Tinubu’s N150 bn libel suit against AIT adjourned to Sept. 30

An Ikeja High Court in Lagos has adjourned the N150billion libel suit filed by Bola Tinubu against Africa Independent Television, AIT, to September 30th. Bola Tinubu had approached the court after AIT aired a documentary about him titled 'Lion of Bourdillon' during the election campaign period. Bola Tinubu says the documentary was created to tarnish his image.

Residents,motorists panic in Ikorodu over Oba's death

Following the reported demise of Oba Johnson Fatola of Ikorodu whose death was announced around 6pm on Monday, June 29, 2015,the residents and visitors to Igbogbo, Ikorodu fled for saftey as such deaths are accompanied by late night curfew...

 The curfew in line with traditional culture is usually observed for a week .It  bans males and females from being seen outside at a certain hour and failure to observe teh curfew often attracts deadly consequences ..

According to Vanguard,Residents were said to have made several calls to friends and family members to hurry home for fear of street urchins taking advantage of the situation to wreak havoc in the community. As at 7pm many shops were closed as people ran for dear lives, while commercial drivers abandoned major routes for fear of vandalisation.

Wife of former acting governor of Bayelsa state, Binabo Martha, kidnapped

Martha Binabo, 48, the wife of former acting governor of Bayelsa state and currently House of Reps member, Nestor Binabo (pictured above), was kidnapped yesterday June 29th at her warehouse in Bayelsa by five gunmen who wore military uniform.

Mrs Binabo, who usually moves around with mobile police, wasn't with one yesterday morning when she was kidnapped and driven away in her Camry. The car was later burnt down by the water side and she was taken away on a boat into the creeks

NEXIM bank provides N1bn loan for entertainment industry

The Nigerian Export Import Bank said it had provided over N1bn loan to support various projects along the value chains in the creative and entertainment industry.

The Managing Director in a presentation made in Abuja said the amount was made available to the sector owing to the inherent opportunities and the high growth prospects of the industry.

He said the sector, which currently contributes about 1.4 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product is projected to grow its contribution to double digit within the shortest time possible

Orya said in order to unlock the potentials of the sector, there is need to improve the funding commitment to the industry so as to reduce the level of unemployment and create wealth for the people.

He said, “In view of the inherent opportunities and the high growth prospects of the creative and entertainment industry, as evidenced in the 1.4 per cent contribution to the GDP and projection of double digit growth rate, NEXIM is unlocking the huge potentials of this sector through funding commitments currently in excess of N1bn in support of various projects along the value chains.

“This is in addition to developmental initiatives, targeted at ensuring that the industry operates in a structured manner and within global best practices and standards.”

Orya stated that under his management, the bank has embarked on various strategic initiatives aimed at facilitating trade, deepening the regional market and unlocking opportunities in critical sectors of the economy.

Some of the initiatives according to him are the ECOWAS trade support facility which is designed to improve the current intra-regional trade level which is currently less than 8.5 per cent,

The facility, he added, would also help to capture the huge informal intra-regional trade which is estimated at $12bn yearly by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council by supporting small traders across the region.

He also said the bank had facilitated a Regional Sealink Project to boost intra-regional trade by helping to mitigate the issues of high transportation cost and excessive transit time.

The excessive transit time, he noted, had made trade within the region to be non competitive.

The NEXIM bank boss said the management of the bank would ensure that its mandate of diversifying the external sector of the Nigerian economy away from oil is achieved.

In addition, he said the bank would facilitate more long term concessionary funds and investment capital towards developing the non oil sector of the economy

This, he added, would be achieved through export credit facilities, risk bearing facilities, export advisory services as well as trade and market information.

REVEALED: Okonjo-Iweala spent $2.1 Billion without approval - FG

The National Economic Council, chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday accused a former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, of spending $2.1bn from the Excess Crude Account without authorisation.


“We looked at the numbers for the Excess Crude Account. The last time the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, reported to the council, and it is in the minutes, she reported by November 2014 that we had $4.1 bn.



“Today, the Accountant-General Office reported we have $2.0bn. Which means the honourable minister spent $2.1bn without authority of the NEC and that money was not distributed to states, it was not paid to the three tiers of government,” Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole told State House correspondents after the NEC’s 58th meeting in Abuja.

