Five bad habits that could land you in debt

Latest-News Five bad habits that could land you in debt

…

Read more »

Abuja Landlord clarifies allegation of N800m property ‘owned’ by Kiki Osibanjo

Latest-News Abuja Landlord clarifies allegation of N800m property ‘owned’ by Kiki Osibanjo

…

Read more »

Obaseki gave PDP N15bn to emerge as governorship candidate – APC’s Ize-Iyamu alleges

Latest-News Obaseki gave PDP N15bn to emerge as governorship candidate – APC’s Ize-Iyamu alleges

…

Read more »

Nigerian govt gives update on lady put up for sale on Facebook by Lebanese

Latest-News Nigerian govt gives update on lady put up for sale on Facebook by Lebanese

…

Read more »

EPL: Mourinho ready to put Arteta affection aside ahead of derby

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcS1cVIAl-Exk0P_N8MCrXvV8G-IFBsSVtrr8KjwY9DIEKMEUjUcMsvICaboobeQYhe_LMeYSgE2n9L1X3rtuUBhkicle-sMjdlFPXikoB6LnFxErRt-S3hiDkKz6mX9pv9BpamflPhTk/s1600/0DFE51B3-B558-43AC-82EF-FDB1C2B7F9BF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="480" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcS1cVIAl-Exk0P_N8MCrXvV8G-IFBsSVtrr8KjwY9DIEKMEUjUcMsvICaboobeQYhe_LMeYSgE2n9L1X3rtuUBhkicle-sMjdlFPXikoB6LnFxErRt-S3hiDkKz6mX9pv9BpamflPhTk/s400/0DFE51B3-B558-43AC-82EF-FDB1C2B7F9BF.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho says he cannot wish Mikel Arteta success this season despite his affection for the Arsenal boss.</b><br /> <br /> Mourinho comes up against a man who was with him at Barcelona way back in the 1990s in Sunday’s north London derby at Tottenham’s new stadium.<br /> <br /> It is a game that will go a long way to deciding who will achieve Europa League qualification, so Mourinho is tempering the niceties.<br /> <br /> “I met Mikel when he was a kid in Barcelona. I was there with Mr (Louis) Van Gaal. He was really, really a kid,” Mourinho said.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “When you know this kid at this age, time flies, but in the end, you always look at them as the kid you have a great feeling for.<br /> <br /> “When he became Pep’s (Guardiola) assistant I started calling him every time I met him ‘Mister’, not Mikel.<br /> <br /> “I like him very, very much. I hope everything goes well for him in his career but in this moment he is in a rival club, a club that fights for the same thing we fight – a European position – and I cannot wish him good in this position.”<br /> <br /> The pair may be at opposite ends of their managerial careers, but their current tasks across north London are pretty similar.<br /> <br /> Both men took their job mid-season and are expected to build the club back into Champions League challengers after tough spells.<br /> <br /> “The nature of his job is similar to mine, to Carlo (Ancelotti, Everton boss). You arrive in the middle of the season with a double focus, which is not easy,” added Mourinho.<br /> <br /> “On one side you want to get results immediately, but on the other side, you have an eye on the future.<br /> <br /> “What you want is to build your own team, what you want is to start your next season. When you are in a relegation fight, for example, Neil Warnock going there (Middlesbrough), he knows that he needs a certain number of points, he knows what he has to do.<br /> <br /> “In our case, it is different, because we are speaking about very important clubs, clubs that want to do better in the future. It’s half now, half in the future.<br /> <br /> “We all are desperate to have the end of the season, holiday, preparation, pre-season and start a new season. The reality is we have to fight for points, which means Europa qualification and a special rival feeling between Arsenal and Tottenham.”

Latest-News EPL: Mourinho ready to put Arteta affection aside ahead of derby

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho says he cannot wish Mikel Arteta success this season despite his affection for the Arsenal boss. Mourinho comes up against a man who was with him at Barcelona way back in the 1990s in Sunday’s north London derby at Totte…

Read more »

Former Oyo Commissioner, Fatai Abimbola dies in car accident

Latest-News Former Oyo Commissioner, Fatai Abimbola dies in car accident

…

Read more »

Magu writes Salami panel, speaks on allegations, makes demands

Latest-News Magu writes Salami panel, speaks on allegations, makes demands

…

Read more »

One killed, six rescued as three-story building collapses in Lagos

Latest-News One killed, six rescued as three-story building collapses in Lagos

…

Read more »

Nigeria police begins recruitment of new constables

Latest-News Nigeria police begins recruitment of new constables

…

Read more »

NFIU vandalised as N510bn is traced to BDC ‘with links to Magu’

Latest-News NFIU vandalised as N510bn is traced to BDC ‘with links to Magu’

…

Read more »

I was 5 mins away from being raped – Eniola Badmus shares ugly encounter

Latest-News I was 5 mins away from being raped – Eniola Badmus shares ugly encounter

…

Read more »

I had an affair with rapper, August Alsina— Jada Pinkett Smith

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTsjLAgblD-u1R7fIkcuHYIjsPU11GMRAnS0JFIAgXilxXecNT6c1_jeJ5eSk7YFGNc-e9gWngjjEF6I2PVh9sVsmYZCz9KFfV4gCEO5-t7Fn5PXbEYfE63aEBEmWrdqkC5wllAmVVbM/s1600/E2632610-751D-4B4D-B696-9C6B79E24027.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="480" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTsjLAgblD-u1R7fIkcuHYIjsPU11GMRAnS0JFIAgXilxXecNT6c1_jeJ5eSk7YFGNc-e9gWngjjEF6I2PVh9sVsmYZCz9KFfV4gCEO5-t7Fn5PXbEYfE63aEBEmWrdqkC5wllAmVVbM/s400/E2632610-751D-4B4D-B696-9C6B79E24027.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>Jada Pinkett Smith has admitted she did have an affair with singer August Alsina while married to Will Smith.</b><br /> <br /> The 48-year-old sat down with her husband for an intimate conversation on her Facebook show, Red Table Talk, and revealed she developed a friendship with August around four years ago.<br /> <br /> She said around the same time, the married couple was going through a ‘difficult time’ and they had ‘basically broken up’.<br /> <br /> The bombshell tell-all comes after both actors denied August’s claims that Will gave him his blessing to have a relationship with Jada.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> In Friday’s episode of Jada’s web series, the Hollywood couple sat opposite each other as they set the record straight and reaffirmed their commitment to each other.<br /> <br /> Jada began explaining that the couple met August through their son Jaden and recalled that the Louisiana-born singer, who would have been 23 at the time, was ‘really sick’.<br /> <br /> ‘And it all started with him just needing some help, me wanting to help his health, his mental state.<br /> <br /> ‘The outpouring for him from our family was initially about his health,’ she said. ‘We found all those different resources to help pull him through and from there you and I were going through a very difficult time.’<br /> <br /> Will admitted, ‘I was done with you,’ while Jada added that they decided to separate for a ‘period of time’.<br /> <br /> ‘And then what did you do, Jada?’ Will asked, urging his wife to keep talking.<br /> <br /> ‘As time went on, I got into a different type of entanglement with August,’ Jada explained.<br /> <br /> The mother-of-two went on to respond to August’s claim that Will gave her ‘permission’ to have an affair.<br /> <br /> ‘The only person that can give permission in that circumstance is me,’ she insisted.<br /> <br /> ‘But what August was probably trying to communicate because I could see how he could see it as permission because we were separated amicably, and I think he wanted to make it clear he’s not a homewrecker because he’s not.’<br /> <br /> When Will pushed Jada to clarify what she meant by ‘entanglement’ she responded, ‘It was a relationship, absolutely.’<br /> <br /> Jada continued: ‘I was in a lot of pain, and I was very broken. In the process of that relationship, I definitely realized that you can’t find happiness outside yourself.’<br /> <br /> She explained the couple was going through a process of healing.<br /> <br /> ‘I just wanted to feel good, It had been so long since I felt good… and it was really a joy to just help heal somebody.’<br /> <br /> The Set It Off star pondered whether her actions were down to her codependency issues and needing to ‘fix people’ due to her past traumas.<br /> <br /> As Will made light of the fact that he’s being the dutiful husband and standing by his wife after her ‘transgressions’ amid intense media scrutiny, Jada admitted that she doesn’t see her relationship with August ‘as a transgression at all’.<br /> <br /> ‘Through that particular journey, I learned so much about myself and was able to really confront a lot of emotional immaturities, emotional insecurity and I was really able to do some really deep healing,’ Jada said.<br /> <br /> ‘And as I came through and started to realize certain things about you and me, he decided to break all communication with me which was totally understandable. And I let that be and hadn’t talked to him since so it is a little weird that all this stuff is coming out now since this was several [years ago].’<br /> <br /> Will chimed in, ‘For me, this was years ago,’ as Jada reflected on how far they’ve come in their relationship, ‘We have really gotten to that new place of unconditional love.’<br /> <br /> At one point in the conversation, they echoed each other, saying: ‘We ride together. We die together. Bad marriage for life,’ a reference to a catchphrase in Will’s Bad Boys franchise.<br /> <br /> August told The Breakfast Club’s Angela Yee on June 30 that he was in love with Jada and said: ‘I sat down with Will [Smith] and had a conversation due to the transformation from their marriage to life partnership… he gave me his blessing.’<br /> <br /> August said the two became very close and holidayed together with the family in Hawaii a year later and they even attended the 2017 BET Awards together.<br /> <br /> He said: ‘I totally gave myself to that relationship for years of my life, and I truly and really, really deeply love and have a ton of love for her.<br /> <br /> ‘I devoted myself to it, I gave my full self to it, so much so to the point that I can die right now and be okay with knowing that I truly gave myself to somebody.<br /> <br /> ‘And I really loved a person, I experienced that and I know what that feels like, and some people never get that in this lifetime.<br /> <br /> ‘I know that I am completely blessed and this conversation is difficult because it is so much, that it would be hard for people to understand but, once it starts to affect me and my livelihood, I have to speak up about my truth.’<br /> <br /> Shortly after Will’s representative branded the reports as ‘wrong’, while a spokesperson for Jada denied the claims to Page Six, calling them ‘absolutely not true’.<br /> <br /> But a day later on July 2, Jada tweeted: ‘There’s some healing that needs to happen… so I’m bringing myself to The Red Table.’<br /> <br /> Jada has been married to Will since 1997, they are parents to Jaden and daughter Willow, 19. Will has a son Trey, 27, from his marriage to Sheree Zampino, 53.<br /> <br /> In 2019 August had denied an affair with Jada had taken place after his track ‘Nunya’ was released.<br /> <br /> Rumors were sparked by the lyrics: ‘You got me feeling like it was an act, you’re just an actress / Putting on a show ’cause you don’t want the world to know.’<br /> <br /> The singer now says he is not speaking out to cause trouble.<br /> <br /> He said: ‘Contrary to what people may believe, I am not a troublemaker. I don’t like drama. The drama actually makes me nauseous.<br /> <br /> ‘And I also don’t think that it is ever important for people to know what I do, who I sleep with, who I date … but in this instance it is very different because as I said, there are so many people that are side-eyeing me, looking at me questionably.

Latest-News I had an affair with rapper, August Alsina— Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith has admitted she did have an affair with singer August Alsina while married to Will Smith. The 48-year-old sat down with her husband for an intimate conversation on her Facebook show, Red Table Talk, and revealed she developed a f…

Read more »

States back FG’s suspension of school resumption ‌

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivd2SdofaYgMotYePJANAYaexCU3KA8OCNqaoDTWnPG37Ngo6FkL_1Ov0k1D4cmK45H-oeOtHIJQ6U663GEjBPP79p8biolvPzGmbuFbtSipvl5H3X2Gz1b5pZ1sd2oBONV5JnodBO4ug/s1600/A5143518-302E-4404-8E0E-1734B4437FAA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="643" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivd2SdofaYgMotYePJANAYaexCU3KA8OCNqaoDTWnPG37Ngo6FkL_1Ov0k1D4cmK45H-oeOtHIJQ6U663GEjBPP79p8biolvPzGmbuFbtSipvl5H3X2Gz1b5pZ1sd2oBONV5JnodBO4ug/s400/A5143518-302E-4404-8E0E-1734B4437FAA.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The Commissioners of Education in 19 Northern States have supported the suspension of school reopening amid the pandemic by the Federal Government.</b><br /> <br /> The commissioners made this known in a communique issued in Kaduna State on Saturday, after a virtual meeting to consider school reopening and other issues to strengthen the education sector.<br /> <br /> The communique was signed by the Commissioner of Education, Kaduna, Dr Shehu Makarfi, who is also the Chairman of the Northern States School Exchange Programme.<br /> <br /> The meeting was attended by commissioners of 13 of the 19 northern states namely, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe, Niger, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Kogi, Kwara, Katsina, Kano, Borno and Jigawa.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The commissioners applauded the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, for taking a decisive stand against school reopening and pledged their full support.<br /> <br /> According to them, keeping schools closed considering the spike in cases of COVID-19 across the country is a sure step in ensuring that children remain safe.<br /> <br /> “We have, therefore, resolved that schools should be reopened only when it is safe to do so and when states have complied with the minimum COVID-19 safety protocols as outlined by the NCDC.<br /> <br /> “We will also participate in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and other examinations only when it is safe to reopen schools and when coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education,” they said.<br /> <br /> The commissioners also resolved to carry out a holistic assessment of schools to determine safety status for reopening and submit reports to their respective governors for consideration.<br /> <br /> “Schools’ infrastructure, such as dilapidated classrooms, students’ hostels, source of safe water, sanitary facilities, including hand washing equipment and security are critical and should be improved.<br /> <br /> “We will equally clear schools of bushes and grasses, as well as fumigate school’s surroundings to support learning and ensure safety when schools resume,” they said.<br /> <br /> Stranded Nigerians to return home from Thailand, Malaysia<br /> They, however, appealed to the Federal Government to support states in putting safety measures in place for school reopening.

