₦airaland Forum

There is growing anxiety over the state of health of former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali
His brother, Rahman Ali reportedly told the world days ago that his brother’s battle with Parkinson’s has taken a turn for the worse.
“He’s in a bad way. He’s very sick. It could be months, it could be days. I don’t know if he’ll last the summer. He’s in God’s hands,” he was quoted as saying.
However, other family members say Ali is busy enjoying himself. They countered the supposed near death of the boxing legend by posting on Twitter a photo of Muhammad Ali in a Ravens jersey getting ready to watch Super Bowl 2013 from their home in Phoenix.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Ali’s wife of 26 years, is allegedly limiting or denying him visitors.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/anxiety-over-muhammad-alis-health/

The General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has decried the rot in the nation’s judiciary, saying that if urgent action is not taken to check the anomaly, the judiciary would plunge the nation into “irredeemable abyss.”

Speaking yesterday at a press conference held in his church in Lagos, Pastor Bakare lamented that Nigeria’s judiciary is no longer the last hope of the common man, but an altar of injustice, cruelty and place for the highest bidder.

He said: “The judiciary has ceased to be the last hope of the common man; it has become the last refuge of crooks. It is not surprising to see our young people carrying arms against the state via one terrorist group or the other.”

The cleric said that it is odd to see treasury looters and day light robbers, who occupied the leadership positions and reduce average Nigerians into a mere walking corpse due to poverty and penury, constitute themselves into a cabal on the nation’s collective heritage.

According to him, the time is now ripe for Nigerians to ensure that all the forces of darkness that have pervaded the country and make it a hell on earth for the people are sent to where they belong.

Bakare, who condemned the recent comments by government officials on the issue raised by the former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, on how $45 billion foreign reserves was squandered by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, pointed out that it was a shame of a nation, saying that instead of addressing the issue, the government began chasing shadow.

He said: “Rather than giving a lucid reason and mature response to Ezekwesili’s statement, the Federal Government, through its spokespersons, went into all manner of tirades against her person, virulently attacking the messenger while ignoring the message.”

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/nigerian-judiciary-is-refuge-of-crooks-bakare/

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to be more sincere and honest to Nigerians for him to be able to take the country to the promised land.

The Vice-President of CAN, Most Rev. Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, made the call in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, over the weekend, while briefing journalists at the end of a three-day Open Air Revival Crusade organised by the South-West Ecclesiastical Province of his church at the Amphitheatre of Lekan Salami Sports Complex.

Ositelu, who is the Primate of the Church of the Lord (Aladura) and executive member of the World Council of Churches, expressed grave concern over the high level of corruption in Nigeria, stressing that “corruption may consume the country if it is not effectively handled.”

The cleric bemoaned the state of insecurity in the country coupled with poverty and corruption in high places.

He said: “What is required is sincere, honest and competent administration that treats all with fairness.

“Promoting any religion above the others by government is neither economically nor constitutionally justified, and sends wrong signals to the citizenry.

“In a country where over 90 per cent live in abject poverty and where less than one per cent lives in luxury on public fund, one has to wonder about the political leadership of such a country.”

Urging Jonathan to make urgent amends in his approach to the national polity, Ositelu appealed to all other tiers of government to “strive at leaving a legacy of good governance, transparent accountability and allow the fear of God to guide their thoughts and actions.”

The cleric also urged Nigerians to continue to support the country in prayers so that peace could reign supreme.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/be-honest-with-nigerians-can-tells-jonathan/

The Appeal Tribunal on Lagos Local Government Elections today ruled that ACN’s candidate, Wale Adeniji should remain in office thereby dashing the hope of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ibrahim Obanikoro.
The Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal had in October 2012, declared Ibrahim Obanikoro, the duly elected Chairman of the Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA.
The lead judgment was read by Justice Candide-Johnson and the four other justices on the Appeal Panel concurred with the judgment, making it a unanimous judgment.
National leader of ACN and former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu resides in the LCDA..

