₦airaland Forum

President Buhari's beautiful daughter, Zahra, pictured looking elegant and classy in a Jacquard dress. And check out her Manolo Blahnik shoes...


Photo Credit: Instagram - lerougebyamma

Confederation of African Football, CAF, has banned Chris Giwa and four others from taking part in any Football related activity in the continent in the next 5 years. The ban comes after the NFF Disciplinary committee on May 12th placed a five-year ban on them.

Read CAF's letter titled RE- CONVEYANCE OF SANCTIONS BY NFF DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS EXTENSION AT THE CONTINENTAL LEVEL below...

Dear President, Following your previous correspondence dated May 16th and subsequent exchanges, CAF has well noted the decision of the NFF’s Disciplinary Committee dated May 12th placing five(5) year ban from all football related activities for the following people.
1. Christopher Giwa
2. Muazu Suleyman
3. Yahaya Adama
4. Sani Fema
5. Johnson Effiong

Following receipt of the documentation and details on the case, CAF hereby confirms the extension of such sanctions at the continental level. Please accept, dear President, our most sincere regards.
CONFEDERATION AFRICAINE DE FOOTBALL
Hicham El Amrani
Secretary General

http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2016/05/caf-bans-chris-giwa-4-others-from.html?m=1

Those who live in glass houses don't throw stones. Fayose is busy making a whole lot of noise Buhari this and that on the pages of Newspapers, Radio and Television and the irony of it is that wen same Buhari was giving Bailout to states we didn't hear even "Fim" he collected and still refuses to pay his workers


#Always Blabbing am sure Fayose is suffering from "Verbal Diarrhoea".

This is Gibberish wen he received the #400 Million naira u pple didn't cry to d media and public it is now dat d heat of d offence is getting to him. The Federal High Court hasn't done wrong to deny ur son a leave to seek medical attention. Dis press release is just for public sympathy dat d Metuh family ar craving for. In as much as we sympathize with him the right thing Most be done so that our children will live a better life since Metuh and Co have deny us a gud life

The entire Metuh family has been following the issues regarding our son, Chief Olisa Metuh and his ordeal since his arrest, detention and arraignment by the EFCC since January this year. 


We are aware that the matter regarding our son is subjudice hence we shall only comment on matters that are already in the public domain. For the avoidance of doubt, we want to make the following clarifications.


Olisa Metuh
In December 2015, when the issue of the N400 million came up and our son was invited by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), he immediately reported at ONSA. He then made enquires regarding the source of the money with a clear statement to ONSA that if the source of the money is from government coffers, he was willing to refund accordingly not minding that the money has been expended as directed by the former President. At that time, ONSA did not make the necessary clarifications.

Upon his arrest on the 5th of January 2016, the EFCC went to town mentioning several figures that were not the exact amount of money transferred to our son’s account. They alleged that N1.4 billion arms deal money was traced to his account and that he has been receiving N4 million monthly from ONSA. They kept him in detention for a period of 9 days after which he was transferred to Kuje prison where he spent another 13 days.

Nigerians are aware that of all the people who have been facing the predicament of having worked for either the PDP or the previous Federal Government, our son has been the only one that was brought to court in handcuffs, paraded as a common criminal and treated without any dignity whatsoever.  Eventually our son was granted bail under one of the most stringent conditions ever in the history of our country. Fortunately, we were able to meet the bail conditions and our son has been facing trial since then. He has been cooperating with the judiciary and done all required of him in the course of the trial. 

May we also point out that since his arrest and even up to about a week ago, our son has made several overtures to the arresting authority for him to refund the money since they now claim in court that it came from government coffers. All efforts have been unsuccessful. 

It is instructive that out of over 300 names listed as having received money from the ONSA, all those who offered to refund money were not arraigned in court.  Our son is the only one whose offer to refund money was rejected and has been arraigned in court and his case given accelerated hearing. On each trial date the hostility in the courtroom is palpable.  

As we speak to you the offer to refund the money to the federal government is still open and the government is yet to accept the offer. It is therefore clear to us that the intention is not the recovery of funds but a clear persecution of our son. 

Our son was diagnosed with a spinal cord problem in 2004. He has consistently managed it over this period. However, due to the treatments he received while in custody, the situation got aggravated. In the course of his trial, the situation deteriorated, especially after he fell at a meeting in the party office for which he was rushed to the National Hospital and was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit. Notwithstanding the grave medical condition, he still kept his court date the very next morning in spite of medical advice by the doctors. On another such occasion he vomited in court and had to be rushed back to the hospital where he is lying critically ill. 

Upon doctors’ recommendation, our son made application to be granted leave and his international passport released for him to travel to a recommended neurological hospital in London for immediate, critical delicate corrective surgery to save him from imminent irreversible paralysis. 

We are therefore shocked that with all the information available to the court regarding his grave medical condition and the critical need for him to have this corrective surgery, the Federal High Court Abuja refused his application. It is also instructive to note that the Federal High Court Abuja on the same day granted leave to someone facing similar trial to go abroad for one month for prayers while our ailing son is not allowed to travel for urgent medical attention. We are also aware that a few others facing similar trials, within the same federal high court jurisdiction, have been granted leave to travel for medical treatment and their passports released to them by the same court where they were granted bail. 

It is absurd that the main reason given by the court for refusing the application is that there are several teaching hospitals in Nigeria that can handle such critical spinal problems, especially as this dramatic claim by the trial Judge has no medical basis whatsoever. This is clearly one of the tactics being used by the court in an attempt to whip up public sentiments against our son in this courtroom media trial moreso when it is judicial notice that even public officers are allowed to travel abroad on ordinary medical check-up and at public expense. Our request is on the basis of a life-threatening ailment and will be undertaken with our own private resources. 

