Esblog have the full trailer watch and enjoy.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Nollywood Youngest Producer Release The Long Awaiting Movie(Trailer)
Esblog have the full trailer watch and enjoy.
2 Million Adolescent Girls Give Birth At 14 Or Younger Every Year
The study out Wednesday from the United Nations Population Fund found that girls who give birth under the age of 14 are especially vulnerable to obstetric fistula and maternal death, and often suffer social and economic consequences as well.
Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, the group’s executive director, said communities often blame the girl for getting pregnant. “The reality is that adolescent pregnancy is most often not the result of a deliberate choice, but rather the absence of choices, and of circumstances beyond a girl’s control,” he said in a statement. “It is a consequence of little or no access to school, employment, quality information and health care.”
But early pregnancy isn’t just bad for young girls; it also sucks money from developing economies. The report estimates that if the 200,000 adolescent mothers in Kenya were working instead of raising children, $3.4 billion more could have poured into the economy, the equivalent of Kenya’s construction sector. If the teenage mothers in India had worked, economic productivity would have spiked by $7.7. billion.
India: Bus crash kills Atleast 40 People
At least 40 people, including children, have been killed after a bus crashed into an oil tanker and burst into flames in southern India, Sky News reports.
It is being reported that many victims, who were apparently asleep at the time of the collision, were trapped inside and were burned alive in the inferno.
The vehicle, which was carrying around 44 passengers, was travelling from Bangalore city to Hyderabad when the crash happened, around 800 miles from the Indian capital, New Delhi.
The bus hit the tanker on Kothakota flyover in Mahbubnagar district, police said.
Authorities were questioning the survivors to get further details.
The driver was among those who managed to escape through a window, according to a district official.
Road accidents are common in India, where roads are often in poor repair.
The country has the highest annual road death toll in the world, according to the World Health Organisation, with police figures showing more than 110,000 people are killed every year.
Transport officials blame a large number of accidents in the country on reckless driving and untrained drivers.
ACP didn’t fondle lady’s breast –Police
The Nigeria Police has described the photograph, which showed a senior police officer in the act of fondling the breast of an unknown lady, as fake. It said the picture, which went viral on the Internet, was deliberately fabricated with the aid of Adobe Photoshop technology to mislead the public.
The alleged amorous scene, the police authorities claimed, did not take place and the officer had nothing to do with the woman.
The police said it arrived at this conclusion after interrogating the policeman, who was seen in the type of uniform worn by officers of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police.
On the official Facebook page of the police, the affected police officer was quoted as saying, “I don’t know this lady. I never took the picture with her.”
However, the authorities did not name the police officer nor give the details of the command where he is serving.The police said that though it does not forbid its rank and file to pose with members of the public for photographs, it would not tolerate any display of affection for the opposite sex in full public glare.
“An image showing one of our officers in a compromising position with a lady has gone viral. Please check the hands in the so-called picture that is in circulation and you will agree that they were photo-shopped.
“Other citizens of this country are encouraged to pose for snapshots with our uniformed officers if they so desire, just as it is done worldwide. What we discourage is public display of affection by our uniformed officers,” it said.
After it appeared online, the controversial photograph provoked widespread condemnation from many Nigerians who have described the development as an act of indiscipline.
Claiming to be policemen, some people wrote on the police Facebook page that the phot0graph was the handiwork of mischief makers, who were clearly determined to drag the name of the security agency in mud.
They said that no uniformed officer of the rank of ACP would be so careless as to pose for a photograph in such a compromising position with a lady.
One Oluwasegun Samuel-Alalade commented on the wall of the Facebook page. “I know it is not real. Even a fresh recruit undergoing training at the Police College will not do such a thing, not to mention a top ranking officer. The Nigeria Police Force should kindly disregard the photograph, “ he wrote.
Also Kabiesy Ojeabulu wrote, “Photoshop or no Photoshop, all I have to say is that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, should always investigate issues before taking actions. It appears that a large section of the general public does not like the police. So they fabricate anything to tarnish our image. God help us all.”
Another policeman, Adegbola Olafiyin, stated, “I don’t know the offence we committed to deserve this from the public. Imagine here in the state where I am serving, commercial motorcycle riders will not give you a ride despite the fact that you have your money. This whole thing amounts to blackmail.”
But some Nigerians have disagreed with the police authorities on the status of the controversial photograph. They insist that it appears more real than fabricated.
On cknnigeria.com, one Lanre Bewaji wrote: “There are many angles to this picture. It is obvious the lady took the picture and the officer consented to it. No matter how awkward the scenario looks, if the lady was his wife or fiancée, would there be an issue? Until we know the real circumstances behind this picture, the matter is neither here nor there!”
In a tweet to the police, Hyke Ekeanyanwu expressed doubt that the photograph was faked. He said, “I may agree that the hand holding the breast was photo-shopped, but I will not agree that the hand around his (police officer’s) neck does not belong to the lady.”
Wale Bolanle, also on Facebook, queried,“What do you want us to believe? What else do you want him to say? He must surely deny. Is he not a human being?”
Meanwhile, the police authorities may have drawn the battle line with commercial banks in the country over the non-payment of the salaries of policemen.
The Force Headquarters wrote on its Facebook and Twitter handle on Wednesday that then Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, was “angry” with the banks over the matter.
“IGP MD Abubakar, is angry with bankers over delay in payment of Police salaries,” the message read.
Lamenting the situation, one Samuel Dogo, wrote, “The police authorities have allowed the commercial banks to deal with us the way they want because there is no proper monitoring. Nobody wants to know whether we have families and other dependants that are looking up to us for their upkeep.
