₦airaland Forum

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) has said since President Buhari won the election, he is duty-bound to ensure that all organs and agents of government respect the law. Falana disclosed this on Sunday in a statement which stated in parts: “One of the reasons why Nigerians voted for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), during the last general elections was his promise to fight corruption and end impunity in the country.



Upon winning the election, President Buhari further pledged to abide by the Rule of Law. To that extent, he has a duty to ensure that all organs and officials of the government operate within the ambit of the law. In particular, he should not allow overzealous security personnel to engage in any form of impunity and thereby expose the government to unwarranted embarrassment.”



On the case of Dasuki, Falana said, “He was eventually charged with money laundering and criminal diversion of huge sums of public fund before the Federal High Court and the Federal Capital Territory High Court at Abuja. Notwithstanding the gravity of the offences, both courts have admitted him to bail. But after he had met the bail conditions, the DSS decided to re-arrest him at the gate of Kuje prisons on the ground that investigations have not been concluded in respect of other criminal allegations.”



http://dawntodusknews.com/femi-falana-slams-buhari-for-the-re-arrest-of-sambo-dasuki-nnamdi-kanu/

By JUMI RHODES


The Senior Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack and probe the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Godwin Emefiele. Bakare made this known while delivering his State of the Nation address, titled, ‘Roadmap to successful change,’ in his church in Lagos on Sunday. In his words, Bakare said: “The CBN currently contributes negatively to the Nigerian state in more ways than one. Firstly, the CBN has become a conduit for politicians to drain the nation. Otherwise, how can a letter of barely two paragraphs, addressed to the current CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, by the then NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), become the authority to incur expenditure leading to cash flow of $37m and several million euro? In decent climes, the CBN governor cannot continue in office while the NSA is accounting for his alleged offences.”


http://dawntodusknews.com/buhari-should-sack-probe-cbn-governor-over-arms-funds-pastor-tunde-bakare/

Former Minister of Justice/Attorney General of the Federation, and former president of the Nigeria Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN) is one of the influential Nigerians supporting President Muhammadu Buhari's corruption campaign. Speaking to Vanguard on the ongoing investigation of the misappropriated $2.1billion arms fund, the 81-year-old elder statesman who is the Olori Omo Olowu of Owu Kingdom, said: "That is the reason I have always felt that going into any public office, the aspirants must first of all be thoroughly examined, tested and their past performances and their positions must be looked into. In fact, they should also examine them mentally whether they are fit and proper persons to go into the offices.


"They must also ensure that they are not going to fix in all those greedy people who are desirous of going in there to steal and to take the money of the government for their own purpose just to enrich themselves. A lot of people think that going into politics is just getting there to steal what they can steal. There is this idea now of stomach infrastructure. So, is it government they are now going to serve with this idea of stomach infrastructure? That is very sad. It is sad! When I was in government, I was there fully ready and conscious of my service to the nation and was interested in improving the position of the nation.





"Not only had I refused taking my salaries but also I was pumping my money into it. I was serving with my money being put into it. I was engaging the services of clerks, secretaries, staff into ministry of justice being paid for by myself. Who is doing that now among them? All they are interested in is to get there and steal money to buy SUVs and to acquire as much as possible because they all think about governing as a place of booty where they can enrich themselves either by hook or crook and they are even the highest paid public servants in the whole world."




http://dawntodusknews.com/dasukigate-politicians-should-be-examined-for-mental-illness-prince-bola-ajibola/

By JUMI RHODES





Former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Hon Kingsley Kuku, has joined the Ondo State guber race ahead of the November governorship election. To this end, Kuku, who hails from Ese-Odo Local Government in Ondo State, has constituted a committee to coordinate his campaign ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary. In a statement in Akure, Kuku said that the group known as Kuku Support Group, will be coordinated by former Chairman of the PDP in the state, Hon. Ebenezer Alabi.




According to Kuku who is recuperating from a knee surgery in USA, “l have been overwhelmed by messages from persons at home and in diaspora genuinely concerned about my medical trip in the United States of America and tending events in the polity, especially our Sunshine State. We also want to use this medium to assure our teaming supporters who have stood tall in spite of veiled molestations and blackmail, that from all indications the road will be rough but victory is sure. We believe, in the fullness of time, we shall be vindicated.By the schedule of my treatment ,l am now at the concluding and very critical physical therapy stage, after which I shall return home in due course of time.”


Recall the EFCC had invited Kuku in September 2015 over allegations of fund misappropriation during his tenure as Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme(PAP).


http://dawntodusknews.com/goodluck-jonathans-former-aide-kingsley-kuku-joins-ondo-guber-race/

By JUMI RHODES


The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Pastor Enoch Adeboye has called on Nigerians to draw closer to God. Adeboye made this disclosure while speaking at the just-held Holy Ghost Service where he spoke on the theme 'No More Losses'. According to the highly-revered man of God,"The word "Loss" is a horrible thing.In the name that is above every other name the word loss will get out of your dictionary tonight. I am not asking you to come for the Holy Ghost service because there's no crowd here. I am calling you because of the power of agreement that is embeded in the "corporate prayers" we pray together here. I am calling you because of the awesome power of God on this ground.



"When we are united and we agree together in prayers no devil, no demon, nobody at all can stop us. God is a business man(Genesis 1:28), He is always talking about increase.God is never satisfied with you the way you're. He wants you to be greater and much bigger than you're at the moment. You cut your destiny short by thinking you've arrived when God is not done with you. You can never have a better business partner than Jesus. Ask Peter and the widow of Zarephat.The bible is a book of profit.The difference between those that are losing and those that are profiting is wisdom. Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge.The reason why many of us die financially is because we are stingy. Whatever you sow is what you will definitely reap."



http://dawntodusknews.com/pastor-adeboye-many-die-financially-because-they-are-stingy/

By JUMI RHODES





Senator Rashidi Ladoja, the leader of Accord Party, one of the political parties which did not sponsor a candidate in the 2015 presidential election, received N100m from former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, as money to support the second term presidential ambition of former President Goodluck Jonathan. This confirmation was contained in a letter to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, by the National Secretary of Accord, Mr. Nureni Adisa. In the letter titled, “Release of One Hundred Million by Chief Tony Anenih” and dated January 8, 2016, Adisa said: “Our attention has been drawn to a newspaper report that the sum of N100m was released to the Accord leader, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja by Chief Tony Anenih, the (former) Chairman BoT of the PDP.





