
The source said: “The detectives have uncovered the two accounts opened in the name of the NGF and the signatories to same.
“We are looking into circumstances behind such huge deposits from London-Paris Club refunds into these accounts.
“The payment of 2% of the refunds to consultants and 3% to some governors which was rated as “curious” by investigators have been confirmed. We also discovered that some of the governors nominated these consultants.”
The source declined to name the seven governors, stressing that the details will be released as soon as the investigation is concluded.

Responding to a question, the source said one of those questioned actually admitted that he changed some of the funds into dollars and handed it over to a principal officer of the National Assembly.
Besides, he insisted that the EFCC had no any agenda against the governors, adding: “It has no basis to run the NGF down at all, but you should know that the Presidency is interested in how these London-Paris Club refunds were spent.

“We know the governors have immunity, but certainly NGF does not enjoy such constitutional protection. We are looking at what informed the transfer of such funds into the accounts of the NGF and for what purposes.
“Once the purposes are in line with statutory financial regulations and the EFCC is satisfied, the case is closed. But where there are cases of diversion and stealing of public funds, the law will take its course.”
The Federal Government released N388.304billion of the N522.74 billion funds to 35 states as refunds of overdeductions on London-Paris Club loans.

States on top of the list with huge reimbursements are those controlled by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contrary to their claims of being oppressed by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The big earners are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Katsina, Kaduna, Lagos, Imo, Jigawa, Borno, Niger, Bauchi,and Benue.
Only Kano State and the FCT did not benefit from the reimbursement.
Ondo was only paid 50 per cent of its refunds (N6,513,392,932.28) because of leadership change in the state which will soon lead to the inauguration of the Governor-elect, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu.
A breakdown of the list of top beneficiaries of the refunds is as follows:
Akwa Ibom – N14,500,000,000.00;
Bayelsa – N14,500,000,000.00; Delta—N14,500,000,000.00;
Katsina -N14,500,000,000.00;
Lagos – N14,500,000,000.00;
Rivers-N14,500,000,000.00;
Kaduna – N14,362,416,363.24;
Borno-N13,654,138,849.49;
Bauchi – N12,792,664,403.93;
Benue – N12,749,689,453.61; Sokoto—N11,980,499,096.97;
Osun– N11,744,237,793.56;
Anambra– N11,386,281,466.35;
Edo– N11,329,495,462.04;
Cross River – N11,300,139,741.28;
Kogi – N11,211,573,328.19; and
Kebbi – N11,118,149,054.10.

The Federal Government reached a conditional agreement to pay 25% of the amounts claimed, subject to a cap of N14.5 billion to any given state.
Balances due thereafter will be revisited when fiscal conditions improve.
“Mr. President’s overriding concern is for the welfare of the Nigerian people. considering the fact that many States are owing salaries and pension, causing considerable hardship,” the government said.
THE NATION had exclusively reported that the presidency was uncomfortable with the funds management by governors.
A source in the Presidency, who spoke in confidence, said: “President Muhammadu Buhari has lived up to his pledge to ease salary crises in all the states by releasing N388.304billion to 35 states.

“The agreement between the Federal Government and the governors was very clear. While 50 per cent of the amount released shall be used to offset outstanding salary and pension arrears, the remaining 50 per cent would be used for the payment of other obligations.
“Some governors have however reneged on this agreement. Security reports available to the Presidency showed that Governor Ayodele Fayose paid only one month out of eight-month salary arrears.
“The governor went ahead to pay a curious 13-month salary to Ekiti workers. Yet, he got N8.877billion refund.
“Instead of accounting for what he used the loan refund for, he attacked the Federal Government on hardship in the country. The relevant agencies are monitoring development in Ekiti and some states.”

