Olafeso, Jenyo Emerge PDP (South West) Chairman, Secretary

Ondo State politician, Olorogun Olafeso has emerged the new Zonal Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party for the South West region while his Osun State counterpart Rev. Bunmi Jenyo was also elected as the new zonal secretary. 
Both were elected at the Zonal congress of the party held at the Ondo State International Culture and Events Centre (The Dome) in Akure, Ondo State capital on Saturday.
Jenyo replaces Chief Pegba Otemolu from Ogun State as PDP South West zonal secretary; while Olorogun Olafeso emerged the new South West zonal chairman, replacing Ogundipe from Ekiti State. In the same vein, Hon. Fasiu Bakene, from Ogun State has been duly elected as the party's new zonal Organising Secretary.
Also in attendance at the Zonal congress are:  HE Olusegun Mimiko, Governor of Ondo State; HE Ayodele Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State; HE Celestine Omeha; HE, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu; HE Alhaja Salmot Badru; Chief Mrs. Iyabode Apampa; Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Isola, former Minister; Hon. Jelili Kayode Amusan etc.
Newly elected and sworn-in Southwest Zonal Officers of the PDP

Olorogun Eddy Olafeso - Chairman (Ondo)
Secretary - Rev Bunmi Jenyo (Osun)
Org Secretary -  Bankene Wasiu (Ogun)
Youth Leader - Femi Adetola (Oyo)
Woman Leader - Barrister Mrs Ajigbeda (Ogun)

Publicity Secretary - Abiola Makinde (Ondo)
Financial Secretary - Hon Aifoji (Lagos)
Auditor - Olugbenga Ogundele (Oyo)
Treasurer - Adeola Ogunrinde (Ekiti)
Legal Adviser - Ojo Williams ( Osun)

Ex-Officio
Arewa Nike Christiana - Ogun
Abayomi Tela - Ogun
Tunde Owajenbola - Ondo
Akin Ade Jimoh - Osun
Omoyajowo Rotimi - Ekiti
Yeye Adenike Sobajo - Lagos

MUSILIU OBANIKORO GRADUATES FROM AMERICAN VARSITY

Senator Musiliu Obanikoro graduated trom Oglethorpe University in the United states today .

He bagged a post graduate qualification in history. Prior to this the native of Ita-Odo, Isale Eko,Lagos Island, had a BSc in Public Affairs from Texas Southern University as well as a Master’s in Public Administration.

The fotmer minister is currently wanted by the EFCC for the role he played in the election poll bribery scandal.

WHY TOMATO IS EXPENSIVE NOW... Dangote suspends processing

The newly established Dangote Tomato Processing Factory in Kadawa, Kano State, has suspended production, its Managing Director, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kaita, said. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Friday that the company, which commenced production in February, had stopped production due to the lack of raw materials. He said that the company found it necessary to suspend production because there was no fresh tomatoes to process. He added that most of the tomato farms in Kano, Jigawa, Plateau, Katsina and Kaduna states were affected by a pest popularly known as “Tuta Absoluta” which killed all the tomato species there. The managing director noted that the pest had destroyed tomato farms in the affected states, making the price of the perishable commodity to go up. The tomato processing factory boss, however, said production would commence during the next irrigation season, emphasising that the company had the capacity to process 120 tonnes of fresh tomatoes per day at full capacity.

TIWA SAVAGE CELEBRATES DEAL WITH FORTE OIL

AIRTEL NIGERIA PARTNERS FACEBOOK FOR BASIC INTERNET SERVICES

Bharti Airtel Africa, a leading telecommunications service provider with
operations in 17 countries across Africa, today announced that it has
launched Free Basics in Nigeria in partnership with Facebook.

Nigerians with an Airtel mobile connection will be able to access all
the services that are available through Free Basics without paying extra
for data charges or rental.

Free Basics provides basic mobile websites and services for free to
people around the world and demonstrating the value the internet can
provide.

Free Basics will launch in Nigeria with more than 85 free services
dedicated to health, education, jobs, and finance.  To date, Facebook
estimates that its connectivity efforts, which include Free Basics, have
brought more than 25 million people online who wouldn’t be otherwise.

Airtel Africa will also be offering Facebook Flex in Nigeria, which
allows people to access a version of Facebook without data charges. This
initiative is part of Facebook’s commitment to bringing people online
and reducing affordability barriers.

Christian de Faria, MD and CEO of Airtel Africa said, “We’re pleased to
take this big step forward in our partnership with Facebook, bringing
more people online in Africa’s most populous country and helping to
further narrow the digital divide. This builds on our vision of using
our widespread 3G network to help improve lives and communities by
empowering them with access to digital content and services that are
tailored to their needs.”

Segun Ogunsanya, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel
Nigeria commented: “Today marks a significant milestone in our nation’s
drive towards deepening digital connectivity and enhancing mobile
broadband access for millions of Nigerians in line with the key
objective of Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan (NBBP). It is our belief
that this partnership, the first of its kind in Nigeria, will create a
plethora of opportunities for millions of Nigerians, empowering them to
connect to their dreams, realize their full potentials, and succeed in
their professional and personal endeavours.”

Steve Babaeko Joins Grand Jury of New York Festival

The organizers of the New York Advertising Festival has selected Steve Babaeko, Chief Executive Officer/ Chief Creativity Officer,  X3M Ideas, Lagos, Nigeria as part of Grand Jury to select this year’s International Advertising Awards for Mobile at the prestigious New York Festival. 
 