“We confirm that the sum of N100m was given to the party through our leader after series of meetings between the leadership of Accord and Chief Tony Anenih in preparation for the 2015 general elections. Issues discussed at the meetings, according to the statement, include the need to support the presidential candidate of the PDP since Accord had no presidential candidate, the need to ensure that peace was maintained to enhance peaceful movement during periods of campaign, elections and after the elections and the need for the PDP to support Accord’s campaign effort. Accordingly, the PDP (former) BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih released the sum of N100m for these purposes through our leader, Sen. Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja. The money released was accordingly used for the purposes as stated above.”



http://dawntodusknews.com/dasukigate-rashidi-ladoja-received-n100million-from-anenih-accord-party/

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been crowned CAF African Player of the Year for the first time.

The 26-year old beat Ivorian Yaya Toure and Ghana’s Andre Ayew to the crown, the most prestigious individual award in African football. He polled 143 points, seven more than Toure whilst Ayew finished a distant third with 112 points.

He thus becomes the first from his country, Gabon, to win the prize and was decorated at the 2015 Glo-CAF Awards Gala held on Thursday, 7 January 2016 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.

The feat by Aubameyang ended the four-year reign of Toure, which lasted 2011 to 2014.

For the African Player of the Year – Based in Africa, Tanzanian Mbwana Aly Samatta was decorated, becoming the first from East Africa to win the coveted prize, reserved for footballers plying their trade on the continent.

Samatta garnered 127 points, ahead of his TP Mazembe teammate and DR Congo goalkeeper Robert Muteba Kidiaba, who amassed 88 points. Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah trailed in third place with 63 points.

Cameroonian Gaelle Enganamouit was adjudged Women’s Player of the Year becoming the first from her country to pick up the prize.




It was double delight for hosts Nigeria with two prizes, Victor Osimhen – Youth Player of the Year and Etebo Peter Oghenekaro – Most Promising Talent of the Year.

For guiding Cote d’Ivoire to continental glory, former coach Herve Renard was named Coach of the Year and ‘Les Elephants’ as National Team of the Year. Cameroon scooped the Women’s National Team of the Year prize and DR Congo giants, TP Mazembe, Club of the Year, whilst Gambian Papa Bakary Gassama went home with the Referee of the Year award.

Former Ghana coach Charles Kumi Gyamfi and Cameroonian Samuel Mbappe Leppe were honoured posthumously in the African Legend category. Edwin Gyamfi received the honour on behalf of his dad whilst …… picked the prize for Mbappe Leppe.

The event, sponsored by Nigerian telecommunication outfit, Globacom, was a night to celebrate and reward sporting excellence, also showcased superb and first-class entertainment from outstanding entertainers across different parts of Africa. There were musical performances by Shatta Wale (Ghana), Ahmed Soultan (Morocco), Salif Keita (Mali), Awilo Longomba (DR Congo) and Nigerians King Sunny Ade, Dija, Korede Bello, Flavour, Omawumi, Bez and Ego.

The crème de la crème of football administrators around the continent were in attendance

FULL WINNERS
AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon)
AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR – BASED IN AFRICA - Mbwana Aly SAMATTA
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Gaelle ENGANAMOUIT (Cameroon)
YOUTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Victor OSIMHEN (Nigeria)
MOST PROMISING TALENT OF THE YEAR - Etebo Peter OGHENEKARO (Nigeria)
COACH OF THE YEAR - Herve RENARD (France) – Former Coach of Cote d’Ivoire
REFEREE OF THE YEAR - Bakary Papa GASSAMA (Gambia)
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR - Cote d’Ivoire
WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR - Cameroon
CLUB OF THE YEAR - TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
AFRICAN LEGEND
Charles Kumi GYAMFI (Ghana)
Samuel MBAPPE LEPPE (Cameroon)

AFRICA FINEST XI
Goalkeeper: Robert Muteba KIDIABA (DR Congo)
Defenders: Serge AURIER (Cote d’Ivoire), Aymen ABDENNOUR (Tunisia), Mohamed MEFTAH (Algeria)
Midfielders: Andre AYEW (Ghana), Yaya TOURE (Cote d’Ivoire), Sadio MANE (Senegal), Yacine BRAHIMI (Algeria),
Forwards: Mbwana Aly SAMATTA (Tanzania), Pierre-Emerrick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon), Baghdad BOUNEDJAH (Algeria)

Substitutes
Djigui DIARRA (Mali)
Azubuike OKECHUKWU (Nigeria)
Kelechi NWAKALI (Nigeria)
Zinedine FERHAT (Algeria)
Adama TRAORE (Mali)
Victor OSIMHEN (Nigeria)
Kermit ERASMUS (South Africa)

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been crowned CAF African Player of the Year for the first time.

The 26-year old beat Ivorian Yaya Toure and Ghana’s Andre Ayew to the crown, the most prestigious individual award in African football. He polled 143 points, seven more than Toure whilst Ayew finished a distant third with 112 points.

He thus becomes the first from his country, Gabon, to win the prize and was decorated at the 2015 Glo-CAF Awards Gala held on Thursday, 7 January 2016 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.

The feat by Aubameyang ended the four-year reign of Toure, which lasted 2011 to 2014.

For the African Player of the Year – Based in Africa, Tanzanian Mbwana Aly Samatta was decorated, becoming the first from East Africa to win the coveted prize, reserved for footballers plying their trade on the continent.

Samatta garnered 127 points, ahead of his TP Mazembe teammate and DR Congo goalkeeper Robert Muteba Kidiaba, who amassed 88 points. Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah trailed in third place with 63 points.

Cameroonian Gaelle Enganamouit was adjudged Women’s Player of the Year becoming the first from her country to pick up the prize.

It was double delight for hosts Nigeria with two prizes, Victor Osimhen – Youth Player of the Year and Etebo Peter Oghenekaro – Most Promising Talent of the Year.

For guiding Cote d’Ivoire to continental glory, former coach Herve Renard was named Coach of the Year and ‘Les Elephants’ as National Team of the Year. Cameroon scooped the Women’s National Team of the Year prize and DR Congo giants, TP Mazembe, Club of the Year, whilst Gambian Papa Bakary Gassama went home with the Referee of the Year award.

Former Ghana coach Charles Kumi Gyamfi and Cameroonian Samuel Mbappe Leppe were honoured posthumously in the African Legend category. Edwin Gyamfi received the honour on behalf of his dad whilst …… picked the prize for Mbappe Leppe.

The event, sponsored by Nigerian telecommunication outfit, Globacom, was a night to celebrate and reward sporting excellence, also showcased superb and first-class entertainment from outstanding entertainers across different parts of Africa. There were musical performances by Shatta Wale (Ghana), Ahmed Soultan (Morocco), Salif Keita (Mali), Awilo Longomba (DR Congo) and Nigerians King Sunny Ade, Dija, Korede Bello, Flavour, Omawumi, Bez and Ego.

