Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, denounced the move by the Federal Government to inaugurate the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, stressing that it negates the country’s constitution.
“The 1999 Constitution does not allow us to do what we are doing,” Fashola said.
It will be recalled that, a month ago, President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the council of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, also known as SWF, where he canvassed for the support of the contributors, to realise the set objective of the fund.
Fashola made the remarks, yesterday, during a courtesy visit by the NSIA management led by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Mahey Rasheed, at the Lagos House, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

*Lagos State Governor, Fashola

The governor said that the idea was hampering the contributors, especially the state governments in improving the infrastructure in their states.
According to him: “I have been in discussion with the NSIA Managing Director. I have made the position of our government well known publicly and privately.
“The first thing is to thank you for coming to visit and to present the certificate of the Sovereign Wealth Fund shareholders to us. I will accept them as a proof to the fact that our monies are somewhere. But with due respect, I must differ that this is not an initiative I support.
“Some of my colleagues did for reasons best known to them, but I did not. And I made it well-known when the discussion was under way.
“I do not support because I am against saving; I mean I do not disagree because I am against saving. For me, I disagree because there are fundamental constitutional issues. The examples really do not match with our realities and in the examples that you have presented to us, many of them are either monarchies or emirates.
“We must first cross the constitutional stand on the issue of whether to save or not to save. What makes the big brother (the Federal Government) better saver than I am? So, in a family where we all inherit some money and then you are the elder brother, you should share the inheritance with all your brothers.
“But you, (the elder brother) take 52 per cent and after taking the 52 per cent, you want to go and put it in a lottery. And you as the elder brother also determine how your younger brother will spend his own share.
“Who says your lottery will bring return? Why should you take my own share and your share and put them in a lottery?”
Speaking earlier, Rasheed said that the council was not saving to inherit, but to make profit for the country.
According to him: “The difference is that the investment that would be made by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority is for profit. Like the investment in the construction of roads, power plants and others, we do it on commercial basis and sell the service. And when we get more, we will do more.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/fashola-slams-fg-swf-says-unconstitutional/#sthash.tttIZyxk.dpuf

N255m car scandal: Finally, Jonathan moves against Oduah

Stella Oduah

President Goodluck Jonathan may have finally succumbed to public pressure to  move against the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, who is currently being probed over the N255m  bulletproof cars bought for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

The development came to the fore with the last-minute decision to stop Oduah from signing the much-publicised Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Israel.

The ceremony was given by Presidency officials as the  main purpose of her inclusion in the President’s entourage to Israel for this year’s Christian pilgrimage.

In her stead, Minister of State I, Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government while the Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr. Zeer Elkin, signed on behalf of the Israeli government.

Presidential spokesman,  Dr. Reuben Abati, after releasing a photograph on Monday on the signing ceremony, issued a statement in which he confirmed  that Onwuliri signed on behalf of the government.

Abati did not however explain  why Oduah was not allowed to sign the agreement despite the fact that the photograph released by her aides  showed that she was present at the event.

The President had come under criticisms for allowing the  minister to be on his entourage at a time he set up a three-member   panel to investigate the purchase of the cars.

A top Presidency source on the entourage of the President in Israel told our correspondent on the telephone that the decision to stop Oduah from signing the agreement   was taken shortly after Jonathan arrived in Israel.

That same reason, he added, informed the decision of the President’s aides  to keep the minister away from the President since their arrival in the country.

The Special Adviser on Media to Oduah, Mr. Joe Obi, had on October 22 said in statement that the minister travelled to Israel to sign the pact. Two days after, the Ministry’s  Permanent Secretary, Mr. George Ossi, told the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation that Oduah could not appear before it because she “was leading the Nigerian delegation to Israel to sign the BASA.”

 A former Minister of Aviation, Mr.Femi Fani-Kayode,  who shed light on the development, said Jonathan must have prevented her from signing the BASA because of the situation she  was  in.

He said, “BASA is supposed to be signed by the aviation minister or she could delegate it to the  permanent secretary in the ministry. The agreement has nothing to do with the Foreign Affairs Ministry.  I signed quite a few during my tenure.”

• Oduah, NCAA chiefs risk five years in jail

 Before Abati’s statement,  the House Committee on Public Procurement had   said in Abuja   that  Oduah, and officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority risked five-year jail term if  found   guilty of breaching procurement regulations in the purchase of the  bulletproof cars.

The committee  Chairman, Ms Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, who accused the minister of shunning 12 invitations previously extended to her by the committee,  explained that    the Public Procurement Act clearly spelt out the penalty for any breach.

Section 58 (5) of the Act states, “Any persons, who, while carrying out his duties as an officer of the Bureau or any procuring entity who contravenes any provision of this Act, commits an offence and is liable to a conviction of cumulative punishment of (a) a term of imprisonment of not less than five calendar years without any option of fines and (b) summary dismissal from government services.

Okoya-Thomas dismissed the explanation by the NCAA that the cars were procured through a lease agreement and pointed out that no government official or agency could claim to be ignorant of the provisions of the Act.

According to her, what is important is that since  public money was involved, its spending  must  follow  legal procedure.

She added, “Argument about lease purchase does not hold  as long as they are going to pay with public funds and to say that  the NCAA is within the threshold makes it look like splitting the budget, which is another case on its own under the Procurement law.

“Our committee has the responsibility to oversight BPP and since the core objective of public procurement is to ascertain value for money, we have been having issues with the Ministry of Aviation and agencies under it for sometime now.

