Dangote Sponsors Nigerians To Understudy Refinery Operations in India

Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group and Africa’s richest man, is sending about 800 Nigerians to India, to learn the operations of a petrochemical refinery.
The the first batch to be trained will leave for India on Sunday, March 20, 2016.

The 800 Nigerians will reportedly travel to the Asian country over the next 24 months in a batch of fifties, to learn from the nation with the largest refinery in the world.

India is home to the world’s largest refinery, Jamnagar Refinery Reliance Industries, Jamnagar, which refines as much as 1.2 million barrels per day.

Dangote is looking to creating employment within the Nigerian economy, rather than importing expatriates to run the first private refinery in Nigeria.

The refinery, projected to worth $9 billion, is being built to have a refining capacity of about 500,000 to 650,000 barrels per day.

“After receiving a private licence to build a refinery, Dangote has commenced the building of a 650,000 barrel per day (BPD) petroleum refinery, which will be the single largest in the world.

“The refinery would have a larger capacity than all of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) refineries put together,” the conglomerate said in a statement more than a year ago.

Dangote, who hosted Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), at the site of the refinery in January, assured Nigerians that the refinery would be ready to meet the nation’s need by 2018.

IGP SOLOMON ARASE SET TO RETIRE.... Permutations on the next IG

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase would attain the mandatory retirement age of 60 in June this year, having clocked 35 years in service. He is said to be set to commence his compulsory terminal leave this March.

Appointed in April, 2015 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, following the removal of Barrister Sulaiman Abba, over alleged misconduct, the current Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, will bow out of office on June 21, 2016, when he would have clocked the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.

About the same time, the Edo-born top police officer would have also served the Nigerian Police Force for 35 years.

Expectedly, with less than three months left, the jostle for who succeeds Arase has began in earnest, however,  the disposition of the President Muhammadu Buhari led government reportedly does not favour open lobby for all appointments  reducing the usual open lobby that characterised such appointments in the past.

Although there are strong indications that the next Inspector General of Police is more likely to come from either North-Central or South-East geo-political zone, there is another school of thought that believes that rather than focusing on any particular geo-political zone for the next IGP, priority should be placed on competence and antecedents in view of the state of insecurity in the country.

Arase might proceed on a compulsory three month terminal leave any time in the next two weeks, preparatory for his retirement in line with the extant laws.

There is also another school of thought that believes even though competence and track records of service be considered above any other consideration in the appointment of a new police boss , both the North-Central and the South-East have such qualities in the police , particularly that a chart of appointments of the service and security chiefs shows that the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Air Staff are from the North East, the North-West has the Director State Service, the South-West has Chief of Defence Staff and the South-South has Chief of Naval Staff and police IG, leaving out the South-East and North-Central.

There is yet another strong school of thought who believes that no particular geo-political zone should be considered, stressing that a competent and well educated police officer, with both international and local exposure, irrespective of where he or she comes from, should be appointed as head of the Nigerian Police Force to drive the reforms and instill discipline within the Force for optimal delivery of service.

It is important to note that the appointments of Inspectors General of Police in Nigeria, following the present composition of service chiefs , might not necessarily follow the order of seniority , which favoured the current occupant of the office because of perceived imbalances in the hierarchy. However, what must not be compromised would be competence and track records of team work, which would take the lead and provide the kind of leadership that would combat internal security challenges and also complement efforts of the military in protection of the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

Olisa Metuh, Justice Abang Were Classmates

Judge of the Federal High Court, Okon Abang's claim that he and the embattled spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, may not be classmates, is false afterall.

Justice Abang emphatically said “I am not aware that the first defendant was my classmate, he said he is my classmate.”

Fact is both Metuh and Abang were called to the Bar on the same day and were both members of the Nigerian Law School class of 1988.

Mr. Metuh’s call-to-bar certificate showed that he was called to the Nigerian Bar on November 3, 1988.
The profile of Justice Abang, as posted on the website of the Federal High Court indicated that he was called to the bar on November 3, 1988.
As at 1988, there was only one law school in Nigeria, located in Victoria Island, Lagos. All lawyers seeking to practice law in Nigeria at that time attended the school.
The controversy over whether the judge and Mr. Metuh were classmates did not come up suddenly in open court. A petition was sent to the Chief Judge, through which that claim was made.
The petition was brought to the judge’s attention.
Legal practitioners said that Justice Abang should have made enquiries to determine if indeed Mr. Metuh was his classmate before raising the matter in open court.