Sadly, as we speak, our son is lying on admission at the National Hospital where his spinal ailment is fast deteriorating and doctors fearing the worse for his life. He currently relies on palliatives being given to him at the National Hospital Abuja waiting for the opportunity of a corrective surgery. 

The essence of a criminal trial is to achieve justice and no justice can be achieved if someone dies in the process. We feel more convinced that this is a political vendetta considering the fact of his efforts to pay back the money if it came from government coffers not minding that the money has been expended as directed by the former President. 

Till date, the powers that be have shown that they would rather prosecute our son than accept a refund of the money. For those who are conversant with the goings on in the court, it is no longer news that our son was not informed that this money came from a source other than from the former President. Why then this concerted effort to silence him finally. 

Our concern now is that that our son should not be sentenced to a life in a wheel chair especially as we believe that the paramount interest of the authorities should rather be more on the recovery of funds. In this case, our son has from the onset shown his willingness to refund the money rather than dragging in other party members involved in the said assignment.      

Finally we want Nigerians to note that our son has never held any public office, has never worked for any arm of government and is not being charged for stealing and/or corrupt enrichment. 

Signed: 

Chief Gilbert Metuh.
For and On behalf of the Metuh family.

http://saharareporters.com/2016/05/26/our-son’s-life-danger-metuh-family

Those who live in glass houses don't throw stones. Fayose is busy making a whole lot of noise Buhari this and that on the pages of Newspapers, Radio and Television and the irony of it is that wen same Buhari was giving Bailout to states we didn't hear even “Fim” he collected and still refuses to pay his workers


#Always Blabbing am sure Fayose is suffering from "Verbal Diarrhoea”.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed civil servants in Ekiti State to begin an indefinite ‘stay at home’ strike today. Similarly, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Ekiti State, Kolawole Olaiya, has said that the inability of the Governor Ayo Fayose administration to pay workers’ salary is an indication that ‘Ekiti has become a failed state’.
In a joint statement signed by NLC Secretary, Comrade Olayemi OJP, JNC Secretary Blessing Oladele and TUC secretary Adebayo J. A, the Organised Labour reminded Fayose of the 48 hours’ ultimatum given to him to pay all deductions and five months salaries which expired yesterday.

Speaking with reporters in Ado Ekiti, Olaiya said prevailing shortfall of allocation from the Federation Account was not enough reason not to pay workers, that unless the state government acceded to the demands of labour by midnight of yesterday, industrial action would commence today.
Olaiya said, “Every government is created for the security and welfare of the people and it is criminal for any government not to pay its workers their salaries.  A government that cannot pay for five months is a failed government.”




Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/unpaid-salary-ekiti-workers-begin-strike-today/148452.html#ZjB9miwLsWxmAggF.99

After all the initial Bragado... Metuh don see fire he want to finally accept and admit he ate our yam


#shameless Politicians

One By One Dey Don Dey confess

– The lawyer to the former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh has said that his client is willing to return N400 million to the federal government

– The lawyer said Metuh has established sufficient evidence that he was not aware of the source of the money made available to him (Metuh) by the former president, Goodluck Jonathan


A counsel to the embattled former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh has said his client is willing to return the N400 million he (Metuh) allegedly received illegally from the national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Speaking to journalists in court today, May 25, Metuh’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu said that since his client have shown sufficient evidence that he (Metuh) did not know the source of N400 million transferred to his company account by Dasuki, he is willing to refund the said amount.

“Chief Metuh had shown sufficient evidence that he was not aware of the source of the N400 million made available to him by the former President and he has shown his willingness, since the commencement of this matter, to refund the said sum even when there is no guilt knowledge (mens rea),” Ikpeazu said.

Ikpeazu also said that having lost an application made at the Appeal Court, his client has the right to go ahead to the Supreme Court to seek justice.

“There are issues in the Appeal Court ruling the defence team is not comfortable with, after due consultation with our client, he will instruct us on the next action. The client has the right of appeal all the way to the Supreme Court,” he added.

Metuh’s appeal on the Federal High Court’s ruling against his no case submission was today upheld by the Appeal Court.

Also speaking on the dismissal of Metuh’s application to travel abroad for a spinal cord treatment, Ikpeazu said it is pertinent to note that his client’s health is paramount.

“What is important to us for now is the health situation of the defendant whose situation has continued to deteriorate. Even the constitution recognizes the fact that an accused should be alive and fit to face trial and defend himself,” he said.

Metuh has been under admission at the National Hospital in Abuja since Monday, May 23,  following his ailing health condition.

He had earlier applied for the court to release his passport and grant him the permission to travel abroad for a spinal cord treatment.

But the trial judge in his matter, Justice Abang said his court lacked the jurisdiction to hear Metuh’s application for the release of his passport and as such cannot decide on his application to travel abroad for treatment.

Abang based his ruling on the grounds that the court having made pronouncements cannot go back on its own order.

The judge also said that Metuh failed to give evidence that no teaching hospital in Abuja can handle his health issue.

https://www.naij.com/840902-lawyer-reveals-metuh-wants-return-n400-m-fg.html?source=index_main

Following the ThisDay report that former President Goodluck Jonathan has gone into exile in Ivory Coast, SaharaReporters can confirm that Mr. Jonathan has been away from Nigeria in recent months exploring several countries in Africa in which he could hide.


This was as information leaked to him that some of his former aides have revealed to security agencies various acts of serious graft and mismanagement involving him.

