₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in its 2016 Q1 Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Report has commenced enforcement action on Globacom for not adhering to the 10 per cent threshold for interconnect traffic by telecom companies.
According to the NCC , Glo was abysmal in regards to the commission’s directive on routing of a minimum of 10 per cent of interconnect traffic through interconnect exchange licensees.
The report said that pursuant to Section 53 (1) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, NCC issued a direction in April 2009. According to the report, the directive mandated all operators to route a minimum of 10 per cent of their inter-operator traffic through licensed Interconnect Exchange Operators in locations where they have point of presence (POP) across the country. “This direction is aimed at providing interconnection of traffic across the networks.
“It will encourage routing of traffic through interconnect exchange operators, which is necessary to reduce network congestion and mitigate the quality of service challenges,’’ it said. The report further said the directive was consistent with the mandate of the commission to monitor and ensure that operators complied with extant rules, regulations, directions and guidelines. It said that the Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement department carried out a compliance monitoring check to confirm the level of compliance to the directive.
“Our monitoring process involved collecting traffic data for the period of December 2015 and January 2016 (inbound and outbound) from the network operators, as well as from the major interconnects exchange houses.
“Having reviewed the data, it was revealed that all the mobile network operators, except Globacom complied with the 10 per cent minimum threshold of interconnect traffic to be routed through the interconnect exchange operators.
“Consequently, the commission has commenced the necessary enforcement action for this breach,’’ the report said. It said that the telecommunications umpire’s activities were consistent with Section 89 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. The report added that the section mandated NCC to ”monitor all significant matters relating to the performance of all licensed telecom service providers and publish annual reports at the end of each financial year.’’
Globacom has been in the news in recent times for negative things and has been reported as an hostile working environment by employees.

Blessing Okagbare, track and field athlete, says her disappointment with sports administration in Nigeria sometimes tempts her to consider naturalising.
However, the 2008 Olympics women’s long jump silver medalist says she will continue sticking with Nigeria because athletics is her “career and passion”.
Speaking with Punch, Okagbare said the Rio 2016 Olympics, her third, did not feel like an Olympics at all not because the track and field team did not win any medal, but because the athletes lacked “quality support and encouragement”.
“[Rio 2016] didn’t feel like an Olympic for me but not because I didn’t win a medal. This is my third Olympics and I have been to Olympics that everything was so cheerful and the athletes were very happy,” she said.
“But for this Rio, I don’t know about other people in Team Nigeria as I’m speaking for myself, the morale was just low. Some of the girls come to me and we talk. Some times when they say these things (about how bad they feel), I just feel like these people feel the same way I feel. Everything about Rio was just low. This is the worst Olympics we’ve had.
“Prior to coming here was bad, I don’t understand what they wanted us to do in Rio. At times you go to other countries, mix with the athletes and you see a people getting quality support. But it’s not so with the Nigerian contingent. It comes to a point where you just try to do everything for the sake of your passion as well as for your fans.”
Okagbare was also self-critical of her performance at the games, where she, against all expectations, failed to make it to the final of the 100m sprint event much less win a medal.
“I was ready and I felt like I was in the best shape of my life coming here,” she said.
“It still surprises me [how things turned out]. I posted something on Facebook that there are certain things that don’t make sense; there are things that you just don’t understand.
“Like this competition, I put in my commitment despite having good reasons to stay away. I had some injuries but I worked so hard to come in here (Rio), and when the competition started it was just different; it was just like I wasn’t in it.”
On the athletes’ feelings after leaving Rio and the temptation of running for another country, she said: “I went to Beijing when I was 19. I was so young and naive. Beijing was one of the best Olympics for us; we had entitlements, encouragement and all. They supported us and we were quite encouraged.
“But in Rio, it was like all they just wanted was for you to show your face and leave. I don’t know but it was as if they didn’t want us to come here. Last time I heard the minister say a gold medal winner would get $2000 and I asked ‘is that what a gold medal is worth?’ And before I knew, it was actually in the media.
“You don’t bring that kind of stuff to athletes in the name of encouragement because we know what other athletes from other countries get. It’s been a problem and every year, I wish things would be different.
“At times it would be like should I move to another country? But you may understand why I refused to change. It’s my career and my passion so I enjoy it and that is what drives me. And that’s why I am still on the track and for Nigeria.”
Okagbare’s comments mirror that of Samson Siasia, coach of the Dream Team VI, who returned from the Olympics to say he was done working for Nigeria because it “didn’t make sense” to continue.
“My next step is that I am done with Nigeria for now,” he had said.
“You can’t keep going to a place where they don’t appreciate you. It does not worth it. Sometimes it is not about the money but the approach.
“They seem not to appreciate the sacrifices. I know how much I have sacrificed since the team began camping two years ago. How can you keep going to people who don’t appreciate you?
“It does not make sense, so I am done for now. I have to go somewhere else where they will appreciate what I have done and what I can do and pay me the respect that I deserve.”

The Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to order an immediate investigation into alleged sundry fraudulent practices in the National Pensions Commission, (PENCOM).
The group specifically alleged that about N42billion collected by PENCOM in 2012 cannot be accounted for by the Director General, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.
In a petition addressed to the president and signed by the Executive Director of the Centre, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, CPA said the petition is intended to bring to the attention of the president the long list of infractions, mismanagement and maladministration that is ongoing at the commission under the leadership of Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.
A copy of CPA’s petition which was made available to newsmen, read: “Mr. President, as you may be aware, the Pension Reform Act was enacted in 2004 for sustainable management of retirement benefits of citizens who worked within the public or private sectors of the federation. As at today, the accumulated pension assets stand at about N5.4 trillion. From that period to date, we want to assert that the commission has never been in the worst state than it is today.
“We affirm that the commission is bedeviled with multiple infractions, violations of the law and widespread corruption that warrant immediate and urgent attention of Mr. President.”
Raising its first issue on the annual collection, the Centre alleged that the Commission is mismanaging the 0.3 per cent annual fees on pension assets, thereby calling for a thorough investigation into it.
“The commission collects annually, 0.3 per cent on the total pension assets which presently stands at N5.4 trillion. Annually the commission collects about N15billion as fees which it spends without any accountability.
“We challenge the commission to publish how it has expended that annual fund which is regarded as slush fund by insiders. As at December 2015, the current Director General of PENCOM has collected N42 billion which she cannot account for till date.
“We specifically call on the President to order an immediate investigation into how the N42 billion fees collected by the commission was expended from 2012 to date.
Similarly, the Center alleged that the Commission’s DG is involved in illegal application of regulatory powers, stating that there are obvious cases of harassment and selfish tendencies in the leadership of the commission.
“In addition to not implementing statutory provision as above, records showed that the commission under the current Director General has deployed regulatory powers of the commission for selfish, illegal and family usage.
Pension administrators and custodians are harassed and subjected to unholy surcharges including share takeover among others.
Currently, the families of commission Director Generals are the owners of Premium Pension. May we also inform you, that the commission also took over First Guarantee Pension under flimsy excuses and has refused to obey court orders directing a return of the firm to the owners. For more than five years, the commission held on to the firm and is scheming to sell it to interest known to be close to its Director General.”
While describing the annual World Pension being hosted by PENCOM as a wasteful expenditure, the Centre said the country is set to waste almost a million naira for a jamboree like event at a time the country is in recession.
“Annually, the commission plays host to the World Pension Summit, a body owned by two brothers from the United States. The commission forced pension administrators and custodians to pay participation fees while the commission itself spends almost a billion naira annually to host the annual event. The 2016 edition of that event is scheduled to hold by September 27 to 28 in Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
“In this era of recession, this is not just wasteful but corruption laden and out of tune with the spirit of the era. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Director General to stop the summit forthwith as Nigeria and pensioners can ill afford such wasteful and extravagant event meant to enrich a family alleged to be working on behalf of the commission management.”
CPA also highlighted the non-implementation of transfer window by the Commission, stating that, “Nigerians deserve to know why depositors are not allowed to migrate if they so wish. We want to know why billions are spent without such migration being realized.”
Urging the president to urgently beam a searchlight on the activities of the commission, the CPA said, “that sector needs urgent clean up if the world, pensioners and workers are to take the administration seriously.
Among other requests to the president, the Center said, “We also call for an immediate investigation into the activities of PENCOM, under its present leadership, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corruption Practices and other related offences related Commission, ICPC.”
All efforts to speak with Emeka Onuora, the Corporate Affairs manager of PENCOM proved futile as his mobile number was not reachable as at press time.
The Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to order an immediate investigation into alleged sundry fraudulent practices in the National Pensions Commission, (PENCOM).
The group specifically alleged that about N42billion collected by PENCOM in 2012 cannot be accounted for by the Director General, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.
In a petition addressed to the president and signed by the Executive Director of the Centre, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, CPA said the petition is intended to bring to the attention of the president the long list of infractions, mismanagement and maladministration that is ongoing at the commission under the leadership of Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.
A copy of CPA’s petition which was made available to newsmen, read: “Mr. President, as you may be aware, the Pension Reform Act was enacted in 2004 for sustainable management of retirement benefits of citizens who worked within the public or private sectors of the federation. As at today, the accumulated pension assets stand at about N5.4 trillion. From that period to date, we want to assert that the commission has never been in the worst state than it is today.
“We affirm that the commission is bedeviled with multiple infractions, violations of the law and widespread corruption that warrant immediate and urgent attention of Mr. President.”
Raising its first issue on the annual collection, the Centre alleged that the Commission is mismanaging the 0.3 per cent annual fees on pension assets, thereby calling for a thorough investigation into it.
“The commission collects annually, 0.3 per cent on the total pension assets which presently stands at N5.4 trillion. Annually the commission collects about N15billion as fees which it spends without any accountability.
“We challenge the commission to publish how it has expended that annual fund which is regarded as slush fund by insiders. As at December 2015, the current Director General of PENCOM has collected N42 billion which she cannot account for till date.
“We specifically call on the President to order an immediate investigation into how the N42 billion fees collected by the commission was expended from 2012 to date.
Similarly, the Center alleged that the Commission’s DG is involved in illegal application of regulatory powers, stating that there are obvious cases of harassment and selfish tendencies in the leadership of the commission.
“In addition to not implementing statutory provision as above, records showed that the commission under the current Director General has deployed regulatory powers of the commission for selfish, illegal and family usage.
Pension administrators and custodians are harassed and subjected to unholy surcharges including share takeover among others.
Currently, the families of commission Director Generals are the owners of Premium Pension. May we also inform you, that the commission also took over First Guarantee Pension under flimsy excuses and has refused to obey court orders directing a return of the firm to the owners. For more than five years, the commission held on to the firm and is scheming to sell it to interest known to be close to its Director General.”
While describing the annual World Pension being hosted by PENCOM as a wasteful expenditure, the Centre said the country is set to waste almost a million naira for a jamboree like event at a time the country is in recession.
“Annually, the commission plays host to the World Pension Summit, a body owned by two brothers from the United States. The commission forced pension administrators and custodians to pay participation fees while the commission itself spends almost a billion naira annually to host the annual event. The 2016 edition of that event is scheduled to hold by September 27 to 28 in Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
“In this era of recession, this is not just wasteful but corruption laden and out of tune with the spirit of the era. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Director General to stop the summit forthwith as Nigeria and pensioners can ill afford such wasteful and extravagant event meant to enrich a family alleged to be working on behalf of the commission management.”
CPA also highlighted the non-implementation of transfer window by the Commission, stating that, “Nigerians deserve to know why depositors are not allowed to migrate if they so wish. We want to know why billions are spent without such migration being realized.”
Urging the president to urgently beam a searchlight on the activities of the commission, the CPA said, “that sector needs urgent clean up if the world, pensioners and workers are to take the administration seriously.
Among other requests to the president, the Center said, “We also call for an immediate investigation into the activities of PENCOM, under its present leadership, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corruption Practices and other related offences related Commission, ICPC.”
All efforts to speak with Emeka Onuora, the Corporate Affairs manager of PENCOM proved futile as his mobile number was not reachable as at press time.

The Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to order an immediate investigation into alleged sundry fraudulent practices in the National Pensions Commission, (PENCOM).
The group specifically alleged that about N42billion collected by PENCOM in 2012 cannot be accounted for by the Director General, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.
In a petition addressed to the president and signed by the Executive Director of the Centre, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, CPA said the petition is intended to bring to the attention of the president the long list of infractions, mismanagement and maladministration that is ongoing at the commission under the leadership of Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.
A copy of CPA’s petition which was made available to newsmen, read: “Mr. President, as you may be aware, the Pension Reform Act was enacted in 2004 for sustainable management of retirement benefits of citizens who worked within the public or private sectors of the federation. As at today, the accumulated pension assets stand at about N5.4 trillion. From that period to date, we want to assert that the commission has never been in the worst state than it is today.
“We affirm that the commission is bedeviled with multiple infractions, violations of the law and widespread corruption that warrant immediate and urgent attention of Mr. President.”
Raising its first issue on the annual collection, the Centre alleged that the Commission is mismanaging the 0.3 per cent annual fees on pension assets, thereby calling for a thorough investigation into it.
“The commission collects annually, 0.3 per cent on the total pension assets which presently stands at N5.4 trillion. Annually the commission collects about N15billion as fees which it spends without any accountability.
“We challenge the commission to publish how it has expended that annual fund which is regarded as slush fund by insiders. As at December 2015, the current Director General of PENCOM has collected N42 billion which she cannot account for till date.
“We specifically call on the President to order an immediate investigation into how the N42 billion fees collected by the commission was expended from 2012 to date.
Similarly, the Center alleged that the Commission’s DG is involved in illegal application of regulatory powers, stating that there are obvious cases of harassment and selfish tendencies in the leadership of the commission.
“In addition to not implementing statutory provision as above, records showed that the commission under the current Director General has deployed regulatory powers of the commission for selfish, illegal and family usage.
Pension administrators and custodians are harassed and subjected to unholy surcharges including share takeover among others.
Currently, the families of commission Director Generals are the owners of Premium Pension. May we also inform you, that the commission also took over First Guarantee Pension under flimsy excuses and has refused to obey court orders directing a return of the firm to the owners. For more than five years, the commission held on to the firm and is scheming to sell it to interest known to be close to its Director General.”
While describing the annual World Pension being hosted by PENCOM as a wasteful expenditure, the Centre said the country is set to waste almost a million naira for a jamboree like event at a time the country is in recession.
“Annually, the commission plays host to the World Pension Summit, a body owned by two brothers from the United States. The commission forced pension administrators and custodians to pay participation fees while the commission itself spends almost a billion naira annually to host the annual event. The 2016 edition of that event is scheduled to hold by September 27 to 28 in Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
“In this era of recession, this is not just wasteful but corruption laden and out of tune with the spirit of the era. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Director General to stop the summit forthwith as Nigeria and pensioners can ill afford such wasteful and extravagant event meant to enrich a family alleged to be working on behalf of the commission management.”
CPA also highlighted the non-implementation of transfer window by the Commission, stating that, “Nigerians deserve to know why depositors are not allowed to migrate if they so wish. We want to know why billions are spent without such migration being realized.”
Urging the president to urgently beam a searchlight on the activities of the commission, the CPA said, “that sector needs urgent clean up if the world, pensioners and workers are to take the administration seriously.
Among other requests to the president, the Center said, “We also call for an immediate investigation into the activities of PENCOM, under its present leadership, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corruption Practices and other related offences related Commission, ICPC.”
All efforts to speak with Emeka Onuora, the Corporate Affairs manager of PENCOM proved futile as his mobile number was not reachable as at press time.
The Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to order an immediate investigation into alleged sundry fraudulent practices in the National Pensions Commission, (PENCOM).
The group specifically alleged that about N42billion collected by PENCOM in 2012 cannot be accounted for by the Director General, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.
In a petition addressed to the president and signed by the Executive Director of the Centre, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, CPA said the petition is intended to bring to the attention of the president the long list of infractions, mismanagement and maladministration that is ongoing at the commission under the leadership of Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.
A copy of CPA’s petition which was made available to newsmen, read: “Mr. President, as you may be aware, the Pension Reform Act was enacted in 2004 for sustainable management of retirement benefits of citizens who worked within the public or private sectors of the federation. As at today, the accumulated pension assets stand at about N5.4 trillion. From that period to date, we want to assert that the commission has never been in the worst state than it is today.
“We affirm that the commission is bedeviled with multiple infractions, violations of the law and widespread corruption that warrant immediate and urgent attention of Mr. President.”
Raising its first issue on the annual collection, the Centre alleged that the Commission is mismanaging the 0.3 per cent annual fees on pension assets, thereby calling for a thorough investigation into it.
“The commission collects annually, 0.3 per cent on the total pension assets which presently stands at N5.4 trillion. Annually the commission collects about N15billion as fees which it spends without any accountability.
“We challenge the commission to publish how it has expended that annual fund which is regarded as slush fund by insiders. As at December 2015, the current Director General of PENCOM has collected N42 billion which she cannot account for till date.
“We specifically call on the President to order an immediate investigation into how the N42 billion fees collected by the commission was expended from 2012 to date.
Similarly, the Center alleged that the Commission’s DG is involved in illegal application of regulatory powers, stating that there are obvious cases of harassment and selfish tendencies in the leadership of the commission.
“In addition to not implementing statutory provision as above, records showed that the commission under the current Director General has deployed regulatory powers of the commission for selfish, illegal and family usage.
Pension administrators and custodians are harassed and subjected to unholy surcharges including share takeover among others.
Currently, the families of commission Director Generals are the owners of Premium Pension. May we also inform you, that the commission also took over First Guarantee Pension under flimsy excuses and has refused to obey court orders directing a return of the firm to the owners. For more than five years, the commission held on to the firm and is scheming to sell it to interest known to be close to its Director General.”
While describing the annual World Pension being hosted by PENCOM as a wasteful expenditure, the Centre said the country is set to waste almost a million naira for a jamboree like event at a time the country is in recession.
“Annually, the commission plays host to the World Pension Summit, a body owned by two brothers from the United States. The commission forced pension administrators and custodians to pay participation fees while the commission itself spends almost a billion naira annually to host the annual event. The 2016 edition of that event is scheduled to hold by September 27 to 28 in Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
“In this era of recession, this is not just wasteful but corruption laden and out of tune with the spirit of the era. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Director General to stop the summit forthwith as Nigeria and pensioners can ill afford such wasteful and extravagant event meant to enrich a family alleged to be working on behalf of the commission management.”
CPA also highlighted the non-implementation of transfer window by the Commission, stating that, “Nigerians deserve to know why depositors are not allowed to migrate if they so wish. We want to know why billions are spent without such migration being realized.”
Urging the president to urgently beam a searchlight on the activities of the commission, the CPA said, “that sector needs urgent clean up if the world, pensioners and workers are to take the administration seriously.
Among other requests to the president, the Center said, “We also call for an immediate investigation into the activities of PENCOM, under its present leadership, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corruption Practices and other related offences related Commission, ICPC.”
All efforts to speak with Emeka Onuora, the Corporate Affairs manager of PENCOM proved futile as his mobile number was not reachable as at press time.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has questioned the chairman and owner of Zinox Technologies Limited, Leonard Stanley Ekeh, and two other officials of the company over a shocking N170 million contract fraud allegation.
The Zinox boss is accused of conspiring with the other officials to hijack and illegally execute the contract awarded by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to an Ibadan-based IT firm.
Mr. Ekeh denied the allegation, and told PREMIUM TIMES the petitioner was trying to blackmail and extort Zinox.
“As a businessman, anybody can write a petition against you,” he said.
But details of the alleged fraud have shocked investigators, who are probing how Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, based in Ibadan, Oyo State, lost the FIRS contract, yet discovered over a year later that the same job had been executed in its name.
Citadel Oracle said it lost the offer after it refused to pay bribe.
The EFCC took over the case after a petition was sent to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, years after the police refused to charge the case to court, despite establishing the facts of the matter, PREMIUM TIMES understands.
The former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, said he preferred the matter be resolved through civil processes.
The Force Criminal Investigation Department of the police began its investigation in 2013, and arrested and detained suspects.
Years after, Mr. Arase advised in a May 14, 2015 letter that the “civil matter should be allowed to run its full course to prevent a miscarriage of justice”.

