₦airaland Forum

SOME members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in United Kingdom storm Royal London Hospital Whitechapel, where President Muhammadu Buhari was allegedly expected on June 16, Thursday.

A member of the pro-biafran group sent a photo of the IPOB members to MEZIE TIMES.

The pro-Biafra supporters, who were holding posters and flags, claimed that Buhari is receiving treatment in the hospital.

Though MEZIE TIMES could not independently verify what took the group to the hospital in search of the Nigerian leader, the source said it was unconnected to the recent killing of villagers from Nimbo Community In Enugu State.

On wether they met with the Nigerian leader, the source said, “attempts were unsuccessful but we were reliably informed that he was here.


President Buhari was scheduled to return back to Nigeria on June 16, Thursday.

However, vice president Yemi Osinbajo has said that he spoke with the president over the telephone and that there was no need for Buhari to rush to Nigeria.

He also stated that the president is in perfect condition and just need more rest.

The president is expected back home on Sunday and will resume his duties on June 20, Monday.

http://.com/ipob-members-storm-uk-hospital-searches-for-buhari/

Lalasticlala, mynd44

A new militant group which goes by the name, Utorogu Liberation Movement has announced its emergence in the Niger Delta region.


The group's major focus is mainly on gas plants as it has threatened to attack West Africa’s biggest gas plant, Otorogu Gas Plant in Udu and Ughelli South council Areas of Delta State.


Report says the group in a banner message issued by Gen. K. Omovudu and others which was placed near the Motor Park in Out-Jeremi, headquarters of Ughelli South council, also declared support for the Niger Delta Avengers.


ULM also vowed to blow up oil facilities along the Oil Mining Lease 34 and other oil facilities in the upland parts of the Niger Delta.


The banner mission statement read, “My good people of Utorogun community, Otu-Jeremi, Otor-Udu, Iwkrekan, Ekakpamre and all oil and pipeline communities within this region, this is the voice of ULM in collaboration with outgas force.


“It is a secessionist move. The awareness of things happening in our environment is a means to outline our course of action. The awareness is an agitation for economic balance. We have a common enemy, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and ND Western who hate your progress and wish you die in poverty.”


http://.com/new-militant-group-emerges-vows-to-bomb-gas-plants-in-niger-delta/

NIGERIA’S Senate on Thursday passed into law the Public Procurement Act 20‎07 (amendment) bill 2016, which makes it mandatory for government agencies to patronize made-in-Nigeria goods.



The Act, which seeks to promote local content, is one of the priority bills of the Senator Bukola Saraki-led Senate.

Speaking after the consideration of a report on the bill, Saraki insisted that more patronage must be accorded local goods, stressing that, “in stimulating our economy, we all have a role to . to ensure that the executive complies especially in the area of giving first priority to locally-produced goods.

“This has helped many countries to develop when they had issues of downturn in their economy. I believe that having over N3trn available to stimulate local production going on now.

“One of the things that we have done today is also trying to shorten the process of awarding contracts; this will go a long way in helping budget implementation.

“It would go a long way in ensuring that most of the funds are available as quickly as possible and jobs are actually completed. I want to commend my colleagues for passing this bill‎.”


http://.com/bill-compelling-govt-to-buy-made-in-nigeria-products-passed-into-law/

A former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, on Tuesday narrated how operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission stormed his Lagos house.



Obanikoro, who described the operation as gestapo like, said the operatives harassed innocent kids, took away cars, wrist watches and other valuables from his Ikoyi, Lagos State home.

Speaking through his media aide, Jonathan Eze, Obanikoro said “unnecessary intimidation and harassment of occupants, who are majorly innocent kids, teenagers, his wife and daughter in-laws” was applied by the EFCC agents.

He said they left with cars, wristwatches and other valuables.

The former Minister said the invasion of his home by the EFCC operatives was shocking because he had never been invited by the anti-graft agency over any allegation “beyond the tirades and allegations they have been propagating using the media spaces”.

The statement by Eze added: “We are using this medium to draw attention of all Nigerians to yet another infringement on the fundamental and inalienable rights of the Obanikoro family.

“Lovers of freedom should not wait until our democracy is put at irreversible damage. The list of human rights violations and political persecution has reached an alarming rate.

“We see this as an affront and a further show of shame and ignominy of this present administration hell bent in politically persecuting its perceived opponents in other to stoop them and rubbish their hard earned reputation of untainted public services.