Several of those aides are currently under arrest and interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

As a way of covering his tracks, Jonathan paid for and arranged several tours of the United States and the United Kingdom, some of which included buying awards from available colleges and universities to create a semblance of popularity.   

Sources close to the former President revealed to SaharaReporters however that most western nations had started asking Mr. Jonathan hard questions relating to his corrupt activities in office, forcing him to seek ways of staying out of Nigeria.

He reportedly considered going to Kenya where there were speculations that he had financial ties to a dairy firm, but the Kenyans reportedly turned him down claiming the pressure will be too much for them should he be indicted for corruption and declared wanted.

In opting for Cote d’Ivoire, the former President is going back to an ally, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, who Jonathan assisted to power in 2010.

Jonathan reportedly used his connections with President Ouattara to invest in the refinery business in the country our sources revealed.

Ivorian officials in Washington DC told SaharaReporters earlier today that Mr. Jonathan has been living in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital, for close to two months but they could not confirm if he has been granted political asylum there.

Jonathan arrived back in Cote d’Ivoire from a trip to Ecuador about two weeks ago. 

Contacted, Kone Seydou, the Cote d’Ivoire government spokesperson, said the government does not have any official position on Mr. Jonathan’s presence in the country. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Jonathan is reportedly sending text messages to his friends in Nigeria saying that the ThisDay story is an attempt by publisher Nduka Obaigbena, who was an insider in Jonathan's government, to “rubbish” him.

Mr. Obaigbena received vast sums of seedy money from the former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki which is currently under probe by the EFCC following his arrest. It is unclear why he would want to “rubbish” Mr. Jonathan, as has been stated.


http://saharareporters.com/2016/05/23/why-goodluck-jonathan-went-exile-ivory-coast

Police yesterday sealed off the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) just as more revelations emerged over why the embattled national chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, was rejected by the governors of the party.

Stern-looking mobile and regular policemen turned back visitors to the secretariat yesterday, insisting that nobody was allowed entry.

Our correspondent who was at the secretariat at 3:26pm was also turned back, as the security men said they were acting on ‘instructions from above’.

This may not be unconnected with the crisis that rocked the main opposition party at the weekend, which resulted in the emergence of three factions led by Ali Modu Sheriff, Ibrahim Mantu and Ahmed Makarfi respectively.

The two sides of Dalaba Street, leading to both the front and back gates of the secretariat, were barricaded by security operatives brandishing weapons.

LEADERSHIP observed that riot policemen had replaced men of the Nigeria Police, Civil Defence Corps and private security guards that provided security at the secretariat.

A top security source told our correspondent that none of the factions can lay claim to the deployment of the policemen, adding that only workers of the secretariat were allowed entry into the party office.

“The commissioner of police asked us to seal off the PDP headquarters and allow entry to only staff members. By Monday (today), the picture will become clearer on which faction actually gave the order. But for now, we are acting on instructions that none of the factions should be allowed entry,” he said.

This comes as Modu Sheriff reiterated yesterday that he remained the national chairman of the party, describing the events at the convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as null and void.

Sheriff, who spoke through his media aide, Inuwa Bwala, stated that he and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) were being briefed by their lawyers and would head to court over the logjam in the party.

Meanwhile, Rivers State governor and chairman, National Convention Planning Committee of the PDP, Chief Nyesom Wike, explained that the party had to cast Sheriff aside because  his leadership was destabilising the party.

Wike, who disclosed this while speaking to Government House correspondents on Saturday night, said, “All along, the crisis has been about the former acting chairman whose emergence was strongly opposed.

“This is destabilising the party and so we had to let him go. What is important is the party and not the individual. No sacrifice is too much for anyone to make as far as PDP is concerned.”

The governor noted that he had no personal interest in supporting Sheriff as he (Sheriff) was the best option at the time he emerged.

“We will not allow the PDP to die or suffer divisions under our watch. History will never forgive us if we watch the party die,” he stated, adding that the party leaders would work towards maintaining unity amongst all members of the party.

He insisted that, despite the challenges, the 2016 National Convention was successful as the party had been repositioned in the interest of the nation.

On Saturday, 12 governors of the PDP had declared the dissolution of Sheriff-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party at the national convention of the party which held in Port Harcourt Rivers State. They then set up a caretaker committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, to manage the affairs of the party for 90 days before the convening of a new convention.

But citing four conflicting court orders on the convention, Sheriff had, in a separate press briefing, suspended the convention.

However, it was gathered that the inability of the governors to dictate to the national chairman on the affairs of the party influenced their decision to dump him.

A source disclosed that besides the insistence of the national chairman to postpone the convention so as not to disobey the court order, the governors were concerned that they were unable to manipulate him in the running of the party.

The source pointed out that one of the South West governors, who had perfected the swap of delegates’ list from the region, was one of the masterminds behind the ouster of Sheriff.

The source further revealed that the sinister motives of the governors became clear after the delegates’ list and tags for journalists were hoarded.

The source said, “One of the South West governors changed the names of the delegates because an influential senator from the region had defeated him there. So the south west governor was angry that having perfected his plot so far, the convention was to be cancelled. He almost fought the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, over a dispute that arose on the whether the convention should go on or not, but Sheriff insisted that they should not default on the other side of the law.

“They approached a former governor from Jigawa State, a former presidential political adviser for Adamawa State and a former vice chairman of the party from North East but they all declined to take the position. They however settled for former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Makarfi, who willingly took the position,” the source disclosed.

It was, however, gathered that some Board of Trustees (BoT) members and federal lawmakers yesterday paid solidarity visits to Sheriff at his Abuja residence where he held a meeting with the members of the NWC.