The crème de la crème of football administrators around the continent were in attendance

FULL WINNERS
AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon)
AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR – BASED IN AFRICA - Mbwana Aly SAMATTA
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Gaelle ENGANAMOUIT (Cameroon)
YOUTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Victor OSIMHEN (Nigeria)
MOST PROMISING TALENT OF THE YEAR - Etebo Peter OGHENEKARO (Nigeria)
COACH OF THE YEAR - Herve RENARD (France) – Former Coach of Cote d’Ivoire
REFEREE OF THE YEAR - Bakary Papa GASSAMA (Gambia)
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR - Cote d’Ivoire
WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR - Cameroon
CLUB OF THE YEAR - TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
AFRICAN LEGEND
Charles Kumi GYAMFI (Ghana)
Samuel MBAPPE LEPPE (Cameroon)

AFRICA FINEST XI
Goalkeeper: Robert Muteba KIDIABA (DR Congo)
Defenders: Serge AURIER (Cote d’Ivoire), Aymen ABDENNOUR (Tunisia), Mohamed MEFTAH (Algeria)
Midfielders: Andre AYEW (Ghana), Yaya TOURE (Cote d’Ivoire), Sadio MANE (Senegal), Yacine BRAHIMI (Algeria),
Forwards: Mbwana Aly SAMATTA (Tanzania), Pierre-Emerrick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon), Baghdad BOUNEDJAH (Algeria)

Substitutes
Djigui DIARRA (Mali)
Azubuike OKECHUKWU (Nigeria)
Kelechi NWAKALI (Nigeria)
Zinedine FERHAT (Algeria)
Adama TRAORE (Mali)
Victor OSIMHEN (Nigeria)
Kermit ERASMUS (South Africa)



http://dawntodusknews.com/full-list-winners-emerge-at-2015-glocafawards-how-coaches-voted/

International award-winning music star D’banj has just dropped a new single Emergency at the ongoing 2015 GloCAFAwards happening at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.




http://dawntodusknews.com/dbanj-drops-new-single-emergency-at-glocafawards2015/

Editor’s Note: Jason Chukwuma Njoku is the founder of iROKO, one of Africa’s thriving internet companies. The University of Manchester Chemistry graduate in the article below reacts to Netflix’s arrival in Nigeria. Njoku titled this post ‘The Death of an industry’ on his website:



By JASON NJOKU



In July 2011, as part of our series A due diligence, Tiger Global had McKinsey & Co conduct a study of Nollywood. The remit was:

1. Nollywood content popularity across Africa

2. Nollywood Industry Structure and Dynamics

- market size, growth, concentration and key trends

- content creator economics

3. Internet, broadband, payments and advertising trends across Africa.

They spoke with over a thousand people in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.

Over the weekend, I re-read elements of the study, just to refresh my memory on all that had happened over the last 4.5 years. Let me go ahead and share some of those slides with you.

1. Preference for Nollywood films skews heavily to the lower income population, though a significant portion of upper income consumers also enjoy Nollywood films, 35% of the top income decile of Nigerians prefer Nigerian films to Hollywood/Bollywood films vs. 70-75% of the rest of the Nigerian population.

The income skew in South Africa is more pronounced: <5%% of interviewees in the top 2 income deciles prefer Nollywood films vs. ~43% of the rest of the South African population

From the report:





Nollywood is significantly smaller and more fragmented than Bollywood and Hollywood.

- 95+% Nollywood revenue comes from VCDs/DVDs

- Cheapest distribution medium for quick production and release

- Limited financing and distribution infrastructure restricts alternatives

- Near term outlook for alternative distribution is limited

- Lack of theatre infrastructure, with high crime in few existing theatres; government has indicated interest in investing in theatres but effort has been limited to date. Existing “high end” theatres are expensive ($5-8 ticket price) and cater primarily to upper income Nigerians, with most releases coming from Hollywood

- Film rights and distribution agreements less developed / professional, making
alternative distribution difficult

- Pay TV channels pay very low prices and only take the best Nollywood films





Why did I resurrect a 4.5 year old document when I surely had better things to do with my time? Because from recent, quite startling chats from my content suppliers (producers) in Ghana and Nigeria, it appears that the VCD/DVD market has collapsed. Just to triple check, I reached out to a number of my close producer friends who I know from way back when. In Alaba, it appears to be an absolute rout. Defined below.




A rout is a chaotic and disorderly retreat or withdrawal of troops from a battlefield, resulting in the victory of the opposing party, or following defeat, a collapse of discipline, or poor morale. A routed army often disintegrates into “every man for himself”, or sauve qui peut, as the survivors flee for safety







And collapse it had. Something I had always expected. But this wasn’t some visionary musing from me. It was the most patently obvious thing back in 2010. It was happening in the West. That’s why I tried so quickly and aggressively to build alternative distribution platforms. Some succeeded. Others failed. But the core Internet TV, Linear/PayTV and cinema were well placed enough to be the future. I saw in 2011-2013 the total obliteration of the US Nollywood DVD market. One of the biggest distributors in the US [name withheld] now drives Uber for a living. I begged the Alaba marketers to not distil the quality and work with me, to build a better future. One grounded in economic fundamentals. They listened, and enthusiastically agreed, collected my inflated licensing fees, then turned around to try and screw me. I guess they saw me as ‘the final maga’. And you know. Maga must pay.







Yet the macro economics remained. VCD/DVD was evidentially going to die. They forced me to embrace others. Find elsewhere. Confidently declared the death of iROKO. I went from acquiring 95% Alaba Nollywood content to about 5-10% today. All in about 2 years. I started financing my own creations back in 2012 and never looked back. The ambition in 2016 is for 50% of my entire content budget to go to financed and owned content. The days of licensing are finally behind us. It was ever supposed to be. I never wanted to compete with my suppliers. I tried to respect and lift up Nollywood for the economic miracle it was. In fact, the biggest mistake in my life was not being aggressive enough in the beginning. My wife thinks I am a fool. I had the opportunity to buy internet rights in perpetuity in 2010/11 for the first 4k titles. For, like, $1k a movie. My logic at the time was quaint in retrospect. I didn’t want to use my 100% information arbitrage to take advantage of them. It didn’t feel fair. I could’ve owned 4k 2005 - 2011 hits for $4m. Legally. And nothing could have been done about it. I passed. At higher costs I went for licensing. Started inflating the numbers. To be good to Nollywood. Stupid me. Now I have to spend almost $4m year on buying, licensing content for my internet, mobile and linear tv business. iROKO single handedly ignited a near x10 increase in PayTV, Internet TV and other ancillary rights in Nollywood.