How things started
The alleged fraud began in April 2012 after Citadel Oracle tendered for the supply of 668 computers to FIRS at N170.3 million, the head of the firm, Joseph Benjamin, said.
On October 22, 2012, an e-mail from the secretary to the FIRS tenders board, P.B Hena, invited the company to tender for the maintenance/servicing of fire alarm systems at the western regional office.
Mr. Benjamin said shortly after being shortlisted as preferred bidder, he was introduced to the chief executive of a Port Harcourt-based IT company, Ad’mas Digital Technologies Limited, Onny Igbokwe, who claimed to have FIRS insiders who could influence the contract process.
The meeting was arranged by Princess Kama, Citadel Oracle’s appointed representative in Abuja during the bidding.
At the meeting in Lagos, Mr. Benjamin said Mr. Igbokwe spoke of his relationship with the Zinox boss, Mr. Ekeh, and how, with support from associates within the FIRS, they could decide who got the contract.
He said Mr. Igbokwe asked him to either accept N15 million and hands off the contract, or pay N85 million and execute it.
Mr. Benjamin said he rejected the offers and opted out of the deal. The company promptly disengaged Ms. Kama. It lost the contract.
But, by August 2013, over a year later, Mr. Benjamin said his company made a shocking discovery.
While at the Ibadan office of FIRS to file the company’s tax returns for the year, officials there accused Citadel Oracle of under-declaring its earnings and not including an N8.1 million withholding tax and value added tax in respect of a N170 million FIRS contract.
Mr. Benjamin said he immediately suspected Mr. Igbokwe and co, and wondered whether they had gone ahead to execute the contract using his firm’s name.
Citadel Oracle launched an investigation, and the findings were startling.
Officials said they realised those who impersonated the firm cloned its official headed paper, with which they issued an acceptance letter for the FIRS contract.
To facilitate payment of the contract sum, they said, the suspects approached the Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, branch of Access Bank where some of its officials allegedly connived and availed them original copies of documents used by Citadel Oracle to open its corporate account.
The fictitious account No. 0059202675 at Access Bank, was opened on a public holiday, Monday, October 1, 2012, PREMIUM TIMES confirmed. Meanwhile, in its original filings for the contract, Citadel Oracle used a First Bank account, and not Access Bank account.
“How FIRS came to accept the Access Bank account it paid the contract sum into and not the First Bank account, which was accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the bank management guaranteeing to provide finance to the company, remains a mystery,” Mr. Benjamin said.
After weeks of delay, Access Bank spokesperson, Abdul Imoyo, said on Monday that he would make consultations and respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ enquiry.
Also, in the documents filed for the contract, Citadel Oracle Concept Limited’s office address was listed as Suite A11 New Banex Plaza, Aminu Kano Crescent, Abuja.
This newspaper confirmed the address is the Abuja office of Ad’mas Digital Technology Limited owned by Mr. Igbokwe.
Even more alarming, Citadel Oracle found that a resolution purportedly issued by its management conferred the power of attorney on Chris Ozims, the Group Company Secretary/Legal Adviser for Technology Distribution and Zinox Group.
In the resolution, Mr. Ozims, along with Folashade Oyebode, a director of Technology Distribution, and Mr. Igbokwe, were listed as Citadel’s “directors” and signatories to the account.
In his statement after his arrest in 2013 over the contract, Mr. Ozims told the police the trio were appointed through a December 18, 2012 Citadel Board Resolution. But, none of them was either among the owners of the company or on its Board.
When ask speak with him shortly after his invitation by the EFCC, Mr. Ozims declined. “The matter is currently before the court. We have to wait till the appropriate time,” he said.
Mrs. Folashade equally did not comment over her involvement in the matter. “Oga, I don’t know what you are talking about,” she said when PREMIUM TIMES called to inquire before immediately terminating the call. Subsequent calls to her were not answered.
The EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Ozims and Ms. Oyebode were quizzed by the commission, alongside Mr. Ekeh.
Mr. Ekeh’s wife, Chioma, was also invited by the EFCC on August 18 for questioning. But Technology Distribution wrote back to say she had traveled to the United States for a family obligation.
PREMIUM TIMES also confirmed that Mr. Igbokwe and Ms. Kama had earlier been interrogated before submitting their written statements to the anti-graft agency.

Brazen fraud
After the company submitted an Access Bank account, the FIRS made the first payment of N53.763 million into the fictitious account for the supply of 233 laptops.
Three days later, another payment of N62.531 million hit the account from FIRS account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
About 24 hours after, the N62.531 million was withdrawn from the account. The same day, another N37.842 million was lodged in the account as payment for the supply of 164 laptops.
Checks with Hewett Packard (HP), where the laptops were purportedly sourced, showed there was no purchase order No. FIRS/PD/10/12/12/564 which the so-called Citadel Oracle claimed to have been delivered to FIRS.
Mr. Benjamin said there were compelling reasons to suspect the N62.531 million transferred from the account to unknown beneficiaries may have been transferred to some FIRS officials who facilitated the fraud.

The FIRS refused to comment on the case.
A freedom of information (FOI) request by us, seeking clarifications on the agency’s role in the controversial contract, has not been answered nearly two months after.
Further analysis showed Charles Adigwe, an accountant at Technology Distribution, had on January 25, 2013, advised the company’s managing director, Chioma Ekeh, who is Mr. Eke’s wife, to approve the transfer of N115.268 million from the fictitious Access Bank account to the company’s account at Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).
Another N38.057 million was approved to be transferred to Ad’mas Digital Technology’s account at Zenith Bank.
Mr. Adigwe also requested approval for the transfer of another N43.685 million from Ad’mas’ account at Access Bank to TD’s account at GTB.
The requests, which followed a similar request by Mr. Igbokwe for the transfer of N38.057 million to his account, No. 1010699686 at Zenith Bank, were approved by Mrs. Ekeh on January 31.
On February 4, 2013, as earlier approved, N115.268 million was transferred from the account to TD’s at GTB, while another N38.057 million was also transfer same day to Ad’mas’ account at Zenith Bank.
By February 28, 2013, the fictitious account was depleted to only N2, 137.33.
To push it into dormancy before abandoning it, the group withdrew N5, 200 for a curious search conducted at the Corporate Affairs Commission bringing the account to a debit balance of N3, 062.67.

Confronting the fraud
Armed with the details and the auditors’ shocking findings at the Ibadan tax office, Mr. Benjamin said he confronted Mr. Igbokwe and Ms. Kama. Both denied knowledge of the dealings.
Citadel Oracle laid a formal complaint at the police special fraud unit in October 2013, and hired Afe Babalola & Co., legal practitioners in January 2014 to write the two individuals, alongside Mr. Ozims and Mrs. Oyebode.
Similar letters were sent to Access Bank. The bank promised to investigate and revert. It never did.
Another letter to the Financial Policy and Regulations Department of the CBN regarding the role of Access Bank, received no response either. The bank also promised to investigate. It did not provide any response.
In his statement to the police after his arrest in 2013 over the scandal, Obilo Onuoha, then a Relationship manager with Access Bank, said Citadel Oracle Concept account was opened by a Board resolution executed by its promoters introduced by Zinox Technologies/Technology Distributions.
“I have not communicated with any of the Citadel directors,” he admitted. “My communication on this account was just once with the signatories on the account and the man that signed as Citadel representative, one Chief Igbokwe.”
In the letter to Mr. Ozims and Mrs. Oyebode, Afe Babalola asked how they became directors of Citadel Oracle and signatories to the Access Bank account.

The letter to Mrs. Ekeh wanted to know why she approved payments from the illegal account, which she knew was opened with a forged Board resolution and other documents.
After the letters were sent, the accused persons proposed a meeting presided by Mr. Babalola, to seek ways of resolving the case.
Mr. Benjamin said at the end of the meeting held at Mr. Babalola’s private residence in Ekiti, the accused persons, through their lawyer, Anthony Okah & Associates, offered N5.7 million as compensation to Citadel Oracle. The amount was rejected.
On February 20, 2014, Mr. Igbokwe wrote to Mr. Benjamin to raise the amount to N10 million “as our veritable olive branch for an enduring peace”, according to details seen by this newspaper.

Mr. Benjamin said the offer was also rejected.
He said his company only demanded a public apology and an undertaking by the suspects to take responsibility for any claim(s) by FIRS, Access bank and any other party against Citadel Oracle in connection with the contract, in future.
On January 22, 2014, Mr. Ozims, in his capacity as group Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, TD Limited, responded to the letter by Afe Babalola & Co. for clarification of his role in the scam.
In the letter, he did not deny his involvement. He said the Board of TD had approved their nomination to represent the company in those capacities, while Mrs. Ekeh was authorised to handle the disbursements from the illegal account.
Mr. Ozims said following a petition by Citadel Oracle to the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the police, he and Mrs. Oyebode were arrested in December 2013, and later were granted bail after their statements were collected.
Mr. Ozims described the threat by the law firm to take the matter to court as an attempt to duplicate the punishment for a case already before the SFU, urging them to await the conclusion of investigations.
The matter lingered for years, with the police in Lagos and Abuja refusing to charge the suspects to court.
Mr. Benjamin said he was instead prodded by the police investigating team to accept financial offers by Mr. Igbokwe.
When we contacted Zinox Technologies for comments, its head, Corporate Communications, Gideon Ayogu, dismissed the allegations linking his company as false and cheap blackmail.
Mr. Ayogu promised to send a vigorous response later. Weeks after that promise, his response was still being awaited till press time.
However, Mr. Ekeh, in a lengthy response to this newspaper’s inquiries, denied any role in the case.
“The man is claiming that TD did not deliver computers to FIRS,” he said. “They (EFCC) have been to FIRS and found every equipment with serial numbers. But, he said they used his company to defraud government. That is not true. He wants to destroy me.
“He wanted me to give him money. I will not do it. Zinox has never done business with the man. FIRS confirmed they gave business to that company, and the company brought the papers to us through his agent. We have several companies we help like that.
He agreed Mr. Igbokwe has been a business partner/distributor to TD for over 15 years, but denied knowledge of the fictitious account at Access bank where the payment was lodged by FIRS.
However, bank documents seen by this newspaper showed transfers of monies between FIRS account at the CBN and the fake account as well as approvals by top officials of Zinox Technologies for disbursements from the account to Zinox banks accounts and those of the suspects.

Police Petitioner turns accused
Following former IGP Arase’s advice against the police charging the suspects to court, Mr. Benjamin’s lawyers, Enyinnaya Uwaezuoke, on June 5, 2015 accused the IGP of attempting to shield the accused from prosecution.
He issued a 21-day ultimatum for the IGP to transfer the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution, Federal Ministry of Justice, for the prosecution of the suspects.
After the encounter, the police wrote the attorney general of the federation to say the accused had already been arraigned at a Lagos High Court.
Curiously, on June 16, 2016, three days before the end of IGP Arase’s tenure, the police charged Mr. Benjamin to court, accusing him of providing false information in his petition against the accused.
The former IGP said his allegation in the petition of July 3, 2014 about the Board Resolution Citadel Oracle company used in opening the fake account in Access bank through which the FIRS paid for the contract was false.
On July 2, 2016, Mr. Benjamin was arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja on a one-count charge of “false petitioning” IGP Arase with intention of misleading him over a case of identity theft, impersonation and criminal conversion of contracts against the accused.
Mr. Benjamin was accused of falsely alleging the plaintiffs, namely Mr. Igbokwe, Ms.Kama, Mrs.Oyebode, Mr. Ozims, Ad’mas Digital Technologies Limited, Pirovics Engineering Services Limited, Technology Distributions Limited and Zinox Telecommunications Limited, conspired to forge his signature on a fake Board resolution of his company to open an account at Access bank.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail by Justice Peter Kekemeke in the sum of N200, 000. The case was adjourned to October 6, 2016 for hearing.
The EFCC took over the investigations after a petition went to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Pan-African banking group, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc at the weekend carted home two very important laurels at the annual Businessday Banking Awards, winning the Best Bank in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Best Bank in support of Agriculture.
The first award, the “Best Bank in sub-Saharan Africa award is in recognition of UBA’s leadership role in expanding access to banking across Africa. UBA has operations in 19 African countries with subsidiaries in major regional hubs.
The Bank also won the award for “Best Bank in Agriculture Financing”, for its consistent support to the agricultural sector in Nigeria, a substantial part of its loan book being devoted to agriculture and related activities.
Speaking whilst receiving the awards on behalf of the bank, Charles Aigbe, Head of Communications, expressed his appreciation to the organisers of the award for the recognition of the unique role UBA is playing on the African continent in driving financial inclusion as well as supporting the growth of critical sectors.
“Agriculture is pivotal to economic development in Nigeria and all of Africa. We are pleased with the recognition of our support to the sector. Our expansion to Africa has not only helped to diversify our earnings base, it has provided us with the opportunity to grow economies and partake in the development of Africa. We thank all stakeholders for their support and are encouraged to do even more” he said.
Frank Aigbogun Publisher, BusinessDay, Nigeria’s leading business newspaper emphasised that the BusinessDay Banking Awards is the product of a rigorous process by BusinessDay’s Research and Intelligence Unit, designed to feed the editorial and also drive commercial research.
“Great institutions and leaders deserve to be recognised to boost healthy competition” Aigbogun said.
Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Lagos State was represented by Femi Pedro, former Lagos State Deputy Governor who in his speech, expressed that the banking awards inspires excellence and dedication in the industry. “Corporate governance is critical and awards such as this drive home this point. We thank BusinessDay for painstakingly putting this event together” he said.

