WHY THERE IS MASSIVE CORRUPTION IN NNPC – SARAKI

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday attributed alleged massive corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to lack of operational budget framework.
Saraki said such era where there was deliberate non-provision of operational budget for the Corporation is gone for good as that will not be tolerated by the 8th Senate.
The Senate President spoke while receiving members of the Civil Society Groups in Abuja.
He added that transparency and accountability must be brought to bear in all government transaction.
Saraki said: “On the issue of transparency of oversight, which you raised here, we will work very hard to see the areas where there can be improvement on our part.
“The budget process which you talked about, I want to tell you that some of us have strong views that issues of budget must be transparent, particularly, the days are gone where agencies like the NNPC would be able to function without operational budget.
“We must move away from because one of the key issues that we have now is the issue of revenue leakages because of lack of transparency, I think we must move away from that, especially agencies that have revenue coming in.”

Military to take over Aso Rock’s Strike Force

Ahead of the relocation of President Muhammadu Buhari to the Presidential Villa, arrangements have been concluded for the Nigerian military to take over the activities of the Strike Force, 

The Strike Force, which is a special security outfit saddled with the responsibility of protecting the President and the seat of power, is currently comprising only officials of the Department of State Services.

A top Presidency official, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent on Tuesday that soldiers might take over their responsibility very soon.

The source said a Lieutenant who will be leading 21 other military personnel had already been transferred to the Strike Force with an instruction to take over from the DSS officials.

He said, “DSS officials are the ones that have been serving in the Strike Force. “With this development military personnel will take over from them henceforth.

“We are aware that the situation is causing a palpable tension as there is a possibility of a showdown. But we are working hard to ensure that the situation did not degenerate.”

Operatives attached to the Strike Force are always trained abroad on counter-assault and other techniques aimed at making their jobs easier.

In explaining their duties, the source said its operatives were the ones former President Olusegun Obasanjo erroneously referred to as snippers in his widely-publicised open letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Another official, who is aware of the arrangement, also said that machinery had also been put in place to change the new Presidential Villa’s Administrative Officer, who was deployed by the DSS about two weeks ago and replaced with a military officer.

GOV EMMANUEL TO AUCTION A-IBOM’S PRIVATE JET

Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, is not finding private jet ownership a worthwhile investment.
Vanguard gathered in Uyo, yesterday, that in view of Governor Emmanuel’s unfavourable disposition to the private jet acquired by his predecessor, Chief Godswill Akpabio to ease his movement outside the state, he is contemplating disposing of the aircraft.
Since his inauguration on May 29, 2015, Emmanuel is said to prefer travelling by chartered helicopters which he considers less-ostentatious.
An Akwa Ibom State Government House source told Vanguard that the governor was shopping for buyers of the jet to relieve him of the burden of fuelling and maintaining it.
The source could, however, not disclose the cost of fuelling and maintaining the jet.
“Governor Emmanuel is not comfortable with the idea of sustaining the ownership of the jet and is contemplating selling it, more so, because of the slash in states’ allocations and the high cost of aviation fuel,” the source said.

Juliet Ibrahim recounts Ghana flood experience

Most parts of Ghana  including the capital city, Accra, and major city, Kumasi, recently experienced what has been described as worst flooding in the history of the country. Floods, which in some places, reached beyond the chest, were reported, and many lives were allegedly lost. The flood, according to reports was no respecter of persons as it visited both the low and the mighty. Even actors had stories to tell.
Juliet-Ibrahim-okOne of such actors that had a story to tell is beautiful Juliet Ibrahim who was shooting a movie at the time. According to her, the flood was so great they had to cut shooting.
“Exactly one week today, Whilst filming my new TV series my cast and crew were all inside this house located in Trasacco area and the wall broke down, the house and compound was flooded and water level was as high as our waist. Cars were damaged, equipments damaged but we thank God for our lives and we made it out of the compound through the flood leaving everything else behind. The following day we went back there and discovered that an  alligator was inside the house. My body crept at the knowledge that  we walked through the flood with such animals loitering around. May the souls of the departed of the tragic flood rest in peace. Amen! By the way, the tenants of the estate are leaving the place so only the landlord is left to occupy the place all by himself. We thank God for the revelation because it could have been worse” she recounted her experience in an Instagram post days ago.

Iyanya Celebrates Traditioal Marriage With Pump & Pageantry

Is the pop artiste getting married?
Soul singer Timi Dakolo has share a picture of Iyanya, dressed in native Calabar attire surrounded by prominent personalities in the entertainment industry. It looks as if Iyanya's traditional marriage is going down now.
Aha! It seems one lucky lady has managed to tie the pop hunk known as Iyanya down.
Soul singer Timi Dakolo has share a picture of Iyanya, dressed in native Calabar attire surrounded by prominent personalities in the entertainment industry. It looks as if Iyanya's traditional marriage is going down now.
The celebrities are IK Ogbonna, Jimmy Jatt, Timi Dakolo, Banky W, Uche Sensei, Shaydee, and Ush Bebe. Iyanya's manager Ubi Franklin is also in the picture.

