322 Nigerian firms shut down in five years - World Bank

Harsh business environment in Nigeria forced about 322 organised private companies to close shop between 2009 and 2014, a report by the World Bank Enterprise Survey has shown.

The report also said out of 5,833 firms sampled in the country within the period, at least1,136 were reported to be at the risk of closing down.

A firm is considered to have closed down or exited if it is confirmed as ceasing operation.


The World Bank Enterprise Survey, which focused on emerging markets and developing economies, covered small, medium and large-scale enterprises in the non-agricultural formal private sector.

The study looked at the effects of factors such as trade, finance, labour, infrastructure, innovation, regulations, taxes and business licensing, crime, informality and corruption on business growth.

Results of the survey, which was published in a report by the African Development Bank, entitled ‘Creating Decent Jobs: Strategies, Policies and Instruments’, identified political environment and corruption as major obstacles to the survival of businesses in Nigeria and other African countries.

Senate proposes bill to create agency for hate speech

The Senate has introduced a  bill that seeks to ascertain a central agency to visualize hate speech within the country.

The bill, sponsored by a former Senate spokesman, who is currently the Deputy Senate Whip, Sabi Abdullahi,  passed presentation on the ground of the red chamber on Tues.

It is titled National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches (Estb., etc) Bill 2019.


A similar bill sponsored by Abdullahi within the eighth Senate prescribed among others, death by hanging for anyone found guilty of the offence.

Supply suspension: Petrol scarcity hits border towns, fuel now N600/litre

Residents of border communities in Ogun, Lagos, Adamawa, Katsina and Sokoto states  are groaning following the Federal Government’s suspension of fuel supply to areas  within 20 kilometres to  the nation’s borders.

On Thursday, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali, had directed that no petroleum products should be supplied to  any filling station within 20 kilometres to the borders.

 Investigations by our correspondents   in Ogun, Lagos, Adamawa, Katsina, and Sokoto states showed that the government’s order had triggered fuel scarcity and hike in the prices of petroleum products.

For instance, investigations by one of our correspondents  showed the Federal Government’s order had led to fuel scarcity in communities such as Ihunbo, Ilase, Ajegunle, Idiroko and Agosasa in  the Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Also, at the  Seme border in Lagos  on Monday, there were  fuel queues as only two filling stations were selling fuel.

Many filling stations shut in Ogun

The PUNCH learnt that  so many filling stations  within  20 kilometres  to the border in Ipokia, close to Benin Republic had been shut by the Federal Government’s task force on border closure.

 One of the residents of Ipokia, Elijah  Akinola, in an interview with The PUNCH,  accused the security agencies in the area  of sabotaging the economy of the country.

He asked,  “Can you imagine buying a litre of fuel at the rate of N600? Before we can get fuel for N145 in Ipokia, we will need to go to Owode, which is 28 kilometres  away. We don’t know what we can do to survive.

“Before the Federal Government’s order, they (security agents) used to take bribes from marketers  before allowing them to export fuel to Benin Republic. Now that the Federal Government has stopped supply of fuel  supply to border communities, we are the ones suffering.   Artisans, even medical personnel, are the ones suffering.

Punch

Cockroaches are evolving to a point where they'll be nearly impossible to kill

Cockroaches are being born impervious to bug sprays and it’s happening fast.

A Purdue University study found that the commonly found German species of roaches are being born with an immunity to toxins with which they haven’t yet been in contact. The shocking study, published on Live Science, concluded the evolution of the German cockroach, also called the Blattella germanica, develops an immunity to new poisons in as quickly as one generation of offspring.

“We didn’t have a clue that something like that could happen this fast,”study co-author Michael Scharf said. “Cockroaches developing resistance to multiple classes of insecticides at once will make controlling these pests almost impossible with chemicals alone.”

The study was conducted in various buildings in central Illinois and Indiana as well as at Purdue’s labs that had roach infestations. Researchers used various combinations of bug sprays and studied several generations of roaches to reach their conclusion.

German cockroaches, which reproduce quickly and scavenge among areas occupied by people, are described in the report as “the species that gives all other cockroaches a bad name.”

Stopping the super scavengers from spreading bacteria and disease in the future will depend on traps and vacuums more so than chemicals, the report suggests.

A Female German cockroach can lay nearly 400 eggs in a lifetime, according to Orkin exterminators. They also note that despite having wings, this seemingly evolving breed of roach “very rarely flies.”

 New York Daily News

The more you give, the more God blesses you - Dangote

Dangote: The more you give, the

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, says some people find it difficult to give without knowing that “the more you give, the more God blesses you”.

Speaking at the 2019 Gold Gala of Florence Otedola’s Cuppy Foundation in Abuja, Dangote emphasised the importance of helping the needy.

The event was organised by the Cuppy Foundation to raise funds for Save the Children, the 100-year United Kingdom-based charity, which is the biggest children-focused organisation in the world after UNICEF.

Save the Children is currently targetting displaced children in the north-east.

Dangote, who made a donation of N100 million, said he would give away most of his wealth to charity before he “passes away.”

“I believe we have made more Nigerians to have a big heart to be giving back to the needy. Nigeria has been good to us. Despite our many needs, we need to also contribute and do our bit. We shouldn’t wait for the government to do every thing. The government has a lot of challenges as we too have ours,” Dangote said.

“Yet, I still think we need to give back. They say, ‘To whom much is given; much is expected.’ Philanthropy in Nigeria is not new. But people find it very difficult to give money away. But I think, the more you give; the more God blesses you and makes you richer.”

He commended Femi Otedola, who made a N5 billion donation, saying the act has shown that Otedola is not only rich but wealthy.

“Femi has declared that he’s not just a rich man but a wealthy person. Now, he has joined the clique of wealthy men who don’t eat their money themselves alone or through their families. They make sure they give to others. For me, one thing I keep saying is that I’ll give away most of my money before I pass on. You know, we have to die one day.

“I must congratulate Cuppy for having a big heart to go and visit those children in Borno. 90 percent of the people I invite from Lagos to follow me to Maiduguri refused. But Cuppy went there, played with them and spent the whole day there.”

Tam David-West dies at 83

Tam David-West, former minister of petroleum and energy, has died at the age of 83.

In a statement on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari mourned the late statesman whom he described as his ally and friend.

We could not immediately confirm the circumstances that led to David-West’s demise.

He served as minister of petroleum and energy under Buhari’s military regime as well as minister of mines, power, and steel under former military president Ibrahim Babangida.

He was also a commissioner of education in the old Rivers state, and was described by the president as “a consultant virologist of national and international standing”.

A statement by Garba Shehu, Buhari’s spokesman, quoted the president as saying David-West had “an indomitable spirit, stood resolutely by whatever he believed in, and was in a class of his own”.

“He commiserates with the David-West family, the people of Buguma, Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State, the academia, and all those who loved “the forthright Tam David-West”,” the statement added.