Babaeko was recently announced having functioned creditably as a member of the 2016 online judging panel for the awards described as the World’s Best Advertising and Creative Communications Awards. 
 
Steve will therefore attend the 2016 Festival which holds on May 19th and feature creative panel sessions, a cocktail reception, the awards ceremony, and an after-party. 
 
“New York Festivals will welcome award winners, jury members and guests from around the globe to this day long series of events honoring the World’s Best Advertising” said a statement by the organizers. 
 
As part of the events, four creative panel sessions will take place during the day at the NYIT Auditorium on Broadway, located at 1871 Broadway while the gala will hold at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street, New York City. A cocktail reception in the Ertegun Atrium will be followed by the awards ceremony in Rose Theater while a celebratory after-party will be held at Parkview Lounge, on the 4th floor of Time Warner Center, to toast all the winners of the World’s Best Advertising.
 
Commenting on the development, Babaeko says, “We are delighted for the honour and global acknowledgement. We sit here doing our thing but technology has made it possible for our footprints to be noticeable on the global space, therefore the call to be: first part online jury to shortlist the entries and next to be part of the Grand Jury that will select the final winners in our respective categories of this global Advertising Festival - New York Festival. I am really delighted”.  
 
Other international advertising practitioners that will function in same capacity as Babaeko at the festival include Gian Lanfranco, Creative Director at McCann, USA, who is on board to judge this year’s International Advertising Awards for Integrated / Mixed Media; Shaun O’Neill, National Business Development Manager at MediaWorks, New Zealand, a part of the Grand Jury 2016 for Radio and Kostas Verveniotis, Strategic Planning Director at The Newton Laboratory, Greece,  is part of Grand Jury to select this year’s International Advertising Awards for Public & Media Relations.  
 
Others include Martin Cerri, Group Creative Director at Walton Isaacson, USA is on board to judge this year’s International Advertising Awards for Print and Lingxiao Tan, Senior Designer at Red Peak,  USA, he is part of the 2016 Grand Jury for Package Design while Jason Kwak, Film Director at Panda Productions, Korea was also added to the Grand Jury 2016 for Film Craft.

ADEBOLA WILLIAMS BECOMES GLO AMBASSADOR

Media personality and co-founder of Red Media Africa, Adebola Williams,
has joined the list of brand ambassadors of the national
telecommunications operator, Globacom. He is the first non-entertainment
ambassador for a major Nigerian telecoms company.

A statement released in Lagos by Globacom on Thursday said Williams is
among the new set of ambassadors signed on recently by the firm.

The media personality has quickly settled down as brand ambassador by
featuring in a television commercial which is already running on local
and international media including CNN, the statement noted.

The telecoms company said it decided to expand its list of ambassadors
to include more young, hard working Nigerians whose achievements in
entrepreneurship and other endeavour are inspiring the coming
generation. Although many of its brand ambassadors are entertainment and
sports celebrities, Glo explained that it desires to demonstrate to
youths that even without being in sports and entertainment they could
still be rewarded and celebrated as long as they showed diligence in
their chosen areas of endeavour.

Williams is co-owner of the very successful brands, The Future Awards
Africa, Y! Africa and YNaija.com. He played a major role in the
rebranding of President Muhammadu Buhari for the 2015 general election.

DABIRI-EREWA TO ADDRESS UK PARLIAMENTARIANS

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Relations and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa  will on Monday address the UK Parliamentarians in Westminster, London on  Nigeria’s efforts in engaging its Diaspora.

This was sequel to an invitation from All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) in London to the SSA to speak at the Parliament on `` Partnership in Practice: Engaging Nigerian Diaspora in Support of Nigeria’s Development’’.

In the letter of invite signed by the APPG Coordinator, Katie Lawson,  said the meeting would afford Dabiri-Erewa  the opportunity  for the UK-based Nigerian diaspora to learn about her role and priorities as SSA.

`` The UK-based Nigerian diaspora plays an essential part in maintaining the strong cultural and economic ties between the two countries.

``With a significant presence in the financial, legal, educational and health sectors, among others, the large and active Nigerian diaspora community can be a dynamic asset in bilateral engagements and Nigeria’s socio-economic development’’, Lawson said in the letter.

 The event , which would be chaired by Kate Osamor MP,  the Chair of the APPG on Nigeria, would afford  the SSA to give an overview of her  role as well as her thoughts on the Federal Government’s strategy for the inclusion of the diaspora in Nigeria’s development and the strengthening of UK-Nigeria bilateral relations.

Dabiri-Erewa would be the first to occupy such post in Nigeria as the SSA to the President on Foreign Relations and Diaspora. 

Expected participants at the meeting include  an audience of up to 80 parliamentarians, policy-makers, diaspora, business representatives, diplomats, civil society representatives and academics.

MILITARY DEBUNKS AMNESTY REPORT

The Nigerian military has completely disassociated itself from the report of Amnesty International which claims that some civilians died in a detention cell at Giwa Barracks.

The accusation comes as a surprise and shock because the organisation has accessed the facilities and made recommendations which were implemented.

In a statement signed by Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, Acting Director Defence Information, he said "It is rather unfortunate that an organization of higher repute such as Amnesty International could come around to release a report which is completely baseless, unfounded and source-less with the intent of denting the image of the Nigerian Armed Forces. We will not be deterred by this report, but would remain committed to the task we have started against the Boko Haram terrorists until they are annihilated."

