Jonathan: Some people are frustrated with my rising international profile

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday said some persons were out to malign him, out of frustration with his rising national and international profile. Reacting to reports linking him with militancy, the former president said he has clean records and has been of diligent service to the country.

Jonathan said some people who have “scores to settle” with him are feeling frustrated by his rising profile within and outside the country.

“Some misguided characters are hell-bent on pulling down the former president, despite his clear record of diligent service to his country and longstanding commitment to the good of society,” read a statement issued on behalf of the former president by Ikechukwu Eze, his media aide.

“There is no doubt that there exists such people who may have scores to settle with the former President but are now feeling frustrated by the fact that his national and international profile has continued to rise, despite their recourse to muckraking and character assassination.

“Such people will stop at nothing to continue to throw obstacles, albeit futilely, on his path.”

Appeal Court reverses Ikpeazu’s sack

The appeal court in Abuja has set aside the judgment of Okon Abang of the federal high court sacking Okezie Ikpeazu as the governor of Abia state on June 27, calling it “a rape of democracy”. In a series of judgements on six appeals by Okezie Ikpeazu, Uche Ogah, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Friday Nwosu, the five-member panel of judges led by Morenikeji Ogunwumiju faulted the technicalities to which Abang arrived at his judgement.

Ogah, who had the second highest number of votes at the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) primary election that produced Ikpeazu as governorship candidate, had argued at the trial court that Ikpeazu evaded taxes and was not fit to hold elective office.

On that basis, Abang ordered the removal of Ikpeazu for submitting false information to the PDP in the course of the party’s primary election.

He also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Ogah winner of the primary election.

But at the appeal court on Thursday, Ogunwumiju said Abang deliberately ignored examining the tax documents which were tendered to his court as exhibits.

“The trial judge stated that the exhibits were not for his consideration, in the absence of his consideration of the contents of the documents, it would amount to the deliberate avoidance on the implication of the acknowledgement,” she ruled. “It is my humble view that his lordship committed great violence against one of the pillars of our criminal justice. Judges don’t work at the tax office or know how they issue receipts and clearances.”

She said based on the tax act, the court was bound to the assessment of the Abia tax office which has documents of the governor that has not been faulted. “With the greatest respect to the learned trial judge there was this musgrave in his judgment that the tax clearance receipt etc were in quote unknown to law. The learned trying judge kept on saying indulgent and quote unknown to law,” the judge said.

“After reading his judgment several times I was struck with amazement, in the circumstances brought before his lordship, he could throw about such loaded words as forging and then turn around to find out there is no forgery or fraud in the tax documents.”

The judge, while stating that it would be a “rape” on democracy to remove Ikpeazu as governor because the Abia people voted him into office, said: “That cannot be justice in the circumstances of this case. “I am in view that this issue be resolved in the favour of the appellant, having resolved nine issues in favour of the appellant, having also resolved issue two against the appellant (Ogah) and issues three, four and five in favour of the appellant (Ikpeazu). The appeal subsists. The judgment of Hon. Justice Okon Abang is hereby set aside.”

APC: Nigeria in intensive care unit after ruinous PDP years

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says Nigeria is now “in an intensive care unit” after it was rescued from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party said that the PDP lacks the moral basis and the credibility to comment on the country’s economy or condemn a government that was working hard to clear the mess the former ruling party left behind.

John Odigie Oyegun

In a statement issued by his media office on Thursday, John Oyegun,  national chairman of the APC, said that “it is stomach-churning and downright immoral for the ruinous PDP, which has yet to show remorse or exhibit any form of penitence for presiding over the mindless looting of the nation’s treasury, to now put itself up as the saviour of Nigerians”.

Oyegun said “while indeed it was glaring that the PDP-led administration was profligate and rapacious, nothing prepared Nigerians for the mind-boggling discoveries that have emerged in the past one year, including the fact that just a handful of people could have plundered far more than half of what belonged to a country of over 170 million people. “What is happening now is clear: Just because the farmer has not checkmated the thief, he (thief) has become so emboldened that he is now making a move to even cage the farmer from whom he has been stealing,” he said.

“How else can one characterise the most annoying statement by the PDP that it is on a mission to rescue Nigeria, the tale of a killer presenting himself as a life-saver. Are these people jokers? Do they think Nigerians do not realise that the stage for today’s tough economic situation was set by the same PDP that is now masquerading as a saviour? Worse still, is this PDP’s bold face not a ploy to distract the administration that is on a rescue mission?

