For the first time in decades, Sudan is to allow non-Muslims drink alcohol. The country has also scrapped laws that had made leaving Islam potentially punishable by death, the justice minister said.
The raft of amendments comes a year after Islamist dictator Omar al-Bashir was toppled following mass protests against his three-decade rule.
Sudan now “allows non-Muslims to consume alcohol on the condition it doesn’t disturb the peace and they don’t do so in public,” Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari said in an interview Saturday evening on state television.
While Islamic tradition forbids the faithful from drinking, Muslim-majority Sudan has a significant Christian minority.
Abdulbari, part of a transitional government that took power after Bashir’s ouster, also announced that converting from Islam to another religion would be decriminalised.
“No one has the right to accuse any person or group of being an infidel… this threatens the safety and security of society and leads to revenge killings,” he said.
Many Muslim-majority countries apply Islamic laws making leaving the faith punishable by death.
Bashir, who had enforced such rules after coming to power in an Islamist-backed 1989 coup, was toppled by the army following mass protests over the country’s worsening economic crisis.
Human rights groups regularly condemned the toppled autocrat’s treatment of non-Muslims especially the Christian minority.
Copts, Catholics, Anglicans and a number of other denominations are present in the country but Bashir’s Islamist regime had driven many of them underground.
In 2014 a Sudanese woman was sentenced to death for converting from Islam to Christianity, triggering an international outcry.
Her conviction was later quashed after a global campaign to free her, and she escaped to the United States.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has restated that its recruitment exercise is free of charge and warned applicants against the activities of fraudsters promising employment for a fee.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola while noting that the service is making efforts to apprehend the fraudsters smeering the image of the Force, urged applicants to report such activities to the nearest NAF unit or Police station.
“ Information reaching the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) indicates that some unscrupulous individuals have established fraudulent Facebook and WhatsApp groups with the objective of extorting money from unsuspecting applicants/candidates under the false impression that they can guarantee them eventual recruitment into the Service in the 2020 NAF Trades/Non-Trades Men and Women Recruitment Exercise.
“The NAF wishes to reiterate that the entire NAF Recruitment process is completely FREE OF CHARGE and executed in an equitable and transparent manner.
“Interested applicants, who meet the requirements published in the 10 July 2020 editions of the Nation and Daily Trust Newspapers as well as on all NAF official social media handles, are to apply online at the NAF official website, www.airforce.mil.ng, from 24 July 2020 to 21 August 2020. Applicants are NOT required to pay money to anyone for any purpose throughout the process,” he said
He therefore warned the general public especially applicants, not to join any such WhatsApp, Facebook or indeed any other social media groups and have no dealings with anyone demanding money as a guarantee for recruitment into the Service,
He said “no applicant is required to make any payments to any individuals or bank accounts at any point during the recruitment process.
“The NAF, while taking action to apprehend the perpetrators of such illegal activities, wishes to advise applicants who are solicited to make any payments to promptly report such to the nearest NAF Unit, Nigeria Police Post/Office.

Iran's Human Rights Organization (IHR) announced on Thursday, July 9, that authorities have executed a prisoner in Mashhad Central Prison for "drinking alcohol."
Citing the prisoner's attorney, the Norway-based IHR confirmed that the man was hanged early Thursday, without giving his name. Some Iranian activities on social media said his name was Morteza Jamali and he had two children.
"My client was arrested and convicted of drinking alcohol for the sixth time. Of course, there was also the issue of driving without a license and having alcohol," Hossein Habibi Shahri told IHR.
The Islamic Republic official sources have not yet confirmed or denied the news. Drinking alcohol is a crime in the clergy-dominated Iran, but executions for use of alcohol are rare. Iran is notorious for hanging drug smugglers, murderers and some political prisoners.
The execution has led to a strong backlash on Iranian social media as many users say that large corruption cases and extrajudicial killings of protesters go unpunished or end in light sentences while drinking brings the death penalty.
IHR director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, said, "With this execution, the Islamic Republic's judicial system has once again proven that its views are no different from those of ISIS."
Based on the Islamic Penal Code a defendant can face the death penalty after being arrested and punished three times for alcohol consumption. The initial punishment for drinking is usually flogging.
"This is one of the few recorded executions for drinking alcohol in Iran. Due to the lack of transparency in the Islamic Republic's judiciary, most executions in Iran are not declared officially by the authorities," IHR statement said on Thursday.

The federal government has commenced preparation of its 2021 budget, as the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning has received anticipated personnel costs for next year, from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs. This followed the Personnel Cost Budget Call Circular issued in April by the Minister, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, which gave all MDAs a June deadline within which to submit their personnel budgets to the ministry.
The circular was addressed to the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice President; Minister/Ministers of State; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Head of Service of the Federation; Chairmen of Commissions; Permanent Secretaries; Chiefs of Staff/Inspector General of Police; Auditor-General of the Federation; Accountant-General of the Federation; Heads of Extra- Ministerial Departments/Directors-General/Chief Executive Officers of parastatals and agencies.
The minister said the circular was issued to provide special instructions and guidance to ministers, heads of extra-ministerial departments and ministries accounting officers charged with the responsibility of preparation and submission of personnel budgets of their respective MDAs.
The circular stated: “It is important to commence the process of preparing the 2021 Personnel Cost Budget, she said, adding that it was, “to enable a diligent exercise which will ensure adequate budgetary provisions for MDAs personnel costs, as well as, submission of the 2021 Budget Proposal to the National Assembly by September 2020.”
Ahmed warned, however, that no personnel cost would be made for any FG staff not captured in the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in 2021 and that any unauthorized payment from personnel cost would attract sanctions.

