₦airaland Forum

OBASEKI GETS KUDOS OVER ‘EDO CLEAN-UP’ PROJECT
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/obaseki-gets-kudos-over-edo-clean-up.html

Following the removal of makeshift trading spots and illegal bus stops, as well as the sweeping and clearing of refuse around the popular King’s Square in Benin City by the Edo State government, traders, motorists and pedestrians have applauded the political will of Governor Godwin Obaseki for bringing to life, the beauty of the city.
The government of Edo State, on Monday, embarked on a clean-up process at Ring Road as part of the implementation of the ‘Edo Clean-up’ Project aimed at decongesting major areas in the city centre and restoring order and sanity to the metropolis.
The process, which was executed by the state’s Task Force on Environmental Sanitation, was ordered by Governor Godwin Obaseki, who has demanded the restoration of the serenity of the affected areas in the state capital.
Some residents hailed the sanitisation measures, with Johnson Omoregie, a businessman and lawyer describing the former situation as sickening and making nonsense of the amount spent by the last administration on beautifying the affected areas, especially Ring Road.
On his part, Tony Obinne, a trader, praised the cleanup of the areas and called for sustainability because negligence by the task force would encourage the scourge to return.
In addition, motorists hailed the clean-up as it facilitated smooth flow of traffic. They, however, pleaded with the government to open new markets for the displaced traders and ensure that all traders in the state stayed within market parameters.

ALLEGED $15M FRAUD: DUDAFA’S STATEMENT TO EFCC VOLUNTARY – COURT
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/alleged-15m-fraud-dudafas-statement-to.html

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ruled that the statements obtained by the EFCC from Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, an ex-aide of former President Goodluck Jonathan, were made voluntarily and not under duress.
Dudafa is arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside. Joseph Iwejuo, on 23 counts bordering on fraud, conspiracy and concealment of crime proceeds.
Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the commencement of trial on Nov. 21, 2016, the defence counsel, Mr Gboyega Oyewole, had raised an objection to the tendering of Dudafa’s statement as evidence.
He argued that the statement was an “extra-judicial”statement as it possessed similar features, claiming that Dudafa was forced to make the statement.
Oyewole had urged the court to conduct of a trial-within-trial to ascertain if the statements were voluntarily obtained.
Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, ordered a trial-within-trial in a bid to test the voluntariness of the statement.
The judge had taken arguments from both counsel and final addresses were adopted in March, while the court reserved its ruling.
Delivering his ruling on Monday, Justice Idris held that the statements of the accused were voluntarily obtained.
“The question then is, are the statements confessional?
“A confession is that which is made before the police and any other security agent while investigation is on.
“There is no evidence before the court that the statements made by the defendant is not a confessional statement.
“I cannot, therefore, hold that the statements were not voluntarily made,” he said.
The judge further held that the statements in contention were made under caution and same voluntarily obtained.
Consequently, he adjourned further hearing until June 21.
In the charge, the accused were alleged to have on June 11, 2013, conspired to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6 billion.
It was alleged that they concealed the sum through a company — Seagate Property Development and Investment Ltd and that they also used Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd to launder over N399 million.
Other companies allegedly used in perpetuating the alleged crime include Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Rotato Inter Link Services Ltd and De Jakes Fast Food and Restaurant Nigerian Ltd.
Dudafa was alleged to have between June 1 and June 4, 2015, contracted Iwejuo and Ebiwise Resources Ltd to conceal N150 million being alleged proceeds of crime.
EFCC also alleged that on April 27, Dudafa failed to provide any information in relation to over N616 million held on his behalf by Seagate Property’s account.
The prosecution said he also failed to disclose the sum of N560 million held for him by De Jakes Fast Food Ltd as well as the sum of N10 million held for him by Ibejige Services Ltd.
The offences, according to the prosecution, contravened the provisions of Section 27 (3), (c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.

I WOULD NEVER GIVE UP ON BIAFRA – NNAMDI KANU
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/i-would-never-give-up-on-biafra-nnamdi.html

The Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOP, Nnamdi Kanu, Monday vowed to challenge his stringent bail conditions, saying they were unconstitutional.



He also said that he would never give up his agitation for the restoration of Biafran Republic, pointing out that he wanted the reward for his agitation in this world and not when dies and goes to heaven. Kanu spoke in Enugu when paid a “Thank You” visit to the leadership of the Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA.

The ECA appointed Kanu its leader in absentia when he was being detained at Kuje Prisons with Chief (Mrs) Maria Okwo as his deputy among others. The IPOB leader was received by top members of the ECA, including Mrs. Okwor and Evang. Elliot Ugochukwu-Ukoh, among others.

UNICEF HAILS RELEASE OF 82 CHIBOK SCHOOLGIRLS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/unicef-hails-release-of-82-chibok.html

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed delight at the release of the 82 of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents more than three years ago.
UNICEF Nigeria Acting Representative Pernille Ironside in a statement from UN in New York, said the girls’ release was “heartening”.
Ironside said “it is heartening to know that the girls will be returning to their families who have been waiting for this day.
“They will face a long and difficult process to rebuild their lives after the indescribable horror and trauma they have suffered at the hands of Boko Haram.
“UNICEF is on standby to support the Nigerian authorities to provide the comprehensive psychosocial support and other specialized services needed.
“We will help reunite the girls with their families and make sure they can continue their education in a safe environment.
“Already staff at a UNICEF supported health clinic have been supporting immediate efforts to identify the girls and conduct medical check-ups before their onward transport.
“UNICEF calls on Boko Haram to end all grave violations against children, especially the abduction of children and the sexual abuse and forced marriage of girls,
Ironside said UNICEF commended the Federal Government for this important achievement in helping to protect children impacted by the conflict in northeast Nigeria
According to her, however, the UN children’s agency remained deeply concerned for the thousands of women and children still held in captivity by Boko Haram.
The UNICEF official said greater efforts must be made to bring them all to safety and home to their families.
“UNICEF has a comprehensive plan to help children who have been affected by the conflict in the Lake Chad Basin and works with national authorities to support hundreds of children and women who have escaped or been released by Boko Haram.
“Every child is unique and requires different levels of support, so there is no standard formula or defined timeframe for these children to recover.
“UNICEF is committed to doing whatever it takes, as long as it takes, to help these children recover a sense of normalcy with our available resources,” Ironside said.
The 82 girls were released to international negotiators who have been working in collaboration with the Federal government for their safe return since they were kidnapped in April 2014.
Malam Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesman on Saturday in a statement issued in Abuja also confirmed that the girls were release by their captors in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the Federal Government.

