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
The court of Appeal has, Wednesday, struck out Jimoh Ibrahim's motion to be joined as a party in the suit between Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, vs Biyi Poroye after his lawyer Adegoke Badejo SAN withdrew from the case on the basis of integrity.
The court equally said it is now set to give judgement to the case at a date to be communicated to counsels to the parties.
The three-man panel headed by Justice Ibrahim Salauwa declared this after counsels had adopted their briefs of arguments.
However, Badejo who said he was withdrawing from the case on the basis of his conscience and integrity, also tried to seek an adjournment for the case after his action was opposed by counsel to Eyitayo Jegede SAN, Wole Olanipekun, SAN.
Meanwhile, another drama of alleged contempt played out again at the court today after counsel to the respondent, Beluolisa Nwofor SAN engaged members of the panel in altercation for several minutes.
Nwofor’s altercation with the Justices was premised on the direction of proceedings after he tried to oppose a motion by a colleague, Jadegoke Badejo SAN representing Jimoh Ibrahim seeking to be joined as party to the suit.
But Justice Saulawa replied him saying, "You can do whatever you like outside the court but there must be perfect decorum here." He added that "If we are brought here by God to do this work because we didn’t lobby for it, we will do HIS bidding."
Nwafor's action is coming a week after Godswill Mrakpor, counsel to the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the PDP missed, by whiskers, being committed and convicted for contempt by the court after an enraged argument with the justices while trying to make his position known on a motion.
Also, a group of students who alleged to have come from tertiary institutions across the country and who were protesting in the interest of Jimoh Ibrahim were sent out of the court premises by security agents for "constituting nuisance at the court premises."
They carried placards with various inscriptions in support of Ibrahim before they were chased by a combined team of security men attached to the Appeal Court.
The case was adjourned till 12 noon, Thursday the November 17, 2016.
Arsenal can go top of the Premier League with victory in the opening fixture of Matchweek 12 on Saturday, but must overcome a poor record at Old Trafford to leapfrog leaders Liverpool.
They have not won at Manchester United in the league since a 1-0 triumph in September 2006, when Emmanuel Adebayor scored an 85th-minute winner.
Indeed, Arsenal’s average points of 0.63 at Old Trafford from 24 Premier League fixtures is matched only by Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough, where they played eight times.
The 3-0 victory at Emirates Stadium last season is Arsenal’s only triumph over United in their last 10 PL matches home or away.
Their previous success before then was a 1-0 triumph at home in May 2011, which was followed by the 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford in August.
Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick in that match and the United forward clearly enjoys facing Arsenal. He has netted 14 times against them in all competitions. Aston Villa (15) are the only club against whom he has scored more.
The last time the two sides met United won 3-2 at Old Trafford, with Marcus Rashford scoring twice and assisting Ander Herrera on a dream PL debut.
Not only must Arsenal look to ditch a poor record at ‘The Theatre of Dreams’, they have yet to beat a team in the league led by Jose Mourinho, the United manager.
In 11 matches versus Arsene Wenger in the Premier League Mourinho has never lost, winning five and drawing six.
England captain Wayne Rooney “unreservedly” apologised Wednesday to interim manager Gareth Southgate and Football Association technical director Dan Ashworth after the publication of embarrassing photographs at the squad’s hotel.
Rooney started England’s 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over arch-rivals Scotland at Wembley on Friday, a match in which he suffered a knee injury that ruled him out of Tuesday’s 2-2 friendly draw at home to Spain.*Rooney
But in between those matches British tabloid The Sun alleged Rooney drunkenly gatecrashed a wedding at England’s hotel in Watford, north of London, on Saturday.
The newspaper said the 31-year-old Manchester United star had been drinking and published a photograph of him looking the worse for wear.
A statement issued on Rooney’s behalf to Britain’s Press Association said Wednesday: “Naturally Wayne is sorry that pictures taken with fans have been published today.
“Although it was a day off for the whole squad and staff, he fully recognises that the images are inappropriate for someone in his position.
“Earlier today (Wednesday) Wayne spoke privately to both Gareth Southgate and Dan Ashworth to unreservedly apologise.
“He would like to further extend that apology to any young fans who have seen these pictures.”
Earlier, an FA spokesperson said: “All England personnel have a responsibility to behave appropriately at all times. We will be reviewing our policy around free time whilst on international duty.”
