₦airaland Forum

Embattled Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Engr Saleh Dunoma, who has been on the horns of dilemma in the past weeks for alleged misappropriation of public funds is now very sick and hospitalized in an Abuja hospital.

OrijoReporter can authoritatively report that Dunoma, who was already due for retirement, was caught unawares as records were opened at the sundown of his career to unravel shady financial deals he was alleged to be involved in during his tenure as helmsman of FAAN.

The shock that followed the invitation of Dunoma who was already looking forward for a peaceful retirement was said to have downed his health state, leading to a collapse of system and his eventual being bed ridden.

A senior staff of the agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed to our reporter that Dunoma who was rushed to the Abuja hospital in a critical condition, is already responding to treatment.

Series of financial scam ranging from contracts padding to over invoicing was said to have been the order of day under Dunoma leadership as the FAAN boss since March 2014, a development which was said to have constituted a lethal therapy for the healthy operation of the once fledgling federal parastatal.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/08/25/faan-stinks-sick-md-fingered-in-multi-million-naira-financial-scam/

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THEICON.NG

The United Bank of Africa, UBA has denied involvement in the funding of the failed coup plot in Turkey.

A Turkey-based newspaper, Yenisafak, had reported that some of those arrested in connection with the July 15, 2016 failed coup plot had told their interrogators that UBA Plc and a United States of America Army General, John F. Campbell, arranged for the funding of the coup plot.

The newspaper alleged that the funds, in the region of $2 billion, was moved from the United States of America into UBA Plc from where it was funnelled to the coup plotters.

But UBA Plc, in a statement by its Head of Communications, Charles Aigbe, denied involvement in the failed coup plot.

Aigbe said in the terse statement on Tuesday: “UBA is aware of the on-going and spurious media speculation linking our institution to recent events in Turkey. In light of this we believe it is necessary to categorically state that UBA has no involvement in or connection to these accusations, which are clearly false.

“We remain focused and firmly committed to delivering on our strategy to build Africa’s premier banking institution.”

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/07/26/uba-denies-involvement-in-turkey-coup/

Ibrahim Idris, acting inspector-general of police (IGP), has alleged that Solomon Arase, his predecessor, went away with 24 police vehicles – including an armoured BMW 7 series, while he inherited an old car.

Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Sunday, Idris said the seven deputy inspectors-general of police (DIGs), who retired with Arase, also took away between seven and eight cars each.

Idris disclosed that he had assigned an investigative team to look into the records of police vehicles for the last three years.

“A week before I was announced IG, when you look through my office window, you could see so many cars. But the cars all disappeared when I came in,” he said.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/07/18/acting-igp-arase-went-with-24-vehicles-but-i-inherited-an-old-car/

Alternative Adverts, (www.alternativeadvert.com), a fraudulent online advertising company has re-launched with new strategies to defraud the Online Media and innocent advertisers.

Sometime in February 2015, the fraudulent firm approached The ICON Online with then website URL: www.iconweekly.com, but now publishing at: www.theicon.ng and some other respectable online media to partner with them in advertising the products and services of their clients on the news portals with a monthly charge of $100 dollars.

Six months after these online media advertised, the company refused to pay them as agreed. When the representatives of the fraudulent Alternative Adverts company were contacted, they claimed to be having internal difficulties with payment and after several weeks of pressure on the company to pay, they became incommunicado.

The same company has now re-launched seeking to defraud innocent Nigerians again.

PLEASE BE WARNED, ALTERNATIVE ADVERTS COMPANY IS A FRAUD.​

The Federal Government on Tuesday extended the Eid-il-Fitr holidays to Wednesday and Thursday.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau in Abuja quoting the directive by the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, to the effect that the ‘Ramadan fast continues today (Tuesday) as a result of the non-sighting of the moon’.

Dambazau noted that the Federal Government has now declared Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th July, 2016 as Public Holiday.

READ MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/07/05/fg-extends-public-holidays-for-eid-el-fitr-celebration-till-thursday/

Nigeria’s oldest surviving business, UAC of Nigeria (UACN) Plc in conjunction with its agency, HS Media Group, a global sports conglomerate television company has announced the kickoff of a family television game show, ‘UAC Unscripted’.