Latest-News States back FG’s suspension of school resumption ‌

The Commissioners of Education in 19 Northern States have supported the suspension of school reopening amid the pandemic by the Federal Government. The commissioners made this known in a communique issued in Kaduna State on Saturday, after a virtual…

Read more »

Five things to know about new EFCC acting Chairman, Mohammed Umar

Latest-News Five things to know about new EFCC acting Chairman, Mohammed Umar

…

Read more »

VIDEO: How Malami, son flouted COVID-19 rules at wedding ceremony

Latest-News VIDEO: How Malami, son flouted COVID-19 rules at wedding ceremony

…

Read more »

Akwa Ibom govt issues guidelines for reopening of schools

Latest-News Akwa Ibom govt issues guidelines for reopening of schools

…

Read more »

IGP withdraws Magu’s police security, replaces officers attached to EFCC

Latest-News IGP withdraws Magu’s police security, replaces officers attached to EFCC

…

Read more »

Lagos seals off ‘unauthorised’ COVID-19 test centre

Latest-News Lagos seals off ‘unauthorised’ COVID-19 test centre

…

Read more »

COVID-19: Nigeria records 575 new cases, 20 deaths

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6Dk8MsYDjeUX1gU1hiyLCavtJL-hw44ZSAz-HdtxZEHpXsyEiVAzcAM7MCwkZk6wVG-VUwjIdeMlodxLY-yb7W26PtUn2lAOuFddL8ZzaqdxB30xnqBAwzzTJbn6ZddMSyeqqcE4Tv8/s1600/DE999ACC-FDC9-43A6-AD84-4E96B2976CDD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6Dk8MsYDjeUX1gU1hiyLCavtJL-hw44ZSAz-HdtxZEHpXsyEiVAzcAM7MCwkZk6wVG-VUwjIdeMlodxLY-yb7W26PtUn2lAOuFddL8ZzaqdxB30xnqBAwzzTJbn6ZddMSyeqqcE4Tv8/s400/DE999ACC-FDC9-43A6-AD84-4E96B2976CDD.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>Nigeria, on Friday, recorded another 575 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 20 deaths.</b><br /> <br /> The latest report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, brings the total of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria to 31,323 cases.<br /> <br /> The 575 new cases were reported from 18 states of Lagos- 224, Oyo ’85, FCT-68, Rivers-49, Kaduna-39 Edo-31, Enugu -30, Delta-11, Niger -10, Katsina-9, Ebonyi-5, Gombe-3, Jigawa-3, Plateau-2, Nassarawa-2, Borno-2, Kano-1, and Abia-1.<br /> <br /> The report also revealed that no new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <div dir="ltr" lang="tl" xml:lang="tl">575 new cases of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19Nigeria?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19Nigeria</a>;<br /> <br /> Lagos-224<br /> Oyo-85<br /> FCT-68<br /> Rivers-49<br /> Kaduna-39<br /> Edo-31<br /> Enugu-30<br /> Delta-11<br /> Niger-10<br /> Katsina-9<br /> Ebonyi-5<br /> Gombe-3<br /> Jigawa-3<br /> Plateau-2<br /> Nassarawa-2<br /> Borno-2<br /> Kano-1<br /> Abia-1<br /> <br /> 31,323 confirmed<br /> 12,795 discharged<br /> 709 deaths <a href="https://t.co/Mav9p5BNJr">pic.twitter.com/Mav9p5BNJr</a></div> — NCDC (@NCDCgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1281720728837029891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="async" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>“Till date, 31,323 cases have been confirmed, 12,795 cases have been discharged and 709 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory,” NCDC added.

Latest-News COVID-19: Nigeria records 575 new cases, 20 deaths

Nigeria, on Friday, recorded another 575 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 20 deaths. The latest report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, brings the total of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria to 31,323 cases. The 575 new cases we…

Read more »

COVID-19: Obasanjo locks out aides, mourners at mother-in-law’s burial

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5gKSV4OrY4haL5VHmGxFV_cZncpRzDBvs72ll9H9eGXMfnLTq2IZN7YHtgGdm861_86nJ3afp8Rcc5llOCrExS07e6T0sr72vG5xivX8FJ6m5yxZlUt98sS4bEZ9sntlPlqtJiBVjyo/s1600/222C40B2-E159-499C-9165-FAEB73153861.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5gKSV4OrY4haL5VHmGxFV_cZncpRzDBvs72ll9H9eGXMfnLTq2IZN7YHtgGdm861_86nJ3afp8Rcc5llOCrExS07e6T0sr72vG5xivX8FJ6m5yxZlUt98sS4bEZ9sntlPlqtJiBVjyo/s400/222C40B2-E159-499C-9165-FAEB73153861.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday personally locked the entrance to the church where his mother-in-law’s burial programme took place in Isara Remo, Ogun East Senatorial District, Ogun State.</b><br /> <br /> The move was in ex-President’s strict enforcement of the Covid-19 protocols regarding safe physical distance and minimum number of persons permissible in an enclosed space.<br /> <br /> At the St. Peter’s Anglican Church (Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion) Diocese of Remo, Isara Remo, Ogun State venue of the Order of Service for the remains of his mother in-law, Mrs Florence Mopelola Adenekan, Obasanjo manned the church’s enhance door and ensured that the approved limit of those to be allowed in was strictly adhered to.<br /> <br /> The former President ordered many of the mourners who wanted to be part of the funeral service to go back and personally shut the Church doors against them as the service presided over by the Archbishop of Lagos Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos and Bishop of Remo Diocese, Most Rev Dr Matthew Olusina Fape, commenced at about 10.30 am.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Some of the elder statesman’s close aides and associates were not spared – they too were also locked outside despite having their face masks on.<br /> <br /> The late Mrs Adenekan was the mother of Chief (Mrs) Bola Obasanjo. She died on April 17, 2020; two days before her 90th birthday.<br /> <br /> The nonagenarian was interred at the church cemetery located behind the church with Obasanjo leading the family of his in-laws to perform the dust-to-dust rites.<br /> <br /> Mrs Obasanjo was absent at the ceremony, as she was said to have travelled to the United Kingdom (UK) and could not make it.<br /> <br /> The former President later paid homage to the four traditional rulers at Ode and Isara communities in company with his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, among others.<br /> <br /> The visited monarchs include Oba Mukaila Akanbi Olabinjo (Isara); the Iraye Remo, Oba Samuel Olatunji Kalejaiye; the Eleposo Eposo Ode Remo, Oba Albert Adebose Mayungbe and the Alaye Ode, Oba (Suvr.) Adetunji Osho.<br /> <br /> Oba Osho said Obasanjo had demonstrated “how true and respected Yoruba son he is by visiting their domains despite coming on personal engagement to the area.<br /> <br /> “We shall continue to learn from your wisdom. The entire people of Ode is proud and appreciate this visit,” the traditional ruler said.

Latest-News COVID-19: Obasanjo locks out aides, mourners at mother-in-law’s burial

Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday personally locked the entrance to the church where his mother-in-law’s burial programme took place in Isara Remo, Ogun East Senatorial District, Ogun State. The move was in ex-President’s strict enforcement o…

Read more »

Magu shuns police cell, sleeps in mosque

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrEBY9u4zY7mLM75FgPTowtoFfbtopbQpzAtf8M3f8PuqLq8Xod03qtKqBJJHFumdGi90ZuIRqRZuaFev-oRLzQTX4w-ST0Zdo6xrn8I3TwB_tKt__7WTEAIkc5BpHBUskFETgFpgJzk/s1600/5F6848A5-D93B-466D-927C-FD6D46629C85.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="480" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrEBY9u4zY7mLM75FgPTowtoFfbtopbQpzAtf8M3f8PuqLq8Xod03qtKqBJJHFumdGi90ZuIRqRZuaFev-oRLzQTX4w-ST0Zdo6xrn8I3TwB_tKt__7WTEAIkc5BpHBUskFETgFpgJzk/s400/5F6848A5-D93B-466D-927C-FD6D46629C85.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>Suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, who is currently facing trial before the Presidential Investigation Panel over allegations of corruption levelled against him has reportedly shunned the cell of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, FCID and turned the mosque in the premises of the police headquarters as his abode where he has spent his fourth night.</b><br /> <br /> As he embarked on the battle of his life, the police management team was said to have abandoned him to his fate to carry his own cross following his refusal to identify with the police hierarchy while his reign as the commission’s boss lasted.<br /> <br /> Information from the FCID, yesterday, revealed that Magu now spends his night inside a mosque at Zone 10 office of FCID, Abuja where he was ordered to be detained pending the outcome of his trial.<br /> <br /> Sources claimed that though he was supposed to be kept inside the cell at the Zone 10 office of FCID, Abuja, he normally spends hours behind the counter in front of the cell and after appearing at presidential panel headed by the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, he would be brought back and later taken to the mosque midnight where he passed the up till Thursday.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Though it was not possible to ascertain whether he slept on a bed or on the ground, sources said his relatives must have been making  provision  for him to sleep comfortably inside the mosque on a special arraignment with the police. It was gathered that FCID, Zone 10, has been well fortified since Magu was detained there and extra efforts have been made to scrutinize both officers and men working there including visitors. However, sources said there was a directive that no visitor should be allowed to enter the premises of the department in the night.<br /> <br /> Furthermore, it was gathered that the police management team met early yesterday and took far reaching decisions over Magus’s trial. Police sources said the management team decided that the embattled Commissioner of Police should be made to carry his cross based on the fact that while he was presiding over EFCC, he deliberately failed to respect senior police officers and never attended senior officers meetings chaired by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Adamu Muhammed. The IGP reportedly summoned the meeting with the Force Chief Legal Officer, CP Augstine Salomi in attendance where the decision was taken.<br /> <br /> President Muhammadu Buhari, has reportedly warned serving Ministers, Senior Police Officers and top government officials not to be seen offering any assistance over the case. It was also gathered that the Presidential panel has given the directors and senior staff of EFCC seven days to come up with all files containing cases handled under Ibrahim Magu from 2018 till date.<br /> <br /> Last Tuesday, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and riot policemen stormed Mr Magu’s private home in Karu and his official residence in Maitama in Abuja which they ransacked.<br /> <br /> Magu was arrested on Monday and taken before the presidential panel where he was grilled for over six hours before being taken to the FCID headquarters in Area 10, Garki, Abuja where he retires to after daily interrogation at the panel.<br /> <br /> The panel was constituted by President Buhari to investigate allegations of corruption levelled against him by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. The memo by Malami allegedly accused Magu of diversion of recovered loot and contained 22 allegations.<br /> <br /> According to sources, efforts were being made to find a good replacement for Ibrahim Magu. Many names including serving and retired top police officers and even civilians had been touted. Sources said most of the names being bandied in the past few days really cropped up for consideration but the presidency rejected them with a promise not to make the mistake made over Magu.<br /> <br /> The name of a retired top officer from the north in the Department of Security Services, DSS, was reportedly penciled down by the Presidency but, sources close to the presidency said the name of a retired police Commissioner from Benue state  who once headed FCID, Abuja, Special Anti-robbery Squad, SARS, Lagos in their early days etc was seriously under consideration based on his unblemished records and achievements recorded in crime fighting and investigations while in service.<br /> <br /> The Commissioner of Police, Saturday Vanguard learned, was credited with successfully carrying out a campaign against corruption as a Commissioner of Police in Anambra State. He reportedly took his men with placards marching on the streets and denouncing corruption with a view to portraying the Nigeria Police Force in the proper light. He also cracked many other high profile cases while serving in Lagos including the tragic story of Nigeria Airways first pilot, Captain Hadiza Lantana Oboh who was brutally killed on 8th February, 1998 and her body dumped inside a septic tank by her domestic servants. As at last count, names of many top serving and retired police officers including those of their sister security agencies that were submitted, have been dropped.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, as all these were going on, the presidency yesterday announced that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate suspension of Ibrahim Magu as Acting Chairman of the EFCC. According to the presidency, the suspension was in order to allow for unhindered inquiry by the Presidential Investigation Panel under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act and Other relevant laws.<br /> <br /> The presidency said President Buhari has also approved that the EFCC Director of Operations, Mohammed Umar should take charge and oversee the activities of the Commission pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and further directives in that regards.<br /> <br /> The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami stated this yesterday in a statement by his spokesman, Umar Gwandu.<br /> <br /> The statement read in part: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate suspension of Ibrahim Magu as Ag. Chairman, EFCC in order to allow for unhindered inquiry by the Presidential Investigation Panel under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act and other relevant laws.<br /> <br /> “President Muhammadu Buhari has also approved that the EFCC Director of Operations, Mohammed Umar should take charge and oversee the activities of the Commission pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and further directives in that regards”.

