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The Newly Sworn-in Minister Of Power Works And Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Caused A Stir Today As He Resumes

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PIC.9. PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI (R), CONGRATULATING MR BABATUNDE FASHOLA AFTER HIS OATH OF OFFICE AS THE MINISTER OF POWER, WORKS  AND HOUSING, AT  THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA IN  ABUJA ON  WEDNESDAY (11/11/15). 7116/11/11/2015/ICE/JAU/NAN
Reports according to The Guardian, the former governor of Lagos state did not waste time after being sworn-in as he immediately assumed duty after the inauguration of the federal cabinet by President Muhammadu Buhari.
When he got to the secretariat, he was joyously welcomed with a loud ovation by the staff of the ministry. He stepped into his office at about 3.15 p.m. He was ushered in by Mrs Grace Papka, the director in charge of Human Resources of the ministry.

He did not waste time as he immediately had a closed-door meeting with the directors in the ministry.
Also, the state’s Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri, also arrived at the complex where he joined Fashola and the directors at the meeting.


Victorious Golden Eaglets Arrive Abuja After FIFA U-17 World Cup Victory

Twitter User Takes Shot At Ben Bruce - Says He's "An Unfortunate Man" Who Look Like Obama But Reason Like Obanikoro

President Buhari To Reward ’85 Eaglets 30 Years After They Won The Maiden Edition Of FIFA Under-17 World Cup In China

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday assured the Golden Eaglets team that won the maiden FIFA Under-17 World Cup in China in 1985 that his administration would fulfil the promises he made to them 30 years ago.

Buhari, who was Head of State, had promised the team houses and scholarships during a reception in honour of the players at Dodan Barracks, Lagos, in celebration of the victory.



Nduka Ugbade, who was the captain of the team, was the only player in the China ’85 FIFA Under-17 World Cup squad that progressed to win a major title for Nigeria at the senior level. The former Spain-based defender won the Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations. He assisted Manu Garba to guide the Golden Eaglets to the UAE 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup triumph.

Baldwin Bazuaye and Jonathan Akpoborie also graduated to the Super Eagles. Bazuaye was in the squad that won silver at the Algiers ’90 Africa Cup of Nations. Akpoborie won bronze at the Senegal ’92 Africa Cup of Nations.

But the likes of Hilary Adiki, Fatai Atere, Binebi Numan, Joseph Babtunde, Salisu Nakande, Victor Igbinoba, Tonworinmi Duere, Lucky Agbonsevbafe, Bella Momoh, Chukwuma Nwoha, Sani Adamu and Dele Abubakar failed to progress in their careers. Defender Kingsley Aikhionbare died in the United Kingdom.

Sebastine Brodericks-Imasuen was the head coach while Christian Chukwu was his assistant.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu said in a statement on Tuesday that the President was not happy that his directive to state governments to reward the Eaglets in 1985 was not complied with.

“It is a pity that those promises were never fulfilled. It is unfortunate that our players, who did us proud on the world stage, went unrewarded for their efforts, despite a presidential directive to the state administrators that they should be honoured in their home states,” the statement quoted Buhari as saying.

The statement said the Federal Government fulfilled its own commitment by sponsoring the players to Mexico to watch the 1986 World Cup.

He added that the promises of houses and scholarships and naming of streets after each player were supposed to have been taken care of by the states.

The statement noted that shortly after the promises were made, Buhari was overthrown and that despite repeated pleas made to succeeding governments by the players and their officials, some of the promises were not fulfilled.

“I apologise for whatever embarrassment and disillusionment in your country these raised and then dashed hopes may have caused you. My government will do all within its power to remedy the situation,” the statement quoted the President as saying.

Oshiomhole Accuses Formr Gov. Lucky Igbinedion Of Giving Father 200,000-Hectare Land

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Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion and Former Gov. son Lucky Igbindion
Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday, vowed to publish records of fraud allegedly perpetrated by Chief Lucky Igbinedion, who is a former governor of the state.
Oshiomhole, who disclosed this at the Government House, Benin, while addressing a large crowd of students and civil society groups, also said that he would forward all the files containing alleged fraud to Abuja, next week, for prosecution.


The civil society members and students marched through major roads in the city, chanting anti-Peoples Democratic Party songs and accusing the opposition party of sponsoring Monday’s anti-government protest.
Efforts by our correspondent to reach Chief Igbinedion or the then Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Oshiomhole accused the former governor and his father, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, of allegedly converting to private use, government properties and funds meant for the people of the state.
He also added that he was ready to publish the sales of government properties during Igbinedion’s administration, stressing that the move would reveal the identities of other beneficiaries.
Noting that he would want to be remembered for eliminating the concept of ‘godfatherism’ in Edo politics, Oshiomhole commended the youths and civil society groups for their solidarity for his government.
He explained that his feud with the Igbiendion family started when he revoked the over 200,000 hectares of government land which the former governor allegedly gave to his father in Okada as well as the termination of the Memorandum of Understanding the former governor allegedly signed with his father to allow “the medical students in Igbinedion University to use our state-owned hospital at the expense of the Edo State Government while Chief Igbinedion collects N1m from each medical student.”
The governor said, “Everybody born of a woman in this state must be subjected to the rule of law. I decree in the name of God, my creator, and in the interest of Edo people, even the ones yet unborn, I want to be remembered after my stewardship, not only for roads, for hospitals, for schools (but) much more importantly, I want to be remembered as the man who brought an end to exemptions.
“We provided the leadership that has banished the godfathers in Edo State. They can never, never forget that. I will publish records in black and white and Edo people will be told how they have been raped; they have murdered sleep. I went to Ovia North-East, Igbinedion covered all the government reserved land reserved for the people of Edo State.
“Lucky gave to his father over 200,000 hectares of land. They took the land on the grounds that they will use it for mechanised farming, I will say the truth and Igbinedion can do nothing; I can drive him out of town.”
“The angrier they are, the happier I am. With the powers vested in me as the governor, I used the powers to revoke the over 200,000 hectares of land the son gave to the father and returned it to government. That was why Igbinedion was fighting me; but I said (that) if he does not obey the law, he will go to prison. They were able to cover these things (but) Buhari is there now. So, it can never be business as usual.”
Via - Punch