According to Mr. Joe Dada, UACN executive director, Corporate Services, the idea behind this platform is to supremely identify with consumers of the company’s brands in a manner that makes them stand out and yet easily identifiable as members of the UACN Plc family.

Speaking further, Mr. Dada noted that ‘UAC Unscripted’ is aimed at promoting family virtues of love, understanding and affinity, stressing that the game show is a worthy successor to several illustrious television offerings which the company has engaged in for the past eight years.

“As the name implies, nothing is scripted in UAC Unscripted. What you find is what you get. The show will feature two celebrity families in fun-filled games that educate, entertain and stimulate family bond for the viewing audience.

READ MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/07/01/uacn-debuts-family-tv-game-show-uac-unscripted/

The chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, (FIRS), Mr. Babatude Fowler is a subject of another secret recruitment scandal as the organisation’s boss again allegedly hired another 400 new staff without due process.

Mr Fowler who was appointed the chairman of the FIRS by President Muhammadu Buhari, on August 20, 2015, is accused of not following due processes such as advertising the positions and getting the necessary approval from relevant authorities including the Federal Characters Commission.

Our investigations revealed that the FIRS boss had earlier in the year hired about 250 top level management staff under questionable circumstances to man zonal offices across the country, before this fresh 400 controversial recruitments

FOR MORE, VISIT: http://theicon.ng/2016/06/10/untouchable-firs-boss-tunde-fowler-in-another-secret-employment-scandal/

Nigerian football icon Stephen Okechukwu Keshi died suddenly in the early hours of Wednesday in Benin City, Edo state, we can report.

The former international football player and coach had lost his wife of 33 years, Kate, last year after a prolonged battle with cancer.

TheCable confirmed his death from a member of his family as well as one of his close associates.

“He was not ill at all, never showed any signs of illness, but we suspect he never got over the death of his wife,” a friend said

FOR MORE, VISIT: http://theicon.ng/2016/06/08/breaking-former-super-eagles-coach-stephen-keshi-is-dead/

Benin Electricity Distribution Plc. (BEDC) has attributed the degenerating level of electricity supply to its customers in its operational areas of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti States to low power generation received from the national grid occasioned by gas shortage due to pipeline vandalism.

This was disclosed last Friday by the company’s chief head, Edo State, Engr. Fidelis Obishai at a meeting between the company’s management team and the governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

Obishai noted that the serious drop in power generation was affecting BEDC’s ability to distribute power to customers despite its installed capacity of 800 megawatts, stressing that what it gets as a distribution company hovers between 130 and 150 megawatts daily.

“We take no joy in not giving power supply to the people but due to the present low power generation, we are constrained,” Obishai said.

On disconnected communities, Obishai disclosed that any communities affected were based on non-payment of electricity bills, adding that once the people comply, power supply would be restored immediately.

“We do not disconnect indiscriminately but those who owe debts. For instance, in Auchi, there was a violent protest that resulted in damage of nine operational vehicles and offices and there is a recorded threat to life which is a major challenge.” BEDC is very disposed to engaging such communities in dialogue on the best way to resolving such issues no matter the level of grievances,” he added.

According to him, BEDC has submitted a formal petition to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Federal Ministry of Power and the Edo State commissioner of police.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/06/04/benin-disco-attributes-poor-power-supply-to-low-generation/

PMAN, Omatsola Itseli a.k.a Tee Mac, was recently flown in handcuffs to the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, capital of Nigeria.

The incident followed the petition written against Tee Mac for alleged monumental fraud, stealing, forgery, impersonation and criminal conversion of PMAN landed property in Abuja.

Tee Mac is said to have refused to hand over PMAN property after he had ceased to be the leader of the musicians’ body since 10 years ago. He allegedly forged documents and registered the association with another name but with same acronym, with the intention to possess the piece of land which was donated to the association by the federal government many years ago during the military era.

According to documents made available to National News, the fair skinned musician approached the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2010 and successfully re-registered the association as Performing Musician Association of Nigeria, PMAN, whereas the association had since August 15, 1984 been registered as Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria, PMAN, with registration certificate number 0095.