“It may interest you to know that we have issued out not less than 12 invitations to the Minister of Aviation, but she has not deemed it fit to respond even for once.

“She has always been giving us one excuse or the other.  Apart from  the fact that there are issues on the rehabilitation of airports around the country over issues of value for money, which Nigerians are not getting, if she had taken her time to honour our invitation, maybe she would  have been able to avoid this issue of threshold.

“What these heads of agencies don’t realise is that when we send out letters like that, it is not   to intimidate   them but to rub minds and enlighten them on the nitty-gritty of the provisions of procurement laws.

“If she had been honouring our invitations, by now a lot of things would have been known to her and she would not have  found  herself in this situation.”

• Minister now  to appear before Reps Wednesday

 Earlier on Monday, the    House Committee on Aviation, which is investigating the car scandal,   said the minister would no longer appear before it on Tuesday (today) as earlier scheduled.

The committee ,   headed by Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha,  abruptly put off the hearing through a statement on Monday, claiming that it was to give all the stakeholders the opportunity to prepare their documents.

The panel had adjourned hearing on Thursday last week till today.

 However, findings indicated that the committee came under pressure to postpone the hearing after Oduah reportedly made “a passionate appeal” to be allowed to appear on Wednesday.

She was said to have explained that she was still in Israel where   she had gone to   sign  the BASA  with Israel.

Sources close to the committee confided in The PUNCH  that a representative of the embattled minister “begged  for  her to be allowed to appear on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.”

One of the sources  added,  “What we hear is that she made appeals.

“She is still in Israel and it is not clear what time the agreement will be signed today (Monday) for her to fly down to Nigeria on Tuesday to attend the hearing.

“Since her appearance is the main issue left before the committee, the members also considered that it was wise to give her till Wednesday to appear.”

The new twist is  different from the tough stance the committee took on Thursday when Onyejeocha ruled that “the minister must appear unfailingly on Tuesday;  wether she is in Nigeria or not.”

The committee, through its Clerk, Mr. Abubakar Chana, said the postponement was to give all stakeholders the opportunity to put their documents in order and make detailed presentations.

Part of the statement reads, “This is to notify all stakeholders and the general public that the Public Hearing of the House Committee on Aviation on the purchase of two BMW cars by the NCAA earlier slated for Tuesday, October 29,  2013 has been postponed to Wednesday,  October 30,  2013.

“This is to allow ample time for the invited agencies to put their documents together…”

The  committee wrote a separate letter to Oduah on Monday, which confirmed that the postponement of the hearing was to give her some grace.

The letter by Chana  indicated that the committee received a letter from the minister on Monday explaining why she was unable to attend the hearing.

The committee complained that her non-appearance was delaying the investigation, adding that it was forced to reschedule the hearing till Wednesday.

It warned that failure to attend tomorrow’ session would leave the committee with no option but “to enforce the appropriate laws and apply necessary sanctions.”

The letter reads in part, “I am further directed to inform you that your inability to appear before the committee has become a serious constraint to the committee, as the House of Representatives has mandated the committee to submit its report within one week.

“More so, the committee has been utterly gracious for postponing the hearing to Wednesday,   October 30, 2013.

“It is the directive of the House that you should appear on the rescheduled date.”

• We didn’t appropriate funds for controversial cars

Also in Abuja, the   Senate   said  it  did not appropriate funds to the NCAA  for the purchace of bulletproof vehicles for   Oduah.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodima, made the clarification at a public hearing where the managements of  the NCAA  and  the National Aviation Management Authority   defended   their roles in  the Associated Airlines plane crash   in Lagos on October 3.

Uzodima  noted that findings by the committee indicated that the NCAA appeared to have lost its freedom to the Ministry of Aviation.

He also  expressed  surprise  when the NCAA Director-General,  Captain Fola Akinkuotu,  could not justify the purchase of the bulletproof  cars  on the grounds that  the transaction was concluded before he assumed office.

• Quit, S’East,  S’South professionals tell minister

Earlier on Monday,  the South-East and South-South Professionals Forum  had called  on   Oduah to step aside in the face of mounting protests over her role in the  purchase of the bulletproof cars.

It expressed disappointment over the scandal rocking the Aviation industry which is under Oduah’s   watch.

The forum’s    President , Emeka Ugwu-Oju,  spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting organised to marshal their  position on the national dialogue in Benin, Edo State.

Ugwu-Oju   said,  “We are not saying she is guilty but for what has happened in the ministry under her watch, it is clear the ministry   could afford such money for some frivolous purposes. It is a wrong thing to do and  somebody has to take responsibility.

“We are of the view that the current minister of aviation should go.  She is going not because she is found culpable but we are looking at the overall picture of values.

 “The honourable thing for her to do is to step aside and go.”

• NDF says probe panel   a ruse

 In Minna, Niger State, a pro-democracy group, the  National Democratic Forum, said the committee            set up by Jonathan    to probe the scandal lacked the  courage to carry out the assignment.

The group described the  committee as a ploy  to shield and provide a safe landing for the Aviation minister.

Its position was contained in a statement by its National Co-ordinator, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, and Secretary, Eze   Kalu.

In the statement  issued after its 47th Congress in Minna, the group said it believed that the     committee would not do a  thorough investigation   because of  fear of ridiculing the Executive arm of government.

The forum, which  wants    an independent panel to probe the  purchase of the cars,   advised that the  minister and the  Principal Officers of the NCAA be suspended immediately.

