'Buhari’s Likely AGF Has High-caliber Fraud Suspects, Accused Terror Mastermind'

James Ocholi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria reliably described as one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s top picks for appointment as Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, represents several controversial clients including an Indian accused of defrauding several Nigerian banks of billions of naira, a former Managing Director of Finbank, Okey Nwosu, who is undergoing prosecution for questionable financial transactions, and a university professor from Kogi State currently facing trial over his suspected links with an Islamist terrorist group whose attacks have claimed thousands of Nigerian lives and led to billions of naira in damages.

: We Have Become Victims Of Buhari’s government - PDP cries out

 

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blamed the government for exploitation, charging that the election petition tribunals are working for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Tending to correspondents toward the end of the crisis meeting of the party’s national gathering, Olisa Metuh, representative of the PDP, said basic issues concerning the nation’s majority rules system were examined at the meeting.

Metuh had before said that the opposition party will do all within its powers to oppose the charged plot to assume control over the states that it won in the last race.

“The national caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) carefully reviewed the political developments in the nation’s polity,” he told reporters late Thursday.

“There is serious cause for concern in the nation’s political environment, especially as it concerns democracy.

“The PDP and Nigerians wonder why it was necessary to interfere with the composition of the Rivers state governorship tribunal and to harass the state resident electoral commissioner severally, to the extent that the tribunal itself was able to deliver a judgment within 24 hours in a case that had nearly 100 witnesses, 1000 pieces of documentary evidence and nine final written agreement, which each had not less than 40 pages.

“The outcome of the decision in view of the rather interesting history of the case indicates that the judiciary like the Nigerian people and the PDP have become victims of the APC-led federal government.

Metuh commended the PDP senators who staged a walk out in protest of the ministerial confirmation of Rotimi Amaechi, former Rivers state governor, despite the allegations of corruption against him.

He added that the government had lost the moral right to fight corruption.

“We salute the courage and unity of purpose of our senators, especially as demonstrated in the senate chambers in their collective stand against impunity and corruption in line with the wishes and aspiration of the Nigerian people,” he said.

“What the APC senators did has put a nail on their party’s pretentious war against corruption.”

#Pdp

Amaechi's confirmation: APC is engaging in a pretentious war against corruption - PDP

The PDP says that the confirmation of former Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi as a minster of the federal republic of Nigeria, has put a dent on APC's “pretentious war against corruption”. The National Publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh said this after an extraordinary meeting with top PDP officials in Abuja yesterday night.

Photo: 20yr old girl arrested by Cross River State police for selling her 2 week old baby for N20k

Maria Ekanem sold her two week old baby to an Abuja-based woman for N20,000. According to a report by Vanguard, the 20-year-old school drop out from Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, was arrested by the police along with her accomplices.

Her boyfriend got her pregnant and asked her to abort the baby. However, a doctor agreed to help her with free antenatal care and food and in exchange she agreed to sell her baby after delivery.

Photo: Man arraigned for attacking friend with cutlass and stealing his N800k

The Lagos state police command, yesterday arraigned one Omumgwa Loveday, an Aba based businessman, before a magistrate court over allegations that he attacked his friend, 32 year old Chiwendu Sunday with cutlass and stole his N800, 000 at a hotel on Osolo way in Ajao estate Lagos.


According to P.M. News, the accused and the victim are businessmen and bosom friends from Aba and had come to Lagos to purchase a bus for the victim, Sunday. When they arrived Lagos, they lodged in the same hotel.