"We are calling on all well meaning Nigerians and International Communities to discountenance this report as it has no iota of truth. The Nigerian Armed Forces uphold the tenets of observance of human right and dignity of lives of innocent individuals as enshrined in the Conventions and Charters of the United Nation which Nigeria is a signatory. This one sided report is defective in all intent and purpose and does not portray the sincerity of Amnesty International as well as  reflecting the true situation in Giwa Barracks now."

Petrol Price’ll Go Down In Six Months – Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said Nigerians will be amazed at what will become of the price of Premium Motor Spirit in the next six months.

The Federal Government had on Wednesday announced the removal of fuel subsidy, with a new petrol price band of N135 to N145 per litre, up from N86 and N86.50.

The development has been greeted with mixed reactions, with labour vowing to protest against it.

Kachikwu, who spoke on Thursday morning on Channels at the Sunrise Daily programme said the move was necessary in order put an end to fuel scarcity in the country.

He said the market dynamics would take hold fast “because there are a lot of Nigerians who are very active, very bullish, very talented in doing this; they just have been prevented by government intrusions.

“As it gets better and it gets to a point where we find that the market has stabilised in terms of supply, we will begin to pull back a bit in terms of determinants for pricing.”

He said by opening up the space for people to perform, to practise their trade, “you will be amazed at what will happen to your N145 price because it will go downwards.”

The minister said as a result of the decline in government earnings from oil, it could not provide foreign exchange for the importation of fuel.

“You don’t give what you don’t have. We want Nigerians to understand that we feel the pain, and we have tried to avoid it since I came in October. We have done everything we can.

“We first went on to the issue of the subsidies that we inherited which, by the way, were based on 50 to 55 million litres consumption, and we said the number looked bloated. So, we did an experiment and came to a conclusion that this country doesn’t consume more than 45 million litres a day.

“Then we came to a second point and said, ‘We are not even going to have subsidy again. We are going to exit it because there was just too much fraud involved in it.'”

The minister said if the government did not take the step it took, massive subsidy would continue, adding that there was no foreign exchange for importation.

“So, left with that option, what were we supposed to do? We have struggled. Queues continue to go and they are back. And it will continue to happen unless we address the issues.

“If you free up Nigerians to find sources of funds, they will find those secondary funds. They will import the product; the burden on the NNPC will reduce and the country will have peace and subsidy will go away permanently.”

Kachikwu added, “I am appealing to Nigerians to please for the first time realise that we are doing our very best. I have together with everybody who is in this government worked night and day looking for solutions.

“We mean well and Nigerians should please trust us. Give us a chance, you will be surprised what will become of your PMS price over the next six to eight months.”

N145 petrol price: We’ll occupy Nigeria next week – NANS

 THE Association of Nigerian Students, NANS,  declared that the over 40 million Nigerian students would re-enact the Occupy Nigeria protest against the removal of subsidy from petroleum product next week.

The National President of NANs, Comrade Tijani Shehu, stated this in Abuja, at a protest rally where the association called for the removal of the  Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu.

He said NANS is already mobilizing Nigerias students to resist the new N145 per litre pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise called petrol.

According to him, “A directive has been issued to all tertiary institutions to shut down all campuses on Tuesday and Wednesday, next week.  After that, they will all converge on Abuja for a mass protest.

”On behalf of NANS and the whole 40.1 million Nigeria students, we condemn the new fuel price and by Tuesday or Wednesday, the whole Nigeria student would occupy Nigeria. So the Federal Government should look into this before NANS mobilize the entire Nigeria students to occupy Nigeria”.

Increment Of Fuel Price By Buhari Illegal, Insensitive, Immoral- Falana

Mr Femi Fulani, SAN, Human rights lawyer and activist, , has declared that the new fuel price regime from the Federal Government is illegal and lacks statutory power because the body, empowered to take such decision is yet to be constituted by the government.

According to him, the decision by the government was “immoral and insensitivity of the effect of fuel price increase on the people of Nigeria.”

He therefore urged the government to revert to the old pump price.

Falana argued that the increment was contrary to the interest and yearning of Nigerians for the further reduction of the fuel price.

He also noted that the present administration acted contrary to its promises not to remove subsidy in order to inflict undue pains on Nigerians.

Besides , he said, the decision was wrong since the sole body statutorily responsible for fixing fuel price is not yet constituted, adding, the “unilateral decision of the Executive Secretary of the body to fix the pump price at N145 per litre is ultra vires and illegal in every material particular.”

He argued that since the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) empowered to recommend the price of petroleum products has not been reconstituted, such decision was wrong.

He added that: “In view of the illegality, insensitivity and immorality of the price increase the federal government should cancel it, revert to the status quo and consult widely with all relevant stakeholders in the society.”

Falana wondered why the increment when after the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) recently invited fresh bids for the setting up modular refineries, which resulted to licensing of 22 modular refineries “with combined capacities to refine 1.429 million barrels of crude oil per day. If the policy is genuinely pursued the construction of the refineries ought to be completed within the 9-12 months.

“If such refineries are established in the country the importation of fuel and the fraud associated with it will stop. In the interim, instead of importing oil from Europe and the United States the NNPC should refine crude oil for domestic consumption in neighbouring countries which have functional refineries. After all, Nigeria refines 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day in Cote d’ivoire which is not an oil producing nation.” He said.