The ‘unauthorised’ spending, according to the economic council, is among the several anomalies discovered in the management of the nation’s economy between 2012 and May 2015.

Within the period, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was said to have earned a total of N8.1 tn but remitted only N4.3tn.

Consequently, the Federal Government has constituted Oshiomhole, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; and Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, into a panel to probe the NNPC and the ECA between 2012 and May, 2015.

Oshiomhole, el-Rufai, Emmanuel and the Zamfara State Governor, Abdulazeez Yari, jointly briefed journalists at the end of the meeting.

Yari told the journalists, through the Director of Funds, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. M.K. Dikwa, that council members received the report of the ECA and unremitted funds by the NNPC.

He said, “On that line, a four-man committee consisting of the governors of Edo, Gombe, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom states was constituted to go through the books of the NNPC and Excess Crude as well as the Federation Account.

”The four-man committee will check the books of the NNPC, most especially the issue of excess crude and what is not remitted into the Federation Account.

“The Federal Government, in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria, will look inwards to see how to support and how much they will give to states, especially on the issue of outstanding salaries owed by the states and even the Federal Government.”

Shedding new light on what transpired at the NEC meeting, Oshiomhole said the NNPC and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation were compelled for the first time to provide information on the total sales of Nigeria’s crude from 2012 to May 2015.

The Edo governor said, “We are talking about transparency; we are talking about change. And what we saw from those numbers, which I believe that Nigerians are entitled to know, is that whereas the NNPC claimed to have earned N8.1tn, what NNPC paid into the Federation Account from 2012 to May 2015 was N4.3tn.

“What it means is that the NNPC withheld and spent N3.8 tn.

“The major revelation here is that the entire federation, that is the Federal Government, the states and all the 774 local governments, the amount the NNPC paid into the Federation Account for distribution to these three tiers of government came to N4.3 tn and the NNPC alone took and spent N3.8tn.

“This means that the cost of running the NNPC is much more than the cost of running the Federal Government. That tells you how much is missing, what is mismanaged and what is stolen. There are huge figures.”

Oshiomhole said the only lawful way decreed by the Constitution was that if the NNPC needed to spend money, it needed to prepare its budget like every other business enterprise, get it scrutinised by the executive and then forward same to the National Assembly for appropriation.

He added, “If the Federal Government cannot spend without appropriation, why should any agency spend without appropriation.

“This is what the Constitution provided for and this is what President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to do; henceforth all money must go to the Federation Account.

“If you were doing that, you would not have a situation where the NNPC alone will spend N3.8trn and remit to the federal, states and local governments N4.3trn, which means NNPC is taking about 47 per cent and that explains all the leakages you are talking about.”

El-Rufai recalled that he was part of the decision to put in place the ECA during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 2004 and 2005 as an administrative arrangement to save for a rainy day.

He said the account was set up in order to be accountable such that every state and local government would know what they had in the account though they could not spend it.

He said, “The Excess Crude Account is 52 per cent owned by the Federal Government and 48 per cent owned by the states and the local governments.

“So the decision of the NEC is to set up this committee of four to look at the operations of the Excess Crude Account and make recommendations to council on its future.

“The other thing the committee will do is to look at the operations of the Federation Account, particularly the shortfall and again come back to council with very clear recommendations as to what to do.

“We have not been given a time frame but as you can imagine state governments are under pressure, many of our state governments are unable to pay salaries on time without recourse to borrowing, so this is very important to us.

“This is an all-governors’ committee; we wear the shoes and we know where they pinch. So we are going to do this as quickly as possible.

“The next meeting of the council is on July 23; we hope to complete our work and be in a position to report to council on that day. So within the next one month, we will be done by God’s grace.”

Ogun begins rehabilitation of 20Km federal road, others

Despite the recent move by many state governors to collect the money spent on roads which belong to the Federal Government in their states, the Ogun State Government has commenced the rehabilitation of a Federal Government-owned 20km road, Ago-Ika-Adatan Road in Abeokuta North Local Government area.

The state government said this was a move to ensure that road users  within the state have accident-free and safe motoring.

The government has also commenced the clearing of a 2KM drainage in Ijebu–Ode.

The federal road, which is being rehabilitated by the State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, was constructed 20 years ago.