“Nigeria is currently in ICU (Intensive Care Unit), after it was rescued from PDP.  Yet, the same PDP has the audacity to constantly pillory the ‘doctors’ trying to save the ‘patient’.

Oyegun appealed “to Nigerians not to succumb to the antics of the PDP but to continue to support the efforts of the present administration, which is working day and night to ease the impact of the tough economic situation on the citizens”. “Yes, we knew the situation was bad, but we never imagined that it was this bad. Yes, we knew that the vast majority of our national patrimony had been stolen and converted by PDP and their cronies, but we clearly underestimated the scope of the stealing. The fact that our country and people survived the PDP and the last administration is perhaps the 8th wonder of the world,” he said.

“But we have long moved beyond bothering about this mindless party to seeking to bring the nation back to its feet. What we cannot fathom is for the same PDP to now be heckling us and pretending to be the new saviour of Nigerians. “Engaging in a campaign of calumny by claiming that the country’s economy under President Muhammadu Buhari is deteriorating is so unconscionable on the part of the PDP, which frittered away the huge windfall that the nation earned during the years that oil sold for over $100. Even with the number of PDP operatives and officials who have confessed or admitted their complicity in the looting of the treasury, the party has continued to try to pull the wool over the face of Nigerians.

“This shameless distraction must stop forthwith, and here is serving notice that henceforth, the PDP will no longer have a field day in trying to twist facts and present the Buhari administration, which is on an urgent rescue mission, as the villain.”

How Dogara took commitee chairmen to swear oath before Omisore – Jibrin writes APC

Sacked Chairman, Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, Abdumumin Jibrin, at the weekend alleged that a former deputy governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, is the ‘godfather’ of Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the APC, John Oyegun, Jibrin said he made “an error of judgement’ in supporting Dogara to be the Speaker.”

Insisting that Dogara was corrupt, Jibrin said “his godfather is Sen Iyiola Omisore. Speaker Dogara is of the habit of taking standing committee chairmen to swear oath of allegiance before Omisore.

“During the build up to the appointment of committee chairmen, I had a terrible disagreement with him. I stayed far away from him.

“Who will I tell or run to having played such a leading role in bringing him on board? He operates alone, keep weird relationships with top politicians.”

“I was in London when he insisted that he wanted to see me. He came to my hotel room and we talked for hours. I gave him a lot of advice, but I never knew it was getting in from one ears and out from the other,” Jibrin said.

The lawmaker added that Dogara was disloyal to the APC and predicted that he would soon plan an attack on the ruling party.

Jibrin said, “The role I played, to the best of my conscience at then, sir, was patriotic. I analysed the two candidates (Dogara and Femi Gbajabiamila, who is not the Majority Leader of the House) and felt Speaker Dogara had a better temperament to make a good Speaker.

“It was a narrow line of thinking, an error of judgement. It took only few weeks after the election for me to realise the … inside the skin of Speaker Dogara. That was when I started getting reports of his … practices for many years in the House undetected. I fell apart will Speaker Dogara instantly. Contrary to public belief, we have never been close since few weeks after he emerged Speaker.

“We practically disagreed on almost everything. From the appointment of committee chairmen, to splitting of committees, to nondisclosure of the finances of the House, to his greed of unifying everything under his control, commercialisation of bills, divisive approach across ethnic and religious line, arrogance and power drunk, during the budget period among many others. But who will I tell or run to having played such a leading role in bringing him on board.”

“I wish to state that I deeply regret the role I played in the emergence of Yakubu Dogara as Speaker. I seek the understanding and forgiveness from you, our leaders and every member of the APC family that was hurt by my action. Thank God Almighty, I am young and energetic. I will be 40 on September 9th. I promise that moving forward, I will dedicate and completely commit myself to achieving the goals set out by the party. This case should serve as a lesson for everyone in the future.

“I am pretty sure the anti-corruption agencies will do their job and all our party men and women will know the truth at the end of the day. My offence has been my refusal to be used as conduit to facilitate free flow of corruption in the House of Representatives. I came under severe pressure during the budget period to break procedures and commit fraudulent actions.