This fundamentally changed Nollywood forever. It’s only in retrospect I realise how we have fundamentally changed so much in Nollywood. We are primarily responsible for the creation of and financing of New Nollywood. We acquired pretty much all of it over the last 3 years. This hastened the chasm between old and new. The economics changed. Africa Magic followed suit. New Nollywood had cinema, PayTV and Internet TV. Old Nollywood just had YouTube. So they suffered. Even when I told them to not embrace that platform 100%. They ignored me. And now 90% of the producers I started buying content from originally are no longer producing or marketing movies. They have moved on. Alaba committed commercial suicide.





But some still say I am bad for Nollywood.



http://dawntodusknews.com/jason-njoku-on-netflix-in-nigeria-iroko-changed-nollywood-in-3-years-killed-alaba-piracy/

By JUMI RHODES


The ongoing investigation of the embezzled $2.1billion arms purchase fund by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will go down in the history of Nigeria as one of the biggest scandals owing to those who have been named. The man in the centre is Nigeria's former national security adviser,Col. Sambo Dasuki(retd.) who was arrested late last year for allegedly misappropriating $2.1 billion meant for the procurement of equipment to fight against Boko Haram militants who have killed thousands in north-eastern Nigeria in its six-year campaign.





Dasuki has been accused of awarding phantom contracts to buy 12 helicopters, four fighter jets and ammunition. The owner of AIT, Raymond Dokpesi; former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda; PDP National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh; ex-PDP chairman Haliru Mohammed; former governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa and others have been quizzed on this investigation.



One man who has however remained quiet on this matter is Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, the highly-influential 92-year-old father of Col. Sambo Dasuki. The former Sultan of Sokoto was one of the private secretaries of the former Premier of Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, and as a politician, he was one of the founding fathers of the defunct National party of Nigeria (NPN). Despite his influence in Nigeria, the Kaduna-based elder statesman has kept mum and has not granted any interview on his son's trial. Ibrahim Dasuki was the 18th Sultan of Sokoto, but he was deposed in 1996 during the military government of late Sani Abacha.




http://dawntodusknews.com/dasukis-92-yr-old-father-ex-sultan-of-sokoto-keeps-mum-on-sons-trial/

Six persons - Francis Okoye, Emmanuel Nnakwe, Marcel Nnakwe, Emeka Orjiakora, Christopher Mbah, and Olisaemeka Igbokwe - accused of conspiracy and attempted murder of the late Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dr Dora Akunyili have been acquitted and discharged by Justice I.U Bello of an Abuja High Court. The accused persons were charged with a four- count charge of conspiracy, attempted murder and murder brought against them by the state.





The charge reads: “That you Francis Okoye; Ebubedike; Emmanuel Nnakwe; Marcel Nnakwe; Emeka Orjiakor; Christopher Mbah; Olisaemeka Igbokwe; Chukwuka Ezeukwu; Jude Ugwu on or between October, 2001 to December 2003 at different places in the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra State agreed to do or cause to be done an illegal act to wit: cause the death of Dr Akunyili, Director-General, NAFDAC and that the said act was attempted to be done in pursuant of an agreement and that you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.”





A no-case submission, which was initiated by the accused persons through their counsel, Mr. Clement Onwuenwunor, was upheld by the the court, and affirmed by the court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, but set aside the aspect of the ruling which declined jurisdiction to entertain counts 3 and 4 of the charge. The 7th accused person had died sometime in 2005 while the 8th accused person was discharged by the Supreme Court.





In his judgment, Justice Bello said, “On the charge of conspiracy for instance, the prosecution could not have been successful in the face of exhibit 18(n), a manifest from MTN tendered before the court by the prosecution itself and indeed exhibit 20 equally a similar manifest tendered by the defence, both intended to establish any possible transaction or controvert any such transaction as stated by PW3 between him and 2nd accused through phone conversation.





“It turned not to be falsehood, this rendering the PW3 as unreliable witness and he is so branded. And with that position, the prosecution has failed to discharge the onus of proving the offence of conspiracy as charged. Accordingly, the accused persons are discharged and acquitted on that count.”





Bello further said: “Consequently, failure to investigate the alibi as raised by the accused persons and in particular 2nd accused, who had tendered exhibits D1-D7 representing his travel documents is fatal to the case of the prosecution’s case. In this regard, there is no option to holding the view that 2nd accused was indeed elsewhere representing the meaning of alibi as raised and is successfully so.





"I therefore, agree with the defence that the case of the prosecution is wholly based on suspicion and the charge on attempted murder cannot stand, and although, the prosecution was able to establish that there was in fact death of a human person being part of the ingredient of the substantive charge under Section 221 of the Penal Code, there is nothing in form of evidence directly or circumstantial showing that it is the accused persons that caused the death of that person, one Emeka Onuekutu while driving his Mitsubishi L3000 minibus with Reg. No. AE 763 AJL.


“In fact, by the evidence before this court per exhibit 53 representing Ballistician report stated clearly that it was the AK 47 in the possession of the Sergeant, Haruna Adamu, one of the policemen in the convoy of Dora Akunyili that was shot, indeed, the expired shell recovered from the scene corresponds with the AK 47 of the said Sergeant Adamu who gave evidence as PW 18 for the prosecution.”




http://dawntodusknews.com/court-frees-late-dora-akunyilis-suspected-assailants/

By JUMI RHODES





The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has clarified issues on the National Assembly's(NASS) inclusion in the Treasury Single Account(TSA) policy. Recall Senate spokesman and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Aliu Saabi Abdullahi had explained the rejection of the TSA by the National Assembly that "fears that the adoption could frustrate the smooth functioning of the National Assembly led to the decision to outrightly reject its extension to the country’s apex law making body."


Hon. Yakubu Dogara however in a series of tweet-chat earlier today said: "As for Revenue all NASS receipts go to TSA. We are part of it. Get the arguments right. We are part of TSA but opposed to Executive control of NASS, Judiciary and INEC except as the Constitution allows. Arms of government such as NASS and Judiciary just to distinguish them from MDAs. Think outside the constitution and our laws?





"Nigeria is a Democracy not an Empire. This should be the ideal position or we create an Agency that is independent of all arms of Govt to manage the TSA.I will defend the constitution. My first duty is to ask what does the law say about any issue. NASS has always stood for TSA. I am a lawmaker. You won't win if you tell me to be against the law. In line with that NASS will remain strong and unshaken in defending the Constitution and democratic norms cum ethos."





When Sahara Reporters tweeted a question on the prompting of Senate president and Speaker Dogara's refusal to join the Treasury Single Account, Dogara replied: "PMB may have good intentions and may not want to manipulate NASS, Judiciary or INEC, but who knows the future?"