Speaking with journalists after inspecting the level of work done at the Ago-Ika-Adatan Road, the Permanent Secretary, Kayode Ademolake, explained that officials of the ministry would also immediately begin repairs of the main entrance at the Sagamu-Benin Road after the completion of the drainage clearing in Ijebu-Ode.

Fame is the most dangerous drug in the world-Ubi Franklin

Triple MG Ceo and Iyanya's manager,Ubi Franklin bared his mind in a very reveling instagram post on fame ..Read

Don't Let Society Pressure You to Act Out of Character. I keep saying this to my friends things that happen to people that are famous or semi famous or people that blogs made famous, your Life changes the day you walk on the street and some random person ask you for a picture "I love your movies" " I love your songs " " I love the way you manage your artiste" "I love your shows on Tv" from that day you get home and ask yourself questions like " so people know me now?" 

Authomatically the next day every thing about you changes, how you walk, talk, dress and what people say. FAME is the most Dangerous Drug in the world. After all this light camera Action what really is the real you sets in at about 12:30 am when you are struggling to sleep with many problems in mind, water bills , light bills, house bills, next Hit song, next Major movie, Family issues back home, one strange illness faced by a family member could be your Mum or your Dad, relationship issues, marriage issues, if you do this or that what will the world say?

LISTEN if you are reading wether you are famous rich or poor just know that we all Have issues we can't deal with till the right time that God has designed for it. I wish I can share a story here for you all. Woke up with alot on my mind and decided to share something pls pardon any typos or wrongly used words 
Do everything to make yourself Happy the same society that Judge you have something they are dealing with too. When it rains all roofs get wet, only a few know that some roofs are leaking . Think Deep.

Forget what you see on instagram everyone is going Through something somewhere and somehow. Don't Judge 
Thanks Good Morning

Naomi Campbell, 45, stuns in new campaign pics & on the runway

Th 45 year old supermodel strutted down the runway at Menswear Fashion Week in Paris on Friday 26 June looking stunning in a pair of thigh-high black boots and a barely-there bikini. More photos after the cut..

Naomi Campbell smoulders in a metallic gold cutaway swimsuit for luxury Italian underwear brand La Perla ..

Love! Kylie ,Khloe & Tyga all hugged up as she moves in to $2.7m home(Photos)

These sisters support eachother and who ever they choose to love..Khloe Kardashian shared this adorable pic of Tyga hugging Kylie and she hugging them as the 17 year oldmoved into her $2.7million Calabasas home..
Khloe and Kylie are now neigbours ..Kylie has always said Khloe is more like a mum to her.. 

Saraki: There won't be delay in confirmation of Ministerial nominees

Press statement from the office of the Senate President..

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki today (Tuesday 30th of June 2015) gave assurance that there would be no delay in the confirmation of ministerial nominees once the list is sent to the legislature by President Muhammadu Buhari. 

The Senate President while receiving the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gaver, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, said it was to ensure that the suspension of plenary does not disturb serious government business like the screening of ministers that he has continued to reiterate the fact that the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly will resume plenary when there is any urgent matter of national importance.

Responding to the comments by the French Envoy, the Senate President said that though the Senate is currently on break but “ we are working and we are ready to reconvene any time to attend to any national assignment, including the confirmation of President Muhammadu Buhari's ministerial nominees.". > He also pledged the cooperation of the National Assembly with the executive arm of government in accomplishing the programmes of the administration.

The Senate Presidency said bills from the executive arm of government would be treated with dispatch, as part of efforts to support the President to effect the positive change expected from his administration by Nigerians.

The senate president told the French delegation that the Senate has commenced work already with the setting up of the 18 man committee to formulate a realistic and progressive Legislative Agenda, which he said would address issues like poverty alleviation, law enforcement, national security, commercial disputes, eradication of corruption and investments in the Petroleum sector.

Saraki further said the National Assembly will partner with the French National Assembly in the area of capacity building for legislators, strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries and ensuring that more French investments flow into Nigeria.

He specifically solicited the co-operation of the French government in tackling the security problems in the North-eastern part of Nigeria, particularly as Nigeria shares borders with French-speaking countries. > Earlier, the French envoy, who described the leadership tussle at the National Assembly as part of democracy, solicited for cooperation between the National Assembly and the President Buhari-led executive arm of government.

The French Envoy said that the expectation of the international community on Nigeria is high

He also called for cooperation between the private sector in Nigeria and its counterpart in France.

