Photo: Man arrested for stabbing neighbour over witchcraft allegation

Abuchi Simon,37, was arrested and charged before Isolo Magistrate court after he repeatedly stabbed his neighbour, Ehis Ibhaze, over allegation of witchcraft and spiritual attack. According to P.M. News, the men, both residents of No 14, Ifelodun street, Ilasamaja, Lagos, were not on good terms when the incident happened. Simon allegedly accused Ibhaze of waging spiritual war against his family which he claimed delayed his progress.

On the day the incident happened, Simon reportedly ambushed Ibhaze in the bathroom where he had gone to take his bath and attacked him with a knife. He was rescued by neighbours and rushed to the hospital. Simon was immediately arrested by the police and charged to court. He pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Joy Ugbomoiko granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties. He was remanded in prison custody pending when he meets up with his bail condition. The case was adjourned till 25 November, 2015.

Photos: Remi Tinubu on Ike Ekweremadu's seat at plenary today

A mild drama ensued at the Senate today when Remi Tinubu sat on the seat reserved for deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu. She was shouted down by other PDP Senators and was forced to return to her seat. (read here). These are photos from the incident. Another photo after the cut...

'I’m not a thief, I have a lot to tell Nigerians' - Dasuki says, denies awarding fictitious contracts

Former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki has denied allegations that he awarded fictitious arms procurement contract to the tune of N300 billion while he was in office. In a statement he released this evening, Dasuki said he was not NSA as at when the fictitious contracts were said to have been awarded. His statement in part below

"In a theatrical manner, the Presidency fed the public with many allegations against my person and yet-to-be-named former public officers.
To draw sympathy, the presidency quoted some absurd findings including extra-budgetary interventions; award of fictitious contracts; 53 failed contracts; payment for jobs without contractual agreements; non-execution of contracts for the purchase of 4 Alpha jets, bombs and ammunition. For undiscerning Nigerians, they may tend to assume that the allegations were true and pronounce the former National Security Adviser guilty as charged.

The statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, who should know better as a former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and a witness to history, was nothing sort of propaganda to cast aspersions on Dasuki. To set the records straight, Nigerians should appreciate that the AVM Jon Ode-led panel did not invite the ex-NSA under any guise before arriving at its ambiguous findings. At least, fairness demands that the panel ought to hear from Dasuki instead of its recourse to hasty conclusions. If the panel had been more patient and painstaking, it would have been availed of all relevant documents on some of the jaundiced findings. “As if acting a script, the Presidency alleged that the Panel accused Dasuki of awarding fictitious contracts between March 2012 and March 2015. Contrary to this claim, Dasuki was not the NSA in March 2012 and he could not have awarded any contract in whatever name. The ex-NSA was appointed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on June 22, 2012. All contracts and accruing payments were with the approval of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces. Once the ex-President approved, the former NSA paid. So, there was due process for every purchase in line with regulations guiding arms procurement for the Armed Forces. “And Nigerians should note that all the services generated the types of equipment needed, sourced for suppliers most times and after consideration by the Office of the NSA, the President will approve application for payment. For sensitive sectors (military/security), there was no room for awarding fictitious contracts. The conclusions of the panel were presumptive, baseless and lacked diligence. “There were no fictitious contracts; contract sums were not diverted and the relevant services in writing acknowledged delivery of equipment. For all procurements, the Nigerian Army, the Air Force and the Nigerian Navy have their contractors. “While awaiting judicial process on these allegations, it is proper to make some references to show that the presidency was just desperate to hang some former public and military officers who served this nation at the risk of their lives. “It is laughable for the panel to assume that 4 Alpha jets and 12 helicopters were undelivered. In a memo to the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA), referenced NAF/905/D/CAS of November 28, 2014, the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Adesola Amosu acknowledged the receipt of the 4x Alpha jets attack aircraft and the helicopters. On 10/21/14, the Chief of Air Staff also confirmed the receipt of F-7 N1 aircraft combination of 250kg bombs and accessories at $2,894,000 with the cost of freight at $1,200,000. The same Air Force confirmed getting 2xTri Shield 36DG Tactical radars “In another letter of December 1, 2014 signed by L.S. Alao(on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff), the Air Force said it received five containerized fuel storage and dispensing units with equipment. The Nigerian Army wrote the ONSA to acknowledge the delivery of 14 armoured tanks. In a December 13, 2014 memo, the Brigade of Guards thanked ONSA for releasing N30m for RCA, Operation allowance for Troops on Op Urban Sweep II for third and fourth quarters of 2014. This is apart from the installation of CCT Cameras at the Brigade Headquarters, 2 backscatter bomb detection vans and other equipment. On November 26, 2014, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh sought for approval of the award of one pair of uniform(in the interim) for the Armed Forces at N165, 375 to El-Jahab Mubarak Nigeria and N330,750,000 for two pairs. These are some of the acknowledgment letters submitted to me by the end-users(the services). It is not for me to go and find out whether the equipment were delivered or not. I am not the one keeping the inventories. “To show that I have nothing to hide, I submitted a comprehensive list of all requests for procurements by the services, the items bought and those equipment being awaited to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari long before I left office. If there were issues, I should have been questioned. I was just the clearing house, I did not award contracts to my company or proxies. There was no contract awarded or equipment bought without approval from the then President and Commander-In-Chief. I am not a thief or treasury looter as being portrayed. “In order not to endanger the nation’s security, there are many salient issues and contracts which I cannot put in public domain. I am ready for trial on all these allegations in order to prove to Nigerians that I did nothing untoward in office. We will certainly meet in court. I have a lot to tell Nigerians but in the interim, they should not believe some of the allegations as the gospel truths. The good thing is that some of the key actors in the present administration were parts of the past process being viciously challenged. As for my tenure as the nation’s NSA, I acted in the interest of the nation and with utmost fear of God. I did not use the office for any self-serving agenda. I occupied the Office of the National Security Adviser at a difficult moment in Nigerian history when terrorism was at its peak and I am leaving posterity to judge me accordingly.”the statement read