The  statement added,  “ We doubt if the Presidency has the courage to really probe Oduah.

“It is on record that the so-much touted fight against corruption by this administration is a ruse. Its penchant to cover the ‘sins’ of some sacred cows is legendary. If this administration could pardon Diepreye   Alamieyeseigha, and sweep the House of Representatives bribery scam under the carpet, one should not expect anything positive from the latest  panel.

Shagari and Obasanjo

The Federal Government has rejected the suggestion to involve past Presidents/Heads of States, governors and traditional rulers in its current face-off with the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

National President of Nigerian Union of Teachers, Michael Olukoya, had after a palliative meeting with the Minister of Education, Nyeson Wike; and the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, in Abuja offered the suggestion.

The suggestion came to the heels of recent treats by the NUT to embark on sympathy strike with ASUU, if government failed to resolve the crisis.

Although Wike told journalists that the advice would be looked into but investigations by our correspondent revealed that the government’s team had not considered heeding the advice almost four weeks after it was given.

Our correspondent also learnt on Monday that the NUT had been taking submission from its state executives on the modalities and strategies to adopt in their sympathy strike with ASUU.

A government source who spoke to our correspondent in confidence said, “The Federal Government team is strong enough to broker peace with ASUU. There is no need in involving other persons not in government in the discussion when we are already achieving progress”.

Asked why the government made commitment to the NUT when it was suggested, the source reply, “There was no commitment anywhere. It was a meeting where stakeholders express their desire to move the sector forward. So it was out of mutual respect that both parties spoke.”

When contacted on whether the government has taken steps to involve the past leaders as promised, Special Assistant (Media) to Wike, Simeon Nwakaudu said, “ I don’t understand what you mean by promise. All I can say is that government is desirous to find a lasting solution. And it is working towards that.”

Olukoya had suggested that given the inability of some committees earlier set up to settle the crisis, the Federal Government should seek the intervention of past presidents, governors, traditional rulers and serving Senators.

He said, “With the way this strike has lingered on for three months, we believe government should explore all modalities to end it. Government should invite past heads of states, speakers, senators , ministers of labour and education and every other stakeholder in the sector to resolve this ugly situation.

“Call powerful voices like traditional leaders to intervene in this strike because our concern as teachers is that as these undergraduates stay at home, they are prone to negative vices and in turn these are the same people that would lead the society in future.”

Pro-Jonathan Rally Turns Violent In Kaduna, Several Injured

President Goodluck Jonathan

A pro-Jonathan political rally, disguised as a Unity and Peace rally, has ended abruptly on a tragic note in Kaduna, with an unspecified number of participants reportedly injured, with some dripping with blood.
At least two people were stabbed and rushed to hospital while several others suffered minor injuries after participants began to use dangerous weapons on one another, witnesses said.
The rally, reportedly bankrolled by a governor from the South-south geopolitical zone,  was organized under the auspices of the Northern Youth Forum, which has members in the 19 northern states.
The governor is believed to have shelled out N500 million for the rally meant to buoy President Jonathan’s acceptance in the north ahead of the 2015 presidential election.
The participants, those familiar with the organisation of the rally said, were bused to Kaduna from all the 19 northern states and paid N3000 each.
In the invitations to participants, organizer Jubril Tafida, a former vice-chairman of a local government in Kaduna and current youth leader of the Northern Youth Forum, had claimed the rally was called to promote unity in the north.
But shortly after the event began at the Murtala Muhammed Square in central Kaduna, it dawned on participants that the rally was organised to drum up support for the reelection bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, witnesses said.

Muhammed Bello, who attended the event, said the rally turned violent after Mr. Tafilda and other speakers began to heap praises on President Jonathan in their speeches.
“As they praised Jonathan, some elements in the crowd began exhibiting campaign posters of the President,”  Mr. Bello said. “A lot of participants became angry and they started throwing stones and bottles at the organizers. People started running in different directions. Some people were saying they don’t want to hear Jonathan’s name at the rally.”
Another witness said the police was later called in to restore order.
“The police started shooting teargas until everyone dispersed,” he said.
Spokesperson of the Kaduna state police command, Aminu Lawan, could not be reached to comment for this story, as calls to his telephone failed to connect.
Mr. Tafida’s telephone was also switched off the several times our reporter called.

Nigeria is due for revolution – Tambuwal

Tambuwal

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has said a revolution is due in Nigeria because of endemic corruption in the country, coupled with the general disaffection of the people  with the ruling elite.

He said the kind of conditions that must subsist in order for any talk of revolution to be taken seriously were widely evident.

Tambuwal stated these in Lagos on Tuesday at the 2013 Distinguished Management Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered). The occasion had the theme, ‘The role of the legislature on the economic, infrastructural and ethical revolution in Nigeria’, where he was invited as a guest speaker.

He said, “The most compelling reasons for revolution throughout the ages were injustice, crushing poverty, marginalisation, rampant corruption, lawlessness, joblessness, and general disaffection with the ruling elite. You will agree with me that these describe conditions in our nation now, to a very large degree.”

Tambuwal, who was represented by the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, said over the years, successive governments made efforts to deal with this menace, but to no avail.

“That these conditions exist is well known to all persons in authority but the results of these successive efforts have failed to yield the desired results. This therefore is the justification for the radical change from the present approach to a revolutionary one,” he stressed.