“The police has the highest rates of deaths and causalities among security agencies in the country. In spite of our tireless efforts to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians, we are not appreciated. We earn the least salaries. Yet, we struggle so hard to ensure that this money is paid at the right time. If I may ask, is it a curse to be a policeman? I don’t understand. Can someone help me with a reasonable explanation?”
No regrets over clash with former CJN –Justice Salami
Retired President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami
Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress, including a former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and a former military Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday in Abuja, made a surprise appearance at the public presentation of a book written in honour of the retired President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.
The book titled, “Isa Ayo Salami: Through Life and Justice,” was written to mark Salami’s retirement from service.
The former PCA retired while still serving a suspension placed on him by the National Judicial Council following a disagreement he had with a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu.
The APC delegation, which arrived shortly after the commencement of the event, also included the party’s
National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, the governors of Osun, Ekiti and Zamfara states, Rauf Aregbesola, Kayode Fayemi, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, respectively.Others include the APC party’s spokesperson, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, as well as several national and state lawmakers in the party.
On behalf of ‘eleven progressive governors’ of the APC, Yari, the chief presenter, purchased 250 copies of the book in the sum of N55m.
According to him, the books are to be donated to Nigerian universities.
In an address at the event, Justice Salami, who retired after reaching 70 years on October 15, 2013, said he had no regrets for refusing to pervert the course of justice, as he was allegedly instructed by the former CJN, Justice Katsina-Alu, even though the development led to his suspension from office.
He said, “I realise the public interest that my feud with the NJC and former CJN Katsina-Alu generated. It is obvious that people want to know what the fuss was actually about, and briefly put, this is it.
“I was invited by the then CJN, Justice Katsina-Alu to his chambers on the 8th of February, 2010, using Justice Dahiru Musdapher’s phone, and when I got there, I met them together (Justice Musdapher was the next in line to him at the Supreme Court).
“He (Katsina-Alu) instructed me to direct the Justices of the Sokoto Appeal to dismiss the appeal of the Democratic Peoples Party governorship candidate and I responded that I could not do so.
“Contrary to the deposition of Justice Katsina-Alu that he called me into his Chambers in respect of leakage in the judgment of Sokoto matter which he gathered from petitions, there were no petitions against me or the Justices in the Sokoto Appeal Panel as at the 8th day of February, 2010, on Sokoto matter or any other matter.
“Ironically, the petitions in question only emerged on the 15th of February 2010, seven days after I had unequivocally informed the CJN that I would not direct a competent court on what its judgment should be.”
Justice Salami added that, after showing him the petitions on the 15th of February, Justice Katsina-Alu asked him to disband the Sokoto Appeal Panel in view of the petitions.
“I responded that I would not disband the panel as the petitions did not contain any allegation of impropriety against the members. In my response to the petitions, I made known what transpired at our meetings of 8th and 15th February, 2010.
“It was in his own submission to the NJC on my response that he now alleged that the reason for calling me was that the judgment in the Sokoto matter has leaked and that he gathered the allegation that the judgment had leaked from petitions written against me,” he said.
The former PCA maintained that the Investigating Panel set up by the NJC under Justice Umaru Abdullahi (former President Court of Appeal) rejected Justice Katsina-Alu’s claim that there was an allegation of leakage in the petitions.
“In spite of this they concluded that he (Justice Katsina-Alu) was acting in good faith. On this, I won’t say more.
“I thank the Almighty God that I refused to pervert the course of justice. Disbanding the panel or persuading them to dismiss the appeal was not the right thing to do.
“It would have offended the principle of the independence of judges which I so much respect and believe in.
“As a matter of fact, I will simply say that if I had done what the then head of the Nigerian judiciary had wanted me to do, I would not have this honour and if at all this book was published, it would be shameful and hypocritical of me to stand before you and talk about honour and integrity – two things which define a fine judicial officer alongside the grasp of the law,” he said.
The chairman of the event, and a former CJN, Justice Mohammed Uwais, stressed that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had no powers to suspend, or recall Justice Salami.
The NJC had after deciding to suspend Justice Salami, written President Goodluck Jonathan to approve the suspension.
Also, after deciding to recall him, the Council had written to the President to approve the decision. The President had declined, arguing that the matter was sub judice.
Justice Uwais said the NJC erred by referring the issue to the President.
He noted that the NJC was not fair to Justice Salami.
“It follows that Justice Isa Ayo Salami has been unfairly treated by the NJC. It is disturbing, to say the least, that the NJC, whose membership consists of eminent and experienced judges and lawyers, should act in the manner they treated Justice Salami,” he said.
In a short remark at the event, Tinubu extolled Justice Salami’s courage and perseverance.
“Thank you Justice Salami for teaching us courage, thank you for teaching us perseverance.
“In the ocean of corruption you have provided a craft.
“At this critical time in the history of our country we need more men like you who can stand and confront the abuse of power,” he told the retired PCA.
In a keynote address, titled “Justice is never siddon look,” Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, spoke against all forms of injustice in the country, particularly in the judiciary.
Forbes names Dangote Africa’s most powerful man
The President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has been named the most powerful man in Africa and 64th in the world by the Forbes magazine.
Dangote, who Forbes says is by far Africa’s richest man with a net worth of $16.1bn as of March 2013, was ranked ahead of the likes of Fifa President, Sepp Blatter (69); Speaker, United States House of Representatives, John Boehner (66); and Founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Mohammed Ibrahim (71).
The 56-year-old, Dangote, whose company is considered one of the most diversified on the list, is currently ranked 43 on the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires with his net worth over time said to be on the rise.