SHELL TO INVEST $25 BILLION IN NIGERIA, OTHER COUNTRIES
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/shell-to-invest-25-billion-in-nigeria.html

Oil giant, Royal Dutch Shell, has announced plans to invest about 25 billion dollars this year in Nigeria and all its oil and gas operation across the world.
Shell made the announcement in its first quarter 2017 financial results released on Thursday.
The report revealed that Shell netted an income of 2.2 billion dollars and was expecting to generate 10 billion dollars in cash flow from the delivery of some of its new projects by 2018.
The company recently announced the resumption of oil production at its 225,000 barrels per day (bpd) Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) field in Nigeria’s deep-waters.
According to the company, the repair of Bonga will ensure sustained production and reduce unscheduled production deferments.
Shell is also involved in a new deep-water project – the 13.5 billion dollars Zabazaba Deepwater project located in Oil Prospecting Lease (OPL) 245.
The net profit, it said, doubled in the first three months of 2017, as rebounding oil prices and refining gains helped boost its revenue.
According to the report, Shell generated a cash flow of 9.5 billion dollars in the quarter, up 13 fold from a year earlier, and the strongest among some of its rivals in the industry.
“We saw notable improvements in upstream and chemicals, which benefited from improved operational performance and better market conditions,” the Shell’s Chief Executive, Ben van Beurden said in the report.
Shell, with operations in more than 70 countries, is Nigeria’s oldest oil producing partner, holding various joint venture and production sharing arrangements with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other foreign oil companies.

Atiku Abubakar Recounts How He Was Almost Sacked As Customs Officer
SOURCE: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/atiku-abubakar-recounts-how-he-was.html

A former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has provided an insight on why he was almost sacked as an officer with the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS.


This was following the controversial importation of 53 suitcases into the country in 1984 by a first class traditional ruler in the North.

The former VP was the Customs Officer in Charge of the Murtala Muhammed Airport when the suitcases were brought into the country.

Atiku said the Customs bureaucracy then wanted him booted out for confirming a newspaper report about the importation of the suitcases, but that the then Minister of Finance, Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, saved his job.

He was speaking at a night of tributes and inauguration of an education endowment fund in memory of the late former Managing Director of Daily Times, Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

Atiku, now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, disclosed that the then military government prevented the Customs operatives from detaining the suitcases and drove it away in a military truck.

According to him, “I was a young officer in 1984 in charge of Murtala Muhammed Airport while Ojo was a correspondent of The Guardian covering the airport.

“We got to know each other because apparently, there were some things we both believed in. Ojo was radical and I was radical, he believed in transparency and straight forwardness.

“Then this policy of change of the national currency came into effect by the military government.

“It was on a weekend when the issue of the 53 suitcases came up. I wasn’t at the airport because it was a weekend and I was the officer in charge of the place and so, there were beat officers conducting the affair.

“The plane landed on the VIP section and the ADC to the Head of the federal military government came in with a military truck and personnel and drove straight to the aircraft and offloaded those suitcases and did not allow the Customs officers to do their work, and drove away.

“All the Customs officers could do was to make an entry into what we called station dairy. If you are a policeman, custom or military man, you should know what a station diary means. It is a diary where we record all incidents as they happen.

“Because he was such an investigative journalist, he got the report. He wasn’t there and normally, a station dairy is not a public document, but our own document.

“Somehow, Ojo, because of his inquisitiveness, came to know of that entry and from the extract of that entry, he told the world about the improper importation of 53suitcasess.

“I resumed duty on Monday and was confronted with national headlines about the 53 suitcases and without clearing from my headquarters, I just confirmed that there was such an importation and that investigation was being conducted.

“I was summoned to the headquarters and queried why should I confirm the report, and I said I did because it happened, and I met it in the station dairy. I was threatened with expulsion or dismissal from service and I said I was ready if that was an offence.

“The controversy raged on and the bureaucracy insisted that I should be fired and the then Minister of Finance who happened to be Dr. Soleye, said: ‘What is Atiku’s offence that you want him fired?’ As the minister, he overruled the bureaucracy and I retained my job.

“He was completely dedicated to investigating and writing the truth. No matter what you do or try to do, he will go ahead and write the truth.

“Since that moment, we struck a very close relationship. When I had the opportunity to work with him again, I did not hesitate to give him an appointment as one of my Special Advisers.

“He was one of the seven or eight PhD holders in my office and I recall my boss calling me one day and asking me, what is it you are doing with all these PhD holders and I said, Mr. President, I like to work with people that I will learn from. If I know that I am not going to learn from you, I will not hire you and work with you.

“Together with the rest, they form the core of my office and of course, in our administration, he knew the impact of my office on our administration. That is a matter for historians to write.

“Even if Ojo were to be alive today, he will be working for his family and trying to give the best education for his children. That is why I initiated this educational fund for his three kids.”

Acording to him, “I want to appeal to all of you to think about these kids. We all knew that Ojo left nothing because he was not the kind of person who enjoyed keeping money or wanting money by all means. No matter how small, please contribute to this educational fund.‎”

POLICE DETECTIVES RAID KWANKWASO’S RESIDENCE IN KANO
SOURCE: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/police-detectives-raid-kwankwasos.html

Police detectives, believed to be from Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Wednesday night, raided the Sharada residence of Mr. Lawan Musa Kwankwaso, the younger brother to the immediate past Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.


The detectives ransacked Lawan’s home in search of certain documents relating to the former governor.

According to our source, “the heavily armed squad sneaked into the ancient city of Kano and registered their presence at Sharada Police station to ensure a hitch-free operation.

“The team is after certain documents linking the younger Kwankwaso to his elder brother in their investigation of corruption against him, in a search that lasted over three hours.”

When contacted, the Kano Police Command spokesman, DSP Magaji Musa Majia, said “our Command was not behind the operation therefore, cannot comment on it. We should be left out of this because Kano Command has nothing to do with the operation.”

However, the Media Aide to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Hajiya Binta Spikin, confirmed that the police raided the residence of the younger Kwankwaso and conducted a search but she declined to give further details.

CORPS MEMBER WHO IS SUPPOSED TO PASS OUT TODAY KILLED BY ARMED ROBBERS WHILE RETURNING FROM A NIGHT CLUB
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/corps-member-who-is-supposed-to-pass.html

25 year old Youth Corps member, Charity Wadzani Thilza, pictured above, who is supposed to pass out from the NYSC scheme today May 4th, has died after she was shot dead by some armed robbers in Abuja on Monday, May 1 2017.
According to reports, Charity, who is from Borno state, had gone to a nightclub where singer Phyno performed and was returning home with three of her friends and a man when they were attacked by robbers.

