A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
I'm in my mid-30s and have started going gray in my nether regions. My husband and I are still very keen on oral sex and he has started noticing the gray streaks.
I've learnt that you can effectively dye your pubic hair, but don't know how. I told a friend about it, but she said she's resorted to the Brazilian shave.
What exactly did she mean? I didn't want to show my ignorance by asking her?
Mary,
By e-mail.
Dear Mary,
If you look around some shops, there are some hair dyes specially made for male hair and beards and they take only five minutes to work. If you can get one of these, it can be effectively used for your pubic hair.
Cover your nether regions with plenty of oily cream or cotton wool and don't forget to condition the hair afterwards.
As for the Brazilian, you must have heard about the Brazilian Carnival and seen photographs of female participants in their revealing body suits with no embarra-ssing hair jutting out. This is because the ladies shave off the area and leave only an arrow strip.
You could go for that too, especially if your husband is all for it.
Read transcript of embattled leader of jihadist group Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, who resurfaced in a video posted online Sunday.
He advised President Muhammadu Buhari to worship and fear Allah saying that he is worshiping cow. He also said that the People of Chibok, should prepare for a longer Bring Back Our girls campaign.
"My brothers in Islam, what I want to tell you in Hausa is, all of you unbelievers in Nigeria, Buhari and your likes and Idris Deby ( the President of Chad) with his goat-like eyes and the people of Niger, Africa, and the entire world, listen to me now. I am alive and healthy. But you should know that were my days of living over, you wouldn't have seen me here.
"So many people live even when they are wanted dead, and so also people die when they should have lived. "Prophet Muhammad (SAW) have been tested with similar hatred because of the religion of Allah.Shekau
"Keep doing all your evil planning with Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister), keep doing all your evil planning with John Kerry (U.S. Secretary of State), keep doing all your evil planning with Ban Ki Moon (UN Secretary General), keep doing all your evil planning with the people of Geneva. Anything you are planning is not up to one house of a spider. And that is what I believe and stand for and what I intend to tell the world.
"We are not sociologist, we are Quranists, and we follow the Hadith and those who came before us. "We are fools as people but the Quran is what is guiding us and that is why you couldn't defeat us and we are sure of that.
"Don't think you can oppress us with your fighter jets. The Allah we worship lives above your jets and you think you can defeat us knowing fully that it that Allah we worship.
"So you think democracy is a religion. All of you the Hausa people in Nigeria, The Kanuri People in Nigeria and Miyetti Allah (A Fulani association of cattle rearers).
"Buhari you are worshiping cows, you better worship Allah. You think you are a general in the Army but you should know that Allah have said that you are not up the house of a spider in his eyes. What we believe in is the Quran and we do not know 2anything apart from that. Anytime we say Allah all of you will not live in peace.
It is Allah that we believe and trust that makes us live till this day and doing very well in our quest. "Oh my brother, anywhere you are you should turn to the Quran, turn to the Hadith of the prophet, anywhere you are turn to Allah.
"Prophet Muhammad forbade us from using any plate used by a Jew without washing it first. He also forbade you from wearing the dress of the Jews.
"Buhari, all your actions are fake. You are lying to the people, collecting their money and saying you will free their children and you know you are lying.
"Buhari, Buhari, your people will soon betray you for all this lies. "I am talking to you Buhari, sit back and think carefully. It is not this small Shekau that is disturbing you. No. It is Allah that is doing everything for us, continue and see.
"You deceived the people and you think you are doing the right thing.
"Continue and see, one day you will not even be able to go to the toilet and stool. But if you repent, then you are a brother. Repent and follow the Quran.
"Buhari let me advise you now, fear Allah.
"People of Chibok, let me tell you today, you still have to prepare for a longer Bring Back Our girls campaign. "If you want your girls, bring back our brothers.
"This is the same Shekau and I am good and healthy.
"The people of Kano you are in trouble. The Sokoto people have betrayed Usman Danfodio and they must repent. "People of Kaduna and El-Zakzaky (detained Shiite leader in Nigeria), you should repent. And all of you, the followers of Tijjaniya (a sect in Islam), you should repent.
Former Aston Villa and England striker Jackie Sewell has died at the age of 89, it was announced Monday.
He joined Sheffield Wednesday in 1951 for a then-record transfer fee of £34,500 ($44,730, 39,726 euros), won six England caps, scoring in the national side’s infamous 6-3 defeat by Hungary at Wembley in 1953.
Sewell also scored 40 goals in 145 appearances for Villa between 1955 and 1959, winning the FA Cup in 1957, and also played for Notts County and Hull.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Monday in Yola, described Abubakar Shekau, factional leader of the Boko Haram, as a mad man.
Asked to react to the video posted by Shekau on Sunday where he claimed to be alive and in good health, Buratai said: "He - Shekau - is a mad man.
"We don't have anything to tell him, he is on his way to his waterloo.'' The chief of army staff said the army had stabilised the security situation in the North-East.
He called on the Federal Government and government of the affected states to give priority attention to issues of peace building, reconstruction and humanitarian needs.