Photos from the robbery incident in Ikorodu this morning

There was a robbery incident at Jumofak, Ikorodu, Lagos this morning. According to eye-witnesses, a lady was on her way to work by 6am when a thief attacked her with a dagger, gave her a cut on her left arm and collected her phones. The lady's shouts attracted people who ran after the thief & caught him. They gave him the beating of his life and handed him over to the local security agents. That is the guy in the van. See more photos after the cut...

Go behind-the-scenes of the November cover shoot of Forbes Africa featuring Peace Hyde & Cosmas Maduka of Coscharis Group

The November Edition of Forbes Africa features the Chairman of the Coscharis Group Dr. Cosmas Maduka who turned N200 into a multimillion-dollar business empire spanning automotive spare-parts, technology, manufacturing and agriculture. Today, we are excited to take you behind the scenes of the cover shoot.

Peace Hyde, Forbes West Africa Correspondent and TV Personality, chats with the business mogul who shares his views on what it really means to be an entrepreneur. You get to also hear from Photographer kelechi Amadi obi, on the process of creating the exclusive cover shoot.

STILL DREAMING IT NOT TRUE

Forever in this heart of mine, an everlasting bond, for now until the end of time, are memories so fond.
When you were born,
you cried and the world rejoiced.
Live your life in a manner
so that when you die
the world cries and you rejoice.
As a well spent day brings happy sleep,
so life well used brings happy death.
Sleeping With Angels, Living With God
Memories Will Comfort Until We Meet Again
Always Loved And Never Forgotten
Resting in Peace and Joy for all Eternity
At rest in the arms of Jesus
There is no way to peace, peace is the way
Peace is the deliberate adjustment of my life to the will of God
Her heart was pure and filled with joy
She passed through glory’s morning gate and walked in paradise

REST IN PEACE MUMMY BEWAJI

In Loving Memory of Forever in our hearts,Too well loved to ever be forgotten everlasting life through Christ

Loving memories last forever,I am at a loss for words during this sorrowful time. Please know that I am thinking of you and praying for peace and comfort.

Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow,May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow”

“I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death.They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make.Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories.We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love.”

