There's another U.S.Army veteran's opinion right BELOW of the "school boy bullying" and highly disrespectful actions of JD Vance and Trump towards President Zelenskyy who was a guest at the Oval Office on the last day of February 2025.
US Army Veteran: Trump's Oval Office Clash Was 'Un-American' and 'Traitorous'
Watch back Rachel Johnson's interview with Malcolm Nance, former US Navy Intelligence Officer who has fought alongside the Ukrainian military.
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy's meeting descended into a public fiasco, with both shouting at each other and the latter leaving before the press conference without signing anything. LBC's callers give their instant reaction.
Melonsmasher: Gloria Okon was caught in 1985 with heroin in Nigeria and died in very controversial circumstances.
FULL NAMES (alternate names): Miss toGloria Okon
BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS
She was born in 1950.
HER ARREST
On the 22nd April, 1985, a petite society lady, Gloria Okon, was about to board a Nigeria Airways aircraft WT840 (Lagos-Kano-London) at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State when she was arrested with substances suspected to be heroin and other hard drugs (the National Security Organization, NSO or Nigeria’s secret intelligence agency is often mentioned in her arrest). Tucked in internally were 56.70 grammes of the substances. She was also caught with the sum of N20,000, 60 pounds sterling, $301 and 19,000 Italian lira. The customs officers and drug law enforcement agents were very excited to have nabbed her, not because they had caught her alone but because they would also be stars of the show for a while as all the arrests were being made by their counterparts at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. But their jowls of excitement were pangs of sheer agony for the 35-year-old Okon. Why?
The year was 1985 and anyone caught with drugs would face the death penalty, no stories. That was the provision of the Decree 20 put in place by the junta of General Muhammadu Buhari. She was going to die, and she knew it. Stunned and stupefied at her sudden stare at death, Okon became an unwilling and helpless star before the nation’s news-thirsty media. Newspapers and magazines contained her story and the radios gave the chilly broadcast. For many who read the story or heard the announcement, it was not a big deal they thought, she was going to be executed like others. But then, there would be a twist in Okon’s story that would turn her into the most mysterious drug pusher in Nigeria’s history. What happened next still remains very bizarre even 30 years after.
DEATH
On the 28th April, six days after her arrest, the most unexpected happened: Gloria Okon died in custody. From an ordinary ‘heroin suspect’, the sudden demise of Okon led to what is now one of the most enduring narcodramas in Nigeria. She did not just die, she died in very questionable and mysterious circumstances. The Buhari regime would not bury the case and an investigation was launched into the matter, with a judicial commission of inquiry given the complicated task of unraveling all the circumstances surrounding the very suspicious death of Okon who gave up the ghost at the Aminu Kano Hospital, Kano.
INVESTIGATIONS The judicial commission of enquiry working on the Okon case was headed by Justice CNO Ubbaonu of the Kano High Court. It began its sitting in Kano almost three months (precisely 5th Monday, August) after she died. Other members of the panel were:
Wing Commander PG Asemota Tunde Oloko, a university don JI Obianwu, who was the secretary The case was so serious that the Inspector-General Etim Inyang was mandated to ensure there is a reasonable conclusion to the case and to make sure all the mysteries are solved. The commission was to carry out three main tasks:
Make proper inquiry as to the arrest and death of Gloria Okon Determine whether during the period of her arrest and custody, if any person(s) contributed to her death through acts incidental to the case Make suitable recommendations But that would never happen: on the 27th of that same August, the military regime of Buhari was toppled by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and till date, no one knows how it all ended and the demise remains a mystery. However, it must be stated that before she died, Okon reportedly confessed and revealed a ‘big baron’, as a matter of fact, a customs official said of her revelation:
‘If carefully handled, she may lead us to the big brains behind the business.’
But before Okon could even mention the name of her mentor or sponsor, she was stone-dead. According to those who investigated her case and questioned her, the only clue she left was simply the name ‘Bassey’. Ibrahim Coomasie was the commissioner of police for Kano State and he stated that it was almost impossible to track her mentor because Okon did not give the second name of Bassey or even an address, so the investigation met a dead end. The address that was listed against her name, 21 Cole Street, Surulere, Lagos was found to be non-existent.
However, it must be pointed out that although Okon was just one of the many female carriers arrested, she was the only drug mule very willing to cooperate and say it all, revealing all information on her sponsors. But before she could utter anything, she was gone. An autopsy conducted stated the cause of death as food poisoning. There was no time Okon showed any sign of ill-health, she was quite healthy when she was arrested as the public inquiry found out but according to Misharck Okitiakpo, a customs officer who kept her in custody, Gloria Okon fell ill just a day after she was arrested. Okitiakpo also explained that on the day she was arrested (22nd), Okon made a request for rice and beans which she was given. But on the 23rd and 24th, she was rushed to the hospital after she complained.
But that is where Okitiakpo’s accounts stopped. He did not explain or was unable to explain what happened from the 25th to the 28th when Okon finally breathed her last. Okon had been in the custody of the Customs until the 25th when she was handed to the police. Therefore, it is not precisely clear whether she was poisoned while with the customs or under the police custody where she eventually died. In an interview with The Guardian in May 1985, Coomasie said Okon had changed saying:
‘…the late suspect was not talking when she was brought to the police and did not make any statement to the police, when the police took custody of Okon, she looked weird and neither ate nor talked. ’
But later, she was given some egusi soup by the police (egusi with what? Abi she drink the egusi ni, police no tell us that one). The police also said she took some bananas and tea after the egusi. Amazing food combination: egusi, banana and tea.
The mystery of Okon’s case was further deepened when no one showed up to claim her, not even one relative showed to identify her as a suspect or even her corpse. According to Babadisa Ciroma, an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) who was in charge of Okon’s interrogation said no one paid her a visit while in custody or even when she was admitted at the hospital. That was not all, 39 days after her death Okon’s corpse remained unclaimed at the Murtala Muhammed Hospital Mortuary where it was deposited. This prompted the police force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to issue a notice that her remains might be treated as unknown if it not claimed after seven days of warning to the general public. Apparently embarrassed by the mysterious death of Okon in custody and to prevent a repeat, the government compelled state police commands to transfer suspects and exhibits in cases of hard drugs to the Force CID Headquarters in Lagos by ‘the most expedient means’.