Following the Spain match, Southgate was adamant that Rooney had not been left out as a disciplinary measure.
“Wayne picked up an injury in the game (against Scotland) on Friday,” said Southgate. “He couldn’t train on Sunday and that’s it.”
WHEN the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme was introduced by the General Yakubu Gowon administration in 1973, it was designed to promote national integration of Nigeria's over 300 ethnic groups. With about ten universities at the time and the annual graduate turnout of less than 20,000 per annum, the Scheme was affordable. Every graduate received call-up and placement.
The first crack in the foundation occurred when several states and the Federal Government established more universities and polytechnics, thereby increasing the number of eligible Corps Members at a faster rate than the growth of the Gross Domestic Productivity (GDP); resulting in a larger chunk of the annual budget going to the NYSC.
The second shock came when the prices of crude oil tumbled from 1983 to 1995, resulting in the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). At one point, the price of crude oil went down as low as $9.90 per barrel from a record of $30 per barrel. For several years the economy was contracting. Factories were closing down; government agencies were retrenching, and private sector employers of Corps Members started rejecting them.
The third major shock was the creation of more states and the attendant rise in the number of state-owned tertiary institutions and over forty private universities. From less than 2,000 in 1973 the figure has risen to about 300,000 prospective participants. Last month the NYSC Secretariat was mandated to reduce the intake of Corps Members this year by 60 per cent – without saying what will happen to those excluded from service. Before this new directive, the NYSC had a heavy backlog from previous years.
The Federal Government has a monumental crisis on its hands, given the provision of the NYSC law that no employer of Labour can employ any graduate who had not served. What will happen to graduates who are ready to serve but prevented from doing so by government? Is it still sensible to penalise those the government failed to call up?
The exclusion of sixty per cent of graduates will surely predispose the selection process to corruption, and both the officials and prospective participants will be roped into this. We believe the time has come for the Federal Government to do a deep rethink about this Scheme. Its objectives are still relevant because they allow our young graduates to get to know their country better and learn the ropes in self-dependence.
We do not support the scrapping of the NYSC. Rather, it should be modernised to fit in with contemporary challenges. Its modus operandi is forty years behind time. We believe the Scheme can be repositioned for greater value addition to the participants who will, in turn, give greater value to the nation.
By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor The Federal High Court Kano presided over by Justice Fatu Riman, Wednesday, convicted and sentenced a senior lawyer, Yakubu Mohammed Na-Allah, to four years imprisonment without option of fine for offences of money laundering to the tune of N50 million.
The convict was arraigned by the EFCC on 14 January, 2013 on a two-count charge of money laundering. Upon arraignment, Na-Allah pleaded not guilty and subsequently trial commenced on 26 June, 2013 in which the prosecution called seven witnesses and tendered 15 exhibits. YAKUBU MOHAMMED NA-ALLAH
On February 1, 2013 the properties of the convict were attached by the EFCC following an interim forfeiture order issued by the same court.
Na-Allah’s journey to prison started when the commission received a petition that the 68-year-old Kano lawyer, duped two of his clients to the tune of N50 million, being part of the money recovered for his client in a case they filed against the Ministry of Solid Minerals, where the convict represented them.
The petition alleged that the convict after winning the case and recovering the sum of N90 million meant for his clients, reluctantly gave his clients N30 million and converted the balance to his personal use.
However, investigation by the EFCC revealed that the convict used part of the proceeds to acquire a palatial mansion in Sharada area of Kano.
In his judgment, Justice Riman ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and subsequently convicted Na-Allah.
Prosecution counsel, M.S Abubakar urged the court to consider the forfeiture of properties acquired by the convict with the proceeds of his crime.
Justice Riman sentenced the convict to serve two years imprisonment on each of the two count charge and also ordered that the attached property of the convict worth N50 million as at the time it was purchased, be forfeited to the Federal Government.
One in four children in the European Union- some 25 million- risk poverty or social exclusion, the EU statistics agency said Wednesday.
Romania and Bulgaria were the worst off in the 28-nation bloc with 46.8 percent and 43.7 percent of their children at risk, while Scandinavian countries fared best.
Overall Eurostat said 25.264 million children under 18 years old, or 26.9 percent of the population in that age group, were in the at risk zone.