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party National Campaign Council for the Edo State Governorship Election, Governor Nyesom Wike, has said his Kano State counterpart, Abdullahi Ganduje, is the one who deserves to be isolated, not him.
He said this during the inauguration of the PDP campaign council in Abuja on Tuesday.
Wike said neither he nor the PDP could be intimidated by threats coming from the All Progressives Congress over the Edo Governorship election.
Ganduje, during a media briefing in Abuja, on Monday said, “We know the PDP made Wike their (campaign council) chairman. I assure you; we will isolate Wike in an isolation centre and before he recovers, the election is over.”
Wike said, “Nobody can intimidate us in this election. Yesterday, I was told and today I read on the pages of newspapers that one Governor Ganduje said that he is going to isolate me until the election is over. If Nigeria is supposed to be a country, who is supposed to be isolated?
“A man who pockets dollars in babanriga (flowing gown) from contractors is not isolated and you say that me should be isolated. In this country, where are we heading to?
“Let me tell you why they (APC) made Ganduje the chairman of the campaign council; it is because of the dollars they saw. But for dollars, Ganduje could not have been made the chairman of the campaign council.
“But what he doesn’t understand is that we are from the Niger Delta; we shall chop his dollar and we will chop him to a coma. So, Ganduje, your dollar will not work in Edo State, we have integrity in our party.”
The Rivers State governor on behalf of members of the council promised to ensure victory for the PDP in the Edo election.
Earlier, in his address, the National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus asked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led regime to save the nation’s democracy by ensuring that the votes of the people counted not only in Edo State, but across states where elections would be held going forward.
He said, “We recall that it’s in Edo State that President Goodluck Jonathan was in a ruling party when Comrade Adams Oshiomhole won election twice as a member of the opposition because of the transparency of the time.
“Today, as we go into this election in the same Edo, the situation in our country is different not just because of the global COVID-19 pandemic that has changed the World order, but more due to the prevailing uncertainties in our land.”
He said Nigerians were living in fear because of “senseless killings and the misuse of security forces to manipulate the electoral process.”

Popular Nigeria Figures that have been Charged and Arrested for Fraud Abroad
"Not all that glitter is gold"
People most times get fascinated by the lifestyle of wealthy individuals. These individuals who has the most expensive things quickly gets the adoration of many. However, behind the scene of some of these so called wealthy people is an unethical source of money.
This is the case of popular individuals in this write up. They have been arrested and charged abroad for fraud committed.
1. Ramon Olorunwa Abass- better known as Hushpuppi, was arrested by Dubai Police on June 10,2020. The 38-year-old was referred to the Dubai public prosecution and He had arrived in the United States recently to face criminal charges alleging he conspired to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from business email compromise (BEC) frauds and other scams.
2. Lola Margaret (born Lola Margaret Oladipupo) is a Nigerian actress, film producer and director. She was interrogated in 2017 in the hands of the police in Atlanta, Georgia. This is said to be linked to money laundering.She was reportedly arrested after a huge sum of money was wired into her account and the collection method failed. She has since been released and deported back to Nigeria and considering the gravity of her actions.
3. Babalola Falemi(Sauce Kid) aka SINZU is a Nigerian rapper. In 2017 he was arrested and bagged a 2 year jail sentence for stealing $15,388 using stolen credit card numbers in Boise and Meridian. He has since been released after 2 years behind bars.
4. Obinwanne Okeke, Invictus Group CEO, who is popularly known as Invictus Obi, was arrested for conspiracy to commit fraud of over $12million at the Dulles International Airport, while leaving the United States in August 2019.

South Africa government has announced the further reopening of schools in line with its phased-in reopening strategy amid an upsurge in confirmed COVID-19 cases.
According to Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, in a statement, schools would reopen for Grades R, 6 and 11 learners from July 6,
Motshekga added that provinces that were not ready to receive Grade R on July 6 must provide strategic and realisable plans for ensuring the reincorporation of Grade R learners to schools within, but not later than the end of July 2020.
She, however, said that the provinces that were ready to receive Grade R learners on July 6 could proceed to receive those learners.

On June 8, South Africa reopened schools for Grade 7 and Grade 12 learners in its first phase of school reopening.
Since then, 2,740 teachers have been infected by the virus, less than one percent of the total number of about 440,000 teachers in the country, according to the minister.
In the same period, 1,260 learners were also infected by the virus, translating to 0.01 per cent of the total number of Grade 7 and Grade 12 learners, she said.
Meanwhile, 968 schools out of the total number of 25,762 schools were closed due to transmissions among teachers and learners, Motshekga said.
Eleven teachers and four non-teaching staff members died of COVID-19, while three learners were reported to have succumbed to the virus, she said.
“All of us must simply follow the health, safety and social distancing protocols on COVID-19.”
If we fail to do so, the road ahead will be difficult for all of us,” Motshekga said, apparently responding to concerns over further reopening of schools.

The Nigerian police, Area B command has confirmed the arrest of five suspected fraudsters otherwise known as ‘419.’
According to police report, the suspects where arrested at their hide-out after their disappearance charms to evade arrest failed.
The suspects were identified as Olasupo Olasehinde, 52; Abayomi Omoleye, 51; Unde Olaore, 56; Folajimi Akinnawo 45 years old and Abiodun Adedayo, 48.