Responding to a question, another source in government said: “It is however unfortunate that some governors underdeclared the refunds made to them. Some of them were also discovered to be giving spurious analysis to cover up the actual figures.
“In fact, some states changed the agreement overnight. A state said the President asked states to use at least 25 per cent of their London and Paris Club refuns to offset salary arrears.”


http://thenationonlineng.net/seven-governors-linked-n19b-bank-account/

SaharaReporters has learned from sources at the Presidency that President Muhammadu Buhari’s doctors have advised him to shelve the idea of returning soon to the daily routine of running Nigeria on account of the gravity of his illness.

However, some of Mr. Buhari’s closest associates are goading him to defy the doctors’ recommendation and to take up the reins of power once more in Nigeria.

President Buhari left Nigeria on January 19 on what was supposed to be a 10-day medical leave. He has since twice postponed his return date even as several government officials and his close aides have continued to characterize him as “hale and hearty,” insisting that he was still vacationing and would soon return to Nigeria.

However, our sources, who are well briefed about Mr. Buhari’s health, disclosed that doctors managing the president have been unequivocal in warning that his condition would certainly deteriorate should he return to Nigeria without completing the first stage of his treatment.

According to one of the sources, the Nigerian president’s condition has been downgraded to “full blown illness” even by members of his kitchen cabinet who are now quietly admitting that he is “ill.”

However, the ailing president’s closest associates remain averse to disclosing to the Nigerian people the nature of Mr. Buhari’s illness.

Saharareporters learnt that the president’s deteriorating health has got to a point where doctors are taking “extreme measures” to ensure that he eats. Mr. Buhari has progressively lost weight due to his illness and course of treatment, our sources disclosed.

SaharaReporters learned that the pool of aides traveling with President Buhari have extended their hotel booking in London by at least one month starting from February 6th 2017. This means that the earliest Mr. Buhari would make it back to Nigerian soil is in early March.

However, our sources revealed that some members of the president’s inner political circle continue to pressure Mr. Buhari’s doctors in the UK to allow him to return to Abuja, even if for a short time, in order to give the impression that his recovery was on course. We understand that the UK doctors have so far resisted the pressures, stating that it would be professionally irresponsible of them to clear Mr. Buhari at this stage to take up the demands of the Presidency. “I understand that the doctors [in the UK] have made it clear that Mr. President’s flight back to Nigeria could complicate things for him,” one source said.

Another group of Mr. Buhari’s supporters have asked the ailing president to authorize his doctors to address the Nigerian people directly about his health situation. However, members of the president’s inner cabinet have staunchly opposed this disclosure, arguing that, since Mr. Buhari had handed over to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, there was no need to make further revelations since the VP has been vested with all the constitutional powers to run Nigeria.

Some political figures, particularly governors of some northern states, have been spending extending times in London and making efforts daily to meet with the ill president. However, such meetings with Mr. Buhari have also become difficult to arrange since the ailing president’s doctors have cautioned against his meeting and smooching with visiting politicians, citing the significant drain on his already low energy. “The doctors have become very stern in restricting access to him [President Buhari],” said one source. “As a result, so many of the visiting politicians do not even get to see Mr. Buhari before returning to Nigeria empty handed,” he added.

As SaharaReporters earlier revealed, President Buhari’s doctors in the UK have recommended that he would need at least a period of four months away from power to receive the full regimen of treatment for his several health challenges. A source said the president was undergoing therapy related to his prostate, declining to be more specific. A different source disclosed that the treatment had partially affected President Buhari’s voice, at one point making it almost impossible to hear him.

During the week, there were rumors in Abuja that President Buhari would attend the inauguration of President Adams Barrow in the Gambia. But one source at the Presidency dismissed the rumor as “a ruse raised by some members of a cabal who are determined to see that their power is not whittled down.”

Two of our sources disclosed that President Buhari’s health issues were of a chronic nature, adding that it was unlikely that the ailing president would ever be in a position to meet the full demands of his office whenever he returns to the country. “He is going to need regular trips abroad for ongoing treatment,” one stated.



http://saharareporters.com/2017/02/19/president-buhari-caged-cabal-doctors-ask-him-shelve-work

Hahahahahahah.
PSG - BARCA also will end 4- 3.
abi no be so

Last week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) busted the Kaduna residence of a former managing director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Andrew Yakubu.