These children live in households with at least one of the following conditions: social benefits fail to meet their needs, insufficient material standards and their parents have little or no work.
The figures were a slight improvement from 2010 when 25.957 million children, or 27.5 percent of the population faced the same plight, the agency said.
Romania and Bulgaria were followed by debt-hit Greece (37.8 percent), Hungary (36.1 percent), Spain (34.4 percent), Italy (33.5 percent), Lithuania (32.7 percent), Latvia (31.3 percent), and Britain (30.3 percent).
At the top of the scale, children in northern countries like Sweden (14 percent), Finland (14.9 percent) and Denmark (15.7 percent) fared best.
The agency said low levels of parental education significantly increase the risk of poverty or social exclusion.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has urged the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki not to join the federal government in ruining Nigeria by supporting President Muhammadu Buhari's request for external loan of $29.96 billion.
Muhammadu Buhari and Bukola Saraki
The governor called on the Senate President to pitch his tent with Nigerians and not because of his own personal interests thus joining Buhari to destroy Nigeria, saying, "Senator Saraki must know that no matter how much he tries to worm himself into the hearts of the Aso Villa Cabal, they can never love him and accept him into their fold."
In a release issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose asked, "what is the economic sense in taking over N12 trillion loan so as to be able to spend more money during economic recession? How can a nation be proposing to spend more money when its income has reduced considerably?
"Yes, it is being argued that nations in recession must spend to get out of recession, but in the case of Nigeria, how do we pay back when as at today, 30 percent of our income is being used to service debt? What will happen to our economy when over 60 percent of our income is being used to service debt?"
He said the Senate must be mindful of the reality that "many States in Nigeria are unable to pay workers salary now because of the huge debt left behind by past governments."
The statement read: "When the Senate unanimously threw out President Muhammadu Buhari's request for external loan of $29.96 billion, many Nigerian heaved a sigh of relief and hailed the Senate.
"However, unfolding events in the last few days suggest a dangerous alliance between the presidency and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to ensure the approval of the $29.96 billion loan at all cost. Feelers getting to the public suggest that the ongoing Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) trial of Senator Bukola Saraki is being used as blackmail to get him to back the $29.96 billion loan.
"Senator Saraki should be mindful that the $29.9 billion loan will do incalculable damage to the country's ailing economy because of the amount presently being used by the federal government to service loan monthly.
"Therefore, Senator Saraki must not allow himself to be seen as using the future of Nigeria as negotiation for his own interests.
"He must know that no matter what he does to the Aso Villa Cabal to achieve their aims, it won't change their minds concerning his travails.
"He should be reminded that despite that he assisted the Aso Villa Cabal to pass the controversial 2016 budget and cleared all the ministerial nominees, they never stopped plotting to bring him down.
"This time around therefore, the Senate President should be mindful of riding on the back of this political tiger that is roaring to consume everyone as he can only get momentary reprieve. He will eventually end in the stomach of the tiger!
"Senator Saraki should remember that only the cowards die many times before their death. Even if he gives his life as ransom for President Buhari, that won't stop his persecution.
"Instead of collaborating with the Aso Villa Cabal to plunge the present and future generations of Nigerians into the bondage of debt, Senator Saraki should pitch his tent with Nigerians, who are against the $29.96 billion loan and write his name in gold, like Senator Ken Nnamani did when he rejected Obasanjo's third term agenda."
Popular Yoruba actress, Kudirat Ajimat and top Nollywood producer cum director, Uduak Ansa Oguamanam are dead. Late Kudirat Ajimati
Ajimat, who became popular for her motherly roles in Yoruba movies reportedly died on Tuesday in Ogun State, while news of the late 36-year old Uduak who was the younger sister to popular multi award-winning film-maker, Emem Isong, filtered in also on Tuesday as a result of complications from prolonged peptic ulcer.
Meanwhile, fellow actors, fans and well wishers have continued to react to the sudden death of the two actress as condolence messages have continued to flow in
Critical and challenging issues concerning book publishing in the 21 century was brought to the front burner last week Thursday in Lagos as Quramo Publishers and Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) during the LABAF week engaged public in a comprehensive review of the literary industry tagged: The Publishers Forum with theme: "Raising Standards: Distribution and Talent in the Publishing Industry" at Goethe Institut.
