Osinbajo: Some Individuals Stole Half of Our Foreign Reserves

The Vice President, Prof. Oluyemi Osinbajo on Thursday disclosed that some individuals under the past government stole the national commonwealth which, he said, was up to half of the country’s foreign reserves.

He also disclosed that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had developed an implementation plan for the 2016 budget.

He spoke at the 1st National Forum on the Economy held at the Airport Hotel, Lagos, and organised by the Vintage Press Limited (Publishers of THE NATION Newspapers) under the theme, “National Economy: The Way Forward.”

He addressed the forum alongside Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, his Imo State counterpart, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, Chairman of the Vintage Press Limited (Publishers of THE NATION Newspapers), Mr. Wale Edun, Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Adeyemo and Consulate-General of Italy in Lagos, Mr. Andrea Pompermaier among others.

At the forum, Osinbajo lamented the devastative impact of corruption on the national development, noting that the amount of resources individuals “have pocketed in this country is what accounts for where we are today.

“If some individuals can make away with $3 million in just one sector and $4 million from another sector, you can understand perfectly why we are facing the current challenges.

“Our foreign reserves stand at $27 billion. If some individuals can make away with half of our foreign reserves, we will not have been able to see monies coming in. Those individuals may not be able to account again. In the future, it will not be acceptable. It will not be tolerated.”

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Buhari forced me to be governor, says el-Rufai

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, on Thursday said it was President Muhammadu Buhari who forced him to contest last year’s governorship election.

According to THISDAY, el-Rufai said this at the closing ceremony of the two-day Kaduna Investment Forum that held at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Indoor Sports Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna.

He was quoted as saying that without the encouragement he received from Buhari, who was then the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), he would not have won the election.

“It was President Muhammadu Buhari that forced me to contest for the governorship race of Kaduna state in revenge for persuading him to run the presidential race,” he was quoted as saying.

“If he had not asked me to run for the governorship, I wouldn’t have stood before you today as the governor of Kaduna state.

“It is the Buhari phenomenon that had swept away the PDP. Buhari is a man of integrity, a Nigerian leader whose name has not been found in the Panama documents.”

He also said he would have lost the election if not for the card reader introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

El-Rufai maintained that without the card reader, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would have robbed him of victory at the poll.

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Nigeria: World’s 20th ‘worst country’ for women!

If you are a woman living in Nigeria, your life is among the most difficult for women all over the world – and that was before the senators threw out the gender equal opportunity bill in March.

Nigerian women have it tough living in terms of indexes as economic, educational, health and political opportunities, a World Economic Forum (WEF) research has shown.

The global gender gap report, first published in 2006, ranks 145 countries in terms of access to basic rights and opportunities for females.

Out of 145 countries ranked, Nigeria is 125, making it one of the worst places for women to live fulfilling lives.

In all sub-indexes, Nigeria showed a decrease since the establishment of the ranking.

According to the report, the country fell seven places from 2014 to land on the 125th position in 2015.

Overall, the result shows that the global struggle for gender parity has been slow and has closed by only 4 per cent since 2006.

This pace of growth, especially in terms economic opportunities, means that women are now earning what men earned in 2006. In 2006, global average annual earnings for women was $6000 while men earned $11, 000. In 2015, women earned $11,000 and men earned $21,000.

If nothing is done about this pace, WEF says “it will take the world another 118 years – or until 2133 – to close the economic gap entirely”.

“Progress in the economic and political worlds has been proven to be self-reinforcing, so interventions such as quotas – which have been demonstrated to have wider positive effects – offer insight into how the gap could be closed further in future,” WEF said in its report.

But there is no guarantee that the future will see Nigeria’s ranking improve as the country’s legislative arm, in March, shut down a bill to promote gender equality in marriage, education and economic opportunities.

The legislators cited cultural and religious reasons.

Their stance is reflected in Nigeria’s low standing in all indexes. Nigerian is part of the 22% of countries where educational opportunities have decreased.

Even when there are more educated women, it does not translate to women participating in skilled jobs or leadership positions, the research showed.

“There is also a marked lack of correlation between getting more women in education and their ability to earn a living particularly through skilled or leadership roles. While women make up the majority of enrolled university students in 97 countries, they comprise the majority of skilled roles in only 68, and in far fewer – four countries – do they hold the majority of leadership positions,” WEF said.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Only three countries in this region made it to the top 20 of the general ranking. Rwanda at 6th position, Namibia at 16th position and South Africa at 17th position.  Finally, the lowest performing countries from the region are Nigeria (125) Côte d’Ivoire (133), Mali (137) and Chad (142).

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Oil companies ‘provide forex’ to end fuel scarcity

Ibe Kachikwu

Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, says he has been able to convince some international oil companies to provide needed foreign exchange to end recurring fuel scarcity.

Speaking in a podcast posted on Facebbok on Thursday, Kachikwu, who doubles as the group managing director of NNPC, said they would provide needed forex for the next one year.

“The first thing that I have tried to do is, for the first time in this country, I have been able to convince the upstream companies to provide some forex buffer over the next one year for those who are bringing in products,” he said.

“And so I’ve tied, Total Upstream to Total Downstream, Mobil Upstream to Mobil Downstream, Agip ENI to Oando, Shell to Conoil and things like that. It’s been very innovative, putting $200 million of forex availability out into the space.