"There is need to ameliorate the challenges of the IDPs,'' he stressed. While paying courtesy call on Gov. Jubrilla Bindow of Adamawa, Buratai said that the fight against insurgency had reached an advanced stage.
He said the major challenge now was humanitarian and called on the government to provide the needed facilities to enable the IDPs return to their communities.
The governor commended the army for degrading the insurgents and promised to continue to support the military.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday approved the appointments of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the April 11 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State, Umana Okon Umana and 12 others as Chief Executives for 13 Federal Government agencies.
Mr Bolaji Adebiyi, the Director of Press in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) stated this in a statement in Abuja.
He listed the appointments are as follows: Mr Joseph Ari, Director-General, Industrial Training Fund; Dr Isa Ibrahim, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, and Mr Simbi Wabote, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Monitoring Board.
Others are: Mr Aboloma Anthony, Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria; Mr Mamman Amadu, Director-General, Buureau of Public Procurement, and Sharon Ikeazor, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate.
Princess Akodundo Gloria, National Coordinator, New Partnership for Africa's Development; Alhaji Ahmed Bobboi, Executive Secretary, Petroleum Equalization Fund; and Umana Okon Umana, Managing Director, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority.
The new appointees include, Sa'adiya Faruq, Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons; and Usman Abubakar, Chairman, Nigeria Railway Corporation.
The rest are: Dr Bello Gusau, Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund; and Yewande Sadiku, Executive Secretary, National Investment Promotion Commission.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) says it will increase its investment in Nigeria by $4.1 billion between 2016 and 2017 and raise it up to $10 billion by 2019. The Bank's President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, gave the indication while speaking with State House Correspondents after its delegation met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Economic Management Team.
Adesina said that the bank would support the Federal Government in its budget to enable it to deal with the current economic challenges.
"We will support Nigerian government with the budget support to be able to deal with some of the domestic fiscal imbalance that they have. "We are looking to consider for the board $1 billion to help them to deal with that particular deficit that is there.
"In addition to that, there are other challenges that the economy has which is in terms diversifying and deepening the level of diversification in critical sectors. "So agriculture, solid minerals very important; manufacturing as well as industrial sector is very important.
"So the bank will provide in total between 2016 and 2017 a total of $4.1 billion to Nigeria in various areas of power, infrastructure to agriculture and the private sector for SME financing and lending. "I expect that our portfolio in Nigeria will not decrease; it will actually grow.
"We expect to invest in Nigeria by 2019 a total of $10 billion in terms of our portfolio.''
Adesina said Nigeria is the bank's biggest shareholder adding that the bank came to talk with the administration on the challenges and opportunities which abound in the country. He said the times were difficult in Nigeria but commended the federal government for taking bold decisions in a number of things such as economic diversification.
He said the low crude oil price was a big challenge adding that 98 per cent of the nation's foreign revenue came from that sector thus creating a lot of reverberations. He said it was necessary to device means of stemming the difficulties adding that the bank would support the country in that regard.
According to him, there is the need to deepen the diversification and making sure there is micro economic and fiscal stability in the country and to have synergy between the micro, monetary and fiscal sides.
"We also recognize that power is perhaps the most important challenge that is driving inflation in the country. "We expect from our portfolio this year to invest in over 1,400 megawatts of projects that are going to be focused on the energy sector. "By 2017 we plan to invest in about 1,387 megawatts of generation projects for the sector,'' he said.
Adesina added that the discussion also dwelt on investment on women, youth and job creation as well as opportunities to support access to finance by banks. Accordingly, he said AfDB will support the development bank of Nigeria with $500 million to help in cheap financing of the country's real sector.
He said AfDB would also provide $100 million support to the Bank of Industry for lending to Small and Medium Enterprises and finance the Bank of Agriculture to carry out reforms and obtain financing. The AfDB president said the country support was on a concessionary interest rate of 1.2 per cent.
The Minister of finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said that government had indicated earlier that it would go for the cheapest money (loans) first which was why it approached the AfDB and the World Bank.
"We have stuck to that strategy and we have very conservative debt profile. "That is a great flexibility on the comfort of the country and we have not over-borrowed. "What we have to do and what we are doing is to make sure that this money we borrowed is used on key infrastructure that will drive the economy. "And I am going to assure you all those things,'' the minister added.
A middle-aged woman identified as Agnes on Sunday in Abakaliki lost the pot of rice she was cooking to thieves.
Some pressmen who visited Agnes' residence behind Nnodo Secondary School, Amike-Aba on Monday report that she was still in shock over the incident.
It took repeated appeals by the correspondent to make Agnes talk, as she maintained that her husband had barred her from speaking further on the issue to avoid negative attention to the family.
"I came back from a village-meeting late on Sunday and put the rice on fire so that my family could have their dinner and eat the remnant on Monday morning.
"This apartment, as you can see, has no kitchen so we cook in the space in front of the house, likewise other occupants of the building," she said.
Agnes said that as she went inside her room to fetch some condiments, she was delayed by the attention she had to give to her crying child.