Advertising income for Newspapers in Nigeria hit N143.1 billion between 2006 and December 2015, revealing a wavy pattern that reached its peak in 2014 with N25 billion; and declined to 23.7 billion at the end of 2015.
According to a special edition of mediafacts in the last ten years, by mediaReach OMD titled: mediafacts Nigeria 10 Year Trend Review (2006 to 2016), the N4.4 billion advert income in 2006 moved up to N4.8 and N4.9 billion in 2007 and 2008 respectively. The newspapers got N15.8 billion in 2009 and N16.5 billion in 2010.
The figure declined to N15.4 in 2011 and slipped further to N9.0 billion in 2012. The downward slope however changed in 2013 with an advert income of N18.5 billion and rose to its peak in 2014, hitting N25.8. The figure went down by N2.1billion in 2015 when the newspapers received N23.7 billion.
mediaReach OMD explained that the newspapers tend to mostly attract their highest advert patronage in the second and third quarters, with exception of 2013 and 2014 which had their highest spending in the fourth quarters of the year.
In terms of regional spending in the last ten years, the split is between Lagos and North, with Lagos constantly attracting the dominant share of advert spending year after year. The product analysis however shows that Glo has consistently dominated the list of press advertising, rising steadily in the last three years to tie with Guaranty Trust Bank ahead of others while MTN currently occupies the third position.
But in terms of advertising expenditure across board, the TV medium consistently enjoyed the lion share of advert budget over the years. It is followed by the Out of Home (OOH) medium except for 2014 and 2015, when the print medium followed the leading TV medium. The newspapers had however experienced the highest growth rate in terms of advert spends especially in the last three years.
For total advertising expenditure, the year 2013 enjoyed the highest spending with N103.8 billion, representing a marginal increase over year 2011 spending of N 102.8 billion. There was a decline in 2014 as compared to the high spending in 2013.
The general economic outlook during the period under review showed a Gross Domestic Product, GDP estimated at 6.1 per cent in 2014, owing to continued strong performance mainly in services, but also in industry. The oil sector was in decline, albeit at a slower rate than in the previous year. Also in 2014, oil and gas GDP was estimated to have declined by 1.3 per cent, relative to a decline of 13.1 per cent in 2013.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, mediaReach OMD, Mr. Tolu Ogunkoya, said: “Nigeria’s media is one of the most dynamic in Africa. Each of the 36 states has at least a TV station and one radio. There are hundreds of radio stations and terrestrial TV stations, as well as cable and direct-to-home satellite offerings.”
Not a few analysts however agree that the newspaper industry in Nigeria is caught in the web of great depression and recession. It has fallen victim to a combination of intertwined factors. The first is the tough economic environment, which has reduced advertising revenue, as well as the purchasing power of the reading public, and driven up the cost of production to an almost unmanageable level.
With a foreign exchange regime that is unstable, and virtually every input required for production imported from abroad, or sourced locally at cut-throat prices, an average newspaper which used to cost almost nothing in the 70s, is now priced beyond the reach of many Nigerians.
The mediafacts Nigeria 10 Year Trend Review is a ten year longitudinal review and trend analyses of year on year mediafacts, with key insights into annual statistical performance and the dynamics of key players on critical indices of the media, advertising and marketing industry in Nigeria.
mediaReach OMD has since 2001 through its publication; mediafacts been given insights into the Media and Marketing industry of Nigeria, Ghana, West and Central Africa regions. It also provides marketing media professionals with evidence based information that has become a veritable tool for practitioners and companies to compete for market space in these markets.

Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, is claiming ownership of the $31.4 million involved in an alleged fraud case before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Counsel to the first defendant in charge, with case number FHC/337C/16, Mr. Gboyega Oduwole, informed the court that Mrs. Jonathan filed a fundamental application against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), claiming ownership of the money.
The EFCC had taken former presidential aide, Amajuoyi Azubike Briggs, former Skye Bank official, Damola Bolodeoku, Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited to court in an alleged $31.4 million fraud involving the companies without addresses.
Others also charged include Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited and Globus Integrated Services Limited.
According to an application filed on September 6, this year, with file number FHC/L/C5/1233/16, Mrs. Jonathan is asking the court to make an order for the enforcement of her fundamental rights, in terms of reliefs she sought, and naming as defendants, the EFCC and Skye Bank Plc.
The former first lady asked the court to make a declaration that the fund standing to the credit of four of the companies and an account in her own name in Skye Bank belonged to her.
She also asked the court to declare that the action of the respondents in placing a No Debit/Freezing Order on the said accounts without any order of a competent court of law or prior notice to her, to be in breach of her fundamental rights as contained in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In view of the economic situation in the country, Muslims in Nigeria have been reminded that the slaughter of livestock especially, rams during Islamic festivity of Eid-Adha is not compulsory according to Islamic injunctions.
An Islamic Scholar, Imam Abdulhameed Shuaib Agaka told Economic Confidential that the sacrificial ram for Sallah celebration is permissible but not obligatory compared to the five pillars of Islam.
He said: “Considering the current economic situation, Muslims should prioritize their need and ensure they provide basic necessities for the family, especially accommodation, feeding, medication, education and mobility.
“It is after meeting the basic essentials that surplus income could be utilise for Sallah ram and other celebrations.”
Quoting from the Holy Quran, Dr. Agaka said: “La yukallifullahu nafsan illa wus’aha- which means Almighty Allah does not place burden on a person beyond his ability in any situation.”
The Muslim Cleric added that “the ceremony is symbolic in exemplifying the absolute submission of Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail to the will of God.”
“The essence therefore is to be obedient to Almighty God, live peaceful with our neighbours including those that we don’t share the same tribe, culture or religion and pray for our nations.”
He said for those that can afford Sallah rams, they must follow the principle of Zakat. He said the ram should be shared into three parts.
“The first part is meant for the family, second part should be given as Zakat (gift) to the neighbours including Non-Muslims and Muslims that could not afford it and the last part for the less privilege in the society,” he concluded.

The love story of the quintessential General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, popularly known as Daddy G.O. and his darling wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye is one that would go down in history as one of the most romantic love stories ever.

Daddy G.O. has not only proved that having God at the centre of your life is key but he has also proved that real men still exist. As they celebrate the faithfulness of God on their 49th anniversary this year, here are 20 things you would never believe Daddy G.O. does:

Adeboye married twice. Not what you’re thinking. He had a traditional marriage first then a white wedding in church about two years after.

Adeboye couldn’t afford a wedding ring then. So he promised his wife later that she would never lack anything and has since kept that promise.

When Adeboye could finally afford a wedding ring, he refused to buy or wear one. He also mandated his last son, Adeleke Adeboye, to do same.

Adeboye wouldn’t eat food or drink anywhere his wife doesn’t approve first. Adeboye prefers his meals freshly cooked daily.

Adeboye expects his wife to fast with him when he is fasting. (We guess this saves on food expenses.)

Adeboye eats dinner between 4-00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. and that’s it for the day.

Adeboye sometimes goes into the kitchen to give moral support and taste the food. He also advises on which food needs more seasoning or salt.

At least three times every year, Adeboye leaves his whole family for about five days—no phone calls, no sex, no distractions—even his wife is not allowed around him. (We all know whose face he goes to seek.)

Adeboye used to be fat; his weight was so disturbing that his wife begged him to do something about it.

Adeboye started making efforts toward reducing his weight by totally avoiding fizzy drinks and alcohol. Now, he only drinks water, fresh fruit juice and tea.

Adeboye would never leave Nigeria and is never more than a 2-hours’ drive or flight away from his wife on the month of her birthday. This is one of the promises he made to her when they got married.

Adeboye still gives monthly household expenses fees to his wife till date. This even increases year by year as inflation goes up.

Adeboye also gives his wife monthly self-maintenance allowance. When he is at home, Adeboye kisses his wife every morning and prays for her even before coming out to see anyone else.

Adeboye always buys marching watches, suit cases. Everything he needs to get, he always makes sure he gets her own version of it.

Adeboye always puts his wife first before his children. Besides, they will and have all left home anyway.

Adeboye has never stopped appreciating his wife for her sacrifice over the years and putting her dreams on hold so he could become who he is today hence he never leaves her behind in anything and everything he does.

WOW! I bet you weren’t ready for these!!!