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/again-obanikoro-loses-ikoyiobalende-lcda/

Ahead of this year’s UTME exams, JAMB has evolved three testing methods to offer candidates.

• Paper pencil-based
• Computer-based
• Dual-based

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/utme-now-candidates-have-three-options/

The Special Court sitting in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State, has sentenced two Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officials to three months imprisonment for stealing clothes. They were pronounced guilty of stealing two tshirts belonging to a foreigner, whose goods were seized by the taskforce officials.

The officials – Adeosun Adewale and Ganiu Yusuf – attached to the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, were charged for conduct likely to cause breach of peace, obstruction and criminal extortion.

They were sentenced to three months imprisonment and two days community service each or pay fine of N10, 000 in addition to two days community services.

Speaking on the development, the Taskforce Chairman, Mr. Bayo Sulaiman, who said the KAI officials had already been dismissed for stealing, reaffirmed the tasks force’s commitment to enforcing the law diligently.

Sulaiman said he had warned enforcement officials not to steal people’s property anytime they went out to enforce law, adding that the taskforce would not condoned such corrupt act.

He said: “Recently, we went on a raid to clear road obstruction at Berger area of Lagos. We cleared the area and restored sanity to the area. Lots of items were taken away such as clothes, foods and handsets so that their owners could come to our office for prosecution.

“Two clothes were stolen by two KAI members attached to my office. The owner of the clothes, an Indian, said two of the tshirts were missing. Two of the KAI officials were seen wearing the t-shirts and the owner claimed the shirts belong to him.”

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/two-kai-officials-jailed-for-stealing

The President of the African Association of Christian Counsellors and a member of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN; Bishop Obadiah-Green Alawode, yesterday hit hard on some leaders of the association whom he accused of allowing themselves to be hijacked by the country’s politicians.

Bishop Alawode in a message sent to journalists in Osogbo, Osun State, said it is a pity that these so-called clergymen have allowed themselves to be bought over by politicians through contracts allocated to them for execution.

The clergyman, who wondered why such men of God would go this far, said majority of the clergymen are government contractors, adding that this has hindered them from criticising the misdeeds of government constructively, warning them to desist now to avoid the wrath of God.

“It is now an open secret that CAN is one of the major problems of this country. A body that supposes to pray and work for peace in Nigeria through its members knows no peace.

“It cannot pray and work for the prosperity of Nigerians because its leaders have been hijacked by politicians, some are now government spokespersons, while some are contractors.”

He said our churches and Christian bodies that are supposed to chase Boko Haram terrorists out of the country with prayers and spiritual warfare have abdicated the “weapon of our warfare, which is not carnal.”

He said CAN should be reformed to be effective as according to him, “It has seriously conformed to the Nigerian system. This is imperative if church leaders are to witness the much needed and deserved respect and our country to have her peace and prosperity.”

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/many-can-leaders-are-govt-contractors-clergy/

Tragedy has struck the sleepy community of Agudama- Epie in Yenagoa Local Government, as a policeman with the Bayelsa State Police Command committed suicide owing to matrimonial problems in his home. Investigations revealed that the cop died on January 18, after drinking a liquid suspected to be poison.

His corpse was immediately deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC Yenagoa, before being taken away for burial at Oporoma , in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

The late policeman was said to have less than three years remaining in service before going on retirement. A family source who pleaded anonymity, said his first wife had noticed that the deceased slept for too longer than normal and after trying to wake him up, raised the alarm that attracted people in the neighbourhood.

The source said the middle aged cop had been having running battles with his second wife, even as it was gathered that he attempted to kill himself on two occasions owing to matrimonial issues that were later resolved. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Fidelis Odunna, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident .

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/policeman-commits-suicide-in-yenagoa/

Scammers have opened a facebook account for Governor Fashola Babatunde of Lagos State to defraud the public. Following this, the state government has advised the public to be wary of the scammers’ antics so as not to fall victims to the fraudsters.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Raji, said in a statement that the government had dissociated itself from message on the facebook account page.

