Friday 24 October 2014

Diamond Bank CEO/GMD resigns to pursue political ambition

Mr Alex Ottih (pictured left), the Chief Executive Officer & Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank resigned his position as GMD of the financial institution today Oct. 24th to pursue his political ambition. He plans to run as governor of Abia state in next year's general elections.

The bank's board have appointed the Deputy Group Managing Director of the bank, Uzoma Dozie (pictured right) as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Gunmen kidnap Deziani Alison-Madueke’s sister in Port Harcourt

There are reports that gunmen on Wednesday Oct. 22nd kidnapped the younger sister of Petroleum Minister, Deziani Alison-Madueke. Osio Agama was reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Port Harcourt and taken to an unknown destination. The kidnappers are yet to make contact with the family.

Desperate Politicians Killing The Future Of Nigeria—Madumere

Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere while blaming them for a seeming darkness over the future of Nigeria has reiterated the need for a continual positive engagement of youths saying if they are lost the future of Nigeria will be bleak.

Speaking to newsmen recently on his postulations for a better Nigeria, he said the only thing left is to re-orientate the youths as Nigeria State seems to be losing direction on what to do towards securing a better Nigeria at the moment and in the future, which he blamed on desperate politicians that lack vision and leadership qualities.

Chief Balentine Mbegbu Dies In Arizona Police Custody!

NigerianFM, New York, heard today from one Arizonian based activist/politician, Rev. Jarrett Maupin, how 65-year-old Chief Balentine Mbegbu, a Nigerian, died in Phoenix Police Custody on Oct. 6 2014.

The Phoenix police claimed late Chief Balentine attacked the officers who responded to a 911 call, however, the entire family of late Chief Balatine Mbegu told NigerianFM, that the police lied.

Police Account
Phoenix police said Wednesday they were conducting an internal investigation following the death of Balantine Mbegbu.

“Police responded to a 911 call at 9 p.m. about a fight in a home in the area of Glendale and 27th avenues.

When police arrived, things quickly escalated, and by the end of the night, Mbegbu was in a hospital morgue.

The Senate on Thursday prescribed a penalty of seven years imprisonment was for cyber crimes and online fraud perpetrators in Nigeria as recommended.

The decision of the Senate on cyber crimes bill was sequel to the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights.

It could be recalled that the bill on cyber crimes was sponsored by Senator Adegbenga Kaka.

Jonathan off to Israel today for pilgrimage

President Goodluck Jonathan will today depart from Lagos to undertake a brief pilgrimage to Israel.Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba and his principal aides would accompany the president.

He will, in addition to visiting Christian Holy sites, join other Nigerian pilgrims in a prayer session for the well being and progress of the country at an interdenominational service in Jerusalem on Sunday. He is expected back in Abuja on Monday.

Before leaving for Israel, President Jonathan will participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Seme-Krake Joint Border Control Post in they morning.

President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic and officials of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will join him at the event.

The Seme-Krake Joint Border Control Post is being constructed under the ECOWAS Transport Facilitation Programme, which has the objective of boosting trade and economic relations among member countries.

Ex NBA President Okey Wali released after 13 days in captivity

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Okey Wali, who was kidnapped on Oct 11th in Port Harcourt by unknown gunmen has been released. According to a statement released today and signed by the current President of the NBA, Mr Augustine Aleghe, Mr Wali was released around 11pm last night after spending 13 days in captivity.

The statement did not state where Mr Wali was released and if any ransom was paid for his release.

Young Money war! Drake handles Tyga after he calls him fake

In a new interview with Vibe Magazine, rapper Tyga slammed his label Young Money and his other label mate, Drake. He doesn't like Drake and he made his feelings known. Tyga said;

"I’m tryna’ go independent. I don’t really get along with Drake. I don’t really get along with Nicki. I don't like Drake as a person. He’s just fake to me. I like his music; you know what I’m saying? I think his music is good, but we’re all different people. We were forced together and it was kinda like we were forcing relationships together. It is what it is."

Well, Drake obviously didn't find his comments funny and handled Tyga last night. Continue...

Tyga continues...