In August, the industrialist had announced plans by the Dangote Group to build a $9bn refinery and petrochemical complex in Nigeria, a move which is expected to help the group further diversify its current business model and increase his net worth.
Away from his business interests, mention was also made of his philanthropic efforts in his profile on the Forbes website.It reads in part, “Inspired by fellow billionaires, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, Dangote is making a name for himself on the philanthropic circuit and has given away millions to education, health and social causes in Africa.”
Apart from Dangote, Ibrahim is the only other African on the list, which contains 72 people.
Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, topped the list, displacing United States President, Barrack Obama, who dropped to the second spot for the first time in three years.
Chinese President, Xi Jinping, occupies the third spot, while the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, debuts on the list at number four.
Pope Francis, who was elected in March this year, leads 12 other new entrants.
Other notable new names on the list are Samsung Chairman, Lee Kun-Hee (41); Volkswagen’s Martin Winterkorn (49); South Korean President, Park Geun-hye (52); and Janet Yellen (72), who has been nominated by President Obama as the next leader of the US Federal Reserves.
The Executive Editor of the New York Times, Jill Abramson (68), makes a return appearance after dropping off the list in years past.
Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, aged 29, and North Korean leader, Kim Jung-un, aged 30, are the youngest people on the list. Zuckerberg occupies the 24th place, while Kim is ranked 46th.
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, who occupies the eight spot, is the oldest person on the list. He is 89 years old.
The world’s richest man, Carlos Slim, is, however, not the most powerful man. The América Móvil honorary chairman occupies the 12th position.
According to Forbes, the Most Powerful People in the World list is an annual snapshot of the heads of state, financiers, philanthropists and entrepreneurs, who truly rule the world.
“It represents the collective wisdom of top Forbes editors, who consider hundreds of nominees before ranking the planet’s top 72 power-brokers – one for every 100 million people on earth – based on their scope of influence and their financial resources relative to their peers,” the magazine explained.
This year’s list features 17 heads of state, who run nations with a combined Gross Domestic Product of some $48tn.
APC leaders, rebel govs’ meeting rattles PDP
The APC leaders, who were in Sokoto for the inauguration of the Sokoto State University , where the meeting was held, were a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Members of the New PDP who were in attendance were the governor of the state, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko; Governors Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); and Sule Lamido (Jigawa).
Three of the aggrieved governors, Aliyu Babangida(Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), were absent at the event.
However, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mallam Aminu Tambuwal, was at the event, where no Federal Government official was present.Investigations by our correspondent showed that the meeting of the APC leaders with the rebel governors was a topic for discussion among members of the National Working Committee of the PDP on Wednesday.
A member of the committee, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said it was almost certain that the rebel governors were out of the ruling party.
He said the NWC of the party was surprised that the rebel governors were no longer hiding their disdain for the party.
He said though the issue was not on the agenda of the Wednesday’s meeting, the matter was discussed informally among the NWC members.
The source said, “Though the gathering was about opening of a university, why was the event dominated by those who are against us?
“We have been hearing that these governors are planning to defect to the APC. Maybe that was why they invited the leaders of the party and used the opportunity to concretise their discussions. We are watching.”
Reacting to the issue, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Ibrahim Jalo, told our correspondent that the party believed that the gathering had no political undertone.
Jalo said the party believed what Wamakko said, which was that the event was for the inauguration of the state university.
He said, “The event was a mere gathering. We also believe that it was, according to the governor, meant to open the state university as stated by the governor.
“Apart from that, we believe that these people are free to meet and discuss as guaranteed by the Constitution. The Constitution guarantees freedom of association.”
However, the party said it had directed party leaders in zones, states, local government areas and wards to establish disciplinary committees in accordance with its constitution.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the action was in tandem with the “focused determination of the national leadership of the PDP to ensure discipline and loyalty at all levels.”
More facts emerge on Oduah car scandal
More cans of worms were thrown up on Wednesday in Abuja during the public hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on the controversial N255m bulletproof cars purchased by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. But the woman at the centre of the scandal, Ms Stella Oduah, dared the committee as she again reneged on her promise to honour an invitation earlier extended to her.
Her absence however led to a near disagreement between the Committee Chairman, Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, and a member, Jerry Manwe.
Manwe had complained that the committee started proceedings without first clarifying why Oduah, who is the Minister of Aviation, was absent.
He said, “We adjourned (on Tuesday)to take the minister today (Wednesday). Why is she not here?
“She should have been the main issue today (Wednesday).
“The absence of the minister (Oduah) is a slap on the face of the House.”Responding, Onyejeocha argued that the hearing was not about Oduah alone.
She overruled Manwe and moved on to hear the officials of the Nigerian Customs Service, Coscharis and First Bank Nigeria Plc state their roles in the purchase of the cars for Oduah by the NCAA.
The committee chairman later read a letter from the Ministry of Aviation in whicn the minister explained why she could not make the public sitting.
Onyejeocha told her colleagues that the Aviation ministry wrote to inform the committee that Oduah was on “transit” from Israel to Nigeria.
In the letter, the minister, who had allegedly failed to honour 12 invitations by the House, claimed that she would arrive in Lagos late on Wednesday and applied to appear before the committee on November 4.
• Oduah must appear today, says committee
But, Onyejeocha directed that the minister must appear on Thursday (today).
She said, “If she fails again, we take it that she does not want to appear. We are saying this in the spirit of fair hearing.
“Thursday (today) is sacrosanct and we will turn in our report whether she comes or not.”