“President Buhari prays that God will rest the soul of the committed nationalist, urging all those who believe in the ideals he espoused to approximate same, for the betterment of Nigeria, and humanity.”

David-West wrote many books and was a social critic who spoke strongly on national issues.

VAR: Referees' chief Mike Riley to tell officials to use pitchside TV monitors

BBC Sport

Premier League referees are to be encouraged to make more use of pitchside VAR monitors, referees' chief Mike Riley is expected to tell clubs later this week.

All 20 top-flight clubs will be represented at a meeting with Riley in central London on Thursday.

Top of the agenda will be the ongoing controversies around VAR, which continued on Saturday when Sheffield United had a goal ruled out at Tottenham because of a marginal offside decision.

Riley will be quizzed about various VAR issues, including inconsistencies in decision-making and the time it takes for rulings to be made, which in some instances have been several minutes after goals are scored.

It is acknowledged that solutions are not straightforward. However, it is anticipated Riley will tell clubs the on-field referee will make more use of monitors.

It was envisaged that would happen from the point VAR came into use in the Premier League but Riley advised referees not to use them in order to prevent additional delays.

It is now felt the on-field referee is best placed to make marginal calls because they are more aware of the flow of the game and the atmosphere at the time.

CAN faults NYSC for expelling corpers who refused to wear shorts, trousers

The Christian Association of Nigeria has criticised the National Youth Service Corps for expelling two corps members who refused to wear trousers or shorts for religious reasons.

Two female corps members – Okafor Love Obianuju, with call-up number EB/19C/0523; and Odji Oritsetsolaye, with call-up number EB/19C/0530 – were expelled from the 2019 Batch C Stream 1 in Ebonyi camp over the weekend.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Sunday, however, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the CAN President, Rev. Adebayo Oladeji, said the two ladies should not be victimised for holding on to their faith.

Oladeji noted that the Nigerian Law School denied Firdausa Al Jannah Amasa from being called to Bar in 2017 because she refused to remove her hijab, but the institution had since retraced its steps.

He said the NYSC also ought to be more tolerant.

Nigerian business mogul Cosmas Maduka launches $35 million Rice mill Anambra

Nigerian business mogul Cosmas Maduka, one of Nigeria’s most successful businessmen, has built a rice processing mill in Anambra, a state in Nigeria’s southeastern region, at a reported cost of $35 million.

According to a report by ThisDay, the rice mill which was constructed by Coscharis Farms, a subsidiary of the Cosharis Group which Maduka controls, was officially launched last Tuesday at a ceremony in Anambra attended by Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele and various Nigerian state governors.

The first phase of the rice mill which has a milling capacity of 40,000 MT per annum was launched on Tuesday, but the entire project is expected to have an annual milling capacity of 120,000 MT when completed by the end of 2020 according to a press statement by Maduka.

Coscharis Farms Limited, a subsidiary of Coscharis Group, is an integrated rice processor that started operations in 2014 to meet part of the estimated 5.9 million MT annual rice demand in Nigeria. Coscharis Farms currently has close to 3,000 hectares of land for rice cultivation in Anambra and an irrigation system on its farm to enable multi‐cycle rice cultivation. Coscharis Farms has a robust farmer out‐grower development programme within Anambra State, and its environs that aims to reach thousands of farmers that could provide rice paddy to its mill when completed.

“We want to process paddy harvested from our farm into best quality rice. We want to contribute significantly to the government’s efforts to ensure food sufficiency through local production of rice. In addition, we want to set the pace for production of best quality local rice that will cause our people to change their preference from imported rice to locally milled rice which is known to be rich with important nutrients,” Maduka said at the launch of the rice mill.

Otedola donates N5bn to daughter's DJ Cuppy Foundation, as Dangote gives N100m

Billionaire business mogul, Mr. Femi Otedola, on Sunday night, donated a sum of N5 billion to save the children against acute malnutrition in the Northeastern part of Nigeria.

Mr. Otedola made the donation at the inaugural his daughter’s DJ Cuppy Foundation Gold Gala held at Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.
Otedola made the donation through his first daughter, Miss Tolani Otedola.
While speaking at the event, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, said Otedola’s donation to save the children was the largest donation to charity in Nigeria today.

According to him, “We don’t need billionaires or millionaires to start doing something, the likes of DJ Cuppy who are already doing something that affects lives is a good example.”
On his part, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who also donated N100 million, said that the country needs more Nigerians with a big heart to give back to the needy, saying the government should not be allowed to do it alone as the government already has a lot of challenges.

Pete Edochie reacts to criticism

Pete Edochie, veteran Nollywood actor, says he is not disturbed by a recent claim by Lotanna Odunze, a US-based illustrator better known as Sugabelly, that he is a ‘bad actor.

The illustrator had slammed the actor for his lack of flexibility in movie roles.

“Pete Edochie is a really bad actor. He’s been playing the same role his entire life,” she had written.

“Acting isn’t quoting proverbs. But Nigerians live and die by seniority, so the older he gets, the less anybody is able to point this glaring elephant in the room out

While speaking with The PUNCH Newspaper, the veteran actor said he remains unperturbed by people’s comment about him.

‘‘I’ll be honest with you: I’m indifferent to opinions expressed about me, because they don’t make sense to me. If Pete Edochie is a fantastic actor, thank you very much,” he was quoted as saying.

“It doesn’t mean anything to me; it has absolutely nothing to do with me. If you start responding to things that don’t make sense, there is that danger of reducing yourself to the level of that person.

“I’m mentally occupied 24 hours on a daily basis. I trained formally as a broadcaster and by the grace of God, I happen to be an articulate individual. I don’t have to advertise that, every other person knows that.

“I don’t even see most of these things and I don’t give a damn about it and don’t care. You have a right to express any opinion about me but it doesn’t mean anything to me.

“I have 13 grandchildren and I have been successfully married for 50 years. I’m living in my own house and comfortable.

“I don’t have time for all these things. What matters is that Pete Edochie is alive, kicking and enjoying himself.

“On April 7, I’ll be 73. There are few people of my age who are active. If I start responding to individuals, it means that I don’t appreciate God who created me.”

China: We won't fund Mambilla power until Nigeria settles legal dispute

The Chinese government has asked Nigeria to settle the legal dispute over the $5.8 billion Mambilla power failing which it would not provide the funds for the project.

In 2006, the China Gezhouba Group Corporation of China (CGGCC) and China Geo-Engineering Group Corporation (CGGC) had won the bid for a joint venture to execute the hydropower project with a proposed capacity of  3,050 megawatts — the single biggest power plant in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, in 2003, the ministry of power had awarded the build, operate and transfer (BOT) contract of the project to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL), a local content partner.

This was followed by the signing of a general project execution agreement (GPEA) with SPTCL in November 2012.

However, in November 2017, the ministry signed another engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Sinohhydro Corporation of China, CGGCC and CGGC to form a joint venture for the execution of the PROJECT — excluding SPTCL.

