Read Desperate Letter of Dele Momodu To President Buhari

Your Excellency, I write to you today with a heavy heart. The reason should be obvious. I was one of those latter day converts to Buharism, a political philosophy that believes in the reincarnation of former leaders in the days of tribulation. You were never the first man to resurrect from retirement and near political oblivion. General Olusegun Obasanjo bounced back from prison to Aso Rock Villa. In nearby Benin Republic, former military dictator and strongman, Mathieu Kerekou who had served as maximum ruler for about 17 incredible years, came back to defeat incumbent President , Nicephore Soglo in a 1990 election. He led his country for another ten years and almost got another five-year term but for the age barrier that disqualified him.

It is normal for Africans to run towards the wise elders of the village when trouble comes knocking. That is one of the major reasons Nigerians in their millions voted with their feet and thumbs to elect you President. Many of those who supported you did so for several other reasons and you must understand that they were mainly not members of your political party, APC. So, apart from your age, they backed you because they believed in your impeccable pedigree as an incorruptible and honourable man, a strict disciplinarian, a Scrooge who would not fritter away our meagre resources, a scourge of rogues and prodigal sons, a metamorphosed tyrant now a born-again democrat, and so on and so forth. Nigerians ardently placed their hopes in you and fervently prayed you won’t disappoint them. This is the principal reason I have decided to send you this desperate memo today before some despicable politicians tarnish your hard-earned reputation and truncate this beautiful chance again.

TRUCK CRUSHES BUS CONVEYING 18 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

More than 12 students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago -Iwoye, Ogun State were crushed to death yesterday when a container fell on the passenger bus conveying them.
Many others were seriously injured in the mishap, which occurred at the Shagamu section of the Lagos/Benin Expressway.
Our correspondent gathered that the unlatched 20-feet container fell off a moving truck as the driver tried to avoid an obstruction while driving against the direction of traffic.
The container with a Lagos registration number BDG 779 XE was said to have fallen on the roof of the Toyota Hiace bus also with a Lagos registration number XV 311 MUS a few metres away from the gate of a plastic manufacturing company near Ilisha Remo junction.
It was learnt that the OOU students were travelling to Lagos State for the weekend when they met their untimely death.
The Ijebu-Ode Commander of Ogun State Traffic Management and Compliance Agency (TRACE), Tommy Hamzat, told reporters that the driver of the container laden truck drove against the traffic.
Hamzat added that the fact that the truck was driving on the wrong side of the road made it difficult for the driver of the passenger bus to notice it, hence the two vehicles collided.
He said: “I was coming from the Sagamu end when I saw the accident and hurriedly parked my car. I ran there to see if the passengers but, unfortunately, all the occupants, were dead, including the driver,.

Anambra Traders Kick Against Move To Transfer Prison Inmates From Northern Nigeria

Mild Drama ensued between the men of the Nigeria police Force and scores of traders under the eagis of Amalgamated Market and Traders Association (AMATA) Anambra chapter who took to the streets to oppose the rumored move by federal Government to swap some prisoners in the north with inmates in Anambra state but were later dispersed the police.

The traders numbering in their tens representing different markets in the state had earlier barricaded the Enugu-Onistha highway, chanting war songs to drive home their message to forestall moves by federal government to embark on such act.

They said they are not ready to start experiencing what the northern states are currently experiencing with the spate of Boko Haram insurgency and incessant bombing of markets and houses, they expressed worry  that prisoners brought from the north would have some Boko Haram members that may spoil the minds of  inmates here into insurgency activities.

 The frowned at the move by government and asked for a total cancellation of such move in the interest of the state and country at large.

BUHARI DISSOLVES NNPC BOARD

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate dissolution of the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
The decision was conveyed in a letter, dated June 26, 2015, signed by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi.
The letter quoted President Buhari as thanking members of the dissolved board for their services to the nation.
The NNPC is the state-run oil company which oversees Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. It’s board is statutorily headed by the minister of petroleum resources.
The corporation regulates the oil and gas sector, and also operates as a joint venture partner representing the government in deals with oil multinationals.
The NNPC has in recent years been accused of large scale corruption, the latest being the alleged disappearance of $20 billion oil money.
An independent audit ordered by the Nigerian government in 2014 concluded that the corporation has an outstanding $1.48 billion it should pay to the government.
The NNPC has yet to make the payment several months after the release of the audit report.