He further argued that “If subsidy had been removed over a month ago and the country has been saving $2 billion (from fuel importation and subsidy removal) while the refineries are now working at full capacity Dr. Kachukwu should tell Nigerians the justification for the new removal of fuel subsidy announced by him yesterday.

“The cost elements that make up the N145 are provocative. If the total landing cost of a litre and other charges are fixed at N138 what is the basis of fixing the price at N145? For goodness sake, why should motorists be made to pay NPA/NIMASA charges, within and without storage/ bridging charges etc?”

He therefore submitted that the decision will have virile effect on the people and the economic.

He noted that increasing the price without any public debate or consultation with relevant stakeholders whatsoever the federal government took the Nigerian people by surprise.

Tinubu Reacts To Fuel Subsidy Removal : "Buhari made a wise decision"

Former governor of Lagos,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his immense support for President Buhari’s decision to remove the fuel subsidy.

In a statement released on Thursday in Lagos, Jagaban said that the Buhari administration made a prudent decision in the removal of the fuel subsidy. The statement read;

“We all want fuel at a cheaper price. under the subsidy, we got the right price but not the fuel. Meanwhile, some were getting rich on the common man’s predicament. They were laughing to the bank while the rest of Nigeria waited in the petrol line. This is not the way to democratic development. It is a recipe for creating a class of economic predators that would feed off the people and in time gain such power and wealth that they would seek to buy and control if not own government as well.

President Buhari has with this decision put an abrupt and just end to this assault against our economy and political system. He has made a courageous and prudent decision. It is time to end the fuel subsidy and to begin to subsidize the true needs of the people.
To Mr. President, I say congratulations for having the courage to remove the subsidy. The President has taken this tough decision in the interest of the present and future generations of Nigerians.

For some time, I have been a proponent of this action. I believed ending of subsidy was the only sure way to put to sleep the myriad demons that had invaded the subsidy process, sucking the blood of Nigeria, swallowing much of our needed money.

The rentiers will no longer be able to make free money at our common expense. They will no longer be laughing to the bank while you languish in endless fuel queues. Nigeria has taken the historic step needed to create a competitive environment that that will eliminate smuggling, provide incentives for private refineries and attract foreign investments in the downstream sector and create employment.

Instead of just shipping off the oil and having the more expensive finished products sent back to us, Nigeria will move closer to realizing its potential to become the plastic center of the continent by manufacturing these by products. Nothing can stop Nigeria from being the net exporter of fertilizer from the bye products of the oil industry.”

Nigerian Student Cleared Of Rape In UK

Sam Obeghe, (24) a Nigerian student who was falsely accused of rape by a 21-year-old shop assistant that claimed she drunkenly thought she was having sex with his white friend, has been acquitted of committing rape

He was having sex with the woman at his flat at the end of a drunken night out in Bolton, Greater Manchester, only to stop when she unexpectedly cried the name of his 22-year-old friend Zack Garrigan.

As he did so, the woman, who had earlier been having sex with Mr Garrigan at the flat in nearby Heaton, ran her fingers through Mr Obeghe’s hair and realised she was with the wrong man.

She stormed out in hysterics, her mother alerted police and within three hours of the encounter, University of Salford economics student Mr Obeghe was arrested in his pyjamas.

He was ordered to face court and endured a 17-month wait until a trial, but was unanimously acquitted of rape by a jury at Bolton Crown Court after just 27 minutes of deliberation.

During the trial the woman said the bedroom was ‘pitch black’ and she couldn’t see anything, despite Nigerian-born Mr Obeghe being of a different ethnicity and having various different features to white Mr Garrigan.

The incident occurred on December 5, 2014 when the woman had got drunk while out with a friend. The two women met Mr Obeghe and Mr Garrigan in the Vogue bar in Bolton and in the early hours of the morning the four of them plus another man went to the student’s flat.

Mr Obeghe, who had not been drinking, gave the party a lift in his BMW but once they got back the woman and Mr Garrigan began kissing and headed into the defendant’s bedroom for sex.

The woman said she and Mr Garrigan did not have intercourse and she fell asleep whilst he went into the lounge to try to find some Viagra.

But she told the court she was subsequently woken by a man she thought was Mr Garrigan in the bed and they began having sex.

She said: ‘I was saying Zack’s name because I thought it was him I was having sex with. The person hugging and kissing me didn’t feel any different. I thought this was Zack.

'I called his name four or five times. It went on for a couple of minutes until I put my hands through his hair and realised it was not Zack but was Sam. I was screaming “what are you doing”?

‘He ran out of the room. I was embarrassed and ran out. Zack was asking what was wrong, I was just saying that I needed to get out.’ 

Mr Obeghe, who at the time worked for a fashion brand, said he had met the woman while helping Mr Garrigan celebrate his birthday and he and agreed to let the group go back to his flat at 5am.

‘I could tell she was drunk - her and Zack were the same,’ he said. ‘Music was playing and they were kissing and then went into my bedroom.

‘I sat there thinking “what have I done” bringing them back here because I had work the next day. 

'I saw Zack coming out, first Unclad and I was saying “come on, I need to go to bed”.

‘I asked him “are you guys leaving?” but he was not really paying attention to what I was saying and I said “I’m going to go and get her out”.