“The memory of the righteous is a blessing.” Proverbs 10:7

We miss you very much and love you dearly

We know our God is taking care of you

And you are now one of his special angels

You are forever in our hearts

We can’t wait to be with you again

No body ,i mean nobody cam miss you like the way the kids and i will ever miss you..CRY,CRY,CRY

MUMMY BEWAJI SUN RE OOO

I SEE PEOPLE CRYING BUT I START TO THINK AND WONDER WHY,WHY,WHY,WHY,WHY,WHY,.THEY COULD NEVER CORRECT YOU WHEN THE WRONG IS RIGHT WITH THEM,PEOPLE WILL STAND AS A CHANCE NOW TO CLAIM THE RIGHT THERE NEVER AND WILL NEVER DO WHEN YOU ARE ALIFE,MUMMY BEWAJI THE KIDS ARE THE ONLY THING THAT WILL ALWAYS BELONG TO YOU.FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL ALWAYS TURN THERE BACK WHEN THE MUSIC BECOMES SILENCE.AS MY QUEEN AND THE MOTHER OF MY LOVLY 3 KIDS I NO YOUR SOUL WILL ALWAYS FIGHT YOUR COURSE AND WILL NEVER CORRECT THE WRONG IN YOUR DEEPEST MEMORIES.THE MOURNING STILL REMEMBER THE FLYING ARROW WHEN IT SEEMS COLD,FOR I KNOW THE LORD WILL SET THE PLACE AS IT WAS MADE.FOR ALWAYS KNOW 4 EYE HAVE BECOME 2,JUST 2 AND 2.NO MORE WHEN YOU ARE REST.MISSING YOU.CRY CRY,CRY

  

STILL IN SHOCK REST IN PEACE TITILAYO ODUTOLA

To live in the hearts of others is never to die.

Death is the last chapter in time, but the first chapter in eternity.

 A thousand words won’t bring you back, I know because I’ve tried; neither will a thousand tears, I know because I’ve cried.

REST IN PEACE TITILAYO ODUTOLA Nee AYANKOYA

There are special people in our lives who never leaves us even after they have gone,Those we hold closest to our hearts never truly leave us. They live on in the kindness they have shared and the love they brought into our lives. What we have once enjoyed
we can never lose...All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.Although it's difficult today to see beyond the sorrow,
May looking back in memory help comfort us tomorrow.When you are sorrowful look again in your heart,and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love. He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man.and in deep tears with my deepest sympathies i regret to announce the passing away into glory the death of the mother of my lovly kids,my lovly wife and queen.TITILAYO ODUTOLA (NEE AYANKOYA who pass on to glory the early hour of yesterday.my hearth could not express how much the kids and both family will miss your kindness and gesture. May you see God's light on the path ahead When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,Even in your hour of sorrow,The gentle singing of the lark.When times are hard may hardness
Never turn your heart to stone,May you always remember
when the shadows fall—You do not walk alone. The tide recedes but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand.The sun goes down, but gentle warmth still lingers on the land.The music stops, and yet it echoes on in sweet refrains.....For every joy that passes,something beautiful remains.REST IN PEACE....CRY,CRY,CRY.........

Photos: Buhari, Tinubu attend burial ceremony of the Emir of Borgu

President Buhari and former Gov of Lagos state Bola Ahmed Tinubu amongst other dignitaries attended the burial ceremony of the Emir of Borgu. Pres. Buhari was pictured signing the condolence register. More photos after the cut...

Photo: Lagos gets new Head of Service

Lagos state government has appointed a new Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Toluwalope Ademola. Her appointment which takes immediate effect, was contained in a letter signed by Habib Haruna, the Chief Press Secretary to the Lagos state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.

Until her appointment, she was the Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Civil Service Pensions Office.

The new HOS was born on November 10, 1957 and had her Primary Education at Corona School, Yaba and Lagos University Staff School (1962 – 1968). She proceeded to the University of Ibadan where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (Second Class Honours – Upper Division) in Economics in 1981.

Bishop David Oyedepo today at the Faith Tabernacle in Cannanland, brought succor to residents of Ado-Odo/Ota as he engaged all contractors in the church who are willing and able to work and be paid there due charges to start work on all the roads leading to the church. He made this disclosure during the church's second service as they prepared for the December 2015 Shiloh. He said "all contractors who specializes in road building and maintenance as well as other relevant contractors to wait and see him after the service. He said it won't be a free job for the church but that they would be paid according just like a normal contractor." He also disclosed that the fixing of all roads leading to the church which are seriously in deplorable conditions would be fixed in 3 weeks time.

Bishop David Oyedepo today at the Faith Tabernacle in Cannanland, brought succor to residents of Ado-Odo/Ota as he engaged all contractors in the church who are willing and able to work and be paid there due charges to start work on all the roads leading to the church. He made this disclosure during the church's second service as they prepared for the December 2015 Shiloh. He said 

 

"all contractors who specializes in road building and maintenance as well as other relevant contractors to wait and see him after the service. He said it won't be a free job for the church but that they would be paid according just like a normal contractor."