As a result, SPTCL dragged the federal government and its Chinese partners before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris, France, over an alleged breach of contract.

Leno Adesanya, chief executive officer of SPTCL, claimed the company had spent millions of dollars with financial and legal consultants to raise about $6 billion for the execution of the project, yet the company has suffered a lot over the years “through improper administrative interruptions and interventions”.

Due to the ongoing legal tussle, Nigeria risks $2.3 billion fine over the proposed 3,050-megawatts facility conceived in 1982.

In a letter dated September 18 to Sale Mamman, minister of power, seen by TheCable, He Yongjun, project manager for the Chinese partners, maintained that the China Exim Bank, which is expected to provide 85 percent of the joint funding, will not finance the project until the legal issues are resolved.

“The Chinese government is showing a positive attitude towards the Mambilla Project. However, according to financing policy of China, the Export-Import Bank of China cannot provide loans to a project with legal disputes, which is the main reason why the project has not entered into substantive financing negotiations so far,” Yongjun said.

“On 5th September, 2019, Yang Jiechi, Special Representative of President Xi Jinping informed the Nigerian President and Commander in Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari that unless the legal dispute is resolved, conforming out of court settlement funding for the loan will not be accessed.

“A meeting shall be organized by the Ministry of Power for negotiation between the relevant authorities of the Nigeria government, SUNRISE, and the members of the EPC Contractor JV to resolve the legal disputes through amicable negotiations so as to let the plaintiff withdraw the lawsuit.

“Should such negotiation fail, if the Nigeria government considers that the arbitration result is beneficial to the Nigeria government, it is suggested that the judicial department of Nigeria (Attorney General) issue a formal legal paper to the Chinese authority confirming that: the legal dispute has no effect the Mambilla Project.

“And the Nigeria government requests China to start project financing negotiation as soon as possible, financing of the Mambilla Project cannot be stagnant due to legal disputes.

“However, if the Nigeria Government believes that there is a better way to resolve legal disputes, we support it. In any case, the settlement of legal disputes should not be delayed.”

China kick-starts development of 6G technology less than a week after rolling out 5G network

The news came less than a week after the country rolled out its superfast 5G network.

The country's Technology Bureau has formally set up a team of experts to work on the next-generation mobile internet connection, state media said today.

A total of 37 telecommunication specialists drawn from universities, institutions and corporations are on the panel, which is tasked with laying out the development of 6G and proving the scientific feasibility of it.

The country's Technology Bureau has formally set up a team of experts to work on the next-generation 6G mobile internet connection just a week after launching 5G.

The country's Technology Bureau has formally set up a team of experts to work on the next-generation 6G mobile internet connection just a week after launching 5G

The news was announced during a 6G launch ceremony in Beijing on Sunday, according to a report by Chinanews.com.

Wang Xi, deputy minister of the Technology Bureau, said at the conference that the bureau was set to work with the experts to design a specific research plan for 6G and carry out preliminary research.

Twitter CEO, Jack follows Tacha on Twitter as the second Nigerian after Genevieve Nnaji

Excitement fills the camp of the Titans as BBNaija’s Tacha got followed on Twitter by Jack Dorsey, CEO Twitter.

Recall that Twitter co CEO, Jack flew into Nigeria on a working visit yesterday as part of his African trip this year.

And Natacha Akide popularly known as has been trending on Twitter and many social platforms worldwide for more than two months now, even after the end of the reality TV show, courtesy of her large fan base known as Titans


Today the CEO of Twitter just followed Tacha making her the second Nigerian after actress Genevieve Nnaji to be followed by Jack.

Pastor Joshua's miracle pool

Meet Pastor Joshua Iginla, the founder of Abuja based Champions Royal Assembly church.
Asides being a fine pastor and one of the finest of his generation, he has a miraculous swimming pool inside his church premises in Kubuwa Abuja and it is called  "Pool Of Bethsaida” .

The Pool of Bethsaida has healing powers and can heal any sickness under the sun even Ebola and HIV/AIDS once you enter to swim.

 But this is not the main gist; this Pool of Bethsaida is not free, it cost a whooping sum of 50,000 naira for you to take a swim and solve all your problems in this life.

Guess what; church members are queuing up in large numbers to swim after paying 50k; the amazing thing is that, the swimming pool is never in short supply of customers, as the queue to swim is endless.

According to Kelvin who shared the news on Twitter:

“For those who are too poor to pay 50K, there is an anointed bottle water sourced from the "pool of Bethsheba." It goes for 10K.
I am not sure it has as much healing power as paying 50K to submerge yourself in the pool itself.
I mean, you cannot cheat God. It issa Pay as you go” he concluded.

So here you have it; since Nigerians are going through tough times, Pastor Joshua came up with a masterstroke and one of the biggest inventions to ever come out of this side of the world called “Pool of Bethsaida”, so once you’ve submerged yourself in the pool of water, your problems and sicknesses are gone and gone forever. Wonderful isn’t it?

Remember that Pastor Joshua who is a baby boy was once in the news for cheating on his wife and getting his side chick pregnant.

Senate proposes three-month jail for social media offenders

The Senate  has introduced a bill to regulate the use of social media in  the country.

The bill, which passed  first reading at plenary on  Tuesday, proposed   N150, 000 fine or a three-month jail term for any individual who posts false information on social media.

The bill titled, ‘Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations Bill 2019’ sponsored by Senator    Sani  Musa also prescribed a penalty of between N5m and N10m for any  corporate organisation that refuses to block false information after being  cautioned  by the  regulatory agency.


The bill also stipulates that telecommunication firms that allow their networks to be used to disseminate false information could face sanctions.

Musa,  who represents  Niger East in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, told reporters  on Wednesday that  the move  was aimed at guiding social media  users and not designed to gag the media.

He said,  “Nigeria is not only for the  government but for every Nigerian and we must all work towards moving this country to where it needs to be.

DSS fails to release Sowore after meeting bail conditions

Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) has again refused to release the detained publisher of Sahara Reporters despite him meeting his bail conditions.

On Wednesday, the SSS said it had closed for the day, and would not review a document presented by Mr Sowore’s lawyers showing the bail conditions had been met, one of the lawyers, Emmanuel Ogala, told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Sowore who was arrested on August 3 met all his bail conditions on Wednesday and the release warrant was signed by the judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, Mr Ogala said.

The lawyer added that when they arrived at the office of the State Security Service however, the SSS officials told them that the office closed at 3:30 pm.

Mr Sowore, a human rights activist, was arrested and detained on allegations of treasonable felony after he organised a nationwide protest with the hashtag #RevelutionNow.

He was granted bail on October 4 for the second time after an initial bail granted him in September by another judge was not honoured by the SSS.

Mr Sowore said the conditions for the October 4 bail were stringent and approached the court for a variation.