“To our chagrin, the vehicles driven away were cars and trucks bought since 2006 and thereabout when Senator Obanikoro served as an Ambassador in Ghana among others which obviously has no bearing with the purported investigation they are supposedly carrying out.

“We condemn in strong terms the brigandage and the idea of inflicting trauma on innocent dependants and violating their privacies without recourse to the rule of law.

“Senator Obanikoro has consulted with his lawyers and are prepared to meet them in court to stop this intrusions and persecution.”


http://.com/how-efcc-stormed-my-house-harassed-my-wife-kids-obanikoro/

Lalasticlala, mynd44

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday raided the Lagos State residence of a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.


The house is located in Park View Estate, Ikoyi.


Obanikoro has been on the radar of the EFCC for a while over his role in the $2.1 billion arms scandal that rocked the office of the National Security Adviser, held then by retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki.


Obanikoro was believed to have received a substantial amount from Dasuki for the governorship election held in Ekiti State, which was won by his party’s candidate, Ayo Fayose.


He was also believed to have received money for the 2015 presidential election as one of the South West coordinators for the bid of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was seeking a second term.


Obanikoro has since left for the United States of America.

He said he has returned to school.


http://.com/efcc-raids-obanikoros-house/

THE national Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in reacting to the “baseless and laughable allegations” of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which accuses the APC and the Presidency of being behind the Ali Modu Sheriff-led PDP faction, wishes to remind the PDP that it is suffering from its sins of the past.



The Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the PDP had on Tuesday accused the APC and the Presidency of being behind the Sheriff faction, to ensure that the PDP is in perpetual crisis and unable to produce credible candidates for the forth coming elections in Edo and Ondo state.


“For the umpteenth time, the APC wishes to state that instead of joining issues with the baseless and laughable allegations, the APC would rather join issues that will bring about all-inclusive development in the country,” a statement by APC national secretary, Mala Buni, said.


“However, it should be put on record that the PDP forced on them whatever crisis it is troubled with today due to its politics of imposition and other undemocratic practices which the APC abhors.


The PDP should put its house in order rather than playing to the gallery and blaming others but themselves for their sins which has come to hunt them. Also, it is evident that the PDP has chosen to employ diversionary tactics because of its inability to produce credible candidates for the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states.”

http://.com/apc-reveals-why-crisis-rocks-pdp/

The Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amodu Shuaibu, is dead.

Shuaibu was 58.

According to the NFF, the four-time Coach of the Super Eagles complained of chest pains on Friday night and died in his sleep.

His death is coming three days after that of former Super Eagles Captain and Coach, Stephen Keshi.

http://theeagleonline.com.ng/breaking-former-super-eagles-coach-amodu-shuaibu-is-died/



Lalasticlala

THE Niger Delta Avengers, on Friday morning said a crude pipeline owned by Italian oil giant, Agip Eni, was destroyed in an overnight explosion.



The group, which claimed responsibility for virtually all major attacks against oil installations across the restive oil-rich region this year, said the incident occurred at about 3:00 a.m.

In a tweet posted on its Twitter page, @Niger Delta Avengers, the Avengers wrote: “3:00 a.m. on Friday. Niger Delta Avengers blow (sic) up the Obi Obi Brass trunk line belonging to Agip ENI. It is Agip’s major crude oil line in Bayelsa State.”

The attack is coming three days after the Nigerian government announced that combat troops deployed to the area to rout the militants had been ordered to stand down.

The decision was reached after the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, met with governors from the region, including Delta’s Patrick Okowa and Edo’s Adams Oshiomhole.

The next day, the group dissociated itself from any truce with the government, saying “if the federal government is discussing wth any group, they’re doing that on their own.”

The latest damage to Agip installations followed a series of bombings that rocked Chevron, Shell, NNPC oil and gas installations across the Niger Delta in the last few weeks, including other Agip Eni-operated facilities.

The Avengers said it wanted a sovereign nation for the people of the Niger Delta, calling on the international community to intervene and help compelled the Nigerian government to yield to its demand in order to avoid a situation like Sudan before the southern part of that country finally broke away in 2011.


http://.com/niger-delta-avengers-blows-up-another-agip-facility/

PRESIDENT of the United States, Barack Obama, has endorsed the Democratic Party frontrunner in the country’s presidential election in November, Hillary Clinton.



“I don’t think there’s ever been someone so qualified to hold this office,” Mr Obama said in a video posted on Mrs. Clinton Facebook page on Thursday.