Senator Chris Anyawu Replies Professor Wole Soyinka Over ''Sexual Offenses Bill'' Passage

Sen. Chris Anyanwu, who moved the motion on the recently passed ‘Sexual Offences Bill’ responds to Wole Soyinka’s open letter which was published over the weekend where he blasted a bill passed by the senate legalizing sex with underage girls. See her response below…

I have read your open letter published on a number of on-line papers. No one who read that letter could miss the fury embedded in your words. I know where that fury comes from: moral fiber, good conscience, and love of people. I want to assure you that it was the very same sentiments that drove me to come up with The Sexual Offences Bill and the same sentiments that led Senators and members to pass it.

As always, your aim was to speak as the voice of reason in our increasingly confused society.  I know you meant well. I know you acted out of your deep compassion for Nigerians and fatherly love for the children. But as I read your open letter, my heart sank because this time, my dear Baba, my dear icon, you are wrong.

Fake MFM pastor remanded in Lagos prison

A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday remanded a man, David Praise-Diri, who impersonated a pastor of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry (MFM) at Ikoyi Prisons.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Bola Folarin-Williams, gave the ruling after the accused pleaded guilty to the offences.
The accused, Praise-Diri, whose address is not provided, is facing a three-count charge of impersonation, obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Benedict Aigbokhim told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 3 at Toyin Street, Ikeja.
He said the accused approached the complainant, Miss Itohan along Toyin Street, and introduced himself as a pastor of MFM.
“The accused said he got a revelation from God for her and collected N13,000 from the complainant on the pretext of praying and fasting on her behalf for a possible solution to her problem.
“She became uncomfortable when the accused told her to come for a vigil and decided to inform a relation who also worships at MFM church.

“Our family paid the ultimate price and we still miss him dearly” – MKO's: Daughter

ONE of the daughters of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Miss Habiba Abiola, has said that her father’s death paved way for democratic government in Nigeria. Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 1993 presidential elections died in detention.
In a statement issued in Lagos, Abiola said that the June 12 celebrations which coincided with her birthday reminded her of the many years she missed without a father on her special day.
She said; “At eight years old, I could not begin to understand the importance and significance of such a tremendous victory by my father.
”I did not realize it was the beginning of true democracy but also eventually the end of many years of military rule.

Open Letter From Mazi Odera To Governor Obiano

Blunt but Truth on Tuesday report card by Mazi Odera
His Excellency the Governor,Anambra state
Duke Willie Obiano
Sir, Today is an advance stage ,a day to be blunt but fair, all in the quest for having a better state ,and also because a stitch in time saves Nine ,therefore I bring to you another Tuesday report Card with a difference .
I am still doing everything possible to salvage our state ,reduce the high cost of governance which you introduced to the state and it is doing us great deal of ills.
My old man will say “Okwu ano aso anya adiro ebi gbo” [issues treated with so much euphemism does not bring swift result] .
The state is in financial mess as it is ,thereby forcing you to accept some of the controversial money ventures that will end up enriching the state guerrillas than the Government, such as the 50% increment on IGR including and not limited to collecting from kiosk operator,Road side Mechanics,Hawkers and Vendors – selling or forcing this artisans to buy or pay for FIRE certificate ,Fire Permit ,Fire extinguisher , Aswama permit ,environmental Certificate ..E.T.C , does it not occur to this your Revenue collecting touts that most of the kiosk operators do not have goods mounting to the sum they wants to extort from them ,imagine each of the over 10 Local Government and state Government agencies strangling them with Receipts of this and that ,which they issue to them by Fire by Force at nothing less than 3,000 Naira each.
Some of the stores cannot boast of 10,000 Naira as business capital , but the collection Agencies will beat them black and blues just to get the money from them ,by doing that they drove many of them out of business and into crime .

Buhari to fight graft with 5 special laws

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to employ five proposed laws as his weapons in the fight against corruption, close associates of the President have disclosed.

Presidency sources disclosed that a committee of legends in law, led by the vice-president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo identified the five bills which have been passed on to the President for further scrutiny.
The President in turn is said to have requested legal advice on the five bills which include the Office of the Financial Ombudsman Bill 2015, National Convicts and Criminal Records Bill 2015, Electronics Transactions Bill 2015, Whistle Blower Protection Bill 2015 and the Nigerian International Financial Centre Bill 2015.