N1.4bn Subsidy Fraud: How Accused Defrauded Govt of N1bn-Witness

Effa Imoh Okim, a prosecution witness in the trial of Helen Aninye, Chizobam Ben-Okafor and their company, Pon-Specialized Services Limited, who are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, allegedly for  N1.4billion subsidy fraud, has told Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja how the accused persons collected  about N1bn( One Billion Naira) from the Federal Government as subsidy, which was in excess of about N300 million (Three Hundred Million Naira) that they were entitled to.

Must Read: Buhari’s Keynote Address At The Tackling Corruption Together Conference

Muhammadu-BuhariPresident Buhari who is currently at the Commonwealth event “Tackling Corruption Together: A Conference For Civil Society, Business And Government Leaders”, held at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Malborough House in London.
Read his speech below:

UK Guardian Accuses Cameron Of ‘Epic Hypocrisy’ Over His ‘Fantastically Corrupt’ Comment.

The Guardian of London has delved into the controversy generated by the comment of British prime minister, David Cameron, who described Nigeria as a “fantastically corrupt” country.
The newspaper, in an editorial, accused Cameron, Britain and the west of “epic hypocrisy”.
“They have spent decades ordering poor countries and failed states to sort out their problems with dodgy money, even while taking much of that dodgy money and ploughing it through their banks, their ritzy stores, their estate agents, and their offshore tax havens,” it said.
Cameron had made the slip while speaking with Queen Elizabeth ahead of the anti-corruption summit holding in London this week.

Fighting Corruption Not An Easy Task – Buhari Admits

President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted that the war against corruption currently being waged by his administration was not an easy task, but expressed his readiness to prosecute the war to a successful end even if it means stepping on toes.
He explained that his resolve to successfully prosecute the anti-corruption war can be seen in the manner he had so far allowed anti-graft agencies in the country to operate without interference unlike what used to be the case.

Fayose Blames Buhari For David Cameron’s “Corruption Insult” On Nigeria

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s utterances outside Nigeria was the reason the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, described Nigeria as “fantastically corrupt”.
“What do you expect from the international community when the president of a nation keeps going abroad to say that his people are corrupt?” Mr. Fayose said in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka.

Gowon To Pro-Biafran Agitators: You’re Ignorant Of History, Emulate Zik

LAGOS — FORMER Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd), yesterday berated those agitating for the sovereign state of Biafra, reminding them of the unifying role the late first President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, played during the civil war, despite hailing from the secessionist side. He particularly fumed that the youths, who are in the vanguard of the clamour, are ignorant of Nigeria’s history, noting that Igbo youths at the end of the civil war prayed never to experience the kind of suffering occasioned by the war.

EFCC: Saraki Declared Property That Didn’t Exist.

Michael Wetkas, a detective of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, told the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), that Senate President Bukola Saraki declared a property that did not exist.
According to him, the “ghost” property was said to be at 15b McDonald road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Asked by Paul Usoro, Saraki’s lawyer, if he stood by his testimony that the property which the defendant declared did not exist, Wetkas said: “Anything we bring before this court is derived from investigation.”

Nigerians Are Less Tolerant Of Corruption, Corrupt People Than Before- Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Tuesday in Kaduna that the support of the judiciary was key to winning the war against corruption.

Insecurity: Dickson Summons Community Elders; Says We Don’t Want Odi Episode Again

The Bayelsa State governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson has strongly condemned the recent unprovoked attack and killing of four security personnel in Nembe Creek and three Naval personnel in Foropa community in Nembe and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of the State and other parts of the Niger Delta region.
He noted that such unwarranted attacks on the nation’s security personnel were portraying the state and the region in bad light.

Facebook, Airtel Offer Something Free To Nigerians.

Facebook, the world’s largest social network, on Tuesday launched free basic internet in Nigeria and for Nigerians, in partnership with Airtel Africa.
Nigerians with an Airtel mobile connection will be able to access all the services that are available through Facebook’s Free Basics without paying for data charges or rental.
Free Basics provides basic mobile websites and services for free to people around the world, demonstrating the value the internet can provide.

Britain is fanstatically harbouring money: Buhari Tells UK To Return Nigeria’s Stolen Assets

President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently in London said Nigeria does not need any apology from the United Kingdom, but a return of all its stolen assets stashed away in Britains and its Crown territories.
Buhari said this in London at the Tackling Corruption Together Conference ahead of the International Anti-Corruption Summit to be hosted on Thursday by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron.
The president said this in less than 24 hours after the publication of a video which shows Cameron describing Nigeria and Afghanistan as the two most corrupt countries in the world.

Magu Slammed With Contempt Charge.

A contempt charge has been filed against Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), at an Abuja high court over his alleged disobedience of court order.
The contempt charge contained on form 49 of the Abuja high court is asking Magu to show cause why he should not be committed to prison.