Though the court varied Mr Sowore’s second bail on October 21, he could not immediately meet the new conditions. His lead lawyer, Femi Falana, informed the court on Wednesday during Mr Sowore’s trial that the activist had met his bail conditions.

According to Mr Ogala, however, Mr Sowore’s release could not be effected on Wednesday because of the claim that the secret police had closed for the day.

SSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, did not return calls and SMS sent to him on the matter.

Our roads are not as bad as they are portrayed - Fashola

Babatunde Fashola, the minister of works and housing, says Nigerian roads are not as bad as they are portrayed to be.

Addressing state house correspondents on Wednesday after the federal executive council meeting, the former Lagos state governor said most road projects in the country would have been completed but for funding challenges.

“The roads are not as bad as they are often portrayed. I know that this is going to be your headline, but the roads are not that bad,” he said.

“When I come here to announce that a particular amount was approved for a contract that doesn’t mean the amount has been paid contrary to what you suggest.

“You are mindful also that minister of finance, different arms of government are escalating the fiscal challenges we face as a nation in trying to fund the budget.

“You are also mindful that the last few budgets in Nigeria for almost 20 years have been deficit budgets and these are terminologies that are realities and I think we should acquaint ourselves with if we are not just to report the news but also educate the public.

“You must also be aware that between awarding a contract and also mobilizing to the site there is a distance. First of all, we have to have an agreement that is the relationship between the ministry of works or any other ministry and the ministry of justice, then there is a role that banks play, they have to give a guarantee.

“Building materials – rocks, laterite, quarry, iron rods have to be ordered, construction companies don’t keep them.

“The process of producing blasting rocks requires approval from the office of ministers of justice and even the office of the NSA to get approval to get dynamite. All of these are the things that go on. So the point that I am making to you is that there is a distance between approval, implementation, actual construction and the result.”

Speaking further, the minister said road construction projects will be continued when the rains are over.

“So what we experienced in this year is unusual, it’s not a good time to be in the transport system. We also want this season to quickly end so that we can go back to work during the dry weather.”

Fashola assured Nigerians of a massive mobilization of contractors for roads rehabilitation ahead of the yuletide season.

Tragedy in Port Harcourt

A tug Boat Kills A Worker.
One Mr Emmy yesterday lost his life due to lack of safety at his place of work.
The heavy equipment fell on him,and he was confirmed dead at the spot.

The accident happened at ABULOMA jetty,Port-Harcourt,Rivers-State.
He worked with NABO company.

Two Catholic nuns pregnant

The Catholic Church has launched an investigation after two missionary nuns became pregnant while working in Africa.

The two women, who belonged to separate religious orders in Sicily, are now expecting children despite their vows of chastity.

One of them, a mother superior, found she was several weeks pregnant while the other woman discovered the news when she complained of stomach pain.

Both nuns are now facing an uncertain future in their profession and the scandal has caused 'consternation' among the clergy.

'They both breached strict rules of chastity but the welfare of their children is uppermost.'

The nuns may now choose to give up their monastic life altogether and focus on raising their children

Buhari fires 35 aides in Osinbajo's office

A day after signing Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Amendment Bill into law in London, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sack at least 35 out of over 80 aides in the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, DAILY NIGERIAN can reliably report.

The president is currently in London, United Kingdom for a two-week “private visit” and is expected back in Abuja on November 17.

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the affected aides, who were issued appointment letters in August included some Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Personal Assistants and Technical Assistants.

Credible sources who preferred anonymity said the aides may be formally issued their sack letters on Wednesday.

Preparatory to their eventual dismissal, DAILY NIGERIAN learnt the aides were posted out to some line ministries relevant to their designation last month. The move was allegedly to deny them access to the Villa and reduce the influence of the vice president.

“Although more than half of the aides are under the payroll of donor agencies, the cabal eased them out in order to whittle down the influence of the vice president,” said a source familiar with the development.

“None of them were queried or interdicted for any wrongdoing. It is not about cutting cost, because no aide was sacked in the president’s office nor office of the First Lady, where six more aides appointed less than one month ago. They were just sacked to reduce the VP’s influence.”

Both spokesmen for the president and vice president, Garba Shehu and Laolu Akande respectively, did not respond to a text message seeking their reaction to the development.

Osinbajo’s travails

There seems to be a frosty relationship between the president and his deputy since the beginning of their second term in office, with the president transferring some agencies under the Mr Osinbajo’s control to either his office or some ministries.

Insiders said the president’s powerful handlers, otherwise known as cabal, were unhappy with some critical decisions taken by the vice president in the president’s absence.

Feelers believe that top among Mr Osinbajo’s “crimes” was the sack of Lawal Daura, erstwhile director-general of the State Security Service, SSS, when Mr Osinbajo was acting president in August last year.

Another decision that drew the ire of the cabal was transmitting a letter to the Senate in February 2017, seeking confirmation of then acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Samuel Onnoghen.

But the president first wielded the big stick by taking away the Special Intervention Programmes, SIPs, from the vice president’s office to the newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development.

The SIPs include the famous TraderMoni, the Home-grown School Feeding Programme, Government Economic Empowerment Programme, N-Power, among others.

On September 16, Mr Buhari replaced Osinbajo-led Economic Management Team with Economic Advisory Council that will directly report to his (president’s) office.

According a report by PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, even the controversial RUGA project has also been taken from Mr Osinbajo’s control after the recommendation of the president’s powerful Chief of Staff Abba Kyari.

Taking a cue from Olusegun Obasanjo?

Shortly after President Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn-in for a second term in May 2003, his relationship with his deputy, Atiku Abubakar, became sour over latter’s alleged plan to contest against him at the party’s primaries.

At the peak of estrangement, the former president fired Mr Atiku’s key aides in order to allegedly settle the political scores.

Those fired by Mr Obasanjo in July 2006 included Adeolu Akande, Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, Chris Mammah, Shina Ayati, Sam Oyovbaire, Lawal Jafaru Isa and Garba Shehu.

Kanye West's Jesus Is King just became his ninth consecutive No. 1 album, tying Eminem's record

CNN - With nine studio albums under his belt and no end in sight, it's safe to say rapper and producer Kanye West is still riding the ultralight beam.

West's gospel-inspired album "Jesus is King," released October 25, has hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts, his ninth consecutive album to debut at No. 1.
West is now tied with Eminem for the most consecutive No. 1's on the Billboard 200 charts, says Billboard.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the United States' most popular albums of the week. The new chart, where "Jesus Is King" sits at No. 1, is set to be released Tuesday.
The new album breaks a personal record for West -- "Jesus is King" has given the rapper his biggest streaming week ever, at 196.9 million on-demand streams of its tracks, according to Billboard.

The album also boasts the second largest sales week of the year for an R&B/Hip-Hop album, selling more than 100,000 copies, second only to Post Malone's album "Hollywood's Bleeding."