 On security, Gaver said France is encouraging her former colonies in West Africa to cooperate with Nigeria in the onslaught against the Boko Haram insurgency.

Media Office of the Senate President

Pictures from Vice President Osinbajo in cote d'ivoire

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was in Abidjan today to Launch the West Africa Energy Leaders Group today June 30th

I don't have a house outside Nigeria - Aliko Dangote

Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote says he does not own a house outside Nigeria

"Somebody asked me, how many houses do you have abroad? I said, well, to tell you the good news, I don’t even have a nine-inch block outside Nigeria, and that is the truth. I don’t have a house anywhere abroad.” - he told Senior Media executives during an interview session over the weekend

Illegal oil deal: Court adjourns trial of 14 foreigners

A Federal High Court in Lagos has further adjourned till July 7, 8, 9 and 10, 2015, the trial of 14 foreigners arraigned for allegedly dealing in petroleum products within the Nigerian territorial waters without lawful authority.

The accused persons include citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Japan and the United Kingdom.

They include Artur Pakhladzhian, Sergo Abbgarian, Vasily Shkundich, vitaliy Bilours, Hlarion Teofilo Regipor, Laguta Oleksiy and Cadavis Gerarado.

Others are Kretov Andry, Badurian Benjamin, Chepikov Olksan, Naranjo Allian Antero, Patro Christian, Alcayde Joel and Caratiquit Michael Beyan.

Their trial which had been slated to continue on Monday could not proceed as the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, said the court could not accommodate any trial for Monday.

He subsequently adjourned till July 7, 8, 9 and 10 for continuation of trial.

The 14 foreigners are being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which arraigned them on four counts of conspiracy and illegal deal in petroleum products.

Counsel for the anti-graft agency, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, had on June 10 told the court that the accused persons were arrested along with their vessel,  MT Anukpet Emerald, from which they carried out the alleged unlawful business.

According to the charge filed against them, the accused persons had on March 27, 2015 allegedly dealt  in petroleum products estimated at 1,738.087 metric tons without appropriate licence.

They were also accused of dealing in 1,500 metric tons of Automated Gas Oil and  3,035 metric tons of Low Pour Fuel Oil without lawful authority.

The prosecution said the offence was a contravention of  Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, Cap 10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and Section 19(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

If found guilty, the accused persons are liable to be punished under section 1(17) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

But they pleaded not guilty upon their arraignment and were granted bail each in the sum of N50m with one surety in like sum.

The judge said the surety must be resident in Lagos. He ordered the accused persons to deposit all their travelling documents in the custody of the EFCC.

Argentinian kidnapped in Niger state says footballer Messi helped save his life

An Argentinian man named Santiago Lopez Menendez (pictured above), who worked as an agronomist for Nigeria Flour Mills and managed two farms, was kidnapped in Niger state on June 24th. (Read here). Talking to the press after he was rescued, he said footballer Lionel Messi helped save his life. Huh? Funny!

Mirror UK reports

Lionel Messi football genius isn't just great to watch - it's also now helping save lives. Santiago Lopez Menendez is a young Argentinian scientist who works in Nigeria. On 24th June, as was heading out to work in a field, he was kidnapped by a group of armed men. Thankfully, he was released unharmed three days later, after a ransom was paid. However, it wasn't just the money which saved his life. Menendez has told the press in Argentina that Lionel Messi is one of the reasons he's still alive.

His captors were initially convinced Menendez was American, which he believes was the reason they were being particularly violent towards him.

Menendez was desperately trying to tell them that he was in fact South American, but they spoke no English. Eventually, he resorted to simply shouting:
"Messi! Messi! Messi!"

Incredibly, Menendez says it worked, and his kidnappers went easy on him from that point on.

Funny Or Rude? Fan Flies Kim K's Sex Tape Flag During Kanye West Performance (PHOTO)

This sex tape will never leave Kim K alone!

Kanye West took the stage at the Glastonbury festival yesterday to perform a number of his hit songs and have a good time with the audience, however, it seems that some fans were there for entirely different reasons. 

A particular festival goer took out time to make an inflated flag containing a picture of Kim Kardashian-West in a very intimate position with then boyfriend, Ray J. Of course, the still is taking from Kim K's now infamous sex tape.

To add salt to the inury, guess who was in the crowd during Kanye's set, yes: Kim K herself.