Justice Abang had, during a hearing of the case between Mr. Metuh and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, rejected claims by Mr. Metuh’s lawyers that he and the PDP spokesman were classmates at the Nigerian Law School.
A counsel to Mr. Metuh, Emeka Etiaba, had written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Ibrahim Auta, demanding that the corruption case be withdrawn from Mr. Abang and assigned to another judge.
In the petition, Mr. Etiaba said Mr. Metuh feared he might not get justice from Mr. Abang, being a former classmate and based on what he knew as the judge’s position on the matter and himself.
The lawyer said the PDP spokesperson informed his legal team that sometime late last year, when he met the judge at an occasion at the Le Meridian Hotel, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, “he was baffled at Justice Abang’s views and when eventually the charge against him was assigned to his court this January, (a few weeks later), he got worried because he feared that he may not get justice in his court.”
 
The case was adjourned to March 23, 2016.

PAUL BEGS PETER, LET'S REUNITE AS FAMILY, PSQUARE

Ibinabo Is Not Remorseful- Late Dr Giwa's Sister Reveals

The sister of the late Dr Giwa killed by star actress Ibinabo Fiberesima who is currently serving a 5 year jaikl term over the incident that happened several years ago has finally revealed how the incident happened.Biola Giwa-Adeyemi is late Dr Giwa's sister,read her post below
First of all, the case was between Lagos state Government Vs Ibinabo Febresima but not Giwa Vs Ibinabo Febresima. On this faithful day of Feb 26th 2006 along the Lekki Epe Express way, my late brother Dr Giwa was driving with his brother and another family friend in his car coming from a meeting in Ajah, they were held up in a traffic around the evening time, when this tragic accident happened.
Ibinabo was driving towards Lekki while the late Dr Giwa was coming from the other direction facing towards Island, just by shop-rite, when ibinabo's jeep flipped and lost control from her lane jumped over the culvert or pavement that demarcate the road from the on coming vehicle. The speed that skipped and flipped a jeep over the road demarcation will be considered "Reckless and Endangerment" because the VIO dept checked the jeep brakes, the engine and all the mechanical and electrical of the jeep but the result shows nothing wrong with the jeep and confirm that the accident as due to "OVER SPEEDING" in which the result was on record.

After the accident, Ibinabo left the scene of the accident without checking for any survivors, she took the license plate and registration out of the car and fled from the scene, that was considered "HIT AND RUN". The people at the scene of the accident recognized her as Ibinabo Febresima, and stated she was drunk."Driving Under Influence" of whatever she had. The State Department of Transportation has to use the VIN number to locate the Owner of the jeep, in which the owner was Daniel Wilson. That was my very first time of hearing the name of Ibinabo Febresima.The Doctor died at the scene of the accident because the jeep was on top of the Honda accord driven by him and they couldn't save him on time because of the seat belt and the weight of the jeep, the brother and the other family friend in that car had survived. Did she know the state of mind and the emotional instability of the people involved in that accident up till now, Ibinabo has never been in a Comma.
After all the evidences against her, with the result of the VIO by the State department of Transportation, The DPP office took over and charged her to court and she hired Festus Kiamo in which after reviewing the case he withdrew by saying he cannot represent her because it's a bad case.

Doctor Giwa has a living mother for goodness sake, wife with 3 children's, Ibinabo deprived him from seeing his children graduate from university and getting married, also from being the one to bury his mother at her old age, "Whereas no one ever prayed that on the day of their children's success and happiness they should replaced them with someone else".
Ibinabo was never remorseful, they brought her to meet with me shortly after my brother's death in GRA Ikeja before my return back to the USA, but her only concern then was to drop the charges against her. I told her that it's not my family Vs her but the State Vs her, that where I come from in USA that we do not interfere with the justice system, that they should do their job and advise her to apologize publicly to the masses and to the family and throw herself to the mercy of the court. She said and l quote "I CAN'T DO THAT, BECAUSE IS GOING TO DAMAGE MY CAREER" what an ego, she cannot apologize publicly, I feel like kicking her ass. She's worried about her silly career, What happened to the career of the Doctor, who happened to be a 'MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL REHABILITATION MEDICINE AT GENERAL HOSPITAL LAGOS.
People say there is no justice in Nigeria, but it does once in awhile. The lower court magistrate O.A Isaac found her guilty with the option of 100,000.00 Naira, which is considered a judicial recklessness, 100k does not even buy an iPad, the life of someone does not worth more that 100k, so that people will take the liberty of committing crimes. Later Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of the High court find her guilty and overturn the option of fine and gave her 5 yrs in prison, she spent 3 weeks and came out on bail to go to Court of Appeal.

