The Real Betis defender was at Liverpool from 2005 to 2009, winning the FA Youth Cup in 2006, before joining the Spanish club.
He played once for the first team – against Galatasaray in the Champions League in December 2006.
Jun 25, 2012
Ex-Liverpool Defender Dies
The Real Betis defender was at Liverpool from 2005 to 2009, winning the FA Youth Cup in 2006, before joining the Spanish club.
He played once for the first team – against Galatasaray in the Champions League in December 2006.
Senior Pastor's Wife Impregnated By Young Pastor In Same Church
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This is certainly not the best of times for the flocks of Lord’s Delight Ministries (a.k.a Delight Arena) located at No 51 Afolabi Street, Ishibiri road, Ajangbadi, Lagos, as its founder who is currently embroiled in a sordid divorce suit is accused of being impregnated by young pastor.
Nollywood actor Jim Iyke court case thrown out for lack of evidence
The case which was instituted by one Habiba Abubakar was quashed for lack of evidence.
Jim says:
PHOTO: Unknown Gunmen Kill Policemen In Onitsha (Viewers Discretion Advised)
The incident happened along the Onitsha -Owerri road, few kilometers from Onitsha.
Details still sketchy…
Photos-Omotola Storms Tanzania For Movie Premiere
UPDATES: President Jonathan's Third Media Chat
The challenges confronting the country – insecurity, economy, corruption, fuel subsidy, dearth of infrastructural, among others – are still largely the same since his last media chat.
The phone lines to call in on the presidential media chat is 09-625-1100 or 09-625-1000. If you are calling from outside the country, use the contry code (+234).
19:06 Government ready to discuss with Boko Haram: President Joinathan says he is willing to dialogue with the Boko Haram sect, if they have a “face.” He said the sect’s members are Nigerians and he will like to transform their lives just like the Niger Delta millitants.
19:12 For now, there is no negotiation ongoing with Boko Haram, the president said.
19:16 President Jonathan said he has not visited Borno state, the center of Boko Haram attacks, because the airport there was not functional at the time he planned to visit. “And we did not want to land somewhere and fly in to Maiduguri with a helicopter for obvious reasons.” He promises to visit the state and other states in Nigeria.
19:19 The Brazil Trip: The president said if he hadn’t travelled to Brazil while Kaduna was boiling, it would have sent out a very wromg message to the world, and bolster the sect. “The day the international community gets to know that the president of Nigeria couldn’t travel because of Boko Haram, then we are finished,” the president said. “The Boko Haram and their sponsors cannot stop Nigeria.”
19:24 The Body Language on Corruption: The president said he is a calm person and gives people the latitude to do their job in reaction to question bothering on his percieved weak body language on the fight against corruption. “A lot of people misunderstand me,” he said.
Whoever says the president’s body language does not allow him to fight corruption, he’s incompetent
Asset Declaration: The president says its a matter of principle and whether he is criticised from “head to toe” he will not declare his assets. “It is not right,” he said. “I didn’t want even want to declare my assets as VP” but was forced by the then president, Umara Musa Yar’Adua. He said asset declaration is “not the right thing to do.”
19:35 Oil Subsidy Probe: The president said he initiated the probe of the oil industry even before the Senate and the House of Reps began its probe of the sector.
The president just mentioned that “only yesterday,” he directed the EFCC to investigate Nigeria’s bank accounts in the United States, following a report on a newspaper.
The presidency said he dealing with the same businessmen former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua hobnobbed with. He speaks in defence of the businessmen, including Femi Otedola who is involved a bribery scandal with chairman of House of Reps Panel that probed the subsidy regime. He however said he did not initiate the sting operation that caught Mr. Lawan.
19:55 Electricity: “When we were campaigning, we didn’t know that BH will overtake the priorities of government,” the president says.
He adds that what the government is doing with the increased electricity tariff is too ensure that those who earn low income pay lower tariff. “What we are doing with electricity tariff is too ensure that those who earn low income pay lower tariff,” the president said.
20:07 Agriculture: The president said his government are revolutionizing agriculture in Nigeria.”We are giving cotton seeds free in the North” he said.
Third caller unable to get through to the program.
Nigeria is owing over N100 billion in judgement debts, the president reveals.
20:14 The fourth caller’s line fails after he introduced himself as calling from Ibadan.
The President said the government is doing very well in railway construction. “You may not know, but we are working,” he said. He added that his government has made a “significant progress” in railway construction. “You should commend us,” he adds.
20:19 Ogene Tega’s call from Delta state gets through, he introduces himself and the line goes dead again.
20:20 The president says they are managing the economy professionally, “It is not Jonathan that is managing it,” he said
20:22 The president begs to us first to use two years plus to see what he can do in terms of wealth creation, before talking about 2015. “It is too early to talk about 2015,” the president said. “When INEC opens the gate, we will know who will contest or who will not contest.”
