₦airaland Forum

Pastor Tunde Bakare has declared that God is preparing a messiah from the North who will possess the capacity to deliver Nigeria from its challenges.

The former running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 general elections said this during a sermon which was aired live on Channels Television yesterday.

“Let no one deceive you, there’s nobody with the capacity to deliver Nigeria until that day; that day is coming, it’s very near,” he said while addressing the congregation at his Latter Rain Assembly Church in Lagos.

“The reason things are going haywire in Nigeria today is because God is preparing the tender plant from the side of the North,” he said.

Pastor Bakare told his congregation that although he had been speaking about his presidential ambition in parables, they should watch out for direct statements ahead of the 2019 elections.

He maintained that he was not politicking about his ambition to become president but declaring what God has told him about his purpose in life.

“The reason we refused to compromise our lives and to diminish our values is so that nobody can diminish our influence. There’s only one assignment left for me. It’s not down, it’s up.

“I am declaring thus saith the Lord to this end was I born, for this purpose came I into the world that Nigeria will be saved, Nigeria will be changed, and Nigeria will become great in my lifetime. The mouth of the Lord has spoken it and the zeal of the Lord shall accomplish it,” Bakare added.

Some Nigerian banks failed to submit their audited reports for the 2017 financial year, missing the deadline given by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE.

The banks, listed on the NSE, in their various disclosures gave different reasons for the delays in the submission.

The NSE had announced March 31 as the deadline for filing of the reports.

Many of the banks, however, failed to meet the deadline due to varying reasons.

Checks shows that the affected banks are First Bank, Diamond Bank, Fidelity Bank, Union Bank among others.

According to First Bank, the bank’s structure was a major cause of the delay.

In its disclosure signed by Seye Kosoko, First Bank’s company secretary, the bank said it operates in other sectors aside the banking sector and the reports would have to be harmonised before presentation to NSE.

“The reason for the delay is purely due to the peculiarity of FBNH’s group structure,” the disclosure said.

“FBNH has subsidiary companies operating in the banking and insurance sectors as well as the capital market, all with a common financial year end of December 31 alongside the holding company.

“Each of these subsidiaries needs to audit its financial statements and obtain the approval of its respective regulator prior to submission to FBNH for consolidation.

“Thereafter, FBNH is also required to obtain the approval of its primary regulator before submission and filing with the exchange.”
On its part, Fidelity Bank said it was not done with the preparation of its reports.

Aside the commercial banks, a few other companies have also not filed their audited reports to the NSE.

They include International Breweries, Linkage Assurance, Abbey Mortgage Bank, Guinea Insurance, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mutual Benefits, among others.

Some of the banks whose reports have been submitted earlier are Guaranty Trust Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Zenith Bank, UBA, and Access Bank.

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has declared that students guilty of exam malpractice will be barred from writing the exams for a number of years.

This was revealed in a communiqué following the resolutions made at the recent 65th Nigeria examinations committee (NEC) meeting which held in Lagos.

Signed by Demianus Ojijieogu, Head, Public Affairs, NEC, it was revealed that the committee approved various sanctions for all established cases of malpractice.

“In the course of considering various reported cases of malpractice, the committee, after diligent deliberations approved appropriate sanctions in all established cases of malpractice, as prescribed by the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the council’s examination,” the communique read.

“It approved the entire results of candidates involved in proven cases, which attract cancellation of entire results (CER) while subject results of those involved in proven cases which attract cancellation of subject results (CSR) be similarly cancelled.

“In addition, some candidates will also suffer other sanctions such as barring them from sitting for the council’s examinations for a certain number of years.

“The decision of the committee will be implemented without delay and the affected candidates and examination centres duly informed by the council. However, the results of candidates who were exonerated by the committee will be released.”

The exemplary performances of two artists and one photographer who typify the current push by Africans who are taking their passions to new levels and creating sundry vibrant portfolios across several media is the thematic concern of this week’s edition of CNN African Voices sponsored by the grandmasters of data, Globacom.

The guests on the programme include Jo’burger, Tumelo Mosaka and Khatoum, Sudan based Gala Yousif who will be joined by Mauritius iconic photographer, Paul Choy.

The curtain raiser will be Paul Choy, who will afford viewers the opportunity of seeing the island of Mauritius through a photographer’s eyes as he captures the daily life of residents. “I never planned on becoming a photographer. It happened completely by accident. Ever since I was a small child, I always wanted to be an explorer, enjoying nothing better than just discovering something new. But what use is knowledge unless it is shared?” Paul queries.

The artist, photographer and writer well known for his annotated pictures with pithy titles explained that he started carrying cameras everywhere in order to capture the stories and immortalize images of people and places visited.

World renowned curator, Tumelo Mosaka who exhibits around the world, is the second guest on the programme and he would deploy his skills to highlight contemporary African art. The South African is famous for exploring global and transnational artistic productions especially from Africa, the Caribbeans and North America using themes such as racial injustice, migration and identity.

32 year-old Galal Yousif, the last guest, is expected to speak on arts, sculpture and painting. Whilst speaking on her passion, the Arts graduate of Sudan University enthused “I draw to feel that I am doing a little change in my life. Even, if it is just a bit”.

Viewers can watch CNN African Voices on the Cable News Network, CNN, at 9.30 a.m. on Friday. Repeat editions will be broadcast at 3.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. on Saturday and 11.30 a.m and 6.30 p.m. on Sunday. Further repeats will be broadcast at 10.30 a.m. on Monday and 4.30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Robbers no longer respect places of worship nowadays following the recent invasion of Revival City Church in Ikeja Lagos.

Police sources confirmed that some armed robbers invaded the church at night, burgled, carted away properties and escaped.

The reports says the incident happened at Revival City Church premises located at Kolawole Street, off Unity Road in Ikeja, Lagos.

There was no report of stealing any cash from the church but the two Samsung television sets mounted inside the church were carted away by the robbers.
It was gathered that the members got to the church in the morning only to discover that the it has been burgled and the two television sets were missing.

The incident was reported to the police at Ikeja Division, a team of police officers moved in and investigated the matter. Two of the suspects, ThankGod Itodo, 27 and Lazarus Akam, 31, were arrested in connection with the burglary and stealing inside the church.

They were charged before Ikeja Magistrates court for burglary and stealing.

They pleaded not guilty.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O Sule-Amzat granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in sum.
The prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuehi did not object to their bail condition.

However, they were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail condition.
The matter was adjourned till 5 July, 2018.

After The Wedding Party screened to the Lagos media in 2016, Sola Sobowale, who played mother of the bride in the box office shattering film declared that she was back from a hiatus spent in London.

The actress, screenwriter, director and producer had taken a break from the Nigerian movie industry that loved her so much it had the Toyin Tomato nickname for her, and gone to take care of her children.

Well, she is back and has been on movie sets ever since. No sooner had she wrapped up shoot for the sequel to The Wedding Party than she got on location for a Tade Ogidan film titled Golden Statue.

She got into her career as a member of the Awada Kerikeri Group led by the actor, Adebayo Salami. Some of the films she has either acted in, written, produced or directed are, Asewo to re Mecca (1992), Dangerous Twins (2004), Ohun Oko Somida (2010) and Family on Fire (2011).

She has also featured hugely on television soaps and somehow managed to keep a family. She is a true Lagos big girl.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has fired yet another shot at President Muhammadu Buhari, saying Nigerians are victims of his incompetence.

He also people against “reinforcing failure” through re-electing “ineffective and incompetent government”.

The elder statesman accused Buhari of having a “poor understanding” of the dynamics of internal politics.

He spoke on Monday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun state, while hosting the New Nigeria Group.

“The first lesson I learnt in my military training is to never reinforce failure. What we have now is a failure,” he said.

“Never you reinforce failure. Let failure be failure. And if you do not see what you should see, you will then be a victim of what you don’t like because it’s only when you see what you should see and you do what you should do that you put away what you do not like.

