PanamaPapers: Jose Manuel Soria Resigns After Links 2 Offshore Deals

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's acting Industry Minister Jose Manuel Soria resigned on Friday following allegations of links to offshore dealings which emerged after he was named in the Panama Papers.

Soria, who denied all wrongdoing, said he was stepping down to limit any damage to the caretaker government, the conservative People's Party (PP), following reports of alleged links to an offshore company on the British island of Jersey.

Broadcaster La Sexta and news website El Confidencial said they had documents showing he headed an offshore firm with his brother.

Army Repelled Attacks At Pulka, Rescued 445 Abducted Person (photos)

Yesterday (Friday), in the early hours, some elements of Boko Haram terrorists in 5 gun trucks, motorcycles and 2 Golf cars laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from Sambisa forest axis attempted an attack on 121 Task Force Battalion at Pulka.

The ever alert and vigilant troops rose to the occasion and successfully repelled the attack and killed 7 Boko Haram terrorists, wounded several others and recovered 4 AK-47 rifles, 3 AK-47 rifle magazine and 92 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) belt ammunition. We wish to state that our troops are hale and hearty

Budget Distortion: Fear Grips NASS Members

Fear has now gripped some top officials of the National Assembly over the revelation that they hijacked the budget sent in by President Muhammadu Buhari and used their positions to distort the fiscal document by allocating huge projects worth billions of Naira to themselves under the guise of working on the budget.

The affected influential lawmakers in the two chambers of the NASS, are said to be worried that the action they took to corner substantial amount of money in the budget, using the platform of ‘Constituency Projects’ has been punctured by the refusal of the president to sign the budget without the details.

PDP Chairman Sheriff Campaigning To Retain His Office - Sahara

In February, the National Chairman faced pressure to resign from influential PDP members who believed he was not suited for the office on account of his alleged links with Boko Haram.
Ali Modu Sheriff, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is campaigning to retain his office despite announcing in February that he would not extend his tenure.
Mr. Sheriff has reportedly been holding meetings with party officials and may have bought vehicles for the campaign trail.

Anti CCB-CCT Fliers In Kwara By Momodu & Saraki (photos)

On my way home after observing Jumat Prayer at Ilorin Central Mosque (Oja-Oba), Kwara State. I saw fliers on the street which sponsored by ISTANDWITHSARAKI group headed by Dele Momodu and spread by hired unemployed graduates. One of the fliers titled DIFFERENT STROKES WITH DIFFERENT FOLKS. See the pictures of the fliers below;

Dominic Bukuni Jailed For Two Years

A Jalingo chief magistrates’ court on Friday sentenced Dominic Bukuni, one of the aides of Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba state, to two years imprisonment for criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery.

Bebeto Haruna, 32, who was arraigned along with Bukuni, also bagged nine years jail sentence.

In his judgment, which lasted three hours, Yusuf Babasoro, chief magistrate, said the prosecution had proven its case beyond any reasonable doubt that the two accused were guilty of the offences as charged.

ICPC Seizes 61 Houses From Female Civil Servant

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission says it has begun arresting civil servants who live beyond their means, adding that it seized 61 houses from one female public servant.
The commission also revealed that it would soon begin publishing a list of the most corrupt Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The Chairman of the ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta, said this while addressing participants of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies at the Abuja headquarters of the agency on Friday.
Speaking on the theme, ‘The role of the ICPC in the War Against Corruption: Mandate, Strategies and Challenges’, the ICPC boss said, “We are developing scorecard like Transparency International which rates countries as to the level of corruption of countries. We have developed one for ministries departments and agencies. Hopefully, we know those who will take the first prize.”
Nta added that once the 2016 Budget is passed, the ICPC would begin monitoring how monies are being spent.

Wike Launches Urban Water Sector Reform - Photos

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Friday launched the State urban water sector reform, the Port Harcourt Water Supply Scheme and the Sanitation Project.

Performing the launch in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said the project will create women entrepreneurs, youth employment as well as provide safe drinking water for the inhabitants of the state.

Represented by the State Agriculture Commissioner, Mrs Onimim Jacks, the governor said the project is key to the development of the state.

My Candid Letter To Saraki By Dele Momodu

 Your Excellency, I’m convinced the time has come to write you this letter despite the fact that I have some measure of access to you. I decided to do this in order to tackle the mischief makers who believe I’m your very close friend and as such must be a rabid supporter of yours. I have been accused of all sorts of garbage including being paid heavy sums of money from your bottomless pocket. I’m aware that most of these guys can never believe that anyone could stand up for principle without pecuniary gains. But before I go into the meat of this letter, I need to state my background briefly as I’m sure you don’t even know me well enough to understand and appreciate my socio-political trajectory.

Navy Launches Operation To Secure Niger-Delta

Action coming 48 hours after Buhari’s warning to vandals
•Accuses Tompolo of being behind resurgence of N’Delta militancy
•Osinbajo: Vandals as bad as terrorists

Herdsmen Kill father And Son In Benue State (GRAPHIC PHOTOS)

IDOMA VOICE gathered that the father and son whose identities could not be ascertained at the moment were killed during a recent attack on Binev in Buruku local government of Benue State by suspected Fulani Herdsmen. However, an eyewitness said the incident was as a result of a reprisal attack by the Fulani following an earlier protest by the locals whose yam barns were allegedly ransacked and the both yam tubers and seeds were completely eaten by the Fulani’s cattle.