The committee had on Monday issued a statement in which it insisted that the minister must appear before it on Wednesday.
It warned that it would not hesitate to take necessary actions against her if she failed to turn up on Wednesday.
The House spokesman, Zakari Mohammed, had also told The PUNCH on Tuesday, that sanctions that could be imposed on the minister if she failed to appear before the committee, included issuing a bench warrant to facilitate her arrest by security agents.
• Fresh revelations on the deal
But even with her absence, the committee, the NCS, Coscharis Motors and First Bank Nigeria Plc made fresh revelations on the controversial cars.
Among the fresh revelations made public at the hearing was the difference in the chassis numbers of the cars inspected by the committee members and those in the transaction documents between the NCAA and Coscharis.
Another is how the Federal Ministry of Finance and the National Security Adviser were made to believe that the two vehicles were for the 18th National Sports Festival (Eko Games 2012) hosted by Lagos State.
The Customs Service was the first to blow the lid when it told the committee that no duty was paid on the cars because Coscharis obtained a duty exemption certificate from the Federal Ministry of Finance.
According to the Customs, the government lost N10.1m due to the waiver, which covered 300 vehicles, including the two controversial bulletproof cars.
The Deputy Comptroller-General (Modernisation and Economic Relations), Mr. Manasa Jatau, who testified before the panel, disclosed that the Ministry of Finance granted the waiver after Coscharis wrote that it wanted to import 300 assorted vehicles for the EKO Games.
He added that the “end beneficiary” of the cars, including the two bulletproof vehicles was the Lagos State Government.
However,he hinted that the waiver was later used as a cover to import the bulletproof cars to evade the payment of import duty.
He revealed that there was also a third bulletproof car imported by Coscharis.
The Customs chief who did not name the owner of the third bulletproof car, added that the office of the NSA issued a security clearance for the two bought for Oduah.
Asked whether a waiver granted for a specific purpose, could be transferred to a different end-user, he replied, “To the best of my knowledge, end-user certificate is not transferable.”
The DCG said, “N10.1m was the duty payable on the 300 vehicles; but no duty was paid because there was an import exemption certificate issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
“The waiver was for a period of one year.
“The waiver showed there were 300 vehicles for the sports festival, hosted from November to December, 2012.
“Only three of the vehicles were bulletproof and the NSA gave security certificate for their clearance.”
Coscharis Motors was represented at the hearing by its Chairman, Mr. Cosmos Maduka, and the Managing Director, Mr. Josiah Samuel.
The company admitted that it got a waiver to import vehicles for the games, saying that “it is the usual practice for government to approach us to supply vehicles for major events.”
However, efforts by the committee to establish how the waiver was used to cover the bulletproof cars, did not yield results.
Samuel parried questions and chose rather to advertise BMW cars to members at the hearing.
• Coscharis accused of connivance
The committee however accused the company of conniving with the NCAA to inflate the cost of the cars. But Coscharis denied the accusation.
On the price of the cars, Samuel claimed that the BMWs were “7 Series, B7” security cars, which were costlier than their equivalent quoted by “independent amourers” on the Internet.
He argued that the cars in question had factory-fitted armour, as against buying a plain car before taking it to an independent firm to rebuild.
The Managing Director stated that the factory price for the grade of BMW cars it supplied the NCAA was €418,000, excluding other charges.
On how the company gets and utilises duty waivers, Josiah said most times, the waivers would come too close to the date of the event they were meant to cover.
“So, what we do is that we sign a Memorandum of Understanding with government to release the vehicles we have in our showroom. We then use the waiver to replace the vehicles we have supplied”, he added.
But, his response angered Manwe, who accused Coscharis of committing “fraud.”
Manwe said a quotation he received from an American firm showed that the same car sold for N42m.
He said, “We are not fools; you have been taking us for a ride.
“You imported the cars without paying duty, why are you selling one for over N127m? Are your own bulletproof cars manufactured in the moon.
“You got a waiver to import cars for the National Sports Festival, but you ended up using it to import bulletproof cars for the NCAA.
“You have been lying to us. You ripped off the people of Nigeria through the NCAA.
“That is the summary of what is before us here, so what are you saying?”
But, Maduka protested, saying his company did a legitimate transaction.
He said the whole scandal was “politically-motivated” for reasons he could not explain.
Maduka added, “We followed all the processes required. We sold vehicles to the NCAA and First Bank financed it.
“We were interviewed by the SSS(State Security Service), the NSA; we didn’t do any wrong.”
• More drama
But, more drama played out when the Aviation Committee’s Sub-Committee on Inspection, reported that the armoured cars Coscharis supplied were different from the ones quoted in its letter to the NSA.
The committee had visited the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport on Tuesday to inspect the cars.
However, members discovered that the chassis numbers were different from the ones quoted in the transaction documents.
The leader of the inspection team, Mr. Ahmed Chanchangi, said, “We sighted the cars at the airport yesterday (Tuesday).
“The chassis numbers do not correspond with what you said you supplied. It looks like Nigeria was shortchanged here again”, he stated.
However, Maduka disagreed and insisted that a member of his staff ought to have accompanied the team to the airport to ascertain the cars they inspected.
The discrepancy in the chassis numbers was left unresolved.
• Our role –First Bank
First Bank which was the financier of the transaction, confirmed that it entered into a loan agreement, “not lease agreement” with the NCAA.
The head of the bank’s Lagos Mainland branch, which handled the transaction, Mr. Seyi Ojefeso, recalled how the NCAA approached the bank for a loan to purchase vehicles for its management staff.