Despite his foray into design, fashion and politics, West says he has no plans to stop producing music. In a recent interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music's Beats 1, West announced that he plans to release an album titled "Jesus Is Born" on Christmas Day.

"I believe because God has given me a gift that I pray for and so many people love," West told Lowe, "that if I stop doing it, he might start to take all the things away."

Meet the youngest commissioner in Nigeria

She is the youngest Commissioner nominee in Nigeria:
Miss Joana Kolo is from Edu LGA, in Kwara State and is a 2018 graduate of Library Science from the Kwara State University (KWASU).

Said to be a grassroots mobiliser, Miss Kolo is an ardent advocate of community development.
She's Nigeria’s youngest commissioner, taking the trophy from Oyo State’s 27-year-old Oluwaseun Fakorede.
Miss Kolo has completed her National Youths Service Corps programme in Jigawa. Her place of primary of assignment was Model Boarding Junior Secondary School Guri.

She was screened and confirmed for the cabinet seat last week Thursday at the floor of Kwara State House of Assembly. This is coming after she has rounded off her NYSC service in Jigawa State.

McDonald's boss, Steve Easterbrook fired after after dating an employee

McDonald's has fired its chief executive Steve Easterbrook after he had a relationship with an employee.

The US fast food giant said the relationship was consensual, but Mr Easterbrook had "violated company policy" and shown "poor judgement".

In an email to staff, the British businessman acknowledged the relationship and said it was a mistake.

"Given the values of the company, I agree with the board that it is time for me to move on," he said.

Mr Easterbrook, 52, who is divorced, first worked for McDonald's in 1993 as a manager in London before working his way up the company.

He left in 2011 to become boss of Pizza Express and then Asian food chain Wagamama, before returning to McDonald's in 2013, eventually becoming its head in the UK and northern Europe.

He was appointed chief executive of McDonald's in 2015.

Mr Easterbrook is widely credited with revitalising the firm's menus and restaurants, by remodelling stores and using better ingredients. The value of its shares more than doubled during his tenure in the US.

Under his leadership, McDonald's also expanded its delivery and mobile payment options to emphasise convenience.

The fast food giant's board voted on Watford-born Mr Easterbrook's departure on Friday after a review.

He has also stepped down as McDonald's president and member of the board.

The company's rules for managers prohibit them from becoming romantically involved with a subordinate.

It will release details of Mr Easterbrook's severance package on Monday, details of which will be closely watched.

The company has been criticised over the amount it pays shop staff, and Mr Easterbrook faced scrutiny for his $15.9m (£12.3m) pay packet in 2018. It was 2,124 times the median employee salary of $7,473.

He will be replaced by Chris Kempczinski, most recently president of McDonald's USA, with immediate effect.

In a statement, Mr Kempczinski thanked Mr Easterbrook for his contributions, adding: "Steve brought me into McDonald's and he was a patient and helpful mentor."

Last year Intel boss Brian Krzanich stepped down for having a consensual relationship with an Intel employee, which was against company rules.

He had been in the post since May 2013

Sex for grade: Uniport bans huging between lecturers and students

The University of Port Harcourt, UNIPORT, has launched its policy against sexual harassment where amorous hugging between lecturers and female students is now an offence.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ndowa E. S. Lale said the University decided to raise the bar on sexual harassment to ensure that the young men and women put in the charge of lecturers are protected, especially from antics of sexual predators who use their privileged positions to blackmail or railroad their unwilling students or subordinate staff into granting them sexual favours.

He said the management of the University in the policy document defined the rules of engagement in terms of the acceptable of engagement between lecturers, administrators and students, including visitors to the university. Prof Ndowa vowed that sanctions would be meted to erring members of staff but added that there was a robust in built checks and balances to protect those who are innocently accused.

He also warned that any person so accused would be presumed guilty until he or she could prove otherwise under the established rules of fair hearing. Prof Ndowa also warned that henceforth, lectures and administrators who did not remember to tell their tailors to sew zippers in front of their trousers should be ready to bear the consequences of their amorous liaison with female students.

He warned that the same applied to students who harassed lecturers to award them undeserved grades, saying they should equally be ready to face the music if and when caught in the act of self advertisement to their lecturers.

Nicki Minaj's husband reportedly spent $1.1 million wedding ring

Nicki Minaj‘s new husband, Kenneth “Zoo” Petty, went to great lengths to get his lady the wedding ring she deserved.

According to TMZ, Petty meticulously oversaw all the details on the design of the ring and spent an exorbitant amount of cash to get the ring to his liking.

Nicki showed off the huge rock on her social media on Wednesday, and the jeweler who made it, Rafaello and Co., told TMZ that Petty handled the design, delivery, and paid for the ring, valued at $1.1 million all on his own.

Petty commissioned the jeweler to make their wedding rings, and they worked collectively on the design for several months.

The jewelers flew from New York City to Los Angeles a few days before the wedding to deliver the rings that came in a customized box that played a photo slideshow of the happy couple with Nicki’s song “Come See About Me” playing.   ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Nicki’s ring features a 17 carat center with VVS2-clarity diamonds, while Petty’s band was customized with the words “Ken & Barbie” engraved on the inside of the band.

Petty wanted a traditional wedding ring for his wife with the simple specification of “nice diamonds and nothing too gaudy.”

Evil brother strikes

The couple shown above were living in the US. They came home expecting to come to their new house that the husband's younger brother helped them 'built'.

Having collected so much money from them, the brother didnt build any house. As soon as the couple arrived Nigeria, the brother put them in a house and told them he would take them to the new house the following day. Before the morning, the couple died in their sleep in what was eventually found to be poison. Upon interrogation the couple's death was traced to the younger brother.

DSS arrests activist, Chido Onumah

Nigeria’s State Security Service, SSS, has arrested a journalist and author of we are all Biafrans, Chido Onumah, Sunday, at the Abuja airport.

Mr Onumah, a journalist and author, was arrested at the Abuja airport on Sunday evening, according to reports on PREMIUM TIMES.

The report stated that Chido Onumah returned to Nigeria from Spain where he recently bagged a doctorate in communication studies.

On arrival via a Lufthansa airline and waiting for his luggage SSS officials accosted him the report stated.

The report claimed that Mr Onumah, at about 5:00 p.m., was taken to the SSS headquarters in Abuja.

Mr Onumah, author of We Are All Biafrans, is a regular columnist and is an editorial board member of PREMIUM TIMES.

He has, according to the report, been using his writings and his civic whistleblowers’ network, to call for good governance and anti-corruption in Nigeria. He is also an advocate for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation.

The reported stated that the SSS is yet to give any reason for Mr Onumah’s arrest. Efforts to reach the SSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, were not successful on Sunday evening. He did not pick calls to his phone.

Police rescue over 300 chained children from torture house in Kaduna

Over three hundred persons chained together in Rigasa, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been rescued by police officers.

The over 300 which included children were rescued following a raid at a home allegedly used as an Islamic Centre.