‘I walked into the bedroom sat on the bed and started nudging the woman saying ‘go and meet Zack in the living room’. At first I lay there thinking “finally I can go to bed” but she grabbed me.

‘I was just thinking “I didn’t really want to have sex with her” but I’m a human being and if you get touched like that you have a motivation to move on.

‘I figured she was probably very drunk but she grabbed me saying “come on Zack” then I realised she’s thinking I’m Zack so I jumped off the bed and jumped out of the room.

‘I went into the living room and told Zack: “Man you will not believe what she’s just done”. Zack was sort of laughing and then I saw her storming out and she was screaming. I was in shock. I didn’t climb on top of her and kiss her.’

After the not guilty verdict Mr Obeghe, now 26, was too upset to comment, but his lawyer Sarah Johnson said: ‘We are not suggesting this is a wicked woman telling a wicked pack of lies.

‘But she couldn’t remember everything that happened in that bedroom. She’s not someone you can say is accurate and reliable.

‘She said the room was pitch black and she couldn’t see anything, despite the defendant being of a different ethnicity, having different features and a different voice.

‘It was only when putting her hand through his hair she put her head back and it’s that movement of her head that allows her to see that it’s Sam and not Zack.’

IS Internet Solutions Nigeria Bags Internet Service Provider Of The Year Award

IS Internet Solutions Nigeria recently  bagged an industry awards at the just concluded Beacon of ICT Awards ceremony. The company won the award of the Internet Service Provider of the year 2016.

According to the organizers of the event Communications Week Media, the publishers of Communications Week said IS Internet Solutions was voted as the ISP of the year in an online poll which ran from November 2015 to March 2016.

At the event, IS Internet Solutions outstanding achievements in the ISP space was recognized and the organizations ability to create tailored ISP solutions to their enterprise clients and their quality of service delivery accounted for them emerging as the ISP of the year.

Internet Solutions (IS) is a Pan-African telecoms service provider, providing innovative end-to-end telecommunication solutions and related services for over 20 years in Nigeria. Today, IS Internet Solutions Nigeria is at the forefront of Internet Protocol-based technologies and building solutions and services tailored to the increasingly complex demands of organizations across the enterprise, public sector and global carrier business sectors. 

A wholly owned subsidiary of the Dimension Data Group and part of NTT, IS Internet Solutions leverages its infrastructure and global footprint to support organizations with the rapid deployment of emerging technologies.

The CEO/MD of IS Internet Solutions Nigeria, Olusola Teniola, said, “We are happy and honored to receive this award that stands as a recognition of our hardwork, dedication, and exemplary and tailored solutions, in the ISP space.”

The Chairman of Open Media and former Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, chaired the occasion which was also attended by representatives of Zenith Bank, Rack Centre, DHL, GT Bank, Phase3 Telecoms and Wakanow were also winners in other categories.

EFCC Boss, Magu Faces Contempt Charge over Disobedience to Court Order

A contempt charge has been filed against the acting Chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu seeking to commit him to prison by an Abuja High Court over his alleged disobedience to court order.

The contempt charge contained on Form 49 of the Abuja High Court on the EFCC boss is asking him to show cause why he should not be committed to prison.

The contempt charge followed the refusal of the EFCC to obey orders issued by Justice Peter Affen of the Abuja High Court in respect of the unlawful arrest and detention of an Austrian security expert, Mr. Wolgang Reinl in which the EFCC was found culpable.

Among others, Justice Affen has ordered EFCC to immediately release the International Passport, Cheque Books, Cell-phones and other properties of the foreign businessman unlawful confiscated from him since December 2015 when his Abuja house was illegally invaded and ransacked by the operatives of the anti-graft agency.

The judge also ordered EFCC to pay the security expert a sum of N10m as compensatory damages for his unlawful detention from December 28, 2015 to February 5, 2016, a period of over five weeks.
The contempt charge addressed to EFCC boss read in part: “Take notice that the applicant will apply to this court for an order for your committal to prison for having disobey the order of this court as made by honourable Justice Peter Affen of the FCT High Court in Abuja on April 20, 2016 requiring you to release forthwith the applicant international passport seized or confiscated in the wake of his arrest and detention and delist him from your watchlist or No-Fly list.

“And also for your failure to obey the order of the court requiring you to pay the applicant the sum of N10m as compensatory damages for the violation of his fundamental rights to dignity of human person and personal liberty.

It would be recalled that the FCT Abuja High Court had ordered EFCC to pay a sum of N10m damages to the security expert over his unlawful detention and seizure of his international Passport by the anti-graft agency.

The court also barred the EFCC from arresting, re-arresting, detaining or embarking on further seizure of the international passport of the plaintiff who is an Austrian Security consultant.

The court held that the detention of the plaintiff at the EFCC custody in Abuja for over a month was unlawful, unconstitutional and constituted a gross violation of the plaintiff fundamental right to dignity as enshrined in Section 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution

However, at the time of this report, the EFCC had yet to comply with the judgement prompting the applicant through his lawyer Mr. Mazi Afam Osigwe to file the contempt charge against the EFCC boss for his committal to prison for violation of a lawful court order.

BEHOLD! OBA OF BENIN DESIGNATE

Subsequent upon the recent announcment of the demise of Oba of Benin  the man who will step into his shoes has emerged and his name is Ehenenden Erediauwa, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Italy.