How President Buhari Traced Stolen Money To Switzerland, United Kingdom Others

The Federal Government has started tracing looted Nigerian funds to foreign nations with the aim of recovering and repatriating them.
The Federal Government specifically targets the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and other European jurisdictions where it believes corrupt officials have been stashing public funds.
This move came on the heels of the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari on his first day in Aso Villa office that he inherited an almost empty treasury from his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, thus vowing that his administration would recover all the looted funds stashed in foreign banks by corrupt Nigerians.
“The next three months may be hard, but billions of dollars can be recovered, and we will do our best,” the President was quoted as saying in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.
Some of the countries where looted funds from Nigeria have been kept in the past include Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Others are France, Germany, British Virgin Islands and other tax havens spread across the globe.
Adesina, who confirmed the move in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH on Thursday, said, the search for the looted funds will not be limited to these countries but anywhere in the world where they may be hidden.

Awka Prison Inmates Cry For Help From Hunger & Starvation

They readily, albeit regrettably, acknowledge their unenviable status as prisoners, persons who have been found wanting by their action or conduct under the law and therefore condemned to live under confinement. But that has not stopped them from pressing for their right to continued existence.
This obviously explains why inmates of the Awka prison in Anambra State have cried out to both the federal and Anambra State governments as well as private and public spirited individuals to come to their assistance before they die of hunger and penury while under the prison custody.
A self-acclaimed General Provost of the inmates who made the appeal on their behalf, identified hunger and starvation as one of their major problems. He spoke at the weekend when a philanthropist,   Mr Godwin Ezeemo, visited them to mark his 59th birthday anniversary with them.
They also listed lack of electricity supply, non-functional water bore-hole, lack of accommodation, and medical facilities as some of their problems, adding that some of them die for lack of proper care.
He regretted that most of the inmates were either jailed for an offence they did not know anything about or were thrown into prison because they had nobody or money to speak for them in minor counts. While thanking Ezeemo for choosing the prison yard as venue for his birthday, they added that people like him deserve to be at the helm of government.

Anambra Traders Set To Shut Down Markets For Fear Of Relocation of Boko Haram Suspects To Anambra

Thousands of traders in Anambra  state will Tomorrow 27th June 2015 shut down all markets in he state in protest of the planned relocation of Boko Haram suspects to Prisons in Anambra state.including Onitsha , Awka and Ekwulobia 

The traders under the aegis of Amalgamated market traders association of Anambra (AMATAS) will carry a peaceful protest in collaboration with Campaign for Democracy
When contacted the, state publicity secretary of AMATAS , Chief Dede Uzor A Uzor confirmed the planned early morning protest till evening , saying no market will open in Anmabra state tomorrow.
He said the planned relocation of Boko Haram suspects to Anambra state posses a security threat to the state.

Ignore Impeachment Petition On Aregbesola---AGF

A Concern group named Asiwaju Grassroots Foundation (AGF) has requested Osunstate House of Assembly speaker  Mr. Najeem Salaam, to ignore the petition by the state judiciary seeking the impeachment of Governor Rauf Aregbesola over the inability of the state government  to pay its workers’ salaries.
Salaam, on Wednesday, said that the Assembly had received a petition from Justice Folahanmi Oloyede, calling for the impeachment of Aregbesola on the grounds of alleged financial recklessness.
In a letter dated June 24, 2015 and signed by the AGF coordinator in Osun State, Adeboye Adebayo, the group, which acknowledged that Oloyede’s views should be respected, however, urged the Assembly to disregard the petition because “Aregbesola has made meaningful achievements.”
The letter read in part, “Mr. Speaker, you know that before now, workers’ salaries, pensions and other emoluments were being paid as and when due, including car loans and 13th month salaries.
“Things began to go the other way when financial meltdown hit the country through the mismanagement of the national economy by the President Goodluck Jonathan-led government and it is worthy of note that it was Aregbesola that first raised the alarm about the impending financial crisis.

Uduaghan Mortgaged Delta For N637.22BN DEBT - OKOWA

Delta State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has pledged to extricate the state from what he called its stringent mortgage to financial institutions between June 2015 and September 2018 over a cumulative debt of N637.22 billion.

In his maiden address to the Delta State House of Assembly yesterday on the “State of our Economy”, Okowa said “the state is grappling with a revenue bond and indebtedness totalling N98.62bn (principal sum) to commercial banks, while outstanding contractual obligation is N538,601,962,421.50.”
He disclosed that “in 2011, the government took a N50bn facility from the bond market, with a repayment period of seven years in 84 instalments at N1.098bn each month.”
He said the facility would terminate in September 2018 with 40 more instalments (totalling N43.92bn) to pay with effect from June 2015.
He continued, “In November 2014, Delta State also acted as guarantor to some select contractors supported by the issuance of an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) of N2.23bn monthly for which the contractors received the total sum of N40bn.

