How the Fed Abdicated its Independence to White House Geopolitical Strategy on Russia For Nearly Two Years

[Note from the Saker: I take no position on the thesis presented in this article, but I do find it very interesting and I therefore decided to submit it to you all for discussion.]

by Brandon J. Ferro for Only Price Matters

In the chart below I plot crude, the Russian Ruble (RUB) and OPEC production.

From 2012 through mid-2014 all three print sideways.

However, to the day beginning on 7/29/14, crude and RUB begin to collapse while OPEC production soars.

Why such an abrupt reversal and why so vividly in lock-step, highly correlated fashion together?

Because on 7/29/14 the US and EU announced new, expanded sanctions on Russia designed to tighten the economic vice on the country for its involvement in the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Ese Oruru’s Parents Stage Walkout As Court Grants Yunusa Bail-the Leadership

There was mild drama at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa over the decision of the presiding judge, Justice Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa to grant Yunusa Dahiru aka ‘Yellow’ bail with stringent conditions over his arraignment on a five-court charge bordering on abduction, illicit affair and rape of 14-year-old Ese Oruru.

The accused, Yunusa Dahiru, was granted a bail of N3m and two sureties of like sum who must present three years tax-clearance receipts to be verified by the Court Registrar.

The two sureties who must be within the jurisdiction of the Court must be a title holder and a civil servant of grade 12 above.

Emefiele Should Resign - Save Nigeria Anti-Corruption Initiative

The economy of our great nation has never had it this bad since independence under a Central Bank Governor,” the group said.
BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORKMAR 21, 2016

The Save Nigeria Anti-Corruption Initiative on Monday gave Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), 14 days to resign his appointment so as to save the Nigerian economy from total collapse, citing various problems attributable to his poor performance and complicity.

Edo 2016: Don’t Sell Your Votes, Ogiemwonyi Tells APC Delegates

By Charles Kumolu With campaigns by politicians jostling to succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State getting more frenzied by the day, delegates to elect the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the September 10 governorship race in the state, have been advised to critically scrutinise the credentials of those who have indicated their intentions to govern the state.

Masari Paints Katsina Schools With APC Colour

Governor Aminu Bello Masari inspected the on-going rehabilitation of government public schools in Daura local government. The Governor inspected Daura I, Daura II, Muhammadu Bashar Primary School and Family Support Primary/Secondary schools to check the level of work. He called on parents and teachers to do more in the discharge of their responsibilities to compliment the efforts being put by the government. People & Society The decision by Masari to paint schools building with APC Color came under criticism by the public who believed the conventional public school color should be maintained as an identity peculiar to the schools. Also, others cautioned Governor Masari to give priority to enhancing teachers teaching capacity and also provide teaching materials to these schools before embarking on cosmetic painting of school that will not have any effect on the student understanding during learning periods. It was reported but not yet confirmed by Katsinareporters.wordpress.com on the said amount to be sent on each school on the rehabilitation and the cosmetic painting of which was earlier reported to be N45million each.

House Of Reps To Honour Ayodele Daniel Dada

The House of Representatives is to recognise the exceptional academic performance of a graduate of the University of Lagos, Mr. Ayodele Dada, at its session soon, The PUNCH has learnt.

The event had been scheduled for March 22 but the House shifted it because it would not be sitting.

Dada, who studied Psychology, graduated with a 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average.

The feat is first in the history of the university and has been a big topic of discussion, particularly in the academic community in the country in the past weeks.

Rapists Strangle UTME Candidate In Ogun, Dump Corpse Inside Bush (photo)

Parents of 20-year-old Joan Egemba, have been thrown into mourning after their daughter was stabbed and strangled by some suspected rapists in the Ijebu Igbo area of Ogun State.

Joan, who bagged a National Diploma in Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, enrolled for the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased left her home in the Odo Eran, Sango-Ota area around 12pm on Thursday, March 3, for the National Open University of Nigeria centre in Awa Ijebu, where she was posted to sit for the exam the following day.

Corper Attacked In Rivers Rerun Election In Hospital Before His Death

The corp member pictured above was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Rivers state after he was attacked by some political thugs in Awelga, for allegedly refusing to convey electoral material to ward 4 as ordered by a political thug during the Rivers rerun election of Saturday March 19. New reports claim the boy has given up the ghost.

See photos above

3 Brothers Rape Woman & Daughter Till Dawn In Osun Robbery Attack

An Osun State Magistrate's Court in Osogbo has ordered the remand of three siblings accused of raping a woman and her daughter.