“Look, I know how hard this job can be, that’s why I know Hillary will be so good at it. She’s got the courage, the compassion, and the heart to get the job done.”

“I’m with her, I am fired up, and I cannot wait to get out there to campaign for Hillary,” he added.

Mr. Obama’s declaration for Mrs. Clinton, who was his secretary of state in his first term in office, made the announcement after a meeting with Mrs. Clinton’s rival for the Democratic Party, Bernie Sanders.

Mr. Sanders emerged from the meeting promising to help Mrs. Clinton defeat the Republican Party candidate, Donald Trump.

Despite trailing Mrs. Clinton with an unassailable number of delegates, Mr. Sanders had vowed to continue campaigning till the Democratic Party convention in July. His announcement today removed all obstacle, albeit symbolic, on the path of Mrs. Clinton to officially become the first woman in U..S history to be the presidential candidate of a major party.

Mr. Sanders is expected to draw the curtain on his revolutionary campaign, which has galvanised many young Americans, after the Washington DC primary next Tuesday.

http://.com/obama-endorses-clinton-for-president/


Lalasticlala

idupaul:
Thank God he doesn't have cancer..because I have a feeling if anything happens to this man the north will not handover to Osinbanjo like they did to jonathan

Who are the northerners?

Are we following them or Nigeria's constitution?

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has debunked report going round in the social media that he was diagnosed with a cancer ailment.



President Buhari while speaking from London, where he is currently spending his 10-day vacation says, ” it’s this ear of mine that’s giving me ailment as you were informed through the office of my special adviser on media and publicity Femi Adesina.

Mr, Buhari added that: “The news being circulated by some people that I am infected with cancer ailment I swear to God is false and nothing but blasphemy by those who don’t want to see Nigeria progresses under my stewardship.


t’s only prayer that I expect to be having from you my lovers. We only spent one year trying to right the wrongs they perpetrated in the past rule, Continuing Buhari said “God willing, positive change that will manifest in peace and tranquility with all Nigerians is in the offing.

http://.com/buhari-swears-by-god-that-he-is-not-infected-with-cancer/

Lalasticlala

THE bill seeking to reduce the age qualifications for the positions of President, governor and senate in the country to 30 years, yesterday successfully passed second reading in the House of Representatives.








The bill, which also makes provision for independent candidacy into the country’s electoral process, further reduces the age qualifications to contest for the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly to 25 years.


The Bill is an alteration of section 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the 1999 constitution which had prescribed qualification into the office of President to 40 years and above, office of governors and senate, 35 years and above as well as House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly to 25 years and above.


In his lead debate, the sponsor of the bill, Tony Chinedu Nwulu representing Oshodi-Isolo 11 Federal Constituency of Lagos State, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, noted that electing candidates into public offices was an important aspect of democratic practices.


He stated that: “countries like the United Kingdom parliament decided in 2006 to lower their age of candidacy from 21 to 18, which had existed since the Parliamentary Elections Act 1695. An age candidacy of 25 would encourage greater youth participation in politics.”


According to him, “this desire itself could be viewed as a sufficient warrant for young people to participate, demonstrate a willingness to engage and fulfill the burdens of office.”


On the Independent candidacy, he stressed the need to open up the space for lawmakers to come in as independent candidates.


He said: “It is pertinent now to amend the constitution to make room for independent candidates to widen the democratic processes in our elections, and above all to encourage our young ones to fully participate in all elective offices.”

http://.com/reps-reduce-age-qualification-for-presidency-governorship-senate-to-30-years/

NIGERIA'S former Military President, retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, has spoken from Germany where he has been in the last few weeks.



IBB, as he is fondly called, said he is alive contrary to reports that he had passed on.

MEZIE TIMES had quoted a family source recently, saying that the former military ruler was hale and hearty.

Babangida, speaking on a Television Continental programme on Wednesday, said he would soon return home.

The Lagos-based television programme, Journalists Hangout, was where Babangida called into to dispel the rumour of his death.

He told TVC crew: “I am alive.”

As at press time, journalists were still laying siege to his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, Niger State for news on his whereabouts.

Update from his hiltop mansion

In a bid to further dismiss the rumour tha‎t former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has died, his Personal Assistant, Captain Jalingo, on Wednesday said the gap toothed General is expected in Nigeria on Sunday.

Jalingo, while addressing journalists who had laid siege to the Hilltop Mansion area on Wednesday waiting for Babangida’s arrival, said: “General is alive.”