By JUMI RHODES




Before Don Jazzy and Olamide fell out at the 2015 Headies awards ceremony, the MAVIN honcho was one of the showbiz stars every tweeter would love to follow on his verified @DONJAZZY which has 1.32 million followers while he follows 72,000. Since Olamide's outburst on Twitter, many have asked if the once-upon-a-time active daily tweeter has been badly hit by Olamide's rants. There have been mixed reactions over the feud between Don Jazzy and Olamide. But for once, Don Jazzy has gone very quiet after the uproar as many heavily criticised him for calling out Olamide whose statement was targeted at the organizers of Headies. Following the controversy, the outspoken MAVIN honcho seems to have taken a step back from the keyboard - as of the time of this report{5.50pm, 3rd January 2016}, he hasn't tweeted at all since 2.32am on 2nd January 2016. Olamide's last tweet was at 8.11pm on 2nd January 2016 when he tweeted "Start 2016 the Special way. Taste Special and party with @olamide_YBNL live at Ibadan Recreational Club on Jan 6th".




http://dawntodusknews.com/don-jazzy-goes-silent-on-twitter/

Photo News:


Azumini Blue River is in Ukwa East LGA of Abia State. Named after its gorgeous sapphire waters, Azumini Blue River has stunning views, crystal clear water, abundant sandy beaches and opportunities for canoe rides. One distinct feature about the river is that it turns green after rain falls on it.





Photo Credit: Kiki Omeili(Nollywood actress currently on a movie location in Abia State. She is pictured in the 'after' picture with the crew).



http://dawntodusknews.com/photos-abia-river-that-turns-green-after-rainfall/

By JUMI RHODES





Former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode has backed his party PDP's statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh which stated in parts that, "It is sad and embarrassing that President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade has now been reduced to a war between the APC and the PDP as declared by the Office of his spokespersons. Since they have confirmed that this is what the anti-corruption crusade is all about, the APC is obviously seeking to destroy the PDP so that it can push through Buhari’s second tenure in 2019 without opposition from the PDP.




"This has also confirmed our concern that this is the reason the Federal Government is persecuting, and not prosecuting, Col. Sambo Dasuki. The APC and its leaders fear that Dasuki, given his vast political and security network, may be harbouring a presidential ambition, more so that the PDP has zoned its presidential ticket to the north."





In his remarks to the statement, Fani-Kayode expressed his opinion on his Facebook timeline saying: "Woe to those who worship men and false gods and who bow before Baal, the Lord of the Flies. Meanwhile President Buhari and his government should please take note of the following: Sheik Ibrahim El Zakzaky, Colonel Sambo Dasuki and Mr. Nnamdi Kanu must NOT be beaten, tortured, poisoned or murdered whilst they are in your custody or else all hell will break loose."



http://dawntodusknews.com/fani-kayode-dares-president-buhari/

Photo News:


Rap star Eva Alordiah may be walking down the aisle soon as she is now engaged. While performing on stage with Victoria Kimani at the just-held Headies awards, Eva's boyfriend Ceaser came on stage and proposed to her.The shocked Eva accepted the proposal and this was followed with a kiss on stage.



http://dawntodusknews.com/eva-alordiahs-boyfriend-proposes-to-her-during-headies-performance/

Phyno: Jst woke up 2 dis bullshit!!!! Lyk wtf? Reason why I can't even take some things serious anymore!!! Facts only.. Who made more impact ?



https://mobile.twitter.com/phynofino/status/683135389952028672?p=v

The 2015 Headies Awards may have come and gone but it will go down as an unforgettable one following a major fallout between music stars Don Jazzy and Olamide over who deserved to win The Next Rated Artiste. Mavin Crew artiste Reekado Banks won the award. Shortly after receiving the award, Olamide collected the microphone and said it belonged to Lil Kesh. Olamide's statement was subtly directed at the organizers but Don Jazzy's remarks "Egbon Olamide, if you want the car come and collect it. God bless you” infuriated the Shoki crooner who took to Twitter ranting about the latter's words.


Below are Olamide's series of 'unedited' tweets:



"I went through all ds ish when I was hustlin like Kesh .... But mehn no one to fight for me .. I had to do that for the poor boy ..Even me , I ddnt have the grace to have every single back to back in number one spot .. Biko leave trash for lawma .Bleep u don jazzy ....... Bleep ur whole generation I am not d banj ... God will punish u and ur fake ass ... Bastard omo ale forming humble. After u done ruin d'banj with packaging na d same u de come de form humble on social media . I called to strike a deal with Dija. And fucking gave her Manager to call me Bleep nigga .. Don't come to d mainland .. Honestly .. Bleep u !!!!!!!!!!!!! I am fucking mainland.Mother fucker d'banj senior de call u don .. After all u still come twitter diss d guy cause u guys .. Had issues .. All d fucking fake.I did not mention father's name on d stage don't fucking mention my name Bleep boy . Don't try all ds shit with me . God punish elder wey de fucking call me out when I no call him name . Bastard !


"Don jazzy is human ... Not God I only aired my opinion .. Don't mention my name ... Biko ..I mean bastard .. Lol u even tried to Bleep waned up .. A boy brought up .. Luv publicity stunt so much u should strike a deal with IG . U de chance ur boys .. Dem de call u baba .. My niggas call me brother !!!!! Don't fulcking call names .. I can't do that to anybody .. What sort of rubbish is that ? He said if I want car I should come n take it seriously ? Do i look like ur maids ? Ppl wey de produce for u wey u de put ur name ? Bleep boy. Respect is reciprocal... Bleep u don jazzy .. I mentioned my name .. I'll fucking mention ur name fucking for being childish oloshi. He even famzed vico for publicity..U respect me .. I respect u disrespect me I disrespect u .. U still going to do d same tin to reekado when he leaves ur a lebel . Lol"





"He's not a don he's dumb RT @That_IjebuBadoo: But Don Jazzy shouldn't have called Olamide out. If him na true down he should have claimed that stage and let's street it up.Why elder go de do like pikin .. Why we fucking love and respect u .It's all gone now. U crave attention so bad !! Cool with every on ur team but na u be Don Bleep everything up ruin every relationship . Balu !All in d name of unity ... When I get the act of the year award ... I am giving it to Phyno for not being nominated at all .. I respect him. Good night .. I no de beef anybody .. But we be animal around here .. Don't ducking pull a publicity stunt on my team. Ema lor wa o !!! ... Lol I be full street .. God pass money oh young John get hits pass u oh".




http://dawntodusknews.com/full-tweets-olamide-to-don-jazzy-you-are-dumb-Bleep-you/

Following a directive from the Oyo State Government that all high chiefs wanting to be promoted and installed by the Olubadan of Ibadan should surrender themselves to security check and submit a medical report, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, has installed nine chiefs to fill the vacancies in the Olubadan-in-Council. Oba Odulana installed Chief Saliu A.O. Adetunji as the new Balogun of Ibadanland, Chief Lekan Balogun as the Otun Olubadan, Chief Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin as Otun Balogun, Chief Senator Rasidi Ladoja as Osi Olubadan and Chief Dr Olufemi Olaifa as Osi Balogun of Ibadanland.