Latest-News Magu shuns police cell, sleeps in mosque

Suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, who is currently facing trial before the Presidential Investigation Panel over allegations of corruption levelled against him has reportedly shunned th…

Read more »

COVID-19: Benue University Pro-Chancellor, others test positive

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtrDAeodWQPLQ3-G7DwM_nwchet83Qd3h0MC5GcXUXvuYRL69mnmXEXiX2dOUogwjkqDXm9VIpX54ZCaXaEoXVR0QhyphenhyphenkpnhkiK_nTw233QNPRfEHmpJ1eXsn85AfoZJzmhENXn2qQLOM/s1600/2DA77A31-7041-4C26-AEB7-F5D7E54D75E4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="480" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtrDAeodWQPLQ3-G7DwM_nwchet83Qd3h0MC5GcXUXvuYRL69mnmXEXiX2dOUogwjkqDXm9VIpX54ZCaXaEoXVR0QhyphenhyphenkpnhkiK_nTw233QNPRfEHmpJ1eXsn85AfoZJzmhENXn2qQLOM/s400/2DA77A31-7041-4C26-AEB7-F5D7E54D75E4.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Benue State University, Makurdi, Prof. Zacharys Gundu has tested positive for COVID-19.</b><br /> <br /> Prof. Gundu made his status known in a letter he wrote to the Vice Chancellor of the institution and university community.<br /> <br /> This came after the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Msugh Kembe last week announced he tested positive while the Deputy Vice Chancellor, DVC, Administration, Prof. Godwin Achinge lost his life to the virus.<br /> <br /> In the said letter the Pro-Chancellor wrote “This is to write and inform you that samples collected from me and sent to Abuja for COVID-19 testing returned a positive test result to me on July 9, 2020.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “A few days after the samples were taken and sent to Abuja, I went into one of the isolation facilities in Makurdi. I am writing to plead with you to take this pandemic seriously. It is blind to relations, friendships and knows neither enemy nor friend.<br /> <br /> “It is not partisan. Already we have lost Professor Godwin Achinge and a senior security staff. A few other staff have tested positive and are in isolation for management.<br /> <br /> “Our prayers are with families of the deceased and those in isolation, and we are hopeful that all of them will recover to continue the toil in the university’s vineyard.<br /> <br /> “This is not a time for rumours and finger-pointing, what is happening is beyond humanity’s present understanding and control; that is just the truth.”<br /> <br /> Continuing he said, “Those who are prone to going to social medial with innuendoes, rumors and accusations must stop, no matter how much they think they are provoked.<br /> <br /> “Whatever is happening must lead us to working more responsibly so that we can keep our university together for our tomorrow and our children’s future.<br /> <br /> “Going forward I urge all to learn and practice online meetings as much as possible. This is not a joke. Our lives have to come first for us to survive to be able to carry the university idea as a priority. This responsibility has fallen into our hands today.<br /> <br /> “Together we cannot falter, we cannot disappoint. We cannot rest on our oars. It is going to be a long night but God and history are on our side,” he added.

Latest-News COVID-19: Benue University Pro-Chancellor, others test positive

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Benue State University, Makurdi, Prof. Zacharys Gundu has tested positive for COVID-19. Prof. Gundu made his status known in a letter he wrote to the Vice Chancellor of the institution and university commu…

Read more »

Lagos discharges 50 COVID-19 patients

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BWucLKysugNDi0FqAxZvnrbMBMM8l-Ov4tbjYfsIYUyFZGRpsjXKfcX6D7YtDNNdhzgXy2CCuDOftfJLgsaN44g-lotKg9wNgTztrbaxEzuVVUgZJqL8osRRlYlKRGfOhXtkEVxoOzc/s1600/97243F7A-52D9-45F9-B769-0F6E0E99837C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="480" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BWucLKysugNDi0FqAxZvnrbMBMM8l-Ov4tbjYfsIYUyFZGRpsjXKfcX6D7YtDNNdhzgXy2CCuDOftfJLgsaN44g-lotKg9wNgTztrbaxEzuVVUgZJqL8osRRlYlKRGfOhXtkEVxoOzc/s400/97243F7A-52D9-45F9-B769-0F6E0E99837C.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>13 females, 37males including 26 foreign nationals undergoing treatment for coronavirus at isolation centres in Lagos State have been discharged.</b><br /> <br /> Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known in a statement on Friday night.<br /> <br /> Sanwo-Olu said,” Today, 50 #COVID19Lagos patients; 13 females and 37 males including 26 foreign nationals were discharged from our Isolation facilities to reunite with the society.<br /> <br /> “The patients; 6 from Agidingbi, 14 from Eti-Osa (LandMark) 22 from Onikan, 1 from Vidic and 7 from LUTH Isolation Centres were discharged after full recovery and testing negative to COVID19.”<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The governor also reminds Lagosians that it is now a criminal offence to go out without using a facemask.<br /> <br /> “Remember, it is now a criminal offence in Lagos State to go out without using a facemask. Let’s continue to adhere strictly to all public advisories given by government #ForACOVID19FreeLagos.”

Latest-News Lagos discharges 50 COVID-19 patients

13 females, 37males including 26 foreign nationals undergoing treatment for coronavirus at isolation centres in Lagos State have been discharged. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known in a statement on Friday night. Sanwo-Olu said,” Today, 50 …

Read more »

Buhari signs revised 2020 budget into law

Latest-News Buhari signs revised 2020 budget into law

…

Read more »

COVID-19: Panic in Nasarawa as cabinet members go on self-isolation

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDf77dpL_F-85nLGNaA6bBakWf-Sj7p1dHsps9zph4pziBtflqKeKw5VWcSWTP-5lXzaZnfFGA_fRGZuhm8lPh9jTGDYVUmtqH9SBwydM9n6RbQmC_VyBr5MjHyBRN-SZM4yIGXXsyUEA/s1600/9519543D-7914-4425-868F-5C67681CE4B4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="480" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDf77dpL_F-85nLGNaA6bBakWf-Sj7p1dHsps9zph4pziBtflqKeKw5VWcSWTP-5lXzaZnfFGA_fRGZuhm8lPh9jTGDYVUmtqH9SBwydM9n6RbQmC_VyBr5MjHyBRN-SZM4yIGXXsyUEA/s400/9519543D-7914-4425-868F-5C67681CE4B4.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>Nasarawa State Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Dogo Shammah, says all members of the state executive will go on 14-day self-isolation from Friday as part of precautions amidst the pandemic.</b><br /> <br /> Shammah said the move became necessary following the testing of the samples of the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Abdulkareem Kana that returned positive for coronavirus.<br /> <br /> He said the self-isolation was to begin immediately until the test results of samples taken from the commissioners returned.<br /> <br /> The commissioner said the step was taken as a precaution because the infected attorney general had attended a State Executive Council meeting, chaired by Governor Abdullahi Sule on July 3.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Shammah said the directive was from the governor, on the advice of the state Deputy Governor, Emmanuel Akabe, who is also the Chairman of the state COVID-19 task force.<br /> <br /> The commissioner called on residents of the state not to panic but continue to adhere to all COVID-19 protocols such as wearing of face masks, social distancing, among others.

Latest-News COVID-19: Panic in Nasarawa as cabinet members go on self-isolation

Nasarawa State Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Dogo Shammah, says all members of the state executive will go on 14-day self-isolation from Friday as part of precautions amidst the pandemic. Shammah said the move became necessary …

Read more »

EPL admits VAR blunders

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_UZxtYk1aJWS3yoJ5rrJKcef7Q47k1pqGI4L6cMMfDHgwmdXWOA8CJ2-kQlhbNA_Zln9iN4_0FRHeb4ycOB0r-qnqHp3uHWKM28Nu16CmpqTCXX1wnXWExXTsiCsJJVGhPfZWmkKNUk/s1600/6B611CCB-78FB-4DF0-B0F6-F8E25314DD40.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_UZxtYk1aJWS3yoJ5rrJKcef7Q47k1pqGI4L6cMMfDHgwmdXWOA8CJ2-kQlhbNA_Zln9iN4_0FRHeb4ycOB0r-qnqHp3uHWKM28Nu16CmpqTCXX1wnXWExXTsiCsJJVGhPfZWmkKNUk/s400/6B611CCB-78FB-4DF0-B0F6-F8E25314DD40.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The Premier League has admitted that VAR got penalty decisions wrong in all three matches on Thursday, as frustration mounts over the use of the technology in the English top-flight.</b><br /> <br /> Manchester United were given a controversial helping hand by the video assistant referee in their 3-0 win at Aston Villa, while Tottenham suffered fresh frustration at the hands of the review system in their 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.<br /> <br /> United midfielder Bruno Fernandes won a spot kick when he spun into Ezri Konsa before tumbling in the area despite little evidence of a foul by the Villa defender.<br /> <br /> Jose Mourinho’s Spurs were off-key for long periods but could feel hard done by after Josh King’s push on Harry Kane in the penalty area went unpunished despite a VAR review.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse hit the bar after a disputed penalty as the south coast side drew 1-1 with Everton.<br /> <br /> The Premier League confirmed to the BBC’s Match of the Day programme that United and Southampton should not have been given penalties, but Tottenham should have been awarded one.<br /> <br /> Former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, a Match of the Day pundit, said a former player should work alongside VAR officials.<br /> <br /> “I think that would really help them, to understand the movements,” the former Australia international said.<br /> <br /> “When a player falls to buy a penalty you can feel it. It must need a player there to give advice on what the player is doing.<br /> <br /> “They’re there to make the big decisions and they can’t do it. It’s really disappointing.”<br /> <br /> Chelsea boss Frank Lampard last week called for a “big reflection” on VAR at the end of the season after a previous spate of controversial incidents.

Latest-News EPL admits VAR blunders

The Premier League has admitted that VAR got penalty decisions wrong in all three matches on Thursday, as frustration mounts over the use of the technology in the English top-flight. Manchester United were given a controversial helping hand by the v…

Read more »

Buhari fair to Southeast despite low 2015, 2019 votes, says Adesina

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceqVsZZwXL8KZbplzI_4BOyQqDE5zqvC508T4rN06LIDo6IekW1dXe8RimDszoSEsI868rYuuhgh4xxELbWvSGABlmAn5eMTDgZqwvjaXoo8cGPUxpHgF9EOzkUp7ua-QTtvyuKttRrs/s1600/821700FE-FCE2-4E61-B01F-645B6C91A002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="480" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceqVsZZwXL8KZbplzI_4BOyQqDE5zqvC508T4rN06LIDo6IekW1dXe8RimDszoSEsI868rYuuhgh4xxELbWvSGABlmAn5eMTDgZqwvjaXoo8cGPUxpHgF9EOzkUp7ua-QTtvyuKttRrs/s400/821700FE-FCE2-4E61-B01F-645B6C91A002.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> ‌<b>Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari has said his principal has been fair to the Southeast region in political appointments and infrastructural projects.</b><br /> <br /> The spokesperson said the President has treated the region fair enough “despite the sparse number of votes in the South East in 2015 and 2019 elections”.<br /> <br /> Adesina stated this on Friday in a column entitled, ‘Buhari & S’East: Arthur Eze Nails It’ which was published on his website.<br /> <br /> He said despite Buhari’s “strong commitment towards transforming every part of the country”, some “people with primordial antipathy” could not see anything good in the President’s regime.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “It is disingenuous for anyone to claim that President Buhari does not like any part of the country, most especially the South East,” he said.<br /> <br /> He added that “69 different projects (were) being undertaken by the Federal Government in South East alone, all amounting to about N680 billion. Of course, top on the list is the Second River Niger Bridge, which was built with mouth in the 16 years of the People’s Democratic Party in power.<br /> <br /> “That is President Buhari for you. He gives every man his due, every region what they deserve. Fairness to all.<br /> <br /> “Despite the sparse number of votes in the South East in 2015 and 2019 elections, would we be right to say the entire region is arrayed against the President?<br /> <br /> “For President Buhari, when he does anything in any part of the country, he does it because it’s the right and fair thing to do. Most of the 69 projects going on in the southeast had been awarded before 2015. But they were never funded. The President reversed the trend, and most of them are proceeding apace, and will be legacies by the time the man exits from office.”