20:27 Relationship with National Assembly: “I have a good relationship with the National assembly,” the president said. “It is not as if there are no issues.” He plans to do annual address to the National Assembly and says his being summoned to the National Assembly is not an issue.
“Whenever I travel, I go with atleast two members of the National Assembly,” the president reveals.
20:35 The president says he “thinks” Nigerians should still trust him. He blames his poor public perception on the dublicability of IT (social media).
He said Nigerians will begin to see the results of his government in 2013. “People (critics) will begin to change after one year,” the president said.
20:42 UNILAG name change: The president said what he did, in terms of law, was correct. You change the name first, then send the bill to the National Assembly later, he argues. “What we did, was the normal procedure,” he said.
He also insists that most of the students are too young to know the significance of Moshood Abiola in Nigeria’s democracy.
20:46 Call from Victor in Markurdi gets through as the first successful call in for the day. Victor is asking for equitable distribution of You Win grants. He is asking the president to ensure that the grant is not given to only those who know people in government.
20:52 Crude Oil Theft: “The stealing of crude oil is a Nigerian phenomenon,” the president said. He adds that it has gone cancerous. “We will stop it, but it is like allowing a cancerous cell to grow into a major tumor.”
20:55 The program ends. Thank you for following our updates.
Pastor Chris Okotie and Wife End 4-Year Marriage
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Jun 21, 2012
Student's head slashed open, brain spills out, as cultists take over Enugu - Graphic Photos
Augusta Onah, 28, arrested at Port Harcourt Airport with drugs in private part
Augusta, who resides in Italy, was arrested with 66 wraps of cocaine worth N12m on Saturday while attempting to board an Air France aircraft to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.
Jun 20, 2012
Bauchi bomber smashed by own bomb
The bomaber, now in critical condition at the Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, and closely monitored by security agents travelled in a commercial bus to Bauchi, concealing the bomb in his backpack.
Police arrest 7 fake pastors over sham deliverance
Those paraded include Bishop Bamidele Abraham of Eagle Kingdom Church, Lokoja and Pastors Chucks Ingalis Kelvin, Chinedu Okosisi, Samson Prince, Osita Chuckwu, Samuel Ike and Nnenanaya Anthony Ikechukwu. They were said to have come from Port Harcourt, Rivers State into Lokoja.
SCANDAL: MBGN In Deep Mess As Ayuk Isabella Rejected By Miss World Organisers**She Isn't Going For Personal Reasons—Silverbird
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Just when Isabella Ayuk won
the 2012 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) beauty pageant, controversies
arose about her true age.
Some alleged that Isabella was over aged and not 26 she claimed to be. Now, an e-mail leaked which seems to expose the whole issue.
Some alleged that Isabella was over aged and not 26 she claimed to be. Now, an e-mail leaked which seems to expose the whole issue.
Boko Haram Promises Bloodier Days; Threatens More Attacks On Churches And Government Buildings
Mubarak On Life Support, Egypt Officials Deny Reports That He Is “Clincally Dead”
Earlier the state news agency, amid high tension over the election of a new president, quoted medical sources as saying the former head of state, aged 84, was “clinically dead”. That description was used also to Reuters by a hospital source.
Boko Haram Plans To Poison Suya To Kill Christians - CAN
THE Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, South East zone, yesterday alleged that the Northern Islamist sect, Boko Haram and its sponsors had concluded plans to declare a Jihad against the Southern part of the country with the deployment of over 6,000 fundamentalists to the South to prosecute the war.
The association also claimed that part of the plot for the mass killing of Christians in the South was the alleged importation of a poisonous powder which Hausa suya sellers would use to poison the meat they sell as part of the Jihad, warning the people of the South to be careful about eating suya henceforth.
Chairman of CAN in the zone and Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, who raised the alarm at a briefing after the meeting of the association at All Saint’s Cathedral, Enugu, condemned the Sunday bombings of churches which claimed over 40 lives, saying it had on good authority that it had declared war on Christians as part of the agenda to Islamize Nigeria.
He said: “We have information and documents to show that this is a Jihad being sponsored and we have our documents to show where they have dispatched 2,000 people to prepare for Jihad to South East, 2,500 to South-South and about 2,000 to South West.
The names of those who are sponsoring this are in our hand now. So, it is a form of Jihad to make sure that Nigeria is frustrated and islamized and we are saying we are going to resist it, we are prepared to resist and they will not succeed. We have our information because there is already a Boko Haramist that was converted and has leaked most of these secrets to us and we have our document and information. So at the appropriate time we shall strike and we are waiting for them.”
“We are warning our people to be careful of suya because we have now heard that they will start poisoning people through suya. They know the suya they give themselves in the North and suya they give to the people in the South. So people should be careful of suya.
That is part of the information available to us now. There is a powder that is now being imported which they will spread on suya and after two weeks it will start eating your liver and other organs. We have gotten that information also.
The press should let the people know because when people start dying because of eating of suya don’t say I did not say as Bishop Chukwuma. I am telling you this because we have our information. As Sultan of Sokoto told our youths that he has a way of collecting information, Bishop Chukwuma also has a way of collecting information from the Muslims.