Contractor Got 25-billion Naira Commission From Treasury Single Account (TSA) Deal – Senator Dino Melaye

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The Senate on Wednesday alleged that some illegal transactions took place during the recently-concluded transmission of the Federal Government’s revenues into the Treasury Single Account, which was domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The upper chamber has therefore ordered three of its committees to immediately begin the probe of the alleged fraudulent transactions.



The senators in plenary noted with concern that the transaction was contracted to a firm, REMITA, an e-collection agent, which collected one per cent of the entire N2.5tn revenues paid into the TSA as commission.

They further alleged that the one per cent payment translated to N25bn earned by REMITA from the transactions.

They argued that the action was a gross violation of Section 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

Apart from this, they maintained that the N25bn paid to the company was not all that had so far been paid to REMITA, because payment to the company since then had remained a continuous process.

According to the senators, Section 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution provides that the federation shall maintain a special account to be called ‘the Federation Account’ into which all revenues collected by the government of the federation, should be paid.

They however said proceeds from the personal income tax of the personnel of the Armed Forces of the federation, the Nigeria Police Force, the ministry or department of government charged with foreign affairs and the residents of the FCT, Abuja, were exempted.

The senators further argued that going by the provision, all revenues accruable to the Federal Government ought to be paid directly to the TSA as the case may be and not shared with anybody.

The Senate, on the strength of the argument, therefore mandated its Joint Committee on Finance, Banking and other financial institutions and Public Account to carry out a holistic investigation into the transaction and report its findings within four weeks.

It also directed the Federal Ministry of Finance and the CBN to suspend forthwith, payment to the consultant firm, REMITA, until the outcome of the investigation was made public.

The chamber, nevertheless, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the introduction of TSA, stressing that the essence of the initiative was to prevent keeping government revenues in various accounts outside the CBN.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Senator Dino Melaye, who moved the motion, said he was aware that by the policy directive, all agencies generating revenues for the government were to pay all revenues they generated to the consolidated revenue fund.

Melaye said, “The Senate observes that in the course of the operations of the TSA, the Federal Government on the 15th of September, 2015 mopped up the sum of N2.5tn through its e-collection agent called REMITA.

“The agent which charges one per cent of all monies passing through it, the implication of which one per cent of the N2.5trn mopped up on 15th September, 2015 alone amounted to N25bn largesse to REMITA for doing nothing.”

Melaye also said that the appointment of REMITA as operation agent for the TSA was illegal because it contravened the provision of Section 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

He said given the constitutional provision, the CBN remained the sole institution mandated to collect and disburse monies on behalf of the Federal Government and that “where it has no branch, it may appoint another bank as an agent to perform the function.”

He argued that using REMITA which “is not a registered bank, completely offends the CBN Act.”

He also described the development as a violation of Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act of 2007 which, according to him, “provides that no person(s) shall carry out any banking business in Nigeria unless the company is incorporated in Nigeria and holds a valid licence under the Act.”

Melaye further argued that anyone who transacts business without a valid licence as stipulated by the Act “is guilty of an offence and upon conviction liable to 10 years imprisonment or a fine of N2m or both.”

He said, “The activities of REMITA is a gross violation of the BOFIA Act and another attempt of ripping Nigeria of tax payer’s money that would have been channelled to other sectors of the national economy.”

The motion generated a heated debate in the chamber as senators condemned the development and demanded its thorough probe.

In his contribution, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, described it as sabotage and advocated the need to compel the culprits to refund the money.

“I didn’t believe that this could happen under this government. However, if it is true, the people involved are saboteurs and must be compelled to return the money and face the wrath of the law,” he said.

Ndume, who also said he had asked the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, about the scam, told his colleagues that Emefiele denied knowledge of it.

While supporting the motion, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), said, “Is this the change we are looking for? I will not ask the question. Somebody made the decision. Who gave the order? Somebody then must be held responsible. In matters like this, we must not be partisan. I fully support the motion. It is beyond the party.”

The Deputy Senate Leader, Ibn Na’Allah, called on his colleagues to ensure that the right step was taken to address the unwholesome development.

He said, “The Eight Senate is distinct and must do what is right and in accordance with the law. We will do what is right at all times. The Eight Senate will not subject itself to a public referendum through the social media.”

In his contribution, Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central), said whereas, “TSA is a good idea designed to move the economy forward, it is clear that the idea is being abused and exploited. We have to investigate the matter.”

In the same vein, Senator Bassey Akpan (Akwa Ibom North-East) said, “If nothing is done in this matter, it will lead the youth of this country on a nationwide protest against this government.

