Chimamanda Adichie has received the 2018 PEN Pinter prize for her outstanding work of literary merit that has defined the truth in human lives and societies.
The critically acclaimed author received the coveted prize at an award-giving ceremony, which took place at the British Library in the United Kingdom, on Tuesday.
Adichie was selected by this year’s judges, Inua Ellams, Philippe Sands, Antonia Fraser and Chair of English PEN and Chair of Judges, Maureen Freely.
In her acceptance, Adichie said she feels honoured to have received the prize, which was established in 2009 in memory of the Nobel-winning playwright Harold Pinter.
“I admired Harold Pinter’s talent, his courage, his lucid dedication to telling his truth, and I am honoured to be given an award in his name,” she said.
At the ceremony, Adichie named Waleed Abulkhair, a lawyer and human rights activist, as the 2018 International Writer of Courage, a title awarded by the PEN Pinter winner each year.
Congratulating the Saudi Arabian lawyer and activist, she said: I am proud to share this year’s PEN Pinter Prize with activist, lawyer and writer Waleed Abulkhair.
“Waleed has dedicated his life to holding the Saudi authorities accountable for human rights abuses. He has dedicated his life to speaking out, to supporting the victims of those abuses.
“Waleed, like Harold Pinter, has shown a lucid dedication to telling his truth. But rather than being lauded for this dedication, Waleed has paid a heavy price – 15 years behind bars.
“I am deeply proud to share this prize with Waleed and I hope that this small act of solidarity will bring him some comfort, and will remind him that his struggle has not been forgotten, nor will it be in vain.”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been honored with the Special Distinction for Thought Leadership award by the Global Hope Coalition (GHC).

The award-winning author was honoured during the GHC’s 2018 Annual Awards Dinner in New York City on Thursday.

Ms. Adichie was recognized for the impact of her work in shaping global conversations bordering on feminism, race, and North/South relations.

Her award was presented by award-winning producer and philanthropist Ms. Francine LeFrak, with CNN Lead Political Anchor, Wolf Blitzer as host.

No less than 500 guests from different spheres including but not limited to business, government, philanthropy, the arts, education and human rights were in attendance.

As a highlight of the 2018 Awards Dinner, five individuals from Tunisia, Denmark, France, Sudan, and Mali were recognized as 2018 Heroes of the Global Campaign Against Extremism and Intolerance.

The 2018 dinner served as a special tribute to leaders and organizations that have reacted with compassion and dignity to refugee crises in different parts of the world.

Special Distinctions for Leadership were presented to H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou, President of Niger, H.E. Beji Caid Essebsi, President of Tunisia (represented by Mr. Khemaies Jhinaoui, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia), H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and H.E. Alexis Tsipras, Prime Minister of Greece.

In addition to Ms. Adichie’s award, individual awards were presented to The Honorable Fouad Makhzoumi (member of the Lebanese Parliament), the International Rescue Committee / Sesame Workshop, and leading Turkish philanthropist Ms. Demet Sabancı Çetindoğan.

The Global Hope Coalition (GHC), established in 2016, is a network of four not-for-profit foundations based in New York, Zurich and Hong Kong.

The Coalition aims to empower courageous “Everyday Heroes” who stand up to terror, violence, and intolerance, and to recognize those whose efforts preserve our cultural heritage and build bridges across cultures.
[b][/b]

It is sad, but I think some of the solutions shared above would be helpful.

Yes, Airtel still remains the best, other networks like MTN and 9 Mobile still do the same. just use the codes for DO NOT DISTURB

I have watched the video, does it really happen? Is the App that helpful?

Please who can tell me a bank that can do FOREX transfer right from my phone, most times I have needs for this…although someone suggested that Keystone Bank App can do it? Has anyone tried it? I just need to be sure before I do?

One of the hardest things you may ever have to do in life is to deliver an apology. Many people say “I’m sorry” thoughtlessly and heedlessly because they want to move on or have their own way. Sadly this waters down the value of apologies everywhere, which means that when it’s time to apologize to someone you care about, you may struggle to make that person trust your sincerity.