"I gave attention to my child who was crying and by the time I came out to continue cooking, the pot of rice had vanished, with the stove still enkindled.
"After I recovered from the shock, I started screaming which attracted my husband, family members and neighbours who were all as stupefied as I.
"When it was established that no occupant of the building took the pot, it dawned on us that the act was perpetrated by a thief who exploited the vulnerability of the improvised kitchen," she said.
The woman declined further comments but her neigbour, Justin Mbam-Egbe, noted that the situation had re-awakened security consciousness among the occupants of the house.
"This is the first theft case we are experiencing and we will henceforth be security conscious to avert future occurrences," he said.
A private security consultant in Abakaliki, Dr John Odikwa, blamed such incident on the current economic recession in the country.
"The country has degenerated to a level that people now steal pots of rice and soup and with the yuletide approaching, the society should be ready for serious security challenges.
"The Federal Government should take immediate measures to alleviate the sufferings of the people to prevent total breakdown of law and order," he said.
The Public Relations Officer of the Ebonyi police command, Mr George Okafor, described the incident as funny and noted that it had not been reported to the command.
"It is difficult for such incidents to be reported but we assure the citizens of the state of adequate protection of their lives and properties," he said.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday in Abuja said that selling the country's national assets is not an alternative option to addressing its present economic challenges.
The President of the Union, Mr Ayuba Wabba stated this while inaugurating the NLC-ASUU "Think- Tank Group''.
The group, he said was expected to dialogue with the Federal Government on ways of addressing the country's current economic challenges.
The NLC-ASUU think-tank group comprised a ten-man committee drawn from the different sectors of the economy.
The group is expected to represent the interest of Nigerians and come up with developmental agenda.
The members of the committee include; Prof. Omotoye Olorode, Dr Dipo Fashina, Dr Muhammed Aliyu, Dr Muttaka Usman, Dr Isacc Nwaogwugwu, Dr Yemi Bangbose and Comrade Isa Aremu.
Others members are; Mr Sonny Atumah, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson and Comrade Hauwa Mustapha are also members of the committee.
Wabba said that the committee was specifically inaugurated to intellectually engage the Federal Government on issues of national importance.
"We have three ways of engaging government, the intellectual way, the NLC way which is protest, and we have lawyers that are ready to engage government.
"We are ready to follow through with all the three ways.''
He, however, called on Nigerians to protect the nation's assets by saying no to the sale of the country's national assets as was being proposed by some individuals.
According to him, the nation's national assets is all it has for the future generation, and urged the government to rather ensure the implementation of tax justice in the country.
This, he said would prompt the generation of funds for the development of the economy, adding that tax evasion and tax waivers should be discouraged.
"It is only the poor and the working class that pay tax in this country, but if the high and mighty pay tax then we will have more than enough to go round.''
The NLC chairman urged the Federal Government to look into the country's fiscal and monetary policy as well as take stock of the country's assets.
He maintained that foreign exchange rate had not only added to the problem facing the country, but had also made few Nigerians wealthy.
He therefore, advised government to use available resources to drive economic development by embarking on projects such as building of roads and other infrastructure rather than investing in foreign trips.
Wabba added that there was also the need for government to block all forms of financial leakages, especially in the downstream sector.
Responding on behalf of other members, Olarode thanked the NLC leadership for inaugurating the committee.
He said that the committee was a way to enthrone the desired change, adding that it was poised to realising its objective.
ABUJA-President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that Nigeria would overcome her present economic challenges, saying it required handwork on the part of the people.
The president stated that God had divinely provided the resources and the people to do the work.
President Buhari gave the assurance when he formerly received the Nigerian-born President of the African Development Bank (ADB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina at State House, Abuja, on Monday.
Adesina is visiting the president for the first time since his election and assumption of office.
It will be recalled that Buhari was instrumental to the Adesina’s presidency at AfDB after serving as a Minister of Agriculture in the immediate past regime.President Buhari with R-L: Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun, President of African Development Bank Akinwunmi Adesina, Chief Economist of AFDB Mr Celestin Monga, Vice President Corporate Services Mr Alberic Kacou and Country Director AFDB Mr Ousmane Dore as he received in audience Dr Akinwunmi Adesina President of the African Development Bank in Statehouse on 26th Sep 2016
President Buhari said: “God has given us people and resources. It will take hard work on our part, but we will make it. We will get out of our problems. We are determined to produce what we eat, and stop importation. We will also chase those who stole, and get them to refund.”
Buhari said the country appreciated the helping hands of ADB to Nigeria, saying that that “we will not let you down. Your country won’t disappoint you.”
Earlier, Adesina had appreciated President Buhari for the support the country gave when he ran for ADB presidency, thus making him the first Nigerian to occupy such position since the bank was established in 1964.
He also lauded Buhari for the successes recorded in securing the country, particularly in the North East, noting that “there can be no development without adequate security.”
He described the recent economic decisions taken in the country as “bold, tough, uncomfortable, but right,” adding that Nigeria would reap the dividends in the short and long run.