The media aide to Sheriff, Inuwa Bwala, further disclosed that Sheriff and other members of the NWC were being briefed by their lawyers on the next line of action on the new developments in the party.

He stated that the deputy national chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, was not mandated to preside over the convention which had already been suspended by Sheriff.

He added that the caretaker committee, as created by the governors at the convention, was alien to the party’s constitution.

Narrating what transpired in Port Harcourt, Bwala said Sheriff explained to the governors that he had been served four conflicting court orders over the national convention and that he would not want to run foul of the court orders, hence the need to suspend the convention.

He added that all the cases subsisted by Friday and there was no court sitting on Saturday.

He added that Sheriff met with the NWC and the BoT after meeting with the governors and that they gave him the nod to suspend the convention because of the court orders.

“The national chairman told them that court orders had been served on him and that most of the orders were contradictory. If he goes ahead he would fall foul of the court. He told the governors that if he had to go ahead, they would be running foul of court ruling, but they already had a set agenda. Their personal interests took the better of them against the law.

“The national chairman went back to the NWC, which is the statutory body to convene National Convention over his meeting with the governors; they asked him to go ahead. So he called a press conference and announced that the convention had been postponed until the court issues are sorted out. Members of BoT and NWC left the convention ground, except Uche Secondus. He was the only NWC member there.”

Bwala accused Uche Secondus dropping the name of national chairman over the presiding of the convention.

Speaking on the Sen. Makarfi committee, he said: “Caretaker committee has no place in the law. What happened in Port Harcourt is a nullity,” adding that they had invited their lawyers to commence action today.

“We will go and vacate the court processes. When that happens, we will go ahead with the convention,” he concluded.


http://leadership.ng/news/529450/pdp-crisis-deepens-police-seal-off-national-secretariat

NLC protesters in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state reportedly destroyed cars belonging to some members of the state civil service who failed to join them in the ongoing strike action. More photos after the cut..


http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2016/05/photos-nlc-protesters-allegedly-destroy.html?m=1

First high profile casualty in the ongoing anti-corruption war. More prominent individuals to follow in the coming months.....!!



#Where are the wailers....??

#food is Ready...!!!

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday sentenced a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency, Mr. Raymond Temisan Omatseye, to five years in prison over a N1.5bn contract scam.

Omatseye was arraigned before the court on a 27-count charge bordering on alleged contract variation, bid rigging and awarding contract above his approval limit.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, 14 March, the prosecution counsel, Godwin Obla, SAN, and defence counsel, E. D Onyeke made their final addresses and adopted them before the court.

Onyeke filed and served the court and prosecution a written address and adopted it.

He urged the court to dismiss the case against the former NIMASA boss on the grounds that, the prosecution has not been able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Obla also adopted his written address and expressed confidence that the 27-count charge against the defendant has been proved beyond all reasonable doubt and prayed the court to find the defendant guilty of all the charges.

According to Obla, 25 counts of the charges preferred against Omatseye dwelt on the approval of contract above the threshold level and the other two counts dealt with bid rigging. He also said that, contrary to existing regulations, contract was awarded to a company that was the highest bidder and which was not even pre-qualified for the contract.


http://saharareporters.com/2016/05/20/ex-nimasa-director-general-omatseye-bags-5-year-jail-term

the Independent National Electoral Commission has said that it will not monitor the election of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party during the party’s national convention.

The commission said this in a letter to Sheriff, who is standing for election at the party’s national convention slated for Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital on Saturday (tomorrow).



INEC  also said that it would not be present during the election of two other officers during the convention.

The two other offices are those of the national secretary and the national auditor of the PDP.

The National Working Committee of the PDP, which has Sheriff as the head, is made up of 12 members.

The letter by INEC implies that the commission will only monitor the election of nine other NWC members.

The officers are the deputy national chairman, the national publicity secretary, the deputy national secretary, the national treasurer, the national organising  secretary, the national woman leader, the national financial secretary, the national youth leader and the national legal adviser.

The letter, with reference number INEC/DEPM/PDP/024/T/18 and dated May 16, was signed by the Secretary of the commission, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu.

Ogakwu’s letter was in reaction to a Federal High Court’s injunction restraining the commission from monitoring and or recognising the conduct of election by the PDP into the offices of the national chairman, national secretary and national auditor.

INEC’s letter read in part, “The commission has been served with an order of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, restraining your party from conducting and the commission from monitoring and/ or recognising the conduct of elections by the PDP into the offices of the national chairman, national secretary and national auditor.

“Accordingly and in compliance with the court order, the commission has decided that the INEC monitoring team to your party’s national convention scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2016 shall only monitor the elections into the unaffected offices and shall not monitor nor recognise any election to the offices of the national chairman, national secretary and national auditor.”

Ogakwu attached a copy of the court order, which asked it not to monitor the election, to the letter.

But the commission also said that it would not monitor the convention being organised by the Jerry Gana-led faction of the party.

The convention has been slated for May 21, in Abuja.

The Director of Publicity and Voter Education of the commission,  Mr.  Oluwole Osaze-Usi, said that the convention being organised by the Sheriff group would get the attention of the commission.

He said, “There is only one convention known to the law and our regulations for which we were given appropriate notice — the one in Port Harcourt.”

A source close to the Gana group, which has former ministers and governors of the PDP, said the INEC had been notified about its plan to hold the convention.

“We have informed the commission about the convention coming up in Abuja on Saturday, we are expecting INEC to reply to our request,” the source added.

The Abuja convention is being planned by a group known as the Concerned PDP Stakeholders comprising 12 groups made up of former governors, ex-ministers and led by Gana.