With the personalized re-registration of the association, Tee Mac and his accomplices were able to convert the said landed property to himself via certificate of occupancy (C of O) obtained from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja dated March 24, 2010 with New Rate Number MISC 50550.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/06/03/former-pman-president-tee-mac-arrested-over-allegations-of-monumental-fraud/

Business activities were on Wednesday disrupted at the headquarters of the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) by workers accusing the agency of mismanagement and embezzlement of funds running into about N700m.

The workers are also protesting the failure of successive governments to make a pronouncement over the status of the organisation almost 16 years after President Obasanjo muted the idea of merger of Development Finance Institutions comprising NERFUND, and Bank of Industry and others.

They chanted protest songs and carried placards with several inscriptions such as “We want to know our stand before NERFUND becomes No-fund”; “End staff victimisation, we too need change”; “Executive management just go, tenure expired since 2014. Please go.”

They also claimed that although NERFUND did not make the merger, it had been left dormant since 2000 while some people in the management “feast on its meager resources”.

Addressing journalists during the protest, one of the workers who gave his name as Joseph Ngati said that the workers were also protesting the absence of a substantive Executive Management as the status of the current one is negatively affecting loan recovery efforts.

He said, “The staff members are protesting the failure of government to appoint a substantive Chief Executive to oversee affairs of the organisation after the expiration of the one-year term granted the present Executive Management that was seconded from the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation and Central Bank of Nigeria in October 2013.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/06/01/workers-ground-activities-at-nerfund-accuse-management-of-corruption/

Apostle Johnson Suleman, founder and President of Omega Fire Ministries in Auchi, Edo State, and Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, are men of God who bare their minds on crucial issues especially as they affect the nation Nigeria and their prophecies; most of them have come to reality.

The fire-spitting preachers spoke to The ICON Managing Director, JULIUS AKPOVIRE-ENYEH in Lagos on Sunday May 15, 2016 on burning issues in the country, why they are spearheading a national Peace Prayer conference for Nigeria, amongst others. Apostle Suleman, while lamenting on the poor governance of President Buhari, said ‘I cried when I heard that fuel is now N145 per litre’. Excerpts.

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There are many prophets in Nigeria today, why did you decide to partner with Apostle Johnson Suleman?

PRIMATE AYODELE: Yes, as rightly said, there are many prophets in the world today, but there are prophets and there are prophets. Apostle Suleman is one man I respect so much because he is a man of integrity, whom nobody can keep his mouth shut with dollars or pounds, Euro or naira. I have always told people that even I cannot lead the Christian Association of Nigeria but when I prayed, I saw the leadership skill in Apostle Suleman; even as I am talking to you now, he doesn’t like it but I want to tell the whole world that we have found a man who fears God and understands what it takes to lead the Christendom in Nigeria. This is a man who takes care of the underprivileged, widows… their pains is his pain. Apostle Suleman is one man whom I share the same vision with but I must confess, he is doing more than us. I don’t belong to the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN neither the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, but the day Apostle Suleman belongs and takes over the mantle of leadership of CAN, I will join. In fact, he may not know, I will say this today and he may not be happy but he is just the only one among the millions who can really lead. Apostle Suleman is a man whom God has chosen to lead the Christendom. Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the current president has failed the Christendom. Pastor Oritsejafor is speaking on his own, not on behalf of the Christendom. For instance, Governor Nasir El-Rufai is presently kicking against Christians and the gospel, have you heard Pastor Oritsejafor make any comment? What about the killing of Christians, have you heard him speak? As far as I’m concerned, Pastor Oritsejafor speaks for himself. If you want to mention names of those whom God has impacted through Apostle Suleman spiritually, financially, socially, you will lose count. Apostle Suleman is ‘God’s General’ indeed. Pastor Oritsejafor has failed the Christendom physically, economically and spiritually. I must let you know that nobody introduced Apostle Suleman to me, we met at a programme and we fell in love with ourselves. Most especially, we share the same vision; and this is how dead lives can be resurrected to work again. I am in Lagos, he is based in Auchi, but one thing that baffles me is that our prophesies are always the same. I always tell people that I don’t have friends, Apostle Suleman is the only friend I have; he is my spiritual, physical and social friend. Recall, he talked about removal of fuel subsidy, the passing away of Mrs. Awolowo, Ooni of Ife and so many others which I also mentioned earlier this year.