Let the Sultan hear that because he told our youths the other day that everything that is happening, he has a way of obtaining information, I too have a way of collecting my information and we are ready to match force with force right now.”
Expressing disappointment and dismay in the security agencies, Bishop Chukwuma lamented that it was disturbing that they could not put in place measure to forestall the bombing of churches which had reoccurred every Sunday.
“Are Christians no longer free to worship God on Sundays? What are the security operatives doing on Sundays when they know that Sundays have become a target to bomb Christians? What is the Inspector General of Police doing? Is changing of uniform the reformation that we want or action to make what is happening in the North to be stampeded and stopped. Again, what are the members of the House of Representatives and Senate doing to promulgate law that will sanction those perpetrating this evil?
“We call on the Federal Government to step up a serious security strategy that will protect lives and property of Christians in the north to avoid a volatile action from Christians in the South. We also want to put an alert that Christians in the South are ready to face them squarely because we heard that they have infiltrated this place, especially Enugu. We are prepared for war- physically and spiritually against any form of attack on the church. Time has come for reprisal because nobody can stop us from worshiping our God”, the South East CAN leader said.
He expressed regret that in spite of the huge budgetary allocation on security, the bombings have continued, stressing ‘where is the high budgetary allocation on security, where are they spending the money? It means that corruption has become part of it.”
Bishop Chukwuma, however, declared that Christians were fully prepared for war “physically and spiritually” to defend themselves against any attack on churches and worshipers anywhere, declaring that “nobody will stop us because the time has come for reprisal.”
PHOTOS -Bobby Brown Ties The Knot With His Manager
Family and friends, including Brown’s children, Landon, 23, La’Princia, 22, and Bobby Jr., 19 surrounded the couple. Their only child together, Cassius, 3, was also in attendance.
According to People magazine, the couple walked down the aisle following a New Edition concert in Honolulu, Hawaii on Monday.
Jun 18, 2012
Husband and Wife Arguing, ‘Who would you throw out — me or the kids?’
A few weeks ago, my wife and I were arguing about whom we’d throw out of a sinking hot air balloon to enable the other passengers to survive.
Then my wife raised the stakes. ‘Who would you throw out — me or the kids?’
I laughed, dismissively: ‘Neither, I’d throw myself out first . . .’ She shook her head: ‘That’s not the game. Me, or the kids?’
Boko Haram Claims Responsibility For Kaduna And Zaria Church Bombings
The sect spokesperson Abu Qaqa said the current massacre of christians was done to avenge the past killings of Muslims and desecration of Mosques in Zonkwa, Yelwan Shendam, Tafawa Balewa, where they said Mosques were turned into brothels and drinking joints, while Christians continue to carry on with impunity and government support.
The statement also claims that Christians must all convert to Islam in order to have peace.
The sect stated in a press release sent to select media via its spokesperson Abul Qaqa earlier today.
Abu Qaqa started the statement by saying, “Today Almighty Allah has given us victory against Christian Churches in Kaduna and Zaria which led to the deaths of many Christians and security operatives.”
The statement also said that Allah has tasked all Muslims in Quran chapter 9 verse 29 to launch a attack against Jews and Christians who refused to believe in him, his messenger, Prophet Mohammed.
It also said that attacks against Christian children and women will continue, since security personnel now attack their women and children.
The statement concluded that residents of Maiduguri, Borno State are suffering because they did not support the sect when federal forces waged war against them in 2009, accordingly, the sect wants Kano residents to examine and change their ways towards them.
Gay Nigerian Man Cries Out: “My Husband Padlocks My Manhood”
I spoke with chika who confirmed he is back together with marc but under lock and key.(I had to laugh at this point) .
I asked to know what he meant and the disturbed 'wife'who is presently in Nigeria dropped this bombshell "he locked my p*nis with a Tiny iron rope that holds my waist and is not covered at the back but my front side is covered with aluminum and I can only pee and clean it"
(In shock I asked him)
How long have you had this now?..
Four months
.
Is it not torture for you?...
Well it won't last for long because Am thinking of seprating from him. And I will break the key and divorce him and this time its final,
Because I can't continue being the good wife .
So why did he lock it?...
No trust that's all.
So why did you go back to him after last time you complained of too much s*x which was causing you pain?....
Well that's brcause I feel for him and also he always comes to beg,I didn't know it will be like this.
Chika you are complaining now but were you blind when your p*nis was being padlocked?...
Well dear sister Stella I did it out of love not knowing am imprisoning myself. Am even trying to break that key and once its done that means Am done with him, am sick and tired of this suffering and smiling marriage because he cheats and still picks on me as if am a kid and yet padlock me. This is prison.
Chika is the only one who can free himself from this torture,whether he breaks the padlock or not,he needs to find peace within himself and not depend on a human being.