“When they could not use me, the Speaker (allegedly) connived with few committee chairmen and they opened a bazaar of corrupt insertions into the budget. I complained to the Speaker but he took no action, only for me to discover later that he, his deputy, whip and minority leader were (allegedly) indeed the ring leaders of that …cabal in the House. All they wanted was to do away with me, considered the obstacle”, he added.

According to Jibrin, problem started when President Muhammadu Buhari returned the budget.

He alleged that when he was invited to a meeting of principal officers, the Speaker denied he knew anything about the insertions.

“Jibrin said he had decided to “capture properly” his allegations against Dogara and 12 others in the letter “so that you will understand the gravity of the matter at hand and also understand that the allegations are beyond budget issues and includes tens of other criminal allegations that cannot be swept under the carpet.”

The lawmaker reminded Odigie-Oyegun that the world was watching how the APC would deal with the issue of “incontrovertible corruption in high places.”

He said, “Here, you have a golden opportunity to show the world that there is zero tolerance for corruption in our great party, the APC. Even more is the having a serving member that understands this issue in my person, who has offered to stand as witness and provide every support to the anti-curruption agencies to investigate the allegations thoroughly and commence prosecution in earnest.

“There is no better way of demonstrating our commitment to the fight against corruption than to use Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the 12 others as example.”

Modu Sheriff is a curse to PDP, he’s an APC spy – Fani-Kayode

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has reacted to a comment credited to a factional national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff that he sent people to beg the former Borno Governor for claiming that he was a member of Boko Haram.

Fani-Kayode in a statement to DAILY POST Sunday night said “These are the lies of a desperate and drowning man”.

He said Sheriff came to destroy the PDP and that the party acted appropriately by rising up against him with the installation of a caretaker committee.

Continuing he said, “I am proud to have been the first to see him for what he is and to publicly blow the whistle on him. “I was one of those that led the rebellion against him and orchestrated the campaign to push him out and dump him as the National Chairman of our party and many have thanked me for that including some of those that brought him in the first place and attempted to impose him on us. “The man is of the devil and no-one should believe a word that comes out of his mouth or take him seriously. He is a curse to the PDP and the sooner he is kicked out of the party the better it is for us all.

“On the issue of ‘changing goal posts’, let me add the following. Lying Ali Modu Sheriff has changed political parties no less than four times in the last few years. “Each time he goes to a new party that is not in power at the center, he assumes the role of a government mole and spy and tries to destroy it from within on behalf of the government of the day. “That is his modus operandi. On return, he gets protection from the state for all the many atrocities he has committed over the years. He has betrayed everyone and every political party he has ever worked with or for. “Go and ask around. We used him to spy on and destroy the APP when Obasanjo was in power and now Buhari is using him to destroy the PDP. Luckily he has failed because 99 per cent of PDP members have rejected him and now he is on his own.

“He failed in his evil mission and now he is making noise like a chicken or snake whose head has been cut off. Unlike him I am consistent in my views and I am as constant as the northern star. “It is a matter of good breeding. With me you will always know where you stand and I will always speak my mind no matter whose ox is gored. He is the opposite.

 “He pretends to be a friend and a loyalist when his real plan is to stab you in the back and kill you on the night. He does not have the courage to be loyal to any cause, any person or any political party.

“He is more of a gangster than a politucian and everyone knows it. He comes into another mans house or political party and tries to pull it down by deceit and guile. He is a vessel of destruction.

“That is the man who some misguided people believe can be trusted. He was in APP, then ANPP, then APC and now he is in PDP all in a matter of a few years and everywhere he goes he fights everyone until they get tired of him and push him out.

“If anyone wants to talk about ‘changing goal posts’, it should certainly not be him”.

Amokachi confirms twin sons’ move to Besiktas

Former Super Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi, has confirmed that his twin sons, Nazim and Kalim, have both signed one-year contracts with his former club, Besiktas.

The twins underwent trials with the Turkish team and will now join up with compatriot, Kenneth Omeruo.

 “Happy to announce that my sons have taken a giant step in their football careers signing a 1-year deal with my former club, Besiktas,” Amokachi, who is currently coach of JS Hercules of Finland, wrote on his Facebook page.

“I have always underlined the importance of education to them, but having sat enough in the study halls, the call of the football grounds has been too difficult to resist. I can understand that very well, too. “Me and my wife will be following their journey with great interest and pride.

“I want to thank from the bottom of my heart both Hercules and Besiktas for giving us this chance.”