“Those of you who are into business know that by now you could have been better if we have an effective government. The truth is this – when you have an ineffective and incompetent government, we are all victims and don’t let anybody deceive you.”

He warned Nigerians not to get carried away by the recent apology tendered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as well as the reforms of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He also asked the ruling party to stop giving excuses.

“Stop giving excuses; we met challenges. If there were no challenges, then we wouldn’t need you to come. You came in because you know there were challenges… stop giving us excuse that you have many challenges, that is why you haven’t achieved results,” he said.

“I have publicly said and I mean it, that as a party, neither PDP nor APC can get us there as they have been. Never mind about reforms and apology and all that.

He asked youth in the country to rise up to the challenge of providing the much needed new generation of leadership for the development of Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development.

In January, Obasanjo wrote a strongly-worded letter to Buhari, asking him to forget about the 2019 election.

He accused the president of clannishness and shielding the corrupt people around him from prosecution.

Obasanjo warned Buhari against overstretching the tolerance of Nigerians.

The former president was one of the main supporters of Buhari in the buildup to the 2015 election. Back then, he lashed at Goodluck Jonathan who was the incumbent president.

Former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said he is not surprised that his name has been included in the latest list of looters released by the presidency on Sunday.

In a statement sent to us on Monday, Fani-Kayode insisted that he has not been convicted by any court of law.

He labelled the allegations as “nonsensical and utterly shameful”, while calling President Muhammadu Buhari’s government “weak”.

The statement read: “It has been brought to my attention that my name was placed in what the Federal Government of Nigeria describes as its “looters list”.

“I wish to make it abundatly clear that this is nonsensical and utterly shameful and I hereby reiterate the fact that I am totally innocent of any wrongdoing.

“The fact of the matter is that no “looters list” is complete without the names of Muhammadu Buhari, Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Ameachi, Tunde Fashola, Bola Tinubu, Lai Mohammed, Adamu Abdullahi, Dambazau, Kayode Fayemi, Babachir Lawal, Maina, Maikanto Baru, Burutai, all APC Governors and other key members of the Buhari administration and the APC.

“The Federal Government claims that I “looted” 800,000,000 naira from government coffers. This is false.

“I did not receive and neither was I ever given one kobo by any government official, government agency or government parastatal during President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure.

“The money that I received was given to me by the Director of Finance of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Mrs. Esther Nenadi Usman, before the election in 2015 and it was specifically for the conduct of the Presidential election.

“I was Director of Media and Publicity of the Campaign Organisation and it was used specifically and solely for the running and conducting of the media and publicity aspect of the election.

“Mrs. Usman, who was Minister of Finance during the Obasanjo government, was neither a member of the Jonathan government and neither did she manage, handle or touch any government funds in her capacity as Director of Finance of the Jonathan campaign.

“The money she made available to me came from a private company account which was used to house contributions made to the Jonathan campaign by party supporters after a series of fundraising event.

“These were private funds and not public funds and neither can anyone expect us to have run an election in 2015 without any money. You do not run election campaigns with sand but with money.

“It is common knowledge that the Buhari campaign in 2015 was funded by moneys that can be traced directly to the state governments of Rivers state, Lagos state, Kano state, Ogun state and a number of other key APC states yet not one of those involved or that governed any of those states at the time have been questioned, arrested or prosecuted by the EFCC or the Federal Government.

“It is also common knowledge that President Buhari himself was offered and received several benefits and received money from the office of the former National Security Advisor, Col. Sambo Dasuki, yet nothing has been done about this.

“From the foregoing it is clear that the Buhari administration’s so-called war against corruption is selective and punitive and it is nothing but a vicious media trial and politically-motivated witchunt.

“It is nothing but a squalid and mafia-like attempt to muscle, discredit, demonise and sillence key members of the opposition. It is slanderous, malicious and unjust.

“If not for the fact that the Buhari administration is an irresponsible, weak, desperate and corrupt government that has no confidence in itself and no sense of decency how can they declare people that have not been convicted by any court of law as “looters”.

“Not only is this a violation of the constitutional provision that says that an accused person is deemed innocent until they are proved guilty by a duly constituted court of law but it is also highly prejudicial to the criminal cases that they are or may be facing.

“Apart from that it is a crude and sordid attempt to intimidate the judges and influence the outcome of the cases which are before them and also to compel them to give the judgement that the government wants. This is not only unacceptable but it is also shameful.

“It is a clear violation of the concept of separation of powers which gives the judiciary alone the power to determine the guilt or otherwise of an accused person.

“It is trite law that only a court of law can declare a man guilty or declare him a thief or a looter and not Buhari and his government.

“How can anyone get a fair trial in a country when the government has already pronounced them guilty before the world?

“You cannot be the investigator, accuser, prosecutor and judge in your own case. This is a basic principle of criminal and constitutional law which appears to have been lost on President Buhari and his cohorts.

“I don’t blame him: I blame Vice President Osinbajo who, as a Professor of Law and a learned SAN, should know better and who I am reliably informed is the co-ordinator of all these politically-motivated, baseless and malicious corruption cases which are being conducted against opposition members by the EFCC.

“He is the one that has been saddled with the shameless responsibility of manipulating the prosecutors, emboldening false witnesses, attempting to pressure the judges and attempting to send innocent men and women who are members of the opposition to jail.

“One day, whether he believes it or not, there will be a reckoning for his wickedness just as there will be one for Buhari and his entire government. God will see to that and He will judge and punish them.

“Meanwhile I reject the false label of “looter” and I hereby return it to sender.

“I also deny all the charges that have been levelled against me by the EFCC, I hereby restate my innocence and I shall continue to vigorously defend myself and my good family name in the court of law.

“I have no doubt that in the end my innocence will speak for me, God will vindicate me and He will expose my accusers for the heartless monsters that they really are.”

Reno Omokri, a spokesperson for former President Goodluck Jonathan, has launched a blistering attack on the Nigerian government and the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, over two lists of alleged looters released by the administration.

Mr. Mohammed had on Sunday circulated a statement containing a list of individuals undergoing trials for alleged corruption.

He had earlier on March 30 released a first list of members of the past administration he said looted the Nigerian treasury while the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in power.

The government released the lists in response to a challenge by the spokesperson of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, who tackled Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for saying the PDP administration massively looted the treasury during its 16 years in power.

Mr. Ologbondiyan described Mr. Osinbajo as not being courageous enough to name those he claimed stole public funds.

The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, then picked up the challenge. He addressed journalists in Lagos, first on Friday, and later on Sunday during which he released two separate lists.
But in a statement emailed to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday morning, Mr. Omokri criticised the government for failing to include names of members of the ruling All Progressives Congress accused of or being tried for corruption.

In the statement entitled “The Real Looters List That Buhari and Lai Mohammed Do Not Want You To Know About,” the former president’s spokesperson named 10 members of the APC he said should have been added to Mr. Mohammed’s list.

SEE FULL LIST BELOW.

READ MR OMOKRI’S FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

A few days ago, the fallacious minister of information, the rightly named Lai Mohammed, whose first name rhymes with his life’s calling, released a so called ‘looters list’ with six names of alleged looters.

After he was ridiculed by civil society, the opposition and the international community, Mr. Lai Mohammed hurriedly put out a statement tagging his list a ‘teaser’.

When that lie refused to fly, the notorious fibber, Lai Mohammed, released yet another list yesterday, April 1, 2018.

Coincidentally, April 1 is April Fools day and it was befitting that Lai released his list on that day because only a fool will believe the list he put together.

His list did not contain even one member of the All Progressive Congress. If the list proves anything, it is that President Buhari, Lai Mohammed and their All Progressive Congress are not fighting corruption. Instead they are fighting corruption.

I have taken the pains to produce a ‘teaser’ looters list of APC members who are collectively alleged to have looted over $2 billion (when you convert the dollar value of what they allegedly looted at the time they allegedly looted it).