It was gathered that the raid on Yakubu's residence was due to a information given to the commission by a whistle-blower.

Following the raid, $9.8 million and 74,000 British pounds were recovered by the EFCC.

Although the former managing director claimed that the money was presented to him as gift by an associate, a Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ordered that the monies be forfeited to the federal government.


Also, few days after the money was recovered by the EFCC, Yakubu was arrested and later granted administrative bail by the commission.

The bail condition given by the EFCC included the provision of a surety, Daily Nigerian reports.

The online news media also said a serving senator stood as surety for the former NNPC's managing director.


Sources said the anti-graft agency had planned to detain Yakubu pending its conclusion on investigations against him.

The source, however, the senator representing Kaduna South senatorial district (Peoples Democratic Party) Danjuma Laah, 56, filled the bail document for the release of Yakubu.

He also said Laah, popularly known as 'the sleeping senator' is a regular visitor to Yakubu's Unguwan Wakili residence in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

The source also said a retired military army general is among many others trooping the EFCC headquarters to facilitate Yakubu's release.




https://www.naij.com/1088959-meet-senator-signed-andrew-yakubus-bail-photo.html

op, wey the rest

A federal judge in Lagos ordered the forfeiture of a total of N34b linked to former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke on Thursday, Premium Times reports.

Justice Muslim Hassan issued the order mandating that three different funds - N23.4b, N9.08b, and $5m USD - are forfeited, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said they were the proceeds of illegal activity.

The judge had originally ordered the temporary forfeiture of the funds on January 6, but made an order demanding the "final forfeiture" of the money on Thursday.





http://saharareporters.com/2017/02/16/judge-orders-final-forfeiture-n34-billion-linked-diezani-alison-madueke

PassingShot:
Because we have many unfortunate beings, the wailing zombies, who believe the president is dead or incapacitated.

This is another dagger pierced through their heart.

Bros, you wicked small

dagger for heart, u don kill them now

Chai, this is not my country.

Since Thursday, and they are still visible.

By not, my people will be pooing all this wales inside lactrine.

Naija i hail thee.

Let learn to preserve wild/aquatic life

You dey mind Reno with his white lie

Seriously why is issue of call or no call generating so much heat like this.

is it because PMB is on sabbatical leave. lolz

Cause i no just understand

freeborn76:
If this had taken place in Lagos, they would have said the government was targeting a particular ethnic group.

Just exactly what on my mind

He doesn't need to seek NL advice bfor doing the needful.

except if your friend is actually waiting for his own turn to be on that sit, and start manipulating figures, just lik his current boss is doing.

One day, that company will seize to exist, and the blame will be put on bad management, not knowing people like his boss siting at one corner embezzling the company's actually cause it.

case study is NIGERIA.

corrupt individuals need to be weed out

The Federal Government on Wednesday filed two separate charges against Supreme Court judge, Sylvester Ngwuta, and his Federal High Court counterpart, Adeniyi Ademola, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, for alleged violations of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Act.

Mr. Ngwuta is already facing a separate corruption charge before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court while Mr. Ademola is facing a separate corruption charge at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
Salihu Isah, the spokesperson of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, provided information on the fresh charges on Wednesday.

In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Isah said the office of the AGF filed an application at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, requesting it to commence trial of the two judges.
The charges, according to the statement, were filed by the principal state counsel at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Hajara Yusuf, on behalf of the Attorney General, pursuant to Section 24 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

“In the FG request to arraign Justice Ngwuta, the application averred that he engaged in private business as a public officer, contrary to Section 6(b) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. He is also alleged to have refused to declare his assets as a public officer contrary to Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act, Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Punishable under Section 23(2) of the same Act.