Five persons, including two children killed in multiple crash on 3rd Mainland bridge

Five persons were confirmed dead; three female adults, two children and one male, while five others were injured in a multiple auto crash which occurred Suday around 6.10 pm on the 3rd Mainland bridge inward Iyana Oworo by UNILAG Water front.The accident involved 3 vehicles which included a Lag bus, Hilux truck belonging to a local vigilante group and a Rover jeep. The injured persons were taken by LASAMBUS to the Trauma Centre.

The dead bodies have been deposited at the Mainland Hospital Mortuary. LASTMA, FRSC, Nigerian Police, RRS are at the scene. The LASEMA Response Unit recovered the vehicles.

LASEMA General Manager, Mr. Michael Akindele said proper investigation would be carried out on cause the accident by the relevant Government Agencies. He, however, advised motorists to prevent over speeding and also adhere to all traffic rules and regulation to avoid incident such as this.

Fayose accuses Buhari of promoting nepotism

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, says Nigerians are suffering because “the country is in the hands of wrong managers”. Accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of running the economy aground, Fayose alleged that Nigeria is currently witnessing the worst form of nepotism in its history.

He alleged that rather than work with competent individuals who can tackle the country’s challenges, President Muhammadu Buhari has “opted for his relatives, friends, in-laws and very close associates”.

“Nigerians are suffering, hungry and angry because the APC federal government has run the country aground,” Fayose said in a statement by Lere Olayinka, his special assistant on public communications and new media. “Nigeria has gone beyond recession, the economy has collapsed completely and painfully, those who should revive the economy do not have any clue as to what to do. The country is in the hands of wrong managers who do not know what to do and out of nepotism, not ready to be assisted by those who know.

“Nepotism is the reason our president discarded competent people in his party that should be running the government with him. The only qualification to hold key positions in the presidency is to know a certain nephew of the president or be a member of his family, that’s nepotism and what nepotism breeds is incompetence. “The most influential person in the presidency today is said to be one Mamman Daura, who is a nephew of the president. Personal assistant to President Buhari is said to be the son of Mamman Daura while the state chief of protocol is said to be married to Mamman Daura’s daughter. “It is also the height of nepotism that apart from just two, all security chiefs and heads of all the paramilitary agencies in Nigeria, as well as all the political-heads overseeing all the military and paramilitary arms and agencies are from the north of Nigeria.”

He said Buhari is being “tormented by fear of the unknown”, which he described as the main reason people take to nepotism.

Fayose said some of the people who supported the president during the election are regretting their actions because “political affiliation has nothing to do with hunger, poverty and lack”.

“As a leader, you don’t need to fear anything. But the moment a leader peeps into the future, realising that his lack of capacity could have consequential effects on him, such a leader will definitely resort to nepotism to protect himself,” he said.

“Exchange rate was less than N200 to $1 when President Buhari took over power, as at today, it has gone beyond N400 to $1 and naira is still undergoing a free fall. One bag of rice was less than N8, 000 as at May 2016, it is now N20, 000. Kerosene is now beyond the reach of the masses.

“Nigerians voted for change because the APC promised them solutions to the country’s problems, but all we hear every day from the APC federal government are complaints upon complaints as if Nigerians elected a government of complaints. “Obviously, the APC government has failed Nigerians and the president has resorted to putting his immediate family members and close associates in key government positions to protect himself from the fear of the unknown that has enveloped him.”

Usain Bolt makes history in Rio with third successive Olympics 100m gold medal

They say lightning never strikes twice, but Usain Bolt has claimed the title of fastest man in the world three times in a row beating American Justin Gatlin to win his third successive gold medal in the 100m final race on Sunday night, running the track in 9.81 seconds at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

After the race on Sunday, Usain Bolt said:

'Somebody said I can become immortal'. 'Two more medals to go and I can sign off. Immortal.' He added  'I came to these Olympics to win three golds and prove I am one of the greats,' he said,  'If I fail I will feel sad and I will not feel accomplished.'

Bolt, who hopes to break the world record in the 200m on Thursday - his favorite event - added that he would be disappointed if he did not complete the 'triple triple'.

Tiwa Savage’s revelations about Tee Billz crushed him, says Basketmouth

Basketmouth, stand-up comic, believes Tiwa Savage, Mavin Records singer and Tee Billz, her estranged husband, did immense damage to their marriage as a result of their public revelations. The couple’s marriage hit the rocks after Tee Billz took to social media to accuse his wife of being a serial adulterer and reportedly tried to commit suicide.