The armed robbers chased their vehicle, shooting at it to force the driver to stop. One of the bullets hit Charity. The robbers stopped the hot chase when they realized that their victims were heading towards a police station.

Charity was rushed to the hospital but was rejected by the medical staff.

She is said to be the first child of her parents, Charity served at the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps in Abuja and had hoped to continue working with the agency after her service.

FG TO ENSURE IMPLEMENTATION OF ERGP STRATEGIES
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/fg-to-ensure-implementation-of-ergp.html

The federal government has said it will establish a robust delivery and monitoring mechanism to ensure implementation of the strategies outlined in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
The plan is contained in a document on “ERGP 2017-2020” obtained at the Stakeholders’ Engagement on the ERGP implementation Roadmap on Tuesday yesterday.
ERGP’s projected that Nigeria would make significant progress to achieve structural economic change with a more diversified and inclusive economy in five key areas by 2020.
The key areas are stable macro-economic environment, agricultural transformation, food security, sufficiency in energy and improved transportation infrastructure.
Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, at the meeting, engaged the stakeholders on effective implementation of the plan. The document stated that the ministry would be responsible for the coordination and monitoring of the plan.
“The Federal Government is establishing a special Delivery Unit in the Presidency. This unit will focus on the top execution priorities, and will monitor the implementation of the critical initiatives closely. It will focus on evaluating the progress against targets and milestones and provide early warning signals of potential risks.
“The unit will also work closely with Ministries, Departments Agencies (MDAs) to articulate actionable measures to be taken against any identified constraints,’’ it stated.
The document stated that the unit would be staffed by highly skilled and respected individuals mandated to drive implementation.
It stated that the ministry would, however, remain responsible for the overall coordination of all activities within the plan. It further stated that the plan would build up a robust monitoring and evaluation capacity, to successfully carry out the activity.
“Quarterly progress reports will be presented to the President and the Federal Executive Council.’’
On monitoring strategies, the document said that minsters of relevant ministries would drive delivery of the ERGP strategies under their purview in collaboration with other agencies at the national and sub national levels.
It stated that they would be encouraged to establish dedicated mechanism like project management offices, to monitor and track progress effectively and transparently.
“In line with National Monitoring and Evaluation Policy Framework, they will also be responsible for monitoring and evaluating all ERGP strategies under their purview in conjunction with the ministry.

FAYOSE ALLEGEDLY GOT N1.5 BILLION TO MOBILISE VOTERS FOR REGISTRATION – APC
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/fayose-allegedly-got-n15-billion-to.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has alleged that Governor Ayodele Fayose received N1.5 billion to mobilise residents of the state of voting age to participate in the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise being undertaken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
APC State Deputy Chairman, Mrs Kemi Olaleye, who did not disclose the source of the money, said: “We have it on good authority that the money is meant to be shared at N5,000 to each of the expected 300,000 registrants. The Governor gave the figure of 300,000 and he got the money for them”.
Olaleye, who lamented that the governor was shortchanging the registrants with the N2,000 he announced as encouragement for them, challenging him to a debate on what he intended to do with the balance of N3,000 in 300,000 places that he had allegedly held back.
Olaleye said: “I raised this issue and challenged the governor on it since last Thursday and he has not been forthcoming since then. I am still challenging him to come to tell Ekiti people the true position if he can controvert what I have said”.
The APC boss, who spoke at a meeting of the Ado Ekiti Local Government chapter of the Party in the State capital on Tuesday, charged party members who are eligible to participate in the exercise not to hesitate, adding: “The money Fayose has announced is not for People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members only. It is for Ekiti. It is necessary for you to register and collect your voter cards so that you can cast your votes for APC during elections.
The APC leader also felicitated with workers in the State on the occasion of the May Day, but regretted that the present administration in the state had been insensitive to their plight.
“I share with you your pains and hardship as a result of eight months’ unpaid salaries, unpaid pensions and gratuities and denial of proper welfare packages. We are praying that the Lord delivers us from the present government in the State by removing it from power,” she said.
Also speaking, APC chieftain, Mr Olufemi Aduloju, who said the monthly meeting hosted by the wards on rotational basis was to test the popularity of the Party, expressed confidence in APC ability and readiness to win free and fair elections in the state at any time.
Aduloju sympathised with workers in the state who he said had been betrayed by their leadership under the aegis of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The APC chieftain alleged that the workers’ leadership were bribed to honour Fayose with Comrade Governor, wondering, “How could NLC and TUC union leaders be bought over to give award to a governor who’s owing them salaries? What a shame!!”

Nigeria Loses N380bn Annually From Cashew Export
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/nigeria-loses-n380bn-annually-from.html

Nigeria has been losing $5 billion (N380bn) annually from Cashew nut tree by not given deserving attention to it despite having capacity to create enormous wealth for farmers across the country and generate huge foreign exchange for the government.
According to data from the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), due to lack of value addition and Nigeria’s inability to process cashew nuts in significant quantities for export, the country lost $1.4 billion in 2016.
According to the information, Nigeria exported a total of 160,000 metric tonnes of cashew valued at $300 million in 2016. This was far behind what farmers and exporters could have earned assuming there were processing factories that could process cashew nuts for export standard.
The cash crop (cashew), which is an important industrial and export crop whose potential is yet to be fully exploited in Nigeria, is said to provide livelihood for over 300,000 families and has created 600, 0000 jobs.
Historically, in the 1980s, Vietnam’s cashew production was in the same level with Nigeria’s production. In the early 1990s, Vietnam began processing its cashew and 16 years later, the country had become the largest processor and exporter of cashew kernels in the world and by 2013, Vietnam already earned $1.8 billion from cashew kernel export to over 80 countries. Currently, India’s cashew exports amount to over $2.5 billion and Vietnam generates as much as $3 billion each year, mainly from processed kernel.
However, the Nigerian cashew industry is suffering from declining productivity and dwindling export earnings, thus making the commodity less competitive in the international market, compared with other African countries like Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin Republic and Ghana.
Recently, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, said Nigeria would start exporting processed cashew nuts by 2019, adding that currently a tonne of processed cashew nuts, when exported, is sold for $10,000 while the raw cashew nuts are sold at $1,200.
He explained: “It would be beneficial to process the nuts and export rather than exporting the nuts raw. So in the next two years, we will no longer export raw cashew nuts, but roast the cashew nuts for export.”
But industry watchers countered the claims made by the Minister, saying that government talks too much but does little in terms of action. They said the Minister should put in place a master plan that will ensure that exporting processed cashew nuts by 2019 is feasible.
EYES OF LAGOS gathered that in Nigeria, cashew grows successfully in virtually all agro-ecological zones including the semi-arid areas but with high concentration in the middle belt areas in smallholder farms and plantations. Cashew production comes from over 28 states including Kogi, Kwara, Oyo, Edo, Ondo, Benue, Cross River, among others.
A cashew exports expert/Managing Director of Universal Quest Limited, Sotonye Anga, said for the industry to be galvanised, strengthened, restructured and better positioned, it requires at least a N100 billion intervention fund to put the industry in top shape. He said a minimum of N20 billion will help.
Anga said the industry needs to be intensified to drive growth of industry, which will attract investors, saying priority must be given to cashew processing to ensure that Nigeria’s cashew processing capacity becomes competitive.
He added that “When you are processing cashew, you know that you are processing a global product that will be consumed globally. So issues of quality become very critical, which means that there is need to deploy the right kind of technology to deliver high quality value added cashew. The equipment for processing will cost money because they are not produced locally; they have to be imported. We need to ensure we have right machinery to process cashew and build the right infrastructure.