Latest-News Buhari fair to Southeast despite low 2015, 2019 votes, says Adesina

‌Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari has said his principal has been fair to the Southeast region in political appointments and infrastructural projects. The spokesperson said the President has treated …

Read more »

Ibrahim Magu not suspended as acting EFCC chairman – Lawyer insists

Latest-News Ibrahim Magu not suspended as acting EFCC chairman – Lawyer insists

…

Read more »

Edo 2020: INEC holds strategic security meeting, insists on 2019 register

Latest-News Edo 2020: INEC holds strategic security meeting, insists on 2019 register

…

Read more »

Ibrahim Magu: Danjuma breaks silence on frozen account

Latest-News Ibrahim Magu: Danjuma breaks silence on frozen account

…

Read more »

Imo set up seven probe panels to blackmail me and my family -Okorocha

Latest-News Imo set up seven probe panels to blackmail me and my family -Okorocha

…

Read more »

Alleged N4b loot: Do what Jonathan did when you lied against him – Omokri tells Osinbajo

Latest-News Alleged N4b loot: Do what Jonathan did when you lied against him – Omokri tells Osinbajo

…

Read more »

Nigeria develops test kit for COVID-19

Latest-News Nigeria develops test kit for COVID-19

…

Read more »

Lagos identifies four LGAs to be worst affected by flood, warns residents to relocate

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBoSQRUxYVH_xoefTofCGIyGzffbf6W274dBwNJaA7js8nW5blvwyl-t4dWjKOijZdz_r3Ua859ztV9KXCKkRw5416idhV2PWFgkHxRd_25l7NYyNeKtE5nvOXNksM81amIVGju4iAgQ/s1600/Lagos-flood-450x300.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="450" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBoSQRUxYVH_xoefTofCGIyGzffbf6W274dBwNJaA7js8nW5blvwyl-t4dWjKOijZdz_r3Ua859ztV9KXCKkRw5416idhV2PWFgkHxRd_25l7NYyNeKtE5nvOXNksM81amIVGju4iAgQ/s400/Lagos-flood-450x300.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The Lagos State Government on Thursday identified four local governments that may be sacked by rampaging flood between now and September and asked residents in the affected areas to be prepared to relocate.</b><br /> <br /> The LGs are: Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Ibeju-Lekki and Ikorodu.<br /> <br /> The State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in a release signed by the Commissioner, Mr Tunji Bello, said the four listed Local Governments areas will witness more high intensity rainfall between now and September.<br /> <br /> He, therefore, urged the residents of the listed four LGs, especially those with structures in low lying areas to relocate during this period to avoid any untoward incident which may come with flooding and resultant loss of lives and properties.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Tunji Bello, quoting excepts from the Annual Flood Outlook released by the Hydrological Services Agency on May 28 this year, also identified 14 other Local Government areas as those who would face probable flood risks this year.<br /> <br /> He listed the Local Governments with probable flood risks as Lagos Island, Alimosho, Amuwo Odofin, Ikeja, Kosofe, Eti-Osa, Apapa, Ojo, Oshodi/Isolo, Agege, Ifako Ijaiye, Badagry, Surulere and Ajeromi-Ifelodun.<br /> <br /> The Commissioner stated that the Ministry will intensify efforts at clearing and cleaning the drains and removing pet bottles and styro foams as exemplified by the efforts of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang all over the black spots in the state.<br /> <br /> He added that it is regrettable that several heaps of pet plastic bottles, styro foams and solid waste are daily being excavated from the drainage channels in areas like Mushin, Idi Oro, Idi Araba, LUTH and Mile 2.<br /> <br /> Bello stressed that investigation has also shown that some traders especially in Mushin dump waste from their daily sales and articles straight into the drains, thus inhibiting the free flow of water into its channels.<br /> <br /> He urged residents to desist from clogging drainage channels with refuse especially those already cleaned up recently, adding that the unpatriotic act of some residents is putting the lives of those working on the drains in danger.<br /> <br /> Bello said anyone caught dumping refuse in any drainage channel will face the full wrath of the law.<br /> <br /> He appealed to residents of Bariga who have been adversely affected by sand filling carried out in the area in the past to bear with the state as the ministry is working assiduously to ensure that the alignment is properly restored.

Latest-News Lagos identifies four LGAs to be worst affected by flood, warns residents to relocate

The Lagos State Government on Thursday identified four local governments that may be sacked by rampaging flood between now and September and asked residents in the affected areas to be prepared to relocate. The LGs are: Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Ibeju…

Read more »

90 percent of staff at Ghana education ministry contract COVID-19

Latest-News 90 percent of staff at Ghana education ministry contract COVID-19

…

Read more »

FCT health secretary, family members contract coronavirus

Latest-News FCT health secretary, family members contract coronavirus

…

Read more »

Afenifere calls for ministers’ sacking for stopping school reopening

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0hR7ZvJnhOjH841AhHSp_BZR-_bc-22JbKr1xigKXVXu0ddPLNviD2NUYKG5fY6CNcF8DoNpn7nl1zwaVJUZA73p4QBbR_xcTKeoFP1HuWGrqxtcrGmDZDCEfTmZ-HqNELAtgDFce04/s1600/school-children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0hR7ZvJnhOjH841AhHSp_BZR-_bc-22JbKr1xigKXVXu0ddPLNviD2NUYKG5fY6CNcF8DoNpn7nl1zwaVJUZA73p4QBbR_xcTKeoFP1HuWGrqxtcrGmDZDCEfTmZ-HqNELAtgDFce04/s400/school-children.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere has condemned the decision of the Federal Government that schools should remain closed in the country until further notice.</b><br /> <br /> The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the ministers in of education for planning to ground education for a year.<br /> <br /> The Secretary General of the association, Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa, said the Federal Government should have allowed pupils to resume and find means of protecting them against coronavirus disease.<br /> <br /> He said, “Adamu Adamu should be sacked, he cannot bring our school system back to the stone age. They had about six months to plan for these children what did the Federal Government do?<br /> <br />  “It means the two of them (Adamu and the Minister of State for Education) don’t know what they are doing, so they should go. I think the two ministers in the ministry should go. Why would one say the pupils should resume to take their paper in August and the other minister would come and reverse the order?”

Latest-News Afenifere calls for ministers’ sacking for stopping school reopening

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere has condemned the decision of the Federal Government that schools should remain closed in the country until further notice. The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the ministers i…

Read more »

Presidential panel quizzes EFCC chiefs as Magu’s probe, detention continue

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJePoR6IqA1c_MJbJKyuOe0wgewvk0Uq3oitxTltDX6j-mFeb8bgoCRv-E05nK6VhyriChNxwhc4J-mSntE9RQWngLJjKceHpccwF4MYRC94uTY7SrrSjnxJvasjPwLLmjG8tpUR6Gak/s1600/Magu+distress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJePoR6IqA1c_MJbJKyuOe0wgewvk0Uq3oitxTltDX6j-mFeb8bgoCRv-E05nK6VhyriChNxwhc4J-mSntE9RQWngLJjKceHpccwF4MYRC94uTY7SrrSjnxJvasjPwLLmjG8tpUR6Gak/s400/Magu+distress.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The presidential panel investigating allegations of corruption levelled against the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, on Thursday quizzed the EFCC Secretary, Olanipekun Olukoyede, and some directors of the commission.</b><br /> <br /> It was gathered that the EFCC officials were asked questions about the allegation of diversion of recovered funds levelled against Magu.<br /> <br /> It was learnt that top officials of the EFCC were invited to either corroborate or fault some explanations Magu had made before the panel.<br /> <br /> The suspended EFCC boss has been in the police detention since Monday when he was arrested in front of the old EFCC headquarters on Fomella Street, Wuse 2, Abuja and forced to appear before the presidential panel at its sitting in the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.<br /> <br /> The suspended EFCC boss was subjected to several hours of interrogation on  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday by Justice Ayo Salami-led panel.<br /> <br /> He was asked to respond to 22  allegations levelled against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in his memo to President Muhammadu Buhari.<br /> <br /> Besides alleged diversion of recovered loot, Magu was accused of selling or mysteriously releasing about 157 oil tankers seized in Port Harcourt without following due process.<br /> <br /> Also, a report by the Auditor-General of the Federation last year alleged  that about N13.96bn recorded  as salaries and wages in the consolidated financial statement of the EFCC were not in the anti-graft agency’s trial balance submitted for reconciliation<br /> <br /> On Thursday, Magu spent 12 hours before the presidential panel.<br /> <br /> After the interrogation, Magu was again driven back to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Garki, where he spent the fourth night in police custody.<br /> <br /> Magu arrived at the Aso Villa Banquet Hall as early as 9am according to his lawyer, Tosin Ojaomo.<br /> <br /> The suspended EFCC boss was subsequently brought before the panel led by Salami, and the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, FCID, Mike Ogbezi.<br /> <br /> A source at the panel said the directors who were quizzed by the panel, absolved themselves of involvement in funds diversion.<br /> <br /> In a related development, fresh information indicated that the embattled former EFCC boss attempted to probe the National Security Adviser, Mohammed Monguno, for an alleged undisclosed financial crime.<br /> <br /> A senior Ministry of Justice official said Magu did not seek the approval of the President and the supervising Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.<br /> <br /> The authorities were said to have got wind of Magu’s plan and immediately nicked it in the bud.<br /> <br /> The source stated, “Apart from courting trouble by attempting to probe NSA Monguno, Magu was also disrespectful to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who accused him of insubordination. This is why no one is pleading for him because his cup is full. His attempt to probe the NSA who was said to be instrumental to his appointment marked the genesis of his troubles.”<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, a group of anti-corruption campaigners, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, on Thursday asked the anti-graft agency to immediately launch a thorough investigation into the relationship between Magu and a former senator, Buruji Kashamu.<br /> <br /> Speaking on plans to secure the release of his client, Magu’s lawyer  said he would submit  an application to the police authorities for his release.<br /> <br /> He explained that he was unable to see his client on Thursday, despite waiting for hours at the Force Criminal Investigation Department,  Garki.<br /> <br /> He said,”I just left the FCID now (8:30pm) having waited endlessly to see Magu, but they had not brought him back from the Presidential Villa. Tomorrow (today), I will file an application before the police authorities for his release,” he stated.<br /> <br /> In another interview, he said,  “We are still trying to get him bailed. I was there early in the morning but I was told he had already been taken to the Villa. They have not shown us any remand order. However, I was told that he is being treated decently.<br /> <br /> “The problem is that once he is taken from there (FCID) at about 8am, he remains with the panel till evening. The DIG is the one in charge as regards detention and he has the power to approve administrative bail. I have been trying to see him as regards Magu’s case.”<br /> <br /> When asked about the status of Magu, Ojaomo responded, “He is in high spirits. I am confident that Magu will emerge victorious.”<br /> <br /> The lawyer said he would return to the FCID by 8am on Friday to make a formal application for bail.<br /> <br /> “On Friday I will make a formal application for bail.”<br /> <br /> Ojaomo rubbished insinuations that Magu could be detained perpetually without a court order because he is a serving police officer.<br /> <br /> “Our aim, for now, is just to get him out of there. Every Nigerian has a constitutional right to liberty. Even though what we hear these days is that the police can keep him because he is a senior officer, I do not subscribe to that. He ought to be treated like a Nigerian”, the lawyer said.<br /> <br /> Magu’s N4bn: Osinbajo writes IGP, seeks probe, prosecution of accuser for criminal defamation<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has written the Inspector-General of Police  asking for a probe into the allegation of receiving N4bn from  Magu.<br /> <br /> In the letter, sent on his behalf by his lawyer, Prof, Taiwo Osipintan (SAN), the Vice-President urged the IGP to prosecute the alleged accuser, Mr Jackson Ude, for criminal defamation if investigations proved his allegation to be false.<br /> <br /> Osipitan confirmed to one of our correspondents that the letter dated July 8, 2020 was delivered at the IGP’s office on Thursday.<br /> <br /> “Yes it was delivered at the Inspector-General of the Police this morning,” Osipitan told our correspondent.<br /> <br /> The letter was also copied the VP’s office and the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.<br /> <br /> The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, had on Wednesday said there was no truth in the online report that Osinbajo received N4bn from Magu.<br /> <br /> The report had claimed that Magu told the presidential panel probing him that he gave Osinbajo N4bn after the vice- president asked him to release part of recovered loot.<br /> <br /> According to the  VP’s letter to the IGP on Thursday, Ude is an online journalist who published the allegedly defamatory report on his website, PointBlank News on July 8, 2020.<br /> <br /> The VP denied the allegation in the letter.<br /> <br /> The letter read in part, “Our instruction is that the above statements published by Mr Ude are false in every material respect and same are designed to injure the reputation of our client.<br /> <br /> “Copies of the publications are hereby attached for ease of reference and necessary investigation.<br /> <br /> “These vicious and malicious publications are meant to achieve one objective only, to represent to his readership and others (Nigerians and Foreigners) that our client is a dishonest and disloyal public officer and consequently unfit for the position of Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which he is occupying.”<br /> <br /> He, however, urged the IGP to probe Ude’s allegation and if found to be false, the accuser should be prosecuted for criminal defamation in line with sections 391 – 395 of the Penal Code.<br /> <br /> The letter stated, “We are of the view that unless an action for criminal defamation is commenced against the said Mr. Jackson Ude, he will continue to use his social media platform to publish materials that are false and criminally defamatory of our Client’s reputation.<br /> <br /> “In view of the above, we humbly request that you cause the above allegations, made against our client, to be investigated and if the suggested investigation confirms our complaint of the falsehood of these allegations, to initiate criminal proceedings pursuant to the provisions of Sections 391 – 395 of the Penal Code Act for Criminal Defamation against the said Jackson Ude.