From the perspective of legislation, according to him, the most critical role that the legislature plays is through the annual appropriation bill, as every year, pursuant to the Constitution, the executive submits its budget estimates for legislative scrutiny.

The Speaker said as representatives of the people, the legislature ensured that the more critical needs of the people got priority attention, as efforts were made to ensure equitable distribution of projects.

He said, “The effort of the National Assembly to handle appropriation to meet the yearning and aspirations of the people has been met with serious resistance; yet it is something we must do.

“It is perhaps important to emphasise that if our economy is to be turned around, our annual budgets must prioritise programmes and projects that deliberately address issues of poverty alleviation,  job creation and security of lives and property.

Earlier in his welcome speech, the President and Chairman of Council, NIM, Chief Michael Olawale-Cole, had said more than ever before, Nigeria needed an urgent intellectual revolution to the many leadership challenges besetting it.

Man arrested for raping seven-year-old girl in Calabar

A 35-year-old man, identified as Bassey Ekpo-Efiok, has been arrested by the Cross River State Police Command for allegedly raping a seven-year-old girl (name withheld) in Calabar.

Father of the victim, Mr. Patrick Eyo-Ita, said the incident happened around 10pm on June 17 at Effanga Offiong Street in the Edibe-Edibe area of Calabar South.

He alleged that the culprit, the son of a former Post-Master General of the Nigeria Postal Service defiled his daughter shortly after he strolled out of his compound while the daughter was asleep.

Eyo-Ita said, “This thing happened between 9.30pm and 10pm. My house was very hot, so, I lay my daughter by the veranda of my apartment. After doing that, I strolled out briefly within the neighbourhood. Unfortunately when I came back about 10pm I did not see my daughter where I lay her but saw the wrapper on which she was lain. I was worried and decided to search for her.”

He said while he was searching for the daughter, he heard her scream from the suspect’s apartment.

“The voice sounded like that of my daughter and I decided to peep into the room where the screaming was coming from. I saw Bassey naked and was on the top of my little daughter. I immediately raised the alarm and within seconds, my neighbours had gathered,” he said.

He said the neighbours made effort to apprehend the suspect but he escaped through a back door.

He said, “When I entered the room to carry my daughter, I saw that blood was coming out of her private part and she could hardly walk. I immediately reported the matter to the police that took her to the Nigeria Police Medical Centre at Akim.”

He said the suspect was eventually arrested on July 1 by policemen from Akim Police Station.

When PUNCH Metro visited the area command on Tuesday, the suspect was writing his statement.

A child rights activist, who facilitated the arrest, Mr. James Ibor, said the action of the suspect was criminal as he had jeopardised the life of the little girl.

When contacted, the acting Public Relations Officer in charge of the state Command, Mr. Hogan Bassey, promised to get the details and call back.

‘I work hard and I can enjoy my money’ – Wizkid defends buying N15m car

Nigerian singer Wizkid replaced his N15million Porsche Panamera car with a brand new one less than two weeks after crashing it in an accident.
There have been heavy criticism from some of his fans since the purchase of the car. Some say he should have donated to support ailing music producer OJB Jezreel, who is in need of about N16million for kidney transplant.
However, the singer says he works hard and can spend his money any way he wants to. Find his response below.



He tells Encomium magazine:
“I needed to get another one because after the accident, I didn’t have a car and I have to move around. I started taking cabs before I decided to buy this new car to move around. It is needed for work. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong in splashing millions on a car. If someone works hard and decides to spend on something that he thinks is good for him, why not? In fact, I don’t think there’s need to justify whether its is wrong or not. I work hard and I will enjoy my money”

BBA The Chase: Task – Oneal’s touching proposal to Feza

 This particular Task has got people going all emotional about the prospect of getting married, especially when the person proposing is already your partner. It all seemed too real and some wished that it was.
Oneal also went on his knees as he had a speech and a half for Feza, telling her that life was miserable for him before he met her. A blushing Feza couldn’t help but smile at the man in front of her, professing his undying love and wanting a future for them both.
The Housemates stood by cheering the two on with song and dance like they would do in the real world. This Task is proving too real for the Housemates, especially the couples who had decided to call it quits. Now all the feelings they had have flooded back and people will have to reconsider their decisions.
Natasha was very emotional in her Diary Session as she praised Oneal for his heartfelt proposal to the girl of his dreams. She even wished the happy couple well, forgetting that this was all for their Wager. None of it is real Natasha.

Kidnappers Of Wife And Daughter Of Supreme Court Justice Rhodes-Vivours Arrested /Paraded

Kidnappers nabbed by the State Security Service (SSS)