codedguy1:
She wan use propaganda comot from recession.

correct

99% OF CORRUPTION SUSPECTS ARRESTED BY EFCC UNDER OBASANJO WERE PDP MEMBERS – RIBADU
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/99-of-corruption-suspects-arrested-by.html

Pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has disclosed that during his tenure as EFCC chairman, ninety-nine per cent of those arrested over allegations of corruption were members of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Speaking on Friday in Lagos at a reception organised for former president Olusegun Obasanjo, by his close associates to celebrate his 80th birthday, he stated that Obasanjo refused to interfere with the activities of the anti-graft agency.
The former presidential candidate praised Obasanjo for his leadership achievements in the country, adding that the former president contributed immensely to his personal career.
“Things really happened during that period and there were a couple of difficult moments because 99 per cent of the people we arrested were Peoples Democratic Party members.
“He (Obasanjo) exercised self-restraint; he refused to interfere with the day-to-day running of the EFCC. Obasanjo is a living proof that hard work does not kill. I wish he would never retire. You can’t afford to retire,” Ribadu said

PMB ABSENT FROM FRIDAY JUMA’AT PRAYERS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/pmb-absent-from-friday-jumaat-prayers.html

President Muhammadu Buhari was yesterday absent from the Friday Juma’at prayers at the Presidential Villa.
However three state governors were present.The governors who attended the prayer session at the villa are: Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano).
Recall that since his return from his medical trip to the United Kingdom, this is the second time the president would be absent for the Friday Juma’at prayers.
The presidency issued a statement on Thursday assuring Nigerians that despite the insinuations of a number of media organisations, there is no need for apprehension over the health of President Buhari.
Garba Shehu had said that, “President Buhari’s absence at the Federal Executive Council meeting of Wednesday, April 26, was a last minute decision, otherwise, the cabinet and the public might have been alerted in advance. As eager as he is to be up and about, the President’s doctors have advised on his taking things slowly, as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the United Kingdom some weeks ago.
“President Buhari himself, on his return to the country, made Nigerians aware of the state of his health while he was in London. Full recovery is sometimes a slow process, requiring periods of rest and relaxation, as the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, intimated in his press briefing after the FEC meeting on Wednesday.”

Couple use convoy of Keke Napeps on their wedding day
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/couple-use-convoy-of-keke-napeps-on.html

An Adorable couple have decided to do it their own way, by setting aside all ye flamboyant cars and opted to using convoy of tricycles to transport them during their big.

This was shared by Facebook User, Sarah Sumoo.

Photos Below:

Tension In Adamawa Over Demolition Of Shops Ahead Of Osinbajo’s Visit
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/tension-in-adamawa-over-demolition-of.html


Petty traders in Yola, the Adamawa State capital have expressed concern over the demolition of their shops along major roads by the state government preparatory to the visit of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo tomorrow.

The traders expressed that the government’s action was nothing short of wickedness as the act has thrown many families into untold economic hardship.

The traders said that the whole thing was like a dream to them as they were not given notice to relocate.
Reacting on the development, state commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Abubakar Idris Magaji, said the exercise has nothing to do with the visit of the vice president insisting that the demolition exercise only coincided with the visit.

He said those affected by the demolition exercise, built shops on the drainage system, or blocked the right of way by building close to the roads especially in the state capital.

Magaji stressed that the law stipulates that when building or erecting structure temporarily or permanently, along trunk A Road, a distance of 45 meters should be given, while along Trunk B and C Roads, a distance of 30 and 25 meters respectively should be given.

very true ,end time is near ooo

Consequences by Sophie Lawal
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/consequences-by-sophie-lawal.html

Recently, i noticed something that i do overlook so well, guess what? It put me in deep trouble and it took me a really good time to get the thing straight. An acquaintance of mine told me that, and i was like oohh... How come No one knows.

Then, i went home sat down, took a proper look at my surroundings, i really kept my hears down and scrutinised with my eye, Alas! It's so real and true it happens every where, not to cover up, i do overlook things but it haven't gotten to the extent of what i saw while i stayed low, looked around and listen.

I learnt from my personal experience as not to overlook things, but i never thought people really faced for real, and it's rampant not just something minor, but thinking of it, i knew it's something we think we could fight or things we don't bother to look back at why?? Simple, cause we feel it doesn't matter.

Why would we feel the need of pulling something back or sticking that file back stuck it underneath cause you feel its not needed Yet?? Word that's supposed to be spoken now and forgotten, why delay then forget?

It shouldn't be so you know, even if you going to be blamed for something, why not get blamed now, cause if you like it or not the past would still come calling, and it would be louder than how it was supposed to be, it would in a force that could push you away or pick you up, depends on how you want it to be, depends on the way you want to write your story and how??

Any decisions made today they is always a consequence for it whether you want or like it or not, it doesn't care who you are or what you are, it would come striking like lightning bolt. It would strike like and you would be like what am i going to do?? But before then why not do the proper thing now before the consequences comes.

One thing is consequences doesn't come likely it our deed of today that brings the joyful sound of tomorrow, let's make our today great and not let tommorow hunt us down.

INEC suspends 205 staff over bribery allegation

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/inec-suspends-205-staff-over-bribery.html

The suspension was announced on Tuesday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

The decision follows a meeting which considers the report of the Commission’s committee set up to look into an interim report by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing some of its officials of fraud during the 2015 general elections.

A statement signed by INEC National Commissioner, Mr Mohammed Haruna, read: “Based on their level of involvement, two hundred and five (205) serving INEC staff will be immediately placed on interdiction, which entails suspension from duties and being placed on half salary, pending the final determination of the cases they have with the EFCC.
Seventy staff (70), about whom there was insufficient information regarding their involvement, will be referred back to EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.