Savage responded by holding a no holds barred interview, where she made startling allegations about her husband.

Speaking on The Gist, a chat show which syndicates on Hip TV, Basketmouth on Saturday affirmed that the couple as well as many others tend to divulge too much personal information on the internet.

“To a large extent, I think there are a lot of people abusing the use of social media, I am sorry. Most of us artistes realizing that we have I, 2, 3 or 4 million people following us and you know that when you say something, a lot of people are going to react. “It is like drug; you can’t contain yourself and start saying some crap. You are like a god having a lot of followers, whatever you tell them to do, they do.

“I am okay with people who go on social media to rant but I am against those who have turned it into a church to settle family issues. Normally, if you have a marital problem, you call your wife one on one. If you cannot contain it, you call in the parents. That’s how I saw it when I was growing up which is the culture I have embraced. “That kind of situation shouldn’t be taken to social media and let people who have never been married, have no idea about what marriage is all about, say stuff about your marriage.” “There are a lot of people with mental problem who have phone and data, you then give them the access to talk trash about your personal life.

“In Teebillz situation, the way he spoke on social media really appeared as though he was going to commit suicide and said horrible things to his father.

“Those words were words you say and just die, but now that he is still alive, how would he face his father? It would have been better if he had just written a letter to the man instead of putting it online. Unfortunately again, he went to blast his wife and his wife’s mother. These are things that shouldn’t be put online. “Another thing is that Tiwa has a larger following than Teebillz, after Tiwa blasted him, it was extreme and it crushed him. He had no comeback; there is no comeback to things like that.”

The comedian admitted that he has also come close to losing his cool on social media over a matter that involved Davido, Afro-pop singer.

While making it clear that he’s not one to shy away from saying his mind, Basketmouth stressed that he would rather do it face to face than behind the mask of the internet. “I do not get on social media walls because I want to increase following, mine is, if you come at me, if I feel the need to address you, I will. But 99% of the time, I would not say anything about it.

“There are so many times that I allow issues to slide, for instance, I said a joke that happened to be out of context about Davido; Davido was really upset. He didn’t come at me but I was a little bit shaded with what he said. I wanted to react but instead, I apologised.

“Personally for me, war should be war, come and say whatever you want to say to my face. It is wise for you not to bring out your personal issues on social media and that’s what I stand for.

“If it is a clap back at an artiste like yourself, then it is your choice. Once it gets to family, let those ones be in your house, let your Instagram and twitter group be between you, her father, her mother and herself.”

Army declares journalist, Salkida, wanted for ‘links’ to Boko Haram

The army has declared Ahmad Salkida, the Nigerian journalist known to have access to access to top Boko Haram commanders, wanted. Also wanted by the army are Ahmed Bolori and Aisha Wakil.

Ahmad Salkida

Sani Usman, army spokesman, disclosed this in a statement, saying the trio are being wanted for having links with Boko Haram. “The trio have been declared wanted because they are in possession of information on the conditions and the exact location of schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in 2014,” the statement read.

“We are relying on the relevant laws of the land and in particular the terrorism prevention Act 2011 (as amended), where Nigerians could be punished for failure to disclose information about terrorists or terrorist activities.

“This becomes necessary as a result of their link with the last two videos released by Boko Haram terrorists and other findings of our preliminary investigations.

“They must, therefore, come forward and tell us where the group is keeping the Chibok Girls and other abducted persons to enable us to rescue them.”

Salkida is currently on self-imposed exile.

How 3 Nigerians fraudulently obtained $650,000 from victims’ credit cards in US

United States, US, financial crimes investigators have reportedly nabbed three Nigerians – Shalewa Olayinka, 53, Christy Tifase and Maxwell Ezenwa for their alleged connection in a large-scale credit card scheme that allegedly used two Southwest Houston businesses to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Suspects

Daily mail is reporting that Olayinka had applied for 116 credit cards which he subsequently obtained from eight different financial institutions in 12 other people’s names.

He allegedly applies for the credit card using a victim’s information and then steals the card out of his or her mailbox when the card arrives.