The magistrate, Mrs. Abibat Basiru, ordered that the three accused arraigned by the police -Dayo Tajudeen (18), Kamaru Tajudeen (21), and Ahmed Tajudeen (27) - be remanded at the Ilesa Prison.

The police prosecutor, Mr. Mireti Wilson, had told the court that the accused, who were armed, broke into the apartment of one Mrs. Adebayo and raped the woman and her daughter till dawn before they carted away N700,000 and two phones valued at N15,700.

WordPress vs Blogger: 6 Reasons Why Wordpress Is Better Than Blogger

When you want to create a blog, you get confused on which blogging platform to choose. Is it going to be WordPress or Blogger??
Now, when we talk about creating a blog from the professional front, WordPress is a very good choice. WordPress is a self hosted blog and there are so many things you can do on it which you can’t do on a Blogger blog.

Blogger and WordPress offers free blogging platform which is a nice way to start your blogging career, though certainly not the best. Free blogging platforms have some limitations unlike a self hosted WordPress blog

Soros's Europe Destabilization Plan ? Brussels Under Attack!

 Many Dead As 'Suicide Bomb Attacks' Rock Airport And Train Station During Rush Hour

Brussels, the capital city of Belgium is on total lockdown after at least 23 people have been killed and several injured following suicide bombers terrorist attacks. Two explosions rocked the city’s main international airport, and a third in a subway station at the heart of the city.

According to news agencies, 13 people were killed at the airport, and 15 in the subway bombing, while 30 others were wounded. Prime Minister Charles Michel of Belgium said there were “numerous” dead. “We were fearing terrorist attacks, and that has now happened,” he said.

At least 13 reportedly died, possibly including the attackers, after two suicide bombs rocked Brussels Zaventem airport just after 8am this morning.

 At least 35 are thought to be seriously injured with hundreds of "walking wounded" after the series of blasts.

Air Force Officer Physically Assualt Woman in Benin City, Damages her Car -

An Air Force official had a physical alteration with a woman identified as Mrs Joy Agboghinde 51, in front of Benin City Electricity headquarters for allegedly obstructing traffic.

According to eyewitness who spoke with Tribune said  the fight between the army officer, a major, and Mrs Agboghide, was caused by traffic situation in front of the BEDC office due to traffic congestion and indiscriminate parking of vehicles in the area.


It was learnt that the woman, who was driving from the Forestry Road axis, was asked to allow vehicles coming from the off Akpakpava axis pass and after allowing about five vehicles pass she insisted on passing thereby obstructing traffic.

APC calls for outright cancellation of Rivers rerun elections

APC in Rivers state has called for the outright cancellation of last Saturday's rerun election for National and State Assembly members, saying the election was marred by high incidents of violence and thuggery. Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt, the state party chairman, Davies Ikanya, accused the police of conniving with PDP members in the state to rig the election.

Photos of NEMA officials receiving the 172 Nigerians repatriated from Libya

172 Nigerians, including 5 women,1 pregnant and a 12-year-old boy, were repatriated from Libya on Friday, March 11. The repatriation was done with the help of International Organization for Migration (IOM) in close cooperation with Libyan authorities and Nigerian's Embassy in Tripoli. The South-West Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Abdullahi Suleiman Yakubu with NEMA officials received the returnees. According to the post shared by NEMA SOUTH WEST yesterday, March 21: "The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Libya and Nigeria assisted the stranded and imprisoned youths back to Nigeria, because most of them had unpalatable experiences in the futile efforts to reach Europe, some were said to have gone through in-humane treatments and deprivations in Sahara desert and transit countries".

Teenage boy arrested for stealing a baby in Ogun state

18 year old Balogun Segun, was yesterday charged before an Ota Magistrate’s Court in Ogun State, for allegedly stealing a baby. The prosecutor, Itaita Ebibomino, told the court that the accused committed the crime on February 25 at about 5p.m. at Oko-Agi Area, Ota, Ogun state. Segun was charged with one count of stealing a minor.

Army Clarifies Arrest Of Rivers SSG, Gives Death Toll In Rivers Poll

The Nigeria Police have confirmed that four people were killed during the re-run elections in Rivers State on Saturday.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone Six, Calabar, Adisa Bolanta, said four deaths were recorded while 22 persons were arrested during the elections.
Mr. Bolanta disclosed this on Sunday at a joint security news conference in Port Harcourt.
He said the suspects were being interrogated on allegations of criminal or electoral offences.
He said deployments made by the police assisted in reducing election-related offences.