They were evacuated from the premises in about 15 Danfo buses to the Police headquarters.

Some of them according to the force are said to be from Burkina Faso, Mali and other African countries.

Among the inhabitants were children who confess to be abused homosexually, while elderly say they subjected to daily recitation of the Holy Quran and prayers with torture. With chains on their legs and scars of injuries from torture, they disclose that Thursday evening’s unbundling of the place is liberation from slavery.

Bello Hamza 42 years old another inmate said, he was tricked to the centre by his family who are interested in taking over my shared of our inheritance.

In his words: “I have spent three months here with chains on my legs. Am supposed to be pursuing my Masters in University Pretoria South Africa. I got admission to study Applied Mathematics, but here I am chained.

“They claim to be teaching us Quran and Islam, but they do a lot of things here. They subject the younger ones to homosexuality.

“This is supposed to be an Islamic centre, but trying to run away from here attracts severe punishment; they tie people and hang them to the ceiling for that, but engaging in homosexuality attracts no punishment.

“Within my short stay here, somebody had died as a result of torture. Others have died before my coming due to poor health and torture. They give us very poor food and we only eat twice a day; 11:00am and 10:00pm.

“They have denied me alot of things here. I am a family man, I have responsibilities, but I am chained here not knowing what is happening to my family members.

CP Ali Aji Janga while briefing newsmen at the site said, “we received an information that something is going on in this rehabilitation centre or Islamic center. So, I sent my DPO here to check what was going on. On getting here, we discovered that, this is neither a rehabilitation centre or Islamic school.

“You can see it yourself that, small children, some of whom are brought from neighbouring African countries like Burkina Faso, Mali and others and from across Nigeria. Most of them are even chained.

“These people are being used, dehumanized. You can see it yourself.

“The man who is operating this home claimed that, parents brought their children here for rehabilitation. But, from the look on things this is not a rehabilitation centre. No reasonable parent will bring his children to this place.

“So, we are going to investigate them and get to the root of the matter. We will find out the real motive behind this centre, and if they are found wanting they will be charged to court.

“But first, we are evacuating all the people from this place to our station and we will make announcement for parents to come and recover their children.” He said.

Meanwhile, the Proprietor of the centre simply identified as Malam said, all they do in the centre is teach people Islam.

According to him, “All those allegations of torture, degumanization and homosexuality are false and mere allegations. We do nothing here other than teaching people Islam.

“They don’t do anything other than, recitation of Qur’an, pray and worship God. Those chained are the stubborn ones who attempt running away. Those who don’t attempt running away are not chained. Some were chained before and after settling down, they were freed.

“Most of them were brought by their parents from across the country and others from outside the country.” He said.

EFCC smashes N2bn ponzi scheme in Port Harcourt, owner on the run

Some of the operators of the scam at the Blue Key Investment Club

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office have arrested 19 staff of a fake investment company floating an alleged Ponzi Scheme that has defrauded members of the public to the tune of N2 billion.

The Chairman of the company, Neenwi Swanu is on the run.

The company, Bluekey Investment Club, operating from Sonia Mall, 42 Woji Road, YKC Junction, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission( CAC) as a software development and general contracting firm, but veered into an interest-yielding Ponzi Scheme, promising to the gullible, ten percent (10%) weekly returns on investment over six Months.

The Scheme also promised total returns of invested capital after six Months.

Nineteen staff of the company were rounded up on Friday, August 30, 2019 in Port Harcourt.

Among them are five Principal Officers: Princess Tsaroigbara, who is the Public Relations Officer, Onwusa Frances Chineze, Accountant); Naabe Gunugu, Payment Confirmation Staff and Tambari Success, Customer Service officer.

Married mother of 4 dies after taking abortion drugs administered by younger lover

A 29-year-old mother of four children, Mrs Chinasa Odah, a native of Inikiri Effum community, in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has died after she allegedly took drugs for abortion.

She was said to have bled to death at Sudan Hospital on Saturday, August 24, 2019.

Our correspondent gathered that the woman had been sneaking out to have an affair with her 25-years-old boy-friend, identified as Monday Mgbada, who allegedly impregnated her and administered the abortion pills on her.

A community source told City Round that the woman started bleeding and her husband, Michael Odah, rushed her to Sudan Hospital in the area, where a doctor on duty, confirmed that she had taken a substance capable of damaging her womb.

The case was said to have been reported to the police station in Effuim and the suspect was immediately arrested.

“Chinasa was bleeding from her private parts. When she was questioned, she opened up that one Monday Mgbada impregnated her and administered abortion drugs on her. As soon as she made that statement, she gave up the ghost,” the source said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi State, Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident. She, however, said the matter was still under investigation.

She said, “The man has been arrested and investigation is ongoing. The suspect will be arraigned after investigation. The woman is 29 years old and has four children before going for extra martial affairs. The man will be charged with murder.”

@ Punch Newspaper

I have lost my manhood, Wadume cries out

Hamisu Bala Wadume, the kidnap kingpin, rescued by soldiers from the hands of policemen have revealed how one of the bullets shot by military officers injured him.

The kidnap kingpin said that the bullet damaged his scrotum and left him sterile and ever since, he has been unable to use his manhood due to the injury.

The kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala, also known as Wadume, had made more revelations about what transpired during his rescue from the hands of police operatives by soldiers on Wednesday, August 7, and how the experience has affected him.

In a recent confession, Wadume said that one of the bullets shut by soldiers at members of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) that detained him on that fateful got to him and damaged his scrotum, leaving him sterile ever since, The Nation reports.

Narrating the experience, Wadume said: “I was arrested by the police in Ibi on August 7. The police said I am a kidnapper and they handcuffed my hands and legs.

“On our way, we passed through an army checkpoint and after identification, they allowed us to go. We passed the second checkpoint which had mobile policemen and they also allowed us to pass.

“At the third checkpoint, we wasted a little time but they allowed us to go after the policemen told them they were detectives on assignment.

“Five minutes after we left that point, an army patrol vehicle started shooting at us. Our vehicle got hit, somersaulted severally times and crashed.

“When the bus stopped, all of us came out alive, except for bullet wounds. A bullet hit part of my scrotum.

“When I ran to my uncle in Kano state, he called a doctor to treat the bullet wound that affected my private part.

“It is possible, I cannot use it (manhood) again because of the damage and I have discovered that when I wake up in the morning these days, I no longer have erection.”

NECO releases 2019 SSCE results

The National Examinations Council on Tuesday released the May/June 2019 Senior Secondary School Examination results.

The NECO Acting Registrar, Mr Abubakar Gana, made the announcement at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State, adding that 71 per cent of candidates obtained credits in English Language and Mathematics.

It will be recalled that over one million candidates sat for the examination and had been clamouring for the release to enable them to begin admission for the 2019/2020 academic year.