One of them was said to have chanted some incantations on the disappearance substance after the police raided their hideout but they remained on the same spot until the police apprehended them.
Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, CP Hakeem Odumosu, disclosed that two more victims: Balikis Fasasi and Taiwo Salami, two women, were rescued from the fraudsters’ custody.
He said, “one old briefcase containing counterfeit United States Dollars arranged in bundles of cut to size paper with fake dollars on top and beneath each bundle, and charms were recovered.
“Three operational vehicles used to perpetrate the crime were also recovered. They include a Toyota Camry with Registration number AGI – 916 – FU; a Red Volkswagen Golf with Registration number JJJ – 890 – DD and an Old model Toyota Camry with Registration number MUS- 925-FQ.
“The sum of N150,000 cash was also recovered from the suspects”.
One of them, Folajimi, said “There is division of labour in the business. My job is to stand outside, looking for those who go to get victims. Immediately I sight my colleagues coming with a victim, I would signal one of us inside.
“Three persons go out to get a mugu (victim). One of them would tell the victim to help him get a herbalist, Pastor, or alfa that would nullify the potency of the tira (charm) on the foreign currency with him.
“He would promise to pay the victim for any service rendered. If the victim agrees, another partner who posed as a passenger would pretend to be interested in the business and would suggest they go to a known Alfa or Pastor, depending on the victim’s faith.
“By the time they get to our office, the supposed herbalist would request between N150,000 and N500,000, depending on the perceived financial status of the victim.
By then the victim would have been hypnotised. When he/she brings the money, we would give him or her some dollars, unknown to him that they are fake. By the time he comes back, we would have moved from the place.
“I make between N10,000 and N15,000 at the end of any transaction. People fall victim because they are greedy”.
The suspects according to Odumosu, would be charged to court”, Odumosu.

The Edo Government says it has not authorized the reopening of schools in the state for the third term academic activities.
The State Commissioner For Education, Mr. Jimoh Ijegbai, Made The Clarification In A Statement Made Available To The News Agency Of Nigeria (NAN) On Friday In Benin.
Ijegbai said the government did not authorize the reopening of schools whether public or private, including certificate classes, and warned that it would sanction any school that flouted its directive on this.
He said:
“It has come to the attention of the Edo State Government that some schools in the state have reopened and some are planning to reopen for the third term academic session.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the state government has not authorised schools whether public or private, even the certificate classes to reopen under the present circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A date of resumption will be communicated to all stakeholders after modalities have been put in place to ensure the safety of our children and wards.”
The commissioner urged school proprietors in the state to be guided by the state government’s directive on this.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reacted to a video of a Cameroonian medical doctor Kameni Pierre, claiming to have been healed of Coronavirus by Prophet TB Joshua via his church channel, Emmanuel TV.
The gynecologist and obstetrician who claimed to have suffered Coronavirus, said he received his healing after he called in for prayers during an interactive programme on Emmanuel TV from the isolation center he was placed in.
According to Pierre, he displayed his result and ‘vomited out’ the disease while receiving prayers from the Nigerian Pastor.

WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus who was questioned about the healing by Cameroonian journalist Simon Ateba during an interactive media session, said faith and science should “go together”.

Ghebreyesus said:-
“We know many religious leaders who would really advise their followers to follow their faith and at the same time use science. The two do not contradict; they go together… We will call on all religious leaders to be in this fight and save lives.”
WHO Executive Director of Health Emergencies, Dr Michael Ryan on his own part expressed readiness of the international health agency to collaborate with bodies like The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) to advance the fight against Coronavirus.
He said:-
“Certainly, spiritual leadership is very important in a time like this.”

The Cross River Government has insisted that it has no COVID-19 case, saying that it has nothing to gain by hiding cases of infections in the state.
Gov. Ben Ayade Made This Disclosure While Briefing With Journalists And Members Of The State COVID-19 Response Team At The Government House, Calabar On Thursday.

“If you have the virus and pretend not to have it, you will only have mass deaths in your state,” he said.
He lauded the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for insisting that only Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test can confirm a positive case of COVID-19 in spite of pressures from different quarters.
“As a state, we were the first to lockdown our boundaries. Records have it that Cross River is the only state that invested over 100 vehicles for effective manning of its boundaries and we even went beyond that by producing facemasks, shields and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
“So for some people to doubt the credibility of our COVID-19 free status is to imply that all the efforts of the state were not noticed.
“At this point, the state has been handed over to the Federal Government; all our boundaries are now opened, following the lifting of the ban on inter-state movement by the federal government.
“Residents of the state must know that we no longer have control over our boundaries, we have surrendered to the supremacy of the federal government and opened our boundaries,” Ayade said.
He added:

”Cross River that is COVID-19 free will now have an avalanche of cases, I see it coming, therefore, with this message, it means our response team would be back on the road because as long as our boundaries are opened, our eyes will be open.
“So, as a resident of the state, if you think by easing lockdown, you are now safer, no, now you are more in danger, this is the time for you to commence a personal lockdown.”

Ayade, however, thanked the Federal Ministry of Health and NCDC for being a great example, playing a professional and technical role and given a world class response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
Dr Betta Edu, Chairman of the state COVID-19 Response Team, thanked all the government appointees who came all out and helped in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
Edu also commended officials of the state Garment factory who were exceptional in the production of facemasks, shields and Personal Protective Equipments (PPE).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor also gave a cash donation of N30 million to the state COVID-19 Response Team in appreciation of its efforts in the fight against the virus in the state.