Raji warned the public to regard e-mails or SMS purportedly from the governor as false. He said: “The Lagos State Government has alerted the general public to be wary of an e-mail on a facebook account fraudulently set up under the name of “Babatunde Fashola” requesting unsuspecting members of the public to pay N2,700 to a GTBank account 0122895107 as application form fee for employment.

“The GTBank account is opened in the name of one Onyebe Earnest, who has been sending bulk SMS with the name ‘CSC LAGOS’ to advise the public on the GTB account number into which the money should be paid.”

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/scammers-open-fake-fasholas-facebook-account-to-defraud-public/

A clash between Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha, was averted yesterday by His Grace, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna of Owerri Archdioceses.

Crisis brewed over seating arrangement at the blessing ceremony of Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Catholic Church built by the Chairman of Zinox Computers Limited, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh, at Amauburu Ubomiri in Mbailitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

Obi, who arrived the church before Ohorocha, had taken his seat at the front row not knowing that the Imo State governor’s aides had already reserved the seat for their boss. It was gathered that an argument ensued as to who should occupy the front row, but the situation that would have resulted into clash was averted when Obinna intervened. The archbishop said that seat should not be reserved in the church, adding that the Anambra State governor arrived early and should be allowed to take the front row.

A source said Obinna’s intervention saved a repeat of what happened in Anambra State between Okorocha and Obi’s aides over seating arrangement.

However, during the homily delivered by the Archbishop of Owerri Archdioceses, Obinna admonished governors and other politicians to know that they are in office to serve the people and not the other way round.

He advised those in power to emulate the biblical Nehemiah to ensure that the resources left in their care are used judiciously to make the people happier than they met them, adding that their leadership should provide security, peace and employment to the people.

He frowned at incessant kidnappings and insecurity in the country and urged the leaders to be agents of development and peace to their people. Obinna commended Ekeh for singlehandedly building the church.

The cleric advised other leaders to emulate such gesture for the well-being of the people.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/archbishop-averts-okorocha-obis-clash/

Media rights organisations, including Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Middle East-based Doha Centre for Media Freedom (DCMF) have accused French and Malian authorities of wanting to control the flow of information.
The French government however insisted that it was too risky for the media to come close to the war zone, adding that the restrictions were for their own safety.
But Paris-based RSF disagrees.
In a terse statement, it claimed that, “It is imperative that journalists should be free to verify the situation on the ground for themselves without having to make do with the information provided by the authorities of the countries involved in the conflict, especially when the first claims of war crimes by soldiers are being made.
The current situation constitutes a grave obstruction to the ability of journalists to do their job. In war time, it is up to journalists and their news organisations, not the military, to determine the risk they are prepared to take in order to gather information.”
Reports said several journalists who were given permission to travel with French armoured vehicles as far as Sévaré were obliged to leave the convoy in Ségou, some distance short of their destination, yesterday morning.
“However, with the combination of modern technology, social media and the fact that courageous journalists continue to battle to do their jobs in Mali, the battle to restrict the truth is set to be a major challenge in itself,” a reliable source from Doha Centre for Media Freedom (DCMF) said.
Nigeria which sent troops to Mali recently is appealing to other African nations to do likewise.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/journalists-barred-from-covering-mali-war/

The Lagos State government yesterday warned owners of abandoned vehicles in the state to remove them within three days or risk their being impoundment.

The state government also appealed to mechanics along the Third Mainland Bridge up to the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, office at Sura, Ilubirin area of the metropolis to vacate the entire stretch of the road within three days.

State Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, who gave the warning yesterday, said owners of abandoned vehicles, especially in Surulere, Mainland, Mushin, Agege and other local governments in the state should remove their vehicles immediately.

He added that members of the Committee on Abandoned and Disused Vehicles will commence the removal of abandoned vehicles from Monday, January 28, 2013.