“You can count on the ADB as a true friend of Nigeria. You should support massive investment in infrastructure, and we are here to also support. Closing the infrastructure deficit will enable growth, and create employment. Nigeria is too big to fail,” Adesina said.
The ADB President unfolded the packages his institution has for Nigeria, which include; $1 billion of budget support, $300 million to create jobs for 185,000 youths, $250 million towards North East infrastructure development, $1 million grant to deal with challenges of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), $300 million for infrastructure development around Abuja, $200 million for Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to deepen facilities, among others.
He expressed delight with what he called “President Buhari’s push on anti-corruption, and stance on governance,” adding that building institutions was critical.
According to a statement by Mr. Femi Adesina, the Media Adviser to Buhari, Adesina said ADB would give a total of $4.8 million as grant for institutional support, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) getting $2 million, and $1million to Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
“You can always count on my support, and that of the ADB,” he said.
A Kano Senior Magistrates' Court sitting in Rijiyar Zaki on Monday sentenced,Rabiu Sani, 22, to 30 months imprisonment for theft of slippers.
The Senior Magistrate, Aminu Fagge, sentenced Sani to two years and six months after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge.
Fagge did not give the convict of Aisami Quarters in Kano an option of fine.
Prosecutor Yusuf Sale had told the court that Surajo Umar of Kurna Quarters, Kano, reported the case to Nasarawa Police Division, Kano, on Sept. 16.
Sale said on the same date at about 8 p.m the convict went to the complainant's business place at Gidan Gashash Singer Market Kano.
He said Sani "used razor blade and tore the sack where the complainant Umar kept his goods and stole one roll of bath room slippers containing 35 pairs valued N6, 000.
Sale also told the court that the convict was charged for theft at Chief Magistrate Court and sentenced to three months imprisonment or a fine of N10, 000 on Feb. 5, 2016.
He added that Sani was also sentenced to six months imprisonment or a fine of N20, 000 at the same court on April 7, for theft.
The prosecutor said this was the fourth time the accused was arraigned for theft this year, stressing that the offence contravened Section 285 of the Penal Code.
Nigeria's premier online B2B platform, an e-strategy and sales advisory company, cokodeal.com, has introduced an online portal designed with best-in-class sourcing and negotiation technology to help local manufacturers and farmers access a growing network of suppliers and buyers.
The cokodeal.com product, which is already making inroad in the country's market, is a facilitator and negotiator of tenders on a web-based platform.
During his presentation over the weekend, cokodeal.com Marketing Manager, Simeon Nofa, said, "cokodeal.com has basic, premium and professional packages. These packages provide companies the opportunity to experience online sourcing and enjoy significant savings without substantial commitment of time and resources.
"All packages are easy to use. They require minimal training and offer quick return on investment. We recommend packages based on the size of the company, annual sourcing costs and the number of procurement and associate professionals that will use the product".
Speaking on how negotiation is facilitated he said, "We do not negotiate for either buyers or sellers. To engender neutrality, the platform is administrated by an impartial third-party company to ensure a fair process for suppliers and buyers."
Responding to journalists at the launch, cokodeal.com COO, Olufemi Aguda said, "This is our own little way of promoting made-in-Nigeria goods and intra and inter-Africa trade. It is our way of increasing the ease of doing business, improving the lives through trade, and supporting the diversification and non-oil revenue increment drive of government."
On how cokodeal.com will help local manufacturers and contribute to national development, Femi explained that cokodeal.com offers support facilities to local producers who oftentimes are not technology savvy or informed and provides information and advisory services to local business owners on what to do to standardize their products and make them more attractive in global markets."
On the importance of sourcing to businesses, Nofa said, "Strategic sourcing provides the single greatest opportunity to impact the cost, quality and performance of a company's supply chain , but sadly, several constraints including tightening of supply markets, have stopped many companies from achieving their full sourcing potential.
Our online portal solution, he said, will however enable companies of any industry, size, or geography to deliver fast, sustainable results across the sourcing life cycle."
He added that the product identify savings opportunities, assess market dynamics, and develop an informed sourcing lifecycle."
A former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar on Monday in Yola expressed satisfaction that the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East "has been substantially degraded.'' Abubakar, who was the guest speaker at the opening of a three-day regional conference on "Peace Building and Reconstruction in the Chad Basin,'' however, noted that terrorism was an enemy difficult to defeat.
The conference is co-hosted by the Nigerian Army and the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola.
The former head of state lamented that the insurgency had taken unprecedented toll on human, property and ecology of the countries around the Chad basin. According to him, planning for post-insurgency situation - peace building and reconstruction in the area requires a clear understanding of the cause of the conflict.
Quoting statistics from the UN, he said as at November, 2015 there were over 2.2 million IDPs in Nigeria, over 158, 000 in Cameroon, over 66,000 in Chad and 47, 000 in Niger.
"Similarly, there are 93,000 refugees in Niger, 64, 000 in Cameroon and 7,000 in Chad as at Nov. 2015,'' Abubakar said. He said during the period, 1.6 million IDPs were in Borno alone, being the epicenter of the insurgency, while 218,000 villages and hamlet were affected by the insurgency.