Publishers' Forum in its 17th edition has been creating enabling platform to discuss and profer solution to meet the challenges encountered by both the authors and publishing firms. It is observed that over time, book publishing industry have enjoyed shelving patronage which somehow, has metamorphosed from traditional paper printing package to a new evolving digitized technology called e-book.
The new trend which somewhat, seems to dust the paper print process has been characterized with surmounting authors' dilemma. At the discourse, some of those issues were highlighted.
Some of the resource persons are Pierre Cherruau, a journalist and novelist spoke on Digital selling rights. This according to him will keep authors informed about laws and infringements associated with digitally published materials. Also, Digital publishing and distribution was anchored by Seb Dubinsky, a digital publisher and academic who communicated from his office via Skype video at the forum.
Pierre CherruauSeb Doubinsky
Seb Doubinsky drove home some point that hinged on copyright and distribution channels. Often times, it becomes difficult to eliminate piracy especially in the book publishing industry. Funnily, Doubinsky puts it this way – 'copyright is seen as right to copy which is the reason works are copied anyway.' As comic as it sounds, it is very critical for an author to sit for many years, research and come up with fine material but will make little of no financial reward out of it because his work has been pirated.
On a second thought, he equally disclosed that writers should focus more on inspiring stories that people will relate well with, enjoy and buy, hence, much passion is involved. He was very candid to say that book writing is not a lucrative job and should go with other professional careers that suppose to earn an author something for life up-keep. According to him, most writers are either in academics as teachers or professionally engaged but will write for passion.
The second session of the forum had panelists treat how to increase visibility and getting concessions from traditional media. They include Mazi Chiagozie Nwonwu of Olisa TV, Kunle Kasimu, presenter, Book Club with Channels TV and Ayo Arowolo, Chief of Staff, Thisday Newspaper. In the third session, Azafi Ogosi of Paressia Publishing, Eghosa Imasuen of Narrative Landscape Press and Ibiso Graham Douglass of Paperworth Books discussed nurturing editorial talent; raising standards and continuous education.
The publisher of the rested Financial Standard, Ayo Arowolo was blunt to say that most authors and publishers gets it wrong when they do not harness the proper channel to make their books visible. According to him, authors should know the trade secret of the industry. "Sometimes, media editors will lack content and will rely on any good writer's work to fill the space and visibility of writers works should be free but must be properly written." Arowolo said.
Continuing, he said that most authors forgets that relationship with media gate keepers robs them off publicity saying authors ought to even announce their work at tooting age before it gets out and must all also employ all stakeholders in the media instead of using wrong hand that will scorch visibility. He also mentioned that proper marketing and distribution is the key factor for development of reading culture which many thinks that Nigerians lacks.
In affirmation, both Kunle Kasumu and Nwonwu agree that it is a business of content which help you to develop the right contents.
Abuja – Sen. Jibril Barau (APC-Kano), says the Senate has intervened in the crisis between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Barau made this known when he was briefing Senate correspondents after a closed door meeting with leadership of ASUU, Minister of State for Education and other stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday.
"After the deliberation, we set up a sub-committee that will meet with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Budget and Planning to resolve the issues," Barau said.
The Senator, who is the chairman of the sub-committee, assured Nigerians that the parties involved had found a way forward as there was determination to get the issues resolved.
Also, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP-Abia), acting Chairman, Senate Committee on Labour said they had resolved to "nip the issue in the bud".
"With the attention of the minister of finance and that of budget and planning, by Monday next week, we should resolve amicably and the warning strike will come to an end," Ohuabunwa said.
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Tony Anwuka said that the initiative was commendable and was geared toward finding a lasting solution to the crisis.
"We should be able to find pleasant resolutions," Anwuka said.
On his part, ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi thanked the Senate for intervening in the matter.
ASUU, earlier on Wednesday, embarked on a one-week warning strike.
The President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Frank Jacobs, has said that with the current economic situation, the country may not be out of recession in 2017.
Mr. Jacobs told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja that there was the need to introduce policies and initiatives to control the economy.
He said government needed to take steps to shore up the manufacturing sector by ensuring that the concessionary Forex allocation to the sector was effectively implemented.