CCT: FG May Drop Some Charges Against Saraki

The Federal Government is considering dropping or amending two of the 13 charges preferred against  Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) .

This development is reportedly predicated on the discovery that count 11 and 12 of the charge sheet cannot be proven. The charges alleged he operated a foreign account while in office as governor.

Charge 11 states: “That you, Dr. Olubukola Abubakar Saraki on or about August 25, 2008 within the jurisdiction of this tribunal, while being a public officer as the governor of Kwara State did operate a bank account outside Nigeria when you transferred $73,223.28 from your Guaranty Trust Bank Plc domiciliary account No 441441953210 to the American Express Services Europe Limited No: 730580 for onward credit to your American Express Bank, New York card account No: 374588216836009…”

Charge 12 states: “That you, Dr. Olubukola Abubakar Saraki etween August 2009 and October 2012 within the jurisdiction of this tribunal, while being a public officer as the governor of Kwara State and senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria did operate a bank account outside Nigeria when you transferred $3,400,000.00 from your Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. domiciliary account No 441441953210 to the American Express Services Europe Limited no: 730580 for onward credit to your American Express Bank, New York card account No: 374588216836009…”

FG may be reacting to doubts already being raised at the highest quarters that instead of being accounts, the numbers quoted in the charges are that of credit cards which are not operated based on ownership of a bank account.

American Express Services Europe Limited is different from the American Express Bank. While the latter is a money deposit, full-fledged commercial bank, the former is a credit /debit card services operating company.

In such instance, its services cannot be said to have violated the provision of the Paragraph 3 of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Section 7 of the Code of Conduct of Bureau and Tribunal Act.

These facts  may now be known  to the prosecutor after an attempt to clarify the true position of things with the American Express Card Services Limited.

It was not clear whether Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) will replace them with fresh charges, but sources say the charges may simply be dropped while the prosecutor concentrates on proving the remaining charges.

WHY JUDE IS THE CAUSE OF PSQUARE BREAK - UP - Howie T(First Manager)

IBayo Odusami aka Howie T, PSquare’s former manager, has revealed in a new interview, the cause of the split, and perhaps the key to the reconciliation of Paul and Peter Okoye as PSquare once again.

The award winning duo, Psquare, has already gone their separate ways, flaunted different managements and released solo songs after a fallout involving their elder brother Jude Okoye on social media. In turn, their actions caused a lot of drama and left fans praying for Africa’s most beloved pop group.

Thenet.ng held a phone conversation with Howie T who was Psquare's first-ever manager after they won the Benson & Hedges talent hunt in 2001. He managed the duo from 2001 to 2005, before Jude Okoye took over .

"Well, the guys in question are adults, married with children, so I think we should respect their opinion. And the truth is, I believe they know what they are doing’. 

"When I saw Peter’s Tweets, I called him and even went to see him to talk to him about it. He said Jude is the problem that he doesn’t have any issue with Paul’. 

"He told me that in a normal setting, a manager is supposed to be their employee and not the other way round, but Jude always uses his influence as their elder brother to boss over them. He also said managers collect between 15 – 25 % of an artiste’s income but in their case they share everything equally and he’s not happy with that sharing formula’. 

‘In my opinion I think Peter is just trying to prove a valid point. He told me that he turned down a show Jude got them in Finland and when they called them for the Dubai show, he told the organisers what it takes to get Peter and Paul, what it takes to get Peter or Paul alone’.

"Secondly, things like this messes up an artiste’s creativity, Peter is a composer, dancer and singer, when they sit down to vote on songs that’ll make their album, Paul and Jude vote for more of Paul’s songs than Peter’s and these are the things that pisses him off. 
It has gone beyond just beef now, there’s a lot of ego at play’. 

"In my opinion, for peace to reign, why can’t Jude just leave them alone, Peter has told me that if they change Jude today, there’ll be Psquare tomorrow and sadly the only person that can talk to them is their mother and she’s dead’. 
Well, 20 children cannot play together for 20 years’. Howie T posited

Gender Equality Bill Will Be Re-presented – Saraki

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said that the Gender Equality Bill, which was thrown out by the Senate two days ago will be reintroduced to the Senate after it is redrafted.