He said that infrastructure damaged included 18,000 houses and 22,000 schools. "In Borno alone, the following were damaged: 1, 630 water sources, over 700 electrical distribution lines and 1, 205 government institutions. This is a colossal damage. "As a result, 952, 000 children of school age are currently displaced, among, which are tens of thousands of orphans,'' he said.
Still quoting from the UN, Abubakar said the losses recorded due to the conflict during the period among to 5.9 billion dollars or N1.8 trillion. "This of course, is deepening the state poverty in a region classified among the poorest in sub-Sahara Africa.
"The statistics also show that as at Nov. 2015, three million people are trapped in areas regarded as inaccessible and likely to be killed or become victims of security incidents, human rights violation, physical abuse, extortion, raping and sexual violence, among others.'' He also quoted from the UNICEF, saying that in Borno alone, 257,000 children under the age of five were likely to suffer from malnutrition in 2016 as a result of the insurgency.
In his remark, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai noted that there was lack of comprehensive road map and master plan for the rehabilitation of insurgency ravaged region.
Buratai said that this had resulted in the absence of formidable synergy among the numerous agencies involved. "The major challenge is lack of research-based data on the real life challenges confronting the IDPs in the form of comprehensive post conflict need assessment.
"The lack of synergy is affecting effort by government agencies, NGO and the armed forces, as well as international partners in caring for IDPs,'' he said. He then called on the conference to come out with suggestions to address that.
Also, the Vice Chancellor of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Prof. Kyari Mohammed, stressed the need to respond to the humanitarian needs of the people in the region as a fall out of the war.
"Food insecurity remains the number one challenge. "This had led to malnutrition, stunting growth and waste in children, rising cases of infant and maternal mortality. "The recent reported resurgence of polio is a consequence of the shutting down of several areas for months due to the insurgents activities,'' Mohammed said.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday declared the 2016/2017 Legal Year open, urging members of the bar and the bench to come up with innovative reforms so that the Lagos State Judiciary will continue to retain its pride of place in Nigeria.
The Governor, who spoke during a church service to commemorate the beginning of the Legal Year, held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, said the synergy of the Executive and the Judiciary was pivotal to the success of any administration, just as he restated his administration's commitment to enthrone the rule of law and protect the less privileged.
He thanked the Judiciary for the support given to his administration in the last 16 months, urging them continue to discharge their duties without fear or favour to ensure peace continues to reign in the State.
Governor Ambode while acknowledging that the task of delivering justice to the citizenry was tough, however, expressed optimism that the judicial arm of government represented by the Lagos State Judiciary remains the only and the last hope of the citizenry in the State.
"Our administration is determined to enthrone the rule of law and protect the less privileged in our society. And that is why we paid so much emphasis on the rule of law and judicial sector reforms and we strongly believe we can do this together.
"I want to singularly thank the Chief Judge. I also want to say that over the last 16 months that we've been in this administration, we've received tremendous support from the judiciary and she’s been singularly supportive and have also seen that second to last sentence in the second stanza of the Nigeria national anthem that says Peace and Justice should reign in this nation and there have been all sense of justice in the State.
"We are gathered here again today, just the same way we came last year to seek his protection and guidance. I just want to urge all of you in the judicial sector that we should discharge our duties with the fear of God," Governor Ambode said.
Earlier, Provost of the Cathedral, Revd. Akinyemi Johnson, commended Governor Ambode for finding time to attend the event, while also alluding to the strides that the State has recorded since the Governor assumed office.
"We thank God for what we are currently experiencing in Lagos and the landmark achievements that the State has recorded and we are praying that many more beneficial and transforming landmarks would be recorded as the year succeeds another year," Johnson said.
He also said that by the virtue of their profession, judges are fulfilling divine mandate and as such they must dispense justice without fear or favour.
The Naira on Monday suffered a severe defeat against the dollar in all the major segments of the market.
At the interbank segment of the market, the naira lost 53 kobo to close at N308.32, from N307.79 posted on Friday.
CBN & Exchange rate: Naira & Dollar
Trading at the Bureau De Change (BDC) showed that the naira lost 5 points to exchange at N445 against the dollar, while it traded for N565 and N480 against the Pound Sterling and the Euro respectively.
The naira also closed at N445, N559 and N484 to the dollar, Pound Sterling and the Euro at the parallel market.
Traders at the market fingered acute forex shortage of the greenback to the poor performance of the naira at the market.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) assured that the BDCs were set to key into Travelex platform for forex sales.
Gwadabe said that biometric registration of BDCs and subsequent funding was ongoing, a move he said would lead the naira to the path of recovery.
Justice Joyce Abdulmaleek of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan on Monday adjourned till Wednesday the trial of four accused persons in the case of alleged N8 billion currency scam. Abdulmaleek adjourned the trial based on the prayers by the defence counsel following the plea bargaining arrangement entered into by the fourth accused person, Oni Ademola.
The other accused persons facing trial include Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Adeola and Togun Philip.