“There is total collapse of road network and other infrastructural facilities in the country.”

Also, Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South) said everything possible must be done to recover the fund.

He said, “This is a government of change and the Eight Senate should not leave any stone unturned in bringing the N25bn back into the treasury.”

In his remark, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the “committee has to quicken investigation because it is no longer acceptable for Nigeria to lose money to private organisations.”

Portfolios: How Buhari Shocked Some Ministers

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President Muhammadu Buhari did not assign key portfolios to some ministers following security reports, it was learnt yesterday.

He placed priority on expertise and performance in assigning portfolios to ministers, sources told The Nation.

The President was also said to have disappointed some of those who lobbied for “strategic” ministries.



Ministers may be placed under watch and anyone who gets into trouble will be dropped, it was learnt.

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday urged them to be creative.

According to sources, until the inauguration time, the list of portfolios was known to only Buhari and members of his “kitchen cabinet”.

The list was kept under wraps in such a tidy manner that even the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the President’s aides were unaware.

Six factors, which informed the assignment of portfolios, were security reports, less exposure to politics, priority on expertise and performance, ongoing investigations of some appointees and distaste for lobbying and media profiling by some appointees ; and Buhari’s military background which sent signal to ministers that no one is assured of any position in his cabinet.

Investigation revealed that after the nomination and confirmation of the ministers, Buhari still asked relevant agencies to conduct a more discreet investigation of the would-be ministers.

The outcome of the “surveillance” was presented to the President and his kitchen cabinet in deciding the choice of portfolios.

A source, who spoke in confidence last night, said: “Most of us, including the ministers themselves, were shocked when the portfolios were announced. In fact, some ministers were just unstable. The President and his inner cabinet kept the list secret. They didn’t allow it to leak at all.

“If the portfolios had been made available to any other office or desk, we would have known. So, the President used his military background to send the first message to the ministers that he has no favourite and they should always expect surprises.

“From the way the President assigned portfolios, nothing is settled on any minister. If anybody gets into trouble, he will not spare him or her.”

The source also spoke on security reports on the ministers as accounting for the outlook of the portfolios.

The source added: “There were reports that a minister had already formed a power cult around himself, such that those expected to serve under him had been paying obeisance.

“Another minister was holding discussions with some foreign partners based on assumption that a particular ministry had been conceded to him.

“Some ministers were openly telling friends, associates, party leaders and even key aides to the President that they will be in charge of some ministries.

“With security apparatchik and communication advantage, you know the President has access to more information than anyone else. He picked some of these information and decided to surprise these ministers.

“ He detested that some ministers had air around themselves that some ministries are their birthright.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “You cannot rule out the fact that there are some ministers who did not get what they would have thought to be commensurate portfolios. But that is the working of the government for you.”

The source added that security reports made the President to concede some portfolios to a few ministers – to challenge their competence.

Ministers with surprising portfolios following last-minute decisions by the kitchen cabinet include Adamu Adamu(Education); Adebayo Shittu(Communications); Usani Usani(Niger Delta Affairs); Monsur Dan-Ali(Defence); Geoffrey Onyeama(Foreign Affairs); and Cladius Daramola (Minister of State for Niger Delta), who was said to have been billed for the Education ministry.

Another source also indicated that the President applied expertise and performance target in allotting portfolios to some ministers.

These yardsticks were said to have accounted for the portfolios of Kemi Adeosun (Finance), Babatunde Fashola (Power, Works and Housing), Audu Ogbeh (Agriculture and Rural Development); Abubakar Malami (Kebbi); Suleiman Adamu (Water Resources); Ibe Kachikwu (Petroleum Resources); Udo Udoma (Budget and National Planning); Prof. Isaac Adewole (Health); Amina Mohammed (Environment); Dr.Osagie Ehanire (Health); Lai Mohammed (Information); and Rotimi Amaechi, Hadi Sirika (Transportation)

The second source added: “The thinking of the President is that most of those in this group, with the exception of Amaechi, have no political ambition in the nearest future. They are mostly experts who can deliver on the key areas of governance which can make the change he promised to the nation a reality. What Amaechi has going for him is vitality or energy to serve and knack for quality projects.

“With these experts manning vital ministries, there will be less pressure on them from politicians and hangers on. Their assignments alone will preoccupy them.

“So, their portfolios were based on a performance driven target.

A government source also claimed that some of the ongoing investigations of some ministers and the attitude of some and lobbying by some contributed to the nature of the portfolios given to them.

“For instance, there are two or three ministers with issues. A few others sent emissaries and some erroneously confided in a few people close to the President that they will be in charge of some ministries.

“The President decided to prove them wrong completely.”

Asked to describe the atmosphere after the portfolios were announced, the top government official simply said: “Some ministers were certainly weak.”

Mob Beats Lagos Teacher, Rescues 14-Year-Old From Rape

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Residents of Ogunfunmi Street, Akobi Crescent in the Surulere area of Lagos on Tuesday, dragged a school teacher, Benedict Ekpenyong, to a police station for allegedly locking up a female pupil in his room and attempting to rape her.
The 14-year-old pupil, identified only as Blessing, had been lured by Ekpenyong to his apartment at about 12pm, after which he bolted the door to the suspicion of his neighbours.Punch reports .