Nonetheless, there is nothing quite like a sincere, heartfelt apology to mend a broken relationship and pave the way to a brighter future.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, March 23, 2018 in Abuja at a forum that had in attendance many of the political juggernauts and founding fathers of the party, apologised to Nigerians for the mistakes the party made while in power for sixteen years.

The National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, made the apology at a public national discourse on “Contemporary Governance in Nigeria. On behalf of the party, Secondus apologised to Nigerians for impunity, imposition of candidates and other mistakes made in the past.

Prince Uche Seondus assured that under his watch, there would be no imposition of candidates or any form of impunity in the party’s activities. “I hereby, as the National Chairman, do admit that the PDP made a lot of mistakes; we are humans, not spirits and the ability to admit is key in moving forward.

“We admit that we have made several mistakes; we have passed through all our challenges and have acquired the experience no other party can boast of. We were sanctioned by Nigerians at the polls in 2015; let me use this opportunity to apologise for our past mistakes. It is the honest thing to do, a legacy to transfer to our children; we cannot continue like that.

“When we make mistakes, we should come out boldly to the people and apologise. “It is important to do so because we have learnt from our mistakes unlike the All Progressive Congress (APC) that will make mistakes and lie to cover it.

“We apologise to Nigerians that we have made mistakes, we have learnt our lessons and we are ready to begin on a new agenda; experience is the best teacher, no other party has it,” Secondus said.

While watching the live transmission of the event on Channels Television, I saw a Prince Uche Secondus who looked forlorn in his very ‘impressive’ welcome speech that set the tone for discussion. He moves around with the garrulousness of a revolutionalist. But I also saw, obviously shocked party members when Secondus uttered that expression ‘apologise’. Reason because it was not a word found in the dictionary of the Nigerian politics.

Nigerian political leaders and those in public office don’t admit error, they don’t apologise for their mistakes nor would they resign their office in the face of failure.

Secondus must be coming from a different planet; far from the arrogant character of the PDP of yester years. Fresh in mind was the boastfulness of the former National Chairman of the Party (PDP) Chief Vincent Ogbulafor who on December 11, 2014, predicted after probably consulting his crystal ball that PDP would be in power till 2059 A.D.

The failure of the PDP, the acclaimed largest political party in Africa which ruled the largest black nation in the world for 16 years, was so loud that it cast dark shadow over the Nigerian political space; and made her a subject of jibes in the committee of nations.

On March 28, 2015, Nigerians expressed their civil rights; the right to choose which party and which leaders should rule over them. They voted out the Peoples Democratic Party and voted in the All Progressive Party (APC).

Nigeria moved into a new political era with lots of promises and hope for CHANGE in our social economic and political lives. Unfortunately, the word ‘Change’, which was then the socio political mantra of the new ruling party, APC, has today become an oxymoron which means change from bad to worse; leaving much lessons for Nigerians to learn.

Under the APC, never had Nigerians been so divided in our polity, never had the nation suffered such wanton destruction of lives and properties with bloodletting every day, never had our collective will been so abused and our national security threatened; and never had we suffered such an economic regression which Nigerians are still grappling with despite “technically exiting” the recession as explained by the Minister for Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun. Also, Nigerians were never known to commit suicide but under the ruling APC government, we have witnessed so much suicide as a result of economic depression among Nigerians.
The Global anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International ranked Nigeria low in its 2017 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released in February 2018. Nigeria was ranked 148th position out of 180, the lowest score of the country on the index in recent years and a figure lower than the average in the Sub-Saharan region.
Today, the question on the lips of millions of Nigerians home and in the Diaspora is “how did we get it wrong?” This has led to high pitched narratives and questioning around our corporate existence as a nation and why we must restructure.

While looking for the answer to the question on ‘how did we get it wrong?’, leaders of thoughts in different social strata and our past political leaders are now coming up with different political alignments, permutations and strategies to rescue the nation from the brink of obvious collapse.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his infamous letter to President Muhammadu Buhari early this year, summed up Nigerians’ frustration in the APC leadership which he condemned as failure. Another Ex-Military President Badamasi Babangida has also decried the poor performance of the ruling party. The latest outburst of the former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Danjuma calling for the people of his home state in Taraba, to defend themselves against the incessant attacks and killings allegedly by the Fulani herdsmen, are all indications of a failed system under the APC government.