Latest-News Presidential panel quizzes EFCC chiefs as Magu’s probe, detention continue

The presidential panel investigating allegations of corruption levelled against the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, on Thursday quizzed the EFCC Secretary, Olanipekun Olukoyede, and some direc…

Read more »

Lagos lawmaker, Tunde Buraimoh, is dead

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLPduiOjN6CGHw3MJwYtzG_jxs-gXKMdOZdLzppbYXYZA-FkW5m9NNaN1a2gxidZSfoY74NHmq7elzodZ4VsbdJZ_YcBT6E0YRNe7ZDk9qdA1iPePGaaTEm4ncrsMJEr02FroHAB3qQc/s1600/A42EBE8E-8FB8-4134-AB40-7345BF6E1FE0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="480" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLPduiOjN6CGHw3MJwYtzG_jxs-gXKMdOZdLzppbYXYZA-FkW5m9NNaN1a2gxidZSfoY74NHmq7elzodZ4VsbdJZ_YcBT6E0YRNe7ZDk9qdA1iPePGaaTEm4ncrsMJEr02FroHAB3qQc/s400/A42EBE8E-8FB8-4134-AB40-7345BF6E1FE0.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The lawmaker representing Kosofe Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tunde Buraimoh, is dead.</b><br /> <br /> It was gathered that the lawmaker died around 4 am on Friday.<br /> <br /> He died at the age of 60.<br /> <br /> It was learnt that Buraimoh, who was the Assembly’s spokesperson, had been absent from the Assembly’s Complex for two weeks.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Close sources to the lawmaker said he died of an undisclosed illness.<br /> <br /> The lawmaker representing Kosofe Constituency 1 in the Lagos Assembly, Sanni Okanlawon, confirmed Buraimoh’s death.<br /> <br /> When contacted, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Lagos State, Tunde Balogun, said, “I heard about his death.”<br /> <br /> He, however, could not give details about the lawmaker’s death.<br /> <br /> The Chief Press Secretary to the Kosofe Local Government Chairman, Taiwo Fadipe, said Buraimoh died after a brief illness.<br /> <br /> Fadipe said, “He died at a hospital around Ikorodu road. He died overnight.”<br /> <br /> The late lawmaker was the Chairman of Kosofe Local Government between 1999 and 2002. He was also the Bamofin of Ketuland.<br /> <br /> Born September 30, 1960, Buraimoh attended Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye where he studied law and graduated in 1988.<br /> <br /> He was reelected for a second term as a lawmaker on Saturday, March 9.

Latest-News Lagos lawmaker, Tunde Buraimoh, is dead

The lawmaker representing Kosofe Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tunde Buraimoh, is dead. It was gathered that the lawmaker died around 4 am on Friday. He died at the age of 60. It was learnt that Buraimoh, who was the Assembly…

Read more »

BREAKING: Nigeria records 499 new cases of COVID-19, total now 30,748

Latest-News BREAKING: Nigeria records 499 new cases of COVID-19, total now 30,748

…

Read more »

Hushpuppi: How Nigerian Instagram celebrity predicted his ‘downfall’

Latest-News Hushpuppi: How Nigerian Instagram celebrity predicted his ‘downfall’

…

Read more »

Funke Akindele didn’t buy me a house– Pa James cries out, spills the truth

Latest-News Funke Akindele didn’t buy me a house– Pa James cries out, spills the truth

…

Read more »

EFCC came to my guest house in error -Abdulsalami

Latest-News EFCC came to my guest house in error -Abdulsalami

…

Read more »

Dubai Police arrests another Nigerian for online scam

Latest-News Dubai Police arrests another Nigerian for online scam

…

Read more »

Ex-First Bank ED trial: How Diezani ordered me to deliver $70m to banker – Ex-NNPC boss

Latest-News Ex-First Bank ED trial: How Diezani ordered me to deliver $70m to banker – Ex-NNPC boss

…

Read more »

UK visa application centres in Nigeria to reopen soon

Latest-News UK visa application centres in Nigeria to reopen soon

…

Read more »

FIFA sets new rules for use of VAR in EPL, LaLiga, Serie A

Latest-News FIFA sets new rules for use of VAR in EPL, LaLiga, Serie A

…

Read more »

BREAKING: Ondo election: APC accuses Amaechi, El-Rufai, Fayemi of being responsible for crisis

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggU0Mmra0lxYudOrJalYaJM1UBzo2TtgJBXZeM3kl-fwu773jLWmAAHyTsDdbgTkipoAKl3MDwuSwO5VETwauYoCwK2RfObdn4QZ8pBvZ1gIMx5vcEbLqSgDtaGJb5pW8jquVmtFANCdBf/s1600/4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggU0Mmra0lxYudOrJalYaJM1UBzo2TtgJBXZeM3kl-fwu773jLWmAAHyTsDdbgTkipoAKl3MDwuSwO5VETwauYoCwK2RfObdn4QZ8pBvZ1gIMx5vcEbLqSgDtaGJb5pW8jquVmtFANCdBf/s400/4a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi and the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi, have been accused of masterminding the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State.<br /> <br /> Chairman of the APC in Ondo State, Hon. Henry Olu Olatuja, accused the three prominent politicians of instigating an undemocratic process causing intra-party crisis in the state.<br /> <br /> According to Olatuja ten of the governorship aspirants in the state for the July 20 governorship primary may boycott the exercise.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He said the aspirants will not participate in the primary election should the Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CEONCPC) insist on indirect mode of primary for the party’s primary in the state.<br /> <div><br /></div>

Latest-News BREAKING: Ondo election: APC accuses Amaechi, El-Rufai, Fayemi of being responsible for crisis

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi and the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi, have been accused of masterminding the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. Chai…

Read more »

‘I’ve been depressed since 16’ — Nigerian photographer commits suicide after scheduling tweet

Latest-News ‘I’ve been depressed since 16’ — Nigerian photographer commits suicide after scheduling tweet

…

Read more »

Bishop Oyedepo’s coronavirus healing claims irresponsible, misleading – Leo Igwe

Latest-News Bishop Oyedepo’s coronavirus healing claims irresponsible, misleading – Leo Igwe

…

Read more »

Veteran actor Jimmy Johnson aka Okoro of “The Village Headmaster” is dead

Latest-News Veteran actor Jimmy Johnson aka Okoro of “The Village Headmaster” is dead

…

Read more »

Hushpuppi: Dubai job agency boycott Nigerians from applying for jobs

Latest-News Hushpuppi: Dubai job agency boycott Nigerians from applying for jobs

…

Read more »

How Magu went rogue and harassed Abdulsalami, Danjuma

Latest-News How Magu went rogue and harassed Abdulsalami, Danjuma

…

Read more »

2023: Buhari’s Minister, Nwajiuba warns Southeast against ‘Igbo presidency’

Latest-News 2023: Buhari’s Minister, Nwajiuba warns Southeast against ‘Igbo presidency’

…

Read more »

Place visitors from Lagos, Abuja on 14-day isolation, Wike urges Rivers residents

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBo9Oe35dmHG_OqajmX92kML3ctznIPkNKYyFtm5UFuEHQ4omnUDOwvh_7wGZl0nehUeSw0IHVrCzt2ap2MVty06mMNnW5SClemxlarKCWTJcpi9NNpq3ashbhdvXoqY17Z1enZRr5dc/s1600/53937EAE-6825-4D37-88EA-692E493D7C14.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="480" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBo9Oe35dmHG_OqajmX92kML3ctznIPkNKYyFtm5UFuEHQ4omnUDOwvh_7wGZl0nehUeSw0IHVrCzt2ap2MVty06mMNnW5SClemxlarKCWTJcpi9NNpq3ashbhdvXoqY17Z1enZRr5dc/s400/53937EAE-6825-4D37-88EA-692E493D7C14.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has advised residents to be wary of persons coming from states with high coronavirus cases such as Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.</b><br /> <br /> He urged residents to have any of such visitors isolate for 14 days upon arrival in the state, noting that failure to do so would increase the number of cases recorded in Rivers.<br /> <br /> This was contained in a statement on Wednesday by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim.<br /> <br /> According to the statement, the governor stressed the need for caution as interstate travels and domestic flights resume in the country.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Wike was quoted as saying, “The commencement of inter-state travels and domestic flights will increase the influx of persons from some of the most affected states, especially, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, and aggravate the risk of transmission of the virus in Rivers State.<br /> <br /> “Let me, therefore, appeal to residents to be cautious of relations, friends, business/social partners and visitors from such States and relate with them in conformity with the established protocols against the spread of this virus, including having them isolated for 14 days.”<br /> <br /> He added that recreational centres remained closed in the state and the government was examining the safe reopening of markets.<br /> <br /> “Bars, cinemas, viewing centres, restaurants and related businesses shall remain closed until further notice.<br /> <br /> “We are closely monitoring compliance with the wearing of face masks in public places, including transport vehicles, and urge residents to strictly comply or risk arrest and prosecution.<br /> <br /> “A State Joint Task Force made up of security and civilian personnel has been set up to enforce the wearing of face masks in the State.<br /> <br /> “We are appraising the prospect of opening our markets to public trading and would do so once we are satisfied that it is safe and proper with appropriate guidelines to enforce social distancing, hand washing, basic hygiene practices, and the wearing of face masks,” he said.

Latest-News Place visitors from Lagos, Abuja on 14-day isolation, Wike urges Rivers residents

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has advised residents to be wary of persons coming from states with high coronavirus cases such as Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He urged residents to have any of such visitors isolate for 14 da…

Read more »

Solskjaer wants Pogba to extend Man United deal

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bgZx-n3XNGqjshI0DN0Hh5UJzVWY2jzGlKPgor6KRlBoHN0RcdXQC5siwG-1vMfLcJGMbCZjhQslOnyAvar5YpfkKhFNgvIvoZWoiBAzOHM_bqAlc-ivjvBsF4PWm87hUdt9exR4jO4/s1600/E0BBE67A-F3F3-416D-8D18-7B7AA9860B6F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="480" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bgZx-n3XNGqjshI0DN0Hh5UJzVWY2jzGlKPgor6KRlBoHN0RcdXQC5siwG-1vMfLcJGMbCZjhQslOnyAvar5YpfkKhFNgvIvoZWoiBAzOHM_bqAlc-ivjvBsF4PWm87hUdt9exR4jO4/s400/E0BBE67A-F3F3-416D-8D18-7B7AA9860B6F.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will not seek huge funds for transfers this summer due to the economic realities of the coronavirus crisis but is keen for the club to tie down Paul Pogba to a long-term contract.</b><br /> <br /> United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has warned it will not be “business as usual” in the transfer market and said during football’s shutdown from COVID-19 that “speculation around transfers of individual players for hundreds of millions of pounds this summer seems to ignore the realities that face the sport”.<br /> <br /> The form of Solskjaer’s men since returning to action last month has also suggested United do not need to spend tens of millions in the upcoming window.<br /> <br /> The emergence of teenager Mason Greenwood – who has scored three times in his last two games – has helped quieten speculation over a move for Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “There’s got to be realism,” Solskjaer said. “I think the whole world has changed, both financially and the perception that we’ve got on values.<br /> <br /> “So every time I put the case in front of Ed, I think it’s a sensible one and it’s a realistic one.<br /> <br /> “I think I’ve proven to the club that I’ve always got the club in the front of my mind and the best for the club. I’ll always think long term and try to be making good deals. I’m always quite careful with money, my own personal money as well.”<br /> <br /> Pogba’s return to fitness has been a key factor to a run of four wins and a draw from five games since the restart.<br /> <br /> The French World Cup winner looked destined to leave Old Trafford for the second time in his career prior to the pandemic.<br /> <br /> However, interest from Real Madrid is now unlikely to materialise this summer and Pogba has formed a formidable partnership with Bruno Fernandes in midfield.<br /> <br /> Pogba’s contract expires next summer, although United have the option to extend that deal by a further year.<br /> <br /> Midfielders Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic have recently penned new deals with the club and Solskjaer is hopeful Pogba will follow suit.<br /> <br /> “Of course we want to keep the best players around the club. We want to build a squad for the future.<br /> <br /> “Scott and Nemanja, they’re in a similar position but at different stages in their careers. One at the start, one really experienced. We also need players in that mid-range group, so hopefully, we can do something.<br /> <br /> “I know that since Paul’s come back now he’s looking better and better. He’s just enjoying his football and let’s see where it takes us.”