President Buhari Appoints AHMED IDRIS As New Accountant-General of The Federation

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Alhaji Ahmed Idris as Accountant General of the Federation. Until his appointment, Idris was Director of Finance and Accounts in the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
Announcing this in Abuja, yesterday, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, said the appointment was with effect from June 25, 2015.
Signed by Director of Communications in the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Haruna Rasheed Imrana, the statement added that the appointee, who hails from Kano State, was born on November 25, 1960.
In another development, the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, DRTS, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, is seeking approval to limit the influx of vehicles to the nation’s capital.
Consequently, DRTS has requested the FCT Administration to help it recruit more personnel to execute the mandate. Director of DRTS, Danjuma Garba, stated this yesterday while commissioning DRTS ICT Training Centre in Mabushi District, Abuja.
He said the directorate in its efforts to improve service delivery through seamless vehicle registration system, has established six additional driver licencing centres in the territory.
Deputy Director, Press in the FCTA, Muhammad Hazat Sule, quoted the DRTS boss as pleading “with the FCT Administration to provide the directorate with additional manpower to help curb the influx of vehicles in the FCT.”

Police Display Weapons Seized From Kidnappers Of G.U.O Boss In Anambra

Corporal Victor Edet, a policeman attached to Anambra State headquarters of Special Anti-Robbery 

Squad, SARS, Awkuzu as at 2009, yesterday, at an Onitsha High Court, displayed the weapons of mass destruction used by a gang of armed robbers/kidnappers who abducted the chairman of GUO Motors Limited, Chief Godwin Ubaka Okeke, on Sunday, August 23, 2009.
Chief Okeke was kidnapped at the All Saints Anglican Church Cathedral, Onitsha, but was released the next day after payment of N30 million ransom by his family.
Testifying before the court, presided over by Justice Alexander Okumah, in the on-going trial of three accused persons suspected to be members of the kidnap gang that abducted Okeke, Edet, who is the fifth prosecution witness, and currently attached to SARS, Kano State police command, also told the court how the police arrested some of the gangsters who kidnapped Okeke and recovered their weapons of mass destruction which were displayed before the court.

My Hands Are Tied To Carry Out APC's Directive---Saraki

The Nigeria Senate President, Bukola Saraki Thursday wrote a letter the National working Committee of the  All Progressives Congress (APC) explaining  why the 8th Senate refused to comply with party position when appointing principal officers for the senate.

He expressed concern in the manner the house conducted itself against the wish of the party and lamented its beyond what he could do as a senator among the 109 senators of the constituted 8th  Nigerian senate of the National assembly.
This was made public in a  letter signed by Senator Bukola Saraki, Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and dated Thursday, June 25, 2015, he explained that the APC’s letter came after the zonal caucuses had chosen their candidates in line with parliamentary convention.
He further enunciated in the letter that that he would have loved to please the party but his hands were tied.

MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENT: MERIT WILL SUPERSEDE FEDERAL CHARACTER, SAYS OSINBAJO

As Nigerians await Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has hinted that merit would carry more weight than Federal Character or zoning.
The Vice President spoke as he delivered the keynote address at the 10th Memorial Anniversary of Late Justice P. O. E. Bassey, held at the International Conference Center of the University of Calabar on Thursday.
With the theme of the memorial lecture; “Social Virtues and the Nigerian Renaissance”, the Vice President extolled the values of respect for merit in the country; the principles of integrity and trust as well as the need for social justice to be institutionalised.
As he puts it, “If we take government seriously, we must as Nigerians take merit before federal character.”
However, he explained that the government will not ignore Federal Character but that merit must come first during consideration.
The Memorial lecture attended by the governor of Cross River State Prof. Ben Ayade also had two guest speakers, Mr. Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River State and Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, former federal cabinet minister.

HERE IS THE RESUME OF MR. GREGORY PETER OBI

MR. GREGORY PETER OBI

7 Aerodrome Road, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria

Tel: 08034051000

DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH: 19th July 1961, Onitsha – Nigeria

NATIONALITY: Nigeria

MARITAL STATUS: Married with two children

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ATTENDED:

• Christ the King College, Onitsha (W.A.S.C.) - 1978

• University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (B.A. Philosophy) - 1984

• Lagos Business School, Nigeria (Chief Executive Program)

• Harvard Business School, Boston, U.S.A. (Mid to Mid Marketing)

• London School of Economics “L.S.E” (Financial Mgt./Business Policy)

• Columbia Business School, New York U.S.A. (Marketing Management)

• Kellogg Graduate School of Management U.S.A. (Advanced Exec. Prog.)