I challenge President Buhari and Lai Mohammed to explain why these men did not feature on their list and why they continue to remain in this APC government where they wield immense powers and influence, even over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that is meant to prosecute them.

I further challenge President Buhari and Lai Mohammed to explain to Nigerians why they failed to reveal to Nigerians that President Buhari himself is a MAJOR beneficiary of the funds that the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, received from the treasury for the security of Nigerians.

I assure Nigerians that Sambo Dasuki is not in jail for a crime he committed in 2015. He is rather being persecuted for a ‘crime’ he committed in 1985.

Please find below the teaser list of looters.

Note that this is just a teaser. Depending on the reaction of the Buhari-led government, more names will be released.

Looters List

Rotimi Amaechi: Indicted by the Justice George Omeregi led Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry of looting ₦97 billion along with co indictees including a former army general.

Saminu Turaki: Alleged to have looted ₦36 billion. First charged before Justice Sabi’u Yahuza of the Federal High Court in Dutse, Jigawa State. Currently facing trial before justice Nnamdi Dimgba at the FCT High Court.

Timipre Sylva: A well known financier and supporter of the APC administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Alleged to have looted ₦19.7 billion. Was facing trial before Justice A. Y. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja. However, two days after President Buhari was sworn in, the new APC government WITHDREW the charges preferred against Sylva on June 1, 2015 and on October 3, 2018, the EFCC returned to Sylva, 48 houses seized from him during the administration of former president, Goodluck Jonathan in 2013 to him.

Murtala Nyako: Alleged to have looted ₦29 billion. Currently facing trial before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja

Senator Danjuma Goje: Alleged to have looted ₦25 billion. Currently facing trial before the Federal High Court, sitting in Jos, Plateau State.

Senator Abdullahi Adamu: Alleged to have looted ₦15 billion with the help of 18 co accused. Charged on March 3, 2010. The case continues to linger in court.

Orji Kalu: Alleged to have looted ₦3.2 billion. Currently facing trial before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

Kayode Fayemi: Indicted by the Ekiti Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by former Ekiti State chief judge and the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Ademola Ajakaiye, of sundry financial malfeasance totaling over ₦2 billion.

Senator Joshua Dariye: Alleged to have looted ₦1.2 billion. Currently facing trial before Justice Adebukola Banjoko at an FCT High Court.

Babachir Lawal: former Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Allegedly gave a ₦200 million contract to his own company from monies meant to look after Internally Displaced Persons. Has been sacked after protest by the opposition and civil society. Has still not been charged. Was allowed to be replaced by his own cousin.

By the omission of these names, the Buhari led Federal Government has vindicated Transparency International.

According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, Nigeria is more corrupt today under Buhari than at any other time since Transparency International started keeping records!
We have moved 12 places backward from 136 to 148. Yet this administration has the guts to accuse a government under whom Nigeria made her best ever progress on the Corruption Perception Index of corruption? We moved from 144 to 136 in 2014 under President Jonathan because that government fought corruption in court and not through the media.

Amid knocks from various quarters over his reported adoption of Emir title , the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, Telu I has denied adopting emir title .

The monarch was said to have adopted the title by virtue of his status as an Islamic monarch of high repute in Yorubaland at the installation of Sheik Yahqub Abdul-Baaqi as the first Waziri of Yoruba land.

But Oba Akanbi in a statement issued Sunday by his media aide, Mr. Alli Ibraheem describing the report as a product of misconception utilized by the enemies of Yoruba race to demean the revered paramount stool of Oluwo.

Oba Akanbi said he only disclosed he can also be called an Emir by his Muslim admires especially the Hausas who cannot pronounce Oba correctly.

He described those condemning him for the report as ignorance of his true position, imploring media commentators to acquaint themselves with the correct position before launching comment.

According to Ibraheem, there was never a time Oluwo dropped Oba title for Emir challenging those who reported the story to come with the factual evidence of the purported adoption.

The statement reads “Oluwo never adopt Emir title, he only said he can also be called an Emir by the Hausas and ardent Muslims. Oba Akanbi is an Oba for the nation with special attachment to the Yorubas. He promotes Yoruba culture to the admiration of many youth. Just because of Oluwo dressing codes today, many children are attracted to Yoruba culture wearing Aso Ofi”.

“I said so to integrate Nigeria nation as an indivisible entity. All working tools are available for the integration and unity of our dear country. I`ve visited the North several times. Core Hausas hardly pronounce Yoruba words correctly. They called me Emir when I am with them. Is there anything wrong in answerable to such? Even, the Hausas in Iwo here call me Emir. Will I stop them from addressing me as such? No, I am a father to the nation being a first class paramount ruler”

He further stated his total conducts are tailored towards the promotion of Yoruba traits as laid by Oduduwa, our founding father. My dress is a respect to Yoruba. Yoruba heritage is the best worldwide. We are the hope of not only Nigeria but alos the black race. Our conducts are undeniable. The corruption part of it is what I am checkmating”

The purported adoption has generated condemnation and call for the dethrone of the monarch.

Fast-rising Nollywood actress, Jemima Osunde, has declared that good sex is better than money.

In an interview with Broadway TV, the actress was asked to choose between a rich man that is not good in bed and a poor man good in bed.

She responded: “I don’t plan to be broke myself. So, a man good in bed is good for me not his money. Let him give me what I can’t give myself”.

Jemima also reacted to comparisons with Adesua Etomi Wellington.

“I don’t see that as a bad thing. First of all, she is my mama, every child wants to be like their mama I guess.

“And if for anything, she is doing amazingly well, career-wise and in personal life.

“I think God has been great to Adesua. If I happen to be as fortunate, I will be very grateful”, the undergraduate of physiotherapy at the College of Medicine, Lagos, added.

The Edo State indigene got her big break in the popular MTV drama series ‘Shuga’ where she played the character, Leila.

Youths in their hundreds on Saturday embarked on a symbolic march from Maryland to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota to endorse Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for another term in office.
The youths, drawn from various groups including Lagos Youth Initiative (LYI), Lagos State Students Union, Liberal Minds Grassroots Forum, Lagos of Our Dream (Project LOUD), Asiwaju Redrive Youth Initiative, A Plus Vanguard, National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria (NASWEDEN), among others, said the decision to support the Governor was as a result of his various infrastructural strides and massive empowerment initiatives such as the N25billion Employment Trust Fund.
Speaking at the event, Lagos State Chairman of LYI, Comrade Temitope Ogungbo said the walk was organised to appreciate and mobilize support for Governor Ambode judging by the fact that the promises made to the people of the State have been fulfilled.
He said: “We are here today to show appreciation to the man that has done well. Three years back, he made a promise here at Ojota Freedom Park and those promises have been fulfilled and the Governor has even done more than what he promised.
“The promises are employment, empowerment, among others. When you talk about youths in Lagos State, Governor Ambode has employed many youths into the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority; he established Neighbourhood Safety Corps which has employed over 5,000 youths; he has also employed over 20,000 youths through the Cleaner Lagos Initiative; thousands of youths and businesses have also been empowered through the N25billion Employment Trust Fund of the Governor Ambode administration, among others.
“We see all these initiatives as very good and something that requires the youths to pay back by asking the Governor to continue in office, and that is why we invited all our groups from the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the State to embark on symbolic walk to endorse Governor Ambode for second term.”
He particularly urged those yet to get Permanent Voters Cards to utilize the opportunity of the ongoing registration exercise to register and get their cards to vote for continuity of the good works of the Governor in the state.
Also, Lagos State Chairman of Liberal Minds, Mr Sanni Ganiyu said the State was blessed to have a caring, good and dynamic leader like Governor Ambode who, according to him, has positively touched all sectors and sections of the state.
“Governor Ambode has performed credibly well; he has served us successfully; he has virtually touched all sectors of the economy, be it in the area of sports, roads, roads, health, agriculture, security, employment, education and so on.
“As a matter of fact, the common man, disabled or physically challenged are not left out as they have all benefitted tremendously from this administration, and that is why we are all out to support Governor Ambode for another term in office,” Ganiyu said.
Member, Board of National Agricultural Extension Research, Hon Ganiat Alli-Balogun, said since assuming office, Governor Ambode had done wonders and a lot for people of the State.
She said: “Today, you can see the youths of Lagos State here to support Governor Ambode for second to continue his good works. Everyone is happy because of the brilliant projects that have been executed in the State.
“Talk of the beautification, the infrastructural amenities, the schools and so on and so we thank God for all the good work of our Governor.”
On their parts, leaders of NASWEDEN in Lagos State – Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, Comrade Friday Okoh and Mrs Olufunke Akinwale said the association was fully in support of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative of the State Government, and that their members were all saying no vacancy in Alausa come 2019.
Highpoint of the event was the performances by ace musicians, Humble Smith and Queen Seyidat, among others.