“It’s taken a lot of goodwill, it’s taken a lot of work from me.”

He said the NNPC has had to box its way through getting some forex from the central bank of Nigeria, to save the day.

“The second thing we’ve done is we’ve had to box our way through the CBN to get a little of allocation, because we provide the bulk of this foreign exchange.

“We should have a bit of it to help stabilise the situation, because fuel queue – don’t make any mistake about it, it doesn’t matter what we achieve in our transformation agenda – is the single most difficult item, which if not solved can bring down the polity and can create a mayhem here.

“So it is something that we have focused on. So I have been able to get a bit of cooperation from CBN on that.”

He called on his team to “HELP create ideas. HELP suggest ways in which we can find lasting solutions to this”.

“And if we do that, collectively, every one of us a piece, at the end of the process, people will remember the difficulties, but will also remember an NNPC that was united in the solution to this problem. At the end of the day, it’s not all about ME, it’s actually about YOU.”

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Meet Babatola, first African mayor of Greenwich

Olugbenga Babatola

There’s indeed a new mayor in town. Olugbenga Babatola. He is the mayor for the Royal Borough of Greenwich, south east London, a Nigerian who happens to be the first African mayor of Greenwich.

Babatola, a Nigeria-born British citizen, was a councillor in the district, representing Thamesmead Moorings Ward.

He was first elected councillor in 2014 due to his inspirational leadership style, within the area, known to be dominated by Africans.

In 2015, Babatola became the first African to be elected deputy Mayor to the current Mayor, Norman Adams.

Babatola, who says he believes in politics without bitterness, is also a strong believer in kids and power of the youth.

Olu Babatola and kids

In 2015, when youths in the Royal Borough of Greenwich renovated one of the facilities in the county back in 2015, Babatola was full of praise for them, expressing his believe in giving to the society.

“The young people have worked really hard and to get to this stage is brilliant,” he said.

“Our children are getting to the point now where they don’t ask what their community will do for them but what are they going to do to support their community.

“I think it’s very inspirational and is leading by example so that the younger ones will follow them by seeing their contributions to their community.”



John Fahy, a Labour Party Chieftain, who has been a Greenwich councillor for 25 years and deputy leader of council, considers Babatola’s feat, a worthy one.

In a meeting with the Slovenia Prime Minister in 2015, Fahy said: “Delighted to join Deputy Mayor Olu Babatola at Europe House to meet the Prime Minister of Slovenia.”

“We were delighted that he was fully up to date on our Twinning Link with Maribor. Met up with some interesting people.”

Babatola, who was born in 1957,  is due for an inauguration on May 25, 2016 in Greenwich.

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EFCC weeding out the bad eggs, says Magu

Ibrahim Magu, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says the agency is “restructuring its operations and weeding out the bad eggs”.

Magu, who stated this while speaking with members of the presidential advisory committee on corruption led by Itse Sagay in Abuja on Thursday, said the commission would get to the root of all major corruption cases, including the Halliburton bribery scandal.

According to a statement issued by Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, Sagay asked the anti-graft agency not to relent in carrying out its mandate of ridding the country of economic and financial crimes.

“The common interest of Nigerians is at stake, because corruption affects everyone, and we have the same objective, therefore you can rely on us to give you support in all ramifications,” he said.

While commending Magu for rejuvenating the activities of the EFCC, Sagay said that there was still much more to be done.

“The energy you have brought in to the activities of the EFCC since your assumption of office has encouraged us, and we want you to continue to do more,” he said.

Reassuring the committee of the commission’s resolve not to relent in its efforts, Magu, used the opportunity to inform it of some of the reforms he had initiated.

“We are restructuring the operations aspect of the commission and weeding out the bad eggs,” he said.

“We are also carrying the anti-corruption crusade to the grassroots.”

He added that “the efforts of the agency were yielding results, noting that the EFCC was determined to get to the root of major corruption cases in the country, including the Halliburton case”.

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Photos Of The Day: Funny Chat Between Obasanjo & Patience Jonathan At Ebonyi Governor’ Mum’ Burial

Hilarious Conversation Between Obasanjo & Patience Jonathan At Ebonyi State Governor Mother’s Burial

FB users have turned the photos of Obasanjo and ex-President Jonathan’s wife at Ebonyi governor’s mum’s burial into a series of hilarious fictitious conversation.

Pay close attention to where Obasanjo’s left hand is in the first two photos.

Our people sure know how to bring the best out of every situation.

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Swiss Lawyer Obasanjo Hired To Recover $4 Billion Abacha Loot Has 178 Secret Companies

Enrico Monfrini

It has been revealed that one Enrico Monfrini, a Swiss attorney hired by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to track the over $4 billion believed to have been stashed away in Swiss banks by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha was himself, a suspicious personality.

According to the leaked documents, Monfrini, an influential legal practitioner in Switzerland operated over 178 companies in offshore tax havens such as Panama and the British Virgin Island.

 Although Monfrini reportedly helped the Nigerian government secure the release of N267 billion ($1.34 billion), his personal involvement in secret offshore investments designed to conceal earnings and evade taxes casts a shadow on his credibility and smacked of hypocrisy, considering the fact that he was chosen to track and recover funds stolen from Nigeria.

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Have you seen this viral 'Mama Iyawo' make up transformation?