Little girl suffers severe burns after transformer explodes at Lagos bus-stop (graphic)

12 year old Adetayo Adefarasin, a student of Government Junior College, Epe, suffered severe burns to her face, chest, arm and legs after a faulty transformer exploded along Broad street, Lagos as she was trying to board a bus while returning from church on September 20th. She was rushed to General Hospital, Lagos where she's still receiving treatment for her severe injury. The faulty transformer was repaired two days after this incident but according to girl's family who reached out to us, PHCN have not made any attempt to help the girl who is still in hospital. Friends say she is a brilliant student and was looking forward to a great future. The family want to sue PHCN over the incident I hear but haven't done so yet. The carelessness of these people is worrisome. They don't do anything until someone gets killed or injured. See photos of Adetayo in hospital after the jump

Graphic pics: Man nearly killed with bottle during fight in Lagos

A man was almost beheaded with a broken bottle amid a battle with another man in Lagos Island this week. A source told NGE they were quarreling over age and before anybody could stop it, they started fighting and one of them picked a bottle and stabbed the other one in the neck four times. He is right now admitted at the General Hospital, Lagos where he's battling for his life. The photographs are graphic so be cautioned. See them after the jump..

Africa belongs to Obama: U.S. Threatens Zimbabwe Over $3 Billion Russia Deal

The United States has reportedly warned Zimbabwe about its growing economic dealings with Russia after Harare recently sealed an agreement with Moscow for a US$3billion platinum mine.


 According to columnist Nathaniel Manheru, the Obama administration threatened further sanctions against Zimbabwe over its ties with Russia.
Manheru’s claims could not be verified with the US embassy in Harare late Friday night.

The US has imposed sanctions against Moscow, tightening restrictions on major Russian state banks and corporations, after accusing the Kremlin of providing military backing to Ukrainian separatists and generally destabilising the region.

PhotoNews: Osinbajo holds meeting with Canadian and Italian Ambs.

VP Yemi Osinbajo yesterday had meetings with the Canadian diplomat Perry Calderwood and Italian minister Fulvio Rustico at the state house Abuja. See more pics bellow.

Cross Rivers state govt suspend morning devotion in primary and secondary schools, CAN reacts

The Cross Rivers state government has ordered the suspension of early morning devotions held in primary and secondary schools across the state. A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education in the state, Anne Odey, stated that the decision to suspend the devotion came from security concerns raised by the state Commissioner of Police, Henry Fadairo.

She said the state police commission had suggested the suspension of the age long practice following the prevailing security concerns in the country.

23yr old Nigerian who was shot & killed by his colleague in Atlanta, laid to rest

 On Saturday, October 24, Emmanuel Chukwudi Nwankwo was laid to rest at Forest Hills Memorial Gardens after a celebration of life service.

According to Atlanta Police, the 23-year-old security guard was shot and killed by his co-worker Dexter Harper (right), another security guard while at work on Thursday October 1, in Buckhead, Atlanta Georgia. Dexter admitted not just to the killing, but to seeing a demon and hearing the voice of God before he opened fire on Emmanuel. Atlanta police spokeswoman Kim Jones said 26-year-old Harper was charged with murder and taken to the Fulton County Jail.

29 year old budding entrepreneur dies in fatal bike accident in Lekki

29 year old Jamiu Jamiu, an entrepreneur and owner of H2 Chicken, a frozen food outlet, was killed in a bike accident yesterday morning October 29th, His powerbike was hit by a truck along the Igbo Efon RoundAbout near Osapa London, Lekki, killing him instantly.

According a friend of the deceased who spoke with The Nation, Jamiu, a married man with two children, was on his way home after delivering some frozen chicken to a client when he was knocked down by the truck driver.

Check out 4 Ways To Have A Wonderful Time At The Hotel

At the reception, the delectable receptionist welcomes you with a charming smile, she ask few questions, gives you the key to your and ushers you off to your room with that brief courtesy. For the moment, her job is done and the sole responsibility on how your time at the hotel will turn out rests on your shoulders.

Expectedly, many travellers want more from their time away from home and are quickly dissatisfied with the monotonous routine of roaming around the hotel aimlessly, sitting in front of a TV set and taking a swim each evening during their stay at the hotel. With nothing interesting to do, this is can turn their hotel stay into a miserable one rather quickly.

Throw a cocktail gig

Throwing a cocktail party does not necessarily mean it has to be a lavish celebration with every tom, dick and harry invited. Insteady of a big party which will put a strain on your pocket, you can try organizing an exclusive party in your room for 5 or 6 people with small chops, cocktail and music for the attendees. To be on the safe side, make it a point of duty to inform the hotel management of your shindig to indemnify you of any hidden charges.