The contempt charge followed the refusal of the EFCC to obey an order issued by Justice Peter Affen of the Abuja high court regarding the unlawful arrest and detention of an Austrian security expert, Wolgang Reinl.

Lagos Intensifies Effort On Light Up Lagos Project

The Lagos State government is intensifying effort in lighting up all Lagos major highways and streets.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Olohuntele Folami on Wednesday, said this in a statement.

EFCC Gets Order To Hold Fani-Kayode For 14 Days

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has obtained a remand order to keep a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in custody for the next two weeks.
The remand order is, however, renewable after 14 days depending on the outcome of investigations.
Fani-Kayode is being investigated by the EFCC for allegedly receiving N840m when he was the Director of Publicity for the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation in 2015.
The money, which Fani-Kayode confessed to receiving, was said to have emanated from the account of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

EFCC Arraigns Ex-Chief Of Air Staff, Umar, Over N9.7bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has docked a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (rtd.), before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption.

2 Nigerians And 8 Other Foreign Convicts To Be Executed In Indonesia

A media report on Wednesday said in Jakarta that 10 foreigners, including two Nigerians, were among 15 convicts on death row in Indonesia scheduled to be put to death.
Liliek Darmanto, Central Java Police Spokesman, confirmed that authorities were preparing a new round of executions.
He said one Pakistani, two Nigerians, two Senegalese, one Zimbabwean and four Chinese nationals, were among those to be executed.

The Quagmires in Syria and Ukraine Can End Tomorrow, but There's a Catch

Independent French political analyst Thierry Meyssan lays out what he believes is the real reason behind the destabilization of Syria and Ukraine, and how the horrific bleeding wounds can finally be stopped.

In his analysis, published in the foreign affairs analysis website Voltaire Network, Meyssan laments that in spite of the assistance which Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah have provided to Syria to help eradicate the 'infestation' of jihadist terrorists, the Syrian Army has remained unable to achieve a decisive victory and to completely liberate the country.

Poland Finds Way to Avoid NATO-Russia Conflict

As US warships, jets and spy aircraft increase their presence off Russia's coasts in the Baltic Sea and the Russian Far East, Poland says it may have found a way to calm tensions and prevent a dangerous conflagration.

Royal Gaffe: Blow for UK-China Relations as Queen Slams 'Very Rude' Chinese

There are fears over the so-called "golden era" of UK-China relations after Queen Elizabeth was caught on camera accusing Chinese officials of being "very rude" during President Xi Jinping's UK state visit last year. The diplomatic gaffe is the second from a senior British official in as many days.

The queen made the comments while talking to Metropolitan Police commander Lucy D'Orsi during a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

Spring Exacerbation: NATO Drills on Russia’s Borders a Preparation for War?

It seems that almost every other day NATO begins a new military drill somewhere around the world, and almost half of them are on Russia’s borders. The Alliance has used the Ukrainian crisis to build up its military presence in Russia’s immediate proximity, and Russian military call it as they see it: NATO is getting ready for war.

NATO has just kicked off its Exercise Noble Partner 2016 at Georgia’s Vaziani Training Area, which will last until May 26.

Echo of Iran Nuclear Deal: Iran Vows to Sink US Ships if Threatened

Iran has called the US presence in the Persian Gulf an “absolute evil” and vowed to sink its vessels if “they commit the slightest mistake”; however an Iranian Middle East expert suggests that the tensions in the Persian Gulf are just a pretext and the real root of the standoff between the two lies in the US’ failure in the Iran nuclear deal.

Photos of the suicide bomber killed in Borno today

A male suicide bomber failed in his attempt to attack a mosque filled with Muslim faithfuls in Sulaimanti coummunity in the outskirts of Maiduguri, Borno state today. The terrorist, carrying Improvised Explosive Device (IED), was the lone casualty after the IED strapped on him exploded. 5 persons sustained injuries during the failed attempt. Graphic photos of the suicide bomber after the jump.

Photos: 25yr old Indian woman tortured to death by Saudi employer

25-year-old woman from India, working as a housemaid in Saudi Arabia, was tortured to death by her employer, the woman's family claims. However, the Saudi hospital where she had been treated says she died of "natural causes."

Rapist, 82, who kept his own daughter as a sex slave for 23 years

Despite fears he will offend again, an 82 year old Rapist, Ronald Van der Plaat who kept his own daughter as a sex slave for 23 years and raped her while her head was in a box has been freed from prison in New Zealand.

Nigerian Navy avert Pirate attack on Merchant Vessels

The Nigerian Navy has averted pirate attack on 3 merchant vessels, namely MV Moxon, MT African Beauty and MT Madona. The vessels were attacked around Brass waterways in Bayelsa State on 3 and 4 May 2016. The criminals made spirited effort to seize the vessels but the timely response of the special protective team deployed by the Nigerian Navy successfully dislodged the pirates who fled to evade arrest.