This photo above has been trending on instagram since morning. The make over was carried out by MUA Fatima, and she had this to say about the transformation.

" Latest Mama Iyawo. I am very happy with this beautiful #transformation. Absolutely gorgeous. Your daughter will find joy and happiness in her marriage by the grace of God. Congratulations. "

We also checked out her other works and a particular mind blowing and jaw dropping transformation of an accident victim caught our eye...see below:
Firstly, I give thanks to the ALMIGHTY GOD for sparing the life of my very good friend👭 that we grew up together @bns.promotions.uk after she had an accident caused by a drunk driver.

I didn't want to post this, as I don't feel good about showing her injury👳👷 pics but she insisted I should. She was preparing for her birthday party and this unfortunate incident happened about a week before the party. I was shocked 🙀when I saw the message and picture of her asking me to take responsibility of doing her makeup 💄even if I can't make it to the party.

 I couldn't say no because for Dupe, I will do anything. I thank God for making the day possible for her and making her feel beautiful as she wanted. Happy birthday 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂💕💕💕my sweet friend. Emi e a se pupo Odun laye. Ooni ri ijamba mo, lagbara olorun. God will protect you. Amen. #godforbidbadthing

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“There is nothing as sexy as a man who loves Jesus” Julius Agwu's wife gushes about him

Julius Agwu is celebrating his birthday today and  his wife, Ibiere Agwu, has shared the sweetest message to honor him!

“There is nothing as sexy as a man who loves JESUS, chases after him and confesses him openly. Happy birthday my husband, my crown @juliusagwu1 you are indeed a living, walking testimony of God’s grace.

 My prayer for you today is that you continue to love God more than you have ever loved and his glory shall never depart from you. #birthdayboy #blessedamongstmen #April7 #whoGodhasblessednomancanconquer”. Ibiere wrote on instagram!

Their love is so inspiring!

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OLUBADAN PLACES EZE NDIGBO UNDER BAALES

 Oba Saliu Adetunji

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, yesterday seized the beads of the Baale of Ido, Chief Tajudeen Akinola Agura, for parading himself as the Onido.

Oba Adetunji also warned leaders of the Igbo community in Ibadan to subject themselves to the authority of the baales in their domains.
He said Eze Ndigbo must operate within the framework of the Ibadan traditional authority.

The monarch said on no account would the palace attend to the Eze without first passing through the baales under who they must subject themselves.
These decisions were taken at a two-and-a-half-hour meeting of the Olubadan-in-council yesterday at the Popoyemoja palace.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, the Asipa Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, said: “We have taken a stance on the principle of upholding Ibadan authority.

“We’ve done many things today on the issue of the man parading himself as Onido who has been suspended.

“The Kabiyesi was of the view that since he has been suspended, he cannot go about parading himself as Onido, wearing beads. So, we have seized his beads.

“The second issue was the issue of Eze Ndigbo. In any community, you cannot have two monarchs.

“The only Oba in Ibadan is the Olubadan. So, no other person can call himself his royal highness in Ibadan land”.

Other members of the council in attendance include the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun; Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja; Osi Balogun, High Chief Femi Olaifa; the Asipa Olubadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole; the Iyalode of Ibadan, High Chief Aminat Abiodun and Chief Lateef Gbadamosi.

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Hilarious: Check Out This Concert in Lagos Where Fuel is the Gate Fee (Photo)

The controversial poster in question
 
Nigerians on social media seem to be mocking the current administration in a rather tricky and expensive way that will crack your ribs.

This picture as been going viral about a party tagged 'Simi and Friends' where you don't have to pay to get in to see your favourite artistes but to just bring some quantity of fuel with you.

The authenticity of the poster is yet to be ascertained but reports have it that it is a meme to mock the current economic situation in Nigeria.

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See How a Nigerian Man Arrested by NDLEA Padded Illegal Drugs In His Boxers (Photos)

The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 27-year-old automobile parts dealer, Afube Izuchukwu Henry, and a 36-year-old factory worker in Dubai, Chijioke Chukwuemeka Raphael, at the Lagos airport.

Two Nigerians who imported illegal drugs from Dubai to the country have been nabbed by NDLEA, but where they conveyed the drugs is something else... check on it.

28 packs of Tramadol weighing 21.99kg which was packed inside a DJ Rack box was found on Afube, while 1.8kg of cocaine was found inside Chijioke's boxer shorts.

The Tramadol was intercepted during pre-shipment inspection. The consignment was destined for Congo Brazzaville.

Chijioke said that he was offered N450,000 to smuggle the drug to Nigeria from Dubai.

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EFCC Arraigns NAMA MD, Directors for N2.8bn Theft

The President Muhammadu Buhari administration has continued in its strong war against corruption with some top officials in the aviation sector arraigned in court for sharp practices.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was on Thursday arraigned Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Managing Director/Chief Executive Ibrahim Abdulsalam at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing N2.8billion, according to the Nation.

He was charged along with Nnamdi Udoh (still at large), Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Ayodele Adegorite, Randville Invesment Ltd and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd before Justice Babs Kuewumi on 21 counts charge.

EFCC said on August 19, 2013, the defendants, with intent to defraud, conspired amongst themselves to induce NAMA to deliver the sum of N2,847,523,975.00 to Delosa Ltd, Air Sea Delivery Ltd and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd under the pretense that the money represented the cost of clearing NAMA’s consignments.