Others are Chief Sir Eddy Oyewole who was elevated from the position of the Ekerin Olubadan to the rank of the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Abimbola as Ashipa Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Kola Daisi as the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland and High Chief Solomon A. Adabale as the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland.‎ The newly-promoted chiefs were elevated by one rank following the vacancies created by the death of the former Balogun Olubadan of Ibadan and Otun Olubadan, Chief Sulaimon Adegboyega Omiyale and Chief Omowale Kuye respectively in November 2015.



http://dawntodusknews.com/olubadan-of-ibadan-promotes-rasheed-ladoja-kola-daisi-7-others/

Photo News:


Earlier today, President Buhari met with members of the Women in Politics Forum(WIPF) in Abuja. The members met with Mr.President to brief him on their activities. The forum also engaged Mr.President on burning national issues as it concerns Nigerian women. At the meeting were the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Hon. Khadija Ibrahim; All Progressive Congress (APC) national women leader, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor; amongst others.



http://dawntodusknews.com/photos-president-buhari-meets-with-women-in-politics/

Music star Davido has apologized to his many fans on social media and the Publisher of Ovation Magazine Bashorun Dele Momodu. This is following the bashing he received on social media for reportedly abducting his daughter from his baby mama Sophia Momodu, a niece to Bashorun Dele Momodu. According to Davido's tweets, " Love to my supporters And to those bashing me THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT !Even if I don't keep her she will grow up and know I fought for her..All these lies being put on me ... no be today ... I have so much to say but in respect for my daughter I will keep quiet .. I apologize. Mr. Dele Momodu I apologize but you didn't have to ..."



http://dawntodusknews.com/davido-apologizes-over-his-statements-about-his-baby-mama/

By LEKE ADEBOYE


1. Everyone and everything requires their own time. Even me time is needed.
2. If you don't have haters it simply means you are not very good at what you do.
3. It's at Christmas you can give someone or people any gift you like without explaining. So that family or friend that as bad breath and you give them a carton of mouthwash. It's okay it's chrsitmas.
4. Married life is different from single life, you will not be able to keep all the same friends. Just like any large company mergers some people will just have to go.
5. Are you the 80% or the all important 20%
6. The amount of knowledge you will gain by just travelling alone is more than that of a lifetime in a class room.
7. It is he same Sun and Moon. No matter the county, culture, food, people or wealth.
8. Be content within your self and your space. Then no one can influence you or entice you with nothing.
9. Without the Old School the new won't be. And there is always something the Old school hasn't told you that will change and impact your life for the better. Humble yourself, old age equals wisdom. Youth equals strength. Wisdom is better than strength.
10. Every choice has a consequence. Good or bad depends on which choice you make.
11. At the end of the day, really all you have is your family. Love them or hate them. You need them.
12. Male or female. A child is a child. One is an investment that will pay off and the other will just continue your blood line.
13. The difference between the poor and the rich is that someone decided to be that difference.
14. I only get attracted to broken people because God wants to use them to fix myself, while fixing them through me.
15. While getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional.
16. I won't say what I can't defend and I won't defend what I can't say.
17. Every man is a potential leader but not every leader needs to be a man. Forget potential make yourself essential.
18. We came from nothing to something then to everything and now contentment with all things. End result is peace.



http://dawntodusknews.com/what-god-taught-me-in-2015-pastor-enoch-adeboyes-son-leke/

By KIKELOMO IWAJOMO




Former Kwara Central senator, Gbemisola Saraki is the founder of Gbemisola Rukayat Saraki (GRS) Foundation. As part of the foundation's mission, Senator Gbemisola Saraki has over the years sponsored a lot of philanthropic initiatives. On the 46 students who have just been sponsored by the Gbemisola Rukayat Saraki (GRS) Foundation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki disclosed on her Facebook timeline that: "They have been given academic scholarship by my foundation, The GRS Foundation, to pursue their 3 year NCE programme at the Bauchi State Institute of Education in Kangere, Bauchi State. They are en route to their new school, where apart from coming back home with their academic qualifications, I hope they would have also learnt a lot from schooling outside of their hometown, their own State with all the benefits gained from doing so." The 46 students, who hail from Kwara State, have since arrived Bauchi State.






http://dawntodusknews.com/senator-bukola-sarakis-sister-sponsors-46-students-for-higher-education/

Following the ongoing brouhaha between music star Davido and his baby mama Miss Sophia Momodu who is accusing the former of her daughter's abduction, showbiz star Don Jazzy is one of the celebs who have subtly commented on this. One of Don Jazzy's Twitter followers had tweeted at him that: "Who will come and get me pregnant and be paying 300k per month? Don jazzy how far?". In his response, Don Jazzy said: "I don’t have ses(sex) ma". He further tweeted: "Na to use 17 condoms still pull out o."



Miss Sophia Ajibola Momodu petitioned the Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons accusing Davido of “attempted child trafficking and abduction of Miss Aurora Imade Adeleke”. According to the petition also sent to the President, Vice President, Lagos State governor, the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS and the Managing Director of FAAN, Sophia Ajibola Momodu claims she was tricked to visit the house of Mr. David Adedeji Adeleke’s half sister – Miss Ashley Coco Adeleke’s with her baby, Imade Aurora Adeleke on July 11, 2015.



“After getting to the house on Baderinwa Alabi Street, Lekki Phase I, Lagos, our client’s baby was forcefully taken from her and she was thrown out of the premises with the threat that she would be decisively dealt with if she ever bothered to return there. There were armed policemen in the premises and our client’s survival instinct prevailed on her to make her leave her breast suckling baby behind, with so much pain in her heart,” the petition states in part. On 29th December, Ms Sophia said with the help of her family members, including Mr Dele Momodu, Miss Ashley Coco Adeleke and her father, Mr Deji Adeleke, were stopped by the immigration from taking her baby Aurora Imade Adeleke out of Lagos.



http://dawntodusknews.com/don-jazzy-on-davido-saga-na-to-use-17-condoms-still-pull-out-o/

President Muhammadu Buhari has in his first media chat revealed his plans on fighting corruption, Boko Haram and other issues. Below are excerpts of his chat on Thursday which had on the panel Kayode Akintemi, Channels TV; Dr. Ngozi Anyaegbulam, Media World International; Munir Dan Ali, Daily Trust and Ibanga Isine, Premium Times.