Saraki said the actions of internet fraudsters have damaged international confidence in the Nigerian nation.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki Says The Alarming Increase In The Number Of Reported Cases Of Nigerians Engaged In Cyber Fraud Is Ruining The Country’s Image In The Global Community.
Nigerians have been in the news in the past month for involvement in different acts of fraud across the world especially in the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Three separate Nigerian crime rings were indicted in the U.S. in June for involvement in business email compromise and romance fraud, defrauding dozens of victims of a combined $18 million.


Ramoni Igbalode, aka Hushpuppi, a famous Nigerian influencer, was also arrested by authorities in Dubai in June, accused of masterminding fraudulent operations to the tune of N168 billion, affecting over 1.9 million victims.
Obinwanne Okeke, aka Invictus Obi, a young Nigerian businessman, also pleaded guilty before a U.S. court to cyber fraud involving over $11 million.
In an article published on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, Saraki said the acts of the fraudsters affect Nigeria’s economy, the inflow of foreign investments into the country, and international confidence in the Nigerian nation.
The 57-year-old further noted that they also have a damaging effect on other law-abiding Nigerians who travel across the world to study, work, and live peacefully.
“Every national or citizen is an ambassador of his country wherever he is.
“That is why the activities of these international fraudsters or internet scammers deserve tough and collective measures from all of us,” he said.
The former Kwara governor said there’s an urgent need for relevant individuals, groups, and government to take responsibility and tackle the menace of cyber frauds.

While proposing solutions, Saraki said the country must restructure its education system in such a way that it faces the realities of the modern world to prepare young Nigerians for its challenges.
“Our emphasis should shift from just possession of certificates to that of skill acquisition and developing the mind to nurse progressive ambition that will serve collective interest.
“There should also be inbuilt moral, patriotic and positive content in the knowledge impacted by education institutions to their students,” he said.
He also proposed that the economy must be reinvented to reward hard work and make crime less appealing, while also noting the importance of mentoring by opinion leaders who will help in teaching young Nigerians good values, patriotism, and hard work.

The Federal Government has extended the Phase Two of the eased lockdown by four weeks, but partially lifted the ban on interstate movement.
Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce PTF on Covid-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha disclosed this at a briefing Monday in Abuja.
He said within this extended phase, there will also be a safe re-opening of schools to allow graduating students back to classes, while interstate movements would only take place outside curfew hours.
Announcing the new measures, the SGF said:-
“I am pleased to inform you that Mr. President has carefully considered the 5th Interim Report of the PTF and has accordingly approved that, with the exception of some modifications to be expatiated upon later, the Phase Two of the eased lockdown be extended by another four weeks with effect from Tuesday, June 30, 2020 through Midnight of Monday, 27 July, 2020.

“Specifically, however, the following measures shall either remain in place or come into effect: Maintaining the current phase of the national response for another four weeks in line with modifications to be expatriated by the National Coordinator; Permission of movement across State borders only outside curfew hours with effect from 1st July, 2020;
Enforcement of laws around non-pharmaceutical interventions by States, in particular, the use of face masks in public places; Safe re-opening of schools to allow students in graduating classes resume in-person in preparation for examinations and; Safe reopening of domestic aviation services as soon as practicable”.

NASA is offering $35,000 (N13,000,000) in prizes to design a toilet that can be used on the moon in pursuit of its goal of sending astronauts back to the moon by 2024.
The toilet should support a two-person crew for 14 days, conserve water, be easily cleanable, work in both the microgravity of space and the low-gravity environment of the moon, and contain odors and other contaminants, among other guidelines.
The deadline for submitting designs is August 17 and the winners of the $20,000 top prize, $10,000 second-place prize, and $5,000 third-place prize will be announced in October.

Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has denied saying he spent N35 billion on the elections of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and 2019.
A report had quoted Tinubu as expressing regrets that he spent heavily on the president.
The report said while having a discussion with Bisi Akande, former interim chairman of the APC, on the dissolution of the national working committee of the ruling party, Tinubu accused the president of betraying him.
But in a statement Tunde Rahman, his spokesman, issued on his behalf, the APC national leader dismissed the claims.
“The authors of the libelous report claimed Asiwaju made the allegation in a discussion with former APC Interim Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande,” the statement read.
“Firstly, no one person elected President Buhari. He was elected by the generality of Nigerian electorate. Asiwaju Tinubu would not arrogate you himself the commendable decision taken by the people. Also, that outlandish claim only existed in the imagination of the authors of the story.
“Asiwaju rooted for President Buhari’s election and in 2015 and re-election in 2019 along with other right-thinking political leaders and teeming members of APC and Nigerians across the country.
“He has no reason to regret the rightful decision or describe President Buhari as ‘ungrateful’. He remains steadfast in his support for the president and the programmes and policies of his administration as he has always been.
“Nothing has occurred to warrant any change of heart.”
The statement said since reference was made to how Akinwunmi Ambode, a former governor of Lagos, could not secure another term, it is possible that those behind the report “betrayed where they came from”.
“The report linked recent developments in APC to the fate suffered by former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in the 2019 governorship race in Lagos State, perhaps betraying where the authors were coming from,” the statement read.
“Asiwaju has put the events of 2019 behind him. He has moved on. Indeed, Lagos has moved on. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is providing good, purposeful and responsible leadership. Lagosian are enjoying the fruits of good governance under the able and dynamic governor Sanwo-Olu.
“Asiwaju and governor Sanwo-Olu have the best of relationships, contrary to the impression the report sought to create.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kano State Command, said it had intercepted 7.8 tonnes of illicit drugs in the state since the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown till date.
The Commander of the agency in the state, Ibrahim Abdul, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Thursday as part of activities to commemorate the 2020 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
He said the agency was determined to ensure that the menace of drug trafficking was curtailed.
Abdul explained that despite the lockdown imposed on the state and other parts of the country, the command was able to intercept over seven tonnes of illicit drugs being trafficked in the state.
The command, he noted, was able to intercept a Toyota SUV conveying 300 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 223kg on the Kano-Zaria Road.
“Another vehicle was also intercepted along the Wudil-Bauchi Road loaded with compressed cannabis sativa weighing 283kg during the lockdown period,” he stated.
Abdul added that a syndicate dealing in cocaine was busted and two suspects were apprehended with 100 grams of the substance.