The alleged offence is contrary to section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3).

The prosecution said the defendants conspired to deliver various amounts to Delosa Limited on different dates under the pretence that they were payment for clearing NAMA’s consignment.

EFCC said they paid the firm N274,021,452.00 between January 31 and April 15, 2013; and between August 19 and December 31, 2013, they paid it N151,136,320.

The defendants also paid the firm N403,485,057.70 between January 15 and December 17, 2014, as well as N285,906,834.10 between January 14 and September 16, 2015, the prosecution alleged.

EFCC said the defendants induced NAMA to pay Air Sea Delivery Ltd the sum of N409,010,344.70 under the pretense it represented the cost of clearing NAMA’s goods. EFCC said they also paid Air Sea N230, 585,636.20 between January 14 and September 16.

According to the agency, another company, Sea Schedules System Ltd, got N227, 634,567.20 between September 11 and December 15, 2014 under  the pretence that it cleared NAMA’s consignments, and between January 14 and September 3, the defendants paid Sea Schedulesthe sum of N314,378,212.80.

The defendants were accused of conspiring amongst themselves on January 2, 2013 to convert N858,507, 609.56, property of NAMA, which was derived from stealing, contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable  under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

Between January 2 and December 17, 2013, the defendants allegedly converted N191,616,651.56 belonging to NAMA to themselves.
EFCC said they allegedly converted N728,870,158 between 2013 and 2015.

Count 13 reads: “That you, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Ayodele Adegorite, Randville Invesment Ltd And Multeng Travels And Tours Ltd, between the 1st day of January and the 30th day of December, 2015  within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an offence, to wit: Conversion of the sum of N336,803,308 property of NAMA, which sum was derived from stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts. Their lawyers, who said they had filed bail applications, prayed the court to remand the suspects in EFCC’s custody where they had been held since February 12.

But EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo, who said he needed to respond to the motions for bail, urged the court to remand the defendants in prison custody.

“EFCC’s detention facilities are overstretched. Arrests are being made everyday. EFCC cannot afford to keep more detainees,” he said.

The commission listed an initial 20 witnesses, including representatives of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Skye Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and First Bank Plc, who will tesfify during the trial.

Justice Kuewumi adjourned until April 12 for commencement of trial.

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Trouble at CCT as Orubebe's Lawyer Clashes With Judges

Elder Godsday Orubebe‎
 
Orubebe of the INEC proceeding disruption fame is currently standing trial at the CCT during which a disagreement occurred between his legal counsel and CCT judges.

Mr. Larry Selekeowei, SAN, attorney representing Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe‎ over allegation that he falsely declared his assets in 2007 today clashed with the Justice Danladi Umar-led panel of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

According to VANGUARD, the clash followed moves by the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, to tender into evidence, the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and the Right of Occupancy (R of O), of Plot ‎No. 2057 Asokoro District Abuja, which Orubebe was said to have failed to declare as his property.

When Selekeowei tried to make his point on why the submission should not be allowed, one of the Judges on the CCT panel, Mr. Agwaza Atedze, interjected and asked the defence lawyer to streamline his argument to specific contents of the document before the tribunal.

The remark infuriated Mr. ‎Selekeowei, SAN, who “rudely” reprimanded the Judge for unduly interfering with his submission.

“‎Why are you interjecting into my submission like this? I am making a point, you have not even allowed me to land! You are interfering with this proceeding and it is wrong! . You are the Judge, you should allow me to make my submission while you rule. Allow me do my work, yours is to be neutral. Why are you doing this?”, Selekeowei bellowed.

All efforts to pacify Orubebe’s lawyer proved abortive as he kept shouting “I am making a submission and someone is interfering and you expect me to keep quite, that cannot happen!”

He however later tendered an apology to the judges when they insisted on getting one

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How CCB Uncovered Orubebe's Hidden Property in Abuja

Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe

The case against former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe is getting intense as another shocking revelation has uncovered his hidden property in Abuja.

The Federal Government on Thursday made a shocking revelation after it opened its case against a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, who is being prosecuted on one count of false asset declaration.

While being led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Diri, the first prosecution witness , Samuel Madojemu, an official of the Code of Conduct Bureau while testifying on Thursday revealed that Orubebe failed to declare his property at Plot 2057, Asokoro District, Abuja, as a minister between 2007 and 2011.

Madojemu, who co-ordinates CCB’s “intelligence on observed breaches of the code and asset tracing investigation”, said Orubebe submitted five asset declaration forms to the bureau between 2007 and 2011, the period he served as minister.

Orubebe submitted the five forms to the CCB first as Minister of Special Duties under the administration of the late President Umar Yar’adua, and later as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs up till 2011 under the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

The witness said the Certificate of Occupancy for the property obtained from the land registry of the Federal Capital Territory Administration showed that it  was issued to Orubebe on April 10, 2011 but that the former minister failed to declare it as of the time of leaving office on May 29, 2011.

Madojemu said, “The defendant declared his assets to the bureau by virtue of his position as a public officer and as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I was instructed to invite him to the bureau for the purpose of obtaining his statement on the allegations and intelligence report that was being handled by the bureau concerning him.