He said that interest rates needed to be reduced to not more than five per cent and more development banks should be established to provide long-term funding for manufacturers to encourage more investment.
"One cannot say for sure that the recession will be over in 2017," he said.
"Manufacturers are now patronising the parallel market for their Forex requirements but this is at a very high exchange rate.
" Unfortunately, after production, consumers may not be able to purchase such products, which may lead to the closure of some of the factories.
"I have not seen anything to suggest that, at least not from the perspectives of the manufacturing sector, " Mr. Jacobs said.
He said that from all indications, "it appears that the Forex situation in the country had not improved.
Mr. Jacobs said that there seemed to be no respite in sight, considering the price of crude oil in the international market and the activities of militants in the Niger Delta.
He said that the development of support infrastructure should be fast attacked to facilitate the country's industrialisation effort, adding that this would enhance the economic situation of the county.
Recently, economic experts predicted that 2017 would be tougher than 2016, adding that the economy might not recover until 2018.
The experts also said that due to continued rise in inflation, Naira to Dollar might remain in the 450s.
It was also predicted that with liquidity squeeze, many more businesses would fold up, leading to job losses and more poverty.
Katsina – The Katsina State Urban and Regional Planning Board (KURPB), has threatened to seal 150 sites belonging to Glo telecommunications in the state for allegedly default in the payment of tenement rates to the government.
Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman, the KURPB's Secretary, issued the threat on Wednesday after a visit to one of such sites operating in Katsina metropolis.
"At any moment, the board will use its powers to seal the 150 Glo sites where the company erected its masks across the state over nonpayment of the rates," he said.
The secretary, however, did not disclose the amount involved.
Usman noted that such taxes were part of the state government's sources of internally generated revenue which would not be neglected.
"We were not out to embarrass anybody; our concern is to apply the relevant laws to make sure that revenue accrual to the state are genuinely collected," he said.
He, therefore, advised other organisations with outstanding payments to the government to settle them in good time to avoid sanction.
Usman said the revenue drive would also assist to improve the living conditions of the people through the provision of amenities.
The tenement rates are taxes paid by landlords or occupiers of buildings or pieces of lands to government as part of its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
When contacted, some officials of the company declined comments.
The Executive Director, One Voice Initiative, for women empowerment in Africa, Omolara Olatunbosun has expressed concern over continued rise in female genital mutilation in the South West zone of the country despite public outcry against the act.
She said this while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan Wednesday.
Olatunbosun noted that the statistics that was recently released by the United Nations Children Education Fund, UNICEF that 60 percent of girls still undergo mutilation of their genitals in Oyo State under the guise of old-fashioned practice of female circumcision was worrisome.
While discussing the dangers that are associated with the primitive act, she gave a chilling account of how a baby girl bled to death three days after her mother made her go through the unbearable pains.
The CEO faulted the claims of those who cut female genitals and claim that it is their tradition to circumcise female child to prevent her from promiscuity saying various researchers have proved it wrong and established that the girls are prone to diseases, infertility and many other adverse effects.
The passionate woman said she would improve on public enlightenment which she kick-started from Egbeda Local Government noting that she would extend the advocacy to rural areas where the practice is more prevalent.
She also lamented that despite repeated advocacy against it, gender preference for male children and the undesirability of female children still persists in many parts of the world including African nations. “From ante-natal to old age, different sets of violence are experienced by the girl child in Nigeria which could hinder them from attaining their full potentials and the story is the same all over Africa and some parts of the world.”
“As a result, some of the problems faced by the girl child from the ante-natal stage range from rejection to neglect, abuse, infanticide, female genital mutilation, child marriage, forced marriage, child sex, sex slavery, economically induced sex, exploitation and marginalisation”.
With the subsistence of all these challenges, she reasoned, that there is need to sensitize the public with its awareness and in togetherness proffer means to exterminate them for further development of our nations and for realisation of a fairer world,” she said.
On the abduction of Chibok girls, she urged the Federal Government to show more seriousness in freeing the girls from the captivity of the insurgents.
She listed some of the objectives of her non-governmental organisation as restoration of self dignity, lost hope, self respect and self worth to girls and women who have been victims of rape, teenage pregnancy, neglect and marginalisation which have resulted in low esteem, depression and truncated ambition.
A former Governor of Abia, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, on Wednesday, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), with prayer that God would use him to add value to the party.