Jun 17, 2012
PDP will reclaim Edo –Sambo
Speaking at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, Sambo in his capacity as chairman of the 49-member PDP Committee on the Edo 2012 governorship election, Sambo said he was sure that the state would be controlled by PDP after the July 14 governorship election in the state.
PDP-controlled states in the zone include Delta, Cross-River, Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa-Ibom.
“Charles Airhiavbere (Edo PDP governorship candidate) is going to (government house) Osadebey Avenue,” Sambo said.
The VP also urged youths in the state to resist being pushed into violent activities on the date of election. He said, “The July 14 governorship poll will be a free and fair election when there will be one man, one vote.”
The National Chairman of the party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, who introduced the VP at the event, promised that the party would bring Edo back into the mainstream of South-South politics during the election.
According to Tukur, the party selected a capable hand in the person of Airhiavbere as its governorship candidate.
He said, “When you want to win a war, you go for a general.”
PDP governors present at the stadium included Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and Senator Liyel Imoke of Cross River.
Others in attendance were party leaders such as Mr. Tony Anenih, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, Mr. Gabriel Igbinedion and Mr. Dieprieye Alamiesegha.
The Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has however, described the PDP as a party without a history of performance.
The governor, who said this during the inauguration of his re-election campaign at Oredo Ward 7 in Benin on Friday, said the greatest weapon against the PDP was its imminent rejection at the poll.
He said, “We must ask Vice-President Sambo when he comes to campaign for the PDP in the state what the party has done here. Ask the VP to go beyond the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium venue of the rally to show the people what they did in 10 years.
“If they tell you what they will do in the future, they must tell you what they did in the past. What we have to live for is to ensure that Nigeria must make progress and any invasion from Abuja to rig the election in Edo must be resisted. As future leaders, you have a duty to refuse to be intimidated.”
PHOTO: Man Beheaded In Igbinedion University Ex-Militants Clash
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In an early morning chaos in the university today, some former militants stormed the school causing a free for all fight between rival gangs.
This has led to pandemonium in the school. It was reported that some policemen stationed at the school could not take control of the situations which has degenerated to a worse scenario.
At least 24 Dead, 125 wounded In Church Bombings And Reprisal Attacks In Kaduna
Daily Trust has confirmed that at least 13 people lost their
lives in the bomb attacks on three churches in Kaduna this morning.
In
addition, about 11 others have been killed in reprisal attacks across the town.
According
to Dr. Taylor Adeyemi, the acting Chief Medical Director of St. Luke's hospital
in Wusasa, 40 victims, mostly children were brought into their hospital
following the blast at ECWA in Wusasa. Of this number, three were dead on
arrival.
From
the blast at the Christ the King Cathedral at No. 80 Yoruba street Daily Trust
confirmed 10 dead and over 50 injured. Daily Trust is yet to get details of the
casualties from the Trikania attack.
Three
churches were attacked this morning by suicide bombers in Kaduna. One went off
at the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) church, Wusasa and another at
the Christ the King Cathedral Catholic church at No. 80, Yoruba Street, Sabon
Gari, Zaria, just behind the Army Depot, Zaria where all Nigerian soldiers receive
their basic training. The third church, Shalom Church at Trikania close to
Abuja Fly over and Textile Labour house, was hit by multiple explosions around
10:17am.
Also,
about 35 victims of the reprisal attacks that followed the bombing have been taken
to St. Gerard's Hospital within the metropolis according to the hospitals
public relations officer. Seven of them were dead on arrival, burnt by their
presumed assailants.
The
explosions sparked violence in Kaduna as christian youths retaliated, moving
around with cutlasses and sticks among other weapons. Sources say the youths
burnt a mosque at Television area and another at Goningora was broken
into and vandalised in retaliation for the attacks on the three churches.
Men
of Operation Yaki are said to have taken charge of the situation, especially
around Goningora which is along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway and where Christian
youths were beginning to get violent. An eyewitness told Daily Trust he saw
four dead bodies near the Goningora mosque. Other trouble spots so far
identified are Sabo, Trikania, Television area, Tudun Wada and Unguwan Rimi.
Road
blocks have been set up at strategic areas and traffic along the expressway
which was initially halted is now being allowed with military escorts. Other
areas of Kaduna metropolis are experiencing an uneasy calm.
The
Abuja-Kaduna expressway links many states in the North to Abuja.
Kaduna Governor Declares 24-Hour Curfew As Irate Christian Youth Go On Rampage Following Church Bombings
Police sources said they are trying to contain the potentially explosive situation.
Rioting broke out immediately Shalom Royal International Church situated in Tirkaniya area in Kaduna was suicide bombed killing several worshippers.
Hundreds of angry youths started rioting in Gonin Gora near Kaduna-Abuja Express Way. Rioting also broke out in Sabon Tasha, Television, Narayi, and Ungwan Romi. Youths manned the routes burning cars and attacking perceived Hausa-Fulani Muslims.
Many were rescued by armed soldiers and police on patrol, while several others took currently taking refuge at Kaduna Mobile Police Barracks.
A military helicopter was seen hovering over Kaduna city to ensure security.