The bill, which was sponsored by the Senate Minority Whip, Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South), seeks to empower women politically and economically, as well as grant them equal opportunities with men in diverse human endeavours.

But it was rejected after Senators argued that most of its provisions were in conflict with the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, the same reason given by lawmakers in the Seventh Senate, when similar bill was also rejected.

However, Saraki, who said he met with Olujimi. to discuss the bill, noted that the bill could still be passed after modifications.

“I have it on good authority that Senator Biodun Olujimi who introduced this bill will reintroduce it after re-drafting it to address some of the reservations that were expressed on the floor of the Senate,” Saraki was quoted as saying in a statement by his Special Adviser on Gender, Ms. Fatima Kakuri.

In the statement, which was posted on his Facebook page, Saraki said some parts of the bill that were crucial to the development of the nation.
He, however, explained that the bill was rejected because of some provisions.

He said, “As I said during the International Womens Day last week, I am of the opinion that there are substantial parts of the bill that are crucial to the development of our nation such as the equal access to education, strengthening of the laws on violence against women, ending abduction of girls, sustenance and promotion of entrepreneurship opportunities, gender mainstreaming and gender equality, female participation in governance, among others.

“Unfortunately, the bill suffered a slight set back because there were some parts of the Bill that some Senators disagreed with along the lines of religion and tradition. The beauty of democracy is that it gives us the opportunity to consider different opinions and this bill can still be represented and reconsidered on the floor of the Senate.”

The bill was entitled, “A bill for an Act to Incorporate and enforce certain provisions of the United Nations Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, the Protocol of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the rights of women in Africa, and other matters connected therewith, 2016 (SB. 116).

AMOSUN RECONCILES AWUJALE, ALAKE

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state has intervened in the public quarrel between the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona and Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.

Both paramount rulers were engaged in a dispute over ranking and supremacy in Yorubaland and Western Nigeria.

The Alake called the Awujale out to fight after he told visiting Ooni of Ife that he was the fourth ranked monarch in Western Nigeria, after the Ooni, the Alafin and the Oba of Benin.

He ranked Awujale fifth. Awujale, seized the inaugural lecture for a professorial chair at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, to state facts, in his own way. He said, to the anger of Alake and his chiefs, that the Alake’s dominion does not extend beyond Ake quarters in Abeokuta.

While answering questions from newsmen after the meeting, the governor said that the monarchs have come to discuss how peace and tranquility will continue to reign in the state.

“I don’t want you to go and write anything out of context. Yes, we are here, our fathers are here to see me. Of course, we deliberated on so many things. I’m sure you want to say what is happening.

“Indeed, nothing is happening. They came here to see the possibility of how to make sure we have peace‎ in the state, among so many other things that we did.

“Don’t forget that this would be the first time I would have the opportunity – I’ve shown my appreciation before for the 40th anniversary, so, it is an opportunity for me to still show that.
Something to cheer here: Oba Gbadebo smiles

“So, if you think that you want to ask that what is the outcome, outcome of what?. We have come here to deliberate and as always, it’s always a pleasure for me to have our fathers around here.

“There is nothing like ranking of Oba, we know ourselves. Our fathers, they have their ways, even, before the advent of all these colonials and what have you.

“We have ways of how we live in harmony and I think we will continue to do that. Don’t forget, and I’m saying this again with all due humility and sense of responsibility, that in the context of we Yorubas, we know our pre-eminent status.

The Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland,Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona,Ogbagba II declined to speak with newsmen as he just said, “I want to say hello to you….there is no problem gentlemen, please. Thank you very much”.

In his own reaction about the meeting, the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV spoke about his efforts to resolve the dispute between the striking workers and Ogun state government.

“I have come to see my governor for many things, including the strike action of the workers and I’m very sure they would go back to work very soon by the grace of God”, the monarch stated. 

BEAUTY QUEEN TURNS SCARY AFTER ALLERGIC REACTION TO EYE DROP

24-year-old Marian Adejokun, a former beauty queen, of Nigerian  descent has been left scarred for life after a horrific reaction to eye drops which left her skin peeling off. 

She spent more than 3-weeks in intensive care at the Royal London Hospital where doctors diagnosed her with life-threatening medical condition called Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

The condition causes the top layer of skin to die and then shed - and is triggered by an allergic reaction to medication.