Senate: New Twists Place PDP In Driving Seat

By Fred Itua, Abuja

AT last, the trial of the Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), over his alleged under-declaration of assets when he held sway as governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011, has commenced. Although it is still too early to predict where the pendulum will shift to at the end of the trial, interest groups are already aligning and plotting on how to succeed the embattled Senate President in the event that he is convicted by the tribunal.

Economy Has Stopped Working, Labour Tells Buhari

The organised labour on Sunday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to use the opportunity of the planned economic conference to come up with policies that could be implemented to get the country out of its current economic woes.

The two labour centres in the country– the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress – said the economy had stopped functioning.

NLC and TUC believed that the state of the economy had not been as bad as the prevailing scenario since the civil war.

The organised labour demanded quick solutions to the current economic challenges.

Lagos To Eradicate Motorcycles, Danfo –investigation

Lagos State government may soon phase out commercial motorcycles popularly known as okada the ‘yellow’ buses otherwise called as ‘Danfo,’ according to investigation. The move, impeccable sources in the state Governor’s Office said, was meant to bring sanity into the transportation sector, beginning from eradication of the operation of the commercial motorcycles in every nook and cranny of Lagos.

Dakuku Peterside To Be Prosecuted For Murder

Press Statement: Dakuku Peterside To Face Prosecution For Murder


All is now set for the prosecution of Dakuku Peterside, defeated Rivers State Governorship Candidate and NIMASSA Managing Director who on Sunday directed his security details to murder an aide to the Chief of Staff to Governor Wike while fleeing with some result sheets from Ikwerre Local Government Area.


The incident took place at the UTC junction in GRA after Dakuku Peterside instead of taking Ikwerre Local Government Area result sheets snatched from collation officers to INEC office drove with it towards the GRA.

Patrice Talon Wins Benin Presidential Election

..Zinsou concedes defeat

Businessman Patrice Talon won the second round of Benin's presidential election on Sunday, his adversary and incumbent Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou told AFP before the release of official results.

"The provisional results point to a decisive victory for Patrice Talon," Zinsou told AFP by telephone. "The difference is significant, (Talon's) electorial victory is certain.

"I have called Patrice Talon this evening to congratulate him on his victory, wish him good luck and put myself at his disposal to prepare for the handover."

Some 4.7 million people were eligible to cast their ballots in the vote to elect a successor to Benin's outgoing President Thomas Boni Yayi.

Fayose Dares Buhari On State Of Emergency In Ekiti, Rivers, Says It Won't Work

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on Monday said any attempt by President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Ekiti or Rivers State would be resisted.

Fayose spoke with State House correspondents shortly after taking part in the economic retreat organised by the National Economic Council inside the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The governor said he was aware that Buhari was planning a state of emergency in Rivers State over the bloody election rerun that took place in the state over the weekend.

Buhari: I'm In Dilemma Over Power Privatisation

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration is facing what he calls "the classic dilemma" over the privatisation of the power sector.

He said the privatisation of the sector had yet to show any improvement in the quality of service, saying it was difficult to determine whether it was done in public interest or with profit motive.

President Buhari, however, noted that since the privatisation of the sector had started, the process had to be completed.

Rivers Rerun: What Happened Today Between Wike And Amaechi At Mile 1 Police HQ

The Facts About The Mile 1 Police Divisional HQ Election Incident – Ibim
We have received with bemusement the attempt by the Rivers State Government and its image managers to retell the facts of the incident of Sunday, March 20 which occurred at the Mile 1 Police Divisional headquarters in Port Harcourt when Rivers State Governor, Ezebuwon Wike, in company with a retinue of aides, invaded the police station, held the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Collation Officer for Port Harcourt Ward 10, Mrs. Ekwi Adebisa, hostage.

Nigeria Spends $1bn To Import Tomato Paste —UNEP

ABUJA — THE United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP, has lamented that the Nigerian government spent about $1 billion on importation of tomato paste.

The African Regional Coordinator of UNEP, Dr. Richard Munang, who made the revelation, weekend, during the official inauguration of the Nigeria branch of Ecosystem-Based Adaptation for Food Security Assembly, EBAFOSA, also noted that over 75 per cent of tomatoes were wasted in the country because of lack of storage facilities.

He expressed regrets that about 240 million people in the continent go to bed hungry and that malnutrition was high, affecting nearly 200 million people which in turn resulted in the death of over 50 per cent of children below five years.