He also disclosed that the fixing of all roads leading to the church which are seriously in deplorable conditions would be fixed in 3 weeks time.

South East roads require urgent Government attention - Osinbajo

Vice President Osinbajo, while answering questions from journalists at a wedding he attended at the Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd, Anglican Communion, Enugu, during the weekend, said that the worst problem plaguing people of the South-Eastern area was bad roads, adding that the situation required urgent Federal Government attention.

Prof. Osinbajo stated that even though the government has some financial constraints, there was urgent need to improve on the roads in the region where commerce is the source of income for the people. He said that he had discussed the issue with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

He said:

“One problem that the people of the South-East have is roads. You know what our financial constraints are, and there is a need for improvement on roads where there is a lot of commerce and movement of people. There is need to raise the value of naira by discouraging importation of some items so that the economy will improve.”

In a homily at the church, Arch. Bishop of the Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Anglican Communion, His Grace, Emmanuel Chukwuma, appealed to the Federal Government to create employment for the teeming unemployed youths in the country, living in poverty.

76 year old woman kills 78 year old husband after he accused her of cheating

Investigators say a 76-year-old woman charged with murder in her husband's shooting told deputies she was angry because he accused her of cheating.
Aiken County deputies say Mary Todd also told the officers who came to her Beech Island home around 4 a.m. Tuesday that she drank too much before the confrontation.

Coroner Tim Carlton identified the victim as 78-year-old William Todd. Paramedics pronounced him dead in the couple's home.

Deputies say they had never been to the couple's home before for a domestic violence call.

Mary Todd is also charged with possession of a weapon during a violent crime. She is being held at the Aiken County jail awaiting a bond hearing.

Nigeria Is Broke: We Can't Afford To Pay All 36 Ministers- Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said not all the 36 nominees would be ministers as some of them would only sit in the cabinet in order to meet the constitutional provision of a cabinet having 36...He also revealed there is no money to pay all the ministers because Nigeria is broke,,

Buhari made his stance known interview he granted the Nigerian Television Authority and Channels TV shortly before he left India..

Buhari said,

 “There was no reduction (of ministers) to 36. What the constitution says, and we cannot work outside the constitution, is that there must be a cabinet representative from each state.Yes, there used to be 42 ministers, I think we will be lucky if we can have half of that now because we cannot afford it.Others may not be substantive ministers but they will sit in the cabinet because that is what the constitution says and we cannot operate outside the constitution.”

When asked whether he will reduce the number of ministers, Buhari said, 

“Of course! Unless you can volunteer to be paying them (ministers).”

On the criteria used in compiling his ministerial nominees, the President explained

“I have just talked about Nigerians, especially the elite, sitting and reflecting on serious national issues.“How many times did I attempt to be the President of Nigeria? How many times did I end up in the Supreme Court? Does is it mean every time, I don’t know people in this country?I know people who we were going together but fell by the wayside because it was too tough. You know I contested in 2003, 2007, 2011. I think Nigerians should stop taking things for granted as far as we are concerned,” he said.

When the President was asked to react to the claim that his administration is slow in the development of infrastructure, Buhari said

 “Where is the money? You must have known that the Federal Government had to help 27 of the 36 states to pay salaries.

“Nigeria cannot pay salaries. The Federal Government itself had to summon the governor of the Central Bank to see how it would pay salaries not to talk of the agreements we signed with foreign countries, counterpart funding and so on.

“This country was materially vandalised and morally so and you are in a position to know even more than myself unless you are testing my knowledge whether I know it or not.”

When asked to be categorical on whether the country is broke, Buhari replied, 

“Of course, Nigeria is broke.”

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

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

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

He was removed from under the truck and died before he could be taken to the hospital.

He was buried last night at the Agege cemetery according to Islamic rites.

The deceased won the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) Business Plan Competition in August. Expressing shock at his demise, ZSF Executive Director, Imam Abdullah Shuaib described him as a bundle of talent and a mentor to his peers.

“From his business proposal, you can say he knew what he wanted to achieve in life. He was a focused person and he had a passion for providing Halal (lawful) chicken for Muslims. Even other contestants acknowledged him as a man of talents. He came into the competition full of entrepreneurial skills,” he said.

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

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

While addressing newsmen after the meeting, Olisa commended PDP senators for staging a walkout before Amaechi's confirmation. "We salute the courage and unity of purpose of our Senators, especially as demonstrated in the Senate chambers today in their collective stand against impunity and corruption in line with the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians”.