• Institute for Management Dev. (IMD), Switzerland (Snr. Executive Forum)

NANS Petition Government, Security Agencies Over Alleged COOU Student Assault By House Agent

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone B has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and the Department of State Security (DSS), over the alleged assault of a student of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Chioma Ifemeludike.
NANS officials blocked the Goodwill Junction axis of Oby Okoli Avenue, Okpuno-Awka, for over an hour in protest.
NANS coordinator Mr. Ikechukwu Okorie led other students to shut the office of a lawyer, Mr. Albert Okwudinka. Ifemeludike was alleged to have instructed his security man to  push Chioma Ifemeludike  from a storey building.
Okorie said Ifemeludike suffered life threatening injuries and Okwudinka showed no remorse, even refusing to appear at the B-division police station where the matter was first reported before it was transferred to the Area Command.

PDP Reps Candidate concedes Defeat To APGA In Anambra

The People Democratic Party Candidate in the March 28th National Assembly election and Member Representing Anaocha/Njikoka/Idumukofia Federal constituency may have conceded his victory to his opponent in the said election, Mr. Dozie Nwakwo.
The drama eschewed when the counsel to the second,third and forth respondent in the suit approached the Anambra state election petition Tribual sitting in Awka, headed by Justice Nayai Aganaba to announce their resolve to vacate the case against for the applicant, Mr. Dozie Nwakwo, stating that they have agreed to alow applicant be sworn in as member elect for Anaocha/Njikoka/Idumukofia Federal constituency, owing to the recent computation done by their legal team which actually revealed that the Mr Dozie Nwakwo won in the said election.
The dramatic concession, which elicited wide laughter in court, came up when the second and third respondents to the petition, Dr. Eze and PDP respectively, admitted that a polling unit by polling unit computation of all the valid votes clearly showed that Mr. Nwankwo won the election by a wide margin, hence he should have been returned elected.

Court Sacks Godwin Idu to be Replaced By Chuba Ikpeazu, Both PDP Anambra State

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the Peoples Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives representing Onitsha North/South Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Godwin Idu, to vacate his seat.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola also cancelled the certificate of return which the Independent National Electoral Commission earlier issued to him as the winner of the March 28, 2015 election for the Onitsha North/South Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
The judge, who was delivering judgment in a suit challenging the submission of Idu’s name to the INEC as the candidate of the PDP for the election, ordered that the plaintiff in the suit, Lynda Chuba-Ikpeazu, should be sworn in Idu’s ste
Chuba-Ikpeazu, had filed the suit which predated the March 28, 2015 election, on March 18, 2015, to challenge the substitution of her name earlier submitted to INEC as the winner of the PDP’s primary, with that of Idu.
The PDP, INEC, the National Working Committee of the PDP and Idu were the defendants in the suit. But INEC did not file any defence in the suit filed through the plaintiff’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).

WIKE RESTORES OMEHIA’S RIGHTS AS EX-GOV

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday formally restored the benefits and entitlements of Sir Celestine Omehia as a former governor of the state.
Wike, in recognising Omehia as a former governor of the state, had personally returned his (Omehia) official portrait to where the photographs of other past chief executives of the state were placed at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Omehia who was sworn in as the governor of the state on May 29, 2007, was replaced by Mr. Rotimi Amaechi on October 25, 2007 through the verdict of the Supreme Court.
Since then, Omehia was not recognised as a former governor of the state by the immediate past administration.
But about nine years after, Omehia’s portrait was returned to Government House with his privileges and benefits to be accorded to him as a former governor of the state.
Speaking on his action, Wike explained that his decision stemmed from the fact that Omehia worked as governor of the state between May 29, 2007 and October 25, 2007, wherein he took decisions on behalf of the state and initiated projects.

NDLEA Discovers 3 Drug Labs In Anambra, Arrests Drug Kingpin

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said it had arrested a suspected drug baron who specialised in sponsoring drug couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey, Italy and other foreign countries.
Addressing journalists at office of the agency at Ikoyi, Lagos, the NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, said the 37-year-old suspect, Sylvester Chukwunwendu, was also a producer of methamphetamine in Anambra State. Giade said that Chukwunwendu was arrested at Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State based on intelligence report received by the agency on April 23, 2014.
The suspect was said to be deeply involved in unlawful exportation of illicit drugs and running a methamphetamine production laboratory in his house at No. 2, St. James Close, Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos. Chukwunwendu, aka Blessed, was alleged to be the owner of the laboratory and leader of an international drug trafficking organisation which recruits and sponsors drug couriers to foreign countries. Giade said that sufficient evidence had been gathered to ease the prosecution of the suspect.