The inability of governors to rescue one of their colleagues, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, from being forced out of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has further exposed how powerless, the once-powerful and influential forum in the country has become.
Under different fora, governors in the country until this administration wielded enormous powers, dictating who gets what at both state and national levels; directing party affairs and dictating for the president as the case was under previous administrations.
From pillar to post, governors of the APC under the aegis of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), chaired by Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, made frantic efforts to save Obaseki. From their respective states, seven governors, on a rescue mission led by Bagudu went to Lagos to seek the intervention of the leader of their party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. From Lagos to Abuja, the governors met Adams Oshiomhole and the mission was crowned with a visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
All efforts by the governors, however, didn’t yield needed result as Obaseki was disqualified from participating in the party’s primary over discrepancies in his certificates. A development that led to the governor’s sojourn to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Obaseki is on the verge of picking his new party’s ticket. Will his colleagues back in the APC support him to actualise his second term bid in another party? Pundits are watching.
Obaseki was not the first to be treated in such manner, former Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode, got the same treatment in 2018. Following his rift with Tinubu, Ambode was edged out of the governorship race when he was defeated by the anointed candidate of his godfather, (Tinubu), Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the party’s governorship primary.
From the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) which was birthed in 1999 with Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa) as pioneer chairman, governors now have many fora to champion and advance their interests including the PGF for governors elected on the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDPGF) for those elected on the platform of PDP. Regional fora of the governors also exist.
During the 16 years reign of the PDP, governors were not only influential in states, their influence was extended to the federal level. Ministerial, board and other federal appointments were decided by the governors. Through the party, the governors nominated those to be considered for appointment by the president.
The trend changed when President Muhammadu Buhari came on board. As president-elect, Buhari jettisoned the tradition which was embedded in the polity by the PDP when he told governors elected on the platform of APC that he would not consider nominees from them for ministerial appointment.
Before Buhari was sworn-in in 2015, the then PGF chairman, Rochas Okorocha, led members of the forum to visit him. During the visit, they reportedly submitted names of their preferred ministerial nominees to Buhari.
He, however, rejected them, and he was quoted to have jocularly asked the governors whether he appointed their commissioners for them. Pundits believe that, by that action, the president laid the foundation for whittling down the governors’ powers.
In March, a gang up of more than half of the APC governors to oust Oshiomhole failed when Tinubu, a former governor came to the rescue of the former labour leader regarded as his stooge.

Just like the title says.
I have noticed, when guys talk about some exs, they will kinda hint that the girls is an addict or crazy, but then after looking into it, I just realised that these guys can bring a lot of it on themselves, oh do they know how much torment not having closure brings on someone. Not knowing why your once beloved girlfriend or boyfriend refuses your calls, why they won't explain or even see you, why they just disappeared can leave you very confused.
The women aren't crazy because they call you all the time, they are probably really desperate to find out the truth, which guys often don't say (though I've noticed that Nigerian guys, tend to just let it out which can be good at times). This feeling is like being stood in front of a brick wall, the truth is on the other side and the ex is the wall who refuses to budge, to even hint what went wrong, so you're left guessing, you can't see the truth and the ex is barely interacting with you too.
WE NEED CLOSURE, EVERYBODY DOES > now that can drive a woman crazy. All the questions roaming through our heads, of 'why did he leave?', 'why didn't he even tell me what I did?', then you start thinking 'Am I that disgusting that he won't pick up my call?', 'was I that bad a girlfriend that he avoids me?' and worst of all 'I don't want to seem psycho or like a stalker, I'm sure one simple phone call to him will sort everything out.', when these get unbearable, you try and call, and he doesn't pick up because little did you know he's so over you and he doesn't have the time, even just a little time to let you get over him.
MAYBE you guys actually don't want us to get over you. Maybe that is why the mess made is left there. Surely if you want us to move on, you will meet up with us, tell us the deal and move on.
GUYS please understand the power of closure, and so what if you hurt our feelings, at least now we can move on and so can you, and you won't need to explain to your new girlfriend that your ex stalks you and such. Ok, ok, I think the stalking is a bit much, but it is just some women are so desperate to find the answers that they will go to some extents, think of it from your point of view.
Your girlfriend of 7 months, just tells you one day that it's all over. Ok, so in the past 2 months she's been slowly distancing herself from you, less phone calls, visits and barely any enthusiasm, so of course, she's prepared herself for the breakup, but you are completely unaware, you think everything is fabulous, you're even thinking about what to get her for her birthday. The birthday comes, and she's all fantastic, you think you two are a match made in heaven, then a week later, she breaks up with you, and of course you're stunned so you don't ask all the questions you want to ask and the questions just float around in your head, you sulk for ages and then after the initial stage of upset, you now want answers, but guess what, she's moved on, she's now got a new guy, your number's been deleted off her phone, and you're calling to ask her why she left you, because you deserve to know, and she just speaks to you like your wasting her time, she is uneasy to talk to you or acknowledge the good 5 months you spent as a close knit couple, and it hurts, in order to move on, you need to know where you went wrong, so it's not too personal, after all it could easily be her cheating ways or wandering eyes. Just knowing this would save so much soul-searching, further heartbreak and just confusion.
Now do you understand the power of closure?? If you don't I will gladly go on and on and on. .
This is just my plea, so you guys give us a break, stop dragging things along, we know you hate confrontation and hurting our feelings, but being left to our own thoughts could actually really affect us, and is far worse for our psyche than being told the truth.
CLOSURE is KEY!