Kalu was received at the APC National Headquarters, Abuja, by the party's National Chairman, Chief John Odige-Oyegun and members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
He said that his defection to the APC was made possible by the persistence of some of the party's chieftains who had been wooing him for some times.
According to him, I was invited to dinner over 20 times by some of the party`s chieftains, including the national chairman, while the wooing lasted.
"They had been on by neck, asking that I must come over to APC and the national chairman always buys me red wine.
"My red wine is still packed in his house and I visit his place regularly to chat because we attend the same church''.
Kalu joins APC1
Kalu, however, said that it was a privilege to be accepted into the party, adding that he would abide by its laws while remaining a good party man.
He thanked the APC national chairman and other party chieftains for the confidence they reposed in him and for making him join the party.
He assured that states being governed by opposition parties in the South-East and other parts of the country presently would be delivered to the APC in 2019.
"God will help us to achieve this, but the most important thing is the ability to consult, discuss and move forward.
"Nobody is an embodiment of knowledge; knowledge is in the hands of God and He will always give us knowledge''.
He prayed that the APC continued to wax stronger and for its leaders continued support for President Mohammed Buhari in his quest to develop the country and fight corruption.
Kalu expressed optimism that though the country was going through rough times, good policy formulation would help to lessen the suffering of the people.
He expressed optimism that the APC would leave beyond 2019 contrary to the predictions of some Nigerians.
"Nobody can say that APC cannot go beyond 2019; Nigerians should change this behaviour that after every four years when there is presidential election, people will start saying they want to change party.
"APC has come to stay in my opinion and in the opinion of other people and the international community.
"If APC is going and its members that welcomed me here today are going, I will go with them,'' he said.
He, however, said that he would not contest any position, but added that he would accept any role the party may find him worthy of playing.
"Once you are a party man and you are given a mandate to do anything, you will do it, but for me, I am an entrepreneur and I will like to go back to my business''.
Receiving him, Odigie-Oyegun, described the politician as a positive asset not only to the South-East, but to APC and Nigeria, who could be used to resolve the country`s challenges.
He explained that the party`s chieftains took time to woo Kalu to the party because of his attributes of resilience and commitment over the years.
"Given the attachment of the South-East before now, it was also necessary to go out for leaders who can contribute positively, who people listen to, and you fall into that category.
"Your coming and timing is very significant, but I must say that you have a lot of work to do to consolidate our party in the East,'' Odigie-Oyegun said.
He said that the APC would depend on Kalu to win not only states in the South-East but the South-South in 2019.
He assured the former Abia governor, who defected from the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), that he would be given his rightful place in the APC.
He added that though the country was going through difficulties that was not created by the APC-led government, the party was determined to address it.
The President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Frank Jacobs, says the United States of America may reduce support in terms of grants and aids to Nigeria considering the conservative orientation of the Republicans.
Jacobs told newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja that it was rather early to predict what the economic outlook of Nigeria would be in respect to the U.S. election.
"It is likely that the country may receive less material, moral and political support.
"Policies and programmes of the Republican government might also not be favourable to some Nigerian illegal immigrants, based on the campaign speeches of the President-elect, "Jacobs said.
Jacobs said that such immigrants, especially nonprofessionals, would be a burden on the country when they return.
According to him, Nigerians have contributed to the building of the American economy over the years, adding that Nigerian professionals had been making waves in the US.
"If such professionals return to Nigeria, they will help to develop the country in various professions.
"Their activities may also help to salvage the nation from the current recession and build a virile economy, " he added.
During his campaign, U.S. President-elect, Donald Trump, had taken a swipe at political leaders in Africa on account of the level of corruption and economic backwardness on the continent.
Trump said African leaders were bad examples for leadership and recommended that the continent be re-colonised.
"In my opinion, most of these African countries ought to be recolonised for another 100 years, because they know nothing about leadership and self governance.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu predicted Wednesday that Lionel Messi would not only extend his contract with the Catalan club but also end his playing days there too.
Speaking at the launch of a 55 million euros ($59 million) a year shirt sponsorship deal Bartomeu told journalists he was “relaxed about Messi’s contract”.
With the clock ticking and only 18 months left on Messi’s deal the club want to extend it, as they did with Neymar and as they are trying to do with Luis Suarez.