Request a tour

International hotel brands are turning a huge profit by establishing 5-star hotels in major Nigerian cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. There is so much to see in these hotels from the tastefully furnished suites to swimming pools, hall and bars as well as many other facilities. This will serve as a welcome distraction to your regular hotel routine.

Get a Spa moment

Lying down on the couch, and receiving a spa treatment is an entirely different and amazing experience. You should try it out at your hotel given that they have a spa centre.  To be extra prepared, you can make inquiries about this facility before booking your hotel.

Visit the Bar

The bar is one of the few places in a hotel where you can find the greatest distraction. It is especially exciting if you are not a teetotaler. With a relaxed attitude, you can strike up a conversation with other people, get a date and explore a wide range of tastes created specially to moisten your taste palate.

Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal shares tips on how you can pump excitement and fun into the hotel.

Ogunfowoke Adeniyi Travel/Technology

Writer Mobile: +2348090747241

Skype: Sleeksavvy

 

#Hotel

If Biafra, Afenifere & Boko haram were to be subjected to a referenda, Nigeria will remain One - By Reuben Abati

The Article bellow was written by former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati…

Democracy does not necessarily translate into the disappearance of crises and dilemmas, (even trilemmas, quadrilemmas or more) in a country, either developed, developing or perhaps evolutionary. Built into the fabric of the right to choose is also the right to make mistakes and so, across Africa at this moment, in Nigeria, Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire, Burundi, Guinea Conakry, Rwanda, the lessons are being driven home, as elections are being held or have been held or will be held That even as democracy spreads within the continent, the tension between stabilization and consolidation, trade offs and efficiency, pessimism and optimism, ethnocentrism and nationalism, remains a major concern.

Whatever the challenges may be however, both local and international authorities have a duty to ensure that the people learn from their mistakes, build on those mistakes positively, and prevent a relapse to either militarism or militarized democracy disguised either as benevolent democracy or charismatic autocracy, or ethnic revanchism as an option for national movement.  The people’s right to make mistakes, oxymoronic as it may seem, is part of the democratic challenge. In Nigeria, our biggest mistake lies in the strange assumption that our problems will disappear simply through intra-elite displacement or the symbolism of grand gestures.  And so, we end up with a boringly repetitive national life cycle.

This leads us to one urgent point: the biggest challenge that the Nigerian state faces today, tearing into the very idea of statehood, and of democracy, is the centrifugal pull from every direction that seems to have become disturbingly incremental. In the North Eastern part of the country, with the tragedy spreading, with casualties increasing, you have the heart-wrenching Boko Haram menace.

The Haram fundamentalists want a divided Nigeria. They have their own flag and they have made it clear that Western education and technology are sinful even if they use the same technology and intelligence to perpetrate their assault. With their flags and propaganda, they want “out” of Nigeria. Their act of defiance and the evil outcomes have increased since May even if civil society has chosen, all of a sudden, to be less anxious. But it is not a problem that can ever be treated lightly located as it is, in the tragic axis of global terror.

In the Middle Belt, an indigene-settler dichotomy, mutating as majorities-minorities conflict at the heart of Northern community relations, or as pastoralists-farmer confrontation has created seasons of violence and bloodshed with strong allegations of genocide and no sign of immediate abatement. In the South West, the recent abduction of a Yoruba leader, Chief Olu Falae by persons alleged to be Fulani herdsmen has resulted in the exchange of hate speech among Yoruba and Fulani ethnic champions defending territory, rights and identity.

In Ibadan, the other day, a group of Yoruba elders demanded that Fulani herdsmen should be expelled from Yoruba territory and that should the provocation continue, the Yoruba with their 50 million population will be prepared to exit Nigeria. In the Eastern part of the country, there is a resurgence of Biafran nationalism; young Igbos in diaspora, are insisting on the creation of a Republic of Biafra. The new voice of Biafran nationalism is Nnamdi Kanu’s Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Radio Biafra, and the Igbos campaigning for Biafra in front of embassies in Europe, India and Japan! In the South South, there is a renewed consciousness of oil citizenship, with the Ijaw whose kinsman recently lost power at the centre protesting that they are victims of Hausa/Fulani harassment, and intimidation.