Ojefeso claimed that it was possible that the NCAA “got it mixed up” when it described it as a lease agreement.
He explained that the NCAA applied for a total loan package of N643m to finance the purchase of 54 vehicles.
For the bulletproof cars, he said there was a Coscharis proforma invoice attached to the application in the value of N255m.
He added, “We offered an auto loan to the NCAA in May to purchase cars for its management staff.
“The application was for N643m; we financed the purchase of the cars based on the application they submitted to us.”
The committee observed that the original request of the NCAA to the Minister of Aviation was N564m, but First Bank eventually approved a loan of N643.
When asked to explain how the difference came about, Ojefeso said only the NCAA could answer the question since N564m was not in the agency’s communication with the bank.
• FAAN also bought cars for Oduah
The Senate Committee on Aviation also said that four of the 202 ‘operational’ cars bought by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria for its top officials are armoured vehicles.
It added in Abuja on Wednesday, that two of the armoured vehicles were for the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah and two for the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi.
“FAAN did confirm that among the operational vehicles they purchased, four of them are armoured vehicles, two for the Managing Director and two for the minister,” the committee Chairman, Senator Hope Uzodinma, told journalists on the sidelines of the investigation into the crises in the aviation industry.
Uriesi had while appearing before the panel on Tuesday said the operational vehicles included two Lexus limousines and two Toyota Prado jeeps.
But the FAAN chief did not state who the armoured vehicles were bought for. He said the limousines were bought for N60m each and not N70m being insinuated.
Uriesi, who said he did not have details of the cost of the Prado jeeps, also claimed that the vehicles were still in the custody of the bankers wthat funded their purchase.
He also did not give the names of the persons / company(ies) that ordered the vehicles and those they were meant for.
But Uzodinma told journalists on Wednesday that Uriesi had confirmed on oath that FAAN bought operational vehicles.
He said, “Investigation is still on-going and it will not be fair for me to preempt the outcome.
“We told them to go back and put everything in writing and make comprehensive statements on all vehicles purchased. Until they come back on Monday, we cannot rush into conclusion.
“The MD FAAN said they did a funding arrangement with a commercial bank.This investigation will be a very deep one so that at the end of the day, we do a holistic approach and look at how the sector will be repositioned so that all anomalies will be corrected.”
The Director-General of the Nigeria Metereological Agency, Mr. Anthony Anuforom; and his counterpart in the Accident and Investigations Bureau, Captain Muhtar Usman, told the committee that they were not involved in the purchase of armoured vehicles.
The Uzodinma-led committee will also inspect theN255m bulletproof cars bought for Oduah by the NCAA before the end of the week.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Duncan Mighty Celebrates His Birthday With Widows Giving Out Bags Of Rice (Photos)
celebrated with his life and success, Duncan thought it was best to celebrate with the widows around him.
Here are pictures of him and the widows, who couldn't thank him enough, as they received their bags of rice, with some other foodstuff.
Here are pictures of him and the widows, who couldn't thank him enough, as they received their bags of rice, with some other foodstuff.
Happy birthday Duncan.
see more photo after the cut.......
Austin Jay Jay Okocha Gifts His Wife New G-Wagon As Birthday Present (photo)
Reports said that Okocha gave his wife a brand new White Mercedez Benz G-Wagon SUV as a birthday present.
Mrs Nkechi Okocha was said to have immediately gone down on her knees to thank her husband for all his love and support.see photo after the cut.....
A must watch video: 2 Female Ghanaian Students Cought O Camera Having Crazy Sex In a school hostel.
According to report,it was said that this young lady was very responsible but just after she gain admission into one of the university she became every wide and exposed to the world,her room mate who happen to be one of the big girls in campus introduced her to different men and they also share
their bed with them regularly.
you can watch the video here. http://ireporterstv.co/2-female-ghanaian-students-dancing-in-their-school-hostel
OJB Jezreel Set To Return To Nigeria After a Sucessful Transplant As Hospital Discharges Him.
The producer sent out a release stating that he's well and will soon return to the country.
Read below:
Dear fellow Nigerians. Greetings from far away India !I am sure this note from me will catch you with a little surprise. I have been reading a lot of news about ME being published on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and different Blogs by my good friends. I thought I must take out a quick moment and let you know that I am
officially discharged today from the hospital, after a successful Kidney Transplantation Surgery, by God’s Grace. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Nigerians for your prayers & good wishes, without you all this would not have been possible. I also take this opportunity to thank my friends, fans and family for all the love, prayers and good wishes for a Speedy Recovery!! Be home with you soon …….Thank you once again sincerely, Your very own OJB Jezreel.
Thanks to almighty for his recovery.
Jonathan, Sambo, Tambuwal, Mimiko mourn ex-CGS
Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and President Goodluck Jonathan
TOP Nigerians, including President Goodluck Jonathan; Vice President Namadi Sambo; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; and Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko on Tuesday mourned the death of ex-deputy president under the military, Admiral Mike Akhigbe (retd.).
Akhigbe, who also ruled Lagos and Ondo states as military governor, died on Monday at 68 in the New York City, USA. He was said to have died of throat cancer.
The late ex-Chief of General Staff was also a former Chief of Naval Staff.
Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, described the deceased as a very courageous officer who served his nation to the best of his God-given abilities throughout a most distinguished career in the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Though dead, the President said he believed that Akhigbe would live on forever in the hearts and minds of all whose lives he touched positively during his long and remarkable career of national service in military commands and in the political offices he held as a military officer.The statement read in part, “The President joins Vice Admiral Akhigbe’s family, colleagues and subordinates in the Nigerian Navy, friends, associates and all who knew him in mourning the former Chief of General Staff.