The Obong of Calabar, Ekpo Abasi-Otu V, has called on the Cross River State Police Command to arrest any masquerade found along the streets of Calabar begging for money.
Abasi-Otu made the call on Thursday in Calabar during the formation of Eminent People’s Forum organised by the Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Ozi-Obeh.
The Obong, who was represented by Etubom Bassey Duke, the Chairman of Etubom’s Traditional Rulers Council in the palace, said the call became necessary following series of negative complaints about some masquerades.
He said the palace of the Obong had received several petitions that some people were hiding under the guise of “masquerade” to extort money from innocent residents of the state.
He said: “The palace of the Obong of Calabar has received several petitions about the wicked act of some masquerades in Calabar.
“Some of these people hide under the guise of masquerades to extort money from people. They also carry out heinous crimes while pretending to be spirits.
“We don’t permit masquerades to go about in the street begging for money unless it is a very big cultural event.
“I am calling on the police to arrest any masquerade found begging for money along the streets of Calabar.”
Earlier, Ozi-Obeh said the forum was set up to bring stakeholders together to collaborate on peaceful co-existence in the state.
The commissioner said the police needed the support of the traditional rulers in order to maintain a crime-free society.
Tina Agbor, the Secretary to the State Government, said the security of any state requires the support of the traditional rulers because they were the closest to the people.
Agbor urged traditional rulers in the state not to shield any of their subjects found wanting, but rather, hand them over to the police for interrogation.
A traditional ruler, Etubom Michael Etim, urged the police to deploy more patrol vans to Akpabuyo and Bakassi local government areas to check the activities of suspected militants in the creeks.
Traditional rulers, local government chairmen, serving and retired senior civil servants, professionals and youth leaders, among others, attended the forum. (NAN)

Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Saturday’s election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has told his supporters that he would join them in singing victory songs on Sunday.
Ize-Iyamu spoke on Thursday shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, announced its decision to conduct the elections as scheduled.
Ize-Iyamu said God had given victory to the PDP and it was time to work for the victory.
He said: “We are on the threshold of history. The day we are waiting for is now. They tried to postpone the election using flimsy excuses but President Buhari said he was not aware of any security threat.
“The postponement was arranged by the state government with some cabals to postpone the day of reckoning.
“They have procured duplicate result sheets. They are reaching out to members of NYSC and are attempting to bribe our party agents with any amount of money but we are not for sale.
“Everybody should make arrangement to go to their local government to work out logistics for the election. We need to tell our people that election will take place”.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has condemned the call for the postponement of the Edo State governorship election by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Police.
He said “It is obvious that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is challenged and afraid of losing the
election and the party is using the federal government security agencies to cause a postponement of the election so as to be able to perfect its new rigging plans.”
The governor, who raised the alarm that “democracy is in danger” under the APC government, said; “obviously, within two years of APC government, Nigeria is in both economic and political recession and this should worry all true lovers of the country.”
Reacting to the DSS and Police position that the election be postponed because of security threat, Governor Fayose, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said he was worried that “democracy in Nigeria has now graduated from inconclusive elections to postponement of elections in other to return APC candidates at all cost.”
He said; “Within two years, the APC government not only destroyed the economy of Nigeria, it has destroyed the legacy of free, fair and credible electoral process bequeathed on the country by the PDP.”
The governor said; “The questions Nigerians must ask the APC-led federal government are; what security threat can overcome over 50,000 security personnel in an election holding in just one out of the 36 States in Nigeria? If election must be postponed in just one State because of security threat, what will then happen in 2019 when
elections will be conducted in the entire country?
“Another question is; were they unaware of the security challenge when President Mohammadu Buhari went to Edo State to campaign for the APC yesterday?
“No doubt, this is a game being played by the APC because it has become so imminent that the party cannot win the election if it is held on Saturday as scheduled.
“The postponement is obviously meant to give room for the APC to perfect a new rigging strategy and lovers of democracy in Nigeria should begin to see how the APC aims at perpetuating itself in power beyond 2019 even now that the party has been rejected by Nigerians.”

Ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed concern over the alleged harassment and intimidation of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members by security operatives in the state.
In a statement by his Special Adviser, Mr Uche Anichukwu, on Wednesday, Ekweremadu called on the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government to “maintain the electoral standard set by the PDP” and “call its security operatives to order.”
Accusing the Nigeria Police of “unwarranted arrests and harassment” of its members and supporters, the Deputy President of the Senate urged the Federal Government to ensure a free, fair and credible electoral process.
The statement quoted Ekweremadu as saying, “I am deeply distressed by the development, not just because I am a member of the PDP but, more importantly, because the PDP had taken our electoral process beyond where it is being dragged back to today.
“The greatest gift of democracy, which makes other blessings of democracy feasible, is the inalienable right of the people to elect their leaders of their own freewill in a free, fair and credible electoral process that must be devoid of all forms of intimidation.
“As a beneficiary of the electoral reforms and policy of non-interference in the electoral process exemplified by the immediate past PDP administration led by former President Goodluck Jonathan, I expect the APC-led Federal Government to immediately call the security agencies to order.
“If the APC-led FG cannot improve on the electoral process, I expect them to at least maintain the standards set by the PDP.”

The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, and the Department of State Services, DSS, have advised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to postpone the governorship election in Edo state already scheduled for this Saturday, September 10.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah, and an agent of the DSS‎, Garba Abdullahi, stated this at a press conference on Wednesday, citing security concerns as the reason for the request.
Reading out a statement on behalf of both agencies, Awunah said, “The Nigeria police and the DSS wish to inform the general public that credible intelligence availed to the agencies indicate plans by insurgent/extremist elements to attack vulnerable communities and soft targets with high population during the forthcoming Sallah celebrations between 12 and 13 September, 2016. Edo state is among the states being earmarked for these planned attacks by the extremists elements.
“It is in regard of this that we are appealing to INEC, which has legal duty to regulate elections in the country, to consider the need for possible postponement of the date of the election in Edo state in order to enable security agencies deal decisively with the envisaged terrorists threats.
“While the police/DSS remain mindful of the inconveniences this request may cause the various political stakeholders, it is our strong resolve that security agencies need not be distracted from ensuring a peaceful and secure Nigeria now and always.”

Popular Nollywood producer, Emem Isong, has addressed the allegations that male producers demand for sex from up and coming female actresses in the industry.
The script writer told Encomium, “I don’t know anything about that. I am not saying it does not exist, but I wouldn’t know what can be done.
Emem also shared her thoughts on the notion that the industry is collapsing.
According to her, “I feel the industry is getting better, though things seem a little bit slower because there is change. It is a global thing. Everything is getting more digital, movies are being streamed online. CDs are being forged but I guess it is the change that is making it look like it is collapsing. Things are actually getting better.
“We are winning awards and making more money, those are success stories. People should just sit up and do better films. We should work on distribution too. It would be getting better.”
On her thoughts on what this present administration can do to move the industry forward, she said, “I always talk about piracy. I believe in distribution. A lot of cinemas have sprang up here and there. It is not the duty of government to build cinemas but making policies that are favourable to businessmen and investors. The more cinemas we have, the more money we would make in the industry.”

Bishop Charles Ighile, the General Superintendent of The Holy Spirit Mission Church (The Happy Family Chapel) and his wife, Rev. Caro Ighile, in a recent interview spoke extensively on why many men sleep with their maids, why many marriages are daily crashing among other problems in relationships.
Speaking during the interview, they said, “Men sleep with their house helps when the couple are not on their guards. We are talking about God-fearing men here, who would not ordinarily sleep with their house helps, but somehow find themselves doing it.
“There is always a division of labour in the home. As the Bible puts it, the man is the head of the home and the woman is the helper. She is the keeper at home. Therefore, according to the Bible, everything about the domestic affairs is for the woman.
“From what God Himself told Haggai in the Bible when her house help ran away, God asked her, “why are you running away from your mistress. Go and submit yourself to her.”
“Therefore, the house help is under the woman. She submits to the woman. When a maid needs to buy things such as undies, body cream, make her hair or she has to report to the man when she is seeing her period, then there is going to be problem.
“When it is the man now asking the girl, ‘what’s wrong with you?’, why are you sad? Do you have tummy ache? Ok, come and see me in the room’ etc., there is fire on the mountain.
There are certain boundaries that must be set in the home. When the woman fails to take charge of her responsibilities and passes them to the house help and the husband takes them up. She is setting up the husband for temptation.”
The pastors also insisted that inappropriate dressing plays a major role in men having sex with their maids.
They said, “Appropriacy must be enforced in the home. A man is enticed by what he sees, therefore, the woman must not allow the house help to dress indecently in such a way that all her contours are revealed and everything is dangling around the house because the man may be tempted even when he didn’t plan it.
“So the couple must have rules in the house, as you cannot just come into the kitchen or sitting room with only your nighties on or tie a towel or wrapper around your waist moving around the house. Those are troubles for the man. He should not say, “oh, she is only 14, there is nothing she can do.
“No, she is a woman and the man seeing her unclothedness could be thrown off balance. Sometimes, the house helps themselves could be cunning. She wants to seduce the man. So, a man must be very careful. Then, the man must show his wife love all the time.
“The housegirl must not be allowed to see cracks in their marriage. The husband must not disrespect his wife anytime, especially in the presence of the girl, such as shouting on the wife and so on. Doing that will make the girl lose respect for the woman.
“These are just a few of the very many reasons men sleep with their house helps.
“If you as the man begin to find yourself attracted to the house help, just send her away. If you are a man who wants to save your marriage and wants to honour your marriage and God, let your house help go.”
Bishop Charles Ighile added saying, I know that when a man begins to have feelings towards a woman, his defenses weaken, so the strength to even send her away is nowhere to be found. But struggle with your weakness to send her away. I have handled a case as that where the man has already slept with the house help.
Interestingly, the wife is by far more beautiful, but it’s not a matter of beauty now, it’s a matter of the more you live with somebody the more you see something that attracts you to the person which outsiders might not see.”

Ahmed Salkida, one of the three people wanted for alleged knowledge of Boko Haram and the whereabouts of over 200 Chibok girls, was arrested in Abuja on Monday. Mr. Salkida, who arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport aboard Emirates flight EK 785, was taken from the door of the aircraft by members of the security forces.
A passenger seated next to Mr. Salkida during the journey informed SaharaReporters that Mr. Salkida was nervous throughout the flight. She said she recognized the journalist from photos posted on the Internet and engaged him in conversation throughout the seven-hour flight.
She said Mr. Salkida told her that he expected to be arrested upon arrival because he was traveling with an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) and that the State Security Service (SSS) was aware of his coming. He expressed fear that he would not be given a fair trial and accused the government of pronouncing him guilty without trial.
Mr. Salkida further told the passenger that he did not know the whereabouts of Boko Haram leaders or Chibok girls. However, he admitted to receiving two video clips from Boko Haram before they were released to the public. He said Boko Haram had confidence in his objectivity as an investigative journalist, having previously interviewed Mohammed Yusuf, the founding leader of Boko Haram.
It would be recalled that Mr. Salkida had last month accused the government of refusing to renew his passport at the Nigerian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates for fear that he would run away to an unknown destination. He raised concerns that the military was witch-hunting him and wrongly assumed that he was behind the report on the purchase of two properties in Dubai by the Chief of Army Staff, General Yusuf Buratai.

Nigerian Comedian, Alibaba has expressed concern over the current economic state of the country, saying unless drastic measures are taken, even Jesus cannot come to our rescue as a nation.
He took to his Instagram page @alibabagcfr, posing some rhetorical questions on why and how the economy got to this sorry state.
He said, “The economy will remain like this for a long while because the strings that pull us into dire straits are still pulling us even much stronger.
“How did we get here? We were making so much from oil and neglected all other sources of revenue.
“We did not only neglect those sources of revenue, we did not invest the revenue from oil in infrastructural development of the country. We were not futuristic in our planning either.
“Did we increase the number of hostels in our universities to accommodate the new numbers of students?
“Pay teachers well?
“Did we build more roads to take care of the millions of cars and transportation needs?
“Did we improve the services of the police force, Did we use the money to build better hospitals?
“Did the new industries create more jobs?
“Did we improve our power supply?
“Did we have stronger and modified laws that made sure that people who broke the laws were punished adequately to discourage others?
“Did we tidy up our pension scheme so that people are assured that they did not need to steal to assure themselves of better retirement?
“What have we done to reduce cost of administration?
“What kind of enabling environment has government created to grow the economy?
“What have we done to ensure the right people got elected?
“Have we developed our tourism potentials to attract foreign investors and revenues? Better banks?
“What have we done to curb corruption?
“What steps have we taken in the direction of housing? Who has security votes helped?
“We have failed to do all of that… ‘NOW OUR ALMIGHTY’ crude prices that were our saving grace are low.
“The production is even nearly nonexistent, thanks to militants.
“There are backlog of owed salaries, uncompleted projects, dead refineries, high unemployment and huge numbers of the unemployable.
“We are borrowing even Jesus cannot save us unless we create new sources of revenue.
“What do I know?
“I am an ordinary rip-cracker, I dey look,” the comedian jested.

Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Facebook, is no doubt one of the greatest human beings that have walked the surface of the earth.

Through his popular social media platform, this tech guru has given value to the popular saying: “The world is a small village”.

In his first visit to Sub-Saharan Africa, the 7th richest man in the world spent two days in Lagos, before visiting Kenya, and later returning to Nigeria to meet President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

Here are 25 things you probably didn’t know about him.

NAMED AFTER HIS GRANDFATHER
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He was named after Marco, his Bulgarian maternal grandfather, who migrated to the United States in the 1940s.

HAS 3 SISTERS
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The eldest child of Edward, a dentist, and Karen, a psychiatrist, Mark has three female siblings: Randi, Donna and Arielle.

HOW HIS PROGRAMMING JOURNEY BEGAN
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His father taught him Atari BASIC Programming in the 1990s, and later hired software developer David Newman to tutor him privately.

At age of 12 years, he built ZuckNet, a software programme which allowed all the computers between the house and his father’s dental office to communicate.

CO-FOUNDED FACEBOOK WITH 3 ROOM MATES
ZuckerbergOn February 4 2004, Zuckerberg alongside Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes, his college roommates at Harvard, founded Facebook. Saverin was the one who offered $1,000 capital money to get the company started.

LONGEST LEGAL BATTLE OVER FACEBOOK
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His longest legal battle over Facebook was against the twins, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. They accused him of stealing their idea of Facebook. However, they finally ended the battle with a settlement of over $60 million.

HE IS COLOURBLIND
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The reason blue dominates Facebook website and mobile app is because Zuckerberg is colourblind.

According to The New Yorker, Zuckerberg is red-green colourblind, which means the colour he can see best is blue.

“Blue is the richest color for me. I can see all of blue,” he told the magazine.

YOU CAN’T BLOCK HIM ON FACEBOOK
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No one can block him on Facebook. You wanna try?

THE CODE THAT MAKES HIS NAME APPEAR
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Zuckerberg’s programmed his own trick into Facebook. If you type @[4:0] in the comment box, his name will appear. A trial will convince those in doubt.

NOT ACTIVE ON TWITTER
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Zuckerberg’s Twitter handle is @finkd. He has 423,000 followers, and he’s following 819 people. He has posted only 19 tweets, the last being on January 18, 2012.

HE MET HIS WIFE IN A QUEUE
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He met Priscilla Chan, his wife, while she was waiting in line for the bathroom at a party. That was in 2003, and nine years later they got married.

Like Mark, the daughter of Chinese-Vietnamese refugees, is a graduate of Harvard.

She joined Facebook on February 5, 2004, the day after it was launched, becoming one of the first set of persons to do so.

HIS WIFE IS THE FIRST GRADUATE IN HER FAMILY
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She is the first in her Chinese-American family to graduate from university. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and graduated as a paediatrician from the University of California, the third-best medical school in the United States.

Priscilla is the eldest of three girls, with an eight-year age gap between her and her youngest sister.

SHE SUFFERED 3 MISCARRIAGES
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In July last year, Zuckerberg announced that his wife had suffered three miscarriages.

He also went on to say that they would be expecting a child.

“Priscilla and I have some exciting news: we’re expecting a baby girl!” he wrote on Facebook.

“This will be a new chapter in our lives. We’ve already been so fortunate for the opportunity to touch people’s lives around the world — Cilla as a doctor and educator, and me through this community and philanthropy.

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“Now we’ll focus on making the world a better place for our child and the next generation.”

On December 1, 2016, they welcomed their daughter.

DONATION TO CHARITY
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In 2013, Zuckerberg and his wife donated 18 million shares of Facebook stock to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The shares were valued at around $1 billion.

DEATH RUMOUR
Accident

In 2012, Global Associated News published the rumour that Zuckerberg died in a car crash.

The publication, which has developed a reputation for spreading false reports about celebrities’ deaths, claimed that alcohol was a factor in the death.

The report read: “Mark Zuckerberg died in a single vehicle crash on Route 80 between Morristown and Roswell. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics responding to the vehicle accident and was identified by photo ID found on his body. Alcohol and drugs do not appear to have been a factor in this accident – April 28, 2014.”

ZUCKERBERG’S ‘INFLUENTIAL’ DOG
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His Hungarian Sheepdog named Beast, has a Facebook page with over 2.3 million page ‘likes’!

HE IS AN ATHEIST
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Zuckerberg doesn’t believe in God. Are you surprised?

‘POOREST RICH PERSON’
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Someone once described him as “the poorest rich person I’ve ever seen in my life”, living like a student in rented houses even though he was worth billions.

His family home has remained the same for decades, with little furniture, a small kitchen and the only obvious luxury a row of theatre style seats in front of a big TV.

RATED THE WORST DRESSED
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Based on his trademark jeans and tee shirt, Zuckerberg topped the list of GQ’s Worst-Dressed Men of Silicon Valley in 2011.

Three years later, during a Q& A session, Zuckerberg said he often wears jean and tee shirts because of the nature of his schedule.

He said even small decisions like choosing what to wear or what to eat for breakfast could be tiring and consume energy, and he didn’t want to waste any time on that.

“I really want to clear my life to make it so that I have to make as few decisions as possible about anything except how to best serve this community,” Zuckerberg said, after clarifying that he had “multiple same shirts.”

GAVE HIS FATHER 2 MILLION SHARES IN FACEBOOK
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As at 2012, his father had not touched the two million shares in Facebook, which his son gave him as a thank you for helping him set up the business, a gift he initially refused but eventually accepted.
They were worth around $60 million back then.

Ed Zuckerberg said even though Mark had done well, he did not really know what he had done so right as a parent.

FAMILY MEMBERS REFUSED TO STOP WORKING
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Back in 2012, his parents ran the same dental practice they opened in 1978, with no plans to retire.

Arielle was a product manager for San Francisco based marketing firm Wildfire Interactive. Dona, the second sister, Donna, ran a food blog and was doing a PhD at Princeton University, while Randi, the final sibling, had been married to college sweetheart Brent Tworetzky, with a baby named Asher and was making a reality TV show about the San Francisco Bay Area tech scene.

LOWEST PAID FACEBOOK EMPLOYEE
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Since 2013, the billionaire draws an annual wage of just $1 as the CEO of Facebook, making him the company’s lowest-paid employee.

FIRST PERSON TO REJECT $1BN
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He did what? Yes, he rejected $1 billion.

According to CNN, Terry Semel, former CEO of Yahoo, who offered Zuckerberg that sum in exchange of Facebook, told the New Yorker that he’d never met a person who would turn down a $1 billion offer.

“He [Zuckerberg] said, ‘It’s not about the price. This is my baby, and I want to keep running it, I want to keep growing it,’” Semel said, recalling his conversation with Zuckerberg in 2006. “I couldn’t believe it.”

The Harvard newspaper picked up on the same sentiment.

“That’s just like not something we’re really interested in,” he told the paper in 2004, referring to offers from companies wanting to buy Facebook. “I mean, yeah, we can make a bunch of money — that’s not the goal.”

BIGGEST STUMBLING BLOCK TO FACEBOOK
India

Last year, Zuckerberg faced what can be described as the biggest challenge in the 12-year history of his company. The attempt to dominate Indian cyberspace, was halted by an overwhelming local opposition.

As at 2014, there were up to 100 million Facebook users in the country. According to a Facebook executive, the company’s internal analysis projected that more than 30% of the new customers it hoped to add worldwide by 2020 would come from India.

Facebook did not intend waiting for them to just come on board, it developed the big plan: Internet.org, which would provide free basic internet services.

But the country’s techs raised suspicions. They saw Zuckerberg as someone who was out to give so little in exchange of a huge benefit.

Nikhil Pahwa, an entrepreneur, coordinated a massive campaign, which consumed the idea. Not even strategies adopted by Facebook, including spending an estimated £30 million on advertising, helped in achieving the desired result.

ONLY ADVICE FOR FRIENDS
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What advice does he have to offer? “All of my friends who have younger siblings who are going to college or high school – my number one piece of advice is: You should learn how to program.”

A FAN OF GAGA, RIHANNA AND SHAKIRA
Singer Lady Gaga wears three custom-made Azzedine Alaia pieces and a white embellished gown with long red gloves as she arrives at the 87th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 22, 2015. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Some of his favorite musicians are Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Shakira, and Daft Punk.

Leader of the Biafra Independent Movement, BIM, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to grant Biafra independence.
Uwazuruike in a statement by the group’s Director of Information, Chris Mocha, said Igbos’ continuous claim to Nigeria meant adopting slavery, corruption, poverty, marginalisation, inequality and instability.
Stressing that secession of Biafra will be good for Nigeria and all other ethnic nationalities, Uwazurike said,
“If I will not get Biafra, I wouldn’t have come out to start talking about it in the first place and the non-violent method which I understudied for years in India would be defeated.
“We are firm that Biafra can never be wished away.
“Adopting Nigeria as our country would mean adopting slavery, corruption, inequality, poverty, marginalisation and instability.
“Therefore, under the present circumstance, we humbly apply to be admitted, registered or treated as the case may be in any of the organ of the United Nations, having denounced our Nigerian nationality.”