Symptoms include skin rashes, blisters in the mouth, ears and nose and swelling of the eyelids. If left untreated the condition can result in death - or trigger possible complications such as blindness and lung damage.

Miss Adejokun's ordeal began five years ago, in 2011, when she developed an itchy eye. Her GP sent her to the chemist to get some eye drops which she used before going to bed. But the next morning she was horrified to wake up with lumps all over her body. 

As her condition began to deteriorate she was rushed to hospital. As her skin began to shed she was put into a medically induced coma - and doctors even warned her devastated mother she may not survive. 

HUSBAND WHIPS WIFE FOR DECEIVING HIM SHE WAS A VIRGIN

In Harrare, Shepherd Musekiwa has been accused of whipping his wife for claiming that she was a virgin before he married her after he discovered that she was not during their honeymoon, the Civil Court has heard

“The main problem is that she lied to me that she was a virgin before I married her, only to find out that she was not after the wedding,” Shepherd said.

“She used to deny me sex before I married her saying she was saving herself for marriage but she was lying. I have never abused her in any way except that we only have marital disputes just like any other family.”

Patricia was seeking a protection order against Shepherd. She also told magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko that Shepherd had also resorted to “manufacturing” allegations against her in a bid to divorce her and bring in his girlfriend.

“I am suffering in my marriage,” Patricia said. “My husband bought a whip which he uses to assault me and I have scars on my back as proof of his abuse. He is chasing me out of our matrimonial house.

“Each time he wants to bring home his girlfriends, he manufactures allegations against me and lashes me with his whip so that I run out of the house, creating space for him and his girlfriend.

“He calls me all sorts of derogatory names and he labels me a prostitute.”

Shepherd denied the allegations.

He told the court that he has never abused his wife despite “a few marital disputes that occurred”.

Mrs Mateko ordered Shepherd to stop abusing his wife in any way and to keep peace with her at all times.

How Badeh Stole Air Force Funds-Witness

The  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presented its first witness, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau (retd) before Justice Okon E. Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja for the  trial of a former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh, which commenced today Wednesday, March 16, 2016.

Yushau,  former director, finance/account (DFA), Nigerian Airforce between October 2010 and December 2013 told the court how Badeh allegedly took money to the tune of N3billion from the coffers of the Nigerian Air force to acquire properties in different parts of Abuja and Yola for himself and his family.

Led in evidence by the counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Yushau told the court that the accounts of the Nigerian Air force is being maintained under 3 main vote heads: Capital, Overhead and Personnel Emoluments.

The PW1 stated how personnel emoluments were released and when asked what the balance is used for, he told the court that a balance of over N1billion is usually left depending on the programmes executed within the month.

According to him, of the N1billion, the sum of N558,200,000 (five hundred and fifty eight million, two hundred thousand naira) is usually the amount earmarked for general administration for the office of the Chief of Air Staff.

Yushau told the court that the said amount is usually under the control of Chief of Air Staff . He added that, “the amount in most cases was usually converted into US dollars by the Finance Officer at Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja. Thereafter, it is brought to the Director of Finance who in turn takes it to the Air House which is the Official residence of Chief of Air Staff at the Niger Barracks.”

According to him, “no acknowledgement is given for such amounts, but he usually tells the Finance officer to meet him at the residence of the Chief of Air Staff so that he can see when it is being handed over.”

When asked about a property situated at No. 6 Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, Yushau told the court that, sometime in 2013, Badeh requested him to get someone to buy him a good house in Maitama where he could retire to.

The witness stated that he subsequently contacted a lawyer, named Usaini Umar who said he had three properties for inspection. Eventually, he expressed preference for the property at Ogun Street valued at N1.1billion.

He added that, Badeh directed that payment should be made for the house in dollar.

He also told the court that Badeh directed that the document of the property be prepared in the name of the second defendant, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited.

Yushau who dwelt extensively on a number of properties linked to Badeh stated that the former Chief of Air Staff abused his office by converting to personal use monies removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force.

The matter has been adjourned to March 23, 2016 for continuation of trial.

Justice Abang had earlier refused the application of Badeh’s counsel, Samuel O. Zibiri, SAN, challenging the jurisdiction of the court and validity of the charge saying that the application would be heard at the end of the proceeding.