The Nigerian nation was supposed to hear from the judicial commission of inquiry by the end of August and shed light on the case but by the end of August, a new leader was in place and he was a military president: IBB. The late lawyer Gani Fawehinmi attempted to resurrect the case but this put him on a path of direct clash with Haliru Akilu and Kunle Togun, two of IBB’s most dreaded security agents. No one was ever charged over the death of Gloria Okon.
THE CONTROVERSIES
In the absence of a conclusive investigation, so many tales have been spun by many so as to fill in the gaps. According to some, Okon never died, the corpse presented was all a ruse and part of a grand conspiracy. In June 2009, Professor Taiyemiwo Ogunade, in an interview with THE NATION said of the Okon case: ‘Gloria Okon is actually Chinyere, that’s her real name. She married Charles “Jeff” Chandler, the fellow who killed Nzeogwu and was killed a day later. Chinyere, Maryam and Princess Atta were young friends who hung out together. They all married into the military, because the military was a proud and respectable profession then. Charles Chandler, who was Tiv, married Chinyere who I think is from Imo State. IBB married Maryam from Asaba and Mamman Vatsa married the princess. So Chinyere became a widow and resorted to trading between UK and Nigeria. And then she was caught with drugs; Mamman Vatsa was the person who put Chinyere on the next available flight from Kano to London – and then claimed that she was dead by parading a dead woman picked out of the mortuary. Dele Giwa later found out that she was in London having delivered a baby by another man. He sent a French photographer to the place and they saw Maryam Babangida at the event. Kayode Soyinka brought back the photographs. Dele was sitting across the table from Kayode examining the photos taken of “Gloria Okon” (Chinyere, Richard Chandler’s wife) at the naming ceremony in London. Maryam Babangida was there.
And then a letter parcel was delivered to him and he said excitedly that it must be from “Mr. President” referring to the discussions he had with IBB days earlier. The bomb exploded and severed his lower abdomen; he died a few hours later.’
Some others say Dele Giwa knew that Okon was Maryam Babangida (or even IBB)’s drug mule and wanted to blackmail IBB, which is why he was killed. Newswatch has denied any link between their late founder who was killed by a parcel bomb on October 19, 1986.
Tom Mbeke-Ekanem in his book, Beyond the Execution: Understanding the Ethnic and Military Politics in Nigeria insisted the corpse sent to Calabar to Okon’s family was a fake corpse and that the family returned it saying it was not the corpse of their daughter, but that the authorities insisted the corpse was that of Okon. The claim was that the real Okon was freed to go live overseas and replaced with an unclaimed corpse brought in from the mortuary. The crazy controversies around the case prompted the Federal Government to make attempts to unearth everything thus launching the public commission.
According to others, she was a drug mule for the former Nigerian First Lady Maryam Babangida shuttling between the USA and Britain and she was killed so she would not squeal. As it is now, the truth is hanging somewhere, and the only way I think Nigerians will eventually get to know the truth is when a government comes and re-opens the case and declassifying all the documents relating to the case. Whether that will take 10 or 100 years, no one knows. But before then, the story of Gloria Okon is one eerie chapter that will continue to haunt the world’s largest black nation.
The Gloria Okon case was a gripping story of a female drug mule in the mass media back in the mid-1980s. There was a lot of media frenzy around her case.
Indeed, the Bendel State (now Edo State-born) 'Dele Gina, who was a former journalist with the New York Times and co-founder of the Newswatch Magazine was one of the investigative journalists as of 1985 to 1986 who wrote investigative articles on Gloria Okon based off of leads available at that time. I recall reading 'Dele Giwa's incisive articles back then a out the Gloria Okon case. Suddenly in 1986, (the same year that 'Sade Adu became the first Nigerian-born person to ever win a Grammy Award and Professor 'Wole Soyinka also became the first African man to ever win the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature) 'Dele Giwa ironically became the first person to be killed via a parcel bomb delivered to his family residence on Talabi Street off Allen Avenue in Ikeja, Lagos. He didn't die immediately after the bomb blast, but he finally gave up in the nearby First Foundation Hospital where he was taken to.
The assassination had the handiwork of professionals with links to the NSO or secret military intelligence and it was clear that because Dele Giwa was beginning to reveal too much about Ms. Okon and more, he had to be taken out. His painful death sent shockwaves among Nigerians living in Nigeria and Diasporan Nigerians.
This is why Ibrahim Babangida's military government was accused by many people of knowing about the parcel bombing of the 'Dele Giwa, the iconic former journalist with the New York Times and Newswatch Magazine. Investigations were launched but deliberately stalled by the military junta despite strong leads linking members of the secret service with his death.
The question, "Who Killed Dele Giwa?" Became a mantra ever since then.
malali: When you mentioned 5 decades on earth, i was at least reassured i wasn't arguing with a chronologically challenged fellow. But when you got personal calling people who made allegations against Alakija "idiots". I remembered age doesn't necessarily come with age appropriate sense or sanity. OML 127 was awarded under dubious circumstances by IBB TO Alakija. Thats a fact, there was no public bidding. She now delegated the hard lifting and dirty work to foreign technical partners in lieu of a sizable portion of the proceeds. OML 127 is Nigeria's golden goose. There is nothing wrong with Alakija having 1 or 2 eggs laid by the goose. But owning the whole goose while Nigerians suffer is wrong, morally and ethically. There are people in Nigeria who cannot afford a meal in a day. While Alakija pockets 1 billion dollars a year from OML 127. Even Obasanjo and Bola Ige took her to court. But Chief Justice who was most likely recommended by IBB annulled it and Bola Ige was also assassinated (not saying they are related) but when the witch cries at night and the baby dies in the morning, we all know who killed the baby. The government needs to nationalize OML 127. If something was done wrongly 100 years ago. It doesn't mean we cant correct it today.Please desist from personal attacks and insults. If not i will assume despite your 5 decades on earth, your sanity is questionable.