ASSEMBLY CONFIRMS JUDGE’S CALL FOR AREGBESOLA’S IMPEACHMENT

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Najeem Salaam, said on Wednesday that the assembly had received a petition from Justice Folahanmi Oloyede, calling for the impeachment of Governor Rauf Aregbesola because of alleged financial recklessness.
Oloyede is a serving judge in the Osun State judiciary.
The judge’s petition read in part, “Consequently, the admitted inability of Mr. Governor and his deputy to pay pensions, salaries and allowances for periods ranging from eight to 11 months now as a consequence of their own decision to accumulate debts beyond the capacity of the state’s internally generated revenue, whilst the very ‘actors’, Mr. Governor and his deputy, continue to enjoy their security allowances in hundreds of millions, is a violation of their oaths of office.
“Their action in this respect is as illegal as it is immoral and unconscionable. It is an evidence of their inability to discharge the functions of their office. There is therefore no legal or moral basis for their continued stay in office.

Senator Ndume Defeat Senator Lawan In Senate Leadership Mock Poll

EFFORTS to resolve the crisis over the choice of principal officers of All Progressives Congress, APC, ran into a stalemate yesterday night, even as Senator Ali Ndume defeated Senator Ahmad Lawan in a mock poll.
At the end of marathon meetings, party members from the North-East caucus of the party insisted on pushing forward their choice of Senator Ndume over the party’s preferred Senator Lawan as Senate Leader, which was zoned to the North-East.
The insistence of APC North-East senators was despite efforts, including an intervention by the immediate past President of the Senate, David Mark, to break the logjam in the ruling party, which had seen senators aligned to Senate President Bukola Saraki reject the party’s list of candidates for the four principal offices on offer to the party.
Vanguard gathered that a list of the names of four senators chosen by the party, which had been with the Senate President, would have been announced alongside that of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senators today, but for the last minute rejection of Lawan by APC North-East caucus.
Principal Offices

WHY BUHARI’S ADC ORDERS DSS OPERATIVES OUT OF PRESIDENTIAL VILLA

The inter agency rivalry between the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army came to head, yesterday, as the Aide de Camp to the President, Lt. Col Abubakar Lawal ordered personnel of the DSS out of the villa.
The incidence which happened at the residence of the President at the Presidential Villa was extended to all other points that had been manned by the personnel of the DSS.
But the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said what happened was a realignment of security around the President which entailed that members of the armed forces would man the inner perimeter of the President security while operatives of the DSS would man the outer perimeter.

Anambra State Government tasks hotels and hospitality industries on tax Compliance

The State Government has called on owners of Hotels and other hospitality industries in the state who are yet
to pay prescribed taxes or levies or who are yet to remit taxes of their employees to do so immediately.
A public service announcement endorsed by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr (Mrs) Uju Nwogu, says that government would soon  commence prosecution of all tax and levies defaulters in the state.
It reminds the owners of such Hotels and hospitality industries that payment of taxes and levies is a civic responsibility and that deliberate evasion of tax payment or tax sheltering in any form is a crime punishable by law.

MEET JOSEPHINE OKEME POPULAR TRAFFIC WARDEN AT HERBERT MACAULAY WAY JIBOWU, LAGOS

Anyone who plies Herbert Macaulay, Jibowu, Yaba. Lagos definitely knows this woman named Josephine Okeme. She's a police officer, traffic warden extremely diligent and dedicated to her work. Her attitude is always pleasant, inspiring and she's definitely a worthy ambassador of the Nigerian Police Force.

NLNG pays $1.6bn dividend to Buhari government

Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (NLNG), a joint venture between the government and foreign oil majors, has paid a handsome $1.6billion dividend to the new Muhammadu Buhari government. the company’s Chief executive, Babs Omotowa disclosed weekend.
Omotowa said since 1999, NLNG had generated some 85 billion dollars from exports since its inception 15 years ago.
He said the company, which was set up to harness Nigeria’s vast natural gas resources and produce liquefied natural gas for export, has also paid billions of dollars to the state in tax.
“Just a few days ago, we paid 1.6 billion dollars to the government as tax and this will go a long way to assist the new government in solving some of its problems,” he said.
The new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who became the first Nigerian to oust a sitting president in democratic elections in March, is facing a severe economic crunch.
About 20 of the country’s 36 states are unable to pay workers salaries.