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

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


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

According to reports, Loveday who came with the intention of stealing his friend's N800, 000, woke up in the middle of the night and attacked him with a cutlass, hoping to kill him. The victim raised an alarm which attracted the attention of the the hotel staff who came to his rescue. They were both taken to the hospital where Loveday reportedly jumped from the hospital balcony and escaped with his friend's N800, 000.

The police later trailed Loveday and arrested him in Aba and brought him to Lagos to face prosecution.

The suspect was yesterday arraigned before a magistrate court, facing a three-count charge of inflicting grievous harm, cutting the victim with cutlass and stealing under the Criminal Code. He pleaded not guilty.

 The presiding Magistrate, Mrs J. Ogbomoiko granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum. He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail.

The presiding magistrate adjourned hearing on the matter till November 2nd.

Governor of Oyo State's daughter, Abisola Kola-Daisi welcomes 3rd child

Maria Ekanem, a  20-year-old school drop out from Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, said yesterday in Calabar that poverty and lack of where to stay after she gave birth made her sell her two weeks old baby girl for N20,000.

Maria, who was arrested by the police along five other accomplices, said her boyfriend who got her pregnant, asked her to abort the baby but said a doctor helped her  with free antenatal care and food until she gave birth.

This, she added, prompted her to agree to sell the baby when arrangements were made to sell.

Paraded along with Maria were a 55-year-old medical doctor, Okokon Offiong Okoho, the proprietor of Evangel Clinic,of 2, Atu Street; a 70-year-old matron of Sadatoe Maternity located at Umoh Street and a nurse at the maternity who allegedly made the plans to sell the girl to an Abuja-based lady who is now on the run.

However, plans to sell the two weeks old girl was leaked to the police by a Senior Secondary two girl of NYSC Demonstration Secondary School, Calabar , whose parents Maria was living  with after she delivered the baby.

“When I came back from school on Monday, Maria told me she wanted to take the baby to the parents of the boy who impregnated her since she can no longer cope with taking care of the baby,” she said.

Maria said when they got to Fuller by Inyang Street in Calabar South, they met Mrs Elemi and her daughter in an SUV car, adding that Maria gave the girl to the matron who handed her over to the buyer.

She said:  “The woman gave Maria N20,000 and asked her to pay the nurse at the Evangel Clinic and use the rest for herself.”

The girl said she became suspicious when the driver of the SUV told the woman with the baby that her husband said she should take her to the airport to catch a flight to Abuja .

“I started wondering why they should take the girl to the airport when the boyfriend to Maria and her parents live here in Calabar,” Maria stated.

Cross River Police Public Relations Officer, ASP John Eluu, who paraded Maria along with the doctor and Matron, said when information got to the police at the Federal Housing Police Station, detectives swung into action and arrested the suspects.

Eluu said investigations were continuing to apprehend the buyer of the girl who is now on the run.

Edwin Clark claims Reuben Abati sabotaged Jonathan

Notable Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark has accused former Spokesperson to former President Jonathan, Reuben Abati, of sabotaging his efforts while he was in office. Clarke said this in response to Abati's article in which he accused Clark of not recognizing Jonathan as a "son" anymore because he was out of office. In an email sent to Premiumtimes, Clarke said 

"My advice that a publicity committee made up of eminent journalists be put in place in Aso Rock and that media proprietors and senior journalists should be invited to Aso Rock were jettisoned by Abati because of what I suppose is his covetousness, particularly when many journalists and media houses always complained to me that he was not carrying them along.

 Dr. Reuben Abati has risen to the defence of his last employer too late. He owes the former President apologies for his (Reuben Abati) failure to perform while in office. I should not be used as a scapegoat. I love Goodluck Jonathan and Goodluck Jonathan loves me.  I do not recall any favourable remark made by Abati all those years when he was the chairman of the Editorial Board [of the Guardian] and syndicated columnist about the former president, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan. If I recall correctly, they were always the butt of ridicule by Dr. Reuben Abati. In fact, he became so notorious and fearless a critic of former President Jonathan and his wife in the Guardian Newspaper that I had to draw the attention of my cousin the proprietor of the Guardian newspaper to his excesses.  These vitriolic attacks on former President Jonathan and his wife only stopped when he was appointed the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity by the former president,” he said.

In the email, Clark went further to state that Jonathan was a good president during his tenure. 