Latest-News Solskjaer wants Pogba to extend Man United deal

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will not seek huge funds for transfers this summer due to the economic realities of the coronavirus crisis but is keen for the club to tie down Paul Pogba to a long-term contract. United executive vice-…

Read more »

Nigerians react angrily, state consequences of postponed WAEC, school resumption

Latest-News Nigerians react angrily, state consequences of postponed WAEC, school resumption

…

Read more »

COVID-19 has killed more people in Africa than Ebola – WHO

Latest-News COVID-19 has killed more people in Africa than Ebola – WHO

…

Read more »

Removing Magu ‘may end genuine efforts’ against corruption

Latest-News Removing Magu ‘may end genuine efforts’ against corruption

…

Read more »

There are more decent Nigerians abroad than few Hushpuppis -Foreign affairs minister

Latest-News There are more decent Nigerians abroad than few Hushpuppis -Foreign affairs minister

…

Read more »

RCCG excommunicates pastor ‘for attempting adultery’

Latest-News RCCG excommunicates pastor ‘for attempting adultery’

…

Read more »

They want to put chips in us, mark of the beast – Kanye West on COVID-19 vaccine

Latest-News They want to put chips in us, mark of the beast – Kanye West on COVID-19 vaccine

…

Read more »

ONDO 2020: Power of incumbency won’t help Akeredolu, Kekemeke boasts

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWY3OrW9FTMQK5FF8KiRfDKEfI_UQP6acAj4CrQoggi6lMr0ec5PBGADHfWNfKrwB7vGmtBuXXNNbS9XikXdFUX_Q92ohgmdmOJkpXPdbemsOUAbN1OJ0KGB93HVADCbaxMTaFwXcu_o/s1600/7AB66A6A-C523-4F92-A755-D16910528FF3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="480" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWY3OrW9FTMQK5FF8KiRfDKEfI_UQP6acAj4CrQoggi6lMr0ec5PBGADHfWNfKrwB7vGmtBuXXNNbS9XikXdFUX_Q92ohgmdmOJkpXPdbemsOUAbN1OJ0KGB93HVADCbaxMTaFwXcu_o/s400/7AB66A6A-C523-4F92-A755-D16910528FF3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The Pioneer State Chairman of the All Progressive Congress in Ondo state and a governorship aspirant, Hon lsaacs Kekemeke has said that the power of incumbency would not help governor Rotimi Akeredolu in the coming party primary.</b><br /> <br /> Kekemeke, a former Secretary to the State Government who spoke with newsmen in Akure said that power of incumbency is a two edge sword.<br /> <br /> According to him ” Although the Constitution allowed two terms, an incumbent must work for and earn a second term. The power of incumbency is a doubled edged sword, which could be an asset or a liability”.<br /> <br /> On the mode of primary to be adopted , the aspirants said he had given seven reason on the mode of primary for the party leadership at the national headquarters in support of direct elections and hoped that they would accept them.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Kekemeke speaking on zoning in the election said that “I am not a fan of zoning. I believe that at all times the best person should be allowed to serve.”<br /> <br /> “Since 1979 when we were  still in the old Ondo State, all the zones have contested in every election. At election time, the people would make political  calculations and say this zone has had it, let this other zone have it.”<br /> <br /> According to him, the correct situation is that, “Since 1979 Ondo State has had six governors.<br /> <br /> ” Three have come from the north and they have done twelve years and three months.  One has come  from the South and he did five years and nine months and one from the central and he did eight years. For me, whoever is the best should be allowed to serve.”<br /> <br /> On whether he could step down for another candidate or accept to be a running mate should the situation arise, Kekemeke said, “I will not step down for anybody or be a deputy governor.<br /> <br /> “I have a vision, a mission, aims and objectives, a programme which we want to use to set up government.<br /> <br /> “I have sold my programmes for the last nineteen months to the people and there is overwhelming support for those programmes.<br /> <br /> “Stepping down is not an option, being somebody’s deputy is not an option. The serious issues at stake are the issues of poverty, the issue of  hunger, the issue of unemployment, the issue of insecurity and the issue of decaying infrastructure and I have been on this for thirty years.  I am the first chairman of the party. I am not doing this for fun.”<br /> <br /> The former commissioner said he was sure of winning the primary election noting that ” as the pioneer chairman of the party, “The people know me and I know the people.

Latest-News ONDO 2020: Power of incumbency won’t help Akeredolu, Kekemeke boasts

The Pioneer State Chairman of the All Progressive Congress in Ondo state and a governorship aspirant, Hon lsaacs Kekemeke has said that the power of incumbency would not help governor Rotimi Akeredolu in the coming party primary. Kekemeke, a former …

Read more »

Osinbajo never received N4billion from Magu, says Akande

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnn3hUBIAm_hp6jPdc_fXmn94IdYtsFMEzZja2Y8R19FzdpdjwNgV8ff2B_vsPhZNtMJeHADGaJnI0n9Hytf1-7nQvRBfqCxwggsLfdWo7LvKYBMeZrhjJnjF934l85Sx1fOrEnTFBbU/s1600/2C30A3C6-841F-4115-B97B-46F550C73743.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="480" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnn3hUBIAm_hp6jPdc_fXmn94IdYtsFMEzZja2Y8R19FzdpdjwNgV8ff2B_vsPhZNtMJeHADGaJnI0n9Hytf1-7nQvRBfqCxwggsLfdWo7LvKYBMeZrhjJnjF934l85Sx1fOrEnTFBbU/s400/2C30A3C6-841F-4115-B97B-46F550C73743.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, Wednesday, described the report that Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo had collected N4 billion from the embattled acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu as fake news.</b><br /> <br /> Reports had claimed that Osinbajo also allegedly gave instructions to Magu to release some of the recovered loots.<br /> <br /> He explained that Osinbajo has never been involved in such shady activities.<br /> <br /> He said, “Inundated by wide circulation of Fake News about VP’s purported involvement in some EFCC recovery billions, please be rest assured they’re all LIES calculated to confuse and concocted to smear Prof. Osinbajo’s image.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “The VP hasn’t and will never be involved in any such shady activities.”

Latest-News Osinbajo never received N4billion from Magu, says Akande

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, Wednesday, described the report that Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo had collected N4 billion from the embattled acting Chairman of the E…

Read more »

Ivorian prime minister, favoured to succeed president, dies at 61

Latest-News Ivorian prime minister, favoured to succeed president, dies at 61

…

Read more »

COVID-19: Lagos death toll increases to 181

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHjzG91h_JEQ0JhdiZnP-vBQRCCSLWvRfL-tS8rH03N26es4fET4f8qJ2-nZvZKMkbO0oaC1_FbrZe_HeY-RApcJWom0hhpqqxZJq4aEIoG97C3XAEMfs7oB9Z1fU9C-KyuGPuLzVedE/s1600/2DB254BE-3B7B-4C04-BCCC-D37AB31E47CD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="677" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHjzG91h_JEQ0JhdiZnP-vBQRCCSLWvRfL-tS8rH03N26es4fET4f8qJ2-nZvZKMkbO0oaC1_FbrZe_HeY-RApcJWom0hhpqqxZJq4aEIoG97C3XAEMfs7oB9Z1fU9C-KyuGPuLzVedE/s400/2DB254BE-3B7B-4C04-BCCC-D37AB31E47CD.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The number of coronavirus-associated deaths in Lagos State increased to 181 on Wednesday with four more fatalities, said the state’s Health Commissioner, Prof Akin Abayomi.</b><br /> <br /> He disclosed this while giving an update on the case management of the virus in the state via his verified Twitter handle.<br /> <br /> The commissioner said, “123 new COVID-19 infections were confirmed in Lagos on July 6th, 2020 out of a total 602 COVID-19 tests conducted.<br /> <br /> “The new cases bring the total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in Lagos to 11,387. The total number of COVID-19 tests conducted in Lagos now stands at 44,580.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “1,729 of the confirmed cases have since been discharged from COVID-19 Care Centres following full recovery.<br /> <br /> “6, 866 of the confirmed cases monitored in communities by COVID-19 Lagos response team have either fully recovered or positively responding to treatments.<br /> <br /> “354 of the cases are currently under isolation in public and private care centres.<br /> <br /> “Additional 4 COVID-19 related deaths were recorded in Lagos bringing total COVID-19 related deaths in Lagos to 181.<br /> <br /> “2,257 active cases in communities are yet to turn up for admission in care centres.”

Latest-News COVID-19: Lagos death toll increases to 181

The number of coronavirus-associated deaths in Lagos State increased to 181 on Wednesday with four more fatalities, said the state’s Health Commissioner, Prof Akin Abayomi. He disclosed this while giving an update on the case management of the virus…

Read more »

$9.7m, £74,000 found in my house are gifts, says Ex-NNPC GMD

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPfuV2SKjKVyTqRf5lwjJbJQ1_LWju2ltAta3a-0735KmnHLzpEO7fuH9r7CrYkAVqhpF7-04eWSVlENdQcO5HFb9FFHTQJ06fcjTNij25C6Vzeeep-Jp8TEOcfaLIg9FJUpImJeydUc/s1600/8C2D1BD2-5C75-41DA-9124-E34F982D2BAC.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="495" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPfuV2SKjKVyTqRf5lwjJbJQ1_LWju2ltAta3a-0735KmnHLzpEO7fuH9r7CrYkAVqhpF7-04eWSVlENdQcO5HFb9FFHTQJ06fcjTNij25C6Vzeeep-Jp8TEOcfaLIg9FJUpImJeydUc/s400/8C2D1BD2-5C75-41DA-9124-E34F982D2BAC.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>Former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, who is standing trial for money laundering charge, yesterday told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that $9.7 million and £74,000 found in his house in 2017 were parts of monies people gave to him as gifts.</b><br /> <br /> Yakubu, who opened his defence in the ongoing trial, said he received the monies in tranches of not more than $10,000 and not more than £5,000. The former NNPC boss, while testifying, told the court that people gave him monetary gifts on occasions such as birthdays, thanksgiving services, and other celebrations he hosted after he left service.<br /> <br /> The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, on the strength of a tip-off by a whistleblower, raided the defendant’s guest house situated at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna State, and recovered alleged loot which was in foreign currencies. EFCC said it discovered the sum of $9.7 million and £74,000 that Yakubu hid in a fireproof safe inside the house. Following the discovery, a Federal High Court in Kano, on February 13, 2017, issued an interim order that forfeited the recovered monies to the Federal Government.<br /> <br /> Though the anti-graft later preferred a six-count criminal charge against Yakubu who was GMD of the NNPC between 2012 and 2014, the trial court, on May 16, 2019, struck out counts 5 and 6 of the charge based on a no-case-submission that was made by the defendant. Likewise, following an appeal by the defendant, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal further struck out counts 1 and 2 of the charge and ordered him to open his defence with respect to only counts 3 and 4 of the charge. At the resumed proceeding at the trial court yesterday, the defendant mounted the witness box to narrate his own side of the story.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Led in evidence by his counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), the defendant said: “Yes my lord, I confirm that the monies were contained in a safe taken from my property. “As I stated in my statement with the EFCC, the money found in the safe is mine. The money was not received in bulk. It was received in tranches of not more than $10,000 and not more than £5,000.<br /> <br /> “Substantial part of that amount was given to me after I left service. It was given to me on such occasions as birthdays, thanksgiving services, and other celebrations that I hosted after leaving my office. “I also hosted marriages of my daughters.<br /> <br /> In fact, over 98% of the money came from gifts. “The purpose of keeping the money was to think of business ventures I will embark on, but it was not my intention to go into business investment without going through a financial institution. “Since the money was given to me unexpected, I kept the money in safety, in a safe, pending when I decide on specific business venture to embark on. And as soon as the decision is crystalized, the business would be funded through the financial institutions.<br /> <br /> “For over 25 years, I had reason by virtue of my schedule to travel to many parts of the world. I was entitled to estacodes in United States dollars. “Any saving I made during the trip, I came back and saved. The other 2% of the funds recovered from my safe was from such savings I made from travels.<br /> <br /> “The prevailing rate of dollar at that time was average of N150 to a dollar and N250 to pound sterling. That was about the bank rate at that time. “When I was asked the time frame within which the safe was placed in the location, I told them that it was within 2010 to 2014.” While being cross-examined by the prosecution counsel, M.S. Abubakar, Yakubu told the court that he joined NNPC in 1980 and became the Managing Director of a subsidiary of NNPC Warri Petrochemical & Refining Company in 2007. “I was appointed the Executive Director in charge of Exploration and Production in 2011 at NNPC headquarters.<br /> <br /> “I became the Group Managing Director of NNPC in 2012 and retired in 2014.” He said his brother, Bitrus Yakubu, was present when EFCC conducted the search at his house in Kaduna from where the safe and money was found. Attempt by counsel to the EFCC to cross-examine on a document before the court, marked as Exhibit-J, was resisted by the defence counsel who insisted that it related to counts of the charge that were struck out.<br /> <br /> The trial judge, Justice A. R Mohammed, later adjourned the case to July 22 for prosecution counsel to respond and for further cross-examination of the defendant.