It was learnt that Ekpenyong, who was a teacher in Akintan Grammar School on Akintan Street, Surulere, and Blessing, also a pupil of the school, were in the room for a few minutes before a mob surrounded the house and tried to force the teacher’s door open.



Map of akintan

Our correspondent gathered that when the door was forced open, the mob observed that Ekpenyong had allegedly attempted to have sex with the pupil, and they began to beat him.
The teacher was reportedly beaten by the mob before he and the pupil were dragged to the Alakara Police Division at about 1pm.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, a resident of the street, who declined to give his name, said the police had visited the teacher’s house to collect exhibits, adding that the neighbours became angry because Ekpenyong allegedly had a habit of bringing schoolgirls and locking them up in his room during school hours.
He said,
 “I do not stay on Ogunfunmi Street but I knew when the mob went to the house. For several minutes, people gathered in front of the teacher’s room and asked him to open the door but he refused. Then, they forced it open.“When they did, they found evidence that Ekpenyong might have attempted to rape the girl as the pupil was not the first person that would be brought to the teacher’s room. So, they began to beat him up. It was a major scene on the street.”
Our correspondent learnt that Ekpenyong had been arrested by the police and detained since Tuesday, while the girl was taken away by the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team of the Lagos State Government for medical examination and rehabilitation.
One of the social workers, identified only as Idowu, said, 
“The information we have is that the suspect is notorious in the area for bringing little girls to his house and doing suspicious things with them. He locks them up in his room so nobody gets to hear anything.
“On Tuesday, the neighbours were watching him and they sent an alert to the government. By the time we got there, he had stepped out with the girl. The people actually beat him up and dragged both of them to the police station. The girl has been taken and we are making arrangements to move her from the station.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor, confirmed the teacher’s arrest. He added that the police had visited the scene of the crime and would charge the suspect to court after investigation was concluded.

Model Walks Around Hong Kong NAKED From The Waist Down - And Nobody Noticed

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Sandra Bakker's model walks around Hong Kong NAKED from the waist down
A woman has walked around Hong Kong wearing nothing but a t-shirt, gold backpack and pair of boots, and passers-by barely fluttered an eyelid.
The blonde model, who was naked from the waist down, had been painted to make it look like she was wearing a pair of denim skinny jeans.
A video shows the woman walking through shopping centers, riding escalators and crossing busy roads sans pants, before she takes off her backpack to reveal her t-shirt that bears the words: 'No pants are the best pants'.

Woman walks through Hong Kong wearing painted on jeans

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Cheeky: A blonde model walked around Hong Kong wearing a t-shirt, backpack and boots without any pants
Cheeky: A blonde model walked around Hong Kong wearing a t-shirt, backpack and boots without any pants
'No pants are the best pants': The faux-jeans were painted on to her body by body-paint artist Sandra Bakker
'No pants are the best pants': The faux-jeans were painted on to her body by body-paint artist Sandra Bakker

The video begins with body-paint artist Sandra Bakker carefully painting the model's bare legs.
She painted the faux-denim with intricate detail and used a blend of different blues to create a distressed look.
The jeans were finished with painted pockets front and back and a seam down the side to make them appear realistic.
Intricate details: Sandra painted the jeans on with extreme detail making sure to include pockets and seams
Intricate details: Sandra painted the jeans on with extreme detail making sure to include pockets and seams

Faux-jeans: She used different coloured blues to create a distressed look for the denim

With her pants painted on, the model stepped out on to the busy street where she crossed roads, shopped, looked at artwork and stepped on to a packed train.
Despite not wearing any pants, most passers-by appeared not to notice.
It was not until she stopped to buy a train ticket that a man did a double-take, walking slowly past the woman as he looked at her 'jeans'.
Stepping out: The model walked around the streets of Hong Kong undetected

Via - Daily Mail

The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi Pledges Completion Of Abandoned Rail Projects

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The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, who resumed at the ministry yesterday, has pledged to complete all abandoned rail projects in the country, saying that a fully functional rail system will ease transportation difficulties as well as create employment opportunities.

The minister, who was accompanied by minister of state, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and the permanent secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Zakari Sabiu, said that he had come to the Transport Ministry to work in accordance with the change agenda of the present administration.


“Rail transport is the easiest thing to achieve if you get capable hands. We are going to work towards completing abandoned rail projects. They will help create employment and ease mass transportation of people. Our mandate is to deliver quality service to the people in accordance with the change agenda,” he said.
The minister stressed that corrupt practices and bribery of all kinds would not be tolerated, saying that anyone caught would be punished.

“I believe in principles; I don’t like protocols. When I say I hate corruption I mean it. I don’t give bribe and I don’t take either. If you want to relate with me, don’t give me money and don’t ask me for money. Just do your job creditably. Don’t see me on the road and run away; I am not as bad as they make it seem. Don’t steal, let’s be friends,” he said.

Amaechi promised to resume fully on Tuesday, after he would have been fully briefed by the outgoing permanent secretary, while calling on staff of the ministry to brace up for quality service as there is going to be competition among ministers on who will deliver first.
The permanent secretary of the ministry, Zakari Sabiu, said the ministry was delighted to have the new minister, especially given his track record of performance in the rail sector, among others.
He assured the minister of the staff’s readiness to work in line with the change agenda to deliver efficient rail, ports and general transportation system.