In the past two decade, Nigeria has developed a feature film industry based on video and video compact disc distribution which currently produces over 600 films a year making Nigeria (in terms of numbers) one of the largest film producing nations in the world. English language films (Nollywood) have become a dominant media form all over the African continent.

But the third most popular film industry in the word popularly known as Nollywood is about to witness a new revolution with blockchain-powered platform and cryptocurrency.

Nollycoin according to the developers and operators will enhance the distribution and marketing of products within the African Movies ecosystem.

Dr. Ope Banwo, a lawyer, author, entrepreneur and internet business consultant, is a strong force in the entertainment industry and is the visionary and driver of the platform.

He explains, “Nollycoin powers a revolutionary Peer-To-Peer creative works sharing and registry platform for the Movie industry. The Nollytainment ecosystem will work on a decentralized ledger system for the publication and distribution of movies using blockchain technology, with Nollycoin as the central means of exchange.

“Nollycoin will tackle the lack of access to sustainable capital needed for the production of quality movies; the issues related to copyright infringement, intellectual property protection and piracy; structural problems regarding fair compensation for collaborators and other professionals; and the challenges of having a universal means of exchange for the purchase and sale of African movies,” he said

He noted that Nollycoin was the official currency of NollyTainment’s block chain-powered ecosystem that include NOLLYTV, a smart contract movie distribution portal; Nolly Cinemas (cinema movies exclusively watched with Nollycoin cryptocurrency); Nolly Mall; Nolly Academy and Nolly Crowdfund.

For consumers, there had always been the problem of a universal means of exchange for purchase or the enjoyment of African movies by people in the Diaspora.

On how the development would be an earning saviour for film makers, Banwo, said: “Nollytainment is a project to introduce blockchain to Nollywood, using a platform called NollyTV, like Netflix and Steroids, to upload movies to the site, using the Blockchain Smart Contract Technology. Unlike other platforms where film-makers have to wait for accumulated views before they get paid or get a particular percentage, after which they lose the right to their films, Smart Contract helps the film-maker to get paid directly without any third party intervention.”

With the revolutionary flagship NollyTV, movie producers can now upload songs on the blockchain network, execute Smart Contracts to ensure fair payment to all collaborators in the movie production chain and movie fans could now watch movies with nollycoins.

Razak “Hyena” Ramon, the rising cruiserweight boxer billed to face Abiodun “Finito” Afinni in a national challenge bout at GOtv Boxing Night 14, has threatened to do to his opponent what hyenas do to prey. Their highly anticipated clash is one of the seven lined up at the show, which holds at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, on 14 April.

Speaking in Lagos on yesterday, Hyena said he is looking beyond Afinni, whom he intends to use as a stepping stone to bigger things, including the national lightweight cruiserweight title.

“I am in camp and as you can see, I have been training really hard for the fight. I am not called Hyena for nothing. I will eat up Afinni. He calls himself Finito. That means he would be finished off. He is just another opponent I have to dismiss quickly, as I aim for the national, West African, African and world cruiserweight titles. I know that he is handsome, but my goal is to mess up his handsome face,” raved Hyena.

The headline bout at the event will see Nigeria’s Waidi “Skoro” Usman take another stab at the African Boxing Union (ABU) featherweight title when he takes on Kenya’s Michael “Shaka” Nywade. The Nigerian’s previous attempt ended in defeat to Uganda’s Edward “Shaka” Kakembo in December 2015.

Also seeking a title is Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde, who takes on Djossou “Agoy” Basile of the Republic of Benin in the West African Boxing Union (WABU) welterweight title fight. Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu, winner of the best boxer award at GOtv Boxing Night 13, would seek to continue his meteoric rise by attempting to win the national lightweight title when he confronts Kazeem “Ijoba” Badmus.

Another big star scheduled to be in action is the ABU and Commonwealth Africa lightweight champion, Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph, who faces the dogged Prince “Lion” Nwoye in a national challenge bout. The other fights will feature middleweight tyro, Chukuwebuka “Wize King” Ezewudo up against Semiu “Jagaban” Olapade, while Majesty Maduka will confront Sulaimon Adeosun.

The best boxer at the event, to be beamed live by SuperSport in 47 African countries, will go home with a cash prize of N1million attached to the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy.

The Enugu Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned one Nwachukwu Placidus, a former manager of First City Monument Bank Ltd, Onitsha Branch and three former bank workers with Idemili Micro Finance Bank Ltd, Nnewi namely; Ohaegbunam Chinyere,Egbosi Chiemenam and Nkeiru Okeke before Justice Ike Agu of the Anambra State High Court on a 12–count charge of stealing, conversion and obtaining ‎N129 million by false pretence.

The first defendant, Mr Placidus, allegedly diverted funds received from Idemilli Micro Finance bank meant to be placed as fixed deposit to his personal accounts while claiming they were severally rolled over and presented forged fixed deposit certificates to cover his tracks.

The co-defendants are alleged accomplices to the crime.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to them.

The trial judge admitted the defendants to bail on different conditions as follows. The first defendant is to produce two sureties and N2 million in like sum with the sureties residing within the jurisdiction of the court. He further directed that they must have landed properties and must deposit two copies of their recent passport photographs alongside that of the defendant.

The second, third and fourth defendants were respectively granted bail in the sum of N1 million and one surety each who must be a civil servant of not less than grade level 14 and who must also reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case has been adjourned to June 14, July 16, October 15, November 7 and December 6, 2018 respectively for hearing.

Big Brother Naija 3, tagged Double Wahala, took a new twist on Sunday night, when Big Brother decided to bring back two evicted housemates. This time, they were not ‘fake,’ as they can compete for the grand prize of N45 million. Anto and Khloe were the two lucky housemates voted in by the viewers.

Their return was announced during the weekly eviction show. The announcement provoked mixed reactions from viewers, with the majority arguing that the previously evicted housemates must have returned to the Big Brother House with tales of various things that happened while they were on the outside and share such with their colleagues.

On their return to the House, Big Brother warned Anto and Khloe against discussing events on the outside with other contestants, saying it would earn them a “strike”. Biggie added that other housemates must never ask questions or discuss life outside the Big Brother House, as it would earn them the same sanction.

Returning housemate, Khloe, stated that she would “set Cee C straight”.

“I need to set Cee-C straight. I am gonna be a big sister and tell her to calm down. I have been there before and got disqualified,” she said.

She had earlier stated this on her Twitter handle, @kokobykhloe, saying she would make Cee C go through hell if given the chance to return. Now that the wish has been fulfilled, the stage is set for an almighty drama.

On Monday, Tobi became head of house for the fourth time since the show began. He became the head of house after housemates were given a box of cards to randomly pick names from. Anyone that picked the card that with “Head of House” written on it would become the head of house. Tobi did and automatically became the head of house.