It was gathered that the letter from INEC had thrown the Sheriff-led faction into further crisis as the commission was mandated by the Electoral Act to monitor the election of officers of all political parties.

When our correspondent visited the national secretariat of the party on Wednesday, Sheriff was said to be having a meeting with three members of the NWC.

A member of the NWC said the party was in a dilemma and was no longer keen about the convention.

He said, “We are in trouble in the party. Everyone is against us. Our members are even worse in their anger against us. Where do we go from here?

“The courts are busy annulling our congresses while some of our members are also forming a parallel organisation and convention committee to further damage the image of the party.”

The order to restrain the party from conducting the elections followed a case brought before the court by Sheriff; the National Secretary, Prof. Olawale Oladipo; and the National Auditor, Alhaji Fatai Adeyanju, who were listed as 1st, 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs in the case.

In the case with suit number  FHC/L/CS/61 3/2016, dated May 6, 2016, both the INEC and the PDP were listed as the 1st and 2nd defendants.

The plaintiffs prayed for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 2nd defendant from conducting any election into the offices of the national chairman, national secretary and national auditor occupied  by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs, respectively pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. The order was granted while the substantive case has been adjourned to May 24, 2016.

The national secretary said the party was aware of the court order.

http://www.punchng.com/we-wont-monitor-sheriffs-election-as-pdp-chair-inec/

#PDP a party desperately trying to hang on in the face of confusion, internal wrangling and glaring impunity

Will it survive all this attacks from within....??

TIME SHALL TELL....!!

Justice A. B. Mohammed of the Federal High Court (FCT), Abuja, yesterday, barred the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from conducting elections into 18 national offices at the party’s national convention, slated‎ for Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Saturday.

Delivering a judgement in Chief Emeka Debia V. PDP, in suit number FCT/HC/CV/1443/2016, the judge stated that the tenure of the PDP national secretary and national auditor would expire by December, 2018, while the tenure of the remaining officers would expire on August 30, 2017, with the exception of the national financial secretary and chairman, whose offices were vacant.




‎Deputy national legal adviser of the PDP, Barrister Bashir Maidugu, who spoke with our correspondent on phone, said based on the judgment, the offices where election would not be conducted  include that of the deputy national chairman, national treasurer, legal adviser, deputy legal adviser, deputy national treasurer, deputy national auditor, youth leaders, deputy youth leader, national organising secretary, deputy national organising secretary, national women leader, deputy national women leader, deputy financial secretary and deputy national secretary.
He said the tenure of the above officers ‎would expire in 2017, while the national chairman, national secretary, national financial secretary and national auditor were elected in 2014 and their tenure expires in 2019.

“The party should abide by its constitution and guidelines at all times. If something is wrong, they should make it right. Any manipulation will amount to impunity which is the bane of PDP. So there is need for a truce. The judgment is not a surprise to me,” he said.

Another national officer, who spoke with our correspondent in  confidence, said: “In fact, as we are talking now, we are going to have a parallel convention this Saturday. Yes, two parallel conventions. For those of us in Abuja, we have quite a number of delegates from across the country ‎and we will hold our convention. We are already mobilising.”

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/politics/convention-court-bars-pdp-from-conducting-election-for-18-offices/147378.html#k8Uo2xi0hevVahtO.99

.

INTERNAL HOME MEMO

FROM: FATHER

TO: ALL DEPENDANTS & RELATIVES

CC: MOTHER

DATE: May 19, 2016

SUBJECT: FINANCIAL MELTDOWN/COST CUTTING MEASURES FOR YOUR URGENT ATTENTION

Due to the current economic situation, all domestic rules and regulations have been revised as below and under no circumstance is any violation going to be accepted.

1. The Kitchen and all pantries are declared Restricted Zones. Entry And/or passage shall require express permission from myself upon submission of written request.

2. Breakfast is banned. This matter cannot be discussed!

3. Such food items as rice, chicken, butter, jam, eggs, bread and milk are restricted. Anyone intending to eat any of such foodstuffs must write to me in triplicate, with three days notice, giving justifications backed by a qualified dietician report as supportive documentation.

4. Bathing in the morning is limited to 5 liters of water per day per person while bathing in the evening is banned unless there are medical reasons.

5. All security lights should be removed with immediate effect. All dependants shall abide by an all-night guard-duty roster I shall make available shortly.

6. No dependant shall entertain friends indoors, far less attempt to offer food, drinks or even music. Those who want their guests to listen to music shall sing for them.

7. No one is allowed to talk to officials from police, Council or Court Bailiffs; doing so shall carry an instantaneous penalty of ejection from the House.

8. Anybody who breaks a glass, furniture or any other property in The house, shall immediately have to seek temporary employment somewhere to earn money to replace such broken item(s).

9. All visitors intending to spend a night/week or more shall apply in triplicate and give two months notice, with an endorsement from their town Mayor, Village Headman or Church Priest, giving convincing reasons why they can't stay at their homes. Failure to do this shall result in their being turned away, at the gate, upon arrival

THESE RULES ARE BINDING AND NOT SUBJECT TO ANY DISCUSSION WHATSOEVER!!!

Signed:

DAD
Chairman of Home Affairs
Hot regards.

A witness, Hussein A. Umar on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 told Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja how he assisted former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh in the purchase of two properties in choice areas of Abuja.


Umar, a private legal practitioner who testified as PW3 while being led in evidence by counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that he assisted Badeh and the erstwhile director of finance and accounts at the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau in the purchase of two properties situated at No 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, and No 14, Adzope Crescent, Off Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja for the sums of N1.1billion and N360million respectively.