Less than 12 months to the next general elections, Nigerians would once again have the opportunity to express their power to choose which political parties and which political leaders would have their mandate.

Unfortunately, there is a palpable hopelessness presently being expressed as there seems to be no better option to choose between the two formidable political parties; the APC and the PDP, and among the over 60 registered political parties.

Political Analysts and social commentators are wont to say that the three years of woes of Nigerians under the APC led government is worse than the miseries experienced under the sixteen years of PDP profligacy.

So, would the public apology of the Prince Uche Secondus’ led National Working Committee, be enough to show that the PDP is ready to regain its lost glory?

Fortunately, the continuous slide of the Buhari led APC administration, and the steady progression of the PDP’s strategic communications trajectory to Rebuild, Reposition and Regain, has begun to provide opportunity for the political public to engage their cognitive minds and read between the lines.

Commenting on the PDP’s open apology, the Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Yobe, Alhaji Umar Kukuri, on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 said the admittance of past mistakes by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was healthy for Nigeria’s democracy. He was speaking to newsmen in Damaturu that the admittance of shortcomings by the party was a sign of political maturity and could create confidence in the electorate. “When you have glaring shortcomings, there is no point denying and insisting that you are right; the admittance of shortcomings indicates political maturity and democratic growth in the party. “The admittance of PDP to its past mistakes has turned a new page in the political life of the party” Kukuru applauded.

Not apologizing because it is hard or because you have received empty apologies in the past is no excuse for not following through and doing it now. And even if you have no idea if your apology will be accepted or forgiveness will be offered, saying you are sorry can help to cleanse your soul.

According to Secondus, when things are not positive and the mindset is negative, it is then time to reset it.
He said that the public discourse was an ample opportunity for the party members to collectively “press the reset button’’ and set a new agenda for the nation. According to him, there was too much power at the party’s National Headquarters, and going forward, power will be devolved to the wards, states and zones.

The chairman said that candidates did not need to come to the headquarters to canvass for votes, adding that power and votes now resided at the grassroots. He said “what went wrong in the past was part of evolution and the PDP at 20 is more matured to deliver on the wants of Nigerians.’’ He disclosed that the new agenda was to move the party from what it used to be to what it should be.

Much as Secondus’ well-crafted speech sounds in the ear, would apology be enough for Nigerians to trust the party and give it their mandate?

In its reaction, through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the APC submitted that though the apology is a welcome development, the PDP has not shown enough remorse for Nigerians to forgive them, adding that PDP was only trying to deceive Nigerians so as to reclaim power.
“It is good that they have finally accepted but now that they are willing to atone for their sins, they must have to spend sufficient time in the trajectory to show that they are truly repentant.
“Again, they have to wait for Nigerians to forgive them before they can even begin to dream of coming back to power’, Abdullahi admonished.
Sacrifice is at the heart of repentance. Without deeds, your apology is worthless. Is Secondus speaking the minds of his party men? Are they ready for the rebirth? Would they imbibe the party’s founding fathers values and principles of “No imposition, no impunity, good governance, transparency, accountability, internal democracy, justice and equity? These are questions that the party must clearly answer before the next general elections.
What Secondus and his new team are saying is that It is about time the party enforces those values that its founding fathers stands for by returning Power back to the people as well as grow democracy in the New Nigeria.

However, in 2010, when Dr. Okwesilessi Nwodo emerged the National Chairman of the PDP, he came up with so much energy reminiscent of a reformer, just like Secondus who happens to be his tribe man. Nwodo within a little period that he reigned was able to achieve so much in his efforts at reforming the party driving the conversation with a theme “Restoring Our True Values”. Unfortunately, the party men at that time were not ready to be reformed and follow Nwodo’s political order. Eventually he was consumed by the unrepentant party goons at that time.