It would be recalled that Badeh among other things allegedly between January and December, 2013, used dollar equivalent of the sum of N1.4billion (One Billion, One Hundred Million Naira) removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase a mansion situated at No. 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja.

The offence is in contravention of Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

19yr old Sentenced to 37Years for Duping American $40m

Justice Lateef Lawal Akapo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja  on Wednesday March 1y,2016 convicted a 19-year old secondary school leaver, Tobechukwu Igbokwe and sentenced him to 37years imprisonment for defrauding an American,  a sum of $40million( Forty Million United States Dollars) in an inheritance scam.

He was arraigned before the court on a 12- count charge bordering on forgery, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretenses and found guilty on all 12-counts therefore sentenced to 7 years on counts 1-8; 8years on count 9; 7years on count 10, 8years on count 11 and 7 years on count 12, making a cumulative of 37years imprisonment.

The sentence is to run concurrently with effect from October 28, 2013. The court also ordered Igbokwe to return the $40million as a restitution to the victim and forfeit a Toyota Corolla car, which is a proceed of the crime, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

 Igbokwe was arraigned on Monday, October 28, 2013 and pleaded not guilty to the 12-count charges pressed against him. He later changed  his plea to “guilty” and was convicted by Justice Akapo accordingly.

Before the conviction, the prosecuting counsel,  Kayode Oni tendered various exhibits before the court which were all admitted and marked as such. However, defence  counsel, D. A. Omougbai  prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, since Igbokwe has shown enough remorse for the offences  he committed. 

Tobechukwu Igbokwe (Alias David Prince) and his accomplice, Ifeanyi Obi were alleged to have duped an American: M. Silva, the sum of $40million in an inheritance scam. Silva was made to believe that Igbokwe and his accomplice had a huge inheritance which they wanted to move to a foreign account for safe-keeping.

The victim was asked to send money to “process” the transfer and in the process, he wired $40m in several installments through Western Union to Igbokwe.

Igbokwe also confessed that he had duped other foreigners. Some of them are: T. Bedwell,  $6,000 and R. Hunt $15,000.

Primary School Pupils Abscond After Eating Free Meals in Kaduna

Kaduna State Government has expressed concern over the desertion of schools by primary school pupils after taking the free meal offered them. The pupils have developed the habit of leaving school immediately after the free meal under the guise of going to drink water.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Shehu Adamu, told newsmen in Kaduna that government was disturbed by the situation.

He appealed to parents to ensure that children remain in school after taking their free meals, so as not to jeopardise the programme. Adamu said that parents must also ensure that no child returned home until closing hours, “otherwise the aim would be defeated.”

The commissioner stressed that the programme was introduced to encourage school enrolment, attendance and retention. He said: “The main goal of the school feeding programme is to attract out-of-school children to school and keep them in class for them to acquire education and better their lives. “We will not allow a situation where children will just come to school and leave the moment they finished eating their meals; if it is about water, we have already asked parents to provide water for their children.

“Therefore, parents have a responsibility of ensuring that the children do not only come to school on time, but remain in school till closing hours.” On the delay in paying vendors supplying food under the programme, he said they had been directed to open account with Heritage Bank through which they would be getting their payments.

Adamu said the bank officials would screen and capture all the vendors in their respective local government areas. He reminded the food vendors not to cook on March 25 and 28, being Good Friday and Easter Monday.

NIGERIAN SOFTWARE ENGINEER PRANKS ZUCKERBERG AT FACEBOOK HEADQUARTERS

Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg obviously have a very good working relationship with his employees. The 6th richest man in the world with a net worth of $35.7 billion -shared on his page a photo of a trap set for him at Facebook headquarters by his Nigerian software engineer, Olaoluwa Okelola..

He captioned the picture; One of our engineers set a trap for me using an Oculus sensor. I'm not going to fall for it, Olaoluwa Okelola! 

This is how the trap was set; When someone (Mark Zuckerberg) eats the nuggets, the cable will be yanked and the box falls on him -trapping him in the process...but he (Mark) found out on time and averted the "danger"....

17 Years After, New Akinla Of Erin Ijesha Named

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbeshola, Governor of Osun State has approved the appointment of Prince Isaac Adeyeba Ayeni as the new Akinla of Erin Ijesha in Ori ade Local Government area of the state.

It was  jubilation galore among indigenes of Erin-Ijesha that  52 year old  Engr. Isaac Adeyeba, of the Ayeni Royal family of Osefiri rulling House in the town as the Akinla of Erin Ijesha.