Latest-News $9.7m, £74,000 found in my house are gifts, says Ex-NNPC GMD

Former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, who is standing trial for money laundering charge, yesterday told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that $9.7 million and £74,000 found in his…

Read more »

GENCOs, DISCOs have failed Nigerians — Reps

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlGHqHN9TQiwlTNF-Dlf_LQwadRGX9H9yAbQE19BW6-hbwykxACrVOC2YtaXsHLwKb3PenOhiqHz3gI9Bi8rrMF6EW73kmfcW9JaBn5F4l0fzQ7PBgnmotskwbMf19mJe0EOOneMyMcc/s1600/E817E9E0-3C62-4286-990D-8D086A6C89B8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="480" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlGHqHN9TQiwlTNF-Dlf_LQwadRGX9H9yAbQE19BW6-hbwykxACrVOC2YtaXsHLwKb3PenOhiqHz3gI9Bi8rrMF6EW73kmfcW9JaBn5F4l0fzQ7PBgnmotskwbMf19mJe0EOOneMyMcc/s400/E817E9E0-3C62-4286-990D-8D086A6C89B8.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <b>The House  of Representatives declared yesterday that Power Generating Companies, GENCOs, and Distribution Companies, DISCOs have failed, saying they have disappointed the citizenry.</b><br /> <br /> The lawmakers made the declaration at the inaugural Investigative hearing by the Adhoc Committee on Power Sector Reform held at the National Assembly in Abuja.<br /> <br /> Chairman of the Adhoc Committee and Majority Leader of the House, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, said the committee was inaugurated by the speaker, following a resolution of the House at plenary, to investigate and review activities in the power sector. He said:  “Since then, we have made efforts to carry out our mandate genuinely and painstakingly. We communicated with experts and relevant stakeholders, and today (yesterday), we are hosting this hearing.<br /> <br /> “There is no gainsaying that the power sector is critical to our nation’s industrialisation and development. Interestingly, we are made to understand that the greatest issues bedeviling the sector after the unbundling of the defunct National Electric Power Authority, NEPA, is the inability to effectively transmit and distribute electricity supply across the country.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “The inability of some of these institutions to meet the covenant obligations they entered into at the time of privatization has reduced the capacity to enable reliable and quality electricity supply for both domestic and commercial use.’’<br /> <br /> Doguwa said the power sector needed more funds and effective gas supply system to meet its obligations, revealing that gas suppliers were claiming billions of Naira owed them.<br /> <br /> More than 600 firms bid for Nigeria’s 57 marginal oil fields<br /> He also talked about   operators complaining that the electricity tariffs were not cost-reflective.<br /> <br /> Doguwa noted that while Nigerians appreciated the efforts of institutions created from the unbundling, particularly the GENCOs which now have the capacity to generate over 10,000 megawatts of electricity, it was becoming clearer that the DISCOs and transmission companies must do more to improve electricity supply in the country.<br /> <br /> “Sadly, it appears to the common man that there is hike in electricity tariff without corresponding increase in quantity and quality of electricity supply.   This is, indeed, the crux of the matter under the mandate of this ad hoc committee,” he added.<br /> <br /> The Adhoc committee chairman said as part of Federal Government’s effort to improve the situation brought about by the inability of value chain players to meet their basic obligations, it invited the German government to help the poor state of power in Nigeria.<br /> <br /> “This is the situation that crystallised in what is now called the Siemens Intervention deal.  lncidentally, the above and many other concerns are the reasons we invited various stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to this hearing,” he added.<br /> <br /> Earlier, speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, while declaring the hearing open, said  the power sector problems had led to poor supply of electricity over the years and dampened the hope of Nigerians for industrialization and overall development. “It is no longer news that despite huge investments in the power sector, little progress may have been made.<br /> <br /> ‘’It is becoming increasingly, worrisome that successive governments have been unable to fix the issue of power in our country, with the current state of electricity supply apparently dampening the hopes of landmark industrialization and national development.<br /> <br /> “It is our belief that you shall be equipping the committee with ample information on the status of the power sector, next lines of action and the inter-play between major players in the sector,” the speaker added.

Latest-News GENCOs, DISCOs have failed Nigerians — Reps

The House  of Representatives declared yesterday that Power Generating Companies, GENCOs, and Distribution Companies, DISCOs have failed, saying they have disappointed the citizenry. The lawmakers made the declaration at the inaugural Investigative …

Read more »

MAGU: We’ll apply for bail today, says lawyer

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUw14v5ZhCQQVA8uDpSIMflBfyr_GMDrIBpPgoIfDEJDOxSMaArHLHj2fItF6nPlPrlAnMIaTn7-IJ5c8LbOj68CPoxS_z9KWKyPoR1qLc8VRZmj3h3g8ZojgQ3VxyQwzpPAvpd-XWZk/s1600/B2DD3CB3-34DF-4F6D-B4BF-D4BDC5DDD92B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUw14v5ZhCQQVA8uDpSIMflBfyr_GMDrIBpPgoIfDEJDOxSMaArHLHj2fItF6nPlPrlAnMIaTn7-IJ5c8LbOj68CPoxS_z9KWKyPoR1qLc8VRZmj3h3g8ZojgQ3VxyQwzpPAvpd-XWZk/s400/B2DD3CB3-34DF-4F6D-B4BF-D4BDC5DDD92B.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>Magu’s lawyer, Mr. Tosin Ojaomo, has said he would be applying for the bail of the EFCC boss on Thursday (today).</b><br /> <br /> Ojaomo said that he had approached the police on Wednesday but was asked to return on Thursday morning to seek his client’s bail.<br /> <br /> The lawyer also described as untrue reports that Magu had been suspended and the Director of Operations, Mohammaed Umar, had taken over.<br /> <br /> “The truth will soon be out. I was there today (Wednesday) but I couldn’t see him. They said I should come early in the morning so I will be there to apply for his bail. The news that someone has been appointed to replace him or that he is under suspension is not true. There is no letter of suspension. You will be shocked how this will end,” Ojaomo said.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Ojaomo said he visited Garki Area 10, in Abuja, to seek his bail, to no avail. He added, “I have not been shown any court order permitting his detention for more than 48 hours.<br /> <br /> “I asked for the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge, to ask for information about what was going on and possibly applied for his bail, but I was told he was not on seat.<br /> <br /> Magu’s probe continued to generate reactions on Wednesday. A group, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, attacked  Malami.<br /> <br />  The group, which contended that the method adopted in Magu’s probe left  much to be desired, accused the AGF of “building a network of people opposed to accountability and transparency in governance.”<br /> <br /> The group said this in a statement, titled, “Corrupt politicians must not celebrate over Magu’s ordeal,” signed by one of its promoters, Sina Odugbemi.<br /> <br /> The group described as a mockery of the rule of law Magu’s detention by the panel meant to conduct an impartial probe into the allegations against him.<br /> <br /> The CSNAC also faulted what it called the short notice given to Magu to appear before the panel, saying it was the same way the pioneer Chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, was humiliated out of office by a network of corrupt politicians.<br /> <br /> But the Coalition for Good Governance and Justice urged those criticising investigation of  Magu to allow the  Salami-led presidential panel to complete its tasks.<br /> <br /> The Convener of the CCGC, Mr Emmanuel Umohinyang, told journalists on Wednesday that the investigation was an indication that the Buhari regime would not spare or sweep anything under the carpet.<br /> <br />  He said, “I think the issue of Ibrahim Magu is a case of the hunter becoming the hunted and it also gives credence to the fact that the Buhari-led administration will not spare or sweep anything under the carpet.”<br /> <br /> Another civil society group, the Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative,  faulted the reactions of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Femi Odekunle,  to the probe of Magu.<br /> <br />  The anti-graft group said SERAP and Odekunle should encourage Magu to prove allegations levelled against him by Malami wrong.<br /> <br /> The ARDI Executive Secretary, Chief Dennis Aghanya, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said it was inappropriate for Odekunle, a presidential appointee on anti-graft,  to condemn the action taken to investigate alleged corruption and misconduct.<br /> <br /> This was contained in a statement dated July 8, 2020, titled, ‘PACAC, SERAP should appreciate Malami for living up to his constitutional responsibilities as the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation,’ signed by Aghanya.<br /> <br />  SERAP and Odekunle had, in separate reactions to the arrest of Magu, criticised the action which they described as the result of the power play in the Presidency.<br /> <br /> But responding to the criticism, Aghanya said, “Odekunle described the weighty allegations enunciated by the Honourable  Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in his memo to Mr President and the quizzing of Magu for interrogation by a presidential panel, chaired by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami as (implying) a witch-hunt.<br /> <br />  “Odekunle’s outburst against the office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, in our considered opinion, is the actual act of sabotage of Mr President’s fight against corruption, openly antagonising another constituted authority of the Federal Government.”<br /> <br /> The group said SERAP should encourage Magu to debunk the allegations levelled against him.

Latest-News MAGU: We’ll apply for bail today, says lawyer

Magu’s lawyer, Mr. Tosin Ojaomo, has said he would be applying for the bail of the EFCC boss on Thursday (today). Ojaomo said that he had approached the police on Wednesday but was asked to return on Thursday morning to seek his client’s bail. The l…

Read more »

China moves to impose visa restrictions on US citizens over Tibet

Latest-News China moves to impose visa restrictions on US citizens over Tibet

…

Read more »

‘Magu boys’ is the vicious cult that runs EFCC -Shehu Sani

Latest-News ‘Magu boys’ is the vicious cult that runs EFCC -Shehu Sani

…

Read more »

ONDO 2020: Steer clear from Ondo politics, APC faction warns Fayemi

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsk0q3N6Foo07HugQnTRtvCLZqSTFAVoYPcCh4st-s6j0R0ImmoUxBiKwdiqldN-YRtO90h7BakU9_kf_qQP2jpWg3R9FnkJSPVxoW6cjKSSA9BPAdmfnECbyfet_Go8x4gC7XPsKhg8k/s1600/11C63ABD-5852-41B3-9930-F26C4812A6DB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="480" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsk0q3N6Foo07HugQnTRtvCLZqSTFAVoYPcCh4st-s6j0R0ImmoUxBiKwdiqldN-YRtO90h7BakU9_kf_qQP2jpWg3R9FnkJSPVxoW6cjKSSA9BPAdmfnECbyfet_Go8x4gC7XPsKhg8k/s400/11C63ABD-5852-41B3-9930-F26C4812A6DB.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The factional Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr Henry Olatuja, has urged the national leaders of the party to warn the Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to steer clear of the state’s politics.</b><br /> <br /> Olatuja stated this on Tuesday in Akure at a news conference, organised by the party over the mode of primary being considered for picking the APC standard-bearer in the state.<br /> <br /> He claimed that Fayemi, the Governor of Ekiti, was trying to impose his ‘friend’, the incumbent governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on the party faithful in the state by pushing for indirect governorship primary.<br /> <br /> The primary election of the APC has been scheduled for July 20.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “We need to call the attention of national leaders of our party to call the Governor of Ekiti, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to order to avoid disgrace and embarrassment that may arise from abuse of his office as Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum.<br /> <br /> “He should desist from facilitating undemocratic process while trying to impose the incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu on the APC by pushing for an indirect primary.<br /> <br /> “The indirect primary is grossly inequitable and inimical to the success of our party in the general election coming up on Oct. 10.<br /> <br /> “He should note that Ondo State is not an appendage of Ekiti, and as such, he should stop meddling in the political affairs of our state,” he said.<br /> <br /> Olatuja further claimed that out of the 12 aspirants contesting for the APC governorship ticket, nine were working with their own faction of the party.<br /> <br /> “It is, therefore, unthinkable and unspeakable that the list of party members submitted to assist the APC national committee coming to conduct the primary election in various ward and local governments was unilaterally compiled and submitted by the Ade Adetimehin group.<br /> <br /> “This was without the input of our executive committee and other aspirants.<br /> <br /> “We demand that the list in contention be discountenanced in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice,” he said.<br /> <br /> Olatuja said that the party was not unmindful of the coronavirus pandemic, but with strict adherence to the laid down procedures by the NCDC and INEC to achieve direct mode of primary for the choice of the party’s governorship candidate.<br /> <br /> He, however, pledged his executives’ full support for and loyalty to the new leadership of the party under Gov. Mai Bala Buni of Yobe and prayed for successful discharge of the national assignment.