Mr. Godwin Obaseki is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. In this interview, he expresses optimism of victory, just as he raised the alarm over alleged plot by the Peoples Democratic Party to cause violence on the day of the election so as to truncate the exercise

How optimistic are you of victory haven campaign very vigorously so far?
We have campaigned extensively, if you recall this is the second time I am embarking on this kind of campaign. During the primaries I went through the 192 wards in Edo State. The campaigns for the main election has been more detailed, I went to communities I did not have the opportunity of visiting during the primaries and it has been quite revealing. Firstly, it would be a miracle for PDP to win in Edo State because as we have gone round the communities we just don’t see their presence, we don’t hear their message probably because they don’t have any message. In every community we visited we can point to a project that the APC government has undertaken and that explains the popularity of the party. The issue in most communities is that they want more and it is easy to argue that given our track record of performance, they should allow us continue to provide for them unlike that of PDP whose track record is so bad that in their 10 years nothing to show the people of the state. So that seeing the fact on ground, it has been easy to appeal to the voters to vote for me as APC candidate and my running mate Philip Shuaibu.
The second issue is that we have been able to counter their lies because without any message to send they have gone round to tell lies to people, campaign of calumny, lies to create tension and anxiety and prepare the place for violence. Going round has also given us the opportunity to counter those lies. For them the only way they can win is for them to unleash violence and steal ballot boxes to produce fake results and we know clearly they are working on such strategies. There is evidence and we have reported to security agencies, the people they are importing from neighbouring communities to cause mayhem so we can have inconclusive elections. We also have evidence of the people they brought in to register during their voter’s registration exercise, who do not even come from those communities. You could see from the incident at llushi, where they attacked my campaign train; you could see that due to the frustration and fear that they are going to lose the election, some of their supporters are even acting the violent script even before the day. They cannot even hold it back the more. They unleashed mayhem on our supporters which was totally uncalled and wicked. They destroyed our vehicles and people were beaten up.
So they are masters of propaganda, while we are campaigning the PDP leadership is using the money they stole for propaganda, so their propaganda machine is well oiled, misinforming people. Most of their proposed theory is to deceive people, giving them false impression that they are winning. No concrete message for the people, they are selling a message about the future when they destroyed the past. So they really don’t have a message; they go to the markets, trying to create fear, using the current economic crisis to campaign. But we have gone round to explain to the people that these are the same people who caused this economic recession, destroyed our economy. So the only other plan which they are confident about is violence which they are masters in. We know that the PDP is working with the guys that created the havoc in Rivers State. We have told security agencies; we know that they have recruited many of them. You know, we are campaigning in riverine areas and those are the areas they are targeting. Places like llusin, Gegelege, Agenebode, our borders are the areas they intend to perpetuate violence and there is evidence they have brought in people in Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba Okhai. They planted at least two militants each from the Niger Delta at each of the units in these metropolitan areas, so that they can cause mayhem and cause confusion that may lead to inconclusive elections. That is their strategy and we have told security agents. The PDP has no message to give, so they want violence but we will not allow them.

But will this recession problem not affecting your party in the campaigns and the elections ahead?
In this case of Edo we know that Edo people are very enlightened. We have been explaining to them that the recession is global but what is more important is what we have been doing to solve the problem. Campaigning round the state, I found out that in the rural areas, people are beginning to make a lot of money due to rise in prices of goods. But we have told them prices will come down as a result of these productions we are seeing. Most areas where have tarred roads, we see people drying rice, people going to their farms to harvest yams and lorry loads of food stuff coming out. So we have been selling a message of hope to say look ‘this recession is only temporary’ and because they trust us, they are buying it. The other advantage we have is that they have tested the PDP before and they don’t see PDP as an option. When we ask them they said sometimes they don’t even know the PDP candidate – whether he is Ize-Iyamu or Iduoriyekemwen. So even their members are confused while many of them felt APC is the only hope and they are joining us every day. So PDP has no hope in this election. For me, the real opponents I have are that of the APGA, Osaro Onaiwu and others, but not PDP. They are two PDP candidates in Edo now- the ones controlled by the godfathers and only they are still in that party and one controlled by some progressive leaders and that faction has moved to APC. So who is going to win for them in each of the wards and units? Nobody. So I laugh when they resorted to making comments in the papers where they only exist, not on ground. And for me, it is another 419 so that their PDP governors will bring money for them to share. Of course, those guys are 419 guys who have been there since 1999, making money from deceiving people. But it is all over for them in Edo. APC in Edo State led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has buried them and we will bury and bury PDP continuously.

Any fear of anti-party activity?
Nobody in APC will do anti-party activity. That was Osaze Ize-Iyamu’s prayer because he called several APC members to come and play the trick he knows best and work against their own part, but they shunned him. The reconciliation effort we have made has been very very successful. You would have noticed that some of our colleagues who were aggrieved after the primaries have been working very closely with the party in their various wards and local governments. We are all together. I was even touched seeing our members contributing money to fire the campaigns in their various wards. It’s quite touching and I am so grateful to them. What is also interesting and what helped us is the wave of defection from PDP to APC. So anybody who was angry with us seeing PDP coming to us had looked at it to see, I think we have something good here, let us remain. So the fact of many PDP members decamping to APC and the level of reconciliation just show that we are one and people are working in unison, particularly in the local governments like Orhiomwon and Uhumwonde. Those are the areas we had concerns but those areas are solid now and are under the control of APC. The leaders of the party there are working together now.

Some people see you as a stooge to Governor Adams Oshiomhole…?
I keep saying to them that if I was a stooge for the last eight years and that led to the amount of development and progress that we have made, then if being a stooge will lead to the progress of my people I rather be a stooge to my people than being a none stooge that will steal our commonwealth. It is nonsense. Here again is the issue. The issue is about development, about utilising our wealth for our common good. So if being a stooge means utilising public fund for the betterment of the people of Edo State; if being a stooge means I am not going to meet with any godfather to decide on how my budget will be implemented then I will rather be such stooge. One of the PDP candidates, Ize-Iyamu, has all his life been a stooge to the Igbinedions both the father and son. He started as a personal assistant to Lucky Igbinedion, Chief of Staff to his government and later the most powerful Secretary to the State Government who signed off contracts that…; who signed the sacking of over 7,000 workers who today are crying of pension which the Oshiomhole’s administration is paying.
Let me tell you, we need to begin to change the paradigm. I keep asking; tell me in specific terms what the Oshiomhole’s administration has not done in the last seven and half years. So what is wrong about propagating and continuing with those strides? So we must redefine our politics from these brain dead hawks in our politics, who think they can continue to destroy and distract our people. The issue is what did you do with political authorities? Being in the back room of this administration in the last seven and half years, I directed the policies more. I pointed to the Comrade Governor the direction we should go. So did that make Adams a stooge? Sometimes, try and understand their logic, because of their poor education which has never allowed them do other things in their lives. They make those stupid arguments about being a stooge. But let me tell them, if with all we have achieved under Oshiomhole made me a stooge, I accept to be one. Then let Ize-Iyamu also accept that he is a stooge to Lucky Igbinedion and let him take the blames of the failure of the PDP for 10 years. At least with that you will expect him to toe the path of honour by withdrawing from the contest because he will be stoned by our people next Saturday.

Your message to Edo people
I want to continue to thank Edo people because across the state, I have found out during our campaigns that we have groups and communities voluntarily which have endorsed me, assuring me that they will vote for me. My appeal is to security agencies to ensure that they monitor the process to ensure we have no violence. If we have an election, free fair and credible, that is devoid of violence, I am certain we will trounce the PDP no matter who they decide to produce as the candidate. I will pick at least 80 per cent of the votes come September 10.

GOtv has dedicated the month of September to television series buffs.
Starting Friday 2 September at 7:10pm, World’s Funniest will air on Discovery Family. This new hilarious, one-hour series is inspired by the hit YouTube channel – a compilation of videos showing funny pranks and comical fails from around the globe, including everything from dogs cocking legs on brides, to kid’s cows riding in the back of cars.
Each week, a panel of celebrities and comedians will analyse the videos that have exploded across the internet, with the goal of awarding the funniest one with the “Golden Terry Award”. Telemundo premieres Woman of Steel on Monday, 5 September and from 18 September, E! takes viewers inside the lives of Robert Kardashian and Blac Chyna with the brand new series, Rob & Chyna.
It’s also ‘Back to School’ season and to make breakfast and getting ready for school more exciting, Disney Junior is introducing a Bitesize Breakfast Block, morning shorts of some kiddies’ favourite shows. The Bitesize Breakfast Block, which kicks off on 5 September at 6:30am, will feature splits of Goldie & Bear, PJ Masks, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Doc McStuffins and Miles from Tomorrow.
There will also be Afternoon Adventures with Disney Junior featuring The Adventures of the Disney Fairies, Miles from Tomorrow, Sofia the First, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, The Lion Guard and Goldie & Bear, starting 5 September at 1:20pm.

The Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, has distanced the Itsekiri nation from the Chief Edwin Clark-led pan Niger Delta coastal states stakeholders’ meeting which is to negotiate with the Federal Government on behalf of the Niger Delta militants.
The Itsekiri monarch, in a statement issued yesterday by the Palace Administrator, Dr. Emmanuel Tetsola, also claimed not to be part of the meeting of the Niger Delta monarchs with the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.
Clark, who is the Ijaw national leader, had a fortnight ago convened a stakeholders’ meeting of six coastal states of the Niger Delta at Effurun in Delta State towards proffering solutions to the renewed militancy in the region. The meeting was attended by the Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa while the Bayelsa Governor was represented.
The meeting resolved to set up a dialogue team which would discuss with the Federal Government on behalf of militant groups in the region.
While disowning those claiming to have represented Itsekiri nation at the meeting called by Clark and the one with the Petroleum minister, the statement emphasized that the monarch had not authorised anybody to represent him or the people of Itsekiri.
It stated, “It has come to the knowledge of the Palace of the Olu of Warri that some Itsekiri sons and daughters who are attending the above mentioned meetings are claiming to be representing either the Olu of Warri or the Itsekiri people of Delta State.
“The Palace wishes to state categorically that while individuals are entitled to freedom of speech and association, as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution, it has not authorised or mandated any person to represent either the Olu of Warri or the Itsekiri people at these meetings.”
The Itsekiri royalty particularly frowned on a report in one of the national dailies which claimed that Prof. Lucky Akaruese represented the Itsekiri ethnic nationality at both meetings.
“Consequently, those persons who attended these meetings cannot arrogate to themselves the authority to speak or represent either the Olu of Warri or the Itsekiri people,” the Olu of Warri added, even as he urged the general public to disregard such insinuation.

MTN Nigeria on Thursday announced Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, and nine other artistes as its 2016/2017 brand ambassadors.
The firm’s General Manager of Consumer Marketing, Mr Richard Iweanoge, listed the other nine as Saka, (Hafiz Oyetoro); Nedu (Steve Onu); Adamu Zango Praiz (Praise Adejo); Iyanya (Iyanya Mbuk); Chidinma (Chidinma Ekile); Falz (Folarin Falana); Tekno Miles (Augustine Kelechi) and Skales (Raoul Njeng-Njeng).
Iweanoge said this was in line with the company’s commitment to support Nigerian musicians by providing alternative platforms for them to receive lucrative value for their intellectual property.
It was also designed to continue to support the development of the entertainment industry, he said.
According to him, this is by financially empowering Nigerian artistes and musicians through the promotion and monetisation of content on its various digital platforms.
He said, “With the significant investment made so far in Nigeria’s music industry, MTN remains and will continue to be one of the biggest supporters of the music industry.
“We have a track record of consistently providing the stage for some of Nigeria’s biggest artistes to shine and express themselves. Through our Caller Ring Back Tunes, MTN is the largest music distributor in Africa.
“Through the platform, we ensured that Nigerian musicians would no longer suffer the scourge of piracy.
“They are able to make good money, as a result of their hard work.”
MTN Executive, Ms Amina Oyagbola, said in the statement that MTN was proud to be associated with the growth and development of the careers of all its ambassadors, past and present.
She commended them for their contributions to the company’s development in the country.
Oyagbola said the company would continue to maintain the cordial relationship with them.