Meanwhile those injured from the Shalom church bombing have been rushed to St. Gerald Hospital Catholic mission hospital in Kaduna.
Unknown Gunmen Attack Igbinedion University
The students, he said, are panicking and sending out distress calls to their parents.
According to the students, the armed militants may have gained access into one of the female hostels.
The sheriffs (private security) took to their heels and the police are nowhere in sight. Students were running helter skelter.
According to the students, militants invaded the school by 5am this morning.
The gunmen are said to have destroyed cars, attacked people, shot their guns and injured several students of the school.
They reportedly blocked the main gate of the school so no one can come in or go out.
However, calm has returned as at the time of filing this report.
Igbinedion University Okada is a private university in Nigeria. Located at Okada Wonderland in Okada, a town beside Benin City, Edo state.
Photos From Halima Abubakar's Birthday Party
She was born in the ancient city of Kano, Nigeria.
Explosions Rock Churches In Zaria, Kaduna
UPDATE 9:
Soldiers and policemen have cordoned off all the scenes of bomb blasts in
Kaduna state, denying journalists access.
UPDATE 8:
Violent riots reported in parts of Kaduna following the multiple bomb
explosions targeting worship centers around the state.
UPDATE 7:
Students of Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic are worst hit as most of the Christian
students worship at the church.
UPDATE 6: The
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that the third blast
occurred along the Bye-Pass of Zaria city in Kaduna State, North-West Nigeria.
UPDATE 5: Rescue
and security officers have moved to the scene,” spokesman Yushau Shuaib said in
a statement.
UPDATE 4: Youths
plan reprisal attack.
UPDATE 3: The
suicide bomber forced himself into the vicinity of the church after the
security guards at the gate tried to stop him. He detonated the bomb in front
of the entrance.
UPDATE 2:
Eyewitnesses said at least 8 people have been confirmed dead.
UPDATE 1: Report
says third explosion has gone off at Shalom Church, Trikania.
Earlier
Report
Explosions have been reported
at two churches in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Report says suicide bombers
attacked two churches in Zaria this morning.
The two churches reportedly
affected are on the Christ the King Catholic Cathedral, Sabon Gari and ECWA
GoodNews Church, Wusasa.
There is ongoing gunfight
between the police and unidentified gunmen on the scene of the second suicide
attack on the premises of the CKC church on Yoruba Road in Sabon Gari area of
the old city.
Spokesperson of the Kaduna
State command of the Nigerian Police Force, Aminu Lawan, confirmed the two
explosions.
“Our men have been dispatched
to the area, we will give you updates as soon as we confirm anything, right now
investigations have commenced,” he said.
We are unable to confirm
casualty figures at this time.
Court Declares Islamic Bank Illegal and Unconstitutional
Justice Gabriel Kolawole held that had it not been that the plaintiff, Godwin Sunday Ogboji lacked the locus standi to institute the action, he would have nullified the licence issued to Jaiz International Bank PLC to carry out Islamic banking in the country.
He said: “There are no provisions in the CBN Act and the Banks provided for in the Banks and other financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) that empowers the CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to issue license for non-interest financial institution to operate under the principles of Islamic jurisprudence without the approval of the head of state through the minister of finance.
“Unlike the other specialized banks, the Jaiz International Bank PLC can only be established in the country with the intervention of the National Assembly by amending the BOFIA Act.
“If not that the plaintiff has no locus standi to maintain this action, I would have nullified the illegal license issued to the Jaiz International Bank PLC by the CBN to operate non-interest banking under the principles of Islamic jurisprudence.
“This case is hereby struck out for lack of locus standi, but the AGF should take steps to remedy the situation, and further ensure that the CBN carries out its duties within the provisions of the law establishing it”.
Ogboji, a legal practitioner asked the court to hold that the CBN’s guidelines for the regulation and supervision of institution offering non-interest financial services in Nigeria under Islamic commercial jurisprudence is ultra vires, illegal, null and void.
But the CBN and its governor had asked the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the plaintiff had failed to disclose how the license and issuance of the guidelines had adversely affected him.
He cited Section 10 of the constitution which says government should not adopt any religion.
“CBN does not have the power to designate Islamic Bank as specialize bank”, Justice Kolawole held.
$620,000 Bribe: "The Money Is With A Top Member Of The House" - Farouk Tells Police
His accomplice and secretary of the committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, reportedly collected $120,000.
Consequently, the police have written to the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, to prevail on the concerned lawmaker to release the money on Tuesday, when the House resumes sitting.
It was gathered that the letter, which had been written would be delivered on Tuesday when the House would resume sitting.
A highly placed police source, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, also disclosed that the police recovered only $10,000, during a search at Lawan’s Abuja residence.
It was also gathered that $8,000 was recovered from the house of Mr. Boniface Emenalo, who served as secretary of the Ad hoc probe panel.
However, Farouk was released on bail on Saturday around 4pm, after signing an undertaking to cooperate with the police on the release of the money.