A former Senate Leader, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army in the 9th National Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume, declared on Sunday that federal lawmakers and other highly placed public officers were earning luxury wages to the detriment of Nigerian masses.
He said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Muhammadu Sanusi, had vindicated his position on the high cost of running a presidential democracy, which he insisted was no longer realistic.
Ndume stated this while reacting to the views expressed by Osinbajo and Sanusi during a webinar organised by the Emmanuel Chapel, themed, ‘Economic stability beyond COVID-19’, on Friday.
Sanusi had on the occasion, pointed out that the governance structure in the country had set it up for bankruptcy, and asked the Vice President what the current regime would do differently to address the perennial problem.
In his response, Osinbajo had said, “There is no question that we are dealing with large and expensive government, but as you know, given the current constitutional structure, those who would have to vote to reduce (the size of) government, especially to become part-time legislators, are the very legislators themselves.”
Ndume said, “We have a budget of N10tn and only 30 per cent is going to the majority, whereas 70 per cent will be spent on a few minority. The system we are practising now is not fair either morally or socially.
“In the current system, workers are not being paid living wages, whereas a privileged few are earning luxury wages. The National Assembly members, including me, for instance, are paid luxury wages.
“How can we live comfortably when only a few of us are living a life of luxury while the majority are living in abject poverty? The N30,000 minimum wage is too small; it can make workers engage in corruption in order to survive.”
The senator, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, insisted that the current cost of governance was too much.
Ndume said the change from presidential democracy to parliamentary might be difficult for the current National Assembly to undertake because the present system was also in their favour.
Ndume said, “Parliamentary system is effective in the sense that the head of government is more or less one among equals of the parliamentarians.
“Therefore, accountability is achieved in the chamber in the sense that the prime minister has to be in the parliament every day, and he must give account of government to his colleagues.
“Also, ministers are selected among the elected parliamentarians. The idea is to reduce the cost of governance and make it more effective.”
On how to effect a change in the current system of government, Ndume suggested that legal luminaries should come together and fashion out an acceptable arrangement that could lead to a constitution amendment through referendum.

Barring last minute reprieve, Ibrahim Magu, acting Chair­man, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), may not only be on his way out of office, but also may be looking towards days of accounting for alleged infrac­tions preferred against him by Abubakar Malami, the Attor­ney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Saturday INDEPENDENT can exclusively report.
Impeccable presidency sources said on Friday that President Muhammadu Bu­hari had given Malami approv­al to investigate and prosecute Magu following his memo­randum, where he itemised 22 weighty allegations against the EFCC chairman, who has occupied the office for nearly five years in acting capacity.
The sources said the EFCC chairman will temporarily hand over the anti-graft agency to the next most senior person, Mohammed Umar Abba, Direc­tor of Operations of the agency.
Malami had also included a short list of three candidates for consideration to replace Magu. Our sources said FCT Commis­sioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, may ultimately replace him, be­ing the most favoured among the three names Malami sub­mitted to the president.
One of the sources said the president wanted the panel to investigate the authenticity of the property and proxy alle­gations against Magu, noting that “because of the weight of the allegations, and the kind of person managing the EFCC, the president wouldn’t want to take any decision in a hurry. So he made sure a crack team is assembled to look into the matter holistically.”
According to him, Ayo Sala­mi, former President of Court of Appeal, is heading the panel with the offices of National Se­curity Adviser (NSA); Director General, Department of State Services (DSS); Director Gen­eral, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Police, and Attorney General of the Fed­eration as members.
According to the source, the panel has two weeks to submit its report to the president, but had already done a week.