Just as viewers were waiting on Khloe for the drama to begin, Tobi picked Khloe to share the luxury suite with him. This was unexpected, as viewers had hoped he would pick Cee C, who also appeared surprised at the decision.

Will this development stir the drama /Double Wahala viewers have been waiting for? Will there be a clash between Cee C and Khloe? The answers would be delivered during the course of the week.

Big Brother also reset the game, with each and every housemate given a second chance. They have been freed of all strikes or sanctions that could lead to disqualification. After the life nomination show on Sunday, all Housemates were summoned to the arena to undergo a reset and to also get a glimpse of Big Brother. Each housemate stood on a podium with several ninjas positioned in front of a large chair occupied by Big Brother.

The housemates were informed of their offences and were advised not to forget their mission in the House.

Big Brother also offered the Housemates an undisclosed amount of money as an opportunity to leave the game and be reunited with their loved ones, which they all rejected.

… Announces traffic diversion, alternative routes

…Says adequate measures in place to mitigate inconveniences



The Lagos State Government on Tuesday declared Thursday, March 29 as work free day in the State.

A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan disclosed that this will enable Lagosians come out enmasse to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari who is on a historic two-day visit to Lagos State.

The statement urged residents to adhere to the security guidance earlier announced to make the visit as peaceful and orderly.

Announcing traffic diversions and alternative routes ahead of a two-day visit by President Muhammadu Buhari to the State between March 29 and 30, State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal, at a press briefing held at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, said adequate preparations have been made to mitigate the impact of the road diversions on residents, while access would be given to any emergency situation.

Edgal, who addressed the briefing alongside heads of security and emergency agencies in the State, said while in Lagos, the President would commission the new Ikeja Bus Terminal, attend a colloquium in honour of national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and as well as embark on tour of the Eko Atlantic City, among others.

According to the CP, “To ensure smooth, security-free visit of the President, we would need to do some diversions. Some certain roads will be closed at certain times; some diversions will be made but I want to use this opportunity to appeal for the support and understanding of Lagosians that this temporary road closures and diversions might cause a little inconvenience.

“We want the people to bear with us to ensure that we all join hands together to make the visit of Mr. President not only hitch-free but also very memorable. The road closures and diversions will be very temporary and immediately the President leaves a certain location, that area will be opened very quickly for the general public. We have also made adequate arrangements to mitigate the impact of the closures on residents,” he said.

He listed the areas to be affected to include Bank Anthony Way in Ikeja, Agege Motor Road, a section of Eko Hotel Road in Victoria Island and Old Marina in Ikoyi axis.

Besides, Edgal said security arrangement was already in top gear and that people would see a lot of deployment of personal of both military and civil logistics adding that it is nothing to worry about.

“We have done the necessary threat assessments; we have reached out to all stakeholders in areas that we believe we should reach out to them to ensure their full cooperation. We are using this opportunity to call again on the Okada Unions and the National Union of Road Transport Workers that they must abide with the terms of agreement we reached during meetings with them regarding the visit.

“We will not want to see commercial motorcycles plying the prohibited routes of Agege Motor Road, Bank Anthony Way and anywhere on the Island. Should that order be disobeyed, we would be constrained to ensure that you are arrested with your motorcycles impounded. Whoever is also found as a passenger will also be arrested and prosecuted so do not patronize these Okadas on these prohibited routes not only for the purpose of the visit but also to ensure that Lagos State Laws on the regulation of commercial motorbikes are obeyed at all times,” Edgal said.

He added that three locations have been designated for all first emergency responders to station their equipment and officials including the Police, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), LASAMBUS, Civil Defence, Fire Brigade, among others at Ikeja, Victoria Island and Free Trade Zone at Lekki-Akodo axis.

On the Apapa gridlock which has spilled over to other parts of the State, Edgal said while the Joint Task Force set up by the State Government was already working to ensure free-flow of traffic, the government nonetheless has commenced the construction of a new Trailer Park in Ijora axis that can conveniently accommodate 2,800 trucks and tanker at a time.

“The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, in collaboration with stakeholders, has identified a location known as the White Sand in Ijora axis and we have done an assessment of the place with my colleagues in other agencies and all shanties there have been destroyed.

“Now, the State Government has given out the contract to a firm and they are now smoothening up the place. It has the capacity to take well over 2,800 trucks and tankers at the same time. Work is ongoing there at a very fast pace and I can assure Lagosians that very soon, the place will be completed and we intend to move all trucks, tankers to that location and as soon as that is done, we would have permanently take care of this trucks and tankers,” Edgal said.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi recently invested several millions of naira in a sprawling mansion in GRA Ikeja, Lagos which nobody will forget in a hurry. In bid to make it worthy of his stature, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, painstakingly remodeled it into an imaginary place; replete with trappings essential to a life of glamour and allure.

Yes, GRA, Ikeja is one of the most affluent areas in the Lagos State and Kayode’s mansion occupies a pride of place.
Very few people know that Fayemi has a weakness for good life. In fact, one would have to get very close to him to know that he never dithers from acquiring the finest luxury money can buy.

Too many people in the modern world-view luxury to be vainglorious, but to Fayemi, it is the essence of charmed life. It is the quality of his choices however, that distinguishes him from both the dreamy minion and hackneyed aristocrat.

Behind the gates of the impressive mansion, luxury saunters in a colourful garb. The interior depicts Kayode’s dreams of bliss; you could be forgiven for mistaking it for the fabled Atlantis. The panes of quaint decor, embroidered fabric and devices, ornaments the insides like the damasked wings of the pyralid.

Amid its enchanting premises, you could get lost, especially if you are a first time visitor. Recurrent callers at the mansion have been known to marvel and keel over in humility, in deference to its lavish treats.
Outside, the building is garlanded with arcs and flowers, and bunches of knot-grass. Kayode’s manor is a testament of class. No doubt.

However, the former governor of Ekiti State would be unable at acquire such luxury had he not taken the right steps in his pursuit and acquisition of money. He cultivated the money habit very early in life. He saw it as the perfect means for bribing his way through the inconveniences of life.

He pursued and acquired money in markedly different tradition from the ways of his peers. While too many of his peers, gained from their wealth only the fear of losing it, Fayemi gained from his wealth, comfort, contentment and a deep sense of purpose.

While he serves as Minister of the Federal Republic, Fayemi is working very hard and today he is reaping the fruit of his labour.

A visit to the mansion last weekend was quite an experience. In GRA, Fayemi’s palatial mansion sticks out like a gold crest, amid the houses in the area.

In a bid to recover a debt of N361,521,417.74, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (the liquidator of Metropolitan bank limited) has dragged a Nigerian businessman Chief Cletus M. Ibeto and his two companies Ibeto Petrochemical industries limited and Odoh Holding limited before a Federal high court in Lagos.

In an application for the recovery of debt filed before the court by the law firm of Joe kyari Gazama, it was alleged that on the 27th of May, 2003 Ibeto Petrochemical industries limited applied for and was granted a revolving Bankers Acceptance facility by Metropolitan bank limited in liquidation in the sum of N500million.

The loan was secured by a deed of Tripartite legal mortgage between Ibeto Petrochemical Industries limited and Odoh holdings Limited and Metropolitan bank limited, unconditional Personal guarantee of Chief C. M. Ibeto for N500millon plus accrued interest along with powers of attorney. The revolving Bankers acceptance was drawn down and utilized by the Ibeto Petrochemical industries limited and was not repaid before the license of the bank was revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

As at the closure of the bank on 16th of January 2006, the company had an outstanding debt balance of N643,506,785.67. The respondents made a post closure payment in several installments between 2010 to 2011 totaling the sum of N243,233,089.16, the post closure payment was applied to reduces the outstanding bankers acceptance facility from N500million to N256,766,910.84. Whereof NDIC claims against the respondents jointly and severally is the sum of N361,521,417.74 being total outstanding debt owed Metropolitan bank limited in(liquidation,) together with accumulated interest as at the closure of the bank in January, 2006. Order attaching the properties used by the respondents in securing the facility as may be sufficient in liquidating the outstanding debt. An order granting the NDIC the right to exercise the power of sale over the properties.