Soldier Brother Breaks Down As Deployment Separates Him From Twin [Photo+Video]

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Family and friends gathered together for a send-off ceremony for a group of Indiana soldiers who were heading overseas. Among the group was a set of twin brothers — both in the Army, yet one was leaving and the other was staying.

In the following video, the twins explain to the camera what it’s like to have to say goodbye. Their raw emotion reveals the incredible bond between these two hero brothers. One brother is too emotional to answer questions and can only hide his face behind his brother’s shoulder. “I’ve never been gone this long from my brother before… this is tough,” he says with tears in his eyes.


We’ve seen the unbreakable bond between twins before, so I can only imagine how difficult it is to see your twin off to war. One YouTube commenter says, “Unless you’re a twin, you can never understand the sadness of being separated, even for a little while, from each other. Those brothers’ story touched me deeply. I lost my identical twin to cancer in 2010 and I still miss her. We were never separated for more that two weeks (while one of us went on vacation). Even losing my parents four months apart wasn’t as devastating as losing my twin.”

Bishop Oyedepo And Wife Arrive Benin City In Their Private Jet For The 40th Anniversary Of Church of God Mission Founded By Late Bishop Idahosa [Photos]

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David Oyedepo and his wife Faith arrived Benin city in their private jet this morning. They are in Benin city for the 40th anniversary of Church of God Mission Miracle Center which was founded by late Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa. Oyedepo and his wife were welcomed by Bishop Margaret Benson-Idahosa, her son Feb and daughter in-law Laurie.


Graphic Image! Female Student Stabbed To Death By Jealous Boyfriend

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According to reports, a male student of the University of Professional Studies, Accra stabbed his girlfriend to death late last night/in the early hours of the morning. The unidentified student allegedly stabbed the lady severally in the neck, chest and head after he suspected she was cheating on him. The body of the deceased has been sent to the Alfa Hospital at Madina. While the accused who attempted to commit suicide after the heinous crime is being treated in hospital.

According to Ghana’s Starr News, the boy is in critical condition after his failed suicide attempt. 


Woman Arrested For Trying To Sell A One Week Old Baby In Lagos

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A 25-year-old mother of four, Nkechi Obi, who tried to sell a one-week-old baby boy, who was stolen in Onitsha, Anambra State, to a barren woman in Lagos, has been arrested.
The suspect, who claimed to be a farmer and an apprentice in Onitsha, said she was on her way to hand over the baby to the buyer at Cele Bus Stop, along the Oshodi/Apapa Express-way, when she was arrested.

It was gathered that the baby was stolen from his biological mother, who ran away from home when she found out she was pregnant.

Trouble started for the suspect after the driver of the vehicle she chartered from Asaba, Delta State, became suspicious when he observed that even though the baby cried uncontrollably throughout the 6 hour journey to Lagos, the suspect never breastfed the baby. When he asked her about his observation, she gave some unsatisfactory explanation, the driver who didn't believe her explanation, was said to have stopped at Oshodi, where he alerted some policemen who proceeded to interrogate Obi. It was during that process that they discovered that the baby was not hers.

She claimed that the baby was given to her by her boss, whose identity she gave simply as Ngozi.

She said:

“I was in the shop located at 2 Ourline Street, Onitsha Main Market on Tuesday, when my madam, who I sell clothes for, came and ordered me to go and change into something better, that I was to embark on a journey to Lagos.
“Thereafter, she handed the baby to me and gave me a food flask and baby milk. She only gave me the telephone number of the woman I was to hand the baby over to. The woman in question is barren. I was to meet with her at Cele Bus Stop. The would-be buyer was arrested.”
It was reported that the would-be buyer had two female children, but opted to adopt a male child due to pressure from her husband who threatened to marry another woman.
When asked if her Husband was aware of her intentions, she said:
She said: “I got married aged 16 years to Polycap Eze, who had no child from his wife. I was brought in to bear children for them. After the birth of my fourth child, he drove me out of the house, saying I have fulfilled the purpose for which he married me.
“I moved in with one of my relatives who later introduced me to my madam.”
Speaking on her arrest, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni said:
“She claimed at first that her lover abandoned her with the baby. Later, she confessed that her aunt was a co-suspect. Two other persons, who have connection with the sale of the one-week-old baby, were also arrested.
“We have kept the baby in proper custody through the Family Support Unit. Further investigation into the case has taken us to the eastern part of the country where the principal suspect lives.
“But she fled on hearing that we have arrested Nkechi Obi. We will ensure that everyone behind this case is arrested.”

Super Ministers And Other Stories by Reuben Abati - “Fashola is the luckiest guy.” “Baba meta, himself.”

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Very interesting article by former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati. Read below...
"Have you congratulated our new Ministers?”
“I am still thinking about it, actually. I don’t know whether to congratulate them or to commiserate or to pity some of them. They have merged Ministries that need not be merged. Some Perm Secs are now floating. Six months and this is it?”
“What kind of talk is that? You have come again oh”. 