"I shall give the opportunity to know the content of the plea bargain and whether it affects their case. "It is my own view that the issue of plea bargaining is solely an affair of the fourth defendant and the prosecution. "Let me also state that the issue of plea bargaining cannot stall further examination and cross examination of the accused persons," Abdulmaleek said.
The case slated for trial was stalled by Adebisi Adeniyi, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes' Commission (EFCC). Adeniyi told the court that Y.A. Ruba, counsel to the fourth accused person, Ademola, had entered into a plea bargaining arrangement with the commission.
He further stated that the arrangement had reached 95 per cent completion stage, adding that every process would be completed before the next adjourned date. However, all the defence counsel opposed the continuation of Monday's sitting, saying they needed to have knowledge of the content of the plea bargaining arrangement.
They expressed the fear that the arrangement might affect their own cases. The four accused persons are standing trial over an alleged N8 billion CBN currency scam. They are being accused of multiple charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and recycling of mutilated naira notes totalling N8 billion at the Ibadan office of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The defence counsel included Olalekan Ojo, Olayinka Bolanle, and Adewole Olajire.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has charged personnel deployed for the Edo governorship election scheduled for Sept. 28 to adhere strictly to the rules of engagement. A statement from the force spokesman, Mr Don Awunah, in Abuja on Monday said Idris also charged the officers and men to conduct themselves in the best professional manner, maintaining apolitical disposition.
"The revised election security operation plan will guarantee free, fair and credible election, secure electoral process, and enable eligible voters to exercise their franchise freely and voluntary,'' he quoted him as saying. He said that the inspector-general promised that the protection of lives and property in the entire state would be of paramount importance.
"However, the police will be firm and decisive in dealing with any infractions of the law, actions and activities that constitute breach of peace and contrary to public order,'' the inspector-general said.
He said that for the avoidance of doubt, the police would mobilise and deploy adequate resources and personnel to prosecute the election conclusively. Awunah said that 25,000 personnel earlier deployed for the election would be retained to achieve the expected outcome of credible election acceptable to all stakeholders.
The spokesman said the Police Mobile Force, the Counter Terrorism Unit, the Explosive Ordinance Disposal, the Special Protection Unit, the Force Animal Branch, the Police Air Wing and the Marine Police Unit would be involved in the poll. He said that this would be in addition to the deployment by other agencies to ensure a robust security template for the election.
"Also, police helicopters, gun boats, armoured personnel carriers, police dogs and technical platforms will be deployed,'' he said.
He said the I-G advised the people of Edo to remain law abiding and warned them to refrain from any action that could jeopardise the peace and security in the state.
"The Nigeria Police Force on its part will discharge its statutory functions effectively, unbiased and in accordance with the principles of democratic policing,'' he quoted the police boss as saying.
He said that Idris directed the commissioner of police in Edo to enforce the restriction of vehicular movement from midnight on Sept. 27 to 6 p.m. on Sept. 28 except for those on essential duties.
The election earlier scheduled for Sept. 10 was postponed following security concerns raised by the police and the Department of State Services.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi, told newsmen in Abeokuta on Monday that the cleric would be charged for malicious damage and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
"What he did was wrong and so he must be charged to court. If it was the other way round too, they will also be charged to court. "Everyone has a right to worship whatever deity one chooses without fear or favour, "he said.
Oyeyemi, however, said he could not tell in which court the accused would be arraigned as at press time. Fagbere on Saturday attempted to pull down a traditional shrine in Ketu, Yewa North Local Government Area of the state.
But he was reported to have immediately gone numb upon entering the shrine, attracting a crowd to the scene. He, however, regained consciousness after the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Abdulaziz Adelakun, intervened and directed that some some traditional rites be carried out on him.
By Chimaobi Nwaiwu. Nnewi – The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has called on the Hon. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer its leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu's case to another Judge of the caliber of the sagacious and fearless Hon. Justice A. F. A. Ademola so as to salvage what remains of the battered image of the Nigerian Judiciary.
IPOB said Mr. Kanu looks forward to battling the DSS in court under an unbiased trial Judge and they are confident that victory shall be his if the Chief Judge of Federal High Court heed to their fair demand.
IPOB also asked Justice John Tsogho to hands off Mr. Kanu's case as the trial Judge, and turn in his resignation letter to the judiciary to prevent being dismissed disgracefully.
IPOB in a statement signed by its spokespersons Emma Nmezu, and Dr. Clifford Iroanya, "The need for Hon. Justice John Tsogho to hands off Nnamdi Kanu's case and turn in his resignation letter to prevent his unavoidable dismissal", said "it said it is imperative for the judge to turn-in his resignation in order to prevent unavoidable dismissal by the National Judicial Council, NJC.
The IPOB statement reads: "Already, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, the Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has sounded a note of warning to Judges like Hon. John Tsohho that they shall be punished for their judicial somersaults and miscarriage of justice. "Based on available evidence and facts related to the ongoing court case involving the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we believe that the most honourable thing for Hon. Justice John Tsogho to do is to excuse himself from the case as the trial Judge as well as turn-in his resignation to avoid being axed for impropriety on the job.