According to the police source, the decision to write the Speaker followed Lawan’s claim that the money was not with him, but was in the custody of somebody in the house.
He said, “After undergoing intense interrogation, Lawan told investigators that the money is not with him. He claimed to have kept it with a lawmaker in the House.
“So, the acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, directed that a letter should be written to Speaker Tambuwal to demand the money.”
The Special Task Force handling the investigation was said to have put more pressure on the lawmaker before he admitted keeping the money with a member of the House.
Lawmakers, who spoke during the House emergency session on the bribery scandal on Friday, had warned security agencies against impugning the integrity of the house.
The House therefore, said Lawan was on his own, just as it stripped him of the chairmanships of the Ad hoc committee and the standing commmittee on Education.
But reacting to Lawan’s alleged claim, the spokesman of the House, Mr. Zakari Muhammed on Saturday evening tersely said, “There is no money with us in the House. I can confirm that.”
Also, the source decried the operational error of security agents involved in monitoring Lawan when he collected the money.
He said that the security agents should have recovered the money immediately he collected it.
Otedola had in an interview with a daily newspaper, said he involved the State Security Service in what he described as “sting operation.”
The source said, “The problem we are facing now is the recovery of the exhibit money. I think there was an operational error by the security agency that handled the operation.
“The money should have been recovered from Lawan and his accomplice, Emenalo immediately.
“Now that Lawan said the money is with the House, we will get across to the leadership by Tuesday when it might have reconvened.”
When our correspondent contacted the Police Public Relations, Mr. Frank Mba, on Lawan’s stance on the matter, he only confirmed his temporary freedom.
Mba said, “Yes, we have released him on bail. He will return next week and investigations will continue until this matter is thoroughly resolved.
But it was learnt late Saturday that Otedola would sue the House for including Zenon Oil in the list of those who collected foreign exchange to import fuel but failed to do so.
One of his aides, who craved anonymity, told one of our correspondents that the business mogul was consulting his lawyers on a legal response to the matter.
One of the consultations took place on Saturday in Lagos.
The aide said, “He is considering suing the House. They are trying to get back at him; so, he is talking to his lawyers on the possibility of seeking legal redress.”
Dance With My Father - By Jessica Sanchez (Happy Father's Day!!!)
Jun 16, 2012
Farouk Lawan remains in custody after failing to produce marked dollar bills
Mr. Lawan turned himself in to the police for questioning Thursday evening after admitting he collected the money, although he denied it was meant to be a bribe.
He claimed the money was to be submitted before the House as a proof of the pressure its committee, investigating a gargantuan fuel importation fraud, faced from the marketers.
He received the amount as an advance payment for $3 million, from oil business mogul, Femi Otedola, and cleared two of Mr. Otedola’s oil firms that were accused of taking part in the more than N1 trillion fraud.
But asked by investigators to surrender the notes, marked and secretly videotaped by agents, Mr. Lawan could only afford a few left overs, claiming the rest had been stolen by burglars, a police source said.
Force spokesperson, Frank Mba, confirmed to P M he remained in custody because “investigations were still ongoing.”
A highly placed police officer later told this newspaper at midnight that the lawmaker was offered bail with conditions he couldn't meet.
He said the embattled lawmaker might be released on Saturday.
Mr. Lawan was removed from his positions in the House on Friday at an emergency session convened to discuss the scandal.
The episode, only the latest in a series of corruption scandals in the House, appears the most disgraceful and highlights the desperation lawmakers exhibit to draw kickbacks and patronages.
Latest revelations from top security sources, who have seen the videos of the exchange, say on the three occasions Mr. Lawan visited the businessman for the deal, he drove himself in a C- class Mercedes Benz.
For each of the visits, five video recordings, averaging a duration of eight to 10 minutes, were made.
The lawmaker negotiated the terms of the bribe with Mr. Otedola over a lunch on the first visit, the source said. He later received the first part of $250,000 on the second visit, which was around 11 p.m. Then, he got the second part of the money on the third visit which was around 5.05 am.
Dressed in a green agbada and a sokoto cap, the source said, Mr. Lawan stuffed the wads in his pockets and under the cap possibly to conceal the package from Mr. Otedola’s domestic aides since they hadn't seen him enter with a baggage.
“In the video, Lawan was clearly seen stuffing wads of dollar bills into his pocket; when his pocket was full, to the utter shock of those who watched the video, he removed his cap and concealed the remaining wads of dollar bills inside it and replaced the cap on his head,” the source said.
“Nigerians will reel with laughter if they ever get to watch this video. It is on the one hand hilarious, and on the other hand, shameful.”
Jun 14, 2012
Diamond and Gold Pen worth an ink-redible £27,000
Why not go for this stunning 18-carat white gold pen encrusted with 76 diamonds?
Of course, with an ink-redbile price tag of £27,000, you may want to reconsider the set of golf ball-shaped soaps instead.