But I been friends with Chris [Brown] for like six years. That’s my real genuine friend. We hang out all the time. He lives up the street from me, so we don’t just do music we hang. I think being signed to Young Money, everybody felt like they had to force a relationship ‘cause Wayne put us together. At the end of the day the reason why I signed to Young Money is because of Wayne. Not because of Drake, not because of Nicki. It was because of Wayne and my relationship with him. I try to be cool with everybody, but sometimes, everybody just has different personalities, motives, and different characters. When you realize that, you realize that’s not a place where you want to continue to grow"

Immediately after the interview hit the net, Drake went on instagram and start 'liking' pictures of Tyga's baby mama, Blac Chyna. Round 1. Waiting for round 2

Fayose's aide blasts Ekiti Speaker over closure of filling station, says "He has no right to own private business"

Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor on Information and Social Media, Mr Lere Olayinka has described claims by Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Adewale Omirin that his filling station, T5 Petrol Station was sealed up for political reasons as the height of mischief and misrepresentation of facts.

Dame Patience Jonathan has resigned her appointment as 'Super' Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa state Civil service, a position conferred on her in July 2012 by the Governor of the state, Dickson Seriake. Seriake said he gave the appointment to Mama Peace based on her good service to the state and nation.

Find the EFCC press release below...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured an order of the Federal High Court, Kano for forfeiture of the properties of one Yagana Ibrahim Bukar a.k.a Aisha Shettima Noor.

Warri based billionaire Ayiri Emami bought his wife Asba Emami a brand new customized Rolls Royce as she turned a year older today October 23rd. Wow! See the pics after the cut...

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, 61, who is worth about $17billion, announced today October 23rd that he will donate $100 million to the fight against Ebola, which has killed thousands of people all around the world. This donation makes him the largest individual donor in the Ebola crisis so far.

"Everybody feels called sometimes to really pursue a certain thing that resonates with them, and this has resonated with me. We’re up against an extremely tough opponent here. The exponential nature of the growth of this disease is really a challenge - we've already seen in the U.S. where one case quickly became two.” Allen told NY Times

Court nullifies NFF election, sacks chairman and his executives

A Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau state today October 23rd nullified the September 30th general election of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, which saw Mr Amaju Pinnick elected as the President of the NFF.

This was their university days...she was a student, he was a lecturer

First case of Ebola recorded in New York

A US doctor based in New York who recently returned from treating Ebola patients in Guinea has become the first person in the city to test positive for Ebola. 33 year old Dr. Craig Allen Spencer (pictured above) had been working with Doctors Without Borders in Guinea, and returned to NYC on October 17th. He tested positive to the virus the Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan New York yesterday October 23rd.

He and three other people he had contact with in recent days, including his girlfriend have been placed in isolation at the Bellevue hospital. He's officially the 4th person to test positive on American soil.

For those who believe in things like this...Nigerian Tribune is reporting that a baby was born recently in Oyo state clutching a pocket-size Qur’an (pictured above).

The baby, who has since been named Ismail, was born in a church at the Oniyanrin area of Ibadan in September, the reports states. A renowned Islamic preacher who the newspaper spoke with said the woman who delivered the baby threw away the object she found in the baby's hand thinking it was something devilish, only for them to later find out it was a pocket-size Qur’an which contained all the 114 chapters in the holy book. It was wrapped in a thread. The preacher said although the Qur’an was small, the lettering inside was readable.

Fayose shuts down fuel station of Ekiti House speaker, others

Barely a week after assuming office as governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose yesterday October 22nd shut down a fuel station belonging to the Ekiti state House of Assembly speaker, Dr Adewale Omirin, and a few others saying that the fuel stations posed environmental hazard to where they were located.

Reacting to the closure of his filling station, the Speaker said the governor was only out to victimize him for not defecting from his political party, APC to the PDP which Fayose belongs to. Continue..

Here are the faces of the team at the First Consultant Hospital, Lagos whose prompt action helped contain the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in Lagos.

Pictured above: The Chief Medical Director of the hospital Dr Benjamin Ohiaeri (middle) Dr Adaora Igonoh (2nd left), Dr Ibeawuchi Morris (3rd left) Dr Fadipe Akinniyi (2nd right) who got infected but got healed.

Unfortunately four of their colleagues including Dr Stella Adadevoh and nurse Justina Ejelonu died from the deadly viral disease. (Photo credit: Who Health Organization)

Nigerian Who May Become First Black British PM

On May 7, 2015, a Nigerian, Chuka Umunna, could make history by becoming the first black Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Born in London in 1978, Chuka was bred in the UK. His late father, Bennett, hailed from Anambra State while his Irish mother, Patricia, is a solicitor.