@Malali,
First off, I will commend you here because you come across as someone who cares about the "collective welfare or good of all" which is NOBLE, BUT your biggest weakness is the tendency to be a bit impulsive, NOT reading posts properly before reacting and disagreeing quickly with those who have slightly divergent perspectives with you, while angrily throwing insults at them. I read one of your latest threads for the first time and I noticed the same trend of you being brusque and dismissive if some others don't align with your opinion. This is clearly a path that can brutally undermine you or anybody down the road.
I will strongly advice you to READ my post again, one step at a time and you will CLEARLY see who the creeps that I referred to as "complete" IDIOTS are and learn to DESIST from misquoting me, I felt offended by that! You were impulsive in jumping to conclusions right from your first post that I quoted. I CANNOT refer to you directly as an "idiot" as that would be totally unwarranted for a simple convo we were having here. In fact, you were the first to get "personal by using insults" right from your first post to me while incorrectly claiming that I "lied" and this is what prompted me to reveal my true identity to you as someone who worked with a major multinational oil and gas company and of me haven spent over 5 decades.I didn't say I was 50 but "over 5 decades" on earth. I originally got to notice your moniker for the first time in 2023 and I occasionally read some of your posts from time to time, and have NEVER insulted you in my 20 years of being a registered member and user of this Website since 2005. If it was necessary to call you out as an "idiot" I would not hesitate to do so directly right off the bat, BUT you haven't done anything to justify that yet. Even the media referred to Donald Trump as a "Village Idiot." so, it's the norm.
NOW, If you read my post again, you will see that I NEVER called you "an idiot," but those irresponsible "youngsters and bigots" who relentlessly LIED and DEFAMED Mrs Folorunso Alakija here on this same NL Website in the recent past FALSELY claiming that she had SEX (OR SLEPT) with Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha in order to gain access to the oil block in 1993. These are total falsehoods and I personally called those evil posters and trolls out here on this Website while threatening to ensure that Famfa Oil takes legal action against them in the court of law for online criminal defamation.Mrs. Alakija was a banker with the IMB Investment bank on Victoria Island, Lagos, so, she had professional experience before retiring in the early 1980s to take care of her then little children and started her iconic international fashion brand named "Supreme Stitches." Her husband, Modupe Alakija who is also a senior lawyer is the Chairman of Famfa Oil. Some of Mrs. Alakija's siblings from the wealthy Ogbara family of Ikorodu were also involved in bringing professional expertise into the Famfa Oil operations in the early days when the OPL 126 was first acquired.
The Supreme Court CLEARLY exonerated Famfa Oil from ANY infractions in 2012 and told the NNPC to restored the full 60% stake in OML 127 (Agbami oil field) to Famfa Oil. The Nigerian government even appealed that Supreme Court ruling but LOST again. Is that too difficult for you to understand? NO government can nationalize the oil blocks without attracting litigation to itself. Further more, taxes are paid to the government by these Nigerian oil companies, so, it's a win-win situation.
In 1993, each oil block awardee had to pay a signature bonus of at least US$1.5million for the prospecting licenses. The IOCs operating at that time didn't even want to have ANYTHING to do with OPL 216 because it was located in the uncharted deep offshore and had NO known proven reserves! It was this same oil block OPL 216 that was given to Famfa Oil in 1993 and because of the enterprising abilities of the company promoters and international partners, proven oil reserves were struck in 1998 after millions of USD had been sunk into the project! If Famfa Oil had not been dogged and poured in millions of USD (got as financing from the banks) into that OPL 126 which then became OML 127 (Agbami oil field) and succeeded, NOBODY will be talking about Agbami Oilfield (with an average daily production of 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day) as of today because the IOCs were avoiding that part of the deep offshore at that time. This is ALSO [b]CLEARLY what the Nigerian Supreme Court affirmed in the landmark judgement in favor of Famfa Oil in 2012 however we choose to slice or dice the situation. The Supreme Court also stated that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the NNPCL had NO right to forcibly take a 50% stake (out of Famfa Oil's 60% total stake) when it did NOT contribute any dime towards developing that OPL 216 oil block acreage in the Gulf of Guinea that even the major IOCs avoided because of the huge water depths of about 1,300 meters or 1.3 kilometers hence the name "deep offshore" which is located far out into the ocean. This is why OML 127 is aptly named "AGBAMI oil field" by Famfa Oil and AGBAMI is a Yoruba word which roughly translates to the "deepest part of the sea." As part of Famfa Oil and Mrs. Folorunso Alakija's corporate social responsibility, they have been overtly and quietly spending billions of Naira annually on several developmental projects including during the horrendous COVID-19 lockdowns and more[/b]. So, that is highly commendable.
Do NOT make Mrs Alakija a "poster girl" for your anger or transfered aggression however legitimately angry you might be "against past or present government" policies over there in Nigeria. Other people such as Chief MKO Abiola of Summit Oil, Otunba Mike Adenuga, High Chief Lulu-Briggs, Arthur Eze, Kase Lawal, Alhaji Indimi etc, also benefited from the indigenization policy program in the oil industry from 1991 to 1993, and beyond BUT nobody vilifies or defames them like they do to Mrs Alakija without knowing the full story of the indigenization program. I say this is one who has had professional experience in that sector. Period.
The Journalist, Kayode Ogundamisi was the one who tweeted these same alleged allegations you posted here and on your thread against Famfa Oil back in 2018 and he was summarily and officially educated about how the once REJECTED OML216 block (that even the IOCs didn't want to touch back in the early 1990s because it had no proven reserve and the technology for deep offshore exploration wasn't advanced as of the 1990s), was taken over by Famfa Oil and it took them a painful 5 whole years from 1993 to even strike any proven reserve in 1998. It was NOT until 2008 that crude oil extraction even started from Agbami Oilfield.
I hope you have a better historical perspective now based off of the Supreme Court ruling. She also wasn't fronting for IBB (or anybody) as all the financing for the long-term development of the "cast away" OPL 126 which later miraculously became the "prolific" OML 127 (Agbami Oilfield) came from foreign financial institutions.
Ningishzida: The above is a comment on one of the threads I found on the frontpage today.
Unfortunately, the author thinks that the problem is with Nigerians because they either have no product to export or they are unwilling to go into export business. I believe a lot of Nigerians hold this same opinion as well but the problem is political and I will try to explain in layman's terms.