According to investigators, the 53-year-old had a square card reader attached to his cell phone under the business name “Sleek Auto Sales” and would run the fraudulent credit cards in his southwest Houston apartment. The money was then deposited into his bank account. The two other suspects, said to be his accomplices, run a cartel which operates within the US and have allegedly stolen more than $650,000. Olayinka reportedly conspired with the two local business owners, Ezenwa, who owns Lace Warehouse and African Fashions on Bissonnet and Tifase who owns Lagos Island Café on Highway 6 South, a west African food restaurant.

The cartel is accused of also running the credit cards for payments at their businesses.

Investigators also revealed that the trio will be facing a charge of engaging in organized criminal activity, felony.

Stop match-making ‘brothers and sisters’ – Adeboye warns RCCG Pastors

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye has banned Pastors in the church from match-making members. Adeboye at yesterday’s service which marked the end of the 64th Annual Convention said there should be no more cases of arranging brothers and sisters for marriage.

“Don’t be entangled with marriage among members because you will bear the consequences,” Adeboye said. “It is not your duty to arrange a brother and a sister for marriage because you cannot arrange their fruitfulness. Don’t get involved in marriage by proxy.”

Adeboye urged pastors to teach their spiritual children to seek the face of the Lord in marriage because every marriage has its challenges.

Meanwhile, seven new AGOs seven new Assistant General Overseers (AGOs) were announced to take over from the six Assistant General Overseers who retired.

They are: Pastors Ezekiel A. Odeyemi, Elijah O. Daramola, Johnson F. Odesola and Joseph Obayemi who are presently members of the Governing Council of the RCCG and Special Assistants to the G.O. Others are Pastor Olu Obanure, Pastor Ayo Adeloye and Pastor Peter Amekhienan who are presently Special Assistants to the General Overseer in West Coast 1, East Africa and Southern Africa Region 1 respectively.

New Special Assistants to the GO are: Pastors Johnson Tomisin Kalejaiye, Brown Oyitso, Okey Mofunnaya, Peter Olawale and Belemina Obunge were appointed Special Assistants to the General Overseer.

Kalejaiye, a Regional Evangelist is now the Special Assistant to the G.O. on Evangelism. Oyitso, Chairman of Central Missions Board, is now the Special Assistant to the G.O. on Missions while Mofunnaya, Head of Security, is now the Special Assistant to the G.O. on Security.

Olawale, National Prayer Coordinator, is the new Special Assistant to the G.O. on Prayers while Obunge, in charge of Youth Affairs, becomes the Special Assistant to the G.O. on Special Duties.

Having attained the retirement age of 70 years, Pastor (Mrs.) Oretayo Adetola, Special Assistant to the G.O. on Women Affairs, Pastor Gbadebo Lawal, Special Assistant on Prayers and some others were retired.

Others are Pastors Peter Egho, Olonode Babatunde, John Adewunmi, David Taiwo Ajose, Oludele Olatunji, Pastor (Mrs) Funmilola Ishola, Pastor (Mrs) Deborah Folarin and Pastor (Mrs) Bolatito Bamishaye.

IPOB: Buhari has bribed Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of bribing Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers to sabotage him. Kanu is the leader of IPOB.

The IPOB leader’s lawyers had denounced the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) which had given his release from prison as a condition for peace to return in the Niger Delta region.

But in a statement on Friday, Emma Nmezu and Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya, spokespersons of the secessionist group, said that the Niger Delta militants and IPOB were fighting for the same cause.

They alleged that Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Kanu’s lawyer had been bribed to sabotage their leader, hence they announced the sacking of the entire team of lawyers representing Kanu.

“Following the press conference earlier today by our legal team, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Worldwide has been reliably and incontrovertibly informed that some of the utterances of their defence lawyers were made without consultation. These utterances border on negotiations and some were against the Niger Delta Avengers,” they said.

“As a result of this unsolicited and unguarded utterances, the defence team has been sacked and will be replaced. The IPOB leader wishes to state categorically that the only thing we are open to is negotiations that will lead to modalities and processes to restore Biafra and avert further hardships on the people of Nigeria who have been under bondage since his kidnapping and illegal detention.

“The Niger Delta Avengers arose because of the inherent injustice in Nigeria as manifested in the disregard to the rule of law when Buhari refused to obey court order to unconditionally release our leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

“We spoke the mind of our leader when we stated for record purposes that IPOB and Niger Delta Avengers share the same ideology of freedom for Biafra. “Anybody publicly dissociating IPOB from Niger Delta Avengers is a mortal enemy of IPOB family worldwide under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu. Let it be known that as long as Buhari and Daura continue to tamper with Nnamdi Kanu‘s defence team through bribery, inducements and intimidation, IPOB will keep on changing the team.