Three members of a gang that allegedly kidnapped the wife, daughter and driver of a justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, in May, this year, were among seven suspects paraded by the State Security Services in Benin City today.
The other suspects paraded were three extortionists who threatened to kill their victim if he didn’t pay up and a musician who was paraded for trafficking in persons.
The State Director of the SSS, Mr. Bello Bakori who paraded the suspects before the Governor and the Press said the suspects had confessed to the crime and that three members of the kidnappers of the Judge’s wife are still at large.
He said Mrs. Rhodes-Vivour and her daughter were kept in a house in Upper Sokpomba, area of Benin City from where the kidnap suspects were arrested. All the kidnap suspects were from Delta State while the trafficker in persons is from Edo State.
The Governor who was miffed that despite Government’s warning that landlords should screen their tenants to ensure that their properties are not used by criminals said the buildings used by the kidnap suspects to hold the Judge’s wife, daughter and driver will be demolished at the appropriate time.
“For the landlords, we have already made the decision that anyone that aids and abets kidnapping will have his structure demolished. Any hotelier who does not follow the instruction of documenting who stays in the hotel and such are used for kidnapping or human trafficking we will demolish it. Nobody has the right to make money out of the pains of Nigerians”, he said.
Oshiomhole expressed joy that the security agencies were able to arrest the gang that kidnapped the wife and daughter of the Supreme Court Justice, saying “this is a major breakthrough. What is important is for criminals to know that there is no more immunity. It is a matter of when, not whether, they would be caught and that the officers and men are determined to do their best and those involved in crime would be brought to justice.
He noted “majority of these criminals, 95% of them are from Delta State. It shows in this business of crime, criminals are very mobile. No State can find a solution as they keep moving from one State to the other. When their colleagues hear that they have been put on trial, they would look elsewhere.”
To members of the public the Governor said :“this is something that people should take into account, that your own relation may well be the source of your problem. Your own cook may well be the source of your problem; your guard may well be the source of your problem. All of us need to be careful and not take anything for granted.
“The lesson from this effort is that when we report to law enforcement agents, they can be arrested, but when we pay ransom, then we are providing additional incentives for the criminals to remain in business. Every ransom we pay is an opportunity for them to do more. For me the message is clear, we must resist paying ransom. We must take law enforcement agencies into confidence. We must trust them.
“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to our parents that we must watch over our children, particularly our daughters. As we heard from one of them arrested, this business is to attract unsuspecting young girls into travel with all kinds of lousy promises. In their innocence, they submit and they take them across the borders and they face all kinds of dehumanizing experiences”.

Deeper Life Church Suspends Kumuyi’s Son, Wife Over "Indecent Wedding" In Jamaica

John and Love Kumuyi

The leadership of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry has suspended the son of the General Superintendent of the church and his wife, John and Love Kumuyi from carrying out any activity in the church over their recent controversial wedding in Jamaica.
John and Love wedded in Jamaica on 15 June, 2013 and thousands of members of the church have reacted sharply while condemning the wedding gown worn by the wife and other aspects of the wedding that were at variance with the church’s standard.
She was decked in attires quite different from the acceptable standard set for Deeper Life members by the church.
Love was arrayed in flowing gown with a veil to match, while lots of people said her hair wasn’t natural and that she applied lipstick as part of the make-up.
Also at issue was the hiring of a Limousine which conveyed the couple to their destination after the wedding. And a huge cake was cut during the wedding contrary to the church’s tradition.
Due to the myriad of controversies generated by the wedding on social media, Facebook, especially by members of Deeper Life, the church decided to place the couple on suspension to give them time to pray and seek forgiveness from God for their action.
On Saturday, at Deeper Life’s monthly miracle and revival programme held at the Deeper Life Conference Centre, DLCC, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, John and Love’s suspension from church work was announced to the over 50,000 Deeper Life faithful at the event by Pastor Philip Oluwi, a key leader in the church.
Oluwi, certainly is acting on the instruction from the General Superintendent of the church, Pastor William Kumuyi, to suspend the couple for the embarrassment they brought upon the church during the wedding, emphasizing that the standard of Deeper Life regarding wedding and moderacy had not changed.
“The church, Deeper Life, remains committed to the biblical practice and standard of almost 40 years Christian dressing and still remains and does not compromise on biblical Christian dressing.
“Hence, deviation warrants the displeasure and frown of God and the leadership of the church. John and Love are now under discipline,” Oluwi announced to the entire congregation, an action that helped to calm the nerves of many Deeper Life faithful.
Also, the couple has apologised to the church for the embarrassing way the wedding was conducted. The letter was read by Oluwi and re-read severally to church members by the Church’s Secretary, Pastor Jerry Asemota.
The letter addressed to the Church Secretary, with the heading: “Letter of Apology,” expressed the deepest regret of the couple for bringing the church into disrepute.
The letter reads: “We unreservedly and wholeheartedly state that we did not intend and do not intend that our act or omissions in any way undermine the great work that God has done through the Deeper Christian Life Ministry through our father in the Lord, the General Superintendent.
“We also use this medium to profusely and sincerely apologise to the General Superintendent (Kumuyi) of the church for the embarrassment and heartache our action has caused him; more so as he had earlier declined to be at the event. We acknowledge that we may have benn distracted by cultural differences as we both have lived outside Nigeria for nearly two decades.”
The letter added: “This notwithstanding, we fully accept that having been nurtured, taught and brought up with the sound teaching of the word of God, we should have been able to draw the line which we failed to do. We have now realised the far reaching effect of our actions and omissions and do plead with the church for forgiveness and also appeal that any action that should be taken be directed at John and Love, as we take this time to prayerfully reflect on our actions.
“We take full responsibility for what has happened and this action should in no way be blamed on the General Superintendent or the leaders of the church in Nigeria, United States, Jamaica, or United Kingdom and beyond.”
However, P.M.NEWS investigation revealed that John and Love’s wedding was not conducted in a Deeper Life Bible Church. It was also not conducted by pastors from the church as Deeper Life Bible Church in Jamaica has not been licensed by the country’s government to join couples in wedlock, according to the laws of Jamaica.
The wedding was taken to another church where the ministers in the unnamed church conducted the wedding and joined them in holy matrimony.
Besides, Deeper Life leaders that came from Nigeria were said to have disapproved of the earlier gown Love was to wear for the wedding, while another was hurriedly sewed the night before the wedding.
Church leaders were said not to have seen the new dress until the couple was marching into the church and by then, it was too late to take any action as the wedding was not conducted in a Deeper Life church.