"We recall that on January 29, 2016, Hon. Justice John Tsogho in his first ruling denied bail application made by Nnamdi Knau's lawyers and the denial was based on three frivolous reasons which were, that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was a threat to national security, that if released, he might commit the same offence again, that there was a probability that Mr. Kanu might jump bail because he possessed dual citizenship. Nnamdi kanu On the 9th of February 2016, Hon. Justice John Tsogho ruled that items belonging to Mr. Kanu should not be returned to him even when such items were not listed as part of the exhibits in the case and this ruling runs contrary to sectio-10(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) of 2015. "Part of the items being requested to be released to Mr. Kanu were cash in sums of $2,200 & N87,000 and his two International passports (British and Nigeria Passports). We should also keep in mind that at this time, Mr. Kanu was already remanded in Kuje prison and we are wondering why Hon. Justice Tsogho will not release the non-listed items to someone in prison custody.
"On the 19th of February 2016, the Hon. Justice Tsogho in his ruling, dismissed prayers by the DSS lawyer to hide the identities of prosecution witnesses for which the DSS lawyer wants to enforce under section-232(3) of ACJA-2015. This ruling was welcomed by all and seen as a sound judgment based on correct interpretations of the law, especially, section-36(4) of the Constitution and section-232(4) of ACJA-2015 which correctly specified and streamlined the conditions for which section-232(3) should be applied.
"Surprisingly on the 7th of March 2016, instead of the Hon. Justice John Tsoho to apply section-351(1) of ACJA-2015 which specifies the dismissal of the case for non-appearance of prosecution witnesses, he unilaterally and without an appeal from DSS lawyer reversed his judgment of February 19, 2016, thereby making it possible for DSS witnesses to testify with masks or as masquerades. " When questioned by the defence counsel as to why he changed his mind without directing DSS to appeal to a superior court, the Hon. Justice Tsogho lied that he was merely clarifying his ruling when in actual fact, the relief he was referring to never made mention of testifying behind a screen. "When the Hon. Justice John Tsogho realized that he lied in his own court, he deliberately withheld the rulings because he knew he would be exposed and that he cannot alter a judgment he pronounced publicly in a court of law. We wonder what fellow 1984 University of Lagos law graduates will be thinking of Justice Tsogho and his judicial acrobatics".
According to IPOB, "in the meantime, on the 9th of February 2016, Nnamdi Kanu's lawyers applied for Certified True Copy of Justice Tsoho's judgment of January 29, 2016. Also, application for Certified True Copies of the last two rulings mentioned above was made on the 8th day of March 2016". "We would like to remind everyone that in the Nigerian Constitution, section-36(7) allows only seven (7) days for the Court to keep judgments/rulings after which the judgments/rulings must be made available to the accused person. "However, it is on record that the Certified True Copies of the three aforementioned rulings were made available to Mr. Kanu's lawyers after a formal complaint was sent to the office of the Hon. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. The formal complaint was sent on April 11, 2016 and the three Certified True Copies were released to Mr Kanu's lawyers on April 25, 2016.
"In other words the Certified True Copies were released: two months and fifteen days after the ruling of February 9, 2016, two months and six days after the ruling of February 19, 2016, and one month and 18 days after the ruling of March 7, 2016. All of these are in contravention of section-36(b) and section-36(7) of the Constitution of Nigeria. "In addition, Justice Tsogho dismissed Mr. Kanu's application for stay of proceedings within 24 hours of obtaining the excessively delayed documents mentioned above. From the fore goings, it is crystal clear that the Hon. Justice lacks the moral, ethical, and judicial right to continue as the trial Judge on this case " As a public officer identified in the Fifth Schedule Part-II(5) of the Constitution, the Hon. John Tsogho has violated his Judicial Oath, he has violated section-36(7) of the Constitution and he has violated the Fifth Schedule Part-I(9) of the Constitution he swore to uphold at all times. We therefore urge the Hon. John Tsoho to hands-off the case of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and immediately tender his resignation to the Hon. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in order to avoid his impending dismissal.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were neck and neck Monday as they girded for their first presidential debate, an intensely anticipated clash of opposites that could set the tone for the last six weeks of the White House race. An estimated 90 million people were expected to watch the Democratic and Republican candidates go toe-to-toe for 90 minutes starting at 9:00 pm (0100 GMT Tuesday) on the stage at Hofstra University in New York.
Surrogates have been out in force trying to manage expectations, and preempt public perceptions of their respective candidates, two of the least admired contenders for the White House in contemporary US political history. Clinton, 68, enters the fray as a polished former secretary of state and ex-senator, who after almost 40 years of public service is steeped in the issues.
Trump, a 70-year-old billionaire and former reality TV star, is good on his feet, and unpredictable — more comfortable in the limelight than on issues. The battle of wits, egos and big personalities comes with the November 8 elections just six weeks away and the race in a virtual dead heat.
Moderated by NBC anchor Lester Holt, it will revolve around three themes: “America’s direction, achieving prosperity, and securing America.” The candidates are under immense pressure, with any slip of the tongue holding the potential for disaster.
In a close race, the debaters’ real prize may be the estimated nine percent of voters who have yet to make up their minds.