“I invited him. He promised to respond by sending his legal team. He also promised that he might decide to come in person but he did not come.

“My Lord, the bureau issued him with Form CCB 1 which is the bureau’s asset declaration form and he made his declaration between 2007 and 2011 – the period under investigation.

“The Code of Conduct Bureau issued the defendant the Form CCB 1 five times. For those five times, he made his asset declaration to the bureau.

“My Lord, after we received the form, we examined the form as part of our procedures to ascertain if there was over-declaration or under-declaration.

“We conducted intelligence assessment on the declaration made by the defendant. We discovered that there were some other plots or properties that were traced to the defendant, Godsday Orubebe.

“We conducted record examination by writing a letter to the Federal Capital Territory’s Department of Land Administration.

“My Lord, in their response, which was in writing, it was indicated that Plot 2057 Asokoro District for which the Certificate of Occupancy was issued on April 10, 2011, belonged to the defendant.

“We thereafter compared the information arising from response from the FCT land administration department with the information on asset declaration forms submitted to the bureau between 2007 and 2011 and discovered that Plot 2057 Asokoro District belonging to the defendant was not declared even as at May 29, 2011 when he left office.

“Apart from the letter from FCT land administration registry, we also received Certified True Copy of the Certificate of Occupancy in respect of Plot number 2057 issued to the defendant.

“We also received the CTC of the Right of Occupancy for that same Plot No 2057 issued to the defendant.

“Also received from the FCT land administration registry, was a letter of authority, given to one Engineer Rodney by the defendant to collect the Certificate of Occupancy and the Right of Occupancy from the FCT land registry. It was supported by the (international passport) page of the defendant.”

The witness also said Orubebe failed to honour invitation by the Bureau saying the reason for inviting Orubebe was to ask him why he failed to declare the asset which he acquired about one month to the expiration of his tenure.

Orubebe who was decked in a white native attire and a black hat,  sat in the dock throughout the proceedings.

He was accompanied to court by a group of women and other supporters. The trial was adjourned till April 14 for cross-examination of the witness.

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My Hands are Clean! - Senator David Mark Speaks on Alleged Links to 8 Secret Offshore Shell Companies

Senator David Mark

Former President of the Senate, David Mark said Thursday that his hands are clean over claims linking him to having at least eight offshore shell companies while in office and violation of a federal code of conduct law.

In a statement by Paul Mumeh, the media Assistant to former senate president, Senator David Mark on Thursday, stated that his hands are clean over claims linking him to having at least eight offshore shell companies while in office and violation of a federal code of conduct law.

While reacting to the development, Senator Mark who noted that he was not directly or indirectly connected to any of the companies registered, operated or managed by the Mossack Fonseca Law Firm, said that those behind the story will hear from his lawyers.

The statement read, "Our attention has been drawn to spurious Media reports on the Panama papers in which Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark was alleged to have operated offshore companies.

"For the avoidance of doubt, in the released materials of the Panama Leaks, his name is not listed anywhere in the database of Mossack Fonseca Law Firm. We reiterate categorically, that he is not directly or indirectly connected to any of the companies registered, operated or managed by the Mossack Fonseca Law Firm.

"We challenge all those behind this propaganda and Media outburst to prove or show that Senator Mark’s name was mentioned in the leaks. He is prepared to stand and defend himself against any accusation in relation to this matter.

"Senator Mark’s Media team has carried out its own search of the Mossack Fonseca database and found no statement, item or any connection to Senator David Mark or his Family. It follows that there is no record whatsoever of any impropriety or wrongdoing.

"We recall that in his quest for Senate Presidency in 2007, there was an attempt to bring a similar issue to the fore in order to stop him. So what are their fears now in 2016 for regurgitating the same issue?

"Once more, Senator Mark has distanced himself and any member of his family from the said Mossack Fonseca Firm and has no affiliation whatsoever with any company operated, registered or managed by Mossack Fonseca.

"Senator Mark has not contravened any laws of the land and he is treating this for what it is, an attempt to blackmail and tarnish his hard earned image by some political elements.

"As a public officer, Senator Mark has maintained a high level of decorum, respects and observes the laws of the land and believes in the sanctity of the rule of law. He will not be distracted by what is clearly a deliberate mischief and propaganda.

"Records of all his assets are available with the relevant government agencies and can be verified. He has consulted his legal team and will take this up accordingly."

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Revealed: Details of Obasanjo's Visit to President Buhari at Aso Rock Villa

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who was spotted a while ago at State House in Abuja as he pays a visit to President Buhari, has revealed some details of his visit.

We reported it here earlier today that former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa Abuja.

The country's leaders met behind closed doors, shielding any speck of reason for the congress from journalists.

Speaking briefly with state house correspondents after meeting with President Buhari who received details of the 2016 budget after insisting for weeks that he had to see the details of the document before signing, Obasanjo denied ever signing budgets without details through out his eight-year tenure.

"I signed budget without details? Anybody who told you that, go and ask him again," he said.

‎When asked of his comment on the 2016 appropriation billl, he said: "Before I will be able to tell you something about the budget, I have to read it and know what it contains and know what to talk about."

He was also asked why he was visiting the villa, he said: "You know that not too long ago, I was out there. I have come to share some of my experiences with him."