The Oba designate has served Nigeria in various capacities including working as Nige­ria’s Ambassador to Italy. He is the late Oba’s first son and the Edaiken of Uselu.

“Ehenenden is a man who has paid his dues. His credentials also speak for him. After a rigor­ous and keen process, he has been selected as the man who will step into the shoes of the late Oba of Benin.”

Meanwhile, reasons are beginning to emerged on why the death of the late Oba was such a top secret. According to the same source: “The real reason his death was kept a secret was because they want to avoid fights over the throne from contenders to the throne.’’

The source added that a long time ago in Benin history, such announcements had resulted in bloody and violent fights that culminated in destabilizing the kingdom, hence, it became a tradition that when the Oba dies, his death is not announced until a worthy successor is chosen.

“The new law was enacted to allow for a peaceful and seamless transition. In fact, in those days, the first son never got to meet his father the Oba until the Oba is dead but due to western civilization, these practices have been watered down,” the source revealed.

Another reason for the secrecy trailing the Oba’s exit according to the source is that ascend­ing the throne is not a tea party. The Oba elect has to perform cleansing rituals to prepare and fortify him for the challenges of his new office.

SuperSport Clinches United Nations 2016 International Day of Sports for Development and Peace Award

Africa’s leading sports broadcaster, SuperSport, has been awarded the United Nations 2016 International Day of Sports for Development and Peace Award in recognition for its immense input, sacrifice and donations to the development of sports and promotion of peace in the region through its corporate social responsibility platform, Let’s Play.

The award was presented by the United Nations through its office on Sport for Development of Peace (UNOSDP) and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in line with the UN’s objectives for peace, security and development in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals.

This year’s campaign themed, “Let’s Play for the Sustainable Development Goals” recognizes that sports has been increasingly recognized globally as a low-cost and high-impact tool in humanitarian, development and peace building efforts by both the UN and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

“We are honored to receive this very prestigious award that recognizes our contribution to the physical and mental development of African children through various sporting activities”, said Felix Awogu, General Manager, SuperSport, West Africa when receiving the notification of award on behalf of the company. “We believe that sports has the ability to bridge racial and social gaps in our society and more importantly, ensure that our children have a safe and secure tomorrow. Through our Let’s Playdevelopmental programme, we have been able to encourage participation in sporting activities in schools that promote physical and mental wellbeing among children”, he said.

Let’s Play aims to elevate awareness of our social situation and to introduce and encourage play, activity and sport in schools and at home. This is done through advanced media campaigns and close associations with organisations that target children and introduce activities to schools, homes and communities.

LAGOS NIPR GOES DIGITAL, COMMENCES MEMBERSHIP AUDIT

The leadership of the Lagos NIPR, the flagship of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), today announced the commencement of its membership audit
aimed at evaluating and improving the Chapter’s effectiveness and governance processes.

The membership audit, involving the transfer of data from hardcopy to digital version and cloud including the search for members with incomplete bio-data will ensure that members are constantly engaged and connected with the Institute. The exercise will be linked to the Re-certification exercise & Master Class projects. This audit is first of its kind in the history of NIPR.

Speaking at the media briefing, Chairman, Lagos NIPR, Olusegun McMedal, said the audit will enable the Secretariat to update its membership record and offer advice on procedure for status upgrade. According to him, “The Executive Team realised that our Members are the Chapter’s greatest asset. Thus, this exercise is one of the cardinal focus of the present administration to nurture and protect membership in line of the vision to run a government of inclusion. The exercise will appreciably reduce paperwork and cost of operation in addition to ensuring prompt notification of meetings, events, subscription renewals & upgrades”.

“Updated data of members from the Membership Audit will form rich contents for the Chapter’s website which is currently being developed adding that it would also evolve into ePayment solutions and Online Membership Catalogue”, he enthused.

Members of Lagos NIPR are enjoined to visit the Chapter Secretariat at 19, Town Planning Way, Ilupeju or send email detailing their names, membership grade and date, date of birth, name and address of current employer, position held, contact numbers and email address to; audit@lagos-nipr.org or send SMS to 0802 067 3883. The Chapter’s website: www.lagos-nipr.org, is presently being developed with enhanced new features.

In attendance were two new Fellows of the Institute: Basil Agboarumi, General Manager, Corporate Communications, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) and Revd. Abraham Oyebamiji, a former Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Chapter. Also present were past chairmen of the Chapter, Nkechi Ali-Balogun and Jide Ologun including other senior members of the Institute.

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations is the umbrella body of professional Public Relations practitioners chartered to regulate as well as direct its development and the practice.

Nigerian Doctor, Bennet Ifekandu-Omalu Honored By American University For Discovering Brain Injury

Dr. Bennet Ifekandu Omalu, the man who discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy (or CTE) after he conducted autopsy on former NFL player Mike Webster was recently honored and he took to Twitter to announce that he has received a honorary Doctor of Science degree from the Xavier University in Louisiana in the United States, for massive contributions to science.

Bennet Omalu ‎wrote.....

'Got Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Xavier University of Louisiana today. I am deeply grateful and thankful'.

The school detailed his battles with the NFL which tried to discredit his earlier discoveries, Omalu’s refusal to back down, and finally gaining the attention of Hollywood’s Ridley Scott, who proceeded to work on a feature film telling Omalu’s stories with Will Smith starring as the doctor.