“I wonder too. At least you can see that round pegs have been put in round holes, and shame on all you doubting Thomases, our government is good to go.”
“”Who is talking politics? Can we discuss Nigeria and leave politics out of it? And please, leave that thing about pegs. Some pegs are neither round nor square, they are misshaped.”
“Everything is political.”
“I know. Very soon, you will also insist that that funny walking stick Ngige was carrying about, like the rod of Moses, is also political.” 
“Okay, what is your point?”
“I have said it before and I repeat it again. I still think whenever Ministers are to be screened by the Senate, their portfolios should be attached. It helps to prepare the prospective Minister mentally. It deepens the screening process, and makes it even more participatory.”
“There is no such Constitutional requirement”
“Everything doesn’t have to be in the Constitution”.
“Okay we have heard. You have said it before. When next we are appointing Ministers, we will disclose their portfolios”.
“What do you mean we?”
“Na we, now”
“Ehen”
“See, I usually don’t vote. But this last election, I got my PVC and I voted. Those PDP people already had their cup full. I voted for change.”
“Me too.”
“But the campaign is over, and I see too many of you still locked in an election mode.”
“Na so e be. As I dey sef, I dey wait for 2019. Na for Baba side I dey.”
“This Baba syndrome is a problem. It is breeding a culture of mass sycophancy, hypnotism and amnesia”
“Grammar!”
“When you elevate a government to a semi-divine status, you lose sight of your responsibility to hold government accountable. The ascribed, contrived, or self-imposed divinity of elected officials is a threat to democracy”  
“I think you should be holding this conversation with your brother, Patrick Obahiagbon, I beg. Simple matter, you want to give somebody headache. One of these days, I will arrange a meeting between you and the Igodomigodo. Any little talk, somebody must look for dictionary. You too dey show. Na only you?”
“Leave am make e dey yarn. People who have become Ministers have become Ministers.”
“Look at it this way, I know one of those old Ministers. The day he was given a portfolio, a very important one at that, the guy said he didn’t know what the Ministry was all about. I was shocked.”
“Well, I am not shocked.”
“He ended up creating problems.”
“We know.”
“So, what usually happens is that when a man takes a Ministry, he had no prior knowledge of, he spends the next six months trying to figure it out.”  
“That’s why Baba has chosen experienced people who have been in government at senior levels.”
“But one of them has said he is there to learn”
“Who is that?”
“You go and find out.”
“If I may play the Devil’s advocate, I think what the man means is that he is open to ideas. As human beings, we are always learning. At the retreat, the point was made clear that this is not a cabinet of learners, but drivers. People who are ready to move things forward.”
“Were you there? Suppose they can’t move anything.”
“Someone told me. I have my contacts.” 
“You are just a bloody gossip. The truth is that some Ministers spend the whole time learning and moving nothing”
“I see noise-making has started already”.
“We don’t need noise. I want to see the change I asked for with my PVC.”
“Fashola is the luckiest guy.”
“Baba meta, himself.”
“What is that?”
“E remain make dem add Finance.”
“Fashola is mai mhe-en.”
“I don’t envy him. I actually sympathise with him. I hope he has not been set up for demystification and disambulation.”
“Why don’t you speak like a normal human being?”
“Those three key portfolios make him a Super Minister.”
 “They should just have named him Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy.”
“No. We don’t need that. Every Minister is important.”
“Fashola in that assignment, I tell you, will need the services of a doctor, a massager, and prayer warriors”
“Don’t worry yourself. The man will do it. He performed in Lagos. The moment he left, Lagos shut down. See how Ambode is struggling with Fashola’s big shoes. It is just Fashola’s wife that I pity.”
“What has his wife got to do with this? Please.”
“You don’t know? This one that they have made him a Baba Meta; I swear, when next the man shoots straight, his wife go born triplets! One for Power, one for Works, and the other for …”
“Amaechi wife, na twins that one go born.”
“Are you guys alright?”
“Wait oh, e be like say na only one Baba give Amaechi. Transportation.”
“Na two. Transport not Transportation. Baba has added …ation for Aviation. Amaechi is in charge of Transport. He is in charge of Aviation, add the two: Transportation. Him na Baba Ibeji.
“With control over 15 parastatals/agencies. God! You have his phone number?”
No. I no get. But Baba didn’t treat our brother, JFK well”
“He is in charge of Solid Minerals. That is a very strategic Ministry. It is like Agriculture. A developed Solid Minerals sector will further diversify the economy and increase non-oil revenue.”
“But na only one they give am.”
“Me, I thank God that he has a portfolio. I think PMB gave him Solid Minerals deliberately to please Fayose.”
“What has Fayose got to do with this now?”
“Everything. You know he was the one who begged President Buhari to give Ekiti state, a solid ministry. He said Ekiti people don’t want any yebuyebu Ministry but a very solid one.”
“So?”
“So, the President has shown that he listens, and he has given the people of Ekiti State, the Ministry of Solid Minerals!”
“You are not okay.”
“Ekiti is solid. Whatever Fayemi is able to do in that Ministry, his efforts will be appreciated.  But as for Amaechi and Fashola, well…”
“Who is in charge of Niger Delta? That is another strategic Ministry”
“Na Pastor they put there oh. Pastor Uguru.”
“Me, I just hope the man knows that that is not a Ministry where you go and chop guguru oh.  It is an important portfolio.”
“If Uguru likes, let him chop guguru. As long as he does not chop alone, and the people of the Niger Delta get enough popcorn too.”  
“But wait a moment, is that not the same Pastor who during the Ministerial screening swore that God forbids him having anything to do with PDP members?”
“He didn’t swear. He said it.”
“He will probably need a one-on-one retreat with President Buhari. This is a government of nobody and a government of everybody.”
“Hey! Even our critics are beginning to quote us as if they are quoting the Bible. Patapata we go win again o, winner! ”
“Just tell your Uguru that he is not an APC Minister, but a Minister of the Federal Republic, whose doors must be open to everyone.”
Hen, hen. Are you looking for contract already, or a consultancy? Do I give you the man’s number?”
“I don’t need his number. I am making commonsense”
“Oh, you want to become another Ben Bruce, the commonsense Senator? He goes about saying he is making commonsense.”
“He is right. We need commonsense”
“We don’t need commonsense. Too much commonsense caused all our problems. What we need is uncommon sense, to get rid of common nonsense. Tell him.”
“Who is in charge of Finance?”
“That’s the Ogun State Ministry”
“What do you mean Ogun State Ministry? I am asking you who is the new Super Minister in charge of our money?”
“She is from Ogun State. Kemi Adeosun; she speaks fone.
“I hope she won’t become a Madame No.”
“Madam what?”
Madam No Money.
“Nobody will try that with us. We will tell that person what to do”
“This is part of the problem with governance; too many people claiming to know what should be done. I don’t remember PMB making you a Minister, adviser or errand boy. When these Ministers start failing, we will talk again.”
“Leave us alone, I beg. It is our turn…”