“For the records, the press conference by the now-sacked legal team was about bringing to public knowledge the foolishness of the Department of State Services (DSS) in bringing treasonable felony charges against our leader and the lack of evidence thereof. “The press conference was never about negotiations because should negotiations start, IPOB will notify the world about it. Right now, we are not negotiating and will not negotiate until existing court orders ordering the release of Nnamdi Kanu are obeyed.

“In the interim, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor will continue to act as lead counsel until other counsels are appointed who will not sell their souls to the devil. Biafra or death.”

Illegal oil wells found in 12 residential buildings in Lagos

The Lagos state government has shut 12 houses in the Ilasamaja area of the state following the discovery of shallow oil wells, where diesel was being scooped. Fatai Owoseni, the state commissioner of police, led security personnel to Abeokuta and Ibadan streets, where the illegality was being perpetrated. The buildings were sealed off, while some arrests were made.

Addressing reporters at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Steve Ayorinde, commissioner for information and strategy, said the wells were built for the purpose of siphoning diesel from pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He said the landlords installed pumping machine and boreholes, which were used for scooping the product that was sold to unsuspecting members of the public. Ayorinde revealed that the arrest of a woman involved in the illegal operation made it possible for the police to go after other members of the criminal deal.

“Men of the Lagos state police command in the area who were on routine patrol said they saw a woman around 12 midnight with keg of diesel and when an attempt was made for her to be accosted, she fled, a development which alerted the police of something fishy,” he said.

“The police immediately pursued the woman and accosted her, after which she eventually took them to number 12, Abeokuta Street, off Ilasamaja, one of the houses housing the illegal oil wells.

“The officers thereafter left the scene with the arrested woman, and they later came back disguising as potential buyers of diesel, while those inside opened the door. “It was at that point that the illegal oil well was discovered at the house, after which about 10 more wells were discovered in other houses in Abeokuta and Ibadan streets.”

The commissioner advised residents of the state to always assist security agencies with the provision of useful information that could expose criminality.

“The Lagos state government wishes to use this opportunity to remind Lagosians and the residents of these areas in particular, to assist the police with useful information,” he said.

“We also urge them to always volunteer information before any potentially dangerous situation degenerates to public hazard.”

I hope Dogara is arrested, says Jibrin

Abdulmumin Jibrin, former chairman of the house representatives committee on appropriations, says with the huge sums allegedly moved from the house account on Yakubu Dogara’s instruction, he hopes that the speaker is arrested before he “steals everything”.

Moments after Dogara issued a statement on Saturday, denying the allegations that he padded the 2016 budget, Jibrin took to Twitter to launch yet another attack on his former ally.

 “We must all thank the corrupt speaker Dogara for finally apologising to Nigerians for the multiple lies he has shamelessly been dishing out,” he said.

Jibrin added that for the apology to “make sense”, Dogara and the three other principal officers accused needed to step down for internal and external investigations so that various reforms can “commence to restore the battered image of the house”.

“Same speaker who few days ago said padding is not an offense and he can not be investigated. I guess it’s the heat, it will only get worst.

“Unfortunately, maybe its easier for Dogara to explain his role in the fraudulent multi billion naira cars contract by his fronts as chairman house services committee.”

Rio 2016: John Mikel Obi scores as Nigeria beats Denmark 2-0. To play Germany in semi-final

Nigeria's Under 23 team at the Rio 2016 Olympics have qualified to the Semi-finals of the tournament and stand a high chance of winning a medal after defeating Denmark 2-0.

Team captain John Mikel Obi continued his sensational display at the tournament with a man of the match performance and scored Nigeria's first goal in the 16th minute after a cutback pass by Imoh Ezekiel.

In the 27th minute, Nigeria's goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel saved from point-blank range as Denmark went in search of an equalising goal.

Amuzie's  shot was shoved off for a corner by the Denmark goalkeeper and the resulting corner kick taken by Mikel Obi was put in the net by Aminu Umar in the 59th minute.

Denmark looked clueless and found it hard to penetrate Nigeria's defence and coach Samson Siasia will be proud to have kept a clean sheet as the African powerhouse qualified for the Semi-final stage.

Nigeria will now play Germany in the semifinal of Rio 2016.