Today, we are witnessing a repentant PDP under Prince Uche Secondus, a man that has been described as scandal free with a strong desire to change the paradigm. Secondus promised to give opportunity to everybody especially the youth class and women members, and ultimately lead the party to victory in 2019 general elections. But the power to choose who rule in 2019 belongs to the Nigerian electorate who are right now watching the scene.


By
Omoba Adetola Odusote anipr, arpa


Odusote, a media and public affairs analyst, works with Re-Ignite Public Affairs Limited, Lagos

Airtel Nigeria has toppled Globacom to become the second largest telecommunications service provider in Nigeria in terms of the number of active subscribers for telephony services.

This is contained in Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) industry statistics report published for the month of January analyzed by TheNewsGuru.

The data showed a marginal difference of 98,561 that an industry expert has said has a lot of significance in the telecoms industry, especially owing to the fact that it is the first time in a period of twenty months Glo would be dislodged from the second spot.

The statistics showed that while the number of active subscribers on Airtel is now 38,326,579 raking in 26.10% of the GSM market share, the number of subscribers on Glo is 38,228,018 (26.03%) and that of 9mobile is 16,867,579 (11.49%), with MTN retaining top spot with a total of 53,442,969 (36.39%) number of active subscribers.

TheNewsGuru reports the statistics also revealed that Internet users in the country increase to 100.2 million in January, from 98.4 million in December 2017.

The data showed an increase of 1.9 million new subscribers in the country.

Airtel and MTN gained more internet subscribers during the month in review, while Glo and 9mobile were the big losers.

The breakdown revealed that MTN gained the most with over 1 million new internet users increasing its subscription in January to over 37 million from 36 million recorded in December 2017.

Airtel also gained 84,269 new internet users in January amounting to about 25 million users as against about 24 million users in December 2017

9mobile, however, lost 60,652 internet users in January, decreasing its subscription to 11,278,187 as against 11,338,839 recorded in December 2017.

The data showed in January, Globacom lost 70,701, showing a loss of 26,927,116, from 26,997.817 recorded in December 2017.

[b][/b]

Our attention has been drawn to a publication by Osun State Government demanding apology from Senator Iyiola Omisore over his comments on road named after Osun state workers.
The state government, basking in the euphoria of it's theatre of absurdity called Osun state Workers Drive in a press statement signed by the commissioner for information and strategy Mr Adelani Baderinwa was asking Otunba Omisore to apologise for standing on the side of the suffering workers in the state.
We hereby ask unequivocally that on what basis should Omisore apologise to this government?
Should Omisore apologise to a government that had received so much with little or nothing to show for it? Instead of apology, we demand response to the following facts from Aregbesola:

In almost eight years of his reign in Osun state as a governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had received over #920b as statutory allocation to the state.
Despite receiving this humongous amount, his administration in has little or nothing to show to justify this stupefying amount.

The recent theatre of absurdity being displayed with glee over #1.6b road named after hungry and dying workers of the state is not something that should be trivialised with a demand for apology because this project itself has set tongues wagging over the huge funds that has accrued to the state so far and how it has been spent.

To say that the present administration in the state is the most prodigious since the creation of the state is to say the obvious.

Few instances will suffice to expose the high level of kleptomania going on under the watch of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State.

It's in the public domain and generally accepted that #8.6b was wasted in the state over the scam called opon imo. Today there's nothing to justify that staggering mount spent on the project, a contract awarded to Kabiru, the first son of the governor.
Another capital flight by this administration under the guise of executing projects is the garment factory allegedly owned by the governor's wife. This bizarre project killed the once flourishing business of school uniform cloth sellers which has been a source of income to many families in the state. Yet it was designed to scam the people of the state.