I reside in Germany as a foreigner but I visit Nigeria at least once every year. When I'm in Germany, I order lots of personal products from ecommerce websites, ranging from wears, tech gadgets, electronics and other accessories. A lot of these items are manufactured and shipped from Asia. And when they arrive Germany, DHL or Hermes delivers it to my doorstep without me having to pay any extra dime besides what I have payed to the seller for shipping.
Now, when it comes to ordering items from Nigeria, the story is entirely different. On two occasions in the past when I ordered custom sewn wears from Tailors in Nigeria, I had to pay almost twice the amount of the clothing as custom charges to German customs because the package was coming from Nigeria. The first time, I thought it was the packaging, therefore, on the second occasion, I asked the Tailors to package it same way the Chinese package the wears I order from them. But it changed nothing. I still had to pay the same custom charges because the item was coming from Nigeria. For this reason, I no longer order items from Nigeria when I'm in Germany. But I still order items from China and other Asian countries on almost a weekly basis because I don't have to pay custom fees for items originating from Asia.
The above is just an example of how Europe uses custom fees to discourage their citizens from buying any processed item from Africa. If it were an edible processed item, a state-sponsored fake research will be carried out immediately to "scientifically" discover that the processed goods coming from Africa contain insecticides and other unsafe chemicals, then they will use the research as a guise to ban it in Europe indefinitely.
Europe would rather stay hungry than to allow any goods processed in an African country enter their market. They know by doing so, they are creating jobs for Africans in Africa and therefore allowing Africa'seconomy to grow. If Africans are allowed to develop their economy; * where will the cheap African labor and resources that Europe built their economy upon come from?
* How will THE FOUNDATIONAL NARRATIVE (that Africans are uncivilized slaves that needs the benevolence of they the civilized Europeans in order to survive) continue to be subconsciously programmed into the world?
I will explain the term I coined as "THE FOUNDATIONAL NARRATIVE" in one of my future posts. But for now, just know that it is the narrative that led to the current world where every non-Negro race tries to be "whites" and tries as much to erase "blacks" away from their families. The Bible, Quran were the original tools used to lay down the narrative but at the moment, it is the mainstream media AKA Rothschild family-owned medias that are now the primary proponents.
A country's citizen can only become exporters if the international market are not hindering the countrh from exporting their processed items.
The world as it stands today are controlled by the Caucasians followed by the Arabs, and then the Asians. All these three groups of people are united because they managed to single out the Negro race as being the greatest threat to their survival. They might disagree on any other matter but when it comes to suppressing all the countries where the Negroes exist on earth, they will always unite to suppress the Negroes.
Unless our leaders start signing trade deals that will enable citizens of Nigeria export processed items to Europe or even Asia, Nigeria will continue to be import dependent and any private citizen that decide to venture into the business of exporting processed items will find themselves fighting an uphill battle that they can never survive on their own.
Bump.
Succinctly stated. Country-specific tariffs are what a lot of the Western countries of Europe, North America, and Asia use to control the inflow of foreign finished products into their countries.
They prefer to import raw commodities such as cocoa and coffee arabica beans from especially Africa and Asia for value addition in their countries so as to keep their local manufacturing industries going and generate internal revenue.
Ningishzida: The above is a comment on one of the threads I found on the frontpage today.
Unfortunately, the author thinks that the problem is with Nigerians because they either have no product to export or they are unwilling to go into export business. I believe a lot of Nigerians hold this same opinion as well but the problem is political and I will try to explain in layman's terms.
I reside in Germany as a foreigner but I visit Nigeria at least once every year. [b]When I'm in Germany, I order lots of personal products from ecommerce websites, ranging from wears, tech gadgets, electronics and other accessories. A lot of these items are manufactured and shipped from Asia. And when they arrive Germany, DHL or Hermes delivers it to my doorstep without me having to pay any extra dime besides what I have payed to the seller for shipping.
Now, when it comes to ordering items from Nigeria, the story is entirely different. On two occasions in the past when I ordered custom sewn wears from Tailors in Nigeria, I had to pay almost twice the amount of the clothing as custom charges to German customs because the package was coming from Nigeria. The first time, I thought it was the packaging, therefore, on the second occasion, I asked the Tailors to package it same way the Chinese package the wears I order from them. But it changed nothing. I still had to pay the same custom charges because the item was coming from Nigeria. For this reason, I no longer order items from Nigeria when I'm in Germany. But I still order items from China and other Asian countries on almost a weekly basis because I don't have to pay custom fees for items originating from Asia.
The above is just an example of how Europe uses custom fees to discourage their citizens from buying any processed item from Africa. If it were an edible processed item, a state-sponsored fake research will be carried out immediately to "scientifically" discover that the processed goods coming from Africa contain insecticides and other unsafe chemicals, then they will use the research as a guise to ban it in Europe indefinitely.
Europe would rather stay hungry than to allow any goods processed in an African country enter their market. They know by doing so, they are creating jobs for Africans in Africa and therefore allowing Africa'seconomy to grow. If Africans are allowed to develop their economy; * where will the cheap African labor and resources that Europe built their economy upon come from?
* How will THE FOUNDATIONAL NARRATIVE (that Africans are uncivilized slaves that needs the benevolence of they the civilized Europeans in order to survive) continue to be subconsciously programmed into the world?
I will explain the term I coined as "THE FOUNDATIONAL NARRATIVE" in one of my future posts. But for now, just know that it is the narrative that led to the current world where every non-Negro race tries to be "whites" and tries as much to erase "blacks" away from their families. The Bible, Quran were the original tools used to lay down the narrative but at the moment, it is the mainstream media AKA Rothschild family-owned medias that are now the primary proponents.
A country's citizen can only become exporters if the international market are not hindering the countrh from exporting their processed items.
The world as it stands today are controlled by the Caucasians followed by the Arabs, and then the Asians. All these three groups of people are united because they managed to single out the Negro race as being the greatest threat to their survival. They might disagree on any other matter but when it comes to suppressing all the countries where the Negroes exist on earth, they will always unite to suppress the Negroes.
Unless our leaders start signing trade deals that will enable citizens of Nigeria export processed items to Europe or even Asia, Nigeria will continue to be import dependent and any private citizen that decide to venture into the business of exporting processed items will find themselves fighting an uphill battle that they can never survive on their own.