According to him, “sometime in 2012, Yushau called me to his house to tell me that his boss (Badeh) was interested in acquiring a befitting retirement home in Maitama. He asked me to source for the befitting accommodation which I did. When I got the property at 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube street, Maitama, we went for inspection and two days after, he (Badeh) met me at the said site at 8:30pm in a Toyota Tundra which Yushau drove.


“This was the first time I had ever met Badeh. He said I should go on with the process of legal searches on the property. After the search, Yushau and Badeh visited the property again, but this time with a lady who was introduced to me as the wife of Badeh; his son named Kam and his daughter, slim and smallish (in frame). They carried out joint inspections and they all were happy with the property. Yushau then gave me the go-ahead to negotiate with the owner of the property.

“The owner and I negotiated and agreed on an amount, N1.1billion. I reported back to Yushau, who said he would get through to his boss.”

The PW3 further stated that, within a week necessary arrangements were made for the payment and Yushau called to tell him that the money was ready in US dollars.

“I collected $6.2million USD from Yushau.  I gave it to Bureau de Change Operatives who transferred the Naira equivalent of N1.1billion to the account provided by the owner of the property. We concluded, and Yushau gave me the name to be used in preparing the deeds - Iyalikam Ventures”, Umar stated.

Umar further added that Badeh, through Yushau, in appreciation of what he did offered him $100,000 USD, the equivalent of N15m.

Regarding the purchase of No 14, Adzope Crescent, Off Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, PW3, Umar also gave details of how the purchase was made.

According to him, "sometime in 2013, Yushau called to tell me that he wanted me to meet one Honourable Bature. He said there was a property that they had already negotiated, and that he wanted me to see Bature, get the details of the property and prepare the deeds of transfer and other documentation as he (Yushau) was travelling. I was given the name- Iyalikam as the purchaser.

“He left the sum of $2million with me; the equivalent of N360million and he instructed that I pay Honourable Bature as soon as the documents were signed, which I did.

“At the time when Yushau was retiring, I met the attorney of the first defendant (Badeh), Barrister Timothy at Yushau's house, in the presence of one Engineer Mustapha. Yushau said his boss had instructed that I hand over all the documents in my possession of No 14, Adzope Crescent, Off Kumasi Crescent. I handed all the documents which had been signed by Honourable Bature (that still needed to be countersigned by the purchaser, Iyalikam), as well as the keys to the properties over to Barrister Timothy.

“I didn't see or hear from Barrister Timothy until February/March this year when he requested to see me urgently. He said that an ongoing investigation involved Badeh and that he wanted to know if I could claim 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube street, Maitama as my own since the transaction had not been perfected at Abuja Geographical Information System, AGIS. I told him that it was impossible. He dropped the phone and since then I have not heard from him.”

Umar further told the court that, Alex (jnr) also called him sometime between February/March, 2016, pleaded with him to assist in claiming the Ogun River property; a request he said was turned down.

After cross examination by counsel to the first defendant, Akin Olujimi, SAN, Justice Abang adjourned the matter to Thursday May 19, 2016 for further cross examination and continuation of  trial.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
18th May, 2016

Agency arrests Bauchi, party ex-scribes, aide

From the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has come a clarification why former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dieziani Alison-Madueke, has not been repatriated to face the corruption allegation preferred against her.

According to the anti-graft agency, it is waiting for the conclusion of the corruption case she is facing in the United Kingdom (UK), before she would be extradited to answer for the alleged $115 billion election campaign scam for which many prominent Nigerians are being investigated.

Those that have been grilled in connection with the purported scam, which was allegedly carried out through Fidelity Bank, were former Governors Liyel Imoke, Ibrahim Shekarau, Ramalan Yero, Achike Udenwa and Ibrahim Shema. Erstwhile ministers have also been quizzed.

One-time Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bashir Aminu Wali and his Minister of State II, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammad had also been questioned in connection with the fund.

Others in that category are officials of the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) and those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as Senator Chris Anyanwu and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Michael Ahamba.

Though the senator, senior lawyer and Udenwa have since denied involvement.

Also yesterday, the anti-corruption body arrested a former Secretary to Bauchi State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim, former Personal Assistant to ex-Governor Isa Yuguda, Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed Isa and the Secretary of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Salisu Garba in respect of the alleged fraud.

The Bauchi suspects were alleged to have collected N500 million out of the money.

An EFCC source informed The Guardian that they were arrested and interrogated in Gombe yesterday.

“The suspects, in their statements, said the N500 million cash was distributed in the Ramat Hall of Bauchi State Government House. The former secretary to the government and the secretary of PDP admitted collecting N20 million each and the former personal assistant collected N15 million. However, they have individually pledged to refund the amount each had collected from the fund,” the source added.


http://m.guardian.ng/news/why-alison-madueke-is-not-yet-repatriated-by-efcc/

Agency arrests Bauchi, party ex-scribes, aide

From the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has come a clarification why former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dieziani Alison-Madueke, has not been repatriated to face the corruption allegation preferred against her.

According to the anti-graft agency, it is waiting for the conclusion of the corruption case she is facing in the United Kingdom (UK), before she would be extradited to answer for the alleged $115 billion election campaign scam for which many prominent Nigerians are being investigated.

Those that have been grilled in connection with the purported scam, which was allegedly carried out through Fidelity Bank, were former Governors Liyel Imoke, Ibrahim Shekarau, Ramalan Yero, Achike Udenwa and Ibrahim Shema. Erstwhile ministers have also been quizzed.

One-time Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bashir Aminu Wali and his Minister of State II, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammad had also been questioned in connection with the fund.