However, in a reply and counter claim filed on behalf of the respondents by a Lagos lawyer Barrister Ime Nya Asanga ,the respondents averred that the facility subject matter of the applicant claim was granted to Ibeto Petrochemical industries by the legacy Metropolitan bank limited, originally as a bankers Acceptance Facility which was subsequently converted by the said bank to a term loan at a reduced interest rate.

Notwithstanding the above,the bank in computing the respondents alleged exposure on the facility, continue to treat the same as bankers acceptance facility at horrendous interest rates and thus unduly bloated the alleged debt. The respondents have since 2011 ,on the prompting of the applicant, fully repaid the principal sum of the facility, therefore the respondents are not indebted or liable for any outstanding sum of 361,521,417.74, consequently having liquidation the facility granted to the respondents in full,an order attaching the properties used by the respondents in securing the term loan granted cannot be made.

However in a counter claim,the respondents are seeking the following reliefs; the issuance of deed of release of the properties used as security for the facility, the payment of the sum of N550,026,685.85 being excess interest /charges as evidence in Auditor’s report and the sum of N8million being the cost of defending and instituting the counter-claim.

The presiding Judge, Saliu Saidu has adjourned till 10th of April,2018 for hearing.

Following the Super Eagles’ inspiring display against Poland on Friday, DStv and GOtv subscribers will today have the exclusive opportunity of watching the team continue their World Cup preparations when they take on Serbia in an international friendly.

The match, which will be played at The Hive Stadium in London, will kick off at 6:45 pm. The match will be available to DStv subscribers on SuperSport 9 and SuperSport 4 in HD, while GOtv subscribers will watch on SuperSport Select 1 (Channel 31).

Also exclusively available to DStv subscribers today are friendly matches between Egypt and Greece (7pm), Germany vs Brazil (7:45pm), England vs Italy (8pm) and Spain vs Argentina (8:30pm).

The Super Eagles have been drawn in Group D of the preliminary stage of the World Cup, where they will confront the might of Lionel Messi’s Argentina, Croatia and Iceland, as they seek to book a ticket into the round of 16.

#BBNaija house was today filled with surprises as already evicted Housemate, Anto and Glory returned to the house.

Although both participant were recently evicted from the 2018 Big Brother Naija,but the organisers had announced that two persons among the evicted housemates could be brought back into the house.

And during the Sunday live show, delightful Anto and Glory were subsequently return to the house.

Below are 7 things you need to know about Anto:

1. Anto’s full name is Munirat Antoinette Lecky.

2. She is 28 years old.

3. She is from Etsako Edo state, though born and raised in the United States.

4. She has 2 masters degrees both from the University of Central Florida.

Image result for Anto5.She is the Head of Operations, Continental Basketball League.

6. Her hobbies are dancing and cooking.

7. According to her, she has no special talent and she gets irritated by laziness.

More details Later..

Shehu Sani, Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District in National Assembly has written a short letter to President Muhammadu Buhari over the problems in Nigeria.

The lawmaker in his letter called on the President to assess his cabinet and replace those that were not fit to serve the nation.

He also stated that the older generation was not the problem of Nigeria but that the younger generation who were timid to act.

The letter shared on his social media pages read:

“Dear Baba, Nature has not endowed the Faeces of saints with fragrance.Its time to measure the moral cholesterol of members of your cabinet so as to know those still fit and deserving of a space in your sententious court.

“The problem is not the rabid ambition of the older generation but the timidity,the sterility and the subservience of the new generation.

“In the political currents of your country,if you want to be a player,you will be in the field;If you want to be a commentator,you will be in the glassed studio box.

“When he donates to the poor,they call him a philanthropist;When he asked why the poor are not taken care of,they call him a critic.”

General Overseer, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has urged Christain faithful in Nigeria to remain resolute, steadfast in their faith in God irrespective of their challenges.

In his special Sunday sermon entitled “Assessing God’s Plan for your Life in His Book” in Lafia, Nasarawa state, the cleric observed that “a better tomorrow is for who are steadfast in serving Him’’.

Represented by Pastor Emmanuel Olumuyiwa, Oyedepo said: “Believers who are facing one challenge or the other should not panic.

“Better tomorrow awaits them once they understand what they are destined for after reading God’s book and accepting God’s plan in their lives.

“God has a plan for your life, not minding where you are and what you may be going through; life may present to you a bend that slows down your journey but don’t take the bend as the end.

“Remain resolute in your faith in God and He will rescue you from whatever you are going through.

“His plan for your life is packaged in His book but is waiting for you to discover it. So look out for what is the plan of God in your life.

“Everything written in the book concerning you is meant to pass if you will believe the word of God in His book.”

The Nigerian Army have dismissed allegations by a retired military general that security forces are conniving with deadly attackers across Nigeria, saying such calls are inflammatory and should be disregarded.

Retired Lt. General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, a former Chief of Army Staff from 1976-1979, had on Saturday, accused the armed forces of collusion with bandits and killers by providing cover and defending the killers.

Speaking at the 10th anniversary of the Taraba State University, Jalingo, Danjuma, Saturday urged Nigerians to defend themselves from killers across the country instead of depending on the armed forces.

“You must rise to protect yourselves from these people. If you depend on the armed forces for protection, you will all die one by one,” said a visibly angry Danjuma.

“The ethnic cleansing must stop now. Otherwise, Somalia will be a child’s play. I ask everyone of you to be on the alert and defend your country, defend your territory, defend your state because you have nowhere else to go.

“The armed forces are not neutral. They are conniving with the armed bandits that are killing people.”

However, Tukur Gusau, a Spokesperson for the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, said in a statement in response to the allegation that: “This is highly uncalled for and is invitation to anarchy and should be disregarded by well-meaning Nigerians.

“The efforts of the Nigerian military towards restoration of peace, security and order in Nigeria are evidently clear and Nigerians continue to show appreciation for changing the security environment from what it was before.

“The armed forces is well organised and highly professional in discharging its constitutional mandate. Therefore, if anyone has evidence of wrongdoing or dereliction of duty against our troops, the person should please bring forward such evidence through the channel for necessary action.

In the same vein, The Nigerian Army also issued a separate statement describing claims by Danjuma as unfair and sad coming at a time of intense military efforts to address the crisis.

“The public is notified that Nigerian Army personnel have had to pay the supreme price for ensuring the sustenance of security in Taraba State,” Army spokesperson, Texas Chukwu, said in a statement.

“For instance, a gallant non-commission officer of the Nigerian Army was beheaded on 16 March 2018 in Takum Taraba State by criminal elements,”

“It is noteworthy to state that at the inception of ‘Exercise Ayem Akpatuma’ or ‘Cat Race’ in Tiv, the Taraba State Government did not cooperate with the Nigerian Army due to the Army’s stance to remain absolutely neutral in the herdsmen-farmers crisis.

“The Nigerian Army will continue to remain as such.”

National light welterweight champion, Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde, has vowed to add the West African Boxing Union (WABU) welterweight title to his laurels when he takes on Djossou “Agoy” Basile of the Republic of Benin at GOtv Boxing Night 14.

The event, slated to hold at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos, will feature seven fights across weight divisions.

Speaking while training in Lagos on Sunday, Baby Face said he is sure of seeing off his opponent’s challenge with minimal fuss.

“Basile will not last more than four rounds. I am doing everything to ensure that is the way the fight will go. I am training harder than before and he has no chance against me. I want to take him to the fourth round because of the fans, not that he merits it,” said Baby Face.

In the headline bout of the event, Waidi “Skoro” Usman will take another shot at the African Boxing Union (ABU) featherweight title when he faces Kenya’s Michael Nyawade. In 2015, Skoro’s attempt to win the title was thwarted by Uganda’s Edward Kakembo.