A Washington Post-ABC News poll on Sunday found Clinton tied with Trump at 41 percent among registered voters.
On Monday, a national poll by Quinnipiac University also found them in a virtual dead heat, with Clinton at 43 percent to Trump’s 42 among likely voters. The poll found that, by a margin of 41 to 32 percent, likely voters expect Clinton to win the debate. And 84 percent said they intend to watch.
Expectations may be higher for Clinton because she is a veteran of 34 primary debates, having run for president in 2008 when she lost to now-President Barack Obama in a long, hard-fought Democratic primary.
“When the spotlights are at the brightest and the pressure is the most intense, that’s when she brings her A-plus game,” her running mate Tim Kaine has said. Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s campaign manager, dismisses Clinton’s reputation as a debater, however.
“She’s smart, but this isn’t her sweet spot,” she said Monday on MSNBC, adding that Trump has prepared and is ready for her.
“He’s a natural debater. I have been in politics for 28 years, … and I think Donald Trump has gifts and skills that sometimes escape typical politicians.”
The candidate’s son, Eric Trump, said his father “will be presidential, passionate, and resilient.”
– Unfair to be ‘traffic cop’ –
The Clinton campaign expressed concern Sunday over what it called a double standard, saying the bar has been raised higher for her.
“It’s unfair to ask that Hillary Clinton both play traffic cop with Trump, make sure that his lies are corrected, and also to present her vision for what she wants to do for the American people,” Clinton campaign manager Robbie Mook told broadcaster ABC.
Her team is concerned that moderator Holt will toss simpler “softball” questions in Trump’s direction while pressing Clinton with a much more challenging quizzing.
“All that we’re asking is that if Donald Trump lies, that it’s pointed out,” Mook said. But Trump has already stated that he does not believe Holt’s role as moderator is to police each candidate.
Mind games were also on display as Trump threatened to invite Gennifer Flowers, a former lover of Bill Clinton, to watch the high-stakes battle from a front-row seat. Conway on Sunday said it was meant to show the New York billionaire had ways “to get inside the head of Hillary Clinton” but she told CNN there were no plans to actually invite Flowers.
– Negative opinions –
Both Clinton and Trump go into the debate with high negative ratings, which they hope to alter with their performance. The Washington Post/ABC News poll found that both Clinton and Trump were viewed unfavorably by 57 percent of registered voters. Only 38 percent had a positive impression of Trump, to Clinton’s 39 percent.
While voters find both candidates lacking in honesty overall, Clinton’s ratings were worse, with just 33 percent of voters finding her honest and trustworthy and 66 percent saying she is not.
Trump, on the other hand, suffers from the fact that 53 percent of voters do not believe he is qualified to be president, lacking the temperament and knowledge.
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has said that Nigeria is not in debt crisis but only facing "a liquidity problem".
Adesina made the clarification while addressing State House Correspondents after a delegation of the bank met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Economic Management Team (EMT) in Abuja on Monday. He said that although the country is facing tough times, it is not falling apart as is being feared in some quarters.
"We are here to provide very strong support for the Nigerian government. And let me just say that Nigeria has tough times, but Nigeria is not falling apart. And when people talk about debt crisis, Nigeria is not in a debt crisis.
"If you look at the fiscal deficit of this country with regard to the GDP it is just about 3 per cent or 3.5 per cent; it is still below the 5 per cent for the Fiscal Responsibility Act."
"If you look in terms of the debt to GDP ratio for Nigeria, it's 15 per cent. So there is no debt crisis in Nigeria, what you have is a liquidity problem and we are trying our best to be able to help the country to solve that to be able to drive down inflation. To be able to also make sure that working with the government, they provide the necessary incentives to the private sector because coming out of recession needs more than government."
"It needs the private sector; so incentives are going to be very important. The Minister of Finance talks of all rafts of incentives they are going to give and I think that is the right direction. Am I happy to be here? I just want to say that Nigeria is not falling apart; I think we are here to support Nigeria. Nigeria will come out of this as a better more diversified and more resilient economy than it went through recession. I believe that.''
The AfDB president said the organisation was not a fair weather friend of the country, but was there to provide very strong support for the Federal Government.
The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, stated that the Federal Government is elated to receive the Nigerian head of the AfDB, describing him as one the country is proud of. She said that the government would work in harmony with the AfDB to grow the economy of the country.
"I think what has been a great relief to us in the Economic Management Team (EMT) is the amount of synergy between what we are trying to do and what the AfDB repositioned and Dr Adesina is focusing on. And most of the sectors and the specific programmes that the bank has are the various areas that we feel we want to focus on for the growth of the economy.''
The minister said that the Federal Government was looking at the assistance from the $1 billion budget support.
She said that beyond that there were a number of loans and initiatives around agriculture, job creation for youths, solid minerals development, and women empowerment through access to finance for small and medium scale ventures.
Adeosun said that the programmes were key targets of the economic management team in particular and the present administration as well.
The minister described the bank as a great partner and supporter as it is providing the administration with technical support in various areas of economy to aid recovery.