Latest-News ONDO 2020: Steer clear from Ondo politics, APC faction warns Fayemi

The factional Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr Henry Olatuja, has urged the national leaders of the party to warn the Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to steer clear of the state’s politics. O…

Read more »

Okonjo-Iweala, five others battle for WTO job

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwkpuA9seTguvdZ7V1LE21GYAyXvuO0lhjIePvAvJOiZah7v0b12s_Bh1Sxn9PGMf42dttzRoWuUEDVTIYF5-Im3yER2jW8fRipBgGiB1lWgzRqnGfRtxlMaBBB_GuCKKaR73OIQLqow/s1600/2C828EB5-5586-4228-B266-3E3B821F35E7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="480" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwkpuA9seTguvdZ7V1LE21GYAyXvuO0lhjIePvAvJOiZah7v0b12s_Bh1Sxn9PGMf42dttzRoWuUEDVTIYF5-Im3yER2jW8fRipBgGiB1lWgzRqnGfRtxlMaBBB_GuCKKaR73OIQLqow/s400/2C828EB5-5586-4228-B266-3E3B821F35E7.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>Six candidates are vying to become the next head of the World Trade Organisation, an institution which faced mammoth challenges even before the pandemic-driven global economic crisis struck.</b><br /> <br /> The six candidates are former Nigerian foreign and finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee; Kenya’s former foreign minister Amina Mohamed; Mexico’s former WTO deputy director-general Jesus Seade Kuri; Egyptian former diplomat Hamid Mamdouh; and former Moldovan foreign minister Tudor Ulianovschi.<br /> <br /> The new chief must revive stalled trade talks, lay the ground for the 2021 ministerial conference – one of the WTO’s major events – and thaw relations with Washington.<br /> <br /> The window to enter the race slams shut on Wednesday, in a speeded-up contest to replace the outgoing WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo – the Brazilian career diplomat who is stepping down one year early at the end of August.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> In a surprise move in mid-May, Azevedo, 62, announced that he would end his second four-year term early for personal reasons, forcing the Geneva-based WTO’s 164 member states to come up with a successor in just three months instead of the usual nine.<br /> <br /> Rather than an election, the procedure for selecting the next WTO boss relies on finding consensus, with candidates gradually being eliminated in turn.<br /> <br /> A vote is possible as a measure of last resort, but that scenario has never occurred.<br /> <br /> In 1999, when countries could not decide between two runners, both candidates each served a three-year term.<br /> <br /> The next incumbent faces a tough task, with the WTO caught in the middle of rising tensions between the United States and China.<br /> <br /> “If the process of choosing the next director-general is heavily politicised, that could block things up,” a diplomatic source told AFP.<br /> <br /> If a consensus cannot be reached in time, one of the four deputy directors-general will take the reins in September on a caretaker basis.<br /> <br /> There has never been a WTO leader from Africa and the continent fancies its chances this time, even though there is no regional rotation principle at the global trade body.<br /> <br /> However, African nations have so far failed to convene around a single candidate.<br /> <br /> Expecting the contest to come in 2021, the African Union had given early official backing to three figures, among them Mamdouh, a veteran former senior WTO official.<br /> <br /> Mamdouh, 67, who is also a Swiss national, was the only one to declare his candidacy.<br /> <br /> Nigeria’s decision to stand Okonjo-Iweala against him has triggered a legal dispute with the African Union.<br /> <br /> Nonetheless, “Nigeria’s candidate is gaining ground within Africa,” said a diplomatic source.<br /> <br /> Okonjo-Iweala, 66, who chairs the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said she was receiving “tremendous support”.<br /> <br /> “I’m sure the African Union will make a decision to choose and support the candidate that merits it,” she told reporters in Geneva at a virtual press conference in late June.<br /> <br />  The former World Bank number two insisted that the WTO – which has never had a female leader – must choose is next chief based on ability.<br /> <br /> “I hope that the WTO director-general will be elected first and foremost on merit. And then, if it happens to be a woman or an African, that is also good,” she said.<br /> <br /> Kenya’s sports minister Mohamed, 58, has also previously served as chair of the WTO general council and first ran for the post in 2013. She threw her hat in the ring just before nominations closed, meaning there are three women and three Africans in the contest.<br /> <br />  Yoo, 53, is the other female candidate.<br /> <br /> The youngest contender is 37-year-old Ulianovschi, while Seade, at 73, is the oldest. He has led posts at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund

Latest-News Okonjo-Iweala, five others battle for WTO job

Six candidates are vying to become the next head of the World Trade Organisation, an institution which faced mammoth challenges even before the pandemic-driven global economic crisis struck. The six candidates are former Nigerian foreign and finance…

Read more »

Why Senate didn’t declare Orji Kalu’s seat vacant – Lawan

Latest-News Why Senate didn’t declare Orji Kalu’s seat vacant – Lawan

…

Read more »

How I exposed Magu to Osinbajo three years ago -Mike Ozekhome:

Latest-News How I exposed Magu to Osinbajo three years ago -Mike Ozekhome:

…

Read more »

VIDEO: Dino Melaye mocks suspended EFCC chairman, Magu

Latest-News VIDEO: Dino Melaye mocks suspended EFCC chairman, Magu

…

Read more »

Donald Trump reacts to Kanye West’s presidential bid

Latest-News Donald Trump reacts to Kanye West’s presidential bid

…

Read more »

Police arrest pastor who ‘raped daughter for five years’

Latest-News Police arrest pastor who ‘raped daughter for five years’

…

Read more »

Salary structure of civil servants at national assembly illegal, says HoS

Latest-News Salary structure of civil servants at national assembly illegal, says HoS

…

Read more »

Churches must be reopened for divine solution to COVID-19 -CAN

Latest-News Churches must be reopened for divine solution to COVID-19 -CAN

…

Read more »

House of Reps refute reports that 50 lawmakers tested positive for COVID-19

Latest-News House of Reps refute reports that 50 lawmakers tested positive for COVID-19

…

Read more »

Why insecurity still reigns in Zamfara – Governor Matawalle

Latest-News Why insecurity still reigns in Zamfara – Governor Matawalle

…

Read more »

49m Africans at risk of extreme poverty — AfDB

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSK6ihKeseRXyVlfPrsS5nDd0nZd1b-HL05wamF1ZE7MxiW4kp69iBi0zScjb1oliCcp83AXQjBvCTA5gdazToub26kw6s_Sj9RSRfCRZjnvfdlcx6J_ifooZBgKm4Tws8PEfxm7IRhw/s1600/BBA4222C-CDD4-4D08-A910-79ABE6C5FE90.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="480" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSK6ihKeseRXyVlfPrsS5nDd0nZd1b-HL05wamF1ZE7MxiW4kp69iBi0zScjb1oliCcp83AXQjBvCTA5gdazToub26kw6s_Sj9RSRfCRZjnvfdlcx6J_ifooZBgKm4Tws8PEfxm7IRhw/s400/BBA4222C-CDD4-4D08-A910-79ABE6C5FE90.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The African Development Bank, AfDB, has said an additional 49 million Africans are at risk of extreme poverty due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, with West and Central Africa to be the worst hit.</b><br /> <br /> This was contained in AfDB’s comprehensive socio-economic assessment of the  COVID-19 pandemic’s impact released on Tuesday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.<br /> <br /> While asking that governments and development partners to respond in a more coordinated, targeted, and rapid manner to be effective in limiting the impacts, the forecast noted that Africa’s economic growth could rebound in 2021, provided that governments manage the COVID-19 infection rate well.<br /> <br /> The predictions are contained in a supplement to the Bank’s African Economic Outlook, which was released on January 30. At the time, Africa’s growth was forecast at 3.9% in 2020 and 4.1% in 2021.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The Bank said growth was now projected to rebound to 3% in 2021 from -3.4% in the worst-case scenario for 2020.<br /> <br /> The supplement cautioned that the growth outlook for 2021 and beyond would depend largely on African governments’ effectiveness in flattening the curve of the outbreak and policies to reopen economies.<br /> <br /> Charles Leyeka Lufumpa, Acting Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, at AfDB said: “To reopen economies, policymakers needed to follow a phased and incremental approach that carefully evaluates the trade-offs between restarting economic activity too quickly and safeguarding the health of the population.<br /> <br /> “Economic activities can be restarted incrementally on the basis of the transmission risks of different sectors.”<br /> <br /> The spread of the virus in Africa depends largely on the preparedness of countries to separate and treat infected patients, the supplement stated, noting that only 21 out of 54 African countries are clinically prepared to deal with epidemics.<br /> <br /> Executive Director of the African Economic Research Consortium and Former Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, Njuguna Ndung’u, described the African Economic Outlook 2020 supplement as “a very important and useful policy tool for African countries who actually need it at this time.”<br /> <br /> “It will be useful now and in the future. It gives us important short, medium- and long-term strategies,” he added, stressing crises like COVID-19 present a good opportunity for innovative reforms in countries.<br /> <br /> The supplement noted that the curve of the pandemic in Africa was flattening gradually.<br /> <br /> However, COVID-19 remains a serious threat to lives and livelihoods, given weak healthcare systems and limited social protection.<br /> <br /> The continent also remains vulnerable to other regional threats such as the locust swarms that have struck East Africa, as well as to extreme climate events.

Latest-News 49m Africans at risk of extreme poverty — AfDB

The African Development Bank, AfDB, has said an additional 49 million Africans are at risk of extreme poverty due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, with West and Central Africa to be the worst hit. This was contained in AfDB’s comprehensiv…

Read more »

We will arrest those who put Facemasks on their chins - Nigerian Police warns

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8a5gdvng-2OJFQzUL4jxbqAjxVqflRE5Il7bBORGnyf7JdxKL-bJE8kNrj7hyphenhyphenmaWDirtTkZkCOllCkmwtAqqNTZwdg5FPBlGp0XlViux0k2pOQnGt8RU0uJCB1eWFbxH4-ewEIoqHBMY7/s1600/gidi+mask+%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1184" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8a5gdvng-2OJFQzUL4jxbqAjxVqflRE5Il7bBORGnyf7JdxKL-bJE8kNrj7hyphenhyphenmaWDirtTkZkCOllCkmwtAqqNTZwdg5FPBlGp0XlViux0k2pOQnGt8RU0uJCB1eWFbxH4-ewEIoqHBMY7/s400/gidi+mask+%252814%2529.jpg" width="295" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: GIDI Facemask</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /> The Lagos State Police Command has warned residents to ensure proper use of face masks or face arrest.<br /> <br /> The command said it has noticed that most residents have either jettisoned the directive or now place the masks beneath their chins as decoration.<br /> <br /> Commissioner of Police (CP) Hakeem Odumosu, in a chat with The Nation on Tuesday, urged Lagosians to own the battle against further spread of COVID-19 in the state.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> According to Odumosu, the police and other law enforcement agencies have the mandate of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to arrest and prosecute violators of COVID-19 prevention protocols, adding that there will be no sacred cows in safeguarding public safety.<br /> <br /> Already, Odumosu said the command arrested 3,802 persons between April and June for not wearing face masks, adding that all the suspects were charged to court and sentenced accordingly.<br /> <br /> He said: “We have been enforcing the law. We have arrested 3,802 people for not using face masks and 12,900 suspects were held for flouting various COVID-19 guidelines since the commencement of the lockdown in April. They were all charged to court.<br /> <br /> “But we are going to be stricter now because we have noticed that some people do not wear at all while others hang it on their chins. That is not the purpose for the directive.<br /> <br /> “The face mask must be properly worn to cover the mouth and nose. That is how it will serve its purpose. Our people must know that the policy is for their safety and that of society.<br /> <br /> “As soon as you step out of your house into public space, you should have your face mask on, worn properly. It should be that way until you return to your private space. Wearing a face mask is compulsory just as social distancing is compulsory. You cannot do one and leave the other.<br /> <br /> “For emphasis, we will arrest those who put the face mask on their chins and also arrest those not wearing it.”<br /> <br /> Checks across Amuwo Odofin, Isolo, Egbe Idimu and Oshodi areas of the state showed that most residents were nonchalant about the use of face mask and social distancing.<br /> <br /> Our source, fwho went round these areas yesterday morning, observed that only commercial motorists mostly had face masks on though a greater number of them hung them on their chins.<br /> <br /> It was gathered that the drivers were compelled by their unions to have the face masks handy and also ensure their passengers have them to prevent arrest.<br /> <br /> People were seen having discussions in clusters and at bus stops without wearing face masks and in complete disregard for the social distancing directive.<br /> <br /> At Oke-Afa, it was observed that over eight non-compliant people encircled a woman roasting corn with some of them taking turns to touch the staples.<br /> <br /> Also, the black market foreign exchange operators in Okota were beckoning on potential clients without observing the protocols.<br /> <br /> Most traffic hawkers from Okota Round About up to Apple Junction in Amuwo Odofin did not also comply with the directive as they claimed that wearing the mask makes breathing difficult.<br /> <br /> A fruit seller, who approached our reporter to market his ware, said: “I am not using it because it is hard to wear. The few times I tried it, I could not breathe. I have not worn face mask for over a month now and I do not have the disease. Do I look sick?”<br /> <br /> The situation was not different in Ajao Estate as most shop owners and their customers were seen neither putting on face masks or observing social distancing.

Latest-News We will arrest those who put Facemasks on their chins - Nigerian Police warns

Photo Credit: GIDI Facemask The Lagos State Police Command has warned residents to ensure proper use of face masks or face arrest. The command said it has noticed that most residents have either jettisoned the directive or now place the masks beneat…

Read more »