Malami, had in his mem­orandum to the president, made allegations bordering on financial malfeasances in failure to declare actual mon­ey recovered from looters. He also accused Magu of gross in­subordination, refusing direc­tives from the commission’s supervisory ministry; and as a result, the Federal Govern­ment has come under severe attack and embarrassment on account of odium stemming from poorly pursued investiga­tions. The AGF’s memo made strong innuendos purporting that Magu has made himself a willing tool in the hands of politicians thereby reducing the sterling reputation EFCC once enjoyed.
Sources at the presidency insisted on Friday that Buhari has indeed signed off on the memo only awaiting imple­mentation.
“By the recommendation, Magu should be eased out of office, and prosecuted on the strength of the allegations made against him,” explained a presidency source to the newspaper, who said the presi­dent was livid after reading the memo.
Adding further, the sources said that had the matter rest­ed squarely on just Malami’s memo, maybe a form of re­prieve could have been worked out for the commission’s chair­man.
“Malami was extensively debriefed on the matter. Securi­ty agencies were also involved in the matter and they all came back with damning verdicts,” the source added.
So far, the presidency has refused to say much on the matter.
In a text message response by Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the President, Mallam Garba She­hu, asking for confirmation on whether Magu will be eased out, the presidential spokes­man simply said, “I don’t know the answer to your question.”
Several attempts at reaching Dele Oyewale, Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, yielded no re­sult as his phones continued ringing without the calls being picked up. However, another source within the commission told the newspaper that there cannot be any official response from EFCC unless matters are directed at them.
But as also learnt, Magu is said not to be leaving anything to chance. It was learnt that some of his backers with link at the Presidential Villa have been putting in words for the embattled anti-graft’s czar, tell­ing Mr. President that Magu is being hounded by corrupt politicians.
One of the result of the alleged brokering resulted in Magu being seen at the Aso Rock mosque where he ob­served the Jumat with Presi­dent Buhari.
As learnt, the EFCC boss was there to have an audience with the president.
It was, however, unclear if the mission succeeded as at the time of filing this report.
It would be recalled that in 2016, the Senate declined to confirm Magu’s appointment as EFCC chairman, citing a Department of State Services (DSS) report, which revealed unsavory activities. Despite the Senate’s rejection of Magu, President Buhari re-nominat­ed him, but the Senate again rejected him.

So during the main lockdown that lasted weeks my friend had a visitor guy, We had all been having fun while self isolating too. So on one of those days around 8:40pm the visitor started shaking severely, I heard my name after trying to figure out where the noise was coming from though i didn't want to approach at first when I rushed to their room but on a second thought of if its covid we all were already affected too because we have been together all along but then he was breathing well enough so no cause for alarm we carried him to the car zoomed.
We needed to take him to the hospital and on our way Nigeria Police stopped us and with their normal queries we explained to them even though they have eyes, but to our outmost dismay they said we are going to pay 10k for them to allow us to pass or we are all going to the station.
I refused stood my grounds that there is an emergency and we are not going to bribe them because they can actually see for themselves, after delaying us and with much threat to them. They finally agreed to take us to their Oga at the station we said fine and good. We got to the station and they refused us to enter inside(they probably don't want to die if its actually covid) we had to wait for them in the car outside of course with 2 of them mounting guard on us.
These armed robbers in uniform delayed us and after close to an hour which we became furious and started banging on their gate they came out and asked us to go, like seriously?? They purposely wasted our time because we didn't give them money. Oh Nigeria!!!
Well we later got to the hospital and he was admitted and given drip then he became stable. He got better though and was discharged 2days later. Glory to God.
After the lockdown was eased we drove back to the station and requested to see the DPO and after narrating what happened he apologized, what else can he do or would have done. After all our friend is fine so we just bounced.

Nigerian actress and presenter, Dorcas Shola-Fapson, has disclosed that she had a phone conversation with singer, Dbanj’s accuser, Seyitan, who was arrested two days ago in Lagos.
According to actress, she spoke to Seyitan earlier today who revealed that she had all her things seized from her and left in a cell with criminals.
Dorcas also revealed that Seyitan told her that Dbanj told her that he has paid his lawyers N25Million and that she doesn’t stand a chance against him.
Read Dorcas’ tweets below:-
“I just spoke to @seyitannn_ She’s ok now. She was arrested and had all her things seized & left in a cell with criminals. D’banj’ team pressured her into those tweets & threatened to leave her in prison if she didn’t recant the allegation.
D’banj told Seyitan that he has paid his lawyers 25m & she doesn’t stand a chance against him.
THE POOR GIRLIS SCARED & obviously doesn’t have the money/resources to fight this!
WE CANNOT ALLOW MONEY/POWER/STATUS to silence
@seyitannn_ !!!! @iamdbanj you are foul & disgusting. I knew that from our ‘encounter’ in LA. But this?? No.”

Reports has it that the Nigerian police have arrested Seyitan Babatayo, who accused singer, D’banj, of molesting her at Glee hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, in 2018.
Seyitan’s lawyer, Ojoge, Omileye, confirmed her arrest in an interview with Premium Times on Tuesday, June 16th, in Lagos.
In his words
“They arrested Seyitan this morning in Lagos. They arrested our client but somebody is already there to facilitate her release on bail.
This matter is coming to Abuja by tomorrow; we are petitioning. The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) is taking up the petition tomorrow. That is all I can say about it for now,”
According to journalist, Kiki Mordi, Seyitan is has been detained in Sodipo police station, Ikeja, Lagos and hasn’t been granted access to friends, family or a lawyer.
Recall that Dbanj, through his lawyers, Mike Ozekhome Chambers, has asked Seyitan yo to pay N100 million as compensation for falsely accusing him of rape.
In a letter signed by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, and addressed to Seyitan’s lawyers, the singer demanded that his accuser pays the sum within 48 hours or risk legal action.
Seyitan was also asked to write a letter of apology and retraction of her statements be written and published in four national dailies

The Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested a staff of First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Philips Orumade.
He was picked up for allegedly stealing the sum of N18,900,000 from the bank.
The staff was in charge of ATM gallery keys at Aduwawa branch of the bank.
A statement on Tuesday by EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, recalled that on November 3, 2019, the suspect allegedly disappeared with the said amount.
Since then, efforts to trace him proved abortive.
Oyewale noted that First Bank said the suspect was captured by the CCTV footage.
“He was seen walking into the ATM gallery, before using a nylon bag to cover the CCTV.
“The suspect has been on the run and was recently apprehended in Lagos,” EFCC said.
The statement added that Orumade has made “useful statements.”
He will be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed.