The appointment came 17 years, 17 days after the demise of Oba  Adeyinka Adeosun. The appointment put to rest  the tussle among the rulling houses.

The popular tourist site, Erin-Ijesha water fall is a major landmark that has put the town to  global reckoning.

. According to the new Akinla of Erin-Ijesha, after performing the traditional rites , he said it will be a new dawn for the people of Erin-Ijesha both home and in diaspora.

The residence of the new Akinla, along Akinfenwa road has been playing host to  dignitaries from far and wide. The coronation date yet to be announced.

FOUR - MEMBER FEMALE ROBBERY GANG ARRESTED!

A four women robbery squad have been arrested by Police in Kumasi , Ghana after they robbed a taxi driver of his day’s sales.

Three were picked up by police in the metropolis after police interrogation smoked out their location from the first member, who was arrested just after the act.
The four have been identified as Agnes Darkoaa, a.k.a Maame Yaa or Last Killer, Ernestina Amponsah a.k.a. Akosua Frimpomaa, Mavis Addo a.k.a. Maame Konadu and Sally Sarpong a.k.a. Maame Serwaa. The four are reported to have robbed the taxi driver in Kumasi.

Police said the suspects at about 11:30pm on Wednesday hired the taxi driver, Kwadwo Obeng who was in charge of a Toyota Echo Taxi cab with registration number AW 6005-12. They hired him from Asafo roundabout and asked him to take them to Afful Nkwanta in Kumasi.

At Afful Nkwanta, the driver was re-directed to New Oxford International School behind Anwiam Clinic near the NDC Regional Office where Agnes Darkoaa who was in the front passenger seat pulled a knife. She was said to have turned off the engine, removed the ignition key and ordered the driver to surrender all valuables on him including cash sales.

The three accomplices were said to have assisted in ransacking the pockets of the victim and robbed him of an unspecified amount of daily sales and a Huawei mobile phone. The driver was said to have raised an alarm and a three male congregational members ran after the then fleeing female robbers and managed to arrest Sally Sarpong.

A police patrol team led by the investigator on duty later traced the three accomplices to Ahinsan Methodist Church area also in Kumasi in another taxi escaping and they were subsequently rounded up. A search on them led to the retrieval of GhȻ88 apart from GhȻ57 retrieved from Sally Sarpong, summing up a total cash exhibit of G GhȻ145.

The Huawei cellphone and a Samsung T-Mobile phone suspected to have been stolen were also retrieved from the suspects.

FOUR MEMBER FEMALE ROBBERY GANG ARRESTED!

A four member female robbery squad have been arrested by Police in Kamasi, Ghana after they robbed a taxi driver of his day’s sales.

Three were picked up by police in the metropolis after police interrogation smoked out their location from the first member, who was arrested just after the act.
The four have been identified as Agnes Darkoaa, a.k.a Maame Yaa or Last Killer, Ernestina Amponsah a.k.a. Akosua Frimpomaa, Mavis Addo a.k.a. Maame Konadu and Sally Sarpong a.k.a. Maame Serwaa. The four are reported to have robbed the taxi driver in Kumasi Wednesday night.

Police said the suspects at about 11:30pm on Wednesday hired the taxi driver, Kwadwo Obeng who was in charge of a Toyota Echo Taxi cab with registration number AW 6005-12. They hired him from Asafo roundabout and asked him to take them to Afful Nkwanta in Kumasi.

At Afful Nkwanta, the driver was re-directed to New Oxford International School behind Anwiam Clinic near the NDC Regional Office where Agnes Darkoaa who was in the front passenger seat pulled a knife. She was said to have turned off the engine, removed the ignition key and ordered the driver to surrender all valuables on him including cash sales.

The three accomplices were said to have assisted in ransacking the pockets of the victim and robbed him of an unspecified amount of daily sales and a Huawei mobile phone. The driver was said to have raised an alarm and a three male congregational members ran after the then fleeing female robbers and managed to arrest Sally Sarpong.

A police patrol team led by the investigator on duty later traced the three accomplices to Ahinsan Methodist Church area also in Kumasi in another taxi escaping and they were subsequently rounded up. A search on them led to the retrieval of GhȻ88 apart from GhȻ57 retrieved from Sally Sarpong, summing up a total cash exhibit of G GhȻ145.

The Huawei cellphone and a Samsung T-Mobile phone suspected to have been stolen were also retrieved from the suspects.