“Justice Ngwuta is expected to face a ten count charge. Part of the charges against him includes that; “between 2nd June 2011 and 19thJuly 2016 while serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal, that Justice Ngwuta did make a false declaration of assets” to the CCB when he failed to declare three duplexes at Chinedu Ogah Avenue, Ntezi, Aba in Abakaliki, while being a Justice of the Supreme Court,” the spokesperson said.
In the second charge, Mr. Ngwuta is alleged to have made a false declaration to the CCB when he failed to declare 22 plots of land at Igwe Uga Avenue, Abakaliki, between the June 2, 2011 and July 19, 2016, while serving as a justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The third count states that he failed to declare six plots of land at Frank Okoroafor Avenue, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
Counts four to eight state that the judge failed to declare several vehicles including a Wrangler SUV, a Toyota SUV, and a BMW 5 series.

The ninth count states that, “between the 1st day of August 2014 and the 16thday of July 2015, Mr. Ngwuta received from Mr. Ogudu Nwadire, through his personal bank account numbered (0018113021) domiciled at Union Bank PLC, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, the total sum of Thirty-Six Million, Three Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira (NGN 36, 310,00.00) in the discharge of his official duties as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 23(2) of the same Act.”

The final count reads; “Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta between the 2nd June 2011 and 19th July 2016 in Abuja, while serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal did engage in purchase and sale of rice, palm oil and other related products, while being a Justice of the Supreme Court and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 of the Code Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 23(2) of the same Act.”

Mr. Isah said that in an affidavit to support the charge, Samuel Madojemu, who is Head, Investigation Division at the CCB, confirmed the said asset declaration by Mr. Ngwuta, which according to prosecution, was investigated and alleged offence discovered.
He said Mr. Madojemu confirmed that the asset declaration form was investigated upon by the CCB and the State Security Service.

The spokesperson said a two-count charge was proffered against Justice Ademola at the CCB for which an affidavit was also deposed to by Mr. Madojemu.
The first count states that, he failed to declare his asset to the Bureau, an offense contrary to Section 15 of the CCB and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 and punishable under Section 23(2) of the same Act, while the other count states that he engages and participates in private business contrary to Section 6 of the CCB and Tribunal Act and punishable under Section 23(2) of same Act.

According to the charge, Mr. Ademola is accused of engaging in the purchase and sale of foreign exchange currencies, while being a judge of the Federal High Court, and thereby committing an offence contrary to section 6 of the CCB and Tribunal Act

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/223011-nigerian-govt-files-fresh-charges-two-senior-judges-accused-corruption.html

Lapeywilliams:
You can go into a small scale agriculture,,land is available here in Ibadan,there are youths like you who are into agriculture and would welcome patnerships from prospective investors.

pls wer in ib can one get fertile land for agriculture.

Will definitely give a try.

They are power drunk

BRF is working.
Continue, baba God dey ur side

Former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday sneaked into Ibogun ,Ogun State, the ancestral village of one of his predecessors in office,and an architect of his defeat in the 2015 election, ex – President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The rare meeting between the duo who were bitterly divided in the run-up to the election saw Obasanjo tell his host how wise he (Jonathan) had become since leaving office.
“When leaders come, they have little or no experience. When they have to go is when they have really amassed a lot of experience, where they have wisdom, their experience is in high demand.

“Those like you and me who have the grace of God to bow out gracefully, if there is now what I call constitutional office, we have residual responsibilities for Nigeria,”Obasanjo said.
With Jonathan on the trip, which observers branded as fence mending yesterday ,were former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Kabir Turaki; a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Suleiman Abubakar; King A.J.Turner ;and a former Chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency( FERMA), Engr. Jide Adeniji.

They flew into the village in a chartered helicopter at about 11.30am.
The visit lasted about four hours of which Obasanjo and Jonathan alone spoke behind closed doors for 40 minutes.