“While Vice Admiral Akhigbe may have left the world of the living, President Jonathan believes that he will live on forever in the hearts and minds of all whose lives he touched positively during his long and remarkable career of national service in military commands and in the political offices he held as a military officer.
“The President believes that Vice Admiral Akhigbe will be especially remembered and honoured by present and future generations for serving with distinction as military governor of Lagos and Ondo states, and as Chief of General Staff in the military administration that midwived the present democratic dispensation in Nigeria and began the commendable re-professionalisation of the Nigerian Armed Forces after decades of involvement in politics.”
Sambo, in a statement by his spokesman, Umar Sani, commiserated with the deceased’s family, friends and well-wishers on behalf of the Federal Government.
The statement read in part, “Admiral Mike Akhigbe has served this nation selflessly. He was Governor, Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of General Staff to the military administration that ensured the smooth transition from military to a democratically elected government.
“He was a disciplined military officer who rose to the peak of his profession by dint of hard work and commitment. As a statesman, his invaluable counsel will be greatly missed by us. Indeed His loss is a sad and great loss to the country.”
Tambuwal said he was in shock over the death of Akhigbe, noting that the deceased would be remembered for his contributions to the country’s development, which he said led to the restoration of democratic governance in 1999.
A statement by the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Imam Imam, quoted Tambuwal as saying that the military regime of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, which Akhigbe served as the CDS, worked hard to ensure that Nigeria returned to the league of democratic nations.
He said, “As a proof of his commitment to democratic ideals, Akhigbe continued to render selfless services to the nation post-1999 until his death on Monday.
“Nigeria has lost one of its eminent sons.
“I extend my condolence to his family, Fuga community in Edo State, the Nigerian Navy and Nigerians as a whole.”
Mimiko described the death of Akhigbe as a great loss to the nation.
The governor, in a statement in Akure on Tuesday by the Ondo State Commissioner of Information, Kayode Akinmade, said Akhigbe was an exemplary officer whose life after retirement was also worthy of emulation.
He said the former Military Administrator of Ondo State was part of the developmental process of the state as he contributed his quota to its growth.
Mimiko said the death was not just a great loss to his immediate family but also an irreparable loss to the nation, insisting that “with his wealth of experience, it was too early for him to leave at 68.”
Meanwhile, the House in a resolution on Tuesday, urged the Federal Government to immortalise Akhigbe.
A member from Edo State, Mr. Abubakar Momoh, who sponsored a motion on the subject, suggested that a “befitting national monument should be named after Akhigbe.”
The House endorsed the motion and also observed a minute’s silence in his honour.
EFCC opposes Ubah’s suit on alleged land fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has opposed a suit filed by an Anambra State governorship candidate, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, to stop the commission from investigating the land fraud and forgery allegations levelled against him.
EFCC stated in its counter affidavit, filed before a Federal High Court, Lagos, that Ubah and his company, Capital Oil and Gas Ltd, were being investigated for various allegations of fraud emanating from a land transaction.
According to the EFCC, the transaction borders on a parcel of land located along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Ibafon, Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos, which was allegedly leased to Ubah and Capital Oil “for a ridiculous amount of N600m for a tenure of 30years.”
Ubah and the Capital Oil had filed the fundamental rights enforcement suit, FHC/L/CS/666/13, seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from persecuting, detaining, threatening to detain or prosecuting the applicants” in respect of the case.Apart from the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, other respondents in the suit are the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN).
The applicants are also, through the suit, which is before Justice Saliu Saidu, seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining all the respondents from conducting further “inquisition” on the transaction and declaring it “illegal, null, void and an infringement of their fundamental rights.”
An EFCC operative, Mr.OsitaChiwendu, stated in the affidavit, dated June 5, 2013, that the commission received two separate petitions, one of which was dated November 28, 2013 from DejiSasegbon& Co. on behalf of DysTroccaVaksesia& Co Ltd, against Ubah and Capital Oil.
The counter affidavit read in part, “We studied the said petitions against the applicants and the petitions made allegations of fraud, obtaining registration by false pretence; forgery, uttering of forged documents; conspiracy to obtain by false pretence; obtaining money by false pretence; tax evasion and underpayment of consent fees against the applicants.”
Chiwendu, in the 35-paragraph affidavit, stated that it would “be in the interest of justice to refuse the reliefs sought.”
“The petition alleged that the applications connived with a former Managing Director and Secretary of GTV and executed a deed of lease, leasing the petitioners a parcel of land situated at Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Ibafon, Kirikiri, Apapa, for a ridiculous amount of N600m for a tenure of 30years.”
as the application would not be prejudiced by the refusal of the reliefs.”
The court on Tuesday fixed November 4 for hearing of a fresh application brought by Ubah seeking an extension of time to file an additional affidavit in support of the suit.
Boy, 14, rapes nine-year-old girl to death
The police in Lagos State have commenced investigation into how a nine-year-old girl died, after sustaining injuries caused by alleged consistent rape.
According to police authorities, the deceased was raped over five times, by a 14-year-old student, Onyi Adimabua, in the Ikorodu area of the state.
The father of the deceased, Simeon Jigo, told Metro that Onyi is the son of the proprietor of the school his daughter attended.
He said his daughter opened up about the rape when she started having medical problems.
The 77-year-old man said his daughter died on October 3, 2013.