Treasury Single Account Contract Signed Under President Goodluck Jonathan: Systemspecs Ltd Remita was contracted To Take 1% Fee Under Ex-Pres Jonathan

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The Treasury Single Account (TSA) contract that gave out 1% as remittance fee for all government accounts moved to the Central Bank of Nigeria was signed under the regime of Goodluck Jonathan in 2012, a CBN source has revealed.

The Peoples Democratic Party had claimed recently that the TSA policy was formulated under former President Jonathan. However, due to weak regulations and corruption in the system, several ministries, departments and agencies of the Nigerian government refused to conform with the TSA policy.

A company, Systemspecs Ltd, founded by John Tanimola Osaro in 1992, got the contract to oversee the remittance of funds into the TSA. “Remita” is the flagship product of Mr. Obaro’s Systemspecs Ltd. According to our CBN source, the company built in a demand for a 1% fee to be paid to it for all remittances made into the TSA. System specs Ltd is chaired by a former Nigerian Ambassador to the UK and chair of SURE-P program under ex-President Jonathan’s regime.
Since President Muhammad Buhari made it mandatory for MDAs to remit funds into the TSA, Systemspecs company had already been paid N8.6 billion when CBN officials claimed they detected the anomaly and forced Mr. Obaro’s company to refund the excessive remittance fee. So far, the TSA account has N1.5 trillion deposited in it, the CBN source said no commission was paid.
The Central Bank source said the apex bank was in the process of developing internal competency to enable it to handle the TSA. "We at the Central Bank should be able to handle remittances into the TSA without having to pay any so-called consultants a bloated remittance fee," the source said.
SaharaReporters also contacted the former Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II. He asserted that the CBN did not sign any contract with REMITA under his watch. In a series of text messages, he stated that it was the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation who must have signed the contract with REMITA. The former CBN Governor added that only Nigeria's Finance Minister is entitled to pay commission on such payments. He said under his tenure as CBN Governor his team kept pushing for TSA. According to him, the CBN's call for the institution of TSA could be found in the  Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting communiques. He told SaharaReporters that some ministers in ex-President Jonathan's  government resisted the TSA apparently because they were doing deals with banks.
SaharaReporters contacted Mr. Obaro’s company, but he did not respond to our inquiries as at the time of going to press.

Babysitter Who Took Part In Sham Marriage To Two Nigerians Could Face Jail

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ON BAIL: Emma Evans has been warned jail is an option
A 34-year-old woman in the United Kingdom has been warned of a possibility of jail term after she reportedly engaged in a sham wedding with a Nigerian man just so the man could boycott being deported.


Louise Evans reportedly admitted to engaging in a “marriage of convenience” with one Kazeem Kolade, whom she married in July 2012, but denied the charge of bigamy, stating that the marriage had been annulled before she went on  to marry one Stephen Akinseye, another Nigerian man, in January 2013.


According to the Lancashire Telegraph, her lawyer was able to prove her innocence on the charge of bigamy after producing a divorce certificate from her first marriage obtained from the Nigerian High Commission in the UK.

A second sham marriage charge has however been left on her court file.
A court in Burnley heard that the marriage between Evans and Kolade was conducted with the hope of illegally helping him avoid deportation from the UK.

Requesting a pre-sentence report for Evans, Mr Stuart said: “The defendant is a lady of good character. She does have both physical and some mental health issues.”

Adjourning the case until December 9, Mr Recorder Narayan told Evans: “The fact that I am going to bail you in order for a pre-sentence report is no indication as to sentence.
“All sentencing options, including a custodial sentence, remain open to the court.”

Man Drags Wife From Church To Bush Where He Slaughters Her

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A 35-year-old Zimbabwean man, Edmore Nyamazana, has been arrested and charged with murder after he allegedly dragged his from from a church and took her to a bush where he used a knife to brutally murder her before dumping her body in a stream, reports The Chronicle. The man from Gokwe district, was arraigned before a Bulawayo High Court for the murder of his wife, Lizzy Mpofu, after they had a quarrel. 
He was reported to have trailed the woman to the church when she had gone to stay with her parents after their fight in the Nyaki district. A cousin of the murdered woman, Samkeliso Sibanda, narrated how Nyamazana stormed his wife’s church and ordered her to follow him under the guise that he wanted her to witness a break-in at their home in Gweru.