No member of Jonathan’s entourage or Obasanjo’s associates was allowed into the inner room where the secret talks took place.
One source said yesterday that the visit was part of Jonathan’s new rapprochement with some of the key figures that had a hand in his defeat in the April 2015 polls.

Obasanjo received his visitor in company with former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who was ousted as National Secretary of the then ruling PDP by Jonathan and his loyalists.
Obasanjo took Jonathan round the village for a door-to-door greeting of the elders and the residents.
The people sang and danced in appreciation of Jonathan’s visit.

Obasanjo, welcoming Jonthan, said: “The first point I want to make is to thank you very sincerely and most sincerely for taking it upon yourself to pay us a visit at this point in time and at this location. Secondly, since you left office, you hardly have time to sit down and relax like you have been able to do today and I hope, I sincerely hope and pray for more such relaxed situation where we can reminisce on situations of the past that we have been through in this country and we can also look at what the future portends.

“I believe that not only Nigeria, West Africa and Africa and indeed the world will continue to tap our experiences, our wisdom and I hope and pray that when the call is made to you, you will be more than ready to put your experience, the lessons you have learnt into the service of this country, for African and indeed for humanity in general.
“ I have said to you before and I will say again that there are plenty of opportunities out there, within the country, within West Africa, within Africa and indeed in the larger world where people will want you to make contributions.

“I believe that you are resting now and when you have fully rested and you will be hearing from me because I have this opportunity to be around the world and if I mention your name in dispatch, I thank you sincerely that you have received us as we are in this village to prove to you that we are in a typical village, I was telling you that your village is better than mine.

“I want to say that we have it. Nigeria is a good country and we must never be tired of lifting the country up to the height that God has created it to be and God did not make a mistake when he put all of us together and if He doesn’t want us to be together no power in the world will have made us come together.

“My regards to everybody at home, especially your wife. Please, tell her that my wife sends her regards and I hope sooner or later we will be on your part of the world to enjoy the atmosphere together. I want to thank you on behalf of everyone here in this village.”

Explaining his mission,Jonathan said he had planned to visit Obasanjo during the yuletide in company with former military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), but the plan fell through owing to unforeseen circumstances.
He said the idea came about when he visited Babangida in Minna when the two of them agreed to come to Ibogun.

Jonathan thanked Obasanjo for the warm reception accorded him and entourage.
Thereafter, Obasanjo and Jonathan retired to one of the sittings rooms for “strictly personal talks for 40 minutes.”
Talks over, Obasanjo and one of his friends launched into the popular Yoruba game of ayo.
Jonathan watched as the game went.
A source at the meeting said he was “full of admiration” for it.

It was not immediately clear if the trip was part of the ongoing political realignment for 2019 general elections.

But a top source simply said: “It is a reunion of Papa and his son. Do not read any meaning into it.

“The ex-President decided to make it a private visit in order to be able to have frank talks with Obasanjo.

“During the visit, Obasanjo and Jonathan locked themselves up for 40 minutes. No member of Jonathan’s entourage nor Obasanjo’s associates in Ibogun was allowed to be part of the private session.

“All I can tell you is that the two leaders were able to iron out a few things and Jonathan has since returned to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.”

“At the end of the visit, ex-Minister Turaki, who is the Chairman of ex-Ministers Forum, gave the vote of thanks.”

Jonathan started out as Obasanjo’s political godson having been plucked out of office as Bayelsa State governor to become presidential running mate in the 2007 election.

He went on to become president, following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua and won the 2011 election.

The parting of ways came in 2015, following persistent disagreements between them with Obasanjo launching vitriolic attacks on Jonathan culminating in the tearing of his membership card of the PDP and openly campaigning against Jonathan’s re-election.

They had not seen eye to eye since then until yesterday.




http://thenationonlineng.net/youre-now-wiser-leaving-office-obasanjo-tells-jonathan/

it will make sense to spread my mat under this tree here.
anybody with popcorn

if truly all animal are equal, then let the law deal with him. if not, am sorry

this is the real deal.