Last December, Concussion, the true life story of Omalu’s battles hit the cinemas, with hopes that it would draw attention to the link between the football head injuries and early onset of dementia that could lead to death, and more importantly, how this has continued to be a bone of contention within the NFL. Finally, in March, the NFL admitted that there’s link between football and brain damage.

Now, Omalu is gaining all the recognition he deserves, and as he said on Twitter, “Got Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Xavier University of Louisiana today,” he wrote, adding, “I am deeply grateful and thankful.”

IBRAHIM, ISIS FIGHTER SON OF JUSTICE USA KILLED IN SYRIA

Ibrahim Uwais, son of former Chief Justice Mohammed Uwais, died yesterday near Aleppo, Syria as the United States targeted members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in fierce airstrikes.

According to reports Ibrahim Uwais, who secretly traveled to Syria in February 2015 to join ISIS, was one of numerous Islamist terrorists who perished as US military aircraft bombarded known ISIS camps near the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo.

“Ibrahim died yesterday on the battlefield in Aleppo,” our source stated. He added that one of the two wives of the deceased currently trapped in Syria might notify the family of his death.

Ibrahim Uwais left Nigeria in 2015, telling close family members he was headed to Turkey to explore business opportunities. He took along his two wives and five kids. However, he slipped from Turkey into Syria with his entire family and joined the burgeoning army of volunteer fighters who travel from different parts of the world to enlist with ISIS, a group whose agenda is to carve out an Islamist caliphate.

FG MAY INCREASES FUEL PRICE TO N130

THE Federal Government may be considering increasing petrol price as part of efforts to resolve perennial fuel shortages.

If the plan sails through, government may also have to abandon its policy of fixing the pump price of petrol in order to allow independent marketers resume the importation of fuel to sell at profitable margins, sources at the Petroleum Product Pricing Resulated Agency (PPPRA) have said.

According to the sources, the resumption of products importation by marketers will be an indication that price regulation by government may no longer be feasible since the recent price modulation by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has failed to resolve the crises.

A credible source from the agency further stated that petrol may now be sold for N130 per litre. Already, fuel queues have resurfaced at most fuel stations in Abuja few days after disappearing.

This is even as fears have been expressed that the national budget could suffer a major cash flow setback as prices of crude shed $5 per barrel as at weekend while output dropped further due to attacks on Chevron facility by militants just before the budget was signed last week. Government estimates that it may be losing over $22.8 million daily as a result of the attack.

Sources revealed that after several meetings between oil sector regulators and independents, government last week gave marketers approval to source foreign exchange from the parallel market, which means that the price of petrol may top N130 per litre from the current modulated price set at N86.

However, petrol stations operated by the NNPC will continue to sell petrol at the current price of around N86 as government intends to continue to adjust prices at its stations under the modulation template it recently introduced, the sources further said.

It was also learnt that the Federal Government will not publicly announce this policy shift.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, has said Nigeria was considering privatising its refineries within the coming 12 months. The Minister said his team was working with oil majors on improving Nigeria’s four refineries.

Kachikwu was quoted in the April bulletin of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) report to have said discussions are ongoing on how to partner Chevron, Total and ENI.

According to the report, Nigeria has “seen a growing dependency on fuel imports as a result of the underperformance of its refining plants in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.”

Kachikwu was quoted by Reuters as saying that Nigeria wants to privatise the refineries within 12 months following the much-need maintenance work.

“We have gotten commitments from some of the majors. Agip has indicated interest to work with us on Port Harcourt, Chevron on Warri. We are talking to Total on Kaduna,” Kachikwu was quoted to have said.

FCMB CLOSES BRANCH, SACKS STAFFS

First City Monument Bank Limited (FCMB) recently started closing down some of its branches and reportedly sacked staff of those branches.
It was gatheredı that the branches affected were those formerly owned by Finbank, which was acquired by the bank.

It was gathered that the management of the bank resolved to rationalize some redundant and unviable branches of the acquired bank, especially where there were two or three branches in the same area because of the current state of the economy.
Sources said while some staff members of those branches were seconded to other branches, majority were relieved of their duties. It was also gathered that many of those who got the sack were those with issues.

MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS WIFE, SURRENDERS TO POLICE... says "I didn't Kill Her"

Lekan Shonde the man who allegedly killed his wife and mother of his 2 children, Ronke Shonde in Lagos on Friday, has surrendered himself to the police earlier today  Monday May 9,2016

Giving his side of the story while in hiding. Shonde said over the phone line provided by his in-law, Bolatito, which was confirmed by the police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos. Mr. Shonde told Punch correspondent that his wife, Ronke provoked him on Thursday when she described how her lover slept with her in a hotel in Abuja on Thursday night.

Lekan, a depot worker in the Apapa area of Lagos State, said his wife of eight years changed after she allegedly started dating the general manager of a publishing company she worked for.
He said his late mother had warned him against marrying Ronke but he ignored his mother's warnings and still married Ronke, a decision he regrets.
He said the last time he beat his wife was three years ago after they had a disagreement, adding that he never touched her since then. He narrated...

“Since I married my wife eight years ago, she has never bought anything into the house. I gave her N5,000 on Saturdays and N3,000 on Tuesdays for soup. I also gave her money to make her hair.
“She was working with GTB as a marketer, but she got sacked three years ago. For that period, I was the one feeding her and taking responsibility for everything in the family. I would wash her pants, bathe the children and buy foodstuffs in the house. She later got a job with a publishing company owned by her uncle.