TV anchor apologises after comparing black co-host to a gorilla

(CNN) — A morning TV anchor in Oklahoma apologized a day after likening her black cohost to a gorilla.
Alex Housden said a gorilla at the Oklahoma City Zoo "kind of looks like you" to her colleague, Jason Hackett, at the end of a feature on KOCO-TV, a CNN affiliate, on Thursday.
She addressed what she called hurtful comments on the next day's show.

"I said something yesterday that was inconsiderate, it was inappropriate, and I hurt people," a tearful Housden said to the audience and Hackett.
"And I want you to know, I understand how much I hurt you out there and how much I've hurt you. I love you so much, and you have been one of my best friends for the past year and a half. And I would never do anything on purpose to hurt you. And I love our community and I want you all to know, from the bottom of my heart, I apologize for what I said. I know it was wrong and I am so sorry."

Housden did not address the racism implicit in her comparing an African American to an ape.
Hackett accepted the apology on air and acknowledged the pain caused.
"It cut deep for me and it cut deep for a lot of you in the community," he said.

First black woman nominated to be marine brigadier general

Washington (CNN) — Marine Corps Col. Lorna Mahlock has been nominated to serve as the first black female brigadier general, the Marine Corps media office said.
Mahlock was nominated by President Donald Trump, and Defense Secretary James Mattis announced the nomination on Tuesday.
According to his announcement, Mahlock is currently the deputy director of the Operations, Plans, Policies, and Operations Directorate at the Marine Corps headquarters in Washington.

Her nomination was one of several by the President that Mattis announced Tuesday.
Last year, an infantry battalion at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina received the first female infantry Marines, who were set to serve in the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, with specializations as rifleman, machine gun and mortar, 1st Lt. John McCombs, a Marines spokesman, said at the time.

Havard's new student denied entry into US over social media posts by his friends

A foreign student who has just been admitted to Harvard University has been denied entry into the United States over some posts traced to his social media friends.

As reported by Washington Post on Wednesday, Palestinian Ismail Ajjawi arrived at Boston Logan International Airport on Friday night, but immigration officials detained him for eight hours.

After interrogating the 17-year-old and searching his phone and computer, they revoked his visa and sent him back home.

Speaking on the incident, an immigration officer said she “found people posting political points of view that oppose the U.S.,” though she discovered nothing Ajjawi had posted himself.

Lamenting his ordeal, Ajjawi said, “After the five hours ended, she called me into a room, and she started screaming at me.

“She said that she found people posting political points of view that oppose the US on my friend[s] list.

“I responded that I have no business with such posts and that I didn’t like, share or comment on them and told her that I shouldn’t be held responsible for what others post.”

Then Ajjawi’s visa was revoked and he returned to Lebanon.

Harvard spokesman Jonathan L. Swain told the medium in an emailed statement: “The university is working closely with the student’s family and appropriate authorities to resolve this matters so that he can join his classmates in the coming days;” as classes begin September 3.

In response, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Michael McCarthy, said the department was “responsible for ensuring the safety and admissibility of the goods and people entering the United States.”

Abike Dabiri speaks on IPOB's protest in Japan

" I Watched The Video Online And I Called Our Embassy In Japan. We Saw Their Faces And All I Can Tell You Is That We're Already On The Matter. This Unpleasant Behavior Cannot Be Allowed To Continue. This Is Turning Out Into A Global Embarrassment For The Country. And Something Must Be Done To Put A Stop To It.

- Abike Dabiri, SSA To President Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Speaking With NTA Correspondent On IPOB Storming Nigeria Embassy In Japan.

(Source: Naija Media)

Otedola offers scholarship to little Gelato singer

A baby girl who is playing DJ Cuppy’s Gelato on a keyboard has earned herself a scholarship to the highest level of education she might wish to aspire to.

Billionaire oil mogul Femi Otedola uploaded the girl’s simple video on his own verified Instagram page and wrote: “My Daughter 😂😂😂 Can you find this girl? I will provide her scholarship from now through University! …F.Ote”

In the video, the girl whose age is likely to be no more than five, wears a headphone and sings,”Who is your daddy, Otedola,” a line now associated with Otedola’s music star daughter, DJ Cuppy.

The billionaire is impressed with the little girl’s performance and has told anyone who could locate her to do so.

I governed Abia with my money - Orji Kalu

Orji Kalu, former governor of Abia, says the state never had the alleged N7.6bn he was accused of laundering when he was governor between 1999 and 2007.
In his testimony at a federal high court in Lagos on Tuesday, the former governor said he governed the state with his own money in the first six months of his assumption.

He is standing trial alongside Ude Udeogu, an ex-commissioner for finance in Abia and Slok Nigeria Limited, his company, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N7.6 billion.

Kalu, who is the chief whip of the senate, allegedly committed the offence between August 2001 and October 2005 while in office as governor.

Responding to a question from Awa Kalu, his lawyer, during cross-examination, the former governor said there was no way he could have stolen “what was not in existence”.

He said it was difficult for him to run the state with the allocations from the federal government, adding that he spent his own money to run Abia for the first six months.

“Abia state didn’t have such amount. Even the day I was leaving, we borrowed money to pay salaries. Abia state didn’t have even a billion naira in any account at the time I was governor,” Kalu said.

“The monthly allocation of Abia state when I took over in June 1999 was N168 million. It was averaging between N168 million and N172 million monthly. The first month that I came in, there was even no money to buy diesel. I spent my own money to run the state for six months.

“In the year 2000, monthly allocation was between N170 million and N189 million. In 2001, it came to about N302 million to about N380 million. I can recollect in 2002, it was almost the same and in 2003 when the revenue allocation was changed, we were having about N400 million.

“The highest money I got as governor came from 2004 when we had about N1 billion and from that time up till May 2007 before I left, what we had was N1.6 billion.

“Throughout my stay in office, I never owed salary and pension. When I took over as governor and before I left, we moved it up to N500 million. It was from this that we were able to do a lot of things.”

Pastor Biodun in police custody over rape allegations

Detectives are presently questioning the founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, over the rape allegations levelled against him by Busola, a photographer and wife of popular singer, Timi Dakolo.

The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, said this during an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday.

Responding to a question, Mba said, “Yes, he is in our custody.”

When asked if the pastor was being detained, the Force spokesman said it was too early to say.

He also said the investigation of Fatoyinbo was proof that the police had not swept the matter under the carpet as was being insinuated in some quarters.

When asked why it took so long for the pastor to be invited, Mba said the police wanted to get statements from several witnesses and then build a solid case before inviting him.

The police spokesman said, “We have done a whole lot of background investigations and spoken to a whole lot of people before now. It was a deliberate investigative procedure to bring him last. Although we may invite others later depending on how investigations go.

“We were not in a hurry to bring him because we wanted to have enough background information that would be used in interrogating him. We have done an extensive investigation.”

Mrs. Dakolo accused him of raping her 20 years ago while she was still a teenager.