Sir, you said Apostle Suleman is the right man to lead the Christendom. Can you say you have spoken the mind of God?

PRIMATE AYODELE: Yes, that is the mind of God. I am not speaking the mind of Apostle Suleman because he is not ready.



You and Apostle Suleman are spearheading a national prayer summit for Nigeria. What prompted this?

PRIMATE AYODELE: In this critical state of the nation Nigeria, prayer is just the only way out. We are not doing it to make money, No! But all we are after is for a true change in Nigeria. I must confess, Nigeria seriously needs God’s intervention. The programme is coming up on third Saturday or Sunday of July in Auchi, Edo State. We are not doing this to seek the president or anyone’s attention, all we are asking God for is His intervention in Nigeria. We are not writing any letter to CAN nor PFN, we are just doing what God has laid in our hearts.


FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/06/01/apc-is-a-scam-apostle-suleman-primate-ayodele-explode/

Over 5000 participants across the globe from the local and international payment community, top government agencies have indicated interest [Signed up] for this year’s edition of the biggest Card, e-Payment and Identification Exhibition in Africa, tagged: CBN CASHLESS CARDEXPOAFRICA 2016

The annual event organized by Intermarc Consulting Limited, seeks to provide opportunity where ecommerce platforms, banks, telco’s, payment companies, government agencies and large retailers learn about, evaluate and purchase the latest smart solutions, payment and banking technologies which will transport their businesses to the zenith.

According to the organisers of the conference, Intermarc Consulting Limited, this year’s conference which is the 16th edition will have special focus on retail payment and e-commerce.

General Manager, Intermarc Consulting, Lilian Ekwedike, said that the 3-day forum aims at aggregating major players along the e-commerce value-chain and presenting cutting edge solutions and services that will drive African economy.

‘It’s designed to connect people with the leading players in the retail payment and ecommerce sector. The conference will focus on new users as well as the service delivery strategies that would deliver the future of retail payments and e-commerce.”

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/06/01/over-5000-participants-for-2016-cbn-cashless-cardexpo-in-lagos/

Lucky Omoluwa, the suave and level headed Chairman of Pinnacle Communications Limited comes to people differently. To some he is that business icon who sure knows his onions while to some others he is one bloke who is addicted to the game of golf.

This may not be far from the truth as he has literally conquered the business sector and also a golf buff. He is a member of the IBB Golf Club.

One thing you cannot take away from this Delta State egghead is that he carries out his duties with perfection and this is largely responsible for his being bestowed with baskets of local and international awards

Recently, the quintessential entrepreneur was singled out among his numerous peers by the Nigeria Advancement Summit and Awards for the award of Entrepreneur of the year 2015.

This honour did not come by the stroke of luck as his pedigree speaks volume.

Not only that, there is a lot about the taciturn entrepreneur that really steals under your skin. His towering disposition is unequaled.

Omoluwa, who is widely described as a mesmerizing maestro of the broadcast communications industry by industry watchers navigates a personal cultural universe uneasy to caricature or deride as too pedestrian or elitist.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/06/01/real-reasons-why-lucky-omoluwa-is-winning-laurels/

– Call on FG to Investigate

– Lament Over Non-payment of Entitlements



Former employees of Nigerian conglomerate, BUA Group, have called on the federal government to investigate the company over its alleged indulgence in foreign exchange (forex) round tripping and tax evasion.

The group of disengaged employees of the company also, last week, crippled the Victoria Island Head office of the company, over alleged unpaid benefits following the sale its subsidiary to Olam Group.

The protesting former workers of BUA led by one Akasan Sylvester, accused the company of its Chief Executives, Mr. Abdulsamad Rabiu, of active involvement in illegal diversion of Nigeria’s scarce foreign exchange.

According to them, “BUA’s actions are tantamount to money laundering and economic sabotage.

The chairman of BUA boldly boasted of how he has been funding various investments and assets outside Nigeria with foreign exchange from his offshore company. It was this claim that made us suspicious and we decided to investigate these his so called offshore sources of foreign exchange”.