Gary Lineker presents match of the day in his underwear after promising to strip off if Leicester win the title

Football fans were left stunned and some deep in hilarity after England football great Gary Lineker presented BBC's match of the day program in his underwear, months after tweeting that he will present the first program of the season in his underpants if Leicester could do the unthinkable and win the premier league title.

 Leicester city wrote themselves in the history books by winning the league by 10 points at the wild odds of 5000 and Gary a former Leicester player kept to his promise .

Sweden's youngest Minister resigns

Sweden’s youngest cabinet minister, 29 year old Bosnian refugee, Aida Hadzialic, Minister for Secondary and Adult Education, announced her resignation on Saturday after being caught driving under the influence of alcohol.

Aida Hadzialic

Hadzialic revealed that she had been stopped by police in the southern city of Malmo and tests showed she had an alcohol level of 0.2 grams per liter of blood, just the level considered an offense in Sweden.

She made the announcement at a press conference at government headquarters in Stockholm saying:

"That was the biggest mistake of my life... I will take responsibility. I announce my intention to resign from my ministerial post". "I understand that a lot of people are disappointed in me. And I am angry with myself, and certainly I deeply regret it," said the young politician seen as the future of the Social Democrat party.

Hadzialic was born in Bosnia and immigrated to Sweden at the age of five, in 1992, with her parents fleeing the war in the Balkans.

She became involved in the Social Democrats youth movement in high school and went on to be elected a municipal councillor at age 23.

She became the youngest  government minister in Sweden's history at the age of 29 in 2014.

Parish priest sacked after he was discovered to have married 2 wives

54 year old Very Reverend Father Peter Zuni of the Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, Kakuri parish, Kaduna State, was recently disrobed and sacked by the Archbishop of the Kaduna Archdiocese, Bishop Ndagoso Manoso (pictured above) after his secret wife stormed the church to disclose her secret relationship with the Catholic priest.

The news came as a shock to the church because according to the doctrine of the Catholic Church, only unmarried men are ordained into the priesthood as they are obligated to swear to an oath of celibacy and observe perfect and perpetual service for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. This, it is believed, would enable the priests to easily remain close to Christ with an undivided heart, and dedicate themselves more freely to the service of God and the congregation.

According to The Sun, one of the wives is already late while the surviving one who blew the whistle about three weeks ago over the secret marriage is said to be nursing a child for the embattled priest.

Speaking on the development, the Archbishop of Kaduna Catholic Diocese, Bishop Ndagoso Manoso said Father Zuni's second wife had approached him in his office with a baby and claimed Zuni was the father of her child. After due investigation by his office, it was confirmed that the priest was her secret husband.

“It is very unfortunate that this thing had to happen in my diocese. It is not an easy thing for me; if I tell you what I have been going through in the past few weeks over this issue; it has not been easy for me. Father Zuni was my classmate; we spent seven years in the seminary. At a time he proceeded to Kaduna Polytechnic and read Accounting.

But this thing happened and nobody knew. But he has to face the sanction. We sacked and disrobed him because what he did is no longer compatible with his vocation as a priest. It was not true that he was transferred to any village.  He was about to be transferred on normal routine, but when I heard of this story, I had to cancel the transfer and sacked him. It is true that he had affairs with two women and they both had children for him, but one of the women is late already. We are not God, we did not know on time until now that he was having affairs with two women. The church said the priest has to go because the church doesn’t allow priests to marry. So he had to go and look after his children and his matrimonial home. You can now imagine what the priest is going through, either spiritually or psychologically. He must be going through hell on earth. This is my concern for him now. The woman and the kids will be going through trauma also. I have been trying to see how I can help him, but I don’t think I have the skills to help him. But he needs help to come to terms with reality. By December he will be 30 years in the priesthood, and he is now 54 years old, so at this age what can he do with his life. Nobody can employ him now. He spent seven years in the seminary and 30 years in the priesthood, and that is 37 years, so what can he do with his life at 54? The church too is going through a lot of trauma, so we need everybody’s prayers for us to put this incident behind us.”he said in tears

Meanwhile the man in the eye of the storm, Father Zuni, has neither denied nor confirmed the allegation. In a telephone interview he said

“I find it difficult myself to believe what people are saying about me. I will not comment on it now. I will follow due process to invite you for an interview, but I am afraid, the newspaper of the archdiocese, The Cross News, may carry this story before you (Sunday Sun)"