So what do you think? Do you think the fan's actions are funny or do you think they are just rude?

Photos: See the sick $4.8m Ferrari Floyd Mayweather wants to buy

When you make $300million a year - you can buy any bladdy thing you like. TMZ reports below..

How do you upgrade from a $3.8 million Ferrari?? Easy ... you get a $4.8million super car to take it's place ... at least, that's what Floyd Mayweather's planning to do ... TMZ Sports has learned. Sources close to the boxer tell us ... he's this close to closing the deal on an ultra-rare sports car called a Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita ... one of only THREE of it's kind in the entire world.

The car is lightning fast ... 0-60 in 2.9 seconds ... and tops out at 250 miles per hour! 

Our sources tell us Floyd has had his eye on the car for a while -- but now, he's finally pulling the trigger ... and we're told his car guy Obi Okeke at Fusion Luxury Motors has already imported it to his L.A. showroom specifically for Mayweather.

Don't be surprised if he's rolling around town in the car by the 4th of July. 

Thailand’s lone MERS patient cleared of virus

Thailand Ministry of Public Health on Monday said a 75-year-old Omani man who was Thailand’s only known MERS patient has recovered.

The ministry’s Head of Disease Control, Sophon Mekthon, said in a statement that the latest tests on the patient showed up negative for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus.

“The man will be released from quarantine but monitored closely,” Mekthon said.

Mekthon also said all people who came in contact with the patient had been accounted for, and that the ministry was monitoring 36 of them as a precaution.

Buhari appoints ex-military administrator as new Chief of Staff

According to Sahara Reporters, Pres. Buhari today appointed ex-military administrator of Kaduna state, Hamidu Ali as his new Chief of Staff. Some of us had hoped it would be Fashola.

TITLE, BUHARI’S WIFE, AISHA IS STUBBORNLY SEEKING INFLUENCE”

Two sources close to President Muhammadu Buhari have told SaharaReporters that there was growing concern over the apparent determination of the president’s wife, Aisha Buhari, to transform herself into a politically powerful spouse, in defiance of her husband’s wishes.

The sources remarked that President Buhari had ordered that his wife not be officially addressed as “First Lady,” adding, however, that Mrs. Buhari has been operating as one.

Since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999, the wives of successive Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan had operated in a politically controversial and high profile manner. Stella Obasanjo, the wife of Mr. Obasanjo, was known as a quiet power broker who reportedly demanded loyalty to herself from those who worked closely with her husband. She died on October 23, 2005 in Spain during a secretive trip to perform cosmetic surgery to enhance her physique.

Mrs. Turai Yar’Adua emerged as a brooding operator who became the power behind the throne of her husband’s Presidency. When Mr. Yar’Adua took gravely ill and was hospitalized for long periods in a Saudi hospital, his wife, Turai, oversaw an ambitious scam to hoodwink Nigerians into believing that her comatose husband was still ably running Nigeria.

Immediate past First Lady Patience Jonathan exhibited some of the worst attributes of recent presidential spouses. A loquacious figure, she often inserted herself in state affairs, openly feuded with political figures, and was given to an ostentatious lifestyle. Her critics said she often courted or demanded huge cash gifts as well as land and cars from political officials, including governors and ministers.

During his campaign for the Presidency, Mr. Buhari had indicated that he would ensure that his wife did not assume a formal public and visible role as First Lady.

However, our two sources alleged that the incumbent president’s wife seemed determined to build herself into a First Lady in the mold of her three past predecessors.

She was reportedly in a haste to move into Aso Rock Villa, and ended up relocating to the President’s official residence three days before her husband moved in. One source said she brought along to Aso Rock three powerful friends who have been running her office as though she has an official title. The three women are former Senator Pauline Tallen from Plateau State, Fatimat Abubakar, a wife of former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, and a former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Hajo Sani.

Our other source disclosed that the activities of his wife’s three friends had become a cause for concern for President Buhari. “Mr. President [Buhari] is a simple man by nature. He still doesn’t want his wife, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, to begin to play the kind of role that First Lady Mrs. Patience Jonathan played,” he said.

Last week, President Buhari reportedly ordered agents of the State Security Services (SSS) to arrest his wife’s brother, Musa Yola, for allegedly defrauding a businessman of N300 million in exchange for securing an oil bloc for his dupe.