"He said he remained proud of the performance of Mr. Jonathan in a number of areas such as the railway system, economy, fight against polio and ebola, maternal health, the power sector, etc. He tarred more roads than any of his predecessors; he turned agriculture to agro-business, a multibillion dollar business; he built the Almajiri schools in the Northern parts of this country. He established new federal universities across this nation; he allowed for free speech across this nation, and did not mind when he was criticised or, even, abused. People were not arbitrarily locked up in jail or prison, as he truly respected the rule of law. He signed the Freedom of Information Bill into law, which was not done by his predecessors; he modernized the aviation sector; he convoked a National Conference that brought Nigerians together and proffered recommendations on how to better bind Nigerians together as one. He sanitized the electoral system of this country, unlike what we had before him, when elections results were announced without actually voting, when ballot snatching were rampant and common place. He brought transparency into the electoral process – when people could vote and the votes actually openly counted without violence. Today he stands as the first African president to concede an election to an opponent, even before the final counts. In keeping with my character, I cannot say in private what I cannot say in the public. I do not therefore, reject or disown Jonathan as my beloved political son,” he wrote

Publisher of Alariya Oodua Lanre Dodo Balogun dies at 55

The publisher of Alariya Oodua magazine, Lanre Dodo Balogun, has died. The pioneer staff of Alaroye magazine died this morning, 27th of October 2015 at his house in Iyana-Iyesi, Ota, Ogun state. He was aged 55. According to reports, he was fine this morning and high in spirit after he finished production for the new issue of his magazine but later died. The management of his mag, who have confirmed his passing, didn't say what killed him.

His remains have been deposited at Ota general hospital. He's survived by his wife and children. May his soul rest in peace, amen!

Photo: 26 year old lady makes history at Nigerian Law school

26 yr old Fatima Bombom Sani, an indigene of Kogi state and a graduate of Law from the University of Abuja made history at the Nigerian Law School Abuja last week after she was named the winner of 9 awards in the School.

According to Daily Trust, Fatima broke existing record in the Nigeria Law School by bagging nine separate awards compared to existing record of seven awards ever received at the Call to Bar of Nigerian Law School. The awards include the “Best Student of the Year (1st Prize)’’

.. donated by Sir Adetokunbo Ademola , Dr. Taslim Elias and Justice Atanda Fatayi-Williams; the ‘’Council of Education Star Award’’; Corporate Law Practice donated by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN; Best Overall Female Student of the year award donated by National Association of Women Judges; Best Female Student in Criminal Litigation award donated by Mrs. Oluwatoyin Doherty, Best Student in Civil and Criminal Litigation award donated by Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN; and the prize for 1st Class Students donated by the Director General of the Nigerian Law School (NLS). Big congrats to her.

Abacha's loot is too huge for us to handle - World Bank

The World Bank has asked for more time to provide a detailed report on the loot of former military dictator, Sani Abacha, saying the loot is too huge for it to handle. The World Bank said this in response to a request by civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) asking for a comprehensive document detailing all the loots of the former military dictator which is estimated at $11.3 billion and stashed in foreign banks.

“In response to your request, we would like to inform you that we are still considering your request and we will need additional time because the money involved is too huge for us to handle.” World bank says

The World Bank added that although it takes just 20 working days to respond to such requests, under special cases, it could take longer time.

Lagos CP says he receives four traffic robbery alerts daily

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, at a press briefing at the Lagos command headquarters, on Tuesday said he receives about four robbery alerts on his Twitter handle every day and that the police have arrested 144 suspects as a result of constant raids of bridges and other hideouts of the hoodlums.

According to Punch The CP said the robbers mainly disguise as street traders, adding that motorists shouldn't patronise hawkers at night.
 

He said:

“One of the areas where the government has challenges is the issue of traffic robbery. We will not shy away from the fact that we have had pockets of robbery in traffic in recent times.

“In a day, I receive about four tweets of traffic robbery. I monitor this personally and I give directions and instructions immediately. When I newly came to Lagos, I used to receive about 10 robbery tweets in a day. It is improving now, and it will continue to improve.

“We made arrests in Oworonshoki, Apongbon and Onikan areas last week and there were about 144 suspects. Items recovered from the hoodlums include charms, machetes, locally-made guns and valuables of victims.

“The most recent traffic robbery recorded was carried out by someone selling snacks on the road. So, the message is that motorists should be careful when patronising street traders.”

