Saraki’s Take on Buhari's new Service Chiefs Stirs Controversy

A controversial message posted on Twitter by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday night, sparked a serious controversy which forced his media team to make clarifications that further provoked even more critical reactions from Nigerians, on Tuesday.

Saraki, in his tweet, said that President Muhammadu Buhari did not require the approval of the Senate to nominate the country’s service chiefs. He specifically said it was not the business of the Senate to approve the appointment of service chiefs.

Saraki was reacting to the President’s statement on Monday that the newly-appointed service chiefs would function in acting capacity pending the Senate’s approval.

He noted that the upper chamber could only approve the appointments of ministers and heads of Federal Government agencies.

The Senate President wrote, “Appointment of service chiefs is an exclusive function of Mr. President. Senate can only approve ministerial, parastatals etc.”

But while reacting to the controversy generated by the statement, Saraki’s media team said those who made comments on the social media over the issue actually misinterpreted Saraki’s message.

The statement read in part:

"The attention of the Media Office of the Senate President has been drawn to a story making the rounds to the effect that the Senate does not need to screen or confirm the new service chiefs appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“However, we want to make it abundantly clear that based on inquiries made from the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on whether the Senate was consulted before the appointment of the new service chiefs was announced, he had in response tweeted that the appointment of service chiefs is the exclusive function of the President as stipulated by the constitution.

“Let it be known that his comment is now being misinterpreted to say the Senate will neither screen nor confirm the new service chiefs. This is far from the truth.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Saraki has said his comment is without prejudice to the extant laws and court pronouncements on the issue and that the Senate will do the needful when the list of the new service chiefs is sent to it by Mr. President.”

Local Government Boss cuts his Salary & Allowances by 50%

The newly appointed interim Local Government chairman for Kudan Local Government in Kaduna State, DaudaIliya Abba, has reduced his salary and allowances by 50%. Abba, who was sworn in last week by Governor Nasir El-Rufai, made the announcement in a statement personally signed by him.

He is perhaps the first and only local government chairman to cut his salary and allowances by half, taking a cue from Governor El-Rufai who had in the first week of assuming office slashed his salary by 50%.

According to Abba, the decision to slash his salary is a cost cutting measure which has become imperative considering the economic realities of Kudan Local Government Area. 

Buhari Orders Security Agencies to Crack Down on The Pirates Destroying Nollywood

It is not just about giving money to groups in Nollywood to share. The industry should be salvaged!

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed law enforcement agencies to step up their efforts to curb the menace of pirates in Nigeria's entertainment industry so artistes can enjoy the fruits of their labour. 

"Nollywood is making progress. We should work with them. Unless they are backed, they will be ruined by pirates who want to reap where they have not sowed. They have built an industry with their own sweat. It is therefore incumbent on us to give them the necessary support," President Buhari said.

President Buhari gave the directive after receiving a briefing from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan and her Directors Tuesday in Abuja.

He charged law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrators of copyright piracy, their sponsors and collaborators, and bring them to justice.

President Buhari also charged the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) to tap into the opportunities presented by their wide reach to shore up their revenue profiles.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

UNILAG Lecturer Fights Woman In Public, Strips Her

I wonder the kind of morals such a lecturer will inculcate into students if he can't control himself. How sad!

A lecturer with the University of Lagos, Mr Arthur Avwokeni Joseph, was detained at Alade Police Station in Somolu, Lagos State, after he allegedly fought a lady at petrol station and tore her clothes.

Mr. Joseph, 47, who works at the Business Administration Department of the university, went to a filling station along Fola Agoro Road, Somolu, to buy fuel when there was an altercation between him and 28-year-old Adeparusi Yetunde over who should buy the product first.

Mr. Joseph immediate alighted from his car and threatened Yetunde that if she were one of his students he would have dealt with her...

After the threat and further exchange of words between them, Joseph allegedly slapped Yetunde and she also grabbed him. In the ensuing scuffle her clothes were also torn by the man.

According to PM News, Mr. Joseph seized Yetunde’s cell phone while she also seized some of his books.

After the incident, Mr. Joseph went to Alade police station and reported the incident. When asked about the whereabouts of Yetunde, he said he did not know.

He was then asked to write a statement and while writing the statement, Yetunde’s phone that was with him rang and when the police picked the call and asked if she was the owner, she said yes and she was asked to come to Alade Police station where it was discovered that her clothes were torn.

The lecturer was detained along side Yetunde. Both were later granted bail. Two fighting!