Reports reaching THEMOMENTNG has it that the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, is currently in a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The meeting is holding at the President’s Office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The technology entrepreneur had arrived Lagos unannounced on Tuesday for his first visit to the sub-Saharan Africa.
He had landed in Nairobi on Thursday, but apparently returned to Nigeria following criticisms that he did not meet with any political leader during his stay in Nigeria, but only had interactions with software developers, bloggers and entertainers.

MORE DETAIL LATER…

· Customers run to withdraw their money
· Bank plan to layoff workers

For one of the newest entrants into the Nigeria’s banking industry, it has become a case of one trouble to many for Heritage Bank Plc., as the financial institution continues to swim in the sea of controversies amidst financial improprieties.
As it stands, the bank is fast proving to be L’Enfant terrible in the Nigeria banking sector, as its name constantly pop up in almost all underhand dealing, featuring some Nigerian financial institutions.
Unless something drastic happens to salvage the situation, Heritage Bank may run into serious financial crises that may render it unable to meet its obligations as a deposit money bank.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently banned Heritage bank from the foreign exchange market. The bank suspension would remain in force until it remits all funds to the TSA (Heritage Bank ($85m).
Also, the bank was recently enmeshed in serious financial mess, following the discovery by the new management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) that a whooping $24.1million (N9.399 billion) belonging to the maritime agency was lodged with the bank but kept away from the new management.
A source close to the NPA management said that the agency has shown sufficient proof that it has the $24.1million in the bank, but expresses surprise that a bank could claim ignorance of a princely $24.1 million hidden from the management.
More disturbing in the Heritage Bank saga, is the reported confession by the bank that it stands the risk of going under should the NPA insist on refund of the $24.1 million.
This medium also learnt, large number of customers of the bank are in panic as they plan to storm various branches of the bank to withdraw their money base on this worrying situation, as they believe it’s just a matter of days before CBN finally wave their axe.
Staff of the financial institution, who spoke to us also disposed that the bank is planning to sack a huge number of their staff due to the growing trend. The searchlight of the banks’ regulator is being beamed at the Heritage bank once again and this is authoritative.
Information has it that the banks is showing a similar characteristic as the rescued Skye bank, thus it is just a matter of days before the Central Bank swoop on the bank.
Insiders have revealed that there are several undercutting within the system and it’s just a matter of time before the CBN revokes its licence. If all things are not cleared, the present chairman of Heritage, who was the former Group Managing Director of Skye Bank may have questions to answer.
Recall, the bank was formerly Societe Generale Bank, owned by the Saraki dynasty. A case of show me your friend and I know who you are. To worsen the situation, the bank is not really visible when other banks mentioned or sighted at every distance.
It was also gathered that the staff of the bank are not well paid, coupled with the perceived bad networks that the bank has to tackle with all seriousness. These and many more, have trouble the bank in the recent time and one wonders if the bank would escape being taken over by CBN.

The Intelligence Department of the Nigerian Police Force, Zone 10, in Abuja has revealed through its investigation that certain First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) principal officers, Kunle Awojobi, Managing Director of FBN trustee, and others forged the signature of Ola Olaniran, Operational Director of Zone 4 Energy Limited, on some documents used to obtain an order to take over the farm tank of Zone 4 Energy Limited over an alleged non-payment of a loan.
FBN had approached the court in July through its receiver, Emmanuel Oyebanji, to obtain a court order to take over the Zone 4 Energy tank farm located in the Calabar Free Trade Zone and to freeze the account of the company. Justice Saliu Sahidu of Federal High Coourt in Ikoyi granted the order.
The affected company filed a motion to discharge the order through its lawyer Lanre Ogunlesi, alleging that the order was obtained in error and that the day of execution of the order had elapsed. Mr. Ogunlesi argued that his client never received notice of this action.
Justice Abdul Aziz Anka of the same court ruled against the order when he ordered that some of the assets claimed by First Bank Plc. be relinquished to Chukelad Nigeria Limited, a third party in trade with Zone 4 Energy. 2,804,735 liters of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 1,927,727 liters of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) were to be evacuated from the tank farm belonging Zone 4 Energy Limited. He adjourned ruling until September 8, 2016.
The Nigerian Police Force’s Criminal Investigation Department has now revealed that the tank farm was received with fictitious documents.
In addition, on August 26, 2016, two First Bank employees, Ayodele Ogunlana and Razak Yussuf, were arrested by the police at the premises of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Okotiebo and were subsequently taken to the police for questioning. They were later asked to sign an undertaking stating that they would appear at the Zone A police station in Abuja the following day.
It was reliably gathered that they will be charged to court soon.

Nollywood star actress, Funke Akindele, has explained why her marriage to popular rapper, born Abdul Rasheed Bello, fondly called JJC Skillz, was rather quiet.
Funke aka Jenifa tied the nuptial nuts with her beau in London, United Kingdom on August 23.
Although the duo had debunked rumours which made the rounds of their relationship for quite some time, the ‘quiet’ wedding which came as a surprise to Nigerians was witnessed by immediate family members and very close associates.
The wedding had laid to rest controversies on the true status of their relationship.
But the couple, in a statement signed by Funke Akindele’s publicist, Biodun Kupoluyi, said they chose a quiet wedding in London because neither of them wanted to be at the centre of attention having been on that lane before.
“The decision to do it quietly was right for us and we pray for the understanding of our close friends and fans at this offer of a lifetime moment.
“At a good time, we shall look back and in appreciation of divine grace and your support, we shall celebrate milestones and where we are in life.”
Until his decision to marry the divorced actress, JJC Skillz was a father of three.

Two workers of the Nigerian Brewery, who allegedly stole 30 cartons of canned Amstel Malta, on Tuesday appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused, Jacob Odion, 29, and Tobias Agidi, 43, are facing trial on charges of stealing and conspiracy.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, Insp. Moses Uademevbo said that they committed the offences on Aug. 25 at about 2.30 p.m. at the Canning Department of the company in Iganmu.
Uademevbo alleged that the accused stole 30 cartons of canned Amstel Malt valued at N69, 000.
The offences contravene Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Section 285 prescribes three years imprisonment, while 409 carries two years jail term if found guilty.
Chief Magistrate Helen Omisore, however, admitted the accused to a bail of N20,000, with one surety each in like sum.
She adjourned the case till Sept. 26 for mention.

The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) today announced a seven-member committee to represent it in dialogue with the federal government.

In an unsigned statement, the group named the members as follows:

1. CHF. (DR) ORJI UZOR KALU

2. PROF. STEVEN ODI-OWEI

3. ETIBOM (DR) ANTHONY A. ANI

4. MR. NALAGUO CHRIS ALAGOA

5. CHF. (MRS) ALICE MOBOLAJI OSOMO

6. PROF. WOLE SOYINKA (ADVISER)

7. MR. ANIENIMI BALLANTYNE AGIRI

“We trust and believe in the quality and pedegree of members of this committee,” the statement said, explaining the group had mandated its contact, Mr. Ballantyne Agirias, to constitute the seven-man team, and that the nominations were approved by the Supreme Consultative Council (SCC) of the eastern central division of the NDA

“We believe this committee shall accommodate [inputs] from personalities of oil producing communities within the region as well as outside the shores of this Nation,” it said. “The Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka who is from the South West is also a member of the approved team as advisor. He had met with briefly with President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR on the proposed dialogue weeks ago and had since been consistent in the media.”

The group expressed the hope that given the agenda for discussion, lasting peace and tranquility will return “if the people and government of Nigeria will be sincere, considerate with the spirit of love and justice to the people of the region that have sacrificed and given all for the past sixty (60) years to keep Nigeria alive and united.”

Text of the statement:

THE AVENGERS OF THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN NIGER DELTA AVENGERS SPEAKS

28th August 2016

On behalf of the Niger delta Avengers of the Central and Eastern Zones in the Niger Delta States, greets the good people of the Niger Deltans, Biafra, Nigeria and the entire world. The journey so far has been enormous, herculean, demanding and pane staking, yet we have remained resolute with reasoning and vision.

We promise our people of Niger Delta that with God Almighty on our side, we shall never let the Ijaw people down. We are only fighting against the demonic powers of oppression, slavery, injustice, extra-judicial killings, total neglect and impoverishment of oil rich region. How be it , over two months ago we partially and now have heed the clarion called to a total cease fire to dialogue on peace and development with government. We Avengers of the Central Eastern Zones comprising of Bayelsa, Rivers, Ikwa-Ibom, Cross River and Splinter from other states making up about 75% of the total fighting force reached out to and mandated Mr. Ballantyne Agirias our contact to constitute the seven men dialogue team with federal government which done and approved by the Supreme Consultative Council (SCC) of the eastern central division of the Niger Delta Avengers.

We trust and believe in the quality and pedegree of members of this committee. We believe this committee shall accommodate imputs from personalities of oil producing communities within the region as well as outside the shores of this Nation. The Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka who is from the South West is also a member of the approved team as advisor. He had met with briefly with President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR on the proposed dialogue weeks ago and had since been consistent in the media.

We truly and sincerely hope that with the agenda for discussion, lasting peace and tranquility will return if the people and government of Nigeria will be sincere, considerate with the spirit of love and justice to the people of the region that have sacrificed and given all for the past sixty (60) years to keep Nigeria alive and united.

Dialogue committee members are:

1. CHF. (DR) ORJI UZOR KALU

2. PROF. STEVEN ODI-OWEI

3. ETIBOM (DR) ANTHONY A. ANI

4. MR. NALAGUO CHRIS ALAGOA

5. CHF. (MRS) ALICE MOBOLAJI OSOMO

6. PROF. WOLE SOYINKA (ADVISER)

7. MR. ANIENIMI BALLANTYNE AGIRI

Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday, warned people of the state against voting governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Speaking with Traders’ Associations in Benin City, the state capital, Oshiomhole said antecedents had shown that Ize-Iyamu cannot be trusted with public funds.
Oshiomhole explained that he refused appointing Ize-Iyamu in 2012, after he was reappointed as governor because he could not be trusted with public funds.
According to Oshiomhole, “I didn’t appoint Ize-Iyamu because of his past record, I would not be comfortable to put government money in his hand, that is why I kept him completely out of government, I didn’t even give him a board appointment. He was part of the government that looted Edo state treasury. Don’t put the key to your kitchen in the hands of someone you don’t trust.
“Usually, a governor appoints the Director-General of his campaign after his election, but I didn’t appoint him into Government because I have his records, I do not trust him. You must know who you can use for what.”