“Out of over 23 billion Naira which the EFCC report said was used to influence the elections, the Committee established that 3,046,829,000 Naira was received by INEC staff in 16 states.”

INEC noted that it will continue to take stern action against its officials who compromise its core values of integrity, transparency and impartiality in the conduct of elections.

EFCC Is After Me For Standing With Senate On Magu’s Matter

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/efcc-is-after-me-for-standing-with.html




Senator Peter Nwaboshi represents Delta North senatorial district. In this interview with select journalists, the lawmaker denied the report that he defrauded Delta State government in a contract deal some years ago. He also spoke on other issues. RUTH CHOJI was there

There was a recent report linking you to sharp practices in a contract deal with Delta State government some years ago. How true is this report?
I have heard people say that, the EFCC takes time to prosecute people in the public through the press without verifying the issue. This is a typical example. As you saw in the news, nobody has spoken to me or my brother, it is just the press. So, what they do is put it in the press so that the public will condemn you and get opinion on their side, they don’t care whether they win the case or lose, they mudsling and do everything with your name. The first thing they said was that I did a contract of over a billion Naira, that Delta State, through the ministry of environment gave us a contract to supply some environmental equipment, that instead of supplying brand new equipment, we supplied used ones. But one, who is complaining? The Delta State government that we supplied these equipment are not complaining. It’s been seven years since we supplied these equipment. We have not heard that it is fairly used until now.
Have they contacted the manufacturers of these equipment? The manufacturers of this equipment are a Chinese company, some of them have offices in Nigeria. For example, FCMG is one of the manufacturers of this equipment, they have a very big office in Kaduna. Also they said Cynortrup, it is a well known Truck business company all over the world. They have offices in Abuja, Kaduna and all they needed to do is take the serial number of these equipment we supplied and give the manufacturers, through the serial number, the manufacturer will tell you the date, the make, the model and specification that was ordered by so and so. They will tell you how they shipped it to the end user. As at today, they have not contacted the manufactures, even in their Abuja office to find out if this equipment were brand new or fairly used.
Two, the weight of the these equipment, is FOB, through Lagos, it means it was sent to the Port in Lagos, that means the manufactures will ship the equipment to Lagos. So, if you want to know whether what they shipped was new or not, you contact them to know whether what we sent to this people is fairly used or not. They didn’t contact anybody, all they want is to malign me. The Delta State government that we supplied, we have certificate from the engineers, certifying that the equipment are brans new, engineers from the ministry of works, environment and transport. We have a certificate from the auditor general of delta state, conforming that the equipment are brand new before they paid us. We are still waiting.

They also said my company bought a house in Lagos costing lots of millions, but I am not a director in that company. They know what to do. All I can say as a lawyer is, the owners of the property is Delta state, they sold it and they know the value of their property. They know why they sold and to who. They should go to Delta state and find out how the property was sold and the value of the property. They should find out if the company followed due process or not. But it is not for me to speak for the company.
They also said I have 20 bank accounts which my brother is the sole signatory to. You know how BVN is, once you enter your BVN number they will know. It is the owner of the number that has right to assess the account, not a proxy. In any case, my brother has been a business man all his life, he is 48 years old. He has never worked for any government or any person except our parents. He has been an international business all his life. It is that man they are saying is a signatory to an account that is own by me. Is there any law that stop a company from having twenty account? Is there any law that stop a company from opening account in all banks? A company can decide to open account in all the banks in Nigeria, including in America. If these accounts are said to be run by my brother, why will I declare them in code of conduct? What concerns EFCC with code of conduct? If I made declaration, what they will do is take it to CCB and if they are not satisfied with what I have done, they will take me to court. I didn’t know that EFCC now charges people for such offenses. I saw in the television recently that the EFCC charge a member of the House of Representatives for certificate forgery. Is it the work of EFCC to take people to court for such matters? So EFCC is now involved in certificate forgery, they are involved in CCB; very soon EFCC will be involved in street fighting. Is that the work of EFCC now? So if they think they can do this to silence me, I cannot be silent. Just because I started talking that Magu should go, they want to get back at me. I don’t have anything against Magu, but the senate has said they cannot clear Magu. The power of confirmation resides with the senate. In exercising that power, the senate refused to confirm Magu. As a lawyer, if the law said the power to confirm is with the people and they have failed to confirm you, you have no reason to be there. It is simple law. So, because some of us said it, then a business transaction that took place seven years ago is what they are bringing up now. That was before I became senator. All these things were not in the pipeline until I started talking. I am not one of those to be silenced. My people did not send me here to keep quite. They sent me here to talk when it is necessary. In this particular issue, I spoke because the power of confirmation of chairman of EFCC resides with the senate and the senate has spoken. As a lawyer, I told my friends the legal position.


But a clause in the report states that they are waiting for vital information, do you think there is more to come?
Where will the vital information come from? This information will be determined by Delta state government and the manufacturers of the goods. Customs responsibility is to clear the goods, not to determine if they are new or used goods. We ordered for equipment, and the company that manufactured them after 90 days shipped it to us in Nigeria, and it was cleared. If there was connivance between the custom and clearing agent, that is their matter. We are saying that what we ordered is so and so. We have the invoice to show that we ordered brand new equipment. If Delta state government feels the equipment is not new, they can either take us to court or we go to court. If they win, we have the basis to sue the company in China because we will call them as witness in the case. So, when they say vital information, these are cooked information. There is no vital information.

But don’t you think it is people from Delta State that are behind the story?
We all know that when they say ‘source’ it is not really true.

What is your next action plan?
I am a lawyer of repute of 27 years standing. This one is not Toronto lawyer, I did my first degree in university in Benin, I also did my Master degree in Law at Delta state university. I went to law school in Lagos. If they ask, I will just subpoena the institution to bring out the document.

How about allegation that you have foreign bank account?
Before I became a senator, I had a bank account. I have a right to open a foreign bank account. Go and look at my CCB form and see whether it declared it or not. I declared my account in HSBC in London in my CCB form with the account number. As soon as I became a senator, I closed that account because I am conscious of the provision of the law.

Have you in any way been threatened since you spoke up against this issue?
I have so many threat that they will deal with me for my standing with the senate president. I was the first senator elect to address a press conference in porthacourt to tell the world that, Saraki will be the best senate president. I was also one of the senator who resisted moves by PDP senators when APC senators were not in the chambers the day we elected the senate president. I resisted that PDP shouldn’t elect their own as senate presidenteven though we were in the majority that day and we could have gotten it.
My reason was that, if we do this, they will say, we want to hijack or waylay the government of APC. I feel vindicated today.