The unusual writing instrument, crafted by British designer Jack Row in homage to London's iconic Gherkin building, actually costs the same as a one-bedroom flat in Yorkshire and is more than the national average yearly salary.
Families Of Dana Air Victims Fight Over Corpse
This came as an unidentified relation of one of the deceased attacked LASUTH officials with a machete.
Trouble started when relations of late Mr. Jones Ifekanwa and that of another victim, identified a body of one of the victims as theirs.
Findings revealed that earlier, Chief Medical Examiner, LASUTH and Consultant Pathologist and Forensic Medicine expert, Prof. John Obafunwa, had invited the Ifekanwa family to identify their late brother’s corpse which they did with some difficulty unlike last week when they said the body was easily identifiable.
The other family, it was gathered, after being invited to identify its corpse, eventually picked the same corpse earlier selected by the Ifekanwa family, as their late brother who died in the same air crash. An argument ensued and Obafunwa was forced to deny both families any claim to the body. He rather, urged them to wait for the DNA test result that would be available in about four weeks.
Verbal war
Enraged, the two families engaged in verbal war and came close to exchanging blows but for the intervention of security men.
It was gathered that while the Ifekanwas were very sure the body they identified was their late brother’s, members of the other family told Obafunwa they were not so sure that the body was actually theirs.
The Ifekanwa family, however, complained of the deplorable state of the corpse who they said was their youngest sibling, saying yesterday was the third time they had come to identify him. In their view, the corpse was getting worse with time.
A visibly shaken Jennifer Enanana, elder sister to the late Jones Ifekanwa told newsmen: ”I am testifying just for my brother, Mr. Jones Ifekanwa. He was identified at the crash site. He wasn’t burnt. He had his identity card with him and some other documents in his pockets, with that they identified him.
“When we were there last Tuesday, it did not take them up to five minutes to get him to us. They even told us that we were very lucky, so they wrote his name on the body bag he was in. When we went in there, we identified his clothes and birth marks on him and everything was okay. They told us that within 48 hours he would be released. But that was not to be because they said they wanted to do DNA.
“So on Saturday we went back to check if he was properly taken care of, we found out that he was getting worse. His face was peeling off, he was deteriorating and I expressed my grievances and I told them that I did not like this and asked them when they were going to release his body to us.
“Luckily enough, Fashola said we should meet him on Sunday, which most of us did. The place was packed with people. It was agreed there that all identified bodies should be released. Can you imagine as at last Friday, they had released six bodies without us knowing.
“Meanwhile, they were claiming to us that they need DNA but they were releasing bodies without people knowing. Six bodies have gone out. It was yesterday (Monday) that we got to know about it.
Another identification
“So this morning (yesterday) I and my family came to claim our body that had been identified by them and confirmed by us to be our brother, only for us to get there, Prof. Obafunwa took us in again, traumatising my family to identify the body that had already been identified by them and confirmed and identified by us.
“They took us in and they wrapped him up as if it was a gift pack showing just his face not his ears, not his head and wrapped him up, can you imagine? And we were telling them that this is our brother whom we had identified. He has a mark on his lips and on his fore head, it is just a unique feature of him and all that.
“Could you believe that another family went inside and identified the same Jones’ body. A body that has been identified by them and confirmed by us twice, they took another family to go and identify the body, the family was already devastated and the girl came out. Because she wasn’t sure of the body, she asked him to bring out his hands because their own person has a mark in his hands. The professor refused.
“The professor came out to tell us that there was a problem on our body, that there was a contention. He said because of this he would not release the body. That means they did not store the bodies properly, that means there is something fishy going on.”
Relation attacks LASUTH officials
In another development at the same venue, a drama was played out when an angry relation of the victims of the crash attacked LASUTH officials with a machete. Luckily, the unprovoked assault was aborted by a special squad of the Rapid Respond team of the Police who held on to the angry man as he shouted: “You people can eat my brother’s body if you want, since you don’t want to release him to us.”
In anticipation, the Police have stationed a special squad of the Rapid Respond team to man the mortuary for 24 hours because of such unpleasant development.
Officials of the hospital, including Obafunwa, maintained stoic silence over the matter and rebuffed overtures by media men to get his response on the development.
Two more bodies were claimed yesterday, bringing the number of claimed bodies to eight.
S’South govs boycott PDP’s committee on Edo poll
Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) were named as members of the 49-man committee saddled with the responsibility of ensuring victory for the party at the poll.
The committee is headed by the Vice-President Namadi Sambo.
Apart from the governors, those who also refused to show up at the event, included the President of the Senate, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Also missing were the PDP senators and members of the House of Representatives from the South-South.
Apart from the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, other ministers from the zone were absent from the ceremony.
Inaugurating the committee, the PDP Chairman, Dr. Bamaga Tukur, said winning the election was a task requiring the support of all members.
He told the committee that the National Working Committee of the party would not toy with the election, as it would be the first to be conducted “under my watch as the chairman of the PDP”.
The former minister said, “The history of our party cannot be complete without Edo State. The PDP and Edo State are intertwined, as very important founding fathers of the party are from the state.