“But my wife changed sometime in March, when she started dating the general manger of a publishing company. My wife was going to the office from Monday to Sunday and she wasn’t going to church again, all because of this man. She called him ‘Eyitemi’ (My own).
“Last week Friday, she went to Abuja and came back on Monday. She never told me that the lover was there with her. I learnt later that the lover was there and they slept together in the same room for four days.

“When she came back, she didn’t know I was inside the house. She started talking with the man on the phone that he really had fun with him and I didn’t know how to make love. She again said her private parts were paining her.”
He said he confronted his late wife about the affair and she confirmed that she was indeed dating the other man.
He said he got angry and told his late wife to leave the house but she refused to leave.
He said that particular Thursday night, they had an argument over money. He said:

“It was around 9pm on Thursday. We had paid our nanny N20,000. Then we needed to pay our children’s teachers N30,000. I discovered she had taken N20,000 and when I asked her to return my money, she said she had spent it.
“I was angry because for the past three months, she didn’t allow me to have sex with her. I pushed her hand away from me on the staircase and I left her. She never tumbled or fell. In fact that night, I bought the food that we both ate because she said she didn’t want to cook.
“I didn’t know anything had happened to her until Friday when I saw her on the staircase. I thought she was still pretending. I just left her and walked away.”

When he was asked why he shut the gate against his children, he denied doing so, adding that it was his son who closed that gate after the he left the house. 
Lekan also denied taking his late wife's phone, he said he left it on the bed.
He said he didn't kill his wife and that he had no motive to do so, stating that he had bought her two cars and always provided everything she needed. 

He said, “Jide, her family’s second child lived with me for three to four years. Their eldest daughter, Bolatito, has lived with me too.
“Although I am not a saint, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke. I am a responsible man. The problem with my wife was that she was temperamental. She shouted at me whenever she talked.
“I am a Lagos boy and I can be in this Lagos for the next 30 years and nobody would see me.”
The aunt of the victim, Bunmi, explained that the suspect, Lekan Shonde, has been threatening suicide, but that they don't want him to do so becaise their mother had forgiven him.

She said, “Mummy is very sad with this, but she has forgiven him and does not want him to commit suicide.”
A family source said that Lekan had always accused his late wife of extra-marital affairs and that the suspect had frequently abused her. Adding that the police had been involved on occasion. 

He said, “He always beat her because of his belief that she was into an extra-marital affair.
“The beating reduced a bit when the wife of her late brother who was one month pregnant before his death, moved into the house with them. She stayed for about eight months. She was like her saviour.”

Yekini Never Neglected His Mother – Lawyer

Jubril Mohamed, the lawyer to late Nigerian footballer, Rashidi Yekini, has said that his client never neglected his family, including his mother, while he was alive.

Mr. Mohammed said Yekini helped not only his family but also those he had no relationship with.
“Contrary to the widespread rumour trending on the social media where Rashidi Yekini’s mother Sikiratu Yekini is seen standing an impoverished woman hawking bread for survival, I have to come out strongly to condemn in strong terms the malicious attempt by the uninformed sets of people who are set to tarnish the good image of late Rashidi Yekini as a prodigal son who never took care of his family especially his mother,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

Mr. Mohammed attached to his statement pictures of the house Yekini built for his mother before he died. He said the Nigerian legend’s mother had always been a petty trader even when her son was alive.

“This background building of Yekini`s mother picture trending online is actually a garage in the 4 flats built by my late client in Ijagbo few kilometre to Offa and about 9 kilometres away from his village, Ira. Even before the demise of Rashidi, the woman had always been in charge of the rent of the building which runs into to several hundreds of thousands of naira without Rashidi interfering.

“The Boy`s quarters at the back of the main building as at 2006 was around N48,000.00 each, while each 3 bedroom flat in the main building goes for about N80,000.00 each or more which brought her annual income from rent of the building to about half a million naira despite the fact that Rashidi was always sending pocket money to her and her siblings. Apart from this, Rashidi made sure he empowered his entire sibling by opening one of the best hairdressing saloon for his late sister, late Rofiat, who also died in 2014.”

“Even after the death of Rashidi, nobody, not even his two daughters have ever interfered on who takes the rent. Not even the ex-wives, on behalf of their respective daughters ever query the mother about the income from the building. I wonder how she is now starving. Two of her children are dead (Rashidi and Rofiat) leaving only Ismaila and Akeem. Ismaila is based in Kaduna with his family. While Hakeem is the only person living with her with his wife. How is she starving? Can an old woman exhaust over half a million on feeding alone in a year?”

The lawyer said he was not opposed to any further help for Yekini’s mother.

“I am not against any further assistance by any well meaning Nigerian to her but I owe my late client the duty to set the record straight and because of the negative reactions on social media especially through Sahara Reporter which portray Rashidi as an irresponsible son, who never cared about his family. I am seriously upset about the impression being created by the people who have read the unfortunate story. The gospel and uncontroverted truth is that Rashidi made adequate provision for his mother. The questions that we should be asking is how are his two daughters faring and who is responsible for their education and upkeep,” he said.

Yekini is Nigeria’s highest ever goal scorer and won the African footballer of the year in 1993. He was part of the Nigerian team that won the African Nations Cup in 1994 and scored Nigeria’s first ever goal at the World Cup that same year.