Osun state Airport is another one in the series of scams (gbaju e) and probably the highest by the regime of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. The sum of #60b has so far been spent on this project which is still at its taking off stage, up till now there's nothing to justify the amount expended on the project which the total amount projected for it at the inception was less than #15b.
In the same vein, idea of Mega Schools was not muted to serve the interest of the people of Osun state. Aside the the fact that these Mega schools have brought untold hardships to parents who must now provide daily transport fares to their children, these schools have served as conduit pipes to siphon over #20.9b from the purse of the state.
It's difficult to gloss over #4.3b RLG factory stealing, and over #380b unexplainable loan/commercial papers, bond and many others.

As at now the whereabouts of Osun State helicopter purportedly bought to help in combating crime and which was later diverted to personal use is still shrouded in mystery and if sold, at what price?
These and many more are the financial bondage hanging on the neck of the present administration in Osun State like albatross, so why celebrating #1.6b road with such gusto and glee? So, Omisore should apologise for what and over what?

Police Invitation: Omisore, lawyers, human rights activist Speak
The recent invitation of the former deputy governor of Osun State and Ex. Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Iyiola Omisore, by Mr. Umege Uzochukwu, a deputy commissioner of Police in charge of Osun State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, has been generating a lot of furore in the media. Many have queried the way and manner the invitation was circulated widely to various online and offline media houses.
A Lagos based online blogger, names withheld, disclosed that he became suspicious the way and manner the Police Invitation was written and attached to a press statement with a tone of urgency for them to publish the material last weekend. “It was sent out from same source with a tone of urgency and we became suspicious. Moreso, it was dated October 20, 2017 why sending it on October 27?”
In his response, Senator Omisore has described his invitation as a sinister plot by some powerful interests in the ruling opposition party in his state, All Progressives Congress (APC) to get him out of circulation ahead of 2018 gubernatorial election in the state by using the Nigeria Police to frame him on trumped up charges.
Omisore, who was the Chairman Appropriation Committee while serving the Senate, stated in a press release personally signed by him, stated that these opposition elements are apparently working with the Nigeria Police or some of their officers to realise their sinister plot against his person.
“In the invitation, I was asked to report to the said DCP Uzochukwu that the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, had reported a case of assault against me to them. And I wondered when Senator Adeleke (may God rest his soul) made the report as no date was given in the said invitation. The police invitation letter was dated 20th October 2017”, he quizzed.
Some legal experts who have been paying attention to the development have queried the legality or otherwise of the letter. Reacting to the police invitation, A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Nathaniel Oke, described the action of the police as “political harassment.”
According to Oke (SAN), “Police have the statutory power to invite any individual who is suspected to have committed any offence for the purpose of carrying out their investigation to determine whether criminal offence has actually been committed or not. The only area that is actually worrying me is that, when Senator Isiaka Adeleke himself was alive, what step did the police actually take to unravel and probably prosecute Senator Iyiola Omisore? Therefore, to me, it is a political harassment. It is a political intimidation.
“The question is this; Senator Adeleke was alive since 2014 before he died in 2017. Now, where is the complainant as far as that criminal allegation is concerned? Will evidence now be given on behalf of the deceased? I don’t think it is proper. They have the right to invite him for the purpose of interrogation, but the fact is that, this is political harassment.
“The point I am making is that, what were the police doing as at the time the person who was purportedly assaulted was alive. Why after the demise of Senator Adeleke?” Oke interrogated.
In his own argument, a lecturer at the faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU Ile-Ife, Mr. Musibau Lateef, described the police action as “absurdity and ridiculous.