When pressed on the nature of the experiences he shared, he said: "Haha! If I say I shared experiences with my wife, you will ask me wetin I talk with my wife?"

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Blame Goodluck Jonathan for Buhari's Incessant Foreign Trips - APC Senator

Muhammadu Buhari
 
A lawmaker under the banner of the APC has blamed the immediate past administration for Buhari's constant foreign trips which are for the purpose of correcting the faulty structure on ground.

The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, Senator Mohammed Sabo Nakudu has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s frequent trips abroad were part of the price Nigeria had to pay for the impunity and reign of terror witnessed in the country during the regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Senator Nakudu who spoke with The Nation in Abuja on Wednesday said the criticism against President Buhari on his foreign trips were based on ignorance as Nigeria would benefit more from some of the multi-national and bilateral agreements signed by the president abroad.

The Jigawa South-West senator cited the agreement signed by the President with the Government of the United Arab Emirate, UAE, among others as example, saying in a short while billion of dollars starched away in that country would be repatriated into Nigeria.

“The 2016 budget is a clear intention of the government to do away with oil revenues and embrace agriculture and minining. The 2016 budget is geared towards providing the enabling environment for the economy to grow as can be seen from the allocations to the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and with economic growth, the issue of poverty and unemployment will be reduced.

“The budget is also farmers friendly because the present government has realized the importance agriculture can play in our economic life. However, it must be emphasized that success in agriculture cannot be achieved without the necessary support from all tiers of government as being done in developed countries.”

Senator Nakudu who enjoined Nigerians to be patient with the administration as steps are being taken to right so many wrongs in the system, said it would take a systematic approach to rejuvenate the economy of the country.

“The administration has prioritized the issues of corruption and insecurity. And we have seen the results of both. Insurgent activities have reduced drastically and people are now being careful and cautious in government offices. The administration is doing the right thing and I believe everybody who mean well for this country would key into that,” Nakudu stated.

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Shocking! Live Snake Crawls Out of Woman's Private Part (Photo+Video)

A shocking video has shown the unbelievable moment a snake crawled out of the private part of a woman who has been sick after she was prayed for.

A shocking and unbelievable video has caused internet user to shout in fear after a freaky footage of the serpent crawling out of the woman's private part emerged online.

The snake could be seen raising it's head as it crawls out of the woman's private part. It looks like it is a kind of ritual as the camera man captures the unbelievable moment.

Exact details of how the snake got inside the woman are unclear – although the 46-second video appears to have been filmed in a hospital in Africa.

According to Dailystar, it was gathered the woman was rushed to the medical centre with an unspecified illness. Her relatives called a pastor after she became more sick.

As the priest prayed for her, the snake popped its head out of her private parts.

Watch the shocking video below:

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Updated: How Ibinabo Fiberesima Secured N2m Bail

Embattled Nollywood Actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima

Nollywood Actress, Ibinabo Feberesima sentenced for killing a medical doctor has finally been granted bail by an Appeal Court sitting in Lagos.

Embattled Nollywood Actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima was granted a N2m bail by a Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Thursday.

She was sentenced to five years imprisonment for manslaughter. The appellate court agreed with her lawyers that Fiberesima’s application for bail had merit.

Justice Samuel Oseji, who read the lead judgment, granted Fiberesima N2m bail with two sureties in like sum. The court said the two sureties must be resident in Lagos and must each swear to an affidavit of means. Justice Oseji said he was inclined to exercise discretion in Fiberesima’s favour in view of her health and because there was no record that she had jumped bail in the past.

The judge said it would amount to injustice if after Fiberesima had been kept in prison, pending the determination of a suit she filed at the Supreme Court. Justice Sidi Bage, who presided over the proceedings, aligned himself with the lead judgment but the third member of the panel, Justice Y.B. Nimpar, dissented. Justice Nimpar said the ill health grounds upon which Fiberesima anchored her application for bail was untenable.

The judge noted that there was no record before the court that Fiberesima had suffered any complication since February that she underwent surgery for breast cancer and April when she brought her application for bail.

Besides, Justice Nimpar said there were adequate medical facilities in the prison to cater to her health needs, adding that the prison hospital could also give her referral for consultancy in the event that she has any condition that could not be taken care by the prison hospital.

“The surgery was uneventful. The surgery was done in February, now we are here in April and there is no complication.

“The applicant is already convicted and presumption of innocence is no longer available.

“I personally will not exercise discretion in favour of the applicant,” Justice Nimpar held.

In support of Fiberesima’s bail application filed through her lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina, one Victor Eden had deposed to a six-paragraph affidavit stating that Fiberesima recently had a surgical operation for breast cancer. Eden said in the affidavit that Fiberesima was afraid that her life might be endangered if kept in the prison custody.

He had urged the court to grant her bail in the interest of justice.

It would be recalled that Fiberesima was in 2009 convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years imprisonment by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of a Lagos State High court for killing one Dr. Giwa Suraj on the Lekki-Epe Expressway in an auto crash.

The judge had ruled that her reckless driving caused the victim's death. Justice Oluwayemi overruled the decision of a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court which earlier ordered her to pay N100,000 for the offence.

But, Fiberesima had gone to the Court of Appeal for the judgement to be upturned. She was dealt a big blow when the Appeal Court dismissed her appeal and upheld the five years imprisonment imposed on her.