46 Secondary School Boys in Ebonyi State Arrested During Secret Cult Initiation

Ebonyi State Police command on Monday foiled the cult initiation of 46 graduating students of a popular mission secondary school in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State.
The students, who just concluded writing their Senior School Certificate Examination, conducted by the National Examination Council, were said to be members of a cult group identified as Junior Vikings.
They had gathered at a hotel in the metropolis located along old Enugu Road to be initiated into a senior group known as Senior Vikings when police swooped in on them following a tip-off.


During the initiation, the police stormed the venue leading to the arrest of over 15 of the students while the initiators flee.
The Police spokesperson in the state, Chris Anyanwu, said the initiators had dangerous items on them and added that the police have mounted a man-hunt to arrest the fleeing suspects.
He explained that the initiators who are members of the Senior Vikings mandated the graduating students who were dressed in white hats, red shirts and black trousers to be initiated into the senior team or be face difficulties in their lives.

Mr. Anyanwu who said he regrets that cult activities have increased in the state in the last few months, announced that the command will embark on sensitization campaign to various schools in the state to enlighten the students on the need to shun cultism.
He noted that if not checked, cultism can lead to violent crime like armed robbery and kidnapping, describing it as a societal problem.
The spokesperson revealed that the command has arrested a kingpin of a popular cult group in Ikwo local government area of the state, Premium Times reports.

Jonathan panics, runs to Abuja as Buhari probes $2.1b oil cash

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dashed into Abuja to meet some powerful men to seek protection from the ongoing secret investigation being carried out by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Jonathan is disturbed by the determination of President Buhari to expose how $2.1bn was illegally withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account (ECA).

Jonathan has already zoomed with his protest to General Abubakar Abdulsalami.

The general is leader of the National Peace Committee for 2015 General Elections. The crux is that:

•the Buhari administration is trying to blackmail him and his erstwhile cabinet members;

•he is not pleased with the corruption tar being put on his administration; and that

•he is worried by the likely probe of the whereabouts of the $4billion taxes and dividends paid by the Nigerian Liquified Natural gas Ltd between 2009 and 2014.

Sources who pleaded anonymity “because of the sensitivity of the matter” told The Nation that Jonathan and some of his ministers are angry that Buhari ought to know that such taxes and dividends are remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Another matter that is seriously troubling Jonathan and his ministers, according to the sources, is how the NNPC under his watch allegedly blew N3.8trillion in three years.

The Abdulsalami Committee is yet to have audience with Buhari on the allegations made by Jonathan.

Jonathan arrived in the country last weekend to “defend his administration”. He could not be reached for his reactions as at the time of posting.

It was, however, learnt that he had chosen to table before the Abdulsalami Committee some issues, including the controversial $2.1bn withdrawn from the ECA without recourse to the NEC.

The source said: “The former President returned into the country at the weekend but he is unhappy with the bashing of his administration.

“Jonathan believes that Buhari is blackmailing him and his ministers, contrary to the terms of the 2015 poll peace agreement which led to a smooth transition from the PDP to the APC.

“I think Jonathan approached the Abdulsalami Committee so that he will be left alone by Buhari who openly said he inherited an empty treasury from his predecessor.”

A former minister in the Jonathan administration, who spoke in confidence, said: “The ex-President is unhappy that the administration of Buhari has been stigmatising his administration instead of putting him into confidence on issues.

“For God’s sake, let them allow this man to earn his well-deserved retirement. If there is any observation by the new government, there are standard official procedures of addressing such.”

Buhari had on June 29, raised a four-man panel to check how NNPC spent N3.8 trillion in three years.

The four ‘wise men’ are Governors Oshiomhole, Udom Emmanuel, El-Rufai and Dankwambo.

While awaiting the submission of the committee’s report, Oshiomhole revealed that the immediate past Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, took $2.1billion from the ECA without approval.

Out of the $2.1b, only $1b was paid to oil marketers as subsidy and the rest $1b used for GEJ's election.

Sound Sultan is like the dad I never had -Seyi Shay

Sultry singer,Seyi Shay has opened upon her close relationship with Sound Sultan...In an interview with City People Magazine, she said

Sound Sultan is like my dad really, the dad I never had. He is my mentor, he’s also my song writer; he and his wife are like my mum and dad. It’s a relationship that’s indescribable, God just used him as a vessel to really expose me. I used to go round with Naija Ninjas and Radio tours and he kept introducing me as his protégé. Cecil also used to tell people to put me on their shows that I’m good. Between the two of them, I flourished a lot.

 On her love life,she says

Well, I have a boyfriend, you guys would know soon.“We have known each other since I came to Nigeria.” For male admirers, one would always have that because of being in the public eye and it’s hard to be strong, especially when a lot of men say you have to do this in order for me to help you. It’s not easy for women, but thank God I have a very supportive system of management, I have a female manager, a female PR person, and being around females helps a lot.