He said, “Up until my daughter’s death, she was a pupil of Fulfilled Greenland School, Ikorodu, and she was in primary three. One day, she came home and started complaining of pains around her vagina, stomach area. We rushed her to Ikorodu General Hospital.“A doctor checked her and after conducting some tests on her, told us that my daughter had sustained medical complications due to forced sexual intercourse. I was alarmed by this; so, I had a private discussion with my daughter.
“She told me that it was her school proprietor’s son, Onyi, that had been raping her. The boy had threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone about it.”
The indigene of Ondo State told that after initial treatments, he took his daughter to Arogbo in Ondo State to be taken care of but her condition continued to deteriorate.
A few days after the troubled father travelled to Ondo State, Onyi, accompanied by his parents, also travelled to Ondo State, to apologise to Jigo’s family. The girl, however, was said to have died that very day.
“On getting to the house where my daughter was, we discovered that she was dead. Onyi confessed that he had been raping my daughter prior to her death,’ Jigo said.
News men learnt that after the girl’s demise, irate youths in the area attempted to lynch the 14-year-old boy.
The bereaved father was said to have intervened and reported the matter to a nearby police station, where the teenager was held for safe keeping. The next morning, Onyi and his parents travelled back to Lagos.
The alleged rapist’s parents, in company with a chief in Ikorodu, reportedly visited Jigo when he returned to Lagos. The group were said to have pleaded that the bereaved father should not pursue the case but he refused.
Jigo said, “I went to the Ikorodu Police station to report the case but was surprised when the policemen on duty said I should not write any statement. They only told me to write down my telephone number and said they would call me later.
“After waiting for many days without any call, I wrote a petition and the matter was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.”
It was however learnt that Onyi had been taken to his father’s hometown in Delta State thereby stalling police investigation.
The teenager’s parents, however described the incident as the handiwork of the devil.
The 14-year-old boy’s father, Andrew Adimabua, said, “I trained that boy in the way of the Lord and expected so much from him. He has confessed to the act; there is nothing to hide. He told me that he learnt about sex by watching blue (pornographic) films.
“We are not hiding him and we will cooperate with the police. On the day the little girl died, he was beaten up and made to stay in the rain for hours. As a result, he contracted pneumonia so we sent him home for treatment. When he recovers, he’ll be taken to the police for questioning.”
Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the incident expressed shock at the development.
Braide said Onyi would be re-arrested in the course of investigation.
“It is appalling that a teenager could indulge in such act. The matter is under investigation and the culprit will be re-arrested.”
Intelligent light heralds new S-Class at Abuja fair
Weststar Associates Limited stole the show at the just concluded 15th edition of Abuja motor fair with its unprecedented display of 2014 models of some Mercedes Benz and its other vehicles.
The stand of the auto firm was also the cynosure of all eyes as visitors to the Eagle Square venue of the five-day event (October 22 – 26) were attracted by the specially-decorated pavilion and an array of future cars.
One of the luxury vehicles, the new S-Class, got special attention on the opening day as it was unveiled by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.
Interestingly, the redesigned 2014 version of the Mercedes-Benz flagship S-Class sedan went on sale in the United States less than two weeks ago, backed by a marketing blitz.
The unveiling of the new S-Class in Abuja also came about two months after the vehicle was introduced to the motoring world at this year’s Frankfort Auto Show in Germany.Auto experts say the impressive new S-Class came with luxury and safety features that have never been offered before.
An online auto publication, autoblog describes it as a technological marvel.
Weststar says the vehicle extends the boundaries of technology on many levels. “It is not just a technological spearhead for Mercedes-Benz, but also for automotive development as a whole and certainly the global benchmark for luxury motoring,” it states, adding that its numerous innovative comfort and safety features will provide an all-new driving experience.
It quotes the Chairman, Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, as saying, “No other car stands for the Mercedes-Benz brand promise more than the S-Class.
“Rather than being about safety or aesthetics, power or efficiency, comfort or dynamism, our aspirations were ‘the best or nothing’ in every respect.”
Engine
The new S 500 is available in a 4.7-litre V-8 engine with an output of 455 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.
This is said to be the best-performing model in the lineup, as it can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds with a top speed limited to 155 mph.
According to Weststar, a whole host of new systems makes the new S 500 even safer, more comfortable and efficient.
Interior
The interior design presents a view of a classic, superior and cutting-edge saloon. It has a generous use of wood trim, especially in the dashboard and centre console, as in the Exclusive Package.
There is plenty of comfort for the passengers in the rear as they are also seated in the first-class – the design and exclusivity of the seats, door panels and all controls are the same, high standard with the front seats.
The “first-class rear suite” incorporates a business centre console combining personal comfort with practical convenience (integration of a telephone handset, additional cooling box/stowage compartments in the arm rest of rare seats, folding table.
The occupants of the new S 500 benefit from the moderate increase in vehicle size by an improvement in all the interior dimensions, says the firm.
Safety and other features
The S-Class should be a standout for its safety, especially in the light of its newest technology.
The car came standard with dual front, front side and rear side airbags; curtain airbags; inflatable rear seat belts; anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control; active head restraints; adaptive brake lights; and pre-safe, which prepares the car when an accident is imminent, by locking doors and tightening seatbelts, and preparing the brakes for full application.
Its other safety features listed in a report by thecarconnection.com are blind-spot monitors; lane keeping assist; adaptive cruise control with following and steering capability in traffic; forward-collision alerts and prevention with braking; and wipers with embedded fluid jets on both sides of the blades.
“There’s also an available surround-view camera, improved night vision that can throw a spotlight on a pedestrian ahead, to warn them of oncoming traffic; and Active Parking Assist, which can guide the S-Class into either a parallel or perpendicular parking spot,” it states.