Co-incidentally, Chuka shares startling similarities with the United States President, Barack Obama, who is the first black President of the world's most powerful nation.

For instance, Chuka is of mixed race, being the child of a Nigerian father and an Irish mother while Obama is also of mixed race, being the offspring of a white American woman and a Kenyan father. Also Chuka's father, Bennett, was killed in a mysterious car accident in Nigeria in 1992 while Obama's father was killed in a car accident in Kenya in 1982.

Sheikh Gumi Reacts To Critics, Warns Buhari Against Contesting 2015 Presidential Election

Popular Islamic scholar, Dr. Ahmad Gumi, son of late famous Sheik Abubakar Gumi this morning wrote General Muhammadu Buhari an open letter asking him not to contest the 2015 presidential election against President Goodluck Jonathan in view of its severe implications.

Sheik Ahmad Gumi

Gumi’s public letter to Buhari was following reaction that trailed his piece ‘The Second Round Of Goodluck Vs Buhari: A Source Of Apprehension’ published by this medium on 18th October, 2014. Several supporters of Buhari have criticised Gumi over his letter accusing him of jealousy and hatred for Buhari.

The cleric, who insisted that he will not shy away from speaking the truth, cautioned Buhari to be conscious of those surrounding him for political gain.

Sections of the letter read as follows:

Audu Ogbeh Apologizes To #BringBackOurGirls Leadership Over Statement

All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain Audu Ogbe has apologized to the leadership of BringBackOurGirls over his comments which formed the basis of an attack by the Presidency on the group.

#BringBackOurGirls campaigners in Abuja

In a letter he personally sent to the group in Abuja, the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) explained, “I feel obliged to let you know that my statement at our function last week was not intended to paint your group as an APC sub-group. This is because, from what we know, less than 2% of the group are our party members we value highly. The rest of you are not and may not even belong to any political association whatsoever. This is not to say that you have no right to be if you choose to.”

Apologizing to the group and the entire leadership, Ogbeh, a former Minister of Communications, added “If my statement caused you discomfort, I do apologize, but reiterate that I have nothing but respect and admiration for you for keeping a six month vigil and telling the world that the Nigerian conscience is not entirely dead. This world is watching us and making judgments. I wish you God’s blessings and protection.”

Sahara Reporters

Ebola: Nigeria To Conquer The World If APC Is Voted Into Power In 2015

Nigeria will become a world beater in so short a time if the All Progressives Congress (APC) is voted into power during next year’s presidential election, the Rivers State Chapter of the party has said. It made the submission while reacting to the declaration of Nigeria as Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday.

“Monday, 21st October, 2014, will remain evergreen in the history of Nigeria as it was the day the World Health Organisation declared Nigeria Ebola-free and the American Broadcasting Corporation also declared Nigeria’s Ebola eradication effort as a model which the USA and other nations must emulate. Those of us in APC celebrate this feat since Lagos and Rivers, the two states that achieved this milestone, are APC States.

This clearly points to where the hope lies as Nigerians prepare to vote for a new government next year. With what Lagos and Rivers states demonstrated in this regard, it simply means that with APC at the helm of affairs come 2015, Nigeria will surely be a world beater,” Rivers APC said in a statement issued Thursday in Port Harcourt.

The Progressives Governors' Forum (PGF) on Wednesday declared its support for consensus method of choosing presidential and other candidates for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PGF Chairman, Rochas Okorocha, who announced this to journalists after the forum's meeting in Ilorin, Kwara State on Wednesday, added that neither the forum nor the party had adopted any candidate for the 2015 general elections.

He said the forum which comprises APC governors was in support of consensus method of choosing candidates so long as there would be no imposition of anyone on members of the party.

Okorocha, who is also the governor of Imo State, added that in the event of a consensus not being reached, the APC could go for credible and transparent primaries.

1 January 2015 has been set as the date when Al Jazeera’s jailed journalists in Egypt will have the appeals against their convictions considered.

The hearing will look at the process behind the original trial, a process that Al Jazeera says was flawed, and is the basis of the appeal. The network hopes the three - Baher Mohammed, Mohammed Fahmy and Peter Greste - will be set free, though a retrial could also be ordered.

POOR QUALITY OF THE NIGERIAN JUDICIARY.