“We are all convinced that he will end his playing days at the heart of this club. All the socios (stake-holding fans) believe it, it’s just a question of how we get over the line,” he said.
“This player has led us to our great sporting successes in recent years and he will continue to do so, he’s far from finished.”
Spanish sports daily Marca had sown doubt over the 29-year-old Messi’s future on Monday with claims the Argentine was stalling over a new deal and flirting instead with the idea of joining his former coach Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Brazilian superstar Neymar signed a new five-year contract with Barcelona in October that will keep the 24-year-old at the Spanish champions until 2021, saying he felt “at home” at the Camp Nou.
European Golden Shoe winner Luis Suarez said last week negotiations to extend his contract with Barcelona until 2021 were running smoothly.
The National Assembly on Wednesday began consideration of the N180.4 billion virement request by President Muhammadu Buhari. Both chambers of the Assembly considered the matter and referred it to the relevant committees for more legislative work.
Virement refers to the process of transferring items from one financial account to another.
President Buhari
In the House of Representatives, the request was referred to the Committee on Appropriations for further legislative action. While the upper legislative Chamber, after consideration, the request was referred to a joint committee on Appropriation and Committee on Finance.
Recall that President Buhari communicated his request for virement on funds to both chambers of the National Assembly on Oct. 25.
According to the letter, the request was in respect of funds appropriated for special intervention to fund some critical recurrent and capital items.
"The request was necessitated by a number of reasons, including shortfalls in the provision of personnel cost, inadequate provision for the amnesty programme, need to sustain war against insurgency and the depreciation of the naira.
"The request is also to provide for inadequacy in the provision for the National Youth Service Corps in the 2016 budget''.
He explained that in the course of implementing the budget, MDAs presented issues pertaining to salary shortfalls, as it affected those that are not under the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
"And some MDAs under the scheme would be locked out as their personnel costs would not cover salaries for the rest of the year,'' Gbajabiamila added.
The President described the areas for which the virement was sought as "Critical Expenditure Items".
Buhari also noted that budgeted revenues were running behind target largely due to the renewed violence in the Niger Delta without supplementary revenue sources.
The President also explained that due to the shortfalls and the other challenges, "the total recurrent expenditure requirement is N166.63 billion while the capital expenditure is N14.208 billion."
The Edo House of Assembly on Wednesday approved the construction of houses for former governors and their deputies which should not be more than N200 million and N100 million, respectively, in any location of their choice.
The approval was sequel to the consideration of a bill for a law to amend the existing legislation on the Pension Rights of Governors and their Deputies in the state.
Edo State House of Assembly
Moving the motion for the consideration of the bill, the Majority Leader, Foly Ogedengbe, moved that House rules 20, 27, 42, 43, 44 and 45 be suspended, to enable the assembly to consider the bill.
The motion was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie (APC -Uhunwode).
Considering the bill as a committee of the whole, the lawmakers amended the law to read that a governor and his deputy shall be entitled to a house each, at any location of their choice.
The new law, however, provides that the houses shall not be more than N200 million and N100 million, respectively.
Permit me to begin this contribution with an apology for my disappearance from the literary and political scene for the last one month but this was due to circumstances beyond my control.
On October 21st, five days after my 56th birthday, I was arrested by the EFCC without an arrest warrant at the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos where I had been earlier granted bail. Thereafter I was illegally detained by them without any detention order for 21 days.
Kindly note that this was after I had been detained by them for a grueling 67 days 6 months ago (from 9th of May till July 15th), brought before the Federal High Court in Lagos, arraigned on spurious and politically-motivated charges and locked up in Ikoyi prison for a number of days whilst I attempted to perfect my court bail.
After perfecting bail, on 21st October I was re-arrested and the whole nightmare began again: only this time it was far more insidious and worse.
Throughout the time of the second detention I was kept in a dingy underground cell at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja where I met a number of other high profile opposition figures like Senator Bala Mohammed, the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the former Minister of State for Defence and Mr. Reuben Abati, the former spokesman to President Goodluck Jonathan.
During the course of my 21 days incarceration, my abductors did not ask me any questions or say one word to me other than to formally serve me with a new set of fresh criminal charges the morning after I got there which I simply signed for.