“What we found was that over a period of time, BUA collected huge amounts of forex from the CBN through Form M to open LCs to fund the construction of multi-million dollar plants for flour, noodles spaghetti and sugar at various locations like Port Harcourt, Kano, Apapa and Kirikiri. They now went on to transfer all these assets to an offshore company, Amber Foods which he formed as a special purpose vehicle for this purpose.

FOR MORE, VISIT: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/31/ex-employees-accuse-bua-boss-abdulsamad-rabiu-of-forex-round-tripping-tax-evasion/

Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG) Mr Etekamba Umoren, is torn between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Reason: He has been roped into the N24billion allegedly released by the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison Madueke, for onward distribution to members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state to influence the outcome of last year’s presidential poll in favour of former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

The state government scribe was the Chief of Staff to the former governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio, when the sludge funds were rooted through his office for the prosecution of the polls which Jonathan lost.

The anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at its Port-Harcourt office, drilled on the whereabouts of the sum of N450 million he allegedly got from ex-minister, Diezani Alison Madueke.

EFCC is presently investigating how the sum of N2.4 billion was distributed by former oil minister Alison-Madueke to different state chapters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to facilitate the bribery of election officials ahead of the general election in 2015.

A former military governor of the state, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd) was recently questioned on the allegations that he signed and collected the N450m cash believed to have been sent to Akwa Ibom PDP, accusations he had debunked.

Nkanga was quoted as saying that the money was taken to Government House, Uyo, and delivered to Etekamba Umoren who was chief of staff to former Governor Godswill Akpabio , now a minority leader in the senate.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/06/01/efcc-quizzes-akwa-ibom-ssg-umoren-over-n450m-slush-funds/

– Call on FG to Investigate

– Lament Over Non-payment of Entitlements



Former employees of Nigerian conglomerate, BUA Group, have called on the federal government to investigate the company over its alleged indulgence in foreign exchange (forex) round tripping and tax evasion.

The group of disengaged employees of the company also, last week, crippled the Victoria Island Head office of the company, over alleged unpaid benefits following the sale its subsidiary to Olam Group.

The protesting former workers of BUA led by one Akasan Sylvester, accused the company of its Chief Executives, Mr. Abdulsamad Rabiu, of active involvement in illegal diversion of Nigeria’s scarce foreign exchange.

According to them, “BUA’s actions are tantamount to money laundering and economic sabotage.

The chairman of BUA boldly boasted of how he has been funding various investments and assets outside Nigeria with foreign exchange from his offshore company. It was this claim that made us suspicious and we decided to investigate these his so called offshore sources of foreign exchange”.

“What we found was that over a period of time, BUA collected huge amounts of forex from the CBN through Form M to open LCs to fund the construction of multi-million dollar plants for flour, noodles spaghetti and sugar at various locations like Port Harcourt, Kano, Apapa and Kirikiri. They now went on to transfer all these assets to an offshore company, Amber Foods which he formed as a special purpose vehicle for this purpose.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/31/ex-employees-accuse-bua-boss-abdulsamad-rabiu-of-forex-round-tripping-tax-evasion/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has begun investigations into the roles of the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, in the $115m (N23bn) disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.

The EFCC also grilled a former Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Chief David Edevbie; and a former state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party Chairman, Chief Edwin Uzor, for their alleged roles in the scam.

According to detectives in the anti-graft agency, the ‘Delta share’ of the money, which was N450m, was withdrawn from the Nnebisi branch of the Bank in Delta State and handed over to Uduaghan.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/21/efcc-investigates-ex-delta-gov-uduaghan-over-n23bn-diezani-bribe/

A UK probe into suspected bribery at Rolls-Royce, the engineering group, has spread to Nigeria in the latest blow to a company already facing investigations in multiple countries.

Britain’s Serious Fraud Office is examining Rolls-Royce’s former energy operations in the oil-rich west African state, as part of a wider inquiry that also covers Brazil, Indonesia and China, the Financial Times has learnt.
The addition of Nigeria underscores the seriousness of allegations against Rolls-Royce and highlights the growing focus by western investigators on suspected misconduct by businesses outside their home states.