Though I have a deep interest in law and legal matters, I am yet to come across the Nigerian equivalent of the QUALITY ASSURANCE SCHEME (QASA) of the SOLICITOR REGULATORY AUTHORITY(SRA) OF ENGLAND or indeed any formal scheme to recertify or revalidate Nigerian lawyers. If there is any formal evidence- based verifiable programme for compulsory continuing legal education or continuing professional development, I am not aware of it. We can only imbibe a fraction of what we are taught, recall only a fraction of what we learn and the percentage of recallable rememberable facts depletes exponentially with time.

In addition, old 'facts' hitherto held as gold standards soon become obsolete and sometimes irrelevant as new facts predicated on new trends evolve. I have, over the years, had cause to interact with many Nigerian lawyers in informal settings and formally, as a client. With all sense of responsibility, I feel compelled to state that most of them are impatient, robotically stereotyped and lazy. Impatient to listen attentively to clients, stereotype as to be unwilling or unable to view issues from other perspectives, and their palpable laziness to do literature searches and other research which bear relevance to the matter at hand...

Who Is Afraid of Kwankwaso?

We have verified the allegations of a full blockade of Kano State Governor Kwankwaso from all public venues in Abuja by the Jonathan-led PDP government. The Kano State governor who intends to make his declaration to run for the Presidency of Nigeria under the APC opposition party this Thursday (Tomorrow), after making several attempts to secure these public avenues, to no avail over the past days finally resorted to making this infraction known to the public in a Press release by his office.

The question is: who is afraid of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and why?

We proceeded to check the record of Governor Kwankwaso and the reasons why the Jonathan-led Government could allow Atiku Abubakar and General Buhari make their declarations, but utilizes all means to block Kano state Governor Kwankwaso’s declaration for the President’s seat.

I am humbled to say that in the record of Kwankwaso in Kano over his three years, he has been different. After speaking with several ordinary, everyday Kano people, I was dumbfounded. ENDS sent a representative to Kano to investigate the facts and the lengthy report of Kwankwaso’s performance bewilders and I dare say is relatively unseen in Africa.

As fascism is being intruded more widely and deeply into key areas of world politics, it is important to identify this trend, to explain the psychology of fascism and to nominate key elements of any strategy to defeat it. Fascism is best known for its rise in Italy under Benito Mussolini and its Nazi manifestation in Germany under Adolf Hitler. However, despite the enormous cost in human lives it took European and other peoples to defeat Nazism in World War II, fascism remains a prevalent, persistent and growing problem in world politics.

In fact, while we like to think that modern leaders oppose fascism and the violent behavioral outcomes that arise from it, the reality is that many political and corporate leaders are fascists themselves and support other fascists when elite interests require it. They just don't use the word 'fascist' to identify themselves and modern political analysts rarely use it either.

One manifestation of fascism is occurring in eastern Ukraine (and now Kiev) where the United States elite is sponsoring the ongoing genocide of Russian-speaking peoples in support of fascist groups that are directly descended from Nazi groups in World War II. For a taste of the extensive documentation of this point, see Robert Parry 'Ukraine's Neo-Nazis Demand Respect' http://consortiumnews.com/2014/10/15/ukraines-neo-nazis-demand-respect/, Michel Chossudovsky 'America's Neo-Nazi Government in Kiev.

Five Lance Corporals of the Nigerian army were yesterday October 21st arraigned before a military court at the Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu cantonment in Abuja over a two count charge of conspiracy to commit mutiny and mutiny.

Over 1000 youths gathered at the Eagles square, Surulere on Sunday Oct. 20th to interact with actor,Desmond Elliot and to endorse his candidature for the APC constituency seat ticket at the Lagos State House of Assembly Representing Surulere constituency one.

Following the resignation of seven ministers last week, President Jonathan has reshuffled his cabinet, appointing temporary ministers to take up the positions of those that resigned.

Announcing this today October 22nd after the Federal Executive Council, the Minister of State II for Foreign Affairs, Nurudeen Mohammed who now supervises the Ministry of Information, said the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau will now double as the Minister of State for Defence while the Minister of Special Duties, Taminu Turaki (SAN) will act as the Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity. Continue...

Multiple gunmen stormed the Canadian Parliament complex and the National War Memorial in Ottawa around 10am this morning Wednesday October 22nd and started shooting at people. One soldier was killed (at the Canadian war memorial). According to eye witnesses, a gunman came down from a car, walked up to the soldier and shot him dead. One of the shooters was later killed by police.