One Fear Dead To Stray Bullet In Nanka

RESIDENTS of Nanka Orumba North Local government Area of Anambra State were recently,
dismayed as attempts by men of the National Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to uncover the mystery behind the death of a man from Enugu-Nanka who was recently found beheaded in his house resulted to another death.
  it was gathered that the NDLEA officials had same day, apprehended one Mr Sunday and other youths at a place in the village for questioning, over the death of the beheaded man.
  According to our source, some youths of the area staged a fight against the law enforcement agents who were said to have started shooting sporadically in the air in order to scare the youths away.
  In the process, Mr Sunday was hit in the abdomen by a stray bullet and he died on the way to a nearby hospital.

BUHARI CONSIDERS FASHOLA, ORONSAYE, OTHERS FOR VILLA POSITIONS

As the jostling for cabinet posts in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration intensifies, there are indications that the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Babatude Fashola; former Head of Service, Mr. Steve Oronsaye; a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Abdulrahman Dambazzau; a former Managing Director of New Nigerian Newspapers, Adamu Adamu, and a former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, Col. Hammed Ali, may have been shortlisted for positions in the administration.

Specifically, Dambazzau is being considered for the post of National Security Adviser (NSA) while Fashola, Oronsaye and Ali are being considered for the position of Chief of Staff to the president.

Adamu, on the other hand, may be made the Principal Secretary to the president. Adamu is also being considered for the post of Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but has expressed reservations about heading the anti-corruption agency.

A frontline contender for the post of Chief of Staff is Fashola, whom Buhari personally likes and has a lot of confidence in. The president has already shown his confidence in Fashola by asking him to chair a committee he empanelled to review the 800-page report submitted by the Ahmed Joda-led Transition Committee.

Why FG Lifted Ban On Importation on Textile, Furniture Products

THE Federal Government has lifted the embargo on the importation of textile materials into the country. Confirming this in Lagos yesterday, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko said that Nigerians can now import textile materials subject to payment of right duty.
Speaking at the official launching of the implementation of Economic Community of West Africa States, (ECOWAS), Common External Tariff, (CET), Dikko said that the items were removed from the prohibition list in line with the laws guiding the CET regime. “Textile, furniture and others have become dutiable as both commodities have been removed from the Import Prohibition Lists and it is going to be implemented” said Abdullahi Dikko.
The Customs boss, who was represented by Victor Gbemudu, Assistant Comptroller General, Zone ‘A’, said that importers of these goods are now expected to pay 35 percent duty as agreed by ECOWAS member countries as well as the levy as contained in the Import Adjustment Tax (IAT).
“CET also comes with some adjustments for member countries. There are 97 chapters with the 5,899 tariff headings but every member country is entitled to 3 percent adjustment. “This 3 percent adjustment translates into 177 tariff headings to enable member countries to protect their local industries.”

APC GOVS ACCUSE ODIGIE-OYEGUN OF TAKING ‘BRIBE’

The chairman has been accused of playing double standards in the National Assembly leadership crisis. For example, he is accused of collecting “gifts” from Senator Bukola Saraki before the election, while pretending to be doing the bidding of party leaders who wanted the seat ceded to Ahmed Lawan.
Eight of the 23 Governors, including that of his home state (Adams Oshiomhole of Edo), were at the party’s secretariat yesterday to deliver the message to the embattled Chairman.
Other members of the Governors entourage, who met the Chairman behind closed door were: Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), and Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa).
To further prove Odigie-Oyegun’s complicity in the NASS leadership debacle, those who want him sacked recall that all the candidates sponsored for positions in both chambers of the National Assembly lost to their opponents who contested, against the directive of the party.
Also, while other party leaders were still engaging the camps of the Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the party Chairman openly endorsed their elections.
Meanwhile, Oyegun, in an attempt at settling the rift on Monday, met with the Saraki and Ahmed Lawan, as well as Dogara, his deputy, Lasun Yusuf, separately in his residence at Asokoro in Abuja.
Odigie-Oyegun, who was presiding over the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting at the time, excused himself and met with the Governors in his office.

Nigeria May Return To Second Republic Days – EZEKWESILI

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has compared Nigeria’s recent economic situation to that of 1982 during the regime of former President, Shehu Shagari.
Ezekwesiili explained that the situation surrounding the economic, social and political sector is precarious and that managing such situations with uncertainty is most difficult.
The ex-minister made the statement while presenting a public lecture at the annual Public Service Celebration which took place at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Ikeja, lagos.
She stated that the economy had taken a nose dive and wondered how possible it was for Nigeria to find itself in the current situation.
She recalled that back in 1981 to 1982, Nigeria witnessed the same economic relapse as it is witnessing now, and that she had hoped that Nigeria would not suffer such situations ever again.
She said: “We have found ourselves in a situation where every sector is in a precarious situation. We are operating on uncertainty and it is most difficult.
“Our economy has taken a nose dive, and I ask how it is possible for Nigeria to find itself in this embarrassing situation.