The expanded probe comes as Rolls-Royce seeks to re-establish credibility with investors after five profit warnings in less than two years. It also throws light on another side to graft problems in countries such as Nigeria, which David Cameron, UK prime minister, unguardedly declared to be “fantastically corrupt” in remarks overheard last week.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/20/ex-delta-speaker-victor-ochei-in-trouble-over-bribery-allegation/

A federal high court sitting in Lagos, southwest Nigeria has authorized the Attorney General of Federation to commence the prosecution of a Lagos business man Innocent Chukwuma, his company Innoson Nigeria Limited and four others for alleged forgery offences.

The ruling of the presiding judge, Saliu Saidu was based on an application filed before the court by Federal Ministry of Justice that the Attorney General of the Federation has taken over the prosecution of the accused persons which the prosecutor from the office of the Inspector General of Police objected.

However after listening to the submission of the counsel of the two parties, the court decided the Attorney General of the Federation should go ahead with the prosecution of the accused persons.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/19/innoson-boss-five-others-in-forgery-scandal/

Multi-billion dollar maritime behemoth, INTELS appears to be deep in a sizzling issue of illegality and impunity. Three Oil and Gas Free Zones, -the Oil and Gas Free Zones in Warri Port Complex, Eko Support Services (ESS) Lagos and Brass Oil and Gas City, Brass Island, Bayelsa State, all multi billion naira projects have now been discovered to have been established without the backing of the law. And INTELS is alleged to be the big, unseen hand behind these free zones.

The Oil and Gas Free Zones, Warri Port Complex, ESS and Brass were established by the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA) but experts have stated clearly that OGFZA does not have the statutory power to set up a free zone beyond Onne and Ikpokiri area of Rivers State.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/17/intels-in-illegal-free-zones-controversy/

The biggest Card, e-Payment and Identification Exhibition in Africa, tagged: CBN CASHLESS CARDEXPO is set to hold the 16th edition at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.

Organisers of the annual card conference and exhibition, Intermarc Consulting Limited said that this year’s edition will have special focus on retail payment and e-commerce.

The event which is slated for 14th to 16th of June is with the theme: ‘Retail Payment and E-Commerce.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, General Manager, Intermarc Consulting, Lilian Ekwedike, said that the 3-day forum aims at aggregating major players along the e-commerce value-chain and presenting cutting edge solutions and services that will drive African economy.

“CardExpo Africa Exhibition continues its tradition of showcasing the most exciting developments in the payment sector. With a variety of new innovative technologies, it has never been more important to keep pace with industry developments. With banks, cards scheme and newer entrants all vying their place at the centre of the ecosystem, this must attend event will provide insightful takeaways from the industry”. Lilian noted.

Top government agencies; over 50 companies, including banks, Card companies from the local and international payment community have thrown their weight behind the event.

The organizers also announced that banks and card companies have the opportunity to win in different award categories in the 2016 cardexpo awards.

To vote, please visit the conference website: www.cardatmandmobilexpo.com and click on the ‘Card Expo Awards’ tab or Visit: http://cardatmandmobilexpo.com/voting-form/.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/17/cbn-cashless-cardexpo-africa-holds-june-14-to-focus-on-retail-payment/

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has said that President Mohammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) were playing Nigerians Advanced Fee Fraud over the removal of fuel subsidy and increment of pump price from N86.50 to N145 per litre, describing the increment as wickedness taken too far and asking; “was the federal government paying up to N58.50 as subsidy on one litre of petrol before now?”

Governor Fayose, who reiterated his call on Nigerians, especially the labour movement to resist what he called “this wicked act of President Buhari and his party”, added that; “those who opposed removal of fuel subsidy in 2012 and funded the Occupy Nigeria protest must not be allowed to get away with this imposition of hardship on Nigerians now that they are in power.”

He said labour unions, civil society organisations and other well-meaning Nigerians should stand up and be counted at this crucial time in the life of the common people of Nigeria, adding that “there is no justification for the increment at this period when government is not paying salaries regularly, Nigerians are losing their jobs daily, prices of foodstuffs have gone over the roof and life has become so difficult for the common people. To labour Nigerians with this increment is wickedness taken too far!”

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; “In 2012 when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan removed fuel subsidy and increased petrol price to N141 per litre, crude oil was selling at $111 per barrel. How then can petrol price be increased to N145 per litre when crude oil is now selling at $40 per barrel?