He added:

“Our enforcement on the ban on commercial motorcycles is ongoing. The challenge with Lagos is that about 500 new motorcycles enter our roads every day. But the police have not stopped enforcing this law.

“We will also start to enforce the law that states that anyone carrying any object defined by the law as a weapon is arrested and charged to court. Therefore, members of the public must be careful.

“As the end of the year draws near, the police reiterate that there will be no use of fireworks, bangers and items that sound like explosives in any part of the state. They are all prohibited.”

New Money Vs Old Money:

Old Money or New Money the situation which is prevalent everywhere these days is that the New Money are taking over from the Old Money. Though the people of Old Money have continued to maintain their wealth and social standing but it is the New Money that are running things.

Take banking for an instance, the names you would hear running the show are not the Tejuoshos, the Fajemirokuns, the Folawiyos, or the Dantatas the name you hear are the Elumelus, the Jim Ovias, the Fola Adeolas, the new breed, but that it not to say a handful of the Old Money do not have their own share.

According to an undisclosed millionaire, the New Money people have only risen because the Old Money provided them the platform. His view is that The Old Money get complacent with time and only thrive by their dependence on the drive of the New Money to make money for them.

Even the list of the richest men in the world has the New Money people shuffling the Old Money people down to the very bottom of the list.

Look at the oil industry, apart from Sayyu from the old stock who has eaten into the pile of Chevron and Texaco, the names you hear are the new wolfhound billionaires like Ifeanyi Uba, Femi Otedola, Jimoh Ibrahim and the likes.

In aviation, communications, real estate, insurance, export and import, the New Money are calling the shots while the Old Money people are just tagging along. No doubt some of their heirs are having a respectable showing in some sectors there is hardly any one of them up there rubbing shoulders with the very richest in the country.

The Old money people might have bought almost the whole of Ikoyi the new breed are building their heaven on earth in Banana Island, even beating the oceans into retreat.

POLITICS, ECONOMY AND EARLY NIGERIAN ENTREPRENEURS

IN this season of anomies, this period of political mudslinging, intrigues and chicanery that has catapulted politics to the only viable business enterprise in Nigeria, there is the need to have a urgent re-think. The re-think is that Nigeria was not the product of the early statesmen, politicians and nationalists alone, but rather, that of the business sagacity, ingenuity, wizardry, selflessness, innovativeness and resourcefulness of Nigeria’s early entrepreneurs who made the country what it is today, before the descent of commerce.

Tributes must be paid to those who made Nigeria, right from its infancy in 1914. These men of commerce and enterprise, individual sense of industry need to be celebrated- the likes of Alhassan Dantata, Esan Da Rocha, Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Odutola Brothers (Adeola and Jimoh Odutola), Alhaji Salami Agbaje of Ayeye Ibadan, Chief Adebisi Giwa of Idi-Ikan Ibadan, Chief Mathias Ugochukwu, Mr Isaac Ajanaku, Sir Lawrence Omole, Madam Janet Alatede Aboderin, Alhaja Humoani Alaga, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, Madam (Chief) Bisoye Tejuoso (late Iyalode of Egbaland), Chief Theophilus Oni (T.A Oni & sons), and a host of others.

Mr Da Rocha was a native of Ilesha and was a slave returnee from Brazil. He returned to Nigeria in 1870, from Salvador Brazil, and quickly built a small fortune plying the lucrative South Atlantic trade route. Da Rocha was arguably the first Nigerian millionaire. He was popularly known as BaBa Olomi and had his head office at Kakawa Street, Marina Lagos.
He became a testament to the industrial will, that led to the establishment of the Iju Water Works, that served the entire Lagos in the 1920’s before it was taken over by the colonial administration. Da Rocha laid pipes from Iju to Lagos Island, Yaba, Ebute-metta and other communities in Lagos where there were high demand for pipe borne water.
 He was selling to individualsuntil it was taken over by the Colonial Government, who was paying Da Rocha for the supply of water to Lagos and was thus a pioneer of private ownership of utilities in Nigeria. He was so wealthy, that it was the popular saying in Yoruba- that, if you lure someone into spending money, the person would resist your trap by saying “do you think I am Da Rocha”. A rich man’s wealth is always comparable to that of Da Rocha –“he is as rich as Da Rocha.” He was highly influential; his intervention during the scarcity of water in Lagos in the early 1920’s gave him the appellation of Baba Olomi.”