After that I heard nothing from them and I was told nothing though I had daily visits to the medical clinic at the EFCC due to my deteriorating health.
Three weeks later, on November 10th, I was brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja and arraigned on yet another set of spurious, baseless and politically-motivated charges.
These ones were even more ridiculous and far-fetched than the first set in Lagos. I was falsely accused of receiving N26 million cash from the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, for media work for the Jonathan administration in 2014.
Thankfully, I was granted bail by the court and I was detained at Kuje prison for a further four days whilst I attempted to perfect my bail.
At Kuje I was kept in the terrorist wing of the prison which was built by the British government specifically for Boko Haram convicts and suspects.
There were 47 of them in the facility and I was with them throughout. These were tough, disciplined, hardened, surprisingly well-educated and intimidating men.
The single cells and the entire terrorist section of the prison was pervaded by an eerie silence throughout the night and low tone whispers throughout the day. The only thing that broke the monotony of silence was the regular and constant call to Muslim prayers and the loud and regular cries of “Allahu Akbar”.
This was a frightful place and those that were locked up there were very dangerous and frightful people yet thankfully the Lord went ahead of me.
The single cells, though small, were clean, self-contained, well-ventilated, dry and very neat. The inmates were surprisingly very kind and friendly towards me and turned out to be my best friends and bodyguards whenever I toured the other parts of the prison.
I was very impressed with them and when I heard their stories and what some of them had been subjected to by the security forces and the state tears came to my eyes.
Most of those men were not Boko Haram killers but had been falsely accused, tortured and just dumped into prison and I felt nothing but pain and sorrow when I heard their stories.
When I went to visit the great and brilliant freedom fighter, Nnamdi Kanu, who is the leader of IPOB and easily the most courageous, powerful and credible Igbo leader in Nigeria today in his cell, we had a very instructive and long discussion.
I had never met Nnamdi before and I was amazed at his depth of knowledge, his immense courage and his deep convictions.
There is no doubt in my mind that that man is going places and in him the Igbo have an Ojukwu and a Nnamdi Azikiwe all rolled into one. He is destined for greatness.
My Boko Haram friends accompanied me to that meeting, drew a ten man security cordon around me when we entered the general population of the prison and waited outside as Nnamdi and I spoke for almost three hours.
They even accompanied me to Church on Sunday and waited outside until we finished.
Given what I have written about Boko Haram in the past and given my total aversion to any form of violence, terrorism and radical Islam, this was a classic case of God granting me favour before my enemies.
Everyone dreaded them in that prison but I am proud to say that they were my friends and I will never forget their courage, kindness and fellowship for the rest of my life.
The enemy had placed me in the lions den but the lions and their prey became the best of friends. Not only were my Boko Haram section mates very good to me but so were the other inmates in the general prison population.
Not only that, the head of the prison DCP Akilu Abdullah, his Chief warden and his entire staff and team of prison wardens were firm, courteous and professional not just to me but to all the other inmates.
This was the doing of the Lord and it was marvellous in my sight. Throughout my travails I have never questioned God and I have been inspired and comforted by His word which says that in all things we must give thanks to Him.
I am innocent of all the charges and allegations and as I have said elsewhere the whole thing is an attempt by the Federal Government and an increasingly desperate EFCC that is obsessed with my name and putting me away to discredit, break and silence me.
Yet, in all this I am not moved and neither can I ever be broken or silenced because, like the biblical Job, “I know that my Redeemer liveth”.
Like Shakespeare’s Macbeth, “my head is bloodied but not bowed” and “I shall fight until the flesh is hacked from my bones”.
And as that fight and struggle unfolds and unwinds I take solace in the powerful and beautiful words of the Victorian poet William Ernest Henley in my favourite poem titled ‘Invictus’ which was written in 1875.
He wrote, “Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul”.
Like Nelson Mandela did at Robben Island prison every day for 26 years, I recited that poem three times a day on each and every day of my total of 90 days detention this year. And if I am arrested and detained again by the EFCC or any of President Buhari’s other numerous security or intelligence agencies, I will continue to recite it. I have no fear of what men or satan can do to me and I trust and have faith in the God that I serve.
Having explained my absence for the few weeks with this appetizer, permit me get to the meat of it and now serve the main dish of this contribution. (TO BE CONTINUED).