Bump.
Succinctly stated. Country-specific tariffs are what a lot of the Western countries of Europe, North America, and Asia use to control the inflow of foreign finished products into their countries.
They prefer to import raw commodities such as cocoa and coffee arabica beans from especially Africa and Asia for value addition in their countries so as to keep their local manufacturing industries going and generate internal revenue.
ogugwa1992: I have been inundated with calls from almost all major media outlets in Nigeria to interview me about the issues involving the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Natasha Akpoti. These media organisations wanted my take, seeing that I was once accused by Senator Natasha Akpoti of the exact grave allegations that she is now accusing the Senate President of.
Against my will, I have been trending on various social media platforms, and for the sake of my family, it would be best to put this matter to rest.
Rather than speak with multiple media outlets, perhaps I can ease the pressure on me by putting out this statement.
I[b] do not know if what Senator Natasha Akpoti accused the Senate President of is true, as I was not physically present when the alleged events took place.[/b]
However, I can testify that Senator Natasha Akpoti once had an altercation with me on social media over a post where a woman made advances at me and I rejected her and stated that my wife is a beauty queen and is more than enough for me.
Apparently the woman is or was a friend of Senator Akpoti. And after I had scorned her friend's advances, Senator Akpoti accused me of sexually harassing her at Aso Rock Presidential Villa, during a reception held for the visiting Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, when he visited Nigeria between May 4 and May 7 2014.
Unfortunately for Senator Akpoti, during those dates, I was sent to the United States of America as President Jonathan's special envoy. I met and was photographed with multiple U.S. officials, including State Department officials, in Washington, D.C.
I then published a First Class British Airways ticket and my passport (which was a different class of passport from the regular Nigerian passport and requires a special kind of stamp), proving that I was not in Nigeria on the dates Senator Akpoti alleged I sexually harassed her.
After I published that evidence, Miss Natasha Akpoti, as she then was, deleted every trace of her allegations against me and the video she had made insulting me, my wife and my newborn daughter.
As I was pondering the next steps to take, a very influential and respectable man from my ethnic nationality, reached out to a prominent Christian clergyman, who mediated between him and I. The gentleman greeted me in my mother tongue, Itsekiri, and was most gentlemanly and expressed regrets over the incident, and I was prevailed on by the clergyman to reach an out-of-court settlement.
Thereafter, I dropped the matter since my name had been cleared, and the out-of-court settlement was adequate.
That is the extent of my encounter with Senator Natasha Akpoti. I hope the media can now leave me alone, as I am reluctant to grant any interviews or get entangled in this matter, seeing as I have the highest respect for the man who reached out to me to settle the matter.
As for the Senate, I have the highest respect and confidence in that institution and its leadership and believe that the right thing to do would be to institute a Senate investigation by the appropriate committee to determine the veracity of the present allegations.
Reno Omokri March 1, 2025.
https://x.com/renoomokri/status/1895889868120867248?s=48[/quote]Reno did well to have put this statement out in the public domain. Natasha Akpoti didn't do well to have lied against Reno who had published the EVIDENCE of his First Class British Airways ticket and passport which indicated he wasn't in Nigeria and contradicted the date Natasha claimed she was sexually harassed by Reno.
This is a classic blackmail strategy that some females have used for centuries to undermine men severally. Perhaps, Natasha's definition of "sexual harassment" is gotten from a Ukrainian language dictionary being that her biological mother originally hailed from Ukraine
However, Natasha's accusations against the Nigerian Senate President still has to be investigated in order to clear his name.
Just to add for those who don't know, Reno Omokri's biological mother is the one who is an Itsekiri woman of Itsekiri royal family descent, while Reno's biological father is an Urhobo.
Indians, Chinese, Japanese etc, do not reason like this your cockroach reasoning.
They do not say “Oh because we use this or that aspect of western convention, therefore we must dress like them, talk like them, act like them, and wear their hair on top of our heads!”
Chinese borrowed heavily from western technology. Do you see them struggling to speak English or borrow christian religion or Islam, or adopt western political systems etc?
NO.
They take what they need from outside while maintaining their cultural independence and dignity.
Learn from them!
Additionally, Nigeria practices Customary Law in addition to Common Law, so we’re not a one-trick pony.
Succinctly stated.
Americans lawyers and attorneys don't wear those funny-looking colonial-era white wigs and black gowns that lawyers in countries colonized by Britain and other former colonial powers wear, BUT they put on well-tailored or bespoke suits and skirt suits for male and female attorneys while in court.
Countries around the world still caught in the cesspit of past colonial vestiges MUST learn to "Glocalize." "Think locally and Act globally." Period.
Eniola Ojajuni, the National President of the Afenifere Youth Council, has been released after spending 12 days in captivity. His release was confirmed by the Youth Council's National Secretary, Biodun Aderohunmu. Ojajuni was kidnapped on February 17 while traveling to Abuja. During his captivity, he revealed in a viral video that his abductors demanded ₦100 million and two tricycles as ransom. It remains unclear whether any ransom was paid, but a trending video shows him confirming his release in Ibilo, Edo State.
Rebuker: Afenifere Youth Leader, Eniola Ojajuni, Freed After 12 Days in Captivity
The National President of the Afenifere Youth Council, Eniola Ojajuni, who was kidnapped, has finally regained his freedom after spending 12 days in captivity.
His release was confirmed on Saturday by the National Secretary of the Youth Council, Biodun Aderohunmu, who simply said, “He has been released.”
Ojajuni was abducted on Monday, February 17, while traveling to Abuja for a meeting.
During his time in captivity, a viral video showed him revealing that his kidnappers had demanded a ransom of ₦100 million and two tricycles for his release.
As of the time of this report, it is unclear whether the ransom was paid or not. However, a video of him shortly after his release has been trending online, where he confirmed that he was freed in Ibilo, Edo State.
TimeManager: The Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has said the recent crash in the prices of foodstuff across the country, particularly in Lagos and Abuja indicated that the nation’s economic policies are working.
The chief convener of ATT, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, in a chat with our correspondent in Kaduna yesterday said despite the economic policies of the present administration, no one was appreciating President Bola Tinubu, but to continue to criticise him.
He appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with Tinubu for more positive developments in the country.
He said, “We are still pleading with Nigerians to exercise more patience because they will see more positive developments than what they are seeing now.
“What Nigerians need to know in 2025, for the first time since President Tinubu took office in May 2023, is that Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis has started to be on the easy side of life.
“When we followed a recent market survey in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, it showed that the prices of key food staples declined in February 2025, easing the financial burden on cash-strapped Nigerians who have endured soaring inflation since the 2020 pandemic.”
He said the market survey indicated that a 50kg bag of foreign parboiled rice now sells for N85,000, down from N120,000 five months ago. Local parboiled rice dropped to N95,000 from N105,000 in three months. The price of a big basket of fresh tomatoes plummeted 70 percent, from N120,000 to N35,000.
“Also, a 4-litre paint container of garri now costs N2,500, down from N3,500 five months ago, while a 60kg bag sells for N37,500. A big tuber of yam now sells for N2,500 in Abuja and Onitsha, compared to N5,500 five months ago. In Port Harcourt and Abuja, N1,000 can now buy six to ten pieces of onion, compared to three or four pieces three months ago,” he said.
apoti: President Donald Trump suggested the introduction of a "gold card" visa on Tuesday afternoon — a potential opportunity for foreign investors to buy their way to American citizenship.
The U.S. currently offers a similar opportunity through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which was established in 1990 and is administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). According to USCIS's website, the visa is open to investors who "make the necessary investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States," as well as "plan to create or preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers."
But Trump's recent suggestion would replace the EB-5 program, and instead, the Republican president plans to propose a "gold card" visa to the tune of $5 million.
"We are going to be selling a gold card," Trump explained to reporters. "We are going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million."
"It's going to give you green card privileges, plus it's going to be a route to (American) citizenship, and wealthy people would be coming into our country by buying this card," the president continued.
When a reporter asked if it was possible for a Russian oligarch to obtain the card, Trump answered in the affirmative.
"Yeah, possibly," the U.S. leader replied. "Hey, I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people."
At least one other member of the Trump administration has signaled support for the measure. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accused the EB-5 program of being "full of nonsense, make-believe and fraud."
"It was a way to get a green card that was low price," Lutnick said. "So the president said, rather than having this sort of ridiculous EB-5 program, we're going to end the EB-5 program. We're going to replace it with the Trump gold card."
bobman22: Amidst Nigeria's economic turbulence, Captain Ahmed Borodo, the visionary leader behind Flybird Aircraft Management Services Limited (AMSL), continues to steer his company to unparalleled success, solidifying its position as a beacon of excellence in the aviation industry. Despite facing myriad challenges, including the recent depreciation of the Naira, fuel shortages, and other economic headwinds, Borodo's steadfast leadership and strategic foresight have enabled Flybird AMSL to not only weather the storm but emerge stronger than ever.
As Nigeria grapples with the impact of global economic fluctuations, the recent depreciation of the Naira has posed significant challenges for businesses across various sectors. The aviation industry, in particular, has felt the strain, with increased operating costs and currency volatility impacting profitability and operational efficiency. However, under Borodo's astute leadership, Flybird AMSL has navigated these challenges with resilience and determination, maintaining its unwavering commitment to excellence amidst adversity.
"Despite the economic challenges facing our nation, Flybird AMSL remains steadfast in its dedication to providing world-class aviation services," affirms Borodo. "We understand the importance of adaptability and innovation in times of uncertainty, and we are continuously striving to optimize our operations and deliver exceptional value to our clients."
Fuel shortages have also plagued Nigeria in recent months, further exacerbating the operational challenges faced by businesses across the country. With disruptions in fuel supply chains and escalating costs, many companies have struggled to maintain continuity in their operations. However, Borodo's proactive approach and strategic planning have enabled Flybird AMSL to mitigate the impact of fuel shortages, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery to its clientele.
"In times of crisis, effective leadership is paramount," asserts Borodo. "At Flybird AMSL, we have implemented robust contingency plans and proactive measures to mitigate the impact of fuel shortages on our operations. By prioritizing efficiency and resourcefulness, we have successfully overcome these challenges and upheld our commitment to excellence."
Despite the economic headwinds, Flybird AMSL continues to maintain its dominance in the aviation industry, thanks to Borodo's unwavering dedication to quality, safety, and customer satisfaction. With a focus on operational excellence and continuous improvement, Borodo and his team have forged ahead, leveraging their expertise and innovative spirit to navigate turbulent waters and emerge stronger on the other side.
"As we look to the future, Flybird AMSL remains steadfast in its pursuit of excellence," affirms Borodo. "We are committed to overcoming challenges, embracing opportunities, and solidifying our position as a leader in the aviation industry. With resilience, determination, and a relentless focus on quality, we will continue to soar to new heights."
Captain Borodo's leadership has been instrumental in guiding Flybird AMSL through Nigeria's economic challenges, demonstrating resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to excellence. As the company continues to thrive amidst adversity, Borodo's vision and strategic direction pave the way for a future of continued success and growth in the aviation sector.
seunowa: Nigeria has been removed from the global aviation leasing market's blacklist.
Individual airline operators in Nigeria can now directly deal with lessors to lease aircraft. Previously regarded as a risky market, Nigeria now has stronger prospects for leasing aircraft.
This announcement was made by the Chief Operating Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Osita Okonkwo, who noted that the West African country now has more access to leasing aircraft, following its removal from the global aviation leasing market's blacklist.
“The important thing is that Nigeria is no longer on the blacklist. Nigeria was blacklisted before, but that is sorted,” he stated.
The CEO also disclosed that while Nigeria's blacklisting concerns have been handled, individual airline operators must now deal directly with lessors to get aircraft.
“So, individual operators, we now have to discuss flying the aircraft, discuss with lessors, meet their conditions, and then sign on the dotted lines,” Osita Okonkwo, revealed.
In previous years, Nigeria was regarded as a risky market, which made it challenging for airlines to lease aircraft, according to Okonkwo.
Fortunately, operators now have stronger prospects due to the increased rating, as reported by the Punch newspaper.