READ MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/12/fuel-price-increment-is-buharis-wickedness-taken-too-far-its-fraudulent-fayose/

-By Anthony Kolawole

“Your subscription to The Guardian monthly has been renewed successfully and 150.00 deducted from your account. Your service will be renewed on 2016-05-31. To cancel, text NO TGM to 4900. Thank you!” That was one of the frequent and obtrusive SMS that delivered to my phone from my service provider, MTN on my mobile number: 080330027… Was that a problem? Yes. The problem was that I never subscribed to any ‘Guardian Monthly’ news alert and the bigger problem was that N150 was deducted from my voice call balance.

At N150 per week, I was going to be losing N7, 800.00 to MTN just for this rogue service each year. So many Nigerians are also victims of this thief, called MTN. If I multiply that by ten out of the more than 37 other short codes that send me unsolicited offers every other fifteen minutes then I stand to lose anything in the vicinity of N78,000 each year and that is minus the caller tunes that can be accidentally subscribed to.

Following the direction given, I sent ‘NO TGM to 4900’ and the response I got was “you are not

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/11/subscribers-beware-how-mtn-defrauds-nigerians-of-millions-of-naira-daily/

-By Anthony Kolawole

“Your subscription to The Guardian monthly has been renewed successfully and 150.00 deducted from your account. Your service will be renewed on 2016-05-31. To cancel, text NO TGM to 4900. Thank you!” That was one of the frequent and obtrusive SMS that delivered to my phone from my service provider, MTN on my mobile number: 080330027… Was that a problem? Yes. The problem was that I never subscribed to any ‘Guardian Monthly’ news alert and the bigger problem was that N150 was deducted from my voice call balance.

At N150 per week, I was going to be losing N7, 800.00 to MTN just for this rogue service each year. So many Nigerians are also victims of this thief, called MTN. If I multiply that by ten out of the more than 37 other short codes that send me unsolicited offers every other fifteen minutes then I stand to lose anything in the vicinity of N78,000 each year and that is minus the caller tunes that can be accidentally subscribed to.

Following the direction given, I sent ‘NO TGM to 4900’ and the response I got was “you are not a subscriber of requested SMS Alert Service. To Know About More Services, Please Type HELP and send it to 3307*.” Yet, my N150 remained deducted.

Contacting MTN network provider’s customer care via the online chat platform was a lesson in time wasting. Ifeoma at the other end of the chat maintained or feigned that sense of helplessness throughout the duration of the exchange. I simply terminated the chat and resolved to never use that line again since I have been similarly debited for a caller tune I didn’t order as well as countless other deductions that I didn’t know of until I notice an unusual speed at which my remaining airtime balance is depleted.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/11/subscribers-beware-how-mtn-defrauds-nigerians-of-millions-of-naira-daily/

The mystery behind the death of Ronke Shonde at Egbeda, Lagos suburb is just beginning as the husband has revealed that he overheard the wife telling the lover boy that she enjoyed the sex they had.

He explained that he was not responsible for the death of the wife despite her infidelity.

Lekan Shonde, who handed himself over to the Lagos State Police Rapid Response Squadron Monday added that the wife provoked him with her wayward sexual escapade culminating to her death.

Shonke said that the wife, Ronke had travelled with her lover boy to Abuja where she slept with her in a hotel, saying that her illicit sexual acts with the General Manager of a publishing company threatened their eight years old marriage.

Lekan, it was learnt works as a depot worker in the Apapa while the wife worked in GT bank until she was retrenched about three years ago.

Regretting marrying Ronke against his mother’s advice, he explained that his late mother never wanted the union but had to go ahead with the marriage because of the love he has for the woman.