Photos: Sunday Oliseh signs contract as new Super Eagles coach

He signed the contract moments ago. Congrats to him. More photos after the cut..

 

After previous failures, I was scared of contesting the 2015 election - Buhari

President Buhari says he was scared of contesting in the 2015 presidential election after his failures in past elections. He said this while addressing APC leaders during the breaking of the Ramadan fast at the presidential villa yesterday July 14th

"No matter the level you are, drop your influence so that we can help achieve the manifesto – security, economy, employment and corruption- because if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. We have to ensure that people we bring forward are those that will move the society forward.
I always like to go down the memory lane to show how lucky we are as a political group. At no stage was the decision taken by chance, it was all deliberate. The leaders of the parties felt the only way to wrest power from the PDP was for us to come together. I, in particular, was scared after previous failures of the elections of 2003, 2007 and 2011. We dissolved our various parties to form APC, then we applied to INEC, for once I was grateful to INEC. We had gone with nine people to INEC to apply and INEC advised us that we needed at least 25 people to form a political party. We were able to go back and raised 35 members across the country and then successfully registered the party. INEC then informed the federal government that we have met the requirements hence we cannot be denied registration. Many doubting Thomases said merger had never succeeded in Nigeria but here we are. I went into this long explanation so that you will appreciate how far we have come and for a society as ours, if we respect the constitution, then all the greed and problems will be a thing of the fast.”he said

Rapper DMX jailed for 6 months

The rapper was jailed in Buffalo, New York yesterday July 14th for failing to comply with a family court ruling. He was asked by a court to pay back child support to one of his baby mamas but he didn't. When he appeared in court yesterday, a judge slapped him with a 6 months sentence and he was immediately locked up in Erie County Holding Center.

DMX has been arrested many times in the past few years, but this is the first prison sentence since 2011.

Kim K wears see-through bra as she steps out with Kanye (photos)

Kylie trying to do like Kim. The pregnant 34 year old wore transparent bra under a sheer plunging black dress as she headed out for dinner with her husband Kanye at a restaurant in Santa Monica last night. More photos after the cut...

Nigerian man jailed in the UK after he falsely used online photo of a US soldier to dupe 2 women

27 year old Nigerian man, Tosin Olasemo has been sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison by a UK court after he was found guilty of using the photo of a US soldier fighting in Afghanistan to dupe two white women he met on a dating site of £250,000.

Tosin, who lives in Cardiff, UK, set up a profile on match.com using the photo of an unidentified US soldier in uniform, to trick his victims into believing he was serving in Afghanistan. He called himself Captain Morgan Travis to his first victim, and Michael Travis to his second victim and claimed to be based at Camp Joyce but he was actually living in Moira Street in the Adamsdown area of Cardiff.

During online conversations with his first victim, 47-year-old widow Tine Jorgensen, Tosin could see her via her webcam but he refused to show his own face, saying he was not allowed to show his own face because of security issues in Afghanistan, an explanation which looked genuine and acceptable.

Tosin then demanded various sums of money from Ms Jorgensen, including money for administration fees and other costs to facilitate his leave so he could come see her. Tosin, while using his real account name and photo, later contacted Ms Jorgensen to claim Morgan Travis had been arrested, persuading her to hand over almost £212,000 more to try and secure his release.

Speaking on his demand for money, prosecutor Ruth Smith said:

"They were designed to play on her emotional feelings for Morgan Travis, saying if the money wasn't paid he would spend one and a half years in detention."

However, police in Denmark soon informed her she had been a victim of a crime. The prosecutor said that confronted with this news by Ms Jorgensen, Tosin then claimed to be living in Lagos, Nigeria and had borrowed money from militants in Nigeria whom he could not now repay.

"Unfortunately Ms Jorgensen still felt an attachment to the defendant and believed his explanation. But her suspicions grew and she eventually reported him to South Wales Police, who arrested him in Adamsdown on January 28 this year."the prosecutor said

Officers recovered a number of false documents, including Nigerian identity cards and drivers licences under various names at his home in Cardiff. The prosecutor continued

"The defendant tried to damage his laptop computer by throwing it on the floor and stamping on it, but was prevented from doing so by police officers at the premises. The defendant had numerous documents on (his) equipment referring to how to speak to women and gain their confidence.".

On his second victim, Polish divorcee Joanna Kosz-Strusiewicz, he initially persuaded her to part with £1,100.

"He continued to make demands for money from her and she decided to make investigations of her own. She found information which led to her believing she had been cheated and wrote to the defendant."

Tosin pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud, four counts of possession of false identity documents, three counts of possession of articles for use in fraud and a single count of acquiring criminal property. He was sentenced to 4 and a half years in jail today July 15th.

The court also added that Tosin whose UK visa will soon expire may be deported.