Another fight with the potential of a blockbuster is the national lightweight challenge duel between Prince “Lion” Nwoye and Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph, reigning African Boxing Union and Commonwealth Africa lightweight champion.

Also on the card is a national lightweight boxing title bout featuring the flamboyant Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu against Kazeem “Ijoba” Badmus.

The best boxer at the event, which will be broadcast live on SuperSport in 47 African countries, will go home with N1million cash prize and the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy.

The Holy Week for Christians is the last week of Lent and thus the week before Easter. It debuts with the Palm Sunday (commemorating the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem), runs through its Monday (Holy Monday, commemorating the Anointing of Jesus at Bethany and the Cleansing of the Temple), its Tuesday (Holy Tuesday, commemorating Jesus’ prediction of his death) and its Wednesday (Spy Wednesday, commemorating Judas’ arrangement to betray Jesus and other events before Judas’ betrayal). It culminates in the Pascal Triduum- Maundy Thursday (commemorating the washing of the Apostles’ feet and the Last Supper or Passover Meal), Good Friday (Friday of Sorrows, commemorating the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus Christ), and Holy Saturday (Black Saturday, commemorating the grieves of Mary mother of Christ and Mary Magdalene, and the dwelling in tomb of Jesus).

It reminds all of the passion, suffering and death of Jesus, (thus the peak of the Eventus Christi, the Event of Christ), which the German theologian, Jürgen Moltmann, explored in his teaching on The Theology of the Cross. The classical German theologian and the author of “The Crucified God,” in his soteriology, declared that, “If the Cross of Jesus is understood as a divine event, i.e., as an event between Jesus and his God and Father, it is necessary to speak in Trinitarian terms of the Son and the Father and the Spirit. In that case the doctrine of the Trinity is no longer an exorbitant and impractical speculation about God, but is nothing other than a shorter version of the passion narrative of Christ in its significance for the eschatological freedom of faith and the life of oppressed nature. It protects faith from both monotheism and atheism because it keeps believers at the cross. The content of the doctrine of the Trinity is the real cross of Christ himself. The form of the crucified Christ is the Trinity. In that case, what is salvation? Only if all disaster, forsakenness by God, absolute death, the infinite curse of damnation, and sinking into nothingness is in God himself, is community with this God, eternal salvation, infinite joy, indestructible election, and divine life.

Moltmann also declared, “When God becomes man in Jesus of Nazareth, he not only enters into the finitude of man, but in his death on the Cross also enters into the situation of man’s god-forsakenness. In Jesus he does not die the natural death of a finite being, but the violent death of the criminal on the Cross, the death of complete abandonment by God. The suffering in the passion of Jesus is abandonment, rejection by God, his Father. God does not become a religion, so that man participates in him by corresponding religious thoughts and feelings. God does not become a law, so that man participates in him through obedience to a law. God does not become an ideal, so that man achieves community with him through constant striving. He humbles himself and takes upon himself the eternal death of the godless and the godforsaken, so that all the godless and the godforsaken can experience communion with him.”

These classical soteriologic reflections have been religiously mocked by some Imo politicians and religious leaders, and that reminds one of the materialistic purviews of religion by another German genius, Karl Marx, who said that religion… ist das Opium des Volkes (the opium of the people). For Karl Marx, “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.”

Now we have entered the last days of the Lenten period, it calls for sober reflections for all Christians, Imolites, and most especially the political class. Election time is at hand, and most depraved Christian politicians do all sorts of atrocities to get power, money, influence and success in their electioneering and political gimmicks, their Christian life and Lenten time notwithstanding. News and rumours are replete of ritual killings, kidnappings, political assassinations; character assassinations, image demolitions and mudslinging; kids and children miss, corpse of ladies and virgins are allegedly found in dust bins and bushes at countryside with the vital and sexual organs missing, while many hefty men and ladies that were running mad months ago, have suddenly regained sanity and become godfathers, comprador bourgeoisies and political sponsors of candidates, as they return to their homes as people who have made it in their ‘business.’ All are Christians commemorating the Death of Christ.

Also for sometimes now in Imo State, politics and Christianity or Christian leadership and politicians have run across each other in antagonising manners, especially the Roman Catholic denomination. There are renewed marauding verbal assaults and commentaries in the media that in essence are condemnable if such events occurred, because Priests are alta Christi. Perhaps, such occurred or did not, but the way enemies of the Imo State Government, especially critics of Governor Okorocha and his kitchen cabinet, vibrate and re-echo the alleged assaults, does not make for peace, correction and pardon, if need be.

These notwithstanding, the trio- The politicians, the media cum critics of Governor Okorocha and his Rescue Mission group, and the affected Clergies, forgot that we are all in Lent, and all occurred during Lent. The inability of the three to understand the alleged assaults as their Lenten Cross and Lenten temptation, suggests that the essence of Lent has been lost this year for the affected Christians, politicians and clergies. What transpired at this Lenten time looks extra-worldly, bereft of morality, bereaved of spirituality and alienated from Christian living. Perhaps, we need another Frederick Nietzsche to declare another Death of God for the concerned Imo Christians and for the 2018 Lent, for all is done “in God’s name.”

When Christians abuse themselves or accuse each other of untrue faults, it is war time and an unjust one. One tends to doubt what is the intention of what transpired between Christian leadership and politicians in the State, and why the war, especially when election triduum (Pre-electoral stage as now, electoral stage and post electoral stage) begins. At this stage since 2011 (and 2015and 2018/19), incumbents must clash with specific church leaders in the State. It was the Catholic angelic Doctor, St Thomas Aquinas that said, “in order for a war to be just, three things are necessary. First, the authority of the sovereign. Secondly, a just cause. Thirdly, a rightful intention,” and one doubts the intentions of these periodic clashing.

In reality, there are some politicians who are Christians and some Christian leaders who have become more political than politicians, oblivious of the societal obnoxious perceptions of politics. The Christian leaders are shepherds of the flock and as Bonus Pastor, it is exigent that they direct the morals and truth about societal living, because the human society is arraigned in politics, and religion is a crucial sphere of societal living. And as William Barclay said, “religion fails if it cannot speak to men as they are,” and this is the domain where most Imo politicians fall out with the clergies in the State. They hate to be corrected, told that they are not doing well or be criticised in the public. But though truth be better, it must be always said by both politicians and church leader. Our problem in the two is too deep that none knows who among the two is telling us truth and lies. The clergies seem not well informed on matters the take excursus on during homilies on the pulpit, the politicians in their gimmicks send messages to the masses on the media and microphones, presenting what never existed even in Plato’s World of Ideas, will the masses are all ears hearing the two spheres.

In certain occasions, Imo church leaders are the deadliest partisan politicians in the State, with cassocks, roman collars and long garments. As overt or covert partisan politicians, they have soft spots for their in-groups and thus fans or sheep (and thus nepotism), while they detest with passion and pillory politicians from their declared out-group folks (and thus chauvinism and xenophobia). No wonder St Thomas Aquinas taught Christians that “because of diverse conditions of humans, it happens that some acts are virtuous to some people, as appropriate and suitable to them, while the same acts are immoral for others, as inappropriate to them.” This is unchristian and should not be practised and worse still, at Lent. What Oswald Chambers said about erring Christians seems to be true in Imo State today. He remarked that, “we look upon the enemy of our souls as a conquered foe, so he is, but only to God, not to us.”

Now we enter the apogee of the Christian faith, let bygone be bygone. Let there be pardon, contrition and penitence, and the expected change of life. Let there be no more wrongs and grievances, and let all men give honour to whom honour is due since respect is reciprocal. This reminds of St Thomas Aquinas teaching that “to bear with patience wrongs done to oneself is a mark of perfection, but to bear with patience wrongs done to someone else is a mark of imperfection and even of actual sin.” Let Imo Christians, politicians and the politicised clergies take note of the above. As Jürgen Moltmann said, “God allows himself to be humiliated and crucified in the Son, in order to free the oppressors and the oppressed from oppression and to open up to them the situation of free, sympathetic humanity.”