ASHINGTON – Today, in a coordinated action with the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action against six Nigerian nationals for conducting an elaborate scheme to steal over six million dollars from victims across the United States. The individuals designated today targeted U.S. businesses and individuals through deceptive global threats known as business email compromise (BEC) and romance fraud. American citizens lost over $6,000,000 due to these individuals’ BEC fraud schemes, in which they impersonated business executives and requested and received wire transfers from legitimate business accounts. Money was also stolen from innocent Americans by romance fraud, in which the designees masqueraded as affectionate partners to gain trust from victims.
“Cybercriminals prey on vulnerable Americans and small businesses to deceive and defraud them,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “As technological advancement increasingly offers malicious actors tools that can be used for online attacks and schemes, the United States will continue to protect and defend at-risk Americans and businesses.”
Malicious actors are exploiting the increased availability of online tools and technology to target at-risk Americans. The six individuals designated today manipulated their victims in order to gain access to usernames, passwords, and bank accounts in furtherance of the scheme. Several of those who engaged in romance fraud used online tools, including social media and email, to further their social engineering tactics.
OFAC closely coordinated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which today released details regarding its indictment against members of the conspiracy. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) receives romance fraud victim reports from all ages, education, and income brackets. However, the elderly, women, and those who have lost a spouse are often targeted.
E.O. 13694 SANCTIONS
Today’s action includes the designation of six individuals pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13694, as amended by E.O. 13757, which targets malicious cyber-enabled activities, including those related to the significant misappropriation of funds or economic resources for private financial gain.
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons that are in the possession or control of U.S. persons or within or transiting the United States are blocked, and U.S. persons generally are prohibited from dealing with them.
Richard Uzuh (Uzuh) was designated pursuant to E.O. 13694, as amended, for having engaged in cyber-enabled activities that have the purpose or effect of causing a significant misappropriation of funds or economic resources for private financial gain.
From at least early 2015 to September 2016, Uzuh and an accomplice sent emails to victims appearing as though they were coming from a company’s true business executive, and would request and receive wire transfers of funds from the businesses’ accounts. Uzuh would often target over 100 businesses in a single day. A loss in excess of $6,300,000 can be attributed to the BEC scheme led by Uzuh and an accomplice.
Micheal Olorunyomi (Olorunyomi) was designated pursuant to E.O. 13694, as amended, for having engaged in cyber-enabled activities that have the purpose or effect of causing a significant misappropriation of funds or economic resources for private financial gain.
From September 2015 to June 2017, Olorunyomi and an accomplice led a scheme that victimized Americans through the use of romance fraud. Olorunyomi and his co-conspirators created fictitious profiles on dating websites and posed as individuals looking for love. He developed online relationships with victims to either obtain funds directly from victims, or used their bank accounts to funnel fraudulently obtained money. Losses exceeding $1,000,000 can be attributed to the romance fraud scheme led by Olorunyomi and his accomplice.
Alex Ogunshakin (Ogunshakin) was designated pursuant to E.O. 13694, as amended, for having provided financial, material, or technological support for Uzuh.
Ogunshakin conducted BEC and romance scams. Ogunshakin provided Uzuh and other co-conspirators with bank accounts that were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers. Additionally, Ogunshakin assisted Uzuh with contacting victim companies and he conducted his own BEC schemes.

Felix Okpoh (Okpoh) was designated pursuant to E.O. 13694, as amended, for having provided financial, material, or technological support to Uzuh
Okpoh conducted romance scams and engaged in money laundering, working closely with Uzuh and others involved in the scheme. Okpoh provided hundreds of U.S. bank accounts that were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers from victims of BEC and romance fraud.
Nnamdi Benson (Benson) was designated pursuant to E.O. 13694, as amended, for having provided financial, material, or technological support to Uzuh.
Benson conducted romance scams and money laundering, working closely with Uzuh. Benson communicated with multiple romance fraud victims to obtain their bank account details, and provided the account information to Uzuh to receive fraudulent wire transfers from U.S. businesses.
Abiola Kayode (Kayode) was designated pursuant to E.O. 13694, as amended, for having provided financial, material, or technological support to Uzuh.
Kayode conducted BEC and romance scams, working closely with Uzuh and others involved in the scheme. Kayode provided U.S. bank accounts to individuals involved in the scheme, one of which was then used to receive a $69,150 fraudulent wire transfer.
Identifying information on the individuals and entity designated today.
Treasury is committed to responding to evolving online threats that target organizations and individuals in the United States. In July 2019, Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released an advisory noting that it received over 32,000 reports involving almost $9 billion in attempted theft from BEC fraud schemes targeting U.S financial institutions and their customers since its 2016 advisory. In another ongoing effort, recovered funds through FinCEN’s Rapid Response Program, in collaboration with law enforcement, recently surpassed $920 million. Under the program, when U.S. law enforcement receives a BEC complaint from a victim or a financial institution, the relevant information is forwarded to FinCEN, which moves quickly to track and recover the funds.
For more information regarding BEC scams and romance fraud, please see the July 2019 FinCEN Advisory, the July 2019 FinCEN Financial Trend Analysis Report, and the FBI IC3 Public Service Announcement.