Opeifa said the massive towing of abandoned vehicles would start from Surulere Local Government, Itire-Ikate and Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Areas.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/lagos-gives-3-day-ultimatum-to-abandoned-vehicles-owners/

CAN dares Catholics, says ‘you can pull out’

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/can-dares-catholics-says-you-can-pull-out/

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday reacted to the alleged moves by the Catholic Church to break away from the umbrella religious body, stressing that the threat was occasioned by the loss of the Presidency of the body to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

The Public Relations Officer of the 19 Northern States of CAN and Abuja, Mr. Sunny Oibe, who spoke with journalists yesterday on the alleged threat, also accused Catholics of arrogance. He said: “There is no division in CAN and we are all speaking with one language.

There are some certain elements in the leadership of CAN, led by Cardinal John Onaiyekan because he lost the CAN Presidency to Oritsejafor who has a lot of achievements. “There is no need for anybody to lose sleep over the threat by Catholics to pull out of CAN, because without them, CAN will still continue.

The constitution of CAN makes provision that membership can be terminated by any group that is misbehaving or any group can also terminate their membership. “Why is it that when Catholics were in the leadership of CAN, every bloc supported them but now because power has changed hands, they are threatening to pull out and causing confusion?

“They have been agitating that the Presidency of CAN must from the South. They are an appendage of PDP and PDP themselves. They are known for double standards.

A man of God should not be double speaking.” He said in exercising their right to free association, Catholics should not mislead the public. “The Catholics are claiming that the current CAN leadership has deviated from the vision of the founding fathers when they don’t even know how CAN came about.

What did the Catholics know about the vision of the founding fathers? “CAN was formed because of the marginalisation of Christians in the North.

The Christians in the North, particularly those of them from the TEKAN extraction came together and formed Northern Christian Association. It was that body that metamorphosed to CAN,” he said.

According to him, during the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo when CAN was to be registered, “the leadership was given to them because Catholics were in leadership; I want o correct that impression because they have been telling the world that they are the founding fathers of CAN.

“Catholics have accused the current CAN leadership led by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of being pro-government. But if you look at the whole scenario, you will be able to find out who between Oritsejafor and Onaiyekan is more close to government.

“The problem of Catholics is that they always display arrogance of knowledge. They don’t want to be under anybody but they want everybody to be under them. It doesn’t work like that because there is no seniority in CAN,” he added.

It will be recalled that the Diocesan Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Ogun State, Monsignor Christopher Ajala had on Tuesday said that the church decided to boycott the activities of CAN last November, particularly at the national level because it was no longer comfortable with the closeness of its leadership to the government.

The Catholic Church said because it would not want to be part of an association that had become a mere appendage of the present administration, it therefore had no other choice than to boycott CAN activities. Ajala said that the umbrella Christian body had failed to meet its goals and objectives as a religious organisation, which should be the mouthpiece of the ordinary people.

“I don’t know, what can we call them after Executive, Legislative, Judiciary then maybe they are the religious arm. But the Catholic Church says no, it should not be like that because they would dictate to us what to do and they would not take our advice seriously.”

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/can-dares-catholics-says-you-can-pull-out/

Following the growing opposition to the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 by his kinsmen in the Niger Delta, indications emerged yesterday that the Presidency had sent emissaries to get the critics to soft-pedal.

Our correspondent also learnt that the Presidency had promised the aggrieved ethnic leaders and ex-Ijaw militant commanders that the oil pipeline surveillance contracts, stopped in February 2012, are renewed.

Tension had gripped the Presidency due to the rising discontent with President Jonathan in the oil-rich Niger Delta ahead of his second term bid.

National Mirror learnt yesterday that the truce deal was being spearheaded by a notable Ijaw leader (name withheld).

It was gathered that the Presidency mandated the team to persuade the exmilitant leaders and other opponents of President Jonathan to stop their attacks on the President.