Stanley U Okoroji, write from Owerri, Imo State

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Communities and Communications, Akeem Sulaimon, on Monday said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode meant well for Lagosians, adding that money realised from the Land Use Charge was meant to build more infrastructure.

Sulaimon said this while addressing members of community development associations at a stakeholders’ meeting in the Ikeja area of the state.

He explained that the Ambode-led administration had been working to bring more development to the state, adding that to further build infrastructure, there was the need to review the Land Use Charge Law which had not been reviewed for the past 17 years.

Sulaimon said: “The current administration has also reduced charges on land use by between 15 per cent and 50 per cent with a lot of incentives attached.

“The government has also given room for instalment payment so that people could spread their payments with ease.”

The Special Adviser also stated that the government had approved 270 projects to be executed across the 57 councils in the state.

“This shows the government’s commitment to the grass-roots development which will transform the state into an enviable haven suitable for business and prosperity of residents,” he added.

Sulaimon urged Lagosians to protect government projects in their communities from vandals.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation and Revenue Matters, Lasisi Abdul-Fatai, said the land use charges had been packaged in such a way that property owners would pay with ease.

Cosmetologists, makeup artistes, beauticians, beauty bloggers & buyers were recently hosted in Lagos to the biggest beauty products and services fair. Titled The Beauty Souk, the event was powered by Nigeria’s leading supporter of small businesses, Diamond Bank Plc and organized by leading event’s organizer- Eventful Nigeria.

Guests and celebrities in attendance enjoyed numerous activities & freebies ranging from masterclasses from leading experts in the beauty sector to makeup tutorials, cash prizes, beauty makeovers and also heavily discounted products. According to Bank, the Beauty Souk fair was conceived last year to give female entrepreneurs access to new markets and is a further demonstration of the Bank’s #bankonher campaign.

Here are photos from the well-attended event:

Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria’s most innovative banking service provider, has achieved the Information Security Management Certification from International Standards Organisation (ISO).
This certification also known as the ISO 27001: 2013 is part of the ISO 27000 family of standards which helps organisations keep information assets secure. The certification was achieved on the heels of the bank’s drive to revolutionalise the banking sector digital experience with Octopus, by putting in place a systematic approach to managing sensitive organisational information, ensuring it remains seamless, secure and available.

The Octopus platform owes numerous benefits to the users, thereby enable small businesses key into electronic payment system easily, efficient collections, social integration, retention strategy, bills payment, mobile virtual top-up, funds transfer, balance enquiry, movie show time, news.

With the introduction of Octopus, the ISO 27001: 2013 Information Security Management Certification is proof of the Bank’s demonstrated ability to consistently provide products and services that gives service consumers and customers an easily recognisable security hallmark.

Speaking on the award received, The MD/CEO of Heritage Bank Plc, Ifie Sekibo reiterated the bank’s commitment for secured services, whilst assuring customers that their information is appropriately protected and, as such, reduces the need to undertake time consuming and costly onsite security audits reducing time and cost for both parties.

According to him, the certification demonstrates credibility and trust, which reduces customer and supply chain audit and ISO 27001 certification reduces third party scrutiny of your Information Security Management by customers and the wider supply chain.

“The achievement of ISO 27001 will differentiate two competing organisations in the market place, providing a valuable competitive advantage. Increased legislative and regulatory compliance ISO 27001 supports compliance with relevant laws such as the Data Protection Act 1998 and software copyright legislation. This in turn reduces the risk of facing prosecution and fines. An organisation’s liability in security incidents may be reduced if it is certified ISO 27001 compliant,”

He further explained that it reduces customer and supply chain audit, stating that ISO 27001 certification reduces third party scrutiny of your Information Security Management by customers and the wider supply chain.

As ISO 27001 is the current international benchmark for Information Security Management, it is increasingly recognised that compliance with the standard is supportive evidence of adequate security. Considerations and outcomes To achieve ISO 27001 certification, an organisation must produce documentation that demonstrates that it has developed an Information Security Management System that complies with the standard. Organisations should consider producing most of this documentation even if they are not going for certification as it provides a best practice approach for compliance as well.

There are three key issues to note about the standard: Its generic requirements mean that it is applicable to all organisations, regardless of size, type or nature. However, you tailor it to the exact needs of your organisation through the information security controls that you select to implement within your Information Security Management System. It takes a flexible, risk-driven approach. It is dynamic – it focuses on continual improvement and helps the organisation keep ahead of changes both within and outside the organisation.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Monday declared moves to go paperless with its $338.68 million monthly average oil and gas exports receipts and other operations.

The Group Managing Director of the corporation, which recorded $476.25 million from the sale of crude oil in December and $201.11 million in November, 2017 said that his team was poised to go paperless in its operations within the shortest possible time.

Giving the disclosure in Abuja during the inauguration of two committees: The Systems Applications and Products (SAP) Steering Committee (SC) and Group Process Council (GPC), Dr. Makinti Baru, said, according to a statement, that the committees would be responsible for a holistic implementation of SAP and emplace enterprise resource planning which would serve as enablers for the achievement of the corporation’s success.

“A paperless going concern represents a work environment wherein the use of paper is eliminated or greatly reduced. This is usually achievable through conversion of documents and other papers into digital form,” the statement issued by Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs division, Ndu Ughamadu, read.

Baru, the statement continued, said SAP was the platform for driving the transformation agenda of NNPC and the 12 Business Focus Areas (BUFA) which include: Ensuring Security of the Industry assets, Developing New Business Models, Providing viable alternative funding to JV Cash Calls, Increasing the nation’s Production and Reserves base and Growing NPDC oil and gas production. Others are: Effecting Refinery Upgrade and Expansion, Embarking on Renewable Energy Drive and Frontier Exploration, Rehabilitating the nation’s Oil and Gas Infrastructure, Strengthening NNPC Ventures and Common Services, Enhancing Staff Professionalism and Accountability, as well as their welfare.

He stated that the platform had the potential to significantly influence the corporation’s ability to compete, operate effectively and create value.

“We have commissioned a new re-delivery project to address the existing SAP challenges we are facing. We are implementing new solutions to manage some of our existing processes not currently on SAP. It will also enable us obtain value from our investments in SAP and provide a working environment where our strategic focus areas are managed in an efficient and effective manner,” Dr. Baru stated.

He declared that the Project Steering Committee would be responsible for the overall success of the project and would provide oversight on management of project issues and risks, approve strategic decisions on SAP, ensure such decisions align with the strategic objectives of NNPC, and most importantly, act as SAP ambassadors across the NNPC group to ensure business commitment and ownership of processes deployed on the platform.

The NNPC GMD added that the Group Process Council was accountable for ensuring that processes are optimized and end-to-end assessment of processes are carried out before implementation on SAP.

He charged members of the two committees to firmly establish SAP as the single source of truth for the corporation’s business transactions, stressing that as leaders at various levels, they should take ownership of the process areas, and drive User Adoption of SAP Solutions in those process areas.

“Let us all be Change Agents in this journey, drive user adoption, and also see ourselves as leaders committed to setting the right tone for SAP in order to embed excellence and transparency in our operations,” Dr. Baru enjoined.

Earlier, the Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services, Mr. Isah Inuwa, said the NNPC SAP journey had been very eventful with the rollout of finance and materials management processes on SAP solutions since 2007.

“To that effect, we have commenced re-implementation of some SAP solutions that have experienced challenges in delivering their value proposition such as Crude Oil and Gas Allocation, enhanced Purchase to Pay (P2P), Business Intelligence and SAP solutions deployed in some SBUs,” Mr. Inuwa posited.