It notes that the list of safety features is exhaustive, adding that the S-Class’ air suspension is programmed to compensate for heavy crosswinds by adjusting suspension stiffness; it factors in torque-vector braking, which applies braking to the inside rear wheel to tighten cornering.
Two very high-quality audio systems are available which were developed together with the high-end audio specialist Burmester: the Burmester Surround Sound system and the Burmester High-End 3D Surround Sound system, while the multi-user system such as DVD Changer 6, allows independent access to the sources of media entertainment from any seat- both front and rare i.e. TV Tuner. This is evident in the Rare Seat Entertainment Package.
The new S-Class is the first vehicle in the world whose interior and exterior come without a single light bulb.
Jonathan places Oduah on ‘tactical suspension’
President Goodluck Jonathan may have placed the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, on “tactical suspension,” findings . A reliable Presidency source said Jonathan decided on the “tactical suspension,” hours before the signing of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and Israel on Monday. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mr. George Ossi, had on October 24 told the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation that Oduah led a Nigerian delegation to Israel to sign the BASA.
The House committee is probing the purchase of two bulletproof cars at a whopping N255m price by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for the minister.
Our source explained that it was the ‘tactical suspension’ that made Jonathan to direct the Minister of State (1) for Foreign Affairs , Prof. Viola Onwuliri, to sign the agreement instead of Oduah.When asked by one of our correspondents what ‘tactical suspension’ meant, he said, “Oduah will not be allowed to attend public functions that will have the President in attendance until the three-member committee set up to investigate the matter turns in its report.”
The source, who said he did not know whether the “tactical suspension” order had been formally communicated to the minister, stated that the step became necessary in order to dissuade Nigerians who hold the opinion that the President was shielding Oduah.
In what seemed a corroboration of the “tactical suspension,” the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, insisted that Jonathan would not associate with or shield anybody found to be corrupt.
He insisted during an interview with one of our correspondents on Tuesday, that the minister did not travel to Israel on the entourage of the President.
“Did you see them (Jonathan and the minister) together in Israel? The President will not associate or shield anybody found to be corrupt. That is why he set up that panel because he will not want to act based on media reports,” Gulak said.
Shortly before our source and Gulak spoke, the Presidency said the BASA was signed by Onwuliri because it was a matter bordering on foreign affairs.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, in an exclusive telephone interview with one of our correspondents, argued that there was no politics involved in Onwuliri signing the agreement on behalf of the government.
He said Nigerians should not reduce the matter to “the politics of political appointees who are all ultimately birds of passage.”
The President’s spokesman said Oduah did not only attend the signing ceremony but was also involved in framing the technical details of, and in preparing the agreement along with her Israeli counterpart.
He said it was when that was done, that the Foreign Ministries moved in at the level of G2 diplomacy.
Abati added, “The groundwork (for the agreement) was done by the Ministry of Aviation hence the involvement of the Aviation Minister, but this being a country-to-country agreement, more or less a treaty, it had to be signed by the Foreign Affairs Minister.
“It is also the convention in diplomacy to pair ministers. The Israelis brought their Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, so we did the same. There was no politics involved and there is no doubt that it is within the provenance of the Foreign Ministry to sign agreements on behalf of the country.
“Let me add that BASA is about countries entering into an agreement.
“It is not about individuals. We must avoid the ridiculous temptation to reduce something that will promote good relations with a friendly nation to the politics of political appointees who are all ultimately birds of passage.”
When asked if the embattled minister was under “tactical suspension,” Abati replied, “She (Oduah was actually in attendance at the signing of the BASA . As I said, she was involved in framing the technical details of, and in preparing the agreement along with her Israeli counterpart. That done, the Foreign ministries moved in at the level of G2 diplomacy.”
Meanwhile, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party said on Tuesday that it was worried by the bulletproof car scandal.
Like, Gulak, it assured Nigerians that whoever was found culpable would face the law because it (PDP) would never condone any form of graft.
The party, however, wondered why the opposition All Progressives Congress was going into a frenzy over the scandal when its “governors and leaders have been involved in bulletproof car deals more scandalous than those in the Ministry of Aviation.”
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP said its position on corruption was unambiguous.
A part of the statement reads, “The position of our great party on corruption is unambiguous and our zero tolerance for corrupt practices abounds in practical examples.
“To us as a party, the accusation of corruption in the Aviation ministry is a big worry. It is for this reason that the President and the leader of our party has set up a panel to investigate the matter while the National Assembly which we also lead has stepped in.”
It frowned on the ethnic dimension which comments and street actions on the issue had taken and advised “ethnic lords, jingoists as well as lynch mobs “ to realise that biased sentiments could hardly achieve an objective basis for establishing the culpability of the public officers involved in the matter.”
The party then went for the jugular of the APC , saying it (APC) was not different from a white washed tomb.
The PDP described the APC as a stinking sepulchre and the headquarters of corruption in Nigeria.
It said, “This is a party whose leaders relish in stinking miasma but artfully turning a blind eye to it.
“They however go megaphonic when other political parties are involved.
“Hardly can you point at any of its leaders without a heavy baggage.
“In fact, the governors and leaders of the APC have been involved in bulletproof car deals more scandalous than those at the Aviation ministry but this is conspicuously missing on the sermon list of these false evangelists of good governance.”
It wondered why the trial of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, for acts of corruption, had yet to be discussed by the APC leadership.
The PDP further contended that the stench of corruption oozing from the concession of the Lekki Toll Plaza and its debilitating effects on the electoral fortune of APC was the reason the Lagos State Government allegedly retrieved and paid off the firm that built the road.