National Mirror learnt that the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Mike Oghiadomhe, met with the President of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Front, Alhaji Murjaheed Asari- Dokubo, in Abuja in a move designed to persuade the exmilitant leaders to sheathe his swords and reconcile with President Jonathan. Findings showed that only Asari-Dokubo attended the meeting.

It was gathered that the Presidency, which was uncomfortable with the recent attacks on Jonathan by Asari-Dokubo, especially as it affected the chances of the Nigerian leader to seek re-election in 2015, directed Oghiadomhe to prevail on the ex-fighter to end his vitrolic attacks.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/jonathans-re-election-presidency-lobbies-former-militants-with-oil-contracts/

For conducting virginity test on some female students in her school last December, the Principal of Ajuwon Senior High School in Ifo Local Government, Ogun State, Rev. Olufunke Aladeojebi, will undergo psychiatric test to determine her mental state. The state government gave the directive, after considering an appraisal report submitted by a three-man panel headed by Alhaji Ambaliu Ishola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The government accepted the recommendation that Mrs. Aladeojebi should be relieved of her appointment, if found to be of unsound mind while she should be demoted from grade level 16 to grade level 15 and recalled back to the Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM, headquarters if found to be sane. The government also accepted the panel’s recommendation that the two health workers who collaborated with the school principal in carrying out the virginity test should be referred to the Ministry of Health for disciplinary action while they should be immediately redeployed from Ajuwon High School. The affected students are also to be referred to the State General Hospital for proper medical check-up and counselling while the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Segun Odubela and the TESCOM Chairman, Mr. Bukunola Onabanjo, have been directed to meet with and address members of the Parent- Teacher Association, PTA, staff and students of Ajuwon High School to douse the tension generated by the virginity test. According to the state government, all teachers who have spent up to five years in the school including the affected guidance and counsellors are to be redeployed immediately. Commenting on the development, Odubela said “with these decisions, we have finally laid to rest the issue of virginity test in Ajuwon High School.

[url]lekanoladeinde./2013/01/23/virginity-test-ogun-orders-psychiatric-test-for-ajuwon-principal/[/url]

Contrary to a report yesterday that the Federal Government has placed a ban on the importation of private jets into the country, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, said rather than do that, the government was planning to encourage more private jet owners in the country in 2014.

Also, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, insisted that the government was not planning to place restriction on the numbers of imported jets in the country.

Both Oduah and Ekweremadu stated these yesterday at the commissioning of the General Aviation Terminal, GAT, of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, NAA, Abuja.

Oduah noted that at present, there are about 50 private jet owners in the country, adding that the government was expecting an increase between now and next year.

She specifically said that the government expected a massive increase in the number of private jet owners which gave credence to the dedication of a terminal to the operators. Also, Ekweremadu noted that there was no basis for the government to place a ban on the importation of private jets into the country.

He argued that at present in the United States, there are over 2,000 private jet owners in the country while they are less than 50 in Nigeria.

He, however, appealed to the government to provide the same comfort provided for jet owners with the dedication of the GAT to other passengers of commercial airlines, stressing that by so doing, government would have created comfort for all users of the airport despite their classes.
http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/fg-expects-more-private-jet-owners-in-2014-minister/

Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday denied sponsoring governorship campaign posters, which flooded parts of Lagos State at the weekend.

Obanikoro described as cheap and miscalculated the fake campaign posters purportedly presenting him as gunning for the governorship of the state in 2015.

The former ambassador said the motive behind the move had failed ab initio because, apart from the fact that the strategy was oldfashioned, the timing was ill-advised and the intention stymied.

Obanikoro said the move was intended to achieve either of two things: to present him as desperate or a politician of uncompromising tendencies and therefore concluded that both intentions had failed because they could neither push him out in the ring nor stifle him. He said: “Honestly, this has not come to me as a surprise because I understand the terrain in which I operate.

But I would have thought that even if those who relish in destructive politics still admire the trade, they could have at least, gone a notch up in their game.