EFCC speaks on Oyo-Ita probe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, is not influencing ongoing investigation of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita.

EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

The EFCC is investigating Mrs Oyo-Ita over alleged N3 billion contract scam, abuse of duty tour allowance, money laundering, among others.

According to Mr Uwujaren, “the attention of the EFCC, has been drawn to reports by a section of the media”.

“The reports are insinuating that the ongoing investigation of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation by the commission was instigated by Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari.

“The commission wishes to state that there is no truth in these claims, and urges the public to disregard the reports as the handiwork of mischief makers.

“For the avoidance of doubt, investigation by the EFCC is evidence-based.

“Most often, they are triggered by petitions or intelligence.

“In the case of the HoS, Oyo-Ita’s investigation, it was prompted by intelligence received by the commission,” he said.

Mr Uwujaren further said that the EFCC was an independent agency created by law to fight corruption without fear or favour.

“In the discharge of its mandate, the commission does not take instructions from extraneous bodies neither will it lend itself to be used to settle scores by anyone.

“The commission again wishes to appeal to the media to be circumspect in their reportage and not lend themselves to actions that can befuddle the activities of the commission,” he said.

NAN

EFCC arrests 33 suspected internet fraudsters in Imo

Thirty three suspected internet fraudsters were on Monday August 26 2019, arrested at their hideout in an early morning operation by Operatives of the Abuja and Enugu Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Owerri,  Imo State.

The suspects are Clinton Emere, Obinna Okonkwo, Ogochukwu Ogbonna, Joseph Udom Kousin, Prince Ewunone, Franklin Michael, Tolli Ameiche, Anderson, Berthel, David Franklin, Aboi Etealu, Chinubu Nwosu, Marizu Chidiebere, Dominic Terry Joseph, Christopher Nwosu, Peter Gift Uche, Edinalo Ifeanyichukwu , Ndubuisi Ikenna, John Frank, Anowe Precious, Joseph Levi Chima, Samuel Oria, Tochi Mmerom, Chimezia Cleansman, Okonkwo Obinna, Uchendu Gift, Nkwodi Nnamdi, Izywa Munachi, Ekone Aniche, Opara Donald, Aniche Tochukwu, Anelka Okon and Ebizien Franklin Udochukwu.

Items recovered from them include laptop computers, mobile phones, 2 Lexus RX350 SUV and a Toyota Solara salon car.

The suspects have made useful statements and will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.

NYSC DG tells corps members to inter-marry

Ibrahim made the call on Monday when he paid an unscheduled visit to the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Wamakko, Sokoto State.

The NYSC DG made the call when he inspected the camp facilities and interacted with corps members, staff and military personnel deployed to train corps members.

Ibrahim reminded the corps members that the main objective of the scheme was to promote unity among Nigerian youths especially graduates.

He warned corps members against the use of social media fake news and hate speeches.

Ibrahim called on them make use of social media to spread good news and not bring hatred and disunity.

“You should see your selves as one family irrespective of where you come from, establish the sprit of oneness right from the orientation camp and if possible marry your selves,’’ he said.

According to him, NYSC always encourage marriages among corps members especially inter tribe marriage adding that the headquarters will support any inter tribe marriages.

He assured corps members of their welfare and safety throughout their stay in the state.

”We work hand in hand with all  security agencies to ensure your security is guaranteed”, he said.

Ibrahim cautioned corps members against incessant unauthorised journeys  and warned them that no corps member was  allowed to travel without the consent of the management.

“If you have reason to travel seek the consent of your state coordinator and your employer’’ the DG warned corps members.

He further urged all corps members to take all camp activities especially skills acquisition programs seriously in order to become employers of labour after their service year.

Ibrahim expressed satisfaction over the cleanliness and condition of the camp and urged authorities to sustain it. (NAN)

Stop using security agencies to silence Nigerians, Soyinka tells FG

Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has asked the Federal Government and the security agencies to stop trying to muzzle Nigerians anytime they come together to exchange ideas.

He stated that such a step could signal fear on the part of government and that such reduces the people and the government itself.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Soyinka spoke in Badagry on Saturday at the unveiling of an art gallery in commemoration of his 85th birthday.

The police, Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services on Monday in Lagos sealed off the venue for a symposium where Soyinka, rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, and others were to speak on the security issues in the country.

Police vehicles were positioned around the venue located at Oregun, Lagos. The programme tagged ‘Democracy, state repression and the state of insecurity in Nigeria’, was organised by Coalition for Revolution.

But speaking on Saturday, Soyinka, who thanked Femi Coker Art Gallery in Badagry for organising the event, said, “It is important to send strong message to this government and to the security services to stop trying to muzzle people when they come together to exchange ideas.

“You’re reducing them as human beings and you’re also reducing yourselves as human beings, because it means you’re afraid to listen.”

Soyinka also cautioned Nigerians not to believe everything they read on social media. He said they should instead take such online materials “with a pinch of salt.

He said, “Be very, very careful what you believe even when you read such materials in social media or sometimes in newspapers because in this country, we have a most fertile multiplier effect.

Man loses wife to pastor who wedded them

John Kanyua, a businessman in Kenya, has lost his wife to the pastor who presided over his wedding.

According to NAIROBI NEWS, Leah Wambui, his wife, had reportedly fled with the pastor, abandoning a 26-year union that produce five children.

The newspaper said the relationship between the duo began when Kanyua and his wife started attending the pastor’s Joy Springs Church in Juja farm, Kiambu county in the state, and that the pastor appointed Wambui an assistant pastor.

Agnes Wangivi, the pastor’s wife of 34 years and mother of three, had rejected the appointment, all to no avail.

“I strongly objected the appointment, but he was determined to have his way. I confronted Leah and threatened her not to play games with my husband. She looked innocent, and I gave in,” she said.

Wangivi said the bond between the duo blossomed and the pastor began to invite Wambui for family dinners, in the absence of her husband.

“This is when I started questioning their friendship. I confronted Kanyua to keep his wife away from my husband, but he seemed blindfolded. My husband developed cold feet on his family and ran away to Leah in 2015,” she said.

Kanyua narrated that the matter got out of hand when the pastor would visit his house in the morning and spend the entire day locked with his wife inside the house.

He said it was at the time that he sought interventions from the local administration and members of the clergy.

The businessman vowed to take actions in order to get his family back from the pastor.

“This fueled the issue further as the pastor later ran away with my wife and children and rented a house in a nearby market where they live,” he said.

“This is unacceptable and I wouldn’t sit back and watch someone take my family. If the government does not intervene, I will choose my ways. It has taken me a lot to grow the family all those years. I will not allow the wedding to continue. I can also seek legal redress. Let her stop soiling her name and ask for forgiveness, then I will take her back.”

Meanwhile, Wambui’s parents had reportedly contacted Kanyua to accept repayment of the dowry he paid to them, to pave way for the new wedding of their daughter, an offer he refused.