Others in that category are officials of the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) and those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as Senator Chris Anyanwu and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Michael Ahamba.

Though the senator, senior lawyer and Udenwa have since denied involvement.

Also yesterday, the anti-corruption body arrested a former Secretary to Bauchi State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim, former Personal Assistant to ex-Governor Isa Yuguda, Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed Isa and the Secretary of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Salisu Garba in respect of the alleged fraud.

The Bauchi suspects were alleged to have collected N500 million out of the money.

An EFCC source informed The Guardian that they were arrested and interrogated in Gombe yesterday.

“The suspects, in their statements, said the N500 million cash was distributed in the Ramat Hall of Bauchi State Government House. The former secretary to the government and the secretary of PDP admitted collecting N20 million each and the former personal assistant collected N15 million. However, they have individually pledged to refund the amount each had collected from the fund,” the source added.


http://m.guardian.ng/news/why-alison-madueke-is-not-yet-repatriated-by-efcc/

resident Muhammadu Buhari has asked Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Martin Abeshi, to vacate office as his tenure in office has expired.
Daily Sun gathered yesterday night that Abeshi, who was appointed to replace former Comptroller General, David Parradang, who was fingered in the tragic 2014 recruitment saga in Immigration, was not considered to continue in office as his tenure had since lapsed.
Abeshi, who headed the Immigration service, comes from Nassarawa state in the North-Central
It was also gathered that the Immigration CG ought to have retired since last year December but allegedly lobbied his way back to the seat.

http://sunnewsonline.com/buhari-sacks-immigration-cg-abeshi/

– National Industrial Court has stopped the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress from going on with their planned national strike

– FG has invited the leadership of NLC, TUC to a meeting over the planned national strike

The National Industrial Court has stopped the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress from going on with their planned national strike over fuel pump hike.

President of the court, Babatunde Adejumo gave the order on Tuesday, May 17 as FG and labour leaders continue to meet over reduction in fuel pump price.

Recall that over the weekend, organised labour and the civil society gave the Federal Government till midnight on Tuesday to reverse the increase or face an indefinite national strike.


Ruling on an exparte application filed by Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), Adejumo ordered parties to maintain the status quo until the hearing and determination of the exparte motion.

He also directed the government to dialogue with the NLC towards an amicable resolution of their dispute.

Meanwhile, the two major unions in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector endorsed the price modulation mechanism adopted by the Federal Government to arrive at the new N145 per litre pump price for petrol.

https://www.naij.com/832816-breaking-court-stops-nlc-tuc-going-strike.html?source=index_main

The girl did not start to have her periods timely. Her mother took her to the doctor to see what is wrong there. What he said was socking: the girl had no womb, no upper vagina or cervix! Learn why such things happen.



This lady at 17 was diagnosed with Rokitansky syndrome. It basically means that while in her mother’s womb the embryo did not develop these organs. She has all the outward female private parts, but she does not have the proper inward genitals. For over 17 years neither the girl, nor her parents knew nothing about the condition.

They were socked about the discovery. Girl’s mother could not reconcile herself to this situation. She thought it was her fault, but the science tells that it is in the genes. One in 5000 women get born with underdeveloped or absent womb, cervix and vagina.



Here is what Joanna Giannouli herself has to say about it. She has turned 27 by now.

“Well, it’s been almost 10 years. I’m still feeling bad about it but I’m not ashamed any more, it’s been way too long. And I’ve realised that I cannot change it, it’s just the way it is, I have to embrace it and live with it.”

Besides not having any menstruation the girl had hard time making love. Her vagina inside was too short and too narrow. The doctors had to perform a major operation to create a usable vagina for her to have sex. For three months the lady had to perform special vaginal exercises to get rid of the pain and stretch the inner private part.

Presently, she can have sex, but she would never be able to have kids. Several guys broke up with her because of this condition. Some of them were making fun of the girl. But eventually she was able to find someone who loves her as she is. He knows of the condition, but accepts her and does not leave her.


We take so many things for granted. We enjoy them not thinking that someone out there can be bereaved of such a basic thing as vagina or a womb! Let us be grateful for all the things we have!

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, May 12, 2016 secured the conviction of Babatunde Abisuga, a former accountant of the Federal Civil Service Commission, who is being prosecuted on a 5-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and forgery before Justice Maryann Anennih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama, Abuja.


He was arraigned alongside Mohammed Ndakupe and Hassan Mohammed Tukur (now late) on April 3, 2012 on a 12-count charge which they pleaded not guilty to.


Babatunde Abisuga, a former accountant of the Federal Civil Service Commission
EFCC
Abisuga, through his counsel, M. A. Ebute later prayed the court to allow him explore the option of plea bargain since the money had been recovered in full and handed over to the Federal Civil Service Commission.

Justice Anennih, granted his prayers and the prosecution in consideration of the request amended the charge.

The defendant (Abisuga), when re-arraigned pleaded guilty to the 5-count amended charge.

Justice Anennih, in her judgment convicted and sentenced Abisuga to 3 months imprisonment on counts one and two and 6 months imprisonment on counts 5, 6 and 7 without option of fine.

“The conviction is not to punish but to reform the accused person and to deter the public from the ‘get quick rich syndrome”, Justice Anennih added.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

Meanwhile, the judge has adjourned to June 7, 2016 for continuation of trial on the charges against the second accused person (Ndakupe) who pleaded not guilty to the amended charge.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
May 12, 2016

http://saharareporters.com/2016/05/12/n109m-pension-scam-ex-pension-accountant-abisuga-bags-24-months-jail-term

The U.S. government is seeking approval to sell as many as twelve A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft to Nigeria to assist its fight against Boko Haram, Reuters has reported.