The marriage blessed with two kids of six and four years old children, the couple lived like cat and dog with reported domestic abuses until last week when the man was alleged to have killed the wife and locked her inside the house with the two kids.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/10/my-wife-ronke-was-promiscuous-told-lover-she-enjoyed-sex-they-had-husband/

Following persistent enquires from a section of the media, the Chairman of Skye Bank Plc. and NATCOM, Dr. Olatunde Ayeni has dispelled the speculation that he has interest in an Oil Company called, Auctus Integrated.
Auctus Integrated is one of the companies allegedly mentioned in the $115 million fund said to have been paid into Fidelity Bank Plc. at the instance of the former Minister of Petroleum resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison – Madueke.
In a Press statement signed by Ademola Adedoyin, Special Adviser, Corporate Communications to Dr. Olatunde Ayeni, the alleged link with Auctus Integrated was described as “unfounded and without an iota of truth.”

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/04/i-have-no-link-with-auctus-integrated-olatunde-ayeni-skye-bank-chairman/

The Director General of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) Chinelo Anohu-Amaz has been accused of running the commission like a personal property even as many senior staffs want the president to remove her from office.

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) was established by the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 and later PRA 2014 to ensure effective administration of the Nigerian Pension Industry. It has been empowered by the PRA 2014 to superintend on all pension matters in Nigeria including supervision and regulation of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and the old Defined Benefits (DB) Scheme as well as the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

The crisis, which has lingered for some time, is now worsening as senior management staff of the organization are no longer comfortable with the leadership of Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, who they claim has broken every rule in the book since she assumed office as Director-General of the organization.

Findings at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja have revealed that besides allegations of conflict of interest and sundry abuses, Pencom insiders are particularly miffed at Director-General’s continued use of contacts in high places to run rough shod over everyone and every principle of neutral and effective pension administration as a regulator.

They are baffled that this could be going on under the present administration.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/03/pencom-boss-anohu-amazu-under-fire-over-maladministration/

That Guinness Nigeria has been around for a while is stating the obvious but time has proved that there are likely no talents among decision makers of the brewing giant as unresolved management crisis is presently denting its image.
Instead of perfecting its brands, Guinness Nigeria is trying to ‘produce a baby in one month by getting nine women pregnant’ by introducing new product lines despite pestilences that is presently ravaging most of its brands.

Information at our disposal has it that Guinness Nigeria is presently plagued with management crisis that might send it to grave soon. The crisis according to an insider started in July 2014 when Monica Peach was made the Human Resources Director. Though the appointment was frown at by members of staffs, the management hid under the pretense that she’ll only spend a year before a Nigerian will take over.

Almost immediately she settled down at the new office, Monica came with policies that the staffs union mopes. Findings revealed that among several of the policies is that staffs medicals should cover just the staff and two other members of his/her family, which means any staffs with two kids, he/she not covered with free medicals. Most recently, she led the exercise that evicted over 500 staffs among which are 10 directors, 40 senior managers. The sack exercise was badly managed that the staff Union protested with the warning to cripple production if all staffs affected were not call back.

FOR MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/03/fresh-crisis-rocks-guinness-nigeria-plc/

Wealth owned by former Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Hakeem Belo-Osagie, is domiciled in trusts and shell companies in some notorious tax havens around the world, with some in Jersey in the Channel Islands.

The Channel Islands are a tax haven and an archipelago in the English Channel, off the French Coast of Normandy.

Mr. Belo-Osagie, now Chairman of Etisalat Nigeria, was listed by Forbes Magazine as the 41st richest man in Africa with a net worth of $600 million as at November 2014.

One of the tax-haven Trusts in Jersey is known as the Belo-Osagie Trust 2 which actually is a front office for a shell company called Clerkenwell Management Limited.


MORE AT: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/02/panama-papers-etisalat-chairman-hakeem-belo-osagie-secret-assets-uncovered/

Leicester City have won the Premier League title in one of the greatest sporting stories of all time.

Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea on Monday confirmed a stunning achievement for Claudio Ranieri’s side.

Leicester started the campaign as 5,000-1 outsiders for the title after almost being relegated last season.

But they have lost just three league games in what has been described as a “fairytale” and the “most unlikely triumph in the history of team sport”.

Closest challengers Spurs, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and last year’s champions Chelsea, have all failed to match the Foxes’ consistency across the season.

Former Leicester, Everton and England striker Gary Lineker described his hometown team’s achievement as “the biggest sporting shock of my lifetime”.

MORE: http://theicon.ng/2016/05/02/leicester-city-wins-premier-league-title-after-tottenham-draw-at-chelsea/