“It all depends on the risks. Before, Nigeria was rated very high risk, and almost no business was done with Nigeria, but now the high risk is gone. We hope the price is competitive,’ he said. “On dry leasing, the process of getting an airplane purchased is not your regular process of ‘I want to buy a car, and I’m paying, and I’m taking it home.’. There are so many processes, so many documentary things that will be involved,” Tunde Moshood, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development's Special Adviser on Media and Communications, stated.
“So, the Boeing lessors forum that we attended has exposed Nigeria to the Western world; they appreciated the fact that Nigeria is back and it is promising and that we are fulfilled in all righteousness. Like our IDERA, like the Cape Town Convention, all of these are what has endeared us to the lessors,” he added.
malali: Folorunso Alakija, a prominent Nigerian businesswoman, [b]secured ownership of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 127 through a series of shady moves:
1. 1993: Her company, Famfa Oil, was awarded Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 216, covering a significant offshore area.  2. 1996: Famfa Oil entered a partnership with Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, a subsidiary of Texaco, to explore and develop the block. 3. 2000: The Nigerian government acquired a 40% stake in OPL 216 under the Back-In Rights Regulation, aiming to increase national participation in oil ventures. [/b] 4. 2004: OPL 216 was converted to OML 127, marking its transition from a prospecting license to a mining lease. 5. 2005: The government further acquired an additional 10% stake, raising its total interest to 50%. 6. 2012: After a prolonged legal battle, the Nigerian Supreme Court ruled in favor of Famfa Oil, restoring the 50% stake to the company and reaffirming its majority ownership of 60% in OML 127.  Dont try to whitewash history, even Obasanjo tried to nationalise 50% of of the OML 127, at that time. You cant present false claims. There are a lot of people alive today that know what happened. Alakija is IBB's front in OML 127. That was why it was important for IBB who took over from him, MKO Abiola would have cancelled that rubbish allocation, giving the countries entire resource to one person. Abacha allowed it because he thought IBB was a friend.
I just logged in and saw your post.
Mister, I worked with a major multinational oil and gas company right from the 1990s and that gave me deep insights into the goings on in that industry. This is why I was able to confidently state the key points I made in my last post that you quoted. I strongly detest when people try to project themselves based off of what they are NOT. Do NOT spin conspiracy theories here. What do you mean by whitewash history? I speak ONLY speak based on facts. I've learned in my over 5 decades on earth to research and ask questions if I don't know enough about something.
The Supreme Court CLEARLY ruled in FAVOR of Famfa Oil and you incidentally included this fact in the number 6 point right BELOW. So where is the infraction OR "series of shady moves" in the acquisition of OML 127 that you alluded to coming from? Neither was she fronting for anybody like you alluded to without evidence.
NO doubt, I remember clearly back in the early 2000s that OBJ (using the NNPC) felt OML 127 owned by Famfa Oil was a prolific deep offshore block producing over 200,000 Barrels per day of crude oil had to be grabbed by first attempting to take 40% then raised to 50% of the shares while leaving ONLY 10% for Famfa Oil. This is why Famfa Oil which has a management structure and went into partnership with other technical partners back in the 1990s resoundingly won the case in the Nigerian Supreme Court in a landmark judgment and NNPC was ordered to back off from taking the 50% shares of Famfa Oil's total. Of 60% thereby emphasising that Famfa Oil NEVER did anything wrong like some ill-informed people who are NOT industry experts are saying through the spread of highly irresponsible beer parlor stories!
This is exactly how some "complete idiots" who belong to these rabid gangs of young of ethnic bigots (who were NOT even born as of 1993) went about defaming Mrs. Folorunso Alakija (who I remember worked as a banker with IMB back in the 1980s) here on some NL threads by falsely claiming that she had "sex or slept" with Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Sani Abacha in order to "secure" the oil block which is highly irresponsible of those boys!
6. 2012: After a prolonged legal battle, the Nigerian Supreme Court ruled in favor of Famfa Oil, restoring the 50% stake to the company and reaffirming its majority ownership of 60% in OML 127.
Last but NOT least, I will enjoin you to be civil in your communication with others here. Some of here are professionals and not some youngsters engaging in copying and pasting of unfounded information.
naptu2: My life is in danger – NAFDAC DG cries out
…Seeks Death Penalty for Fake Drug Peddlers
…Says Agency Seized Over N1 Trillion Worth of Expired Drugs
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised the alarm over threats to her life and the safety of agency staff, calling on authorities to protect them as they navigate hazardous conditions in their duties.
She also advocated for the death penalty for those involved in the production and sale of fake and counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.
Speaking at a State House briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, Prof. Adeyeye disclosed that NAFDAC had recently seized illicit drugs worth over N1 trillion in an ongoing crackdown against substandard and fake pharmaceutical products.
The NAFDAC boss revealed that the agency’s intensified enforcement efforts had resulted in the seizure of 87 truckloads of banned, expired, and substandard medical products. Among the confiscated items were USAID- and UNFPA-donated antiretroviral drugs, male and female condoms, and other compromised medical supplies.
She described the large-scale operation, which targeted Nigeria’s three major open drug markets, as the biggest in NAFDAC’s history. The operation was executed in:
Ariaria and Eziukwu Markets (Aba, Abia State)
Bridge Head Market (Onitsha, Anambra State)
Idumota Drug Market (Lagos State)
Prof. Adeyeye estimated that the value of the seized items was at least N1 trillion, but noted that further assessment could reveal a higher figure.
The NAFDAC DG recounted how staff members had faced kidnapping attempts and physical threats due to their work.
“I told you about the attempted murder about six months ago. One of our staff members in Kano had his child kidnapped because he was doing his job. Fortunately, the child escaped,” she revealed.
“For me, I have two policemen living in my house 24/7 in Abuja and Lagos. I don’t have a life. I can’t go anywhere without police escorts. That’s not my way of living, but I don’t have a choice because we must save our country. Nonetheless, I also use common sense.”
Akunyili’s Legacy and the Battle Against Fake Drugs
The threats facing Prof. Adeyeye mirror those encountered by Prof. Dora Akunyili, who led NAFDAC from 2001 to 2009 and became a target of drug cartels due to her relentless fight against counterfeit drugs.