SELECTION OF MINISTERS
“I don’t think I tolerate corruption, I don’t think I picked anybody that I know will embarrass my government. But if you have any evidence about any of my ministers, I accept responsibility for the 36 ministers that I have. I don’t think I took anybody among the ministers who has got a case in court. Tell me one out of the 36. I don’t think I will deliberately make that mistake.”





CHIBOK GIRLS
“We are still keeping our options open. If a credible leadership of Boko Haram can be established and they tell us where those girls are, we are prepared to negotiate with them without any pre-condition. This we have made absolutely clear. But while they are keeping the Chibok girls, they must not get away with the idea that we will not attempt to secure the rest of Nigeria.



“We have no firm intelligence on where they are physically and what condition they are in. But what we believe from our intelligence, they keep taking the girls around, they are not keeping all the girls in one place, we don’t know how many divisions they made of them and where they are.



SHEIKH EL-ZAKZAKY
“I expect the Kaduna State Government to set up a judicial inquiry because it happened in Kaduna, in one of the cities and it has been there for the last twenty years from what I have been reading from papers. They will occupy a federal highway, sometimes from Kano to Kaduna. This is what I heard.



“We have a system of investigation, the military that was involved too have a tradition of investigation and I am the head of the federal government, I have to wait for the official report before I can come out as head of the federal government and make a statement. So I am allowing the Army and the Kaduna State government to submit their report of inquiry. Meanwhile it does not mean that the police, the SSS and other directorate involved are not doing their own part of constitutional role.



“Unfortunately it is very serious. How can any group proclaim statehood in a state? I don’t want to speak about it in details now, I better leave it still after the report of the inquiry but there are a number of clips I saw, where some excited teenagers were visually hitting the chest of a general, mounting road blocks and threatening them with missiles.



STOLEN MONEY RECOVERED
“Money has been recovered but whatever we recover, has to end up in court because I feel personally that Nigerians are entitled to know the truth and the truth will be what the court has discovered by the submission made to them in terms of documentation and the documentation includes the bank statement of where our money was lodged, when it was lodged and how much. Whether it is petrol from NNPC or Customs and Excise or money directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria.”



N5,000 STIPEND
“When my VP was quoted, how can I come here and disown it? First, I believe in getting facts, how many are involved? How are we going to do it? Is it state by state or geo-political zone by geo-political zone? In trying to get the bottom of the problem, a lot of work has to be done and if it is undertaken, we have to look at it very well.”



SAMBO DASUKI
“Technically, if you see the kind of atrocities those people committed, if they jump bail? I am sorry to say this publicly…the former president just wrote to the governor of the CBN and said give N40 billion to someone while you have two million Internally Displaced Persons, what kind of country do you want to run?




BIAFRA, NNAMDI KANU
“The one you called Kanu, do you know he has two passports? One Nigerian, one British and he came to this country without using any passport? Do you know that he brought sophisticated equipment into this country and started broadcasting for Radio Biafra? There is a treasonable charge against him and I hope the court will listen to the case.



“They say they are marginalised but they have not defined the extent of marginalisation. Who is marginalising them? Where? Do you know? Choosing a minister is not a matter of ethnicity, it is a matter of the constitution. I am limited by what the constitution says that there must be a member of the executive council from each state. There is a lot of partisan politics in it. Who is the Minister of State for Petroleum? Is he not an Igbo? Who is the governor of the CBN? Is he not an Igbo? Who is the Minister of Labour? Who is the Minister of Science and Technology? What do they want? I stood elections and I won, I am limited by the constitution, I have a member of every state in the Federal Executive Council and I have to listen to them when I sit as chairman. That is the limit the constitution gave me”.



http://dawntodusknews.com/buhari-goodluck-jonathan-40-billion/

A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Haliru Mohammed Bello, and his son, Abbah, are to face charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for reportedly collecting N600 million from the embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki(retd.). The anti-graft agency claims the money might have been diverted from the public treasury for political purposes. To this end, EFCC has approached an Abuja Federal judge to press charges against the father and son who are likely to be docked on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.




http://dawntodusknews.com/arms-scandal-former-pdp-chairman-son-in-efcc-net-over-n600million/

By Garba Shehu, SSAP (Media and Publicity)





As the war on corruption heightens, the political battle-line between the governing All Progressives Congress, APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has sharply been drawn.





While leaders from both parties voice out their support for the clean-up of the country by ridding it of corruption, the National Working Committee of the PDP seems clearly to be working contrary to the anti-corruption rhetoric of their Board of Trustees. Their public communication organs have, in particular, become increasingly combative against the exercise. All that the President, leading the APC change orchestra is trying to do is to revamp a moribund nation with growth, jobs and recovered looted funds. Sadly, only a few, if any in Wadata House are treating the war against corruption as the extra-ordinary event which it is. Instead, when they speak up, they do so most ardently against it.



In a clear demonstration of abstructist politics, they challenge the government in every move it makes, but fail to spell out alternative roadmaps to curbing the monstrous corruption that threatens to consume the country; they rush to condemn and dramatize even the smallest of measures which, given time and patience will manifest through positive outcomes.





Doing this gives the PDP the illusion of being an effective opposition party but taken in the context of national interest and the mood of the nation, it is doubtful it it is yielding anything beyond limited political returns. To most Nigerians, the cacophonous opposition is just a media spectacle to distract or mellow the President.





After an historic loss in an election to the opposition for the first time in the annals of this country’s political history, PDP has not looked inwards in any serious way to seek its revival. The first and major leap at reform ended disastrously when first, the party establishment rejected a well-timed apology tendered on its behalf for their past failures. Then, the leader of the reform movement got himself mired in allegations leading to court charges of the theft of billions of Naira voted for weapons purchase to fight terror in the North East. Chief Raymond Dokpesi's trial ( and Col. Dasuki's) is no doubt a serious blow to any prospects of a turn-around in the PDP.





The party did not seek democratize their internal organization, a major reason for their implosion leading to the loss of the election or began thinking innovatively about the challenges of modern day Nigeria, nor have they got a "Plan B" that is inviting to the voters.





It is this failure to reckon with, or look at the real issues confronting the party and the nation that led to their call for an investigation of President Buhari for having been supplied two jeeps by the erstwhile Jonathan administration after the personal bullet-proof jeep he owned was bombed by yet unknown assailants.