According to him: “He is supposed to be back today (Wednesday), but he did not come.

“General Babangida is alive.


“Insha Allah, he will be back on Sunday.

“If IBB comes back, there would be a press briefing that same day or the following day.

“He will address the media.”


http://.com/im-alive-babangida-speaks-from-germany/

A former Chief of Air Staff, Mohammed Umar, has opted for an out of court settlement in the N9.7 billion fraud case against him.



Umar on Tuesday in court said he was ready to settle out of court in the seven-count charge money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Umar appeared before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Umar was first arraigned on May 11, 2016.

At the arrangement, he pleaded not guilty.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Air Marshall Mohammed Dikko Umar,whilst being the Chief of Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force between September 2010 to September 2012 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court directly converted the United States Dollar equivalent of the aggregate sum of N4,846,630,000,00(Four Billion, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Six Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) only removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Airforce, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity (to wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act,2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, SylvanuTahir, prayed the court for a trial date and asked that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the commencement of his trial.

The defence counsel, Hassan Liman (SAN), told the court that he had filed a bail application and served same on the prosecution.

Consequently, Justice Nyako ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the court registrar.

The defendant was also ordered not to leave the jurisdiction of the court while the trial lasts.

The case was then adjourned to July 7 and 9, 2016.

But on Tuesday, Umar agreed to settle out of court.





http://.com/n9-7b-fraud-ex-chief-of-air-staff-opts-for-out-of-court-settlement/

CONTRARY to allegation that Commander, Government Ekpemupolo, (Alias Tompolo) is in Libya as alleged by Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, JNDLF, MEZIE TIMES can authoritatively report that the wanted Tompolo is hiding in Bayelsa's Govt. House.



Although Governor Seriake Dickson did not respond to enquiries made via text message, a dependable source in the last one week had told this news medium that Mr. Tompolo was sighted in Bayelsa State government house and since then MEZIE TIMES has been investigating the report.

According to our source, all the South-South Governors knew where Tompolo had been hiding since he was declared wanted by the EFCC.

And now, following our text message to Mr. Seriake Dickson on Sunday, today a group, the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, JNDLF, alleged that Tompolo had fled to Libya.

The group, which threatened, last week, to test six missiles in the Niger Delta states, beginning from tomorrow, said: “The Military can’t locate Tompolo but we have identified where he is now.” General Akotebe Darikoro, Commander, General Duties, General Torunanaowei Latei, Creeks Network Coordinator, General Agbakakuro Owei-Tauro, Pipelines Bleeding Expert and General Pulokiri Ebiladei, Intelligence Bureau of JNDLF, made the claim in a statement.

“Presently, Tompolo is in Libya and we’ll get him dead or alive for betraying us in supporting the federal government against us,” it disclosed.

According to it: “Nigerian Military has weak intelligence gathering mechanism hence they could not identify our modu oparandi. Nigerian military is only good in carrying AK47 to harass innocent people and raping young girls and women.”

Mr. Tompolo, our source said, had undergone series of facial disguise as he is confined to one of the guests’ houses in the government house.

Recall that on 6th January 2016, towards the build up to the re-run gubernatorial election in Southern Ijaw and some six other local government areas of the state, the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State had accused Governor Seriake Dickson of harbouring a former militant, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, in the Government House, Yenagoa.

According to a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Sylva-Igiri Campaign Organisation, Chief Nathan Egba, the organisation had it on good authority that Dickson was harbouring Tompolo.

The statement which was signed January 5 and made available to the press read in part: “A very credible security source in the Government House revealed that Tompolo is lodged at the Super Lodge 4 with some of his boys to be unleashed on Southern Ijaw and other places like Ekeremor Local Government Area come Saturday.”‎

The statement urged “security agents in the state to take note of this fact and ensure these PDP thugs are not mobilized to the creeks of Southern Ijaw like they did during the December 5th and 6th elections.

“The action of Governor Dickson because of his selfish political gains has clearly shown the level of desperation of Mr. Dickson,” the statement read.

When we tried to get back to our source this afternoon on the report that Tompolo fled to Libya, he laughed and said: “Please don’t mind them, he is still in the Bayelsa State Government House. May be they will move him out tonight.

“Probably they mentioned Libya because it is a no-go area to the federal government and the EFCC, but he cannot be in Libya because of the presence of ISIS.”


http://.com/tompolo-hiding-in-bayelsa-govt-house/

Lalasticlala