Tuface Idibia, Annie Macaulay and jamboree of their wedding date

For months, fans of power couple Tuface Idibia and Annie Macaulay have been tossed back and forth, left and right  like a ping-pong ball, over the exact date and venue of the hot celebrities lavish white wedding; rumours, speculations and counter speculations have gone by since their quiet traditional wedding ceremony which took place at Annie’s parent’s home in Ajah, Lagos with one story at the thick of it all even claiming Tuface allegedly said there would be no lavish white wedding so as not to hurt his other baby mamas, yet no one was satisfied.

Then, news washed up online that February 14, 2013 had been chosen as the D-day, exactly one year after Annie said yes to her man at a nightclub in Lagos. The self styled investigators quoted sources who they say virtually ‘lived’ in Tuface and Annie’s minds and there was a resounding sigh of relief from many.

*Annie & Tuface

Well that gist is turning out not to be true.

New information emerging has it that Tuface Idibia has plans for Valentine’s day and it is not a wedding. The Benue born star has concerts lined up for him that week including the 14th and he could be honouring them all.

His wife Annie who recently appeared on Africa Magic entertainment programme Jara also didn’t give any indication of a wedding coming up soon.

With the Febuary 14 story trashed, another thread of rumour has again emerged.

This one states that the couple may be doing it somewhere in the middle east and that family and friends would be flown on a special chartered plane to the strictly by invitation wedding. This is further fueled by pictures posted recently by Annie on Instagram as she holidayed at a resort in Dubai.

Tuface warned right from the beginning that his dealings with Annie would be very secret. His traditional marriage almost passed un-noticed  and he is trying to do the same with his white wedding. If anyone truly knows Tuface, it should be the fact that he is a man who keeps his word.

His white wedding would hold secretly and quietly

PHOTONEWS: EFCC Arraigns Malaysia-Based Undergraduate, Three Others over N55m Scam

Hope Olusegun Aroke, a Malaysia-based undergraduate fraudster and three others, Ibrahim Garuba Tafida, Tafida Gano Investment Limited and Hopes and Oyin Limited were today arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos on two separate charges bordering on false assets declaration, conspiracy and conversion of fund to the tune of over N55million.
The first accused Aroke was arraigned on both charges. He was first docked on a three count charge that borders on false declaration of assets, while all four accused persons were later arraigned on a four count charge of conspiracy and conversion of funds.
 One of the charge reads:  “That you, Hope Olusegun Aroke (m), Ibrahim Garuba Tafida (M),Tafida Gano Investment Limited and Hopes and Oyin Limited between September and October, 2012 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court conspired to convert the sum of N31,000,000 (Thirty One Million
Naira) to the credit of Tafida Gano Investment Limited and Hopes and Oyin Limited account domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc which sum you knew represent the proceeds of crime with the aim of concealing the nature of the proceeds of the said crime and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition)Act, 2004”.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Consequently, prosecution counsel, Hauwa Abubakar urged the court to give a short date for trial and that the first and second accused persons are remanded in prison custody.
Defence Counsel, T.O Taiwo, told the court that he had filed applications for bail and had served the prosecution since January 18, 2013. He also told the court that the second accused person, Ibrahim Tafida, had been offered administrative bail by the EFCC and did not default. He, therefore, prayed the court to allow him continue with the bail earlier granted him or remand him in EFCC custody should the court decides otherwise.

 Justice Idris consequently offered Tafida bail in the sum of N10million and one surety in like sum. The surety must have a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. He also ruled that Tafida should be remanded in prison custody until he meets the bail conditions. Justice Idris also ruled that the first accused person, Hope Olusegun Aroke be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till January 25, 2013 for hearing of Aroke’s bail application.
Aroke, together with one other Malaysia-based undergraduate, was arrested in the closing week of 2012 by operatives of the EFCC at the elite 1004 housing estate, Victoria Island, Lagos.  His accomplice, Ibrahim Tafida is a Bureau De Change operator through whom Aroke was able to launder proceeds of scam to the tune of N55, 050, 000.00k (Fifty Five million, fifty thousand naira only).

Wilson Uwujaren
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity

NSCDC arrests 4 suspected vandals in Ebonyi

ABAKALIKI—EBONYI State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, said yesterday it arrested four persons suspected to be involved in vandalisation of transformers meant for Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, in the state. Parading the suspects at the Command’s Headquarters, Abakaliki, the Corps Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Corp, ASC Emmanuel Nwali, explained that the suspected vandals were rounded up at Orizor in Ezza North Local Government area where they were allegedly seen tampering with the transformer opposite the residence of Senator Igwe Nwagu.
According to him, one of those arrested claimed to be a staff of PHCN as items recovered from the suspected vandals were safety belt, pliers, fuses and cables.

*PHCN transformer

He said: “The men you are seeing here are suspected vandals arrested on 29th of December, 2012 when our Armed Squad were on patrol at Orizor opposite Senator Igwe Nwagu’s compound where a transformer is located.
“ There have been series of complains that the transformer was often vandalized by unknown persons. One of our men that were deployed within that jurisdiction got the information and alerted our armed squad team.
“So, while they were on patrol, they discovered some men who were tampering with the transformer.  One of those arrested who is an electrician claimed to be a NEPA staff when he is not.
“We know that it is unconstitutional for anybody to go and tamper with NEPA installations especially transformers.