Meet the dogs that viciously attacked 4 year old Omonigho Abraham inside his compound in the Igando area of Lagos state on September 25th (read story here).

The Lagos State Police Command paraded the two German shepherd dogs yesterday at its headquarters in Ikeja, Punch reports. According to the police, the dogs were paraded "so that the public would be convinced that they were still in police custody, and had not been released as was being rumoured." Really?

There are reports that about 60 women were abducted by members of Boko Haram during fresh attacks at Waga Mangoro and Garta villages, both in Adamawa State this past Saturday October 18th.

Residents of the villages who confirmed the abductions to reporters said the sect men came in motorcycles in the early hours of Saturday morning, killed many, burnt down their homes and abducted 40 women from Waga Mangoro village and 20 women from Garta village.

A Nigerian man based in Maryland, Dominic Adesanya, (pictured above) has been arrested after jumping the White House Fence. According to police reports, around 7.15pm yesterday Wednesday October 22nd, Adesanya, 23, climbed the fence on the North Lawn of the building and got about 20 yards past the fence before he was taken down by Secret Service and dogs.

There was a bomb explosion at a bus station in Azare town in Bauchi state late last night, which killed at least five people and wounded at least 10 people. It was a suicide bomber, suspected to be a member of Boko Haram.

Tuesday 21 October 2014

Nigerian Law School speak on the mass failure of students

The authority of the Nigerian Law School have spoken out about the recent mass failure of students of the school. The students embarked on a protest last week claiming that over 3,000 of them failed the 2013/2014 exams. The highest failure the Nigerian Law School has witnessed. (Read here)

There were reports earlier this evening that the Speaker of the House of Reps, Aminu Tambuwal had defected from the PDP to the APC. The speaker has reacted to the report through a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Imam Imam. Find the statement below

Oscar Pistorius trial: 'society demands a prison sentence'

Defence lawyers fight for Oscar Pistorius's freedom but prosecution presses for at least ten years in jail

Oscar Pistorius's future was on the line in court today as the prosecution and defence made their closing arguments in his sentencing hearing.

Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail after he was found guilty of culpable homicide last month for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. Judge Thokozile Masipa also found Pistorius guilty of one charge of negligently discharging a firearm in a crowded restaurant in Johannesburg in January 2013.

The Chairman of the ruling People's Democratic Party, PDP, Ahmadu Adamu Muazu took to Twitter this morning to blast some Nigerian politicians, calling some of them shameless and selfish....

WHO officially declares Nigeria Ebola-free country

The World Health Organization, WHO, and the Federal Ministry of Health are currently holding a joint press conference in Abuja to formally declare Nigeria Ebola Virus Disease free. We thank God!

No fewer than 25 members of Boko Haram were killed yesterday October 19th by troops of the 7th division of the Nigerian army after the sect members launched a fresh attack at Damboa LGA in Borno state. Damboa is the same town the sect captured in June but was recovered by the Military in August.

U.S. Airdrops Weapons, Ammo, Medical Supplies To Kurds In Kobani

The U.S. military confirmed Sunday an airdropped delivery of small arms, ammunition and medical supplies to Kurdish forces in the Syrian town of Kobani on the border with Turkey. The 27 bundles of supplies were provided by Kurdish authorities in Iraq.

In a statement, U.S. Central Command said the airdrops, executed by three C-130 cargo planes, were intended to help Kurdish fighters defend the city against the group calling itself the Islamic State.

Despite the ceasefire agreement reached between Boko Haram men and the Nigerian government on Friday October 17th, members of sect same evening and in the early hours of Saturday October 18th launched fresh attacks on Abadam and Dzur villages in Borno state killing at least 9 people including the father of the former Borno state House of Assembly, Goni Ali-Modu.

According to reports, the people killed in the fresh attacks were residents of the villages who were jubilating over the announced ceasefire agreement.

"The people (killed) were celebrating the ceasefire before Boko Haram came to attack them. There isn't much details but I think you can contact the authorities for details"

Friday 24 October 2014

Thursday 23 October 2014

Tuesday 21 October 2014

Monday 20 October 2014

Defence lawyers fight for Oscar Pistorius's freedom but prosecution presses for at least ten years in jail