Additionally, U.S. military officials revealed that it would provide more intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance resources to the Nigerian military and plans to train Nigerian infantry troops to more effectively combat the insurgents.

The potential sale, which awaits approval by Congress, demonstrates the U.S. government’s approval of President Muhammadu Buhari’s measures to fight corruption and indiscipline within Nigeria’s military.

Under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Washington was resistant to selling arms and providing other forms of assistance to the Nigerian military due to its poor human rights and corruption record. The rampant corruption within the military was epitomized by the $2.1b arms scandal that unfolded under Mr. Jonathan’s administration. Tensions between the two militaries culminated in the U.S.’s abrupt termination of Nigerian military training activities in 2014.

But Mr. Buhari’s fight against corruption has gained the confidence of the U.S. government, which has been providing more support to counterterrorist activities throughout Africa.

“The Buhari administration I think has really re-energized the bilateral relationship in a fundamental way,” one anonymous U.S. official told Reuters.

“Buhari made clear from the get-go that his number one priority was reforming the military to defeat Boko Haram…and he sees us as part of that solution,” another official said.

However, human rights abuses remain a serious problem in the military, as exemplified by the December 2015 Zaria massacre in which at least 217 civilians were killed by Nigerian troops.

Despite this, the U.S. government's support for the sale of military aircraft to Nigeria shows that Washington has more confidence in the Nigerian military than it did under previous administrations and that the two governments may further cooperate on security matters in the future. 

http://saharareporters.com/2016/05/06/us-seeks-approve-attack-aircraft-nigeria

They're All Smiling Except...... Guess Who and Why? Lol....!!

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has alleged that agents from the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan offered them a N2 billion bribe, in the heat of the 2015 general election, to get them to compromise the outcome of the poll.
The coalition made up of about 400 civil society organizations said the inducement was to get them to to take into their fold, about 50,000 agents of the PDP to be fielded as TMG observers.
The group in a statement on Friday signed by its chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said the “dubious proposal”, was rejected “with the realization that a good name is better than silver and gold.
The statement read in part, ”Specifically, some errand boys from the Presidency at the time came to us with a dubious proposal that 50,000 agents of the PDP be fielded as TMG observers.

“In financial terms, the errand boys expressed the Presidency’s readiness to fund the fraud with the sum of N2 billion Naira. We stoutly rejected the Greek gift,”
He also said that the TMG has now been “vindicated by the latest revelations from the EFCC about how some INEC chiefs and election monitors shared from N23.3 billion slush provided by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke.”
He further explained, that “The participants in this grand scale bazaar had only one objective: to subvert the electoral process, undermine the votes of the Nigerian people and rig in their paymaster.
“It is utterly shocking that people entrusted with the sacred and heavy responsibility of superintending the electoral process would descend so low to stake the credibility of a critical democratic institution on the altar of quick enrichment.
“In any case, the TMG had always known that the day of reckoning would come for all those who sought to exchange the sacred position they occupy for a mess of pottage.
“The bigger tragedy is the case of so-called civil society organizations which threw the very basis of their credibility as election observers to the dogs.

https://ripples.com.ng/2015-election-tmg-says/

– The conversation on the 2016 budget has not died down yet

– The controversies concerning the national document opens up new vistas on a daily basis

– The issue of budget padding seem not be alien to the National Assembly

If the words of Senator Babajide Omowoware are to be believed, the issue of budget padding is not new to the Nigerian Senate.

The senator representing Osun East Senatorial District in the upper chamber made the revelation today while speaking on Abuja-based radio station, Rhythm 94.7.
Omowoware said: ”After spending about five years now in the Senate, I make bold to say there is no budget that has to come to us that hasn’t been padded!”

The senator who is the chairman Senate Committee on Rules and Business, said it was the norm in the past for legislators to have their inputs added into the document.

He however called for the understanding of Nigerians in the current impasse, assuring that the executive and the legislature are working closely to ensure the budget is passed on time.

Omowaware’s confession is an indictment on the 7th Senate which he was part of and was presided over by immediate past Senate president, Senate David Mark.

The senator who also spoke about the constant attacks on innocent citizens by Fulani herdsmen, prescribed for ranching with a public private partnership approach to allow for grazing by the herders.

”The Senate had to step down all other matters on the order paper to debate the killings by herdsmen,” Omowoware revealed.

He went on to commiserate with all those who lost their loved ones in the recent herdsmen attacks in Enugu state and other parts of the country.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has promised Nigerians that the 2016 budget will bring smile to their faces after its implementation.

According to the president, ”Our 2016 budget is designed precisely to bring millions of our people out of poverty, enhance the living conditions of the citizens and bring smiles to their faces.

”Our 500 billion naira social intervention social intervention fund which is unprecedented will among others, create jobs, for 500,000 unemployed graduates, 370,000 unemployed non-graduates, provides loans for one million Nigerians, including market men and women as well as artisans to start up small businesses.

”It will feed 4.5 million school children, ensure cash transfers, to the most vulnerable citizens, and provides scholarship and bursary to students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”




https://www.naij.com/815558-revealed-budgets-sent-senate-last-5-years-padded.html?source=index_main

Here are recent photos of three year old Abubakar Usman whose eyes were plucked out by some ritualists in Zaria, Kaduna state in January this year. After the attack, Usman was admitted to the Ahmadu Bello University where he was treated for the severe injuries he sustained. He appears to be well now but sadly, he has lost his eyes forever. 


Photo credit: Rariya