This is cheap, ill-timed and a miscalculation. “I know where this is coming from, but it is good for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, because it shows clearly that the opposition is jittery already and when the time comes, our party which is bigger and better now will put them in their place. “If all this has set out to do is cause disaffection among us, too bad because it failed even before it was recognised as mischief.

“Interestingly, the same approach was used against the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and it failed because it was false. Even a member of the opposition party, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, recently had a whiff of his party’s bad politics.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/my-fake-campaign-posters-oppositions-handiwork-obanikoro/

A middle aged woman, Yidiat Bakare, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment by an Osogbo Magistrate court for killing her own child.

The accused was said to have deliberately thrown her threemonth- old baby into a river in Ifon- Osun, headquarters of Orolu Local Government Area of Osun State on January 10th, 2013.

Community Mirror gathered, the accused had quarreled with her husband, Amodu Bakare for refusing to give her housekeeping allowance. Because of this, the accused threw her child into the river.

Police prosecutor, Mr Oladoye Joshua, told the court that” the act of the accused person resulted in the death of the child and therefore had committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 325 of the criminal code, cap 34 voll II, laws of Osun state of Nigeria 2003.”

Counsel to accused person, Mr Jimoh Daramola pleaded guilty to the one count charge against his client. In his judgement, the presiding magistrate, Mr. Olusola Aluko, sentenced Yidiat to five years imprisonment with hard labour without an option of fine.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/woman-jailed-for-killing-own-child/

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye yesterday described same sex marriage legalised in some countries as anathema to God’s will and instruction.

Adeboye, who spoke at the New Year thanksgiving organised by the Joint Christian Mission of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, described same sex marriage as anti- God and ungodly.

The cleric condemned the act, which, he said, could draw backward the biblical doctrinal principle of God in humanity.

He said: “People should walk in the light of God and forsake acts that are traceable to darkness. Darkness is bad, it is evil. It produces poverty, hatred, sorrow, barenness and loneliness, but light produces love, peace, joy, promotion and faithfulness.

“Darkness is capable of wrecking havoc in the country, and Nigerian leaders should try to shun acts of darkness in 2013 for the nation to enjoy peace.”

The GO added that the will of God for human being is to be fruitful, replenish and multiply on earth and argued that same sex marriage was capable of wiping out human race within just 20 years.

Adeboye said anything contrary to man and woman marriage was devilish. He said: “Same sex marriage is anathema to God’s will and instruction.

The will of God for human being is to be fruitful, replenish and multiply on earth and anything contrary to that is devilish.”

“How can a man who marries a fellow man produce a child and how can a woman who marries a woman produce a child? “If this evil is allowed to stay, there will not be new born babies again in the world.

As the older generation dies, would there be new generation to succeed? Even plants and animals have new generation to succeed them.”

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/same-sex-marriage-against-gods-will-adeboye

Lagos state Governor Babatunde Fashola has banned commissioners, other political office holders and all civil servants from granting interviews to journalists.
The governor said that all political office holders must take permission from the Ministry of Information in order not to leak government’s official secrets.
Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, in a statement, said no public servant or political office holder must grant press interviews without due approval.
Fashola imposed a similar ban on commissioners and other public office holders during his first term in office.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/lagos-governor-bars-commissioners/

Babalakin shows up in court

Chairman of Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, Wale Babalakin (SAN), who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday was in court this morning to answer to the charges of criminal conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N4.7billion.
The businessman who was supposed to have reported to the anti-graft agency yesterday did not show up.
He was however in court this morning.



http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/babalakin-shows-up-in-court/

Chairman of Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, Wale Babalakin (SAN), who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday was in court this morning to answer to the charges of criminal conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N4.7billion.
The businessman who was supposed to have reported to the anti-graft agency yesterday did not show up.
He was however in court this morning.
http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/babalakin-shows-up-in-court/

Regional caucuses in the House of Representat ives are scheming to adopt the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for the Presidency in 2015, National Mirror can authoritatively reveal.