Why I am Tired OF Remaining A Regent Of Akungba--Akoko -----Princess Toyin Omosowon

One week after she was released from kidnappers’ captivity, the Regent of Akungba-Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Princess Toyin Omosowon, has said she is tired of occupying the throne.

The princess, who had been expressing worries about her continued stay on the throne, has therefore asked the kingmakers in the town to commence the process of selecting a new traditional ruler for the town, saying she was prepared to vacate the throne.

The Regent in an interview with journalists on Tuesday said she was tired of the throne considering the sad developments she has been experiencing since her installation in 2013.

She declared that she was not responsible for why the has not been traditional ruler, stressing that “as a princess I know the implication of the situation we find ourselves in Akungba-Akoko.”

The Regent stressed that she had on several occasions called for the installation of new traditional ruler in the town, saying that she was not an impediment to the installation of a new monarch in the town.

Popular Rhythm FM O-.A.P, Late IPhie Aggrey-Fynn Goes Home Today At Her Country Home Aba

The remains of late former On Air Personality of Silverbird Rhythm 93.7 Fm Port-Harcourt IFEOMA VIVIENNE AGGREY-FYNN popularly called IPHIE is about now lying in state at her father's compound in Udu Street Aba, Abia State.

IPHIE died at age 29 on the 1st of June 2015 from gunshots injuries she sustained during a kidnap incident in Aba.

She was the first child of a family of four children with a Ghanian father Mr DAVID AGGREY-FYNN and a Nigeria mother.

EX-MINISTER FAULTS BUHARI ON EMPTY TREASURY, SAYS JONATHAN LEFT ABOUT $30BN

THE immediate past Minister/Deputy Chairman National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, Tuesday faulted claims by President Muhammadu Buhari that his administration met an empty treasury.
Suleiman said the former administration as at May 29 left behind the sum of US$2billion, adding that the sum would have been higher if not the governors insistence on sharing the fund.
He warned that the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan must not be criminalized and painted a plunderer and looter of the nation’s treasury before the generality of Nigerians.
The clarification was in response to the President’s statement during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, where he was quoted to have said that his government met “virtually an empty treasury.”
President Buhari reportedly said that it was adding a disgrace that Nigeria cannot pay salaries of its workforce.
Expressing his dismay over the President’s statement, Sulaiman in a statement in Abuja described the report as “unscientific and unfair”, stressing that the immediate past administration “left behind close to US$30billion.”

How 52-Year-Old Proprietor Raped 5 Year-Old Pupil In Classroom

The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned a 52-year-old school teacher, Isaac Ikiabeke, for allegedly raping a 5-year-old pupil in the Ikorodu area.

Ikiabeke, who is the proprietor of the school, Brighter Glory School, located on Etunrere Street, raped his victim after school hours.
The victim, five-year-old Pat (not her real name), said Ikiabeke had allegedly raped her 10 times.
She said,
“He has been doing it for some time. He has done it more than 10 times. I am not the only one. He does it with some of us after school hours. I could not tell anybody because he said if I did he would beat me.”
The victim’s grandfather explained that his attention was drawn to the sexual assault by some of Pat’s classmates.
He said he was shocked, as well as disappointed in Ikiabeke, whom he regarded as a respectable man.

Former President Jonathan's Son Is Alive not Dead - Source

                
The Son of the former president Goodluck Jpnathan. Ariwera Jonathan who was rumoured to have died of a mysterious death was sited  church  on Sunday with the father to dispel the wild spread negative information about the teenager.
Sources told Ashiwaju.org that former first family was said to hear such inhuman rumour about their only son but assured to pay less attention to it and move on with their carrier of touching lives after office.
They further told Ashiwaju.org that the teenager Ariwera Jonathan is not only hale and hearty but he is in good health against what was reported about the lad.
Several aides of the former President hinted Ashiwaju.org  on Tuesday that his rumored death came as a surprise to them, as the boy is not even sick.
Social media outlets were buzzing with the rumor all of Tuesday. report also had it too that the father, former president Jonathan too was also vacationing in Los Angeles.
Ashiwaju.org  learned that he plans to return to Nigeria later tonight via Germany, flying Lufthansa into Port Harcourt tomorrow.
It is not clear if this return was planned, or is due to the revelation by our publication of his whereabouts.  Earlier in the day, in a stunning announcement, President Buhari disclosed that western countries have signed up to help Nigeria recover its assets that were voraciously looted Mr. Jonathan. 