“It is the height of absurdity. Assault that happened in 2014, as a matter of law, you cannot maintain a crime of assault which is a personal injury on behalf of a dead person. For the sake of God, Senator Adeleke is late, can anybody legally speaking, bring an action of assault on his behalf? The answer is no, legally speaking, and that is why I said, for me, it is a sign of ignorance and it is quite ridiculous.
“The police have the right under section 2(11) of the Constitution and police Act, to invite anybody, but in this context, it is the height of ignorance. I’m speaking as a matter of law; it is not possible to sustain a matter of assault on behalf of the dead person. It is a personally injury crime that only the person who suffered the injury must testify.
Reacting to whether the evidence of the late Adeleke before the commission of enquiry can be admitted on oath, the law lecturer said, “we are talking about crime here; no commission of enquiry, I repeat, no commission has the right to indict anyone on criminal offense.
“So, whatever the findings of the commission in this respect goes to nothing. Who will come to court to tender the statement? This is not a matter of controversy and that is why I used ignorance deliberately, it is the height of ignorance.
“We are not talking of murder here because murder would have been different, but he slapped me, he kicked me, how do you prove that? It is ridiculous and height of ignorance. Going by the content of the letter that he was invited in connection with the 2014 issue, it is ignorance on the part of the police. The content of the letter has rubbished whatever may be the reason for the invitation. “Senator Omisore may refuse to go. He can simply tell his lawyer to go and explain to them. You have the right not to subject yourself to such ridiculous invitation”, Lateef explained.
Speaking in the same vein, Barrister Oluwaseun Ijoba, said, “The police have not been responsible in handling this issue. If the letter did not state particularly the reason they invited him, it would have been something else. Now, I begin to wonder, what intelligence, what new fact would emerge after the death of this man about seven months ago that did not emerge in three years after the alleged act. I couldn’t see any reason for this invitation rather than political harassment.
“It is mere allegation against Senator Omisore. It has not been proved. There’s no way the police would justify their position presently after three years!. If there is no opportunity to cross examine a witness, to test the veracity of the statement made by the witness, the statement amount to nothing.
A human right lawyer, Mr. Kanmi Ajibola, said “the invitation by the police to Otunba Iyiola Omisore is very wrongful and offensive. The cause of complaints given to the police by the late Senator Adeleke had passed off with his death. The police should be very careful on careless and unproductive invitation like this”. He wondered why the police have not prosecuted the case since 2014 when it was reported to them.
But the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Wale Afolabi, maintained that criminal case can be prosecuted any time, even after the death of the complainant. “Police has the right to invite anybody for questioning once there is a report of alleged crime. Don’t forget that the law is no respecter of anybody. No matter highly placed, the police have the right to invite such person for interrogation’, Afolabi asserted.
Explaining further his initial position and the politics behind the unusual invitation, Senator Omisore said, “We all know that as Nigerians we are living in a very interesting time. The culture now is to source for scapegoats in members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for every inaction of government. The tragic instance in which the late former Osun State governor, a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic, died is still fresh in our memories, particularly the controversy that his death generated across the nation.
“What is also fresh in our collective memory is the decision by the good people of Osun State to reward the late Senator Adeleke and people of Ede by electing his brother to complete his term in the Senate. The people’s decision of course was carried out by our great party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
“Could this invitation by the police have been anchored on the role I played as a party leader in that election? Omisore probed. Wondering how the police could allow themselves to be brazenly used against the people they are expected to protect.
“Therefore, I want the public to know about the plot and keep them informed about this sinister plot against myself and the memory of Senator Adeleke,” Omisore concluded.
Signed : Fakorede Jide