Still not satisfied, she further appealed to the Supreme Court and urged the Court of Appeal to grant her bail pending the decision of the apex court.

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Angry Men Protest Against Women for Refusing to Marry Them (Photos)

The protesters marched through the village to register their anger

Angry and lonely men from a village in Turkey have protested as they complained women in their village have refused to accept their marriage proposals.

A group of single men have staged a protest marching through a village in Turkey where women have refused their marriage proposals.

According to Dailymail, the women say they do not want to be trapped in the remote village of Uzumlu in southern Turkey.

In reply, the men have gone ahead to stage a protest in the village. The men say the women are being unreasonable and a video on CNNTurk.com website shows them marching through the village with banners urging the ladies to accept village life.

Speaking on the matter, the mayor Mustafa Bashbilan told the Al Arabiya website there were 25 single men, aged between 25 and 45, in the village.

But the last wedding in the village was nine years ago and since then its population has fallen alarmingly, from 400 to 233.

He said most of the town’s young women had chosen to move to cities like Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya but the men stayed behind to farm land which has been in their families' possession for centuries.

Mr Bashbilan said the town was not poor but the unhappiness of the men was becoming a social problem.

One of the men's banners called on Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan to help.

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Nigerian Man Kills Heavily Pregnant Snake...See the Many Baby Snakes That Came Out of It (Photos)

The pregnant snake

A social media user based in the rural part of Nigeria has shared some disturbing images of a huge pregnant snake he participated in killing with several other baby snakes contained in its belly.

These photos were shared on a popular online forum in Nigeria and the members have been shocked about the contents of the snake's belly after it was ripped open by residents.

Read the words of the news poster online:

"We killed this big snake very near our neighbour's house where they are clearing for this year farming.

I usually kill snakes easily but this one really scared me. I was shocked to the marrow of my bones. 40 Snakelets in one snake! I thought snake lay eggs but this specie carries it young ones till they mature, and that's when they kill their mom, open it's belly and crawl away"

See more photos:

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Shocking! Bride Attacked by Her Father-in-Law During Her Own Wedding Reception (Video)

A bride got a lot more than she expected after she flipped her middle finger at her new father-in-law during her wedding ceremony.

A heavy fight broke out in the middle of the wedding reception after the bride flipped the finger at her new father-in-law.

According to Mirror Online, the event occurred in Russia.

The blushing bride - identified only as Lena - is seen in her large white gown when she turns to the camera and raises her middle finger.

At first it looks like the gesture is a joke as the woman, from Russia, accompanies it with a cheeky smile and a wink. But her new father-in-law is less than impressed and launches towards her within seconds.

A male can be heard saying: "What the heck is this? Put your middle finger on the plate and I cut it with a knife"

But her father-in-law screamed: "You freaking cow. Get the f*** out of here."

One woman, trying to cover the bride's mouth with her hand, says: "Lena, please calm yourself down."

While another man helpfully urges: "Go on, kill her."

Then the bride's father-in-law then seems to lose his temper completely. He shouts: "You damned w***e! I spent a lot of money on this wedding and what did you do?"

He starts shoving and slapping his daughter-in-law who falls to the floor.

A woman's voice can then be heard saying: "Lena, are you out of your f*****g mind?"

In the footage Lena is led away in tears as her in-laws try to kick her.

Most people who watched the video have been baffled about why such a huge fight had to happen at all.

Watch the video below:

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Wicked World! Hoodlums Dump N*ked Body of Girl Inside Bush After Defiling and Killing Her (Photos)

The murdered girl

A young girl has brutally met her end in the hands of some unscrupulous hoodlums after they r*ped and killed her.

This unnamed young girl pictured above was reportedly defiled and murdered by hoodlums in Sangmelima, a town in Cameroon.

Her unclad body was discovered afterwards in a bush within the area.

Residents have been thrown into panic and fear over the shocking incident.

Her body has been deposited in a morgue in Sangmelima.

See the graphic photo below.

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Jesus Christ Has a Very Hot S*xy Wife in Heaven - Prophet Who Claims to Have Taken Photos of Heaven Insists

Prophet Mboro

A popular prophet who has been very much in the news for his outrageous claims about heaven is in the news again for obvious reasons.

Prophet Mboro, the man who made international headlines last week after his followers claimed he was ‘abducted’ by God during and Easter service and taken to heaven is back in the news again.

Upon return, the man of cloth claimed he took pictures of heaven using his Samsung Galaxy S5 Smartphone, which has now gone allegedly gone missing.

According to Southern Daily, South Africa, in the first Sunday service which he gave, the Prophet described heaven to his followers.

The most outstanding of the revelations was that Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour of the Christian Religion, has a hot forever young ebony wife.

The Prophet said, “I saw heaven and it is a surprise. Jesus for example, has a beautiful Xhosa wife. She is young, hot, and extremely attractive”

Christians generally do not want to believe their lord had sex, as Leonardo Davinci claims in the Davinci Code

Indeed some historians have tried to say that Christ probably had a wife, and enjoyed s*xual relations with Mary Magdalene.

However, Mboro’s claims is most likely to spark a full scale controversy in South Africa and beyond.

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Prophet Who Allegedly 'Took Pictures of Heaven' With His Phone Says Phone is Now Missing...See Details

Prophet Mboro

Prophet Mboro who has been in the news for allegedly taking several selfies in heaven, has now made a statement about the phone he used while up there.