Photos: NDLEA recovers 193 wraps of cocaine in passengers’ socks

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have arrested a commercial bus driver in Lagos named Maduewesi Ugochukwu Samuel, with 193 wraps of cocaine weighing 3.4kgs that was hidden inside his sucks. Samuel was arrested while attempting to board a plane heading to Dubai.

Fayose hails US govt, UK Telegraph reports on Buhari's witch-hunt of opposition, calls for investigation

Read the press statement from Ekiti state governor below...
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has hailed the international community, especially the United States of America and the United Kingdom for joining lovers of democracy in Nigeria to speak out against the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of President Buhari's use of State security apparatus to oppress opposition.

Low Savings: Okonjo-Iweala says she didn't indict the Jonathan administration

Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has debunked reports attributed to her in regards to how lack of political will of Goodluck Jonathan's administration negatively affected the country's savings. Below is a statement issued on Friday by her Media Adviser, Paul Nwabuikwu:
"Some recent media reports have distorted comments made by former Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala regarding how lack of political will negatively impacted national savings over the past few years.

Chibok girls: We are all very embarrased and ashamed that over 200 girls could disappear like this- Cardinal Onaiyekan

Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, said the Nigerian government has to carry out negotiations sooner or later to secure the release of the Chibok girls. His remarks came in the wake of the release of a video by Boko Haram purportedly showing 15 of the kidnapped schoolgirls.

The Archbishop who spoke to Susy Hodges on the second anniversary of the kidnapping of the Chibok girls on Thursday April14, said he believes the government needs "to go beyond a military response" to Boko Haram if they want to rescue these girls and the thousands of other innocent civilians who are being held by the Islamic group.

Mum leaves her 14 month old daughter in hot car while she auditioned at a strip club

A 24 year old Tennessee mother, Kelsey McMurtry has been arrested for leaving her 14-month-old daughter in a very hot car while she danced at a strip club, authorities said. A good Samaritan who saw the toddler when her mum left her in the car said she had been inside for 30 minutes, before the police were called. 

 

The temperature inside the car was above 100 degrees and the little girl was wearing a coat according to the arrest warrant.

Buhari's visit to China yields billions in investment for Nigeria- Presidency

Press statement from the Presidency
President Buhari has expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his working visit to China, which has yielded additional investments in Nigeria exceeding $6 billion USD. President Buhari believes that the several agreements concluded with the Chinese during the visit will have a huge and positive impact on key sectors of the Nigerian economy including power, solid minerals, agriculture, housing and rail transportation.

Acting DG, National Centre for Women Development dies in car crash

The Acting Director General of the National Centre for Women Development, Abdulmalik Dauda, died in an auto crash along the Abuja-Kaduna express way this morning while on his way back from an official assignment. His protocol officer, Mohammed Aliyu confirmed the death to newsmen. He was 57 years old. He's survived by two wives ‎and five children, and has been buried according to Islamic rites in his hometown. Dauda took over from Onyeka Onwenu on February 16, 2016, following the removal of 26 heads of government agencies and parastatals.

Female Zookeeper mauled to death by one of her Tigers

A 38 year old female employee, Stacey Konwiser who had worked at the  Palm Beach Zoo for over three years and took care of 4 Malayan Tigers was mauled to death by one of the Tigers she trained on Friday.

According to the Palm Beach Post, she was performing a routine procedure in the night house where the tigers sleep at about 1:45pm in preparation for her show which was scheduled at 2pm in the Zoo when she got attacked and mauled to death by the 13-year-old tiger.

Woman defends husband who sexually molested their 4 year old daughter

A child molester, 48 year old Juan Vicente Hernandez Leon was captured in a disturbing footage which allegedly showed him sexually assaulting a 4year old girl who was sitting on his lap in a restaurant in Mexico.
The viral video showed the man groping the little girl under the table, as she leaned against his lap. Disgustingly, the man in the footage kept talking with the rest of his group as he kept touching the little girl.

Direct Line with President Vladimir Putin April 14th 2016

Direct Line with President of Russia Vladimir Putin was broadcast live on Channel One, Rossiya-1 and Rossiya-24 TV channels, and Mayak, Vesti FM and Radio Rossii radio stations.

Text only

During the live broadcast that lasted 3 hours and 40 minutes, the President answered 80 questions out of the over 3 million that were received.

* * *

U.S Market Panics Over Potential Dollar Crash As Buhari Signs Currency Deal With China

In a bid to bridge the widening gap between the Naira and the Dollar in the Exchange rate market, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, April, 12, shocked foreign investors mainly from the United States who have been accused of stockpiling their money in dollars.

The President had consistently insisted that he would not devalue the naira against the dollar despite pressure from the International Monetary Fund, IMF and the United States.

Photos: Beautiful Zahra Buhari at the launch of her mother's book yesterday

Zahra Buhari was looking beautiful as she attended the launch of her mother, Aisha Buhari's book, The Essentials of Beauty Therapy, which held at the state house Abuja yesterday April 14th.

Photos: Bauchi State Governor honours 11 outstanding 2015 Batch A NYSC members

Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar has honored 11 outstanding 2015 Batch A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Members who distinguished themselves during their service year in the State.

Saraki loses bid to stop his CCT trial

Senate President Bukola Saraki this morning lost his bid to stop CCT from going on with his trial. Justice Abdul Kafarati of the federal high court, Abuja, dismissed Saraki's Fundamental Human rights suit challenging the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to try him over alleged false declaration of assets while he was Governor of Kwara state.