Finally the winner of face of amber Nigeria season 2 was unveiled

http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/finally-winner-of-face-of-amber-nigeria.html


The Grand finale of the Most Prestigious Beauty Pageant in Nigeria, which empower girls to become future leaders @FaceOfAmber was just concluded the winner was unveiled and huge success was recorded

The event was held at BESPOKE CENTER Lekki on the 9th of April 2017

It was AWESOME, EXCITING, CROWDED and left a brilliant memory in the minds of contestant, celebrities and guest that came and at the end of the night TENIOLA AKINPELU was crowned the winner

EyesOfLagos TV was present to witness this great event live

Finally the winner of face of amber Nigeria season 2 was unveiled

http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/finally-winner-of-face-of-amber-nigeria.html

The wedding ceremony of Taiwo Olufunsho & Kehinde Oladimeji was SPLUFIK, EXHILARATING and AWESOME
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/the-wedding-ceremony-of-taiwo-olufunsho.html

Eyes Of Lagos TV was present at the wedding ceremony of Taiwo Olufunsho & Kehinde Oladimeji
The anticipating day was a fulfilling one for the Family, Relatives, Friends of Ajibola Hamza and Late Oladepo & Mrs. Alphonso
The church program started 10am @RCCG Garden of Life.
Which reception follows immediately after service @Shaddai Marquee
Its no doubt that April 8th 2017 was awesome for Taiwo and Kehinde Alphonso
The Eyes of Lagos Crew and Lagosians at large wish you a HAPPY MARRIED LIFE

Over 25,000 Register As FG Begins Online Registration Of Unemployed
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/over-25000-register-as-fg-begins-online.html

No fewer than 25, 000 persons have registered within the first 24 hours of the commencement of the online registration of unemployed persons in the country by the federal government, checks by Friday has revealed.
The online registration, the first of its kind in the country is in compliance with the third mandate of the NDE which requires it “to obtain and maintain a data bank on employment and vacancies in the country with a view to acting as a clearing house to link job seekers with vacancies in collaboration with other government agencies”
As part of its quest to keep a robust data base for unemployed persons and job creation, the federal government through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on Wednesday commenced the registration of unemployed persons.
When our reporter visited the website www.jobsforall.ng, it contained features requesting qualifications, address of applicants.
Despite what appears to be a relatively slow response to the registration, a source within the ministry of Labour and Employment told our reporter that the government is optimistic that it will be a success.
He said, “This is a new project and like we have emphasised, it gives the country the best opportunity to know exactly not just the numbers of unemployed persons but their areas of studies and the kind of jobs the government will provide”
The source said the government plans to embark on more sensitisation on the needs for unemployed youths to register as it will help the government to make its own plans.
It would be recalled that the Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations, at the NDE, Edmund Onwuliri, on Monday, said the online portal will also serve as a meeting point for job seekers and employers thereby reducing the cumbersome process of recruitment among employers of skilled labour in the private and public sectors.
The online portal which went live on Wednesday April 5, 2017, is designed to capture the relevant details of any unemployed person. It will equally serve as a job exchange portal that will link job seekers and employers.

MY AMBITION IS TO SET OSUN FREE – OMISORE REPLIES APC
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/my-ambition-is-to-set-osun-free-omisore.html

Former Deputy Governor of Osun State and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, in the 2014 governorship election, Dr Iyiola Omisore, has maintained that his ultimate ambition for seeking to govern the state is predicated on the determination to set the state free from the economic bondage and bad governance foisted on the state by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Omisore, who was reacting to a statement by the APC, that his governorship ambition had become delusional, stated that while he would have loved to maintain his silence and allow the people of the state, who have been thrown into hardship, abject penury and financial insecurity by the Rauf Aregbesola government, to speak for themselves, his desire to stand for the people, would not let him.
In a statement by his media office, Omisore, who represented Osun East Senatorial District between 2003 and 2011, said but for the need to set the records straight and to ensure that the APC did not continue to distract the people and divert attention from pressing governance issues in the state.

SENATE TOWS PATH TO LEGALISE E-VOTING
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/senate-tows-path-to-legalise-e-voting.html


In what is apparently a justification of the call made months ago by serial digital entrepreneur and chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, the senate has amended the Electoral Act of 2010 to legalise the use of smart card readers for the authentication of accredited voters as was done in the 2015 general election.
The amendment to the Act would also pave the way for electronic voting in future elections. The senate also empowered the presiding officer at polling units to, in addition to the smart card reader, use any other technological device that may be prescribed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from time to time for the accreditation of voters to verify, confirm or authenticate the genuineness or otherwise of voters’ card.
The passage of the Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act 2010 and for other related matters followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the senate committee on INEC on Thursday. The bill, which passed its third reading, also stipulates that votes and recorded results must be transmitted electronically directly from polling units in an encrypted and secured form.
The amendment provides that if for some reason the encrypted data is compromised, the presiding officer would have to rely on the manual collation, which could however be prone to manipulation. Where the encrypted data was safe, it completely supersedes the manual results.
The amendment is also offering a solution to the ambiguity that may occur in the event a candidate dies after the commencement of elections and before the declaration of a winner by INEC, as was the case during the Kogi gubernatorial election.
As far back as May 2016, Ekeh had declared that the time is ripe for Nigeria to deepen its democratic culture through the full deployment of electronic voting during elections.
He had made the call while appearing as the keynote speaker at a retreat organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral and Political Parties Matter held on Friday, May 27, 2016, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja where he disclosed that with the rapid pace of technological advancements, Nigeria stood to reap a lot of benefits from the deployment of e-voting, stressing that the initiative would go a long way in reducing litigations and strengthening the faith of Nigerians in the electoral process.
In a paper titled: “ New Thoughts, Ideas and Innovations on Use of ICT in Elections,” Ekeh affirmed that the gains recorded with the use of the card readers in the 2015 general elections goes a long way to showing that with the adoption of e-voting, the country would take a huge leap towards sound democratic governance.
“The country is ripe for transition to electronic voting. In your life, there must be a little bit of disruption for you to move forward. With the use of the card readers in the last general elections, we saw a significant reduction in electoral fraud. However, a few challenges still existed as no technology can be said to be 100 per cent perfect.
“A country cannot move forward where the elected leaders who take decisions are not the choice of the people. It’s like running a company and you are a shareholder in that company. If your son is not qualified to lead, you will be destroying that company by manipulating the system to favour that son. So, this was the essence of our submission to INEC on the adoption of electronic voting – that things should be done professionally with your support and that of the entire nation.
“Today, there are about 774 local governments in the country and each one with about 10, 800 polling units, some of which are in the riverine areas. Even if INEC purchases 1000 vehicles, it will still find it difficult logistics-wise to cover all the areas and this leaves the process open to manipulation by emergency contractors as INEC lacks the requisite man-power.
“If finally adopted and implemented, electronic voting will ensure that you now have reasonable infrastructure to handle this. While you have the mobile units and active screens at the polling units, the database of registrants or eligible voters is sitting at the national database of INEC,” Ekeh said