“This relationship between the party and Edo State from its unique perspective has therefore positioned the state as a must-have PDP state.
“You are aware, this is the first election to be conducted under my watch as the National Chairman of the PDP. I wish to reiterate my commitment and determination to ensure this election as a major victory for the party.”
Sambo assured the leadership of the party that his committee would not disappoint the party.
The VP said he was aware of the importance of the South-South to the PDP, adding that it was regrettable that Edo slipped away from the party during the last governorship election.
He said, “The President has said it and I want to repeat it that we shall continue to have free and fair election. It will be one man, one vote. It will be free and fair election in the state.”
EFCC set to charge Farouk Lawan for corruption
Police sources say Mr. Lawan’s failure to honour an invitation to him and without a clear reason for it suggests to them that he “knows the game is up” according to a senior investigator at Louis Edet House, headquarters of the Nigerian Police.
Mr. Lawan however told this newspaper Wednesday night that he had received no invitation from the police.
Oil sector billionaire, Mr. Femi Otedola, triggered what will now be Mr. Farouk Lawan’s albatross when he claimed to have offered the law maker $620,000 bribe to get two of his companies off the list of companies gouging Nigerian tax payers of billions in subsidy financing.
After a blockbuster reports presentation on 18th April, Mr. Otedola’s companies, Zenon and Synopsis, were indicted, but after allegedly paying Mr Lawan bribes between April 21 and 24th, [April 21st $250,000, April 23rd $250,000 and early morning of April 24th $100,000.] they were let off the hook. The two companies were delisted on the morning of April 24th during the House Plenary Discussion on Subsidy Report.
Mr. Lawan later said he had communications with the Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes and the Inspector General of Police claiming Mr. Otedola was persisting in trying to offer him offer him bribes to influence the outcome of the investigation.
However, the EFFC entry into the case suggests a new twist and serious dimensions to Mr. Lawan’s problems. Our EFCC forces say the legal officers are “busy dotting the I’s and crossing the t’s on Mr. Lawan’s charges.”
Police investigators interrogated Mr. Otedola Tuesday on the allegation he offered a USD620,000 to Farouk Lawan. Mr. Otedola was at the police headquarters in Abuja, where a task force in the office of the Inspector General of Police quizzed and later released after about an hour.
Although Mr. Otedola admitted that he gave the money to Mr. Lawan to get his oil marketing firm, Zenon Ltd, cleared of indictment over fuel subsidy fraud that involved several firms and cost the nation more than N2 trillion, he nevertheless claimed he acted with law enforcement agents who planted visual and audio devices to trap Mr. Lawan after he had pestered him to pay bribe. The money was part of an agreed USD 3 million.
PHOTOS: Sanusi Goes To Work In Chieftaincy Regalia, Stuns Colleagues
Apparently seeking to impress his colleagues, or just eager to show off his new title, Mr Sanusigot his colleagues to gape at him as he spent the day at work dressed as a traditional chief. Nigerians are stunned wondering why he would wear such a thing to his work place, and how he was expected to work when he couldn’t even see his own hands.
Jun 12, 2012
Oshiomhole urges Jonathan to allow the people’s will to prevail
And therefore urged President Jonathan to allow the will of the people prevail in the forthcoming elections rather than allowing the “personal ambition of a god father” ruin his electoral reform agenda which has been hailed by the International community and Nigerians.
He also reminded the President that the “entire people of Edo state and even the ACN controlled states voted massively for him and not PDP members and their god father”, adding, “ I was with the President when we visited Washington and the respect accorded to him that day was as a result of the positive impact he has made in our electoral reform process, therefore I don’t think that Jonathan that I know will succumb to such illicit pressure”.
The Governor stated this during a chat with journalists in Benin City shortly after he addressed over seven thousand women from Edo South senatorial district at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, who pledged their support for his second term ambition.
While reacting to the comments from some national leaders of the PDP, such as Ebenezer Babatope and Mrs Kema Chikwe, that the party was determined to oust Oshiomhole from office, Oshiomhole described Babatope as “a native doctor who is unable to cure himself but wants to cure others. He could not even win his ward in the last election and he thinks he can perform magic in Edo state. That is laughable.
“And for Kema Chikwe, she was defeated by APGA in Imo state and if she could not defeat APGA in Imo, is it in Edo that her party will defeat ACN? These people are funny.
I was happy when I was reading one of the leaders of PDP in Vanguard, Owere Dickson Imasogie, who reminded us how the god father said there was no vacancy at Osadebey Avenue in 2003, even when he knows that the government was not performing.
“I am glad he acknowledged that his party failed and the god father insisted that there was no vacancy. That is the same thing happening today, the god father is begging that the PDP leadership should not disgrace him, that they should help him win Edo. So you now want to rig so that you can win by all means.
But I want to state that Edo will not be a retirement benefit for any body. Edo people must be prepared for one man one vote and I thank God the President has made that clear” he declared.