NIECE OPENLY 'REMOVES' TWINS FROM DEAD PREGNANT AUNT REJECTED AT HOSPITAL

A brave niece of one Mrs Koumate Monique , a Cameroonian woman pregnant with twins who passed away when she was denied medical attention at the government hospital , shocked bystanders when she openly with a  razor blade performed 'cesarean section'  to  remove the twins from the belly of her late aunt.

She died at the gates of one of the main public hospitals of the city Douala (Hopital la Quintinie) when she was turned back because she had no money. Miraculously the babies in her womb were still alive.

The plea of the niece of the deceased for the lives of the babies be saved through immediate medical intervention, that she would pay for the intervention later on was all to no avail.

The mourning niece, alone with her deceased aunt and the babies moving in the womb, felt she was obliged to operate her aunt herself. She bought a blade in a shop close by, and in the midst of an amazed crowd cut the womb of the dead woman, in an attempt to save the babies.

One of the twins came out dead. The other was still breathing but some minutes later on died.

In recent weeks/months, there has been a huge number of people dying at the gates of cameroonian public hospitals, because they did not have the money to be taken care of.

71 FEMALE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COLLEGE STUDENTS HOSPITALIZED FOR FOOD POISONING

Not less than 71 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Kalgo, Kebbi State have been hospitalised as a result of food poisoning. The Principal of the school, Hajiya Gwamma Sakaba, confirmed that the contaminated food was from vendors selling food within the school premises.

She said immediately the incident occurred, the authorities alerted the local government sole administrator, officials of both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health to investigate the matter.

“The students just went on break and later all of them started complaining of stomach pain while some of them collapsed. We quickly informed the officials of the Ministry of Health who visited the school and took the sample of the food for testing as well as the blood of the victims.

They discovered that it was poisoning caused by the palm oil used to cook the food.” The Sole Administrator of Kalgo Local Government Area, Alhaji Musa Hassan, confirmed this in an interview with journalists at his residence at the weekend.

Hassan said that the food vendor and the palm oil seller had been arrested by the police. He explained that the condition of three of the 71 students was more critical than others. According to him, the Deputy Governor, Ismail Yombe, has directed that the students be treated at Sayahya Hospital, Birnin Kebbi.

The sole administrator added that no life was lost due to the immediate action taken by government to save the lives of the students. He said: “When the incident happened on Thursday, we took them to primary health care and they were given treatment. Some of them became well but the others are still in the hospital.” Hassan added that the students ate pasta but the poison came through the palm oil used to cook the food.

The case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Birnin-Kebbi.

LEKKI GARDENS :AMBODE SACKS BUILDING CONTROL AGENCY BOSS, THREE OTHERS

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode today,March 14,2016 , dismissed the General Manager of the Building Control Agency (LASBCA) Engr. Adeigbe Olusola, subsequent upon findings on the Lekki Gardens building collapse.

Also approved was the dismissal of the Head of Inspection and Quality Control in the Agency, Adeoye Thomas Adeyemi, the Zonal District Officer in the Agency, Dosunmu Gbadebo, while the Zonal Head of Eti-Osa West of the Agency, Mrs. Akinde Adenike Sherifat was compulsorily retired from the Civil Service.

In a statement signed by Lagos State Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, stated that the affected officers were dismissed for negligence, which according to him, is an act of misconduct under the Public Service Rule 040401. Rule 040401 of the Public Service act of misconduct states inter alia: “a willful act of omission or general misconduct to the scandal of the pubic or to the prejudice of discipline and proper administration of the State Government” should be visited with dismissal from the Public Service in line with the Public Service Rule 040503.

The Head of Service said the disciplinary measure was the outcome of the recommendations of the Personnel Management Board to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was personally grieved by the high number of fatalities that occurred as a result of the building collapse. She also warned public officials, private building owners or contractors who violate or subvert building regulations that it would no longer be business as usual, saying that the dismissal of the officers will serve as a wake-up call to public servants.

“It is also a clarion call to them to be alive to their responsibilities as any act of negligence will face sanctions, while hardworking officers will be rewarded appropriately,” the Head of Service said. It would be recalled that on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, a building under construction at Lekki Gardens, Ikusenla Road, Ikate Elegushi, collapsed as a result of which many people died, and the State Government immediately mobilised all its rescue team comprising the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), among others, which led to the successful rescue of over 15 persons alive.