Perhaps the more worrisome is the noise being made about likely secession from Nigeria, by certain elements in the North East (terrorists actually seeking to carve out territory), by latter-day Biafrans, and by Yoruba irridentists. It may not be possible without empirical inquiry to determine how much of this is pure opportunism, posturing or criminal-mindedness (except in the case of Boko Haram where criminality is proven), but it would appear that while seeking to uphold the law against those who challenge the sanctity of the state, the government must nonetheless take the agitations seriously for they speak to something old and familiar which has become resoundingly deeper.

If the matter were to be subjected to referenda across the country, I am not too sure there are many Nigerians today who will vote for the dismemberment of this country. Social scientists advise us not to rule out any possibility, self-determination can be self-fulfilling; and nations have been known to dissolve against all odds, but it seems to me that the majority of Nigerians would rather be Nigerians. Our country has been kept together by the resilience and the optimism of the majority, not the disillusionment of a critical minority. We have not yet reached a point where the idea of Nigeria is lost and forlorn, to the extent that the feeling of self-sufficiency that propels the secessionist instinct may indeed be illusionary. No matter the challenge, I believe that it is the idea of Nigeria that will prevail.

The long and the short of it however, is that this remains a grossly imperfect federation, union and democracy. The country is hoisted on a foundation of ancestral fissures. For 55 years, this country has refused to transform into a nation. It has been hijacked by identity politics, and by ethnic and class determinism. It is sad, very sad indeed, that successive governments have not been able to create an enlightened citizenry and an intelligent elite that can look beyond their own greed. The Nigerian political brain has remained a grossly emotional brain.

We seem to have lost the national battle to emotions fed by ancestral memory, creating a gap between knowledge, and desire. It is why MASSOB, Nnamdi Kanu, Radio Biafra and Biafra Voice International (BVI) are the new faces of Igbo nationalism, and not Aka Ikenga or Ohanaeze Ndigbo. It is why disgruntled elements in the North East insist on pulling down the country. It is why citizens of a defined oil territory continue to blackmail the Nigerian state. Nnamdi Kanu does not necessarily speak for all Igbos, and neither the Afenifere nor the Yoruba Council of Elders can determine the Yoruba emotion but they throw up ideas that cannot be ignored. It is the duty of government to address the dangerous ideas of disintegration, dismemberment that issue from those political brains, not to ignore or traduce them.

The key message is that this is not yet a nation. Kanu’s protest and the frustrations in the Niger Delta or the Yoruba anger over the humiliation of an iconic figure, or the angst of the people of the Middle Belt, or the widespread concern about the arrogance of power, escalated since independence, should be a wake up call. Those who feel defeated politically are drawing attention to subliminal fears about ancestral injustices, inequities, and inequalities in the Nigerian democratic space. The more they perceive an attempt to appropriate, exclude and marginalize, the more vociferous they are likely to be.  In the long run, nobody may secede (General Gowon is right on this score), but the inequities of the Nigerian state must be addressed. The man who will save Nigeria is that leader who will engage Nigerians proactively on the issues of inclusion and cohesion, and thereby grant to every citizen, a sense of ownership beyond ethnic identity, a sense of belonging, and confidence in the Nigerian identity. When people relate to the state from a position of fear, and exclusion, they create the kind of problems we witness.

One, poverty, not necessarily material poverty, is at the heart of the problem. Two, the failure of the moral dimension is also a veritable cause of national dysfunction. Three, when the people have jobs, and the economy works and education is taken seriously as a tool for empowerment and progress, there will perhaps be better citizens. What this means is that developing a state that works and a leadership that believes and cares, and focuses on governance responsibilities is where the priority lies. To move Nigeria forward, these are the fundamental issues to address. How to go about this is the responsibility of those to whom we have entrusted our mandate. It was the main assignment yesterday, the same today and the compass for tomorrow.

#ReubenAbati