The chairman of a committee, who is from Benue State, told National Mirror yesterday that members from across regions in the country “would soon form a strong caucus to adopt the Speaker” for the number one slot.

The source, who did not want his name mentioned said: “We have identified the qualities we need in a leader of the country in Tambuwal and we are ready to give him the support.”

The lawmaker, who disclosed to National Mirror that his committee may likely begin the campaign, said he believed a Tambuwal presidency would give Nigerians a cause for celebration.

The lawmaker, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, added: “I believe very strongly that IBB (ex Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida) is also behind Tambuwal for the presidency.”

But the Speaker, who enjoys massive support from all parties in the House, may have a nut to crack: The Senate President, David Mark is also interested in Aso Rock.

But Tambuwal, from feelers emerging from both Chambers may have an edge over Mark.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/2015-reps-ibb-mount-pressure-on-tambuwal-to-run-for-presidency/

Nigeria's Defence Minister Falls To Artillery Fire

Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, collapsed into the hands of military officers today when the deafening sounds of artillery fire reverberated in celebration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja.
Reports claimed that there was no announcement, as is usual on such an occasion, before the artillery fire rented the air.
The development was said to have startled the minister, who slumped, before her military aides jumped to her rescue.
After regaining her composure, Erelu Obada came back to lay a wreath at the Remembrance Arcade.
Later yesterday afternoon, Obada, who looked hale and hearty, was in the State House with Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala when President Goodluck Jonathan met with Vice President of the World Bank, Murkhtar Diop.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/gbam-and-defence-minister-falls-to-artillery-fire/

An early morning fire affected a section of Shoprite, the shopping mall in Ikeja Business District this morning.
The incident was however quickly put under control.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/shoprite-on-fire/

Crisis is brewing between Lagos State Government and corporate organisations over refusal by the former to approve the operation of the recommended 200CC engine motorcycles. The Lagos Traffic Law 2012 prohibits operations of motorcycles otherwise called Okada on 475 major roads in the state.

Based on this, the government advised courier firms and other corporate organisations, including media houses, using the services of dispatch riders to buy the 200CC engine motorcycles for their business operations.

Following the enforcement of the law, newspaper houses and the courier companies acquired the recommended 200CC engine motorcycles, seeking approval of the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, MVAA.

But the Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, added another twist to the law when he said individuals and corporate organisations must apply for the approval before acquiring the recommended motorcycles, which is contrary to the dictates of the law.

The commissioner said he had the power to either approve or withhold approval for the brand of 200CC motorcycles purchased by the companies.

Exercising the said powers, Opeifa has refused to approve the 200CC motorcycles acquired by some newspapers such as This- Day, PM NEWS, National Mirror and others as well as several courier companies. Speaking with our correspondent, an employee of ThisDay newspaper bemoaned what he called ‘show of power’ by the commissioner.

He said the commissioner had refused to approve 12 new motorcycles purchased by the media house. “Virtually all our motorcycles had been confiscated, that was why we purchased the recommended motorcycle 200CC.

But to our dismay, the commissioner insisted that the motorcycles were fake, insisting that he will not approve the letter of authorisation,” he added.
http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/lagos-media-houses-firms-square-up-over-traffic-law/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested Mr. Vincent Ayewah, an aide of the Chief Executive Officer, The Rose of Sharon, a nongovernmental organisation, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, over an alleged N3m fraud. Six others were also arrested by the operatives of the commission on the same deal.

A statement by the spokesman of the commission Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said that their arrest was sequel to a petition by Alakija, alleging that Ayewah, one of her employees, fraudulently misappropriated the funds meant for the beneficiaries of the foundation’s empowerment scheme.

In the petition, she had alleged that Ayewah impersonated and stole various cheques and withdrew monies meant for orphans and widows in care of the foundation.