As the Special Adviser to the President, Femi Adesina said, issuance of the cars,soon after this incident was merely a face-saving move, intended to cover the government's failure to keep its duty to this particular former leader. The law, cited as the Remuneration of Former Presidents and Heads of State (and other Ancillary Matters), entitles former Nigerian Presidents including General Muhammadu Buhari to “three vehicles to be bought by the Federal Government and liable to be replaced every four years”.





Cars are just a few in a litany of entitlements written in that law although it is contestable to say that General Buhari had been given his due entitlements by successive administrations as provided thereunder. Regime after regime treated him as if he was not a former Head of State.





General Abacha came on the saddle and wanted to throw everything at Buhari who, knowing his very nature declined virtually but his military pension. The military in particular treated him so badly that its leaders kept silent when the PDP charged that he didn't have WAEC papers. One shameless Army Records officer said that the former Head of State had no records at all under their system. General Buhari went without a full compliment of armed guards from the army he served at the highest level until the dastardly bomb attack on his convoy in April 2014. It was at this time that the Chief of Army Staff at that time thought it necessary to reinstate the armed convoy to protect him.





When they brought the two cars within a few days of his being bombed, the staff of the General were merely informed that this was from the Federal Government in fulfillment of its obligation to him. Since this was an entitlement long-overdue, not minding that it came short of what was expected, there was absolutely nothing wrong on the part of the General for accepting that which was due to him.





This hashtag “#Buharigate” was intended as a counterpoise to "Dasukigate," the phenomenal corruption scheme by which money intended for weapons to fight terror was shared among PDP leaders. It was a fake intervention and a malicious propaganda against the president, obviously intended to detract from his enormously huge reputational capital, the basis on which the APC nation-wide victory was founded.





The #Buharigate failed to gain traction because was seen as an opposition overreach and a desperate attempt to tarnish his hard-earned name and nothing more. No serious blogger therefore paid a serious attention to it.





This baseless allegation that the President had benefitted from the diversion of money intended to fight insurgency under the former National Security Adviser equally underlines the cruel nature of today’s politics, that even the best personal examples cannot keep a leader from the tar brush of the opponent.





Apart from seeking to mellow the President, I suspect that the opposition had thought these attacks would revive the collapsed fortunes of the PDP while at the same time projecting their leaders as victims of persecution in the hands of the APC administration.





What however is encouraging in the country today is that Nigerians have thrown their full weight behind the war on corruption. This itself is an account the constructive nature of the government’s engagement against the vice and the determination with which it is being fought. Adding impetus and flavor is the frustration at the routionisation of corruption by the last administration and their inadequate and impotent efforts to curb and punish high-profile offenders.



My concluding arugment is that President Buhari’s election and war against terrorism and corruption have become a template. In Niger, Chad and Ghana where there will be elections next year, opposition candidates are parading themselves as the “Buhari” of their own country.





President Buhari must have himself been embarrassed by calls, through newspaper articles, posters and banners in the course of his visits to these friendly countries, saying “we want Buhari type elections; we will wage Buhari-type anti-corruption war”. One Chadian political party published an advertorial asking their government to procure and issue permanent voters cards as well as the use of card readers in the coming election and if the funds were not available, “let us borrow from Nigeria” for the coming elections.





President Buhari was and is far, far away from, and remains untouched by the “Dasukigate”. “#Buharigate” is therefore a fraud and an unbecoming spectacle designed to tarnish the illustrious record of the President so as to mellow his anti-corruption drive. It failed because it was born out of desperation to gain sympathy by an opposition that can’t heal itself unless it comes to terms with the danger of corruption they thrived in, and the party's internal structures are overhauled and remade to meet the minimum requirements of a democratic organization.



Editor's Note: This article was titled "‪#‎BUHARIGATE‬ " AS THE LIMIT OF OBSTRUCTIONIST POLITICS" by the writer





http://dawntodusknews.com/president-buharis-aide-blasts-pdp/

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has floated an official travel agency to cater for the travel needs of its members as well as groups within and outside the church. The agency, Victory Travels and Tours, recently launched her Internet Booking Engine (IBE) called 9aijatravel.com which will enable members worldwide enjoy discounted booking engine to book flights, hotels and cars from the comfort of their homes whenever they are going on vacation or on a spiritual voyage.





Unveiling the IBE in Lagos, the chief executive officer of Victory Travels and Tours, Mrs. Tolu Abiola-Lawal said: “The travel industry has undergone change over the years. This revolution is what has given birth to the design of a booking engine. As the official travel agency for the Redeemed Christian Church of God, we have unveiled this travel portal to cater for the needs of our over 10 million members. This is because we need a platform to assist in saving money for the church on travels. This has also become important because we do a lot of travels that border on education, missionary work, medical needs, sports and other issues."




http://dawntodusknews.com/redeemed-churchrccg-floats-official-travel-agency/

By JUMI RHODES




Barring any last-minute changes, the Nigerien government will be transfering hundreds of prisoners from the militant Islamist group Boko Haram back to Nigeria to reduce pressure on its crowded prisons, the country's judicial sources told Reuters on Tuesday. Recall the President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou had declared a state of emergency in the country in an effort to improve security and has made hundreds of arrests. An anonymous Nigerien magistrate working on the case told Reuters that,"Nigeria sent a working group here (to Niger) last week and the two sides have established an initial list of 500 detainees who will soon be transferred to Nigeria." The prisoners are currently being held in the detention centres of Kollo, Diffa and Koutoukale in Niger.



http://dawntodusknews.com/500-boko-haram-prisoners-to-return-to-nigeria/

By JUMI RHODES


Photo News:



Nigeria's Minister of Environment, Hajia Amina J. Mohammed was the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning before her appointment as minister. An indigene of Gombe State, she was previously Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on the Millennium Development Goals after serving three Presidents over a period of six years. There is no doubt beauty and brains is genetic in the Mohammed family. Not many know that Yasmin Prest is Hajia Amina J. Mohammed's sister. 52-year-old Yasmin is a mother of 4 and is resident in the United Kingdom.



http://dawntodusknews.com/pic-meet-minister-of-environment-amina-mohammeds-beautiful-sister/

By JUMI RHODES


Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, the running mate to late Prince Abubakar Audu in the Kogi State governorship election, represents Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Following the fallout which made him reject being Yahaya Bello's running mate in the guber election which saw his party(APC) win the supplementary, Faleke has now returned to the House of Representatives. Stepping into the chamber yesterday, Faleke was cheered with loud ovation from his co-lawmakers and he had a tete-a-tete with the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara before proceeding to his seat in the chambers.


http://dawntodusknews.com/kogi-2015-apcs-james-faleke-returns-to-nass-as-lagos-lawmaker/