The World Bank has predicted that Nigeria will get out of recession and grow its Gross Domestic Product by one per cent this year after plunging into its worst recession in over two decades .

The bank said in a statement on Wednesday , “ Sub- Saharan African growth is expected to pick up modestly to 2 .9 per cent in 2017 as the region continues to adjust to lower commodity prices.

“ Growth in South Africa and oil exporters is expected to be weaker, while growth in economies that are not natural - resource intensive should remain robust .

“ Growth in South Africa is expected to edge up to a 1 .1 per cent pace this year . Nigeria is forecast to rebound from recession and grow at a 1 per cent pace . Angola is projected to expand at a 1 .2 per cent pace. ”

The World Bank ’s January 2017 Global Economic Prospects report also projected that growth in the advanced economies would edge up to 1 .8 per cent in the current year.

It stated that fiscal stimulus in major economies , particularly in the United States , could generate faster domestic and global growth than projected , although rising trade protection could have adverse effects .

Growth in emerging market and developing economies as a whole should pick up to 4. 2 per cent this year from 3. 4 per cent in the year just ended amid modestly rising commodity prices, the bank stated.

Emerging market and developing economy commodity exporters are expected to expand by 2. 3 per cent in 2017 after an almost negligible 0 . 3 per cent pace in 2016 as commodity prices gradually recover and as Russia and Brazil resume growing after recessions .

It, however , added that the outlook was clouded by uncertainty about policy direction in major economies .

Commenting on the report, the President , World Bank Group, Jim Yong Kim, stated, “ After years of disappointing global growth , we are encouraged to see stronger economic prospects on the horizon .

“ Now is the time to take advantage of this momentum and increase investments in infrastructure and people. This is vital to accelerating the sustainable and inclusive economic growth required to end extreme poverty .”

The report noted the worrisome recent weakening of investment growth in the emerging markets and developing economies , which account for one -third of the global GDP and about three quarter of the world ’ s population and the poor .

The World Bank ’s Chief Economist , Paul Romer, said “ We can help governments offer the private sector more opportunities to invest with confidence that the new capital it produces can plug into the infrastructure of global connectivity .

“ Without new streets , the private sector has no incentive to invest in the physical capital of new buildings. Without new work space connected to new living space , the billions of people who want to join the modern economy will lose the chance to invest in the human capital that comes from learning on the job . ”




http://punchng.com/nigeriall-get-recession-year-wbank/


Lalasticlala, let me ask you one question.
Do you like this recession?
if not oya do the needful. lolz

How much

Italian prosecutors have named former President Goodluck Jonathan and Mrs. Diezani Alison- Madueke , who served under his administration as Minister of Petroleum Resources , among those who allegedly received kickbacks in the controversial $ 1 .3 bn oil block deal involving oil giants ENI and Royal Dutch Shell .

According to AFP, Italian prosecutors , in court documents filed late last months in Milan , claimed that the Chief Executive of ENI , Claudio Descalzi , and his predecessor, Paolo Scaroni , met Jonathan “ in person” to thrash out the deal , which also involved former British intelligence agents working as advisors for Shell .

The prosecutors alleged that Jonathan and Diezani benefitted from a sum of $ 466 m converted into naira and used to grease the palms of some Nigerian government officials to facilitate the alleged shady deal .
The prosecutors alleged that another $ 54m was withdrawn by one Abubakar Aliyu, whom the prosecutors described as an “ agent ” of Jonathan .

The beneficiaries of the money went on a shopping spree buying “ property , aeroplanes , armoured cars, ” prosecutors stated in the court papers.

In the said papers, which AFP claimed to have sighted , the Italian prosecutors alleged that ENI and Shell executives worked with a Nigerian businessman , Dan Etete, who was an “ oil minister under the military ruler , Sani Abacha , from 1995 to 1998.”

Etete ’s company, Malabu was the alleged “ fraudulent holder ” of the OPL 245 block , according to the court documents filed by Italian prosecutors .