Akunyili’s motivation stemmed from the death of her sister, who died after receiving fake insulin. Her campaigns led to the closure of open-air drug markets and the confiscation of fake drugs, drawing numerous threats and even an assassination attempt in 2003.
Like Akunyili, Prof. Adeyeye remains determined to eradicate the fake drug menace despite the dangers involved.
Prof. Adeyeye emphasized the need for stricter punishments, including the death penalty, for those endangering lives through fake drugs.
She urged the Nigerian government to implement stronger laws to curb the life-threatening trade of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
NAFDAC continues to intensify its enforcement actions nationwide, with the goal of protecting public health and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry.
“There were a lot of fights from the political class, they didn’t want him to give me the job because the Minister of Health was Igbo. I am Igbo and MOST of the drug counterfeiters are Igbos,” Akunyili said. “Remember, I am also a woman. But Obasanjo stood his ground and said, ‘No, this is the woman that will do the job’.”
As seen in the excerpt directly ABOVE in the "Neusroom" publication, "The Guardian" newspaper of the UK and more, Dora Akunyili herself widely confirmed in the Nigerian and international electronic and print mass media when she was the NAFDAC DG from back in 2001 that some of her own Igbo people are the ones MOSTLY behind the importation, production and sales of FAKE, EXPIRED and COUNTERFEIT drugs!
Dora Akunyili (the bold Anambra-born administrator said her sister, Vivian died in 1988 due to fake, counterfeit drugs hence her strong passion) was very blunt and outspoken about her condemnation of these criminals of Igbo origin who used mainly Anambra State, Aba, Idumota, etc, as locations to distribute these FAKE, EXPIRED and COUNTERFEIT drugs with NO genuine NAFDAC numbers to other parts or cities of Nigeria and West Africa thereby causing kidney failures and death with unsuspecting buyers picking them up. In December 2023, these criminals tried to kill Dora Akunyili while being driven in her car in Anambra State but the bullet miraculously grazed her scalp from the back wind screen of her car.
gulfer: Have you asked yourself, "who designed and inputted data into that "SUPER FAST" computer
Answer: Humans 🤔🤔🤔
I know, just to be clear, I NEVER doubted what you originally posted and the capacity of the human brain (with all the billions of neurological connections it contains). It's simply amazing what the world of "neuroscience" reveals about the human brain based off of what I've read from the early 1990s till date.
BUT, once the intensely beautiful human element of "designing and inputting the data" is done, that machine created by man literally kicks in to perform calculation wonders to aid in the field of crude oil exploration and production, space exploration, autonomous vehicles, even in the game of chess, we have super computers beating the best chess players in the world and more!
She could easily be making $1.5 Billion dollars a year after paying taxes, royalties and cost of exploration.
At the very least.
If you think she owns it alone,you are probably misguided. She is probably a front.
[b]The government needs to nationalize the asset 100%. Nigerians cannot be starving and JAPA-ing while Alakija pockets $1.5 billion dollars every year. Because Babangida gave her the countries national asset in the 80's.
Ibrahim Babangida did NOT give Mrs Folorunso Alakija it the OML 127 on a platter of gold. Her company Famfa Oil bidded for the highly risky oil block in the early 1990s not the 1980s like you stated alongside others such as Mike Adenuga, High Chief Lulu Briggs of Moni Pulo, Arthur Eze, and more.
Famfa Oil then brought in technical partners to develop the oil block at great cost running into millions of USD before striking crude oil. Her sagacity led to her developing a strong team to achieve success. Renting an oil rig alone everyday runs into millions of USD, so, it's easy to see why OBJ lost the bid to take over Famfa Oils rights after they had spent millions of USD since the early 1990s.
Mike Adenuga was the FIRST EVER Nigerian to strike crude oil successfully with Consolidated Oil (Conoil) in the risky deep offshore but others such as the Ibadan-born Nigerian-American oil mogul, Kase Lawal did NOT record much commercial success.
I know all these because I was aware of the goings on in the oil and gas sector back in the early 1990s and have industry-specific documents and media reports from that era when the limited 2-D technology was being used for oil exploration activities. With the introduction of 3-D technology things took a giant leap in the oil and gas sector.
Mrs Folorunso Alakija was born into the wealthy Ogbara family of Ikorodu and had her early education in Wales, UK with her sister before she was 10 years of age. She worked as a banker with IMB located on Victoria Island, Lagos (IMB Plaza glass house built like a pyramid near the Bar Beach) before resigning to take care young children. She then set up the hugely famous fashion brand called "Supreme Stitches" and catered to an elite clientele.
So, she didn't just jump from being a fashion designer into the oil and gas sector like this article suggests.
The thrust of this article is on her alleged blindness which has been subsumed by the other stories woven into the article.
Regardless, even if she is blind, she can still see again even if it's due to nerve damage from glaucoma with new medical technologies that are available right now. Cataract has long been taken care of. I'll reach out to her fam with more info and know what's really going on.
Jamesbiodun: Well here they don't use any form of chemical or any form of soap for fufu... But I have seen where they use hypo for chicken, that is why I will never buy frozen chicken from Nigeria poultry , if I see how they process frozen foods we buy I may not even eat at all again
Is it imported frozen chicken or domestically grown chicken you are referencing here?
Second, what really is the "hypo" meant to do in the chicken meat by the way.
The brave, straight-talking Kemi Badenoch had another catastrophe at PMQs today, and ended up complaining to daddy the Speaker about Starmer being patronizing when he dismissed her flimsy questions (even the Spectator said they were ineffective) as 'a desperate search for relevance' from someone who had 'cast herself as the saviour of western civilisation.'
You'd almost feel sorry for her... until you remember how she reffered to care workers as butt wipers.
It looks like her real value lies in her ability to provide entertainment, and she's doing well at that, to be fair.
The argumentative Kemi had it coming for her whichever way you choose to look at it. She'll learn the hard way that in the real world we live in, you need a blend of TACT and FORESIGHT to survive the head winds. Period.
Foreign Affairs › Re: US Intelligence Officer Gets Emotional After Trump Zelenskyy’s Explosive Meeting by Konquest(op): 9:38am On Mar 03, 2025