Odogwu Blog: The Limits to Exuberant Journalism by James Eze

 

I have just read the mischievous misrepresentation of the friendly conversation I had with Emeka Odogwu, an Awka based Blogger yesterday. In the story published on his blog, Mr. Odogwu alleged that I "attacked" him‎ over a story he published, speculating that the governor of Anambra State would hold a special broadcast on Monday June 22, 2015 to announce a slash in salaries as well as the sack of his aides. 

My initial reaction after reading the story was to wave it aside because Odogwu is my friend and I am familiar with his penchant for high drama. But on second thought, it struck me that the story may well be part of the general plot to foist on me a strange identity; to profile me as a cantankerous reputation manager who fights with his colleagues. I sensed that it is the same malicious strategy that they had attempted without success, to deploy against Anambra State Government and people associated with it. Consequently, I decided to recount what happened between Odogwu and I. Here is my story...

Two suspected armed robbers burnt to death in Onitsha

By Abuchi Onwumelu
Two suspected armed robbers were yesterday burnt to death in Onitsha along Old Road Nkpor, opposite First Bank. The suspects operating on motorbike were said to have snatched a bag containing cash withdrawn by a female customer of the First Bank.
Eyewitnesses say they collected the money at gunpoint as onlookers who noticed what was happening chased them, caught them and beat them mercilessly with sticks and stones before setting them ablaze.
An eyewitness who simply identified himself as Mr Sam urged Governor Willie Obiano to tighten security in Onitsha and its environs to curtail these incessant armed robbers operating on motorbike commonly known as Okada.

Mega Artiste Korede Bello Dashes Half A Million Naira @GodWin Gift To Fans On Twitter Page

Nigeria’s Mega Star and Mavin Artiste, Korede Bello who recently dropped the video to his smashing hit single ‘Godwin’ took to Twitter Monday night to reward fans.

The give away, which started around 10:45pm on the social networking platform, Twitter got massive engagement from his fans who are fondly called ‘@Bellovers’.

Korede centered the giveaway on his new Godwin video, putting up questions from scenes in the video. It was clear that only those who have watched the video could answer the questions correctly.

At the end of the giveaway, More than 20 fans were rewarded with a total sum of half a Million Naira.

Speaking at the end of the giveaway, Korede Bello tweeted:

“This is just my own little way of appreciating you guys for the support and love you keep showing me. He further posted a screen shot of #GodwinAlert twitter trend on Instagram with a caption:

Twitter was alive! My Followers on twitter just had the #GodwinAlerts experience! My Lil way of saying THANK YOU to y’all #Bellovers.. but guess what? Instagram and Facebook’s #Godwin Alerts is going to be MEGA! Stay Tuned.

 This leaves us to imagine what will happen in the coming days.

Stay connected to his facbook and Instagram social network to partage in the next give away @GodWin Money splash

Togolese President Absence From Public Functions On Mysterious Health Challenge

The President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe, has not been seen in public for the past two weeks. His sudden disappearance from public life has led to speculation about the state of his health.
The last time Gnassingbe was spotted in public was two and a half weeks ago, on June 5, 2015. He was seen in Ghana consoling the families of victims of the gas station explosion in the nation’s capital, Accra.
A reputable French Newspaper, Lettreducontinent, reported that Gnassingbe is currently sick at a hospital in Turin, Italy where he is receiving treatment for an unknown condition.
The silence surrounding the President and his aides is emboldening rumors of his hospitalization, and there has been no public notification from anyone in his government.
This is not the first occasion where the Togolese government remained silent about the illness or death of its Head of State. The father, and previous President of Togo, Gnassingbe Eyadema, died while being evacuated to seek medical treatment in Tel Aviv which was not immediately announced by the government.

NAU VC Urges Engineering Students To Take Nigeria Future By Surprise

He has been thinking on how best to show them appreciation for making the University proud with Auto Zik production even though the name they gave it before Prof Ahaneku announced it Auto Zik was Standard formula 2 car.
The students Okoyenta Augustus, Okeke Chukwuebuka , Ofoegbu kenechukwu, Ibekwe Ebenezer and Ezeani Chikeluba are always on his mind hence he has started with all the exhibitions………..who knows the next city or country the exhibition would take them to ? These five students should be happy by now the University and Vice Chancellor are celebrating them…..?
Unizik Engineering department one of the best in Nigeria?
The Dean Faculty of Engineering Prof. C. Ihueze, the HOD of Mechanical Engineering Dr. C.H Achebe, Dr. Nwigbo Solomon, and all supporting lecturers that made the project a reality are all happy because the Faculty of Engineering and most especially the Department of Mechanical Engineering has brought glory to Unizik and VC is happy.