The prosecutors claimed that after talks in Milan and Abuja , the oil block was bought illegally by the oil majors in contravention of domestic laws, “ without competitive tendering ” and with “ full , unconditional exemption from all national taxes .”

To facilitate the alleged shady deal , a total of $801 . 5m was allegedly transferred to Etete’s Malabu accounts , out of which $ 466 m was converted into naira and used for greasing the palms of government officials, including Jonathan and Diezani .
However, ENI and Shell have both denied wrongdoing in the transaction .

Shell , in an email to AFP, said, “ We are aware of the investigation and we hope to show the prosecutor that there is no basis to prosecute Shell .

“ Shell takes this matter seriously and is co- operating with the authorities. ”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had also recently pressed charges in connection with the same oil block deal .

Last Friday , the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered three banks to temporary forfeit a sum of $ 153 m , which Diezani allegedly siphoned from the coffers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

For his part , Jonathan has denied that his government was corrupt and contested that the claim by his successor , President Muhammadu Buhari , that he left “ virtually empty ” treasury.



http://punchng.com/malabu-scandal-jonathan-diezani-named-italian-probe/

targus:
@Vastfinder,

That is a nice write up but i can see from your write up that you are definitely not a practising farmer and most probably has never been to a cocoa farm before, if you are, you will know that the early maturing variety that we are taking about doesn't actually start fruiting in 18 months but will only flower and shed the flowers because the stem is not strong enough to carry about 30 to 50 pods of coca at that time and when it does start fruiting after the 3rd year only few percentage will bring fruit and then gradually increase, before you start enjoying cocoa farm you are looking at the 5th year, do you know how much it cost to maintain cocoa farm for 5 years. Let me break it down for you for the benefit of the people in this forum so they can have correct information before going into it.

Please note that this is based on 10 Acres

year one.

you will need to do the land clearing, the current rate is 45k

you will need about 3500 plantain suckers to use as cover crop and source of incoming while the cocoa is growing. sucker @ 50naira each =175k

Panting at 30naira per sucker (Digging is 20naira and planting is 10 Naira) =105k

planting of Cocoa at 30 naira per seedling (5000 Seedling on 10 acres) 150k

second weeding of the land around August is another 45k.

Tree killing to open up the canopy on 10 acres will cost around 50k depending on the area.

final weeding of the year will happen around November ending to allow air flow to the plant. 45k

the second year , you 'll need to weed it 3 Times @45k each =135k

You will need to use pesticide which we cost you at the between 2500 to 4000 naira per bottle and you will use at least 4 on 10 acres plus labour

it is general knowledge that average of 10% -20% of the seedling will die (if you are lucky) due to various factor like whether and bad patches of

soil etc, this will need to be replanted.

This will continue until you have a fully matured farm.

so how can you tell me that you'll start getting return on coca farm in 2 years ,i can tell you from experiencing that you don't break even on Cocoa plantation even in 5 years if you are lucky.

I'm not trying to rock your Boat, i just don't want people to get into it with a flaw advise and on assumption that you'll start making money in the second year.

Sorry if i step on your toes.

Sir pls where is your farm located.

and can you pls help me with you digit. will like to relate with you more on this cocoa farming. pls help a brother

Ajascolove:
1. Site Slection: Get the best choice of land. 2. Prepare land very well. 3. Nursery Site Preparation: Plant cocoa on a deep, fertile, well-drained soil with adequate clay content. 4. Maintenance of Nursery: Immature seedling should be rejected. 5. Transplanting: Ensure that cocoa seedlings are five to sixx months old in the nursery at the time of transplanting.

Bros you are too much,

i appreciate this info, if you have any additional information, it welcome pls.

again any info on Jatrophat and moringa. pls

Op thanks for this, i have been making little research on starting Cocoa farming on a small scale.

you shield more light to some grey area.

Gob bless

pls come and complete this story