After claiming that he went to heaven and took pictures, Pastor Mboro is now saying that he lost the phone he used to take the pictures while he was there and has therefore lost evidence.

Prophet Mboro, founder of Incredible Happenings Ministries, told dozens of journalists who attended his briefing session that he took pictures while he was in heaven, but the pictures were available to those who were willing to pay a R5000 pledge.

However, after fake photos of him in heaven began to circulate on the internet, Pastor Mboro promised to post the pictures for free on his Facebook page this week for everyone to see. But unfortunately, no one will be able to see those pictures anymore as his phone was allegedly stolen while he was washing his car in a car-wash.

“The pictures were really there, I saw them. We suspect one of the boys washing the Prophet’s car took the phone. But they all denied taking it, even after we threatened them.” said one of Mboro’s body guards.

"All those who have deposited money will be refunded.”

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Accept Defeat and Allow Me to Concentrate - Gov. Wike Fire More Shots at Rotimi Amaechi

Gov. Nyesom Wike

Rivers State Governor has asked the Minister of Transport to accept the reality that his political party lost the rerun elections and give way for the state government to concentrate on rebuilding the state.

While declaring open a retreat on 'Strengthening capacity, efficiency and service delivery for sustainable development for top government officials' on Thursday, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has asked Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, to accept the reality that his political party lost the rerun elections and give way for the state government to concentrate on rebuilding the state.

Speaking at Onne Multi-Purpose Centre, Governor Wike stated that the responsibility of reviving the state after the immediate past administration failed to use the three trillion naira (N3 trillion) that was allocated to the state under its watch was enormous, adding that he had deployed resources and expertise to correct the failures of the Amaechi administration.

"I call on the former Governor and leader of the APC in the State to accept the reality that the re-run elections has woefully been lost by his party and that Rivers people have, again, overwhelmingly re-affirm their confidence, trust and preference for the PDP.

"Therefore, spare us the agony of unnecessary hostility and allow Rivers State to move forward in peace and security. We expect you to use your high office and connections to attract meaningful development projects to the State as I did during my time; not senseless and unpatriotic distractions. Enough is enough.

"All of us are aware of the sorry state of things in Rivers State before May 29 2015. Between October 25 2007 and May 28 2015 over three trillion naira accrued from all revenue sources to the State. Yet, they did nothing tangible with that money to develop the State. Instead, they squandered and diverted most of this money into private pockets through bogus and ill-fated projects."

The governor further claimed that all major projects that Amaechi initiated were either abandoned or not executed at all.

"Let’s briefly look at the records since they live in denial. The visible projects initiated by former Governor Amaechi during his eight years in office include: the Karibi Whyte mega Hospital project, the Greater Port Harcourt Project, the new Rivers State University project; the RSSDA over-seas scholarship scheme; the mosquitos eradication scheme, the Adokiye Amiesemaka Stadium project, the 500 primary schools project, the 23 mega secondary schools project, the ill-fated less than 1.5kms monorail project, and the dualization of some inner city roads.

"However, none of these projects was realised before they left office despite spending billions and billions of naira on them. For example, the Karibi Whyte Hospital was not just abandoned at the foundation stage, it turned out to be a big scam on Rivers people.

"The Greater Port Harcourt project existed mainly on paper without any tangible progress. The Adokye Amiesimaka stadium was abandoned half completed, while not even a stone was laid for the proposed new Rivers State University.

"Furthermore, the mosquito eradication project was another huge scam, just as the secondary school and overseas scholarships scheme were misconceived, fraudulent and unsustainable. In addition, they sold off three of the State’s four independent power plants initiated by the Governor Odili administration to cronies and diverted the proceeds to private ends.

"The narrative is not different in their much-flaunted education and health projects. Their own project audit before they left office reveals that out of 498 primary schools they initiated, only 116 were completed and the rest abandoned. Similarly, out of the 23-mega secondary schools they initiated, only one was completed, the rest abandoned.

"Throughout the eight years, no public secondary school was rehabilitated, while all the general hospitals were willfully abandoned to rot and decay. I challenge the former Governor to controvert these facts in a public debate."

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See Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde's Real Look without Make-up (Photo)

Nollywood actress, Omotola has shared a no make-up photo in a fashion she has never been seen before.

Most social media users haven't seen a make-up free photo of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde in recent times.

The mother of 4 greeted her Instagram followers with a natural picture of herself retaining her explosive looks without enhancement.

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Pregnant Wife Caught 'Pants Down' With Another Man in a Hotel Room

The pregnant woman and her lover after being busted in the hotel
 
A pregnant married woman was nabbed in a hotel room with another man engaging in an illicit romantic affair.

The woman in question happens to have been seeing the man for a while. They been having extra marital affairs for a very long time according to social media reports.

The husband of the woman has been hearing rumours of his wife's misconduct, but he never believed until he caught them after acting on a tip-off.

On that fateful day as usual his wife and her lover, went to their normal rendezvous which was a particular hotel (name withheld) to have sexual intercourse.

The husband who was already alert, got a call from his informant, he bursted into the hotel and caught his pregnant wife with another man in the very act.

The husband took pictures and recorded some videos which he started posting on social media.

See more photos:

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