“On that particular day, Lizzy and I were attending a church service at Ginyilitshe village in Nkayi when Nyamazana came. He asked his wife to immediately leave the church and join him on a journey to their home. When she tried to resist Nyamazana used force.
When I arrived home, Lizzy’s parents asked me about the whereabouts of their daughter and I explained to them that I had left her with her husband. We were shocked when we heard that she had been discovered lying dead in a stream the following morning.” The deceased's father, Office Amon Mpofu, diclosed that his daughter and her husband had an undisclosed long standing domestic dispute. “My daughter had a domestic dispute with her husband and at one time, I sat down with her to discuss their problem but she insisted that it was just a minor issue without disclosing more. On that particular day, we had searched for Lizzy the whole day until we received news that she had been killed and I immediately suspected that Nyamazana was behind her death since they were last seen together by Sibanda the previous day when they left church together. It was a terrible sight when I went to the scene and there was blood splattered all over. Lizzy had several wounds on the head, neck and cheek where the blade of the knife was lodged.” But Nyamazana has denied the charge, telling the court he was being framed for the murder of his wife. “I didn’t commit the alleged crime. In fact, I was at my home in Gweru when it happened and I only got to know about it when police arrested me and forced me to travel with them to Nkayi for indications. When I was laid off from my work, my wife ditched me and took our two children to her parents’ home in Nkayi and that was the last time I saw her until I heard that she had been killed. I’m not the one who committed the crime.”

UK s Biggest Audacious Millennium Dome Heist Fifteen Years On [Photos+Video]

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Audacious Millennium Dome heist fifteen years on
Last week was the anniversary of the attempted robbery of the Millennium Star at Millennium Dome's diamond exhibition in Greenwich.
On November 7, 2000. A gang attempted to ram-raid the De Beers diamond exhibition which was being held in the dome at the time. The gang had then planned to escape via the Thames in a speedboat.

The De Beers diamond exhibition had a number of jewels on display including the Millennium Star, a flawless 203.04 carats gem which was estimated to be worth more than £200 million and considered one of the most perfect gems in the world.
Also on display were priceless blue diamonds. The attempted robbery was foiled by the Flying Squad with assistance from surveillance teams, armed units, Kent Constabulary and elements of the military.
The combined team had already had the gang members under surveillance for more than five months following their suspected role in a number of previous armoured robberies.
The operation to foil the robbery was the biggest operation undertaken in the Flying Squad's history and at trial the judge in the case commended the way it was carried out.
If the heist had succeeded, then with a haul of £350 million worth of diamonds, it would have become the biggest robbery in history at the time.
Watch DCI John Swinfield explain how the heist was foiled.

Ex-Pres. Jonathan, Sambo, Mark, Ciroma, Ekweme, Fayose, Others Shunned PDP Convention

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The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday held its national conference in an effort to re-brand and reposition the party ahead of 2019 general elections.
However, former President Goodluck Jonathan, his deputy Namadi Sambo, erstwhile national chairman of the party Adamu Mu’azu, and former Senate President David Mark did not attend the event.
A PDP founding member Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, former Vice President, Chief Alex Ekwueme, former Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu and Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, among others, were also conspicuously absent.


A former Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, who resigned from his position on May 20, same day Mu’azu threw in the towel also shunned the event. Former governors Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno), Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), and others stayed away. Former anti-graft tsar NuhuRibadu, who was PDP candidate for Adamawa State in the last election, was also absent. Out of PDP’s 13 serving governors, seven were not in attendance.
Why dignitaries stayed away
Ciroma, who was listed among the dignitaries to grace the conference, told Daily Trust why he stayed away from the event.
In a phone interview, Ciroma said, “I saw the advertisement in the paper and television. It was only yesterday (Wednesday) that some people came to formally invite me and I turned down the invitation because they didn’t do it before the advertisement. They should consult me before making any advertisement.”
Asked if the PDP can be re-branded, Ciroma, a former finance minister, laughed. “You are trying to find the fact. The fact is that I was not informed of the meeting. If you could remember, former President (Ibrahim) Babangida also said he was not attending the meeting,” he said.
He also declined to say whether he had quit active politics like Babangida.
On his part, Fayose said he excused himself from the meeting because he was observing three days of fasting and prayers ahead of his 55th birthday this weekend.
He stated this while chatting with reporters at his Afao Ekiti country home, shortly after he was conferred with the title of ‘Leader of opposition in the country’ by the state House of Assembly.
The assembly had earlier in the day during a special session passed the resolution in his honour.
Fayose said he had to be with his God and needed time to pray and must abstain from all distractions.
He, however, said though he might not be at the event physically, he was with them in spirit.
“Some of my commissioners were there and the chairman of my party is also there. I may not be there physically but I am with them morally and I supported them financially.”
Earlier, former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, had turned down an invitation by the PDP to be part of the rebranding conference. In a statement in Minna, Babangida said he had long quit partisan politics.
No reason was given for Jonathan’s absence at the event. The chairman of the National Organising Committee of the conference Raymond Dokpesi had tendered apology for fielding Jonathan as PDP’s candidate in the 2015 election, describing it as a mistake.
Absentee governors included Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Fayose (Ekiti), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers).
However, governors Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe), Idris Wada (Kogi), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) were present.
Former governors of the party present were Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio, among others.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and other PDP senators were in attendance.

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