Senate to probe funds to Police Colleges

ABUJA—MOVED by  the rot in the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos, where men of the Police are trained under dehumanizing condition, the Senate, yesterday, vowed to carry out a holistic probe into the funds allocated to the college and other institutions of training in the force.
It, however, blamed itself for not carrying out an effective and efficient oversight function to detect the deplorable and appalling situation of the college and then raise an alarm, prior to the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Jonathan in a Police college hostel

Answering questions from journalists in Abuja, yesterday, Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, ANPP, Yobe North, said the Senate had completed arrangement to summon the Police authorities to explain how funds appropriated to the college were utilised.
Lawan, however, said that the investigation of the committee would go beyond the Police College, Ikeja, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the rot in the entire system.
Lawan, who could not give the exact figures appropriated to the college, said:  “I don’t have any figure off hand as to how much has been appropriated. But one thing is very certain and clear from the visit of Mr. President to the police college in Lagos that some agencies of government have not been living up to expectations.
“The public accounts committee has already taken some steps to ensure that the police authorities appear before the committee to explain the utilisation of the funds appropriated particularly to the college. But we are also expanding beyond the college because this is a sign that all is not okay with the police organisation.
“I want to hope that the rot will stop with the police college. But if in the course of our investigation we discover that it is more than the college and that some organisations within the police are facing the same thing, then we have to take very serious action.
“First, we have to determine whether the funds were adequate so that if the funds were not adequate, we will like to see how prudent, economically and efficiently the scarce resources were utilized. If, however, the funds were enough and  someone failed to do his or her duty, we will surely recommend serious sanctions for whoever is responsible.”
Poor oversight by  N-Assembly
On poor oversight by National Assembly, Senator Lawan admitted that the National Assembly, particularly the Senate and House Committees on Police Affairs, would have detected the rot in the college had the committees did their jobs well.
He also fingered the Police Affairs and Police Service Commission of doing a poor job of not properly supervising the college.
He said:  ‘’These are people that are directly involved with them. So it is a responsibility that we share. But I believe that we are supposed to take the lead in the oversight process because this is our major work.
“We are supposed to be visiting institutions and organisations that have been appropriated public funds to ensure that the funds are utilised properly.
“So, this is an eye opener not only for the police affairs committees but for other committees. And the Senate President has consistently told us to ensure that we have oversight functions and programmes that would ensure that no public fund is put in another way or used in an imprudent manner.
“So I am sure that we would step up our oversight. And the President should do more of this kind of thing because if anything, it would give the trainees the impression and confidence that their leaders are really concerned with what happens with their training at institutions.”
On whether the funds were enough
On whether the funds for the Police were enough, he said: “I always believe that efficiency, economy, prudence and effective utilisation of resources are more important than quantum of resources, because when we emphasise on having more funds neglecting the efficiency aspect of utilisation, we don’t achieve anything.
“Some organisations with good management could achieve more with little. It is not about the quantum of money but how strategically the funds are utilised and efficiency of utilisation.
“So I believe that we should be emphasizing efficiency, economy and prudence of funds in addition to appropriating more funds. We can also grow better environment for our organisations to function better. But I don’t think we should be limiting ourselves to quantum of funds.”
When asked whether the probe will be as holistic as that of Bureau for Public Enterprise, BPE, Lawan said: “We did not do BPE investigation as a Public Accounts Committee. You would recall that the BPE assignment was an ad hoc assignment.
“This police issue is a public account assignment. What we will do is narrow down appropriations over the year to the police and see how much has been utilised and to what the revelation will be.
“But I don’t think we will begin to investigate the police from 1999 till date. We will focus on the budget. You would recall that BPE was a total investigation and everything was involved. But with the police, I don’t think that is where we are going.”

11 years after, Ikeja bomb blast victims cry for compensation

…As Lagos plans low-key commemoration
ELEVEN years after the Ikeja Cantonment bomb blasts that led to the death of over 1000 Nigerians with 12000 rendered homeless, victims of the disaster are still awaiting a compensation package promised by the Federal Government.
It was gathered that the Federal Government had earlier given N500,000 each, as a temporal relief package to parents who lost a child or children and those whose bodies were recovered, while N250, 000 each were given to parents who could not find their children, with a promise to pay actual compensation after 10 years.
As of press time, the victims are still waiting for the compensation without any positive response from Federal Government’s agents, who have continued to keep mum over the issue.
Chairman of the Association of the affected victims, Mr. Olaniran Majekodunni, could not be reached at press time but the secretary, Mr. John Adebayo Orire, who lost his son in the incident, decried the Federal Government’s lackadaisical attitude towards the victims, saying, “we are staging a peaceful protest during the 11th anniversary.”
He continued: “It is saddening that 11 years after, the Federal Government has been playing games with us on the issue of compensation. Though, we are not saying that what they are giving us could actually compensate the lives that were lost, but at least it would go a long way in healing some of the wounds.”