AAAs Our Early Entrepreneurs

OTHER amazing early contributors, to the Nigerian economic business space, were two business mavericks and titans of the same parents – Adeola Odutola (1902-1995), and his younger brother – Jimoh Odutola (1905-2010)

Adeola was literate and a Christian. Jimoh, though not literate, was a self trained man and till his death, spoke impeccable English and wrote like a Professor. He was a Muslim. Their father was a Muslim, whilst their mother-Sabainah, was a Christian.He thereafter entered Cocoa and Palm trading business and started exporting the produce and products to the United Kingdom. He also ventured into Sawmill and Gold mining at Ilesha and he was a major agent for John Holt in Nigeria. As a distinguished and notable Nigerian entrepreneur, he ventured into the production of rubber, goods, tyres and tubes. He established various factories in Nigeria, spanning the transport. and built a secondary school and a kuranic institute in Ijebu-Ode – jummah Odutola College.

Woman who gave birth aboard a Chinese flight faces paying £21,000 to the airline

Remember the woman who gave birth on a plane a China Airlines flight from Taipei to Los Angeles? Well, she is to be prosecuted by the airline. Airport bosses claim she was breaking regulations by not telling them she was 36 weeks pregnant.

The new mum, who has not be named went into labour while on board. The flight had to land in Anchorage, Alaska, so the woman could get medical treatment and be sent to a hospital.

It is claimed the mum wanted her child to be born in the US so they would qualify for automatic citizenship.

Minister of Transport and Communications Chen Jian-yu (the government owns most of the airlines in China) said the diversion and extra costs incurred came to more than £21,000 and the company wants her to pay it back.

The poor woman was deported and returned to Taiwan while her baby is in the care of a friend in the US.

Senator Shehu Sani bails out a young man from jail, shares details

The senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani today bailed out a young man, who was jailed after a quarrel with his boss, from a police cell. He took to Facebook and shared some details. He wrote,

'Today, I visited and bailed out a young man who was detained in a police cell for 3 days over a fracas with his Boss. He lost so much weight. His eyes were swollen as he was beaten by bully inmates. He looked frightened and traumatised. This was a Boy some few days ago making jest of our prison experience on Twitter. I actually thought he will be as tough in the Cell as he was on twitter. Anyway, sometimes we need personal experience to appreciate and to learn.'

Police denies killing late Lekki-free trade Zone boss

The Lagos state police command has denied reports that a stray bullet from one of its officers killed late Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone, Tajudeen Disu, during a protest by residents of Okunraiye community near Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos on October 12th.

Members of the community claim that the police was actually responsible for Disu's death as a stray bullet from their officer killed him. However, the spokesperson to the Lagos state police command, DSP Joseph Offor, in an interview with NAN, denied the report, saying that the claims is diversionary and a cheap blackmail

 "They are not serious, who inflicted machete injury on retired Col. Usman, the Chief Security Officer of Dangote Refinery? Was it the police that inflicted the injury on him? Their allegation is diversionary, it’s a cheap blackmail. Is it the police that asked the villagers to gang up in their numbers to stage a violent protest? Is it the police that asked them to come from their homes with charms and ammunition? All those things they are trying to say is simply a cheap blackmail and diversionary. It is not true and investigation is still ongoing. When the autopsy is conducted, we will get to know how he died. They should own up because before they left their various homes that morning, all of them were armed to the teeth to do exactly what happened that day which is to kill and maim. The Police cannot join issues with them on that kind of cheap blackmail.’’he said

Photos: SA police fire stun grenades at protesting students

South African anti riot police this afternoon threw stun grenades at protesting students from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in South Africa as they staged a protest in front of of South Africa's Parliament in Cape Town, demanding for a fall in school fees. South African government is proposing an 11% increase in school fees in 2016.

Stun grenades were fired as students forced their way into the Parliament. Earlier, the students burned tyres outside the building, as public order policing dressed in riot gear looked on from behind a police line. See more photos after the cut...

1 killed, 20 others injured in Cameroon during stampede at crusade by Nigerian pastor

One person has been confirmed dead while others were injured during a stampede that occurred at a crusade by Nigerian pastor, Suleiman Johnson which held at the Reunification Stadium in Bepanda, Douala in Cameroon yesterday October 20th. According to reports, the roof of the stadium caved in immediately after the crusade ended which caused panic. People began rushing and pushing themselves. Those who were injured are receiving medical attention in various hospitals.