WIKE VS ORTOM: CLASH OF TWO STATE CHIEF EXECUTIVES
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/wike-vs-ortom-clash-of-two-state-chief.html

The call by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, for a state of emergency to be declared in Benue State and the probe of the state government by EFCC on the Paris Club refund sparked series of attacks and counter attacks from the camps of the two governors. ANAYO ONUKWUGHA (Port Harcourt) and HEMBADOON ORSAR (Makurdi) review the issues raised by the warring states.
Of recent, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, have been at each others neck, following the former’s call for the declaration of state of emergency in the food basket of the nation. Wike’s call for the declaration of emergency rule in the North-Central state is not unconnected to the killing of about 52 people by suspected herdsmen in a market in Zaki Biam community.
Ironically, Wike and Ortom have known each other for years, having served as ministers in the immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and were among former ministers who emerged governors of their respective states on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) respectively.
The relationship between the two governors, however, became strained after the December 8, 2016 mega campaign rally of the APC ahead of the December 10, 2016 legislative rerun election in Rivers State. The campaign rally, which was held at the Yakubu Gowon (former Liberation) Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, was attended by no fewer than 10 state governors, including Ortom as well as ministers, members of the National Assembly and other bigwigs of the APC.
Perhaps, Ortom’s insistence that the PDP was in a shambles and his call on eligible voters in Rivers State to vote for APC candidates during his solidarity speech at the rally did not go down well with Wike who dared the Benue State governor for ‘invading’ his territory to campaign against his government, even when he (Ortom) allegedly failed to pay salaries to civil servants. He urged him to fix the rot in his state first.
Speaking on a live television programme, the Rivers State governor said, “Is it that one that cannot pay his workers’ salaries for almost one year; the one that Fulani herdsmen have almost finished his people and he cannot do anything? Do you want to be like Benue?”
He accused Ortom of failing to contain the perennial Fulani herdsmen attacks on his people and other insurgents, who are killing people like flies.
In a quick response, the Benue State governor said he had no apology for his Rivers State counterpart, insisting that what he said at the mega campaign rally was the whole truth. Ortom, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, described Wike’s ranting on television as misplaced aggression in the face of impending defeat of his party in the rerun polls.
He said, “Governor Samuel Ortom has no personal problem with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and won’t be dragged into a media war. What the Benue State Governor said at the mega rally in Port Harcourt was the truth. All Nigerians know that PDP is in shambles at the moment and its several factions have left the people confused regarding who is a member of which faction of the party.
“I consider Wike’s rant last night on TV as misplaced aggression in the face of impending defeat of his party in the re-run polls. The present Benue State Government does not owe 10 months salaries. Despite the dwindling finances, Benue has a backlog of only four months and in the last seven months, workers of the state have been receiving uninterrupted wages every month.
“So, Governor Wike needs to crosscheck his facts. The problem of non-payment of salaries is a nationwide one, as 33 states can’t pay salaries now as and when due. We are aware that even some oil producing states, which receive 13 per cent revenue derivation are not left out of the situation”.
Immediately after the legislative rerun election, which saw the PDP winning majority of the seats in the National Assembly and the Rivers State House of Assembly, Wike alleged that governors of APC-controlled states spent a whooping sum of N4 billion to subvert the democratic rights of the people of the state during the election.
In a state-wide broadcast, the governor said the APC governors are from Bauchi, Benue, Kano and Plateau States, adding that the governors contributed N1 billion each to ensure that the party’s candidates succeeded in the December 10 rerun election.
He said, “Unfortunately, the brazen subversion of our democratic rights that took place on the 10th of December 2016, was carefully planned and orchestrated by some highly-placed and desperate politicians from the State in concert with the Governors of Bauchi, Benue, Kano and Plateau States, who reportedly bankrolled the plan with the sum of one billion naira each, at a time they cannot pay salaries of civil servants, let alone embark on development projects in their states”.
However, with the legislative rerun election in Rivers State conducted and those who won sworn in at the National Assembly and the Rivers State House of Assembly, keen watchers of the relationship between Wike and Ortom thought all war of words that trailed the election had been forgotten by the duo until the recent killings in Zaki Biam community, which prompted the Rivers State governor to call for an emergency rule in Benue State.
Two days after the incident, Wike blamed the attack on Ortom’s ineptitude, saying the declaration of a state of emergency in Benue had become necessary. He said, “The declaration of a state of emergency has become necessary because the governor, Samuel Ortom, has shown ineptitude and lack of capacity to handle the situation. You can’t have a governor watching helplessly as his people are being killed. What kind of governor is that? He has displayed sheer laziness and incapacity in the whole issue, and this is quite unfortunate.
Barely 24 hours after his call for emergency rule in Benue, Wike said he chose the path because Ortom was one of those who politicised insecurity in the country, “which has now degenerated to consume his state.”
In his reaction, Ortom asked Wike to seek a state of emergency in Rivers State first before talking about Benue State.
He said, “If Wike wants state of emergency, he should first ask for it in Rivers. Leaders should be careful what they say. I am not his rival. His statements are unfortunate, but I will not join issues with him. I leave Wike to his conscience.”
The Benue State governor posited that he never had any issues with Wike and recalled that the first time Wike took a swipe at him was when he was nominated by his party, the APC, to go for campaign in Rivers State.
Also, in a press statement, Ortom’s Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, who was Rivers State correspondent of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), noted that Wike needs medical attention and prayers for deliverance. He said the Rivers State governor ought to know the powers and limits of a state governor with regards to security matters, without any provocation whatsoever.
Apparently not satisfied with the response he got from his Benue State counterpart, Wike recently granted a media interview where he asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe Ortom over the use of Paris Club refund allocation”.
He said despite the amount of money disbursed to Benue State from the Paris Club refund allocation, the state government had not done much to cater to the needs of the people, hence the need for EFCC investigation.
The governor said, “The EFCC should look into the Paris Club refund allocation to Benue State because there is paucity of infrastructure in the state. The governor should be asked to account for the money and other allocations he has received in nearly two years in office. Benue people are suffering because they don’t have dividends of democracy”.
In a swift reaction, Ortom described Wike’s call on EFCC to probe the finances of Benue State as well as his claim of constructing two roads in the state as not only laughable but also diversionary.
The Benue State governor, in a statement by his media aide, Terver Akase, insisted that Wike was not constructing any road in Benue State and challenged him to publish evidence of the two roads he claims to be constructing in the state.
The leadership PDP and the APC, which are the political parties of the two opposing governors were not to be left out of the battle royale, as chairman of the PDP in Rivers State, Chief Felix Obuah, recently invited Ortom on a tour of projects embarked upon by the Wike-led administration in the state.
Obuah, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by his media aide, Jerry Needam, noted that apart from the landmark peace and security in the State, which is largely a product of the various deliberate and committed efforts and successful amnesty programme of Wike, Port-Harcourt, the State capital, and its environs now wear a new look.
In a quick response, the leadership of the APC in Benue State, in a statement by its Acting Publicity Secretary, Berger Alfred Emberga, accused Wike and the PDP of being flutes for corruption.
Diverse reactions have continued to trail Wike’s call for state of emergency in Benue. While some are in supported of it, others have rejected it. Although some of the reactions are politically motivated, some people are of the opinion that the crisis situation in the state has not assumed a proportion that requires a consideration for a state of emergency.
A top government official who do not want his name printed said, following the spate of killings in Benue and going by the conditions for declaring a state of emergency, the state is due for it.
There is a tendency for some observers to argue that state of emergency had been declared in some States in the past, but what were their success stories and achievements? What can be pointed to as their tangible positive results that can be said were beneficial to the greater percentage of the population of the affected States, especially in ending conflict and providing enduring peace?
Some other keen observers argue that although there are criminal activities going on in Benue State today, the greatest challenge to security, law and order is the seemingly endless attacks on Benue communities by herdsmen. These herdsmen, armed to the teeth with sophisticated weapons, move about openly, freely and wreak havoc on communities at will without being challenged.
In the process, hundreds of lives have been lost, thousands of people have been displaced from their ancestral homes, while farm lands, crops, houses and other properties running into billions of naira have been destroyed.
The thinking in the state is that if a state of emergency is to be declared, then it should be on the incessant attacks and killing of hapless farmers by herdsmen.
A university don who does not want his name in print said, “The country’s criminal and penal codes both criminalise illegal possession of arms and ammunition. Therefore a state of emergency should be declared across Nigeria for the purposes of arresting, disarming, prosecuting and punishing the herdsmen and all others in possession of illegal arms, in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Security experts also aver that as it stands today, a state governor does not have the power to expressly direct any military or paramilitary agency in the state to take any action as their operational directives and guidelines are issued from their headquarters.
They argue that at best, a governor could request or appeal for action, but whether or not the response to his request is positive is a different ball game altogether.
But while the debate as to what is to be done last, it should also be taken into consideration that those who they promised to protect are innocently dying in their homes and displaced in their ancestral land as refugees.