File photo: Cross section of affected families

“We are already planning a peaceful demonstration against Federal Government’s failure to fulfill its compensation promise to the victims. Come January 27, 2013, we are carrying placards in protest.
“We have written to federal government, through our lawyer, Femi Falana, on several occasions without hearing from any of their agents. We are lost, but will see to its logical conclusion.”
Lagos plans low-key commemoration
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who recently gave 70 verified families the sum of N250,000.00 each as compensation, had in 2012 set up a 10-man anniversary committee to ensure proper and successful commemoration of the anniversary.
Led by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Obafemi Hamzat, the members include Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed; Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba and chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, as well as Permanent Secretaries of the four ministries.
The state government is however planning a low key 11th anniversary, come next Sunday, January 27.
Indeed, January 27, 2002 was horrendous in the history of Lagos and the entire nation. The Ikeja military cantonment was a large military cantonment and storage area in the city of Lagos, situated north of the city centre near the districts of Isolo and Onigbongo.
The base was being used to store a large quantity of “high calibre bombs” and other sundry explosives. On the afternoon of January 27, a fire broke out in a street market being held next to the base, which was also home to the families of soldiers. At around 6 pm the fire apparently spread to the base’s main munitions store, causing an enormous explosion. The blast killed many of the base staff and their families and immediately destroyed several nearby streets, flying debris starting numerous fires further away.
Also thrown up by the blast were thousands of unexploded military munitions, which fell in a rain of exploding shells, grenades and bullets casting further destruction across most of the northern section of the city. Thousands of people from Ikeja and neighbouring districts, seeing explosions and fires breaking out, fled their houses in an attempt to leave the affected areas. As the streets became more and more crowded, explosions amid the fleeing crowds from shells falling from the initial explosion created panic.
A stampede developed as panicking people fled in all directions, trampling those who fell underfoot. It was also reported that people were jumping from burning high-rise buildings and being killed in desperate attempts to cross the busy Ikeja dual carriageway.
In far away Ejigbo area, most people who ran towards Oke-Afa, drowned in the canal. Most of them, oblivious of quick sand in the canal, drowned as they fell over one another. Local divers did their best to rescue the unfortunate victims but many died before they could get help.
The final death toll is hard to compute, although the Red Cross claimed that at least 1,000 bodies were recovered and a number of people were reported missing and never found. In addition to the dead, at least 5,000 people were injured in the disaster and over 12,000 left homeless, with entire districts of the city gutted. About 20,000 people fled the city on the night of the explosion, and the survivors gradually returned over the course of the weeks.

AFCON 2013: Nigeria Coach Keshi Rallies His Players After Disappointing Match Against Burkina Faso

caption: Coach Stephen Keshi and Captain Joseph Yobo

caption: Mikel Obi today in South Africa

At a post match press conference in Nelspruit South Africa, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi put up a bold face claiming his players did not do too badly even as a they conceded a last minute goal against Burkina Faso today at the ongoing Africa cup of nations.

Keshi said at the conference: "I'm very proud of the boys, they did everything that I wanted them to do, and for the last 25 days it is the fourth game we played together as a team because we are building, I'm just gonna let everything die down tonight, let them sleep off and tomorrow I will pick it up if I have to go in the middle of the night I will do that, this game is gone and I will prepare them for the game against Zambia".

Speaking on Victor Moses absence from today's match, Keshi defended his absence,  "He took a knock in Faro and 2 days ago during training. Didn't want to risk him only to take him off 10 mins later", said the coach

On his part, Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo stated that all he said was that the team  will get to the finals, quoting him, "All I said was that we will get to the finals, or we will progress and at least we will give a good account of ourselves, we wanted to win today's match that was why we gave all that we have, this is d first game we are playing, we gave everything today"

Henry Okah: South African Court Convicts Nigeria Rebel -BBC

caption: Henry Okah

A South African court has found Nigerian militant leader Henry Okah guilty of masterminding the 2010 car bombing which killed 12 people.
Okah was convicted of 13 counts related to acts of terrorism.
He was arrested in Johannesburg a day after two car bombs exploded during the 50th anniversary of Nigeria's independence.
He had denied the charges, even though his militant group, Mend, said it had carried out the attack.
Johannesburg High Court Judge Neels Claassen convicted Okah on charges ranging from conspiracy to commit terrorism to detonating explosives.
"I have come to the conclusion that the state proved beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused," Judge Claassen said, AFP news agency reports.
Okah was arrested on gun-running charges in Angola in 2007 and then transferred to Nigeria but never convicted.
He was released after two years under an amnesty for oil militants and he returned to South Africa, where he had lived since 2003.
Mend says it is fighting so that more of Nigeria's massive oil wealth is used to benefit the Niger Delta area which produces the oil.
But criminal gangs have taken advantage of the region's instability to make money from ransoms paid by oil companies, and by stealing oil.
The violence subsided significantly after the government offered militants an amnesty in 2009.
At its peak, the instability in the Niger Delta cost Nigeria about $1bn (£630m) in loss revenue, Reuters news agency quotes the central bank as saying.
Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer, but most of its people live in poverty.
 

Kano Police Bomb Squad Detonates Powerful Explosive Planted In Front Of A Bank

caption: The Anti-Bomb Squad of the Nigerian police

The Anti-bomb unit of the Nigerian police today successfully detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) buried across from the GTB bank on Murtala Mohammed Way in Kano.
Police spokesperson in Kano, ASP Musa  Majia told SaharaReporters by phone that the bomb disposal unit of the Nigerian Police in the state were mobilized to the area  after the police was  alerted to a suspicious package around 1:30 PM Nigerian time.
The bomb disposal unit successfully removed the bomb and detonated it a few minutes later. He said the controlled explosion did no damage to anyone or property and that life has since returned to normal in the area.