Wale Ojo Lanre of Tribune wrote this too

" I may not like him but Omisore is a mixer. The problem he has is his stature and gait which is the lot of some of us who are unfortunate not to the advantage of being tall. We walk and raise up our heads as if we owned the land This they assume we are proud . I may not like Omisore on political basis but I will not keep shut when he is being oppressed .He is a good mixer . He is not an aloof aristocrat. I have seen him in natural environment mingling with people without any form of gaining cheap popularity. He has been donating materials to destitute and motherless houses without making noise .I know the fellow he saddle with that assignment. Eating with people here is not a strange act to him .Senator Omisore is real and not acting for cheap popularity."

"He was easily the most popular boy in St. John's.
Ask any of his mates. He was this rascally fellow who knew everybody.
I was years behind him. But the most enduring memories I have of going to the school are the shouts of Iyi! Iyi! Iyi!
Whether it was playing 'popular football' which was a rowdy all comers kick-about, or any of the other boyhood activities, his name was on every lip.
I remember very well this squat black boy who was everywhere at the same time.
If anybody would sit on the floor and eat with beggars, (and that is something I can't do) it would be Iyiola."

These are comments of Mr. Albert Oladapo on this matter, we should objective about things. And also, a man's reflection of compassion is not politics. let's put things in perspectives.

" But Omisore has always been a terrific mixer. Right from his days at St. John's Grammar School, Oke Atan. Anybody who is close to him will be shocked at his ability to mix. I remember when he was deputy governor and he blocked my car and asked me to come to Oshogbo. I wondered why he had to go that far. He is just an impulsive mixer. That I think was the reason for his formidable structure in those days.
When he was in Agodi Prison, nothing gave him more pleasure than inviting ppl to see him next day for a meal! When I had a big career crisis, two ppl looked for me. One was Ibrahim Babangida, a man I ran down as much as possible with my pen. I thought he wanted to gloat as his call got to me at home in London. No, he wanted to know what next.
Omisore was the second enigma. He got in the car and literally looked for me. He found me in Europe!
He is quite an oddity when it comes to things like that.
You think Iyi is faking? Look at him again please"

Mr Albert Oladapo


It is important we create a balance and not be too forward to conclude on everything we see!

Dropped ICPC Board Nominee, Maimuna Aliyu Fingered in another EFCC Corruption Charges

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has once again indicted an Abuja based controversial ex banker, Mrs. Maimuna Aliyu.
In a new court application filed by one of the EFCC prosecutors, Mr. Ben Ikani against former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Muhammed and his son, Shamsuddeen, Mrs. Aliyu was alleged to have served as a proxy to the former Minister in unlawful acquisition of properties in and around Abuja while the Minister was in office.

According to a report published in the Punch online of September 15, 2017, the EFCC stated that both Mohammed and his son “have denied ownership and connection” to the properties.

But the commission maintained that “preliminary investigation has revealed that the properties listed on the schedule are unlawfully acquired through corrupt practices by the former minister and his son while in office as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.”
In its investigation the EFCC uncovered that some of the properties were said to have been procured through proxies and nominees of the former Minister.

In a fresh application, the EFCC had stated that “the crux of this application is that the respondents are being investigated for offences bordering on abuse of office, land scams, corruption and corrupt practices, money laundering and diversion of revenue of government while being the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

According to the EFCC, the properties were held in the names of different companies and one Maimuna S. Aliyu. The commission described Aliyu as Bala’s proxy allegedly used to acquire the houses at 1A and 2A of No. 7 Gana Street Maitama, Abuja.

It will be recalled that Mrs Aliyu has in the recent times, been embroiled in deep controversies.

The federal Government of Nigeria, in August, 2017, withdrew her nomination into the 14 member board of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) when it discovered that she was being investigated for corrupt practices by the EFCC.
On August 15, a three-count charge of abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds and criminal breach of trust was slammed against her by the ICPC.

In a report published on August 8, 2017 by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Aliyu — alongside Sa’ad Alanamu, another ICPC board appointee — were said to be under investigation by the commission for alleged corruption in the region of N1billion.
While Alanamu was being investigated on corruption charges allegedly committed when he headed several institutions in Kwara State, Aliyu has had a longstanding case of abuse of office, misappropriation and diversion of public funds against her.

Charges were already being prepared against her by the ICPC in preparation to taking her to court when her name was announced as a member of the new board of the commission, an action, the Federal Government has claimed was made in error.
In addition to the ICPC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Police had investigated several corruption cases against Aliyu.

For example, in May, a police investigative report indicted her and recommended her for prosecution. The investigative report, dated May 31, 2017, and signe­­d by Taiwo Oyewale, a Superintendent of Police, for the Deputy Commissioner of Police, IGP Monitoring Unit, said that Aliyu illegally converted to personal use a total of N58 million being proceeds of three plots of land belonging to her former employers, a top mortgage finance firm in Abuja.

The ICIR then confirmed that Aliyu made the new ICPC board in the first place because FG made the appointments without running security checks on the nominees. Defending herself, Aliyu was quoted to have claimed that allegations of corruption against her were false and that they were being orchestrated by corrupt persons she exposed while serving as a director at one of her former places of work.

Signed:
Boluwatife Daniels