MEET LAGOSIAN FEMALE STREET BOXER AS SHE BEATS A MALE BOXER IN TRAINING (PICS/VIDEO)
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/meet-lagosian-female-street-boxer-as.html

This Lady was spotted at a local field in alagbado Lagos field were a lot of people gathered to watch her ,as she fought courageously with a male opponent in a training match arranged by the coach. No doubt this female boxer is talented but the question is can you marry female boxer like her .

Watch Video


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGVuMEHAXyo

See More Photos

VICE PRESIDENT OSIBANJO SLAMS PRESIDENT BUHARI - NIGERIA WAS BETTER WHEN YOU ARE AWAY
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/vice-president-osibanjo-slams-president.html

Vice President Osibanjo slams Buhari telling him Nigeria was better while he was away, he explained further that President Buhari is old and he lack the skills to rule the country . His old way of ruling contributed to the Nigeria economic meltdown.

Happy New Month

This Is Just April Fool From Eyes Of Lagos

LAGOS PDP CHAIRMAN BLASTS FAYOSE’S UNHOLY ALLIANCE WITH APC LEADERS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/lagos-pdp-chairman-blasts-fayoses.html

The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard how former Oyo State Governor Rasheed Ladoja diverted part of N4.7billion he allegedly looted from the state treasury.



The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Ladoja for allegedly converting state funds to his personal use. He was first arraigned eight years ago.

He was charged along with Waheed Akanbi on eight counts of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

Ladoja’s Senior Special Executive Assistant, Mr. Adewale Atanda, while testifying for the prosecution, said the former governor gave directive that Oyo State’s shares be sold.

He said N634million, which was part of the commission and profit realised by stockbrokers handling the shares’ sale, was used as slush funds to prevent Ladoja’s impeachment.



The witness said the N634million was delivered to him by the stockbrokers.

He said he removed N180million from the sum which he had earlier borrowed and spent on Ladoja’s instructions during the heat of the impeachment saga.

Part of the N180million, he said, was the N80million he obtained from Wema Bank Plc which Ladoja used to purchase 22 vehicles for Oyo State lawmakers to prevent his impeachment.

Another was a loan of N80million which he (Atanda) obtained from Lagoon Savings and Loans to buy Ladoja a property at Quarters 361 which the Oyo State Government put up for sale.

He said there was also N13.8million which Ladoja used to buy two Land Cruisers for the state security personnel for his protection.

Atanda said having deducted the N180million which he borrowed on Ladoja’s behalf, he distributed the balance of the N634million, according to Ladoja’s instructions.

Among the beneficiaries, he said, was Bimpe to whom he delivered pounds in London in 2007 and Ladoja’s wife, Yinka, who also got N20million, N19.5million and $13,000 on different occasions.

Other beneficiaries, Atanda said, were lawyers who represented Ladoja in court.

Explaining the circumstances in which £600,000 was paid to Bimpe, Atanda said: “His Excellency wanted me to pay the money into his account, but I had difficulty doing it.

“I told him and he said he would ask his daughter to contact me. She did and I gave her the money.

“The money was mostly in £50 notes; I put it in small suitcases and handed it over to her in London. I think it was in 2007.”

Under cross-examination by Ladoja’s lawyer, Bolaji Onilenla, Atanda said neither Bimpe nor Ladoja gave him anything to acknowledge the payment of the £600,000 to Bimpe.

Ladoja was governor from May 29, 2003 to January 12, 2006 when he was impeached.

On November 1, 2006, the Appeal Court, Ibadan declared the impeachment null and illegal.

The Supreme Court upheld the decision on November 11, 2009 and Ladajo resumed office on December 12, 2006.

He, however, lost a re-election bid.

Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned until April 12 and 13.