The statement said that Ayewah allegedly forged the cheques of the foundation’s Stanbic IBTC bank account and got one Miss Florence Ayewah and their friends to cash the forged cheques by presenting them with fake identity cards. The statement reads: “In the course of investigation, it was discovered that Vincent used his position to enlist his family members as beneficiaries of the scheme.

“Specifically, the foundation had been able to establish his mother, who is a widow in a petty trade and was paying the school fees of his sister, Florence Ayewah, a student of Lagos City Polytechnic. “Vincent confessed that he fell for the scam due to his poor background and being the only breadwinner of his family. He admitted that when cheques are ready for some beneficiaries of the foundation, “I divert them and get my siblings and friends to cash at banks.

I also arrange ID cards bearing the name on cheques with their faces on it for bank clearance.” Florence was arrested at a Stanbic IBTC bank in Lagos while trying to cash a forged cheque number 03378 in the sum of N97, 000 in favour of one Ms Olubunmi Juliana Ishola.

Besides Vincent, six other members of the syndicate involved in the scam and who have also been arrested are: George Ehizibolo, Onwuwa David, Okonkwo Chikadibia, Emmanuel Ayewah, Florence Ayewah and Chinyere Awanah Vincent admitted to have at, various times, sent his younger sister, Florence and her friend Chinyere and his younger brother, Emmanuel, to banks with fake identity cards.

He also admitted to have acquired a Honda Accord car with registration number: UA 845 AAA from the proceeds of the crime. The suspects will be arraigned in court soon.
http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/efcc-arrests-alakijas-aide-over-n3m-fraud/

An Osogbo Magistrate’s Court has arraigned a middle aged man, Oriyomi Adepoju for allegedly shaving the pubic hair of his wife, Nafisat without her consent.

The accused, said to be in possession of several pubic hairs when police searched his room in the course of investigations, was accused of shaving his wife’s pubic hair while she was sleeping.

The Prosecutor, Sergeant Tajudeen, told the court that the accused person conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace when the police attempted to arrest him at his residence on Ibokun road, Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

Sergeant Tajudeen said the accused person had, through his action, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 219 (D) of the criminal code, cap. 34, vol.II laws of Osun State and presented to the court the pubic hairs of some women found in the room of the accused person.

Adepoju, who was charged for breach of public peace and indecent assault, however, pleaded not guilty as he told the court that part of the hairs were that of his former wife, whom he had divorced and those of his present wife.

“The love I have for my wife prompted me to perpetrate the act. I shaved the hair in order to make her sexually active, as I do not enjoy making love with plenty hair on her private part, and I don’t want her to sleep with another man.”

The presiding magistrate, Mrs H.O Basiru granted the accused person bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/man-docked-for-shaving-wifes-pubic-hair/

What do you expect from them? Nothing

Following the shortage of office accommodation at its secretariat, the Akko Local Government Council in Gombe State has converted some of its conveniences to offices for staff.

Chairman of the council, Alhaji Adamu Jani Bello, revealed this during a the visit of Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo’s to Akko Central State Constituency.

He said the council is submitting a proposal for the construction of a wing of the local government secretariat in order to address the current shortage of office accommodation, which necessitated the conversion of some toilets to offices.

The Chairman appealed to the governor to provide the council with adequate office furniture and equipment to create a more conducive working environment for optimal performance of staff.

At Akko West State Constituency, the people reminded the governor of the persisting lack of potable water in the area, as they currently get their drinking water from ponds.

According to the member representing the constituency, Hon. Danazumi Adamu, the governor should urgently consider the extension of the greater Gombe South multibillion naira water project to the area to save the people from rampant diseases associated with poor and unhygienic water.

Other requests included the construction of roads to transport agricultural produce, electricity, health facilities, primary and secondary schools and the upgrading of others and creation of employment opportunities for the youths.

Responding, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, promised to work with chairman of the council, SUBEB, MDG’s and other stakeholders to tackle the problems.
http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/lg-converts-toilets-to-offices/